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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.loc.gov/rr/record 


P!L«  COPT 
OO  MOT 


N 


>N  PICTURE 


Indispensable 
to  the^^gtion 
Picture 
Industry 


JlAlL 


VOL.  45.  NO.  63 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  APRIL  3,  1939 


^th-Fox  Will 
Raise  Rentals 
On  Big  Budget 

Past  Record  Merits  New 
Prices,  Says  Wobber 

Chicago,  April  2. — Increased  rent- 
I  als  will  be  expected  by  20th  Century- 
Fox  next  season  in  line  with  the  con- 
siderably increased  budget,  Herman 
Wobber.  distribution  chief,  told  the 
final  general  session  of  the  company's 
>ales  convention  here. 

Executives  and  delegates  left  over 
the  weekend,  following  meetings  con- 
ducted by  division  and  district  man- 
agers on  Saturday. 

Twenty  representative  Chicago  ex- 
hibitors attended  the  final  session  and 
heard  Wobber  discuss  the  new  pro- 
gram of  52  pictures  and  the  necessity 
for  higher  prices  for  features  and 
shorts.  "We  only  want  to  get  what 
our  product  is  worth,"  he  said.  "On 
the  merit  of  our  past  record  we  should 
1  get  increased  prices." 

Budget  Above  This  Year's 

Wobber  said  all  situations  had  been 
priced  already  and  that  district  man- 
agers will  inform  field  staffs  of  what 
is  expected.  The  budget  for  the  new 
season's  48  films  to  be  made  in  Holly- 
wood will  be  greater  than  this  year's 
52  and,  in  fact,  will  be  the  largest  the 
company  ever  had,  he  declared. 

Five  to  seven  features  will  cost  in 
the  neighborhood  of  $2,000,000  each, 
and  the  Shirley  Temple  pictures  will 
be  budgeted  at  a  higher  figure,  Wob- 
ber said.    The  company  plans  to  bor- 

(Continucd  on  page  4) 


Introduce  Revised 
Film  Bill  in  France 

Paris,  April  2. — Final  revised  film 
bill  has  been  introduced  in  the  Cham- 
ber of  Deputies  by  Jean  Zay,  Minister 
of  National  Education. 

The  former  provision  in  the  first 
draft  limiting  the  length  of  theatre 
'  programs  to  10,000  feet  has  been 
eliminated.  Another  provision  op- 
posed to  American  interests,  dubbing 
tax  on  foreign  films,  has  been  re- 
tained. According  to  the  Franco- 
American  trade  treaty,  a  dubbing  tax 
on  American  films  cannot  be  im- 
posed, but  apparently  the  measure 
would  provide  for  virtual  dictatorship 
by  the  Minister  of  National  Educa- 
tion over  the  importation  and  exhibi- 
tion of  American  films  in  France, 
if  and  when  France  can  have  the 
trade  agreement  partially  changed. 


N.  Y.  to  Get  Baird 
Telecasting  Sets 

London,  April  2. — Baird  tele- 
vision sets  will  be  shipped  to 
New  York  within  three  weeks, 
according  to  a  statement  by 
Isadore  Ostrer.  It  was  not 
stated  to  what  Broadway 
house  the  shipment  was  con- 
signed. Ostrer  is  convinced 
that  the  British  Broadcasting 
Corp.  monopoly  on  television 
is  not  final  and  that  indepen- 
dent service  will  be  attained. 


20th-FoxAnnounces 
Titles  of  31  Films 
On  Schedule  of  52 

Thirty-one  titles  of  the  52  films  20th 
Century-Fox  will  have  for  next  sea- 
son were  announced  over  the  week- 
end in  conjunc- 
tion   with  the 
company's  an- 
nual sales  con- 
vention in  Chi- 
cago which 
ended  on  Satur- 
day. 

The  product 
outline  was  giv- 
en by  Herman 
Wobber,  gener- 
al manager  of 
distribution,  to 
convention  dele- 
gates. 

Forty  -  eight 
features  will 
come  from  Hol- 
lywood and  four  from  England,  two 
of  which  will  be  Gracie  Fields  pic- 

(Continucd  on  page  4) 


Darryl  Zanuck 


Block-Booking  Bill 
Hearing  on  Today; 
May  Run  All  Week 


Washington,  April  2. — Hearings 
on  the  Neely  block-booking  bill,  to 
open  tomorrow  before  a  subcommittee 
of  the  Senate  Interstate  Commerce 
Committee,  will  probably  run  through 
the  entire  week,  it  was  indicated  to- 
night by  members  of  the  group. 

While  a  considerable  number  of  in- 
dividuals and  organizations  have  asked 
for  time  in  which  to  present  their 
views  on  the  block-booking  question, 
the  hearings  will  be  extended,  it  is 
believed,  by  the  lengthy  presentations 
which  the  major  parties  at  interest — 
the  Hays  office  and  Allied — are  under- 
stood to  be  preparing. 

Among  the  Witnesses 

No  schedule  has  been  set  for  the 
hearings  and  no  complete  list  of  wit- 
nesses is  available,  but  among  those 
who  will  appear  are  Ed  Kuykendall, 
oresident,  M.P.T.O.A.,  Abram  F. 
Myers,  Allied  general  counsel,  Col.  H. 
A.  Cole.  Allied  president,  Nathan 
Yamins,  head  of  Massachusetts  Allied, 
and  Martin  Smith,  Ohio  Allied  presi- 
dent, as  well  as  a  large  number  of 
representatives  of  non-film  organiza- 
tions, who  are  expected  to  take  most 
of  the  time. 

Representatives  of  all  groups  agree 
that  the  hearings  this  year  have  a  sig- 
nificance never  before  attached  to  the 
subject  because  of  the  fact  that  block- 
booking  is  an  issue  in  the  Govern- 
ment's New  York  anti-trust  suit,  while 
various  of  its  ramifications  are  in- 
volved in  other  suits  now  in  the  courts. 
Another  new  factor  is  the  industry's 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Dodge  City  Whoops  'er  Up 
For  Warner  Film  Opening 


By  SAM  SHAIN 

Dodge  City,  Kan..  April  2. — It  was 
in  that  raging  Kansas  blizzard  of  a 
year  ago  which  tied  up  all  manner  of 
commerce  and  transportation  for  sev- 
eral days  that  the  idea  of  a  "Dodge 
City"  film  was  born.  And,  over  the 
weekend,  upon  the  anniversary  of  that 
occasion,  the  State  of  Kansas,  Dodge 
City  and  Warner  Bros,  put  on  one  of 
the  greatest  one-day  shows  ever  seen, 
in  observance  of  the  premiere  of  the 
film  which  commemorates  this  town, 
the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  and  surround- 
ing territory. 

In  that  stormbound  part  were 
Gradwell  Sears,  Carl  Leserman.  S. 
Charles  Einfeld  and   Mort  Blumen- 


stock.  They  were  on  their  way  east 
from  the  coast.  That  night,  being 
stranded  in  Dodge  City,  they  decided 
to  look  over  the  situation  and  over 
their  dinner  plates  there  came  this 
novel  idea  of  making  a  picture  around 
the  early  history  of  Dodge  City.  It 
was  Sears  who  started  the  thing. 

And  so,  beginning  Saturday  and 
lasting  through  Sunday.  Dodge  City 
retraced  50  years  or  more  of  its  ro- 
mantic history  to  observe  the  premiere 
of  Warner  Bros.'  picture,  "Dodge 
City."  This  famous  old  cattle  town 
swelled  from  a  normal  population  to 
almost  50.000  in  two  days.  Governor 
Payne  Ratner  of  Kansas,  Governor 
John  Miles  of  New  Mexico,  Mayor 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Strike  status 
Is  Unchanged 
After  A  Week 


All  Deliveries  Are  Made 
Over  Weekend 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 

Not  a  single  theatre  in  the  metro- 
politan area  was  forced  to  close  over 
the  weekend  for  lack  of  film  because 
of  the  picketing  of  New  York  ex- 
changes in  the  I.A.T.S.E.-Local  306 
strike.  Weekend  film  deliveries  were 
completed  on  schedule  with  no  more 
than  the  usual  number  of  miss-outs, 
and  they  were  corrected  promptly. 

Thus  at  the  end  of  the  first  week 
of  the  strike,  exhibition  in  the  metro- 
politan area  continued  unaffected. 
Moreover,  informal  assurance  that 
Local  306  would  not  act  against  the 
theatres  directly  "for  a  reasonable 
length  of  time"  was  given  the  State 
Mediation  board  on  Friday  by  Mathew 
Levy,  attorney  for  the  local.  The  ac- 
tion against  theatres  will  be  held  in 
abeyance,  it  is  understood,  dependent 
upon  developments  during  the  next 
few'  clays.  Chief  purpose  is  to  give 
the  mediation  board  an  opportunity  to 
attempt  to  develop  an  acceptable  plan 
for  absorption  of  Empire  State  Op- 
erators' union  by  Local  306,  which 
would  accomplish  the  primary  objec- 
tive of  the  strike. 

A  meeting  of  Levy  and  other  union 
officials  with  the  mediation  board  to 
further  the  informal  theatre  agreement 
may  be  held  today. 

Mediation  board  officials,  comment- 
ing on  their  jurisdiction  in  the  case, 
pointed  out  that  phases  of  the  strike 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Govt.  Gets  Report 
on  N.  Y.  Clearance 

Seymour  Kreiger,  special  assistant 
to  the  U.  S.  Attorney  General,  over 
the  weekend  submitted  his  report  to 
the  Department  of  Justice  on  clear- 
ance problems  in  several  upstate  New 
York  situations  which  he  investigated 
during  the  week. 

He  was  accompanied  on  his  tour  by 
E.  Thornton  Kelly,  executive  secre- 
tary of  New  York  Allied.  Complaints 
investigated  were  those  filed  by  Allied 
members,  "ciuite  a  few"  of  which*  have 
been  made,  according  to  Max  A. 
Cohen,  president  of  the  organization 

Cohen  said  Allied  plans  "drastic 
action"  in  connection  with  the  situa- 
tion. It  has  been  indicated,  also,  that 
Government  might  contemplate  bring- 
ing an  anti-trust  suit. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


April  3,  1939 


Benefit  Dinner  Held 
For  Yeshiva  College 


About  400  persons  representative  of 
the  industry  attended  a  dinner  spon- 
sored by  the  Motion  Picture  Indus- 
tries committee  at  the  Hotel  Astor  last 
night  to  raise  a  scholarship  fund  for 
refugee  students  at  Yeshiva  College. 
The  proceeds  will  help  in  establishing 
15  scholarships  and  three  professor- 
ships for  refugees  from  Germany. 

Speakers  at  the  dinner  included 
James  Roosevelt,  Louis  Nizer,  George 
J.  Schaefer,  Bernard  Revel,  president 
of  Yeshiva  College,  and  M.  H.  Ayles- 
worth.  Prof.  Moritz  Werner  of  the 
faculty  expressed  the  gratitude  of  the 
refugees,  12  of  whom  were  present. 
Dr.  Nelson  P.  Mead,  president  of  City 
College  of  N.  Y.,  was  toastmaster. 

Entertainment  was  provided  by  Jan 
Pearce  and  Viola  Philo  of  Radio  City 
Music  Hall,  Leonard  Warren  of  the 
Metropolitan  Opera  and  a  Music  Hall 
orchestra  ensemble.  The  speeches  were 
broadcast  over  WMCA  from  11:15  to 
11  :45  P.M. 

W.  G.  Van  Schmus,  managing  di- 
rector of  the  Music  Hall,  was  chair- 
man of  a  large  industry  sponsoring 
committee. 


Program  Is  Set  on 
SMPE  Convention 

Tentative  program  of  the  Society  of 
M.  P.  Engineers  convention  to  be  held 
at  the  Roosevelt  Hotel,  Hollywood, 
April  17-21,  has  18  sessions  planned. 
The  program  follows:  Monday,  regis- 
tration, general  and  business  session, 
luncheon  get  together,  general  session, 
sound  session.  Tuesday,  projection 
and  16mm.  session,  visit  to  Paramount 
studios,  general  session.  Wednesday, 
sound  sessions.  Thursday,  laboratory 
and  photographic  session,  visit  to 
Warners'  studio,  banquet.  Friday, 
studio  practice  session,  television  ses- 
sion. 


RKO  Latin  America 
Post  to  Gus  Schaefer 

Gus  Schaefer,  formerly  Continental 
European  manager  for  Paramount  for 
many  years,  has  been  given  a  special 
assignment  by  the  RKO  foreign  de 
partment  covering  Latin  American 
markets.  He  sailed  Saturday  for 
Central  and  South  America  on  the 
Santa  Clara. 

On  his  return  to  New  York  about 
June  1,  Schaefer  is  expected  to  be 
named  to  a  permanent  post  in  the 
RKO  foreign  department. 


Ross  Federal  Shifts 

Norman  Brennan,  Ross  Federal 
Service  branch  manager  at  Omaha 
has  resigned.  Harold  Anderson,  for- 
mer assistant  manager  in  Chicago, 
will  succeed  him.  Stewart  C.  Martin 
of  Boston  goes  to  Chicago.  William 
A.  Warner  of  Baltimore  has  been 
transferred  to  Philadelphia. 


SAMUEL  ECKMAN,  Jr.,  M-G-M 
British  chief,  and  Mrs.  Eckman 
returned  to  England  Saturday  on  the 
Normandie.  Arthur  Garfield  Hays, 
lawyer ;  Merle  Oberon  and  Paul 
Draper,  dancer,  also  sailed. 

• 

James  Roosevelt,  United  Artists 
vice-president,  has  deferred  his  sailing 
to  Europe  to  April  7  on  the  Queen 
Mary. 

• 

Alfred  Hitchcock  left  for  the 
coast  Friday  night  to  direct  "Rebecca" 
for  Selznick-International.  He  was 
accompanied  by  Alma  Reville,  his 
wife  and  continuity  writer,  their 
daughter,  Patricia,  and  Joan  Harri- 
son, his  assistant. 

• 

Leon  G.  Turrou,  former  G-man, 
who  has  been  technical  adviser  on 
Warner's  "Confession  of  a  Nazi  Spy," 
will  leave  Hollywood  for  New  York 
late  this  month  for  a  personal  appear- 
ance tour  with  the  picture. 

• 

Jack  Mercer  and  his  wife,  Margie 
Hines,  the  voices  of  "Popeye"  and 
"Olive  Oyl"  in  the  "Popeye"  cartoons, 
arrived  in  New  York  Friday  aboard 
an  Eastern  Airliner  from  Florida. 
• 

Earle  W.  Hammons  went  to 
Washington  last  night. 


Wins  $3,500  Judgment 

Judgment  for  $3,500  against  Educa 
tional  Pictures,  Inc.  was  entered  Fri- 
day in  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  in  favor 
of  Lillian  Tasker,  as  assignee  of  Al 
bert  G.  McCarthy,  Jr.  The  claim 
which  was  upheld  after  arbitration,  is 
for  legal  services  rendered  to  Educa 
tional  Pictures  in  1936. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


MAURICE  SILVERSTONE, 
United  Artists  operating  head, 
arrived  in  New  York  by  train  yester- 
day after  three  weeks  at  the  studio. 
• 

Robert  Benchley  has  completed 
three  shorts  at  Eastern  Service  Stu- 
dios for  M-G-M  and  leaves  for  the 
coast  tomorrow.  This  completes  his 
eight-film  commitment  this  season. 
• 

Richard  Perry,  New  York  Grand 
National  salesman,  has  been  named 
acting   exchange  manager   here,  re- 
placing Peter  Rosian,  resigned. 
• 

Frank  Donovan,  RKO  Pathe  pro- 
duction manager,  will  return  today 
from  a  trip  to  Washington,  Bowie 
and  Wilmington. 

• 

Shirley  C.  Burden,  formerly  with 
RKO  Pathe  News,  is  in  New  York 
for  a  month's  visit.  He  is  president 
of  Tradefilms,  Inc. 

• 

Joseph  Bernhard,  general  man- 
ager of  Warner  Theatres,  left  yester- 
day by  plane  for  a  week  of  confer- 
ences at  the  Warner  studio. 

• 

Harry  G.  Kosch,  New  York  Al- 
lied counsel,  in  due  today  from  a  busi- 
ness trip  to  Cuba. 


'U'  Signs  New  Pact 
With  Clerical  Union 


Ben  Goetz  to  Coast 

Ben  Goetz,  M-G-M  British  produc- 
tion head,  left  for  the  coast  Friday 
with  a  print  of  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips" 
accompanied  by  Greer  Garson,  star  of 
the  picture.  Sam  Wood,  who  directed 
the  film,  followed  Saturday.  Goetz, 
Miss  Garson  and  Wood  arrived  from 
England  Thursday  on  the  Normandie. 
Gabriel  Pascal  and  Laurance  Irving, 
set  designer,  who  also  came  in  from 
abroad  Thursday,  will  probably  leave 
for  Hollywood  some  time  this  week. 


Buys  'Eternal'  Rights 

All  assets,  including  film  rights,  of 
the  Franz  Werfel  play,  "The  Eternal 
Road,"  have  been  purchased  by  David 
Shapiro,  publisher  of  The  Day,  Jewish 
newspaper.  Shapiro  has  no  immediate 
production  plans. 


U.  A.  'Heights'  Party 

United  Artists  celebrated  the  com- 
pletion of  "Wuthering  Heights"  by  a 
cocktail  party  at  the  Ritz  Carlton  Eri- 
day  with  Merle  Oberon,  William  Wy- 
ler  and  James  Roosevelt  acting  as 
hosts.  Those  present  included  Oscar 
Doob,  Joseph  Vogel,  C.  C.  Mosko- 
witz,  Harry  Goldberg,  Joseph  Bern- 
hardt, Clayton  Bond,  John  O'Connor 
and  Fred  Myers.  "Wuthering  Heights" 
opens  at  the  Rivoli  April  14. 


Shulgold  Joins  G.N. 

Pittsburgh,  April  2. — Max  Shul- 
gold has  been  named  Grand  National 
exchange  manager,  succeeding  Charles 
Dortic,  who  has  joined  the  Warner 
sales  force,  covering  West  Virginia 
in  place  of  Maurice  Kinder,  resigned. 


Exhibitor  Organizations  Plan 

Early  Study  of  Practice  Draft 

National  and  regional  exhibitor  organizations  began  immediate 
preparations  over  the  week-end  for  submitting  the  final  industry 
trade  practice  draft  to  their  membership  for  action. 

M.P.T.O.A.  headquarters  will  forward  copies  of  the  draft  to  all 
of  its  affiliated  regional  units,  and  as  rapidly  as  they  are  received, 
membership  meetings  will  be  called. 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  president,  is  due  in  Washington  today 
from  Dallas  and  will  discuss  the  draft  with  Abram  F.  Myers, 
general  counsel.  Allied's  approval  rests  with  the  national  board, 
which  is  not  scheduled  to  meet  until  June  13  in  Minneapolis. 

Harry  Brandt,  I.T.O.A.  president,  is  studying  the  draft  and  will 
discuss  it  at  a  membership  meeting  on  April  12.  Max  A.  Cohen, 
Allied  of  New  York  head,  refused  comment. 

W.  F.  Crockett,  president  of  M.P.T.O.  of  Virginia,  unaffiliated 
regional,  has  called  a  membership  meeting  for  Wednesday  to  con- 
sider the  draft.  Indications  are  that  it  may  be  some  time  before 
all  organizations  have  replied. 


Contracts  have  been  signed  by  Uni- 
versal and  Big  U  Film  Exchange  with 
Bookkeepers,  Stenographers  &  Ac- 
countants Union  for  a  two  year  period, 
retroactive  to  Feb.  21.  Home  office 
employes  who  have  been  with  the  com- 
pany up  to  10  years  will  receive  a  10 
per  cent  increase  and  others  will  re- 
ceive 15  per  cent.  Hours  were  set  at 
37J/2  weekly.  Exchange  employes  will 
receive  15  per  cent  increases  and  will  I 
work  40^  hours.  Further  increases 
of  5  per  cent  for  all  will  be  g  ed  1 
at  the  end  of  the  first  year. 

The  closed  shop  issue  has  been  set- 
tled by  permitting  present  non-union 
employes  to  remain-  outside  the  union, 
but  future  employes  must  join  the 
union.  Union  officials  stated  Friday 
that  they  planned  an  intensive  organ- 
izational drive,  starting  today,  for  con- 
tracts with  other  home  offices  and  ex-  I 
changes. 


Managers,  Publicity 
Men  Not  Employers 

Theatre  managers  and  publicity  men 
are  not  employers  within  the  meaning 
of  the  Labor  Relations  Law,  accord- 
ing to  a  ruling  of  the  Massachusetts 
Labor  Relations  Commission  received 
here  by  Theatrical  Managers,  Agents 
&  Teamsters  Union.  "The  fact  that 
an  employe  is  in  a  supervisory  posi- 
tion does  not  exclude  him  from  be- 
ing an  employe  and  as  such  he  is  en- 
titled to  all  the  benefits  provided  by 
law." 

The  union  had  petitioned  for  an 
order  designating  it  as  the  collective 
bargaining  agent  for  the  employes  of 
Loew's  Boston  Theatres  Co.  and  the 
company  opposed  the  petition  on  the 
ground  that  this  class  of  employe  did 
not  come  within  the  law. 


Edison  Aide  Dies 

Charles  Still  well,  78,  an  associate  of 
Thomas  A.  Edison  in  the  founding  of 
his  enterprises,  died  last  week  at  Avon, 
Conn.  He  worked  with  the  inventor 
for  many  years. 

Miss  Gerstein  to  Boston 

Evelyn  Gerstein  has  gone  to  Boston 
to  handle  publicity  for  the  openings 
there  of  "Crisis"  at  the  Trans-Lux, 
April  7,  and  "Ballerina"  at  the  Fine 
Arts. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood :  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


THE  SWEETEST  NEWS  THAT  EVER  CAME  OUT 
OF  ALEXANDER  GRAHAM  BELL'S  INVENTION! 


V— „he  bWes' 
„enin9te         yo0  neve' he° 
TxVs  «Wor¥-    Is***  t0,n' 

-*  OPP    l,a       *>«  °U  ,  zone* 
te,»oinW"°  _  — 


THE  STORY  OF 

Alexander,  graham  bell 


2Q4 


mKT 

THE  KEYSTONE   OF  YOUR  FUTURE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  3,  1939 


Strike  Holds  Local 
20th-Fox  Staff  Here 

Operators'  strike  emergen- 
cy prevented  the  local  20th 
Century-Fox  staff  from  at- 
tending the  company's  con- 
vention in  Chicago.  Sched- 
uled to  attend  were  Harry  H. 
Buxbaum,  metropolitan  dis- 
trict manager;  Joe  Lee,  sales 
manager,  and  Morris  Sanders, 
office  manager,  as  well  as 
salesmen  and  bookers.  This 
is  the  first  sales  convention 
Buxbaum  has  missed  in  25 
years. 


4 


20th-Fox  to  Raise 
Rentals  on  Bigger 
Budget  for  '39-'40 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

row  stars  from  other  studios  when 
necessary  to  give  films  proper  casts. 

'"Any  eliminations  or  substitutions 
made  will  be  for  the  purpose  of  bol- 
stering the  product,"  he  declared. 

The  company's  story  trend  will  be 
away  from  the  "boy  meets  girl"  type 
to  pictures  more  like  "The  Story  of 
Alexander  Graham  Bell"  and  "Stanley 
and  Livingstone,"  said  Wobber,  and 
the  company  plans  no  controversial 
films.  No  product  will  be  released  for 
16mm.  film  use. 

He  said  20th  Century-Fox  will  do 
everything  possible  to  keep  its  stars 
off  the  radio  and  that  a  deal  is  pend- 
ing for  the  company  to  purchase  Don 
Ameche's  radio  contract. 

Sidney  R.  Kent,  president,  said  it 
took  a  new  kind  of  picture  to  "jar 
people  out  of  their  present  indifferent 
attitude"  and  that  the  company  plans 
a  program  capable  of  doing  this.  He 
said  war  scares  and  other  disturbances 
could  not  defeat  a  film  that  people 
wanted  to  see.  Kent  complimented 
William  F.  Rodgers,  general  sales 
manager  of  M-G-M,  for  his  work  in 
negotiating  the  proposed  trade  prac- 
tice code  and  discussed  the  code 
briefly. 

Addressing  the  delegates  by  phone 
from  Hollywood,  Darryl  F.  Zanuck 
production  chief,  said:  "Business  de- 
pressions, war  scares  and  the  like 
won't  stop  us  from  having  our  best 
year."  He  spoke  on  the  new  product 
and  praised  Wobber  and  the  distribu- 
tion  forces   for   their   sales  record. 


20th-Fox  Lists  31 
Titles  of  52  Films 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tures  and  two  with  Annabella.  This 
season  there  are  52  Hollywood-made 
films  and  there  are  two  from  Eng- 
land. 

Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  production,  will  supervise 
the  entire  program  and  will  make  24. 
Sol.  M.  Wurtzel,  associate  producer, 
will  be  responsible  for  the  other  half 
of  the  Hollywood  product,  continuing 
to  concentrate  on  the  series,  which  will 
include  the  Jones  Family,  Charlie 
Chan,  Mr.  Moto  and  Jane  Withers 
comedies.  There  will  be  four  in  each 
series. 

Program  Is  Varied 

Zanuck's  list  includes  three  Cosmo- 
politan Productions,  one  of  which  will 
be  "Hotel  for  Women,"  by  and  with 
Elsa  Maxwell. 

The  program  will  have  spectacles, 
drama,  comedy,  adventure  stories  on 
an  epic  scale,  biography  and  mystery. 
Five  big  spectacles  listed  are  "The 
Rains  Came,"  "Stanley  and  Living- 
stone," "Little  Old  New  York,"  "Brig- 
ham  Young"  and  "Drums  Along  the 
Mohawk."  These  will  be  in  the  top 
budget  bracket. 

"The  Rains  Came"  is  described  as 
"the  biggest  production  ever  at- 
tempted'' by  the  company.  "Stanley 
and  Livingstone"  has  been  two  years 
in  the  making,  and  a  crew  was  sent 
to  Africa  for  authentic  background. 
Another  big  picture  scheduled  is  "Hol- 


20th-Fox  to  Develop 
Latin  America  Field 

Chicago,  April  2.  —  Devel 
opment  of  the  Latin  Ameri- 
can market  will  be  an  impor- 
tant phase  of  the  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox distribution  job, 
S.  R.  Kent,  president,  told  the 
company's  convention  here 
on  Friday.  Kent  and  other 
executives  plan  to  visit  South 
America  to  study  conditions. 

"Our  thought  is  to  develop 
that  market,"  he  said.  "This 
is  an  important  job.  The  film 
business  is  the  only  salesman 
today  covering  a  worldwide 
front.  The  American  film  is 
the  greatest  sales  force  our 
country  has  today  in  foreign 
countries,  and  it  is  our  hope 
to  increase  this  prestige  in 
South  America." 


lywood  Cavalcade,"  described  as  "the 
'Big  Parade'  of  film  history,  patterned 
to  the  scale  of  'Alexander's  Ragtime 
Band'." 

Three  films  are  scheduled  to  be  in 
color.  One  is  "Lady  Jane"  with  Shir- 
lev  Temple,  who  will  make  two  others, 
untitled.  Sonja  Henie  will  make  two, 
"Everything  Happens  at  Night"  and 
an  untitled  S.  S.  Van  Dyne  mystery. 
Titles  Are  Listed 

Major  films  announced  are  as  fol- 
lows : 

"The  Rains  Came,"  based  on  novel 
by  Louis  Bromfield ;  co-starring  Myr- 
na  Loy,  Tyrone  Power  and  George 
Brent,  with  support  including  Cesar 
Romero,  Joseph  Schildkraut,  Maria 
Ouspenskaya,  Henry  Travers.  Clar- 
ence Brown  will  direct. 

"Stanley  and  Livingstone,"  to  be 
directed  by  Henry  King,  with  Spencer 
Tracy,  Richard  Greene,  Nancy  Kelly, 
Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke,  Walter  Bren- 
nan,  Henry  Hull,  Henry  Travers, 
Charles  Coburn. 

"Hollywood  Cavalcade,"  with  Alice 
Faye  and  Don  Ameche  co-starred; 
screenplay  by  Ernest  Pascal,  from 
story  by  Lou  Breslow. 

"Maryland"  to  be  produced  in  color 
as  sequel  to  "Kentucky."  The  story, 
by  Sonya  Levien,  deals  with  the 
breeding  of  thoroughbred  trotting 
horses  and  the  history  of  Maryland. 

"Lady  Jane,"  Shirley  Temple  dra- 
matic film  in  color  on  scope  of  "The 
Little  Princess."  Adapted  from  child 
classic  by  Mrs.  C.  V.  Jamieson,  with 
New  Orleans  Mardi  Gras  background. 
To  be  directed  by  Walter  Lang. 

"Everything  Happens  at  Night," 
romantic  comedy  starring  Sonja  Henie, 
featuring  her  ice  ballets. 

"Drums  Along  the  Mohawk,"  in 
color.  Dealing  with  early  days  of  the 
pioneer  trappers,  this  novel  by  Walter 
Edmonds  has  been  in  preparation  two 
years ;  with  all-star  cast. 

"The  Mark  of  Zorro,"  starring  Ty- 
rone Power. 

"A  Briton  at  Yale,"  drama  starring 
Richard  Greene,  dealing  with  tradi- 
tions of  the  college. 

"Swanee  River,"  dealing  in  song 
and  drama  with  the  Old  South ;  star- 
ring Don  Ameche. 

"Little  Old  New  York,"  starring 
Alice  Faye ;  based  on  play  by  Rida 
Johnson  Young. 

An  untitled  mystery  story  by  S.  S. 
Van  Dyne,  starring  Sonja  Henie. 

"Hotel  for  Women,"  Cosmopolitan 
production,  in  which  Elsa  Maxwell 
will  make  her  screen  debut  in  a  story 
which  she  wrote  in  collaboration  with 


Kathryn  Scola.  Gregory  Ratoff  will 
direct. 

"Dance  with  the  Devil,"  original  by 
William  Rankin  and  Eleanore  Griffin. 

"Frontier  Marshall,"  dramatization 
of  the  West  in  the  time  of  Wyatt 
Earp. 

"He  Married  His  Wife,"  co-star- 
ring Warner  Baxter  and  Binnie 
Barnes. 

"Johnnie  Apollo,"  drama  of  modern 
youth,  by  Samuel  G.  Engel,  Hal 
Long  and  Roland  Brown. 

"The  Khyber  Rifles,"  a  story  of  ac- 
tion in  India.  To  be  produced  lavish- 
ly. No  cast  announced. 

"20,000  Men  a  Year,"  story  of  mod- 
ern aviation  and  its  problem  of  creat- 
ing fliers  in  American  colleges,  by 
Frank  Wead. 

"Here  I  Am  a  Stranger,"  father 
and  son  drama  with  a  collegiate  at- 
mosphere. Based  on  novel  by  Gordon 
Hillman  first  published  in  McCall's 
magazine. 

"Scotland  Yard,"  based  on  stage 
play  of  same  name  by  Denison  Clift. 

"Breach  of  Discipline,"  adapted 
from  a  European  stage  hit  dealing 
with  women  in  the  medical  profession. 

"Steinmetz,  the  Great,"  production 
based  on  the  struggles  and  romance 
of  the  scientist. 

"Red  Cross  Nurse,"  on  the  heroism 
of  nurses. 

"I  Was  an  Adventuress,"  drama  of 
a  woman  leader  of  a  band  of  Euro- 
pean swindlers. 

"A  Deal  in  Hearts,"  domestic  farce 
involving  the  eternal  triangle. 

"Dance  Hall,"  adaptation  of  W.  R. 
Burnett's  novel  of  the  steel  workers, 
"The  Giant  Swing,"  to  be  directed  by 
Gregory  Ratoff. 

Irving  Berlin's  "Bowery  Nightin- 
gale," successor  to  his  "Alexander's 
Ragtime  Band." 

"Brigham  Young,"  saga  of  the  Mor- 
mon Church  and  its  founder. 

"Belle  Starr,"  story  of  a  woman 
outlaw  of  the  West. 

"Lillian  Russell,"  dealing  with  the 
days  of  New  York  musical  comedy 
and  the  star. 

"The  Postman  Walks  Alone,"  listed 
as  "one  of  the  most  vital  stories  the 
studio  has  scheduled  for  production." 

In  addition  there  will  be  two  films 
to  be  produced  by  Zanuck  with  Shir- 
ley Temple  as  star. 

Associate  producers  on  the  20th 
Century-Fox  staff  are :  Harry  Joe 
Brown,  Raymond  Griffith,  David 
Hempstead,  Nunnally  Johnson,  Ed- 
ward Kaufman,  Kenneth  Macgowan, 
Gene  Markey  and  John  Stone. 

Stars  and  featured  players  under 
contract  include :  Shirley  Temple,  Ty- 
rone Power,  Sonja  Henie,  Alice  Faye, 
Don  Ameche,  Nancy  Kelly,  Richard 
Greene,  Cesar  Romero,  Annabella, 
Warner  Baxter,  Binnie  Barnes,  Peter 
Lorre,  Sidney  Toler,  Jane  Withers, 
Lionel  Atwill,  Henry  Fonda,  Joan 
Davis,  the  Ritz  Brothers,  John  Carra- 
dine,  Lynn  Bari,  Spring  Byington, 
Jed  Prouty,  Eddie  Collins,  Douglas 
Fowley,  Russell  Gleason,  Kane  Rich- 
mond, Joseph  Schildkraut,  George 
Sanders,  Slim  Summerville,  Wally 
Vernon,  Marjorie  Weaver,  Arleen 
Whelan,  Florence  Roberts,  Amanda 
Duff,  Pauline  Moore '  and  Joan  Va- 
lerie. 

Directors  under  contract  include : 
Otto  Brower,  Irving  Cummings,  Roy 
Del  Ruth,  Allan  Dwan,  John  Ford 
Eugene  J.  Forde,  Norman  Foster, 
Herbert  I.  Leeds,  Henry  King,  Wal- 
ter Lang,  Sidney  Lanfield,  George 
Marshall,  Gregory  Ratoff,  William  A. 
Seiter,  Malcolm  St.  Clair  and  Alfred 
Werker. 


Strike  Status  Same 
At  End  of  A  Week 

(Continued  from  page  lj 
affecting  exhibition,  which  is  not  in 
interstate  commerce,  were  properly  the 
concern  of  the  board.  Foremost  of 
these  are  the  Empire  State  contracts 
with  Century  and  Cocalis  circuits  and 
the  possibility  of  interference  with  ex- 
hibition resulting  from  the  strike. 

The  board  conceded  that  it  was  not 
concerned  with  the  distribution  phases 
of  the  strike.  A  tieup  of  exchanges  or 
stoppage  of  film  deliveries  would  in- 
volve a  commodity  in  interstate  com- 
merce and,  thus,  would  be  within  the 
province  of  a  Federal  agency. 

Indications  are  that  if  Local  306 
gives  formal  assurance^  on  its  theatre 
policy  today  they  will  include  agree- 
ments not  to  call  out  projectionists 
and  not  to  instruct  propectionists  to 
refuse  to  handle  film  coming  into  the 
booths,  subject  to  developments. 

Injunction  Completed 

Distribution  company  attorneys  have 
completed  drawing  up  an  application 
for  an  injunction  against  the  union  but 
it  will  be  held  in  abeyance  pending 
Government  moves  in  the  situation  and 
because  of  the  general  prospect  of  non- 
interference with  theatres  for  the  time 
being. 

The  Federal  investigation  under 
Joseph  E.  Brill  of  the  Attorney  Gen- 
eral's Washington  staff,  and  William 
McGovern  of  the  Federal  District  At- 
torney's office  here,  continued  over  the 
weekend,  although  it  was  confined 
largely  to  informal  questioning  of  the- 
atre men.  distribution  company  execu-. 
tives  and  their  attorne3'S,  and  Empire 
State  officials. 

Federal  agents  followed  up  their 
questioning  of  the  circuit  men  with 
questioning  of  Local  B-51  officials, 
over  the  weekend.  Local  306,  and 
possibly  I.A.T.S.E.  officials,  are  sche- 
duled to  be  called  this  afternoon. 

The  Federal  office  said  that  Local 
306  officials  had  been  asked  to  appear 
for  questioning  along  with  the  others 
but  had  not  complied  immediately.  It 
was  stated  that  subpoenas  would  be 
issued  for  all  who  did  not  appear  vol- 
untarily. 

The  line  of  questioning  by  the  Fed- 
eral men  was  one  designed  to  deter- 
mine whether  the  situation  existing  as 
a  result  of  the  I.A.T.S.E.-Local  306 
strike  was  brought  on  by  wages  and 
hours  considerations,  or  was  one  in- 
volving possible  violations  of  the  anti- 
trust laws.  If  it  is  the  former,  the  sit- 
uation would  come  under  the  provi- 
sions of  the  Norris-LaGuardia  Act 
and  the  government  would  be  power- 
less to  interfere.  If  the  latter,  how- 
ever, was  the  case,  the  government  is 
empowered  to  proceed  immediately 
against  the  union. 


Monday,  April  3,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"Love  Affair' 
At  $21,000  to 
Lead  Boston 


Boston,  April  2. — "Love  Affair" 
and  "Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  hit 
$21,000  at  Keith  Memorial.  "Stage- 
coach" and  "Whispering  Enemies," 
dualed  at  Loew's  Orpheum  and  State, 
pulled  second  money  with  $19,000  and 
%  fcgOO  for  a  $31,500  total. 

.stimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  29 : 

"Strange  Faces"  (Univ.) 

(4  days  with  vaude.) 
"Renegade  Trail"  (Para.) 

(4  days  with  vaude. J 
"Star  of  Midnght"  (RKO)  (2nd  run) 
Lost  Patrol"  (RKO)  (2nd  run) 
RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,000)  (20c-30c- 
40c)    Gross:  S8.000.    (Average.  $8,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2,790)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average. 
$15,000) 

"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Arizona  Wildcat"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT — (1,797)   (25-35c-40c-55c)  7 
davs.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average.  S9.000) 
"BlackweU's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Arizona  Wildcat"  (20th-Fox) 

FENWAY— (1.382)      (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $4,500.    (Average.  $5,500) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4.332)  (25c-3Sc-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,500.  (Average. 
$14,500) 

"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 
"Whispering  Enemies"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (2,907)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  davs.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average. 
$14,500) 

"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 
"Whispering  Enemies"  (Co>.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,537)  (25c -35c -40c -55c) 
7  davs.    Gross:  $12,500.    (Average.  $10,500) 
•Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tailspin"  (20th -Fox) 

SCOLLAY— (2.500)  (25c-35c-40c-50c)  7 
davs.  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average. 
$5,500) 


'Midnight'  Grosses 
$8,000,  Providence 

Providence,  April  2. — W  arm 
weather  cut  into  receipts,  with  the 
Strand's  double  bill,  "Midnight"  and 
"The  Frontiersmen,"  grossing  $8,000. 
Runnerup  was  the  Carlton's  extended 
run  with  "Pygmalion"  and  "Whisper- 
ing Enemies"  taking  in  a  neat  $6,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  29-30 : 

"Midnight"  (Para-) 

"The  Frontiersmen"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)     (25c-35c-50c>    7  days. 
Gross:  S8.000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3.230)  (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,500.     (Average.  $11,000) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC—  (2.250)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average.  $7,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE— (2.239)       (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $5,500.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

FAY'S— (1.800)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Vaudeville.  Gross:  $6.5000.  (Average. 
$6,500) 

"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 
Whispering  Enemies"  (CoL) 

CARLTON— (1.526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average.  $3,500) 


Must  Like  Him 

Omaha.  April  2. — Two  Oma- 
ha high  school  girls,  devout 
Charles  Boyer  fans,  set  a 
record  for  seeing  "Love  Af- 
fair" here.  After  they  had 
seen  it  seven  times  Will 
Singer,  Brandeis  manager, 
sent  them  a  pass,  enabled 
them  to  see  the  picture  three 
more  times  for  a  total  of  10 
in  the  14  davs  the  film  ran. 


'Love  Affair' 
Seattle  High 
With  $8,400 


Seattle,  April  2. — "Love  Affair" 
and  "The  Great  Man  Votes"  at  the 
Fifth  Avenue  led  the  way  with  $8,400. 
"Midnight"  and  "Illegal  Traffic"  at 
the  Paramount  took  $7,600. 

"Pirates  of  the  Skies"  and  "Navy 
Secrets"  plus  vaudeville  at  the  Palo- 
mar  drew  $5,100.  The  weather  was 
fair  and  warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  31  : 

"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Burn  'Em  Up  O'Connor"  (M-G-M) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,100.  (Average, 
$4,000) 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

"The  Great  Man  Votes"  (M-G-M) 

FIFTH  AVENUE  -(2.500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $8,400.    (Average.  $7,000) 
"Pygmalic-n"  (M-G-M) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c -40c -55c)  7  days, 
4tli  week.    Gross:  $3,300.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"The  Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Arizona  Wildcat"  (20th-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)  (30c-40c)  7  davs,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $4,900.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"Pirates  of  the  Skies"  (Univ.) 
"Navy  Secrets"  (Mono.) 

PALOMAR— (1,500)  (15c-25c-35c)  7  days. 
Vaudeville  headed  by  Norvell.    Gross:  $5,- 
100.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"Illegal  Traffic"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3.050)  (30c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,600.    (Average.  $6,000) 


'Alaska'  Gable's  Next 

Hollywood,  April  2. — Clark  Cable's 
next  picture  to  follow  "Gone  With 
the  Wind"  will  be  M-G-M's  "Alaska," 
from  the  Addison  Marshall  novel, 
"Seward's  Folly."  Anita  Loos  and 
Robert  Hopkins  are  working  on  the 
screen  play. 


Charles  Higgins  Dies 

Columbus,  O.,  April  2. — Charles 
F.  Higgins,  56,  bill  poster  for  local 
theatres,  and  previously  advertising 
manager  for  the  old  High  Street,  died 
at  his  home  after  a  brief  illness.  His 
widow  and  a  sister  survive. 


Each  Other'  With 
'Chinatown  King' 
$7,000  in  Detroit 


Detroit,  April  2. — "Made  for  Each 
Other"  and  "King  of  Chinatown"  did 
the  best  comparative  business  with 
$7,000  at  the  Palms  State.  "Three 
Smart  Girls  Grow-  Up"  plus  a  stage 
show  at  the  Fox  took  $18,000.  The 
dual  at  the  Michigan,  "I'm  from  Mis- 
souri" and  "Fast  and  Loose,"  drew 
$10,000.  "Pygmalion"  in  its  second 
week  gave  the  United  Artists  $8,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  30 : 

"Son  of  Frankenstein"  (Univ.) 
"Lone  Wolf  Spy  Hunt"  (Col.) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

FOX—  (5.000)    (20c-65c)    7    days.  Stage, 
Mitzi  Green,  Mario  &  Floria,  Lowe.  Hite 
&  Stanlev.  16  Dansonettes.    Gross:  $18,000. 
(Average.  $20,000) 
"I'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

MICHIGAN— (4,000)     (20c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average.  $10,000) 
"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.A.) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

PALMS  STATE— (3,000)  (15c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2.000)  (20c-65c)  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average. 
$10,000) 


Detroit  Tops  RKO  Drive 

Detroit  exchange  is  still  leading  in 
the  RKO  George  Schaefer  drive  at 
the  end  of  the  eighth  week.  New  York- 
is  in  second  position  and  New  Haven 
is  third.  Eastern  central  leads  the 
seven  districts  and  the  eastern  division 
leads  the  western. 


'Beachcomber' 
Fair  $13,500 
In  Pittsburgh 


Pittsburgh,  April  2. — "The  Beach- 
comber" drew  $13,500  at  Loew's  Penn 
in  a  week  of  generally  slow  business. 
"Cafe  Society"  at  the  Stanley  took 
$14,000,  and  "One  Third  of  a  Nation" 
and  "Boy  Trouble"  grossed  $3,600  at 
the  Warner.  The  weather  was  un- 
usually warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  30 : 

"Winner  Take  All"  (28th-Fox) 
"Mysterious  Miss  X"  (Rep.) 

ALV1N— (1,900)     (25c-35c-50c)     6  davs. 
Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $7,000,  7  days) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

FULTON— (1.700)  (25c-40c)  4  days.  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average,  $5,000,  7 
days) 

"Beachcomber"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S    PENN — (3.600)    (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,500.    (Average:  $15,000) 
"Mr.  Wong"  (Mono.) 

"Eagle  and  the  Hawk"  (Para.)  (reissue) 

SENATOR—  (2.000)      (25c-40c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $2,700.    (Average,  $3,800,  7  days) 
"Cafe  Society"  (Para.) 

STANLEY— (3,600)    (25c-40c-60c)  Gross: 
$14,000.    (Average,  $17,000) 
"Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 
"Boy  Trouble"  (Para.) 

WARNER— (2.000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,600.    (Average,  $4,500) 


Frenke  Plans  'Anschluss' 

Hollywood,  April  2.  —  Eugene 
Frenke  has  announced  plans  for  the 
production  of  "Anschluss,"  the  pic- 
ture dealing  with  Hitler's  seizure  of 
Austria  and  entry  into  Vienna.  The 
picture  will  start  shooting  April  5. 


AMERICA -FIRST,  LAST- ALWAYS! 


Oklahoma  Kid'  at 
$9,200  for  Omaha 

Omaha,  April  2. — Annual  Shrine 
circus  furnished  heavy  competition 
here.  "Oklahoma  Kid,"  dualed  with 
"The  Three  Musketeers"  set  the  pace 
with  $9,200  at  the  Orpheum. 

"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  and  "Charlie 
Chan  in  Honolulu"  were  good  at  the 
Omaha  with  $7,800. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  29-30 : 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

BRANDEIS — (1,800)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $4,400.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Honolulu"  (ZOth-Fox) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,800.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Three  Musketeers"  (20th-Fox) 

ORPHEUM—  (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $9,200.    (Average,  $7,600) 


S  *^*JBB  The  Republic  ot  Texas 

■•tadies  and  gentle-en  seveIal 

is  no  more  e  a  state 

Years  to  have  Texas  ^  goal  oi 
U«-^;^-wnonaSlovea 

Texas  and  ">»h 

*ndxew  Jackson'  _ 


★  MAN  OF  CONQUEST  * 

RICHARD  DIX  as  Sam  Houston  •  Gail  Patrick 
as  Margaret  Lea  •  Edward  Ellis  as  Andrew  Jackson 
Joan  Fontaine  as  Eliza  Allen    •   A  Republic  Picture 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


6 


Kansas  Legislature 
To  Adjourn  Without 
Passing  Film  Bills 


Topeka,  Kan.,  April  2.— With  ad- 
journment of  the  Kansas  legislature  in 
sight  it  was  apparent  that  no  legisla- 
tion directly  affecting  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  would  be  enacted  at  this 
session. 

The  censorship  bill,  banning  block 
booking  and  placing  enforcement  in 
the  hands  of  the  police,  died  in  Senate 
committee. 

The  divorcement  measure  also  ex- 
pired in  committee.  The  measure 
passed  the  house  and  was  reported  out 
by  the  Senate  Judiciary  Committee, 
only  to  be  re-called. 

The  measure  sponsored  by  broad- 
casters against  Ascap  also  fell  by  the 
wayside  before  it  could  get  to  the 
Senate. 


Negroes  Win  Right 
To  Picket  in  Queens 

Members  of  a  Negro  association 
have  the  right  to  picket  a  theatre  for 
the  purpose  of  inducing  the  owner  to 
employ  Negroes,  according  to  a  deci- 
sion of  Justice  Stoddard  in  Queens 
County  Supreme  Court.  Justice  Stod- 
dard denied  an  injunction  to  Anora 
Amusement  Corp.,  operator  of  the 
Palace,  Corona,  L.  I.,  but  instructed 
the  Negro  Youth  Association  of 
Corona  to  limit  its  pickets  to  two 
members. 

Justice  Stoddard  declared  that  no 
labor  dispute  was  involved  but  per- 
mitted the  picketing  because  "the  right 
of  an  individual  or  group  to  protest  in 
a  peaceable  manner  against  injustice 
or  oppression,  actual  or  merely  fan- 
cied, is  one  to  be  cherished  and  not  to 
be  proscribed  in  any  well  ordered 
society." 

Technicians  to  Urge 
Increase  in  Quotas 

London,  April  2. — Association  of 
Cine  Technicians,  at  its  annual  con- 
ference on  April  16,  is  expected  to  de- 
mand an  increase  in  the  exhibitors' 
and  distributors'  quotas  on  features 
and  shorts. 

Resolutions  also  will  urge  the 
Board  of  Trade  to  arrange  regular 
and  comprehensive  Films  Council  re- 
ports and  will  express  opposition  to 
political  censorship  of  newsreels. 


COUNCIL  PLANS  REPORT 

London,  April  2. — Films  Council 
yesterday  held  the  last  meeting  of 
the  current  quota  year,  and  considered 
the  terms  of  a  report  for  the  first 
working  period  of  the  Films  Act.  The 
group  examined  the  cost  clause  for 
shorts  and  the  proposal  to  set  up  an 
advisory  finance  group. 

The  council's  report  is  expected  to 
be  ready  by  June  1. 


'Gunga  Din'  Suit  Filed 

Hollywood,  April  2.— RKO  was 
named  defendant  today  in  an  in- 
junction suit  filed  by  Harry  Gould 
who  charged  that  the  film  "Gunga 
Din"  was  pirated  from  an  original 
story  he  submitted  to  the  company 
in  1934. 


Wisconsin  Bill  Asks 
Theatre  Circuit  Tax 

Madison,  Wis.,  April  2. — A  bill  has 
been  introduced  in  the  Assembly 
which  calls  for  a  tax  on  circuit  the- 
atres of  $5  to  $100,  depending  upon 
the  number  of  units  in  the  circuit.  In 
addition,  the  measure  would  assess  an 
equalization  tax  on  seating  capacity, 
from  two  cents  to  30  cents  per  seat, 
also  depending  upon  the  size  of  the 
circuit. 

Currently  bills,  both  similar,  relat- 
ing to  license  and  occupational  tax  on 
circuit  theatres,  are  awaiting  action  in 
the  Assembly  and  Senate.  The  occu- 
pational tax  assessed  in  this  measure 
ranges  from  $5  for  each  theatre  to 
$100,  and  from  one  cent  to  15  cents 
per  seat,  depending  upon  the  number 
of  houses  in  the  circuit. 

Wachsberger  Expects 
French  Product  Drop 

French  production  will  drop  about 
20  per  cent  in  the  number  of  films 
made,  but  budgets  will  be  increased 
to  about  $150,000  for  top  pictures  next 
season,  in  the  opinion  of  Nat  Wachs- 
berger, French  exhibitor  who  is  as- 
sociated with  Synimex  of  Paris  and 
Les  Film  Triomphe  of  Brussels,  who 
is  here  from  Paris.  Together  with 
Harry  Brandt,  he  has  organized  Films 
Alliance  of  U.  S.  for  distribution  of 
foreign  product  in  this  country  and 
South  America. 

Refugees  from  Central  Europe  are 
flocking  to  Paris  and  are  providing  the 
industry  with  technical  and  directing 
talent,  so  that  the  quality  of  the  films 
has  been  improved.  French  audiences 
are  reacting  favorably  and  are  patron- 
izing native  product  in  increasing 
numbers,  although  American  films  are 
still  the  overwhelming  favorites.  Films 
Alliance  plans  to  book  foreign  product 
into  Brandt  houses  and,  in  addition, 
set  up  a  number  of  distribution  offices 
in  key  cities. 

Police  in  Bank  Night 
Raid  on  Racine  House 

Racine,  Wis.,  April  2. — Acting 
upon  petitions  of  women's  groups  ad- 
vocating legal  action  against  Bank 
Night,  Dist.  Atty.  Richard  G.  Harvey, 
Jr.,  ordered  police  to  raid  Warner's 
Venetian  theatre  here.  All  parapher- 
nalia connected  with  the  operation  of 
Bank  Night  was  seized  and  Don 
Nichols,  manager  of  the  house,  was 
ordered  to  report  to  the  district 
attorney. 


Name  Club  Committee 

Kansas  City,  April  2. — Harry 
Wheeler,  president  of  the  Cinema 
Club,  has  named  Martin  Stone  chair- 
man of  the  membership  committee, 
with  Ed  Hartman,  W.  W.  Sherrill 
and  Charles  Siebenthaler  as  members. 
Harry  Biederman  is  chairman  of  the 
entertainment  committee,  and  will  be 
assisted  by  Larry  Biechele  and  John 
Scott. 


Sues  20th-Fox  on  Song 

Song  plagiarism  suit  has  been  filed 
in  U.  S.  District  Court  against  20th 
Century-Fox,  Leo  Feist,  Inc.,  Mack 
Gordon  and  Harry  Revel  by  Robert 
Brooker  Wyatt.  He  claims  plagiar- 
ism of  "In  a  Bassinet,"  in  the  Gordon- 
Revel  song,  "This  May  Be  the 
Night,"  in  the  20th  Century-Fox 
film,  "My  Lucky  Star." 


Picture  Employes 
'Adopt'  Refugees 

Employes  of  six  film  com- 
panies have  "adopted"  18 
Spanish  orphans,  according 
to  the  Foster  Parents  Plan 
for  Spanish  Children. 

Employes  of  Warners  have 
"adopted"  eight  children; 
United  Artists,  four;  Colum- 
bia, three;  and  M-G-M,  Para- 
mount and  RKO,  one  each. 
The  children  range  in  age 
from  five  to  11  years  and  are 
now  in  the  Spanish  children's 
colony  near  Biarritz,  France. 
The  "adoption"  plan  consists 
of  moderate  contributions 
toward  the  support  of  the 
orphans. 


Baird  Financing  Plan 
Approved  by  Holders 

London,  April  2. — Stockholders  of 
Baird  Television  Co.  at  the  annual 
meeting  here,  approved  the  financial 
report  and  the  new  financing  plan. 
Gaumont  British  will  take  35  per  cent 
of  the  $2,000,000  stock  issue. 

Sir  Harry  Greer,  board  chairman, 
said  the  company's  patents,  technique, 
trade  marks  and  the  like  represent 
about  $6,026,000. 

Isidore  Ostrer  was  quoted  by  the 
Financial  Times  as  saying  that  G.  B. 
will  save  $2,000,000  by  equipping  the- 
atres with  its  own  apparatus.  About  80 
London  G.  B.  houses  are  due  to  have 
double  equipment  for  films  and  televi- 
sion. He  claimed  the  G.  B.  investment 
in  radio  and  television  returned  \2y2 
per  cent  during  the  current  year. 

Producers  Ready  to 
Submit  Pact  to  SDG 

Hollywood,  April  2. — Virtual  com- 
pletion of  the  proposed  agreement  with 
Screen  Directors'  Guild  has  been 
announced  by  Joseph  M.  Schenck, 
president  of  the  A.M. P. P.,  after  a 
meeting  with  attorneys.  Schenck  said 
the  producer  attorneys  would  complete 
the  final  draft  of  the  agreement  short- 
ly and  it  would  be  presented  to  the 
S.D.G.  negotiating  committee. 


Para.  Sets  (Mandalay' 

Hollywood,  April  2. — Paramount 
will  team  Bing  Crosby,  Dorothy  La- 
mour  and  Bob  Hope  in  "The  Road 
to  Mandalay"  which  Harlan  Thomp- 
son will  produce.  Don  Hartman, 
Frank  Butler  and  Ken  Englund  are 
writing  the  script. 


Maine  Plans  Sunday  Tax 

Augusta,  Me.,  April  2. — A  motion 
to  levy  a  tax  on  Sunday  motion  pic- 
ture admissions  is  being  considered  by 
the  Maine  legislature.  The  additional 
revenue  is  sought  for  old  age  pension 
funds. 


Extend  Mo.  Sales  Tax 

Jeffekson  City,  Mo.,  April  2. — 
Missouri  House  has  approved  exten- 
sion of  the  two  per  cent  sales  tax  to 
Dec.  31,  1941,  an  additional  two-year 
period.  The  tax  brings  the  state 
about  $21,000,000  a  year. 


'Ordeal'  Set  for  Engel 

Hollywood,  April  2. — Sam  En- 
gel's  first  production  under  David  O. 
Selznick  will  be  "Ordeal,"  from  the 
Nevil  Schute  novel. 


Monday,  April  3,  1939 


See  Compromise  in 
Kibre-IATSE  Row 


Hollywood,  April  2. — Possibility  of 
a  compromise  was  seen  in  one  phase  of 
the  I.A.T.S.E.  disputes  here  following 
a  conference  among  I.A.T.S.E.  Inter- 
national officers,  Jeff  Kibre,  minority 
leader,  producer  representatives  and 
Dr.  Towne  Nylander,  regional  direc- 
tor of  the  N.L.R.B. 

Nylander,  who  was  reinstated  after 
months  of  suspension,  issued  a  state- 
ment after  the  conference.  In  it.  he 
said  that  a  compromise  had  beei  I- 
rived  at  on  several  points  and  the  con- 
ferences would  be  resumed  on  April  5 
when  an  effort  will  be  made  to  adjust 
other  differences. 

Kibre  had  filed  charges  against  In- 
ternational officers. 


TWO  LOSE  BADGES 

Hollywood,  April  2. — Deputy  sher- 
iff badges  of  Harold  V.  Smith,  I.A.- 
T.S.E. International  representative 
and  that  of  the  bodyguard  of  A.  Brig- 
ham  Rose,  attorney  for  suspended  of- 
ficers of  Studio  Technicians  Local  37 
have  been  suspended  by  Sheriff  Eu- 
gene Biscailuz.  Badges  of  all  persons 
engaged  in  labor  controversies  will  be 
revoked,  the  Sheriff  said.  The  badges 
imply  permission  to  carry  arms.  The 
only  other  weekend  development  in 
the  studio  union  dispute  was  the  mass 
meeting  sponsored  by  Painters  Local 
644  of  International  as  a  move  toward 
harmony. 


'Union  Pacific'  to  Get 
$200,000  Promotion 

Hollywood,  April  2. — Paramount's 
"Union  Pacific"  will  be  advertised  to 
the  tune  of  about  $200,000,  according 
to  Robert  M.  Gillham,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity.  Supplementing 
Paramount's  appropriation  of  $80,000 
for  newspaper  and  magazine  space  the 
Union  Pacific  Railroad  will  spend 
$50,000  on  a  magazine  campaign.  It  is 
estimated  that  more  than  $50,000  will 
be  spent  by  other  national  advertisers 
on  Paramount  tieups.  The  picture 
opens  at  Omaha  on  April  28. 


SET  TOUR  OF  40  CITIES 

Tour  of  40  key  cities  by  five  mem- 
bers of  the  cast  of  "Union  Pacific" 
will  start  April  28,  when  the  film 
opens  simultaneously  at  the  Para- 
mount, Orpheum  and  Omaha  in 
Omaha.  The  five  are  Evelyn  Keyes, 
Shelia  Darcy,  Judith  Allen,  Julia 
Faye  and  Evelyn  Luckey.  Also  ex- 
pected at  the  Omaha  premieres  are 
Cecil  B.  DeMille,  Barbara  Stanwyck 
and  Joel  McCrea. 


Two  Film  Measures 
Die  in  Rhode  Island 

Providence,  April  2. — Of  the  three 
theatre  bills  in  the  current  session  of 
the  Rhode  Island  legislature,  only  one 
was  kept  alive. 

Two  Senate  bills  introduced  by 
Henry  R.  DiMascolo,  one  permitting 
stage  plays  on  Sunday,  the  other  ad- 
vancing the  opening  hour  of  films  on 
Sunday  from  2  P.  M.  to  1  P.  M.,  died 
in  the  Senate  Judiciary  Committee. 
Representative  George  Whitman's  bill 
providing  for  fire  alarm  boxes  in  the 
four  theatres  in  Cranston  and  the 
hiring  of  theatre  firemen  is  still  alive. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  3.  1939 

New  Time  Policy 
To  Be  Set  by  NBC 

NBC,  effective  April  30,  is  inaugu- 
rating a  new  policy  which  will  give 
network  optional  time  and  station  time 
to  the  following  stations :  KECA,  Los 
Angeles;  KEX,  Portland;  KFSD, 
San  Diego;  KJR,  Seattle;  KLO, 
Ogden  and  KTMS,  Santa  Barbara. 
All  except  KLO  are  Pacific  Blue  net- 
work stations.  KLO  is  on  the  Blue 
Mountain  network. 

effect  the  new  edict  means  that 
tlu  stations  in  these  areas  will  no 
longer  have  to  turn  over  their  full 
time  to  the  network,  which  they  have 
had  to  do  until  now  because  of  the 
time  differentials.  Under  the  new  set- 
up they  will  have  5^4  hours  of  station 
time.  All  time  except  the  following 
periods  will  be  station  time :  week- 
days, 1  P.M.  to  6  P.M..  6:30  to  7:30 
P.M..  8  P.M.  to  12  :30  A.M.  Sundays, 
1  P.M.  to  4  P.M.,  5  to  6  P.M.,  and 
7:30  P.M.  to  12:30  A.M. 

General  Mills  to  Put 
'Grouch  Club'  on  Air 

General  Mills  will  place  a  new  show 
on  a  coast-to-coast  web  in  "Grouch 
Club."  over  the  NBC  Red,  Sundays 
from  6:30  to  7  P.M.,  starting  April 
16.  The  contract  is  for  13  weeks. 

"Grouch  Club,"  however,  is  not  a 
new  program.  Originating  in  the 
studios  of  the  Warner  station,  KFWB 
in  Hollywood,  it  has  been  heard  in 
California  for  some  time.  Incidentally, 
the  "Grouch  Club"  broadcasts  in  that 
state  are  broadcast  over  the  CBS  Pa- 
cific network.  Blackett-Sample-Hum- 
mert  placed  the  order  for  the  NBC 
hookup. 


'Charm'  Off  for  Summer 

General  Electric's  "Hour  of 
Charm,"  which  features  the  all-girl 
orchestra  of  Phil  Spitalny,  will  leave 
the  air  for  the  summer  at  the  expira- 
tion of  its  present  contract,  which 
runs  until  May  29.  It  is  believed  the 
program  will  be  resumed  in  the  fall. 


Mutual  Billings  for 
March  Hit  $306,976 

Mutual  network  billings  for  March 
totaled  $306,976,  an  increase  of  31.8 
per  cent  over  the  billings  for  the  same 
month  last  year,  which  amounted  to 
$232,877. 

Cumulative  billings  for  the  three 
months  of  1939  amounted  to  $898,659, 
up  15.8  per  cent  compared  to  the  1938 
cumulative  total  for  the  same  period, 
amounting  to  $776,021. 


NBC  and  CBS  Sign 
With  Music  Guild 

Ending  long-standing  differ- 
ences, the  American  Guild  of 
Musical  Artists  and  the  con- 
certs departments  of  CBS 
and  NBC  have  signed  a  five 
year  agreement.  However,  it 
is  understood  that  the  con- 
tracts are  being  held  pending 
the  close  of  negotiations  now 
going  on  in  Hollywood.  The 
contracts  limit  commissions 
and  provide  for  establish- 
ment of  joint  advisory  com- 
mittees, and  for  arbitration 
of  disputes  by  the  American 
Arbitration  Association. 

$3,541,740  Profit 
Reported  by  CBS 

Annual  financial  report  of  CBS  for 
1938,  issued  Saturday,  shows  a  net 
profit  of  $3,541,740.90,  or  $2.07  per 
share,  as  compared  with  $4,297,566.82, 
or  $2.52  per  share  for  1937,  a  decrease 
of  $755,825.92,  or  45  cents  per  share. 
Per  share  earnings  for  both  years  are 
based  on  the  1,708,147  shares  of  $2.50 
par  value  stock  outstanding  at  the 
close  of  1938  or  to  be  outstanding 
upon  the  completion  of  the  exchange 
of  all  old  $5  par  value  shares. 

Cross  income  from  sale  of  facilities 
and  talent  for  the  year  amounted  to 
$32,662,992.80,  a  decrease  of  $1,576,- 
903.29  from  the  gross  income  of 
$34,239,896.09  for  1937.  _ 

Cash  dividends  of  $1.25  per  share  on 
the  present  par  value  stock,  amount- 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Clarence  Nevins,  the  Dodge  City 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  Dodge  City 
officials,  the  Santa  Fe  Railroad  boys, 
Einfeld  and  the  Warner  home  office 
and  studio  lads  put  on  a  show  to  be 
remembered.  As  Governor  Ratner 
stated  in  his  welcome  address,  this 
was  a  great  day  for  Dodge  City,  a 
great  day  for  Kansas  and  the  south- 
west. 

The  picture  was  given  a  triple 
premiere  Saturday  night  at  the  town's 
three  theatres. 

Additional  to  the  "Glamour  Train" 
which  brought  Hollywood  stars  and 
featured  players,  and  special  press  cars 
from  New  York,  Chicago  and  the 
south,  the  Santa  Fe  R.  R.,  glorified 
in  the  film,  ran  excursion  trains  from 
points  in  Kansas,  Missouri,  Oklahoma 
and  other  neighboring  states. 

Among  the  Hollywood  contingent 
were  Errol  Flynn,  Priscilla  Lane,  Ann 
Sheridan,  Alan  Hale,  Buck  Jones  and 
others. 

The  premiere  followed  a  day  of 
celebration  which  included  a  Wild 
West  parade,  a  "Chuckwagon  Lunch- 
eon" at  the  Lofa-Locke  Hotel,  a  rodeo 
and  pageant  of  the  early  west,  a  band 
concert  in  which  more  than  two-score 
musical  organizations  participated,  and 
coast-to-coast  broadcasts  over  NBC 
and  Mutual. 

Fully  25,000  persons  crowded  the 
station    area    and    surrounding  tho- 


Block  Booking  Bill 
Hearing  Is  On  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

trade  practice  code  which  provides  for 
an  increase  in  cancellations  up  to  20 
per  cent. 

With  their  hopes  for  a  favorable 
decision  by  the  Supreme  Court  af- 
firming the  validity  of  divorce  legisla- 
tion dashed  by  the  repeal  of  the  North 
Dakota  law,  Department  of  Justice  of- 
ficials are  represented  as  hopeful  now 
that  Congress  will  take  a  definitely 
affirmative  stand  on  the  abolition  of 
block-booking,  which  is  involved  in 
the  bulk  of  the  complaints  received 
from  exhibitors. 


S.  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, arrives  in  Washington 
today  for  the  hearing. 

Leo  Brecher  will  represent  the 
I.T.O.A.,  expressing  the  organiza- 
tion's opposition  to  the  bill.  Harry 
Brandt,  president,  is  unable  to  go  to 
Washington  because  of  the  operators' 
strike.  

ing  to  §2,135,006.45  were  paid  during 
1938  and  undistriuted  profits  of  $1,- 
406,734.45  have  been  added  to  surplus. 
Fixed  assets,  before  application  of  the 
reserve  for  depreciation  and  amortiza- 
tion, increased  to  $7,716,946.97  at 
Dec.  31,  1938,  from  $6,604,894.20  at 
Jan.  1.  After  providing  for  depreci- 
ation accruals  of  $593,066.12  net  fixed 
assets  increased  during  the  year  to 
$4,991,987.37  from  $4,388,340.65. 

Cash  in  hand  at  the  close  of  the 
vear  amounted  to  $4,041,997.28  as 
compared  with  $3,636,397.04  at  the 
close  of  the  previous  year. 

Investments  in  capital  stock  of  affil- 
iated companies  increased  during  the 
year  to  $593,894.09. 


roughfares  to  meet  the  200  arriving 
guests.  As  the  Hollywood  "Glamour 
Train"  stopped  en  route,  players  and 
guests  broadcast  from  the  train. 

Visiting  stars  made  personal  ap- 
pearances at  the  three  premieres. 
Then  came  a  street  dance  on  old 
Front  St.  and  at  midnight  an  "Early 
West"  party  was  held  aboard  the 
"Glamour  Train." 

Warner  executives  from  the  coast 
attending  the  round-up  included,  be- 
sides Einfeld,  Bob  Taplinger,  Carlyle 
Jones  and  from  the  home  office, 
Mitchell  Rawson,  Jacob  Wilk  and 
Ralph  Budd. 

Dodge  City  was  transformed  into  its 
former  self,  the  town  of  the  early 
1870's.  Hundreds  of  the  citizenry 
grew  beards  especially  for  the  cele- 
bration. 

Between  desert  towns  in  bleak  New 
Mexico  the  Hollywood  train  flagged 
down  the  Super  Chief  taking  Jack 
Warner  back  to  the  studio  from  an 
interrupted  vacation  in  Miami.  Errol 
Flynn,  Buck  Jones  and  Hoot  Gibson 
boarded  the  train,  roped  the  Warner 
vice-president  and  dragged  him  to  the 
observation  car.  Flashlight  bulbs  ex- 
ploded and  so  did  Jack,  lighting  up 
the  desert  with  wisecracks  the  sound 
man  didn't  record.  Back  then  on  the 
Chief  and  off  to  conferences  with  his 
brother  Harry  went  the  man  under 
whose  supervision  "Dodge  City"  was 
filmed. 


Field  Staffs  of  "U" 
To  Attend  Sessions 


Universale  entire  field  sales  force 
will  attend  one  or  another  of  the  com- 
pany's three  regional  sales  meetings 
at  Cincinnati,  Chicago  and  San  Fran- 
cisco this  month. 

In  addition,  Nate  J.  Blumberg, 
president;  W.  A.  Scully,  general  sales 
manager;  F.  J.  A.  McCarthy,  eastern 
sales  manager ;  W.  J.  Heineman.  west- 
ern sales  manager,  and  F.  T.  Murray, 
James  Jordan,  O.  C.  Binder,  Andrew 
J.  Sharick,  Morris  Alin,  Joseph  FI. 
Seidelman  and  Louis  Pollock  from 
the  home  office  will  attend. 

The  following  will  attend  the  Cin- 
cinnati meeting,  starting  April  15: 

From  Boston — W.  Kelly,  manager;  F. 
Dervin.  I.  Shiftman,  J.  Curran,  H.  Konnis, 
H.  Martin  and  J.  Murphy;  New  Haven— 
M.  Joseph,  manager  and  A.  Titus.  Phila- 
delphia— G.  Schwartz,  manager;  J.  Engel, 
W.  Doyle,  M.  Koppelman,  J.  Leon  and  R. 
Bernhard;  New  York— Al  Herman,  district 
manager  and  Leo  Abrams,  manager;  Max 
Cohen,  Nat  Goldberg,  H.  Furst,  J.  Ligget, 
P.  Winnick  and  B.  Price;  Atlanta — H. 
Graham,  district  manager;  J.  Ezell,  mana- 
ger, C.  J.  Jordan,  R.  Elliot,  E.  F.  Cox,  E. 
L.  O'Neill,  R.  B.  Gann;  Charlotte— P. 
Baron,  manager;  R.  F.  Good,  R.  H.  Mester- 
man,  J.  Greenleaf,  and  J.  M.  Bishop; 
Dallas — E.  S.  Olsmith,  manager;  J.  H.  Liet- 
zer,  L.  D.  Leitzer,  W.  R.  Pittergle,  C.  M. 
Miller  and  E.  V.  Green;  Memphis — A.  J. 
Pretchard.  manager;  H.  I.  Mansfield,  B.  H. 
Jordan  and  L.  H.  Andrews. 

Also  from  New  Orleans — W.  M.  Richard- 
son, manager;  P.  Tessier,  C.  McMillin  and 
N.  Lamantia;  Oklahoma  City — J.  E.  Hobbs, 
manager;  Henry  Martin,  W.  G.  Wray,  M. 
.M.  Holstein;  Washington — B.  B.  Kreisler, 
manager;  L.  J.  Young,  B.  Frank,  S.  Tabor, 
W.  E.  D'avis  and  O.  Blumenthal;  Albany — 
Joe  Engel,  manager;  L.  J.  Lesier,  W.  A. 
Ryan  and  A.  J.  Marchetti;  Buffalo— J.  J. 
Scully.. manager;  J.  Fater,  W.  F.  Bock  and 
Carl  Heedit;  Cleveland — D.  Miller,  district 
manager;  J.  R.  Kaufmann,  manager;  J.  V. 
Frew,  G.  Rosenbaum,  J.  Krenitz,  A.  W. 
Young,  W.  L.  Sencer  and  Peter  Rosian; 
Pittsburgh — Jules  Lapidus,  manager;  D. 
Barnholtz,  L.  Hess,  S.  E.  Feld,  W.  Satori 
and  F.  Guehl.  Cincinnati — P.  Kreiger, 
manager:  N.  LeVene,  H.  Young,  G.  B, 
Gomersall,  J.  Marks  and  F.  Schreiber. 

Chicago  Meeting  Roster 

Branch  Managers  and  salesmen 
attending  the  Chicago  meeting  April 
18  will  be : 

Des  Moines — J.  J.  Spandau,  manager;  H. 
Schiffrin,  J.  Smith,  Hilton  Frost,  I.  Weiner; 
Kansas  City — Pete  Dana,  district  manager; 
L.  J.  Miller,  manager;  R.  M.  Palmquist, 
L.  Morrow,  R.  Thompson,  J.  Beiser  and  E. 
Selig;  Omaha — Otto  Siegle,  manager;  R.  J. 
Olson,  L.  Hensler,  A.  Hill  and  J.  W. 
Harns;  St.  Louis — J.  E.  Garrison,  manager; 
Harry  Hynes,  J.  H.  Sarfaty,  S.  H.  Nesbit 
and  Harry  Hines,  Jr.;  Detroit — E.  Heiber, 
manager;  J.  Stewart,  A.  Fischer,  B.  Tighe 
and  J.  R.  Susane;  Indianapolis — G.  C. 
Craddock,  manager;  A.  Kaufman,  W.  B. 
Grant,  W.  Sherman;  Minneapolis — H.  B. 
Johnson,  manager;  A.  Zacherl,  J.  M.  Field - 
man,  S.  Leff,  D.  Gutman,  M.  Hollaran,  and 
V.  L.  Dickenson;  Milwaukee — F.  Mantzke, 
manager;  E.  W.  Gavin,  R.  J.  Basett,  J.  M. 
Hickey  and  O.  Peterson;  Chicago — E.  T. 
Gomersall,  district  manager;  M.  Gottlieb, 
manager;  R.  Funk,  F.  Myers,  E.  Wein- 
shenker,  M.  Brodsky,  A.  Kent  and  W. 
Hyland. 

Branch  Managers  and  salesmen 
attending  the  San  Francisco  meeting 
April  22  will  be : 

Denver — Jack  Langan,  manager;  A.  W. 
O'Connell.  E.  Warner  and  T.  McMahon; 
Los  Angeles — A.  O'Keefe,  district  manager; 
C.  J.  Feldman,  manager;  A.  Wog,  L.  Hoss, 
C.  Wade  and  E.  Cooke;  Portland— R.  O. 
Wilson,  manager;  F.  M.  Blake,  J.  Hommel, 
and  J.  Harvey;  Salt  Lake  City— M.  Apar- 
ton,  manager;  L.  T.  McGinley,  manager; 
C.  L.  Theuerkauf.  M.  J.  Whitman  and  A. 
M.  Kallen;  San  Francisco — B.  Rose,  man- 
ager; King  Trimble,  Al  Oztaby,  C.  E.  Pace 
and  C.  F.  McBride. 


To  Air  Easter  Service 

Easter  Sunday  services  in  Vatican 
City  to  be  conducted  by  Pope  Pius 
XII  will  be  broadcast  by  NBC,  CBS 
and  Mutual  on  that  day. 


Hitler  Speech  Cut 
From  Air  in  U.  S. 

Chancellor  Adolph  Hitler's 
Saturday  talk  from  Wilhelms- 
haven,  Germany,  which  all 
the  American  networks  had 
been  scheduled  to  carry,  was 
abruptly  cut  off  the  air  after 
he  had  spoken  only  about 
two  minutes.  Hitler  started 
to  speak  at  11:30  A.M.,  and  a 
few  minutes  later  DJB,  Berlin, 
cut  the  wires,  silencing  net- 
works throughout  the  world 
other  than  possibly  German 
and  Italian  webs. 


Dodge  City  Whoops  'er  Up 
For  Warner  Film  Opening 


•  Pick  up  any  national  magazine  .  .  .  any  newspaper .  ,  .  look  at  any  billboard 
• • . read  the  movie  ads  .  .  .  then  look  at  any  National  Screen  Trailer  .  .  .  and 
you'll  see  why  we  sayt 

No  printed  account  ...  no  matter  how  graphically  written  .  .  .  can  thrill  its  readers 
.  .  .  excite  its  readers  .  .  .  amuse  its  readers  .  .  .  one-tenth  as  much  as  seeing  and  hear- 
ing the  event  itself  I 

Listen  to  any  radio  broadcast . .  •  then  see  a  trailer  and  you'll  see  why  we  say  t 

ISothing  compares  to  seeing  and  hearing  the  actual  event  itselfl 

No  form  of  advertising . . .  no  matter  how  smart,  can  give  you  the  one  hundred 
percent  coverage  you  get  from  National  Screen  Trailers . . .  and  at  the  lowest 
cost  per  person  reached! 

•••Prize  Baby  of 


/n*ff:Pi  o  n  r  l 


the  Industry!  — 


M 


PRODUCERS  & 


00  NOT  REjMfl, 


S   OF   AM • » 


DISTRIBUTOR 
28  VEST   44TH  Si 
NEW  YORK.  l3  C0PT 


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■pensable 
to  thelifljction 
Picture 
Industry 


ON  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


9C 


45.  NO.  64 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  APRIL  4,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


RKO  Is  Seen 
Out  of  Courts 
In  Few  Weeks 


Final  Plan  Confirmation 
Given  by  Bondy 


After  six  years  in  the  bankruptcy 
courts,  RKO  emerged  yesterday  with 
final  confirmation  of  its  plan  for  reor- 
ganization granted  by  Federal  Judge 
William  Bondy.  Consummation  of  the 
plan,  which  involves  only  a  few  purely 
technical  legal  steps,  is  expected  to 
follow  in  short  order  and  the  manage- 
ment returned  to  company  hands  with- 
in the  next  few  weeks. 

Judge  Bondy  wrote  a  brief  memo- 
randum stating  that  the  plan  was  con- 
tinned  and  directing  attorneys  to  sub- 
mit a  detailed  formal  order.  This  can 
be  done  on  two  days'  notice  and  other 
steps,  such  as  a  formal  election  of  offi- 
cers, filing  of  a  new  certificate  of  in- 
corporation, and  exchanging  new  se- 
curities for  old  as  provided  in  the  plan 
can  be  rushed  through  in  several  days 
if  speed  is  desired. 

Staff,  Board  Approved 

The  decision  carried  with  it  ap- 
proval of  the  proposed  officers  and 
directors.  George  J.  Schaefer  will  be 
president,  Floyd  B.  Odium  chair- 
man of  the  board,  Ned  E.  Depinet 
vice-president,  and  William  Mallard 
secretary  and  treasurer.  Schaefer, 
Depinet,  Thomas  P.  Durell,  Raymond 
Bill,  Frederick  L.  Ehrman,  N.  Peter 
Rathvon,  W.  G.  Van  Schtnus  and 
Lunsford  P.  Yandell  will  be  directors 
of  the  new  company. 


$191,865  Fees  for 
Loew  Case  Counsel 

Fees  totaling  $191, 865  were  allowed 
to  attorneys  for  Loew's  stockholders 
who  had  brought  suit  against  Loew's 
and  its  officers  and  directors  by  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court  Justice  Louis  A. 
Yalente,  in  a  judgment  signed  by  him 
yesterday.  Judgment  provides  for  pay- 
ment by  Loew's  to  Emil  K.  Ellis  of 
$64,025 ;  Abraham  L.  Pomerantz,  $20,- 
000 ;  Joseph  Nemerov,  $28,500  ;  Harry 
Bijur,  $17,079;  Garey  &  Garey,  $11,- 
886 ;  Milton  L.  Milvy,  $6,000 ;  Maurice 
Rose,  $7,000;  Menden  &  Mann, 
$7,375. 

The  fees  will  be  payable  out  of 
$543,000  which  Justice  Valente,  after 
trial,  ordered  Louis  B.  Mayer,  Nich- 
olas M.  Schenck,  J.  Robert  Rubin, 
Arthur  M.  Loew  and  the  estate  of 
Irving  Thalberg  to  repay  to  Loew's 
for  overpayment  on  contracts. 


H.  E.  Orazio  Orazi 
Is  Italy's  Film  Chief 

Rome,  April  3. — H.  E.  Orazio 
Orazi  is  the  new  motion  pic- 
ture chief  for  Italy.  His  official 
title  is  director  general  of  the 
motion  picture  department  of 
the  Ministry  of  Popular  Cul- 
ture. He  is  32  years  old  and 
was  formerly  the  federal  sec- 
retary of  the  Fascist  Party  in 
Rome.  He  succeeds  Luigi 
Freddi,  who  has  been  ap- 
pointed vice-president  of  the 
official  studios. 


U.  A.  Policy 

Covers  Pact: 
Silverstone 


United  Artists'  sales  policy  already 
covers  many  of  the  points  included  in 
the  industry  trade  practice  program, 
Murray  Silverstone,  operating  head 
of  the  company,  said  yesterday  in 
commenting  on  the  company's  reasons 
for  not  participating  in  the  program. 

United  Artists  "never  was  and  could 
not  be"  a  party  to  the  trade  pact,  Sil- 
verstone said,  because  of  its  unique 
makeup.  He  pointed  out  that  with 
11  producers,  each  a  separate  entity 
independent  of  the  other,  and  with 
some  of  these  making  only  a  single 
picture  annually,  the  company  was 
not  in  a  position  to  make  any  blanket 
commitment  binding  upon  any  or  all 
of  them. 

Silverstone  said  that  this  was  un- 
derstood from  the  "very  inception  of 
the  trade  practice  negotiations"  and 
that,  therefore,  it  could  not  be  said 
that  Linked  Artists  had  "withdrawn" 
from  them.     He  said  that  company 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Neely  Fails  to  Limit 
Booking  Bill  Hearing 


Code  Fails  to  Give 
Independents  Relief 
Is  View  of  Allied 


Washington,  April  3.  —  Allied 
States  considers  the"  trade  practice 
code  draft  submitted  by  distributors 
as  incomplete  and  as  not  affording 
sufficient  relief  for  independent  ex 
hibitors,  it  was  disclosed  here  to 
day  after  a  meeting  of  the  executive 
committee  yesterday.  Col.  H.  A. 
Cole,  president,  is  here  to  confer 
with  Abram  F.  Myers,  general  coun- 
sel, and  attend  the  Neely  bill  hearing. 

No  special  meeting  of  the  Allied 
directorate  will  be  called  to  consider 
the  draft  because  of  failure  of  the 
distributors  to  cover  all  details  of  ar- 
bitration, it  was  stated.  The  directors 
are  next  scheduled  to  meet  in  conjunc- 
tion with  the  national  convention  in 
Minneapolis  in  June. 

In  a  formal  statement,  the  execu- 
tive committee  pointed  out  Allied  "has 
consistently  adhered  to  the  position 
that  any  program"  not  providing  for 
elimination  of  block  booking,  blind 
selling  and  theatre  divorcement,  "will 
not  afford  independent  exhibitors  the 
relief  to  which  they  are  entitled  and 
must  have." 

The  statement  continued :  "The 
trade  practice  proposals  submitted  by 
the  distributors  not  only  are  incom- 
plete .  .  .  but  do  not  provide  relief  at 
all  commensurate  with  that  asked  by 
the  Government  in  its  suit." 

Referring  to  resolutions  passed  by 
the  Allied  board,  directing  continu- 

(Coiitinued  on  pane  6) 


London  Says  "Dictators"  Facing 
British  Government  Opposition 

London,  April  3. — It  is  an  accepted  fact  in  informed  circles  here 
that  the  proposed  picture  by  Charles  Chaplin,  entitled  "The  Dic- 
tators" and  devoted  to  satirical  treatment  of  the  heads  of  dictator 
nations,  will  not  be  produced. 

The  Government  has  given  the  matter  its  official  attention, 
apparently  proceeding  on  the  policy  of  discouraging  the  theatrical 
use  of  material  offensive  to  the  heads  of  foreign  nations. 

Last  week  a  minor  incident  in  the  same  category  cropped  up 
when  official  disapproval  was  expressed  over  a  musical  review 
song  number  which  lampooned  Adolph  Hitler.  The  song  was 
promptly  withdrawn. 

It  is  assumed  that  if  Chaplin's  "The  Dictators"  is  known  to  be 
headed  for  official  opposition  in  the  United  Kingdom,  thus  erasing 
a  great  part  of  the  potential  market,  it  will  not  be  produced. 


Pettijohn  Tells  Senators 
Bill  Would  Destroy 
Production  Code 


Washington,  April  3. — Expressing 
confidence  he  could  secure  passage  of 
his  anti-block  booking  bill  by  the  Sen- 
nate  without  any  further  testimony 
from  proponents,  Senator  Neely  today 
unsucessfully  sought  to  limit  hearings 
before  a  Senate  Interstate  Commerce 
subcommittee  to  presentation  of  "new" 
arguments  by  opponents. 

With  C.  C.  Pettijohn,  general  coun- 
sel of  the  M.  P.  P.  D.  A.,  pleading  for 
a  full  hearing,  with  which,  he  said, 
"we  can  beat  the  bill,"  Senator  Smith, 
chairman,  rejected  Neely's  contention 
that  the  whole  story  is  told  in  the 
record  of  previous  hearings  on  the 
subject  and  expressed  his  desire  to 
have  block  and  blind  booking  fully 
developed  before  passing  on  the  meas- 
ure. The  hearing  will  resume  tomor- 
row. 

Highlights  of  Hearing 

Highlight  of  the  initial  hearing  was 
Petti john's  vigorous  plea  for  rejec- 
tion of  the  measure  which,  he  said, 
not  only  would  destroy  the  Produc- 
tion Code  but  would  place  the  Ameri- 
can Industry  at  the  mercy  of  foreign 
governments  in  countries  which  are 
seeking  to  develop  their  own  films  to 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Strike  Parley  Held 
With  State  Board 

First  meeting  looking  to  a  settle- 
ment of  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.-Local  306 
strike  was  held  yesterday  at  the  State 
Mediation  Board  with  representatives 
of  distribution  companies  and  metro- 
politan circuits  attending. 

Jules  J.  Freund  of  the  state  board 
reported  following  the  meeting  that 
progress  had  been  made.  He  described 
the  aim  of  the  conference  as  primarily 
to  develop  plans  for  preventing  the 
spread  of  the  strike  to  theatres  but 
said  that  the  ultimate  aim,  naturally, 
was  settlement  of  the  existing  strike. 
Other  meetings  will  be  held  this  week 
but  none  have  been  definitely  set  yet. 

On  the  Federal  end,  Berkley  W. 
Henderson,  head  of  the  anti-trust  di- 
vision of  the  Department  of  Justice 
in  New  York,  arrived  from  Washing- 
ton yesterday  and  took  over  the  in- 
vestigation of  the  strike  from  Joseph 
E.  Brill  and  William  McGovern  of  the 
Federal    District    Attorney's  office. 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


1  % 


MOTION  PICTURl 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  4,  1939 


Personal  ► 
<  Purely 

WG.  VAN  SCHMUS  and 
•  George  J.  Schaefer  were 
presented  "megillas"  at  the  Yeshiva 
College  dinner  at  the  Astor  Sunday 
night  in  appreciation  of  their  work  on 
the  committee. 


William  A.  Clark  has  been  ap- 
pointed manager  of  RKO  Keith's  in 
Dayton,  succeeding  Millard  Blaett- 
ner,  resigned.  Duane  Hatfield  has 
quit  the  RKO  Colonial  in  Dayton. 
• 

S.  Charles  Einfeld  arrives  today 
from  the  "Dodge  City"  premiere  at 
Dodge  City,  Kan.  With  him  are  Jake 
Wilk,  Mitchell  Rawson,  Ralph 
Budd  and  John  Harkins. 

• 

Wayne  C.  Ball  has  been  promoted 
to  branch  manager  for  Columbia  in 
Los  Angeles,  from  Denver.  Bob  Hill 
of  Salt  Lake  is  taking  over  the  Den- 
ver territory. 

• 

Barend  Broekman,  president  of  the 
newly  organized  Vedis  Films,  will  sail 
Friday  on  the  Queen  Mary  for  France 
where  he  will  look  over  the  French 
market. 

• 

J.  Real  Neth,  Columbus  circuit 
head,  has  left  Mt.  Carmel  Hospital 
for  home.  He  had  suffered  a  broken 
leg  and  pneumonia. 

• 

George  Becker  has  quit  as  Colum- 
bia salesman  in   Cleveland   and  has 
been  replaced  by  Oscar  Bloom.  Jack 
Share  has  been  added  to  the  staff. 
• 

Holbrook  C.  Bissell,  former  Co- 
lumbia Cleveland  branch  manager, 
plans  to  go  into  the  advertising  busi- 
ness in  the  east. 

• 

Arthur  Israel,  Jr.  is  the  father  of 
a  7-pound  boy,  John  Wallace,  born 
Saturday  to  Mrs.  Israel  at  Woman's 
Hospital. 

• 

W.  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  general 
sales  manager,  is  due  tomorrow  or 
Thursday  from  Washington. 

• 

Joseph  Kaufman  has  arrived  in 
Cleveland  to  take  over  management 
of  the  Universal  exchange. 

• 

Lee  Moffitt,  Owensboro,  Ky.,  ex- 
hibitor and  head  of  the  M.P.T.O.  of 
Kentucky,  is  in  Florida. 

• 

Howard  Dietz,  M-G-M  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  returns  this 
weekend  from  Bermuda. 

• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  H.  Blank  of  Des 
Moines  return  home  today  from  a  stay 
at  Hot  Springs,  Ark. 

• 

Leo  Robin  and  Ralph  Rainger 
are  en  route  to  the  Paramount  studio 
from  New  York. 

• 

Eddie  Aaron,  assistant  to  W.  F. 
Rodgebs  at  M-G-M,  is  vacationing  in 
Florida. 

• 

Matthew  J.  Fox  and  John  Joseph 
plan  to  leave  Friday  for  the  Universal 
studio. 


Mid  -  West  Preview 


"Dodge  City" 

( Warners) 

Dodge  City,  Kan.,  April  3. — In  the  teeth  of  such  a  turnout  as  few 
previews  ever  precipitated,  in  the  scene  of  the  story  and  while  the  world 
listened  in  by  radio,  by  newspaper  report  and  through  the  lenses  of  more 
cameras  than  ever  were  trained  upon  a  similar  event,  Warners'  pro- 
duction in  color  of  a  proportionately  tremendous  original  screenplay  by 
Robert  Buckner  turned  back  years  of  calendar  to  the  days  when  this 
place  was  really  tough.  Top  man  among  the  tough  hombres  who  make 
the  screen  a  free-for-all  during  much  of  this  unreeling  is  Errol  Flynn, 
with  such  rugged  citizens  as  Alan  Hale,  Bruce  Cabot,  John  Litel,  Victor 
Jory  and  a  standard  supply  of  Warner  fighting  stock  adding  to  the 
fisticuffs.  Meanwhile,  Olivia  de  Havilland  gives  the  new  generation  a 
smooth  idea  of  the  kind  of  girls  their  grandmothers  may  have  been.  It's 
a  sizeable  picture  in  every  sense  of  the  phrase. 

If  the  place  the  picture  shows  is  not  indeed  the  Old  West  of  song  and 
story,  it  will  do  very  nicely  until  somebody  cooks  up  a  better  simulation 
of  it,  which  will  require  quite  some  cooking.  This  is  a  Robert  Lord 
production,  and  he  is  rather  famous  for  well  done  jobs.  It  is  also  a 
manifestation  of  Michael  Curtiz'  directorial  ability,  and  that  goes  back 
through  half  a  hundred  films,  to  the  beginnings  of  the  modern  cinema. 
He  is  at  his  rich,  free  handed  best  in  this  broad  canvas. 

The  Dodge  City  of  the  picture  is  the  place  where  the  railroad  stopped, 
for  a  while,  and  the  place  to  which  the  cattle  were  brought  up  from 
Texas,  a  mad  sort  of  frontier  area  where  a  six-shooter  was  no  mere 
figure  of  speech.  This  is  deep  in  the  texture  of  American  history,  this 
burly,  brawling  metropolis  of  another  day,  and  if  any  child  of  the  plains, 
or  the  cities,  has  been  unmindful  of  it  these  last  few  softened  years 
Warners  have  refurbished  their  memory.  So,  in  days  and  weeks  to 
come,  will  the  newspapers  and  the  magazines  of  the  nation,  all  of  whom 
were  represented  on  the  preview  setting  by  writers,  photographers  and 
commentators.  The  fans  will  have  been  put  on  notice  about  this  one, 
but  definitely,  by  the  time  these  words  appear  in  print. 

Seldom  has  a  studio  gone  so  far  toward  selling  its  product  to  the 
public.  The  trains  that  converged  on  Dodge  City,  from  Hollywood,  from 
New  York,  Chicago  and  other  key  cities,  spread  the  word  about  this 
picture  athwart  the  consciousness  of  the  population.  It  was  at  once  a 
notification  and  a  challenge.  It  was  a  challenge  to  Warners  to  make 
good.  The  people  in  Dodge  City  may  or  may  not  be  experts  in  such 
matters  as  the  subject  which  bears  the  municipal  name,  but  they  probably 
are.  If  they  are  not,  nobody  else  is.  They  loved  this  picture,  jammed 
three  theatres  all  night  long  to  look  at  it.  That  would  seem  to  be  about 
all  a  showman  booking  the  film  would  need  to  know  about  it. 

Running  time,  105  minutes.    "G."  Roscoe  Williams 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Legion  Approves  9 
Of  10  New  Pictures 

National  Legion  of  Decency  ap- 
proved nine  of  10  films  reviewed  and 
classified  this  week.  Four  were  found 
unobjectionable  for  general  patronage, 
five  for  adults  and  one  was  found 
objectionable  in  part.  The  films  and 
their  classifications  follow. 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gen- 
eral Patronage — "The  Challenge," 
"My  Wife's  Relatives,"  "Navy  Se- 
crets" and  "Texan  Wildcats."  Class 
A-2,  Unobjectionable  for  Adults — 
"Forged  Passports,"  "Society  Lawyer," 
"Strange  Faces,"  "They  Made  Her  a 
Spy"  and  "Undercover  Agent."  Class 
B,  Objectionable  in  Part — "Bizarre, 
Bizarre." 


A.  F.  A.  Names  Slate 

Nominating  committee  of  the  Amer- 
ican Federation  of  Actors  has  named 
eight  members  to  be  presented  at  the 
annual  elections  to  fill  the  eight  va- 
cancies in  the  council.  Rudy  Vallee, 
Sally  Rand,  Jed  Dooley  and  Walter 
J.  Diggs  were  renominated  and  Joe 
Smith,  Avis  Andrews,  Lou  Taylor  and 
Adye  Alyn  were  also  named.  Elec- 
tions will  be  May  9. 


M-G-M  Announces 
6  Contest  Winners 

Howard  Dietz,  M-G-G  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity,  yesterday 
announced  the  six  winners  in  the  com- 
pany's "Marie  Antoinette"  contest.  The 
prize  is  a  trip  to  France.  The  theatre 
manager  winners  were  Frank  Weath- 
erford,  Worth  Theatre,  Fort  Worth, 
Tex. ;  Ray  Bell,  Loew's,  Washington, 
D.  C.  Theatre  patrons  who  won  were 
Mary  M.  Canak,  Milwaukee;  Helen 
King,  Denver ;  Effie  Burkhalter,  Ama- 
rillo,  Tex.,  and  Mrs.  Helen  Szold, 
Chicago.  The  winners  will  sail  from 
New  York  on  the  N  ormandie  on  May  3. 


Finish  Yiddish  Picture 

Shooting  on  "My  Son"  an  all- Yid- 
dish feature  with  English  titles,  has 
been  completed  at  Palisades,  N.  J., 
under  the  direction  of  Joe  Seiden,  with 
J.  Burgi  Contner  at  the  camera.  Pic- 
tures will  be  released  by  Cinema  Ser- 
vice Corp. 


Greenblatt  Rogers'  Aide 

Budd  Rogers,  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  Alliance  Films 
Corp.,  has  appointed  Arthur  Green- 
blatt as  his  assistant. 


'Four  Feathers' 

London,  April  3. — Alexander 
Korda's  "Four  Feathers," 
given  a  "sneak"  preview  at 
Wembley  tonight,  appears  an 
immense  success.  Its  mag- 
nificent color  blends  splen- 
didly with  spectacular  Egyp- 
tian sequences  and  stirring 
personal  adventure  drama.  A 
thrilling  spectacle  and  excel- 
lent cast. 

Box-office  records  are  fore- 
cast for  this  production 
triumph. 

Flanagan 


O'Donnell  to  Speak 
At  Republic's  Meet 


Houston,  April  3. — R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell of  Dallas,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  Interstate  Circuit, 
will  be  a  guest  speaker  at  Republic's 
southern  regional  sales  meeting  which 
opens  here  Friday  for  two  days.  Other 
guest  speakers  are  scheduled. 

There  will  be  morning  and  after- 
noon sessions  on  Friday  and  a  morn- 
ing session  Saturday.  The  meeting, 
held  at  the  Rice  Hotel,  will  be  the  first 
of  four  regionals.  The  company's 
new  program  of  26  features,  25  west- 
erns and  four  serials  will  be  discussed. 
This  is  a  reduction  of  four  features 
from  the  current  season. 

With  more  than  40  attending,  the 
Houston  meeting  will  be  presided  over 
by  C.  E.  Hilgers,  southern  district 
sales  manager. 

The  complete  program  follows : 
"Republic — Its  Future,"  H.  J.  Yates, 
president,  Consolidated  Film  Indus- 
tries ;  "Production,"  M.  J.  Siegel, 
president,  Republic  Productions ; 
"1938-'40  Program,"  William  Saal, 
special  representative ;  "Selling  the 
Program,"  James  R.  Grainger,  presi- 
dent, Republic  Pictures ;  "Advertising 
and  Publicity,"  Al  Adams,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity ;  "Republic — 
What  It  Means  to  Me,"  discussion  by 
franchise  holders,  including  Arthur 
Bromberg,  Atlanta;  William  G.  Un- 
derwood and  Claude  Ezell,  Dallas ; 
Sol  Davis  and  Morris  Loewenstein, 
Oklahoma  City,  and  B.  F.  Busby,  Lit- 
tle Rock ;  addresses  by  guest  speakers  ; 
open  forum ;  closing  address  by  Yates. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Heralp,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS: — Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


Midnight  comments  on 


MIDNIGHT 


It 


*  SHOW  COMMENTS  * 
PARAMOUNT  THEATRE 

*  NEW     YORK     CITY  * 


TUESDAY 


STUDIO  PREVIEW 


MARCH  28,  1939 


FEATURE:  "MIDNIGHT"  with  Claudette  Colbert  —Don  Ameche— 
John  Barrymore — Mary  Astor — Francis  Lederer 


The  dialogue  is  very  clever. 
Colbert  is  as  sensational  as  usual. 
A  thoroughly  enjoyable  comedy. 
The  best  I've  seen  for  months. 

I  wish  they  hadn't  laughed  so  much,  I  missed  some  of  the  jokes! 

That's  a  swell  picture. 

Claudette  Colbert  is  marvelous. 

Mary  Astor 's  best  role  to  date. 

I 'm  going  to  see  this  picture  again. 

There's  no  part  Barrymore  cannot  excel  in. 

I  never  laughed  so  much  in  my  life. 

Better  than  "It  Happened  One  Night" . 

Grandest  comedy  Paramount  has  had  for  years. 

Dialogue  was  very  snappy  and  exceptionally  funny. 

There  wasn't  enough  of  Don  Ameche. 

John  Barrymore  surpasses  his  past  roles. 

Claudette  Colbert  was  adorable. 

I  liked  seeing  Francis  Lederer  again. 

I  didn't  expect  this,  it  was  swell. 


Paramount9 s  "MIDNIGHT"  is  getting  more  than  rave  comments. 
It's  doing  rave  business  . .  .  134%  in  Miami;  110%  in  Boston; 
121%  in  Worcester;  122%  in  Hartford;  140%  in  New  Haven* 


stex 


Tops  in  musical  film  entertainment ...  one  of  their 

best . . .  gay,  romantic  and  dramatic  by  turns." 

— Kate  Cameron,  N.  Y.  Daily  News 


ii 


ii 


Has  tremendous  charm  and  subtly  invades  the  private 

life  of  any  audience.  — Bland  Johaneson,  N.  Y.  Daily  Mirror 

Entertainment  values  sure-fire  . . .  rich  in  dancing 

spectacle  and  humor."  —Howard  Barnes,  N.  Y.  Herald-Tribune 

A  beautifully  told  story,  with  sincere  and  vigorous 

performances."  —Frank  S.  Nugent,  N.  Y.  Times 

One  of  the  best . . .  thoroughly  entertaining . . .  gay, 

romantic  and  tuneful       —Hose  Pelswick,  N.  Y.  Journal  and  American 

Happy  entertainment ...  a  charming  bit  of  romance 

told  against  the  backgrounds  and  to  the  popular  music  of  25 


years  ago 


-Eileen  Creelman,  N.  Y.  Sun 


'Tender  screen  biography. ..enormously  absorbing... 

charming  and  delightful  love  story." 

—William  Boehnel,  N.  Y.  World-Telegram 

Delightful  and  charming  entertainment." 

— Archer  Winsten,  N.  Y.  Post 


* 


and  dozens  ol  other  tixsi 


to  you 


BOX-OFFICE  NATURAL  ~Film  Daily 

TDIDI  T  DT  BTFfl  B/W  APPTf1!1^ 
A  IUrLLBrLAl  EiAJ  OVA- VI  *  Ivli 

-Motion  Picture  Daily 

SURE-FIRE  FOR  STRONG  BOX- 
OFFICE  -Hollywood  Reporter 

SHOULD  K£FAY  HANDSOMELY 

-Hollywood  Variety 

TOP  SHOW  FOR  TOP  MONEY 

-/ay  Emanuel  Publications 


with 

EDNA  MAY  OLIVER 
WALTER  BRENNAN 

ft  K  O  LEW  FIELDS  •  1ANET  BEECHER 
jjtADIO  .    ETIENNE  GIRARDOT  • 

PICTURES  PANDR0  S,  BERMAN  in  charge  of  Production 


V 


Directed  by  H.  C.  Potter     Produced  by  George  Hatght 

Screen  Play  fay  Richard  Sherman 
Adaptation  by  Oscar  Hamnterstein  II  and  Dorothy  Yost 


runs  thtotiffhout  the  nation, 


■ml. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  4,  1939 


Silverstone  Says  UA 
Policy  Covers  Pact 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

representatives  participated  in  only  a 
few  trade  practice  meetings  and  then 
only  as  "spectators"  and  at  the  invita- 
tion of  the  distributors'  negotiating 
committee.  He  emphasized  that,  de- 
spite its  non-participation,  United 
Artists  would  be  a  "constructive 
force"  in  helping  to  achieve  the  rela- 
tionship between  distributor  and  ex- 
hibitor sought  through  the  industry 
code. 

Silverstone  enumerated  the  com- 
pany's 11  producers  thus — Charles 
Chaplin,  Douglas  Fairbanks,  Alex- 
ander Korda,  David  O.  Selznick, 
Walter  Wanger,  Hal  Roach,  Edward 
Small,  David  Loew,  Samuel  Goldwyn, 
Ernst  Lubitsch  and  Sol- Lesser.  He 
said  that  Lesser  would  produce  one 
important  picture  a  year  under  his 
contract  with  the  company.  These 
will  be  in  addition  to  the  Lubitsch  pic- 
tures, first  of  which  is  not  expected 
until  1940.  Lubitsch  will  contribute 
about  three  pictures  every  two  years, 
Silverstone  said. 

At  Least  Two  from  Selznick 

Loew,  financing  his  own  produc- 
tions, will  make  one  or  two  big  pic- 
turess  annually,  working  at  Selznick- 
International  studio.  Selznick,  whom 
the  U.  A.  head  described  as  a  "genius 
with  his  best  work  to  come,"  will 
contribute  a  minimum  of  two  pictures 
to  the  new  season  schedule.  Chaplin 
is  actively  engaged  on  his  picture, 
"The  Dictators,"  which  will  be  re- 
leased during  the  new  season,  Silver- 
stone said. 

Goldwyn's  future  activities  depend 
on  the  outcome  of  his  suit  against 
the  company.  His  contract  has  until 
1945  to  run  but  does  not  obligate  him 
to  produce  anything.  However,  what 
he  does  produce  must  be  distributed 
through  United  Artists  unless  the 
courts  set  aside  the  contract. 

United  Artists  "will  most  seriously 
and  vigorously  resist  any  attempt  on 
the  part  of  Mr.  Goldwyn  to  arrange 
for  the  distribution  of  his  future  pic- 
tures, in  violation  of  his  contract," 
Charles  Schwartz,  attorney  for  the 
company,  stated. 


To  Take  Depositions 

Stipulation  has  been  filed  in  the 
U.  S.  District  Court  providing  for 
depositions  in  Los  Angeles  on  behalf 
of  Paramount,  defendant  in  a  suit  by 
Zelma  B.  Tilden  for  alleged  plagiarism 
of  her  play,  "Captain  What-the-Devil" 
in  the  film  "The  Buccaneer." 


Movietone  to  Cover 
Europe  by  Airmail 

Movietone  News  plans  36- 
hour  coverage  on  European 
events  when  trans  Atlantic 
air  service  is  started  by  Pan- 
American  Airways  this  sum- 
mer. The  service  is  planned 
both  ways  with  American 
reels  being  sent  to  the  Conti- 
nent by  plane.  Delivery  costs 
are  expected  to  rise  by  750 
per  cent.  With  the  new  air- 
lane  opened,  plane  service 
will  be  available  to  the  reels 
for  any  part  of  the  globe. 


Strike  Parley  Is  Held 
With  State  Mediators 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Matthew  Levy,  attorney  for  Local  306, 
was  questioned  yesterday.  Hender- 
son is  expected  to  decide  today  wheth- 
er any  further  questioning  of  individ- 
uals is  necessary  and  probably  wheth- 
er the  Government  has  the  right  to 
intervene  in  the  strike. 

Meanwhile,  film  deliveries  from  ex- 
changes to  theatres  continue  uninter- 
rupted despite  the  picketing  of  ex- 
changes. The  union's  informal  assur- 
ance of  last  week  that  it  would  do 
nothing  "for  the  time  being"  to  spread 
the  strike  to  theatres  or  interfere  with 
their  operation  is  expected  to  hold 
good  while  settlement  talks  are  in 
progress. 


Pact  Fails  to  Give 
Relief,  Allied  Holds 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ance  of  efforts  to  obtain  legislation, 
the  executive  committee  announced  it 
had  voted  unanimously  to  appear  be- 
fore the  Congressional  committees  in 
support  of  the  Neely  bill. 


Iowa-Nebraska  to  Vote 

Eldora,  la.,  April  3. — Leo  F.  Wol- 
cott,  president,  I.  T.  O.  of  Iowa  and 
Nebraska,  plans  to  present  the  trade 
practice  code  draft  to  members  for  a 
a  vote  at  a  meeting  in  Des  Moines, 
probably  April  17  or  18. 

Wolcott  said:  "These  proposals  ap- 
parently bear  close  relationship  to  the 
former  proposals  which  were  rejected 
as  inadequate  at  the  time." 


Set  Club  Stag  Party 

Cleveland,  April  3. — Variety  Post 
No.  313,  Howard  Roth,  commander, 
will  hold  its  stag  party  April  14. 


Ask  your  Photophone  representative  about  the  sensational 

{  %UU  RCA  PHOTOPHONE 
\  MAGIC  VOICE  of  the  SCREEN 


with  Rotary  Stabilizer  PLUS  SHOCK  PROOF  DRIVE! 


Designed  for  any  theatre- 
regardless  of  size 


Neely  Fails  to  Limit 
Booking  Bill  Hearing 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

supersede  ours,  in  the  interest  of 
trade.  He  had  reference,  particularly, 
to  England. 

None  of  those  most  active  in  writ- 
ing the  Neely  bill  has  ever  made  or 
sold  a  picture,  he  declared,  but  for 
the  past  1 1  years  there  has  been  legisla- 
tion constantly  before  Congress  to 
regulate  the  industry,  which  has 
"taken  it  on  the  chin."  Where  hear- 
ings were  granted  on  block  book- 
ing, he  asserted,  the  measure  has  been 
beaten.  Last  year,  when  the  Senate 
passed  the  bill,  he  pointed  out,  no 
hearing  was  granted  although  one 
had  been  requested. 

The  Legion  of  Decency,  Pettijohn 
declared,  has  been  an  important  factor 
in  improving  pictures.  Last  year,  only 
six  films  were  condemned,  three  of 
them  foreign  and  none  of  the  other 
three  made  by  regular  companies,  and 
all  distributed  singly  "as  under  the 
Neely  Bill." 

An  argument  between  Neely  and 
Smith  as  to  the  conduct  of  the  hear- 
ings was  halted  when  the  latter  de- 
clared he  wanted  to  know  whether  the 
bill  "is  going  to  help  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  and  whether  or  not  it 
will  be  a  benefit  to  the  public." 

Gained  in  Latin  America 

Pettijohn  disclosed  that  American 
pictures  have  gained  almost  if  not 
fully  as  much  in  Latin  America  as 
they  have  lost  in  Germany  and  Italy. 
Senator  Barkley  commented  he  had 
been  told  certain  foreign  interests  are 
furnishing  free  films  to  South  Amer- 
ica in  an  effort  to  propagandize. 
"That  is  true,"  Pettijohn  said,  "and 
we  are  going  to  meet  it." 

However,  he  added,  "If  the  Neely 
bill  is  passed  we're  licked  abroad." 

Henry  P.  Atkinson,  president  of  the 
Massachusetts  Civic  League  and  rep- 
resenting the  Boston  chapter  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Research  Council  and 
29  national  public  groups,  asserted  the 
whole  aim  of  the  bill  is  to  permit  local 
communities  to  select  their  pictures, 
but  when  asked  by  Smith  how  that 
would  be  done,  expressed  the  "belief" 
that  local  theatres  should  be  able  to 
establish  their  own  programs. 

Voices  Guild  Opposition 

Opposition  of  the  Screen  Actors' 
Guild  to  passage  of  the  bill  was  sub- 
mitted by  Robert  Montgomery,  for- 
mer president  of  the  association,  who 
asserted  the  proposed  law  would  cut 
production  schedules  in  half  and  di- 
rectly affect  the  employment  of  282,- 
000  persons  in  276  crafts. 

The  bill  gives  the  industry  12 
months  to  readjust  its  structure,  he 
pointed  out,  asserting  that  it  couldn't 
do  it  in  12  years.  "The  sponsors  of 
this  bill  ask  Congress  to  destroy  the 
entire  business  structure  of  one  of 
the  largest  industries  of  the  United 
States  without  offering  any  alterna- 
tive plan  except  one  which  has  failed 
every  time  it  has  been  tried,"  he  com- 
mented. 

Among  those  who  will  speak  for  the 
distributors  at  the  hearing  are  S.  R. 
Kent,  president,  20th  Century- Fox ; 
William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  general 
sales  manager,  and  Abe  Montague, 
Columbia  sales  head.  All  are  mem- 
bers of  the  distributors'  trade  practice 
committee.   They  are  in  Washington. 

Leo  Brecher,  a  director  of  the  I. 
T.  O.  A.,  leaves  for  Washington  today 


Science  to  Rescue 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  April  3.— 
Neil  McGill,  manager  of  the 
Imperial,  was  freed  on  a 
charge  of  operating  on  Sun- 
day when  his  program  ran 
until  12:15  A.M.  on  Saturday 
night,  but  it  took  the  local 
meteorologist  to  clear  him. 

The  expert  proved  scien- 
tifically that  Sunday  actually" 
does  not  begin  in  CharlottiL 
until  12:23:24  A.M.  (E.S.T.), 
and  that  since  McGill  ended 
his  show  at  12:15,  he  did  not 
violate  the  law. 


Koerner  Is  Honored 
At  Party  in  Boston 

Boston,  April  3.— Charles  W. 
Koerner,  New  England  divisional 
manager  for  RKO  Theatres,  was 
given  a  farewell  party  at  the  Cocoa- 
nut  Grove  here  last  night.  About  400 
attended.  Next  Friday  Koerner  goes 
to  the  west  coast  to  become  RKO 
divisional  head  there.  Harry  Mac- 
Donald  of  Providence  succeeds  him 
here. 

At  the  head  guest  table  were  John 
J.  O'Connor,  general  manager  of  RKO 
Theatres ;  Bill  Howard,  RKO  vaude- 
ville booker,  and  Ben  Domingo,  RKO 
Theatres  city  manager.  Emmett  Gavin 
was  toastmaster. 


Pick  'Golden  Boy' 

Hollywood,  April  3. — William  Hol- 
den,  21 -year-old  "unknown,"  was 
signed  by  Columbia  yesterday  for  the 
title  role  opposite  Barbara  Stanwyck 
in  "Golden  Boy."  Rouben  Mamoulian, 
director  of  "Golden  Boy,"  discovered 
him  while  looking  over  some  Para- 
mount tests. 


Two  Firms  Chartered 

Albany,  April  3. — Concord  Films, 
Inc.,  has  been  chartered  to  operate 
theatres,  headed  by  Martin  J.  Lewis, 
H.  S.  Neuberger  and  Hans  Rosenwald. 
Hasting  Amusement  Co.,  Inc.,  also 
has  been  chartered,  by  Frederick  A. 
Lind,  Shirley  Robins  and  Samuel  A. 
Feir. 


Halifax  Bill  Advanced 

Halifax,  N.  S.,  April  3. — Patter- 
son bill  providing  for  licensing  and 
regulating  film  exchanges  in  Nova 
Scotia  has  passed  second  reading  in 
the  provincial  legislature.  It  would 
empower  the  provincial  censors  to  in- 
vestigate distribution. 

Wingham  to  Frisco 

Seattle,  April  3. — L.  C.  Wingham, 
for  the  last  10  years  manager  of  the 
M-G-M  exchange  here,  has  been 
named  manager  of  the  San  Francisco 
branch. 


to  present  the  organization's  opposi- 
tion to  the  bill.  The  I.  T.  O.  A.  is  in 
favor  of  abolishing  "blind"  buying, 
however. 


Cleveland  Unit  Approves 

Cleveland,  April  3. — Cleveland 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion has  passed  a  resolution  endorsing 
the  Neely  block  booking  bill  and  sent 
a  copy  to  Abram  F.  Myers,  general 
counsel  of  national  Allied,  and  to 
each  member  of  the  subcommittee  of 
the  Senate  Interstate  Commerce 
Committee  which  is  holding  hearings 
on  the  bill. 


jesday.  April  4,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

T)AIL   J.    SENFT,    formerly  of 
Kl!  B.  D.  &  0.  has  joined  the  sales 
.Tganization  of  WQXR  .  .  .  Bob 
I  Stanley  is  conducting  the  Mutual  sym- 
•^any  orchestra  while  Alfred  Wallen- 
7^1    is    on    vacation  .  .  .  Josephine 
!  Houston  has  joined  the  Mutual  sing- 
1  ing  staff  .  .  .  Ogden  Nash,  the  author, 
under  contract  to  WOR  for  the  im- 
pending "Author,  Author"  show,  has 
been  released  from  his  contract  so  he 
can  appear  on  a  network  commercial. 


NBC  March  Billings 
At  Record  $4,170,852 

An  all-time  high  in  monthly  time 
^ale  billings  was  established  at  NBC 
for  March,  $4,170,852,  the  Red  net- 
work accounting  for  $3,132,832,  and 
the  Blue,  $1,038,020.  The  billings  for 
March  of  1938  amounted  to  $3,806,- 
831,  a  gain  of  9.6  per  cent. 

NBC  billings  for  the  first  quarter 
of  1939  amount  to  $11,953,448,  a  rise 
of  7.7  per  cent  compared  to  the  total 
for  the  same  quarter  last  year, 
amounting  to  $11,098,400. 

CBS  billings  for  March  of  this  year 
totaled  $2,925,684,  off  3.6  per  cent 
compared  to  March,  1938,  total  of 
$3,034,317.  However,  the  March, 
1938,  total  was  the  highest  figure  in 
the  history  of  the  network,  and  this 
year's  figure  is  the  second  largest  of 
any  month  in  the  network's  existence. 
Year's  first  quarter  for  CBS  is  $8,- 
141,283,  off  5.3  per  cent  compared  to 
last  year's  first  quarter  of  $8,594,593. 

Sign  Kaltenborn  for 
New  Series  on  CBS 

H.  V.  Kaltenborn,  veteran  CBS 
news  analyist  and  commentator,  has 
been  signed  by  the  Pure  Oil  Co.  for 
a  new  twice  weekly  series  over  CBS, 
i  to  begin  April  30.  The  schedule  will 
be  from  10:30  to  10:45  P.M.  on  Sun- 
days and  Tuesdays,  over  a  42-station 
hookup.  Leo  B.  Burnett  &  Co.  is  the 
agency. 

Contracts  for  two  regional  network 
^hows  on  CBS  also  have  been  closed. 
"Just  Dogs,"  a  new  series,  will  be 
heard  in  Boston,  Hartford  and 
Worcester  starting  April  9  over  sta- 
tions WEEL,  WDRC  and  WORC. 

'  Old  Trusty  Dog  Food  will  sponsor, 
through  a  contract  by  H.  B.  Hum- 
phrey agency.  The  Stainer  Corp.  will 

1  sponsor  a  spelling  bee  series  over 
KNX,  KFSO  and  KARM  of  the 
CBS  Pacific  network,  starting  May  6. 


Farnsworth  Stock  Out 

Farnsworth   Television   and  Radio 
:   Corp.  has  placed  on  the  market  600,- 
000  shares  of  common,  at  $6  per  share. 
I    Portion  of  the  cash  proceeds  from  the 
|   sale  will  be  used  for  acquiring  the 
properties  of  Capehart,  Inc.,  and  Gen- 
eral Household  Utilities  Corp.  to  be 
used  for  the  manufacture  of  television 
and  radio  apparatus. 


Neville  Miller  to  Speak 

Washington,  April  3. —  Neville 
Miller,  N.A.B.  president,  will  speak  on 
"Government  Regulation  of  Radio 
Broadcasting"  Wednesday  at  a  lunch- 
eon of  the  Washington  Trade  Associa- 
tion Executives. 


1938  Ontario  Theatre 
Revenue  Is  $204,639 


Toronto,  April  3. — Gross  revenue 
of  the  Ontario  Government  from  the 
film  theatres  of  the  province  for  the 
fiscal  year  ending  March  31,  1939, 
was  $204,639,  it  was  reported  by 
Premier  M.  F.  Hepburn.  This  amount 
was  made  up  of  receipts  from  exami- 
nation fees  of  the  censor  board  and 
licenses  for  the  operation  of  theatres, 
exchanges  and  itinerant  shows. 

Total  expenditures-  for  the  theatre 
inspection  branch  and  the  censor  board 
for  the  year  to  March  31  were  $34,- 
409,  so  that  the  net  revenue  to  the 
province  was  approximately  $170,000. 

In  his  budget  for  the  new  fiscal 
year  Premier  Hepburn  listed  $185,000 
as  the  expected  revenue  from  this 
source,  while  the  forecast  of  ex- 
penditure by  the  theatre  and  censor- 
ship units  of  the  Treasury  Department 
is  given  as  $38,675  to  March  31,  1940, 
an  increase  of  slightly  more  than 
$4,000. 

Albany  Allied  Hears 
Complaint  on  Prints 

Albany,  April  3. — Local  unit  of 
New  York  Allied,  at  a  meeting  here 
today,  discussed  the  shortage  of  prints. 
While  the  grievance  committee  sub- 
mitted no  specific  report,  a  general 
complaint  on  the  number  of  prints 
available  at  exchanges  was  taken  up 
from  the  standpoint  of  inability  of  sub- 
sequent runs  to  obtain  prints  on  time. 

The  meeting  heard  E.  Thornton 
Kelly,  state  executive  secretary,  and 
Mitchell  Conery,  regional  vice-presi- 
dent, on  the  recent  Syracuse  meeting 
where  Max  A.  Cohen,  state  president, 
urged  action  on  clearance. 


Technicolor's  Profit 
Is  $1,334,243  in  1938 

Technicolor,  Inc.,  and  its  subsidiary- 
Technicolor  Motion  Picture  Corp. 
showed  a  net  profit  of  $1,334,243.67 
for  1938.    This  corresponds  with  a 

1937  profit  of  $630,718.62. 
Shipments  of  Technicolor  prints  in 

1938  were  66,720,237  feet  contrasting 
with  40,561,318  feet  in  1937.  Shipments 
for  the  first  two  months  of  1939  total 
13,500,000  feet  compared  with  12,000 
feet  for  the  same  1938  period.  Con- 
tracted bookings  for  1939  for  feature 
productions,  according  to  the  annual 
report,  are  in  excess  of  those  for  1938. 


Irish  Unit  Is  Formed 

London,  April  3. — Provincial  ex- 
hibitors in  the  Irish  Free  State  have 
formed  a  new  protective  association 
with  the  title  of  Provincial  Exhibitors' 
Association.  The  decision  to  form 
such  a  body  comes  as  sequel  to  the 
Free  State  Government's  demand  that 
Irish  theatre  owners  outside  the  Dub- 
lin area  should  present  their  views  on 
quota  legislation  to  Dublin. 


33  Ohio  Censor  Cuts 

Columbus,  April  3. — Ohio  censors 
reviewed  a  total  of  733  reels  for  the 
five-week  period  in  March,  from 
which  33  eliminations  were  ordered. 
The  March  figures  compare  with  594 
reels  reviewed  and  16  eliminations 
ordered  in  February,  while  in  March, 
1 938,  there  were  676  reels  and  33 
eliminations. 


Ontario  Exhibitors 
Oppose  Giveaways 

Toronto,  April  3.— With  in- 
dications here  of  the  possible 
return  of  giveaways,  the  In- 
dependent Theatres  Associa- 
tion of  Ontario  has  deter- 
mined to  advise  all  film  ex- 
changes of  the  organization's 
disapproval  of  the  trend. 

At  a  meeting,  it  was 
brought  out  that  certain  ex- 
hibitors are  offering  premi- 
ums without  the  socalled  ser- 
vice charge  or  any  other 
added  fee. 


Oklahoma  Ascap  Bill 
Passage  Is  Favored 

Oklahoma  City,  April  3. — Okla- 
homa House  Judiciary  Committee  has 
recommended  passage  of  the  anti- 
Ascap  measure  introduced  in  the 
legislature  last  month. 

Oklahoma  exhibitors  regard  the 
measure  as  primarily  a  "broadcasters' 
bill."  They  have  not  taken  sides  on 
it  in  the  belief  that  any  method  of 
music  licensing  other  than  the  present 
would  involve  increased  costs  for  all 
users. 

Seat  Control  Plan 
Spreads  in  England 

London,  April  3. — Swansea,  port 
and  industrial  center  in  the  South 
Wales  mining  area,  has  followed  the 
lead  of  London  and  set  up  municipal 
seat  control. 

Amended  rules  have  been  laid  down 
by  the  Watch  Committee — body  which 
governs  local  theatre  licenses — and 
these  follow  the  London  County  Coun- 
cil rules  closely.  The  committee  also 
has  brought  in  new  regulations  re- 
garding the  admittance  of  children  to 
films  classed  as  "H"  ("Horrific")- 


Selznick  Signs  Howard 

Hollywood,  April  3. — Leslie  How- 
ard has  signed  a  contract  with 
Selznick  International  to  star  in 
"Intermezzo"  and  serve  as  associate 
producer.  Production  will  start  in 
May. 


Clearance  Cut  14  and 
13  Days  in  Cincinnati 


Cincinnati,  April  3. — First  and 
second  run  clearance  has  been  reduced 
14  and  13  days,  respectively,  as  a  re- 
sult of  conferences  here  between  H. 
M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor  rela- 
tions for  RKO,  and  exhibitors. 

First  run  clearance  has  been  cut 
from  44  to  30  days  over  second  runs, 
and  second  run  clearance  over  third 
has  been  reduced  from  57  to  44  days. 
Subsequents  are  moved  up  accord- 
ingly. Under  the  new  setup,  clear- 
ances will  be  based  on  the  sixth  Sun- 
day after  first  run  for  30-cent  houses 
and  the  seventh  Sunday  after  first  run 
for  25-cent  houses,  with  others  in  pro- 
portion. 

Richey's  visit  followed  a  three-day 
investigation  by  an  attorney  for  the 
Department  of  Justice.  Local  inde- 
pendents filed  a  complaint  with  the 
Department  last  fall.  It  is  understood 
the  complaint  will  be  withdrawn. 

RKO  controls  the  downtown  first 
runs,  with  one  first  and  one  second 
run  suburban.  The  clearance  schedule 
was  set  in  conferences  held  by  Richey, 
Ike  Libson,  managing  director,  and 
Arthur  M.  Frudenthal,  division  man- 
ager, representing  RKO  Midwest,  and 
Harold  Bernstein,  president ;  F.  Wes- 
ley Huss,  Jr.,  and  Charles  Mervis, 
for  the  Greater  Cincinnati  Independent 
Exhibitors  Association. 

Seek  Reel  Censor 
Exemption  in  Ohio 

Columbus,  April  3. — I.  T.  O.  of 
Ohio  is  scheduled  on  Wednesday  to 
present  an  amendment  to  the  state 
censorship  laws  providing  for  ex- 
emption of  newsreels  from  censorship. 

Amendment  will  be  proposed  to  the 
House  Education  Committee  when  it 
considers  amendments  to  the  state 
censorship  law.  Newsreels  have  been 
censorable  in  Ohio  since  1935. 


Tomasino  Held  Up 

New  Haven,  April  3. — Michael 
Tomasino,  operator  of  the  Whiteway 
here,  was  held  up  in  his  garage  last 
night  and  robbed  of  $400  in  receipts, 
a  gold  watch  and  his  automobile. 


FROM 


f  OAST  TO 

V-V"        .     .„dcl|  Thai  Gives 


OPENING  FOR  THE  BIG 
HOLIDAY  PLAYING  TIME  AT- 

Four  Star,  LOS  ANGELES 

indefinite  run  starting  April  8th 

Globe,  NEW  YORK  CITY 

long  run  engagement  starting 
April  8th 

Balaban  &  Katz  Garrick,  CHICAGO 
starting  April  7th 

Loew  s  Plaza,  WORCESTER 
starting  April  8th 

Loew's  Stillman,  CLEVELAND 
starting  April  7th 

Warner's  Roger  Sherman,  NEW  HAVEN 
starting  April  12th 


CORINNE  LUCHAIRE 


PRISON  m  BARS 


HARTFORD  CALLING... 


that  on  hour  atter  n 

A  at  the  Strand.the  theatre  was  filled, 
opened  at  the  3  sideWalk  line 

i«hbv  was  lammed  ana  s.u 
200  were  stand.ng,  lobby  w     i  f    his  great show- 

LasoredafullblacUHatsafftaJah  He  nadvanc^ 

;Newseasan-shighseStaM.sh^a       ^  ^  ^  Prov(dence  J 


Utica;  Regent, 


Elmira, 


w/fh 

EDNA  BEST  •  BARRY  BARNES 

MARY  MORRIS  •  LORRAINE  CLEWES  •  SALLY  WISHER 
Directed  by  BRIAN  DESMOND  HURST 
Associate  Producer  IRVING  ASHER 

RELEASED    THRU    UNITED  ARTISTS 

Did  you  see  that  great  3-page  publicity  break  in  Lif 
Magazine  that  pre-sold  the  picture  in  1,900,000  homes 


28  WEST  J?**  °F  AM. 
NEW 


pic*mi 


N 

Irw^spensable' 
to  the  potion 
Picture 
Industry 


York  , 


SI 


45.   NO.  65 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  5,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Government 
Strike  Action 
Is  Due  Today 

Arnold  Expected  to  Act 
On  Probe  Report 


Federal  investigation  of  the  L  A. 
r.  S.  E.-Local  306  strike  was  com- 
pleted yesterday  and  a  report  on  the 
•esults  of  the  study  forwarded  to 
rhurman  Arnold,  special  assistant  to 
he  Attorney  General,  by  Berkley  W. 
Henderson,  head  of  the  anti-trust  di- 
vision here. 

Actual  course  to  be  taken  by  the 
Federal  office  here,  however,  will  be 
determined  by  instructions  which  are 
■xpected  from  Arnold  some  time  to- 
day. It  is  understood  that  Hender- 
son's report  made  no  recommenda- 
tions and  that  Arnold  will  arrive  at 
lis  own  conclusions  upon  reading  the 
-eport. 

No  meetings  were  held  at  the  State 
Mediation  board  here  yesterday  but 
ihere  is  a  possibility  that  either  a 
joint  meeting  of  union,  circuit  and 
distributor  representatives,  or  sepa- 
rate meetings  of  each,  will  be  held 
:oday.  Jules  J.  Freund,  mediator,  is 
still  seeking  a  settlement  of  the  dis- 
pute and  said  yesterday  that  he  is 
'very  hopeful  that  an  early  adjust- 
ment will  be  reached." 

Meanwhile,  film  deliveries  are  con- 
:inuing  on  a  normal  basis  despite  the 
[picketing  of  exchanges  and  the  defec- 
:ion  of  organized  exchange  employes. 
Xo  theatre  in  the  metropolitan  area 
has  been  inconvenienced  for  lack  of 
film  since  the  start  of  the  strike  nine 
days  ago. 


|G.B.  Plans  to  Put 
Television  on  BVay 

Gaumont  British  is  negotiating  to  in- 
stall television  in  three  Broadway 
houses  around  May  IS,  according  to 
Arthur  A.  Lee,  vice-president.  The 
company  has  no  desire  to  put  up  a 
telecasting  station,  but  plans  to  make 
use  of  existing  facilities  of  NBC,  CBS 
tnd  others  who  are  preparing  to  broad- 
cast television.  The  equipment  will  be 
sold  to  theatres. 

Isidore  Ostrer,  chairman  of  G.  B.,  is 
-ending  over  apparatus  for  theatre  in- 
stallations, and  I.  C.  Javal,  commercial 
director  of  Baird  Television,  G.B.  sub- 
sidiary, and  a  staff  of  engineers  are 
due  early  in  Mav.  Javal  surveyed  the 
field  here  recently. 

It  is  planned  to  have  screens  12  feet 
by  IS  feet  and  to  handle  the  broadcasts 
as  an  added  attraction  to  the  regular 
'programs. 


No  Exhibitor  Quota 
Changes  Next  Year 

London,  April  4.  —  Oliver 
Stanley,  president  of  the 
British  Board  of  Trade,  de- 
clared in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons today  that  the  Films 
Council  recommended  no  al- 
teration in  the  exhibitors' 
quota  for  the  year  begin- 
ning next  October. 

The  council  will  report  lat 
er  to  the  Board  of  Trade  on 
the  distributor  quota  sched- 
ules for  the  following  year 
and  subsequently.  The  coun- 
cil met  15  times  during  the 
first  year  of  the  new  Films 
Act,  Stanley  said. 


Government  Gets 
Data  from  Upstate 
Independents  in  Suit 

Depositions  were  taken  from  about 
75  independent  exhibitors  in  upstate 
New  York  by  the  Department  of 
Justice  and  will  be  used  together  with 
others  in  preparing  the  Government's 
[lending  anti-trust  suit. 

This  was  disclosed  by  Seymour 
Kreiger  who  has  been  making  a  tour 
upstate  with  E.  T.  Kelly,  executive 
secretary  of  New  York  Allied.  Con- 
ferences were  held  at  meetings  called 
by  Kelly  at  Albany,  Syracuse,  Buffalo 
and  Rochester. 

Kelly,  who  returned  to  New  York 
yesterday,  said  that  much  informa- 
tion had  been  obtained  regarding  the 
practices  of  the  eight  major  com- 
panies. 

Kreiger  is  continuing  his  investiga- 
tion in  the  Boston  area  in  coopera- 
tion with  the  Allied  unit  there. 

New  York  Allied  will  meet  next 
Monday  in  Buffalo,  and  on  April  20 
in  Syracuse. 

In  conjunction  with  the  unit's  an- 
nual convention,  May  23-25,  at  the 
Hotel  Astor,  a  "World's  Fair  Expo- 
sition" is  planned,  along  with  other 
events. 


Korda  Names  Boxall 
As  General  Manager 

London.  April  4. — Harold  Boxall 
was  signed  by  Alexander  Korda  to- 
day as  general  manager  of  his  new 
producing  company,  Alexander  Korda 
Productions,  Ltd.  Boxall  has  occu- 
pied a  similar  post  with  M-G-M 
here.  He  will  take  over  his  new  post 
as  soon  as  he  cpmpletes  work  on 
"Good-Bye,  Mr.  Chips"  for  the  latter 
company. 


PETTIJOHN  OFFERS 
SELECTIVITY  PLAN 


United  Artists  Will 
Hold  Convention 
On  Coast  May  8-10 

United  Artists  will  hold  its  20th 
annual  sales  convention  in  Hollywood, 
May  8,  9  and  10,  Murray  Silverstone, 
operating  head  of  the  company,  said 
yesterday.  The  meeting  will  be  a  na- 
tional one  with  the  entire  field  sales 
force  and  home  office  executive  per- 
sonnel attending. 

Details  of  United  Artists'  new  season 
schedule  of  approximately  30  features 
will  be  presented  to  the  organization 
by  Silverstone  at  the  convention. 
Plans  for  the  program  are  "about  98 
per  cent  complete  now,"  Silverstone 
said,  and  comprises  27  pictures  exclu- 
sive of  any  to  be  delivered  by  Ernst 
Lubitsch,  Sol  Lesser  and  David  Loew 
for  1939-'40  release.  These  three 
producers  were  signed  by  Silverstone 
recently.  Lubitsch  does  not  join  the 
company  until  1940  and  may  not  con- 
tribute anything  to  the  new  season 
program.  Lesser  and  Loew  may  con- 
tribute one  picture  each. 

Practically  the  entire  United  Artists 
organization  will  arrive  in  Los  An- 
geles by  Sunday,  May  7,  when  they 
will  be  guests  at  a  reception  to  be 
given  in  their  honor  by  Mary  Pick- 
ford. 

United   Artists   announced  yester- 

(Conti)uted  on  page  4) 


Cash  Assets  of  Fox 
Are  Set  at  $119415 

Milton  C.  Weisman  yesterday  filed 
a  734-page  final  accounting  as  trustee 
of  Fox  Theatres  Corp.,  in  which  as- 
sets were  listed,  consisting  of  $119,415 
in  cash,  $37,614  in  closed  banks,  stock 
in  five  wholly-owned  subsidiary  com- 
panies, a  50  per  cent  interest  in  Fan- 
chon  &  Marco  Corp.,  a  $4,000,000  bond 
and  mortgage  on  Philadelphia  proper- 
ty, and  miscellaneous  fixtures  and 
equipment. 

The  report  stated  that  all  assets  of 
the  company,  with  the  exception  of 
$7,500  which  Weisman  retained  to 
cover  future  expenses,  were  trans- 
ferred to  Weisman  and  Kenneth  P. 
Steinreich,  appointed  on  Feb.  6,  1939, 
as  trustees  of  a  plan  for  final  liquida- 
tion of  the  company.  The  report  stated 
that  $8,100,350  in  claims,  of  a  total  of 
$38,400,000  filed,  were  allowed.  A 
claim  of  William  Fox  of  $7,186,627  is 
still  in  dispute.  Fox  Theatres  Corp. 
went  into  receivership  on  June  22, 
1932. 


Neely   Proponents,  Led 
By  Myers,  Flatly 
Reject  Proposal 

Washington,  April  4. — Offer  by  C. 
C.  Pettijohn,  counsel  for  the  M.  P. 
P.  D.  A.,  to  "lay  on  the  table"  a 
trade  practice  agreement  under  which 
exhibitors  would  be  given  the  right  to 
select  or  reject  films  was  flatly  re- 
jected today  by  proponents  of  the 
Neely  anti-block  booking  bill  appear- 
ing before  the  Senate  Interstate  Com- 
merce subcommittee. 

This  was  the  second  day  of  the 
hearings  on  the  Neely  bill.  The  hear- 
ings are  expected  to  run  most  of  the 
week. 

Petti john's  offer  was  made  after 
Senator  White  of  Maine  had  ques- 
tioned Henry  B.  Atkinson,  represent- 
ing the  National  Motion  Picture  Re- 
search Council  and  other  groups,  as  to 
how  enactment  of  the  bill  would  per- 
mit freedom  of  community  selection. 

"If  these  people  will  put  on  the 
table  the  names  of  the  exhibitors  they 
represent,  I  think  we  can  get  through 
a  trade  practice  agreement  right  now 
in  Washington,"  Pettijohn  said.  He 
declared,  on  behalf  of  the  distributors, 
that  if  "any  responsible  group"  would 
indicate  what  kind  of  films  they 
wanted  their  local  exhibitor  to  buy, 
those  pictures  would  be  offered  at 
fair  prices,  and  those  not  wanted 
would  be  withdrawn. 

Myers  Rejects  Proposal 

Asked  by  Senator  Neely,  acting  as 
chairman,  whether  the  films  would  be 
sold  singly,  Pettijohn  declared  that 
when  salesmen  call  on  exhibitors  they 
try  to  sell  as  much  product  as  pos- 
sible. 

Abram  F.  Myers,  Allied  general 
counsel,  quickly  rejected  Petti  john's 
proposal,  declaring  that  under  it,  "our 
problem  is  not  advanced  for  the  rea- 
son that  there  cannot  be  an  exercise 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


Sunday  Shows  Nearer 

Sunday  shows  for  New 
York  City  legitimate  theatres 
moved  closer  last  night  when 
representatives  of  craft 
unions  met  with  the  League 
of  New  York  Theatres.  Sen- 
timent was  reported  as  fav- 
orable and  the  delegates  will 
report  on  the  question  to 
their  unions  next  week. 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1939 


Edith  Cavell  Film 
To  Be  Wilcox's  First 


MOTION  PICTURJt 

DAILY 


Australian  Censor 
Board  Reappointed 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


By  LIN  ENDEAN 

Sydney,  April  4. — Australian  cen- 
sor board  has  been  reappointed  for 
three  years,  including  W.  Cresswell 
O'Reilly,  chief  censor,  Lieut.  Col.  F. 
J.  Hurley  and  Mrs.  G.  D.  J.  Hansen, 
and  Major  General  I.  G.  Mackey,  ap- 
peal censor. 

Hoyts  circuit  in  Victoria  has  in- 
stituted a  Movie  Quiz  drive  similar  to 
that  in  the  United  States,  with  re- 
ported excellent  results.  Prizes  are 
valued  at  $5,000,  and  the  contest  gave 
a  sharp  uvvard  push  to  grosses  in  the 
circuit's  houses.  The  success  of  the 
campaign  has  led  the  circuit  to  plan 
similar  contests  in  other  states. 

The  recently  constituted  New 
South  Wales  Film  Commission, 
through  its  chairman,  F.  W.  Marks, 
has  asked  exhibitor  and  distributor 
organizations  to  get  together  in  fram- 
ing a  standard  form  of  exhibition  con- 
tract. It  is  the  desire  of  the  com- 
mission that  a  contract  be  completed 
in  time  for  the  beginning  of  the  new 
selling  season  on  Aug.  1.  Previous 
efforts  to  reach  an  accord  have  failed, 
but  it  is  expected  that  if  through  the 
settlement  by  the  commission  of  con- 
troversial points  an  agreement  is 
reached,  other  states  will  follow  with 
similar  agreements. 

Exhibitor  organizations  in  other 
states  are  pressing  for  legislation  em- 
bodying the  points  in  the  New  South 
Wales  film  law,  25  per  cent  rejection, 
British  film  quota  of  15  per  cent,  re- 
striction of  theatre  licenses,  standard 
contract  and  Australian  quota  of  2J/2 
per  cent. 


Pascal  Off  Tomorrow 

Gabriel  Pascal,  British  producer, 
leaves  tomorrow  for  the  coast,  where 
he  will  arrange  for  casting  "Doctor's 
Dilemma,"  Shaw  play  which  he  will 
make  for  M-G-M.  Several  M-G-M 
players  will  be  used,  it  is  understood. 
The  shooting  script  will  be  completed 
on  the  coast. 


Eastern  SMPE  Meets 

Eastern  division  of  the  S.M.P.E. 
will  hold  its  monthly  meeting  tomor- 
row evening  at  the  Eastern  Service 
Studios  in  Astoria,  L.  I.  Don  Hynd- 
man  of  Eastman  Kodak  will  be  chair- 
man. Frank  K.  Speidell,  president 
of  the  studios,  will  speak. 

AMERICAN 

LOS  ANGELES 

"If  Go  the  smooth,  nature-  *'<SV*^ 

favored  Southern  All-Year       e^  m  next: 

Route  of  the  Flagship  sky-      *I«f7  — 

-leepersINochangeof 

planes.  Com  plimentary      Save  10%  On 

meals.  Leave  at  5:10  p.m.      Round  Trip 

or  10:45  p.m.  Phone  your 

travel  agent  or  VAnderhilt  3-2580.  Ticket 

offices  45  Vanderbilt  Ave.  and  Rockefeller 

Center  at  18  W.  t°th  Street. 

AMERICAN  AIRLINES  zj„e. 

The  World's  Fair  Line  mmm  ■  n 


NORMAN  H.  MORAY,  Vita- 
phone  sales  manager,  will  be  in 
Portland  today  and  in  San  Francisco 
Friday  and  Saturday  in  his  annual 
tour  of  Warner  exchanges. 

• 

Josephine  Langfelder,  receptionist 
for  the  Film  Board  of  Trade,  has 
returned  from  a  trip  to  Bermuda. 
Helen  Gottlieb  is  the  latest  addi- 
tion to  the  Board  of  Trade's  office 
staff. 

• 

Herman  G.  Weinberg  has  resigned 
as  director  of  publicity  at  World  Pic- 
tures, but  will  retain  offices  there  as 
a  free  lance  film  editor  and  publicist. 
• 

Jeffery    Bernerd    and  Maurice 
Wilson,  joint  managing  directors  in 
Europe   for   Grand  National,  arrive 
tomorrow  on  the  Queen  Mary. 
• 

F.  A.  Coro,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  Peliculas  Cubanas, 
has  returned  to  Havana  after  closing 
a  distribution  deal  here. 

• 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  president, 
who  is  in  Washington  for  the  Neely 
bill  hearings,  does  not  plan  to  come 
to  New  York. 

• 

Frances  Kaplan  of  Monogram's 
New  York  exchange  has  returned  to 
her  desk  after  a  week  in  Lakewood. 
• 

Marty  Mullin  and  Sam  Pinan- 
ski  are  in  town  from  Boston. 

Canadian  Parliament 
Ratifies  Trade  Pact 

Toronto,  April  4.— Terms  of  the 
Canadian-United  States  trade  pact, 
which  went  into  effect  at  the  beginning 
of  the  year,  have  at  last  been  ratified 
by  a  vote  of  the  Canadian  Parliament 
and  the  reduced  duties  on  numerous 
imports  from  the  U.  S.  A.  including 
motion  pictures  of  35  mm.  width  and 
theatre  equipment,  have  been  con- 
firmed. 

The  Canadian  House  of  Commons 
has  yet  to  take  up  legislation  im- 
plementing a  provision  of  the  trade 
treaty  for  the  cancellation  of  the  spe- 
cial 3  per  cent  excise  tax  on  imports 
from  the  States  covered  by  the  treaty 
and  this  impost  remains  in  effect  for 
the  time  being. 


Opening  of  the  new  Italian  coun- 
cil, Grand  National  steeplechase  race, 
French  President  Lebrun-  in  England 
and  President  Roosevelt  in  the  south 
constitute  the  major  news  event  cov- 
erage in  the  new  issues  of  the  news- 
reels.  The  reels  and  their  contents 
follozu : 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  59— Recep- 
tion for  Lebrun  in  England.  Italian  coun- 
cil opened.  New  submarine  for  navy. 
Dog  show.  Clipper  crosses  Pacific.  Grand 
National  race.  Golf  tournament.  Surf- 
board riding.     Lew  Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  257— Lebrun 
leaves  England.  King  Emanuel  opens 
council.  Roosevelt  in  Alabama.  Pistol 
champion.  Lombard  and  Gable  wed.  Bon- 
net   fashions.       Grand   Rational  race. 

PARAMOUNT    NEWS,    No.    70— Daffo- 


WILLIAM  WYLER,  director  of 
"Wuthering  Heights,"  screened 
the  picture  at  New  Haven  last  night 
for  William  Lyon  Phelps,  Yale's 
professor  of  English  literature. 
• 

Joe  Kehoe,  former  New  York  and 
Long  Island  salesman  for  Monogram, 
is  now  at  the  home  office  handling 
non-theatrical  business. 

• 

Sol  Soloman,  Principal  Film  ex- 
change salesman,  and  his  brother, 
Gus,  of  Warners,  are  mourning  the 
loss  of  their  father. 

• 

Sam  Cocalis,  head  of  the  Cocalis 
circuit,  is  expected  back  from  a  Flor- 
ida vacation  the  end  of  this  week. 
• 

Sylvia  Richman  and  Julia  Ber- 
man  of  the  Principal  Film  exchange 
are  ill. 

• 

Harry  Kaplovvitz  of  City  Engrav- 
ing celebrated  another  birthday  yes- 
terday. 

• 

Harold  Weinstein,  an  attorney 
has  joined  the  office  of  Phillips  & 
Nizer. 

• 

George  M.  Cohan  returns  from  a 
European  vacation  tomorrow. 

John  Nolan  is  in  St.  Vincent's 
Hospital. 

Harry  A.  Ross  has  gone  to  Miami. 

Winners  Announced 
In  'Gateway'  Quest 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Rowena 
Cook  of  New  York  and  Ralph  Bow- 
man of  Lincoln,  Neb.,  were  declared 
the  winners  in  the  "Gateway  to 
Hollywood"  talent  search  for  new 
screen  faces.  The  prizes  are  RKO 
contracts  and  featured  roles  in  Phil 
Stong's  "Career."  Jesse  Lasky,  who 
conducted  the  quest,  after  announcing 
the  winners  at  the  Doublemint  Sunday 
night  broadcast  said  there  would  be 
a  second  search  for  youths  who  can 
sing  as  well  as  act.  Three  who  were 
among  the  final  six  in  the  contest  have 
received  RKO  contracts.  They  are 
John  Laird  of  Waukegan,  111. ;  Ro- 
chelle  Germano  of  San  Francisco,  now 
Linda  Hayes,  and  Kathryn  Holm  of 
Minneapolis. 


dil  festival  in  Washington.  Cherry  blos- 
soms. Lombard  and  Gable  return  from 
elopement.  Rainmaker  gets  results.  Hit- 
ler's nephew  arrives  in  New  York.  Mo- 
torists crash  in  Mississippi.  War  events 
in  Europe.  Workman  wins  Grand  Na- 
tional. Amateur  boxing  bouts.  Racing 
begins  at  Bowie. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  74— Cham- 
berlain greets  Lebrun  in  England.  Lom- 
bard and  Gable  report  back  to  studio.  Hun- 
garians reach  Polish  border.  King  Eman- 
uel addresses  new  council.  Grand  Na- 
tional steeplechase. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  759— 
Roosevelt  dedicates  medical  center.  Dr. 
Hoscha  visits  Berlin.  Ceremony  for  Czech 
soldiers.  Italian  council  opens.  Cardinal 
Mundelein  returns  from  Rome.  Fire  jn 
Ohio.  Bridge  washout.  Cherry  blossoms  in 
Washington.  Flower  festival.  _  Golden 
Gloves.  Dog  show.  Champion  pistol 
marksman.     Grand  National  race. 


The  life  of  Edith  Cavell,  England's 
famous  war  nurse,  will  be  the  subject 
of  Herbert  Wilcox's  first  American 
production  for  RKO.  Anna  Neagle 
will  have  the  title  role.  Picture  re- 
places "Marie  Lloyd"  on  the  Wilcox 
Hollywood  program  because  Cary 
Grant  is  not  available  at  this  time. 
Latter  picture  will  be  made  late  f 
year. 

Wilcox  returns  to  London  on  the 
Queen  Mary,  sailing  Friday,  with 
plans  for  returning  with  Miss  Neagle 
in  a  few  weeks  to  begin  work  on  the 
Cavell  picture  in  Hollywood. 


Equity  Election  May  26 

Annual  meeting  and  elections  of 
Actors'  Equity  will  be  held  at  the 
Hotel  Astor  May  26.  J.  T.  Schless, 
who  will  produce  Shakespearean  re- 
vivals at  the  World's  Fair,  appeared 
before  the  council  to  determine 
whether  his  agreement  with  Equity 
would  be  altered  because  of  higher 
requirements  for  Fair  shows  which 
were  set  two  weeks  ago.  The  council 
ruled  that  the  agreement  made  in  Jan- 
uary with  Schless  would  be  permitted 
to  stand. 


Zukor  Returning  Soon 

Adolph  Zukor,  Paramount  board 
chairman,  will  sail  from  England 
April  15  on  the  Queen  Mary,  return- 
ing to  New  York.  He  will  be  ac- 
companied by  Mrs.  Zukor.  His  next 
assignment  has  not  been  set  yet  but 
he  will  probably  remain  for  the  com- 
pany's annual  sales  convention  before 
beginning  another  foreign  trip.  He 
has  been  in  the  British  Isles  and  on 
the  Continent  since  late  December. 


Loew's  Takes  Olympia 

Loew's  tomorrow  will  reopen  the 
Olympia,  former  Skouras  house,  at 
107th  St.  and  Broadway,  after  exten- 
sive remodeling.  Policy  will  be  the 
same  as  at  Loew's  83rd  St.,  first  run 
double  bills,  with  weekly  program 
changes  on  Thursday,  plaving  day  and 
date  with  the  83rd. 


To  Run  Italian  Films 

Clemente  Giglio  has  leased  the 
Irving  Place  Theatre  for  the  showing 
of  Italian  films. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN.  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday.  Sundav 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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:  "Ouigpubco. 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Motion 
Picture  Herald.  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollyzvood :  Postal  Union 
Life  Building.  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square. 
W.  1:  cable  address.  Quigpubco.  London: 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23. 
1938.  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.. 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


The  Newsreet  Parade 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  presents 
ROBERT  DONAT  in  "GOODBYE, 
MR.  CHIPS"with  GREER  GARSON. 
A  Sam  Wood  production.  Screen 
Play  by  R.  C.  Sherriff,  Claudine 
West,  Eric  Maschwitz.  From  the 
book  by  James  Hilton.  Produced 
by  Victor  Saville. 


THE  10  BEST 

PICTURES  OF 
1939! 

A  Prediction  by  Leo  of  M-G-M 

I  saw  "GOODBYE,  MR.  CHIPS". 

I  saw  a  picture  which  is  assured  of  a  top  spot  among 
this  year's  Ten  Best. 

I  saw  Robert  Donat's  performance  as  "Mr.  Chips", 
destined  to  be  a  leading  contender  for  this  year's 
Academy  Award. 

I  saw  a  new  star  born  to  the  box-omces  of  the  world, 
Miss  Greer  Garson,  whose  beauty  shines  from  the 
screen  with  tenderness  and  truth,  stirring  hearts  that 
seek  your  theatre  for  emotional  thrill. 

1  saw  an  entertainment  that  will  take  its  place  among 
the  immortal  works  of  the  screen,  a  picture  for 
humanity's  masses,  to  be  beloved  by  people  in  every 
walk  of  life,  to  be  played  with  sensational  success 
now  and  to  be  revived  in  years  to  come. 

1  am  proud  of  "GOODBYE,  MR.  CHIPS"  for  it  is 
typical  of  the  attractions  which  have  made  M-G-M 
a  symbol  to  picture-goers  of  the  finest  in  films. 


Picked  for  1  939 's  new  female 
star  sensation,  Miss  Greer 
Garson  as  Katherine  in 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips." 


Picked  for  1939's  Best  Male 
Performance  Award,  Robert 
Donat  as  "Mr.  Chips.", 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1939 


Pettijohn  Offers 

Selectivity  Plan 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

of  intelligent  right  of  selection  by 
anyone  unless  the  goods  are  labeled." 

"Our  organization  has  not  simply 
insisted  on  this  bill  all  these  years," 
Myers  said.  "It  has  made  proposals 
for  identification  of  films,  but  we  are 
simply  told  that  the  distributors  will 
not  grant  that.  Exhibitor  witnesses 
will  testify  that  they  no  longer  have 
the  kind  of  information  which  they 
used  to  have." 

Atkinson,  resuming  the  stand  this 
morning,  said  there  are  only  three 
ways  to  deal  with  the  "power"  he 
said  the  distributors  hold. 

"The  first  would  be  national  cen- 
sorship, which  is  essentially  impos- 
sible as  un-American,"  he  explained. 
The  second  would  be  "unofficial  na- 
tional censorship  at  the  source  of  pro- 
duction, which  we  now  have"  and 
which  he  declared  would  not  last  long 
if  Legion  of  Decency  and  other  pres- 
sure was  removed.  The  third  "and 
only  method  which  is  sure  of  getting 
pictures  for  the  American  community 
which  that  community  wants"  is  under 
the  Neely  bill,  he  declared. 

White  Is  Unconvinced 

Senator  White  said  he  was  unable 
to  see  how  the  mere  elimination  of 
block  and  blind  booking  would  give 
communities  freedom  of  selection, 
pointing  out  that  if  people  could  in- 
fluence the  exhibitor  under  individual 
buying  they  could  make  their  views 
equally  forcefully  felt  now. 

"I  view  with  considerable  suspi- 
cion any  attempt  to  settle  the  matter 
by  voluntary  negotiations,"  he  said, 
referring  to  Petijohn's  offer. 

Atkinson  was  followed  by  a  pa- 
rade of  organization  representatives 
who  urged  enactment  of  the  measure, 
including  Catherine  Lyford,  Boston, 
executive  secretary,  Massachusetts 
Civic  League;  Helen  W.  Atwater, 
Washington,  representing  the  Ameri- 
can Home  Economics  Association ; 
Harriet  Houdelette  of  the  American 
Association  of  University  Women, 
Washington;  Mrs.  E.  E.  Danley, 
Y  W.  C.  A.,  Washington,  and  Izora 
Scott,  National  W.  C.  T.  U.,  Wash- 
ington. 


U.  A.  Will  Convene 
On  Coast  May  8  to  10 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

day  that  it  will  release  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn's  "Angels  Making  Music,"  on 
which  casting  has  been  completed.  De- 
livery of  the  picture  has  been  in  ques- 
tion since  Goldwyn's  suit  to  abrogate 
his  current  contract  with  the  company 
was  instituted.  A  minimum  of  two 
pictures  is  expected  from  Goldwyn  for 
the  new  season's  program. 

A  routine  meeting  of  the  United 
Artists  board  of  directors  was  held 
here  yesterday.  James  Roosevelt, 
board  representative  for  Goldwyn, 
sails  for  England  Friday  on  the  Queen 
Mary. 


Studio  Union  Fails  to 
Enjoin  International 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Interna- 
tional I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  officers  today 
won  the  first  round  of  the  fight  for 
control  of  Studio  Technicians  Local 
37  when  Superior  Judge  Emmett  H. 
Wilson  dismissed  the  application  of 
deposed  local  officers  for  a  perma- 
nent injunction.  Judge  Wilson  set 
Tuesday  as  the  date  of  trial  for  the 
suit  of  international  officers  seeking 
a  permanent  restraining  order  against 
the  ousted  executives. 

Members  of  virtually  all  Holly- 
wood unions  attended  the  mass  meet- 
ing Sunday  in  behalf  of  the  cause  of 
Local  37.  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  International 
officers  did  not  attend  and  said  the 
gathering  was  an  attempt  of  the  C.I.O. 
to  gain  a  foothold  in  Hollywood. 


Discuss  Trade  Pact 
At  Denver  Meeting 

Denver,  April  4. — Theatre  Owners 
and  Managers  of  the  Rocky  Mountain 
Region  met  here  today  to  discuss  the 
trade  practice  code.  No  conclusion  was 
arrived  at  and  another  meeting  was 
set  for  next  week.  The  only  definite 
expression  of  opinion  was  that  of  cer- 
tain Denver  exhibitors  who  said  they 
favored  some  arbitration  plan  over  any 
plan  which  called  for  Government  in- 
terference. 


Coast  ITO  Weighs  Pact 

Hollywood,  April  4. — The  board  of 
directors  of  I.  T.  O.  of  Southern  Cali- 
fornia meets  tomorrow  afternoon  to 
consider  the  revised  trade  practice 
agreement.  R.  H.  Poole,  business 
manager,  said  a  statement  would  prob- 
ably be  issued  following  the  session. 


Provincial  Cinema 
Profit  Is  $2,581,750 

London,  April  3".  —  Piovincial 
Cinema  Theatres,  for  the  year  ended 
Jan.  31  last,  declared  a  profit  of  $2,- 
581,750,  the  highest  total  in  the  history 
of  the  company.  In  three  successive 
years  profits  have  exceeded  half  a 
million  pounds. 

A  dividend  of  15  per  cent,  together 
with  a  further  payment  equivalent  to 
7y2  per  cent  will  be  paid,  making 
22j/>  per  cent  in  all,  which  is  the  same 
as  was  approved  last  year. 


SWG,  Producer  Parley 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Producers 
and  writers'  representatives  met  today 
with  N.L.R.B. '  trial  examiner  James 
C.  Batten  in  an  attempt  to  break  the 
deadlock  over  negotiations  for  an 
S.W.G.  contract  as  a  collective  bar- 
gaining agency  for  film  writers.  No 
announcement  was  made  following  the 
sessions. 


Sunday  Films  for  Maine 

Augusta,  Me.,  April  4. — The  bill  to 
legalize  Sunday  motion  pictures  was 
passed  today  by  the  Senate.  The  meas- 
ure already  had  passed  the  House. 


Negress  Sues  Theatre 

Denver,  April  4. — L.  C.  Snyder, 
owner  of  the  State,  Fort  Collins,  Col., 
has  been  sued  for  $500  for  alleged  dis- 
crimination by  Mrs.  Mattie  Lyle, 
Negress,  who  claims  that  after  buying 
her  ticket  and  being  admitted  to  the 
theatre,  she  was  denied  full  privileges. 


Free  Breakfast 

Cincinnati,  April  4.  — 
"Dow's  Daily  Express,"  full 
hour  commercial,  aired  at 
7:30  A.M.,  Mondays '  through 
Saturdays  for  local  Dow 
Drug  Co.,  will  move  from 
WSAI  studios  to  the  com- 
pany's store  in  the  center  of 
the  downtown  area.  Clair 
Shadwell  will  continue  to  con- 
duct the  broadcasts,  and  will 
interview  patrons  having 
breakfast  in  the  store.  Those 
interviewed  will  be  served 
breakfast  free. 


Dominion  Will  Have 
Film  Commissioner 

Toronto,  April  4.  —  In  connection 
with  the  debates  in  the  Canadian 
House  of  Commons  and  Senate  over 
the  measure  of  W.  D.  Euler,  Minis- 
ter of  Trade  and  Commerce,  for  the 
establishment  of  a  National  Film 
Board  for  the  Dominion,  it  was 
brought  out  that  the  salary  paid  by 
the  Government  to  John  Grierson  of 
London  as  temporary  advisor  for  the 
projected  bureau  was  $350  per  week. 
Grierson  is  a  member  of  the  Cine- 
matograph Advisory  Council  under 
the  British  Films  Act. 

The  National  Film  Board  will  have 
a  national  film  commissioner  whose 
salary  will  be  $5,000  per  year,  it  is 
stated,  and  there  will  be  two  staff 
employes  who  will  be  on  a  salary  ba- 
sis. The  eight  appointed  members  of 
the  new  board  will  receive  only  ex- 
penses in  connection  with  the  work  of 
the  organization,  the  purpose  of  which 
is  to  produce  what  have  been  described 
as  "national  films."  The  present  Gov- 
ernment Motion  Picture  Bureau  will 
continue  in  its  present  form,  while 
other  departments  of  the  Government 
will  be  at  liberty  to  produce  their  own 
documentary  films. 


Howard  to  Standard 

Hope,  Ark.,  April  4.— Hal  Howard, 
manager  of  the  Saenger  and  Rialto 
here,  has  resigned  to  go  to  Milwaukee, 
where  he  will  become  associated  with 
Standard  Theatres. 


G.  T.  E.  Reports  Net 
Of  $507,267  for  '38 

General  Theatres  Equipment  Corp. 
and  subsidiaries  have  reported  net 
profit  of  $507,267  for  the  year  ended 
Dec.  31,  1938,  after  depreciation,  in- 
terest, Federal  income  taxes  and  $225,- 
000  reserve  against  advances  to  sub- 
sidiaries. The  net  is  equal  to  85  cents 
a  share  on  597,887  shares  of  no-par 
capital  stock. 

The  profit  compares  with  a  net 
profit  of  $1,199,415  in  1937,  equal  to 
$2  a  share  on  600,892  shares  of  capital 
stock.  Current  assets  at  the  end  of 
1938  amounted  to  $6,234,048. 

Colony  Plans  12  Films 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Colony  Pic- 
tures, headed  by  Max  and  Arthur 
Alexander,  have  announced  a  program 
of  six  features,  in  addition  to  six 
westerns  starring  Ken  Maynard.  All 
will  be  for  state  rights  release.  The 
titles  are :  "Emergency  Landing," 
"Extra  Edition,"  "Dead  Men's  Island," 
"Golden  Glove  Kid,"  "Military 
School"  and  "Road  King." 


32  Films  Are  Now 
Shooting  on  Coast 


Hollywood,  April  4. — Thirty-two 
pictures  were  before  the  cameras  this 
week,  as  12  pictures  started  and  13 
finished.  Twenty-two  are  being  pre- 
pared, and  64  are  in  the  cutting  rooms. 

Those  started  were :  "The  Power 
to  Kill"  (Darmour),  "Good  Girls  Go 
to  Paris,  Too"  and  "Arizona  Cf 
boy,"  Columbia;  "Wolf  Call,"  Mc  - 
gram ;  "Million  Dollar  Legs,"  "The 
Cat  and  the  Canary,"  Paramount ; 
"Racketeers  of  the  Range,"  "Five 
Came  Back,"  RKO ;  "Headin'  for 
Texas,"  Republic ;  "It  Could  Happen 
to  You,"  20th  Century-Fox ;  "Ex- 
Champ,"  "They  Asked  for  It,"  Uni- 
versal. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  were : 
"The  Restless  Age,"  Goldwyn;  "6,000 
Enemies,"  M-G-M ;  "Beau  Geste," 
"Geronimo,"  "Island  of  Lost  Men," 
"What  a  Life,"  Paramount ;  "Little 
Mother,"  RKO;  "Gone  with  the 
Wind,"  Selznick-International ;  "The 
Man  in  the  Iron  Mask,"  Small ; 
"Stanley  and  Livingstone,"  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln,"  "Second  Fiddle,"  20th 
Century-Fox;  "The  Sun  Never  Sets," 
"The  House  of  Fear,"  Universal ; 
"Each  Dawn  I  Die,"  "Gantry  the 
Great,"  "Battle  of  City  Hall,"  "The 
Old  Maid,"  "Give  Me  a  Child," 
"Enemy  Agent,"  Warners. 

Finished  were :  "Only  Angels  Have 
Wings,"  Columbia ;  "Boys'  Reforma- 
tory," Monogram ;  "The  Magnificent 
Fraud,"  "Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bulldog 
Drummond,"  Paramount ;  "The  Sec- 
ond Shot,"  "The  Girl  from  Mexico," 
RKO ;  "Three  Texas  Steers,"  "Blue 
Mountain  Skies,"  Republic ;  "Return 
of  the  Cisco  Kid,"  20th  Century-Fox ; 
"For  Love  or  Money,"  "The  Oregon 
Trail,"  Universal ;  "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy,"  "Family  Reunion,"  War- 
ners. 

Columbia  and  M-G-M  are  shooting 
one  short  subject  each.  M-G-M  is 
preparing  one,  and  13  are  being  edited. 


'Say  It  With  Music' 
To  Be  Berlin's  Next 

Hollywood,  April  4.  —  Twentieth 
Qentury-Fox  today  announced  that 
Irving  Berlin's  next  picture  would  be 
"Say  It  With  Music,"  in  which  about 
25  of  his  songs  would  be  used  in  a 
manner  similar  to  that  employed  for 
"Alexander's  Ragtime  Band." 

Don  Ameche  and  Alice  Faye  will 
be  co-starred  in  20th  Century-Fox's 
"Hollywood  Calvalcade,"  high  budget 
production  telling  of  the  growth  of  the 
film  industry. 


Gets  Mono.  Franchise 

Omaha,  April  4. — Monogram  fran- 
chise here,  held  by  L.  O.  Ringler,  has 
been  transferred  to  Sol  Francis.  Fran- 
cis has  operated  the  American  Dis- 
tributing Corp.  here.  Ringler  will  re- 
turn to  Kansas  City. 


Plan  "Birth"  Appeal 

Albany,  April  4. — Department  of 
Education  counsel  here  has  received 
records  of  preliminary  court  proceed- 
ings on  "The  Birth  of  a  Baby,"  in- 
dicative of  a  forthcoming  appeal  to 
the  Appellate  Division.  The  film  was 
banned  in  New  York  State  in  the  fall 
of  1937,  the  ban  being  upheld  by  Dr. 
Frank  P.  Graves,  Commissioner  of 
Education. 


Gets  Irish  Picture 

Mecca  Film  Laboratories  have  ac- 
quired exclusive  ownership  of  "Rose 
of  Tralee,"  Irish  film,  for  the  United 
States,  according  to  Harry  Glickman,  j 
president.  Rights  cover  35mm.  and 
16mm. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Broadway  Serenade" 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Robert  Z.  Leonard  adapted  that  advice,  "Some- 
thing old  and  something  new,"  as  the  inspiration  for  his  first  produced 
and  directed  picture  for  M-G-M,  "Broadway  Serenade."  The  old  part 
is  time  proved  screen  entertainment  material,  a  love  story  that  encounters 
difficulties  when  interrupted  as  careers  clash,  music  sung  by  Jeanette 
MacDonald,  comedy  and  spectacle.  The  new  part,  about  a  reel  and  a  half, 
is  an  unique  bit  of  modern,  impressionistic  production  staging,  makeup, 
costuming  and  musical  treatment.  The  first  is  formula ;  the  second  is 
bizarre.  The  combination  seemed  to  satisfy  and  certainly  surprised  the 
preview  audience. 

Song  and  piano  team  Miss  MacDonald  and  Lew  Ayres  splits  when  she 
gets  a  chance  to  climb  to  fame.  Their  marriage  goes  on  the  rocks  when 
she  goes  up  and  the  man  who  wants  to  compose  great  music  goes  down. 
She's  a  Broadway  star,  managed  by  Frank  Morgan  and  admired  by  Ian 
Hunter,  when  he  is  playing  a  piano  in  the  five  and  ten  cent  store.  But 
Al  Shean  retrieves  music  that  Avers  would  destroy.  It  turns  out  to  be 
a  masterpiece.  Hunter  retires  gracefully  as  husband  and  wife  are 
reunited.  Then  comes  the  ultra  modern  spectacle.  This  feature  is  new, 
different  and  surprising. 

Lew  Lipton,  John  Taintor  Foote  and  Hans  Kraly  wrote  the  original 
story  and  Charles  Lederer  did  the  screenplay.  Ten  composers  and  lyric 
writers  accounted  for  the  music.  Seymour  Felix  staged  two  spectacle 
numbers  and  Busby  Berkeley  is  credited  with  creating  and  directing  the 
odd  finale. 

Running  time,  115  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


"/  Am  Not  Afraid" 

( Warners) 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Patriotic  Americanism  is  the  entertainment 
theme  of  "I  Am  Xot  Afraid."  Its  melodramatic  substance  is  Lucien 
Hubbard's  story,  "The  Star  Witness,"  but  as  Hitler,  Mussolini  and 
Stalin  and  the  political  systems  they  symbolize  are  bawled  out,  its  the 
corrupt  American  political  system  and  its  gangster  allies  that  take 
another  punch  on  their  already  (on  the  screen)  well  punched  chins. 

Politics  and  crime  commit  another  murder.  Crime  murders  a  witness 
who  threatens  to  blow  the  lid  off  corrupt  politics.  It  terrorizes  an 
American  family,  cruelly  beats  the  family's  head,  steals  the  favorite  child, 
makes  true  the  rantings  of  its  sophomoric  son,  but  only  gets  up  the  ire 
of  grandpa,  who  charged  up  San  Juan  Hill  with  Teddy  Roosevelt  and 
has  never  forgotten  it.  The  police,  district  attorney  and  courts  cannot 
do  much  against  the  politician-gangster  combine.  But  grandpa  can.  He 
cuts  the  heart  out  of  the  unholy  alliance  of  which  everybody  else  was 
afraid  and  stirs  up  such  a  turmoil  that  everybody  will  realize  that  the 
alien  enemies  of  Americanism  will  never  get  in  and  that  those  that  are  in 
will  either  be  hanged,  electrocuted  or  go  to  jail.  This  idyllic  state  of 
affairs  is  not  shown  on  the  screen.    It's  only  talked  about. 

This  Bryan  Fox  production,  based  on  the  Hubbard  story,  was  modern- 
ized by  Lee  Katz  and  directed  by  Crane  Wilbur*.  It  features  Charley 
Grapewin,  Henry  O'Neill,  Jane  Bryan,  Elizabeth  Risdon,  Jimmie 
MacCallion,  Dickie  Jones,  John  Gallaudet,  Fred  Tozere  and  about  a 
dozen  more. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.    "G."51  G.  McC 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1939 


'Daughter9  in 
Minneapolis 
Does  $14,000 


Minneapolis,  April  4. — Combina- 
tion of  "Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter" 
2^,  the  Lou  Breese  band  and  stage 
Y^trtainment  at  the  Orpheum  was  the 
best  business  getter,  grossing  $14,000. 

In  St.  Paul,  practically  all  business 
was  sub-average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  30: 

Minneapolis : 

"Silver  on  the  Sage"  (Para.) 
"Boy  Trouble"  (Para.) 
"Nancy  Drew  Reporter"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Lady  Vanishes"  (G.  B.) 

ASTER— (900)  (15c-25c).    Dual  bills,  split 
week.    Gross:  $1,300.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"The  Beachcomber"  (Para.) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $3,200.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

GOPHER— (900)  (25c)  7  days.    Gross:  $2,- 
500.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Yes.  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM— (2.900)  (35c-55c)  7  days.  Lou 
Breese,    Stepin    Fetchit,    Armida    on  the 
stage.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average,  $4,800) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

STATE— (2,300)  (25c-40c)  6  days.  Gross: 
$3,800.    (Average.  $4,400) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD — (400)  (25c-55c)  7  days,  4th 
week.   Gross:  $1,600.    (Average,  $1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"Trade  Winds"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (2.000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $3,200) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)  (25c-40c)  7  davs 
Gross:  $3,000.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"The  Beachcomber"  (Para.) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)   (25c)  7  days.  Croc 
$1,800.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Pacific  Liner"  (RKO) 
"Arizona  Wildcat"  (20th-Fox) 

TOWER— (1,000)    (25c)    7   days.  Gross: 
$1,300.    (Average.  $1,500) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-35c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
$900.    (Average.  $700) 


'Midnight'  Best  in 
New  Haven  at  $7,000 

New  Haven,  April  4. — "Midnight" 
and  "Ambush"  took  $7,000  at  the 
Paramount.  The  Loew-Poli  with 
"The  Little  Princess"  and  "Every- 
body's Baby"  took  $6,500.  The  sec- 
ond week  of  "Love  Affair"  and  "Sec- 
ret Service  of  the  Air"  took  $4,200  at 
the  Roger  Sherman. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  30 : 

"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 
"Let  Us  Live"  (Col.) 

COLLEGE— (1.499)  (35c-50c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $2,700) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW-POLI— (3,040)    (35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average.  $8,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"Ambush"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,348)  (35c-50c)  7V>  davs. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 
"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

ROGER  SHERMAN— (2,200)  (35c-50c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average. 
$4,000) 


Union  Appeals  Decision 

Vancouver,  B.  C,  April  4. — Coun- 
sel for  the  Vancouver,  New  West- 
minster and  District  Trades  &  Labor 
Council,  and  the  B.  C.  Projectionists' 
Union  have  entered  an  appeal  against 
a  judgment  for  damages  and  an  in- 
junction restraining  plaintiffs  from 
picketing  the  Hollywood  here,  and 
from  publishing  alleged  defamatorv 
statements. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Orders  Examination 

Federal  Judge  Edward  A.  Conger 
has  ordered  David  and  Philip  Sherry 
of  Miller  &  Sherry  Enterprises  to 
testify  before  trial  in  the  $225,000 
anti-trust  suit  brought  by  Orange 
County  Theatres.  Paramount,  20th 
Century-Fox,  Universal,  RKO,  United 
Artists,  Joseph  Lee,  George  Walsh, 
Eugene  Levy  and  Netco  Theatres 
Corp.  are  defendants. 


Honor  Ohio  Governor 

Columbus,  April  4. — Local  Variety 
Club  will  induct  Gov.  John  W.  Bricker 
of  Ohio  as  an  honorary  member.  Na- 
tional Chief  Barker  John  H.  Harris 
of  Pittsburgh  will  conduct  the  induc- 
tion ceremony. 


Buying  Pool  Formed 
In  Cincinnati  Area 

Cincinnati,  April  4. — A  pool  hav- 
ing for  its  purpose  the  collective  buy- 
ing of  product  and  equipment,  tenta- 
tively called  Theatre  Management 
Booking  Operation,  is  in  the  prelim- 
inary stages  of  formation  here  by 
Maurice  White,  who,  in  association 
with  Ike  and  Abe  Libson,  controls 
several  houses  in  Ohio  and  nearb" 
territory  situations. 

The  Sam  D.  Lee  circuit,  operating 
theatres  in  Winchester,  Frankfort  anr> 
other  Kentucky  locations,  was  among 
the  first  to  be  signed.  Membership 
will  be  confined  to  theatremen  in  the 
Cincinnati  trade  territory,  with  75  to 
100  theatres  as  the  limit. 


'Princess9  Is 
Chicago  Lead 
With  $16,000 


Chicago,  April  4. — "Love  Affair" 
took  the  highest  gross  in  the  Loop 
and  gave  the  Palace  $21,000.  "Four 
Girls  in  White"  pleased  at  the  State- 
Lake  with  a  $14,500  gross  and  "Little 
Princess"  at  the  Roosevelt  did  ex- 
cellent business  with  $16,000.  The 
weather  was  cold  and  unsettled  most 
of  the  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  29-April  1 : 

"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

APOLLO— (1,400)  (35c-55c-7Sc)  7  days,  7th 
week.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:     Spanish    Revue.     Gross:  $22,600. 
(Average,  $32,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

GARRICK— (900)    (35c-40c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,200.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Tail  Spin"  (20th-Fox) 
"Code  of  Streets"  (Rep) 

ORIENTAL— (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:    Vaudeville  Revue.    Gross:  $14,300. 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

PALACE— (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:    Vaudeville  Revue.    Gross:  $21,000. 
(Average,  $19,000) 
"Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)      (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

STATE-LAKE— (2,700)     (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.    Stage:    Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
$14,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-55c-75c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Aver- 
age, $15,000) 


'Smart  Girls'  Good 
$14,300,  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  April  4.  —  "Three 
Smart  Girls  Grow  Up,"  with  a  $14,300 
take  at  the  RKO  Albee,  was  the  high 
spot  in  an  otherwise  rather  dull  week. 

"The  Oklahoma  Kid"  did  a  fair 
$9,800  at  the  RKO  Palace,  and  "You 
Can't  Cheat  An  Honest  Man"  took 
$4,800  on  a  moveover  week  at  the 
RKO  Capitol. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  29-April  1  : 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)   (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $14,300.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,800.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $10,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (Radio) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"You  Can't  Cheat  An  Honest  Man"  (Cob.) 

RKO  LYRIC— (1,400)  (35c-42c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $4,800.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

RKO  GRAND-0,200)   (25c-40c)   7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $2,300.    (Average,  $2,750) 
"Tough  Kid"  (Mono.) 
"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  4  days. 
Oross:  $1,250.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"I  Was  A  Convict"  (Rep) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $1,000.    (Average,  $900) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,850.    (Average,  $6,000) 


Motion  in  Slander  Suit 

Oklahoma  City,  April  4. — Mo- 
tion has  been  filed  asking  that  the 
amended  petition  in  the  $100,000  slan- 
der suit  of  Sol  Davidson  against  the 
National  Theatre  Supply  Co.  and  C. 
P.  _  Anderson  be  stricken  out.  It  is 
claimed  by  defendants  that  the  petition 
does  not  comply  with  the  court  order. 


1 


1 I  ■ 


on  am  rn  DC  DC 


THIS  MIGHTY  DRAMA  BY  ITSELF  WOULD 


ED  TO  A  WAITING  WORLD!  THE  COMPL 

Confessions  of  a 


e  Star: 


EDW.G.  ROBINSON 

The  Supporting  Cast: 

FRANCIS  LEDERER  *  George  Sanders  -  Paul  Lukas 
Henry  O'Neill  •  Directed  by  ANATOLE  LITVAK 

Screen  Play  by  Milton  Knms  and  John  Wexley  •  Based  on  materials  gathered  by  Leon  G.  Turrou,  ace  G  Man  •  A  First  National  Picture 


—     ^  ^  r  r     -  r  -  i  

-  j  "  I  ; 


r  7  r-"r:7  ;:-:!•'  fell  I 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1939  ^ 


B 


anner 
LINES 


THE  new  Crossley  report  shows 
Edward  G.  Robinson's  "Big 
Town"  series  to  be  seventh  in 
all-around  program  popularity,  scor- 
ing better  than  Fred  Allen,  Eddie 
Cantor  and  Burns  and  Allen,  and 
topped  only  by  Jack  Benny,  Chase  & 
Sanborn,  Lux  Radio  Theatre,  Major 
Bowes  and  Kate  Smith.  This  is  a 
superlative  showing  for  Robinson, 
considering  the  Warner  star's  com- 
paratively brief  career  in  radio. 

We  do  not  want  to  appear  preju- 
diced against  the  motion  picture  ele- 
ment that  maintains  radio  appear- 
ances are  not  good  for  picture  play- 
ers, or  the  cinema  industry.  But  if 
anyone  can  convince  us  that  radio 
work  is  hamstringing  Ed  Robinson's 
cinema  value,  we'll  listen  with  wide 
open  ears  and  mind.  As  to  Robinson 
himself,  the  last  time  he  was  in  New 
York  we  spoke  to  him  about  his  radio 
work.  It  is  his  own  opinion,  and  we 
are  quoting  him,  that  he  is  worth 
twice  as  much  to  Warners  as  a  result 
of  his  air  popularity. 

T 

Apropos  of  the  supposed ;  death- 
dealing  qualities  of  the  radio  kiss, 
newspaper  publishers  once  anguished 
themselves  with  the  thought  that  the 
broadcasting  of  news  would  cripple  the 
circulation  of  their  papers.  The  St. 
Louis  Post-Dispatch  recently  noted 
that  when  Pope  Pius  XI  was  elected 
in  1922  there  v.<as  no  trans-Atlantic 
radio.  Neivspapers  were  the  only 
source  of  information  and  the  Post- 
Dispatch  sold  only  1,000  extra  copies 
then.  In  1939  Cardinal  Pacelli  suc- 
ceeded to  the  Papacy,  and  the  Post- 
Dispatch  editorialized  that  it  sold 
5,000  extra  copies  with  the  election 
which  many  of  its  readers  had  heard 
with  their' own  ears.  The  editorial 
continues : 

'•The  Post-Dispatch  .  .  .  believes 
that  this  may  indicate  the  whetting  of 
public  interest  by  radio.  We  agree 
absolutely.  Radio  may  have  changed 
the  function  of  the  newspaper,  but  it 
has  augmented,  rather  than  dimin- 
ished that  function." 

▼ 

Nothing  official  from  Young  & 
Rubicam  as  to  the  summer  re- 
placements for  Fred  Allen,  but  some 
•sources  have  stated  that  Fred  Uttel 
and  Arlene  Francis  will  carry  on 
for  Fred.  It's  our  opinion,  however, 
and  that  based  on  more  than  hear- 
say, that  the  substitutes  will  be 
Budd  Hulick  and  Arlene. 

T 

Maxie  Rosenbloom,  great  fighter 
and  thespian,  is  ardently  desired  for 
radio  by  Ham  Fisher,  cartoonist  who 
draws  the  Joe  Palooka  strip.  A  spon- 
sor has  taken  an  option  on  the  strip 
for  radio,  but  Maxie  is  wanted  for 
the  part. 

▼ 

Heywood  Broun  will  be  on  the 
"Hobby  Lobby"  tonight.  Broun's 
hobby  is  painting  and  after  spending 
$5,000  indulging  it,  he  recently  sold 
his  first  canvas  for  $10. 

— Jack  Banner 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

GEORGE  FISHER,  Mutual's 
Hollywood  commentator,  is  in 
New  York  and  will  remain  here 
to  do  his  regular  Saturday  night 
broadcast.  .  .  .  Homer  B.  Snook  of 
RCA  Photophone  has  left  on  a  two- 
week  business  trip  across  the  coun- 
try, with  Hollywood  as  the  terminus. 
S.  J.  Perelman  has  been  signed  by 
Mutual  as  one  of  the  permanent  mem- 
bers on  the  new  "Author,  Author"  se- 
ries which  bows  in  Friday  night.  .  .  . 
Dorothy  Lamour  leaves  New  York 
for  Hollywood  tonight. 


Will  Air  The  Easter 
Parade  from  Coach 

Following  a  custom  started 
three  years  ago  by  WOR,  an 
old  English  road  coach  will 
roll  down  Fifth  Avenue  East- 
er Sunday,  and  on  board  Dave 
Driscoll  of  WOR  will  describe 
the  fashion  parade  for  his 
station  and  the  Mutual  net- 
work. Driscoll's  companions 
aboard  the  coach  will  include 
Olsen  &  Johnson,  Wynn 
Murray,  Benay  Venuta,  Joan 
Davis,  Vyvyan  Donner  and 
Radie  Harris. 


Neville  Miller  Sees 
Brief  Commercials 


US,  British  Program 
Exchange  Arranged 

A  series  of  exchange  programs  ad 
vertising  the  New  York  and  London 
markets  to  British  and  American  im 
porters  has  been  arranged  between 
WMCA  and  the  International  Broad- 
casting Co.,  Ltd.,  of  London,  operators 
of  Radio  Normandie  in  Paris.  Latter 
is  the  station  over  which  England 
hears  commercial  programs,  since  the 
BBC  is  not  available  to  advertisers. 

Arrangement  provides  for  exchang- 
ing most  popular  programs  of  each 
station,  with  the  exchanges  to  be  aired 
weekly  in  New  York  and  Paris.  First 
exchanges  are  to  be  aired  April  23,  in 
Paris,  May  1  over  WMCA.  The  ex- 
changes are  to  be  especially  transcribed 
and  shipped  via  the  Queen  Mary  and 
Normandie.  In  addition  to  the  enter- 
tainment features  of  the  broadcasts,  the 
programs  will  also  contain  informa- 
tive talks  on  the  marketing  of  export 
products  through  the  medium  of  radio. 

Deals  Closed  at  WHN 

Manv  new  and  renewal  contracts 
have  been  closed  at  WHN  by  adver- 
tisers and  agencies  taking  advantage 
of  the  station's  rates  before  the  in- 
crease which  took  effect  yesterday. 
Accounts  included  Adam  Hat  Stores 
for  one  year,  Delehanty  Institute  for 
13  weeks,  Oxo,  Ltd.,  for  39  weeks, 
Hudson  River  Dayline  for  10  weeks, 
Potter  Drug  &  Chemical  Co.  for  26 
weeks,  Kohler  Manufacturing  Co.  for 
one  year;  Steem-Electric  Co.  for  13 
weeks,  West  Disinfecting  Co. 

Joins  Suit  Against  RCA 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Alfred 
Frankthaler  has  allowed  William 
Rieders,  holder  of  600  shares  of  com- 
mon stock  of  RCA,  and  Margaret 
Guglielmo,  holder  of  50  shares,  to  in- 
tervene as  plaintiffs  in  the  stockhold- 
ers' suit  now  pending  against  RCA, 
A.T.  &  T.,  Westinghouse  and  General 
Electric.  The  suit  seeks  an  accounting 
and  appointment  of  a  receiver,  charges 
waste  and  mismanagement  and  trans- 
fer of  a  large  block  of  shares  to 
A.T.  &  T.  Westinghouse  and  General 
Electric. 


Columbia  University 
To  Study  Facsimile 

Columbia  University  will  study  ad- 
vances in  facsimile  broadcasting  and 
WOR  has  installed  facsimile  receivers 
at  the  University.  Research  will  be 
conducted  to  determine  new  applica- 
tions and  home  technique  for  home 
facsimile.  First  researching  will  be  in 
type  styles,  sizes  and  makeup  for 
facsimile  copy. 

A  similar  tieup  with  City  College 
is  planned  by  WOR. 

Sign  hum  V  Abner 
For  CBS  Renewal 

A  new  long  term  contract  that  will 
keep  Lum  'n'  Abner  on  the  air  until 
July,  1940,  for  their  current  sponsors, 
has  been  closed.  The  pact,  engineered 
by  Young  &  Rubicam  for  the  General 
Food  Corp.,  will  go  into  effect  when 
the  team  returns  to  the  air  next  fall 
after  a  two-month  summer  vacation. 

Lum  'n'  Abner,  veterans  on  the  air 
of  almost  eight  years  standing,  cur- 
rently are  heard  three  evenings  weekly 
on  CBS. 


P.  &  G.  Using  Discs 

Procter  &  Gamble,  through  the 
Compton  agency,  is  spotting,  for  the 
first  time,  electrical  transcriptions  of 
"The  Gospel  Singer"  over  a  number 
of  southern  stations. 


Beta  Kappa  Sets  Series 

Phi  Beta  Kappa  will  offer  a  new 
series  over  NBC,  titled  "Get  Ready 
for  Tomorrow."  Six  speakers  will  be 
offered  in  the  series.  They  are  Dr. 
John  H.  Finley,  editor-in-chief  of 
the  New  York  Times;  John  W. 
Davis,  Dean  Christian  Gauss,  Prince- 
ton University ;  Roscoe  Pound,  former 
dean  of -Harvard  law  school ;  Dr.  John 
Erskine,  and  Chancellor  Harry  W. 
Chase  of  N.  Y.  U.  Davis  will  open 
the  series  April  14. 

Levy  Gives  CBS  Stock 

Washington,  April  4. — Disposition 
by  gift  by  Isaac  D.  Levy,  Philadelphia, 
director,  of  125  shares  of  Columbia 
Broadcasting  System  Class  A  stock  in 
February  has  been  reported  by  the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission. 
At  the  close  of  the  month,  Levy  held 
62,375  shares  of  Class  A  and  23,115 
shares  of  Class  B  stock. 


Washington,  April  4.  —  Reduc- 
tion in  the  length  of  advertising  copy; 
on  commercial  radio  shows  probably 
will  result  from  the  deliberations  of, 
the  Committee  on  Program  Codes  and  I 
Standards  of  Practice  of  the  Nationals 
Association  of  Broadcasters,  w&cli 
met  last  week  in  New  York,  aCJ^H 
ing  to  Neville  Miller,  N.  A.  B.  prfsi -j 
dent. 

"This  is  in  line  with  the  existing 
trend  in  broadcasting  and  advertising,'! 
said  Mr.  Miller,  "and  will  put  ? 
greater  premium  on  more  skilled  ad- 
vertising writing,  with  briefer,  mort 
interesting  and  more  pertinent  mes- 
sages about  needed  products  and  ser- 
vices. The  industry  is  simply  going 
to  put  into  effect,  universally,  thost 
practices  of  progressive  advertiser; 
which  are  already  proving  their  ef- 
fectiveness in  achieving  greater  re 
suits  and  a  higher  degree  of  progran 
popularity." 

Philco  Plans  Trip 
To  Show  Televisiot 

Philco  is  dispatching  a  televisioi 
caravan  across  the  country  to  shov 
the  nation  the  video  art,  following  sue 
cessful  demonstrations  of  the  com 
pany's  new  portable  television  trans 
mitter  in  Florida  and  New  Yort 
Philco's  receivers  also  are  being  trans 
ported  on  the  trip  so  that  the  broad 
casts  picked  up  by  the  transmitter  ca 
be  shown  in  the  cities  visited. 

The  television  route  includes  demon 
strations  in  Washington,  Baltimon 
Boston,  Pittsburgh,  Cleveland,  Dt 
troit,  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  Minnear 
olis  and  St.  Louis.  After  this  serif 
others  are  planned  through  wester 
and  southern  areas,  with  journey 
end  at  the  Pacific  Coast. 


F.  P.  Canadian  Agai 
Elects    All  Officer 

Toronto,  April  4. — At  a  meeting  < 
directors  of  Famous  Players  Canadia 
Corp.,  following  the  annual  gener; 
meeting,  N.  L.  Nathanson  was  r 
elected  president  of  the  Canadian  ci 
cuit  and  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons  was  aga 
elected  as  vice-president  for  the  cu- 
rent  year.  Announcement  was  mao 
that  all  directors  of  1938  had  been  r 
named  to  the  board  and  that  i 
changes  in  policy  or  management 
the  company  had  been  adopted. 

Payment  of  25  cents  per  comim' 
share  as  the  initial  dividend  for  tr 
year  was  indicated  at  the  annu 
meeting. 


Wolsfield  Sues  NBC 

Albert  H.  Wolsfield,  orchestra  lead- 
er known  as  Al  Fields,  has  filed  suit 
for  an  injunction  and  accounting  in 
the  U.  S.  District  Court  against  RCA, 
NBC  and  Gray  Gordon,  another  or- 
chestra leader.  Fields  claims  to  be 
the  originator  of  "Tic  Toe  Music," 
and  the  designer  of  a  patented  "com- 
bined clock-face  and  metronone" 
which  he  uses  to  accompany  his  music. 


'Lancer'  on  Lux  Hour 

"Lives  of  a  Bengal  Lancer"  will  be 
the  vehicle  on  the  Lux  "Radio  The- 
atre" April  10,  over  CBS.  Principal 
parts  will  be  taken  by  Errol  Flynn, 
Brian  Aherne,  C.  Aubrey  Smith  and 
Jackie  Cooper. 


To  Televise  Cup  Final 

London,  April  4.— British  Broad- 
casting Corp.  will  televise  the  Foot- 
ball Association  Cup  final  April  29, 
but  the  association  has  refused  to  per- 
mit the  telecast  in  theatres  or  to  a 
paying  audience. 


French  'Snow'  to  Open 

For  the  American  opening  of  W; 
Disney's  "Snow  White  and  The  Sev 
Dwarfs"  in  French,  in  which  it  tj 
comes  "Blanche  Neige  at  Les  St' 
Nains,"  the  Waldorf  Theatre  will  ta 
on  a  Paris  theatre  front.  The  hot 
will  be  closed  Friday  to  prepare  f 
the  opening  Saturday. 

Hit  Cleveland  Giveaway 

Cleveland,  April  4.— Independ< 
subsequent  run  theatres  here  plan 
second  meeting  April  14  designed 
end  giveaway  advertising  in  nev 
papers,  eliminate  giveaways  as  c( 
tracts  expire,  and  to  restrict  duals 
certain  days  of  the  week. 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


»{^>L  45. 


NO.  6ti 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  6,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Republic  Lists 
50  Features  at 
Texas  Meeting 

Include  26  Dramas,  24 
Westerns,  4  Serials 


Houston,  April  5. — Republic's  pro- 
gram of  26  features,  24  westerns  and 

Atfour  serials  for  1930-'40  will  be  an- 
nounced here  Friday  at  the  opening 

(Jjession    of    the    company's  two-day 

i  .southern  regional  convention  at  the 

-  Rice  Hotel. 

i|    The  serial   and  westerns  program 
parallels  that  of  1938-'39,  but  "B"  fea- 
tures have  been  eliminated  in  favor  of 
via  greater  number  of  higher  budget 
productions,  according  to  James  R. 
drainger,  president.   The  features  will 
be  designated  as  "A's."   Last  year  the 
company  announced  30  features. 
The  "Higgins  Family"  films  have 
Jbeen  expanded  to  a  series  of  four, 
and  the  serials  will  feature  new  char- 
.'  acters.    The  dramas  are  in  groups  of 
I  four  De  Luxe  Productions,  six  Anni- 
'  versary  Specials  and  16  Jubilee  Pro- 
,  ductions.     The  westerns  are  divided 
IJ  into  three  groups  of  eight  each,  star- 
ring Gene  Autry,  Roy  Rogers  and  the 
1  Three  Mesquiteers. 
i     Delegates  from  Atlanta,  Charlotte, 
d  Memphis,  Little  Rock,  Tampa,  New 
r  Orleans.  Dallas  and  Oklahoma  City 
n  will  arrive  tomorrow,  a  day  in  ad- 
u  vance  of  the  convention,  and  will  at- 
i;  tend  the  premiere  of  "Man  of  Con- 
■i  quest"  at  the  Majestic  Theatre  to- 
morrow night.    Here  from  the  home 
office  are  H.  J.  Yates,  Grainger,  Al 
Adams,  William  Saal  and  C.  F.  Hil- 

(Continued  on  pace  15) 


France  Reported  As 
Banning  WB  Films 

Despatches  from  France 
have  the  French  Government 
as  having  banned  Warner 
Bros,  pictures  from  France 
for  a  period  of  two  months 
beginning  with  yesterday  be- 
cause of  the  American  com- 
pany's having  released 
"Devil's  Island,"  considered 
by  the  French  to  be  an  anti- 
French  film,  although  the  pic- 
ture was  not  exported  from 
the  U.  S. 

Warner  Bros,  shelved  the 
picture  following  a  French 
Embassy  protest,  after  the 
film  already  had  been  exten- 
sively played  around  the 
country. 


Neely  Reveals  Loss 
In  Paramount  Stock 

Washington,  April  5. — Sen- 
ator Neely's  losses  in  Para- 
mount stock 
for  a  while  to- 
day stole  the 
show  at  the 
Senate  sub- 
committee 
hearing  on  his 
anti  -  block 
booking  bill. 

A  discussion 
by  Nathan  Ya- 
mins  led  to  the 
question  of  the  financial  diffi- 
culties in  which  some  of  the 
companies  have  been  in- 
volved, leading  Senator  Neely 
to  say  that  he  held  Para- 
mount stock  for  which  he 
paid  $100  or  more  a  share 
and  from  which  he  has  never 
drawn  a  dividend  and  which 
is  "now  worth  only  five  or  six 
dollars." 


Sen.  Xeely 


Arnold's  Absence 
Halts  Strike  Move 

Absence  from  Washington  yester- 
day of  Thurman  Arnold,  special  as- 
sistant to  the  U.  S.  Attorney  General, 
delayed  the  filing  of  instructions  to 
Government  men  here  on  their  future 
procedure  in  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. -Local 
306  strike. 

Berkley  W.  Henderson,  head  of  the 
anti-trust  division  in  New  York,  ex- 
pects to  receive  the  instructions  from 
Washington  momentarily,  however. 
His  report  on  the  significant  aspects 
of  the  strike  and  its  background  was 
forwarded  to  Arnold  in  Washington 
on  Tuesday,  but  without  recommenda- 
tions.   Future  course  of  the  Federal 

(.Continued  from  page  15) 


ALLIED  RAPS  PACT 
AT  NEELY  HEARING 


S.  California  ITO, 
Nebraska  MPTOA 
Accept  Trade  Pact 

Los  Angeles,  April  5. — The  Board 
of  Directors  of  I.T.O.  of  Southern 
California  today  approved  the  Trade 
Practice  Agreement  in  principle,  sub- 
ject to  final  approval  of  the  member- 
ship. 

(The  Southern  California  I.T.O. 
unit  is  one  of  the  unaffiliated  regional 
organizations  which  took  part  in  New 
York  trade  practice  conferences.) 

Omaha,  April  5. — C.  E.  Williams, 
president  of  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Nebraska 
and  W  estern  Iowa,  approves  the  trade 
practice  code  draft  submitted  to  ex- 
hibitor organizations.  The  unit  is 
affiliated  with  the  M.P.T.O.A. 

The  draft  is  "by  and  large  the  best 
thing  the  exhibitors  ever  have  had," 
Williams  said.  He  will  discuss  the 
proposed  code  with  members,  either  at 
a  general  meeting  or  by  mail. 

Studio  Union  Sues 
I  AT  SE  for  Million 

Hollywood,  April  5. — Suspended 
officers  of  studio  technicians  Local  37, 
I.A.T.S.E.  today  filed  suit  against 
George  Browne,  international  presi- 
dent, and  other  international  officers, 
demanding  return  of  $1,000,000  alleg- 
edly illegally  collected  in  special  as- 
sessments. Counsel  for  the  local's  of- 
ficers obtained  a  new  restraining  order 
against  International  officers. 


F.  W.  C.  Plans  Price  Cuts  to 
Combat  'Mushroom9  Units 


Los  Angeles,  April  5. — Fox  West 
Coast  plans  to  experiment  with  low- 
ered prices  as  a  means  of  offsetting 
15-cent  competition  from  new  houses 
which  have  been  mushrooming  in 
southern  California.  The  price  cuts 
may  take  effect  in  a  week. 

The  circuit  has  felt  effects  of  this 
opposition  among  the  neighborhoods. 
Thornton  Sargent,  division  manager, 
says  the  standard  F.W.C.  price  of  40 
cents  will  be  cut  to  30  or  25  cents  in 
the  four  theatres  seriously  affected. 

About    90    small    theatres  of  the 


"store  show"  type  have  been  built  in 
this  area  and  many  more  are  planned, 
according  to  S.  Charles  Lee,  architect. 
This  type  of  theatre  can  be  built  for 
a  few  hundred  dollars  and  can  be  op- 
erated at  very  low  overhead.  The 
operators  are  mostly  from  other  lines 
of  business. 

Charles  Skouras,  head  of  F.W.C, 
has  deplored  this  development  as  po- 
tentially detrimental  to  the  industry 
and  exhibitor  organizations  plan  to 
take  the  matter  up  at  their  meetings. 


Cole  Calls  Blind  Selling 
And  Block  Booking 
'Twin  Evils' 


Washington,  April  5. — Cancella- 
tion, trade  announcement  and  "speci- 
fic demand"  provisions  of  the  proposed 
trade  practice  code  today  were  de- 
nounced by  Allied  leaders  as  incom- 
plete, ambiguous  and  meaningless. 

The  only  effective  relief  from  com- 
pulsory block  booking  can  be  secured 
through  enactment  of  the  Neely  Bill, 
Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president  of  Allied, 
asserted  before  Senate  Interstate  Com- 
merce Subcommittee. 

"Two  of  Many  Evils" 

Block  booking  and  blind  selling,  he 
said,  are  "twin  evils"  and  but  two  of 
many  "monopolistic  and  oppressive 
practices  resorted  to  by  Big  Eight." 

He  read  extracts  from  the  Govern- 
ment's petition  in  the  New  York  suit 
to  explain  how  block  booking  is  used 
and  recited  a  history  of  the  Interstate 
Case  recently  decided  by  the  Supreme 
Court,  asserting  that  in  the  three  years 
between  the  original  imposition  of  ad- 
mission price  restrictions  and  dual  ban, 
and  their  outlawing  by  the  courts,  23 
theatres  sold  out  to  circuits. 

Cole  told  Senator  Neely,  only  mem- 

(Continned  from  page  15) 


Bondy  to  Get  Order 
On  RKO  Plan  Today 

Formal  order  of  confirma- 
tion of  RKO's  plan  of  reor- 
ganization will  be  presented 
for  signature  to  Federal 
Judge  William  Bondy  this 
morning.  The  order  contains 
the  usual  clauses  in  such 
cases  and  provides  for  the 
method  of  consummating  the 
plan.  Nathan  Rosenberg,  at- 
torney for  H.  Cassell  &  Co., 
objecting  debenture  holders, 
will  submit  a  counter  order 
which  will  provide  that  Atlas 
Corp.,  proponents  of  the  plan, 
must  submit  an  underwriting 
agreement  for  the  $1,500,000' 
new  capital  required  by  the 
plan  within  30  days  after  the 
order  is  signed. 

Both  Rosenberg  and  John 
S.  Stover,  attorney  for  Ernest 
W.  Stirn,  objecting  Class  A 
stockholder,  stated  that  they 
would  not  apply  for  a  stay  to 
Judge  Bondy. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  6,  1939 


Monogram  Session 
In  Chicago  May  4 


Monogram's  sales  convention  was 
set  for  May  4,  5  and  6  at  the  Drake 
Hotel,  Chicago,  by  W.  Ray  Johnston, 
president,  yesterday.  About  200  sales- 
men and  executives  from  Monogram's 
37  offices  in  the  U.  S.  and  Canada  as 
well  as  executives  from  foreign  dis- 
tribution outlets  in  London,  Paris, 
Australia  and  South  America  will  be 
on  hand. 

George  W.  Weeks,  general  sales 
manager,  will  outline  the  company's 
product  plans  for  the  1939-40  season, 
which  will  include  32  features  and  24 
westerns.  Special  trains  from  New 
York,  Hollywood  and  the  south  will 
bring  the  delegations. 

Representing  Monogram's  foreign 
distribution  outlets  will  be  William 
Gell,  managing  director  of  Pathe  Pic- 
tures, Ltd.,  London ;  Arthur  Levy, 
Monogram's  English  representative ; 
Norman  Bede  Rydge,  chairman  of  the 
board  of  Greater  Union  Theatres  and 
of  British  Empire  Films,  Australia, 
and  Ernest  Wettstein,  Paris  represen 
tative. 


Paramount  Group  Off 
To  Hollywood  Today 

Paramount  home  office  delegation 
starts  west  today  led  by  Neil  F.  Ag 
new,  distribution  head,  and  Robert  M. 
Gillham,  advertising  and  publicity  di 
rector.    The  two  will  stop  off  in  Chi 
cago   tomorrow   where   Agnew  will 
confer  with  the  local  sales  representa 
tives   and   Gillham   will   meet  Cliff 
Lewis,  studio  advertising  director,  to 
discuss  further  arrangements  for  the 
Omaha  premiere  of  "Union  Pacific," 
April  28. 

Barney  Balaban,  Paramount  presi 
dent;  Stanton  Griffis,  chairman  of  the 
executive  committee ;  Edwin  L.  Weisl, 
board  member ;  Russell  Holman,  east- 
ern talent  and  story  head,  and  Leon 
Netter  of  the  home  office  theatre  de 
partment,  leave  for  the  studio  by  train 
tomorrow  and  will  be  joined  in  Chi 
cago  by  Agnew  and  Gillham.  The 
home  office  delegation  will  be  at  the 
studio  about  three  weeks  conferring 
with  Y.  Frank  Freeman  and  William 
LeBaron  on  the  new  season  production 
program  and  annual  sales  convention 
plans. 

Following  the  meeting  Agnew  will 
visit  company  exchanges  in  San  Fran 
cisco,  Seattle,  Portland  and  Salt  Lake 
City  before  returning  to  New  York 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


BETTY  GOLDSMITH,  secretary 
to  James  Mulvey,  will  sail  for 
England  on  the  Queen  Mary  tomor- 
row. She  will  act  as  secretary 
to  James  Roosevelt  while  the  latter 
is  in  England  on  Samuel  Goldwyn 
business. 

• 

S.  W.  McClelland,  manager  of 
Erpi's  foreign  technical  department, 
and  M.  J.  Burger  of  the  company's 
engineering  staff  have  left  for  Mon- 
treal to  confer  with  officials  of  the 
Northern  Electric  Co.  there. 

• 

John  Joseph,  Universal  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  director,  has  post- 
poned his  departure  for  the  studio  to 
Monday.  Matthew  J.  Fox,  vice- 
president,  still  expects  to  leave  New 
York  tomorrow. 

• 

G.  L.  Carrington,  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  Altec,  has  re- 
turned from  a  week's  trip  to  the 
south.  F.  C.  Gilbert,  chief  engineer, 
has  returned  from  Detroit  and  other 
Midwest  cities. 

• 

Arthur  Rapf  of  the  Rapf,  Ruden 
&  Lederer  circuit,  returns  tomorrow 
from  a  week's  vacation  in  Atlantic 
City  during  which  time  he  and  Mrs. 
Rapf  celebrated  their  25th  wedding 
anniversary. 

• 

Beulah  Livingstone  left  last  night 
for  Boston  to  handle  publicity  on  the 
opening  of  "The  Challenge,"  released 
by  Film  Alliance  of  the  United  States, 
at  the  Trans-Lux  on  April  14. 
• 

Claude  Rains,  star  of  Warners' 
"Family  Reunion"  "/ill  leave  the  coast 
tomorrow  for  a  month's  vacation  on 
his  Pennsylvania  farm. 

• 

Alan  Hale  of  the  cast  of  "Dodge 
City"  will  arrive  in  New  York  tomor- 
row to  attend  the  premiere  of  the  pic- 
ture at  the  Strand. 

• 

George  Sanders  has  arrived  in 
England  for  work  in  "The  Saint  in 
London,"  RKO  film  to  be  produced  at 
the  Elstree  studios. 


To  Quiz  Rafter y  Today 

Examination  before  trial  of  Edward 
Raftery,  secretary  of  United  Artists, 
and  Harry  Muller,  treasurer,  in  the 
Government  anti-trust  suit  will  be  con- 
ducted at  the  Federal  Building  at  2 
P.  M.  today.  Robert  L.  Wright,  spe- 
cial assistant  to  the  U.  S.  Attorney 
General,  will  conduct  the  examination 
and  Benjamin  Pepper,  of  O'Brien, 
Driscoll  &  Raftery,  will  represent 
U.  A. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

156  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


'Castle'  Strong  at 
$100,500  for  Week 


EW.    HAMMONS,    Grand  Na- 
•   tional   president,   has  returned 
from  Washington. 

• 

Paul  Williams,  special  assistant  to 
the  U.  S.  Attorney  General  in  charge 
of  the  Government  suit  against  the 
majors,  returned  to  Washington  after 
a  brief  New  York  visit. 

• 

Joan  Votsis,  associate  editor  of 
Screen  Book,  Fawcett  publication,  has 
become  engaged  to  Peter  Curtis  of 
Newark. 

• 

Chester  Morris  will  enact  the  title 
role  of  the  "Man  From  Medicine  Hat" 
to  be  broadcast  over  CBS  April  9. 
• 

Edward  Arnold,  Jr.,  son  of  the 
actor,  reported  for  work  at  Paramount 
yesterday  in  "Million  Dollar  Legs." 
• 

Alfred  Hitchcock  is  en  route  to 
the  coast  to  begin  work  on  "Rebecca" 
for  Selznick-International. 

• 

James  MacFarland  is  handling 
television  exploitation  for  Baird-Gau- 
mont  British. 

Irene  Castle  has  returned  to  her 
Chicago  home  after  spending  a  week 
here. 

• 

Samuel    Machnovich,  Universal 
treasurer,  is  vacationing  in  Florida. 
• 

John  Hertz,  Jr.,  left  by  TWA 
plane  for  the  coast  yesterday. 

• 

Grad  Sears  is  back  on  the  job 
after  fighting  the  grippe. 

• 

Spyros  Skouras  is  confined  to  his 
home  with  laryngitis. 

• 

William  Brandt  is  confined  to  his 
home  with  the  flu. 

• 

Phil  Laufer  of  Loew's  publicity  on 
the  sick  list. 

• 

George  Trendle  is  in  town  from 
Detroit. 


Complete  Short  for 
Will  Rogers  Week 

Short  subject  "For  Auld  Lang 
Syne"  which  will  be  used  in  connec- 
tion with  this  year's  Will  Rogers 
National  Theatre  Week  has  been  com- 
pleted, Major  L.  E.  Thompson,  chair- 
man, announced  yesterday.  The  subject 
will  be  available  to  all  theatres 
through  any  exchange  center  in  the 
country.  Froceeds  from  audience  col- 
lections, which  will  be  made  during  the 
week  beginning  April  20,  will  go  to 
the  Will  Rogers  Memorial  Hospital, 
Saranac,  N.  Y. 

Stars  appearing  in  the  film  include 
Spencer  Tracy,  Deanna  Durbin, 
Lowell  Thomas,  Robert  E.  Sherwood 
and  Raymond  Massey.  It  was  pro- 
duced with  the  cooperation  of  M-G-M, 
20th  Century-Fox,  RKO,  Universal 
and  Warners.  Scenes  taken  in  Hol- 
lywood were  supervised  by  Harold 
Rodner,  Warner  executive,  and  those 
taken  in  New  York  by  A.  P.  Wax- 
man,  director  of  the  campaign.  Raw 
stock  was  contributed  by  Eastman 
Kodak  (Jules  Brulatour),  Dupont- 
Pathe  and  Filmex-Gevaert.  Shipping 
will  be  handled  by  National  Screen 
Service. 


Goldrick  Sees  U.  S, 
South  America  Gain 

Miles  A.  Goldrick,  assistant  general 
foreign  manager  of  Erpi,  returned  yes- 
terday from  a  20,000-mile  air  tour  of 
Latin  America  during  which  he  visited 
26  countries  and  arranged  for  distribu- 
tion of  American  equipment  in  major 
film  centers. 

He  reported  business  conditions  in 
South  America  generally  unsettled, 
but  noted  an  unusual  growth  in  thea- 
tre business  in  Mexico  in  the  last  two 
years.  Local  estimates  put  the  in- 
crease as  high  as  70  per  cent,  Gold- 
rick declared.  He  pointed  to  a  "pro- 
nounced feeling  of  sympathy  for  Amer- 
ican-made products"  developed  recent- 
ly in  South  America. 


Boston  Ball  April  28 

Boston,  April  5. — Phil  Smith, 
chairman  of  the  board  of  the  Friars 
Club  has  set  April  28  as  the  date  for 
the  Boston  Friars  Frolic  and  Motion 
Picture  Ball,  in  the  Boston  Garden. 
The  proceeds  will  go  to  supply  film 
equipment  for  hospitals. 


"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle"  finished  its  first  week  at  the 
Music  Hall  with  an  estimated  $100,500 
and  will  continue  there.  "Midnight" 
opened  at  the  Paramount  yesterday 
and  grossed  an  estimated  $8,500-^  for 
the  day.  Tommy  Dorsey  and  his^  jlid 
is  the  stage  attraction.  Second  fi-dek 
of  "I'm  from  Missouri"  grossed  an 
estimated  $33,000  there. 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  is 
set  for  four  weeks  at  the  Rivoli.  Sec- 
ond week  did  an  estimated  $25,000 
and  the  third  will  do  an  estimated 
$16,000.  "Wuthering  Heights"  will 
open  there  on  the  evening  of  April  13. 
"Society  Lawyer"  attracted  an  esti- 
mated $20,000  at  the  Capitol.  "The 
Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell"  is 
doing  excellent  business  at  the  Roxy 
and  will  be  held.  "Dodge  City"  goes 
into  the  Strand  tomorrow,  "Prison 
Without  Bars"  opens  at  the  Globe 
Saturday  and  "Housemaster"  (Asso- 
ciated British)  bows  in  at  the  Little 
Carnegie  on  the  same  day. 


To  Ask  Submission 
Of  Pathe 's  Recordi 

Application  for  an  order  directin, 
the  officers  and  directors  of  Pathe' 
Film  Corp.  to  submit  the  books  and 
records  of  the  company  for  inspection 
by  Anna  Bashlow,  holder  of  200  shares 
of  common  stock,  will  be  made  today 
in  the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  before 
Justice  Alfred  Frankenthaler. 

The  filed  petition  asserts  that  im 
mediate  inspection  is  "imperative," 
since  Pathe  is  presently  transferring 
its  assets  under  a  plan  presented  to 
stockholders  on  Feb.  16,  1939,  and  ap- 
proved by  the  stockholders.  The  peti- 
tioner claims  unexplained  expenses  in 
dicated  in  the  1936  and  1937  financial 
statements  of  the  company,  and 
charges  impropriety  in  acquisition  oi 
stock  of  Grand  National  Films,  Inc 
The  petitioner  further  charged  the 
evasion  of  her  demands  by  officers  ol 
the  company. 


Loew  Dividend  Set 

Loew's  yesterday  declared  a  regular 
$1.62^  dividend  on  the  $6.50  cumu- 
lative preferred  stock,  payable  May  15 
to  stockholders  of  record  April  28. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  anc 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundaj 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com 
pany,  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurer 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  ai 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubco 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  193! 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  YorV 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Mono* 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picturi! 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS: — Hollywood:  Postal  Uniori 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boon^ 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver] 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  Bj 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London 
Hope  Williams,  manager.  I 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23;. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Yi 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  th( 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c 


minded  country 


And  This  Is  A 


FAIR-MINDED 


COMPANY 

A  Company  that  Believes  in 

FAIR  DEALING  WITH  ALL 

A  Company  that  Believes  in 

FAIR  PROFIT  TO  ALL 

A  Company  that  Believes  in 

FAIR  PLAY  ALL  THE  WAY 

That  Company  Is 


FOUR  DAUGHTERS 
THE  SISTERS 
BROTHER  RAT 

ANGELS  WITH  DIRTY  FACES 

DEVIL'S  ISLAND 

DAWN  PATROL 

THEY  MADE  ME  A  CRIMINAL 

WINGS  OF  THE  NAVY 

BLACKWELL'S  ISLAND 

THE  OKLAHOMA  KID 

YES,  MY  DARLING  DAUGHTER 

DODGE  CITY 

YOU  CAN'T  GET  AWAY  WITH  MURDER 
CONFESSIONS  OF  A  NAZI  SPY 
NAUGHTY  BUT  NICE 
JUAREZ 

I  AM  NOT  AFRAID 

EACH  DAWN  I  DIE 

FAMILY  REUNION 

THE  KID  FROM  KOKOMO 

DARK  VICTORY 

HELL'S  KITCHEN 

THE  DEVIL  ON  WHEELS 


WARNER  BROS 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  6,  1939 


'Island'  Dual 
At  $25,700  in 
Los  Angeles 


Los  Angeles,  April  5. — "Black- 
well's  Island"  and  "The  Higgins 
Family"  grossed  a  total  of  $25,700  at 
two  houses,  $12,200  at  the  Warner 
Hollywood  and  $13,500  at  the  Warner 
Downtown. 

"The  Lady  Vanishes"  took  $4,100  in 
the  second  week  at  the  4  Star,  and 
"Love  Affair"  and  "Spirit  of  Culver" 
drew  $6,800  at  the  Hillstreet  and  $7,- 
200  at  the  Pantages  in  the  third  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  5 : 

"Tail  Spin"  (20th-Fox) 

"The  Three  Musketeers"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CHINESE— (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
511,300.    (Average,  $12,500) 
"The  Lady  Vanishes"  (G.  B.) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-55c)  7  days.   2d  week. 
Gross:  $4,100.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 
"Spirit  cf  Culver"  (Univ.) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)    (30c-65c)    6  days. 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Tail  Spin"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"The  Three  Musketeers"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $14,700.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

PANTAGES— (3.000)  (30c-65c)  6  days.  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $7,200.    (Average.  $7,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)   (30c-65c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Stage:   F.   &  M.  revue,  Para- 
mount   Theatre    orchestra.    Gross:  $12,500. 
(Average.  $18,000) 
"B'EckweU's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Higgins  Family"  (Rep.) 

WARNER    BROS.    (HOLLYWOOD)  — 
(3,000)    (30c-65c)    7    days.    Gross:  $12,200. 
(Average,  $14,000) 
"B'zckweU's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Higgins  Family"  (Rep.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (DOWNTOWN)  - 
(3,400)  (30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,500 
(Average,  $12,000) 

Change  House  Policy 

Oklahoma  City,  April  5.  —  Cir- 
cle here  has  become  a  second  run 
house  in  the  city  circuit  operated  by 
Standard  Theatres,  Inc.,  according  to 
Dee  Fuller,  manager.  The  change  will 
mean  that  pictures  appearing  at  the 
three  downtown  houses  as  first  runs 
will  be  moved  to  the  Tower  the  sec- 
ond week  and  the  Circle  for  the  next 
showing. 

Metro  to  Give  Fair  Trips 

M-G-M  will  award  free  trips  to  the 
New  York  World's  Fair  to  10  em- 
ployes, two  to  be  chosen  from  each 
of  the  five  leading  offices  at  the  end 
of  the  1938-'39  "efficiency  competi- 
tion." The  contest  ends  Aug.  31. 
Branch  managers,  office  managers, 
salesmen  and  bookers  are  not  eligible. 


RKO  Promotes  McCourt 

Providence,  April  5. — William  J. 
McCourt  has  reported  as  acting  mana- 
ger of  the  RKO-Albee,  coming  from 
Boston  where  he  had  been  assistant 
manager  of  the  Keith  Memorial.  Mc- 
Court succeeds  Harry  McDonald,  pro- 
moted by  RKO  to  handle  the  New 
England  district. 


Child  Patrons  Bring  Fine 

Montreal.  April  5. — Two  theatre 
managers,  Arthur  Bahen  and  Ciriac 
LaBelle,  were  fined  $50  each  here  to- 
day by  Judge  Monety  for  admitting 
children  under  16.  "If  the  maximum 
were  higher,  I  would  impose  it,"  the 
judge  said  in  fining  the  managers. 


Delay  Hearing  on 
Ohio  Censor  Bill 

Columbus,  O.,  April  5. — 
Hearing  scheduled  today  by 
the  Education  Committee  of 
the  Ohio  House  on  Repre- 
sentative Workins'  bill  to 
limit  the  power  of  the  state 
censor,  was  postponed. 

Hearing  has  been  scheduled 
for  next  week  on  Represen- 
tative Bixler's  bill  to  abolish 
the  censor  board,  which  is  be- 
lieved to  have  little  chance. 
At  that  time  P.  J.  Wood, 
secretary  of  the  Ohio  I.T.O., 
will  offer  a  substitute  meas- 
ure exempting  newsreels 
from  censorship. 


Williams  Adds  7  in 
Oklahoma,  Arkansas 

Oklahoma  City,  April  5. — Seven 
more  theatres  have  been  added  to  the 
newly  formed  circuit  headed  by  K. 
Lee  Williams.  Williams  now  has 
bought  ten  houses  in  Arkansas  and 
Oklahoma  to  be  operated  under  the 
K.  Lee  Williams  Theatres,  Inc. 

The  additional  seven  theatres  ac- 
quired by  Williams  are  the  New, 
Liberty  and  Gem  in  Nashville,  Ark. ; 
Best,  Tower  and  Arrow  in  Broken 
Bow,  Okla. ;  the  Dixie  at  Ashdown, 
Ark.  Since  Jan.  1  Williams  also  has 
acquired  two  theatres  in  Dequeen, 
Ark.,  and  the  Pine  at  Dierks,  Ark.  He 
already  has  control  of  the  Dequeen 
houses  and  will  take  over  the  Pine  on 
April  15,  he  said. 


National  Canadian 
Censorship  Urged 

Toronto,  April  5.  —  With  the 
establishment  of  the  National  Film 
Board  by  the  Dominion  Government 
assured  by  Act  of  Parliament,  the  first 
outside  suggestion  for  the  widening  of 
the  scope  of  the  commission  has  come 
from  the  Prairie  Provinces  in  the  pro- 
posal for  national  censorship  to  replace 
the  work  now  being  done  by  the 
Provincial  boards  across  the  continent. 
There  is  the  probability,  however,  that 
the  Province  of  Quebec  would  oppose 
such  a  move. 


Huhnke  to  Monogram 

Omaha,  April  5. — Elmer  Huhnke 
has  been  named  sales  manager  for 
Monooram  here. 


'Honest  Man'  Hits 
$9,000  in  Denver; 
'Midnight'  Strong 


Denver,  April  5. — "You  Can't  Cheat 
an  Honest  Man"  drew  a  strong  $9,000 
at  the  Denver.  "Midnight"  was  excel- 
lent with  $5,900  in  four  days  of  the 
third  week  at  the  Denham,  and  "Ser- 
geant Madden"  and  "Next  Time  I 
Marry"  did  well  with  $8,800  at  the 
Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  April  5 : 

"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.B.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)   f25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"Ice  Follies  of  1E39"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RICO) 

BROADWAY  —  (1,100)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $2,500.  (Average,  $2,500) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)   (25c-40c)  4  davs.  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $5,900. 
"Persons  in  Hiding"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— 0,750)  (25c-40c)  3  days.  Gross: 
$3,000.    (Average  for  week,  $6,000) 
"You  Can*t  Cheat  an  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 

DENVER— (2,525)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,000.    (Average,  $8,500) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Next  Time  I  Marry"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)     (25c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $8,800.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 
"Dark  Rapture"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)    (25c -40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"Topper  Takes  a  Trip"  (U.A.) 
"Inside  Story"  (ZOth-Fox) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  "Top- 
per" 3rd  week.  Gross:  $1,750.  (Average, 
$1,750.) 

'Prison'  Is  Buffalo 
Leader  with  $10,600 

Buffalo,  April  5. — Great  Lakes 
teamed  "Prison  Without  Bars"  with 
"Never  Say  Die"  and  drew  $10,600. 

"Love  Affair"  took  $12,500  at  the 
Buffalo.  The  six-day  bicycle  race 
provided  competition. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  1 : 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

BUFFALO— (3,000)     (30c-55c)     7  days. 
Gross:    $12,500.       (Average,  $12,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"   (U.  A.) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

GREAT     LAKES— (3.000)      (30c-50c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $10,600.     (Average,  $7,500) 
"Fast   and   Loose"  (M-G-M) 
"One  Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 

HIPPODROME— (2.500)  (25c-40c),  7  days. 
Gross:   $6,000.     (Average.  $6,800) 
"While  New  York  Sleeps"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Arizona  Wildcat"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,300.      (Average,  $6,000) 

"The  Strange  Case  of  Dr.  Meade"  (Col.) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,300)  (25c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,300.      (Average.  $6,300) 


Two  Projectionist  Bills 
Offered  in  Pennsylvania 


Harrisburg,  April  5. — Two  projec- 
tionist bills  were  among  the  measures 
introduced  just  before  the  deadline  in 
the  lower  house  was  reached. 

One  of  the  two  bills  offered  by  As- 
semblyman Boyd  provides  that  as 
many  projectionists  must  be  employed 
in  a  projection  room  as  there  are 
machines.  The  second  provides  that 
inspectors  of  projection  rooms  must 
have  at  least  10  years'  practical  ex- 
perience as  projectionists. 

Another  measure  that  got  in  under 
the  deadline  was  the  so  called  divorce- 
ment bill.  The  measure  imposes  a 
penalty  of  $10,000  fine  or  imprison- 
ment of  not  more  than  one  year,  or 


both,  on  distributors  or  producers  of 
films  who  also  own,  control,  manage 
or  operate  in  whole  or  in  part  any 
film  theatres  within  the  state. 

Three  more  measures  affecting  the 
industry  were  introduced.  One  pro- 
vided an  operator's  permit  fee  of  $500 
and  an  annual  license  fee  of  $200  for 
each  automatic  vending  machine  op- 
erated in  theatres.  Another  called  for 
a  tax  of  one  cent  for  each  25-cent 
theatre  ticket. 

The  third,  also  offered  by  Boyd, 
would  require  an  asbestos  or  steel 
curtain  and  a  main  control  lighting 
switchboard  in  every  theatre  of  800 
or  more  seating  capacity. 


Film  Is  Shown  in 
Westminster  Abbey 

London,  April  5.  —  Films 
finally  have  entered  West 
minster  Abbey,  venerable  ec- 
clesiastical monument  oppo- 
site the  Houses  of  Parlia- 
ment. "In  Jerusalem,"  a  film 
depicting  the  work  of  the 
bishopric  in  Jerusalem,  bt 
been  shown  in  the  Abbey. 


Johnston's  Gift  of 
Stock  Is  Reported 


Washington,  April  5. — Disposition 
by  gift  of  42,261  options  for  Mono- 
gram Pictures  common  stock  in  Feb- 
ruary by  W.  Ray  Johnston,  was  re- 
ported by  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission  in  its  semi-monthly  sum- 
mary. 

Johnston's  divestment  of  options  in 
February  followed  a  similar  disposi- 
tion of  48,993  options  in  January,  in 
which  month,  also,  he  acquired  68,130 
options  by  purchase  and  sold  61,933. 
At  the  close  of  February,  he  held 
6,197  options  and  62,383  shares  of 
common  stock,  it  was  shown. 

The  next  largest  film  transactions 
shown  in  the  summary  were  the  ac- 
quisition of  22,220  shares  of  Loews, 
Inc.,  common,  by  David  Bernstein, 
bringing  his  holdings  to  29,300  shades, 
and  a  similar  acquisition  by  J.  Robert 
Rubin,  who  also  reported  disposition 
of  2,200  shares,  and  holdings  at  the 
close  of  February  of  34,175  shares.  A 
January  report  showed  that  Henry  R. 
Winthrop,  New  York,  acquired  100 
shares  of  Loews  common,  his  total 
holdings. 

Other  transactions  in  picture  secur- 
ities reported  by  the  S.E.C.  were  as 
follows  : 

Acquisition  of  7,782  shares  of  Con- 
solidated Film  Industries  preferred 
stock  by  H.  J.  Yates,  Jr.,  his  total 
holdings  ;  disposition  in  October,  1938, 
of  500  shares  of  Trans-Lux  common 
by  George  H.  Eichelberger,  New 
York  director,  reducing  his  holdings 
to  500  shares ;  acquisition  of  500  Uni- 
versal Corp.  common  voting  trust 
certificates  by  Daniel  M.  Sheaffer, 
Philadelphia  director,  bringing  his 
holdings  to  17,000  direct  and  26,500 
through  Standard  Capital  Co.,  through 
which  he  also  holds  111,283  voting 
trust  certificate  warrants,  and  dispo- 
sition of  5,000  shares  of  Warner 
Brothers  preferred  by  Harry  M. 
Warner,  reducing  his  holdings  to  9,- 
884  shares,  together  with  62,860  shares 
of  common  and  1,379,000  debentures. 


Arrested  for  Bank  Night 

Georgetown,  Del.,  April  5. — Dela- 
ware State  Police  have  made  the  first 
arrest  since  Bank  Night  was  declared 
illegal  in  Delaware  by  the  court  at 
Wilmington  several  weeks  ago.  The 
first  arrested  was  Manager  Floyd 
Shear  of  the  Laurel  at  Laurel.  Shear 
was  held  under  $500  on  charges  of 
giving  away  a  ticket  to  the  New  York 
World's  Fair  in  an  alleged  lottery. 


Union  Decision  Reserved 

Wilmington,  April  5. — Decision 
was  reserved  on  the  petition  of  the 
Rialto  Theatre  Co.,  here  for  a  tem- 
porary injunction,  pending  final  hear- 
ing, to  restrain  Projectionists'  Local 
473,  from  picketing  the  New  Rialto. 


A  SENSATIONAL  RUN  GETS 

MORE  SENSATIONAL! 


TUESDAY,  5TH  DAY 
OFROXYRUN,TOPS 
EVEN  THE  SMASH 
OPENING  DAY! 


And  remember,  this 
is  Holy  Week ! 


DARRYL  F.  ZANUCK'S  Production  of 


THS^£4LEXANDER 
GRAHAM  BELL 


THE  KEYSTONE 
OF  YOUR  FUTURE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  6,  1939 


'Island'  Hits 
Big  $21,000, 
Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,  April  5.  —  Biggest 

gross,  $21,000,  was  recorded  by  the 
stage-screen  bill  at  the  Fox,  with 
"Blackwell's  Island"  as  the  film  and 
Al  Donahue  Band  and  Joan  Davis 
on  the  stage. 

"Midnight,"  at  the  Aldine,  was 
strong  at  $11,500.  "Three  Smart 
Girls  Grow  Up"  at  the  Stanley  took 
$16,500.  , 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  30 : 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 

ALDINE— (1,300)    (32c-42c-S7c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,500.    (Average,  $8,160) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA — (600)  (26c-42c-57c)  8  days,  3rd 
week.     Gross:   $2,800.     (Average,   7  days, 

$2,800) 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

BOYD — (2,400)    (32c-42c-57c)   7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.  B.) 

EARLE— (2,000)   (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,400.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 

FOX—  (3,000)  (32c -37c -42c -57c -68c)  7  days. 
Stage:     Al   Donahue   Band,   Joan  Davis. 
Gross:  $21,000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"You  Can't  Cheat  An  Honest  Man  (Univ.) 

KARLTON— (1,000)   (26c-42c-57c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,200.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

KEITH'S — (2,000)    (26c-42c-57c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $3,400.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss'  (Col.) 

PALACE— (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,500.    (Average,  $4,500)      ,      '  .  .  . 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up  (Univ.) 

STANLEY— (3,700)   (32c-42c-57c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $16,500.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,700.    (Average,  7  days,  $7,000) 


4Love  Affair'  in 
Washington  Pulls 
A  Strong  $18,500 

Washington,  April  5—  "Love  Af- 
fair" gave  RKO-Keith's  its  best  week 
in  a  long  while,  with  $18,500,  despite 
an  unseasonable  stretch  of  warm 
weather. 

Shirley  Ross,  in  a  personal  appear- 
ance, helped  pull  "King  of  the  Turf" 
over  the  top  at  Warners'  Earle,  where 
the  gross  was  $16,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  30 : 

"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 

LOEWS   CAPITOL— (3,434)    (25c-65c)  7 
days.    Stage:    Buddy  Clark.    Gross:  $15,- 
000.    (Average,  $16,500) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,300.  (Average, 
$4,500) 

"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEWS    PALACE— (2,370)    (25c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836)   (25c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $18,500.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (M-G-M) 

WARNERS'  EARLE— (2,218)   (25c-66c)  7 
days.    Stage:    Shirley  Ross.    Gross:  $16,500. 
(Average,  $16,000) 
"The  Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN— (1,591) 
(25c-40c)  2nd  run,  7  days.  Gross:  $3,000. 
(Average,  $4,000) 


Heads  Universal  Branch 

Omaha,  April  5. — Otto  Siegel  of 
Buffalo  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  Universal  exchange  here,  succeed- 
ing Roy  Palmquist,  who  will  be  trans- 
ferred to  Kansas  City. 


Hollywood  Preview 


"The  Kid  from  Texas'9 

(MGM) 

Hollywood,  April  5. — Basically  "The  Kid  from  Texas"  is  a  comedy 
romance  with  the  thrills  of  a  bizarre  polo  match  and  the  action  and  ex- 
citement of  a  wild  west  story.  It  is  the  second  of  the  sports  series  in 
which  Dennis  O'Keefe  is  the  star.  Florence  Rice  is  featured  with  him 
in  this  production  and  the  supporting  cast  includes  Anthony  Allen,  Jessie 
Ralph,  Buddy  Ebsen,  Virginia  Dale,  Robert  Wilcox,  Jack  Carson,  Helen 
Lynd,  J.  M.  Kerrigan  and  Tully  Marshall. 

Aiming  his  first  film  for  popular  entertainment,  producer  Edgar 
Selwyn  has  chosen  a  story  that  relates  the  experiences  of  a  Texas  cow- 
hand who  crashes  society,  beats  it  at  its  own  pet  game  of  polo  and  runs 
off  with  its  prize  debutante.  The  piece,  which  is  both  adventurous  and 
romantic,  is  based  on  an  original  story  of  Milton  Merlin  and  Byron 
Morgan  for  which  Florence  Ryerson,  Edgar  Allan  Woolf  and  Albert 
Mannheimer  did  the  screenplay. 

Exiled  from  the  swank  Long  Island  social  set  because  of  the  rough 
manner  in  which  he  plays  polo  and  the  manner  in  which  he  treats  Miss 
Rice,  the  girl  he  wants  to  love  him,  cowhand  O'Keefe  joins  up  with  a 
threadbare  rodeo.  Romantic  complications  ensue  when  the  show's  owner, 
Miss  Dale,  falls  for  him  and  his  glib  line.  Climax  of  both  action  and 
romance  follows  after  a  farcical  cowboy-and-Indian  versus  social  regis- 
terite  polo  game,  which  O'Keefe's  team  accidentally  wins.  But  Miss 
Dale  steps  aside  in  favor  of  Miss  Rice. 

Running  time,  70  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hollywood,  April  5.  —  Otto 
Krugeb  will  appear  opposite  Frieda 
Inescort  in  "All  the  Tomorrows," 
which  Sidney  Salkow  will  direct  for 
Republic.  Sol  C.  Siegel  is  the  asso- 
ciate producer  .  .  .  Warners  is  prepar- 
ing "The  Life  of  Dr.  Ehrlich,"  as  an 
Edward  G.  Robinson  vehicle.  Nor- 
man Burnstine  and  Heinz  Herald 
have  written  the  first  draft  of  the 
story  .  .  .  Jean  Arthur,  James  Stew- 
art, Edward  Arnold,  Guy  Kibbee 
and  Eugene  Pallette  top  the  cast 
of  Capra-Columbia's  "Mr.  Smith 
Goes  to  Washington"  .  .  .  Bruno 
Frank  has  been  signed  by  RKO  to 
do  the  adaptation  of  "The  Hunchback 
of  Notre  Dame"  .  .  .  Marie  Wilson 
and  Bert  Wheeler  top  the  cast  of 
Warners'  "Light-Horse  Harry"  .  .  . 
Martha  Raye  and  Joe  E.  Brown 
will  be  starred  in  Paramount's 
"Thousand  Dollars  a  Touchdown," 
football  picture  .  .  .  June  Storey  has 
been  signed  to  a  long  term  contract 
by  Republic  and  her  next  picture  will 
be  "Colorado  Sunset,"  opposite  Gene 

AUTRY. 

+ 

Warners'  "Dead  End  Kids"  will  be 


starred  in  "The  Dead  End  Kids  at 
College,"  story  of  freshman  football 
.  .  .  Republic's  next  serial  will  be 
"Daredevils  of  the  Red  Circle"  .  .  . 
Samuel  Kurson,  head  of  the  Graphic 
Theatres  Circuit  of  Bangor,  Me.,  is 
visiting  Hollywood  .  .  .  Edgar  Ken- 
nedy has  reported  to  RKO  to  star  in 
the  final  two-reel  comedy  for  the  cur- 
rent season's  program  .  .  .  Crane 
Wilbur,  who  will  direct  "Bill  of 
Rights,"  Warners  short,  will  also  ap- 
pear in  the  film  .  .  .  Gretchen 
Messer,  Paramount  publicity  depart- 
ment fashion  editor,  is  convalescing 
following  an  operation  at  Hollywood 
Hospital  .  .  .  Warners  has  scheduled 
Lya  Lys  for  a  featured  role  in 
"Beethoven,"  in  which  Paul  Muni 
will  star. 

+. 

C  as  tin g — Roland  Young  to 
"Heaven  on  a  Shoestring,"  formerly 
titled  "Happy  Ending"  at  Paramount 
.  .  .  Roscoe  Ates  and  Ralph  Graves 
to  "Three  Texas  Steers,"  Republic 
.  .  .  Lucien  Littlefield  and  Hedda 
Hopper  to  "What  a  Life,"  Paramount 
.  .  .  Monte  Blue  to  "Geronimo," 
Paramount. 


Gas  Levy  in  Ontario 
Obviates  Ticket  Tax 

Toronto,  April  5. — Ontario  Legis- 
lature has  given  immediate  effect  to 
an  increase  in  the  tax  on  gasoline  as  a 
means  of  obtaining  more  revenue,  the 
enactment  being  sponsored  by  Pre- 
mier M.  F.  Hepburn. 

This  step  has  put  at  rest  all  thought 
of  a  revival  of  the  amusement  tax  for 
theatre  patrons  of  Ontario,  although 
this  had  been  urged  by  the  City  Coun- 
cil of  Windsor  and  from  other  sources. 
The  indications  are  that  exhibitors  of 
the  Province  will  go  through  another 
year  without  the  nuisance  levy. 


Naval  Film  Company 
Started  in  England 

London,  April  5.  —  With  a  film 
show  in  a  hangar  of  the  Ark  Royal, 
giant  aeroplane  carrier  of  Britain's 
fleet,  the  Royal  Naval  Film  Corp.  has 
started  activity. 

The  company  was  inaugurated  some 
time  ago  to  distribute  films  for  the  en- 
tertainment of  navy  men  at  sea,  and 
has  the  cooperation  of  English  and 
American  film  distributors.  Films  are 
distributed  gratuitously  and  are  shown 
on  apparatus  purchased  from  G.  B. 
Equipments. 


'Madden'  Is 
Frisco's  Best 
With  $13,000 


San  Francisco,  April  5.  —  "$s~- 
geant  Madden"  teamed  with  "Fasti  / 
Loose"  for  the  best  box-office  mark  of 
the  week,  with  $13,000  at  the  Para- 
mount. 

"Midnight"  and.  "King  of  China- 
town" drew  a  good  $15,500  at  the  Fox, 
with  "Love  Affair"  drawing  a  strong 
$13,500  in  the  second  week  at  the 
Golden  Gate.  "The  Story  of  a  Cheat" 
grossed  $625  in  the  fourth  week  at  the 
Clay  and  continued  its  run. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  28-31 : 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE — (2,850)    (35c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.    Stage:  vaudeville.  Gross: 
$13,500.    (Average,  $15,000) 
"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (15c-35c-40c- 
55c-65c)  7  days,  3rd  week.    Gross:  $6,600. 
(Average,  $8,000) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 
"Risky  Business"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,440)    (15c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $7,800.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $15,500.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average, 
$11,500) 

"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.B.) 

"My  Wife's  Relatives"  (Rep.) 

ST.  FRANCIS— (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,200. 
(Average,  $6,000) 

"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (ZOth-Fox) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Aver- 
age, $12,000) 

"The  Story  of  a  Cheat"  (Gallic) 

CLAY— (400)    (15c-35c-40c)    7    days,  4th 
week.    Gross:  $625.    (Average,  $1,000) 
"The  Cantor's  Son"  (New  Star) 

LARKIN  — (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $850.    (Average,  $1,000) 


'Huckleberry  Finn' 
Leads  Parade  with 
$12,500,  Cleveland 

Cleveland,  April  5.— "Huckleberry 
Finn"  came  through  at  Loew's  State 
with  $12,500.  "Love  Affair  at 
Warners'  Hippodrome  had  $11,000. 
The  RKO  Palace,  playing  "Black- 
well's Island"  on  the  screen  and 
Larry  Clinton  on  the  stage,  drew  $15,- 
000.  "Oklahoma  Kid"  at  the  Allen 
in  its  second  week  did  $5,000.  The 
weather  was  mostly  fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  31 : 

"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME — (3,800)  (30c- 
35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average. 
$12,000) 

"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,100)  (30c-42c-55c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Larry  Clinton  Orchestra  with 
Bea  Wain.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average 
$1 5,000) 

"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)  (30c-35c-42c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,500.    (Average,  $13,000) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (30c-35c- 
42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average 
$4,000) 

"Forbidden  Music"  (Unity) 

CITY-(485)  (35c-42c)  7  days.  Grow 
$900.    (Average,  $1,200) 


THE  EYES 


!  OF  THE  MTIOfi 


as  iir  /83$ 


AMERICA- 


wifh  VICTOR  JORY  •  ROB 
C.HENRY  GORDONGEORG1 
JANET  BEECHER  ♦  BILLI! 

Direct! 


MAJESTIC  THEATI 

AZTEC,  SAN  ANTONIO  •  MAJESTIC,  DALLAS 


iBsstissiEii  * 

1  HOUSTON,  TEXAS 

: IH,  FORT  WORTH  *  Management  INTERSTATE  Circuit 


5*1 


4 


After  spending  much  of  his  youth  with  the  friendly  Cherokee 
Ind  ians,  Sam  Houston  enlists  with  General  Jackson  and  is 
severely  wounded  while  leading  a  charge  at  the  battle  of 
Horseshoe  Bend.  Jackson  commends  him  for  his  gallantry, 
and  a  life-long  friendship  is  formed.  Jackson  is  elected  to  the 
Presidency  and  Houston  becomes  Governor  of  Tennessee. 
On  the  eve  of  Houston's  re-election,  he  marries  Eliza  Allen 
but  after  many  misunderstandings  they  separate.  Houston 
resigns  in  the  face  of  the  scandal,  goes  into  a  long  debauch 
and  returns  to  the  Cherokee  Nation. 

He  goes  to  Washington  to  protest  the  treatment  of  the 
Cherokees  by  the  government,  and  there  meets  Margaret 
Lea  at  a  Presidential  ball.  Jackson  persuades  Houston  to  go 
to  Texas,  where  he  meets  Margaret  Lea  again.  Jim  Bowie 
and  Davey  Crockett  decline  to  join  Houston  in  a  fight  to  free 
Texas.  They  are  loyal  to  peace-loving  Stephen  Austin,  who 
refuses  to  enter  into  war  with  Mexico.  Word  is  brought  that 
the  Mexican  Army  is  marching  across  Texas,  killing  and  plun- 
dering. Austin  is  convinced  that  Texas  must  fight  and  Houston 
agrees  to  lead  the  army. 

The  Mexicans  attack  the  Alamo  and  Crockett,  Bowie,  Travis 
and  others  perish.  Houston  riding  to  re-inforce  this  garrison 
arrives  too  late.  Thus  the  cry,  "Remember  the  Alamo!"  is  born. 
At  San  Jacinto,  Houston  outsmarts  the  enemy  and  with  a 
handful  of  troups  routs  the  Mexican  Army,  thereby  establish- 
ing the  independence  of  Texas. 

Houston  is  elected  first  president  of  the  new  Republic,  and, 
with  Margaret  Lea,  now  his  wife,  he  watches  the  Lone  Star 
come  down  and  the  Stars  and  Stripes  raised  on  the  capitol 
flagpole,  signifying  the  annexation  of  Texas  into  the  Union. 

Back  inTennessee,  Andrew  Jackson,  dying,  hears  the  news  and 
whispers,  "All  is  safe  at  last.  My  old  friend  and  companion 
in  arms  .  .  .  has  been  true  to  his  trust." 


1^ 


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MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Theatre  Changes 


lursday.  April  6,  1939 


Society,'  Band 
Kansas  City  High, 
Grossing  $8,900 


Kansas  City,  April  5. — "Society 
mugglers"  and  Louis  Armstrong  at 
e  Fox  Tower  did  $8,900,  for  the  best 
^Jig.  Bright  spot  was  "Pyg- 
tJi.Oh,"  in  its  third  first  run  week, 
hich  gave  the  Esquire  $2,500,  and 
as  held  for  a  fourth  week.  The 
.sather  was  unfavorable  and  competi- 
in  was  severe. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
g  March  29-30 : 

•  'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)  (25c  -40c)  7  days,  2nd 
sek.    Gross:  $6,700.    (Average.  $7,000) 
Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

E  SQL"  I  RE— (800)  (25c -40c)  7  days,  3rd 
eek.   Gross:  $2,500.   (Average,  $3,000) 

ce  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 
_^t  Us  Live"  (Col.) 

MIDLAND — (4,000),     (25c-40c)     7  days, 
ross:  $8,600.    (Average.  $11,500) 
jve  Affair"  (RKO) 

ORPHEl'M— (1.500)    (25c-40c)   2nd  week, 
rcss:  $4,300.    (Average,  $5,000) 
society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 
FOX    TOWER— (2,200)     (25c -35c -55c)  7 
i>  s.    Stage:     Louis  Armstrong  and  his 
ind,  featuring  Sonny  Woods,  Midge  Wil- 
ims,  Red  Allen  and  Louis  Russell.  Gross: 
,100.    (Average.  $8,000) 
Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 
^sky  Business"  (Univ.) 
I  PTOWN— (2,000)   (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
i«elc.    Gross:  $1,900.    (Average.  $3,500) 


lice  Follies'  Hits 
[    $8,500,  Montreal 

.Montreal,  April  5. — "Pygmalion" 
rossed  $6,500  in  its  second  week  at 
oew's.  "Ice  Follies  of  1939"  regis- 
•red  $8,500  at  the  Palace,  and  "You 
an't  Cheat  an  Honest  Man"  on  a 
ouble  bill  at  the  Capitol  brought 
7.000. 

"The  Lost  Patrol"  and  "Star  of 
llidnight"  turned  $3,500  at  the 
Irpheum. 

j  Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ig  April  1 : 

You  Can't  Cheat  An  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 
Newsboys'  Home"  (Univ.) 

CAPITOL — (2.547)      (2Sc-40c-55c-65c)  7 
a  vs.   Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)    (30c-40c-60c)    7  days. 

ross:  $6,500,  2nd  week.    (Average,  $7,000) 
The  Lost  Patrol"  (RKO) 
Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (919)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 

r  ,ss:  $3,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 
Pacific  Liner"  (RKO) 
Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

PRINCESS— (2,272)     (25c-35c-50c-65c)  7 
ays.    Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $6,500) 
Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days, 
iross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $10,000) 


M-G-M  Shifts  Salesmen 

Julian  King,  M-G-M  salesman  in 
Denver,  has  been  transferred  to  Chi- 
ago,  where  he  succeeds  Ted  Men- 
elssohn.  Dan  Foley,  student  sales- 
nan  in  Kansas  City,  succeeds  King  in 
Denver.  King  formerly  was  a  sales- 
nan  in  Kansas  City.  Vernon  G. 
imith,  student  booker,  has  been  pro- 
noted  to  booker  in  Minneapolis,  suc- 
eeding  Stephen  G.  Hollander,  re- 
igned. 


Cut  Columbus  Prices 

Columbus,  April  5— RKO  Majes- 
[ic,  playing  double  features,  has  in- 
augurated bargain  .  prices  for  Satur- 
day and  Sundav,  with  a  15-cent  scale 
intil  2  P.  M.,  20  cents  until  5  P.  M., 
.nd  25  cents  until  closing. 


PLAN  THREE  IN  OHIO 

Canton,  O.,  April  5. — New  thea- 
tre construction  in  eastern  Ohio  is 
looking  up,  with  three  houses  in  the 
middle  bracket  class  definitely  set  to 
be  built  during  the  next  90  days,  all 
in  the  smaller  towns. 

Inter-State  Theatres,  Inc.,  of  which 
A.  G.  Constant  of  Steubenville  is 
president,  plans  a  $60,000  theatre  at 
Xorth  Canton,  to  be  completed  by  late 
summer.  George  A.  Delis,  district 
manager  of  the  group,  will  be  inter- 
ested financially  in  the  new  house,  to 
seat  750. 

Construction  of  a  house  at  Minerva 
is  planned  by  the  Manos  Amusement 
Co.  of  Toronto.  It  will  seat  900  and 
work  is  expected  to  be  started  soon. 
Manos  operates  seven  other  theatres 
in  the  district.  Kemper  Theatres,  Inc., 
Shelby,  plans  a  new  550-seat  theatre 
at  Crestline,  to  cost  approximately 
$30,000. 


MONARD  HAS  SHUBERT 

Shubert,  Brooklyn,  is  now  being 
operated  under  a  vaudeville  and  film 
policy  by  Monard  Theatre  Corp.  (Al 
Mackler). 


REOPEN  IN  ELIZABETH 

After  being  closed  for  many  years, 
the  Capitol,  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  has  been 
reopened  by  A.  N.  S.  Theatres,  Inc. 
(A.  Andrewski). 


CLOSE  IN  YONKERS 

The  Cameo,  Yonkers,  is  closed. 


HOWARD  IS  REOPENED 

Howard,  Howard  Beach,  L.  I.,  has 
been  reopened  by  Murray  Ginsburg 
and  Anthony  Bamion. 


TAKES  BRONX  HOUSE 
Bona  Theatre  Corp.,  (George  Sta- 
matis,  president)  is  the  new  operator 
of  the  Tremont,  Bronx. 


OZONE  PARK  SHIFT 

New  operator  of  the  Farrell,  Ozone 
Park,  L.  I.,  is  the  Henrietta  Amuse- 
ment Co.    (Sidney  &  Albert  Traun). 


LINCOLN  RESUMES 

Lincoln,  Manhattan,  has  been  re- 
opened by  Redleff  Exhibition  Co. 
(Max  Felder). 


TAUNTON  HOUSE  BURNS 

Taunton,  Mass.,  April  5.  —  Fire 
recently  destroyed  the  Strand  here, 
with  a  loss  estimated  at  $75,000.  The 
house  was  leased  by  Julius  Jolson  of 
Somerville,  Mass. 


TO  REOPEN  NAVARRE 

Arnold  Rubin  has  opened  his  newly 
acquired  Navarre. 


BUY  IN  NEBRASKA 

Pierce,  Neb.,  April  5. — Mr.  and 
Mrs.  C.  A.  Craig,  Seymour,  la.,  have 
purchased  the  Strand  here.  The 
house  will  be  extensively  remodeled. 
Ortell  Homer  formerly  operated  the 
theatre. 


PLAN  NEBRASKA  HOUSE 

Omaha,  April  5.  —  Plans  for  the 
construction  of  a  new  theatre  for 
O'Neill,  Neb.,  are  being  completed. 
The  building  will  be  built  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Sumner  Downey,  who  will  lease 
to  Mrs.  Georgia  O.  Rasley,  operator 
of  the  Royal. 


PLAN  CHICAGO  THEATRE 

Chicago,  April  5. — A  new  theatre, 
to  be  named  the  Galewood,  will  be 
built  here,  at  a  cost  of  $300,000.  J.  C. 
Jensen  is  president  of  the  company, 
which  will  be  known  as  the  North- 
Nagle  Building  Corp. 


NEW  ARKANSAS  THEATRE 

Oklahoma  City,  April  5. — K.  Lee 
Williams,  manager  of  the  K.  Lee 
Williams  Exchange,  Inc.,  here,  has 
opened  the  DeQueen  in  DeQueen,  Ark. 


REOPENS  IN  NEBRASKA 

Fairfield,  Neb.,  April  5. — F.  W. 
Anderson  has  reopened  the  Joyo  here. 
It  has  been  closed  for  the  past  year. 


IOWA  HOUSE  OPENS 

Walnut,  la.,  April  5. — Strand  here 
has  been  reopened  by  Roy  S.  Werky. 


PLAN  CONN.  HOUSE 

Jewett  City,  Conn.,  April  5. — 
Joseph  Quittner  and  Peter  Perakos 
plan  a  new  750-seat  theatre,  to  be 
completed  in  August. 


ACQUIRES  AVALON 

Indianapolis,  April  5. — Abe  Na- 
thanson  has  acquired  the  Avalon,  for- 
merly operated  by  Jacob  Friedman, 
and  Charles  Tamler  has  sold  the  Ta- 
coma  to  William  Ackerman. 


BUYS  IN  WISCONSIN 

Brillion,  Wis.,  April  5.  —  J.  J. 
Ecker,  who  has  been  showing  films 
at  the  .Auditorium  here  with  Ray 
Pfeiffer,  has  purchased  the  building 
and  will  modernize  it  this  summer  into 
a  first  class  theatre. 


START  HOUSE  IN  OHIO 

Painesvtlle,  O.,  April  5.  —  Con- 
struction of  a  new  1,000-seat  theatre 
has  been  started  for  A.  G.  Schwartz 
and  J.  H.  Schulman  of  Cleveland. 


TO  BUILD  IN  SHELBY 

Shelby,  N.  C,  April  5. — George 
Washburn  will  erect  a  $30,000  theatre 
here  to  seat  550.  J.  A.  Reynolds  of 
the  Carolina,  has  signed  a  long  term 
lease. 


PLAN  TORONTO  HOUSE 

Toronto,  April  5. — Morris  Den- 
nis, identified  with  Associated  The- 
atres, plans  a  $35,000  theatre  in  the 
North  End.  Bloom  and  Fine  The- 
atres, Ltd.,  will  improve  the  Grover 
at  a  cost  of  $6,000. 


N.  C.  HOUSE  PLANNED 

Wilson,  N.  C,  April  5. — A  new 
theatre  will  be  erected  here  for  North 
Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.,  of  Charlotte. 
The  new  house,  to  cost  about  $100,000, 
will  be  the  largest  theatre  in  Wilson. 


BUYS  KANSAS  HOUSE 

Jetmore,  Kan.,  April  5. — Howard 
Wilson  has  bought  the  Majestic  here 
from  Herman  Lee. 


BUILD  IN  MOBILE 

Mobile,  April  5. — Alex  Gournaris, 
owner  of  three  theatres  in  Greater 
Mobile,  plans  a  theatre  to  cost  $35,000. 


PITTSBURGH  TRANSFERS 

Pittsburgh,  April  5. — Loew's  and 
Harris  theatres  have  announced  trans- 
fers.   Nestor  Auth  goes  to  Colum- 


1 1 

Fifi  D'Orsay  and 
'Society'  $10,000 
Milwaukee  Gross 


Milwaukee,  April  5. — The  week's 
high  money  went  to  the  Riverside 
where  Fifi  D'Orsay  in  person  and 
"Societv  Smugglers"  on  the  screen 
collected  $10,000. 

Only  other  houses  bettering  average 
were  the  Warner,  where  "The  Okla- 
homa Kid"  and  "The  Flying  Irish- 
man" grossed  $5,000  and  Fox's  Wis- 
consin, where  "The  Ice  Follies  of 
1939"  and  "Within  the  Law"  was 
good  for  $5,800. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  29-30 : 

"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-50c)  6  days.  Gross: 
$3,400.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE — (2,300)  (25c-30c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Fifi  D'Orsay.  Gross:  $10,000. 
(Average,  $5,000) 

"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Honolulu"  (20th-Fox) 
"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.  A.) 
"The  Great  Man  Votes"  (RKO) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (35c-50c)  5  days  and  2 
days  (split  bill).  Gross:  $1,600.  (Average, 
$2,000) 

"The  Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

WARNER— (2,400)      (35c-50c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"The  Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,800.    (Average,  $5,500) 


bus,  Ohio,  as  assistant  manager  after 
serving  as  aide  to  Charles  Kurtzmann 
at  Loew's  Penn  here,  with  Albert 
Mullen  getting  Auth's  local  job.  Man- 
ager Henry  Miller  of  the  Harris 
Family  Theatre  goes  to  Strand, 
Harris  Youngstown  house,  with 
Harry  Seigel  taking  the  Family  post. 


INTERSTATE  ADDS 

Steubenville,  O.,  April  5. — Inter- 
state Theatres,  Inc.,  of  which  A.  G. 
Constant  is  the  executive  head  with 
headquarters  here,  will  add  a  unit  at 
North  Canton,  to  be  leased  from  the 
M.  M.  and  J.  B.  Mohler  Lumber  Co., 
after  completion  at  an  estimated  cost 
of  $60,000. 


REOPEN  IN  TENAFLY 

Tenafly,  formerly  the  Bergen,  Tena- 
fly,  N.  J.,  is  due  to  reopen  April  8. 
Samuel  Reinheimer's  Tenafly  Play- 
houses, Inc.,  will  operate  the  house. 


REMODEL  IN  TORONTO 

Toronto,  April  5.— Hollywood  The- 
atre here,  leading  house  of  the  32 
units  of  Theatre  Holding  Corp.  in 
Ontario,  is  to  close  shortly  for  one 
month,  for  enlargement  by  250  seats 
from  the  present  capacity  of  1,100. 


CLOSE  IN  PROVIDENCE 

Providence,  April  5.  —  Playhouse, 
1,290-seater  leased  and  operated  by 
Associated  Theatres,  has  closed  after 
operating  since  last  fall  as  a  film  and 
vaudeville  house. 


REBUILD  IOWA  HOUSE 

Corydon,  la.,  April  5. — Wayne  and 
Floyd  Smith,  owners  of  the  Wayne 
here,  have  modernized  the  theatre. 


BUILD  IN  FLORIDA 

Bonifay,  Fla.,  April  5.  —  Robert 
Parker  plans  a  new  theatre  here. 
Work  will  get  under  way  soon. 


tfOCEtM 


in  his  Uie 


He  should  go 


tree 


JUDGE  this 

an  for  yourself 

Thrill  to  his  amazing 
story,  the  most  dramatic 
human  document  ever 
to  thunder  forth  upon 
the  screen  .  .  . 


and  you'll 

JUDGE... 

this  the  greatest 
screen  drama  of 
the  year! .  •  • 


BACK  DOOR  TO  HEAVEN 


with 


Wallace  Ford  •  Patricia  Ellis  •  Stuart  Erwin  •  Aline  MacMahon 


Based  on  a  Story  by  William  K.  Howard  •  Screen  Play  by  John  Bright  and  Robert 
Tasker  •   Produced  and  Directed  by  William  K.  Howard  •  A  Paramount  Release 


o 

I 

Q 


£  1 

*>M  5  S  J*  <3 


WARNERS 

Secret  Service 
of  the  Air 

Ronald  Reagan 
John  Litel 
Ila  Rhodes 

The  Oklahoma 
Kid  (G)  (D) 

Cagney 
Bogart 

Adventures  of 
Jane  Arden 
(G)  (D) 
Rosella  Town* 
William  Gargan 

Blackwell's 
Island 
(G)  (D) 
Garfield 
Rosemary  Lane 

On  Trial 
(G)  (D) 
John  Litel 
Margaret 
Lindsay 

Dodge  City 
(G)  (D) 

Flynn 
de  Havilland 
Ann  Sheridan 

Women  in 
the  Wind 
(G)  (D) 

Kay  Francis 
William  Gargan 
Victor  Jory 

. .  . 

Dark  Victory 
(G)  (D) 

Bette  Davis 
George  Brent 
Bogart 

Sweepstakes 
Winner 

Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 

Robinson 
\  Ledcrer 

UNIVERSAL 

Risky  Business 

(G)  (D) 
George  Murphy 
Dorothea  Kent 

Spirit  of  Culver 
(G)  (D) 
Jackie  Cooper 
Bartholomew 
Andy  Devine 

Mystery  of  the 
White  Room 
Bruce  Cabot 
Helen  Mack 

Three  Smart 
Girls  Grow  Up 

(G)  (C)  m 
Deanna  Durbin 
Winninger 

Family  Next 
Door 

Hugh  Herbert 
Joy  Hodges 

East  Side  of 
Heaven 

Bing  Crosby 
Joan  Blondell 
Mischa  Auer 

Big  Town 
Czar 

MacLane 
Ed  Sullivan 

For  Love  or 
Money 

June  Lang 
Robert  Kent 

Code  of  the 
Streets 

Harry  Carey 
Frankie  Thomas* 

U.  A. 

Stagecoach 
(G)  (O) 
Claire  Trevor 
John  Wayne 
Andy  Devine 

Prison 
Without  Bars 
(A)  (D) 
Corvme  Luchaire 
Edna  Best 
Barry  Barnes 

Wuthering 
Heights 
(A)  (D) 

Oberon 

Olivier 

Flora  Robson 
—  

Zenobia 
(G)  (C) 

Hardy 
Langdon 

Burke 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

X 

o 
a 

H 

o 

Wife,  Husband 
and  Friend 
(G)  (C) 
Loretta  Young 
Baxter 

Inside  Story 
.(G)  (D) 
Michael  Whalen 
Jean  Rogers 

The  Little 
Princess  (G)(D) 
Shirley  Temple 
Richard  Greene 
Anita  Louise 

Everybody's 
Baby  (A)  (C) 

(Jones  Family) 

Hound  of  the 
Baskervilles 
(G)  (D) 
Greene 
Rathbone 

Mr.  Moto  in 
Danger  Island 
(G)  (D) 

Lorre 
Hersholt 

Story  of 
Alexander 
Graham  Bell 
(G)  (D) 

Ameche 
Loretta  Young 

Winner  Take 
All  (G)  (D) 

Tony  Martin 
Gloria  Stuart 
Inspector 
Hornleigh 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 

Baxter 
Lynn  Bari 

Chasing  Danger 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

RKO  RADIO 

Twelve  Crowded 
Hours  (A)  (D) 

Richard  Dix 
Lucille  Ball 

The  Saint 
Strikes  Back 
(G)  (D) 

George  Sanders 
Wendy  Barrie 

Trouble  in 
Sundown 
(G)  (O) 

O'Brien 

Almost  a 
Gentleman 
(G)  (D) 
James  Ellison 

Love  Affair 
(G)  (D) 

Boyer 
Irene  Dunne 
Flying  Irishman 
(G)  (D) 

They  Made 
Her  a  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Sally  Eilers 
Allan  Lane 

Fixer  Dugan 

Lee  Tracy 
Peggy  Shannon 

The  Story  of 
Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle 

Rogers-Astaire 
The  Rookie  Cop 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range  (O) 

O'Brien 

REPUBLIC 

I  Was  a  Convict 
(G)  (D) 

MacLane 
Roberts 

Rough  Riders 
Round-Up 
(G)  (O) 
Roy  Rogers 
Mary  Hart 

My  Wife's 
Relatives 
(G)  (C) 
Lucille,  James 
and  Russell 
Gleason 

4) 

S  £> 
«  1 

1  1 

The  Night 
Riders 
(O) 

John  Wayne 

Frontier  Pony 
Express  (O) 

Roy  Rogers 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 

Bickford 
Carey 

PARA. 

Cafe  Society 
(G)  (C) 

Carroll 
MacMurray 
3826 

The  Beach- 
comber (A)  (C) 

Laughton 
Lanchester 
3863 

King  of 
Chinatown 
(G)  (D) 
Anna  May  Wong 
Tamiroff 
3827 

4-1 

Sudden  Money 
(G)  (C) 

Ruggles 
Silver  on 
the  Sage 

William  Bovd 

I'm  From 
Missouri 
(G)  (C) 

Bob  Burns 
3830 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Secret  Police 
Never  Say 

Back  Door 
to  Heaven 

Erwin 
Wallace  Ford 
McMahon 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

MONOGRAM 

Mystery  of  Mr. 
Wong  (G)  (D) 
Boris  Karloff 
Rollin' 
Westward 

Mystery  Plane 
(G)  (D) 
John  Trent 
Polly  Ann 
Young 

Trigger  Smith 
(O) 
Jack  Randall 

Undercover 
Agent 

Russell  Gleason 
Shirley  Deane 

Streets  of 
New  York 

Jackie  Cooper 

Wanted  by 
Scotland  Yard 

Stevenson 
Man  from 
Texas 

Riders  of 
the  Rio  Grande 

Jack  Randall 

Boys' 
Reformatory 

Frankie  Darro 

M-G-M 

Pygmalion 
(G)  (C) 
Leslie  Howard 
Wendy  Hiller 

Ice  Follies  of 
1939  (G)  ('D) 
Crawford 
Stewart 
Lew  Ayres 

Within  the  Law 
(G)  (D) 
Ruth  Hussey 
Rita  Johnson 

Sergeant 
Madden 

(G)  (D) 
Wallace  Beery 

Society  Lawyer 
(A)  (D) 

Pidgeon 
Bruce 
Carrillo 

Broadway 
Serenade 

MacDonald 

Ayres 
Ian  Hunter 

The  Kid 
from  Texas 

Denis  O'Keefe 
Rice 

The  Hardys 
Ride  High 

Rooney 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

COLUMBIA 

Blondie  Meets 
the  Boss 
(G)  (C) 
Arthur  Lake 

Lone  Star 
Pioneers 
BUI  Elliott 
Dorothy  Gulliver 

Whispering 
Enemies 
(G)  (D) 
Jack  Holt 
Dolores  Costello 

North  of 
the  Yukon 

Starrett 
Romance  of 
Redwoods  (O) 

Bickford 

The  Lady  and 
the  Mob 
(G)  (C) 

Fay  Bainter 
Ida  Lupino 

First  Offenders 

Walter  Abel 
Beverly  Roberts 

The  Law  Comes 
to  Texas 

Bill  Elliott 

Oklahoma 
Trail 

Starrett 
Meredith 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

u 

h  MS 

March 
10 

•6 
2 

1  - 

2 

2 

< 

April 
14 

April 
21 

•< 

1  w 

ursday,  April  6,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


15 


te  public  Lists  50 
Features  for  Year 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
,rs.    M.  J.  Siegel,  production  head, 
b  arrived  from  the  coast. 

Among  the  authors  the  new  pro- 
■am  are  Sinclair  Lewis,  W.  R.  Bur- 
nt, R.  D'Ennery,  Armstrong  Sperry, 
schmed   Abdullah,   Peter   B.  Kyne, 

**  Ferber,  Jack  London,  Louis  Berg, 
~k  Scully,  Mark  Twain,  George 
ri-^adhurst  and  Richard  Wormser. 

Schedule  Four  Serials 

The  serials  are  grouped  as  super- 
rrials,  including  "The  Lone  Texas 
anger"  and  "Drums  of  Fu  Manchu," 
15  chapters  each,  and  "streamline 
•rials,"  including  "King  of  the  Royal 
lounted"  and  "Jimmy  Valentine 
trikes  Again,"  each  12  chapters. 

The  complete  feature  program  for 
>39-'40  follows : 

Four  De  Luxe  Productions :  "Seven 
Iillion  Dollars,"  by  Sinclair  Lewis, 

orv  of  a  small  town  "Babbitt"  who 
-tires  with  $7,000,000;   "The  Dark 

ommand"  by  W.  R.  Burnett,  dealing 

ith  the  Quantrell  Raiders  in  the  per- 
•d  after  the  Civil  War ;  "Two  Or- 
hans,"  based  on  the  French  classic  by 

.  D'Ennery ;  "Wagons  Westward" 
y  Armstrong  Sperry,  story  of  the 
svered  wagon  days. 

Six   Anniversary   Specials :  "Lady 

om  New  Orleans"  by  Beth  Brown, 
:ory  of  New  Orleans  society  against 
Mardi  Gras  background ;  "Tillie 
ic  Toiler,"  based  on  the  cartoon  strip 
y    Russ    Westover;    "Storm  Over 

ulia"  by  Achmed  Abdullah,  story  of 
it  British  quelling  a  rebellion ; 
Guilty  of  Treason"  by  Peter  B. 
lyne,  spy  ring  melodrama ;  "Gangs  of 
"hicago" ;  "The  Crooked  Road," 
klodrama  of  New  York  underworld. 

16  Jubilee  Productions 

Sixteen  Jubilee  Productions :  "Es- 
ape  from  Sing  Sing,"  by  Louis  Berg, 
ased  on  the  novel,  "Revelations  of  a 
'rison  Doctor" ;  "Call  of  the  North," 
\laska  gold  mine  adventure  story 
ased  on  Jack  London's  novel ;  "The 
"hamp  Maker"  by  Kendal  Evans  and 
'rank  Scully,  saga  of  Tex  Rickard 
nd  fight  champions;  "Bengal  Bor- 
er Patrol"  by  Adrian  Johnson,  ad- 
enture  with  the  Bengal  Lancers ; 
Forgotten  Girls,"  by  Earl  Felton, 
rama  of  homeless  girls ;  "Tom  Saw- 
er  Abroad,"  by  Mark  Twain;  "Wolf 
f  New  York,"  by  Nat  Ferber,  ad- 

"enture  in  Wall  Street;  "Girl  from 
jod's  Country,"  by  Nell  Shipman, 
tory  of  girl  fighting  foes  in  the  far 
v'orth ;  "Bowery  Boy,"  by  Sam  Full- 
r.  story  of  regeneration  of  a  tough 

Hew  York  kid;  "A  Sporting  Chance," 
y  Richard  W  ormser,  race  track  mys- 

lery;  "Man  of  the  Hour,"  by  George 

.iroadhurst,  political  drama;  "Here 
-ome  the  Marines,"  by  Mildred  Cram, 
dventure  during  a  Nicaraguan  upris- 
ng. 

Also  in  the  Jubilee  Productions  are 
our  in  the  "Higgins  Family"  series : 
The  Fighting  Irish,"  "A  Day  at  the 
iVorld's     Fair,"     "We're     in  the 
.foney"  and  "Everybody's  Happy." 

Westerns  Are  Listed 

Eight      starring      Gene      Autry : 
When  the  Moon  Comes  Over  the 
Mountain,"   "Village    Barn  Dance," 
jjust   a   Song   at   Twilight,"  "Old 
faithful,"   "Ride,   Tenderfoot,  Ride," 
Round-up  Time  in  Reno."  "Down  by 
he    Old    Mill    Stream,"  "Carolina 
Moon." 

Eight  starring  Roy  Rogers :  "The 
Arizona  Kid,"  "Death  Valley  Days," 


Kent,  Wobber  and 
Hutchinson  to  Sail 


S.  K.  Kent,  president,  20th  Century- 
Fox,  will  sail  April  21  on  the  Queen 
Mary  to  attend  the  company's  Paris 
convention,  May  4  and  6,  and  the 
London  convention,  May  11  to  13. 

Walter  J.  Hutchinson,  foreign  chief, 
Herman  Wobber,  general  sales  mana- 
ger, and  Truman  H.  Talley,  Movie- 
tone producer,  will  accompany  him. 
Kent  and  Hutchinson  will  also  attend 
the  company's  convention  in  Rio  de 
Janeiro,  June  1  to  3,  and  the  Trinidad 
sales  conference  June  21. 

Talley  will  hold  meetings  of  his 
staff  in  conjunction  with  the  Paris 
and  London  conventions. 


Absence  of  Arnold 
Halts  Strike  Move 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

men  here  now  awaits  Arnold's  direc- 
tion. 

State  Mediation  Board,  which  is  in- 
terested in  the  effect  of  the  strike  on 
local  exhibition,  and  has  been  attemp- 
ing  to  assist  with  a  settlement  of  the 
strike  issues,  was  inactive  also  yester- 
day. Joint  or  individual  meetings  of 
circuit  and  union  representatives  may 
be  held  today,  although  none  have 
been  definitely  scheduled  yet.  These 
may  depend  upon  Washington's  atti- 
tude. 

Film  deliveries  continued  uninter- 
rupted throughout  the  tenth  day  of 
the  strike.  No  trouble  has  been  re- 
ported to  date  by  any  exchange  or 
theatre  in  the  metropolitan  area. 


Seeks  $250,000  on 
'Snow  White9  Song 

Song  plagiarism  suit  for  $250,000 
damages  has  been  filed  in  the  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court  by  Modest  Altschuler 
against  Walt  Disney  Enterprises,  Inc., 
Walt  Disney  Productions,  Ltd.,  RKO 
Radio  Pictures,  Inc.,  Irving  Berlin, 
Inc.  and  Frank  Churchill. 

Plaintiff,  composer  of  "Russian 
Soldier's  Song,"  asserts  plagiarism  in 
"Whistle  While  You  Work,"  written 
by  Churchill,  and  used  in  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs."  An 
injunction  and  accounting  are  also 
sought.  Defendants  in  their  answers 
deny  the  charges,  and  claim  that  plain- 
tiff's song  was  uncopy righted  and  part 
of  the  public  domain. 


Can.  Famous  Players 
Assails  Halifax  Bill 


Halifax,  April  5.- 
ers  Canadian  Corp. 
appeared  today  at  the 
bill  to  regulate  film  ex 
Covert,  representing 
Century-Fox,  claimed 
measure  purported  to 
trade  and  commerce. 


-Famous  Play- 
representatives 
hearing  on  the 
changes.  Frank 
F.  P.  and  20th 
sections  of  the 
interfere  with 


"In  Old  Cheyenne,"  "Robin  Hood  of 
the  Pecos,"  "Man  from  Rio,"  "Wash- 
ington Cowboy,"  "Days  of  '49," 
"Wyoming  Wildcat." 

Eight  starring  "The  Three  Mesqui- 
teers,"  "Cowboys  from  Texas,"  "Sons 
of  the  Saddle,"  "West  of  the  Santa 
Fe,"  "Oklahoma  Outlaws,"  "Rocky 
Mountain  Rangers,"  "Pioneers  of  the 
West,"  "Covered  Wagon  Days," 
"Arizona  Skies." 


Allied  Raps  Pact  at 
Neely  Bill  Hearing 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ber  of  subcommitee  present,  that  the 
proposed  twenty  percent  cancellation 
does  not  apply  to  all  films  but  the 
figure  is  graduated  according  to  aver- 
age price  of  pictures,  so  that  it  may 
be  15  or  10  per  cent  on  some  blocks. 

Predicts  Evasion 

Further,  he  charged,  distributors 
will  evade  application  of  the  provision 
as  he  said  they  have  in  the  past,  and 
declared  that  companies  which  have 
announced  they  would  include  it  in 
new  contracts  already  are  seeking  to 
avoid  it.  In  proof  of  this  charge  he 
read  a  letter  from  an  exhibitor  saying 
that  a  salesman  had  offered  him  a  sub- 
stantial reduction  in  price  if  he  would 
eliminate  the  cancellation  clause. 

Even  if  the  code  should  be  adopted, 
the  Allied  head  said,  it  would  be  effec- 
tive only  for  two  years  and  no  provi- 
sion is  made  to  guarantee  its  con- 
tinuance. 

Cole  predicted  that  distributors 
would  attack  the  provision  requiring 
furnishing  of  a  synopsis.  He  said  that 
elimination  of  that  provision  would 
probably  render  distributors  indiffer- 
ent to  other  parts  of  the  Bill,  but 
warned  that  its  elision  would  "emascu- 
late" the  measure. 

Charging  that  M.P.T.O.A.,  at  a 
meeting  in  Toronto,  "sold  out  body 
and  soul  to  producers,"  Nathan  Ya- 
mins,  of  Fall  River,  explained  why  he 
broke  with  that  organization,  of  which 
he  was  an  officer,  and  joined  Allied. 

Cites  Ban  in  England 

Yamins  asserted  that  block  booking 
has  been  banned  successfully  in  Eng- 
land and  that  the  United  Artists  has 
been  able  to  operate  without  resorting 
to  the  practice,  declaring  that  this 
demonstrated  feasibility  of  Neely  plan. 

Yamins  and  Senator  White  tangled 
over  whether  the  Bill  would  do  what 
proponents  claimed,  Yamins  saying 
selective  buying  would  make  producers 
put  out  better  pictures  or,  if  they 
failed,  Independents  would  do  so.  He 
admitted,  Independents  are  block  book- 
ing as  well  as  majors. 

Yamins  quoted  Carl  Laemmle  as 
saying,  after  he  had  retired,  that  abol- 
ishment of  block  booking  would  be  a 
good  thing. 

Lauds  Decency  Legion 

Films  have  improved  in  past  few 
years  as  a  result  of  the  Legion  of 
Decency  activity,  he  said,  eliciting  from 
Neely  a  protest  that  his  Bill  and 
hearings  which  have  been  held  have 
contributed  materially. 

"Senator,  you  have  been  a  burr 
under  the  tail  of  producers  on  many 
occasions,"  Pettijohn  admitted. 

Yamins  said  only  one  or  two  per 
cent  of  pictures  are  harmful  to  adults 
but  25  per  cent  are  undesirable  for 
young  people. 

Referring  to  a  contention  by  Petti- 
john earlier  in  the  hearings  that  In- 
dependents wanted  only  the  "cream" 
of  product,  Yamins  said  "of  course,  we 
want  cream  and  not  skimmed  milk." 

Charges  Discrimination 

Sidney  E.  Samuelson,  Newton,  N. 
J.,  asserted  that  "five  of  the  Big  Eight 
that  own  theatres  do  not  practice  block 
booking  as  against  their  own  houses." 
It  is  only  enforced  against  Independent 
theatres,"  he  said. 

Allied  represents  4,000  to  4,500  ex- 


Name  Committees 
For  Allied  Affair 


Committees  were  announced  yester- 
day for  the  "World's  Fair  Exposition" 
to  be  held  here  May  23  to  25  at  the 
Hotel  Astor  under  sponsorship  of  Al- 
lied Theatre  Owners  of  New  York 
in  conjunction  with  the  organization's 
annual  convention. 

All  major  supply  and  equipment 
companies  and  the  film  companies  have 
pledged  their  cooperation  and  will 
have  displays  at  the  exposition,  ac- 
cording to  E.  Thornton  Kelly,  execu- 
tive secretary  of  New  York  Allied 
and  general  chairman  of  the  arrange- 
ments committee. 

It  is  planned  to  admit  the  public 
to  the  displays,  and  the  committee  is 
working  for  a  large  attendance  of 
exhibitors,  many  of  whom  will  come 
to  New  York  for  the  World's  Fair. 
Exhibitors  in  Canada  will  be  invited, 
and  there  may  be  a  delegation  from 
England. 

Climax  of  the  event  will  be  a  ban- 
quet on  the  night  of  May  25  to  which 
industry  leaders  will  be  invited. 

Committees  are :  Publicity,  Red 
Kami,  Boxojficc,  chairman ;  radio  di- 
vision, Marvin  Kirsch,  Radio  Daily, 
chairman ;  reception  committee,  H.  M. 
Richey,  RKO,  chairman,  and  Jack 
Bellman,  Republic,  Al  Herman,  Uni- 
versal, Milton  Kusell,  Paramount, 
Ed  McEvoy,  RKO,  E.  K.  O'Shea, 
M-G-M,  Ed  Schnitzer,  Warners, 
Charles  Stern,  United  Artists,  Wil- 
liam Sussman,  20th  Century-Fox, 
George  W.  Weeks,  Monogram,  Lou 
Weinberg,  Columbia.  Don  Mersereau 
of  Film  Daily,  is  in  charge  of  public 
relations. 

New  York  Allied's  regional  vice- 
presidents  will  be  convention  chairmen, 
as  follows :  Robert  Goldblatt,  Tarry- 
town  ;  Mitchell  Conery,  Ravena ;  R.  P. 
Merriman,  Syracuse,  and  Al  Francis, 
Buffalo. 


Ball  Named  Columbia 
Los  Angeles  Manager 

Wayne  Ball,  formerly  manager  of 
Columbia's  Denver  exchange,  has  been 
made  manager  of  the  company's  Los 
Angeles  office  succeeding  Harry  Wein- 
berg, who  was  relieved  of  the  post  at 
his  own  request  and  made  a  salesman 
because  of  recent  illness. 

R.  C.  Hill,  formerly  Salt  Lake  City  . 
branch  manager,  has  been  made  Den- 
ver-Salt Lake  supervisor  with  head- 
quarters in  Denver.  W.  G.  Seib,  for- 
mer Salt  Lake  City  salesman,  has 
been  made  manager  there. 


hibitors,  Samuelson  claimed. 

Distributors  formerly  issued  an- 
nouncement books  but  did  not  always 
give  the  pictures  promised,  he  contin- 
ued. M-G-M,  however,  in  its  last  book 
gave  over  70  synopses  showing  that 
provision  of  bill  could  be  compiled 
with  and  Warners  gave  trade  shows, 
demonstrating  blind  selling  is  unneces- 
sary. 

"This  Bill  will  be  virtually  useless 
without  the  blind  selling  provision," 
he  declared.  "The  Bill  is  more  neces- 
sary today  than  three  years  ago  be- 
cause announcement  books  have  dis- 
appeared." 

S.  R.  Kent,  William  F.  Rodgers, 
George  J.  Schaefer  and  Abe  Montague 
are  waiting  to  be  called  before  the 
hearing. 


16 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  6,  193' 


GB  Has  Not  Sought 
Television  Facilities 
NBC  and  CBS  Say 


Inquiry  at  CBS  and  NBC  revealed 
that  neither  of  those  networks  has 
been  approached  by  Gaumont  British 
relative  to  the  use  of  their  television 
facilities  in  connection  with  the  the- 
atre television  plans  of  the  film  com- 
pany. Gaumont  British  states  it  is  ne- 
gotiating to  install  television  in  three 
Broadway  houses  about  May  15. 

According  to  G.  B.  plans,  large 
screen  television  equipment  will  be  in- 
stalled in  local  picture  houses  by  Baird 
Television  Co.,  with  which  G.  B.  is 
affiliated,  for  the  showing  of  television 
programs.  The  company  has  stated  it 
has  no  desire  to  put  up  its  own  tele- 
casting, or  transmitting  station,  but  is 
planning  to  use  the  facilities  of  NBC, 
CBS  and  other  companies  engaged  in 
transmission  of  television  programs. 

May  Not  Need  Sanction 

The  possibility  was  admitted,  how- 
ever, that  G.  B.  might  very  well  make 
use  of  network  television  programs 
without  asking  for,  and  obtaining,  the 
sanction  of  networks.  The  predominant 
legal  opinion  at  the  networks  is  that 
a  network  would  have  no  cause  for 
action  in  a  situation  of  this  kind 
because  the  networks  are  not  engaged 
in  the  theatre  exhibition  business,  and 
for  that  reason  cannot  ask  for  dam- 
ages. It  is  their  own  opinion  that 
once  the  program  goes  out  over  the 
air,  they  have  lost  all  property  rights 
to  the  subject  and  that  anyone  can 
pick  up  the  program  and  show  it,  even 
for  an  admission  price. 

The  reason  they  would  not  have 
cause  for  action,  according  to  the  net- 
works, is  that  they  are  not  dependent 
for  their  revenue  on  theatre  admis- 
sions, and  therefore  cannot  be  dam- 
aged in  this  fashion. 

Legal  Opinions  Differ 

This  is  believed  to  be  true,  in  par- 
ticular, of  any  program  involving  a 
"live"  show,  such  as  a  studio  produc 
tion  or  an  actual  news  or  novelty 
event.  However,  legal  opinion  is  still 
at  variance  as  to  the  extent  of  control 
a  broadcaster  may  exercise  over  a 
program  consisting  of  copyrighted 
motion  picture  film.  Prevailing  legal 
opinion  in  the  industry  is  that  a  dra 
matic  motion  picture  production,  when 
used  on  a  television  program,  may  not 
be  picked  up  by  unlicensed  or  unau 
thorized  receivers  for  commercial  pur- 
poses, while  a  newsreel  probably 
could. 

Part  of  the  programs  to  be  broad 
cast  in  New  York  this  spring  and 
summer  will  consist  of  motion  picture 
film,  loaned  to  the  larger  broadcasters 
by  the  film  companies. 


Suit  Names  WHOM 

New  Jersey  Broadcasting  Corp.,  op 
erator  of  WHOM,  was  named  defend 
ant  in  a  suit  for  $5,000  damages  filed 
in  the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  by  Clodo- 
veo  Persichetty.  The  complaint  which, 
in  addition,  asks  $10,000  damages 
against  Morris  H.  Siegel,  individually 
and  as  director  of  Policy  Holders'  Ad- 
visory Council,  charges  unlicensed  use 
of  recordings  of  Italian  radio  talks  by 
the  plaintiff  in  broadcasts  over 
WHOM. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

JACK  DOLPH,  CBS  executive  in 
charge  of  Pacific  Coast,  in  town 
to  consult  with  headquarters  .  .  . 
Ed  Ingraham  signed  as  new  vocalist 
with  the  Al  and  Lee  Reiser  orchestra 
over  WEAF  .  .  .  Joe  and  Mrs.  Penner 
arrive  here  Saturday  for  a  week,  then 
to  Bermuda  for  a  vacation. 


Volney  F.  Richter,  WOR  time 
salesman,  is  the  father  of  a  newly 
arrived  son  .  .  .  Betty  Winkler  and 
etty  Lou  Gerson,  radio  actresses, 
celebrate  birthdays  a  day  apart,  April 
19  and  20  .  .  .  John  J.  Anthony,  direc- 
tor of  the  "Good  Will  Hour,"  will 
ecture  on  his  program  before  the 
Young  Women's  League  of  the 
Daughters  of  Israel,  April  18  in  New 
York,  and  will  address  the  Women's 
Auxiliary  of  University  Settlement, 
April  29  .  .  .  Phil  Baker's  program 
may  move  to  Hollywood  next  month. 


Wally  West,  who  recently  left  the 
CBS  publicity  department,  has  been 
hired  by  NBC.  .  .  .  It's  a  girl  at  the 
Robert  Morris'.  He  is  an  NBC  devel- 
opment engineer.  .  .  .  Derby  Sproul, 
program  manager,  and  Kay  fiarr,  pub- 
licity director  of  KDKA  in  Pitts- 
burgh, are  in  New  York. 


Publisher  Testifies 
In  Canada  Air  Fight 

Ottawa,  April  5.  —  Publisher 
George  McCullagh,  of  the  Toronto 
Globe  and  Mail,  recently  refused  a 
CBC  permit  to  present  a  series  of  five 
Sunday  addresses  on  a  private  station 
network,  appeared  before  the  House 
of  Commons  Radio  Committee  yester- 
day to  brand  the  ban  against  him  as  a 
"colossal  error"  arising  out  of  per- 
sonal prejudice  against  him  and  the 
paper. 

He  insisted  Chairman  L.  W.  Brock- 
ington  of  the  CBC  Board  of  Govern 
ors  was  "trying  to  convert  the  error 
into  a  policy  for  the  future."  Brock 
ington  testified  also.  The  session  ended 
with  McCullagh  "willing  to  forget  the 
incident"  and  to  aid  CBC  in  drafting 
a  workable  policy  for  opinion  broad 
casts. 


Canadian  Officials 
Watch  Short-Wave 

Ottawa,  April  5. — Depart- 
ment of  Transport  and  other 
Government  divisions  have 
been  keening  the  world  short- 
wave airlines  under  close  sur- 
veillance for  some  months,  it 
was  disclosed  today.  The  or- 
der followed  a  Dublin  dis- 
patch broadcast  over  a  secret 
transmitter  of  the  illicit  Irish 
Republican  Army  which  said, 
"Prepared  to  carry  out  op- 
erations ordered  in  Canada  in 
10  days." 

The  alleged  message  said 
to  have  been  broadcast  on 
21.5  meters  gave  instructions 
to  the  I.R.A.  units  in  Canada, 
Great  Britain  and  the  United 
States.  The  Royal  Northwest 
Mounted  Police  "know  noth- 
ing of  the  broadcast." 


Option  Renewed  on 
Screen  Guild  Show 


Option  on  the  Screen  Actors'  Guild 
program  has  been  picked  up  by  the 
sponsor,  Gulf  Oil  Co.,  insuring  the 
program's  stay  on  the  air  until  late 
summer  at  least.  Present  option  was 
to  expire  May  1.  Young  &  Rubicam 
handled  the  renewal. 

Summer  plans  for  the  remaining 
Young  &  Rubicam  programs  are  var- 
ied. At  present  it  appears  that  the 
quiz  series,  "What's  My  Name,"  will 
replace  the  Fred  Allen  program,  al- 
though a  contract  has  not  been  signed 
as  yet.  The  Jack  Benny  replacement  is 
still  wide  open,  and  any  one  of  a  half- 
dozen  programs  now  under  considera- 
tion may  get  the  call.  "Silver  Theatre" 
will  go  off  the  air  May  28,  but  it  is 
definite  that  the  program  will  return 
in  the  fall.  "We,  the  People"  will  carry 
on  through  the  summer,  but  Sanka 
Coffee  will  drop  its  sponsorship  of  the 
series  on  May  20,  with  Jell-o  Ice 
Cream  Products  taking  over. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  April  5.  ■ —  Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  an- 
nounced a  tentative  schedule  for  hear- 
ings on  broadcasting  applications,  as 
follows : 

April  24:  Applications  of  WQDM, 
St.  Albans,  Vt,  for  extension  of  time 
from  day  to  local  sunset  at  Cleveland, 
and  KRBA  Lufkin,  Tex.,  for  increase 
of  power  from  100  to  250  watts. 

April  28:  Applications  of  Coastal 
Broadcasting  Co.,  for  a  1,500-kilocycle 
station  at  Brunswick,  Ga.,  with  100 
watts  night,  250  watts  day ;  the 
Gazette  Co.,  for  a  1,420-kilocycle, 
100-watt  station  at  Cedar  Rapids,  la., 
and  WOC,  Davenport,  la.,  for  change 
of  frequency  from  1,370  to  1,390  kilo- 
cycles and  increase  of  power  from  100 
watts  night,  250  watts  day,  to  1,000 
watts. 

May  16:  Application  of  John  R. 
Pepper  for  a  1,310-kilocycle  station  at 
Greenville,  Miss.,  with  100  watts  night, 
250  watts  day. 

May  24 :  Application  of  Patrick 
Henry  Broadcasting  Co.,  for  a  1,420- 
kilocycle  station  at  Martinsville,  Va., 
with  100  watts  night,  250  watts  day. 

Other  Dates  Set 

The  commission  has  announced  that 
hearings  would  be  held  May  15  on  the 
applications  of  KOVC,  Valley  City, 
N.  D.,  for  increase  of  power  from  100 
watts  night,  250  watts  day,  to  500 
watts  night,  1,000  watts  day,  and 
change  of  frequency  from  1,500  to 
1,340  kilocycles,  and  KGNO,  Dodge 
City,  Kan.,  for  increase  of  power  from 
250  watts  to  500  watts. 

It  was  also  announced  that  hear- 
ings, on  dates  to  be  set  later,  had  been 
ordered  on  the  applications  of  Mollin 
Investment  Co..  for  a  1,200-kilocycle, 
100-watt,  daytime  station  at  Palm 
Springs,  and  North  Shore  Broadcast- 
ing Co.,  for  a  1,200-kilocvcle,  100- 
watt  station  at  Salem,  Mass.,  and 
KFIO,  Spokane,  for  change  of  fre- 
quency from  1,120  to  950  kilocycles, 
extension  of  time  from  day  to  unlim- 
ited and  increase  of  power  from  100 
to  1,000  watts;  WGST,  Atlanta,  for 
increase  of  night  power  from  1,000  to 
5.000  watts,  and  WRDW,  Augusta, 
Ga.,  for  increase  of  night  power  from 
100  to  250  watts. 


Program  Plug 

Montreal,  April  5. — Anxious  \ 
to  flaunt  one  of  the  biggest  ! 
beats  they  have  ever  made 
over  rivals  here,  CKAC, 
which  through  its  affiliation 
with  CBS  took  over  the  Amos 
'n'  Andy  program,  have  put 
a  couple  of  black-faced  men 
on  the  downtown  streets 
with  sandwich  boards  rea*\ 
ing  "Yes,  suh.  Don't  fo-jl 
we  is  on  CKAC  now!" 


Roosevelt  Fair  Tall 
To  Start  Televisior 

President  Roosevelt  will  be  the  sut 
ject  of  the  first  regular  television 
service  in  the  United  States.  Tr 
President's  address  -opening  §M 
World's  Fair  will  mark  the  beginnin 
of  the  regular  television  broadcastin  i 
service  by  NBC. 

Shortly  preceeding  the  opening  i 
the  Fair,  RCA,  Philco,  Zenith  arl 
several  other  radio  manufacturir 
companies  will  place  on  public  sa  j 
television  home  receivers. 


New  Transmitter  of 
CBC  Open  Saturda 

Montreal,    April    5.  —  Canadu 
Broadcasting  Corp.'s  new  50,000-wa 
transmitter,  CBA,  at  Sackville,  N.  I 
will  be  formally  opened  Saturday  wi 
a  two-hour  program  starting  at  7  PJsi 
fed  to  the  national  network.  Speech 
will  be  made  by  Federal  Transpo. 
Minister  C.  D.  Howe,  Premier  Alisc 
Dysart  of  New  Brunswick,  Premi 
Thane  Campbell   of  Prince  Edwa, 
Island,  Premier  Angus  Macdonald 
Nova    Scotia,    L.    W.  Brockingtc 
chairman  of  CBC  board  of  governoi 
and  David  Sarnoff,  president  of  RC. 

Salutes  from  other  CBC  outlets  w 
be  piped  in  on  the  national  hookup. 


NBC  Disc  Series  Is 
Sold  to  Canadian  iV< 

"K-7,"  transcribed  series  produc 
jointly  by  NBC  and  Heffelfing 
Radio  Productions,  has  been  sold 
the  Hude  Tobacco  Co.,  to  be  air 
over  10  Canadian  stations.  Deal  w 
set  by  Whitehall  Broadcasting  Ct 
Ltd. 

Imperial  Tobacco  Co.  has  order 
another  25  transcriptions  of  the  "Lig; 
Up  and  Listen"  series,  thus  increasi 
its  commitments  for  this  series  to  I 
episodes.  Program  is  also  broadc; 
in  Canada. 


Thompson  Selection 
Reported  Favorabt 

Washington,  April  5. — Nomii 
tion  of  Frederick  I.  Thompson  of 
bile,  Ala.,  to  be  a  member  of  j 
Federal  Communications  Commiss 
to  succeed  Commissioner  Eugene 
Sykes,  was  ordered  favorably  repor 
today  by  the  Senate  Interstate  Col 
merce  Committee. 


Benes  to  Be  on  WMCj 

Dr.  Edward  Benes,  former  presid 
of  Czechoslovakia,  will  be  heard  > 
clusively  over  WMCA  and  the  s 
tions  of  the  Intercitv  network 
April  20  at  9  P.  M.  The  subject 
his  address  has  not  been  announcer! 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


"OL.  45.   NO.  67 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  APRIL  7,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Neely  Bill  Is 
Attacked  by 
Kent,  Rodgers 


i  Washington,  April  6. — Today  the 
in  industry  leveled  its  big  guns  on 

he  Neely  bill  as  the  U.  S.  Senate  In- 

erstate  Com- 
merce sub-com- 

tiittee  contin- 
ued its  hear- 
jngs.  Sidney  R. 
Kent  and  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodg- 

rs  addressed 
lommittee  mem- 
•ers  and  Kent 

old  the  Senate 

:roup  that  even 

t  block  book- 
'ng  should  be 
>  e  g  i  s  1  a  t  - 

d  against,  the 
Neely  bill  was 

»ot  the  way  to 


Sidney  Kent 


■lo  It. 

The  hearing  was  adjourned  until 
Monday,   when   George   J.  Schaefer 
nd  Ed  Kuykendall  are  scheduled  to 
arry  on  the  industry's  attack. 
"The  Neely  bill."   said   Kent,  "is 
ot  good  legislation." 
Rodgers  declared,  "I  believe  the  in- 
terests of  the  industry'  can  best  be 
■  erved  by  working  out  of  an  agree- 

(Contititted  on  page  4) 
f   


lompanies  Studying 
}pain  Film  Market 

II  American  distribution  companies 
|-ave  appointed  trade  representatives 

)r  Spain  and  several  surveys  of  the 

arrent  market  are  under  way  there 
Low.  There  has  been  no  official  indi- 

ation  yet.  however  whether  the  mar- 
ket will  be  "open"  or  the  extent  to 

-hich  it  mav  be  restricted. 

I 

American  distributors  have  not  re- 
jmed  shipments  into  Spain  yet  and 
jrobably  will  not  to  any  significant 
Ktent  until  the  nation's  import  policy 
made  known.   Foreign  department 
fficials  anticipate  severe  monetary  re- 
.rictions   even   though  film  imports 
lay  be  unrestricted. 
.  General  trade  surveys    are  under 
■  ray  in  Spain  now  by  the  newly  ap- 
rointed  trade  representatives  of  the 
anerican   companies.    Surveys  will 
lclude  the  condition  of  key  theatres, 
eneral    economic    prospects    in  the 
irger  cities  and  the  advisability  of  re- 
establishing branches  in  Spain. 


ailed  Poor  Legislation 
Regardless  of  Issues 


Stop  "Kid"  Cycle, 
Exhibitor  Pleads 

Cincinnati,  April  6.  —  Tom 
Davis,  manager  of  the  Para- 
mount, Ashland,  Ky,  appar- 
ently has  reached  the  satura- 
tion point  on  kid  pictures.  In 
a  letter  to  his  circuit  execu- 
tives, Davis  writes,  in  part: 
"And  while  on  the  subject, 
the  public  is  fed  up  on  kids. 
Exhibitors  should  wire,  write 
or  phone  the  producers,  and 
contact  sales  conventions, 
and  tell  'em  to  stop  this  kid 
cvcle." 


Goldwyn  Withdraws 
UA  Suit;  Expect  New 
Action  in  Delaware 


In  a  counter  legal  maneuver  to  keep 
the  suit  out  of  the  Federal  courts, 
Samuel  Goldwyn  and  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn, Inc.,  filed  notice  of  voluntary 
dismissal  of  the  breach  of  contract 
suit  against  United  Artists  in  the 
U.  S.  District  Court  yesterday.  A 
new  action  is  expected  to  be  filed 
shortly  in  Delaware. 

The  dismissal  was  filed  pursuant 
to  Rule  41a  of  the  new  rules  of  Fed- 
eral Procedure  which  permits  a  plain- 
tiff to  discontinue  a  suit  before  an 
answer  is  served  without  court  ap- 
proval and  without  prejudice  to  the 
bringing  of  a  new  action  in  the  same 
court  or  elsewhere. 

Action  was  started  in  the  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court  March  1  for  a  declar- 
atory judgment  to  permit  Goldwyn  to 
set  aside  his  present  exclusive  pro- 
ducing and  releasing  contract  with 
U.  A.  and  to  reinstate  his  former 
contract,  which  allowed  him  to  dis- 
tribute through  other  companies  addi- 
tionally. Goldwyn's  present  contract 
runs  until  1945. 

U.  A.  responded  on  March  16  with 
a  demand  that  the  suit  be  shifted  to 
the  Federal  court  on  the  grounds  of 
"diversity  of  citizenship."  because  it  is 
a  Delaware  corporation.  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  Justice  Charles  B.  Mc- 
Laughlin granted  the  request  on 
March  18.  If  the  new  suit  is  brought 
in  the  Delaware  state  courts,  attorneys 
believe  that  there  will  be  no  basis  for 
Federal  jurisdiction. 


Craig  Off  to  Ottawa 

Sir  Gordon  Craig,  general  manager 
of  British  Movietone,  has  left  to  con- 
fer with  officials  in  Ottawa.  He  will 
return  over  the  weekend.  He  plans 
to  sail  on  the  Aquitaiu'a  April  15.  R. 
Sutton  Dawes,  British  sales  manager 
for  20th  Century-Fox,  plans  to  sail  at 
the  same  time. 


GOVT.  SAYS  STRIKE 
BREAKS  TRUST  LAW 


Extension  of 
Air  Licenses 
Recommended 


Next    Step    by  Justice 
Department  Is 
Awaited 


Washington,  April  6. — Extension 
of  the  broadcast  station  license  period 
from  six  months  to  one  year  was  rec- 
ommended to  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission  tonight  by  its  com- 
mittee on  broadcast  standards,  Com- 
missioners Norman  S.  Case,  chair- 
man ;  T.  A.  M.  Craven  and  George 
H.  Payne. 

The  recommendation  was  one  of  a 
number  contained  in  the  final  report 
of  the  committee,  supplementing  the 
initial  report  issued  last  January. 

Other  recommendations  include  af- 
firmation of  the  commission's  opposi- 
tion to  superpower ;  extension  of  the 
broadcast  band  to  include  the  section 
from  1,500  to  1,600  kilocycles  now 
used  by  special  stations ;  establish- 
ment of  three  classes  of  channels  as  at 
present,  but  four  classes  of  stations — 
dominant  stations  on  clear  channels, 
secondary  stations  on  clear  channels, 
regional  stations  in  two  groups  (one 
with  1,000  to  5,000  watts  power,  the 
other  with  500  to  1,000  watts)  and 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Casey  on  Way  East 
For  Musicians  Talk 

Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  rep- 
resentative, left  the  coast  yesterday  by 
train  and  is  due  in  New  York  on  Sun- 
day. Casey  and  major  company  of- 
ficials are  scheduled  to  meet  April  17 
with  the  executive  board  of  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Musicians  to  con- 
tinue discussions  of  methods  of  re- 
eniploving  theatre  musicians.  Several 
discussion  meetings  were  held  last  fall. 

Annual  negotiations  under  the  basic 
agreement  between  the  producers  and 
the  five  international  studio  unions 
may  also  be  held  during  Casey's  stay 
here.  Insofar  as  is  known  now,  how- 
ever, none  of  the  internationals  has  yet 
requested  a  negotiating  session  and 
there  are  no  wage  or  hour  schedules 
due  for  reopening  at  this  time.  How- 
ever, a  meeting  may  be  required  to 
renew  the  basic  agreement  for  another 
five  years  and  to  determine  the  status 
of  I.A.T.S.E.  in  the  annual  negotia- 
tions since  autonomy  was  granted  to 
all  of  the  International's  studio  unions 
with  the  exception  of  Local  37. 


The  opinion  has  been  rendered  to 
union  officials  by  representatives  of 
the  Department  of  Justice  in  Wash- 
ington that  the  present  strike  of  home 
office  and  exchange  boothmen  in  the 
Greater  New  York  City  area  which 
includes  Northern  New  Jersey  is  an 
attempt  to  restrain  interstate  com- 
merce and  therefore  is  a  violation  of 
the  anti-trust  laws. 

This  opinion  was  reached  by  the 
Government  after  an  investigation  of 
the  strike  situation. 

Principals  in  the  situation  are 
awaiting  the  next  move  by  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice. 

Efforts  to  learn  from  competent 
unions  officials  what  the  union's  reac- 
tion might  be  to  the  Government's 
opinion  has  proved  unavailing.  Union 
officials  refused  to  comment.  Dis- 
tributors were  equally  as  non-com- 
mittal. 

It  was  on  Monday  morning,  March 
27,  that  the  strike  started.  The  strike 
order  by  the  union  arose  out  of  the 
refusal  of  the  distributors  to  accede 
to  the  union's  demand  that  they  cease 
further  film  service  to  theatres  which 
do  not  employ  members  of  Local  306. 

Yesterday  was  the  eleventh  day 
that  pickets  have  paraded  in  front  of 
exchanges.  The  picketing  has  been 
orderly.  There  has  been  no  impair- 
ment of  service  to  theatres. 

George  Browne  is  president  of 
I.A.T.S.E.  Joseph  D.  Basson  is  presi- 
dent of  Local  306. 


'The  Castles'  Gives 
Music  Hall  $100,000 

Steady  downpour  yesterday  kept 
box-office  receipts  along  Broadway  at 
a  low  level.  Generally,  however,  this 
year's  Holy  Week  grosses  have  been 
well  ahead  of  previous  years.  An  ex- 
cellent week's  business  was  done  by 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham 
Bell"  which  grossed  an  estimated 
$50,000  at  the  Roxy.  "The  Castles" 
gave  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall 
$100,000  on  the  picture's  first  week, 
probably  staying  at  this  house  for 
three  weeks. 

"Pygmalion"  is  still  going  strong  at 
the  Astor  with  an  estimated  $9,600 
for  its  17th  week.  It  is  expected  to 
run  until  at  least  May  1.  "You  Can't 
Get  Away  with  Murder"  grossed  an 
estimated  $25,000  in  its  second  week  at 
the  Strand. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  7,  I93'i 


Government  Quiz 
Opposed  by  Raftery 


Edward  C.  Raftery,  attorney  for 
United  Artists,  opposed  all  questions 
relating  to  United  Artists  functions 
as  a  producer  and  any  inquiries  on  the 
financial  structure  of  the  company,  at 
the  commencement  of  the  Govern- 
ment's examination  of  United  Artists 
defendants  in  its  anti-trust  suit  against 
the  eight  majors. 

Raftery  objected  to  questions  put  to 
Harry  J.  Muller,  treasurer  and  con- 
troller of  United  Artists,  by  Robert 
L.  Wright,  special  assistant  Attorney- 
General,  on  the  ground  that  the  com- 
plaint does  not  allege  that  United 
Artists  is  a  producer,  and  that  the 
company's  financial  status  is  confiden- 
tial. The  government's  request  for 
copies  of  annual  reports  and  financial 
statements  was  refused. 

Examination  of  Muller  was  ad- 
journed until  today  at  10:30  o'clock 
in  the  Federal  Court  House.  Raftery's 
examination  will  follow  that  of 
Muller. 

Government's  inquiry  yesterday  was 
confined  to  the  personal  history  of 
Muller,  the  history  of  the  company 
and  the  set-up  and  personnel  of  the 
company  and  its  26  U.  S.  exchanges. 

Attorneys  present  at  the  hearing- 
were  Benjamin  Pepper  and  Raftery 
for  United  Artists ;  Albert  C.  Bick- 
ford  and  Walter  K.  Walker  of  Simp- 
son, Thacher  &  Bartlett  for  Para- 
mount Pictures ;  Edward  C.  McLean 
of  Davis,  Polk,  Wardell,  Gardiner  & 
Reed  for  Loew's ;  Herman  Finkelstein 
of  Schwartz  &  Frohlich  for  Columbia, 
and  I.  F.  Caskey  of  Dwight,  Harris, 
Koegel  &  Caskey  for  20th  Century- 
Fox. 


Loew  Boston  Vote  Set 

State  Labor  Board  elections  for 
designation  of  a  collective  bargaining- 
agent  of  managers,  assistants,  public- 
ity and  box  office  employes  of  Loew's 
Boston  houses  has  been  set  for  April 
11.  William  S.  Scott,  business  agent 
of  Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  & 
Treasurers  Union,  left  for  Boston  yes- 
terday and  Gustave  A.  Gerber,  T.M. 
A.T.  attorney,  will  follow  Monday. 


Pathe  Profit  $77,158 

Profit  of  $77,158  after  deduction 
for  taxes  was  earned  by  Pathe  Film 
Corp.  in  1938  as  compared  with  a 
profit  of  $466,918  for  the  previous 
year.  The  earnings  are  equivalent  to 
four  cents  a  share  on  581,679  shares 
compared  with  70  cents  on  585,072  in 
1937.  Dividends  from  du  Pont  Film 
totaled  $245,000  during  1938  against 
$472,500  in  1937. 


Add  to  Allied  Committee 

Additional  names  have  been  added 
to  the  committee  for  Allied's  "World's 
Fair  Exposition"  to  be  held  at  the 
Hotel  Astor  May  23  to  25.  They 
are  Jay  Emanuel,  The  Exhibitor: 
Chick  Lewis,  Shoivmcn's  Trade  Re- 
view; Terry  Ramsaye,  Motion  Pic- 
ture Herald. 


Mrs.  J.  J.  Spandau  Dies 

Des  Moines,  April  6. — Mrs.  J.  J. 
Spandau,  wife  of  the  manager  of  the 
local  Universal  exchange,  died  at  a 
local  hospital  following  an  operation. 
Burial  was  at  her  former  home  in 
Pittsburgh. 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


MORRIS    HELPRIN,  publicity 
and    advertising  representative 
for    Alexander    Korda,   sails  from 
England  on  the  Aquitania  tomorrow. 
• 

Walt  Disney  and  his  executive 
staff,  Paul  Stuart  Buchanan, 
Dick  Huemer,  Joe  Grant  and  Wil- 
liam Garity,  will  attend  the  open- 
ing of  the  French  version  of  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  at  the 
Waldorf  tomorrow. 

• 

E.  J.  Smith,  general  sales  mana- 
ger of  Imperial  Pictures,  has  left 
New  York  on  a  trip  to  company 
branches,  stopping  at  Buffalo,  De- 
troit, Chicago  and  Cleveland. 
• 

Charles  Boyer  will  head  the  cast 
of  the  "Hollywood  Playhouse"  broad- 
cast of  "The  Passing  of  the  Third 
Floor  Back"  on  Sunday  evening.  Anne 
Shirley  also  will  appear. 

• 

Harry  M.  Warner  has  received  a 
citation  from  the  Hollywood  Post  of 
the  American  Legion  for  his  produc- 
tion of  pictures  fostering  American- 
ism. 


CHARLES  W.  KOERNER,  newly 
appointed  head  of  RKO  coast  the- 
atres, left  Boston  by  train  Wednesday 
for  California.  Richard  Mahn,  his 
secretary,  and  Fred  Rush,  assistant, 
will  follow  shortly. 

• 

Martin  Good  Rider,  Indian  juve- 
nile actor  who  just  completed  work 
in  "Susannah  of  the  Mounties,"  is  in 
New  York  for  a  brief  visit. 

• 

Lya  Lys  will  come  on  from  the 
coast  later  this  month  for  the  open- 
ing of  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy" 
at  the  Strand. 

• 

Norman  B.  Rydge  was  the  lunch- 
eon guest  of  a  group  of  Universal 
home  office  executives  at  the  Rainbow 
Room  yesterday. 


James  Hogan,  Paramount  director, 
is  visiting  in  Boston  prior  to  sailing 
for  Europe  on  a  vacation. 

Joe  Penner  is  due  in  New  York 
today  from  the  coast. 


3  Films  Completed 
By  G.  N.  in  Britain 

Grand  National,  Ltd.,  has  scheduled 
10  features  for  production  this  year 
in  England — three  have  been  com- 
pleted— and  has  leased  the  Twicken- 
ham Studios  for  three  years  to  facili- 
tate the  schedule,  according  to  Jeffrey 
Bernerd  and  Maurice  Wilson,  joint 
managing  directors  of  the  company, 
who  arrived  yesterday  on  the  Queen 
Mary. 

Grand  National  of  England  has  no 
tieup  with  Grand  National  Pictures 
here  other  than  a  distribution  arrange- 
ment, Bernerd  and  Wilson  stated,  and 
they  do  not  contemplate  altering  the 
arrangement.  The  deal  is  for  five 
years  and  provides  that  the  English 
company  distribute  Grand  National 
pictures  in  England.  The  pact  called 
for  the  Bernerd-Wilson  company  to 
distribute  30  Grand  National  pictures, 
but  to  date  only  three  have  been  de- 
livered on  a  picture-to-picture  basis, 
Bernerd  said.  No  cash  investment  has 
been  made  in  Grand  National  by 
Grand  National,  Ltd.,  and  none  will 
be  made,  Bernerd  said. 

Bernerd  will  remain  here  for  two 
weeks  to  complete  deals  for  distribu- 


Moss  to  Press  Court 
Action  on  Bank  Night 

Despite  the  Grand  Jurv's  refusal  to 
indict  in  the  lottery  case  against  the 
Jewel  Theatre  in  Harlem,  License 
Commissioner  Paul  Moss  is  going 
ahead  with  other  court  action  to  test 
the  legality  of  chance  games  in  New 
York. 

Summons  was  served  on  the  Mo- 
mart  Theatre  in  Brooklyn  and  the 
management  tried  before  Magistrate 
Eilpern.  The  case  is  being  held  for 
Special  Sessions  and  date  will  be  set 
on  April  11.  Harry  G.  Kosch  has 
been  retained  by  the  defendants. 


Named  'Gateway'  Scouts 

Herbert  Rawlinson  and  Jack  Mul- 
hall,  screen  veterans,  have  been  signed 
as  scouts  for  the  second  Jesse  L. 
Lasky  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  tal- 
ent search.  Rawlinson  will  cover  the 
east  and  Mulhall  the  Midwest. 


tion  here  of  his  films,  following  which 
he  will  return  to  England.  Wilson  will 
remain  in  New  York  for  10  days  and 
then  will  proceed  to  the  coast  to  sign 
players  for  his  company's  forthcom- 
ing films. 


An  airplane  crash  during  the  launch- 
ing ceremony  of  the  new  navy  plane 
carrier,  Wasp,  highlights  the  newsreel 
contents.  The  reels  and  their  contents 
follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  60— Foreign 
relations  Committee  hearing.  Planes  crash 
as  ship  is  launched.  Spring  fashions.  Pro- 
fessional tennis  match.  Midget  auto  rac- 
ing.   Man  o'  War  relaxes.    Lew  Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  258^-Navy 
destroyers  reconditioned.  Plane  disaster 
during  launching  ceremony.  Coast  Guard 
rescue.  Roosevelt  confers  with  press.  Safety 
glass  demonstrated.  Girls  ride  mules.  New 
French   sport.    Miniature   auto  contest. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  71  —  Franco 


enters  Madrid.  Bridge-tunnel  controversy 
in  New  York.  Fire  in  Ohio.  Lion  walks 
tightrope.  World  War  destroyers  repaired. 
New  ship  is  christened.  Plane  tragedy. 
Ski   meet.     Swimming  competitions. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  75—Army  Day 
demonstration.  Painting  exhibition.  Budd- 
ha's birthday  celebrated.  "Dodge  City" 
premiere.  Co-ed  plays  polo.  Retrievers  in 
field  trials.    Boys  race  in  midget  cars. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  760— 
''Dodge  City"  preview.  Fliers  crash  as 
Wasp  is  launched.  Naval  expansion 
speeded.  Senate  neutrality  pact  hearing. 
Desert  queen  chosen.  Typical  American 
boy.  Child  contest  winner.  Safety  glass  is 
tested.  Hair  net  fashions.  Underwater 
swimming.  Motor  boat  record  is  broken. 
Olympic   ski  meet. 


'Happiest  Days'  Is 
Opening  Tomorrow 

"The  Happiest  Days"  by 
Charlotte  Armstrong  opens 
tomorrow  evening  at  the 
Vanderbilt.  The  play  is  based 
on  a  news  item  about  a  young 
couple  who  signed  a  suicide 
pact  after  having  seen  the 
film,  "Mayerling."  Courtney 
Burr  is  the  producer  and 
Marc  Connelly  the  director. 
Included  in  the  cast  are  Wil, 
liam  Harrigan,  Uta  Hage 
John  Craven,  Russell  Collins, 
Kathryn  Givney  and  others 


Pro  Rata  Stock  Offer 
To  Eastman  Holder; 

Eastman  Kodak  stockholders  are  of 
fered,  pro  rata,  subscription  rights  t( 
225,092  new  shares  of  no  par  commoi 
stock  at  $127.50  per  share  betweei 
now  and  April  27.  Subscription  right 
are  in  the  ratio  of  one  additional  shar 
for  each  10  shares  now  held. 

Net  proceeds  from  sale  of  the  stocl 
are  estimated  to  represent  $28,048, 55c 
and  will  be  added  to  the  general  fund 
of  the  company  to  be  used  for  addi 
tions  and  betterment  of  plant  am 
equipment,  for  additional  working  cap 
ital  to  finance  inventories  and  receiv 
ables,  and  "to  maintain  for  a  perioi 
of  time,  to  the  extent  that  cash  fund 
are  available,  a  greater  cash  and  mar 
ketable  security  position  than  exist 
at  present." 


RKO  Orders  Submitted 

Proposed  formal  orders  confirmin; 
the  RKO  reorganization  were  sub 
mitted  by  Atlas  Corp.  proponents  o 
the  plan,  and  H.  Cassell  &  Co.  object 
ing  bondholders,  to  Federal  Judg 
William  Bondy  yesterday.  Ernest  W 
Stirn,  objecting  Class  A  stockholdei 
filed  an  opposing  affidavit.  The  Cas 
sell  order  differed  from  that  of  Ada 
by  providing  that  Atlas  must  submi 
an  underwriting  agreement  for  nev 
capital  within  30  days. 


Capital  Sees  'Heights' 

Washington,  April  6. — A  specia 
screening  of  Samuel  Goldwyn' 
"Wuthering  Heights"  was  held  her 
last  night.  William  Wyler,  directoi 
was  host  to  a  group  of  Governmen 
officials. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  an 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  TAME: 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Con 
pany,  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurei 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  a 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubcc 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  193 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Int 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yor 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Mono 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatr 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictur 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Unio 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boon 
Mancall.  manager;  William  R.  Weavei 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  I 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squan 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  tb 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  lOi 


WIDE  ACCLAIM 
FOR  ALL  THREE 


SETTING  new  standards  of  quality  and  per- 
formance, Eastman's  latest  negative  films 
have  met  with  instant  approval.  Each  makes 
its  special  contribution  . . .  fast,  fine-grained 
P/iis-X,  for  general  studio  work . . .  high-speed 
Super-XX,  for  all  difficult  exposures  . . .  ultra- 
fine-grained  Background-X,  for  backgrounds 
and  all-round  exterior  work.  All  three  offer 
the  high  reliability  and  photographic  quality 
typical  of  Eastman  sensitized  materials. 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
(J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  Fort  Lee, 
Chicago,  Hollywood.) 


EASTMAN  Ptus-X... 
Super-XX ...  Background-X 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  7,  19 


Theatre  Unions  to 
Meet  with  Whalen 
On  Fair  Schedules 


Theatrical  unions  will  meet  with 
Grover  A.  Whalen,  managing  direc- 
tor of  the  World  Fair  Saturday  after- 
noon in  an  effort  to  arrange  wage 
and  hour  schedules  and  a  closed  shop 
at  Fair  concessions.  The  Fair  man- 
agement has  taken  the  position  that 
although  it  is  "union  minded,"  respon- 
sibility for  employment  contracts 
rests  on  the  individual  concessionaire. 

The  unions,  on  the  other  hand,  in- 
sist that  all  construction  work  has 
been  done  on  a  closed  shop  basis,  and 
that  the  theatrical  crafts  are  entitled 
to  the  same  proposition.  The  New 
York  Theatrical  Trades  Council,  com- 
posed of  Ralph  Whitehead,  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Actors ;  Jack 
Rosenberg,  Local  802  Musicians ; 
Charles  Downs,  Local  644  Camera- 
men ;  Sal  Scappa,  Local  52  Studio 
Mechanics ;  Tom  Murtha,  Local  4 
Brooklyn  Stagehands,  and  Joseph 
Basson,  Local  306  Projectionists,  has 
been  formed  for  the  purpose  of  deal- 
ing collectively  with  Fair  authorities. 

Actors'  Equity  and  A. FA.  have 
a  joint  committee  working  to  set  mini- 
mum working  conditions  for  actors, 
and  Equity  has  one  contract,  signed 
in  January,  with  the  Merrie  England 
concession  for  Shakespearean  revivals 
at  the  Globe  Theatre  on  the  Fair 
grounds.  No  arrangements  with  the 
Musicians'  Union  has  been  made  yet 
for  broadcasts  from  the  Fair. 


Extension  of  Radio 
Permits  Suggested 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
local  stations,  and  increases  of  power 
for  stations  where  it  is  needed  and 
is  technically  feasible. 

In  the  more  than  500  pages  of  the 
latest  report,  the  committee  analyzed 
broadcasting  programs,  finding  that 
52.45  per  cent  of  all  time  of  all  sta- 
tions on  the  air  is  devoted  to  music, 
but  that  while  stations  with  advertis- 
ing revenue  of  $1,000,000  or  more  use 
music  in  only  37  per  cent  of  their 
broadcasts,  the  small  commercial  sta- 
tions, earning  up  to  $15,000,  devote  61 
per  cent  of  their  time  to  music. 

During  the  period  from  1922  to 
1937  more  than  53,000,000  radio  sets 
were  sold  with  a  retail  value  of  nearly 
$4,000,000,000,  and  the  present-day 
investment  of  the  broadcasting  indus- 
try in  stations  and  equipment  is  ap- 
proximately $50,000,000,  with  an- 
other $9,000,000  in  network  plant 
equipment.  Time  sales  of  the  indus- 
try, nets  and  stations,  in  1937, 
amounted  to  nearly  $118,000,000,  and 
during  an  average  week  in  1938  the 
industry  employed  17,085  full-time  and 
5,820  part-time  employees. 

At  a  later  date,  it  was  said,  a  hear- 
ing will  be  granted  before  final  action 
is  taken  with  respect  to  any  of  the 
recommendations. 


World's  Fair  Short  Out 

A  two-reel  sound  film,  "New  York 
World's  Fair  1939,"  promoting  the 
Fair,  has  been  offered  without  charge 
to  all  non-theatrical  situations.  Pro- 
duced by  the  newsreel  division  of  the 
Fair,  it  is  available  in  16mm.  or 
35mm.,  and  runs  16  minutes. 


W.  F.  Rodgers 


Kent  and  Rodgers 
Assail  Neely  Bill 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

ment  between  those  whose  interest  it 
is  to  protect  their  public  and  those 
whose  interest  it  is  to  protect  their  in- 
vestment, rather  than  have  a  meas- 
ure enacted  into 
law  which  at  best 
cannot  help,  but, 
in  my  opinion, 
can  only  destroy." 

Kent,  president 
of  20th  Century- 
Fox  and  honorary 
chairman  of  the 
distributors'  trade 
practice  commit- 
tee, pointed  out 
that  the  practices 
which  the  Neely 
bill  purports  to 
legislate  on  are 
matters  of  issue 
in  the  pending 
New  York  anti- 
trust suit,  and  he  urged  therefore 
that  since  these  issues  will  be  settled 
in  the  trial  of  that  suit,  action  on  the 
Neely  bill  be  deferred. 

Whatever  the  evidence  is,  it  will 
be  at  least  given  under  oath  at  the 
trial  and  those  who  testify  will  have 
to  present  facts,  not  generalities,  Kent 
pointed  out. 

Outlining  the  inability  of  distribu- 
tors to  comply  with  the  synopsis  re- 
quirements of  the  measure,  Kent  de- 
clared publicition  in  advance  of  stor- 
ies companies  are  going  to  produce 
would  lead  to  the  loss  of  "half  of  them 
by  plagiarism." 

"Proponents  say  they  do  not  want 
to  kill  block  booking,"  he  told  the 
subcommittee.  "I  know  they  don't. 
They  have  always  attempted  to  hold 
block  booking  with  one  hand  and  pick 
out  what  they  wanted  with  the  other." 

The  industry  is  in  a  serious  situa- 
tion, with  great  difficulties  in  the  for- 
eign markets,  he  warned,  and  Neely 
bill  enactment  would  be  disastrous. 
But,  he  added,  "If  these  practices  are 
to  be  prohibited,  they  should  be  pro- 
hibited entirely  and  it  should  be  done 
on  a  basis  that  is  fair  to  all." 

Outlines  Pact  Efforts 

Rodgers,  sales  chief  of  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  and  chairman  of  the 
distributors'  trade  practice  commit- 
tee, told  the  committee  that  it  was 
the  box-office,  rather  than  "morals" 
which  governed  the  exhibition  situa- 
tion. He  cited  the  production  of 
"Romeo  and  Juliet"  at  a  cost  of  $2,- 
800,000,  which  got  590  cancellations, 
while  a  story  based  on  Al  Capone  got 
only  13.  A  taxicab  racketeering  story, 
"Big  City,"  also  got  only  13  cancel- 
lations, while  "April  Blossoms,"  star- 
ring a  nationally  known  concert  artist, 
was  turned  down  by  3,900. 

Rodgers  outlined  his  efforts  to  reach 
an  amicable  agreement  with  independ- 
ents and  detailed  the  history  of  the 
trade  practice  proposals.  Not  all  Al- 
lied exhibitors  are  against  a  voluntary 
agreement,  he  said,  many  having  per- 
sonally expressed  a  preference  for  an 
agreement  as  against  legislation. 

Challenging  Allied's  claims  of  more 
than  4,000  members,  Rodgers  placed 
the  figure  at  nearer  2,200  and  told  the 
subcommittee  that  even  allowing  4,000 
and  eliminating  2,500  affiliated  the- 
atres, there  are  more  than  10,000  in- 
dependent houses,  a  majority  of  which 
are  not  in  favor  of  the  Neely  bill. 


Missouri's  Ascap 
Bill  Reintroduced 


Kansas  City,  April  6. — Anti-Ascap 
bill  sponsored  by  the  Kansas-Missouri 
Theatres  Association,  recently  dis- 
carded by  the  Missouri  legislature's 
Revision  Committee,  has  been  reintro- 
duced by  Representatives  Turner  and 
Hamlin,  who  introduced  the  original 
bill. 

Like  the  original,  the  present  bill 
is  based  on  the  Washington  law,  and 
in  effect  prevents  the  fixing  of  prices 
on  copyrighted  music  or  other  copy- 
righted work  by  two  or  more  separate 
copyright  holders. 

This  is  a  revision  session  of  the 
legislature,  and  only  bills  which  meet 
the  "revision"  specification  are  being 
given  serious  consideration.  The  two 
Representatives  include  in  the  bill  the 
statement  that  it  is  a  revision  measure 
because  it  deals  with  a  change  of  ex- 
isting statutes,  those  dealing  with  mo- 
nopoly. 


GB  Seeks  to  Screen 
Cup  Final  Telecast 

London,  April  6. — Isidore  Ostrer 
of  Gaumont  British  has  made  a  sub- 
stantial offer  to  the  Football  Asso- 
ciation for  the  right  to  screen  the  tele- 
cast of  the  Cup  Final  April  29  in 
G.  B.  houses,  which  had  been  refused 
earlier.  It  is  expected  permission  will 
be  granted. 

G.  B.  houses  will  screen  the  tele- 
cast of  the  Burman-Farr  fight  on 
April  13,  and  negotiations  are  under 
way  for  the  rights  to  screen  the  tele- 
cast of  the  Derby  on  June  7. 


Says  Studio  Local  Is 
Trying  to  'Save  Face' 

Hollywood,  April  6.- — Frank  Strick- 
ling,  International  representative  of 
I.A.T.S.E.,  issued  a  statement  today 
in  which  he  said  the  new  court  attack 
on  George  Browne,  president,  was  an 
attempt  of  Studio  Technicians  Local 
37  to  "save  face."  Replying  to  the 
local's  $1,000,000  suit  he  said  that  not 
more  than  $120,000  was  collected  in 
two  per  cent  assessments. 

International  officers  will  go  into 
superior  court  tomorrow  to  move 
for  an  order  allowing  the  taking  of 
a  deposition  from  Browne  in  Chicago 
in  support  of  their  suit  for  a  per- 
manent injunction  against  local  of- 
ficers. 


Sam  Pechner  Dies 

San  Francisco,  April  6. — Sam 
Pechner,  52,  manager  of  the  Warfield, 
died  while  en  route  home  by  train 
from  a  Los  Angeles  conference  of  Fox 
West  Coast  officials.  He  was  father- 
in-law  of  Harry  Sinclair,  Jr.,  son  of 
the  oil  magnate.  A  son,  Warren,  is 
manager  of  the  Varsity  in  Palo  Alto. 


Desch  G.  N.  Manager 

Kansas  City,  April  6. — Douglas 
Desch,  who  has  been  head  booker, 
office  manager  and  city  salesman  for 
Grand  National  here,  has  been  ap- 
pointed branch  manager,  succeeding 
Russell  Borg,  who  has  joined  War- 
ners. 


'Devil's  Island'  Is 
Banned  in  Montreal 

Montreal,  April  6. — War- 
ners' "Devil's  Island"  has 
been  banned  here,  according 
to  the  French  Consulate  Gen- 
eral, as  a  result  of  the  French 
Government  protest  that  the 
film  is  sensational,  wrong  in 
facts  and  detrimental  to  the 
French  character.  It  had 
been  scheduled  to  open  at  the 
Princess  over  the  weekend.^. 

6 ) 


Variety  Club  Meet 
In  Detroit  April  2 

Detroit,  April  6. — Plans  are  beii 
set  here  for  the  national  conventi* 
of  the  Variety  Club,  to  be  held  at  t| 
Book  Cadillac  Hotel  April  27-29.  Til 
Detroit  club  will  act  as  host.  Tl 
three-day  visit  will  be  climaxed  tl 
the  annual  banquet  April  29,  at  whi<| 
public  officials  are  scheduled  to  1 1 
present. 

The  general  convention  committl 
in  charge  of  arrangements  includ  I 
John    E.    Flynn,    chairman;  E. 
Beatty,    William    Carlson,    E.    ]  I 
Kirchner,  Frank  J.  Downey,  Dav  1 
M.  Idzal,  George  W.  Trendle,  Charl  i 
C.  Perry,  H.  M.  Richey  and  Dav  | 
Newman.  In  charge  of  welcoming  ai 
reception  is  H.  Com  Merritt,  whi 
decorations  will  be  in  the  hands  c 
Elmer  Kiehler,  banquet  reservatioi 
will  be  handled  by  Frank  J.  Downe 
William  Carlson  heads  the  progra 
committee,  David  M.  Idzal  the  ente: 
tainment  committee,  Harold  Robinso 
transportation,     E.      E.  Kirchne 
finance,     and     Charles     C.  Perr 
speakers. 

The  prominent  film  executives  h 
vited  include :  Will  H.  Hays,  Charh 
S.  Pettijohn,  Sidney  Kent,  Henna' 
Wobber,  Al  Lichtman,  William  I 
Rodgers,  Barney  Balaban,  Neil  Ad 
new,  Nate  Blumberg,  W.  A.  Scull; 
H.  M.  Warner,  Gradwell  L.  Sear| 
Harry  Cohn,  Abe  Montague,  E.  W 
Hammons,  George  Schaefer,  Juk 
Levy,  J.  Meyer  Schine,  Louis  \\ 
Schine,  George  V.  Lynch,  A.  J.  Keai 
ney,  M.  J.  Kallett,  John  A.  Nolai 
M.  A.  Shea  and  Harry  Kalmine. 


20th-Fox  to  Exploit 
Film  in  Derby  Airini 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  will  at, 
tempt  something  new  in  film  exploi 
tation  when,  on  May  6,  via  the  broad 
cast  of  the  running  of  the  Kentuck  ; 
Derby,  it  will  advertise  "Rose  o 
Washington  Square,"  a  forthcoming 
film  which  stars  Tyrone  Power,  Alio] 
Faye  and  Al  Jolson.  The  broadcas) 
will  be  carried  over  a  90-station  hook 
up  over  the  CBS  network,  from  6:1 
to  6:45  P.  M.  The  Derby  has  been 
an  exclusive  CBS  feature  since  1935i 
and  in  previous  seasons  the  Brown  8 
Williamson  Tobacco  Co.  sponsored 
the  air  description  of  the  race. 


'Radio  Rubes'  Here  Soon  \ 

"Radio  Rubes,"  who  are  heard  ovei 
WEAF  every  weekday  morning,  wil 
make  their  first  personal  appearand  I 
in  the  greater  New  York  area  at  the! 
Riveria  Theatre,  Brooklyn,  April  11 
through  April  13.  NBC  Artists  Bu- 
reau set  the  deal. 


I  NC 


*^|/  M.    P.    PRODUCERS  & 

|  DISTRIBUTORS   OF  AM 

28   WEST   44TH   ST. , 
— ;  NEW  YORK. 

N*    Y-    (3  COPJXS 

Indispensable 

to  the^ytion 

Picture 

Industry 


DO  NOT  REMOU& 


»N  PICTURE 


First  in 
Film  ar«K 


and 

Impartial 


OL.  45.   NO.  68 


NEW  YORK.  MONDAY,  APRIL  10,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Salesmen  Will 
Obtain  Field 
Views  on  Pact 


ViU  Guide  Distributors 
In  Making  Changes 


Salesmen  in  the  field  will  ascertain 
hibitor    sentiment    regarding  the 

,  li<le  practice  code,  to  guide  the  dis- 
!  tutors'    committee    in  rephrasing 

,"  rts  of  the  code,  should  this  be  found 

•  pessary. 

'jSo  far  exhibitor  reaction  has  been 
ried.    Some  approve  wholehearted- 
while  others  have  reservations. 
1  The  record  at  this  point  shows  that 
\  I.T.O.  of  Southern  California  has 
"idorsed  the  pact  in  principle  and  ex- 
jessed    exceptions    to   some  minor 
•nditions. 

:'  F.xecutive  approval  of  the  pact  has 
flea  obtained  from  the  M.P.T.O.  of 
ebraska  and  western  Iowa  as  well  as 
>m  the  M.P.T.O.A.  of  Virginia  and 
Pie  members  of  these  organizations 
'11  have  the  opportunity  of  express- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


learing  on  Neely 
Bill  Nears  Windup 

P  Trade  practices  and  commonly  ac- 
'pted  sales  policies  in  the  industry 
-ill  be   explained   and  defended  by 
•eorge  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  president, 
^hen  he  takes  the  stand  today  with 
■ie  resumption   of  hearings   on  the 
eely  Bill  before  a  sub-committee  of 
e  Interstate  Commerce  committee  in 
"ashington. 

Industry  opposition  to  the  measure 
.,ay  be  concluded  today  or  tomorrow, 
pWi  summations  following  the  wind- 
I)  of  testimony. 

I  William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
gal  sales  manager,  is  expected  to  be 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Brazil's  President 
Will  Greet  Kent 

President  Vargas  of  Brazil 
will  head  the  dignitaries  who 
will  greet  S.  R.  Kent  when 
the  president  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox arrives  in  Rio  de 
Janeiro  to  speak  at  the  com- 
pany's South  American  sales 
convention.  June  1.  His  visit 
will  coincide  with  the  start 
of  plans  laying  greater  em- 
phasis on  the  Latin  Ameri- 
can market.  He  will  be  accom- 
panied by  Walter  J.  Hutchin- 
son, foreign  chief. 


Justice  Dept.  Lawyer 
Conferring  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  April  9. — John  F. 
Caggett,  Department  of  Jus 
tice  attorney,  has  been  here 
conferring  with  Omaha  the- 
atre operators  on  alleged 
monopolistic  practices  of  cir- 
cuit theatres  in  Nebraska. 

He  conferred  with  Ralph 
Goldberg,  operator  of  the 
Goldberg  Theatre  Corp.  and 
Goldberg's  attorney,  I.  J. 
Dunn.  Claggett  plans  also  to 
visit  Lincoln,  Hastings,  Mc- 
Cook  and  possibly  other  out- 
state  cities,  it  was  reported. 


Para.  Plans 
56  Features 
Next  Season 


Paramount  will  make  56  features 
during  the  1939-'40  season,  the  same 
number  scheduled  by  the  company  for 
the  current  season,  Barney  Balaban, 
president,  said  Friday  prior  to  his 
departure  for  the  coast  by  train. 

The  Paramount  group  headed  for 
the  studio  included  Stanton  Griffis, 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee ; 
Edwin  L.  Weisl,  counsel  and  member 
of  the  board,  and  Leon  Xetter,  home 
office  theatre  executive.  They  were 
joined  in  Chicago  on  the  way  west 
by  Neil  F.  Agnew.  distribution  head, 
and  Robert  Gillham.  advertising  and 
publicity  director.    They  will  discuss 

(.Continued  on  page  8) 


OPERATOR  STRIKE 
SETTLEMENT  MADE 


NBC  Won't  Allow 
Industry  to  Censor 
Film  News  Scripts 

Los  Angeles,  April  9. — Don  E. 
Gilman,  west  coast  division  manager 
of  NBC,  exercised  over  a  report  that 
radio  would  permit  the  film  industry 
to  censor  film  news  used  by  network 
commentators,  today  flatly  denied  that 
his  network  has  agreed  to  permit  cen- 
sorship of  scripts. 

The  denial  was  prompted  by  various 
reports  here  that  the  three  nation- 
wide networks,  NBC,  CBS  and  Mu- 
tual, have  agreed  with  studios  and 
the  Association  of  Motion  Picture 
Producers  to  permit  a  studio  commit- 
tee to  review  scripts  prior  to  broad- 
casts. 

Gilman  said :  "Any  statement  that 
XBC  and  the  producers'  association 
have  reached  an  agreement  on  censor- 
ship of  radio  commentator  material  is 
absolutely  false.  XBC  allows  no  one 
to  pass  on  the  acceptability  of  its  ma- 
terial. We  might  consult  with  others 
in  an  effort  to  promote  industrial  har- 
mony but  any  exception  to  those  re- 
sults would  be  carried  out  only  by  the 
XBC  and  no  one  else." 

Donald  W.  Thornburg,  CBS  west- 
ern division  head,  also  denied  the  cen- 
sorship report. 

Association  of  Motion  Picture  Pro- 
ducers' officers  here  said  they  knew 
nothing  of  the  purported  agreement. 


James  Roosevelt  Says  He 
Hopes  to  Stay  in  Pictures 


James  Roosevelt,  vice-president  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  hopes  to  stay 
in  the  film  business  a  long  time,  he 
said  before  sailing  Friday  on  the 
Queen  Mary. 

Roosevelt  was  affable  with  inter- 
viewers and  photographers  who 
trouped  after  him  down  the  gangplank. 
Towering  in  front  of  the  procession, 
he  held  the  arm  of  his  wife  on  one 
side  and  of  his  grandmother,  Mrs. 
Sara  Delano  Roosevelt,  mother  of 
the  President,  on  the  other.  Lynn 
Farnol  and  Al  Margolies  of  United 
Artists  barred  the  door  of  his  cabin 
t<>  outsiders  while  "the  press''  filed  in. 

Jimmy's  kin  sat  to  one  side  while 
reporters  shot  question  after  question 
at  him.  He  answered  all  readily,  and 
with  the  Roosevelt  smile. 

"I'm  through  with  politics,"  he  said. 


"Why?"  he  was  asked. 

"Well,  I  can't  be  in  both  business 
and  politics  at  the  same  time,"  was 
his  rejoinder. 

"Do  you  ever  plan  to  return  to  poli- 
tics ?" 

"I  have  to  work  for  a  living,  unfor- 
tunately." 

"Do  you  intend  to  stay  in  picture 
business?" 

"Yes,  I  like  it  and  I  hope  to  stay  in 
film  business  as  long  as  they'll  have 
me."  Roosevelt  replied. 

"Do  you  plan  to  stay  in  the  business 
just  long  enough  to  make  enough 
money  to  go  back  into  politics?"  one 
reporter  persisted. 

"Xot  necessarily,"  he  said. 

Roosevelt  explained  the  purpose  of 
his  trip  was  to  attend  the  London  pre- 
(Coutinued  on  page  8) 


Unions  Yield  to  U.  S.; 
Obtain  15%  Wage 
Increase 


Home  office  and  exchange  projec- 
tionists in  the  metropolitan  New  York 
area  who  have  been  on  strike  since 
March  27,  returned  to  work  this  morn- 
ing. The  strike  is  over.  It  lasted  12 
days.  Strikers  have  been  granted  a 
15  percent  wage  increase. 

These  terms  run  until  September, 
1940.  They  are  retroactive  from 
September,  1937.  Peace  is  thus  as- 
sured for  another  17  months. 

The  new  scale  is  $87.50  weekly. 

Negotiations  for  settlement  moved 
swiftly  beginning  Friday  when  Local 
306,  the  projectionists'  union  and  its 
parent  body,  the  I.A.T.S.E.  yielded 
to  the  opinion  of  the  Department  of 
Justice.  The  queston  of  the  distrib- 
utors' delivery  of  product  to  non- 
I.A.T.S.E.  theatres  in  greater  New 
York  and  northern  Xew  Jersey  was 
withdrawn  and  it  was  no  longer  an 
issue.  The  strike  questions  were 
thus  reduced  mainly  to  those  of  wages 
and  hours  for  the  60-odd  men  involved. 

The  retroactive  provision  of  the 
new  agreement  which  will  be  drawn 
today  does  not  affect  all  of  the  com- 
panies alike.  Some  of  the  major  dis- 
tributors had  been  paying  higher 
wages  to  their  home  office  and  ex- 
change boothmen,  on  the  grounds 
that    the    existing    general  10-year 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Sir  Victor  Wilson 
Quits  Australia  Post 

Sydney,  April  9. — Sir  Victor  Wil- 
son, after  occupying  the  post  of  presi- 
dent of  the  Motion  Picture  Distribu- 
tors' Association  of  Australia  since 
the  inception  of  the  organization  13 
years  ago,  has  resigned.  He  will 
leave  at  the  end  of  his  term  in  June. 
Members  of  the  group  include  the 
heads  of  the  eight  companies  distrib- 
uting American  product  in  Australia. 

"Suez,"  the  20th  Century-Fox  film, 
started  at  the  Regent  here  with  a  first 
week's  gross  which  established  a  nine- 
year  record. 

Charles  E.  Munro,  managing  direc- 
tor of  Hoyts  Theatres,  at  the  annual 
banquet  of  the  47  Club,  blamed  dis- 
tributors for  alleged  lack  of  considera- 
tion of  the  rights  of  exhibitors.  He 
stated  that  exhibitors  would  press  for 
further  relief  in  the  matter  of  rentals 
unless  the  distributors  reached  satis- 
factory terms. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  10,  1939 


Raf  tery,  Muller  Quiz 
Put  Off  to  April  13 


The  Government  again  sought  in 
vain  on  Friday  to  obtain  information 
concerning  the  financial  structure  and 
condition  of  United  Artists  Corp.  in 
the  continued  examination  of  Harry 
J.  Muller,  treasurer  and  controller  of 
United  Artists,  and  Edward  C.  Raf- 
tery,  its  secretary  and  general  coun- 
sel. Raftery,  in  testifying,  also  re- 
fused to  reveal  in  response  to  ques- 
tions of  Robert  L.  Wright,  special 
assistant  Attorney-General,  whether 
the  majors  made  it  a  practice  of  join- 
ing together  in  settling  numerous 
anti-trust  suits  brought  by  exhibitors. 

Examinations  of  Muller  and  Raf- 
tery, which  are  preliminary  steps  in 
the  Government's  anti-trust  suit,  were 
adjourned  to  April  13  for  continua- 
tion. Information  was  sought  as  to 
all  anti-trust  suits  brought  against  the 
majors  since  1930.  In  addition,  at 
Wright's  request,  a  copy  of  Samuel 
Goldwyn's  distribution  contract  with 
United  Artists  was  given  to  the  Gov- 
ernment for  study.  Balance  of  the  ex- 
amination was  confined  to  going  over 
the  ground  covered  on  Thursday  con- 
cerning the  history  and  set-up  of  the 
company. 


Moe  Silver  Conducts 
Quarterly  Zone  Meet 

Albany,  April  9. — At  the  quarterly 
meeting  of  executives  and  managers  of 
the  New  York  State  zone  called  by 
M.  A.  Silver,  Warner  zone  chief, 
Harry  Goldberg,  national  advertising 
director,  addressed  the  meeting.  Joseph 
Bernhard,  operating  head  of  Warner 
Bros,  theatres  who  was  to  attend  had 
to  cancel  plans  in  order  to  attend 
studio  conferences. 

The  district  managers  and  managers 
discussed  plans  for  boosting  box  office 
receipts  and  attended  a  special  show- 
ing of  "Dark  Victory,"  and  several 
Vitaphone  shorts  including  "Sons  of 
Liberty." 

Silver  addressed  the  group  on  gen- 
eral operating  problems. 

Among  those  attending  the  session 
were :  District  Managers,  Charles  A. 
Smakwitz  and  Ralph  Crabill ;  Max 
Friedman,  Joe  Weinstein,  Jim  Faugh- 
man,  Leo  Drexler  and  Jules  Curley  of 
the  local  office.  Also,  managers  Andy 
Roy,  Strand ;  Bob  Rosenthal,  Ritz ;  Al 
LaFlamme,  Madison ;  Eddie  Selette, 
the  Albany ;  Leo  Rosen,  Troy ;  Jack 
Swarthout,  the  American ;  Sid  Som- 
mers,  Lincoln,  Troy ;  Bill  Haynes, 
Stanley ;  Murray  Lafayette,  Avon ; 
Jack  Breslin,  Utica ;  Bill  Leggiero, 
Keeney ;  Mel  Conhaim,  Regent,  El- 
mira ;  Al  Beckerich,  the  Palace,  James- 
town ;  Ralph  Booth,  New  Family, 
Batavia;  F.  M.  Westfall,  the  Haven, 
Olean ;  C.  L.  Hollister,  the  Babcock, 
Wellsville ;  Dalton  Burgett,  the  Capi- 
tol, Dunkirk;  Al  Newhal,  the  Majestic 
Hornell ;  Jimmy  Macris,  ,  the  Diana, 
Medina. 


O'Connor  to  Coast 

John  J.  O'Connor,  RKO  theatre 
head,  and  Mrs.  O'Connor  left  for  the 
coast  by  train  Friday  to  be  gone 
several  weeks.  O'Connor  will  inspect 
the  company's  west  coast  operations 
and  will  be  on  hand  when  Charles 
Koerner  takes  over  as  west  coast  op- 
erating head.  Koerner,  former  New- 
England  operating  head  for  RKO, 
replaces  Jack  Gross  who  recently 
joined  the  Universal  studio  staff. 


«  Purely  Personal  ► 


JOHN  JOSEPH,  Universal  adver- 
*J  tising  and  publicity  director,  leaves 
for  the  coast  today.  Matthew  Fox, 
vice-president,  left  New  York  Friday, 
returning  to  the  studio. 

• 

Edward  G.  Robinson  left  the  coast 
for  New  York  on  Friday  and  will  at- 
tend the  opening  of  "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy"  at  the  Strand  later  this 
month. 

• 

Jack    Kuhne,    Movietone  News 
aviation  editor,    is    due    soon  from 
South  America  where  he  has  been 
conducting  a  camera  expedition. 
• 

Charles  Cohen  of  Howard 
Dietz's  publicity  staff  at  M-G-M  and 
Mrs.  Cohen  today  celebrate  their 
first  wedding  anniversary. 

• 

Bernard  Freeman,  M-G-M's  man- 
aging director  in  Australia,  has  ar- 
rived for  conferences  with  Arthur 
M.  Loew.  He  plans  to  remain  a 
month. 

• 

Lou  Miller,  assistant  to  Cresson 
Smith,  RKO  southern  and  western 
sales  manager,  left  over  the  weekend 
for  a  brief  vaction  in  Pinehurst. 
• 

Mervin  W.  Palmer  has  been 
named  service  manager  at  the  New 
York  branch  of  Bell  &  Howell.  J.  H. 
Booth,  general  sales  manager,  is  on 
a  southern  business  and  vacation  trip. 
• 

Robert  Montgomery  was  in  town 
for  a  few  days  from  Washington  be- 
fore returning  to  the  coast.  He  stayed 
at  the  Waldorf. 

• 

Mona  Barrie  sailed  Saturday  for 
Europe  on  the  Paris. 


ABE  MONTAGUE,  Columbia  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  left  Saturday 
for  a  vacation  in  Bermuda. 

• 

Deems  Taylor,  supervising  the 
music  on  Walt  Disney's  next  fea- 
ture, returned  Friday  from  Philadel- 
phia where  he  worked  with  Leopold 
Stokowski.  Roy  Disney  and  Paul 
Buchanan  were  with  him. 

• 

Phil   Isley,  president   of  South- 
western   Theatres,    Inc.,    at  Tulsa, 
Okla.,  has  left  with  Mrs.  Isley  for  a 
two-week  vacation  in  Hollywood. 
• 

Frank  Moscato  of  the  Isle  Theatre 
Circuit  and  Mrs.  Moscato  have  left 
for  a  three-week  vacation  in  Miami 
and  Havana. 

• 

Joe  Linz  of  RKO's  pressbook  de- 
partment has  left  for  Dallas  where 
he  will  spend  his  vaction  with  his 
parents. 

• 

Austin  Keough,  Paramount  vice- 
president  and  secretary,  leaves  New 
York  tomorrow  for  a  vacation  of  sev- 
eral weeks. 

• 

iRviNte  Maas,  20th  Century-Fox 
foreign  service  director,  is  recuperat- 
ing at  St.  Vincent's  Hospital  from  a 
recent  operation. 

• 

William  Melniker,  in  charge  of 
Loew's  foreign  theatres,  is  in  Mt.  Si- 
nai Hospital  for  observation. 

• 

Lew  Ayres  sailed  on  the  Queen 
Mary  Friday  for  a  European  vaca- 
tion. 

• 

Walt  Disney  arrived  in  New  York 
Friday. 


Picture  Industry  Paid  15 
Of  20  Top  1937  Salaries 


Washington,  April  9. — Film  in- 
dustry paid  15  of  the  top  20  salaries 
earned  during  1937.  The  figures  were 
revealed  when  the  House  Ways  and 
Means  Committee  issued  its  annual 
statement  of  salaries  and  bonuses  in 
excess  of  $50,000  received  during  the 
year  from  corporate  employers. 

Louis  B.  Mayer,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  production  for  Loew's  and 
M-G-M,  received  the  highest  salary 
in  the  country  with  $1,296,503.  This 
total  consisted  of  $1,161,753  from 
Loew's  and  $134,750  from  M-G-M. 
J.  Robert  Rubin,  Loew's  vice-presi- 
dent, received  the  second  largest  sal- 
ary, with  $651,123.  In  fourth  place 
was  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  Loew's 
president,  with  $489,602. 

Of  the  63  salaries  over  $200,000,  40 
were  paid  by  the  film  industry.  This 
is  the  last  year  that  all  salaries  over 
$50,000  will  be  listed.  An  amendment 
to  the  law  will  limit  disclosures  in 
the  future  to  those  over  $75,000. 

Salaries  Listed 

Leading  salaries  paid  to  industry 
executives  are  listed  alphabetically  as 
follows : 

Neil  Agnew,  $52,000;  Edward  L. 
Alperson,  $85,995;  David  Bernstein, 
$382,816;    Major    Edward  Bowes, 


$427,817;  J.  E.  Brulatour,  $140,000; 
Joseph  Bernhard,  $97,500;  Pandro 
Berman,  $251,347;  Charles  Chaplin, 
$106,000;  Jack  Cohen,  $104,240;  R. 
H.  Cochrane,  $91,825;  J.  Cheever 
Cowdin,  $76,620;  Ned  E.  Depinet, 
$94,761;  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  $51,500; 
Walt  Disney,  $39,750;  Howard 
Dietz,  $52,500;  Sam  Eckman,  Jr., 
$77,926;  S.  Charles  Einfeld,  $71,500; 
Y.  Frank  Freeman,  $59,800;  Dr.  A. 
H.  Giannini,  $78,000;  William  Goetz, 
$104,000;  Samuel  Goldwyn,  $189,000; 
Ben  Goetz,  $56,000;  Sam  Katz,  $156,- 
000 ;  Arthur  W.  Kelly,  $65,000 ;  Her- 
bert T.  Kalmus,  $60,000;  Natalie 
Kalmus,  $56,775 ;  Harry  Kalmine, 
$55,303;  Sidney  R.  Kent,  $179,220; 
Robert  Kane,  $52,000;  Al  Lichtman, 
$147,000;  Arthur  M.  Loew,  $356,074; 
F.  W.  Lovejoy,  $111,791  ;  Mervin 
LeRoy,  $153,517;  Jules  Levy,  $51,400; 
William  LeBaron,  $183,929;  Ernst 
Lubitsch,  $260,833. 

Also,  Harold  Lloyd,  $52,166;  Ed- 
ward J.  Mannix,  $130,000;  W.  C. 
Michel,  $52,000 ;  Abe  Montague,  $58,- 
033;  Sam  E.  Morris,  $78,000;  C.  C. 
Moskowitz,  $86,657 ;  Floyd  B.  Odium, 
$100,000  ;  Harry  Rapf,  $104,000  ;  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  $50,900;  J.  Robert 
Rubin,  $754,254;  Hal  Roach,  $104,- 
000;   George  J.   Schaefer,  $78,000; 


Loew's  Duals  Stunt 
Utilizes  500  Twins 

About  500  twins  convened  in  Loew's 
Ziegfeld  Saturday  in  an  extensive  ex- 
ploitation campaign  conducted  by 
Oscar  Doob  for  the  forthcoming  "big- 
ger and  better"  double  feature  bills  at 
Loew  houses.  Posters  around  town 
publicizing  the  fact  that  "Loew's  is 
expecting  twins,"  preceding  the  event, 
gained  considerable  attention  in  the 
newspapers  and  aroused  city-wide  in- 
terest. 

New  York's  leading  hotels  partici- 
pated. Waiters  competed  in  a  walking 
race  burdened  with  a  tray  contai  * 
an  empty  champagne  bottle,  a  sJj  I 
platter  and  glasses.  Traffic  on  Sijr  I 
Avenue  from  53rd  Street  to  5^ih 
Street  was  completely  shut  off  for 
the  contest.  Award  was  presented  to 
the  winner  by  Judy  Garland,  juvenile 
M-G-M  star. 


Sam  Sax,  $51,750;  Joseph  M. 
Schenck,  $118,000;  Gradwell  L. 
Sears,  $71,500;  A.  Schneider,  $84,- 
801;  David  O.  Selznick,  $203,500; 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  $242,054;  Spyros 
Skouras,  $346,054;  Edward  Small, 
$62,648;  Herman  Starr,  $52,000;  A. 
W.  Smith,  Jr.,  $52,000 ;  Walter  Wan- 
ger,  $130,000;  Albert  Warner,  $98,- 
333;  H.  M.  Warner,  $115,833;  J.  L. 
Warner,  $137.333 ;  Hal  Wallis,  $208,- 
083;  Jacob  Wilk,  $52,000;  Sol  M. 
Wurtzel,  $182,583 ;  H.  J.  Yates,  $75,- 
180;  Darryl  Zanuck,  $260,000;  Adolph 
Zukor,  $210,479. 


Leading  Radio  Salaries 

Leading  salaries  of  radio  and  ad- 
vertising agencies'  executives  were: 
David  Sarnoff,  $83,333;  James  G. 
Harbord,  $56,000;  W.  B.  Ryan,  and 
W.  B.  Ruthrauff,  $50,000  each; 
John  U.  Reber,  $80,140;  Stanley 
Resor,  $90,140;  Chester  J.  LaRoche, 
$59,500 ;  A.  and  Raymond  Rubicam, 
$67,500  each;  E.  R.  Goble,  $60,000; 
Alfred  J.  McCosker,  $88,363 ;  George 
W.  Hill,  $380,967;  Bruce  Barton, 
$56,750;  Roy  S.  Durstine,  $84,116; 
Chester  Bowles,  $52,000 ;  Atherton  W. 
Hobler,  $54,000;  William  S.  Paley 
$190,196;  Edward  Klauber,  $80,540; 
William  C.  Esty,  $100,000 ;  J.  Stirling 
Getchell,  $60,000;  Arthur  Kudner 
$102,481  ;  Phil  Lennon,  $80,000 ;  Phil- 
lips H.  Lord,  $65,000 ;  H.  K.  McCann, 
$54,983;  Major  Lenox  R.  Lohr 
$50,239. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia.  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  — ;  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  j 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign,  Single  copies  10c. 


FOUR  DAUGHTERS 
THE  SISTERS 
BROTHER  RAT 
ANGELS  WITH  DIRTY  FACES 
DEVIL'S  ISLAND 
DAWN  PATROL 
THEY  MADE  ME  A  CRIMINAL 
WINGS  OF  THE  NAVY 
BLACKWELL'S  ISLAND 
YES,  MY  DARLING  DAUGHTER 
THE  OKLAHOMA  KID 


"NOT  MERELY  TO 
MAKE  MOTION  PIC- 
TURES, BUT  TO  MAKE 
MOTION  PICTURES  AS 
FINE  AS  THEY  CAN 
BE  MADE." 

The  production  principle  of 
Warner  Bros.  Studio  as  stated 
by  Gradwell  L.  Sears 


DARK  VICTORY 
YOU  CAN  T  GET  AWAY  WITH  MURDER 
DODGE  CITY 

CONFESSIONS  OF  A  NAZI  SPY 
NAUGHTY  BUT  NICE 
FAMILY  REUNION 
THE  KID  FROM  KOKOMO 
JUAREZ 

I  AM  NOT  AFRAID 
HELL'S  KITCHEN 
THE  DEVIL  ON  WHEELS 
EACH  DAWN  I  DIE 


Film  Daily  says  "this  is  one  of  the 
sure  Academy  Award  winner.  The 
Artist — Bette  Davis.  We  are  ready 
of  the  Really  Great  motion  pictures." 
office  smash;  a  picture  which 
achievement  of  contemporary 
its  entire  length."  Boxoffice 
with  returns."  Jay  Emanuel 
If  Warner  Bros,  had 
ize  on  Davis'  winning  the 
made  a  better  vehicle." 
a  "made-to-marquee- 
Review  said  "Bette  Davis 
pendent  Exhibitors'  Film 
best  boxoffice  bets." 


greatest  emotional  heart  dramas  ever  produced  and  a 
outstanding  performance  of  motion  picture's  No.  One 
to  stake  our  reputation  that  Dark  Victory  ranks  as  one 
Hollywood  Reporter  wrote,  "this  is  a  magnificent  box- 
rises  head  and  shoulders  above  any  screen 
life;  it  will  hold  audiences  breathless  during 
stated,  "Dark  Victory  will  rock  boxoffices 
Publications  said  "this  is  a  top  grosser, 
deliberately  made  a  picture  just  to  capital- 
Academy  Award  they  could  not  have 
Motion  Picture  Herald  heralded  this  as 
measure  attraction!"  Showmen's  Trade 
tops  all  her  previous  roles"  Inde- 
Bulletin  said,  "one  of  the  season's 
Wrote  FilmCurb:"Bette'sbest!" 


Soul  is  a  portrayal  unapproached  in  ex- 
cellence, even  by  this  two-time  winner 
of  the  Academy's  'Best  Actress'  award 


A  Production  Noteworthy  for  the 
Remarkable  Supporting  Performances  of 

George  Brent 
Humphrey  Bogart 

The  important  new  screen  personality 

GERALDINE  FITZGERALD 
RONALD  REAGAN  .  HENRY  TRAVERS 
CORA  WITHERSPOON 

Filmed  under  the  inspired  direction  of 

EDMUND  GOULDING 

Screen  Play  by  Casey  Robinson  •  From  the  Play 
by  George  Emerson  Brewer,  Jr.  and  Bertram  Bloch 
Music  by  Max  Steiner  •  A  First  National  Picture 

WArner  Bros. 

Producers 


RADIO  CITY 
MUSIC  HALL 
REMIERE  APRIL  20 


Monday.  April   10,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Bloom  Asks  Honors 
For  Alexander  Bell 

Washington.  April  9. — 
Congressman  Sol  Bloom  of 
New  York  feels  Alexander 
Graham  Bell,  inventor  of  the 
telephone  and  subject  of  a 
current  20th  Century-Fox 
him,  has  been  slighted  in 
the  honors  passed  out  by 
Congress.  So  he  plans  to  in- 
troduce a  resolution  provid- 
ing for  a  Congressional  medal 
in  Bell's  honor  for  his  con- 
tribution to  science.  The 
idea  was  suggested  by 
^Charles  E.  McCarthy's  ex- 
ploitation department  at 
20th  Century-Fox. 


 —  ■  :  

Warner  Kansas  City 
Staff  Is  Realigned 

Kansas  City,  April  9. — Several 
Kchanges  in  the  local  W  arner  sales 
llforce  have  been  made  by  Kud  Loh- 
[reuz,  district  manager.  W.  Don 
li  Woods  will  cover  Kansas  City  and 
northern  Missouri.  Russell  Borg,  for- 
Imcr  branch  manager  for  Grand  Na- 
ntional,  takes  over  northern  Kansas. 
■Harry  Gaffney  has  been  brought  in 
I from  the  northern  Missouri  territory 
■to  act  as  head  booker  and  office  man- 
lager. 

M.  J.  Hogan,  office  manger,  is  re- 
turning to  the  auditing  department  in 
|Xew  York.  Ted  Hammers  of  the 
■booking  department  becomes  Gaff- 
Iney's  assistant.  Hiram  Parks,  who 
Itraveled  northern  Kansas,  has  been 
I  transferred  to  Dallas.  Hob  McCon- 
Incll.  who  formerly  covered  the  south- 
lern  Missouri  territory,  has  resigned. 


,  Richey  to  Take  Part 
In  Censor  Symposium 

H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor 
relations  for  RKO,  will  take  part  in 

,  a  symposium  on  film  censorship  in 
(  olumbus  on  April  17.  Together  with 
Dr.  Edgar  Dale,  head  of  the  Bureau 
of  Education  at  Ohio  State  Univer- 

.  sity,  he  will  oppose  censorship,  and  a 
third  speaker  will  take  the  opposite 
side. 

The  meeting  is  sponsored  by  the 
B'nai  R'rith  Hillel  Foundation  and 
w  till  be  broadcast  for  one  hour  over 
\\  COL. 


Columbia  Acquires 
Third  Spanish  Film 

Columbia  has  acquired  the  Spanish 
talking  picture  "Los  Enredos  de 
I'ape."  a  Zacarias  production,  J.  A. 
McConville,  foreign  manager,  dis- 
closed Friday.  Columbia  now  has 
three  such  pictures  for  release  in 
Latin  America,  McConville  said.  The 
others  are  the  Grovas-Oro  produc- 
tion, "Cada  Loca  Con  Su  Tema"  and 
''Luces  de  Barriada,"  a  Jose  Luis 
I'ueno  production  which  is  nearing 
completion. 


Warner  Banquet  Held 

Mansfield,  O.,  April  9. — Annual 
Warner  Club  banquet,  with  85  local 
employes  in  attendence,  was  held  at 
the  Moose  Temple.  Frank  Harpster, 
district  manager,  was  the  principal 
>peaker,  with  William  Dworski  as 
toastmaster. 


RKO  Spends  $500,000 
On' Way'  and' Lincoln' 

Acquisition  by  RKO  of  the  screen 
rights  to  the  play,  "The  American 
Way,"  now  showing  at  the  Center 
Theatre  and  the  rights  to  "Abe  Lin- 
coln of  Illinois,"  which  is  still  in 
negotiation,  will  involve  an  investment 
by  tine  film  company  of  approximately 
$500,000.  The  purchase  price  of  the 
former  play  includes  Max  Gordon's 
interest  in  it. 

Purchase  of  the  screen  rights  to 
"The  American  Way"  was  concluded 
on  Friday  by  George  J.  Schaefer  for 
RKO  and  Harry  M.  Goetz  for  Max 
Gordon  Plays  and  Pictures  Corp. 
RKO  will  fi  nance  and  the?  latter  will 
produce  the  picture. 

Production  will  be  the  first  under 
the  recently  closed  deal  by  which 
Goetz  and  Gordon,  will  produce  two 
pictures  a  year  for  two  years  for 
RKO  distribution.  Additional  pictures 
may  be  made  but  without  RKO's  par- 
ticipation in  their  financing. 

Set  Parley  April  15 
On  Okla.  Buying  Pool 

Oklahoma  Citv,  April  9. — A  steer- 
ing committee  of  an  independent  ex- 
hibitors' buying  pool  will  meet  here 
on  April  15  to  work  out  details  of  the 
organization  and  lay  the  groundwork 
for  a  meeting  in  May.  Its  aim,  ac- 
cording to  sponsors  of  the  organiza- 
tion, is  to  get  independent  film  rental 
prices  down  to  the  level  paid  by  the 
large  circuits  in  Oklahoma.  George 
Sumner  is  acting  as  contact  man  for 
the  exhibitors. 

Sunday  Film  Bill  Is 
Passed  in  Delaware 

Dover,  Del.,  April  9. — Measure  to 
legalize  Sunday  films  in  Wilmington 
has  passed  the  Delaware  House  by 
a  vote  of  20  to  14  and  awaits  the 
action  of  Gov.  Richard  C.  McMul- 
len.  It  had  passed  the  Senate  pre- 
viously. 

The  bill,  applying  to  cities  of  more 
than  25,000  population,  affects  only 
Wilmington,  and  provides  for  Sunday 
films  after  2  P.  M.  if  a  referendum 
in  Wilmington  approves. 


Lourie  Sets  $250,000 
20th-Fox  Deal,  Sails 

Harry  Lourie,  Johannesburg  mer- 
chant, sailed  Friday  on  the  Queen 
Mary  after  arranging  for  $250,000 
from  20th  Century-Fox  for  a  theatre 
site  in  the  South  African  metropolis. 

The  theatre  will  be  built  by  the 
Lourie  interests  and  will  be  operated 
under  20th  Century-Fox  supervision. 


Pathe  Film  Proxies  Out 

Pathe  Film  Corp.  forwarded  proxies 
to  stockholders  over  the  weekend  in 
anticipation  of  the  annual  meeting  on 
April  25.  Purpose  of  the  meeting  is 
the  election  of  directors  and  designa- 
tion of  auditors.  Proxies  named  as 
directors  Henry  J.  Guild,  Allan  P. 
Kirby,  Robert  M.  McKinney,  Louis 
Phillips,  Charles  A.  Stone.  Kenneth 
M.  Young  and  Robert  R.  Young.  All 
nominees,  except  Kirby  and  K.  M. 
Young,  are  present  directors.  Price, 
Waterhouse  &  Co.  have  been  nomi- 
nated as  auditors. 


'Flashing  Stream' 
At  Biltmore  Tonight 

"The  Flashing  Stream,"  by 
Charles  Morgan,  opens  to- 
night at  the  Biltmore.  It  is 
a  story  of  scientists  experi- 
menting with  an  aerial  tor- 
pedo on  an  island  in  the  mid- 
Atlantic.  One  of  the  scien- 
tists is  a  woman.  The  play 
previously  enjoyed  a  five- 
month  run  in  London.  Victor 
Payne  Jennings  is  the  pro- 
ducer and  George  Cross,  the 
director.  Included  in  the  cast 
are  Godfrey  Tearle,  Margaret 
Rawlings,  Felix  Aylmer,  An- 
thony Ireland,  Patricia  God- 
frey and  others. 


Browne  Will  Give 
Depositions  in  Suit 

Hollywood,  April  9. — George  E. 
Browne,  International  president  of 
[.A.T.S.E.,  will  make  two  depositions 
Wednesday  in  Chicago  for  use  in  suits 
on  file  in  Los  Angeles  Superior  Court 
in  the  dispute  between  the  alliance  and 
Studio  Technicians  Local  37.  Mo- 
tions  for  taking  the  depositions  were 
granted  today. 

International  seeks  a  deposition  for 
its  suit  to  obtain  a  permanent  re- 
straint order  against  ousted  officers 
of  the  Local.  Counsel  for  the  de- 
posed officers  of  the  Local  want  the 
deposition  for  use  in  their  suit  for 
$1,000,000  allegedly  collected  by  In- 
ternational. Trial  of  both  cases  was 
set  for  Thursday. 

Iowa  Senate  Passes 
Fight  Film  Measure 

Des  Moines,  April  9. — Measure  to 
allow  the  showing  of  prize  fight  films 
in  Iowa  theatres  has  been  passed  by 
the  Senate.  The  bill  passed  the 
House  some  time  ago  and  will  become 
a  law  with  the  governor's  signature. 

Tlie  Senate  has  passed  and  sent 
to  the  House  a  compromise  chain 
store  tax  bill,  after  excluding  an 
amendment  which  would  have  in- 
eluded  theatres  in  the  bill. 


Rogers  Event  June  6 

Claremore,  Okla.,  April  9. — The 
Will  Rogers  Memorial  Commission 
has  set  June  6  as  the  date  for  the  un- 
veiling of  Jo  Davidson's  statue  of  the 
cowboy  philosopher  in  the  rotunda  of 
the  national  capitol.  Will  Rogers, 
Jr.,  attended  his  first  meeting  as  a 
member  of  the  commission. 


'Bluebird*  for  Temple 

Hollywood,  April  9. — Maurice 
Maeterlinck's  "The  Bluebird"  has 
been  bought  and  will  be  produced  in 
color  for  20th  Century-Fox  with  Shir- 
ley Temple  as  star. 


Col.  Votes  Dividend 

Columbia  board  of  directors  has  de- 
clared the  regular  quarterly  dividend 
of  68%  cents  a  share  on  the  $2.75 
convertible  preferred,  payable  May 
15  to  holders  of  record  May  1. 


Warners  Lease  Two 

Warners  have  leased  the  Steuben 
and  Strand  in  Hornell,  N.  Y.,  and 
will  begin  operation  of  the  houses 
April  15. 


7 

S.M.P.E.  to  Discuss 
New  Standardization 

Activities  in  the  field  of  standardiza- 
tion of  theatre  sound  equipment  will 
be  reported  on  at  the  S.M.P.E.  Holly- 
wood convention,  April  17  to  21,  by 
J.  G.  Hilliard,  chairman  of  the 
Academy  research  committee  on  stand- 
ardization. 

Efforts  to  achieve  a  uniform  excel- 
lency of  sound  reproduction  to  keep 
pace  with  advances  in  sound  recording 
at  the  studios  have  been  under  \Vay  in 
the  industry  for  several  years  past. 

Other  subjects  of  more  than  scien- 
tific interest  to  the  trade  which  will  be 
reported  on  at  the  convention  include 
a  review  of  the  foreign  film  markets 
by  Nate  D.  Golden  of  the  M.  P. 
Division  of  the  Department  of  Com- 
merce ;  educational  films,  by  A.  Sha- 
piro, Chicago,  and  a  television  sym- 
posium. Reporting  on  the  latter  will 
be  A.  N.  Goldsmith,  chairman  of  the 
S.M.P.E.  television  committee  ;  H.  R. 
Lubcke  of  Don  Lee  Broadcasting  Co. ; 
E.  W.  Engstrom  and  G.  L.  Beers  of 
RCA,  who  will  discuss  the  application 
of  motion  pictures  to  television ;  P.  T. 
Goldmark  of  Columbia  Broadcasting ; 
A.  W.  Protzman  and  W.  C.  Eddy  of 
NBC,  and  A.  B.  DuMont  of  Passaic, 
N.  J. 

Legion  Approves  4 
Of  Six  New  Pictures 

National  Legion  of  Decency  ap- 
proved four  of  six  films  reviewed 
this  week  and  found  two  objectionable 
in  part.  The  films  and  their  classi- 
fications follow:  Class  A-l,  Unob- 
jectionable for  General  Patronage — 
"Du  Gamal,  Du  Fria,"  "The  Night 
Riders,"  "Streets  of  New  York"  and 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham 
Bell."  Class  B,  Objectionable  in 
Part — "A  Man  and  his  Wife"  and 
"On  Trial." 

Gets  $9,000  Verdict 
Against  Time,  Inc. 

A  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  jury  on 
Friday  awarded  a  verdict  of  $9,000 
to  Harrison  Forman,  cameraman, 
against  Time,  Inc.,  after  a  week's 
trial  before  Justice  Timothy  A. 
Leary.  Forman  claimed  that  in  1937 
he  had  been  asked  by  Time  to  shoot 
newsreels  of  the  war  in  China,  and 
that  he  was  to  be  paid  for  all  film 
footage  shipped  to  Time. 

Monogram  Drive  to 
Precede  Convention 

Monogram  has  set  "George  W. 
Weeks  Week"  as  part  of  the  pre-con- 
vention  sales  drive.  The  tribute  to 
the  Monograms  sales  chief  will  be 
participated  in  by  the  company's  37 
exchanges  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada.  The  week  will  be  from 
April  17  to  22. 

The  company's  sales  convention  is 
scheduled  for  the  Drake  Hotel,  Chi- 
cago, May  4-6. 


Plagiarism  Suit  Plea 

Application  to  examine  Darryl  Za- 
nuck  and  Samuel  G.  Engel  before  trial 
will  be  made  today  to  the  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  by  Stephen  Tamas,  plain- 
tiff in  a  plagiarism  suit  against  20th 
Century-Fox  Film  Corp.  He  claims 
his  scenario,  "Stowaway,"  was  plag- 
iarized in  the  film  starring  Shirley 
Temple. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  10,  1939 


Strike  Settlement 
Is  Made  as  Unions 
Yield  to  Government 


(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

I.A.T.S.E.  contract  made  three  years 
ago  covers  these  men. 

It  was  declared  by  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  in  an  opinion  rendered 
to  union  officials,  following  an  inves- 
tigation of  the  strike  issues,  that  the 
union  demands  to  cease  delivery  of 
films  to  non-I.A.T.S.E.  theatres  was 
an  attempt  to  restrain  trade  and  inter- 
state commerce  and  therefore  in  viola- 
tion of  the  anti-trust  laws. 

A  threatened  spread  of  the  strike  to 
the  backroom  help  or  white  collar  ex- 
change employes  and  to  theatres  gen- 
erally has  been  averted. 

The  union  had  asked  for  a  reduc- 
tion in  employment  time  from  38 
hours  weekly  to  35  and  a  10  per  cent 
wage  increase,  retroactive  to  Septem- 
ber, 1937,  from  the  present  scale  of 
$76.50. 

Union  Merger  Suggested 

Another  method  which  has  been 
proposed  to  care  for  the  local  306's 
desire  to  put  its  men  in  those  theatres 
which  presently  do  not  have  I.A.T.S.E. 
projectionists  is  to  merge  the  inde- 
pendent Empire  State  union  with  306. 

Officials  of  Empire  State,  whose 
members  are  employed  by  Cocalis  and 
Century  circuits,  have  taken  the  posi- 
tion that  any  effort  to  coerce  their 
members  into  joining  Local  306  would 
violate  the  State  labor  relations  law. 
They  point  out  that  the  projectionists 
employed  by  the  two  circuits  have 
designated  Empire  State  as  their  col- 
lective bargaining  agency. 

Despite  this,  informal  conferences 
have  been  held  recently  for  merger  of 
both  unions.  Although  306  is  reported 
to  be  willing  to  absorb  the  employed 
operators,  the  conferences,  which  have 
been  going  on  intermittently  for  sev- 
eral years,  have  been  deadlocked  on 
the  question  of  membership  for  Empire 
State's  unemployed.  A  recent  get- 
together  proposed  a  compromise  to 
place  the  unemployed  on  a  preferred 
list  for  membership  in  306,  but  Empire 
State  has  rejected  this. 

May  Invite  Basson 

At  a  general  membership  meeting  of 
Empire  last  Tuesday,  a  motion  to 
invite  Joseph  Basson,  president  of  306, 
and  a  representative  of  the  I.A.T.S.E. 
to  address  an  Empire  meeting  was 
tabled  because  of  the  small  number 
present.  However,  sentiment  is  re- 
ported friendly,  and  the  next  meeting 
on  April  18  is  expected  to  extend  the 
invitation. 

Sales  managers  met  with  Basson 
Friday  afternoon  to  discuss  revisions 
of  the  wages  and  hours  schedules  for 
home  office  and  exchange  projec- 
tionist room  operators.  Wages  and 
hours  issue  for  these  employes  was 
first  broached  to  the  distributors  after 
the  strike  was  under  way.  Sales 
executives  say  that  at  no  time  did  they 
have  any  objection  to  discussing  a  re- 
vision of  the  scales  with  the  union  and 
accepted  the  first  bid  to  do  so  which 
was  made  to  them. 

Local  306  came  to  the  aid  of  Ex- 
change Employes'  Union,  Local  B51, 
Friday  when  checks  of  $15  each  were 
issued  to  the  back  room  employes  who 
refused  to  walk  through  the  pro- 
jectionists' picket  lines.  Average  pay 
of  these  employes  is  about  $24  weekly. 


1938  Loss  of  $50,900 
For  Met.  Playhouses 

Metropolitan  Playhouses,  Inc.,  com- 
prising 120  theatres  in  the  metropoli- 
tan Naw  York  area,  shows  a  loss  of 
$50,900  for  1938.  This  compares  with 
a  net  income  of  $98,317  for  1937. 

Two  items  account  in  part  for  the 
difference  between  the  two  years. 
These  are  $56,727  in  losses  from  non- 
recoverable  value  of  a  surrendered 
lease  and  related  notes  receivable,  and 
$40,257  as  provision  for  impairment  of 
investments  in  and  receivables  from 
affiliated  companies,  of  which  $11,830 
is  applicable  to  the  year  before.  Also, 
dividends  from  affiliated  companies 
were  less. 

Rent  income  for  1938  was  $3,591,070, 
a  drop  of  only  $18,000  from  1937.  Ex- 
penses increased,  however. 

Cash  on  hand  and  in  banks  totaled 
$313,727  as  of  Jan.  31,  compared  with 
$250,323  a  year  before.  Theatres  in  the 
Metropolitan  Playhouses  group  are 
operated  by  Randforce  in  Brooklyn 
and  by  Skouras  in  Manhattan,  New 
Jersey,  Westchester  and  on  Long 
Island.  Joseph  M.  Schenck  is  presi- 
dent of  the  corporation. 


Paramount  Plans  56 
Features  Next  Year 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

new  season  production  plans  with  Y. 
Frank  Freeman  and  William  LeBaron 
at  the  studio. 

Balaban  said  that  the  studio  was  in 
its  most  favorable  position  in  years 
on  the  basis  of  completed  pictures 
and  that  the  position  was  being  con- 
stantly improved.  He  said  that  by 
June  20  half  of  the  company's  more 
important  product  for  the  new  season 
will  be  completed  or  in  work. 
^Annual  sales  convention  plans  will 
be  completed  by  Agnew  within  the 
next  week  or  two.  Indications  are 
that  two  regional  meetings  will  be 
held  some  time  next  month. 

Balaban  said  that  the  Paramount 
board  of  directors  had  approved  the 
proposed  industry  trade  practice  pro- 
gram and  that  the  company,  conse- 
quently, was  prepared  to  accept  the 
plan  "without  any  qualification  what- 
ever." 

The  home  office  group  will  be  at 
the  studio  until  the  end  of  the  month 
and  will  stop  off  at  Omaha,  April 
27,  to  attend  the  premiere  of  "Union 
Pacific,"  on   their  way  back. 

Freeman  will  continue  on  his  studio 
assignment  indefinitely,  Balaban  said. 


Steuer  Will  Transfer 
Goldwyn  Suit  to  Del. 

Max  D.  Steuer,  counsel  for  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  on  Saturday  stated  that  the 
voluntary  withdrawal  of  Sam  Gold- 
wyn's  suit  against  United  Artists  was 
a  tactical  step  to  ensure  the  earliest 
possible  trial  and  decision  in  Gold- 
wyn's  dispute  with  United  Artists. 

Identical  complaints,  Steuer  said, 
will  be  filed  as  soon  as  possible  in  the 
Federal  Court  in  Delaware,  home 
state  of  United  Artists,  and  trial  will 
be  ensured  by  June  or  July. 

Suit  had  been  brought  in  the  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court,  he  said,  because  the 
calendar  would  have  permitted  a  hear- 
ing in  May,  but  the  transfer  to  the 
U.  S.  District  Court  meant  a  delay 
of  a  year  to  a  year  and  a  half. 


Music  Hall  Facade 
Beats  Easter  Parade 

Radio  City  Music  Hall  ap 
peared  in  its  new  Easter 
bonnet,  at  least  it  appeared, 
two  days  ahead  of  the  Ave- 
nue paraders.  On  Friday  it 
was  that  the  last  string 
piece  was  carted  away  mark- 
ing completion  of  the  demol- 
ition of  the  "L"  in  front  of 
the  RKO  building. 

The  unsightly  Sixth  Ave- 
nue line  structure  had  hid- 
den the  Hall  entrance  since 
its  opening  in  December, 
1932. 


Salesmen  to  Obtain 
Field  Views  on  Pact 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ing  their  individual  sentiments  soon. 

W.  F.  Crockett  is  president  of  the 
Virginia  unit. 

Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  will  vote  early  next  week, 
while  the  New  York  I.T.O.A.  is 
scheduled  to  take  action  Wednesday. 

Not  all  of  the  M.P.T.O.A.  regional 
units  favor  the  pact  in  its  entirety. 
For  instance,  in  St.  Louis,  they  are 
insisting  on  higher  cancellation  rates. 

No  Action  by  Allied 

National  Allied  has  taken  no  action 
on  approving  the  pact  on  grounds 
that  it  is  not  complete  from  that  or- 
ganization's point  of  view,  especially 
from  the  standpoint  of  arbitration,  and 
and  that  it  fails  to  offer  independents 
sufficient  relief. 

John  Rugar,  president  of  Inter- 
mountain  Theatres  Association,  Salt 
Lake  City,  has  indicated  his  approval 
of  the  pact  if  it  affords  adequate  re- 
lief to  independents,  otherwise  he  aims 
to  support  legislative  action. 

The  distributors'  group  feels  that 
the  code  is  the  most  constructive  move 
made  to  date  for  settlement  of  indus- 
try disputes  and  that  it  should  be 
given  a  fair  trial.  The  program  is 
regarded  as  without  precedent,  and 
therefore  changes  in  the  procedure 
may  be  found  necessary  after  it  is  put 
in  operation. 

The  maximum  of  20  per  cent  can- 
cellation in  the  code  is  the  most  the 
distributors  feel  they  can  offer  in 
view  of  reduced  markets  abroad. 

"We  welcome  constructive  sugges- 
tions from  everyone  on  arbitration 
procedure,"  said  W.  F.  Rodgers,  a 
member  of  the  committee.  "All  we 
ask  is  that  the  boards  be  equally 
balanced.  We  don't  want  more  or 
less. 

"What  we  would  like  to  see  is,  if 
the  exhibitors  approve  of  the  code, 
that  the  arbitration  boards  be  set  up 
as  soon  as  feasible.  They  are  the 
only  tribunals  offered  for  adjustment 
of  just  industry  complaints,  and  the 
complainant  can  be  absolutely  sure  of 
a  fair  hearing  as  heVwill  appoint  his 
own  representative  on  the  board." 


N.  J.  Allied  Meet  Set 

Allied  of  New  Jersey  will  hold  a 
statewide  meeting  at  the  Roger  Smith 
Hotel.  New  Brunswick,  next  Thurs- 
day. This  will  be  an  all-day  meeting, 
and  members  of  the  industry  are  in- 
vited to  a  dinner  in  the  evening. 


FRENCH  'SNOW  WHITE'  OPENS 

Walt  Disney's  "Blanche-Neige  et  les 
Sept  Nains"  had  its  American  pre- 
miere Saturday  at  the  Waldorf. 


Republic  Session  to 
Open  Wednesday 

Republic  Pictures  will  hold  it- 
Eastern  regional  sales  meeting  at  the 
Park  Central  Hotel  here  on  Wednes- 
day and  Thursday.  This  is  the  second 
of  four  meetings,  the  first  having 
been  held  in  Houston  Friday  and 
Saturday. 

The  third  meeting  will  be  held  in 
Chicago,  April  20  and  21.  The  fourth 
is  scheduled  for  San  Francisco,  AyOjk 
25  and  26.  V  il 

Home  office  delegates  to  the  sessions 
here  are  H.  J.  Yates,  J.  R.  Grainger, 
G.  C.  Schaefer,  Al  Adams,  Harry 
LaVine,  Jack  Bellman,  William  Saal, 
J.  O'Connell,  A.  L.  Pindat,  Charles 
Jones,  D.  Whalen  and  H.  Marcus. 

Other  delegates  are : 

New  York:  Herman  Gluckman, 
Morris  Epstein,  Sidney  Picker,  D. 
Sohmer,  D.  Black,  A.  Ricci,  R.  Fan- 
non. 

Boston :  Herman  Rifkin,  M.  E. 
Morey,  Sam  Seletsky,  Jack  Davis,  Al 
Fecke,  Jack  Jennings,  Charles  Wilson. 

Cleveland :  Nat  Lefton,  Al  Lefton, 
S.  P.  Gorrel,  L.  Mishkind,  Al  Gregg, 
F.  Belles,  J.  Lefton,  R.  Norton. 

Pittsburgh :  J.  H.  Alexander,  Sam 
Fineberg,  George  Collins,  E.  Wheeler, 
L.  Hanna. 

Washington :  Sam  Flax,  Jake  Flax, 
Morris  Oletsky,  Ed  Martin. 

Philadelphia :  Max  Gillis,  F.  Hani- 
merman,  G.  Fishman,  W.  Karrer,  N. 
Silverman,  J.  Lewis. 

Cincinnati :  Max  Margoils,  C. 
Kirby,  C.  Weinberg,  C.  Littman. 

New  Haven :  George  Rabinowitz. 

Toronto :  A.  M.  Perry,  Paul  Nath- 
anson. 


Jim  Roosevelt  Hopes 
To  Stay  in  Pictures 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
miere  of  "Wuthering  Heights"  and  he 
probably  will  attend  the  Paris  opening, 
but  plans  to  spend  most  of  his  time  in 
the  British  capital  and  will  sail  for 
New  York  on  the  Normandic  April 
26. 

He  said  he  will  see  Alexander 
Korda,  London  Films  producer,  but 
had  nothing  in  particular  to  discuss 
with  him.  Goldwyn  has  asked  Roose- 
velt to  give  Korda  "his  best  re- 
gards." he  added. 

Before    closing   the   interview,  he 
said  he  knew  nothing  of  reports  that 
he  was  to  be  associate  producer  of  a 
Marine  Corps  picture  Goldwyn  is  plan-  ' 
ning. 

"I've  got  to  learn  more  about  the 
business  before  becoming  a  producer," 
he  said. 


Hearing  on  Neely 
Bill  Nears  Windup 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

first  to  testify  today.  His  statement 
was  interrupted  last  Thursday  by  ar- 
rangements for  adjournment  of  the 
hearing.  Schaefer  is  scheduled  to  follow 
Rodgers.  Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president,  also  is  scheduled  to  speak 
against  the  bill  today. 

C.  C.  Pettijohn,  M.P.P.D.A.  coun- 
sel, will  sum  up  the  industry's  opposi- 
tion to  the  measure,  and  Abram  F. 
Myers,  Allied  States  general  counsel, 
is  expected  to  deliver  the  summation 
for  the  bill's  proponents. 


it's 


MIDNIGHT 


at 


on 


! 


BROADWAY 


time  to  turn 


CROWDS  JAM  PARAMOUNT 

at  8:30  opening  of  yearns  hit  comedy! 


sun      44  A  TREAT... one  of  the  gayest  and  con- 
^tiat  ttie  ^^gtit'1^      sistently  amusing  films  to  come  out 

said  about"  *  of  Ho||y  wood  this  season ! " 


Datly  News 


44  SCINTILLATING  COMEDY  .  .  .  will 


yjhat  ttie  ^.^igtit11^  bring  new  light  and  plenty  of  laughter 
said  about  —  tlfe  corner  of  BYway  and  43rd  St." 


44  A  WINNER  with  more  than  its  share 
of  hilarious  situations.  Unusually 
diverting." 


Vfhatthe  ofSice 

said  s^out 


"THE  BIGGEST 
week-day  opening 
in  six  months!" 


CPicturcs  «* 


Don 


4(1 


fa-  m°Un«  Picture 


Monday,  April  10.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Managers,  Cashiers 
Compete  on  Program 

Trans-Lux  theatre  mana- 
gers will  pit  their  wits 
against  girl  cashiers  on  the 
'Battle  of  the  Sexes"  pro- 
gram tomorrow  night  over 
the  NBC-Red  network  at  9 
P.  M.  The  managers  are 
Weber  Schoening  of  the 
Broadway  Newsreel  The- 
atre, New  York;  Roland 
Robbins  of  the  Trans-Lux, 
Washington;  Harry  Jor- 
dan of  Philadelphia  and 
Alfred  Lander  of  Boston, 
^rhe  girls  include  Margaret 
Bickel,  cashier  at  Madison 
Avenue  and  60th  St.;  Myrtle 
Candee,  cashier  at  the 
Broadway  newsreel ;  Gene 
Scott,  cashier  at  Lexington 
Ave.  and  52nd  St.,  and  Frances 
Davis,  cashier  at  Madison 
Ave.  and  85th  St. 


WHK  Joins  Mutual 
Facsimile  Network 

WHK,  Cleveland  will  join  the 
Mutual  facsimile  network  this  week, 
increasing  the  total  of  participating 
stations  in  the  network  to  four.  WGN, 
Chicago;  WOR,  New  York  and, 
WLW,  Cincinnati,  are  the  charter 
members  of  the  experimental  chain. 

It  is  over  the  Mutual  facsimile 
network  that  20th  Century- Fox.  re- 
cently effected  a  tieup  for  broad- 
casting of  news  exploiting  the  film 
company's  product. 


Ottawa  Won't  Give 
CBC  Staff  Salaries 

Ottawa,  April  9.  —  The  Radio 
Committee  of  Parliament  has  decided 
against  making  public  records  of  sal- 
aries and  expense  accounts  of  employ- 
ees of  the  Canadian  Broadcasting 
Company.  It  was  agreed  that  publica- 
tion might  cause  dissension  anions 
CBC  employees.  CBC  officials  told  the 
committee  it  would  willingly  provide 
the  information  privately  to  its  mem- 
bers. 


Would  Limit  Disc  Use 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  April  9.— Bill  to 
prevent  use  of  transcriptions  without 
the  performer's  consent  has  been  in- 
troduced in  the  state  legislature  by 
Representative  Charles  F.  Voorhees. 
Although  primarily  intended  to  pre- 
vent rebroadcasts  of  political  speeches 
without  the  candidates'  consent,  the 
bill  would  also  protect  entertainers. 
It  is  not  given  much  chance  of  passage 
here  because  legislative  leaders  believe 
it  would  interfere  with  F.C.C.  juris- 
diction. .  . 


Derby  Announcers  Set 

Hollywood,  April  9.— Ted  Husing;-- 
sports  announcer ;  Bryan  Field,  race 
expert  and  Bob  Trout  will  announce 
for  the  20th  Century-Fox  broadcast 
ot  the  Kentucky  derby  in  conjunction 
with  "Rose  of  Washington  Square." 


Renew  Williams  Show 

.  J.  B.  Williams  Co.  has  renewed 
again  Bob  Howard's  "Gliding  Swing" 
series  on  WEAF.  Renewal  is  for' 13 
weeks,  effective  April  20.  -  J.  Walter 
Thompson  is  the  agency. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

MIKE  FOSTER  of  the  CBS 
press  department  to  Canada  to 
prepare  for  the  coming  visit 
of  the  King  and  Queen  of  England. 
.  .  .  Star  Radio  has  just  signed  Jack 
Rostan  as  new  writer  on  the  "Morn- 
ing Bulletin  Board"  program.  .  .  . 
Marie  Calhoun  has  joined  the  Comp- 
ton  agency.  .  .  .  Dorothy  Kilgallen, 
they  say,  is  about  set  to  substitute 
for  Walter  Winchell  on  the  air  during 
the  summer.  .  .  .  Regina  Wallace  and 
Tom  Shirley  have  joined  the  "Al- 
drich  Family"  sketches  on  the  Kate 
Smith  show. 


WQXR  Broadcasts 
News  from  AP  Daily 

WQXR  is  now  broadcasting  new:s 
supplied  by  the  Associated  Press,  on 
five-minute  news  periods  daily  in  the 
early  morning  and  evening,  in  addi- 
tion to  special  bulletins  which  are 
broadcast  as  received. 

Station  has  just  signed  a  contract 
with  Lennen  &  Mitchell,  representing 
P.  Lorillard  &  Co.,  whereby  all  time 
signals  are  to  be  used  in  promoting 
Deities  cigarettes.  The  contract  is  for 
one  year.  Other  contracts  placed  with 
WQXR  recently  are  for  Railway  Ex- 
press Agency,  through  Caples  Co. ; 
Conti  Shampoo  through  Berrninghani, 
Castleman  &  Pierce,  and'  Packard 
Motor  Co.,  through  Young  &  Rubicam. 


'March  of  Time'  May 
Quit  Air  for  Summer 

Status  of  "March  of  Time"  again  is 
up  in  the  air,  with  Time,  Inc.,  spon- 
sorship of  the  series  ceasing  as  of  the 
program  of  April  28.  One  of  two 
possibilities  looms.  Either  Batten, 
Barton,  Durstine  <5t  Osborn,  the  agency 
handling  the  show,  will  obtain  a  sub- 
stitute sponsor,  as  in  previous  sum- 
mers, or  the  show  will  leave  the  air. 
Currentlv  it  is  heard  Fridays  from 
9  :30  to  10  P.M.  on  the  Blue  network. 


Lord  Has  New  Show 

Phillips  H.  Lord  has  written  a  new 
program  which  is  being  produced  as 
a  sustaining  series  by  NBC  over  the 
Red  network,  at  7  P.M.  This  is  the 
period  occupied  for  the  past  10  years 
by  A;mos  'n'  Andy,  who  have  moved 
over  to  CBS.  The  Lord  program  is 
a  racket-busting  show  titled  "Mr.  Dis- 
trict Attorney,"  and  will  be  broadcast 
Monday  through  Friday. 


Aldrich  in  Benny  Spot 

Aldrich  Family  sketches,  with 
Ezra  Stone,  currently  a  feature  of 
the  Kate  Smith  series,  will  serve  as 
the  .  summer  replacement  for  Jack 
Benny  and  troupe.  The  starting  date 
for  the  summer  series  is  July  2. 
Young  &  Rubicam  set  the  replace- 
ment. 


To  Sponsor  Preakness 

American  Oil  Co.  for  the  fourth 
successive  year  will  sponsor  a  descrip- 
tion' of  the  running  of  the  Preakness 
on  May  13.  Broadcast  will  be  heard 
over  split  networks-  of  NBC's  Red 
and  .  Blue,  22  stations.  Deal  was  set 
by  the  Joseph  Katz  agency.. 

 '  •v,>) 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  April  9.  —  Federal 
Communications  Commission,  has  an- 
nounced that  hearings  on  broadcasting 
applications  will  be  held,  as  follows : 

April  11:  Application  of  W.  B. 
Greenwald  for  a  1,370-kilocycle  sta- 
tion at  Topeka,  Kan.,  with  100  watts 
night,  250  watts  day. 

April  12:  Applications  of  WHMA, 
Anniston,  Ala.,  for  extension  of  time 
from  day  to  unlimited,  and  WMBR, 
Jacksonville,  for  change  of  frequency 
from  1,370  to  1,120  kilocycles  and  in- 
crease of  power  from  100  watts  night, 
250  watts  dav,  to  500  watts  night, 
1,000  watts  day. 

May  8 :  Application  of  WICA,  Ash- 
tabula, O.,  for  increase  of  power  from 
250  to  1,000  watts. 

May  12:  Applications  of  KROY, 
Sacramento,  for  extension  of  time 
from  day  to  unlimited,  and  KTSW, 
Emporia,  Kan.,  for  extension  of  time 
from  day  to  unlimited. 

May  15  :  Applications  of  The  Mouo- 
cacy  Broadcasting  Co.,  for  a  new 
1,140-kilocycle,  250-watt  daytime  sta- 
tion at  Rockville,  Md. ;  KOVC,  Val- 
ley City,  N.  D.,  for  change  of  fre- 
quency from  1,500  to  1,340  kilocycles 
and  increase  of  power  from  100  watts 
night,  250  watts  day,  to  500  watts 
night,  1,000  watts  day,  and  KGNO, 
Dodge  City,  Kan.,  for  increase  of 
power  from  250  to  500  watts. 

May  16:  Application  of  John  R. 
Pepper  for  a  new  1,310-kilocycle  sta- 
tion at  Greenville,  Miss.,  with  100 
watts  night,  250  watts  day. 

May  29 :  Applications  of  Gazette 
Co.,  for  a  1,420-kilocycle,  100-watt  sta- 
tion at  Cedar  Rapids,  la.,  and  Brown 
County  Broadcasting  Co.,  for  a  990- 
kilocycle,  1,000-watt  daytime  station  at 
Rrownwood,  Tex. 

June  1  :  Applications  of  C.  T. 
Sherer  Co.,  Inc.,  for  a  1,200-kilocycle 
station  at  Worcester,  with  100  watts 
night,  250  watts  day,  and  WJMS, 
Inc.,  for  a  1,370-kilocycle,  100-watt 
station  at  Ashland.  Wis. 

Applications  Received 

The  commission  has  received  an  ap- 
plication from  the  Las  Vegas  Broad- 
casting Co.,  for  authority  to  construct 
a  new  1,370-kilocycle  station  at  Las 
Vegas,  New,  with  100  watts  night,  250 
watts  day,  together  with  applications 
from  WOSU,  Columbus,  for  increase 
of  night  power  from  750  to  1,000 
watts ;  KVWC,  Vernon,  Tex.,  for  in- 
crease of  day  power  from  100  to  250 
watts  and  WMFR,  High  Point,  N.  C, 
for  increase  of  day  power  from  100  to 
250  watts. 

Hearings,  at  dates  to  be  set  later, 
were  ordered  on  the  applications  of 
KUTA,  Salt  Lake  City,  for  change  of 
frequency  from  1,500  to  570  kilocycles 
and  increases  of  power  from  100  to 
1,000  watts;  WSPA,  Spartanburg, 
S.  C,  for  change  of  frequency  from 
920  to  1,120  kilocycles  and  extension 
of  time  from  day  to  unlimited  with  500 
watts  night,  1,000  watts  day,  and 
KALE,  Portland,  Ore.,  for  increase  of 
day  power  from  1,000  to  5,000  watts. 

Authority  to  construct  new  broad- 
casting stations  has  been  asked  of  the 
commission  by  the  Mayflower  Broad- 
casting Corp.,  Boston,  seeking  a  1,410- 
kilocycle  station  with  500  watts  power 
at  night,  1,000  watts  day,  and  the  Sil- 
ver Crest  Theatres,  Yuma,  Ariz., 
planning  a  1,420  kilocycle,  100  watt 
station. 

The  commission  also  has  received 
applications  from  WABI,  Bangor, 
J^fe^  for  change  of  frequency  from 


Radio  Department 
At  N.  Y.  U.  In  Fall 
To  Give  Full  Course 


A  department  of  radio  will  be  es- 
tablished next  September  by  New 
York  University  in  its  Washington 
Square  College.  N.  Y.  U.,  it  is  be- 
lieved, is  the  first  liberal  arts  insti- 
tution in  the  country  to  offer  a  four- 
year  course  in  radio.  Completion  of 
the  course  will  lead  to  a  Bachelor 
of  Arts  degree. 

Robert  S.  Emerson,  assistant/in  pro- 
duction at'CBS,  will  resign  from  the 
network  to  head  the  new  department. 

At  the  same  time  as  the  course  is 
established,  N.  Y.  U.  will  coordinate 
all  its  radio  activities  into  the  Uni- 
versity Radio  Workshop  which  will 
include  in  the  curriculum  courses  for 
adults  offered  by  the  Division  of  Gen- 
eral Education,  and  broadcasts  by 
students  and  faculty. 

The  University's  Division  of  Gen- 
eral Education  will  offer  the  sixth 
annual  summer  session  in  the  Radio 
Workshop  from  July  5  to  August  12. 
Teaching  staff  for  the  adult  courses 
will  include  Doug  Coulter,  assistant 
program  director  of  CBS;  Phil 
Cohen,  production  director  of  the 
radio  division  of  the  U.  S.  Office  of 
Education;  Earle  McGill,  CBS  cast- 
ing director;  Max  Wyle,  CBS  direc- 
tor of  scripts  and  continuity,  and 
Robert  Emerson. 

Special  lecturers  will  include  Alice 
V.  Keliher  of  the  Progressive  Educa- 
tion Association ;  Professor  Lyman 
Bryson,  CBS  Adult  Education  Board; 
Paul  White,  CBS  director  of  news 
and  special  events;  Nila  Mack,  CBS 
director  of  children's  programs ;  Felix 
Greene  of  the  British  Broadcasting 
Corp.  and  Arthur  Pryor,  Jr.,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  radio.  Batten, 
Barton,  Durstine  &  Osborn. 


AP  News  on  WBNX 

WBNX  has  subscribed  to  the  regu- 
lar Associated  Press  news  service 
airing  five-minute  periods  Monday 
through  Friday  daily,  augmented  by 
sp'ecial  bulletins  throughout  the  day 
and  evening.  Supplementary  periods 
will  be  presented  in  various  foreign 
languages. 


'Hit  Parade'  Renewed 

American  Tobacco  Co.,  sponsoring 
"Hit  Parade"  over  CBS,  has  renewed 
the  program  for  another  13  weeks 
over  100  CBS  stations.  Program, 
placed  by  Lord  &  Thomas,'  is-  broad- 
cast Saturdays  from  10  to  10:45 
P.M.  The  renewal  is  effeeti.ve/May  6. 

WHO  Musician  Weds 

Des  Moines,  April  9. — Boris  Radoff, 
WHO  musician,  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Elza  Bierring  Rains  of  Des  Moines  at 
the  home  of  the  bride's  parents  here 
on  April  7. 


1,200  to  560  kilocycles  and  an  increase 
in  power  from  100  watts  night,  250 
watts  day,  to  1,000  watts,  and  from 
WTNJ,  Trenton,  for  an  increase  in 
day  power  from  500  to  1,000  watts. 

Application  for  authority  to  con- 
struct a  new  1,420-kilocycle,  100-watt 
station  has  been  filed  by  Samuel  M. 
Emison,  Vincennes,  Ind.,  and  WCOV, 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  for  extension  of 
time  from  day  to  unlimited. 


"HAVE  BOOKED  THIS  PICTURE  EOR  WORLD 
PREMIER- CERTAIN  OE  A  SMASH  BOX- OEEICE 

ATTRACTION'1    STATE  THEATRE»  HARTF0RD»  Beginning  April  12th 

i  mm  all  8«dios'«f'unlc"P-      ,  l3-.  ■■■ 

[9  Em.       m  ,18^^-±ii^i--^  


- —        sr»NO»»o  Tint  ^ 

1.^;,  ...  r^^-^  blvD  •  H0LL.00D  C«U 

ti   RAY  JOHNSTON  MONOGRAM       UD.0  SPELLMAN   I N 

,   HAVE  JUST  SCREENED  JACKIE  C OOP        ND  ^  ^ 

■  STREETS  OF  NEW  YORK"  .  ^  HAVE  « IS  P  0  TQ 

t  n„T  AFTER  SCREENING  IT   I     «  pfRCENTAGE  DEAL. 

BUY  CONTRACT  BUT  AFTt                   VOLlT10N  TO  A  PERCENT 

WHftT,n  ,  i  FOR  ITS  *0RLNDnP;0EpM  £TR0  COMPENSATE  YOU  PROPERLY 
BOOKED  THIS  AND  HOPE  10  ^  PRODUCED. 

HARTFORD .  CONN.  ON  *  R  L  M  COMPANY  HAS 

FOR  THE  FINE  EFFORT  tou  djSSi 


STATE  THEATRE 


YOUR  "aoy  of  rof  siree is"  star 

JACKIE  COOPER 

THE  NEW  JUVENILE  SENSATION 

MARTIN  SPELLMAN 


WITH 

MARJORIE  REYNOLDS 
DICK  PURCELL 


— — — - — —   — — — — — — — —  ■B^BHafiBSBfeAk.  i^bBb^^B^^^^BMIIBp!.    ~% 

STREETS  of  NEW  YORK 


Directed  by  WILLIAM  NIGH  •  Screenplay  and  Original  Story  by  ROBERT  D.  ANDREWS 

A  MONOGRAM  PICTURE 


DO  NC     "  REMOVE* 

MOTION  PICTURl 

DAILY 


45.  NO.  69 


NEW  YORK.  TUESDAY,  APRIL  11,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


11  Exchange 
Strik  ers  Are 
Back  at  Work 


"ontract  Date  Only  Snag 
To  Signing  Agreement 


New  York  exchange  operations 
ere  back  to  normal  yesterday  follow- 
ing the  settlement  late  Saturday  night 
S  the  I.A.T.S.E.-Local  306  projec- 
on  room  strike  which  for  a  time  held 
>ie  threat  of  a  stoppage  of  film  deliv- 
Hes  and  a  shutdown  of  theatres  in 
le  metropolitan  area. 
Sunday  shipping  room  crews  re- 
orted  for  work  at  all  exchanges  im- 
lediately  following  the  settlement  and 
1  regular  employes  were  hack  on 
;ie  job  yesterday.  Net  result  of  the 
rike  was  a  15  per  cent  wage  increase 
proactive  to  September,  1937,  in  in- 
;.ances  where  such  an  increase  had 
ot  been  put  into  effect  earlier  by  the 
istributors.  The  union  lost  its  de- 
mand that  two  operators  be  hired  for 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


]asey  Says  No  Plan 
Is  Set  for  Musicians 

Xo  definite  proposal  for  large-scale 
eemployment  of  musicians  in  theatres 
ir  elsewhere  in  the  industry  has  been 
eveloped  by  heads  of  the  large  com- 
panies for  submission  to  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Musicians'  execu- 
fve  committee  at  the  joint  meeting 
cheduled    for    next    Monday,  Pat 
"asey,  producers'  labor  representative, 
aid  yesterday.    Casey  arrived  from 
ne  coast  by  train.  Sunday. 

Company  heads  will  meet  the  Fed- 
ration  committee,  headed  by  Joseph 
I.  Weber,  president,  in  Casey's  office 
3r  their  third  conference  on  the  re- 
mployment  subject.  Several  pro- 
osals  have  been  advanced  heretofore 
■lit  were  rejected  because  of  consid- 
rations  of  practicability. 

Casey  said  no  date  has  been  set  yet 
3r  negotiations  under  the  studio  basic 
greement  but  that  one  may  be  re- 
uested  bv  the  internationals  in  the 
ear  future.  Presumably,  I.A.T.S.E. 
.ould  not  participate  in  the  negotia- 
ions  this  year  after  having  granted 
ocal  autonomy  to  its  studio  locals, 
ut  if  administration  of  the  interna- 
ional  was  again  centralized  the  I.  A. 
rould  undoubtedly  reenter  the  agree- 
nent.  An  extension  of  the  pact  be- 
ond  1941,  its  expiration  date,  may 
■e  discussed  this  year  with  the  Team- 
iters  &  Chauffeurs,  Musicians,  Car- 
penters &  Joiners  and  Electricians  in- 
ernationals,  which  are  still  parties  to 
lie  agreement. 


Head  of  Florida  U. 
Quits  Neely  Support 

Washington,  April  10. — 
Senator  Smith  read  into  the 
record  of  the  Neely  Bill  hear 
ings  today  a  telegram  from 
president  of  the  Univer- 
sity of  Florida  to  Senator 
Pepper,  withdrawing  his  sup- 
port of  the  Neelv  Bill  voiced 
in  1936. 

"I  since  have  observed  im- 
provement in  motion  pictures 
and  have  learned  more  about 
their  economic  and  social 
problems,"  the  telegram  ex- 
plained, stating  that  while 
the  university  head  still  sup- 
ported its  objectives  he  does 
not  think  that  legislation  is 
the  best  way  of  achieving 
them. 


Reich  Newspapers 
Forbidden  to  Refer 
To  American  Films 


Berlin,  April  10. — German  news- 
papers have  been  forbidden  by  the 
Ministry  of  Propaganda  henceforth  to 
mention  American  films.  Recently 
also,  the  Hamburg  Tageblatt  in  a  full- 
page  article  suggested  a  Nazi  boycott 
of  American  films  in  retaliation  for 
the  making  of  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy."  by  Warner  Bros. 

In  the  same  article  it  was  suggested 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Columbia  Will  Hold 
3  Regionals,  First 
Atlantic  City  May  8 


Columbia  will  hold  three  regional 
sales  conventions  this  year,  in  At- 
lantic City,  May  8-11;  Chicago,  May 
14-16,  and  Los  Angeles,  May  20-22. 
Abe  Montague,  general  sales  manager, 
will  preside  at  all  three  sessions. 

Jack  Colin  and  all  home  office  ex- 
ecutives will  be  present  at  the  Atlan- 
tic City  meeting,  including  Rube  Jack- 
ter,  Louis  Astor,  Louis  Weinberg  and 
Max  Weisfeldt.  The  delegation  to  the 
first  session  will  be  headed  by  New 
York  Division  Manager  Nat  Cohn, 
Mideast  Division  Manager  Sam  Ga- 
lanty  and  Southern  Division  Mana- 
ger Sam  Moscow.  The  Chicago  group 
will  be  led  by  Phil  Dunas,  Midwest 
division  manager,  and  Carl  Shalit, 
central  division  manager,  while  Je- 
rome Safron,  western  division  mana- 
ger, will  lead  the  Los  Angeles  unit. 

Home  office  executives,  branch 
managers  and  the  entire  sales  force 
in  each  territory  will  be  present  at  the 
respective  meetings.  Branch  groups 
to  attend  each  session  include :  Atlan- 
tic City — Albany,  Boston,  Buffalo, 
New  Haven,  New  York,  Philadel- 
phia, Cincinnati,  Cleveland,  Pitts- 
burgh, Washington,  Atlanta,  Char- 
lotte, Dallas,  Memphis,  Oklahoma 
City,  New  Orleans.  Chicago — Chi- 
cago, Des  Moines,  Milwaukee,  Minne- 
apolis, Omaha,  Detroit,  Indianapo- 
lis, Kansas  City,  St.  Louis.  Los  An- 
geles— Los  Angeles,  Denver,  Portland, 
Salt  Lake  City,  Seattle,  San  Fran- 
cisco. 


Industry  Mobilizes  Forces 
For  Greater  New  York  Fund 


By  SAM  SHAIN 

Under  leadership  of  J.  Robert 
Rubin,  vice-president  and  general 
counsel  of  Loew's,  and  an  amplified 
general  committee 
of  20  or  more  in- 
dustry chieftains, 
every  branch  of 
the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  in 
New  York  City 
will  be  mobilized 
for  service  in  the 
coming  $10,000,- 
000  drive  of  the 
Greater  New 
York  Fund.  This 
Greater  New 
York  Fund,  with 
exception  of  the 
Red  Cross  is  the 
only  all-inclusive 
and  non-sectarian  public  charity.  It 


J.   It.  Rubin 


serves  all  groups  even  the  Salvation 
Army  to  some  degree.  The  drive 
starts  April  17  and  runs  until  May  30. 

The  industry  will  be  segregated 
craft  by  craft  and  division  by  division, 
from  production  to  distribution,  and 
exhibition  to  newsreels,  talent,  ac- 
cessory, equipment  and  purchasing 
groups.  A  comprehensive  and  inten- 
sive concentration  of  all  these  units 
is  planned.  From  plans  which  were 
tentatively  discussed  at  an  organ- 
ization meeting  held  in  Rubin's  offices 
in  the  Loew  Building  yesterday,  it  was 
learned  this  year's  effort  by  the  in- 
dustry will  surpass  anything  hitherto- 
fore  attempted. 

The  goal  this  year  is  $100,000, 
whereas  last  year,  the  industry  raised 
$65,000. 

In  addition  to  a  general  committee 
a  special  committee  of  exhibitors  will 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Schaef  er  Sees 
Neely  Bill  as. 
Raising  Costs 

Tells  Senators  It  Would 
Ruin  Some  Exhibitors 


George  Schaefer 


Washington,  April  10.  —  In- 
creased selling  costs  which  would 
follow  enactment  of  the  Neely  Bill 
would  put  some 
independent  ex- 
hibitors out  of 
business  and 
would  require 
higher  theatre 
admission  prices 
at  all  theatres, 
George  J. 
Schaefer,  RKO 
president,  told 
members  of  the 
Senate  Inter- 
state Commerce 
subcommittee 
with  the  re- 
sumption of 
hearings  on  the 
anti-block  booking  bill  today. 

Schaefer  said  that  it  would  be  ex- 
tremely difficult  for  producing  and  dis- 
tributing companies  to  comply  with 
the  provisions  of  the  bill  without  in- 
creasing costs  to  exhibitors  and  the 
public.  In  its  basically  hampering  ef- 
fect on  the  industry  because  of  its 
"impractical  and  restrictive  provi- 
sions," it  is  "fundamentally  more 
vicious  and  offers  a  far  greater  threat 
to  the  prosperity  of  the  industry" 
than  all  of  the  legislation  and  restric- 
tive provisions  operating  against 
American  firms  in  foreign  markets,  he 
said. 

Schaefer  denied  that  the  bill  would 
result  in  better  community  selec- 
tion of  films  or,  in  fact,  would  alter 
the  source  material  of  films  in  any 
respect.    He  pointed  out  that  authors 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


McCausland  to  Join 
Edington  Coast  Unit 

A.  H.  McCausland,  trustee's  repre- 
sentative in  RKO  for  the  past  six 
years,  will  become  associated  with 
Famous  Productions,  Harry  Eding- 
ton's  new  organization  at  Universal  in 
about  two  weeks.  He  will  make  his 
headquarters  on  the  coast. 

McCausland's  resignation  from 
Irving  Trust  Co.,  reorganization  trus- 
tee of  RKO,  becomes  effective  on  the 
return  to  New  York  from  the  coast 
some  time  next  week  of  Andrew 
Christiansen,  Irving  Trust  official, 
who  will  take  over  McCausland's 
RKO  work  pending  consummation  of 
the  company's  reorganization. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  I  I,  193' 


Producer  Subsidy 
Planned  in  Mexico 


A  $1,000,000  subsidy  to  producers 
operating  in  Mexico  is  planned  by  the 
Mexican  Government,  as  a  means  of 
encouraging  local  production,  accord- 
ing to  William  Rowland,  producer  of 
Spanish  language  films  for  RKO. 

Rowland  returned  last  week  from 
Mexico  City  where  he  made  "Per- 
fida,"  his  second  film  in  a  series  of 
four  which  RKO  will  distribute  in 
Latin  America  and  Spain.  He  plans 
to  leave  next  weekend  to  start  his 
third  film,  "Love  at  Ninety  De- 
grees." 

Columbia,  Universal,  United  Art- 
ists and  RKO  are  sponsoring  pro- 
duction in  Mexico.  Actual  contracts 
by  these  companies  are  for  22  films, 
which  is  equivalent  to  almost  one- 
half  the  total  production  in  Mexico 
City,  and  within  a  year  75  per  cent 
of  all  production  will  be  subsidized  by 
the  American  major  companies,  Row- 
land believes. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


I.T.O.A.  Approves 
Practice  Program 

New  York  I.T.O.A.  approves  the 
proposed  trade  practice  code,  feeling 
that  it  is  a  forward  step.  However, 
officials  find  certain  errors  in  the  draft 
submitted  by  the  distributors,  but  believe 
that  they  can  be  ironed  out  in  future 
conferences. 

The  code  will  be  discussed  at  a 
membership  meeting  at  the  Astor  to- 
morrow, and  out  of  the  meeting  is 
expected  to  come  suggestions  which 
will  be  submitted  to  the  distributors' 
committee.  Some  of  these  sugges- 
tions will  be  on  arbitration. 

Harry  Brandt,  president  of  the 
I.T.O.A.,  participated  in  the  trade 
practice  negotiations  with  the  dis- 
tributors. 


Denver  Group  Endorses 

Denver,  April  10. — Theatre  owners 
and  Managers  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tain Region,  while  not  favoring  the 
trade  practice  code  in  its  entirety  in 
the  present  form,  today  went  on 
record  as  heartily  endorsing  "an  equi- 
table form  of  arbitration." 

The  organization  feels  that  the  pro- 
posed code  is  a  step  in  the  right  direc- 
tion and  believes  the  differences  can 
be  worked  out  by  amicable  agree- 
ment, preferred  to  Government  inter- 
ference. 

Charles  R.  Gilmour  is  president  of 
the  unit,  one  of  the  unaffiliated  re- 
gional groups  which  negotiated  the 
code  with  the  distributors. 


TAMES  P.  CUNNINGHAM,  news 
«J  editor  of  Motion  Picture  Herald,  is 
the  father  of  a  boy,  born  Sunday  to 
Mrs.  Cunningham  at  the  West- 
chester Square  Hospital,  Bronx. 
• 

Walter  Branson,  captain  of  the 
George  Schaefer  RKO  sales  drive, 
and  Harry  Michalson,  short  subject 
sales  manager,  will  be  in  Buffalo  to- 
day, near  the  end  of  their  tour  of  38 
exchanges.  They  will  be  in  Albany 
tomorrow,  Boston  and  New  Haven 
Thursday  and  back  at  the  home  office 
Friday. 

Eddie  Aaron,  assistant  to  W.  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  general  sales  man- 
ager, drove  his  family  to  Rochester, 
Minn.,  where  is  mother-in-law  is  ill, 
and  he  is  now  traveling  in  the  south. 
• 

Robert  M.  Weitman,  manager  of 
the  Paramount,  is  confined  to  his  home 
with  the  grippe.    He  is  not  expected 
to  return  to  his  desk  for  several  days. 
• 

Frank  Gillmore,  president  of  the 
Associated  Actors  &  Artistes  of 
America,  and  Paul  Turner,  counsel, 
returned  yesterday  from  a  three-week 
vacation  trip. 

• 

Mannie  Reiner  of  Lou  Lifton's 
advertising  staff  at  Monogram  is  in 
Hartford  handling  the  premiere  of 
"Streets  of  New  York"  at  the  State 
tomorrow  night. 

• 

Fred  Astaire  and  Ginger  Rogers 
have  been  awarded  the  National  Dance 
League  honors  for  the  best  film  on 
the  American  dance,  for  their  work  in 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle." 

• 

Sam  Sax  will  leave  Chicago  today 
for  the  coast  to  confer  with  Warner 
executives  on  his  new  duties  as  head 
of  Warners'  Teddington  studios  in 
England.  Sax  sails  for  his  new  post 
April  21. 


BEN  KALMENSON,  western  and 
southern  sales  manager  for  War- 
ners, returned  yesterday  from  a  two- 
weeks'  business  trip  to  the  west  and 
south. 

• 

Peter  Rosian,  former  Grand  Na- 
tional branch  manager  in  Cleveland, 
has  joined  the  Universal  sales  staff 
there. 

• 

Tyree  Dillard,  M-G-M  attorney, 
returned  yesterday  from  a  three-week 
rest  at  his  home  in  Greensboro,  N.  C. 
• 

Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew-Poli  di- 
vision manager  in  New  Haven,  and 
Mrs.  Shaw  have  returned  from  a 
southern  cruise. 

• 

John  Urbansky,  Cleveland  theatre 
owner,  and  Mrs.  Urbansky  have  left 
for  a  California  vacation. 

• 

B.  E.  Hoffman,  Warner  Theatre 
executive  in  New  Haven,  has  returned 
from  a  cruise. 

• 

Leo  Schapiro,  Lou  Moscow, 
Barney  Pitkin,  Leo  Bonoff,  Mrs. 
Philip  Saslau  are  the  New  Haven 
film  folk  who  have  returned  from 
Miami  vacations. 

• 

Lya  Lys  arrives  from  the  coast  next 
Monday  for  personal  appearances  at 
the  Strand  with  the  opening  of  "Con- 
fessions of  a  Nazi  Spy"  in  which  she 
is  featured. 

• 

Joseph  Bern  hard,  general  manager 
of  Warner  Theatres,  returned  to  his 
desk  yesterday  after  a  week  of  con- 
ferences on  the  coast. 

• 

Anna  May  Wong  will  arrive  in 
New  York  by  train  on  Thursday,  and 
will  return  to  the  coast  April  28. 
• 

Louis  Patz  has  resigned  from 
Grand  National  in  Cleveland,  to  join 
National  Screen  Service  in  Milwaukee. 


New  Foreign  Polic) 
Outlined  by  Balaban 


Hollywood,  April  10. — Paramoun 
will  concentrate  on  the  foreign  mar 
kets  which  are  still  open  to  Holly 
wood  product  as  a  means  of  offsetting 
the  loss  of  Central  European  outlets! 
Barney   Balaban,   president,   said  oi  | 
his   arrival   here   today  from 
York.  He  intimated  that  special  P.  I 
duction  attention  would  be  given  thy 
entertainment  preferences  of  the  Latii 
American  and  British  markets. 

Balaban  said  the  policy  would  re 
lieve  the  company  of  the  necessity  o 
reducing  its  new  season  productioi 
schedule.  He  was  accompanied  her 
by  six  home  office  executives  who  wil 
participate  in  new  season  productioi 
conferences  during  the  next  two  o  I 
three  weeks. 

Arriving  with  Balaban  were  Stantoi 
Griffis,  Neil  Agnew,  Edwin  Weisl; 
Leon  Netter,  Russell  Holman  am 
Robert  M.  Gillham.  Conferences  with 
William  Le  Baron  and  Y.  Fran" 
Freeman  got  under  way  immediate!) 


Laurel  Rejoins  Roach 
On  Loan  to  Morros 

Hollywood,  April  10. — Stan  Lau- 
rel has  withdrawn  his  $700,000  suit 
against  Hal  Roach  and  rejoined  the 
studio  contract  list.  He  will  re- 
team  with  Oliver  Hardy  in  a  loanout 
to  Boris  Morros  in  a  remake  of  the 
French  "L'Aviateurs."  Morros  will 
set  the  release  deal  this  week  for  in- 
dependent production.  Harry  Lang- 
don,  who  supplanted  Laurel  during 
the  contract  dispute,  will  remain  on 
the  Roach  roster  as  a  writer. 


Turrou  to  Speak  at 
Ampa  Meet  Thursday 

Leon  Turrou,  former  G-man,  on 
whose  investigations  Warner  based 
its  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy,"  is 
scheduled  to  speak  at  the  Ampa 
luncheon  at  the  Astor  on  Thursday. 
Joe  Penner  also  is  on  the  program. 

Election  of  officers  will  take  place, 
with  Paul  Lazarus,  Jr.,  and  the 
nominated  slate  scheduled  to  be 
elected. 


N.  M.  Schenck  Is  at 
Studio  for  Parleys 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  of 
M-G-M,  arrived  on  the  coast  yester- 
day for  studio  conferences.  He  is  ac- 
companied by  Leopold  Friedman, 
company  attorney.  Their  stay  is  in- 
definite. 

Schenck  was  due  on  the  coast 
three  weeks  ago,  but  was  delayed 
by  the  operators'  strike  and  a  cold. 


Ayres  Leaves  Para. 

London,  April  10. — After  23  years 
service  for  Pa  "amount,  Edward  Ayres 
has  resigned  as  secretary  of  that  com- 
pany here  and  has  been  succeeded  by 
P.  D.  Cornwell.  Ayres  remains  as  a 
director. 


To  Plead  Not  Guilty 
In  Moss  Game  Fight 

Christos  Carnavos,  manager  and 
part  owner  of  the  Momart,  Brook- 
lyn, will  enter  a  plea  of  not  guilty 
in  Special  Sessions  Court  today  on 
charges  of  operating  a  lottery. 

A  police  complaint  was  filed 
against  Carnavos  last  week.  The 
game  involved  is  "Whirlwin."  This 
case  is  believed  to  be  another  move 
by  License  Commissioner  Paul  Moss 
to  test  the  legality  of  chance  games. 
Harry  G.  Kosch,  counsel  for  New 
York  Allied,  represents  the  defend- 
ant. 


Sally  Fisher  Quits  Allied 

Sally  Fisher,  in  charge  of  the  New 
York  office  of  New  Jersey  Allied, 
has  resigned.  She  held  the  post  sev- 
eral years.  Yesterday  she  started  as 
secretary  in  the  office  of  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  Allied  in  Philadelphia. 
Sidney  Samuelson  is  business  man- 
ager of  the  unit. 


Complaint  of  Studio  1 
Union  Is  Dismisset  i 

Hollywood,  April   10.— I.A.T.S.E  J 
International  officers  today  won  sec 1 
ond  round  of  litigation  with  deposec  j 
officers  of  Studio  Technicians'  Loca  1 
37  when  Superior  Judge  E.  H.  Wil 
son  dismissed  without  prejudice  th< 
amended   complaint   filed   by   oustei  I 
officers  against  the  Alliance.   At  th 
same  time  the  court  rescinded  grant 
ing  of  motion  to  take  depositions  fron, 
George  Browne,  International  presi  \ 
dent.   Rose  announced  he  would  fill 
a  new  amended  complaint  within  tei 
days. 

Local  37  officers  yesterday  wireq 
U.  S.  Attorney  General  Frank  Mur 
phy  asking  for  an  investigation  o 
"labor  racketeering"  in  connectioi 
with  I.A.T.S.E.  International  activ 
ities. 


Music  Benefit  May  7 

Fifth  annual  benefit  show  by  tht 
Professional  Music  Men's  Associatioi 
will  be  held  at  the  Alvin  on  May  7) 
Proceeds  of  the  affair  go  to  the  or-! 
ganization's  charitable  fund. 


M.  &  P.  Buys  Site 

Boston,  April  10.— M.  &  P.  The- 
atres has  purchased  a  site  here  for  a 
new  theatre,  to  be  called  the  Circle. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  V.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  anc 

Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 

A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundaj 

and  holidays   by  Quigley  Publishing  Com 

pany,    Inc.,    Martin    Quigley,  president; 

Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurer. 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  al  i 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone: 

Circle  7-3100.    Cable  address:  "Quigpubco 

New  York."    All  contents  copyrighted  193! 

by     Quigley     Publishing     Company,  Inc. 

Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 

office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatrc 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picturi  1 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union  | 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boonf  | 
Mancall,  manager:  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square. 
W.  1:  cable  address.  Quigpubco,  London: 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


Sustained,  ever- building  business  in  its  first 
engagements  tips  you  to  one  of  the  greatest 
word-of -mouth  holdover  hits  20th  has  given  you ! 


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of  your  future                     AMERICAN  MOST  THRILLING  STORY! 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Streets  of  New  York" 

{Monogram) 

Hollywood,  April  10. — Exhibitors  who  will  play  "Streets  of  New 
York"  can  start  boasting  about  it  now.  A  melodramatic  story  of  a  self- 
reliant  boy  and  his  friends  and  enemies,  it  is  rich  in  human  interest, 
combines  pathos  with  humor  and  exciting  action.  Based  on  an  appealing 
story  by  Robert  D.  Andrews,  which  William  Nigh  directed  in  intelligent 
style,  the  show,  which  William  Lackey  produced,  stars  Jackie  Cooper, 
features  Martin  Spellman,  George  Cleveland  and  David  Durand  and 
presents  Robert  Emmett  O'Connor,  Dick  Purcell,  George  Irving,  Mar- 
jorie  Reynolds  and  a  gang  of  ragamuffins  in  interesting  characteriza- 
tions. 

Cooper,  a  newsboy  employing  a  lot  of  kids,  shepherds  crippled  Spell- 
man  and  irascible  old  Cleveland  and  is  ambitious  to  be  a  lawyer.  Lincoln 
is  his  ideal.  Menaced  by  rowdy  Durand,  chief  obstacle  to  the  boy's  hopes 
is  his  elder  brother,  Purcell,  a  racketeer.  Winning  the  respect  of  Judge 
Irving  when  he  appears  as  counsellor  for  his  pals  and  enemies,  Cooper 
struggles  to  make  life  easier  for  Spellman  and  keep  Cleveland  in  line. 
Highlight  of  the  piece  is  a  Christmas  party  in  Irving's  home  for  the 
street  boys  and  its  action  feature  is  the  seige  of  murderer  Purcell  in 
Cooper's  room.  When  the  boy  forces  his  bother's  surrender,  broken- 
hearted he  peddles  extras  announcing  PurcelPs  electrocution.  But  with 
Lincoln  to  inspire  and  Irving  to  guide  him,  he  wipes  the  past  from  his 
mind  and  buries  himself  in  the  study  of  law. 

A  family  attraction  with  definite  appeal  for  adults  and  the  young,  the 
picture  affords  showmen  a  real  exploitation  opportunity. 

Running  time,  73  minutes.   "G."*  G.  McC. 


4 


Schaefer  Sees 
Neely  Bill  as 
Raising  Costs 

[Continued  from  page  1) 

and  dramatists  would  not  be  influ- 
enced by  the  measure  to  produce  dif- 
ferent works  consistent  with  the 
ideas  of  the  Neely  Bill's  proponents. 

"The  burden  of  proof,"  Schaefer 
said,  "is  on  the  proponents  of  the  bill 
to  show  that  there  is  a  lack  of  com- 
munity freedom  in  the  selection  of 
motion  pictures  at  the  present_  time, 
and  that  the  provisions  of  this  bill 
would  give  a  substantially  greater 
community  freedom.  It  further  de- 
volves upon  the  proponents  to  estab- 
lish that  the  present  practices  of  buy- 
ing and  selling  are  unduly  burden- 
some to  the  independent  exhibitor  and 
that  such  trade  practices  are  monopo- 
listic, both  of  which  I  deny  vigor- 
ously." 

Schaefer  pointed  out  that  under  the 
present  system  approximately  seven 
features  a  week  are  shown  in  400 
cities  in  the  United  States,  providing 
plenty  of  leeway  for  community  film 
selection  and  patronage.  He  said  that 
every  worthwhile  film  is  eventually 
shown  in  as  many  as  10,000  or  11,- 
000  theatres  in  this  country,  and  that 
the  6,000  or  7,000  remaining  theatres 
are  eliminated  by  competitive  con- 
siderations from  showing  the  same 
films.  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs"  has  had  9,000  bookings  to 
date,  he  said. 

Schaefer  related  that  there  is  no 
evidence  to  show  that  the  exhibitor 
uses  his  cancellation  privilege  to 
eliminate  from  his  programs  pictures 
of  questionable  moral  content.  He 
pointed  out  that  independently  made 
pictures  such  as  "Ecstasy,"  "Birth  of 
a  Baby,"  "Goona  Goona"  and  "Nudist 
Camp"  were  sold  singly  by  their  dis- 
tributors. 

Costs  Would  Be  Greater 

RKO  plans  to  make  48  pictures  at 
a  cost  of  $20,000,000  to  $25,000,000 
next  season,  he  said,  and  declared  that 
investments  of  that  magnitude  are  de- 
serving of  freedom  from  "hamstring- 
ing" legislation.  He  said  that  pro- 
duction and  distribution  costs  would 
be  greater  under  the  bill,  that  ex- 
hibitors would  be  prevented  from 
buying  "wholesale"  and,  therefore 
would  be  obliged  to  pay  higher  rentals 
and  that  all  of  the  increased  costs 
would  be  passed  on  to  the  public  in 
higher  admission  prices. 

"For  that  reason  the  bill  is  against 
the  public  interest,"  Schaefer  said. 

"This  whole  business  is  predicated 
upon  profit,"  Chairman  Smith  inter- 
jected. "They  cannot  go  on  mak- 
ing pictures  that  do  not  sell ;  that 
is  fundamental ;  and  what,  in  your 
opinion,  Senator,  could  be  the  moral 
uplift  if  you  leave  it  to  the  exhibi- 
tor to  select  his  pictures  and  he 
selected  the  wholly  moral  ones  and 
nobody  came?" 

Following  presentation  of  Schaef- 
er's  prepared  statement,  hearing  re- 
cessed until  tomorrow,  when  he  will 
go  into  details  regarding  cancella- 
tions. 

Provisions  of  the  industry  trade 
practice  program  were  explained  to 
the  subcommittee  by  William  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  general  sales  man- 
ager, who  resumed  the  stand  at  the 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


opening  of  today's  session.  Rodgers' 
testimony  had  been  interrupted  by  ad- 
journment of  the  hearing  last  Thurs- 
day. 

"Provisions  of  the  code  which  we 
advocate  bring  about  that  which  you 
are  seeking,  but  without  disastrous  ef- 
fects that  would  result  from  the  bill 
itself,"  Rodgers  told  the  subcommit- 
tee. 

At  request  of  Chairman  Smith,  the 
M-G-M  executive  explained  new 
cancellation  provisions  and  at  urging 
of  Senator  White  he  outlined  the 
proposed  arbitration  setup  and  how 
it  would  work. 

The  proposed  agreement  protects 
public  groups,  he  declared,  and  arbi- 
tration provisions  were  incorporated 
voluntarily  and  without  request  from 
any  exhibitor  body. 

Helps  Small  Theatre 

"The  small  theatre  has  decided  ad- 
vantages under  this  proposal  that  will 
give  him,  not  all  the  Neely  Bill  pro- 
vides, but  a  great  many  concessions 
he  never  before  had,"  Rodgers  stated. 

"If  this  will  give  him  all  the  Neely 
Bill  provides,  why  not  just  pass  the 
Neely  Bill,"  Senator  Neely  inter- 
rupted. 

"I  didn't  say  'all',"  Rodgers  re- 
plied. 

Every  effort  has  been  made  to  meet 
the  Allied  States  objections  to  vari- 
ous provisions,  the  witness  explained, 
and  while  that  organization  is  still 
holding  out  for  more,  other  exhibitor 
associations  have  expressed  approval 
"in  principle,"  although,  he  ad- 
mitted, practically  all  of  them  urge 
some  changes.  .  Among  associations 
which  have  tentatively  approved,  he 
named  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.,  Southern 
California  group,  Independent  The- 
atre Owners  of  Metropolitan  New 
York,  Virginia  Theatre  Owners 
Association  and  Iowa  and  Nebraska 
groups. 

All  exhibitors  have  been  given  op- 
portunity to  accept  the  agreement  and, 


Rodgers  told  the  subcommittee,  even 
those  that  do  not  accept  will  benefit 
from  many  of  its  provisions  which 
have  already  been  adopted  by  M-G-M 
and  some  other  companies. 

Rodgers  again  denied  that  enact- 
ment of  the  bill  would  clean  up 
screen  morals,  citing  the  case  of 
"Christmas  Carol,"  produced  "at  con- 
siderable expense,"  on  which  M-G-M 
got  1,292  cancellations  as  compared 
with  the  usual  13  on  gangster  pictures. 

Sees  No  Moral  Issue 

"I  simply  tried  to  emphasize  that 
from  a  moral  standpoint  there  is  no 
issue  here  and  that  is  why  I  say  these 
groups  are  misguided,"  he  explained. 
"There  is  no  provision  in  the  Neely 
Bill  that  will  prevent  an  exhibitor 
from  passing  up  'Christmas  Carol,'  be- 
cause admittedly  it  is  not  successful 
from  a  box  office  standpoint." 

Pictures  are  not  sold  blindly  in 
England,  he  admitted,  but  pointed  out 
they  are  block  booked  the  same  as  in 
this  country  except  that  the  English 
law  prohibits  leases  until  six  months 
after  a  trade  showing.  "That  may  be 
very  fine  for  England,  but  I  do  not 
think  it  would  be  very  fine  for  exhibi- 
tors of  America,"  he  commented. 

As  evidence  of  the  manner  in  which 
distributors  operate,  Rodgers  told  the 
subcommittee  that  the  highest  rental 
ever  received  from  the  Capitol,  New 
York,  was  $80,000  and  that  "Samuel- 
son  had  the  same  picture,  while  it  was 
being  played  at  the  Capitol,  for  exactly 
$50." 


K.  C.  Area  Active 

Kansas  City,  April  10.— At  Wich- 
ita, Kan.,  two  new  theatres  are  being 
constructed,  one  by  T.  H.  Slothower, 
and  the  other  by  Harold  Gibbons. 
Both  will  seat  about  700.  Simon  Ga- 
litzki,  who  operates  the  Coed  at  To- 
peka,  Kan.,  has  opened  the  Novelty 
there.  C.  C.  Rhodes,  Roxy,  Warsaw, 
Mo.,  has  opened  the  New  Buffalo  at 
Buffalo,  Mo. 


Tuesday,  April  II,  1939 


Exchange  Strikers 
Are  Back  at  Work 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

exchange  projection  rooms  whether 
such  rooms  are  in  regular  use  or  not. 
A  number  of  exchanges  have  closed 
their  own  projection  rooms  and  use 
those  at  their  home  office  buildings. 

Dispute  as  to  dating  of  new  [  \ 
tract  granting  15  per  cent  incre<r/e 
and  35-hour  week  for  the  projection 
room  operators  is  all  that  is  delaying 
signing  of  agreement.  Union  contends 
pact  should  be  dated  Sept.  1,  1937, 
which  would  necessitate  new  negotia- 
tions next  September,  as  agreements 
are  for  two  years.  Distributors  claim 
agreement  was  to  date  pact  Sept.  1, 
1938,  and  classify  wage  increase  for 
the  preceding  year  as  a  bonus.  Point 
may  be  settled  by  arbitration  if  no 
agreement  can  be  reached  soon.  State 
mediation  board  is  understood  to  re- 
gard distributors'  view  as  the  one 
which  had  been  agreed  upon. 


Kane  Is  Labor  Referee 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Fer- 
dinand A.  Pecora  yesterday  appointed 
Harry  C.  Kane  as  referee  to  pass  on 
the  application  of  the  N.  Y.  State 
Labor  Relations  Board  to  punish  six 
Long  Island  theatre  units  for  contempt 
in  allegedly  failing  to  reinstate  six 
members  of  Local  306  as  operators  in 
their  theatres.  The  board  ordered  re- 
instatement in  April,  1938. 


Reich  Papers  Can't 
Mention  U.  S.  Film* 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

that  Germany  forbid  the  importatior 
of  American  films,  should  Charles 
Chaplin  go  through  with  his  plans  foi 
making  "The  Dictators"  for  Unitec 
Artists. 


Distribution  quarters  here  expressec 
little  concern,  because  Germany  is  vir- 
tually a  lost  market.  Only  32  feature: 
were  released  by  American  companie: 
in  Germany  last  year,  and  only  thre< 
companies  are  still  operating  there 
limitedly. 

British  officials  also  have  taken  cog 
nizance  of  "The  Dictators,"  with  re 
ports  from  London  that  its  produc 
tion  has  been  frowned  upon. 

"Confessions   of  a   Nazi   Spy"  i:: 
scheduled  to  open  at  the  Strand  ot 
April  28. 


Industry  Mobilizes 
For  N.  Y.  FundDrm 

(Continued  from  page  I) 

be  organized.    Such  a  committee  wil 
meet  with  the  general  committee  a 
a  luncheon  meeting  on  April  19  at  tin  I 
Hotel  Astor,  to  initiate  plans  of  opera 
tion  whereby  every  exhibitor  in  thi  j 
area  might  be  enrolled  in  the  drive. 

Attending  yesterday's  meeting  witl  I 
Rubin  were  Harold  Rodner,  W.  B.  I 
Ned  Depinet,  RKO;  Arthur  Israel 
Para. ;  Norris  Wilcox,  U.  A. ;  Harr 
Brandt,    I.T.O.A. ;    Ben    Moss,  am 
William  Orr,  M-G-M. 

Arthur    Israel    represented  Austii 
Keough,  vice-president  of  Paramount 
who  is  presently  out-of-town.    Wilco:  I 
was  substituting  for  Harry  Buckle)  I 
vice-president  of  United  Artists,  whJ 
could  not  attend  yesterday's  meeting.  I 


cru/7 


ARE  YOU  GIVING  THEM  THE  LIGHT  THEY  MERIT? 


#  You  have  many  patrons  who  are  loyal  to  your 
theater,  who  return  again  and  again  rather  than  go 
elsewhere.  This  steadfast  patronage  may  be  due  to 
convenient  location,  to  the  programs  you  select,  or 
even  to  personal  friendship  but,  whatever  the  motive, 
these  patrons  deserve  recognition. 

ARE  YOU  REPAYING  THIS  LOYALTY  WITH 
THE  QUALITY  OF  PROJECTION  IT  MERITS? 


H  you  are  still  using  old  style,  low  intensity  projec- 
tion, these  steady  customers  have  a  right  to  object. 
And  some  day  they  will.  Simplified  High  Intensity 
projection  gives  so  much  more  —  easier  vision;  more 
accurate  color  reproduction;  a  more  satisfactory  level 
of  general  illumination.  Theater  patrons  know  this, 
for  thousands  of  theaters  have  already  installed  it. 
The  cost  is  surprisingly  low. 


Ask  your  dealer's  salesman  for  the  booklet,  "YES,  BUT  WHAT  WILL  IT  COST?" 


SIMPLIFIED 


PROJECTION 


WITH  NATIONAL  SUPREX 


\n  D  0  0  D  DDDDDDDOQD 

)WITH  NATI 

Thp  words  "National"  and  "Suprex"  are  trade-marks  of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 


AND  MODERN  ( 

n pop aoDoooonaDoa ooooaooaoi 


BON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  IMM  and  Carbon  Corporation 

DIVISION,  CLEVELAND,  OHIO 

General  Offices:  30  East  42nd  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  II,  193' 


TRUE  STORIES  FROM  ALTEC  FILES 


NED  (DOC)  RAFALSKI, 
General  Manager  of 
Bland  Bros.  Theatres, 
Chicago,  111. 


Exhibitor  Finds 
Quick  Diagnosis 
"Plain  Miracle'' 

CHICAGO— "We  were  playing  to  a  good 
business  on  a  Tuesday  matinee  in  the 
Olympia  Theatre,  when  for  a  reason  we 
couldn't  find,  the  sound  went  dead  on  our 
No.  1  machine,"  said  Doc  Rafalski,  Gen- 
eral Manager  of  Bland  Bros.  Theatres. 

"We  called  Altec,  and  C.  G.  Bosworth 
promptly  arrived  at  the  theatre.  He  imme- 
diately discovered  there  was  no  voltage  in 
the  photo-electric  cell,  resulting  from  a 
broken  connection  in  a  coupling  unit. 

"Bosworth  had  the  No.  1  machine  func- 
tioning normally  in  a  few  minutes.  It  was 
only  necessary  to  double  up  on  the  No.  2 
machine  twice  from  the  time  he  got  to  my 
theatre. 

"The  uncanny  way  the  Altec  man  in- 
stantly puts  his  finger  on  what  is  wrong 
may  be  the  result  of  engineering  ability, 
but  it's  just  a  plain  miracle  to  me." 


Exhibitors  whose  theatres  are  protected  by 
an  Altec  Service  inspector's  regular  visits 
have  greater  peace  of  mind.  They  can  de- 
vote their  full  energies  to  problems  claim- 
ing their  undistracted  attention.  Write  to 


.ALTEC 

250  West  57th  Street,  New  York  City 

THE  SERVICE  ORGANIZATION 
OF  THE  MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hollywood,  April  10. — Steffi  Duna 
has  been  given  the  top  role  opposite 
Leo  Carrillo  in  RKO's  "The  Dove," 
which  Cliff  Reid  will  produce  and 
Lew  Landers  will  direct  .  .  .  Mar- 
garet Lockwood,  young  English  act- 
ress, has  been  signed  for  the  feminine 
lead  in  Paramount's  "Ruler  of  the 
Seas"  .  .  .  RKO  has  purchased  "Head- 
line News,"  story  by  Rita  Weiman 
which  George  Haight  will  make  .  .  . 
Betty  Moran,  cousin  and  adopted 
sister  of  Lois  Moran,  makes  her  mo- 
tion picture  debut  in  "Lawful  Out- 
laws," Sherman-Paramount  "Hop- 
along  Cassidy"  story  .  .  .  Monogram 
has  signed  Jean  Parker  to  the  lead- 
ing role  in  "Her  Father's  Daughter," 
from  the  novel  by  Gene  Stratton 
Porter. 

+ 

Henry  O'Neill  and  Jane  Bryan 
are  slated  for  top  spots  in  "Hobby 
Family,"  which  Warners  purchased 
from  William  Brockway,  M-G-M 
sound  technician  .  .  .  Joan  Fontaine 
and  Ruth  Hussey  will  support  Nor- 


ma Shearer,  Joan  Crawford,  Rosa- 
lind Russell  and  Phyllis  Povah  in 
M-G-M's  "The  Women."  .  .  .  Sam 
Wood  has  returned  from  Denham, 
where  he  directed  "Goodbye,  Mr. 
Chips"  .  .  .  Warners'  plans  for  "Simon 
Bolivar"  have  been  tentatively  set, 
casting  Errol  Flynn  as  the  Latin 
America  liberator.  Bette  Davis  may 
be  cast  opposite  him  .  .  .  George 
"Windy"  Hayes  will  be  Roy  Rogers' 
comic  relief  in  Republic's  "Headin' 
for  Texas." 

+ 

Casting — Tom  Kennedy  to  "Dead 
or  Alive,"  Warners  .  .  .  Richard 
Lane  to  "It  Could  Happen  to  You," 
20th  Century-Fox  .  .  .  Adrienne 
Ames  to  "All  the  Tomorrows,"  and 
Miles  Mander  to  "Daredevils  of  the 
Red  Circle,"  Republic  .  .  .  Charles 
Coburn  to  "Memory  of  Love,"  and 
Tim  Holt  to  "The  Dove,"  RKO  .  .  . 
Scotty  Beckett,  Rex  Downing  and 
Jimmy  Butler,  all  youngsters,  to 
"East  Side,  West  Side,"  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox. 


Studios  Have  34 
Pictures  in  Work 

Hollywood,  April  10. — Thirty-four 
pictures  were  before  the  cameras  this 
week,  as  nine  started  and  seven  fin- 
ished. Twenty-seven  are  being  pre- 
pared, and  62  being  edited. 

Started  were :  "Mr.  Smith  Goes  to 
Washington,"  Columbia ;  "Broadway 
to  Wyoming"  and  "On  Borrowed 
Time,"  M-G-M ;  "Heaven  on  a  Shoe- 
string," Paramount ;  "The  Dove," 
RKO ;  "All  the  Tomorrows,"  Repub- 
lic;  "East  Side,  West  Side,"  20th 
Century-Fox;  "Old  Grad,"  Universal; 
"Lighthorse  Harry,"  Warners. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  are : 
"The  Power  to  Kill."  "Good  Girls  Go 
to  Paris,  Too,"  "Arizona  Cowboy," 
Columbia  ;  the  Jascha  Heifetz  vehicle, 
Goldwyn ;  "6,000  Enemies,"  M-G-M  ; 
"Wolf  Call,"  Monogram ;  "Geronimo," 
"What  a  Life,"  "Million  Dollar  Legs," 
"The  Cat  and  the  Canary,"  Para- 
mount ;  "Little  Mother,"  "Five  Came 
Back,"  "Racketeers  of  the  Range," 
RKO ;  "Headin'  for  Texas,"  Repub- 
lic ;  "Gone  with  the  Wind,"  Selznick ; 
"The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask,"  Small ; 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln,"  "Second  Fid- 
dle," "It  Could  Happen  to  You,"  20th 
Century-Fox ;  "The  Sun  Never  Sets," 
"Ex-Champ,"  "They  Asked  for  It," 
Universal ;  "Battle  of  Citv  Hall," 
"The  Old  Maid,"  "Give  Me  a  Child," 
Warners. 

Finished  were :  "Beau  Geste," 
"Island  of  Lost  Men,"  Paramount ; 
"Stanley  and  Livingstone,"  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox ;  "The  House  of  Fear," 
Universal ;  "Each  Dawn  I  Die," 
"Gantry  the  Great,"  "Enemy  Agent," 
Warners. 

Columbia  started  one  short  subject 
and  finished  one.  M-G-M  finished  one. 
Four  are  being  prepared  and  14  are 
being  edited. 


Disney  Suit  Settled 

Kansas  City,  April  10.— Suit  of 
Hamilton  Enterprises,  Inc.,  and  Walt 
Disney  Productions  against  group  of 
Kansas  City  drug,  food,  and  printing 
concerns  has  been  settled.  It  was 
based  on  alleged  violation  of  copyright 
and  trademark. 


Game  Award  Allowed 
In  Wisconsin  House 

Racine,  Wis.,  April  10. — District 
Attorney  R.  G.  Harvey,  Jr.,  has  given 
Warners'  Venetian  permission  to  pay 
a  $1,500  Bank  Night  award  won 
March  30,  the  night  the  theatre  was 
raided. 

Preliminary  hearing  of  Don  Nichols, 
manager,  charged  with  operating  a 
lottery,  has  been  postponed  until 
April  25,  because  of  expected  action 
by  the  state  legislature  on  the  Paulson 
bill,  which  would  outlaw  Bank  Night. 


Balsly  Quits  20-Fox; 
Hollander  Takes  Post 

Lee  Balsly,  ad  sales  manager  for 
20th  Century-Fox,  has  resigned.  He 
will  be  succeeded  by  Ed  Hollander, 
who  will  have  full  charge  of  the  op- 
erations of  the  ad  sales  department.. 

Balsly  will  enter  the  theatre  busi- 
ness with  the  R.  R.  Allison  circuit  at 
Cresson,  Pa. 


Sunday  Issue  Dropped 

Siler  City,  N.  C,  April  10. — Sun- 
day film  issue  here  has  been  dropped, 
T.  Cecil  Frazier,  manager  of  the  local 
theatre,  withdrawing  his  petition  to 
the  Town  Board  to  be  allowed  to 
show-  films  on  Sunday. 


'Huckleberry' 
Does  $16,500 
In  Pittsburgh 


Pittsburgh,  April  10. — Usual  Len  j 
ten  lull  failed  to  dampen  "Hi^V';  j 
berry  Finn,"  which  took  $16,500  ai-'r 
Penn. 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  as] 
survived  the  pre-Easter  slump  witl 
$8,200  at  the  Alvin.  The  Warner'  | 
double  bill  of  "Saint  Strikes  Back' 
and  "Secret  Service  of  Air"  grosser 
$3,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end  j| 
ing  April  6: 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

ALVIN— (1,900)     (25c-35c-50c)     8  day; 
Gross:  $8,200.     (Average,  $7,000,  7  days) 
"Lost  Patrol-"  (RKO)  (reissue) 
"Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO)  (reissue) 

FULTON— (1,700)    (25c-40c)    7    days,  1; 
week.      Gross:   $4,000.   (Average,  $5,000) 
"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS    PENN— (3,600)  (25c-35c-50c) 
days.    Gross:  $16,500.    (Average,  $15,000) 
"Cimarron"  (RKO) 
"No  Man  of   Her  Own"  (Para.) 

SENATOR— (2.000)      (25c-40c)      7  day 
Gross:  $2,900.     (Average,  $3,800) 
"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY— (3,600)    (25c-40c-60c)    7  day. 
Stage:  "Major  Bowes  World's  Fair  Revue. 
Gross:  S15,000.    (Average,  $17,000) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 
"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  davs.  Gros: 
$3,500.    (Average,  $4,500) 


New  Haven  Is  Slow;  I 
'Fast'  Draws  $2,90 1 

New  Haven,  April  10. — "Fast  ani 
Loose"  and  "Tarnished  Angel"  at  thl 
College  was  the  only  bill  to  nos« 
slightly  above  normal,  with  a  $2,90l 
take.  "One  Third  of  a  Nation"  an  I 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Honolulu"  took  $44 
000  at  the  Paramount.  The  LoewB 
Poli,  with  "Sergeant  Madden"  an 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  grossed  $7,50( 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  enc 
ing  April  7  : 

"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 
"Tarnished  Angel"  (RKO) 

COLLEGE — (1,499)      (25c-35c)     7  dav. 
Gross:  $2,900.    (Average,  $2,700) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW-POLI— (3.040)    (35c-50c)    7  day; 
Gross :  $7,500.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"One  Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Honolulu"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.348)    (35c-50c)   7  dav 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

ROGER  SHERMAN— (2,200)  (35c-50c)  6>! 
days.    Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $4,700) 


Ask  your  representative  for  details. 
Designed  for  any  theatre — 
regardless  of  size. 


\ 


STARS  INCLUDE: 


IAYMOND  MASSEY 


•tar  of  the  current  Broad- 
way success,  "Abe  Lincoln 
n  Illinois."  Courtesy  Max 
Gordon  Plays  and  Pic- 
ures  Corp.,  who  will  pro- 
luce  the  picture. 


SPENCER  TRACY 

Courtesy  of  MGM. 


DEANNA  DURBIN 

Courtesy  of  Universal. 


LOWELL  THOMAS 

Courtesy  Movietone  News 


ROBERT  E.  SHERWOOD 

Author  of  "Abe  Lincoln 
in  Illinois."  Courtesy  of 
The  Playwrights  Co.,  pro- 
ducers of  the  play. 


THIS  SHORT  SUBJECT  RUNS  10  MINUTES.  SUPPLIED  GRATIS  TO 
ALL  EXHIBITORS  TAKING  COLLECTIONS  FROM  THE  AUDIENCE 
Proceeds  for  the  future  support  of  the  Will  Rogers  Memorial  Hospital,  Saranac  Lake,  N.  Y.,  and  for  its  kindred  philanthropies, 
maintained  for  the  needy  of  stage  and  screen.  And  for  the  aid  of  local  institutions  specializing  in  the  care  of  handicapped  children 


ILL  ROGERS   NATIONAL  THEATRE  WEEK 

WEEK  BEGINNING  THURSDAY,  APRIL  20th  •  MAJOR  L.  E.  THOMPSON,  Chairman 


Order  prints  from 
THEATRE  WEEK 

Zone  Chairman  and  Company 

I  Philip  Fox,  Columbia 

 John  Eiell,  Universal 

 Morris  Wolf,  Metro 

>  Sydney  Samson,  20th  Century-Fox 

TTE  Robert  J.  Ingram,  Columbia 

O  Jack  Osserman,  RKO 

"JATI    V  Edwin  Booth,  Metro 

ND  Frank -D.  Drew,  Metro 

 Doak  Roberts,  Warner  Bros. 


the  following  Zone  Chairmen  of  WILL  ROGERS  NATIONAL 
.  .  .  or  from  any  branch  manager  or  film  salesman: 


District  «  Zone  Chairman  and  Company 

DES  MOINES  R.  M.  Copeland,  Paramount 

DETROIT  Frank  Downey,  Metro 

INDIANAPOLIS    .   .   .George  T.  Landis,  20th  Century-Fox 

KANSAS  CITY  William  Warner,  Warner  Bros. 

LOS  ANGELES  Clayton  T.  Lynch,  Metro 

MEMPHIS  James  Rogers,  Columbia 

MILWAUKEE   Arthur  N.  Schmitz,  RKO 

MINNEAPOLIS  Harold  Johnson,  Universal 

NEW  HAVEN  Lou  Wechsler,  United  Artists 

NEW  ORLEANS  E.  B.  Price,  Paramount  . 


District  Zone  Chairman  and  Company 

OKLAHOMA  CITY  Ralph  B.  Williams,  RKO 

OMAHA  Al  Mendenhall,  Paramount 

PHILADELPHIA  ........   F.  L.  McNamee,  RKO 

PITTSBURGH  Harry  Seed,  Warner  Bros. 

PORTLAND  Louis  Amacher,  Metro 

ST.  LOUIS  John  E.  Garrison,  Universal 

SALT  LAKE  CITY  .  .  .  Charles  Walker,  20th  Century-Fox 
SAN  FRANCISCO  .   .    Dennis  J.  McNerney,  United  Artists 

SEATTLE  Lawrence  J.  McGinley,  Universal 

SIOUX  FALLS  Sherman  Fitch,  RKO 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  II,  19 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

TERRY  CLYNE  of  the  New 
York  office  of  Free  &  Peters  in 
Cincinnati  on  station  business  . . . 
Bobby  Parks  has  signed  with  Rock- 
well-O'Keefe  .  .  .  Maxine  Gray  returns 
to  her  original  place  with  Hal  Kemp's 
band  today,  while  Judy  Starr  returns 
to  Hollywood  the  same  time  .  .  . 
Skinnay  Ennis'  band  has  been  signed 
to  do  two  picture  scores  for  Victor 
Recording,  through  Len  Joy  .  .  .  Mike 
Riley's  orchestra  booked  for  a  week 
at  Loew's  State  opening  April  27.  .  .  . 
Hal  Halpern  has  resigned  from  Earle 
Ferris'  Feature  Service  .  .  .  Fred 
Weber,  Mutual  general  manager,  to 
Washington  yesterday  .  .  .  Cy  Baker 
has  joined  Jimmy  Dorsey's  orchestra 
as  trumpet  player. 


AFRA  Opens  Talks 
With  Crosley  Corp. 

Cincinnati,  April  10. — American 
Federation  of  Radio  Actors  have 
opened  negotiations  with  the  Crosley 
Corp.  for  a  contract  covering  wages 
and  working  conditions. 

The  negotiations  are  being  carried 
on  by  Emily  Holt,  president  of 
A.F.R.A.  and  James  D.  Shouse,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  broadcasting 
for  the  Crosley  interests.  Lou  Levy, 
executive  secretary  of  the  Cincinnati 
A.F.R.A.  chapter,  denies  rumors  here 
of  a  threatened  strike.  Negotiations 
with  other  local  stations  will  be 
opened  soon. 


Westinghouse  Plans 
World's  Fair  Series 

Westinghouse  Electric  and  Manu- 
facturing Co.  will  sponsor  a  radio 
series  from  the  World's  Fair  grounds 
for  the  duration  of  the  Fair,  with 
Ray  Perkins  conducting  interviews 
with  visitors  to  the  Westinghouse  ex- 
hibit. The  program  starts  May  7  and 
will  be  broadcast  Sundav  from  S  :45 
to  6  P.  M.  over  the  NBC  Blue. 

Seventy-three  stations  have  been 
lined  up  for  the  show.  Fuller  &  Smith 
&  Ross  placed  the  contract. 


Reelect  Crosley  Board 

Cincinnati,  April  10. — Powell  Cros- 
ley, Jr.,  Lewis  M.  Crosley,  Charles 
Sawyer,  Powell  Crosley,  III,  James 
Heekin,  R.  E.  Fields  and  J.  A.  Bar- 
nard have  been  reelected  to  the  board 
of  directors  of  the  manufacturing 
division  of  the  Crosley  Corp.,  oper- 
ators of  WLW  and  WSAL.  The 
directors  will  meet  later  to  elect 
officers. 


New  Pact  for  Taylor 

Hollywood,  April  10. — Robert  Tay- 
lor has  signed  a  new  long  term  con- 
tract with  M-G-M. 


Twin  City  Refugee 
Fund  Totals  $25,020 

Minneapolis,  April  10. — A 
total  of  $25,020  was  raised  by 
the  Variety  Club  of  the  Twin 
Cities  for  relief  of  European 
refugees,  W.  A.  Steffes  dis- 
closed. 


Charles  Skouras 

Welcomed  Home 

Hollywood,  April  10. — Los 
Angeles  film  row  will  give 
a  "welcome  home"  dinner  to 
Charles  Skouras,  Fox  West 
Coast  head,  at  Elks  Temple 
tomorrow. 

Skouras  returned  recently 
from  an  extended  trip  to  Eu- 
rope with  his  wife  and 
daughter,  Marjorie.  This 
was  his  first  visit  to  Greece 
since  arriving  in  America 
30  years  ago. 


'Bell'  and  'Castles' 
Big  Despite  Weather 

Inclement  weather  failed  as  a  box- 
office  deterrent  with  Easter  crowds 
thronging  the  lobbies  and  waiting 
patiently  in  long  queues  outside. 
Police  detachments  were  in  evidence 
outside  most  Broadway  houses  to 
keep  the  lines  from  interfering  with 
pedestrian  traffic.  Most  legitimate 
stage  houses  added  matinees  yester- 
day, with  excellent  business  reported. 
"The  Castles"  grossed  $65,000  at  the 
Radio  City  Music  Hall  for  the  first 
four  days  of  this  week.  That's  plenty 
big. 

"Midnight"  is  expected  to  gross 
$57,000  in  its  first  week  at  the  Par- 
amount which  ends  tonight.  At  the 
Globe,  "Prison  Without  Bars"  has 
grossed  an  estimated  $7,200  since  its 
opening  Saturday  night,  a  near  record 
for  the  house.  "Dodge  City"  seems 
headed  for  a  record  gross  at  the 
Strand  with  an  estimated  $35,000  for 
the  first  four  days.  "The  Story  of 
Alexander  Graham  Bell"  will  be  held 
for  three  weeks  at  the  Roxy,  with 
a  fourth  possible.  First  10  days  of 
the  engagement  played  to  162,231  per- 
sons. "The  Flying  Irishman"  starts 
at  the  Rialto  tomorrow. 


Mayer  Buys  Rights 
On  'Divorce'  Show 

Frederick  Mayer,  New  York  free 
lance  radio  producer,  has  purchased 
radio  rights  for  eastern  and  mid- 
western  states  for  the  west  coast 
series,  "I  Want  a  Divorce,"  from  Emil 
Brisbacher  &  Staff  radio  agency, 
which  created  the  program.  At  pres- 
ent the  program  is  being  broadcast 
from  Hollywood  over  the  western  sta- 
tions of  the  CBS  network. 

Mayer  will  attempt  to  sell  the  pro- 
gram coast-to-coast  on  a  cooperative 
basis.  Mayer  formed  the  original 
Coffee  Club  broadcasts  on  a  coopera- 
tive basis,  followed  with  the  Brewers 
radio  show  which  he  sold  cooperatively 
over  CBS  in  a  program  featuring: 
Henny  Youngman,  Connie  Boswell 
and  Richard  Himber's  orchestra. 


WNEW  Will  Air 
Jersey  Ball  Games 

WNEW  was  signed  yesterday  by 
the  General  Mills  Company  to  broad- 
cast the  baseball  games  of  Jersey  City 
and  Newark,  ball  clubs  of  the  Inter- 
national League.  Earl  Harper  will  b- 
the  announcer.  WHN  broadcast  the 
Jersey  City  games  last  year.  The 
Loew  station  went  big-time  this  year, 
tying-in  on  the  Giants,  Yanks  and 
Dodgers  (Brooklvn)  games  with 
WABC  and  WOR. 


National  Theatres 
Campaign  Started 


National  Theatres'  Spyros  Skour- 
as Showmanship  Campaign  started 
Saturday  for  13  weeks,  with  Arch 
Bowles,  northern  California  division 
manager,  as  field  marshal.  A  total 
of  165  prizes  aggregating  $25,000  will 
be  awarded  to  district  and  house 
managers,  as  well  as  accounting  and 
maintenance  departments  in  the  field 
and  bookers.  This  is  the  first  time 
the  president  of  the  circuit  has  per- 
mitted his  name  to  be  used  in  con- 
nection with  a  campaign. 

An  elaborate  plan  has  been  worked 
out  by  a  committee  headed  by  J.  J.  Sul- 
livan, Fox  West  Coast  film  buyer,  and 
including  W.  T.  Powers,  Ed  Zabel, 
Sumner  Gambee  and  Harry  C.  Cox. 
This  committee,  in  New  York,  will 
be  the  final  judges.  Bowles  will  de- 
vote all  his  time  to  the  campaign,  and 
has  set  up  headquarters  in  Los  An- 
geles. Charles  Skouras,  Fox  West 
Coast  head,  will  supervise  Bowles' 
San  Francisco  territory  for  the  cam- 
paign's duration.  Bowles  has  com- 
pleted a  series  of  divisional  meetings 
with  Andy  Krappman  and  Zabel,  and 
will  make  another  tour  in  about  three 
weeks. 

Patriotic  exploitation  is  part  of  the 
campaign,  with  theatres  including 
Americanism  themes  in  copy,  decora- 
tions, lobby  displays,  etc. 

The  total  of  the  awards  is  $10,000 
more  than  in  the  last  campaign.  The- 
atres are  divided  into  classes,  with 
individual  prizes  ranging  from  $1,000 
to  $50.  The  six  divisional  publica- 
tions have  been  suspended  for  the 
period,  and  Bowles  will  publish  a 
campaign  paper  at  Los  Angeles. 

Film  buyers  at  the  home  office  have 
been  named  sponsors  of  their  divi- 
sions. Sullivan  handles  southern 
California ;  Zabel,  northern  Cali- 
fornia ;  Milton  Hossf  eld.  Midwest ; 
Irving  Barry,  northwest ;  Aubrey 
Schenck,  Wisconsin,  and  George  Bals- 
don,  Intermountain. 


Seek  KROW  Transfer 

San  Francisco,  April  10. — Educa- 
tional Broadcasting  Corp.,  operator 
of  KROW,  independent  station,  has 
applied  to  the  F.  C.  C.  for  permission 
to  transfer  control  to  Philip  Lasky 
and  W.  I.  Dumm,  owner-operators  of 
KSFO,  CBS  outlet;  Fred  J.  Hart, 
former  president  of  the  Honolulu 
Broadcasting  Corp.  and  Wallace  F. 
Elliott. 


Milwaukee  Reopening 

Milwaukee,  April  10. — The  Alham- 
bra,  downtown  house  long  dark,  re- 
opened here  April  8  with  "When  Ger- 
many Fell,"  advertised  as  the  film's 
first  U.  S.  showing.  Admission  prices 
are  25  and  35  cents  and  the  house  is 
operated  by  the  Avenue  Amusement 
Corp.  with  A.  J.  Cooper  as  manager. 


Extend  Booking  Plan 

Cleveland,  April  10. — Milton  A. 
Mooney,  head  of  Cooperative  Theatres 
of  Ohio,  now  buving  and  booking  for 
theatres  in  northern  Ohio,  plans  an 
office  in  Cincinnati  to  serve  exhibitors 
of  southern  Ohio.  Harry  Bugie. 
former  Warner  salesman,  will  have 
charge  of  the  Cincinnati  office. 


RKO  to  Have  Fair 
Aid  for  Exhibitors 

RKO  will  maintain  special 
quarters  in  the  home  office 
building  for  the  convenience 
of  exhibitors  visiting  New 
York  this  summer  for  the 
World's  Fair.  Information 
facilities  on  both  the  city  and 
the  Fair  will  be  in  ehap*;- 
of  H.  M.  Richey,  RKO  dii 
tor  of  exhibitor  relations.  ""*" 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO  dis- 
tributor head,  is  sending  in- 
vitations to  approximately 
10,000  exhibitors  to  avail 
themselves  of  the  facilities. 


New  York  Post  Has 
Program  Over  WO 

New  York  Post  has  again  start  I 
promoting  its  features  via  radio  o\ 
WOR.    Program  is  to  be  heard 
Sundays,  and  is  a  musical,  transcrib 
show. 

Renewed  over  WOR  is  the  Stuc 
baker  Champions  show,  throu 
Roche,  Williams  &  Cunningham,  a: 
Olson  Rug  Co's  Transradio  ne 
broadcasts,  with  Joe  Bier,  throu 
Presba,  Fellers  &  Presba. 


4  Chan  Pictures  Titlei 

Titles  of  the  four  Charlie  Chan  p 
tures  for  the  season  have  been  fix 
by  20th  Century-Fox.  They 
"Charlie  Chan  at  Treasure  Islam; 
"Charlie  Chan  in  the  City  of  Dai 
ness,"  "Charlie  Chan  on  the  Twe 
tieth  Century  Express,"  and  "Char, 
Chan  at  the  Mardi  Gras."  Sidr 
Toler  will  play  the  title  role. 


Lighted  Clocks  Urged 

Milwaukee,  April  10. — Acting  uj 
the  recommendation  of  the  special  ci 
zens'  committee  on  moving  pictur 
the  judiciary  committee  of  the  co 
mon  council  has  recommended  passs 
of  the  Kalupa  ordinance,  which  pi 
vides  for  an  illuminated  clock  in 
auditorium  of  each  theatre  in  the  ci 


To  Start  Bank  Night 

Mansfield,  O.,  April  10. — W? 
ners'  Madison,  which  recently  wi 
to  a  double  feature  policy,  will  condv 
weekly  Bank  Night  beginning  Af 
15,  according  to  Gratton  Johnst* 
manager.  The  Ohio  here  has  returr 
to  single  bills. 


Form  Audio-Video  Fin 

Albany,  April  10. — Radio-Aud 
Video  Corp.  has  been  licensed  to  cc 
duct  radio  and  television  business,  w 
200  shares  of  stock.  Directors  «J 
Edward  F.  Roehm,  William  B.  We 
berger  and  Edward  J.  Welch,  N 
York. 


McGuire  to  20th-Fox 

Hollywood,     April     10. — Willi: 
Anthony    McGuire,    formerly  w 
M-G-M,  has  been  signed  as  asso  j 
ate  producer  and  writer  by  Dar 
Zanuck  for  20th  Century-Fox. 


Heifetz  Film  Titled 

Hollywood,    April    10.  —  Sanr 
Goldwyn  today  titled  Jascha  Heifet 
picture    now    shooting    as     "Mu  [ 
School"  and  set  Andrea  Leeds 
the  feminine  role. 


Vlert, 
TteWigei 


!k>  the^hDjtion 
•icture 
industry 


DO  NOT  REMOl 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 





.45.  NO.  70 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  12,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


A.  Officers 
Called  in  L.A. 
Racket  Probe 


)cal    37  Appeals 
Federal  Inquiry 


for 


Iollywood,  April  11. — Los  Angeles 
unty  Grand  Jury  today  subpoenaed 
;rnational  officers  of  the  I.  A.  T. 
E.,  members  of  Studio  Technicians' 
zzl  37,  and  others  to  appear  before 
for  questionining  regarding  "labor 
Iketeering."  Witnesses  were  or- 
ed  to  appear  April  18  for  question- 
with  reference  to  two  per  cent  as- 
sments  levied  during  the  43  weeks 
t  autonomy  of  the  four  studio  locals 
s  suspended. 

wOcal   37  officials   announced  that 
i>y    understood    Attorney  General 
ank   Murphy,   to   whom  they  ap- 
ded  for  a  Federal  probe  of  labor 
keteering,   would   make   a  public 
tement   in   Washington  Thursday 
jarding  the  matter. 
Summoned  to  appear  here  before 
grand    jury    are    John  Gatelee, 
"ank    Stickling    and    Harold  V. 
lith,  I.  A.  representatives,  Ed  Heim 
.d  Guy  Cooper,  deposed  Local  37  of- 
cers,  and  Opal    Gile,  I.   A.  office 
itchboard   operator.      Four  other 
Dpoenas  were  issued  but  had  nol 
pn  served  at  the  close  of  the  day. 


uffalo  Theatres  to 
Meet  on  Clearance 

(Independent  exhibitors  in  Buffalo 
11  meet  tomorrow  to  consider  a  pro- 
'sed  revision  of  clearance  there.  The 
-st  draft  of  the  plan  was  submitted 
•  a  New  York  Allied  meeting  in 
iffalo  on  Monday.  Tomorrow's  con- 
"ence  is  sponsored  by  the  organiza- 
J>n.  Al  Francis,  regional  vice-presi- 
vnt,  will  preside. 

The  independents  are  working  on  a 
in  which  would  permit  films  to  clear 
possibly  60  days  to  the  last  runs, 
stead  of  in  three  and  a  half  months 
at  present.   The  independents  also 

Vor  eliminating  or  limiting  move- 
er  runs,  which  contribute  to  the  ex- 
uded clearance.  Relief  is  sought  for 

ij-ighborhoods   charging    15   and  20 

|nts._ 

|It  is  expected  that  a  series  of  con- 
ferences will  be  necessary  to  iron  out 
.-  e  problem,  and  it  is  planned  to  hold 
eetings  with  Vincent  McFaul,  Buf- 
lo  head  of  Shea  theatres,  which  con- 
i  ol    the    first    runs.    The  proposed 
'^reement  will  be  submitted  to  the 
1  stributors  for  approval. 
|  Clearance  will  be  a  topic  also  at 
i  Allied  meeting  in  Rochester  to- 
orrow  to  which  all  independent  ex- 
bitors  have  been  invited. 


Republic's  'Conquesf 
At  Capitol,  April  27 

No  more  than  three  or  four 
"outside"  films  have  been 
booked  into  the  Loew's  Cap- 
itol, on  Broadway,  in  the  past 
two  years,  so  that  Republic's 
"Man  of  Conquest,"  can  claim 
special  distinction  in  being 
selected  to  premiere  at  this 
M-G-M  flagship  beginning 
April  27. 

The  picture  had  its  world 
premiere  at  the  Majestic 
(Hoblizelle-O'Donnell),  Hous- 
ton, where  it  is  now  in  its 
second  week. 


See  Reenactment  of 
Old  Amusement  Tax 
For  Pennsylvania 


COMMITTEE  MAY 
KILL  NEELY  BILL 


Harrisburc,  Pa.,  April  11. — Re- 
publican administration  leaders  in  the 
Pennsylvania  legislature  are  reported 
today  to  have  practically  agreed  on  the 
need  of  reenacting  in  the  present  ses- 
sion the  amusement  tax  of  several 
years  ago.  It  imposed  an  extra  one- 
cent  tax  on  each  25  cents  of  the  cost 
of  a  theatre  ticket  or  fraction  thereof. 

Several  bills  to  that  effect  are  now 
in  the  hands  of  the  Ways  and  Means 
Committee  of  the  lower  house,  where 
they  were  being  held  pending  determ- 
ination of  whether  the  revenue  would 
be  needed.  Leaders  now  say  it  ap- 
pears essential  to  pass  such  a  meas- 
ure. 

Senator  Roberts  has  offered  a 
resolution  in  the  upper  house  inform- 
ing Governor  James  that  there  is 
sentiment  in  the  legislature  for  an 
amusement  tax.  The  resolution  favors 
a  "reasonable"  tax  for  weekdays  and 
a  25  per  cent  tax  on  gross  receipts  of 
Sundav  amusements. 


Republic  Opening 
Eastern  Meeting 
In  New  York  Today 


Republic  starts  its  eastern  regional 
sales  meeting  today  at  the  Park  Cen- 
tral, with  approximately  50  in  attend- 
ance. The  meet- 
ing    will  last 
two  days. 

Walter  W. 
Vincent  of  the 
Wilmer  &  Vin- 
cent circuit  will 
address  the 
delegates 
on  "An  Exhibi- 
tor's Viewpoint 
of  Republic," 
and  other  guest 
speakers  are 
scheduled. 
Harry  LaVine 
and  Jack  Bell- 
man, central 
and  eastern  district  sales  heads,  re- 
spectively, will  preside  at  the  sessions, 
which  will  be  attended  by  delegates 
from  eight  cities  as  well  as  Canada. 

Full  information  will  be  given  on  the 
company's  program  of  26  features,  24 
westerns  and  four  serials.  The  con- 
vention program  is  similar  to  that  at 
the  southern  sales  meeting  in  Houston 
last  week,  with  major  speakers  in- 
cluding H.  J.  Yates,  president  Con- 
solidated Film  Industries ;  M.  J. 
Siegel,  president,  Republic  Produc- 
tions, who  will  outline  production 
plans;  William  Saal,  special  represen- 
tative, who  will   speak  on  the  new 

{Continued  on  page  3) 


J? 


J.   R.  Grainger 


Spring  Thaw  Lets  Out  Word  of 

Alaska  Anti-Ascap  Legislation 

An  anti-Ascap  bill  was  enacted  by  Alaska  during  February,  ac- 
cording to  word  just  received  in  New  York  following  the  spring 
thaw  in  the  northwest.  Ascap  has — or  had — one  paying  radio 
customer  in  the  territory,  according  to  Schwartz  &  Frohlich, 
Ascap  counsel. 

Six  anti-Ascap  bills  "died"  during  the  past  few  weeks  as  the 
North  Carolina,  Georgia,  Alabama,  Arkansas,  Missouri  and  Ore- 
gon legislatures  adjourned  without  taking  action  on  the  measures 
which  had  been  introduced  during  the  1938-'39  sessions.  A  tax 
bill  aimed  at  Ascap  in  Mississippi  died  when  the  legislature  ad- 
journed there  recently. 

A  new  bill  against  the  society  was  introduced  in  the  Vermont 
legislature  recently  and  was  referred  to  the  Judiciary  Committee. 


Schaefer  Continues  His 
Attack;  Smith  Asks 
Hearings'  End 


Washington,  April  11. — Probabil- 
ity that  the  Neely  Bill  will  not  reach 
the  Senate  for  action  this  session  was 
seen  today  as  distributors  continued 
their  attack  on  the  block  booking 
measure. 

Urging  that  the  hearings  be  con- 
cluded as  soon  as  possible,  Senator 
Ellison  D.  Smith,  chairman  of  the 
Senate  Interstate  Commerce  subcom- 
mittee in  charge  of  the  measure,  com- 
mented, "I  have  been  greatly  enlight- 
ened as  to  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try and  its  methods  of  production  and 
distribution,"  adding  that  if  the  bill 
reaches  the  floor  he  will  seek  to  "en- 
lighten" members  who  have  not  at- 
tended the  hearings  and  "I  hope  the 
Senate  will  have  as  open  a  mind  as 
some  of  us  have  had." 

The  committee  chairman  has  con- 
sistently adhered  to  the  belief  that 
the  film  industry  operations  are  based 
on  the  profit  motive  and  has  been 
skeptical  of  claims  that  the  bill  would 
improve  the  quality  of  films.  Senator 
White,  who  voted  against  the  bill 
last  year,  has  announced  his  only  in- 
terest in  it  was  from  a  moral  stand- 
point and  has  asked  to  be  shown  that 
the  measure  would  operate  from  that 
angle.  Senator  Barkley  is  expected 
to  go  along  with  the  other  two,  leav- 
ing only  Senator  Neely  in  favor  of  the 

(.Continued  on  page  3) 


May  Have  Draft  of 
Union  Pact  Today 

Representatives  of  distributors, 
metropolitan  circuits  and  Local  306 
may  complete  a  written  draft  of  the 
new  union  agreement  today  or  tomor- 
row, embodying  the  new  concessions 
for  projection  room  operators.  Media- 
tion of  the  dispute  as  to  the  effective 
date  of  the  new  agreement  will  be  be- 
gun immediately  thereafter. 

Union  contends  effective  date  of 
two-year  pact  should  be  Sept.  1,  1937, 
and  companies  contend  it  should  be 
dated  one  year  later.  Only  difference 
involved  is  whether  new  negotiations 
will  have  to  be  held  next  September  or 
a  year  from  then.  Discussions  of  a 
merger  of  Empire  State  union  with 
Local  306  are  not  expected  to  be  taken 
up  until  the  new  agreement  has  been 
signed. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  April  12,  193 


i  Purely 
Personal  ► 

ARTHUR  WILLI,  chief  casting  di- 
rector of  RKO,  left  New  York 
yesterday  for  Columbus,  to  audition 
candidates  in  the  new  Jesse  L.  Lasky 
"'Gateway  to  Hollywood"  talent  quest. 
Herbert  Rawlinson,  eastern  talent 
representative,  accompanied  him.  They 
will  go  later  to  Atlanta,  Washington 
and  Rochester. 

• 

E.  A.  Helouis,  office  manager  at 
Columbia's  New  York  exchange,  will 
return  to  his  desk  Monday  after  a 
two-vyeek  illness.  Frances  Goldberg, 
secretary  to  Helouis,  is  out  with  a 
sore  throat. 

• 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  president  of 
Monogram,  is  en  route  from  the  coast, 
stopping  off  at  exchanges.  He  will 
return  to  the  coast  after  the  company 
convention  in  Chicago  May  4-6. 
• 

Paul  Benjamin  of  National 
Screen  Service,  is  expected  back  at 
his  office  the  end  of  this  week  after 
being  confined  to  his  home  with  a  leg 
ailment. 

T.  R.  Williams,  treasurer  of  Edu- 
cational-Grand National,  returned  yes- 
terday from  the  coast,  where  he  spent 
more  than  four  months. 

• 

Howard  Dietz,  M-G-M  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  director,  is  due  from 
a  Bermuda  vacation  by  the  end  of  the 
week. 

• 

Frank  C.  Gilbert,  Altec  chief  en- 
gineer, has  left  New  York  by  automo- 
bile for  the  coast,  where  he  will  attend 
the  S.  M.  P..E.  convention. 

• 

Noah  Schecter,  Cincinnati  exhibi- 
tor, has  returned  from  a  winter  stay 
in  Florida. 

• 

Norman  Elson,  district  manager 
for  Brandt  Theatres,  is  home  ill  with 
the  grippe. 

• 

N.  L.  Nathanson  left  New  York 
for  Toronto  last  night. 


New  York  Preview 


KRS  Report  Hits 
Quota  Provision! 


4/? 

AMERICAN 


to 


LOS  ANGELES 


"Ar  Go  the  smooth,  nature- 
favored  Southern  All-Year 
Route  of  the  Flagship  sky- 
rleepers!  No  change  of 
planes.  Complimentary 
meals.  Leave  at  5:10  p.m. 
or  10:45  p.m.  Phone  your 
travel  agent  or  VAnderbilt 
offices  45  Vanderbilt  Ave.  a 
Center  at  18  W.  49th  Street. 

AMERICAN  AIRLINES  -'A 


$|4995 

Save  10%  On 
Round  Trip 

3-2580.  Ticket 
nd  Rockefeller 


nr. 


The  World's  Fair  Line 


"Man  of  Conquest" 

{Republic) 

Properly  exploited,  the  box  office  will  eat  up  this  biography  of  Sam 
Houston,  one  of  America's  great  men  of  the  19th  century.  The  picture 
has  gusto.  It  is  alive  with  action  and  romance  and  well-timed,  although 
some  might  like  to  have  it  move  at  a  swifter  pace.  But  the  pioneers 
who  braved  the  Santa  Anna  raids  in  the  '40's  didn't  move  as  fast  as  some 
might  wish  to  have  had  them.  In  those  days  it  took  a  rider  three  days 
to  travel  from  the  Brazos  to  the  Alamo. 

Richard  Dix,  as  Houston,  is  realistic.  He  gives  you  a  character  of  a 
man  such  as  he  hasn't  done  since  he  gave  to  the  screen  the  famous 
Yancey  Cravat  of  "Cimarron." 

Perhaps  the  makers  of  this  picture  can  depend  on  "tongue  talk"  (to  use 
the  language  of  the  film)  to  make  the  box  offices  whirl.  If  the  merits  of 
this  show  are  to  be  properly  told,  it  will  be  told  in  big,  bold  faced  letters 
in  media  which  leave  a  permanent  impression.  When  that  is  done,  the 
showmen  of  the  country  being  enthused  will  let  town  and  country  know 
what  a  great  piece  of  entertainment  is  coming  their  way. 

This  picture  is  a  true  adventure  tale,  without  a  swashbuckling  aroma. 
It  is  realistic — a  patriotic  portrait  in  celluloid  which  moves  across  the 
screen  with  dignity  and  ease. 

You  see  the  destruction  of  the  Alamo  and  hear  the  cry  "Remember 
the  Alamo,"  taken  from  the  Mexicans  and  whipped  around  into  a  terrible 
retaliatory  war  whoop  by  the  Americans. 

Sam  Houston  rises  from  a  mere  buckskin  clad  backwoodsman  to  the 
Governorship  of  Tennessee  with  the  help  of  Andrew  Jackson.  He 
resigns  when  embittered  by  domestic  troubles  and  his  young  wife  leaves 
him.  Houston  returns  to  his  boyhood  friends,  the  Cherokees,  and  soon 
he  is  in  Texas  and  in  love  again  with  a  second  woman.  He  conquers 
Texas  and  the  Mexicans,  marries  the  girl  and  brings  Texas  into  the 
Union. 

Wells  Root,  E.  E.  Paramore  and  Jan  Fortune  authored  the  screen- 
play from  an  original  by  Harold  Shumate  and  Wells  Root.  They  have 
created  a  stirring  saga  of  the  southwest. 

When  the  battle  lines  are  drawn  on  the  plains  of  Texas  you  have  a 
realistic  bit  of  warfare. 

Edward  Ellis'  portrayal  of  Andrew  Jackson  is  among  the  picture  s 
most  effective  items.  Gail  Patrick's  performance  as  Margaret  Lea  is 
vibrant  and  George  Hayes,  as  Upchurch,  Ralph  Morgan  as  Stephen 
Austin  and  Victor  Jory  as  Travis,  as  well  as  Robert  Armstrong  as  Jim 
Bowie,  walk  out  of  a  seemingly  unaltered  and  stirring  past. 

Sol  'Siegel  produced  this  worthy  picture  and  George  Nicholls,  Jr., 
directed  it  with  skill  and  understanding. 

Running  time,  98  minutes.  "G."* 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Club  Inducts  Governor 

Columbus,  April  11.— Among  those 
attending  the  induction  of  Gov.  John 
W.  Bricker  of  Ohio,  as  an  associate 
member  of  the  local  Variety  Club, 
were  ex-Governor  White  of  Ohio, 
Myron  B.  Gessaman,  Mayor  of  Co- 
lumbus; John  H.  Harris,  national 
chief  barker,  Pittsburgh;  James  Bai- 
mer,  Pittsburgh;  Nat  Wolf,  chief 
barker,  and  M.  R.  Clark,  Cleveland. 


Appeal  'Ecstasy'  Ban 

Albany,  April  11. — A  Board  of  Re- 
gents subcommitee  including  Gordon 
Knox  Bell,  George  J.  Ryan  and  Susan 
Brandeis  is  expected  shortly  to  review 
the  revised  version  of  "Ecstasy"  on 
appeal.  The  original  version  was 
banned  in  1937  and  Irwin  Esmond, 
state  censor,  has  banned  the  revision. 
Eureka  Productions  has  appealed  the 
ban. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Crisis  in  Europe  and  Easter  Sun- 
day celebrations  are  chief  features 
of  the  new  issues  of  the  newsreels, 
contents  of  which  follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  61  —  War  in 
Spain  ends.  French  Ambassador  to  Spam 
inducted.  French  trade  treaty  signed. 
Mussolini  conquers  Albania.  Easter  cele- 
brations. Danish  royalty  visits  America. 
Ford  opens  exhibit  at  New  York  fair.  Army 
Day  parade.  Marion  Anderson  sings  m 
Washington.    Sea  disaster.    Lew  Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY;  No.  259— Crisis  m 
Europe.  Berries  in  season.  Rocks  wreck 
freighter.  Prince  and  Princess  of  Denmark 
on  good  will  tour.  Seamen  battle  rough 
water.     Football  training. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,   No.  72  —  Easter 


observed  throughout  country.  British 
freighter  sinks.  Henry  Ford  at  New  York 
fair.  Danish  royalty  arrives  in  California 
Refugees  in  England.  "Upside  down"  girl 
wins  health  honor.  Italy  takes  Albania 
Celebrate  anniversary  of  Fascism  in  Italy. 
Senator  Johnson  speaks.  Negro  contralto 
lin^s  at  Lincoln  Memorial. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS.  No.  76—  European 
war  situation.    Ford  building  at  New  York 
fair  is  dedicated.     League  battles  depres 
sion.     Prince    and    princess    of  Denmark 
greeted  at  coast. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  761— 
Easter  rites.  Albania  captured.  Army  Day 
parades  in  New  York  and  Washington.  Re 
servists  sworn  in.  Danish  royalty  tours 
country.  Henry  Ford  at  New  York  fair 
Snow  avalanche.  British  freighter  wrecked 
"Upside  down"  girl  grows  up.  Rodeo. 


London,  April  11. — Kinematograj 
Renters'  Society,  English  distrib 
tor  organization,  in  its  1938  repo 
criticises  the  new  quota  provisions 
the  Films  Act,  describing  them 
showing  "little  originality  or  darji 
in  encouraging  the  establishment^^ , 
British  production  industry." 

The  report  forecasts  the  estal 
lishment  of  a  production  industry  hei 
by  American  interests  unless  tl 
British  producers  make  characterise 
ally  British  films,  ensuring  profits 
the  home  market.  It  is  contended  th; 
greater  originality  in  film  themes 
needed,  instead  of  imitation.  High 
quotas  are  no  solution,  the  report  d 
clares. 

Exhibitors  are  censured  for  the 
recent  campaign  on  the  grading 
films,  the  report  suggesting  major  ci 
cuits  are  the  only  beneficiaries  of  su< 
a  plan.  It  pleads  for  a  united  indu 
try  viewpoint  and  impeaches  exhit 
tors  responsible  for  divided  opinion. 


Goldwyn  Files  New 
Suit  in  Wilmingto, 

Max  D.  Steuer,  attorney  for  Sami; 
Goldwyn,  issued  a  statement  yesterd; 
setting  forth  Goldwyn's  opposition 
United  Artists'  inclusion  of  the  pro 
uct  of  certain  producers  and  also  e: 
pressing  opposition  to  the  compan}! 
sales  policy.  The  statement  was  ma 
following  the  filing  of  a  new  suit 
the  U.  S.  District  Court  of  Wilmin 
ton,  Del.,  yesterday.  The  complaint 
the  same  as  that  recently  withdrav 
in  the  N.  Y.  Federal  Court. 

Steuer  stressed  the  fact  that  Gol!i 
wyn  was  not  seeking  to  enforce  ai1 
claim  against  U.A.  but  was  suing  f 
a  declaratory  judgment  defining  H 
rights  under  the  distribution  contra* 
He  pointed  out  that  a  quicker  tr| 
could  be  obtained  in  Wilmingtc 
William  S.  Potter,  of  Ward  &  Grs 
filed  the  .  complaint  on  behalf 
Goldwyn. 


M-G-M  Signs  Astaire 

Hollywood,  April  11.— Fred  Astai] 
has  signed  an  M-G-M  contract  a| 
will  appear  oposite  Eleanor  Powell 
"Broadway  Melody  of  1940." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  a 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM] 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunc 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Cc 
pany,  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  preside' 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasur 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephoi 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpub 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1! 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  I 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yc 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Mori 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teat 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picti 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  - —  Hollywood:  Postal  Un: 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boc 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weav 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squa 
W.  1 :  cable  address.  Quigpubco,  Londt 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription    rates    per   year   $6  in 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  1 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


•fednesday.  April  12,  1939 

feely  Bill  May 
Wever  Reach 
Senate  Floor 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

fc^vith  Senator  Tobey  of  New 
l^ishire.  w  ho  has  attended  no  hear- 
ijs,  doubtful. 

Continuing  his  attack  on  the  bill, 
prge  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  head,  to- 
took  up  and  answered  independ- 
exhibitor  charges  made  earlier  in 
hearings. 

:\is  to  Nathan  Vamins'  testimony 
,(t  he  bought  the  entire  output  of 
(eral  companies,    Schaefer  pointed 

-  he  had  a  monopoly  for  years  and 
only  now  facing  a  threat  of  com- 
-ttion  through  erection  of  a  new 
'.  1  River  theatre  which  he  tried  un- 
jcessfully  to  block. 

As  former  head  of  United  Artists, 
;;iaefer  pointed  out,  he  was  in  a  po- 

on     to     answer  authoritatively 

films'  contention  that  that  company 
not  sell  in  block.  It  has  always 
[bked  in  blocks,  he  declared,  and  '"it 
.iild  be  more  difficult  for  United 

tists  to  sell  under  the  Neely  Bill 

n  any  other  company." 

'Snow  White,"  he  asserted,  was 
,  i  alone  but,  he  said  in  answer  to 
,«ator  Neely's  assertion  that  eX- 
jtors  had  written  him  they  could 
I  the  picture  only  with  a  block, 
jre  were  cases  where  a  theatre 
Sited   "Snow   White"   only,  while 

ipetitors  offered  to  take  blocks  and 

•d  business  dictated  that  the  latter 

er  be  accepted. 

(Eamins   said  also  there  are  well 
r  100  producers  who  would  turn 
pictures   under  the   Neely  Bill, 
J   witness   continued,   but    in  fact 
,se  producers  are  on  the  payrolls 
.major  companies  at  salaries  which 
|.  causing  concern.     Senator  Neely 
I  rjected  to  say  that  one  film  man 
eived  more  than  all  96  members 
I  the  Senate,  and   Senator  Smith 
^.nmented  "I'm  going  to  join  them." 

Tables  Submitted 

;Bn  answer  to  a  desire  repeatedly 
Hkessed    by    Senators    Smith  and 
.ite  for   figures   showing  whether 

-  ibitors  are  forced  to  take  all  pic- 
es, C.  C.  Petti john  submitted  tables 
wing  contracts  on  all  pictures  pro- 
«d  by  a  half-dozen  companies  for 
{  1937-38  season. 

Hiese  tables  showed  that  20th  Cen- 

:,,--Fox  contracts  ranged  from  12,- 
1  on  "In  Old  Chicago"  to  3,581  for 
:  i  nner  at  the  Ritz"  ;  Paramount  had 
•:  ?00  contracts  on  "Wells  Fargo"  and 
317  on  "Love  on  Toast" ;  RKO  re- 
j  ited  9,567  contracts  on  "Stage 
jjjbr"  and  845  on  "The  Rat";  Uni- 
■jfjsal  sold  "Three  Smart  Girls"  to 

ijS73,  but  only  5,455  on  "The 
5'Hser" ;  and  Columbia  sales  ranged 

Jm  10,298  on  "Theodora  Goes 
a-tJld"  to  2,006  on  "Beloved  Vaga- 

-  d." 

.  .lenneth  Thompson,  executive  sec- 
:',:iry  of  the  Screen  Actors  Guild, 
*ja    the    subcommittee,    as  Robert 
■t  ntgomery    had    earlier,    that  the 
Id's  directors  believe  that  the  bill 
jld  act  to  reduce  employment  of 
Ht>rs  by  curtailment  of  production 
forced    theatre    closings.  He 
ited  out   that  the   measure  pro- 
'  '  ed  no  substitute  for  the  industry's 


Rodger s  Sure  Most 
Units  Back  Program 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M 
general  sales  manager,  re- 
iterates his  belief  that  if  the 
independent  exhibitors  were 
polled  on  their  attitude  to  the 
proposed  trade  practice  code, 
a  majority  would  be  found 
in  its  favor.  Rodgers  re 
turned  yesterday  from  Wash- 
ington where  he  spoke  at  the 
Neely  bill  hearing. 

W.  F.  Crockett,  president, 
M.P.T.O.  of  Virginia,  an  un- 
affiliated group,  expressed  his 
approval  personally  to  Rodg- 
ers in  Washington. 


Majors  Are  Sued  by 
Cleveland  Exhibitor 

Cleveland,  April  11. — East  Shore 
Theatre  Co.,  operating  the  LaSalle 
here,  today  sought  an  injunction  in 
Common  Pleas  Court  against  20th 
Century-Fox,  M-G-M,  Paramount, 
Universal  and  United  Artists  to  stop 
film  service  to  the  New  Shore,  op- 
erated by  the  Shore  Theatre  Corp. 

The  action  charges  contract  viola- 
tion. East  Shore  claiming  contractual 
protection  over  all  opposition  except 
the  Commodore,  where  the  product  is 
split.  Hearing  has  been  set  by  Com- 
mon Pleas  Judge  Lee  Skeel  for  April 
18. 


Crews  Operator  Bill 
Put  Over  to  April  19 

Albany,  April  11. — Assembly  today 
laid  over  until  April  19  the  Crews 
bill  requiring  licensed  projectionists 
in  New  York  City.  Assemblyman 
Crews  is  studying  the  bill  for  the  pur- 
pose of  eliminating  objections  of  edu- 
cators and  amateurs. 

Senator  Joseph  D.  Nunan  intro- 
duced a  bill  to  permit  the  New  York 
City  Council  to  place  a  five  per  cent 
tax  on  World  Fair  admissions.  The 
Butler  bill  dealing  with  admission  of 
children  to  theatres  was  recommitted 
in  the  Senate,  thus  effectively  killing 
the  bill  for  this  session. 


Flu  Hits  Mexico  Houses 

Mexico  City,  April  11. — Flu.  the 
worst  here  since  the  Spanish  epidemic 
of  1918,  has  hit  exhibitors  hard.  It  has 
reduced  business  for  some  theatres  as 
much  as  30  per  cent. 


present  method  of  wholesaling  film 
and  said  that  if  a  better  method  were 
found  the  industry  would  not  have  to 
be  forced  by  legislation  to  adopt  it. 
He  characterized  the  proposed  substi- 
tute for  blind  selling — the  synopsis  re- 
quirement— as  unworkable. 

Ralph  Block,  representing  the 
Screen  Writers  Guild,  said  the  Neely 
Bill  would  demoralize  production  and 
"place  insurmountable  obstacles"  in 
the  way  of  screen  writers.  He  said 
it  would  be  "impossible"  for  writers 
to  comply  with  the  synopsis  require- 
ments. 

Mrs.  Frances  Flagg  of  Newtonville, 
Mass.,  told  the  subcommittee  the 
Neely  Bill  threatens  to  block  prog- 
ress, adding  that  a  number  of  national 
organizations  of  which  she  is  a  mem- 
ber have  never  given  any  thought  to 
the  block  booking  question. 


Film  Organization 
Formed  in  Mexico 


Mexico  City,  April  11.— Organiza- 
tion of  a  national  chamber  for  Mexi- 
can film  producers,  distributors  and 
exhibitors,  for  the  purpose  of  protect- 
ing their  interests  and  generally  im- 
proving conditions  in  the  industry,  has 
been  completed  here  by  a  group  of 
members  of  the  national  exhibitors' 
union,  headed  by  Francisco  Somohano. 

Manuel  Rivera,  prominent  pro- 
ducer, is  president.  Other  officers  in- 
clude Juan  Pezet,  Francisco  Somo- 
hano, Manuel  Fernandez  and  Emilio 
Azcarraga. 


Equity  Sunday  Show 
Referendum  Delayed 

Actors'  Equity  council  voted  yes- 
terday to  retain  its  original  stand  on 
the  proposed  Sunday  shows  referen- 
dum and  refused  to  send  out  the  bal- 
lots until  the  League  of  N.  Y.  The- 
atres obtains  an  agreement  from  all 
craft  unions  that  they  will  waive 
extra  pay  for  Sunday  work.  The 
league  is  meeting  with  the  unions  in 
in  effort  to  obtain  such  consent,  but 
suggested  that  the  referendum  be  sent 
i  ut  immediately. 

Ballots  for  the  annual  elections  will 
Ik-  mailed  April  20  and  deadline  for 
independent  nominations  has  been  set 
for  Saturday.  Equity  donated  $500  to 
the  Federation  of  Arts  Unions  to  aid 
the  latter  in  its  fight  against  the 
Burns  bill,  which  proposes  to  abolish 
the  WPA  Arts  Project. 


Republic  Opens  Its 
N.  Y.  Meeting  Today 

(Continued  from  pane  1) 

program ;  James  R.  Grainger,  presi- 
dent, Republic  Pictures,  whose  address 
will  be  on  "Selling  the  Program," 
and  Al  Adams,  advertising  and  pub- 
licity chief. 

Talks  on  "What  Republic  Means  to 
Me"  will  be  made  by  six  franchise 
holders,  including  Herman  Gluckman, 
New  York;  Herman  Rifkin,  Boston; 
Nat  Lefton,  Cleveland ;  Sam  Flax, 
Washington ;  J.  Alexander,  Pitts- 
burgh, and  Paul  Nathanson  and  A.  W. 
Perry  of  Toronto,  respectively  Can- 
adian franchise  holder  and  general 
manager. 

The  meeting  will  close  with  an  open 
forum  presided  over  by  Yates.  Thurs- 
day night  there  will  be  a  beefsteak  din- 
ner at  the  New  York  Athletic  Club. 


W.  B.  Ad  Sales  Week 
Sets  Company  Record 

Warners  report  an  all-time  high  in 
sales  of  advertising  accessories  during 
the  Warner  ad  sales  week  from  April 
2  to  April  8.  Sales  for  the  week  were 
reported  as  35  per  cent  over  the  fig- 
ure for  the  1938  ad  sales  week,  the 
previous  high  in  company  history. 

All  of  the  company's  39  branch  of- 
fices in  the  United  States  and  Can- 
ada were  over  quota,  with  15  ex- 
changes doubling  the  quota  and  two 
tripling  the  figure.  A  new  record  is 
claimed  to  have  been  set  when  750,000 
heralds  for  "Dodge  City"  were  sold, 
the  highest  one-week  total  on  a  single 
film  in  the  history  of  the  company. 


3 


Bondy  Signs 
Final  Order 
On  RKO  Plan 

Denies  Cassell  Plea  on 
Atlas  Underwriting 

Final  order  confirming  the  plan  of 
reorganization  of  RKO,  and  approv- 
ing the  officers  and  board  of  directors 
of  the  company,  was  signed  yesterday 
by  Federal  Judge  William  Bondy.  The 
order  submitted  by  Atlas  Corp.,  pro- 
ponent of  the  plan,  was  selected  for 
signature  by  Judge  Bondy,  who  re- 
jected a  provision  put  forward  by  H. 
Cassell  &  Co.  which  would  have  re- 
quired the  Atlas  Corp.  to  present  an 
underwriting  agreement  within  30 
days. 

Furthermore,  Judge  Bondy  over- 
ruled objections  of  John  S.  Stover, 
attorney  for  Ernest  W.  Stirn,  which 
had  been  based  on  charges  that  Atlas 
was  interested  in  Paramount  Pictures, 
Inc.,  a  competitor. 

The  order  stated  that  the  court  was 
satisfied  both  with  the  legality  of  the 
plan  and  the  "identity,  qualifications 
and  affiliations"  of  directors,  and  in 
confirming  the  plan,  reserved  jurisdic- 
tion over  the  assets  of  the  company 
and  all  persons  and  firms  interested, 
one  way  or  another,  in  the  assets  and 
confirmation  of  the  plan.  The  order 
directs  taxes  to  be  paid  in  full  and 
the  assumption  by  the  new  company  of 
all  obligations  of  the  old. 

A  meeting  scheduled  for  today  has 
been  adjourned  to  May  16  at  5  o'clock, 
and  will  be  held  open  for  any  matters 
that  may  arise. 


Lab  Union  Will  Vote 
On  De  Luxe  Contract 

Proposed  contract  with  De  Luxe 
Laboratories  will  be  submitted  for  ap- 
proval to  a  membership  meeting  of 
M.  P.  Laboratory  Technicians'  Union, 
Local  702  Friday  evening.  Negotia- 
tions have  been  carried  on  for  the  past 
few  months  and  the  committee  will 
submit  its  report  to  the  members.  Con- 
ferences will  be  resumed  with  Con- 
solidated Film  Industries  after  settle- 
ment with  De  Luxe. 


J 


Pa.  Senate  Refuses 
To  Confirm  Censor 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  April  11. — 
Pennsylvania  Senate  last 
night  refused  to  confirm  the 
appointment  of  Mrs.  Edna  R. 
Carroll  as  a  member  of  the 
state  censor  board.  The  re- 
fusal was  said  to  have  been 
on  political  grounds. 

Governor  James  is  expected 
to  name  Mrs.  Carroll  ad  in- 
terim at  the  close  of  the 
legislative  session,  permitting 
her  to  serve  until  the  close 
of  the  next  session.  Failure 
to  approve  leaves  the  state 
without  a  censor  board,  since 
the  three  Democratic  mem- 
bers had  been  forced  to  re- 
sign. Subordinate  employes 
are  carrying  on  the  censor 
work. 


u 


EVERY  MONTH 
I  CHAT  WITH 
ALL  YOUR 


CUSTOMERS! 


Here's  the  next  issue  of  M-G-M's  popu- 
lar LION'S  ROAR  column.  It  is  typical 
of  the  breezy  message  which  appears 
in  a  special  preferred  position  monthly  in 
leading  national  magazines.  The  informal 
copy,  different  from  any  other  film 
advertising,  has  won  it  a  huge  following 
throughout  America. 


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Has  Judge  Hardy's  delightful  family 
dropped  in  on  you  yet?  If  by  chance 
they  haven't,  why  don't  you  drop  in 
on  them? 

*     *     *  * 

You'll  know  they're  in  town  when  you 
see  this  sign- 


HERE'S  A  CHALLENGE  Mickey 
Rooney  (himself . . .  not  a  stand-in)  will 
write  a  congratulatory  letter  to  the  five 
best  copiers  of  the  above  draw  ing.  Mickey's 
letters  are  very  personal.  So  send  yours 
(don't  make  it  too  big)  to  Leo,  M-G-M 
Studios,  Box  O,  Culver  City,  Cal.  We  are 
the  final  judges ...  all  drawings  become  our 
property  .  .  none  will  be  returned. 

*  *     *  * 

All  who  send  in  drawings  but  don't  win 
one  of  Mickey's  personal  letters  will  re- 
ceive (with  our  compliments)  The  Screen 
Forecast,  giving  all  the  inside  dope 
about  coming  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
attractions,  of  which  there  are  many 

*  *     *  * 

And  one  of  the.  most  attractive  of  the 
attractions  brings  together  Claude'tte 
Colbert  and  James  Stewart  in  a  Van 
Dyke-directed  opus  entitled  "It's  a 
Wonderful  World." 

*  *     *  * 

No  matter  what  your  opinion  of  the 
world  may  be,  you  won't  deny  that  it's 
a  wonderful  picture. 

*  *     ★  ★ 

In  addition  to  Claudette  and  James, 
Guy  Kibbee,  Frances  Drake,  Edgar 
Kennedy,  Ernest  Truex  are  in  the  casL 


HE'S  LOOKING  FOR  A  BIGGER 
WORD  THAN  COLOSSAL!  (Above  is  a 
portrait  of  the  M-G-M  representative  who 
will  acquaint  your  favorite  theatre  with 
information  about  the  new  season  pictures. 
M-G-M  is  the  leading  motion  picture  com- 
pany in  the  world.  The  season  coming  to 
a  close  has  been  the  best  in  its  history. 
But  the  new  season's  line-up  is  considered 
the  last  word  in  screen  entertainment. 
Again— write  for  The  Screen  Forecast.) 

★  *  *  * 
Early  in  June  we  shall  all  say  a  gay 
hello  to  "Good-Bye  Mr.  Chips."  Oi 
scouts  report  that  Robert  Donat's  per- 
formance is  his  best  ever,  and  directoi 
Sam  Wood's  screen  translation  of  th< 
James  Hilton  novel  is  perfection. 


★  * 

WIZARD  OF  OZ 
(More  rhythmic  notes) 
THE  TIN 
WOODMAN 
(Jack  Haley) 


The  woodman  with  his  blade  so  trust; 

Must  yield  to  oiling  daily, 
For -when  he  weeps  his  joints  get  rusty 

Oh,  Jeeper  Weeper  Haley! 

(To  be  continued) 
★      *      ★  ★ 

May  also  comes  in  like  a  lion. 


■A 


THESE 

Hundreds  oj 

in  for  fhot°, 
ldnJ  literature 


z 


7 


46301519  HEADERS! 

Each  M-G-M  representative  has  been  provided  with  a  booklet 
which  shows  in  a  national  publishers'  scientific  survey  the  num- 
ber of  families  reached  by  Leo's  column  (which  by  the  way  is  only 
one  phase  of  M-G-Ms  vast  direct-to-the-public  advertising  coverage). 
This  circulation  blankets  every  city,  town  and  hamlet  in  America 
and  every  range  of  purse.  It  pre-sells  M-G-M  attractions  to  your 
public.  The  response  has  been  sensational  After  only  three 
months  of  existence  Leo's  column  has  acquired  a  regular  follow- 
ing that  watches  for  his  gay  message  every  month  and  writes  in  for 
the  photos  and  booklets  offered  by  The  Friendly  Company. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  April  12,  1 939 1 


'Honolulu'  in 
2  Hub  Spots 
Does  $39,000 


Boston,  April  11.  —  "Honolulu" 
coupled  with  "Burn  'em  Up  O'Con- 
nor" at  Loew's  Orpheum  and  State  hit 
the  high  spot,  totaling  $39,000  ($22,- 
000  and  $17,000  respectively)  with  two 
extra  days  each. 

"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  and 
"Torchv  Blane  in  Chinatown"  drew 
$18,500"  at  the  Metropolitan.  "Love 
Affair"  and  "Society  Smugglers"  at 
the  Keith  Memorial  took  $15,000  in  a 
second  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  5  : 

"Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO-reissue)  (4  days, 

with  vaude.) 
"Lost  Patrol"  (RKO)  (4  days,  with  vaude.) 
"Devil's    Island"    (W.    B.)    (2nd    run)  (3 

days) 

"The  Great  Man  Votes"  (RKO)   (2nd  run) 
(3  days) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,000)  (20c-30c- 
40c).    Gross,  $9,000.  (Average,  $8,000.) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

KEITH    MEMORIAL— (2,790)  (25c-35c- 
40c-5Sc)  6  days,  2nd  week.    Gross,  $15,000. 
(Average,  $15,000.) 
"One  Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (1,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c) 
7  days.    Gross,  $8,000.    (Average,  $9,000.) 
"One  Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

FENWAY— (1,382)     (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross,  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,500.) 
"Yes  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.  B.) 
"Torchy  Blane  in  Chinatown  "(W.  B.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  10  days.  Gross,  $18,500.  (Average, 
$14,500.) 

"Honolulu"  (M-G-M) 

"Burn  'Em  Up  O'Connor"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (2,907)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  9  days.  Gross,  $22,000.  (Average, 
514,500.) 

"Honolulu"  (M-G-M) 

"Burn  'Em  Up  O'Connor"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,537)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  9  days.  Gross,  $17,000.  (Average, 
$10,500.) 

"BlackweU's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Cafe  Society"  (Para.) 

SCOLLAY  —  (2,500)  (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days  (2nd  run).  Gross,  $4,500.  (Average. 
$5,500.) 


'Criminal'  Leads 
At  $5,000  in  Dull 
Milwaukee  Week 

Milwaukee,  April  11. — Not  a  house 
did  better  than  average  in  what  proved 
to  be  one  of  the  dullest  weeks  in  the 
year.    Weather  was  fair  and  cold. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6 : 

"Tundra"  (Univ.) 

LITTLE  THEATRE— (1.098)   (30c-40c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $2,000. 
"Let  Us  Live"  (Col.) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-50c)  8  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"My  Son  is  a  Criminal"  (Co!.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,300)  (25c-30c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Aver- 
age, $5,000) 

"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.  A.) 
"The  Great  Man  Votes  (RKO) 

STRAND— (1.400)    (35c-50c)    7   days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $2,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 
"BlackweU's  Island"  (F.  N.) 

WARNER— (2,400)      (35c-50c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 


"The  Arizona  Wildcat"  (20th-Fox) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (35c-50c)  7 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,500) 


days. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"East  Side  of  Heaven" 

(Universal) 

Hollywood,  April  11. — Universal  presents  a  delightful  box-office 
piece  in  "East  Side  of  Heaven."  A  comedy  with  music,  the  picture  con- 
tains a  name  cast,  comedy,  human  interest  and  romance.  Bing  Crosby 
has  the  top  role,  and  a  substantial  story  adds  to  the  entertainment,  chief 
features  of  which,  as  in  all  Crosby  vehicles,  is  his  singing.  Supporting 
him  are  Joan  Blondell,  Mischa  Auer,  Irene  Hervey,  C.  Aubrey  Smith, 
Robert  Kent,  Jerome  Cowan,  "Sandy,"  Jane  Jones,  Rose  Valyda,  Helen 
Warner,  Jack  Powell,  the  Music  Maids  and  Matty  Malneck  and  his 
orchestra.  "Sandy,"  an  11-month-old  baby  recently  put  under  contract 
by  the  studio,  completely  captured  the  hearts  of  the  preview  audience, 
which  acclaimed  the  picture.  Many  of  the  lines  were  lost  in  audience 
laughter.  William  Conselman  wrote  the  screenplay  from  an  original 
story  by  David  Butler  and  Herbert  Polesie.  Butler  also  directed,  while 
Polesie  produced.  Art  Director  Jack  Otterson's  settings  are  notable  for 
veracity  on  a  wide  range  of  backgrounds. 

In  addition  to  the  exploitation  of  the  four  songs — "Hang  Your  Heart 
on  a  Hickory  Limb,"  "East  Side  of  Heaven,"  "Sing  a  Song  of  Sunbeams" 
and  "That  Sly  Old  Gentleman,"  all  written  by  Johnny  Burke  and  James 
V.  Monaco — showmen  have  much  on  which  to  base  a  selling  campaign. 

Crosby,  a  singing  messenger  boy  for  a  telegraph  service,  and  Miss 
Blondell,  switchboard  operator  in  a  hotel,  are  forced  to  postpone  their 
wedding  when  he  loses  his  job.  Subsequently  employed  as  a  singing 
taxicab  driver,  Crosby  becomes  entangled  in  the  fight  of  a  wealthy  fam- 
ily over  the  custody  of  a  baby.  The  young  wife,  despised  by  the  grand- 
father, leaves  the  child  with  Crosby.  The  complications  are  hilarious 
and  serious,  but  Crosby  straightens  out  matters  for  the  family  as  well 
as  for  himself. 

Running  time,  90  minutes.  "G."*  Vance  King 


"The  Family  Next  Door' 


( Universal) 

Hollywood,  April  10. — Domestic  comedy  is  the  entertainment 
substance  of  "The  Family  Next  Door."  Designed  for  family  audiences 
and  making  no  pretense  at  anything  but  clean,  wholesome  amusement, 
the  production  develops  a  respectable  amount  of  humor  in  characteriza- 
tions, situations  and  dialogue.  The  material  provided  for  the  players  in 
the  original  screenplay  prepared  by  Mortimer  Offner  is  hardly  new,  but 
the  manner  in  which  it  is  put  over  by  Hugh  Herbert,  Joy  Hodges, 
Eddie  Quillan,  Ruth  Donnelly,  Juanita  Quigley,  Bennie  Bartlett, 
Thomas  Beck,  Cecil  Cunningham,  James  Bush  and  Frances  Robinson 
under  Joseph  Santley's  able  direction  give  it  a  light  and  gay  appeal. 

Herbert,  a  hard  working  plumber,  is  encumbered  by  a  family,  all  of 
whom  have  grandiloquent  ideas.  No  matter  how  hard  he  tries  to  save 
money,  his  brood  can  think  up  ways  of  getting  rid  of  it.  Miss  Hodges' 
desire  for  an  artistic  career  and  many  romances  give  him  trouble 
enough,  but  when  his  socially  ambitious  wife,  Miss  Donnelly  and 
"genius"  son,  Quillan,  team  up  to  make  a  fortune  in  real  estate,  the 
lid  of  respectability  almost  blows  off.  But  when  the  youngest  child, 
Miss  Quigley,  demonstrates  that  what  looked  like  a  lot  of  mud  is  really 
a  valuable  silicate  deposit,  the  comedy  of  errors  reaches  a  happy  conclu- 


'Wife'  Clears 
Good  $34,000 
Chicago  Gross 


Chicago,  April  11. — "Wife,  Hus- 
band and  Friend,"  bolstered  by  ai/  H- 
colored  stage  revue — "Mikado  *  n 
Swing,"  at  the  Chicago,  grossed  a  neat 
$34,000,  despite  the  expected  check  of 
Holy  Week  and  Passover,  plus  cold 
and  unsettled  weather  the  latter  half 
of  the  week. 

Finishing  its  eighth  week  at  the 
Apollo,  "Pygmalion"  took  $5,000,  a 
drop  from  last  week,  but  still  strong. 
The  Palace  with  "Love  Affair"  and 
vaudeville  in  for  a  second  week,  saw  ai 
profit,  grossing  $16,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  5-8 : 

"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

APOLLO— (1.400)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days,  8th 
week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:     "Swing   Mikado"    Revue.  Gross: 
$34,000.    (Average,  $32,000) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

GARRICK—  (900)    (35c-40c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Forged  Passport"  (Rep.) 
"Strange  Faces"  (Univ.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:    Vaudeville   Revue.     Gross:  $13,500. 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

PALACE— (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days, 
2nd     week.      Stage:      Vaudeville  Revue. 
Gross:  $16,000.    (Average,  $19,000) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)      (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Ambush"  (M-G-M) 

STATE -LAKE— (2,700)     (25c -35c -40c)  7 
days.     Stage:     Patricia   Ellis   and  Revue. 
Gross:  $12,000.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-55c-75c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $15,000) 


Running:  time,  60  minutes.  "G."* 


G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


State  Operates  Theatre 

Mexico  City,  April  11. — Only 
cinema  of  the  kind  in  Mexico  is  be- 
ing operated  by  the  Government  of 
Morelos  state.  The  theatre,  Teatro 
Morelos,  is  operated  at  popular  prices. 
Profits  go  to  the  state  school  build- 
ing fund. 


Cowan-Lewis  Deal 

Hollywood,  April  11. — Under  terms 
of  a  new  contract,  Lester  Cowan  will 
be  the  producer  of  the  Sinclair  Lewis 
works  on  a  cooperative  basis  similar 
to  the  setup  existing  with  Edgar  Ber- 
gen and  W.  C.  Fields. 


Weiner  Back  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  April  11. — L.  M.  Weiner, 
who  joined  the  Universal  sales  staff 
in  Des  Moines  recently,  has  been 
transferred  back  to  Omaha.  Daniel 
McCarthy,  formerly  with  United 
Artists  here,  has  replaced  McCarthy. 


Vote  I.  A.  Supervision 

Pittsburgh,  April  11. — Moving  Pic- 
ture Operators'  Union,  Local  171,  has 
voted  to  retain  I.A.T.S.E.  supervision 
for  two  more  years,  after  discussion 
about  local  autonomy  led  by  Vice- 
President  Richard  Walsh  and  Secre- 
tary-Treasurer Lewis  Krause. 


$10,500  for  'Kid' 
Indianapolis  Best 

Indianapolis,  April  11.  —  Stage 
show  offerings  were  the  only  ones  to 
do  well  through  the  Holy  Week  calm 
here.  Hoagy  Carmichael  and  show, 
with  "Oklahoma  Kid"  on  the  screen, 
pulled  $10,500  at  the  Lyric,  while  a 
Hollywood  Revue  headed  by  John 
Boles  took  $7,000  for  the  Circle,  where 
"Winner  Take  All"  was  the  picture. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  7 : 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Beauty  for  the  Asking"  (RKO) 

APOLLO— (1,100)    (25c-40c)    7   days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Tohn  Boles  and  Hollvwood  Revue. 
$7,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)  (25c-40c) 
Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.    (Average.  $7,000) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
Hoagy  Carmichael  and  Show.  Gross:  $10,- 
500.    (Average,  $8,000) 


Stage: 
Gross : 


7  days. 


Ampa  Election  Tomorrow 

Paul  N.  Lazarus,  Jr.,  is  slated  to  be 
elected  president  of  Ampa  at  the  meet- 
ing tomorrow  at  the  Astor.  All  other 
nominees  are  also  assured  of  election. 
There  is  no  opposing  slate. 


Wednesday,  April  12,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


\ir  Industry  Sets 
Open  House  Week' 
fo  Better  Relations 


Networks  will  devote  considerable 
ime  to  "Open  House  Week,"  spon- 
.ored  from  April  17  to  23  by  the 
■y^tonal  Association  of  Broadcasters 
tna  the  Radio  Maufacturers'  Asso- 
■iation  to  explain  the  American  sys- 
era  of  broadcasting  and  to  develop 
*eod  will  and  understanding  among 
ir oadcasters,  set  manufacturers  and 
isteners. 

Xeville  Miller,  president  of  the 
N'.A.B.  and  Bond  Geddes,  executive 
.ice-president  of  R.M.A.,  will  pre- 
view the  celebration  when  they  ap- 
>ear  over  NBC  at  2  P.M.  April  16 
o  discuss  the  purposes  of  the  week, 
rhereafter  throughout  the  week, 
SBC,  CBS  and  Mutual  will  offer 
;pecial  programs  .  Among  the  speak- 
ers will  be  S.  K.  Ratcliffe,  British 
ecturer,  who  will  discuss  the  part 
■adio  has  played  in  international 
iftairs ;  Judge  J.  M.  Braude,  who 
will  touch  on  the  value  of  radio  in 
Dreventing  juvenile  delinquency,  and 
lie  Women's  National  Radio  Com- 
nittee  annual  award  luncheon  and 
broadcast. 


Ohio  Town  Clamping 
Down  on  Bank  Night 

Mansfield,  O.,  April  11. — Despite 
i  statement  by  city  officials  that  there 
would  be  no  immediate  interference 
\ith  Bank  Night,  which  Warners' 
Madison  plans  to  inaugurate,  "until 
Ive  see  how  the  game  is  conducted," 
Mayor  Claude  M.  Hunter  has  de- 
-lared  that  arrests  will  follow  pay- 
ment of  awards.  Police  Chief  Meade 
•v.  Bates  has  been  instructed  to  watch 
iterations. 

"If  we  have  to  make  a  test  case 
>f  this,  it  will  be  up  to  the  courts  to 
kcide  whether  Bank  Night  consti- 
utes  gambling,"  the  Mayor  said.  He 
ermed  the  plan  as  promoting  a  "gam- 
bling kindergarten,"  asserting  that  it 
(roald  serve  to  instruct  minor  patrons 
n  gambling  methods. 


Pass  Radio  Slander  Bill 

Albany,  April  11. — Assembly  today 
■>assed  the  Moffat  bill  which  extends  to 
adio  stations,  announcers  and  sponsors 
he  same  freedom  from  libel  and  slan- 
ler  suits  now  granted  newspapers. 
Newspapers  are  protected  from  such 
I  uits  under  the  "fair  comment"  rule 
vhen  reporting  official  proceedings. 


NBC  Appeals  Judgment 

I  NBC  has  filed  an  appeal  in  the 
Pennsylvania  Supreme  Court  from  a 
:1 5.000  judgment  awarded  by  a  lower 
fourt  for  allegedly  disparaging  re- 
larks  about  the  Summit  Hotel.  Union- 
own,  Pa.,  during  an  Al  Jolson  broad- 
cast. 


Women  Run  Four 
Mexican  Stations 

Mexico  City,  April  11. — 
Four  important  local  radio 
stations  are  owned  and  oper- 
ated by  women,  one  of  them 
a  widow.  This  is  a  new  voca- 
tion for  Mexican  women.  The 
stations  are  XEN,  1,000 
watts;  ZEBZ,  100  watts; 
XEBS,  200  watts,  and  XELZ, 
100  watts. 


Robinson  Lux  Star 

■  Edward  G.  Robinson  will  take  the 
.  eading  role  in  "Bullets  and  Ballots" 
.vhich  is  the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre" 
:  eature    next    Monday.  Supporting 

iim  will  be  Humphrey  Bogart,  Mary 

Astor  and  Otto  Kruger. 


CBS  Taking  Over 
2  NBC  Programs 


CBS  sales  department,  which  recent- 
ly took  the  Amos  'n'  Andy  commercial 
away  from  NBC,  yesterday  won  over 
two  more  accounts  from  NBC  in  the 
Sealtest  and  Bowey,  Inc.  programs. 

It  is  understood  also  that  the  Ameri- 
can Tobacco  Co.  current  program  on 
NBC  for  Pall  Mall  cigarettes  is  on  its 
way  over  to  CBS. 

Sealtest's  series,  a  dramatic  strip 
titled  "Your  Family  and  Mine,"  moves 
over  May  1,  Monday  through  Friday, 
2:30  to  2:45  P.  M.,  over  35  stations. 
Sealtest  has  been  an  NBC  client  for 
the  past  three  years.  McKee  &  Al- 
bright is  the  agency. 

Bowey.  currently  sposoring  the  strip 
"Terry  and  the  Pirates"  on  NBC,  will 
scrap  the  program  and  starting  June 
4  will  present  a  new  series  titled 
"Swingnewsical"  over  a  35-station 
CBS  hookup.  Broadcast  schedule  is 
Sundays  from  11  to  11:30  A.M.  until 
October,  when  the  show  will  be  heard 
at  2:30  P.M.  Sundays.  Bowey  has 
been  a  long-standing  NBC  Com- 
mercial. 


Census  Bureau  Aske 
To  Check  Radio  Sets 

Washington,  April  11. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  re- 
quested the  Census  Bureau  to  count 
radio  receiving  sets  to  determine  the  po- 
tential effectiveness  of  emergency  broad- 
casts during  a  national  crisis. 

The  F.C.C.  has  requested  the  Cen- 
sus Bureau  to  ask  each  family  how 
many  radios  it  owns  when  the  census 
is  taken  next  vear. 


Steuer  Sees  RCA 
Suit  Trial  in  Fall 


Max  D.  Steuer,  trial  counsel  for 
minority  stockholders  of  RCA,  said 
yesterday  that  the  trial  of  the  stock- 
holders' suit  brought  against  RCA,  its 
officers  and  directors,  A.  T.  &  T., 
Westinghouse,  and  General  Electric, 
probably  will  be  held  in  the  fall. 

Steuer  said  a  large  number  of  ex- 
aminations before  trial  of  officers  of 
the  defendants  will  be  necessary  in 
preparation  of  the  suit,  and  that  these 
examinations  are  already  under  way. 
An  amended  consolidated  complaint 
will  be  filed  in  the  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  within  the  next  few  days. 


Toscanini  Watches 
NBC  Drama  Telecast 

A  half-hour  television  broadcast 
yesterday  at  NBC  studios  included  in 
its  audience  Arturo  Toscanini,  George 
S.  Kaufman,  the  playwright,  and 
Edna  Ferber.  At  the  conclusion  of 
the  drama,  Max  Gordon,  NBC's  ad- 
viser on  television,  spoke  for  the  cam- 
eras, expressing  the  hope  that  "we 
may  soon  have  television  all  over  the 
world." 

Today  F.C.C.  members  will  inspect 
television  facilities  at  NBC  and  wit- 
ness a  broadcast,  and  tomorrow  a 
demonstration  will  be  given  for  dele- 
gates to  the  Associated  Press  conven- 
tion. 


Prepare  Fight  Telecast 

London,  April  11. — An  arrange- 
ment has  been  made  by  Baird  and 
Gaumont  British  for  special  shadow 
lighting  to  be  installed  for  the  the- 
atre telecasting  of  the  Farr-Burman 
fight  April  13  in  the  Marble  Arch 
and  Tatler  Theatres.  Admission  will 
be  from  50  cents  to  $1.50. 


Issue  Fair  Radio  Form 

Radio  division  of  the  World's  Fair 
has  issued  its  official  broadcast  form 
to  all  networks  and  stations  desiring 
microphone  placements  at  the  Fair.  It 
provides  that  all  stations  share  alike 
in  broadcasts  originated  by  the  Fair 
management,  but  stations  which  origi- 
nate their  own  ideas  mav  have  them 
exclusively. 


Tax  on  Televised  Sporting 
Events  Proposed  in  Albany 


Albany,  April  11. — State  Senator 
Phelps  Phelps,  Manhattan  Democrat, 
offered  the  first  tax  proposal  on  tele- 
vision in  the  New  York  legislature 
last  night.  Commercial  rights  on 
televised,  motion  picture  or  radio 
broadcasting  of  boxing,  sparring  or 
wrestling  bouts  held  under  the  Law  of 
1920  would  be  subject  to  a  five  per 
cent  gross  tax,  payable  to  the  state, 
if  the  Phelps  bill  is  passed. 

Amending  Chapter  912,  the  Phelps 
bill  would  add  the  following  lan- 
guage :  "Gross  income  received  from 
the  sale  of  broadcasting,  motion  pic- 
ture and  television  rights  shall  be  sub- 


ject to  a  tax  of  five  per  centum." 

The  Manhattan  Senator,  heard  on 
Sunday  nights  over  WMCA  and  the 
Inter-City  Network,  said  the  bill  was 
not  aimed  at  the  industries  affected 
and  pointed  out  the  the  present  law 
taxes  both  radio  and  motion  picture 
rights  of  contests  in  this  state. 

"Televised  pictures  of  fights  and 
wrestling  bouts  will  undoubtedly  be 
commercially  sponsored,"  Senator 
Phelps  asserted,,  "and  the  promoters, 
in  paying  on  the  gross  proceeds  to  the 
extent  of  five  per  cent,  are  not  being 
discriminated  against  since  they  al- 
ready do  substantially  that  on  their 
film  and  radio  rights." 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 

LESTER  GRADY,  who  formerly 
edited  Radio  Stars  is  now 
editor  of  Silver  Screen.  .  .  . 
Larry  Elliott  will  do  the  WABC  news 
period  for  Bosco  products.  .  .  .  Jack 
Oakie  will  be  guest  for  Dick  Pow- 
ell next  Tuesday  night.  .  .  .  After 
being  absent  from  the  air  for  almost 
two  years  due  to  illness,  Mrs.  Jim 
Jordan,  "Molly  McGee,"  returns  to 
the  air  next  week.  .  .  .  V.  F.  Neilsen, 
manager  of  CFCF,  Montreal,  is  in 
New  York  on  station  business.  .  .  . 
Another  out-of-town  manager  here  on 
business  for  the  week  is  Thayer 
Ridgeway  of  KHJ,  Los  Angeles. 


Discuss  Copyright 
Application  to  Air 

Application  of  copyright  to  tran- 
scribed radio  material  of  a  literary, 
dramatic  or  musical  nature,  and  to  the 
same  material  when  used  in  television 
is  being  considered  in  the  current  in- 
tra-industry  study  of  revision  of  the 
Federal  Copyright  laws,  according  to  a 
statement  from  the  M.P.P.D.A.  yes- 
terday. 

The  conferences  on  revisions  in  the 
American  law  which  may  make  it  pos- 
sible for  the  United  States  to  become 
a  member  of  the  Berne  International 
Copyright  Convention  have  been  in 
progress  all  winter,  with  film  industry 
representatives  participating.  Next 
meeting  is  set  for  April  18.  On  the 
film  committee  are  E.  P.  Kilroe,  20th 
Century-Fox ;  Robert  W.  Perkins, 
Warners;  Gabriel  Hess,  M.P.P.D.A., 
and  Edward  Sargoy,  Copyright  Pro- 
tection Bureau. 

Copyright  subjects  in  addition  to 
those  involving  recordings  for  audible 
communication  in  which  the  film 
representatives  are  participating  in- 
clude remedies  tor  infringement  of 
copyright ;  formalities  in  the  creation, 
preservation  and  transfer  of  rights  un- 
der copyright,  and  the  reprinting  of 
single  copies  of  out-of-print  works  for 
purposes  solely  of  library  research. 


Detroit  Tops  RKO  Drive 

At  the  halfway  mark  in  the 
George  Schaefer  RKO  sales  drive, 
Detroit  is  leading.  New  York  is  in 
second  place  and  Los  Angeles  third. 
The  southeastern  district  leads,  and 
the  eastern  division  is  ahead  of  the 
western.  The  week  preceding  June 
2,  last  day  of  the  drive,  has  been 
dedicated  by  the  western  and  south- 
ern division  offices  to  their  respec- 
tive district  managers. 


Mexican  Youngsters 
Ordered  to  See  Film 

Mexico  City,  April  11. — 
General  orders  for  all  grade 
school  children  here  to  attend 
a  theatre  were  issued  for  the 
first  time  by  the  Public  Edu- 
cation Department.  The  pic 
ture  is  "Professor  Mamlock," 
Russian  film.  The  children 
were  admitted  at  two  cents 
a  head  to  see  this  revolution- 
ary film. 


Alert, 

InteUigeat^ 

to  the^Uktion 

Picture 

Industry 


DO  NOT  RE 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


MOVE 


45.   NO.  71 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  13,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Army  Plans  to 
Use  Television 
If  Adaptable 

Signal  Corps  Watching 
Development  Closely 


Washington,  April  12. — The  War 
I  epartment  is  right  on  the  heels  of 
television  development  in  the  expecta- 
tion that  at  any  moment  it  may  intro- 
duce methods  adaptable  to  military 
uses. 

Signal  Corps  officers  are  in  constant 
•  'iitact  with  the  experimental  work  of 
unpanies  interested  in  television,  but 
up  to  the  present  have  been  unable  to 
determine  much  of  military  applica- 
ion.  Better  results  have  been  achieved 
»  ith  facsimile,  in  which  the  Depart- 
ment has  long  been  interested.  Used 
ii  Army  maneuvers  at  Fort  Knox, 
facsimile  has  been  perfected  to  a  point 
o,  here  photographs  can  be  taken  from 
planes,  brought  down  and  in  10  min- 
utes furnished  to  commanding  officers 
In  print  form  for  study. 

No  Plan  for  Subsidy 

The  Government  has  no  plans  for  a 
subsidy  to  further  television  experi- 
ments by  commercial  companies.  Both 
:lie  War  and  Navy  Departments  have 
laboratories  at  which  they  could  con- 
duct their  own. 

While  television  in  its  present  stage 
not  adaptable  to  military  uses,  in 
this  country  at  least,  Army  officials 
are  confident  it  eventually  will  become 
an  important  implement.  Experiments 
in  its  military  uses  abroad  are  being 
-loselv  followed. 


Radio  network  circles  in  New  York 
believe    that    television  development 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Warner  Debenture 
Plan  Goes  in  Effect 

Warner  directors  have  declared  the 
company's  debenture  exchange  plan 
effective,  under  which  $19,388,000  of 
optional  6  per  cent  convertible  deben- 
tures, due  1939.  deposited,  may  be 
exchanged  for  debentures  due  in  1948. 

Certificates  of  deposit  are  exchange- 
able at  the  New  York  Trust  Co.  The 
new  series  of  debentures  is  listed  on 
the  New  York  Stock  Exchange.  The 
right  has  been  extended  to  holders  of 
$6,196,000  undeposited  debentures  to 
exchange  for  new  debentures  by  May 
1.  at  the  Manufacturers  Trust  Co. 

The  company  had  the  right  to  de- 
clare the  plan  effective  when  75  per 
cent  or  more  of  the  outstanding  deben- 
tures had  been  deposited  for  exchange. 


Neely  Bill  Only  One 
More  Sign  of  Spring 

Washington,  April  12. — De- 
claring the  Children's  Bureau 
of  the  Federal  Department  of 
Labor  has  been  unable  to  dig 
up  any  information  showing 
that  films  induce  juvenile 
delinquency,  Mrs.  Wilier 
Tileston,  New  Haven,  vice- 
president  of  Theatre  Patrons, 
Inc.,  told  the  Senate  subcom- 
mittee today  that  the  Neely 
Bill  "bobs  up  as  regularly  as 
the  flowers  that  bloom  in  the 
spring,  but  doesn't  smell  as 
sweet." 

The  witness  paid  her  re- 
spects to  her  civic  organiza- 
tion sisters  who  appeared 
earlier  in  support  of  the  bill, 
declaring  they  "came  to  de- 
stroy" and  give  little  thought 
to  definite  steps  toward  the 
improvement  of  pictures. 


I.T.O.A.  Wants  All 
Disputes  Arbitrated 
Under  Industry  Pact 


All  disputes  between  exhibitors  and 
distributors  should  be  made  the  sub- 
ject of  arbitration  under  the  pro- 
posed trade  practice  code,  the  I.  T. 
O.  A.  recommends  in  suggesting  cer- 
tain changes.  Furthermore,  the  organ- 
ization wants  licensing  terms  and  con- 
ditions not  subject  to  arbitration  made 
more  specific. 

While  approving  the  code  in  prin- 
ciple at  a  meeting  yesterday  at  the 
Astor,  the  I.  T.  O.  A.  authorized  its 
president,  Harry  Brandt,  to  continue 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Upstate  Clearance 
Adjustment  Sought 
By  New  York  Allied 


Adjustment  of  clearance  and  zoning 
arrangements  in  several  upstate  New 
York  cities  is  being  worked  on  by 
committees  appointed  by  New  York 
Allied  in  Buffalo,  Syracuse,  Roches- 
ter, Albany  and  Troy. 

The  organization  feels  that  the  prob- 
lems can  be  worked  out  by  conference 
rather  than  by  litigation  or  legisla- 
tion. It  has  no  plans  to  seek  changes 
in  clearance  and  zoning  in  New  York 
City,  where  the  rules  are  already  well 
established.  There  have  been  no  com- 
plaints by  local  exhibitors  to  Allied. 

Today's  meeting  called  by  Allied  in 
Buffalo  is  the  first  of  a  series  in  which 
new  clearance  setups  will  be  con- 
sidered. Tomorrow  there  will  be  a 
meeting  in  Rochester.  After  agree- 
ments are  worked  out  with  the  first 
runs  and  large  circuits,  the  pacts  will 
go  to  the  distributors  for  approval. 

Allied  aims  to  have  clearances  re- 
duced over  the  independent  subse- 
qucnts  and  neighborhoods,  seeking  to 
cut  the  interval  from  first  to  last  runs 
charging  15  and  20  cents  to  60  or  70 
days.  It  is  claimed  that  it  now  takes 
tli l  i  e  and  a  half  months.  Allied  feels 
reduced  clearances  would  permit  the 
distributors  to  recoup  their  film  in- 
vestment in  a  shorter  time. 


Won't  Cut  'Nazi  Spyy 

Hollywood,  April  12.  —  Warners 
said  today  that,  despite  protests  reg- 
istered by  various  sources,  scenes 
showing  Adolf  Hitler,  Paul  Goeb- 
bels  and  Herman  Goering  will  remain 
in  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy." 
Actors  who  play  the  roles  will  not  be 
identified. 


Skouras  Sees  Television 
Supplanting  Double  Bills 


Los  Angeles,  April  12. — Television 
in  theatres  eventually  will  take  the 
place  of  the  second  feature  on  double 
bills,  Charles  Skouras,  Fox  West 
Coast  head,  said  last  night  in  a  talk  at 
the  homecoming  dinner  given  him  by 
Film  Row. 

Addressing  affiliated  and  independ- 
dent  exhibitors,  exchange  men  and 
others  at  the  Elks  Temple,  Skouras 
told  of  his  experiences  abroad  and  de- 
clared television  when  it  comes  will 
not  hurt  the  exhibition  business  and 
that  it  will  be  successful  in  theatres, 
"and  nowhere  else." 

He  promised  fair  dealings  in  the 


grievances  brought  to  his  attention  by 
independent  exhibitors.  Dr.  A.  H. 
Giannini  acted  as  toastmaster.  Other 
speakers  were  George  Smith  and  Jack 
Brower,  Paramount  and  Warner  ex- 
change managers,  respectively,  and  Al- 
bert A.  Galston,  president  of  the 
I.T.O.  of  Southern  California. 

Galston  complimented  Skouras  on 
for  assuming  the  leadership  in  South- 
ern California  exhibition,  to  make  it 
the  "white  spot"  in  U.  S.  exhibition 
with  the  highest  average  admission 
price. 

Skouras  was  presented  with  a  scroll 
signed  by  the  guests,  welcoming  him 
home. 


Assails  Neely 
For  Treatment 
Of  Bill's  Foes 


Sen.  White  Protests  on 
Colleague's  Tactics 


Washington,  April  12. — The  sum- 
mary treatment  of  opposition  wit- 
nesses by  Senator  Neely  today  evoked 
a  protest  from  Senator  White. 

Breaking  into  Neely's  questioning 
of  Dr.  H.  Lesourd  of  Boston  Univer- 
sity, the  tenor  of  which  was  to  show 
the  educator  as  a  paid  emissary  of  the 
distributors,  Senator  White  caustically 
asked  the  West  Virginia  member 
whether  the  fact  that  the  witness  came 
"at  the  solicitation  or  with  the  knowl- 
edge of  the  motion  picture  group"  was 
sufficient  to  repudiate  him. 

Neely  declared  his  only  purpose  was 
to  develop  the  background  of  wit- 
nesses and  charged  White  with  being 
an  "advocate  of  opposition,"  drawing 
from  the  latter  an  iteration  of  his 
statement  that  Neely  was  "challeng- 
ing the  motive  of  witnesses." 

The  entire  interchange  between  Sen- 
ators Neely  and  White  was  later  de- 
leted from  the  record  of  the  hearings 
by  unanimous  consent. 

The  flare-up  came  as  Dr.  Lesourd 
was  hammering  the  bill,  challenging 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


New  Contract  for 
Local  306  Signed 

New  contract  covering  terms  re- 
cently agreed  upon  with  Local  306  for 
home  office  and  exchange  projection 
room  operators  was  completed  and 
signed  early  yesterday  by  union  offi- 
cials, distributor  and  circuit  represen- 
tatives. 

No  official  statement  was  issued  on 
dating  of  the  pact,  the  only  point  in 
dispute  following  the  agreement  on 
wages  and  hours  last  Saturday  which 
ended  the  two-week  projectionists' 
strike.  However,  it  was  generally  con- 
ceded that  the  agreement  will  either 
be  dated  as  of  Sept.  1,  1938,  or  the 
dispute  will  be  submitted  to  the  State 
Mediation  board  for  settlement.  The 
1938  dating  will  continue  the  present 
terms  until  Sept.  1,  1940,  whereas  dat- 
ing of  the  contract  one  year  earlier, 
according  to  one  union  interpretation 
of  its  retroactive  features,  would  ne- 
cessitate negotiations  again  next  Sep- 
tember. 

New  terms  give  projection  room 
operators  a  35-hour  week  and  an  av- 
erage 15  per  cent  wage  increase  to 
$87.50  weekly  wherever  such  scales 
were  not  already  in  effect. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  13,  1939 


GN  Finance  Deal 
May  Be  Set  Today 

Arrangements  for  new  financing  and 
new  season  product  for  Grand  Na- 
tional may  be  completed  today  or  to- 
morrow. Earle  W.  Hammons,  Educa- 
tional-Grand National  president,  has 
been  conferring  with  principals  almost 
uninterruptedly  for  the  past  three 
weeks  with  the  result  that  the  discus- 
sions may  be  consummated  momen- 
tarily. 

Among  the  immediate  possibilities 
for  the  new  Grand  National  production 
lineup  is  the  return  of  Franklyn  War- 
ner and  his  Fine  Arts  organization  to 
the  Grand  National  fold.  Warner, 
who  arrived  from  the  coast  this  week, 
has  conferred  with  Hammons,  Jeffery 
Bernerd  and  Maurice  Wilson  during 
the  past  few  days  and  stated  yesterday 
that  he  expected  to  be  able  to  say  to- 
day whether  or  not  he  would  become 
associated  with  Grand  National  once 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Schwartz  Replies  to 
Goldivyn's  Statement 

Charles  Schwartz,  of  counsel  to 
United  Artists,  yesterday  replied  to 
Samuel  Goldwyn's  statement  on  the 
objectives  of  the  latter's  suit  against 
the  company,  which  was  issued  Tues- 
day through  Max  D.  Steuer,  Gold- 
wyn's attorney.  The  Schwartz  state- 
ment asserted  that  the  objectives  of 
the  Goldwyn  action  as  set  forth  in 
his  complaint,  and  the  producer's 
grievances  against  the  company,  are 
not  the  same  as  those  set  forth  in  the 
Steuer  statement. 

"The  truth  is,"  Schwartz's  statement 
declares,  "that  Goldwyn  is  unhappy 
because  he  cannot  obtain  a  voting 
trust  with  himself  as  sole  voting  trus- 
tee, so  that  he  can  thereby  completely 
dominate  and  control  the  company's 
destiny." 

Schwartz  disclosed  that  in  his  new 
action  against  the  company  filed  in 
Federal  court  in  Delaware  on  Tues- 
day, Goldwvn  has  abandoned  his  re- 
quest for  reinstatement  of  his  old  two- 
picture-a-year  contract,  which  he  had 
asked  in  his  original  action  filed  in 
the  New  York  court.  The  pending 
suit  asks  merely  that  Goldwyn's  ex- 
isting United  Artists'  contract  be  can- 
celled. This  remedy,  too,  spokesmen 
for  the  company  noint  out,  is  contrary 
to  the  Goldwyn- Steuer  statement  that 
the  action  was  being  brought  merel. 
to  determine  whether  there  had  been 
a  breach  of  Goldwyn's  existing  con- 
tract. 


Monogram  Plays  Host 

Monogram  was  host  to  newspaper 
and  fan  magazine  critics  at  a  lunch- 
eon yesterday  at  the  Park  Central, 
following  a  screening  of  "Streets  of 
New  York."  Lou  Lifton,  advertising 
and  publicity  director  for  Monogram 
was  in  charge. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


CC.    MOSKOWITZ,  vice-presi- 
•    dent  of  Loew's,  and  Seymour 
Mayer,  Loew  district  manager,  are 
leaving  tomorrow  for  a  three-week  va- 
cation in  Florida  and  Havana. 
• 

Floyd  C.  Henry,  Paramount  man- 
ager in  the  Philippines,  sailed  from 
Manila  yesterday  on  the  Empress  of 
Canada  on  his  first  vacation  in  three 
years.  He  will  stop  off  at  his  home 
in  Seattle  before  coming  to  New 
York. 

• 

Leon  G.  Turrou  will  begin  a  series 
of  personal  appearances  at  the  Strand 
today,  tomorrow  and  Saturday,  in  con- 
junction with  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy,"  on  which  he  served  as  technical 
advisor. 

• 

Charles  D.  Prutzman,  Universal 
vice-president,  is  occupying  J.  Cheev- 
er  Cowdin's  office  while  the  latter  is 
vacationing  and  decorators  are  in  pos- 
session of  Prutzman's  own  quarters. 
• 

Phil  Goldsmith,  Cincinnati  the- 
atre man,  taken  ill  on  a  trip  to  the 
coast,  has  returned  to  Cincinnati  and 
is  confined  to  Jewish  Hospital. 
• 

Leonard  Snyder,  formerly  with 
American  Record,  has  joined  Consoli- 
dated Film  Industries  as  assistant 
general  manager. 

• 

Jack  L.  Warner  will  be  host  to- 
morrow at  the  Warner  studio  at  a 
party  in  honor  of  the  75th  birthday 
of  May  Robson. 

• 

A.  H.  McCausland  will  be  ten- 
dered a  testimonial  dinner  tonight  at 
the  Hotel  Astor  by  his  friends  at 
RKO. 

• 

Walter  Reade,  Jr.,  and  Jay  Wren 
of  the  Walter  Reade  Theatres  left 
yesterday  for  a  brief  trip  upstate. 
• 

D.  C.  Hickson,  president  of  General 
Service  Studios,  Hollywood,  arrived 
yesterday  for  a  short  stay. 

• 

Louis  D.  Frohlich  and  John  G. 
Paine  have  been  battling  anti-Ascap 
legislation  in  Vermont. 

• 

Harry  Smythe  has  been  named 
Tri-National  district  manager  in  Chi- 
cago. 

• 

Samuel  Machnovich,  Universal 
treasurer,  has  returned  from  a  Florida 
vacation. 


MORRIS  HELPRIN,  Alexander 
Korda's  American  advertising 
and  publicity  representative,  returns 
tomorrow  on  the  Aquitania  from 
England. 

• 

C.  F.  Flannagan,  Erpi  chief  en- 
gineer, leaves  today  by  train  to  at- 
tend the  S.  M.  P.  E.  convention  on 
the  coast  next  week.  He  will  be 
gone  three  weeks. 

• 

Vincent  Hart  is  back  at  eastern 
headquarters  of  the  Production  Code 
Administration  after  three  months' 
work  in  the  Hollywood  office  of  the 
Joseph  I.  Breen  staff. 

• 

Ruth  Morris  of  the  William  Mor- 
ris office  has  gone  to  the  coast  with 
her  husband,  William  C.  White, 
who  has  a  writing  contract  at  M-G-M. 
She  plans  to  stay  a  month. 

• 

Herbert  Griffin,  vice-president  of 
International  Projector  Corp.,  is  vis- 
iting coast  branches  of  National  The- 
atre Supply  and  will  attend  the  S.  M. 
P.  E.  meeting  there  next  week. 
• 

Anthony  Nelle,  who  worked  for 
two  years  as  a  director  at  German 
studios,  has  arrived  from  abroad  en 
route  to  Hollywood.  At  one  time  he 
was  production  chief  for  the  Roxy 
and  Fox  theatres. 

• 

Harold  Hendee,  research  director 
for  RKO,  left  New  York  yesterday 
to  speak  at  the  banquet  of  the  Cleve- 
land Cinema  Club  Festival  this  eve- 
ning. 

• 

Mike  Godshaw  has  replaced  Dick 
Sachsel  on  the  Chicago  sales  staff 
of  National  Screen  Service. 

• 

Jack  Kirsch,  president  of  Allied 
Theatres  of  Chicago,  is  on  vacation 
at  Hot  Springs,  Ark. 

• 

Robert  Barrat  left  for  the  coast 
last  night  via  United  Airlines. 
• 

Bill  Mack  has  succeeded  Jack 
Harris  as  Warner  city  salesman  in 
Chicago. 

Ed  Schnitzer.  Warner  eastern  dis- 
trict manager,  returns  today  from 
Buffalo. 

C.  W.  Farrier,  television  coordina- 
tor for  NBC,  is  vacationing. 

Will  H.  Hays  has  returned  from 
Washington. 


Kirsch  Appeals  for 
Return  to  Singles 

Chicago,  April  12.  —  Jack 
Kirsch,  president  of  Allied 
of  Illinois,  in  a  letter  released 
today,  states  that  return  to 
single  features  is  the  only 
salvation  for  independent  ex- 
hibitors, as  well  as  for  pro- 
ducers and  distributors. 

The  letter,  addressed  to/? 
Harry  Brandt,  president  of>i 
the  I.T.O.A.,  said  that  95  per 
cent  of  Chicago's  independent 
exhibitors  would  adopt  singles 
if  the  larger  circuits  would 
do  likewise.  He  added  that 
all  houses  would  profit  by 
closing  their  box-offices  at  9 
o'clock. 


ITOA  Again  Seeks 
End  of  Double  Bills 


A  city-wide  agreement  of  exhibitors 
to  abolish  double  bills  is  envisioned  by 
the  I.T.O.A.,  which  is  still  hoping 
that  this  can  be  accomplished.  If  the 
independents  can  be  brought  to  agree, 
the  circuits  will  join  the  move. 

Meantime  the  I.T.O.A.  is  continu- 
ing its  nationwide  survey  on  exhibi- 
tors' attitude  on  the  subject,  aiming 
to  obtain  a  cross-section  of  opinion  in 
order  to  discuss  the  matter  intelli- 
gently with  the  circuits  and  distribu- 
tors. 


Tax  Trailer  in  Ohio 

Columbus,  April  12. — I.T.O.  of 
Ohio  has  prepared  a  short  trailer  to 
be  attached  to  newsreels,  and  fur- 
nished exhibitors  without  charge,  in 
which  Gov.  John  W.  Bricker  urges 
Ohio  citizens  to  cooperate  in  saving 
retail  sales  tax  stamps,  which  the 
state  will  redeem  at  their  face  value 
of  $3  for  each  $100  in  stamps,  begin- 
ning May  1. 


Van  Dine  Is  Dead;  . 
Wrote  Film  Thrillers 

S.  S.  Van  Dine,  mystery  thriller 
author,  died  here  Tuesday  night.  He 
was  the  creator  of  Philo  Vance, 
worthy  successor  of  Sherlock  Holmes. 
Several  of  the  yarns  in  the  Vance 
series  were  transferred  to  the  screen. 
Van  Dine,  who  in  private  life  was 
Willard  Huntington  Wright,  was  a 
native  of  Charlottesville,  Va.  He  was 
born  there  51  years  ago.  He  turned 
to  writing  detective  fiction  as  relaxa- 
tion when  recuperating  from  a  nervous 
breakdown. 


Tobis  Files  French 
Suit  Against  Chaplin 

Tobis  has  filed  suit  in  Paris 
against  Charles  Chaplin  and  United 
Artists  charging  that  "Modern  Times" 
infringes  the  old  Tobis  film,  "A  Nous 
La  Liberte,"  according  to  notices 
served  on  Schwartz  &  Frohlich,  Chap- 
lin counsel,  yesterday.  French  action 
is  believed  to  be  a  duplicate  of  the 
suit  filed  by  Tobis  in  New  York  some 
time  ago. 

French  action  seeks  injunction,  ac- 
counting and  judgment  of  1,000,000 
francs. 


Reelect  Erpi  Officers 

All  officers  and  directors  of  Erpi 
were  reelected  at  the  company's  an- 
nual meeting.  Officers  are  T. 
Kennedy  Stevenson,  president :  H. 
G.  Knox,  D.  C.  Collins  and  Clifford 
Smith,  vice-presidents,  and  F.  B.  Fos- 
ter, treasurer. 


MOTIONPICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS: — Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square. 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London ; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y, 
tinder  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


Thursday.  April  13,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'Missouri'  in 
Philadelphia 
Does  $17,300 


Philadelphia,  April  12.  —  Holy 
^■ek  cut  into  business  here.  Best 
jfcbscr  was  the  him  and  stage  show 

•  the  Fox,  "I'm  from  Missouri"  and 
J>>e  E.  Lewis,  Joe  Venuti  and  Hal 
"l  eKoy,  which  drew  $17,300. 

"Midnight"  at  the  Aldine  in  its  sec- 
oiid  week  did  $9,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  0: 

•  Midnight"  (Para.) 

ALDINE— (.1,300)  (32c-42co7c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $8,160) 
'  Adventures  of  Huckleberry  Finn" 

(M-G-M)  m  %  . 

ARCADIA— (600)    (26c-42co7c)    3  days. 
Gwss:  $2,200.    (Average,  7  days,  $2,800) 
••The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

BOYD— (2,400)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days.  Gross: 
jV.400.    (Average,  $14,000) 

Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 

EARLE— (2,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
xj.700.    (Average,  $8,000) 
■  I'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 

FOX— (3,000)   (32c-37c-42c-57c-6Sc)  7  days 
t  1m— 6  days  stage.    Stage:    Joe  E  Lewis, 
loe  Venuti  band,  Hal  LeRoy,  Niela  Goodelle. 
iiross:  $17,300.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON— (1.000)   (26c-42c-57c)   6  days. 
Cross:  $3,500.    (Average,  7  days,  $4,000) 
•Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

KEITH'S — (2,000)  (26c-42c-S7c)  8  days. 
Gross:  $4,800.    (Average,  7  days.  $4,000) 

•  On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

PALACE— (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
>  4.200.    (Average,  $4,500) 

•  Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
STANLEY— (3.700)   (32c-42c-57c)   8  days. 

Gross:  $8,500.    (Average.  7  days,  $14,000) 
'  Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  10  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  7  days,  $7,000) 


3  Smart  Girls'  at 
$8,000  in  Detroit 
Despite  Holy  Week 


Detroit,  April  12.— Despite  the  in- 
roads  on   grosses    of    Holy  Week, 

•  Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  and 
"My  Son  Is  a  Criminal"  took  a 
-trong  $8,000  at  the  Adams. 

"Never  Say  Die"  and  "St.  Louis 
Blues"  at  the  Michigan  drew  $11,- 
500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6: 

"fhree  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"My  Son  Is  a  Criminal"  (Col.) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
J8,000  (Average,  $5,000.) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (20c-65c)  7  days.  Stage  vari- 
ety.   Gross:  $16,000.    (Average,  $20,000.) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 
"St.  Louis  Blues"  (Para.) 

MICHIGAN— (4,000)     (20c -65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $11.00.    (Average,  $10,000.) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.A.) 
"The  Mystery  of  Mr.  Wong"  (Mono.) 

PALMS-STATE— (3.000)  (20c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average.  $5,000.) 
"Ice  Follies"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED   ARTISTS— (2,000)    (25c-65c)  7 

•  lays.   Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $10,000.) 


Heads  Columbia  Club 

Phil  Weissman  has  been  elected 
president  of  the  Columbia  Club,  em- 
ploye organization  of  Columbia.  Other 
officers  are  S.  J.  Pakiff,  first  vice- 
president;  Frances  Goldberg,  second 
vice-president;  Arthur  Aberman,  fi- 
nancial secretary ;  Elizabeth  Schwartz, 
secretary;  Norma  Fulak,  assistant 
secretary. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Rack  Door  to  Heaven" 

(Parainount-Odessco) 

Hollywood,  April  12. — By  way  of  graphic  illustration  "Back  Door 
to  Heaven"  establishes  itself  as  a  revealing  sociological  study  to  which 
a  grim  sort  of  entertainment  accrues.  The  story  impressively  heroizes 
a  boy  who  never  had  a  chance,  more  or  less  glorifies  those  whose  child- 
hood ambitions  were  frustrated  upon  reaching  maturity,  and  makes  a 
heavy  of  a  social  order  that  lets  one  set  get  richer  and  more  powerful 
while  another  grows  poorer  and  weaker. 

In  the  main  the  show  is  personal  melodrama.  Still  it  includes  a  line 
of  bitter  humor,  and  for  a  short  time  a  love  interest.  The  cast  includes 
Wallace  Ford,  Aline  McMahon,  Stuart  Erwin,  Patricia  Ellis,  Bert 
Frohmann,  Van  Heflin  Bruce  Evans  and,  in  the  prologue,  Jimmy  Lydon. 
Written,  produced  and  directed  by  William  K.  Howard,  the  picture 
makes  several  noticeable  departures  from  general  trends.  All  but  a  few 
lines  of  dialogue  are  in  a  conversational  tone. 

In  the  prologue,  a  class  graduates  from  Miss  McMahon's  grammar 
school.  All  but  one,  (Lydon,  later  Ford)  have  ambitions.  The  boy 
who  never  had  a  chance  goes  to  reform  school,  later  to  the  penitentiary. 
All  but  one  of  his  school  group  who  becomes  a  banker  fail  in  their 
ambitions.  Years  pass  and  Ford,  determined  to  go  straight,  takes  a 
pair  of  convict  pals  back  to  his  home  town.  But  again  the  cards  are 
stacked  against  him.  Only  his  old  teacher  seems  real  and  human.  Then 
his  pals,  Erwin  and  Frohmann,  stage  a  robbery.  Though  Ford  wasn't 
there,  his  record  is  against  him  and  he  is  sentenced  to  death  for  murder. 
He  breaks  jail  to  appear  before  his  reuniting  schoolmates  to  deliver  a 
message  of  justice,  charity  and  understanding  before  disappearing  to  die 
in  a  hail  of  bullets. 

Running  time,  85  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky" 

{Paramount) 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Neither  in  title  nor  in  cast  strength  does  this 
picture  look  like  the  entertainment  and  commercial  proposition  it  turns 
out  to  be.  When  one  examines  into  data  other  than  name  and  names, 
some  interesting  features  are  revealed.  "The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  is 
a  different  kind  of  race  horse  picture.  There  are  two  races  in  it,  one  in 
the  first  and  another  in  the  last  reel.  Both  are  spectacular  and  exciting. 
There  is  no  racket  or  skullduggery,  no  horse  doping  nor  any  similarly 
trite  stuff. 

The  picture  is  a  story  of  a  gambler  and  a  lady  who  loves  horses  sim- 
ply because  they  are  horses,  Kentucky  thoroughbreds,  and  not  mere 
money  making  machines.  While  the  picture  does  considerable  dilly- 
dallying, including  much  Hugh  Herbert  and  Zasu  Pitts  comedy,  before 
it  reaches  its  point,  gambler  George  Raft,  learning  to  love  horses  when 
he  understands  Ellen  Drew  loves  him,  nevertheless  forces  "Roman  Son" 
to  break  its  heart  in  winning  a  Kentucky  Derby. 

In  the  manner  in  which  the  picture  gives  intimate  glimpses  into  the 
training  of  thoroughbreds  from  the  moment  of  foaling  until  they  stand 
at  the  starting  barrier,  it  is  packed  with  material  that  makes  for  popular 
appeal  and  given  a  different  kind  of  romantic  character.  Actually,  these 
incidents  are  circused,  and  suggest  that  exploitation  work  take  on  a 
circus  atmosphere. 

In  staging  the  Rowland  Brown  story,  which  Malcolm  S.  Boylan 
adapted  and  which  Alexander  Hall  directed,  producer  Jeff  Lazarus  en- 
deavored to  inject  plenty  of  potential  showmanship  into  the  film. 

Running  time,  75  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Kunzman  on  Coast 

Hollywood,  April  12.  —  William 
C.  Kunzman,  convention  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Society  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Engineers,  has  arrived  here  to 
prepare  for  the  four-day  convention 
at  the  Hotel  Roosevelt,  starting 
Monday.  E.  A.  Williford,  S.  M.  P.  E. 
president,  will  arrive  today. 


Goes  to  Straight  Films 

Dayton,  O.,  April  12.— RKO  Colo- 
nial, playing  stage  shows  and  pictures 
since  last  Labor  Day,  has  gone  to 
straight  films.  The  combination  policy 
is  expected  to  be  resumed  in  the  fall. 


Toronto  Skater  Signed 

Toronto,  April  12. — Stewart  Reburn 
of  Toronto  has  been  signed  to  be  the 
skating  partner  for  Sonja  Henie  in 
her  next  film  vehicle  and  has  been 
instructed  to  report  in  Hollywood  on 
April  25.  Reburn  is  a  former  Cana- 
dian amateur  figure  skating  champion. 


Va.  Manager  Acquitted 

Norton,  Va.,  April  12.  —  W.  A. 
Byers,  Norton  theatre  manager,  was 
acquitted  on  a  charge  of  operating  his 
house  on  Sunday.  His  was  the  first 
Wise  County  case  involving  the  Sun- 
day laws  to  go  before  a  jury. 


'Smart  Girls' 
Frisco  Smash 
Pulls  $16,000 


San  Francisco,  April  12. — "Three 
Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  was  a  hit  here, 
grossing  a  smash  $16,000  at  the  Or- 
pheum.  "I'm  from  Missouri"  and  "The 
Lady  Vanishes"  was  good  at  the  War- 
field  with  $10,500  and  "The  Family 
Next  Door"  plus  vaudeville  grossed 
$13,500  at  the  Golden  Gate. 

Warm  weather  and  the  exposition 
hurt  grosses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  4-7: 

"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

GOLDEN   GATE— (2,850)   (35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.     Stage:   vaudeville.      Gross:  $13,500. 
(Average,  $15,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS — (1,200)  (15c-35c-40c- 
55c-65c)  9  days.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"3  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)     (15c-3Sc-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th  Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th  Fox) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-7Sc)  7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c))  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $7,200.  (Av- 
erage, $11,500) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 
"My  Wife's  Relatives"  (Rep.) 

ST.  FRANCIS — (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Av- 
erage, $6,000) 

"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"The  Lady  Vanishes"  (G.  B.) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Story  of  a  Cheat"  (Gallic) 

CLAY— (400)    (15c-35c-40c)    7    days,  5th 
week.    Gross:  $700.    (Average,  $1,000) 
"Volochayevsk"  (Amkino) 

LARKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  clays. 
Gross:  $850.    (Average,  $1,000) 


'Wife,  Husband'  at 
,000,  Montreal 

Montreal,  April  12. — -"Pygmalion" 
grossed  $4,500  in  its  third  and  final 
week  at  Loew's.  The  weather  and 
Holy  Week  hurt  business. 

"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  took 
$6,000  at  the  Palace,  and  "Hotel  Im- 
perial," on  a  double  bill  at  the 
Princess,  accounted  for  $3,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  8 : 

"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS — (2,700)     (30c-40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500,  3rd  week.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Lost  Patrol"  (RKO) 
"Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (919)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $1,500,  2nd  week.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

PALACE — (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

PRINCESS— (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $3,500.     (Average,  $6,500) 


Shift  in  Toronto 

Toronto,  April  12. — Mike  Goodman, 
formerly  exploitation  manager  of 
Colonial  Pictures  Ltd.,  Toronto,  has 
been  appointed  manager  of  the  Duchess 
Theatre.  Aaron  Wolfe,  previously  at 
the  Duchess,  is  now  in  charge  of  the 
Rex,  Toronto,  in  succession  to  S. 
Goldstone  who  is  operating  the  new 
Centre  Theatre  at  Peterborough,  Ont. 


(Fair  play  all  the  way!) 


MOTION  PICTUKJE 

DAILY 


6 


'Ruck  Finn' 
Does  $8,500 
In  Twin  Cities 

Minneapolis ,  April  12.— With  the 
luop  dominated  by  children's  films, 
"Fast  and  Loose"  as  the  only  exclu- 
sively adult  fare  got  the  best  business 
at  the  Century,  with  $5,500. 

In  St.  Paul,  the  combination  of  the 
Breese  stage  show  and  "Huckleberry 
Finn"  led  with  $8,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6 : 

Minneapolis : 

"Inside  Story"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Col.) 

ASTER—  (900)    (15c-2Sc)   7   days.  Gross: 
$1,300.    (Average.  $1,500) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY — (1,600)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

GOPHER— (990)    (25c)    7    davs.  Gross: 
$2,300.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

STATE— (2,300)   (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.    (Average.  $4,400) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  7  days.  5th 
week.    Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"The  Adventures  of  Huckleberry  Finn" 
(M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)  (35c-55c)  7  days  with 
Lou  Breese,  Stepin  Fetchit,  Armida  on  the 
stage.    Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $3,200) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)    (25c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $3,800.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)   (25c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Devil's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

TOWER— (1.000)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD— (1.000)  (25c)  7  days,  2nd  week. 
Gross:  $1,100.    (Average,  $700) 


Kay  Kyser  Band  and 
'Blackwell's'  Smash 


$25,500  in  Capital 


Washington,  April  12.  —  Holy 
Week  held  no  terrors  at  the  Earle, 
where  Kay  Kyser's  orchestra  and 
"Blackwell's  Island"  came  close  to  a 
record  for  the  Warner  house,  grossing 
$25,500. 

"Love  Affair"  pulled  a  strong 
$11,50.0  in  its  second  week  at  RKO 
Keith's. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6  : 

"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS   CAPITOL— (3,434)    (25c-65e)  7 
days.    Stage:  Eddie  Peabodv.    Gross:  $17,- 
000.    (Average,  $16,500) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S    COLUMBIA— (1.243)  (25c-40c) 
2nd  run,  2nd  week.   7  davs.    Gross:  $5,100. 
(Average,  $4,500) 
"Cafe  Society"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  PALACE— (2,370)  (25c-55c).  7 
days.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

RKO- KEITH'S — (1,836)    (25c-55c)   7  days. 
Oross:  $11,500.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE— (2,218)   (25c-66c)  7 
days.    Stage:  Kay  Kyser  &  orch.  Gross: 
$25,500.    (Average.  $16,000) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  —  (1,591) 
f25c-40c)  7  davs.  Gross:  $3,100.  (Average, 
M.OOO) 


Repurchases  Theatre 

Audubon,  Ia.  —  April  12. — Harry 
Pace,  former  owner  of  tlie  Broadway, 
has  bought  it  back  from  A.  R.  Miller. 


Autographounding 

Autograph  hounding  de 
luxe  is  the  new  service  es- 
tablished by  an  organization 
calling  itself  Celebrity  Serv- 
ice, which  for  a  fee  tells 
clients  where  visiting  celebri- 
ties may  be  found.  In  order 
to  tip  off  autograph  seekers 
where  Hollywood  players 
spend  their  evenings,  the 
service  has  arranged  with 
the  Telephone  Answering 
Service  to  handle  such  calls 
after  office  hours. 


'Honest  Man'  with 


Stage  Show  Does 
$19,000,  Cleveland 


Cleveland,  April  12. — "You  Can't 
Cheat  an  Honest  Man,"  despite  Holy 
Week,  at  the  RKO  Palace  with  Tony 
Martin  as  the  vaudeville  headliner, 
drew  $19,000.  "Love  Affair"  playing 
a  second  week  downtown  at  the  Allen 
took  $6,800. 

"The  Little  Princess"  drew  $10,700 
at  Warners'  Hippodrome  and  "Ser- 
geant Madden"  at  Loew's  State  had  a 
$9,000  week.  Weather  was  average 
for  the  season. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  7 : 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME — (3,800) 
(30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $10,700.  (Aver- 
age, $12,000) 

"You  Can't  Cheat  an  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,100)     (30c-42c-55c)  7 
days.    Stage:    Tony  Martin  and  vaudeville. 
Gross:  $19,000.    (Average,  $15,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)   (30c-35c-42c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $13,000) 
"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STTLLMAN— (1.900)  (30c-35c- 
42c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,100. 
(Average,  $5,000) 

"If  War  Comes  Tomorrow"  (Moskowfilms) 

CITY— (485)  (35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross' 
$900.    (Average,  $1,200) 

'Wife'  at  $4,900 

In  Oklahoma  City 

Oklahoma  City,  April  12. — "Wife, 
Husband  and  Friend"  was  the  best 
grosser  here  in  a  week  of  generally 
poor  business,  with  $4,900  at  the 
Criterion.  The  weather  was  rainy 
and  cold. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6 : 

"Wife,    Husband    and    Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CRITERION— (1,500)      (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $4,900.     (Average,  $5,500) 
"Off  the  Record"  (W.  B.) 
"Strange  Faces"  (Univ.) 

LIBERTY  —  (1,200)  (20c-25c-30c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,400.   (Average,  $1,800) 
"Boy  Trouble"  (Para.) 

"Mr.   Moto  in   Danger   Island"  (20th-Fox) 

LIBERTY— (1.200)    (20c-25c-40c)    3  days. 
Gross:    $700.    (Average,  $700) 
"Let   Freedom   Ring"  (M-G-M) 

MIDWEST— (1,500)   (25c-35c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $3,600.   (Average,  $4,500) 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.B.) 

PLAZA— (750)    (25c-35c-40c)   7   days,  2nd 
week.   Gross:.  $1,300.   (Average,  $1,700) 
"Billy  the   Kid  Returns"  (Rep.) 
"Little  Pal"  (Mono.) 

STATE— (1,200)   r20c-25c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$2,300.   (Average.  $2,500) 
"Dramatic  School"  (M-G-M) 

TOWER— (1,000)  (25c-35c-40c)  3  davs. 
Gross:  $600. 

"Fast  and  Loose  (M-G-M) 

TOWER— (1,000)  (25c-35c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $900.  (Average,  $2,500) 


'Crooked  Mile9  in 


Omaha  Hits  $9,300 


Omaha,  April  12. — Omaha  houses 
felt  the  affect  of  Holy  Week  but  busi- 
ness was  ahead  of  the  same  week 
last  year  in  spite  of  chilly  and  damp 
weather.  At  the  Orpheum  "Tail 
Spin"  and  "Ride  a  Crooked  Mile" 
took  $9,300.  "I'm  From  Missouri" 
and  "Persons  in  Hiding"  drew  $7,- 
000  at  the  Omaha. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  5-6: 

"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.B.) 
"Beauty  for  the  Asking"  (RKO) 

BRANDEIS— (1,800)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,100.    (Average,  $4,000.) 
"I'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Persons  in  Hiding"  (Para.) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,000.    (Average.  $6,000.) 
"Tail  Spin"  (20th-Fox) 
"Ride  a  Crooked  Mile"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM—  (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,300.   (Average,  $7,600.) 

'Ice  Follies'  $Tl,000 
Cincinnati  Leader 

Cincinnati,  April  12. — "Ice  Follies 
of  1939"  drew  an  $11,000  gross  at  the 
RKO   Albee   in   an   otherwise  slow 

week. 

"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  got 
$9,200  at  the  RKO  Palace,  and  "Love 
Affair"  did  nicely  with  $2,750  on  its 
third  downtown  stanza  at  the  RKO 
Grand. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6-8 : 

"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 

RKO   ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average.  $12,000) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)   (35c -42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,200.    (Average.  $10,000) 
"The  Great  Man  Votes"  (RKO) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"3  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c-42c)  7  davs. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO) 
"Lost  Patrol"  (RKO) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,400.    (Average.  $6,500) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

RKO   GRAND— (1.200)    (25c -42c)   7  days. 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $2,750.    (Average,  $2,750) 
"Torchy  Blane  in  Chinatown"  (W.  B.) 
"Whispering  Enemies"  (Col.) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)   (20c-30c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,400.    (Average.  $1,500) 
"Trouble  in  Sundown"  (RKO) 
"Mystery  Plane"  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (20c -30c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $900.    (Average.  $900) 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,400.    (Average.  $6,000) 

'Madden'  at  $8,700 
Is  Buffalo's  Leader 

Buffalo,  April  12.  —  "Sergeant 
Madden"  teamed  with  "Pardon  Our 
Nerve"  at  the  Great  Lakes  cleared 
$8,700. 

Every  other  bill  ran  behind  aver- 
age as  the  weather  remained  damp 
and  cheeerless,  and  Holy  Week  hurt 
business. 

|  Estimated  takings  far  the  week 
ending  April  8 : 

"The  Little  Princess"  (Zdth-Fox) 

BUFFALO— (3,000)     (30c-55c  )  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,200.     (Average.  $12,000) 
"Sergeant   Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Pardon    Our   Nerve"  (20th-Fox) 

GREAT     LAKES— (3.000)     (30c-50c)  7 
davs.     Gross:  $8,700.     (Average,  $7,500) 
"The  Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  (W.B.) 
"The  Great  Man  Votes"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2,500)       (25c-40c)  7 
davs.     Gross:  $3,200.   ■  (Average.  $6,800) 
"Boy  Slaves"  (RKO) 
"Read  Demon"  (20th-Fox) 

CENTURY— (3.000)   (25c)   5  days.  Gross: 
$5,700.     (Average,  7  davs.  $6,000) 
"It  Happened  One  Night"  (Col.) 
"Juvenile  Court"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3.300)  (25c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average.  $6,300) 


Thursday,  April  13,  1939 


'Smart  Girls' 
Leads  Seattle 
With  $8,300 

Seattle,  April  12. — "Three  Smart 
Girls  Grow  Up"  and  "Society  Smug- 
glers" at  the  Paramount  grossed  /^V 
300.  "Love  Affair"  and  "The  CA  Jf. 
Man  Votes"  was  strong  with  $8,150 
in  the  second  week  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue.  The  weather  was  fair  and 
warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  7 : 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"Illegal  Traffic"  (Para.) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,700.  (Average, 
$4,000) 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

"The  Great  Man  Votes"  (M-G-M) 

FIFTH  AVENUE— (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,150.  (Average, 
$7,000) 

"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days, 
5th  week.    Gross:  $3,300.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"I'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Pacific  Liner"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)     (30c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,100.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"North  of  the  Yukon"  (Repub.) 
"My  Wife's  Relatives"  (Repub.) 

PALOMAR— (2,500)  (15c-25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $4,750,  (Average, 
$5,000) 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)  (30c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,300.    (Average,  $6,000) 


'Never  Say  Die'  on 
Kansas  City  Dual 
High  with  $6,800 


Kansas  City,  April  12.— The  lull 
before  Easter  was  hard  on  grosses,  but 
"Never  Say  Die"  and  "The  Eagle  and 
the  Hawk"  at  the  Newman,  took 
$6,800.  Big  money  went  to  "Fast  and 
Loose"  and  "Four  Girls  in  White"  at 
Loew's  Midland,  $9,100. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  4-6 : 

"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 
"Eagle  and  Hawk"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)     (25c-40c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  6  days,  $6,200) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  6  days,  4th 
week.  Gross:  $1,200.  (Average,  6  days, 
$2,400) 

"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)      (25c-40c)      6  days. 
Gross:  $2,300.    (Average.  6  days,  $3,200) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4.000)     (25c-40c)     7  davs. 
Gross:  $9,100.    (Average,  $11,500) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (1,500)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $3,100.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

FOX  TOWER— (2.200)  (25c-40c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 


Theatres  Tune  in 
On  Radio  Program 

San  Francisco,  April  12. — 
Eight  theatres  in  northern 
California  are  now  carrying 
the  "Black  Chapel"  mystery 
broadcast  originating  on 
KSFD,  each  Friday  night  at 
11:45  P.  M.  All  the  houses 
carry  trailers  on  the  screen 
during  the  week,  and  tune  in 
the  program  Friday  nights. 


iThursday,  April  13,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Easter  Business  Is 
Booming  on  BVay 


Easter  Week  business  along  Broad- 
|vay  continues  at  a  strong  pace  and 
khead  of  last  year  in  most  houses. 
'"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Cas- 
tle" is  proving  itself  a  top  draw.  In 
Its  second  week  at  the  Music  Hall,  the 
him  grossed  an  estimated  $110,000. 
.jfc.lnight"  at  the  Paramount  finished 
first  week  with  an  estimated  $54,- 
D00  and  did  an  estimated  $7,500  yes- 
Lerdav. 

|  "The  Hardys  Ride  High"  will  go 
mto  the  Capitol  today.  "Broadway 
Serenade"  did  an  estimated  $22,000  in 
its  week  there.  "YVuthering  Heights" 
«  ill  also  start  today  with  a  7  :3()  P.M. 
premiere  at  the  Rivoli.  "Juarez"  will 
start  on  a  two-a-day  policy  at  the 
Hollywood  April  25. 

Filmarte  is  scheduled  to  reopen 
April  24  with  "The  Three  Waltzes" 
(Vedis).  French  version  of  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  is  be- 
ing held  over  at  the  Waldorf. 

Settlement  Seen  in 
Kibre-IATSE  Row 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Early  set- 
tlement was  seen  today  in  the 
vase  of  Teff  Kibre's  charges  before  the 
N.  L.  R.  B.  against  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 
following  a  conference  last  night  be- 
tween the  Local  37  minority  leader 
and  representatives  of  International 
and  producers. 

After  the  session,  held  in  the 
N.  L.  R.  B.  offices,  Regional  Director 
Towne  Nylandcr  said  that  there  had 
been  a  tentative  agreement  on  terms 
and  that  a  meeting  had  been  set  for 
April  19  at  which  final  agreement  was 
•  •xpected. 


'Highlands'  Will 
Open  Here  Tonight 

"My  Heart's  In  the  High- 
lands," by  William  Saroyan, 
opens  tonight  for  five  per- 
formances at  the  Guild.  If 
properly  received,  arrange- 
ments will  probably  be  made 
for  a  regular  run.  The  Group 
Theatre  is  the  producer  and 
Robert  Lewis,  the  director. 
Included  in  the  cast  are  Sid- 
ney Lumet,  Philip  Loeb,  Art 
Smith,  William  Hansen,  Hes- 
ter Sondergaard  and  others. 


SWG  Asks  Authors' 
Help  on  Labor  Move 

Hollywood.  April  12.  —  Screen 
W  riters'  Guild  today  asked  the  coop- 
eration of  the  Authors'  League  of 
America  in  working  out  a  labor  or- 
ganization connection.  The  committee 
appointed  to  work  toward  this  end, 
headed  by  Lillian  Hellman,  will  sus- 
pend activities  pending  word  from  the 
league. 

The  S.  W.  G.  negotiating  commit- 
tee, headed  by  Charles  Brackett,  presi- 
dent, will  meet  tomorrow  with  pro- 
ducer representatives  for  a  conference 
aiming  at  a  solution  of  the  contract 
deadlock. 


LT.O.A.  Wants  All 
Disputes  Abitrated 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

negotiations  with  the  distributors  to 
achieve  revisions  and  clarifications. 

Among  changes  sought  are  that  the 
panel  of  neutral  arbitrators  shall  be 
selected  by  affiliated  distributors  and 
independent  exhibitors,  with  affiliated 
exhibitors  excluded  on  the  ground 
their  interests  are  represented  by  the 
distributors ;  that  distributors'  liabil- 
ity not  be  limited  to  liquidated  dam- 
ages as  fixed  by  the  license  contract ; 
that  the  code  include  a  provision  pro- 
hibiting re-allocating  films  from  low- 
er to  higher  classifications. 

The  I.  T.  O.  A.  makes  a  restate- 
ment of  these  matters  a  condition  to 
its  participation  in  the  code.  It  feels 
that  some  of  the  pact's  language  is 
inadequate. 


Carnavos  Trial  May  10 

Trial  of  Christos  Carnavos,  manager 
of  the  Momart  in  Brooklyn,  on  charges 
of  operating  a  lottery,  has  been 
set  for  May  10  in  Special  Sessions. 
Carnavos  pleaded  not  guilty  through 
his  counsel,  Harry  G.  Kosch.  The  case 
involves  chance  games. 


Move  in  B.  &  K.  Suit 

Chicago,  April  12. — Attorneys  for 
Gary  theatres  in  the  anti-trust  suit 
against  Balaban  &  Katz  announced 
today  they  would  ask  depositions 
of  Walter  Immerman  of  B.  &  K.,  and 
Alex  Halperin,  Warners. 


Iowa-Nebraska  Unit 
To  Meet  on  April  17 

Des  Moines,  April  12. — Allied-In- 
dependent Theatre  Owners  of  Iowa 
and  Nebraska  plan  to  hold  their  an- 
nual spring  convention  at  the  Kirk- 
wood  Hotel  here  April  17-18,  accord- 
ing to  Leo  F.  Wolcott,  president. 

The  meeting  will  open  with  a  lunch- 
eon to  which  exchange  and  circuit 
people  have  been  invited.  Action  will 
be  taken  on  the  trade  practice  draft, 
Neely  bill  and  other  matters  of  im- 
portance. One  vacancy  on  the  board 
of  directors  is  to  be  filled. 


War  Dept.  Planning 
To  Adapt  Television 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

would  receive  great  impetus  through 
military  use.  Army  officers  have  in- 
spected television  facilities  of  several 
companies.  RCA-NBC  for  some  time 
has  kept  the  War  Department  in- 
formed of  all  progress. 

Television  officials  feel  that  because 
of  the  public  interest  involved,  the 
Government  should  subsidize  experi- 
mental work. 

The  British  Army  and  Navy  is  un- 
derstood to  have  formulated  plans  to 
adapt  television  to  wartime  use. 


Ampa  Meets  Today 

Inside  information  on  the  Nazi  spy 
ring  in  America  will  be  given  by  Leon 
G.  Turrou,  former  G-Man,  at  the 
Ampa  luncheon  at  the  Astor  today.  Joe 
Penner  also  is  on  the  program. 


Seeks  to  Halt  'Juarez' 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Miguel  C. 
Torres,  Spanish  writer-producer,  has 
filed  an  amended  complaint  in  his 
if 1,000,000  damage  suit  against  War- 
ners alleging  that  "Juarez"  was 
partly  lifted  from  "Maximilian  and 
Carlotta"  which  he  produced  in  1933 
in  Spanish  and  last  year  in  English. 
He  sought  a  restraint  order  on  re- 
lease of  "Juarez." 


Neely  Assailed  for 
Quiz  of  Bill's  Foes 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  assertions  of  its  proponents  that 
motion  pictures  induced  crime  and 
citing  as  support  statements  of  court 
officials  on  whom  proponents  had  re- 
lied, to  the  effect  that  films  were  not 
adverse  influence. 

Dr.  Lesourd  also  tore  into  the 
Payne  studies,  citing  other  film  re- 
searchers who  held  the  Payne  report 
to  be  full  of  misrepresentations  and 
"fallacious  assumptions." 

"There  is  no  adequate  truth  that 
motion  pictures  are  at  present  serious- 
ly harmful  to  people,  so  why  pass  a 
law  to  cure  a  condition  that  does  not 
exist?"  he  asked.  "Eighty-eight  mil- 
lion persons  go  to  motion  pictures 
every  week,  but  the  people  of  this 
country  are  not  going  to  the  dogs." 

Col.  Jason  S.  Joy,  of  the  story  de- 
partment of  20th  Century-Fox,  took 
the  subcommittee  through  the  lengthy 
procedure  followed  in  preparing  for 
"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  to  demon- 
strate the  impossibility  of  conducting 
the  production  industry's  present 
methods  under  the  Neely  bill. 

Sees  Production  Halted 

"It  is  absolutely  impossible  for  my 
company  to  produce  quality  pictures 
under  Section  Four  of  the  Neely 
bill,"  he  declared.  "If  Section  Three 
were  changed  so  that  it  became  pos- 
sible to  sell  pictures  one  at  a  time, 
I  think  the  bill  will  have  defeated  its 
very  purpose,  because  the  studios,  in 
addition  to  losing  opportunities  to  em- 
ploy people,  would  of  necessity  have 
to  degenerate  into  what  we  call 
quickie  production."  Yet,  he  added, 
Section  Three  must  be  changed  or 
companies  will  be  forced  to  lower 
their  standards  of  production. 

Col.  Joy  expressed  doubt  whether 
any  of  the  proponents  were  familiar 
with  details  of  production,  and  paid 
hisjh  tribute  to  "seven  or  eight  very 
earnest  men  in  Hollywood"  who  are 
administering  the  production  code  and 
doing  a  "magnificent  job." 

Denying  that  only  the  "best"  pic- 
tures are  sent  abroad,  the  witness  tes- 
tified  that  all  but  11  of  104  produced 
by  20th  Century-Fox  in  the  past  two 
years  have  been  dubbed  or  superim- 
posed for  foreign  showing. 

"The  moment  that  war  becomes 
even  a  possibility  as  far  as  this  coun- 
try is  concerned,  our  industry  is  go- 
ing to  be  asked  to  change  our  pro- 
gram almost  overnight,  and  it  would 
not  be  possible  at  all  for  us  to  indicate 
this  summer  what  we  may  have  in 
pictures  if  such  a  thing  came  about," 
he  warned. 

Pettijohn  Submits  List 

The  "box-office"  is  the  only  thought 
of  exhibitors  in  selecting  pictures,  it 
was  declared  by  C.  C.  Pettijohn  in 
submitting  a  list  of  15  films  which 
received  less  than  20  cancellations  and 
another  list  of  the  same  number  of 
pictures  which  got  from  1,500  to  6,000 
refusals.  The  former  included  gang- 
ster and  other  pictures  designated  un- 
satisfactory by  reform  groups,  while 
the  latter  included  Pulitzer  Prize 
plays,  great  stars  and  world  renowned 
artists. 

"I  take  it  that  regardless  of  what 
system  you  have,  the  success  of  a 
picture  depends  upon  box  office  re- 
ceipts indicating  what  the  public 
wants,"  Chairman  Smith  commented. 

"I  gave  you  a  list  to  show  that  some 


Group  Theatre  Will 
Produce  in  Astoria 


Contracts  are  expected  to  be  closed 
within  the  next  few  days  in  a  deal  be- 
tween Eastern  Service  Studios  and  the 
Group  Theatre,  under  which  the  latter 
will  produce  three  films  in  the  next 
two  years  at  the  Astoria  plant. 

First  picture  is  to  be  an  original 
screen  story  by  Clifford  Odets  or  Ir- 
win Shaw,  both  of  whom  have  written 
several  of  the  Group's  stage  successes. 
Casts  will  be  drawn  from  the  Group's 
company  with  the  possibility  that  other 
legitimate  stage  stars  may  be  used.  No 
arrangements  have  been  made  yet  for 
a  director,  but  it  is  expected  that  he 
will  be  from  Hollywood.  Arthur  Krim, 
of  Phillips  &  Nizer,  is  drawing  the 
contracts. 


pictures  that  have  been  criticized  at 
this  hearing  have  had  very  few  can- 
cellations," Pettijohn  said.  "My  pur- 
pose is  to  show  what  we  are  up 
against  in  making  classics.  If  they 
were  not  included  in  the  wholesale 
groups  we  probably  would  not  sell 
them  to  anybody." 

Cites  British  Debate 

Pettijohn  also  submitted  a  trans- 
cript of  a  debate  in  the  English  Par- 
liament last  month  on  motion  pictures, 
asserting  that  the  only  interest  the 
English  had  in  the  subject  was  in  ex- 
panding their  own  industry.  Even 
with  all  their  restrictions,  American 
distributors  still  get  30  per  cent  of 
their  gross  from  the  foreign  market, 
he  said. 

"Don't  let  anyone  tell  you  that  these 
English  gentlemen  are  interested  in 
anything  but  trade  and  commerce  in 
motion  pictures,"  he  added. 


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MOTION  PICTURJfc 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  13,  193 


FCC  Survey 
Of  Television 
Is  Begun  Here 


Television  Committee  of  the  Federal 
Communications  Commission  arrived 
here  yesterday  to  explore  the  field  of 
television  and  to  secure  information 
concerning  the  proposed  television 
standards  recently  recommended  by 
the  Radio  Manufacturers  Association. 

T.  A.  M.  Craven,  chairman  of  the 
television  committee  stated  yesterday 
that  the  study  was  a  cooperative  en- 
deavor between  the  government  and 
private  television  enterprises. 

Committee's  Itinerary 

Among  the  organizations;  whose  tele- 
vision plants  are  in  the  committee's 
itinerary  are  RCA-NBC,  CBS,  Du- 
Mont  Laboratories,  Bell  Laboratories, 
National  Television  Cor£.,  Interna- 
tional Television  Corp.,  General  Elec- 
tric. While  here  they  wfill  also  see 
Major  Edward  H.  Armstrong,  in- 
ventor in  radio  and  television.  They 
have  already  inspected  the  Philco  tele- 
vision facilities.  Today,  some  members 
of  the  committee  will  go  to  Schenec- 
tady to  witness  a  demonstration  of 
television  of  a  system  of  transmission 
on  ultra-high  frequencies. 

"We  are  here  to  secure  information 
concerning  the  proposed'  standards 
suggested  by  the  Radio  Manfacturers 
Association  and  to  acquaint  the  people 
who  are  developing  television  with 
some  of  the  problems  facing  the  com- 
mission in  connection  with  the  alloca- 
tion of  television  channels,"  Craven 
said. 

Report  Due  in  Month 

He  said  the  committee  expected  to 
report  to  the  F.  C.  C.  in  about  a 
month  and  present  information  to  aid 
it  in  handling  applications  for  sta- 
tions. He  said  the  most  important 
phases  of  television  facing  the  com- 
mittee are  the  manufacture  and  de- 
velopment of  apparatus  and  the  opera- 
tion of  regular  television  stations.  He 
would  not  predict  when  television  sets 
would  come  into  widespread  use,  but 
said  that  developments  in  the  art  have 
been  "marvelous." 

The  committee  personnel  comprises, 
in  addition  to  Craven,  the  following : 
Norman  Chase,  Thad  H.  Brown,  An- 
drew D.  Ring,  George  B.  Porter  and 
William  H.  Bauer. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 


FRANK  BRAUCHER,  WOR 
sales  executive,  is  ill  at  home.  .  .  . 
Joe  Bolton,  formerly  of  WHN 
here,  has  joined  KNX,  Hollywood, 
where  he  is  to  conduct  baseball  broad- 
casts. .  .  .  Henry  Busse  will  be  on 
the  "Show  of  the  Week"  Sunday  and 
then  to  the  Paramount,  opening  April 
26.  .  .  .  Ben  Pollet,  account  executive 
for  the  Compton  agency,  to  the  south 
for  a  week.  .  .  .  Bill  Maillenfert,  time 
buyer  at  Compton,  has  just  returned 
from  a  honeymoon.  .  .  .  Duke  Elling- 
ton's band  will  be  managed  by  the 
William  Morris  agency  upon  his  re- 
turn  from  Europe. 


CBS  30-Day  Gross 
Totals  $6,313,829 

Total  gross  of  new  and  renewal 
business  signed  bv  CBS  within  the 
past  30  days  totaled  $6,313,829,  a 
record  for  a  spring  period.  Fourteen 
new  contracts,  including  coast-to-coast, 
regional  and  one-time  broadcasts,  and 
five  renewals  provide  the  total.  New 
contracts  total  $4,058,433,  and  renew- 
als $2,255,396. 

The  14  new  accounts  comprise  Ne- 
high  Bottling  Co.,  Griffin  Ail-White, 
Sealtest  Laboratories,  Campbell  Soup 
Co.,  Bowey  Inc.,  the  Kentucky  Derby 
broadcast  to  be  sponsored  by  20th 
Century  Fox,  Tulip  Festival  broadcast 
sponsored  by  Holland  Furnace  Co., 
both  one-time  broadcasts ;  three  re- 
gional network  contracts  for  Brown  & 
Williamson  Tobacco  Co.,  Knox  Gela- 
tine Co.  and  Staynor  Corp.,  and  pro- 
grams of  the  Pure  Oil  and  American 
Oil  companies,  and  Hormel  Products. 

The  five  renewals  are  Lucky  Strike, 
Continental  Baking,  Lambert  &  Co., 
Household  Finance,  and  General 
Foods  Corp. 


Will  Dedicate  RCA 
Fair  Exhibit  April  20 

RCA  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair 
will  be  dedicated  April  20  with  ad- 
dresses by  David  Sarnoff,  president  of 
RCA ;  Lenox  R.  Lohr,  president  of 
NBC  and  Grover  Whalen.  Theme  of 
the  talks  will  be  the  beginning  of  tele- 
vision service. 

An  unusual  feature  of  the  event  will 
be  the  coverage  of  the  ceremonies  by 
newspaper  reporters  who  will  view  the 
ceremonies  via  television  in  receivers 
in  Radio  City,  approximately  eight 
miles  from  the  Fair  grounds. 


Edwin  Hill  in  New  Series 

Edwin  C.  Hill  will  start  a  news 
commentary  series  for  the  American 
Oil  Co.  over  CBS  Mav  1.  Program 
will  be  heard  Monday  through  Fridav 
from  6:05  to  6:15  P.  M.  over  38  sta- 
tions, throughout  the  year. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  April  12. — Increases 
in  power  have  been  asked  of  the  Fed- 
eral Communications  Commission  by 
three  broadcasting  stations. 

Applications  were  received  from 
WNEW,  New  York,  for  an  increase 
of  night  power  from  1,000  to  5,000 
watts;  KWOS,  Jefferson  City,  Mo., 
for  an  increase  of  night  power  from 
100  to  250  watts,  and  KRE,  Berkeley, 
Cal.,  for  an  increase  of  night  power 
from  100  to  250  watts. 

The  commission  will  hold  hearings 
April  18  on  the  applications  of 
WJBW,  New  Orleans,  for  extension 
of  time  from  sharing  to  unlimited, 
and  the  Spartanburg  Advertising  Co. 
for  a  1,370-kilocycle  station  at  Spar- 
tanburg, S.  C,  with  100  watts  power 
night,  250  watts  day. 

Hearings  have  been  ordered,  on 
dates  to  be  set  later,  on  the  applica- 
tions of  WSUI,  Iowa  City,  la.,  for 
an  increase  of  power  from  500  watts 
night,  1,000  watts  day,  to  1,000  watts 
night,  5,000  watts  day  ;  KRLH,  Mid- 
land, Tex.,  for  increase  of  day  power 
from  100  to  250  watts,  and  KOAC, 
Corvallis,  Ore.,  for  increase  of  power 
from  1,000  to  5,000  watts. 


Mexico  Financing 
Problem  Clearing 
Out  Opportunists 


Mexico  City,  April  12.— Financing 
problem  confronting  the  Mexican  pro- 
ducing industry  and  which  has  obliged 
some  makers  to  "pawn"  their  pictures, 
principally  in  South  America  where 
Mexican  films  are  enjoying  popular- 
ity, before  they  are  completed,  is  seen 
as  having  beneficial  results. 

For  one  thing,  observers  say,  the 
present  situation  will  prune  the  in- 
dustry of  those  who  get  together  $400 
or  $500,  start  a  picture  and  depend 
upon  wholesale  borrowing  to  finish 
the  job.  The  financing  situation  is 
also  seen  as  inducing  more  Mexican 
producers  to  hook  up  with  American 
producers,  as  some  have  done  with 
Columbia  and  RKO.  This  will  also 
benefit  the  Americans,  for  they  will 
have  the  opportunity  to  make  first 
class  pictures  in  Spanish  at  far  less 
cost  than  is  possible  in  the  United 
States,  even  though  average  costs  in 
Mexico  have  jumped  from  $40,000  to 
$50,000  per  picture. 

Mexican  producers  who  work  alone 
are  fearful  of  spending  much  money 
for  a  picture.  First  of  all,  backers  of 
pictures  want  as  much  as  60  per  cent 
of  the  gross.  Much  of  the  increased 
production  cost  is  blamed  on  studio 
workers'  and  general  industry  em- 
ployes' unions.  Producers  have  ap- 
pealed to  the  unions  to  be  more  rea- 
sonable, but  without  success. 


M-G-M  Will  Make 
18  Cartoons  in  Year 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Fred  Quim- 
by,  M-G-M  executive  in  charge  of 
shorts,  today  announced  a  new  car- 
toon policy  for  the  season  in  which 
18  cartoons,  all  in  color,  would  be 
made  for  release,  one  every  three 
weeks.  Quimby  at  the  same  time  said 
"The  Captain  and  the  Kids,"  news- 
paper comic  strip  which  formed  the 
basis  for  the  1938-39  cartoons  made 
by  the  studio,  would  be  abandoned. 
In  charge  of  cartoon  production  will 
be  Rudolph  Ising  and  Hugh  Harman, 
each  working  independently.  The  first 
cartoon  to  be  released  under  the  new 
setup  will  be  "Little  Goldfish,"  pro- 
duced by  Ising  on  April  15. 


Moray  on  Coast 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Norman 
Moray,  Vitaphone  sales  manager,  ar- 
rived today  from  San  Francisco  for 
conferences  with  Harry  and  Jack 
Warner  and  Hal  B.  Wallis  on  the 
company's  historical  featurette  and 
short  subject  program  for  the  new 
year. 


Hunter  Due  at  Studios 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Henry 
Hunter,  manager  of  P'aramount's  dis- 
tribution organization  in  Australia, 
arrives  here  Monday.  Following  par- 
leys here  with  executives  he  will  visit 
the  New  York  office. 


Fair  Cuts  Coast  Grosses 

San  Francisco,  April  12. — Local 
exhibitors  report  that  the  Fair  has 
cut  down  theatre  attendance  one-third. 
In  some  quarters  the  cut-in  is  re- 
ported as  high  as  40  per  cent. 


Republic  Concludes! 
Eastern  Meet  Todav 


Republic's  Eastern  and  Central  re-^ 
gional  sales  meeting  which  startec 
yesterday  will  wind  up  today  aftei 
further  discussion  of  1939-'40  produd 
and  sales  plans.  Tonight  the  dele-, 
gates  will  attend  a  beefsteak  dinner  at, 
the  New  York  Athletic  Club. 

Harry  LaVine,  central  distric/'Ves; 
manager,  presided  at  yesterday's  Mis- 
sions, and  Jack  Bellman,  eastern  sales 
head,  will  be  chairman  today.  The 
meeting  is  at  the  Park  Central. 

James  R.  Grainger,  president  anc 
sales  chief,  discussed  the  new  pro- 
gram for  two  hours  yesterday.  Otherl 
speakers  were  Walter  W.  Vincent,  H. 
J.  Yates,  Al  Adams,  Herman  Gluck 
man,  Herman  Rifkin,  Nat  Lefton,  and1 
Sam  Flax.  Among  today's  speakers 
will  be  Paul  Nathanson  and  A.  W. 
Perry  of  Canada,  James  Alexander, 
Pittsburgh  franchise  holder,  and 
Grainger. 


Pa.  Bill  May  Revive 
Sunday  Blue  Laws 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  April  12. — Restor- 
ation of  the  provisions  of  ancient  blue 
laws  banning  all  forms  of  Sunday, 
amusements  is  seen  if  the  bill  intro- 
duced in  the  House  by  Assemblyman 
Gates  becomes  law. 

The  measure  would  repeat  the  act  of 
July  2,  1935,  which  permits  showing  of 
motion  pictures  on  Sundays  only  in 
communities  which  vote  in  favor  of 
them.  Lawyers  say  that  the  bill  would 
automatically  bring  back  the  old  ban 
on  all  Sunday  amusements. 

Another  measure,  introduced  by  As- 
semblyman Johnston,  would  amend  the 
act  of  1935  to  make  it  unlawful  for 
children  under  15  to  be  admitted  to 
motion  picture  theatres  on  Sunday. 


Damrosch  Debut  Set 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Walter 
Damrosch  will  report  to  the  Para- 
mount studio  late  in  May  for  his  ap- 
pearance in  the  Bing  Crosby  picture, 
"The  Star  Maker."  He  will  lead  a 
symphony  orchestra  to  accompany 
Linda  Ware,  13-year-old  singing  dis- 
covery. 


•J-t 

i 

lit 


Ann  Sheridan  to  Wanger 

Hollywood,  April  12.  —  Walter  JL 
Wanger  has  borrowed  Ann  Sheridan 
from  Warners  for  the  feminine  lead  in 
"Winter  Carnival."  Richard  Carlson 
probably  will  play  opposite  and 
Charles  F.  Reisner  will  direct. 


Reese  Quits  20th-Fox 

Omaha,  April  12. — Carl  Reese  has 
resigned  from  the  20th  Century-Fox 
sales  staff  here  and  joined  Republic 
at  Des  Moines.  Ralph  Olson,  former- 
ly with  Universal,  has  joined  the 
RKO  sales  staff. 


Ellen  B.  Larsen  Dies 

Decorah,  Ia.,  April  12.— Ellen  B. 
Larsen,  who  in  partnership  with  her 
sister,  Sarah,  opened  the  Lyric  here 
in  1914  and  has  assisted  in  its  opera- 
tion ever  since,  died  here  of  a  heart 
attack. 


Mayo  Joins  Paramount 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Bob  Mayo, 
former  casting  director  at  Columbia, 
has  been  named  a  unit  casting  director 
for  Paramount. 


3» 


U^J  IN  <w>  I  KLMUVb 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


45.  NO.  72 

NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  APRIL  14,  1939 

TEN  CENTS 

Nfeely  Hearing 
May  Be  Basis 
3f  Film  Probe 


Economic  Committee  Has 
Observer  at  Sessions 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  April  13. — Testimony 
ven  at  current  hearings  on  Neely 
ode  booking  bill  may  the  basis  for 
i  investigation  of  the  motion  picture 
:dustry  by  the  Temporary  National 
tonomic  Committee  studying  monop- 

»>'• 

T.  N.  E.  C.  has  assigned  an  ob- 
-rver  to  the  hearings,  it  was  disclosed, 
id  has  already  brought  up  to  date 
dually  Daniel  Bertrand's  report  on 
le  film  industry.  Information  in  files 
'  the  Department  of  Justice  also  has 
•en  analyzed  and  representatives  of 
ie  committee  have  had  informal  dis- 
jssions  with  officials  of  major  com- 
anies  and  independent  exhibitors. 
The  situation  in  motion  picture  in- 
astry  has  been  under  study  for  some 
me.  It  is  understood  that  the  staff 
7  the  monopoly  committee  believes  it 
as  developed  a  "cure"  for  conditions 
i  the  industry.  A  long  list  of  un- 
stable practices  has  been  developed, 
hich  are  to  be  studied  and.  it  is 
-iderstood,  both  producer  distributors 
id  exhibitors  will  come  in  for  cen- 
tre. 

It  is  not  expected  that  an  inquiry 
ill  be  undertaken  in  the  near  future 
tcause  of  a  desire  to  see  what  tran- 
spires in  the  New  York  suit. 


Wilbur  Puts  Code 
Before  Neely  Bill 

Washington,  April  13. — Pro- 
ponents of  the  Neely  Bill  to- 
day lost  their  strongest  ace 
when  Dr.  Ray  Lyman  Wil- 
bur, president  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Research  Council, 
wrote  Senator  E.  D.  Smith, 
head  of  the  subcommittee 
hearing  arguments  on  the 
bill,  suggesting  the  film  in- 
dustry should  be  given  oppor- 
tunity to  clean  its  own  house 
through  its  proposed  trade 
practice  agreement. 

"There  are  indications  that 
legislation  may  be  the  only 
answer,"  Wilbur  wrote,  "but 
if  a  workable  plan  to  meet 
the  situation  has  evolved 
from  the  industry  and  will  be 
put  into  prompt  and  general 
effect,  it  should  be  given  a 
fair  trial." 


Industry  Facing  General 
Strike  by  The  I.A.T.S.E 


Law  Can't  End 
Block  Selling 
— Kuykendall 


Washington,  April  13.— Declar- 
ing the  Neely  bill  will  achieve  none 
of  the  purposes  for  which  it  is  in- 
tended, Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president,  today  told  the  Senate  Inter- 
state Commerce  subcommittee  the 
threat  of  legislation  has  been  a  big 
help  in  the  effort  of  exhibitors  to  ob- 
tain revision  of  trade  practices. 

Kuykendall  said  his  group  is  "ut- 
terly opposed  to  compulsory  block 
booking  and  blind  selling,"  but  is 
convinced  the  only  practical  solution 
is  through  selective  contracts. 

The  Neely  bill  will  not  even  elimi- 
nate block  selling  in  competitive  po- 
sitions he  contended,  and  its  provi- 
sions are  so  written  as  to  endanger 
exhibitors  as  well  as  producers  and 
distributors  under  its  prohibition 
against  transportation  of  films  violat- 
ing the  proposed  law,  pointing  out  that 
exhibitors  arrange  and  pay  for  trans- 
portation. 

After  long  study,  he  said,  he  is 
convinced  the  bill  is  "an  amazing  ex- 
ample of  misleading,  deceptive  and 
confused  legislation,  prepared  and 
sponsored  by  people  who  are  inex- 
perienced in  our  business."  The  aim 
of  organization  proponents,  he 
charged,  is  to  obtain  "great  oppor- 
tunity for  private  censorship"  in 
which  they  will  take  a  leading  part, 

(.Continued  on  page  8) 


Universal  Will  Open 
Sales  Convention  in 
Cincinnati  Saturday 


Cincinnati,  April  13—  Nate  J. 
Blumberg,  Universal  president,  and 
William  A.  Scully,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution,  head  Univer- 
sal's  eastern  and  southern  sales  forces 
which  will  convene  here  Saturday, 
Sunday  and  Monday  for  the  first  of 
the  company's  three  regional  sales 
metings.  The  group  will  number  about 
90  when  Scully  opens  the  meeting  in 
the  Netherlands-Plaza  Hotel. 

Louis  Pollock,  Andrew  J.  Sherack 
are  here  arranging  advance  details  of 
the  Universal  convention.  The  con- 
ventioneers due  will  be  met  at  the 
station  by  a  local  delegation  with  a 
band  and  will  be  escorted  to  the  Neth- 
erland  Plaza  headquarters.  There  will 
be  screening  at  the  RKO  Grand  the- 
atre Sunday  morning  of  Gilbert  & 
Sullivan's  "Mikado,"  also  a  screening 
of  the  special  screen  test  of  Universal's 
new  child  star  Gloria  Jean  film  which 
is  being  rushed  here  by  Joe  Pasternak. 

Cincinnati  was  selected  for  the  first 
meeting  as  a  tribute  to  Ike  Libson, 
veteran  local  theatre  operator,  who 
was  for  many  years  an  associate  of 
Blumberg's  when  the  latter  headed 
RKO  theatre  operations. 

Scully  will  announce  the  company's 
new  season  production  schedule  on 
Sunday.  As  indicated  earlier,  the  list 
will  include  44  features,  14  "outdoor" 
pictures,  four  serials,  a  "combination" 
reissue,  70  shorts  and  104  issues  of 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Red  Challenge  Ignored, 
W anger  Quits  'Democracy  9 


With  the  statement  that  Films  for 
Democracy  has  "not  met  the  challenge 
to  make  a  public  disavowal  of  possible 
Communist  sympathies  or  compro- 
mise," Walter  Wanger  has  directed  a 
letter  to  that  organization  asking  that 
his  name  no  longer  be  used  in  connec- 
tion with  its  activities. 

Mr.  Wanger's  letter  was  made  pub- 
lic in  a  feature  column  conducted  by 
Morton  Thompson  in  the  Hollywood 
Citizen-News  as  "directed  to  a  well- 


known  organization  which  solicited 
his  sponsorship."  In  New  York, 
Samuel  J.  Rodman,  executive  secre- 
tary of  Films  for  Democracy,  ex- 
pressed surprise  that  the  letter  had 
been  published.  He  said  that  it  had 
been  answered. 

"The  challenge,"  mentioned  by  Mr. 
Wanger,  obviously  refers  to  a  demand 
published  successively  in  the  issues  of 
Motion  Picture  Herald  of  December 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Refusal  to  Grant  Basic 
Contract  Brings  Threat 
Of  Walkout 


Hollywood,  April  13.  —  George 
Browne,  president  of  I.A.T.S.E.,  to- 
night sent  out  telegrams  to  all 
affiliated  locals  in  the  United  States 
asking  them  to  stand  by  for  a  general 
strike  call. 

The  telegrams  were  sent  following 
a  conference  of  studio  locals  and  pro- 
ducers' representatives  at  which  the 
union  demands  for  a  basic  contract 
were  turned  down.  The  telegram 
follows : 

"On  receipt  of  further  telegraphic 
advices  you  are  instructed  to  imme- 
diately withdraw  from  service  all 
members  in  all  theatres  operated  or 
controlled  by  any  major  circuit.  This 
is  occasioned  by  refusal  of  major  pro- 
ducing companies  to  agree  to  contract 
demand  made  by  West  Coast  studio 
locals.  Stand  by." 

Among  those  attending  the  confer- 
ence were  Thomas  Ryan  and  David 
Lory  of  Laboratory  Local  683,  and 
Lew  Blix  of  Technicians  Local  37. 

Local  37  has  been  the  storm  center 
of  a  dispute  that  has  threatened  to 
disrupt  the  organization  of  the  studio 
unions.  Its  break  from  the  parent 
body  brought  a  threat  of  Federal 
inquiry  into  alleged  Communistic 
activities  in  the  coast  unions. 

What  effect  the  strike  order,  if  it 
comes,  will  have  on  the  situation  in 
the  Hollywood  unions,  cannot  be  sur- 
mised but  it  is  apparent  that  all  locals 
will  answer  if  the  call  for  a  general 
walkout  goes  out. 


Kovda  Speeding  Up 
Denham  Production 

London,  April  13. — Denham  is  alive 
with  activity.  Alexander  Korda,  now 
that  he  has  transferred  studio  operat- 
ing responsibility  to  others,  is  moving 
swiftly  with  extensive  production  plans. 
Already  he  has  finished  "Four  Feath- 
ers," and  "Thief  of  Bagdad"  will  go 
before  the  cameras  May  1. 

Advance  reports  about  "Four 
Feathers"  is  that  it  is  immeasurably 
bigger  than  "Drums,"  and  "Thief  of 
Bagdad,"  it  is  understood,  will  be  en- 
tirely different  from  the  Douglas  Fair- 
banks film  of  the  same  name.  A  com- 
pletely new  construction  has  been 
prepared  by  Korda,  which  is  startling 
in  conception.  Korda  will  make  four 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  14,  1939 


Al  Steffes  Will  Quit 
As  Exhibitor  Leader 

W.  A.  (Al)  Steffes,  long  a 
leader  in  Allied  States,  plans 
to  retire  from  organization 
work  after  the  Allied  conven- 
tion in  Minneapolis,  June  13- 
15.  Steffes  has  been  in  New 
York  with  Joe  Pastor  of  Chi- 
cago on  foreign  film  deals  and 
will  leave  tonight. 

"The  younger  men  in  the 
industry  should  take  hold  of 
organization  leadership," 
Steffes  said.  He  will  remain 
an  Allied  member,  however. 
As  President  of  Northwest 
Allied,  he  is  arranging  the 
national  convention.  North- 
west Allied  will  meet  a  day 
earlier. 


Muller  Quizzed  on 
U.  A.  Contract  Plan 

Examination  of  Harry  J.  Muller, 
treasurer  and  controller  of  United 
Artists  Corp.,  by  Robert  L.  Wright, 
special  assistant  attorney-general,  con- 
tinued yesterday  in  Federal  Court. 
Muller  was  questioned  on  long  term 
contracts  of  U.  A.  with  producers, 
their  names  and  connections,  and  the 
names  of  New  York  representatives. 

Wright  also  sought  information 
concerning  types  of  contracts  made 
by  U.  A.  with  exhibitors.  The  Gov- 
ernment indicated  it  probably  would 
subpoena  Harry  Gold,  Jack  Schlaifer 
and  Paul  Lazarus,  U.  A.  executives. 
Examination  of  Muller  and  Edward 
C.  Raftery,  secretary,  was  adjourned 
to  April  20.  The  Government  expects 
to  file  its  bill  of  particulars  not  later 
than  May  1. 


To  Review  "Sunset  Case" 

Screening  of  the  Grand  National's 
"Sunset  Murder  Case"  before  a  com- 
mittee of  the  N.  Y.  Board  of  Regents 
is  scheduled  to  take  place  at  the  State 
Office  Building  Monday.  The  film 
previously  was  approved  after  dele- 
tions. Later,  however,  G.  N.  volun- 
tarily surrendered  the  seal,  restored 
the  cuts,  and  requested  a  new  seal. 
Irwin  Esmond,  chief  censor,  refused 
approval  and  the  company  appealed. 


Settle  Bank  Night  Suit 

Litigation  between  Edward  Gold- 
stein, of  Rae-Ed  Amusement  Enter- 
prises, and  Kallet  Circuit  of  upstate 
New  York,  which  involved  payment 
for  use  of  Bank  Night,  has  been  set- 
tled, according  to  Goldstein. 


New  United  Flight  Set 

United  Air  Lines  announced  that, 
effective  April  4,  a  third  daily  non- 
stop New  York  to  Chicago  flight  will 
be  inaugurated,  leaving  New  York  at 
3.15  P.  M. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Gets  Valentino  Rights 

Nu  Art  Films,  Inc.,  have  acquired 
exclusive  16mm.  rights  in  the  United 
States  and  Canada  for  "Son  of  the 
Sheik,"  Rudolph  Valentino  revival. 


Pep  Club  Dance  April  28 

Paramount  Pep  Club  will  hold  its 
annual  dinner  and  dance  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  on  April  28. 


PA.  McGUIRE,  advertising  man- 
•  ager  of  International  Projector 
Corp.,  this  week  observes  20  years  of 
continuous  service  with  the  company 
and  its  predecessor. 

• 

Ellen  Drew  arrives  from  Holly- 
wood today.  She  sails  for  England 
tomorrow  on  the  Aquitania  to  co-star 
with  Ray  Milland  in  Paramount's 
"French  Without  Tears."  Milland, 
who  arrived  yesterday,  also  is  sailing. 
• 

Franklyn  Warner,  head  of  Fine 
Arts  Pictures,  leaves  New  York  for 
the  coast  by  train  on  Sunday  after 
conferences  with  Earle  W.  Hammons 
on  a  new  distribution  deal  with  Grand 
National. 

• 

Leonard  Schneider  has  joined 
Consolidated  Film  Industries  as  as- 
sistant general  sales  manager,  not  as 
assistant  general  manager. 

• 

Bill  Schneider,  art  director  for 
Donahue  &  Coe,  sails  tomorrow  on 
the  Zaandam  for  a  European  vacation. 
He  will  be  gone  a  month. 

• 

Florence  Marston,  eastern  repre- 
sentative of  the  Screen  Actors'  Guild, 
was  home  ill  with  a  cold  yesterday. 
• 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  20th  Century- 
Fox  chairman  of  the  board,  is  due 
from  the  coast  next  week. 


WALTER  BRANSON,  captain  of 
the    RKO    George  Schaefer 
sales  driver,  and  Harry  Michalson, 
short  subject  sales  manager,  will  re- 
turn today  from  a  tour  of  exchanges. 
• 

Adolph  Zukor  will  sail  from  Eng- 
land tomorrow  on  the  Queen  Mary, 
arriving  in  New  York  next  Thursday. 
He  has  been  abroad  about  three 
months. 

• 

Jack  Partington  of  Fanchon  & 
Marco  is  in  St.  Louis,  where  he  pro- 
duced the  annual  police  circus,  which 
opens  today  for  a  week. 

• 

H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor 
relations  for  RKO,  leaves  Sunday  for 
Columbus  to  speak  in  a  symposium  on 
film  censorship. 

• 

Will  Fyffe,  English  actor,  arrives 
tonight  on  the  Aquitania.  He  will 
have  a  part  in  Paramount's  "Ruler 
of  the  Seas." 

• 

Anthony  Veiller,  playwright  and 
screen  writer,  is  back  in  Hollywood 
after  a  trip  through  the  east. 

• 

Charles  Ruggles,  who  has  been  in 
New  York  on  vacation,  will  plane  out 
for  Hollywood  tomorrow. 

• 

Margaret  Lockwood  has  returned 
to  Hollywood  after  a  brief  visit  here. 


McCausland  Honored 
By  RKO  Associates 

Testimonial  dinner  tendered  to  A. 
H.  McCausland,  RKO  trustee's  rep- 
resentative was  attended  by  about  70 
of  his  RKO  associates  and  friends. 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president,  pre- 
sented to  him  a  set  of  golf  clubs. 
Among  those  present  were :  M.  H. 
Aylesworth,  Nate  Blumberg,  W.  H. 
Clark,  O.  C.  Doering,  Frank  Dono- 
van, Leon  Goldberg,  Hal  Home,  Mal- 
colm Kingsberg,  William  Mallard,  S. 
Barret  McCormick,  E.  L.  McEvoy, 
Fred  Mayers,  W.  J.  Merrill,  Jack 
Pegler,  H.  M.  Richey,  A.  E.  Reoch, 
George  Schaefer,  Al  Sindlinger,  Cres- 
son  E.  Smith,  L.  E.  Thompson,  Fred 
Ullman,  Jr.,  J.  H.  Walters,  G.  E. 
Youngman. 


Republic  to  Set  Up 
Publicity  Bureaus 

Republic  will  establish  publicity 
headquarters  in  every  exchange  centre, 
according  to  H.  J.  Yates.  This  is  a 
new  departure  for  the  company. 

Yates  spoke  at  length  yesterday  at 
the  final  session  of  the  Eastern  and 
Central  regional  sales  meeting  at  the 
Park  Central. 

A  number  of  leading  exhibitors  and 
circuit  buyers  were  guests  of  Republic 
at  a  convention  dinner  last  night. 
Among  them  were  Spyros  Skouras, 
loseph  Bernhard,  W.  A.  Steffes, 
Joseph  Pastor  of  Chicago ;  Gene  Pick- 
er, Aubrey  Schenck,  W.  T.  Powers, 
J.  J.  Sullivan,  Fred  Meyers,  Max 
Fellerman,  William  White,  Louis 
Webber,  George  Lynch,  Charles  Moss, 
Max  A.  Cohen,-  Al  Suchman,  Walter 
W.  Vincent,  Archie  Silverman,  and 
Ed  Reed  of  Providence,  besides  J.  R. 
Grainger,  sales  chief. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Shots  of  the  New  York  and  San 
Francisco  fairs  continue  to  gain  ad- 
tent  ion  in  the  latest  newsreels.  The 
reels  and  their  contents  follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS._  No.  62— Air  pre- 
paredness in  Texas.  Chief  Justice  Hughes 
celebrates  birthday.  Glass  exhibit  at  New 
York  fair.  Premiere  of  "Alexander  Gra- 
ham Bell."  Crown  of  the  Andes  arrives  in 
New  York.  British  navy  and  French  army 
parade.  England's  King  and  Queen  visit 
housing  project.  Mussolini  speaks  in  Rome. 
New  torpedo  boat.  Twin  convention.  Baby 
contest.  Lew  Lehr.  New  rowing  machine. 
Kentucky  Derby  candidates. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  260—  Foreign 
fleets  leave  on  secret  mission.  Yankee 
Clipper  lands.  Glass  house  at  New  York 
fair.  Hughes  is  77.  Tractor  tank  tested. 
Crown  of  Andes  on  display.    Twins  convene 


in  New  York.  Child  training.  Midget  auto 
races. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  73— Clipper 
ends  survey  flight.  Hughes  celebrates 
birthday.  Reconstruction  in  Spain.  Crown 
of  Andes  arrives  for  fair.  Joseph  Beck 
visits  England.  New  telephone  service. 
New  York  fair  preview.  Baseball  anniver- 
sary.   Hall  of  Fame  for  baseball. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  77— Funeral  of 
Senator  Lewis.  Hughes  celebrates  77th 
birthday.  Battle  practice.  Glass  blowing. 
Army  enlistment  drive.  Ex-diving  champ 
tries  comeback.  White  House  prepares  for 
English   royal  visit.      Forest   fire  service. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  762— 
Danish  royalty  at  Frisco  fair.  Roosevelt 
greets  new  secretary.  Hughes  is  77.  Ship- 
ping activities.  Army  maneuvers.  Babies 
exercised.  Baseball.  Tree  planting.  CJlprus 
girls  rehearse.  Model  of  New  York  fair. 
Glass  exhibition.  Crown  of  Andes  on  dis- 
play. 


Eastern  Group  Backs 
Frisco  Reel  Theatre 


San  Francisco,  April  13. — First 
newsreel  theatre  to  be  sponsored  by 
an  eastern  financial  group  is  scheduled 
to  be  constructed  here  during  May. 
The  house  will  be  located  on  Market 
St.,  with  a  seating  capacity  of  400. 

Officers  of  the  operating  organiza- 
tion are  Herbert  Scheftel,  broL_ 
president;  Edward  J.  Reeves,  groc&V  i» 
chain  store  head,  vice-president;  An- 
gier  Biddle  Duke,  treasurer;  Alfred 
G.  Burger,  New  York  realtor,  secre- 
tary ;  Abraham  L.  Bienstock,  of  the 
Max  Steuer  office,  New  York,  counsel, 
and  Martin  J.  Dinkelspiel,  local 
counsel. 


Reported  plans  of  DeVry  Corp., 
manufacturers  of  16mm.  equipment,  to 
open  "5  and  10"  theatres  for  16mm. 
newsreel  exhibition  nationally,  are 
without  much  significance  at  this  time, 
according  to  Hickman  Price,  head  of 
the  company's  New  York  office.  Op- 
erating company  for  such  a  project 
was  incorporated  in  New  York  some 
time  ago  but  no  action  has  been  taken 
in  the  direction  of  acquisition  of  thea- 
tre sites  and  none  is  likely  before  next 
fall  at  the  earliest,  he  said. 


New  Ampa  Officers 
Plan  Member  Drive 

Plans  to  stimulate  interest  in  Ampa 
will  be  made  by  the  new  officers, 
headed  by  Paul  Laaarus,  Jr.,  who 
were  elected  yesterday  at  a  luncheon 
meeting  at  the  Astor. 

Lazarus  said  that  the  employment 
bureau  will  be  expanded  under  Mon- 
roe Greenthal  and  that  a  membership 
drive  will  be  started.  A  suggestion 
was  also  made  that  the  Ampa  could 
carry  on  the  work  of  an  industry 
publicity  bureau  such  as  was  sug- 
gested by  Howard  Dietz.  Various 
ideas  will  be  discussed  at  a  future 
meeting. 

Leon  G.  Turrou,  former  G-man 
who  investigated  the  Nazi  spy  ring 
in  America,  spoke  on  Germany's 
widespread  espionage  and  his  work  as 
technical  adviser  on  Warners'  "Con- 
fessions of  a  Nazi  Spy."  He  said  the 
film  will  reveal  this  country  is  vul- 
nerable to  foreign  espionage. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  V.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager:  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London: 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


when  it's 


MIDNIGHT" 


in 


Oklahoma  City 

it's 

MIDNIGHT" 

Everywhere ! 


.  •  •  and  Paramount  has 


the  figures  to  prove  it 


From  Oklahoma  City  to  Broadway 
Paramount*  "MIDNIGHT"  knocks  the 


f 


daylight  out  of  box-office  records!  •  •  • 


Criterion  Thea.,  Oklahoma  City 
"MIDNIGHT"  smashes  toX45/o 


Malco  Theatre,  Memphis,  Tenn.  j 
"MIDNIGHT"  climbs  to  X30/o  f 


Capitol  Theatre,  Davenport 


44  MIDNIGHT"  hits  .  . 


% 


Paramount  Theatre,  New  Haven 


it 


MIDNIGHT"  does  .  . 


% 


Michigan  Theatre,  Detroit,  Mich. 
Capitol  Thea.,  Worcester,  Mass. 

^^^^  1 

fo 


"MIDNIGHT"  turns  in 


(4 


United  States  Theatre,  Pater  son 

fo 


MIDNIGHT 


does  •  .  X10* 


Allyn  Theatre,  Hartford,  Conn. 
"MIDNIGHT" delivers 

Omaha  Theatre,  Omaha  •  Tivoli 
Theatre,  Chattanooga  •  Orpheum 
Theatre,  Phoenix 

"MIDNIGHT"  does.  .  X12/o 


and, at  the  N.Y. Paramount, 
MIDNIGHT  does  the  biggest 
week's  business  in  6  months 


.  .  .  Just  one  oS 
Paramount'*  bi* 


tor  Spring 
and  Summer 


Claudette 

AMECHE 

"MIDNIGHT 

ARY  ASTOR 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY'S  HANDY  BOOKING  CHART 

[Dates  Are  Based  Upon  National  Release  Schedules  and  Are  Subject  to  Change.  This  Chart  Is  Revised  Weekly    Letters  in  Parentheses  After  the 
Titles  Denote  the  Following:  (A)  Adult,  (G)  General,  (D)  Drama,  (M)  Musical,  (C)  Comedy,  (0)  Outdoor  Action] 

 1 

WARNERS 

The  Oklahoma 

Kid  (G)  (D) 

Cagney 
Bogart 

Adventures  of 
Jane  Arden 
(G)  (D) 
Rosella  Town* 
William  Gargan 

Blackwell's 
Island 
(G)  (D) 
Garfield 
Rosemary  Lane 

On  Trial 

(G)  (D) 
John  Litel 
Margaret 
Lindsay 

Dodge  City 
(G)  (D) 

Flynn 
de  Havilland 
Ann  Sheridan 

Women  in 
the  Wind 
(G)  (D) 

Kay  Francis 
William  Gargan 
Victor  Jory 

Dark  Victory 
(G)  (D) 

Bette  Davis 
George  Brent 
Bogari 

Sweepstakes 
Winner 

Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 

Robinson 
Lederer 

Torchy  Runs 
For  Mayor 
(G)  (D) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

UNIVERSAL 

Spirit  of  Culver 
(G)  (D) 
Jackie  Cooper 
Bartholomew 
Andy  Devine 

Mystery  of  the 
White  Room 
Bruce  Cabot 
Helen  Mack 

Three  Smart 
Girls  Grow  Up 
(G)  (C) 
Deanna  Durbin 
Winninger 

Family  Next 
Door  (G)  (C) 
Hugh  Herbert 
Joy  Hodges 

East  Side  of 
Heaven 
(G)  (C) 

Bing  Crosby 
Joan  Blondell 

Code  of  the 
Streets 

Harry  Carey 
Frankie  Thomas 

Big  Town 
Czar 

MacLane 
Ed  Sullivan 

For  Love  or 
Money 

June  Lang 
Robert  Kent 

< 

D 

Stagecoach 
(G)  (O) 
Claire  Trevor 
John  Wayne 
Andy  Devine 

Prison 
Without  Bars 
(A)  (D) 
Corinne  Luchaire 
Edna  Best 
Barry  Barnes 

Wuthering 
Heights 
(A)  (D) 

Oberon 
Olivier 
Flora  Robson 

Zenobia 
(G)  (C) 

Hardy 
Langdon 

Burke 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

20TH-FOX 

Inside  Story 
(G)  (D) 
Michael  Whalen 
Jean  Rogers 

The  Little 
Princess  (G)(D) 
Shirley  Temple 
Richard  Greene 
Anita  Louise 

Everybody's 
Baby  (A)  (C) 

(Jones  Family) 

Hound  of  the 
Baskervilles 
(G)  (D) 
Greene 
Raihbone 

Mr.  Moto  in 
Danger  Island 
(G)  (D) 

Lorre 
Hersholt 

Story  of 
Alexander 
Graham  Bell 
(G)  (D) 

Ameche 
Loretta  Young 

Winner  Take 
All  (G)  (D) 

Tony  Martin 
Gloria  Stuart 
Inspector 
Hornleigh 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 

Baxter 
Climbing  High 

Jessie 
Matthews 

Chasing  Danger 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

nose  oi 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

RKO  RADIO 

The  Saint 
Strikes  Back 
(G)  (D) 
George  Sanders 
Wendy  Barrie 

Trouble  in 
Sundown 
(G)  (O) 

O'Brien 

Almost  a 
Gentleman 
(G)  (D) 
James  Ellison 

Love  Affair 
(G)  (D) 
Boyer 
Irene  Dunne 
Flying  Irishman 
(G)  (D) 

They  Made 
Her  a  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Sally  Eilers 
Allan  Lane 

Fixer  Dugan 

Lee  Tracy 
Peggy  Shannon 

The  Story  of 
Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle 

Rogers-Astaire 
The  Rookie  Cop 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range  (O) 

O'Brien 

Sorority  House 

Anne  Shirley 
James  Ellison 

REPUBLIC 

Rough  Riders 
Round-Up 
(G)  (O) 
Roy  Rogers 
Mary  Hart 

My  Wife's 
Relatives 
(G)  (C) 
Lucille,  James 
and  Russell 
Gleason 

Mexicali  Rose 
(O) 
Gene  Autry 

The  Night 
Riders 
(O) 

John  Wayne 

Frontier  Pony 
Express 
(G)  (O) 

Roy  Rogers 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 

Bkkford 
Blue  Montana 
Skies  (O) 

Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Mesquitteers 

Man  of 
Conquest 
(G)  (D) 

Richard  Dix 
Gail  Patrick 

PARA. 

The  Beach- 
comber (A)  (C) 

Laugh  ton 
Lanchester 
3863 

King  of 
Chinatown 
(G)  (D) 
Anna  May  Wong 
Tamiroff 
3827 

Midnight 
(G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Ameche 
3828 

Sudden  Money 
(G)  (C) 

Juggles 
Silver  on 
the  Sage 

William  Boyd 

I'm  From 
Missouri 
(G)  (C) 

Bob  Burns 
3830 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Secret  Police 
Never  Say 

Back  Door 
to  Heaven 
(G)  (D) 
Erwin 
Wallace  Ford 
McMahon 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 
(G)  (D) 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Some  Like  It 
Hot 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

MONOGRAM 

Mystery  Plane 
(G)  (D) 
John  Trent 
Polly  Ann 
Young 

Trigger  Smith 
(O) 
Jack  Randall 

Undercover 
Agent 

Russell  Gleason 
Shirley  Deane 

Streets  of 
New  York 
(G)  (D) 
Jackie  Cooper 

Wanted  by 
Scotland  Yard 
Stevenson 
Man  from 
Texas 

Riders  of 
the  Rio  Grande 

Jack  Randall 

Boys' 
Reformatory 

Frankie  Darro 

man  rrom 
Wyoming 

Tex  Ritter 
Wolf  Call 

Movita 
John  Carroll 

M-G-M 

Ice  Follies  of 
1939  (G)  (D) 

Crawford 
Stewart 
Lew  Ayres 

Within  the  Law 
(G)  (D) 
Ruth  Hussey 
Rita  Johnson 

Sergeant 
Madden 
(G)  (D) 
Wallace  Beery 

Society  Lawyer 
(A)  (D) 

Pidgeon 
Bruce 
Carrillo 

Broadway 
Serenade 

MacDonald 

Ayres 
Ian  Hunter 

The  Kid 
from  Texas 

Denis  O'Keefe 
Rice 

The  Hardys 
Ride  High 

Rooney 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

COLUMBIA 

Blondie  Meets 
the  Boss 
(G)  (C) 
Arthur  Lake 

Lone  Star 
Pioneers 
Bill  Elliott 
Dorothy  Gulliver 

Whispering 
Enemies 
(G)  (D) 
Jack  Holt 
Dolores  Costello 

North  of 
the  Yukon 

Starrett 
Romance  of 
Redwoods  (O) 

Bickford 

The  Lady  and 
the  Mob 
(G)  (C) 

Fay  Bainter 
Ida  Lupino 

First  Offenders 

Walter  Abel 
Beverly  Roberts 

The  Law  Comes 
to  Texas 

Bill  Elliott 

Oklahoma 
Trail 

Starrett 
Meredith 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

March 
10 

March 
17 

March 
24 

March 
31 

35.  ^ 

< 

April 
14 

April 
21 

April 
28 

&  »> 
S 

■4 


variety 


of 


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000. 


if 


Sit5 


111111 


BEHOLD! 

RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 
NO  LONGER  HIDDEN  BY 
THE  SIXTH  AVENUE  "L!" 
. . .  Herewith  first  "full  view" 
pictures  of  the  world's  larg- 
est theatre...  streamlined... 
making  more  room  for  the 
crowds  and  crowds  heading 
for  Radio  City  to  see  the 
spring  season's  great  new 
extended  run  attraction! 


OPENS  AS  BIG  AS  THE 
SECOND  WEEK  .  .  . 
AND  SECOND  WEEK 


BEATS  TH 


FIRST! 


US  l 


Ith 


EDNA  MAY  OLIVER 
WALTER  BRENNAN 

LEW  FIELDS    •    JANET  BEECHER 
•    ETIENNE  GIRARDOT  • 

PANDRO  S.  BERMAN  in  charge  of  Production 
Directed  by  H.  C.  Potter     Produced  by  George  Haight 

Screen  Play  by  Richard  Sherman 
Adaptation  by  Oscar  Hanunerstein  II  and  Dorothy  Yost 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Universalis  Executives 


NATE  BLCMBERG 
President  of 
Universal 


W.   A.  SCUEEY 
V.  P.,  Gen.  Sales 
Manager 


MATTHEW  POX 
Vice-President 
of  Universal 


CUFF  WORK 
Vice-President 
Studio  Head 


f.  j.  McCarthy 

Eastern  Sales 
Manager 


W.   J.  HEINEMAN 
Western  Sales 
Manager 


J.  H.  SEIDELMAN 
V.  P.,  Foreign  Sales 
Manager 


JOHN  JOSEPH 
Ad  and  Publicity 
Director 


tOUIS  POLLOCK 
Eastern  Ad  and 
Publicity  Head 


8 


His  Red  Challenge 
Ignored  So  Wanger 
Quits  'Democracy' 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

24,  December  31,  January  7  and  Janu- 
ary 14  under  the  heading  "Informa- 
tion, Please!"  reading  as  follows: 

"In  sequel  to  editorial  expressions 
presented  in  Motion  Picture  Herald 
have  come  certain  criticisms  of  what 
has  been  deemed  the  attitude  of  this 
publication  toward  'Films  for  Democ- 
racy,' which  some  contend  is  a  con- 
structive, patriotic  movement  for  the 
preservation  of  the  traditional  democ- 
racy of  the  United  States  of  America. 

Asked  to  Declare  Position 

"Motion  Picture  Herald  therefore 
considers  it  appropriate  to  ask  'Films 
for  Democracy'  clearly,  officially  and 
publicly  to  declare  its  position  with 
respect  to : 

1 —  The  political  theories  commonly 
known  as  Communism. 

2 —  The  political  theories  commonly 
known  as  Fascism. 

3 —  The  political  theories  character- 
istic of  both  Communism  and 
Fascism,  and  commonly  described 
as  Totalitarianism,  under  which 
the  state  reserves  to  itself  com- 
plete rights  over  the  life,  liberty 
and  pursuits  of  the  individual, 
denying  to  the  individual  those 
rights  held  under  the  traditional 
American  system  as  a  natural 
and  inalienable  heritage." 

Martin  Quigley,  in  an  editorial 
under  the  title  of  "What  Do  You 
Mean — Democracy?"  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Herald  of  January  14,  discussed 
the  announced  program  of  Films  for 
Democracy  and  its  failure  to  answer 
his  challenge  remarking  that  his  oppo- 
sition was  based  on :  "Indications  that 
the  carefully  disguised  purposes  con- 
templated the  surreptitious  use  of  the 
entertainment  screen  for  the  promo- 
tion of  foreign  ideologies  destructive 
of  and  not  in  support  of  American 
democracy." 

"This  failure  to  reply,"  continued 
Mr.  Quigley,  "together  with  various 
collaterals,  is  reasonably  susceptible 
to  the  following  interpretation : 

"  'Films  for  Democracy'  is  unable  to 
repudiate  all  foreign  political  philoso- 
phies, including  Communism,  which 
are  a  threat  to  American  institutions, 
because  its  real  purposes  are  sympa- 
thetic in  whole  or  in  part  to  Com- 
munism and  because  it  is  from  that 
sector  it  expects  its  support. 

"In  the  continued  absence  of  any 
such  categorical  denial  the  industry 
and  interested  persons  generally  will 
remain  in  little  doubt  about  where 
'Films  for  Democracy'  stands." 

As  published,  Mr.  Wanger  remarked 
in  his  letter:  "I  joined  the  organiza- 
tion in  the  belief  that  it  was  dedicated 
to  the  democratic  function  which  its 
name  defines.  ...  I  have  been  dis- 
turbed by  the  failure  of  your  organi- 
zation to  make  clear  its  position  with 
reference  to  Nazism,  Fascism  AND 
Communism.  .  .  . 

"I  can  see  no  excuse  for  intellectual 
straddling  on  this  point.  There  can  be 
no  compromise  between  Fascism  and 
Democracy.  There  can  be  no  compro- 
mise between  Communism  and  Democ- 
racy. There  can,  in  short,  be  no  com- 
promise between  Dictatorship  and 
Democracy  and  I  am  on  the  side  of 
Democracy.  .  .  . 

"For  these  reasons,  and  because 
your  organization   has   not  met  the 


challenge  to  make  a  public  disavowal 
of  possible  Communist  sympathies  or 
compromise,  I  must  ask  that  my  name 
no  longer  be  used  in  connection  with 
your  organization.  .  .  ." 


306  Pact  Dated  1938 

New  two-year  contract  between  dis- 
tributors and  Local  306  covering  home 
office  and  exchange  projection  room 
operators  is  dated  Sept.  1,  1938,  thus 
eliminating  necessity  of  new  negotia- 
tions next  September.  Retroactive 
feature  of  the  contract  granting  wage 
increase  as  of  Sept.  1,  1937,  is  com- 
plied with  by  identifying  increase  for 
the  first  year  as  a  bonus,  thus  per- 
mitting the  new  agreement  to  begin 
in  1938  and  expire  Sept.  1,  1940. 


Seek  Sunday  Films 

Humboldt,  Tenn.,  April  13. — 
Board  of  Aldermen  and  the  Mayor 
here  have  received  a  petition  for  the 
approval  of  Sunday  films  in  the  town. 


Korda  Speeding  Up 
Denham  Production 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

pictures  for  delivery  to  U.  A.  this 
year. 

He  has  sold  "Lawrence  of  Arabia" 
to  General  Film  Distributors.  Zolton 
Korda  will  produce  the  picture. 

Irving  Asher  starts  four  pictures 
for  Columbia  in  about  a  month. 

Paramount  is  making  "The  Man  in 
Paris,"  with  Valerie  Hobson  and  Barry 
Barnes. 


London,  April  13. — This  town  is 
doing  big  business  in  French  films, 
the  same  as  New  York,  seemingly. 
Ludwig  Berger's  "Thois  Valses,"  with 
Yvonne  Printemps  and  Pierre  Fres- 
nay,  is  doing  S.R.O.  at  the  Curzon, 
where  they  get  $2.12  top. 

"Les  Voyageurs,"  a  circus  picture 
with  Francoise  Rosay,  directed  by 
Jacques  Feyder,  is  doing  handsome 
business  at  the  Academy  at  the  same 
scale. 


Friday.  April  14,  1939 


Universal  to  Open 
Meet  on  Saturday 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

the  newsreel.  This  compared  with  a 
current  season  schedule  of  40  features, 
12  "outdoor"  pictures,  four  serials,  a 
"combination"  reissue,  81  shorts  and 
104  issues  of  newsreel. 

Harry  Edington's  new  produv>ii 
organization  will  contribute  three  fea- 
tures to  the  new  schedule  and,  with 
distribution  of  "The  Mikado,"  a  total 
of  40  will  come  from  the  Universal 
studio.  Reduction  in  the  short  sub- 
jects lineup  is  accounted  for  by  the 
dropping  of  the  cartoon  series, 
"Vagabond  Cameraman"  series  and 
Mentone  musicals.  Several  new  shorts 
series,  however,  will  be  announced. 

Company's  production  budget  for 
the  new  season  is  expected  to  reflect 
an  important  increase  which  will  make 
it  the  largest  in  Universal  history. 

Home  Office  Men  Due  Today 

Home  office  delegation  is  due  here 
from  New  York  Friday.  It  includes 
in  addition  to  Blumberg  and  Scully, 
W.  J.  Heineman,  western  sales  man- 
ager; F.  J.  A.  McCarthy,  eastern 
sales  manager ;  Joseph  H.  Seidelman, 
foreign  sales  manager ;  Louis  Pol- 
lock, eastern  advertising  and  publicity 
director,  and  F.  T.  Murray,  Charles 
A.  Kirby,  Clarence  Margon,  James 
Jordan,  O.  C.  Binder,  Andrew  Sha- 
rick  and  Morris  Alin.  Entire  home 
office  delegation  goes  to  Chicago  from 
here  to  attend  the  second  regional 
meeting  at  the  Palmer  House  there 
Tuesday  through  Thursday. 

Scully  and  Heineman  will  be  the 
only  home  office  officials  to  continue 
on  to  San  Francisco  for  the  third  and 
final  session  at  the  St.  Francis  Hotel, 
April  22-24. 

District  and  branch  managers  and 
salesmen  from  the  following  offices 
will  attend  the  meeting  here :  Boston, 
New  Haven,  Philadelphia,  New  York, 
Atlanta,  Charlotte,  Dallas,  Memphis, 
New  Orleans,  Oklahoma  City,  Wash- 
ington, Albany,  Buffalo,  Cleveland, 
Pittsburgh,  Cincinnati. 


Neely  Bill  Futile, 
Kuykendall  Asserts 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

while  exhibitor  proponents  are  con- 
cerned with  commercial  advantage 
rather  than  ethics. 

A  parade  of  exhibitors  representing 
independent  associations  told  the  sub- 
committee why  they  are  not  in  favor 
of  the  bill.  Introduced  by  Kuyken- 
dall, they  included  Henry  R.  Berry, 
Hartsville,  S.  C,  vice  president,  and 
Lyle  M.  Wilson,  Roanoke  Rapids, 
N.  C,  president,  T.  O.  of  North  and 
South  Carolina;  Harry  E.  Hogan,  Ft. 
Wayne,  Ind. ;  Frank  H.  Cassil  of  St. 
Joe,  president,  Kansas-Missouri  T.  O. 
Association ;  Oscar  C.  Lam  of  Rome, 
Ga.,  representing  Southeastern  T.  O. 
Assn. ;  Leo  Brecher,  New  York,  rep- 
resenting I.  T.  O.  A.,  and  William  F. 
Crockett,  Virginia  Beach,  Va.,  presi- 
dent of  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Virginia. 

With  some  25  witnesses  still  to  be 
heard,  Senator  Neely  urged  that 
steps  be  taken  to  shorten  the  hearing 
and  asked  whether  it  would  not  be 
possible  for  some  witnesses  to  pre- 
sent their  testimony  in  written  form. 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


.  15.   NO.  73 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  APRIL  17,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Universal  Sets 
Details  on  36 
Of  44  Features 


budget    Up  $5,000,000, 
Sales  Session  Told 


Cincinnati,  April  16. — Universal 
as  completed  plans  for  36  of  the  44 
matures  on  its  new  season  schedule, 
Villiam  A.  Scully,  vice-president  and 
ineral  sales  manager,  informed  the 
ompany's  eastern  and  southern  sales 
orces  today  at  the  first  of  three  re- 
innal  sales  meetings.  The  session  at 
he  Netherlands-Plaza  here  will  he 
included  tomorrow. 

Scully  told  the  meeting  that  a  $5,- 
>UO,000  increase  in  the  production 
udget  over  last  year's  appropriation 
ad  been  authorized  for  the  new  sea- 
on.  This  will  be  expended  on  the  40 
eatures  to  be  produced  at  the  Uni- 
ersal  studio.  In  addition,  Harry  Ed- 
lgton's  new  producing  organization 
.ill  contribute  three  special  attrac- 
inns  with  top-ranking  stars,  and  "The 
.likado"  will  be  the  fourth  production 
rom  an  outside  source. 

In  addition  to  the  44  features,  Uni- 
ersal  will  have  a  series  of  seven 
outdoor"  pictures,  starring  Richard 
\rlen  and  Andy  Devine ;  a  series  of 

(Continued  on  fatie  3) 


3ara.  Convention 
On  Coast  June  12 

'  Hollywood,  April  16. — Paramount 
kill  hold  a  national  sales  convention 
\n  Los  Angeles,  June  12,  13  and  14, 
'he  company's  first  national  meeting 
or  the  entire  sales  force  in  seven 
•ears. 

Approximately  200  salesmen,  branch 
nd  district  managers,  home  office  and 
tudio  executives,  and  company  repres- 
entatives from  Canada  and  foreign 
•ffices  will  attend  the  three-day  meet- 
ing' at  the  Ambassador  Hotel.  De- 
rision .to  hold  the  national  meeting 
it  re  w  as  made  following  the  arrival 
W  Neil  F.  Agnew,  distribution  head, 
■nd  other  home  office  executives  at 
lie  studio,  where  the  new  season  pro- 
motion plans  were  studied  last  week. 

"The  home  office  executives  were  so 
mpressed  by  the  studio's  plans  for  the 
oming  season  that  it  was  felt  that 
very  member  of  the  company's  sales 
orce  should  be  brought  here  for  first- 
iand  information  on  the  lineup,"  Ag- 
:«ew  said. 

Expected  from  the  home  office  are 
Barney  Balaban,  Stanton  Griffis,  Rus- 
ell.Holman  and  Robert  Gillham. 


See  Neely  Losing 

Interest  in  Bill 

Washington,  April  16.  — 
Senator  Wallace  H.  White 
of  Maine  was  forced  to  con- 
duct Friday's  hearing  on  the 
Neely  bill  by  himself  in  the 
absence  of  Chairman  E.  D. 
Smith  and  Senator  Mathew 
Neely.  The  last  named  ap- 
peared to  lose  considerable 
of  his  interest  in  the  proceed- 
ings as  opposition  to  the  bill 
mounted,  but  both  he  and 
Senator  Smith  are  expected 
to  be  present  for  the  sum- 
mation tomorrow,  the  latter 
having  requested  that  it  be 
deferred  over  the  weekend  so 
that   he  might  attend. 


20th-Fox  Policy  on 
Radio  Not  Changed 
By  Airing  of  Derby 


Sponsoring  by  20th  Century-Fox  of 
the  Kentucky  Derby  broadcast  over 
93  stations  in  the  CBS  network  on 
May  6  does  not  alter  the  company's 
ix)licy  on  radio,  which  is  to  keep  its 
stars  off  the  air,  S.  R.  Kent,  presi- 
dent, has  informed  company  personnel. 

The  tieup  will  exploit  "Rose  of 
Washington  Square."  with  announce- 
ments on  the  film  during  the  broad- 
cast. The  cost  of  the  commercial  is 
$50,000,  of  which  $25,000  represents 
the  radio  rights  to  the  turf  classic 
and  some  $25,000  in  air  time. 

A  statement  in  the  company's  house 
organ,  the  Dynamo,  declares  that  this 
can  "by  no  means  be  interpreted  that 
its  stand  against  use  of  its  stars  on 
the  radio  is  in  any  way  changed"  and 

(.Continued  on  pane  3) 


WEEKEND  PARLEYS 
MAY  HALT  STRIKE 


Daylight  Time 
Is  Gaining  in 
Upstate  N.  Y. 


Albany,  April  16. — Daylight  sav- 
ing time,  the  bugaboo  of  exhibitors, 
who  claim  it  clips  their  summer  busi- 
ness by  as  much  as  25  per  cent,  is 
making  definite  gains  upstate.  This 
spring  42  of  the  60  cities  upstate  will 
join  in  the  plan,  which  starts  in  New 
York  State  April  30  and  runs  through 
Sept.  30. 

The  rush  to  the  summer  time 
standard  is  spreading  and  if  Syra- 
cuse, at  its  referendum  next  Friday 
should  vote  affirmatively,  the  following 
cities  are  expected  to  follow  suit : 
Salamanca,  Oswego,  Oneonta,  Canan- 
daigua,  Oneida,  Sherrill,  Olean,  Nor- 
wich, Hornell,  Ithaca,  Corning,  Dun- 
kirk, Elmira  and  Geneva. 

Binghamton  Decision  Soon 

Binghamton  may  go  to  daylight  sav- 
ing time,  with  a  decision  soon  to  be 
made. 

New  cities  lined  up  for  summer  time 
are  Plattsburg  and  Watertown,  previ- 
ously on  a  limited  summer  basis, 
Rochester  and  Auburn  being  new. 
Jamestown,  Ogdensburg  and  Batavia, 
always  standard  time  cities,  will 
change. 

In  the  villages,  115  of  151  are  lined 
up  for  daylight  saving  time  for  1939, 
a  big  increase  over  former  years. 


Negotiations  Waiting  on 
Arrival  of  Pat  Casey 
From  New  York 


Premature  Sale  of  Play  to  Films 
Betrays  Theatre,  Says  Sherwood 

"Y\e  believe  that  the  manager  or  playwright  who  sells  a  play 
prematurely  to  the  movies  is  betraying  the  theatre's  best  interests 
and  his  own.  We  believe  this  also  applies  to  a  star  who  forces 
the  closing  of  a  play  by  leaving  to  take  a  movie  contract." 

Robert  E.  Sherwood,  president  of  the  Dramatists'  Guild,  voices 
these  views  in  Equity,  organ  of  Actors'  Equity,  which  last  month 
criticized  the  sale  of  Sherwood's  play,  "Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois," 
for  film  production  after  Sherwood  announced  that  the  play's 
run  might  be  cut  short.    RKO  paid  $250,000  for  the  play. 

Equity  now  says  that  the  play  will  be  kept  going  during  the 
summer  despite  Raymond  Massey's  absence  in  Hollywood.  Sher- 
wood says  that  the  sale  was  made  on  condition  that  the  play's 
producers  participate  in  the  film  on  a  sharing  basis  and  thus 
exercise  a  reasonable  control  and  that  Massey  be  the  star. 


Hollywood,  April  16. — Determined 
efforts  to  avert  an  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 
strike  of  national  proportions  as  a  re- 
sult of  the  disagreement  over  terms  of 
a  new  contract  with  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 
studio  locals  were  made  here. over  the 
weekend  by  production  executives  in 
meetings  with  union  officials.  Indica- 
tions are  that  as  a  result  of  the  week- 
end meetings  danger  of  a  strike  was 
dissipated,  if  not  completely  dispelled. 

Next  move  in  the  negotiations  may 
be  deferred  until  the  arrival  from 
New  York  of  Pat  Casey,  producers' 
labor  representative,  who  is  held  there 
by  meetings  with  the  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  American  Federation  of 
Musicians  on  reemployment  plans  for 
musicians.  It  is  believed  that  Casey 
may  return  here  by  the  end  of  the 
week  or  early  next  week  and  that,  in 
the  meantime,  the  situation  will  re- 
main in  status  quo. 

John  Gatelee,  International  repre- 
sentative, on  Friday  told  Motion 
Picture  Daily  that  unless  the  major 
producers  quickly  accepted  the  I.  A. 

(.Continued  on  pane  3) 


SMPE  Convention 
Will  Open  Today 

Hollywood,  April  16. — Delegates 
began  arriving  here  yesterday  and  to- 
day for  the  annual  spring  convention 
of  the  Society  of  Motion  Picture  En- 
gineers at  the  Hotel  Roosevelt,  open- 
ing tomorrow.  The  meeting  will  run 
through  Friday.  Final  details  have 
been  completed  for  the  elaborate  pro- 
gram of  technical  papers,  and  ar- 
rangements have  been  set  for  the 
semi-annual  banquet  Wednesday  eve- 
ning. The  sessions  will  open  tomor- 
row at  9  A.  M.  with  registration, 
followed  by  a  general  and  business 
session,  a  get-together  luncheon  and 
a  sound  session. 

In  addition  to  most  of  the  350  Pa- 
cific coast  delegates  who  are  expected 
to  attend,  there  will  be  150  additional 
delegates  present.  A  number  of 
changes  from  the  tentative  program 
are  planned.  Erpi  will  give  the  dele- 
gates a  cocktail  party  Tuesday  after- 
noon and  throw  its  new  plant  and  lab- 
oratory open  for  their  inspection 
Wednesday. 

Early  arrivals  include  E.  A.  Willi- 
ford,  president ;  W.  C.  Kunzmann, 
vice-president,  Julius  Haber,  Sylvan 
Harris,  and  Charles  Ross. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  17,  1939  i 


4  Purely 
Personal  ► 

ART  SCHMIDT,  field  contact  on 
Loew's  publicity,  is  on  a  tour 
which  wall  keep  him  out  of  town  until 
early  in  May.  He  has  already  vis- 
ited St.  Louis  and  Kansas  City,  and 
will  visit  Houston,  New  Orleans, 
Memphis  and  Atlanta. 

Franklyn  Warnek,  Fine  Arts 
Pictures  head,  has  postponed  his  de- 
parture for  the  coast  until  today  to 
complete  his  talks  with  Earle  W. 
Hammons  on  a  new  Grand  National 
distribution  deal. 

• 

Jules  Levy,  RKO  general  sales 
manager,  is  en  route  here  from  the 
coast  after  a  studio  visit  and  stop- 
overs at  several  company  exchanges. 
He  is  due  in  at  the  end  of  the  week. 
• 

Richard  Carlson  left  the  cast  of 
"Stars  in  Your  Eyes"  on  Broadway 
Saturday,  and  flew  to  the  coast,  where 
he  will  have  the  masculine  lead  in 
Walter  Wanger's  "Winter  Car- 
nival." 

• 

Sir  Gordon  Craig,  head  of  British 
Movietone,  and  R.  Sutton  Dawes, 
20th  Century-Fox  sales  director  in 
Great  Britain,  sailed  Saturday  on  the 
Aquitama. 

• 

Harry  Goetz,  Sam  Harris,  Rob- 
ert E.  Sherwood  and  Harold  Rod- 
xer  saw  the  Will  Rogers  National 
Theatre  Week  short  at  the  Music 
Hall  Friday. 

• 

Larry  Williams,  cameraman,  who 
just  completed  shooting  three  Robert 
Benchley  shorts  for  M-G-M  here, 
left  for  a  vacation  in  Hollywood.  He 
plans  to  return  to  New  York  in  about 
four  weeks. 

• 

E.  C.  Grainger,  general  manager 
of  Feiber  &  Shea,  arrived  in  New 
York  Friday  after  a  month  in  Flor- 
ida, with  Mrs.  Grainger  and  their 
two  children. 

• 

Fred  Astaire  flew  to  New  York 
late  last  week  from  the  coast  and  will 
sail  shortly  for  a  vacation  in  Eng- 
land. 

• 

Irving    Maas,    20th  Century-Fox 
foreign  service  manager,  is  back  on 
the  job  following  an  operation. 
• 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  20th  Century- 
Fox  board  chairman,  has  postponed 
his  scheduled  trip  east. 

• 

Manny  Reiner  of  Monogram  has 
returned  from  Hartford  where  he 
staged  the  "Streets  of  New  York" 
premiere. 

• 

Victor  Saville,  M-G-M  producer 
in  England,  sailed  for  New  York  Sat- 
urday on  the  Queen  Mary. 

• 

Lya  Lys  will  arrive  in  New  York 
today  from  Hollywood,  where  she  has 
just    completed    work    in  Warners' 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy." 
• 

Albert  and  Mrs.  Warner  have 
ended  their  Florida  season  and  are 
back  in  town. 


Insiders'  Outlook 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


TODAY,  the  Greater  New 
York  Fund  begins  its  an- 
nual drive.  The  goal  is 
$10,000,000,  and  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  is  asked  to  do  its 
part.  Last  vear  the  industry 
raised  $65,000.  This  year,  $100,- 
000  will  be  sought. 

The  money  which  is  raised  by 
the  G.N.Y.F.  comprises  new 
and  additional  income  for  380 
voluntary  welfare  and  health 
agencies  in  the  city,  whose 
sources  of  income,  in  recent 
years  has  become  greatly  re- 
duced. 

In  this  Fund,  for  the  first  time 
in  the  history  of  New  York  City, 
Catholics,  Jews  and  Protestants 
are  permanently  affiliated  to  fi- 
nance the  one  common  cause — of 
charity. 

T 

When  the  extraordinary  range 
of  service  which  the  Fund  helps 
to  provide  is  contemplated,  it  is 
realized  how  vital  it  is  that  the 
drive  should  succeed. 

The  380  member  agencies  of 
the  Fund  serve  annually  2,000,000 
people. 

The  Fund  is  a  form  of  united 
appeal,  and  no  member  agency  of 
the  Fund  will  seek  contributions 
during  the  year  from  any  busi- 
ness firm  or  employe  group 
which  has  met  its  communal 
obligations  through  it. 

Member  agencies  of  the  Great- 
er Newr  York  Fund  have  prom- 
ised not  to  solicit  contributions 
from  business  firms  or  employe 
groups.  This  approach  to  the 
rank  and  file  is  made  onlv  bv  the 


Greater  New  York  Fund. 

It  is  a  simplified  method  of 
giving  to  all  agencies. 

There  is  no  rigid  formula  of 
giving,  but  the  Fund  suggests 
one  day's  pay  as  a  basis  for  con- 
tribution. No  gift  of  more  than 
$500  may  be  accepted  from  any 
one  member  of  an  employe  group. 
▼ 

J.  Robert  Rubin  this  year, 
again  is  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee for  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try. The  group  includes  Jesse 
Mills,  Maurice  Silverstone,  Wil- 
liam A.  Orr,  Don  Mersereau, 
Sam  Shain,  Austin  Keough, 
Harold  Rodner,  W.  C.  Michel, 
Ned  Depinet,  J.  Cheever  Cow- 
din,  Harry  Buckley,  B.  S.  Moss, 
Fred  Schwartz,  Lawrence  Bolog- 
nino,  George  Skouras,  Leo  Brech- 
er,  Joseph  Seider,  William  Mor- 
ris, Jr.,  William  Pizor,  C.  H. 
Secor,  Jean  Lenauer,  Al  Senft, 
C.  C.  Moskowitz,  Maurice  Kann, 
Nate  Spingold ,  Jack  Alicoate, 
Harry  Brandt,  Martin  Quigley, 
W.  Ray  Johnston,  James  R. 
Grainger,  Major  L.  E.  Thomp- 
son, Samuel  Cocalis,  Samuel 
Rinzler,  Walter  Reade,  Eddie 
Rugoff,  Max  Cohen,  Fredric 
March,  Herbert  J.  Yates,  Joseph 
Burstyn,  Charles  O'Reilly,  Her- 
man Robbins,  Charles  Casanave, 
Samuel  Strassburg. 

Bob  Rubin  has  called  a  lunch- 
eon meeting  of  this  general  com- 
mittee for  Wednesday  at  the 
Hotel  Astor  for  purposes  of  or- 
ganizing and  establishing  a  plan 
of  operation  for  the  motion  pic- 
ture group. 


5,000  Theatres  to 
Aid  Rogers  Drive 

More  than  5,000  theatres  will  par- 
ticipate in  Will  Rogers  National 
Theatre  Week,  which  starts  next 
Thursday,  according  to  Major  L.  E. 
Thompson,  campaign  chairman.  This 
is  the  fourth  annual  drive  in  tribute 
to  the  late  comedian. 

The  proceeds  will  be  used  to  con- 
tinue support  of  the  Will  Rogers 
Memorial  Hospital  at  Saranac  Lake 
and  kindred  philanthropies  for  the 
needy  of  the  film  and  theatre  indus- 
tries. Part  of  the  funds  will  be  for 
the  aid  of  local  institutions  caring 
for  handicapped  children. 

Participating  theatres  during  the 
week  will  show  "For  Auld  Lang 
Syne,"  10-minute  short,  which  fea- 
tures Raymond  Massey  in  two  scenes 
from  "Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois."  There 
is  an  introduction  by  Robert  E.  Sher- 
wood, author  of  the  play,  and  then 
Deanna  Durbin  introduces  Spencer 
Tracy,  who  makes  an  appeal  for  audi- 
ence contributions.  The  commentary 
is  by  Lowell  Thomas.  The  film  was 
produced  at  the  Movietone  Studios 
here  and  Eastman,  Dupont  and  Gev- 
aert  contributed  the  raw  stock.  Na- 
tional Screen  exchanges  are  distribu- 
ting it. 


Ross  Federal  Makes 
Number  of  Changes 

Ross  Federal  Service  has  made  a 
number  of  changes,  as  follows :  Paul 
LaRoche  has  been  transferred  from 
Boston  to  branch  manager  in  Wash- 
ington ;  H.  O.  Gleiss  is  the  new  head 
of  the  Cincinnati  office ;  C.  R.  Cor- 
radini,  transferred  from  Cincinnati 
to  Boston ;  W.  A.  Warner  has  been 
named  assistant  to  J.  A.  Kraker, 
head  of  the  Philadelphia  office  and 
district  manager  ;  Harold  Henderson, 
assistant  to  Walter  Brown  in  Chicago, 
transferred  to  Omaha  as  manager, 
with  Stewart  Martin  of  Boston  suc- 
ceeding Henderson.  Ruel  Williams 
will  soon  take  over  the  Los  Angeles 
branch. 


W.  B.  Billings  Hit 
Record  $2,000,000 

With  $2,000,000  or  more  in  billings, 
last  week  was  the  biggest  in  Warners' 
history,  according  to  a  weekend  tabu- 
lation. The  figure  is  for  the  United 
States  and  Canada.  This  was  the  final 
week  of  the  Grad  Sears  Drive  which 
started  Dec.  25.  The  drive  was  the 
company's  most  successful  one,  sales 
officials  stated. 


Schaefer  ,McCormicl 
Leave  for  Hollywood 

George  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  operating 
head,  left  for  the  coast  by  train  over 
the  weekend  to  spend  several  weeks 
at  the  studio  in  new  season  produc- 
tion conferences.  He  was  accompa- 
nied by  S.  Barret  McCormick,  RKO 
advertising  and  publicity  director,  and 
Gordon  Youngman  of  the  home  offic*. 
legal  department.  «J> 

Schaefer  was  reelected  chairman  61 
the  board  and  president  of  Keith-Al- 
bee-Orpheum,  principal  RKO  theatre 
operating  subsidiary,  along  with  all 
other  officers  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  company's  board  on  Friday.  Other 
officers  are  Malcolm  J.  Kingsberg, 
vice-chairman;  Leon  Goldberg,  treas- 
urer ;  William  F.  Whitman,  secretary ; 
O.  R.  McMahon,  W.  J.  Kernan,  Wil- 
liam Murray  and  H.  E.  Newcomb,  as- 
sistant treasurers,  and  Louis  Joffe  and 
H.  M.  Pimstein,  assistant  secretaries. 

Bpard  members,  all  of  whom  were 
reelected  earlier,  are  Schaefer,  L.  P. 
Yandell,  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  Donald 
K.  David,  Monroe  Goldwater,  Kings- 
berg and  John  J.  McCaffrey. 

Directors  declared  a  dividend  of 
$1.75  per  share  on  the  seven  per  cent 
cumulative  convertible  preferred  for 
the  quarter  ended  Sept.  30,  1936,  pay- 
able July  1,  next,  to  holders  of  record 
on  June  15. 


Warner  Theatres  Ad 
Men  Meeting  Today 

Warner  Theatres  advertising  men 
will  meet  at  the  home  office  today  to 
discuss  exploitation  for  "Confessions 
of  a  Nazi  Spy"  and  "Juarez."  Harry 
Goldberg,  director  of  advertising  and 
publicity  for  Warner  Theatres,  called 
the  meeting  and  will  preside. 

Scheduled  to  speak  are  Joseph 
Bernhard,  general  manager  of  War- 
ner Theatres;  Charles  Einfeld,  War- 
ner Pictures  director  of  advertising 
and  publicity,  and  Mort  Blumenstock, 
in  charge  of  publicity  and  advertising 
in  the  east.  Those  scheduled  to  attend 
are  Dan  Finn,  New  Haven;  Everett 
Callow,  Philadelphia;  Frank  LaFalce, 
Washington;  Joe  Feldman,  Pitts- 
burgh; Sid  Dannenberg,  Cleveland; 
Larry  Stein,  Chicago;  Jack  Keegan, 
Milwaukee;  Charles  Smakwitz,  Al- 
bany, and  Mort  Levine,  Atlantic  City. 


MOTIONPICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  V.  S.  Patent  Olfict) 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April   17,  1939 


[Universal  Reveals 
Details  on  36  of 
Its  44  Features 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

,scven  westerns,  starring  John  Mack 
Brown;  four  serials;  13  two-reel  and 
143  single  reel  subjects  and  a  special 
i»p-reel  subject,  "March  of  Free- 
'  There  will  be  104  issues  of 

Universal  Xewsreel. 

The  new  season  commitments  and 
titles  follow. 

Two  Deanna  Durbin  pictures,  to  be 
produced  by  Joe  Pasternak. 

"The  Ocean  Between,"  to  be  pro- 
duced by  Pasternak  and  directed  by 
Henry  Koster,  from  the  story  by 
Bruno  Frank  and  screenplay  by  Bruce 
Manning. 

One  With  Bing  Crosby 

A  Bing  Crosby  picture,  to  be  di- 
rected by  David  Butler. 

An  Edgar  Bergen-Charlie  Mc- 
Carthy picture.  David  Butler,  direc- 
tor. 

An  Irene  Dunne  picture. 

"Bull  by  the  Horns,"  a  John  M. 
Stahl  production,  from  the  novel  by 
Charles  Bonner,  who  will  also  do  the 
screenplay. 

A  W.  C.  Fields  picture,  Lester 
Cowan,  producer. 

A  Charles  Boyer  picture. 

A  Margaret  Sullavan  picture. 

"The  Under  PuJ>,"  a  Pasternak 
production,  starring  Gloria  Jean,  new 
juvenile  "discovery,"  in  a  screenplay 
by  Grover  Jones  from  I.  A.  R.  Wy- 
lie's  story.  Richard  Wallace,  direc- 
tor. 

A  James  Stewart  picture,  to  be  pro- 
duced by  Pasternak,  with  Mischa 
Auer. 

"Tower  of  London,"  starring  Basil 
Kathbone.  Rowland  V.  Lee,  produc- 
er. 

"Victoria  Docks  at  8,"  starring 
Basil  Rathbone.  Richard  Wallace, 
producer  and  director.  Screenplay 
by  James  M.  Cain  from  the  Rutus 
King  story. 

"Rio,"  starring  Danielle  Darrk-ux, 
to  be  produced  by  Pasternak  with  an 
outstanding  director  to  be  assigned. 

"The  Invisible  Man  Returns,"  di- 
rected by  Joe  May. 

Jackie  Cooper  and  Freddie  Bar- 
tholomew in  "Flying  Cadets,"  to  be 
produced  by  Burt  Kelly  and  directed 
by  Joseph  Santley,  from  the  screen- 
play by  Charles  Grayson  and  Whit- 
ney Bolton,  and  in  a  second,  "Bright 
Victory,"  for  which  Val  Burton  and 
Ed  Hartmann  will  do  the  screenplay. 

"Return  of  the  Sheik,"  to  be  pro- 
duced and  directed  by  Ben  Stoloff. 

Two  "Family  Next  Door" 

Two  "Family  Next  Door"  pictures, 
continuing  the  series  with  Hugh  Her- 
j  bert,  Joy  Hodges,  Ruth  Donnelly, 
■  Eddie  Quillan,  Juanita  Quigley  and 
"Sandy."  Max  Golden,  associate 
producer,  Joseph  Santley,  director, 
screenplay  by  Mortimer  Offner. 

"His  Son,"  starring  Jackie  Cooper. 

Two  "Little  Tough  Guys"  pictures. 

"Friday  the  13th,"  starring  Boris 
Karloff  and  Bela  Lugosi.  Story  by 
Willis  O.  Cooper. 

Also  four  "special  exploitation  pic- 
tures," "Live  Alone  and  Like  It," 
"Advice  to  the  Lovelorn,"  "Convicted 
Women"  and  "Missing  Evidence." 

Four  musicals,  "Penthouse  Sere- 
nade," "Dancing  for  Love,"  "Rhythm 


'U'  Sales  Policy  to 
Follow  Trade  Code 

Cincinnati,  April  16. — Uni- 
versale new  season  sales 
policies  will  conform  to  the 
proposed  industry  trade  prac- 
tice program,  W.  A.  Scully, 
company  sales  head,  said  to- 
day. 

All  policies  have  been 
drawn  with  the  code  in  mind 
and  its  provisions  are  being 
fully  explained  to  the  com- 
pany's field  sales  forces  in 
the  current  meetings,  it  was 
said. 


for  Sale"  and  "Romance  in  the 
Tropics." 

Three  to  be  produced  by  Edington 
are : 

Douglas  Fairbanks,  Jr.,  in  "Atlan- 
tic Cable,"  an  original  bv  Dennison 
Clift. 

Cary  Grant  in  an  adaptation  by 
Edwin  Justus  Mayer  of  the  French 
stage  play,  "Le  Chien." 

"Green  Hell,"  an  original  drama  of 
the  tropics  by  Francis  Marion. 

Remainder  of  the  feature  program 
will  be  made  from  such  of  the  com- 
pany's story  properties  as  "The  House 
of  Fear,"  "Old  Grad,"  "Distress  Sig- 
nal," "Eyes  of  the  Coast  Guard," 
"Vice  Ring,"  "Hero  for  a  Night," 
"Homicide  Bureau,"  "Hidden  Money," 
"Inquiring  Reporter,"  "Witness  Van- 
ishes," "Refugee,"  "Front  Page  Con- 
fession," "Counterfeit  Ring,"  "Free- 
dom of  the  Air,"  "Ghost  Ship  and 
"Jail  Baby." 

Ben  Pivar  will  produce  the  seven 
"outdoor"  pictures  with  Arlen  and 
Devine.  They  are  "Raging  Rivers," 
"Way  of  the  West,"  "Man  from 
Montreal,"  "Air  Express,"  "In  Old 
California,"  "Steel"  and  "Sea  Pa- 
trol." 

Titles  of  serials  are  "The  Green 
Hornet"  (from  the  radio  serial),  "The 
Phantom  Creeps,"  with  Lugosi ;  "The 
Oregon  Trail,"  with  John  Mack- 
Brown,  and  "Buck  Rogers  Conquer- 
ing the  Universe,"  with  Larry  Crabbe. 

There  will  be  a  "combination"  show 
reissue  of  "My  Man  Godfrey"  and 
"The  Old  Dark  House." 

A  new  series  of  13  special  color 
cartoons  will  feature  the  company's 
new  season  shorts  program.  In  addition 
there  will  be  15  "Going  Places"  and 
15  "Stranger  Than  Fiction"  releases, 
a  new  series  of  13  two-reel  musicals, 
the  two-reel  "March  of  Freedom" 
and  the  regular  twice-weekly  newsreel 
releases. 


"U"  Signs  George  Brent 

Hollywood,  April  16. — Universal 
yesterday  signed  George  Raft  to  star 
in  "I  Stole  a  Million,"  which  will  be 
directed  by  Frank  Tuttle  and  produced 
by  Burt  Kelly. 

U.  S.  Films  Holding 
Popularity  in  Rome 

Washington,  April  16. — American 
films  accounted  for  15  of  the  32  pic- 
tures shown  in  first  run  theatres  dur- 
ing January  and  December,  in  Rome, 
Italy,  according  to  a  report  to  the 
Department  of  Commerce.  In  Janu- 
ary, 16  films  were  shown  in  Rome. 
Five  were  American,  six  Italian,  two 
English,  two  French  and  one  Spanish- 
German.  In  December,  10  American 
films  were  shown  against  three  Italian, 
two  German  and  one  French. 


Weekend  Parleys 
May  Halt  Strike 
Of  IATSE  Units 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

T.  S.  E.  demands,  at  least  in  principle, 
there  will  be  a  general  strike  in  the 
studios  and  affiliated  theatres. 

Joseph  W.  Carpenter,  one  of  Local 
37's  deposed  officers,  declared  his 
group  would  not  recognize  Browne's 
strike  call  until  the  membership  voted 
on  the  question.  His  group  issued  a 
statement  saying  that  the  general 
strike  call  was  issued  to  bring  pres- 
sure on  the  producers  to  have  the 
grand  jury  investigation  of  alleged 
racketeering  called  off.  Union  offi- 
cials have  been  summoned  to  appear 
before  the  Los  Angeles  County  grand 
jury  next  Wednesday. 

The  demands  include  bargaining 
agreements  and  closed  shop  conditions 
for  four  studio  locals.  Gatelee  said 
the  unions  have  been  waiting  for  an 
answer  since  March  15  and  that  the 
strike  call  issued  Thursday  followed 
rejection  of  demands. 

The  locals  involved  are  Photog- 
raphers' 659,  Sound  Technicians  695, 
Laboratory  Technicians  683  and 
Studio  Technicians  37.  The  latter  is 
involved  in  a  dispute  with  the  Inter- 
national, which  has  taken  over  Local 
37's  affairs. 

Conferences  for  an  amicable  settle- 
ment continued  on  three  fronts  over 
the  weekend,  while  International  rep- 
resentatives made  frequent  reports  on 
the  situation  to  George  E.  Browne, 
International  president,  who  was  in 
New  York.  Browne  was  said  to  have 
a  majority  of  the  International  ex- 
ecutive board  on  call  ready  for  ac- 
tion. 

Gatelee  said  that  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 
men  are  working  under  open  shop 
conditions  since  the  International 
withdrew  from  the  studio  basic  agree- 
ment. 

Probe  by  Fitts 

Meanwhile,  District  Attorney  Buron 
Fitts,  conducting  an  investigation  into 
alleged  studio  labor  racketeering,  con- 
tinued efforts  to  bring  together  war- 
ring factions  headed  by  Frank  Stick- 
ling and  Gatelee  of  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 
on  one  hand  and  suspended  officers  of 
Local  37  on  the  other.  On  Friday 
Fitts  conferred  with  Joseph  M. 
Schenck,  head  of  the  Producers'  As- 
sociation, E.  J.  Mannix  and  Mendel 
Silberberg,  producers'  attorney. 

On  recommendation  of  Superior 
Judge  E.  H.  Wilson,  A.  Brigham 
Rose,  attorney  for  deposed  Local  37 
officers,  submitted  proposals  to  coun- 
sel for  International  officers,  seeking 
to  end  litigation  which  has  resulted 
in  a  temporary  restraining  order 
against  Local  37  heads.  Rose  said  the 
local's  officers  are  determined  that  the 
first  condition  would  be  the  return  of 
absolute  local  autonomy  and  "free- 
dom from  dominance  by  the  Interna- 
tional." 

Local  37's  ousted  officers  renewed 
their  plea  to  Attorney  General  Frank 
Murphy  for  an  investigation  of  "labor 
racketeering."  Gatelee  countered  with 
a  statement  that  "we  are  willing,  to 
quell  once  and  for  all  the  claims  of 
radical  elements,  to  hold  a  new  elec- 
tion of  officers  for  Local  37,"  and 
charged  that  "a  vociferous  radical 
minority  of  10  per  cent  is  making  all 
the  noise." 


306-Empire  State 
Merger  Hits  Snag 

Proposed  merger  between 
Operators'  Local  306  and 
Empire  State  Operators' 
Union  which  was  revived 
during  the  recent  strike  ap- 
peared remote  after  weekend 
developments.  It  now  ap- 
pears that  a  motion  to  invite 
a  representative  of  the  I.  A. 
T.  S.  E.  and  Joseph  Basson, 
president  of  306,  to  address 
members  of  Empire  State, 
will  be  defeated  when  the 
motion  comes  up  for  a  vote 
tomorrow  evening. 


20th-Fox  Policy  on 
Radio  Not  Changed 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
that  the  company  will  not  permit  its 
personalities  to  be  absorbed  by  radio. 

"Mr.  Kent's  announced  policy  that 
this  company  looks  upon  radio  in  one 
light,  as  a  competitor  that  minimizes 
and  discourages  motion  picture  theatre 
patronage  through  gratis  entertain- 
ment, remains  the  same,"  says  the 
statement. 

"This  company  views  radio  only  as 
an  advertising  medium  and  will  util- 
ize it  when  its  use  will  be  advantage- 
ous in  bringing  people  out  of  their 
homes  to  the  motion  picture  theatre 
box-offices. 

"This  company  does  not  intend  to 
detour  from  its  set  course  in  taking 
the  lead  to  stop  radio's  raid  on  star- 
power  that  costs  the  company,  any- 
way, at  least  $3,000,000  annually  to 
maintain.  This  company  has  never 
relied  on  radio  for  its  talent.  Radio 
has  contributed  absolutely  nothing  to 
this  company's  starpower." 

Kent  Cancels  Trip 
To  Meeting  Abroad 

S.  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, has  canceled  his  scheduled 
trip  to  attend  the  company's  Paris  and 
London  sales  conventions.  His  work 
in  connection  with  the  trade  practice 
code  and  other  matters  prevent  his 
going. 

Herman  Wobber,  sales  chief,  an3 
Walter  J.  Hutchinson,  director  of  for- 
eign distribution,  will  sale  Wednes- 
day on  the  Washington  for  the  Paris 
meeting,  May  4  and  5,  and  the  Lon- 
don session,  May  11  to  13.  Truman 
H.  Talley,  producer  of  Movietone 
shorts  and  news,  will  sail  Friday  on 
the  Queen  Mary.  He  will  conduct  a 
convention  of  his  European  newsreel 
forces  in  Paris  following  the  sales 
meeting. 

Wobber  will  return  to  New  York 
from  England,  but  Hutchinson  will 
arrive  May  29  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  for 
the  South  American  convention,  June 
1  to  3.  He  then  will  attend  the  Cen- 
tral American  conference  in  Trinidad, 
June  21. 


Kent  Drive  Starts  Aug.  13 

Seventh  annual  S.  R.  Kent  Drive  of 
20th  Century-Fox  will  start  Aug.  13, 
under  direction  of  Morton  A.  Levy, 
Minneapolis  district  manager.  Levy 
will  make  three  tours  of  branches  in 
connection  with  the  drive,  the  first  to 
start  in  Los  Angeles  in  July.  Herman 
Wobber,  sales  head,  will  accompany 
him  on  the  second  and  the  division 
managers  on  the  third. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


4 


Broadway  Houses 
Plan  No  Changes 
For  World's  Fair 


Outside  of  routine  decorations  and 
a  general  spring  cleaning,  Broadway 
houses  plan  no  changes  in  policy  for 
the  period  of  the  World's  Fair.  Gen- 
eral sentiment  among  managers  is  to 
let  the  Fair  "take  care  of  itself."  It 
is  felt  that,  with  the  exception  of  the 
Music  Hall  and  possibly  the  Roxy, 
film  houses  will  not  receive  any  ap- 
preciable amount  of  business  from  out- 
of-towners.  Principal  concern  will 
be  not  to  lose  too  much  local  trade  to 
the  Fair. 

Houses  with  a  stage  policy  will 
probably  feature  a  World's  Fair  num- 
ber in  the  show  during  the  week  of 
April  30.  Marquee  decorations  and 
some  outdoor  advertising  will  be  used 
to  attract  the  visitors.  Managers  state 
that  the  situation  is  unusual  and  no 
definite  predictions  can  be  made.  A 
watchful  attitude  will  be  maintained 
to  take  advantage  of  any  business  in- 
crease beyond  expectations.  None  of 
the  houses  will  change  price  or  stage 
show-  policies.  Reports  that  the  Capi- 
tol may  add  a  stage  show  still  persist 
but  they  have  been  consistently  denied 
by  the  management.  The  theatres  will 
continue  to  aid  Fair  promotion  bu  the 
feeling  that  the  Fair  is  no  aid  to  the 
theatre  business  and  that  promotion 
methods  have  not  been  handled  effi- 
ciently by  the  Fair  will  tend  to  keep 
it  at  a  minimum. 


Para,  Stockholders9 
Suit  to  U.  S.  Court 

Paramount  stockholders'  suit  seek- 
ing an  accounting  and  new  manage- 
ment will  be  transferred  from  the 
N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  to  the  Federal 
court  today  or  tomorrow,  according  to 
Joseph  Nemerov,  attorney  for  the 
plaintiffs.  A  stipulation  to  that  effect 
bas  been  entered.  Paramount  plans 
to  file  its  answer  or  an  application  to 
dismiss  the  action  in  10  days. 

Nemerov  declared  that  the  primary 
purpose  of  the  suit  is  to  effect  a 
change  of  management  and  stated  that 
his  clients  and  other  stockholders  are 
preparing  to  stage  a  proxy  fight  at  the 
annual  stockholders'  meeting  in  June. 


Associates  to  Meet 

Motion  Picture  Associates  will  meet 
April  21  at  the  Hotel  Astor.  Plan  for 
obtaining  revenue  from  the  Will 
Rogers  Memorial  Fund  will  be  the 
chief  topic  discussed. 


Pa.  Bill  Requires 
Report  on  Illness 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  April  16. — 
Assemblyman  James  J.  Mal- 
loy  has  introduced  in  the 
Pennsylvania  legislature  a  bill 
requiring  theatre  employes 
to  report  to  the  police  imme 
diately  whenever  a  woman 
becomes  ill  in  a  theatre.  Fail- 
ure to  comply  carries  a  pen- 
alty of  $25  fine  and  costs  or 
30  days  in  jail. 


Wisconsin  'Divorce' 
Measure  Is  Doomed 

Madison,  April  16.— State 
Affairs  committee  of  the 
Wisconsin  Assembly  yester- 
day reported  out  the  affili- 
ated theatre  divorce  bill  with 
the  recommendation  that  it 
be  killed.  Committee's  action 
spells  certain  defeat  for  the 
measure,  which  was  intro- 
duced by  Representative 
Nicol  on  March  24. 


Cincinnati  Unit  Drops 
Clearance  Complaint 

Cincinnati,  April  16. — Following 
a  reduction  in  second  and  third  run 
clearances,  arranged  in  a  recent  con- 
ference here  between  local  RKO  offi- 
cials and  the  Greater  Cincinnati  Inde- 
pendent Exhibitors'  Assn.,  attended 
by  H.  M.  Richey,  RKO  director  of 
exhibitor  relations,  independents  have 
withdrawn  their  complaint  to  the  De- 
partment of  Justice  on  "oppressive 
clearances." 

Saul  M.  Greenberg  and  John  B. 
Strothers,  attorneys,  represented  the 
independents  in  the  negotiations  which 
involved  64  houses  in  the  Greater  Cin- 
cinnati area. 


Springfield  Jubilee 
Will  Honor  Gus  Sun 

Springfield,  O.,  April  16. —  All 
local  houses  will  participate  in  the 
Golden  Jubilee  Week,  starting  April 
24,  in  honor  of  Gus  Sun's  50th  anni- 
versary in  the  show  business.  Silent 
films  of  the  old  days,  old-time  songs 
with  illustrated  slides,  and  similar  pre- 
sound  activities  will  be  featured  at  the 
theatres,  some  of  which  also  will  play 
split-week  vaudeville  bills,  originally 
introduced  by  Sun,  who  now  operates 
a  booking  exchange  here. 

Phil  Chakeres,  head  of  the  Chakeres- 
Warner  Theatres  and  Regent-State, 
Inc.,  is  handling  the  arrangements, 
which  include  a  banquet  at  the  Spring- 
field Country  Club  on  April  29.  This 
will  be  aired  over  WHIG",  Dayton. 


Abandons  Bank  Night 

Mansfield,  O.,  April  16. — Recent 
announcement  by  Mayor  Claude  M. 
Hunter  that  arrests  would  follow  ini- 
tial awards,  has  caused  William 
Dworski,  manager  of  Warners'  Madi- 
son, to  abandon  Bank  Night.  Hun- 
dreds of  registrations  had  been  made 
for  the  game,  which  he  planned  to 
inaugurate  shortly. 


Forms  Open  Air  Theatres 

Boston,  April  16.  —  Robert  Cobe, 
former  Republic  exchange  manager  in 
New  Haven,  has  organized  Open  Air 
Theatres  of  America.  Inc.,  with  a  first 
project  in  Salisbury.  Cobe  is  presi- 
dent, treasurer  and  chairman  of  the 
board.  Salvatore  Adorno  plans  to 
open  a  drive-in  theatre  in  Middletown, 
Conn.,  about  May  15. 


20th-Fox  Suit  Move 

Application  will  be  made  today  to 
the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  for  an 
order  striking  out  the  answer  of  20th 
Century-Fox  Film  Corp.  in  the  $60,- 
000  damage  suit  of  Anna  and  George 
Greeves  for  injuries  caused  by  alleged 
negligence. 


'Dodge  City*  Big  in 
New  Haven  at  $8,500 

New  Haven,  April  16. — "Dodge 
City"  and  "Women  in  the  Wind" 
wound  up  on  top  in  spite  of  an  early 
opening  which  included  four  days  of 
Holy  Week.    Gross  was  $8,500. 

The  Paramount  dual,  "Three  Smart 
Girls  Grow  Up"  and  "Last  Warning" 
took  $6,700. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  13 : 

"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Arizona  Wildcat"  (20th-Fox) 

COLLEGE — (1,499),  25c-35c,  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,700.    (Average,  $2,700) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW-POLI— (3,040),    35c-50c,    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average,  $8,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Last  Warning"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT — (2,348),   35c-50c,    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,700.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.B.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.B.) 

ROGER  SHERMAN— (2,200).  35c-50c,  V/2 
days.  Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $4,700) 


Anti-Ascap  Measure 
Is  Killed  in  Conn. 

Hartford,  April  16. — Connecticut's 
anti-Ascap  bill  was  killed  by  the  Sen- 
ate here  yesterday. 

Bill  had  been  opposed  by  Sara  B. 
Crawford,  Secretary  of  State ;  Louis 
D.  Frohlich  and  Herman  Finkelstein, 
of  counsel  for  Ascap,  at  hearings  be- 
fore the  Judiciary  Committee  of  the 
House  and  Senate  several  weeks  ago. 

Secretary  of  State  Crawford  told 
the  committee  that  she  saw  no  need 
of  creating  a  Department  of  Copy- 
rights in  Connecticut  while  the  Fed- 
eral Department  was  functioning  in 
Washington,  that  it  delegated  func- 
tions to  her  office  which  it  was  not 
geared  to  handle,  and  that  it  could 
become  an  undue  burden  on  small 
composers. 


Goldwyn  Answers  Suit 

Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  and  Samuel 
Goldwyn  have  filed  answers  in  the 
U.  S.  District  Court  to  the  suit 
brought  against  them,  Olive  Higgins 
Prouty,  author  of  "Stella  Dallas,"  Air 
Features,  Inc.,  and  Selwyn  &  Co.,  Inc., 
by  NBC,  Blackett-Sample-Hummert, 
Inc.,  and  the  Charles  H.  Phillips 
Chemical  Co. 


Music  Plea  Is  Rejected 

San  Francisco,  April  16.  —  After 
series  of  conferences,  Musicians'  Local 
No.  6  has  turned  down  the  request  of 
KYA  manager  Reiland  Quinn,  who 
sought  a  reduction  from  $39,000  to 
$20,000  in  the  amount  the  station  is 
required  to  spend  annually  for  live 
music.  Quinn  declared  KYA's  cur- 
rent earnings  do  not  justify  continuing 
the  original  agreement. 


To  Resume  Stage  Shows 

Cleveland,  April  16. — Stage  shows 
will  return  to  Loew's  State  here  the 
week  of  May  12  when  Eleanor  Powell 
will  head  "Eleanor  Powell's  Own  Big 
Show."  Whether  this  combination 
policy  will  be  continued  or  not,  is  still 
uncertain,  according  to  Loew  Division 
Manager  Col.  Harry  E.  Long. 


Approve  Lab.  Union  Pact 

Approval  of  a  contract  negotiated 
with  De  Luxe  Laboratories  was  voted 
by  M.  P.  Laboratory  Technicians,  Lo- 
cal 702,  at  a  meeting  at  the  Capitol 
Hotel  Friday  night. 


Monday,  April  17,  1939 


'Dodge  City'  Hits 
$19,500  For  Best 
Cleveland  Gross 


Cleveland,  April  16.  —  "Dodge 
City"  at  Warners'  Hippodrome  led 
with  §19,500.  "Prison  Without  Bars" 
at  Loew's  Stillman  was  a  close  seer 
ond  with  $7,600.  £  > 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  on  the  Rko 
Palace  screen  with  a  vaudeville  show 
headlined  by  Gracie  Barrie  took  $15, - 
000.  "The  Little  Princess"  was  strong 
at  the  Allen  with  $4,750.  The  weather 
was  bad. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  14: 

"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

ALLEN— (3,000).  30c-35c-42c,  7  days.  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $4,750.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.B.) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME—  (3,800),  30c- 
35c-42c,  7  days.  Gross:  $19,500.  (Average, 
$12,000) 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,100),  30c-42c-55c,  7 
days.  Stage:  6  Acts  Vaudeville,  with  Gracie 
Barrie,  headliner.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$15,000) 

"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500),  30c-35c-42c,  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $13,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.A.) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900),  30c-35c-42c, 
8  days.    Gross:  $7,600.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"Ballarina"  (Cinatlantica) 

CITY— (485).  35c-42c,  7  days.  Gross:  $800. 
(Average,  $850) 

3-Minute  Trailer  Bill 
Passed  in  Delaware 

Dover,  Del.,  April  16. — A  bill  has 
been  passed  by  the  Delaware  Senate 
limiting  showing  of  trailers,  advertise- 
ments and  views  of  coming  attractions 
to  three  minutes.  All  film  theatres  in 
the  state  come  under  the  measure. 
Senator  Renard,  its  sponsor,  said  that 
it  was  designed  to  protect  patrons 
from  long  previews.  Under  the  bill 
longer  previews  are  allowed  if  due  no- 
tice is  given  on  theatre  fronts  and  in 
the  press. 


Republic  Mexican  Deal 

Morris  Goodman,  Republic  foreign 
sales  head,  has  closed  a  deal  with 
Alianza  Films  of  Mexico  City  for  dis- 
tribution of  20  selected  films  of  the 
current  program  and  four  to  six 
serials. 


Team  Taylor-Lamarr 

Hollywood,  April  16. — Robert  Tay- 
lor and  Hedy  Lamarr  will  be  co- 
starred  in  M-G-M's  "Lady  of  the 
Tropics."  Sam  Zimbalist  will  produce 
and  Jack  Conway  direct. 


Behrman  Comedy  Is 
Tonights  Opening 

"No  Time  for  Comedy,"  by 
S.  N.  Behrman,  is  scheduled 
to  open  tonight  at  the  Ethel 
Barrymore.  It  is  the  tale  of 
an  author  of  humorous  pieces 
who  sets  out  to  write  more 
serious  works.  Katherine 
Cornell,  who  heads  the  cast, 
and  the  Playwrights  Co.  are 
the  producers.  Guthrie  Mc- 
Clintic  directed.  Others  in 
the  cast  are  Laurence  Olivier, 
Margalo  Gillmore,  John  Wil- 
liams, Robert  Flemyng,  Peter 
Robinson,  and  Gee  Gee  James. 


RAMOUNT.  always  the 

er  in  American  epics,  with  such  tre- 
mendous box  office  successes  to  its 
credit  as  "The  Covered  Wagon", 
"The  Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine", 
"The  Virginian",  "The  Plainsman", 
"Wells  Fargo",  "The  Buccaneer". . . 

NOW  TOPS  THEM  ALL  WITH 


Cecil  B.  De  Mille's 

"UNION 
PAC I F I C 

starring 

Barbara  Stanwyck  Joel  McCrea 

with 

AKIM  TAMIROFF  •  ROBERT  PRESTON 
~     LYNNE  OVERMAN  •  BRIAN  DONLEVY 

and  a  Cast  of  Thousands! 

Produced  and  Directed  by  CECIL  B.  DeMILLE 

Screen  Play  by  Walter  De  Leon,  C.  Gardner  Sullivan  and  Jesse  Lasky,  Jr. 
Based  on  an  Adaptation  by  John  Cunningham  of  a  Story  by  Ernest  Haycox 


Great  Pictures  Deserve  Great 
Advance  Selling  .  •  • 


The  Greatest  Publicity  Stunt  in 
Picture  History! 

From  Wednesday,  April  26th  through  Saturday,  April  29th  the  great 
city  of  Omaha,  Nebraska  will  give  "Union  Pacific"  the  greatest 
tend-off  in  motion  picture  history.  Two  blocks  of  city  streets  will 
be  made  into  replicas  of  the  1869  period.  Only  horse-driven  stage 
coaches,  prairie  schooners,  and  Civil  War  Cavalry  will  be  allowed 
in  the  streets.  52  bloeks,  including  the  business  section,  will  be 
elaborately  decorated.  A  tribe  of  35  Sioux  Indians  will  camp  on  the 
Court  House  grounds. 

On  Thursday  there  will  be  a  huge  military  parade.  Mr.  DeMille  and 
the  Paramount  stars  from  the  Coast  will  be  guests  of  the  city  and  of 
the  State.  Other  celebrities  will  include  the  governors  of  Nebraska 
and  neighboring  states,  as  well  as  12  presidents  of  America's  great 
railroads. 

On  Friday  there  will  be  another  tremendous  parade  starting  off 
another  day  of  city-wide  celebration  leading  up  to  the  official  world 
premiere  of  "Union  Pacific"  at  the  Omaha  Theatre  to  be  broadcast 
over  the  Mutual  Network  of  1 25  stations.  Portions  of  the  celebration 
will  be  picked  up  by  the  N.B.C.  Red  network  on  Thursday  night  over 
51  stations,  and  on  Friday  night  over  52  stations. 

The  size  of  the  celebration  is  quickly  shown  by  such  figures  as  these: 
34,000  Nebraskan  males  now  growing  beards  for  "Union  Pacific" 
celebrations,  60,000  men,  women  and  children  will  be  in  costume, 
325,000  Nebraskans  will  be  present  during  the  four-day  celebration. 
Spaee  does  not  permit  further  details— you  will  hear  them  on  the 
radio,  you  will  read  them  in  your  paper,  as  this  greatest  of  all 
world  premieres  takes  place. 

The  Greatest  Exploitation  Stunt 
in  Picture  History 

During  the  period,  just  before  and  after  the  release  day  of  the 
picture,  Cecil  B.  DeMille  and  a  great  number  of  famous  Paramount 
stars,  including  Ray  Milland,  John  Howard,  Patricia  Morison  and 
Martha  Raye,  will  make  a  huge  coast-to-coast  tour,  hitting  36  key 
cities  enroute,  on  the  great  Cecil  B.  DeMille  "Union  Pacific"  special 
train.  Leading  this  train  will  be  the  famous  old  engine  No.  58,  a 
locomotive  built  in  the  late  60's  and  used  in  the  picture.  Immediately 
following  this  will  be  the  first  of  the  great,  new  "Union  Pacific"  super 
turbine-electric  streamlined  locomotives  showing  in  one  quick 
glance  70  years  of  railroad  progress.  Behind  this  will  come  one  of 


the  first  passenger  coaches  ever  built  in  the  United  States,  an  1869 
baggage  car,  a  civil  war  period  coach  and  a  blacksmith's  car.  Fol- 
lowing these  will  come  the  line-up  of  streamlined  pullmans  carrying 
the  Paramount  stars.  You  can  see  the  key  cities  the  train  will  hit  on 
the  map  at  the  bottom  of  this  page. 

A  special  shortwave  transmitter,  as  part  of  the  train  equipment,  will 
make  possible  continuous  broadcasts  of  the  train  to  the  cities  it  is 
approaching.  There  will  be  another  big-time  broadcast  from  Schenec- 
tady. A  Hollywood  preview  of  "Union  Pacific"  is  planned  for  each 
city  where  the  train  stops.  The  train  will  be  open  to  the  public  and 
Mr.  DeMille  and  the  stars  will  be  available,  where  possible,  for 
personal  appearances  at  previews. 

The  Greatest  Advertising 
Campaign  in  Picture  History 

In  addition  to  cooperative  campaigns  In  many  key  cities,  Paramount 
will  run  a  huge  national  advertising  campaign  in  the  American 
Weekly  and  in  This  Week.  A  full-page,  4-color  advertisement  in 
American  Weekly  on  April  30  will  sell  "Union  Pacific"  to  its  12,293.- 
1 1 9  readers.  A  4-color,  double  spread  in  This  Week  en  May  7  will 
sell  "Union  Pacific"  to  12,979,050  readers.  A  full-page  advertisement 
in  Life's  April  24  issue  will  sell  "Union  Pacific"  to  17,300.000  readers. 
Other  Paramount  ads  will  appear  in  Hollywood  Magaiine.  Motion 
Picture  Magazine,  Movie  Story,  Modern  Screen,  Screen  Book  and 
Picture  Play.  In  addition  to  the  five  radio  broadcasts  from  Omaha, 
Cecil  B.  DeMille's  Lux  Radio  Theatre,  with  its  millions  of  listeners,  has 
for  the  past  15  weeks  been  plugging  Mr.  DeMille's  newest,  and  he 
believes,  his  greatest  picture:  and  will  continue  to  do  so  until  past 
release  date. 

The  Union  Pacific  Railroad  is  crashing  through  with  a  tremendous 
cooperative  advertising  and  exploitation  campaign  for  the  picture, 
timed  to  synchronize  with  its  own  70th  anniversary  and  release  date 
of  the  film.  A  $50,000  advertising  campaign  will  include  national  ads 
during  April,  May  and  June  in  Collier's,  Look,  Newsweek,  The  New 
Yorker,  Saturday  Evening  Post,  Time,  Liberty,  Photoplay,  Red  Book, 
American  Weekly  and  will  feature  billing  scenes  from  the  picture. 
The  Hamilton  Watch  Company  will  run  a  nation-wide  advertising 
campaign  built  around  "Union  Pacific."  Other  national  advertisers 
to  tie-in  are  California  Fruit  Growers'  Exchange,  Wonder  Bread  with 
full-page  and  half-page,  full-color  ads  in  the  American  Weekly;  Tea 
Bureau,  Pennzoil,  Pan-American  Oil  Company,  with  24-sheets  in  the 
four  southern  States  in  which  it  operates.  International  Silver  Com- 
pany is  launching  a  series  of  ads  which  will  appear  in  national 
magazines  at  release  date  of  "Union  Pacific." 


HERE  IT  COMES 


ar  amount's 


onths— 3  a  month — when  you  need  them  mos 


Jack  Benny's  Best! 

Topping  even  his  famous  "Big  Broadcast  of  1937". 
Four  "Hit  Parade"  songs,  a  million  laughs,  a  fast-mov- 
ing, light-knit  story  that  moves  along  to  an  uproarious 
climax,  and  a  marquee-great  cast.  The  best  picture  of 
the  spring  season. 


Jack  Benny 
Dorothy  Lamour 
Edward  Arnold 


MAN  ABOUT 
TOWN" 


Binnie  Barnes  *  Phil  Harris  •  Betty  Grable 
Eddie  "Rochester"  Anderson  •  E.  E.  Clive 
°nd  Matty  Malneck  and  His  Orchestra 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Morrie  Ryskind 
Directed  by  MARK  S  ANDRICH 


Year's  Funniest  "Who  Dun  It?" 

Its  very  title  makes  the  customers  titter  in  anticipation. 
This  is  the  "different"  picture  they  are  all  looking  for — 
Gracie  and  Philo  Vance  sleuthing  side-by-side  in  a 
dark  purple  mystery.  The  book  is  one  of  the  season's 
best  sellers — the  picture  is  going  to  get  a  big  break 
on  the  Chesterfield  program. 


S.  S.  VAN  DINE  S 

The  GRACIE  ALLEN 
MURDER  CASE" 


GRACIE  ALLEN  •  WARREN 
WILLIAM  •  ELLEN  DREW  -  KENT 
TAYLOR  •  DONALD  MacBRIDE 

Screen  Ploy  by  Not  Pen-in 
Directed  by  ALFRED  C.  GREEN 


A  Great  Women's  Picture! 

The  screen's  most  poignant  and  exerting  actress  in  the 
picture  which  is  the  sensation  of  London — ten  capacity 
weeks  and  still  going  strong.  Critics  have  heaped  such 
praise  on  it  as  no  other  has  received  in  months.  Every 
woman  will  want  to  see  whet  few  have  dared  to  do — 
steal  another's  life  and  love  I 


ORION  PRODUCTIONS  LIMITED 
present 

Elisabeth  Bergner 

and 

Michael  Redgrave 


STOLEN  LIFE 


Produced  and  Directed  by  PAUL  CZINNER 
A  Paramount  Release 


A  Great  Emotional  Drama! 

Hard-punching,  true-to-life.  Director  William  K.  How- 
ard's greatest  triumph.  Says  Hollywood  Reporter:  "Hits 
as  box  office  melodrama.  Memorable  performances. 
Enthralling  dramatic  continuity  liberally  interspersed 
with  good  comedy  and  a  number  of  songs  destined  to 
rank  high  in  hit  parade". 


BERNARD  STEELE 
presents 


BACK  DOOR 
TO  HEAVEN 


Wallace  Ford 
Stuart  Erwin  • 


•  Patricia  Ellis 
Aline  Mac  Marion 


Based  on  a  Story  by  William  K.  Howard  •  Screen  Play  by 
John  Bright  and  Robert  Rasker  •  A  Paramount  Release 
Produced  and  Directed  by  WILLIAM  K.  HOWARD 


Wesley  Ruggles'  Best  Picture! 

These  two  great  stars  both  achieved  their  top  perform- 
ances under  Ruggles'  direction.  They  even  surpass 
those  performances  in  this  one.  Sneak  previews  show 
audiences  swept  from  uproarious  laughter  to  terrific 
excitement.  A  Wesley  Ruggles  picture  is  always  a  hit, 
as  is  witnessed  by  his  "Sing,  You  Sinners"  and  "I  Met 
Him  in  Parisl" 


Irene  Dunne 
Fred  MacMurray 


INVITATION  TO 
HAPPINESS" 

w»h  CHARLIE  RUGGLES 
William  Collier,  Sr.  •  Billy  Cook 
Marion  Martin 

Screen  Play  by  Claude  Binyon 

Produced  and  Directed  by 

Wesley  Ruggles 


Tamiroff ,  The  Magnificent! 

Here  is  the  first  chance  he  has  had  to  go  to  town  as  he 
does  in  this  great  impersonation  of  a  dictator.  This  pic- 
ture has  a  locale  that  hasn't  been  done  in' pictures  in  a 
long  time — Central  America.  A  fast-moving,  Richard 
Harding  Davis  type  of  picture. 

Paramount  presents 

The  MAGNIFICENT 
FRAUD" 


11 


with  AKIM  TAMIROFF 
LLOYD  NOLAN  •  MARY  BOLAND 
PATRICIA  MORISON 
GEORGE  ZUCCO 

Screen  Play  by  Gilbert  Gabriel  and  Walter  Ferris 
Adapted  from  a  Story  by  Charles  G.  Booth 

Directed  by  ROBERT  FLOREY 


Bob  Burns 

in 

"OUR  LEADING 
CITIZEN'' 


Bob  Burn's  Best! 

Fits  him  like  a  glove,  tailor-made  by  the  great  Irvin 
Cobb.  Dramatic  story  of  strife  and  struggle  between 
left  and  right  wingers,  with  Bob  stopping  the  fight  and 
showing  them  the  way  to  go  home.  A  picture  with  great 
force — just  the  kind  to  keep  those  home  fires  burning. 


They'll  Dance  in  the  Aisles! 

The  "Thanks  for  the  Memory"  duo  are  hotter  than  ever. 
Bob  rapidly  becoming  radio's  No.  1  comedian  and 
Shirley  fresh  from  a  series  of  personal  appearances. 
Krupa  and  his  band  now  packing  in  the  nation's  youth 
on  his  coast-to-coast  tour.  Two  terrific  tunes,  "The 
Lady's  in  Love  with  You"  and  "Some  Like  It  Hot". 

BOB  HOPE  •  SHIRLEY  ROSS 
GENE  KRUPA  and  His  Orchestra 

"SOME  LIKE  IT  HOT'' 

with 


Bing's  Best! 

Thrilling,  true-to-life  story  of  Broadway's  greatest  char- 
acter— the  Stor  Maker— who  wrote  hit  songs,  turned 
kids  into  top  stars.  An  "Alexander's  Ragtime  Band" 
type  of  picture  with  an  appeal  to  youth — with  new 
songs  and  old  faces  and  old  songs  and  new  faces. 
Bing  introduces  Linda  Wore,  beautiful  girl  with  a  voice 
that  will  leave  you  breathless. 

Bing  Crosby 

"THE  STAR  MAKER'' 

with  Louise  Campbell  •  Linda  Ware 

Ned  Sparks  a 

A  Charles  R.  Rogers  Production  I 

Directed  by  Roy  Del  Ruth 


Una  Merkel  •  Rufe  Davis 

Screen  Play  by  Lewis  R.  Foster  and  Wilkie  C.  Mahoney 
Based  on  a  Play  by  Ben  Hecht  and  Gene  Fowler 

Directed  by  GEORGE  ARCHAINBAUD 


Timely  War  Drama!  A  Belly-Laugh  Panic! 

The  "Grand  Hotel"  of  the  front-  lines.  Introduces  the  most  publicized  newcomer  to  The  punch  laugh  hit  of  the  Spring  season.  "Chalk  up  another  hit  for  Martha  Raye 

the  films  in  years,  Isa  Miranda,  with  more  than  a  million  lines  in  stories  and  photo-  and  Bob  Hope",  says  Jimmie  Fidler.  "Sure  fire  for  laughs",  says  M.  P.  Daily.  "A 

graphs.   Gets   extra   punch   from   fact:  A  dramatic   story   of   Carpatho-Ukraine,  procession  of  hilarious  gags",  says  Film  Daily, 
released  right  at  the  time  Nazi  operations  make  that  territory  front  page  news. 


MARTHA  RAYE  •  BOB  HOPE 


Isa  Miranda  and  Ray  Milland 

"HOTEL  IMPERIAL  "NEVER  SAY  DIE 


7? 


„ '  .  .  .  with  Andy  Devine  •  Alan  Mowbray  •  Gale  Sondergaard 

with  Reginald  Owen  •  Gene  Lockhart  •  J.  Carrol  Naish  Ernest  Cossart 


Curt  Bois  and  Don  Cossack  Chorus 

iriel  and  Robert  Thoeren  •  Based  on  a  Pla 
Directed  by  ROBERT  FLOREY  Directed  by  ELLIOTT  NUGENT 


Screen  Play  by  Don  Hortman,  Frank  Butler  and  Preston  Slurges 
Screen  Play  by  Gilbert  Gabriel  and  Robert  Thoeren  •  Based  on  a  Play  by  Lajos  Biro  Based  on  a  Play  by  William  H.  Post 


GET  ABOARD 

Ride  to  box  office  success 
with  Paramount  •  •  • 

Remember  it's  the  last  5  months  that  count! 


■  - 


TTTTH  ID 


'THE  STAR  MAKER' 


INVITATI 


jTJirrrrri z  I  jrr  ? 

ON  TO  "HAPPINESS"      I^THE  GRfl 


mi 


GRACIE  ALLEN  MURDER  CASE" 


'rBACTDWl 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 

{Paramount) 

Hollywood,  April  16. — Featuring  the  regular  "Bulldog  Drummond" 
series  cast,  John  Howard,  Heather  Angel,  H.  B.  Warner,  Elizabeth 
Patterson,  Reginald  Denny  and  E.  E.  Clive,  plus  Forrester  Harvey, 
Leo  Carroll,  David  Clyde  and  Clyde  Cook,  this  adventure  of  the 
suave,  resourceful  British  detective  is  a  stock  blending  of  spooky  melo- 
drama and  comedy. 

Based  on  an  H.  C.  McNeile  story,  "Temple  Tower,"  Garrett  Weston 
did  the  screenplay  and  James  Hogan  directed.  In  an  effort  to  counter- 
balance the  effects  of  the  weird  and  exciting  occurrences,  the  screen 
story  includes  a  superabundance  of  irrelevant  comedy.  Thus,  while 
Clive,  Harvey  and  Howard  account  for  some  laughable  moments,  their 
antics  in  dialogue  and  characterizations  detract  noticeably  from  the 
meat  of  the  story. 

A  legend  that  a  treasure  in  gems  is  secreted  in  citadel-like  "Temple 
Tower,"  again  forces  postponement  of  the  often  deferred  marriage  of 
Miss  Angel  to  Howard.  It  is  also  the  basis  for  three  murders  and  for 
the  comedy  of  errors  that  takes  place.  But  as  Denny  and  Clive  mess 
things  up  for  their  mentor  and  Harvey  adds  to  the  confusion  which 
baffles  Warner,  Howard  always  knows  what  to  do,  as  he  ferrets  his 
way  through  a  round  of  tortures,  explosions  and  sudden  death  before 
he  explodes  the  legend  and  cleans  up  the  mystery. 

Running  time,  55  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


.Monday.  April  17.  1939 


Expect  Neely  Bill 
Hearings  \5  ill  Be 
Concluded  Today 


Washington.  April  lt>. — Windup  of 
|  the  hearings  on  the  Neely  bill  is  ex- 
,  peeted  tomorrow,  when  C.  C.  Petti- 
it  hn  of  the  M.  P.  P.  D.  A.,  Abram 
"■krs.  Ailed  States  general  counsel ; 
I  ^marine    Lyiord.    secretary   of  the 
j  Massachusetts     Civic     League,  and 
Mary  T.  Bannerman,  national  chair- 
i  man  of  the  committee  on  legislation 
;  of    the    Motion    Picture  Research 
Council,  will  make  final  reviews  of 
testimony  presented  during  the  two 
v  eeks  of  the  hearing. 
; ;    Submission  of  direct  testimony  was 
concluded  Friday  with  Gov.  Carl  E. 
Milliken.  secretary  of  the  M.  P.  P. 
Id.  A.,  outlining  the  industry's  "Self 
improvement  and  self  discipline"  pro- 
gram which,  with  the  aid  of  public 
groups,  has  enabled  Catholic  review- 
hoards  to  increase  their  picture  ap- 
provals from  25  per  cent  in  1922  to 
99  per  cent  last  year. 

Discusses  British  Quota 

Negation  of  the  claim  that  elimina- 
tion of  block  booking  would  bring  film 
improvement,  he  declared,  is  seen  in 
the  English  situation.  Five  years 
after  adoption  of  the  quota  law  de- 
signed to  w  ipe  out  block  selling,  the 
Carnegie  Foundation  Commission 
found  little  improvement  in  quality 
and  attributed  that  to  the  operation 
•  >f  the  American  Producers'  Code. 
Meanwhile,  he  said,  while  admission 
prices  had  declined  in  this  country, 
they  had  risen  in  England,  although 
it  was  admitted,  it  could  not  be  proved 
the  increase  was  due  to  higher  dis- 
tribution expenses. 

Outlining  the  problems  of  the  Pro- 
duction Code  Administration,  Milli- 
ken testified  its  achievements  would 
not  have  been  possible  without  the 
cooperation  of  public  groups  and  as- 
serted that,  in  the  last  analysis,  mo- 
tion picture  improvement,  like  the 
tariff,  is  a  local  problem  in  the  solu- 
tion of  which  club  groups,  public  li- 
braries, schools  and  churches  should 
assume  the  leadership. 

Many  Express  Opposition 

Representatives  of  a  number  of  or- 
ganizations ;  most  of  whom  appeared 
without  instructions  from  their  groups, 
opposed  enactment  of  the  bill.  Mrs.  E. 
M.  Barsham,  Wilmington  (Del.)  Fed- 
eration of  Women's  Clubs,  asserted 
that  block  booking  and  blind  selling 
have  nothing  to  do  with  good  or  bad 
content  of  pictures  and  that  improve- 
ment could  be  achieved  only  at  the 
source  of  production. 

A  flat  charge  that  "despite  Mrs. 
Bannerman,"  P.  T.  A.  members  as 
a  whole  have  no  comprehension  of  the 
bill,  was  made  by  Mrs.  James  R. 
Horgan,  Worcester  (Mass.)  P.  T.  A. 

Mrs.  S.  A.  Ellsworth,  Worcester 
Motion  Picture  Board  of  Review,  told 
the  subcommittee  that  "every"  unde- 
sirable picture  shown  in  her  city  in 
the  past  four  years  was  of  independ- 
1  ent  production  and  had  been  sold  sing- 
ly and  asserted  that  passage  of  the  bill 
will  not  solve  the  child  problem,  while 
Mrs.  Fred  Stephenson,  Springfield 
(Mass.)  School  Board,  testified  that 
school  and  organization  classes  in  mo- 
tion picture  appreciation  and  better 
informed  public  opinion  had  mate- 
rially elevated  the  level  of  pictures 
shown  in  that  city,  and  that  there  was 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Killing  of  Neely  Bill\ 
Expected   by  Cassil 

Frank  Cassil,  president  of  the  Kan- 
sas-Missouri Theatres  Association,  re- 
turned to  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  over  the 
weekend  after  expressing  his  belief 
that  the  Neely  anti-block  booking 
bill  will  not  receive  Senate  committee 
approval. 

Cassil,  whose  organization  is  affili- 
ated with  the  M.P.T.O.A.,  opposed  the 
bill  at  the  Senate  committee  hearing 
in  Washington.  While  he  is  opposed 
to  the  present  system  of  block  book- 
ing and  blind  selling,  Cassil  believes 
that  the  Neely  plan  would  be  unwork- 
able and  impractical.  The  best  solu- 
tion offered  to  date  is  the  trade 
practice  code  with  its  cancellation 
provisions,  he  declares. 

The  K.M.T.A.,  which  has  400  mem- 
bers in  Kansas  and  western  Missouri, 
has  endorsed  the  code  and  favors 
early  establishment  of  arbitration 
boards.  He  himself  intends  to  file 
a  complaint  with  the  projected  board 
in  Kansas  City,  asking  for  reduction 
in  clearance  over  his  two  St.  Joseph 
theatres,  which  is  now  146  days  after 
the  Dubinsky  houses,  with  10-cent  and 
five-cent  differentials  in  price. 


Held  in  Bank  Night  Case 

Milwaukee,  April  16. — A  g  n  e  s 
Gerek  and  Theodore  Lasky,  her  fiance, 
have  been  held  by  local  police  on  war- 
rants charging  obtaining  money  under 
false  pretenses  in  connection  with  the 
winning  of  a  $500  Bank  Night  award 
at  the  Teffris  theatre  in  Janesville. 
Wis. 


no  disharmony  between  exhibitors  and 
civic  groups. 

Steady  improvement  in  pictures  dur- 
ing the  past  10  years  was  reported  by- 
Mrs.  Charles  W.  Swift,  Elmira,  Mo- 
tion .Picture  Council,  who  challenged 
the  proponents's  claims  that  various 
organizations  were  solidly  behind  the 
bill,  declaring  no  small  group  could 
speak  for  the  entire  membership  of 
a  national  association. 


\New  Allied  Unit  Is 
Set  Up  at  Rochester 

Rochester,  April  16. — Allied  of 
New  York  has  organized  a  Rochester 
unit.  Temporary  officers  elected  in- 
clude :  Max  Fogel,  chairman ;  Charles 
Tibbitts,  secretary,  and  William  Tish- 
koff,  George  Frank,  Don  Withington, 
grievance  committee. 

Fogel  and  Tishkoff  will  head  the 
membership  committee.  E.  Thornton 
Kelly,  state  executive  secretary,  pre- 
sided. The  unit  will  include  exhibi- 
tors as  far  east  as  Phelps  and  Clifton 
Springs. 

Others  present  were  George  and 
Ray  Schmidt,  Morris  Zimmerman, 
Mitchell  Lipsett,  Mrs.  Leah  Irons, 
Harry  Tishkoff,  Albert  and  Carol 
Fenyvessy,  Don  Stevenson  and  Paul 
FieM. 

Television  May  Go 
Into  B'way  Embassy 

London,  April  16. — Baird's  theatre 
television  equipment  may  be  installed 
in  the  Embassy  Newsreel  Theatre  on 
Broadway  as  an  attraction  for  World's 
Fair  crowds,  Isidore  Ostrer  said  to- 
day. A  second  theatre  may  also  be 
equipped. 

The  big  screen  televising  sets  are 
being  shipped  to  New  York  next  Sat- 
urday. Ian  C.  Javal,  Baird  commer- 
cial representative,  and  several  tech- 
nicians are  sailing  to  complete  nego- 
tiations and  install  the  equipment. 


W.  F.  Githens,  president  of  News- 
reel  Theatres,  operator  of  the  Em- 
bassy, said  no  negotiations  have  been 
completed  for  installation  of  the  Baird 
equipment  in  that  house,  but  that  the 
company  was  "interested." 


Turrou  Starts  Tour 

Leon  G.  Turrou,  former  G-Man,  is 
in  New  Haven  today  to  start  a  speak- 
ing tour  on  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy"  and  his  work  as  espionage  inves- 
tigator. He  was  technical  adviser  on 
the  film.  He  will  vist  Hartford, 
Waterbury  and  Bridgeport  this  week. 


13 


'Darling'  Hit 
In  Seattle  at 
$6,100  Gross 

Seattle,  April  16. — "Yes,  My 
Darling  Daughter"  grossed  a  good  $6,- 
100  here  to  capture  the  lead,  in  a  week 
of  only  fair  business,  despite  mild 
weather.  "Dodge  City"  and  "Winner 
Take  All"  took  $6,000  at  the  Orpheum, 
and  "The  Little  Princess"  and  "Fast 
and  Loose"  drew  $6,700  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  14 : 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

"The  Great  Man  Votes"  (M-G-M) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $3,800.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

FIFTH  AVENUE— (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $6,700.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.  B.) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,100.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)     (30c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Newsboy's  Home"  (Univ.) 
"The  Last  Express"  (Univ.) 

PALOMAR— (1,500)     (15c-25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.    Vaudeville  headed  by  Dove  Sisters. 
Gross:  $4,700.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)  (30c-40c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $5,800.    (Average.  $6,000) 

Australia  Managers 
En  Route  for  Parleys 

Harry  Hunter,  Paramount  manager 
in  Australia,  and  Cecil  Mason,  Col- 
umbia's Australian  manager,  are 
scheduled  to  arrive  at  San  Pedro  to- 
day on  the  Mariposa  for  home  office 
visits,  their  first  in  several  years. 

Ralph  Clark,  Warners'  Australian 
manager ;  Clay  V.  Hake,  20th-Fox, 
and  Bernard  Freeman,  M-G-M,  have 
been  here  for  several  weeks  confer- 
ring with  home  office  officials  on 
legislative  and  sales  problems  in  the 
Antipodes.  Hake  left  for  the  coast 
over  the  weekend  and  is  scheduled  to 
sail  for  Australia  on  the  Mariposa, 
April  26. 

John  W.  Hicks,  Paramount  foreign 
manager,  leaves  for  the  coast  by  train 
to  participate  in  the  new  season  pro- 
duction conferences  now  under  way 
at  the  Paramount  studio,  and  w  ill  con- 
fer with  Hunter  while  there.  The  lat- 
ter will  go  from  Hollywood  to  his 
family  home  in  Seattle.  Hicks  will 
return  to  New  York  at  the  end  of  the 
month  with  the  home  office  executive- 
group  now  at  the  studio  and  with 
them  will  attend  the  Omaha  premiere 
of  "Union  Pacific"  April  28. 


Urge  Giveaways  Ban 
At  Cleveland  Session 

Cleveland,  April  16. — Abolition  of 
giveaways  and  elimination  of  news- 
paper copy  on  premiums  was  discussed 
by  the  Cleveland  Motion  Picture  Ex- 
hibitors Association  on  Friday.  The 
session  also  considered  the  elimina- 
tion of  Sunday  duals  and  a  plan  to 
pass  the  state  three  per  cent  tax  on 
theatres  to  the  public.  The  latter 
would  save  exhibitors  $150,000  annu- 
ally, it  was  pointed  out.  The  meeting 
recessed  until  Wednesday  with  no 
definite  agreement  arrived  at  on  any  of 
the  questions  under  discussion. 


14 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  17,  1939 


'Dodge  City' 
Los  Angeles' 
$45,500  Hit 


Los  Angeles,  April  16. — "Dodge 
City"  did  sensational  business  here, 
with  a  gross  of  $45,500  at  two  houses, 
$22,200  at  the  Warner  Hollywood  and 
$23,300  at  the  Warner  Downtown. 

Also  very  strong  was  the  dual  of 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle"  and  "Blondie  Meets  the  Boss," 
taking  $12,500  at  the  Hillstreet  and 
$13,700  at  the  Pantages. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  12 : 

"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 
"Burn  'Em  Up  O'Connor"  (M-G-M) 

CHINESE — (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,000.    (Average,  $12,500) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-55c)  5  days.  Gross: 
$3,700.    (Average,  $3,250) 

"The  Story  of   Vernon  and   Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

HILLSTREET — (2,700)    (30c-65c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $12,500.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 
"Burn  'Em  Up  O'Connor"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $13,900.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 

(RKO) 

"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)     (30c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $13,700.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"I'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)   (30c-65c)   5  days. 
Stage:    F.    &    M.    revue,    Eddie  Stanley. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $18,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER    BROS.    (HOLLYWOOD)  — 
(3,000)     (30c-65c)    7    days.    Gross:  $22,200. 
(Average,  $14,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (DOWNTOWN)  — 
(3,400)  (30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $23,300. 
(Average,  $12,000) 


'Midnight'  Strong 
Leader  in  Detroit, 
Grossing  $15,000 

Detroit,  April  16. — Spring  vacation 
helped  theatres,  with  the  Michigan 
taking  $15,000  with  "Midnight"  and 
"On  Trial."  "The  Little  Princess" 
plus  Arthur  Treacher  heading  a  stage 
show  gave  the  Fox  $22,000.  In  its 
second  week,  "Ice  Follies"  took  $6,000 
at  the  United  Artists. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  13  : 

"Three  Smart  Girl's  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average. 
$5,000) 

"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX— (5,000)    (20c-65c)    7    days.  Stage, 
Arthur  Treacher,  variety  acts.    Gross:  $22,- 
000.    (Average.  $20,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

MICHIGAN— (4,000)     (20c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 
"They  Made  Me  a  Criminal"  (W.  B.) 

PALMS- STATE — (3.000)  (20c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,300.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Ice  Follies"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2.000)  (20c-65c)  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average, 
$10,000) 


New  York  Previews 


Child  Test  Finals  Set 

Finals  of  the  talented  child  contest 
which  Uncle  Don  is  conducting  in  be- 
half of  20th  Century-Fox  will  be  held 
April  27.  United  Airlines  will  fly  the 
children  to  the  coast  as  guests  of  the 
film  company. 


"Double  Crime  in  the  Maginot  Line 

(Tower  Pictures) 

Today's  headlines  are  made  to  order  as  exploitation  background  for 
this  spy  melodrama,  and  sure-fire  ingredients  add  up  to  an  absorbing 
action  picture  that  is  screen  merchandise  in  any  language. 

The  French  War  Office  is  said  to  have  cooperated  closely  in  making 
the  film,  the  action  taking  place  in  and  around  the  Maginot  Line.  The 
purpose  presumably  was  to  reassure  the  French  people  that  if  war  comes 
their  frontiers  will  be  well  protected.  It  also  serves  as  a  warning  that 
the  massive  fort  is  invulnerable  to  espionage. 

Based  on  a  novel  by  Pierre  Nord,  the  story  involves  as  principals 
Captain  Bruchot  (Victor  Francen)  and  his  wife  (Vera  Korene),  whose 
marital  life  is  complicated  because  she  is  a  German  girl.  Commander 
d'Espinac  (Fernand  Fabre),  newly  arrived  at  the  fort,  suspects  espion- 
age. On  an  inspection  trip,  he  is  machine  gunned.  The  authorities  sus- 
pect Captain  Bruchot,  but  he  is  released  and  permitted  to  lay  a  trap.  The 
action  thereafter  moves  swiftly  to  the  chase  of  the  murderer  as  he  at- 
tempts to  escape  to  the  German  frontier  and  is  trapped  in  a  gun  turret. 
The  windup  reveals  him  as  one  of  the  captain's  trusted  lieutenants  who 
is  a  German  spy,  and,  serving  to  explain  her  suspicious  actions,  a  brother 
to  the  captain's  wife. 

Felix  Gandera,  producer  and  director,  has  invested  the  plot  with  well- 
sustained  suspense  which  keeps  one  guessing  as  to  the  identity  of  the 
murderer.  The  action  and  English  subtitles  overcome  the  language  bar- 
rier. Running  time,  83  minutes.  G*  Al  Finestone 


Frontier  Pony  Express" 

(Republic) 

Set  in  the  exciting  days  of  the  fast-riding  Pony  Express  and  the 
intrigue  of  the  Civil  War,  Republic's  latest  western  is  a  well  knit  story 
of  the  midwestern  frontier.  Roy  Rogers,  as  a  pony  express  rider  loyal 
to  the  Union,  and  Mary  Hart,  as  a  demure  southern  miss,  are  cast  in  the 
leading  roles  and  offer  performances  which  should  enhance  this  team's 
popularity  with  action  film  fans. 

There  is  plenty  of  opportunity  for  good  riding  shots,  and  Joseph 
Kane,  who  directed,  makes  the  most  of  them.  Quick  changing  of  horses 
at  relay  stations,  Union  cavalry  in  pursuit  of  mail  bandits  and  fake  Con- 
federate raids  offer  lots  of  action  and  the  pony  express  angle  should 
make  interesting  exploitation  possible. 

Roy  meets  Mary  after  saving  her  from  a  runaway  stagecoach.  They 
become  friendly,  but  her  brother,  a  Confederate  spy,  assists  in  a  raid  on 
the  mails.  Roy  suspects  Mary,  but  discovers  later  that  she  did  not  know 
of  her  brother's  activities.  Raymond  Hatton,  as  Horseshoe,  and  Monte 
Blue,  as  a  Cherokee  Indian,  provide  the  comedy. 

Running  time,  58  minutes.  "G."*  Ed  Greif 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification 


'Castles'  Is  Omaha 
Hit,  Draws  $7,300 

Omaha,  April  16. — Leader  here  was 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle,"  taking  a  big  $7,300  at  the 
Brandeis.  "Midnight"  and  "Woman 
Doctor"  took  a  good  $8,100  at  the 
Omaha,  and  "The  Little  Princess"  and 
"Boy  Trouble"  did  $9,700  at  the 
Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  12-13 : 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,300.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"Woman  Doctor"  (Rep.) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,100.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Boy  Trouble"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,700.    (Average,  $7,600) 


Jane  Wyman  Signed 

Hollywood,  April  16. — Jane  Wy- 
man, featured  player  for  Warners,  has 
been  signed  to  a  new  long  term  con- 
tract. 


'Princess'  Grosses 
$9,000  in  Providence 

Providence,  April  16. — S  h  i  r  1  e  y 
Temple's  "Little  Princess,"  dualled 
with  "Winner  Take  All"  at  the 
Majestic  led  the  way  in  an  otherwise 
quiet  week  with  a  strong  $9,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  12-13 : 

"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 
"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE— (2,239)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"First  Offenders"  (Col.) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,239)   (25c -35c -50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"I'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Stage 
show.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 
"Mystery  Plane"  (Mono.) 

CARLTON-U.526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $2,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 


'Castles'  Is 
Denver  Best 
With  $12,000 


Denver,  April  16. — "The  Story  of 
Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  was  the 
week's  leader  here,  with  a  grosser! 
$12,000  at  the  Orpheum,  on  a  AW 
with  "Within  the  Law."  "I'm  frem" 
Missouri"  at  the  Denham  was  strong 
with  $9,000. 

"The  Little  Princess"  was  good  for 
$9,000  at  the  Denver. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  April  12: 

"You  Can't  Cheat  an  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Next  Time  I  Marry"  (RKO) 

BROADWAY— (1,100)    (25c-40c)    7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  days 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

DENVER— (2,525)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,000.     (Average,  $8,500) 
"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)   (25c-40c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"Yes,  My  Darling;  Daughter"  (F.  N.) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  "Daugh- 
ter" 3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,250.  (Average, 
$1,750) 


'Dodge'  $15,500 
Cincinnati  Lead 

Cincinnati,  April  16. — "The  Story 
of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  did  a 
strong  $10,000  at  the  RKO  Shubert. 
"Dodge  City"  at  the  RKO  Albee  was 
high  with  $15,500,  and  "Sergeant 
Madden"  gave  Keith's  $6,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  13-15: 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

RKO'  ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42c)   7  davs. 
Gross:  $15,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  PALACE—  (1,000)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,700.    (Adventure,  $10,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  &  Irene  Castle"  (RKO 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150),  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

RKO  CAPITOL—  (2,000)  (34c-42c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)    (35c-42c)    7  davs. 
Gross:  $4,100.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,200)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.   Gross:  $2,000.    (Average,  $2,750) 
"Let  Us  Live"  (Col.) 
"Mexicala  Rose"  (Republic) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,450.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Comet  Over  Broadway"  (W.  B.) 
"My  Son  Is  a  Criminal"  (Col.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  3  clays. 
Gross:  $950.    (Average,  $950) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (30c-40c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
$6,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 


Accountants'  Union 
Circularizes  Offices 

American  Federation  of  Bookkeep- 
ers, Stenographers  &  Accountants, 
Local  20940,  which  recently  signed 
contracts  with  Universal  and  Big  U 
Film  Exchange,  is  circularizing  office 
employes  in  all  home  offices  and  ex- 
changes here.  A  meeting  is  planned 
within  the  next  three  weeks  at  which  \ 
an  organizational  drive  will  be 
mapped.  The  union  will  hold  its  an- 
nual dance  at  Mecca  Temple,  April  22. 


Now  in 


preparation 


The  Industry's 
worldwide  refer- 
ence authority 

NTERNATIONAL 

MOTION  PICTURE  ALMANAC 

]|  ■■  Revised,  enlarged  and  brought  up  to  the  minute, 

it  will  include  every  development  of  a  dramatic 
year.  There  will  be  more  than  1,400  pages 
crammed  with  facts  and  figures  covering  every 
phase  of  the  motion  picture  industry. 

The  Who's  Who  Section  will  record  over  13,000 
biographies;  statistical  data  will  include  every 
branch  of  Production,  Distribution  and  Exhibi- 
tion.   And    .    .    .    also  a  Radio  Department. 

QUICLEY  PUBLICATIONS 


ROCKEFELLER  CENTER 


NEW  YORK 


16 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  17,  I93< 


Elliott  Roosevelt 
Resigns  as  Head  of 
Hearst  Radio,  Inc. 


Fort  Worth,  Tex.,  April  16. — 
Elliott  Roosevelt,  son  of  the  President, 
has  resigned  as  president  and  director 
of  Hearst  Radio,  Inc.,  effective  yester- 
day. He  gave  pressure  of  other  busi- 
ness as  his  reason. 

Roosevelt  joined  the  Hearst  papers 
in  1933  as  aviation  editor.  In  1935  he 
was  made  vice-president  of  the  newly 
formed  Hearst  Radio,  Inc.,  after  pur- 
chase by  Hearst  of  four  stations  in  the 
network  of  the  Southwest  Broadcast- 
ing Co.:  WACO,  Waco;  KNOW, 
Austin ;  KTA,  San  Antonio,  and 
KOMA,  Oklahoma  City. 

In  1938  Roosevelt  was  made  presi- 
dent of  the  entire  circuit  which  then 
included  KEHE,  Los  Angeles,  KYA, 
San  Francisco  ;  WCAE,  Pittsburgh  ; 
WTSN,  Wilwaukee;  WBAL,  Balti- 
more, and  WINS,  New  York.  The 
net  now  lists  only  WBAL,  WCAE, 
KNOW,  and  KTSA. 

Last  September  Roosevelt  organ- 
ized the  Texas  State  Network  of  23 
stations.  He  will  continue  as  its 
president. 


King's  First  Canada 
Broadcast  on  May  15 

Montreal,  April  16. — First  broad- 
cast by  the  King  in  Canada  will  take 
place  at  the  luncheon  given  Their 
Majesties  by  the  Dominion  Govern- 
ment at  the  Chateau  Frontenac  in 
Quebec  on  the  day  of  their  arrival, 
May  15.  The  unveiling  of  the  Na- 
tional War  Memorial  by  the  King 
will  be  broadcast  from  Ottawa  at  3 
P.  M.  May  18  and  another  will  fol- 
low from  that  city  when  the  colors 
are  trooped  on  Parliament  Hill 
May  20. 

The  broadcasting  climax  of  the 
tour  will  be  the  Empire  Day  celebra- 
tion aired  from  Winnipeg,  May  24, 
when  George  VI  will  speak  to  all  peo- 
ples of  the  British  Empire.  CBC  will 
pipe  the  majority  of  the  programs  to 
NBC,  CBS  and  MBS  in  the  United 
States  and  to  all  broadcasting  organi- 
zations of  the  British  Empire. 


CEA,  KRS  Television 
Deputation  Delayed 

London,  April  16. — British  Post- 
master General  has  informed  the  Cine- 
matograph Exhibitors'  Association 
and  the  Kinematograph  Renters'  So- 
ciety (distributors)  that  he  will  not 
receive  their  joint  deputation  to  dis- 
cuss television  until  he  has  consulted 
the  television  advisory  committee. 

Isidore  Ostrer,  Gaumont  British 
head,  definitely  has  arranged  to  screen 
the  British  Broadcasting  Corp.  telecast 
of  the  Derby  at  Epsom  at  the  Central 
in  London  and  one  suburban  film 
house,  probably  the  Lewisham. 


Seldes  to  London  Soon 

Gilbert  Seldes,  CBS  television  pro- 
gram head,  will  leave  for  England 
April  21  with  Donald  Hunter  Munro. 
to  study  British  Broadcasting  Corp. 
television  developments.  Munro,  tele- 
vision production  manager  of  BBC, 
came  to  America  last  month  to  assist 
CBS  in  television  production.  They 
will  return  here  May  12  and  follow- 
ing another  month's  stay  at  CBS, 
Munro  will  return  permanently  toBBC. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 


MAJOR  LENOX  R.  LOHR, 
president  of  NBC,  returns  to- 
today  from  Chicago,  where  on 
Saturday  he  attended  the  dedication 
of  the  Rosenwald  Museum  of  Science 
and  Industry,  of  which  he  is  a  direc- 
tor. .  .  .  Paul  Kennedy,  radio  editor 
of  the  Cincinnati  Post,  in  town  for  a 
week  to  conduct  his  column  from 
Manhattan.  .  .  .  Bert  Lown  goes  into 
the  New  Yorker  as  the  band  of  the 
week  on  April  23. 


Leonard  Hole,  CBS  director  of  pro- 
gram service  department,  has  been  ap- 
pointed manager  of  the  network's  tele- 
vision operations,  effective  this  week. 
He  will  directly  assist  Albert  Seldes, 
handling  administrative  and  coordina- 
tive  details  involved  in  actual  tele- 
vision operations.  Hole's  successor  in 
program  service  is  Francis  C.  Barton, 
Jr.,  formerly  Hole's  assistant. 


Liggett  &  Myers  Get 
Amos  W  Andy  Time 

Liggett  &  Myers  Tobacco  Co.  has 
concluded  a  deal  for  time  on  NBC 
for  a  nightly  15-minute  period  on  the 
NBC-Red  network,  7  to  7:15  P.  M. 
This  is  the  period  occupied  for  almost 
a  decade  by  Amos  'n'  Andy,  who  re- 
cently switched  to  CBS. 

Program  details  for  the  new  Lig- 
gett &  Myer  series  are  not  available. 
Company  at  present  has  an  hour  on 
CBS,  and  it  is  not  known  whether 
the  present  CBS  schedule  will  be  re- 
tained or  reduced.  Newell-Emmett 
is  the  agency. 

Meanwhile,  program  details  for  the 
Sensation  cigarette  program,  recently 
announced,  have  been  set.  Beginning 
July  3,  Larry  Clinton's  band  will  be 
heard  in  a  half-hour  period  on  the 
Red.  Program  will  be  similar  in 
format  to  Benny  Goodman's  for 
Camels  and  Tommy  Dorsey's  for  Ra- 
leigh. 


AP  to  See  Television 

A  feature  of  the  Associated  Press 
convention  this  April  will  be  a  special 
television  showing  that  NBC  is  now 
setting  up  for  the  editors.  Conven- 
tion is  annually  held  at  the  Waldorf 
Astoria,  but  for  the  television  display 
NBC  will  set  up  receivers  in  the 
city  room  of  the  press  association, 
from  where  it  will  be  viewed  by  a  spe- 
cial assemblage  of  editors  and  publish- 
ers. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  April  16. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  an- 
nounced its  hearings  on  broadcasting 
applications  during  the  current  week 
wduld  be  as  follows : 

April  18:  Applications  of  WJBW, 
New  Orleans,  for  extension  of  time 
from  specified  hours  to  unlimited,  and 
Spartanburg  Advertising  Co.  for  a 
new  1,370-kilocycle  station  at  Spartan- 
burg, S.  C,  with  100  watts  night,  250 
watts  clay. 


Cooperation 

Network  rivalries  were 
forgotten  Friday  night  when 
the  new  antenna  tower  of  the 
CBS  station  in  Chicago, 
WBBM,  collapsed,  silencing 
the  station.  Sid  Strotz,  man 
ager  of  NBC's  central  divi- 
sion, immediately  offered  the 
use  of  the  WENR  transmit- 
ter to  H.  Leslie  Atlass,  CBS 
vice-president,  who  accepted. 


Calls  Broadcasting 
Television  Problem 

Television  broadcasting,  rather 
than  television  reception,  is  the  chief 
problem  confronting  the  embryonic 
industry,  in  the  opinion  of  Sayre  M. 
Ramsdell,  vice-president  of  Philco 
Radio  and  Television  Corp. 

"Television,  from  the  point  of  view 
of  reception  and  receivers,  is  ready 
to  assume  its  role  in  the  industry,"  he 
states.  "However,  the  problems  of 
broadcasting  television  have  been 
slower  in  solution  and  the  progress 
in  the  broadcasting  end  has  fallen  be- 
hind that  attained  in  reception.  Tele- 
vision receivers  can  be  sold  on  a  na- 
tionwide basis,  but  as  yet,  television 
broadcasting  cannot  follow  them  and 
is  limited  to  a  handful  of  metropoli- 
tan centers.  Television  as  an  indus- 
try must  wait  for  the  broadcasters." 

Philco's  new  line  of  television  re- 
ceivers will  be  introduced  at  the  com- 
pany's national  convention  at  French 
Lick  Springs,  May  15-19. 


NBC  Gives  Roosevelt 
Address  in  German 

Following  President  Roosevelt's 
Pan  American  broadcast  on  Friday, 
short-waved  to  Europe,  the  Postes 
Telegraphes  and  Telephones  agency, 
official  French  broadcasting  setup, 
called  NBC  and  requested  a  Ger- 
man translation  of  the  talk  for  a  re- 
broadcast  from  Paris.  Less  than  an 
hour  after  the  call  was  received,  NBC 
announcers  began  reading  the  German 
translation  to  France.  This  was  fol- 
lowed immediately  by  a  French  ver- 
sion and  an  Italian  version  which,  in 
that  order,  immediately  were  retrans- 
mitted from  the  Eifel  Tower  to  all 
parts  of  Europe. 

The  translations  were  presented  by 
Major  John  H.  Marsching,  Natalia 
Danesi  Murray  and  Richard  A. 
Thomas,  NBC  international  division 
announcers. 


Hearst  Radio  Sued 

Libel  suit  against  Hearst  Radio, 
Inc.,  has  been  filed  in  the  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  by  Susanna  Weichbrodt, 
who  claims  that  a  news  broadcast  in 
March,  1938  over  WINS  depicted  her 
as  an  "illegal  bride"  in  describing  a 
separation  suit  brought  by  the  plain- 
tiff against  her  husband.  Plaintiff  will 
applv  for  an  order  to  examine  offi- 
cials of  WINS. 


Radio  Bill  Reported  Out 

Albany,  April  16. — Coudert  bill 
exempting  radio  broadcasters  from 
libel  suits  has  been  reported  out  by 
the  Senate  General  Laws  Committee 
and  has  been  put  on  by  the  General 
Orders  calendar.  The.  companion 
Moffat  bill  has  been  passed  by  the 
Assembly. 


B 


anner 
LINES 


TELEVISION,  it  seems,  has  =c 
riously  impaired  the  sale  of  reg 
ular  radio  receivers,  and  a  num 
ber  of  manufacturers  have  asked  th 
networks  to  quiet  somewhat  th 
ballyhoo  about  the  imminence  of  th 
art.  Plenty  of  folks  believe  itfNi 
ready  here  and  are  holding  upvi/i 
radio  set  orders  accordingly. 

Again  about  television,  it's  provin, 
expensive.  British  Broadcasting  Corf 
has  reported  it  spent  $1,750,000  ui 
television  experimentation  last  year 
NBC  currently  is  spending  about  a. 
much,  while  CBS's  television  costs  an 
just  getting  under  way,  with  $500, 
000  just  invested  in  a  transmitter. 
T 

The  King  and  Queen  of  Englam 
will  speak  into  especially  mad< 
gold  microphones  adorned  with  thi 
Royal  insignia  when  they  broad  j 
cast  over  Canadian  Broadcas  I 
Corp.  facilities.  No  special  mike! 
will  be  provided  them,  however 
in  this  country,  NBC,  CBS  anc 
Mutual  planning  to  use  none  bu 
standard  equipment. 

▼ 

We  like  the  Parkyakarkus  crack] 
that  Eddie  Cantor  read  "My  Son,  My 
Son,"    and    now    is    writing  "M> 
Daughter,  My  Daughter,  My  Daugh- 
ter, My  Daughter,  My  Daughter." 
T 

T.  W.  Radio  Productions  is  pre- 
paring  to  announce  a  new  transcribed 
series  titled  "Aireel," — a  newsreel  oj 
the  air  idea.  It  may  have  a  definite 
tieup  with  one  of  the  picture  news- 
reels,  plans  in  that  direction  now  be- 
ing formulated.  It  will  be  a  twice 
weekly  quarter-hour  show,  zvith  world 
news,  news  for  the  ladies,  oddities, 
and  sports. 

T 

Bob  Hope  is  feuding  with  Jerry 
Colonna  and  has  cut  down 
Colonna's  stint  to  a  point  where 
it  is  practically  non-existent. 
Matter  of  fact,  Colonna's  act  was 
placed  so  late  in  a  recent  pro- 
gram that  he  was  cut  off  the  air 
in  the  middle  of  his  number. 
T 

Phil  Cook  on  his  WABC  morning 
program  daily  salutes  a  community. 
He's  just  received  a  request  to  honor 
a  town  near  Webster,  Mass.,  that 
wants  to  be  saluted.  It's  Lake  Chargo- 
gagoggama. 

T 

Recently  the  column  reported  that 
the  "Goldberg"  strip  might  fade  from 
the  air  due  to  receipt  of  numbers  of 
letters  from  bigots  who  resented  the 
strip  because  of  its  Jewish  theme. 
Since  then  we've  had  a  number  oj 
talks  zvith  Gertrude  Berg  and  mem- 
bers of  the  agency  and  client,  and 
we're  glad  to  report  that  the  column 
zvas  wrong.  Save  for  the  fact  that 
the  transcribed  version  is  to  go  oft 
the  air,  the  program  will  continue  as 
it  deserves. 

r 

After  the  showing  made  by  Kate 
Smith  this  season,  there's  no  doubt 
that  the  lady  will  be  back  in  the  fall 
in  the  same  Thursday  night  spot. 
Next  season's  program  will  be  the 
same  as  the  current  one,  save  that 
the  Aldrich  Family  skits  may  not  re- 
appear in  it  if  Ezra  Stone  and  com- 
pany make  good  in  the  Jell-o  spot. 

— Jack  Bannep 


M.    P.    PRODUCERS  & 
DISTRIBUTORS   OF   AM.,  INC 
28  WEST  44TH   ST. , 
NEW  YORK , 

N.    Y.  (3   COP  IE 


DO  NOT  REMOVE. 

on  PICTURE 


to  theS^gtion 

Picture 

Industry 


45.  NO.  74 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY.  APRIL  18,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Schedule  for 
Telecast  Set 
By  NBC-RCA 

7/m  Subjects,  News  of 
Fair  on  Program 


The  first  NBC-RCA  television 
ihi  dule  calls  for  a  substantial  amount 

Itlm  programs.  This  is  additional 
I  news  events  from  the  World's  l*air. 
^d  "live"  programs  produced  by  the 
•mpanies.  The  program  will  be 
lunched  April  30,  at  12:30  p.m.  It 
ill  run  3'/2  hours. 

IC.  W.  Farrier,  NBC's  television  co- 
dinator.  informed  Motion  Picture 
Laily  that  the  schedule  will  comprise 
mimercial  films,  and  shorts  subjects, 
ecause  of  the  newness  of  the  televi- 
ion  industry  features  are  too  long  for 
elusion. 

There  will  be  no  newsreel  clips  in 
ic  television  film  schedule,  Farrier 
lid. 

Farrier  estimated  that  the  cost  of 
k  television  schedule  to  XBC  will  be 
^proximately  $5,000  to  $0,000  per 
eek. 

Farrier  stated  that  practically  "all 
aior  studios"  will  provide  the  shorts 
liich  XBC  will  televise.  He  said  that 
K  rental  fees  were  nominal — "$10  to 
5  a  subject" — but  that  NBC  natural- 
expects  to  pay  much  more  for  films 
hen  the  television  "circulation" 
rows. 

Asked  why  newsreels  do  not  figure 
the  television  schedule.  Farrier  ex- 
ained  that  the  new'sreel  companies 
ian  extensive  coverage  of  the  Fair's 

(.Continued  on  pane  24) 


BelV  Will  Be  Held 
Fourth  Roxy  Week 

'  Alexander  Graham  Bell"  w  ill  he 
.•Id  for  a  fourth  week  at  the  Roxy, 
.•ginning  Friday.  Up  to  Sunday  night, 
)5.000  persons  had  seen  the  film  and 
u  weekend  gross  was  estimated  at 
23.000.  "Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid" 
allows  on  April  28,  with  "Rose  of 
t'ashington  Square"  due  on  May  5. 

'  Wuthering  Heights"  started  strong 
.  the  Rivoli,  doing  an  estimated  $23,- 
'Ki  over  the  weekend.  "Prison  With- 
Mt  Bars"  ended  its  week  at  the 
1'  .be  with  an  estimated  $14,000.  "The 
hallenge"  (Film  Alliance)  has  been 
ooked  to  follow  "Prison  Without 
>ars."  "Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
castle"  did  an  estimated  $62,000  over 
he  weekend  at  the  Music  Hall. 
Dark  Victory"  starts  there  Thurs- 
ay.  "Midnight"  garnered  an  esti- 
lated  $17,500  on  Saturday  and  Sun- 
ay  and  appears  headed  for  $46,000 
n  its  second  week  at  the  Para- 
lount. 


Approve  'Nazi  Spy' 

New  York  State  censor 
board  has  passed  Warners' 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy" 
without  a  single  cut  or  sug- 
gested change. 

The  film  will  open  at  the 
Strand  on  Broadway  on 
April  28. 


Ascap  Scores 
On  2  Appeals 
To  High  Court 


Washington,  April  17. — Without 

ruling  on  the  constitutionality  of  either 
the  Florida  or  Washington  anti-Ascap 
legislation,  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court 
today  sustained  the  music  licensing  so- 
ciety in  its  preliminary  opposition  to 
the  state  laws. 

Both  cases  were  returned  to  the 
lower  courts  with  instructions  to  take 
further  evidence.  Thus,  constitution- 
ality of  the  state  anti-Ascap  laws  will 
not  be  finally  determined  until  the 
cases  come  before  the  Supreme  Court 
again  and  on  that  issue. 

The  Washington  case  involved  an 
appeal  by  Ascap  from  the  refusal  of 
a  three-judge  Federal  statutory  court 
to  rule  on  the  music  society's  applica- 
tion for  an  injunction.  The  lower 
court  held  it  lacked  jurisdiction  in  the 
case  because  it  had  not  been  shown 
that  the  $3,000  minimum  consideration 
was  involved.  The  Supreme  Court 
directed  the  lower  court  to  receive 
evidence  to  determine  the  point.  The 
court's  decision  was  written  by  Asso- 
ciate Justice  Stanley  Reed. 

Florida's  Appeal  Rejected 

In  the  Florida  case,  the  state  ap- 
pealed from  a  Federal  statutory  court 

(Continued  on  parte  3) 


Distributors  Now 
Focusing  Attention 
On  Latin  America 


Hollywood,  April  17. — "Latin  Amer- 
ica appears  to  be  the  market  our 
American  distributors  are  seeking  to 
offset  the  restricted  markets  in  other 
parts  of  the  world,"  Nathan  D.  Gol- 
den, chief  of  the  motion  picture  divi- 
sion of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign 
and  Domestic  Commerce,  told  the 
opening  session  of  the  spring  conven- 
tion of  the  Society  of  Motion  Picture 
Engineers  at  the  Roosevelt  Hotel 
today. 

Golden  cited  figures  from  his  recent 
report  which  indicated  that  American 
domination  of  foreign  film  markets  had 
fallen  off  from  70  per  cent  to  65  in  the 
past  year.  Latin  American  production 
increased  to  130  features  in  1938,  ac- 
cording to  Golden,  a  rise  of  40  over 
the  previous  year.  "Mexico  was  the 
largest  producer  with  60  feature  length 
pictures  in  1938.  Argentina  jumped  its 
production  to  50  features  from  30  in 
1937.  Peru  increased  from  two  in  1937 
to  11  in  1938.  Brazil  produced  four, 
Cuba  and  Uruguay  two  each  and 
Venezuela  one." 

Mayor  Gives  Welcome 

An  address  of  welcome  was  de- 
livered at  the  get-together  luncheon  by 
Mayor  Fletcher  Bowron.  Guests  in- 
cluded Lester  Cowan,  Universal  pro- 
ducer. Sinclair  Lewis.  James  Hilton, 
Warner  writer,  and  William  K.  How- 
ard, director. 

E.  A.  Williford.  president,  welcomed 
the  delegates.  Papers  read  were : 
"Safekeeping  the  Picture  Industry," 
by  K.  W.  Keene,  Underwriters' 
Laboratories  ;  "Technicolor  Field  Ser- 
vice." by  G.  Giroux,  of  Technicolor ; 
"The  Polyrhetor  —  A  150-Channel 
Film  Reproducer."  by  G.  T.  Stanton, 
of  Frpi,  and  F.  R.  Marion  and  D.  V. 
Water,  of  Western  Electric ;  "Further 

(Continued  on  paqc  3) 


English  Technicians  Ask 
Increases  in  Film  Quotas 


London.  April  17. — Association  of 
Cine  Technicians  at  its  annual  confer- 
ence yesterday  demanded  increases  in 
the  quota  and  abolition  of  the  triple 
quota  clauses  in  the  Films  Act. 

The  meeting  favorably  discussed  the 
ideas  for  a  film  bank,  with  provisional 
safeguards  for  financial  expenditure 
and  personnel.  The  secrecy  of  the 
activities  of  the  Film  Council  was  de- 
plored, and  periodical  reports  from 
that  body  were  demanded.  A  report 
on  cooperative  production  by  George 
H.  Elvin,  general  secretary,  indicated 


that  technicians  had  not  received  a 
single  penny  on  any  film. 

The  Films  Act  was  attacked  by 
Anthony  Asquith,  president,  claiming 
it  was  no  solution  to  force  foreign 
companies  to  make  or  acquire  weak 
films.  He  said  that  of  103  films 
registered  during  the  first  full  year  of 
the  Act,  only  25  were  made  by  British 
interests. 

The  conference  demanded  a  Demo- 
cratic stand  against  foreign  aggression, 
declaring  the  present  situation  and  the 
uncertainty  was  killing  enterprise. 


Neely  Hearing 
Ends;  Fight  in 
Senate  Looms 


Downey  Threatens  Battle 
If  Bill  Is  Reported 


Washington,  April  17. — Two  weeks 
of  hearings  on  the  Neely  block  book- 
ing bill  were  completed  today  with 
Senator  Neely  present  as  the  sole  rep- 
resentative of  the  subcommittee  in 
charge  of  the  measure  with  final  argu- 
ment by  leaders  of  groups  for  and 
against  it  following  the  appearance  of 
Senator  Sheridan  Downey  of  Cal- 
ifornia. 

Threatening  to  lead  a  fight  against 
the  bill  on  the  Senate  floor  should  it 
be  reported  favorably,  Downey  told 
Neely  that  his  measure  would  not  im- 
prove the  quality  of  films. 

Plea  for  Industry 

"Let  me  suggest  that  if  movies  at 
the  present  time  are  improving  from 
the  standpoint  of  standards  and  morals, 
should  not  serious  consideration  be 
given  to  leaving  it  in  their  hands?" 
he  asked  Neely.  "It  is  tremendously 
difficult  for  any  Government  to  im- 
pose censorship  on  art  and  secure  a 
better  product  by  that  censorship." 

Summing  up  for  the  opposition  to  the 
bill,  C.  C.  Petti john  declared  "com- 
munity selection"  has  different  mean- 
ings to  different  factions  among  the 
proponents,  to  exhibitors  it  being  those 
pictures  most  popular  with  patrons,  to 
civic  groups  those  "they  think  people 

(Continued  on  pape  3) 


Strike  Threat  Holds, 
IATSE  Leader  Says 

Hollywood,  April  17. — John  Gate- 
lee,  international  representative  of  the 
I.  A.  T.  S  .E.,  today  warned  produc- 
ers that  the  threat  of  a  general  strike 
had  not  been  removed.    Gatelee  said : 

"We  are  expecting  word  from  In- 
ternational President  Browne  at  any 
moment  calling  out  projectionists  and 
members  of  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  in  front 
of  houses  as  well." 

Indications  were  that  international 
leaders  and  Studio  Technicians  Local 
37  officers  engaged  in  dispute  over 
control  of  the  local  would  smooth  out 
difficulties  amicably,  as  the  district  at- 
torney's office  postponed  tomorrow's 
grand  jury  probe  of  alleged  labor 
racketeering. 

Local  and  international  officers  were 
to  meet  at  10:30  P.  M.  tonight  in  an- 
other effort  to  conciliate  differences. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  18,  1939 


1,200  Will  Attend 
Variety  Club  Meet 


Detroit.  April  17— About  1,200  ex- 
hibitors and  production  and  distribu- 
tion executives  are  expected  to  attend 
the  annual  convention  of  National 
Variety  Clubs  opening  here  on  April 
27.  Advance  hotel  reservations  for 
the  three-day  session  are  setting  a  new 
high.:     :  ' 

Three  governors  have  accepted  in- 
vitations to  the  banquet.  They  are 
Hyle  of  Wisconsin,  Bricker  of  Ohio 
and  James  of  Pennsylvania.  Mayor 
Kelly  of  Chicago  and  Edgar  Guest, 
poet,  are  others  who  will  attend.  The 
latter  will  read  a  creed  he  has  written 
for  the  Variety  Club. 

Among  the  hosts  will  be  the  staff  of 
Henry  Ford's  Greenfield  Village  and 
executives  of  several  motor  plants. 
Civic  and  industrial  organizations  will 
aid  in  entertaining  delegates. 


Pittsburgh  to  Send  20 

Pittsburgh,  April  17.  —  Variety 
Club  tent  1  will  send  20  delegates  to 
national  Variety  convention  April  27- 
30  in  Detroit.  National  representatives 
will  be  Harry  Kalmine  of  Warner 
Bros,  and  Harold  Lund  of  Ross  Fed- 
eral ;  alternates,  Mark  Goldman  of 
Monogram  and  Dr.  A.  I.  Wise.  Others 
to  attend  'will  be  Chief  Barker  Ira 
Cohn  of  Fox.  Ray  Downey,  I.  Elmer 
Ecker,  M.  S.  England,  Harry  Feld- 
man,  Archie  Fineman,  Harry  Fein- 
stein,  Mike  Gallagher,  C.  C.  Kellen- 
berg,  Larry  Katz,  C.  J.  Latta,  Joseph 
Misrach,  Art  Morrone,  Lew  Lefton, 
Jules  Lapidus,  Harry  Seed,  Brian  Mc- 
Donald, Jake  Soltz,  M.  N.  Shapiro, 
and  Al  Weiblinger. 


«  Purely  Personal  ► 


Labor  Board  Hears 
Managers'  Petition 

Informal  hearings  before  the  N.  Y. 
State  Labor  Relations  Board  were 
held  yesterday  on  the  petition  of  the 
film  division  of  the  Theatrical  Mana- 
gers, Agents  &  Treasurers'  Union  to 
be  declared  the  collective  bargaining 
agency  for  managers,  cashiers  and  as- 
sistants in  the  Rugoff  &  Becker  cir- 
cuit and   Raybond  Theatres. 

The  union  claims  a  majority  of  the 
employes  within  its  jurisdiction.  No 
agreement  was  reached  and  a  formal 
hearing  may  be  set  later  this  week. 
Another  informal  hearing  on  the 
Keyburn  circuit  will  be  held  today. 


B&K  Contempt  Suit 
May  Go  to  Master 

Chicago,  April  17. — There  is  a  pos- 
sibility of  the  Government's  case 
against  Balaban  &  Katz  charging 
criminal  contempt  being  referred  to  a 
Master  in  Chancery.  Judge  Wood- 
ward suggests  attorneys  on  both  sides 
discuss  whether  records  be  handed 
over  to  special  examiners  or  whether 
the  case  should  be  referred  to  a  master 
in  chancery  for  hearing. 


Patent  Suit  Is  Filed 

Suit  charging  infringement  of  "a 
film  processing  device"  patented  in 
March.  1039.  was  filed  yesterday  in 
the  U.  S.  District  Court  by  Fink- 
Roselieve  Co.,  Inc.,  against  the  Cam- 
era House.  Inc.  Plaintiff  asked  for  an 
injunction,  accounting  of  profits  and 
judgment  for  damages,  describing  its 
natent  as  a  "device  for  developing,  fix- 
ing and  treating  lengths  of  pho- 
tographic  film." 


NICHOLAS  M.  SCHENCK,  pres- 
ident of  Loew's,  returned  yes- 
terday from  the  coast  where  he  spent 
a  week.  Leopold  Friedman,  company 
attorney,  who  accompanied  him  west, 
is  vacationing  for  two  weeks. 
• 

Wesley  Ruggles,  recently  signed 
by  Columbia  on  a  combination  produc- 
er-director contract,  is  in  New  York 
from  the  coast  and  will  sail  on  a 
European  vacation  soon. 

• 

Robert  E.  Sherwood,  president  of 
the  Dramatists'  Guild,  sails  Friday  for 
London  on  the  Queen  Mary.  He  has 
completed  the  film  version  of  "Abe 
Lincoln  in  Illinois." 

• 

Charles  MacArthur  and  his  wife, 
Helen  Hayes,  attended  a  showing  of 
"Wuthering  Heights"  last  night  at  the 
Rivoli,  following  their  return  from 
Jamaica. 

• 

William    Saal,   Republic  special 
representative,  arrives  today  from  St. 
Louis  to  handle  the  opening  of  "Man 
of  Conquest"  at  the  Capitol  April  27. 
• 

E.  J.  Smith,  general  sales  mana- 
ger of  Imperial,  has  left  on  a  trip 
to  exchanges  in  Washington,  Char- 
lotte, Atlanta  and  New  Orleans. 
• 

Norbert   Lusk,   former   editor  of 
Picture    Play,    is    en    route  from 
Naples  on  the  Rex  after  a  survey  of 
film  conditions  in  Europe, 
• 

Edward  Aaron,  assistant  to  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  general 
sales  manager,  has  returned  from  a 
two-week  vacation. 

• 

Dave  Whalen  of  Republic's  pub- 
licity staff  is  in  Richmond  arranging 
the  "Man  of  Conquest"  opening  at  the 
Colonial  on  Friday. 

• 

Evelyn  Gerstein  left  yesterday  for 
Boston,  in  advance  of  the  opening  of 
"Wuthering  Heights"  April  28  at 
Loew's  State. 

• 

Morris  Helprin.  Alexander 
Korda's  American  advertising  and 
publicity  representative,  has  returned 
from  England. 

P.  E.  Essick  of  the  Scoville.  Es- 
sick  &  Rapf  circuit  in  Cleveland,  has 
returned  from  a  trip  to  Florida. 
• 

Irving  Ludwig.  manager  of  the 
Eighth  St.  Playhouse,  is  spending  a 
few  days  in  Washington. 

• 

Herschel  Stuart  is  now  with  Fox 
West  Coast  theatres  in  Salt  Lake 
City. 

• 

Spencer  Tracy  has  arrived  in  New 
York  from  the  coast  on  a  vacation 
trip. 


SAM  SAX,  Vitaphone  production 
head,  arrived  from  the  coast  yester- 
day after  conferences  with  Jack  War- 
ner, H.  M.  Warner  and  Hal  Wal- 
lis  at  the  studio.  Sax  sails  Friday  to 
take  up  his  new  duties  as  head  of  the 
Warner  Teddington  studio  in  Eng- 
land. 

• 

Herbert  Rosener,  foreign  language 
theatre  operator,  has  left  San  Fran- 
cisco for  two  weeks  at  his  City  The- 
atre, Cleveland. 

• 

Luise  Rainer  will  make  her  Lon- 
don stage  debut  in  "Behold  the 
Bride,"  from  a  play  by  Jacques 
Deval. 

• 

Nestor  Auth,  formerly  with 
Loew's  in  Pittsburgh,  has  been  named 
assistant  manager  at  the  Bijou,  New 
Haven. 

• 

C.  V.  Hake,  20th  Century-Fox 
managing  director  in  Australia,  leaves 
today  for  the  coast  en  route  to  Syd- 
ney. 

• 

Robert  Aisner,  president  of  He- 
raut  Films  Corp.,  will  return  today 
from  abroad  on  the  lie  de  France. 
• 

James    Roosevelt,  vice-president 
of    Samuel    Goldwyn,    Inc.,    has  re- 
turned to  London  from  Brussels. 
• 

A.    G.    Doyle,   20th  Century-Fox 
head  in  Japan,  is  due  on  the  coast 
April  30  en  route  to  New  York. 
• 

Jules  Levy,  general  sales  manager 
of  RKO,  is  in  San  Francisco  for,  con- 
ferences at  the  exchange. 

• 

George  Eisele  is  assisting  Edgar 
Hollander,  new  ad  sales  manager 
at  20th  Century-Fox. 

• 

Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  executive 
operator  of  Loew's  Theatres,  left  for 
Florida  on  Saturday. 

• 

George  LeWitt,  theatre  operator 
of  Plainville,  Conn.,  is  on  a  West 
Indies  cruise. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Brandt 
left  yesterday  for  a  10-day  cruise  to 
Bermuda. 

John  Findlay  of  the  Westerly, 
New  Haven,  is  on  a  two-week  vaca- 
tion. 

Robert  Perkins,  Warner  attorney, 
is  out  of  town. 

• 

Alice  Faye  arrives  today  from  the 
coast  bv  boat. 

Shirley  Temple  will  be  10  years 
old  on  April  23. 

Howard  Dietz  is  back  from  Ber- 
muda. 


Paul  Graetz  Arrives 

Paul  Graetz,  head  of  an  interna- 
tional distributing  organization  for 
French  films,  arrives  tonight  on  the 
lie  de  France,  as  well  as  Jean  Sablon, 
French  radio  singer.  Roy  W.  How- 
ard, head  of  Scripps-Howard  news- 
papers, is  also  arriving. 


Extra  Show 

Judy  Garland,  who  is  at 
Loew's  State  this  week,  is 
proving  a  real  trouper,  in  the 
opinion  of  Loew  executives. 
The  other  night,  while  "barn- 
storming" some  of  the  circuit's 
houses,  she  made  a  10-minute 
visit  to  Loew's  Jersey  City 
Theatre.  About  1,500  persons 
were  jammed  in  the  lobby  and/'ti. 
couldn't  get  in.  Learning  of"Rr] 
the  disappointment  of  the  \i 
crowd  in  the  lobby,  she  re- 
peated her  repertoire  to  the 
standees  from  a  foyer  bal- 
cony. 


Regents  View  Revised 
Version  of  'Ecstasy' 

A  revised  version  of  "Ecstasy"  and 
the  original  version  of  "Sunset  Mur- 
der Case"  were  screened  before  a 
committee  of  the  N.  Y.  Board  of  Re- 
gents in  the  State  Office  Building 
yesterday.  Eureka  Productions  and 
Grand  National  are  appealing  from 
decisions  by  Irwin  Esmond,  chief  cen- 
sor, that  the  films  are  objectionable. 

"Sunset  Murder  Case,"  formerly 
called  "Sunset  Strip  Case"  was 
granted  a  seal  when  deletions  of  a 
dance  by  Sally  Rand  were  made. 
Later,  G.  N.  returned  the  seal  and 
applied  for  approval  for  the  original. 

"Ecstasy"  was  revised.  Henry 
Pearlman  represented  Eureka  and 
George  Blake  represented  G.  N.  The 
committee,  which  consisted  of  George 
J.  Ryan,  Gordon  Knox  Bell  and  Susan 
Brandeis,  will  report  their  recommen- 
dation to  the  board  Friday,  at  which 
time  a  final  decision  will  be  made. 


Johnston  Due  Today 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram  presi- 
dent, returns  from  the  coast  today. 
He  made  several  stops  enroute  to  in- 
spect conditions  in  the  midwest.  The 
George  W.  Weeks  drive  began  yester- 
day and  will  extend  to  the  end  of  the 
week.  Lloyd  Lind,  assistant  to  Weeks, 
is  handling  the  drive. 


306  Pickets  Cine  Roma 

Pickets  from  Local  306  of  the  Op- 
erators' Union,  were  placed  in  front 
of  the  Cine  Roma  yesterday  in  protest 
against  the  dismissal  of  the  306  pro- 
jectionist and  the  hiring  of  a  member 
of  Empire  State  Operators'  Union  in- 
stead. Picketing  was  also  begun  by 
the  M.  P.  Division  of  the  Theatrical 
Managers,  Agents  &  Treasurers 
Union,  and  Stagehands  Union,  Local 
1.  The  house,  which  plays  Italian 
language  films,  was  reported  to  have 
changed  hands  on  Saturdav. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Offict) 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
at.  Dia.  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building.  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall.  manager:  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave..  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square. 
W.  1:  cable  address.  Quigpubco.  London; 
Hone  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938.  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


Tuesday,  April   18,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


\eely  Hearing  Ends; 
Senate  Battle  Looms 

^Continued  from  page  1) 

should  see"  and  to  the  general  public 
'any  picture  it  wants  to  see." 

Leading  producing  companies  "have 
ecognized    their    responsibility  and 
* ,  ve  made  steady  and  continuous  prog- 
_  Jss  by  the  development  of  a  definite 
I  written   code   of   standards   of  pro- 
.   duction  and  an  efficient,  effective  ad- 
ministrative agency  to  apply  this  code 
to  every   picture   produced   in  their 
studios,"  Petti john  asserted. 

The  Xeely  bill,  he  continued,  would 
make  it  impossible  for  independent 
j  producers  to  stay  in  business.  It  would 
tend  to  monopolize  business  in  the 
hands  of  a  very'  few  large  companies, 
and  would  destroy  the  option  to  can- 
cel, and  selective  contracts. 

Cites  Code  Acceptance 

"Leading  motion  picture  companies 
have  agreed  to  a  trade  practice  code," 
he  argued.  "This  code  offers  to  ex- 
hibitors a  wider  cancellation,  without 
payment  therefor,  of  pictures  bought 
I  in  groups." 

The  proposed  measure  is  a  "com- 
promise" with  the  established  practices 
of  the  industry,  Mrs.  Mary  T.  Banner- 
man  said  in  her  final  argument  for  the 
Motion  Picture  Research  Council.  The 
ideal  law,  she  said,  would  require  the 
review  and  approval  of  pictures  by 
local  groups  before  their  public  show- 
ing, but  this  is  not  insisted  upon  be- 
cause it  would  "tie  up  the  producers' 
capital,"  she  said. 

In  a  bitter  personal  attack  on  vari- 
ous witnesses  appearing  in  opposition 
to  the  bill.  Miss  Catherine  Lyford  of 
the  Massachusetts  Civic  League  de- 
clared the  "monopolistic  stranglehold 
of  the  industry"  throttles  community 
choice  of  films. 

Myers  Offers  Rebuttal 

Abram  F.  Myers  submitted  a  15,000- 
word  statement  in  rebuttal  for  Allied, 
only  a  part  of  which  he  read  because 
of  lack  of  time.  Much  of  his  argument 
was  devoted  to  the  trade  practice  ne- 
gotiations, in  explanation  of  Allied's 
position  on  the  proposed  agreement, 
declaring  that  while  independents  were 
"  hopeful  of  relief,  they  were  not  "in- 
terested in  any  program  which  had  for 
its  purpose  merely  the  hindering  of  the 
Government  in  the  prosecution  of  its 
suit  or  the  embarrassing  of  public 
groups  sponsoring  the  Neely  bill." 

The  proposals  are  purely  voluntary 
and  are  not  binding  on  the  distribu- 
tors, he  said,  and  while  some  pro- 
visions, such  as  the  nonforcing  of 
shorts  and  nevvsreels  and  the  dis- 
continuance of  score  charges,  are  good 
and  there  is  hope  that  an  acceptable 
arbitration  system  will  be  worked  out 
"to  ease  the  strain  of  future  conflicts," 
tlie  proposals  "in  their  present  form 
are  not  a  fair  substitute  for  the  Neely 
bill  or  for  the  Government  suit." 

Suggests  Amendment 

To  eliminate  any  possible  hardships 
under  the  Neely  Bill  the  Allied  head 
suggested  section  four  be  amended  to 
require  an  "accurate"  rather  than  a 
"complete  and  true"  synopsis,  which 
shall  include  a  "general"  outline  of  the 
story  and  descriptions  of  the  principal 
characters,  instead  of  "incidents  and 
scenes  depicted,"  so  as  to  provide  in- 
formation regarding  the  "type  and  con- 


Ascap  Scores  on  Two 
High  Court  Appeals 

(Continued  from  pane  1) 

decision  granting  Ascap  an  injunction 
restraining  state  officials  from  enforc- 
ing the  law.  The  Supreme  Court  de- 
nied the  state's  appeal,  and  affirmed 
the  lower  court's  action. 

Injunction  Upheld 

However,  while  the  court  held  that 
the  Florida  tribunal  had  acted  wisely 
in  granting  the  injunction  against  en- 
forcement of  the  state  law  it  approved 
tlie  lower  court's  refusal  to  dismiss  the 
bill  of  complaint  filed  by  the  state.  In 
passing,  the  court  found  that  the  mini- 
mum Federal  jurisdictional  amount  of 
$3,000,  which  was  at  issue  in  the 
Washington  case,  had  been  proven  by 
Ascap  in  the  Florida  controversy.  The 
decision  was  unanimous. 

Approving  the  granting  of  the  in- 
junction to  Ascap,  Justice  Reed  ob- 
served that  the  lower  court's  action 
was  proper  because  "great  damage 
would  result"  otherwise,  and  "there 
was  grave  doubt  of  the  constitution- 
ality of  the  Act."  The  issues  involved, 
he  said,  are  so  great  as  to  make  desir- 
able a  full  study  of  the  entire  matter. 

Black  Dissents 

Associate  Justice  Hugo  Black  dis- 
sented from  the  Washington  decision. 
The  recently  seated  Justice  Felix 
Frankfurter  took  no  part  in  the  pro- 
ceedings. The  Washington  case  has 
been  in  litigation  for  almost  two  years 
and  both  cases  were  heard  by  the  high 
court  during  January. 

Justice  Black  criticized  Ascap  for 
not  waiting  to  bring  suit  to  determine 
the  constitutionality  of  the  state  laws 
after  they  were  enforced  and  scored 
the  society  as  a  "combination  which 
fixes  prices  through  a  self-perpetuat- 
ing board"  and  said  its  annual  fees  are 
"monopolistically  fixed." 


Morros  Incorporates 

Hollywood,  April  17. — Boris  Mor- 
ros Productions,  Inc.,  formed  by  the 
former  Paramount  music  department 
head  to  produce  eight  remakes  in  Eng- 
lish of  French  pictures,  today  filed 
incorporation  papers  at  Sacramento 
listing  Morros  as  president,  Samuel 
Rheiner  as  vice  president  and  treas- 
urer, and  Herbert  Silverberg  as  sec- 
retary. 


Katzman  Signs  Dunn 

Hollywood,  April  17. — Sam  Katz- 
man today  signed  James  Dunn  to  a 
contract  to  star  in  eight  Peter  B. 
Kyne  stories  for  Victory  Productions. 


tents"  of  a  film  and  the  "manner  of 
treatment"  of  questionable  subject 
matter.  "These  amendments  meet  the 
reasonable  criticisms  of  the  opponents 
of  the  Bill,"  he  contended. 

Summing  up  as  the  hearing  con- 
cluded, Myers  declared :  "No  new 
points  have  been  developed  by  the 
opponents  which  should  deter  this 
committee  from  repeating  its  action 
in  1936  and  1938  in  reporting  the  bill 
favorably.  The  only  convincing  at- 
tack was  that  made  on  Section  Four 
and  these  objections  can  be  met  by  the 
amendments  proposed,"  and  "despite 
the  efforts  to  establish  opposition  to 
the  bill  on  the  part  of  public  groups 
and  independent  exhibitors,  it  has  been 
revealed  that  this  opposition  comes 
from  one  sourc  and  one  source  alone 
— the  'Big  Eight,'  united  through  the 
Hays  Association,"  he  charged. 


Einfeld  View  Basis 
Of  Gannett  Ad  Copy 

S.  Charles  Einfeld's  recent 
statement  on  the  importance 
of  newspaper  advertising  is 
the  basis  of  large  institu- 
tional ads  in  15  newspapers 
of  the  Gannett  chain. 

The  ad  calls  attention  to 
the  industry  as  "a  highly 
competitive  business,"  and 
quotes  from  the  Warner  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  direc- 
tor's address  before  the  re- 
cent sales  convention  of  the 
company.  Einfeld  at  the 
time  said  that  the  company's 
experience  over  many  years 
has  convinced  it  that  news- 
papers are  the  most  valuable 
medium  for  film  advertising 
and  that  as  a  result  98  per 
cent  of  the  new  season's  ad 
budget  will  be  invested  in 
newspaper  space. 


20th-Fox  Board  to 
Be  Renamed  Today 

Directors  of  20th  Century-Fox  are 
scheduled  for  reelection  today  at  the 
annual  stockholders'  meeting,  which 
will  be  held  at  the  home  office  at  2 
o'clock. 

Directors  are:  Ft.  Donald  Campbell, 
John  R.  Dillon,  W.  J.  F.adie.  Felix  A. 
Jenkins,  S.  R.  Kent,  Daniel  O.  Hast- 
ings. W.  t'.  Michel,  W.  P.  Philips, 
Hermann  G.  Place,  Seton  Porter, 
Joseph  M.  Schenck  and  Sydney 
Towel  1. 

The  directors  are  to  meet  later  and 
reelect  the  following  officers:  Joseph 
M.  Schenck,  chairman  of  the  board; 
Sidney  R.  Kent,  president;  W.  C. 
Michel,  executive  vice-president;  Dar- 
ryl  F.  Zanuck,  vice-president;  William 
Goetz,  vice-persident ;  Sydney  Towell, 
treasurer;  W.  J.  Fadie,  comptroller 
and  assistant  treasurer ;  Felix  A. 
Jenkins,  secretary;  W.  S.  Bell  and  R. 
B.  Simonson,  assistant  treasurers;  J. 
I'.  Edmonson,  J.  H.  Lang  and  George 
F.  Wasson,  Jr.,  assistant  secretaries. 


Distributors  Focus 
On  Latin  America 

(Continued  from  paqe  1) 

Improvements  in  Lightweight  Record 
Reproducers  and  Theoretical  Con- 
siderations Entering  Into  Their  De- 
sign," by  A.  L.  Williams,  of  Brush 
Development  Co.;  "New  Frontiers  for 
the  Documentary  Film,"  by  A.  A. 
Mercey,  of  U.  S.  Film  Service,  Na- 
tional Engineering  Council ;  "The 
Time  Telescope,"  by  C.  R.  Veber, 
Department  of  Biophotography,  Rut- 
gers University ;  "The  Preservation 
of  History  in  the  Crypt  of  Civiliza- 
tion," by  T.  K.  Peters,  Oglethorpe 
University. 

Other  Papers  Read 

Others  were :  "The  Fluorescent 
Lamp  and  Its  Application  to  M.  P. 
Studio  Lighting,"  by  G.  E.  Inman  and 
W.  H.  Robinson,  Jr.,  of  General  Elec- 
tric ;  "Mobile  Photography  by  the 
Technicolor  Method,"  by  G.  Cave,  of 
Technicolor  ;  "Recent  Improvements  in 
Carbons  for  M.  P.  Set  Lighting,"  by 
D.  B.  Joy,  W.  W.  Lozier,  and  R.  J. 
Zavesky,  of  National  Carbon ;  "Re- 
marks on  the  Work  of  the  Research 
Council  Process  Projection  Equipment 
Committee,"  by  F.  Edouart,  of  Para- 
mount;  "Carbons  for  Rear  Projection 


Republic's  Chicago 
Meeting  Thursday 


Third  of  Republic's  regional  meet- 
ings w  ill  get  under  way  at  the  Drake 
Hotel  in  Chicago  Thursday.  Al 
Adams,  director  of  advertising  and 
publicity,  will  leave  for  Chicago  today 
and  H.  J.  Yates  and  I.  R.  Grainger, 
president  of  Republic  Pictures,  will 
follow  tomorrow,  to  speak  at  the  meet- 
ing. 

Max  Roth,  central  district  sales 
manager,  will  preside.  The  program 
will  be  similar  to  that  at  previous  re- 
gional meetings.  I.  W.  Mandel,  R.  F. 
Withers,  E.  J.  Tilton.  G.  Nathanson, 
N.  Steinberg  and  B.  Rosenthal,  fran- 
chise holders,  will  make  addresses. 

In  accordance  with  Republic's  plan 
to  place  a  publicity  representative  in 
each  exchange,  eight  have  been  added 
to  the  staff  with  10  vacancies  still  un- 
filled. Dave  Whalen  will  do  special 
exploitation  work  in  the  home  office, 
with  Steve  Edwards  in  the  New  York- 
exchange.  Others  are  George  Fish- 
man,  Philadelphia  ;  Perry  Spencer,  At- 
lanta ;  Hal  Nosflatt,  Dallas;  Al 
Gregg,  Cleveland ;  Marion  Temple, 
Des  Moines,  and  Gene  Keenan,  Bos- 
ton. 

The  regional  meeting,  which  will 
last  two  days,  will  be  attended  by  I. 
W.  Mandel,  H.  Lorch,  J.  Schwartz, 
S.  Decker,  M.  Dreifuss,  F.  Nardi,  of 
Chicago ;  L.  W.  Marriott,  H.  Gorman, 
H.  C.  Knox,  Indianapolis;  J.  Frack- 
man  and  M.  Lavin,  Milwaukee ;  R.  F. 
Withers,  C.  Parkhurst,  J.  Scott  and 
C.  Riley,  Kansas  City;  E.  J.  Tilton, 
C.  A.  Pratt  and  Bert  Thomas,  Des 
Moines;  H.  F.  Lefholtz,  C.  F.  Reese 
and  John  Mc Bride,  Omaha;  Gilbert 
Nathanson,  George  Fosdick,  Ben 
Meshbesher  and  Abbot  Swartz,  Min- 
neapolis ;  Nat  Steinberg,  Barney  Ros- 
enthal, James  Gateley,  Dave  Nelson 
and  William  Weiss,  St.  Louis. 


Lasky  Finalists  on  Air 

Jesse  L.  Lasky,  accompanied  by  the 
two  finalists  of  the  first  cycle  of 
"Gateway  to  Hollywood"  programs 
which  RKO  is  presenting,  will  ap- 
pear as  special  guests  in  a  dramatiza- 
tion on  the  Texaco  "Star  Theatre" 
program  Wednesday  night. 


Rhodesia  Series  on  Air 

WINS  has  been  signed  by  the  Gov- 
ernment of  Rhodesia  for  a  series  of 
broadcasts  which  are  to  emanate  from 
that  government's  exhibit  at  the 
World's  Fair.  WINS  will  build  a 
special  studio  for  the  programs. 


Fris  Joins  Newspaper 

Oklahoma  City,  April  17. — David 
Fris,  KOMA  ad  salesman  here,  has 
resigned  to  join  the  advertising  staff 
of  the  Albany  (N.  Y.)  Times-Union 


M.  P.  Studios,"  by  Joy,  Lozier  and 
M.  R.  Null,  of  National  Carbon;  "20th 
Century  Silent  Camera,"  by  G.  Laube, 
of  20th  Century-Fox ;  and  "Flicker 
in  Motion  Pictures,"  by  L.  D.  Grig- 
non,  of  Paramount. 

William  C.  Kunzman,  convention 
chairman,  said  200  were  registered  at 
the  opening  session  today.  He  said 
1,000  are  expected  for  the  television 
demonstration  Friday. 

Members  of  the  Research  Council 
of  the  Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Sciences  will  entertain  the 
officers  and  board  of  governors  of 
S.M.P.E.  at  an  informal  dinner  Tues- 
day night  at  the  Brown  Derby. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  18,  1939 


4 


Production  Code 
Makes  Censorship 
Ne  ed  le  s  s — Richey 


Columbus,  April  17. — Industry's 
Production  Code  is  sufficient  safeguard 
against  bad  taste,  and  political  censor- 
ship is  unnecessary  and  expensive,  H. 
M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor  rela- 
tions for  RKO,  said  here  tonight. 

Richey  addressed  the  Columbus 
Town  Meeting  at  the  Y.M.C.A.  in  a 
forum  on  film  censorship.  Another 
speaker  was  Dr.  Edgar  Dale,  director 
of  the  Bureau  of  Educational  Research 
of  Ohio  State  University. 

No  film  given  a  Production  Code 
seal  in  the  last  two  years  has  been 
kept  off  the  screens  "by  any  organ- 
ized public  disapproval  of  the  finished 
product,  a  record  that  cannot  be 
touched  by  any  other  industry  in  the 
world,"  he  declared.  And  despite  the 
state  censors'  "  'I  must  justify  my  job' 
method  of  fine  tooth  combing,  86  per 
cent  of  the  films  produced  last  year 
were  passed  without  a  single  elimina- 
tion, and  the  balance,  dependent  on 
the  censor's  personal  taste,  necessitated 
minor  but  expensive  cuts." 

Richey  said  that  state  censorship  is 
"purity  for  profit,"  since  it  returns  a 
small  profit  to  the  states  in  fees  or 
furnishes  "another  political  plum  that 
can  be  added  to  the  patronage  of  the 
state." 

'Lincoln*  Title  Is 
Legal,  Lawyers  Say 

There  is  no  legal  justification  for 
the  infringement  suit  brought  by  Rob- 
ert E.  Sherwood  and  the  Playwrights 
Producing  Co.  against  20th  Century- 
Fox,  involving  the  film  "Young  Mr. 
Lincoln,"  20th  Century-Fox  lawyers 
contend. 

The  action  was  brought  in  N.  Y. 
supreme  court  on  the  ground  that 
the  title  is  similar  to  "Abe  Lincoln 
in  Illinois,"  Sherwood's  play.  It  is 
claimed  that  the  play  gave  Lincoln's 
early  life  celebrity  and  vogue.  Coun- 
sel for  20th  Century-Fox  point  out 
that  there  have  been  numerous  plays 
about  Lincoln,  that  he  is  a  public 
character  and  that  no  ideas  were  taken 
from  Sherwood's  play. 


Shift  Loew  Managers 

Loew's  circuit  has  made  several 
managerial  changes  and  promotions,  as 
follows :  Walter  Mock,  assistant  man- 
ager at  the  Kameo,  to  manager  of  the 
Canal ;  Paul  Swater,  chief  usher  at 
Prospect,  to  assistant  at  Astoria  ■  Mar- 
tin Waldman,  Canal  to  Burland;  Ed- 
ward Crawford,  Burland  to  New 
Olympia ;  Ben  Newman,  Rio  to  Els- 
mere  ;  George  Kirby,  Elsmere  to  Rio ; 
John  O'Connor,  assistant  at  Astoria, 
to  Kameo. 


Berger  Directs  'Thief 

London,  April  17. — Alexander  Kor- 
da  has  signed  Ludwig  Berger  to  direct 
his  color  production,  "The  Thief  of 
Bagdad,"  which  will  star  Sabu  and 
Conrad  Yeidt. 


To  Drop  Vaudeville 

Pittsburgh,  April  17. — Stanley 
will  suspend  its  vaudeville-pictures 
policy  for  a  month,  beginning  April 


Picture  Prospects 
Exceed  Bull  Fights 

Mexico  City,  April  17.— 
Though  times  are  not  so  good 
in  the  Mexican  production  in- 
dustry, it  seems  its  prospects 
are  better  than  bull  fighting. 
Lorenzo  Garza,  one  of  Mex- 
ico's ace  matadores,  an- 
nounces that  he  is  going  to 
turn  picture  producer.  He 
plans  to  finance  his  new  en- 
terprise largely  from  savings 
from  his  earnings  as  a  blood 
and  sand  artist.  Garza  played 
the  lead  in  a  couple  of  Mexi- 
can made  bull  fight  pictures. 


Warner  Theatre  Ad 
Men  Finish  Meeting 

Warner  Theatres  advertising  men 
left  for  their  respective  territories 
last  night  following  a  one-day  meet- 
ing at  the  home  office  presided  over 
by  Harry  Goldberg,  director  of  War- 
ner Theatres  advertising  and  pub- 
licity. 

Speakers  included  Joseph  Bern- 
hard,  general  manager  of  Warner 
Theatres ;  Charles  Einfeld,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity  for  War- 
ners ;  Mort  Blumenstock,  in  charge 
of  advertising  and  publicity  in  the 
east,  and  Goldberg.  Discussions  of 
sales  plans  for  "Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy"  and  "Juarez"  were  held, 
in  addition  to  merchandising  plans  for 
the  remainder  of  the  season. 


Bondy  Extends  Time 
On  Stirn  RKO  Appeal 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  yes- 
terday extended  the  time  of  John  S. 
Stover,  as  attorney  for  Ernest  W. 
Stirn,  to  file  the  record  on  two 
appeals  from  orders  of  Judge  Bondy 
confirming  the  plan  of  reorganization 
of  RKO  to  May  IS.  Previously 
Judge  Bondy  had  extended  time  of 
H.  Cassell  &  Co.,  which  is  also  ap- 
pealing, to  May  15. 

Mexico  to  Celebrate 
National  Film  Week 

Mexico  City,  April  17. — Arrange- 
ments are  being  completed  by  the 
Mexican  industry  and  the  Mexican 
Government  for  the  celebration,  start- 
ing April  23,  of  the  first  national  mo- 
tion picture  week,  for  the  purpose  of 
stimulating  interest  in  pictures  made 
in  this  country.  At  least  30  new 
Mexican  films  are  to  be  exhibited 
during  the  week. 


Detroit  Tops  RKO  Drive 

RKO's  Buffalo  branch  has  climbed 
to  second  place  in  the  George  Schaefer 
sales  drive  at  the  end  of  the  10th  week 
of  the  campaign.  Detroit  still  leads 
and  New  York  is  third.  The  east 
central  district  leads  the  seven  districts 
and  the  eastern  division  is  ahead  of  the 
western. 


Berke  Is  Transferred 

Bob  Berke,  20th  Century-Fox  sales- 
man in  Detroit,  has  been  transferred 
to  Omaha,  succeeding  Carl  Reese, 
resigned.  Lloyd  Keilor,  ad  sales 
manager  in  Detroit,  has  been  ap- 
pointed salesman.  Jack  Sturm  is  the 
new  ad  sales  manager. 


4U'  Forces  Gather 
For  Chicago  Parley 


Chicago,  April  17. — More  than  60 
Universal  district  and  branch  manag- 
ers, salesmen  and  home  office  officials 
are  converging  here  for  the  opening 
of  the  company's  second  regional  sales 
meeting  in  the  Palmer  House,  Tues- 
day. The  meeting,  which  will  con- 
tinue through  Thursday,  follows  an 
initial  session  in  Cincinnati  for  east- 
ern and  southern  branch  men. 

The  following  exchange  groups  will 
be  represented  at  the  local  meeting : 
Des  Moines,  Kansas  City,  Omaha,  St. 
Louis,  Detroit,  Indianapolis,  Milwau- 
kee and  Chicago.  All  home  office  ex- 
ecutives who  attended  the  three-day 
meeting  in  Cincinnati  will  be  here. 
They  include  W.  A.  Scully,  general 
sales  manager;  Nate  J.  Blumberg, 
president;  F.  J.  A.  McCarthy,  eastern 
sales  manager ;  W.  J.  Heineman, 
western  sales  manager ;  Joseph  H. 
Seidelman,  foreign  sales  manager, 
and  Louis  Pollock,  eastern  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  director. 

The  meeting  here  will  be  followed 
by  the  third  and  final  regional  at  the 
St.  Francis,  San  Francisco,  begin- 
ning next  Saturday.  The  home  office 
officials,  with  the  exception  of  Scully 
and  Heineman,  return  to  New  York 
from  here. 

Affirm  Dismissal  of 
'Hells  Angels'  Suit 

U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals 
handed  down  an  opinion  yesterday  af- 
firming the  dismissal  of  a  suit  of 
Richard  Barry  against  United  Art- 
ists Corp.,  United  Artists  Theatres 
Circuit,  Inc.,  Howard  Hughes  and 
The  Caddo  Co.,  Inc.,  for  alleged 
plagiarism  of  Barry's  play,  "Breaking 
Faith  of  an  Insurgent,"  in  the  motion 
picture,   "Hell's  Angels." 

Complaint,  which  had  sought  an  in- 
junction, accounting  and  judgment  for 
damages,  was  dismissed  by  Judge  Wil- 
liam Bondy  after  trial.  The  Circuit 
Court  stated  that  there  was  no  re- 
semblance between  the  play  and  the 
film  and  that  it  did  not  believe  there 
had  been  an  infringement. 


To  Hear  Appeal  Today 

Appeal  of  Mort  Eisman,  Clara  Dellar 
and  Robert  Louis  Shayon  from  a  dis- 
missal by  Federal  Judge  John  M. 
Woolsey  of  their  plagiarism  suit 
against  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  Inc.,  and  Eddie  Cantor,  will 
be  heard  by  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court 
today.  Plaintiffs  charged  plagiarism 
of  their  play,  "Oh,  Shah"  in  the  film, 
"Roman  Scandals." 


Fund  Film  Available 

A  one-reel  film,  titled  "Neighbors 
in  Need"  has  been  produced  for  the 
Greater  New  York  Fund  by  March 
of  Time  and  is  available  to  theatres 
without  charge.  The  film  describes 
the  work  of  the  Fund's  388  agencies. 
The  Fund  started  its  $10,000,000 
drive  yesterday. 


Crews  Bill  Up  Tomorrow 

Albany,  April  17. — Assemblyman 
Robert  J.  Crews'  measure  to  license 
all  projectionists  of  35  mm.  machines 
in  New  York  City  will  debate  the  bill 
before  the  Assembly  when  it  comes  up 
for  a  vote  on  Wednesday.  Organized 
labor  is  behind  the  measure. 


$800,000  Invested 
In  Mexican  Films 

Mexico  City,  April  17. — 
Mexican  pictures  in  the  mak- 
ing here  represent  an  invest- 
ment of  about  $800,000,  the 
highest  outlay  at  any  one 
time  for  films  in  Mexico. 


Iowa  T.  O.  Hears  % 
Discussion  on  Pact 


Des  Moines,  April  17. — Two-day 
spring  convention  of  Allied  Indepen- 
dent Theatre  Owners  of  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  opened  here  today  with  a 
luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Kirkwood.  At- 
tendance is  about  100.  A  snowstorm 
prevented  many  exhibitors  from  at- 
tending. 

The  opening  session  was  devoted  to 
a  discussion  of  the  trade  practice  code 
and  the  Neely  bill,  with  L.  F.  Wolcott, 
Eldora,  la.,  presiding.  A  committee 
was  appointed  to  report  tomorrow 
morning. 

Delay  Music  Union 
Talks  Indefinitely 

Scheduled  meeting  of  company 
heads  and  Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor 
representative,  with  the  executive 
committee  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Musicians  to  consider  propo- 
sals for  increased  employment  of  mu- 
sicians throughout  the  industry  was 
postponed  indefinitely  yesterday.  In- 
ability of  some  executives  to  attend 
and  the  absence  of  several  others  from 
the  city  necessitated  the  postpone- 
ment. The  meeting  may  be  held  some 
time  next  month. 

Casey  plans  to  leave  New  York  for 
the  coast  tomorrow  in  order  to  be  on 
hand  there,  if  needed,  during  the  pro- 
posed settlement  of  new  contracts  fos 
I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  studio  locals. 

Mexican  Film  Labor 
Committee  Appointed 

Mexico  City,  April  17. — Labor  dif- 
ficulties for  Mexican  producers  ap- 
pear to  be  smoothed  out  with  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  mixed  committee  of 
three  representatives  of  the  produc- 
ers and  three  from  the  workers  to 
handle  all  grievances  of  an  employer- 
employe  nature. 


Murphy's  Father  Dies 

T.  J.  Murphy,  father  of  Gene 
Murphy  of  Loew's  publicity  depart- 
ment, died  Saturday  in  Chicago. 
Funeral  services  will  be  held  today. 
Morty  Tauber  of  Loew's  publicity  de- 
partment is  also  mourning  the  loss  of 
his  father,  who  died  Saturday. 


Comer  ford  Gets  Three 

Scranton,  Pa.,  April  17. — Comer- 
ford  Amusement  Co.  has  acquired 
three  houses  operated  by  Jackson 
Enterprises,  Inc.,  at  Lebanon,  Pa. 
the  Colonial,  Capitol  and  Jackson. 


Not  to  Use  Bank  Night 

Cleveland.  April  17.- — Nat  Wolf, 
Warner  zone  manager,  has  declared 
that  contrary  to  earlier  statements, 
Bank  Night  will  not  go  into  the  Madi- 
son, Mansfield,  O.,  at  this  time. 


AA/ithout  hysteria,  without  braggadocio, 
without  making  rash  promises  that  we  can  never  hope  to  fulfill, 

Twentieth  Century -Fox  proudly  presents  its  program  for  the 

season  1939-40. 

The  company  will  release  fifty-two  pictures. 

In  the  following  pages,  we  list  titles,  stars,  players  and 
directors  that  will  be  used  to  make  up  our  1939-40  program. 


The  literary  properties  outlined  are  the  most  important 
ever  offered  by  this  company.  From  this  list  will  be  selected 
the  pictures  that  will  make  up  our  next  year's  group. 

In  spite  of  their  great  merit,  a  certain  percentage  of 
our  story  properties  will  fail  to  develop,  because  there 
always  has  been  and  always  will  be  a  percentage  that,  in 
final  form,  will  not  reach  up  to  Studio  expectations  and  must 
be  replaced  or  dropped. 

This  is  a  situation  which  is  inherent  in  the  production 
of  motion  pictures. 

These  hazards,  these  changes,  these  heartbreaking  dis- 
appointments are  realized  only  by  the  man  who  has  to  deal 
day  by  day  with  the  actual  problems  of  production,  but  they 
exist  in  our  industry  and  they  cannot  be  eliminated. 

As  to  the  casts,  we  list  that  group  of  personalities  un- 


der  contract  to  this  company  and  those  already  borrowed 
from  the  outside  from  whom  these  pictures  will  be  cast. 

Other  deals  of  course  will  be  made,  other  names  will  be 
added  from  time  to  time  as  they  have  been  in  past  years; 
but  we  do  not  mention  our  hopes  in  many  directions  simply 
because  these  negotiations  are  not  actually  completed. 

In  asking  you,  our  customers,  to  purchase  this  product, 
we  call  your  attention  to  the  following  facts  on  which  you 
can  base  your  judgment: 

L  The  production  record  of  this  company  for  the  past 
four  years  since  the  20th  Century- Fox  Film  Corpo- 
ration was  formed. 
2.  The  list  of  important  box-office  names  under  con- 
tract to  this  organization  plus  our  ability  to  buy  our 
share  of  additional  talent  in  the  open  market. 


3.  The  list  of  impressive  and  well-known  properties 
from  which  our  program  will  be  made,  plus  the  pur- 
chase of  other  timely  books  or  stage  plays  offered  on 
the  market  which  may  be  superior  to  or  more  timely 
than  some  of  those  we  have  indicated  in  spite  of  their 
respective  merit. 

4.  The  incentive  to  continue  to  operate  and  conduct  a 
successful  and  constantly  growing  company  and  to 
secure  the  continued  good  will  and  respect  of  the 
thousands  of  contented  customers  the  world  over 
which  this  company  enjoys. 

5.  The  mutual  necessity  of  making  product  that  will 

produce  a  profit  for  ourselves  and  for  you,  which 
can  only  be  done  in  the  future  as  in  the  past  by 

producing  the  greatest  number  of  money -making 

box-office  attractions. 


These  ingredients  and  the  reasons  as  stated  above  plus 
this  company's  well-known  record  do  not  make  so-called 
blind  buying  quite  as  blind  as  some  would  make  you  believe. 

To  the  exhibitor  who  has  used  20th  Century- Fox  prod- 
uct these  past  four  years,  we  pledge  the  utmost  that  is  pos- 
sible to  deliver  a  continuous  flow  of  well  made  and  profit- 
making  quality  motion  pictures,  to  the  end  that  we  can  con- 
tinue to  deserve  and  secure  that  support  and  confidence 
that  has  made  this  company's  record  one  of  which  we  are 
all  very  proud. 


President,  20th  Century*  Fox  Film  Corporation 


Vice-President  in  Charge  of  Production 


General  Manager  of  Distribution 


OF  THE  52  20th  CENTURY- FOX  PICTURES  FOR 


PRODUCE  24  FROM  THE  FOLLOWING  GREAT 


THE  RAINS  CAME 


The  biggest  production  ever  attempted  by  20th  Century-Fox.  Based 
on  Louis  Bromfield's  best  selling  novel.  Directed  by  Clarence  Brown. 
Co-starring  MYRNA  LOY,  TYRONE  POWER,  GEORGE  BRENT 
with  a  supporting  cast  including  Cesar  Romero,  Joseph  Schildkraut, 
Maria  Ouspenskaya  and  Henry  Travers. 

STANLEY  AND  LIVINGSTONE 

A  production  that  has  been  more  than  two  years  in  the  making.  A 
special  expedition  braved  the  African  wilds  for  months  to  obtain 
authentic  scenes.  Directed  by  Henry  King.  The  cast  is  one  of  the 
most  impressive  in  screen  history:  SPENCER  TRACY,  RICHARD 
GREENE,  NANCY  KELLY,  Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke,  Walter  Bren- 
nan,  Henry  Hull,  Henry  Travers,  Charles  Coburn,  thousands  more. 

HOLLYWOOD  CAVALCADE 

The  "Big  Parade"  of  film  history . . .  patterned  to  the  scale  of  "Alex- 
ander's Ragtime  Band."  Co-starring  ALICE  FAYE  and  DON 
AMECHE.  A  cast  blazing  with  luminaries  of  the  film  capital.  Screen 
play  by  Ernest  Pascal,  from  a  story  by  Lou  Breslow. 

MARYLAND 

In  TECHNICOLOR.  Produced  as  a  companion  picture  to  "Ken- 
tucky." Tingling  and  fascinating  drama  that  revolves  around  the 
breeding  of  thoroughbred  trotting  horses  and  the  glorious  history 
of  the  state  of  Maryland.  From  the  story  by  Sonya  Levien. 


Maeterlineh  9s 

THE  BLUE  BIRD 

Starring  SHIRLEY  TEMPLE.  In  TECHNICOLOR.  One  of  the 
most  important  properties  ever  acquired  by  this  industry. 
Based  on  the  play  and  book  of  world-wide  fame.  To  be  pro- 
duced with  a  lavishness  that  will  make  it  stand  out  among 
even  the  very  biggest  of  20th's  top-bracket  hits. 


THE  COMING  YEAH.  HA  RHYL  F.  ZANIJCK  WILL 


PROPERTIES  OR  OTHERS  EVEN  GREATER 


EVERYTHING  HAPPENS  AT  NIGHT 

r 

Starring  SONJA  HENIE.  Romantic  comedy,  thrilling  with  the  grace 
and  heart-lifting  beauty  of  the  most  spectacular  ice  ballets  yet  to 
present  this  top-ranking  "First  Ten"  star. 

DRUMS  ALONG  THE  MOHAWK 

In  TECHNICOLOR.  From  Walter  Edmonds'  best  of  best-sellers. 
Two  whole  years  of  research  and  writing  have  been  devoted  to 
getting  the  full  throbbing  power  of  this  story  of  pioneer  trappers 
and  the  American  Revolution  onto  the  screen.  Its  multi-star  cast  will 
be  one  of  the  year's  most  impressive. 

THE  MARK  OF  ZORRO 

TYRONE  POWER  will  star  in  this  adaptation  of  one  of  the  most 
sensationally  successful  and  colorful  boxoffice  hits  in  all  screen 
history.  A  role  ideally  suited  for  this  most  versatile  and  dashing  of 
great  stars.  Truly  big-picture! 


A  BRITON  AT  YALE 

RICHARD  GREENE'S  sky-rocketing  popularity  will  leap  forward 
again  with  the  showing  of  this  attraction  —  an  intensely  dramatic 
story  woven  around  the  traditions  and  high-spirited  activities  of 
one  of  America's  greatest  universities. 


SWANEE 

The  romantic  Old  South  in  song  and  drama.  Starring  DON 
AMECHE  in  a  characterization  that  gives  full  play  to  his  wealth 
of  talent. 

LITTLE  OLD  NEW  YORK 

Starring  ALICE  FAYE.  The  famous  play  by  Rida  Johnson  Young,  a 
notable  success  on  stage  and  screen,  rich  in  heart-warming  sentiment 
and  romance.  Perfect  for  the  glorious  abilities  of  beautiful  Alice  Faye. 


LADY  JANE 

Another  SHIRLEY  TEMPLE  dramatic  spectacle  .  .  .  produced 
with  all  the  breath-taking  scope  of  "The  Little  Princess." 
Resplendent  with  the  brilliant  and  reckless  gaiety  of  New 
Orleans  at  Mardi  Gras.  From  the  classic  by  Mrs.  C.  V.  Jamieson. 
Directed  by  Walter  Lang. 

AN  S.  S.  VAN  DINE  MYSTERY 

(TITLE  TO  COME) 

A  master-stroke  of  showmanship  stars  SONJA  HENIE  in  a  story 
by  one  of  the  greatest  living  writers  of  detective  fiction.  A  picture 
loaded  with  the  electrifying  surprises  for  which  Van  Dine  is  famous. 

Etsa  Maxwell9* 

HOTEL  FOR  WOMEN 

The  flair  of  the  famous  Elsa  for  the  daring  has  made  her  entertain- 
ments internationally  famous.  Here  she  makes  her  debut  as  a  screen 
personality  ...  in  a  story  she  co-authored  with  Kathryn  Scola.  A 
spontaneous-publicity  natural ...  a  word-of -mouth  sensation.  Di- 
rected by  Gregory  Ratoff.  The  first  of  three  Cosmopolitan  Produc- 
tions. 

DANCE  WITH  THE  DEVIL 

An  original  story  by  William  Rankin  and  Eleanore  Griffin,  who 
wrote  "Boys  Town." 

FRONTIER  MARSHAL 

A  dramatization  of  the  West  in  its  most  lawless  and  tumultuous 
days  .  .  .  depicting  the  never-to-be-forgotten  exploits  of  historic 
Wyatt  Earp. 

HE  MARRIED  HIS  WIFE 

WARNER  BAXTER  and  BINNIE  BARNES,  who  scored  so  brU- 
Handy  in  "Wife,  Husband  and  Friend/'  in  a  story  even  richer  2d 
hilarity  and  romance. 


THE  KHYBER  RIFLES 

A  story  of  heroic  action  ...  as  British  regiments  and  native  hordes 
clash  for  the  gateway  to  India  . . .  historic,  blood-drenched  Khyber 
Pass.  To  be  produced  on  a  lavish  scale. 

JOHNNIE  APOLLO 

Vital  with  timely  significance  and  drama  .  .  .  showing  the  disillu- 
sionment of  modern  youth  facing  a  troubled  world.  Story  by  Samuel 
G.  Engel,  Hal  Long  and  Roland  Brown. 

20,000  MEN  A  YEAR 

Quick-on-the-trigger  alertness  won  20th  this  story  of  modern  avia- 
tion's newest  phase— the  fliers  of  tomorrow  and  their  training  in 
American  colleges.  Thrilling  and  alive  with  youth.  From  the  story 
by  Frank  Wead. 

HERE  I  AM  A  STRANGER 

Sincere,  moving,  powerful,  human!  Father  and  son  drama  against  a 
college  background.  From  the  novel  by  Gordon  Hillman,  first  pub- 
lished in  McCall's  magazine. 

SCOTLAND  YARD 

Based  on  the  famous  stage  play  of  the  same  name  by  Denison  Ciift. 
Pulse-pounding  with  all  the  suspense  and  fascination  its  title  suggests. 

RREACH  OF  DISCIPLINE 

The  sensational  European  stage  hit  about  women  in  the  medical  pro- 
fession. 

STEINMETZ,  THE  GREAT 

A  production  of  epic  scope,  revealing  the  human  side  of  the  scien- 
tist whose  miracles  captured  every  imagination.  His  early  struggles 
and  romance  make  a  story  compelling  with  real-life  impact. 

RED  CROSS  NURSE 

A  tribute  to  that  inspiring  group  of  women,  followers  of  the  Florence 
Nightingale  tradition,  whose  heroism  has  repeatedly  thrilled  the 
world. 


DRIGHAM  YOUNG 

America's  pages  know  no  more  arresting  and  vital  figure  than  the 
illustrious  founder  of  the  Mormon  Church.  His  indomitable  courage 
in  the  face  of  crushing  obstacles  constitutes  one  of  the  most  grip- 
pingly  dramatic  stories  ever  written. 

Irving  Berlin's 

SAY  IT  WITH  MUSIC 

An  exciting  new  type  of  American  cavalcade — original,  differ- 
ent! Mellow  with  heart -Warming  memories  inspired  by  25  of 
the  most  popular  melodies  ever  written.  Prodigal  with  all  that 
makes  for  production  greatness! 

I  WAS  AN  ADVENTURESS 

Vivid-as-life  experiences  of  a  woman  who  led  a  band  of  European 
swindlers.  Unmatched  for  minute-to-minute  excitement. 

A  DEAL  IN  HEARTS 

A  bright  comedy  of  domestic  relations  and  complications . . .  involv- 
ing a  wife  who  fought  the  eternal  triangle  with  fire. 

THE  LITTLE  DIPLOMAT 

Starring  SHIRLEY  TEMPLE.  A  perfect  vehicle  ...  to  be  pro- 
duced with  the  abundance  of  show  values  with  which  20th 
has  determined  to  surround  the  world's  No.  1  star! 

DANCE  HALL 

Adapted  from  W.  R.  Burnett's  colorful  and  powerful  novel  of  the 
steel  workers,  "The  Giant  Swing."  Directed  by  Gregory  Ratoff. 

LILLIAN  RUSSELL 

Brightest  star  of  the  brightest  days  of  New  York  musical  comedy, 
her  story  glistens  romantically  with  diamond  brilliance,  sparkles 
with  champagne  effervescence.  The  era  that  gave  the  Gay  White 
Way  its  name. 


BELLE  STARR 

The  famous  woman  outlaw  of  the  turbulent  West  whose  deeds  of 
brazen  daring  rivalled  those  of  Jesse  James. 

THE  POSTMAN  WALKS  ALONE 

One  of  the  most  compelling  titles  and  one  of  the  most  vital  stories 
the  studio  has  scheduled  for  production. 

These  Popular  Series 

SOL  M.  WURTZEL,  Executive  Producer 

4  CHARLIE  CHAN  PRODUCTIONS 

Even  stronger  casts  and  higher-budget  production  are  planned  this 
year,  following  the  enthusiastic  acceptance  by  exhibitors  and  the 
public  of  Sidney  Toler  in  the  title  role! 

4  JONES  FAMILY  SERIES 

The  constantly-growing  affection  of  theatre-goers  for  this  family— 
both  individually  and  as  a  group— is  being  reflected  in  successively 
larger  boxoffice  returns.  More  important  story  material  will  still 
further  strengthen  their  value  to  you. 

3  MR.  MOTO  ADVENTURES 

Peter  Lorre,  as  the  famous  Saturday  Evening  Post  sleuth,  has 
steadily  become  a  more  firmly  established  boxoffice  asset. 
Added  impetus  will  be  given  his  popularity  by  the  stronger 
material  afforded  him  in  1939-40. 

4  JANE  WITHERS  COMEDIES 

The  wisdom  of  20th's  star  strategy  is  reflected  in  the  fact  that  Jane 
Withers,  again  in  1938,  was  high  in  the  enviable  "First  Ten."  Plans 
for  the  forthcoming  season  include  important  casts  and  stories  cal- 
culated to  widen  her  top-rank  appeal  and  marquee  pull. 

—and — 

13  ADDITIONAL  FEATURES 

As  yet  untitled. 


THE 

PRODUCING  ORGANIZATION 


DARRYL  F.  ZANUCK 

Vice-President  in  Charge  of  Production 

WILLIAM  GOETZ 

Vice-President  and  Executive  Assistant 
to  Darryl  F.  Zanuck 

SOL  M.  WURTZEL 

Executive  Producer 


Associate  Producers 

Harry  Joe  Brown 
Raymond  Griffith 
David  Hempstead 
Nunnally  Johnson 
Edward  Kaufman 
Kenneth  Macgowan 
Gene  Markey 
John  Stone 
Directors 
Otto  Brower 
Irving  Cummings 
Roy  Del  Ruth 
Allan  Dwan 
John  Ford 
Eugene  J.  Forde 
Norman  Foster 
Herbert  I.  Leeds 
Henry  King 
Walter  Lang 
Sidney  Lanfield 
George  Marshall 
Gregory  Ratoff 
William  A.  Seiter 
Malcolm  St.  Clair 
Alfred  Werker 


The  Writers 

Jack  Andrews 
Arthur  Arthur 
John  Balderston 
Edwin  Blum 
Lou  Breslow 
Walter  Bullock 
William  A.  Drake 
S.  G.  Duncan 
Philip  Dunne 
Kenneth  Earle 
Walter  D.  Edmonds 
Robert  Ellis 
Don  Ettlinger 
Robert  Harrari 
Sam  Hellman 
Anne  Herendeen 
Ethel  Hill 
Joseph  Hoffman 
Leonard  Hoffman 
Betty  Hopkins 
Frances  Hyland 
Boris  Ingster 
Frank  L.  James 
Rian  James 
Jack  Jungmeyer 


Curtis  Kenyon,  Jr. 
Fidel  La  Barba 
John  Larkin 
Henry  Lehrman 
Sonya  Levien 
Helen  Logan 
Walter  Morosco 
Morris  M.  Musselman 
Samuel  Ornitz 
Ernest  Pascal 
William  Rankin 
Eleanore  Griffin 
Gregory  Ratoff 
Albert  Ray 
Allen  Rivkin 
Sid  Silvers 
Richard  Sherman 
Edith  Skouras 
Milton  Sperling 
Barry  Trivers 
Lamar  Trotti 
Harry  Tugend 
Karl  Tunberg 
Jack  Vernon 
Darrell  Ware 
Frank  Wead 


THE  STARS  AND  PLAYERS 


The  personalities  listed  below  include  only  those  now  under  contract  to 
20th  Century-Fox.  Other  established  names  will  be  cast  in  fulfillment  of 
story  demands.  And  20th  will  continue  its  successful  practice  of  develop- 
ing talent  into  stars  of  maximum  value. 


Shirley  Temple 

Sidney  Toler 

Russell  Gleason 

l  yrone  rower 

jane  wieners 

ivane  xvicnmona 

Sonja  Henie 

Lionel  Atwill 

Joseph  Schildkraut 

Alice  Faye 

Henry  Fonda 

George  Sanders 

Don  Ameche 

Joan  Davis 

Slim  Summerville 

Nancy  Kelly 

The  Ritz  Brothers 

Wally  Vernon 

Richard  Greene 

John  Carradine 

Marjorie  Weaver 

Cesar  Romero 

Lynn  Bari 

Arleen  Whelan 

Annabella 

Spring  Byington 

Florence  Roberts 

Warner  Baxter 

Jed  Prouty 

Amanda  Duff 

Binnie  Barnes 

Eddie  Collins 

Pauline  Moore 

Peter  Lorre 

Douglas  Fowley 

Joan  Valerie 

SHORT  PRODUCT 


The  policy  of  producing  its  own  short  subjects,  under  the  supervision  of  Truman 
Talley,  has  evoked  such  a  gratifying  exhibitor  response  that  20th  Century-Fox  will 
continue  it  this  season.  Quality  will  again  guide  the  planning  of  these  one-reel 
featurettes. 

6  LOWELL  THOMAS9 

MAGIC  CARPET  OF  MOVIETONE 

Incomparably  the  finest  in  its  field,  narrated  by  the  greatest  voice  of  screen  or  radio.  A 
subject  whose  breath-takingly  beautiful  photography  and  interesting  subject  matter  has 
made  it  a  "must"  for  all  the  better  theatres. 

6  ED  THORGERSEN'S  SPORTS  REVIEWS 

Already,  in  one  season,  an  established  success.  Its  unique  "inside  story"  slant  on  outstand- 
ing sports  activities  accounts  for  its  great  popularity.  Narrated  by  the  man  who  knows 
.  .  .  and  knows  how  to  tell  it. 

6  DRIRDLE-PUSS  PARADES 

The  absurdities,  peculiarities  and  laughs  in  life  are  shown  on  the  screen  while  America's 
No.  1  funny  man,  Lew  Lehr,  convulses  you  with  his  cock-eyed  comment. 

4  ADVENTURES  OF  A  NEWSREEL  CAMERAMAN 

To  be  individually  produced— not  compiled  as  in  the  past— thus  heightening  the  amazing 
thrill  and  suspense  that  have  made  this  series  one  of  your  surest-fire  attractions. 

4  VYVYAN  DONNER  FASHION  FORECASTS 

In  TECHNICOLOR.  A  subject  with  sensational  feminine  appeal  that  has  taken  the  men 
by  storm.  The  tops  in  smartness,  beauty  and  audience  pull.  With  sparkling  comment  by 
Ilka  Chase  that  would,  in  itself,  mark  this  series  as  outstanding. 

— and — 

%%  TERRYTOONS 

Paul  Terry's  organization  will  have  ten  subjects  in  TECHNICOLOR  this  season— five  of 
which  will  be  delivered  before  January  1,  marking  another  forward  stride  in  this  com- 
pany's live-wire  production  schedule. 


MOVIETONE  NEWS 


Probably  never  before  in  this  country's  life  has  the  public  been 
so  intensely  interested  in  news  the  world  over . . .  making  it  a 
matter  of  utmost  importance  that  your  theatre  show  the  finest 
in  newsreels.  Movietone  News'  farflung  international  organi- 
zation . . .  the  morale  of  its  cameramen  who  snatch  scoops  in 
the  very  midst  of  peril . . .  the  unequalled  speed  with  which  it 
rushes  the  news  to  your  screen  ...  its  incomparable  corps  of 
editorial  specialists ...  all  make  it  unchallenged  No.  1  in  news- 
reels.  Issued  twice  each  week. 


TRUMAN  TALLEY 


Vice-President  and  Producer 


LOWELL  THOMAS 


News  Commentator 


LEW  LEHR 


Newsettes 


VYVYAN  DONNER  and  HELEN  CLAIRE 

Feminine  World 


FIRST  QUARTER  RELEASES  1939-40 


(TENTATIVE) 

Release  Date  Production 

August    5  HOTEL  FOR  WOMEN 

12  CHICKEN  WAGON  FAMILY 

(starring  Jane  Withers) 

19  HOLLYWOOD  CAVALCADE 

26  MR.  MOTO  adventure 

September    2  STANLEY  AND  LIVINGSTONE 

9  THE  JONES  FAMILY 

AT  THE  WORLD'S  FAIR  (N.  Y.) 

16  HE  MARRIED  HIS  WIFE 

23  CHARLIE  CHAN  AT  TREASURE  ISLAND 

30  RED  CROSS  NURSE 

October    7  STOP,  LOOK  AND  LOVE 

14  A  BRITON  AT  YALE 

21  HOLD  ME  TIGHT 

28  THE  RAINS  CAME 


JOSEPH  M.  SCHENCK  SIDNEY  R.  KENT 

Chairman  of  the  Board  President 


Printed  in  U.  S.  A. 


"Tuesday.  April  18.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'Dodge'  Smash 
$25,500  Lead 


Theatre  Changes 


In  Pittsburgh 


Pittsbi-kgh,  April  17. — "Dodge 
paced  the  field  with  a  healthy 
|Vx?5(i0  at  L>'c\\'>  1  Vnn.  followed  bv 
ttffe  Alvin's  good  $14,700  for  "Three 
I  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  and  $7,600  at 
I  the  Fulton  on  "East  Side  of  Heaven." 
"Blackwell's  Island"  with  Tony  Mar- 
gin on  stage  grossed  $22,500  at  the 
!  Stanley.  Second  week  of  "Huckle- 
berry Finn"  at  the  Warner,  drew 
|$o.l60. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ling  April  14 : 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

ALVIN-(1.900)     (25c-35c-50c)     7  i!:iys. 
(.ross:  $14,700.    (Average.  $7,000) 
Lest  Patrol"  (RKO)  (Reissue) 
1  "Ster  At  Midnight"  (RKO  Reissue) 

FIT-TON— (1.700)   (25c-40c-)  3  days.  2nd 
week,     Gross:   $2,400.     (Average.  $5,000.  7 
I  ri  iys.) 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
,  $:.6O0.    (Average.  $5,000) 
' -Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

LOEWS    PENN— (3.600)    (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Grosv:  $25,500.  (Average.  $15,000.) 
"Sncw  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs" 

(RKO) 

SENATOR    (2.1*10)      (25c -40c  I      7  .lav-, 
i  l.ross:  $3,300.    (Average.  $3,800) 
"Bbekwdl'a  Is'and"  (W.  B.) 
STAXLEY— (3.600)    (25c-40c-60c).  Stage: 
I  Tony   Martin.  Jimmy  Joy.  Ames  X  Arno. 

Helen  Keene.  Katharine  West  field.  Gai 
I  Moran.  Gross  $22,500.  7  days.  (Average 
I  $17,000) 

Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 
WARNER    (2.000)   <25c-40c)  7  days.  2ml 
week.    Gross:  $6,100.    (Average:  $4,500) 


Dodge  City'  Clicks 
In  Milwaukee  with 


$10,000  Top  Gross 


Milwaukee,  April  17. — Business 
came  back,  with  "Dodge  City"  and 
"The  Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  col- 
lecting $10,000  at  the  Warner.  "Risky 
Business"  coupled  with  Dixie  Dunbar, 
Kddie  Peabody  and  Jackie  Heller 
grossed  $10,300  at  the  Riverside,  while 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham 
Bell"  and  "Everybody's  Baby"  did  a 
strong  $9,500  at  Fox's  Wisconsin. 

The  reopened  Alhambra  capitalized 
the  war  news  to  the  extent  of  $4,- 
S00  with  "When  Germany  Fell,"  a 
^eries  of  newsreel  shots.  The  weather 
continued  cold  and  fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  "  eek  end- 
ing April  12-14 : 

"I'm  Frcm  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Bulldcg  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 
(Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-50c)  6  days.  Gross: 
S3.500.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"Risky  Business"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2.300)  (25c-30c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Dixie  Dunbar,  Eddie  Peabody. 
lackie  Heller.  Gross:  $10,300.  (Average. 
JS.OOOi 

"Hound  cf  the  BaskerviMes"  (20th-Fox) 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

STRAND— (1.400)  (35c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,800.    (Average.  $2,000) 
'Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

"The  Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2.400)      (35c-50c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average.  $4,500) 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

WISCONSIN— (3.200)    (35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,500.    (Average.  $5,500) 
"When  Germacy  Fell" 

ALHAMBRA— (2.660)  (25c-35c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,800. 


START  ONTARIO  HOUSE 

Toronto,  April  17. — Theatre  Hold- 
ing Corp..  Toronto,  operating  a  circuit 
in  Ontario,  has  commenced  building  a 
new  theatre  at  Tillsonburg  to  seat 
about  700  persons.  The  theatre  is 
scheduled  to  open  June  15.  The  com- 
pany also  expects  to  complete  the 
Strand  Theatre  at  Port  Colborne, 
Out.,  in  time  to  open  May  5. 


N.  C.  HOlSE  OPENED 

l.i  mherton,  N.  C,  April  17. — 
Lumberton's  new  750-seat  house,  the 
Riverside,  opened  recently.  It  is  the 
newest  link  in  the  circuit  of  11  thea- 
tres owned  by  Morris  Legendre.  W. 
S.  Britt,  local  attorney,  and  Bishop  B. 
Anderson,  South  Carolina  theatre 
owner,  will  build  a  1,200-seat  $50,000 
theatre  here. 


CONSOLIDATED  BUYS  3 

Oklahoma  City,  April  17. — Con- 
solidated Theatres,  Inc.,  affiliate  of  the 
Griffith  Amusement  Co.,  has  bought 
three  theatres  in  El  Reno,  Okla.,  from 
Orville  Enloe  and  F.  E.  Loomis,  the 
Criterion,  Empress  and  Royal. 


TAKES  JERSEY  HOUSE 

Maurice  Parks,  former  druggist, 
has  acquired  the  Atlantic,  Atlantic 
Highlands,  from  John  McXaniara, 
who  had  operated  it  for  five  years. 
Illness  necessitated  McNamara's  re- 
tirement. 

REOPENING  JUNE  1 

Highlands  Auditorium  in  High- 
lands. N.  J.,  will  reopen  June  1  after 
being  dark  for  three  months. 


LEASES  IN  GEORGIA 

Hapevtjlle,  Ga.,  April  17. — Fulton. 
Hapeville's  newest  theatre,  now  com- 
pleted, has  been  leased  to  F.  C.  Cole- 
man of  East  Point  Amusement  Co. 


BUYS  IN  IOWA 

Hartley,  la.,  April  17. — C.  E.  Wer- 
den,  who  operates  the  Star  at  Sioux 
Rapids,  la.,  and  the  Broadway  at  Cen- 
terville.  S.  D..  has  purchased  the  Capi- 
tol here  from  Mrs.  C.  A.  Sartorius. 


EDGERTON,  MO.,  REOPENING 

Edgerton,  Mo.,  April  17. — Abe 
Shafer  has  reopened  the  Shafer.  The 
house  has  been  dark  for  some  months. 


PLAN  NEW  WIS.  HOUSE 

Sun  Prairie.  Wis.,  April  17. — Sun 
Prairie  Theatre.  Inc.,  is  planning  to 
remodel  a  building  here  into  a  new 
theatre. 


PORTLAND,   ORE.,  SALE 

Sax  Francisco,  April  17. — rMinnie 
Rosenfelt  of  this  city  has  sold  the 
American  Theatre  in  Portland,  Ore., 
to  Edward  Lewis  of  Salem,  who  will 
remodel  and  renovate  the  building. 


SOPERTON,  S.  C,  OPENING 

Sopf.rtox,  S.  C,  April  17. — Pal 
Theatre,  new  unit  in  the  circuit  owned 
by  M.  F.  Rrice,  has  opened  here. 


NEW  S.  C.  HOUSE 

Pearisburg.  S.  C,  April  17. — Star 
Amusement  Co.  has  started  construc- 
tion of  its  new  theatre  here.  It  will 
seat  750. 


OMAHA  AREA  TRANSFERS 

Omaha,  April  17. — Three  theatres 
in  the  Omaha  trade  territory  changed 
hands  last  week.  Stanley  Blackburn 
has  taken  over  the  Mainstreet  at 
Freemont,  Xeb.,  from  R.  R.  Booth ; 
Ernie  Koeniguer  has  purchased  the 
Broadway  from  C.  E.  Werden  at  Cen- 
terville,  S.  D.,  and  the  Emerson  Thea- 
tre at  Emerson,  Xeb.,  has  been  trans- 
ferred from  Roy  Hingst  to  August 
Hingst. 


NEW  TIPTON,  IA.,  HOUSE 

Tipton ,  Iowa,  April  17. — The  Toy 
theatre,  under  construction,  will  be 
ready  for  a  formal  opening  early  in 
May.  Beulah  De  Nune  has  reopened 
the  I lardacre  theatre  here  after  in- 
Stalling  400  new  seats,  new  carpets, 
drapes,  and  new  booth  equipment. 


IOWA   HOUSES  REMODELED 

Adair,  Iowa,  April  17. — A.  O.  Lud- 
wig  has  reopened  his  Rialto  theatre 
here.  It  had  been  closed  for  remodel- 
ing. Mrs.  C.  S.  Hoffman  has  re- 
opened the  Grand  at  Knoxville  which 
had  been  closed  several  weeks  for 
renovations. 


LO  WEN  STEIN  GETS  3 

Ardmore,  Okla.,  April  17. — Lowen- 
stein  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  acquired  three 
opposition  theatres  here,  the  Temple 
from  Al  Voemans,  Star  from  E.  L. 
Black  and  Fox  from  Max  Burger. 
Harry  l.oewenstein  is  a  partner  in  the 
Griffith  Amusement  Co. 

BUILDS  IN  VIRGINIA 

M  am  i  ,\  s  vii.i.k,  V'a.,  April  17. — E.  M. 
.\K  Daniel  will  erect  a  new  $20,000 
building  here  to  house  a  theatre  and 
stores.   The  house  will  seat  (>00. 


PLANS  CAROLINA  HOUSE 

W  ilson,  X.  C,  April  17. — Construc- 
tion on  a  new  house,  that  will  cost 
$100,000,  will  he  started  shortly  by 
North  Carolina  Theatres,  Inc. 


KEOPENS  IN  NEBRASKA 

Omaha,  April  17. — Strand  at  Pierce, 
Xeb.,  recently  purchased  by  C.  A. 
Craig,  has  reopened.  It  will  be  known 
as  the  Pierce. 


FORM  THEATRE  FIRM 

San  Francisco,  April  17. — Xew  Sa- 
linas Theatre,  Inc.,  has  been  incorpo- 
rated here  with  capital  stock  of  $75,- 
000,  by  Dorothy  F.  Halley,  Leslie  L. 
Hubbard  and  Jessr  (  .  Miller. 


BUYS  CAROLINA  SITE 

Morganton,  N.  Y.,  April  17.— C.  V. 
Davis  has  purchased  a  site  here  for  a 
theatre. 

CLOSES  IN  CINCINNATI 

Cincinnati,  April  17.  —  Mayfair, 
400-seat  downtown  house,  operated  by 
J.  Ebesrole  Crawford  for  showing  of 
foreign  product,  has  closed. 


OPEN  DRIVE-IN  HOUSE 

Providence.  April  17. — Drive-in 
Theatre,  operated  by  the  E.  M.  Loew 
circuit  of  Boston,  has  reopened  here 
with  double  feature,  subsequent  run 
programs.  W.  D.  McGhee  is  back  as 
resident  manager  of  the  big  outdoor 
amphitheatre. 


21 

'Dodge  City' 
Big  $41,000 
For  Chicago 

Chicago,  April  17. — "Dodge  City" 
at  the  Chicago,  aided  by  Mischa  Auer 
and  Paul  Haakon  and  Revue  on  the 
stage,  sent  the  gross  at  the  Chicago  to 
$41,000. 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle"  ended  the  week  with  a  good 
$23,000  at  the  Palace. 

Held  over  for  a  second  week,  "Ice 
Follies  of  1939,"  finished  at  the  United 
Artists  with  $10,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  12-15 : 

"Grand  Illusion"  (World) 

APPOLLO—  (1,400)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $0,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:     Mischa   Auer,    Paul    Haakon  and 
Revue.    Gross:  $41,000.    (Average.  $32,000) 
"Prison  without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

GARRICK— (900)     (35c-40c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average.  $6,500) 
"Boy  Slaves"  (RKO) 

ORIENTAL — (3.400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  "Breezin'  Along"  Revue  with  Lou 
Breeze  Orchestra.  Stepin  Fetchit  and 
Armida.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average,  $13,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castl'e" 

(RKO) 

PALACE— (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:     Vaudeville  Revue.     Gross:  $23,000. 
(Average.  $19,000) 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 

ROOSEVEL  T— (1.300)  (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,500.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Disbarred"  (20th-Fox) 

STATE-LAKE— (2.700)     (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.    Stage:    Follies  des  Femmes  Revue. 
Gross:  $15,500.    (Average.  $12,000) 
"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1.700)  (35c-55c-75c) 
7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Aver- 
age. $15,000) 


FASTEST  WAY 
TO  LOS  ANGELES! 


Fly  TWA's  Year-Round  Route 
-Shortest  Coast-to-Coast! 

TWA's  "Sky  Chief"  leaves  5:10  p.m  

flies  the  fastest  route  to  Los  Angeles  . . . 
arrives  8 : 24  a .  m. !  Or  take  TWA's  daylight 
flight  via  Grand  Canyon,  Boulder  Dam, 
the  Sunny  Santa  Fe  Trail. 
TO  CHICAGO — 4  hrs.  55  min.,  non-stop, 
on  TWA's  famous  luxury  "Sky  Chief"! 

Leaves  5:10p.m  $44.95 

TO  PITTSBURGH— 10  flights  a  day— 7  - 
non-stop — in  2  hrs.  15  min.!  $21.00  W 


10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 


22 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  18,  I9| 


Frisco  Gives 
'Dodge  City' 
$22,000  Lead 


San  Francisco,  April  17. — "Dodge 
City"  and  "Sudden  Money"  drew  $22,- 
000  at  the  Fox.  "The  Story  of  Ver- 
non and  Irene  Castle"  pulled  $17,000 
at  the  Golden  Gate,  with  dual  of 
"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  and  "Chas- 
ing" Danger"  drawing  $14,500  at  the 
Paramount.  Also  outstanding  was 
"Wuthering  Heights"  with  $11,000  at 
the  United  Artists. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  11-14  : 

"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,850)  (35c-40c-5Sc)  7 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $17,000. 
(Average,  $15,000) 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM — (2.440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

FOX — (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $22,000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 

(2Cth-Fox) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average, 
$11,500) 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervill'es"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

ST.    FRANCIS— (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)    7    days,    2nd    week.      Gross:  $5,200. 
(Average,  $6,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

WARFIELD  —  (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (15c-35c-40c- 
55c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"The  Ghost  Goes  West"  (G.  B.) 

CLAY — (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$800.    (Average.  $1,000) 
"Janosik"  (French  M.  P.  Corp.) 

LARKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $700.    (Average.  $1,000) 


Set  KC  Club  Induction 

Kansas  City,  April  17. — Reel  No. 
1  of  the  Cinema  Club,  composed  of 
younger  men  in  the  film  and  theatre 
business,  will  induct  new  officers  April 
19  at  a  dinner.  The  entertainment 
committee  includes  Charles  Seiben- 
thaler,  Charles  Decker  and  Harry 
Biederman. 


Hollywood  Preview 


"The  Hardy s  Ride  High" 

{M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  April  17. — "The  Hardys  Ride  High"  is  one  of  those 
pictures  that  helps  make  the  world  a  better  place  to  live  in.  It's  only 
a  piece  of  entertainment,  but  as  designed  to  interest  the  ordinary  mortal 
who  goes  to  a  theatre  to  be  amused  the  whole  thing's  significance  is 
pretty  much  a  case  of  sitting  on  the  front  porch  on  a  drowsy  Sunday 
afternoon,  indulging  in  a  lot  of  wishful  thinking. 

The  regular  "Hardy  Family,"  aided  by  several  others,  thinks  it  has 
inherited  $2,000,000.  Only  the  "Judge"  and  his  wife  suspect  that  fate 
may  be  playing  an  April  Fool  or  Hallowe'en  joke.  The  family  doesn't 
inherit  $2,000,000,  but  before  all  realize  it,  Lewis  Stone  is  given  op- 
portunity to  expound  a  good  deal  of  common  sense,  Mickey  Rooriey  is 
permitted  to  go  more  high,  wide  and  handsome  than  he  has  ever  gone 
before,  Sara  Haden  is  allowed  to  practise  serio-pathos  as  it  rarely  has 
been  practised  and,  while  "agog"  is  the  word  for  what  Cecilia  Parker 
thinks  and  does,  Fay  Holden  remembers  that  she  always  is  the  fictional 
mother  of  a  fictional  family.  Numerous  others,  Virginia  Grey,  John 
King,  Halliwell  Hobbes  and  George  Irving  particularly,  have  much  to 
do  in  giving  this  item  of  clean,  wholesome  and  enjoyable  entertain- 
ment appeal  to  all  types  of  people. 

George  B.  Seitz,  who  directed  all  the  previous  "Hardy"  pictures,  di- 
rected this.  Agnes  Christine  Johnson,  Kay  Van  Riper  and  William 
Ludwig  thought  up  the  day  dream  story.  All  who  have  seen  any  pre- 
vious "Hardy  Family"  pictures  are  immediate  prospects  for  this. 

Running  time,  80  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Nine  New  Pictures 
Approved  by  Legion 

National  Legion  of  Decency  for  the 
current  week  has  approved  nine  of  12 
new  films  reviewed.  Five  were  classed 
as  unobjectionable  for  general  patron- 
age, and  four  for  adults,  while  three 
were  classed  as  objectionable  in  part. 
The  new  films  and  their  classification 
follow. 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gen- 
eral Patronage — "Dodge  City,"  "East 
Side  of  Heaven,"  "The  Family  Next 
Door,"  "The  Hardys  Ride  High," 
"Housemaster."  Class  A-2,  Unobjec- 
tionable for  Adult  Patronage — "Back 
Door  to  Heaven,"  "Broadway  Sere- 
nade," "The  Lady  and  the  Mob," 
"Women  in  the  Wind."  Class  B, 
Objectionable  in  Part — "L' Alibi," 
"Unmarried,"  "Wuthering  Heights." 


what- 


Fox  Midwest  Starts 
Class  for  Managers 

Kansas  City,  April  17. — Lon  Cox, 
district  manager  for  Fox  Midwest  in 
Greater  Kansas  City,  has  introduced 
a  program  of  educational  meetings 
for  assistant  managers.  The  meetings, 
held  every  two  weeks,  have  the  prin- 
cipal purpose  of  acquainting  assis- 
tants with  the  fundamentals  of 
theatre  management,  operation  and 
exploitation. 

Executives  of  the  circuit  address 
the  assistant  managers  on  special  sub- 
jects. Senn  Lawler,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity,  recently 
presented  a  discussion  of  advertising 
and  exploitation ;  Charles  Shafer 
talked  at  another  meeting  on  records 
and  accounting. 


Await  Sentence  in 
Wis.  Games  Fraud 

Janesville,  Wis.,  April  17. — 
Howard  Johnson,  assistant  manager 
of  the  Jeffris  here,  has  been  freed  on 
$1,000  bail  pending  his  trial  in  con- 
nection with  fraud  charges  against 
him  and  Theodore  J.  Lesky  and  Agnes 
Gerek,  both  of  Milwaukee,  growing 
out  of  a  $500  Bank  Night  drawing  at 
the  theatre.  Lesky  and  Miss  Gerek 
both  pleaded  guilty  and  are  being  held 
in  jail  here  awaiting  sentence. 

At  Racine,  Warners'  Venetian, 
which  originally  announced  it  would 
resume  Bank  Night  following  a  raid 
by  local  police,  has  since  declared  it 
will  not  resume  the  game. 


To  Honor  Kauffman 

Pittsburgh,  April  17.  • —  Joseph 
Kauffman,  new  Universal  manager  in 
Cleveland,  will  be  honor  guest  at  a 
testimonial  banquet  at  the  Roosevelt 
Hotel  here  April  24.  Harry  Hendel, 
exhibitor,  is  chairman.  Kauffman  for- 
merly managed  the  local  Universal 
exchange. 


'Dodge  City' 
Hits  $25,500 
Philadelphii 


Philadelphia,  April  17.— Stank 
led  here,  with  "Dodge  City"  t^B 
$25,500  for  the  first  week.  ^ 
Side  of  Heaven"  and  a  stage  bill  wr 
Shirley  Ross,  Charlie  Barnet's  bat 
and  the  Canova  Trio  drew  $25,500  ; 
the  Fox.  "Broadway  Serenade"  tor 
$14,800  in  eight  days  at  the  Boyd.  ' 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en< 
ing  April  13 : 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 

ALDINE— (1,300)  (32c-42c-57c)  5'A  day 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average.  7  dav 
$8,160) 

"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA— (600)     (26c-42c-57c)     6  dav 
Gross:  $2,100.    (Average,  7  days,  $2,800) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

BOYD — (2,400)  (32c-42c-57c)  8  dav 
Gross:  $14,800.  (Average,  7  days.  $14,000) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 

EARLE — (2,000)  (26c-42c)  7  davs.  Gro.-r 
$7,400.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

FOX— (3,000)  (32c-37c-42c-57c-68c)  7  day: 
Stage:  Shirley  Ross,  Charlie  Barnet  bam 
Canova  Trio.  Gross:  $22,500.  ( Average 
$16,000) 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON— (1,000)   (26c-42c-57c)  5  day 
Gross:  $4,700.    (Average,  7  days,  $4,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,000)    (26c-42c-57c)    7  dav;1 
Gross:  $5,700.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gros= 
$5,000.    (Average.  $4,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

STANLEY— (3,700)    (32c-42c-57c)    7  dav< 
Gross:  $25,500.    (Average.  $14,0001 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

STANTON — (1,700)    (26c-32c-42c)    7  di 
Gross:  $3,700.    (Average,  $7,000) 


Theatres  Fight  Wis. 
Circuit  Tax  Measurt 

Madison,  Wis.,  April  17. — Exhib 
itors  and  labor  representatives  ap 
peared  before  the  Senate  Committer 
on  Corporations  and  Taxation  hen 
against  the  Connors  bill,  which  seeks 
to  levy  an  occupational  and  seat  tax 
upon  all  theatre  circuits  with  more 
than  two  units. 

Speaking  against  the  bill  were  S.  J 
Thomas,  representing  the  Wisconsii 
Association  of  Stage  Employes  anc 
Projectionists;  Charles  F.  Puis,  Jr.i 
representing  Standard  Theatres  Co 
and  Warners,  and  F.  J.  McWilliams 
operator  of  two  theatres  in  Portage; 
and  chairman  of  the  board  of  thei 
I.T.P.A.  of  Wisconsin  and  Upper 
Michigan. 

Puis  and  Thomas  also  appeared  be- 
fore the  Assembly  State  Affairs  Com- 
mittee in  opposition  to  the  Nicol 
theatre  divorce  bill. 

Introduced  by  the  Senate  Committee 
on  Judiciary  is  a  bill  repealing  the1 
statute  prohibiting  daylight  saving 
time.  A  similar  measure  introduced 
in  the  Assembly  in  January  has  been 
indefinitely  postponed. 

The  circuit  tax  bill,  which  would 
assess  theatres  from  $5  to  $100  per 
unit  and  from  one  cent  to  15  cents  per 
seat,  depending  upon  the  number  of 
houses  in  a  circuit,  has  a  companion 
measure  in  the  Assembly. 


Form  Two  Film  Firms 

Albany,  April  17. — Recently  in- 
corporated here  were  Official  Motion 
Picture  Producers,  Inc.,  New  York, 
and  Beach  Movie  Corp.,  New  York. 


: 


esday.  April  18.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURI 

DAILY 


23 


— 


Person  nel  Moves 


KANSAS   CITY  SHIFTS 

Kansas  City.  April  17. — Lon  Cox, 
Bra   Midwest  district  manager,  has 
fjaile  the  following  changes  in  per- 
liinel.     Henry   Rodick,  manager  at 
L  Tower,  to  the  Uptown;  Charles 
Itrnes,  house  manager  at  the  Uptown, 
K3f  l.inwood:  Owen  Hitchler,  Lin- 
ti'M.  t.i  the  \'ista;  Ralph  Wallace, 
lista.  to  the  Rockhill;  Glen  Carroll, 
Pjockhill,   to  the   Warwick;  Morrill 
ioore,   Warwick,    to   the    Isis  and 
[polio,  and   F.   E.   Kitter,   Isis  and 
I  polio,  to  the  Fox  Tower.  Harry 
Bederman,    Hitter's    assistant,  goes 
Sh  him  to  the  Tower.    Dale  Have- 
Lne  of  the  Madrid  and  Paul  Reinke 
f  the  Brookside,  exchange  jobs.  Jack 
■ayes,  formerly  assistant  manager  at 
►eatrice,    Xeb.,    for    Fox  Midwest, 
rmporarily  has  taken  over  Marysville, 
fan.,  succeeding  Glen  Hall,  resigned. 


RKO  PROMOTES  CLARK 

Dayton,  O.,  April  17. — Arthur  M. 
"rudenfeld.    RKO   division  manager, 
'iticinnati.  has  appointed  \\  illiam  A. 
Ilark  as  city  manager  here.    He  re- 
places   Joe    Goetz,    temporarily  in 
Barge   following  the   resignation  of 
piOard  M.  Blaettner.    Goetz  has  re- 
fcirned  to  Cincinnati  as  assistant  divi- 
ng   manager.      William  Weagley, 
ssistant  at  the  RKO  Colonial,  has 
Ken   promoted   to   manager   of  the 
<KO  State,  with  Robert  Tucker,  chief 
tl  service  at  the  Colonial,  moving  into 
IVeagley's  former  post. 

SHIFT  AT  HARTFORD 

New  Haven.  April  17. — Warners' 
■aye  appointed  Paul  Binstock  as  man- 
ner of  the  Lyric,  Hartford,  succeed- 
mg  William  Flanagan,  w  ho  has  moved 
'.<.  the  Lenox.  Hartford.  J.  Kenny, 
formerly  at  the  Lenox,  has  resigned. 
toew-Poli  reports  the  transfer  of 
Joseph  DeMano,  assistant  at  the 
■Bijou,  to  Boston.  Charles  Gaudino, 
'"ormcr  College  Theatre  student  assist- 
ant, is  filling  the  post. 


(iRIFFITH-DICKINSON  SHIFT 

Kansas  City,  April  17.— Griffith- 
Dickinson  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  made 
give  personnel  changes.  At  Parsons, 
'Kan.,  Harold  Modlin  has  been  suc- 
ceeded by  David  Dallas.  Modlin  is 
iring  transferred.  There  are  two  G-D 
•  louses  in  Parsons,  the  Uptown  and  the 
■Dickinson.  Lew  Chatham  succeeds 
fl  ed  Siler  as  manager  at  Independence, 
■Can.,  of  the  Booth.  Siler  is  being 
transferred. 


McNEESE  TO  TULSA 

Oklahoma  City.  April  17. — Jimmy 
McXeese,  formerly  manager  of  the 
Ismo  theatre  at  Coffey  ville,  Kan 
which  was  sold  last  month  to  the  Fox 
West  Coast  circuit  by  Southwestern 
I  Theatres,  Inc..  of  Oklahoma  City  and 
|  Tulsa,  has  been  placed  in  charge  of 
!  Southwestern's  Tow:er  theatre  in 
i  Tulsa. 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


CHANGE  AT  NEW  HAVEN 

New  Haven.  April  17. — Peter  De 
Fazio.  Warner  exchange  salesman, 
formerly  at  Pittsburgh  and  Indian- 
apolis, succeeds  Michael  Anderson 
resigned. 


RKO  SHIFT  AT  COLUMBUS 

Columbus,  O..  April  17. — C.  Harry 
Schreiber.  RKO  city  manager,  has  an- 
nounced transfer  of  Lawrence  D. 
Caplane  from  assistant  manager  of  the 


Hollywood,  April  17.  —  Walter 
Abel  has  been  signed  by  Arcadia,  pro- 
ducing for  Grand  National,  to  appear 
opposite  Margo  in  "Miracle  of  Main 
Street"  .  .  .  Lee  Tracy  and  Barbara 
Ri  \\<  have  the  top  roles  in  RKO's 
'The  Spellbinder"  .  .  .  Last  feature  in 
the  Monogram  series  of  four  starring 
Frankie  Darro  this  season  will  be 
'Irish  Luck"  .  .  .  Larry  Darmoi  r  has 
purchased  "Criminal  at  Large."  origi- 
lal  by  Eric  Taylor,  for  Jack  Holt. 
H  arvey  Gates  will  do  the  script.  .  .  . 
Sol  Lesser  has  signed  Victor  Voung 
as  musical  director  for  "Way 
Down  South,"  the  Bon  Breen 
vehicle  .  .  .  Warners  is  planning 
"Pony  Express."  saga  of  pioneer 
days  in  the  west.  Charles  Tedford  is 
doing  the  script  .  .  .  Ray  Milland 
and  Ellen  Drew  draw  the  top  roles 
of  Paramount's  "French  Without 
Tears."  which  will  he  made  in  Eng- 


land .  .  .  RKO  has  purchased  "All 
Night  Program,"  original  by  Lester 
Koenig,  and  "Along  the  Rio  Grande," 
by  Oliver  Drake. 

+ 

Casting — Bernadene  Hayes  to 
"6,000  Enemies,"  M-G-M  .  .  .  Helen 
Vinson  to  "Memory  of  Love,"  RKO. 
.  .  .  George  E.  Stone  to  "Heaven  on 
a  Shoestring,"  Paramount  .  .  .  Allen 
Jenkins,  Billy  Halop,  Bobby  Jor- 
dan, Stanley'  Ridges  and  Henry 
Armetta  to  "Dust  Be  My  Destiny," 
Warners. 

+ 

Directors — Warners  has  switched 
William  McCann  to  "Hobby  Fam- 
ily," in  place  of  William  Clemens, 
who  will  guide  "Nancy  Drew  and  the 
Hidden  Staircase"  .  .  .  Lloyd  Bacon 
to  direct  Warners'  "Three  Cheers  for 
the  Irish." 


U.  S.  Films  Hold  Lead 
In  Lithuanian  Market 

Washington,  April  17 — United 
States  maintained  first  place  as  sup- 
plier of  films  to  Lithuania  in  1938, 
according  to  a  report  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Commerce.  American  films 
contributed  42  per  cent  of  the  total 
with  German,  accounting  for  24  per 
cent,  second  in  the  list.  The  United 
States  and  German  also  ran  first  and 
second  in  percentage  of  films  censored 
based  on  length,  the  former  accounting 
for  46.37  per  cent,  the  latter  31.39 
per  cent.  About  25  per  cent  of  all 
American  films  shown  in  Lithuania 
were  dubbed  into  the  German  lan- 
guage, compared  with  60  per  cent  in 
1937. 

Outlook  for  the  motion  picture  bus- 
iness this  year  is  seen  as  favorable. 
Four  new  large  theatres  are  being 
planned  in  Kaunas,  the  capital  and 
construction  of  new  houses  in  the 
provinces  also  is  being  considered. 


To  Introduce  Manager 

Washington.  April  17. — Universal 
will  hold  open  house  at  the  local  ex- 
change next  Monday  to  introduce  to 
the  trade  B.  Bernard  Kreisler,  new 
exchange  manager. 


Grand  to  a  similar  post  at  the  Palace. 
He  succeeds  Lyle  C.  Gann,  who  has 
joined  Fox-Midwest,  at  Kansas  City. 
Noel  Baker,  Grand  treasurer,  replaces 
Caplane.  and  John  R.  Fry,  assistant 
at  the  Majestic,  moves  into  Baker's 
former  position.  Walter  A.  Shott, 
Jr..  has  been  promoted  to  assistant  at 
the  Majestic. 


Mexican  Union  Bans 
New  German  Picture 

Mexico  City,  April  17. — "Sergeant 
Barry,"  produced  in  Germany  by 
Tobis  Films,  has  been  banned  from 
exhibition  throughout  Mexico  by  the 
Confederation  of  Mexican  Workers, 
which  considers  that  the  picture  is 
German  propaganda,  takes  a  slap  at 
democracy  and  slurs  Mexico. 

The  Confederation  recently  lifted 
its  ban  on  "Carmen,"  exhibitions  of 
which  it  had  forbidden  on  the  ground 
that  some  of  the  players  have  leftist 
views.  The  Confederation  announces 
that  it  intends  to  ban  all  German  pic- 
tures that  spread  Nazi  or  imperial- 
istic propaganda  and  jeer  at  democ- 
racv. 


Pull  'Birth  of  Nation' 

Milwaukee,  April  17. — "The  Birth 
of  a  Nation,"  advertised  as  the  first 
showing  with  sound,  was  pulled  out  of 
A.  J.  Cooper's  Alhambra  here  after 
two  days  following  a  decision  bv  the 
Milwaukee  Motion  Picture  Commis- 
sion that  the  film  is  historically  untrue 
and  tends  to  arouse  racial  hatred. 


RICHRATH  TO  G.  N. 

Clevelan,  April  17.— Paul  J.  Rich- 
rath  has  been  appointed  local  Grand 
National  branch  manager  to  succeed 
Louis  Patz.  who  resigned  to  become 
affiliated  with  National  Screen  Ser- 
vice in  Milwaukee.  Mae  Vincent  re- 
turns as  office  manager  and  booker. 


HEADS  HAMRICK  HOUSE 

»Seattle,  April  17. — Dan  Redden 
has  been  appointed  manager  of  Ham- 
rick- Evergreen's  Paramount  here.  He 
succeeds  William  Hamrick,  resigned. 
Clyde  Strout.  assistant  manager  of 
the  Orpheum,  has  taken  Redden's 
former  post  at  the  Coliseum. 


Charles  A.  Crute  Dies 

Huntsville,  Ala.,  April  17. — 
Charles  A.  Crute,  62,  local  theatre 
owner,  died  at  his  home  here.  He  is 
survived  by  a  son,  daughter,  sister 
and  brother. 


No  Percentage  Is 
Corporation  Name 

At  least  one  exhibitor  is 
using  a  corporate  name  to  ex- 
press his  opinions  on  busi- 
ness today.  Murray  Ginsburg 
has  organized  the  No  Per- 
centage Pictures  Theatre 
Corp.  to  operate  the  Howard, 
Howard  Beach,  L.  I.  Gins 
burg  is  president  and  An- 
thony Bannon  is  secretary- 
treasurer. 


3  Smart  Girls' 
Draw  $11,500  in 
2  K.C.  Theatres 


Kansas  City,  April  17. — "Three 
Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  took  $6,500  at 
the  Uptown  and  $5,000  at  the  Esquire, 
for  a  total  of  $11,500.  "Dodge  City" 
did  $11,300  at  the  Newman,  and  "The 
Castles"  garnered  $8,700  at  the  Or- 
pheum. "Alexander  Graham  Bell"  at 
the  Fox  Tower  took  $6,300. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  11-13  : 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B. 

NEWMAN— (1,900)     (25c-40c)     7  clays. 
Gross:  $11,300.  (Average,  $7,000.) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.    (Average.  $3,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2.000)      (25c-40c)     7  clays. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average.  $3,500) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Blcndie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)      (25c-40c)     7  clays. 
Cross:  $10,700.    (Average,  $11,500) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 

(RKO) 

ORPH  EUM — (1.500)     (25c -40c)     7  days, 
dross:  $8,700.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"A!exander  Graham  Bell"  (20th-Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FOX  TOWER— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,300.    (Average.  $5,000) 


Three  Companies  Formed 

Albany,  April  17. — New  theatrical 
incorporations  here  include  Roemae, 
Inc.,  by  David  J.  Wolper,  J.  Richard 
Chernok  and  Sydney  M.  Spector ; 
Greene  Enterprises,  Inc.,  Syracuse, 
by  Maurice  Goldberg,  Rose  Kaplan 
and  Hyman  Pearlman,  and  Torvic, 
Ltd.,  by  Charles  G.  Stewart,  Arthur 
E.  Muller  and  Victor  Payne-Jennings. 


Snyder  to  H  off  berg 

Robert  Snyder  has  joined  J.  H. 
Hoffberg  as  a  special  sales  represen- 
tative. Snyder  is  on  a  tour  of  the 
east. 


Sounds  as 
good  as 
it  looks 
—  and 
it  looks 
like  a 
million! 


%u/  RCA 
PH0T0PH0NE 
MAGIC  VOICE 
of  the 
SCREEN 

with  Rotary  Stabilizer 
PLUS  SHOCK  PROOF  DRIVE 


Designed 
for  any 

theatre — 
regardless 
of  size. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Young,  Durstine 
Form  New  Agency 

John  K.  Young,  in  associa- 
tion with  Roy  Durstine  and 
a  number  of  others  well 
known  in  agency  circles,  are 
organizing  a  new  advertising 
agency.  Formal  announce 
ment  of  the  new  venture  is 
expected  within  a  fortnight. 

Young,  with  Raymond  Ru- 
bicam,  founded  the  Young  & 
Rubicam  Agency  in  1922. 
That  agency  now  is  one  of 
the  most  important  in  the 
field.  Young  retired  a  num- 
ber of  years  ago  and  has 
been  inactive  since.  Durstine 
last  week  retired  as  presi- 
dent of  Batten,  Barton,  Dur- 
stine  &  Osborn. 


CBS  Again  Will  Air 
New  York  Race  Meet 

CBS  will  again  cover  the  New 
York  Racing  Association  meets,  run- 
ning to  Nov.  4.  However,  because  the 
New  York  station  of  the  network, 
WABC,  will  be  occupied  with  the 
broadcasting  of  the  baseball  games  of 
the  New  York  Giants  and  Yankees, 
the  network  has  made  a  deal  with 
WMCA  whereby  the  latter  station 
will  serve  as  the  network's  New  York 
City  outlet  for  the  racing  broadcasts. 


Quaker  Off  for  Summer 

Quaker  Oats  Co.,  sponsoring  the 
"Dick  Tracy"  series  over  NBC,  will 
go  off  the  air  for  the  summer,  with 
the  last  program  scheduled  for  May  1. 
Other  sponsors  who  have  notified  tbe 
network  of  similar  intention  are  Bal- 
lard &  Ballard,  sponsoring  the  Ed  Mc- 
Connell  series,  which  will  go  off  the 
air  April  29,  and  Harvey- Whipple  Co., 
removing  its  show  May  10. 


'Radio  Digest'  Sued 

Cecelia  Co.,  publisher  of  Radio  Di- 
gest, has  been  named  defendant  in  a 
suit  filed  in  the  U.  S.  District  Court 
by  Annie  Lazar,  which  seeks  $20,000 
damages  and  an  injunction  against  the 
use  of  the  title,  "Radio  Digest."  Plain- 
tiff claims  ownership  of  the  title  from 
a  previous  magazine. 


Glaenzer  Joins  WMCA 

Bob  Glaenzer,  formerly  of  Myron 
Selznick,  Ltd.,  has  joined  WMCA  as 
sales  contact  with  agencies  and  clients 
of  the  Artists  Bureau.  Charles  Wil- 
shin  will  continue  as  representative  on 
theatres,  pictures  and  personal  appear- 
ances. Another  new  appointment  is 
Al  Hall  as  studio  director  in  charge 
of  network  coordination. 


Seek  Television  Talks 

London.  April  17. — Radio  Manu- 
facturers' Association  has  asked  the 
Postmaster  General  to  receive  a  depu- 
tation on  television  and  will  formally 
guarantee  the  British  Broadcasting 
Corp.  against  financial  loss  if  it  will 
establish  a  television  transmitter  at 
Birmingham. 


Weed  WEBR  Agent 

Weed  &  Co.,  national  representa- 
tives, has  been  appointed  national 
sales  organization  for  WEBR,  Buf- 
falo. The  station  is  a  basic  Blue  NBC 
outlet  and  is  owned  by  the  Buffalo 
Evening  Nezvs. 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

BURNS  and  Allen  and  entire 
radio  troupe  leave  Hollywood 
April  29  for  New  York  to  do 
eight  shows  from  Manhattan  .  .  . 
Doug  Browning  of  WLW  has  re- 
signed to  join  NBC  as  a  New  York 
announcer  .  .  .  Harrison  Forman, 
Sino-Japenese  war  photographer  for 
the  March  of  Time,  will  appear  on  the 
"Nation's  School  of  the  Air"  pro- 
gram tomorrow  morning  over  Mu- 
tual .  .  .  Jean  Sablon  returns  here 
from  France  today  to  resume  his 
broadcasts. 

+ 

Sidney  Flamm  of  WMCA  became 
a  father  again — a  second  girl  .  .  . 
Vivian  Brown,  secretary  to  Al 
Simon,  of  WHN,  will  be  married 
Thursday  to  Sam  Glaser. 

+ 

Fred  Weber,  Mutual  general  man- 
ager, to  Washington  on  business.  .  .  . 
Polly  Shedlove,  who  conducts  a  series 
of  women's  programs  on  WHN,  cele- 
brates her  first  year  on  that  station 
today.  She  came  to  WHN  from 
KSTP,  Minneapolis. 


Telecast  Schedule 
Set  by  NBC -RCA 

{Continued  from  pacte  1) 

activities,  and  that  NBC  has  volun- 
tarily decided  not  to  enter  into  com- 
petition with  the  newsreel  companies. 

Start  April  30 

The  subjects  on  the  opening  telecast 
will  include  the  opening  parade  and 
subsequent  ceremonies,  and  the  address 
of  President  Roosevelt,  at  the  World's 
Fair.  The  remainder  of  the  schedule 
will  consist  of  films  and  will  come 
from  Radio  City. 

Regular  evening  programs  will  be 
given  on  Wednesday  and  Friday  of 
each  week,  beginning  May  3,  from  8 
to  9  P.  M.  Outdoor  pickups  of  news 
events  will  be  offered  on  Wednesday, 
Thursday  or  Friday  afternoons.  The 
minimum  will  be  two  hours  of  tele- 
vision programs  a  week  over  the  NBC 
television  station,  W2XBS,  which  op- 
erates on  a  picture  frequency  of  45.25 
megacycles  and  a  frequency  of  49.75 
megacycles  for  associated  sound. 

The  programs  will  be  visible  over 
a  distance  of  approximately  55  miles 
in  all  directions  from  the  Empire  State 
building  tower,  where  NBC's  trans- 
mitter is  located. 

Special  Commercials 

In  addition  to  the  schedule  of  "en- 
tertainment" films,  there  will  be  a 
special  schedule  of  commercial  films. 

These  transmissions  will  be  made 
five  days  a  week.  They  will  consist  of 
10-minute  periods  at  15-minute  inter- 
vals. 

On  Mondays,  Tuesdays  and  Thurs- 
days of  each  week,  film  transmissions 
will  take  place  from  11  A.M.  until  4 
P.M.  On  Wednesdavs  and  Fridays 
they  will  begin  at  4  P.M.  and  continue 
until  8  P.M.,  the  starting  period  for 
the  regular  evening  studio  presenta- 
tions. 


Street  Leaves  NBC 

Julian  Street,  Jr.,  has  been  appointed 
secretary  of  the  Museum  of  Modern 
Art.  He  takes  the  post  after  11  years 
with  NBC. 


800  Per  Cent  Gain 

San  Francisco,  April  17. — 
Spot  billing  on  KPO,  NBC 
Red  station,  in  1938  reached 
$85,905,  800  per  cent  gain 
over  1937,  according  to  fig- 
ures just  released.  Sixty  per 
cent  of  the  spot  business 
represented  electrically  tran- 
scribed programs  and  an- 
nouncements. 

KGO,  Blue  network  outlet, 
showed  a  32  per  cent  gain 
over  1937. 


Metropolitan  Life  in 
New  Program  Today 

Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Co., 
long  rumored  about  to  return  to  radio, 
ha,s  set  a  local  program  over  WNEW, 
featuring  Edwin  C.  Hill  in  a  series 
of  nightly  talks  in  case  histories  from 
the  files  of  the  company.  Program 
bows  in  tonight  as  a  surprise  feature. 

It  is  understood  that  other  local 
stations  in  the  Metropolitan  area 
will  also  be  lined  up  for  similar  series, 
but  not  with  Hill. 

Meanwhile,  it  is  learned  that  plans 
for  a  national  network  campaign 
have  not  been  abandoned.  Young  & 
Rubicam,  the  agency  handling  the 
Metropolitan  radio  account,  is  still 
trying  to  assemble  a  satisfactory 
national  program.  Metropolitan  Life 
was  one  of  radio's  earliest  time  users, 
sponsoring  the  early  morning  exercise 
programs  from  the  Metropolitan 
Tower  over  NBC.  The  company  left 
the  air  years  ago. 


Macfadden  Renews  Show 

Macfadden  Publications  have  signed 
a  year's  renewal  for  time  on  NBC- 
Blue  for  the  "True  Story"  program. 
Besides  the  renewal,  the  company  has 
signed  for  18  additional  stations.  Pre- 
viously heard  over  25  stations,  the  net- 
work hereafter  will  consist  of  43  out- 
lets. Arthur  Kudner,  Inc.,  is  the 
agency. 


Opticians  on  WHN 

Community  Opticians  has  entered  a 
contract  for  24  quarter-hours  on 
WHN,  one  of  its  largest  orders.  Con- 
tract calls  for  participation  in  the 
Zeke  Manners  broadcasts,  the  Art 
Green  program,  the  "Community  Re- 
porter," the  latter  to  originate  in  the 
lobby  of  Loew's  State  Theatre. 


Set  Deals  on  "Manchu" 

Radio  Attractions,  Inc.,  has  closed 
deals  with  three  more  stations  for 
broadcasting  rights  to  the  company's 
transcribed  series  "Shadow  of  Fu 
Manchu"  in  their  respective  terri- 
tories. The  stations  are  WHAS, 
Louisville;  WSAZ,  Huntington,  W. 
Va.,  and  WBNS,  Columbus. 


Fisher  to  White  House 

Sterling  Fisher,  CBS  director  of 
educational  broadcasts,  has  been  in- 
vited as  a  member  of  President  Roose- 
velt's White  House  conference  on 
Children  in  Democracy.  Fisher  will 
leave  for  Washington  April  26. 


Cooper  in  Guild  Show 

Deanna  Durbin,  Gary  Cooper,  Patsy 
Kelly  and  Parkyakarkus  will  appear  in 
an  original  musical  in  the  Screen  Act- 
ors' Guild  program  over  CBS  April 
23. 


Tuesday,  April  18,  19 


an  n  er 
LINES 


\  PRIL  8,  on  their  "Vox  Pop"  pr. 
/~\  gram,  Wally  Butterworth  ai 
Parks  Johnson  asked  their  rad 
audience  for  an  expression  of  opini 
on  the  query,  "Are  You  In  Favor 
Double  Bills  at  the  Movies?"  J* ' 
column  asked  for,  and  has  recei-^Jji 
breakdown  of  the  voting  from  the  pr 
ducers  of  the  show. 

Approximately  8,800  listeners  pE 
ticipated  in  the  contest,  and  the  voti 
was  as  close  as  a  photo  finish  at  t 
race  track — 49  per  cent  favored  doul 
bills,  and  51  per  cent  voted  agair 
the  practice.     Generally,  the  opini' 
of  those  for  the  double  features  wj, 
that  these  are  parlouos  times,  and  dui 
ing   such,  periods   a   bargain    is,  c 
should  be,  appreciated.     Those  wh 
are  against  double  features  generall 
feel  that  way  because  of  the  inferic 
entertainment   qualities    of   the  con 
panion  picture. 

It  seems  reasonable  to  assume  the 
the  49-51  percentage  is  typical  of  th 
nation.  The  "Vox  Pop"  program  i 
carried  over  23  stations  of  the  Re- 
network  of  XBC,  Saturday  nights,  a 
far  west  as  Kansas  City. 

T 

RCA  gratuitously  delivered  a  lovin:\ 
pat  to  newspapers  Sunday  in  the  sec- 
ond commercial  on  the  RCA  "Magi 
Key''  program.  Instead  of  trying  t. 
sell  radio  sets,  the  copy  was  devotd 
wholly  to  a  plug  of  newspapers.  Soni 
of  the  typical  expressions  were  .  . 
"your  key  to  the  riches  of  radio  i 
your  newspaper — the  program  time 
table  printed  there  daily  for  the  con 
venience  and  benefit  of  you  and  al 
other  listeners  .  .  .  your  newspaper  it 
providing  this  broadcast  infonnatiui 
performs  a  valuable  service  to  you  a: 
a  listener  .  .  .  your  newspaper  am 
your  radio,  com  pontons  for  your  en 
jovment." 

That's  a  step  in  the  right  direction 
and  it  should  be  carried  further  to  oc 
casionally  pay  tribute,  gratuitously,  t( 
the  motion  picture  industry  and  ti 
those  who  conduct  the  neighborhooi 
motion  picture  theatres. 

T 

Stuart  Allen  is  seriously  ill,  ant 
Barry  McKinley  will  fill  in  for  Al 
len  on  the  Georgie  Jessel  shows. 

▼ 

Paul  Whiteman's  orchestra  went  tc 
Boston  Sunday  night  to  play  a  concert 
in  the  Hub  City.  Schedule  called  for 
the  orchestra  to  play  "Cowbell  Sere- 
nade," Walter  Gross'  composition,  and 
as  the  expression  has  it,  pandemonium 
reigned  when  it  was  discovered  that' 
the  drummer  had  forgotten  to  cart 
along  the  three  bells,  tuned  to  the  keysi 
of  A,  D  and  F,  that  are  necessary 
for  proper  rendition  of  the  number. 
Hub  music  stores  were  scoured  fori 
bells  of  those  keys,  and  fortunately, 
were  obtained  in  time. 

— Jack  Banner 


Emerson  Show  on  WMCA 

Emerson  Radio  and  Phonograph  Co. 
begins  a  13-week  series  over  WMCA 
Monday,  to  be  heard  Mondays,  Wed- 
nesdays and  Fridays  thereafter.  Series 
is  to  be  a  news  broadcast  assembled 
from  International  News  Service  bul- 
letins. WMCA  also  will  feed  the  pro- 
gram to  WOL,  Washington.  Lightfoot 
Associates  placed  the  account. 


1  ^ 


28  WEST  44??  2!  AM 

YORK  ST*« 
Y. 


to  the^tion 
Picture 
Industry 


-'ON^PICTURE 


and 

Impartial 


45.  NO.  75 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  19,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


?ilm  Financing 
Df  Plays  Held 
Jnlikely  Now 

lee  No  Plan  Before  Fall; 
Guild  Report  Today 


With  the  legitimate  stage  season 
ilmost  at  an  end,  little  hope  is  held 
Sr  an  agreement  between  film  pro- 
ducers and  the  Dramatists'  Guild 
j/hich  will  bring  back  Hollywood 
nancing  before  the  late  fall.  After 
v  re  than  a  year  of  informal  confer- 
Inces,  the  guild  council  will  hear  its 
irst  report  at  a  meeting  today. 

With  many  important  angles  to  be 
|li>cussed,  the  plan  will  not  be  voted 
«P'>n  today  except  if  the  council  should 
i eject  entirely  the  idea  of  a  compro- 
mise with  film  backers.  Instead  the 
nasic  idea  will  be  considered  and 
v>bert  E.  Sherwood,  president,  will  be 
given  an  opportunity  to  express  his 
news  before  leaving  for  London  on 
lie  details  of  the  tentative  agreement 
lAhich  was  reached  by  a  negotiating 
mmmittee  consisting  of  Sidney  R. 
Fleisher,  theatrical  attorney,  J.  Robert 
Rubin,  vice-president  of  Loew's.  and 
fake  Wilk,  Warner  story  editor. 

Acceptance  Uncertain 

The  tentative  agreement,  however,  is 
far  from  a  complete  contract.  Its  ac- 
ceptance by  major  film  companies  is 
still  uncertain,  as  there  are  many 
points  concerning  the  responsibility 
tor  management  which  are  yet  unde- 
termined. If  it  is  accepted  by  both 
groups,  however,  approval  will  still 
have  to  be  obtained  from  the  League 
of  N.  Y.  Theatres,  which  is  a  party 
to  the  basic  agreement. 

Unless  the  idea  of  a  purchase  of  film 
rights  before  production  of  a  play  is 
completely  rejected  today,  the  council 
will  continue  consideration  of  the  pro- 
posed modifications  in  Sherwood's 
absence.  Sherwood  favors  the  plan 
and  does  not  wish  further  delays. 


Film  Council  Asks 
No  Quota  Changes 

London,  April  18.— Oliver 
Stanlev,  president  of  the 
British  Board  of  Trade,  de- 
clared today  in  the  House  of 
Commons  under  questioning 
by  Harry  Day  that  he  has  re- 
ceived no  representations 
from  the  Films  Council  call- 
ing for  variations  in  the 
quota  schedules  to  adjust  the 
alleged  deficiency  in  attrac- 
tive films. 


F.  C.  C.  Postpones 
Action  on  Setting 
Up  Television  Code 


Washington,  April  18.  —  Federal 
Communications  Commission  today 
suspended  action  on  establishment  of 
technical  standards  for  commercial 
operation  of  television  pending  further 
investigation. 

The  commission's  action  was  taken 
after  its  television  committee  returned 
from  inspection  of  New  York  and 
Philadelphia  plants. 

The  committee  revealed  that  cer- 
tain groups  believe  that,  from  a  tech- 
nical standpoint,  television  is  ready 
for  the  public.  Others,  however,  were 
found  to  hold  the  opinion  that  the 
standards  proposed  by  the  Radio  Man- 
ufacturers' Association  are  not  suffi- 
ciently flexible  to  permit  future  tech- 
nical development  without  the  danger 
of  rendering  obsolete  receivers  sold  in 
the  near  future. 

The  committee  will  gather  more  in- 
formation and  may  hold  public  hear- 
ings before  submitting  a  report  to  the 
commission. 


New  York  Fund  Film 
Group  Meets  Today 

Organization  meeting  of  the  motion 
1'icture  group  of  the  Greater  New 
York  Fund  annual  drive  will  be  held 
at  a  luncheon  in  the  north  ballroom 
of  the  Hotel  Astor  today.  Plans  will 
be  outlined  for  raising  the  $100,000 
quota  set  for  the  film  industry  and 
the  operation  of  the  group  will  be 
discussed. 

J.  Robert  Rubin.  Loew's  vice-presi- 
dent and  chairman  of  the  film  commit- 
tee, called  the  meeting  and  will  pre- 
side. Those  expected  are  Jesse  Mills, 
Maurice  Silverstone,  William  A.  Orr, 
Don  Mersereau,  Sam  Shain,  Austin 

(Continued  on  fiaoe  6) 


I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 
CALL  IS 


STRIKE 
AVERTED 


Distributors 
Planning  New 
Pact  Parleys 


Distributors'  trade  practice  commit- 
tee is  considering  starting  meetings 
next  week  on  elaboration  of  the  arbi- 
tration procedure  and  machinery  pro- 
vided in  the  trade  practice  code.  Arbi- 
tration provisions  were  left  open  for 
further  discussion  with  exhibitors. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  said  that  the  com- 
mittee meetings  will  start  when  sug- 
gestions for  revision  have  been  re- 
ceived from  all  exhibitor  organizations 
which  participated  in  the  negotiations. 
While  all  groups  have  expressed  them- 
selves, not  all  have  as  yet  submitted 
recommendations. 

The  distributors'  committee  desires 
full  discussion  of  the  code  by  exhibitor 
groups  and  welcomes  suggestions. 
However,  as  previously  emphasized, 
the  concessions  offered  will  not  be 
changed,  and  only  the  phraseology 
and  the  arbitration  setup  are  subject 
to  revision. 

Of  the  eight  or  nine  exhibitor  or- 
ganizations which  conferred  with  the 
distributors,  only  the  Intermountain 
Theatres  Association  of  Salt  Lake 
City  has  rejected  the  code  without 
qualification.  Details  of  the  objection 
have  not  been  made  known.  John 
Rugar  is  president  of  the  association. 


U.  S.  Plans  Radio  Station 
As  Link  to  Latin  America 


Washington,  April  18. — Establish- 
ment of  a  Government  radio  station, 
to  broadcast  American  programs  to 
Latin  America,  will  be  recommended 
in  a  report  on  foreign  radio  activities 
in  the  sister  republics  just  concluded 
by  Government  officials,  it  is  under- 
stood. 

The  officials,  headed  by  Frank  R. 
McNinch,  chairman  of  the  Federal 
Communications  Commission,  and  in- 
cluding representatives  of  the  Depart- 
ments of  State,  Interior,  Justice  and 
Commerce,  conducted  their  investiga- 
tion quietly. 

The  inquiry  has-  reached  the  report 
stage,  and  the  document,  when  com- 


pleted, will  be  placed  before  President 
Roosevelt.  Previous  attempts  to  pass 
legislation  for  the  construction  and 
maintenance  of  a  Government  station 
have  resulted  in  failure,  primarily  be- 
cause of  intercession  by  private  sta- 
tions, which  maintain  they  are  broad- 
casting a  sufficient  number  of  programs 
to  that  audience. 

The  report,  it  is  stated,  will  reveal 
that  Germany  and  Italy  are  extremely 
active  in  spreading  the  totalitarian 
philosophy  in  South  an^  Central 
America  in  news  broadcasts  two  and 
three  times  a  day.  The  broadcasts 
are  sent  by  short-wave  and  are  picked 
up  by  numbers  of  stations  and  re- 
broadcast  throughout  the  Americas. 


Four     Studio  Unions 
Ask  Browne  to  Put 
Off  Action 


Hollywood,  April  18. — George  E. 
Browne,  president  of  I.A.T.S.E.,  to- 
day was  asked  by  officers  of  four  stu- 
dio locals  to  withhold  a  general  strike 
call  pending  successful  consummation 
of  new  bargaining  agreements  with 
producers,  thus  ending  the  danger, 
temporarily  at  least,  of  an  industry- 
wide walkout. 

This  action  followed  immediately 
notification  to  locals  by  Victor  Clarke, 
producer-labor  contact  officer  and 
aide  of  Pat  Casey,  that  Casey,  now  in 
New  York,  would  return  to  the  coast 
within  two  weeks  "to  continue  nego- 
tiations for  a  new  agreement." 

Indicating  possible  settlement  of  in- 
tramural strife  of  Alliance  within  a 
short  time  were  the  postponement  to- 
day for  two  weeks  of  the  scheduled 
grand  jury  investigation  of  alleged 
labor  racketeering  involving  Alliance's 
two  percent  assessment  of  1936  and 
1937  and,  continuance  for  one  week  of 
Alliance  and  local  officers'  counter 
suits  in  Superior  Court. 

The  wire  to  Browne  in  New  York 
was  signed  by  Harold  V.  Smith,  inter- 
national officer  and  business  repre- 
sentative of  Sound  Technicians  695 ; 
Herbert  Aller,  Studio  Photographers 
659 ;  Thomas  C.  Bryan,  Laboratory 
Workers  683 ;  and  Lew  Blix,  acting 
for  Local  37. 

E.  H.  Fitzgerald  of  the  Federal 
Labor  Conciliation  Bureau,  is  investi- 
gating the  entire  intramural  and  ex- 
tramural turmoil  of  the  I.A.T.S.E. 
upon  orders  from  Washington.  Fitz- 
gerald said  tonight  he  is  not  entering 
the  picture  other  than  reporting  back 
to  his  superiors,  but  said  his  offices 
are  ready  to  bring  about  mediation 
of  the  disputes  if  desired. 


Nazis  Reported  to 
Have  Banned  'Fame' 

The  Nazis  have  banned 
three  American  and  two  Eng- 
lish publications,  according 
to  dispatches  from  Berlin  last 
night.  Among  them  are  the 
Saturday  Evening  Post  and 
Fame.  Quigley  Publications 
issues  an  annual  titled  Fame. 
No  other  publication  of  that 
name  is  known  in  New  York. 
Motion  Picture  Herald  was 
banned  by  the  German  Gov- 
ernment about  a  year  ago. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  April  19,  1939 


31  New  Films  Are 
Shooting  on  Coast 

Hollywood,  April  18. — Thirty-one 
pictures  are  before  the  cameras  this 
week,  as  six  started  and  nine  finished. 
Thirty-one  are  being  prepared,  and  54 
are  being  edited. 

Started  were:  "Golden  Boy,"  Col- 
umbia ;  "Andy  Hardy  Gets  Spring 
Fever,"  M-G-M ;  "Down  the  Wyom- 
ing Trail,"  Monogram ;  "The  Star 
Maker,"  "Lawful  Outlaws,"  Para- 
mount ;  "Tidal  Wave,"  Republic. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  were : 
"Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris,  Too,"  "Mr. 
Smith  Goes  to  Washington,"  Colum- 
bia ;  "Music  School,"  Goldwyn ;  "On 
Borrowed  Time,"  "Mazie  Was  a 
Lady."  M-G-M ;  "Geronimo,"  "What 
a  Life,"  "Million  Dollar  Legs,"  "The 
Cat  and  the  Canary,"  "Heaven  on  a 
Shoestring,"  Paramount ;  "Little 
Mother,"  "Five  Came  Back,"  "The 
Dove,"  RKO;  "All  the  Tomorrows," 
Republic ;  "Gone  With  the  Wind," 
Selznick;  "The  Man  in  the  Iron 
Mask,"  Small ;  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln," 
"Second  Fiddle,"  "It  Could  Happen 
to  You,"  "East  Side,  West  Side," 
20th  Century-Fox ;  "The  Sun  Never 
Sets,"  "Old  Grad,"  Universal ;  "The 
Old  Maid,"  "Give  Me  a  Child," 
"Lighthorse  Harry,"  Warners. 

Finished  were :  "The  Power  to 
Kill,"  Darmour-Columbia ;  "Arizona 
Cowboy,"  Columbia;  "6,000  Enemies," 
M-G-M ;  "Wolf  Call,"  Monogram ; 
"Racketeers  of  the  Range,"  RKO ; 
"Headin'  for  Texas,"  Republic ;  "Ex- 
Champ,"  "They  Asked  for  It,"  Uni- 
versal;  "Battle  of  City  Hall,"  War- 
ners. 

Columbia  started  one  short  subject 
and  finished  it.  M-G-M  is  preparing 
two,  and  RKO,  one.  Fifteen  are  being 
edited. 


Reserve  Decision  in 
Patent  Suit  of  Crites 

After  a  trial  lasting  almost  a  month, 
Federal  Judge  Mortimer  W.  Byers 
yesterday  reserved  decision  on  a  pat 
ent  suit  brought  by  Virgil  C.  Crites 
against  Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Al 
bert  A.  Radtke,  Leonard  Day,  Thomas 
J.  Martin,  Radtke  Patents  Corp.,  and 
United  Research  Corp.,  a  Warner 
subsidiary. 

The  suit,  which  seeks  an  injunction 
and  an  accounting  of  profits,  involves 
assignment  of  a  patent  providing 
"methods  of  and  means  for  optically 
recording  and  reproducing  sound."  It 
was  brought  in  1937. 

Warners  were  brought  into  the  suit 
indirectly,  according  to  attorneys.  The 
suit  is  described  as  a  contract  action 
in  which  Crites  claims  he  is  entitled 
to  the  patent  under  an  alleged  agree- 
ment with  Radtke,  who  invented  the 
system  while  working  for  Crites. 
Homer  G.  Tasker,  former  president 
of  the  Society  of  Motion  Picture  En- 
gineers, was  a  witness  for  the  defense. 
Joseph  D.  Karp  was  trial  lawyer  for 
Warners. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


WILLIAM  BOEHNEL,  Morris, 
Helperin,  Monroe  Greenthal, 
Morris  Kinzler,  Fred  Meyers,  Max 
Fellerman,  Ike  Libson,  Joel  Swen- 
son,  Lester  Jacob,  Al  Margolies, 
Carlos  Israels,  Myer  Beck,  Jack 
Sichelman,  Abe  Schneider  and 
Louis  Weinberg  lunching  in  Lindys 
yesterday. 

• 

Fred  Astaire  sailed  yesterday  on 
the  Georgia  for  a  vacation  in  Eng- 
and,  where  he  will  visit  his  sister, 
Lady  Cavendish. 

• 

Mrs.  B.  J.  Gottlieb,  wife  of  the 
general  manager  of  Vedis  Films,  Inc., 
arrived  on  the  lie  de  France  after 
spending  four  years  in  Europe.  She 
was  accompanied  by  their  daughter, 
Joyce. 

• 

Cliff  Lewis  of  the  Paramount 
studio  publicity  department,  is  in  Cin- 
cinnati arranging  advance  publicity  on 
the  arrival  of  the  "Union  Pacific" 
train. 

M.  J.  Siegel,  Republic  production 
head,  is  not  attending  the  regional 
sales  meetings,  due  to  pressure  of  work 
at  the  studio. 

• 

N.  Napoli,  Amkino  executive,  has 
flown  to  the  coast  for  a  10-day  stay. 


FRED  W.  LANGE,  Paramount's 
general  foreign  representative  in 
Continental  Europe,  sails  today  on  the 
Conte  di  Savoia  from  Europe  for  home 
office  conferences  with  John  W. 
Hicks,  foreign  department  head. 
• 

George  Friedl,  director  of  the  sound 
engineering  division  of  International 
Projector  Corp.,  flew  to  the  S.M.P.E. 
convention  on  the  coast  and  will  re- 
main in  Hollywood  for  several  weeks. 
• 

Godfrey  Tearle  and  Margaret 
Rawlings,  co-stars  of  "The  Flashing 
Stream,"  sailed  for  England  yesterday 
on  the  Georgic.  A.  E.  Matthews, 
English  actor,  also  was  aboard. 
• 

Louise   Rousseau    of   the  RKO 
Pathe  production  staff  has  left  for  a 
tour  of  midwestern  exchanges. 
• 

Charles  Light,  David  Palfrey- 
man  and  Vivien  ne  Segal  today  cele- 
brate their  birthdays. 

• 

Ben  Kalmenson,  western  and 
southern  sales  manager  for  Warners, 
yesterday  left  on  a  three-week  tour 
of  his  territory. 

H.  M.  Richey  of  RKO  returns 
from  Columbus  today. 


To  Place  Television 
In  G.  B.  Office  Here 

First  installations  of  Baird  television 
apparatus  will  be  in  the  offices  here  of 
Gaumont  British.  The  apparatus  will 
be  brought  here  by  I.  C.  Javal,  com- 
mercial director  of  Baird  Television, 
who  arrives  April  28  with  a  staff  of 
engineers. 

The  theatre  now  used  by  Gaumont 
British  as  a  projection  room  will  be 
wired  for  television  and  thereafter  the 
different  models  of  home  television 
apparatus  manufactured  by  Baird  in 
England  will  be  demonstrated  here. 


Delay  "Mamlock"  Verdict 

Providence,  April  18. — R  h  o  d  e 
Island  Supreme  Court  reserved  de- 
cision today  after  a  hearing  on  police 
censorship  of  Amkino's  "Professor 
Mamlock,"  scheduled  to  play  the  Avon 
here. 


100  Booths  Expected 
At  Allied  Exposition 

About  half  of  the  exhibition  space 
at  the  New  York  Allied  annual  con- 
vention and  exposition,  at  the  Hotel 
Astor,  May  23  to  25,  has  already  been 
spoken  for,  according  to  E.  Thornton 
Kelly,  executive  secretary  and  gen 
eral  chairman  of  the  event.  There  will 
be  close  to  100  booths  for  equipment 
manufacturers  and  supply  companies, 
as  well  as  film  companies. 

Max  A.  Cohen,  president  of  Allied, 
will  call  a  meeting  of  the  large  re- 
ception committee  in  a  few  days.  All 
exhibitors  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada  will  be  invited. 


Postpone  Adelphi  Case 

Chicago,  April  18. — Adelphi  Thea- 
tre anti-trust  case  here,  scheduled  to 
be  heard  today,  has  been  postponed  to 
May  15,  as  attorneys  for  both  sides 
are  engaged  on  other  cases  at  this 
time. 


Continue  N.H.  Vaudeville 

New  Haven,  April  18. — Arena  has 
again  scheduled  seven  acts  of  vaude- 
ville, topped  by  a  big  name  band  for 
Sunday  April  30,  with  Mai  Hallett  as 
the  star.  Paul  Whiteman  and  Glen 
Gray  drew  packed  houses  at  previous 
Sunday  engagements.  The  vaudeville 
is  a  trial  policy  for  this  sports  arena. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Important  events  such  as  Roose- 
velt's Pan-American  speech,  the  naval 
fleet  ordered  to  the  Pacific  and  Lind- 
bergh's return  to  America  are  in- 
cluded in  all  the  new  issues,  contents 
of  which  follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  63— Roosevelt 
speaks.  Fleet  called  to  Pacific.  Blast 
sunken  ship.  Lindbergh  and  Barbara  Hut- 
ton  return  to  U.  S.  Beck  in  England. 
French  president  reelected.  Fashions.  Lew 
Lehr.  Jamaica  racetrack  opens.  Baer  in 
training.    Crew  race. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  261— Pan- 
American  address.  Fleet  ordered  to  west 
coast.  Lebrun  reelected.  Lindbergh  and 
Hutton  arrive  in  New  York.  Reenact 
Washington's  inaugural  trip.  Dynamite 
wrecked  boat.    Wrestling.    Horse  racing. 


PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  74— Lind- 
bergh arrives.  Washington's  journey  to 
New  York  is  reenacted.  Sculpture  display. 
Working  girls  home  is  opened.  Peace  plea. 
Roosevelt  pledges  support  to  Pan- America; 
message  sent  abroad.  Fleet  ordered  to  west 
coast.  Bruins  win  hockey  title.  Wrestling. 
Racing  at  Jamaica. 

RKO  FATHE  NEWS,  No.  78—  Roose- 
velt's Pan-American  speech.  Pittman 
speaks.  Fleet  prepares  for  Pacific  de- 
parture. Reelection  of  Lebrun.  Pageant 
of  Washington's  journey.  Nazis  welcome 
new  protector.  Stanley  Cup  final  game. 
Kentucky  derby  preview. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL.  No.  763- 
Washington's  inaugural  ride  reenacted. 
Roosevelt  speaks.  Lindbergh  and  Hutton 
arrive.  Airplane  factory  in  England. 
Yankee  Clipper  returns.  Tornado  hits  mid- 
west. Sculptors  Guild  Show.  Jamaica  track 
opens. 


'Mexicana'  to  Open 

Sponsored  by  the  Mexican 
Government,  "Mexicana,"  a 
musical  record  of  Mexico's 
historical  highlights,  opens 
tonight  at  the  46th  St.  Sam 
Spiegel  is  the  director,  and 
Mexico  itself  is  the  producer. 
There  is  a  cast  of  142. 


Bandit  Steals  Cast; 
Car,  Film  Equipment 

Scranton,  April  18. — J  o  s  e  p  h 
Janush  of  West  Harford,  Conn.,  is 
recounting  a  disastrous  trip  to  the 
mining  town  of  Duryea,  near  here. 

Janush  showed  several  reels  of 
Lithuanian  travel  pictures  in  St. 
Joseph's  Lithuanian  Church,  Duryea. 
After  the  audience  departed,  Janush 
packed  his  projection  equipment  in  hi: 
car  in  front  of  the  church.  He  placei 
the  last  piece  of  equipment,  a  seven 
foot  screen,  when  an  unmasked  bandit 
opened  the  door  to  his  car  and  asked 
for  a  ride. 

Janush  refused  and  the  bandit 
stepped  into  the  car,  stuck  a  revolver 
in  his  ribs  and  ordered  him  to  start. 
Janush  drove  to  an  isolated  spot  three 
miles  away,  where  the  bandit  took 
$110  in  cash,  the  car  and  film  equip- 
ment, which  Janush  valued  at  $7,000. 
Moreover,  Janush  had  to  walk  three 
miles  in  the  rain  before  he  reached  the 
Duryea  police. 


Union  25  Years  Old 

Scranton,  Pa.,  April  18.— Scranton 
Local  No.  329,  projectionists'  union, 
observed  the  25th  anniversary  of  its 
founding  with  a  dinner-dance.  Guests 
of  honor  among  the  300  attending  in- 
cluded the  five  surviving  members  of 
the  group  of  eight  who  founded  the 
local  in  1914. 


Purchases  French  Film 

E.  I.  Lopert,  president  of  Juiio 
Films,  has  purchased  American  dis- 
tribution rights  to  "The  End  of  the 
Day"  French  film  directed  by  Julien 
Duvivier. 


'Prentice'  Is  Retitled 

M-G-M  has  set  "Stronger  Than 
Desire"  as  the  new  title  for  "Evelyn 
Prentice." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
ai.  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  — -Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building.  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address.  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


HARDY 
LAUGHS 


1 


loL 


1 


■ 


at  the 


HELD 
OVER 
2nd 
WEEK 


"Crowded  house  rocked  with  hilarity!** 

—■Bland  Jokanetou,  Mirror 

"Highly  entertaining.  Recommended  without  reserva- 
tions." —Howard  Bona,  Herald-Tribune 

"A  sheer  delight  from  beginning  to  end!" 

—  Wm.  Boehnel,  World-Telegram 

"  Thoroughly  enjoyable  .  .  .  human,  down-to-earth!" 

—Rot*  Petsv.cJt.  Journal* American 

"Up  to  the  high  M-G-M  standard.  Hearty  comedy." 

—  Kate  Cameron,  Newt 

"Audience  has  plenty  of  fun  watching  the  Hardys 
ride  high  and  handsome!"  — Eileen  Creetman,  Sun 

"What  could  be  a  slicker  treat ...  a  swell  time  is  had 
by  all."  —Archer  hVmHen,  Pott 

Don't  Miss 

'  The  HARDYS  RIDE  HIGH 

Th.,  b.c.m«  mlllien.mt  .v.mightl) 

Metro  •  Goldwyn  •  Mayer's  Springtime  Tonic  with 
LEWIS  STONE  ■  MICKEY  ROONEY  •  CECILIA 
PARKER    •    FAY  HOLDEN    •   Directed  b  George  Seil; 

Screen  play  by  Atnei  Christine  Johnston.  Kay  Van  Rtper.William  Ludu 


// 


Metro- 
LEWIS 
PARKI 

H     Screen  play 


[Above  from  extra-space  ad  campaign) 


Note  to  Ad*men! 

Use  this  cartoon  in  your 
campaign.  You  can  repro- 
duce direct  from  the  above. 


HOLD-OVER 
BUSINESS! 

2nd  Week  at  Big  Capitol,  N.Y.,  is  your 
tip-off  to  hold  extra  time  open! 

{And  the  next  in  M-G-M's  Springtime  Fanfare  of  Hits  is  Myrna  Loy,  RobertTaylor  in  "Lucky  Night.'} 

And  more  lucky  nights  and  days  thereafter!) 


THE  STANDARD 


aii  SAMUE 


app* 


FRANK 

mb.  baw»  Scan*. 

HOIli«OOI>  •  CA  „„»,«  — »• 


eciates 


"  'WUTHERING  HEIGHTS'  IS  A  MASTE 


BRILLIANT  DIRECTION .  .  .  When  i  -nmM-i  the  a,,.,,,., 

the  complete  confidence  of  a  producer  who  has  implicit  faith  in  the  t 
of  this  film  has  more  than  justified  my  faith  in  him  and  in  his  talents.  I 
the  Press,  in  expressing  to  Mr.  Wyler  my  keen  appreciation  of  a  truly  bn 


»F  SHOWMANSHIP 


OLD WYN  Productions 


fD3iT.  an-*   ver'fies... 


T-    REGARDS.  STjW- 


IN  EVERY  SENSE  OF  THE  WORD!" 


(JOHN  HOBART,  San  Francisco  Chronicle) 


THERING  HEIGHTS  to  William  Wyler,  it  was  ivith 
his  director.  Needless  to  say,  Mr.  Wylers  direction 
i  the  other  members  of^my  organization,  and  with 
of  screen  direction.^J^^ 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


6 

Iowa  T.  0.  Takes 
No  Action  on  Pact 

Des  Moines,  April  18.— Allied 
I.  T.  O.  of  Iowa  and  Nebraska  wound 
up  a  two-day  session  here  without  ac- 
cepting or  rejecting  the  proposed 
trade  practice  code.  Unanimous  en- 
dorsement was  given  to  the  Neely 
bill.  The  meeting  decided  that  the 
trade  practice  draft  represented  an 
advance  but  was  inadequate  to  over- 
come all  abuses. 

Leo  F.  Wolcott,  president,  presided 
at  the  convention,  which  was  held  at 
the  Kirkwood  Hotel.  Discussion  of 
rentals  occupied  the  major  part  of  the 
morning  session.  Present  terms,  it  was 
said,  are  out  of  line  with  business  con- 
ditions and  tentative  plans  were  made 
for  district  meetings  later  to  discuss 
the  subject  further.  H.  E.  Rehfield, 
owner  of  the  Iowa,  Bloomfield,  was 
elected  to  the  board  of  directors  to  fill 
the  unexpired  term  of  M.  R.  Blair, 
of  Cedar  Falls,  who  resigned.  Re- 
public entertained  the  members  with 
a  special  screening  of  "Man  of  Con- 
quest." 

RCA  Suit  Application 
Will  Be  Heard  Today 

Application  to  the  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  of  Benjamin  M.  Colder,  holder 
of  1,500  shares  of  common  stock  of 
RCA;  Frank  Blum,  holder  of  100 
shares,  and  Anna  Weill,  holder  of  100 
shares,  will  be  heard  today  for  per- 
mission to  intervene  in  the  stockhold- 
ers' suit  against  RCA,  its  officers  and 
directors ;  American  Telephone  & 
Telegraph  Co.,  Westinghouse  Co.  and 
General  Electric  Co. 

Golder  claims  to  hold  more  shares 
than  the  combined  stockholders  of 
eight  previous  suits  consolidated  by 
direction  of  Justice  Aaron  J.  Levy 
on  March  21.  Defendants  are  charged 
with  the  transfer  of  a  large  block  of 
RCA  stock  without  compensation  to 
the  company. 

New  York  Fund  Film 
Group  Meets  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Keough,  Harold  Rodner,  W.  C. 
Michel,  Ned  Depinet,  J.  Cheever  Cow- 
din,  Harry  Buckley,  B.  S.  Moss, 
Fred  Schwartz,  Lawrence  Bolognino, 
Joseph  Seider,  William  Morris,  Jr., 
William  Pizor,  C.  H.  Secor,  Jean 
Lenauer,  Al  Senft,  C.  C.  Moskowitz, 
Maurice  Kann,  Nate  Spingold,  Jack 
Alicoate,  Harry  Brandt,  Martin  Quig- 
ley,  W.  Ray  Johnston,  James  R. 
Grainger,  Major  L.  E.  Thompson, 
Samuel  Cocalis,  Samuel  Rinzler,  Wal- 
ter Reade,  Eddie  Rugoff,  Max  Cohen, 
Fredric  March,  Herbert  J.  Yates,  Jo- 
seph Burstyn,  Charles  O'Reilly,  Her- 
man Robbins,  Charles  Casanave, 
Samuel  Strassburg. 


C.  E.  A.  Elects  Mears 

London,  April  18. — Harry  Mears 
today  was  elected  vice-president  of  the 
Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion, in  a  runoff  election  following  a 
tie  for  the  position  at  the  C.E.A.  an- 
nual elections  recently. 


'Waltzes'  Opens  Monday 

"Three  Waltzes,"  French  Film,  will 
open  Monday  at  the  Filmarte  for  an 
extended  run.  The  picture  is  released 
here  by  Vedis  Films,  Inc. 


Bertha  Kalich  Dies 

Bertha  Kalich,  64,  died  last 
night  at  Beth  Israel  Hospital 
where  she  had  been  a  patient 
since  Thursday. 

She  was  famous  for  years 
as  an  actress  on  the  Yiddish 
stage,  appearing  at  the  old 
Thalia  Theatre  on  the  East 
Side,  and  later  played  English 
speaking  roles  and  was  in  pic- 
tures. She  started  her  career 
in  Lemberg  in  the  early 
1890's,  and  retired  eight  years 
ago  because  of  an  eye  ail- 
ment. 


Projection,  Sound 
Sessions  at  SMPE 


Hollywood,  April  18. — Visit  to 
Paramount  studios,  a  projection  ses- 
sion and  the  first  of  three  sound  ses- 
sions featured  the  second  day  of  the 
Society  of  Motion  Picture  Engineers' 
spring  convention.  The  studio  visit 
was  under  the  direction  of  Loren  L. 
Ryder,  director  of  recording. 

During  the  morning  session  on  pro- 
jection, papers  read  were  "Screen 
Color  and  Brightness,"  by  H.  C.  Har- 
cus,  Technicolor;  "Motion  Picture  in 
Education,"  by  A.  Shapiro,  Ampro 
Corp. ;  "Lamps  and  Optical  Systems 
for  Sound  Reproduction,"  by  F.  E. 
Carlson,  General  Electric;  "Status  of 
Lens  Making  in  America,"  by  W.  B. 
Rayton  and  G.  Giroux,  Technicolor, 
and  "A  Sound-Track  Projection  Mi- 
croscope," by  G.  M.  Best  of  War- 
ners.   H.  W.  Remerschied  presided. 

W.  B.  Boynton,  of  Bausch  & 
Lomb,  drew  enthusiastic  response 
when  he  declared  at  the  morning  ses- 
sion that  American  lens  makers  no 
longer  depend  upon  European  sources 
for  raw  materials  or  technological 
genius. 

B.  F.  Miller  was  chairman  of  the 
sound  session  at  the  Filmarte,  when 
the  following  papers  were  read : 
"Methods  of  Using  and  Coordinating 
Photoelectric  Exposure  Meters  at  the 
20th  Century-Fox  Studio,"  by  D.  B. 
Clark,  20th  Century-Fox ;  "Present 
Technical  Status  of  16mm.  Sound-on- 
Film,"  by  J.  A.  Maurer,  Berndt- 
Maurer  Corp. ;  "Recording  and  Re- 
producing Characteristics,"  by  K.  F. 
Morgan  and  D.  P.  Loye,  Erpi ;  "An- 
alysis and  Measurement  of  Distortion 
in  Variable-Density  Recording,"  by  J. 
G.  Frayne  and  R.  R.  Scoville,  Erpi ; 
and  "A  New  Film  Playback,"  by  D. 
G.  Jones. 


N.  Y.  Allied  to  Meet 

Syracuse,  April  18. — Formulation 
of  a  new  clearance  and  zoning  plan 
for  this  city  will  be  discussed  at  a 
meeting  of  New  York  Allied  here  on 
Thursday.  Other  local  problems  will 
be  discussed  and  the  first  of  the  -se- 
ries of  Allied's  patriotic  trailers  will 
be  screened.  Rapley  E.  Merriman, 
regional  vice-president,  will  preside. 


New  Fleischer  Cartoon 

A  new  cartoon  series  to  be  known 
as  "Stoneage"  will  be  made  by 
Fleischer  studio  for  Paramount  release 
next  season.  The  series  will  consist 
of  12  subjects  annually  and  will  be 
based  on  the  adventures  of  prehistoric 
characters  originated  by  the  studio. 


Erpi  Unveils  Huge 
Fair  Sound  System 

Erpi  yesterday  unveiled  a  20-ton 
sound  system,  the  largest  ever  built, 
at  General  Motors'  Highways  and 
Horizon  exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair. 
The  system,  which  took  more  than 
two  years  to  build  and  cost  $250,- 
000,  is  an  integral  part  of  the  ex- 
hibit and  the  "voice"  of  Norman  Bel 
Geddes'  diorama  of  the  country's  su- 
per-highway system  and  city  planning 
as  he  envisions  it  will  be  in  1960. 

More  than  200  persons,  including 
film  executives  and  representatives  of 
Western  Electric,  A.T.&T.  and  Erpi, 
attended  the  preview,  being  trans- 
ported in  special  cars  from  Penn  Sta- 
tion to  the  Fair  grounds. 

Among  those  attending  the  preview 
were  Major  Albert  Warner,  Harry  D. 
Buckley,  Carl  E.  Milliken,  E.  W. 
Hammons,  Ned  E.  Deoinet,  E.  T. 
Hines,  E.  B.  Hatrick,  Al  Finestone, 
Charles  D.  Prutzman,  Charles  Ketter- 
ing, vice-president  of  General  Motors, 
T.  K.  Stevenson,  president  of  Erpi,  I. 
Howard  Levinson,  Sam  Schneider, 
and  a  number  of  A.T.&T.,  Western 
Electric  and  Erpi  officials,  including 
J.  F.  Behan,  T.  Brooks  Price,  J.  W. 
Bancker  and  F.  W.  Bierwirth,  who 
supervised  the  system's  construction. 


Para.  English  Sales 
Meeting  May  5  to  7 

David  E.  Rose,  managing  director 
of  Paramount  Film  Service,  Ltd.,  of 
Great  Britain  and  Ireland,  plans  his 
first  general  sales  convention  in  Lon- 
don May  5-7. 

Branch  managers,  salesmen  and  ad 
salesmen  of  all  the  Paramount  ex- 
changes of  England,  Scotland,  Wales 
and  Ireland  will  attend  the  meetings. 
New  Paramount  product,  including 
"Union  Pacific,"  will  be  screened  for 
the  delegates. 


Transfer  Para.  Suit 

Transfer  of  the  minority  stockhold- 
ers' suit  against  Paramount  Pictures, 
Inc.,  and  its  officers  and  directors 
from  the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  to  the 
Federal  Court  was  effected  yesterday 
when  complaint  was  filed  in  the  Fed- 
eral Court.  Parties  to  the  action 
stipulated  last  week  to  the  change  in 
court.  Suit  charges  waste,  mismanage- 
ment and  excessive  salaries  and 
bonuses  to  Paramount  officials. 


Certificates  Off  Board 

In  connection  with  Warners'  deben- 
ture exchange  plan,  which  is  now  ef- 
fective, the  New  York  Stock  Ex- 
change has  suspended  from  dealings 
the  company's  certificates  of  deposit 
for  optional  six  per  cent  convertible 
debentures,  due  next  Sept.  1.  The 
Exchange  has  admitted  to  listing  and 
to  dealings  the  company's  six  per  cent 
debentures  due  Sept.  1,  1948. 


Col.  Sets  New  Shorts 

A  new  series  of  six  one-reel  sub- 
jects titled  "Fools  Who  Made  History," 
will  be  released  by  Columbia  as  part 
of  its  new  season  short  subjects  pro- 
gram. The  series,  which  will  present 
biographies  of  distinguished  individuals, 
will  be  produced  by  Hugh  McCollum. 
Jan  LeMan  will  write  and  direct  the 
subjects. 


Wednesday,  April  19,  193 

Board  of  20th-Fox 
Named  Unanimously 


All  directors  of  20th  Century-Fo: 
were  reelected  unanimously  at  the  an 
nual  stockholders'  meeting  yesterda; 
at  the  home  office.  The  directors  me 
immediately  afterward  and  reelects 
all  present  officers. 

About  35  persons  attended  Mt^i 
stockholders'  meeting.  The  annuff  ' 
port  was  unanimously  approved  am 
no  questions  were  asked.  Represents 
at  the  meeting  were  340,783  shares  o 
preferred  stock  and  1,100,990  share 
of  common  stock,  of  a  total  of  935, 
514  preferred  and  1,741,985  commoi 
outstanding. 

'Union  Pacific'  Tour 
Train  Schedule  Set 

Hollywood,  April  18. — A  complete 
train  schedule  has  been  arranged  fo 
the  special  which  will  tour  45  citie 
to  mark  the  opening  of  Paramount' 
"Union  Pacific"  in  Omaha  on  Apri 
28.  The  train  leaves  here  on  Apri. 
24.  It  will  carry  Cecil  B.  DeMille 
producer  director  of  the  picture ;  Bar 
bara  Stanwyck  and  Joel  McCrea,  co 
stars,  and  others.  The  train  is  sched 
uled  to  arrive  at  Buffalo  on  May  i 
and  after  a  tour  of  eastern  cities  wil 
start  back  west  on  May  8.  It  is  dui 
back  here  on  May  17. 

Action  on  Agency  am 
Billboard  Bills  Seer 

Albany,  April  18. — Action  on  th< 
measures  to  regulate  fees  for  employ 
ment  agencies  and  billboard  advertis 
ing  is  expected  before  adjournment  o! 
the  legislature.  The  employment 
agency  bill  most  likely  to  be  adoptee 
is  the  Ostertag  measure.  The  out 
door  advertising  issue  is  taken  care  o 
in  the  Stagg-Todd  measure.  Opposi 
tion  of  sign  painters  and  organizec 
labor  may  bring  about  a  compromise 
on  the  bill  but  it  is  expected  that  the 
question  of  curtailing  outdoor  adver- 
tising will  be  settled  at  this  session. 

Trustee  and  Donovan 
Get  RKO  Allowances] 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  yes- 
terday granted  an  ad  interim  allow! 
ance  of  $37,500  to  the  Irving  Trust 
Co.,  as  trustee  of  RKO,  and  $65,000. 
plus  $588  in  disbursements  to  Col; 
William  J.  Donovan,  as  attorney  foi 
the  Irving  Trust.  Allowances,  which 
cover  the  period  of  Oct.  1,  1937,  tc 
Sept.  30,  1938,  bring  the  total  awarder 
Col.  Donovan  to  $310,000,  and  the 
Irving  Trust  to  $192,500.  Col.  Dono- 
van had  requested  $95,000,  the  Irving 
Trust  $85,000. 


Urges  Suit  Settlement 

Cleveland,  April  18. — Judge  Lee- 
E.  Skeel  has  advised  Pacel  Gasdano- 
vic,  operator  of  the  LaSalle  here, 
and  20th  Century-Fox,  Warners  and 
Paramount  to  settle  a  clearance  dis- 
pute, in  view  of  the  fact  that  the  sea- 
son is  almost  over.  Plaintiff  seeks  an 
injunction  to  prevent  prior  or  simul- 
taneous service  to  the  new  Shore  on 
the  ground  that  his  contract  calls  for 
clearance.  Judge  Skeel  adjourned  the 
injunction  plea  to  permit  the  parties 
to  settle  but  will  hear  it  later  if  no 
agreement  is  reached. 


eanesday,  April  19,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Short  Subjects 

"March  of  Time,  No.  9" 

RKO) 

I  An  unusual  and  highly  interesting 
►sight  into  the  troubled  situation  in 
|e  Far  East  is  presented  in  this 
iarch  of  Time  reel,  "Japan :  Master 
the  Orient." 

Starting  with  a  view  of  Japanese  in- 
and  the  methods  used  in  meet- 
j£"*ar  time  industrial  demands,  the 
•lei  records  the  Japanese  advance  in- 
!  the  coastal  area  of  China.  From 
[ere,  the  camera  proceeds  to  Man- 
tukuo  to  show  the  difficulties  Japan 
encountering  in  subduing  the  popu- 
ttion  there.    A  final  shot  of  the  in- 
rnational  section  in  Shanghai  con- 
fudes  the  subject.    It  is  done  well  and 
iould  hold  audience  interest  through- 
it.    Running  time,  19  mins.  "G."* 
V   

Jitterbug  Follies" 

M-G-M) 

Milt  Gross  introduces  Count  Screw- 
'ocse  and  the  Wonder  Dog  to  the  ani- 
li'.ted  cartoon  field  and  the  result  is 
s  funny  as  any  that  hit  the  Sunday 
□inic  sections.  The  Count  and  his 
tog  arrange  a  jitterbug  contest  and 
ire  prepared  to  leave  town  with  the 
'rize  money  when  a  citizens'  commit- 
pc  comes  around  to  insure  fair  play. 
\tter  four  or  five  acts,  the  Count's 
ersistcnt  efforts  to  abscond  result  in 

free-for-all.  Running  time,  9  mins. 
G."* 


'Stranger  Than  Fiction" 

l  'nwersal ) 

Ingenious  as  ever,  this  John  Hix 
eel  presents  a  number  of  people  with 
t  range   occupations    and  avocations, 
presented  are  a  cotton-mill  worker 
j*ho    builds    miniature    farms  from 
purnt  matches ;  a  youthful  owner  of 
jn  animal  art  who  teaches  tricks  to 
;oets;  a  woman  whose  job  is  to  handle 
t  railroad  switch  tower ;  a  Manhat- 
tan tailor  whose  hobby,  photography, 
s  bringing  him  fame  in  the  art  world ; 
*nd  a   number  of  other  interesting 
Studies.  Running  time,  9  mins.  "G."* 


^Canadian  Film  Board 
Facing  Senate  Fight 

'■  Toronto,  April  18. — Final  reading 
»f  the  bill  in  the  Canadian  Senate  to 

'provide  for  the  creation  of  a  National 
Film  Board  in  the  Dominion  has  been 

|.K'ld  up  because  of  strenuous  objec- 

tions  on  the  part  of  a  group  of  Sen- 
iors headed  by  Arthur  Mieghen, 
Conservative  leader,  who  assert  that 
the  proposed  board  means  increased 

Expenditure  for  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment as  well  as  a  duplication  of  public 

service. 

There  is  also  the  argument  that  the 
scope  of  the  board  will  grow  by  stages 

(Until  it  will  control  the  whole  film 
business  of  the  country  in  the  manner 

.that  radio  broadcasting  has  been 
usurped  by  the  Canadian  Broadcasting 

iCorp. 

1   

Forbid  Biological  Films 

London,  April  18. — Certain  biologi- 
cal films  made  for  scientific  purposes 
have  been  refused  public  showing  by 
the  Middlesex  Countv  Council,  be- 
cause they  "would  be  offensive  to  pub- 
lic taste  and  feeling."  The  films  are 
purely  biological  with  a  commentary 
in  technical  language. 


*Love  Affair'  Does 
$10,000,  Montreal 


Montreal,  April  18. — "Love  Af- 
fair" grossed  $10,000  at  the  Palace, 
as  the  wintry  weather  continued  to 
play  havoc  with  business  generally. 

The  fourth  week  of  "Pygmalion"  at 
Loew's  accounted  for  $5,500.  "Okla- 
homa Kid"  replaced  the  withdrawn 
"Devil's  Island"  as  the  first  feature  at 
the  Princess  and  the  take  was  $6,500. 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  replaced  the 
withdrawn  "Wuthering  Heights"  at 
the  Orpheum  and  grossed  $4,500,  com- 
pared with  $5,000  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  15  : 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"Ambush"  (Para.) 

CAPITOL — (2.547)      (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $7,500.    (Average.  $S,000) 
"Ballerina"  (G.  N.) 

HIS  MAJESTY'S— (1.700)  (25c-35c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2.800)     (30c-40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500,  4th  week.    (Average.  $7,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 
"Nancy  Drew,  Detective"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

PALACE— (2.600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average.  $10,000) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 
"Off  the  Record"  (W.  B.) 

PRINCESS — (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $6,500.    (Average.  $6,500) 


Fight  Film  Exemption 
From  Ohio  Sales  Tax 

Columbus,  April  18. — A  petition 
has  been  filed  in  Franklin  County 
Court  of  Appeals  by  John  V.  Bost- 
wick,  as  a  taxpayer,  against  14  Ohio 
distributors  in  which  the  State  Tax 
Commission's  authority  to  exempt  film 
rentals  from  the  sales  tax  is  chal- 
lenged. He  asks  a  court  order  to  col- 
lect approximately  $750,000  claimed 
due  the  state  from  the  distributors' 
unpaid  tax  on  rentals. 

Complainant  objects  to  the  commis- 
sion's regulation  that  sales  tax  shall 
not  be  collected  where  the  right  to 
use  personal  property  is  conferred  by 
payment  of  an  admission  charge. 
"Rental  of  items  of  tangible  property 
and  retail  sales  of  such  items  are  the 
basis  for  collection  of  tax,"  the  peti- 
tion recites. 

Distributors  named  are :  Big  Fea- 
ture Rights,  Columbia.  Loew's, 
M-G-M.  Gaumont-British,  Grand  Na- 
tional, Monogram,  RKO,  Republic, 
20th  Century-Fox,  First  National, 
Universal,  United  Artists,  Warners 
and  Vitagraph,  all  of  Cincinnati,  and 
Paramount,  of  Cleveland.  An  alter- 
native writ  of  mandamus,  answerable 
Mav  20,  was  granted  by  the  court. 


Bingo  Is  Competitive 
Factor  in  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  April  18. — Bingo  still 
offers  appreciable  theatre  competition 
here  despite  the  fact  that  under  a  re- 
cent city  ruling  it  now  is  confined  to 
churches  and  charitable  organizations 
to  which  City  Manager  C.  O.  Sherrill 
issues  permits. 

Police  records  show  that  during  the 
first  three  months  of  this  year.  579 
Bingo  parties  were  conducted,  in 
which  a  total  of  510,815  persons  par- 
ticipated. Total  gross  was  $382,631.27, 
of  which  $91,854.50  was  distributed 
in  prizes,  leaving  a  net  of  $290,776.77. 
With  liberal  allowance  for  decreased 
attendance  during  the  summer,  the 
total  year's  business  would  amount  to 
at  least  $1,500,000. 


English  Theatre  to 
Have  Raid  Shelter 

London,  April  18. — Plans  for 
a  new  theatre,  seating  1,200, 
at  Beeston,  include  provision 
for  an  air  raid  shelter  for 
use  in  time  of  war. 


'Dodge'  Is  $9,400 
Indianapolis  Hit 

Indianapolis,  April  18. — "Dodge 
City"  pulled  a  powerful  $9,400  at  the 
Circle,  topping  the  town  in  a  mod- 
erately good  week.  Also  a  good  draw 
was  "The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles" 
on  the  screen  and  Orrin  Tucker  and 
his  orchestra  on  the  stage  at  the 
Lyric,   with  $10,900. 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle"  at  the  Indiana  grossed  $5,400. 
The  weather  was  chilly. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  14: 

"  .  .  one-third  of  a  nation  .  ."  (Para.) 
"The   Eagle  and   the  Hawk" 

APOLLO— (1,100)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,600.     (Average,  $2,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,400.     (Average,  $5,000) 

"The   Story   of   Vernon  and   Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

INDIANA— (3,200)      (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,400.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Lone  Wolf  Spy  Hunt"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)     (25c-40c)     6'A  days. 
Cross:  $4,700.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (ZOth-Fox) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
Orrin  Tucker  and  his  Orchestra,  with  Lor- 
raine Sisters,  and  Bonnie  Baker.  Gross: 
$10,900.     (Average,  $8,000) 


Bergner-Traf  algar 
Action  Is  Settled 

London,  April  18. — Action  of  Elisa- 
beth Bergner  and  her  producer  hus- 
band, Paul  Czinner,  against  Trafalgar 
Productions,  for  breach  of  contract, 
has  been  settled.  Trial  of  the  action 
in  court  had  been  scheduled  to  start 
today. 

The  plaintiffs  had  claimed  damages 
as  the  result  of  an  alleged  breach  of 
contract  in  the  failure  to  produce  a 
second  of  two  scheduled  films.  Sir 
Patrick  Hastings  negotiated  the  settle- 
ment, the  terms  of  which  were  not 
divulged. 


English  Producers 
Of  Shorts  Organize 

London,  April  18.  —  Twenty-eight 
producers  of  short  films,  mostly  of  the 
entertainment  rather  than  a  documen- 
tary type,  are  said  to  be  associated 
witli  the  British  Short  Film  Makers' 
Association,  a  new  group  formed  as 
a  result  of  the  cleavage  with  the  Real- 
ist Film  Producers.  . 

The  organization  is  to  be  registered 
and  will  take  immediate  steps  to  fight 
the  introduction  of  a  cost  clause  for 
shorts  in  the  Films  Act. 


Scotch  Houses  Aid  A.R.P. 

London,  April  18.  —  Theatres  in 
Glasgow  are  working  hand  in  hand 
with  the  local  Council  to  help  recruit- 
ing for  Air  Raid  Preparedness.  Screen 
appeals  for  volunteers  for  this  form 
of  national  service  will  be  made  at  all 
local  picture  houses.  Public  meetings 
will  be  held  at  theatres  on  Sundays 
and  leading  Councillors  and  prominent 
A.R.P.  personalities  will  speak. 


6Girls'  and  Waring 
Lead  in  Washington 
With  $24,000  Gross 


Washington,  April  18. — "Girls  in 
White"  and  Fred  Waring's  orchestra 
led  the  box-office  parade  here  with  an 
excellent  $24,000  at  Loew's  Capitol. 

"Dodge  City"  drew  $22,500  at 
Warners'  Earle  and  has  been  held 
over,  the  third  film  in  the  history  of 
the  house  to  merit  a  repeat. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing Anril  13  : 

"Girl's  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  CAPITOL — (3,434)    (25c-65c)  7 
days.    Stage:  Fred  Waring  &  orch.  Gross: 
$24,000.    (Average,  $16,500) 
"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40e)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average, 
$4,500) 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S    PALACE— (2,370)    (25c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

RKO- KEITH'S — (1,836)   (25c-55c)   7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE — (2,218)  (25c-65c)  7 
days.    Stage:    Cass  Daley.    Gross:  $22,500. 
(Average.  $16,000) 
"Persons  in  Hiding"  (Para.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN-(l,591) 
(25c -40c)  7  days.  Gross:  $3,800.  (Average, 
$4,000) 


No  Enforcement  Date 
In  Nova  Scotia  Law 

Toronto,  April  18. — Information 
received  at  the  Toronto  offices  of 
major  Canadian  distributors  regarding 
the  passing  of  the  bill  by  the  Nova 
Scotia  legislature  to  prohibit  "undue 
discrimination"  by  a  film  exchange  in 
bookings  for  any  theatre  in  that 
province  is  that  no  provision  has  been 
made  for  the  actual  enactment  of  the 
new  law  and  that  it  is  to  become  ef- 
fective only  by  proclamation  of  the 
Provincial  Government.  While  the  act 
itself  as  passed  cannot  be  revised  ex- 
cept by  a  vote  of  the  members,  the 
lack  of  provision  for  a  date  of  enforce- 
ment makes  possible  further  study  of 
the  situation  and  a  reconsideration  of 
the  whole  subject. 

The  final  acceptance  of  the  bill, 
which  had  been  considerably  revised 
since  its  first  reading,  only  a  few 
minutes  before  the  close  of  the  session 
at  Halifax,  caused  considerable  sur- 
prise, but  it  was  pointed  out  that 
provincial  regulations  already  in  force 
actually  gave  the  Government  as  much 
power  as  was  provided  in  the  new  act. 


Day  Off  for  Charwomen 

Hartford,  April  18. — T  h  e  a  t  r  e 
scrubwomen,  who  allegedly  work 
seven  days  a  week  in  some  houses  in 
the  state,  are  entitled  to  one  day  off 
weekly,  according  to  a  ruling  of 
Assistant  Attorney  General  Frank  J. 
DeSesa.  Labor  Commissioner  J.  M. 
Tone  requested  an  opinion  on  this 
point,  since  the  hour  law  has  an  ex- 
emption with  respect  to  janitors. 


Has  $820,090  Net 

London,  April  18. — African  The- 
atres, Ltd.,  record  a  net  profit  for  the 
year  of  $820,090.  A  final  dividend  of 
10  per  cent,  making  20  per  cent  in 
all,  has  been  declared. 


Showing  A.R.P.  Film 

London,  April  18. — "The  Warning," 
semi-official  Air  Raid  Preparedness 
film  made  by  British  National,  is  be- 
ing shown  in  247  provincial  theatres 
between  now  and  May  25. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


8 

NBC  Gross  for  Four 
Months  Gains  78% 

New  and  renewal  business  at  NBC 
for  the  first  four  months  of  1939  is 
78.5  per  cent  above  the  billings  for 
the  same  months  last  year.  The  Jan- 
uary through  April  gross  for  1939 
amounts  to  $11,519,041,  which  com- 
pares to  the  1938  gross  for  the  same 
four  months  of  $6,451,680. 

The  month-by-month  breakdown 
for  both  years  follows :  New  and  re- 
newal business  for  January,  1938,  to- 
taled S2,486,936;  for  January,  1939, 
$5,514,182;  February,  1938,  $1,584,- 
960;  February,  1939,  $1,991,557; 
March,  1938,  $1,729,019 ;  March,  1939, 
$1,780,162;  April,  1938,  $650,765; 
April,  1939,  $2,233,140. 

New  business  for  the  1939  period 
was  as  follows :  January — Knox  Gela- 
tine, Standard  Brands-Fleischmann, 
Cardinet  Candy,  Wander  Company, 
Loose-Wiles,  March  of  Time.  Feb- 
ruary— Lewis-Howe,  Ralston-Purina, 
Wilshire.  March — Mars,  Sperry, 
Lorillard-Old  _  Gold,  Brown  &  Wil- 
liamson, Lorillard- Sensation,  West- 
inghouse,  General  Mills.  April — 
Procter  &  Gamble-Teel,  Chesterfield. 

Renewal  business  was  as  follows : 
January — Anacin  &  Bisodol,  Philip 
Morris,  Sun  Oil,  Cities  Service,.  Bay- 
er Aspirin,  Watkins  Co.,  Tillamook 
Creamery,  Lady  Esther,  Gilmore, 
Cummer  Prod.-Molle,  Lewis-Howe. 
February — American  Cigar  &  Cigar- 
ette, Johnson's  Floor  Wax,  Swift  & 
Co.,  Gallenkamp  Shoe  Stores,  Prin- 
cess Pat,  American  Tobacco,  Ward 
Baking,  Albers  Bros.  Milling,  Sperry 
Flour.  Andrew  Jergens  Co.,  Good- 
year Tire  &  Rubber,  Quaker  Oats, 
General  Electric.  March — Geo.  W. 
Luft.  Gulden  Mustard,  Ballard  &  Bal- 
lard, Macfadden  Publications,  Thos. 
Cook  &  Sons. 

Germany  Fails  to  Set 
Time  for  Hitler  Reply 

German  Government  today  informed 
the  networks  that  no  time  has  been  set 
as  yet  for  the  broadcast  of  Chancel- 
lor Adolph  Hitler's  answer  to  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt's  peace  message,  to  be 
given  before  the  Reichstag  April  28. 
Assurances  were  given,  however,  that 
the  American  networks  would  receive 
the  speech  and  that  announcement  of 
the  exact  time  will  be  given  shortly. 


Hernandez  to  Pimlico 

San  Francisco,  April  18. — Joseph 
Hernandez,  for  five  years  the  Pacific 
Coast's  leading  racetrack  announcer, 
leaves  April  23  to  broadcast  a  three- 
week  engagement  at  Pimlico,  Balti- 
more, for  Alfred  Gwynne  Vanderbilt. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 

TOM  FIZDALE  has  opened  an- 
other publicity  office,  this  one  in 
Washington.  .  .  .  Alice  Knepper 
has  married  Gene  Morgan,  WMCA 
announcer.  .  .  .  Nino  Martini  becomes 
a  member  of  "The  Circle"  next  Sun- 
day. .  .  .  Kay  Lorraine  has  just  been 
granted  a  renewal  of  contract  on  the 
"Hit  Parade."  .  .  .  Joseph  B.  Piatt, 
who  did  the  interiors  for  "Gone  With 
the  Wind"  flies  back  to  Hollywood 
today  to  do  additional  work  on  the 
picture.  .  .  .  Merle  S.  Jones,  KMOX 
general  manager,  is  visiting  CBS 
headquarters  here. 

WKRC  Is  Prepared 
As  Ohio  River  Rises 

Cincinnati,  April  18.— WKRC 
again  has  placed  its  special  events 
crew  on  24-hour  call  as  the  Ohio 
River  continues  to  rise  with  imminent 
threat  of  overflowing.  Station  is  mak- 
ing arrangements  to  secure  additional 
short-wave  ancaratus  from  New  York 
and  Chicago  and  has  offered  its  facili- 
ties and  staff  to  the  Red  Cross  if  the 
need  arises.  Bulletins  on  the  stages 
of  the  rise  are  being  broadcast  every 
half-hour. 


Scholl  Program  Starts 

New  program  placed  on  WMCA  for 
Dr.  Scholl's  products  will  have  a 
World's  Fair  tieup,  with  program 
material  to  be  furnished  through  both 
the  cooperation  of  the  World's  Fair 
and  the  station's  press  departments. 
Script  will  contain  spot  news  items  of 
Fair  activities  and  features.  The  pro- 
gram, for  13  weeks,  was  placed 
through  Presba,  Fellers  and  Presba. 


CBC  to  Build  Studios 

Toronto,  April  18.  —  Canadian 
Broadcasting  Corp.  has  purchased  a 
site  here  for  a  studio  and  amusement 
structure  to  cost  an  estimated  $1,- 
000,000.  The  building  may  be  pat- 
terned after  Rockefeller  Center  in 
New  York  and  will  include  studios, 
theatres  and  concert  hall. 


To  Air  'Love  Affair' 

Charles  Boyer  and  Irene  Dunne, 
who  co-starred  in  "Love  Affair,"  will 
do  a  radio  version  of  the  picture  in 
the  "Hollywood  Playhouse"  April  23 
at  9  P.  M.  over  NBC. 


Koehler  Quits  Muzak 

Joseph  M.  Koehler,  who  has  been 
handling  promotion  of  Muzak's  spon- 
sored program  service,  has  resigned 
to  devote  his  •  entire  time  to  Radio 
Events,  Inc.,  of  which  he  is  president. 


Miss  Linwood  in  Cartoon 

Lucille  Linwood  of  NBC  has  been 
selected  by  Paramount  to  be  the  sing- 
ing princess  in  "Gulliver's  Travels," 
a  feature  length  cartoon  which  the 
Fleischer  studio  is  producing. 


Form  Century  Television 

Albany,  April  18. — Century  Tele- 
vision-Pictures, Inc.,  has  been  chart- 
ered here  to  produce  films  and  radio 
programs,  by  Joseph  and  Charlotte 
Ornato  and  Albert  Rappaport. 


4  Radio  Brothers 

Portsmouth,  O.,  April  18.— 
With  the  appointment  of 
Ralph  Patt,  formerly  of  WJR, 
Detroit,  as  general  manager 
of  WPAY  here,  radio  now 
has  a  "Patt  Foursome,"  all 
brothers.  James  recently  was 
named  program  director  of 
WKRC,  Cincinnati;  John  is 
manager  of  WGAR,  Cleve- 
land, and  Robert  is  associated 
with  Free  and  Peters  radio 
advertising  agency  in  New 
York. 


Government  Reports 
Feature  Air  Series 

Washington,  April  18. — A  new 
transcribed  series  of  Government- 
sponsored  broadcasts  will  be  launched 
over  approximately  150  stations  May 
9  with  a  15-minute  address  by  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt.  It  will  mark  the  first 
time  that  a  President  has  ever  been 
heard  via  transcriptions. 

Series  is  to  be  titled  "United  States 
Government  Reports."  President 
Roosevelt  will  be  followed  by  mem- 
bers of  the  Cabinet  and  other  ranking 
Government  officials.  Programs  are  to 
be  broadcast  on  Tuesdays  to  July  17. 

The  program  is  in  the  hands  of  the 
National  Emergency  Council.  Lowell 
Mellett,  executive '  director  of  the 
N.E.C.,  will  conduct  the  programs  via 
interviews  with  Government  heads  on 
the  state  of  the  nation.  The  programs 
are  to  be  factual  and  non-partisan. 

The  series  has  been  evolved  because 
of  the  mounting  network  time  that 
Government  officials  take  up,  and  is 
designed  to  relieve  this  pressure.  It 
will  not,  however,  take  the  place  of 
network  presentations  by  the  Gov- 
ernment departments. 

Fascism  Target  of 
Mexico  Air  Series 

Mexico  City,  April  18. — Radio  has 
been  enlisted  with  the  assignment  of 
time  for  an  hour  every  Thursday 
evening  by  the  League  for  German 
culture  in  Mexico  to  combat  Com- 
munism and  Fascism.  The  programs 
are  being  broadcast  over  XEFO  and 
XEUZ.  Vicente  Lombardo  Toledano, 
Mexico's  labor  czar,  is  one  of  the 
principal  speakers. 


WAAW  Is  Taken  Over 

Omaha,  April  18. — WAAW  is  now 
on  the  air  under  new  ownership  and 
with  new  call  letters,  KOWH,  as  the 
Omaha  World-Herald  took  over  op- 
eration of  the  station.  New  manager 
is  Vernon  H.  Smith,  from  WREN, 
Lawrence,  Kan.  The  World-Herald 
plans  extensive  improvements  of  sta- 
tion and  its  service.  The  newspaper 
purchased  the  station  from  the  Omaha 
Grain  Exchange,  owners  since  its  in- 
ception 17  years  ago. 


Three  Join  KTOK 

Oklahoma  City,  April  18. — John 
Harrison  has  joined  the  KTOK  staff 
here  as  news,  special  events  and 
sports  announcer.  Harold  Shreve, 
continuity  editor,  has  added  the  duties 
of  traffic  manager.  Cecil  Allen  Hub- 
bard, former  announcer  for  KTUL, 
Tulsa,  has  joined  KTOK  as  an  an- 
nouncer. John  Jump,  former  engineer 
at  KARK,  Little  Rock,  has  joined  the 
engineering  staff  at  KTOK. 


Wednesday,  April  19,  193 


See  CBS  April  and 
May  Billings  Gaii 


Effect  of  the  $6,313,829  new  an  ] 
renewal  business  placed  with  CB 
during  the  past  month  will  swell  th; 
network's  April  and  May  billings  cor 
siderably  above  the  billings  for  th 
same  months  last  year.  The  figure 
compare  as  follows : 

New  and  renewal  business  for#,;| 
1938,  totaled  $18,611  estimated  v&lj 
ly  gross  billings,  for  four  new  an 
one  renewal  accounts.    This  May,  fc  i 
a  like  number  of  new  and  renew., 
accounts,  the  CBS  estimated  weekl 
gross  billings  will  amount  to  $35,67' 
a  gain  of  91.7  per  cent.  Conversel; 
there  is  a  reduction  of  37.6  per  cent  i ! 
loss  of  business  for  the  month.  La-. 
May  four  programs  ended  their  CB  i 
stay  in  May.   Estimated  weekly  gro; 
for  those  programs  was  $36,703.  Th: 
May  three  programs  go  off  the  ai 
with  an  estimated  weekly  gross  ( 
$22,890. 

Miller  Heads  Group  I 
For  Press  Session  I 

Neville  Miller,  president  of  the  Na  I 
tional    Association    of    Broadcaster:  I 
will  head  the  radio  committee  that  wi  I 
meet  with  the  American  Newspape  I 
Publishers  Association  at  the  annu;  I 
convention  of  the  ANPA,  to  outlin  I 
press-radio  relations  and  cooperatioi  I 
Members  of  the  radio  committee,  i 1 
addition    to    Miller,    are    Frank  ij 
Mason,   NBC   vice  president ;  Clai 
McCollough    of    the    Mason- Dixo' 
group,  and  Ed  Kirby,  NAB  public  re] 
lations  director.     J.  S.  Gray  of  fli 
Monroe,  Mich.,  News,  is  chairman  c 
the  newspaper  committee. 

Chief  Accountant  to 
Act  in  Radio  Censu 

Washington,  April  18. — Feder; 
Communications  Commission  hi 
designated  the  Chief  Accountant  to  a< 
as  liaison  officer  with  the  Bureau  ci 
the  Census  in  connection  with  the  sb 
teenth  decennial  census,  to  obtain  dat 
with  respect  to  the  number  of  rad: 
receiving  sets. 

The  check  is  designed  to  determinl 
from  the  Federal  licensing  standpoin 
the  use  of  radio  as  an  instrument  J 
social   significance,  and  problems  < 
national  defense. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  April  18. — Feder 
Communications  has  announced  th: 
hearings,  on  dates  to  be  set  later,  ha 
been  ordered  on  the  applications  of  tl 
Neptune  Broadcasting  Corp.,  for 
new  1,420-kilocycle  station  at  Atlant 
City,  with  100  watts  power  night,  21 
watts  day;  Catawba  Valley  Broadcas 
ing  Corp.,  for  a  1,370-kilocycle  st; 
tion  at  Hickory,  N.  C,  with  100  wat 
night,  250  watts  day,  and  Samuel  I\ 
Emison  for  a  1,420-kilocycle  100-wa 
station  at  Vincennes,  Ind. 

Hearings  were  also  ordered  on  tl 
applications  of  WMFR,  High  Poin 
N.  G,  for  increase  of  day  power  fro 
100  to  250  watts ;  KNEL,  Brady,  Te> 
for  extension  of  time  from  day  I 
unlimited  with  100  watts  night,  2! 
watts  day,  and  WBIG,  Greensbor 
N.  C,  for  increase  of  day  power  fro 
1,000  to  5,000  watts. 


Would  Ban  Politics 
From  Mexican  Radio 

Mexico  City,  April  18. — 
Labor  organizations  have 
urged  the  Ministry  of 
Communications  and  Public 
Works,  handling  radio  affairs 
in  Mexico,  to  penalize  radio 
stations  and  announcers  who 
discuss  politics  and  feature 
political  happenings  in  their 
broadcasts.  The  laborites 
point  out  that  the  law  bans 
politics  from  the  air. 


MOVE 


to  tne  nation 

Picture 

Industry 


M.P.P.D.A.    OF  AMERICA. 
28  WEST  44TH  ST .  , 
NEW  YORK, 

N*   Y*  (6  COPIES) 


*  PICTURE 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


OL.  45.  NO.  76 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  20,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


ndustry  Fart 
Of  N.Y.  Fund 
Set  in  Motion 


Robert  Rubin  Names 
Five  Subdivisions 


Nril  Depinet 


J,    Robert    Rubin,   chairman,  and 

embers  of  the  general  committee  of 
»e  motion   picture   division   of  the 

reater  New 

c  rk  Fund,  met 
-e^erday  at  the 
;Hotel  Astor, 
-fid  set  in  mo- 
!K>n  the  indus- 
•n's  part  in 
rising  a  min- 
num  of  $100,- 

00    in  the 

und's  $10,000.- 
■00  goal.  The 
irive  ends  Mav 
B. 

Speakers  at 

he  meeting,  be- 

ides  Rubin, 
'/ere  Harry 
.drandt,  Edward 

Golden.  Maurice  Silverstone.  Harold 
lodner,  Charles  Casanave,  Major  L. 
f.  Thompson  and  B.   S.  Moss. 

They  empha- 
sized the  impor- 
tance and  need 
for  going  over 
the  top  with  the 
drive. 

The  G.  N.  Y.  F. 
fills  the  supple- 
mental require- 
ments of  380 
voluntary  health 
and  welfare  or- 
ganizations, the 
committee  was 
I  told,  and  the  non- 
'  sectarian  charac- 
ter of  the  Fund 
was  pointed  out. 


Rdward  Golden 


j  Five  subdivisions  were  set  up  as  the 
ndustry's  part  of  the  drive  got  offi- 
(Continucd  on  pane  3) 


Dark  Victory'  Opens 
At  Music  Hall  Today 

■.  "Dark  Victory"  opens  today  at  the 
*Iusic  Hall  after  three  weeks  for 
'The  Story'  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Cas- 
ile."  The  latter  grossed  an  estimated 
-85,000  for  its  last  week.  "The 
Hardys  Ride  High"  took  an  estimated 
-30,000  at  the  Capitol  and  will  be  held 
|  or  a  second  week.  "Man  of  Con- 
quest" will  open  there  April  27. 
;  'Alexander  Graham  Bell"  goes  four 
*e_eks  at  the  Roxy.  'Midnight"  did 
?45,000  in  its  second  week  at  the  Para- 
mount. 


Unable  to  Agree  on 
Season's  Best  Play 

Members  of  the  N.  Y.  Drama 
Critics'  Circle,  unable  to  agree 
on  the  best  play  of  the  1938- 
'39  season,  decided  to  waive 
this  year's  award  and  honor 
four  playwrights  instead. 

Feted  at  the  annual  dinner 
Sunday  night  will  be  Robert 
E.  Sherwood,  author  of  "Abe 
Lincoln  in  Illinois";  Lillian 
Hellman,  author  of  "The  Lit- 
tle Foxes";  William  Saroyan, 
author  of  "My  Heart's  in  the 
Highlands,"  and  Clifford  Od- 
ets,  author  of  "Rocket  to  the 
Moon."  Raymond  Massey  will 
substitute  for  Sherwood  and 
Harold  Clurman  for  Odets  at, 
the  banquet. 


Hearings  in  Radio 
Monopoly  Inquiry 
Concluded  by  FCC 


Washington,  April  19. — Radio 
monopoly  hearings  were  concluded  to- 
day with  a  request  by  Louis  Caldwell, 
counsel  for  the  Mutual  Broadcasting 
System,  that  the  F.  C.  C.  issue  a  tem- 
porary order  prohibiting  stations  from 
making  deals  extending  their  present 
contracts  with  the  networks  until  the 
F.  C.  C.  announces  the  results  of  its 
monopoly  inquiry. 

Caldwell  stated  that  the  entire  in- 
vestigation might  prove  fruitless  if 
the  commission  did  not  take  such  a 
step. 

John  R.  Burns,  counsel  for  CBS. 
objected  to  the  motion  and  asked  that 
it  be  removed  from  the  records,  but 
the  F.  C.  C.  stated  it  will  take  under 
consideration  both  sides  of  the  con- 
troversy. The  commission  said  it 
would  receive  briefs  in  opposition  up 
to  Mav  19. 


Women's  National 
Radio  Award  Goes 
To  'Americans  All' 


Praise  of  the  free  and  uncensored 
American  way  of  radio  was  the  basic 
theme  of  the  addresses  made  yester- 
day at  the  fifth  annual  luncheon  of  the 
W  omen's  National  Radio  Committee 
by  Neville  Miller,  president  of  the 
National  Association  of  Broadcasters  ; 
David  Sarnoff,  president  of  RCA ; 
Frank  E.  Mason,  vice-president  of 
NBC;  H.  V.  Kaltenborn,  chief  news 
and  political  commentator  of  CBS. 
and  Alfred  J.  McCosker,  president  of 
WOR  and  chairman  of  the  board  of 
Mutual  Broadcasting  System. 

Reflecting  the  present  unsettled  poli- 
tical time,  for  the  second  consecu- 
tive year  a  program  serving  demo- 
cratic ideals  was  selected  for  the  chief 
award  of  the  Women's  National  Radio 
Committee.  "Americans  All — Immi- 
grants All,"  a  program  presented  by 
the  Federal  Office  of  Education  as  a 
sustaining  program  over  CBS,  was 
designated  as  "the  most  original  and 
informative  program"  introduced  on 
the  airways  the  past  year.  The  pro- 
gram also  was  high  in  the  poll  among 
the  programs  furthering  the  princi- 
ples of  democracy. 

Others  Commended 

Other  programs  of  this  character 
which  received  commendable  mention 
w  ere  "People's  Platform."  CBS ; 
Mutual 's  "American  Forum  of  the 
Air"  and  Foundations  of  Democracy" 
and  "Frontiers  of  Democracy,"  both 
sustaining  programs  of  CBS. 

Adult  education  programs  most 
highly  favored  were  "The  World  Is 
Yours."  NBC:  "What  Price  America" 
and  "Americans  at  Work."  both 
CBS. 

The  quiz  and  audience  participation 
program  field  was  led  by  "Informa- 
(Continued  on  pane  7) 


Universal  Sets  Ad  Budget 
Of  $1,000, 000 Next  Season 


Chicago,  April  19. — Universal  has 
set  an  advertising  budget  of  $1,000,000 
for  the  1939-'40  season,  W.  A.  Scully, 
wee-president  and  general  sales  mana- 
ger, told  the  company's  regional  sales 
meeting  at  the  Palmer  House  today. 
He  predicted  that  with  the  more  ex- 
tensive advertising  program  backing 
up  the  company's  new  season  product 
the  company  was  assured  of  one  of  the 
greatest  years  in  its  history. 

The  company's  sales  for  the  first 
quarter  of  the  year  were  20.43  per 


cent  ahead  of  the  same  period  last 
year,  Nate  J.  Blumberg,  president, 
told  the  meeting. 

The  sessions  here  will  end  tomor- 
row with  meetings  of  district  and 
branch  managers.  Blumberg,  F.  J.  A. 
McCarthy,  eastern  sales  manager ; 
Lou  Poilock,  eastern  advertising  and 
publicity  manager,  and  several  other 
home  office  officials  will  leave  for  New 
York  tomorrow  night.  Scully  will 
leave  for  San  Francisco  for  the  final 
regional  meeting  Saturday. 


Settlement  in 
IATSE  Studio 
Row  Reached 


May  End  Charges  of 
Company  Unionism 


Hollywood,  April  19. — An  agree- 
ment in  principle  which  may  dispose 
of  the  charges  of  company  unionism 
and  bribery  brought  against  producers 
and  I.A.T.S.E.  officials  by  a  minority 
faction  of  the  International  headed  by 
Jeff  Kibre  was  reached  today,  Dr. 
Towne  Nylander,  regional  N.L.R.B. 
director,  stated. 

Nylander's  announcement  follows 
weeks  of  effort  to  bring  the  principals 
together  and  effect  a  settlement  of 
the  N.L.R.B.  case  which  involves  sen- 
sational charges. 

Sees  Early  Settlement 

"There  is  every  prospect  of  an  early 
settlement  of  the  case,"  Nylander  said. 
"All  that  remains  to  be  disposed  of 
are  technical  details." 

The  N.L.R.B.  official  will  meet 
again  Friday  morning  with  John  Gate- 
lee,  Frank  Strickling  and  Harold  V. 
Smith,  I.A.T.S.E.  officials;  Alfred 
Wright,  producers'  counsel  and  spokes- 
man, and  George  Bodle,  attorney  for 
Kibre.  The  latter  is  chairman  of  the 
technicians'  committee  minority  group 
of  Local  37.  Final  details  of  the  set- 
tlement may  be  disposed  of  at  Fri- 
day's meeting. 

Meanwhile,  peace  was  brought  near- 
er on  another  labor  front  here  today, 
as  well.    Several  points  still  remained 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Starr  Heads  W.B. 
Music  Subsidiary 

Herman  Starr,  vice-president  of 
Warners,  on  Monday  will  take  charge 
of  Music  Publishers  Holding  Corp., 
a  Warner  subsidiary.  He  succeeds 
Edwin  H.  (Buddy)  Morris,  who  has 
resigned  as  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager. 

Morris  is  a  son  of  Sam  E.  Morris. 
Warners'  vice-president  in  charge  of 
foreign  activities.  He  has  been  in 
charge  of  the  music  companies  for 
several  years.  His  future  plans  are 
indefinite,  but  he  will  stay  in  the  music 
publishing  business,  probably  forming 
his  own  company  or  buying  a  partner- 
ship. 


Walker  Going  on  Air 

Former  Mayor  James  J.  Walker 
will  broadcast  a  news  program  over 
WJZ,  starting  tomorrow. 


( 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  20,  1 93<5 


4  Purely 
Personal  ► 

JOSEPH  H.  SEIDELMAN,  Uni- 
»J  versal  foreign  manager,  returns  to 
New  York  tomorrow  from  the  com- 
pany's Chicago  sales  meeting.  C.  A. 
Kirby,  assistant  to  Seidelman,  has 
returned  from  the  Cincinnati  meeting. 
• 

Roy  Haines,  eastern  and  Canadian 
sales  manager  for  Warners,  is  on  a 
business  trip  to  the  company's  Pitts- 
burgh, Cleveland  and  Cincinnati 
branches.  He  will  return  on  Monday. 
• 

Victor  Saville,  M-G-M  director  in 
England;  Gerald  Cook,  television  di- 
rector for  British  Broadcasting  Co., 
and  Gladys  Cooper,  actress,  arrive 
todav  on  the  Queen  Mary  from  abroad. 
• 

Edwin  Cline,  operating  manager 
of  the  Western  Electric  company  of 
Argentina,  has  returned  to  the  United 
States  with  his  family  for  an  extended 
vacation.  This  is  his  first  visit  in 
more  than  six  years. 

• 

Douglas  Corrigan,  star  of  "The 
Flying  Irishman,"  saw  the  film  at  a 
screening  at  the  Music  Hall  last  night. 
Some  of  his  Roosevelt  Field  friends 
also  attended. 

• 

Emanuel  Frisch,  son  of  Louis 
Frisch  of  the  Frisch  &  Rinzler  cir- 
cuit, is  the  father  of  a  girl,  born  yes- 
terday to  Mrs.  Frisch  at  the  Jewish 
Hospital,  Brooklyn. 

• 

Fred  Lange,  Paramount  Continen- 
tal European  manager,  is  en  route  to 
New  York  on  the  Conte  di  Savoia 
for  his  annual  visit  to  the  home  office. 
• 

Harold  Henderson,  formerly  Ross 
Federal  assistant  manager  in  Chicago, 
has  been  appointed  Omaha  branch  man- 
ager, succeeding  Norman  Brennan. 
• 

Barney  Feingold.  assistant  man- 
ager at  the  RKO  Alden,  is  recuperat- 
ing from  a  nervous  breakdown  at 
Unity  Hospital,  Brooklyn. 

• 

Jules  Levy,  RKO  sales  manager, 
returned  to  New  York  yesterday  fol- 
lowing a  studio  visit  and  stopovers  at 
RKO  exchanges  en  route. 

• 

Herman  Saperstein,  owner  of  the 
Wabash  in  Chicago,  is  at  home  con- 
valescing after  a  heart  attack. 
• 

Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A.  presi- 
dent, is  expected  in  New  York  from 
Washington  todav  or  tomorrow. 
"  • 

Pat  Casey  postponed  his  departure 
for  the  coast  yesterday  but  may  leave 
within  a  day  or  two. 

• 

Lou  Miller  of  the  RKO  sales  de- 
partment is  back  from  a  vacation  at 
Pinehurst. 

• 

Sam  Spring,  film  attorney,  is  con- 
fined to  his  home  with  a  cold. 


#  -|  ^  j        j  Hutchinson,Wobber 

insiders  Uutlook  saa  *°* 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHiclcering  4-4200 


THERE  were  about  35  per- 
sons at  the  annual  stock- 
holders' meeting  of  20th 
Century-Fox.  Bill  Michel  pre- 
sided. With  him  at  the  meeting 
were  Richard  Dwight  (Dwight, 
Harris,  Koegel  &  Caskey)  ;  Sid- 
ney Towell,  Herman  Place  of  the 
Chase  National  Bank ;  Bill  Eadie, 
Hugh  Strong,  Bill  Phillips  and 
Felix  Jenkins.  Jenkins  is  com- 
pany attorney.  Remainder  of 
those  in  attendance  were  share- 
holders or  newspapermen.  That 
there  were  so  few  stockholders 
present  is  indicative  enough  of 
the  confidence  which  they  repose 
in  the  company  management,  but 
even  more  eloquently  demonstra- 
tive of  this  trustfulness,  perhaps, 
is  the  fact  that  throughout  the 
meeting  there  was  not  a  single 
question  asked  from  the  floor. 

▼  T 

Maurice  Silverstone,  operating 
chief  of  United  Artists,  was  din- 
ing with  Louis  Nizer  at  Nick's 
Hunting  Room,  in  the  Astor. 
Nizer  was  talking  about  Harry 
Hershfield : 

"Isn't  there  something  we  can 
do  for  a  man  of  such  talent? 
Certainly,  a  man  of  Harry  Hersh- 
field's  ability  should  be  now 
working  for  one  of  the  studios." 

Silverstone  talked  about  the 
trade  practice  draft,  to  which 
United  Artists,  because  of  com- 
pany policy,  did  not  subscribe, 
and  the  U.  A.  chieftain  explained 
his  company's  position,  while  at 
the  same  time  having  naught  but 
the  highest  praise  for  the  work 
on  the  pact  which  has  been  done 
by  Sidney  R.  Kent  and  William 
Rodgers.  He  said  that  Kent  and 
Rodgers  are  deserving  of  the 
highest  commendation  for  the  task 
which  they  had  accomplished. 

▼  ▼ 

At  Lindy's,  next  door  to  the 
Rivoli  Theatre,  Morris  Helprin, 
who  recently  returned  from  Lon- 
don, Paris  and  Amsterdam,  was 
attending  a  "welcome  home" 
luncheon  given  in  his  honor  by 
friends.  Helprin  talked  glowing- 
ly about  Alexander  Korda's  latest 
achievement,  "Four  Feathers," 
which  he  described  as  the  pro- 
ducer's best. 

At  luncheon  were  Bill  Boehnel. 
Emanuel     Silverstone,  Monroe 
Greenthal,  Morris  Kinzler,  Car- 
los Israels  and  Myer  Beck. 
T  T 

Al  Margolies  suggests  chang- 
ing the  name  of  the  Waldorf, 
where  the  French  version  of 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs"  is  playing,  to  Waldwarf. 


At  50th  Street  and  6th  Avenue, 
a  broad-shouldered  figure,  in  gray 
fedora  and  blue  topcoat,  emerges 
hurriedly  from  a  taxi  and  rushes 
to  shelter  under  the  Radio  City 
Music  Hall's  wide  canopy,  safe 
from  the  heavy  rain.  Attendants 
nod  greetings  to  him.  He  makes 
his  way  into  the  auditorium  of  the 
theatre.  He  is  Gus  Eyssel,  as- 
sistant to  W.  G.  Van  Schmus, 
managing  director  of  the  house. 
T  T 

Beyond  the  "executive  door"  of 
the  Music  Hall  in  50th  Street,  is 
the  new  Newsreel  Theatre,  and  it 
sets  us  thinking  about  newsreels 
generally.  We  have  wondered 
whether  the  American  newsreel 
companies  do  not  unwittingly 
emphasize  the  Fascist,  Nazi  and 
Communist  dictators'  games. 

For  instance — in  Italy,  Ger- 
many and  Russia,  none  but  offi- 
cial government  cameramen  is 
permitted  to  photograph  news 
events.  Naturally,  such  clips  as 
these  men  take  show  only  the 
brighter  side  of  life  in  the  totali- 
tarian countries.  Nothing  but 
that  is  permitted  to  be  exported 
from  the  countries.  American 
newsreel  companies  take  these 
clips. 

T 

There  being  no  censorship 
here,  audiences  get  a  conglomera- 
tion of  clips  showing  the  trou- 
bled side  of  affairs  in  our  coun- 
try, the  condition  of  coal  miners, 
share-croppers,  strike  incidents 
and  general  labor  troubles.  The 
comparison,  though  impressive, 
is  grossly  unfair,  with  the  result 
that  American  conditions  are 
made  to  appear  at  a  disadvan- 
tage alongside  of  those  of  the 
totalitarian  governments. 

The  peoples  under  the  totali- 
tarian governments  are  deliber- 
ately shown  only  the  troubled 
side  of  things  from  this  side  of 
the  Atlantic,  because  the  censors 
in  the  dictator  countries  see  to 
this,  and  little  or  nothing  which  is 
favorable  to  democratic  govern- 
ments is  allowed  on  the  screens 
in  Italy,  Germany  and  Russia. 
T 

In  this  manner,  the  Fascists, 
Nazis  and  Communists  utilize 
their  censorship  powers  and 
propaganda  overtime  in  their 
own  behalf  and  against  us. 

Perhaps  there  may  be  a  dan- 
ger that  the  reels  would  be  full 
of  explanatory  captions.  Never- 
theless, should  not  the  American 
newsreel  companies,  whenever 
they  sense  foreign  censorship 
clips,  frankly  state  so  in  a  pre- 
amble to  the  clip? 


A  survey  of  the  European  situation 
and  plans  to  give  the  Latin  American 
market  greater  prominence  in  the 
company's  operations  will  be  made  by 
Walter  J.  Hutchinson,  20th  Century- 
Fox  foreign  chief,  who  sailed  last 
night  on  the  Washington.  He  will  be 
gone  two  months.  m 
He  was  accompanied  by  Hermalnc 
Wobber,  director  of  domestic  distribu-' 
tion,  who  sailed  with  Mrs.  Wobber. 
They  will  address  the  company's  Paris 
and  London  conventions  in  May,  and 
Wobber  will  return  to  America  about 
May  22.  Hutchinson  will  attend  the 
South  American  convention  in  Rio  de 
Janeiro,  June  1-3,  and  the  Central 
American  conference  at  Port-au- 
Prince,  Trinidad,  June  21. 

S.  R.  Kent,  president,  is  unable  to 
attend  the  European  meetings,  but  will 
be  on  hand  at  the  Latin  American 
ssions. 

Whelan  Drive  Leader 

Hutchinson  yesterday  announced 
that  he  had  appointed  Leslie  Whelan, 
director  of  foreign  publicity,  as  leader 
of  the  seventh  anniversary  S.  R.  Kent 
Overseas  drive,  which  will  start  in : 
September  for  15  weeks. 

At  the  foreign  conventions, 
Hutchinson  will  be  honored  on  his 
20  years  of  consecutive  service  with 
20th  Century-Fox. 

On  hand  to  see  Wobber  and  Hutch- 
inson off,  as  the  Washington  sailed  at 
midnight,  were  Clay  V.  Hake,  manag- 
ing director  in  Australia,  Irving  Maas, 
foreign  service  manager,  Franklyn 
Irby  of  the  legal  deparment,  Whelan 
and  others. 


NY  Allied  Convention 
Unit  Meets  Tomorrow 

Max  A.  Cohen,  president  of  Allied 
Theatre  Owners  of  New  York,  has 
called  a  meeting  for  tomorrow  noon 
at  the  Astor  of  the  reception  commit- 
tee which  will  serve  in  connection  with 
the  organization's  annual  convention 
and  World's  Fair  Exposition. 

The  event  will  be  held  at  the  Astor 
May  23  to  25,  inclusive.  The  recep- 
tion committee  is  representative  of  the 
film  industry  in  New  York.  The 
meeting  will  follow  a  luncheon. 


Continental  to  Reopen 

Continental  Theatre,  Broadway  and 
52nd  St.,  will  reopen  tomorrow  with 
a  continuous  film  and  burlesque  policy. 


M-G-M  Re-Signs  Smith 

Hollywood,  April  19. — Pete  Smith 
has  been  signed  to  a  new  long  term 
contract  by  M-G-M. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
ai.  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall.  manager:  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square. 
W.  1:  cable  address.  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


Thursday,  April  20.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Session  on  Sound 
Occupies  S.M.P.E. 


Hollywood,  April  19. — Third  day 
of  the  spring  convention  of  the  Society 
pf  M.  P.  Engineers  was  given  over 

10  the  final  sessions  on  sound.  The 
delegates  enjoyed  a  free  afternoon  to- 
day with  only  morning  and  evening 
kneetings  on  the  program. 

Delegates  were  guests  of  Erpi  dur 
\g  the  afternoon  lor  a  tour  of  the 
tympany's    Hollywood  laboratories. 
Among   the   studio   executives  who 
have  signified  intention  of  attending 

11  e  annual  banquet  Thursday  evening 
fare  Louis  B.  Mayer,  Joseph  M. 
Bchenck,  Jack  L.  Warner,  Harry  M. 
(Warner,  Y.  Frank  Freeman  and 
Bryan  Foy. 

During  the  morning,  papers  read 
« ere  :  "Controlled  Sound  Reflection 
in  Review  Rooms  and  Theatres,"  by 
C.  M.  Mugler,  Acoustical  Engineer- 
ling  Co. ;  "Acoustic  Condition  Fac- 
tors," by  M.  Rettinger,  RCA  Manu- 
facturing; "Push- Pull  Audio  Trans- 
former Design  for  Minimum  Ampli- 
fier Distortion  and  Intermodulation," 
fcy  B.  F.  Miller,  Warners ;  "Use  of 
<an  A.  C.  Polarized  Photoelectric  Cell 
ior  Light-Valve  Bias  Current  Deter- 
mination," by  C.  R.  Daily,  Para- 
fniount ;  "A  Densitometric  Method  of 
Checking  the  Quality  of  Variable- 
Area  Prints,"  by  Daily  and  I.  M. 
Chambers,  Paramount;  "A  New  Mo- 
bile Film  Recording  System,"  by  B. 
Kreuzer,  RCA  Manufacturing,  and  C. 
L.  Lootens,  Republic. 

During  the  evening,   papers  read 
included :  "A  Direct  Positive  System 
of  Sound  Recording,"  by  G.  L.  Dim- 
mick  and  A.  C.  Blaney,  RCA  Manu- 
facturing; "A  Newly  Designed  Sound 
Motion  Picture  Reproducing  Equip- 
ment," by  J.  S.  Pesce,  RCA  Manu- 
j  facturing ;  "Class  A-B  Push- Pull  Re- 
cording System,"  by  C.  H.  Cartwright 
1  and  W.  S.  Thompson,  RCA  Manu- 
i  facturing;  "Report  on  Recent  Activi- 
ties of  the  Research  Council  Commit- 
tee  on    Standardization   of  Theatre 
Sound  Projection  Equipment  Charac- 
-  teristics,"  by  J.  K.  Hilliard,  chairman, 
.  and  "Modern  Instantaneous  Record- 
ing and  Its  Reproduction  Technic," 
.  by  N.  B.  Neeley  and  W.  V.  Standi. 
Xeeley  Enterprises. 

RKO  Bookings  Best 
In  Company  History 

Current  bookings  of  RKO  product 
throughout  the  country  are  the  great- 
est in  the  company's  history,  according 
to  Walter  Branson,  director  of  the 
company's  George  Schaefer  sales 
'  drive,  who  returned  yesterday  from 
his  second  tour  of  RKO  exchanges 
since  the  opening  of  the  drive.  He 
was  accompanied  by  Harry  Michal- 
son,  short  subject  sales  manager. 

"During  the  18-week  sales  drive 
period  the  RKO  field  staff  will  ex- 
ceed all  quotas  which  were  set  for  it," 
Branson  said,  "and  will  establish  a 
volume  record  greater  than  that  for 
any  similar  period." 

Branson  said  delivery  of  such  pic- 
tures as  "Gunga  Din,"  "Love  Affair" 
and  "The  Castles"  in  recent  weeks,  ac- 
counted for  the  record  pace  being  set 
in  the  drive. 


Double  Features  Hit 
In  D.  A.  R.  Report 

Washington,  April  19. — Double 
features  were  condemned  and  playing 
of  the  National  Anthem  in  film  the- 
atres was  commended  in  the  report  of 
the  D.  A.  R.  Motion  Picture  Commit- 
tee, presented  today  to  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  organization. 

Submitting  the  report  of  the  com- 
mittee, Mrs.  LeRoy  Montgomery, 
Southwalk,  Conn.,  chairman,  sug- 
gested a  letter  of  commendation  be 
sent  Warners  for  their  Americanism 
in   initiating   the   patriotic  practice. 

Studies  by  the  committee  disclosed 
a  decrease  in  double  feature  programs, 
which  it  declared  a  "great  accomplish- 
ment." 


Wisconsin  Measure 
Would  Tax  Pictures 

Madison,  Wis.,  April  19. — 
State  and  Local  Government 
Committee  of  the  Wisconsin 
Senate  has  introduced  a  bill 
providing  for  a  tax  of  $2.50 
per  1,000  feet  on  all  motion 
picture  film. 


Industry's  Part  in 
N.  Y.  Fund  Is  Begun 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

cially  under  way.  Each  of  the  mem- 
bers of  the  general  committee,  present, 
promised  his  fullest  support.  Golden, 
vice-president  of  Monogram  Pictures, 
promised  a  day's  pay  from  each  of 
the  125  Monogram  home  office  em- 
ployes. 

On  April  27,  the  chairmen  of  the 
subdivision  groups  will  meet  again 
with  Rubin  to  report  on  their  activi- 
ties. 

In  the  meantime  these  subdivision 
chairmen  are  proceeding  to  organize 
their  groups.  These  groups  and  their 
respective  chairmen  are:  Producers- 
Distributors,  Ned  Depinet ;  Exhibi- 
tors, B.  S.  Moss ;  Allied  Group  (ac- 
cessories and  equipment),  Herman 
Robbins ;  Charles  L.  Casanave,  vice- 
chairman  ;  Laboratories,  Herbert  J. 
Yates ;  Ralph  I.  Poucher,  vice-chair- 
man ;  Actors,  Fredric  March. 

Those  who  attended  the  meeting  in 
addition,  to  those  mentioned  were : 
Harry  Buckley,  Lawrence  Bolognino, 
Joseph  Burstyn,  Arthur  Israel,  Jr., 
Maurice  Kann,  John  Kane,  Jack  Ali- 
coate,  Samuel  Machnovitch,  Max 
Cohen,  Sam  Shain,  Al  Senft,  Fred 
J.  Schwartz,  W.  C.  Michel,  William 
A.  Orr,  Joseph  Seider,  Leo  Brecher, 
Louis  J.  Barbano,  and  Otis  Lucas  of 
the  Greater  N.  Y.  Fund. 


Crews  Bill  Deferred 

Albany,  April  19. — Crews  bill  pro- 
viding for  two  men  in  a  booth  was 
reached  in  the  Senate  late  today,  and 
then  put  over  until  April  26. 


Zukor  Returns  Today 
From  European  Trip 

Adolph  Zukor,  Paramount  board 
chairman,  who  arrived  from  Europe 
today  on  the  Queen  Mary,  will  re- 
main at  the  home  office  for  about  a 
month  before  leaving  for  Australia 
by  way  of  Hollywood. 

Zukor  completed  a  three  months' 
survey  of  Paramount  operations  in 
Great  Britain  and  on  the  Continent  on 
which  he  will  report  to  other  company 
officials.  After  studio  conferences  with 
Y.  Frank  Freeman  and  William  Le- 
Baron,  Zukor  and  John  W.  Hicks, 
Paramount  vice-president  and  foreign 
manager,  will  first  visit  Australia  and 
subsequently  will  tour  the  key  cities  of 
South  America. 


Guild  Fails  to  Vote 
On  Film  Rights  Plan 

Tentative  draft  of  modifications  to 
the  minimum  basic  agreement  was  pre- 
sented to  the  Dramatists  Guild  Coun- 
cil yesterday  after  more  than  a  year 
of  negotiations  with  major  film  pro- 
ducers' representatives.  Although  dis- 
cussion took  up  most  of  the  meeting 
yesterday  no  vote  was  taken  and  it 
was  the  consensus  that  further  meet- 
ings would  be  required  before  a  de- 
cision could  be  reached. 

Council  members  appeared  to  agree 
in  principle  on  the  purchase  of  film 
rights  for  production  of  a  play  with 
the  purchase  price  depending  on  the 
length  of  run.  Another  meeting  will 
be  held  today. 


Pass  Sunday  Show  Bill 

Albany,  April  19. — The  Owens  bill, 
providing  for  a  referendum  in  certain 
villages  on  the  question  of  Sunday 
shows,  passed  the  Assembly  today 
without  opposition. 


Reach  Settlement 
In  IATSE  Dispute 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

in  the  way  of  a  complete  settlement  of 
the  dispute  between  I.A.T.S.E.  offi- 
cials and  deposed  officers  of  Local  37 
over  control  of  the  latter  organization 
but  an  early  agreement  appeared  im- 
minent. 

International  officials  and  their  at- 
torneys were  brought  together  with 
Joseph  W.  Carpenter,  ousted  Local  37 
president,  and  other  deposed  officers 
late  last  night  by  District  Attorney 
Buron  Fitts,  at  whose  request  the 
scheduled  Grand  Jury  investigation  of 
alleged  labor  racketeering  charges 
was  postponed  from  yesterday  to  May 
2.  At  the  meeting,  conducted  in  se- 
crecy, it  developed  that  I.A.T.S.E. 
leaders  are  insisting  that  officers  of 
the  local  withdraw  with  apologies  all 
charges  made  against  them  in  courts 
and  before  the  district  attorney  and 
that  several  Local  37  members  alleged 
by  the  LA.  heads  to  be  Communists 
be  expelled  from  the  local. 

Two  Dies'  Congressional  committee 
investigators,  George  F.  Hurley  and 
James  H.  Steedman,  said  they  are 
setting  up  a  staff  in  the  federal  build- 
ing. They  said  they  would  enter  into 
every  phase  of  subversive  campaigns 
in  Southern  California  and  would  be- 
gin calling  witnesses  tomorrow. 

Various  organizations  and  individ- 
uals had  requested  the  committee  to 
send  investigators  here  to  probe  bojh 
Communistic  and  Nazi  efforts,  the 
last  being  I.A.T.S.E.  international  of- 
ficers, who  declared  the  minority 
leader  of  Studio  Technicians  Local 
37  was  a  member  of  the  Communist 
party. 


CEA  Attacks  High 
Telecast  Charges 

London,  April  19. — General  Coun- 
cil of  the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors' 
Association  today  discussed  the  al- 
legedly exorbitant  fees  currently  be- 
ing charged  certain  exhibitors  for  the 
right  to  show  telecasts  of  prize  fights. 

The  council  deplored  the  creation 
of  a  monopoly,  and  protested  that  at 
present  it  is  powerless  to  take  action. 

It  is  unofficially  reported  that  $500,- 
000  has  been  asked  for  the  theatre 
screening  rights  to  the  telecast  of  the 
Football  Cup  Final,  to  cover  all  Brit- 
ish theatres.  It  is  understood  the 
screening  rights  to  the  telecast  of  the 
Derby  will  cost  $1,250  per  theatre. 

The  group  reported  that  Bank 
Night  is  not  spreading,  as  was  feared 
at  first,  but  the  C.E.A.  is  contemplat- 
ing further  action. 

An  announcement  on  the  C.E.A.- 
Kinematog  raph  Renters'  Society  agree- 
ment on  service  charges  has  been 
postponed  pending  a  joint  statement. 
It  is  believed  there  is  considerable 
exhibitor  opposition  to  the  terms. 

Stern  Questioned  in 
U.A.  Anti-Trust  Suit 

Charles  Stern,  eastern  district  sales 
manager  of  United  Artists  Corp.,  was 
examined  yesterday  by  Robert  L. 
Wright,  special  assistant  Attorney- 
General  in  the  Government's  anti-trust 
investigation  in  the  affairs  of  United 
Artists  and  seven  other  major  film 
companies.  Stern,  at  the  direction  of 
Edward  C.  Raftery,  United  Artists' 
attorney,  refused  to  answer  questions 
concerning  negotiations  by  United  Art- 
ists with  its  exhibitors.  Raftery,'-  in  a 
clash  with  Wright,  stated  that  "it  was 
still  the  law  that  a  trader  has  the 
right  to  choose  its  own  customers." 

Various  contracts  between  exhibi- 
tors and  United  Artists  will  be  in- 
spected at  the  office  of  O'Brien,  Dris- 
coll  &  Raftery  today.  Examination 
of  Stern  was  adjourned  to  April  21. 
Harry  Gold  and  Paul  Lazarus  will  be 
examined  on  Monday,  it  was  learned, 
if  they  have  returned  from  Florida 
at  that  time. 


Vallee  Producer  Dies 

Hollywood,  April  19. — L.  Gordon 
Thompson,  34,  producer  of  the  Rudy 
Vallee  air  program,  died  unexpected- 
ly today  in  the  office  of  the  J.  Walter 
Thompson  agency.  Thompson  joined 
the  agency  about  ten  years  ago  and 
produced  Vallee's  first  airshow  in 
1929. 


Empire  Turns  Down 
Bid  to  306  President 

Rank  and  file  of  Empire  State  op- 
erators' union  is  not  friendly  to  a 
merger  with  Local  306,  it  was  indi- 
cated at  a  midnight  meeting  Tuesday. 
The  members  voted  down  a  proposal 
to  invite  Joseph  D.  Basson,  president 
of  Local  306,  and  another  representa- 
tive to  address  an  Empire  meeting. 

A  merger  of  the  two  unions  has 
been  suggested  at  various  times  dur- 
ing the  past  several  years  and  the  pro- 
posal was  unsuccessfully  revived  after 
Local  306  settled  its  recent  strike  at 
exchanges.  Efforts  at  a  merger  will 
continue,  however. 


5,100  Houses  Enroll 
In  Will  Rogers  Week 

Theatre  enrollment  in  the  Will 
Rogers  National  Theatre  Week  has 
passed  the  5,100  mark,  with  additions 
still  coming  in.  The  campaign  starts 
today  for  one  week,  with  audience 
contributions  to  be  devoted  to  the  Will 
Rogers  Memorial  Hospital  at  Saranac 
Lake  and  kindred  charities.  Partici- 
pating theatres  include  the  five  major 
circuits  as  well  as  independents. 


JACK  L.  WARNER 

In  Charge  of  Production 

HAL  B. WALLIS  •  HENRY  W.  BLANK  I 

Executive  Producer  Associate  Producer 


A  NEW  AND  IMPORTANT  REASON 
FOR  A  NEW  YORK  ROADSHOWING 
. .  .'Juarez'  comes  to  the  Hollywood  Theatre 
in  New  York — and  millions  from  the  nation 
over  come  to  the  World's  Fair  in  New  York 
at  the  same  time!  Picture  what  this  means 
nationally  in  direct  word-of-mouth  prestige! 


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lu  sday.  April  20,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


•rofit  of  CBS  for 
Duarter  $1,151,525 


I  CBS  consolidated  income  statement 
•  r  the  first  quarter  of  1939  shows  a 
.  [ess  income  for  the  period  of  $6,707,- 
$7,  which  compares  to  $6,998,773.51, 
ie  gross  income  for  the  same  period 
1st  year. 

Net  profit  for  the  three  months  of 
S69  amounted  to  $1,151,525.66  as 
linst  $1,494,980.09,  the  net  profit 
»r  the  same  months  last  year. 

Operating  and  administrative  ex- 
enses  for  this  year's  quarter  totaled 
5,170,167.92.  Last  year's  operating 
Kpenses  for  the  quarter  were  $5,- 
98,632. 

Earnings  per  share  for  the  quarter 
-nounted  to  67c,  compared  to  87c 
fct  year.  Share  earnings  are  calcu- 
ited  upon  the  1,708,723  shares  of 
2.50  par  value  stock  either  outstand- 
Dg  at  April  1,  1939,  or  to  be  out- 
ending  upon  completion  of  exchange 
f  old  $5  par  value  stock. 


'Dodge  City'  .with 
'Jane  Arden'  Gets 
$31,000  in  Boston 


Radio  Award  Made 
To  'Americans  AW 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
ion,  Please,"  NBC.  The  Ford  "Sun- 
tay  Evening  Hour,"  CBS,  remained 
he  most   popular  sponsored  serious 
nusic   program.    Favored  sustaining 
erious  music  programs,  all  within  the 
j»ne  group,  were  the  CBS  Philhar- 
j  nonic   broadcasts,   the    NBC  Sym- 
I  »hony,  the  NBC  Metropolitan  Opera 
•roadcasts,     and     the  Sinfoniettas 
I  lirected  by  Alfred  YVallenstein  for 
Mutual. 

Light  music  preferences  were  the 
'Firestone"  program,  NBC;  "Cities 
Service"  program,  NBC,  and  the 
'American  Album  of  Familiar  Music," 
\"BC,  which  was  especially  com- 
mended for  keeping  alive  American 
nusical  tradition. 

Dramatic  programs  especially  com- 
nended  were  the  Orson  Welles  broad- 
-asts  over  CBS ;  the  Lux  "Radio  Thc- 
itre,"  CBS;  the  Woodbury  "Play- 
louse"  with  Charles  Boyer,  NBC,  and 
'Great  Plays,"  NBC. 

"Good  News"  Leads 

Of  the  variety  programs,  the 
M-G-M  "Good  News"  program  led 
the  field,  with  the  Chase  &  Sanborn 
Hour  following.  It  was  made  clear, 
however,  that  the  latter  program 
ranked  high  because  of  Charlie  Mc- 
Carthy, and  that  the  other  features 
on  the  program  did  not  merit  the 
^anie  recognition.  "One  Man's  Fam- 
■ily,"  NBC  series,  was  accorded  spe- 
cial write-in  recognition  as  a  serial 
program. 

"Let's  Pretend,"  CBS,  and  Irene 
dicker's  musical  plays  over  NBC 
were  the  high  scorers  abong  the  chil- 
dren's programs.  Walter  Damrosch's 
"Music  Appreciation"  Hour,  NBC. 
and  "American  School  of  the  Air," 
CBS,  vied  for  first  place  among  chil- 
dren's educational  broadcasts. 

Among  news  commentators,  H.  V. 
Kaltenborn,  CBS,  easily  led  the  field. 
Honor  guests  at  the  luncheon  were 
:  Lenox  Lohr,  president  of  NBC;  Don- 
jald  Flamm  of  WMCA,  William  S. 
j  Paley,  president  of  CBS ;  Raymond 
•  Leslie  Buell,  president  of  the  Foreign 
;  Policy  Association.     Mme.  Yolanda 
Mero-Irion,  chairman  and  founder  of 
the  Women's  National  Radio  Com- 
mittee, presided. 
Formation  of  an  auxiliary  organi- 


Boston,  April  19. — "Dodge  City" 
and  "Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  drew 
a  powerful  $31,000  at  the  Metropoli- 
tan. 

"Huckleberry  Finn"  coupled  with 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  at  Loew's 
State  and  Orpheum  drew  a  total  of 
$40,500,  $17,500  and  $23,000  respec- 
tively. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  12: 

"Gunga  Din"   (RKO)    (2  days) 
Disney  Review   (RKO)    (2  days) 
"Mystery    Plane"    (Mono.)    (5   days  with 
vaude.) 

"Trouble  in  Sundown"  (RKO)  (S  days  with 
vaude.) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,000)  (20c-30c- 
40c).   Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $8,100) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL — (2,790)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Aver- 
age, $15,000) 

"I'm   From   Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Inside  Story"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c) 
7  days.     Gross:  $8,500.     (Average,  $9,000) 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Inside  Story"  (20th-Fox) 

FENWAY— (1,382)      (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $6,000.      (Average,  $5,500) 
"Dodge   City"   (W.  B.) 
"Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"   (W.  B.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $31,000.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (2,907)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $23,000.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Huckleberry   Finn"  (M-G-M) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,537)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,500  (Average, 
$10,500) 

"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.>  " 
"Topper  Takes  a  Trip"  (Col.) 

SCOLLAY— (2,500)  (25c-35c-40c-50c)  7 
days.  Both  2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Aver- 
age, $5,500) 


RCA  Suit  Plea  Granted 

Benjamin  Golder,  holder  of  1,500 
shares  of  common  stock  of  RCA ; 
Frank  Blum,  holder  of  107  shares,  and 
Anna  Weill,  holder  of  100  shares, 
were  permitted  yesterdav  by  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court  Justice  Alfred  Frank- 
enthaler  to  intervene  in  the  eight  con- 
solidated stockholders'  suits  against 
RCA,  its  officers  and  directors,  West- 
inghouse  Electric  Co.,  American  Tele- 
phone &  Telegraph  Co.  and  General 
Electric  Co.  Stockholders  are  claim- 
ing transfer  of  a  large  block  of  RCA 
shares  without  compensation,  and 
waste  and  mismanagement. 


.'Love  Affair'  Draws 
Twin  City  $11,000 


Minneapolis,  April  19.— In  Minne- 
apolis the  leader  was  "Love  Affair," 
which  got  $7,000  at  the  Orpheum. 
Business  generally  was  good. 

In  St.  Paul,  top  grosser  also  was 
"Love  Affair,"  which  got  $4,100  at 
the  St.  Paul  Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  13 : 

Minneapolis  : 

"One  Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

ASTER— (900)   (15c-25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,900.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Topper  Takes  a  Trip"  (U.  A.) 

CENTURY  — (1,600)     (25c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

GOPHER— (990)     (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$2,300.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,900)    (25c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $4,800) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

STATE—  (2,300)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average,  $4,400) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  7  days.  6th  week. 
Gross:  $1,500.    (Average.  $1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,000)    (25c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,100.    (Average,  $3,200) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)    (25c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)   (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,400.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Trouble  ,n  Sundown"  (RKO) 
"Boy  Slaves"  (RKO) 

TOWER— (1.000)    (25c)    7    davs.  Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average.  $1,500) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD—  (400)  (25c-35c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$800.    (Average,  $700) 


Loach  Pathe  Stock 
Purchase*  Re  ported 

Washington,  April  19. — Acquisi- 
tion by  Thomas  P.  Loach,  New  York, 
officer  of  Pathe  Film  Corp.,  of  five 
shares  of  the  company's  common  stock 
in  February,  bringing  his  holdings  to 
16  shares,  was  reported  tonight  by  the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission 
in  its  semi-monthly  summary. 

The  transaction  was  the  only 
activity  in  film  stocks  disclosed  by  the 
commission's  report. 


Baldwin  to  Broadcast 

Montreal,  April  19.— Earl  Bald- 
win, former  Prime  Minister  of  Great 
Britain,  will  give  three  radio  ad- 
dresses in  Canada.  Thursday  and  Fri- 
day he  will  speak  over  CBY,  Toronto, 
no  other  station  carrying  the  ad- 
dresses. His  third  talk,  also  given  in 
Toronto,  will  be  April  22  at  9  P.  M., 
when  Canadian  Broadcasting  Corp. 
will  put  it  on  the  national  network. 


zation  to  supplement  the  work  of  the 
committee  was  announced  by  Mme. 
Mero-Irion.  The  new  group  will  be 
known  as  "Radio  Listeners,"  and  was 
formed  to  combat  the  assumption, 
Mme.  Mero-Irion  said,  that  women's 
organizations  are  "high  brow,"  and 
have  a  different  viewpoint  on  radio 
programs  from  the  general  public. 


ITOA  Defers  Move 
For  Censor  Repeal 

Move  to  seek  repeal  of  the  state 
censor  law  has  been  deferred  by  the 
I.T.O.A.,  which  recently  instructed 
its  counsel,  Milton  C.  Weisman,  to 
draft  a  repealing  bill. 

The  organization  is  considering 
sponsoring  such  a  measure  in  the  next 
session  of  the  legislature,  and  in  the 
meantime  will  attempt  to  muster  ex- 
hibitor sentiment  for  repeal  through- 
out the  state. 


'Prison'  Hits 
$3,900  in  L.  A. 
'Dodge'  Is  Big 


Los  Angeles,  April  19. — "Prison 
Without  Bars"  was  strong  here,  with 
$3,900  at  the  4  Star  in  the  second 
week.  Also  big  in  the  second  week 
was  "Dodge  City,"  with  $16,000  at  the 
Warner  Hollywood  and  $17,500  at  the 
Warner  Downtown. 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle"  did  $7,200  at  the  Pantages 
and  $7,200  at  the  Hillcrest. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19 : 

"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

CHINESE— (2,500)      (30c-75c)     7  days 
Gross:  $9,900.     (Average,  $12,500) 
"Prison    Without    Bars"    (U.  A.) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-55c)  7  days,  2nd  week. 
Gross:  $3,900.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 

(RKO) 

"Peck's  Bad  Boy  at  the   Circus"  (RKO) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)  (30c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,200.  (Average, 
$6,500) 

"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  STATE — (2,500)     (30c-75c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $11,400.     (Average,  $14,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 

(RKO) 

"Peck's  Bad  Boy  at  the  Circus"  (RKO) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $7,200.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Eagle  and  the  Hawk"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)   (30c-65c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Larry  Blake,  F.  &  M.  revue.  Gross: 
$15,000.      (Average.  $18,000) 
"Dodge  City"   (W.  B.) 

WARNER     BROS.  (HOLLYWOOD)— 
(3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$16,000.       (Average,  $14,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (DOWNTOWN)— 
(3,400)  (30<S-65c)  7  days.  2nd  week.  Grossj: 
$17'»50O.      (Average,  $12,000 


LATEST  THING  IN  TRAVEL 

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H.  Littman  a  Benedict 

Harry  Littman,  well  known  in  the 
film  industry,  will  be  married  to  Miss 
Cillv  Rosenberg  of  London  and  Vien- 
na this  afternoon  in  the  Spanish  and 
Portuguese  Synagogue,  64th  St.  and 
Central  Park  West.  Littman,  who  is 
associated  with  Industrial  Lithograph- 
ing Co.,  is  a  brother  of  Mack  Littman. 
American  representative  of  Herbert 
Wilcox  Prod. 

Among  those  attending  the  ceremony 
will  be  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray  Silver- 
stone,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emanuel  Silver- 
stone  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles 
Schwartz. 


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FLASH  TO  THE  NATION 

Walter  Winchell  in  139  newspapers: 

"M-G-M  breaks  the  tape  in  Hollywood's 
Anti-Dictator  race  with  WHILE  AMERICA* 
SLEEPS'  at  the  Capitol,  a  two-reel  factual  spy 
expose.  An  eye-opener  for  people  who  think 
the  Ratzis  are  3,000  miles  away," 

Dynamite  on  the  screen! 
Sell  tickets  with  showmanship! 

WH I  LE  AMERfCA  SUEP5 


— 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


•  L.  45.  NO.  7; 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  APRIL  21,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


arnoff  Links 
Film  Industry 
To  Television 


nited  in  Interest,  He 
Wires  S.  M.  P.  E. 


Hollywood.  April  20. — Television 
i  the  film  industry  are  closely 
tted  in  interest  and  can  be  of  mu- 
ll aid  to  each  other,  David  SarnofY, 
EA  president,  declared  today  in  a 
egram  to  E.  A.  Williford,  president 
the  Society  of  Motion  Picture  En- 
•eers.  The  telegram  was  read  to 
idio  executives  and  engineers  gath- 
£d  at  the  semi-annual  S.M.P.E. 
nquet  at  the  Hollywood-Roosevelt 
jtel. 

'The  future  will  probably  see  the 
;>ent  entertainment  offered  by  mo- 
rn picture  theatres  augmented  by 
'ecial  television  services  that  will 
ing  current  events  to  the  theatre 
-tens.  In  due  time,  the  foremost 
'bgressive  theatre  operators  will 
sli  to  step  forward  with  installa- 
fns  of  projection  apparatus  as  soon 

services  become  available  which 
»y  be  expected  to  enhance  the  value 

the  entertainment  which  the  mo- 
•11  picture  industry  will  continue  to 
Dvide. 

"The  RCA  Manufacturing  Co.  has 
rther  completed  developments  of 
rtain  special  apparatus  that  may  be 
etui  in  the  study  of  the  technique 
cessary  to  the  production  of  films 
r  television  use.  The  Photophone 
rision  is  granting  rights  to  its 
'ensees.  covering  the  production  of 
)tion  picture  sound  records  for  use 

television  purposes." 
Sarnoff  asked  for  cooperation  for 
e   study  of   problems   involved  in 

(Continued  on  fane  3) 


tudio  Union  Fixes 
leadline  Tomorrow 

Hollywood.  April  20. — A.  Brigham 
j.-e.  attorney  for  Studio  Technicians 
xal  37,  said  tonight  that  the  I.A.T. 
E.  has  until  Saturday  to  restore 
itonomy  to  the  local.  He  made  the 
atement  following  another  conference 
bring  about  a  settlement  of  the 
spute  over  control  of  the  union.  He 
fid  failure  to  grant  the  demand 
)uld  nullify  all  efforts  to  bring  about 
ttlement. 

Meanwhile  John  Gatelee  and  Frank 
pickling,  international  officers,  and 
arold  V.  Smith  will  appear  before 
ies  congressional  committee  to- 
orrow  morning  to  tell  of  alleged 
mimunism  in  local. 


Sunday  Film  Shows 
Legalized  in  Maine 

Augusta,  Me.,  April  20. — 
Gov.  Leslie  O.  Barrows  has 
signed  the  measure  legalizing 
Sunday  films  in  Maine.  Under 
a  local  option  clause  cities 
and  towns  will  be  permitted 
to  vote  on  allowing  motion 
pictures  on  Sundav  between 
3  P.  M.  and  11:30  P.  M. 


G.N.  and  Fine  Arts 
Renew  Activity  as 
Hammons  Sets  Deal 


St.  John  Exchanges 
Halt  Selling  to  Wait 
Ruling  on  New  Law 

St.  John,  X.  B..  April  20.— Man- 
agers of  film  distributing  headquarters 
here  for  the  Maritime  Provinces  and 
Newfoundland  have  received  instruc- 
tions from  home  offices  in  Toronto  to 
withhold  further  selling  to  Nova 
Scotia  accounts  until  lawyers  have  time 
to  consider  provisions  of  the  bill  to 
prohibit  "undue  discrimination."  re- 
cently passed  by  the  Nova  Scotia  leg- 
islature. 

Managers  say  that  the  legislation 
might  result  in  the  exclusion  of  Nova 
Scotia  from  contracts  for  film  rental. 
If  the  Xova  Scotia  business  is  dropped 
they  say.  the  remaining  trade  in  films 
would  not  warrant  a  maritime  distrib- 
uting centre  here.  Films  would  have 
to  be  handled  from  Montreal  as  they 
were  before  the  establishment  of  ex- 
changes here. 

Under  the  bill  the  Government 
would  have  the  power  to  penalize  dis- 
tributors if  it  considers  there  has  been 
discrimination  in  the  selling,  leasing 
or  renting  of  films. 


A  renewal  of  production  and  dis- 
tribution activity  between  Grand  Na- 
tional and  Fine  Arts  Prod,  was  agreed 
upon  yesterday  by  Earle  W.  Ham- 
mons and  Franklyn  Warner,  heads  of 
the  two  companies,  following  two 
weeks  of  conferences  here. 

The  agreement  signalizes  the  re- 
sumption of  regular  film  deliveries  by 
Grand  National  after  several  months 
of  inactivity.  Fine  Arts  will  de- 
liver "Panama  Patrol,"  already  com- 
pleted, for  immediate  release  by 
Grand  National  and  will  put  two  new 
pictures  into  production  immediate- 
ly. Three  others  have  been  set  for 
early  production. 

Makes  Deal  With  Frenke 

In  addition  to  the  agreement  with 
Warner.  Grand  National  has  elimi- 
nated release  problems  which  con- 
fronted its  British  associate.  Grand 
National  Pictures,  Ltd.,  making  pos- 
sible the  continuance  of  the  distribu- 
tion arrangement  abroad  with  the 
Jeffrey  Bernerd-Maurice  Wilson  com- 
pany. Bernerd  described  the  arrange- 
ment as  "an  entirely  satisfactory  set- 
tlement of  all  our  production  prob- 
lems," and  added  that  he  would  "re- 
turn to  England  to  proceed  with  the 
development  of  our  company  on  the 
basis  of  its  five-year  franchise"  with 
Grand  National. 

Hammons  also  concluded  arrange- 
ments with  Dr.  Eugene  Frenke  by 
which  Grand  National  will  purchase 
outright  the  latter*s  production,  "Ex- 
ile Express,"  starring  Anna  Sten.  The 

(Continued  on  pane  3) 


'Cover'  Fair  Dedication  8 
Miles  Away — Via  Television 


Some  150  newspapermen,  a  majority 
of  whom  had  never  before  witnessed 
television,  yesterday  appreciatively 
"covered"  the  dedication  of  the  RCA 
exhibit  buildings  at  the  New  York 
World's  Fair,  from  the  62nd  floor  of 
the  RCA  Building.  On  two  score 
television  receivers,  they  viewed  with 
perfect  clarity  all  the  events  that 
transpired  on  the  Fair  grounds.  The 
televised  distance  was  about  eight 
miles. 

Seen  on  the  television  screen  were 
various  views  of  the  RCA  Building 
and  gardens,  as  well  as  the  speakers 
and  guests,  including  Major  Lenox 
Lohr,  president  of  NBC ;  David  Sar- 
noff, president  of  RCA ;  Cornelius 
Bliss,  Edward  Lasker,  M.  H.  Ayles- 


worth,  Henry  R.  Luce,  Edward 
Friendly,  Neville  Miller,  General 
Harbord,  and  numbers  of  others. 

Tine  ceremonies  foreshadow  the  ad- 
vent of  television,  for  starting  next 
week  a  regular  television  program 
schedule  will  be  assumed,  and  receiv- 
ing sets  will  be  placed  on  the  mar- 
ket. RCA's  sets,  on  public  display 
yesterday  for  the  first  time,  range  in 
price  from  $150  to  $600.  The  screens 
w  ill  show  pictures  33A  inches  deep  by 
AV%  inches  wide,  while  others  will  re- 
produce pictures  73/&  by  9^4  inches  in 
size. 

Following  the  dedication  ceremo- 
nies, NBC's  television  department 
presented  a  prize  fight  refereed  by 
Max  Baer. 


Zukor  Returns 
With  Plea  for 
Industry  Unity 

Needed   to   Offset  Cuts 
Abroad,  He  Declares 

By  AL  FINESTONE 

Adolph  Zukor,  Paramount  board 
chairman,  returned  yesterday  from 
abroad  with  the  declaration  that  in 
view  of  dwin- 
dling markets 
overseas,  all  ele- 
ments of  the 
American  in- 
dustry should 
work  together 
to  maintain  and 
enhance  its  po- 
sition. 

"At  a  time 
when  the  for- 
eign market  is 
s  o  unsettled, 
ever  y  means 
should  be  taken 
not  to  reduce 
production  budgets,"  he  said.  "The 
studios  should  be  given  every  assis- 
tance to  make  pictures  that  will  bring 
people  to  the  box-office." 

Zukor  was  gone  almost  three 
months.  As  a  Paramount  "ambassador 
of  goodwill,"  he  spent  much  time  in 
Great  Britain  and  toured  France,  Bel- 

( Continued  on  pane  3) 


Adolph  Zukor 


M.P.T.O.A.  Qualifies 
Acceptance  of  Pact 

Failure  of  the  distributors'  negotiat- 
ing committee  to  complete  a  definition 
of  arbitration  procedure  under  the 
proposed  trade  practice  program  is 
evoking  qualified  acceptance  of  the 
draft  from  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  directors, 
representing  the  regional  affiliated  or- 
ganizations, Ed  Kuykendall,  M.  P.  T. 
O.  A.  president,  said  yesterday. 

M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  directors  are  now- 
being  polled  on  their  reactions  to  the 
trade  practice  draft  sent  them  earlier. 
The  organization  will  take  no  formal 
stand  on  the  proposed  program  until 
expressions  have  been  received  from 
every  board  member,  Kuykendall  said. 
Replies  received  to  date,  however,  in- 
dicate that  the  proposed  draft  is  "sub- 
stantially acceptable"  while  lacking 
several  features  still  desired  by  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.  units,  chief  among  which  is 
a  complete  and  explicit  arbitration 
procedure. 

No  meeting  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
board  is  likely  to  be  called  to  prepare 

(Continued  on  pane  3) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  21, 


Cowdin  Attending 
"U"  Frisco  Meet 


San  Francisco,  April  20. — J.  Cliee- 
ver  Cowdin,  Universal  board  chair- 
man, will  head  a  delegation  from  the 
company's  studio  which  will  attend  the 
third  and  final  regional  sales  meeting, 
opening  at  the  St.  Francis  here  on 
Saturday.  Expected  from  the  studio 
with  Cowdin  are  Cliff  Work,  Matthew 
J.  Fox  and  John  Joseph.  Following 
the  convention  Cowdin  will  leave  for 
a  two-week  fishing  trip  in  Mexico, 
after  which  he  may  spend  some  addi- 
tional time  at  the  studio  before  return- 
ing to  New  York. 

'Wuthering  Heights' 
Gives  Rivoli  $50,000 

"Wuthering  Heights"  grossed  an 
estimated  $50,000  in  its  first  week  at 
the  Rivoli  to  prove  one  of  the  strong- 
est draws  the  house  has  had  in  many 
years.  Present  indications  are  that  the 
film  will  remain  at  the  Rivoli  for  a 
five-week  run.  "Story  of  Alexander 
Graham  Bell"  did  an  estimated  $35,000 
in  its  third  week  at  the  Roxy  and  con- 
tinues for  a  fourth. 

At  the  Hollywood,  where  the  ad- 
vance sale  for  "Juarez"  started  yes- 
terday, a  heavy  demand  for  tickets 
continued  all  day.  "Dodge  City"  fin- 
ished its  second  week  at  the  Strand 
with  an  estimated  $35,000  and  will  go 
for  a  third.  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy"  is  next.  "Heroes  of  the  Marne" 
(Spectrum)  starts  today  at  the  Little 
Carnegie. 


Decency  Legion  Head 
Seen  as  Cardinal  Here 

Archbishop  John  T.  McNicholas  of 
Cincinnati  is  expected  to  be  named  as 
Archbishop  of  New  York,  according 
to  dispatches  from  Vatican  City  last 
night.  His  appointment  to  succeed  the 
late  Cardinal  Hayes  would  carry  with 
it  elevation  to  the  Cardinalate.  Arch- 
bishop McNicholas  is  Episcopal 
Chairman  of  the  National  Legion  of 
Decency. 


'Mamlock'  Ban  Stirs 
British  Censor  War 

London,  April  20. — Following  the 
action  of  the  British  Board  of  Film 
Censors  in  banning  "Professor  Mam- 
lock," Russian  film,  from  exhibition 
in  England,  the  London  County  Coun- 
cil today  formally  announced  that  all 
press  showings  of  uncensored  films  are 
illegal. 

"Professor  Mamlock,"  which  con- 
demns the  Nazi  system,  already  has 
been  press-shown.  Elsie  Cohen,  dis- 
tributor of  the  picture  in  this  country, 
has  protested  to  the  British  censor 
board  over  the  ban. 


'Young  Mr.  Lincoln' 
To  Open  in  Illinois 

Hollywood,  April  20. — The  home 
city  of  Abraham  Lincoln,  Springfield, 
111.,  has  been  chosen  by  20th  Century- 
Fox  for  the  opening  of  "Young  Mr. 
Lincoln"  on  Memorial  Day,  May  30. 
Special  cars  will  be  added  to  regular 
I  rains  from  New  York  and  other  key 
cities  to  carry  newspapermen  and 
others  to  the  opening.  National  re- 
lease of  the  picture  is  scheduled  for 
one  week  after  the  Springfield  opening. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount 
president ;  Stanton  Griffis, 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee; 
Russell  Holman,  eastern  story 
head ;  Edwin  L.  Weisl,  board  mem- 
ber, and  Leon  Netter,  home  office 
theatre  executive,  will  arrive  in  New 
York  Monday  after  two  weeks  at  the 
studio  in  production  conferences.  Neil 
F.  Agnew,  distribution  head,  will  visit 
exchanges  in  the  Northwest  before  re- 
turning to  New  York.  Robert  Gill- 
ham,  advertising  and  publicity  direc- 
tor, goes  to  Omaha  to  complete  ar- 
rangements for  the  "Union  Pacific" 
premiere  there  April  28. 

• 

Joe  Pollak  has  advised  friends  here 
that  he  has  succeeded  in  getting  his 
family  from  Germany  to  England.  He 
is  now  in  London  after  visiting  south- 
ern Italy  and  may  remain  in  London 
for  the  summer. 

• 

H.  F.  Wilks,  Paramount  district 
manager  at  Atlanta,  and  John  F. 
Kirby,  Atlanta  branch  manager,  are 
here  conferring  with  Oscar  Morgan, 
southern  division  manager. 

• 

Wesley  Ruggles,  Columbia  pro- 
ducer-director, sailed  yesterday  on  the 
lie  de  France  for  two  months  abroad. 
Also  sailing  were  Leland  Hayward 
and  Margaret  Sullavan,  his  wife. 
• 

Bela  Lugosi  left  for  the  coast  yes- 
terday  for  work  in   "The  Phantom 
Creeps"  for  Universal.     He  arrived 
from   England  yesterday  morning. 
• 

Herman  Wobber's  present  trip  to 
Europe  is  his  first  in  10  years. 


JEFFREY  BERNERD,  head  of 
Grand  National,  Ltd.,  sails  for 
England  on  the  Queen  Mary  today  af- 
ter two  weeks  of  conference  here  with 
Earle  Hammons.  Maurice  J.  Wil- 
son, Bernerd's  associate  who  accom- 
panied him  here  from  London,  leaves 
for  the  coast  by  train  today  to  visit 
several  studios  before  returning  to 
England. 

• 

Walter  Damrosch  will  arrive  in 
Hollywood  May  15  to  make  his  screen 
debut  in  Paramount's  "The  Star 
Maker." 

• 

John  J.  O'Connor,  RKO  theatre 
head,  arrives  in  New  York  Monday 
after  a  two-week  trip  to  the  coast. 
• 

Peggy  Mahoney  of  the  Paramount 
Theatre  publicity  department,  is  back 
at  her  desk  after  a  week's  vacation. 
• 

Sol  C.  Siegel,  Republic  producer, 
is  in  town  for  home  office  conferences 
on  production. 

• 

Larry  Stein,  publicity  director  for 
Warners  in  Chicago,  is  on  a  business 
trip  to  New  York. 

• 

Eleanor  Powell  will  make  a  per- 
sonal   appearance    at    Loew's  State 
starting  Thursday  for  one  week. 
• 

Joy  Hodges,  Universal  player,  ar- 
rived from  the  coast  by  plane  yester- 
day for  a  vacation  here. 

• 

Maria  Jeritza,  who  is  Mrs.  Win- 
field  Sheehan,  sails  today  on  the 
Queen  Mary. 


Matthews  Named 
Motiograph  Head 

H.  Thorwell  Matthews  has  been 
appointed  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  Motiograph,  Inc.,  equipment 
company,  by  the  company's  board  of 
directors.  Matthews  has  been  secre- 
tary of  Motiograph  for  the  past  two 
years,  and  replaces  Joseph  B.  Kleck- 
ner,  who  resigned  last  week. 

Matthews  declared  the  change 
would  involve  no  alterations  in  com- 
pany policy  or  operation,  no  personnel 
changes  in  sales  or  manufacturing  de- 
partments and  no  major  change  in 
common  stock  holdings  of  the  com- 
pany. 


T alley  Sailing  Today 
For  European  Meets 

Truman  H.  Talley,  producer  of 
Movietone  shorts  and  news,  sails  to- 
day on  the  Queen  Mary.  He  will  at- 
tend London  and  Paris  sales  conven- 
tions of  20th  Century-Fox  and  con- 
duct a  meeting  of  European  Movie- 
tonews  staffs  in  Paris  early  in  May. 

Among  others  scheduled  to  sail  on 
the  ship  are  Gilbert  Seldes,  CBS 
television  director;  Spencer  Tracy, 
Robert  E.  Sherwood,  George  and  Mrs. 
Arliss,  Arturo  Toscanini,  Omar  Kiam, 
Sir  Robert  Peel,  son  of  Beatrice  Lil- 
lie,  and  her  mother,  Mrs.  Lucie  Lillie. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Nezvsreels  devote  little  space  to  the 
European  war  situation  which  has  in 
past  received  considerable  attention. 
The  reels  and  their  contents  follow : 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  64— Cutter 
breaks  ice.  Warships  return  to  Spain. 
Airliners  under  construction  in  France. 
Launch  ship  in  England.  Electric  robot 
at  New  York  fair.  Pope  bestows  blessing 
in  Rome.  Peace  celebration  in  Madrid. 
Summer  fashions.     Lew  Lehr.     Auto  race. 

'NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  262—Pope 
conducts  Easter  services.  Plague  in  Ore- 
gon. Chamberlain  and  wife,  strolling. 
Douglas  dons  robes.  Fashion  show.  Queen 
Mary  visits  school.  Auto  race.  Ski  race. 
Dodgers  vs.  Giants.  Boxing. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  75— Forest 
fires  in  west.     Danish  royalty  tours  coun- 


try. Midgets  detained  at  Ellis  Island. 
Egyptian  tomb  opened.  Douglas  takes  of- 
fice. Draft  evader  to  face  charges.  Al- 
banians flee.  Rush  defense  forces  in  Eng- 
land. Louis  beats  Roper.  Tribute  paid  to 
baseball  inventor.     Giants  defeat  Dodgers. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  79— King 
George  inspects  airplane  factory.  Electric 
exhibit  at  fair.  New  anti-tank  guns.  Glid- 
er meet.  Garden  party  in  Ireland.  Spring- 
time in  English  zoo.  Salmon  fishing.  Life 
boat  championships. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  764— 
New  York  "L"  down.  Pope  makes  Easter 
appearance.  Army  maneuvers  in  London. 
New  army  transport  plane.  Reform  gov- 
ernment in  China.  Douglas  sworn  in. 
Typical  American  mother.  Parade  in 
Milan.  Gold  exhibit  for  fair.  Shoe  fash- 
ions. Skiing.  Salmon  swim  upstream. 
Auto  steeplechase.  Boxing. 


Nizer  Papers  Cover 
Radio  and  Film  La 


Analyses  of  two  new  branches 
law — phases  of  motion  picture  a 
radio  activities — have  been  prepared 
Louis  Nizer  of  the  law  firm  of  Phi.1, 
&  Nizer  and  have  been  made  availa 
in  convenient  booklet  form. 

One  of  these,  "The  Right  of  P 
vacy,"  is  an  analysis  of  a  new  brai 
of  motion  picture  law.  It  treats 
the  right  of  public  personalis 
their  individual  privacy.  The  . 
is  a  consideration  of  new  principles 
law  in  radio  and  covers  special  le; 
considerations  which  have  arisen 
the  broadcasting  field  and  otli 
which  have  developed  through 
operations  of  the  Federal  Communi 
tions  Commission. 


New  York  Fund  Pie 
On  Air  Sunday  Nigi 

Greater  New  York  Fund  will  g 
a  special  program  over  the  Coluni 
network  from  8-9  P.M.  Sunday 
part   of   its   fund   raising  campai 
Mayor  F.  H.  LaGuardia  and  Herb  ; 
Bayard  Swope  will  head  the  progr 
which  will  present  Lowell  Thon 
Marion  Anderson,  Tallulah  Bankhe 
Jimmy  Durante,  Eddie  Dowling  J.' 
Flippen,  Tommy  Riggs  and  the 
of  "Pins  and  Needles." 


Saville  to  Coast  on 
Metro  English  Plai 

M-G-M's  production  plans  in  E  i 
land  for  this  year's  quota  requi. 
ments  will  be  completed  on  the  cc 
in  conferences  among  Louis  B.  Ma; 
Ben  Goetz,  head  of  British  prodj 
tion,  and  Victor  Saville,  produi| 
director 

Saville   arrived  yesterday  on 
Queen  Mary.  After  two  or  three  d| 
in  New  York,  he  will  leave  for 
coast.    Goetz,   who   arrived  recei 
from  abroad,  is  now  at  the  studid 


See  Nazi  Spy  Short 

Officers  of  the  Military  Intellige 
Reserve  Society  of  the  Second  Ccj 
area,  specialists  in  counter-espion; 
at  a  special  meeting  at  the  Town  I- 
last  night  saw  "While  America  Slee] 
M-G-M's  short  on  Nazi  spy  activity 
Officials  from  Washington  attendee! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Offict) 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAIV  | 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sui  i 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  C 
pany,  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  presid 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasv 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenu' 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephi 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpu  | 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  \ 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Mo' 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Tej 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pici 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  U 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  B 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  We 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Sqi 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Lon 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies 


lay  April  21.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


pal 


■kor  Back,  Urges 
V  United  Industry 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
1 1,  Holland  and  the  Scandinavian 
htries  with  John  W.  Hicks,  for- 
chief. 

late  in  June  or  July  he  plans  to 
to  Australia  with  Hicks,  and  lat- 
[hey  are  scheduled  to  tour  South 
erica. 

Xfr-  greatest  satisfaction  I  got  out 
J  trip  is  that  picture  audiences 
*K>t  on  the  decline  in  Europe," 
jor  declared.  "If  anything,  they 
(growing.  The  only  thing  we  have 
do  to  assure  good  business  is  to 
iinue  making  films  of  universal 
al." 

Urges  Cooperation 

xhibitors  in  America  should  real- 
i  the  plight  of  the  film  companies 
iireign  markets  and  therefore  co- 
jirate  with  them  in  order  not  to 
lair  box-office  prestige  of  the  prod- 

Zukor  said. 
All  legislation  that  would  inter- 
with  domestic  business  should  be 
tided, "  he  continued.    "How:  exhib- 
s  can  benefit  by  hamstringing  the 
Queers,  by  the  Xeely  bill  or  other- 
iie.  is  beyond  my  conception.  The 
ihitor  should  help  the  producer  get 
i  money  back.    The  industry  must 
•e  sustenance  to  continue  as  a  go- 
concern. 

I  don't  think  that  any  legislators, 
Biral,  state  or  local,  consciously 
jit  to  hurt  this  business.  If  this 
Drought  about  it  will  be  by  people 
j  do  not  understand  the  business. 
<>idcrs  have  never  solved  our  prob- 
is.  We  can  do  away  with  trade 
t|s  much  more  effectively  by  in- 
i|trv  conferences  than  bv  lcgisla- 

F 

Gives  (.ode  Approval 

'tikor  thus  approved  the  trade  prac- 
I  code  as  a  means  of  settling  dis- 

Jes,  and  declared  that  if  its  phrase- 
pgy  seems  abstruse,  then  "it  is  the 
k  of  the  lawyers  to  make  it  clear." 

•The    British    production  industry, 

•rich  had  been  disorganized  by  "wild- 
"    financing,    is    steadily  coming 

|-'k.  he  reported. 

^'British  films  now  have  a  better 
I  nice  for  success  than  they  did  bc- 
Ne  the  breakdown,"  he  said.  "The 
■xlucers  arc  no  longer  squandering 
wey.  Films  are  budgeted  with  re- 
.'(I  for  the  available  market,  and  the 
iditional  British  care  and  though'. 
I  being  given  to  the  product, 
flu  my  opinion  between  30  and  35 
tures  a  year  is  a  good  production 
igrani  for  England.  If  they  tried 
.  increase  it  much  more,  I'd  say  they 
-•uld  not  succeed." 
Paramount  is  making  six  films  in 
igland  this  year,  and  may  have 
i^re,  depending  on  the  stories  and 
kts  available.  "We  don't  intend  to 
Jiste  our  money  on  cheap  quota  pic- 
res,"  Zukor  added. 

Unimpressed   by  Television 

British  television  failed  to  impress 
'ikor.  The  development  is  "about  the 
^ne"  as  when  he  visited  England  a 

ar  and  a  half  ago,  although  the 

lmique  has  been  improved,  he 
kind.  "Television  will  have  its  fu- 
're  in  its  own  field,  and  I  cannot 
dualize  it  replacing  films  in  the  the- 

"e  at  any  time.  I  don't  think  it  ever 
.11  be  a  medium  for  mass  entertain- 
fent." 

Zukor  said  that  more  is  heard  of  a 


Entertainment  Only 

"I  don't  think  that  films 
should  be  anything  but  enter- 
tainment," Adolph  Zukor  de- 
clared yesterday.  "People  hear 
and  talk  enough  about  topical 
subjects.  When  they  go  to 
the  theatre  they  want  enter- 
tainment, not  political  sig- 
nificance. That  does  not  mean 
that  controversional  themes 
cannot  be  dealt  with  as  en- 
tertainment. But  let's  forget 
propaganda  and  preachment. 
Let  the  newsreels  deal  with 
the  topics  of  the  day." 


"war  scare"  in  America  than  in  Eu- 
rope, but  the  situation  has  depressed 
business  generally  there.  Spain,  he 
anticipates,  will  be  a  "free  and  open 
market"  for  American  film  compa- 
nies. He  has  not  heard  of  any  nego- 
tiations or  feelers  to  reopen  Italy  to 
the  film  companies. 

Paramount  has  no  plans  to  expand 
its  theatre  holdings  in  England,  whicii 
now  include  18  or  20  theatres,  lie  ;aid. 
Zukor  found  audience  taste  in  Europe 
much  the  same  as  here,  but  action  is 
wanted  in  films  more  than  dialogue. 


M.P.T.O.A.  Qualifies 
Its  Pact  Acceptance 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  national  organization's  statement 
of  its  views  on  the  code,  as  the  direc- 
tors are  being  polled  by  mail  and  their 
replies,  representing  the  views  of  af- 
filiated units,  will  determine  the  par- 
ent organization's  stand,  Kuykendall 
indicated. 

"I  personally  feel,"  Kuykendall  said, 
"that  exhibitors,  regardless  of  affilia- 
tion, should  welcome  these  proposals 
and  give  them  a  fair  trial." 

Kuykendall  will  leave  for  Washing- 
ton tomorrow. 


Table  Sunday  Film  Bill 

Spartanburg,  S.  C,  April  20. — By 
a  vote  of  57  to  45  the  South  Carolina 
House  today  tabled  a  bill  to  legalize 
Sunday  films  for  charity. 


G.N.  and  Fine  Arts 
Renewing  Activities 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

purchase  money  was  forwarded  to 
Frenke  yesterday  and  the  agreement 
will  eliminate  the  court  action  begun 
by  the  producer  recently  to  relieve 
him  of  his  Grand  National  obliga- 
tions. 

It  was  learned  that  negotiations  for 
new  financing  for  Grand  National, 
while  not  yet  completed,  are  in  a  final 
stage  and  give  every  indication  of  be- 
ing consummated  withn  a  reasonable 
time.  When  completed,  Grand  Na- 
tional immediately  will  increase  its 
field  sales  force  and  put  its  distribu- 
tion machinery  in  readiness  for  new 
season  selling. 

Fine  Arts  has  commitments  at  this 
time  to  produce  a  total  of  16  pictures 
for  Grand  National  and  this  number 
may  be  greatly  increased  in  subse- 
quent negotiations.  Most  of  these  are 
scheduled  for  next  season  release,  but 
at  least  five  will  be  placed  in  produc- 
tion as  rapidly  as  possible.  These  are 
"Wings  Over  the  Pacific,"  third  in  the 
Cipher  Bureau  series ;  "Never  Mind 
the  Guard,"  "Wonder  Wrorld,"  "Full 
Speed  Ahead"  and  "At  Your  Age." 
Two  pictures  budgeted  at  more  than 
$250,000  each  are  on  the  Fine  Arts 
schedule. 

Warner  leaves  for  the  coast  by 
plane  Sunday  to  get  some  of  the  pic- 
tures under  way  and  will  then  return 
to  complete  negotiations  with  Ham- 
mons.  While  emphasizing  that  much 
work  remains  to  be  done,  Warner 
said  "Hammons  gave  me  everything 
I  asked  for  and  for  the  first  time  since 
my  association  with  Grand  National 
I  feel  confident  of  its  future." 

Hammons  said  the  agreement  is  a 
"go-ahead  signal  for  Grand  Nation- 
al." assuring  it  of  delivery  of  the  bulk 
of  its  required  releases. 


French  Award  to  'Brume 

"Quai  des  Brumes,"  French  film, 
has  won  the  French  Academy  Award, 
according  to  Film  Alliance  of  the 
United  States,  Inc.,  which  is  releasing 
the  film  in  this  country  as  "Port  of 
Shadows." 


Reserved  Seat  A  bolition  Plea 
Gets  Chuckles — and  One  Hiss 


Legitimate  stage  circles  were  chuck- 
ling yesterday  at  the  forthright  pro- 
posal of  Frank  Gillmore,  president 
of  Associated  Actors  &  Artistes  of 
America,  to  abolish  all  reserved  seats 
as  a  cure  for  the  evils  of  ticket  spec- 
ulation. Only  the  brokers  and  The- 
atrical Managers,  Agents  &  Treas- 
urers Union  were  up  in  arms  at  the 
idea. 

Gillmore  made  the  suggestion  as  an 
individual  for  use  in  the  event  that 
Acme  Ticket  Agency  is  successful  in 
its  suit  against  Actors'  Equity  and 
League  of  N.  Y.  Theatres  to  declare 
the  ticket  code  void.  Usually  reli- 
able courtroom  sources  reported  yes- 
terday that  Referee  Morris  Cooper, 
Jr.,  would  file  his  report  today. 

Producers  and  Equity  officials  de- 
clined to  comment  directly  on  the 
proposal  but  indicated  that  it  would 
meet  stiff  opposition  if  presented  seri- 
ously. There  was  a  general  disinclina- 
tion, however,  to  consider  the  matter 


at  any  length  because  it  is  regarded 
as  somewhat  farfetched.  Gillmore,  for- 
mer head  of  Equity,  on  the  other  hand, 
was  in  dead  earnest.  Briefly,  his  idea 
is  to  charge  different  prices  for  dif- 
ferent sections  of  the  house  with  "first 
come,  first  served"  in  each  section.  He 
pointed  to  its  success  in  film  houses. 

Theatrical  savants  pointed  out  that 
reserved  seats  were  a  "new-fangled" 
idea  introduced  to  the  legitimate  theatre 
in  the  past  100  years.  The  Ameri- 
can theatre  in  Colonial  days  oper- 
ated without  reserved  seats  and  it 
was  customary  for  servants  to  come 
early  to  hold  the  seats  for  their  mas- 
ters who  came  at  curtain  time.  In  the 
late  1800's,  popular  thrillers  worked 
on  the  "ten-twenty-thirty"  basis  and 
found  it  highly  successful,  but  the  bet- 
ter class  of  plays  were  already  com- 
mitted to  the  reserved  seat  principle. 
"Anyway,"  said  one  actor,  "maybe  it 
will  do  away  with  those  who  insist  on 
coming  in  during  an  act." 


Para.  Will  Complete 
15  Films  by  Sept.  1 

Hollywood,  April  20. — With  four 
features  completed  for  the  new  season 
and  five  in  work,  Paramount  by  Sept. 
1  will  have  a  backlog  of  at  least  15 
films  completed  and  awaiting  release 
on  the  1939-'40  program  of  60  pic- 
tures, Barney  Balaban,  president,  said 
tonight  before  leaving  for  New  York. 

Balaban  said  the  studio  is  farther 
ahead  on  its  new  season  production 
than  ever  in  its  history.  Leaving  with 
him  were  Stanton  Griffis,  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee,  and  Russell 
Holman,  eastern  production  represen- 
tative. They  were  here  two  weeks  for 
production  conferences. 

Outside  films  for  next  season  will 
be  three  from  England,  including  two 
Charles  Laughtons  and  "French  With- 
out Tears,"  and  Harry  Sherman's 
Hopalong  Cassidy  series  as  well  as 
two  others  from  Sherman. 

Completed  films  are  "Beau  Geste," 
"What  a  Life,"  and  the  two  Laugh- 
ton  pictures,  "Jamaica  Inn"  and 
"London  After  Dark,"  the  latter  with 
Vivian  Leigh.  In  work  are  "Ruler 
of  the  Seas,"  "Heaven  on  a  Shoe- 
string," "Disputed  Passage,"  "Ger- 
onimo"  and  "The  Cat  and  the 
Canary." 

To  develop  new  box-office  "names" 
the  studio  has  selected  14  younger 
players  to  be  known  as  the  "Golden 
Circle"  group,  who  will  be  featured. 

Details  of  the  program  will  be  dis- 
closed at  the  national  sales  conven- 
tion in  Hollywood  in  June. 


Sarnoff  Sees  Films, 
Television  in  Accord 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
television  "as  far  as  may  be  practi- 
cal and  reasonable."    Tomorrow,  the 
final  evening  session  will  be  devoted 
to  a  study  of  television. 

Only  a  morning  session  was  held 
today,  with  the  banquet  and  a  visit 
to  the  Warner  studio  taking  the  rest 
of  the  delegates'  time. 

Papers  Read 

Consideration  was  given  to  photo- 
graphic and  laboratory  technique. 

Papers  read  on  these  subjects  were  : 
"A  Direct  -  Reading  Photoelectric 
Densitometer,"  by  D.  R.  White,  Du 
Pont  Film ;  "An  Instrument  for  the 
Absolute  Measurement  of  the  Graini- 
ness  of  Photographic  Emulsions,"  by 
A.  Goetz,  W.  O.  Gould  and  A.  Dem- 
ber,  California  Institute  of  Technol- 
ogy ;  "RCA  Aluminate  Developers," 
by  J.  R.  Alburger,  RCA  Manufactur- 
ing; "Some  Factors  Governing  the 
Design,  Construction  and  Operation  of 
an  M.  P.  Laboratory,"  by  D.  E. 
Hyndman,  chairman  of  the  committee 
on  laboratory  practice ;  "Simplifying 
and  Controlling  Film  Travel  Through 
a  Developing  Machine,"  by  J.  F.  Van 
Leuven,  Fonda  Machinery  Co. ;  "'A 
Reel  and  Tray  Developing  Machine," 
by  R.  S.  Leonard,  Municipal  Power 
&  Light,  Seattle;  "A  High-Intensity 
Arc  for  16mm.  Projection,"  by  H.  H. 
Strong,  Strong  Electric  Co. ;  New 
16mm.  Recording  Equipment,"  by  D. 
Canady,  Canady  Sound  Appliance  Co. ; 
"Notes  on  French  16mm.  Equipment," 
by  Canady. 


DODGE  CITY /rom  WARNERS! 
CONFESSIONS  OF  A  NAZI  SPY  from  WARNERS! 

THE  OKLAHOMA  KID  from  WARNERS! 
YES,  MY  DARLING  DAUGHTER  from  WARNERS! 

MAN  WHO  DARED  from  WARNERS! 
THE  KID  FROM  KOKOMO  from  WARNERS! 
THEY  MADE  ME  A  CRIMINAL  from  WARNERS! 

DEVIL'S  ISLAND  from  WARNERS! 
ANGELS  WITH  DIRTY  FACES  from  WARNERS! 
BLACKWELL'S  ISLAND  from  WARNERS! 
FOUR  DAUGHTERS  from  WARNERS! 

Y  FAIR  ADVERTISEMENT  FOR 


'MANS  M 


EARNERS  made  DARK  VICTORY! 

WARNERS  ,>w,  JUAREZ! 

WARNERS  made  WINGS  OF  THE  NAVY! 

WARNERS  made  DAWN  PATROL! 

WARNERS^ A  FAMILY  AFFAIR! 

WARNERS  made  HELL'S  KITCHEN! 

WARNERS  made  EACH  DAWN  I  DIE! 

WARNERS  made  BROTHER  RAT! 

WARNERS  made  YOU  CAN'T  GET  AWAY  WITH  MURDER! 

WARNERS  made  THE  DEVIL  ON  WHEELS! 

WARNERS  made  THE  SISTERS! 

YEAR  IS  THE  RECORD  FOR  THIS  YEAR! 


)TICE, 
EASE; 
re  are  no 
nkles  in 


THE  STANDARD 


5 


in 


...  SAMUE 


«W\JTHEWNG. 


HEIGHTS" 


PEOP 


cXrneg/e 


^  ,  .wov$  wish  review- 

required  to  see  „yes' ,  «  V ' 


"'WUTHERING  HEIGHTS'  IS  ONE  OF  ' 


"T7ie  three-way  reward  that  a  producer  waits  for  whe\ 
the  reaction  of  the  critics  and  the  reaction  of  the  publ 
W/TTTTTTPTf  TAfC  UFmUTS  »  i^/^ 


)F  SHOWMANSHIP 


OLDWYN  Productions 

if 


P^fcKfc,,  r       °n  4        wires.  .Co 
«o**     Ce"en-  °«P.>e  »,,ee  do  ^  Hi,,  new 

^    z    ,he      1   '° fine  9-s- 


ASON'S  DISTINGUISHED  PICTURES." 


(TIME  MAGAZINE) 


>ased,  is  the  reaction  of  the  exhibitor, 
grateful  to  all  concerned  for  the  reception  given 


e  i  ease 


n 


mm 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  21,  1 939 


Ohio  ITO  Fighting 
Sales  Tax  Action 


Columbus,  April  20. — Plans  for  an 
exhibitor  defense  against  the  action 
begun  recently  to  compel  the  Ohio 
Tax  Commission  to  collect  $1,200,000 
of  sales  taxes  on  film  distributed  in 
the  state  since  the  tax  went  into  ef- 
fect four  years  ago  were  discussed 
at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  the  I. 
T.  O.  of  Ohio  today.  David  Palfrey- 
man  of  the  M.  P.  P.  D.  A.  was  here 
from  New  York  to  aid  with  defense 
plans. 

Suit  was  brought  by  John  V.  Bost- 
wick,  a  Columbus  taxpayer.  If  the  ac- 
tion were  successful,  exhibitors  would 
be  liable  under  provisions  of  their  li- 
cense agreements  for  any  sums  col- 
lected by  the  state.  The  four  years  of 
back  taxes  would  amount  to  slightly 
more  than  six  times  the  weekly  film 
rental  paid  by  each  theatre. 


13  S.  America  Cities 
Get  'Juarez'  in  July 

Hollywood,  April  20. — Simultane- 
ous openings  of  Warners'  "Juarez" 
are  being  planned  in  thirteen  South 
American  capitals  in  July.  The  cities 
selected  are  Buenos  Aires,  La  Paz, 
Rio  de  Janeiro,  Santiago,  Bogota, 
Quito,  Ascuncion,  Lima,  Montevideo, 
Caracas,  Georgetown,  Paramribo  and 
Cayenne.  "Juarez"  will  have  its  world 
premiere  at  the  Hollywood  in  New 
York  next  Tuesday. 


Warners  Consider 
New  Shorts  Series 

Hollywood,  April  20.  —  Warners 
are  considering  a  new  series  of  short 
subjects,  based  on  prize  fight  stories, 
and  have  tentatively  set  Maxie  Rosen- 
bloom  and  Johnnie  Davis  for  the  lead- 
ing roles. 

The  pictures  would  be  one  reel  in 
length  and  would  be  supervised  by 
Gordon  Hollinshead. 


Urges  Suit  Settlement 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  April  20. — Judge 
E.  Yates  Webb  in  Federal  Court 
here  has  ruled  that  LeGette  Blythe 
must  prove  infringement  of  his  book, 
"Marshal  Ney,  a  Dual  Life,"  in  the 
M-G-M  film,  "The  Bravest  of  the 
Brave,"  before  he  is  entitled  to  know 
the  extent  of  the  company's  earnings 
from  the  film.  The  court  urged  a 
settlement  of  the  $250,000  action. 


Hollywood  Previews 


Start  Union  Trial  Today 

Trial  of  the  suit  of  two  motion  pic- 
ture operators,  James  J.  Little  and 
Milton  Olshin,  for  $5,000  damages  and 
an  injunction  against  Local  306 of  the 
N.  Y.  Motion  Picture  Operators 
Union,  was  started  yesterday  before 
X.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Isidor 
Wasservogel.  Plaintiffs  charge  a 
wrongful  refusal  of  membership  by 
the  union. 


"The  Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  April  20. — The  title  means  just  what  it  says.  It  is  the 
return  of  Warner  Baxter  to  the  role  of  the  Cisco  Kid,  a  character  he 
created  in  "In  Old  Arizona"  and  "The  Cisco  Kid."  It  has  a  retrospec- 
tive significance — it  should  carry  exhibitor  and  patron,  except  those 
too  young  to  remember,  back  to  the  memory  if  those  two  pictures. 
Within  itself,  with  those  recollections  as  props,  it  holds  the  promise  of 
enjoyable  entertainment  for  all. 

"The  Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  is  not  a  sequel  to  either  of  the  above 
named  pictures.  It's  a  fresh,  new  and  different  romantic  western  story. 
The  "Cisco  Kid"  is  not  the  whole  picture,  but  he  is  the  chief  factor. 
Rising  from  the  grave,  this  dreamy  desperado  who  lives  to  love 
all  women  and  make  all  women  love  him  as  well  as  strike  terror 
into  the  hearts  of  evildoers,  picks  up  where  he  left  off.  Lynn  Bari, 
Cesar  Romero,  Henry  Hull,  Kane  Richmond,  C.  Henry  Gordon,  Robert 
Barrat,  Chris  Pin-Martin  and  Soledad  Jiminez  have  things  to  do  and 
they  do  them  well,  but  it  is  Baxter  who  is  the  center  of  all  the  stirring 
action,  the  love  interest  and  comedy.  It's  Baxter  who  startles  and 
amazes  Miss  Bari,  Hull  and  Richmond,  whose  ranch  has  been  grabbed  by 
Barrat.  And  it's  he  who  dangerously,  but  suavely  and  comically,  brings 
the  fear  of  avenging  justice  to  Barrat.  He's  the  disappointed  conquering 
cavalier  who  loses  Miss  Bari  to  Richmond,  Yet  it's  he,  a  lover  who 
knows  what  love  means,  who  saves  the  boy  for  the  girl  as  he  horn- 
swoggles  Barrat  once  again. 

All  the  way  through  the  film,  it  is  evident  that  Baxter  thoroughly  en- 
joys the  restoration  to  his  old  role.  There  is  also  continual  evidence 
that  in  preparing  the  screenplay,  Milton  Sperling  had  concerned  him- 
self with  something  more  than  a  routine  stint,  while  in  directing,  it  is 
clear  that  Herbert  I.  Leeds  realized  he  had  a  responsibility  in  building 
showmanship  entertainment  that  would  not  permit  the  reputation  of 
"In  Old  Arizona,"  "The  Cisco  Kid"  or  that  of  the  title  character  to 
be  tarnished.  The  outdoor  mounting  which  producer  Kenneth  Mac- 
gowan  gave  this  film  is  a  value  that  exhibitors  may  use  as  an  exploita- 
tion asset. 

Running  time,  70  minutes.   "G."*  G.  McC. 


'Big  Town  Czar" 


Firm  Changes  Name 

Pictorial  Film  Library,  Inc.,  has 
changed  its  name  to  Pictorial  Films, 
[nc,  and  will  produce  shorts  for  the 
state  rights  market. 


Va.  MPTO  Meet  Set 

Roanoke,  Va.,  April  20. — M.  P. 
T.  O.  of  Virginia  will  hold  its  1939 
convention  at  the  Hotel  Roanoke  here, 
June  11  and  12. 


( Universal) 

Hollywood,  April  20. — As  much  a  preachment  as  it  is  an  item  of 
entertainment,  several  unique  twists  serve  to  differentiate  "Big  Town 
Czar"  from  the  usual  gangster  melodrama.  Moral  of  the  film  is  that 
crime  doesn't  pay,  a  subject  which  Ed  Sullivan,  who  wrote  the  original 
story  and  appears  in  the  show,  frequently  injects  into  his  Hollywood 
column. 

The  picture  gets  off  to  a  tricky  start  as  Sullivan  travelogues  both  the 
glamorous  and  squallid  New  York  City  and  introduces  the  principal 
characters.  Thereupon  trigger-man  Barton  MacLane,  abetted  by  his 
chum,  Frank  Jenks,  moves  in  on  Walter  Woolf  King's  rackets.  Although 
his  parents,  Oscar  O'Shea  and  Esther  Dale,  as  well  as  his  sweetheart, 
Eve  Arden,  despise  him  for  the  life  he  leads,  MacLane  prospers.  First 
shadows  of  avenging  justice  are  cast  when  Tom  Brown,  MacLane's 
college  boy  brother,  forces  his  way  into  the  racket  and  is  killed  after 
double-crossing  gambler  Jack  LaRue.  Fearing  for  his  own  life,  Mac- 
Lane flees,  only  to  be  lured  to  a  spot  by  the  intimation  that  Miss  Arden 
is  in  danger.  Wounded  while  killing  LaRue  in  a  gun  battle,  MacLane, 
convicted  of  murder  and  awaiting  execution,  dictates  to  Sullivan  his  life 
story,  which  is  advice  to  youngsters  to  live  honestly  and  decently. 

In  common  with  all  gangster  melodramas,  "Big  Town  Czar"  has  a 
definite  thrill-action  quality,  and  that,  plus  the  cast  names,  are  the  ele- 
ments to  concentrate  upon  in  exploitation. 

Sullivan's  original  story  was  adapted  by  Edmund  Hartman  and 
directed  by  Arthur  Lubin  under  Ken  Goldsmith's  production  supervision. 

Running  time,  62  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Receiver  Dismissed 

Oklahoma  City,  April  20. — Roy  L. 
Sullivan,  receiver  for  the  Dyer  The- 
atre Supply  Co.  of  Oklahoma  City, 
has  been  dismissed  by  Judge  Frank  L. 
Douglas  in  District  Court.  The  re- 
ceiver's report  revealed  that  $265  had 
been  paid  to  equipment  manufacturers 
on  a  $4,800  liability  and  $264  as  re- 
ceiver's fees. 


Form  Theatre  Firm 

Oklahoma  City,  April  20. — A 
charter  has  been  granted  by  the  Sec- 
retary of  State  to  the  Star  Theatre, 
Inc.,  at  Sand  Spring,  Okla.,  Capital 
stock  is  listed  at  $10,000.  Incorpora- 
tors include  Fred  S.  Gantz,  Mary  L. 
Gantz  and  J.  Roy  Tilely,  all  of  Sand 
Springs. 


Wilkes  Barre  Houses 
Discard  "Film  Guide" 

Wilkes  Barre,  Pa.,  April  20. 
— With  the  end  of  the  six- 
month  newspaper  workers' 
strike  in  Wilkes  Barre  and 
the  reappearance  of  that 
city's  three  daily  newspapers, 
the  Movie  Guide  issued  week- 
ly by  the  local  theatres  has 
been  discontinued.  The  thea- 
tres are  using  their  normal^ 
advertising  space  in  thfy, 
dailies.  The  dozen  houses  in-  * 
volved  were  distributing  ap- 
proximately 80,000  tabloids 
featuring  their  attractions 
during  the  last  weeks  of  the 
strike. 


Dismissal  Denied  in 
Wis.  Bank  Night  Suit 

La  Crosse,  Wis.,  April  20. — De- 
murrers by  the  Welworth  Theatre  Cc 
and  the  La  Crosse  Theatres  Co.  to  ; 
complaint  by  Judge  Robert  C.  Cowie 
which  would  prohibit  Bank  Night  as 
a  public  nuisance,  have  been  denied  by 
Judge  August  C.  Hoppmann. 

The  theatre  firms  in  their  demur- 
rers maintained  there  was  not  causej 
for  action.  The  ruling  by  Judge 
Hoppmann  gives  the  theatre  compa- 
nies until  May  3  to  file  replies  to  the 
decision. 

Judge  Cowie  instituted  the  action  i 
against  the  theatre  companies  as  aj 
private  citizen. 


Republic  Opens  Sales 
Meeting  in  Chicagc 

Chicago,  April  20.  —  Republic 
opened  its  regional  sales  conventior 
at  the  Drake  Hotel  today.  George 
Yates  welcomed  the  delegates  this 
morning  and  Al  Adams  outlined  the 
company's  publicity  and  advertising 
plan. 

The  afternoon  session  and  evening 
meeting  were  devoted  to  an  outline  of 
product  and  sales  policy  by  James  R. 
Grainger,  president. 


'Ma-mar oh'  to  Giegerich 

Charles  J.  Giegerich  will  sell  ancr1 
exploit  "Ma-maroh,"  four-reel  film-j 
record  of  savage  life  on  the  island  of 
Celebes.  He  also  has  closed  a  deal 
for  handling  13  two-reelers  on  AmerL 
can  historical  subjects. 


Denver  Bans  "Nation" 

Denver,  April  20.— Robert  E.  Al- 
len, local  theatre  manager,  was  fined 
$1,400  and  sentenced  to  120  days  in 
jail  for  six  showings  of  "The  Birth  of 
a  Nation."  The  court  held  he  violated 
a  city  ordinance  prohibiting  films 
which  "tend  to  stir  up  or  engender 
race  prejudice."  An  appeal  has  been 
taken. 


Ohio  Re  jects  15  Reels 

Columbus,  April  20. — For  the  first 
time  in  several  months  the  Ohii 
censors  turned  thumbs  down  on  film 
submitted  for  review,  when  last  week 
they  rejected  15  reels. 


B&K  Asks  Dismissal 

Chicago,  April  20. — Suit  of  inde- 
pendent exhibitor  Frank  Ford  against 1 
Balaban  &  Katz  and  the  majors  . has 
been  answered  by  B.  &  K.  attorney.' 
with  a  motion  to  dismiss. 


day,  April  21,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Midnight'  $6,500 
For  Oklahoma  City 


Oklahoma  City,  April  20. — "Mid- 
ght"  at  the  Paramount  here  led  the 

wn  with  a  gross  of  $6,500.  "Fast 
nd  Loose"  was  good  at  the  Tower, 
iking  $2,600,  and  "The  Little  Prin- 
ts" drew  $4,000  at  the  Midwest, 
(he  weather  was  cool. 

Kstimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
t^April  13 : 

»>liight"  (Para.) 

CRITERION— (I, SOU)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
ross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $5,500) 
■say  It  in  French"  (Para.) 
Newsboys'  Home"  (Univ.) 

LIBERTY— (1,300)    (20c-25c-30c)    4  days. 
toss:  $1,700.     (Average,  $1,800) 
The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 
King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 
.  LIBERTY— (1,300)    (20c-25c-30c)    3  days, 
goss:  $700.     (Average,  $700) 
The  Little  Princess"  (ZOth-Fox) 

MIDWEST— (1,500)   (25c-35c-4Cc)   7  days, 
•irnss:  $4,000.      (Average,  $4,500) 
Paris  Honeymoon"  (Para.) 
,  PLAZA— (750)    (25c-35c-40c)   7  days.  2nd 
Ttek.    Gross:  $1,200.     (Average.  $1,700) 
B  or.die  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 
Romance  of   the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

STATE -(1,100)  (20c-25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
•,200.     (Average,  $2,500) 
Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

TOWER— (1,000)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Iross:  $2,600.     (Average.  $2,500) 


Smart  Girls'  Smash 
In  Buffalo,  $15,000 

Buffalo,  April  20. — "Three  Smart 
.iris  Grow  Up,"  with  "Strange 
iaces"  at  the  Lafayette,  was  sensa- 
onal  at  $15,000. 

The  Great  Lakes  drew  a  strong 
14.100  with  "Dodge  City"  and  "Sud- 
kii  Money."  Phil  Spitalny  and  his 
:irl  orchestra  boosted  "Society  Law- 
yer" to  $18,300. 

Kstimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ig  April  15 : 

Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

•  BUFFALO— (3.0W  (30c-55c)  7  days.  On 
(tage:  Phil  Spitalnv's  orchestra.  Gross: 
{18,300.    (Average,  $12,000) 

Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

<;REAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (30c -50c)  7  days. 
.Gross:  $14,100.    (Average.  $7.500i 
Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 

HIPPODROME— (2,500)  (25c-40c)  7  days, 
•n!  week.    Gross:  $5,400.    (Average,  $6,800) 
King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 
The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

I'ENTL'RY— (3,000)  (25c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
jU.900.    (Average,  $6,000) 
'Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
'Strange  Faces"  (Univ.) 

•  I^AFAYETTE  —  (3.300)  (25c)  7  days. 
,'iross:  $15,000.    (Average.  $6,300) 


Film  Storage  Corp.  Sued 

I  Two  suits  against  Lloyd's  Film 
(Storage  Corp.  for  the  return  of  36 

>rints  and  55  reels  of  short  subjects 
■vere  revealed  in  the  X.  Y.  Supreme 

Tourt  yesterday  when  Lloyd's  asked 
'  or  a  consolidation  of  the  actions  and 

he  right  to  cross  plead  both  plaintiffs. 
■Suits  are  by  Pietro  Ricci  and  Ameri- 

al  Film  Importing  and  Distributing 
Corp.,  both  plaintiffs  claiming  owner- 
ship of  the  films  valued  at  $5,000  and 
jstored  with  Lloyd's. 


Boyd  Sues  on  'Drums' 

James  Boyd,  novelist  and  author, 
filed  suit  yesterday  in  the  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  against  Alexander  Kor- 
la.  London  Film  Productions,  Ltd., 
and  United  Artists  Corp.,  in  which  he 
asks  for  an  injunction  against  the  ex- 
hibition of  the  picture  "Drums,"  and 
an  accounting  and  judgment  for  dam- 
ages. Boyd  charges  plagiarism  of  the 
title.  "Drums,"  from  a  historical 
American  novel  of  the  same  title 
written  bv  him  in  1925. 


Hollywood  Preview 


'Juarez  and  Maximilian' 


(Miguel  C.  T orres) 

Hollywood,  April  20. — Miguel  C.  Torres,  producer  of  Spanish  lan- 
guage films,  including  a  version  of  this  one  in  that  tongue,  is  producer, 
director  and  author  of  "Juarez  and  Maximilian,"  known  until  recently 
as  "Maximilian  and  Carlotta."  It  is  a  straight  telling  of  the  story  of 
Maximilian's  tragic  experience  as  emperor  of  the  Mexican  monarchy 
set  up  by  the  armies  of  Napoleon  III  and  knocked  down  by  the  armies 
of  President  Juarez.  Although  prodiiced  with  a  mainly  American  cast, 
the  film  is  in  the  deliberate,  dramatically  underscored  manner  of  Spanish 
production  rather  than  in  the  standard  Hollywood  fashion. 

Conrad  Nagel,  Guy  Bates  Post,  Evelyn  Brent,  Frank  McGlvnn,  Sr., 
Gustavo  Von  Seyffertitz  and  Nigel  de  Brulier  are  the  principal  Ameri- 
can cast  names,  with  Jason  Robards  playing  the  Juarez  character  with 
his  back  to  the  camera  throughout.  Medea  Novara,  star  of  Spanish 
language  films,  plays  the  empress  in  the  Spanish  technique  and  with 
noticeable  dialect. 

Chief  screen  values  are  authentic  settings  and  background,  furnish- 
ings and  facilities,  made  available  to  the  producer  by  the  Mexican  Gov- 
ernment. These  have  genuine  interest. 

Running  time.  95  minutes.  "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hollywood,  April  20. — Monogram 
is  building  up  young  Martin  Spell- 
man,  12,  to  featured  and  starring 
roles,  having  set  "Oliver  Twist," 
"Songs  of  the  Navy,"  and  "First  Per- 
formance" for  him.  He  was  first  seen 
in  "Streets  of  New  York"  .  .  .  War- 
ners has  reunited  Bette  Davis,  Ger- 
aldine  Fitzgerald  and  George  Brent 
of  "Dark  Victory"  in  "Devotion," 
which  Edmund  Goulding  will  direct. 
Olivia  de  Havilland,  Claude  Rains 
and  Jeffrey  Lynn  also  have  roles. 
The  story  deals  with  the  Bronte  Sis- 
ters .  .  .  Fred  Stone  has  been  signed 
by  Republic  for  "Tidal  Wave"  .  .  . 
Edward  Ludwig,  director,  joins  Co- 
lumbia to  guide  "Coast  Guard,"  co- 
starring  Randolph  Scott  and  Ralph 
Bellamy  .  .  .  Walter  Yurmann  has 
been  signed,  with  his  assistant  Hans 
J.  Salter,  by  Arcadia  to  do  the  songs 
for  "Miracle  of  Main  Street." 


Fuzzy  Knight  has  been  given  a 
contract  by  Universal  to  appear  with 
Johnny  Mack  Brown  in  seven 
westerns  for  the  new  season  .  .  .  War- 
ners have  set  Humphrey  Bogart, 
Margaret  Lindsay  and  Billy  Halop 
for  roles  in  "Desert  Storm"  .  .  .  Ed- 
ward Dmytryk,  cutter  at  Paramount, 
took  over  the  final  week's  direction 
of  "Million  Dollar  Legs"  when  Nick 
Grinde  was  stricken  .  .  .  Republic  has 
purchased  for  serial  adaptation  "The 
Drums  of  Fu  Manchu,"  serial  by  Sax 
Rohmf.r  running  currently  in  the  Col- 
lier's Magazine ,  and  the  film  rights  to 
the  cartoon  strip,  "Tillie  the  Toiler," 
by  Russ  Westover.  The  latter  prop- 
erty will  form  the  basis  for  a  series  of 
pictures. 


With  Fred  Schuessler,  who  re- 
signed as  unit  casting  director  at 
Paramount,  replacing  Charles  Rich- 
ards as  Selznick  International  cast- 
ing director,  Bob  Mayo  has  been  hired 
to  take  Schuessler's  former  Para- 


mount post.  Another  casting  office 
change  was  Republic's  hiring  of  Ken 
Morgan,  trade  paper  reporter,  as  as- 
sistant casting  director  .  .  .  Warners 
is  preparing  "Bridge  of  Sighs,"  which 
will  have  as  its  background  the  fa- 
mous bridge  between  the  Criminal 
Courts  Building  and  the  Tombs  in 
New  York  City  .  .  .  Also  being  pre- 
pared at  the  lot  is  "Dead  End  Kids 
at  Valley  Forge,"  in  which  the  young- 
sters will  appear  in  a  military  school 
background.  Pat  O'Brien  draws  the 
top  role  .  .  .  Christy  Cabanne  has 
been  signed  by  Universal  to  direct 
"In  Old  California,"  first  of  the  Dick 
Arlen-Andy  Devine  outdoor  action 
pictures. 


Casting — David  Toruence  and  Mon- 
tague Love  in  "Ruler  of  the  Seas," 
Paramount  .  .  .  Margaret  Seddon  to 
"Gone  with  the  Wind,"  Selznick  In- 
ternational .  .  .  Margot  Stevenson's 
first  role  under  her  Warner  contract 
will  be  in  "Dust  Be  My  Destiny"  .  .  . 
Samuel  Hinds,  Leon  Errol,  Ray- 
mond Hatton  and  John  Qualen  to 
"Career,"  RKO  .  .  .  Barbara  Pepper, 
Florence  Lake  and  Chester  Clute 
to^  "Little  Mother,"  RKO  .  .  .  Pat 
O'Mali.ey  to  "Heaven  on  a  Shoe- 
string," Paramount  .  .  .  Janet  Waldo 
to  "Million  Dollar  Legs,"  and  Eliza- 
beth Patterson  to  "Our  Leading 
Citizen,"  both  at  Paramount  .  .  . 
Jackie  Moran  to  "Hobby  Family," 
Warners  .  .  .  George  Tobias  to 
"Maisie  Was  a  Lady,"  new  M-G-M 
title  for  "Broadway  to  Wyoming." 


Titles — "The  Spirit  of  Knute 
Rockne"  is  the  new  title  for  War- 
ners' "The  Story  of  Knute  Rockne" 
.  .  .  "Across  the  Plains"  has  been  set 
as  the  definite  title  for  the  next  Jack 
Randall  western  at  Monogram  .  .  . 
The  next  Tex  Ritter  at  the  studio 
will  be  called  "Down  the  Wyoming 
Trail." 


'Culver'  Hits 
11,500  for 
Denver  Lead 


Denver,  April  20. — The  Denver 
took  in  top  money,  $11,500,  with 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  and  Clyde  Mc- 
Coy's band  on  the  stage.  Both  "I'm 
From  Missouri"  and  "Story  of  Ver- 
non and  Irene  Castle"  were  strong  in 
their  second  weeks  at  the  Denham  and 
Orpheum,  with  $7,000  and  $7,500, 
respectively. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19 : 

"The  Little  Princess"  (2ttth-Fox) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  after 
a  week  at  the  Denver.  Gross:  $3,750.  (Av- 
erage, $3,500) 

"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average, 
$6,500) 

"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

DENVER— (2,525)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
with  Clyde  McCoy  band  on  stage.  Gross: 
$11,500.  '  (Average,  $9,000) 

"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO) 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average, 
$8,500) 

"Biackwell's  Island"  (F.  N.) 
"Bey  Trouble"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)    (25c-40c)   7  days. 
Cross:  $4,500.     (Average,  $3,500) 
"You  Can't  Cheat  an  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 
"First  Offenders"  (Col.) 

Rt ALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  "Honest 
Man"  3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average, 
$1 ,750) 


Griffith  Amusement 
Transfers  Managers 

Oklahoma  City,  April  20. — Grif- 
fith Amusement  Co.  has  made  several 
changes  in  the  personnel  of  the  cir- 
cuit's city  managers.  Earl  Settle,  man- 
ager at  Okmulgee,  Okla.,  has  been 
transferred  to  Frederick,  Okla.,  in 
charge  of  the  Ramona,  Ritz  and 
Grand.  Kenneth  Blackledge,  Freder- 
ick manager,  has  been  placed  in  charge 
of  the  Criterion,  Royal  and  Empress 
at  El  Reno,  Okla.,  acquired  from  Or- 
ville  Enloe  and  Ed  Loomis. 

Lou  Chatham,  manager  at  Nor- 
man. Okla.,  has  resigned  to  join  the 
newly  formed  Griffith-Glen  Dickinson 
circuit  in  Kansas  City.  Fred  Jackson, 
Seminole,  Okla.,  manager,  has  replaced 
Chatham  at  Norman  and  has  taken 
charge  of  the  Campus,  Sooner,  Var- 
sity and  University  there.  Boyd  Scott, 
assistant  manager  of  New  Braunfels, 
Tex.,  theatres  operated  by  Griffith  and 
the  Jack  Pickens  circuit,  has  been  pro- 
moted to  manager  of  the  Uvalde,  Tex., 
theatres,  Strand  and  Ritz.  David 
Dallas,  recently  with  Tad  Screen  Ad- 
vertising Service,  Dallas,  has  left  Tad 
to  join  Griffith-Dickinson  circuit  in 
Kansas  City  under  R.  J.  Griffith,  Jr. 


Cleveland  Exhibitors 
To  Ban  Giveaway  Ads 

Cleveland,  April  20.— About  75  per 
cent  of  the  members  of  the  Cleveland 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion, at  a  meeting  today,  agreed  to 
eliminate  from  the  newspapers  all  ad- 
vertising copy  on  premiums,  give- 
aways and  the  like. 

The  agreement  will  become  effective 
only  if  it  is  signed  by  all  the  independ- 
ent theatres  in  the  Greater  Cleveland 
area.  This  action  is  as  initiating  a 
move  to  eliminate  all  premiums  in 
Cleveland. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


10 


Minor  Changes  in 
New  Regulations 
Issued  by  F.C.C. 


Washington,  April  20. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  is- 
sued new  regulations  governing  relay, 
international,  television,  facsimile,  high 
frequency,  non-commercial  educational 
and  development  broadcasting  stations. 
The  new  rules  are  effective  immediate- 
ly and  make  several  minor  changes 
in  the  various  classes  of  stations. 

Of  principal  general  interest  are  the 
modifications  in  the  rules  governing 
facsimile  broadcast  and  high  frequency 
stations.  Under  the  Havana  alloca- 
tion three  low  frequencies,  previously 
used  for  facsimile  broadcasting,  are 
dropped.  This  deficiency  is  remedied 
through  the  addition  of  several  fre- 
quencies from  25,000  to  116,000  kilo- 
cycles. The  frequencies  now  available 
appear  adequate  to  take  care  of  the 
present  demand  and  full  technical  de- 
velopment of  this  service. 

Add  New  Frequencies 

While  the  high  frequency  stations 
are  continued  on  an  experimental  basis, 
with  the  present  restrictions  as  to 
commercial  operation,  several  addi- 
tional frequencies  are  made  available 
both  for  amplitude  and  frequency  mod- 
ulation. 

Under  the  new  regulations  licensees 
of  relay  stations  are  required  to  speci- 
fy the  regular  broadcast  station  with 
which  the  relay  station  operates.  All 
relay  stations  under  the  new  rule  must 
be  definitely  associated  with  a  specific 
standard  broadcast  station  or  network 
system.  The  relay  broadcast  stations 
operating  on  frequencies  from  30,000 
to  41,000  kilocycles  have  been  removed 
from  the  experimental  classification 
and  new  frequencies  have  been  pro- 
vided from  130,000  to  138,000  to  be 
operated  either  with  frequency  or  with 
amplitude  modulation. 

No  changes  of  significance  have 
been  made  in  the  rules  governing  tele- 
vision stations. 


RCA  Promotes  Cahill 

E.  C.  Cahill  has  been  named  mana- 
ger of  the  Photophone  division  of 
RCA  Photophone,  in  addition  to  his 
regular  duties  as  director  of  general 
service.  Harry  Sommerer,  former 
manager  of  the  Photophone  division, 
has  been  advanced  to  assistant  to  the 
executive  vice-president. 


Form  Ocala  Broadcasting 

Ocala,  Fla.,  April  20.  —  Ocala 
Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc.,  with  author- 
ized capital  of  200  shares,  par  value 
$100  each,  has  been  formed  by  J.  F. 
Alsop,  Jr.,  E.  J.  Alsop  and  F.  S. 
Bugg. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  April  20. — Applica- 
tions for  construction  permits  have 
been  filed  with  the  Federal  Communi- 
cations Commission  by  the  Nebraska 
Broadcasting  Co.,  seeking  a  1,200-kilo- 
cycle  station  at  Hastings,  Neb.,  and 
the  Union  Broadcasting  Co.,  planning 
a  1,370-kilocycle  station  at  Scranton, 
both  with  100  watts  power  night,  250 
watts  day. 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

FRED  WEBER,  Mutual  general 
manager,  in  from  the  monopoly 
hearings  yesterday  .  .  .  Quen- 
tin  Reynolds  and  Alfred  Krembourg 
will  be  served  up  as  the  guest  au- 
thors on  "Author,  Author"  April  28. 
.  .  .  Dave  Driscoll  of  Mutual's  spe- 
cial events  department  has  just  re- 
vealed that  he's  been  a  benedict  for  a 
week.  His  wife  is  Elizabeth  Freder- 
icks. .  .  .  Guy  Lombardo's  band  is  set 
to  perform  for  the  Professional  Music 
Men's  benefit  show,  to  be  given 
May  7. 

To  Broadcast  News 
In  Chicago  House 

Chicago,  April  20. — Radio  news 
broadcasts  will  become  part  of  a 
regular  theatre  program  when 
WBBM  broadcasts  through  the  sound 
system  of  the  Esquire,  a  Harry  and 
Elmer  Balaban  house,  the  latest 
United  Press  News  flashes  during  the 
"Esquire  Hour,"  a  period  devoted  to 
shorts,  news  reels  and  cartoons  on 
the  regular  program. 

The  news  broadcasts  direct  from 
WBBM.  A  CBS  station  will  occupy 
five  minutes  on  the  theatre  program. 


To  Name  CBC  Winners 

Montreal,  April  20. — Results  of  the 
Canadian  Broadcasting  Corp.  nation- 
wide drama  contest,  which  drew  over 
200  original  plays  from  Canadian 
writers,  will  be  announced  earlv  in 
May.  Cash  prizes  are  to  be  awarded 
for  the  best  four  plays,  with  winning 
stories  to  be  given  special  production 
over  the  CBC  network. 


Change  Brown  Time 

Joe  E.  Brown's  program  for  Gen- 
eral Foods  Corp.  on  CBS,  has  had 
a  change  in  broadcast  time.  Now 
heard  on  the  network  on  Saturdays 
from  7:30  to  8  P.M.,  the  show  will 
switch  to  Thursdays,  from  7 :30  to  8 
P.  M.  Benton  &  Bowles  handles  the 
program. 


Buys  WFSA  Interest 

Montgomery,  Ala.,  April  20.' — R. 
F.  Hudson,  publisher  of  the  Mont- 
gomery Advertiser,  has  purchased  a 
one-third  interest  in  WFSA,  local 
1,000-watt  station,  from  Howard  Pill 
and  H.  S.  Durden,  both  of  whom  con- 
tinue as  part  owners.  The  station  was 
established  10  years  ago. 


Circuit  Takes  Program 

San  Francisco,  April  20. — Golden 
State  Theatres,  operators  of  nearly  a 
score  of  houses  here,  have  contracted 
with  KYA  for  a  new  program  to  be 
known  as  "Movie  Guide,"  five  nights 
weekly  on  KYA.  The  show  will  in- 
clude comment  on  current  films  and 
transcribed  music. 


Renew  Baiter  Series 

"Inside  of  Sports,"  featuring  Sam 
Baiter's  commentaries  and  broadcast 
coast-to-coast  over  17  stations  of  the 
Mutual  network,  has  been  renewed 
through  June  10.  The  renewal  is 
effective  May  1.  Ivey  &  Ellington  is 
the  agency. 


Facsimile  Is  Shown 
In  Canada  Commons 

Montreal,  April  20. — Facsimile 
broadcasting  has  been  officially  intro- 
duced in  Canada,  the  Radio  Commit- 
tee of  the  House  of  Commons  having 
witnessed  the  first  Canadian  demon- 
stration at  the  invitation  of  Leonard 
W.  Brockington,  K.  C,  chairman  of 
Canadian  Broadcasting  Corp. 

The  demonstration  took  place  in  the 
committee  room  before  200  spectators, 
including  among  them  Cabinet  min- 
isters, members  of  the  Senate,  the 
Radio  Committee,  CBC  officials  and 
others.  Both  sending  and  receiving 
instruments  were  located  in  the  com- 
mittee room  so  that  the  two  opera- 
tions would  be  observed  by  the  specta- 
tors. The  demonstration  was  consid- 
ered a  marked  success. 


NBC  and  Time  Sued 
On  Voice  Imitation 

Suit  for  undisclosed  damages  has 
been  filed  against  Time,  Inc.,  and 
the  National  Broadcasting  Co.  in  the 
N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  by  Helen 
Wachtel.  On  July  28,  1938,  plaintiff 
alleges,  she  consented  to  a  March  of 
Time  broadcast  for  the  following  day, 
in  which  her  voice  was  to  be  simu- 
lated. Plaintiff  charges  the  defendants 
with  imitating  her  voice  in  a  crude 
fashion. 


Renew  Whiteman  Deal 

Scotching  rumors  that  Liggett  & 
Myers  Tobacco  Co.  was  contemplating 
abolition  of  the  Paul  Whiteman  series 
over  CBS  because  of  its  newly  signed 
contract  for  time  with  NBC,  the  com- 
pany yesterday  renewed  Whiteman' s 
contract  for  his  current  Wednesday 
night  Columbia  show  for  another  13 
weeks.  Present  contract  is  to  June  21, 
and  with  the  renewal,  the  series  will 
carry  through  to  Sept.  20.  Newell- 
Emmett  is  the  agency. 


Albert  Warner  to  CBS 

Albert  Warner,  chief  of  the  Wash- 
ington Bureau  of  the  New  York  Her- 
ald-Tribune, has  resigned  his  news- 
paper post  to  join  the  CBS  depart- 
ment of  public  affairs  as  a  political 
news  analyst  and  commentator. 


Advance  Radio  Bill 

Albany,  April  20. — Senator  Cou- 
dert's  bill  protecting  announcers,  com- 
mentators, networks  and  stations  from 
libel  was  advanced  to  its  third  read- 
ing in  the  Senate  here  today.  The 
companion  bill  sponsored  by  Senator 
Moffat  previously  passed  the  As- 
sembly. 


KPO  Signs  with  AFRA 

San  Francisco,  April  20. — Mem- 
bers of  the  KPO-KGO  announcing, 
news,  and  sound  effects  department 
have  signed  100  per  cent  with  the 
American  Federation  of  Radio  Ac- 
tors, according  to  Vic  Connors,  local 
A.  F.  R.  A.  secretary. 


Taylor  in  Lux  Show 

Robert  Taylor  and  Frances  Dee 
have  been  teamed  to  appear  in  the 
radioized  version  of  "Broadway  Bill" 
on  the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre"  April 
24  over  CBS.  Taylor's  last  Lux- 
appearance  was  in  1937. 


Friday,  April  21,  1939 


anner 
LINES 


AL  ROSEN,  manager  of  Loew  - 
State  Theatre,  and  Al  Simon  of 
WHN,  vouch  for  this  one. 
There  is  a  daily  WHN  interview 
broadcast  from  the  lobby  of  the  the- 
atre. A  young  lady,  during  the  course 
of  an  interview,  was  asked  what  she 
would  rather  be  than  a  secretMp 
"Married,"  she  replied,  "and  I  mm 
cook !" 

Fifteen  minutes  later,  Rosen  re- 
ports, he  received  a  telephone  call 
from  a  young  man  who  "caught"  the 
broadcast.  "I'll  marry  the  girl,"  he 
said.  "Just  give  me  her  name  and 
address." 

T 

Screen  Actors'  Guild  program  will 
leave  the  air  for  the  summer,  but 
it  will  be  back  in  the  fall.  Program 
did  not  enjoy  a  particularly  high 
Crosley,  but  the  sponsor  and  agency 
expect  that  with  another  season  be- 
hind it,  the  program  will  reach  tin- 
upper  brackets  of  popularity  .  .  .  prob- 
ably a  correct  assumption. 

y 

"Juarez,"  the  new  Paul  Muni  pic- 
ture, will  receive  a  tremendous 
"ride"  on  the  networks,  according 
to  plans  now  being  formulated  by 
Warners.  It  will  match  the  exploi- 
tation "Alexander's  Ragtime  Band" 
and  "Dodge  City"  received  over  the 
ether. 

T 

Contract  of  the  "Easy  Aces"  has 
just  been  taken  up — at  a  generous 
increase — by  the  Hummerts  of  the 
Blackett  -  Sample  -  Hummert  agency, 
who  hold  their  contract.  The  Aces 
now  are  receiving  $2,000  a  week,  and 
with  the  increase  their  weekly  pay 
will  reacli  $3,500. 

In  renewing  with  the  Hummerts. 
the  Aces  turned  down  an  offer  of 
$5,000  a  week  made  by  Campbell 
Soup,  which  wanted  them  for  a  morn- 
ing series.  With  the  Aces  broadcast- 
ing for  them  in  the  morning ,  and 
Amos  'n'  Andy  at  night,  Campbell 
Soup  would  have  had  a  monopoly  on 
the  two  most  popular  comedy  script 
series  in  radio. 

Reasons  why  the  Aces  turned 
down  the  soup  offer  may  appear  ridi- 
culous from  a  strictly  business  view- 
point, but  those  who  know  the  Aces 
will  understand.  In  the  first  place. 
Ace  hates  to  work  in  the  morning ; 
he  hates  the  five-a-week  grind  (which 
is  what  Campbell  wanted  him  to  do) 
and  he  enjoys  his  association  with  the 
Hummerts,  who  leave  him  severely 
alone  and  sometime  do  not  see  him 
personally  for  months  at  a  time,  send- 
ing the  check  to  his  home. 

T 

Seven  young  men  under  30  have 
been  nominated  as  "successes"  by  the 
Advertising  Club  of  New  York.  Tzvo 
radio  folk  are  in  the  group.  They  arc 
Joe  Creamer,  WQR's  brilliant  promo- 
tion director,  and  Fred  Smith,  for- 
merly of  Batten.  Barton,  Durstine  & 
Oisborn.,  and  now  a  free  lance  press 
agent. 

Y 

Lucy  Monroe  has  been  set  for  a 
cross-country  concert  tour  by  Colum- 
bia Concerts  Corp.  She  performs  in 
"Faust"  in  St.  Louis  Monday  night 
with  Ezio  Pinza,  and  will  do  a  joint 
recital  with  Jimmv  Melton  in  Tulsa 
April  30. 

— Jack  Banner 


the  next  issue  of 

3ettevhedtm 

SPRING  BUYERS  NUMBER 
out  April  29th 


POTWIN 

.  .  .  on  Acoustic 
Treatment  Materials 

SCHLANCER 
...  on  Slope  of 
Auditorium  Floor 
and  Row  Spacing 


BUYERS  INDEX 

. . .  the  Industry's  standard  equipment,  fur- 
nishings and  materials  purchasing  guide, 
revised  for  the  Spring  Buyers  Number. 


BLACK  LIGHT 


n 


. . .  another  tool  for  the  showman,  the  ap- 
plication of  which  will  be  detailed  by  Francis 
M.  Falge,  noted  authority  on  practical 
theatre  lighting. 

HOW  LARGE  A  PICTURE? 

...  an  old  problem,  a  new  attempt  to  arrive  at 
an  answer,  for  the  better  understanding  of  the 
factors  contributing  to  an  effective  show. 

Choosing  Carpet  Patterns 

.  .  .  counsel,  in  showman's  terms  and  language, 
on  how  to  make  carpeting  contribute  to  the  atmos- 
phere that  is  part  of  the  theatre's  stock  in  trade. 

...  in  addition  to  other  special 
features  and  regular  departments 


e^1 


Service 


Prize  Baby  of  the  Industry! 


MR 


MAURICE  MCKENZIE, 
MOTION   PICTURE  PROD. 
DIST.    0?   AMERICA,    INC.      f  IM 
23   WEST  44TH   ST.,  ^^A^ 
NEW  YORK,    N.  Y 


DO  not  remove: 


PICTURE 


Picture 
industry 


JiAILY 


^45.  NO. 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  APRIL  24,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


:0th-Fox  to  Go 
kll  the  Way  in 
jatin  America 


ent  Will  Study  Market 
On  Convention  Trip 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  "will  go  all 
e  way  in  its  plans  to  expand  its 
Kivities  in  Latin  America  in  accord- 
lice  with  the  policy  of  Pan- American 
operation,"  Sidney  R.  Kent,  presi- 
Jnt,  declares  in  a  message  to  em- 
iDyes. 

pit  is  the  duty  of  American  pro- 
leers  not  only  to  stimulate  great- 
business  relationship  with  Latin 
tnerica,  but  also  to  encourage  further 
velopment  of  our  industry  in  Latin 
merican  countries,  and  by  that  we 
ean  production  and  exhibition,"  Kent 
iys. 

The  company  is  contemplating  ex- 
mding  its  production  of  Spanish 
mguage  films,  depending  on  the  re- 
'  prion  given  releases  and  conditions 
,  they  develop  in  the  next  few 
lonths.  This  year  20th  Century-Fox 
is  a  program  of  five  Spanish  lan- 
jage  films,  four  made  by  Ramos 
'•obian,  who  has  completed  one,  and 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Wisconsin  Divorce 
Measure  Is  Killed 

Madison,  April  23. — Wiscon- 
sin's affiliated  theatre  divorce 
bill  was  killed  in  the  As- 
sembly here  yesterday,  there- 
by disposing  of  the  measure 
for  this  session.  Defeat  of 
the  measure  was  assured 
when  it  was  reported  out  of 
commitee  a  week  ago  with  a 
recommendation  that  it  be 
killed. 


American  Pictures 
Still  Are  Popular  in 

Germany,  Says  Nelle 


,owe  Is  Named  UA 
South  Africa  Head 

Al  Lowe  has  been  assigned  as  man- 
ning director  for  South  Africa  by 
j.rthur  W.  Kelly,  vice-president  in 
jnarge  of  foreign  distribution  for 
f'nited  Artists.    Until  recently  Lowe 

as  in  charge  in  Japan.  He  will  sail 
Or  his  new  post  in  about  a  month. 

he  subsidiary  which  United  Artists 
nil  form  in  South  Africa  will  be 
nown  as  United  Artists  South  Africa, 
j'ty.,  Ltd. 

Headquarters  will  be  in  Johannes- 
'urg,  with  branch  offices  planned  in 
Northern  and  southern  Rhodesia.  The 
lew  setu£  there  means  the  end  of  re- 
Ktions   with   the   dominant  African 
onsolidated  (Schlesinger )  circuit  and 
istributing  organization.  A  new  cir- 
uit  to  be  serviced  in  a  joint  arrange  - 
lent  by  U.  A.  and  20th  Century-Fox 
s  being  created  by  Cinema  Theatre  In- 
ebtments,  Pty.,  Ltd.  Seventeen  houses 
ire  set  now  and  a  total  of  38  is 
lanned  by  next  year. 
U.  A.  will  start  operations  in  the 
eld  in  Julv  with  the  release  of  the 
938-  39  product,  including  films  made 
or  the  British  market.  Consolidated  is 
el  easing  the  1937-38  product.  African 
"consolidated  has  about  200  theatres. 


Despite  anti-American  propaganda, 
American  films  are  highly  popular  in 
the  larger  German  centers,  although 
the  Government  makes  sure  that  only 
a  limited  number  receh  e  first  run 
showings  in  Berlin,  according  to  An- 
thony Nelle,  who  spent  two  years  in 
Germany  as  a  producer-director. 

In  the  inner  circles  of  Germany 
there  is  talk  that  the  Nazis  will  at- 
tempt to  oust  the  three  American  com- 
panies still  operating  there,  and  while 
propaganda  Minister  Joseph  Goebbels 
might  be  contemplating  such  action,  it 
is  not  likely  to  occur  this  year,  Nelle 
reports.  Paramount,  M-G-M  and  20th 
(.Continued  on  page  8) 


I.A.T.S.E.  COAST 
PEACE  HOPE  WANES 


Lack  of  Funds 
May  Hit  Trust 
Drive  of  U.  S. 


Three  Weeks  for  'Victory' 

"Dark  Victory"  is  set  for  a  three- 
week  run  at  the  Radio  City  Music 
Hall.  The  weekend  business  was 
strong,  with  an  estimated  £65,000  in 
its  first  four  days. 


Washington,  April  23. — Thurman 
Arnold,  assistant  attorney  general,  this 
week  faces  his  last  chance  to  obtain 
funds  to  carry  on  his  anti-trust  drive 
against  the  motion  picture  industry. 
The  House  Appropriations  Committee 
is  expected  to  act  on  his  appeal  for 
more  funds  to  double  his  staff. 

Arnold  was  turned  down  by  the 
committee  last  month  when  he  ap- 
pealed for  additional  cash  for  new  mo- 
tion picture  cases.  His  plea  for  money 
to  enlarge  his  staff  is  being  made  in 
the  Department  of  Justice  appropria- 
tion bill,  now  under  consideration. 

Arnold  May  Quit 

It  is  rumored  that  Arnold's  position 
under  Attorney  General  Murphy  is  not 
as  satisfactory  as  it  was  under  Homer 
Cummings  and  that  he  has  contem- 
plated resigning.  It  is  believed  that 
if  his  request  for  money  is  turned 
down  he  will  quit. 

Lack  of  funds  also  dissipates  the 
threat  of  a  monopoly  investigation  by 
the  Temporary  National  Economic 
Council.  Members  of  the  council, 
how  ever,  indicated  that  the  fate  of  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Several  Hundred  Expected 
At  Variety  Club  Convention 


Detroit,  April  23. — Several  hundred 
visitors  are  expected  here  for  the 
fifth  annual  convention  of  the  Variety 
Clubs  of  America,  which  will  start 
next  Thursday  and  wind  up  with  the 
annual  banquet  Saturday  night.  Ses- 
sions will  be  at  the  Book-Cadillac 
Hotel. 

Plans  will  be  discussed  to  further 
the  Variety  Clubs'  charity  activities, 
which  have  grown  to  large  proportions 
since  John  H.  Harris  of  Pittsburgh, 
National  Chief  Barker,  founded  the 
organization  several  years  ago.  Va- 
riety's purpose  is  "doing  charity  with- 
in the  industry  and  aid  to  outside 
charitable  projects." 

The  national  board  of  directors  will 
meet  on  Thursday  and  Friday,  with 
general  sessions  Friday  and  Saturday 


afternoons.  Complimentary  dinners 
for  the  national  officers  will  be  held 
Thursday  and  Friday,  with  delegates 
attending  on  the  second  night. 

About  800  persons  are  expected  at 
the  banquet.  Speakers  will  include 
Attorney  General  Thomas  Reed,  Wal- 
ter Chrysler,  William  Knudsen,  chair- 
man of  the  board  of  General  Motors, 
William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  general 
sales  manager,  and  Ned  E.  Depinet, 
vice-president  of  RKO.  There  will  be 
an  elaborate  show,  with  George  Jessel 
and  Ethel  Shutta  among  the  head- 
liners.  Norman  Frescott  will  be  toast- 
master. 

Delegations  will  come  from  various 
sections.  Bob  O'Donnell  will  head  a 
group  of  20  from  Dallas  and  Al  Stef- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Demands  of  Kibre  Bring 
Impasse;  N.L.R.B. 
Quits  Sessions 


Los  Angeles,  April  23. — Weekend 
developments  brought  rapid  shifts  in 
the  turbulent  I.A.T.S.E.-Local  37 
situation  here.  Hopes  for  peace  in 
the  long-drawn  out  battle  for  control 
of  the  technicians'  local  were  running 
high  on  Friday  when  they  were  ex- 
tinguished suddenly  by  new  demands 
introduced  by  Jeff  Kibre,  minority 
leader  of  the  local,  introduced  early  in 
the  course  of  a  night  meeting,  attended 
by  Dr.  Towne  Nylander,  regional 
N.L.R.B.  director  ;  I.A.T.S.E.  officers, 
and  producers'  attorneys. 

This  new  flare-up  may  cause  a  re- 
opening of  the  investigation  into  union 
affairs  by  District  Attorney  Buron 
Fitts,  and  the  possible  reinstatement  of 
George  Browne's  general  strike  call. 

A  studio-wide  union  dues  strike 
against  I.A.T.S.E.  was  started  over 
the  week-end  by  officers  of  Studio 
Technicians  Local  37  as  all  hopes  of 
early  settlement  of  the  fight  between 
international  and  local  officers  for 
control  of  the  suspended  studio  unit 
disappeared. 

Joseph  W.  Carpenter,  local  presi- 
dent, ousted  with  other  officers  when 
international  suspended  autonomy  of 
the  studio  organization  announced 
that  10,000  pledges  not  to  pay  dues  to 
I.A.T.S.E.  were  being  circulated  not 
only  in  local  37  ranks  but  in  the  other 
three  locals,  Studio  Photographers  659, 
Laboratory  Workers  683,  and  Sound 
Technicians  695.    John  W.  Gatelee, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Nick,  Weston  Ousted 
From  Union  Control 

St.  Louis,  April  23. — John  P.  Nick, 
indicted  czar  of  the  motion  picture 
operators'  local  union  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  international  union,  and 
Clyde  A.  Weston,  business  agent  of 
the  local,  were  ousted  from  control  on 
Friday  by  decree  of  Circuit  Judge 
Ernest  F.  Oakley. 

The  court  appointed  James  A.  Mc- 
Keown  receiver  and  ordered  that  con- 
trol of  the  union  be  restored  to  mem- 
bers under  his  supervision.  McKeown 
is  empowered  to  weed  out  members 
who  were  admitted  improperly  by 
Nick  and  Weston. 

Further  the  order,  effective  imme- 
diately, prevents  interference  by  In- 
ternational with  Local  143  or  the  60 
members  who  joined  in  the  suit  against 
Nick  and  Weston. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  24,  193 


Para.  Planning  Newi 
$12,000,000  Studio, 


Jack  Warner  Gets 
Wire  from  Cardenas 

President  Lazaro  Cardenas 
of  Mexico  has  sent  a  tele- 
gram to  Jack  L.  Warner,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  War- 
ner production,  on  the  oc- 
casion of  the  opening  of 
"Juarez"  in  New  York  tomor- 
row:   He  said: 

"I  wish  all  kinds  of  success 
to  'Juarez,'  hoping  that  your 
work  will  have  the  right  com- 
pensation and  your  efforts 
will  duly  honor  the  moral  and 
social  work  of  the  .great 
Mexican,  Benito  Juarez." 


Notables  to  Attend 
Opening  of  'Juarez' 

New  York's  social  elite,  members 
of  the  Mexican  Government's  official 
and  diplomatic  corps,  and  prominent 
industry  executives  will  be  on  hand 
tomorrow  for  the  world  premiere  of 
Warners'  "Juarez"  at  the  Hollywood. 
It  will  start  a  regular  two-a-day  run 
W  ednesday. 

A  special  train  from  Washington 
will  bring  ambassadors  or  their  repre- 
sentatives of  every  Latin  American 
country  and  U.  S.  Government  offi- 
cials whose  departments  are  concerned 
with  Pan-American  relations. 

Many  Warner  executives  will  be  in 
town  for  the  event.  Major  Albert 
Warner,  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Joseph 
Bernhard,  Charles  Einfeld,  Carl  Leser- 
raan,  Sam  E.  Morris,  Mort  Blumen- 
stock,  Joe  Hummel,  Robert  W.  Per- 
kins, W.  C.  Patterson,  Sam  Carlisle, 
Herman  Starr,  Sam  Schneider,  Roy 
Haines  and  S.  P.  Friedman. 

Other  industry  representatives  ex- 
pected are  Sidney  Kent,  Marvin 
Schenck,  Jules  E.  Brulatour,  Si  Fa- 
bian, W.  G.  Van  Schmus,  Irving  Les- 
ser, John  O'Connor,  Fred  Meyers,  J. 
M.  Seider,  Max  Fellerman,  Eugene 
Picker  and  Lou  Notarius. 

Represents  Cardenas 

Ramon  Bepepa,  under  secretary  of 
foreign  affairs,  will  come  to  the  city 
from  San  Antonio,  Texas,  to  be  on 
hand  as  the  official  representative  of 
the  Cardenas  administration.  Don 
Luis  Quintanilla,  resident  minister  of 
Mexico,  Dr.  Rafael  Fuentes,  counsel 
to  the  Mexican  Embassy,  and  a  num- 
ber of  the  staff,  will  arrive  by  special 
train. 

Countess  von  Haugwitz-Reventlow, 
the  former  Barbara  Hutton,  Prince 
and  Princess  Vladimir  Koudachoff. 
Dr.  Raymond  Moley,  James  W.  Ger- 
ard, Deems  Taylor,  Frank  Gillmore, 
Esme  O'Brien,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  D. 
Rockefeller,  Jr.,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George 
M.  Cohan,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kermit 
Roosevelt,  Arthur  Hays  Sulzberger, 
Mrs.  James  P.  Donahue,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
John  W.  Davis,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bernard 
Gimbel,  Helen  Menken,  Jules  Bache, 
Mrs.  William  Randolph  Hearst.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Bert  Lytell.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Walter  Damrosch,  Edwin  P.  Hill, 
Benjamin  de  Casseres,  James  Speyer, 
Henry  P.  Luce,  H.  V.  Kaltenborn, 
Peter  Arno,  Mrs.  Alfred  Knopf, 
Brock  Pemberton,  Clifton  Webb,  and 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Grantland  Rice  are  some 
of  those  expected. 

WMCA  will  broadcast  the  pro- 
ceedings locally  and  it  will  be  carried 
over  the  country  by  a  nationwide 
hookup. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


CECIL  F.  MASON,  Columbia  man- 
ager in  Australia,  arrived  in  New 
York  from  the  coast  over  the  weekend 
for  conferences  with  J.  A.  McCon- 
ville,  foreign  manager.  Mason  will 
attend  the  company's  annual  sales 
meeting  in  Atlantic  City,  May  8,  and 
visit  briefly  in  Hollywood  before  re- 
turning to  Australia. 

• 

Penny  Singleton,  Columbia  play- 
er, is  due  in  New  York  from  the  coast 
today  by  plane.  She  will  make  per- 
sonal appearances  at  the  Criterion  and 
will  be  guest  of  honor  Thursday  at  a 
dinner  being  given  by  publishers  and 
editors  here  for  the  American  News- 
paper Publishers'  convention. 

• 

Herbert  Wilcox  and  Anna 
Neagle,  who  will  star  in  his  picture 
on  Edith  Cavell  for  RKO  release, 
sailed  from  England  on  the  Aquitania 
Saturday  and  is  due  in  New  York 
on  Friday. 

• 

Eddie  Ruby  has  been  designated 
the  official  World's  Fair  photographer, 
and  his  staff  will  include  cameramen 
Saul  Midwall,  Frank  Broda,  Louis 
Tumola  and  Charles  Wecker. 
• 

Hal  Horne,  Lynn  Farnol,  Jack 
Cohen,  I.  E.  Lopert,  Bill  Feitelson, 
Michael  Todd,  Charles  Stark  and 
Bill  German,  at  lunch  at  the  Tavern 
Friday. 

• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sam  Harris  and  a 
group  of  friends  attended  the  Friday 
night  showing  of  "Dark  Victory"  at 
the  Music  Hall.  Mrs.  Harris  is  the 
sister  of  George  Brent,  who  appears 
in  the  film. 

• 

J.  J.  Milstein,  eastern  representa- 
tive of  Edward  Small,  leaves  Thurs- 
day for  the  coast  and  will  attend  Uni- 
ted Artists'  sales  convention  in  Holly- 
wood, May  8-10. 

• 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  president  of 
Monogram,  returned  to  New  York 
Friday  after  regional  premieres  in 
Oklahoma  City  and  Atlanta  of 
"Streets  of  New  York." 

• 

Adolph  Altman,  former  official 
photographer  for  Ascap,  has  gone  to 
the  coast  as  photographer  for  20th 
Centurv-Fox. 


AH.  McCAUSLAND,  newly  ap- 
.  pointed  business  manager  for  the 
Harry  Edington  production  organi- 
zation, will  leave  New  York  tomorrow 
or  Wednesday  by  automobile  for  the 
coast,  where  he  will  take  up  his  new 
duties  about  May  10. 

S.  Barret  McCormick  was  one  of 
five  judges  in  the  "Gateway  to  Holly- 
wood" contest  broadcast  last  night. 
Others  were  Joel  McCrea,  Frances 
Dee,  George  Stevens  and  Renee. 
• 

S.  Charles  Einfeld,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  for  Warners, 
will  leave  New  York  for  the  studio 
this  week. 

• 

Jack  Touhy,  upstate  New  York 
salesman  for  Paramount,  and  Dorothy 
Corbett  will  be  married  the  middle 
of  next  month. 

• 

Irene  Castle  is  flying  from  Chica- 
go to  Hollywood  to  appear  on  Eddie 
Cantor's  Caravan  program  tonight. 
• 

Ray  Schmertz  of  the  20th  Century- 
Fox  exchange  in  Cleveland  was  mar- 
ried Friday  to  Lois  Wolf. 

• 

Sam    Harris,    publisher    of  The 
Cinema,  has  arrived  in  London  from 
New  York  with  his  son,  Horace. 
• 

Will  H.  Hays  will  leave  for  the 
coast  for  his  annual  spring  visit  with- 
in the  next  few  days. 

• 

E.  K.  (Ted)  O'Shea,  eastern  dis- 
trict manager  for  M-G-M,  has  re- 
turned from  Washington. 

• 

Phyllis  Brooks  sailed  Friday  on 
the  Queen  Mary  to  make  "First  Epi- 
sode" for  British  International, 
e 

Virginia  Cherrill,  now  the  Coun- 
tess of  Jersev.  sailed  Saturday  on  the 
Rex. 

• 

Lester  Sturm,  Detroit  branch  man- 
ager for  20th  Century-Fox,  is  due  to- 
day to  work  with  W.  C.  Gehring, 
central  division  manager,  on  a  Michi- 
gan circuit  deal. 

Mrs.  Bertha  Latts,  exhibitor  in 
Ashland,  Wis.,  has  been  vacationing 
here. 


Pathe  News  to  Film 
'Information  Please9 

RKO  Pathe  News  will  film  a  test 
reel  of  "Information  Please,"  the  pop- 
ular radio  quiz  program,  and  if  audi- 
ences approve,  a  series  of  13  reels  will 
be  made. 

Same  cast  that  appears  in  the  radio 
program  will  appear  in  the  picture — 
Clifton  Fadiman,  book  critic  of  the 
New  Yorker  as  master  of  ceremonies, 
and  the  board  of  experts  will  include 
John  Kiernan,  sports  editor  of  the 
New  York  Times;  Franklin  P. 
Adams,  columnist  of  the  New  York 
Post,  and  Oscar  Levant.  A  different 
guest  star  will  appear  in  each  reel. 


NSS  'Adopts'  3  Orphans 

Employes  of  National  Screen  Serv- 
ice have  "adopted"  three  Spanish  or- 
phans. The  "adoption"  takes  the  form 
of  providing  for  the  three  in  the  chil- 
dren's colonies  at  Biarritz  conducted 
by  the  Foster  Parents  Plan. 


First  Big  20th-Fox 
Deal  Is  With  Warner 

First  national  circuit  deal  closed  by 
20th  Centurv-Fox  for  1939-'40  is  with 
Warners.  The  contract  is  for  one  year 
and  covers  about  250  theatres.  The 
deal  was  consummated  by  William 
Sussman,  eastern  division  manager. 
Negotiations  are  under  way  with  other 
circuits. 


Young  of  Ascap  Dead 

Joseph  Young,  secretary  of  Ascap 
for  the  past  10  years,  and  a  former 
popular  song  writer,  was  buried  yes- 
terday from  West  End  Funeral  Chapel. 
Young  died  Thursday  night  after  a 
brief  illness. 


Montgomery  to  London 

M-G-M  is  planning  to  have  Robert 
Montgomery  go  to  London  to  star  in 
"The  Earl  of  Chicago"  and  "A  Bus- 
man's Holiday."  Both  pictures  will  be 
made  at  the  Denham  Studios. 


Hollywood,  April  23. — Paramoun 
will  begin  construction  in  the  nea 
future  of  a  new  $12,000,000  productioi 
plant  to  be  known  as  Paramount  City 
Barney  Balaban,  president,  said  prio 
to  his  departure  for  New  York  ove: 
the  weekend.  The  new  studio  will  b 
erected  on  a  recently  acquired  /T'i 
acre  tract  at  Pico  Blvd.  and  Overffel 
Ave.,  •  near  the  20th  Century-Fo; 
plant. 

For  the  past  two  years,  Balabai 
said,  the  company  has  been  in  searcl 
of  a  location  for  its  new  studio  an< 
is  now  ready  to  proceed  with  con 
struction.  The  plant  will  consist  o 
26  sound  stages  with  500,000  squan 
feet  of  space,  as  well  as  administratioi 
buildings,  dressing  rooms,  shops  am 
other  buildings.  In  addition  there  wil 
be  extensive  recreation  facilities  foi 
employes,  such  as  gymnasium,  swim- 
ming pool  and  tennis  courts. 

The  $12,000,000  construction  figun 
includes  the  price  of  the  site,  construc- 
tion and  equipment.  All  buildings  wil 
be  air-conditioned  and  the  latest  equip- 
ment will  be  used  throughout. 

Construction  will  be  by  units  wit! 
two  sound  stages  and  dressing  rooms 
to  be  started  first. 


Detroit  Branch  Headh 
RKO  Quota  Winners 

Detroit  branch,  J.  Sharkey  manager 
headed   the   list   of   six   winners  in 
RKO's  "Studio  Appreciation  Month,"! 
based  on  features  and  shorts  shipment; 
against  quota  for  the  month  of  March. 

The  other  winners  in  order  were! 
Charlotte,  Joe  Breechen,  manager,; 
second;  Atlanta,  G.  C.  Brown,  man- 
ager, third;  Washington,  R.  J.  Fol- 
liard,  manager,  fourth ;  New  York. 
Bob  Wolff,  manager,  fifth,  and  Cal- 
gary, H.  F.  Taylor,  manager,  the  win- 
ner for  Canada.  The  RKO  studios, 
headed  by  Pandro  S.  Berman,  have 
forwarded  special  mementos  to  six 
managers,  20  salesmen  and  six  office 
managers. 


20th-Fox  Buys  'Wrath' 

Hollywood,  April  23. — Darryl  F. 
Zanuck  has  bought  John  Steinbeck's 
novel,  "Grapes  of  Wrath"  for  produc- 
tion bv  20th  Centurv-Fox. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday.  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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:  "Qiiigpubco. 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Motion- 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager:  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square. 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London: 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


p 


Monday.  April  24,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


March  Tax  Revenue 
Kises  to  $1,606,996 


i  Washington.  April  23. — Admission 
hx  collections  in  March  showed  an 
Urease    of    approximately  $100,000 
jver   February    but   $166,000  under 
llarch,  1938,  it  was  reported  by  the 
rnal  Revenue  Bureau. 
Elections  for  the  month,  the  bur- 
u    announced,    totaled  $1,606,996, 
gainst  $1,503,127  in   February  and 
jl. 773,075   in   March   of   last  year, 
innging  receipts  for  the  first  quarter 
if  1939  to  $4,674,257,  or  approximately 
112,000  under  the  $4,786,131  obtained 
i  the  same  period  in  1938. 
'  Figures  for  the  first  nine  months  of 
he  fiscal  year  which  ends  June  30, 
lext,  showed  that  admission  tax  col- 
ections  of  $14,988,832  were  $1,251,317 
nder  the  $16,240,149  collected  in  the 
-iame  period  a  year  ago. 
1  Collections  in  the  Third  Xew  York 
Rroadway)     District    improved  in 
,<armony  with  receipts  from  the  coun- 
ty  as  a  whole,  the  bureau  reported, 
wlarch  revenues  being  $612,785,  com- 
»ared  with  $514,746  in  February. 

Receipts  from  box-office  admissions 
iicreased  nearly  25   per  cent,  from 
1  ^46,555  to  $549,647,  it  was  shown. 
Other  collections  were  $5,639  from 
.Tee    or    reduced    rate  admissions, 
Vgainst  $6,096  in  February;  $13,934 
jrom  tickets  sold  bv  brokers,  against 
B13.786;  $1,068  on  tickets  sold  by  pro- 
metors  in  excess  of  established  price, 
jgainst  $19:  $18  on  permanent  use  or 
ease  of  boxes  and  seats,  against  $612. 
u  d  $42,478  from  admissions  to  roof 
gardens  and  cabarets,  against  $47,677. 


Second  Suit  Is  Filed 
By  Para.  Stockholder 

Paramount  Pictures,  Inc.,  its  offi- 
;.Cers   and   directors,   and  Paramount 
Theatres  Service  Corp.  were  named 
,  defendants  in  a  second  stockholders' 
suit  filed  on  Friday  in  the  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  by  Rae  Nasoff,  holder  of 
200  shares  of  common  stock.   A  $20,- 
000,000  loss  to  the  company  from  1935 
:hrough  1938  is  charged  through  al- 
.eged  mismanagement  and  waste  on 
'the  part  of  officers  and  directors. 

Inefficiency  in  the  preparation  and 
shooting  of  pictures  and  in  protracted 
idleness  of  expensive  stars  and  direc- 
tors are  charged.     Abandonment  of 
"pictures,   according  to   the  plaintiff, 
caused  substantial  loss  to  the  com- 
pany, that  of  "Hotel  Imperial"  alone 
purportedly  amounting  to  $1,250,000. 
An  accounting  and  judgment  for  dam- 
ages are  asked. 

110  Cases  Wait  Test 
Of  Canada  Film  Act 

Montreal,  April  23. — There  are 
rl  10  cases  in  Recorder's  Court  here 
(waiting  decision  in  a  test  case  in  Su- 
perior Court  involving  the  children's 
•admission  provisions  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Act. 

The  test  case  is  an  application  for 
a  prohibition  order  to  prevent  the  Re- 
corder's Court  from  hearing  a  com- 
plaint against  Joe  Brown,  theatre  em- 
ployee, of  having  admitted  a  child 
under  16.  Brown  had  objected  on  the 
ground  that  authorization  of  the  At- 
t(  rney  General  for  the  charge  had  not 
been  obtained.  The  Recorder  dis- 
missed the  objection  and  Brown 
moved  for  a  prohibition  order  in  the 
higher  court. 


Talley  Totes  Masks 
For  European  Staff 

Truman  H.  Talley,  head  of 
Movietone,  took  a  case  of  gas 
masks  when  he  sailed  Friday 
on  the  Queen  Mary.  They 
were  obtained  from  the  War 
Department  and  are  intended 
for  members  of  the  London 
and  Paris  staffs  of  the  news- 
reel. 

Movietonews  has  completed 
plans  for  war  coverage,  with 
a  laboratory  established  in 
every  capital  and  measures 
taken  for  quick  transport  of 
the  reels  to  America.  Talley 
plans  to  visit  all  newsreel 
centers  and  will  hold  a  con- 
vention of  his  European 
staffs  in  Paris,  May  15  and  16. 


Union  Pacific  Train 
En  Route  to  Omaha 

Hollywood.  April  23. — The  Union 
Pacific  special  train,  of  the  period  of 
1860,  will  leave  tomorrow  for  Omaha, 
where  Cecil  B.  DeMille's  "Union 
Pacific"  will  open  April  28.  Aboard 
the  train  will  be  Barbara  Stanwyck, 
Joel  McCrea,  George  Raft,  Lynne 
Overman,  Robert  Preston,  Lloyd  No- 
lan, Brian  Donlevy,  Anthony  Quinn, 
Katherine  DeMille,  Betty  Gr'able,  Pa- 
tricia Morison,  Evelyn  Yenable,  Ju- 
dith Barrett,  Evelyn  Keyes,  and  num- 
bers of  other  players. 

DeMille  will  leave  for  Omaha  im- 
mediately after  his  broadcast  on  the 
Lux  "Radio  Theatre"  Monday  night, 
overtaking  the  Union  Pacific  outside 
of  Salt  Lake  City  and  proceeding  the 
rest  of  the  way  on  the  train.  In  De- 
Mille's party  will  be  Mrs.  DeMille, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Blaut  DeMille, 
Xeil  McCarthy,  associate  producer 
William  H.  Pine,  Arthur  Rosson,  Wil- 
liam Herbert,  G.  L.  Richardson,  Don 
English  and  Gladys  Rosson. 

Ceremonies  will  be  staged  en  route 
at  stopovers,  and  broadcasts  directly 
from  the  train  will  be  aired.  Fol- 
lowing the  premiere  DeMille  will 
make  appearances  in  Chicago,  New 
York  and  Washington,  while  the  spe- 
cial, with  its  personalities  abroad,  will 
swing  around  the  country. 


Turrou  in  Ohio 

Leon  G.  Turrou,  former  G-Man, 
who  is  making  a  lecture  tour  in  be- 
half of  Warners'  "Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy,"  will  speak  in  Lima  and 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  today.  Tomorrow  he 
speaks  at  Akron  and  Wednesday  be- 
fore the  Cleveland  Advertising  Club. 


Carr  Due  at  U.  A.  Meet 

Theodore  Carr,  joint  managing  di- 
rector of  United  Artists  in  the  United 
Kingdom,  will  attend  the  company's 
national  sales  convention  in  Holly- 
wood, May  8-10.  He  sails  from  Eng- 
land next  Wednesday  on  the  Nor- 
mandie. 


Film  Companies  Aid 
Exposition  of  Allied 

Film  companies  are  cooperating  with 
New  York  Allied  in  staging  its  annual 
convention  and  exposition  May  23-25 
at  the  Astor.  It  is  planned  to  make 
this  an  industry-wide  affair.  The 
I.T.O.A.  also  is  cooperating  and  has 
taken  a  display  booth. 

Plans  were  discussed  at  a  meeting 
of  the  reception  committee  Friday  at 
the  Astor,  with  Max  A.  Cohen,  presi- 
dent of  the  unit,  as  chairman.  Conven- 
tion business  sessions  will  be  held  on 
the  afternoons  of  the  three  days.  En- 
tertainment will  include  attendance  at 
theatres  the  first  night,  a  World's  Fair 
visit  the  second,  with  a  banquet  wind- 
ing up  the  affair  on  the  night  of  May 
25. 

H.  M.  Richey  of  RKO,  chairman  of 
the  reception  committee,  is  to  call  a 
meeting  o.i  plans  for  film  company  co- 
operation. Martin  Starr,  WMCA 
commentator,  will  work  with  the  com- 
mittee and  it  is  planned  to  broadcast 
the  banquet  over  the  WMCA-Inter- 
City  Network. 

Among  those  attending  Friday's 
meeting  were  Charles  Stern,  U.  A. ; 
George  W.  Weeks,  Monogram ;  Eddie 
Schnitzer,  Warners;  Milt  Kusell,  Par- 
amount ;  Lou  Weinberg,  Columbia ;  E. 
Thornton  Kelly,  New  York  Allied 
executive  secretary ;  Sam  Shain,  Mar- 
vin Kirsch,  Richey  and  Starr. 


Theatre  Tax 

Albany,  April 
has  been  named  to 
two  per  cent  sales 
that  its  report,  due 
week,  will  settle 
whether  the  retail 
ied  on  theatres. 


Action  Seen 

23. — A  committee 
study  the  proposed 
tax.  It  is  expected 
by  the  end  of  next 
the  question  of 
impost  will  be  lev- 


K.  M.  T.  A.  Will  Hold 
Convention  May  23 

Kansas  City,  April  23. — Annual 
convention  and  election  of  the  Kansas- 
Missouri  Theatres  Association  will  be 
held  here  May  23  and  24,  and  will 
concentrate  its  attention  largely  on  the 
trade  practice  code.  The  association, 
under  Frank  Cassil,  president,  will  ap- 
proach the  code  from  two  angles  at 
the  convention :  it  is  inviting  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  with  grievances  to 
bring  them  to  the  meeting,  and  it  will 
seek  to  obtain  for  independent  exhib- 
itor members  as  large  a  share  in  the 
personnel  and  operation  of  the  code 
as  possible. 

Specifically,  the  association  will  in- 
terest itself  in  clearance  problems  in 
the  area,  according  to  Cassil.  H.  M. 
Richey,  RKO  director  of  exhibitor  re- 
lations, will  address  the  convention. 
Cassil  conferred  with  him  and  with 
other  distributors  last  week  in  New 
York  on  the  clearance  situation. 


Pact  Approval  Must 
Wait  on  Arbitration 
Is  Kuykendall  View 


Trailer-Made  in  Payment 

Trailer-Made,  Inc.,  and  Isadore 
Schwartz  have  paid  $3,000  to  Na- 
tional Screen  Service  Corp.  for  at- 
torneys' fees,  according  to  a  stipula- 
tion filed  in  the  U.  S.  District  Court. 
Payment  was  made  as  partial  com- 
pliance with  a  consent  decree  obtained 
in  National  Screen-Trailer-Made  liti- 
gation. 


Sunday  Show  Trial  Set 

Thomasville,  Ga.,  April  23. — May 
29  has  been  set  as  the  date  for  trial 
of  the  Sunday  show  case  against  In- 
terstate Enterprises.  The  case  has 
been  postponed  several  times  because 
of  illness  of  attorneys. 


Illinois  Duals  Bill  In 

Chicago,  April"  23. — The  judiciary 
committee  of  the  Illinois  House  of 
Representatives  has  recommended  by 
a  vote  of  11  to  4  to  report  favorably 
the  measure  to  abolish  double  features 
in  this  state. 


Complete  indorsement  of  the  pro- 
posed trade  practice  program  should 
be  withheld  by  exhibitor  organizations 
until  such  time  as  an  arbitration  pro- 
cedure has  been  made  definite  and 
final,  Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president,  said  prior  to  leaving  New 
York  over  the  weekend. 

Kuykendall  conferred  with  William 
F.  Rodgers  and  Sidney  R.  Kent,  of  the 
distributors'  negotiating  committee, 
while  here.  Presumably,  his  inquiries 
were  concerned  in  the  main  with  dis- 
tributors' aims  in  connection  with  the 
arbitration  proposals. 

The  M.P.T.O.A.  head  reiterated  his 
personal  view  that  no  exhibitor  could 
afford  to  reject  the  benefits  offered  by 
the  trade  program  without,  at  least,  a 
fair  trial,  but  added  that  exhibitor  or- 
ganizations would  do  well  to  wait  until 
the  program  is  completed  before  giv- 
ing any  final  acceptance. 

Kuykendall  goes  to  his  home  at  Co- 
lumbus, Miss.,  and  will  attend  the 
convention  of  the  Kansas-Missouri  T. 
0.  A.  in  Kansas  City,  May  23  and  24. 


Republic  to  Stress 
Latin  America  Field 

Chicago,  April  23. — Republic  will 
devote  more  of  its  sales  and  production 
efforts  to  the  South  American  mar- 
kets, it  was  disclosed  at  the  final  ses- 
sion of  the  two-day  regional  sales 
meeting  Friday.  H.  J.  Yates  and  James 
R.  Grainger  emphasized  the  im- 
portance of  Latin  American  markets 
and  said  that  Republic  is  now  in  a 
position  to  give  more  attention  to  for- 
eign fields  than  ever  before. 

In  addition  to  making  more  stories 
of  interest  to  Spanish  speaking  coun- 
tries, Republic  will  make  six  to  eight 
Spanish  language  films,  it  was  said. 
John  Balaban  and  William  Hollander 
of  Balaban  &  Katz  spoke  briefly,  com- 
plimenting Republic  on  "Man  of  Con- 
quest." 


_  Yates,  Grainger  and  Al  Adams,  di- 
rector of  advertising  and  publicity,  re- 
turned to  New  York  over  the  week- 
end. The  San  Francisco  regional  meet- 
ing, originally  set  for  April  25-26,  has 
been  set  back  to  May  5-6. 


3  Sentenced  to  Jail 
In  Bank  Night  Fraud 

Janesville,  Wis.,  April  23. — How- 
ard Johnson,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Jeffris  here;  Agnes  Gerek  and  Theo- 
dore Lesky  were  sentenced  by  Munici- 
pal Judge  Ernest  Agnew  to  a  year  in 
the  County  Jail  On  charges  of  obtain- 
ing money  under  false  pretenses  in  a 
$500  Bank  Night  fraud  at  the  theatre. 

On  condition  that  the  trio  makes 
restitution,  Johnson's  sentence  then 
was  reduced  to  45  days  and  that  of 
the  other  two  to  five  days  each. 


Ban  on  2  Films  Upheld 

Albany,  April  23. — N.  Y.  State 
Board  of  Regents  has  upheld  the  state 
censor  ban  on  "Ecstasy"  and  "Sunset 
Murder  Case,"  after  reviewing  the 
two  pictures.  The  appeal  on  "Ecstasy" 
was  taken  by  Eureka  Productions, 
Inc.,  and  that  on  "Sunset  Murder 
Case"  by  Grand  National.  Both  pic- 
tures were  termed  "objectionable." 


MAY  6 


th 


C 


Is  the  day  to  honor 
your  American 
theatre  with  the 
picture  every 
American  is 


waiting  to  cheer! 


WARNER  BROS. 

w.ll  p~.,.|..„  „  „  H- 

N  Y.  STRAND 
APRIL  28th 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  April  24,  1939 


Hope  of  Peace  in 
IATSE  Row  Wanes; 
Dues  Strike  Called 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

I.A.T.S.E.  representative,  on  being  in- 
formed of  dues  strike  threat  said 
"best  answer  to  threatened  dues  strike 
is  that  dues  are  coming  in  very  sat- 
isfactorily and  we  find  no  indication 
of  anything  but  solid  support  for  in- 
ternational's stand,  outside  of  few  ex- 
ceptions." 

Meanwhile,  officers  of  Local  37  said 
they  had  received  a  promise  from 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General 
Thurman  Arnold  over  the  weekend 
that  an  investigator  would  be  assigned 
to  look  into  charges  of  collusion  be- 
tween producers  and  I.A.T.S.E.  lead- 
ers. 

In  a  statement  referring  to  the  con- 
ferences over  settlement  of  the  struggle 
for  control  of  the  local,  Nylander  said, 
"Because  of  the  apparent  failure  of  the 
contending  parties  to  reach  a  settle- 
ment in  the  negotiations  that  have 
been  carried  on  outside  our  offices 
over  matters  that  do  not  rightfully 
belong  before  the  N.L.R.B.  it  was  im- 
possible for  them  to  reach  an  agree- 
ment or  settlement  on  matters  pending 
before  the  board.  No  time  has  been 
set  for  further  N.L.R.B.  hearings." 

Gatelee  subsequently  issued  a  state- 
ment in  which  he  described  the  situa- 
tion as  a  "complete  breakdown"  of 
the  settlement  negotiations  which,  he 
charged,  "was  caused  deliberately  by 
Kibre  when  he  introduced  the  idea  of 
a  90-day  cooling  period  before  pro- 
ducers would  be  required  to  designate 
and  deal  with  an  employes'  bargaining 
agent  or  agents.  If  this  were  to  go 
into  effect  the  employes  would  be  at 
the  complete  mercy  of  the  producers." 

The  "I.  A.  from  now  on  will  recom- 
mend that  various  Hollywood  locals 
seek  their  own  agreements  with  pro- 
ducers and  the  I.A.T.S.E.  will  stand 
by  and  assist  them  in  every  way  pos- 
sible at  their  request."  He  charged 
that  Kibre  did  not  want  peace. 


WPA  Revue  Opens 
At  Adelphi  Tonight 

A  WPA  Federal  Theatre 
Project  revue,  "Sing  For  Your 
Supper,"  opens  tonight  at  the 
Adelphi.  The  revue  was  direct- 
ed by  Harold  Hecht,  with  pro- 
duction number  staged  by 
H.  Gordon  Graham.  Robert 
Sour  was  assistant  producer. 
A  cast  of  125  includes  Carl 
Chapin,  Virginia  Bolen,  Eddie 
Fuller,  Coby  Ruskin  and 
Hansford  Wilson. 


S.  D.  Cocalis  Is  Dead; 
Headed  Circuit  Here 


Soteros  D.  Cocalis,  52,  died  Satur- 
day morning  of  an  abdominal  ailment 
in  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital.  Cocalis,  known 
to  most  of  his  friends  as  Sam,  was  a 
prominent  exhibitor  in  the  metropoli- 
tan area  for  22  years.  Previously,  he 
had  been  in  the  real  estate  business. 

At  the  time  of  his  death,  Cocalis 
was  interested  in  38  houses  in  New 
York  and  vicinity.  After  the  death  of 
his  partner,  Jack  W.  Springer,  the 
firm  name  was  changed  from  Springer 
&  Cocalis  to  Cocalis  Enterprises  but 
the  circuit  and  the  partnership  with 
the  Springer  estate  remained  intact. 
Funeral  arrangements  will  be  made  to- 
day. He  was  survived  by  his  widow 
and, seven  children. 


Canadian  Committee 
Approves  Film  Board 

Ottawa,  April  23. — Senate  Banking 
and  Commerce  Committee  has  ap- 
proved a  bill  to  set  up  a  national  film 
board  for  Canada.  The  board,  under 
the  direction  of  a  commissioner  will 
coordinate  activities  of  departments 
which  use  motion  pictures. 

J.  G.  Parmelee,  Deputy  Minister  of 
Trade  and  Commerce,  and  Captain 
Frank  C.  Badgley,  director  of  the 
Government's  motion  Picture  Bureau, 
explained  the  measure  to  the  commit- 
tee. It  now  stands  for  the  third  read- 
ing in  the  Senate. 


Museum  Gets  13  Tons 
Of  Fairbanks  Films 

Douglas  Fairbanks,  Sr.,  has 
donated  his  film  library  to 
the  Museum  of  Modern  Art 
Film  Library.  The  gift,  com- 
prising 2,700,000  feet  of  cellu- 
loid, weighing  13  tons,  is  the 
largest  group  of  films  the 
library  has  received.  Included 
is  "The  Lamb,"  Fairbanks' 
first  picture,  produced  under 
the  direction  of  D.  W.  Griffith. 


Lack  of  Funds  May 
Slow  Up  Trust  Drive 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
New  York  suit  would  have  no  bear- 
ing on  its  possible  inquiry. 

Officials  pointed  out  that  the  com- 
mittee is  seeking  to  complete  its  in- 
vestigations by  the  end  of  the  current 
year.  The  film  inquiry  will  not  be  un- 
dertaken for  several  months  at  the 
earliest.  If  the  trial  is  held  next  fall 
it  might  be  impossible  for  the  com- 
mittee to  wait  and  still  complete  its 
investigation  within  the  period  set. 

In  any  event,  it  was  explained  the 
New  York  trial  will  not  settle  the 
suit,  which  probably  will  be  appealed 
to  the  supreme  court,  if  no  consent 
decree  is  entered,  so  that  legislation 
still  might  be  desirable. 

It  was  indicated  that  committee  in- 
vestigators who  have  been  studying 
the  situation  believe  a  full  inquiry 
should  be  conducted,  and  dissatisfied 
elements  in  the  industry  given  an  op- 
portunity to  present  their  complaints. 

See  Bill  Rushed  Here 

Indications  that  the  Government  is 
rushing  preparation  of  its  bill  of  par- 
ticulars in  the  anti-trust  suit  against 
the  major  companies  was  seen  Friday, 
when  Seymour  Kreiger,  special  assis- 
tant, asked  for  additional  copies  of  the 
United  Artists'  demand  for  details. 

The  request  came  after  the  examina- 
tion of  Charles  Stern,  U.A.  eastern 
district  sales  manager.  When  queried 
as  to  the  reason  for  the  request,  Kreii 
ger  explained  that  most  of  the  staff 
had  been  assigned  to  the  task  and  that 
there  were  not  sufficient  copies  to  go 
around. 

Stern  and  Edward  Mullin  were  ex- 
amined by  Kreiger  in  a  continuation 
of  the  pre-trial  examination  of  U.A. 
The  questioning  was  directed  principal- 


Meeting  at  Frisco 
Ends  6U'  Regionals 


San  Francisco,  April  23. — Details 
of  Universal's  new  season  production 
schedule  of  44  features,  and  the  west- 
erns, serials  and  shorts,  were  given  to 
the  Far  Western  sales  force  by  W.  A. 
Scully,  vice-president  and  general  sales 
manager,  at  today's  session  of  the 
three-day  regional  sales  meeting  at  the 
St.  Francis  Hotel  here. 

Scully,  accompanied  by  W.  J.  Heine- 
man,  western  sales  manager ;  Thomas 
Murray  and  James  Jordan  of  the  home 
office,  arrived  here  from  Chicago  early 
yesterday  by  United  Airlines'  plane  in 
time  to  start  the  final  regional  here 
on  schedule.  The  Chicago  meeting 
closed  late  Thursday. 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  Universal  board 
chairman,  also  is  representing  the 
home  office  at  the  meeting  here.  Va- 
cationing on  the  coast,  Cowdin  came 
here  from  Los  Angeles  with  Cliff 
Work,  production  head;  Matthew  J. 
Fox,  vice-president,  and  John  Joseph, 
advertising  and  publicity  director. 
Nate  J.  Blumberg,  president,  repre- 
sented the  home  office  at  the  Cincin- 
nati and  Chicago  meetings,  with  other 
company  officials. 

Members  of  the  Denver,  Los  An- 
geles, Portland,  Salt  Lake  City  and 
local  branches  are  represented  at  the 
session  here,  which  will  close  on  Mon- 
dav. 


Paine-Erpi  Opinion 
Is  Expected  Today 

Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox  will 
file  an  opinion  today  finally  determin- 
ing protracted  litigation  brought  by 
John  G.  Paine,  as  assignee  of  some 
100  music  publishing  houses,  against 
Erpi  for  $211,743  royalties,  and  de- 
termination of  the  validity  of  licensing 
contracts,  it  was  reliably  learned  on 
Saturday. 

Argument  on  questions  of  law  was 
held  before  Judge  Knox  on  Friday. 
The  suit  centers  about  the  interpreta- 
tion of  licensing  contracts  made  in 
1927  and  1929  governing  the  songs 
recorded  in  sound  tracks  used  with 
motion  pictures  exported  for  foreign 
trade. 


306  Wins  Action 

Suit  of  James  J.  Little  and  Milton 
Olshin,  operators,  for  $5,000  damages 
and  an  injunction  against  Local  306  of 
the  operators  union,  was  dismissed  on 
Friday  by  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Jus- 
tice Isidor  Wasservogel.  Plaintiffs 
contended  that  the  union  had  wrong- 
fully denied  them  membership. 


B.  &  K.  Hearing  Ordered 

Chicago,  April  23. — Federal  Judge 
Woodward  has  approved  an  order  for 
a  hearing  in  the  case  of  Government 
against  B.  &  K.  and  the  majors  before 
Master  in  Chancery  Edgar  Eldredge. 


Ticket  Code  Upheld; 
Decision  Hailed  by 
Equity,  N.  Y.  League 


Broadway's  legitimate  stage  ticket 
code  forbidding  excessive  price  ad- 
vances by  brokers  and  requiring  box- 
offices  to  kepi  a  fixed  percentage  of 
tickets  for  sale  at  the  theatre  was  up- 
held in  a  24-page  opinion  by  Refe^,; 
Morris  Cooper,  Jr.,  Friday.  The  opin- 
ion will  go  to  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
Justice  Samuel  H.  Hofstadter  for  ap- 
proval shortly. 

Officials  of  the  League  of  N.  Y. 
Theatres  and  Actors'  Equity,  who 
promulgated  the  code  and  were 
charged  with  monopoly  in  restraint  of 
trade  by  Acme  Ticket  Agency,  hailed 
the  decision.  Referee  Cooper's  report 
cleared  both  organizations  on  the  al- 
leged monopoly  and  boycott  charges. 
"On  the  contrary,  it  would  seem  that 
the  effect  is  to  prevent  a  monopoly  by 
the  plaintiffs  (Acme)  of  the  best  seats 
in  the  theatre.  The  effect  of  the  Code 
seems  to  me  clearly  to  be  for  the 
benefit  of  the  theatrical  industry  as  a 
whole,  and  of  the  public."  Referee 
Cooper  held  that  "members  of  an  in- 
dustry are  entitled  to  cooperate  for  the 
purpose  of  correcting  abuses." 

James  F.  Reilly,  executive  secretary 
of  the  League,  declared  that  rigid  en- 
forcement of  the  code  would  start  im- 
mediately and  that  members  would 
withdraw  all  tickets  from  brokers  who 
exceeded  the  50  and  75  cent  limit  on 
price  advances.  Reilly  stated  that 
World  Fair  visitors  would  be  informed 
of  the  code  regulations  and  that  the 
decision  would  assure  that  they  would 
not  be  "mulcted."  Milton  R.  Wein- 
berger, League  counsel,  called  the  de- 
cision a  "concrete  example  of  self-gov- 
ernment in  the  industry."  He  pointed 
out  that  efforts  to  abolish  the  evils  of 
ticket  speculation  by  legislation  had 
been  unsuccessful  because  the  courts 
had  ruled  the  laws  unconstitutional. 


ly  as  to  how  clearances  were  estab- 
lished in  different  cities  and  how  first 
runs  were  determined.  Situations  in- 
volved in  previous  anti-trust  suits  and 
in  localities  where  the  Government  had 
received  specific  complaints  were  made 
the  basis  for  most  of  the  questions. 
Clearance  of  Loew's  Century  over  the 
Patio,  Brooklyn,  also  was  made  the 
basis  of  inquiry.  Harry  Gold,  eastern 
sales  manager,  will  be  called  as  a  wit- 
ness April  26. 


Variety  Club  Parley 
To  Draw  Hundreds 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
fes  will  bring  15  from  Minneapolis, 
Fifty  are  expected  from  Cleveland  and 
20  from  Columbus. 

H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor 
relations  for  RKO,  has  lined  up  the 
New  York  delegation,  which  will  leave 
Thursday  night.  Among  those  expect- 
ed from  New  York  are  Nate  Blum- 
berg, Neil  F.  Agnew,  Jules  Levy,  Ed 
McEvoy,  Tom  Connors,  Ed  Saunders, 
Ted  O'Shea,  Jack  Alicoate,  Dave  Pal- 
freyman,  Chick  Lewis,  Ed  Kuyken- 
dall,  George  W.  Weeks,  Max  A. 
Cohen,  Charles  Reagan  and  W.  C. 
Gehring. 

Announcement  will  be  made  of  the 
sponsorship  by  Detroit  Tent  No.  5, 
headed  by  C.  C.  Perry,  of  a  Detroit 
"Boys  Town."  A  building  is  being 
purchased,  and  the  Club  will  stage  a 
midnight  benefit  show  at  which  it  ex- 
pects to  raise  $8,000.  Father  Harold 
Markey  of  Trinity  Church  will  direct 
the  home,  where  underprivileged  and 
homeless  youths  will  receive  educa- 
tion and  training. 

J.  E.  Flynn  is  general  chairman  of 
the  convention.  The  general  commit- 
tee includes  E.  C.  Beatty,  William 
Carlson,  E.  E.  Kirchner,  F.  J.  Downey, 
David  Idzal,  George  W.  Trendle,  C. 
C.  Perry,  H.  M.  Richey,  David  New- 
man, C.  H.  Merritt,  Harold  C.  Robin- 
son, Earl  Hudson  and  Elmer  Kiehler. 


Get  in  the  BLACK 


■^With  numrn*"  

 «~A«Hv  nroved 


key  city  theatres  ««"  

53  iwy      *  dv  hit  one  oi 

Paramount"  AHStar  «oma«y  » 


"MIDNIGHT"  OPEN.  -  -  _ 

—  -rr-^.-'.'  - — - 

New  York  Paramount  s  op 
biggest  in  six  months. 


bigg«sl>  — 

..MIDNIGHT..  SUSTWNS!^  _  ^  _ 

Carlton;  3  solid  weeKs  f 

M1„„T  MAKES  MONEY-Ever^hfT^ 

"MIDNIGHT    MAWiS  lhes.Barr.,  Rochester, 

OKlaho»a  City,  BuHalo,  Sc'a0t°";  Daveoport,  Phoeni*, 

pott8hheepsie,  Brooklyn,  ^y  distant  spots 

Chat«an«N,6a...WementSon  only  a  Se    g       ^  ^  ^  show  you 

wnere  "Mi-night"        f***^  wnerever  piaye-- 

anight"  wil.  -o  business,  and 


«  iwt  .  Don  Ameche 
Claudette  Colbert  ■» 

"MIDNIGHl 

*  Francis  Lederer  •  Mary  Astor 

johnBarrymore  •  Vv™*^.^nMnc^™™ 

A  Paramount  P»elure  ■»  JUJ1M  Mayer  ana 

.„„  Billy  Wilde.  •  B».d  on  a  ««T 


Just  One  of 
Par  amount's 

BIG  15 

for  Spring 
anil  Summer 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


8 

U.  S.  Plan  for 
Radio  Station 
Held  Needless 


By  JACK  BANNER 

There  is  no  need  for  a  Government- 
operated  and  controlled  short-wave 
broadcasting  station,  it  would  appear 
from  statistics  provided  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  by  the  international  divi- 
sions of  NBC  and  CBS,  which  in- 
dicate that  those  networks  are  short- 
waving  to  Latin  and  Central  America 
more  than  twice  as  many  weekly  pro- 
gram hours  as  Germany  and  Italy 
combined. 

The  figures  have  been  provided  as  a 
result  of  a  story  printed  in  these  col- 
umns to  the  effect  efforts  are  being 
revived  in  Washington  to  promote 
legislation  permitting  the  construction 
of  a  government  station. 

Figures  by  Country 

In  unmixed  Spanish  and  Portuguese, 
the  languages  of  the  population  of 
South  America,  the  NBC  figures  for 
the  various  countries'  broadcasts  are  as 
follows : 

NBC— 56  hours 

Germany — 10^2  hours 

Italy — 3l/2  hours 

Japan — 1  hour 

England — 3*A  hours 

France — 3Y2  hours. 
All  of  those  outside  of  NBC  add  up 
to  a  total  of  22  hours  a  week,  less  than 
half  as  much  a=  NBC  is  doing.  In 
ne"--  broadcasts,  NBC  is  doing  10y2 
hours  a  weet,  exactly  twice  what  Ger- 
many is  doing.  Aside  from  Germany, 
no  other  country  is  doing  more  than 
3l/2  hours  a  week  in  the  languages  of 
Latin  America. 

Audience  Mail  Increases 

The  network,  incidentally,  has  re- 
corded a  20-fold  increase  in  audience 
mail  from  foreign  countries  in  the  10 
months  during  which  its  short-wave 
stations  have  been  operating  with  a 
power  of  25,000  watts,  and  a  fixed 
language  program  pattern. 

In  May,  1939,  when  the  system  was 
inaugurated,  NBC  received  only  157 
pieces  of  mail  in  response  to  its  short- 
wave programs.  In  March  of  this 
year,  3,425  letters  were  received  from 
82  countries,  protectorates  and  col- 
onies. 

The  CBS  weekly  program  figures 
for  its  two  short-wave  stations  are  as 
follows :  Over  W2XE  to  Europe,  53 
hours,  to  South  America,  39^  hours. 
Over  W3XAU  to  Europe,  30%  hours, 
to  South  America,  46j4  hours,  an 
overall  total  of  83  hours  to  Europe, 
86  hours  to  South  America.  Its  sta- 
tions short-wave  four  hours  of  Span- 
ish news  programs  weekly,  Portuguese 
news,  1  hour  15  minutes.  Programs 
exclusively  Spanish  are  aired  14  hours 
weekly,  exclusively  Portuguese,  1 
hour.  Shortly  the  network  will  add 
45  minutes  of  French  news,  and  like 
periods  for  news  in  German '  and 
Italian. 


WHN  Holds  Benchley 

With  the  switch  of  Bob  Benchley's 
Old  Gold  program  to  NBC  from  CBS, 
WHN,  which  also  airs  the  broadcast, 
will  remain  as  one  of  the  New  York 
outlets. 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

ELLIOTT  ROOSEVELT,  head  of 
the  Texas  State  Network,  re- 
turns to  the  Lone  Star  state 
today  after  a  week  here.  .  .  .  John 
Garfield  is  being  considered  as  a  re- 
placement for  Bob  Hope  on  the  lat- 
ter's  series  for  the  summer.  .  .  .  Lin- 
coln Dellar,  general  manager  of  WBT, 
Charlotte,  due  in  town  today.  .  .  . 
Columnist  Hy  Gardner  is  auditioning 
a  program  at  WHN.  .  .  .  Sammy 
Kaye  winds  up  at  the  Hotel  Commo- 
dore Wednesday.  .  .  .  Louis  Sagi 
Vela,  Argentine  baritone,  has  been 
signed  to  a  year's  contract  by  WOR. 

Allied  Asks  Para,  to 
Change  Meeting  Date 

Minneapolis,  April  23.  —  Allied 
States  has  requested  Paramount  to 
designate  another  date  on  which  to 
hold  the  company's  annual  national 
sales  meeting,  which  was  set  last  week 
for  June  12-14  in  Los  Angeles.  The 
date  coincides  with  that  chosen  by 
Allied  some  time  ago  for  its  annual 
national  convention,  which  will  be  held 
here,  June  13-15. 

Request  was  made  by  W.  A.  Steffes, 
Allied's  convention  chairman,  to  Neil 
F.  Agnew,  Paramount  distribution 
chief.  Agnew  is  now  on  a  sales  tour 
in  the  Pacific  Northwest  and  could 
not  be  reached  for  comment. 

Sunday  Show  Bill  Is 
Vetoed  in  Delaware 

Dover,  Del.,  April  23.— Gov.  Mc- 
Mullen  has  vetoed  the  measure  provid- 
ing for  Sunday  shows.  Senator  Ri- 
nard,  its  sponsor,  said  the  bill  would 
be  restored  to  the  calendar.  The 
measure  would  legalize  shows  on  Sun- 
day after  2  P.  M.  in  cities  over  25,- 
000  population  and  provides  for  a 
referendum. 

The  Governor's  veto  message  de- 
calred  he  doubted  the  constitutional- 
ity of  the  referendum  provision.  Wil- 
mington is  the  only  city  affected  under 
the  population  provision. 

J  aval  En  Route  Here 
To  Set  Up  Television 

London,  April  23.  —  Ian  Javal, 
commercial  director  of  Baird  Tele- 
vision Co.,  sailed  yesterday  on  the 
Aquitania  for  New  York,  with  tech- 
nicians and  equipment. 

He  indicated  before  departing  that 
he  plans  early  demonstrations  in  New 
York  of  the  Baird  large  screen  tele- 
vision, and  declared  negotiations  are 
progressing  to  stage  a  special  theatre 
program  through  an  existing  American 
network.  He  is  expected  to  remain  in 
New  York  about  two  months.  i 

Foster  Gets  Yankee 
Net  Promotion  Post 

Boston,  April  23.— Frank  P.  Fos- 
ter, formerly  associated  with  National 
Radio  Advertising  and  more  recently 
with  Hearst  Radio,  has  been  appointed 
sales  promotion  manager  of  both  the 
Yankee  and  Colonial  networks. 

Appointment  is  effective  immediate- 
ly, with  Carlton  McVarish.  former 
sales  promotion  director,  becoming 
head  of  the  department  of  merchandis- 
ing and  market  research. 


20th-Fox  to  Expand 
In  Latin  America 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
another  to  be  produced  by  Jack  Skir- 
ball.  These  will  be  made  in  Hollywood. 
Their  release  is  planned  in  Spain  as 
well. 

Kent  will  study  the  Latin  American 
market  when  in  Rio  de  Janeiro  to  at- 
tend the  company's  South  American 
convention  in  June,  and  will  attend  a 
second  meeting  in  Trinidad.  He  will 
confer  with  sales  representatives  and 
exhibitors. 

"It  has  taken  a  succession  of  costly 
international  upheavals  in  Europe  and 
elsewhere  to  make  America  realize 
the  unlimited  possibilities  of  greater 
business  relationship  with  our  Latin 
American  neighbors.  This  company, 
for  one,  means  to  do  all  that  it  can  to 
increase  this  relationship  between  our 
two  countries. 

"In  the  past  few  years  there  seems 
to  have  been  an  increasing  demand  in 
South  America  for  Spanish  language 
pictures.  We  have  already  taken  plans 
to  meet  this  demand,  but  if  business 
is  such  that  a  more  elaborate  Spanish 
picture  production  schedule  is  in  order, 
then  this  company  will  proceed,  in  the 
interests  of  sincerity  and  good  busi- 
ness, to  make  more  Spanish  pictures. 

"At  the  coming  conventions,  it  is  my 
purpose  to  detail  a  map  of  activity  and 
expansion  in  South  America.  We 
want  to  play  a  full  part  in  the  further 
development  of  the  industry  in  South 
America  and  to  play  it  on  a  truly  co- 
operative basis." 

U.  5.  Pictures  Still 
Popular  in  Germany 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Century-Fox  together  obtained  first 
run  showings  for  20  films  at  leading 
Berlin  theatres  last  year,  with  M-G-M 
leading.  Imports  are  restricted  to  a 
percentage  of  the  domestic  output, 
which  totaled  about  100  films  last  year. 
Each  country  is  given  a  quota. 

Nelle  produced  six  musicals  for 
UFA  and  Tobis  and  returned  here  last 
week  on  expiration  of  his  contract.  He 
reports  living  conditions  in  Germany 
are  unbearable,  and  he  does  not  intend 
to  return  there.  He  produced  stage 
presentations  at  one  time  for  Roxy 
and  the  Fox  circuit.  He  is  negotiating 
for  a  Hollywood  post. 

"The  German  studios  have  the  finest 
mechanical  equipment  obtainable,  but 
thev  don't  know  how  to  use  it  proper- 
ly," he  says.  "The  industry  lost  many 
of  its  best  directors  and  technicians  be- 
cause of  the  racial  laws,  and  the  new 
crop  is  untrained.  No  new  ideas  are 
being  developed.  Camera  work  and 
lighting  are  particularly  deficient,  and 
the  writers  and  cutter  lack  knowledge 
of  their  trade. 

Building  Film  Institute 

"A  film  institute  being  built  at  the 
UFA  studio  is  expected  to  provide  the 
necessary  training.  Before  the  Nazi 
regime,  the  Americans  used  to  learn 
from  the  Germans.  Now  the  situation 
is  reversed,  and  the  German  directors 
and  technicians  get  their  ideas  from 
Hollywood." 

A  number  of  other  factors  work 
against  good  production,  says  Nelle. 
The  men  in  charge  of  the  studios  know 
little  about  making  pictures  and  con- 
stantly drive  for  rigid  economy,  which 
is  a  national  necessity.  The  Govern- 
ment is  in  control  of  the  industry  and 
labor  works  under  strict  regulations, 
which  leads  to  bickering  with  the  man- 


Monday,  April  24,  19! 


S.M.P.E.  Puts  Off! 
Television  Report! 
To  Fall  Conventioi 


Hollywood,   April    16. — Declarii 
that  "some  time  will  probably  pass  b 
fore  production  and  reproduction  tecl 
nic  of  television  will  reach  a  stage  i 
stability  such  as  to  permit  a  determin; , 
tion  of  standards  of  production^V,l'j 
Television  Committee  of  the  SSwft 
of  M.  P.  Engineers  reported  that  r , 
"specific  result"  had  come  from  i 
work  to  date. 

The  committee  stated  that  it  wou  i 
give  only  scientific  and  technical  da 
in  its  reports  to  avoid  "undue  or  uij 
justified  concern"  to  the  film  industr 
After  a  period  of  regular  televising  ; 
the  N.  Y.  World  Fair,  the  committf 
hoped  to  be  in  a  position  to  report  I 
the  fall  convention. 

Papers  Read  at  Session 

The  spring  convention  ended  Fridal 
after  a  studio  practice  session  and  I 
television  session.  Papers  read  weil 
"A  New  Magnetic  Recorder  and  I  I 
Adaptations,"  by  S.  J.  Begun,  Bru;  I 
Development  Co. ;  "Western  Electr  I 
Microphones  for  Sound  Recording,"  1 1 
F.  L.  Hopper,  Erpi ;  "A  Cardioid  D  J 
rectional  Microphone,"  by  R.  N.  Ma  I 
shall  and  W.  R.  Harry,  Bell  Telephoi  1 
Laboratories;  and  "A  Lightweigl  I 
Sound  Recording  System,"  by  Ho]  I 
per,  E.  C.  Manderfeld  and  R.  R.  So  J 
ville,  Erpi. 

Papers  on  television  were  "An  Ii  II 
troduction  to  Television  Production  I 
by  H.  R.  Lubcke,  Don  Lee  Broadcas  I 
ing  Co. ;  "Application  of  M.  P.  Fil  1 
to  Television,"  by  E.  W.  Engstro  I 
and  G.  L.  Beers,  RCA  Manufactu  I 
ing ;  "Continuous  Type  Film  Scann  1 
for  Television,"  by  P.  T.  Goldmar  I 
CBS ;  "Television  Studio  Technic  I 
by  A.  W.  Protzman,  NBC;  "Tell 
vision  Lighting,"  by  William  C.  Edd  I 
NBC;  and  "Design  Problems  in  Tel  I 
vision  Systems  and  Receivers,"  by  A 
B.  Dumont,  Dumont  Laboratories. 

A.  N.  Goldsmith,  chairman  of  tlj 
Television  Committee  announced  m 
formation  of  two  sub- committees.  ( 
B.  Hanson  will  head  the  sub-commi 
tee  on  Production  and  Reproductk 
Technic  and  O.  Sandvik  is  chairm; 
of  sub-committee  on  Film  Properti' 
and  Laboratory  Practice. 


Radio  Bill  Vote  Seen 

Albany,  April  23. — Passage  of  tl 
Coudert  measure,  which  would  fr< 
radio  broadcasters  from  legal  actic 
on  truthful  news  description,  is  e: 
pected  in  the  Senate  this  week.  Tl 
measure  has  been  passed  by  the  A 
sembly. 


agement.  A  major  problem  is  the  lai 
of  "pep"  and  prevalent  illness  due  ' 
improper  food.  Vast  reservoirs  of  foe 
are  being  stored  for  war  emergency 

Because  of  the  tense  situation,  lig 
musicals  and  comedies  are  much 
demand.  French  comedies  are  popula 
A  number  of  American  stars  are  I 
well  known  in  Germany  as  they  a 
here,  according  to  Nelle.  The  fir 
runs  play  Greta  Garbo  reissues. 

With  currency  export  blocked,  tl 
French  companies  are  beginning 
produce  in  Germany  in  order  to  a'; 
sorb  the  accumulated  collections.  Tl 
German  companies  have  the  san 
problem  in  Hungary  and  other  cou: 
tries.  Nelle  made  a  film  for  UFA 
Budapest  for  this  reason. 


I    rc  t_ 


to  the^gtion 
Picture 
Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


and 

Impartial 


.  45.  NO  79 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  APRIL  25,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Paine  Upheld 
In  Erpi  Claim 
For  $170,000 

')e nied  Additional  $40,000 
On  Pre-1929  Royalties 


Right  of  John  G.  Paine,  as  assignee 
|il  representative  of  some  100  music 
Publishing  houses,  to  recover  approxi- 
mately $170,000  from  Erpi  in  royalties 
f  lue  on  musical  compositions  recorded 
|Vo:-  sound  track  use  with  motion  pic- 
tures and  exported  in  foreign  trade, 
ftvas  upheld  yesterday  by  Federal 
udge  John  C.  Knox  in  a  13-page 
pbpinion.  At  the  same  time  Judge 
[is  ox  threw  out  a  claim  for  approxi- 
mately $40,000  which  Paine  had  as- 
Fktrted  for  rovalties  on  pictures  ex- 
fioortcd  before  '1929. 
L  The  suit,  filed  in  1936,  sought  ju- 
dicial interpretation  of  two  licensing 
rhgreements  made  in  1927  and  1929 
Authorizing  the  use  of  compositions 
□For  exported  motion  pictures.  Paine 
L-<  .ntended  that  under  the  agreement, 
jiErpi  was  to  pay  royalties  on  exported 
□pictures  regardless  of  whether  the 
music  houses  held  copyrights  in  the 
Countries  where  the  films  were  exhib- 

|  Judge  Knox,  in  sustaining  Paine's 
{contention,    pointed    out   that  music 

(Continued  an  page  6) 


Equity  to  Get  Brady 
Sunday  Show  Appeal 

William  A.  Brady,  legitimate  stage 
iproducer,  will  make  a  personal  ap- 
peal to  the  Actors'  Equity  council 
'today  in  an  effort  to  win  their  ap- 
proval for  Sunday  showrs.  With  the 
vote  at  the  Stagehands'  Union,  Local 
1.  Sunday  flatly  rejecting  the  pro- 
pi  isal,  it  is  not  regarded  as  likely  that 
equity  will  make  any  concessions. 

The  stagehands  took  the  position 
tliat  Sunday  is  an  extra  day  and  de- 
manded extra  wages.  They  refused  to 
accept  the  offer  of  the  League  of  N. 
Y.  Theatres,  which  asked  them  to 
work  Sundays  in  exchange  for  a  day 
pff  during  the  week. 

Equity,  at  its  last  quarterly  meet- 
ing, voted  to  take  a  referendum  of 
its  membership  to  decide  whether  to 
work  Sundays  and  waive  the  double 
C' mipensation  required  by  Equity 
rules.  However,  a  proviso  was  added 
demanding  that  all  unions  involved 
make  similar  waivers.  The  referen- 
dum has  been  held  up  awaiting  the 
action  of  other  unions.  In  view  of 
the  stagehands'  vote,  the  council  is  not 
empowered  to  submit  the  referendum. 


Shots  Didn't  Sever 
Andy's  Marital  Ties 

Andy  Brown  of  Amos  'n' 
Andy,  started  to  get  married 
in  his  opening  broadcast  on 
CBS  the  other  week,  but  the 
marriage  ceremonies  came  to 
an  end  when  some  pistol 
shots  rang  out  and  Andy 
moaned  "I'se  shot!  I'se  shot." 

Since  then  a  controversy 
has  raged  in  the  press  on  the 
question  of  whether  Andy  is, 
or  isn't  married. 

Yesterday  CBS  engaged 
Samuel  Liebowitz,  the  famed 
criminal  lawyer,  for  an  opin- 
ion. He  said  Andy  is  legally 
married. 


STUDIO  UNIONS  ASK 
FOR  30-HOUR  WEEK 


Mexico  to  Aid  U.S. 
Films,  Says  Rueda, 
Here  for  "Juarez" 


Mexican  Government  is  prepared 
to  extend  cooperation  to  American 
producers  who  wish  to  make  films  in 
Mexico,  but  limits  financial  assistance 
to  domestic  studios,  according  to 
Quintin  Rueda,  chief  of  the  Mexican 
Government's  official  press  bureau. 

Rueda  arrived  here  yesterday  by 
plane  to  represent  President  Cardenas 
at  the  premiere  of  "Juarez"  at  the 
Hollywood  tonight.  He  is  accom- 
panied by  Pablo  Prida,  a  great  grand- 
son of  Benito  Juarez.  Prida  operates 
the  Rex  in  Mexico  City  and  advised 
on  the  film's  production. 

Rueda  said  that  Spanish  language 
films  made  at  American  studios  are 
not  as  acceptable  in  Mexico  as  the 
domestic  product,  and  generally  are 
regarded  as  inferior.  Quality  is  the 
criterion,  and  so  far  only  a  few  films 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Allied  Forming  New  Six-Hour  Day,  Five-Day 

.       „  ...       .  Week,  Guarantee  of  40 

Unit   in    California,  Weeks  Demanded 

Arizona  and  Nevada 


Los  Angeles,  April  24. — Allied 
States  Association  of  Motion  Picture 
Exhibitors  has  stepped  into  Cali- 
fornia, Arizona  and  Nevada  territory 
for  the  first  time  and  is  organizing 
exhibitors  in  opposition  to  the  estab- 
lished Independent  Theatre  Owners 
of  Southern  California  and  Arizona, 
headed  by  Albert  A.  Galston. 

Officers  of  the  new  Allied  group 
are  Seth  Perkins,  president ;  Jules 
Wolf,  vice-president;  Fred  Hershorn, 
treasurer ;  James  C.  Quinn,  executive 
secretary,  and  L.  L.  Bard  and  B.  J. 
Leavitt,  directors. 

Los  Angeles  Headquarters 

Headquarters  are  in  Los  Angeles, 
quarters  formerly  occupied  by  a  re- 
cently started  exhibitor  group, 
American  Federation  of  Theatre  Op- 
erators, of  which  Quinn  was  execu- 
tive secretary. 

Letters  of  invitation  to  the  member- 
ship have  been  sent  to  all  independ- 
ent theatre  owners  in  the  area. 

The  former  Quinn  group  cam- 
paigned against  the  I.T.O.'s  inaugura- 
tion of  a  policy  of  arbitration  of  inde- 
pendent-affiliated exhibitor  disputes, 
started  at  the  suggestion  of  Charles 
Skouras,  Fox  West  Coast  head. 


325  of  571  Bills  Affecting 
Industry  Are  Still  Pending 


There  have  been  571  bills  affecting 
the  industry  introduced  in  state  legis- 
latures throughout  the  country  since 
Jan.  1,  it  was  revealed  by  a  checkup 
completed  yesterday. 

Bills  were  introduced  in  46  states 
which  have  held  regular  legislative 
sessions  to  date  and  included  every- 
thing from  tax  measures  and  Sunday 
closing  laws  to  affiliated  theatre 
divorce  measures  and  anti-block  book- 
ing bills. 

Of  the  46  legislatures  which  con- 
vened this  year  25  have  completed 


.heir  sessions  and  adjourned.  The  re- 
maining 21  have  pending  before  them 
a  total  of  about  325  bills  affecting  the 
industry.  Most  of  these  are  in  a  few 
of  the  larger  states,  such  as  Califor- 
nia, New  York,  Massachusetts  and 
Pennsylvania,  of  the  246  bills  which 
were  before  the  25  legislatures  which 
have  adjourned  already,  some  were 
enacted  and  others  failed  of  passage. 

No  state  has  enacted  a  censorship, 
affiliated  theatre  divorce,  real  tax  or 
admission    tax    measure  during  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Hollywood,  April  24.  —  Seven 
studio  unions  today  drafted  demands 
for  a  six-hour  day  and  five-day  week, 
vacations  with  pay  and  guarantee  of 
forty  weeks'  work  annually  to  be  pre- 
sented to  producers  on  behalf  of  their 
estimated  15,000  members.  Taking 
part  in  the  conference  at  which  a  pre- 
liminary draft  of  the  propositions  was 
made  were  Al  Speede,  business  agent 
of  Electricians  Local  40,  I.B.E.W., 
which  is  in  the  studio  labor  basic 
agreement ;  William  Castle,  Carpen- 
ters Local  946 ;  Lou  C.  Helm,  Studio 
Utility  Employes  Local  724;  D.  T. 
Wayne,  Machinists  Lodge  1185;  Ben 
Martinez,  Plasterers  Local  755  ;  Her- 
bert Sorrell,  Moving  Picture  Painters 
Local  644  and  Guy  H.  Cooper,  record- 
ing secretary  of  Studio  Technicians 
Local  37,  I.A.T.S.E. 

While  the  conference  was  going  on, 
Local  37  officers  headed  by  Joseph 
W.  Carpenter  today  asked  Towne 
Nylander,  regional  N.L.R.B.  director, 
to  set  a  date  for  hearing  on  complaint 
of  Jeff  Kibre,  local  minority  leader. 
Nylander's  reply  was  to  send  the  en- 
tire case  files  to  the  national  board  in 
Washington  for  action. 

Failure  of  the  negotiations  for 
peace  between  Local  37  and  Interna- 
tional was  the  indication  today  when 
it  was  disclosed  that  more  than  1,000 
pledges  of  Local  37  members  to  en- 
gage in  a  dues  strike  were  received. 
Opponents  will  appear  tomorrow 
morning. 

The  locals  will  present  their  de- 
mands to  Pat  Casey,  producer-labor 
contact  man,  when  he  arrives  some- 
time this  week. 


U.  S.  to  File  Bill  in 
Trust  Suit  Tomorrow 

The  Government  will  file 
its  bill  of  particulars  tomor- 
row in  its  anti-trust  suit 
against  the  eight  majors,  it 
was  learned  from  reliable 
sources  yesterday.  The  bill 
of  particulars  has  already 
been  prepared  in  Washington 
and  will  be  brought  to  the 
U.  S.  District  Court  by  either 
Special  Assistant  Attorney 
General  Seymour  Krieger  or 
Robert  L.  Wright,  it  is  under- 
stood. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  April  25,  193? 


"The  Mother"  Opens 
Tonight   at  Lyceum 

"The  Mother,"  an  adapta- 
tion bv  Paul  Selver  and  Miles 
Malleson  of  Karl  Capek's 
play,  opens  tonight  at  the 
Lyceum.  It  is  a  story  of  a 
mother  whose  husband  and 
five  sons  die  during  her  life- 
time. It  opened  in  London 
last  month.  Malleson  directed 
and  Victor  Payne-Jennings 
produced.  In  the  cast  are 
Nazimova,  Reginald  Bach, 
Montgomery  Clift,  Stephen 
Ker  Appleby,  Tom  Palmer  and 
others. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Surprises  Slated  for 
Variety  Convention 

Detroit,  April  24. — Chairman"  and 
the  various  committees  of  the  national 
Variety  Clubs  convention  to  be  held 
here  next  Thursday  to  Saturday,  in- 
clusive, have  completed  plans  for  a 
series  of  "surprise  features"  for  the 
annual  banquet  Saturday  night. 

Among  those  scheduled  to  appear  in 
the  floor  show  which  will  terminate 
the  banquet  are  George  Jessel,  Ethel 
Shutta,  Lloyd  Nolan  and  George  Raft. 
The  committee  on  talent  expects  ac- 
ceptances from  several  others. 

The  general  program  of  the  conven- 
tion will  be  as  follows :  Thursday,  1 
P.  M.,  meeting  of  national  officers ; 
Friday,  10  A.  M.,  opening  session  of 
general  convention  for  all  delegates, 
officers  and  guests ;  Saturday,  10 
A.  M.,  closing  session,  election  of  na- 
tional officers  for  1940,  and  selection 
of  1,940  convention  city;  6:30  P.  M., 
banquet ;  Sunday,  visits  to  points  of 
interest  in  and  around  Detroit  by  dele- 
gates and  guests. 


'U'  Closes  Regional 
Sales  Meets  on  Coast 

San  Francisco,  April  24. — Uni- 
versal's  third  and  final  regional  sales 
meeting  closed  tonight  after  a  three- 
day  session  at  the  St.  Francis  Hotel 
attended  by  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chair- 
man of  the  board,  and  a  number  of 
studio  executives. 

Among  the  latter  were  Cliff  Work, 
Matthew  J.  Fox,  Milton  Feld,  Dan 
Kelly.  John  Joseph,  David  Lipton,  Joe 
Pasternak,  Harry  Edington  and  Wal- 
ter Lantz.  Presiding  at  the  meeting 
were  W.  A.  Scully,  general  sales 
manager ;  William  Heineman,  western 
sales  manager,  and  Al  O'Keefe,  west 
coast  district  manager.  Also  in  at- 
tendance from  the  home  office  were 
James  Jordan  and  Tom  Murray. 


WILLIAM  F.  RODGERS,  Bar- 
ney Balaban,  John  W.  Hicks, 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  John  Rinz- 
ler,  Tom  Connors,  Ed  Saunders, 
Sydney  Phillips,  Martin  Peck, 
Max  Cohen,  Morris  Kinzler,  Bob 
Wolff  and  Ted  O'Shea  lunched  in 
Nick's  Hunting  Room  at  the  Astor 
yesterday. 

• 

Arthur  Willi,  chief  casting  direc- 
tor for  RKO,  was  in  Washington  yes- 
terday on  the  "Gateway  to  Hollywood" 
talent  quest,  and  will  go  from  there 
to  Atlanta. 

• 

Alice  Faye  left  yesterday  for 
White  Sulphur  Springs,  W.  Va.,  ac- 
companied by  her  husband,  Tony 
Martin,  after  a  week's  vacation  in 
New  York. 

• 

Rodney   Bush,   20th  Century-Fox 
exploitation  manager,  left  last  night 
for  Springfield,  111.,  to  arrange  for  the 
premiere  of  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln." 
• 

David  Butler  and  William  Coun- 
selman,  Universal  director  and  writer, 
respectively,  are  in  New  York  for 
brief  home  office  conferences. 

• 

Vincent  Trotta,  Paramount  art 
director,  will  get  back  to  his  desk  at 
the  home  office  tomorrow  after  a  short 
business  trip  to  Cleveland. 

• 

J.  J.  Unger,  and  Harry  Goldstein, 
Paramount  division  managers,  are  on 
a  visit  to  Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and 
Pittsburgh  exchanges. 

• 

Irving  Landis,  formerly  with  G.B., 
has  been  appointed  New  Jersey  sales- 
man for  Monogram. 

• 

Frank  C.  Walker,  Comerford 
Circuit  head,  has  returned  to  New 
York  from  an  extended  trip  through 
the  Far  West. 


Legion  Approves  All 
Of  Nine  New  Pictures 

National  Legion  of  Decency  this 
week  approved  all  of  the  nine  new 
pictures  reviewed  and  classified,  three 
for  general  patronage  and  six  for 
adults.  The  new  films  and  their  classi- 
fication follow : 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for 
General  Patronage :  "Frontier  Pony 
Express,"  "The  Kid  from  Texas," 
"Zenobia."  Class  A-2,  Unobjection- 
able for  Adults :  "First  Offenders," 
"Hotel  Imperial,"  "Inspector  Horn- 
leigh,"  "Lady's  from  Kentucky," 
"Man  of  Conquest,"  "Sweepstake 
Winner." 


WC.  GEHRING,  20th  Century- 
.  Fox  central  division  manager, 
and  J.  P.  O'Loghlin,  Canadian  dis- 
trict head,  leave  tonight  for  Toronto 
in  connection  with  circuit  deals. 
• 

S.  Charles  Einfeld,  Warner  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  head,  leaves 
Friday  for  the  coast,  after  launching 
"Dodge  City,"  "Dark  Victory,"  "Con- 
fessions of  a  Nazi  Spy"  and  "Juarez." 
•  . 

A.  W.  Hackel,  president  of  Su- 
preme   Pictures    of    Hollywood,  and 
Mrs.  Hackel  arrive  today  from  the 
coast  on  the  City  of  Norfolk. 
• 

Pietro  Ricci  has  resigned  as  gen- 
eral manager  of  Amerital  Film  Im- 
porting and  Distributing  Corp.  Ther- 
esa Badalati  is  manager. 

• 

Irving  C.  Jacocks,  Jr.,  of  the  Bran- 
ford  Theatre,  New  Haven,  has  re- 
turned from  a  motor  trip  to  New 
Orleans. 

Bud  Getschal  has  been  given  a 
temporary,  special  assignment  with 
Lou  Lifton's  Monogram  publicity 
staff. 

Sam  Cohen  of  U.  A.'s  publicity  de- 
partment leaves  Sunday  for  the  coast 
in  advance  of  the  company's  conven- 
tion. 

L.  W.  Conrow,  president  of  Altec, 
has  returned  to  New  York  after  a 
two-week  business  trip  in  the  south. 
• 

John  B.  Findlay,  Westerly,  R.  L, 
exhibitor,  has  returned  from  a  Ber- 
muda cruise. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Brandt 
will  return  Friday  from  a  Havana 
vacation. 


'Pacific'  Pressbook  Out 

Paramount  has  just  issued  a  triple- 
barreled  13  x  15-inch  press  portfolio 
on  "Union  Pacific,"  containing  a  32- 
page  promotion  book,  a  12-page  pub- 
licity book  and  an  eight-page  double 
size  advertising  book.  Outstanding 
feature  is  the  tieup  with  20  national 
advertisers  who  are  doing  most  of  the 
promotion  work  themselves,  with  free 
space  to  the  exhibitor  to  be  had  for 
the  asking. 


Name  Henderson  to  SEC 

Leon  Henderson,  nominated  yester- 
day by  President  Roosevelt  to  be  a 
member  of  the  Securities  and  Ex- 
change Commission,  was  known  to  the 
industry  during  the  NRA  days  when 
he  headed  the  division  of  research  and 
planning.  He  is  secretary  of  the  Tem- 
porary National  Economic  Committee, 
which  is  investigating  monopolies. 


Alexander  Film  Moves 

Alexander  Film  Co.  moved  yester- 
day to  630  Ninth  Ave.  Alexander 
Prevue  Co.,  new  trailer  firm,  will  also 
be  established  there. 


Selznick  Office  Moves 

Selznick  International  yesterday 
moved  its  offices  to  Room  3453.  Inter- 
national Building,  Rockefeller  Center. 


Winners  Sail  May  3 

Ray  Bell,  Publicity  head  of  Loew 
theatres  in  Washington,  and  Ted 
Kirkmeyer,  manager  of  the  Marlow, 
Helena,  Mont.,  sail  May  3  on  the 
N ormandie  as  guests  of  M-G-M.  They 
were  awarded  the  trip  for  winning  ex- 
ploitation campaigns  on  "Marie  An- 
toinette." Kirkmeyer  is  alternate  for 
Frank  Weatherford,  Worth  Theatre, 
Ft.  Worth,  who  is  unable  to  make  the 
trip.  Four  winners  in  an  essay  writ- 
ing contest  will  sail  as  guests  of  the 
company  at  the  same  time. 


A.  Schimel  a  Father 

A  daughter,  Jane,  was  born  to  Mrs. 
Adolph  Schimel,  wife  of  the  Univer- 
sal home  office  attorney,  at  Lenox  Hill 
Hospital,  on  Saturday.  Mother  and 
child  are  in  good  health. 


Pathe  Meeting  Today 

Annual  meeting  of  stockholders  of 
Pathe  Film  Corp.  will  be  held  at  the 
company's  offices  today  at  2  P.M. 
Election  of  officers  and  routine  busi- 
ness is  on  the  agenda. 


Altec  Closes  2  Deals 

Neighborhood  Theatres,  Inc.,  of 
Richmond,  with  21  houses,  and  the 
Rome  circuit,  Baltimore,  with  14,  have 
signed  for  Altec  service. 


Latin  America  Will 
Hear  About  'Juarez' 

Warners  will  reach  an  au- 
dience it  particularly  desires 
for  "Juarez"  —  Latin  America 
— through  a  tieup  just  made 
with  CBS.  The  network  will 
broadcast  a  special  one-hour 
program  tonight  to  Latin 
America  from  the  lobby  of 
the  Hollywood  Theatre#^, 
W3XAU  will  carry  the  pro-^lV 
gram. 


Funeral  of  Cocalis 
Will  Be  Held  Today 

Funeral  services  for  Soteros  D.  Co- 
calis, prominent  New  York  exhibitor 
who  died  Saturday  at  the  Mt.  Sinai 
Hospital,  will  be  held  at  2  P.  M.  to- 
day at  Hellenic  Eastern  Orthodox 
Church  of  New  York,  319  East  74th 
St.  Interment  will  be  at  Mt.  Olivet 
Cemetery. 

Offices  of  the  Cocalis  Circuit  will 
be  closed  after  12  noon  today.  The 
Royal,  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  which  was 
the  first  house  Cocalis  acquired,  22 
years  ago,  will  be  closed  during  the_ 
matinee. 


NBC  Consultant  Will 
Be  Speaker  at  Ampa 

Dr.  J.  S.  List,  consulting  psy- 
chologist of  NBC,  will  address  the 
Ampa's  luncheon  meeting  Thursday  at 
the  Astor  on  "The  Psychology  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Advertising."  Dr.  List 
is  national  chairman  for  radio  and 
film  research  for  the  Clergy  League 
of  America  and  holds  other  official 
positions.  A  program  of  entertain- 
ment is  being  arranged. 

The  newly  elected  board  of  gover- 
nors is  formulating  a  program  of  ac- 
tivity for  Ampa  during  the  coming 
year. 


/.  H.  Gallagher  Resigns 

Joseph  H.  Gallagher  resigned  yes- 
terday as  general  manager  of  Asso- 
ciated Publications,  publisher  of  Box- 
office.  He  started  with  the  publication 
eight  years  ago  as  advertising  man- 
ager, a  post  he  held  until  a  year  ago. 
He  will  not  be  replaced  immediately, 
and  his  plans  are  indefinite. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager:  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address.  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


[Tuesday,  April  25.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Mason  ol  Columbia 
Bays  War  Scare  Has 
Hit  Australia  Trade 


I  International  war  scare  has  acutely 
affected  business  in  Australia  for  some 
Lime  past  and  may  continue  as  long  as 
European  tension  persists,  Cecil 
^ason,  Columbia's  Australian  mana- 
said  yesterday.  Mason  arrived  in 
ew  York  over  the  weekend  from  the 
toast  for  his  periodic  visit  to  the  home 
.plHce. 

Mason  said  that  a  spread  of  the  re- 
strictive film  legislation  enacted  by 
New  South  Wales  to  other  Australian 
States  was  feared  generally  in  the 
trade,  although  no  new  measures  had 
ixen  introduced  up  to  the  time  of  his 
departure  and  New  Zealand  recently 
approved  the  creation  of  an  eight-man 
trade  board  of  control  for  the  film 
Industry. 

Mason  plans  to  attend  the  Columbia 
annual  sales  convention  opening  in 
[Atlantic  City  May  8  and  will  spend 
a  month  on  the  coast  before  returning 
,£i>  Australia. 


Studios  Busy  on 
38  New  Pictures 

'   Hollywood,     April     24. — Thirty- 
[  aght  pictures  were  before  the  cam- 
eras this  week,  seven  more  than  last 
week's  total,  as  14  started  and  seven 

•  hushed.  Twenty-six  are  being  pre- 
pared and  66  are  being  edited. 

»  Those    started    were :   "The  Man 
K'rom  Sundown,"  Columbia ;  "Across 
■the  Plains,"   Monogram;   "Ruler  of 
rpie  Seas."  "Disputed  Passage,"  Para- 
mount ;  "Memory  of  Love,"  "Career," 
RKO;  "Daredevils  of  the  Red  Cir- 
fcle,   "Mountain   Rhythm,"   Republic ; 
-  'Charlie  Chan  at  Treasure  Island," 
'The  Rains  Came,"  "The  Grand  Can- 
non,"   20th    Century-Fox;  "Winter 
Carnival,"   Wanger ;   "Dust   Be  My 
Destiny,"  "The  Hobby  Family,"  War- 
tiers. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  are : 
^Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris,  Too,"  "Mr. 
r>Smith  Goes  to  Washington,"  "Golden 
<£oy,"    Columbia ;    "Music  School," 
Coldwyn ;     "On     Borrowed  Time," 
"Maisie  Was  a  Lady,"  "Andy  Hardy 
Gets  Spring  Fever,"  M-G-M ;  "Ger- 
jonimo,"  "Million  Dollar  Legs,"  "The 
(Cat  and  the  Canary,"  "Heaven  on  a 
(Shoestring,"     "The     Star  Maker," 
Paramount ;   "Little   Mother,"  "Five 
Came   Back,"   "The   Dove,"  RKO: 
"  Tidal  Wave,"  Republic  ;  "Gone  with 
lithe  Wind,"  Selznick ;  "The  Man  in 
5tlie    Iron    Mask,"    Small :  "Second 

•  Fiddle,"  "East  Side,  West  Side,"  20th 
«Century-Fox ;  "The  Sun  Never  Sets," 
^"Old  Grad,"  Universal;  "The  Old 
| Maid,"  "Lighthorse  Harry."  Warners. 
J  Finished  were :  "Down  the  Wyom- 
ing Trail,"  Monogram ;  "What  a 
jLife."  "Lawful  Outlaws."  Paramount; 
>  "All  the  Tomorrows."  Republic ; 
'"Young  Mr.  Lincoln."  "It  Could  Hap- 
pen   to    You."    20th    Century-Fox ; 

"Give  Me  a  Child."  Warners. 
'    M-G-M  is  shooting  two  short  sub- 
jects, and  RKO  one.   Five  are  being 
i prepared  and  IS  edited. 

Union  Election  Set 

Stagehands'  Union.  Local  1.  will 
hold  its  annual  election  of  officers  May 
114.  Nominations  close  Saturday. 


'Calling  Dr.  Kildare 


(M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  April  24. — "Calling  Dr.  Kildare,"  second  in  the  series, 
follows  the  entertainment  pattern  of  the  first,  "Young  Dr.  Kildare." 
Sometimes  comic,  as  the  name  character  and  the  testy  old  specialist  who 
loves  but  hazes  his  youthful  protege  squabble,  sometimes  quasi-melo- 
dramatic, and  here  and  there  containing  romantic  love  interest  situations, 
the  picture,  which  is  always  full  of  human  interest,  features  the  regular 
cast  members,  Lew  Ayres,  Lionel  Barrymore,  Nat  Pendleton,  Samuel 
S.  Hinds,  Lynne  Carver,  Emma  Dunn  and  Walter  Kingsford.  The  out- 
standing recruits  are  Laraine  Day,  Lana  Turner  and  Bobs  Watson. 

Relations  between  him  and  Ayres  reach  such  a  stage  that  Barrymore 
has  to  do  something  drastic  about  it.  Fired  as  the  diagnostician's  aide, 
Ayres  is  assigned  to  a  neighborhood  clinic  with  a  nurse,  Miss  Day, 
whose  job  it  is  to  spy  on  him.  Ayres  gets  into  his  first  difficulty  when 
he  treats  a  boy  for  a  bullet  wound  and  fails  to  report  it.  His  troubles 
are  complicated  when  he  becomes  involved  in  a  fiery  romantic  affair 
with  Lana  Turner.  Ayres'  arrest  on  an  accessory-after-the-fact  murder 
charge  is  a  development  Barrymore  had  not  anticipated.  But  even 
though  the  young  doctor  turns  detective  for  a  moment  to  ferret  out  the 
real  killer,  it  takes  all  Barrymore's  "pull"  and  shrewdness  to  get  him 
out  of  the  mess  that  menaces  the  reputation  of  the  medical  institution 
and  to  disillusion  his  pupil  as  to  Miss  Turner. 

While  a  Max  Brand  story  is  used  this  time,  Harry  Ruskin  and  Willis 
Goldbeck  again  are  the  screenplay  writers  and  Harold  S.  Bucquet  re- 
peats the  expert  directing  job  of  "Young  Dr.  Kildare."  which  elevated 
him  to  prominence. 

Running  time,  86  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Easter  Week  Grosses  for 
154  Houses  at  $1,639,300 


Total  of  major  city  theatre  grosses 
for  Easter  Week,  ending  April  13-14, 
aggregated  $1,639,300,  a  gain  of  $356,- 
200  over  the  total  for  Holy  Week, 
ending  April  6-7,  when  $1,283,100 
was  reported,  according  to  Motion 
Pictlre  Daily's  box-office  tabulation. 
The  more   recent  week's  total  was 


accounted  for  by  154  theatres,  while 
the  previous  week's  figure  was  from 
151  houses. 

The  following  tabulation  shows  the 
week-by-week  aggregate  of  first  run 
theatres  in  key  cities  from  Feb.  8-9 
to  April  13-14,  with  the  number  of 
theatres  reporting  each  week. 


No.  Theatres 


Sept.  8-9   138 

Sept.  15-16   137 

Sept.  22-23    138 

Sept.  29-30   137 

Oct.    6-7    137 

Oct.  13-14   138 

Oct.  20-21    138 

Oct.  27-28    140 

Nov.   3-4   142 

Nov.  10-11    141 

Nov.  17-18    143 

Nov.  24-25    141 

Dec.    1-2    142 

Dec.  8-9   140 

Dec.  15-16    134 

Dec.  22-23    139 

Dec.  29-30    150 

Jan.    5-  6,  1939    151 

Jan.  12-13   145 

Jan.  19-20   146 

Jan.  26-27   145 

Feb.    2-3    147 

Feb.    9-10    147 

Feb.  16-17    146 

Feb.  23-24    147 

March    2-3   ,  146 

March    9-10   147 

March  16-17    155 

March  23-24   154 

March  30-31  '   151 

April    6-7   f.   151 

April  13-14   t   154 

(Copyright,  1939,  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 


Gross 

$1,572,099 
1,407,481 
1,382,059 
1,398,438 
1,519,793 
1,429,288 
1,430,924 
1,394,023 
1,353,407 
1,386,939 
1,323,918 
1,283,153 
1,461,730 
1,275,136 
1,159,371 
1,041,911 
1,562,044 
1,829,822 
1,372,400 
1,368,322 
1,345,715 
1,469,400 
1,494,600 
1,393,100 
1,417,700 
1,400,000 
1,352,050 
1,366,800 
1,439,600 
1,322,225 
1,283,100 
1.639,300 


Inc.) 


'Wuthering9 
Big  $16,000 
Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,  April  24. — Outstand- 
ing success  in  an  otherwise  disap- 
pointing week  was  "Wuthering 
Heights"  which  grossed  $16,000  at  the 
Aldine. 

At  the  Fox  the  combination  of 
Chick  Webb  band  and  Ella  Fitzgerald 
on  the  stage  and  "Society  Lawyer"  on 
the  screen,  did  $21,000.  "Alexander 
Graham  Bell"  took  $11,000  at  the 
Boyd. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  21 : 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

ALDINE — (1,300)    (32c-42e-57c)   7'A  days. 
Gross:  $16,000.   (Average,  7  days,  $8,160) 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (25c-42c-S7c)  7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $850.  (Average,  7  days, 
$2,800) 

"Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell"  (20th- 
Fox) 

BOYD—  (2,400)      (32c-42c-S7c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.   (Average,  $14,000) 
"Can't  Cheat  An  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 

EARLE — (2,000)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days,  3rd 
run.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (3,000)   (32c-37c-42c-57c-68c)   7  days 
(6  days  stage);   Stage;  Chick  Webb,  Or- 
chestra,   Ella    Fitzgerald.    Gross:  $21,000. 
(Average,  $14,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

KARL! ON— (1,000)    (26c-42c-57c)   7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,800.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (2,000)    (32c-42c-57c)    7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,400.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

PALACE—  (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,500.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

STANLEY— (3,700)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average,  $14,000) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

STANTON— (1.700)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,800.   (Average,  $7,000) 


'Dodge  City'  Clears 
$9,300,  Providence 

Providence,  April  24. — "Wuther- 
ing Heights,"  dualed  with  "The  Kid 
from  Texas"  at  Loew's  State,  gar- 
nered a  nice  $12,000,  and  the  gross  at 
the  Majestic,  with  "Dodge  City"  and 
"Chasing  Danger,"  was  a  strong 
$9,300.  At  the  other  houses  business 
was  only  fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19-20: 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)    (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $9,300.  (Average,  $7,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"The  Kid  From  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,239)   (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average,  $11,000) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 
"Bulldog   Drummond's  Secret  Police" 
(Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)  (25c-35c-50c)  5  days. 
Gross:  $3,800.  (Seven-day  average,  $6,000) 
"Pirates  of  the  Skies"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)    (25c-35c-40c).  Vaudeville. 
Gross:  $6,500.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE— (2,239)  (25c-35c-50c).  With 
Disney  revue.     Second  week.     Gross:  $4,- 
500.     (Average.  $6,000) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Extended  first -run.  Gross:  $3,200.  (Aver- 
age, $3,500) 


Dismiss  Bank  Night  Suit 

Esther ville,  la.,  April  24. — Suit 
against  the  Central  States  Theatre 
Corp.,  brought  by  Ralph  Rousseau  to 
collect  a  $500  Bank  Night  award,  has 
been  dismissed  here  by  Judge  Fred 
Hudson.  Rousseau's  name  was  called 
for  an  award  but  he  was  too  late  to 
receive  it,  under  the  theatre's  rules. 


WITH 


PAUL  MUN 


in  screen 


oo  plavers,  incl 


BR  T  4 IV  AHFRNF 

CLAUDE  RAINS  •  JOHN  GARFIELD  •  DONALD  CRISP 

Joseph  Calleia  *  Gale  Sondergaard  •  Gilbert  Roland  *  Henry  O'Neill 


Screen  Flay  by  John  Huston,  Aeneas  MacKenzie  and  Wolfgang  Reinhardt  *  Based  on  a  Play  by 
Franz  Werfel  and  the  Novel,  "The  Phantom  Crown,"  by  Bertita  Harding 


Musi 


JACK  L.  WARNER 

In  Charge  of  Production 

HAL  B.  WALLIS  HENRY  W.  BLANKE 

Executive  Producer  Associate  Producer 


Warner  Bros'  World  Premiere 


at  the 


Hollywood  Theatre,  N.Y. 

Twice  Daily  Thereafter  at  $2  Top 


DAVIS  JUAREZ 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


6 


571  Bills  Affecting 
Industry  Have  Been 
Considered  in  1939 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
current  year's  sessions.  The  Colorado 
and  Oklahoma  legislatures  may  ad- 
journ this  week.  Texas,  Pennsylvania, 
Ohio,  Michigan  and  Missouri  are  ex- 
pected to  adjourn  during  May.  Cali- 
fornia, New  Hampshire  and  South 
Carolina  will  probably  adjourn  dur- 
ing June.  The  following  states  have 
no  limit  imposed  on  the  length  of 
their  legislative  sessions :  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Maine,  Massachusetts,  New 
York,  New  Jersey  and  Wisconsin. 
Special  sessions  are  contemplated  in 
Georgia  and  Idaho  and  Alabama, 
which  ended  a  special  session  March 
31,  will  convene  in  regular  session 
July  18. 

Important  Bills  Passed 

Some  of  the  more  important  meas- 
ures which  have  been  enacted  this 
year  to  date  follow : 

Arkansas — Sunday  shows  legalized. 

Kansas — Sales  tokens  eliminated 
(favorable  to  exhibitors). 

Maine — Sunday  shows  from  3  P. 
M.  to  11  P.  M.  authorized. 

Maryland — Sunday  shows  permitted 
in  Wicomico  Co. 

Nebraska — Anti-marathon  measure 
enacted. 

North  Carolina — Sunday  closing 
laws  repealed  for  several  counties. 
Imposition  of  $5  amusement  tax  on 
all  entertainments  with  admissions 
over  25  cents.  Pari-mutuel  betting 
legalized  on  dog  racing  in  two  coun- 
ties. 

North  Dakota — Created  licensing 
authority  to  pass  on  building  new  the- 
atres in  towns  where  one  or  more 
shows  are  operating.  (Constitutional- 
ity questioned.) 

Tennessee — Sunday  shows  may  be 
legalized  by  majority  vote  of  locali- 
ties instead  of  a  four-fifths  vote. 

Vermont — Sundav  shows  authorized 
after  8  P.  M. 


Beverly  Hills  to  See  'Spy' 

Beverly  Hills,  April  24. — Warners' 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  will  be 
shown  for  one  performance  only  at  the 
Beverly  Hills  here  on  Thursday  night. 
The  theatre  will  charge  a  $2  top  for 
the  preview. 


Marshall  Is  Bankrupt 

Everett  Marshall,  actor,  opera  and 
radio  star,  has  filed  a  petition  in 
bankruptcy  in  the  U.  S.  District  Court 
and  listed  $28,318  in  liabilities  and  no 
assets.  $17,783  of  debts  listed,  accord- 
ing to  the  petition,  is  owed  by  Mar- 
shall to  his  wife,  Carolina. 


Leonard  K.  Brin  Dies 

Seattle,  April  24. — Leonard  K. 
Brin,  55,  owner  of  the  Mission  in 
Mount  Vernon,  was  struck  by  a  car 
here  Friday  night  and  died  shortly 
afterward.  He  is  survived  by  a  wi- 
dow, son  and  daughter. 


'Challenge9  Here  May  6 

"The  Challenge"  (Film  Alliance) 
which  had  its  American  premiere  Fri- 
dav  at  the  Translux,  Boston,  will  be 
held  over  for  a  second  week  there.  It 
will  open  in  New  York  at  the  Globe 
May  6. 


Paine  Is  Upheld  in 
$170,000  Erpi  Claim 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

publishers  could  have  effectively  pre- 
vented recording  of  the  compositions 
in  the  United  States,  and  that  the 
"suggestion  that  the  defendant,  as  to 
these  recordings,  was  to  have  a  free 
gift  of  property  rights  of  great  value, 
is  simply  repellant  to  the  ideas  upon 
which  business  is  transacted." 

Licensing  Held  Valuable 

Moreover,  Judge  Knox  stated,  the 
licensing  of  compositions,  although  no 
foreign  copyright  was  held  by  the 
plaintiff,  was  of  value  to  Erpi. 

"The  foreign  agreement  effectively 
foreclosed  the  plaintiff  from  raising 
any  question  as  to  the  defendant's 
right  to  use  the  compositions  in  for- 
eign lands,"  Judge  Knox  held.  "Had 
it  not  been  for  the  agreement,  defend- 
ant would  have  been  put  to  the  neces- 
sity of  determining  the  exact  copy- 
right status  of  a  multitude  of  musical 
compositions  which  it  wished  promptly 
to  use  and  the  use  of  which,  in  the 
absence  of  agreement,  might  possibly 
subject  it  to  consequences  of  a  serious 
nature,"  the  court  said. 

Erpi  Wins  Point 

As  for  compositions  used  in  films 
exported  before  1929,  Judge  Knox  sus- 
tained Erpi  and  ruled  that  it  would 
not  be  compelled  to  pay  at  a  higher 
rate  than  provided  in  the  1929  agree- 
ment. Judge  Knox  overruled  a  claim 
of  the  plaintiff  that  Erpi  was  to  pay 
100  per  cent  royalties  for  pictures  ex- 
hibited in  more  than  one  foreign  coun- 
try, rather  than  a  reduced  percentage 
provided  for  exhibition  in  a  single 
country.  Exact  amount  due  to  Paine 
under  the  agreements  for  royalties  will 
be  determined  under  the  decision  in  an 
accounting  hearing  to  be  held  later. 

Trial  of  the  suit  took  place  in  June 
of  last  year.  Columbia,  M-G-M,  20th 
Century-Fox,  United  Artists  and  Uni- 
versal had  intervened  in  the  suit  as  de- 
fendants. 


Night  Ball  Competes 

Seattle,  April  24. — Night  base- 
ball has  begun  here  and  is  already 
making  an  impression  on  theatre  box- 
offices.  Attendance  totals  from  5,000 
to  10,000  nightly  at  the  ball  games, 
with  the  Seattle  team  in  second  place 
in  the  Pacific  Coast  League  standings. 
All  games  are  broadcast  this  season 
over  KJR. 


Rites  for  Block  Today 

Funeral  services  were  held  yester- 
day for  Arthur  Block,  co-producer 
of  "The  Cantor's  Son"  and  treasurer 
of  the  Windsor  Theatre  in  Manhat- 
tan. He  died  Sunday  morning.  A 
brother,  Jesse  Block,  of  the  comedy 
team,  Block  and  Sully,  is  among  the 
survivors. 


Montreal  Theatre  Robbed 

Montreal,  April  24.— While  1,500 
persons  watched  "The  Lady  Vanishes" 
at  the  Imperial  last  night  two  bandits 
beat  Howard  Knevels,  manager,  in  his 
office  and  forced  him  to  open  the  safe 
from  which  they  stole  $1,200. 


RKO  Signs  Massey 

Raymond  Massey  has  been  signed 
by  RKO  to  star  in  the  film  version 
of  "Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois,"  in  which 
he  is  now  playing  on  Broadway. 


Her  Prayer  Answered 

Paducah,  April  24. — "I  got 
what  I  wanted,"  said  Barbara 
Williams,  23,  and  blonde, 
when  a  jury  here  sentenced 
her  to  10  years  for  attempted 
holdup  of  two  women  in  a 
theatre  lounge  with  a  toy 
pistol. 


Industry  to  Protest 
Wis.  Footage  Tax  Bill 

Milwaukee,  April  24. — Exhibitors 
and  exchange  men  will  present  an  or- 
ganized protest  against  the  state  as- 
sembly bill  to  place  a  tax  of  $2.50 
per  1,000  feet  on  film  sold  or  leased 
for  public  exhibition  in  Wisconsin. 

This  bill  would  become  effective 
July  1,  and  the  proceeds  used  for  old- 
age  assistance.  Distributors  would  be 
required  to  make  quarterly  reports 
to  the  secretary  of  state  as  to  the  num- 
ber of  feet  of  film  sold  and  include 
their  tax  payments  with  this  report. 

Violators  would  be  subject  to  fines 
ranging  from  $100  to  $1,000  and  from 
one  to  six  months'  imprisonment. 

Mooresville  Houses 
Closed  by  Smallpox 

Mooresville,  Ind.,  April  24. — 
Churches  and  theatres  have  been 
closed,  and  all  public  gatherings 
banned  by  Dr.  C.  H.  White,  county 
health  officer,  who  has  placed  the  en- 
tire population  of  2,000  under  quar- 
antine because  of  a  smallpox  epidemic. 

Meriden  Ban  Stays 

Meriden,  Conn.,  April  24. — The 
theatre  quarantine  for  children  under 
15  years  of  age,  resulting  from  the 
scarlet  fever  epidemic,  has  been  ex- 
tended indefinitely. 


Sell  Peter  Clark  Name 

Peter  Clark,  Inc.,  designers  and 
manufacturers  of  theatre  stage  equip- 
ment, who  installed  the  equipment  in 
the  Music  Hall  and  other  houses,  has 
sold  its  name,  goodwill  and  patents 
to  the  Lamson  Co.,  in  order  to  per- 
mit the  estate  of  Peter  Clark  to  retire 
from  active  management  of  the  com- 
pany. A  new  company  has  been 
formed  to  carry  on  the  business. 


New  Protest  on  'BelV 

Toronto,  April  23. — The  Business 
Men's  Association  of  Peterborough 
has  joined  in  the  protest  of  Brant- 
ford  against  the  showing  of  "The 
Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell"  un- 
less it  gives  credit  to  the  latter  town 
as  the  birthplace  of  the  telephone. 


Reject  Sunday  Pictures 

Humboldt,  Tenn.,  April  20. — Local 
City  Council  has  voted  down  the  pro- 
posal for  Sunday  films  in  this  town. 
The  action  was  taken  on  a  citizens' 
petition  to  permit  the  showings,  which 
met  opposition  from  the  Humboldt 
Pastors'  Association. 


Burns  Lee  Returns 

Burns  Lee,  who  left  the  New  York 
office  of  Benton  and  Bowles  last  year 
to  assist  in  production  of  the  M-G-M 
and  Jack  Haley  radio  programs  in 
Hollywood,  has  returned  to  New 
York  and  will  remain  here  perma- 
nently. He  will  take  charge  of  radio 
publicity. 


Tuesday,  April  25,  I93< 


Mexico  to  Aid  U.S. 
Films,  Says  Rueda 
Here  for  4Juarez? 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
in  the  Spanish  language  have  mea- 
ured  up  to  high  standards,  he  dt 
clared.  Two  or  three  Spanish  filn 
made  in  Germany  have  been  of  ja 
perior  grade,  he  said. 

As  head  of  the  Government  infor- 
mation service,  Rueda  has  producec 
about  25  short-length  cultural  an<i 
documentary  films  in  the  last  two 
years.  They  deal  with  the  work  of 
state  departments  and  social  service 
and  are  intended  to  "sell"  Mexico  at 
home  and  abroad.  Films  to  promote 
tourist  travel  are  also  made.  Some  of 
in  English  and  French  versions  for 
world  release. 

The  Mexican  Government  requires 
the  showing  of  a  film  of  cultural  or 
educational  nature  at  each  perform- 
ance. American  films  of  this  type  are 
well  received. 

Prida's  theatre  is  the  Warner  first 
run  outlet  in  Mexico  City.  Prida  said 
that  French  films  are  popular  in 
Mexico  City  and  that  his  theatre- 
shows  about  20  a  year.  German  films 
are  not  popular. 

Rueda  praised  Warners  for  the  pro- 
duction of  "Juarez,"  and  said  the  idea 
is  "magnificent."  The  interest  the 
film  will  create  "will  perhaps  be  trans- 
lated in  a  desire  on  the  part  of  the 
Mexican  producers  to  make  picture 
dealing  with  American  historical 
characters,"  he  declared. 

These  representatives  will  be  joined 
at  the  premiere  tonight  by  officials  of 
the  Mexican  embassy  in  Washington, 
as  well  as  diplomatic  representatives 
of  many  other  Latin  American  na- 
tions and  New  York  social  leaders. 
Josephus  Daniels,  United  States  am- 
bassador to  Mexico,  and  the  Turkish 
ambassador  are  scheduled  to  attend. 


Brings  Grey's  New  Book 

Stephen  Slesinger,  publisher's  rep- 
resentative, leaves  the  coast  today  for 
New  York  with  Zane  Grey's  new 
manuscript  based  on  the  life  of  George 
Washington.  The  manuscript  had  been 
sent  from  Australia  where  Grey  has 
been  on  a  fishing  expedition.  His  son, 
Romer  Grey,  conferred  with  Slesinger 
on  the  coast  regarding  publication  and 
submission  to  film  companies. 


To  Interview  Rooney 

Oscar  A.  Doob,  Loew  circuit  pub- 
licity head,  and  Howard  Strickling  of 
the  M-G-M  studio  have  arranged  for 
Mickey  Rooney  to  be  interviewed  by 
telephone  from  the  studio  by  high 
school  reporters  in  Cleveland,  Spring- 
field, Bridgeport,  Hartford,  Washing- 
ton and  Kansas  City. 


Back  Rogers  Drive 

Cleveland,  April  24. — Will  Rogers 
Hospital  Memorial  Drive  has  practic- 
ally 100  per  cent  support  of  northern 
Ohio  theatre  owners,  Frank  Drew, 
chairman,  reports. 


Circularizing  Begins 

Members  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Bookkeepers,  Stenographers  & 
Accountants  Union,  Local  20940,  start- 
ed to  circularize  all  office  employes  of 
home  offices  and  exchanges  yesterday 
in  preparation  for  a  meeting  at  the 
Manhattan  Center  Friday  evening. 


i 


esday,  April  25,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wuthering' 
Hits  $16,400 
For  Chicago 


Chicago,  April  24. — Intense  rain 
M  cold  couldn't  keep  "Wuthering 
lE^lus"  from  scoring  a  good  $16,- 
ipo  at  the  United  Artists,  nor  did  it 
beim  to  hurt  "Dodge  City"  in  its  sec- 
npd  week  at  the  Chicago,  where  the 
pi  ture  grossed  a  strong  $34,600.  Busi- 
I  (e^s  elsewhere  in  the  Loop  was  fair, 
Including  the  Palace,  where  "The 
titory  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
ffcok  $18,200. 

The  weather  -  was  bad  the  entire 
peek  and  hurt  business  generally. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
iig  April  19-22 : 

'Grand  Illusion"  (World) 

i  APOLLO—  (1.400)  (35c-55c-75c) 
liil  week.  Gross:  $6,400.  (Average 

Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

i  HICAGO—  (4,000)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Md  week.  Stage:  Orrin  Tucker  &  Band. 
■Cross:  $34,600.   (Average.  $32,000) 

Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.A-) 
!i  '  ;ARRICK— (900)     (35c-40c-65c)    7  days, 
fail  week.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $6,500) 

Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 
I  iRIENTAL — (3,400)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
tt.ge:    Vaudeville    Revue.    Gross:  $13,200. 
^Average.  $13,000) 

'The    Story    of    Vernon    &    Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

J  PALACE — (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days, 
i(n  I  week.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
5lNjOO.  (Average,  $19,000) 
•Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

ROOSEVELT—  (1.300)      (35c-55c-75c)  7 
lavs.  Gross:  $10,300.   (Average,  $11,000) 
-St.  Louis  Blues"  (Para.) 

STATE-LAKE— (2.700)     (25c-35c-40c)  7 
I:  r&  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross:  $13,- 
t0".   (Average.  $12,000) 
•Wuthering  Heights"   (U.  A.) 

WITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-S5c-75c) 
I  lays.  Gross:  $16,400.  (Average,  $15,000) 


7  days, 
$6,500) 


'Castles'  Leads  in 
New  Haven  at  $9,000 

New  Haven,  April  24. — Loew-Poli. 
with  "The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
( Castle"  and  "Twelve  Crowded 
Hours,"  took  $9,000. 
j  The  College  did  $3,700  with  "Hound 
ipf  the  Baskervilles"  and  "Inside 
,Story."  "Dodge  City"  and  "Women 
i  n  the  Wind."  completing  the  second 
-Malf  of  a  14^4-day  run  at  the  Roger 
;Sherman.  took  $4,700. 
(  Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  21 : 

'The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 
'Inside  Story"  (20th-Fox) 

\  COLLEGE— (1.499)     (25c-35c)     7  days. 
(Gross:  $3,700.  (Average,  $2,700) 
'The  Story  of   Vernon   and   Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

-.  LOEW-POLI— (3.040)  (35c-50c)  7  days. 
, Gross:  $9,000.  (Average.  $8,000) 

"Three   Smart   Girls   Grow   Up"  (Univ.) 

"Last  Warning"  (Univ.) 
I    PARAMOUNT— (2.348)    (35c -50c)   6  davs. 

2r..l  week.  Gross:  $3,000.   (Average,  $4,000) 

"Dodge  City"   (W.  B.) 

"Women  in  the  Wind"   (W.  B.) 
I    ROGER   SHERMAN' — (2.200)    (35c-50c)  7 
id:  vs.  2nd   week.   Gross:   $4,700.  (Average. 


Chicago  Salesman  Dies 

Chicago.  April  24. — Stephen  Mont- 
gomery, 55.  veteran  exhibitor  and  film 
salesman,  died  suddenly  Friday  after- 
inoon  in  the  Capitol  Film  offices. 


Preview  Fair  Picture 

■  New  York  World's  Fair  picture  for 
Macfadden  Publications.  "I'll  Tell  the 

'World."  produced  by  Herbert  Crook- 
er,  will  be  previewed  at  the  Fair 
grounds  tomorrow. 


New  York  Reviews 


"Street  of  Missing  Men' 


(Republic) 

Combining  the  elements  of  a  gangster  story  with  a  newspaper  yarn, 
"Street  of  Missing  Men"  is  a  good  program  melodrama  which  should 
hold  audience  interest  throughout.  With  public  attention  focused  on 
municipal  clean  up  campaigns,  it  should  be  easy  to  sell  at  the  box-office. 
This  is  a  story  of  a  convicted  racketeer  who  returns  after  a  jail  term 
to  seek  vengeance. 

The  plot  concerns  itself  only  with  the  melodramatic  theme — there  is 
no  romantic  slant  to  divert  the  attention  or  relieve  the  genuine  tenseness 
which  is  created  by  the  unrelenting  hatred  of  Charles  Bickford,  as  the 
racket  king  who  returns  after  a  five-year  term  at  Alcatraz.  He  visits 
Harry  Carey,  whose  editorials  resulted  in  the  conviction,  but  when 
Carey  refuses'  to  squirm  Bickford  decides  to  kill  the  editor  by  destroying 
his  newspaper  from  the  inside. 

He  becomes  circulation  manager,  supposedly  to  prevent  raids  by  a 
gang  led  by  Ralph  Graves,  but  actually  he  makes  a  secret  alliance  with 
the  gang.  Young  Tommy  Ryan,  as  one  of  the  newsboys,  succeeds  in 
effecting  Bickford's  reform. 

Tommy  gives  an  appealing  performance.  Guinn  Williams  provides 
some  comedy.  Armand  Schaefer  produced  and  Sidney  Salkow  directed. 
Frank  Dolan  and  Leonard  Lee  wrote  the  screenplay  from  an  original 
story  idea  by  Eleanor  Griffin  and  William  Rankin. 

Running:  time.  65  minutes.    "G."*  Ed  Greif 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


"Heroes  of  the  Marne" 

( Variety  Films) 

An  obvious  story  and  a  number  of  stolid  performances  by  some  of 
the  players  fail  to  shadow  the  excellency  of  "Heroes  of  the  Marne," 
chiefly  because  of  the  superb  acting  of  the  star,  Raimu,  and  a  camera- 
man, not  identified,  who  in  innumerable  farm  scenes  achieves  effects 
that  seem  to  have  been  placed  upon  the  screen  by  brush  and  palette. 

A  story  of  the  World  War.  stocked  with  explosive  scenes,  it  is  ironic 
that  the  film  should  derive  its  chief  merit  from  its  rural  background. 
The  battle  scenes,  compared  to  Hollywood  standards,  lack  realism,  but 
when  the  camera  settles  upon  the  picturesque  French  farm  terrain,  and 
records  the  frugal,  dawn-to-dusk  labors  of  the  French  peasants,  the  film 
reaches  a  height  of  beauty  and  art. 

As  is  inevitable  in  French  pictures,  the  story  deals  with  an  illicit 
romance  which  results  in  the  birth  of  an  illegitimate  child.  The  young 
people  are  prevented  from  marrying  by  the  enmity  of  their  families, 
farmland  neighbors,  and  by  the  World  War,  when  the  young  man  is 
called  to  the  colors.  The  girl  becomes  a  heroine  when  she  brings  valu- 
able military  secrets  to  the  French  army,  and  the  young  man  becomes  a 
French  war  ace  and  is  killed  at  teh  eve  of  the  Armistice.  The  boy's 
father.  Raimu,  blinded  in  the  war,  finally  realizes  his  error,  and  the 
story  ends  on  a  happy  note  when  one  of  his  other  sons  marries  the  girl. 

Running  time,  85  minutes.  "A."*  Jack  Banner 

*"A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


'Stagecoach'  at 

.100  for  Omaha 


Omaha,  April  24.  ■ —  "Stagecoach" 
was  strong  here  with  a  $9,100  gross 
at  the  Omaha.  The  picture  was  dualed 
with  "Pardon  Our  Nerve." 

The  dual  at  the  Orpheum,  "Wife, 
Husband  and  Friend"  and  "Topper 
Takes  a  Trip."  pulled  $9,000.  "The 
Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
held  up  well  in  its  second  week  at  the 
Brandeis,  with  $4,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19-20: 

"The  Stcry  cf  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 
"Pardon  Our  Nerve"  (20th-Fox) 

OMAHA— (2.200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9  100.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Wife.  Husband  and  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 
"TcDper  Takes  a  Trip"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (5,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $7,600) 

owner  of  two  motion  picture  theatres. 


Woman  Operator  Slain 

Dallas,  April  24.— Dr.  L.  J.  Mon- 
tague, noted  Texas  surgeon,  has  been 
charged  with  the  murder  of  his  wife, 


'Oklahoma'  Is 
$12,300  Lead 
In  Twin  Cities 


Minneapolis,  April  24. — Combina- 
tion of  "The  Oklahoma  Kid"  and 
"Mikado  in  Swing"  led  the  field  with 
a  gross  of  $12,300  at  the  Orpheum. 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  did  a 
splendid  $8,200  at  the  Century. 

In  St.  Paul,  the  best  grosser  was 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter,"  which 
took  $5,000  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  20 : 

"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 
"Beauty  for  the  Asking"  (RKO) 

ASTER—  (900)  (15c-25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,400.   (Average.  $1,500) 

"Three   Smart   Girls   Grow   Up"  (Univ.) 


days. 


days. 


days 
stage. 


CENTURY— (1,600)  (25c-40c) 
Gross:  $8,200.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

GOPHER  —  (990)      (25c)  7 
$2,400.   (Average,  $2,500) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"   (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,900)     (35c-55c)  7 
with    "Mikado    in    Swing"    on  the 
Gross:  $12,300.  (Average,  $4,800) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (2,300)   (25c-40c)  6  days.  Gross: 
$4,100.    (Average,  $4,400) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD — (4P0)  (25c-55c)  7  days,  7th  week. 
Gross:  $1,200.   (Average,  $1,400) 

ST.  PAUL: 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"   (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $3,200) 
"Broadway   Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)  (25c-40c) 
Gross:  $3,300.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Fast  and  Loose"  (M-G-M) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)    (25c)   7   days.  Gross: 
$2,500.  (Average,  $1,800) 
"Pirates  of  the  Skies"  (Univ.) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 
"Boy   Trouble"  (Para.) 
"Whispering  Enemies"  (Col.) 

TOWER— (1,000)    (25c).    Dual   bills  split 
week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-3Sc)  5  days,  4th 
week.  Gross:  $300.  (Average,  $700) 


days. 


Bank  Night  Raid  on 
Two  Wis.  Theatres 

Milwaukee,  April  24. — The  Rivoli 
and  Hollywood  theatres  at  La  Crosse 
were  objects  of  Bank  Night  raids  over 
the  weekend.  The  raids  were  made  on 
complaint  of  Judge  Robert  S.  Cowie, 
who  charged,  as  a  citizen,  that  Bank 
Night  constitutes  a  public  nuisance. 
The  Rivoli  continued  Bank  Night  de- 
spite proceedings  but  the  equipment 
at  the  Hollywood  was  confiscated. 
Both  theatre  companies  have  ap- 
pealed a  decision  denying  demurers 
to  Cowie  to  the  State  Supreme  Court. 


theatre  — 
regardless  of  size 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


8 

NBC  Gives  Telecast 
For  AP  Convention 

Members  of  the  Associated  Press, 
now  gathered  in  New  York  for  the 
annual  business  meeting,  yesterday 
witnessed  a  television  program  espe- 
cially presented  in  their  behalf  by 
NBC.  The  program  was  televised  in 
the  film  and  live  talent  studios  in 
Radio  City  and  was  received  both  in 
the  offices  of  the  Associated  Press 
building  and  the  Waldorf  Astoria, 
where  the  AP  convention  is  being 
held. 

Operations  of  the  AP  were  shown. 
A  story  was  followed  as  it  came  from 
the  AP  wires  from  Europe,  how  it  is 
handled  at  the  various  desks  in  the 
city  room  of  the  press  association,  and 
to  the  teletype  machines  that  dispatch 
it  to  papers  throughout  the  country. 
Program  also  included  the  sending  of 
a  wire  photo. 

De  Witt  McKeuzie,  AP  expert  on 
foreign  affairs,  gave  a  running  com- 
mentary on  motion  pictures  extracted 
from  newsreels,  depicting  the  back- 
ground of  current  European  events. 

Radio  Liquor  Ad  Ban 
Favored  by  Senators 

Washington,  April  24. — The  Sen- 
ate Committee  on  Interstate  Commerce 
has  ordered  a  favorable  report  on  the 
Johnson  bill  to  ban  beer  and  liquor 
advertising  on  the  air. 

Previously,  a  three-man  subcommit- 
tee made  up  of  Senators  Johnson,  An- 
drews and  Gurney  had  reported  fa- 
vorablv  on  the  bill  over  the  protests 
of  the  N.  A.  S.,  the  A.  F.  of  L.  and 
others.  These  organizations  contended 
enactment  of  the  bill  would  constitute 
an  extremely  dangerous  precedent. 

A  decline  in  the  amount  of  hard 
liquor  advertising  is  indicated  for  this 
year  by  returns  to  an  N.  A.  B.  ques- 
tionnaire. 

The  N.  A.  B.  believes  the  matter  is 
one  which  the  broadcasters  themselves 
can  handle  and  that  passage  of  the 
bill  might  give  the  legislators  an  ex- 
cuse for  intervention  in  later  and  more 
threatening  radio  problems. 


ANPA  on  Mutual 

Mutual  tonight  will  air  a  special 
broadcast  of  interviews  with  editors 
and  publishers,  here  for  the  A.N. P. A. 
convention.  Program  will  be  handled 
by  Dave  Driscoll,  and  the  speakers 
will  include  J.  V.  Connolly,  general 
manager  of  Hearst  newspapers ;  Eu- 
gene Mayer  of  the  Washington  Post, 
F.  E.  Murphy,  publisher  of  the  Minne- 
apolis Tribune;  E.  P.  Hoyt,  Portland 
Orcgonian;  Bob  Wolfe,  Columbus 
Dispatch,  and  James  North  of  the 
Fort  Worth  Star-Telegram. 


Lux  Gets  Leslie  Howard 

Leslie  Howard  has  been  engaged  by 
Lux  "Radio  Theatre"  to  produce  the 
programs  in  the  temporary  absence  of 
Cecil  B.  DeMille,  who  has  left  to 
program  the  tour  with  his  new  picture, 
'Union  Pacific."  Howard's  program 
duties  are  to  start  May  1. 


Ford  Hour  from  Fair 

Broadcasts  of  the  Ford  "Sunday 
Evening  Hour,"  usually  heard  over 
CBS  from  Detroit,  will  come  from  the 
Ford  exhibit  building  on  the  World's 
Fair  grounds,  following  the  Fair's 
opening. 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

CHARLES  E.  GREEN,  president 
of  Consolidated  Radio  Artists, 
to  Chicago  for  a  one-week  busi- 
ness stay.  .  .  .  William  T.  Welch, 
president  of  WSAR,  Boston,  and 
Mrs.  Welch,  return  today  from  a 
South  American  cruise.  .  .  .  Bret  Mor- 
rison celebrates  a  birthday  May  5.  .  .  . 
Joe  Pierson  of  the  Chicago  office  of 
Press  Wireless  Association,  is  in  New 
York.  .  .  .  W.  E.  MacFarlane  and  E. 
M.  Antrim,  Mutual  network  officials 
of  Chicago,  will  come  to  New  York 
late  this  week  for  conferences  at  the 
home  office  here.  .  .  .  Charles  Rinker 
has  joined  Leo  Feist,  Inc.,  where  he 
will  be  in  charge  of  radio  exploitation. 
+ 

Columbus  Dispatch  to 
Test  Facsimile  Paper 

Columbus,  April  24.  —  Columbus 
Dispatch  shortly  will  inaugurate  a 
"newspaper  of  the  air,"  when  it  be- 
gins issuing  a  radio  edition,  a  com- 
plete paper  of  the  usual  number  of 
pages,  8J/2  by  12,  to  be  transmitted  by 
facsimile  through  the  facilities  of 
WBNS,  Columbia  affiliate. 

Facsimile  receiving  sets  are  being 
installed  in  14  strategic  business  loca- 
tions in  scattered  sections  of  the  city, 
including  two  banks  and  the  lobby  of 
the  Dispatch  building,  where  the  pub- 
lic will  be  invited  to  witness  the  re- 
ceiving operations. 

Thompson  Rites  Held 

L.  Gordon  Thompson,  who  died  on 
the  west  coast  last  week,  was  buried 
yesterday  from  his  home  at  Old 
Greenwich,  Conn.  Thompson  was 
producer  of  the  Rudy  Vallee  program. 
J.  Walter  Thompson  officials  who  at- 
tended the  funeral  included  Stanley 
Resor,  president ;  John  Reber  and 
Sam  Meek,  vice-presidents ;  A.  K. 
Spencer,  assistant  to  Reber ;  Cal 
Swanson,  Lux  accountant  executive ; 
Robert  Simon,  music  editor ;  Linnea 
Nelson,  time  buyer ;  William  Day, 
head  of  production,  and  Tom  Lucken- 
bill  of  the  radio  department. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washngton,  April.  24. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  made 
public  its  schedule  of  hearings  on 
broadcast  matters  for  the  current 
week,  as  follows : 

April  25 :  Applications  of  Enrique 
Abarca  Sanfeliz  and  United  Theatres, 
Inc.,  for  a  new  580-kilocycle,  1,000- 
watt  station  at  San  Juan,  P.  R. 

AprH  26:  Application  of  KSAM, 
Hunts  vi  lie,  Tex.,  for  increase  of 
power  from  100  to  250  watts. 

April  27:  Application  of  KTBS, 
Shreveport,  La.,  for  change  of  fre- 
quency from  1,450  to  620  kilocycles 
and  increase  of  day  power  from  1,000 
to  5,000  watts. 

April  28:  Applications  of  Coastal 
Broadcasting  Co.  for  a  1,500-kilocycle 
station  at  Brunswick,  Ga.,  with  100 
watts  night,  250  watts  day,  and  WOC, 
Davenport.  Ia.,  for  change  of  frequen- 
cy from  1,370  to  1,390  kilocycles  and 
increase  of  power  from  100  watts 
night,  250  watts  day,  to  1,000  watts.. 


British  Government 
May  Control  Radio 

London,  April  24.— A  meas- 
ure of  Government  control 
over  non-entertainment  pro- 
grams, especially  news  bulle- 
tins broadcast  by  British 
Broadcasting  Corp.  is  fore- 
shadowed, although  unofficial 
reports  to  that  effect  have 
been  denied  officially. 

The  Daily  Mail  reports  that 
such  control  will  become  ef- 
fective on  June  7.  The  Gov- 
ernment charter  granted  to 
BBC  permit  control  in  cases 
of  emergency. 

CBS  Deal  to  Buy 
World  Collapses 

Proposed  purchase  of  the  World 
Broadcasting  System  by  CBS,  insti- 
tuted some  months  ago,  has  fallen 
through,  primarily  because  CBS  was 
unable  to  come  to  terms  with  Erpi 
on  sound  recording  licenses. 

With  the  collapse  of  the  negotia- 
tions, CBS  has  announced  that  it  will 
enter  the  electrical  transcription  busi- 
ness through  the  American  Record 
Corp.,  recently  acquired. 

CBS  is  planning  immediate  instal- 
lation of  studio  and  recording  and 
processing  equipment  at  the  American 
Record  Corp.  headquarters  and  will 
add  to  the  recording  of  Columbia, 
Brunswick  and  Vocalion  records,  a 
complete  transcription  and  general 
recording  service.  Announcement  of 
plans  and  policies  of  the  extended 
American  Record  Corp.  will  be  made 
shortly. 

Clearance  Action  In 
Cleveland  Is  Settled 

Cleveland,  April  24. — An  amicable 
settlement  of  the  injunction  action 
brought  by  Paul  Gusdanovic,  operat- 
ing the  La  Salle  Theatre,  to  restrain 
Fox  Vitagraph  from  serving  the  new- 
ly opened  Shore  Theatre  with  either 
prior  or  day  and  date  runs  on  the 
ground  of  contract  violation  was  ef- 
fected today  in  the  office  of  Common 
Pleas  Judge  Lee  E.  Skeel. 

Price  adjustment  for  La  Salle  with 
a  guarantee  of  day  and  date  availabil- 
ity to  both  La  Salle  and  Shore  was 
involved  in  the  settlement. 

Milwaukee  Council 
Again  Bars  Clock  Bill 

Milwaukee,  April  24. — The  com- 
mon council  judiciary  committee 
which  has  been  considering  the  Ka- 
lupa  proposal  to  compel  exhibitors  to 
install  illuminated  clocks  in  their 
auditoriums,  has  again  tabled  the 
measure. 

At  the  most  recent  hearing  on  the 
proposal,  several  aldermen  appeared 
with  exhibitor  representatives  in  op- 
position to  the  measure.  Alderman 
Kalupa  contended  that  clocks  would 
warn  children  of  the  time  to  go  home. 


Republic  Buys  Story 

Hollywood,  April  24. — Republic  has 
purchased  an  original,  "Abraham  Lin- 
coln Boggs,"  contemporary  story  of  a 
small  town  lawyer,  and  signed  Ed- 
ward Ellis  for  the  title  role.  The 
picture  will  have  a  minimum  budget 
of  $400,000,  according  to  the  studio. 


Tuesday,  April  25, 


Ontario  Group  Plai 
Study  of  Clearain 


Toronto,  April  24. — A  study  of  J 
clearance  situati6n  in  Canada  is  to 
taken  up  by  the  Independent  Theat 
Association  of  Ontario  with  a  view' 
obtaining  reforms,  according  to  N  • 
Taylor,  vice-president  of  the  assoc. 
tion  and  director  of  20th  Century^jt  j 
atres.  H 

"A  campaign  for  such  reforms' 
in  order,"   Taylor  said.      "I  sho 
like  to  see  clearance  as  we  now  h;'. 
it  either  abolished  or  moderated 
that  it  bears  some  semblance  to 
purpose  for  which  it  was  conceive 

Taylor  declared  he  was  just 
much  concerned  with  unfair  prioi. 
practices  as  he  was  with  excess 
protection,  saying  that  some  theat 
enjoyed  rights  over  others  wh 
were  located  so  far  apart  that  th 
was  no  basis  for  competitive  consid 
ation.  The  decision  of  the  associat 
as  a  whole  would  govern  the  nati 
of  the  campaign  for  clearance  revisi 

Pa.  Bank  Night  Ro\ 
Goes  to  High  Cou 

Meadville,  Pa.,  April  24. — Det 
mined  to  "settle  once  and  for  i 
whether  Bank  Night  is  a  lottery,  L, 
trict  Attorney  James  A.  Mook  I 
appealed  to  the  state  supreme  cour 
recent  county  court  decision  grant 
a  permanent  injunction  against  int, 
ference  with  the  game  at  the  P; 
Theatre  here. 

Park  Theatre  Corp.  has  obtained  j 
injunction  to  prevent  Mook,  all  1 
officers  and  the  owner  of  a  rival  t  j 
atre  from  seizing  its  records  and  Bs] 
Night  equipment  or  arresting  its  e 
ployes.  Mook  said  the  question  1 1 
never  been  carried  to  the  state's  aprl 
late  court. 


Waterbury  Giveaway  Starts 

Waterbury,  Conn.,  April  24 
Loew's  will  inaugurate  "Hollywc 
Party  with  a  $100  giveaway  in 
prizes  at  the  Loew-Poli  on  Thursc 
night  as  a  regular  weekly  featv 
The  Lido  Theatre  management  \ 
recently  hailed  into  City  Court  on 
score  that  "Hollywood  Party"  was! 
lottery,  but  was  later  discharged  j 
the  game  cleared. 


Orders  Examination 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Alf 
Frankenthaler  has  ordered  Irving  B 
lin,  Inc.,  to  appear  for  examinat 
before  trial  in  the  $250,000  damage  s 
of  Modest  Altschuler  against  W 
Disnev  Productions,  Ltd.,  Walt  E 
ney  Enterprises,  Inc..  RKO  Ra 
Pictures,  Inc.,  Irving  Berlin,  Inc.,  J, 
Frank  Churchill.  Suit  charges  pla 
arism  of  plaintiff's  "Russian  Soldii 
Song"  bv  "Whistle  While  You  Wor 
a  song  in  "Snow  White  and  the  Sei 
Dwarfs." 


Lourau  Quiz  Ordered 

Georges  Lourau,  president  of  Fil 
Sonores  Tobis,  Societe  Anonyi 
plaintiff  in  a  suit  against  Char 
Chaplin.  Charles  Chaplin  Film  Co 
and  United  Artists  Corp.,  was  ordc 
to  appear  for  examination  before  ti 
on  June  9  bv  Federal  Judge  Alfred 
Coxe.  Plaintiff  seeks  an  injuncti 
accounting  and  damages,  chargi 
plagiarism  of  the  film  "A  Nous 
Liberte,"  in  "Modern  Times." 


Alert. 

;o  the^ktion 
°icture 
ndustry 


DO  NOl 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


f?  f.m< 
First  in 


45.  NO.  80 


NEW  YORK.  WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  26,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


nternational 
*Iay  Ban  Coast 
Hours  Parleys 

ocals  Not  Empowered  to 
Negotiate,  View  Here 

b  ast  meetings  to  negotiate  new 
Lge  and  hour  contracts  between 
i»dio  locals  and  producing  companies 
ly  be  forbidden  by  international 
'adquarters  of  the  unions  involved, 
i  was  indicated  in  labor  quarters 
ire  yesterday. 

Demands  of  seven  studio  locals  for 
3H-hour  week,  vacation  pay  and  a 
t-week  annual  employment  guarantee, 
Oached  in  Hollywood  on  Monday, 
«  regarded  as  matters  for  negotia- 
In  by  officers  of  the  several  inter- 
tionals,  rather  than  the  heads  of  the 
,-als,  it  was  stated  here.  This  atti- 
pe  is  particularly  plain  within  the 
ernationals  which  are  signatories  of 
%,  live-year  basic  agreement  with  the 
Ifadios.  such  as  the  I.  B.  E.  W.  and 
i  Carpenters  and  Joiners. 

Meeting  Date  Not  Set 

No  date  for  a  negotiating  meeting 
eoting  the  basic  agreement  or  the 
'Sdio  locals  has  been  set.  it  was  stated 
th  emphasis  here. 

Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  repre- 
>itative,  may  leave  for  the  coast  at 
3  end  of  the  week,  although  his  plans 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


,500  at  Rites  Here 
or  Soteros  Cocalis 

'Funeral  rites  for  Soteros  D.  Co- 
jlis.  New  York  circuit  head,  were 
Id  at  Hellenic  Eastern  Orthodox 
'lurch  yesterday.  Fifteen  hundred 
•re  in  attendance.  Officiating  at  the 
kh  Mass  was  Archbishop  Athena- 
,ras.  After  the  services,  the  body 
Is  interred  in  the  family  plot  in  Mt. 
jiivet  cemetery. 

Many  prominent  in  Greek-American 

pc  affairs    were    present.  Among 

ise  of  the  industry  present  were : 
11    Manheimer,    Sam  Lefkowitz, 

les  Levy.  Jack  Hattem.  Max 
ifclder,  Ed  Collins.  Jack  SokolofT, 
^onroe  Stein.  Max  Solomon,  Dave 

einstein,  Joe  Sussman,  Moe  San- 
jjrs,  Eddie  Bell,  Dave  Sohmer,  George 
;eeks,    Abraham    Kindler,  William 

.ntisiero,  Harry'  Fischman,  Nick 
"tta,  Spyros  Skouras,  Leon  Rosen- 
;att,  Julius  Singer,  Jack  Bowen, 
jck  Ellis.  William  F.  Rodgers,  Tom 

jnnors,  Ed  McAvoy,  Max  Cohen. 

ilt  Kusell,  Ben  Knobel,  Joe  Katz, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Assembly  to  Act  on 
Operator  Bill  Today 

Albany,  April  25. — Crews' 
New  York  City  bill  providing 
for  the  licensing  of  projec- 
tionists will  be  acted  upon 
by  the  Assembly  here  tomor- 
row with  no  further  delay 
anticipated.  Support  of  teach- 
ers' organizations  is  now 
claimed  by  the  proponents  in 
the  latest  endorsement  of  the 


Opening  of  'Juarez' 
At  Hollywood  Draws 
Brilliant  Audience 

Leaders  of  the  industry,  diplomats, 
socialites  and  representatives  of  the 
political,  literary  and  stage  world 
thronged  the  Hollywood  Theatre  last 
night  for  the  opening  of  "Juarez." 

Major  Albert  Warner  was  host  to 
the  visiting  diplomats  and  introduced 
notables  to  the  microphone  in  the 
lobby.  Josephus  Daniels  gave  the 
principal  talk  over  the  air. 

Amonp  those  present  were : 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  R.  Kent,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Nate  Blumberg,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Jack  Cohn,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Oscar 
Doob,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  S.  Moss,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Harold  Rodner,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Dan  Michalove,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Joe  Hummel,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roy 
Haines,  Morgan  Kaufman,  Miss  Leona 
Hertz.  Also  Jules  Brulatour.  Hope 
Hampton,  Carl  Leserman,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  John  O'Connor,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Marvin  Schenck,  H.  Y.  Kaltenborn, 
Donald  Flamm.  Alfred  McCosker, 
Monroe  Greenthal,  Mort  Blumenstock. 

Also  S.  Charles  Einfeld,  Gradwell 
Sears  and  Sam  E.  Morris. 
(Pictures  of  Opening  on  Page  7) 


1 939-*  10  FILMS  TO 
COST  $209,550,000 


'Conspiracy'  Seen 
By  Nazis  in  U.  S. 
And  English  Films 


Berlin,  April  25. — Nazis  are  great- 
ly agitated  by  what  they  charge  is 
the  existence  of  a  "conspiracy"  on 
the  part  of  the  American  and  Brit- 
ish film  industries  to  present  Ger- 
mans and  Italians  in  "an  unfavorable 
light." 

The  charges  are  made  the  subject 
of  an  article  under  a  London  date- 
line published  in  the  Licht  Bild  Buhnc, 
film  trade  paper  here.  The  dispatch 
describes  four  films  which,  it  said, 
were  currently  being  shown  in  English 
theatres  and  which  "are  a  continuance 
of  the  policy  of  'hetzfilm,'  designed  to 
whip  up  anti-German  sentiment."  "The 
tendency  is  very  obviously  aimed 
against  the  totalitarian  states,"  the 
paper  comments. 

Among  the  alleged  anti-totalitarian 
films  named  is  Columbia's  "The  Lone 
Wrolf's  Daughter,"  also  being  released 
as  "The  Lone  Wolf  Spy  Hunt."  The 
article  says  that  an  international  spy 
who  attempts  to  steal  secret  Ameri- 
can war  plans  is  represented  as  an 
Italian. 

Two  English  films  are  included  in 
the  charges.  These  are  "Sword  of 
Honour,"  which  the  article  says  was 
produced  to  speed  up  the  slackening 
enlistment  in  the  British  army,  and 
"The  Silent  Battle,"  described  by  the 
German  paper  as  a  story  of  espionage 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Juarez 


99 


( H'aniers) 

Warners  have  taken  a  page  from  the  turbulent  history  of  Mexico  and 
from  it  have  woven  a  powerful  and  moving  motion  picture,  adding 
thereby  an  important  chapter  to  the  volume  of  cinematic  biographies 
upon  which  the  screen  lately  has  been  concentrating  much  attention. 

It  is  the  story  of  the  ill-fated  and  fraudulently  engineered  reign  of 
Maximilian  as  Emperor  of  Mexico,  the  dupe  of  Napoleon  III  of  France, 
and  of  Benito  Juarez,  president  of  the  Republic  of  Mexico  in  the 
1860's,  popular  hero  of  the  Mexican  people  who  was  a  stolid,  full-blooded 
Indian.  The  life  and  activity  of  Juarez  are  not  as  well  known,  generally, 
as  is  the  brief  reign  of  Maximilian,  and  thus  the  picture  should  take  on 
a  greater  measure  of  interest. 

Paul  Muni  brings  to  his  portrait  of  the  great  liberator  of  Mexico, 
Juarez,  all  the  mastery  of  characterization  for  which  he  is  justly  famous, 
and  has  made  of  this  a  memorable  performance.  Almost  equally  brilliant 
are  the  performances  of  Brian  Aherne,  as  Maximilian;  Bette  Davis,  as 
Carlota,  his  devoted  and  lovely  wife;  Claude  Rains,  as  Napoleon  III; 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Increase    of  $33,000,000 
Over  This  Year;  499 
Pictures  Scheduled 


The  10  largest  producing-distribut- 
ing  organizations  will  expend  an  esti- 
mated $209,550,000  in  the  making  of 
499  motion  pictures  carded  for  pro- 
duction next  season.  This  represents 
an  approximate  increase  of  $33,000,000 
over  the  $175,770,000  which  current 
season's  proluction  budgets  may  ag- 
gregate. About  488  pictures  will  be 
produced  this  season. 

Figures  do  not  include  Grand  Na- 
tional, which  was  off  to  a  late  start 
this  season  and  experienced  produc- 
tion and  release  interruptions.  Its  new 
season's  plans,  while  in  work,  have 
not  been  completed  yet. 

Survey  shows  that  the  tendency  for 
next  season  is  to  increase  budgets  by 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Grauman  to  Abandon 
Pictures  at  Chinese 

Hollywood,  April  25. — Grauman's 
Chinese  will  drop  picture  programs 
and  adopt  an  exclusive  stage  show 
policy,  effective  May  12.  "Folies  Ber- 
gere,"  now  playing  at  the  Auditorium, 
on  Treasure  Island  at  the  San  Fran- 
cisco Fair,  has  been  booked  as  the 
first  attraction  by  Charles  P. 
Skouras.  Running  90  minutes,  the 
show  will  be  expanded  to  two  hours 
by  the  inclusion  of  newsreels  and 
short  subjects. 

The  house  will  go  on  a  reserved 
seat  policy,  with  one  matinee  and  two 
evening  performances,  and  four  shows 
on  Sunday. 


Distributors  Open 
Pact  Study  Today 

Distributors  begin  a  study 
of  exhibitor  comment  regard- 
ing the  trade  practice  pact  at 
a  series  of  meetings  which 
get  under  way  today  at  the 
Hotel  Astor.  This  meeting 
was  called  by  William  F. 
Rodgers,  chairman  of  the  dis- 
tributor group. 

One  of  the  principal  sub- 
jects to  be  tackled  is  arbitra- 
tion. 

The  I.T.O.A.  (Brandt)  of 
New  York  is  among  those 
urging  a  clearer  definition  of 
the  arbitration  clauses. 


Wednesday,  April  26,  I93S 


MOTION  PICTURfc 

DAILY 


i  Purely 
Personal  ► 


Insiders'  Outlook 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


MONROE  GREENTHAL  and 
Al  Margolies,  of  United  Art- 
ists, leave  for  the  coast  Friday  to  be- 
gin preparations  for  the  company's 
annual  sales  meeting,  which  opens  in 
Los  Angeles  May  8.  The  home  of- 
fice and  eastern  delegation  leave  here 
next  Wednesday  for  the  coast  meeting. 
• 

W.  A.  Scully,  general  sales  mana- 
ger of  Universal,  left  San  Francisco 
yesterday  for  a  brief  visit  to  the  stu- 
dios. Before  his  return  to  New  York 
next  week,  he  will  stop  off  at  the  far 
western  branch  offices. 

• 

Harold  Hendee,  RKO  research  di- 
rector, discussed  "Authenticating  the 
Movies"  yesterday  before  the  Phila- 
delphia Conference  of  Jewish  Wo- 
men's organizations. 

• 

Joan   Bennett    arrives    in  New 
York  via  American  Airlines  from  the 
coast   tomorrow   to   appear   on  the 
Campbell  Playhouse  program  Friday. 
• 

Phil  Reisman,  RKO  foreign  dis- 
tribution director,  sails  from  England 
today  aboard  the  Normandie,  sched- 
uled to  arrive  in  New  York  May  1. 
He  has  been  on  an  eight-week  tour 
of  inspection  in  Continental  Europe. 
• 

Charles  K.  Freeman,  formerly  di- 
rector and  writer  with  Universal,  will 
direct  and  produce  "Life  and  Death 
of  an  American,"  by  George  Sklar, 
for  the  WPA  Federal  Theatre 
Project. 

• 

Penny  Singleton,  star  of  "Blondie 
Meets  the  Boss,"  will  make  a  personal 
appearance  with  the  film  at  the  Cri- 
terion tomorrow  and  Friday  nights. 
• 

R.  J.  O'Donnell  of  Interstate  Cir- 
cuit is  in  New  York  from  Dallas  for 
a  brief  visit  before  going  on  to  the 
Variety  Club  convention  which  opens 
in  Detroit  tomorrow. 

• 

Hal  Horne,  Walt  Disney's  east- 
ern representative,  leaves  for  the  coast 
Friday.  He  will  be  gone  three  or  four 
weeks. 

• 

James  A.  FitzPatrick,  producer 
of  Traveltalks  for  M-G-M,  is  now 
making  his  headquarters  at  the  coast 
studio. 

• 

Al  Selig,  Tower  Pictures  repre- 
sentative, goes  to  New   Haven  and 
Providence    today    for    openings  of 
"Double  Crime  on  the  Maginot  Line." 
• 

C.  C.  Moskowitz  and  Seymour 
Mayer  are  due  back  May  8  from  a 
Florida  and  Havana  vacation. 

• 

A.  J.  Herman,  Universal  eastern 
district  manager,  is  in  Washington  at- 
tending a  sales  conference. 

• 

Lou  Phillips  of  the  Paramount 
legal  department  is  in  Boston  for  a 
few  days  on  business. 

• 

Ignacio  Molina,  Jr.,  general  man- 
ager of  a  circuit  in  Panama,  is  in 
town. 


RECENT  deaths  in  the  trade 
have  profoundly  affected  a 
certain  prominent  New 
York  exhibitor.  When  an  equally 
prominent  showman  passed  away 
last  week,  the  first  exhibitor  un- 
dertook a  study  of  the  causes  of 
death  and  learned  that  the  majority 
of  those  who  have  died  were 
between  50  and  60  years  of  age,  or 
about  his  own  age. 

The  other  day  he  ran  into  some 
friends  at  44th  Street  and  Broad- 
way. 

"How's  business?"  one  of  them 
asked. 

"Never  mind  the  business ;  I'm 
glad  I'm  alive — exhibitors  are  fall- 
ing away  so  fast,"  he  replied. 
T  ▼ 

"Hollywood  is  fine  and  so  full 
of  nice  people,"  Mili  Monti  con- 
fided to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Maurice 
Silverstone  and  the  James  Mul- 
veys  in  the  Maisonette  Russe,  of 
the  St.  Regis.  "New  York  is  fine, 
too — and  oh,  so  nice  people,"  she 
added.  A  charming  singer  who 
achieved  great  fame  in  her  native 
Italy,  Miss  Monti  should  be  grac- 
ing the  footlights  in  an  American 
play.  She  was  under  contract  for 
a  spell  to  Major  Pictures  (E. 
Cohen ) . 

T  T 

One  of  the  industry's  most  im- 
portant theatre  circuit  chieftains 
dined  in  Washington  recently  with 
Thurman  Arnold. 

T  ▼ 

In  Emporia,  Kansas,  there  is  an 
organization  which  is  known  as 
the  Better  Films  Council.  This  or- 
ganization refused  to  endorse 
RKO's  "Boy  Slaves."  The  group's 
action  caused  William  Allen  White 
to  publicly  rebuke  the  society,  and 
in  his  newspaper,  the  Emporia  Ga- 
zette, he  wrote  as  follows : 

"It  is  evident  that  the  Emporia 
Better  Films  Council  didn't  know 
that  it  was  turning  down  a  picture 
which  was  designed  to  show  the 
evils  of  child  labor  ...  it  is  a  pic- 
ture which  everyone  in  this  town 
should  see." 


News  from  abroad  is  again  fea- 
tured in  the  newsreels.  S.  S.  Paris 
burns,  Italian  troops  in  Albania  and 
ivar  preparedness  items  are  included. 
The  reels  and  their  contents  follow : 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  65— French 
liner  burns.  Destroyer  leaves  for  coast. 
Italians  enter  Albania.  British  royalty  in- 
spects forces.  Paper  festival.  Lindbergh 
visits  Roosevelt.  Spellman  appointed  arch- 
bishop of  New  York.  Winston  Churchill 
discusses  war.  Tyrone  Power  weds.  Naval 
air  school  graduations.  Lew  Lehr.  Yanks 
open  season.  Trout  fishing.  Motor  cycles 
climb  hill.  Relays. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  263-British 
artillery  demonstration.  Anti-aircraft  ma- 
neuvers in  Italy.  Refugees  join  French 
army.  S.  S.  Paris  burns.  S.  S.  West  Vir- 
ginia leaves  for  Pacific.     Parachute  jump- 


At  the  Astor,  in  Nick's  Hunting 
Room,  Max  Cohen  (Cinema  Cir- 
cuit), Bill  Rodgers,  Tom  Connors, 
Ed  Saunders  and  Ted  O'Shea 
talked  about  trade  practice  reforms. 
Cohen  invited  Rodgers  to  address 
the  convention  of  New  York  Al- 
lied, because  his  presence  at  the 
meeting  would  help  to  generate 
goodwill  between  distributor  and 
exhibitor. 

"This  is  the  fundamental  pur- 
pose of  the  convention,"  Cohen 
stated. 

▼  T 

At  United  Artists,  behind  his 
desk  on  the  12th  floor,  Lynn  Far- 
nol,  with  furrowed  brow  studies  the 
new,  practical  pocket  manual  he, 
Herb  Jaediger  and  their  staffs  are 
preparing  for  the  U.  A.  salesmen, 
in  connection  with  the  company's 
forthcoming  convention,  early  in 
May.  The  book  is  to  be  in  color 
and  the  salesmen  also  will  receive 
various  souvenir  gifts  from  the 
U.  A.  producers  and  executives, 
such  as  phonograph  records  and 
books  pertaining  to  the  new 
season's  product. 

▼  ▼ 

At  one  of  these  east-side  cock- 
tail parlors  where  the  "silent  part- 
ners" in  the  all-girl  unit  known 
as  "The  Amazons,"  a  World's 
Fair  concession,  were  holding  a 
party,  one  confides  that  Amando, 
who  is  among  the  guests  present, 
is  the  only  motion  picture  illus- 
trator to  make  the  cover  of  Col- 
lier's. The  current  issue  is  deco- 
rated with  an  Amando  creation. 
He  will  soon  have  a  second. 

And  those  "Amazons"  should 
make  a  striking  exhibit  at  the 
Fair,  it  seems  to  us. 

T  T 

At  Sardi's,  where  Ben  Washer 
generally  lunches,  a  patron  reveals 
that  Mollie  and  Bill  Boehnel 
(World-Telegram)  have  adopted 
a  baby  girl. 

T  T 

Have  you  made  your  contribu- 
tion to  the  Greater  New  York 
Fund 2 


ing.  Annabella- Power  wedding.  Beauty 
contest.     Relay  races.     Fishing  contest. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS.  No.  76— Paper  in- 
dustry celebration.  ■  Fire  destroys  Paris. 
Steeplechase  in  Australia.  Goering  visits 
Africa.  Italian  troops  occupy  Albania. 
Refugees  join  French  army.  Max  Baer 
and  Lou  Nova  in  training.  Douglas  Fair- 
banks, Jr.  weds.  Film  stars  marry.  Day- 
light saving  time  explained. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS.  No.  80— Italians 
enter  Albania.  Washington's  inaugural 
trip  reenacted.  Secretary  Perkins  confers 
with  press.  Parachute  jumping.  Neu- 
trality hearing.  Horse  racing. 
^  UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  765— 
"George  Washington"  enters  New  York. 
Italian  troops  in  Albania.  Fleet,  leaves 
for  coast.  Lindbergh  at  White  House. 
Paris  burns.  Parachute  jumping.  Paper 
carnival.  Inspect  toys  for  Christmas. 
Horse  racing. 


London  Films  Forms 
New  Export  Branch  11 

London,  April  25. — A  sepa- 
rate company  to  handle  ex-  I 
port     business     has     been  ] 
formed  by  London  Films.  It 
is  London  Films  Export,  Ltd., 
registered  as  a  private  com- 
pany with  a  capital  of  $25,000. 
Directors  are  Steven  Pallos 
and  Tristram  F.  Owen.  Pali'] 
los  for  some  time  has  handle f* 
the  foreign  sales  business  for 
London  Films. 


'Chips'  Will  Follow 
'Pygmalion'  at  Astoi 

"Mr.  Chips,"  M-G-M  British-made 
production,  will  follow  "Pygmalion'  i 
at  the  Astor  when  the  latter  closes  it;' 
run  sometime  in  May.  No  closing! 
date  has  been  set,  as  the  latter  die 
an  estimated  $9,200  in  its  19th  weel 
and  is  still  strong.  Universal  has 
apparently  withdrawn  "The  Mikado' 
which  was  due  to  follow  "Pygmalion,' 
as  no  definite  date  could  be  obtainec 
and  Universal  was  unwilling  to  hole 
up  the  film's  New  York  release  Ml 
definitely.  Indications  are  that  "Th< 
Mikado"  will  go  into  the  Rivoli  bul 
this  is  still  tentative.  "Mr.  Chips' 
probably  will  play  on  a  continuous 
run  policy. 

"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky' 
opens  today  at  the  Paramount.  "Mid- 
night" finished  its  third  week  with  an, 
estimated  $30,000.  Second  week  oi 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  grossed  an  es- 
timated $8,800  at  the  Globe. 

N.  Y.  AlliedtoMeet 
Today  on  Convention 

Allied  of  New  York's  local  unit 
will  meet  at  2  P.  M.  today  in  the  or- 
ganization's office  in  the  New  Am- 
sterdam Building.  Plans  for  the  an- 
nual convention  and  World's  Fair  ex- 
position, May  23  to  25,  will  be  dis- 
cussed. Max  A.  Cohen  will  preside. 

E.  Thornton  Kelly,  state  executive 
secretary,  will  report  on  meeting, 
held  upstate.  The  Buffalo  unit  i, 
working  out  a  clearance  plan  designed 
to  give  relief  to  subsequents.  The 
situation  in  Syracuse  has  been  ad- 
justed, and  reports  that  an  Allied 
committee  there  is  taking  up  clearance 
are  erroneous. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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:  "Ouignubco. 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia.  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  — -Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square. 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


PLENTY 
OF  FUN 

for  a 

2nd  WEEK! 

HARDYS 
RIDE  HIGH 

Lt WIS  STONE  -  MICKEY  I00NEY  •  CECILIA 
PARKER  -  FAY  HOLDEN  •  omctH  *  BMW  Uta 


tmtr*  "WHILE 
tERICA  SLEEPS' 


V 


it's  Qrade  "A".' 


HARDYS 
RIDE 
HIGH 
WIDE 
AND 


HANDSOME! 


Hold  Extra  time  for  the  Seasons  Sensation! 
Look  at  the  first  S.R.O.  results! 

HOUSTON  NEW  HIGH!  Biggest  grosser  this  season;  leads  "Test  Pilot'V'Boys  Town",  the  New 
Year's  week  of  "Sweethearts". 

PHILLY  PHENOMENAL!  Second  day  beat  first  day;  far  ahead  of  all  Hardy  Family  releases. 

DETROIT  DANDY!  Opens  ahead  of  such  pictures  as  "Idiot's  Delight","  Rosalie  "/'Captains 
Courageous  "  and  "  The  Great  Ziegfeld". 

FRISCO  FABULOUS!  Sensational!  Tops  "Maytime",  "Rosalie",  "Good  Earth", "Captains 
Courageous"  and  other  hits! 

BEAUTIFUL  BUFFALO!  Nearly  double  the  Christmas  holiday  opening  of  "Out  West  With  The 
Hardys";  tops  everything  this  season  except  "Too  Hot  To  Handle"  and  the  New  Year's 
business  of  "  Sweethearts  ". 

MILWAUKEE  MAGNIFICENT!  Excellent!  Only  three  better  openings  since  this  entire 
season  started. 

ATTABOY  ATLANTA!  Equals  Thank  sgiving  business  of  "Out  West  With  The  Hardys";  even 
with  "Too  Hot  To  Handle";  substantially  ahead  of  "Boys  Town". 

Flash!  Houston  and  Atlanta  Hold-over  2nd  Week.  Watch  for  more. 

Hardy  good  wishes  for  your  engagement  too! 


A  BOX-OFFICE  SMASH 
THAT  JUST  CAN'T  MISS! 


JACK  HARROWER,  FILM  DAILY 


Compares  favorably  with 
leading  pictures  of  any 
studio/' 

—  Aiot/on  Picture  Herald 


Monogram  has  followed 
'Boy  of  the  Streets'  with  a 
ftopper." 

—  Hollywood  Reporter 

★ 

"Exhibitors  can  start  boast- 
ing about  it  now." 

—  Motion  Picture  Daily 

* 

"Highly  exploitable  for 
good  returns." 

—  Jay  Emanuel  Publications 

★ 


JACKIE  COOPER 


AND 


IARTIN  SPELLMAN 

NEW  JUVENILE  SENSATION 


MARTIN  SPELLMAN 


NEW  YORK 


MARJORIE  REYNOLDS 
DICK  PURCELL 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  April  26,  1939 


International  May 
Ban  Coast  Parleys 
Of  Studio  Unions 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
are  still  indefinite.  He  said  that  in- 
sofar as  he  knew,  no  negotiating  meet- 
ing has  been  scheduled  with  the  studio 
locals.  If  Casey  leaves  for  the  coast 
this  week,  he  plans  to  return  in  two 
weeks  to  attend  the  meeting  of  the 
company  heads  and  the  American 
Federation  of  Musicians  executive 
committee,  which  has  been  set  for 
May  18  to  discuss  proposals _  for  the 
reemployment  of  musicians  within  the 
industry. 


Control  Suit  Trial  On 

Hollywood,  April  25.  —  Constitu- 
tionality of  rules  and  by-laws  binding 
locals  to  their  labor  internationals  to- 
day became  the  principal  issue  at 
the  trial  of  counter  suits  between 
I.A.T.S.E.  International  and  Studio 
Technicians  Local  37,  which  opened 
today  before  Superior  Judge  E.  H. 
Wilson. 

The  case  which  might  effect  rela- 
tions not  only  between  I.A.T.S.E. 
groups  but  other  A.F.L.  units  as  well 
as  C.I.O.  organizations  is  predicated 
on  whether  international  can  take  over 
the  local  organization's  premises,  sus- 
pend autonomy,  remove  officers  and 
control  funds. 

While  process  servers  on  behalf  of 
the  local  sought  to  summon  Louis  B. 
Mayer,  Joseph  and  Nicholas  Schenck 
and  Ed  Mannix,  the  first  witness 
called  was  Joseph  W.  Carpenter,  local 
president,  who  with  others  officers 
was  suspended  by  International  repre- 
sentatives March  12. 

Charges  by  Carpenter 

Questioned  by  C.  H.  Hartke,  attor- 
ney for  International  officers  John 
Gatelee  and  Frank  Stickling,  Carpen- 
ter declared  International  was  not  jus- 
tified in  suspending  officers  and  auton- 
omy, told  of  attempts  to  withdraw 
funds  from  the  local's  account  "to 
protect  interests  of  members"  and  said 
the  alliance's  demand  that  the  local 
oust  Jeff  Kibre,  minority  leader,  on 
charges  of  subversism  was  not  granted 
because  the  "allegations  were  un- 
founded." 

Gatelee  was  the  second  witness 
called  before  the  noon  recess  and  told 
of  his  29  years  service  with  I.A.T.S.E. 

In  opening  statements  Hartke  de- 
clared he  would  prove  International 
under  its  constitution  and  bylaws 
acted  within  its  legal  rights  to  sus 
pend  the  local's  autonomy  and  officer: 
and  that  alliance  officers  had  engage: 
in  no  campaigns  of  villification. 

A.  Brigham  Rose,  attorney  for  local 
officers,  charged  the  alliance  with 
fraudulent  actions  which  he  declared 
made  general  rules  of  organization  in- 
operative in  this  instance. 

Gatelee  upon  resuming  the  stand  for 
the  afternoon  session  was  questionec 
concerning  the  "extreme  emergency" 
said  to  have  existed  when  he  and 
Stickling  took  over  affairs  of  the  local 

Tomorrow  morning  Rose  will  cross- 
examine  Gatelee. 


Joy  Hodges  at  Ampa 

Joy  Hodges,  musical  comedy  and 
screen  player,  is  on  the  program  for 
the  Ampa  lunch  at  the  Astor  tomor- 
row, in  addition  to  Dr.  J.  S.  List  of 
NBC,  the  guest  speaker. 


New  York  Review 


'Juarez' 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

John  Garfield,  as  General  Diaz,  Juarez's  ablest  soldier.  Miss  Davis, 
in  her  frantic  denunciation  of  Napoleon,  when  she  scores  him  for  his 
treachery  to  her  husband,  on  a  lone  visit  to  Paris,  and  collapses  into 
the  insanity  from  which  she  never  emerges,  scores  a  triumph  of  emo- 
tional and  dramatic  acting. 

The  story,  as  woven  by  John  Huston,  Wolfgang  Reinhardt  and 
Aeneas  MacKenzie,  is  taken  from  a  play  by  Franz  Werfel  and  the 
novel,  "The  Phantom  Crown,"  by  Bertito  Harding.  Napoleon,  pouring 
vast  sums  of  money  into  Mexico,  seeks  to  retain  his  hold  without  incur- 
ring the  enforcement  of  the  Monroe  Doctrine  by  Abraham  Lincoln,  as 
the  Civil  War  victory  of  the  North  appears  assured.  He  hits  upon 
Maximilian,  offers  him  the  crown  of  Mexico,  allegedly  the  result  of  a 
plebiscite,  actually  a  vote  taken  at  the  points  of  French  guns.  The  facts 
of  history  are  freely  dealt  with,  which  is  the  privilege  of  the  dramatist. 

Maximilian  and  his  Empress  find  a  strong  republican  opposition, 
led  by  President  Juarez,  the  idol  of  his  people,  himself  a  great  admirer 
of  Lincoln.  Against  the  broad  sweep  of  the  Mexican  country,  and  a 
background  of  political  intrigue,  Juarez,  his  capital,  the  carriage  in 
which  he  travels,  wages  his  fight  against  the  usurper,  answers  with 
bullets  the  effort  of  Maximilian  to  set  up  a  dynasty  and  his  promulga- 
tion of  the  Black  Decree,  with  death  the  penalty  for  the  bearing  of  arms. 
Throughout  is  stressed  Juarez's  adhesion  to  the  principles  of  democracy, 
and  throughout  Maximilian  and  Carlota  are  pictured  as  sincere  and 
honest  in  their  efforts  to  make  these  people  love  them,  to  bring  to  their 
reign  peace  and  prosperity.  But  the  forces  of  .destiny  and  of  evil  intrigue 
are  too  much  for  them. 

Finally,  as  Napoleon  withdraws  all  support,  in  fear  of  the  United 
States,  with  his  wife  deranged  after  pleading  with  Napoleon,  Maximilian 
is  captured,  and,  despite  diplomatic  efforts  to  save  his  life,  is  refused 
clemency  by  Juarez,  to  whom  duty  to  his  people  is  all-important,  but 
who  finally  begs  forgiveness  at  the  bier  of  Maximilian. 

William  Dieterle's  direction  is  all  that  could  be  hoped,  as  he  blends 
and  contrasts  the  idyllic  romance  of  Maximilian  and  Carlota  and  the 
indomitable  will  of  Juarez  with  the  play  of  powerful  dramatic  forces 
which  make  up  this  chapter  of  history.  Henry  Blanke  was  associate  pro- 
ducer. This  picture  must  rank  among  the  finer  things  of  the  screen. 

Running  time,  127  minutes.  "G."*  Charles  S.  Aaronson 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


$209,550,000  to  Be  Spent 
On  499  Films  in  1939-'40 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

appreciable  amounts,  while  planning 
the  same  number  as  this  season  or 
only  nominal  increases. 

This  is  true  of  M-G-M,  Universal, 
Columbia,  RKO  and  Monogram.  In- 
creased budgets  for  a  smaller  number 
}f  productions  than  last  year  are 
planned  by  Warners,  20th  Century- 
Fox,  Paramount  and  Republic.  United 

1938-39 
Budget 
, . .  $9,000,000 


Columbia 

M-G-M   

Monogram  .  .  . 
Paramount  .  .  . 

Republic   

RKO   

20th-Fox   

United  Artists. 
Universal 
Warners   


32,500,000 
1,770,000 
26,000,000 
5,000,000 
16,000,000 
24,000,000 
21,000,000 
13,500,000 
27,000,000 


Artists  will  have  the  largest  increase 
in  number  of  pictures  as  well  as  the 
proportionately  largest  aggregate  in- 
crease in  production  expenditures. 

Following  are  the  estimated  budgets 
for  the  new  season  compared  with  cur- 
rent season's  figures.  Schedules  in- 
clude westerns,  serials  and  short  sub- 
jects where  not  made  by  an  outside 
producer. 

1938-'39  1939-'40  1939-'40 

Schedule  Budget  Schedule 

56  $12,500,000  56 

48  32,500,000  52 

42  2,550,000 


56 
55 
48 
51 
20 
57 
52 


28,000,000 
7,500,000 
22.500,000 
28,000,000 
27,500,000  (est.1) 
18,500,000 
30,000,000 


46 
60 
50 
48 
52 

30  (est.) 

57 

48 


Totals    $175,770,000 


$209,550,000 


499 


Pat  O'Brien's  Father  Dies 

Los  Angeles,  April  25.— William 
J.  O'Brien,  68,  father  of  Pat  O'Brien, 
died  in  his  sleep  at  his  home  here. 


Set  Nat  Levy  Month 

Staff  of  the  RKO  exchange  in  Buf- 
falo has  designated  May  as  Nat  Levy 
Month,  honoring  the  district  manager. 


Para.  Stockholder 
Meeting  on  June  20 


Paramount's  annual  meeting  of 
stockholders  will  be  held  at  the  home 
office  June  20.  Terms  of  all  director- 
expire  with  the  meeting  but  the  re- 
election of  the  entire  board  is  ex- 
pected. There  will  be  no  changes  $S 
the  management  nominees  to  the 
board.  These  are  Barney  Balaban. 
Adolph  Zukor,  Stanton  Griffis,  Austin 
Keough,  Neil  Agnew,  John  W.  Hicks. 
Y.  Frank  Freeman  and  E.  Y.  Rich- 
ards. 

Paramount  board  met  yesterday 
with  Zukor  presiding  as  chairman  for 
the  first  time  since  the  December 
meeting.  Company's  financial  report 
for  the  first  quarter,  which  was  sched- 
uled to  have  been  made  public  follow- 
ing the  meting,  was  delayed  by  un- 
completed audits.  Report  will  show 
net  profit  for  the  13  weeks  ended 
April  1,  last,  of  well  over  $1,000,000, 
possibly  as  high  as  $1,300,000. 

Paramount's  cash  position  continues 
strong.  The  remaining  $1,750,000  of 
Paramount's  six  per  cent  debentures 
still  outstanding  may  be  retired  at 
any  time  although  there  is  no  plan 
now  for  their  redemption. 


'Conspiracy'  Seen  by 
Nazis  in  U.  S.  Films 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

in  which  "Englishmen  are  represented 
as  heroes  and  Germans  and  Italians 
are  villains." 

The  fourth  film  is  "Professor 
Mamlock,"  a  Russian  production, 
which  tells  of  Nazi  racial  persecution. 
Licht  Bild  Buhne  expresses  amaze- 
ment that  a  picture  of  this  type  is  per- 
mitted "in  democratic  Britain  while 
banned  in  Germany."  This  film  re- 
cently was  banned  by  the  British  cen- 
sor, after  the  article  appeared. 

The  paper  speculates  whether  be- 
hind these  "corrupt  films  which  poison 
the  atmosphere"  there  is  "a  guiding 
hand"  and  if  Sir  Robert  Yansittart, 
permanent  under-secretary  for  Brit- 
ain's foreign  affairs,  "and  other  cham- 
pions of  allegedly  real  Anglo-Ameri- 
can friendship  might  be  responsible  for 
the  entire  affair." 

"We  congratulate  England  on  her 
newest  'works  of  art,' "  the  article 
concludes. 


1,500  Attend  Funeral 
Service  for  Cocalis 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Herman  Gluckman,  Mike  Rudin,  Bob 
Woolff,  Leo  Abrams,  Joe  Felder,  Bill 
Sussman,  Morris  Epstein,  Dick  Perry. 
Bernie  Brooks,  Harry  Furst,  E.  Car- 
roll, Henry  Randall,  Peter  and  Adam 
Adams,  Phil  Hodes,  J.  J.  Thompson. 

Also,  Charles  Rosens  weig,  Abe 
Leff,  Irving  Wormser,  James  Binkov, 
Nat  Steinberg,  Harry  W.  Miller, 
Charles  Weber,  Ed  Schnitzer.  Louis 
Frisch,  Samuel  Rinzler,  Si  Fabian,  Ed 
Connors,  Nat  Cohn,  Al  Hovell,  John 
Conway,  Morris  Kutinsky,  Fred 
Schwartz,  H.  M.  Richey,  John  Bolte, 
Harry  Thomas,  Ted  O'Shea,  Roy 
Haines,  Al  Suchman,  Harry  Brandt, 
Leo  Brecher,  Walter  Reade,  Dave 
Levy,  Leo  Newbury.  Harry  Bux- 
baum,  Joe  Lee. 


yecnesday,  April  26,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


They  Saw  "Juarez 


A  MONG  those  present  at  the  gala  opening  of  Warners'  picture 
at  the  Hollywood  Theatre  last  night,  which  drew  an  audience 
of  notables  from  the  trade. 


RADWELL  L  SEARS,  general  sales  manager  of  Warner  Bros.  Pic- 
ires,  Inc.  Doris  Warner  LeRoy,  Major  Albert  Warner,  vice-president 
Warner  Bros. 


MAX  A.  COHEN,  head  of  Cinema  Circuit  and  president,  Allied 
Theatre  Owners  of  New  York,  and  Mrs.  Cohen. 


t 


CHARLES  EINFELD,  vice-president  and  director  of  advertising 
jid  publicity  of  Warner  Bros.,  and  Mrs.  May  Einfeld. 


NATE  J.  BLUMBERG,  president,  MOE  SILVER,  New  York  state  dis- 
Universal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc.,  and  +rict  manager,  and  I.  J.  Hoffman, 
Mrs.  Blumberg.  New  England  district  manager,  of 

Warner  Bros.  Theatres. 


1DNEY  R.  KENT,  president,  20th  MORGAN  KAUFMAN  of  Towan 
-en+ury-Fox  Film  Corp.,  and  Mrs.  da,  Pa.,  Miss  Leona  Hertz,  daugh 
-ent.  ter  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  D.  Hertz 


[Photos  by  Cosmo-Sileo] 

JOHN  J.  O'CONNOR,  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  RKO 
Theatres,  and  Mrs.  O'Connor. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  April  26,  19 


KAO  13-Week  Net 
Reaches  $327,18! 


WMCA  Will  Air 
Blackett-Sample's 
2  Hours  of  Shows 


Probably  the  most  important  deal 
ever  effected  in  non-chain  radio  has 
just  been  closed  by  WMCA,  under 
terms  of  which  the  station  will  broad- 
cast a  two-hour  nightly  block  of  pro- 
grams belonging  to  Blackett-Sample- 
Hummert,  and  heard  during  morning 
and  afternoon  hours  over  the  CBS 
and  NBC  networks. 

It  marks  the  first  time  that  an 
agency  will  attempt  duplication  of 
programs  on  such  a  major  scale. 
Block  of  time  Blackett-Sample-Hum- 
mert  will  take  up  amounts  to  two 
hours  a  night,  six  nights  a  week,  Mon- 
days through  Fridays  from  8  to  10 
P.  M.  Contract  is  for  a  full  year 
on  non-cancellable  terms. 

The  programs,  15  minutes  each,  will 
be  presented  in  continuous  order,  and 
are  repeats  of  the  leading  daytime 
programs  presented  over  the  networks. 
They  are  live  dramatizations  on  the 
networks,  but  on  WMCA  they  will 
be  presented  via  electrical  transcrip- 
tions. 

Programs,  and  their  hour  of  per- 
formance on  WMCA,  are  as  follows : 
•'Stella  Dallas,"  8  to  8:15;  "John's 
Other  Wife,"  8:15  to  8:30;  "Just 
Plain  Bill,"  8:30  to  8:45;  "Lorenzo 
Tones,"  8:45  to  9;  "Romance  of  Helen 
Trent."  9  to  9:15;  "Our  Gal  Sun- 
day," 9:15  to  9:30;  "Young  Widder 
Brown,"  9:30  to  9:45;  "Backstage 
Wife,"  9:45  to  10  P.  M. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 

BOB  CROSBY  is  due  in  New 
York  this  week  from  the  coast. 
.  .  .  Bill  Hardy,  Ray  Noble's 
manager,  also  comes  to  New  York 
this  week,  to  organize  a  new  band 
for  the  leader  .  .  • .  Hildegarde  will 
make  three  consecutive  guest  appear- 
ances on  the  Ripley  program  ...  Joe 
Glaser  has  signed  June  Richmond  as 
vocalist  with  the  Andy  Kirk  orches- 
tra ..  .  Marjorie  Uhlf elder,  secretary 
to  WHN's  comptroller,  Jacques  Van 
Straten,  has  announced  her  engage- 
ment to  Raymond  Kantrowitz. 


US  Education  Radio 
Unit  Shift  Suggested 

Washington,  April  25. — Transfer 
of  the  Office  of  Education,  including 
its  radio  activities,  from  the  Interior 
Department  to  the  Federal  Security 
Agency,  is  contemplated  in  the  plan 
for  reorganization  of  Federal  activi- 
ties submitted  to  Congress  today  by 
President  Roosevelt. 

Transfer  of  the  educational  activi- 
ties, the  President  explained,  is  de- 
signed to  concentrate  in  one  agency 
all  Government  activities  to  promote 
social  and  economic  security,  educa- 
tional opportunity  and  health.  The 
transfer  will  neither  increase  nor  ex- 
tend the  activities  of  the  Government 
in  respect  to  education,  but  will  pro- 
vide for  more  efficient  administration 
and  eliminate  overlapping  of  activities. 


Push  NBC  Antenna 

Work  on  a  new  NBC  international 
antenna  is  nearing  completion  and  will 
be  in  full  service  some  time  next 
month.  At  present  only  the  Buenos 
Aires  section  of  the  antenna  is  in 
operation.  The  Rio  de  Janiero  sec- 
tion will  be  placed  in  service  next 
month. 


English  Set  Owners 
Increase  by  379,825 

London,  April  25. — Great 
Britain  reports  that  8,968,600 
wireless  licenses  were  in  is- 
sue to  set  owners  in  Great 
Britain  at  the  end  of  March, 
1939.  The  figure  shows  an  in- 
crease on  the  year  of  379,825. 


DuMont  Cannot  Meet 
Orders  on  Television 

Allan  B.  DuMont  Laboratories,  the 
Paramount  affiliate,  yesterday  discon- 
tinued acceptance  of  further  orders  for 
its  television  receiving  sets  until  the 
plant  has  caught  up  with  orders  al- 
ready on  hand,  an  official  of  the  com- 
pany said. 

DuMont  has  been  turning  out  about 
300  to  350  sets  per  week  for  the  past 
several  weeks.  Orders  already  filled 
have  exhausted  its  inventory  and  un- 
filled orders  on  hand  are  sufficient  to 
keep  the  plant  at  capacity  for  approxi- 
mately three  months,  it  was  said.  The 
company  may  begin  accepting  orders 
again  in  about  six  weeks. 


Detroit  Holds  Lead  in 
Schaefer  Sales  Drive 


Hearn's  Closes  Deal 
For  Series  on  WHN 

Hearn's  Department  Store  has  en- 
tered into  a  52-week  contract  for  spon- 
sorship of  the  "Children's  Theatre  of 
the  Air"  over  WHN.  Account  was 
placed  direct.  Additional  WHN  busi- 
ness includes  a  year's  contract  by  the 
Television  Training  Corp.,  placed 
through  Huber,  Hoge  &  Son  ;  and  an 
announcement  series  for  the  Dodge  di- 
vision of  Chrysler  Motor  Co.,  through 
Ruthrauff  &  Ryan. 

Expanding  its  promotion  by  use  of 
car  cards,  WHN  has  just  concluded 
a  deal  with  the  New  York,  New  Ha- 
ven and  Hartford  Railroad  where- 
by trains  of  that  line  will  carry 
cards  advertising  WHN  programs. 


Detroit  continues  to  hold  the  lead 
in  RKO's  George  Schaefer  Drive 
after  11  weeks  of  the  18-week  sales 
campaign.  Buffalo  is  second  and  New 
York  third.  Leaders  in  the  separate 
divisions  of  the  drive  are : 

Short  subjects — Charlotte,  Joe  Bree- 
cheen,  manager,  and  Montreal,  M. 
Plottel,  manager,  leader  for  Canada ; 
Walt  Disney  Division — St.  Louis,  B. 
J.  McCarthy,  manager ;  Calgary,  H. 
F.  Taylor,  manager,  leader  for 
Canada ;  March  of  Time — New 
Haven,  B.  Pitkin,  manager,  Calgary, 
leader  for  Canada.  "Fisherman's 
Wharf"  unit — San  Francisco,  G. 
William  Wolf,  manager,  Toronto,  J. 
F.  Meyers,  manager,  leader  for 
Canada. 

In  the  Ad  Sales  contest  for  both  the 
United  States  and  Canada,  Los  An- 
geles, N.  P.  Jacobs,  manager,  is  out 
in  front. 


Settle  Dispute  with 
Rose  on  World  Fair 

An  early  morning  meeting  yester- 
day in  the  home  of  Sophie  Tucker, 
president  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Actors,  resulted  in  an  agreement 
settling  the  dispute  between  Billy 
Rose,  who  will  operate  the  Aquacade 
at  the  World  Fair,  and  the  A.F.A. 

The  agreement,  which  will  be  signed 
later  this  week,  provides  for  $35 
minimum  for  swimmers,  dancers  and 
members  of  the  chorus,  and  a  closed 
A.F.A.  shop.  Rehearsal  pay  will  de- 
pend on  an  audit  of  the  books  to  be 
made  later.  Walter  Winchell  will  de- 
cide whether  there  have  been  sufficient 
profits  to  warrant  rehearsal  pay. 
Besides  Miss  Tucker,  Rose  and  Win- 
chell, others  at  the  meeting  were 
Ralph  Whitehead,  executive  secretary, 
and  Harold  Koenigsburg,  A.F.A.  rep- 
resentative, i 


Keith-Albee-Orpheum  reports  a  n 
profit  of  $327,186  for  the  13  wee 
ended  April  1,  last,  equivalent 
$5.09  per  share  on  the  company's  6< 
304  shares  of  seven  per  cent  cumul 
tive  convertible  preferred  stock.  Tl 
result  compares  with  net  profthT* 
$336,594,  equal  to  $5.23  per  sharlki 
the  preferred  stock,  for  the  corr 
sponding  period  last  year. 

Results  for  the  quarter  give  K-A- 
a  net  of  $987,587  for  the  52  wed 
ended  April  1. 

Net  profit  of  B.  F.  Keith  Corp.  & 
the  13  weeks  ended  April  1  w; 
$218,364,  which  compares  with  net  i 
$196,646  for  the  first  quarter  of  193 
For  the  52  weeks  ended  April  1,  B.  . 
Keith's  profit  amounted  to  $773,729. 


Equity  Rejects  Plea 
On  Sunday  Show  Pa 

Actors'  Equity  yesterday  reject< 
the  proposal  that  it  waive  double  psJ 
for  members  playing  in  Sunday  shovj 
and  refused  to  take  a  referendum  i 
its  membership.  The  action  follows 
the  vote  of  Stagehands'  Union,  Loc;i 
1,  Sunday,  which  also  refused  t 
waive  extra  pay. 

James  F.  Reilly,  executive  secretat 
of  League  of  N.  Y.  Theatres,  at 
William  A.  Brady,  Broadway  legit : 
mate   stage   producer,   made  a  ffnjp 
appeal  to  the  council  yesterday  bi 
were  unsuccessful.    Equity's  quarter! 
meeting  resolved  that  the  referendum 
ould  be  submitted  only  if  all  otht, 
theatrical  craft  unions  first  gave  sim'j 
lar  consent. 


Dufaycolor  Pushing 
Process  Development 

Dufaycolor  has  started  develop- 
ment of  its  color  process  on  a  com- 
mercial basis  for  the  motion  picture 
field.  P.  M.  Hamilton,  president,  has 
appointed  Aldo  Ermini,  color  photog- 
raphy expert  formerly  with  Techni- 
color, to  handle  this  development.  Up- 
on its  perfection  it  will  be  introduced 
to  the  industry.  Ermini  directed  the 
color  photography  on  Alexander 
Korda's  "Drums." 


U.  S.  Tobacco  Renews 

U.  S.  Tobacco  Co.  has  renewed  its 
CBS  program,  "Model  Minstrels,"  for 
the  fifth  consecutive  year.  Extension 
is  effective  May  29.  Program  has 
been  presented  in  the  one  spot  for 
its  entire  period  on  the  air,  Mondays 
from  8:30  to  9  P.  M.  With  the  re- 
newal five. more  stations  will  be  added, 
affording  a  network  of  54  stations. 
Program  is  handled  by  the  Arthur 
Kudner  agency. 


To  Show  Picture  at 
Variety  Club  Party 

A  two-reel  film  describing  the  char- 
itable activities  of  the  16  Variety 
Clubs  will  be  shown  at  the  annual 
banquet  of  the  national  Variety  con- 
vention in  Detroit  Saturday  night. 
The  banquet  will  bring  the  three- 
day  meeting  to  a  close. 

There  will  be  a  New  York  delega- 
tion of  about  20  at  the  convention. 
One  group  will  leave  tomorrow  night 
from  Grand  Central  station,  includ- 
ing W.  F.  Rodgers,  Herman  Rob- 
bins,  George  Dembow,  Tom  Connors, 
Ed  Saunders,  J.  J.  Ungers,  H.  M. 
Richey  and  others. 

John  B.  Kennedy,  radio  commen- 
tator, has  been  added  to  the  list  of 
banquet  speakers.  Sessions  start  to- 
morrow at  the  Book  Cadillac  Hotel. 


'Juarez'  Rebroadcast  t 

By  arrangement  with  La  Nation, 
Buenos  Aires  newspaper,  the  CBS 
short  wave  broadcast  on  "Juarez" 
from  the  lobby  of  the  Hollywood  The- 
atre last  night  was  rebroadcast  by  the 
paper's  station,  LOZ,  covering  Argen- 
tina, Uruguay  and  Chile. 


Tibbett  in  "Circle" 

Lawrence  Tibbett  returns  perma- 
nently to  "The  Circle"  broadcasts  this 
Sunday.  In  addition  to  his  singing 
role,  Tibbett  will  serve  as  master  of 
ceremonies  for  Basil  Rathbone. 


Pathe  Stockholders 
Elect  Directorat 

Annual  stockholders'  meeting  cj 
Pathe  Film  Corp.  was  held  yesterda 
with  about  100  present.  New  dire( 
tors  elected  were  Henry  J.  Guih 
Allan  P.  Kirby,  Louis  Phillips,  Rot: 
ert  M.  McKinney,  Charles  A.  Stem. 
Kenneth  M.  Young  and  Robert  I. 
Young. 

All  were  reelected  with  the  excer. 
tion  of  Kirby,  who  replaced  O.  Henr 
Briggs,  and  K.  M.  Young,  who  rej 
placed  T.  P.  Loach.  The  board  Vra 
hold  its  first  meeting  tomorrow  t 
elect  officers. 


N.  Y.  Senate  Passes 
Bill  on  Radio  Libe 

Albany,  April_  25.— The  Moffett 
Coudert  bill  to  give  radio  commenta- 
tors, networks  and  individual  station 
the  same  libel  protection  as  possesse 
by  the  press,  passed  the  State  Senat  j 
today  and  is  now  up  before  Governol 
Lehman  for  signature. 

The  bill  will  protect  networks  an" 
their  employes  from  damage  suit) 
such  as  recently  suffered  by  NBC) 
which  was  fined  $25,000  because  o  \ 
allegedly  damaging  remarks  made  b;! 
Al  Jolson  about  a  hotel. 


G.  T.  E.  Net  $145,543 

General  Theatres  Equipment,  Inc, 
has  reported  for  the  quarter  ende 
March  31,  profit  of  $145,543,  afte  | 
taxes  and  charges,  equal  24  cents 
share  on  the  common  stock.  It  com 
pares  to  $120,264  profit  in  the  sam 
period  last  year. 


r  1 LL  UUKY 
DO  NOT  remove: 


Uert, 

♦o  the^filKat 
Picture 
ndustry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


45.  NO.  81 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  27,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


appeals  May 
[old  Up  RKO 
lan  Until  Fall 

day  Seen  Due  to  Full 
V.  S.  Court  Calendar 


Timsummation  of  RKO's  reorgani- 
ton  and  its  final  discharge  from 
steeship  may  be  delayed  until  next 
f  by  creditors'  appeals  from  the 
kral  District  court  order  confirm- 

the  company's  reorganization  plan. 
Las  indicated  yesterday, 
learing  of  the  creditors'  petitions 
the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals 
♦ears  to  be  impossible  before  the 
Tt  recesses  for  the  summer,  due  to 

congestion  of  the  calendar.  Even 
the  appeals  were  to  be  reached 
Or  to  the  summer  adjournment  it 
uld  be  so  near  the  end  of  the  ses- 
n  that  a  decision  would  not  be 
ided  down  in  any  event  until  late 
rtember  or  October,  at  the  earliest. 

Earnings  Improve 

lompany's  earnings  have  showed 
>rked  improvement  for  the  past  nine 
mths  and  the  result  for  the  first 
*rter  of  the  current  year,  ended 
•ril  1,  will  be  about  $475,000  better 
i  n  for  the  corresponding  quarter  of 
«8.  Operations  for  the  month  of 
ril,  also,  have  been  running  well 
•ad  of  April  of  last  year.  This 
particularly   true   of   the  picture 

(Continued  on  pa'je  8) 


-Day  'Pacific'  Fete 
nder  Way  in  Omaha 

Jmaha,  April  26. — Four-day  ob- 
vance  of  the  world  premiere  of 
ramount's  "Union  Pacific"  togeth- 
with  the  west's  "Golden  Spike" 
ebration  started  here  today  at  the 

\y  Auditorium.  Program  included 
opening  of  the  historical  museum 

-.1  celebration  built  around  the  ar- 

•al  of  the  Golden  Spike  from  San 

jancisco. 

3arney  Balaban,  Paramount  presi- 
:t,  accompanied  by  Neil  Agnew, 
e-president  in  charge  of  distribu- 
l,  and  Charles  R.  Reagan,  western 
i^ion  sales  manager,  will  arrive 
m  the  home  office  tomorrow  after- 
~m  by  United  Airlines.  En  route, 
y  will  be  joined  by  Allen  Usher, 
trict  manager.  Arriving  at  the 
ne  time  will  be  the  "Union  Pacific" 
ecial  from  Hollywood  bringing 
cil  B.  DeMille.  the  cast  of  the  pic- 
e  and  other  studio  personalities. 
This  group,  together  with  William 
Jeffers,  president  of  the  Union  Pa- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Para.  Shifts  Date 
Of  Sales  Meeting 

Paramount  yesterday  ad- 
vanced the  date  of  its  na- 
tional sales  convention  in  Los 
Angeles  to  avoid  conflict  with 
the  national  convention  of 
Allied  States  in  Minneapolis, 
acceding  to  the  request  of 
W.  A.  Steffes,  Allied  conven- 
tion chairman.  The  Para- 
mount meeting  was  changed 
from  June  12-14  to  June  8-10 
by  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  distribution. 

Several  Paramount  sales 
executives  plan  to  attend  the 
Allied  meeting  following  the 
convention. 


462  Players, 
128  Directors 
On  Contract 


There  are  462  contract  players  on 
the  10  principal  Hollywood  lots  at 
present,  according  to  home  office  com- 
pilations just  completed.  Directors 
under  contract  to  the  same  10  pro- 
ducing organizations  number  128. 

Paramount  leads  with  the  largest 
number  of  players  under  contract,  a 
total  of  85,  and  is  tied  with  20th 
Century-Fox  for  second  with  16  di- 
rectors under  contract.  M-G-M  with 
26  directors  under  contract  leads  in 
that  division. 

Following  is  the  tabulation  of 
player  and  director  contracts  by  com- 
panies. 

Paramount,  85  contract  players  and 
16  contract  directors;  M-G-M,  76 
players  and  26  directors ;  United  Art- 
ists, 56  and  seven ;  Warners,  55  and 
12 ;  Columbia,  42  and  10 ;  Universal, 
40  and  15;  RKO,  38  and  13;  20th- 
Fox,  36  and  16 ;  Republic,  20  and 
seven;  Monogram,  14  and  six. 


Reservations  Pile  Up 
For  Allied  Exposition 

A  large  attendance  of  exhibitors  is 
indicated  in  reservations  already  re- 
ceived by  New  York  Allied  for  its 
annual  convention  and  exposition  May 
23  to  25  at  the  Astor.  Hotel  reser- 
vations have  been  made  by  exhibitors 
in  Maryland,  Pennsylvania,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C,  New  England  states  and 
upper  New  York. 

Because  of  the  influx  for  the 
World's  Fair,  the  organization  has  in- 
formed exhibitors  that  hotels  cannot 
guarantee  reservations  beyond  May  1. 

State  officers  of  the  unit  met  yes- 
terday to  make  plans  for  the  affair. 


NEW  BRITISH  TAX 
HITS  U.  S.  FILMS 


Loew's  and  RKO 
Seek  to  Eliminate 
7-Day  Giveaways 

Loew's  and  RKO  have  been  at- 
tempting to  obtain  elimination  of 
seven-day  cash  giveaways  as  prac- 
ticed by  a  number  of  independent  the- 
atres. Some  houses  are  said  to  have 
giveaways  every  night  of  the  week,  in 
addition  to  matinees. 

Discussions  with  the  independents 
have  been  held  for  the  last  six  months, 
without  result.  The  independents 
claim  that  they  are  "forced"  to  the 
practice  because  of  the  product  and 
clearance  situation. 

The  major  circuits  are  striving  to 
eliminate  games.  RKO  dropped  "Cir- 
cus Screeno"  four  or  five  months  ago 
and  Tuesday  night  held  the  last  of  a 
series  of  cash  giveaways  in  which  its 
five  Bronx  theatres  combined.  The 
combination  games  were  started  two 
weeks  ago  as  a  temporary  policy. 

Distributors  Resume 
Pact  Talk  Next  Week 

Discussions  on  elaboration  of  the 
trade  practice  code's  arbitration  pro- 
visions will  be  continued,  it  was  said 
yesterday  following  a  meeting  of  the 
distributors'  committee  at  the  Astor. 

Sales  executives  and  attorneys  of 
major  companies  attended  the  meeting, 
and  Harry  Brandt,  I.T.O.A.  presi- 
dent, conferred  with  the  committee 
briefly.  Several  committee  members 
leave  tonight  for  the  Variety  Club 
convention  in  Detroit  and  considera- 
tion of  changes  will  be  resumed  next 
week. 

Attending  yesterday's  all-day  ses- 
sion were  Rodgers,  Edward  Aaron 
and  Tyree  Dillard  of  M-G-G ;  Neil  F. 
Agnew  and  Irving  Cohen  of  Para- 
mount, Gradwell  L.  Sears  and  I. 
Howard  Levinson  of  Warners,  Ned 
E.  Depinet  of  RKO  and  A.  Montague 
and  Irving  Moross  of  Columbia. 

Reject  Parking  Law 

Toronto,  April  26.— Ontario  legis- 
lature has  rejected  the  Toronto  bylaw 
which  provided  that  theatre  owners 
must  have  private  automobile  park- 
ing areas  for  patrons  so  that  the  cars 
would  not  be  left  on  the  streets  dur- 
ing performances.  The  city  had  asked 
for  permissive  legislation  to  compel 
the  provision  of  parking  lots  in  pro- 
portion to  the  number  of  seats  in  a 
theatre. 


To  Pay  £8  to  British  £1 
Under  Revision;  Both 
File  Protests 


London,  April  26. — Estimates  here 
indicate  that  American  film  compa- 
nies face  an  increase  of  approximate- 
ly $2,000,000  annually,  while  the 
British  industry's  increase  will  be 
about  $260,000,  as  a  result  of  the  in- 
creases in  duties  and  excise  taxes  on 
films  imposed  in  the  new  budget  sub- 
mitted to  Parliament  yesterday  by  Sir 
John  Simon,  Chancellor  of  the  Ex- 
chequer. The  estimates  show  that  the 
American  industry  will  pay  £8  to 
every  l\  paid  by  the  British  indus- 
try. 

Protests  already  have  been  made 
by  both  British  and  American  film  in- 
terests here  to  the  Government 
against  the  imposition  of  the  new  tax 
schedule. 

The  trade  here  is  greatly  concerned 
over  the  increases,  distributors  being 
chiefly  disturbed  because  the  altera- 
tion in  the  tax  on  imported  positive 
film  means  greatly  increased  film 
costs.  While  American  companies 
are  affected  chiefly  by  the  increase  in 
the  import  duties  on  positive  as  well 
as  negatives,  the  British  interests  will 
be  affected  by  the  new  excise  taxes 
on  British-manufactured  raw  stock. 

The  present  penny-a-foot  duty  on 
imports  of  positive  and  five  pence  on 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Crews  Bill  Suffers 
Defeat  in  Assembly 

Albany,  April  26. — Crews'  New 
York  City  projectionist  bill  was  over- 
whelmingly defeated  in  the  New  York 
State  Assembly  today  by  a  vote  of  81 
to  33.  Crews,  however,  kept  the  bill 
alive  by  a  Parliamentary  move  in 
which  his  motion  to  lay  the  bill  on 
the  table  was  carried.  Another  vote 
may  be  taken  before  the  end  of  the 
legislative  session,  when  the  motion 
to  reconsider  is  made. 

Crews,  saying  his  bill  was  purely 
a  safety  measure,  said  it  does  not  af- 
fect amateur  and  16mm.  operators.  He 
cited  the  endorsements  of  the  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Labor  and  State 
Federation  of  Teachers,  among  others. 
Nearly  every  upstate  member  of  the 
Assembly  voted  in  opposition  to  the 
bill.  The  opposition  of  religious 
groups,  together  with  that  of  small 
exhibitors,  proved  the  determining  fac- 
tor. 


- 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  27,  193' 


Para.  Quarter  Net 
Put  at  $1,300,000 


Paramount  yesterday  estimated  its 
earnings  for  the  quarter  ended  April 
1  at  $1,300,000  after  interest  and_all 
charges.  This  amount  includes  $678,- 
000  of  Paramount's  direct  and  indirect 
net  interest  as  a  stockholder  in  the 
combined  undistributed  earnings  for 
the  quarter  of  partially  owned,  non- 
consolidated  subsidiaries.  The  figure 
compares  with  net  of  $830,866  for  the 
corresponding  quarter  last  year,  when 
$806,000  of  undistributed  earnings  of 
non-consolidated  subsidiaries  was  in- 
cluded. 

Result  for  the  1939  quarter  is  equiv- 
alent after  dividends  on  the  first  and 
second  preferred  stock  to  41  cents  per 
share  on  the  2,465,927  shares  of  com- 
mon stock,  compared  with  22  cents  per 
share  for  the  corresponding  quarter 
last  vear. 


Republic  Sets  Coast 
Meeting  on  May  8-9 

Dates  of  Republic's  fourth  and  final 
regional  sales  meeting,  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, have  been  changed  to  May  8 
and  9.  It  had  been  scheduled  to  be 
held  earlier. 

H.  J.  Yates  left  last  night  for  the 
coast  and  James  R.  Grainger,  presi- 
dent, will  leave  Sunday  for  San  Fran- 
cisco. They  will  attend  the  west 
coast  opening  of  "Man  of  Conquest"  at 
the  Paramount,  San  Francisco,  May 
4,  and  remain  there  for  the  meeting. 


Saville  Is  on  Coast 
For  Metro  Parleys 

Hollywood,  April  26. — Victor  Sa- 
ville and  his  wife  arrived  here  yester- 
day from  England  for  conferences  with 
Ben  Goetz,  in  charge  of  M-G-M 
British  production,  over  the  future 
product  to  be  made  in  London. 

The  next  three  films  to  be  produced 
by  Saville  in  England  will  be  "Bus- 
man's Holiday"  and  "The  Earl  of 
Chicago,"  both  to  be  Robert  Mont- 
gomery vehicles,  and  "The  Ruined 
City."  from  the  novel,  "Kindling," 
with  Robert  Donat. 


Appeal  "Polygamy"  Ban 

Banning  of  "Polygamy"  by  Irwin 
Esmond,  New  York  state  censor,  has 
been  appealed  by  Syndicate  Ex- 
changes. N.  Y.  Board  of  Regents  will 
hear  the  appeal  after  a  screening  be- 
fore a  subcommittee  of  three. 


'Feathers*  Print  Due 

First  print  of  "Four  Feathers," 
Alexander  Korda  color  production  for 
release  in  this  country  by  United 
Artists,  will  arrive  here  on  the  Nor- 
mandie  Monday. 


Para.  Dance  Tomorrow 

Paramount  Pep  Club  spring  dance 
will  be  held  in  the  Belvedere  Room  of 
the  Hotel  Astor  tomorrow  night. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48+h  St.  Tel.  CHiclcering  4-4200 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


LYNN  FARNOL,  director  of  pub- 
licity and  advertising  for  United, 
Artists,  will  fly  to  Hollywood  Mon- 
day to  prepare  for  the  annual  sales 
convention  May  7-11. 

• 

Lunching  at  Sardi's  yesterday  were 
Arthur  Loew,  Moss  Hart,  John  D. 
Hertz,  Jr.,  Mort  Spring,  David 
Blum,  Charles  Washburn,  Stan- 
ton Griffis,  Whitney  Bourne, 
Harry  Buxbaum,  Bob  Cohen. 

Bertita  Harding,  author  of  "Phan- 
tom Crown"  upon  which  Warner's 
"Juarez"  is  based,  has  arrived  from 
Hollywood  with  her  husband,  and 
is  stopping  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria. 
• 

Ben  Cammack,  RKO's  general 
manager  in  Latin  America,  will  arrive 
in  Los  Angeles  from  Honolulu  May  1 
following  an  inspection  tour  in  the 
Far  East. 

• 

Ian  C.  Javal,  commercial  director 
for  Baird  Television,  arrives  tomor- 
row on  the  Aquitania  with  engineers 
and  equipment  for  demonstration  pur- 
poses. 

• 

Lya  Lys,  actress  who  appeared  in 
Warners'  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy,"  left  for  the  coast  last  night 
after  two  weeks  vacation  in  New 
York. 

• 

Gus  Edwards,  upon  whose  career 
Paramount's  "The  Star  Maker"  is 
based,  has  left  for  the  Mayo  Clinic 
in  Minnesota  for  treatment. 

• 

Anna  Neagle  arrives  tomorrow 
from  England  en  route  to  Hollywood 
for  work  in  her  first  American  picture, 
to  be  produced  by  RKO. 

• 

Charles  Ruppert,  RKO  player, 
has  changed  his  name  to  Charles 
Drake. 


ED  KUYKENDALL,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president,  is  en  route  to  Detroit  to 
attend  the  Variety  annual  convention 
opening  there  today. 

• 

Ralph  B.  Austrian,  RCA  Manu- 
facturing assistant  vice-president, 
leaves  for  Hollywood  tomorrow  for 
conferences  with  Photophone  execu- 
tives on  the  coast. 

• 

Joe  Heppner  of  Metropolitan  Photo 
and  Dick  Condon  will  accompany 
Hal  Horne  when  the  latter  leaves  for 
the  coast  Friday.  They  will  be  gone 
about  a  month. 

• 

Morris  Joseph,  Universal's  New 
Haven  exchange  manager,  will  cele- 
brate his  25th  anniversary  in  the  in- 
dustry with  a  playdate  drive,  May 
21-27. 

• 

Dave  Palfreyman  of  the  M.P. 
P.D.A.  leaves  New  York  today  to 
attend  the  annual  convention  of  the 
Variety  Clubs  in  Detroit. 

• 

A-Mike  Vogel,   chairman  of  the 
Round  Table  Department  of  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  leaves  today  for  the 
Variety  Club  convention  in  Detroit. 
• 

Fred  Lange,  Continental  European 
manager  for  Paramount,  arrives  in 
New  York  today  on  the  Conte  di 
Savoia. 

• 

William  T.  Kerrigan  has  joined 
the  advertising  and  copy  service  de- 
partment of  Filmack  Trailer  Co., 
Chicago. 

• 

J.  J.  Milstein  leaves  for  the  coast 
today  for  the  U.A.  convention  and 
conferences  with  Edward  Small. 
• 

Will  H.  Hays  has  postponed  his 
departure  for  the  coast  until  some 
time  next  week. 


Para,  Asks  Dismissal 
Of  Jablow,  Acker  Suit 

Paramount  Pictures,  Inc.,  filed 
notice  yesterday  that  it  will  apply  to 
the  U.  S.  District  Court  on  May  5 
for  an  order  dismissing  the  stockhold- 
ers' suit  of  Frank  Jablow  and  Sam 
Acker  against  it  and  its  officers  and 
directors  on  the  ground  that  the  com- 
plaint fails  to  state  each  cause  of  ac- 
tion separately.  If  this  application  is 
denied,  the  notice  stated,  Paramount 
will  ask  the  court  to  direct  the  plain- 
tiffs to  file  an  amended  complaint  and 
in  addition  a  bill  of  particulars.  An 
extension  of  20  days'  time  to  answer 
will  also  be  sought  by  Paramount. 


Discontinue  Song  Suit 

Suit  for  $1,000,000  damages,  injunc- 
tion and  accounting  against  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox Film  Corp.,  Movietone 
News  Corp.,  Sam  Fox  Publishing  Co., 
Sam  and  Harry  Fox,  Con  Conrad, 
Herb  Magidson  and  Nino  Martini, 
brought  by  the  Foreign  and  Domes- 
tic Music  Corp.,  Societe  Anonyme 
Musicale  Bixio  and  Cesare  Andrea 
Bixio,  has  been  discontinued,  ac- 
cording to  stipulations  filed  in  the 
U.  S.  District  Court.  Plaintiffs  had 
charged  plagiarism  of  their  song, 
"Passa  L'Amore"  by  "Midnight  in 
Paris,"  sung  in  the  film  "Here's  to 
Romance.'* 


Honor  Max  Wolff  on 
20th  Year  at  M-G-M 

Max  Wolff  of  M-G-M's  purchas- 
ing department  was  honored  at  a  din- 
ner dance  at  the  Astor  last  night 
given  by  the  Max  Wolff  Association, 
an  organization  which  performs  char- 
itable activities. 

The  affair  signalized  Wolff's  20th 
anniversary  with  the  company.  In 
recognition  of  his  charitable  work, 
Wolff  was  presented  a  gold  card  as  a 
testimonial. 

About  450  were  present.  From 
Loew's  were  Joseph  R.  Vogel,  Mar- 
vin Schenck,  Oscar  A.  Doob,  Judge  I. 
Frey ,  Charles  J.  Sonin,  Lester  B. 
Isaac,  Harry  M.  Bernstein,  W.  R. 
Ferguson,  Eddie  Carrier  and  others. 
Among  others  present  were  Mayors 
Joseph  Loehr  of  Norwalk,  Conn.,  and 
Frank  Strack  of  Yonkers,  Herb  Petty 
and  Frank  Roehrenbeck  of  WHN, 
Capt.  Roscoe  Turner,  aviator ;  Bobby 
Feldman  of  WMCA,  Roger  Wolfe 
Kahn  and  numerous  civic  notables. 
George  Hamilton  Combs,  WHN  com- 
mentator, was  one  of.  the  toastmas- 
ters. 


Three  Writers  Signed 

Hollywood.  April  26. — Arthur 
Sheekman,  Robert  Thoeren  and  Billy 
Wilder  have  been  signed  to  contracts 
as  writers  by  M-G-M. 


'Wuthering/  Play, 
Will  Open  Tonight 

For  the  first  time  in  recent 
Broadway  history,  a  legiti- 
mate stage  play  will  open  in 
the  face  of  competition  from 
a  film  of  the  same  name. 
"Wuthering  Heights,"  drama- 
tized by  Randolph  Carter, 
bows  in  at  the  Longacre  to- 
night while  the  film  goes  into 
its  third  week  at  the  Rivoli/- 
at  the  same  time. 

Robert  Henderson  and 
Harry  Young  are  the  pro- 
ducers. Included  in  the  cast 
are  Edith  Barrett,  Don  Terry, 
Viola  Roache,  Sherling  Oliver. 


IT  OA  to  Handle  Fund 
For  Smaller  Circuits 

New  York  I.T.O.A.  has  organized 
to  handle  Greater  New  York  Fund 
activities  for  the  smaller  circuits  in 
the  city.  Those  circuits  which  are  not 
equipped  to  make  solicitation  them-f 
selves  may  do  so  through  the  organi- 
zation. The  larger  independent  cir- 
cuits, however,  will  conduct  their  own 
solicitation. 

The  plan  was  outlined  by  Harry 
Brandt,  president,  at  a  membership 
meeting  yesterday  at  the  Astor. 
Brandt  is  a  leader  of  the  campaign's 
film  industry  division. 


Trust  Suit  Bill  Here, 
Will  Be  Filed  Today 

Government's  bill  of  particulars  in 
its  anti-trust  suit  against  major  com- 
panies was  brought  from  Washington 
yesterday  by  Special  Assistant  Attor- 
ney General  Paul  Williams.  Clerical 
corrections  which  were  required,  how- 
ever, prevented  its  filing  at  that  time. 
It  will  be  served  upon  defense  at- 
torneys and  filed  today. 


Roberts  Back  from  S.  A. 

Business  conditions  in  Latin  Amer- 
ica are  in  excellent  condition,  Charles 
Roberts,  Columbia  home  office  super- 
visor for  the  territory,  reported 
on  his  return  to  New  York  aboard 
the  Orizaba  after  six  months  in  Cen- 
tral and  South  America  and  the  West 
Indies. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Offke) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president; 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurer. 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  at  il 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone: 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubco, 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame.. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Sorority  House" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  April  26. — Alert  showmen  have  in  "Sorority  House"  a 
mint  of  ideas  for  exploitation  campaigns  of  varying  types  to  fit  their 
particular  communities.  It  is,  in  a  sense,  a  brutally  frank  expose  of  the 
caste  system  generally  accepted  as  abounding  in  American  college  sorori- 
ties and  fraternities.  In  that  respect,  it  can  be  a  subject  of  controversy. 
Filled  with  human  interest,  it  tells  the  story  of  a  none  too  well-to-do 
father's  sacrifices  to  send  his  daughter  to  college,  where  she  is  almost 
submerged  in  the  whirlpools  of  snobbery  and  childish  cruelty. 

Chief  of  the  roles  is  taken  by  Anne  Shirley,  who  is  given  a  good  run 
for  thespic  honors  by  Barbara  Read.  James  Ellison  is  the  romantic  lead, 
and  Adele  Pearce,  J.  M.  Kerrigan,  Helen  Wood,  Doris  Jordan,  June 
Storey,  Elisabeth  Risdon,  Margaret  Armstrong,  Selmer  Jackson  and 
Chill  Wills  complete  the  cast.  "Sorority  House"  is  a  tersely  told  tale 
from  the  pen  of  Dalton  Trumbo,  who  adapted  the  play,  "The  Chi  House," 
by  Mary  Coyle  Chase.  There  is  not  a  lost  motion  in  John  Farrow's 
direction.  Robert  Sisk  produced,  under  the  supervision  of  Lee  Marcus, 
production  executive. 

Miss  Shirley  goes  to  college  only  after  her  worshipping  father,  Ker- 
rigan, mortgages  his  grocery  store  for  the  funds.  Ignorant  of  sorority 
"rushes,"  she  rooms  with  Miss  Read  and  Miss  Pearce,  the  former  a 
girl  shunned  by  the  Greek  letter  organizations,  and  the  latter  dazzled 
by  their  "glamour."  Through  a  ruse  in  which  she  has  had  no  part,  Miss 
Shirley  is  "rushed,"  and  gets  the  bid  to  the  highest  sorority  on  the 
campus.  Miss  Pearce  loses  out,  and  Miss  Read  takes  it  philosophically. 
The  story  ends  with  the  trio  realizing  the  true  snobbishness  of  the  other 
girls. 

Running  time,  63  minutes.  "G."*  Vance  King 


"Blind  Alley" 

(Columbia) 

Hollywood,  April  26. — Here  are  two  pictures  in  one,  a  gun-blazing 
melodrama  and  a  psychological  study,  exploitable  as  either  or  both  and 
satisfactory  on  both  counts.  Chester  Morris,  playing  a  vicious  killer, 
and  Ralph  Bellamy,  as  a  psychiatrist  who  psychoanalyzes  him  as  a  means 
of  bringing  his  crimson  career  to  an  end,  are  the  top  names.  Both  supply 
excellent  portrayals,  with  Ann  Dvorak,  Joan  Perry,  Melville  Cooper, 
Rose  Stradner  and  John  Eldridge  in  principal  support. 

The  story,  written  for  the  screen  by  Philip  Mac  Donald,  Michael 
Blankfort  and  Albert  Duffy  from  a  play  by  James  Warwick,  follows 
a  direct  line  from  the  escape  of  an  imprisoned  killer  to  his  death  at 
police  hands.  It  places  him  in  gun-point  command  of  a  houseful  of 
people,  family  and  guests  of  a  psychiatrist,  and  leaves  him  there  through- 
out a  suspenseful  night  in  the  course  of  which  the  psychiatrist  manages 
to  psychoanalyze  the  murderer,  via  interpretation  of  a  recurrent  night- 
mare, ultimately  dissolving  his  killer  psychosis  and  thus  ridding  him  of 
murderous  impulse.    Police  guns  get  him,  however. 

Associate  producer  Fred  Kohlmar  and  director  Charles  Vidor  have 
succeeded  admirably  in  conveying  the  somewhat  esoteric  elements  of 
the  story  without  expense  to  the  plainer  variety  of  melodrama  which 
the  plain  variety  of  cinemagoer  understands  more  fully.  The  film  may 
be  offered,  therefore,  to  practically  any  type  of  patronage  with  confidence. 

Running  time,  70  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


(Thursday,  April  27,  1939 


Reorganization  of 
Condor  Approved 


Los  Angeles  April  26. — Federal 
(Judge  George  Cosgrave  has  ap- 
proved the  reorganization  plan  for 
Condor  Pictures,  under  which  a  new 
firm,  Condor  Corp.,  would  liquidate 
the  assets  of  the  former  company, 
Consisting  mainly  of  30  pictures  in  the 
.■txess  of  distribution  by  Grand  Na- 
y~' tial  and  RKO  and  eventually  en- 
gage in  production. 

The  plan  calls  for  issuance  of  $100,- 
CKK)  in  Class  "A"  shares  of  new  com- 
pany stock  to  creditors  with  unse- 
cured claims,  $40,000  in  Class  "B" 
stock  to  stockholders  having  damage 
tlaims  by  reason  of  the  S.E.C.  stop- 
ping old  Condor  stock  sales,  and  new 
common  stock  share-for-share  to  all 
other  stockholders.  First  move  of  the 
new  company  will  be  to  attempt  to 
repay  $140,000  indebtedness  and  then 
enter  production. 

Canada  MPD  Takes 
Up  Nova  Scotia  Bill 

Toronto.  April  26. — Col.  John  A. 
Cooper,  president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Distributors  of  Canada,  has  been 
in  Ottawa  to  discuss  with  Federal 
Government  authorities  the  situation 
in  connection  with  passage  by  the 
.Nova  Scotia  Legislature  of  the  bill 
providing  for  control  of  film  ex- 
changes through  a  license  system.  One 
provision  of  the  act,  which  is  to 
amend  the  Theatres,  Cinematographs 
land  Amusements  Act,  is  that  it  is  not 
Iti)  come  into  force  until  "such  day 
a-  the  Governor-In-Council  orders 
and  declares  by  proclamation."  Ac- 
cordingly, the  film  distributors  are 
continuing  their  fight  against  the  leg- 
i>lative  proposals. 


Set  Spellman  Hearing 

Hearing  on  the  Spellman  bill,  which 
would  make  it  a  misdemeanor  for  a 
ticket  broker  to  advance  the  price  of  a 
ticket  more  than  75  cents  for  orchestra 
seats  and  50  cents  for  balcony  seats, 
will  be  held  at  City  Hall  at  2:30 
P.M.  tomorrow.  The  bill  is  pending 
in  the  New  York  City  Council.  James 

'  F.  Reilly,  executive  secretary  of  the 
League  of  N.  Y.  Theatres,  and  Philip 

1  l.oeb,  of  Actors'  Equity,  will  appear 
in  support  of  the  bill. 

To  Hear  'Birth'  Appeal 

Albany,  April  25. — Appellate  Di- 
vision, Third  Department,  will  hear  an 
appeal  by  American  Committee  on 
Maternal  Welfare,  Inc.,  and  Sam 
Citron  from  a  decision  of  the  N.  Y. 
P.oard  of  Regents  which  banned  "The 
.  Birth  of  a  Baby." 


WB  Holds  Schlesinger 

Hollywood,  April  26. — Warners  to- 
!  day  extended  the  contract  of  Leon 
Schlesinger,  producing  cartoons  for 
^V.B.  release,  for  another  year.  He 
will  again  make  42  subjects,  divided 
into  26  Merrie  Melodies  and  16 
I.ooney  Tunes. 


Bracker  to  Paramount 

Murray  Bracker  has  joined  the  li- 
cense department  of  Paramount.  He 
will  be  associated  with  Harry  Roy- 
ster  in  the  sales  plan  for  Max 
Fleischer's  feature-length  cartoon  in 
color,  "Gulliver's  Travels." 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'U'  Heads  Visit  Studio 

Hollywood,  April  26. — Five  Uni- 
versal distribution  and  home  office 
executives  visited  the  studio  today, 
examining  product  following  windup 
of  the  regional  sales  convention  in 
San  Francisco.  They  were  W.  A. 
Scully,  general  sales  manager;  W.  J. 
Heineman,  wsetern  sales  manager ;  A. 
J.  O'Keefe,  west  coast  district  man- 
ager, and  James  Jordan  and  F.  T 
Murray  of  the  New  York  office. 


N.  J.  Allied  to  Move 

New  Jersey  Allied  on  Monday  will 
move  its  offices  from  the  Lincoln 
Hotel  to  temporary  headquarters  in 
the  Sardi  Building  on  West  44th  St. 


Auster  Quits  Code  Post 

Hollywood,  April  26. — Islin  Auster, 
a  member  of  the  Production  Code  Ad- 
ministration staff  under  Joseph  I. 
Breen  since  its  inception,  has  resigned 
and  has  joined  Universal's  story  de- 
partment here.  Harry  Zehner,  for- 
merly with  the  Universal  story  de- 
partment, has  succeeded  Auster. 


Claim  'Liberty'  Record 

Hollywood,  April  26.  —  Warners 
claim  that  "Sons  of  Liberty,"  his- 
torical short  subject,  will  set  a  new 
mark  for  playing  time  for  the  Ameri- 
canism series,  with  a  total  of  almost 
10.000  houses  booking  the  film. 


3 


Frisco  Gives 


"Wuthering" 
Good  $8,500 


San  Francisco,  April  26. — All  the 
leading  attractions  here  were  in  the 
second  week,  with  "The  Story  of 
Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  taking 
$13,000  at  the  Golden  Gate.  "Wuther- 
ing Heights"  drew  a  good  $8,500, 
"Broadway  Serenade"  $6,200  at  the 
St.  Francis,  and  "The  Story  of  Alex- 
ander Graham  Bell"  and  "Chasing 
Danger"  $10,000  at  the  Paramount. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  18-21 : 

"Story  of  Irene  and  Vernon  Castle"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE — (2,850)    (35c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross: 
$13,000.  (Average,  $15,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $6,700.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $13,500.  (Average,  $16,000) 
"Story  of  Alexander   Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Av- 
erage. $11,500) 

"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

ST.  FRANCIS— (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,200.  (Av- 
erage, $6,000) 

"BlackweU's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Woman  Doctor"  (Rep) 

WARFIELD—  (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c) 
7  days.  Gross.  $9,500.   (Average,  $12,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (15c-35c-40c- 
55c-65)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,500. 
(Average,  $8,000) 

"Symphony  in  the  Mountains"  (Zwicker) 

CLAY— (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$650.    (Average,  $1,000) 
"Annie  Laurie"  (World) 

LARKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $700.  (Average,  $1,000) 


'Midnight'  Pulls 
$13,000  in  Cincy 

Cincinnati,  April  26. — "Midnight" 
was  the  top  grosser,  giving  the  RKO 
Albee  a  nice  $13,000. 

"Stagecoach"  collected  a  big  $11,000 
at  the  RKO  Palace,  and  "Dodge  City" 
pulled  an  exceptionally  strong  $8,800 
on  a  moveover  week  at  the  RKO 
Capitol. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  20-22: 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 

RKO   ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)   (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,200.  (Average,  $10,000> 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO)  (1  day) 
"The  Eagle  and  the  Hawk" 
(Para,  reissue,  6  days) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)     (35c-42c).  Gross: 
$3,200.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

RKO   GRAND— (1,400)    (25c-40c)    7  days, 
4th  week.    Gross:  $2,450.    (Average.  $2,750) 
"The  Mystery  of  Mr.  Wong"  (Mono.) 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)   (20c-30c)  4  davs. 
Gross:  $1,450.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Pardon  Our  Nerve"  (20th-Fox) 
"Prison  Train"  (Big  Feature  Rights) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)   (20c -30c)  3  davs. 
Gross:  $800.    (Average.  $900) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (30c-40e)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.    (Average.  $6,000) 


I ADSHOW  OF  WA 


:YS  FOR  WARNER 


FOR  WARNER 


^E^K  ^^^^  HHH  ^tf^k  flP^^Y 


The  greatest  publicity 

PRE-SELLING  THE  GREATEST 


Cecil  B.  DeMille's  "UNION  1 

ana  Joel  McCrea  with  Akim  Tamiroff 

Produced  and  Directed  by  CECIL  B.  De  MILLE  •  Screen  Play  by  Walter  DeLeon,  C.  Gardner  Sullh 

-11 


it  in  Picture  History - 

SRICAN  EPIC  OF  THEM  ALL! 


JFIC"  starring  Barbara  Stanwyck 

Irt  Preston  •  lynne  Overman  •  Brian  Donlevy 

sky,  . 


■♦«*». 


Base-  on  an  Adaptation  by  .acK  Cunn.ngbayn  of  a  Story  by  Ernest  Hayco* 


•  A  Paramount  Picture 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  April  27,  19 


Foods  Show  Highest 
CBS  Gain  Over  '35 


Foods,  food  beverages,  soaps  and 
household  supplies  show  composite 
gains  on  CBS  up  to  717  per  cent  over 
1935,  a  breakdown  of  billing  in  those 
groups  reveals.  Foods  and  food  bev- 
erages lead  all  other  industries  in 
total  volume  of  expenditures,  while 
soaps  and  household  supplies  show 
the  greatest  percentage  of  gains. 

During  1938,  food  expenditures 
amounted  to  $6,596,827,  a  110.7  per 
cent  gain  over  1935 ;  soap  expendi- 
tures totaled  $3,077,079,  a  percentage 
increase  over  1935  of  717.0.  The 
combined  expenditures  for  the  two  di- 
visions for  1938  was  $9,673,906,  a 
175.9  per  cent  increase. 

An  even  sharper  upcurve  in  these 
divisions  appears  likely  for  1939  in 
view  of  the  new  food  business  recent- 
ly secured  by  CBS.  Among  the  new 
sponsors  whose  programs  have  al- 
ready appeared,  or  will  appear  short- 
ly, on  CBS,  are  Campbell  Soup  with 
Amos  '  n'  Andy;  Sealtest  with 
"Your  Family  and  Mine" ;  Bowey's 
"Swing  Musical."  Hormel,  Knox,  and 
Nehi  are  also  among  leading  food  ad- 
vertisers who  are  starting  campaigns 
on  CBS. 


NAB  Boston  Group 
Meeting  on  May  11 

Boston,  April  26. — Meeting  of  the 
first  district  of  the  National  Asso- 
ciation of  Broadcasters  will  take  place 
in  the  Yankee  Network  studios  May 
11.  The  meeting  will  discuss  impor- 
ant  matters  that  have  been  under  dis- 
cussion by  the  national  board  for  the 
past  few  months.  Neville  Miller, 
president  of  the  N.  A.  B.,  will  attend. 

On  the  same  date,  a  special  meet- 
ing of  the  sales  manager  group  of  the 
first  district  will  be  held.  Special 
speakers  will  be  Robert  F.  Elder,  di- 
rector of  research  for  Lever  Bros.,  and 
Ken  Backman,  general  manager  of  the 
Boston  Better  Business  Bureau. 


Lewis  to  Spot  Film 

Leonard  Lewis,  formerly  with  the 
World  Broadcasting  System  as  sales- 
man and  editor  of  World  News,  and 
previously  radio  editor  of  Printers 
Ink  publications,  has  joined  Spot  Film 
Productions  as  vice-president  in 
charge  of  the  radio  and  television  di- 
vision. Spot  Film  Productions  make 
commercial  and  educational  pictures 
and  are  now  developing  transcribed 
programs  on  film. 


Star  Takes  Universal 

Star  Radio  Programs,  Inc.,  has  ac- 
quired the  business  of  Universal  Radio 
Programs,  and  will  continue  to  carry 
the  regular  features  of  the  former 
script  organization  for  the  150  sta- 
tions which  have  been  broadcasting 
Universal's  scripts.  Among  the  pro- 
grams acquired  are  "Human  Angles 
in  Sports,"  "Sports  Quiz,"  "This 
Strange  World." 


Bartell  Joins  CBS 

Jack  Bartell,  personal  artist  repre- 
sentative, has  joined  the  staff  of  CBS 
artists  bureau,  where  he  will  specialize 
in  personal  appearance  bookings,  night 
clubs,  vaudeville  and  club  dates.  At- 
tractions handled  by  Hartell,  including 
Hildegarde,  Gloria  Grafton  and  Ches- 
ter Hale,  will  come  under  CBS  man- 
agement. 


'Ham*  Publicity 

"Grand  Jury  Secrets,"  forth- 
coming Paramount  picture,  is 
receiving  some  unique  pub- 
licity free.  Eugene  Kearney, 
a  radio  "ham"  operator, 
worked  in  the  picture,  and 
since  then  he  has  been  talk- 
ing via  short-wave  to  "hams" 
all  over  the  country,  advising 
them  of  its  excellence  and  of 
the  release  date  of  the  film. 


4  -  Day  'Pacific'  Fete 
Under  Way  in  Omaha 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

cific,  will  head  a  historical  parade 
which  will  monopolize  the  downtown 
business  section  Friday  morning.  Jef- 
fers  has  offered  two  expense  paid  trips 
to  Hollywood  and  $100  in  cash  for  the 
best  retail  window  display  on  the  pre- 
miere. 

Thousands  of  visitors  are  thronging 
the  city  for  the  celebration.  Civic 
functions  will  continue  tomorrow  and 
Friday  and  will  reach  a  climax  with 
the  film's  premiere  at  the  Omaha  Fri- 
day evening.  Immediately  after  the 
first  showing,  the  picture  will  go  into 
the  Orpheum  and  the  Paramount  for 
midnight  shows,  to  make  it  a  tri-the- 
atre  premiere. 


Appeals  May  Hold  U p 
RKO  Plan  Until  Fall 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
company's  earnings  which  have  been 
greatly  benefited  by  a  succession  of 
good  releases  and  an  absence  of  heavy 
liquidation  charges  against  high  cost 
productions. 

Irving  Trust  Co.,  RKO  trustee,  has 
designated  Andrew  Christensen  to  suc- 
ceed A.  H.  McCausland  as  the  trus- 
tee's representative  in  RKO.  Chris- 
tensen will  be  assisted  by  Garret  Van 
W agner,  a  member  of  the  trustee's 
RKO  staff  for  the  past  six  years.  Mc- 
Causland, after  six  years  at  RKO, 
resigned  from  Irving  Trust  to  become 
business  manager  of  Famous  Prod., 
the  new  Harry  Eddington  unit  releas- 
ing through  Universal.  He  leaves 
New  York  for  the  coast  by  automobile 
today  with  plans  for  beginning  his 
new  duties  on  the  Universal  lot  about 
May.  10. 


New  British  Taxes 
Hit  American  Films 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

negative  have  been  abolished.  The 
new  duty  is  six  pence  per  foot  for 
the  first  copy  of  imported  negative  or 
positive  and  two  pence  per  foot  for 
any  subsequent  copies.  The  increase 
clearly  strikes  at  the  current  practice 
of  importing  lavender  prints.  It  is 
anticipated  that  American  companies 
as  a  result  will  stop  shipping  posi- 
tives and  ship  only  negatives,  to  be 
printed  in  England.  Excise  tax  has 
been  imposed  on  all  British-manufac- 
tured positive  of  four  pence,  half- 
penny per  square  foot.  Sub-standard 
film  and  sound  track  is  subject  to  a 
duty  of  two  pence  per  foot. 

The  customs  duty  on  blank  film 
imports  has  been  increased  to  nine 
pence  per  square  foot.  The  altera- 
tion of  this  tax  from  the  linear  to  the 
square  foot  basis  means  that  the  im- 
porter will  pay  a  penny  per  foot  in- 
stead of  one-third  of  a  penny  a  foot. 
Films  produced  here  will  pay  approxi- 
mately a  half-penny  per  linear  foot. 

It  is  calculated  it  will  increase 
British  production  costs  by  $4,000  to 
$5,000  per  film,  while  the  tax  on  im- 
ported raw  stock  is  seen  as  stimulating 
local  manufacture. 

Simons  estimates  the  new  duties 
will  increase  revenues  by  about  $4,- 
000,000  for  the  current  year,  and 
more  than  $5,000,000  in  a  full  12- 
month  period.  The  Chancellor  de- 
clares the  film  duties  are  not  levied 
for  defense  expenditure  but  to  bal- 
ance other  concessions  made  in  the 
budget.  Theater  and  non-film  enter- 
tainment are  to  be  given  a  rebate, 
which  means  a  cut  in  admission  prices, 
ranging  from  a  penny  on  the  lowest 
priced  tickets  upward. 


'Conquest'  at  Capitol 

Republic's  "Man  of  Conquest"  opens 
today  at  the  Capitol.  "Dark  Victory" 
grossed  an  estimated  $100,000  in  its 
first  week  at  the  Music  Hall,  where  it 
is  held  over.  "The  Hardy's  Ride 
High"  grossed  an  estimated  $20,000  in 
its  second  week  at  the  Capitol. 


Renew  Mark  Warnow 

Mark  Warnow  has  been  extended 
for  another  13  weeks  on  the  Lucky 
Strike  "Hit  Parade"  over  CBS.  Con- 
tract is  effective  May  6.  Warnow  has 
just  reached  the  end  of  a  13-week 
engagement.  Lord  &  Thomas  is  the 
agency. 


Song  Basis  of  Suit 

Plagiarism  suit  against  Warners, 
CBS,  NBC,  Marcus  Loew  Booking 
Agency  and  others  has  been  filed  in 
U.  S.  District  Court  by  Joseph  John 
Davila,  charging  his  song,  "If  I  Was 
a  Spider  and  You  Were  My  Fly," 
written  in  1938,  is  infringed  by  "The 
Desert  Song." 


Australia  Films  May 
Be  in  British  Quota 

London,  April  26. — Follow- 
ing approaches  by  the  New 
South    Wales    premier  con- 
cerning the  exhibitors'  quota 
for  British  films,  the  British 
Board  of  Trade  has  invited 
producers   to  a   meeting  to 
discuss  the  practicability  of 
inclusion  of  Australian  films^j 
Possibly  a  limited  percentaj/re 
of  Australian  films  will  be  in-^, 
eluded  in  the  British  distribu- 
tors' quota. 


Says  Local  37  Head 
Fixed  Own  Salar 

Hollywood,    April    26. — Allegir 
misuse  funds  by  IATSE  Local  3 
John  Gatelee,  who  with  Frank  Stricl 
ling  took  over  premises  and  affairs 
the  local  March  13  on  order  fro  J 
George  Browne,  president,  testified 
superior  court  today  that  Joseph  V 
Carpenter,  chairman  of  the  local  boar 
had  voted  himself  $150  weekly  salai  ] 
while  two  secretaries  were  voted  $1( 
weekly. 

Carpenter,  who  had  testified  earlie 
was  recalled  to  the  stand  and  ask< 
to  explain  why  the  local  had  witl 
drawn  $10,000  from  a  bank. 

The  case  will  be  continued  tomo 


Gold  Questioned  in 
Government  Action 

Government  attempted  to  obtain  ad- 
missions by  Harry  Gold,  United  Art- 
ists official,  that  it  could  secure  high- 
er rentals  for  pictures  if  it  changed 
its  method  of  distribution,  but  was 
prevented  by  objections  raised  by  Ed- 
ward C.  Raftery,  attorney  for  United 
Artists,  at  the  hearing  conducted  yes- 
terday by  Seymour  Krieger,  Assistant 
Attorney  General,  in  connection  with 
the  anti-trust  suit  against  the  eight 
majors. 

Raftery  also  prevented  answers  to 
questions  on  what  factors  determined 
choice  of  first,  second  and  third  run 
houses.  Edward  Mullin  also  testified 
briefly.  Hearings  were  adjourned  for 
about  a  month,  without  fixed  date,  be- 
cause of  the  United  Artists  convention 
next  week. 


U.  S.  Chicago  Suit 
Seen  Facing  Delay 

Chicago,  April  26. — Government 
suit  against  major  companies  and 
Balaban  &  Katz  may  not  reach  trial 
for  several  months,  according  to  the 
present  outlook.  Attornevs  met  today 
with  Master  in  Chancerv  Edgard  El- 
dredge  to  formulate  plans  for  handling 
the  suit. 

First  formal  hearing  will  be  held 
May  17  at  which  time  defendants  will 
be  required  to  submit  film  contracts 
as  evidence  if  Government  subpoenas 
are  upheld.  Thousands  of  documents 
are  involved  and  the  Government  will 
require  many  weeks  to  analyze  them 
if  Eldredge  orders  their  production. 


Korda  Plans  "Manon" 

London,  April  26. — Alexandf 
Korda  will  direct  Merle  Oberon  i 
"Manon  Lescaut,"  to  be  filmed  : 
color  during  the  summer. 


LOS  ANGELE 
BOUND? 


ONLY  0VERNIGH1 


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or  Boulder  Dam!  120-day  stopover  privi- 
leges, anywhere  en  route,  at  no  extrs  j 

fare  $149.9! 

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JN  PICTURE 


28  *E?lt 
14. 


45.   NO.  82 


NEW  YORK.  FRIDAY,  APRIL  28,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


»11  for  IL  S. 
laclio  Station 
Again  Offered 

utin  America  Link  Urge 
In  Chavez  Measure 


■Washington,  April  27. — Legisla- 
ii  providing  for  establishment  of  a 
ivernment  broadcasting  station  was 
introduced  today  by  Senator  Chavez, 
,ew  Mexico,  to  permit  the  United 
i^tes  to  broadcast  to  Latin  America. 
'Similar  legislation  was  introduced 
t  year,  but  it  was  defeated  after 
'wrings  in  which  private  broadcasters 
jtified  that  they  were  adequately 
-vicing  the  Latin  Americas  with 
!Dgrams. 

Would  Be  Named  "PAZ" 

[The  government  >tation  asked  for 
Senator  Chavez  would  have  the 
.1  letters  "PAZ,"  Spanish  and  Por- 
guese  for  "Peace." 
The  measure  asks  for  an  appropria- 
of  $3,000,000  for  acquisition  of 
(id,  erection  of  buildings  and  instal- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


o  Present  Quigley 
\ward  Here  May  16 

Silver  and  Bronze  Quigley  Grand 

I wards  for  1938  in  the  exploitation 
ntest  of  Managers'  Round  Table 
epartment  of  Motion  Picture  Her- 
d  will  be  presented  at  the  Hotel 
ktor  here  on  May  16.  The  winners 
e  John  Burhorn,  manager  of  the 
ivety  in  South  Chicago,  silver,  and 
jtorge  Limerick,  city  manager  of  the 
"iffiths  interests  in  Enid,  Okla., 
,onze. 

'The  presentations  will  be  preceded 
a  luncheon  given  by  Martin  Quig- 
\;  honoring  the  winners,  at  which 
lading  industry-  figures  will  be  pres- 
'lt.   As  guests  of  Motion  Picture 

erald.  the  winners  will  arrive  May 
j  for  a  week's  stay.  A  full  program 
I  entertainment  has  been  arranged 
lith  the  cooperation  of  the  various 

m  companies.  In  addition  to  special 
,ncheons  and  dinners,  visits  to  the 

'orld's  Fair  and  other  places  of  in- 
vest are  planned.  The  winners  won 
l«ir  honors  at  the  annual  Quigley 
'rand  Award  judging  on  Feb.  7. 


"Ihiion  Pacific*  nnd  "Con- 
I  fessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  are  re- 

I'  viewed  in  this  issue,  pages  2 
and  3. 


Theatres  Here  Hail 
Crews  Bill's  Defeat 

Defeat  of  the  Crews  bill  in 
the  N.  Y.  Assembly  was 
hailed  by  exhibitors  and  cir- 
cuit executives  yesterday. 
Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
New  York,  of  which  Max  A. 
Cohen  is  president,  played  a 
leading  role  in  acquainting 
members  of  the  legislature 
with  reasons  for  defeating 
the  bill. 


Reels  Facing 
Crisis  Under 
British  Taxes 


GOVT  BOMBARDS 
TRADE  WITH  SUITS 


Lo.viiON.  April  27. — With  trade  con- 
cern intensified  following  a  close  study 
of  the  increased  film  taxes  called  for 
in  the  new  budget  of  Sir  John  Simon, 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  the 
newsreels  are  faced  with  an  imme- 
diate crisis  unless  the  import  revisions 
are  adjusted. 

The  reels,  acting  in  concert,  have 
petitioned  Sir  John,  and  probably  will 
see  him  tomorrow.  Failing  of  an 
adjustment,  it  is  believed  certain  of 
the  units  may  suspend  releases.  How- 
ever, it  is  thought  that  the  Cabinet 
Minister  will  agree  to  adjust  the  duty 
as  far  as  it  concerns  the  importation 
of  newsreels.  One  reel  unit  made  an 
estimate  of  $1,250,000  as  the  additional 
annual  cost  to  the  reels  under  the  new 
tax  schedule,  while  another  estimated 
the  added  cost  at  $500,000  a  year, 
which  would  render  continued  activity 
uneconomic.  Already  considerable 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Trust  Suit  Bill 
Fails  to  List 
Specific  Acts 


A  33-page  bill  of  particulars  in 
support  of  the  Government's  allega- 
tions against  the  industry  in  its  pend- 
ing anti-trust  suit  wras  filed  in  Federal 
District  court  here  yesterday  and 
failed  to  describe  one  specific  act  on 
the  part  of  the  defendants  in  viola- 
tion of  the  anti-trust  laws. 

The  bill,  w-hich  was  expected  to  be 
a  detailed,  factual  statement  setting 
forth  instances  of  monopoly  and  con- 
spiracy, as  charged  in  the  Govern- 
ment's complaint,  failed  to  do  so  and 
was  content  to  make  the  bland  admis- 

(Continucd  on  page  6) 


Warner ,  Morris  to 
Visit  South  America 

Harry  M.  Warner,  president  of 
Warners,  and  Sam  E.  Morris,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  activi- 
ties, are  scheduled  to  go  to  South 
America  about  July  1.  They  are  also 
considering  a  trip  to  Australia. 

Morris  will  devote  more  time  to 
the  Latin  American  market,  with 
Robert  E.  Schless,  Continental  Euro- 
pean manager,  supervising  all  of  Eu- 
rope from  London. 


Film  Advertising  Is  Out 
Of  Date,  List  Tells  Ampa 


Dr.  J.  S.  List,  consulting  psychol- 
ogist to  NBC,  Mutual  and  WMCA, 
criticized  film  advertising  as  out- 
moded in  an  address  at  the  Ampa 
luncheon  yesterday  at  the  Astor. 

Dr.  List,  who  presents  the  "Psy- 
chology Behind  the  News"  series 
Sunday  over  WMCA.  said  that  the 
industry's  advertising  methods  are  as 
old  as  the  industry  itself  and  "noth- 
ing new"  has  been  developed. 

"In  the  matter  of  plumbing  consum- 
er reaction,  radio  is  far  ahead  of  the 
film  business,"  he  declared.  "Broad- 
casters go  into  the  home  and  check 
reactions.     You  cannot  do  a  job  as 


long  as  you  fail  to  make  the  neces- 
sary surveys  and  tests  to  determine 
what  will  be  acceptable  to  a  major- 
ity- 

"Viewing  a  film  in  a  projection 
room  away  from  an  audience  does 
not  give  the  proper  sense  of  propor- 
tion. You  cannot  condition  the  pub- 
lic any  longer  from  your  own  point 
of  view. 

"Many  film  titles  are  bad  psychol- 
ogy because  they  fail  to  take  into 
account  human  emotions  and  con- 
flicts. The  proper  psychological  ap- 
proach and  a  proper  social  attitude 
of  the  film  industry  toward  the  pub- 
lic would  boost  box-office  receipts." 


Opening  Gun  to  Be  Fired 
Today  with  Action 
in  Oklahoma 


Washington,  April  27. — The  De- 
partment of  Justice  on  Friday  will 
open  its  anticipated  "regional"  cam- 
paign against  the  industry  by  filing 
the  first  of  at  least  10  equity  actions 
aimed  at  the  dissolution  of  large  the- 
atre circuits,  independent  as  well  as 
affiliated,  it  was  disclosed  today  by 
Assistant  Attorney  General  Thurman 
Arnold. 

First  action  will  be  against  Griffith 
Amusement  Co.  operating  in  Okla- 
homa. Texas  and  New  Mexico,  and 
the  large  distributors,  and  is  expected 
to  be  followed  at  brief  intervals  by 
the  filing  of  additional  suits  against 
large  circuits  in  Chicago,  Los  Angeles, 
Dallas,  New  Orleans,  Philadelphia, 
Cincinnati,  Boston,  Atlanta  and  else- 
where. 

The  "regional"  circuit  actions  are 
regarded  by  the  Department  of  Justice 
as  an  "essential  complement"  to  the 
New  York  suit,  which  seeks  the  separ- 
ation of  affiliated  circuits  from  the  pro- 
ducing and  distributing  companies. 
The  new  suits  are  intended  to  break 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


20th-Fox  13-Week 
Net  Is  $1,224,250 

Consolidated  net  operating  profit  of 
$1,224,250  for  the  13  weeks  ended 
April  1  is  reported  by  20th  Century- 
Fox.  This  compares  with  $1,641,537 
for  the  first  1938  quarter  and  $1,748,- 
374  for  the  final  quarter  last  year. 
National  Theatres  dividends  are  not 
included. 

After  allowing  for  preferred  divi- 
dend, the  quarterly  balance  is  equiva- 
lent to  50  cents  a  share  on  the  1,741,- 
896  common  shares  outstanding. 

Gross  income  from  sales  and  ren- 
tals totaled  $14,283,813  in  the  quarter 
and  expenses  $13,081,067. 


Turn  Them  Ahead 

Remember  to  turn  those 
timepieces  ahead  one  hour, 
and  not  back,  Sunday  at  2 
A.M.,  or  as  close  to  it  as  bed- 
time will  permit.  Then  the 
clocks  will  be  in  shape  until 
next  September  wherever 
Daylight  Saving  Time  is  ob- 
served. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  28,  193 


4  Purely 
Personal  ► 

OSCAR  DOOB,  Joe  Plunkett, 
Tom  Haggerty,  Charles  Casa- 
nave,  Nancy  Carroll,  Maurice 
Bergman,  Ernie  Emerling,  Jules 
Levy,  Hal  Horne,  Bert  Myfack, 
Bill  Fitelsox,  Monroe  Greenthal, 
Lynx  Farxol  lunching  at  Bob  Gold- 
steix's  Tavern  yesterday. 

• 

Joe  Moskototz,  Arthur  Gottlieb, 
Jack  Goetz,  Herman  Bernie,  Joe 
Pincus,  Lou  Brecher  and  E.  M. 
Schnitzer  among  those  present  at 
J.  J.  Milsteix's  farewell  luncheon 
yesterday  at  the  Tavern.  Milstein 
left  for  the  coast  yesterday. 

• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  W.  Schine 
were  guests  at  the  annual  spring  din- 
ner-dance of  the  Schiners'  Club  of 
home  office  employes,  at  Neumann's, 
Saratoga.  William  Benton  of  the 
Benton-Schine  Theatres  also  was  a 
guest. 

• 

Jack  Ellis,  Seymour  Schussel, 
Moe  Sanders,  Dave  Levy,  Sol  Trau- 
ner,  Jack  Hattem  and  William 
Stein  at  Jack's  restaurant  yesterday 
attending  the  luncheon-meeting  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Associates'  board. 
• 

Frances  Farmer  and  Leif  Erik- 
sox  have  been  granted  a  six-month 
extension  of  their  leave  of  absence  by 
Paramount  because  of  play  commit- 
ments on  Broadway. 

• 

Clint     Davidson,     manager  of 
Schine's  Strand,  Ogdensburg,  N.  Y., 
is  ill,  with  Francis  Lattin  of  the 
Watertown  Palace  filling  in  for  him. 
• 

S.  Charles  Eixfeld,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  for  Warners, 
leaves  for  the  company's  Burbank  stu- 
dios today  with  Mrs.  Einfeld. 
• 

Arthur  Ruscica,  20th  Century- 
Fox  managing  director  in  Chile,  sails 
tomorrow  with  Mrs.  Ruscica  on 
the  Quiriga  for  Santiago. 

» 

Morris  Carxovsky.  Group  Theatre 
actor,  will  do  the  narration  for  "The 
City,"  documentary  film  to  be  shown 
at  the  World's  Fair. 

• 

A.  G.  Doyle,  manager  for  20th 
Century-Fox  in  Japan,  is  due  on  the 
coast  Sunday  from  Yokohama  on  the 
President  Coolidge. 

• 

Johx  W.  Hicks,  Paramount  for- 
eign chief,  lunched  with  Fred  Laxge, 
continental  European  manager,  at  the 
Astor  yesterday. 

• 

Stanley  Hand,  Altec  staff  repre- 
sentative, has  left  for  the  national 
convention  of  Variety  Clubs  in  De- 
troit. 

• 

William  Laxdow,  owner  of  the 
Heights  in  Manhattan,  has  recovered 
from  a  pneumonia  .siege. 

• 

Joseph  M.  Schexck.  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox chairman  of  the  board,  is 
due  from  the  coast  early  next  week. 


New  York  Preview 


"Union  Pacific" 

(Paramount) 

Blessed  with  the  astute  showmanship  and  cinematic  genius  of  Cecil 
B.  DeMille,  both  its  producer  and  director,  Paramount's  "Union  Pacific" 
will  draw  hearty  box-office  hurrahs  from  the  country's  exhibitors. 

DeMille's  pictures  always  have  had  the  Midas  touch,  and  "Union 
Pacific"  is  no  exception.  It  is  a  monumental  picture,  one  fully  deserving 
of  the  adjectives  generally  reserved  for  exceptional  films.  It  is  a  credit 
to  DeMille  and  its  well-chosen  cast. 

"Union  Pacific,"  unfolds,  though  rather  lengthily,  the  epic  of  railroad 
building  after  the  Civil  War,  when  the  country  beyond  Chicago  was  an 
Indian-infested  wilderness.  It  shows,  with  dramatic  sweeping  strokes, 
the  hardships  which  befell  hardy  Irishmen  who  laid  the  wooden  ties  and 
nailed  down  the  rails. 

Barbara  Stanwyck  and  Joel  McCrea  have  the  starring  roles,  and  it  is 
needless  to  say  that  they  acquit  themselves  nobly.  Miss  Stanwyck 
appears  with  an  Irish  brogue  as  the  daughter  of  a  Union  Pacific  engineer 
and  postmistress  on  the  train  as  it  follows  1,000  miles  of  newly-laid 
track  to  the  California  border.  Joel  McCrea,  an  ex-army  man  assigned 
to  the  job  of  "trouble  shooter"  on  the  railroad,  possesses  a  pair  of  Joe 
Louis  fists  and  a  quick  trigger  finger. 

The  villainy  of  Brian  Donlevy,  abetted  to  a  small  degree  by  the  chuck- 
ling Robert  Preston,  serves  to  keep  the  story  cloaked  with  menace 
throughout.  At  the  instigation  of  a  multi-millionaire  interested  in  the 
Union  Pacific  but  still  more  interested  in  the  Central  Pacific  railroad, 
Donlevy  establishes  a  "hell  on  wheels,"  follows  the  Lhiion  Pacific 
builders  and  keeps  the  workmen  drunk  and  unruly,  thus  delaying  the 
construction  of  the  railroad.  The  Union  Pacific  and  Central  Pacific 
are  racing  each  other  to  finish  their  tracks  first. 

The  film  has  many  scenes  of  almost  climactic  power.  The  biggest  one 
shows  the  Union  Pacific  train  beset  by  a  swarm  of  Sioux  Indians.  They 
wreck  the  train  and  pillage  its  cargo.  How  they  use  and  regard  their 
findings,  such  as  bolts  of  cloth  and  corsets,  is  amusing.  The  only  sur- 
vivors of  the  wreck  are  Miss  Stanwyck,  McCrea  and  Preston.  When 
everything  looks  the  blackest  for  them,  rescue  comes. 

Just  as  Union  Pacific,  the  railroad,  is  a  monument  to  the  hardy 
pioneer  builders  of  it,  so  is  "Union  Pacific,"  the  film,  a  monument  to 
Cecil  B.  DeMille's  genius. 

DeMille  fused  strong  drama  with  pathos  and  well-spaced  humor  and 
out  of  the  crucible  has  emerged  a  historical  chapter  in  America's  history 
for  box-office  millions  to  see  vividly  relived. 

Running"  time,  135  minutes.  "G."* 


New  Peace  Plan 

Secretary  of  State  Cordell 
Hull  has  been  sent  a  copy  of 
a  winning  "peace  plan"  in  an 
M-G-M  shorts  contest  for  ex- 
hibitors. The  idea,  submitted 
by  Ward  B.  Kreag  of  the 
Community,  Catskill,  N.  Y., 
would  require  the  heads  of 
squabbling  nations  to  view 
several  hours  of  war  film>- 
before  declaring  war  or  afj^ 
bitrating  their  differences."" 
Kreag  will  get  a  trip  to  Ber- 
muda for  the  idea.  Another 
winner  was  Tommy  Howell, 
Bison  Theatre,  Dallas.  i 


'Union  Pacific'  Hailex 
By  Nebraska  Senator 

Opening  of  Paramount's  "Unioi 
Pacific"  at  Omaha  today  was  nota 
on  the  floor  of  the  United  State 
Senate  yesterday  by  Senator  Burk 
of  Nebraska.  Burke  said  the  Ceci 
B.  DeMille  production  was  a  "grea 
historical  document  as  well  as  ai 
outstanding  piece  of  entertainment.' 
DeMille,  George  Raft,  Lynne  Over 
man  and  others  will  be  in  Omaha  fo: 
the  opening.  Among  others  on  ham 
for  the  premiere  will  be  Mr.  and  Mrs 
John  Balaban,  who  are  flying  fron 
Chicago,  Newcomb  Carlton,  chairmai 
of  the  board  of  Western  Union  ant 
R.  B.  White,  Western  Union  presi 
dent. 


"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Joy 
coast. 

Phil 
coast. 


Hodges  leaves  Sunday  for  the 


GOLDSTONE  is  here  from  the 


Theatre  Authority  Spreads 
$50,000  Among  Charities 


Theatre  Authority  yesterday  divided 
$50,000  among  the  various  actors'  or- 
ganizations, to  be  used  for  charitable 
purposes.  The  $50,000  represents  fees 
collected  the  past  year  by  Theatre 
Authority  from  authorized  benefit 
performances. 

Theatre  Authorit3r,  according  to  its 
administrator,  Allen  Corelli,  has  col- 
lected and  distributed  approximately 
$100,000  in  the  four  years  it  has  been 
in  existence.  At  the  present  time, 
according  to  Corelli,  more  than  $500,- 
000  a  year  is  spent  for  acts  for  benefit 
performances.    Prior  to  formation  of 


Actors  Authority,  club  acts  per- 
formed at  benefits  sans  pa)r. 

By  a  new  agreement  just  entered 
into  with  the  American  Federation  of 
Radio  Artists,  the  Theatre  Authority 
will  be  expanded  nationward,  under 
an  arrangement  whereby  the  various 
A.F.R.A.  chapters  will  represent  the 
Theatre  Authority  and  collect  fees  for 
benefit  performances  in  the  various 
cities  where  A.F.R.A.  chapters  are 
maintained.  At  present  A.F.R.A.  has 
been  organized  in  at  least  a  dozen 
cities,  including  Chicago,  Cleveland, 
Cincinnati,  San  Francisco,  Los  An- 
geles and  Denver. 


Young  Heads  Pathe 

Kenneth  M.  Young  was  elected 
president  of  Pathe  Film  Corp.,  in  the 
place  of  O.  Henry  Briggs,  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  newly  elected  board  of 
directors.  T.  P.  Loach  was  reelected 
vice-president  and  treasurer  and  M.  M. 
Malone  was  reelected  secretary. 


Join  K.  C.  Cinema  Club 

Kansas  City,  April  27.  —  New 
members  of  Cinema  Club,  young  film 
and  theatre  men's  organization  here, 
are  Walter  Lambader,  M-G-M; 
James  Weakley,  Republic-Midwest ; 
Robert  Conn  and  John  Long,  20th- 
Fox. 


Warners'  Shorts  to 
Coast  Studio  Todai 

Warners'  shorts  production  will  bfj 
removed  officially  today  from  the  ViJt 
taphone  studio  in  Brooklyn  to  th<i 
Burbank  studio.  About  the  only  ac-j 
tivity  in  Brooklyn  will  be  the  produc  I 
tion  of  10  more  "Color  Parade"  film: 
by  Ira  Genet. 

Jack  Warner  will  supervise  short' 
production  on  the  coast.  Sam  Sax 
formerly  in  charge  of  the  Yitaphonc 
studio,  has  arrived  in  England  to  di-' 
rect  Warners'  Teddington  studios.  Hel 
was  accompanied  by  Jack  Henley 
writer.  Cyrus  Wood,  Sr.,  and  JosepY 
Henaberry,  director,  are  scheduled  to 
go  over. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president; 
Lolvm  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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatso 
al  Dia.  International  Motion  Picturi 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Loadon; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y., 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


Friday.  April  28.  1939 


5 


MOTION  PICTURi 

DAILY 


.S.  Commission  to 
Study  Spanish  Field 

An  American  film  commission  will 

Jo  to  Spain  shortly  to  investigate  the 
ossibilities  of  reopening  the  Spanish 
.  larket  for  distribution,  reported  Fred 
Lange,  Paramount  Continental  Euro- 
ean  manager,  who  arrived  yesterday 
«  Conte  di  Saz-oia. 
ge  does  not  believe    that  the 
mmission  will  start  its  work  until 
fter     General     Franco's  "victory 
arade"  in  Madrid  May  15.  Heads 
f    three    American    companies  in 
Airope  will  constitute  the  commission. 
Decision  to  send  the  envoys  was 
I  ade  at  a    meeting  in  Paris  attended 
j  •  Harold  V.  Smith,  Hays  office  rep- 
-•sentative  in  Europe,  and  company 
•aanagers.    The  commission  will  at- 
tempt to  determine  Government  poli- 
ies  and  with  whom  the  industry  will 
lave  to  deal.    Conferences  will  also 
-Leal    with    exchange    and  currency 
roblems. 

Lange  is  here  on  his  annual  trip  for 
onferences  with  John  W.  Hicks,  gen- 
ral  foreign  manager.  He  will  be  here 
bout  four  weeks. 

Universal,  Columbia.  RKO  and 
Jnited  Artists  are  still  operating  in 
taly,  despite  the  ENIC  monopoly  de- 
cree. The  other  four  major  companies 
re  not  operating  in  that  country. 

Lange  said  Paramount  is  remaining 
n  Greater  Germany. 


Nazi  Spif  Is  Opening 
Today  at  The  Strand 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  opens 
|oday  at  the  Strand  and  "Return  of 
he  Cisco  Kid"  starts  at  the  Roxy. 
'Wuthering  Heights"  continued  strong 
it  the  Rivoli  with  an  estimated  gross 
>f  $36,000  in  its  second  week.  Third 
-veek  of  "Dodge  City"  brought  an 
■stimated  $26,000  at  the  Strand.  In 
Its  fourth  week  at  the  Roxy,  "Story 
)f  Alexander  Graham  Bell"  grossed 
in  estimated  $25,000.  Following  the 
'Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid."  opening 
jrf  "Rose  of  Washington  Square"  is 
;et  for  May  5.  "Streets  of  New 
lork"  will  bow  in  at  the  Globe  to- 
norrow  and  "Trapped  in  the  Sky" 
*oes  into  the  Central.  "Boys'  Re- 
ormatory"  has  also  been  booked  for 
he  Central. 

Hitler's  speech  to  the  Reichstag  will 
x  used  by  Warners  in  advertising 
'Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy."  News- 
paper ads  are  geared  to  the  occasion, 
vith  copy  depicting  Der  Fuehrer,  in 
:aricature,  carrying  a  picket  sign  call- 
ng  Warners  "unfair." 


TMAT  Elects  June  12 

Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  & 
Treasurers'  Union  will  hold  its  annual 
elections  June  12,  with  two  rival  slates 
n  the  field.  Nominated  are  Saul 
Abraham  and  Charles  G.  Stewart,  for 
president ;  Dan  Melnick,  George  Ash- 
ay,  and  William  Fields,  vice-president; 
Tames  J.  Murphy,  secretary-treasurer ; 
Morrie  Seamon,  Hal  Giver,  Clarence 
Jacobson  and  Joseph  Grossman,  busi- 
nes  agents. 


Reaffirm  "Nation"  Ban 

Milwaukee,  April  27.  -Motion  pic- 
cure  commission,  at  a  rehearing  on 
ts  recent  action  banning  "The  Birth 
of  a  Nation,"  held  at  the  request  of 
Roy  Aitken,  Waukesha,  Wis.,  one  of 
:he  two  brothers  who  own  the  film, 
"eaffirmed  its  original  action. 


'Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy 


{Warner  Brothers) 

With  consummate  skill,  the  masters  of  Burbank  have  shaped  a  fresh 
and  vigorous  piece  of  entertainment  which  is,  at  the  same  time,  a  power- 
ful anti-Nazi  picture.  The  fullest  exploitation  possibilities  are  inherent 
in  the  title  and  there  is  name  value  in  having  Edward  G.  Robinson,  as 
the  FBI  agent  who  uncovers  the  spy  menace,  and  in  Francis  Lederer, 
amateur  spy,  around  whom  the  story  revolves. 

This  picture  essentially  is  a  spy  drama.  It  is  also  propaganda — 
propaganda  for  the  institutions  and  traditions  of  the  United  States  of 
America.  It  is  an  argument  for  the  creed  which  we  believe  and  must 
defend  and  protect — Americanism. 

This  picture  is  destined  to  create  an  awareness  for  all  America  of  the 
menace  which  is  around  us — and  yet  it  is  excellent  show  stuff  to  which 
only  Nazi  sympathizers  will  object.  Everybody  else  will  praise  the  film. 

If  there  is  a  fault  with  the  picture  it  is  the  lack  of  unity  in  the  events 
depicted  but  this  is  cleverly  offset  by  an  off-screen  narrative  which  knits 
together  the  widely  separated  spy  incidents. 

The  picture  is  deserving  of  the  fullest  box-office  support. 

Characters  are  real  so  that  the  customary  screen  reminder  about 
"fictional  characters"  is  not  found  in  the  title-sheet  of  the  picture;  it  is 
perhaps  intentionally  lacking,  and  rightly.  The  fact  is  that  some  of  the 
individuals  portrayed  herein  are  still  aiive  and  for  the  most  part  are 
portrayed  under  their  real  names. 

The  story  is  no  more  than  that  which  the  newspapers  have  told  of 
the  arrest,  indictment  and  trial  of  German  spies.  In  substance,  the  pic- 
ture is  a  review  of  events  which  have  been  chronicled  by  the  press  and 
herein  invested  with  action  and  dialogue.  Perhaps  the  revelations  of 
meddling,  bungling  and  fanatical  Nazi  action  seem  incredible,  but  it  is 
this  amazing  character  of  the  matter  which  evokes  interest. 

The  film  implies  that  such  interference  in  the  affairs  of  a  friendly 
nation  by  Nazi  bunds  and  foreign  elements  as  is  here  depicted,  as 
amateurish  as  it  may  appear,  might  nonetheless  have  brought  diplomatic 
representations,  under  other  conditions. 

There  is  no  villification  of  characters.  No  offense  is  shown  even  to 
the  people  of  the  guilty  nation,  but  so  well  has  the  picture  been  made 
that  it  succeeds  in  depicting  the  Nazis  as  a  small  minority.  It  makes  a 
clear-cut  distinction  between  the  regime  and  that  which  is  Germany 
and  the  Germans. 

It  is  expressed  definitely  in  the  picture  that  the  excesses  of  the  Nazis 
and  the  Gestapo  are  not  the  will  of  the  German  people.  It  distinguishes 
also  between  the  small  minority  of  hyphenated  German-Americans  and 
the  large  majority  of  those  of  German  ancestry  or  birth  who  are  opposed 
to  Nazi  methods  and  the  Nazi  creed. 

The  picture  is  photographed  excellently  and  brilliantly  cast.  It  has 
been  directed  expertly  by  Anatole  Litvak.  Milton  Krims  and  John  Wex- 
ley  wrote  the  screenplay. 

The  Warners  have  taken  no  chances  in  preparing  this  film  and  even 
employed  Leon  G.  Turrou,  the  former  FBI  agent,  who  handled  the  spy 
inquiry  for  Washington,  as  technical  adviser. 

In  every  branch,  the  characterizations  have  been  carefully  depicted. 
Above  them  all  in  point  of  quality  is  the  depiction  of  Dr.  Paul  Joseph 
Goebels,  Reichminister  of  Propaganda,  by  an  actor  whom  Warners 
prefer  to  leave  unidentified. 

Paul  Lukas,  Francis  Lederer,  Lya  Lys  and  George  Sanders  all  do  fine 
work. 

Running  time,  102  minutes.  "G."*  S.  S. 


ites  general  classification. 


Circuit  Theatre  Tax 
Proposed  in  Florida 

Tallahassee,.  Fla.,  April  27. — 
License  tax  for  circuit  theatres  has 
been  proposed  to  the  Florida  legisla- 
ture by  Representative  Johnson.  Tax 
would  be  levied  on  houses  operated  in 
Florida  only  but  would  be  computed 
on  the  entire  number  owned  in  the 
country. 

Proposed  tax  is  $75  for  each  theatre 
in  circuits  of  not  more  than  five,  $150 
up  to  15  and  graduated  upward  to  a 
maximum  of  $3,500  on  each  theatre 
in  circuits  of  80  or  more. 


W.E.  English  Service 
Charge  Cut  Affirmed 

Loondon,  April  27. — Statements  is- 
sued today  by  the  Cinematograph  Ex- 
hibitors' Association  and  Western 
Electric  confirm  the  service  charge 
concessions  indicated  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  on  March  16. — The  con- 
cessions, ranging  from  two  shillings 
to  five  shillings  weekly,  will  be  in- 
cluded in  new  leases. 

The  C.  E.  A.  has  withdrawn  its 
recommendation  for  a  boycott  of 
Western  Electric  and  .suggests  that 
members  renew  their  contracts. 


RKO  Cash  Position 
Up  $2,350,000  in 
'38  to  $7,652,742 


RKO's  cash  position  improved  by 
$2,350,000  during  1938,  audited  re- 
port of  the  company  just  completed 
reveals.  Cash  at  Dec.  31,  last,  was 
$7,652,742,  compared  with  $5,282,- 
613  on  Dec.  31,  1937. 

Audited  report  showed  net  profit  for 
1938  of  $18,604,  contrasted  with  the 
trustee's  estimate  of  net  profit  of 
$173,578,  which  was  made  public 
March  6.  Difference  is  attributed  to 
a  $150,000  adjustment  in  claims  be- 
tween RKO  and  Rockefeller  Center, 
which  was  credited  in  the  trustee's  re- 
port but  withdrawn  by  the  auditors. 
Profit  for  1937  amounted  to  $1,821,166. 

Income  from  theatre  admissions, 
film  rentals  and  sales  in  1938  aggre- 
gated $56,275,419  and  costs  and  ex- 
penses were  $53,093,727.  This  com- 
pares with  income  of  $52,921,033  the 
preceding  year  and  costs  and  ex- 
penses of  $47,692,247.  Of  the  income 
item  last  year,  film  rentals  accounted 
for  $30,467,583  of  the  total  and  ad- 
missions for  $22,951,936. 

Current  and  working  assets  as  of 
Dec.  31,  1938,  amounted  to  $18,219,- 
368  and  current  liabilities,  excluding 
funded  debt  due  in  one  year,  amount- 
ed to  $11,758,668.  Inventories  were 
$9,094,637  against  $10,763,969. 

Company  gave  notice  yesterday  that 
period  for  exchange  of  RKO's  10- 
year  six  per  cent  debentures  for  new 
six  per  cent  cumulative  convertible^ 
preferred  stock  under  the  reorganiza- 
tion plan  expires  May  1.  There- 
after, exchange  of  the  debentures  will 
be  for  new  preferred  in  part,  and  new 
common  stock,  in  part,  as  specified  in 
the  plan. 


To  Enforce  Ticket  Code 

League  of  N.  Y.  Theatres,  encour- 
aged by  a  court  decision  upholding 
the  ticket  code,  is  making  strenuous 
efforts  to  enforce  the  code  after  the 
start  of  the  World's  Fair.  James  F. 
Reilly,  executive  secretary,  is  polling 
the  producers  to  find  the  best  method 
of  advising  visitors  that  brokers  are 
permitted  a  maximum  advance  of  75 
cents  on  orchestra  seats  and  50  cents 
for  balcony  seats. 


Prices  Cut  for  Fair 
On  3  B'way  Shows 

In  a  bid  for  the  patronage 
of  visitors  to  the  World's 
Fair,  three  Broadway  pro- 
ducers are  reducing  their  top 
prices  for  their  musical  at- 
tractions from  $4.40  to  $3.30. 
A  rather  novel  exploitation 
of  this  reduction  will  be  used 
when  all  three  shows  will  use 
a  single  advertisement  for 
the  announcement.  The  mu- 
sicals are  George  Abbott's 
"The  Boys  from  Syracuse," 
Dwight  Deere  Wiman's  "Stars 
in  Your  Eyes"  and  John  C. 
Wilson's  "Set  to  Music." 

The  Abbott  office  has  adopt- 
ed the  Trylon  and  Perisphere 
on  its  placards  for  "The 
Boys  from  Syracuse,"  "The 
Primrose  Path"  and  "What  a 
Life." 


MOTION 


EDWARD  G. 

ROBINSON 


FRANCIS  LEDERE 

George  Sanders  •  Ps 
Lukas  •  Henry  O'Ne 

Directed  by 

ANATOLE  LITV/I 

Screen  Play  by  Milton  Krims  and  John  Wi 
Based  on  materials  gathered  by  Leon  G.  Ti 
ace  G-Man  •  A  First  National  Picture 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  28,  193? 


Government  Opens 
Suit  Bombardment 
With  Action  Today 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

up  large  regional  circuits,  on  the  one 
hand,  and  to  prevent  the  continuance 
as  independent  entities,  on  the  other 
hand,  of  large  affiliated  circuits  which 
would  be  cut  adrift  from  the  producing 
and  distributing  companies  in  the 
event  the  department  was  successful 
in  the  prosecution  of  its  New  York 
suit. 

"Competitive  Market" 

If  producers  are  barred  from  theatre 
operation,  Arnold  said,  "they  must 
have  for  themselves  a  competitive 
market  of  truly  independent  theatres 
in  which  to  distribute  their  product" 
and  must  not  be  at  the  mercy  of  local 
monopolies  which  control  the  market 
in  their  particular  areas.  The  objec- 
tives of  the  New  York  suit  cannot  be 
attained,  he  said,  "so  long  as  there 
exist  chains  of  theatres  exercising 
monopoly  power  in  various  sections  of 
the  country,  even  if  the  affiliation  be- 
tween such  chains  and  parent  com- 
panies is  broken." 

"To  leave  chain  theatres  in  control 
of  a  market  after  their  divestiture  by 
major  companies  would  be  simply  to 
substitute  a  number  of  local  monop- 
olies for  the  national  monopoly  which 
is  now  charged  to  exist,"  Arnold  de- 
clared. "Such  control  would  be 
equally  disastrous  to  small,  inde- 
pendent theatre  owners." 

The  restoration  of  competitive  con- 
ditions, he  added,  may  require  the  re- 
arrangement of  corporate  structures 
and  ownership,  which  can  be  done  only 
by  civil  decree. 

First  of  a  Series 

The  action  to  be  filed  in  the  Federal 
District  court  for  Western  Oklahoma 
on  Friday  against  the  L.  C.  and  R.  E. 
Griffith  theatre  companies  happens  to 
be  the  first  of  the  series  to  come  "only 
because  the  investigation  involving 
them  happened  to  be  completed  first," 
it  was  said.  In  addition  to  Griffith 
Amusement,  defendants  named  are 
Consolidated  Theatres,  Inc. ;  R.  E. 
Griffith  Theatre,  Inc. ;  Westex  The- 
atres, Inc. ;  Paramount,  M-G-M  Dis- 
tributing Corp.  of  Texas,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox of  Texas  and  20th  Century- 
Fox  Film,  United  Artists,  Columbia, 
Loew's,  RKO,  Vitagraph  and  Uni- 
versal. 

Suit  will  allege  that  the  defendant 
theatres  are  able  to  make  blanket  con- 
tracts for  all  desirable  pictures  with- 
out competing  with  local  independent 
exhibitors.  It  will  ask  for  their  dis- 
solution and  the  rearrangement  of 
their  properties  under  several  inde- 
pendent corporations ;  for  injunctive 
relief  restraining  the  defendant  circuits 
from  negotiating  joint  contracts  with 
distributors,  restraining  the  distribu- 
tors from  making  contracts  except  on 
a  "local,  competitive  basis,"  and  en- 
joining the  defendant  circuits  from 
further  acquisition  "of  additional  the- 
atres or  financial  interest  therein." 


Photographic  Unit  Here 

National  Photographic  Dealers'  As- 
sociation is  holding  its  annual  con- 
vention at  the  Astor.  Motion  Picture 
Division,  U.  S.  Department  of  Agri- 
culture, and  Allied  Non-Theatrical 
Film  Association  are  participating. 
The  meeting  ends  Sunday.  Charles 
Eass  of  Chicago  is  president. 


Wis.  Circuit  Tax 
Measure  Pushed 


Madison,  Wis.,  April  27. — Although 
exhibitors  objected  to  the  Alfonsi- 
Grobschmidt  circuit  theatre  tax  bill 
at  a  hearing  before  the  Assembly  Ju- 
diciary Committee  here,  the  authors 
said  they  were  planning  a  substitute 
to  double  the  original  tax  schedule, 
which  provides  for  an  occupational 
tax  ranging  from  $5  to  $100  per  the- 
atre and  a  seat  tax  of  from  1  to  15 
cents  per  seat. 

Appearing  against  the  bill  were  C. 
W.  Trampe,  exhibitor ;  E.  J.  Brown, 
representing  the  State  Conference  of 
Electrical  Workers ;  Gilbert  Vander- 
cook,  Fox  Wisconsin ;  Charles  F. 
Puis,  Jr.,  Standard  Theatres;  Stephen 
Thomas,  Association  of  Stage  Em- 
ployees and  Projectionists,  and  Mark 
Morgan,  Eskin  Theatres.  They 
warned  that  excessive  taxes  would  put 
the  theatres  out  of  business. 

The  Gawronski  bill,  relating  to  a 
board  of  examiners  of  persons  engaged 
in  the  installation  and  maintenance  of 
air-conditioning  systems,  has  been 
introduced  in  the  Senate  Senate. 

Pending  in  the  Assembly  is  the 
Rubin  bill,  designed  to  give  equal 
rights,  regardless  of  race,  creed,  color 
or  nationality,  in  public  places,  includ- 
ing theatres. 


U.  S.  Radio  Station 
Bill  Again  Offered 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
lation  of  equipment,  and  seeks  authori- 
zation for  $100,000  a  year  for  main- 
tainance  and  operation. 


Last  week  Motion  Picture  Daily 
exclusively  reported  that  legislation 
for  construction  of  a  government  in- 
ternational station  to  service  the  Latin 
Americas  would  be  reintroduced  in 
Washington  at  a  near  date.  Following 
publication  of  the  article,  the  net- 
works provided  data  to  this  publica- 
tion to  show  the  comprehensive  short- 
wave schedule  they  now  are  main- 
taining, which  was  published.  The 
figures  showed  that  NBC  in  unmixed 
Spanish,  the  languages  of  the  popula- 
tion of  the  South  Americas,  was 
broadcasting  more  than  twice  the 
amount  of  news  than  Germany,  Italy 
and  Japan  combined,  with  the  CBS 
figures  comparable. 


Reels  Facing  Crisis 
Under  British  Taxes 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

newsreel  footage  has  been  held  in 
bond. 

Producers  also  are  seriously  dis- 
turbed by  the  new  tax  on  British  film 
stock.  Captain  Richard  Norton  de- 
clared today  it  will  put  many  out  of 
business.  Producers  and  distributors 
met  today,  and  both  are  expected  to 
make  approaches  to  Sir  John  imme- 
diately. 

The  Association  of  Cine  Technicians 
has  asked  the  Chancellor  to  review  the 
film  stock  tax,  claiming  it  burdens  the 
independent  producer,  and  may  result 
in  necessary  economies  at  the  expense 
of  employes.  The  organization  fore- 
sees a  decrease  in  work  for  British 
laboratories,  as  well. 


Bill  of  Particulars  in 
Trust  Suit  Fails  to 
List  Specific  Acts 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

sion  that  it  did  not  know  these  de- 
tails. 

Lists  Names  of  Stars 

Only  to  one  item  of  the  defendants' 
demands  upon  the  Government  to 
state  times,  places  and  names  of  par- 
ticipants to  agreements  furthering  the 
conspiracies  alleged  against  them,  and 
whether  these  agreements  were  oral 
or  written,  did  the  Government  name 
names.  This  was  in  reply  to  the  de- 
mand for  a  list  of  stars  who  are  under 
joint  contract  to  more  than  one  pro- 
ducer. Even  in  this  instance  the  Gov- 
ernment was  unable  to  say  whether 
the  alleged  joint  contracts  were  the 
result  of  specific  agreement  or  not. 

Names  cited  as  under  contract  to 
more  than  one  of  the  defendants  at 
some  time  since  July  1,  1934,  included 
Wallace  Beery,  said  to  have  been  si- 
multaneously under  contract  to 
M-G-M  and  20th  Century-Fox; 
Gloria  Blondell,  Columbia  and  War- 
ners ;  Claudette  Colbert,  Warners  and 
Paramount;  Melvyn  Douglas,  Colum- 
bia and  M-G-M ;  Irene  Dunne,  Col- 
umbia, Paramount,  RKO  and  Uni- 
versal ;  Cary  Grant,  Columbia  and 
RKO;  Jean  Hersholt,  M-G-M  and 
20th  Century-Fox ;  Edward  Everett 
Horton,  Universal  and  20th  Cen- 
tury ;  Boris  Karloff,  Universal  and 
Warners ;  Edmund  Lowe,  20th  Cen- 
tury and  Universal ;  Herbert  Mar- 
shall, Paramount  and  RKO;  Wil- 
liam Powell,  M-G-M  and  Warners ; 
Edward  G.  Robinson,  Columbia  and 
Warners ;  Fred  Stone,  Paramount 
and  RKO,  and  Gloria  Stuart,  20th 
Century  and  Lhiiversal. 

This  was  evidence  of  a  system,  the 
bill  stated,  of  edging  independent  pro- 
ducers out  of  the  services  of  the  best 
talent  and  technical  workers  in  the 
industry. 

Says  Field  Is  Divided 

Paramount,  Loew's,  RKO,  20th 
Century-Fox  and  Warners,  the  Gov- 
ernment's bill  stated,  divided  the  ex- 
hibition field  and  extended  preference 
to  each  other  in  each  other's  terri- 
tory. The  same  charge  was  made  in 
the  Government's  original  bill  of  com- 
plaint filed  last  July  and,  instead  of 
being  particularized  now,  as.  expected, 
the  Government-  contents  itself  with 
the  admission  that  it  is  unable  to 
name  the  times,  places  and  partici- 
pants to  agreements  of  this  kind. 

-  Through  the  exchange  of  the  alleged 
preferences  in  each  others'  exhibition 
territory,  the  bill  asserts,  independent 
product  was  excluded  from  affiliated 
theatres  and  distributors,  were  there- 
by enabled  to  impose  "harsh,  onerous 
practices"  on  unaffiliated  theatres, 
such  as  block  booking,  forcing  of 
shorts  and  newsreels,  overbuying,  un- 
reasonable film  rentals  and  other  oft- 
repeated  complaints.  No  particulars 
are  supplied  to  support  the  assertion. 

Cites  "Split"  Weeks 

In  metropolitan  areas  where  the 
defendants  operate  competing  theatres, 
the  bill  said,  "split"  product  deals 
were  arranged  to  prevent  competition 
for  films.  Again,  the  Government 
admits  that  it  does  not  know  times, 
places  and  names  of  parties  involved 
in  such  deals ;  that  it  knew  of  no 


Why,  Mr.  Steffes! 

Minneapolis,  April  27.— The 
irrepressible  Al  Steffes  has 
named  a  national  transporta- 
tion committee  for  Allied 
States'  annual  convention,  to 
be  held  here  June  13-15.  On 
the  committee  are  Ed  Kuy- 
kendall  and  every  member  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  M. 
P.  T.  O.  A. 

On  the  committee,  in  addi- 
tion to  Kuykendall,  Steffes  - 
named  H.  V.  Harvey,  San 
Francisco;  Milton  C.  Moore, 
Florida;  Morris  Leonard, 
Chicago;  Sam  Pinanski,  Bos- 
ton; R.  X.  Williams,  Oxford, 
Miss.;  R.  R.  Biechele,  Kansas 
City,  Kan.;  Fred  Wehrenberg, 
St.  Louis;  George  Dembow 
and  George  Skouras,  New 
York ;  Morris  Loewenstein, 
Oklahoma  City;  Lewen  Pizor, 
Philadelphia;  A.  Julian  Bry- 
lawski,  Washington. 


specific  contracts  between  the  defend- 
ants to  exclude  independent  product 
from  their  theatres.  It  cited  long-term 
franchises,  however,  as  a  factor  tend- 
ing to  keep  independent  and  foreign 
product  from  getting  playing  time  in 
affiliated  theatres. 

Extend  Benefits 

All  eight  distributors  extend  benefits 
to  the  affiliated  circuits,  such  as  shar- 
ing advertising  costs,  optional  con- 
tracts, contract  modifications,  overage 
and  underage,  cancellation  and  move- 
overs,  but  times,  places  and  names, 
again,  were  said  to  be  unknown  to  the 
Government. 

Since  1916  the  large  producers  have 
been  embarked  on  a  policy  of  gradu- 
ally decreasing  the  number  of  feature 
pictures,  but  the  Government  does  not 
know  whether  this  was  done  by  mu- 
tual agreement. 

The  bill  does  not  apply  to  Colum- 
bia or  United  Artists,  since  they  have 
made  application  for  separate  bills. 
The  document  was  signed  by  John  T. 
Cahill,  U.  S.  District  Attorney ;  Thur- 
man  Arnold,  Assistant  Attorney  Gen- 
eral ;  Paul  Williams,  Robert  L. 
Wright,  John  F.  Clodgett,  J.  Stephen 
Doyle,  Jr.,  Shelby  Fitze,  special  as- 
sistant attorney  general,  and  Seymour 
Krieger  and  Seymour  Simon,  as  spe- 
cial attorneys. 


_.  The  Government  filed  application 
yesterday  for  a  modification  of  Fed- 
eral Judge  William  Bondy's  order 
directing  filing  of  a  bill  of  particulars 
to  release  it  from  the  necessity  of 
furnishing  the  names  of  witnesses  and 
expressed  the  fear,  if  names  were  fur- 
nished, that  witnesses  might  be  "in- 
timidated by  the  defendants."  Hearing 
will  be  held  on  May  5  on  the  applica- 
tion. 


Sunday  Show  Bill  Passed 

Albany,  April  27. — The  Senate  to- 
day passed  the  Owens  bill  providing 
for  a  Sunday  show  referendum  in 
villages.  The  Coudert  bill  vesting 
theatre  ticket  sale  control  in  city 
license  commissioners  moved  to  third 
reading. 


Lab  Union  Ball  May  6 

First  annual  entertainment  and  ball 
of  M.  P.  Laboratory  Technicians' 
Union,  Local  702,  will  be  held  at  Man- 
hattan Center,  May  6. 


v/ith 


RICHARD  DIX-  GAIL  PATRICK 


SSSdBIK-  JOAN  FONTAINE 


-/ESE  IMPORTANT  KEY  CITY  ENGAGEMENTS  FOLLOW  IMMEDIATELY 


.RNER. 
ANAY. 
>RVA_ 
WER  


JBERT. ...  . 
LONIAL. 
1EBIRD... 

K.  


 MEMPHIS,  TENN. 

 EL  PASO,  TEXAS 

 NORFOLK.  VA. 

.  KANSAS  CITY,  MO. 
CINCINNATI,  OHIO 

 DAYTON,  OHIO 

 PETERSBURG,  VA. 


HIEHLE 


CALIFORNIA. 
CALIFORNIA 

PALOMAR  

SENATOR  

EMPIRE.  


PARKERSBURG, 

 SAN  JOSE, 

 _.  STOCKTON, 

 SEATTLE, 


/IN  

^AMOUNT 

TH'S  

K  


 SPOKANE,  WASH. 

 PITTSBURGH,  PA. 

SAN  FRANCISCO,  CAL. 

 BALTIMORE,  MD. 

 PHILADELPHIA 


W.  VA. 
CALIF. 
CALIF. 
WASH. 

SACRAMENTO,  CALIF. 

 BIRMINGHAM.  ALA. 

CAPITOI  MARSHALLTOWN,  IOWA 

METROPOLITAN  WASHINGTON,  D.  C. 

PARAMOUNT  ATLANTA.  GA. 

ROOSEVELT  CHICAGO.  ILL. 

ORPHEUM  TULSA.  OKLA. 

DOWNTOWN  AND  HOLLYWOOD 

LOS  ANGELES.  CALIF. 
SAENGER  NEW  ORLEANS.  LA. 


STATE  OKLAHOMA  CITY, 

IMPERIAL  .  CHARLOTTE, 

MAJESTIC  WICHITA  FALLS. 

PARAMOUNT  AND  FENWAY 

BOSTON, 

ORPHEUM  ........WATERLOO, 

AZTEC   SAN  ANTONIO, 

CENTURY  ...ROCHESTER, 

L  A  FA  Y  ETTE  _    BUFFA  LO 

IOWA  CEDAR  RAPIDS. 

MAJESTIC  _..  _  DALLAS. 


WORTH. 


..FORT  WORTH. 


EARLE  AND  AMBASSADOR 

WASHINGTON 


—  THE   INDEPENDENT   MAJOR  COMPANY 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  April  28,  I93S| 


'Graham  Bell' 
$29,300  in  2 
L.A.  Theatres 


Los  Angeles,  April  27.  —  "The 
Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell"  and 
"Kid  from  Texas,"  scored  a  total  of 
$29,300  at  two  houses,  $13,000  at  the 
Chinese  and  $16,300  at  Loew's  State. 

"Wuthering  Heights"  and  "Torchy 
Runs  for  Mayor"  took  $14,500  at  the 
Warner  Hollywood  and  $12,200  at  the 
Warner  Downtown. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26 : 

"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(ZOth-Fox) 

"Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

CHINESE— (2,500)     (30c-75c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.    (Average,  $12,500) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-55c)  5  days,  3rd  week. 
Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle' 
(RKO) 

"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

HTLLSTREET— (2,700)    (30c-65c)    7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $6.5*)) 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(20th-Fox) 

"Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $16,300.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

"Exposed"  (Univ.) 

PA  NT  AGES— (3,000)  (30c -65c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $5,800.    (Average.  $7,000) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)    (30c-65c)   7  days. 
Stage:  Erik  Rhodes,  Judy  Starr,  F.  &  M. 
revue.    Gross:  $12,500.    (Average,  $18,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER     BROS.     (HOLLYWOOD)  — 
(3.000)     (30c-65c)    7    days.    Gross:  $14,500. 
(Average,  $14,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (DOWNTOWN  — 
(3,400)  (30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,200. 
(Average,  $12,000) 


'Castles'  Draw  Good 
$9,700  Buffalo  High 

Buffalo,  April  27. — Dualed  with 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours,"  "The 
Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
earned  $9,700  at  the  Great  Lakes. 

"Dodge  City"  in  the  second  week  at 
the  Hippodrome,  drew  $7,400.  "Three 
Smart  Girls  Grow  Up,"  clicked  with 
$7,000  at  the  Lafayette.  The  weather 
was  cold  and  wet. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  22 : 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— (3,000)      (30c-55c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $11,900.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"The   Story   of  Vernon  and   Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (30c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,700.  (Average,  $7,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2.500)   (25c -40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,400.  (Average,  $6,800) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Mr.  Moto's  Last  Warning"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CENTURY— (3,000)   (25c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$7,200.   (Average,  $6,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Homicide  Bureau"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,300)  (25c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $7,000.   (Average,  $6,300) 


Davie  Quits  M-G-M 

Hollywood,  April  27.  —  Frank 
Davie,  M-G-M  producer,  whose  con- 
tract has  until  1940  to  run,  has  asked 
for  and  received  a  release,  planning 
to  continue  writing  with  his  wife,  Tess 
Schlessinger.  He  had  been  assistant 
to  Bernard  Hyman. 


In  Two  Versions 

Jack  Skirball  is  producing 
"The  Miracle  on  Main  Street" 
in  two  versions.  The  English 
version  will  be  released  by 
Grand  National  as  the  third 
film  of  Skirball's  schedule. 
There  will  be  a  Spanish  lan- 
guage version,  which  will  be 
distributed  by  20th  Century- 
Fox.  Margo,  native  of  Mexico, 
will  star.  The  film  is  in  pro- 
duction in  Hollywood. 


Alexander  Bell' 
Cleveland's  Best, 
Grossing  $18,000 


Cleveland,  April  27. — "Alexander 
Graham  Bell"  at  the  RKO  Palace 
with  a  five-act  vaudeville  bill  headed 
by  Hugh  Herbert,  took  top  rank  with 
$18,000. 

"Made  for  Each  Other"  ran  a  close 
second  at  Loew's  State  with  $11,500. 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  at  Loew's  State 
came  through  with  $4,500,  while  the 
second  week  of  "Dodge  City"  at  War- 
ner's Hippodrome  took  $10,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  21 : 

"Let  Us  Live"  (Col.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)      (30c-35c-42c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $3,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'      HIPPODROME  —  (3,800) 
(30c-35c-42c)    7    days.    2nd    week.  Gross: 
$10,000.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"The    Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell" 
(ZOth-Fox) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,100)     (30c-42c-55c)  7 
days.    Stage:    Five    acts    vaudeville,  with 
Hugh    Herbert   headliner.     Gross:  $18,000. 
(Average,  $15,000) 
"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)    (30c-35c-42c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $11,500.  (Average.  $11,000) 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (30c-35c- 
42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $4,000) 


"Mikado"  Pulls  Big 
$9,000  in  Montreal 

Montreal,  April  27.  —  "The  Mi- 
kado" earned  $9,000  at  Loew's  as  the 
leading  attraction. 

"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  and 
"On  Trial"  at  the  Capitol  registered 
$8,500,  while  "Four  Girls  in  White," 
on  a  dual  bill  at  the  Princess,  did 
$6,000.  Second  week  of  "Love  Affair" 
accounted  for  $6,500  at  the  Palace. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  22 : 

"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"   (W.  B.) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)       (25c-40c-5Sc-65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)     (30c-40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.   (Average,  $7,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 
"Nancy  Drew,  Detective"   (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average,  $5,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average,  $10,000) 
"Four  Girls  in  White"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Lone  Wolf  Spy  Hunt"  (Col.) 

PRINCESS— (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $6,500) 


Honor  Bill  Warner 

Kansas  City,  April  27. — Variety 
Club  here  will  honor  Bill  Warner, 
formerly  manager  of  Warners  here 
many  years,  with  a  dinner  May  1. 
Warner  is  going  to  the  coast. 


'Offenders,'  Boles 
Best  in  Milwaukee 
With  $11,800  Gross 


Milwaukee,  April  27. — "First  Of- 
fenders," and  John  Boles  in  person, 
collected  $11,800  at  the  Riverside  for 
the  week's  high.  "Broadway  Sere- 
nade" and  "Inside  Story"  at  Fox's 
Wisconsin  grossed  $8,000,  while 
"Dodge  City"  and  the  "Adventures  of 
Jane  Arden"  did  $4,000  in  the  six 
days  of  their  second  week  at  the 
W  arner. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19-20: 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

"The  Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2,400)   (35c-50c)  6  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"Persons  in  Hiding"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-SOc)  8  days.  Gross: 
$4,200.   (Average,  $4,000) 
"First  Offenders"  (Col.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,300)  (25c-30c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Tohn  Boles.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Aver- 
age, $5,000) 

"The    Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (ZOth-Fox) 

STRAND—  (1,400)  (35c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.  (Average,  $2,000) 
"Broadway   Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Inside  Story"  (ZOth-Fox) 

WISCONSIN—  (3,200)  (35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.   (Average,  $5,500) 


'Castles'  $8,700 
Strong  in  Seattle 

Seattle,  April  27. — "The  Story  of 
Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue  was  best  here,  taking  a  strong 
$8,700. 

The  second  week  of  "Dodge  City" 
at  the  Orpheum  was  good  for  $5,400. 
Major  Bowes'  unit  on  the  Palomar 
stage  boosted  the  take  at  that  house 
to  $6,200. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  22 : 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,100.  (Average, 
$4,000) 

"Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

FIFTH  AVENUE— (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $8,700.  (Average,  $7,000) 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"   (W.  B.) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)   (30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.   Gross:  $3,900.   (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Winner  Takes  All"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)  (30c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $5,400.  (Average,  $6,000) 
"Gambling  Ship"  (Univ.) 
"Cipher  Bureau"  (G.  N.) 

PALOMAR— (1,500)     (15c-25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.  Major  Bowes'  unit  on  stage,  Gross: 
$6,200.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (ZOth-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)  (30c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,100.  (Average,  $6,000) 


Church  of  England 
Forms  Review  Unit 

London,  April  27. — A  special  film 
review  unit  sponsored  by  the  Arch- 
bishops of  Canterbury  and  York  has 
been  set  up  by  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land. It  will  consist  of  Anglican 
clergy  and  laymen  under  the  chair- 
manship of  Canon  G.  D.  Barker. 

The  group  will  view  films  and 
classify  them  for  suitability  for  show- 
ing in  Anglican  churches,  halls  or 
schools  and,  further,  will  act  in  an 
advisory  capacity  on  the  production 
and  use  of  films  for  religious  ends. 


'Madden'  Hits 
High  $27,000 
In  Pittsburgh 


Pittsburgh,  April  27. — Fred  War- 
ing's  Pennsylvanians  and  "Sergey 
Madden"  polled  an  excellent  $27,(^ 
at  the  Stanley.  "East  Side  of  Heaven 
drew  $5,500  at  the  Fulton  in  its  sec- 
ond week,  "Love  Affair"  $14,600  al 
Loew's  Penn,  and  "Dodge  City' 
$10,000  at  the  Warner  in  the  seconc 
week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  21 : 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Col.) 

ALVIN— (1,900)   (25c-35c-50c)  7  days,  2nt 
week.    Gross:  $12,800.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)    (25c-40c)    7   days,  2nc 
week.     Gross:  $5,500.     (Average:  $5,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

LOEW'S  PENN— (3,600)  (25c-35c-50c) 
days.  Gross:  $14,600.  (Average.  $15,000) 
"Magnificent  Obsession"  (Col.)  (Reissue) 
"Mr.  Moto  on  Danger  Island"  (ZOth-Fox 

SENATOR— (2,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days 
Gross:  $3,300.    (Average,  $3,800) 
Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY— (3,600)    (25c-40c-60c)    7  days 
Stage:     Fred     Waring's  Pennsylvanians 
Gross:  $27,000.     (Average,  $17,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2m 
week.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $4,500) 


'Detroit  City,'  at 
$20,000  Gross  Is 
Detroit  Sensation 

Detroit,  April  27. — The  Michiga 
led  the  field  with  "Dodge  City"  an> 
"Society  Lawyer,"  taking  $20,000  t 
break  the  house  record  since  the 
started  using  double  features.  "Lov 
Affair"  also  had  a  good  week,  givin: 
the  Fox  $23,000.  The  United  Artist 
with  "Broadway  Serenade"  too 
$10,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  endin 
April  20: 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"1Z  Crowded  Hours"  (Para.) 

ADAMS— (1,700)    (15c-40c)    7    days,  31- 
week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

FO'X— (5,000)  (20c-65c)  7  days.  Stage 
Eddy  Peabody  and  acts.  Gross:  $23,001 
(Average.  $20,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

MICHIGAN— (4.00O)  (20c-65c) 
Gross:   $20,000.    (Average.  $10,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

PALMS-STATE— (3,000)  (15c-50c)  7  day 
Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2,000)  (20c -65c) 
days.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 


day 


Basil  Bros.,  Dipson 
Take  3  Shea  House 

Buffalo,  April  27. — Three  house 
have  been  transferred  from  the  She 
Amusement  Co.  to  a  partnership  corr 
posed  of  Basil  Brothers,  Buffalo,  an 
Nikatas  Dipson,  Batavia,  N.  Y.  Th 
houses  are  the  Century,  downtow 
house  here  ;  Bailey,  neighborhood,  an 
Riviera,  North  Tonawanda. 

The  sale  included  the  Baley  Builc 
ing,  with  10  stores  and  a  bowlin 
alley,  in  addition  to  the  1,900-se; 
house.  The  Century  seats  3,000  an 
the  Riviera  1,400.  The  Century  we 
sold  outright  and  the  other  two  wi 
be  taken  on  a  lease  beginning  Aug. 
when  the  Shea  lease  expires.  Tl 
Basil  Bros,  operated  11  houses. 


WIDE  ACCLAIM 
FOR  ALL  THREE 


SETTING  new  standards  of  quality  and  per- 
formance, Eastman's  latest  negative  films 
have  met  with  instant  approval.  Each  makes 
its  special  contribution  . . .  fast,  fine-grained 
P/its-X,  for  general  studio  work . . .  high-speed 
Super-XX,  for  all  difficult  exposures  . . .  ultra- 
fine-grained  Background-X,  for  backgrounds 
and  all-round  exterior  work.  All  three  offer 
the  high  reliability  and  photographic  quality 
typical  of  Eastman  sensitized  materials. 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
(J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  Fort  Lee, 
Chicago,  Hollywood.) 


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WARNERS 

Blackwell's 
Island 
(G)  (D) 
Garfield 
Rosemary  Lane 

On  Trial 

(G)  (D) 
John  Litel 
Margaret 
Lindsay 

Dodge  City 
(G)  (D) 

Flynn 
de  Havilland 
Ann  Sheridan 

Women  in 
the  Wind 
(G)  (D) 

Kay  Francis 
William  Gargan 
Victor  Jory 

Dark  Victory 
(G)  (D) 

Bette  Davis 
George  Brent 
Bogari 

You  Can't  Get 
Away  With 
Murder 
(G)  (D) 

Bogart 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 

Robinson 
Lederer 

Torchy  Runs 
For  Mayor 
(G)  (D) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 
Winner 

Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

UNIVERSAL 

Three  Smart 
Girls  Grow  Up 

(G)  (C) 
Deanna  Durbin 
Winninger 

Family  Next 
Door  (G)  (C) 

Hugh  Herbert 
Joy  Hodges 

East  Side  of 
Heaven 
.(G)  (C) 

Bing  Crosby 
Joan  Blondell 


Code  of  the 
Streets 
(G)  (D) 

Harry  Carey 
Frankie  Thomas 


Big  Town 
Czar 
(G)  (D) 

MacLane 
Ed  Sullivan 

For  Love  or 
Money 

June  Lang 
Robert  Kent 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

4>  <u  c  ~:  — 

U.  A. 

Wuthering 
Heights 
(A)  (D) 

Oberon 
Olivier 
Flora  Robson 

Zenobia 
(G)  (C) 

Hardy 
Langdon 

Burke 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

20TH-FOX 

Everybody's 
Baby  (A)  (C) 

{Jones  Family) 

Hound  of  the 
Baskervilles 
(G)  (D) 
Greene 
Rathbone 

Mr.  Moto  in 
Danger  Island 
(G)  (D) 

Lorre 
Hersholt 

Story  of 
Alexander 
Graham  Bell 
(G)  (D) 

Ameche 
Loretta  Young 

Winner  Take 
All  (G)  CD) 

Tony  Martin 
Gloria  Stuart 
Inspector 
Hornleigh 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 
(G)  (D) 

Baxter 
Climbing  High 

Matthews 

Chasing  Danger 
(G)  (D) 

Foster 
Lytm  Bari 

Rose  of 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  Whelan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

RKO  RADIO 

Trouble  in 
Sundown 
(G)  (O) 

O'Brien 

Almost  a 
Gentleman 
(G)  (D) 
James  Ellison 

Love  Affair 
(G)  (D) 
Boyer 
Irene  Dunne 
Flying  Irishman 
(G)  (D) 

They  Made 
Her  a  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Sally  Eilers 
Allan  Lane 

Fixer  Dugan 

Lee  Tracy 
Peggy  Shannon 

The  Story  of 
Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle 
(G)  (D) 

Rogers-Astaire 
The  Rookie  Cop 

Sorority  House 
(G)  (D) 

Anne  Shirley 
James  Ellison 

Panama  Lady 

Lucille  Ball 
Allan  Lane 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range  (O) 

O'Brien 

The  Dove 

Steffi  Duna 

Carrillo 
Tim  Holt 

REPUBLIC 

Mexicali  Rose 
(O) 

Gene  Autry 

The  Night 
Riders 
(O) 

John  Wayne 

Frontier  Pony 
Express 
(G)  (O) 

Roy  Rogers 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 

(G)  (D) 
Blue  Montana 
Skies  (O) 

Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Three 
Mesquiteers 

Man  of 
Conquest 
(G)  (D) 

Richard  Dix 

PARA. 

Midnight 
(G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Ameche 
3828 

Sudden  Money 
(G)  (C) 

Juggles 
Silver  on 
the  Sage 

William  Boyd 

I'm  From 
Missouri 
(G)  (C) 

Bob  Burns 
3830 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Secret  Police 
Never  Say 
Die 

Back  Door 
to  Heaven 
(G)  (D) 

Erwin 
Wallace  Ford 
McMahon 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 
(G)  (D) 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Some  Like  It 
Hot 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

Hotel  Imperial 

Isa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
Reginald  Owen 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

MONOGRAM 

Undercover 
Agent 

Russell  Gleason 
Shirley  Deane 

Streets  of 
New  York 
(G)  (D) 
Jackie  Cooper 

Wanted  by 
Scotland  Yard 
Stevenson 
Man  from 
Texas 

Boys' 
Reformatory 

Frankie  Darro 

Wolf  Call 

Movita 
Down  the 
Wyoming  Trail 

Tex  Ritter 

Across  the 
Plains 

Jack  Randall 

M-G-M 

Sergeant 
Madden 
(G)  (D) 

Wallace  Beery 

Society  Lawyer 
(A)  (D) 

Pidgeon 
Bruce 
Carrillo 

Broadway 
Serenade 
(G)  (M) 

MacDonald 

Ayres 
Ian  Hunter 

The  Kid 
from  Texas 

Denis  O'Keefe 
Rice 

The  Hardys 
Ride  High 
(G)  (C) 

Rooney 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 
(G)  (D) 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 

Annabclla 
W.  Connolly 

COLUMBIA 

Whispering 
Enemies 
(G)  (D) 
Jack  Holt 
Dolores  Costello 

North  of 
the  Yukon 

Starrett 
Romance  of 
Redwoods  (0) 
Bickford 

The  Lady  and 
the  Mob 
(G)  (C) 

Fay  Bainter 
Ida  Lupino 

First  Offenders 

Walter  Abel 
Beverly  Roberts 

The  Law  Comes 
to  Texas 

Bill  Elliott 

Oklahoma 
Trail 

Starrett 
Meredith 



Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 
(G)  (D) 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Jean  Arthur 
Cary  Grant 
Barthehness 

Missing 
Daughters 

Arlen 
Marian  Marsh 

March 
24 

March 
31 

1U 

< 

April 
21 

April 
28 

1* 

Q  On 

©  V© 

piday.  April  28.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Press  Urged 
To  Cooperate 
With  Radio 


Newspaper  publishers  were  urged 
cooperate  with  radio,  particularly  in 
llic  service  enterprises,  by  the 
jKadio  Committee  of  the  American 
X  v-wspaper  Publishers  Association, 
reporting  yesterday  at  the  Waldorf 
(Astoria. 

However,  the  committee  scored  the 
.radio  practice  of  selling  news  as  spon- 
sored programs.  The  viewpoint  of  the 
'(cummittee  is  that  advertising  sponsor- 
ship of  news  reports  constitutes  a 
"'questionable  practice."  Failure  of  the 
(broadcasters  to  accept  presentation 
iof  the  news  as  a  public  service  purely, 
constitutes  "a  weakness  in  their  other- 
wise strong  claim  for  greater  institu- 
tional security,  and  for  increased  free- 
dom from  bureaucratic  control." 

37  Per  Cent  Paid  for  Programs 

i  Commenting  on  the  attitude  of  news- 
papers toward  the  handling  of  radio 
programs  as  free  matter,  the  com- 
mittee stated  of  newspapers  reporting 
(this  year  (995  not  owning  or  being 
iarfiliated  with  broadcasting  sta- 
tions) some  387,  or  37  per  cent  of 
ithe  total,  stated  that  they  published 
jradio  programs  as  paid  matter 
|only.  Of  newspapers  reporting  last 
{year,  235  not  owning  or  being 
affiliated  with  radio,  stated  their 
policies  relating  to  the  printing  of 
(programs  and  program  publicity.  Only 
'33  of  the  235,  or  14  per  cent,  reported 
exclusion  of  radio  programs,  except 
as  paid  matter. 

Reporting  on  television,  the  com- 
mittee stated  that  it  had  witnessed  a 
jnumber  of  demonstrations,  and  that 
St  was  "impressed  with  the  technical 
excellence  of  television"  on  the  eve 
•of  its  public  trial.  However,  the  com- 
mittee recognized  the  difficulties  fac- 
ing television  in  a  nationwide  expan- 
sion, because  of  the  50  mile  distance 
limitations.  On  facsimile,  the  commit- 
tee reported  it  was  "without  notable 
developments"  to  date. 

732  Stations  Operating 

The  committee  gave  a  complete 
breakdown  of  newspaper  affiliation  in 
radio.  The  figures  show  a  total  of 
'732  licensed  stations  operating  now, 
of  which  229  are  accredited  as  news- 
paper owned  or  newspaper  affiliated. 
Last  year  there  were  728  stations  in 
operation,  with  211  reported  as  news- 
paper owned  or  affiliated.  Of  37  new 
stations  whose  permits  have  been 
granted  by  the  F.C.C.,  13  are  under- 
stood to  be  of  newspaper  ownership  or 
control,  while  six  stations  now  in 
existence  are  said  to  be  under  option 
for  sale  to  newspapers. 

J.  S.  Gray,  publisher  of  the  Mon- 
roe Evening  News,  is  chairman  of  the 
Radio  Committee. 


New  CBS  Series  Set 

New  dramatic  series  as  yet  untitled 
will  be  broadcast  over  52  stations  of 
the  CBS  web  Sundavs  from  10  to 
10:30  P.  M.  starting  May  21  for  Proc- 
ter &  Gamble.  Elliott  Lewis  and  guest 
stars  will  comprise  the  show.  H.  W. 
Kostor  &  Sons  is  the  agency.  This  is 
the  seventh  program  sponsored  by  P. 
&  G.  over  CBS.  Program  will  origin- 
ate from  WBBM  in  Chicago. 


Radio  Coverage  of 
World's  Fair  Cut 
By  Charge  Dispute 


With  the  opening  of  the  World's 
Fair  just  two  days  removed,  it  ap- 
pears that  radio  will  play  a  much 
smaller  part  in  covering  Fair  activi- 
ties that  was  at  first  supposed.  A 
checkup  with  the  networks  and  the 
local  New  York  stations  reveals  that 
beyond  rather  extensive  coverage  of 
the  opening  day  ceremonies,  scarcely 
any  programs  have  been  booked. 

It  appears  that  the  cause  is  a  dispute 
between  the  stations  and  the  World's 
Fair  management,  as  to  which  shall 
pay  the  line  charges.  Stations  are 
taking  the  attitude  that  the  Fair 
management  should  pay  these  line 
charges  in  view  of  the  valuable  ex- 
ploitation radio  will  render  the  Fair 
in  broadcasting  its  events.  The  Fair 
management  to  date  is  adamant  that 
the  stations  bear  the  line  charges 
themselves. 

Another  cause,  particularly  as  it 
affects  musical  pickups,  is  a  differ- 
ence as  to  who  shall  pay  the  $3  per 
hour  per  man  tax  that  the  musicians' 
union  demands  for  remote  pickups. 
For  remote  band  pickups  from  cafes 
and  hotels,  the  tax  is  paid  usually  by 
either  the  cafe  or  hotel  owner,  or  the 
bandleader. 


Bell  System's  Fair 
Exhibit  Inspected 


Wood  Will  Replace 
Fleming  for  'Wind' 

Hollywood,  April  27. — Reportedly 
on  advice  of  his  physician  Victor 
Fleming  will  withdraw  from  direction 
of  "Gone  With  the  Wind"  next  Mon- 
day with  Sam  Wood,  who  recently  fin- 
ished "Goodbye  Mr.  Chips,"  taking 
over  on  an  announcedly  temporary 
basis.  The  studio  said  Fleming  will 
resume  the  following  Saturday  or 
Monday.  At  the  same  time  the  studio 
said  four  units  will  be  working  on  the 
picture  within  a  week,  the  other  three 
under  Chester  Franklin,  William 
Cameron  Menzies  and  Richard  Ros- 
son.  Fleming  replaced  George  Cukor 
as  director  following  consummation 
of  the  deal  under  which  M-G-M  will 
distribute  the  picture. 


CBC  Appoints  Gilchrist 

Montreal,  April  27.— C.  W.  Gil- 
christ, former  managing  editor  of  the 
Saint  John  Times-Globe  and  Tele- 
graph-Journal, has  been  appointed  re- 
gional representative  of  the  Canadian 
Broadcasting  Corp,  press  and  infor- 
mation bureau,  with  headquarters  in 
Halifax.  The  move  is  part  of  CBC's 
maritime  development  plan  which  got 
under  way  early  this  month  with  the 
opening  of  the  new  50,000-watt  trans- 
mitter, CBA,  at  Sackville. 


Webs  Air  Hitler  Speech 

Networks  opened  earlier  than  usual 
this  morning  to  carry  Chancellor 
Adolf  Hitler's  answer  to  President 
Roosevelt  in  his  speech  before  the 
Reichstag.  All  the  networks  followed 
the  address  by  presenting  speakers 
from  various  parts  of  the  world  of- 
fering the  reactions  to  the  speech  in 
the  various  capitals.  The  commenta- 
ries came  from  Washington,  London, 
Paris,  Rome,  Geneva,  Warsaw,  Brus- 
sels, Holland  and  Moscow. 


First  formal  inspection  trip  of  the 
Bell  System  exhibit  at  the  World's 
Fair  was  attended  yesterday  by  about 
200  executives,  engineers  and  news 
papermen.  Prior  to  the  exhibit,  the 
party  was  given  a  luncheon  at  the 
Hotel  New  Yorker.  The  Bell  Ex- 
hibit Building,  which  is  not  yet  com- 
plete, occupies  a  three  and  a  half  acre 
site  immediately  adjacent  to  the  Try- 
Ion  and  Perisphere. 

A   robot  with  a  mechanical  voice 
attracted  most  attention.    Many  de 
vices  which  will  invite  audience  par 
ticipation  were  also  inspected.  Among 
these  are  a  long  distance  demonstra- 
tion (with  visitors  making  free  calls 
home),  a  telephone  with  a  playback 
for  the  speaker  to  hear,  hearing  and 
tone  detection  tests,  and  a  museum  of 
historical     and     modern  telephonic 
equipment.     One    section    will  have 
groups  of  visitors  making  conversa- 
tion, with  mannequins  later  reenacting 
the  conversation  by  use  of  sound  re 
cording  equipment. 

Among  those  attending  yesterday's 
demonstration  were  Walter  S.  Gif- 
ford,  president  of  A.  T.  &  T. ;  T.  K. 
Stevenson,  president  of  Erpi ;  J.  C. 
Kilpatrick,  president  of  N.  Y.  Tele 
phone  Co. ;  F.  B.  Jewrett,  president  of 
Bell  Telephone ;  C.  G.  Stoll,  executive 
vice-president  of  Western  Electric ; 
Karl  Whitmore  and  Victor  E.  Cooley, 
vice-presidents  of  X.  Y.  Telephone 
Co. ;  John  Mills  of  Bell  Laboratories  ; 
P.  L.  Thompson,  W.  E.  director  of 
public  relations,  and  George  Well- 
baum,  general  information  manager 
of  N.  Y.  Telephone. 


I.A.T.S.E.  Non-Suit 
Motion  Up  Monday 

Hollywood,  April  27.  —  Develop- 
ments in  countersuits  of  I.A.T.S.E. 
and  Studio  Technicians  Local  37  over 
control  of  the  studio  unit  today  were 
the  introduction  of  testimony  purport- 
ing to  show  dissipation  of  funds  by 
Local  officers ;  Ed.  Heim,  financial 
secretary  of  Local  ousted  with  Car- 
penter, told  court  of  various  salaries 
voted  by  board  of  governors  to  them- 
selves and  others.  Court  adjourned 
until  Monday  when  non-suit  motion 
will  be  argued. 

Judge  Wilson,  who  had  repeatedly 
warned  Attorney  Rose  about  court 
outbursts,  fined  him  $5  for  contempt 
following  continued  interruption  of 
witnesses'  answers. 


Houses  Exempt  from 
English  Defense  Bill 

London,  April  27. — English  film 
trade  will  be  affected  by  the  new 
Civil  Defense  Bill  now  before  Par- 
liament. The  bill  calls  for  the  for- 
tifying and  strengthening  of  com- 
mercial buildings  against  air  raids, 
and  applies  to  all  places  where  more 
than  50  employes  are  on  the  pay- 
roll. 

Theatres  and  places  of  entertain- 
ment are  exempt,  but  distributor  of- 
fices and  the  headquarters  of  most 
firms  in  the  industry  will  be  involved. 
The  bill  compels  the  provision  of  air 
raid  shelters,  the  cost  of  which  will 
not  be  allowed  on  income  tax,  but 
a  grant  will  be  made  which  will  be 
equal  to  the  tax  on  the  amount  spent. 


Du  Mont  to  Develop 
Tube  andTelevision, 
SEC  Report  Shows 


Washington,  April  27. — The  pros- 
pectus filed  with  the  Securities  & 
Exchange  Commission  by  the  Allen 
B.  DuMont  Laboratories  in  connec- 
tion with  its  new  financing  plans  in- 
dicates that  the  company  will  devoie 
itself  chiefly  to  its  cathode  ray  lobe 
production  and  television  transmission 
activities.  There  is  no  indication  in 
the  prospectus  that  any  great  market 
for  television  receiving  sets  is  ex- 
pected in  the  near  future,  however. 

The  prospectus  reveals  that  the 
company  is  interested  in  the  develop- 
ment of  large-screen  television  trans- 
mission of  a  type  applicable  to  the- 
atres if  perfected.  Paramount  has  a 
50  per  cent  interest  in  DuMont. 

New  $750,000  Issue 

The  new  financing  includes  an  is- 
sue of  $750,000  in  10-year  5  per  cent 
notes  due  May  1,  1949,  and  30,000 
shares  of  Class  A  common  stock  out 
of  112,000  shares  authorized,  to  be 
reserved  for  issuance  on  conversion 
of  notes.  Lehman  Bros,  and  Hemp- 
hill, Noyes  &  Co.,  principal  under- 
writers, have  been  assigned  $500,000 
of  the  principal  amount  of  $750,000. 
Lehman,  underwriter  of  $400,000,  has 
offered  §363,100  of  the  notes,  and 
Hemphill,  Noyes,  underwriter  of 
$100,000,  has  offered  $90,800. 

Paramount  has  subscribed  as  a  note- 
holder to  $108,000  of  notes  and  has  ex- 
ercised options  which  it  held  to  pur- 
chase 42,000  additional  shares  of  Class 
B  common  and  made  a  new  loan  to 
DuMont  of  $108,000.  It  also  owns 
3,000  Class  A  shares. 

Other  Large  Holders 

Other  large  security  holders  are 
Allen  B.  DuMont,  president,  $13,000 
in  bonds  and  15,050  shares  of  Class 
A  common  stock,  and,  as  trustee  for 
Henry  L.  Crowley,  John  Hinck  and 
Christopher  A.  Hinck,  1,400  shares 
of  Class  A;  Henry  L.  Crowley,  direc- 
tor, $3,000  in  bonds  and  1,910  shares 
of  Class  A ;  Paul  Reiburn,  treasurer, 
1,000  shares  of  Class  A ;  Lehman 
Brothers,  870  shares  of  Class  A  and 
Hemphill,  Noyes  &  Company,  25 
shares  of  Class  A  for  the  account  of 
customers ;  Wellington  &  Company, 
subunderwriters,  500  shares  of  Class 
A;  Lillian  B.  Loewi,  7,064  shares  of 
Class  A  and  116  shares  preferred,  in 
notes ;  Lawrence  Industrial  Corpora- 
tion, 200  shares  preferred  and  1,000 
shares  Class  A ;  Henry  A.  Schatzkin, 
114  shares  preferred  and  3,900  shares 
Class  A ;  and  William  Morris  and 
Abe  Lastfogel,  140  shares  of  preferred 
and  2,400  shares  Class  A. 

Under  a  contract  entered  into  with 
the  company  in  December,  1935,  Allen 
B.  DuMont  is  to  serve  for  a  period 
of  ten  years  from  January  1,  1936, 
at  a  salary  of  $6,000  per  year  and 
10  per  cent  of  the  net  profits  in  ex- 
cess of  $10,000  after  certain  adjust- 
ments. 


Axton  Fisher  Signs  Bond 

Axton  Fisher  Tobacco  Co.  has 
signed  Ford  Bond  for  a  daily  series 
of  news  programs  over  WEAF  be- 
ginning May  1.  Programs  will  be 
broadcast  Mondays  through  Fridays 
from  6:20  to  6:30  P.  M.  Contract  is 
for  52  weeks,  through  McCann-Erick- 


A  NEW  ROBIN  HOOD 


. . a  new  exciting  story  background 
.  .  a  new  kind  of  class 
picture.  Released  May  261 
the  new  idea  of  giving  you  Thanks- 
giving  business  in  the  spring! 


HAL  ROACH 


presents 


Starring 

BRIAN  AHERNE  •  VICTOR  McLAGLEN 

JUNE  LANG  •  JOHN  CARRADINE  •  PAUL  LUKAS  •  GEORGE  ZUCCO  •  DOUGLASS  DUMBRILLE -VIRGINIA  FIELD 

Creeled  by  HAL  ROACH  •  Screenplay  by  GROVER  JONES,  JACK  JEVNE,  WILLIAM  DeMILLE  •  RELEASED  THRU  UNITED  ARTISTS 


SELL  FOR  THE  FIRST  TIME  .  .  . 


Men  in  chains  who  become  a 
nation's  heroes! 

Black  dungeons  of  Malopi  Valley! 


Mad  ruler  of  adventure's 
last  frontier! 

Captain  Fury's  leap  for  life! 


Shearing  pits  where  revolt 
is  born! 

Kangaroo  court  in  action! 


Alert, 


:o  the  iVkjtion 
picture 
industry 


DO  NOT  REMC 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


==)  45.   NO.  83 


P5 

iBC  Realigns 
[ts  Executive 
Organization 

orton    Vice  -  President 
For  Television 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  MAY  1.  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Major  executive  changes  were  insti- 
ed  at  XBC  over  the  weekend  by 

ttjor  Lenox  K.  Lohr,  network  pres- 
nt. 

Under  the  new  provisions  all  de- 
tment  and  division  heads  will  re- 
rt  directly  to  Xiles  Trammell,  re- 
btly  appointed  executive  vice-presi- 
rt,  who  will  be  responsible  to  Lohr 

the  operations  of  the  company. 
A.  H.  Morton,  up  to  now  vice-presi- 
at  in  charge  of  managed  and  oper- 
cd  stations,  has  been  named  vice- 
;sident  in  charge  of  television,  a 
w  executive  post. 

Hedges  Heads  Stations 

William  S.  Hedges,  formerly  vice- 
esident  in  charge  of  station  rela- 
ys, has  been  placed  in  charge  of  a 
iwly  created  stations  department, 
mprising  the  former  stations  rela- 
ys department,  the  former  managed 
>d  operated  stations  department,  the 
affic  department,  the  offices  of  the 
-ector  of  development  and  research, 
<d  the  national  spot  and  local  sales 
partments. 

Clay  Morgan,  formerly  head  of  the 
blicity  department,  has  been  ap- 
inted  as  assistant  to  President  Lohr 
r  special  public  relations  and  insti- 
:ional  departments. 
Frank  E.  Mason,  vice-president  and 
sistant  to  the  president,  has  been 
iced  in  charge  of  the  newly  cre- 
ed department  of  information,  corn- 
icing the  press,  information  and 
omotion  divisions  of  the  publicity 
partment,  and  of  the  present  short- 
ive  division. 

Sidney  Strotz  has  been  appointed 
anager  of  the  XBC  central  division, 
]>ost  occupied  formerly  by  Niles 
rammel  until  his,  recent  transfer  to 
«\v  York. 

The  statistical  division,  formerly  re- 
•onsible  to  the  office  of  vice-president 
irl  treasurer,  has  been  transferred  to 
e  sales  department. 


File  Oklahoma  Suit 

Oklahoma  City,  April  30.— 
Federal  Government  filed  its 
anti-trust  suit  against  major 
companies  and  four  circuits 
here  Friday.  The  suit,  to- 
gether with  all  details,  was 
announced  from  Washington 
Thursdav. 


World  Fair  Facts 
Seen  at  a  Glance 

Closing  date— Nov.  1,  1939. 

Cost— $155,000,000. 

Site— 1,216  acres  of  Flush- 
ing Meadow  Park.  Area  is 
three  times  greater  than 
Chicago  World's  Fair. 

Hours— 9  A.M.  to  10  P.M., 
except  for  amusement  zone, 
which  remains  open  until 
2  A.M. 

Admission  prices — 75  cents 
for  adults,  25  cents  for  chil- 
dren between  the  ages  of 
three  and  14.  Season  ticket 
for  adults,  $15. 


Harris  Reelected 
As  Chief  Barker 
of  Variety  Clubs 


Detroit,  April  30. — Fifth  annual 
convention  of  the  Variety  Clubs  of 
America  closed  here  Saturday  with  a 
banquet  at  the  Book  Cadillac  Hotel 
attended  by  more  than  600  delegates 
and  guests.  Included  among  the  speak- 
ers and  guests  of  honor  were  Mayor 
Richard  W.  Reading,  John  B.  Ken- 
nedy, Lloyd  Nolan,  Malcolm  W. 
Bingay,  editorial  director  of  the  Free- 
Press;  Edgar  Guest.  A  floor  show 
was  headed  by  George  Jessel  and 
Ethel  Shutta. 

National  officers  elected  at  the  last 
session  are  John  H.  Harris,  Pitts- 
burgh, reelected  chief  barker  for  the 

(Continued  on  paqc  2) 


United  Artists  Asks 
Court  to  Dismiss 
Sam  Goldwyn  Suit 


Branding  Samuel  Goldwyn's  breach 
of  contract  suit  against  United  Artists 
as  one  which  lacks  a  "justifiable  con- 
troversy," United  Artists  on  Saturday 
filed  a  motion  in  Federal  District 
Court  at  Wilmington  asking  that  the 
case  be  dismissed. 

Three  principal  grounds  for  dismis- 
sal of  the  Goldwyn  action  are  set  forth 
in  the  papers  which  were  prepared  by 
O'Brien,  Driscoll  &  Raftery  and 
Schwartz  &  Frohlich,  attorneys  for 
United  Artists.  They  are  that  the 
court  lacks  jurisdiction  in  the  case  be- 
cause  of  the  suit's  failure  to  establish 
a  "justifiable  controversy";  that  the 
action  does  not  permit  of  any  relief 
which  a  court  should  grant,  and  that 
it  fails  to  join  as  defendants  with 
United  Artists  the  other  principals  it 
complains  against,  London  Film  Prod., 
Ltd..  Alexander  Korda,  Elton  Corp. 
and  Douglas  Fairbanks. 

Goldwyn  charged  in  his  action  that 
United  Artists  had  breached  the  Gold- 
wyn  contract  by  granting  to  Korda 
and  Fairbanks  what  the  plaintiff  re- 
ftarded  as  special  considerations. 

Supporting  its  contention  that  Gold- 
wyn's suit  does  not  seek  any  relief 
proper  for  a  court  to  grant,  the  com- 
pany's motion  papers  assert  that  "in 
form  and  substance  the  complaint 
(Goldwyn's)  is  purely  a  request  for 
legal  advice  concerning  the  plaintiff's 
right  to  terminate  his  contract  at  some 
(Continued  on  paqc  2) 


Omaha  Relaxes  from  Strain 
Of  'Union  Pacific 9  Opening 


Omaha,  April  30. — Four-day  cele- 
bration of  the  70th  anniversary  of  the 
Union  Pacific  R.R.  and  the  simul- 
taneous world  premiere  of  Para- 
mount's  "Union  Pacific"  in  three 
houses  here  wound  up  yesterday  with 
most  of  the  200,000  visitors  leaving 
for  home.  The  premieres  Friday  were 
screened  before  capacity  audiences  of 
7,000  at  each  showing. 

Personal  appearances  were  made  at 
all  three  houses,  the  Omaha,  Orpheum 
and  Paramount,  by  Cecil  B.  DeMille, 
Barbara  Stanwyck,  Brian  Donlevy, 
Robert  Preston.  Lynne  Overman, 
George  Raft,  Lloyd  Nolan,  Evelyn 
Keyes,  Evelyn  Venable.  Sheila  Darcy, 
Judith  King,  Janice  Logan.  Evelyn 
Luckey,  Patricia  Morison,  Anthony 
Quinn,  Margaret  Roach  and  Luana 
Walters. 

The  premieres  climaxed  a  day  of 
parades,  dances  and  a  luncheon  for 


male  members  of  the  party.  Honored 
at  the  luncheon  were  DeMille,  Barney 
Balaban,  Paramount  president,  Neil 
F.  Agnew,  vice-president,  governors  of 
Nebraska,  Wyoming  and  Idaho,  W. 
M.  Jeffers,  president  of  the  Union 
Pacific ;  Averill  J.  Harriman,  chair- 
man of  the  board ;  Newcomb  Carleton, 
chairman  of  the  board  of  Western 
Union ;  Heber  J.  Grant,  president  of 
the  Mormon  Church ;  J.  C.  Penney, 
chain  store  operator,  and  scores  of 
other  dignitaries  and  financiers.  De- 
Mille later  dedicated  a  Golden  Spike 
monument. 

DeMille  and  most  of  the  Hollywood 
party  left  for  Chicago,  the  first  stop  in 
a  trip  through  key  cities  in  connection 
with  the  film's  opening  dates.  Miss 
Stanwyck  and  Miss  Keyes  left  im- 
mediately for  the  studio  to  continue 
work  on  pictures  in  which  they  are 
working. 


Fair  Opens; 
Amusements 
Big  Magnet 

Shows,    Villages  Cover 
280-Acre  "Loop" 


The  New  York  World's  Fair,  cost- 
ing in  excess  of  $155,000,000  opened 
yesterday. 

After  more  than  four  years  of  plan- 
ning the  Flushing  Meadow  marshland 
has  finally  been  converted  into  a  para- 
dise of  pleasures,  a  treasure  trove  of 
finest  industrial  technique,  social  ideas 
and  scientific  advancements  of  the 
Twentieth  Century. 

Between  now  and  Xovember  1,  the 
Fair  expects  to  be  host  to  more  than 
16,000,000  visitors  from  all  parts  of 
the  world. 

Seven  Zones 

It  is  divided  into  seven  distinct 
zones :  Communications  and  Business 
Systems,  Community  Interests,  Food, 
Government  zone  with  foreign  and 
state  participants,  Production  and 
Distribution,  Transportation,  and 
Amusements. 

The  amusement  zone,  spread  over 
280  acres  surrounding  Fountain  Lake 
and  geographically  laid  out  in  the 
form  of  a  "loop,"  probably  is  the 
greatest  pleasure  metropolis  built  any- 
where in  the  world.  This  mile-long 
area  will  be  capable  of  entertaining 
250,000  persons  at  one  time. 

From  nine  a.m.  until  2  a.m.  (the 
rest  of  the  Fair  closes  at  10  p.m. 
daily),  visitors  in  this  section  will  find 
Times  Square  and  Coney  Island  com- 
bined into  a  huge  recreational  center. 

On  exhibition  will  be  people  from 
strange  lands — pygmies  from  jungles 
of  Central  Africa ;  ferocious-looking 
Ubangi  tribesmen  from  French  Equa- 
torial Africa,  black  humans  with  large 
distended  Hps,  genuine  head-hunters, 
fierce  savages  from  the  Congo,  giraffe- 
necked  women  and  the  alligator- 
wrestling  Seminole  Indians  from  the 
Florida  Everglades. 

Unlike  other  World's  Fairs,  the 
Xew  York  exposition  does  not  have 
an  old-fashioned  "midway."  The 
shows  are  laid  out  in  the  form  of  a 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


SWG  Pact  Goes 
To  Board  Monday 

Hollywood,  April  30.  —  Proposed 
agreement  between  producers  and  the 
Screen  Writers  Guild  will  be  submit- 
ted to  SWG  board  on  Monday.  Fol- 
lowing a  producers'  conference  Friday 
night,  Joseph  M.  Schenck,  M.P.P.A. 
president,  said  terms  of  the  proposed 
pact,  with  few  changes,  met  with  gen- 
eral approval. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  I,  19] 


Amusements  Big 
Magnet  as  N.  Y. 
Launches  Fair 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
loop  with  open-air  rides,  spectacles  of 
all    kinds,    walk-throughs,  villages, 
sports   arenas,   and   shows  clustered 
close  together  along  the  entire  route. 

The  amusement  zone  is  divided  into 
six  sections  with  seven  villages,  nine 
shows,  16  exhibits,  15  rides  and  nine 
restaurants,  not  counting,  of  course, 
the  innumerable  refreshment  stands 
throughout  the  whole  area. 

One  of  the  chief  girl  show  attrac- 
tions will  be  The  Amazon  Warriors, 
a  group  of  48  girls  in  an  athletic 
presentation. 

Billy  Rose's  Aquacade  is  another. 
Four  shows  will  be  offered  daily,  at 
3,  5,  8  and  10  o'clock.  Billy  Rose's 
swimming  stars  will  include  Eleanor 
Holm,  Gertrude  Ederle,  Johnny 
Weissmuller. 

Entertainment  Variety 

The  eight  other  shows  include  the 
Cavalcade  of  Centaurs,  a  horseman- 
ship show  operated  by  John  Ringling 
North ;  Crystal  Palace,  reproduction 
of  the  Crystal  Palace  which  featured 
the  first  New  York  World's  Fair  of 
1853;  Laffland,  where  "screwball" 
tactics  will  be  used  to  elicit  laughs ; 
Living  Magazine  Covers,  where 
beauty  queens  will  parade ;  Savoy, 
where  Harlem's  wildest  jitterbugs  will 
reign ;  Theater  of  Time  and  Space, 
with  a  ride  aboard  a  make-believe 
rocket  ship ;  Hall  of  Music  where  pro- 
grams of  symphonies,  drama,  choral 
music  and  the  dance  will  be  presented. 

The  15  exhibits  include  Admiral 
Byrd's  Penguin  Island,  Arctic  Girls' 
Tomb  of  Ice,  Artists'  Colony,  Tony 
Sarg's  Enchanted  Forest,  Gang  Bust- 
ers, Giant's  Causeway,  Infant  Incu- 
bator, Live  Monsters,  Nature's  Mis- 
takes, New  York  Zoological  Society, 
Penny  Arcade,  Strange  As  It  Seems, 
Victoria  Falls,  We  Humans,  and 
Canine  Capers. 

Fair  visitors  interested  in  rides  as 
entertainment  have  15  of  them  to 
patronize — aerial  joyride,  Auto  Dod- 
gem, midget  auto  speedway,  Bob  Sled 
with  all  the  excitement  of  St.  Moritz 
or  Lake  Placid,  the  Centipede,  Drive- 
a-Drome,  giant  safety  roller  coaster, 
Jitterbug,  Laff  in  the  Dark,  The 
Meteor,  Parachute  Jump,  Sky  Ride 
with  two  cages  carrying  20  passengers 
each  rising  to  the  top  of  a  200-foot 
tower  for  a  brief  birds-eye  view  of  the 
Fair  grounds,  The  Snapper,  Strato- 
ship  and  Super-Rolloplane. 


/.  /.  Fitzgibbons 
Showing  Recovery 

Rochester,  Minn.,  April  30. — John 
J.  Fitzgibbons  of  Toronto,  director  of 
theatre  operations  for  Famous  Players 
Canadian,  is  recovering  at  St.  Mary's 
Hospital  here  from  a  serious  abdomi- 
nal operation  performed  this  week. 
His  surgeon  said  he  is  making  norma1 
progress.  Fitzgibbons  came  here 
Monday. 


Everybody  in  Show  Business 
EATS  AT 

SARDI'S 

234  West  44th  Street 

LAclcawanna  4-5785 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


jV/fAURICE  SILVERSTONE, 
United  Artists  chief  executive, 
leaves  for  the  coast  by  train  tomorrow 
to  prepare  for  the  company's  annual 
sales  meeting  which  opens  in  Holly- 
wood next  Monday. 

• 

Samuel  Oknitz,  film  writer,  sailed 
Saturday  on  the  Champlain.  Others 
on  board  were  Don  Hartman,  Para- 
mount scenarist  on  leave  of  absence, 
and  Col.  Robert  Gerarp  of  the  French 
Foreign  Legion,  who  was  technical  ad- 
visor on  Paramount's  "Beau  Geste." 
• 

Phil  Reisman,  RKO  foreign  dis- 
tribution head,  arrives  today  on  the 
Normandk. 

• 

Joy  Hodges,  Universal  contract 
player,  leaves  for  Louisville  tomorrow 
where  she  will  remain  for  the  Ken- 
tucky Derby,  continuing  on  to  Holly- 
wood thereafter.  She  was  feted  by 
Universal  at  "21"  on  Friday. 

• 

Lou  Pollock,  eastern  advertising 
and  publicity  manager  of  Universal, 
returns  today  from  Miami,  where  he 
arranged  exploitation  for  the  opening 
of  "The  Mikado"  at  the  Lincoln 
May  2. 

• 

Irving  Rubinf.  of  the  Warner  stu- 
dio publicity  department,  who  has  been 
in  the  east  for  campaigns  on  "Juarez" 
and  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy,"  left 
Friday  night  with  S.  Charles  Ein- 
feld  for  the  studio. 

• 

Alice  FayEj  after  a  brief  vacation  in 
the  east,  embarks  on  the  City  of  Nor- 
folk at  Baltimore  today  to  return  to 
the  20th  Century-Fox  studio.  Her 
stand-in,  Mrs.  Claude  Smith,  is  with 
her. 

• 

Edward  T.  Carr,  joint  managing 
director  of  United  Artists  in  Great 
Britain,  arrives  today  on  the  Norman- 
die  for  home  office  talks  and  to  at- 
tend the  U.  A.  coast  convention  this 
week. 

• 

D.  C.  Collins,  vice-president  of 
Erpi,  left  for  the  coast  Friday  and 
plans  to  return  east  by  way  of  San 
Francisco  in  about  four  weeks. 

Eddie  Schreiber,  who  has  handled 
Warners'  shorts  publicity  at  the  Vita- 
phone  studio,  has  been  transferred  to 
the  home  office  under  Mttchell 
Rawson. 

• 

Geraldine  Fitzgerald,  Warner 
player,  arrives  in  New  York  from  the 
coast  today  on  her  way  to  Ireland  for 
a  short  vacation.  She  will  return  later 
in  the  spring. 

• 

Tom  H.  Bailey,  20th  Century-Fox 
New  England  district  manager,  is 
shuttling  between  Boston,  New  Haven, 
Albany  and  the  home  office  on  circuit 
deals. 

Katherine  Brown,  Selznick-In- 
ternational  eastern  story  editor,  leaves 
for  the  coast  today  and  plans  to  re- 
turn in  two  weeks. 

William  J.  Kupper,  20th  Century- 
Fox  western  division  manager,  is 
making  a  swing  of  St.  Louis,  Kansas 
City  and  Oklahoma  City. 


JIMMY  WOOLF,  son  of  C.  M. 
Woolf  of  London,  sailed  for  Eng- 
land Saturday  on  the  Aquitania  after 
an  extended  visit  here. 

• 

Anna  Neagle,  British  actress,  and 
Herbert  Wilcox,  producer,  left  for 
the  coast  Friday  shortly  after  their 
arrival  in  New  York  on  the  Aquitania 
for  work  in  the  Edith  Cavell  picture 
which  RKO  will  release. 

• 

John  Nolan  has  left  St.  Vincent's 
Hospital  and  has  gone  to  Atlantic  City 
for  two  weeks. 

Paul  and  Mrs.  Lukas  and  A.  E. 
Matthews,  British  actor,  sailed  Sat- 
urday on  the  Aquitania. 

• 

Victor  C.  Krupa  of  Peerless  Film 
Processing  Corp.,  is  due  back  from  the 
coast  in  about  two  weeks. 

• 

Victor  Cassella  of  the  Bonoff, 
Madison,  Conn.,  was  married  Satur- 
day to  Mary  DeGennaro. 

• 

Lucy  Flack,  operator  of  the  Cap- 
itol,  Milford,   Conn.,  has  left  on  a 
three-week  cruise  to  Honduras. 
• 

Phil  Chakeres,  Ohio  circuit  oper- 
tor,  has  canceled  his  proposed  trip  to 
Europe. 

Tony  D'Algy,  Spanish  actor-pro- 
ducer-director, leaves  for  Cuba  today 
after  a  visit  here. 

• 

Hugh  McGuire,  RKO  New  Haven 
booker,  suffered  a  fractured  elbow 
when  he  fell. 

• 

Joan  Bennett  arrived  in  New 
York  from  the  coast  over  the  week- 
end. 

Florence  Patke,  20th  Century- 
Fox  booker  in  St.  Louis,  is  ill. 

Herb  Morgan,  head  of  M-G-M 
shorts  publicity,  returns  today  from 
Detroit. 

Matt  Saunders,  Loew-Poli  man- 
ager in  Bridgeport,  was  a  home  office 
visitor  Friday. 

• 

Ray  Bolger,  screen  dancer,  and 
Mrs.  Bolger,  are  in  town,  stopping  at 
the  Sherry  Netherlands. 

• 

Hiller  Innes,  production  manager 
of  the   Paramount  home  office,  has 
gone  to  Bermuda  for  a  short  vacation. 
• 

Earl  of  Warwick  sailed  for  Eng- 
land Saturday  on  the  Aquitania,  He 
plans  to  return  to  Hollywood. 

• 

Karl  Macdonald,  Warners'  super- 
visor for  Latin  America,  returns  today 
on  the  Santa  Rosa  after  a  four-month 
trip  through  his  territory. 

• 

Clifford  C.  Fischer  arrives  today 
from  London  on  the  Normandie. 
• 

Eleanor  Powell,  making  personal 
appearances  at  Loew's  State,  is  stay- 
ing at  the  Waldorf  with  her  mother, 
Mrs.  Blanche  Powell. 

Miguel  Contreras  Torres,  Mexi- 
can producer,  is  in  town. 


UA  Asks  Dropping 
Of  Suit  by  Goldwy]; 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
optional,  future  time.    No  relief  of 
conclusive  nature  is  sought,"  the  coi 
plaint   states,  and  thus   even   if  t 
court  were  to  give  Goldwyn  the  advi; 
he  seeks  it  would  not  settle  the  cq 
troversy  because  it  would  neither  u 
minate  Goldwyn' s  contract  nor^^ 
clusively  test  its  status.    The  mofV 
also  asserts  that  Goldwyn  fails  to  she 
that  any  damage  has  been  suffered 
him  or  that  he  will  be  "exposed 
irreparable  harm  or  injury"  by  t 
acts  complained  of,  and  points  out  th 
"an  adequate  remedy"  is  available 
Goldwyn  either  "at  law  or  in  equit\ 

Pointing  out  that  Goldwyn's  co 
tract  asks  for  no  "executory  or  c 
ercive"  relief,  the  company's  motii 
asserts  that  the  producer  "mere 
seeks  an  opinion  from  the  court  a 
vising  him  on  a  hypothetical  state 
facts  as  to  his  right  to  terminate  t 
contract  should  he  elect  to  do  so 
the  future." 

The  Wilmington  court  will  set 
date  for  hearing  of  the  dismissal  m 
tion  within  the  next  few  davs. 


Harris  Re-Elected 
By  Variety  Club 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

fifth  time;  Duke  Clarke,  Clevelaiu 
first  assistant  chief  barker;  John  i 
Maloney,  Pittsburgh,  second  assista  i 
chief  barker;  Frank  Drew,  Clevelan! 
national  property  master,  and  Jamj 
Palmer,  Pittsburgh,  national  doua 
guy.  Dallas  has  been  selected  as  til 
city  for  the  1940  convention. 

Nineteen  Tents  participated  in  tl| 
three-day  session,  and  new  units  ii 
ducted  into  the  organization  we 
Memphis  and  Atlanta.  It  was  di 
closed  that  over  $250,000  was  expen( 
ed  in  charity  and  welfare  work  durir 
the  year. 

Industry    leaders   present  include 
William  F.  Rodgers,  Tom  Connor 
Ed  Saunders,  Ed  Kuykendall,  R. 
O'Donnell,   George   Weeks,  Herms, 
Robbins,    Fred    Wehrenberg,  Ma 
Cohen,    Brownie   Akers,   Louis  arj 
Joseph  Ansell,  Harvey  Day,  Georji 
Dembow,  Eddie  Fontaine,  W.  K  Jet 
kins,  M.  A.  Lightman,  Harry  Kalmin 
C.  T.  Latta,  Harold  Lund,  Carl  Neiss 
J.  J.  Oulahan,  H.  M.  Richey. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  ac  I 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda  j 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Con 
pany.    Inc.,    Martin  ,  Quigley,    president  i 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasure; 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  £ 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubci 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  193 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Im 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yor 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Mono 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teats 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictuh  | 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Unio  ! 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boon 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weavei 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squan 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Loadon 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  th| 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copiei  10c 


What  the 


Covered  Wagon'  was 


to  silent  pictures, 

Cecil  B.  De  Mille's 

UNION  PACIFIC 

is  to  talking  pictures 


. . .  Spyros  Skouras 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  I,  I1 


'Dark  Victory' 
Boston  Smash 
With  $32,500 


Boston,  April  30.— "Dark  Victory" 
and  "Sudden  Money"  took  a  strong 
$32,500  in  eight  days  at  the  Metro- 
politan. 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
Castle,"  coupled  with  the  Disney  Re- 
view at  the  Keith  Memorial,  drew 
$22,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26 : 

"Let  Us  Live"  (Col.) 

Five  days  with  vaudeville. 

"Peck's  Bad  Boy  With  the  Circus"  (RICO) 

Five  days  with  vaudeville. 

"My  Son  Is  a  Criminal"  (Col.)  (Z  days) 

"Tailspin"  (20th-Fox)   (2  days) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,000)  (20c-30c- 
40c).    Gross:  $9,000.  (Average,  $8,500) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 

(RKO) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2,790)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  8  days.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average,  $15,- 
000) 

"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
"The  Eagle  and  the  Hawk"   (Para.)  (re- 
issue) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c) 
8  days.    Gross:  $7,500.  (Average,  $9,000) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
"The  Eagle  and  the  Hawk"   (Para.)  (re- 
issue) 

FENWAY  —  (1,382)     (25c-35c-40c-55c)  8 
days.    Gross:  $5,500.   (Average,  $5,500) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4:332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  8  days.  Gross:  $32,500.  (Average,  $14,- 
500) 

"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.  A.) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  ORPHEUM— (2,907)  (25c-35c- 
40c-5Sc)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Made  for  Each  Other"  (U.  A.) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,537)  (25c-35c-40c-55c) 
7  days.   Gross:  $11,500.  Average,  $10,500) 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Hound  of  die  Baskervilles"  (Para.) 

7  days.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average,  $5,500) 


Mexico  Bans  Airing 
Of  Political  Talks 

Mexico  City,  April  30.— 
Broadcasting  political  meet- 
ings and  the  discussion  of 
politics  by  their  announcers 
and  artists  is  forbidden  to 
radio  stations  throughout 
Mexico.  The  government  took 
this  action  when  labor  or- 
ganizations protested  against 
too  much  politics  on  the  air. 


'Victory'  Tops  in 
Detroit,  $14,500 


Detroit,  April  30. — Michigan  held 
a  good  pace,  taking  $14,500  with 
"Dark  Victory"  and  "Kid  from 
Texas."  "Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
at  the  Fox  took  $21,000.  The  United 
Artists  did  nicely  with  "Hardys  Ride 
High"  at  $12,000. 

'  Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end 
ing  April  26: 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 
"Boy  Slaves"  (RKO) 

ADAMS— (1.700)    (15c-40c)    7    days,  2nd 
run.    Gross:   $8,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  (Z»th-Fox) 

FOX— (5,000)  (20c-65c)  7  days.  Stage, 
variety  acts.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average, 
$20,000) 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Kid  from  Texas"  (Para.) 

MICHIGAN  -  (4,000)    (15c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

PALMS-STATE— (3,000)  (15c-50c)  7  days, 
2nd  ran.    Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS—  (2,000)  (20c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 


Republic  Plans  Two 
To  Star  Radio  Team 

Chicago,  April  30. — Lulu  Belle 
and  Sky  land  Scotty,  of  the  WLS 
"National  Barn  Dance,"  will  be  fea- 
tured in  two  pictures  a  year  by  Re- 
public. The  deal  was  set  between 
E.  W.  Kurtze,  head  of  WLS  Art- 
ists, Inc.,  and  Herbert  J.  Yates. 

The  series  of  pictures  will  be  based 
on  the  radio  serial,  "Hometown," 
which  stars  Lulu  Belle  and  Scotty 
Friday  evening  over  WLS.  Produc- 
tion on  the  first  of  the  new  series  is 
tentatively  scheduled  to  start  in 
Hollywood  the  first  week  of  July. 


Cooperation 

Cleveland,  April  30. — Seven- 
teen local  independent  the- 
atres are  plugging  the  ap- 
pearance of  Judy  Garland  at 
Loew's  State  by  means  of 
large  banners  on  the  mar- 
quees. The  signs  say:  "We 
welcome  Judy  Garland  to 
Cleveland  in  person  at  Loew's 
State"    and    "This  theatre 

shows  all  Judy  Garland-Metro 
pictures."     Jack  Schulman, 

Ernie  Schwartz,  Percy  Es- 
sex and  other  independents 
thought  it  would  be  a  nice 
gesture. 


'Dark  Victory'  Hits 
$7,200,  Omaha's  Best 

Omaha,  April  30. — "Dark  Victory" 
at  the  Brandeis  survived  the  celebra- 
tion for  the  world  premiere  of 
"Union  Pacific"  best  with  a  near 
smash,  $7,200. 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  did 
$10,000  at  the  Orpheum  on  a  dual, 
and  "Wuthering  Heights"  took  $6,000 
at  the  Omaha. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
April  26-27: 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:   $7,200.      (Average,  $4,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.     (Average,  $6,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 

(Para.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.     (Average,  $7,600) 


Hold  First  of  Loew 
Bookers'  Meetings 


Foreign  Field  Topic 
Of  Columbia  Meeting 

Sales  problems  in  the  leading  for- 
eign markets  will  be  reported  and  dis- 
cussed at  Columbia's  annual  sales 
meeting,  opening  in  Atlantic  City  on 
May  8. 

Foreign  market  sessions  will  be  un- 
der the  direction  of  Joseph  A.  McCon- 
ville,  foreign  manager.  Among  those 
attending  will  be  Charles  Roberts, 
home  office  supervisor  for  Latin-Amer- 
ica, who  has  arrived  in  New  York 
after  six  months  in  Central  and  South 
America ;  Ernesto  P.  Smith,  Cuban 
manager ;  Sigwart  Kusiel,  Mexican 
manager,  both  of  whom  arrive  in  New 
York  this  week ;  Cecil  F.  Mason, 
Australian  manager,  and  F.  Knocke, 
Columbia  distributor  for  Puerto  Rico. 


First  of  M-G-M's  six  regional  con- 
ferences for  office  managers,  bookers 
and  checking  supervisors  was  held 
Saturday  and  Sunday  at  the  Shoreham 
Hotel,  Washington. 

Others  will  be  held  Wednesday  and 
Thursday  at  the  Roosevelt  Hotel,  New 
Orleans ;  Saturday  and  Sunday  at  the 
Muehlebach,  Kansas  City ;  May  14 
and  15,  St.  Francis,  San  Francisco ; 
May  20  and  21,  Palmer  House,  Chi- 
cago, and  May  24  and  25,  Astor, 
New  York  City. 

Home  office  representatives  attend- 
ing all  meetings  include  Alan  F.  Cum- 
mings,  in  charge  of  exchange  opera- 
tions ;  Charles  K.  Stern,  Loew's  as- 
sistant treasurer ;  Parke  D.  Agnew, 
traveling  master  booker,  and  William 
Brenner,  checking  department  execu- 
tive. 

From  Home  Office 

Others  from  the  home  office  at  the 
Washington  meeting  were  M.  L.  Si- 
mons, editor  of  the  Distributor;  Irv- 
ing Helfont,  contract  department ; 
Charles  F.  Deesen  and  Isidor  Hirsch, 
assistants  to  Tom  Connors,  division 
manager ;  Charles  E  .Quick,  account- 
ing department ;  Arthur  Lacks,  news 
bookings ;  Ira  S.  Martin,  billing  unit 
department ;  Rose  Klein,  statistical  de- 
partment ;  Banks  Hudson,  Jr.,  home 
office  print  department;  Jay  H.  Zim- 
merman, traveling  auditor,  and  John 
P.  Hanna,  traveling  checking  super- 
visor. 

Delegates  from  five  exchanges  were 
at  the  Washington  meeting,  as  fol- 
lows :  Charlotte,  Bernard  J.  Ross,  of- 
fice manager,  Thomas  R.  Jones,  David 
H.  Williams ;  Cincinnati,  Wm.  J.  De- 
vaney,  office  manager  ;  Charles  Weigel, 
Charles  Banford ;  Pittsburgh,  Edwin 
J.  Moriarty,  office  manager ;  John 
Zomnir,  Earle  Super  ;  Philadelphia,  Jo- 
seph E.  Farrow,  office  manager,  Wil- 
liam F.  Gabriel,  Benjamin  J.  Hayney, 
Frank  J.  Sculli,  Ralph  Gillette; 
Washington,  Fred  G.  Rippingale,  of- 
fice manager,  Murray  Greenfield, 
Morris  Zell,  Eddie  Kushner,  Peter 
Prince,  Joseph  Kronman.  The  meet- 
ing was  arranged  locally  by  Rudolph 
Berger,  branch  manager,  and  Carlton 
Duffus,  exploitation  representative. 


'Dodge  City' 
Leads  Denvei 
With  $13,50 


Denver,  April  30. — "Dodge  Cii 
was  a  smash  grosser  here,  with^* 
500  at  the  Denver.    "Hound  cPy! 
Baskervilles"    and   "Women  iirn! 
Wind"   drew  a  good  $5,000  at  . 
Paramount,  while  "The  Story  of  V  j 
non  and  Irene  Castle"  and  "Fish 
man's    Wharf"   took   $3,000   at  i 
Broadway. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  ei  i 
ing  April  26: 

"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (R* 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

BROADWAY— (1,100)  (25c-40c)  7  d£ ' 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average,  $2,: : 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  dc 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

DENVER— (2,525)    (25c-35c-40c)    7    da  i 
Gross:  $13,500.    (Average,  $9,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  da 
Gross:  $8,700.    (Average,  $8,500) 
"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT—  (2,200)    (25c-40c)   7  da 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"The  Little  Princess"  (20th-Fox) 
"Mr.  Moto  on  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fo> 

R1ALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gro 
$2,500.    (Average,  $1,750) 


'Castles'  Draws  Big 
$8,200,  Providence 

Providence,  April  30. — Majestic 
drew  $8,200  with  "Three  Smart  Girls 
Grow  Up"  and  "Inspector  Hornleigh" 
and  the  RKO-Albee  took  a  like 
amount  with  "The  Castles"  and  "The 
Saint  Strikes  Back." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26-28: 

'Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
'Inspector  Hornleigh"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)   (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $8,200.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE — (2,239)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,200.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 
'Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,230)   (25c-3Sc-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
''Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 
'My  Wife's  Relatives"  (Repub.) 

STRAND— (2.100)  (25c-35c-50c)  6  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.  (Average  for  7  days,  $6,000) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)     (25c-35c-40c)     7  days. 
Vaudeville.    Gross:  $6,400.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,7(10.    (Average,  $3,500) 


'Victory'  $16,200 
Cincinnati  Leade 

Cincinnati,  April  30. — "Dark  V 
tory"  was  the  leader  here,  giving  t 
RKO  Albee  a  big  $16,200. 

"Dodge  City"  had  a  strong  thi 
week  at  the  RKO  Grand,  where 
collected  $4,000,  and  "The  Hound 
the  Baskervilles"  pulled  a  hea 
$6,800  on  an  eight-day  run  at  Keith 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  April  26-29: 

"Dark  Victory"  (F.  N.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42c)    7  da 
Gross:  $16,200.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

RKO  PALACE- (2,700)  (35c-42c)  7  da- 
Gross:   $10,500.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle' 
(RKO) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (35c-42c)  7  da' 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Average,  $10,(X 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c -42c)  7  da; 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,600.  (Average,  $6,5( 
"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 

RKO  LYRIC— (1,400)  (35c-42c)  7  days,  2 
week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average,  $5,000)  , 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,200)    (25c-40c)   7  da< 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $2,7C 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 
"Mystery  of  the  White  Room"  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  4  daV 
Gross:  $1,300.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Inside  Story"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"North  of  the  Yukon"  (Col.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  3  daj 
Gross:  $900.    (Average,  $900) 
"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fo 

KEITH'S— (500)  (30c-40c)  8  days.  Gros, 
$6,800.    (Average,  7  days,  $6,000) 


Correction 

Quintin  Rueda,  chief  of  the  D> 
partment  of  Press  and  Publicity  i 
the  Mexican  Government,  has  writte 
to  Motion  Picture  Daily  requestir 
correction  of  an  earlier  statemei 
which  said  that  Mr.  Rueda  came  I 
New  York  to  represent  President  Ca; 
denas  at  the  premiere  of  "Juarez 
Mr.  Rueda  came  to  the  premiere  ; 
representative  of  the  Department  ( 
Press  and  Publicity  and  not  as  repn 
sentative  of  President  Cardenas. 


londdy,  May  I.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Trade  Is  Awaiting 
Reply  to  Plea  for 
English  Tax  Cuts 


(London,  April  30.— D.  E.  Griffiths, 
>esident  of  the  Kinematograph  Rent- 
I  Is'  Society,  over  the  weekend  had  not 
L     ereived  a  reply  to  his  request  to 
R^TJohn  Simon,   Chancellor  of  the 
[p^chequer,   to   receive  a  deputation 
torn  the  industry  protesting  the  in- 
feases  in  film  taxes  in  the  new  bud- 
\\t.  The  deputation  is  to  include  rep- 
scntatives  of  the  K.R.S.  (distribu- 
te), Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  As- 
>ciation,  Federation  of  British  Indus- 
lies  (producers),  and  the  newsreels. 
i  It  is  generally  agreed  that  a  portion 
the  trade  will  be  in  a  critical  posi- 
ion  if  the  taxes  are  not  adjusted.  Dis- 
ifbutors    contend    the    tax  renders 
1  mtinued  operation  uneconomic,  ex- 
F.bitors  insist  it  will  accentuate  the 
1  -oduct  shortage  and  independent  pro- 
ucers  fear  extinction.  Importers,  ask- 
ig  Griffiths  to  speak  for  them,  say 
■e  tax  will  penalize  them  an  average 
:'  $750  per  feature  before  sale. 
1  Griffiths,    in    a    public  statement, 
_  aimed  the  new  taxes  would  increase 
|lm  costs  100  per  cent,  and  reiterated 
,ne  contentions  of  the  various  industry 
^ranches.   His  statement  stressed  the 
streme  urgency  of  the  situation.  The 
lewsreels,  in  a  separate  plea  to  the 
'hancellor,  declared    the    new  taxes 
ireatened  them  with  the  necessity  of 
^continuing  operation. 


Studio  Group  Off  to 
Monogram  Meeting 

Hollywood,  April  30. — Monogram 
tudio  contingent  headed  by  Scott  R. 
Junlap,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
'*roduction,  leaves  tomorrow  for  the 
hree-day  annual  convention  which 
itarts  May  4  at  the  Drake  Hotel, 
'Chicago. 

Accompanying  him  will  be  Mel 
-lulling,  western  district  manager ; 
Howard  Stubbins,  Ray  Olmstead,  M. 

.  McCarthy,  Los  Angeles  exchange ; 
IF.  H.  Butler,  G.  P.  Allen;  San  Fran- 
isco  office.  Martin  Spellman,  John 
Trent  and  Frankie  Darro.  The  home 
.')ffice  group  will  leave  from  Xew  York 
•on  a  special  train  Wednesday. 


'Captive  of  Nazi' 
Banned  in  England 

London,  April  30. — British 
Board  of  Film  Censors  has 
banned  from  exhibition  the 
film,  "I  Was  a  Captive  of 
Nazi  Germany."  The  film  re- 
counts the  story  of  Isobel  Lil- 
lian Steele,  American  writer 
who  was  arrested  by  the 
Nazis,  and  was  distributed  in 
the  United  States  by  Malvina 
Pictures. 


40  of  90  Exposition 
Displays  Are  Taken 

About  40  of  the  90  display  booths 
ivailable  for  New  York  Allied's  an- 
nual convention  and  equipment  exposi- 
tion at  the  Astor,  May  23  to  25,  are 
already  taken,  according  to  E.  Thorn- 
on  Kelly,  executive  secretary. 

Among  those  who  have  signed  tor 
'display  space  are  Yallen,  Inc.,  Akron; 
K'ational  Screen  Service,  Alexander 
Film  Co.,  Altec  Service,  RCA,  Serv- 
ce  Employes  in  Amusement  and  Cul- 
:ural  Buildings  Union,  State  Poster 
'Co.  and  Treo  Film  Exchange. 


Republic  Plans  6 
Big  Budget  Films 

Hollywood,  April  30. — Republic 
will  make  six  anniversary  specials 
next  year  with  budgets  comparable  to 
"Man  of  Conquest"  and  four  will  have 
higher  expenditures,  H.  J.  Yates  de- 
clared. In  addition  a  contract  roster 
of  "name"  players  and  directors  will 
be  built  up  during  the  next  year.  In 
line  with  this  policy,  M.  J.  Siegel, 
studio  head,  will  spend  one  month  each 
year  in  Xew  York  searching  for  tal- 
ent. Siegel  left  Friday  for  the  east. 

Yates,  who  arrived  Thursday  for  a 
three-week  stay,  also  stated  that  bud- 
gets for  Gene  Autry  westerns  will  be 
increased  by  one-third.  These  pictures 
are  commanding  50  per  cent  higher 
rentals  than  last  year,  he  said.  Ar- 
rangements are  being  completed  for 
Autry  to  tour  England. 

Yates  stressed  the  fact  that  his  visit 
was  routine  and  that  no  personal 
shakeup  was  contemplated.  Legal 
technicalities  have  delayed  consumma- 
tion of  a  deal  under  which  Republic 
would  purchase  studio  properties  from 
Guaranty  Liquidating  Co.  Present 
outlook  is  that  the  deal  will  be  closed 
in  a  month. 


W.  B.  Exploitation 
Staff  Is  Revised 


Form  Theatre  Firm 

Ridgefield.  Conn.,  April  30. — Cer- 
zificate  of  incorporation  has  been  filed 
for  Xew  England  Playhouse,  Inc., 
West  Lane,  Ridgefield,  with  Philip 
S.  Carr  as  president,  Alfred  V.  Lea- 
man,  vice-president,  Alfred  Wag- 
staff,  treasurer,  and  Marjorie  Ames 
Carr,  secretary. 


Will  Honor  Levy  at 
Minneapolis  Dinner 

Minneapolis.  April  30. — North- 
west exhibitors  are  sponsoring  a  din- 
ner May  22  at  the  Nicollet  Hotel  here 
signalizing  the  appointment  of  Mor- 
ton A.  Levy,  20th  Century-Fox  dis- 
trict manager,  as  S.  R.  Kent  drive 
leader. 

The  committee  is  representative  of 
Minneapolis.  Omaha  and  Des  Moines 
exhibitors  and  includes  W.  A.  (Al) 
Steffes.  Billy  Elson,  John  J.  Friedl, 
Ben  Friedman,  Eddie  Ruben,  Abe 
Kaplan,  George  Granstrom  and  Syd- 
ney Volk.  Exhibitors  and  branch 
managers  from  several  cities  are  ex- 
pected to  attend,  in  addition  to  a  home 
office  group. 


Warners'  field  exploitation  staff 
was  revised  by  S.  Charles  Einfeld, 
director  of  advertising  and  publicity, 
before  leaving  for  the  coast  Friday 
night. 

Lee  Blumberg,  in  charge  of  press 
books,  was  promoted  to  head  field  ex- 
ploitation in  addition  to  his  other 
duties.  He  will  wrork  under  super- 
vision of  Mort  Blumenstock,  eastern 
advertising  and  publicity  head. 

Dick  Hyland  of  the  publicity  de- 
partment has  been  assigned  as  south- 
ern district  representative  in  Dallas, 
working  under  Fred  Jack,  district 
manager.  He  replaces  Allan  Glenn, 
resigned. 

Monroe  Rubinger  of  the  press  book 
department  goes  to  Kansas  City  as 
representative  in  Warners'  newly 
formed  Prairie  district,  under  super- 
vision of  District  Manager  Rud  Loh- 
rens. 

Other  field  men  are  Sam  Qark,  in 
charge  of  the  Midwest  territory  at 
Chicago ;  Ned  Holmes,  west  coast 
territory,  Los  Angeles,  and  Phil  En- 
gel,  eastern  district,  New  York. 


Roosevelt,  Disney  to 
Aid  Museum  Opening 

President  Roosevelt  will  open  the 
new  Museum  of  Modern  Art  here 
with  an  address  to  be  broadcast  from 
the  White  House  on  May  10.  Walt 
Disney  also  will  join  in  the  opening 
celebration  with  a  talk  from  Holly- 
wood. Daily  film  programs  will  be 
given  after  the  Museum  inaugurates 
its  new-  building.  The  Film  Library 
connected  with  the  Museum  will  pro- 
vide 70  pictures  for  the  proposed  daily 
showings.  The  screenings  will  be  part 
of  the  "Art  in  Our  Time"  exhibition 
planned  by  the  Museum. 


Kent  Sailing  May  15 
For  Rio  de  Janeiro 

S.  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, will  sail  May  15  on  the 
Brazil  for  Rio  de  Janeiro  to  speak  at 
the  company's  South  American  sales 
convention,  June  1  to  3.  The  meeting 
will  be  presided  over  by  Walter  J. 
Hutchinson,  overseas  sales  director, 
who  will  go  from  the  Paris  and  Lon- 
don convention. 

On  the  last  day  of  the  South  Amer- 
ican convention,  Kent  will  outline 
plans  for  Latin  American  expansion. 
He  will  remain  in  Rio  de  Janeiro 
until  June  15  for  conferences  with 
company  managers,  Government  offi- 
cials and  business  leaders.  Kent  then 
will  leave  for  New  York  with 
Hutchinson,  stopping  en  route  to  ad- 
dress the  Trinidad  meeting.  They 
will  return  here  June  27. 

Among  those  attending  the  South 
American  meeting  will  be  the  Argen- 
tine staff  headed  by  Sidney  S.  Horen, 
and  the  Chilean  staff,  headed  by  Ar- 
thur Ruscica. 


Majors  Field  Study 
Seeks  Evidence  for 
Use  in  Trust  Action 


AT&T,  Erpi  Attack 
Complaint  of  Jablow 

American  Telephone  &  Telegraph, 
Western  Electric  and  Erpi  will  ap- 
ply to  the  U.  S.  District  Court  on 
May  5  for  an  order  striking  out  para- 
graphs of  the  complaint  in  the  suit 
of  Frank  Jablow  and  Sam  Acker, 
stockholders,  against  Paramount,  A. 
T.  &  T.,  Western  Electric  and  Erpi, 
defendants  in  the  suit. 

The  plaintiffs  had  charged  them, 
among  other  things,  with  receiving  ex- 
cessive sums  on  licensing  agreements. 


To  Extend  Mo.  Sales  Tax 

Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  April  30. — 
Missouri  House  has  passed  a  second 
bill  extending  the  two  per  cent  sales 
tax  from  Dec.  31,  1939,  its  expiration 
date,  for  two  years.  The  Senate 
Ways  and  Means  Committee  already 
has  approved  the  first  sales  tax  exten- 
sion bill  passed  by  the  House,  but 
the  new  one  makes  some  changes  in 
collection.  Both  now  will  be  con- 
sidered bv  the  Senate. 


Major  company  booking  and  ac- 
counting departments  are  conducting 
surveys  in  the  field  for  evidence  to  be 
used  in  trial  of  the  Government's  anti- 
trust suit  pending  in  New  York. 

The  studies  are  focused  at  repre- 
sentative exchange  centers  and  pertain 
to  distribution  of  product,  contracts 
and  bookings.  The  information  gath- 
ered will  be  designed  to  counteract 
the  Government's  allegations. 

Company  lawyers  on  Friday  had 
not  yet  received  copies  of  the  bill  of 
particulars  filed  by  the  Department  of 
Justice  in  Federal  District  Court  here 
the  day  before. 

After  a  study  of  the  bill,  the  lawyers 
will  decide  what  their  next  move  will 
be.  Counsel  may  petition  for  an  addi- 
tional bill  of  particulars  submitting  in- 
formation not  included  in  the  bill  filed, 
or  they  may  ask  the  court  to  strike 
the  bill  because  it  failed  to  comply 
with  the  court  order  which  asked  for 
particulars,  or  the  matter  may  be 
taken  up  in  informal  conference  with 
the  Department  of  Justice  and  Judge 
Bondy,  who  is  in  charge  of  the  case. 


Mexican  Subsidy 
Granted  Producer 

Mexico  City,  April  30. — A  sub- 
sidy of  $60,000  has  been  granted  by 
the  Mexican  Government  to  Roberto 
Soto,  veteran  stage  comedian  recently 
turned  picture  producer,  to  finance 
his  first  production,  "La  Marcha  de 
Zacatecas"  ("The  Zacatecas  March"), 
based  upon  the  old  Mexican  march. 
This  is  the  largest  subsidy  the  Gov- 
ernment has  given  a  producer.  Soto 
expects  to  have  the  film,  his  first, 
ready  for  exhibition  early  in  the  sum- 
mer. 

Financing  to  the  extent  of  $60,000 
has  been  obtained  privately  for  the 
start  of  production  in  May  of  the 
first  of  four  feature  pictures  to  be 
made  this  year  by  the  new  Mexican 
company,  Cinematografica  Industrial 
de  Arte  Mexicana,  which  has  head- 
quarters here. 


Myers  Sees  Possible 
Trade  Pact  Approval 

Washington,  April  30. — Possibility 
that  the  trade  practice  agreement  may 
be  developed  to  a  point  where  it  will 
get  the  approval  of  Allied  States  was 
declared  to  exist  by  Abram  F.  Myers, 
Allied  general  counsel. 

Myers  pointed  out  that  the  organi- 
zation's policy  on  this  issue  will  be  de- 
termined at  its  Minneapolis  conven- 
tion in  June,  at  which  time,  he  said, 
"It  is  hoped  that  exhibitors  will  have 
a  more  liberal,  at  least  a  complete, 
program  to  consider." 


Denis  Plans  Chinese  Film 

United  Artists  has  acquired  foreign 
distribution  rights  to  the  next  feature 
length  adventure  film  to  be  made  dur- 
ing the  next  10  months  by  Armand 
Denis  and  his  wife,  Leila  Roosevelt,  in 
the  interior  of  China.  They  were  the 
producers  of  "Dark  Rapture,"  "Wild 
Cargo"  and  other  adventure  films. 
With  Leroy  G.  Phelps,  cameraman, 
they  sailed  for  London  Saturday. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  I, 


Broadway  Houses 
Are  Calm  As  Javal 
Brings  Television 

Seven  Broadway  picture  houses 
have  signified  a  willingness  to  accept 
installation  of  the  Baird  theatre  tele- 
vision apparatus,  and  a  single  experi- 
mental theatre  most  likely  will  be 
selected  within  the  next  two  weeks, 
according  to  Ian  C.  Javal,  commercial 
director  of  Baird  Television,  Ltd., 
who  arrived  here  Friday  from  Eng- 
land with  a  number  of  engineers  from 
the  Baird  factories,  and  with  tele- 
vision equipment,  both  for  theatre  and 
home,  worth  $150,000. 

Broadway  managers,  when  inter- 
viewed, stated  that  Baird  Television 
and  DuMont  Television  have  made 
overtures  for  the  introduction  of  tele- 
vision screens  in  theatres.  These  talks, 
however,  are  still  in  the  conversational 
stage.  The  managers  feel  there  is  little 
possibility  of  television  being  installed 
this  year.  They  report  that  they  are 
listening  to  all  proposals  but  that  the 
proposals  thus  far  are  more  theoretical 
than  practical. 

No  Theatre  Named 

He  would  not  identify  the  theatres 
which  have  approached  him  on  tele- 
vision, he  said.  Arthur  Lee,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of 
Gaumont  British,  which  is  affiliated 
with  Baird  television,  was  a  bit  more 
specific,  and  said  that  the  initial  the- 
atre which  will  be  selected  is  within 
a  few  blocks  of  the  G.  B.  office  here. 
A  reporter  suggested  a  theatre,  but 
Lee  was  enigmatic. 

As  an  example  of  the  power  of 
television  as  a  draw  in  film  houses, 
Javal  described  the  S.R.O.  business 
in  the  four  theatres  that  carried  the 
Oxford-Cambridge  boat  races.  He 
said  that  the  admission  price  was 
scaled  at  a  flat  $5  per  seat,  and  that 
there  was  not  an  empty  seat  in  any  of 
the  four  houses.  Average  film  admis- 
sion is  50  cents  in  England.  He  said 
that  the  success  of  theatre  television 
efforts  has  led  him  to  engage  seven 
houses  for  the  televised  showing  of 
the  running  of  the  Derby.  He  said  the 
admission  price  for  the  event  will  be 
$5,  and  he  expects  capacity  business 
in  all  seven  theatres.  The  seven  the- 
atres will  accommodate  an  audience  of 
from  18,000  to  20,000. 

To  Show  Equipment 

His  first  task  here,  he  said,  will  be 
the  installation  of  a  television  theatre 
in  the  G.  B.  offices  here,  with  subse- 
quent public  showing  of  the  Baird 
equipment.  The  Baird  screen,  he 
said,  is  15x12  feet,  which  is  the  larg- 
est screen  publicly  demonstrated  thus 
far  anywhere.  Installation  in  the 
home  offices  here  will  occupy  a  week, 
and  the  demonstration  will  take  place 
within  the  week  following. 

Javal  was  non-committal  about 
whether  he  will  effect  tieups  with 
major  networks.  He  said  that  the 
Baird  receivers,  which  operate  on  a 
405  line  screen,  would  be  converted 
and  adapted  to  the  American  stand- 
ards of  441  line.  He  said  that  Baird 
definitely  would  not  set  up  its  own 
transmitter  here,  because  United 
States  laws  require  that  a  company 
must  be  80  per  cent  American  owned 
before  it  can  set  up  operations. 

Javal  said  he  would  remain  here  for 
at  least  one  month. 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

DAN  BLANK,  sales  representa- 
tive of  Radio  Attractions,  has 
left  for  the  south  in  the  inter 
ests  of  the  "Fu  Manchu"  transcrip 
tions.  William  Amerson,  the  com 
pany's  Chicago  representative,  has  left 
New  York  after  a  series  of  home  of- 
fice conferences  .  .  .  Young  &  Rubicam 
is  tendering  a  party  to  Kate  Smith 
at  the  Ambassador  Hotel  today  in 
honor  of  her  birthday  .  .  .  Tom  Lewis 
and  Hubbell  Robinson  of  Young  & 
Rubicam  have  left  New  York  for 
Hollywood  .  .  .  K.  Hackathorn  of 
WCLE,  Cleveland,  here  on  station 
business. 


Local  Stations  Ask 
Fair  Pay  Wire  Cost 

New  York  City's  independent  radio 
stations  will  not  pick  up  any  World's 
Fair  broadcasts  unless  the  Fair  Corp. 
absorbs  the  wire  charges  for  the 
broadcasts.  This  decision  was  reached 
at  a  meeting  Saturday  at  which  all 
local  stations  were  represented. 

Yesterday's  opening  ceremonies  from 
the  Fair  grounds  were  carried  by  the 
locals,  however. 

Notification  of  the  action  to  the  Fair 
Corp.  was  withheld  until  today,  how- 
ever, at  the  request  of  John  S.  Young, 
radio  director  of  the  Fair,  who  asked 
that  action  be  withheld  until  after  the 
Fair's  opening.  Today  a  telegram  will 
be  dispatched  to  the  radio  director's 
office  of  the  Fair,  explaining  the  sta- 
tions' stand. 

Participating  in  the  action  were 
WHN,  WMCA,  WNEW,  WQXR, 
WOV,  WBIL,  WINS,  WLTH, 
WWRL,  WHOM,  WBBC,  WBNX, 
WEVD  and  WARD.  WNYC,  New 
York's  municipal  station,  is  the  only 
local  outlet  not  represented,  because, 
as  a  municipal  station,  it  is  exempt 
from  paying  any  line  charges  for 
broadcasts. 


UA  to  Set  Contract 
Record  During  Drive 

United  Artists  will  set  a 
new  company  record  for  con- 
tracts closed  during  any  12- 
month  period  by  the  end  of 
its  20th  anniversary  drive 
July  1,  Harry  Gold,  eastern 
general  sales  manager,  and 
Jack  L.  Schlaifer,  western 
general  sales  manager,  report. 

Tabulations  for  the  38 
weeks  of  the  drive,  ended 
April  22,  placed  Ben  Fish's 
far  west  district  in  the  lead, 
while  individual  honors  rest 
with  James  Hendel,  Cleveland 
salesman,  for  the  eastern 
division,  and  Earl  Collins  of 
Denver  in  the  western.  Stand- 
ings of  the  districts  and  the 
leading  exchange  in  each  are: 
far  west,  Seattle,  first;  cen- 
tra*, Cincinnati,  second;  east- 
ern, New  Haven,  third;  south- 
ern, Dallas,  fourth;  Canadian 
Winnipeg,  fifth,  and  midwest- 
ern,  Kansas  City,  sixth. 


Rutherford  to  Cinecolor 

Hollywood,  April  30. — Edward 
Rutherford,  veteran  film  laboratory 
technician,  has  joined  Cinecolor  to 
take  charge  of  screen  projection. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  April  30. — Applica- 
tion for  a  construction  permit  for  a 
new  broadcasting  station  was  filed 
with  the  Federal  Communications 
Commission  by  the  Lakeland  Broad- 
casting Company,  planning  a  680- 
kilocycle,  250-watt  transmitter  at 
Willmar,  Minn. 

Other  *  applications  filed  with  the 
commission  included  the  requests  of 
Stations  WPRO,  East  Providence, 
R.  I.,  for  increase  of  power  from  500 
watts  night,  1,000  watts  day,  to  1,000 
watts  night.  5,000  watts  day ;  KMAC, 
San  Antonio,  Tex.,  for  change  of  fre- 
quency from  1,370  to  630  kilocycles ; 
extension  of  the  time  sharing  to  un- 
limited and  increase  of  power  from 
100  watts  night,  250  watts  day,  to 
1,000  watts;  WRBL,  Columbus,  Ga., 
increase  of  night  power  from  100  to 
250  watts,  and  KWK,  St.  Louis,  Mo., 
for  change  of  frequency  from  1,350  to 
630  kilocycles. 


CBS  Educational 
Shows  Up  in  '38 

CBS  Adult  Education  Board  met  in 
annual  conclave  in  New  York  Friday 
and  submitted  its  annual  report,  which 
shows  marked  progress  in  the  field  of 
education  during  the  past  year  on 
CBS. 

The  report  showed  a  total  of  1,225^ 
hours  and  4,636  educational  broadcasts 
in  1938,  a  marked  increase  in  educa- 
tional hours  and  broadcasts  over  the 
previous  year,  when  the  totals  were 
897^  hours  and  3,619  broadcasts. 
Some  of  the  principal  classifications 
and  hours  devoted  to  them  in  1938, 
and  the  1937  comparisons,  are  as' 
follows  : 

Science,  60J4  hours,  compared  to 
37  hours  in  1937;  Drama,  153  hours, 
compared  to  117;  History  and  Travel, 
73  hours,  compared  to  43 ;  Religious! 
116  hours,  compared  to  109^;  Public 
Affairs  at  home,  54%,  compared  to 
40;  Public  Affairs  abroad,  78%,  com- 
pared to  11%;  Labor  and  Industry, 
35,  compared  to  34% ;  Current  Events, 
347,  compared  to  297^  ;  General 
51%,  compared  to  33%  hours. 


Managers  Are  Fined 

Montreal,  April  30.— Of  four  the 
atre  operators  haled  into  court  on 
charges  of  admitting  children  under 
16  years  of  age,  two  pleaded  guilty 
and  were  fined  $50  and  costs,  while 
the  other  two  pleaded  not  guilty  and 
were  remanded  for  trial  May  3.  The 
two  fined  were  Robert  Olsen,  man- 
ager of  the  Perron,  and  Lawrence 
Ward,  manager  of  the  Verdun  Pal- 
ace; those  to  be  tried  are  A.  Capan- 
distis  of  the  Cameo  and  Morley  An- 
derson of  the  Fifth  Avenue. 


900  at  Para.  Dance 

Nine  hundred  members  of  the  Para- 
mount Pep  Club  and  guests  attended 
the  Spring  Dance  held  Friday  night 
in  the  Belvedere  Room  of  the  Hotel 
Astor.  Eli  Dantzig  and  his  orches- 
tra provided  the  music,  and  among 
the  entertainers  were  Lanny  Ross, 
Shirley  Ross,  Billy  Gilbert  and  Hal 
LeRoy  of  the  current  stage  show  at 
the  Paramount. 


Paramount  Saving 
$1,795,000  a  Yea 
From  Refinanchr 


_  Paramount  has  effected  interest  i 
dividend  savings  aggregating  $1,7S 
000  per  year  through  redemption 
its  six  per  cent  debentures  an 
version  of  preferred  stock  int. 
mon,  Barney  Balaban,  presiden., 
forms  stockholders  in  connection  w 
the  company's  financial  report  for  19 

Balaban  points  out  that  the  co 
pany's  cash  position  improved  by  $ 
464,000  during  the  year  for  a  total 
$13,614,200  and  that,  despite  the  i 
settled  foreign  market,  the  compan 
earnings  have  been  on  the  increase  1 
the  past  six  months. 

Net  profit  for  1938  amounted 
$4,105,675,  including  $1,240,000  rep 
senting  Paramount's  net  interest  as 
stockholder  in  undistributed  earnir 
of  partially  owned  companies.  Tl 
compares  with  the  company's  advar 
estimate  of  net  profit  of  $4,096,C 
which  was  made  public  on  March 
and  compares  with  net  profit  of  $ 
670,103,  including  undistributed  eai 
ings  of  partially  owned  companies  i 
1937. 

The  company's  gross  income  i 
1938  was  $104,360,381,  compared  w 
$109,033,470  in  1937.  Gross  operati 
expenses  were  $95,853,870  compar 
with  $96,734,561  the  preceding  ye; 
Current  assets,  including  cash,  amoui 
ed  to  $37,910,520  as  of  Dec.  31.  la 
and  current  liabilities  were  $8,898,5: 
leaving  net  working  capital  of  $2* 
011,995.  Inventories  were  $19,836,9 
compared  with  $22,884,780  the  pi 
ceding  year. 

The  report  sets  forth  that  $5,500,0 
has  been  borrowed  from  banks  at  rat 
averaging  3l/2  per  cent  to  aid  in  t 
redemption  of  approximately  $7,500,0 
of  the  company's  six  per  cent  debe 
tures,  leaving  $1,938,676  princip 
amount  of  these  debentures  still  on 
standing.  The  total  net  reduction 
interest  bearing  indebtedness  of  t) 
company  during  the  past  three  yea 
has  aggregated  $9,500,000.  Annual  i 
terest  saving  compared  with  1935 
$1,095,000.  Annual  dividend  savinj 
compared  with  1935  are  $700,000. 


Mullin  Is  Appointed 
RCA  Vice-Presiden 

Frank  E.  Mullin,  manager  of  tl 
publicity  department  of  RCA,  w; 
elected  vice-president  in  charge  of  pu! 
licity  and  advertising  for  RCA  Frkfc 
at  a  meeting  of  the  board  of  director 

Horton  Heath,  assistant  to  Mulli 
was  promoted  to  publicity  manager. 


British  Trial  Set 

London,  April  30. — First  high  cou 
case  of  the  Westminster  Bank  again 
15  insurance  companies,  involvin 
more  than  $5,000,000  insured  fill 
loans,  is  scheduled  to  start  tomorrov 
The  insurance  companies  dispute  li: 
bility. 


Employes  Apathetic 

Meeting  of  clerical  employes  c 
home  offices  and  exchanges  called  b 
Bookkeepers,  Stenographers  &  A( 
countants'  Union  Friday  night  faile 
to  attract  more  than  a  score  of  eir 
ployes.  Union  officials  said  represer 
tatives  of  five  companies  were  preser 
and  that  the  organizational  driv 
would  be  pushed. 


ARE  THEY 

ATHOLIC,  JEW,  PROTESTANT? 

[Think  of  this  when  you  read  tonight's  headlines!) 


You'll  be  proud  to  be  part  of  this.  You'll  be 
glad  that  in  this  topsy  turvy  world  there's 
some  sanity  left  and  it's  working  right  in 
your  own  city.  You'll  agree  this  is  Ameri- 
canism in  its  truest  sense  and  you'll  get  a 
tug  at  the  heart  to  think  that  the  brother- 
hood of  man  touches  you  closely  today. 

Whatever  you  give  to  the  GREATER 
NEW  YORK  FUND  goes  to  a  united 
effort  of  all  races  and  creeds  to  take  care  of 
the  sick,  the  needy,  the  troubled.  As  you 
glance  at  the  headlines  in  your  newspaper 
tonight,  think  deeply  what  this  means. 
Protestant,  Catholic,  Jew  in  the  world's 


greatest  city  join  hands  for  the  common 
good,  to  help  all  of  its  people  now,  to 
"build  for  tomorrow"  a  healthier,  happier 
city.  380  allied  groups  are  benefitted, 
covering  all  communal  obligations  in  one 
annual  solicitation. 

Some  who  read  these  lines  may  have  great 
wealth  . . .  each  should  give  in  proportion 
.  .  .  but  everyone  who  bears  the  name  of 
American  should  contribute  at  least  a 
day's  pay  a  year  to  the  GREATER  NEW 
YORK  FUND  ...  a  united  gesture  whose 
significance  will  roar  across  America  and 
the  world. 


The  Fund  Chairman  of  your  company  will  communicate  with  you.  Others  kindly  send  contributions  direct  to 
Motion  Picture  Division,  Greater  New  York  Fund,  1540  Broadway,  New  York  City 


while 

we 

talk 

Business 


J 


Advertising  that  puts  your  sales  argument  over 
quickly  and  graphically  Ss  a  &ood  investment. 

Adv  ertising  that  appeals  to  people  while  they 
are  in  a  mood  to  huy  is  a  &ood  investment* 

Advertising  that  entertains  while  it  sells  is  a 
novel  investment* 

Ad  vertising  that  is  heard  as  well  as  seen  is  a 
rare  investment* 

The  National  Screen  Pre-vue  Trailer  .  .  .  only 
advertising  combining  all  these  features  is  a 
£reat  investment* 

Why  not  use  th  is  unique  advertising  on  your 
screen?  It  sells  your  show  to  a  one  hundred  per- 
cent audience,  at  the  lowest  cost  per  ticket  sold. 

The  National  Screen  Pre-vue  Trailers  are  made 
hy  men  with  twenty  years  experience  selling 
pictures  to  your  puhlic. 


MnonHL 

^SERVICE 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


Alert. 
InteWigei 

to  thcS^ 

Picture 

Industry 

cjtion 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


A? 

Accural  i 
and 

Impartial 


45.  NO.  84 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  MAY  2,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Abe  Lincoln' 
Gets  Pulitzer 
Drama  Prize 


Yearling,'  Best  Novel, 
Also  Will  Become  Film 

"Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois,"  by  Robert 
Z.  Sherwood,  yesterday  was  awarded 
he  Pulitzer  Prize  for  the  best  Amer- 
ican drama  of  the  year,  and  "The 
l'carling,"  by  Marjorie  Kinnan  Raw- 
ings,  won  the  award  for  the  best 
American  novel  of  1938. 

RKO  owns  the  film  rights  to  the 
olay  and  M-G-M  has  acquired 
^rights  to  the  novel.  Both  are  on  the 
M939-'40  production  schedule.  Max 
Gordon  and  Harry  Goetz  will  produce 
:he  Lincoln  film  for  RKO. 

The  Sherwood  play,  an  outstanding 
Broadway  success,  concerns  the 
early  life  of  Lincoln  and  was  pur- 
chased by  RKO  for  $250,000.  Ray- 
mond Massey,  who  plays  the  title 
irole,  will  also  head  the  cast  in  the 
film  version.  Production  is  scheduled 
to  start  in  the  summer  with  the  play 
continuing  its  run  on  Broadway. 
Massey  will  take  a  leave  of  absence 
from  the  stage  cast  and  will  return 
after  his  Hollywood  work  is  com- 
pleted. 

M-G-M  has  assigned  Victor  Flem- 
ing to  direct  "The  Yearling."  The 
novel,  one  of  the  year's  best  sellers, 
is  the  story  of  a  young  boy  who 
adopts  a  year-old  deer.  Gnaracteriza- 
tion  of  life  in  a  poor  white  family  in 
Florida,  and  a  description  of  local 
scenes  are  highlights  of  the  novel. 


Quality  Clause  Is 
Attacked  by  Carr 

Quality  clause  of  the  new  British 
Quota  Act  has  operated  to  force  the 
small  producer  out  of  business  with 
the  result  that  65  per  cent  of  Eng- 
land's studios  are  empty  today,  E.  T. 
Carr,  United  Artists  joint  managing 
director  for  Britain,  said  yesterday 
on  his  arrival  in  New  York  on  the 
\~  ormandie . 

Despite  this  result,  Carr  said,  there 
is  little  likelihood  of  any  change  in 
the  quota's  provisions  in  the  immedi- 
ate future.  He  said  its  disadvantages 
will  be  greatly  outweighed  eventually, 
in  that  the  quality  producer  in  Eng- 
land will  be  placed  in  a  better  com- 
petitive position  in  the  world  markets 
in  relation  to  the  Hollywood  producer. 

The  British  executive  said  the  inter- 
national situation  has  had  but  little 
effect  on  film  and  theatre  business  in 
England  thus  far.    He  deprecated  the 

(.Continued  on  page  6) 


Universal' s  Crosby 
Film  to  Music  Hall 

L'niversal's  "East  Side  of 
Heaven,"  starring  Bing 
Crosby,  has  been  booked  into 
the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  to 
open  Thursday  after  the  run 
of  "Dark  Victory."  Picture  is 
the  first  Bing  Crosby  vehicle 
to  play  the  Music  Hall  and 
Universal's  first  in  several 
years  at  the  house. 

The  Rivoli,  which  has  first 
call  on  Universal  product, 
waived  its  claim  to  the 
Crosby  picture  under  an  ar- 
rangement which  gives  the 
house  'The  Mikado,"  to  start 
at  the  close  of  the  "Wuther- 
ing  Heights'-'  run. 


British  Film  Men 
Keeping  Up  Hopes 
For  Tax  Reduction 

LONDON,  May  1. — Although  the  in- 
dustry is  maintaining  an  air  of  opti- 
mism, little  hope  is  held  here  for  any 
major  concessions  in  the  reduction  of 
proposed  new  film  taxes.  D.  E.  Griffiths, 
president  of  Kinematograph  Renters' 
Society,  has  not  yet  received  a  reply 
from  Sir  John  Simon,  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer,  to  a  request  to  receive 
a  deputation  from  the  industry. 

Raw  stock  manufacturers  today  in- 
creased prices  by  .52  of  a  penny,  and 
processing  laboratories  are  expected 
shortly  to  increase  charges  by  10  per 
cent. 

Proposed  imposition  of  a  duty  of 
fourpence  halfpenny  per  square  foot, 
will  mean  a  total  increase  to  U.  S. 
distributors    of    $1,835,000  annually. 

Film  circles  here  fear  that  im- 
ported product  will  be  curtailed  quan- 
titatively and  qualitatively,  with  the 
added  possibility  that  American  pro- 
ducers will  have  less  incentive  to  make 
large  budget  pictures. 

The  tax  question  was  raised  in  Com- 
mons tonight  by  Sir  Adrian  Baillie,  a 

(Continued  on  pane  6) 


Warners  Oppose 
Making  Spanish 
Pictures  for  S.A. 


Warners  feel  it  is  uneconomic  to 
distribute  anything  except  their  Hol- 
lywood product  in  Latin  America,  and 
therefore  will  not  make  any  Spanish 
language  pictures,  declared  Karl  Mac- 
donald,  supervisor  for  Latin  America, 
who  returned  yesterday  from  a  four- 
month  trip  through  his  territory. 

"It  is  not  profitable  to  handle  out- 
side Spanish  language  films  in  that 
market,"  Macdonald  said.  "After  the 
percentages  and  expenses  are  deducted, 
there  is  little  left.  We  would  much 
rather  get  our  Hollywood  pictures 
shown  and  get  some  money  to  send  to 
Hollywood  to  recoup  negative  costs." 

M-G-M  Has  Same  Policy 

M-G-M's  policy  in  Latin  America 
is  identical.  Every  other  company, 
however,  either  is  handling  Spanish 
language  films  or  plans  to  do  so. 

"What  is  this  talk  about  the  im- 
portance of  the  Latin  American  mar- 
ket?" Macdonald  asked.  "For  seven 
years  we  have  been  developing  the 
market  and  have  built  it  up  to  a  point 
where  it  is  a  good  one  for  us.  We  in- 
tend to  do  nothing  more  than  we  have 
always  been  doing — sell  our  pictures, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Fair  and  Fleet  Cut 
Broadway  Takes 

Broadway  grosses  slumped  over  the 
weekend  when  an  estimated  50,000 
visitors  flocked  to  see  the  U.  S.  Fleet 
at  anchor  in  the  Hudson  and  600,000 
thronged  the  World's  Fair  on  the 
opening  day. 

Sunday  matinees  were  affected  most 
but  business  improved  at  night  fol- 
lowing showers  which  kept  New 
Yorkers  in  town. 

Theatre  men  believe  the  competitive 
pressure  from  the  Fair  will  become 
strongest  in  the  middle  of  June  when 
school  vacations  and  the  tourist  sea- 
son start. 


World's  Fair  Registration  Bureau 

Out-of-town  readers  of  MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  who  plan 
on  coming  to  the  New  York  World's  Fair,  are  invited  to  notify 
this  publication,  in  advance  of  the  date  of  their  arrival  or  upon 
their  arrival — length  of  stay  and  New  York  address — this  informa- 
tion to  be  registered  here. 

Thus,  those  desirous  of  locating  other  industry  visitors  in  town, 
will  be  able  to  do  so  quickly  through  this  service  by  calling  at  our 
offices  or  phoning  Circle  7-3100,  and  asking  for  "World's  Fair 
Bureau." 

From  time  to  time,  there  will  be  published  lists  of  registrants, 
who  will  receive  regularly  at  their  New  York  addresses  for  the 
duration  of  their  stay,  copies  of  MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY. 


Firms  Balking 
Consent  Move 
In  Trust  Fight 

Defendants  Dislike  Idea 
of  Suit  Decree 


There  is  little,  if  any,  probability  of 
an  agreement  by  defendant  companies 
to  a  consent  decree  in  the  Govern- 
ment anti-trust  suit,  official  sources 
revealed  yesterday. 

Principal  obstacle  to  such  an  agree- 
ment, it  was  pointed  out,  is  the  fact 
that  a  consent  decree  might  be  fol- 
lowed by  a  flood  of  anti-trust  suits 
by  independent  exhibitors  against 
producers  and  distributors.  In  each  in- 
stance, triple  damages  could  be  sought 
as  a  consequence  of  alleged  violation 
of  the  anti-trust  laws. 

Suits  would  be  encouraged  by  the 
fact  that  defendants,  in  entering  into 
a  consent  decree,  would  agree  to  dis- 
continue certain  practices  which  might 
then  be  construed  as  violating  anti- 
trust laws. 

Most  of  the  discussion  of  a  possible 
consent  decree  has  originated  with 
the  Government.  Industry  attorneys 
have  stated  emphatically  that  they 
would  not  discuss  a  consent  decree 
which  was  conditioned  upon  either 
theatre  divorcement  or  admission  of 
violations  of  the  anti-trust  laws 
through  business  practices  which  have 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Monogram  Chiefs 
Leave  Tomorrow 

A  special  two-car  section  will  leave 
Grand  Central  tomorrow  with  the 
eastern  contingent  to  Monogram's 
convention  which  will  start  Thursday 
at  the  Drake  Hotel,  Chicago.  W. 
Ray  Johnston,  president,  will  head  a 
delegation  of  two  score  Monogram  ex- 
ecutives, franchise  holders,  branch 
managers  and  salesmen. 

Included  in  the  New  York  group 
will  be  Edward  A.  Golden,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  exchanges  ;  George 
W.  Weeks,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
sales ;  Norton  V.  Ritchey,  general  for- 
eign manager;  Leon  Fromkess,  treas- 
urer; Louis  S.  Lif ton,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and- publicity ;  John  S.  Har- 
rington, manager  of  film  and  accessor- 
ies;  Lloyd  Lind,-  assistant  to  sales 
manager ;  Manny  Reiner,  press  book 
editor;  William  Jaffee,  of  Rosenblatt 
&  Jaffee,  company  counsel,  Joseph 
Kehoe  and  J.  R.  Wilson. 

Norman  B.  Rydge,  managing  direc- 
(Continued  on  Page  6) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  May  2,  \4 


Plan  Pact  Debate 
At  Allied  Meeting 


Dallas,  May  1. — Independent  ex- 
hibitors attending  Allied's  national 
convention  in  Minneapolis,  June  13  to 
15,  will  be  polled  on  the  trade  prac- 
tice code,  after  a  discussion  of  its  pro- 
visions, according  to  a  bulletin  issued 
by  Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president. 

Every  exhibitor  leader  and  theatre 
owner  in  the  United  States,  regardless 
of  organization  affiliation,  will  be  in- 
vited to  attend  and  participate  in  the 
trade  practice  discussion,  for  which 
an  entire  session  will  be  set  aside.  Col. 
Cole  declares  that  "this  matter  is  not 
going  to  be  packed  or  framed." 

Allied  negotiations  committee,  "in 
opposing  the  acceptance  of  the  trade 
practice  proposals  in  their  present 
form,  were  only  doing  what  they 
thought  was  for  the  best  for  their 
members  and  all  independent  exhibi- 
tors," Col.  Cole  says.  "If  the  majority 
of  independent  theatre  owners  want  to 
accept  the  trade  practice  reforms  as 
submitted  by  the  producers,  you  may 
rest  assured  that  the  members  of  the 
negotiations  committee  and  all  offi- 
cers of  Allied  will  find  no  fault." 


Distributors  Invited 

Minneapolis,  May  1.— W.  A. 
Steffes,  national  Allied  convention 
chairman,  has  sent  invitations  to  more 
than  90  executives  of  film  companies, 
affiliated  circuits,  heads  of  the  M.P. 
P.D.A.  and  others  to  attend  the  con- 
vention. Among  them  are  presidents 
of  all  major  companies,  Will  H.  Hays 
and  C,  C.  Pettijohn  of  the  Hays  office, 
Ed  Kuykendall  and  Julian  Brylawski 
of  the  M.P.T.O.A.,  and  Joseph  I. 
Breen,  director  of  the  Production 
Code  Administration. 


Albany  Allied  Unit 
Sets  Meeting  Plans 

Albany,  May  1. — Almost  the  entire 
membership  of  the  Albany  unit  of 
New  York  Allied  plans  to  attend  the 
organization's  convention  in  New 
York,  May  23  to  25.  Plans  were 
mapped  at  a  meeting  today,  with 
Mitchell  Conery  of  Ravena,  regional 
vice-president,  presiding. 

Members  expressed  satisfaction  with 
the  overwhelming  defeat  of  the  Crews 
projectionist  bill  in  the  legislature  last 
week.  Upstate  exhibitors  claim  the 
major  portion  of  the  victory,  as  re- 
flected in  the  Assembly  vote.  Other 
legislation,  including  a  strong  possi- 
bility of  a  two  per  cent  sales  tax  and 
a  ticket  tax  for  housing,  was  not 
formally  discussed.  About  25  theatre 
representatives  were  present. 


Legionnaires 

The  Republic  of  France  has 
conferred  the  Legion  of 
Honor  on  eight  20th  Century- 
Fox  executives  in  the  last 
several  years.  The  latest  to 
receive  the  honor,  given  for 
signal  accomplishment  in  the 
field  of  public  service,  is  Ben- 
jamin Miggins,  Continental 
European  manager.  Others 
wearing  the  decoration  are 
Joseph  M.  Schenck,  S.  R. 
Kent.  Dirryl  F.  Zanuck,  Wal- 
ter J.  Hutchinson,  Robert  T. 
Kane.  Truman  H.  Talley  and 
Lowell  Thomas. 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


LJARRY  BRANDT,  I.T.O.A.  pres- 
■**  *■  ident,  sent  Katharine  Hepburn 
a  letter  of  congratulation  on  her  per- 
formance in  "Philadelphia  Story,"  and 
received  a  note  of  appreciation  in  re- 
ply. 

• 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  and  Ed  Saun- 
ders, division  manager,  stayed  over  in 
Detroit  on  business  after  the  Variety 
Club  banquet  and  are  due  here  today. 
Tom  Connors  returned  yesterday. 
• 

Philip  Barry,  author  of  "Philadel- 
phia Story,"  sails  tomorrow  on  the 
Normandie.  Other  passengers  will  be 
Colette  d'Arville,  French  singer, 
and  Julius  Steger,  producer. 

• 

Crane  Wilbur  and  John  Litel  of 
the  Warner  studio  will  make  personal 
appearances  in  Chicago  at  the  Hyam 
Salomon  Fund  dinner  May  21,  when 
the  "Sons  of  Liberty"  short  will  open. 
• 

Gus  Edwards,  whose  life  is  filmed 
in  Paramount's  "The  Star  Maker," 
has  gone  to  Colorado  Springs  for  a 
rest,  following  a  visit  to  the  Mayo 
Clinic  at  Rochester,  Minn. 

• 

M.  L.  Simons,  editor  of  the  Dis- 
tributor, M-G-M  publication,  has 
moved  into  his  new  home  on  Long 
Island. 

Boris  Morros  has  returned  to  the 
coast  to  start  production  of  his  first 
film  for  RKO,  "The  Aviators."  Her- 
bert Silverberg,  attorney,  accompa- 
nied him. 

• 

Bert  Sanford,  eastern  district  man- 
ager for  Altec,  addressed  a  class  in 
the  theatre  management  course  at 
Syracuse  University.  A.  J.  Rade- 
macher,  branch  manager,  assisted. 
• 

W.  A.  Scully,  Universal  general 
sales  manager,  returns  to  New  York 
today  after  a  tour  of  the  company's 
western  exchanges  following  the  San 
Francisco  sales  meeting. 

• 

Charles    Schlaifer.  advertising 
and  promotion  manager  of  the  United 
Artists  Theatre,  San  Francisco,  has 
returned  to  his  desk  after  a  vacation. 
• 

Billy  Elson,  manager  of  an  RKO 
theatre  in  Minneapolis,  is  in  town 
for  a  few  days,  coming  on  from  the 
Variety  Club  convention  in  Detroit. 


GEORGE  J.  SCHAEFER,  RKO 
head,  may  remain  at  the  studio  for 
several  additional  weeks.    S.  Barret 
McCormick,  advertising  and  publicity 
director,  returned  by  train  yesterday. 
• 

Martin  Quigley,  Frank  Walker, 
Colvin  Brown,  Harry  Gold,  Nate 
Blumberg,  William  Philips,  Her- 
man Robbins,  Harry  Brandt,  B.  S. 
Moss,  Ed  Hatrick  and  Joe  Vogel  at 
lunch  at  Dinty  Moore's  yesterday. 
• 

Neil  F.  Agnew,  Paramount  vice- 
president  and  distribution  head,  sails 
today  for  a  brief  vacation  in  Ber- 
muda. Mrs.  Agnew  will  accompany 
him. 

• 

Morris    Joseph,    Universal  New 
Haven  exchange  manager,  will  be  host 
at  a  cocktail  party  May  22,  celebrat- 
ing his  25th  year  with  the  company. 
• 

Edward  Ruff,  Paramount  New 
Haven  exchange  manager,  and  Mrs. 
Ruff  will  go  to  the  coast  by  boat, 
leaving  May  19. 

• 

Lou  Pollock,  Universal  eastern 
advertising  and  publicity  head,  and 
Hank  Linet,  his  assistant,  brought  in 
a  barracuda  and  a  kingfish  on  their 
first  fishing  trip  this  spring. 

• 

Frank  LaGrande  of  Paramount 
News  Laboratory  is  taking  part  in 
technical  discussions  on  "Gulliver's 
Travels"  at  the  Fleischer  Studios, 
Miami. 

• 

Alfredo  Murua,  head  of  the  Side 
studio,  leading  producing  company  in 
Buenos  Aires,  arrives  today  from 
there  on  the  Brazil. 

• 

Frank  Butler,  Paramount  writer, 
is  on  a  leave  of  absence  from  the 
studio,  following  completion  of  "The 
Star  Maker." 

• 

Saul  Jaffe,  formerlv  with  Colum- 
bia, has  formed  the  Vitaprint  Corp. 
to  develop  stills  for  film  companies. 
• 

Robert  Gillham,  Paramount  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director,  ar- 
rives in  New  York  today. 

• 

Irving  Griffler  is  the  new  assist- 
ant to  Leo  Schapiro  at  the  Guilford 
in  Guilford,  Conn. 

• 

Phil  Reisman,  RKO  foreign  chief, 
returned  yesterday  from  Europe.  He 
was  gone  10  weeks. 

Al  Rosen,  producer,  is  in  town. 


Drama  Guild  Meets 

Dramatists'  Guild  council  met  again 
yesterday  to  consider  modifications  to 
the  Minimum  Basic  Agreement  which 
may  reintroduce  Hollywood  backing 
to  the  legitimate  stage.  The  meeting, 
however,  found  itself  unable  to  arrive 
at  any  decision  in  the  absence  of  Sid- 
ney R.  Fleisher,  Guild  attorney. 


Prida  to  Mexico  City 

Pablo  Prida,  who  operates  the  Rex, 
Mexico  City,  returns  there  tomorrow 
by  plane.  He  is  a  descendant  of  Benito 
luarez.  Quintin  Rueda,  chief  of  the 
Mexican  Government  Department  of 
Press  and  Publicity,  leaves  tomorrow 
for  San  Francisco  and  Los  Angeles. 
Both  were  at  "Juarez"  premiere. 


G.  N.  Lists  Four 

Grand  National  has  slated  two  fea- 
tures and  two  westerns  for  late  May 
release,  the  first  pictures  added  to  the 
company's  schedule  since  February. 
Features  are  "Exile  Express,"  with 
Anna  Sten,  and  "Panama  Patrol," 
second  of  the  Cipher  Bureau  pictures. 
Westerns  are  "The  Singing  Cowgirl" 
and  "Six-Gun  Rhythm." 


Para.  Board  Meets 

A  special  meeting  of  the  Paramount 
board  of  directors  was  held  at  the 
home  office  yesterday.  Barney  Balaban, 
president,  was  back  from  the  "Union 
Pacific"  world  premiere  in  Omaha  in 
time  to  attend. 


Studios  Increase 
Pace;  40  in  Wor 


Hollywood,  May  1. — Producti 
increased  this  week  to  40  pictures  1 
fore  the  cameras,  as  14  started  at 
12  finished.  Twenty  are  being  pa 
pared,  and  59  are  being  edited. 

Those  started  were :   "Parents  ! 
Trial,"    "Coast    Guard,"  Columbi 
"The      Real      Glory,"  Gold\T 
"Stronger   Than   Desire,"   "Lady  * 
the   Tropics,"    M-G-M;    "The  Gl 
from  Nowhere,"  Monogram ;  "Honi 
work,"  "Our  Leading  Citizen,"  Paq 
mount;  "Way  Down  South,"  Less' 
RKO;   Elsa   Maxwell's  "Hotel 
Women,"  20th  Century-Fox ;  "In  C? 
California,"     "Inside  Informatio: 
"The  Phantom  Creeps"  (serial),  U 
versal ;  "Not  Wanted,"  Warners 
Many  Important  Films 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  wer 
"Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris,  Too,"  "~K 
Smith  Goes  to  Washington,"  "Gold 
Boy,"  "The  Man  from  Sundowi 
Columbia ;  "Music  School,"  Goldwy 
"On  Borrowed  Time,"  "Andy  Har 
Gets  Spring  Fever,"  M-G-M  ;  "Gere 
imo,"  "The  Cat  and  the  Canar 
"Heaven  on  a  Shoestring,"  "T 
Star  Maker,"  "Disputed  Passag 
"Ruler  of  the  Seas,"  Paramoui 
"Memory  of  Love,"  "Caree 
RKO ;  "Mountain  Rhythm," 
public ;  "Gone  with  the  Wini 
Selznick  International ;  "Second  F 
die,"  "Charlie  Chan  at  Treasi 
Island,"  "The  Rains  Came,"  "T 
Jones  Family  at  the  Grand  Canyoi 
20th  Century-Fox;  "The  Sun  Ne^ 
Sets,"  "Winter  Carnival,"  Wang( 
U.  A.;  "The  Old  Maid,"  "Dust 
My  Destiny,"  "The  Hobby  Famil; 
Warners. 

Finished  were :  "Maisie  Was 
Lady,"  M-G-M;  "Across  the  Plain 
Monogram;  "Million  Dollar  Leg 
Paramount;  "Little  Mother,"  "F: 
Came  Back,"  "The  Dove,"  RK( 
"Tidal  Wave,"  "Daredevils  of  the  R 
Circle"  (serial),  Republic;  "The  M 
in  the  Iron  Mask,"  Small-U.  I 
"East  Side,  West  Side,"  20th  Cc 
tury-Fox;  "Old  Grad,"  Univers; 
"Lighthorse  Harry,"  Warners. 

Seventeen  short  subjects  are  in 
cutting  rooms.   Warners  started  o 
which  is  still  shooting,  and  RKO  1 
one  in  production.    M-G-M  finish, 
two,  and  RKO  one.    M-G-M  is  pi 
paring  two. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  l. 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunc 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Cc 
pany,  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  preside 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasur, 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
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New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1' 
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Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Y< 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Mon 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teat 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picn 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  — Hollywood:  Postal  Un! 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Bot 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weav 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
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Entered  a»  second  clan  matter  Sept. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  16  in 
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AR1N6LY  DIFFERE 


EIROLY  FASCINATIN 


I 


At  rare  intervals  a  picture  suddenly 
appears.. .from  nowhere. ..a  sleeper. •• 


which  compels  the  attention  of  even 


trained  observers.  BLI    D  ALLEY  is 


such  a  picture.  If  you  can  visualize 


a  picture  story  in  which  psychiatry 
becomes  a  dramatic  element.. .a  mur- 


derer's mind  reconstructed  piece  by 
piece  to  show  why  he  kills... gripping, 
grim  realism  on  an  ascending  scale. •• 


That  Is 


BLIND  ALLEY. 


mm 


IE  13  (3  H  3    IS  ID 


pKeralb 


NEW^VORK 


r~~ — — L 

gribuncl 


CRAZY  Sam  Houston  has  been 
given  a  first-rate  screen  bio- 
I  graphy  in  "Man  of  Conquest  AJ- 
I  &n  the  film  is  a -^ft*** 
nublic  Pictures,  which  usually  »ura * 
aw?  -nulckles  "  there  Is  nothing  shp- 
1  Sod  Capitol  offering  on 

Seconteary.  it  Is  a  handsome  and 
«maS  faithful  historical  pho- 
toDlay-thc  peer  of  any  of  the  mo- 

the  burgeoning  period  of  our  west. 

|  wfth  Richard  Dlx  lW»f  •  "SJ 
"  j  nowerful  portrayal  of  the  title 
*ole  ^ne"  uPPorting  characterlxa- 
♦ioms  and  fast-paced  direction.  It  Is 

Pan  tastScuTe  and  vastly  entertaln- 

1  ^one^olthe  greatest  of  our  pioneer 
flsnters  and  statesmen  was  not 
called  crazy  for  nothing.  It  is  to  the 
"crlastingy credit  of  "Man  o Con- 
I  quest''  that  It  maxes  no  bones  about 
Houston's  frailties,  but  presents  him 
with  all  the  contradictions  of  per- 
1  Tonality  that  make  for  a  man  rather 
tnan  a  mere  figure.  The  f Urn  Intro- 
■  duces  him  as  he  is  enlisting  in  An- 
drew Jackson's  army  of  squirrel 
hunters  which  beat  the  .  British  at 
New  Orleans:  it  resolutely  docu- 
ments the  Houston  carousing  which 
1  broke  up  his  first  marriage  and 
shows  tan  torn  between  personal 
greed  for  power  and  patriotism  be- 
forThte  valiant  defense  of  Texas 
which  led  to  that  state*  Incorpora- 
tion in  the  Union.  The  narrative  is 
inevitably  sketchy,  but  it  rings  curl- 
ouslv  true  «  » 

To  a  large  extent  this  Is  due  to 
the  fact  that  few  of  the  principals 
have  been  definitely  typed.  The  play- 
ers in  "Man  of  Conquest'  fit  their 
•roles  persuasively,  as  they  did  In 
•  Stagecoach."  and  the  result  Is  a 
film  which  really  evokes  the  past, 
instead  of  using  it  as  a  springboard 
for  the  exploitation  of  personalities. 
When  Houston  goes  on  a  four-montn 
drunk  after  his  wife  leaves  him. 
when  he  champions  the  Cherokee 
Indian  nation,  pits  his  wits  and 
lovalties  against  those  of  Andrew 
Jackson,  or  changes  from  art  ex- 
ploiter of  Texas  to  the  avenger  of 
the  Alamo,  the  human  texture  of 
the  screen  drama  Is  not  only  rich 
in  color  and  excitement,  but  It  is 
highly  convincing.  . 

Mr.  Dix  reclaims  all  of  his  past 
renown  in  his  steady  and  many  fac- 
eted portrayal  of  the  Tennessee 
titan  who  made  American  expansion 
Into  the  southwest  possible.  He 
looks  and  acta  the  part  of  "a  com- 
mon man."  searching  restlessly  for 
B  place  to  stretch  his  soul  in  a 
country  of  rapidly  shifting  frontiers. 
He  succeeds  thereby  in  stamping 
the  production  with  its  Individual 
character  and  making  it  cohesive 
It  Is  good  to  see  him  xuaying jat  toe 
top  of  his  form  again.  Edward  ElUs 
is  little  short  of  triumphant  as 
Andrew  Jackson,  Gall  Patrick  J? 
definitely  acceptable  as  "ajf*!!* 
Lea,  who  is  a  romantic  foil  for 
Houston  In  the  latter  portions  of 
the  photoplay,  and  Robert  Barrat 
gives  a  vivid  impersonation  of  Davey 
Crockett  of  Alamo  fame.  For  that 
matter,  the  whole  company  knows 
its  business  and  acquits  Itself  in  ex- 
cellent manner. 

While  the  script  spans  too  many 
years  not  to  be  episodic,  George 
Nichols  jr.  has  staged  it  with  con- 
siderable suspense  and  continuity. 
There  are  some  rather  obvious  mon- 
tage effects,  but  when  the  action 
reaches  a  genuine  climax,  such  as 
the  battle  on  the  banks  of  the  San 
Jacinto,    when    Houston  whipped 
Santa  Ana's  superior  forces,  the 
film   becomes  a  splendid  martial 
pageant.  Always  the  situations  are 
based  on  character  and  authentic 
incident  rather  than  the  romantic 
conceptions   which   Hollywood  so 
frequently  employs  In  Its  recon- 
structions of  vanished  eras.  "Man 
of  Conquest"  Is  a  notable  and  In- 
triguing addition  to  the  screen's 
collection  of  Americana. 


©Il*  Jfetor  fork  $iro**J 

'Man  of  Conquest,'  a  Spectacle-Charged  Biography  of 
Sam  Houston,  Reminds  the  Capitol  of  the  Alamo 


By  FRANK  S.  NUGENT 
Hollywood's  Good  Neighbor  pro- 
gram, so  proudly  begun  by  the 
I  Warners'  "Juarez"  went  Into  fun 
retreat  yesterday  when  Republic'!. 
"Man  of  Conquest"  swept  into  the 
Capitol  with  the  war  cry.  Remem- 
ber the  Alamo!  and  a  jubilant  — 
enactment  of -the  rout  of  Sai 
Ana's  army  at  San  Jacinto.  It 
not  a  tactful  film,  but  it's  a  re- 
markably good  one,  colorful,  vig- 
orous and  dramatic.  It  Is  based, 
of  course,  on  the  life  of  Sam  Hous- 
ton, one  of  the  stormiest  petrels  In 
our  national  history,  and  it  cun- 
ningly justifies  the  revolution  In 
Texas  and  its  subsequent  annexa- 
tion by  the  United  States  as  a  vic- 
tory of  democracy  over  dictator- 
ship. 

Even  Andy  Jackson  Is  privileged 
to  make  a  forward-looking  com- 
ment upon  that  theme.  "Up  in 
Washington  you  said  we'd  buried 
freedom  under  a  pile  of  dirty  pol- 
itics," he  tells  Sam  Houston.  "Well, 
just  remember  that  America  Is  still 
the  land  of  the  free— and  there's 
many  a  brow-beaten  people  who'd 
trade  their  dictatorships  In  a  min- 
ute for  a  good  dose  of  our  dirty 
politics.  Not  that  our  brand  of 
freedom  ain't  got  its  faults— 
couldn't  help  it  being  run  by  ornery 
humans  like  Congressmen  and  you 
and  me.  But  I  reckon  that  the 
United  States  is  still  the  only  place 
in  the  world  where  a  man  can  cuss 
the  President  out  loud  and  all  the 
President  can  do  is  cuss  back  or 
else  go  fishin'.  That's  what  I  call 
democracy." 

Or  good  old  homespun  philosophy 
which  sanctifies  a  cleverly  staged 
land-grab  and  charitably  Ignores — 
or  blames  on  white  renegades— the 
bilking  of  the  Cherokees  and  the 
scrapping  of  their  treaties. 

But  that  is  apart  from  the  pic- 
ture itself  and  should  not  discredit 
it.  For  it  Is,  in  the  main,  an  ad- 
mirably contrived  biography,  honest 
enough  to  mention  Houston's  sod- 
den spree  among  the  Indians,  mak- 
ing dramatic  capital  of  his  progres- 
sion from  self-aggrandizing  ad- 
venturer to  Instrument  of  national 
development.  Houston,  as  Richard 
Dix  has  played  him,  Is  a  full-bodied 
portrait,  earthy,  human  and  virile. 
Scarcely  less  notable  Is  Edward 
Ellis's  performance  of  Andrew 
Jackson,  Houston's  political  god- 
father. By  a  strict  interpretation 
of  the  script,  the  film's  Old  Hickory 
would  have  been  combination  saint 
and  prophet.  Mr.  Ellis,  with  a  lift 
of  an  eyebrow  or  a  twitch  of  the 
mouth,  has  managed  to  suggest 
that  the  halo  Is  gilded,  that  Andy 
was  the  wily  old  rascal  history 
proves  him  to  be,  a  statesman  of 
highly  practical  Idealism. 

The  picture  finds  Houston  almost 
at  the  beginning  of  his  astonishing 
career,   but  whisks  him  quickly 
through  all  Its  early  stages  and  does 
not_  pause  until   he  has  resigned 
the  governorship  of  Tennessee  be- 
cause of  the  Eliza.  Allen  scandal. 
It  hurries  forward  again,  through 
his    wound-licking    sojourn  with 
the  Cherokees,  to  the  Texas  cam- 
paign with  the  massacre  of  the 
Alamo  and,  climactlcally,  the  surg- 
ing charge   of  the  outnumbered 
Texana  through  the  siesta-numbed 
ranks  of  the  Santa  Annans.  And 
before  the  effect  of  the  battle  spec- 
tacle has  had  time  to  wear  off,  the 
picture  telescopes  the  seven  years 
between  Texan  independence  and 
Texan  annexation  and  ends— with  a 
victory  for  Jacksonian  democracy 
over  Mexican  dictatorship. 

Obviously,  not  a  good-neighborly 
attitude,  but  a  picture  well  worth 
seeing  and  bearing. 


Richard  Dix  Em 
Houston  With' 

By  KATE  CAMERON. 
"Man  of  Conquest,"  Republic  picture,  screen  pit  j 
r..  E.  Paramore  Jr.  and  Jan  Fortune  based  on  story  b  * 
and  Wells  Root,  directed  by  George  Nieholls  Jr.  and 
Capitol  Theatre.  ft  ! 


"Man  of  Conquest" 
Called  EpicFilm 

Richard  Dix  as  Sam  Houston 
Comes  Into  His  Own  Again. 

By  WILLIAM  BOEHNEL.  rentet- 


Americanism  ~  ♦  tii«  Caoitol,  to  characterisation,  sw^™*  *-  ~~rr- 
"Man  of  Conquest."  at  the  u%»~r^r  I  ZT^t^tfa:  in  sentiment,  for  it  deals 
wSch  not  only  sound,  the  clarion  |majestie  £WJ^Mplre  builder 
can  of  freedom 


a   two-listed  empire  builder 
it-  -  colorful  and  courageous  era 
and  democracy  ^hen  a  young  but  mighty  nation  was 

m  high,  resound-  ^  Ik    grading  westward  and  soutoward 

tog    notes   but  |  M    Sdwhen  men  and  women  thought 

relates  Its  mes-  1  _J*L  not  only  of  their  sacred  rights  for 

sage  of  liberty  |  gGmm  Se  iaV  but  for  the  future  as  well, 
and  the  right  of  «  W^W  ^re  then?  is  the  very  stuff  of  which 
.nan  to  govern  l|   MF    patriotic  spectacles  are  made  and 

himself  in  a  rig-     ^WJM.    authors-,  director  and  players  have 
orous.    colorful,   .%pMH^  m^etoemostandbestof  It. 
thrilling  manner.      JfJ^ji  \w*  1*  We  story  of  Sam  Houston. 
Salute,  too,  the  fjmWF M L^er.  politician,  adventurer  Joan 
return  to  his  for-  Iggmk  Jr    *^"l~Kvry  and  lover  of  liberty 

mer  prestige  «s  Boehnei.  and  justice!^  It  begins  with  Houston's 

an  actor,  forth-  .        A  ~* flrst  marriage  to  Eliza  Allen, 

right,  capable  ^#^[^^{15^1 Member  of  toe 
Richard  Dlx.  wr^hasn  t  had  ^fc^X^t  of  dlsgustat  toe 
a  meaty  role  "J£?  ^^arror,"  S^tment  „e  has  received  from  toe 
the  days  he  appeared  m  «t'4  white  men,  how  he  gives  up  his  In: 

what  makes  "Man  Of  <**$*"*Ll!!EJr.  ueiiance  to  a  deal  with  Andrew 
thSSc  StoTrt  is  is  the  simple  iact  ^nTslvftoe  redmen's  land,. 
Sat  it  never  once  sacrifices  action  Jkb™  »  the  Texans 

of  drama  on  toe; ^v^ry^t  Mexico  and  mw- 

gan?»-  *  *j££"  toTpYtacfcles  **»  Marearet  ^ 
tlful  prose  it  restotes  w*v      ^  A  Career  Story, 

on  which  thU  nation  w«  loun     ,  care«  story  of 

and  wW  con^uew  <toes  a  pioneering  American.  TwETn  its 

TwSSm  that  with-  MSStt  is  a  digmfled.  «£*y 
to  inflict,  without  sus-  pie*  for  liberty  andjuttfce  as 

out  dw^0*^  lt5  message,  no  ?£u  Ja  rlp-snorttag.  red-blooded 
I  ^SSr^Sw  fle£  or  sincere,  isn't  ™  ^  ioveFand  adventure,  which 
»  W  in  hell.  For  it  is  a  ■  '  afford  to  nuss. 
worth  » J^1  ™  '  that  before  y  i^T^ast  is  excellent.  Richard  Dix, 
trU^0nre£n  vo^ust  mst  enter-L^^of  toe  finest  actors  on  the 
you  can  preacn  you  m.  «w»  mt0  his  own  agato^as 


tain. 


Strong,  Vibrant  Stuff. 


screen,  comes  into  his  own  again  as 
Houston,  giving  a  performance  that 
u  matchless  to  its  conception  and 
execution.  Joan  Fontaine  Is  prop- 
errypretty  and  fragile  as  Eliza.  Gall 
Patrick  is  stench  and  true  as  Mar- 
garet  Lea  and  there  is  a  truly  fine 
characterization  by  Edward  EUto  as 
Andrew  Jackson.  The  others  to  toe, 
cast  include  Victory  Jory  Robert 
Barrat.  George  Hayes.  Ralph  Mor- 
gan Robert  Armstrong.  C.  Hmry 
Gordon.  Janet  Beeoher  and  Pedro 
«te  Cordoba,  and  they  couldn  t  be  im^ 
proved  upon. 


It's  good  to  1] 
back  on  the  sere  I 
role  he  can  hand  ' 
.  and  the  gusto  wh 
memorable  perfoi 1 
ron's"  Yancey.  Cr 
Sam  Houston,  in  t 
of  Conquest,"  hi ! 
order  for  him.  i] 
doughty  avenger  i 
highly  sympathet 
hero  of  fictional  ] 
man,  for  all  that  I 
.politician  and  a  n  j 
knows  what  he  w. 

George  Nichols 
the  film  for  Repu  I 
done  a  fine  job 
spirit  a'nd  movem 
He  keeps  the  story  I 
pace  and  he  hand  ] 
ing  scenes  with  su  I 

A  Faithfu  ;| 
The  picture  is  i  '1 
of  Sam  Houston's  4 
begins  with  his  p.  tj 
for  governor  wher  i 
nesseean,  Andrew  I 
the  stump  for  hir  L 
through  his  mar  ■ 
17-year-old  Eliza  I 
nappy,  period  of  <I 
lowing  Eliza's  del 
resignation  from  om 
It  skims  over  1 11 
service  with  the  (1 
and  follows  him  m 
ma  nee  with  MargtJ 
stirring  adventure  j 
he,  as  head  of  a  3 
Texans,  wrested  1 
Mexico  by  defeat  '1 
Anna  at  Jacinto.  1 

The  Jacinto  batti  m 
Ingly  done.  Santt 
into  position  and,  t 
ical  moment,  Hous 
his  inferior  force  1 1 
•f  "Remember  the  ,| 
The  cast  support  j 
is  an  able  one.   Ed  1 
•n  impressive  pict  a 
as  campaigner  and 
Fontaine  is  a  pretty 
and  Gail  Patrick  i 
more  sympathetic  ' 
ton's  second  wife. 

The  balance  of  tb ! 
includes  Victor  Jc 
Robert  Barrat  as  I: 
George  Hayes  as  I 
friend,   Lannie  Ut  ij 
Morgan  as  the  peace' 
Austin,  who  tried 
Americans  of  Texas 
bellion  against  the  . 
ert  Armstrong  as  J 
C.  Henry  Gordon  t 
General,  Santa  Ann 
There  is  a  sweep 
the  latter  part  of  t 
Is  tremendously  ir 
the  whole  historical 
Tenessee  to  Washin 
Is  intensely  interest!" 

This  is  the  most 
ture  that  Republic 
several  years  and  tl 
fies  the  time,  trout 
expended  on  it 


THEATRE 


READ  EVERY  WORD! 


By  SOIB  PILSWIOX. 

A  bang-up  historical  drama,  the  Capitol  TheatrV.  »M.„ 

inquest"  tells  the  story  0f  Sam  Houston  and  thTf'eht for 
cas  independence  from  Mexico    It's  Z  ?h.  r  \ 

sr  production  from  the  studio,  of  Re-         '  ***  nuUl0n- 

lic  Pictures,  whose  product  has  hith- 
.  been  on  the  low  budget  side  and 
•se  initial  ambitious  venture  is  a  aat- 
ctory  one. 

Filmed  on  a  large  and  sweeping 
e,  the  picture  is  packed  with  action 
nng  stirring  battle  scenes,  Indian 
ts  and  an  interesting  recreation  of  a 
rful  period  in  American  history.  The 
ax,  of  course,  is  the  battle  of  San 
ato  an  impressively  staged  sequence 
meh  the  Texas  soldiers  defeat  Jfex- 
i  troops  with  the  rousing  war  cry 
member  the  Alamo." 
Richard  Dix,  starred  in  the  title 

gives  a  convincing  performance  and 
sisted  by  a  large  and  able  east  Char- 
"lzing  him  as  an  adventurer   noli.        «'r>«»«i>  »ix 
n  and  soldier,  the  film  is  a  biograph-  ™ 

t <U?t!f  ^U3t?°  £rom  the  dav8  he  trapped  and 

«d  with  the  Cherokees  until  the  time  when  he  he "25 lb" 
t  the  snnexation  of  Texas  by  the  Union. 

friendship   with  Andrew-' 
•on.  whom  he  Joined  at  New 
au.  his  campaign  for  Gov 
ship  of  Tennessee,  his  un 
r  first  marriage   and  his 
*>n  by  the  Cherokee  tribe 
faced  in  considerable  detail 
I  the  first  part  of  the  film, 
second  half  of  the  picture 
tw  Itself  with  Houston's  part 
history  of  Texas, 
it's  the  second  half  that 
ns  most  of  the  action,  show- 
ouston  starting  off  to  carve 
nplre  for  himself  in  the 
west  and  ready  to  lead  other 
•urers  in  a  revolution  that 
Jt»«ke  Texas  a  .free  state. 
M  at  first  by  Stephen 
.  who  did  not  want  to  fight 
's  general.  Santa  Anna,  he 
both  Austin  and  his  fol- 
to  his  side  after  Santa 
massacre  of  the  garrison 
Alamo.  And.  persuaded  by 
n.  now  President,  of  the 
ty  for  Texas  becoming  part 
Union,  he  leads  his  men  to 
at  San  Jacinto, 
otic  in  theme  and  vigor- 
andled.  the  picture  is  good 
lament.  In  addition  to  Mr 
i  cast  includes  Edward  H- 
o  contributes  a  believable 
'  °f  Andrew  Jackson;  Gall 
•  wbo  is  charming  as  the 
woman  who  became  Hou- 
second  wife,  even  though 
on  too  glamorously  made 
»  pioneer  glrL    C.  Henry 
.  «s  Santa  Anna;  Ralph 
as  David  Crockett,  and 
Armstrong.  Robert  Barrat 
W  Hayes  as  a  few  of  the 
^tm»  citizens  of  the  day 


The  lives  of 

•W^b!f.S  Kenar^s  lor  movie 
,hem  adequate  »cenar  m 


them  adequate  figures  in 

thrills.  Even  ^^nS require 
the  W^ fof£  nSeer.  But 
the  »»ld»«£fr  !  S>ra  Houston, 
MSr-^-  irom  Mexican 

•MOVIE  METER 


fOgB 


junds  like^ 

elephant  pbas 

tcenarist  ,  {  Conquest' 

When  you  »**  Man  OIour  natur3i 

,t  the  ^P1"1^  Republic  Pictures. 

""""SKen  to  ^nsational  West- 
w  outfit  given  w  „  But 

„t  Sam  Houston.  The  f 

ZSJTSS^  of  c 


'^etsTundsVethe  pink 
i?ir.n?U?h«  of   a  Hollywood 


n^sed  Secession  when  that  was  the 
rr?ost  uSulsr  thing  a  man  could  j 

life  cannot  be  covered  completely 
to  thTcompass  of  a  leatureJenaih 
oicture.  I  must  confess  that  the  act 
me  and  production  values.  while  a| 
prodlgfous  advance  for  a  small  com- 
Sany  like  Republic,  are  und^Jj 
guished  compared  to  epic  efforts  of  j 
"a  major  company.  , 
Richard  Dix  is  a  sincere  and 
straightforward  actor  but  incapable 
of  nro iecting  a  brilliant  interpre- 
WlSTof  a  historical  figure.  Joan  | 
FonUine  as  his  first  wile  and  Gail 
Patrick  as  his  second  are  a  couple 

„Kin^r  Tennessee,  which  he  had  to  their  roles  than  the 

M^   due  to   the  mysterious  «lve      jour„eyman  mimmum. 
Sy  of  to  A  marriage.  Before  ^L^of 


By  ARCHER  WINS  TEN 

^«  allows  Houston's  life  wt»h 

scenery 


u  see  Houston  drownmg 
the  Indians,  eon- 


res 

tragedy 


clnuy  miliUry  -!«^"?SSttSS  dUC5!ns clow  T^ey  did  very 
«  OT&ft  ^eTaU  ^'considjed 

Whi  "  feS "am*  Sam 


►tin 


By  EILEEN  CREELMAN. 

Hollywood  is  continuing  to  discover  America.  Its  latest 
bit  of  flag-waving,  "Man  of  Conquest"  at  the  Capitol 
Theater,  is  a  more  welcome  picture  than  most.  This  is 
sound  melodrama,  a  spectacular  outdoor  piece  with  a  real 
character  to  lead  its  action.  "Man  of  Conquest,"  in  fact, 
is  one  of  the  best  American  historical  films  in  a  year  filled 
with  good  Westerns. 


HY.C. 


This  is  the  story  of  Sam  Houston, 
who  was  quite  a  man.  The  title, 
in  spite  or  because  of  It*  blatantly 
dramatic  quality,  exactly  suits  Sam 
Houston.  He  was  just  that,  a  man 
of  conquest,  fiercely  ambitious, 
eager  to  lead,  willing  to  fight.  He 
seems  to  have  been  in  and  out  of 
trouble  all  his  life.  Always  he  had 
good  friends.  Usually  he  had  a 
fight  on  his  hands. 

"Man  of  Conquest"  tells  of  some 
of  those  fight*,  tells  of  them  in 
strong  dramatic  terms,  remember- 
ing that  motion  pictures  should 
move,  that  audiences  enjoy  action 
'Man  of-  Conquest"  gives  them 
action,  from  that  first  glimpse  of 
young  Sam  coming  home  from  a 
jear  of  hunting  with  the  Indians 
through  his  political  success,  his 
tragic  marriage  with  Eliza  Allen, 
his  flight  -back  to  the  Indians,  and 
that  last  wild  adventure  in  Texas. 
It  was  Sam  Houston  who  brought 
Texas  into  tha  Union;  and  it  was 
tealry  Texas  who  brought  Sam 
Houston  into  the  Union  too.  His 
conquest  of  that  State  made  him 
realize  for  the  first  time  that  «e 
was  really  a  white  man,  and  an 
American. 

All  this  makes  for  grand  frontier 
drama,  and  as  stirring  a  spectacle 
as  -the  movies  have  given  us  for  a 
ibng  time.  Hollywood  likes  to  de- 
scribe this  type  of  film  as  an  epic. 


Perhaps  "Man  of  Conquest"  is  an 
■  ■pic.  It's  a  most  worth  while  pic 
lure  anyway.  Richard  Dix,  the 
hero  of  "Cimarron."  plays  Sam 
Houston  with  a  vigor  and  intelli 
Kence  that  brings  the  character  to 
life.  Edward  Ellis,  the  doctor  of 
"A  Man  to  Remember,"  is  Andrew 
Jackson,  a  colorful  character  and 
veil  played.  Gail  Patrick  is  the 
courageous.  understanding  Mar- 
Caret,  and  Joan  Fontaine  the  first 
^ife,  who  was  terrified  by  her  hus- 
rand  and  by  his  life. 

"Man  of  Conquest"  takes  in  quite 
a  lot  of  territory,  wandering  from 
Tennessee  to  Arkansas,  to  Wash 
Ington.  and  down  into  Texas,  ther 
part  of  Mexico.  The  political  drarrra 
of  the  book  is  particularly  Interest- 
ing in  this  year  of  1939.  once  more 
demonstrating  that  one's  viewpoint 
all  depends  upon  what  country  is 
seizing  whose  land.  The  American 
settlers  in  Mexico  were  dissatisfied 
with  the  Government.  With  Sam 
Houston  at  their  head,  they  re- 
belled and  took  Texas  away  from 
Mexico.  "Man  of  Conquest"  looks 
upon  this  with  approval,  and  makes 
the  settlers'  revenge  for  the  Alamo 
a  rip-roaring  battle.  If  Republic 
can  keep  up  to  the  standard  of 
this,  its  first  big  picture,  there  will 
be  a  new  company  to  reckon  with 
among  the  major  studios. 


DAILYHMIRROR 


PAftTLT  CLOUDT  Cf!*^,f 


S  Cgh  OH*.  Car  I 


Long  dedicated  to  Metro  masterpieces,  the  august 
capitol  with  those  nice  logue  seats,  this  week  sensationally 
presents  the  product  of  a  modest  independent  film  com- 
pany, Republic,  which  made  "Man  of  Conquest."  The 
film  is  far  from  modest:  it  is  big.  Rousing,  stimulating, 
exciting,  it  is  the  story  of  Sam  Houston  and  of  Texas, 
ambitiously  produced  and  staged. 

With  Richard  Dix  as  Houston,  hair  on  end  and  to  provoke  whoops, 
heading  a  big  cast,  it  is  one  of  the  Dix  does  as  impressive  a  job  as 
most  elaborate  productions  to  Houston  as  he  did  as  the  pioneer 
have  come  from  the  side-street^  editor  of  "Cimarron."  He  hasn't 
studios,  and  it  fully  justifies  the 'had  such  a  role  in  many  seasons 
daring  investment  in  i'.  by  match-  and  he  appears  to  have  relished 
ine  the  most  pretentious  epics  of  his  opportunity.  Gail  Patrick,  as 
the  big  ones.    the  heorine,  Edward  Ellis,  Victor 

Dramatizing  Houston's  personal  Jory,  Robert  Barrat,  in  their  his- 
life  and  the  blow  which  drove  him  toric  roles,  all  abet  him  most  ably, 
from  Tennessee  to  the  wilderness  "Man  of  Conquest"  is  vital 
which  once  was  Texas,  the  film  rousing  history,  recorded  in  a  vie- 
traces  the  career  of  that  bizarre  orous,  exciting  play.  It  is  big, 
man  to  the  eventual  admission  of:  sweeping  and  splendid.  It  waves 
Texas  to  the  Union  in  '45.  Packed  the  flag,  true,  but  not  too  ob- 
with  fighting,  upload,  immediate  trusively.  The  fans  will  be  en- 
history,  it  is  drama  to  stand  the  thusiastic  over  it. 


THE  INDEPENDENT 
MAJOR  COMPANY 


6 


Tuesday,  May  2,  193 


Warners  Oppose 
Making  Spanish 
Pictures  for  S.A. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

foster  good  relations  and  encourage 
the  building  of  new  theatres." 

Macdonald  said,  however,  that  War- 
ners have  lost  some  ground  in  Argen- 
tina because  of  the  demand  for  Span- 
ish language  films,  although  it  is  still 
a  leader  in  that  country.  Warners  are 
dominant  in  Brazil  and  strong 
throughout  Latin  America,  he  said. 

Blocked  currency  is  not  a  problem 
except  in  Chile  and  Brazil,  and  the 
problem  will  be  ironed  out  in  the  lat- 
ter country  as  a  result  of  the  large 
credits  recently  negotiated  through 
the  U.  S.  government,  he  added. 

Taxes  Serious  Problem 

"The  less  said  about  how  profitable 
Latin  America  is  for  American  com- 
panies, the  better,"  Macdonald  said. 
"Talk  of  this  kind  will  lead  to  new 
taxes  and  restrictions.  The  tax  prob- 
lem is  serious.  In  Panama  alone  there 
are  17  different  kinds  of  taxes." 

Warners  will  distribute  36  films  in 
Latin  America,  with  plans  made  for 
early  release  of  "Juarez,"  "Dodge 
City,"  "Dark  Victory"  and  "Confes- 
sions of  a  Nazi  Spy."  Macdonald 
may  return  to  his  territory  in  a  few 
weeks  in  connection  with  these  films. 

Macdonald  held  sales  meetings  in 
Buenos  Aires,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  San- 
tiago, Lima  and  Panama.  The  com- 
pany has  33  branches  and  agencies  in 
the  territory.  The  Warner  exchange 
in  Concepcion,  Chile,  was  destroyed 
in  the  recent  earthquake  and  will  be 
rebuilt. 

Mexico  made  60  pictures  last  year, 
Macdonald  reported. 


Oppose  U.  S.  Move 
In  Anti-Trust  Fight 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

been  in  vogue  in  the  industry. 

Bills  of  particulars  in  response  to 
demands  by  Columbia  Pictures  and 
United  Artists  Corp.,  and  pursuant 
to  decisions  by  Federal  Judge  Bondy, 
will  probably  not  be  filed  until  Judge 
Bondy  rules  on  the  application  of  the 
government,  which  will  be  argued  on 
May  5,  to  dispense  with  the  naming 
of  witnesses  under  Item  8  of  the  de- 
mand, it  was  learned. 

The  government  wishes  to  avoid 
making  similar  new  applications  in 
reference  to  these  bills  of  particulars. 


New  York  Preview 


"Lucky  Night" 

{M-G-M) 

"Lucky  Night,"  a  comedy  romance  starring  Robert  Taylor  and  Myrna 
Loy,  requires  frequent  stirring  to  give  it  the  effervescent  quality  that 
stories  of  this  type  require,  but  even  under  such  stimulus  there  are 
moments  when  the  picture  disappoints. 

Myrna  Loy  and  Bob  Taylor  strive  hard,  and  in  the  main,  succeed  in 
playing  well  the  parts  of  a  pair  of  rebellious,  heady  young  people  who 
toss  aside  all  manner  of  convention  to  achieve  some  fun.  Director 
Norman  Taurog  does  as  well  as  he  can,  in  his  particular  forte — which 
is  usually  of  the  best — but  he  trips  up,  along  with  the  stars,  because  of 
dialogue  that  is  so  out  of  keeping  with  the  players  and  their  characters, 
that  it  frequently  drew  unflattering  laughter  from  the  preview  audience. 

The  story,  by  Oliver  Claxton,  and  screenplay  by  Vincent  Lawrence 
and  Grover  Jones,  travels  the  axis  of  numberless  comedy  romances  that 
are  prototypes  of  this  one — rich  girl,  fed  up  with  the  ennui  of  society 
life,  kicks  over  the  parental  traces,  sets  out  to  find  herself  a  job  and 
winds  up  on  a  park  bench,  broke  and  hungry.  There  she  meets  up  with 
a  young  man  in  similar  circumstances,  save  that  he  is  not  a  rich  man's 
son. 

Individually  ill-starred,  as  a  team  their  luck  changes,  and  through  a 
series  of  adventures  ranging  from  hitting  the  jackpot  of  a  coin  machine 
with  their  last  nickel,  and  capturing  a  robber  and  obtaining  a  reward, 
they  visit  the  cafes  to  celebrate,  imbibe  freely,  and  end  up  married. 
There  is  much  emphasis  on  intoxication  and  the  marital  status  is  not 
taken  with  much  seriousness.  There  is  a  bathroom  gag  that  might  well 
be  out. 

The  picture  moves  at  a  good  pace,  is  attractively  set,  and  Taylor  and 
Miss  Loy — particularly  the  former — try  hard  to  carry  their  parts,  but 
the  dialogue  trips  up  the  players  occasionally.  It  is  entirely  out  of  keep- 
ing with  the  man-of-the  street  part  that  Taylor  plays,  for  example,  for 
him  poetically  to  describe  his  wife  to  her  own  father  as  a  leaf  of  a  tree. 

Running  time,  82  minutes.  "G."* 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


British  Tax  Slash 
Hopes  Maintained 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Technicolor  director,  and  Captain 
Cazalet.  Baillie  foresaw  the  close- 
down of  Technicolor  and  said  import 
duties  would  total  $250,000  and  excise 
duties  $130,000.  He  prophesied  the 
disappearance  of  the  British  color  film 
industry  and  asked  that  the  Chan- 
cellor receive  a  deputation.  The  Chan- 
cellor sidetracked  the  deputation  sug- 
gestions, referring  to  trade  representa- 
tions currently  made  to  the  Treasury. 


'Sinner'  Korda  Title 

London,  May  1. — "Sinner"  will  be 
the  title  of  the  film  based  on  Pre- 
vost's  "Manon  Lescaut,"  which  Alex- 
ander Korda  will  direct  personally. 
The  film  goes  into  work  June  1. 


Ask  your  Photophone  representative  about  the  sensational 

\  %MJ  RCA  PHOTOPHONE 
MAGIC  VOICE  of  the  SCREEN 

with  Rotary  Stabilizer  PLUS  SHOCK  PROOF  DRIVE ! 


Designed  for  any  theatre- 
regardless  of  size 


Carr  Directs  Attack 
U pon  Quality  Clause 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

effects  of  the  recent  British  increases 
in  duties  and  excise  taxes  on  films, 
asserting  that  while  they  were  de- 
signed to  return  an  additional  "four 
to  five  million  dollars  in  revenue,"  he 
does  not  "see  how  the  American  com- 
panies' share  of  this  will  amount  to 
three  million,"  as  estimated  here. 

This  is  Carr's  first  trip  here  in 
three  years.  After  attending  the  com- 
pany's Hollywood  sales  convention  he 
will  visit  in  New  York  until  the  first 
week  in  June,  when  he  plans  to  sail  for 
London. 

Silverstone  Luncheon  Host 

Murray  Silverstone,  United  Artists 
chief  executive,  was  host  at  the  Tav- 
ern yesterday  at  a  luncheon  for  Carr. 

United  Artists  executives  who  at- 
tended included  Arthur  Kelly,  Harry 
Gold,  Jack  Schlaifer,  Lynn  Farnol, 
Paul  Lazarus,  Emanuel  Silverstone 
and  Walter  Gould. 

Silverstone,  Carr  and  Farnol  leave 
for  the  coast  by  train  today  to  pre- 
pare for  the  company's  national  sales 
convention  opening  in  Hollywood  next 
Monday.  Sales  officials  will  leave  to- 
morrow with  the  eastern  sales  dele- 
gation, joining  the  company's  conven- 
tion special  in  Chicago  the  following 
day.  Emanuel  Silverstone  leaves 
for  the  meeting  Thursday. 


See  $300,000  N.  Y. 
Censorship  Revenue 

Albany,  May  1.— Both  Gov- 
ernor Lehman  and  the  New 
York  State  legislature  concur 
in  setting  approximate  reve- 
nue from  the  review  and 
licensing  of  films  at  $300,000 
for  the  fiscal  year  of  1939-'40. 
In  1937,  more  than  $306,000 
was  collected  and  estimates 
on  the  present  fiscal  yea 
ending  July  1  are  a  litt 
higher. 


I 


Monogram  Chiefs 
Leave  Tomorrow 


Fix  French  Corp.  Claims 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  has 
fixed  claims  against  French  Motion 
Picture  Corp.  at  $14,500.  The  com- 
pany filed  a  petition  for  a  reorgani- 
zation last  year. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tor  of  Greater  Union  Theatres  in  Aus- 
tralia, also  will  make  the  trip.  Frorr 
the  N.  Y.  exchange  will  be  Joseph  J 
Felder,  William  Moses,  Charles  Pen- 
ser,  Ben  Schwartz,  Irving  Landis  and 
Sol  Kravitz. 

Others  attending  will  be  Steve 
Broidy,  Ben  Welansky,  Leo  F.  Brit- 
ton,  Nat  Furst,  Eugene  J.  Gross  and 
Ben  Stein,  Boston ;  Sam  Rosen 
Charles  C.  Hite,  Samuel  Palan,  W.  Z: 
Porter,  and  Moe  Sherman,  Philadel- 
phia ;  Harry  Bachman,  Ben  Oletsky. 
Harry  Crul'l  and  F.  E.  Taylor,  Wash- 
ington ;  E.  E.  Lowe,  Albany ;  Johr: 
Mangham,  Fred  Mathis,  M.  E.  Wi- 
man,  Randall  Bryan  and  P.  H.  Savin. 
Atlanta;  Harry  Berkson,  Nathan  R 
Sodikman,  Mitchell  Pantzer,  Buffalo; 
M.  L.  Stevens,  W.  E.  Osborne,  J. 
E.  McElroy,  Charlotte;  Henri  Elman 
Charles  Landau,  Morris  Hellman 
Jack  Barry,  Seymour  Borde,  Chicago; 
William  Onie,  Milton  Gurian,  Robert 
Drew,  W.  J.  Burns,  Cincinnati. 

Also  Nate  Schultz,  Lee  W.  Chap- 
man, Sam  Schultz,  Jack  Finberg, 
Cleveland ;  Ed  Blumenthal,  John 
Franconi,  Connie  Dreher,  Jack  Grub- 
en,  W.  J.  Cammer,  Dallas ;  Lon  T. 
Fidler,  Denver ;  Forrest  E.  Judd, 
Walter  Lohman,  Des  Moines;  Wil- 
liam Hurlbut,  Jack  Saxe,  M.  Harlan 
Starr,  Lou  Greenley,  George  Custer, 
Detroit ;  Carl  Harthill,  Barney  Wool- 
lier, Indianapolis ;  Lester  Durland, 
Ralph  Schertzer,  M.  G.  Shackelford, 
Kansas  City;  Howard  Stubbins,  Ray 
Olmstead,  M.  J.  McCarthy,  Los  An- 
geles ;  W.  G.  Carmichael,  Joe  W. 
Jones,  Memphis ;  Charles  Trampe, 
Edward  C.  Krofta,  H.  Edward  Lurie, 
William  Kent,  Milwaukee. 

Also  Ben  Nathanson,  Charles  Wein-< 
er,  Morris  W.  Steinman,  Minneapolis ; 
Philip  Sherman,  New  Haven;  Harry 
Spann,  W.  C.  Aiken,  New  Orleans; 
Carr  Scott,  Claude  A.  York,  R.  J. 
Clarke,  G.  E.  Benjamin,  Oklahoma 
City;  S.  J.  Francis,  Elmer  Huhnke. 
Omaha;  Mark  Goldman,  Tack  Cohen, 
William  Liebler,  Saul  Perilman,  Pitts- 
burgh ;  Cecil  Fames,  Portland ;  Rob- 
ert Taylor,  Lester  Levy,  Bert  Day, 
St.  Louis ;  W.  W.  McKendrick,  A.  K. 
Shepard,  Salt  Lake  Citv;  F.  H.  But- 
ler, G.  P.  Allen,  San  Francisco;  A. 
M.  Goldstein.  D.  D.  Matin,  Seattle; 
and  H.  L.  Nathanson,  Canada. 


Metro  Signs  Robinson 

Hollywood,  May  1.  —  Edward  G. 
Robinson  has  been  signed  by  M-G-M 
for  the  lead  in  the  film  temporarily 
titled  "Blackmail."  The  studio  has 
signed  Carey  Wilson  to  a  long  term 
contract  as  a  writer. 


day,  May  2,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


etters  Commend 
NBC  Alcohol  Ban 


BC  has  received  more  than  2,000 
s  of  endorsement  from  church 
college    authorities,  housewives 
parent-teacher  associations  since 
company  announced  at  the  F.  C.  C. 
hopoly  hearings  its  policy  of  pro- 
log the  advertising  of  all  types  of 
|    >lic  beverages  over  its  networks, 
'jfti  extension  of  the  company's  long- 
iiding  ban  against  liquor  advertis- 
I  on  network  programs,  the  new 
icy  prohibits  the  advertising  of  beer 
iv  ines  on  any  broadcast  over  either 
Red  or  Blue  network.  It  does  not, 
livever,  determine  the  policy  of  in- 
idual  stations  not  owned  or  con- 
iled  by  NBC.  Of  the  173  stations 
liated  with  the  company,  NBC  has 
oice  in  the  local  broadcasting  poll- 
's of  only  the  15  stations  which  it 
n>  or  services  completely. 
7he  letters  resulting  from  the  action 
banning  beer  and  wine  from  the 
■works  represent  the  greatest  un- 
cited  amount  of  mail  ever  received 
XBC  in  connection  with  a  com- 
ky  policy. 


"  "Bull 
World 


BS  Planning  Five 
Educational  Shows 

IBS  Department  of  Public  Affairs 
d  Education  has  fashioned  five  new 
ograms,  starting  over  CBS  this 
onth  and  next.  They  include : 
•emocracy  in  Action,"  "World  of 
•morrow,"  "Scales  of  Justice 
ssion"  and  "Women  in  the 
Tomorrow." 

"Democracy  in  Action"  starts  May 
.  succeeding  "Americans  All — Im- 
igrants  All,"  recent  Women's  Na- 
•nal  Radio  Committee  prize  winner. 

S.  Department  of  Education  is  pre- 
iring  the  program.  Albert  Warner, 
wspaperman  lately  appointed  to  head 
;  CBS  Washington  division,  will 
■esent  a  new  commentary  series  Sun- 
ys,  beginning  this  week ;  "Scales  of 
stice"  will  start  Saturday  and  will 
esent  leading  penologists.  Also  on 
iturday,  "Bull  Session"  will  begin 
d  will  feature  college  students  in 
scussions,  while  "Women  in  the 
'orld  of  Tomorrow"  will  be  pre- 
nted  by  the  Women's  National 
adio  Committee  in  a  Saturday  series, 
k  starting  date  of  which  is  not  set. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

GENE  O'FALLON,  owner  of 
KFEL,  Denver,  here  on  busi- 
ness. .  .  .  Eddie  Cantor  and 
radio  troupe  due  here  on  Thursday 
from  coast,  for  a  stay  of  a  number  of 
weeks.  .  .  .  Ethel  Merman  added  to 
cast  of  performers  who  will  attend 
Professional  Music  Men's  benefit  Sun- 
day. .  .  .  Bob  Smith,  WOR  salesman, 
the  father  of  a  new  baby  son.  .  .  .  Paul 
Gallico  will  appear  in  tonight's  broad- 
cast of  "We,  the  People."  .  .  .  Phil 
Baker  to  Atlantic  City  for  a  vacation 
until  next  broadcast.  .  .  .  Laurence 
Olivier  will  be  interviewed  by  Radie 
Harris  over  Mutual  Thursday  night. 
.  .  .Anita  Wadsworth,  15-year-old  con- 
tralto, has  been  booked  for  a  series 
of  concert  tours  during  May,  to  be 
followed  by  a  summer  radio  engage- 
ment. 


Mutual  April  Gross 
Climbs  to  $262,626 

Climaxing  a  steady  12-month  climb, 
billings  for  the  Mutual  network  during 
April  amounted  to  $262,626,  an  in- 
crease of  38.6  per  cent  over  the  cor- 
responding month  last  year.  The  April, 
1939,  billings  are  an  all-time  high  for 
the  network. 

Cumulative  billings  for  the  four 
months  of  1939  thus  far  total  $1,161,- 
285,  an  increase  of  22.8  per  cent  over 
the  billings  recorded  for  the  same 
months  in  1938,  which  amounted  to 
$945,655. 


Coverage 

President  Roosevelt's  speech 
in  connection  with  the  World's 
Fair  opening  received  perhaps 
the  most  extensive  coverage 
in  radio  history.  Approxi- 
mated 300  stations  affiliated 
with  NBC,  CBS  and  Mutual, 
33  stations  of  the  Canadian 
Broadcasting  Corp.,  and  16 
independent  New  York  sta- 
tions carried  the  remarks. 
Short-wave  stations  of  NBC 
and  CBS  short-waved  the 
program  to  Latin  America 
and  Europe,  while  W2XBE, 
on  Treasure  Island,  beamed 
the  speech  to  Australia  and 
New  Zealand.  Russia,  Fin- 
land, Norway,  Denmark, 
France  and  England  request- 
ed NBC  to  serve  them  the 
program  on  a  direct  beam  to 
rebroadcast  over  long-wave. 


Crosley  Training 
Its  Television  Staff 


"rosley's  Net  Profit 
$208,915  for  Quarter 

Cincinnati,  May  1. — Croslev  Corp., 
derating  WLW,  WSAI,  W8XAL 
fed  W8XNU,  and  manufacturing 
ectrical  appliances,  reports  net  profit 
'  $208,915  for  the  first  three  months 
this  year,  compared  with  a  net  loss 
'  $25,744  for  the  corresponding  quar- 
:r  of  1938. 

i  March  31  balance  sheet  shows  total 
irrent  assets  of  $5,284,850,  and  total 
|arrent  liabilities  of  $844,178,  com- 
!ired  with  current  liabilities  of  $940,- 
19  last  year.  Sales  in  the  first  quar- 
■r  were  $4,014,476,  compared  with 
3,144,269  in  the  like  1938  period. 


WJR  Profit  $131,729 

WJR,  Detroit,  for  the  first  quarter 
of  1939,  has  reported  net  profit  of 
$131,729,  equal  to  $1.01  each  on  the 
130,000  shares  of  common  stock.  This 
compares  with  a  net  profit  of  $108,- 
397,  or  84  cents  a  share  in  1937. 


FCC  Will  Resume 
Radio  Quiz  May  11 

Washington,  May  1.  —  Further 
hearings  will  be  held  by  the  P~ederal 
Communications  Commission  begin- 
ning May  11,  in  connection  with  the 
monopoly  investigation. 

David  Sarnoff,  president  of  RCA, 
and  George  Engles,  vice-president  of 
NBC,  will  be  recalled  to  the  stand  by 
the  commission  for  cross-examination. 

The  commission  has  referred  to  its 
legal  division  the  motion  of  Louis 
G.  Caldwell,  counsel  for  Mutual,  that 
the  commission  ban  renewal  of  net- 
work contracts  beyond  Dec.  31,  1940. 


Quaker  Oats  Renews 

Quaker  Oats  has  renewed  for  a  full 
year  the  program  of  Tommy  Riggs, 
which  is  broadcast  Saturdays  over 
NBC.    Lord  &  Thomas  is  the  agency. 


Cincinnati,  May  1. — "It  is  the 
opinion  of  our  company  that  television 
is  an  unknown  factor  and,  in  order  to 
be  prepared  for  any  eventuality,  it  is 
our  intention  to  keep  abreast  of  the 
new  science  by  research  and  develop- 
ment in  transmitting  and  receiving 
equipment,  and  in  training  personnel, 
both  in  the  engineering  and  program 
department,"  declared  Crosley  officials 
when  giving  their  first  television  dem- 
onstration to  a  group  of  newspaper- 
men in  the  new  studios  being  prepared 
atop  the  Carew  Tower. 

Images  and  sound  were  televised 
between  rooms  by  wire  rather  than 
by  radio  waves,  since  the  Crosley  ap- 
plication for  an  experimental  license 
to  operate  on  1,000  watts  power  for 
both  the  video  and  audio  transmitters 
has  not  been  approved. 


NBC-RCA  Start  Television 
With  Ceremonies  at  Fair 


Facsimile  Paper  at  Fair 

"Radio  Press,"  a  facsimile  news- 
aper,  will  be  published  daily  by  RCA 
!  cooperation  with  the  New  York 
Gerald-Tribune  in  the  RCA  Exhibit 
uilding  at  the  World's  Fair.  Paper 
ill  use  news  and  pictures  of  the  As- 
Dciated  Press  and  the  Herald-Tribune 
ews  bureau. 


NBC-RCA  on  Sunday  climaxed 
three  years  of  experimental  television 
operations — at  a  cost  estimated  by  the 
network  to  be  in  excess  of  $2,000,000 
— by  televising  the  opening  day  cere- 
monies at  the  World's  Fair  grounds. 
For  the  remainder  of  the  summer, 
NBC  will  telecast  on  a  regular  basis. 

No  estimate  is  available  as  yet  of 
the  number  of  television  receivers  in 
use — the  number  necessarily  must  be 
small  as  the  receivers  have  just  been 
placed  on  sale — but  thousands  wit- 
nessed the  colorful  opening  ceremonies 
via  television  by  taxing  Television 
Hall  at  the  World's  Fair  grounds, 
where  scores  of  receivers  were  in 
operation.  Hundreds  more  witnessed 
the  television  programs  on  the  receiv- 
ers in  the  RCA  Building,  New  York. 
Additionally,  a  number  of  department 
stores,  including  Bloomingdale's,  had 
television  sets  in  operation  in  their 
display  windows,  with  crowds  of  side- 
walk passersby  witnessing  the  pro- 
gram. 

NBC  will  broadcast  television  pro- 
grams Wednesday  and  Friday  of  each 
week,  starting  tomorrow,  from  8  to  9 
P.  M.,  and  Mondays,  Tuesdays  and 


Thursdays  from  11  A.  M.  to  4  P.  M. 

Sunday's  television  program  got 
under  way  at  2:09  P.  M.  when  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt's  arrival  at  the  World's 
Fair  was  "caught"  by  cameras.  Others 
who  faced  the  television  camera  and 
whose  actions  and  talks  were  received 
by  television  were  Mayor  LaGuardia, 
Speaker  Bankhead,  Secretary  of  Agri- 
culture Wallace,  Attorney  General 
Frank  Murphy,  Secretary  of  War 
Harry  Woodring,  Governor  Lehman. 

The  television  cameras  were  located 
approximately  50  feet  from  the  speak- 
ers' platform  and  the  images  were  sent 
over  coaxial  cable  from  that  point  to 
the  control  van  and  the  ultra  short- 
wave transmitter  stationed  at  one  wing 
of  the  Federal  Government  Building 
on  the  Fair  grounds.  The  transmitter 
van  relayed  the  pictures  over  a  direc- 
tional antenna  mounted  on  a  setback 
in  one  of  the  building's  towers,  on  a 
frequency  of  177  megocycles.  A  re- 
lay receiver  at  the  Empire  State  tower, 
eight  miles  away,  picked  up  the  pic- 
ture signal,  which  was  then  broadcast 
by  W2XBS  over  a  video  channel  of 
45.25  megacycles,  sound  over  49.75 
magacycles. 


NAB  Warns  Firms* 
Shows  Violate  Code 

Washington,  May  1.  —  National 
Association  of  Broadcasters  has  noti- 
fied several  business  concerns  that 
their  present  method  of  broadcasting 
constitutes  a  violation  of  the  N.A.B. 
Code  of  Ethics. 

Publishers  of  Webster's  Dictionary 
were  offering  a  free  script  to  radio 
stations  in  return  for  radio  time. 
Script  was  a  "word  game"  containing 
numerous  plugs  for  the  dictionary. 

Similar  scripts  were  sent  out  by  the 
Washable  Textiles  Bureau  and  Har- 
court,  Brace  &  Co.  N.A.B.  has  sug- 
gested to  all  three  that  they  undertake 
a  regular  radio  advertising  campaign. 


FLY  TO  THE 
GOLDEN  GATE! 


1/1 A  GRAND  CANYON 
VIM  BOULDER  DAM! 


Less  than  a  Day— By  TWA! 

Double  your  fun — when  you  travel  to 
the  San  Francisco  Fair!  Fly  TWA,  and 
see  Grand  Canyon  and  Boulder  Dam — 
2  scenic  thrills  you  mustn't  miss! 

Only  TWA  offers  you  such  a  trip! 
Latest  departure  from  New  York — al- 
lows full  evening  at  home. 

LOS  ANGELES  or  SAN  FRANCISCO — Over- 
night via  Skysleeper !  Board  TWA's ' '  Sky 
Chief"  5:30  p.m.— arrive  Los  Angeles 
early  next  morning ...  in  San  Francisco 
at  9:45  a.m. 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 

PHONE  TRAVEL  AGENT  or  MU  6-1640 
TRANSCONTINENTAL  &  WESTERN  AIR,  INC. 
70  E.  42nd  St.  .  .  .  Air  Desk,  Penn.  Station 

FARE  $ 
ONLY 

10%  Discount  on  RoundTrips! 


149?5 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


8 


Jack  Cohn  to  Head 
Columbia  Delegates 
At  Sales  Convention 


Jack  Cohn,  Columbia  vice-president, 
will  head  a  large  delegation  of  home 
office  executives  who  will  attend  the 
company's  initial  annual  sales  meeting 
at  the  Ritz,  Atlantic  City,  beginning 
next  Monday.  Abe  Montague,  general 
sales  manager,  will  preside  at  the 
meeting  and  also  at  those  in  Chicago 
and  Los  Angeles,  which  will  follow  it. 

Among  the  home  office  men  who 
will  attend  the  Atlantic  City  meeting 
are  Abe  Schneider,  Rube  Jackter,  Jo- 
seph A.  McConville,  Louis  Astor,  Lou 
Weinberg,  Max  Weisfeldt,  Lou  Jaffe, 
H.  C.  Kaufman,  Maurice  Bergman, 
Maurice  Grad,  C.  Joseph,  M.  Han- 
nock,  A.  Seligman,  W.  Brennan,  F. 
McGran,  Al  Sherman,  B.  E.  Zeeman, 
C.  Roberts,  A.  Picker,  V.  Borrelli, 
Irving  Moross,  S.  Liggett,  J.  Frei- 
berg, S.  Raisler,  T.  McCue,  Irving 
Sherman,  Harry  Takiff  and.R.  Bach. 

Representatives  from  the  following 
exchanges  will  attend  also :  Atlanta, 
Charlotte,  Dallas,  Memphis,  New  Or- 
leans, Oklahoma  City,  Washington, 
Cincinnati,  Cleveland,  Pittsburgh,  Al- 
bany, Boston,  Buffalo,  New  Haven, 
New  York  and  Philadelphia. 


To  Remake  "Front  Page" 

Remake  rights  to  "The  Front 
Page,"  Howard  Hughes  film  released 
by  United  Artists  in  1931,  have  been 
bought  by  Columbia  from  R.  M. 
Savini,  head  of  Astor  Pictures. 


Mistrial  Given  on 
Coast  Union  Suit 

Los  Angeles,  May  1. — Superior 
Judge  E.  H.  Wilson,  before  whom 
counter  suits  over  control  of  Tech- 
nicians' Local  37  are  being  tried,  to- 
day washed  his  hands  of  the  matter 
by  declaring  a  mistrial.  He  ordered 
the  case  set  for  hearing  by  another 
judge. 

Denying  I.A.T.S.E.  officers'  motion 
for  a  continuance,  and  again  recom- 
mending a  new  election  of  Local  37 
officers  to  settle  the  dispute  over  con- 
trol of  the  local,  Judge  Wilson  de- 
clared the  International  presented  in- 
sufficient evidence  to  show  that  the 
Alliance's  executive  board  had  in- 
structed President  George  E.  Browne 
to  order  suspension  of  the  local's 
autonomy  and  its  officers. 

The  injunction  obtained  by  the  In- 
ternational restraining  the  local  from 
interfering  remains  in  effect.  Charges 
of  contempt  for  alleged  violation  of  the 
injunction  will  be  heard  tomorrow. 
"The  life  of  this  union  and  benefits  to 
its  members  are  more  important  than 
who  is  to  operate  the  organization," 
Judge  Wilson  said. 


RKO  Plans  Three 
Bob  Breen  Films 

Hollywood,  May  1. — Three  new 
Bob  Breen  pictures  will  be  made  by 
Principal  Productions  (Sol  Lesser) 
for  RKO's  1939-'40  release.  They 
are:  "Master  Skylark,"  "Open  Road" 
and  "All  Wires  Down."  Barney 
Briskin  will  produce  under  Lesser. 


Second  Loew  Booker 
Meeting  Wednesday 

New  Orleans,  May  1. — Second  of 
M-G-M's  series  of  regional  confer- 
ences for  office  managers,  bookers  and 
checking  supervisors  will  start  here 
Wednesday  at  the  Roosevelt  Hotel  for 
two  days. 

Home  office  executives  will  come 
here  from  the  Washington  meeting. 
They  are  Alan  F.  Cummings,  in 
charge  of  branch  operations  ;  Charles 
K.  Stern,  Loew's  assistant  treasurer ; 
William  Brenner,  Harold  Postman, 
Parke  D.  Agnew  and  M.  L.  Simons, 
editor  of  the  Distributor. 

Representatives  from  five  offices 
will  attend,  as  follows :  Atlanta — 
Thomas  E.  Lucy,  office  manager ;  Sam 
B.  Perloff,  Harris  B.  Wynn,  Jr.; 
Dallas — Anthony  V.  Philbin,  office 
manager ;  G.  Leroy  Whitington,  Ver- 
non L.  Smith  ;  Oakland  City — Lloyd 
W.  Royalty,  office  manager;  Roy  M. 
Avey,  Jr. ;  Memphis — Thomas  B. 
Kirk,  office  manager  ;  James  F.  Heard, 
Clifton  B.  Peck,  Jr. ;  New  Orleans — 
Eldon  F.  Briwa,  office  manager ; 
Hypolite  A.  Arata,  John  G.  Simpson, 
Herbert  L.  Schlesinger.  Jimmie 
Briant,  New  Orleans  branch  manager, 
made  local  arrangements. 

Legion  Approves  12 
Of  13  New  Pictures 

National  Legion  of  Decency  ap- 
proved 12  of  13  films  reviewed  and 
classified  this  week.  Nine  were  found 
unobjectionable  for  general  patron- 
age, three  unobjectionable  for  adults 
and  one  objectionable  in  part.  The 
films  and  their  classification  follow : 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for 
General  Patronage:  "Chasing  Dan- 
ger," "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy," 
"Feud  of  the  Plains,"  "Heritage  of 
the  Desert,"  "Juarez,"  "Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid,"  "The  Rookie  Cop," 
"Smoky  Trails,"  "Union  Pacific." 
Class  A-2,  Unobjectionable  for 
Adults :  "Big  Town  Czar,"  "Calling 
Dr.  Kildare,"  "For  Love  or  Money." 
Class  B,  Objectionable  in  Part: 
"Lucky  Night." 

May  13  Dedication 
For  Fair's  Fun  Area 

Formal  dedication  of  the  280-acre 
amusement  zone  at  the  World's  Fair 
has  been  scheduled  for  May  13  by 
President  Grover  Whalen.  Barely  50 
per  cent  of  the  concessions,  villages, 
shows  and  rides  were  ready  for  Sun- 
day's opening  day,  considerable  work 
still  being  necessary  to  complete  them 
for  patronage. 


Seek  Pa.  Blue  Laws 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May  1.  —  East 
Pennsylvania  Conference  of  the  Evan- 
gelical Church,  in  convention  here, 
endorsed  identical  measures,  now 
pending  before  both  houses  of  the 
Pennsylvania  legislature,  calling  for 
repeal  of  the  Act  of  1935  which  per- 
mits Sunday  films  under  the  local 
option  plan. 


Benjamin  to  Chicago 

Chicago  May  1.  —  William  Ben- 
jamin, Detroit  branch  manager  for 
Grand  National,  is  due  here  late  this 
week  to  take  over  the  G.N.  branch. 
He  succeeds  James  Winn,  who  re- 
signed to  become  Warner  branch  head 
in  Kansas  City.  Winn  was  with  War- 
ners before  joining  G.N. 


Celebrate  or  Else — 

Berlin,  May  1.— All  theatres 
in  Greater  Germany  were  re- 
quired to  close  today  for  the 
national  May  Day  celebration 
and  all  employes  were  re- 
quired to  participate  in  the 
parades.  Theatres  were  per- 
mitted to  reopen  at  the  con- 
clusion of  the  celebration  in 
the  evening. 


Labor  Day  Closes 
Mexico  Theatres 


Mexico  City,  May  1. — All  theatres 
in  Mexico  were  closed  today  because 
of  the  national  Labor  Day  which  is 
rigidly  observed.  Losses  are  esti- 
mated at  upward  of  $30,000. 

Exhibitors  this  year  did  not  at- 
tempt to  argue  with  the  employes 
against  their  taking  part  in  the  pro- 
cessions and  other  exercises  glorifying 
labor.  Radio  stations,  unaffected,  put 
on  special  programs. 


Palfreyman  Given 
Allied  Parley  Post 

Dave  Palfreyman,  in  charge  of  ex- 
hibitor relations  for  the  Hays  office, 
has  been  officially  appointed  sergeant- 
at-arms  for  the  national  Allied  con- 
vention in  Minneapolis,  June  13  to  15. 
Pete  Harrison  has  been  named  his  as- 
sistant. 

W.  A.  (Al)  Steffes,  convention 
chairman,  made  the  appointments  at 
the  Variety  Clubs  convention  in  De- 
troit late  last  week.  Palfreyman  has 
accepted. 


Dickson  Publicity 
Head  for  Goldwyn 

Hollywood,  May  1. — Samuel  Gold- 
wyn has  appointed  Gregory  Dickson 
as  publicity  director,  replacing  John 
Peere  Miles,  who  will  continue  to 
handle  special  assignments  on  "The 
Real  Glory"  and  "Music  School,"  now 
in  work.  Dickson  resigned  as  publicity 
director  of  Walt  Disney  Productions 
to  take  the  Goldwyn  post. 

Walt  Disney  Wins 
Ruling  in  Australia 

An  injunction  permanently  restrain- 
ing L.  F.  Collin  Pty.,  Ltd.,  from  sell- 
ing a  songbook  with  a  "Snow  White" 
cover  has  been  issued  to  Walt  Disney 
by  Justice  Lowe  of  the  Supreme  Court 
in  Sydney,  Australia.  The  music  was 
originated  by  the  music  publishers  but 
is  not  connected  with  the  Walt  Disney 
film  of  the  same  name. 


Contest  Winners  Here 

Ted  Kirkmeyer,  Marlow  Theatre, 
Helena,  Mont.,  and  Ray  Bell,  Loew's 
Theatres,  Washington,  arrived  yester- 
day to  spend  two  days  here  as  guests 
of  M-G-M  before  sailing  at  mid- 
night tonight  on  the  N ormandie  for 
France.  The  trip  was  awarded  them 
in  a  "Marie  Antoinette"  exploitation 
contest.  Four  winners  in  an  essay 
contest  on  the  film  will  sail  with  the 
theatre  men.  They  will  be  gone  five 
weeks. 


Tuesday,  May  2,  19 

Hearing  June  5 
On  RKO  Rulin 

Argument  of  the  three  appeals  fro 
the  decision  of  Federal  Judge  Willia 
Bondy  confirming  the  plan  of  reo- 
ganization  of  RKO  was  set  for  June 
by  the  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  ye1 
terday. 

The  court  fixed  that  date  wB 
denying  an  application  of  Hamilrf*^* 

Rickaby,  attorney  for  the  Atlas  9m  t 
proponent  of  the  plan,  to  dismiss  tl 
appeals  of  Copeia  Realty  Corp.,  ai 
Ernest  W.  Stirn,  because  of  failu 
to  file  records  on  appeal.  The  cou 
ordered  Copeia  and  Stirn  to  file  the 
records  no  later  than  May  22. 

Atlas  Corp.  lost  an  application  ft 
an  order  directing  the  three  appealir 
parties  to  file  a  consolidated  recor 
The  Circuit  Court  ruled  that  eac 
record  be  filed  separately.  H.  Casse 
&  Co.  won  permission  to  file  a  70-paj 
brief,  the  rules  ordinarily  limitir 
briefs  to  50  pages. 


F.  E.  Wood  Dead; 
Industry  Pionee 

Hollywood,  May  1. — Frank  ] 
Wood,  79,  producer,  director  and  oi 
of  the  founders  of  the  film  industr 
died  here  today  following  a  long  il 
ness.  He  is  credited  with  inauguratir 
reviews  of  films  and  being  the  fir 
writer  of  scripts.  With  Thorn; 
Dixon,  he  wrote  the  script  for  "Birl 
of  a  Nation."  He  aided  in  foundir 
the  Academy  of  Motion  Picture  Ar. 
and  Sciences.  He  was  associated  wil 
D.  W.  Griffiths,  Thomas  H.  Ince,  Mac 
Sennett  and  other  film  producers. 

The  funeral  will  be  held  here  Thur 
day. 

English  Film  Loan 
Action  Is  Start  & 

London,  May  1. — Trial  of  the  su 
brought  by  Westminster  Bank  again 
15  insurance  companies  involvin 
losses  on  more  than  $5,000,000  of  ii 
sured  film  loans  started  today.  Sta 
ford  Cripps,  counsel  for  the  plaintiff 
charged  that  the  $5,000,000  loss  vrl 
sustained  in  transactions  involvin 
$7,500,000  in  loans. 

Total  of  28  separate  loans  wei 
made  on  22  films,  it  was  alleged,  bt 
only  14  were  completed  and  sorn 
never  started. 


Leonard  Joins  RKO 

Hollywood,  May  1. — Charles  Leor 
ard,  formerly  of  the  United  Artist 
publicity  and  advertising  departmen 
has  been  named  producer-home  offic 
representative  of  Herbert  Wilco 
Productions,  Inc.,  and  Max  Gordo 
Plays  and  Pictures  Corp.,  producin , 
for  RKO  release.  He  will  make  hi 
headquarters  on  the  RKO  lot  unde> 
S.  Barret  McCormick,  RKO  publicit 
and  advertising  director. 


Cut  31  Reels  in  Ohio 

Columbus,  May  1. — Ohio  censor  re 
viewed  a  total  of  499  reels  in  Apri 
from  which  31  eliminations  were  or 
dered.  There  were  23  reels  rejecte 
during  the  month.  This  compare 
with  733  reels  reviewed  and  33  elimi 
nations  ordered  in  March  of  this  yeai 
and  500  reels  with  21  eliminations  it 
April,  1938. 


V 


p-  PRODUCER*? 

28   WEST  44TH  s£  AM* 
YORK.  ST" 


INC 


DO  NOT  REM 

»N  PICTURE 


.^pensable 


■ 

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(Picture 
Industry 


tion 


(3  COPIE 


45.  NO.  85 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  3,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Arnold  Trust 
Views  Favor 
Films,  Belief 


ederal  Officials  Quiet  on 
Legality  Issue 


Washington,  May  2. — The  "rule 
t  reason"  which  Thurman  Arnold, 
-distant  to  the  Attorney  General,  told 
.merican  Trade  Association  execu- 
tives should  be  applied  to  any  rigid 
uorcement  of  the  anti-trust  laws, 
res  not  necessarily  apply  where  the 
Inp  industry  is  concerned,  it  was  sug- 
t>ted  in  informal  discussion  of  Ar- 
L.ld's  talk  at  the  Department  of  Jus- 
ice  today. 

Department  officials  refused  to  com- 
iL-nt  on  a  possible  relation  to  the  in- 
ustry's  trade  practice  program  of  that 
art  of  Arnold's  address  to  the  asso- 
'iation  executives  in  which  he  said 
hat  concerted  action  on  the  part  of 
'  roups  of  competitors  in  order  to  in- 
jure orderly  marketing  conditions 
'liould  not  be  considered  unreasonable. 

The  most  that  department  officials 
>ould  say  was  that  there  is  a  differ- 
■nce,  in  their  opinion,  between  com- 
peting film  distributors,  each  of  whom 
l«ffers  a  different  product,  and,  for 
nstance,  competing  distributors  of 
.lass  milk  bottles,  all  offering  a  prac- 
ieally  identical  product. 

It  was  also  intimated  that  while  the 
lepartment  is  friendly  toward  orderly 
Marketing  activities  in  industries 
vhere  they  are  necessary,  it  will  not 
>ermit  actions  which  are  detrimental 
to  consumers  in  any  industry. 


f.  T.  0.  May  Send  Unit 
To  Allied  Convention 

Harry  Brandt,  I.T.O.A.  president, 
las  written  W.  A.  Steffes,  Allied 
eader.  offering  to  send  an  I.T.O.A. 
■'immittee  to  the  Allied  convention  in 
Minneapolis  next  month  to  participate 
ii  a  discussion  on  the  trade  code. 


Registration  for 

NY  World's  Fair 

Readers  who  plan  to  come 
to  the  New  York  World's 
Fair  are  invited  to  notify  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily  in  advance 
of  or  on  their  arrival,  for 
registration.  Thus  those  de- 
sirous of  locating  other  in- 
dustry visitors  will  be  able  to 
do  so  by  calling  at  our  offices 
or  phoning  Circle  7-3100, 
asking  for  "World's  Fair 
Bureau." 


NBC  to  Televise 
Walt  Disney  Film 

First  studio  program  under 
NBC's  new  regular  television 
schedule  today  will  be  started 
with  the  televised  showing  of 
a  new  Walt  Disney  vehicle, 
"Donald's  Cousin  Gus."  The 
reel  is  scheduled  for  theatre 
release  May  19. 

Disney  provided  NBC  with 
special  black  and  white  print 
of  the  picture,  which  in  its 
original  form  is  in  color. 


Loew  28-Week  Net 
$6,368,847,  After 
$900,000  Reserve 

Net  profit  of  $6,368,847  is  reported 
by  Loew's  Inc.,  for  the  28  weeks 
ended  March  16  last,  compared  with 
$6,487,678  in  the  corresponding  1938 
period.  Reserve  for  contingencies  was 
$900,000  for  the  period  against  $400,- 
000  set  aside  as  reserve  in  the  same 
period  last  year. 

The  net  is  equivalent  to  $3.68  a 
share  on  the  average  number  of  com- 
mon shares  outstanding,  compared 
with  $3.76  during  the  same  1938 
period. 

Operating  profit  was  $10,516,538, 
after  deducting  preferred  dividends,  as 
against  $10,207,339  for  the  28  weeks 
ended  March  17.  1938.  After  deprecia- 
tion and  taxes,  but  before  contingency 
reserve,  income  amounted  to  $7,268,- 
847,  against  $6,887,678  for  the  com- 
parable 1938  period. 


Theatre  Business 
Shows  Drop  Here, 
Fair  Gets  Blame 


With  the  World's  Fair  the  big 
amusement  magnet,  some  of  the  the- 
atre circuits  are  finding  business  con- 
siderably off  and  anticipate  the  decline 
to  continue  for  several  weeks.  Ex- 
hibitors are  hopeful,  however,  that 
after  the  first  interest  in  the  Fair 
wears  off  among  New  Yorkers,  busi- 
ness will  return  to  normal. 

This  was  the  experience  of  theatres 
in  Chicago  during  the  1935-'36 
W  orld's  Fair.  From  the  start  of  the 
Chicago  Fair,  loop  theatres  benefited 
while  neighborhood  houses  suffered 
for  about  two  months. 

Await  Tourist  Influx 

New  York  operators  believe  that 
neighborhood  grosses  will  be  down  for 
another  month.  But  once  the  school 
vacation  and  tourist  seasons  start,  the 
out-of-town  influx  to  the  Fair  is  ex- 
pected to  increase  and  Broadway 
houses  are  expected  to  benefit. 

Loew's  Cocalis  and  Brandt  circuits 
are  among  those  which  report  business 
off.  Century  Circuit  said  business  is 
fair.  RKO  reported  grosses  are  good 
and  attributed  this  to  quality  pictures. 

Legitimate  theatres  apparently  have 
not  been  helped  by  the  Fair  as  much 
as  they  expected.  Three  shows,  "White 
Steed,"  "Oscar  Wilde"  and  "The  Gen- 
tle People"  are  set  to  close  Saturday. 

The  League  of  New  York  Theatres, 
incidentally,  has  protested  Police 
Commissioner  Valentine's  plan  to 
make  Times  Square  a  playground  for 

(Continued  on  page  19) 


War  Crisis  Slashes  Film 
Grosses  20%  in  Europe 


Europe's  political  and  economic 
chaos  is  reflected  in  the  film  business, 
and  with  crisis  following  crisis,  thea- 
tres on  the  Continent  have  suffered 
declines  in  grosses  of  20  to  25  per  cent, 
Phil  Reisman,  RKO  foreign  chief,  re- 
ported yesterday.  He  returned  Mon- 
day from  an  extended  stay  abroad. 

There  are  some  bright  spots,  how- 
ever, particularly  the  Scandinavian 
countries,  and  Reisman  is  not  entirely 
pessimistic.  The  armaments  race,  he 
said,  has  created  economic  stringency 
all  along  the  line,  and  he  indicated 
that  American  companies  will  have  to 
tighten  their  belts  unless  the  clouds 
lift. 

Reisman  said  the  companies  look 
forward  to  increased  business  in 
Spain,  and  that  Reginald  Armour, 
RKO's  general  European  manager, 
will  survey  the  situation  in  that  coun- 


try with  respect  to  currency  restric- 
tions and  future  possibilities.  RKO 
still  is  operating  in  the  former  Czecho- 
slovakian  territory  and  maintains  an 
office  in  Prague. 

Taking  all  foreign  markets  into  con- 
sideration, RKO  showed  a  substantial 
increase  in  overseas  business  in  the  12 
months  ended  April  1,  Reisman  said. 
South  American  business  is  good,  and 
the  company  has  been  consolidating 
its  position  there  for  the  last  two 
years.  RKO  has  two  films  for  re- 
lease in  Latin  America. 

Reisman  feels  it  is  impractical  to  at- 
tempt to  seek  a  return  to  Italy  under 
present  European  conditions. 

Despite  the  War,  RKO's  business  in 
China  has  improved,  and  Reisman  at- 
tributed this  to  the  large  concentration 
of  troops  who  demand  entertainment. 


British  Film 
Tax  Certain, 
Says  Simon 

Chancellor   Hints  Some 
Revisions  Possible 


London,  May  2. — Sir  John  Simon, 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  replying 
today  in  Commons  to  the  demand  for 
amendment  of  the  new  excise  duties, 
guardedly  offered  little  hope  for  a 
change  in  plans  and  made  clear  the 
Government's  intention  to  tax  the  film 
industry,  especially  the  American  sec- 
tion. 

The  Chancellor  protested  his  propo- 
sal in  principle  is  perfectly  good 
though  adjustments  are  probably  nec- 
essary. He  tentatively  suggested  the 
excise  tax  might  be  adjusted  on  wast- 
age of  British  production,  but  said 
he  could  not  agree  that  he  was  pre- 
paring to  inflict  injury  on  British 
trade  or  discourage  British  films  and 
"I  am  as  alive  as  anyone  to  the  im- 
portance of  not  putting  a  clogging 
burden  on  the  British  film  industry, 
which  everyone  wishes  to  encourage." 

The  Chancellor  said  that  the  total 
box-office  takings  are  between  $225,- 
(Continued  on  page  19) 


Fines  for  3  Union 
Officers  on  Coast 

Hollywood,  May  2.  —  Jeff  Kibre, 
minority  leader  in  the  fight  between 
the  I.A.T.S.E.  and  Technicians  Local 
37,  was  jailed  today  for  failure  to  pay 
$50  fine  for  contempt,  imposed  by 
Superior  Judge  E.  H.  Allen.  An  hour 
later  he  was  released  on  a  writ  return- 
able Friday. 

Judge  Wilson  also  fined  $50  each 
J.  W.  Carpenter,  Local  37  president, 
and  Ed  Heim,  recording  secretary,  but 
suspended  the  fines.  Contempt  charges 
grew  out  of  alleged  violation  of  the 
restraining  order  obtained  by  John 
Gatelee,  and  Frank  Stickling,  Interna- 
tional representatives,  who  took  over 
the  local  March  12. 

Judge  Minor  Moore  has  set  for  Fri- 
day trial  of  the  counter  suits  by  the 
local's  deposed  officers.  Counsel  has 
obtained  a  temporary  injunction  pre- 
venting International  officials  from 
concealing  or  changing"  records  of  the 
local,  revoking  the  local's  charter  and 
otherwise  injuring  the  local. 

Kibre  was  given  the  heavier  penalty 
because  he  issued  a  series  of  cartoons 
ridiculing  Gatelee,  Stickling  and  other 
international  officers.  He  refused  to 
pay  the  fine  and  was  jailed. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  May  3,  1939 


i  Purely 
Personal  ► 


EDDIE  GOLDEN,  Lou  Pollock, 
Hank  Linet,  Buddy  Morris, 
Colvin  Brown,  Martin  Quigley, 
Ed  Fay,  I.  E.  Lopert,  Jean  Lenauer, 
Max  Gordon,  Harry  Gold,  J.  J. 
Unger,  Charles  Stern,  Joe  Bur- 
styn,  William  Goldberg  and  Sam 
Spring  lunched  at  Bob  Goldstein's 
Tavern  yesterday. 

Count  Henri  d'Ornano,  director 
of  the  French  Government  tourist  bu- 
reau, gave  a  tea  yesterday  for  Ray 
Bell,  Ted  Kirkmeyer  and  other 
M-G-M  "Marie  Antoinette"  contest 
winners  who  sailed  last  night  for 
France. 

• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frederic  Tims  of 
London  are  visiting  the  New  York 
World's  Fair.  He  is  managing  direc- 
tor of  J.  Frank  Brockliss,  Ltd.,  dis- 
tributors of  theatre  equipment  in  Eu- 
rope. They  are  stopping  at  the  War- 
wick. 

Cecil  B.  DeMille  arrived  here  yes- 
terday and  will  remain  over  for  a 
number  of  days.  He  will  attend  the 
running  of  the  Kentucky  Derby  next 
Saturday  and  thence  on  to  Hollywood. 
• 

Geraldine     Fitzgerald,  Warner 
player,  en  route  to  her  native  Ireland 
for  a  vacation,  is  expected  in  New 
York  this  morning  from  the  coast. 
• 

Claude  Lee,  new  public  relations 
representative  for  Paramount,  visited 
the  home  office  yesterday.  He  left 
for  Washington  last  night. 

• 

Vera  Bergman,  Viennese  film  play- 
er, sails  today  on  the  Manhattan  with 
her  husband,  Werner  Korpff.  They 
have  been  in  Hollywood. 

• 

Paul  Benjamin,  production  man 
ager  of  National  Screen  Service,  has 
entered  the  East  Orange  General  Hos 
pital  for  sciatica  treatment. 

• 

Tom  Walker,  Hal  Roach  eastern 
representative,  leaves  for  Hollywood 
today  to  attend  the  United  Artists 
convention  next  week. 

• 

Ed  Schnitzer,  eastern  district  man 
ager  for  Warners,  returns  today  after 
a  brief  visit  to  the  Buffalo  and  Bos- 
ton branches. 

Constance  Bennett  arrived  yes 
terday  on  the  American  Airlines  Mer- 
cury.   Jay  Paley  also  was  on  board. 
• 

Ed  Kuykendall,  M.  P.  T.  O.  A 
president,  will  go  to  Chicago  from 
Columbus,  Miss.,  tomorrow. 

• 

Sidney  Skolsky  of  the  Paramount 
writing  staff,  leaves  for  the  coast  to 
day. 


Joseph  Schenck  Here 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  chairman  of  the 
board  of  20th  Century-Fox,  arrived 
yesterday  by  American  Airlines  from 
the  coast.  He  was  due  earlier  but 
had  postponed  his  trip  because  of  the 
labor  situation  at  the  studios.  He  is 
here  on  company  business  and  plans 
to  stay  about  a  week, 


Insiders'  Outlook 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


MIDNIGHT,  in  the  Radio 
City  Music  Hall:  Gus 
Eyssell,  in  his  office, 
turning  the  pages  of  L' Illustration, 
French  magazine,  with  a  story 
about  the  R.  C.  M.  H.  The  ma- 
gazine calls  the  theatre,  "A  Cathe- 
dral Playhouse  in  New  York." 
T  ▼ 

One  of  the  major  companies  re- 
cently received  a  letter  from  a  lad 
in  India  who  desired  to  enter  the 
theatre  business  here.  He  was 
asked  to  state  the  reasons  for  his 
having  left  his  former  position. 
This  is  what  he  wrote: 

"I  relinquished  my  position  as 
general  manager  owing  to  the  fact 
that  I  was  stabbed  by  an  ex-em- 
ploye." 

T  T 

Forty-sixth  Street  and  Park — 
the  crosstown  light  turns  red,  and 
a  white  wing  confides  to  one  of  the 
waiting  pedestrians : 

"A  minute  ago  and  you  would 
have  seen  Crown  Prince  Olaf  of 
Norway  ride  past  here." 

▼  T 

According  to  Sammy  Cohen, 
those  were  genuine  sprigs  of 
Yorkshire  heather  from  the  York- 
shire moors,  which  were  presented 
to  the  ladies  in  the  audience  at  the 
London  premiere  of  "Wuthering 
Heights,"  last  Tuesday  at  the  Gau- 
mont  Theatre.  The  heather  was 
symbolic  of  the  story's  locale. 
T  T 

Fifth  Avenue  and  52nd  Street — 
Arthur  W.  Kelly,  chief  of  United 
Artists'  foreign  operations,  walking 
briskly  to  work,  stick  in  hand. 
T  T 

That  celebrated  junket  to  Dodge 
City  for  the  film  of  the  same  name 
which  Warner  Bros,  and  S.  Charles 
Einfeld  gave  to  screen,  newspa- 
per and  governmental  celebrities, 
has  become  contagious.  The  idea 
has  spread,  and  Paramount  had 
one  to  Omaha  for  "Union  Pacific." 
Latest  party  is  20th  Century-Fox 
for  the  premiere  of  "Young  Mr. 
Lincoln"  to  Springfield,  111. 

Now — if  Universal  and  Harry 
Edington  can  arrange  to  hold  a 
party  in  mid-Atlantic  for  the  pre- 
miere   of    "Atlantic    Cable"  and 


leave  some  of  the  celebrities 
there.  .  .  . 

T  ▼ 

Crossing  Madison  Ave.  at  50th 
St.,  taking  a  quizzical  glance  at  a 
cash  register  window  display — 
Jack  Pegler,  nattily  dressed  in 
brown  and  green — a  passerby 
nudges  and  says : 

"With  business  what  it  is,  we 
hardly  need  cash  registers." 

▼  ▼ 

Down  Fifth  Avenue  in  a  Ter- 
minal cab,  the  driver  talks  and 
talks  and  concludes  : 

"That  Fair — we  don't  see  nothin' 
boomin'.  Sure,  the  hackies  would 
know  if  there  was  a  boom.  The 
hackies  know  it  foist — when  the 
depression  came,  we  knew  it.  After 
all,  you  know,  cabs  is  a  luxury  bus- 
iness, and  when  the  Fair  is  boomin' 
we'll  know  it.  That'll  probably  be 
•in  June,  maybe." 

T  ▼ 

At  56th  Street  and  Eighth  Ave- 
nue, Roger  Ferri,  the  little  giant 
of  motion  picture  house  organ  edi- 
tors, rushing  to  work,  a  big,  black 
cigar  between  his  lips.  Ferri  still 
smokes  those  big  oblong  cantablos. 

▼  T 

Universal  will  get  $100,000  on 
"The  Mikado"  from  Canada  alone. 
The  biggest  "U"  take  from  the 
Dominion,  in  the  past,  was  $85,000. 
In  Hartford  and  in  Pinehurst,  the 
film  has  broken  previous  Univer- 
sal company  records.  The  picture 
opens  at  the  Rivoli,  on  Broadway, 
late  this  month. 

T  ▼ 

Chicago  reports  Moe  Annenberg 
ready  to  offer  $10,000,000  for 
Hearst's  newspaper  properties  in 
that  city. 

¥  Y 

In  the  company's  dining  room  at 
Warners'  home  office — Sid  Rechet- 
nik  praises  "Sons  of  Liberty,"  one 
of  the  new  patriotic  shorts  made  by 
that  company.  It  is  the  story  of 
Haym  Salomon.  Claude  Ra;.i,s  has 
the  leading  role. 

"Showmen,  the  country  over," 
Rechetnik  avers,  "may  well  focus 
their  attention  on  this  short.  It  is 
probably  the  most  representative 
of  all  the  W.  B.  series  and  is  a  fine 
contribution  to  our  national  lore." 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Silverstone  Heads 
New  York  Force 
To  UA  Convention 


Opening  of  the  New  York  World's 
Fair  constitutes  the  major  portion  of 
the  new  issues. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  67— Roosevelt 
speaks  at  Fair.  Soviet  fliers  crash,  New 
throne  for.  Italian  king.  Freight  wreck. 
Prince  and  Princess  of  Norway  arrive  in 
New  York.  Kennedy  discusses  world  crisis. 
Horce  racing.  Penn  relays.  Drake  relays. 
Lew  Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  265— Fair 
opeiis.    Fleet  comes  in.    Kennedy  speaks  in 


Ireland.  Russian  fliers  land.  Penn  relays 
Wood  Memorial. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  78— Entire 
reel  is  comprised  of  the  Fair  opening  and 
important  events  therein. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  82— World's 
Fair.  Russian  fliers  crash,  arrive  in  New 
York.  Arrival  of  Norway's  prince  and 
princess.  Albania's  crown  to  Victor  Email 
uel.    Penn  relays. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  767- 
Fleet  arrives.  Roosevelt  opens  Fair.  Fliers 
forced  down.  Norwegian  royalty  hailed 
Mrs.  Lindbergh  returns.    Wood  Memorial. 


Murray  Silverstone,  United  Artists 
chief  executive,  heads  the  large  group 
of  home  office  executives  who  will  at- 
tend the  company's  national  sales  con- 
vention at  the  Ambassador  Hotel,  I^)^ 
Angeles,  opening  on  Monday. 

The  session  also  will  observe  the 
20th  anniversary  of  the  founding  of 
the  company. 

In  the  home  office  delegation  will  be 
Harry  D.  Buckley,  vice  president ;  E. 
T.  Carr,  joint  managing  director  for 
England;  Edward  C.  Raftery,  board 
member  and  attorney ;  Arthur  Kelly, 
vice  president  and  foreign  head ;  Lynn 
Farnol,  advertising  and  publicity  di- 
rector ;  Lowell  Calvert,  Selznick  In- 
ternational distribution  manager ;  Har- 
ry Gold,  eastern  general  sales  man- 
ager ;  Jack  Schlaifer,  western  general 
sales  manager ;  Paul  Lazarus,  general 
contract  manager.  Others  will  be 
Charles;  Schwartz,  attorney  and  board 
member ;  Emanuel  Silverstone.  Ameri- 
can representative  for  Alexander 
Korda ;  Tom  Walker,  eastern  repre- 
sentative for  Hal  Roach ;  Morris  Hel- 
prin,  American  advertising  and  pub- 
licity representative  for  Korda;  Mon- 
roe Greenthal,  exploitation  director ; 
Albert  Margolies,  publicity  manager, 
and  Sam  Cohen,  foreign  publicity  man- 
ager. 

Representatives  of  the  company's  32 
exchanges  in  this  country  and  Canada, 
including  district  and  branch  managers 
and  salesmen,  also  will  attend. 

Eastern  and  southern  sales  delega- 
tions start  westward  today  on  a  special 
convention  train  which  will  be  aug- 
mented en  route  by  delegations  from 
other  sections  of  the  country. 

Silverstone,  Buckley  and  Carr,  ac- 
companied by  their  wives,  left  New 
York  by  train  yesterday.  Other  mem- 
bers of  the  home  office  delegation  go 
by  plane  and  train  during  the  next 
few  days  to  bring  them  to  Los  Angeles 
by  Sunday. 

Departing  from  usual  procedure,  the 
company  will  make  its  first  day's  con- 
vention session  next  Monday  an  open 
one,  and  trade  press  representatives 
will  be  on  hand  when  the  new  sea- 
son's policies  and  the  contributions  of 
its  11  affiliated  producers  are  an- 
nounced. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald.  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building.  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. :  Boone 
Mancall,  manager:  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London: 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.. 
i;nder  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  10c. 


THE 

CORNERSTONE 

OF  11,000 
THEATRES! 

Strength!  Security! 

(over) 


FOR  15  YEARSI 


first  in 


STARS! 


Exhibitors  named  M-G-M 
the  star  company  and  it's 
truer  than  ever  today! 


First  in 

HITS! 


At  every  year's  end  M-G-M 
leads  all  companies.  That's 
a  matter  of  record ! 


"A  square  shake !" 
The  Friendly  Company, 
practises  what  it  preaches! 


First  in  the 
hearts  of  its 

CUSTOMERS! 


FIRST  IN  BOX-OFFICE  POLLS!  In  the  past  year  again  M-G-M  led  all  these  Box-Office  surveys:  Film  Daily's  Nation- 
wide Ten  Best  Pictures;  Quigley  Publications  Box-Office  Champions;  Box-Office  Magazine  Blue  Ribbons;  Variety's 
Top  Picture  Grossers;  Showmen's  Trade  Review  Best  Major  Productions;  Parents'  Magazine  Family  Best;  Ladies 
Home  Journal's  American  Women's  Favorites;  New  York  Critic  Circle's  Best  and  many  more  including  the  just 
completed  National  Box-Office  Digest  Annual  Poll  for  the  past  year  covering  thousands  of  theatres  showing 
M-G-M  is  first  again!  Year  after  year  it's  the  same:  ONLY  ONE  COMPANY  CAN  BE  FIRST! 


ACTUAL 
PHOTOGRAPH! 

Platinum  and  Gold  —  clean- 
up from  Strandberg  Mines  at 
Folger,  Candlecreek  and 
Goodnews  Bay,  Alaska. 


THIS  IS  THE  McCOY! 

BEWARE  OF  THE 
FLASH  IN  THE  PAN! 

Let  15  years  of  experience  be  your  guide.  Net  results  at 
the  end  of  each  year  are  the  only  thing  that  count  in 
this  business.  When  11,000  satisfied  customers  balance 
their  books  at  the  close  of  each  season,  they  say:  "Fm 
playing  safe  with  the  leader.  Let  the  other  fellow  gamble  on 
a  flash  in  the  pan"  They  prefer  Security  to  Insomnia! 
And  here's  a  point  that  every  far-seeing  exhibitor  must 
consider  in  the  coming  year.  (next  page) 


YOU  DON'T  HAVE  TO 
KEEP  YOUR  FINGERS 
CROSSED  WITH  M-G-M! 

There's  Safety  in  Numbers! 

There  is  only  one  company  in  this  entire  business 
that  by  virtue  of  its  set-up  can  guarantee  security 
-that's  M-G-M!  j 

(read  why  above) 


think  this  over! 

M-G-M  HAS  18  EXPERIENCED 
TOP-RANKING  PRODUCERS!  MANY 
MORE  THAN  ALL  OTHER  COMPANIES! 

That's  how  M-G-M  removes  risks 
which  you  have  to  face  elsewhere! 

The  solid  rock  of  security  on  which  M-G-M  bases  its  studio  production  is 
that,  come  what  may,  you  are  protected.  WE  WILL  NOT  ALLOW  THE 
SAFETY  OF  YOUR  THEATRE  INVESTMENT  TO  REST  ON  THE 
GENIUS  OF  ONE  OR  TWO  OR  THREE!  M-G-M's  production  ranks 
are  rich  with  talented  showman  brains  ready  for  any  emergency.  You  do 
not  have  to  keep  your  fingers  crossed! 


Avoid  thisl  Do  it  the  M-G*M  way! 


THAT  GOES  FOR  STARS 

THAT  GOES  FOR  DIRECTORS 

THAT  GOES  FOR  WRITERS 

THAT  GOES  FOR  STORY  PROPERTIES 

THAT  GOES  FOR  M-G-M  in  1939-40 

There's  Safety  in  Numbers!  Look! 

(next  page) 


YOUR  BOX-OFFICE  WILL 


REMEMBER 


f  ^ 


<s-o 


S  CP 


1939-1940 


A  milestone  in  the  annals  of  show  business!  Unleashing 
the  bank -roll  for  the  greatest  stage  hits,  mos?  celebrated 
book  successes!  Reaching  for  the  stars  at  unprecedented  cost 


to  add  names  and  yet  more  names  to  th^abeady^abulo 
aggregation  of  M-G-M  personalities.  A  fortime^^^ 


for  advertising !  With  our  customers  of  Fifteen 
Friendly  Years  we  set  out  to  make  1939-1940 
a  box-office  celebration  to  be  remembered  in 
the  glowing  pages  of  this  industry's  history! 

(Turn  the  glowing  pages  now!) 


ONLY  ONE  COMPANY  j 
CAN  COMMAND  SUCH  i 
MILLION  DOLLAR  PROPERTIES! 


Brilliant  with  Multi'Star  Casts! 


A  treasure-house  of  famed  titles  I 


THE  SATURDAY 
EVENIM^POST 


A  fortune  in  thrilling  properties! 


Tin  m 


ocm*politan 


Big  Star  Names  for  Big  Hit  Titles  I 


tJUUI  BRVifSEtt  ,,j 
[dejrelo  sneak  wilh  you  seriously.  I  wish 
,  .  ..  confession.  I  want  u,  tell  you  what 
Uwn^l^D^^    ^LSoukIh  >'>ur 


^  10  fin<l  I  he  

njy  disposal  lo  free  myself 
was  a  marriage.    I  knew  yl 


SPACE  IS  LIMITED! 

Therefore  we  show  only  a  few  of  the  many  Big  Properties 

planned  for  1939-40! 


In  greater  detail 
on  following  pages 
read  about  these 
and  other  famed  ve- 
hicles from  which 
Leo's  15th  Anni- 
versary line-up  will 
be  selected. 


OPEN  DOOR  POLICY 

A  Preamble  of  Sincere  Frankness! 

Take  the  keys  and  enter  the  treasure  house  of  our  production. 
We  have  no  secrets  from  our  customers.  M-G-M  would  prefer 
to  be  able  to  say  right  now  that  each  one  of  the  pictures  on  the 
following  pages  will  be  delivered  as  described,  and  that  the 
casts  as  contemplated  now  will  remain  intact  months  from  now. 

But  our  customers  of  Fifteen  Friendly  years  know  the  sincerity  of 
our  methods  which  make  understandable  to  them  why  we  re- 
serve the  right  to  amend  our  plans  to  meet  changing  conditions, 
new  trends  during  the  course  of  a  long  year. 

We  report  herewith  the  early  status  of  what  is  destined  to  be 
the  most  ambitious  and  costly  studio  expenditure  in  the  history 
of  M-G-M.  The  ultimate  perfection  of  each  production  is  our 
sole  concern  and  yours.  Time  and  circumstance  may  necessitate 
changes  but  they  will  be  changes  designed  for  betterment  only. 

The  15th  Anniversary  line-up  of  M-G-M  will  be  notable  for  multi- 
starring  pictures,  for  the  importance  of  the  properties  selected 
and  for  the  scale  on  which  they  are  made. 


A  MINIMUM  OF  40-A  MAXIMUM  OF  52 

The  following  is  a  tentative  prospectus.  From  these 
and  others,  M-G-M's  1939-1940  releases  will  be  drawn. 


NORTHWEST  PASSAGE,  to  resume  produc- 
tion on  location  in  May;  based  on  Kenneth 
Roberts'  famed  best-seller;  King  Vidor  direc- 
tor; Spencer  Tracy,  Robert  Taylor. 

THE  WOMEN,  sensational  Claire  Boothe  stage 
hit  of  Park  Avenue's  wives  and  sweethearts, 
starring  Norma  Shearer,  Joan  Crawford, 
Rosalind  Russell  and  an  all-female  cast  of 
about  40  players;  George  Cukor,  director. 

GONE  WITH  THE  WIND,  Margaret  Mitchell's 
most  discussed  book  of  our  time;  Clark 
Gable,  Vivien  Leigh,  Leslie  Howard,  Olivia 
De  Havilland,  directed  by  Victor  Fleming. 
In  Technicolor. 

A  Selznick- International  Picture.    Produced  by  David  O.  Selznick 

IT  CAN'T  HAPPEN  HERE,  based  on  Sinclair 
Lewis'  famed  novel  of  upheaval  in  America. 

ZIEGFELD  FOLLIES.  Gigantic  new  type  of 
musical  entertainment,  as  pretentious  as 
Ziegfeld  would  have  made  it  if  he  had  had 
M-G-M's  resources;  multi-starred. 

SILENT  NIGHT,  an  exciting  and  highly  roman- 
tic co-starring  vehicle  for  the  screen's  singing 
sweethearts,  Jeanette  MacDonald  and  Nelson 
Eddy. 

MADAME  CURIE,  starring  Greta  Garbo;  famed 
novel  by  Eve  Curie  depicting  the  thrills, 
hardships,  struggles  and  final  triumph  of 
the  discoverer  of  radium. 

NINOTSCHKA,  comedy  by  Melchior  Lengyel; 
Parisian  and  Russian  background,,  starring 
Greta  Garbo;  Ernst  Lubitsch  director. 


THE  WIZARD  OF  OZ.  In  Technicolor.  Awaited 
by  entire  show  world  as  the  most  amazing 
screen  magic  ever  unfolded.  Based  on  cele- 
brated L.  Frank  Baum's  book  of  globe-circling 
fame.  Cast  includes  Judy  Garland,  Frank 
Morgan,  Ray  Bolger,  Bert  Lahr,  Jack  Haley, 
Billie  Burke  and  thousands  of  others. 
Directed  by  Victor  Fleming. 

TONIGHT  AT  8:30  is  among  the  newly  ac- 
quired important  properties;  Noel  Coward's 
sensational  international  stage  hit  in  which 
it  is  planned  to  star  Norma  Shearer. 

GUNS  AND  FIDDLES  (temporary  title), 
spectacular  drama  with  music;  Robert 
Taylor,  Hedy  Lamarr,  Miliza  Korjus, 
Robert  Young;  by  Walter  Reisch  and  Samuel 
Hoffenstein. 

A  DAY  AT  THE  CIRCUS,  Marx  Brothers;  to 
start  shortly. 

ON  BORROWED  TIME,  Lionel  Barrymore,  Sir 
Cedric  Hardwicke  and  Bobs  Watson,  the 
child  sensation  of  "Boys  Town"  and 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare";  stage  hit  by  Lawrence 
Edward  Watkins;  director,  Harold  Bucquet. 

RETURN  OF  THE  THIN  MAN,  by  Dashiell 
Hammett;  William  Powell,  Myrna  Loy. 

BROADWAY  MELODY  OF  1940.  Fred  Astaire, 
Eleanor  Powell  in  the  most  sumptuous  of 
this  successful  series;  novel  story  treatment. 

BABES  IN  ARMS,  musical  drama  novelty, 
based  on  Rodgers  and  Hart  stage  success;  large 
cast  includes  Mickey  Rooney,  Judy  Garland, 
June  Preisser,  Betty  Jaynes,  Douglas  McPhail; 
Busby  Berkeley,  director. 

(More  great  productions 
listed  two  bases  beyond  — ►  ) 


NO  MATTER 


IF  YOU'RE  BIG 


CLARK  GABLE 


NORMA  SHEARER 


OR  LITTLE! 

THESE 
STARS 

in  M-G-M 

HITS 

will  give  you 

SECURITY! 


HEDY  LAMARR 


SPENCER  TRACY 


MICKEY  ROONEY 


WALLACE  BEERY 


EDDIE  CANTOR 

It  would  take  a  complete  issue  of  a  magazine  to  fully  illustrate  the  entire  gallery  oi 
M-G-M  personalities.  In  addition  to  the  24  stars  above  there  are  53  other  important 
featured  players,  most  of  whom  would  be  considered  of  STAR  rating  by  any  othei 
company.  And  all  are  under  exclusive  contract  to  M-G-M.  In  its  extensive  directorial 
and  writing  ranks  M-G-M  likewise  pridefully  includes  the  outstanding  hit-creators  oi 
the  industry.  There's  safety  in  numbers  and  M-G-M  backs  its  assurance  of  a  new  year 
of  big  attractions  with  a  large  and  expert  personnel. 


ROBERT  TAYLOR  JOAN  CRAWFORD  JEANETTE  Mac  DONALD  NELSON  EDDY 


MYRNA  LOY  GRETA  GARBO  WILLIAM  POWELL  MARGARET  SULLA  VAN 


MARX  BROTHERS  ROBERT  DONAT  ROBERT  MONTGOMERY  ELEANOR  POWELL 


LIONEL  BARRYMORE  ROSALIND  RUSSELL  JAMES  STEWART  JUDY  GARLAND 


And  Remember :  M-G-M's  Promotion 
Plans  call  for  the  expenditure  of 
$2,500,000,  the  Greatest  of  all  time! 


(Continuing  1939-1940  Prospectus  from  preceding  pages) 

THE  YEARLING,  Marjorie  Kinnan  Rawlings' 
successful  novel;  Victor  Fleming,  director. 

WINGS  OVER  THE  DESERT,  Harold  Buckley's 
melodrama  of  aviation  over  Sahara. 

SEA  OF  GRASS,  Conrad  Richter's  novel  of 
embattled  farmers  and  cattle  men  in  New 
Mexico;  awaiting  availability  of  Spencer 
Tracy  and  Myrna  Loy. 

KIM,  Kipling's  famed  novel,  plans  for  which 
call  for  record  studio  budget. 

SOLDIERS  THREE,  another  Kipling  thriller. 

QUO  VADIS,  a  multi-starred  production  by 
the  creators  of  "Ben  Hur." 

THE  RUINED  CITY,  starring  Robert  Donat; 
based  on  the  celebrated  novel  "Kindling." 

THE  GREAT  CANADIAN,  Clark  Gable  and 
Myrna  Loy;  story  of  the  American  hockey 
circuit  by  Robert  Hopkins  and  Vicki  Baum. 

HOUSE  OF  GLASS,  melodrama  by  Max 
Marcin;  Joan  Crawford. 

A  LADY  COMES  TO  TOWN,  by  Clements 
Ripley;  being  prepared  for  Joan  Crawford. 


BEAU  BRUMMEL,  by  Clyde  Fitch;  planned1,! 
to  star  Robert  Donat. 

I  HAD  A  COMRADE,  descriptive  of  present- 
day  conditions  in  Germany;  by  a  British 
nobleman,  Viscount  Castlerose. 

AMERICAN  NEWLYWEDS.  Introducing  a  ne| 
family  series,  dealing  with  a  typical  young 
married  American  couple;  now  being  devel- 
oped by  those  who  created  the  Hardy  and 
Kildare  series. 

MAY  FLAVIN,  Myron  Brinig's  novel  of  an 
abandoned  wife's  life  struggle. 

THUNDER  AFLOAT,  Ralph  Wheelwright  and 
Commander  Harvey  Haislip's  story  of  sub- 
marine chasers  during  last  war;  Wallace  Beery. 

SMILIN'  THROUGH,  starring  Jeanette 
MacDonald;  a  triumphant  musical  version 
of  the  immortal  heart-stabbing  romance. 

I  LOVE  YOU  AGAIN,  by  Octavus  Roy  Cohen; 
awaiting  availability  of  William  Powell  and 
Myrna  Loy. 

HANDS  ACROSS  THE  BORDER,  by  Gene 
Towne  and  Graham  Baker;  friendly  rivalry 
on  the  hockey  field  between  Canadian  and 
U.  S.  military  academies;  starring  Robert 
Taylor. 

EARL  OF  CHICAGO,  starring  Robert 
Montgomery;  Brock  William's  engaging, 
fast-moving  story. 

THESE  GLAMOUR  GIRLS,  Cosmopolitan 
Magazine  story  by  Jane  Hall  and  Marion 
Parsonnet;  for  selected  young  female  players. 

Further  HARDY  FAMILY  and  DR.  KILDARE 

productions,  continuing  the  high  standard 
which  have  established  these  two  great 
American  themes  among  picture-goers. 


BALALAIKA,  adapted  from  the  successful 
London  musical  by  Eric  Maschwitz;  Nelson 
Eddy  and  Ilona  Massey,  the  exotic  new  prima 
donna ;  big  scale  musical  dramatic  production. 

SUSAN  AND  GOD.  Rachel  Crothers'  play 
barring  Greer  Garson,  distinguished  for  her 
performance  in  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips." 

THE  ZIEGFELD  GIRL,  all-star  cast  in  story  by 
William  Anthony  McGuire,  author  of  "The 
Great  Ziegfeld." 

WITCH  IN  THE  WILDERNESS,  novel  by 
Desmond  Holdridge;  starring  Spencer  Tracy; 
King  Vidor,  director. 

LOVER  COME  BACK  TO  ME,  based  on  Sigmund 
Romberg's  "New  Moon",  starring  Jeanette 
MacDonald,  Nelson  Eddy. 

GO  WEST,  a  comedy  of  Indians,  rodeos  and 
the  wild  and  woolly;  now  being  prepared 
'for  the  Marx  Brothers  by  Bert  Kalmar  and 
Harry  Ruby. 

A  YANK  AT  ETON,  by  George  Oppenheimer 

and  Thomas  Phipps;  starring  Mickey  Rooney, 

to  be  produced  by  our  successful  unit  which 

'just  completed  "Goodbye,. Mr.  Chips", 
l 

WAR  EAGLES,  a  novelty  thriller  combining 
imagination  and  living  actors  in  a  story  of 
patriotic  appeal;  general  treatment  like  that 
of  "The  Lost  World"  and  "King  Kong";  un- 
precedented production  cost  to  bring  you  a 
sensational  attraction. 

BUSMAN'S  HOLIDAY,  the  baffling  and 
[delightfully  absorbing  London  murder 
i  mystery  by  Dorothy  Sayers;  starring  Robert 
!  Montgomery. 

THE  LIFE  STORY  OF  THOMAS  EDISON 

Spencer  Tracy  and  Mickey  Rooney  respec- 
:ively  present  Edison  as  boy  and  man. 


PARK  AVENUE  MODEL,  starring  Joan 
Crawford ;  vivid,  exciting  and  de  luxe  drama 
of  a  modern  maiden  in  our  streamlined 
generation. 

20,000  LEAGUES  UNDER  THE  SEA,  Jules 
Verne's  world  renowned  story  in  Technicolor. 

BANJO  EYES,  comedy- drama  with  music  for 
Eddie  Cantor. 

WINGS  ON  HIS  BACK  (title  tentative),  Myles 
Connelly's  breezy,  clever  comedy  story  of  an 
aviatrix  and  aviator;  James  Stewart. 

NICKEL  SHOW,  "cavalcade  of  the  motion 
picture  business,"  with  a  central  showman 
character;  a  strongly  romantic  story. 

JOURNEY'S  END,based  on  Robert  C.  SherrifFs 
famous  play;  starring  Robert  Donat. 

THE  ROSARY,  Edward  E.  Rose's  famed  stage 
success. 

GREAT  LAUGHTER,  Fannie  Hurst's  cele- 
brated novel. 

SHOP  AROUND  THE  CORNER,  starring 

Margaret  Sullavan,  James  Stewart,  Frank 
Morgan;  directed  by  Ernst  Lubitsch. 

(next  page  says  a  mouthful!) 


SHELL-GAME  OR 

SECURITY! 

You  can  remember  the  past 
You  can  profit  in  the  present 
You  can  plan  on  the  future 
With  one  company  only! 

METRO-GOLD  WYI> I  MAYER 

THE  FRIENDLY  COMPANY 


"Cornerstone  of 
11,000  Theatres" 


Wednesday.  May  3,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


SWG's  Directors 
Reject  Producers' 
Compromise  Plan 

Hollywood,  May  2. — Negotiations 
between  Screen  Writers'  Guild  and 
producers  broke  down  early  today 
when  the  S.W'.G.  board  of  directors 
ompletely  rejected  the  producers'  pro- 
sal  for  compromise  on  three  major 
points.  Guild  directors  instructed 
their  attorney,  Leonard  S.  Janofsky, 
to  move  for  reopening  the  N.L.R.B. 
hearings. 

Proposals  made  by  producers  Friday 
night  were  a  contract  term  of  seven 
years,  Guild  shop  percentages  to  rise 
from  70  to  80  per  cent  during  the  life 
of  the  pact,  and  refusal  of  permission 
to  writers  to  write  and  own  material 
during  layoff  periods.  The  Guild  is 
insisting  on  80  per  cent  Guild  shop  at 
the  outset,  contract  term  to  be  no 
longer  than  three  and  a  half  years,  and 
right  of  authors  to  own  material  pro- 
duced during  layoffs. 

Special  Trial  Examiner  James  C. 
Batten,  when  he  ordered  day-to-day 
adjournment  of  X.L.R.B.  hearings,  de- 
clared he  was  prepared  to  resume  hear- 
ings within  24  hours  if  an  impasse 
was  reached. 


Film  Business  Off; 
Blame  Put  on  Fair 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Fair    visitors    and    bar  automobiles 
from  the  area.  The  League  claims  this 
would  be  an  unwarranted  interference 
with  playgoers. 

Among  the  attractions  scheduled  lor 
Broadway,  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips," 
M-G-M  British  film,  will  go  into  the 
Astor  May  16  on  the  same  continuous 
run  and  price  policy  as  in  effect  for 
"Pygmalion."  "Union  Pacific"  opens 
at  the  Paramount  May  10,  and  "Rose 
of  Washington  Square"  at  the  Roxy 
on  Friday.  On  Saturday  the  Globe 
will  get  "King  of  the  Turf,"  and 
"Boys'  Reformatory"  will  start  at  the 
Central.  "Juarez"  at  the  Hollywood 
and  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  at 
the  Strand  are  going  well.  "The 
Lady's  from  Kentucky"  at  the  Para- 
mount was  off  in  its  first  week. 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  at  the  Globe 
was  fair  in  its  third  week. 


Kentucky  Colonels 
Will  Honor  Jolson 

Louisville,  May  2. — Al  Jolson  will 
be  guest  of  honor  at  the  annual  dinner 
of  the  Kentucky  Colonels  here  Friday 
night  on  the  eve  of  the  running  of  the 
Derby.  He  will  come  here  in  connec- 
tion with  the  sponsorship  of  the  Derby 
broadcast  by  20th  Century-Fox  over 
CBS  on  behalf  of  "Rose  of  Washing- 
ton Square."  Jolson  is  featured  in  the 
nlm.  He  is  scheduled  to  speak  during 
the  broadcast.  Bryan  Field,  Ted  Hus- 
ing  and  Mel  Allen  will  handle  the  air 
program. 


McCarthy  Leaves  Today 

Charles  E.  McCarthy,  20th  Century- 
Fox  advertising  and  publicity  director, 
and  Rodney  Bush,  exploitation  man- 
ager, leave  for  Louisville  today  to  ar- 
range for  Saturday's  broadcast.  Four 
"plugs"  for  "Rose  of  Washington 
Square"  are  written  into  the  script 
and  there  will  be  others. 


Lawyers  Completing 
Trade  Pact  Revision 

Distributors  are  awaiting 
completion  by  the  lawyers' 
drafting  committee  of  revi- 
sions in  the  trade  practice 
code.  Upon  submission  of  the 
proposed  changes,  a  meeting 
of  the  distributors'  trade 
practice  committee  will  be 
called.  The  revisions  pertain 
to  arbitration  procedure  and 
other  matters  as  suggested 
by  exhibitor  organizations 
following  their  study  of  the 
submitted  code. 


British  Film  Tax 
Is  Called  Certain 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

000,000  and  $250,000,000  a  year,  and 
he  did  not  think  that  $3,000,000  pro- 
duced by  the  excise  duty  would  pro- 
duce a  "revolution."  He  agreed  that 
some  modification  in  the  customs  duty 
is  possibly  needed,  probably  referring 
to  foreign  films  for  specialized  show- 
ings. 

Debate  on  the  question  was  opened 
by  Tom  Williams  who  proposed  an 
amendment  in  excise  duty  from  four 
and  one-half  pence  per  square  foot  to 
one  penny  per  foot.  Williams  pleaded 
the  case  of  the  documentaries  and 
protested  that  features  are  fighting 
hard  for  existence  at  present.  He 
suggested  that  the  newsreel  might  be 
compelled  to  quit.  Williams'  conten- 
tions were  supported  by  others. 

Regarding  newsreels,  the  Chancel- 
lor was  willing  to  consider  possible 
modifications  in  detail,  saying  that 
with  general  trade  cooperation  it  may 
be  possible  to  work  out  a  good  plan. 
The  amendment  eventually  was  with- 
drawn. 


Hinge  Aids  Battle 
On  Film  Tax  Boost 

London,  May  2. — Cinematograph 
Exhibitors'  Association  met  today  and 
confirmed  the  naming  of  E.  J.  Hinge, 
vice-president,  as  associate  of  D.  E. 
Griffiths,  president  of  the  Kinematog- 
raph  Renters'  Society  (distributors), 
heading  the  proposed  deputation  seek- 
ing to  obtain  concessions  in  the  pro- 
posed film  tax  increases  from  Sir 
John  Simon,  Chancellor  of  the  Ex- 
chequer. 

Local  exhibitor  reaction  is  to  the 
effect  that  they  fear  the  tax  increase 
will  be  passed  on  by  the  distributors 
in  the  form  of  increases  in  rentals. 
Some  C.E.A.  branches  advocate  anti- 
Government  propaganda  on  the  screen. 


Insurance  Firms 
Assail  Bank  Laxity 

London,  May  2, — In  the  second  day 
of  the  trial  of  the  action  of  the  West- 
minster Bank  against  15  insurance 
companies  in  connection  with  film  fi- 
nancing, the  defense  contended  the 
bank  owed  as  a  duty  to  the  insurance 
companies  supervision  of  film  com- 
pany accounts,  and  should  have  known 
of  alleged  irregularities  and  warned 
underwriters.  Counter  claims  against 
the  bank  total  $1,940,000. 


Circuit  Continuing 
Under  Cocalis  Will 


W  ill  of  Soteros  D.  Cocalis,  metro- 
politan circuit  head  who  died  April 
22,  was  offered  for  probate  in  Eliza- 
beth, X.  J.,  yesterday  by  Monroe 
Stein,  attorney  for  the  estate.  Named 
as  executors  were  E.  T.  Hardaloupas, 
president  of  Hellenic  Trust  Co. ;  Wil- 
liam A.  Scully,  Universal  general 
sales  manager,  and  James  J.  Thomp- 
son, of  the  Cocalis  office. 

The  will  directs  that  the  circuit  be 
continued  and  sets  up  a  trust  for  20 
years  with  the  executors  named  as 
trustees.  Three  sons,  James,  George 
and  Alexander,  will  receive  the  princi- 
pal of  the  trust  after  its  expiration. 
The  will  also  makes  provision  for  the 
widow  and  four  daughters,  as  well  as 
several  charitable  bequests.  Executors 
are  given  broad  powers  to  manage  the 
business,  with  the  right  to  add  to  the 
properties  as  well  as  dispose  of  any 
in  their  discretion. 


Heavy  RKO  Stock 
Exchanging  Seen 

A  total  of  approximately  $300,000 
of  RKO's  10-vear  6  per  cent  gold 
debentures,  out  of  about  $3,000,000 
outstanding,  have  elected  to  receive 
the  new  preferred  stock  in  exchange, 
it  was  revealed  yesterday  by  an  ap- 
plication of  Irving  Trust  Co.,  RKO 
trustee,  for  authority  to  call  in  the 
elected  debentures  for  stamping  and 
listing  with  the  N.  Y.  Stock  Exchange. 

Under  the  reorganization  plan,  de- 
benture holders  were  entitled  to  ex- 
change their  holdings  at  a  rate  of  1.43 
shares  of  new  preferred  for  each  $100 
of  debentures  during  a  period  ended 
May  1,  and  thereafter  would  receive 
one  share  of  preferred  and  five  shares 
of  common  for  each  $100  principal 
amount  of  debentures. 

Irving  Trust  also  is  expected  to  ap- 
ply in  the  near  future  for  an  extension 
of  the  maturity  date  from  June  1  next 
on  the  final  $50,000  of  RKO  secured 
gold  notes,  retirement  of  which  might 
complicate  RKO  reorganization  if 
effected  before  the  plan  is  consum- 
mated. Little  possibility  of  consum- 
mation of  the  plan  before  next  Sep- 
tember or  October  is  seen  in  informed 
quarters. 


Goldwyn  Revises 
Complaint  on  UA 


Samuel  Goldwyn  yesterday  filed  a 
new  complaint,  third  in  the  series  to 
date,  in  Federal  court  at  Wilmington, 
Del.,  in  his  action  to  establish  whether 
his  contract  with  United  Artists  has 
been  breached. 

The  newest  complaint  supersedes  the 
earlier  ones  and  asks  for  absolute  can- 
cellation of  his  contract  with  United 
Artists. 

The  action  was  begun  originally  by 
Goldwyn  in  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  and 
transferred  at  the  request  of  United 
Artists  to  the  Federal  court  here. 
Goldwyn  then  moved  for  dismissal  of 
the  action  and  filed  a  new  complaint 
in  the  Federal  court  at  Wilmington. 

Last  Friday  United  Artists  filed  a 
motion  to  dismiss  the  action  on  the 
grounds  that  it  did  not  set  forth  a 
valid  grievance  and  did  not  ask  for 
any  relief  which  it  was  proper  for  a 
court  to  grant.  Earlier  Goldwyn  ac- 
tions asked  the  court  merely  to  give 
an  opinion  as  to  whether  or  not  his 
contract  had  been  broken  by  the  com- 
pany. 

This  point,  apparently,  is  remedied 
in  the  new  complaint.  Goldwyn  asserts 
that  he  asked  the  company  to  cancel 
his  contract  and  that  this  was  refused. 
He  asks  the  court  to  declare  the  con- 
tract breached  and  to  terminate  it. 

United  Artists  has  20  days  in  which 
to  answer  the  new  Goldwyn  com- 
plaint. 


Vocafilm  Is  Ordered 
To  Give  Suit  Details 

Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox  yester- 
day ordered  Vocafilm  Corp.  of  Amer- 
ica to  file  a  bill  of  particulars  setting 
forth  details  of  its  $65,953,125  suit 
against  American  Telephone  &  Tele- 
graph Co.,  Western  Electric  Co.  and 
Erip.  The  bill  must  be  filed  within 
40  days. 

The  plaintiff,  which  was  in  the  busi- 
ness of  manufacturing  and  selling 
sound  equipment  to  motion  picture 
theatres,  claimed  to  have  had  $4,200,- 
000  in  contracts  and  an  estimated 
gross  yearly  business  of  $4,357,000 
when  it  was  forced  out  of  business. 
Defendants  are  charged  with  violation 
of  the  Sherman  Anti-trust  Act  in 
allegedly  coercing  exhibitors  and  pro- 
ducers to  use  only  their  equipment. 


Dittman  Buried 

Freeport,  111.,  May  2. — John  F. 
Dittman,  veteran  local  exhibitor,  who 
died  Friday,  was  buried  here  yes- 
terday. Dittman  operated  the  Strand 
here. 


Bernard  Freeman  Is 
Loew's  Lunch  Guest 

Loew  executives  attended  a  surprise 
luncheon  at  the  Astor  yesterday  given 
for  N.  Bernard  Freeman,  managing 
director  for  Australasia.  Freeman 
sailed  last  night  on  the  Normandie  on 
the  first  leg  of  his  return  trip  to 
Sydney.    He  was  here  several  weeks. 

Arthur  Loew,  vice-president  of 
Loew's,  who  was  host  of  the  luncheon, 
was  _  unable  to  be  present  due  to  a 
sprained  tendon. 

Twenty  attended,  including  David 
Bernstein,  J.  Robert  Rubin,  William 
F.  Rodgers,  Marvin  Schenck,  Howard 
Dietz,  Oscar  Doob,  Judge  I.  Frey,  Ed 
Saunders,  Tom  Connors,  Gene  Picker, 
Dave  Blum,  Si  Seadler,  Mort  Spring, 
Harry  Bernstein,  H.  J.  Cleary, 
Charles  Goldsmith,  Harry  Kleindienst, 
Henry  Krecke  and  Joseph  Rosthal. 


Tax  Worry  Brings 
Fairbanks  to  City 

Tax  problems  involving  Swiss  in- 
vestments in  the  new  Fairbanks  pro- 
ducing company  brought  Douglas 
Fairbanks,  Sr.,  here  from  the  coast 
yesterday.  Swiss  interests  are  among 
chief  backers  of  the  company. 

Montague  Marks,  associate  of  Fair- 
banks who  obtained  the  Swiss  par- 
ticipation, is  due  from  England  shortly 
to  confer  with  Fairbanks,  who  may 
leave  for  England  in  a  couple  of 
weeks. 


Set  Actor  Refugee  Unit 

Actors'  Equity  yesterday  granted 
permission  for  the  formation  of 
Refugee  Artists'  Group  in  response  to 
a  request  signed  by  Sam  H.  Harris, 
George  S.  Kaufman  and  Moss  Hart. 
The  group  will  function  as  a  coopera- 
tive unit  under  the  direction  of  Bea- 
trice Kaufman,  the  playwright's  wife. 


20 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hardys'  Hits 
Neat  $16,000, 
Philadelphia 


New  York  Previews 


"It's  a  Wonderful  World" 

(M-G-M) 

Ben  Hecht  and  Herman  Mankiewicz  have  fashioned  an  altogether 
delightful  comedy-mystery  vehicle  for  Claudette  Colbert  and  James 
Stewart  in  "It's  a  Wonderful  World,"  a  picture  that  is  bound  to  please 
all  film  patrons.  In  addition  to  intelligent  comedy  and  mystery,  the  au- 
thors have  provided  the  proper  amount  of  romance,  which,  however — 
and  this  is  as  it  should  be  in  this  particular  film — is  entirely  incidental 
to  the  story. 

Unlike  a  number  of  recent  pictures  which  have  been  indoctrinated 
with  political  missions,  "It's  a  Wonderful  World"  holds  itself  solely  to 
affording  light  entertainment  and  scores  a  bulls-eye.  Miss  Colbert  and 
the  dry  Stewart  have  tailor-made  roles  here,  and  they  are  performers 
enough  to  take  complete  advantage  of  every  turn  of  the  script.  The 
supporting  players  are  no  less  excellent. 

As  a  private  investigator  whose  success  is  based  on  the  premise  that 
all  men  are  smart  and  all  women  dumb,  Stewart  gets  along  moderately 
well  until  his  path  crosses  Miss  Colbert's,  whereupon  there  is  the  devil  to 
pay.  The  revision  in  Stewart's  ill-taken  philosophy  comes  at  the  close  of 
the  film,  and  is  given  with  heart-felt  conviction. 

Stewart's  job  is  that  of  nurse  to  a  tipsy  marrying  millionaire,  played 
hilariously  by  Ernest  Truex.  Following  a  fourth  marriage  immediately 
after  a  divorce,  Truex's  former  wife  is  murdered.  Stewart  hides  Truex, 
whom  the  police  accuse,  and  sets  out  to  find  the  real  murderer  for  the 
$100,000  fee  that  Truex  promises.  The  police,  however,  take  in  both 
Truex  and  his  detective.  On  Stewart's  escape  en  route  to  Sing  Sing,  he 
meets  with  Miss  Colbert,  a  poet,  whose  attachment  to  Stewart  is  unwel- 
come. His  efforts  to  get  rid  of  her  and  the  subsequent  tracking  down 
of  the  real  murderers,  makes  for  high-spot  entertainment.  In  addition 
to  Guy  Kibbee,  Nat  Pendleton  and  Edgar  Kennedy,  as  a  pair  of  dumb 
detectives,  give  notable  support.    W.  S.  Van  Dyke  directed. 

Running  time,  85  minutes.   "G."*  Jack  Banner 


"Blue  Montana  Skies" 

(Republic) 

"Blue  Montana  Skies"  is  a  tale  of  fur  thieves  who  smuggle  their  booty 
across  the  Canadian  border  into  the  States.  Enlivened  by  six  western 
songs,  this  film  should  prove  popular  with  Gene  Autry  fans.  Although 
the  action  is  slowed  somewhat  by  the  interpolation  of  the  songs,  there 
is  plenty  of  comedy  and  suspense  to  carry  the  plot  along. 

Autry,  accompanied  by  Smiley  Burnette  and  Tully  Marshal,  is  driving 
some  cattle  to  Canada  and  runs  across  the  hijackers.  Marshall  is  killed, 
but  before  he  dies  he  carves  the  letters  "H-H"  into  a  rock.  Autry  and 
Burnette  discover  that  the  "H-H"  ranch  is  a  dude  outfit  run  by  June 
Storey  and  her  crooked  partner,  Harry  Woods. 

Stampeding  his  cattle  into  the  "H-H"  herd,  Autry  succeeds  in  obtain- 
ing an  invitation  to  remain  at  the  ranch  until  the  brands  can  be  sepa- 
rated. After  that,  he  discovers  the  operations  of  the  gang  and,  with  the 
assistance  of  the  Northwest  Mounties,  effects  a  capture. 

Miss  Storey  makes  her  second  appearance  in  an  Autry  film  and  is 
likely  to  prove  a  major  attraction  to  box-office  patrons  who  like  the 
Autry-Burnette  combination. 

The  screenplay  was  written  by  Gerald  Geraghty  from  an  original  by 
Norman  S.  Hall  and  Paul  Franklin.  B.  Reeves  Eason  directed  and  Harry 
Grey  was  associate  producer. 

Running  time,  56  minutes.    "G."*  Ed  Greif. 


Philadelphia,  May  2.— "Wither- 
ing Heights"  chalked  up  $12,000  in 
its  second  week  at  the  Aldine.  The 
Fox  took  $17,000  with  Ben  Blue  and 
Virginia  Verrill  on  the  stage  and 
"Ladv's  From  Kentucky"  as  the  film. 

"Hardys  Ride  High"  did  $16,000  at 
the  Boyd.  "The  Story  of  Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle"  took  $15,000  at  the 
Stanley. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  27 : 

"Wuthering  Heights"   (U.  A.) 

ALDINE— (1,300)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average,  $8,160) 
"Peg  of  Old  Drury"  (Tri-Nat.) 

ARCADIA— (600)     (25c-42c-57c)    9  days. 
Gross:  $3,100.  (Average,  7  days,  $2,800) 
"Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

BOYD — (2,400)  (32c-42c-57c)  8  days.  Gross: 
$16,000.  (Average,  7  days,  $14,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

EARLE— (2.000)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days,  3rd 
run.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

FOX— (3,000)  (32c-37c-42c-68c)  7  days  (6 
days  stage  show).  Stage:  Ben  Blue,  Vir- 
ginia Verrill.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average, 
$16,000) 

"Midnight"  (Para.)  _ 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (32c-42c-5/c)  7  days, 
2nd  run,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average, 
$4,000) 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S — (2,000)     (32c-42c-57c)    7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,100.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Can't  Get  Away  With  Murder"  (W.  B.) 

PALACE—  (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.   (Average,  $4,500) 
"Castles  in  the  Air"  (RKO) 

STANLEY— (3,700)    (32c-42c-57c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.  (Average,  $14,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $7,000) 


'Kentucky'  $8,700 
Indianapolis  Best 

Indianapolis,  May  2. — "The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky"  and  Al  Donahue's 
band  took  a  fine  $8,700  at  the  Circle 
for  the  best  in  town  in  a  fair  week. 
"On  Trial,"  plus  Abe  Lyman's  band, 
did  $8,600  at  the  Lyric.  "East  Side 
of  Heaven,"  on  a  dual  with  "Mystery 
of  the  White  Room,"  turned  in  $5,400 
for  the  Indiana. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  28 : 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

APOLLO— (1,100)    (25c-40c)    7    days,  2nd 
week.   Gross:  $1,500.   (Average,  $2,500) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
Al  Donahue  and  Rainbow  Room  Orchestra, 
with  Judy  Canova,  Annie  &  Zeke;  Duke 
McHale,  Paula  Kelly,  Charlie  Carroll. 
Gross:  $8,700.  (Average,  $5,500) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Mystery  of  the  White  Room"  (Univ.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
S5.400.   (Average,  $5,000) 
"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

LOEWS— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"On  Trial"   (W.  B.) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
Abe  Lyman  Orchestra  and  his  California 
Revue.  Gross:  $8,600.  (Average,  $8,000) 


Wins  Bank  Night  Suit 

Atlantic,  la.,  May  2. — Iowa  The- 
atre won  the  Bank  Night  case  in 
District  Court  here  when  the  judge 
ruled  that  Mrs.  Earl  Smith  of  Wiota 
had  no  case  against  the  theatre  when 
her  name  was  called  for  a  $450  Bank 
Xight  prize  and  she  did  not  appear 
to  claim  it. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


20th-Fox  Club  Elects 

Chicago,  May  2.  —  Chicago  Em- 
ployes' Club  of  20th  Century-Fox  has 
elected  the  following  officers :  presi- 
dent, Howard  De  Tamble;  vice-presi- 
dent, Mabel  Carpenter ;  secretary, 
Anne  Jacobson ;  treasurer,  Esther 
Baillie ;  social  secretary,  Leo  Schauer. 


Form  Commercial  Group 

London,  May  2.  —  Commercial 
shorts  producers  in  Great  Britain 
have  organized  the  British  Short  Film 
Makers  Society,  Ltd.  Objects  of  the 
company  are  to  promote  and  protect 
the  interests  of  the  members. 


Fox  to  Honor  Eckhardt 

Chicago,  May  2. — Local  Fox  ex- 
change has  named  July  as  Clyde 
Eckhardt  silver  jubilee  month  to  cele- 
brate Eckhardt's  twenty-fifth  anni- 
versary in  the  film  business.  Eckhardt 
will  open  the  new  Fox  exchange  build- 
ing on  July  first  as  part  of  the  celebra- 
tion. 


Extend  Taylor  Pact 

Hollywood,  May  2. — M-G-M  has 
extended  the  contract  of  Robert  Tay- 
lor, currently  being  co-starred  with 
Hedy  Lamarr  in  "Lady  of  the 
Tropics." 


Wednesday,  May  3,  1939 


'Crowded9  and 
Herbert  Loop 
Hit,  $15,200 

Chicago,  May  2. — Hugh  Herbert, 
in  person,  at  the  Oriental  gave  "12, 
Crowded  Hours"  a  boost  and  the  groJ 
was  $15,200.  No  sensational  businesV 
was  reported,  but  the  general  tone  was 
good.  "Hound  of  the  Baskervilles" 
at  the  Apollo  did  $7,300  and  "Dodge 
City"  in  a  third  Loop  week  at  the 
Roosevelt,  took  $12,700. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26-29: 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

APOLLO—  (1,400)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,300.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:   Arthur  Treacher  &  Revue.  Gross: 
$28,200.  (Average,  $32,000) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

GARRICK— (900)     (35c-40c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $6,700.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"12  Crowded  Hours"  (Col.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:   Hugh   Herbert  and  Revue.  Gross: 
$15,200.  (Average,  $13,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

PALACE— (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days, 
3rd  week.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
$14,000.  (Average,  $19,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

ROOSEVELT—  (1,300)      (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $12,700.  (Average,  $11,000) 
"Three  Musketeers"  (20th-Fox) 

STATE-LAKE—  (2,700)     (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.   Gross,  $14,- 
200.   (Average,  $12,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-55c-7Sc) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average, 
$15,000) 


43  Smart  Girls' 


Collects  $8,000 
Milwaukee  Gross 

Milwaukee,  May  2.  —  "Three 
Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  and  "Women 
in  the  Wind"  collected  $8,000  at  the 
Warner  for  the  week's  high.  Second 
money  went  to  "The  Hardys  Ride 
High"  and  "Society  Lawyer"  at  Fox's 
Wisconsin,  with  $7,800. 

Season's  first  mild  weather  hit  the 
takes  at  the  other  houses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26-27: 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2,400)      (35c-50c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-S0c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"My  Wife's  Relatives"  (Rep.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,300)  (25c-30c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average. 
$5,000) 

"Midnight"  (Para.) 

"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 

"Dodge  City"   (W.  B.) 

"Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 

STRAND— (1,400)   (35c-50c)  5-2  days,  re- 
spectively. Gross:  $1,800.  (Average,  $2,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Society   Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (35c -50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,800.  (Average,  $5,500) 


'Lincoln*  Dated  at  Roxy 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln,"  second  Cos- 
mopolitan production  for  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, is  scheduled  to  open  at  the 
Roxy  May  31.  The  company's  sales 
department  is  lining  up  key  city  date- 
and-date  runs  to  start  between  June  1 
and  3.  The  premiere  will  be  at 
Springfield,  111.,  May  30. 


*  "oh,  by  the  way 


Hello  Mr.  Exhibitor" 

"GOODBYE  MR.  CHIPS"  opens  at  the  Astor,  N.  Y.  on  May  16th 
launching  this  most  talked  about  attraction  in  the  same  showman- 
ship  manner  which  gave  nationwide  fame  to  "Pygmalion"  (still 
S.  R.  O.  as  it  concludes  a  sensational  6-month  run  at  the  Astor.) 

While  the  fame  of  "GOODBYE  MR.  CHIPS"  (Robert  Donat,  Greer 
Garson)  spreads  throughout  the  nation,  M-G-M  exhibitors  will  say 
hello  to  hit  after  hit.  For  instance: 

Hold-overs  are  mounting  as  the  "HARDYS  RIDE  HIGH"!  "LUCKY 
NIGHT"  (Myrna  Loy,  Robert  Taylor)  starts  off  with  happy-go-lucky 
crowds  everywhere.  "IT'S  A  WONDERFUL  WORLD"  (Claudette 
Colbert,  James  Stewart)  rolled  preview  audience  in  the  aisles.  It's 
socko  at  the  b.  o.  "CALLING  DR.  KILDARE"  (Lew  Ayres,  Lionel 
Barrymore)  thrills  opening  engagements  and  establishes  Dr.  Kildare 
as  another  Hardy  series.  And  that's  just  a  few  in  coming  weeks! 

Goodbye  Mr.  Exhibitor,  you're  in  the  chips  as  usual  with  Mr.  Leo. 


22 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  May  3,  1 93S 


Siegel  Condemns 
FCC,  Major  Nets 

Federal  Communications  Commis- 
sion was  charged  with  "doodling" 
while  serious  problems  of  the  industry 
go  unsolved  in  a  charge  by  Seymour 
N.  Siegel,  program  director  of 
WNYC,  New  York  municipal  station, 
in  an  address  yesterday  before  the 
tenth  annual  meeting  of  the  Institute 
for  Education  by  Radio,  at  the  Desh- 
ler-Wallich,  Columbus. 

Siegel  also  scored  the  major  net- 
works. He  declared  that  "the  anti- 
democratic propaganda"  of  Father 
Charles  Coughlin  and  W.  J.  Cameron 
of  the  Ford  "Sunday  Evening  Hour" 
is  as  yet  completely  uncurbed  and  even 
ignored  by  the  F.C.C.,  "theoretical 
guardians"  of  radio's  interests. 

The  official  pointed  out  he  was  not 
advocating  censorship.  He  said  that 
ruling  speakers  of  the  "Coughlin  type" 
off  the  air  could  in  no  way  be  con- 
strued as  a  blow  at  the  policy  of  open 
radio  forums,  in  which  he  declared  his 
belief.  "Both  Father  Coughlin  and 
Mr.  Cameron  have  repeatedly  refused 
to  apuear  in  radio  debates  or  to  retract 
obvious  misstatements  of  fact  border- 
ing on  libel,"  he  said. 

Praising  programs  such  as  "Town 
Meeting  of  the  Air"  and  "People's 
Platform,"  Siegel  pointed  out  that 
both  Father  Coughlin  and  Mr.  Cam- 
eron had  refused  invitations  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  broadcasts,  as  well  as 
at  the  annual  convention  of  the  Pro- 
gressive Education  Association  held  at 
the  Columbia  Institute  of  Arts  and 
Sciences. 


Sherdeman  Wins  Award 

Hollywood,  May  2. — Chosen  as 
the  best  of  the  "Idea  Mart"  programs 
by  a  jury  of  radio  agency  executives 
and  trade  newspapermen,  Ted  Sherde- 
man's  "The  Cannon  Will  Not  Fire," 
an  anti-war  program,  will  be  presented 
over  a  complete  NBC  network  Mem- 
orial Day.  Sherdeman,  an  NBC 
director,  was  awarded  an  engraved 
stop  watch  by  John  Swallow,  program 
director  here. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 


SHELDON  STARK,  formerly 
writer  for  the  Kieswetter  and 
Benton  &  Bowles  agencies,  has 
joined  the  writing  staff  of  WXYZ, 
King  Trendle  station  in  Detroit  .  .  . 
John  Babb,  NBC  artists  service,  re- 
covering from  an  appendectomy  .  .  . 
George  Sax,  of  the  same  bureau,  is 
the  father  of  a  new  daughter  .  .  . 
Duke  Ellington  returns  from  Europe 
May  10  .  .  .  Johnny  Green's  orchestra 
to  Boston  next  week  to  play  a  number 
of  dates. 


CBS  Clients  Lift 
Spending  by  104% 

Analysis  of  current  weekly  gross 
expenditures  for  CBS  time  shows  that 
the  web's  present  clients  are  investing 
104.6  per  cent  more  than  when  their 
campaigns  first  started  on  the  net- 
work. 

Examples  of  the  expansion  include 
General  Foods,  which  has  advanced 
from  $5,430  in  1932  to  a  current  $66,- 
916;  Kellogg,  from  $3,515  to  $14,809 
in  seven  years ;  Lever  Bros.,  from 
$12,652  in  1936  to  $64,351  today;  Nox- 
zema  from  $1,880  eight  years  ago  to 
$7,725  now ;  Procter  &  Gamble,  from 
$3,806  in  1929  to  $40,277  today ;  Inter- 
national Silver,  from  $1,177  in  1932 
to  $5,695  today. 

Others  are,  American  Home  Pro- 
ducts from  $942  in  1931,  $15,373  cur- 
rent ;  American  Oil,  $1,577  to  $8,939 ; 
American  Tobacco,  $17,720  to  $31,971  ; 
Campana,  $3,548  to  $8,670;  Campbell 
Soup,  $15,850,  to  $46,275;  Chrysler, 
$8,203  to  $18,674;  Colgate,  $35,947  to 
$46,492 ;  Continental  Baking,  $2,553  to 
$11,700;  Cudahy,  $1,796  to  $7,050;  Du- 
Pont,  $5,867  to  $8,730;  Ford,  $16,927 
to  $17,817. 


Look  Has  WNEW  Show 

Look  Magazine  has  signed  a  year's 
contract  to  sponsor  three  quarter- 
hours  per  week  on  the  "Make  Believe 
Ballroom"  over  WNEW. 


SipSIr  MlMUTt  SHORTS' 

V^^°%L  EXP1ESS 


Ripley  and  Thomas 
Teams  Play  May  9 

Soft  ball  teams  headed  by 
Lowell  Thomas  and  Bob  Rip- 
ley will  meet  at  Madison 
Square  Garden  May  9  in  a 
benefit  game  for  the  Boys' 
Club  of  New  York. 

On  the  Thomas  team  will 
be  Lanny  Ross,  Postmaster 
General  James  Farley,  Quen- 
tin  Reynolds,  Merlin  H. 
Aylesworth,  Graham  Mc- 
Namee,  Bruce  Barton,  Col. 
John  Reed  Kilpatrick.  Swing- 
ing bats  on  the  Ripley  side 
will  be  Ted  Husing,  Jack 
Dempsey,  Col.  Theodore 
Roosevelt,  Gene  Tunney,  Fred 
Allen,  Bugs  Baer,  Frank 
Buck,  Heywood  Broun,  West- 
brook  Pegler,  Sir  Hubert 
Wilkins. 


NBC  Inaugurates 
New  Interval  Plan 

NBC  Interval  Plan,  by  which  ad- 
vertisers may  suspend  their  broadcasts 
for  a  limited  period  at  any  time  dur- 
ing the  fiscal  broadcasting  year,  went 
into  operation  yesterday.  Outstanding 
feature  of  the  plan  is  that  it  does  not 
alter  the  current  established  rates,  dis- 
counts or  rebates. 

The  plan  provides  that  the  rate  for 
each  interval  week  in  the  case  of  large 
advertisers  will  be  28  per  cent  of  the 
gross  weekly  billings  of  the  facilities 
used  during  the  last  week  of  regular 
service  before  the  interval.  Although 
agency  commission  will  be  allowed  on 
the  gross  billings,  the  billinc  will  be 
subject  to  no  other  discount. 

Hour  programs  costing  $13,000  or 
over,  half-hour  programs,  $7,500  or 
over ;  quarter-hours,  $5,200  or  over, 
will  be  allowed  four  interval  weeks ; 
$14,000,  $8,400,  $5,600,  respectively, 
five  interval  weeks;  $16,000,  $9,600, 
$6,400,  respectively,  six  interval 
weeks;  $18,000,  $10,800,  $7,200,  re- 
spectively, seven  interval  weeks ; 
$20,000,  $12,000,  $8,000,  respectively, 
eight  interval  weeks. 

In  addition,  advertisers  with  more 
than  one  NBC  program  may  "borrow" 
vacation  weeks  from  one  program  and 
add  them  to  those  earned  by  another, 
up  to  a  maximum  of  13. 


New  Pact  for  Kate  Smith 

Kate  Smith  yesterday  signed  a  new 
contract  with  General  Foods  Corp., 
her  current  sponsor,  for  an  additional 
three-year  period,  with  options  there- 
after to  run  indefinitely.  Her  current 
series  will  continue  on  the  air  until 
June  28  and  then  return  in  September. 


Kills  $25,000  Suit 

Federal  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe  has 
dismissed  a  $25,000  suit  brought  by 
Buggeln  &  Smith,  Inc.,  advertising 
agents,  against  Standard  Brands,  Inc., 
sponsor  of  the  Chase  &  Sanborn 
Coffee  Hour.  The  suit  involved  a 
sales  promotion  plan  commercializing 
the  popularity  of  Charlie  McCarthy. 


Will  Air  Beck  Speech 

Networks  will  open  earlier  than 
usual  Friday  in  order  to  broadcast  the 
speech  of  Col.  Josef  Beck,  Foreign 
Minister  of  Poland,  before  the  Polish 
Parliament.  NBC  and  CBS  both  plan 
to  open  transmitters  at  6 :45  A.  M. 


CBS  April  Billings 
Record  $2,854,026 


CBS  had  the  largest  gross  billing 
for  April  in  its  history,  with  a  tota, 
of  $2,854,026.  The  percentage  rise  ovei'j 
April,  1938,  when  billings  were  $2, 
424,180,  was  17.7. 

Cumulative  billings  for  the  foui 
months  of  1939  totaled  $10,995,304^ 
.2  per  cent  decline  compared  toWj; 
$11,018,777  grossed  for  the  sairo 
period  last  year. 

NBC's  billings  also  showed 
healthy  increase,  the  April  billings  to 
tailing  $3,560,984,  compared  to  th< 
$3,310,505  grossed  in  April  of  last  year 
The  percentage  increase  was  7.6. 

Cumulative  total  gross  billings  wen 
$15,514,431,  an  increase  of  7.7  per  cen 
compared  to  the  billings  for  the  similai 
period  of  1938,  which  totaled  $14,408, 
905. 

Mutual's  billings,  reported  yester 
day,  climbed  38.6  per  cent  for  April 
and  the  cumulative  increase  amountet 
to  22,8  per  cent. 


RCA's  Quarter  Net 
Reaches  $1,448,111 

Net  earnings  of  $1,448,110  for  th< 
first  quarter  of  1939  were  reporter 
at  the  annual  stockholders'  meeting 
of  RCA  yesterday.  The  figure  repre-^ 
sents  a  gain  of  $10,309  over  the  $1,- 
437,801  earned  in  the  first  quarten 
last  year.  Current  earnings  were  equal 
to  4  6/10  cents  a  common  share,  com- 
pared with  share  earnings  of  4  5/l( 
cents  earned  in  the  corresponding  per-; 
iod  of  1938. 

Gross  earnings  for  the  quarter  were; 
$25,004,989,  compared  with  $22,630/ 
568  for  the  quarter  last  year.  David 
Sarnoff,  president  of  RCA,  reported  J 
to  stockholders  that  television  should 
eventually  prove  profitable  to  RCA  J 
both  as  a  new  medium  of  advertising 
and  through  the  sale  of  television  re-!j 
ceivers. 


Burgess  Wins  Paley 
Amateur  Radio  Prize 

William  S.  Paley  Amateur  Radio1 
Award  for  1938  has  been  voted  to 
Wilson  E.  Burgess,  amateur  operator 
of  Westerly,  L.  I.,  and  will  be  pre-: 
sented  at  a  luncheon  in  the  Hotel 
Pierre  June  6.  Selection  of  Burgess 
was  based  on  his  performance  during 
a  hurricane  which  devastated  large 
sections  of  New  England. 

The  board  which  picked  Burgess 
comprises  Norman  Davis,  chairman 
of  the  Red  Cross ;  Dr.  J.  H.  Dellinger, 
Chief  of  the  Radio  Section,  U.  S. 
Bureau  of  Standards ;  Lt.  Com. 
Charles  P.  Edwards,  Chief  of  Air 
Services,  Department  of  Transport, 
Ottawa,  Canada ;  A.  E.  Kennelly,  pro- 
fessor emeritus  of  electrical  engineer- 
ing, Harvard,  and  Rear  Admiral  Rus- 
sell Randolph  Waesche,  Command- 
ant, U.  S.  Coast  Guard. 


CBC  Awards  Prizes 

Montreal,  May  2. — Canadian 
Broadcasting  Corp.  has  awarded  the 
$250  first  prize  in  the  drama  contest 
to  Noel  Watts,  of  Victoria,  B.  C,  for 
his  half-hour  drama  "Hang  the  Peets 
at  Dawn."  Marjorie  Jordan  of  Brant- 
ford,  Ont,  took  second  prize  of  $150 
with  "The  Doctor's  Wife"  and  E.  G. 
Archibald  of  Timmins,  Ont.,  won  the 
third  award,  $100. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


lednesday.  May  3.  1939 


M  issotiri/ 
King,  $18,000 
Minneapolis 

Minneapolis,  May  2.— "I'm  From 
Bpnri"  combined  with  the  Wayne 
lj|  band  on  the  stage,  was  easily 
\i  best  grosser  here,  getting  $18,000 
i  the  Orpheum. 

In  St.  Paul,  "Oklahoma  Kid," 
(th  three  days  of  "Mikado  in  Swing," 
it  top  honors  with  $6,000  at  the 
plieum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
I  April  27: 

rowded  Hours"  (RKO) 
udden  Money"  (Para.) 
ulldog    Drummond's    Secret  Police" 
(Para.) 

Jmost  a  Gentleman"  (RKO) 

&STER— (900)  (15c-25c)  7  days.  Split 
iek  dual  bills.  Gross:  $1,800.  (Average, 
•500) 

tree  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
ek.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average.  $4,000) 
et  Us  Live"  (Col.) 

iOPHER— (990)    (25c)    6    days.  Gross: 
600.  (Average,  $2,500) 
m  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 
iRPHEUM-(2,900)     (35c-55c)     7  days, 
■ivne  King  on  stage.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Av- 
|ge,  $4,800) 

'uthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

}TATE— (2,300)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 

ftOX  (Average,  $4,400) 

imphitryon"  (Foreign) 

A'ORLD — (400)  (25c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 

D.  (Average,  $1,400) 

ST.  PAUL: 
klahoma  Kid"   (W.  B.) 
♦RPHEUM— (2,000)     (35c -55c)     7  days 
jh  "Mikado  in   Swing"   3  days.  Gross: 
COO.  (Average,  $3,200) 
'uthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
' A R AMOUNT — (2,500)   (25c-40c)   7  days, 
pss:  $4,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
opper  Takes  a  Trip"  (U.  A.) 
tlVTERA— (1,000)    (25c)    7   days.  Gross: 
000.  (Average,  $1,800) 
oirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 
Iver  on  the  Sage"  (Para.) 
"OWER- (1,000)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
,600.  (Average,  $1,500) 
orbidden  Territory"  (Elliot) 
VORLD— (400)    (25c-35c)   7  days.  Gross: 
0.  (Average,  $700) 


'ommer  to  Attend 
Para.  Convention 

Erich  Pommer,  production  head  of 
ayflower  Films,  will  attend  the  Par- 
ijiount  sales  convention  in  Los  An- 
ifles,  June  8  to  10.  He  is  due  here 
jay  IS  from  London  on  the  Nor- 
midie. 

Pommer  will  address  the  convention 
I  the  Pommer-Laughton-Mayflower 
jtns  to  be  distributed  by  Paramount 

Te  during  1939-'40.  Three  films  are 
jut,  including  "Jamaica  Inn,"  "St. 
:artin's  Lane"  and  "Admirable  Crich- 
jh."  Budd  Rogers,  Pommer's  Ameri- 
.n  representative,  also  will  attend  the 

"eting. 


Wono.  Films  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  May  2. — When  the  execu- 
te and  sales  forces  of  Monogram 
rive  Thursday  for  the  company's  an- 
al convention,  two  Monogram  fea- 
kes  will   be  .on   view  at  first  run 
uses  here.   "Streets  of  New  York" 
at  the  Garrick,  and  "Mystery  of 
Wong"  at  the  Central.   Louis  S. 
■  ton,  director  of  advertising  and  pub- 
tty,  and  Manny  Reiner,  pressbook 
Hor,  and  John  Harrington  arrived 
lay  to  make  advance  preparation  for 
s  meeting. 


More  "HetzMm" 

Berlin,  May  2. — Two  more 
films  have  been  added  to  the 
list  of  "hetzfilm,"  pictures 
which  the  Nazis  charge  are 
produced  by  Americans  and 
the  British  "to  whip  up  ha- 
tred against  the  totalitarian 
states."  The  latest  are  RKO's 
"Thev  Made  Her  a  Spy"  and 
the  Edith  Cavell  film  which 
Herbert  Wilcox  is  producing 
in  Hollywood  for  RKO. 

'Hardys'  Ride 
High  $13,200 
Frisco  Gross 

San  Francisco,  May  2.  —  "Dark 
Victory"  and  "Kid  From  Texas"  took 
a  big  SI 7,000  at  the  Fox.  Strong 
with  $13,200  at  the  Paramount  were 
the  "Hardys  Ride  High"  and  "So- 
ciety Lawyer." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  25-28 : 

"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,800)    (35c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross: 
$10,000.  (Average.  $15,000) 
"Three   Smart   Girls   Grow   Up"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)  (15c -35c -40c -55c)  7 
days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"Dark   Victory"   (W.  B.) 
"Kid  From  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.  (Average.  $16,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (W.  B.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT—  (2,740)  ( 15c -35c -40c -55c- 
75c)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,200.  (Average,  $11,- 
500) 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

ST.  FRANCIS — (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  davs,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,300.  (Av- 
erage, $6,000) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

WAR  Fl  E  LD— (2,680)    ( 1 5c  -  35c  -  40c  -  55c  -  75c ) 
7  days.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1.200)  (15c-35c-40c- 
55c-65c)    7  days,   3rd  week.   Gross:  $7,500. 
(Average.  $8,000) 
"Pearls  of  the  Crown"  (Gallic) 

CLAY— (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,100.  (Average,  $1,000) 
"Road  to  Success"  (Svensk) 

LARKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $900.  (Average,  $1.0001 


Wilcox  to  Produce 
Film  on  Kitchener 

Hollywood,  May  2. — Herbert  Wil- 
cox, here  with  Anna  Neagle,  who  will 
star  in  his  picture  on  the  life  of  Edith 
Cavell  for  RKO  release,  said  his  next 
picture  would  be  "Kitchener,"  based 
on  the  life  of  the  famous  Englishman. 

Following  "Kitchener,"  which  will 
be  made  in  England,  Wilcox  will  re- 
turn to  Hollywood  to  make  "Marie 
Lloyd,"  biographical  story  of  Eng- 
land's famed  music  hall  entertainer,  in 
which  Miss  Neagle  also  will  star.  Wil- 
cox and  Miss  Neagle  were  introduced 
to  the  press  at  a  cocktail  party  at  the 
Victor  Hugo  Cafe  last  night. 


Canadian  Premiere  Set 

Toronto,  May  2.— "Sixty  Glorious 
Years"  will  have  its  Canadian  pre- 
miere_May  12  at  the  Capitol,  Ottawa, 
to  coincide  with  the  visit  to  Canada 
by  the  British  monarchs.  The  film  is 
being  released  in  the  U.S.  as.  "House 
of  Windsor." 


Ticket  Brokers'  Bill 
Up  for  Early  Vote 

Albany,  May  2. — The  bill  intro- 
duced into  the  New  York  legislature 
to  place  regulation  of  ticket  brokers  in 
the  hands  of  the  mayor  or  commis- 
sioner of  licenses  and  remove  it  from 
the  jurisdiction  of  the  secretary  of 
state  seems  likely  to  reach  a  vote  this 
week.  Present  indications  are  that 
the  bill  will  pass. 

The  bill,  sponsored  by  Senator  Fred- 
eric Coudert,  Jr.,  and  Assemblyman 
MacNeil  Mitchell,  requires  brokers  to 
endorse  the  amount  of  the  price  ad- 
vance on  each  ticket  and  limits  ad- 
vances to  75  cents  plus  tax  per  ticket. 


Ticket  Report  to  Hofstadter 

Report  of  Referee  Morris  Cooper, 
Jr.,  upholding  the  validity  of  the  ticket 
broker  code  which  limits  advances  on 
ticket  sales,  will  come  up  for  con- 
firmation before  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
Justice  Samuel  Hofstadter  today. 
Acme  Ticket  Agency  is  plaintiff  in  a 
suit  against  League  of  New  York 
Theatres  and  Actors'  Equity  to  set 
aside  the  code.  • 


35  British  Films  in 
Canada  During  1938 

Toronto,  May  2. — British  features 
imported  into  Canada  during  1938  to- 
taled 35,  approximately  the  same  total 
as  for  1937.  The  number  of  features 
from  all  countries  was  in  excess  of 
400,  with  France  second  to  the  United 
States  in  the  list  of  countries  of 
origin. 


23 

SAG  Officers  Get 
Writ,  Defend  Ballot 

Hollywood,  May  2. — Factional  dis- 
pute in  the  Screen  Actors'  Guild 
reached  a  climax  today  when  direc- 
tors, officers  and  members  of  the  Class 
B  Council,  governing  body  for  extra 
players,  were  served  with  a  temporary 
restraining  order  to  enjoin  the  void- 
ing of  recent  Class  B  elections. 

Ed  Heim,  Paul  Cook  and  Eddie 
Aquilania,  elected  to  the  Class  B 
Council  April  16,  are  plaintiffs.  Law- 
rence Beilenson,  Guild  attorney,  sub- 
sequently declared  the  election  invalid 
because  of  an  alleged  lack  of  a 
quorum,  on  the  grounds  that  20  per 
cent  of  the  membership  did  not  par- 
ticipate in  the  balloting.  The  board 
subsequently  voted  to  take  a  new  vote 
by  mail.  Superior  Court  Judge  E.  H. 
Wilson  signed  the  temporary  order 
and  set  a  hearing  for  Friday. 

Guild  council  meeting  today  was  en- 
tirely taken  up  with  this  matter  and 
discussion  of  the  S.A.G.  contract  with 
the  Artists'  Managers'  Guild  for  li- 
censing agents  had  to  be  postponed. 
With  both  sides  agreed  in  principle, 
final  action  is  expected  within  three 
weeks.  George  Murphy,  chairman  of 
the  S.A.G.  negotiating  committee,  has 
called  a  meeting  next  Monday  to  set 
final  details. 


Clark,  Inc.,  Continues 

Peter  Clark,  Inc.,  theatre  stage 
equipment  designers,  is  continuing  in 
business  under  the  active  management 
of  Arthur  Clark,  son  and  associate  of 
the  late  Peter  Clark,  founder  of  the 
company,  who  died  in  1934. 


The  Hollywood 

story  of  a  success- 
ful pictiire  is 
going  the  rounds! 


A  CAMPAIGN 


CONTEST 


■  ■ 


fjj 

:lilf 


WITH 


$4,000 


IN 


ON 


ONLY  ANGELS  HAVE  WINGS 


As  an  incentive  to  all  theatre  managers  and  advertising  men 
to  develop  EXTRAORDINARY  campaigns  on  ONLY  ANGELS 
HAVE  WINGS,  COLUMBIA  will  offer  $4,000  in  prizes  for  the  best 
campaigns  inclusive  of  advertising,  publicity  and  exploitation. 

The  contest  is  open  to  everyone  and  prizes  will  be  awarded 
strictly  on  the  merits  of  the  campaigns  regardless  of  the  sizes 
of  the  communities.  A  committee  of  judges,  to  be  announced 
shortly,  will  make  the  awards. 

FIRST  PRIZE  ....  $1,000 
TEN  PRIZES ...  of  $300 

•  For  further  details  watch  trade  paper  ad- 
vertising  on  ONLY  ANGELS  HAVE  WINGS 
and  the  next  issue  of  The  Columbia  Mirror 


PRIZES  I 


Alert, 


tion 


°icture 
ndustry 


DO  NO' 


OVE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


45.  NO.  86 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  MAY  4,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


>elznick  Role 
To  Be  Bigger 
In  UA  Affairs 


eveal  Plans  at  Coast 
Convention  Monday 

Hollywood,  May  3. — David  O. 
iznick's  role  in  the  affairs  of  United 
itists  will  be  made  ascendant.  His 
•lures  will  play  a  leading  part  in 
•  new  season's  campaign,  and  he 
11  be  given  a  crowning  spot  on  the 
mpany's  producer  roster. 
With'  Charles  Chaplin,  Douglas 
irbanks,  Sr.,  Samuel  Goldwyn, 
>exander  Korda,  Walter  Wanger, 
hist  Lubitsch,  Sol  Lesser,  David 
•ew,  Edward  Small  and  Hal  Roach, 
lited  Artists  will  enter  the  1939-'40 
ason  under  direction  of  Murray  Sil- 
rstone  with  the  greatest  number  of 
oducers  in  its  history. 
The  company's  plans  will  be  re- 
eled officially  at  the  annual  sales 
mention  which  starts  at  the  Hotel 
-nbassador  Monday. 
All  of  the  U.  A.  higherups  from  the 
■st  are  coming  here  for  the  session, 
addition  to  the  company's  branch 
anagers  and  sales  forces. 


175  Will  Attend 

About  175  members  of  United  Art- 
s  field  sales  staff  and  home  office 
rsonnel  will  attend  the  company's 
tional  sales  meeting  and  20th  anni- 
■  rsary  celebration  at  the  Ambassador, 
■is  Angeles,  beginning  Monday. 
The  company's  "convention  special" 
t  New  York  at  midnight  last  night 
,  d  will  connect  with  delegations  from 
iher  sections  of  the  country  at  Chi- 
go,  Kansas  City,  Newton,  Kan.,  and 
E  Junta,  Colo.  It  is  scheduled  to  ar- 
.'e  in  Los  Angeles  on  Sunday. 
Home  office  officials  who  will  at- 
id  the  meeting,  in  addition  to  those 
<med  earlier,  include  Tom  Mul- 
oney,  Seymour  Poe,  C.  M.  Steele, 
rege,  Ronald  G.  Sidley,  Robert 
aly,  Steve  McGrath,  Phil  Dow,  Jack 
A.  Thompson,  Paul  O'Brien,  Len 

(.Continued  on  page  12) 


Tomorrow! 

Jim  Eshelman,  manager  of 
the  Huron,  Huron,  S.  D.,  says 
after  visiting  the  World's 
Fair  on  Monday  and  Tuesday 
that  he  knows  whv  they  call 
it  "The  World  of  Tomorrow." 

Trying  to  get  mustard  for 
a  hot  dog,  food  at  various 
places,  and  the  like  in  each 
case  he  was  informed,  "We'll 
have  it  tomorrow"  or  "Well 
be  ready  tomorrow." 


Film  Stocks  Rise 
In  Strong  Market 

Film  stocks  rose  fraction- 
ally to  almost  three  points 
in  yesterday's  generally 
stronger  market,  despite  a 
small  turnover.  Wall  Street 
was  more  inclined  to  credit 
the  more  favorable  European 
outlook  for  the  rising  market 
than  any  prospect  of  im- 
proved business  conditions  at 
home. 

Eight  of  nine  industry  is- 
sues listed  on  the  N.  Y. 
Stock  Exchange  showed  gains 
for  the  day.  Loew's  and 
Eastman  Kodak  led  with 
gains  of  2%  each.  Warners 
preferred  was  up  2.  Other 
issues  recorded  fractional 
gains. 


Monogram  Opens 
Meeting  at  Chicago 
Today;  150  Attend 


Chicago,  May  3.— Advances  con- 
tingents for  Monogram's  three-day 
convention  arrived  today  with  the  re- 
mainder of  home  office  and  studio  del- 
egations expected  early  tomorrow 
when  the  meeting  opens  at  the  Drake 
Hotel. 

More  than  150  home  office  and 
studio  executives,  exchange  heads, 
franchise  holders  and  salesmen  are  ex- 
pected. 

Attendance  will  be  50  per  cent  high- 
er than   last  year.      Important  an- 
nouncements concerning  budget  plans 
(Continued  on  page  9) 


Mechanical  Rights 
To  Songs  Assigned 
To  Writers  Group 

Song  Writers'  Protective  Associa- 
tion, with  a  membership  of  600,  has 
obtained  from  its  membership  assign- 
ment of  all  mechanical  rights  to  new 
songs  published  after  June  1.  This 
assignment  will  give  to  the  S.W.P.A. 
control  over  all  recording,  transcrip- 
tion and  synchronization  of  composi- 
tions by  members. 

Control  over  mechanical  rights  has 
long  been  a  matter  of  dispute  between 
composers  and  music  publishers,  an- 
nual revenue  being  more  than  $1,- 
000,000.  The  assignment,  which  will 
be  in  force  for  two  years,  will  require 
publishers  to  deal  directly  with  the 
S.W.P.A.  for  mechanical  rights  after 
June  1  and  it  is  likely  that  negotia- 
tions for  a  new  minimum  contract  will 
be  started.  In  an  effort  to  call  at- 
tention to  contracts  deemed  unfair  by 
song  writers,  the  S.W.P.A.  will  pub- 
lish on  May  15  a  circular  containing 
contracts  and  calling  attention  to 
clauses  regarded  as  unfair. 


Lohr  Urges  Unity 
Of  Television,  Films 

Chicago,  May  3. — Television  can- 
not compete  with  motion  pictures, 
Maj.  Lenox  Lohr,  president  of  the 
National  Broadcasting  Co.,  said  here 
today.  "We  must  cooperate,"  he 
added.  "Film  costs  are  too  great  for 
us  since  the  cheapest  film  costs  $1,000 
a  minute  to  produce." 


British  Groups  Protest 

Taxes  to  Customs  Chief 


London,  May  3. — Various  trade 
branches  today  received  invitations  to 
make  representations  concerning  the 
proposed  increased  film  taxes  to  the 
chairman  of  the  Board  of  Customs, 
rather  than  to  Sir  John  Simon,  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Exchequer,  with  whom 
the  trade  had  requested  a  hearing. 

Protests  of  the  Cinematograph  Ex- 
hibitors' Association  and  Kinemato- 
graph  Renters'  Society  (distributors) 
were  made  today,  headed  by  D.  E. 
Griffiths,  K.  R.  S.  president.  News- 
reels  will  make  their  protest  tomor- 
row, while  the  labor  unions,  with  the 
support  of  the  Trade  Union  Congress, 
will  be  heard  Saturday  or  Monday. 


Griffiths  is  credited  with  the  belief 
that  Sir  John  Simon  is  insistent  upon 
taxing  American  interests.  A  joint 
trade  deputation  to  Simon  may  follow 
branch  representations  to  the  Board  of 
Customs. 

Movietone  News  is  understood  to  be 
anxious  to  dissociate  itself  from  the 
joint  move,  on  the  ground  it  is  hope- 
ful of  being  able  eventually  to  pre- 
sent the  newsreel  case  to  Simon. 

In  Commons  today,  Captain  Crook- 
shank  of  the  Treasury  declared  Brit- 
ish producers  in  1937  used  58,000,000 
feet  of  blank  film.  He  also  said  the 
tax  revisions  were  drawn  up  after  con- 
sultation with  the  Board  of  Trade. 


Ascap  to  Ask 
Separate  Fee 
On  Television 


Board  Acts  on  Plan 
Meeting  Today 


at 


Recommendation  that  Ascap  levy  a 
separate  performing  fee  for  use  of  its 
music  in  television  broadcasts  will  be 
made  to  the  society's  board  of  direc- 
tors at  its  regular  meeting  today.  Ad- 
vance indications  are  that  the  board 
will  accept  the  recommendation. 

Matter  of  a  separate  fee  for  televi- 
sion use  has  not  been  decided  hereto- 
fore due  to  Ascap's  willingness  to 
permit  free  use  of  its  music  during 
the  experimental  stages  of  television. 
With  the  beginning  of  sales  of  receiv- 
ing sets  to  dealers  by  the  broadcasters 
or  their  affiliates,  however,  Ascap's 
attorneys,  Schwartz  &  Frohlich,  are 
understood  to  regard  television  as  hav- 
ing entered  the  commercial  stage.  In 
this  stage,  according  to  their  opinion, 
use  of  Ascap  music  on  programs  de- 
signed to  aid  in  the  sale  of  television 
receiving  sets  to  the  public,  consti- 
tutes a  separate  "public  performance 
for  profit"  which  is  not  covered  by 
the  broadcasters'  radio  performing 
rights.  Louis  D.  Frohlich,  Ascap 
counsel,  is  expected  to  so  hold  at  to- 
day's board  meeting. 

Insofar  as  could  be  learned,  Ascap 
has  not  progressed  as  far  as  consid- 
eration of  rates  for  television  perform- 
ing rights  to  its  music. 


State  Senate  Votes 
Tax  on  Sports  Films 

Albany,  May  3. — State  Senate  to- 
day passed  the  bill  of  Senator  William 
T.  Condon  providing  that  five  per  cent 
of  the  gross  receipts  from  motion  pic- 
ture rights  to  boxing  bouts,  wrestling 
matches,  and  other  sports  be  paid  to 
the  state. 


Registration  for 
N.  Y.  World's  Fair 

Readers  planning  to  come 
to  the  World's  Fair  are  in- 
vited to  notify  Motion  Picture 
Daily  in  advance  of  or  on 
their  arrival,  for  registration. 
Thus  those  desirous  of  locat- 
ing other  industry  visitors 
will  be  able  to  do  so  by  call- 
ing at  our  offices  or  phoning 
Circle  7-3100,  asking  for 
"World's  Fair  Bureau." 

A  coupon  for  convenient 
registration  is  on  Page  9. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


OTTO  E.  KOEGEL,  is  recovering 
at  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  where  he 
underwent  an  operation  on  Tuesday. 
• 

Ernesto  P.  Smith,  Columbia  man- 
ager for  Cuba,  arrives  in  New  York 
tomorrow  on  the  Oriente,  and  Sig- 
wart  Kusiel,  manager  for  Mexico, 
arrives  Sunday  by  plane.  Both  will 
attend  the  company's  annual  sales 
meeting  opening  Monday  in  Atlantic 
City. 

• 

James  Roosevelt,  vice-president  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  went  on  the 
air  for  "Wuthering  Heights"  over  sta- 
tion PTT,  Paris,  last  night  following 
the  premiere  of  the  picture  at  the 
Biarritz.  Press  releases  referred  to  it 
as  a  "Fireside  Chat."  Roosevelt  is 
due  here  Monday  on  the  Queen  Mary. 
• 

Paul  Graetz,  head  of  Transcon- 
tinental Films,  is  en  route  back  to 
France  on  the  Normandie  following 
conferences  here  with  J.  A.  McCon- 
ville,  Columbia  foreign  head,  on  sev- 
eral productions  he  is  making  for  Col- 
umbia release. 

• 

Percival  J.  Hay  of  London  will 
speak  at  a  snowing  of  "Eyes  Right," 
British  documentary  film,  sponsored 
today  by  the  National  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Blindness. 

• 

G.   L.   Carrington,  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  Altec,  has 
returned    from     a    two-week  trip 
through  the  south  and  midwest. 
• 

Mack  Sennett,  veteran  producer, 
will  be  associate  producer  with  Harry 
Joe  Brown  on  20th  Century-Fox's 
"Hollywood  Cavalcade." 

• 

Sam  Lefkowitz,  office  manager  of 
the  Warner  New  York  exchange,  has 
left  for  a  two-week  vacation. 
• 

Sinclair  Lewis  has  returned  east 
and  is  shuttling  between  New  York 
and  his  Vermont  farm. 

• 

James  A.  FitzPatrick  has  been 
in  Washington  making  a  film  of  the 
capital. 

• 

Richard  Ettleson,  head  of  Con- 
solidated Theatres  in  New  Jersey,  is 
ill. 


LEO  SAMUELS  of  the  Walt  Dis- 
ney eastern  office  and  Aida 
Quirighetti  will  be  married  Sunday 
at  the  Fifth  Ave.  Presbyterian  Church. 
A  reception  at  the  Hotel  Lombardy 
will  follow. 

• 

Captain  P.  C.  Passman,  president 
of  General  Register  Corp.,  is  recover- 
ing at  the  New  York  Hospital  after 
an  operation.  He  was  stricken  while 
en  route  from  Mexico  and  the  west 
coast. 

• 

A.  Suarez  del  Rivero,  Latin  Ameri- 
can publicity  head  for  Columbia,  and 
Sydney  Davis,  formerly  with  that 
company,  are  completing  a  film  scen- 
ario with  a  Pan-American  theme. 
• 

Jerry  Horwin,  co-author  with 
John  Larkin  of  "Rose  of  Washing- 
ton Square,"  will  leave  today  for  the 
coast  to  resume  writing  at  the  20th 
Century-Fox  studio. 

• 

Harry  Kosiner,  Walter  Wanger's 
eastern  representative,  left  last  night 
for  the  coast  to  attend  the  United 
Artists  sales  convention. 

• 

Barney  Balaban,  John  Hicks, 
Alex  Gumberg,  Tamara,  Jack  For- 
rest, Marjorie  Stafford  at  Sardi's 
for  luncheon  yesterday. 

• 

Roy  Haines,  eastern  and  Canadian 
sales  manager  for  Warners,  returned 
yesterday  from  a  trip  to  the  Boston 
and  Buffalo  branches. 

• 

W.  C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox 
central  division  manager,  leaves  to- 
night for  Chicago,  Minneapolis  and 
Milwaukee. 

• 

Herman  Pitt,  operator  of  the  St. 
George  Playhouse  in  Brooklyn,  has 
returned  from  a  Miami  vacation. 
• 

M.  J.  Siegel,  Republic  producer,  is 
in  New  York  for  about  a  month,  com- 
bining a  rest  with  business. 

• 

Art  Schmidt  of  Loew's  advertising 
department  has  returned  from  a  tour 
of  out-of-town  theatres. 

• 

Walter  Reade,  Jr.,  will  leave  June 
11  for  a  coast  vacation. 

George  Sanders  is  in  town  from 
the  coast. 


Reserve  Decision  in 
Pathe  Holder's  Suit 


2 


Verboten! 

Berlin,  May  3.— By  Govern- 
ment decree,  all  music  con- 
sidered harmful  to  the  Na- 
tional Socialist  culture  has 
been  banned.  The  Reichs- 
musikkammer  has  issued  a 
list  of  proscribed  numbers, 
the  publication,  sale  and  per- 
formance of  which  are  for- 
bidden in  Greater  Germany. 


RKO  Gives  Prizes 
To  Star  Salesmen 

Gold  money  clips  were  awarded  to 
managers  of  six  winning  exchanges  by 
RKO  studios  for  their  work  during 
March,  which  was  Studio  Apprecia- 
tion Month.  Silver  clips  went  to  sales- 
men and  office  managers  or  head  brok- 
ers. 

Each  clip  was  inscribed  with  the 
monogram  of  the  recipient,  the  legend 
"Studio  Appreciation,  March,  1939" 
and  the  RKO  trademark. 

Winners  were :  Detroit — Manager  J. 
F.  Sharkey,  Salesmen  W.  D.  Ward, 

F.  M.  Bonnem  and  M.  E.  Cohen,  and 
Office  Manager  C.  R.  Waxman. 
Charlotte — Manager  J.  P.  Brecheen, 
Salesmen  R.  F.  Branon,  R.  S.  Mitchell 
and  F.  W.  Gebhardt,  and  Office  Man- 
ager W.  W.  Lake.  Atlanta — Manager 

G.  C.  Brown,  Salesmen  R.  C.  Price, 
F.  W.  Salley  and  P.  Harrison,  and 
Office  Manager  I.  P.  Stone.  Washing- 
ton—Manager R.  J.  Folliard,  Sales- 
men H.  E.  Kahn,  E.  W.  Grover,  O. 
Knox  and  A.  P.  Folliard,  and  Office 
Manager  J.  R.  Hildebrand.  New  York 
— Manager  R.  S.  Wolff,  Salesmen  P. 
Hodes,  E.  T.  Carroll,  J.  J.  Dacey,  J. 
Ellis,  L.  I.  Kutinsky  and  H.  Zeitels, 
and  Office  Manager  F.  L.  Drumm. 
Calearv — Manager  H.  F.  Taylor, 
Salesman  J.  S.  McPherson  and  Head 
Booker  P.  Cardell. 

Detroit  is  in  the  lead  in  the  George 
Schaefer  Drive  after  12  of  the  18 
weeks  have  elapsed.  Buffalo  exchange 
is  second  and  New  York  third.  East 
central  district,  headed  by  Nat  Levy, 
is  first  among  the  seven  districts,  with 
the  eastern  division  leading  the  west- 
ern. 


Neelifs  Bill  Draws 
Macfadden  Attack 

Readers  of  Liberty  are  urged  in  a 
leading  editorial  signed  by  Bernarr 
Macfadden  in  the  current  issue,  to 
write  to  their  Congressmen  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  Neely  anti-block  booking 
bill.  The  editorial,  titled  "The  Mo- 
tion Picture  Business  a  Political  Foot- 
ball," asserts  that  "to  adopt  the 
mechanical  procedure  necessary  to 
Government  control  of  such  a  business 
would  be  disastrous." 

"Motion  pictures,"  Macfadden  states, 
"are  now  our  principal  source  of  en- 
tertainment. The  censorship  we  have 
at  the  present  time  is  often  foolish  and 
occasionally  obnoxious." 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


Olson  Buys  Bair's 
Indianapolis  Circuit 

Indianapolis,  May  3. — Purchase  of 
the  Bair  circuit  was  announced  today 
by  Charles  M.  Olson,  owner  of  the 
Lyric  and  the  property  leased  by  the 
Apollo  and  Rivoli  theaters. 

Included  in  the  deal  is  the  Vogue, 
new  neighborhood  house  operated  by 
Carl  Niesse.  The  operating  company 
is  to  be  known  as  the  Charles  M.  Ol- 
son Enterprises,  and  will  control  the 
Lyric,  Vogue  and  five  neighborhoods 
owned  for  several  years  by  Roy  R. 
Bair :  Ritz,  Uotown,  St.  Clair,  Orien- 
tal and  Strand. 

Mr.  Olson  said  the  new  firm  will 
build  three  additional  deluxe  neighbor- 
hoods, each  having  about  2,000  seats. 

Officers  of  the  new  firm :  Olson, 
president;  Jean  Marks,  vice-president; 
E.  M.  Olson,  treasurer;  Bair,  secre- 
tary,  and  Niesse,  general  manager. 


N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Sam- 
uel I.  Rosenman  reserved  decision 
yesterday  on  the  application  of  Anna 
Bashlow,  minority  stockholder,  for  the 
right  to  inspect  the  books  and  records 
of  Pathe  Film  Corp.  Named  as  re- 
spondents are  the  company,  and  its 
officers  and  directors. 

Plaintiff  contends  that  she  is  entitled 
to  inspect  the  books  to  determine  the 
value  of  her  stock  and  to  determine 
whether  any  acts  of  mismanagement 
have  occurred.  The  defense  pointed  out 
that  the  same  -plaintiff  brought  suit  to 
enjoin  the  1938  plan  for  distribution 
of  DuPont  Film  stock  and  that  Justice 
Philip  McCook  denied  the  motion  at 
that  time.  It  was  also  alleged  that 
full  access  to  the  books  had  been 
granted  to  the  plaintiff. 


Thursday,  May  4,  I 


M-G-M  Aims  Ads 
At  Fair  Visitor* 

Capitol,  Astor  and  Loew's 
State  are  mentioned  as  thea 
tres  to  visit  in  newspaper  ads 
placed  out  of  town  by  M-G-]V 
in  conjunction  with  the  Loev 
circuit.  The  idea  is  to  appea 
to  those  visiting  the  World': 
Fair.  The  State  is  publicize! 
as  the  country's  leadiiij 
vaudeville  house.  * 


Hears  RKO  Bond 
Appeal  Tomorrc 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy 
hear  an  application  of  H.  Casse 
Co.   tomorrow  for  an  extension* 
time  during  which  it  may  elect! 
exchange  of  RKO  debentures. 

Extension  requested  is  until  20  <| 
after  the  determination  by  the  Citj 
Court  of  Appeals  of  Cassell's  apj 
from  the  order  confirming  the  pla  j 
reorganization. 

Cassell  states  that  no  underwr 
agreement  will  be  submitted  by  / 
Corp.,  proponent  of  the  plan, 
after  decision  on  appeal,  and  that  1 
holders  will  not  be  able  to  deten 
which  election  will  be  best  until 
spection  of  the  underwriting  ag 
ment. 

'Remous'  Ban  to  Be 
Appealed  to  Cot 

Albany,  May  3. — State  Deparu! 
of  Education  was  served  today 
notice  that  the  rejection  of  "Remi 
by  the  Appellate  Division  woulc 
appealed  to  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

Argument  in  the  Appellate  Div 
on  the  appeal  of  American  Comm 
on  Maternal  Welfare,  Inc.,  and 
Citron  from  the  department's  bai 
"The  Birth  of  a  Baby"  will  be  h 
next  week.  Appellant's  motion  f 
civil  jury  trial  has  been  denied. 


McPherson  Quits  Ni 

Chicago,  May  3.  —  John  Mcl 
son,  long  associated  with  Nat: 
Screen  Service,  has  resigned  as 
trict  manager  and  will  move  to  f 
fornia  in  two  weeks  to  take  ov 
new  theatre  promotion  venture, 
sociated  with  him  will  be  Richar  i 
Beck,  former  exhibitor  here. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office)  1 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chie 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JA 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Si  i 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing 
pany.    Inc.,    Martin    Quigley,  presi 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  trea:  i 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Aven 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telep 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigx 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  a 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  M<  M 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  T  [■ 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pic  ■ 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  U| 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  '.  m 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  W<H 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  1 
O'Neill,  manager.  London  :  4  Golden  S<  )■ 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Lo  ill 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sep  'M 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  I  I 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  ii  itB 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copie  jdl 


Did  Somebody 
Say  Something 
about 

CONSISTENT 
DELIVERY? 


Who  else  but  WARNER  BROS,  offers  not  1,  not  2,  not  3  but 

TREMENDOUS  ATTRACTIONS  RIGHT  NOW! 


Confessions  of  a 

NAZI  SPY 


Strand! 


Absolute 


JUAREZ 


sellout  at  $2  -  top  at  the  Hollywood,  N.  Y.! 


ARK  VICTORY 


bold  over  —  ditto  in  practically  every  spot! 


Who  else  but  WARNER  BROS,  shows 

A  FULL- YEAR  RECORD  LIKE  THIS! 


DARK  VICTORY 
JUAREZ 

Confessions  of  a  NAZI  SPY 
DODGE  CITY 
THE  OKLAHOMA  KID 
WINGS  OF  THE  NAVY 


DAWN  PATROL 

THE  MAN  WHO  DARED 

A  FAMILY  AFFAIR 

THE  KID  FROM  KOKOMO 

HELL'S  KITCHEN 


BROTHER  RAT 
ANGELS  With  DIRTY  FACES 
THE  DEVIL  ON  WHEELS 
BLACKWELL'S  ISLAND 
THE  SISTERS 


THEY  Made  Me  a  CRIMINAL   DEVIL'S  ISLAND 


YES,  My  Darling  DAUGHTER   EACH  DAWN  I  DIE 


FOUR  DAUGHTERS 


JACK  L.  WARNER  In  Charge  of  Production  ■  HAL  B.  WALKS  Executive  Producer 

{Dare  'em  to  compare  'em!  It's  the  Fair  Way!) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

 DAILY  

4  Purely  Personal  ► 


2 


Verboten! 

Berlin,  May  3.— By  Govern- 
ment decree,  all  music  con- 
sidered harmful  to  the  Na- 
tional Socialist  culture  has 
been  banned.  The  Reichs- 
musikkammer  has  issued  a 
list  of  proscribed  numbers, 
the  publication,  sale  and  per- 
formance of  which  are  for- 
bidden in  Greater  Germany. 


RKO  Gives  Prizes 
To  Star  Salesmen 

Gold  money  clips  were  awarded  to 
managers  of  six  winning  exchanges  by 
RKO  studios  for  their  work  during 
March,  which  was  Studio  Apprecia- 
tion Month.  Silver  clips  went  to  sales- 
men and  office  managers  or  head  brok- 
ers. 

Each  clip  was  inscribed  with  the 
monogram  of  the  recipient,  the  legend 
"Studio  Appreciation,  March,  1939" 
and  the  RKO  trademark. 

Winners  were :  Detroit — Manager  J. 
F.  Sharkey,  Salesmen  W.  D.  Ward, 

F.  M.  Bonnem  and  M.  E.  Cohen,  and 
Office  Manager  C.  R.  Waxman. 
Charlotte — Manager  J.  P.  Brecheen, 
Salesmen  R.  F.  Branon,  R.  S.  Mitchell 
and  F.  W.  Gebhardt,  and  Office  Man- 
ager W.  W.  Lake.  Atlanta— Manager 

G.  C.  Brown,  Salesmen  R.  C.  Price, 
F.  W.  Salley  and  P.  Harrison,  and 
Office  Manager  I.  P.  Stone.  Washing- 
ton—Manager R.  J.  Folliard,  Sales- 
men H.  E.  Kahn,  E.  W.  Grover,  O. 
Knox  and  A.  P.  Folliard,  and  Office 
Manager  J.  R.  Hildebrand.  New  York 
—Manager  R.  S.  Wolff,  Salesmen  P. 
Hodes,  E.  T.  Carroll,  J.  J.  Dacey,  J. 
Ellis,  L.  I.  Kutinsky  and  H.  Zeitels, 
and  Office  Manager  F.  L.  Drumm. 
Calearv — Manager  H.  F.  Taylor, 
Salesman  J.  S.  McPherson  and  Head 
Booker  P.  Cardell. 

Detroit  is  in  the  lead  in  the  George 
Schaefer  Drive  after  12  of  the  18 
weeks  have  elapsed.  Buffalo  exchange 
is  second  and  New  York  third.  East 
central  district,  headed  by  Nat  Levy, 
is  first  among  the  seven  districts,  with 
the  eastern  division  leading  the  west- 
ern. 


Neely's  Bill  Draws 
Macfadden  Attack 

Readers  of  Liberty  are  urged  in  a 
leading  editorial  signed  by  Bernarr 
Macfadden  in  the  current  issue,  to 
write  to  their  Congressmen  in  opposi- 
tion to  the  Neely  anti-block  booking 
bill.  The  editorial,  titled  "The  Mo- 
tion Picture  Business  a  Political  Foot- 
ball," asserts  that  "to  adopt  the 
mechanical  procedure  necessary  to 
Government  control  of  such  a  business 
would  be  disastrous." 

"Motion  pictures,"  Macfadden  states, 
"are  now  our  principal  source  of  en- 
tertainment. The  censorship  we  have 
at  the  present  time  is  often  foolish  and 
occasionally  obnoxious." 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

I  56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


OTTO  E.  KOEGEL,  is  recovering 
at  St.  Luke's  Hospital,  where  he 
underwent  an  operation  on  Tuesday. 
• 

Ernesto  P.  Smith,  Columbia  man- 
ager for  Cuba,  arrives  in  New  York 
tomorrow  on  the  Oriente,  and  Sig- 
wart  Kusiel,  manager  for  Mexico, 
arrives  Sunday  by  plane.  Both  will 
attend  the  company's  annual  sales 
meeting  opening  Monday  in  Atlantic 
City. 

• 

James  Roosevelt,  vice-president  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  went  on  the 
air  for  "Wuthering  Heights"  over  sta- 
tion PTT,  Paris,  last  night  following 
the  premiere  of  the  picture  at  the 
Biarritz.  Press  releases  referred  to  it 
as  a  "Fireside  Chat."  Roosevelt  is 
due  here  Monday  on  the  Queen  Mary. 
• 

Paul  Graetz,  head  of  Transcon- 
tinental Films,  is  en  route  back  to 
France  on  the  Normandie  following 
conferences  here  with  J.  A.  McCon- 
ville,  Columbia  foreign  head,  on  sev- 
eral productions  he  is  making  for  Col- 
umbia release. 

• 

Percival  J.  Hay  of  London  will 
speak  at  a  showing  of  "Eyes  Right," 
British  documentary  film,  sponsored 
today  by  the  National  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Blindness. 

• 

G.   L.   Carrington,  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  Altec,  has 
returned    from    a    two-week  trip 
through  the  south  and  midwest. 
• 

Mack  Sennett,  veteran  producer, 
will  be  associate  producer  with  Harry 
Joe  Brown  on  20th  Century-Fox's 
"Hollywood  Cavalcade." 

• 

Sam  Lefkowitz,  office  manager  of 
the  Warner  New  York  exchange,  has 
left  for  a  two-week  vacation. 
• 

Sinclair  Lewis  has  returned  east 
and  is  shuttling  between  New  York 
and  his  Vermont  farm. 

• 

James  A.  FitzPatrick  has  been 
in  Washington  making  a  film  of  the 
capital. 

• 

Richard  Ettleson,  head  of  Con- 
solidated Theatres  in  New  Jersey,  is 
ill. 

Olson  Buys  Bair's 
Indianapolis  Circuit 

Indianapolis,  May  3. — Purchase  of 
the  Bair  circuit  was  announced  today 
by  Charles  M.  Olson,  owner  of  the 
Lyric  and  the  property  leased  by  the 
Apollo  and  Rivoli  theaters. 

Included  in  the  deal  is  the  Vogue, 
new  neighborhood  house  operated  by 
Carl  Niesse.  The  operating  company 
is  to  be  known  as  the  Charles  M.  Ol- 
son Enterprises,  and  will  control  the 
Lyric,  Vogue  and  five  neighborhoods 
owned  for  several  years  by  Roy  R. 
Bair :  Ritz,  Uotown,  St.  Clair,  Orien- 
tal and  Strand. 

Mr.  Olson  said  the  new  firm  will 
build  three  additional  deluxe  neighbor- 
hoods, each  having  about  2,000  seats. 

Officers  of  the  new  firm :  Olson, 
president ;  Jean  Marks,  vice-president ; 
E.  M.  Olson,  treasurer;  Bair,  secre- 
tary,  and  Niesse,  general  manager. 


LEO  SAMUELS  of  the  Walt  Dis- 
ney eastern  office  and  Aida 
Quirighetti  will  be  married  Sunday 
at  the  Fifth  Ave.  Presbyterian  Church. 
A  reception  at  the  Hotel  Lombardy 
will  follow. 

0 

Captain  P.  C.  Passman,  president 
of  General  Register  Corp.,  is  recover- 
ing at  the  New  York  Hospital  after 
an  operation.  He  was  stricken  while 
en  route  from  Mexico  and  the  west 
coast. 

• 

A.  Suarez  del  Rivero,  Latin  Ameri- 
can publicity  head  for  Columbia,  and 
Sydney  Davis,  formerly  with  that 
company,  are  completing  a  film  scen- 
ario with  a  Pan-American  theme. 
• 

Jerry  Horwin,  co-author  with 
John  Larkin  of  "Rose  of  Washing- 
ton Square,"  will  leave  today  for  the 
coast  to  resume  writing  at  the  20th 
Century-Fox  studio. 

• 

Harry  Kosiner,  Walter  Wanger's 
eastern  representative,  left  last  night 
for  the  coast  to  attend  the  United 
Artists  sales  convention. 

• 

Barney  Balaban,  John  Hicks, 
Alex  Gumberg,  Tamara,  Jack  For- 
rest, Marjorie  Stafford  at  Sardi's 
for  luncheon  yesterday. 

• 

Roy  Haines,  eastern  and  Canadian 
sales  manager  for  Warners,  returned 
yesterday  from  a  trip  to  the  Boston 
and  Buffalo  branches. 

• 

W.  C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox 
central  division  manager,  leaves  to- 
night for  Chicago,  Minneapolis  and 
Milwaukee. 

• 

Herman  Pitt,  operator  of  the  St. 
George  Playhouse  in  Brooklyn,  has 
returned  from  a  Miami  vacation. 
• 

M.  J.  Siegel,  Republic  producer,  is 
in  New  York  for  about  a  month,  com- 
bining a  rest  with  business. 

• 

Art  Schmidt  of  Loew's  advertising 
department  has  returned  from  a  tour 
of  out-of-town  theatres. 

• 

Walter  Reade,  Jr.,  will  leave  June 
11  for  a  coast  vacation. 

• 

George  Sanders  is  in  town  from 
the  coast. 


Reserve  Decision  in 
Pathe  Holder's  Suit 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Sam- 
uel I.  Rosenman  reserved  decision 
yesterday  on  the  application  of  Anna 
Bashlow,  minority  stockholder,  for  the 
right  to  inspect  the  books  and  records 
of  Pathe  Film  Corp.  Named  as  re- 
spondents are  the  company,  and  its 
officers  and  directors. 

Plaintiff  contends  that  she  is  entitled 
to  inspect  the  books  to  determine  the 
value  of  her  stock  and  to  determine 
whether  any  acts  of  mismanagement 
have  occurred.  The  defense  pointed  out 
that  the  same  olaintiff  brought  suit  to 
enjoin  the  1938  plan  for  distribution 
of  DuPont  Film  stock  and  that  Justice 
Philip  McCook  denied  the  motion  at 
that  time.  It  was  also  alleged  that 
full  access  to  the  books  had  been 
granted  to  the  plaintiff. 


Thursday,  May  4,  I 


M-G-M  Aims  Ads 
At  Fair  Visitor* 

Capitol,  Astor  and  Loew's 
State  are  mentioned  as  thea- 
tres to  visit  in  newspaper  ads 
placed  out  of  town  by  M-G-M 
in  conjunction  with  the  Loeu 
circuit.  The  idea  is  to  apnea' 
to  those  visiting  the  World's 
Fair.  The  State  is  publicizec  j 
as  the  country's  leading  I 
vaudeville  house. 


Hears  RKO  Bond 
Appeal  Tomorrci 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy 
hear  an  application  of  H.  Casselj 
Co.   tomorrow  for  an  extension* 
time  during  which  it  may  elect  j 
exchange  of  RKO  debentures. 

Extension  requested  is  until  20  <j 
after  the  determination  by  the  Cirl 
Court  of  Appeals  of  Cassell's  api 
from  the  order  confirming  the  plai 
reorganization. 

Cassell  states  that  no  underwri 
agreement  will  be  submitted  by  A 
Corp.,  proponent  of  the  plan,  i 
after  decision  on  appeal,  and  that  1 
holders  will  not  be  able  to  deterr 
which  election  will  be  best  until 
spection  of  the  underwriting  ag 
ment. 

'Remous'  Ban  to  Be 
Appealed  to  Coi 

Albany,  May  3. — State  Departtii 
of  Education  was  served  today  ' 
notice  that  the  rejection  of  "Remt 
by  the  Appellate  Division  woulc 
appealed  to  the  Court  of  Appeals. 

Argument  in  the  Appellate  Divi 
on  the  appeal  of  American  Comm 
on  Maternal  Welfare,  Inc.,  and 
Citron  from  the  department's  bai 
"The  Birth  of  a  Baby"  will  be  h 
next  week.  Appellant's  motion  f 
civil  jury  trial  has  been  denied. 


McPherson  Quits  NS 

Chicago,  May  3.  —  John  McP 
son,  long  associated  with  Nati 
Screen  Service,  has  resigned  as 
trict  manager  and  will  move  to  v 
fornia  in  two  weeks  to  take  ov< 
new  theatre  promotion  venture, 
sociated  with  him  will  be  Richan 
Beck,  former  exhibitor  here. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office)  ' 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chie 
Publisher;  SAM  SHA1N,  Editor;  JA 
A.  CRON,  Advertising:  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sv 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing 
pany.     Inc.,     Martin     Quigley,  presi 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treas 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Aveni 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telep 
Circle  7-3100.    Cable  address:  "Quigp 
New  York."    All  contents  copyrighted 
by     Quigley     Publishing  Company, 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  M( 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Ti 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pic 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS :  —  Hollywood:  Postal  I 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  I 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  We 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave., 
O'Neill,  manager.  London  :  4  Golden  Sc 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  LoiS 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sepl  \ 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  >  I! 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  ir  i 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copie  l 


Did  Somebody 

Say  Something 
about 

CONSISTENT 
DELIVERY? 


Who  else  but  WARNER  BROS,  offers  not  1,  not  2,  not  3  but 

TREMENDOUS  ATTRACTIONS  RIGHT  NOW! 


Confessions  of  a 

NAZI  SPY 

JUAREZ 

Sensation  of  Sensations  at  the  N.  Y.  Strand! 

ARK  VICTORY 

DODGE  CITY 

c  City  hold  over  —  ditto  in  practically  every  spot! 

The  extended-time  special!  Matching 'Robin  Hood'  everywhere! 

Who  else  but  WARNER  BROS,  shows 

A  FULL- YEAR  RECORD  LIKE  THIS! 


DARK  VICTORY 
JUAREZ 

Confessions  of  a  NAZI  SPY 
DODGE  CITY 
THE  OKLAHOMA  KID 
WINGS  OF  THE  NAVY 
YES,  My  Darling  DAUGHTER 


DAWN  PATROL 

THE  MAN  WHO  DARED 

A  FAMILY  AFFAIR 

THE  KID  FROM  KOKOMO 

HELL'S  KITCHEN 

THEY  Made  Me  a  CRIMINAL 

EACH  DAWN  I  DIE 


BROTHER  RAT 

ANGELS  With  DIRTY  FACES 

THE  DEVIL  ON  WHEELS 

BLACKWELL'S  ISLAND 

THE  SISTERS 

DEVIL'S  ISLAND 

FOUR  DAUGHTERS 


JACK  L.  WARNER  In  Charge  of  Production  •  HAL  6.  WALLIS  Executive  Producer 

(Dare  'em  to  compare  'em!  It's  the  Fair  Way!) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  May  4,  19: 


'Victory'  at 
Seattle  Good 
With  $8,700 


Seattle,  May  3. — "Dark  Victory" 
and  "Society  Lawyer"  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue  led  with  $8,700.  "The  Story 
of  Alexander  Graham  Bell"  and  "Sud- 
den Money"  drew  $7,200  at  the  Para- 
mount. 

"Ride  a  Crooked  Mile"  and  "The 
Last  Warning"  took  $5,200  at  the 
Palomar.    The  weather  was  fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  28: 

"Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,800.  (Average, 
$4,000) 

"Dark    Victory"    (W.  B.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

FIFTH  AVENUE—  (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $8,700.  (Average,  $7,000) 
"Yes,  My  Darling  Daughter"  (W.  B.) 

MUSIC  BOX — (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,200.  (Average,  $5,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (Hrth-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)  (30c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $4,900.  (Average,  $6,000) 
"Ride  a  Crooked  Mile"  (Para.) 
"The  Last  Warning"  (Univ.) 

PALOMAR— (2,500)     (15c -25c -30c -40c)  7 
days.  Vaudeville  headed  by  the  Ambassa- 
dorettes.  Gross:  $5,200.  (Average,  $5,000) 
"Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)   (30c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,200.  (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Lady  Vanishes"  (G.  B.) 

UPTOWN— (750)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,950.  (Average,  $1,500) 


'Midnight'  Drawsi 
$26,000  Cleveland 

Cleveland,  May  3. — Judy  Garland 
headlining  the  first  stage  show  at 
Loew's  State  in  more  than  two  years, 
with  "Midnight"  as  the  screen  attrac- 
tion, took  a  smash  $26,000. 

"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles" 
divided  honors  with  Jimmy  Dorsey 
and  his  orchestra  at  the  RKO  Palace 
for  $15,000.  "Dodge  City"  for  the  third 
week  at  the  Allen  did  $5,000.  The 
weather  was  fine. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  28: 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME— (3,800)  (30c- 
35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average, 
$12,000) 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,100)    (30c-42c-55c)  7 
days.   Stage:  Vaudeville  headlining  Jimmy 
Dorsey  and  Orchestra.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Av- 
erage, $15,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)  (30c-42c-55c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Judy  Garland  in  person  and 
four  acts  of  vaudeville.  Gross:  $26,000.  (Av- 
erage, $15,000) 

"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S    STILLMAN— (1,900)  (30c-35c- 
42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $2,500.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Potemkin"  (Amkino) 
"The  Country  Bride"  (Amkino) 

CITY— (485)  (35c -42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $600. 
(Average,  $900) 


20th-Fox  Office  to  Move 

Chicago  branch  of  20th  Century- 
Fox  will  move  into  new  quarters  late 
in  June.  The  building  is  under  con- 
struction. The  company's  new  ex- 
change building  in  Milwaukee  is 
scheduled  for  occupancy  May  8. 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Reform  School" 

{Million  Dollar  Productions) 

Hollywood,  May  3. — With  Louise  Beavers  starred  and  Reginald 
Fenderson,  Maceo  Sheffield  and  Monte  Hawley  featured  in  an  all-Negro 
cast,  "Reform  School"  naturally  is  an  attraction  for  theatres  catering 
exclusively  to  all-Negro  clientele  or  houses  heavily  patronized  by  that 
race. 

The  story,  and  all  production  detail,  is  a  melodramatic  indictment  of 
the  cruel  and  inhuman  treatment  practised  upon  youthful  inmates  of  a 
reform  school.  While  there  are  occasional  flashes  of  humor,  there  is  no 
romantic  interest,  as  the  picture  confines  itself  to  Miss  Beavers'  deter- 
mined effort  to  transform  the  brutal  discipline  of  the  school  to  discipline 
rooted  in  kindness,  understanding  and  encouragement.  Her  struggle  is 
vividly  described  in  characterizations,  situations  and  dialogue.  The 
picture  reaches  its  condition-changing  climax  when,  after  Sheffield  is 
removed  as  superintendent  and  Miss  Beavers  is  placed  in  charge,  the 
persecuted  Fenderson  and  his  comrades  turn  the  tables  on  the  renegade 
guard,  Hawley,  who  has  tried  to  make  it  appear  that  Fenderson  has 
stolen  school  funds. 

Produced  and  directed  by  H.  M.  Popkin,  the  production  has  been 
intelligently  designed  and  developed  to  accommodate  the  market  it  will 
serve. 

Running  time,  80  minutes.  "G ."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Winner,'  Tucker 
Kansas  City  Lead 
Grossing  $12,400 


Kansas  City,  May  3.  —  Orrin 
Tucker  and  "Winner  Take  All"  took 
$12,400  at  the  Fox  Tower.  "Dark 
Victory"  grossed  $7,400  at  the  Or- 
pheum,  and  "East  Side  of  Heaven" 
was  strong  at  both  the  Esquire  and 
Uptown,  taking  $3,800  at  the  first  and 
$3,700  at  the  Uptown. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  24-27: 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900),  (25c-40c)  6  days,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $4,600.  (Average,  6  days, 
$6,000.) 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,800.     (Average,  $3,000.) 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $11,500.) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM— (1,500)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $7,400.    (Average,  $5,000.) 
"Winner   Take   All"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX  TOWER— (2,200)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Orrin  Tucker  &  Orchestra,  and  acts. 
Gross:   $12,400.    (Average,  $7,000.). 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,700.    (Average,  $3,500.) 


English  Film  Appeal 
Board  Lunch  Is  Set 

London,  May  3.  —  Inception  of 
the  National  Joint  Appeal  Board, 
formed  to  settle  the  problems  of  the 
industry,  is  to  be  celebrated  at  a 
luncheon  jointly  held  by  the  C.  E.  A. 
and  the  N.  A.  T.  K.  E.  on  May  9. 
F.  W.  Leggett  of  the  Ministry  of 
Labor,  will  take  the  chair. 

The  function  will  mark  a  decisive 
point  in  the  campaign,  which  has 
been  in  progress  for  many  months, 
by  which  the  C.  E.  A.  has  concluded 
agreement  with  the  labor  unions  on 
a  national  basis  as  well  as  district 
agreements  in  many  parts  of  the  coun- 
try. 


'Wuthering'  Does 
$17,000,  Leading 
Pittsburgh  Gross 


Pittsburgh,  May  3. — Loew's  Penn 
paced  the  field  with  $17,000  on  "Wuth- 
ering  Heights,"  followed  by  $13,500 
for  "The  Castles"  at  the  Stanley  with- 
out a  stage  show.  Third  week  of 
"Dodge  City"  took  $6,200  at  the  War- 
ner. "Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
grossed  $8,500  at  the  Alvin. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  27: 

"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(20th-Fox) 

ALVIN— (1,900)     (25c-35c-50c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $8,500.   (Average,  $7,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (25c-40c)  4  days,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $2,300.  (Average,  7  days, 
$5,000) 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S   PENN—  (3,600)    (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average,  $15,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

SENATOR— (2.000)   (25c-40c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average,  $3,800) 
"The  Castles"  (RKO) 

STANLEY— (3,600)    (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $13,500.  (Average,  $17,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $6,200.   (Average,  $4,500) 


'Baby  Ann'  at  Fay's 

"Baby  Mary  Ann,"  six-year-old, 
who  has  appeared  on  several  radio 
programs,  has  been  booked  for  Fay's 
Theatre,  Providence,  for  the  week  of 
May  5.  A.  I.  Feinberg  is  personal 
representative  for  the  child. 


Roach  Signs  Rettig 

Hollywood,  May  3.  —  Hal  Roach 
has  signed  Earl  Rettig  to  a  one-year 
contract  as  casting  director  at  the 
Roach  Studio. 


Massce  &  Co.  Moves 

Massce  &  Co.,  film  forwarders,  have 
moved  their  main  offices  from  42 
Stone  St.  to  723  Seventh  Ave.,  where 
they  will  occupy  two  floors. 


'Wuthering'  Clicks 
In  Washington  wit 
Big  $15,500  Grosi 


Washington,  May  3. — "Wutheri 
Heights"  returned  an  excellent  $1. 
500  at  Loew's  Palace  and  was  t 
local  bell-ringer.  "Let  Free 
Ring"  at  Loew's  Capitol  grossed 
200. 

A  stage  show  helped  "I'm  Frc 
Missouri"  draw  $14,000  in  six  days 
Warners'  Earle. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  April  27: 

"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  CAPITOL— (3,434)  (25c-65c) 
days.  Stage:  Art  Godfrey.  Gross:  $17,2 
(Average,  $16,500) 
"Prison  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40c 
days.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S    PALACE— (2,370)  (25c-55c) 
days.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

RKO-KEITH'S — (1,836)  (25c-55c)  7  da 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $6,000 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE— (2,218)  (25c-66c 
days.   Stage:  Vincent  Lopez,  Abbott 
Costello,  Patricia  Ellis.  Gross:  $14,000.  ( 
erage,  7  days.  $16,000) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN— (1, 
(25c-40c)  5  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $3, 
(Average,  7  days,  $4,000) 


'Wuthering9  Draws 
$6,500  in  Montr e\ 

Montreal,  May  3. — "Three  Smil 
Girls  Grow  Up"  accounted  for  a  fi 
$10,500  at  the  Palace,  while  "Wuthi 
ering  Heights"  grossed  $6,500  at  t 
Orpheum. 

The  second  week  of  "The  Mikad 
took  $7,000  at  Loew's. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  April  29: 

"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 
"Beauty  for  the  Asking"  (RKO) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c) 
days.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (30c -40c -60c)  7  d 
Gross:  $7,000,  2nd  week.  (Average,  $7, 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  d 
Gross:  $6,500.  (Average,  $5,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  da: 
Gross:  $10,500.  (Average,  $10,000) 
"Let  Us  Live"  (Col.) 
"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

PRINCESS— (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c) 
days.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $6,500) 


'East  Side;  $13,000 
Is  Smash  in  Buffal 

Buffalo,  May  3. — "East  Side 
Heaven"  took  $13,000  at  the  Lafayet 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  at  t 
Buffalo  earned  $14,800.  A  Centu 
dual,  "The  Hound  of  the  Baskerville 
and  "Winner  Take  All,"  gross 
$6,900. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  April  28: 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

BUFFALO—  (3,000)     (30c-55c)     7  da] 
Gross:  $14,800.  (Average.  $12,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Kid  From  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (30c-50c)  7  da] 
Gross:  $5,400.  (Average,  $7,500) 
"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RK 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2.500)  (25c-40c)  7  da] 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,400.  (Average.  $6,800) 
"Hound  of  the  BaskervilSes"  (20th-Fox) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (25c)  7  days.  Gros 
$6,900.  (Average.  $6,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Gambling  Ship"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,300)  (25c)  7  daj 
Gross:  $13,000.  (Average.  $6,300) 


in  21 


IONAL  MAGAZINES 

including  SATURDAY  EVENING 
POST  *  COLLIER'S  *  LIBERTY 
★LIFE  *  LOOK  *  TIME  *  PHOTO- 
PLAY and  all  fan  magazines  

With  this  advance  selling,  get  ready 
to  give  this  show  everything  you've  got. . . 


HOWARD  HAWKS'  PRODUCTION 


CARY 


JEAN 


GRANT  ARTHUR 


ONLY  ANGELS 
H 


THOMAS  MITCHELL  •  RITA  HAYWORTH  •  RICHARD  BARTHELMESS 
STORY  and  DIRECTION  by  HOWARD  HAWKS 

Screen  play  by  Jules  Furthman  A  Qoltvnltia  pict*** 


PRINTED    IN  U.S.A. 


rsday.  May  4.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


onogram  Opens 
Meeting  at  Chicago 
Today;  150  Attend 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

next  year's   production   will  be 
ide  early  in  the  session,  with  full 
tails   of   story   properties,  casting 
and  number  of  features  for  the 
1—40  season  to  be  released  tomor- 

\Y.  Ray  Johnston,  president,  will 
eside.  A  number  of  informal  con- 
•ences  have  been  set  in  various  suites 

the  hotel  for  discussion  of  special- 

d  problems.  Johnston  will  conduct 
•e,  and  Scott  R.  Dunlap,  vice-presi- 
nt  in  charge  of  production,  Edward 
Golden,  vice-president  in  charge 

distribution,  and  George  W.  Weeks, 
:e-president  in  charge  of  sales,  will 

ect  the  others. 

Convention  guests   will   be  enter- 
ned  tomorrow  at  a  reception  and 
cktail  party  at  exchange  headquar- 
rs  here.    Henri  Elman  will  be  host. 

franchise  holders'  meeting  will  be 
:.  Id  during  the  afternoon  to  be  fol- 
ded by  an  advisory  committee  din- 
r.     Business  discussions  will  start 
the  evening. 

John  Trent,  star  of  Monogram's 
Tailspin  Tommy"  series,  also  will 
•  on  hand  for  the  convention  opening, 
artin  Spellman,  juvenile  star,  ac- 
nipanied  by  his  mother,  and  Frankie 
arro  are  also  due  to  arrive  tomor- 
•\v. 


John  Trent  on  Air  Tonight 

John  Trent,  star  of  Monogram's 
\lystery  Plane,"  will  be  heard  over 

32-station  CBS  web  tonight  on  the 
Howie  Wing"  broadcast.  Special 
x)kup  from  Chicago  will  be  utilized 
)r  Trent,  attending  the  Monogram 
invention  there.  Program  eman- 
es  from  New  York. 


ndependents  Face 
London  CEA  Fight 

London,  May  3. — Jack  Alexander, 
lairman  of  the  independents'  commit- 
te  of  the  London  Branch  of  the  Cine- 
atograph  Exhibitors'  Association, 
as  challenged  the  potential  obstruc- 
on  of  the  committee's  functioning  on 
le  ground  of  alleged  absence  of  a 

hnition  of  the  term  independent. 

Alexander  claims  the  constitutional 
apointment  of  the  committee  by  the 
ranch  removes  any  further  need  for 

definition.  A  dispute  within  the 
ranch  is  foreshadowed. 


i.  S.  Rosenthal  Now 
L.  A.  Tax  Consultant 

Los  Angeles,  May  3. — Aaron  S. 
Rosenthal,  formerly  controller  for  Re- 
ublic  and  Grand  National,  has  opened 
n  office  in  the  Union  Bank  Building 
ere  as  an  accountant  and  tax  con- 
stant. He  was  for  many  years  with 
ne  Internal  Revenue  department. 


Sagall  Coming  Here 

London,  May  3.  —  Solomon  Sa- 
all,  chief  of  the  Scophony  Tele- 
ision,  plans  a  trip  to  the  United 
tates  within  the  next  few  weeks.  Ac- 
ording  to  Sagall  the  visit  is  in  con- 
ection  with  the  equipment  of  theatres 
ith  Scophony. 


Presiding  at  Monogram's  Convention 


RAY  JOHNSTON 
President  of 
Monogram 


E.  A.  GOLDEN 
Vice-President  of 
Distribution 


GEORGE  WEEKS 
Vice-President 
of  Sales 


LEON  FROMKESS 
Treasurer  of 
Monogram 


SCOTT  DUNLAP 
Vice-President 
of  Production 


LOUIS  LIFTON 
Head  of  Adv.  and 
Publicity 


SOL  ROSENBLATT 


WILLIAM  JAFFE 


Loew  Transfers  Made 

S.  H.  Meinhold,  Loew  circuit  ex- 
ecutive, has  made  the  following  trans- 
fers of  assistant  managers :  C.  Robin- 
son from  Embassy,  North  Bergen, 
N.  J.,  to  Ziegfeld ;  Joseph  Stica  from 
Dyckman  to  Embassy ;  Bert  Roth- 
schild from  Ziegfeld  to  Dyckman. 


Films  in  Scotch  Schools 

London,  May  3.  —  Forty  Edin- 
burgh schools  now  make  regular  use 
of  films  for  educational  purposes.  The 
Education  Committee  of  the  city 
promises  further  developments  during 
the  year.  Twenty-seven  schools  are 
to  show  government  films  on  civics. 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS  REGISTRATION  BUREAU 

Rockefeller  Center,   New  York,   Telephone   Circle  7-3100 


NAME   

AFFILIATION  ... 
HOME  ADDRESS 


ARRIVE    DEPART 

NEW  YORK  ADDRESS  

NEW  YORK  PHONE  

MEMBERS  OF  PARTY  


Clip  the  Coupon  and  Mail  to  World's  Fair  Bureau,  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York 


Okla.  Independents 
Study  Pool  May  9 

Oklahoma  City,  May  3. — A  meet- 
ing of  independent  exhibitors  inter- 
ested in  forming  a  buying  pool  is 
scheduled  here  May  9,  according  to 
George  Sumner,  contact  man  for  the 
buying  group. 

Despite  the  Government's  suit 
against  the  Griffith  Amusement  Co. 
and  affiliated  companies  asking  that 
the  Griffith  organization  be  broken  up, 
independent  exhibitors  are  going  ahead 
with  their  plans  for  organization, 
Sumner  said. 

The  plan  is  understood  to  have 
been  unofficially  approved  by  the  De- 
partment of  Justice.  Out-of-state  men 
will  come  here  to  speak  at  the  meet- 
ing as  will  a  representative  from  the 
Department  of  Justice. 


OklahomaConvention 
Will  Be  Held  June  26 

Oklahoma  City,  May  3. — Annual 
convention  of  the  Oklahoma  Theatres 
Owners,  Inc.,  tentatively  set  for  June 
19  and  20,  has  been  definitely  set  for 
June  26  and  27,  according  to  Morris 
Loewenstein,  association  president, 
who  is  also  secretary  of  the  national 
M.P.T.O.A. 

Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A.  presi- 
dent, will  be  present.  No  general 
meeting  of  the  state  association  has 
been  held  since  the  national  M.P.T. 
O.A.  convention  in  Oklahoma  City 
last  November.  Annual  election  of 
officers  will  be  held  at  the  June 
meeting. 


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WARNERS 

On  Trial 

(G)  (D) 
John  Litel 
Margaret 
Lindsay 

Dodge  City 
(G)  (D) 

Flynn 
de  Havilland 
Ann  Sheridan 

Women  in 
the  Wind 
(G)  (D) 

Kay  Francis 
William  G organ 
Victor  Jory 

Dark  Victory 
(G)  (D) 

Bette  Davis 
George  Brent 
Bogart 

You  Can't  Get 
Away  With 
Murder 
(G)  (D) 

Bogart 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Robinson 
Lederer 

Torchy  Runs 
For  Mayor 
(G)  CD) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 

Winner 
Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

UNIVERSAL 

Family  Next 
Door  (G)  (C) 

Hugh  Herbert 
Joy  Hodges 

East  Side  of 
Heaven 
(G)  (C) 

Bing  Crosby 
Joan  Blondell 

Code  of  the 
Streets 
(G)  (D) 

Harry  Carey 
Frankie  Thomas 

Big  Town 
Czar 
(G)  (D) 

MacLane 
Ed  Sullivan 

For  Love  or 
Money 

June  Lang 
Robert  Kent 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Fairbanks,  Jr. 

Rathbone 
Virginia  Field 

Inside 
Information 
June  Lang 
Dick  Foraiygfk 

< 

Wuthering 
Heights 
(A)  (D) 

Oberon 
Olivier 
Flora  Robson 

Zenobia 
(G)  (C) 

Hardy 
Langdon 
Burke 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

20TH-FOX 

Hound  of  the 
Baskervilles 
(G)  (D) 

Greene 
Rathbone 

Mr.  Moto  in 
Danger  Island 
(G)  (D) 

Lorre 
Hersholt 

Story  of 
Alexander 
Graham  Bell 
(G)  (D) 

Ameche 
Loretta  Young 

Winner  Take 
All  (G)  (D) 

Tony  Martin 
Gloria  Stuart 
Inspector 
Hornleigh 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 
(G)  (D) 
Baxter 
Climbing  High 
Matthews 

Chasing  Danger 
(G)  (D) 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

Rose  of 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jme  Withers 
Arleen  W he lan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

RKO  RADIO 

Almost  a 
Gentleman 
(G)  (D) 
James  Ellison 

Love  Affair 
(G)  (D) 
Boyer 
Irene  Dunne 
Flying  Irishman 
(G)  (D) 

They  Made 
Her  a  Spy 

(G)  (D; 

Sally  Eilers 
Allan  Lane 

Fixer  Dugan 

Lee  Tracy 
Peggy  Shannon 

The  Story  of 
Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle 
(G)  (D) 

Rogers-Astaire 
The  Rookie  Cop 

Sorority  House 
(G)  (D) 

Anne  Shirley 
James  Ellison 

Panama  Lady 

Lucille  Ball 
Allan  Lane 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range  (O) 

O'Brien 

The  Dove 

Ste  ffi  Duna 

Carrillo 
Tim  Holt 

Five  Came 
Back 

Chester  Morris 
Wendy  Barrie 

REPUBLIC 

Mexicali  Rose 
(O) 

Gene  Autry 

The  Night 
Riders 
(O) 

John  Wayne 

■.  c        g  ■- 
CU  toO  "» 

*  a   o  * 

2      ~<  8 

>  ;3 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 

(G)  (D) 
Blue  Montana 
Skies  (G)  CO) 

Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Three 
Mesquiteers 

Man  of 
Conquest 
CG)  CD) 

Richard  Dix 

I 

PARA. 

Sudden  Money 
(G)  (C) 

Juggles 
Silver  on 
the  Sage 

William  Boyd 

I'm  From 
Missouri 
(G)  (C) 

Bob  Burns 
3830 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Secret  Police 
Never  Say 
Die 

Back  Door 
to  Heaven 
(G)  (D) 

Erwin 
Wallace  Ford 
McMahon 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 
(G)  (D) 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 
(G)  (D) 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Hotel  Imperial 

Isa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
Reginald  Owen 

Some  Like  It 
Hot 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

Is  -J 

2  3  ? 

OS  ^ 

MONOGRAM 

Undercover 
Agent 

Russell  Gleason 
Shirley  Deane 

Streets  of 
New  York 
(G)  (D) 

Jackie  Cooper 

Wanted  by 
Scotland  Yard 
Stevenson 
Man  from 
Texas 

Boys' 
Reformatory 

Frankie  Darro 

Wolf  Call 

Movita 
Down  the 
Wyoming  Trail 

Tex  Ritter 

Across  the 
Plains 

Jack  Randall 

M-G-M 

Society  Lawyer 
(A)  (D) 

Pidgeon 
Bruce 
Carrillo 

Broadway 
Serenade 
(G)  (M) 

MacDonald 

Ayres 
Ian  Hunter 

The  Kid 
from  Texas 
(G)  (C) 
Denis  O'Keefe 
Rice 



The  Hardys 
Ride  High 
(G)  (C) 

Rooney 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 
(G)  (D) 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

(G)  (C) 
Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  (G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 

Annabella 
W.  Connolly 

COLUMBIA 

North  of 
the  Yukon 

Starrett 
Romance  of 
Redwoods  (O) 
Bickford 

The  Lady  and 
the  Mob 
(G)  (C) 

Fay  Bainter 
Ida  Lupino 

First  Offenders 

Walter  Abel 
Beverly  Roberts 

The  Law  Comes 
to  Texas 

Bill  Elliott 

Oklahoma 
Trail 

Starrett 
Meredith 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 
(G)(D) 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Jean  Arthur 
Cary  Grant 
Barthelmess 

Missing 
Daughters 

Arlen 
Marian  Marsh 

March 
31 

•»> 

<  * 

April 
21 

< 

9  IT) 

2 

3  ON 
%  * 

lursday.  May  4,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


fear's  Best  Radio 
Education  Features 
Mcked  by  Institute 


Colvmbus,  O.,  May  3. — Tenth  In- 
itute  of  Education  by  Radio,  here, 
sterday  awarded  citations  to  meri- 
•rious  programs,  and  voted  a  recent 
ruction  in  Norman  Corwin's 
Ttds  Without  Music"  program,  on 
BS,  as  the  year's  best  educational 
Bering. 

All  told,  eight  CBS  programs  re- 
lived commendation,  seven  of  NBC's 
id  six  of  Mutual's. 
CBS  programs  were:  Special  award 
,  H.  V.  Kaltenborn,  "Hell  On  Ice" 
■oduction  in  the  Orson  Welles  "Play- 
juse"  series ;  "Steel  Workers"  _  on 
le  "Americans  at  Work"  series ; 
-lonk  to  the  Moose,"  on  "American 
:hool  of  the  Air"  ;  housing  program 

part  of  the  "Frontiers  of  Democra- 
•"  series;  Deems  Taylor  for  his 
■mmentaries  in  the  New  York  Phil- 
trmonic  broadcasts ;  "Bull  Session," 
id  "Jews  in  America,"  broadcast  as 

feature  of  "Americans  All,  Im- 
ligrants  AH"  series. 
NBC's  citations  were  for  the  debate 
tween  Secretary  of  Interior  Harold 
Ikes  and  Publisher  Frank  Gannett  on 
e  "American  Town  Meeting"  series ; 
\dventures  in  Reading,"  "Alice  in 
/onderland,"  "Roving  Professor," 
/alter  Damrosch's  "Musical  Appre- 
ation  Hour"  and  "Robinson  Crusoe." 
Mutual  programs  which  won  favor 
dude  Raymond  Gram  Swing's  talk 

Czechoslovakia  during  the  Munich 
lisis;  Wilberforce  University  An- 
versary  program,  "The  Wheels  Go 
ound,"  "So  It  Happened,"  "Pinoc- 
tio,"  "Backyard  Adventures"  and  "I 
»ke  Music." 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

HY.  KALTENBORN  is  to  lec- 
ture before  the  War  College 
•  in  Washington  Monday  on 
the  international  situation.  .  .  .  Penny 
Wise,  singer,  has  been  signed  by 
WOR  for  the  "Take  a  Chance"  series. 
.  .  .  Carl  Van  Doren,  just  declared  a 
Pulitzer  prize  winner,  will  be  on 
Mutual's  "Author,  Author"  show  to- 
morrow night.  .  .  .  Doug  Corrigan  has 
been  set  for  a  guest  appearance  on 
"For  Men  Only"  over  NBC  on  Tues- 
day, through  a  deal  set  by  Fred  Nor- 
man of  the  Charles  Allen  office.  .  .  . 
Margaret  Cuthbert,  director  of 
women's  programs  for  NBC,  lectured 
at  Columbia  University  last  night  on 
women's  features.  .  .  .  O.  B.  Hanson, 
NBC  vice-president  and  chief  en- 
gineer, also  is  scheduled  to  lecture  at 
Columbia  May  10  on  technical  prob- 
lems of  television. 


*irst  Telecast  Made 
From  NBC's  Studio 

First  program  in  NBC's  regular 
udio  television  schedule  got  under 
ay  last  night,  from  8  to  9  P.M.,  with 
ceivers  in  department  stores,  in  the 
CA  Building,  and  in  an  unknown 
imber  of  homes,  tuned  to  the  show. 
:  group  of  newspaper  men  saw  the 
ogram  on  receivers  in  Radio  City. 
The  opening  television  show  was 
'.ced  by  Fred  Waring's  band,  a  tele- 
:sion  adaptation  of  the  stage  show, 
Jfhe  Unexpected,"  with  Marjorie 
larke  and  Earl  Larrimore  in  the 
lading  parts;  a  juggling  act,  and 
)onald's  Cousin  Gus,"  a  Disney  Don- 
d  Duck  short. 


uild  Show  Replacement 

Replacement  series  for  the  Screen 
-tors'  Guild  show  during  the  sum- 
ir  months  has  virtually  been  set  by 
)ung  &  Rubicam,  although  the  con- 
tact has  not  been  signed  as  yet.  The 
placement  series  will  comprise  Erno 
ipee's  orchestra,  Jane  Froman,  Jan 
'erce  and  a  16-voice  choir.  The 
placement  program  is  scheduled  to 
irt  June  11. 


WHN  Making  Discs 

v\  HN  has  purchased  the  recording 
jipment  of  the  Fairchild  Co.  and 
s  started  a  new  department  for 
iking  electrical  transcriptions.  Re- 
adings will  be  made  by  wire  or  off- 
i-air  and  the  services  of  the  depart- 
:nt  will  be  available  to  others  in 
dition  to  the  station's  staff. 


Levy  Disposes  of  394 
Shares  of  CBS  Stock 

Washington,  May  3. — Disposition 
by  Isaac  D.  Levy,  Philadelphia,  direc- 
tor, of  394  shares  of  Class  A  stock  in 
Columbia  Broadcasting  System  in 
March  has  been  reported  by  the  Se- 
curities and  Exchange  Commission. 

The  commission  also  reported  that 
Leon  Levy,  Philadelphia,  director,  dis- 
posed of  672  shares  of  Class  B  stock. 

Both  directors  reported  that  the  dis- 
positions were  by  gift.  At  the  close 
of  the  month,  Isaac  D.  Levy  held 
61,981  shares  of  Class  A  and  23.115 
shares  of  Clac«  B  stock,  and  Leon 
Levy  held  37,850  shares  of  Class  A 
and  43,505  shares  of  Class  B. 


Little  Carnegie  Has 
Television  Receiver 

Little  Carnegie  Theatre  yes- 
terday became  the  first  local 
motion  picture  house  to  in- 
stall a  television  receiving 
set.  The  instrument  is  lo- 
cated in  the  dance  room  of 
the  theatre  and  an  attendant 
is  present  to  demonstrate  the 
set  to  the  theatre  patrons. 
The  NBC  television  program 
schedule  is  providing  the  en- 
tertainment. 


Met  Life  Starts 

WMCA  Libel  Suit 

The  Metropolitan  Life  Insurance 
Co.  yesterday  filed  in  the  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  a  libel  suit  for  $550,000 
damages  on  22  causes  of  action  against 
the  Knickerbocker  Broadcasting  Co., 
Inc.,  owner  of  WMCA. 

Defendant  is  charged  with  having 
broadcast  at  various  times  during  1939 
a  program  of  Donald  Besdine  in 
which,  among  other  things,  the  large 
insurance  companies  were  accused  of 
using  high  pressure  tactics  to  sell  too 
much  insurance  to  the  public,  of  over- 
charging on  policies  and  of  selling  the 
wrong  type  of  insurance. 


New  Radio  Center  in 
Albany  to  Open  Soon 

Albany,  May  3. — Albany's  new 
Radio  Center,  the  future  home  of 
WOKO  and  WABY,  will  be  dedi- 
cated during  the  week  of  May  8. 

The  Van  Benthuysen  Building  has 
been  completely  equipped,  sound- 
proofed and  auditoriums  installed,  at 
a  cost  of  about  $100,000. 


CBS  Sets  Dividend 

Board  of  directors  of  CBS  yester- 
day declared  a  cash  dividend  of  35 
cents  per  share  on  the  Class  A  and 
Class  B  stock  of  $2.50  par.  value.  The 
dividend  is  payable  June  9  to  stock- 
holders of  record  May  26. 


Delay  Telecasting 
Rules,  Wald  Urges 

Washington,  May  3. — Television 
Committee  of  the  Federal  Communi- 
cations Commission  today  heard  a 
suggestion  that  it  delay  formulation 
of  regular  television  standards  because 
of  two  major  obstacles  in  the  present 
system  of  sight  and  sound  broadcast- 
ing. The  suggestion  was  made  by 
Captain  George  Wald,  U.  S.  Army 
officer  and  television  inventor,  and 
president  of  the  Wald  Radio  Corp. 

The  hurdles  which  must  be  bridged 
before  television  can  safely  be  put  into 
nationwide  use,  according  to  Wald, 
are  the  horizontal  limitations  of  pres- 
ent transmission  systems,  which  af- 
ford reception  over  areas  of  but 
approximately  60  miles,  and  hazards, 
especially  to  the  home,  of  high  voltage 
used  in  present  television  receiver  cir- 
cuits. 

Capt.  Wald  claims  that  his  system 
of  television  removes  both  of  these 
obstacles  to  television,  following  which 
he  requested  the  two-year  delay  in 
formulation  and  adoption  of  television 
standards. 


FCC  to  Study  Plea 
For  Rebroadcasts 


KFI  Gets  Space  for 
Television  Testing 

Hollywood,  May  3.  —  Earle  C. 
Anthony,  Inc.,  owner  and  operator  of 
KFI-KECA,  NBC  outlets  here,  has 
leased  space  for  the  construction  of 
an  experimental  television  station. 
The  lease  includes  use  of  the  two 
towers  already  installed  on  the  roof 
of  the  building,  one  to  be  used  for 
visual  broadcasting,  the  other  to  be 
used  for  sound  transmission. 

The  company  has  filed  application 
for  an  experimental  visual  broadcast- 
ing station  with  the  F.C.C.  to  operate 
on  1,000  watts  on  42,000-56,000  kilo- 
cycles. 


Zanuck  Wins  Ruling 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Al- 
fred Frankenthaler  refused  to  order 
Darryl  Zanuck  to  appear  in  the  Su- 
preme_  Court  for  testimony  before 
trial  in  .reference  to  a  suit  brought 
by  Stephen  Tamas  against  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox Film  Corp.,  and  advised 
Tamas  to  take  depositions  in  Los  An- 
geles. Plaintiff  claims  he  wrote  a 
scenario,  "Stowaway,"  at  defendant's 
request  which  the  latter  rejected  but 
allegedly  plagiarized. 


Takes  Religious  Film 

Park  Lane  Pictures,  through  Harry 
Dixon,  have  signed  with  Victor  Rico 
for  the  distribution  rights  to  "The 
Miracle  of  Sister  Beatrice,"  in  the 
United  States  and  Canada. 


Washington,  May  3. — The  F.C.C. 
has  designated  Commissioners  Case, 
Craven  and  Payne  as  a  committee  to 
preside  at  a  hearing  to  determine 
whether  the  rules  of  the  commission 
should  be  modified  to  permit  the  re- 
broadcasting  of  programs  of  interna- 
tional broadcast  stations  by  regular 
stations  which  are  operated  on  a  non- 
commercial basis.  Date  for  a  hearing- 
will  be  set  shortly. 

Action  of  the  committee  in  calling 
a  legislative  hearing  on  this  question 
is  based  on  an  earlier  petition  by 
Mayor  LaGuardia  to  have  the  rules 
amended  to  permit  a  station  such  as 
New  York  City's  municipal  station, 
WNYC,  to  rebroadcast  the  programs 
of  short-wave  stations  in  the  United 
States. 


Mutual  Adds  Two 
California  Stations 

Two  new  stations  will  be  added  to 
the  Mutual-Don  Lee  network,  effec- 
tive May  10.  The  stations  are  KHSL, 
Chico,  Cal.,  and  KVCV,  Redding,  Cal. 
Former  station  operates  on  1260  kilo- 
cycles, 250  watts,  latter  on  1200  kilo- 
cycles, 100  watts. 

The  number  of  Mutual  stations  with 
the  new  affiliations  will  total  113. 


Roger  Award  Sundag 

Award  of  a  gold  medal  for  merit 
to  Charles  Boyer  by  the  British  Fed- 
eration of  Actors  and  Authors,  who 
recently  voted  the  honor  to  the  French 
plaver,  will  take  place  Sunday  on 
Boyer's  program,  the  "Hollywood 
Playhouse." 


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12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  May  4,  I  M 


Selznick  in  Bigger 
United  Artists  Role 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Goldfarb,  James  Mulvey,  Harry 
Kosiner,  and  J.  J.  Milstein. 

District  managers  who  will  attend 
are  Dave  Prince,  Haskell  M.  Masters, 
Ben  Fish,  Charles  Stern,  Jack  Gold- 
har,  Bert  Steam  and  Moe  Streimer, 
special  representative. 

Those  Attending 

The  following  branch  managers  and 
salesmen  will  attend : 

New  York,  Clarence  Eiseman,  manager; 
Nat  Beier,  Leon  Herman,  Sam  Rifkin,  Sam 
Stern,  Dave  Burkan,  Lawrence  Brown, 
Edward  Mullen.  Chicago,  Irving  Schlank, 
manager;  Ben  Eisenberg,  Frank  Young, 
Jack  E.  Armgardt,  Will  Baker,  Nat  Nath- 
anson,  Boston,  John  J.  Dervin,  manager; 
George  Hager,  Joe  Cronan,  Herbert 
Schaefer,  Nathan  Ross.  Philadelphia, 
Harry  G.  Bodkin,  manager;  Morton  Magill, 
Joe  Singer,  Sol  Krugman.  Indianapolis,  G. 
R.  Frank,  manager;  Elmer  V.  Donnelly, 
Milton  M.  Krueger,  E.  R.  Golden.  Los 
Angeles,  E.  W.  MacLean,  manager;  Guy 
S.  Gunderson,  Fred  Gage,  Kenneth  R.  Mac- 
Kaig.  Milwaukee,  James  S.  Abrose,  man- 
ager; Noe  Provencher,  Leon  Weingarden. 
Also,  Minneapolis,  Ralph  S.  Cramblet,  man- 
ager; Frank  Eisenberg,  C.  J.  Chouinard, 
F.  J.  Kaiser,  Everett  Lovelett.  New  Haven, 
Lou  C.  Wechsler,  manager;  Lewis  Gins- 
burg.  New  Orleans,  C.  E.  Peppiatt,  man- 
ager; Milton  Dureau,  Floyd  P.  Murphy. 
Omaha,  D.  V.  McLucas,  manager;  J.  E. 
Schlank,  Ed  Rostermundt,  Harry  Barker, 
William  E.  Barker.  St.  Louis,  Ben  J. 
Robins,  manager;  James  Greig,  Edward  A. 
Ashkins,  Ray  J.  Wylie.  Salt  Lake  City, 
R.  J.  Cadman,  manager;  W.  K.  Miller, 
Joe  Solomon,  E.  M.  Gibson.  San  Francisco, 
D.  J.  McNerney,  manager;  Ollie  H.  Wat- 
son, Paul  Bush,  A.  W.  Hartford.  Canada, 
Abe  Feinstein,  A.  J.  Jeffery,  Charles  S. 
Chaplin,  Sam  Glazer,  Pete  Myers,  Dave 
Axler,  Sam  Nagle,  Dave  Griesdorf,  Victor 
Rackow. 

Also,  Pittsburgh,  Abe  I.  Weiner,  man- 
ager; Harry  Rees,  William  Scott,  James  H. 
Nash.  Kansas  City,  William  E.  Truog, 
manager;  John  Graham,  Guy  Bradford,  O. 
O.  Flake.  Dallas,  Hugh  Owen,  manager; 
T.  R.  Barber,  B.  C.  Gibson,  Floyd  A. 
Tones,  Alfred  J.  Del  Cambre.  Seattle,  Guy 
F.  Navarre,  manager;  A.  H.  Kloepper, 
Jack  O'Brien,  Frank  M.  Higgins,  John 
O'Loughlin.  Washington,  Fred  A.  Rohrs, 
manager;  Mark  N.  Silver,  Fred  M.  Sandy, 
Richard  Harrity.  Atlanta,  T.  L.  Davis, 
manager;  R.  J.  Barnes,  Lynn  Dunn,  Wil- 
liam Shiell,  Jr. 

Buffalo,  Syd  Lehman,  manager;  J.  J. 
Jasper,  Matt  V.  Sullivan,  Charlotte,  Jay 
Schrader,  manager;  Robert  M.  Boovy, 
Henry  D.  Hearn.  Cincinnati — Harris  Du- 
delson,  manager;  Irving  Sochin,  Wade  H. 
Windsor,  James  Hendel.  Cleveland,  A.  M. 
Goodman,  manager;  Lou  Geiger,  Norman 
Levin,  Dick  Miller.  Denver,  Al  Hoffman, 
manager;  Earl  Collins,  Fred  Lind,  Alex 
Singelow.  Detroit,  Morris  Dudelson,  man- 
ager; I.  E.  Weingarden,  E.  P.  Pickler,  Syd- 
ney J.  Bowman. 


Loew's  Book  'Crisis' 

"Crisis,"  the  Herbert  Kline  docu- 
mentary film  based  on  the  recent 
Czechoslovakian  situation,  has  been 
booked  by  Loew  for  its  entire  metro- 
politan circuit  and  will  open  at  the 
Criterion  in  about  two  weeks.  Mayer 
&  Brustyn  own  the  American  dis- 
tributing rights. 

Patriotic  Cartoon  Made 

Hollywood,  May  3. — Leon  Schles- 
inger,  producer  of  "Merrie  Melody" 
and  "Looney  Tune"  cartoons  for  War- 
ners, has  completed  work  on  a  pa- 
triotic one-reel  "Merrie  Melody"  car- 
toon in  color,  titled  "Old  Glory." 

Arnold  in  Pier  Post 

Franc  Arnold  has  been  appointed 
promotion  manager  of  the  Atlantic 
City  Steel  Pier.  Arnold  was  previous- 
ly managing  director  of  the  Shubert, 
Newark,  and  previously  managed 
houses  in  Baltimore,  Philadelphia, 
Pittsburgh  and  Los  Angeles  for  War- 
ners and  Loew's. 


Film  Companies  Report 
Stock  Dealings  to  SEC 


Washington,  May  3. — Disposition 
of  25,000  optional  debentures  of  War- 
ner Brothers  in  March  by  Sam  E. 
Morris,  vice-president,  reducing  his 
holdings  to  15,000,  has  been  reported 
by  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Com- 
mission in  its  semi-monthly  summary 
of  transactions  of  company  officers 
and  directors  in  the  stocks  of  their 
corporations. 

The  report  also  showed  that  Jack 
L.  Warner,  vice-president,  acquired 
8,500  shares  of  Warners'  common 
stock  and  210  shares  of  preferred, 
bringing  his  holdings  at  the  close  of 
the  month  to  98,560  shares  of  common 
and  15,094  of  preferred. 

Schenck  Holdings  Drop 

A  considerable  number  of  film  stock 
transactions  were  carried  in  the  S.E.C. 
summary,  including  the  disposition  of 
10,000  shares  of  20th  Century-Fox 
common  by  Joseph  M.  Schenck,  re- 
ducing his  holdings  to  108,943  shares. 
Schenck  also  submitted  a  December 
report,  showing  the  disposition  of  500 
shares  by  gift.  The  only  other  trans- 
action in  the  company's  securities  was 
the  acquisition  of  one  share  of  com- 
mon stock  by  Wilfred  J.  Eadie,  New 
York,  officer. 

In  Columbia  Pictures,  Jack  Cohn, 
vice-president,  reported  acquisition  of 
13  shares  of  common  stock  and  771 
common  voting  trust  certificates, 
bringing  his  holdings  to  555  shares  of 
the  former  and  31,631  of  the  latter, 
and  Abraham  Schneider,  New  York, 
treasurer,  reported  acquisition  of  two 


certificates,  bringing  his  holdings  to 
104. 

In  General  Theatres,  Edward  C. 
Delafield,  New  York,  director,  dis- 
posed of  his  holdings  of  common  stock 
with  the  sale  of  100  shares,  and  in 
Paramount,  John  D.  Hertz,  New 
York,  director,  acquired  100  shares  of 
common  stock  through  Lehman 
Brothers. 

Loew's,  Inc.,  increased  its  interest 
in  Loew's  Boston  Theatres  by  the  ac- 
quisition of  another  17  shares  of  com- 
mon stock,  of  which  it  held  99,687  at 
the  end  of  the  month.  In  Loew's, 
Inc.,  J.  Robert  Rubin,  vice-president, 
reduced  his  holdings  of  common  stock 
to  33,475  shares  by  the  disposition  of 
700  shares,  and  Leopold  Friedman, 
secretary,  acquired  200  shares  of  com- 
mon for  a  total  of  812  shares. 
Golden  Gets  550  Shares 

Edward  A.  Golden,  New  York, 
Monogram  vice-president,  reported  ac- 
quisition of  550  shares  of  common 
stock  by  gift,  of  which  he  sold  50 
shares ;  while  George  W.  Weeks,  vice- 
president,  reported  that  in  February 
he  had  disposed  of  his  entire  holding 
of  6,194  options  for  common  stock. 

In  a  report  showing  his  interest 
when  he  became  an  officer  and  direc- 
tor in  the  companies,  Charles  D. 
Prutzman,  New  York,  reported  300 
common  voting  trust  certificates  of 
Universal  Corp.  but  no  securities  of 
Universal  Pictures.  He  became  an 
officer  in  the  former  on  March  8  and 
in  the  latter  on  March  15. 


20th-Fox  Europeaj 
Meet  Opens  Tod*! 


Paris,  May  3. — European  sales  c ■  • 
vention  of  20th  Century-Fox  op  i 
here  tomorrow  for  three  days.  Arte  I 
ing  from  the  United  States  are  W; 
ter  J.  Hutchinson,  director  of  foreji 
distrubution ;  Herman  Wobber,  g  I 
eral  sales  manager,  and  Truman  |, 
Talley,  Movietone  producer.  Huwj 
son  will  present  a  message  from  7!  I 
Kent,  president. 

Benjamin  Miggins,  European  m  I 
aging  director,  will  preside.  Am' 
those  attending  are:  W.  B.  Morg: 
France ;  E.  Balk,  French  sales  m; 
ager ;   G.  Van  Wynaerde,  Belgiu 
M.  J.  Messeri,  Spain ;  S.  R.  Pariei 
Portugal ;    Louis    Groen,  Hollai 
Harry     Frandsen,     Denmark ; 
Mathiesen,  Norway;  T.  Isdahl, 
Sweden. 

Others  present  will  be  B.  Biornst 
Finland ;  E.  Schmidt,  Germany ; 
Joffe,  Poland;  M.  Lurje,  Latvia; 
Matzner,  Hungary ;  D.  Spitzer,  Ju 
slavia ;  Armand  Paucker,  Ruman 
Luigi  Giordano,  Egypt ;  Russell  Mi 
European  Movietone  News  manag 
director:  Robert  Hartmann,  Moi 
tone  Central  European  manager, 
well  as  publicity  heads  and  oth 
from  the  Continental  district  office? 


Kent  Sails  May  20 

Date  of  S.  R.  Kent's  sailing  for  " 
de  Janiero  has  been  changed  frj 
May  15  to  May  20.  The  president 
20th  Century-Fox  will  leave  on 
Brazil  to  attend  the  company's  So 
American  sales  convention.  He  is  1 
to  return  June  27. 


RKO  Opens  Service 
For  Visitors  to  Fair 

RKO  yesterday  opened  an  informa- 
tion and  lounge  room  on  the  seventh 
floor  of  the  RKO  Building  for  ex- 
hibitors visiting  here  during  the 
World's  Fair.  The  suite  embraces 
four  rooms,  including  an  office  for 
H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor 
relations,  who  is  official  greeter. 

The  staff  includes  Frances  Smith 
and  Adele  Purcell,  who  will  be  on 
hand  to  provide  information  to  visitors 
regarding  the  Fair,  hotel  reservations, 
etc. 

Exhibitors  who  have  registered  al- 
ready are :  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  C.  Gor- 
don, Rialto  and  Rio  theatres  Boise, 
Idaho ;  Max  Fogel,  Webster,  Roches- 
ter ;  William  Tishkoff,  Murray, 
Rochester;  J.  H.  Eshelman,  Huron, 
Huron,  S.  D. ;  Leon  Rich,  Prytania, 
New  Orleans  ;  Mitchell  Lewis,  Hous- 
ton, Tex.,  and  F.  L.  Clarke,  Cozy, 
Hazen,  Ark. 


Enter  Not  Guilty  Plea 

La  Crosse,  Wis.,  May  3— Officials 
and  employes  of  La  Crosse  Theatres 
Co.  named  in  a  warrant  charging  con- 
spiracy to  violate  the  law  in  conduct- 
ing Bank  Night  at  the  Rivoli,  have 
pleaded  not  guilty.  No  date  has  been 
set  for  a  hearing. 


Sunday  Films  Sought 

Berne,  N.  C,  May  3. — Two  of 
the  three  local  theatres  have  sought 
permission  from  the  city  to  show  films 
on  Sunday.  The  request  was  re- 
ferred to  committee. 


1939's  greatest 
screen  adventure 
is  thundering  to 
your  door! 


"JJ>?  "MM  rmmrm 

GRANT  ARTHUR 

Ha  ve  W,Ncs 


Alert, 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


'.%..  45.  NO.  87 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY.  MAY  5,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


l^atch  Costs, 
Schenck  Plea 
To  Hollywood 

Cites  Factors  Which  Cut 
Studios'  Net  Profits 


By  AL  FIXESTOXE 
Under  present  world-wide  conditions 
|he  industry's  watchword  must  be 
■ngenuity,  in  production  and  else- 
where, in  order  to  utilize  to  the  full- 
est the  industry's  resources  and  to 
iffect  needed  economies  without  injur- 
ing the  product,  Joseph  M.  Schenck, 
fOth  Century-Fox  chairman  of  the 
»oard,  said  yesterday. 

"More  vigilance  is  needed  in  watch- 
ing costs,"  Schenck  declared.  "The 
radios  never  try  to  waste  money.  But 
♦vhen  things  are  prosperous  there  is 
i  tendency  to  go  along  the  line  of 
teast  resistance." 

,  Schenck  pointed  out  that  despite  a 
ligher  gross  in  the  first  quarter  of  the 

{Continued  on  paye  5) 


British  Tax  Parley 
Pleases  Film  Heads 

London ,  May  4—  D.  E.  Griffiths, 
resident  of  the  [Cinematograph  Rent- 
ers' Society  (distributors)  and  head 
)f  the  joint  K.  R.  S.  and  Cinemato- 
graph Exhibitors'  Association  deputa- 
\ion  protesting  proposed  increases  in 
ilm  taxes,  expressed  satisfaction  with 
■esterday's  conversations  with  the 
rhairman  of  the  Board  of  Customs. 

He  declared  his  belief  that  the  depu- 
ation  had  made  a  favorable  impres- 
sion, and  it  is  expected  a  deputation 
toil]  be  received  by  Sir  John  Simon, 
Zhancellor  of  the  Exchequer.  In  the 
alks  with  the  Customs  Board  head 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Registration  for 
N.  Y.  World's  Fair 

Readers  planning  to  come 
to  the  World's  Fair  are  in- 
vited to  notify  Motion  Picture 
Daily  in  advance  of  or  on 
their  arrival,  for  registration. 
Thus  those  desirous  of  locat- 
ing other  industry"  visitors 
will  be  able  to  do  so  by  call- 
ing at  our  office  or  phoning 
Circle  7-3100,  asking  for 
"World's  Fair  Burea'u." 

A  coupon  for  convenient 
resistration  is  on  Page  4. 


King  and  Queen  See 
'Chips*  at  Embassy 

London,  May  4.  —  King 
George  VI  and  Queen  Eliza- 
beth of  England  last  night 
saw  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips,"  at 
an  American  Embassy  party 
given  by  Joseph  P.  Kennedy, 
U.  S.  Ambassador  to  England. 


Monogram  to 
Have  54  Films 
In  New  Season 


Chicago.  May  4. — Monogram's 
1939-'40  program  will  include  30  fea- 
tures, 16  westerns  and  eight  reissues 
starring  John  Wayne,  W.  Ray  John- 
ston, president,  announced  today  at 
the  opening  of  the  annual  convention 
at  the  Drake  Hotel.  The  program 
represents  an  increase  of  four  features 
over  the  1938-'39  schedule. 

Six  features  will  be  grouped  as  W. 
Ray  Johnston  Anniversary  Specials, 
12  as  Box-Office  Attractions  and  the 
remaining  12  as  Showman's  Success 
Series.  The  Anniversary  Specials  will 
commemorate  Johnston's  25th  year  in 
the  industry. 

Heading  the  list  of  productions  are 
"Rip  Van  Winkle,"  based  on  the 
W  ashington  Irving  story ;  "Queen  of 
the  Yukon,"  by  Jack  London ;  "Son 
(Continued  on  page  5) 


UA  Reveals  New 
Program  Monday 
At  Coast  Meeting 


United  Artists  producers  will  pre- 
sent details  of  their  new  season  pro- 
duction plans  to  the  company's  na- 
tional sales  convention  which  opens  at 
the  Ambassador,  Los  Angeles,  on 
Monday. 

The  first  dav's  session,  which  will 
include  a  discussion  of  sales  and  com- 
pany policies  by  Murray  Silverstone, 
United  Artists  chief  executive,  will 
deviate  from  usual  trade  procedure  in 
that  it  will  be  onen  to  the  press. 

Social  events  have  been  planned  to 
mark  the  20th  anniversary  of  the  com- 
pany's founding.  These  will  include 
a  reception  on  Sunday  to  be  given 
to  the  entire  home  office  and  field 
saK  s  forces  by  Mary  Pickford  at  Pick- 
fair.  Producers,  directors,  stars  and 
others  associated  with  the  company's 
Hollvwood  activities  will  assist  Miss 
Pickford. 

A  special  dinner  for  conventioneers 
will  be  given  Tuesday  night  at  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Bill  Asks  National 
Daylight  Savings 

Washington,  May  4. — Legislation 
under  which  daylight  savings  would 
be  observed  nationally  has  been  intro- 
duced by  Sen.  Mathew  M.  Neely  of 
West  Virginia.  No  chance  is  seen 
for  enactment  of  the  bill  this  session 
largely  because  of  opposition  from 
various  interests  in  a  number  of  states. 


Hutchinson  Warns  Films 
Must  Not  Snub  Television 


By  JACK  BANXER 

Motion  picture  companies  cannot 
"break"  television  by  obdurately  refus- 
ing to  provide  the  new  industry  with 
film.  Neither  can  picture  interests 
solve  the  problem  of  what  effect  tele- 
vision will  have  on  the  film  business 
by  dodging  the  new  art,  in  the  opinion 
of  Thomas  Hutchinson,  NBC's  tele- 
vision production  manager. 

In  Hutchinson's  estimation,  the  pic- 
ture industry  should,  for  its  own  wel- 
fare, enter  into  a  short  period  of  col- 
laboration with  television  and  weigh 
the  lessons  learned,  before  deciding  to 
"cut"  television  "cold." 

If  picture  companies  are  apprehen- 
sive about  showing  via  television  even 
old,  outmoded  feature  films,  there  are 
millions  of  feet  of  uncut  film  in  their 
vaults  which  could,  with  the  aid  of 
expert  cutters,  be  utilized  for  tele- 


vision purposes,  without  much  cost  to 
the  film  interests,  and  possibly  with 
tangible  profit,  because  television  is 
willing  to  pay  "moderate"  fees  for 
such  film,  Hutchinson  said. 

In  any  event,  feature  motion  pic- 
tures, despite  opposition  from  major 
American  companies,  will  most  likely 
be  offered  over  the  air  by  late  sum- 
mer, because,  Hutchinson  said,  foreign 
producers  have  offered  their  films  to 
NBC,  and  most  likely  a  number  of 
deals  will  be  closed  before  long. 

Hutchinson  revealed  that  all  major 
picture  companies  clamped  down  on 
television  just  a  number  of  weeks  ago 
when  NBC  announced  a  definite  tele- 
vision schedule.  Prior  to  this  an- 
nouncement Universal,  Columbia, 
RKO,  M-G-M,  Paramount  and  Pathe 
had  made  their  films  available  to 
NBC.  he  said. 


Three  Unions 
In  Television 
Control  Fight 

Jurisdictional  Dispute  Up 
At  Meeting  Today 

By  ED  GREIF 

A  serious  jurisdictional  dispute 
among  actors'  unions  has  broken  out 
for  control  of  the  television  field. 

Board  meeting  of  the  Associated  Act- 
ors and  Artistes  of  America,  parent 
body  which  holds  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Labor  charter,  has  been 
called  for  this  afternoon  to  consider 
the  problem.  All  unions  involved 
have  representation  on  the  board,  and 
a  heated  session  is  expected. 

Unions  involved  are  Actors'  Equity, 
American  Federation  of  Radio  Art- 
ists and  Screen  Actors'  Guild.  Equity 
is  generally  conceded  to  have  made 
the  first  claim  because  it  included  this 
held  in  the  preamble  to  its  constitution 
which  was  adopted  March  17,  1930. 
A  year  and  a  half  later,  on  Sept.  29, 
1931,  the  Equity  council  issued  in- 
structions to  its  membership  enjoining 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


1 6  Branches  to  Join 
Columbia  Meeting 

Columbia's  home  office  executives, 
foreign  representatives  and  New  York 
exchange  delegates  will  leave  Sunday 
afternoon  for  Atlantic  City,  where  the 
first  of  the  company's  three  sales  meet- 
ings will  be  held,  starting  Monday  at 
the  Ritz-Carlton. 

The  delegation  will  be  headed  by 
Jack  Cohn,  vice-president,  and  Abe 
Montague,  general  sales  manager,  and 
will  include  a  score  of  others  from 
the  home  office  and  foreign  department 
reported  earlier.  They  will  travel  in 
two  special  cars  attached  to  the  regu- 
lar train  arriving  in  Atlantic  City  at 
6  P.  M. 

Representatives  from  the  New  York 
exchange  include  Nat  Cohn,  Irving 
Wormser,  S.  Trauner ;  salesmen  J. 
Sokoloff,  S.  Schussel,  M.  Fraum,  J. 
Wenisch,  E.  Helouis,  S.  Feinblum. 

Delegations  from  the  16  branches 
which  will  be  represented  at  the  first 
meeting  will  be  arriving  in  Atlantic 
City  all  day  Sunday.  The  Atlanta, 
Charlotte,  New  Orleans,  Oklahoma 
City,  Cincinnati,  Cleveland,  Pitts- 
burgh, Boston  and  Buffalo  delegations 
will  arrive  Sunday  morning.  Dele- 
gates from  Dallas,  Memphis,  Wash- 
ington, Albany,  New  Haven  and 
Philadelphia  will  arrive  during  the 
afternoon  and  evening. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  May  5,  19 


Metro  Lists 
Stories,  Cast 
For  Season 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


GEORGE  J. 
head, 


SCHAEFER,  RKO 
is  scheduled  to  leave 
Hollywood  this  weekend  for  New 
York,  arriving  here  Monday  or  Tues- 
day. 


Details  of  M-G-M's  new  season 
program  supplementary  to  that  made 
known  at  the  sales  convention  in 
March  was  disclosed  by  the  company 
yesterday.  The  information  includes 
new  story  properties,  cast  additions 
and  the  signing  of  stars  for  specified 
pictures.  M-G-M  will  have  44  to  52 
features. 

Eddie  Cantor  a  new  star  addition, 
will  make  his  M-G-M  debut  in  "Banjo 
Eyes,"  comedy  drama  with  music. 
Fred  Astaire,  also  newly  signed,  will 
co-star  with  Eleanor  Powell  in 
"Broadway  Melody  of  1940."  Edward 
G.  Robinson  will  have  the  lead  in 
"Blackmail."  James  Stewart  has  been 
elevated  to  stardom. 

Norma  Shearer  will  be  starred  in 
"Pride  and  Prejudice,"  the  play  by 
Helen  Jerome  from  the  Jane  Austen 
novel.  George  Cukor  is  now  directing 
her  in  "The  Women." 

"Smilin'  Thru"  Musical 

Jeanette  MacDonald  will  star  in  a 
musical  version  of  "Smilin'  Thru," 
which  Robert  Z.  Leonard  will  direct. 
Miss  MacDonald  will  be  co-starred 
with  Nelson  Eddy  in  "Silent  Knight." 
They  will  be  seen  together  also  in 
"Lover  Come  Back  to  Me,"  and  Eddy 
will  appear  in  "Balalaika"  with  Bona 
Massey. 

Joan  Crawford  will  be  starred  in 
"Park  Avenue  Model."  Her  sched- 
ule includes  also  "House  of  Glass," 
"A  Lady  Comes  to  Town"  and  "The 
Women." 

Greer  Garson,  who  appears  in 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips,"  will  be  starred 
in  "Susan  and  God,"  Rachel  Crothers' 
successful  play. 

Role  for  Spencer  Tracy 

Spencer  Tracy  will  be  starred  in 
"Witch  of  the  Wilderness,"  to  be  di- 
rected by  King  Vidor  from  the  novel 
by  Desmond  Holdridge. 

Robert  Donat  will  have  the  lead  in 
"Ruined  City,"  based  on  the  novel, 
"Kindling,"  by  Nevil  Shute. 

"On  Borrowed  Time"  will  feature 
Lionel  Barrymore,  Sir  Cedric  Hard- 
wicke  and  Bob  Watson,  with  Harold 
Bucquet  directing. 

Robert  Young  has  been  added  to  the 
cast  of  "Guns  and  Fiddles,"  featuring 
also  Robert  Taylor,  Hedy  Lamarr  and 
Miliza  Korjus. 

Cast  of  "The  Wizard  of  Oz,"  which 
is  nearing  completion,  will  feature 
Judy  Garland,  Frank  Morgan,  Ray 
Bolger  and  Jack  Haley. 

Other  Stories  Listed 

Myrna  Loy  and  Spencer  Tracy  will 
he  co-starred  in  "Sea  of  Grass,"  novel 
by  Conrad  Richter.  In  "Life  Story  of 
Thomas  Edison,"  Tracy  and  Mickey 
Rooney  will  portray  Edison  as  man 
and  boy. 

Additional  story  properties  include 
"May  Flavin,"  novel  by  Myron 
Brinig;  "The  Yearling,"  Pulitzer 
prize  novel  by  Marjorie  Kinnan 
Rawlings,  to  be  directed  by  Victor 
Fleming,  and  "Wings  Over  the  Des- 
ert," aviation  melodrama  by  Harold 
Kuckley. 

Other  new  properties  from  which 
1939-'40  releases  will  be  drawn  are: 
"Kim"   and   "Soldiers   Three,"  Rud- 


Rudolph  Knoepfle,  Republic  Cin- 
cinnati salesman,  has  returned  to 
work  after  several  months  in  the  Mi- 
ami Valley  Hospital,  Dayton,  O.,  re- 
covering from  a  fractured  jaw  sus- 
tained in  an  auto  crash. 


Joe  Di  Pesa,  Loew's  publicity  man 
in  Boston,  is  ill.  Lou  Brown,  Poli 
circuit  press  agent  from  Bridgeport, 
is  subbing  for  Di  Pesa,  who  is  suffer- 
ing from  a  nervous  disorder. 


Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  con- 
tact, plans  to  remain  in  New  York 
for  the  employment  meeting  with  the 
American  Federation  of  Musicians, 
May  18. 

Paul  Krieger,  Universal  Cincinnati 
branch  manager,  has  joined  his  wife 
and  son  in  Florida,  where  the  latter  is 
recovering  from  an  appendicitis  oper- 
ation. 

• 

Warren  William  left  the  coast  by 
plane  Wednesday  night  to  join  the 
"Union  Pacific"  special  train  in  New 
York.  He  will  continue  with  the 
train. 

• 

Lesser  Samuels,  Gaumont  British 
writer  for  several  years,  has  returned 
to  the  United  States.  He  will  arrive 
in  Hollywood  May  15. 

Sam  Shain,  editor  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily,  has  left  for  Hollywood. 


J. 


CHEEVER  COWDIN,  Univer- 
sal board  chairman,  is  expected 
back  from  a  combined  business  and 
vacation  trip  to  the  coast  in  about 
a  week. 


Congressman  John  Ketcham  of 
Michigan  visited  H.  M.  Richey  at 
the  RKO  World's  Fair  headquarters 
yesterday. 

Ben  Pickett  replaced  Matt  Reilly 
as  manager  of  the  Palace,  Providence, 
when  the  latter  was  taken  ill. 


C.  C.  Perry,  Detroit  exhibitor  and 
Variety  Club  leader,  left  yesterday 
after  product  conferences  here. 

Joan  Bennett,  who  came  east  for 
an  Orson  Welles  broadcast,  returns 
to  the  coast  today  by  plane. 

Jim  Darby  has  left  the  M  &  P 
Beacon  in  Boston  to  manage  the  Nor- 
walk  in  Norwalk,  Conn. 

• 

Ed  McBride,  Loew's  State  mana- 
ger in  Providence,  is  vacationing  in 
Buffalo,  his  home  town. 

• 

Albekt  Maltz'  short  story,  "The 
Happiest  Alan  on  Earth,"  has  been 
bought  by  M-G-M. 

• 

Fay  Bainter  arrived  in  New  York 
yesterday  after  a  six-week  cruise. 
• 

Sal  Deimanno,  from  Loew's  Bos- 
ton office,  was  in  town  yesterday. 

Herman  Blum  of  Baltimore,  na- 
tional Allied  official,  has  been  visiting 
here. 


yard  Kipling  novels  ;  "I  Had  a  Com- 
rade," by  Viscount  Castleross  ;  "These 
Glamour  Girls,"  Cosmopolitan  Maga- 
zine story  by  Jane  Hall  and  Marion 
Parsonnet. 

Also,  "Shop  Around  the  Corner," 
with  Margaret  Sullavan,  James  Stew- 
art and  Frank  Morgan,  to  be  directed 
by  Ernst  Lubitsch  from  the  Nicholaus 
Laszlo  play ;  "Nickel  Show,"  original 
by  Vera  Caspary ;  "The  Rosary," 
from  stage  play  by  Edward  E.  Rose ; 
"Great  Laughter,"  by  Fannie  Hurst, 


and  "War  Eagles." 

"American  Newlyweds"  will  intro- 
duce a  new  series,  dealing  with  a  typi- 
cal young  American  couple.  There 
are  also  the  "Hardy  Family"  and 
"Dr.  Kildare"  series. 

"Northwest  Passage,"  with  Spencer 
Tracy  and  Robert  Taylor,  will  re- 
sume production  on  location  this 
month,  King  Vidor  directing. 

Busby  Berkeley  and  Normand  Mc- 
Leod  have  been  signed  to  directorial 
contracts. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


No  outstanding  nevus  events  feature 
the  nezv  issues.  The  Royal  Family 
in  England  and  incidents  at  the  New 
York  and  Frisco  Fairs  arc  covered. 
Reels  and  their  contents  follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  681— Italy 
tests  desert  defense.  New  air  depot  in 
California.  World's  Fair.  Royal  family 
in  England.  Budge  wins  sport  trophy. 
Aviation  fashions.  Lew  Lehr.  Benefit 
baseball  game.  Lou  Gehrig  benched.  Boat 
regatta.     Horse  racing. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  266-Nether- 
lands  army  in  training.  Goering  visits 
Africa.  Lionel  Barrymore  celebrates  birth- 
day. World's  Fair.  Mrs.  Roosevelt  dis- 
plays new  apparel.  English  Royalty  dis- 
cusses coming  visit.  Swedish  king  in 
Paris.     Boat  races. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS.  No.  79— Italian 
army  maneuvers  in  Tripoli-.     Observe  rail- 


'Only  Angels'  Open. 
May  11  at  Music  Ha 


road  anniversary.  Crosley  car  on  speed- 
way. Royal  family  poses  for  cameras.  New 
wardrobe  for  Mrs.  Roosevelt.  Cubs  vs. 
White  Sox.  Babe  Ruth  instructs  players. 
Gehrig  ends  streak.  Japan  Day  at  Frisco 
Fair.  Pavilions  dedicated  at  New  York 
Fair.     Amusement  area  at  Fair  opened. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  83— Chamber 
of  Commerce  meets.  Surveyors  in  Cas- 
cades. Dewey  awarded  medal.  Debut  of 
low-priced  car.  Monkey  show.  Lamp  ex- 
hibit at  coast  exposition.  Columbia  vs. 
Navy  crew  race. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  768-- 
Apple  blossom  festival.  Royalty  plans 
visit.  Norway's  prince  visits  destroyers. 
May  Day  in  Mexico.  New  road  in  China. 
Mercury  lamp  in  California.  Crosley  car 
introduced.  Japs  parade  in  California. 
Gehrig  streak  ends.  Babe  Ruth  plays 
softball.  Benefit  baseball  game.  Amuse- 
ment center  at  Fair  opens. 


Columbia's  "Only  Angels  H 
Wings"  will  have  its  world  premi 
at  the  Music  Hall  May  11.  "Rose 
Washington  Square"  opens  today 
the  Roxy.  "Confessions  of  a  N 
Spy"  grossed  an  estimated  $47,000 
its  first  week  at  the  Strand  and  it  I 
held  over  there.  x 

"Wuthering  Heights"  grosseaW 
estimated  $28,000  at  the  Rivoli  inn 
third  week  to  send  the  estimat 
three-week  total  over  the  $100,0 
mark.  At  the  Roxy,  "The  Return 
the  Cisco  Kid"  drew  an  estimat 
$28,000..  Second  week  of  "Dark  V] 
tory"  at  the  Music  Hall  was  good  f 
an  estimated  $75,000.  "Man  of  Co| 
quest"  grossed  an  estimated  $20,000 
the  Capitol.  "Pygmalion,"  in  its  2 
week  at  the  Astor,  drew  an  estimat| 
$7,200. 

"Hotel  Imperial"  goes  into  the  C 
terion  Wednesday.  "Crime  in  t| 
Maginot  Line"  opens  at  the  55th  j 
Plavhouse  tomorrow. 


'Lincoln'  Premiere 
On  Mutual  Netwoii 

Arrangements  for  broadcasting  ij 
tionally  the  world  premiere  of  "You 
Mr.  Lincoln,"  which  which  will 
held  in  Springfield,  111.,  on  the  nid 
of  Memorial  Day,  were  complen 
yesterday  by  20th  Century-Fox  a 
Mutual  Broadcasting  System. 

The  program  will  be  broadca 
from  10  to  10:30  P.  M,  E.D.S.1 
over  41  stations  of  Mutual's  natioi 
network.  A  feature  of  the  broadca 
will  be  the  participation  of  Mari 
Anderson,  Negro  contralto. 


Plagiarism  Suit  Killec^ 

Los  Angeles,  May  4. — Andreas 
Michael's  $1,000,000  plagiarism  s 
against  20th  Century-Fox,  Eddie  Ca 
tor  and  others  involving  "AH  Ba 
Goes  to  Town"  was  dismissed  in  S 
perior  Court  today.  Judge  Thon 
Gould  said  he  saw  no  similarity 
tween  the  story  Michael  submitt 
and  the  film. 


Reissue  'Tumbleweeds 

Astor  Pictures  Corp.  is  releasing 
reissue  of  "Tumbleweeds,"  in  whi 
William  S.  Hart  was  starred. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  a 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunt 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Cc 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  preside 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasut 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telephoi 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpub 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1! 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  I 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Y< 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Mon 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teat 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picti; 
Almanac  and  F'ame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Un 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. :  Boc 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weav 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squa 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londc 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N. 
r.nder  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription   rates   per   year   $6  in 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  1 


For  the  Big  Race! 


William  Woodward's 

JOHNSTOWN 


The  Bookies9  Favorite 


Paramount's 


THE  LADY'S 


from 


KENTUCKY 


The  Bookers9  Favorite 


99 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Captain  Fury" 

(U.  A. -Roach) 

Hollywood,  May  4. — "Captain  Fury"  furnishes  showmen  with  plenty 
to  say  about  it.  Enough  to  say  about  any  picture,  to  get  the  customers 
in  to  see  it,  is  embodied  in  the  four-ply  declaration  that  its  uppermost 
principals  are  Brian  Aherne,  fresh  from  his  triumph  in  "Juarez" ;  Vic- 
tor McLaglen,  out  of  "Gunga  Din";  John  Carradine,  whose  "Stage- 
coach" is  still  rolling  along  to  big  grosses,  and  Paul  Lukas,  unforgettable 
in  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy."  When  an  exhibitor  adds  that  this 
is  the  first  picture  directed  by  Hal  Roach  in  half  a  dozen  years  and  that 
his  daughter,  Margaret,  is  among  those  present  in  the  cast,  he  may  be 
said  to  have  told  his  public  plenty  of  reasons  for  dropping  in  to  see  it, 
but  he  can  proceed  from  that  point,  if  he  chooses,  to  mention  that  the 
story  is  the  Australian  version  of  the  Robin  Hood  legend  complete  with 
kangaroos  and  all  the  required  symbols  of  veracity. 

These  are  not,  however,  the  only  players  to  talk  about.  George  Zucco 
turns  in  one  of  his  best  performances  as  the  villainous  chief  of  a  villain- 
ous crew  including  dour  Douglas  Dumbrille.  June  Lang  and  Virginia 
Field  ornament  the  distaff  side.  The  supporting  cast  is  large  and  com- 
petent. 

The  story  and  screenplay  are  by  Grover  Jones,  Jack  Jevne  and  Wil- 
liam DeMille.  The  film  opens  with  the  arrival  of  a  convict  ship  in  Mel- 
bourne about  a  century  ago  and  progresses  swiftly  through  highly 
dramatic  episodes  which  place  Aherne,  an  escaped  convict,  in  leadership 
of  a  formerly  felonious  crew  enlisted  now  in  the  defense  of  poor  settlers 
persecuted  by  a  rich  and  ruthless  landowner.  The  action  is  violent,  color- 
ful and  always  melodramatic,  the  ending  happy. 

Running  time,  90  minutes.  "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


4 


Producers  Assail 
SWG  'Insincerity' 


Hollywood,  May  4. — Charges  of  in- 
sincerity of  producers  in  negotiating 
with  the  Screen  Writers'  Guild  over 
collective  bargaining  agreement  were 
assailed  today  with  publication  of  a 
letter  by  Mendel  Silberberg,  producers' 
attorney,  to  Charles  Brackett, '  SWG 
president. 

Citing  Brackett's  letter  to  the  pro- 
ducers in  which  the  Guild  repeated  its 
adamant  stand  on  three  minimum  pro- 
posals, Silberberg  said :  "You  fail  to 
indicate  these  proposals  were  dis- 
cussed at  great  length  by  the  two  com- 
mittees and  that  the  phraseology 
covering  these  matters  (Guild  shop, 
terms  of  contract  and  layoff  material 
was  the  result  of  that  discussion  and 
agreement  by  the  two  committees  that 
it  would  be  submitted  in  this  form  to 
both  the  Guild  and  producers." 

The  Guild  is  seeking  to  reopen  the 
NLRB  case.  Its  directors  may  meet 
Monday. 


Theatre  Changes 


ADDS  MILWAUKEE  HOUSE 

Milwaukee,  May  4. — Fox  has  in- 
creased its  string  of  local  houses  to 
23  with  the  addition  of  the  Ritz,  north 
side  neighborhood  theatre  formerly 
operated  by  Michael  Brumm. 

N.  &  S.  Theatres,  Inc.,  have  taken 
over  the  Violet,  another  neighborhood. 
The  firm  is  headed  by  Herbert  J. 
Neuser  and  Oliver  Schmidt.  Merrill 
Devine,  former  operator  of  the  Vio- 
let, is  retiring  from  the  business  here. 


FORM  THEATRE  FIRM 

Kansas  City,  May  4.  —  W.  D. 
Fulton  and  others  have  formed  the 
3838  Woodland  Corp.  to  operate  the 
Colonial,  new  suburban  house  which 
replaced  the  one  destroyed  by  fire 
here  a  year  ago.  E.  E.  Webber,  who 
had  been  running  the  theatre,  will  con- 
tinue in  charge. 


GOUCHER  SELLS  BELTON 

Kansas  City,  May  4.  —  Verne 
Goucher  has  sold  the  Belton,  Belton, 
Mo.,  to  M.  B.  Presley,  who  has  the 
New  Globe  at  Savannah,  Mo.  Pres- 
ley has  changed  the  name  to  the  Dixie, 
and  placed  J.  B.  Presley,  his  son,  in 
charge. 


GEORGIA  HOUSE  RAZED 

Waynesboro,  Ga.,  May  4. — Grand 
Theatre  here,  owned  by  A.  L.  Shep- 
pard,  was  destroyed  by  fire,  with  a 
loss  estimated  at  $20,000. 


THREE  FIRMS  FORMED 

Albany,  May  4.  —  Three  new 
companies  chartered  here  include 
American  Saga  Productions,  Inc.,  by 
Mary  Prisco,  E.  J.  Feinberg  and  Flor- 
ence Pecoraro;  Ridgeway  Attractions, 
Inc.,  by  Dorothy  Olvev,  Julian  Olney 
and  A.  K.  Bowes,  and  Sholum  Se- 
cunda  Radio  Artists,  Inc.,  by  Sholum 
Secunda,  Norman  Furman  and  Mil- 
dred Blumberg. 


BUILD  IN  LONG  ISLAND 

A  new  house  with  600  seats  is  under 
construction  at  Queens  Plaza  and 
Crescent  Ave.,  Long  Island  City.  It 
will  be  opened  about  Sept.  1  by  Frank 
Moscato. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


N.  D.  Court  Test  Is 
Formally  Dismissed 

Fargo,  N.  D.,  May  4. — Formal  or- 
der dismissing  the  court  test  of  the 
legality  of  North  Dakota's  theatre 
divorcement  law  has  been  entered  in 
the  Federal  Court  here.  After  a  three- 
judge  court  had  upheld  the  legality 
of  the  1937  legislation,  the  U.  S.  Su- 
preme Court  sent  down  a  mandate 
dismissing  an  appeal  because  the  ques- 
tion became  moot  when  the  1939  legis- 
lature repealed  the  act. 


Game  Insurance  in 
Wis,  Brings  Arrest 

Madison,  Wis.,  May  4. — Sol  Ep- 
stein, local  news  dealer,  arrested  on 
charges  of  promoting  a  lottery  in  con- 
nection with  the  operation  of  the 
Madison  Banknite  Service  Co.,  has 
been  released  on  $100  bond. 

For  15  cents  a  week,  participants 
in  the  Bank  Night  insurance  service 
were  assured  of  receiving  the  award 
at  a  local  theatre  in  the  event  the  name 
was  drawn  and  winner  was  not  present. 


Friday,  May  5,  19391 

$85,000  for  Navy's 
Film  Shows  Votec 

Washington,  May  4. — Usual  ajj 
propriation  of  $85,000  for  motion  pii  I 
ture  service  for  the  new  fiscal  yej 
is  embodied  in  the  naval  supply  bill 
reported  today  to  the  House  by  i  i 
appropriation  committee.  a  l 

The  appropriation  was  apprw* 
after  Rear  Admiral  James  O.  Ricl 
ardson,  chief  of  the  navigation  bi 
reau,  testified  at  hearings  that  fun 
are  essential  in  the  development  at 
maintenance  of  high  morale  amor 
men  in  the  navy. 

"Film  shows  at  station  houses  or  \ 
the  open  air  aboard  ships  have  b ! 
come  regular  events  in  naval-  life,"  l! 
said.     "The  navigation  bureau  leas 
two  prints  of  300  late  programs  ea< 
year.   These  are  circulated  to  statio 
and  the  fleet  as  quickly  as  possible 

Total  cost  of  film  service  is  $31: 
000  annually,  the  difference  beii 
made  up  from  profits  of  ships'  ston 
the  house  committee  was  informed. 


Personnel  Moves 


MANAGERS  SHIFTED 

Toronto,  May  4. — K.  P.  Hunt' 
assistant  manager  of  the  Collej 
Kitchener,  Ont,  has  been  promoted 
manager  of  the  Centre,  London,  Or 
succeeding  L.  C.  Mills.  The  latl 
was  transferred  to  the  Elgin  at  C 
tawa  following  the  resignation 
Joseph  Paul  to  become  manager  of  t 
Community,  recently  opened  at  W 
land,  Ont. 


OMAHA  SALES  CHANGES 

Omaha,  May  4. — Three  chanj 
have  been  made  in  sales  forces  he 
John  Morphet,  St.  Louis,  and  Ed' 
Verichetto,  Chicago,  have  joined  1 
Columbia  sales  department.  Rob 
B.  Berke  of  Detroit,  has  replac 
Carl  Reese,  who  resigned  to  join  I 
public,  at  20th  Century-Fox. 


MOVE  TRI-STATES  MEN 

Omaha,  May  4. — Bill  Trites  r 
been  transferred  from  the  Rivoli 
Hastings,  Neb.,  to  the  Orpheum  h< 
as  treasurer.  He  will  succeed  Jr 
Kolbo,  who  has  been  named  assist; 
manager  of  the  Omaha.  All  are  T 
States  Theatre  Corp.  houses. 


ROSS  SHIFTS  CORRADINI 

Cincinnati,  May  4. — C.  R.  C 
radini,  manager  of  the  local  R 
Federal  Service  branch,  has  hx' 
transferred  to  a  similar  post  at  B 
ton.  Hank  Gleiss  has  come  h 
from  Washington  to  take  charge 
the  local  office. 


BOYD  QUITS  RKO 

Cincinnat,  May  4.  —  Cliff  Bo 
for  many  years  manager  of  the  RI 
Shubert  and  other  circuit  houses  h( 
has  resigned  to  accept  an  offer 
book  stage  talent.  His  successor  ! 
not  yet  been  appointed. 


SICHEL  PROMOTED 

Albany,  May  4. — Elmer  Sichel, 
sales  manager  at  the  20th  Centu 
Fox  exchange  here,  has  been  promo 
to  assistant  booker,  Scott  Lester  s 
ceeding  him. 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS  REGISTRATION  BUREAU 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  Telephone  Circle  7-3100 


NAME   :  

AFFILIATION   

HOME  ADDRESS  

ARRIVE    DEPART 

NEW  YORK  ADDRESS  

NEW  YORK  PHONE  

MEMBERS  OF  PARTY  


Clip  the  Coupon  and  Mail  to  World's  Fair  Bureau,  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York 


■4yi  ^^y  5.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


lonogram  Plans 
54-Film  Schedule 
For  New  Season 


and 


Schenck  Stresses  Need 
For  Keeping  Costs  Down 


Kansas  City  Host 
To  Metro  Officials 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
j  the  Navy,"  by  Grover  Jones^ 
hie  Boardman ;  "His  Father's  Son," 

I]    Matt    Taylor;    "Oliver  Twist," 
version  of  the  Charles  Dickens 

mff;  "Under  Northern  Lights,"  in- 
jired  by  the  music  and  lyrics  of 
harles     Wakefield     Cadman,  and 

I  freckles  Comes   Home,"   by  Jean- 
rtte  Stratton-Porter. 
I  Boris  Karloff  will  appear  in  four 
hv  "Mr.  Wong"  films,  "Mr.  Wong 
blushes,"  "Mr.  Wong  in  Havana," 
jdr.  Wong's  Chinatown  Squad"  and 
Wir.  Wong  in  New  York." 
|Iohn  Trent  will  be  seen  in  four 
faflspin  Tommy"  roles,  "Aces  of  the 
jir,"  "Transcontinental  Plane,"  "Dan- 
k  Flight"  and  "Sky  Patrol." 
Marcia  Mae  Jones  and  Jackie  Mo- 
rn will  appear  in  four  films,  "Tom- 
by,"  "Hoosier  Schooldays,"  "Haunted 
icmse"  and  "Kid  Reporters." 
Franchise  Holders  Meet 

J  Frankie  Darro  will  be  cast  in  four 
.attires,  "Arm  of  the  Law,"  "East 
Ale  Kid,"  "That  Gang  of  Mine"  and 
*Boys  of  the  City." 

:  Tex  Ritter  and  Jack  Randall  will 
lay  in  eight  westerns  each.  Two  of 
ie  Randall  westerns  will  be  "The 
-rairie"  and  "The  Pioneers,"  both  by 
nines  Fenimore  Cooper. 
The  convention  started  this  atter- 
oon  with  a  reception  and  cocktail 
arty  at  exchange  headquarters  here, 
Ihere  the  convention  delegates  were 
k  guests  of  Henri  Elman.  In  the 
jjeaing  a  franchise  holders'  meeting 
Id  advisory  committee  dinner  were 
eld. 

Tomorrow  Mayor  Edward  J.  Kelly 
I  ill  make  the  opening  address,  after 
n  introduction  by  Johnston.  This  will 
;  followed  by  speeches  by  Ed  Kuy- 
endall,  president  of  the  M.  P.  T. 
».  A.,  and  Jack  Kirsch,  president  of 
.Hied  T.  O.  of  Illinois.  J.  S.  Har- 
ngton  will  call  the  roll  and  addresses 
I  Elman,  George  W.  Weeks,  vice- 
resident  in  charge  of  sales,  Scott  R. 
hinlap,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
reduction,  will  follow. 
In  the  afternoon,  Louis  S.  Lifton, 
irector  of  advertising  and  publicity ; 
.loyd  Lind,  William  B.  Jarre,  John- 
:on,  John  Mangham,  John  Franconi, 
red  Mathis  and  Edward  A.  Golden, 
ice-president  in  charge  of  distribu- 
on,  will  address  the  session.  Mar- 
n    Spellman,    Monogram's  juvenile 
|tar,  will  be  introduced  to  the  meeting 
y  Jaffe.  

'  ammack  Named 
Phil  Reisman  Aide 

Phil  Reisman,  RKO  foreign  sales 
Manager,  yesterday  announced  the  pro- 
lotion    of    Ben    Cammack,  general 
lanager  of  the  Latin  American  mar- 
ket, to  assistant  foreign  sales  man- 
ager. Nat  Liebeskind,  manager  of  the 
Argentina    office,    has    been  given 
harge  of  Brazil,  Peru  and  Chile  in 
ddition  to  Argentina. 
Gus  Schaefer,  formerly  export  man- 
ger for  Universal,  has  been  placed 
n  charge  of  Cuba,  Mexico,  Central 
America    and    northern  countries  of 
Bouth  America.   Leon  Britton,  man- 
ager for  the  China  office,  has  been 
•romoted  and  placed  in  charge  of  the 
"ar  Eastern  and  Middle  Eastern  mar- 
rets. 


(Continued  from  pane  1) 

present  fiscal  year,  the  20th  Century- 
Fox  net  was  less  due  to  increased 
costs,  including  Social  Security  and 
other  taxes.  Fluctuation  of  foreign 
currency  and  exchange  also  was  a  fac- 
tor. 

"If  business  conditions  and  expenses 
were  normal,  our  net  probably  would 
have  been  100  per  cent  more  than  it 
was,"  he  said.  The  gross  for  the 
first  month  of  the  second  quarter 
was  higher  than  the  corresponding 
month  last  year." 

Doubts  European  War 

Twentieth  Century-Fox,  he  said,  is 
writing  off  all  possible  losses  in  order 
to  be  in  sound  financial  condition  in 
the  event  of  a  European  war.  How- 
ever, Schenck's  information  from  in- 
rluential  sources  in  Europe  is  that  no 
war  is  likely  this  year.  "The  war 
speculation  has  been  a  deterrent  to  all 
business,  and  as  soon  as  it  is  settled 
business  may  be  expected  to  boom," 
he  said. 

This  is  Schenck's  first  visit  in  New 
York  in  seven  months.  He  had 
planned  to  come  east  for  some  time 
but  was  detained  on  the  coast  by  labor 
conferences  in  which  he  has  been  ac- 
tive as  president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Producers'  Association  and 
chairman  of  the  producers'  labor  com- 
mittee. 

Labor  Pact  Revisions  Delayed 

Negotiations  on  revisions  of  tire 
studios'  labor  basic  agreement,  which 
are  due  May  15,  will  not  start  "until 
we  know  who  is  the  authorized  bar- 
gaining agent,"  Schenck  said.  "Until 
we  know  that  we  cannot  make  a  deal." 

He  referred  to  the  turmoil  in  the 
I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  ranks  on  the  coast,  and 
said  that  it  is  a  jurisdictional  dispute 
not  involving  the  studios,  and  that  the 
Alliance  has  expressed  willingness  to 
return  autonomy  to  the  affected  locals 
but  has  accused  some  of  the  leaders 
of  disloyalty. 

The  producers  have  agreed  with  the 
Screen  Writers'  and  Directors'  guilds, 
and  when  Schenck  left  the  coast  on 
Monday  contracts  with  these  groups 
were  being  drafted,  he  said. 

Interested  in  Television 

Regarding  television,  Schenck 
pointed  out  that  20th  Century-Fox  is 
interested  in  the  development  through 
Baird  Television,  a  subsidiary  of  Gau- 
mont  British,  because  of  its  partici- 
pation in  the  G.  B.  holding  company. 
S.  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, has  had  some  discussions 
with  Baird  representatives.  The 
Roxy,  a  20th  Century-Fox  house,  has 
been  mentioned  as  a  possible  theatre 
where  Baird  may  make  an  installa- 
tion. 

Asked  if  there  have  been  recent  ne- 
gotiations regarding  purchase  by  20th 
Century-Fox  of  an  additional  interest 
in  National  Theatres  from  the  Chase 
National  Bank,  Schenck  said  "this  is 
no  time  to  buy." 

"All  studios  are  working  very  hard 
to  turn  out  good  pictures,"  he  re- 
ported. Among  films  from  his  own 
studio,  Schenck  mentioned  "Rose  of 
Washington    Square"    and    said  the 


principals,  Alice  Faye;  Tyrone  Power 
and  Al  Jolson,  turn  in  top-notch  per- 
formances. 

Schenck  said  that  before  Warners' 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  was 
shown,  Hollywood  generally  feared 
that  the  film  might  be  injurious  to  the 
industry,  but  that  upon  attending  the 
premiere  he  was  gratified  to  learn 
that  the  picture  is  in  good  taste  and 
that  it  probably  will  have  a  salutary 
effect.  "It  paints  conditions  as  they 
are  and  you  feel  it  is  authentic,"  he 
added. 

Controversial  Subjects 

"Our  studio  has  no  plans  for  such 
a  picture  because  we  do  not  believe 
in  following  any  other  company  in  the 
selection  of  subjects,"  said  Schenck. 
"We  deal  with  topical  themes,  if  we 
have  a  subject  that  lends  itself  to 
screen  treatment.  We  produce  sub- 
jects of  a  controversial  nature,  and  no 
one  can  object  as  long  as  they  are 
presented  truthfully  and  without  bias 
or  propaganda. 

"But  we  do  not  propose  to  deal  with 
any  subject  that  is  objectionable  to  a 
foreign  government  and  therefore 
might  be  objectionable  to  our  gov- 
ernment as  well." 


To  Handle  French  Film 

French  Cinema  Center,  Inc.,  has 
acquired  U.S.  distribution  rights  to 
Marcel  Pagnol's  latest  film,  "Regain." 
to  be  released  here  as  "Harvest." 


Kansas  City,  May  4.  —  Five 
AI-G-M  exchanges  will  be  represented 
here  Saturday  and  Sunday  at  the  third 
of  a  series  of  meetings  for  office  man- 
agers, bookers  and  checking  super- 
visors at  the  Muehlebach  Hotel.  Home 
office  executives  will  attend. 

Delegates  include  :  Denver — Michael 
Cramer,  office  manager ;  James  B. 
Micheletti,  Arthur  R.  Mitchell.  Des 
Moines — Howard  T.  Dunn,  office  man- 
ager ;  Frank  H.  Gaskel'  Fred  D. 
Armington.  Omaha — Yoight  B.  Trent, 
office  manager ;  Hazel  Andersen, 
Howard  E.  Clark.  Kansas  City — 
Flerbert  W.  Genter,  office  manager ; 
Leon  S.  Abraham,  Kenneth  Gilmore, 
Albert  L.  Adler,  Walter  W.  Labader, 
Woodrow  W.  Sherrill.  St.  Louis — 
Earl  Hendon,  office  manager;  Clar- 
ence R.  Ritzier,  French  S.  Miller. 

The  home  office  group  will  include 
Alan  F.  Cummings,  in  charge  of 
branch  operations,  who  will  preside ; 
Charles  K.  Stern,  Joel  Bezahler,  Wil- 
liam Brenner,  Parke  D.  Agnew  and 
Mike  Simons,  editor  of  the  Distributor. 
Local  arrangements  were  made  by 
Flarris  P.  Wolfberg,  district  manager; 
Frank  Hensler,  branch  manager,  and 
.Claud  Morris,  exploitation  represen- 
tative. 


Roxy  Sets  Dividend 

Mirectors  of  Roxy  Theaters,  Inc., 
yesterday  declared  a  quarterly  dividend 
of  37]/2  cents  a  share  on  the  out- 
standing preferred  stock,  payable  June 
1  to  stockholders  of  record  May  18, 
1939. 


GRANT  APTUnn 


'i  run 


f Only Angels 
Have  Wings 

Story  and  Direction  bv  *   ^  T 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  May  5,  193 


Executives  at  U.A.  Sales  Sessions 

—  ! 


M.  SILVERSTONE 
Chief  Operating 
Executive 


HARRY  GOLD 

Eastern  Sales 
Manager 


L.  J.  SCHLAIFER 
Western  Sales 
Manager 


HARRY  BUCKLEY 
Vice-President 
of  V.  A. 


ARTHUR  KELLY 
A' ice- President 
Foreign 


LYNX  FARXOL 
Head  of  Adv.  and 
Publicity 


PAUL  LAZARUS 
U.  A.  Contract 
Manager 


M.  GREEN* THAL 
Exploitation 
Manager 


6 

UA  Reveals  Sales 
Program  at  Coast 
Sessions  Monday 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Earl  Carroll  theatre  restaurant.  Wed- 
nesday night,  the  entire  delegation  will 
leave  for  San  Francisco  where  they 
will  have  all  day  Thursday  to  visit 
the  World's  Fair  on  Treasure  Island. 
The  special  convention  train  will  start 
east  from  San  Francisco  on  Thursday 
night. 

Silverstone  will  open  the  convention 
Monday.  The  meeting  will  be  ad- 
dressed also  by  Harry  Gold,  eastern 
general  sales  manager ;  Jack  Schlaifer, 
western  general  sales  manager ;  Ar- 
thur W.  Kelly  and  Harry  D.  Buckley, 
vice-presidents,  and  E.  T.  Carr,  joint 
managing  director  for  England. 

Screenings  of  "Four  Feathers"  and 
"The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask"  will  be 
held  between  business  sessions.  On 
Tuesday,  Lynn  Farnol,  director  of  ad- 
\  ertising  and  publicity,  and  Monroe 
Greenthal,  exploitation  director,  will 
describe  the  company's  plans  for  new 
season  advertising  and  exploitation. 

Individual  sales  conferences  will  be 
held  by  Gold  and  Schlaifer  with  their 
territorial  representatives  on  Tues- 
day. District  and  branch  managers' 
meetings  will  be  held  on  Wesdnesday, 
final  day  of  the  convention. 


Lcretta  Young  Signed 

Hollywood.  May  4. — Walter  Wan- 
ger  has  signed  Loretta  Young  as  the 
first  of  three  stars  for  "Whose 
Wife?"  which  will  be  his  first  film 
for  the  new  season  for  U.  A.  release. 
Tay  Garnett  will  direct. 


British  Tax  Talks 
Please  Trade  Men 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

yesterday  Griffiths  argued  statistically 
against  the  planned  increases,  pointing 
out  the  burden  on  distributors,  in 
view  of  the  inability  to  pass  on  the 
tax.  Newsreel  representatives  were 
heard  at  the  Customs  Board  today. 

The  finance  bill  continues  in  Com- 
mons for  several  weeks  more,  through 
various  formalities,  and  the  introduc- 
tion of  amendments  is  permissible  dur- 
ing that  time.  The  latest  estimate, 
based  on  last  year's  figures,  is  that  the 
tax  payable  by  American  interests 
would  be  $4,000,000  exclusive  of  im- 
port duties  and  administration  ex- 
penses. 

Regional  Allied  Units 
To  Meet  in  New  York 

Francis  C.  Lydon  of  Boston,  Allied 
States  vice-president  for  the  eastern 
area,  has  called  a  regional  conference 
of  Allied  units  in  conjunction  with  the 
New  York  organization's  annual  con- 
vention and  exposition,  May  23  to  25 
at  the  Astor. 

Officers,  directors  and  members  of 
these  seven  units  have  been  called  to 
assemble  here  :  Independent  Exhibitors 
of  New  England,  A.T.O.  of  Connecti- 
cut, A.T.O.  of  New  Jersey,  A.T.O. 
of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  M.P.T.O.  of 
Western  Pennsylvania,  M.P.T.O.  of 
Maryland  and  Allied  of  Washington 
D.  C. 

In  addition,  national  Allied  officers 
and  heads  of  other  units  are  expected 
to  attend. 


Train  Today  Brings 
'Union  Pacific'  Stars 

"Union  Pacific"  special  is  due  to 
arrive  in  Jersey  City  at  4 :4S  P.M. 
today  in  preparation  for  the  opening 
in  the  Paramount  Wednesday.  The 
train  will  be  on  exhibition  earlier  at 
West  Point  where  the  party  will  be 
greeted  b"  officers  of  the  U.  S.  Mili- 
tary Academy.  Newspapermen  and 
cameramen  will  leave  by  automobile 
for  West  Point  this  morning  and  re- 
turn with  the  group  by  train. 

At  8 :30  P.M.,  a  broadcast  over 
WMCA  will  take  place  from  the 
Paramount  lobby,  with  a  public  auc- 
tion of  oranges  brought  from  Cali- 
fornia by  the  train.  The  party  is 
headed  by  William  H.  Pine,  associate 
producer,  and  Arthur  Rosson,  location 
director.  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  producer- 
director  of  "Union  Pacific,"  arrived 
Sunday. 

Included  in  the  train  party  are 
Lynne  Overman,  Brian  Donlevy, 
Patricia  Morison,  William  Henry, 
Evelyn  Venable,  Robert  Preston,  An- 
thony Quinn,  Sheila  Darcy,  Judith 
King,  Luana  Walters  and  Evelyn 
Luckey.  A  "Union  Pacific"  costume 
ball  will  be  held  at  the  National  Arts 
Club  tomorrow.  The  train  will  return 
west  over  a  different  route. 


Frisz  to  Cooperative 

Cincinnati,  May  4. — Ray  Frisz, 
formerly  booker  and  film  buyer  for 
Schine's  Ohio  circuit,  is  joining  Co- 
operative. Theatres,  for  which  Harry 
Bugie,  former  Warner  salesman,  is 
opening  an  office  here  in  connection 
with  Milton  Mooney,  of  Cleveland, 
for  collective  buying  of  product. 


Patriotic  Shorts 

Win  Dies'  Praise 

Hollywood,  May  4. — Patri- 
otic short  films  being  made 
by  Warners  have  the  praise 
of  Congressman  Martin  Dies, 
chairman  of  the  Congres- 
sional committee  investigat- 
ing un-American  activities. 
He  was  guest  at  a  luncheon 
given  in  his  honor  at  War- 
ners' studio  at  Burbank  to- 
day. He  said  the  films 
aroused  public  support  for 
his  committee. 


Ask  Postponement 
In  Government  Suit 

Attorneys  for  the  majors  will  ask 
Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  for  a 
week's  adjournment  of  the  Govern- 
ment's ^plication  in  the  latter's  anti- 
trust suit  for  an  order  dispensing  with 
the  necessity  of  naming  witnesses  to 
alleged  coercion  on  the  part  of  the 
majors,  it  was  revealed  yesterday. 
Postponement  of  the  hearing  is  sought 
to  afford  the  majors  an  opportunity  of 
preparing  and  filing  briefs  on  the  ques- 
tion, it  is  understood. 

The  majors  also  may  seek  the  ad- 
journment to  prepare  a  cross  motion 
for  an  order  from  Judge  Bondy  di- 
recting the  Government  to  file  a  more 
specific  bill  of  particulars  in  its  suit. 


Theatre  Firm  Formed 

Dover,  Del,  May  4.— Griffith  The- 
atres, Inc.,  has  been  formed  here  to 
conduct  theatres,  with  a  capital  of 
1,000  shares,  no  par  value. 


Three  Unions  Fight 
For  Television  Rin 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
them  from  accepting  television  wo 
without  consent  of  Equity. 

Both  moves  were  acquiesced  in 
the    A. A. A. A.       The  opposition 
Equity's  claim,  however,  is  based 
the   fact    that    neither    S.A.G.  n 
A.F.R.A.  was  organized  at  that  tin 
The  radio  union  claims  that  the  wo 
of  artists  before  the  microphone 
essentially  the    same   as    before  t 
iconoscope.    This  is  particularly  tr 
of  singers  and  commentators. 

Screen  actors  point  out  that  fih 
for  television  are  made  in  the  sai 
manner  as  other  films  and  that  the  u 
to  which  such  films  are  put  cann 
determine  jurisdiction.  N.B.C.  offic 
reveal  that  they  have  been  swamp 
with  applications  from  both  profe 
sional  and  amateur  actors.  The  mai 
continue  to  bring  such  applicatio 
daily.  Up  to  the  present  time,  the  a 
erage  pay  has  been  between  S40  ai 
$50  per  performance,  with  $100  as  tl 
top  figure  and  $25  as  the  lowest.  Wi 
regular  telecasts  now  on  the  schedtil 
however,  action  will  shortly  be  tab 
to  hire  actors  by  the  week. 


RKO  Stock  Plea 

Norman  C.  Norman  will  apply 
the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  today  f 
leave  to  intervene  in  the  stockholder 
suit  against  RCA,  its  officers  and  P 
rectors,  General  Electric  Co..  Amei 
can  Telephone  &  Telegraph  Co.  ai 
Westinghouse  Mfg.  Co.,  as  holder 
500  shares  of  common  stock.  Tweh 
plaintiffs  have  been  consolidated  in 
one  action  by  Tustice  Aaron  J.  Lev 
Suit  is  for  waste  and  mismanagemen 


RESERVE  YOUR  COPY  NOW 

Have  you  reserved  your  copy  of  the  1939-40  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
that  is  now  in  preparation?  We  suggest  that  you  order  yours  now  because  each 
•  year  the  demand  is  much  greater  than  the  supply. 

The  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac  is  the  annual  product  of  the  world-wide 
staff  of  the  Quigley  Publications,  focusing  between  its  covers  the  up-to-the-minute 
statistical  record  of  the  entire  industry.  Year  after  year  the  Almanac  serves  the 
world's  showmen  through  its  voluminous  compilation  of  significant  facts  and  fig- 
ures,— vigilantly  reflecting  the  ever-changing  panorama  of  the  business. 

To  the  producer,  distributor  and  exhibitor  and  to  all  those  whose  activities  im- 
pinge upon  the  entertainment  industry,  the  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
is  the  supreme  reference  authority,  conveniently  arranged  and  indexed  for  instant 
dependable  use. 


OP 


The  1939-40  edition  will  contain  over  1200  pages  and  will  represent  the  most  am- 
bitious effort  since  the  inauguration  of  the  first  Almanac,  more  than  a  decade  ago. 


ORDER  TO-DAY 


$3.00  PLUS  POSTAGE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

OCKEFELLER  CENTER 


ALMANAC 

NEW  YORK 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday,  May  5,  I' 


Ascap  Directors 
Affirm  Control  of 
Television  Music 


Ascap  yesterday  affirmed  its  con- 
trol of  television  rights  to  music  in 
its  catalogue  on  behalf  of  its  mem- 
bers. Action  was  taken  by  the  organi- 
zation's board  of  directors,  a  spokes- 
man for  the  society  stated,  in  order 
that  there  would  be  no  misunderstand- 
ing as  to  where  control  of  the  rights 
rests. 

The  board's  move,  it  was  said,  is 
tantamount  to  a  declaration  that  the 
use  of  Ascap  music  in  television 
broadcasts  is  regarded  by  the  society 
as  a  separate  public  performance  for 
profit  which  is  not  covered  by  the 
broadcasters'  radio  license  fees.  In- 
auguration of  a  separate  fee  for  the 
television  rights  will  be  discussed  by 
the  society  in  the  near  future.  How- 
ever, it  was  stated  that  the  fees  may 
not  be  put  into  force  for  some  time 
after  they  have  been  worked  out  in 
the  event  any  doubt  exists  at  that 
time  that  television's  use  of  music  is 
anything  but  commercial. 

The  board's  action  is  understood  to 
have  followed  a  report  and  recom- 
mendation by  Louis  D.  Frohlich,  of 
counsel,  to  Ascap,  which  held  that 
with  inauguration  of  the  sale  of  re- 
ceiving sets  television  entered  the  com- 
mercial stage  and  was  engaged  in  giv- 
ing "public  performances  for  profit." 

Board  elected  George  Meyers  of  the 
Ascap  staff  secretary  of  the  organi- 
zation, filling  the  vacancy  created  by 
the  death  of  Joseph  Young  several 
weeks  ago. 


AFRA  Deal  Signed 
By  Crosley9  s  Units 

Cincinnati,  May  4. — A  union  wage 
contract,  effective  May  14,  and  con- 
tinuing until  Oct.  31,  1940,  covering 
approximately  70  actors,  singers,  an- 
nouncers, news  and  continuity  writers 
of  WLW  and  WSAI,  has  been  signed. 

It  was  negotiated  by  James  D. 
Shouse,  vice-president  of  the  Crosley 
Corp.,  in  charge  of  broadcasting.  Mrs. 
Emily  Holt,  national  secretary;  Maj. 
James  P.  Holmes,  field  secretary,  and 
local  officers  of  the  American  Federa- 
tion of  Radio  Actors. 


Douglas  in  Air  Debate 

Melvyn  Douglas,  M-G-M  player, 
and  Mrs.  Gladys  Murphy  Graham  of 
the  University  of  California  and  a 
member  of  the  Institute  of  Propaganda 
Analysis,  will  take  the  affirmative  in  a 
debate  May  11  over  the  NBC-Blue  at 
8  P.M.  on  "Can  Women  Resist  Propa- 
ganda?" Negative  side  will  be  Mrs. 
Anna  Steese  Richardson,  associate 
editor  of  Woman's  Home  Companion, 
and  Chester  Rowell,  editor  of  the  San 
Francisco  Chronicle. 


'Zola'  on  Lux  Program 

Paul  Muni  and  Josephine  Hutchin- 
son will  offer  "The  Life  of  Emile 
Zola"  on  the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre" 
Monday  at  9  P.M.  over  CBS. 


hammers  on  World  Tour 

Cncinnati,  May  4.— Charles  Lam- 
mers,  WLW  producer,  is  leaving  this 
week  on  a  five-month  world  tour  to 
gather  broadcast  data.  He  will  sail 
from  the  west  coast  May  19. 


Only  as  Necessary 

CBS  couldn't  very  well  help 
purchasing  its  television 
transmitter  from  RCA  be- 
cause of  basic  patents  con- 
trolled by  the  latter,  but  is 
CBS  ordering  RCA  receivers 
for  use  by  its  officials  and 
television  staff? 

It  is  not.  The  order  has 
been  placed  with  General 
Electric. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 


BENAY  VENUTA  has  been  given 
a  renewal  for  another  year  on 
Mutual  .  .  .  Billy  Rose  will 
make  the  featured  guest  appearance 
on  Eddie  Cantor's  show  Monday  night. 
.  .  .  Dave  Elman  will  celebrate  a 
birthday  tomorrow  in  his  home  town, 
Park  River,  N.  D.,  with  the  whole 
town  turning  out  to  celebrate  with  a 
parade  and  banquet. 


2  NBC  Television 
Programs  Are  Cast 

NBC  television  programs  for 
Wednesday,  May  10,  and  Friday, 
May  12,  have  been  cast,  with  Jean 
Muir  scheduled  for  an  appearance  be- 
fore the  television  camera  in  a  dra- 
matic sketch. 

Wednesday  program  will  consist  of 
acts  from  "Mexicana,"  new  Broad- 
way revue ;  a  dramatic  piece  titled 
"The  Faker,"  a  song  dramatization, 
a  skating  act  and  selected  film  sub- 
jects. Friday  the  talent  will  include 
Helen  Morgan,  Jean  Muir,  and  three 
acts,  a  fencing  team,  a  comedy  duo 
and  a  team  of  midget  acrobats.  The 
television  time  schedule  is  8  to  9  P.  M. 


'For  Men  Only*  Trial 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Ber- 
nard L.  Shientag  ordered  trial  on 
June  6  of  the  suit  of  Beth  Brown 
against  NBC,  Bristol  Myers  Co., 
Crosley  Radio  Corp.  and  Pedlar  & 
Ryan,  Inc.,  for  an  injunction  to  re- 
strain the  broadcasting  of  the  program 
"For_  Men  Only,"  which  advertises 
Vitalis.  Plaintiff  claims  ownership  of 
the  name  "For  Men  Only,"  being  au- 
thor of  a  novel  of  the  same  title. 


Writers'  Series  Set 

A  series  of  four  programs  has  been 
arranged  by  the  World  Congress  of 
Writers,  to  be  presented  over  the 
NBC-Blue  May  8  at  4:30  P.M.,  May 

9  at  12  noon  and  3  P.M.,  and  May 

10  at  3  P.M.  Among  the  writers 
scheduled  to  participate  are  Jules  Ro- 
mains,  Dorothy  Thompson,  Erich 
Maria  Remarque,  Anton  Zweig,  J.  B. 
Priestley,  Andre  Maurois,  Thomas 
Mann,  Henrik  Willem  van  Loon  and 
Vincent  Sheean. 


Chase  &  Sanborn 
Holds  Radio  Lead 


Ed  Scheuing  Bankrupt 

Edwin  W.  Scheuing,  salesman  for 
the  WMGA  Artists'  Bureau,  yesterday 
filed  a  voluntary  petition  in  bank- 
ruptcy in  the  U.  S.  District  Court. 
He  listed  $13,874  in  liabilities,  and  no 
assets. 


Latest  word  on  popularity  of  net- 
work programs  shows  little  change 
from  the  last  few  surveys.  The  Chase 
&  Sanborn  Hour  is  still  the  kingpin 
program,  with  the  remaining  nine 
leading  shows  following  in  order ; 
Jack  Benny,  Lux  "Radio  Theatre," 
Bing  Crosby's  series,  the  Kate  Smith 
show,  Major  Bowes,  M-G-M  "Good 
News"  series,  Edward  G.  Robinson's 
"Big  Town,"  Burns  and  Allen,  and 
Eddie  Cantor. 

Six  of  the  leading  10  programs  are 
broadcast  over  CBS,  four  over  the 
NBC-Red  network. 


Winchell  Given  New 
Five-Year  Contract 

Walter  Winchell  yesterdav  closed  a 
deal  with  the  Jergens-Woodbury  Co. 
for  a  five-year  renewal  of  his  contract. 
The  new  contract  will  keep  Winchell 
on  the  air  through  1941  and  will  mark 
10  years  of  broadcasting  by  the  Daily 
Mirror  columnist. 

Winchell's  salary  remains  the  same, 
$5,000  per  broadcast.  Only  new  pro- 
vision is  that  the  company  agrees  to 
allow  Winchell  to  stay  as  long  as  he 
desires  in  Florida  each  winter  and 
will  pay  the  line  charges  of  $1,700 
per  week.  Previously  he  was  allowed 
to_  stay  in  Florida  only  four  weeks 
with  the  company  bearing  the  line 
expenses. 


B 


anner 
LINES 


Uncle  Don  Renewed 
By  Greenwich  Bank 

Greenwich  Savings  Bank,  for  the 
ninth  year,  has  renewed  sponsorship 
in  the  Uncle  Don  children's  series  over 
WOR.  The  contract,  for  a  full  year, 
becomes  effective  May  IS. 

The  Mennen  Co.,  through  the  Kiese- 
wetter  agency,  will  start  sponsorship 
of  Mark  Hawley's  Transradio  news 
programs  on  May  17.  New  business 
for  WOR's  recording  department  is 
an  order  to  record  the  proceedings  of 
the  affairs  attended  by  the  Crown 
Prince  and  Princess  of  Norway,  now 
visiting  here;  a  series  for  Chateau 
Martin  Wines ;  announcements  for 
Maryland  Bakeries  to  be  broadcast 
over  220  stations ;  and  a  test  campaign 
for  Penny  Gum  Inc.,  to  be  used  on 
200  stations. 


Rural  Radio  Study 
N earing  Completion 

Third  annual  study  of  program  pop- 
ularity among  rural  families  by  the 
Cooperative  Analysis  of  Broadcasting- 
is  nearing  completion  and  will  be  re- 
leased to  subscribers  in  about  10  days. 

In  addition  to  reporting  the  relative 
popularity  of  network  programs  in 
rural  areas,  the  report  will  give  com- 
parable ratings  for  large  cities,  thus 
showing  how  various  programs  ap- 
peal differently  to  rural  and  urban 
people.  Interviews  have  been  spread 
equally  among  farmers  and  small  town 
families  in  300  different  communities 
in  the  basic  network  area. 


Radio  Ruhes  in  Boston 

The  Radio  Rubes  are  playing  the 
RKO  Keith  in  Boston  for  four  days, 
yesterday  through  Sunday.  They  are 
broadcasting  over  WNAC  during  the 
engagement. 


DESPITE  the  limited  circulat  j 
(about  600  home  receivers  ! 
this  area)  20th  Century-Fo.V 
enthusiastic  about  the  results  achie  j 
through  its  tieup  with  WOR  on  f 
simile,  a  checkup  with  Charles  BOSj 
Carthy,  the  company's  director  mrl 
vertising  and  publicity,  reveals.  2 
Century-Fox  intends  to  continue 
arrangement. 

McCarthy  states  his  company 
ceives  numbers  of  letters  each  W 
from    the    facsimile    fans,  who, 
course,  must  be  rated  also  as  mot 
picture  and  radio  fans. 

While  the  expense  to  20th  Centu 
Fox  is  negligible,  nevertheless  th 
is  an  expense.  The  company  p 
vides  especially  screened  half-tor 
and  copy  is  in  print  form,  on  glo 
stock,  set  one  column  and  a  \ 
wide.  Copy  and  photos  are  tra 
mitted  twice  a  day,  4  to  5  P.  M.,  fr 
the  studios  in  New  York,  and 
an  hour  during  early  morning,  fr 
the  transmitter  at  Carteret,  N. 
There  are  no  outright  commen 
plugs  for  the  20th  Century-Fox  pr 
uct,  as  no  commercials  are  allovi 
in  facsimile,  but  the  company  nev, 
theless  manages  to  get  across 
thought  that  its  offerings  are 
perior. 


Boake  Carter  in  his  syndica 
column  the  other  day  took  a  cr: 
at  radio  commentators  for  th 
"war  mongering,"  and  by  inferei 
raked  Walter  Winchell  for  indu 
ing  in  "Sunday  night  war  whoop 
Maybe  Boake  has  got  someth 
there,  but  it's  a  case  of  the 
calling  the  kettle  black,  for  Bo; 
in  his  day  on  the  air  was  quite 
alarmist  and  war,  to  hear  him  1 
it  on  numerous  occasions,  was  j 
around  the  corner  from  his  mic 
phone. 


Mutual,  which  used  to  carry  ev 
big  picture  opening  from  the  Cart) 
Circle  and  Grauman  Chinese  T 
atres  in  Hollywood,  won't  any  mcj 
The  network  will  not  discuss  the  m 
ter,  but  they  exude  an  unmistdka\ 
the-honeymoon-is-over  impression. 


Here's  an  interesting  fact 
vealed  by  Frank  Mason,  NBC  vi 
president  in  charge  of  the  int 
national  division.  Mason  sta 
that  judging  from  the  numbers 
letters  received  from  the  listen 
in  South  and  Central  America,  1 
Hollywood  news  programs  are  c( 
sidered  just  as  important  as  the 
ternational  news  programs  by  i 
listeners  of  the  other  Americas. 

— Jack  Bani 


Takes  Ball  Previews 

Gordon  Baking  Co.  has  purcha 
sponsorship  of  the  baseball  previe 
on  WABC,  effective  immediately.  P 
grams  will  be  handled  by  Waite  H( 
former  big  league  pitcher,  and  is 
the  air  Mondays  through  Saturds 
starting  10  minutes  before  game  tii 
N.  W.  Ayer  is  the  agencv.  The  c 
tract  is  to  run  through  the  entire  ba 
ball  season. 


to  the 
Picture 
Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


BE 


NO.  88 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  MAY  8,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


*act  Reached 
By  Producers 
and  Directors 


zhenck  Hails  Nine-Year 
Studio  Agreement 


Hollywood,  May  7. — After  more 
ui  two  years  of  negotiations,  com- 
ttees  representing  eight  major  pro- 
ters  and  the  Screen  Actors'  Guild 
ve  completed  tentative  agreements 
•ecting  every  director,  first  and  sec- 
d  assistant  and  unit  manager  in 
jllywood  and  elsewhere  in  the  coun- 

Dn\y  the  signatures  of  the  respec- 
e  organizations  are  needed  to  make 
!  agreements  official. 
What  was  believed  to  be  the  final 
stacle  to  peaceful  settlement  of  bar- 
ining,  which  already  has  entered 
I  L.  R.  B.  files,  was  the  formation 
Unit  Managers  Guild,  Inc.  Direc- 
ts and  their  assistants  will  belong  to 
t  SDG. 

:The  producers'  agreements  with  the 
)G  and  UMG  will  be  for  nine  years, 
aey  provide : 

Eighty  per  cent  guild  shop  for  du- 
aon  of  the  contract,  minimum  sal- 
es for  first  and  second  assistants 
d  unit  managers,  consultation  by 
Dducers  of  directors  on  casting  and 
iting  of  pictures,  severance  pay  for 
lers  than  directors,  preparation  time 
ior  to  shooting  for  directors,  and,  on 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


[onogram  Boosts 
Quota  $2,505,000 

Chicago,  May  7. — Monogram's 
es  quota  for  1939-'40  has  been  set 
$8,850,000,  W.  Ray  Johnston,  presi- 
nt,  disclosed  at  the  company's  three- 
y  sales  convention  which  ended  here 
sterday.  This  exceeds  the  current 
ason's  quota  by  $2,505,000. 
Scott  R.  Dunlap,  production  vice- 
esident,  revealed  talent  additions. 
jCkie  Cooper  has  been  signed  for  an 
I  ditional  feature,  and  may  do  two. 
an  Parker  has  been  contracted  for 
o  pictures.  Jerry  Brandt,  son  of 
:  late  Joe  Brandt,  who  has  formed 
?new  company  with  E.  B.  Derr,  has 
en  engaged  as  associate  producer. 
Monogram  is  considering  the  acqui- 
ion  of  Spanish  language  features 
oduced  in  Hollywood  or  Mexico 
r   distribution   in   Latin  America. 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Hollywood  review  of  "Rose 
of  Washington  Square"  is  on 
Page  6. 


Equity  May  Gain 
Television  Control 

Actors'  Equity  will  be  grant- 
ed jurisdiction  over  the  tele- 
vision field  by  Associated 
Actors  &  Artists  of  America, 
the  parent  body,  it  was  re- 
vealed by  union  sources  un- 
officially over  the  weekend. 

A  three-hour  session  re- 
sulted in  the  passage  of  a 
resolution  Friday  which  was 
not  made  public.  Meetings 
are  scheduled  for  this  after- 
noon and  next  Monday  but 
these  will  concern  themselves 
only  with  the  ironing  out  of 
details,  the  same  sources 
stated. 


Montague  Pledges 
Columbia  Support 
Of  Trade  Program 


Atlantic  City,  May  7. — Columbia 
will  comply  with  the  industry  trade 
practice  program  in  every  respect,  A. 
Montague,  general  sales  manager,  who 
is  a  member  of  the  distributors'  nego- 
tiating committee  for  the  pact,  will 
tell  the  company's  eastern  and  south- 
ern sales  forces  at  the  opening  ses- 
sion tomorrow  of  the  first  of  three  re- 
gional sales  meetings. 

"Columbia  took  an  important  part 
in  the  recent  trade  practice  confer- 
ences," Montague  will  say,  "and  if  the 
code  is  accepted  by  the  Government 
and  by  exhibitors,  individually  and  in 
groups,  we  definitely  intend  to  live  up 
to  the  very  letter  of  the  agreement. 

"Our  'decentralized'  sales  organiza- 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


MAY  ORDER  TRUST 
WITNESSES  NAMED 


32  Features 
On  UA's  List; 
11  Producers 


Los  Angeles,  May  7. — A  minimum 
of  32  features  from  11  producers  are 
scheduled  for  new  season  release  by 
United  Artists,  the  company's  national 
sales  meeting  at  the  Ambassador  here 
will  be  told  with  the  opening  of  the 
convention  tomorrow.  Both  the  num- 
ber of  pictures  and  the  number  of  pro- 
ducers are  the  largest  to  be  an- 
nounced by  the  company  during  its  20- 
year  history. 

Two  productions  from  Samuel 
Goldwyn  are  included  by  the  com- 
pany in  its  new  season  release  sched- 
ule. Other  producers  who  will  con- 
tribute to  the  list  are  David  O.  Selz- 
nick,  with  three;  Charles  Chaplin, 
one;  Alexander  Korda,  five;  Douglas 
Fairbanks,  one  ;  Walter  Wanger,  six  ; 
Hal  Roach,  five  plus  a  series  of  four 
Stan  Laurel  and  Oliver  Hardy  pic- 
tures ;  Edward  Small,  seven ;  Ernst 
Lubitsch-Sol  Lesser,  one,  and  David 
L.  Loew,  one. 

Lubitsch,  Lesser  and  Loew  are  new- 
comers to  the  company's  roster  of 
contributing  producers. 

Following  are  the  new  season's  pro- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Television's  First  Week 
Is  Called  Great  Success 


Television's  first  week  of  regular 
service  has  been  successful  beyond 
expectation,  according  to  NBC  offi- 
cials, and  comments  in  New  York 
newspapers. 

NBC  officials  say  word  has  come  to 
them  throughout  the  week  from  view- 
ers in  New  York  City,  Long  Island, 
Westchester  and  Connecticut  report- 
ing "excellent  reception."  There  is  no 
authoritative  checkup  of  the  number 
of  television  receivers  now  possessed 
by  the  public,  but  television  executives 
place  the  number  at  approximately  300 
sets,  with  numerous  orders  booked  by 
dealers  for  future  delivery. 

RCA  and  Philco  receivers  on  the 
market  are  priced  from  approximate- 


ly $150  to  $600  a  set.  General  Elec- 
tric, Farnsworth,  Dumont  and  other 
companies  shortly  will  place  their 
sets  on  the  market.  Barrons,  financial 
weekly,  reports  that  sales  estimates 
for  television  sets  for  this  year  can 
be  placed  at  near  40,000. 

Of  television's  "first  night,"  which 
took  place  the  past  Thursday,  the 
New  York  Times  reported  that  ob- 
servers "remarked  at  the  mobility  of 
the  cameras  in  handling  the  close- 
ups  and  long-shots  of  the  acts,  bring- 
ing out  the  high  spots  in  the  per- 
formances. The  program  also  dem- 
onstrated that  the  radio  eye,  or  icono- 
scope, in  the  cameras  has  been  made 
more  sensitive  and  all-seeing." 


Bondy  Hints  He'll  Oppose 
Federal  Plea  to  Keep 
Identities  Secret 


Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  on 
Friday  strongly  indicated  he  would 
deny  the  Government's  request  to  fore- 
go naming  witnesses  in  the  Govern- 
ment's anti-trust  suit  against  major 
film  companies. 

Judge  Bondy  reserved  decision  on 
the  Government's  motion  to  dispense 
with  naming  witnesses  to  alleged  acts 
of  coercion  against  independent  exhib- 
tors  to  force  them  to  sell  their  the- 
atres. This  information  had  been  re- 
quested by  the  companies  in  connection 
with  the  bill  of  particulars.  Judge 
Bondy  may  decide  a  compromise  in 
which  witnesses  will  not  be  named 
until  the  defendants'  answers  are  on 
file. 

Paul  Williams,  special  assistant  at- 
torney general,  insisted  there  was 
grave  danger  of  intimidation  of  wit- 
nesses. A  number  of  film  company 
employes  have  refused  to  testify,  he 
said,  because  they  fear  intimidation. 

In  support  of  his  contention,  he  cited 
testimony  of  Austin  C.  Keough,  Para- 
mount counsel,  during  the  North  Da- 
kota  theatre   "divorce"   hearings  in 

(.Continued  on  page  6) 


$550,000  of  RKO 
Notes  Exchanged 

Only  holders  of  $550,000  out  of  a 
total  of  $12,700,000  in  debentures  of 
RKO  have  elected  to  exchange  their 
bonds  for  new  preferred  stock  alone, 
it  was  disclosed  Friday  by  Hamilton 
C.  Rickaby,  attorney  for  Atlas  Corp., 
during  a  hearing  before  Federal  Judge 
William  Bondy. 

Disclosure  was  made  upon  applica- 
tion of  H.  Cassel  &  Co.,  holder  of 
$300,000  in  gold  debentures,  for  an 
extension  of  time  to  make  its  elec- 
tion until  20  days  after  the  Circuit 
Court  of  Appeals  renders  a  decision 
from  three  appeals  pending  on  con- 
firmation of  the  plan. 

Judge  Bondy  adjourned  Cassel's  ap- 
plication for  one  week  and  stated  he 
would  extend  the  adjournment  until 
after  decision  by  the  Circuit  Court  if 
the  Stock  Exchange  would  not  object 
to  the  delay.  O.  C.  Doering  of  the 
Irving  Trust  Co.,  RKO  trustee,  said 
he  would  report  to  the  court  whether 
the  Exchange  would  oppose  any  de- 
lay. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  8,  I9j 


Pact  Reached 
By  Producers 
and  Directors 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

a  whole,  terms  generally  available  now 
only  to  leading  directors. 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  president  of 
A.  M.  P.  P.,  said: 

"Amicable  solution  of  all  issues  be- 
tween the  guilds  and  the  producers 
gives  us  all  great  satisfaction.  Agree- 
ment does  more  than  dispose  of  press- 
ing labor  problems  in  the  industry.  It 
also  serves  to  emphasize  anew  that  a 
conference  table  with  a  democratic 
give-and-take  is  the  best  medium  for 
solving  and  settling  differences  be- 
tween employer  and  employe." 

The  tentative  agreement  makes  the 
following  provisions  for  first  assistant 
directors : 

Minimum  salary  of  $125  a  week; 
10  per  cent  raise  for  those  getting  over 
the  minimum  at  present ;  all  contracts 
between  individuals  and  producers  to 
be  for  a  minimum  of  46  weeks. 

Two  weeks'  vacation  with  pay ; 
severance  pay  of  one  week  for  free 
lancer  if  working  more  than  two  con- 
secutive weeks ;  three  days  pay  for 
free  lancer  if  working  less ;  all  first 
assistants  to  get  minimum  whether 
members  of  the  guild  or  not. 

Second  Assistants'  Benefits 

Provisions  for  second  assistants  in- 
clude : 

Ninety  cents  hourly  for  second  year 
and  $1  hourly  for  third  and  subse- 
quent years ;  overtime  as  provided  in 
wages  and  hours  bill ;  10  per  cent 
raises  for  those  getting  minimum  and 
above  at  present ;  minimum  call  eight 
hours. 

The  agreement  is  subject  to  cancel- 
lation at  the  end  of  four  years,  or  at 
any  time  after  three  years,  provided 
one  year's  notice  is  served. 

The  guild  agrees  not  to  strike 
against  any  producer.  Primary  signa- 
tories are  20th  Century-Fox,  Loew's, 
Inc.,  Columbia,  Goldwyn,  Warners, 
Paramount,  RKO  and  Universal. 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Producer  Proposal 
Rejected  by  S.W.G. 

Hollywood,  May  7. — Directors  of 
Screen  Writers'  Guild  Friday  night 
declared  the  producers'  proposal  for  a 
basic  agreement  was  but  a  company 
union  contract  and  that  "we  cannot 
ask  our  members  to  surrender  this 
freedom  of  action  for  seven  years  in 
return  for  such  a  contract." 

The  letter  was  signed  by  Charles 
Brackett,  president  of  the  guild,  and 
followed  a  letter  from  Mendel  Silber- 
berg,  producers'  attorney,  who  indi- 
rectly had  charged  bad  faith  on  the 
part  of  the  guild.  Brackett  said  the 
guild  has  always  insisted  on  a  short 
term  pact. 


Everybody  in  Show  Business 
MEETS  AT 

SARDI'S 

234  West  44th  Street 

LAckawanna  4-5785 


WILL  H.  HAYS  left  Saturday 
night  for  his  usual  spring  visit 
in  Hollywood.  He  expects  to  be  away 
two  weeks. 

• 

John  Hay  Whitney,  chairman  of 
the  board  of  Selznick  International, 
is  due  today  on  the  Queen  Mary.  He 
will  proceed  directly  to  the  coast  for 
a  week's  visit,  then  return  to  New 
York. 

• 

Jascha  Heifetz,  violinist,  left 
Hollywood  Friday  for  Detroit  and 
from  there  will  come  to  New  York 
for  a  refugee  benefit  tomorrow.  He 
will  return  to  Hollywood  after  the 
benefit. 

• 

C.  C.  Moskowitz,  Loew  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  New  York  theatres, 
and  Seymour  Mayer,  district  mana- 
ger, returned  yesterday  from  a  three- 
week  Florida  and  Havana  vacation. 
• 

Karl  Hoblitzelle,  Interstate  pres- 
ident, is  back  in  Dallas  after  a  visit 
to  New  York  and  Washington  as  a 
member  of  the  Texas  World's  Fair 
Commission. 

• 

Louis  Notarius  of  the  Paramount 
home  office  theatre  department;  leaves 
for  the  coast  at  the  end  of  the  week  to 
take  up  a  new  assignment  at  the 
studio. 

• 

Barret  Riesling  of  the  M-G-M 
studio    exploitation    department,  is 
touring  southern  towns  lecturing  to 
women's  clubs  on  picture  trends. 
• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Messmore  Kendall 
will  be  hosts  to  Mrs.  Gilbert  White, 
widow  of  the  American  artist,  during 
her  visit  here  from  Paris. 

• 

Herman  Rosenberg,  head  of  Cos- 
mopolitan Studios,  has  acquired  facili- 
ties, goodwill  and  name  of  National 
Studios. 

• 

Betty  Warner,  daughter  of  Harry 
M.  Warner,  is  engaged  to  Milton 
Sperling,  scenarist. 

• 

James  Roosevelt,  vice-president  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  arrives  today 
from  England  aboard  the  Queen  Mary. 


PRNIE  EMERLING  of  Loew's 
*— '  advertising  department,  leaves 
Wednesday  on  the  Queen  Mary  with 
Mrs.  Emerling  for  a  European  va- 
cation. 

• 

Eddie  Dowling,  appearing  in  Bos- 
ton in  "Our  Town,"  and  his  wife, 
Ray  Dooley,  were  guests  of  Judge 
James  E.  Dooley,  president  of  the 
Narragansett  Track.  Among  the 
guests  were  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tom  Mee- 
han,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  Too- 
hey,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eddie  Healey. 
• 

Major  F.  J.  Pearson,  operator  of 
the  army  post  theatre  at  Ft.  Leaven- 
worth, Kan.,  visited  RKO's  World's 
Fair  headquarters  Friday.  Other  vis- 
itors were  Don  Widlund  of  Jam 
Handy,  Detroit,  and  Yrgo  Sarramo 
of  Helsingfors,  Finland,  who  is  inter- 
ested in  distribution  there. 

• 

Harry  Hellman,  operator  of  the 
Royal  and  Paramount,  Albany  neigh- 
borhood houses,  has  returned  from  a 
two-month  vacation  in  Florida. 
• 

Al  Smith,  visiting  on  the  coast, 
was  the  guest  of  Harry  M.  and  Jack 
L.  Warner  at  a  studio  luncheon  late 
last  week. 

• 

Walter  Hoffman,  manager  of  the 
Park,  Morristown,  N.  J.,  has  re- 
turned from  a  three-month  Miami  va- 
cation. 

• 

Richard  P.  Leahy,  operator  of  the 
Washington  and  Winona,  Bay  City, 
Mich.,  is  in  town  to  see  the  World's 
Fair. 

• 

Jennie  Dennett,  head  booker  at 
Republic's  New  York  exchange,  has 
returned  to  her  desk  after  a  brief  ill- 
ness. 

• 

A.  N.  Notopoulos,  head  of  Altoona 
Publix  Theatres,  is  in  New  York  for 
a  visit  with  Paramount  officials. 
• 

Arthur  Lee  and  Ian  C.  Javal  of 
Baird  Television  were  luncheon  guests 
aboard  the  U.  S.  S.  Tennessee. 
• 

Luis  H.  Gomez,  exhibitor  of  Ar- 
menia, Colombia,  is  in  town. 


Allied  Forum 
To  Air  Views 
On  Film  Cod< 


200  at  Interstate 

Galveston  Session 

Dallas,  May  7.— More  than  200 
managers  and  home  office  executives 
of  Interstate  Circuit  and  Texas  Con- 
solidated theatres,  will  convene  tomor- 
row at  Galveston  for  a  four-day  meet- 
ing. Exhibitors  from  most  circuits  in 
the  country  have  been  invited.  Dis- 
tributors also  will  be  present. 

Barney  Balaban,  Paramount  presi- 
dent, will  go  to  Galveston  from  New 
York  by  plane  on  Wednesday  to  at- 
tend the  final  sessions  of  the  meeting. 
Also  attending  from  the  Paramount 
home  office  will  be  Leonard  Golden- 
son,  who  left  New  York  Sunday. 
Others  who  will  attend  are  E.  V. 
Richards  of  Saenger  Circuit,  New 
Orleans ;  E.  J.  Sparks  of  Florida,  and 
Robert  Wilby  of  Atlanta. 


Louis  Mayer  Due 

for  Parleys  Here 

Louis  B.  Mayer,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  M-GM  production,  is  due 
here  early  this  week  from  Louisville 
where  he  went  from  the  coast  for  the 
Derby.  He  is  scheduled  to  remain 
here  three  weeks  for  conferences  with 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president ;  J. 
Robert  Rubin,  vice-president,  and 
others. 


TELEVISION  FILMS  .  .  . 

We  invite  Producers  or  Distribu- 
tors of  Short  Subjects  .  .  .  who 
own  original  negatives  ...  to 
register  with  us  their  available 
product  suitable  for  TELEVISION 
programs.  In  replying  list  indi- 
vidual subjects  and  footage. 

TELEVISION  CLEARING  HOUSE,  Inc. 

2819  R.  K.  0.  Building 
Radio  City  New  York 


Dissatisfied  with  the  attitude  of  n 
tional  Allied  States  Association.  * 
ward  the  industry  trade  practiced  I 
gram,  Allied  of  New  York  will  rfcl 
an  open  forum  of  exhibitor  and  dij 
tributor  representatives  on  the  co; 
in  conjunction  with  the  state  orgai 
zation's  convention  at  the  Astor  heif 
May  23-25,  on  the  basis  of  which 
will  formulate  its  own  code  policy. 

This  was  made  known  at  New  Yol 
Allied  headquarters  over  the  weel 
end,  as  preparations  for  inviting 
representative  list  of  distribution  e| 
ecutives  and  exhibitor  organization 
ficials  to  participate  in  the  foru< 
were  begun. 

The  local  Allied's  current  view 
the  trade  program  is  that,  while 
may   be   lacking   in   some  desirat 
phases  of  trade  practice  control  ai 
reform,  it  is  a  vast  improvement  ov 
practices  in  vogue  heretofore  and, 
such,  is  immeasurably  better  than 
program  at  all. 

The  New  York  Allied  convent! 
forum,  also,  will  initiate  some  acti 
designed  to  include  United  Artii 
among  the  distribution  companies  pa 
ticipating  in  the  trade  practice  pr 
gram.  What  form  of  action  will 
devised  is  not  known  now.  Howevi 
the  local  Allied  unit  is  convinced  th 
the  pact  is  hardly  an  industry  pr 
gram  with  any  of  the  large  distrib 
tors  outside  its  provisions. 


New  Yorkers  Attendm 
Penna.  ITO  Openin 

Ed  Auger  of  RCA,  H.  M.  Rich; 
director  of  exhibitor  relations 
RKO,  and  E.  Thornton  Kelly,  exec 
tive  secretary  of  New  York  Alli< 
are  among  New  Yorkers  who  will 
tend  the  "open  house"  in  Philadelpl 
tomorrow  of  the  I.T.O.  of  Easte 
Pennsylvania,  Allied  unit. 

This  will  mark  the  official  openi 
of  the  organization's  quarters  at  2 
No.  Broad  St.  Sidney  Samuelson 
the  I.T.O.'s  business  manager. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  ; 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM] 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sund 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Co 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  preside 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasur 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telephor 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpub 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  19* 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Ii 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yc  i 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Moti 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teat 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictu 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  — Hollywood:  Postal  Uni 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. :  Boo 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weav« 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London  :  4  Golden  Squa 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londo 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  ; 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  t 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  II 


Confess"** 


SENSATION  OF  SENSATIONS  AT  N.Y.  STRAND! 
THE  NATION'S  SENSATION  THIS  WEEK! 


IT  WAS  WARNER  BROS.  AMERICAN  DUTY  TO  MAKE  IT 
...IT'S  YOUR  AMERICAN  PRIVILEGE  TO  SHOW  IT! 

(And  make  a  mintful 
of  dough!  It's  a  wal- 
loping pre-release 
holdover  already!) 

Starring 


With 


EDWARD  G. 

ROBINSON 


FRANCIS  LEDERER 

George  Sanders  •  Paul 
Lukas  •  Henry  O'Neill 

Directed  by 

ANATOLE  LITVAK 

Screen  Play  by  Milton  Krims  and  John  Wexley 
Based  on  materials  gathered  by  Leon  G.  Turrou, 
ace  G-Man  •  A  First  National  Picture 


I 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  8,  191 


Columbia  Will 
Observe  Code 
— Montague 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tion  is  ideally  geared  to  put  the  code 
into  effect  as  branch  managers  and 
salesmen  have  the  authority  already 
to  handle  individually  any  code  prob- 
lems which  may  arise  in  their  respec- 
tive territories.  We  hope  for  better 
understanding  as  a  result  of  the  oper- 
ation of  the  code  among  buyers  and 
sellers  throughout  the  industry." 

125  Delegates  Present 

Here  for  the  four-day  session  at  the 
Ritz-Carlton  are  125  home  office  ex- 
ecutives and  representatives  of  16 
branch  offices.  The  meeting  will  be 
opened  by  Jack  Cohn,  vice-president, 
with  Montague's  address  following. 
He  will  acquaint  the  men  with  the 
new  season's  sales  policies  and  on 
Tuesday  will  outline  the  new  produc- 
tion plans.  Addresses  by  other  sales 
and  home  office  executives  will  follow, 
including  an  analysis  of  company  man- 
power by  Rube  Jackter,  assistant  sales 
manager,  and  an  outline  of  next  sea- 
son's advertising  and  publicity  plans 
by  Maurice  Bergman,  director  of  ad- 
vertising, publicity  and  exploitation. 

Other  addresses  will  be  made  by 
Joseph  A.  McConville,  foreign  sales 
manager;  Lou  Weinberg  and  Louis 
Astor,  circuit  sales  managers ;  Lou 
Weisfeldt,  short  subjects  manager;  Al 
Seligman  on  accessories ;  Sam  Liggett 
on  the  non-theatrical  field,  and  Mau- 
rice Grad  on  sales  promotion. 

Branches  Represented 

Attending  the  meeting  in  addition 
to  the  home  office  and  foreign  depart- 
ment officials  and  New  York  branch 
representatives  reported  earlier,  are 
the  following: 

Atlanta — Southern  Division  Mgr.  S.  Mos- 
cow; Branch  Mgr.  W.  W.  Anderson;  sales- 
men, B.  A.  Wallace,  U.  T.  Koch,  E.  B. 
Foster,  S.  Laird;  Charlotte — Branch  Mgr. 
R.  J.  Ingram;  salesmen,  G.  Roscoe,  R.  D. 
Williamson,  C.  Patterson;  Dallas — Branch 
Mgr.  J.  B.  Underwood;  salesmen,  H. 
Craver,  W.  L.  Penn,  J.  L.  McKinney,  W. 
S.  Hurst,  A.  M.  Whitcher;  Memphis — 
Branch  Mgr.  J.  J.  Rogers;  salesmen,  H. 
Kohn,  T.  B.  Haynes,  H.  A.  Chrisman; 
New  Orleans — Branch  Mgr.  H.  Duvall; 
salesmen,  J.  Winberry,  J.  J.  Fabacher; 
Oklahoma  City — Branch  Mgr.  C.  A.  Gibbs; 
salesmen,  J.  A.  Smith,  S.  Gibbs,  J.  P. 
Hudgens. 

Washington — Mid-East  Division  Mgr.  S. 

A.  Galanty;   salesmen,  O.  D.   Weems,  J. 

B.  Walsh,  C.  A.  Wingfield,  B.  Caplon,  J. 
Kushner;  Cincinnati — Branch  Mgr.  A.  S. 
Moritz;  salesmen,  C.  R.  Palmer,  H.  W. 
Rullman,  L.  E.  Davis,  P.  Niland,  J.  Cur- 
ran;  Cleveland — Branch  Mgr.  L.  Zucker; 
salesmen,  M.  Glick,  J.  Share,  S.  Gerson, 

0.  Bloom,  G.  B.  Bojae;  Pittsburgh- 
Branch  Mgr.  A.  H.  Levy;  salesmen,  S. 
Sugarman,  J.  Gins,  C.  B.  Kosco,  G.  Tice, 
J.  Kohler;  Albany — Branch  Mgr.  Phil  Fox; 
salesmen,  E  Hochstim,  J.  Armm,  M. 
Cohn,  S.   Goldberg;   Boston — Branch  Mgr. 

1.  H.  Rogovin;  salesmen,  E.  Cohen,  S. 
Simons,  T.  A.  Donahue,  H.  Olshan,  J.  Wolf, 

A.  Barry;  Buffalo— Branch  Mgr.  Joe  Mill- 
er; salesmen,  C.  H.  Ferguson,  J.  Bull- 
winkel,  J.  Lindsay,  C.  fiarter;  New  Haven 
—Branch  Mgr.  T.   F.   O'Toole;  salesmen, 

B.  J.  Lourie,  S.  Swirsky;  New  York — 
New  York  Division  Mgr.  N.  Cohn;  Branch 
Mgrs.  I.  Wormser,  S.  Trauner;  salesmen 
J.  Sokoloff,  S.  Schussel,  M.  Fraum,  J 
Wenisch,  E.  Helouis,  S.  Feinblum;  Phila- 
delphia— Branch  Mgr.  H.  E.  Weiner; 
salesmen,  J.  Schaeffer,  D.  Korson,  W. 
Bethell,  M.  Goldstein,  L.  Wurtele.  Also 
H.  Sachs,  I.  Hanover  and  F.  J.  Barry, 
home  office  representatives. 


Columbia  Leaders  at  Sales  Meetim 


JACK  COHN 
Vice-President 
of  Columbia 


A.  MONTAGUE 
General  Sales 
Manager 


A.  SCHNEIDER 
Treasurer  of 
Columbia 


J.  A.  McCONVIEEE 
Foreign  Sales 
Manager 


RUBE  JACKTER 
Assistant  Sales 
Manager 


EOU  WEINBERG 
Circuit  Sales 
Manager 


M.  A.  BERGMAN 
Head  of  Adv.  and 
Publicity 


M.  WEISFEEDT 
Shorts  Sales 
Manager 


LOUIS  ASTOR 
Circuit  Sales 
Manager 


Blumenthal  Wins 
Right  to  Sue  Para. 


Appellate  Division  of  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  on  Friday  vacated  an  in- 
junction which  restrained  Ben  Blu- 
menthal from  prosecuting  a  suit  for 
breach  of  contract  against  Paramount 
in  England  and  upheld  Blumenthal's 
right  to  start  his  action  in  an  Eng- 
lish court. 

By  a  three  to  two  decision,  the 
court  rejected  Paramount's  conten- 
tion that  the  suit  should  be  brought 
in  New  York  and  said  that  mere  hard- 
ship or  inconvenience  to  Paramount 
would  not  justify  an  injunction. 

Blumenthal  brought  suit  in  England 
for  breach  of  alleged  contract  to  re- 
munerate him  for  the  sale  of  Para- 
mount's British  holdings.  Paramount 
retaliated  by  a  suit  in  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  to  restrain  the  English  suit  and 
obtained  an  injunction  on  March  3. 

Blumenthal  claimed  his  witnesses 
resided  in  England  and  said  he  would 
call  Oscar  Deutsch,  George  Elcock 
and  Major  W.  I.  Anderson  of  Odeon 
Theatres,  David  Rose,  Paramount's 
British  chief,  J.  C.  Graham,  former- 
ly with  Paramount,  and  William 
Greve  to  testify  in  his  behalf. 


DuPont  Net  $395,751 

Net  profit  of  $395,751  was  earned 
by  DuPont  Film  Manufacturing  Corp. 
in  the  first  quarter  as  compared  with 
$329,751  for  the  same  period  last 
year.  Pathe  Film  Corp.  holds  35 
per  cent  of  the  stock  and  the  balance 
is  owned  by  E.  I.  duPont  de  Nemours 
&  Co. 


20th-Fox  Annexes 
Republic  of  Liberia 

A  large  portion  of  the  play- 
ing time  in  Liberia,  Negro 
Republic  in  Africa,  has  been 
obtained  by  20th  Century- 
Fox  in  a  deal  closed  by  Irving 
Maas,  foreign  service  man- 
ager. 

The  pictures  will  be  shown 
in  the  only  theatre  in  Mon- 
rovia, the  only  city  in  the  Re- 
public. The  theatre  is  oper- 
ated by  the  Firestone  Rubber 
&  Tire  Co.  With  24  playing 
weeks  available,  the  company 
purchased  a  total  of  12  films 
from  20th  Century-Fox. 


Carroll,  Munro  Are 
Due  from  Australia 

Dan  Carroll,  head  of  the  Birch, 
Carroll,  Coyle  Circuit  in  Australia, 
and  Charles  Munro,  head  of  Hoyt's 
Circuit,  both  of  whom  are  members 
of  the  governing  board  of  four  for 
the  Australian  film  industry,  are  en 
route  to  this  country  on  the  Monte- 
rey, due  in  Los  Angeles  May  15. 
Norman  B.  Rydge,  head  of  Greater 
Union  Theatres,  a  third  member  of  the 
board,  is  here  now. 

Their  visit  coincides  with  those  of 
Australian  managers  of  all  the  large 
distributors,  most  of  whom  have  been 
here  within  the  past  few  months. 

Harry  Hunter,  Paramount's  mana- 
ger for  Australia,  who  arrived  on 
the  coast  recently  and  has  been  visit- 
ing relatives  in  the  Pacific  North- 
west, is  en  route  to  New  York  and 
is  expected  here  Wednesday. 


Personnel  Changes 
Are  Made  by  G.  ]> 


Promotions  and  additions  to  t 
Grand  National  sales  force  were  a 
nounced  over  the  weekend  by  Sol  E 
wards,  eastern  division  sales  mar 
ger. 

Appointments  of  branch  manage 
include  Marcel  Mekelberg,  Bosto 
Bert  Freese,  Buffalo;  Max  Sta 
Cleveland;  William  Minder,  New  C 
leans ;  Herbert  Given,  Philadelph 
replacing  Sol  Krugman,  resigne 
Joe  Hartman,  St.  Louis,  replacing 
H.  Day,  resigned,  and  Joe  Kalis 
Washington,  replacing  Harry  Brov 
resigned.  Stahl,  former  branch  ma 
ager  for  United  Artists  in  Cincinns 
and  Kaliski,  formerly  with  G.  ! 
were  branch  managers  for  Educ 
tional. 

Paul  Richrath,  formerly  in  t 
home  office  sales  contract  departme 
has  been  appointed  Albany  manag 
replacing  Arthur  Newman,  resign< 
William  Benjamin  has  been  shift 
from  Detroit  to  Chicago,  replaci 
James  Winn,  resigned.  Ralph  Pec 
ham  returns  from  Buffalo  to  ta 
charge  at  Detroit.  Douglas  Desi 
Kansas  City  booker,  has  been  s\ 
pointed  acting  branch  manager,  a 
Max  Shulgold,  Pittsburgh  salesm; 
has  been  promoted  to  acting  bran 
manager. 


Buy  Remarque  Novel 

Hollywood,  May  7. — M-G-M  li 
purchased  the  screen  rights  to  Eri 
Maria    Remarque's     newest  nov 
"Heroes,"   soon  to  be  published 
serial  and  book  form. 


NG'S  SINGING  'EM  IN  AT  THE 


ADIO  CITY  MUSIC 


THE  CRITICS  CHORUS: 


y/../£/\sr  S/DE  OP 

HEAVEN'  is  the  most 
delightfully  amusing  film 
Bing  Crosby  has  ever  done 
. . .  Sandy  is  the  most  ador- 
able infant  in  a  film  since 
BabyLeRoy."-Kaie  Cameron, 

DAILY  NEWS 


. . .  much  too  ingratiating  b 
be  missed. .  ."—  Ben  R.  Cri 
NEW  YORK  Tl 


"...totally  delightful. ..Sandy 
Henville...is  one  of  the  most 
beguiling  infants  to  be 

found. .."   —  Bland  Johaneson, 

DAILY  MIRROR 


"You'll  find  it  great  fun." 

—  Rose  Pelswick, 

JOURNAL- AMERICAN 

"Sandy  Henville...is  our  fa- 
vorite actor  of  the  month.? 

•jh  Herbert  Drake, 

N.Y.  HERALD  TRIBUNE 


"One  of  the  finest  pieces 
of  unadulterated  screen  en- 
tertainment to  come  along 

in  months."— William  Boehnel, 

WORLD-TELEGRAM 


"A 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  8,  19; 


32  Features 
on  UA's  List; 
11  Producers 


Hollywood  Review 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

ductions  as  planned  to  date. 

David  O.  Selznick 

"Intermezzo,"  starring  Leslie  How- 
ard, who  will  serve,  as  well,  as  asso- 
ciate producer.  From  the  original  by 
Gustav  Molander  and  Gaesta  Stevens. 

"Rebecca,"  directed  by  Alfred 
Hitchcock,  from  the  novel  by  Daphne 
Du  Maurier. 

A  third  production  as  yet  untitled. 

Charles  Chaplin 

"The  Dictators,"  written,  produced 
and  directed  by  Chaplin,  who  will  star 
in  the  picture  in  his  first  speaking 
role.     (Title  is  tentative.) 

Samuel  Goldwyn 

"Music  School,"  with  Jascha  Hei- 
fetz,  world-famous  violinist,  in  his 
first  screen  role,  and  Joel  McCrea  and 
Andrea  Leeds.  Archie  Mayo,  direc- 
tor:. 

"The  Real  Glory,"  starring  Gary 
Cooper,  with  Andrea  Leeds,  David 
Niven,  Walter  Brennan,  Henry  Hath- 
away, director.  Screenplay  by  Jo 
Swerling. 

Alexander  Korda 

"Four  Feathers,"  the  A.  E.  W. 
Mason  novel,  adapted  by  R.  C.  Sher- 
riff  and  directed  by  Zoltan  Korda. 
Already  completed. 

"Over  the  Moon,"  starring  Merle 
Oberon.  Directed  by  Thornton  Free- 
land  from  the  screenplay  by  Robert 

E.  Sherwood. 

"The  Thief  of  Bagdad,"  with  Sabu 
and  Conrad  Veidt.  Ludwig  Berger, 
director. 

"Sinner,"  based  on  Prevost's 
"Manon  Lescaut,"  starring  Merle 
Oberon.    Alexander  Korda,  director. 

"The  Jungle  Boy,"  starring  Sabu. 
Based  on  Rudyard  Kipling's  "Jungle 
Book." 

Walter  Wanger 

"Winter  Carnival,"  starring  Ann 
Sheridan  and  Richard  Carlson.  Charles 

F.  Riesner,  director. 

"House  Across  the  Bay,"  starring 
Joan  Bennett.  Directed  by  Archie 
Mayo  from  the  screenplay  by  Sarah 
Y.  Mason  and  Victor  Heerman,  and 
the  original  story  by  Myles  Connolly. 

Also,  an  original  story  by  Gene 
Towne  and  Graham  Baker,  Tay  Gar- 
nett,  director ;  a  fictionization  by  John 
Meehan  of  Vincent  Sheean's  great 
novel,  and  two  other  productions  as 
yet  untitled. 

Hal  Roach 

"The  Housekeeper's  Daughter," 
from  the  novel  by  Donald  Henderson 
Clarke.  Hal  Roach,  director.  Fea- 
turing Joan  Bennett  and  Adolphe 
Menjou. 

"Of  Mice  and  Men,"  the  John 
Steinbeck  play,  to  be  directed  and 
supervised  by  Lewis  Milestone. 

"1,000,000  B.  C,"  an  imaginative 
picturization  of  the  beginning  of  time. 

"Captain  Caution,"  from  the  novel 
by  Kenneth  Roberts. 

Also    a    production    based    on  a 


"Rose  of  Washington  Square 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  May  7. — "Rose  of  Washington  Square"  is  an  audience 
entertainment  and  an  exhibitors'  exploitation  picture.  It  tells  an  appealing 
melodramatic  romance,  power  of  which  is  strengthened  by  the  com- 
mendable performances  of  Tyrone  Power,  Alice  Faye  and  Al  Jolson,  who 
are  supported  by  a  corps  of  capable  players.  Like  "Alexander's  Ragtime 
Band,"  the  film's  music  is  made  up  mainly  of  songs  that  were  popular 
during  the  roaring  twenties.  As  such  it  possesses  a  nostalgic  quality 
certain  to  strike  an  appreciative  responsive  chord  in  audience  memory. 

Elaborately  staged,  production  detail  and  settings  recreating  New 
York  of  the  Prohibition  era,  the  story  casts  Jolson  in  a  role  that  practi- 
cally permits  him  to  retell  his  own  career  story  during  the  period  when 
he  was  winning  recognition  as  the  world's  foremost  entertainer.  While 
the  parts  played  by  Miss  Faye  and  Power  are  assertedly  fictional,  anyone 
familiar  with  the  Broadway  and  theatrical  scene  of  a  short  generation 
ago  will  find  them  direct  and  pointed  parallels  to  the  actual  lives  of  two 
of  the  White  Way's  most  colorful  personalities. 

While  climbing  the  ladder  of  theatrical  success  as  Jolson's  protege, 
Miss  Faye  falls  in  love  with  Power,  a  gambler  continually  involved  in 
shady  deals.  As  Jolson  goes  on  to  Winter  Garden  stardom,  Miss  Faye 
who  has  become  a  cabaret  entertainer,  marries  Power.  Through  Jolson's 
influence  Miss  Faye  lands  a  Ziegfeld  contract.  Power  is  arrested  and 
Jolson,  still  sympathetic  towards  Miss  Faye,  posts  bail  for  him,  which 
he  jumps.  Ultimately  Power  gives  himself  up,  takes  a  jail  sentence,  and 
Miss  Faye  promises  to  wait  for  his  release.  Jolson  continues  his  career 
alone. 

The  story  by  John  Larkin  and  Jerry  Horwin,  which  Nunnally  Johnson, 
who  also  served  as  associate  producer,  adapted,  is  intelligently  con- 
structed. While  accenting  the  sympathetic  appeal  of  the  dramatic  love 
theme,  the  plot  also  employs  comedy,  which  gives  Joyce  Compton, 
Hobart  Cavanaugh,  William  Frawley  and  E.  E.  Clive  many  chances  to 
be  amusingly  effective.  Likewise  the  old  musical  numbers,  incorporated 
into  the  score  by  Louis  Silvers,  and  by  Seymour  Felix's  spectacular 
dance  routines,  are  so  inserted  as  to  emphasize  the  story's  varying  moods. 
The  preview  audience  was  enthusiastically  appreciative  as  Jolson  sang 
his  famous  "Mammy"  and  "Rockaby  Your  Baby,"  as  well  as  Miss  Faye's 
renditions  of  "Rose  of  Washington  Square,"  "My  Man"  and  the  new 
Mack  Gordon-Harry  Revel  number,  "I  Never  Knew  Heaven  Could 
Speak." 

Gregory  Ratoff  did  a  workmanlike  job  in  directing.  Highlights  of 
his  efforts  are  the  manner  in  which  he  made  everything  vividly  colorful 
yet  believable  and  his  skill  in  carrying  Power  through  a  radically  dif- 
ferent (for  him)  characterization,  making  him  a  disreputable  yet  likeable 
personality. 

Running  time,  90  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Thorne  Smith  novel.  Also,  a  series 
of  four  Laurel  and  Hardy  pictures. 

Edward  Small 

"Kit  Carson,"  based  on  the  ad- 
venturer's life,  with  Joel  McCrea, 
Henry  Fonda  and  Frances  Dee. 

"My  Son,  My  Son,"  Howard 
Spring's  novel,  with  Louis  Hayward 
starred. 

Also  "Quantrill,  the  Raider,"  "Val- 
entino," "South  of  Pago  Pago," 
"Two  Years  Before  the  Mast"  and 
"Food  of  the  Gods." 

Douglas  Fairbanks 

"The  Californian,"  a  dramatization 
of  the  story  of  Lola  Montez. 

The  Lubitsch-Lesser  production  and 
the  David  Loew  production  remain 
to  be  announced. 

Mary  Pickford  was  hostess  yester- 
day to  the  U.  A.  convention  delegates 
and  producers,  stars,  directors,  writ- 
ers and  other  production  figures  at  a 
lawn  party  at  Pickfair. 

Present  were  Murray  Silverstone, 
U.   A.   head,   who   arrived   Friday ; 


Harry  D.  Buckley,  Arthur  W.  Kelly, 
Edward  Raftery,  Charles  Schwartz, 
Frank  Ross,  Walter  Wanger,  Charles 
Chaplin,  Ernst  Lubitsch,  David  L. 
Loew,  John  Ford,  Clarence  Erickson, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sol  Lesser,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  David  O.  Selznick,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Hal  Roach,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Al- 
fred Hitchcock,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Doug- 
las Fairbanks,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Tay  Gar- 
nett,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Ginsberg, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  A.  Rowland, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Bruce,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  C.  W.  Thornton. 

Also  attending  were :  Carole  Lom- 
bard, Clark  Gable,  Loretta  Young, 
Hedy  Lamarr,  Gene  Markey,  Claire 
Trevor,  Leslie  Howard,  Ann  Soth- 
ern,  Louis  Hayward,  Ida  Lupino,  Jean 
Arthur,  Cesar  Romero,  Joan  Bennett, 
Ann  Sheridan,  Richard  Carlson,  John 
Wayne,  Werner  Jenssen,  Ann  Hard- 
ing, Thomas  Mitchell,  George  Ban- 
croft, Andy  Devine,  Helen  Parrish, 
Charles  F.  Riesner,  Jean  Parker,  June 
Lang,  Virginia  Field,  Marcella  Rab- 
win,  Daniel  O'Shea,  E.  C.  Scanlon, 
Ray  Klune,  Val  Lewton,  Fred  Schuef- 
fler. 


May  Request 
Federal  List 
of  Witnesses 


(.Continued  from  page  1 ) 

June  of  last  year,  in  which  he  clau?^ 
Keough    characterized    an  exhiV* 
witness  as  "ungrateful." 

Col.  William  J.  Donovan  of  cour. 
sel  to  RKO,  who  bore  the  brunt  c 
the  defendants'  battle,  declared  that  th 
defendant  companies  had  negotiate 
untold  thousands  of  exhibition  con| 
tracts  since  1918  and  that  it  woul 
be  impossible  for  them  to  properl 
prepare  for  trial  on  all  these  transac 
tions  unless  witnesses  were  named. 

Judge  Bondy  said  the  charges  c 
coercion  were  very  serious  and  if  sub 
stantiated  the  defendants  would  b 
treated  "unmercifully."  In  view  o 
the  gravity  of  the  charges,  he  statec 
he  felt  it  only  fair  that  the  particu 
lars  be  set  forth. 

Colonel  Donovan  indicated  that  th 
defendants  were  far  from  satisfie' 
with  the  bill  of  particulars  as  filed  an* 
that  application  would  be  made  nex  ] 
week  for  an  order  directing  the  films 
of  a  more  detailed  bill. 

Judge  Bondy  said  that  the  Gov] 
ernment  was   in  no   better  positioi 
than  an  ordinary  plaintiff  and  that  h 
could  see  no  real  reason  why  the  de: 
tails  should  not  be  forthcoming.  Th 
Government  can  take  the  precautioi 
of  securing  signed  statements  of  wit' 
nesses,  he  continued,  and  if  they  at 
tempt  to  change  their  testimony  oi 
trial  the  Department  of  Justice  couli 
impeach  them. 

Attorneys  for  the  companies  sub  I 
mitted  affidavits  by  general  sales  man 
agers  and  other  offices  denying  inten 
to  intimidate  and  asserting  that  th 
Government's  contentions  were  "pre 
posterous  and  ridiculous." 

S.  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cen 
tury-Fox,  said  that  it  was  "impossibli 
to  denounce  with  sufficient  emphasis' 
the  reasons  for  the  application  anc 
claimed  the  Government  was  attempt- 
ing to  imply  that  the  defendants  wen 
"habitual  lawbreakers." 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen 
eral  sales  manager,  denied  that  ir 
any  of  the  numerous  past  anti-trus^ 
actions  his  company  had  ever  taker 
reprisal  measures  against  complaining 
witnesses.  Affidavits  were  filed  alsc 
by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president  oi 
RKO  Radio  Pictures,  and  Gradwell  L 
Sears,  general  sales  manager  of  War 
ners. 


Jeff  Kibre  Writ  Is 
Dissolved  by  Couri 

Los  Angeles,  May  7. — Habeas  cor- 
pus writ  which  freed  Jeff  Kibre,  mi- 
nority leader  of  Studio  Technicians' 
Local  37  from  County  Jail  when  he 
refused  to  pay  a  $50  contempt  fine, 
was  dissolved  Friday  by  Superior 
Judge  Minor  Moore.  The  judge  de- 
clared he  had  no  authority  to  issue 
such  an  action. 


C.F.I.  Profit  $217,733 

First  quarter  for  Consolidated  Film 
Industries  and  subsidiaries  resulted  in 
a  net  profit  of  $217,733,  the  equiva- 
lent of  a  50-cent  regular  quarterly  di- 
vidend on  400,000  preferred  $2  divi- 
dend shares  and  three  cents  each  on 
524,973  common  shares. 


[N  NEW  YORK  CITY  TODAY . . . 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  8,  19! 


Coast  Fourth 
And  N.Y.  First 
In  NBC  Shows 


Summary  of  programs  produced 
over  NBC  networks  during  1938  dis- 
closes Hollywood  in  fourth  place  as 
an  origination  point,  with  New  York, 
Chicago  and  San  Francisco  preceding 
the  film  center  in  that  order.  This 
ranking  has  prevailed  in  the  past  two 
years. 

In  percentages,  Hollywood  provided 
8.2  per  cent  of  all  programs  broad- 
cast over  the  NBC  networks  the  past 
year.  In  terms  of  hours,  Hollywood 
broadcasts  consumed  1,567  hours  dur- 
ing 1938,  which  compares  with  1,402 
in  1937,  790  in  1936,  184  in  1935  and 
54  in  1934.  Prior  to  1934,  Holly- 
wood did  not  figure  at  all  as  a  pro- 
gram origination  point. 

New  York  originations  led  all 
points  last  year,  with  6,974  program 
hours.  Chicago  was  second  with  a 
total  of  4,366  hours,  and  San  Fran- 
cisco third  with  3,042  hours. 

The  overall  program-hour  total  for 
the  year  was  19,091.  Commercially- 
sponsored  shows  consumed  only  29.6 
per  cent  of  the  total  broadcasting  time 
and  the  balance,  70.4  per  cent,  was 
devoted  to  sustaining  periods. 

Musical  programs,  among  classifica- 
tions, stood  highest,  with  11,089  pro- 
gram hours.  In  order,  followed:  lit- 
erature and  drama,  3,424  hours ;  talks 
and  dialogue,  1,841;  news  and 
resumes,  658 ;  sports,  342 ;  comedy, 
549;  women's  programs,  282;  chil- 
dren's programs,  704,  and  religion, 
202. 


Republic  Meeting 
In  Frisco  Today 

San  Francisco,  May  7. — Last  of 
Republic's  regional  sales  meetings  gets 
under  way  at  the  Empire  Hotel  to- 
morrow. The  program,  which  will  last 
for  two  days,  is  similar  to  that  of  the 
previous  meetings. 

Presiding  at  the  last  meeting  will 
be  Grover  C.  Parsons,  western  dis- 
trict sales  manager.  Speakers  will 
include  H.  J.  Yates,  James  R.  Grain- 
ger, president  of  Republic  Pictures ; 
William  Saal,  special  representative ; 
Floyd  St.  John,  J.  T.  Sheffield  and 
Francis  Bateman,  franchise  holders. 

Among  others  expected  are  Grover 
C.  Schaefer,  controller,  of  the  home 
office;  Ed  Walton  and  Sam  Milner, 
Seattle;  G.  Gerbase,  F.  W.  Sheffield, 
Denver;  M.  Ross,  Salt  Lake  City;  R. 
Boomer,  Butte;  J.  H.  Sheffield,  Jack 
Rue,  Portland;  W.  Weisbaum,  W. 
Boland,  J.  N.  Cane,  S.  C.  Marten- 
stein,  San  Francisco;  F.  Bateman,  A. 
John  Frey,  J.  S.  Stout,  Los  Angeles. 


Vance  Babb  Quits  NBC 

J.  Vance  Babb,  manager  of  the 
NBC  press  department,  has  resigned. 
Babb  has  been  with  NBC  a  number 
of  years.  His  future  plans  are  indefi- 
nite. 


>  Radio 
Personals  4 


SAXIE  DOWELL  has  left  the 
Hal  Kemp  crew  to  organize  his 
own  band,  with  Alex  Holden 
managing  and  Music  Corp.  of  Amer- 
ica booking.  .  .  .  Doreen  MacKay, 
Australian  radio  artist  and  producer, 
is  in  New  York  for  a  two-week  vaca- 
tion. .  .  .  Norman  Corwin  of  CBS 
will  lecture  at  the  Writers'  Confer- 
ence at  the  University  of  Colorado 
this  summer.  .  .  .  Tommy  Dorsey's 
program  Wednesday  will  come  from 
Nashville,  over  WSM. 


British  Films  Tax 
Protests  Scheduled 

London,  May  7. — Industry  groups 
are  scheduled  to  register  protests  next 
week  against  the  proposed  film  cus- 
toms tax  included  in  the  new  budget. 

Association  of  Cine  Technicians  will 
have  a  deputation  before  the  Board  of 
Customs  tomorrow.  Cinematograph 
Exhibitors'  Association  committee  will 
meet  Inland  Revenue  officials  Wednes- 
day. 


Council  Meets  May  17 

London,  May  7. — The  Films  Coun- 
cil meets  May  17  to  consider  and 
approve  the  report  of  the  first  year  of 
the  Films  Act  prior  to  its  presentation 
to  Parliament. 


Oklahoma  Exhibitors 
Organizing  New  Unit 

Oklahoma  City,  May  7. — Approxi- 
mately 100  independent  exhibitors  are 
expected  to  attend  a  meeting  at  the 
Biltmore  here  on  Tuesday  at  which 
the  proposed  new  independent  exhibi- 
tors' association  is  scheduled  to  be  or- 
ganized in  opposition  to  the  Oklahoma 
Theatre  Owners,  Inc.,  according  to 
Orville  Von  Gulker,  temporary  chair- 
man. 

The  group  may  not  proceed  with 
the  formation  of  its  contemplated  film 
buying  pool  as  a  result  of  the  recent 
filing  here  of  the  Government  anti- 
trust suit  against  the  Griffith  Enter- 
prises, inasmuch  as  some  of  the  spon- 
sors believe  the  pool  may  not  be  nec- 
essary if  the  Government  wins  the  ac- 
tion. 

The  new  organization,  if  formed, 
will  not  become  an  Allied  States  affili- 
ate, Von  Gulker  said,  although  H.  A. 
Cole,  Allied  president,  will  be  one  of 
the  principal  speakers  at  the  Tuesday 
meeting.  Another  meeting  is  planned 
in  two  weeks  to  continue  the  organ- 
izing plans. 


Ruling  Upon  SAG 
Demurrer  Today 

Los  Angeles,  May  7. — Superior 
Judge  E.  H.  Wilson  has  deferred  un- 
til tomorrow  his  ruling  on  the  de- 
murrer entered  by  the  Screen  Actors' 
Guild  in  the  suit  filed  by  three  extras 
over  allegedly  illegal  election  of  Class 
B  council  members.  Postponement  of 
the  ruling  was  requested  Friday  by 
attorneys  for  the  extras. 


Nazi  Spies,  Bund 
Intrigue  Producers 

Subversive  activities  as  film 
themes  appear  to  have  caught 
on  with  Warners  and  M-G-M. 
Just  before  Warners  released 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy," 
M-G-M  came  out  with  a  two 
reel  subject,  "While  America 
Sleeps,"  also  on  spies.  Now 
Warners  are  planning  a  Nazi 
Bund  feature,  and  M-G-M  is 
understood  preparing  to 
shoot  a  two-reeler  on  the 
Bunds. 


Foreign  Film  Group 
Aids  New  York  Fund 

Foreign  film  distributors  have  or- 
ganized to  raise  a  sum  as  their  con- 
tribution to  the  Greater  New  York 
Fund,  now  in  its  third  week. 

Heading  this  campaign  is  an  execu- 
tive committee  including  Joseph  Bur- 
styn,  Max  Goldberg,  Jean  Lenauer 
and  Archie  Mayers.  The  cooperation 
of  all  firms  and  organizations  distrib- 
uting or  exhibiting  foreign  films  will 
be  enlisted. 


Ampa  in  Campaign 
For  New  Members 

Ampa  today  inaugurates  a  member- 
ship drive  which  will  continue  until 
early  fall.  The  campaign  will  be  lim- 
ited to  those  employed  in  film-  compa- 
nies' advertising  and  publicity  depart- 
ments. 

During  the  drive  the  customary  ini- 
tiation fee  will  be  waived  and  upon 
nayment  of  the  first  year's  dues  of 
$10,  new  members  will  be  considered 
in  good  standing  until  Nov.  1,  1940. 

The  board  of  directors  is  serving 
temporarily  as  the  membership  com- 
mittee. Board  members  are  Paul  Laz- 
arus, Jr.,  president;  Vincent  Trotta, 
Herbert  Berg,  Kenneth  Clark,  Martin 
Starr.  Eli  Sugarman.  Ralph  Rolan, 
Louis  Lifton  and  James  Cron  of 
Motion  Picture  Daily. 


Monogram  Boosts 
Quota  $2,505,000 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

Norton  V.  Ritchey,  manager  of  the 
foreign  department,  stressed  the  nec- 
essity of  making  films  with  a  definite 
appeal  for  this  market. 

Ed  Kuykendall,  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
president,  hailed  Monogram  as  the 
"gamecock  of  the  industry."  Kuyken- 
dall voiced  hopes  that  the  trade  prac- 
tice code  would  be  adopted  shortly. 

Other  speakers  included  John  Bala- 
ban,  president  of  Balaban  &  Katz; 
Morris  Leonard,  president,  M.  P.  T. 
O.  A.  of  Illinois ;  Norman  Bede 
Rydge,  managing  director  of  British 
Empire  Films,  of  Australia;  Sol 
Francis,  new  Monogram  franchise 
holder  in  Omaha ;  John  Trent,  Mar- 
tin Spellman,  Frankie  Darro,  Charles 
W.  Trampe,  Sam  Rosen,  J.  Reginald 
Wilson,  Mel  Hulling,  Joe  Felder, 
Steve  Broidy,  Leon  Fromkess,  treas- 
urer ;  Edward  Silverman  and  Sidney 
Spiegel  of  Essaness  Circuit,  Chicago ; 
Edward  A.  Golden,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution ;  George  W. 
Weeks,  general  sales  manager ;  Joseph 
A.  Kehoe,  Howard  Stubbins  and 
Manny  Reiner. 


Coal  Strikes 
Force  Closing 
of  20  House 


Cincinnati,     May     7. — Approx. 
mately  20  theatres  in  the  smaller, 
ations  in  the  Kentucky  and  Westl 
ginia  coal  fields  have  closed  to 
because  of  the  soft  coal  miners'  strik 
which  is  said  to  have  created  t]'< 
worst    economic    condition    in  the 
areas  in  many  years. 

Some  local  exchanges,  serving  tj 
affected  districts  as  part  of  the  Ci 
cinnati  trade  territory,  have  wit 
drawn  their  salesmen.  Others  co 
template  similar  action.  It  is  pr 
dieted  that  at  least  20  to  30  adc 
tional  small  houses  will  be  compell< 
to  go  dark  unless  strike  is  settled  soc 

Larger  houses,  with  adequate  fina 
cial  reserves,  are  continuing  to  o 
erate,  although  reporting  grosses  c 
as  much  as  50  per  cent. 

Even  after  a  settlement  is  reache 
and  the  miners  return  to  work,  it 
believed  that  it  will  be  several  mont 
before  conditions  again  become  sr 
ficiently  normal  to  expect  any  appr 
ciable  resumption  or  increase  in  th 
atre  business. 


Seizure  of  Nazi  Film 
In  Montreal  Probe 

Montreal,  May  7. — Seizure  he 
of  a  Nazi  film,  "Pour  le  Merite," 
under  investigation  by  the  Attorn 
General's  Department,  according 
the  Provincial  Police.  Raiding  t 
Harmonia  Club  a  few  nights  ago  t 
police  stopped  the  film  after  one  n 
had  been  shown  and  seized  it.  J 
arrests  were  made. 

About  200  people  were  present 
the  showing,  invited  by  the  Germ; 
Consul.    A  glorification  of  the  Ns 
revolution  in  Germany,  police  call 
the  film  totalitarian  propaganda, 
flimsy  love  angle  is  worked  into  1 1 
film  against  the  background  of  tl 
rise  of  the  Nazis.    Police  made  t 
seizure  on  the  ground  the  film  had  nj 
passed  by  the  board  of  censors  and  t 
club  held  no  license  to  charge  admi  j 
sions  for  motion  picture  showings.  \ 


Ira  Furman  Funeral 
In  San  Francisc 

San  Francisco,  May  7.  —  Funer 
services  were  held  here  Friday  f 
Ira  Furman,  45,  former  M-G-M  bran 
manager  here,  who  died  Wednesdj 
He  was  given  a  leave  of  absence  a  f< 1 
weeks  ago  because  of  illness,  wifi 
Langdon  C.  Wingham  of  Seattle  a 
pointed  branch  manager. 

Mrs.  Furman  and  Mrs.  Thomas  A 
pell,  wife  of  the  M-G-M  office  ma; 
ager  here,  are  accompanying  the  bo 
to  Punxsutawney,  Pa.,  for  burial, 
brother,   A.   P.   Furman,  resides 
Port  Chester,  N.  Y. 


Firm  to  Distribute 
Music  Title  Shon 

Hollywood,  May  7. — Formation 
Contestnite  Corp.,  which  will  distri 
ute  musical  short  subjects  to  be  us 
in  connection  with  "You  Title  t 
Song"  contests,  is  announced  by 
L.  Alperson  and  C.  C.  Ezell.  S 
subjects  already  have  been  completi 


Alert, 


to  the 
Picture 
hdustry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 




First  in 


45.  NO.  89 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  MAY  9,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Dual  Features 
x\re  Defended 
By  Montague 

il   

^alls  Exhibitors  Guided 
By  Patrons'  Preference 



j  Atlantic  City.  May  8. — Defending 
(ouble  featuring  as  a  policy  best  de- 
wmined  by  the  individual  exhibitor 
lith  an  eye  to  the  preferences  of  his 
Kq  patrons,  Abe  Montague,  Colum- 
bia general  sales  manager,  told  the 
llptning  session  of  the  company's  east- 
ern sales  meeting  at  the  Ritz-Carlton 
lere  today  that  the  company  would 
ontinue  to  make  a  place  in  its  pro- 
Mcfton  schedule  for  product  adapted 
ibr  use  on  double  feature  programs. 
rt!  The  first  of  Columbia's  three  re- 
'ional  sales  meetings  is  being  attended 
[y  about  125  home  office  executives, 
areign    department  representatives, 
(ranch  managers  and  salesmen  from 
4  eastern  and  southern  exchanges, 
subsequent  meetings  will  be  held  in 
Chicago  and  San  Francisco. 
"Because  of  the  question  asked  so 
lanv  times  as  to  Columbia's  stand  on 
(ingle   and   double    features,"  Mon- 
ague.  who  is  presiding  at  the  meeting, 
old  the  sales  force,  ''we  wish  to  state 
^iat  we   have   operated  successfully 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


7  air,  Fleet,  Heat 
Blow  to  Broadway 

Broadway  suffered  its  most  serious 
'  ump  in  many  weeks  over  the  week- 
id  with  both  film  houses  and  legi- 
mate  stage  theatres  doing  badly  at 
ie  box-office.    Midsummer  tempera- 
ares,  the  World's  Fair  and  the  U.S. 
leet  were  generally  regarded  as  the 
Jritributing  factors.    First  run  houses 
sported  business  at  40  to  50  per  cent 
lelow  normal,  with  some  estimating 
rosses  at  60  per  cent  below. 
Five  legitimate  stage  shows  went 
.ff  the  boards  Saturday,  leaving  23. 
Oscar  Wilde"  closed  after  246  per- 
formances, "The  Gentle  People,"  after 
141.  "The  White  Steed,"  after  136, 
»Set    to    Music"    after     129,  and 
)\  uthering  Heights,"  after  12.  None 
?f  the  shows  played  to  capacity  last 
reek. 

There  are  no  openings  set  for  this 
•eek,  although  two  or  three  additional 
lays  may  bow  in  before  the  end  of  the 
lionth. 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  got 
*f  to  a  good  start  at  the  Roxy  with 
tore  than  60,000  seeing  the  film  in  the 
rst  three  days.  "Streets  of  New 
ork"  grossed  an  estimated  $6,400  at 
ie  Globe  in  its  week  there. 


Television  Screen 
Biggest  in  World 

London,  May  8. — New  Vic- 
toria Theatre,  London,  Gau- 
mont  British  house,  has  just 
been  equipped  with  the  world's 
largest  television  screen,  20 
x  15  feet,  compared  with  pre- 
vious installations,  15  x  12'. 
Twelve  houses  are  being 
equipped  for  the  telecast  of 
the  Epsom  Downs  Derby 
Mav  24. 


Poll  By  MPTOA 
Reveals  Industry 
Is  Behind  Code 


Chicago,  May  8. — All  regional  ex- 
hibitor organizations  affiliated  with  the 
M.P.T.O.A.  favor  immediate  accept- 
ance of  the  trade  practice  proposals 
in  their  present  form  rather  than  re- 
ject the  program  pending  further  ne- 
gotiations, Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president,  said  here. 

Kuvkendall  recentlv  completed  a 
poll  of  the  M.P.T.O.A.  affiliates  by 
mail  to  determine  their  attitude  toward 
the  proposed  industry  code  for  the 
guidance  of  the  national  organization. 
Presumably,  the  result  of  the  poll  au- 
tomatically- becomes  the  policy  of  the 
M.P.T.O.A. 

All  units,  Kuykendall  said,  ex- 
pressed themselves  as  favoring  a  policy 
which  would  permit  them  to  take  ad- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Enough  Television 
Deals  for  Present, 
Says  J.  H.  Whitney 

Despite  an  active  interest  in  tele- 
vision, John  Hay  Whitney  told  re- 
porters on  his  arrival  in  New  York 
from  England  on  the  Queen  Mary 
yesterday  that  he  is  not  making  any 
further  investment  in  the  new  enter- 
prise "for  the  present." 

Whitney  said  he  spent  most  of  his 
two  weeks  in  London  observing  tele- 
vision activities.  He  recently  pur- 
chased $50,000  of  convertible  notes  of 
DuMont  Laboratories,  in  which  Para- 
mount has  a  large  interest. 

James  Roosevelt,  vice-president  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  arriving  on  the 
same  boat,  was  met  by  his  mother, 
Mrs.  Franklin  D.  Roosevelt,  his  wife 
and  two  daughters.  Joseph  M. 
Schenck,  at  the  pier  to  meet  Mrs. 
Ruth  Sehvyn,  also  greeted  young 
Roosevelt. 

The  Goldwyn  executive  said  that  his 
trip  was  "mostly"  in  the  interests  of 
"Wuthering  Heights"  engagements 
abroad.  He  said  he  saw  Alexander 
Korda  in  London  and  met  the  United 
Artists  European  representatives  in 
Paris.  He  leaves  for  the  coast  by 
plane  today  to  attend  the  closing  ses- 
sions of  the  United  Artists  sales  con- 
vention and  will  remain  there  for  two 
or  three  weeks. 

Whitney,  who  leaves  for  the  coast 
next  Saturday  or  Sunday  by  plane, 
said  that  Selznick  International's  new 
United  Artists  distribution  deal  would 
be  closed  in  Hollywood  within  a  short 
time. 


Late  News  Flashes 


Kansas  City,  May  8. — Banning  of  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  is 
asked  by  a  petition  signed  by  93  persons  submitted  to  city  officials. 
Showing  continues  until  censors'  appeal  board  acts. 

• 

Louis  B.  Mayer,  M-G-M  vice-president  and  production  chief,  ar- 
rives Thursday  for  conferences  with  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president. 
Mayer  is  in  Louisville.  Howard  Strickling,  coast  publicity  head,  pre- 
ceded Mayer  here. 

• 

Hollywood,  May  8. — Jean  Hersholt  has  signed  a  new  long  term 
contract  with  RKO,  for  three  major  features  a  year,  in  a  deal  closed 
between  George  Schaefer,  RKO  president,  and  Stephens-Lang  Pro- 
ductions, Inc.  Hersholt  will  continue  in  the  "Dr.  Christian"  stories. 
William  Stephens,  president  of  Stephens-Lang,  will  produce.  Howard 
Lang  is  vice-president,  Henry  Herzbrun  secretary. 

• 

Albany,  May  8.— Assemblyman  A.  L.  Moffat's  bill  protecting  fair 
and  true  reports  of  news  broadcasts  from  libel  actions  and  recoveries 
was  signed  today  by  Governor  Lehman.  It  passed  both  houses  last 
month  without  debate. 

• 

Alfonso  G.  Merlet  of  the  important  Italo-Chilena  circuit,  in  Chile, 
is  here  as  an  emissary  of  his  government  which  is  subsidizing  Chile's 
first  sound  studio  at  Santiago. 


U  A  Appoints 
Schlaifer  and 
Gold  as  V.P/s 


Silverstone  Announces 
Million  Ad  Budget 


Harry  Gold 


Los  Angeles,  May  8.- — Harry  L. 
Gold,  eastern  general  sales  manager 
of  United  Artists,  and  L.  J.  Schlaifer, 
western  general 
sales  manager, 
have  been  elect- 
ed to  vice-presi- 
dencies of  the 
company,  it  was 
anno  unced  by 
Murray  Silver- 
stone,  U.  A. 
chief  executive, 
at  the  company's 
20th  anniver- 
sary sales  con- 
vention, which 
opened  at  the 
A  m  b  a  s  s  ador 
here  today. 

The  a  n- 
nouncement  climaxed  an  address  in 
which  Silverstone  traced  the  history 
of  the  company  from  its  formation  20 
years  ago, 
praised  the  sales 
staff  for  its 
"herculean 
a  c  h  i  e  vement" 
during  the  pres- 
ent season  and 
pledged  a  steady 
supply  of  top 
grade  product 
—28  to  32  pic- 
tures for  1939- 
'40  —  for  the 
future. 

Stressing  the 
point    that  his 
is   a  policy  of 
tl.  j.  Schlaifer       no  secrets,  Sil- 
verstone defined 
the  contractual 
status  of  the  owner  members  of  United 
Artists,     Mary     Pickford,  Douglas 
Fairbanks,     Charles     Chaplin,  Sam 
Goldwyn,  Alexander  Korda,  and  the 
contributing    producers,     David  O. 
Selznick,   Hal   Roach,   David  Loew, 
Walter    Wanger,    Sol    Lesser  and 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


$25,000,000  Budget 

Hollywood,  May  8.— United 
Artists'  producers  will  spend 
$25,000,000  on  a  total  of  28  to 
32  pictures  for  the  new  sea- 
son, it  was  disclosed  at  com- 
pany's sales  convention  today. 


■ 


MOTION  PICTURh 

 DAI  LY 

4  Purely  Personal  ► 


2 

N.Y.  Allied  to  Ask 
New  Trade  Code 
Negotiating  Group 


Allied  of  New  York  will  advocate 
the  naming  of  a  new  negotiating  com- 
mittee to  represent  national  Allied  in 
whatever  future  negotiations  on  the 
industrv  trade  practice  code  may  be 
initiated  by  either  distributors  or  ex- 
hibitors, it  "was  stated  yesterday  at  the 
organization's  headquarters  here. 

In  all  probability  the  matter  will  be 
aired  at  the  New  York  unit's  open 
forum  on  the  trade  practice^  code_  on 
May  25  in  connection  with  New  York 
Allied's  convention  at  the  Astor. 

Local  Allied  leaders  point  out  the 
national  organization  will  be  without 
official  representation  if  new  negotiat- 
ing sessions  are  initiated  soon,  a  move 
which  the  distributors'  committee  re- 
cently indicated  might  be  necessary 
in  order  to  discuss  final  arbitration 
proposals  or  changes  in  the  present 
code  draft.  The  official  status  of  the 
Allied  negotiating  committee  expired 
March  1. 

Even  though  there  may  be  no  need 
for  further  negotiations,  the  local  unit 
believes  a  new  committee  should  be 
designated  if  only  as  evidence  that  na- 
tional Allied  holds  the  trade  program 
in  the  same  good  faith  as  distributors 
who  have  offered  to  continue  negotia- 
tions on  it  with  exhibitors. 

Towne  Becomes 
Producer  at  RKO 

Hollywood,  May  8. — Gene  Towne, 
screen  writer,  has  signed  an  agree- 
ment with  President  George  Schaefer 
of  RKO  by  which  he  becomes  an  in- 
dependent producer  with  four  pictures 
scheduled  annually. 

Production  of  his  first  film  will 
start  May  15.  Graham  Baker,  former 
First  National  production  head  and 
Towne's  writing  partner  for  the  past 
five  years,  will  be  vice-president  of 
the  new  producing  unit.  The  unit  will 
be  known  as  "The  Play's  the  Thing 
Productions." 

Columbia  Gets  Writ 
In  'Island'  Action 

N~  Y.  Sunreme  Court  Justice 
Bernard  L>  Shientag  has  issued  a 
temporary  injunction  pending  trial 
which  restrained  International  Road 
Shows,  Inc.  and  "John"  and  Bert 
Goldberg  from  using  the  title  "Es- 
cape from  Devil's  Island"  for  its 
picture  previouslv  called  "Broken 
Melody." 

Columbia  had  filed  suit,  in  which  it 
applied  for  the  injunction,  claiming  to 
have  released  a  film  of  the  same  title 
in  November,  1935,  based  on  a  story 
purchased  from  Fred  DeGresac. 


Slesinger  Returns 

"Stephen  Slesinger,  publisher's  repre- 
sentative, has  returned  to  New  York. 
Slesinger  has  been  in  Hollywood  for 
the  past  two  months  discussing  with 
executives  of  M-G-M.  Paramount, 
Sam  Goldwyn  and  RKO,  the  sale  of 
the  film  rights  to  Zane  Grey's  novel, 
"The  Life  of  George  'Washington." 
Samuel  Goldwyn  was  reported  the 
highest  bidder. 


HARRY  M.  WARNER,  president 
of  Warners,  is  due  here  tomorrow 
with  Mrs.  Wakxer. 

• 

J.  Cheever  Cowdix,  Louis  B. 
Mayer  and  Major  Albert  Warxer 
among  those  at  the  Kentucky  Derby 
in  Louisville  Saturday.  Also  Dox 
Ameche,  George  Raft,  Al  Jolson, 
David  Butler,  Bill  Conselman, 
Mary  Briax,  Edmund  Lowe,  John 
Hertz.  Herbert  Bayard  Swope, 
Herbert  M.  Woolf  of  Kansas  City, 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  Rodxey 
Bush,  A.  C.  Blumenthal,  Neil 
McCarthy  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johx 
Balabax  of  Chicago. 

• 

Mariox  Axdersox.  Negro  singer 
who  will  participate  in  the  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln"  premiere  at  Spring- 
field. 111.,  Memorial  Day,  will  also  be 
at  the  Hollywood  premiere  June  2. 
• 

Alfred  N.  Sack,  general  manager 
of  Sack  Amusement  Enterprises,  Dal- 
las, has  arrived  on  the  coast  for  two 
weeks  of  conferences  with  producers. 
• 

Walter  Damrosch  will  be  inter- 
viewed today  prior  to  his  departure 
for  Hollywood  to  appear  in  a  Para- 
mount film. 

• 

Ira  Gexet  is  starting  a  new  series 
of  10  short  subjects,  "Color  Parades," 
here.  Gerald  J.  Marfleet  will  be  at 
the  camera. 


National  Legion  of  Decency  ap- 
proved 11  of  12  films  reviewed  and 
classified  this  week.  Four  were  found 
unobjectionable  for  general  patronage, 
seven  unobjectionable  for  adults  and 
one  objectionable  in  part.  The  films 
and  their  classifications  follow : 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gen- 
eral Patronage — "Code  of  the  Secret 
Service,"  "Fixer  Dugan,"  "Romance 
of  the  Redwoods,"  "Sororitv  House." 
Class  A-2.  Unobjectionable  for  Adults 
— -"Boys'  Reformatory,"  "Heroes  of 
the  Marne.''  "Outside  These  Walls," 
"Stolen  Life,"  "Three  Waltzes," 
"Torchy  Blane  Runs  for  Mayor," 
'Wanted  by  Scotland  Yard."  Class 
B.  Objectionable  in  Part — "The  Cur- 
tain Rises." 

Beck  Heads  Eastern 
Office  for  Birdwell 

Myer  P.  Beck,  formerly  publicity 
manager  for  United  Artists,  has  been 
appointed  eastern  representative  for 
Russell  Birdwell  and  Associates  of 
Hollywood.  He  will  open  offices  soon. 
Among  talent  handled  by  the  firm  are 
Norma  Shearer,  Douglas  Fairbanks. 
Jr..  Loretta  Young  and  Edmund 
Goulding. 


Monogram  Men  Return 

New  York  delegation  to  Mono- 
gram's Chicago  convention  returned 
yesterday  with  the  exception  of  W. 
Ray  Johnston,  president,  and  George 
W.  Weeks,  vice-oresident  in  charge  of 
sales.  Weeks  will  stop  at  several  mid- 
western  exchanges  and  Johnston  will 
spend  several  days  at  Waterloo,  la., 
his  home  town. 


DOUGLAS  FAIRBANKS,  SR., 
his  wife,  are  scheduled  to  sail  on 
the  Queen  Mary  tomorrow.  Also  Con- 
stance Bennett  and  Frederick 
Lonsdale,  playwright. 

• 

Frank  Donovan,  RKO  Pathe  pro- 
duction manager,  is  back  from  Liv- 
ingston Manor  where  he  arranged 
a  Sportscope  featuring  skeets  cham- 
pions. 

• 

J.  J.  Nolan,  assistant  secretary  of 
RKO  studios  in  charge  of  commit- 
ments, arrived  yesterday  for  a  two- 
week  vacation.  At  one  time  he  was 
at  the  home  office. 

• 

Robert  Florey,  Paramount  director, 
arrives  on  the  lie  de  Frame  tomor- 
row.   Also  Duke  Ellington  and  his 
orchestra  and  Flora  Mahieu,  actress. 
• 

John  Payne,  Warner  player  who 
has  been  making  personal  appearances 
in  the  east  and  midwest,  left  New 
York  yesterday  for  the  studio. 
• 

Henry  Fonda,  having  finished 
"Young  Air.  Lincoln,"  is  in  New 
York  on  first  leg  of  vacation  to  Eu- 
rope. 

• 

Edmund  Goulding,  Warner  direc- 
tor, will  leave  the  coast  in  a  few  days 
for  a  New  York  vacation. 

• 

Dalies  Frantz,  concert  pianist, 
has  been  signed  to  a  contract  by 
M-G-M. 

Film  Carriers  Unit 
Has  Election  Today 

Annual  report  and  a  discussion  of 
rates  and  tariffs  by  Harold  Schertz. 
attorney,  occupied  the  opening  day  of 
the  sixth  annual  convention  of  Film 
Carriers,  Inc.,  national  organization  of 
film  shippers,  at  the  Park  Central 
Hotel  yesterday.  A  number  of  com- 
mittees were  appointed. 

Today's  morning  session  will  con- 
sider routine  matters  and  will  be  fol- 
lowed by  the  annual  luncheon.  Elec- 
tions will  be  held  in  the  afternoon 
and  the  convention  will  wind  up  Wed- 
nesday morning. 

Bernie  Resigns  from 
NY  Selznick  Agency 

Herman  Bernie  has  resigned  as 
head  of  the  New  York  office  of  Myron 
Selznick  agency.  He  will  remain  in 
charge  a  week  or  two  to  dispose  of 
pending  matters  and  then  plans  a  long 
rest.  His  future  plans  are  not  definite, 
but  he  may  return  to  the  agency  busi- 
ness on  his  own.  Bernie  operated  his 
own  agency  before  joining  Selznick. 


Report  to  AAAA 

Board  of  Associated  Actors  &  Ar- 
tistes of  America  met  yesterday  to 
hear  a  report  of  a  committee  inves- 
tigating conditions  in  American  Fed- 
eration of  Actors.  No  statement  was 
made  after  the  meeting. 


Calgary  Leads  Drive 

RKO  Radio's  Detroit  branch  has 
relinquished  its  leadership  among  the 
38  exchanges  in  the  George  Schaefer 
drive  to  the  Calgary  branch  under  the 
management  of  H.  F.  Taylor. 


Tuesday,  May  9,  K 


41  New  Pictures 
Before  Cameras; 
Editors  Cutting  5 


Hollywood,  May  8. — Forty-one  pi 
tures  were  before  the  cameras  tl 
week  as  eight  started  and  seven  fj 
ished.  Twenty-two  are  being  /g! 
pared,  and  57  are  in  the  cutting  roH 

Started  were :  "The  Wome  j 
M-G-M  ;  "Timber  Stampede."  RK  I 
"Mickey  the  Kid,"  "In  Old  Calient 
Republic ;  "Nancy  Drew  and  the  H  I 
den  Staircase,"  "Dead  or  Alive,"  Wl 
ners;  "Modern  Cinderella."  Univers 
"Miracle  of  Alain  Street,"  Arcadj 
Grand  National. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  wei 
"Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris,  Too,"  "?J 
Smith  Goes  to  Washington,"  "Gold 
Boy,"  "Coast  Guard,"  "Parents  | 
Trial,"  Columbia;  "Alusic  Schocl 
"The  Real  Glory,"  Goldwyn;  "Tj 
Cat  and  the  Canary,"  "Heaven  on 
Shoestring."  "The  Star  Alake 
"Homework."  "Disputed  Passag 
"Our  Leading  Citizen,"  Paramoui 
"Way  Down  South,"  Principal-RK 
"Alemory  of  Love,"  "Career,"  RK< 
"Mountain  Rhythm."  Republic;  "Gc 
with  the  Wind,"  Selznick-U..J] 
"Charlie  Chan  at  Treasure  Islan^ 
"The  Rains  Came,"  "The  Jones  Fa 
ily  at  Grand  Canyon,"  "Elsa  AIe 
well's  Hotel  for  Women,"  20th  G 
tury-Fox ;  "In  Old  California,"  "T| 
Phantom  Creeps,"  Universal ;  "YV 
ter  Carnival."  Wanger-U.A. ;  "Tj 
Old  Alaid."  "Dust  Be  My  Destin; 
"The  Hobby  Family,"  "Not  Wante' 
Warners. 

Finished  were :  "The  Alan  irt. 
Sundown."  Columbia ;  "Andy  Har 
Gets  Spring  Fever."  AI-G-M;  "Gj 
from  Nowhere."  Alonogram ;  "Gere 
imo,"  Paramount ;  "Second  Fiddl 
20th  Century-Fox ;  "The  Sun  Ne^| 
Sets."  "Inside  Information,"  Univers 

AI-G-AI  started  one  short  subje 
and  RKO  and  Warners  each  finish 
one.  Four  are  being  prepared,  ai 
14  being  edited. 


Exhibit  Preview 

A  press  preview  will  be  held  t 
day  of  the  exhibition,  "Art  in  0 
Time,"  in  the  new  building  of  t 
Aluseum  of  Alodern  Art,  11  W.  53 
St.  Films  are  represented  in  the  ei 
nibit. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY.  Editor-in-Chief  a 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN.  Editor;  JAMI 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sund 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Co 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  preside! 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasuri 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telephor 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quignuhi 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  19 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Ii 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yo. 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Moti 
Picture  Heralp.  Better  Theatres.  Teat 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictc, 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Uni 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. :  Boo 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weave 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squa: 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londo 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  1 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  t 
Americas  and  S12  foreign.   Single  copies  II 


Legion  Approves  11  j 
Of  12  New  Pictures 


WOMEN  LIKE 


At  the  Four  StarTheatre  in  Los  Angeles,  women 
have  applauded,  wept  at  this  greatest  of  all 
Elisabeth  Bergner's  emotional  triumphs. 
They  have  told  their  friends  of  the  power,  the 
heart  thrilling  appeal  of  this  mighty  love 
drama.  Their  friends,  in  turn,  have  poured 
into  the  theatre.  Day  after  day  the  grosses 
have  risen,  to  this  sensational  London  hit, 
another  tremendous  Paramount  success.  Here 
are  the  figures  for  the  first  five  days  .... 

Opening  Day   $575 

Second  Day   $582 

Third  Day   $675 

Fourth  Day   $824 

Fifth  Day   $904 


-lease  now  — 
Book  this  Poromounf_relea 

"STOLEN  UFE" 

„,  .ttJbvPaulCiinner 
Produced &D.rected  by 

uour  theatre 
„„o  9eMhe  women -nto  your 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  May  9,  \' 


Hollywood  Review 


"Invitation  to  Happiness" 

{Paramount') 

Hollywood,  May  8. — Directed  by  Wesley  Ruggles  at  the  peak  of  a 
brilliant  career,  "Invitation  to  Happiness"  is  just  what  the  title  declares 
it  to  be.  It  is  addressed  particularly  to  intelligent  people  of  adult  under- 
standing, but  it  also  contains  a  thrilling  prize-fight  climax  which  even 
the  uninformed  can  comprehend.  It  is,  first, ;  last  and  always,  a  love 
story,  excellently  told. 

Irene  Dunne  plays  in  impressive  manner  a  daughter  of  wealth  who, 
in  1927,  meets  and  marries  a  young  pugilist,  Fred  MacMurray,  against 
his  trainer's  wishes  and  without  notifying  her  father,  who  ultimately 
approves  the  match.  Training  rules  against  feminine  association  for 
fighters  enforces  long  separations  of  husband  and  wife  and  when  their 
son  is  10  years  old  his  antagonism  toward  his  father  brings  about  a  di- 
vorce. The  boy  is  given  into  his  father's  care  for  six  months  and 
the  boxer's  eagerness  to  win  his  affection  interferes  with  his  training 
for  a  title  bout  to  such  an  extent  that  he  is  beaten.  His  ring  hopes 
blasted,  son  and  wife  welcome  him  back  in  a  happy  but  not  sappy  end- 
ing. Charlie  Ruggles  plays  the  trainer,  a  serious  role,  and  William  Col- 
lier, Sr.,  plays  the  father.  MacMurray  turns  in  his  best  performance 
to  date. 

The  screenplay  by  Claude  Binyon,  from  a  story  by  Mark  Jerome,  is 
solidly  constructed,  strong  in  understatement  and  lively  in  the  action 
stretches,  excellent  as  to  dialogue  at  all  times.  Treatment  throughout 
is  for  drama,  with  only  moderate  attention  to  comedy,  and  appeal  is 
primarily  to  the  mature. 

Running  time,  95  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


Fun  for  Poor  Boys 
At  Griffith's  Farm 

Dallas,  May  8.  —  Mercello 
Farms,  near  Belton,  owned 
and  operated  by  R.  E.  Grif- 
fith of  the  Griffith  theatres, 
has  been  turned  over  to  the 
Dallas  Variety  club  as  a  camp 
for  underprivileged  boys.  The 
first  group  of  youngsters — 20 
of  them — will  enter  the  camp 
June  1  for  two  weeks.  The 
camp  will  continue  through 
August. 


Republic  Is  Host 
To  Circuit  Heads 


San  Francisco,  May  8. — Republic 
played  host  here  today  to  a  number  of 
San  Francisco  circuit  heads  and  other 
exhibitors  at  a  luncheon  at  the  Em- 
pire Hotel  in  conjunction  with  its 
western  regional  sales  meeting.  The 
meeting,  last  of  a  series,  ends  tomor- 
row. 

Among  those  at  the  luncheon  were 
Arch  N.  Bowles,  Northern  California 
division  head  for  National  Theatres, 
and  Charles  Thall  of  the  circuit ;  R. 
A.  McNeil  and  M.  A.  Naify  of  Golden 
States  Circuit ;  Morgan  Walsh  and 
George  Mann,  Redwood  circuit ;  Rotus 
Harvey,  Joseph  Blumenfeld,  George 
Nasser  of  Nasser  Bros,  and  Sam 
Levin  of  San  Francisco  Theatres. 


Quiz  of  Sussman  Is 
Upheld  by  NY  Court 

Examination  before  trial  of  William 
Sussman,  eastern  division  manager  of 
20th  Century-Fox,  which  requires  him 
to  produce  blueprints,  plans,  leases  and 
inventory  of  films  of  the  20th  Century- 
Fox  film  storage  plant  in  Little  Ferry, 
N.  J.,  was  upheld  by  the  Appellate 
Division  of  the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
yesterday. 

Order  for  the  examination  was  is- 
sued by  Justice  Aaron  J.  Levy  in  con- 
nection with  a  $60,000  damage  suit 
brought  by  Anna  Greeves  and  George 
Greeves,  individually  and  as  adminis- 
trators of  the  estate  of  John  Greeves, 
charging  the  defendant  with  negligent- 
ly causing  a  fire  at  the  plant  on  July  9, 
1937. 


Hears  'Snow  White'  Plea 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Louis 
A.  Valente  yesterday  reserved  decision 
on  an  application  of  Adriana  Caselotti 
and  Harry  Stockwell  for  an  examin- 
ation before  trial  of  Walt  Disney 
Productions,  Ltd.,  and  RCA  Mfg.  Co. 
Plaintiffs,  "voices"  for  "Snow  White" 
and  the  "Prince"  in  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs,"  charged  un- 
authorized use  of  the  sound  track  for 
phonograph  recordings. 


Funds  for  Refugees 

The  committee  handling  funds  col- 
lected by  the  Motion  Picture  Art 
Fund  for  German  refugees  has  dis- 
tributed $3,500  each  to  American  Jew- 
ish Joint  Distribution  Committee, 
Committee  for  Catholic  German 
Refugees,  and  the  American  Commit- 
tee for  Christian  German  Refugees. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Lesser  to  Withdraw 
From  Principal  Post 

Hollywood,  May  8. — By  Sept.  1  Sol 
Lesser  will  have  withdrawn  as  execu- 
tive producer  of  Principal  Productions, 
in  which  he  will  still  maintain  his 
financial  interest,  to  devote  his  time  to 
Sol  Lesser  Productions,  Inc.,  and 
Ernst  Lubitsch  Corp.,  of  which  he  is 
president.  The  Lesser-Lubitsch  firms 
will  release  through  United  Artists. 

Barney  Briskin,  associate  producer 
at  Principal,  will  become  executive 
producer,  supplanting  Lesser. 

Chemical  Bank  Asks 
RKO  Case  Allowance 

Chemical  Bank  &  Trust  Co.,  as 
trustee  under  the  RKO  collateral  notes 
of  indenture,  has  filed  a  petition  in  the 
reorganization  proceedings  seeking  an 
allowance  of  $34,375  fees  and  $4,025 
disbursements  for  services  from  Jan. 
27,  1933,  to  April  30,  1939. 

W right,  Gordon,  Zachary  &  Parlin, 
the  bank's  attorneys,  seek  $22,500. 
Previously,  the  bank  and  its  attorneys 
each  received  $10,000  for  service. 


Clerical  Union  in  Drive 

Bookkeepers,  Stenographers  &  Ac- 
countants Union  has  started  organiza- 
tion of  clerical  employes  at  the  ware- 
house of  Vitagraph,  First  National 
and  Globe  Importing,  Warner  sub- 
sidiaries. Negotiations  were  begun 
yesterday  for  union  recognition.  Ralph 
Budd  and  Jules  Levey  represented 
Warners  and  Edward  K.  Flaherty 
represented  the  union. 


Defeat  Daylight  Time 

Madison,  Wis.,  May  8. — The  sec- 
ond  bill   in  the  state   legislature  to 
repeal   the   law   prohibiting  daylight 
savings  time  has  been  killed  in  the 
I  senate. 


Film  Financing  Suit 
Settled  Out  of  Court 

London,  May  8.  —  Westminster 
Bank  suit  against  several  insurance 
companies  involving  film  financing  was 
settled  out  of  court  unexpectedly  to- 
day.   Terms  were  not  disclosed. 

It  was  pointed  out  that  continua- 
tion of  the  litigation  would  have  in- 
volved several  courts  and  it  un- 
doubtedly would  have  gone  on  for 
several  years. 


Para.  Convention 

Closes  in  London 

John  W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  in  charge  of 
Paramount's  foreign  department,  has 
received  a  cabled  summary  of  the 
Paramount  sales  convention  just  ended 
in  London.  Many  films  were  shown, 
including  DeMille's  "Union  Pacific," 
Wesley  Ruggles'  "Invitation  to  Hap- 
piness," and  "Grand  Jury  Secrets." 
Shots  from  other  pictures  also  were 
screened. 


Churchill  Must  Testify 

Edward  J.  Churchill,  individually 
and  as  president  of  Donahue  &  Coe, 
Inc.,  has  been  ordered  to  testify  before 
trial  by  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice 
Philip  J.  McCook  on  application  of 
Edward  J.  Pfeiffer,  plaintiff  in  a 
$100,000  damage  suit  against  Donahue 
&  Coe  and  Churchill,  involving  the 
"Movie  Quiz." 


Roy  C.  Seery  Dies 

Santa  Monica,  May  8. — Roy  C. 
Seery,  62,  formerly  active  in  the  for- 
mation of  First  National,  who  retired 
from  business  10  years  ago,  died  at 
his  home  here  after  an  illness  of  two 
years.  Funeral  services  were  held 
today.  He  is  survived  by  his  widow, 
a  daughter  and  a  son. 


Wanger  Sends  128 
Scripts  to  Library 

Hollywood,  May  8.— Walter 
Wanger  has  sent  128  scena- 
rios, contributed  by  every 
studio  in  Hollywood,  to  the 
Irving  Thalberg  Memorial 
Screen  Library  at  Dartmouth, 
endowed,  with  a  screen  writ- 
ing course,  by  Wanger  twij 
years  ago. 


Montague  Backs 
Double  Feature 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
where  either  exhibition  policy  has  pijj 
vailed. 

"If  it  is  the  exhibitor's  policy  to  r  I 
single  features,  we  will  cooperate  w  | 
that  individual  to  help  him  make  (I 
success  of  that  policy.  And  if  he  pi  I 
fers  double  features,  again  we  will  cl 
operate  to  aid  him  in  this  policy.  Vl 
believe  that  single  features  may  | 
successful  where  such  a  policy  is  ;1 
cepted,  and  that  is  equally  true  1 
double  features.  In  any  event,  it  ill 
not  Columbia's  policy  to  tell  exhi  1 
tors  how  to  operate  their  theatr'l 
We  want  the  privilege  of  produci  1 
and  distributing  without  unreasonall 
interference,  and  we  believe  the  cm 
hibitor  has  an  equal  right  to  condil 
his  business  without  unfair  interf<  1 
ence." 

Recalling  that  an  executive  offfl 
major  company  recently  criticized  ei 
hibitors  who  advocate  double  featur  jl 
Montague  urged  that  "personal  idell 
be  tested  first  before  they  are  urgjl 
on  exhibitors"  and  publicly  circulati'r 

"When  a  single  bill  policy  was  trill 
out  recently  in  the  circuit  with  whiB 
that  executive  is  associated,"  Mc 
tague  said,  "it  proved  a  failure  a; 
the  circuit  went  back,  with  great  fa 
fare,  to  double  features.  In  fact,  i 
brought  out  a  new  form  of  advertisir 
calling  double  bills  by  the  new  nai 
of  'twin'  bills." 

Columbia's  production  plans  for  t 
new  season  will  be  outlined  by  Mc 
tague  tomorrow.  The  meeting  \\ 
conclude  Thursday. 

Jeff  Kibre  Seeks 
Quiz  on  His  Arrei 

Los  Angeles,  May  8. — Jeff  Kib 
minority  leader  of  Studio  Technician 
Local  37,  I.A.T.S.E.,  today  demand 
an  investigation  of  his  arrest  Saturd 
without  a  warrant.  Members  of  t 
local  paid  his  $50  fine  today  and 
was  released  from  jail. 

Kibre  was  booked  first  for  failu 
to  pay  a  fine  for  contempt  of  cor 
and  later  on  suspicion  of  crimir" 
syndicalism.  His  attorney  obtain 
his  release  on  the  latter  charge  by 
habeas  corpus  writ,  which  is  retur 
able  tomorrow. 

Trial  of  the  suit  for  control  of  Loc 
37,  which  is  in  dispute  with  Intern; 
tional  officers,  is  set  for  May  22. 

Joseph  Silver  Jubilee 

Nate  J.  Blumberg,  Universal  pre; 
dent,  has  sent  out  invitations  to  tl 
silver  jubilee  cocktail  party  whii 
takes  place  May  23,  at  the  Ne 
Haven  exchange.  Morris  Joseph's  i 
years  of  service  with  the  compai 
will  be  celebrated.  Joseph  is  brani 
manager.  » 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


|$cay.  May  9,  1939 


Withering' 
832,500  for 
2  Hub  Spots 


"Boston,  May  8.  —  "Wuthering 
Tights"  and  "Kid  from  Texas"  took 
I  np-  $19,000  at  Loew's  Orpheum, 
1Rfl3.500  at  the  State,  for  a  total 
L[$32,500. 

;  :The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene 
stle"  dualing  with  the  "Spirit  of 
!  Iver"    at    Keith    Memorial  drew 


k  Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
[    May  3: 

Ihite  Woman"  (Para.)  (reissue)  (7  days, 

with  vaude.) 
,   hispering    Enemies"    (Col.)    (2nd  run) 
days  with  vaude.) 

^auty  for  the  Asking"  (RKO)  (2nd  run) 
I  days) 

.  KO  KEITH  BOSTON—  (3,000)  (20c-30c- 
I.  Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $8,500) 
Phe  Story  of   Vernon   and   Irene  Castle" 
KO) 

irit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

iEITH  MEMORIAL— <2,790>  (25c-35c-40c- 
[{,    7    days-2nd    week.      Gross:  $16,500. 

terage,  $15,000) 
j  >dge  City"  (W.B.) 

rdon  Our  Nerve"  (20th-Fox) 

lARAMOUXT— 0,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c).  7 
>s.    Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $8,500) 

»dge  City"  (W.B.) 

rdon  Our  Nerve"  (20th-Fox) 

E.WVAY  —  (1,382)  (25c-35c-40c-55c).  7 
tip.    Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $5,500) 

j-k  Victory"  (W.B.) 

dden  Money"  (Para.) 

I  ETROPOLITAN  —  (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
I  i.  7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $21,000. 
nercige,  $14,500) 

uthering  Heights"  (U.A.) 

d  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

Sews  orpheum— (2,907)  (25c-35c-40c- 

t  .    7  days.     Gross:   $19,000.  (Average, 

uthering  Heights"  (U.A.) 
|  d  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

(  JEW'S  STATE— (3,537)  (25c-35c-40c-55c). 
,la\s.    Gross:  $13,500.    (Average,  $10,500) 

le  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
!  agecoach"  (U.A.) 

ppOLLAY  —  (2,000)  (25c-30c-40c-50c).  7 
I  i    2nd  run.    Gross:  $7,000.  (Average, 


Jell'  at  $12,500 
Cincinnati  Lead 

.'i \(  i.n'nati,  May  8. — "The  Story 
I'  Alexander    Graham    Bell,"  with 
:,500  at  the  RKO  Albee,  was  top 
^er  in  an  otherwise  fair  week. 
|  Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  showed 

I.ong  business  at  RKO  Palace. 
Estimated   takings    for    the  week 
jling  May  4-6: 
ie   Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell" 
P  (ZOth-Fox) 

iiKO  ALBEE— (3,300)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
I  iss:  $12,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 

n  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 
|  KO  PALACE— (2,700)  (35c-42c)  4  davs. 
ibs:  $3,900.     (Average.   7   davs.  $10,000) 
nfessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
KO  PALACE— (2.700)   (3Sc-42c)  3  days. 
,  iss:   $4,500.     (Average.   7  days.  S10.0O0) 
an  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
KO  SHI" BERT — (2.150)  (35c-42c)  7  davs. 
|ss:  $7,000.     (Average.  $10,000) 
(ark  Victory"    (W.  B.) 

KO  CAPITOL—  (2.000)  (35c-42c)  7  davs. 
'■  week.  Gross:  $4,800.  (Average.  $6,500) 
ist  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
ilKO  LYRIC— (1.400)  (34c-42c)  7  days. 
fl  week.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average.  $5,000) 
idright"  (Para.) 

iKO  GRAND — (1.200)    (25c-40c)    7  davs. 
week.    Gross:  $2,650.     (Average,  $2,750) 

rg  of  the  Underworld"  (W.  B.) 
'  skv  Business"  (Univ.) 
.  KO  FAMILY— f  1.000)   (20c-30c)  4  days. 

iss:    SI.  300.      (Average.  $1,500) 

*elve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

ndercover  Agent"  (Mono.) 

KO  FAMILY— (1.000)  (20c-30c)  3  days, 
[iss:  $850.    (Average.  $900) 

>robia"  (U.  A.) 

I  ETTH'S — (1.500)  (30c-40c)  7  days. 
*Ss:  $5,600.    (Average.  $6,000) 


Hollywood,  May  8.  —  Lee  Ya- 
Ching,  young  Chinese  aviatrix,  has 
been  signed  by  Paramount  to  support 
Dorothy  Lamour  in  "Disputed  Pas- 
sage," from  the  Lloyd  C.  Douglas 
novel.  .  .  .  Howard  Hill,  world 
champion  archer,  has  returned  after 
two  months  in  the  Cape  San  Lucas 
Islands  with  material  for  two  two- 
reel  short  subjects.  .  .  .  Warners  has 
elevated  George  Amy,  film  cutter,  to 
director  and  given  him  "The  Return 
of  Dr.  X,"  Boris  Karloff  vehicle, 
as  his  first  assignment.  .  .  .  Anne 
Nagel  and  Warren  Hull  draw  the 
leads  in  Monogram's  "Girl  from  No- 
where." .  .  .Robert  Young  gets  one 
of  the  principal  roles  in  "Guns  and 
Fiddles,*'  with  Hedy  Lamarr,  Rob- 
ert Taylor  and  Miliza  Korjus  at 
M-G-M.  .  .  .  Basil  Rathbone  and 
Donald  Crisp  are  set  for  important 
roles  in  "The  Knight  and  the  Lady," 
Warners. 

+ 

Warners  is  considering  making  a 
picture,  "Girls  Without  Names,"  deal- 
ing with  a  girls'  reformatory.  Mar- 
garet Lindsay,  Jane  Wyman,  Jane 
Bryan  and  Rosella  Towne  are  be- 
ing considered  for  roles.  .  .  .  "Dude  of 
Antwerp,"  produced  in  French  by 
Pierre  Chenal,  will  be  remade  in 
English  as  the  third  Boris  Morros 
production.  .  .  .  Samuel  Goldwyn 
has  lent  Archie  Mayo  to  Walter 
Wanger  for  direction  of  "House 
Across  the  Bay,"  Joan  Bennett's 
next  vehicle.  Sarah  Y.  Mason  and 
Victor  Heerman  are  writing  the 
screenplay,  based  on  a  story  about  the 
wives  of  Alcatraz  Island  prisoners. 
.  .  .  Max  Steiner  will  compose,  ar- 
range and  conduct  the  musical  score 
for  Selznick's  "Gone  With  the  Wind." 
+ 

Casting — Kay  Johnson  and  Regi- 
nald Owen  to  "The  Real  Glory," 
and  Arthur  Hohl,  Marjorie  Main 
and  Paul  Harvey  to  "Music  School," 
both  Goldwyn.  .  .  .  Zasu  Pitts  to 
"The  Life  of  Edith  Cavell,"  which 
Herbert  Wilcox  will  produce  in 
Hollywood  for  RKO.  .  .  .  Joseph 
Sawyer  to  "On  Borrowed  Time," 
M-G-M.  .  .  .  Ralph  Morgan  to 
"Way  Down  South,"  Lesser-RKO. 
.  .  .  Ona  Munson  to  "Gone  With  the 
Wind,"  Selznick.  .  .  .  Joyce  Comp- 
ton  to  "Elsa  Maxwell's  Hotel  for 
Women,"  20th  Century-Fox.  .  .  . 
Kenneth  Harlan  to  "Lawful  Out- 
laws," Sherman-Paramount.  .  .  .  Gor- 
don Jones  to  "Disputed  Passage," 
Paramount.  .  .  .  Henry  Kolker  to 
"The  Real  Glory,"  Goldwyn.  .  .  . 
Jeffrey  Lynn  will  play  the  title  role 
in  "Nathan  Hale,"  Warners'  patriotic 
short.  .  .  .  Laura  Hope  Crews  to 
"The  Star  Maker,"  Paramount.  .  .  . 
Emma  Dunn  and  Alan  Mowbray-  to 
"The  Double  Dyed  Deceiver,"  Sher- 
man-Paramount. .  .  .  Peggy  Ann 
Garner,  six-year-old  Los  Angeles 
girl,  makes  her  film  debut  in  "Mem- 
ory of  Love,"  RKO.  .  .  .  Barbara 
Bedford,  silent  screen  star,  has  been 
given  a  role  in  "Andy  Hardy  Gets 
Spring  Fever,"  M-G-M.  .  .  .Dennie 
Moore  to  "The  Women,"  M-G-M.  .  .  . 
Zasu  Pitts  to  "Stand  Up  and  Sing," 
which  will  be  directed  by  Arthur 
Lubin  at  Republic. 

+ 

Writers — G.  A.  Durlam  is  writing 
the   screenplay  for  the  first  of  the 


James  Dunn  vehicles,  "Kid  Racket- 
eers," which  Sam  Katzman  of  Vic- 
tory Pictures  will  produce.  .  .  .  Vicki 
Baum  is  writing  a  screen  treatment  of 
her  story,  "Forgotten  Girls,"  for  Re- 
public. .  .  .  George  O'Neil,  playwright 
and  novelist,  has  been  signed  by  Selz- 
nick International  to  do  the  final 
draft  of  the  "Intermezzo"  script. 
+ 

Directors — Nate  Watt  will  direct 
"Argentina,"  Hopalong  Cassidy  pic- 
ture which  Harry  Sherman  will  pro- 
duce for  Paramount.  .  .  .  Noel  Smith 
will  guide  the  next  picture  in  the 
Warner  Secret  Service  pictures,  as 
yet  untitled. 


'Castles'  Scores 
Well  in  Detroit, 
Grossing  $24,000 

Detroit.  May  8. — "The  Castles" 
with  Xavier  Cugat  on  the  stage  topped 
local  takes  with  $24,000.  "Dark  Vic- 
torv"  and  "Within  the  Law"  did 
$9,000  at  the  Palms-State.  Second 
week  of  "The  Hardvs  Ride  High"  at 
the    United    Artists    took  $10,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  4 : 

"Romance  of  the   Redwoods"  (Col.) 
"Winner  Takes  All"  (20th-Fox) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (20c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,500.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"The  Castles"  (RKO) 

FOX— (5,000)    (20c-65c)    7    days.  Stage, 
Xavier   Cugat   and   Band.     Gross:  $24,000. 
(Average.  $20,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

MICHIGAN— (4.000)     (20c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

PALMS -STATE — (3,000)  (20c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2,000)  (20c-65c)  7 
davs.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average, 
$10,000) 


'Pacific*  in  2  Omaha 
Houses  Hits  $27,400 

Omaha,  May  8. — "Union  Pacific," 
which  had  its  world  premiere  here, 
responded  with  a  gross  of  $27,400 
from  two  houses  for  the  week.  The 
Omaha  had  a  smash  $18,400,  the 
Paramount  $9,000. 

"Dark  Victory"  held  up  splendidly 
in  the  second  week  at  the  Brandeis 
with  $6,000.  "Broadway  Serenade," 
dualed  with  "Within  the  Law,"  did 
$9,000  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
May  3-4: 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  davs, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$18,400.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"Brcsdwav  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM—  (3,000)     (25c -40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $7,600) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000. 


To  Start  Negro  Film 

Domino  Productions  will  start 
shooting  on  an  all-Negro  feature  this 
week  at  the  Biograph  Studios.  Ar- 
thur Leonard  will  direct  the  picture 
to  feature  Nina  Mae  McKinney. 


5 


'Smart  Girls' 


$21,300  in  2 
L.A.  Theatres 


Los  Angeles,  May  8. — "Three 
Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  and  "The 
Lady  and  the  Mob"  at  the  Hillstreet 
and  Pantages  drew  a  fine  total  of 
$21,300,  with  $10,300  at  the  Hillstreet 
and  $11,000  at  the  Pantages.  "Stolen 
Life"  was  strong  at  the  4  Star,  with 
$6,100. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  3 : 

"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

CHINESE  —  (2,500)     (30c-75c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $7,800.    (Average,  $12,500) 
"Stolen  Life"  (Para.) 

4  STAR— (900)   (40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,100.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

HILLSTREET—  (2,700)   (30c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,300.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,500.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Three'  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES  —  (3,000)    (30c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)   (30c-65c)  5  days. 
Stage:  F.  &  M.  revue,  Judy  Starr.  Gross: 
$15,000.    (Average,  $18,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER    BROS.    (HOLLYWOOD)  — 
(3.000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$9,500.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (DOWNTOWN)  — 
(3,400)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$9,200.    (Average,  $12,000) 


'Hardys'  Providence 
Leader  with  $12,500 

Providence,  May  8. — Loew's  State 
drew  $12,500  with  "The  Hardys  Ride 
High"  and  "Fighting  Thoroughbreds." 
"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  and  "The 
Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  at  the 
Majestic  took  $7,500.  The  Narra- 
gansett  track  is  beginning  to  nick 
business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  3-5. 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Fighting   Thoroughbreds"  (Repub.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,230)   (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,500.    (Average,  $11,000), 
"Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 
"The    Jones    Family    in  Hollywood" 

(ZOth-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)    (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average.  $7,000) 
"Story  of  Vernon  and   Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

RKO- ALBEE — (2,239)  (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,800.  (Average, 
$6,000) 

"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
"Tom  Sawyer,  Detective"  (Para.) 

STRAND — (2,100)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,300.     (Average,  $6,000) 
"You  Can't   Get  Away  With  Murder" 
(W.  B.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)      (25c-35c-40c)      7  days. 
Vaudeville.    Gross:  $6,300.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Inspector  Hornleigh"  (20th-Fox) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $3,200.    (Average,  $3,500) 


Freeman  in  Pathe  Post 

Mervyn  Freeman,  head  camera- 
man, temporarily  has  been  placed  in 
charge  of  the  west  coast  office  of 
Pathe  News.  Peter  Mayer,  former 
editor,  has  resigned  to  do  a  documen- 
tary film  in  London  with  Herb  Kline. 
Mayer  will  leave  for  London  on  the 
Queen  Mary  tomorrow. 


MAGAZINE 

DOES  FOR 
COLUMBIA'S 

0  N  LY 

ANGELS 
HAVE 
WINGS! 

I  1 

1  THEATRE  MANAGERS  | 
ADVERTISING  MEN: 

Be  sure  to  enter 

I  $4,000  I 

I  PRIZE  CONTEST  I 

for  best  campaign 
inclusive  of  advertis- 
ing,  publicity  and 
I     exploitation    on  | 

ONLY  ANGELS 
HAVE  WINGS 

—  open  to  all! 

I  I 


ANGELS  HAT 


HOWARD  HAWKS,  one  of  whose  hobb  1 
aviation,    directed    "Only  Angels 
Wings,"  a  romance  of  the  air,  for  Columbia  ( 
tures.  It  is  based  upon  a  story  Hawks  hir 
wrote.  He  has  directed  such  aviation  filni 
"Dawn  Patrol,"  "Air  Circus,"  "Ceiling  ZjJ 


1  Flying  the  mail  across  the  Andes,  Joe  Souther  encount- 
ers neavy  fog  and  returns  to  his  field  in  Ecuador,  but  his 
plane  crashes  in  flames.  Among  the  friends  who  mourn  his 
death  is  Bonnie  Lee,  a  New  York  show  girl  who  recently 
has  arrived  in  the  banana  port  for  a  brief  visit. 


2  To  mask  their  grief,  the  other  fliers  get  t 
at  a  party,  trying  to  be  merry.  Bonnie  join: 
festivities,  along  with  Geoff  Carter,  man  <| 
the  little  airport.  Soon  after  midnight  the  if 
and  Carter  leaves  the  party  to  fly  the  mai ■ 


4  A  new  pilot  arrives  to  take  Joe's  place.  He  is  Bat  Mc-  5  Bonnie  seizes  every  chance  to  be  close  to  I 

Pherson,  whom  the  other  aviators  soon  recognize  as  a  though  his  friends  have  warned  her  he  is  '1 

flier  who  once  bailed  out  during  a  test  flight  and  let  his  terested"  in  women.  One  morning  Judith  ar I 

mechanic  be  killed.  His  wife,  Judith,  is  a  girl  who  jilted  nie  meet  in  his  quarters.  Judith  has  come  tf 

Carter  in  the  United  States.  Carter  has  remained  a  bachelor.  Carter  for  a  favor  he  has  done  her  since  she  e 


7  An  emergency  arises  and  a  dangerous  flight  must  be  8  McPherson  volunteers,  and  Kid  Daab. 

made.  Carter  decides  he  is  the  one  to  go.  When  Bonnie  tries  sight  is  failing,  insists  on  going  along,  sa. 

to  prevent  him  from  risking  his  life,  she  accidentally  shoots  knows  the  fogbound  passes.  When  the  plan 

him.  If  the  flight  is  not  made.  Carter  will  lose  a  government  flock  of  condors^the'Kid  is  mortally  injure 

franchise  on  which  he  and  the  airport  owner  depend.  McPherson  to  jump  and  save  himself* 


Reproduced  from  Page  54 — Look — May  23,  1939 


VINGS 


CAST  OF  CHARACTERS 

IY  GRANT  GEOFF  CARTER 

N  ARTHUR  BONNIE  LEE 

HARD   BARTH  ELM  ESS  BAT  McPHERSON 

<H  HAVWORTH  JUDY 

1W4S  MITCHELL  KID  DAA8 


1  )n  Carter's  return,  he  is  surprised  to 
i  Bonnie  still  in  the  city.  He  had  told 
|  good-by  the  night  of  the  party,  think- 
i  ;he  was  leaving  on  the  next  boat.  She 
\  dling  in  love  with  the  flier. 


When  Kid  Daab,  one  of  Carter's  pilots, 
ns  the  others  are  planning  to  quit  be- 
;e  of  McPherson,  he  starts  a  fight, 
iking  another  flier's  arm.  This  leaves 
:er's  force  short-handed. 


McPherson,  however,  risks  death  by 
irning  home  with  the  damaged  plane, 
ch  explodes  as  he  lands.  Before  dying 
Kid  tells  of  McPherson's  heroism. 
v  the  pilots  become  his  friends. 


10  After  the  fog  lifts,  McPherson  makes  the  flight  in  another  plane, 
saving  Carter's  franchise.  Meanwhile,  Bonnie,  all  packed  to  take 
the  next  ship,  goes  to  bid  Carter  farewell,  but  says  she  will  stay  if 
he  asks  her.  He  flips  a  coin,  calls  "heads"  and  proposes.  She  is  very 
angry  until  she  learns  the  coin  had  "heads"  on  both  sides. 

Reproduced  from  Page  55 — Look — May  23,  1939 


OPENING 

MAY  IF 

RADIO 
CITY 
MUSIC 
HALL 

★ 

GENERAL  RELEASE 

MAY  25th! 

★ 

HOWARD  HAWKS 

PRODUCTION 

starring 
CARY  JEAN 

GRANT-ARTHUR 

ONLY  ANGELS 
HAVE  WINGS 

THOMAS  MITCHELL 
RITA  HAYWORTH 
RICHARD  BARTHELMESS 

Screen  play  by  Jules  Furthman 

Story  and  Direction  by 
HOWARD  HAWKS 

A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  May  9,  19: 


Hoblrtzelle's 
Speech  Opens 
Texas  Meeting 


Galveston,  Tex.,  May  8. — Karl 
Hoblitzelle,  head  of  Interstate  Circuit 
of  Texas,  in  his  keynote  address  today 
at  the  Interstate  and  Texas  Consoli- 
dated Theatres  two-day  convention 
here,  stressed  citizenship  and  the 
necessity  of  theatre  managers  being 
good  citizens  first. 

More  than  ISO  managers  of  the  cir- 
cuit and  guests  are  attending.  Lester 
Goldenson  of  the  Paramount  home  of- 
fice is  representing  Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
who  will  arrive  tomorrow.  Austin  C. 
Keough,  Paramount  general  counsel, 
also  is  due  tomorrow  from  New  York. 
E.  V.  Richards  of  the  Saenger  circuit, 
and  R.  B.  Wilby  of  Wilby-Kincey 
circuit,  Atlanta,  are  present. 

Hoblitzelle  urged  all  of  his  employes 
to  exercise  the  right  to  vote,  deeming 
it  an  important  phase  of  citizenship. 

Rebuttal  at  AMP  A 
Set  for  Thursday 

Dr.  J.  S.  List,  consulting  psychol- 
ogist to  NBC,  who  charged  film  ad- 
vertising methods  are  outmoded,  at 
a  recent  Ampa  meeting,  will  hear 
rebuttal  Thursday  from  Harry  Gold- 
berg, Warner  circuit  advertising  head, 
and  a  distributor.  Dr.  List  will  de- 
fend his  views. 

A.  Martini,  veteran  showman  of 
Galveston,  and  Interstate  partner,  re- 
ceived a  standing  salute.  John 
Maroney,  Interstate's  general  counsel, 
gave  his  views  on  various  decisions  af- 
fecting the  business. 


Show  Mexican  Films 

A  press  showing  of  shorts  produced 
by  the  Department  of  Press  and  Pub- 
licity of  the  Mexican  Government 
was  held  yesterday  at  Lloyd's  projec- 
tion room.  Rafael  de  la  Colina,  Con- 
sul General  of  Mexico,  and  Quintin 
Rueda,  chief  of  the  department,  made 
introductorv  talks. 


Preview  on  Ranger 

Flying  officers  of  the  U.  S.  S. 
Ranger,  newest  aircraft  carrier,  sta- 
tioned here  for  the  World's  Fair,  will 
be  guests  at  a  preview  of  Columbia's 
new  Howard  Hawks  film,  "Only 
Angels  Have  Wings,"  aboard  the 
Ranger  tonight. 


U A  Appoints  Schlaifer,       MPTOA  Poll 
Gold  as  Vice  Presidents  Reveals  Code 

Holds  Favo 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Ernst  Lubitsch,  most  of  whom  hold 
contracts  expiring  in  September,  1945. 
Silverstone  expressed  regret  at  the 
exception  of  Selznick,  who  is  affili- 
ated on  a  shorter  term  arrangement. 

Explanation  of  the  producers'  fund 
as  a  means  of  guaranteeing  to  produc- 
ers of  quality  product  commensurate 
profits  was  made  by  Silverstone  to 
the  salesmen  for  the  purpose  of  im- 
parting to  them,  he  said,  the  type  of 
confidence  in  the  company  which  he 
feels.  He  explained  the  volume  rebate 
provision  of  the  producer  fund  mech- 
anism as  a  device  for  encouraging 
producers  to  make  more  than  a  sin- 
gle picture  each  year,  pointing  out 
that  under  this  system  it  is  possible 
for  as  much  as  two-thirds  of  the 
profits  of  the  corporation  to  be  placed 
in  the  producer  fund. 

No  Personnel  Changes 

Spiking  rumors  of  personnel 
changes,  Silverstone  declared  that 
under  the  terms  of  his  contract,  which 
has  more  than  four  years  to  run,  no 
changes  can  be  made  except  by  him 
or  with  his  approval,  flatly  declaring 
that  "there  will  be  no  changes."' 

Applause  greeted  Silverstone's  an- 
nouncement that  U.  A.  will  spend 
$3,000,000  for  advertising  and  exploi- 
tation during  the  new  season,  aver- 
aging roughly  $100,000  per  picture. 
Last  year's  U.  A.  advertising  budget 
was  $1,500,000,  to  which  was  added 
$300,000  subsequently.  Lynn  Farnol, 
director  of  advertising  and  publicity, 
revealed  after  the  morning  session, 
that  certain  pictures,  such  as  "Four 
Feathers,"  "Winter  Carnival,"  "In- 
termezzo," "Rebecca"  and  "Music 
School"  will  be  given  concentrated 
exploitation. 

Sympathetic  Toward  Code 

Silverstone  said  he  is  personally 
sympathetic  toward  the  trade  practice 
code  but  that  the  nature  of  the  United 
Artists  setup,  in  which  each  contribut- 
ing producer  has  complete  authority 
to  accept  or  reject  any  contract  for 
his  pictures  makes  company  adher- 
ence to  the  code  impracticable.  He 
forecast  increasing  importance  of  tele- 
vision as  an  entertainment  factor  but 
said  the  industry  has  no  cause  for 
alarm  if  it  will  arm  itself  with  good 


%U// 

Rotary  Stabilizer 

PLUS  NEW 
SHOCK  PROOF 
DRIVE 


Lead  parade  of  features  in 

7h/  RCA  PH0T0PH0NE 
MAGIC  VOICE  of 
the  SCREEN 


Ask  your  representative  for  details. 
Designed  for  any  theatre — 
regardless  of  size. 


pictures  because  it  is  in  the  nature  of 
man  to  want  to  congregate  with  his 
fellows  when  seeking  entertainment. 
Good  pictures  are  also  the  cure  for  the 
double  bill  evil,  in  Silverstone's 
opinion. 

Declaring  the  Neely  Bill  "is  on  the 
wrong  track,"  Silverstone  said,  "You 
don't  have  to  block  book  good  pic- 
tures." Silverstone  was  followed  by 
Harry  Gold,  who  divulged  statistics 
showing  the  increase  in  annual  con- 
tract sales  from  1935  to  the  present 
season,  which  set  a  new  high  in  com- 
pany history. 

Rewards  Quota  Winners 

Jack  Schlaifer  closed  the  morning 
session  with  presentation  of  gold  but- 
tons and  cash  bonuses  of  $250  each  to 
delegates  who  had  sold  100  per  cent  or 
more  of  their  quotas.  These  were  M. 
Magill,  Guy  Gunderson,  Richard  Har- 
rity,  J.  H.  Nash,  Mark  N.  Silver,  Nat 
Nathanson,  E.  V.  Donnelly,  A.  N. 
Keeper,  E.  A.  Ashkins,  Ray  Wylie, 
Earl  Collins,  Harry  Rees  and  F.  M. 
Higgins. 

The  afternoon  session  was  given 
over  to  the  announcement  of  product. 
Delegates  previewed  "Four  Feathers" 
tonight. 

Mary  Pickford,  David  O.  Selznick, 
David  Loew,  Richard  A.  Rowland, 
Walter  Wanger,  William  Wyler, 
Alfred  Hitchcock  and  Leslie  Howard 
were  among  the  speakers  at  the  ses- 
sion. 


Two  English  Films 
Previewed  for  Fair 

Association  of  School  Film  Li- 
braries has  previewed  two  English 
documentaries,  "The  Londoners"  and 
"New  Worlds  for  Old,"  prior  to  their 
exhibition  at  the  Science  and  Industry 
exhibit  at  the  World's  Fair.  The 
former  deals  with  work  of  rehousing 
London  and  providing  necessary  com- 
munity services.  The  latter  is  a 
commercial  for  the  gas  industry. 

Both  are  done  in  the  manner  of 
".  .  .  one  third  of  a  nation  .  .  ."  as 
produced  by  the  WPA  Theatre.  Al- 
though several  requests  for  the  films 
have  been  received  from  commercial 
theatre  interests,  no  arrangements 
have  been  made  for  release  in  this 
country. 


Conciliation  Board 
Set  for  Nova  Scotia 

Halifax,  May  8.  —  Conciliation 
board  to  deal  with  grievances  arising 
in  Nova  Scotia  has  been  decided  upon 
as  a  result  of  meeting  here  among 
officials  representing  all  branches  of 
the  industry.  Bill  passed  by  the  Nova 
Scotia  legislature  this  winter  to  regu- 
late exchanges  and  prevent  discrimina- 
tion has  not  yet  been  proclaimed  and 
may  be  held  up  if  conciliation  proves 
satisfactory. 

The  board  will  consist  of  eight 
members.  Four  will  be  chosen  by  in- 
dependent exhibitors,  two  by  distribu- 
tors and  one  each  by  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.  and  Spencer  Theatres 
of  St.  John,  N.  B. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

vantage   of   the   concessions    offen  j 
while  continuing  efforts  to  solve Ji\ 
remaining  problems  as  time  would^j! 
low.    Personally,  he  said,  he  believi 
the   concessions   now   offered   wou  > 
prove  of  great  benefit  to  the  exhibitoi 
and  added  that  "quibbling  over  detail 
should  be  stopped. 


Kuykendall  Analyzes 
Trade  Practice  Draft 

Renewing    M.P.T.O.A.'s  advocai 
of  conciliation  over  arbitration  as 
method  of  settling  trade  practice  dii 
putes  and  of  making  the  trade  pra 
tice  program  effective  immediately 
all  of  its  phases  not  affected  by  the  i 
completed  arbitration  procedure,  I 
Kuykendall,    M.P.T.O.A.  preside 
yesterday  sent  out  his  analysis  of  tl  | 
current  trade  practice  draft  to  mer 
bers  of  the  national  exhibitor  orgar 
zation. 

The  bulletin  urges  acceptance  of  tl  j 
code  in  the  vein  of  "half  a  loaf  is  be 
ter  than  none"  and  lists  the  organiz 
tion's  criticism  both  of  what  is  c  I 
fered  in  the  draft  and  what  is  omitte 
Distributor,  reservations  in  connect!' ; 
with  the  cancellation  right,  particular  , 
the  requirement  that  if  an  exhibit' 
fails  to  exercise  his  right  to  cancel 
a  higher  bracket  it  cannot  be  uscj 
in  the  next  lower  bracket,  but  on 
in  the  very  lowest  price  group. 

The    bulletin    also    scores  Unit<j 
Artists  for  not  participating  in  tl 
program,  asserting  that  if  its  obje  I 
tions  to  participation  are  valid,  tl 
company  has  nothing  to  lose  by  pa 
ticipating,  since  if  it  does  not  sell  j 
blocks  the  cancellation  proposal  wou . 
not  apply  to  it,  and  it  should  have  rj 
objection  to  eliminating  a  score  charjl 
which  it  says  it  doesn't  collect. 


Fight  Film  Measure 
Is  Passed  in  low 

Des  Moines,  May  8.  —  A  bill  ■ 
permit  the  showing  of  prize  fight  pi- 
tures  was  the  only  legislation  affec 
ing  film  theatres  passed  by  the  n 
cently  adjourned  Iowa  legislature. 

Other  bills  considered  were :  Oi 
to  add  an  additional  operator  in  fil  I 
booths  in  theatres ;  one  to  ban  Bar 
Night  by  classing  it  a  lottery ;  one  i 
legalize  Bank  Night  and  tax  each  a<| 
mittance  ticket  five  cents,  and  one  n 
create  a  state  board  of  film  censor' 


Connecticut  Faces 
Legalizing  of  Race 

Hartford,  Conn.,  May  8. — Legal 
ized  horse  and  dog  racing  looms  agaii 
as  a  definite  possibility  in  Connectici  I 
as  state  legislators  seek  to  balance  tl 
budget  without  adding  new  taxes. 

Vigorously  opposed  by  exhibitoi" 
the  bills  were  reported  unfavorably  ii 
committee,  but  the  estimated  $2,000' 
000  a  year  revenue  from  betting  aj 
pears  large  in  the  eyes  of  legislator 

Pommer  Delays  Sailing 

Erich  Pommer,  of  Pommer-Laugl 
ton  Mayflower  Productions,  has  df'l 
ferred  his  sailing  for  New  York  anj 
is  now  scheduled  to  arrive  May  2. 


The  imp 
to  return 

inside 


ALWAYS  A  GOOD  SHO 
AT  THIS  THEATER 


•  "I  dropped  into  the  Majestic  the  other  night. 
There's  where  I'm  going  after  this  when  I  want 
to  really  enjoy  a  show.  I've  never  seen  better 
theater  lighting.  I  found  my  seat  without  stum- 
bling and  groping.  My  eyes  didn't  get  tired  and 
I  figured  that  was  because  there  was  no  sharp 
contrast  between  the  screen  and  the  walls 
around  it.  It  was  a  color  feature  and  I've  never 
seen  more  natural  color  on  the  screen." 

Patrons  do  comment  in  this  manner  on  thea- 
ters thev  visit  and  their  friends  respond  to  their 


impressions.  When  people  desire  to  see  a  partic- 
ular feature  they  go  to  a  theater  they  know  will 
present  it  properly  and  in  comfortable  surround- 
ings. Such  presentation  means  just  one  thing  — 
high  intensity  projection. 

Simplified  High  Intensity  projection  costs  little 
more  than  obsolete  low  intensity  projection. 
But  it  does  give  your  patron  the  impulse  to  return. 


Ask  your  Dealer's  Salesman  for  the 
Facts  on  Equipment  and  Operation  Costs 


SIMPLIFIED 


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1  °^°on5o  oaDODDODon"5W5Don  dodd. 


PROJECTION 


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WITH  NATIONAL  SUPREX 


/a  oooooooooooooap  o  u  a  a  o 


NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  HIM  and  Carbon  Corporation 

CARBON  SALES  DIVISION,  CLEVELAND,  OHIO 

General  Offices:  30  East  42nd  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
BRANCH  SUES  OFFICES:     HEW  TOM     PITTSBURGH   CHIC1G0     SAI  FMUltUOj 


The  words  "National"  and  "Suprex"  are  trade-marks  of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 


a 

They  're  all  one  faml 


1 


MR 


: 


One  family -multiplied  by  26,000,000!  For  26,000,000  families  live  and  listen  in  Columbia 
Broadcasting  System's  primary  listening  areas.  CBS  dominanec  in  the  urban  segment  of 
this  audience  has  been  acknowledged  for  years.  And  now,  a  new  study  of  rural  listening 
habits  measures  the  dominant  CBS  position  in  rural  America  as  well.  The  study,  con- 
ducted hy  impartial  investigators,  shows  a  CBS  audience,  day  and  night,  greater  than  that 
of  any  other  network;  reports  that  87%  of  all  rural  families  interviewed  listen  regularly  in 
the  evening  to  CBS:  72%  in  the  daytime.  And  the  farmer  listens  to  the  "city"  programs: 
80.9 %  of  all  rural  families  interviewed  heard  Major  Bowes;  71.8%  heard  Eddie  Cantor! 
We  will  be  glad  to  send  you  a  copy  of  this  latest  basic  radio  study:  COLUMBIA'S  RFD 
AUDIENCE.  Write  to  485  Madison  Ave.,  New  York.* 


12 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


RADIO 


Tuesday,  May  9,  I  \) 


CBS  Expands 
News,  Special 
Events  Work 


News  and  special  events  bureaus 
of  CBS  will  occupy  greater  prom- 
inence in  the  network's  operations 
than  ever  before,  according  to  a  re- 
cently devised  formula. 

In  preparation  for  the  increased  ac- 
tivities, the  departments  have  been 
given  most  of  an  entire  floor,  with 
several  new  studios  now  under  con- 
struction. 

The  new  studios  will  be  on  the  17th 
floor  of  the  headquarters  building  and 
will  be  used  for  instantaneous  broad- 
casting, with  the  Morse  and  commu- 
nications rooms  being  shifted  adjacent 
to  the  new  studios. 

To  make  room  for  the  increased 
facilities,  the  publicity  department  has 
been  transferred  from  its  previous 
location  to  another  part  of  the  build- 
ing, in  the  premises  formerly  used  by 
the  network's  law  department. 

Study  British  Film 
and  Television  Link 

London,  May  8. — British  Post- 
master General  on  May  18  will  re- 
ceive a  deputation  from  the  Cinemat- 
ograph Exhibitors'  Association  and 
Kinematograph  Renters'  Society  (dis- 
tributors.) to  discuss  relations  of  the 
film  trade  with  British  Broadcasting 
Co.  television.  Limitation  of  the  use 
of  films,  especially  shorts,  ir  BBC 
television,  and  the  screening  of  tele- 
casts in  theatres  also  will  be  discussed. 


Cincinnati  Shows 
Moving  to  Chicago 

Cincinnati,  May  8.  —  Coincident 
with  the  signing  of  a  union  scale  con- 
tract with  AFRA,  three  WLW- 
originated  shows,  "Avalon  Time," 
"Uncle  Walter's  Dog  House  Club" 
and  "Plantation  Party"  are  moving 
to  Chicago.  All  three  are  weekly 
commercials  sponsored  by  Brown  & 
Williamson  Tobacco  Co.  Economy 
and  convenience  are  given  as  reasons 
for  the  shift. 


American  Cigarette 
Plans  CBS  Program 

American  Cigarette  and  Cigar  Co. 
has  signed  for  a  15-minute  once  week- 
ly series  over  CBS  featuring  the  or- 
chestra of  Natty  Malneck  from 
Hollvwood.  Program  is  to  start  June 
1  from  7:15  to  7:30  P.  M.  over  a 
51-station  hookup.  It  is  understood 
the  sponsor  is  seeking  to  clear  an  ad 
ditional  IS  minutes  to  provide  a  30 
minute  series. 


Ryan  N.  A.  B.  Director 

Cincinnati,  May  8. — J.  C.  Ryan, 
vice-president  of  the  Fort  Industry 
Co.,  Toledo,  O.,  operating  WSPD 
Toledo;  WLON,  Lima;  WWVA 
Wheeling  and  WMMN,  Fairmont,  W. 
Va.,  was  unanimously  elected  director 
of  the  N.A.B.,  District  No.  7,  at  a 
meeting  here.  He  succeeds  Mark 
Ethridge,  WHAS,  Louisville,  who  re- 
linquished the  post  because  of  ill 
health. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

ARTHUR  ROTHAFEL,  son  of 
the  late  "Roxy,"  is  writing 
scripts  for  radio,  and  his  second 
sale  will  be  heard  on  "Grand  Central 
Sketches"  Friday.  .  .  .  Jimmy  Dor- 
sey's  recording  contract  has  been  re- 
newed for  two  years.  .  .  .  Alice 
White,  the  former  film  actress,  is  now 
in  radio  and  is  a  feature  on  a  number 
of  CBS  programs.  .  .  .  Stan  Shaw, 
mikeman  of  WNEWs  "Milkman's 
Matinee,"  ""'11  guest  on  "We,  the 
People"  tonight.  .  .  .  Lincoln  Dellar, 
general  manager  of  WBT,  has  re- 
turned to  Charlotte  after  spending  a 
week  in  Manhattan. 


$171,849  for  Paley 
As  Salary  in  1938 

Washington,  May  8. — William  S. 
Paley,  CBS  president,  received  $171,- 
849  as  salary  during  1938,  annual  re- 
port to  the  Securities  &  Exchange 
Commission  revealed  today.  Edward 
Klaube,  vice-president,  received  $78,- 
304;  David  Sarnoff,  RCA  president, 
$100,000,  and  J.  G.  Harbord,  chair- 
man of  the  board,  $60,640.  Frank  M. 
Lovejoy,  president  of  Eastman  Kodak, 
received  $115,419  and  Albert  F.  Sulzer, 
vice-president,  $67,591. 


Jergens  Plans  New 
Program  Over  CBS 

Jergens  Woodbury  Co.  has  signed 
for  a  new  program  over  CBS,  start- 
ing July  7.    Talent  is  not  set. 

Series  is  to  be  heard  Fridays  from 
7:45  to  8  P.  M.  with  a  midnight  re- 
broadcast.  For  the  first  13  weeks, 
35  stations  are  to  be  utilized,  and 
thereafter  27  stations  will  be  added 
for  a  total  of  62.  Lennen  &  Mitchell 
is  the  agency. 


Little  Air  Coverage 
For  Windsor  Speech 

Duke  of  Windsor's  "peace 
plea"  received  a  more  lim- 
ited coverage  than  expected. 
In  addition  to  BBC,  the 
Canadian  network  boycotted 
the  speech.  Not  even  NBC's 
stations  in  Montreal  and 
Toronto  tuned  in  the  Duke's 
address.  Internationally,  the 
speech  suffered  similar  treat- 
ment. 


Campbell  to  Drop 

Welles  Program 

Campbell  Soup  Co.  will  drop  its 
sponsorship  of  the  Orson  Welles  series 
on  CBS  the  first  week  in  June,  and 
thereafter  wil  carry  on  only  with  the 
Amos  'n'  Andy  program. 

According  to  authoritative  word,  the 
Welles  time  will  be  taken  up  imme- 
diately by  the  Kellogg  Co.,  sponsors 
of  the  Hollywood  series,  "The  Circle," 
which  is  currently  heard  at  10  P.M.  on 
the  NBC-Red.  Reason  for  the  shift 
of  the  latter  to  CBS  is  the  sponsor's 
desire  to  obtain  a  period  earlier  in  the 
evening. 


Settle  CBS  Action 

Suit  of  Edward  B.  Marks  Music 
Corp.  for  alleged  infringement  of  the 
operetta  "A  Waltz  Dream"  against 
CBS,  Benton  &  Bowles  and  Colgate- 
Palmolive-Peet  Co.  and  Colgate  &  Co. 
was  discontinued  and  settled  yesterday 
in  the  U.  S.  District  Court  for  an  un- 
disclosed figure. 


Alley  on  NBC  Tonight 

Norman  Alley,  Universal  newsreel 
cameraman  who  was  on  the  gunboat 
Panay  when  it  was  bombed  by  Japan- 
ese planes,  will  tell  the  inside  story 
of  the  bombing  on  the  "Inside  Story" 
broadcast  tonight,  through  KDKA  and 
the  NBC-Blue  network  at  8  P.M. 


FCC  Calendar  of  Hearings 


Washington,  May  8.  —  Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  an- 
nounced tentative  dates  for  hearings 
on  broadcasting  applications,  as  fol- 
lows : 

May  11  :  Applications  of  Sentinel 
Broadcasting  Corp.  for  a  620-kilocycle, 
1,000- watt  station  at  Salina,  N.  Y. ; 
Civic  Broadcasting  Corp.  for  a  1,500- 
kilocycle,  100-watt  station  at  Syra- 
cuse, and  WHJB,  Greensburg,  Pa., 
for  extension  of  time  from  day  to  un- 
limited and  increase  of  power  from 
250  to  1,000  watts. 

June  1 :  Applications  of  C.  T. 
Sherer  Co.,  Inc.,  for  a  1,200-kilocycle 
station  at  Worcester,  with  100  watts 
night,  250  watts  day;  WJMS,  Inc., 
for  a  1,370-kilocycle,  100-watt  station 
at  Ashland,  Wis.,  and  North  Shore 
Broadcasting  Co.  for  a  1,200-kilocycle, 
100-watt  station  at  Salem,  Mass. 

June  2:  Application  of  WCOU, 
Lewiston,  Me.,  for  increase  of  day 
power  from  100  to  250  watts. 

June  5 :  Application  of  KFIO,  Spo- 
kane, for  change  of  frequency  from 
1,120  to  950  kilocycles,  extension  of 
time  from  day  to  unlimited  and  in- 
crease of  power  from  100  to  1,000 
watts. 

Construction    permit    for    a  new 


broadcasting  station,  to  operate  on 
1,370-kilocycles  with  100  watts  power 
night,  250  watts  day,  has  been  asked 
of  the  commission  by  the  Opelika- 
Auburn  Broadcasting  Co.,  Opelika, 
Ala. 

The  commission  also  received  ap- 
plications from  KDAL,  Duluth,  for 
an  increase  of  day  power  from  100  to 
250  watts,  and  KWJJ,  Portland,  Ore., 
for  an  increase  of  power  from  500  to 
1,000  watts. 

Broadcasting  Corp.  of  America, 
sponsors  of  a  new  1,270-kilocycle, 
250-watt  station  at  Riverside,  Cal., 
has  submitted  an  amended  application 
for  a  construction  permit,  asking  for 
a  frequency  of  1,390  kilocycles  and 
power  of  1,000  watts,  requesting  the 
facilities  of  KOY  when  that  station 
goes  to  a  new  frequency. 

Applications  were  filed  with  the 
commission  by  WMBO,  Auburn, 
N.  Y.,  asking  for  increase  of  night 
power  from  100  to  250  watts ;  WSPR, 
Springfield,  Mass.,  for  change  of  fre- 
quency from  1,140  to  1,240  kilocycles, 
change  of  hours  of  operation  from  lim- 
ited to  unlimited  and  change  of  power 
from  500  watts  to  250  watts  night, 
500  watts  day,  and  WHK,  Cleveland, 
asking  for  increase  of  day  power  from 
2,500  to  5,000  watts. 


B 


anneri 

lines! 


NBC  is  chortling  over  what  1 1 
pened  in  Omaha  the  day  I 
KOIL  severed  its  relations  v 
it  and  joined  the  CBS  network.  Hi 
erto  KOIL  had  been  a  quiet,  well  ] 
haved    station,    but    on  the 
day  it  became  a  CBS  affiliate^ 
Barrymore  was  invited  to  its  stu< ! 
for  an  interview,  and  what  John 
over  the  KOIL  air  is  still  very 
barrassing  to  KOIL  and  CBS. 
T 

Orders  have  gone  out  from  Will  I 
6".  Paley  that  Hans  V.  Kaltenb\ 
no  longer  is  to  be  referred  to  cn 
news  commentator,"  because  . 
term  connotes  editorialising.  H,  I 
after  Kaltenborn  is  to  be  officially  - 
ferred  to  as  a  news  "analyist." 

r 

Martha   Deane,  celebrating 
fifth    year    of    broadcasting  c  r 
WOR,  the  other  day  invited  all 
teners  who  caught  her  first  brc 
cast  to  come  to  the  studio  for 
and  cake.    There  appeared  75  i  1 
and  women  who  claimed  to  hi 
listened   in  to  her  initial  brc  if 
cast. 

T 

The  broadcast  of  the  premiere  | 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  over  the 
tual  network,  on  Memorial  Day,  is  1 
to  be  a  free  plug  for  the  picture.  T  i 
charges  for  the  60  stations  that  !i 
carry  the  premiere  will  be  paid 
by  the  film  company.   This  will  be  & 
second  time  that  20th  Century-;! 
will  have  paid  to  exploit  a  film  j 
way  of  radio,  the  other  instance  b< 
the  company's  purchase  of  the  r; 
rights  to  the  description  of  the  l 
ning  of  the  Kentucky  Derby,  in 
half  of  "Rose  of  Washington  Squa  ll 

Mutual,  heretofore,  has  broad  .to 
the  premieres  of  several  20th  Centil 
Fox  pictures — particularly  the  Shi  s| 
Temple  films — but  always  on  a  e 
basis.  On  the  other  hand,  NBC  [I 
cently  gave  free  time  to  Warners  1 
Paramount  for  exploiting  "Del 
City"  and  "Union  Paacific,"  sugglf 
ing  that  it  is  premature  to  label  ]i| 
exploitation  of  pictures  via  radio  i'm 
"trend." 

T 

To  NBC's  Information  Divii  I 
has  come  a  letter  from  a  woman  A 
residing  in  Chicago,  asking  if  she  1  m 
receive  a>  brochure  containing  "phi  m 
graphs  and  short  biological  sketel  [I 
of  the  artists  appearing  in  the  "Anil 
icon  Album  of  Familiar  Music." 

— Jack  Ban  '» 


Hill  Program  Star  tin] 

"Stop,  Look  and  Listen,"  with  i 
win  C.  Hill,  will  start  over  W 
this  week,  to  be  heard  Monc 
through  Fridays  from  9:15  to  Sj 
P.M.  Series  is  sponsored  by  » 
Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Co.  C  l 
tract  is  for  one  year.  Series  is  :  j 
on  WNEW,  where  it  will  conti; 
to  be  heard  via  transcription.  Yo 
&  Rubicam  is  the  agency. 


Going  to  Hollywood 

Winners  in  the  Uncle  Don  cl 
talent  contest,  conducted  in  collabc 
tion  with  20th  Century-Fox,  will  le 
this  morning  bound  for  Hollywc 
where  they  will  be  guests  of  the  cc 
pany. 


o     PRODUCERS  & 
MD;STK1B*°T0RS   OF   AM-.  ' 
28  WEST   44TH  ST.. 
NEVJ  YORK,  l3  COPIES 


ICTURE 


to  the 
i  Picture 
Industry 


First  in 
lio\il  jvi^ 

w 

Accurate 
and 

Impartial 


45.  NO.  90 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  10,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Columbia  Sets 
12  Features 


ext  Season 


H  Westerns,  J  Serials, 
130  Shorts  Planned 

i   

Atlantic  City,  May  9. — Colum- 
n's new  season  schedule  consists  of 
J  features,  16  westerns,  four  serials 
d  130  short  subjects,  Abe  Montague, 
(neral  sales  manager,  informed  the 
npany's  regional  sales  meeting  at 
t  Kitz-Carlton  here  today.  Two  of 
p  features,  Frank  Capra's  "Mr. 
Inith  Goes  to  W  ashington,"  and  an 
«a  Johnson  adventure  picture,  will 
.  >old  as  specials  apart  from  the 
her  -40  features  on  the  regular  pro- 

iThe  company's  production  budget 
Ml  be  increased  by  at  least  $5,000,000 
;er  the  highest  for  any  preceding 
(a.^'Ui,  the  convention  was  told,  which 
11  make  possible  production  of  at 
,ast  IS  high  bracket  pictures.  Iu- 
vidual  picture  budgets  will  be  "elas- 
."  Montague  said,  to  permit  the 
.lidio  to  realize  the  fullest  possibili- 
ty of  all  literary  properties.  The 
ire  important  pictures  on  the  list 
[111  be  assigned  to  the  company's 
ht\y  acquired  group  of  directors, 
Jiich  includes  Wesley  Ruggles, 
rank  Lloyd,  Howard  Hawks,  Rou- 
n  Mamoulian  and  Alexander  Hall. 
'The  regular  schedule  of  40  fea- 
res,  apart  from  the  Capra  and 
.sa  Johnson  pictures,  will  be  made  up 
the  following : 

"Arizona,"  a  Wesley  Ruggles  pro- 
iction,  starring  Jean  Arthur  in  the 
(aude  Binyon  adaptation  of  Clarence 
idington  Kelland's  story. 
|  A  second  W'esley  Ruggles  produc- 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Leave  Dual,  Single 
Policy  to  Theatres 

Atlantic  City,  May  9.— Abe 
Montague,  Columbia  general 
sales  manager,  today  made 
clear  that  a  statement  on 
Monday  regarding  Columbia's 
attitude  on  single  or  double 
bills  advised  that  the  choice 
be  left  solely  to  the  exhibitor. 

Montague  in  his  statement 
declared  that  it  is  not  the 
aim  of  the  company  to  inter- 
fere with  any  exhibitor's  op- 
erating policy  and  Columbia 
will  cooperate  with  exhibitors 
whether  they  show  double 
bills  or  single  bills. 


Chile  Showmanship 

Alfonso  G.  Merlet  of  the 
Italo-Chilena  circuit  of  Chile, 
now  in  New  York,  relates 
that  when  Chile  passed  a 
law  prohibiting  minors'  at- 
tendance at  film  theatres,  it 
became  a  common  practice  to 
put  on  children's  nights, 
which  drew  big  business.  The 
exhibitors  paid  the  required 
fine  of  100  pesos  ($3.30  gold 
in  U.  S.  currency)  for  each 
night's  performance  and  still 
showed  a  handsome  profit. 
But  the  government  got  wise 
and  changed  the  law  to  im- 
pose a  fine  of  100  pesos  for 
each  minor.  That  put  the 
kibosh  on  the  idea. 


Griffiths  Renamed 
President  of  KRS; 
Fights  New  Taxes 


London-.  May  9.— D.  E.  Griffiths 
was  reelected  president  of  the  Kine- 
matograph  Renters'  Society  (distrib- 
utors), at  the  annual  meeting  today. 

He  deplored  new  taxes  which  im- 
pose a  levy  of  $3,750,000  on  an  indus- 
try already  providing  $30,000,000  in 
entertainment  levies.  He  foresees  cur- 
tailed production  and  importation,  and 
forecasts  elimination  of  all  second  fea- 
tures and  British  and  American  shorts 
unless  the  tax  burden  is  eased. 

Griffiths  said  he  will  try  to  gain  the 
support  of  the  Cinematograph  Exhibi- 
tors' Association  and  call  a  joint  meet- 
ing of  all  trade  branches  to  fight  for 
tax  adjustments. 


Para.  Votes  First 
Common  Dividend 
Since  Realignment 


Paramount's  hoard  of  directors,  at 
a  special  meeting  yesterday,  declared 
the  first  dividend  on  the  company's 
common  stock  to  be  paid  since  Para- 
mount emerged  from  reorganization  in 
1935. 

Dividend  of  15  cents  a  share  will  be 
paid  July  15  to  stockholders  of  record 
on  June  30.  Payment  will  be  made  on 
2,465,927  shares  of  common  outstand- 
ing, and  will  aggregate  about  $370,000. 

In  addition,  the  board  declared  the 
usual  quarterly  dividend  of  $1.50  per 
share  on  the  company's  first  preferred 
stock  and  15  cents  per  share  on  the 
second  preferred.  The  preferred  divi- 
dends are  payable  July  1  to  holders  of 
record  on  June  15. 

The  company's  certificate  of  incor- 
poration requires  a  45-day  notice  to 
the  preferred  stockholders  prior  to 
payment  of  an  initial  common  stock 
dividend. 

Interest  bearing  indebtedness  of  the 
company  has  been  reduced  by  more 
than  $1(1.0(111,(100  during  the  past  three 
years,  the  company  reported  following 
the  meeting.  In  the  same  period 
111,000  shares  of  first  preferred  and 
89,000  shares  of  second  preferred  were 
converted  into  857,000  shares  of  com- 
mon, resulting  in  a  total  reduction  of 
over  $12,000,000  par  value  of  senior 
shares. 

All  current  dividends  and  dividend 
arrearages  on  the  preferred  shares,  ap- 
proximating $7,000,000,  were  paid  up 
during  the  period,  it  was  said. 


K.  C.  Censors  Overrule 

Protests  on  'Nazi  Spy 


Kansas  City,  May  9. — The  local 
censorship  board  late  today  upheld 
City  Censor  Eleanore  Walton  in  her 
approval  of  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy,"  and  the  film  will  be  shown 
despite  protest  of  local  Germans. 


Hollywood,  May  9. — Jack  L.  War- 
ner, vice-president  of.  Warners,  issued 
a  statement  tonight  in  which  he 
charged  that  the  protest  against  "Con- 
fessions of  a  Nazi  Spy"  in  Kansas 
City  was  inspired  by  official  German 
sources. 

Mrs.  Eleanore  Wralton,  city  censor 
in  Kansas  City,  has  called  on  three 
members  of  the  censor  appeal  board 
to  view  the  film  following  the  filing 
of  a  protest  petition  with  city  officials. 


The  petition  asserts  the  picture  tends 
to  incite  discord  and  racial  feeling 
and  asks  the  authorities  to  suppress  it. 

The  Warner  production  chief  de- 
clared : 

"I  understand  that  about  100  people 
signed  a  petition  asking  the  Kansas 
City  censor  board  to  re-review  'Con- 
fessions of  a  Nazi  Spy.'  I  also  under- 
stand this  movement  is  headed  by 
Herman  Gastreich,  German  Vice  Con- 
sul in  Kansas  City,  who  obviously  is 
not  a  citizen  of  the  United  States.  I 
cannot  believe  that  any  group  other 
than  one  sympathetic  to  the  Nazi 
cause  or  to  espionage  in  the  United 
States  would  object  to  'Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy.' 

"This  picture  has  been  viewed  and 

(.Continued  on  page  10) 


Quebec's  New 
Tax  to  Close 
All  Theatres 


Exhibitors  Decide  to  Shut 
Doors  in  a  Month 


By  COLIN  P.  HAWORTH 

Quebec,  May  9. — The  burden  of  ex- 
cessive taxation  will  force  the  closing 
of  all  theatres  here. 

Already  paying  many  levies,  exhibi- 
tors in  this  provincial  capital  of  80,000 
regard  Mayor  Lucien  Borne's  newest 
tax  as  the  "last  back-breaking  straw." 
Decide  to  Close  in  Month 

Mayor  Borne  has  decreed  immedi- 
ate imposition  of  a  tax  of  "10  per 
cent  and  breaks"  on  the  gross  takes 
of  each  theatre.  Owners  feel  them- 
selves unable  to  bear  the  new  burden 
and  have  decided  to  close  their  houses 
within  a  mouth. 

Ten  theatres,  one  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.  and  nine  independents, 
serve  the  city.  They  have  already 
notified  their  staffs  of  dismissal.  Clos- 
ing dates  have  not  been  determined 
yet,  but  it  is  believed  theatres  will  he 
locked  up  in  two  or  more  weeks. 

40%  of  Gross  Taxed 

Mayor  Borne's  new  ruling  was 
made  to  apply  for  a  month's  experi- 
ment, but  exhibitors  fear  the  new  levy 
will  be  too  great  and  have  arranged 
to  close. 

The  new  municipal  tax,  which  ex- 
hibitors claim  really  amounts  to  14 
per  cent  of  grosses,  would  raise  the 
total  levy  on  theatres  to  about  40  per 
cent  of  the  take. 

Complete  shutdown  will  tie  up  about 
$1,500,000  of  theatre  property  and 
equipment. 


Late  Flashes 


Los  Angeles,  May  9. — Jeff  Kibre, 
Local  37,  I.A.T.S.E.  minority  leader, 
was  discharged  today  when  authorities 
failed  to  press  charges  of  criminal 
syndicalism. 

• 

Hollywood,  May  9. — Will  Hays 
and  Cecile  B.  DeMille  arrived  today. 
En  route  they  discussed  "Our  Amer- 
ica," industry's  contribution  to  both 
World  Fairs. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  May  10,  1 939 1 


Booking  Problems 
At  Texas  Meeting 


Galveston,  May  9. — Booking  prob- 
lems and  public  relations  occupied 
most  of  the  second  day  of  the  meeting 
of  Interstate  Circuit  and  Texas  Con- 
solidated Theatres  executives  and 
managers.  P.  K.  Johnson  and  Harry 
Sachs,  booking  department  heads,  dis- 
cussed individual  booking  situations. 

Besa  Short,  short  subject  head,  dis- 
cussed the  necessity  of  proper  billing 
and  handling  of  shorts.  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  general  manager,  declared  he  is 
satisfied  that  one  feature  with  shorts 
is  the  best  program.  Joe  Luckett  dis- 
cussed children  and  the  theatre.  Others 
who  spoke  included  Y.  Frank  Free- 
man and  Austin  Keough,  of  Para- 
mount, and  Judge  D.  F.  Strickland  of 
the  legal  staff.  Mike  Kincy  of  At- 
lanta joined  the  group  today.  A  reso- 
lution passed  today  gave  the  circuits 
"Extra  Effort  Month"  as  a  tribute 
to  Karl  Hoblitzelle  and  O'Donnell. 


Study  Guides  Made 
For  Seven  Pictures 

Conforming  with  the  aims  of  the 
Committee  on  Motion  Pictures  of  the 
National  Education  Association,  Edu- 
cational and  Recreational  Guides,  Inc., 
announces  publication  of  study  guides 
to  the  following  films :  "Man  of  Con- 
quest," "Pygmalion,"  "The  Mikado," 
"Blanche-Neige"  (French  version  of 
"Snow  White"),  "Union  Pacific," 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  and  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln."  The  guides  were  under 
the  general  editorship  of  Max  J. 
Herzberg,  principal  of  Weequahic 
High  School,  Newark. 


Deny  Plea  to  Amend 
Universal  Complaint 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Philip 
J.  McCook  yesterday  denied  an  appli- 
cation of  John  D.  Tippett,  Inc.,  to 
amend  its  complaint  in  its  $600,000 
damage  suit  against  Universal  Pic- 
tures Corp.,  Print  Stock  Corp.,  East- 
man Kodak  Co.,  Consolidated  Film 
Industries,  Inc.,  Carl  Laemmle,  Maur- 
ice Fleckles,  J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  and 
Jules  Brulatour. 

Suit  charges  the  defendants  with 
inducing  Universal  to  breach  a  five- 
year  contract  with  the  plaintiff  for  the 
sale  of  film  raw  stock. 


3  Flights  Daily 
NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

-    THE  PLAINSMAN 

Lv.  7:10  A.M.    Ar.  12:29  A.M. 

THE  MERCURY 

Lv.  5:10  P.  M.   Ar.  7:43  A.  M. 

1      THE  SOUTHERNER 

Lv.  IO:IO  P.  M.   Ar.  1:55  P.M. 

Ask  your  travel  agent  or  phone 
VAnderbilt  3-2  580.  Ticket  offices: 
i    45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rocke- 
feller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES/ 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount 
president,  leaves  for  Galveston  by 
plane  today  to  attend  the  Interstate 
Circuit  managers'  meeting.  He  plans 
to  return  Monday  and  may  be  ac- 
companied by  Austin  Keough,  Par- 
amount vice-president,  who  has  been 
vacationing  in  the  south  for  the  past 
month. 

• 

Eddie  Susse,  former  feature  print 
booker  at  the  M-G-M  New  York  ex- 
change, has  been  appointed  assistant 
booker.  George  Dalston,  short  print 
booker,  succeeds  Susse.  Max  Po- 
linsky  has  been  appointed  short  print 
booker. 

• 

Frederick  Tunis,  joint  managing 
director  of  J.  Frank  Brockliss,  Ltd., 
London,  equipment  distributors,  will 
return  to  England  on  Saturday,  with 
Mrs.  Timms,  after  several  weeks  in 
this  country. 

• 

Moe  Siegel,  Nate  Blumberg, 
Harry  Goetz,  Joe  Moskowitz,  Joe 
Pincus,  Budd  Rogers,  Jack  Goetz, 
Sam  Spring,  Eddie  Golden,  lunching 
at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern  yesterday. 
• 

Harry  M.  Warner  and  Mrs.  War- 
ner arrive    today  on    the  Century. 
They  stopped  over  for  a  day  in  Chi- 
cago en  route  from  the  coast. 
• 

Abe  Cohen,  head  of  the  cashier's 
department  at  Columbia's  New  York 
exchange,  will  leave  May  29  for  a 
two-week  vacation. 

• 

E.  K.  O'Shea,  M-G-M  eastern 
district  manager,  returns  the  end  of 
this  week  after  a  tour  of  branches  in 
his  territory. 

• 

Arthur  Loew,  David  Blum, 
Stanton  Griffis,  Lanny  Ross, 
among  those  lunching  at  Sardi's  yes- 
terday. 

• 

Herbert  Griffin,  vice-president  of 
International  Projector  Corp.,  has 
returned  to  New  York  from  the 
coast. 

• 

Douglas  Fairbanks,  Sr.,  has  can- 
celed his  sailing  on  the  Queen  Mary 
today. 

• 

Louis  B.  Mayer,  M-G-M  vice- 
president,  is  expected  today  from  the 
south. 


JOHN  HAY  WHITNEY,  John  E. 
*J  Abbott  and  Nelson  Rockefeller 
were  among  the  hosts  at  a  "preview" 
of  the  new  Musuem  of  Modern  Arts 
building  yesterday. 

• 

Sam  Moscow,  southern  division 
manager  for  Columbia,  is  mourning 
the  loss  of  his  son,  Stanley,  who 
died  last  week  in  Beth  Israel  Hos- 
pital, Boston. 

• 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram 
president,  returned  yesterday  from  a 
brief  respite  in  Waterloo,  la.,  his 
home  town,  following  the  company's 
convention. 

• 

John  Hesse,  manager  of  the  Roger 
Sherman,  New  Haven,  has  changed 
places  with  Edward  Lynch  of  the 
Warner,  Bridgeport,  for  a  few  weeks. 
• 

Quintin  Rueda,  chief  of  the  Mexi- 
can Department  of  Press  and  Pub- 
licity, leaves  today  for  the  coast  en 
route  to  Mexico  City. 

• 

Ben  Kalmenson,  Warner  western 
and  southern  sales  manager,  returned 
yesterday  from  a  three  weeks'  busi- 
ness trip. 


S.W.G.  to  Weigh 
Union  Affiliation 

Hollywood,  May  9.  ■ —  Screen 
Writers'  Guild  will  consider  affiliation 
with  either  the  C.I.O.  or  A.F.  of  L. 
at  an  open  board  meeting  Monday 
night  to  which  all  members  will  be 
invited.  The  move  follows  the  failure 
of  the  S.W.G.  to  obtain  a  collective 
bargaining  agreement  with  the  studios. 

The  meeting  will  hear  a  report  of 
committees  appointed  to  consider 
N.L.R.B.  hearings  and  to  investigate 
the  possibility  of  affiliation. 


Columbia  Outing  May  29 

Annual  outing  of  the  Columbian 
Club,  employe  organization  of  Colum- 
bia, will  be  held  May  29  at  the  Pine- 
brook  Country  Club,  near  Bridgeport, 
Conn. 


4  A  Election  Monday 

Annual  meeting  of  Associated  Ac- 
tors &  Artistes  of  America,  parent 
body  of  actor  unions,  will  be  held 
Monday.  Election  of  officers  will  take 
place. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Light  cT'cnts  dominate  the  contents 
of  the  nezz'  issu-es.  Kentucky  Derby 
is  the  chief  sports  item  covered.  The 
reels  and  their  contents  follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  69— Kentucky 
Derby.  Nicaragua's  president  visits  White 
House.  Franco  on  victory  tour.  War 
maneuver  games.  New  mail  delivery 
scooter.  Aquacade  opened  at  New  York 
Fair.  New  observatory  opened.  Fash- 
ions for  brides.     Lew  Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  267— Somoza 
in  Washington.  Queen  Wilhelmina  in- 
spects navy.  Former  Albanian  guards  in 
Italy.  Lindberg  heart  display.  Marines 
land  in  Florida.  England's  King  and 
Queen  at  soccer  game.  Johnstown  wins 
Derby. 


PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  80-Roosevelt 
gieets  president  of  Nicaragua.  Dedicate 
pavilions  at  New  York  Fair.  Mechanical 
heart  inspected.  Al  Smith  Day  at  Frisco 
Fair.  Ashes  of  late  Jap  ambassador  re- 
turned. Albanian  royal  guard  pledges  al- 
legiance to  Italy.  War  maneuvers  in  Egypt. 
Netherlands  navy  reviewed  by  Queen.  Devil 
fish  captitred.  Lou  Nova  in  training. 
Derby. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS.  No.  84— Nicara- 
guan  president  visits  Roosevelt.  Coal  strike. 
New  airplane.  Funeral  for  Joseph  Lyons. 
Derby. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL.  No.  769— 
Roosevelt  welcomes  president  of  Nicaragua. 
Rumanian  minister  in  Paris.  Zog's  body- 
guards in  Rome.  New  flying  boat.  Pag- 
eant in  Florida.  Al  Smith  at  Frisco  Fair. 
Mechanical  heart.    Aquacade  opens.  Derby. 


Chile  Envoy  Here; 
Studies  U.  S.  Films 


Alfonso  G.  Merlet  of  the  Italoj 
Chilena  circuit  in  Chile,  acting  au 
emissary  of  the  Chilean  governmen 
which  is  subsidizing  establishment  o 
a  privately-owned  studio  in  Santiago 
is  in  New  York  studying  local  ex 
hibition  methods.  M 

After  a  month  here,  Mr.  Merlet  W3 
go  to  Hollywood  to  study  the  produc 
tion  end  of  the  picture  business  witl 
the  expectation  that  Chilean  cash  wil 
be  ultimately  turned  into  productioi 
channels  locally. 

Mr.  Merlet  reported  heavier  box -i 
office  receipts  in  Chile  during  the  pas 
year,  and  also  revealed  constructioi 
of   many  new  theatres. 


Film  Carrier  Unit 
Reelects  Officeri 

All  officers  were  reelected  at  th< 
conclusion  of  a  two-day  convention  o 
National  Film  Carriers,  Inc.,  at  th< 
Park  Central  Hotel.  A  luncheoi 
featured  yesterday's  activities  and  the 
program  was  completed  ahead  o] 
schedule  in  order  to  permit  delegate; 
to  attend  the  World's  Fair. 

Officers   reelected   were  James  Pi 
Clark,     president     and  treasurer 
Thomas   W.    Gilboy,  vice-president 
Clint   Weyer,   secretary ;   George  F  < 
Callahan,   James    P.    Clark,    E.  Ei 
Jameson,   Harold   C.    Robinson  anti 
John    Vickers,    executive  committee 
On  the  board  of  managers,  L.  V.  D: 
Benton  was  elected  in  the  place  of  A 
B.  Abercrombie.    Others  were  A.  C't 
Amsler,  M.  H.  Brandon,  H.  A.  Ly-j 
decker,  Charles  E.  McCarthy,  H.  E ! 
McKinney,  L.  M.  Miller,  M.  G.  Rog-  j 
ers,  W.  A.  Slater,  F.  E.  Smith  and  C 
W.  Trampe. 


Fairbanks  Settles  Claim 

Hollywood,  May  9. — Douglas  Fair- 1 
banks  yesterday  settled  Federal  in-  jl 
come  tax  claims  by  payment  of  $103,- 1 
730.    The  claims  were  in  dispute  for, 
more  than   10  years.     The  Govern- 
ment won  a  judgment  from  Fairbanks 
for  erroneous  refunds  of  $72,186  with 
interest  from  1932  and  the  U.  S.  Su-» 
preme  Court  recently  affirmed  the  de- 
cision. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president; 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurer. 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  atrj 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telephone  _ 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubco. 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago :  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  10c. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

 DAILY  

Columbia  Schedules  42 
Pictures  for  New  Year 


On  the  dais  at  Columbia's  sales  convention  in  Atlantic  City  are,  left  to 
right:  Rube  Jacktcr,  assistant  sales  manager;  A.  Montague,  general  sales 
manager;  Joseph  A.  McConville,  foreign  manager;  Max  Wcisfcldt,  short 
subject  sales  supervisor;  Louis  Astor,  circuit  sales;  Louis  Weinberg,  cir- 
cuit sales;  Maurice  A.  Bergman,  director  of  advertising,  publicity  and  ex- 
ploitation. 


Wednesday,  May  10,  1939 


fJ.A.  Meeting 
Hears  Roach 
And  Selznick 


I  Hollywood.  May  9.  —  David  O. 
j^nick  and  Hal  Roach  took  the  ros- 
Bi  at  the  second  day  of  the  United 
Utists  convention  here  to  give  first 
iuid  information  to  the  assembled 
lesraen  of  the  product  for  the  coming 
far.  Manny  Silverstone  spoke  as 
hprcsentative  of  Alexander  Korda. 
Murray  Silverstone,  operating  head, 
etlared  no  formal  demarcation  exists 
fiween  various  ranks  in  the  sales 
-ganization  and  asked  all  to  submit 
Ingestions  for  the  company's  prog- 
pss.  Harry  Gold  and  Jack  Schlaifer, 
.ce-presidents,  discussed  the  new 
f-oduct  and  were  followed  by  Dis- 
l  jet  Managers  Ben  Fish,  Haskel 
,Iasters,  Bert  Steam,  Dave  Prince. 
Iharles  Stearn  and  Jack  Goldhar. 

Laurel-Hardy  Films 

J,  Roach  screened  a  special  trailer, 
npared  by  Frank  Seltzer,  studio  ad- 
;rtising  and  publicity  head,  showing 

'tenes  from  five  features  and  four 
aurel  and  Hardv  four  reelers  which 
;  will  contribute  to  the  company's 

ft) gram  next  season.    Roach  empha- 

'feed  the  crowing  need  for  subjects  of 

iorter  length  to  balance  the  growing 
sigth  of  "A"  pictures.  He  declared 
•at  Laurel  and  Hardy  had  succeeded 
recapturing  the  tempo  of  the  corn- 
lies  of  the  silent  days. 
Selznick  described  details  of  "Inter- 

,iezzo"  and  then  asked  the  convention 
•  vote  on  the  title.  W  hen  it  was  re- 
ded, he  accepted  the  vote  and  stated 
tat  a  new  title  would  be  chosen. 
,'illiam  Wyler  will  direct  this  film, 
ivian  Leigh  or  Margaret  Sullavan 
ill  be  starred  in  "Rebecca,"  with 

Ither  Ronald  Colman  or  Herbert 
.arshall  opposite. 

$3,000,000  Ad  Budget 

Lynn  Farnol.  director  of  advertising 
ad  publicity,  told  the  delegates  how 
>  s  department  would  spend  the  $3,- 
;Xi.00U  which  had  been  appropriated 
I  it.  He  asserted  that  films  would 
I  backed  by  a  full  quota  of  national 
id  trade  journal  advertising.  Mon- 
»e  Greenthal.  director  of  exploitation, 
.•llowed  with  a  description  of  the 
derations  of  his  department.  Albert 
'largolies,  also  spoke.  Margolies  will 
•turn  to  Xew  York  tomorrow  by 
ane. 

The  convention  formally  wound  up 

(•day.    Tomorrow  will  be  given  over 

J>    individual    meetings    of  district. 

^vision  and  branch  heads  with  sales- 

1  len. 
■ 

\EC  Film,  Radio 
Work  Facing  Shift 

Washington.  May  9. — Motion  pic- 
^re  and  radio  activities  of  the  Xa- 
pnal  Emergency  Council  will  be 
ansferred  to  the  Federal  Security 
gency  under  a  second  plan  of  reor- 
inization  sent  to  Congress  today  by 
resident  Roosevelt. 

;  The  Security  Agency  was  created 
uder  the  first  reorganization  plan, 
hich  will  become  effective  June  24, 
Vid  is  to  include,  among  other 
?tncies.  the  Office  of  Education,  now 
i  the   Interior  Department. 


{Continued  from  paqe  \\ 

tion  to  be  announced  later. 

"The  Tree  of  Liberty,"  a  Frank- 
Lloyd  production,  from  the  Elizabeth 
Page  novel. 

A  second  Frank  Lloyd  production 
to  be  announced  later. 

"The  Bigger  They  Are,"  a  Howard 
Hawks  production,  starring  Cary 
Grant  in  the  Ben  Hecht  and  Charles 
MacArthur  play.  Screenplay  by 
Charles  Lederer. 

"Super  Clipper,"  to  be  directed  by 
Alexander  Hall. 

"Singapore,"  with  a  director  and 
all-star  cast  to  be  announced. 

One  Joan  Blondell-Melvyn  Doug- 
las production. 

Three  "Blondies,"  continuing  the  se- 
ries featuring  Penny  Singleton.  Ar- 
thur Lake  and  Larry  Simms,  based  on 
the  Chic  Young  cartoon  strip.  In- 
creased production  and  advertising 
budgets  are  planned  for  this  trio. 

To  Film  Lawes'  Story 

"Give  Me  Liberty,"  starring  Joe  E. 
Brown  in  the  story  by  Grant  Gar- 
rett. 

A  second  Joe  E.  Brown,  story  and 
cast  to  be  announced. 

"Men  in  Sing  Sing,"  with  Warden 
Lewis  E.  Lawes  in  his  own  story, 
and  with  an  all-star  cast. 

"American  at  Scotland  Yard,"  star, 
cast  and  director  to  be  announced. 

Three  Edith  Fellows  productions 
based  on  Margaret  Sidney  Lothrop's 
"Five  Little  Peppers." 

Two  "Lone  Wolf"  productions, 
starring  Warren  William  in  new 
Louis  Joseph  Vance  stories. 

Four  Jack  Holt  productions. 

Additional  pictures  on  the  list  may 
be  made  from  the  company's  following 
literary  properties  :  "The  Life  of  Al- 
fred Xobel,"  by  Peter  Freuchen ; 
"Chopin."  by  Sidney  Buchman  ;  "The 
Incredible  Mr.  Williams."  by  Sy 
Bartlett;  three  Saturday  Evening 
Post  stories  by  Clarence  Budington 
Kelland :  "The  Cavalier  of  Tennes- 
see." by  Meredith  Nicholson ;  "City 
for  Conquest."  by  Aben  Kandel ; 
"Miss  Quis."  by  Ward  Morehouse  and 
Vinton  Freedley ;  "The  Stars  Shine 
Twice."    by     Clare     Booth ;  "The 


Pioneers,"  by  Courtney  Riley  Coop- 
er, Frank  R.  Adams  and  Frances 
Marion;  "The  Man  Who  Won  the 
War,"  by  Robert  Buckner;  "The  Mad 
Rumelhearts,"  by  Maude  Smith  Dela- 
van ;  "The  Second  Mrs.  Draper,"  by 
Xoel  Pierce ;  "Valley  Forge,"  by 
Maxwell  Anderson,  and  "When  God 
Laughs,"  by  Jack  London. 

Starrett  in  10  Westerns 

The  new  westerns  will  consist  of  10 
with  Charles  Starrett,  and  six  with 
"Wild  Bill"  Elliott. 

Serials  scheduled  are  "The  Shad- 
ow," based  on  the  radio  character ; 
"Terry  and  the  Pirates,"  based  on  the 
cartoon  strip ;  "The  Green  Archer," 
from  the  Edgar  Wallace  novel,  and 
"Deadwood  Dick,"  the  western  fiction 
character. 

The  short  subjects  schedule  consists 
of  the  following:  Eight  "Three 
Stooge"  comedies ;  18  All  Star  Com- 
edies, with  casts  headed  by  Andy 
Clyde.  Charley  Chase  and  Buster 
Keaton ;  16  Color  Rhapsodies,  pro- 
duced by  Charles  Mintz ;  10  Phan- 
tasies cartoons,  a  new*  series  to  be 
produced  by  Mintz;  six  Fables  car- 
toons ;  six  "Fools  Who  Made  His- 
tory," a  new  series  ;  12  Screen  Snap- 
shots ;  12  World  of  Sports ;  six 
Washington  Parade ;  six  Pals  and 
Pets,  a  new  series ;  10  community 
sings ;  six  Famous  Moments  of  Com- 
edy, a  new  series,  and  six  Cinescopes, 
a  new  series. 

A  series  of  Osa  Johnson  adventure 
shorts  is  planned  in  addition  to  the 
regular  program.  Also,  the  company 
will  continue  its  "Happy  Hour"  juve- 
nile entertainments  with  a  minimum 
of  12  new  units. 

Sell  the  Public,  Says  Cohn 

The  public  must  be  sold  more  thor- 
oughly than  ever  before  on  motion 
pictures,  Jack  Cohn,  Columbia  vice- 
president,  said  today  in  addressing  the 
convention  delegates. 

"With  competition  to  the  very  idea 
of  going  to  motion  pictures  increasing 
every  clay,  it  is  up  to  the  exhibitor  to 
keep  before  the  public  the  idea  that 
there  is  no  entertainment  better  than 
motion  pictures,"  Cohn  said.  "One 


3 


Reel  Crews  to 
Canada  to  Get 
Royal  Arrival 


All  newsreels  will  send  special 
crews  to  Canada  tomorrow  to  cover 
the  arrival  of  the  King  and  Queen 
Monday.  They  will  work  together 
and  exchange  prints.  The  reels  pic- 
turing the  arrival  will  reach  Xew 
York  Monday  in  time  lor  inclusion 
in  the  regular  editions. 

In  Canada,  where  only  one  1,000- 
foot  reel  is  issued  weekly,  there  will 
be  two  500-foot  reel  specials  issued 
weekly  during  the  stay  there  of  the 
royal  pair.  Under  the  terms  of  the 
agreement  with  the  Canadian  Govern- 
ment, cameramen  must  accept  direct 
orders  from  the  Royal  Mounted  Police 
and  refrain  from  addressing  the  King 
or  Queen  unless  spoken  to.  Five 
Canadian  cameramen  will  be  employed 
jointly  by  all  the  reels.  In  return, 
American  cameramen  will  be  permitted 
to  work  there  and  use  their  own  equip- 
ment. The  Department  of  Xational 
Revenue  has  cancelled  for  one  month 
all  duties  on  sound  trucks  brought  into 
Canada  for  permanent  or  temporary 
use. 

Newsreel  crews  will  not  be  carried 
on  the  official  train  but  trucks  will  fol- 
low and  will  be  set  up  in  advance  of 
arrival    on   an   alternating  schedule. 


Defeat  Phelps  Motion 

Albany,  May  9. — State  Senate  to- 
day defeated  the  motion  by  Senator 
Phelps  Phelps  to  discharge  the  Judi- 
ciary Committee  from  further  consid- 
eration of  his  bill  for  a  statewide  ref- 
erendum on  gambling,  by  a  vote  of 
32  to  12.  Senator  Dunnigan  reintro- 
duced his  bill  for  pari-mutuel  ma- 
chines at  racetracks.  This  bill  was 
passed  last  year  and,  if  passed  again, 
would  be  submitted  to  voters  in  the 
fall  elections. 


RKO,  Morros  in  Deal 

Hollywood,  May  9.— RKO  today 
closed  a  deal  for  release  of  "The 
Aviators,"  English  remake  of  a 
French  picture,  to  star  Stan  Laurel 
and  Oliver  Hardy  under  the  banner 
oris  Morros  Productions,  Inc. 
Morros  will  produce  as  first  of  eight 
remakes  of  French  pictures  the  com- 
pany plans.  No  release  deal  has  been 
set  for  the  others. 


of  the  dominant  factors  in  building  up 
the  industry  was  the  creation  by  ex- 
hibitors of  their  own  showmanship  in 
selling  any  picture.  This  has  been 
lacking  in  the  last  few  years. 

"Exhibitors  who  intend  to  rely  upon 
the  distributor  to  sell  the  picture  are 
remiss  in  doing  a  job  that  primarily 
belongs  to  them,"  Cohn  said.  "Dis- 
tributors must  scatter  their  shots  in 
advertising  and  publicity  and,  as  a 
result,  the  specialized  community 
showmanship  has  been  glaringly  miss- 
ing. Whether  exhibitors  liked  the 
big  drive  the  industry  had  last  fall 
or  not,  there  is  still  a  lot  that  can  be 
done  in  all  communities  along  this 
line. 

"If  the  exhibitor  will  support  na- 
tional campaigns  with  individual  show- 
manship it  will  help  in  great  measure 
to  overcome  the  increasing  competi- 
tion that  now  faces  all  of  us  in  mo- 
tion pictures,"  he  concluded. 


I 


THEY  SAW  THE  PICTURE 


JAMES  HILTON  {author  of  the  novel)— 

"  'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips'  is  an  author's 
dream  fulfilled — a  picture  that  does  for  him 
practically  all  that  he  would  like  to  do  for 
himself  if  he  owned  a  studio  and  had  a  mil- 
lion dollars  to  spare." 

ALEXANDER  WOOLLCOTT  {"The  Town 
Crier,"  author  and  critic) — "The  best  moving 
picture  I  have  ever  seen. .  .A  beautiful  and  per- 
haps immortal  story  has  been  translated 
from  one  medium  to  another  with  tenderness 
and  imagination  and  genius  .  .  .  the  most 
moving  of  all  moving  pictures  is  the  one 
called  'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips'." 

SPENCER  TRACY  (actor)— 4 '  I  can  remember 
no  greater  performance." 

LILLIAN  GISH  (actress)  —  "  More  appeal- 
ingly  tender  than  the  book." 

EDDIE  CANTOR  (actor)  —  "One  of  the 
greatest,  if  not  the  greatest  motion  picture 
I  have  ever  seen." 

MARC  CONNELLY  (playwright)  —"The 
best  sentimental  picture  I've  ever  seen."  - 

WALTER  WINCHELL  (columnist)  — 
"Orchids  to  M-G-M's  'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips' 
— destined  to  make  movie  hit  history." 

MOSS  HART  (playwright)— "I  have  seen 
about  four  really  great  pictures  in  my  life. 
'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips'  is  one  of  them." 

JIM  MI  E  FIDLER  (radio  commentator)  — 
"It's  a  picture  to  remember  always." 

ED  SULLIVAN  (columnist)— "Make  a  small 
bet  that  'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips'  will  win  the 
Academy  Award." 


DIRECTED  BY  SAM  WOOD 
rcen  Play  by  R.  C.  Shcrriff,  Claudine  West 
and  Eric  Maschwitz.  Produced  by  Victor  Saville 


■ 


M-G-M's  STAR  1 
POWER  in  '39-'40! 

With  Robert  Donat's  performance 
as  "Mr.  Chips"  already  prophesied 
for  the  Academy  Award— with  Greer 
Garson,  an  overnight  sensation— 
M-G-M's  galaxy  of  great  stars  is  even 
further  strengthened.  Never  in  the  \ 
history  of  films  has  any  one  com- 
pany offered  its  customers  such  a 
wealth  of  personalities! 


V  &  ^  <^ 


IERT  DON  AT 

!EER  CARSON  ' 


ASTOr: 

B'WAy«^45il*  ST. 


ENS  MAY  16th 


eing  launched  in  the  same  show- 
manship manner  that  gave  nationwide 
fame  to  "Pygmalion",  now  concluding 
a  brilliant  6-month  run  at  the  Astor! 


HELLO  MR.  EXHIBITOR! 
GOODBYE  MR.  CHIPS' 

is  the  greatest  thing  that  could  happen  for  the 
benefit  of  the  entire  motion  picture  industry! 

(and  you'll  be  prouder  than  ever  to  be  an  M-G-M  showman!) 


6 


MOTION  JPIUTVBJE 


Wednesday,  May  10,  193' 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Boy  Friend" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  May  9. — With  Jane  Withers  in  the  throes  of  her  first 
puppy  love  affair,  with  she  and  her  boy  friend,  George  Ernest,  breaking 
up  a  loft-robbing  gang,  meanwhile  driving  both  robbers  and  training 
school  cops  to  the  verge  of  nervous  prostration,  and  with  a  chase  guar- 
anteed to  raise  goose-pimples  on  the  toughest  hide  to  top  offievery- 
thing,  exhibitors  have  in  "Boy  Friend"  an  entertaining  pictureKO  sell 
their  audiences. 

Practically  every  element  that  producers  use  to  concoct  pictures  is  in- 
cluded. There  are  three  distinct  stories.  One  is  about  Jane's  love  affair, 
another  concerns  how  rookie  policemen  are  trained,  and  the  third  is 
an  out-and-out  cops-and-robbers  melodrama.  A  Withers  song  number  is 
added  for  good  measure,  and  although  the  trio  of  stories  sometimes  bump 
into  each  other,  there  is  definite  reason  for  all  that  occurs. 

From  the  time  Jane  and  police  candidate  Warren  Hymer  steal 
Captain  Minor  Watson's  prowl  car  to  go  to  meet  Ernest,  through 
Jane's  romantic  adventures  into  the  sequences  which  involve  rookie 
Robert  Kellard's  murder  and  into  scenes  where  Richard  Bond  is  given  a 
secret  undercover  job  that  makes  him  look  like  a  traitor,  the  story 
leaps  around  like  a  grasshopper.  But  from  the  time  Jane  and  Ernest 
set  out  to  get  the  goods  on  Douglas  Fowley  and  his  mob  to  the  moment 
of  the  hair-raising  chase,  the  show  is  an  expert  combination  of  menacing 
melodrama  and  laughable  comedy. 

Basically  a  show  for  youngsters,  Miss  Withers'  standing  as  a  box- 
office  draw  gives  it  a  natural  appeal  for  adults.  It  is  evident  that 
Lester  Ziffren  and  Louis  Moore,  who  wrote  the  story,  and  that  adapters, 
Joseph  Hoffman  and  Barry  Trivers,  as  well  as  director  James  Tinling, 
had  this  dual  appeal  in  mind. 

Running  time,  70  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


'Victory'  Big 
Chicago  Lead 
With  $38,600 

Chicago,  May  9. — "Dark  Victory" 
at  the  Chicago  was  the  bright  spot  in 
the  Loop  with  a  smash  $38,600  gross. 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  at  the 
Palace  was  strong  at  $24,400.  Busi- 
ness elsewhere  in  the  Loop  was  fairly 
quiet.  The  weather  was  fair  and 
warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  3-6 : 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (ZCth-Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,400)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days 
Stage:  Clyde  McCoy  &  Band.    Gross:  $38,- 
600.     (Average,  $32,000) 
"BJackwtll's  Island"  (W.  B.) 

GARRICK— (900)    (35c-40c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,400.     (Average,  $6,500) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

ORIENTAL — (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville  &  revue.  Gross:  $14,000. 
(Average,  $13,000) 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:    Vaudeville    revue.     Gross:  $24,400. 
(Average,  $19,000) 
"Dadge  City"  (W.  B.) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)  (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,700.  (Average, 
$11,000) 

"Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 

STATE -LAKE— (2,700)      (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.     Stage:    Vaudeville    revue.  Gross: 
$11,400.     (Average,  $12,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-55c-75c) 
7  days.     Gross:   $10,600   (Average,  $15,000) 

'Dodge  City'  Draws 
$10,000  in  Montreal 

Montreal,  May  9. — "Dodge  City" 
at  the  Capitol  grossed  $10,000.  "The 
Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
grossed  $7,500  at  Loew's. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  6: 

"Bodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)      (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:    $10,000.     (Average,  $8,000). 
"The  Story  of   Vernon  and   Irene  Castle" 
(Radio) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)     (30c-40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $5,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average, 
$10,000) 

"Huckleberry  Finn"  (M-G-M) 
"Mr.  Wcng.  Detective"  (Mon.) 

PRINCESS— (2,272)  (25c -35c -50c -65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $5,000.     (Average,  $6,500) 

'Dark  Victory'  Hits 
Big  $13,900,  Buffalo 

Buffalo,  May  9. — 'Dark  Victory" 
was  the  leader  here,  grossing  a  strong 
$13,900  at  the  Buffalo.  Close  behind, 
comparatively,  was  "Wuthering 
Heights,"  with  $9,500  at  the  Great 
Lakes. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  6 : 

"Dark  Victory"   (W.  B.) 

BUFFALO— (3,000)     (30c-55c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $13,900.     (Average.  $12,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

GREAT     LAKES— (3,000)     (30c -50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $7,800) 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Kirg  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

HIPPODROME  —  (2,500)      (25c-40c)  7 
(lavs.     Gross:  $4,000.     (Average,  $6,800) 
"The  Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 
"Inside  Stcry"  (20th-Fox) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (25c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
$6,700.     (Average,  $6,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Ombl.'ng  Ship"  (Univ.) 

LA  FAYETTE -(3,300)  (25c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,300) 


*G  denotes  general  classification 


'Culver'  $17,300 
Milwaukee  Smash 

Milwaukee,  May  9. — Wayne  King, 
coupled  with  "Spirit  of  Culver," 
chalked  up  a  $17,300  take  at  the  River- 
side. 

Second  money  went  to  'Dark  Vic- 
tory" and  "Twelve  Crowded  Hours" 
with  $9,000  at  the  Warner.  "The 
Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  and  "The 
Lady  and  the  Mob"  took  $6,000  at 
Fox's  Wisconsin. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  3-4: 

"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

"Mr.  Moto  on  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 

PALACE— (2,400)       (35c-50c)      6    "  days. 
Gross:  $3,600.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,300)  (2Sc-30c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage.  Wayne  King.  Gross:  $17,300.  (Aver- 
age, $5,000) 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

"Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 

STRAND— (1,400)      (35c-50c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $2,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (F.  N.) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

WARNER— (2,400)      (35c-50c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.     (Average,  $4,500) 
"The  Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (2<lth-Fox) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

WISCONSIN — (3,200)  (35c-50c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $5,500) 

Chicagoans  Fete 

Jack  McPherson 

Chicago,  May  9. — Testimonial  din- 
ner for  Jack  McPherson,  who  is  leav- 
ing National  Screen  Service  for  a  new 
business  connection  in  Hollywood, 
was  attended  by  about  150  of  his 
friends  tonight.  Speakers  included 
Jack  Osserman,  Clyde  Eckhardt, 
Henry  Llershel,  Jack  Kirsch,  W.  Ban- 
ford,  James  Donohue  and  Felix  Men- 
delsohn. 


4Man  of  Conquest' 
Leads  Kansas  City 

Kansas  City,  May  9. — Grosses  felt 
the  effect  of  the  first  really  warm 
weather.  "Man  of  Conquest"  took 
$6,500  at  the  Fox  Tower.  "Midnight" 
gave  the  Newman  $8,000  in  8  days. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  2-4 : 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)    (2Sc-40c)    6    days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,000.     (Average,  $2,600) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)    (25c-40c)  6  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,300.     (Average,  $3,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)      (25c-40c)     8  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average.  $7,600) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $8,400.    (Average,  $11,500) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM-(1,500),  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $3,800.     (Average,  $5,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Swing,  Sister,  Swing"  (Univ.) 

FOX  TOWER— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 


Fay  Bainter  a  Star 

Hollywood,  May  9. — Fay  Bainter 
today  was  elevated  to  stardom  by 
Warners.  Her  first  assignment  under 
the  new  contract  will  be  "Forgive  Us 
Our  Trespasses,"  from  the  Lloyd  C. 
Douglas  novel. 


Swedish  Group  Formed 

Stockholm,  May  9. — Publicity 
managers  of  the  Swedish  film  trade 
have  formed  an  organization,  the  As- 
sociation of  the  Film  Journalists. 
Ragnar  Allberg  is  president  and  Dr. 
Gosta  Werner  secretary. 


Frisco  Gives 


'Pacific'  Big 
$24,400 Drav! 


San  Francisco,  May  9. — "Unigij 
Pacific"  drew  a  sensational  $24,40^§i  I 
first  week  at  the  Fox.  Second  -iesj 
showing  was  made  by  "East  Side  c| 
Heaven"  and  "Romance  of  the  Red| 
woods,"  with  $9,800  at  the  Orpheurr| 
"Dark  Victory"  and  "Kid  frcrfi 
Texas"  took  $6,600  in  the  second  wee!] 
at  the  St.  Francis. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end! 
ing  May  1-4: 

"They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN   GATE— (2,850)   (35c-40c-55c)  I 
days.     Stage:    vaudeville.     Gross:  $12,00(1 
(Average,  $15,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c) 
days.    Gross:  $9,800.    (Average.  $8,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (W.  B.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.740),  (15c-35c-40c-55c 
75c)  7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,50(j 
(Average.  $11,500) 

"Return  of  the   Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 
"Inside  Story"  (20th-Fox) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c 
7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average,  $12,0001 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

FOX— (5.000)   (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  day! 
Gross:  $24,400.     (Average,  $16,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Kid  From  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

ST.    FRANCIS — (1.4C0)  (15c-35c-40c-55c 
75c)    7    days,    2nd    week.     Gross:  $6,60Cd 
(Average,  $6,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (15c-35c-40c 
55c-65c)   7   davs,   4th   week.     Gross:   6,40! j 
(Average,  $8,000) 
"Pearls  of  the  Crown"  (Gallic) 

CLAY— (400)    (15c-35c-40c)    7    days,  2n. 
week.    Gross:  $650.    (Average,  $1,000) 
"Maxim  Gorky"  (Amkino) 

LARKIN— (390)  (15c-3Sc-40c)  7  day? 
Gross:  $550.    (Average,  $1,000) 

'Victory'  at  $7,500 
Indianapolis  Leadei 

f  ndianapolis,  May  9. — "Dark  Vic 
tory"  led  the  town  with  $7,500  at  th< 
fndiana.  At  the  Circle,  "Zenobia"  01 
the  screen  and  Jimmy  Dorsey's  ban< 
show  on  the  stage  did  an  excellen 
$7,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end 
ing  May  5 : 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Mystery  of  the  White  Room"  (Univ.) 

APOLLO— (1,100)    (25c-40c)    7   days,  2m 
week.    Gross:  $2,400.     (Average,  $2,500) 
"Zenobia"  (U.  A.) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage 
Jimmy  D'orsey  band  show.     Gross:  $7,000 
(Average.  $5,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)      (25c-40c)      7  davs 
Gross:   $7,500.     (Average.  $5,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S  —  (2,800)      (25c-40c)      7  days 
Gross:   $4,400.     (Average.  $7,000) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

LYRIC— (2.000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage 
Joe  Sanders'  band  show.  Gross:  $9,700 
(Average,  $8,000) 


Retitle  Warner  Picture 

"Elizabeth  and  Essex"  is  the  new 
title  for  Warners'  "The  Knight  anc 
the  Lady."  The  film,  based  on  Max- 
well Anderson'^  play,  "Elizabeth  the 
Queen,"  will  feature  Bette  Davis  anc 
Errol  Flynn,  Michael  Curtiz  directing 


RKO  Managers  Switch 

Jules  Levy,  RKO  general  sale? 
manager,  has  shifted  Herb  Greenblatt 
from  Cleveland  branch  manager  to 
Pittsburgh,  and  George  Lefko  from 
Pittsburgh  to  Cleveland. 


„  ;v  ¥leet,  Heat 

?a       to  Broadway 

offered  rts  tne 

!-^te  stage  w  ^dsum^  tne  U.S. 
the  box    Worlds  ^a      rded  as 

re?°     normal  *t  be\o*. 

be\ow  nor  cent 

grosses  at 

^  $3°°£  day  _ 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  May  10,  I 


'Victory'  Is 
Philadelphia 
$18,500  Lead 


Philadelphia,  May  9. — "Dark  Vic- 
tory" took  $18,500  at  the  Boyd.  Hold- 
ing up  strong  for  a  third  week, 
"Wuthering  Heights"  got  $8,500  at 
the  Aldine. 

"Cisco  Kid"  on  the  Fox  screen  and 
Tonv  Martin  on  the  stage,  accounted 
for  $18,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  5 : 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

ALDINE— (1.300)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average.  $8,160) 
"Heart  cf  Paris"  (Tri-Nat.) 

ARCADIA— (600)     (25c-42c-57c)    4  days. 
Gross:  $900.     (Average.  7  days,  $2,800) 
"Dark  Victory"   (W.  B.) 

BOYD— (2.400)      (32c-42c-57c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $18,500.     (Average,  $14,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

EARLE— (2,000)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days,  3rd 
run.     Gross:  $6,200.     (Average.  $S.000) 
"Return  cf  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX— (3.C00)  (32c -37c- 42c -57c -68c)  7  days 
(6  days  stage  show).  Stage:  Tony  Martin 
on  stage.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average,  $16,000) 
"Alexander  Graham   Bell"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days. 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average.  $4,000) 
"Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (2,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $5,400.  (Average, 
"Mutiny  cf   Elsinore"  (Argyle) 

PALACE— (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  davs. 
$3,800.    (Average.  $4,500) 
"Castles  in  the  Air"  (RKO) 

STANLEY--(3.7CO)    (32c-42c-57c)    4  days 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  7  days.  $14,000) 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

STANTON— (1.700)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 


days, 
$4,000) 

Gross : 


'Wuthering'  Does 
$11,500,  Cleveland 

Cleveland,  May  9. — "Wuthering 
Heights"  at  Loew's  State  did  $11,500. 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  drew 
$12,000  at  Warners'  Hippodrome. 
"The  Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  on  the 
RKO  Palace  with  a  stage  show  did 
$15,000  and  "The  Story  of  Vernon 
and  Irene  Castle"  in  the  second  week 
at  the  Allen  grossed  $4,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  3  : 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and   Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $4,000.     (Average,  $4,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME  —  (3,800) 
(30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,000. 
(Average,  $12,000) 

"The  Return  cf  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO- PALACE—  (3,100)      (30c-42c-55c)  7 
days.     Stage:   Red   Norvo   and  Orchestra, 
Mildred  Bailey,  John  Payne.     Gross:  $15,- 
000.    (Average.  $15,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"   (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S   STATE— (3,500)    (30c-45c-42)  7 
davs.    Gross:  $11,500.    (Average.  $11,000) 
"The  Lady's  From   Kentucky"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1.900)  (30c -35c- 
42c)    7    days.      Gross:    $2,500.  (Average, 

"the  Edge  of  the  World"  (Pax) 
"Mayerling"  (Pax) 

CITY— (485)  (35c -42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$750     (Average,  $900) 


'For  Love  or  Money' 


( Universal) 

Hollywood,  May  9. — UniversaFs  "For  Love  or  Money"  is  a  blithe 
melodrama  of  bookmakers,  gangsters,  odd  betting  room  habitues  and 
young  lovers,  fashioned  from  story  material  which  would  do  credit  to 
Damon  Runyon's  particularly  easy  flowing  style.  A  new  angle  to  crime 
stories,  the  picture  was  heartily  greeted  by  the  preview  audience. 

June  Lang  and  Robert  Kent  are  the  romantic  leads,  and  the  rest  of 
the  cast  is  composed  of  Cora  Witherspoon,  Etienne  Girardot,  Edward 
Brophy,  Richard  Lane,  Horace  MacMahon  and  Edward  Gargan. 
Charles  Grayson  and  Arthur  T.  Horman  adapted  the  original  story  by 
Daniel  Taradash,  Julius  Blaustein  and  Bernard  Feins  and  put  forth  a 
most  creditable  job.  Albert  S.  Rogell  directed  the  Max  Golden  produc- 
tion. 

Kent  and  Brophy,  working  for  Lane,  a  bookmaker,  lose  $50,000  be- 
longing to  their  employer.  Tracing"  it,  they  find  that  Miss  Lang  has 
received  the  money  through  the  mail.  Disbelieving  their  story  and 
thinking  that  a  "double  cross"  is  being  attempted,  Lane  gives  the  pair 
36  hours  to  return  the  money.  However,  Miss  Lang  has  spent  all  but 
$6,000.  All  ends  wTell  but  not  without  a  succession  of  coherently  hilari- 
ous events. 

Running  time,  67  minutes.  "G."*  Vance  King 


Dietz  Ampa  Speaker 

Howard  Dietz,  M-G-M  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  is  scheduled 
to  be  on  the  Ampa  program  tomor- 
row at  the  Astor.  Gene  Towne,  screen 
writer,  is  also  on  the  program,  which 
will  feature  a  debate  between  Dr.  J. 
S.  List,  psychologist,  and  Harry 
Goldberg,  Warner  Theatres  adver- 
tising head,  on  the  merits  of  film  ad- 
vertising methods. 


"The  Rookie  Cop" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  May  9. — RKO's  "The  Rookie  Cop"  is  a  formula  pat- 
terned story  of  policemen  and  crooks,  lightened  by  the  introduction  of 
Ace,  a  well  trained  German  Shepherd  dog"  which  the  hero  of  the  story 
uses  to  good  effect  in  capturing  criminals.  It  has  a  ready  made  appeal 
to  animal  lovers  and  children. 

The  cast  is  composed  of  Tim  Holt,  as  the  young  officer ;  Virginia 
Weidler,  a  nine-year-old  girl  anxious  to  become  a  policewoman ;  Janet 
Shaw,  in  the  role  of  the  police  chief's  daughter ;  Frank  M.  Thomas, 
Robert  Emmett  Keane,  Monte  Montague,  Don  Brodie,  Ralf  Harolde  and 
Muriel  Evans. 

Morton  Grant  and  Jo  Pagano  wrote  the  screenplay  from  an  original 
by  Guy  K.  Austin  and  Earl  Johnson.  Bert  Gilroy  produced  and  David 
Howard  directed. 

Holt,  arousing  the  ire  of  the  police  commissioner  by  his  insistence 
that  police  dogs  should  be  used  by  the  department,  is  captured,  when 
suspended  from  duty,  by  the  gang  of  criminals  which  have  been  looting 
the  city.  Held  with  him  is  Janet  Shaw,  the  police  chief's  daughter 
The  dog  manages  to  track  down  the  criminals  and  aids  in  the  rescue. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.    "G."*  Vance  King 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


"Panama  Lady" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  May  9. — Melodrama  and  romance  in  Panama  and  the 
South  American  jungles  is  the  subject  matter  of  "Panama  Lady."  Name 
value  is  represented  by  Lucille  Ball  and  Allan  Lane,  who  are  the 
stars,  Steffi  Duna,  Evelyn  Brent,  Donald  Briggs,  Bernadene  Hayes, 
Abner  Biberman  (purveyor  of  the  film's  comedy),  William  Pawley  and 
Earle  Hodgins. 

Broke  and  jobless  in  Panama,  after  being  inconsiderately  treated  by 
fiance  Briggs,  Miss  Ball  is  an  unwilling  accessory  in .  the  "rolling" 
of  a  drunk,  Lane,  in  Miss  Brent's  saloon.  Going  into  the  jungles  with 
Lane,  as  his  housekeeper,  her  life  is  menaced  by  the  jealousies  of  a 
native  girl,  Miss  Duna.  Miss  Ball,  honestly  working  out  her  part  of 
the  bargain,  nevertheless  has  left  behind  a  clue  that  will  enable  Briggs 
to  rescue  her.  This  worthy,  a  gun  runner  and  international  crook,  ar- 
rives simultaneously  with  Lane's  discovery  of  oil  on  his  concession.  Pre- 
vented from  stealing  the  unrecorded  claim  to  it  by  the  girl,  Briggs 
subsequently  is  killed  by  Lane  and  Miss  Ball  escapes  the  jungle.  The 
story,  which  thus  far  have  been  told  in  retrospect,  becomes  timely  when 
Lane,  now  rich,  finds  the  discouraged  heroine  destitute  in  New  York 
and  gives  her  a  new  start  in  life. 

Based  on  a  story  by  Garret  Fort,  which  Michael  Kanin  adapted,  Jack 
Hively's  direction  is  about  the  most  convincing"  feature  marking  a  pro- 
duction in  which  it  is  obvious  that  the  players  had  little  interest. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.    "A."*  G.  McC. 


'Hardys'  wit 

Good  $7,600  ] 
Seattle's  Bes 


Seattle,  Mav  9.  —  "The  Har 
Ride  High"  and  "The  Kid  0: 
Texas"  at  the  Paramount  led  -. 
with  $7,600.  "Wuthering  Heights" 
the  Music  Box  was  strong  with  $5,( 
Other  grosses  were  generally  we 
The  weather  was  fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  e 
ing  May  5 : 

"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  (20th-Fox) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c) 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,800.  (Aver; 
$4,000 ) 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

FIFTH  AVENUE—  (2,500)  (30c-40c-55i 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,100  (Aver; 
$7,000) 

"Wuthering  Heights"   (U.  A.) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  d 
Gross:  $5,600.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilles" 

(2Cth-Fox) 
"Spirit  cf  Culver"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)     (30c-40c)     7  d 
Gross:  $5,400.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"Mexicali  Rose"  (Repub.) 
"Mystery  of  Mr.  Wong"  (Mono.) 

PALOMAR— (1.500)  (15c-25c-35c-40c) 
days.   Vaudeville  headed  by  Frank  Mitel 
Gross:  $4,900.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Kid  from  Texas"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)    (30c-40c)   7  d 
Gross:   $7.6C0.     (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Lady  Vanishes"  (G.  B.) 

UPTOWN— (750)  (30c-40c)  7  days, 
week.     Gross:  $1,200.     (Average,  $1,500 


'Midnight'  Draws 
Pittsburgh  $13,0( 

Pittsburgh,  May  9. — "Midnight' 
Loew's  Penn  drew  $13,000  and 
Stanley  had  $12,500  for  "Stagecoa 
in  a  generallv  dull  week.  "Alexan 
Graham  Bell'"  took  $3,500  in  its  < 
ond  week  at  the  Senator,  and  "K 
of  the  Turf"  $3,500  at  the  Fulton. 


d; 


*"A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


"Streets  cf  New  York"  (Mono.) 
"Wife's  Relatives"  (Rep.) 

ALVIN— (1,900)      (25c-35c-50c)  7 
Gross:  $3,800.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (25c-40c)  7  davs.  Grc 
$3,500.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  PENN— (3,600)  (25c-35c-50e 
days.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average,  $15,000 
"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  (20th-Fox) 

SENATOR— (2.000)  (25c-40c)  7  davs. 
week.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Average.  $3,800) 
"Stagecoach"   (U.  A.) 

STANLEY—  (3,600)    (25c-35c-50c)   7  d: 
Gross:  $12,500.    (Average.  $17,000) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 
"Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

WARNER— (2,000)      (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $3,800.    (Average,  $4,500) 


d: 


Set  Game  Case  Hearin, 

Madison,  Wis.,  May  9. — State  i 
preme  Court  will  hear  arguments  W 
12  on  Circuit  Judge  Robert  S.  Cowi 
civil  action  against  La  Crosse  Tl 
atres  Co.  and  Wei  worth  Theati 
Inc.,  La  Crosse,  Wis.,  to  ston  Ba 
Night  as  a  public  nuisance. 


Ask  Game  Case  Delay 

Christos  Carnavos,  manager  a 
part  owner  of  the  Momart,  Brookl 
will  apply  for  an  adjournment  toe 
of  the  trial  of  charges  of  operating 
lottery  when  the  case  is  called  in  S] 
cial  Sessions.  Harry  G.  Kosch, 
attorney,  will  move  Friday  to  trai 
fer  the  case  to  the  County  Court 
that  a  jury  trial  may  be  obtained. 


RULING 
FAVORITES 


EASTMAN'S  three  new  motion  picture  neg- 
ative films  have  quickly  established  them- 
selves as  the  favorites  of  the  industry.  Plus- 
X  for  general  studio  work  . .  .  Super-XX  for 
all  difficult  exposures  .  .  .  fine-grained  Back- 
ground'X  for  backgrounds  and  all-round  ex- 
terior work.  Each  makes  its  special  con- 
tribution, and  all  have  that  typical  reliabil- 
ity closely  identified  with  Eastman  films. 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
(J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  Fort  Lee, 
Chicago,  Hollywood.) 


EASTMAN  rius-X . . . 
Super-XX  . . .  Baehground-X 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Independents 
Of  Oklahoma 


K.  C.  Censors  Overrule 

Protests  on  'Nazi  Spy 


Form  Allied 


Oklahoma  City,  May  9.  —  Inde- 
pendent exhibitors  formed  Allied  The- 
atre Owners  of  Oklahoma  at  a  meet- 
ing here  today  after  dropping  the 
idea  of  a  buying  pool  to  compete  with 
circuit  houses. 

Temporary  officers  elected  were 
Orville  Vongulker,  operator  of  the 
Roberta,  Okeene,  chairman ;  C.  E. 
Norcross,  of  Seiling,  secretary-treas- 
urer ;  and  George  W.  Sumner,  man- 
ager of  Sumner  Theatre  Supply  Co., 
corresponding  secretary. 

Cole  Addresses  Meeting 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  national  president 
of  Allied,  urged  the  meeting  to  form 
a  unit  of  Allied.  Next  meeting  of 
the  organization  committee  will  be 
held  in  30  days,  when  plans  for  a 
membership  drive  and  the  first  con- 
vention will  be  laid.  Dues  were  fixed 
at  one  cent  per  seat  per  month. 

Organization  committee  includes 
officers  and  A.  E.  Moulder,  of  Sa- 
pulpa  ;  John  Gray,  nid ;  Mrs.  Juanita 
B.  Berry,  Norman ;  and  A.  B. 
Momand,  Shawnee. 

Others  present  included  George 
Schultz,  Taloga ;  Sam  Caporal,  Okla- 
homa City  ;  William  H.  Strickler,  Sand 
Springs  ;  J.  E.  Holt,  Coal  Gate ;  Royal 
T.  Shield,  Enid :  J.  D.  Lankisler, 
Allen  ;  and  A.  M.  Ausherman,  Wakita. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

endorsed  by  leading  patriotic  societies 
who  do  not  subscribe  to  the  Nazi 
regime  and  by  American  war  service 
and  educational  societies  everywhere. 
Our  picture  is  based  upon  exposures 
of  Nazi  espionage  activities  in  the 
United  States  which  are  a  matter  of 
court  record.  It  deals  with  subversive 
activities  of  the  Nazi  regime,  not  in 
Germany,  but  right  here  in  our  own 
U.  S.  A.  and  is  a  matter  of  grave 
concern  to  every  American  citizen. 

"Our  picture  was  passed  by  the 
Kansas  City  censor  board  and  no  ques- 
tion w~-  raised  by  the  censor  board  as 
to  its  propriety.  We  do  not  believe 
that  any  group,  instigated  by  a  Ger- 
man Vice  Consul,  should  interfere  with 
the  right  of  American  citizens  to  see  it. 

"We  feel  the  petition  against  our 
picture  is  un-American  and  repugnant 
to  our  citizens.  Naturally  we  do  not 
expect  every  individual  to  agree  with 
the  contents  of  our  story,  but  we  feel 
that  no  one  other  than  the  duly  con- 
stituted authorities  has  the  right  to 
censor  American  motion  pictures." 


The  first  information  Warners  had 
of  the  attempt  to  suppress  "Confes- 
sions of  "  Nazi  Spy"  in  Kansas  City 
was  from  vesterday's  Motion  Picture 
Daily. 

Father  Charles  E.  Coughlin  of  Royal 
Oak,  Mich.,  in  his  Sunday  radio  ad- 
dress, cited  the  picture  as  an  instance 
of  what  he  termed  "the  invasion  of 
propaganda"  in  the  United  States  in 
behalf  of  Great  Britain. 


'Jamaica  Inn' 

London,  May  9. — "Jamaica 
Inn,"  press  previewed  here 
today  by  Associated  British 
Pictures  and  Mayflower  Pro- 
ductions, is  another  personal 
triumph  for  Charles  Laugh- 
ton,  as  the  rich-living  Re- 
gency squire  running  a  ruth- 
less shipwrecking  gang  on 
the  Cornish  coast. 

Laughton  dominates  the 
bloody  tale  of  murder  and 
coastal  thuggery,  directed  in 
the  straightforward  style  of 
Alfred  Hitchcock,  and  bril- 
liantly photographed.  Mau- 
reen O'Hara  also  scores.  It 
is  melodramatic  material 
which  should  be  readily  ex- 
ploitable on  both  sides  of 
the  Atlantic.  Paramount 
will  release  the  film  in  the 
United  States. 

Flanagan 


Agnew  Opposes  V.  S. 
Trust  Action  Plea 

Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice-president  of 
Paramount,  filed  an  affidavit  yesterday 
with  Federal  Judge  William  Bondy 
in  opposition  to  the  application  of  the 
Government  for  an  order  to  relieve  it 
of  the  necessity  of  naming  witnesses 
in  its  anti-trust  suit  against  the  eight 
majors. 

Agnew's  affidavit  reiterated  the 
statements  made  in  the  filed  affidavits 
of  Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president  of 
RKO ;  William  F.  Rodgers,  general 
sales  manager  of  M-G-M  ;  Sidney  R. 
Kent,  president  of  20th  Century-Fox, 
and  Gradwell  Sears,  general  sales 
manager  of  Warners,  to  the  effect 
that  the  majors  would  not  resort  to  re- 
prisals against  witnesses. 

David  L.  Podell,  prominent  trust 
attorney,  is  studying  the  Government's 
case  and  will  act  as  Government  ad- 
viser, it  was  disclosed  yesterday. 
There  is  a  possibility  that  he  may  be 
appointed  a  special  assistant  attorney 
general  for  the  purpose  of  conducting 
the  trial. 


Actor  Guild  Orders 
Class  B  Mail  Vote 

Hollywood,  May  9. — Screen  Ac- 
tors' Guild  yesterday  ordered  a  mail 
ballot  sent  out  to  Class  B  members 
for  a  new  vote  for  the  board  of  direc- 
tors. The  original  balloting  was  de- 
clared improper  because  of  the  lack 
of  a  20  per  cent  quorum.  An  injunc- 
tion obtained  by  Ed  Aquilana,  Ed 
Fleim  and  Paul  Cook,  three  of  the 
17  elected  at  the  first  election,  was 
dissolved  over  the  weekend  and  the 
S.A.G.  decided  to  go  ahead  with  its 
new  election. 


Uphold  Metro  Judgment 

Hollywood,  May  9. — Judgment  for 
$10,000  awarded  to  Henry  Barsha  and 
David  Weissman,  authors,  against 
M-G-M  for  alleged  plagiarism  of  their 
story  "High  Fever,"  in  "A  Day  at 
the  Races"  was  upheld  by  the  District 
Court  of  Appeals  today. 


Wednesday,  May  10,  l< 


Warners  Boos 
NeighborFilm 
For  America 


Pleased  with  the  "Good  Neighbi 
importance  of  "Juarez,"  WarnersjR, 
other  films  dealing  with  the  sti^jj<: 
for  independence  and  democracy  in  i 
western  hemisphere,  Sam  E.  Morj 
vice-president  of  Warners,  said  hi 
yesterday. 

The  next  Warner  "Good  Neighbi 
picture  will  have  General  Sin 
Bolivar,  renowned  as  the  Geo! 
Washington  of  South  America,  as 
central  figure. 

Morris  said  that  "Juarez"  will 
invaluable  in  cementing  relations  * 
tween  the  United  States  and  its  nei{ 
bors  to  the  south  of  it.    Warners  vj 
release    the    film  simultaneously 
South  America's  most  important  cit 
in  July. 

"Our  finger  is  constantly  on 
South  American  pulse,"  Morris  sa 
"We  have  32  branch  offices  in  1 
territory,  and  we  feel   'Juarez'  v  i 
have  wider  distribution  and  grea ; 
returns  than  any  picture  preyiou 
released  in  South  American  countrie 

British  Exhibitors 
Warned  on  Unioi  I 

London,  May  9. — F.  W.  Leggett  I 
the  British  Labor  Ministry,  at  a  jo:i| 
luncheon  of  exhibitors  and  labor  i  I 
terests  today,  issued  a  friendly  tl 
pointed  warning  that  exhibitors 
not  attempt  to  prevent  employes  frc'l 
joining  unions. 

The  luncheon  celebrated  the  instil  1 
tion  of  the  National  Wages  Boai  I 
Leggett  complimented  the  exhibitc  p 
for  their  cooperation  in  the  setti:  I 
up  of  wage  agreements.  The  seal 
tary  of  the  National  Association  ! 
Theatrical  and  Kine  Employes  se  { 
that  wage  increases  totaling  $2,275,0 1 
are  provided  under  current  agrtli 
ments. 

Three  Illinois  Bills 
Face  Defeat,  Belit 

Chicago,  May  9. — Three  bills 
interest  to  the  motion  picture  indi 
try,  entered  by  Senator  Joseph  Me 
del  in  the  state  senate  at  Springnei 
are  ready  for  second  reading. 

One  bill  would  make  it  unlawf 
for  children  under  14  to  enter  a  tli 
atre  after  9  P.  M.  or  stay  later  tin 
10  P.  M.  Another  measure  would  e 
tablish  a  state  censor  board  of  thr  \ 
members.  The  third  bill  seeks  divorc 
ment  of  theatre  ownership  from  pr 
ducers  and  distributors. 

Local  exhibitors  and  circuit  exec 
fives  are  not  fighting  the  bills,  co 
fident  that  they  will  not  pass. 

Masse y  Awarded  Meda 

Raymond  Massey,  star  of  "A 
Lincoln  in  Illinois,"  was  awarded  t' 
Delia  Austrian  medal  for  the  mc 
distinguished  performance  of  the  ye 
by  the  Drama  League  of  New  Yo' 
at  a  luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Pierre  ye 
terday.  Massey  is  scheduled  to  lea 
his  Broadway  role  July  1  to  take  tl| 
same  part  in  RKO's  screen  version 
the  play.  Channing  Pollock  was  ma 
ter  of  ceremonies  and  Daniel  Frohm; 
presented  the  medal  to  Massey. 


FROM  A  FULL  BELLY- 

This  cat  lives  on  East  117th  Street. 

It's  a  crowded  block. 

You'll  find  all  creeds  and  races  on  it 

You'll  find  Protestants,  Catholics,  Jews 

You'll  find  French,  Greek,  German,  Italian 

They  get  along  all  right  with  each  other — 

It's  nice. 

Americanism  grows  that  way! 

Like  a  beacon  of  hope  in  a  distressed  world. 

You're  part  of  it  today! 

You're  helping  to  encourage  it  in  New  York  City 

By  your  support  of  the  GREATER  N.  Y.  FUND 

It  sets  an  example  to  the  entire  country  — 

A  thrilling  challenge  to  a  bigoted  world! 

A  city's  people  joining  hands  regardless  of  race 

To  help  their  sick,  their  needy,  their  unfortunate  — 

380  allied  groups  in  one  united  drive  annually 

Covering  all  communal  obligations  at  one  time. 

Rich  man,  give  in  proportion  to  your  means! 

And  you  and  you  and  you — give  a  day's  pay! 

Be  part  of  GREATER  N.  Y.  FUND's  most  successful  year 

It's  your  chance  to  show  the  world  of  1939 

The  true  meaning  of  the  American  way. 

The  Fund  Chairman  of  your  company  will  communicate  with  you.  Others  kindly  send  contributions  direct  to 
Motion  Picture  Division,  Greater  New  York  Fund,  1540  Broadway,  'NewYork  City 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  May  10,  I1 


12 


CBC  and  IL  S. 

Webs  Arrange 
New  Exchange 


Montreal,  May  9. — Several  pro- 
grams of  the  Canadian  Broadcasting 
Corp.,  including  at  least  three  Van- 
couver productions,  will  be  heard  on 
the  NBC  and  CBS  networks  as  the 
result  of  a  new  agreement  for  ex- 
change of  features  between  Canada 
and  the  United  States. 

The  agreement  is  seen  as  a  gesture 
of  goodwill  between  the  two  countries 
and  will  augment  the  present  inter- 
national exchange  system,  starting  im- 
mediately. 

The  new  programs  will  be  fed  to 
U.  S.  nets  from  the  Vancouver  stu- 
dios of  CBC  and  programs  fom  NBC 
and  CBS  will  be  relayed  north  by  Pa- 
cific Coast  lines.  Arrangements  for 
the  new  service  were  completed  by 
Peter  Aylen,  manager  of  CBR,  west- 
ern key  station  of  CBC  and  execu- 
tives of  the  U.  S.  networks.  The  ten- 
tative schedule  calls  for  14  Canadian 
programs  to  be  released  to  the  south 
and  approximately  the  same  number 
of  U.  S.  programs  to  be  added  to  the 
CBC  schedule. 

Prudential  Taking 
New  Series  on  CBS 

Prudential  Insurance  Co.,  which 
partially  transferred  its  account  to 
Benton  &  Bowles,  will  sponsor  a  new 
dramatic  serial  over  CBS  as  a  15- 
minute,  five  times  weekly,  feature  at 
2:45  P.M.  Program  will  carry  the 
title  of  "When  a  Girl  Marries,"  and 
will  be  written  by  Elaine  Sterne  Car- 
rington,  author  of  the  current  "Pepper 
Young's  Family." 

Entrance  of  Prudential  into  the 
radio  field  makes  it  the  second  major 
insurance  company  to  try  radio  in  the 
past  few  weeks,  after  an  absence  of 
years  of  that  industry  from  the  air. 
Other  company  is  the  Metropolitan 
Life,  which  is  now  sponsoring  a  series 
featuring  Edwin  C.  Hill  over  WOR 
and  WNEW  in  a  test  campaign  pre- 
paratory to  launching  a  network 
series. 

Calls  Television  in 
England  Routine 

Toronto,  May  9. — According  to  R. 
Pelletier,  program  director  of  CBC, 
returned  from  six  months  stay  in 
England,  televised  programs  have  al- 
ready become  commonplace  in  Eng- 
land and  television  has  already  de- 
finitely arrived  in  the  field  of  amuse- 
ments. 

"In  a  few  years,  most  radio  pro- 
grams in  England  will  be  televised," 
declared  Pelletier.  "Plans  are  being 
made  to  bring  the  cost  of  television 
receiving  sets  within  the  budget  of  the 
average  citizen.  Hundreds  of  people 
already  own  television  sets  and  pro- 
grams are  being  received  every  day." 


Series  from  Fair  Today 

New  series  of  interview  programs 
from  the  World's  Fair  grounds  starts 
today  on  WMCA,  and  will  be  pre- 
sented daily  at  2:30  P.M.,  with  the 
Coward  Shoe  Co.  sponsoring.  Sam 
Taylor  will  conduct  the  interviews. 


For  the  Asking 

San  Francisco,  May  9. — Be- 
ing a  part  of  the  radio  busi- 
ness isn't  so  bad,  according 
to  Bill  Baldwin,  master  of 
ceremonies  of  KSFO's  morn- 
ing variety  show,  "Dawn  Pa- 
trol." After  telling  listeners 
he  had  never  seen  a  real 
chunk  of  raw  gold,  being 
from  the  middle  west,  Bald- 
win received  in  the  mail  a 
pure  nugget,  sent  by  a  listen- 
er in  Sonora,  in  the  Mother 
Lode. 

WABC  Billings  Up 
327%  During  April 

WABC  time  sale  billings  for  April 
increased  327  per  cent  over  the  same 
month  last  year.  First  four  months 
of  the  year  show  an  increase  of  127 
per  cent  over  the  similar  period  of 
193S,  while  billings  for  the  first  week 
of  May  are  210  per  cent  above  the 
same  week  last  year. 

The  gains  are  due  to  the  sponsorship 
of  the  baseball  games  this  season  by 
General  Mills,  Socony  Gas  and 
Procter  &  Gamble,  but  even  without 
the  baseball  billings,  billings  on  the 
CBS  key  station  show  marked  im- 
provement. The  April  gains  without 
the  baseball  billings  are  194  per  cent 
over  last  year,  while  the  cumulative 
four  month  gain  without  the  sport 
business  is  up  104  per  cent  over  the 
previous  year. 

Among  current  clients  using  WABC 
are  Liggett  Drug  Co.,  Tom  McCann 
Shoe  Co.,  Horn  and  Hardart,  Gordon 
Baking,  Bosco  Products,  Brown  & 
Williamson,  Packers  Soap,  Energetic 
Shoe  Co. 

WABC  time  is  the  most  expensive 
in  the  country,  the  base  night  time 
hour  rate  being  $1,200. 


'Horizon'  on  Air 

James  Hilton's  "Lost  Horizon"  will 
be  the  "Hollywood  Playhouse"  pro- 
duction over  the  NBC-Blue  network 
at  9  p.  m.  Sunday  with  Gale  Page 
and  Charles  Boyer  in  the  lead  parts. 


Conrad  Nagel  Is  M.  C. 

Conrad  Nagel  has  been  signed  as 
M.C.  on  the  summer  substitute  pro- 
gram which  the  sponsors  of  Fibber 
McGee  and  Mollv  will  start  July  4 
over  the  NBC-Red,  9  :30  P.M. 


A  new  system  of  television  studio 
lighting  has  been  devised  by  NBC, 
installed  and  successfully  tested.  A 
patent  application  covering  the  system, 
devised  by  William  C.  Eddy,  NBC 
television  engineer,  has  been  filed  by 
RCA,  it  is  understood. 

Tests  during  televising  in  the  past 
several  weeks  indicate  that  it  may  be- 
come a  standard  for  television  studios 
and  perhaps  may  find  application  in 
the  Hollywood  film  studios,  according 
to  O.  B.  Hanson,  NBC  vice  president 
in  charge  of  .television. 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

EUGENE  THOMAS,  sales  man- 
ager of  WOR,  left  New  York 
yesterday  to  marry  Sunny  Maxwell 
in  Cleveland.  He  will  return  to  New 
York  in  two  weeks  following  a  honey- 
moon. Staff  of  WOR  tendered  him 
a  bachelor  dinner  Monday  night  at 
the  Cornell  Club.  .  .  . 

Duke  Ellington  returns  today  from 
Europe.  .  .  .  Frank  Gallagher,  deputy 
director  of  broadcasting  for  the  Irish 
government,  is  sailing  for  home  today. 
.  .  .  Guest  of  Radie  Harris  on  Mutual 
tonight  will  be  Virginia  Field.  .  . 

Margaret  Cuthbert,  director  of  wo- 
men's program  for  NBC,  is  on  her 
way  to  San  Francisco  where  she  will 
address  the  Federation  of  Women's 
Clubs  convention  on  May  11. 


Ford  Again  to  Keep 
Summer  Program 

For  the  second  time  in  the  six  years 
the  Ford  Motor  Co.  has  been  sponsor- 
ing programs  in  radio,  the  company 
will  continue  on  the  air  throughout 
the  summer  through  a  contract  signed 
yesterday. 

The  Ford  "Sunday  Evening  Hour," 
broadcast  Sundays  from  8  to  9  P.M. 
over  CBS,  will  halt  on  its  usual  clos- 
ing date,  June  4,  but  th°  period  will 
be  occupied  immediately  with  another 
full  hour  show.  Talent  for  the  new 
series  has  not  been  selected  as  yet, 
but  the  program  definitely  will  not 
consist  of  talent  recruited  from  the 
Ford  motor  plants,  as  has  been  re- 
ported. 

Only  once  before — in  1937 — has 
Ford  carried  on  through  the  summer. 
At  that  time  the  "Universal  Rhythm" 
program  was  expanded  into  an  hour 
show  and  fitted  into  the  time  vacated 
by  the  Sunday  Evening  Hour.  N.  W. 
Aver  &  Son  is  the  Ford  agency. 


WINS  Will  Carry 
Coughlin's  Talks 

WINS,  Hearst  radio  station,  has 
become  the  New  York  outlet  for 
Father  Charles  E.  Coughlin's  Sunday 
radio  addresses.  Father  Coughlin  has 
been  without  a  New  York  City  outlet 
since  WMCA  cancelled  the  contract 
to  carry  the  talks. 


Basically,  the  system  consists  of 
remotely  controlled  multiple  lamp 
units  fixed  to  the  ceiling.  Each  unit, 
mounting  a  bank  of  six  lamps,  may 
be  raised  or  lowered  or  tilted  at  a 
considerable  angle,  and  swung  through 
nearly  a  complete  circle  in  focusing 
the  illumination  on  any  desired  spot. 

Remote  control  makes  it  possible  to 
change  the  lighting  setup  at  any  point 
in  a  performance  without  interfering 
with  camera  action.  Lights  can  now 
be  set  up  in  10  minutes  where  for- 
merly it  required  several  hours. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  May  9. — Dates  | 
hearings  on  broadcasting  applicati  il 
have  been  set  by  the  Federal  Cr 
munications  Commission  as  follows  \ 

May  12:  Application  of  KRC! 
Sacramento,  for  extension  of  t« 
from  day  to  unlimited. 

May  17 :  Application  of  N^,  I 
Frank  for  a  new  1,500-kilocycle,  "T^ll 
watt  station  at  New  Bern,  N.  C. 

May  29:  Application  of  Bro  (I 
County  Broadcasting  Co.  for  a  9  I 
kilocycle,  1000-watt  daytime  station  J 
Brownwood,  Tex. 

June  12:  Application  of  KTS  I 
Emporia,  Kan.,  for  extension  of  ti  I 
from  day  to  unlimited. 

June  16:  Applications  of  Case:  1 
Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc.,  for  a  1,4.  | 
kilocycle  station  at  Everett,  Was] 
with  100  watts  night,  250  watts  dl 
and  KRKO,  Everett,  Wash.,  for  1 
crease  of  time  from  sharing  to  i  I 
limited  and  increase  of  power  from  I 
watts  to  100  watts  night,  250  wai 
day. 

June  21 :  Application  of  WSP 1 
Spartanburg,  S.  C,  for  change  of  f  J 
quency  from  920  to  1,120  kilocyc  I 
and  extension  of  time  from  day  to  1 1 
limited  with  power  of  500  watts  nig  I 
1,000  watts  day. 

June  27 :  Application  of  KGL  I 
Mason  City,  la.,  for  change  of  f:  I 
quency  from  1,210  to  1,270  kilocyc  I 
and  increase  of  power  from  100  wal 
night,  250  watts  day,  to  1,000  wall 

June  28:  Application  of  Bellingh;  I 
Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc.,  for  a  n  I 
1,200-kilocyele  station  at  Bellingha  I 
Wash.,  with  100  watts  night,  21 
watts  day. 

July  31:  Application  of  WH  I 
Madison,  Wis.,  for  change  of  fifl 
quency  from  940  to  670  kilocycles,  e  I 
tension  of  time  from  day  to  unli  I 
ited  and  increase  of  power  from  5,1 
to  50,000  watts. 

Kate  Smith  to  Get 
New  Hour  In  Fa 

The  Kate  Smith  hour,  which  si 
rocketed  in  popularity  this  seasn 
will  move  to  Friday  nights,  9  to  ; 
o'clock,  in  the  fall.  It  is  predict 
that  in  this  spot  the  Kate  Smith  he 
will  occupy  one  of  the  three  top  po 
tions  among  all  radio  shows.  It  is  n( 
in  fifth  place. 


Baseball  Quiz  to  Start 

"Hit  That  Ball,"  new  baseball  qi 
game,  will  start  Friday  over  Muti 
from  10  to  10:30  P.M.  Stan  Lorn; 
will  be  M.C,  with  Tom  Slater  s 
sisting.  Guests  on  the  initial  she 
will  include  John  Drebinger  of  t 
sports  staff  of  the  New  York  Thiu 
Ken  Smith  of  the  Mirror  and  Har 
Forbes  of  the  News.  Coach  Ha 
Lobert  of  the  Phillies  is  picking  thr 
members  of  his  squad  to  compe 
against  the  scribes. 


WPA  Series  May  19 

A  new  series  of  half-hour  dramat 
programs,  "Women  in  the  Making 
America"  will  start  over  the  NB< 
Blue  May  19  at  2  P.M.  Broadcas 
are  being  produced  by  the  Feder 
Theatre  Radio  Division  of  t' 
W.PA.  in  cooperation  with  NBC. 


New  Television  Lighting 
System  for  NBC  Studio 


Alert, 


to  theilfcjtion 
Picture 
Industry 


DO  NOT  re 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


_ 


First  in 


45.  NO.  91 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  MAY  11,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


U'  6-Month 
Net  Figured 
At  $400,000 


To  Be  First  Half-Year 
Profit  in  8  Years 


I  nivcrsal's  earnings  for  the  first 
idf  of  the  fiscal  year  ended  May  1 
e  estimated  at  approximately  $400,- 
110  by  Wall  Street  sources.  Result 
arks  the  first  time  in  more  than  eight 
cars  the  company  has  shown  a  prof- 
tor  a  half-year  period. 
The  company  reported  a  profit  for 
.e  final  quarter  of  its  fiscal  year 
ided  Nov.  1,  although  operations  for 
-e  year  ended  in  a  loss.  Thus,  with 
ie  profitable  six-month  period  just 
ided.  Universal  has  been  in  the  black 
•r  nine  months  past,  a  record  for  the 
mipany  not  matched  within  the  past 
)  years. 

Result  for  the  six  months  ended 
Jay  1  compares  with  a  loss  of  ap- 
-oximately  $500,000  for  the  corres- 
jnding  period  last  year. 

The  Universal  estimate  is  under- 
ood  to  be  before  final  reports  on  for- 
Ign  receipts  for  the  period,  which 
tay  affect  the  result  materially  in 
ther  direction. 


Late  Flashes 


Los  Angeles,  May  10. — Secret  ne- 
■tiations  seeking  settlement  of  differ- 
ices  between  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  interna- 
Mial  officers  and  leaders  of  Studio 
^clinicians,  Local  37,  have  met  with 
•  success  thus  far.  Both  sides  today 
Id  little  hope  of  adjudicating  dispute 
r  fore  May  22,  when  countersuits  will 
retried.  Meanwhile  authorities 
•ened  an  inquiry  into  arrest  of  Jeff 
ibre,  local  minority  leader,  on  crim- 
al  syndicalism  charge. 

• 

London,  May  10.— A  joint  meeting 
various  branches  of  the  industry', 
eluding  the  Cinematograph  Exhibi- 
ts' Association  and  the  Kinemato- 
'aph  Renters'  Society  (distributors) 
ill  be  held  tomorrow  at  the  head- 
larters  of  the  K.R.S. 

• 

Hollywood,  May  10.— M-G-M  to- 
said  Jeanette  MacDonald's  next 
:ture  may  be  musical  version  of 
imiling  Through,"  last  made  with 
orma  Shearer  in  top  role.  RKO 
?ned  Richard  Dix  to  term  con- 
ict  and  set  his  next  picture  as  Reno 
ary  of  Nevada's  settlement.  Robert 
sk  will  direct. 


English  Houses  Aid 
Recruiting  of  Army 

London,  May  10—  All  Brit- 
ish theatres,  beginning  May 
22,  will  lend  their  screens  to 
aid  the  enlistment  drive  of 
the  British  Territorial  Army. 

Shown  will  be  a  newsreel 
appeal  by  Leslie  Hore-Bel- 
isha,  British  Minister  of 
War.  and  appropriate  slides. 


Columbia  Provides 
Reserve  Producing 
Budget  of  2  Million 


Atlantic  City,  May  10. — Colum- 
bia will  have  a  reserve  production 
budget  of  over  $2,000,000  which  may- 
be drawn  upon  as  individual  produc- 
tions on  the  new  season's  program 
merit,  the  company's  annual  sales 
meeting,  in  progress  at  the  Ritz-Carl- 
ton  here,  was  told  today. 

The  reserve  budget  is  in  addition  to 
the  production  appropriation  for  the 
new  season's  program  which  was  de- 
scribed earlier  as  being  $5,000,000 
higher  than  the  budget  for  any  pre- 
ceding year. 

The  proposed  formula  for  the  com- 
pany's new  season  sales  policy  will 
be  based  on  division  of  the  program 
into  two  groups  of  "high  bracket" 
productions  of  six  and  eight  pictures 
each  and  a  further  division  of  the  re- 
maining 26  features  into  two  addi- 
tional groups.  Two  others  will  be 
sold  separately. 

Columbia  will  begin  its  1939-'40 
selling  activities  with  more  "pre-sold" 
accounts  than  ever  before,  Abe  Mon- 
tague, general  sales  manager,  re- 
ported. He  attributed  the  situation  to 
the  policy  of  franchising  certified  ac- 
counts, which  was  instituted  for  both 
independent  and  affiliated  customers 
last  year.  As  a  result,  Columbia's 
sales  force  will  be  able  to  concentrate 
on  the  smaller  accounts  and  extend- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


ALLIED  PROPOSES 
BOOKING  COMBINE 
OF  2,500  HOUSES 

Minneapolis  Convention  Will  Get  Report 
After  Two-Year  Study;  Company 
Heads  Express  Skepticism 

A  proposal  for  the  formation  of  what  would  be  the  largest  independ- 
ent buying  and  booking  combine  in  the  industry's  history — embracing 
about  2,500  theatres — will  be  presented  to  the  Allied  States  national 
convention  in  Minneapolis  June  13  to  15,  Motion  Picture  Herald  will 
say  in  tomorrow's  issue. 

Authorization  to  put  the  detailed  plan  for  formation  of  the  combine 
before  the  convention  has  been  given  by  W.  A.  Steffes,  vice  presi- 
dent of  Allied  and  in  charge  of  convention  arrangements. 

Steffes,  the  Herald  states,  would  not  divulge  the  identities  of  the  plan's 

sponsors,  although  it  is  recalled  that  a 


Deny  Ban  Upon  U.S. 
Pictures  in  Mexico 

Published  reports  that  American 
fillms  are  being  banned  throughout 
Mexico  as  a  result  of  a  dispute  be- 
tween the  Confederation  of  Mexican 
Workers  and  the  Rodriguez  circuit  in 
Monterey  were  denied  here  yesterday 
by  home  office  foreign  departments 
following  communication  with  their 
Mexico  City  offices. 

Extent  of  the  trouble,  which  was 
created  by  inter-union  rivalry,  was 
reported  from  Mexico  City  as  having 
been  confined  to  two  pictures  in  two 
theatres  of  the  Rodriguez  circuit  in 
Monterey,  against  which  a  strike  has 
been  in  progress  by  the  Confedera- 
tion for  the  past  two  or  three  weeks. 

The  situation  was  compared  here 
with  that  created  by  Local  306  some 
weeks  ago  when  demands  were  made 
upon  distributors  to  stop  film  service 
to  theatres  employing  members  of  the 
rival  Empire  State  Operators  Union. 


Hearings  May  25-26  Upon  Bill 

For  Repeal  of  Fight  Film  Ban 

Washington,  May  10.— Hearings  on  the  Barbour  bill  which  seeks 
to  repeal  the  ban  upon  fight  films  will  be  conducted  on  May  25 
and  26. 

A  Senate  interstate  commerce  subcommittee,  headed  by  Senator 
Lundeen  of  Minnesota,  will  hear  such  witnesses  as  Jack  Dempsey 
and  other  nationally  prominent  boxing  figures. 

Representatives  of  film  and  broadcasting  industries  are  ex- 
pected to  testify.  Opposition  is  expected  to  be  voiced  by  dele- 
gates from  a  number  of  civic  organizations  interested  in  the  bill. 


somewhat  similar  proposal  was  made 
by  H.  A.  Cole,  now  president  of  Al- 
lied, at  the  organization's  national 
convention  in  Milwaukee  in  1937.  The 
plan  was  rejected  then  when  put  to 
a  vote,  but  Cole  was  delegated  to 
attempt  to  work  out  a  detailed  plan 
with  a  committee.  When  called  upon 
for  a  report  at  Allied's  Pittsburgh 
convention  last  year,  the  committee 
said  it  had  been  unable  to  complete 
a  plan. 

Two-Year  Study 

It  is  now  believed,  the  Herald  says, 
that  the  two-year  report  will  form  the 
basis  of  the  program  to  be  presented 
in  Minneapolis  next  month.  The  pro- 
posal has  attracted  considerable  in- 
terest among  theatres  outside  Allied's 
ranks,  according  to  the  Herald. 

Reported  basis  of  the  proposal  is 
the  establishment  of  a  national  organ- 
ization headed  and  operated  directly 
by  Allied's  national  board  of  direc- 
tors through  its  regional  affiliations. 
Officers  of  the  company  would  be 
elected  by  the  Allied  board.  Financial 
cost  and  support  of  the  company 
would  be  derived  from  a  levy — prob- 
ably of  three  per  cent,  the  Herald 
says — against  the  annual  film  rentals 
of  participating  members. 

Arguments  For  Plan 

Among  the  arguments  which  it  is 
believed  the  sponsors  of  the  plan  will 
use  in  urging  it  upon  the  convention 
are  that  no  adjudication  of  anti -trust 
suits  now  pending,  which  would  be 
likely  to  alter  existing  buying  prac- 
tices, can  be  expected  for  a  long  time ; 
that  state  legislatures  have  mostly  ad- 
journed already  with  no  relief  of  the 
kind  sought  by  Allied  having  been 
forthcoming;  that  there  is  now  little 
{Continued  on  Page  7) 


2 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  May  1 1,  1939 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Harry  Brandt 
Renominated 
As  ITOA  Chief 

Harry  Brandt  was  renominated  as 
president  of  the  I.T.O.A.  and  all  other 
officers  were  renominated  at  a  meet- 
ing yesterday  at  the  Astor.  The 
choice  was  unanimous. 

Brandt  had  asked  to  be  permitted 
to  retire  after  five  years  in  the  presi- 
dency, but  a  strong  "draft"  move  de- 
veloped. Elections  will  take  place 
May  24. 

A  six-member  committee  was  ap- 
pointed to  represent  the  I.T.O.A.  at 
the  national  Allied  convention  in  Min- 
neapolis June  13  to  15.  Brandt  is 
chairman  and  the  others  are  Milton 
C.  Weisman,  I.T.O.A.  counsel,  Dave 
Weinstock,  Rudy  Sanders,  Leon 
Rosenblatt  and  Lionel  Toll. 

It  was  disclosed  that  an  agreement 
is  being  drafted  with  a  view  to  elimi- 
nating giveaways  in  Manhattan  in  the 
area  between  59th  and  72nd  Sts. 
Loew's,  RKO,  Brandt  and  Bolognino 
are  the  circuits  operating  in  the  area. 

Along  with  Brandt,  the  following 
are  the  I.T.O.A.  officers :  Weinstock, 
first  vice-president ;  Stanley  Lawton, 
second  vice  -  president ;  Rosenblatt, 
treasurer,  and  Maurice  Brown,  sec- 
retary. 

Board  members  nominated  include 
Weinstock,  chairman;  Bernard  Pear, 
Sanders,  Hyman  Rachmil,  Jack  Hat- 
tem,  Otto  Lederer,  Abe  Shenk,  Julius 
Charnow,  Leo  Brecher,  Bernard 
Brooks,  Frances  Bregman,  Ray  Rhon- 
heimer  and  Laurence  Bolognino. 


FASTEST  WAY 
TO  LOS  ANGELES! 


Fly  TWA's  Year-Round  Route 
—Shortest  Coast-to-Coast! 

TWA'S  "Sky  Chief"  leaves  5:30  p.m  

flies  the  fastest  route  to  Los  Angeles  .  .  . 
arrives  7:13  a.m.  I  Or  take  TWA's  day- 
light flight  via  Grand  Canyon,  Boulder 
Dam,  the  Sunny  Santa  Fe  Trail. 
TO  CHICAGO  — 4  hrs.  35  min.  Non-stop, 
on  TWA's  famous  luxury  "Sky  Chief"  t 

Leaves  5:30  p.m  $44.95 

TO  PITTSBURGH  —10  flights  a  dav— 7 
non-stop — in  2  hrs.  10  min.l  $21.00 

10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 


Phone  Travel  Agent  or  MU  6-1640 

Transcontinental  &  Western  Air,  Inc 
70  E.  42nd  St.  —Air  Desk,  Penn.Station 


ERNIE  EMERLING  of  Loew's 
advertising  department  and  Mrs. 
Emerling,  before  sailing  yesterday  on 
the  Queen  Mary  for  a  European  vaca- 
tion, were  wished  bon  voyage  by  many 
friends.  Among  them  were  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Oscar  Doob,  Ben  Serkowich, 
John  McGovern  and  Matt  Saunders 
of  Bridgeport,  Art  Schmidt,  Gene 
Murphy,  A-Mike  Vogel,  Gertrude 
Merriam,  Anna  Ellmer,  Will  Gor- 
don and  Fred  Waters. 

• 

George  Raft  and  Lynne  Overman 
arrived  in  New  York  by  plane  from 
Washington  yesterday  morning.  Raft 
leaves  today  for  Holland,  Mich.,  and 
Overman  will  leave  for  the  coast  next 
week. 

• 

Shirley  Ross,  Paramount  player, 
leaves  today  for  a  personal  appearance 
at  the  Capitol  in  Atlanta,  will  return 
here  May  19  and  then  go  on  to  the 
coast.  ■ 

• 

Evelyn  Venable,  stricken  in  New 
York  Monday,  while  touring  with  the 
"Union  Pacific"  special,  went  to  Wil- 
shire  Hospital  for  observation  on  her 
arrival  on  the  coast  by  plane. 

• 

H.  M.  Richey  of  RKO,  Floyd  Gib- 
bons and  Richard  Leahy,  Bay  City, 
Mich.,  exhibitor,  lunched  yesterday  at 
"21." 

• 

Richard  V.  Keifer  of  the  Keifer 
circuit,  Hardesty,  Alberta,  registered 
at  RKO's  World  Fair  headquarters. 
• 

Frank  McKeown,  Detroit  branch 
manager  for  Ross  Federal  Service,  is 
the  father  of  a  7^-pound  girl. 
• 

Leo  Gorcey,  member  of  the  "Dead 
End  Kids,"  and  Katherine  Mavis, 
drama  student,  will  be  married  June  4. 
• 

H.  M.  Bessey,  secretary-treasurer 
of  Altec,  has  left  for  a  10-day  trip  to 
Baltimore  and  Atlanta. 

• 

N.  L.  Nathanson  is  in  New  York 
from  Toronto  for  Paramount  home 
office  conferences. 

• 

Ben  Roman,  manager  of  the  West 
End,  is  mourning  the  loss  of  his 
daughter. 

Universal  Institutes 
Employe  Insurance 

Nearly  1,000  employes  of  Univer- 
sal in  the  home  office  and  exchanges 
are  covered  by  group  accident  and 
sickness  insurance,  according  to  S. 
Machnovitch,  treasurer.  The  cost 
of  the  insurance,  is  shared  by  the 
company  and  the  employes.  Insured 
employes  in  the  event  of  accident  or 
sickness  will  receive  up  to  $40  weekly, 
depending  on  their  earnings. 

Plan  Nazi  Boycott 

Non- Sectarian  Anti-Nazi  League 
held  a  meeting  of  foreign  film  distribu- 
tors at  the  Hotel  Astor  yesterday  to 
formulate  plans  for  a  boycott  of  Ger- 
man-financed films. 


Basils'  Father  Dies 

Buffalo,  May  10.— John  Basil,  83, 
father  of  Nicholas,  Constantine  and 
Theophilos  Basil,  who  operate  Basil 
Brothers  Co.,  circuit,  died  here. 


LOUIS  HAYWARD,  who  has 
finished  work  in  "The  Man  in  the 
Iron  Mask,"  and  his  recent  bride,  Ida 
Lupino,  are  due  in  New  York  Mon- 
day for  a  brief  visit. 

• 

Burton  VanDoren,  operator  of  the 
Hamilton,  Waterbury,  Conn.,  is  con- 
fined to   Grace  Hospital  with  two 
broken  ribs  suffered  in  a  fall. 
• 

Oscar  Doob,  Ted  Curtis,  Herman 
Bernie,  Cal  Swanson,  Harry  Ar- 
thur, Bill  German  at  Bob  Gold- 
stein's Tavern  yesterday  for  lunch. 
• 

John  Weber  of  Mecca  Film  Labo- 
ratories and  Mrs.  Weber  return  to- 
morrow on  the  Volendam  from  a 
Cuban  cruise. 

• 

Paul  Benjamin  is  recuperating  at 
his  home  after  a  week's  stay  at  the 
East  Orange  General  Hospital  for 
sciatica  treatment. 

• 

Eddie  Dowling  is  back  from  Bos- 
ton where  he  starred  in  "Our  Town" 
and  opened  the  road  show  of  "The 
White  Steed." 

• 

E.  J.  Hudson,  of  United  Detroit 
Theatres,  is  due  in  New  York  next 
week. 

• 

Stanton  Griffis,  William  Gar- 
gan,  Frank  Morgan  lunching  at 
Sardi's  yesterday. 

John  Hodge,  assistant  at  the  Strand, 
Providence,  is  coming  to  New  York 
next  week  for  a  vacation. 

• 

Phil  Goodman  of  the  Columbia  ex- 
change in  New  York  will  be  married 
June  10. 

• 

John  Glackin,  manager  of  the 
Strand,  New  Britain,  Conn.,  is  ill  at 
home. 

• 

Al  Wilkie,  Paramount  publicity 
manager,  is  recuperating  from  a  recent 
illness. 

• 

Walter  Lynch  has  returned  from 
a  short  trip  to  Washington. 

• 

Irene  Rich  is  in  town,  stopping  at 
the  Waldorf-Astoria. 

Bob  Ripley  to  Open 
Odditorium  in  June 

Robert  L.  Ripley  disclosed  yesterday 
that  in  June  he  will  open  an  "Oddi- 
torium" at  48th  St.  and  Broadway,  to 
house  his  collection  of  oddities. 

Leases  have  been  signed  for  three 
and  a  half  years  for  30,000  square  feet 
on  three  floors  in  the  building  on  the 
corner  formerly  occupied  by  the  Holly- 
wood Deck,  night  club,  and  a  Joseph 
Hilton  store.  The  completed  project, 
it  was  said,  will  represent  an  invest- 
ment of  $3,000,000,  and  the  rental  for 
the  term  of  the  lease  about  $300,000. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

156  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


Rodgers  Will 
Speak  Before 
Allied  Forum 


William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
eral sales  manager  and  chairman  g^, 
the  distributors'  trade  practice  nego^jj, 
ating  committee,  will  be  a  principal 
speaker  at  New  York  Allied's  open 
forum  on  the  last  day  of  the  unit's 
convention,  to  be  held  at  the  Astor 
May  23  to  25. 

Other  distribution  executives  will 
participate  in  the  forum,  as  will  ex- 
hibitor spokesmen.  More  than  1,000 
are  expected  for  the  convention. 

The  convention  will  open  with  an 
eastern  regional  conference  of  Allied 
units.  Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president  of 
Allied  States  and  Abram  F.  Myers, 
general  counsel,  will  speak  on  the  sec- 
ond day. 

Mayer  Is  Due  Today 
After  Capital  Visit 

Washington,  May  10. — Louis  B. 
Mayer,  M-G-M  vice-president  and 
production  chief,  yesterday  and  today 
made  a  visitor's  tour  of  Washington 
with  Howard  Strickling,  studio  pub- 
licity head.  Carter  T.  Barron,  Loew 
Theatres  division  manager,  acted  as 
guide.  Mayer  had  attended  the  Ken- 
tucky Derby  in  Louisville.  He  is  due 
in  New  York  tomorrow. 

Mayer  was  guest  of  J.  Edgar 
Hoover,  who  escorted  him  through 
F.B.I,  headquarters.  Tonight  he  was 
one  of  the  honor  guests  at  a  party 
given  by  J.  F.  T.  O'Connor,  former 
Comptroller  of  the  Currency,  for  mem- 
bers of  the  California  delegation  in 
Congress.  Mayer's  visit  was  entirely 
personal,  it  was  said. 

Court  Sees  Serial 
In  Buck  Jones  Suit 

Los  Angeles,  May  10.  —  Federal 
Judge  Hollzer  today  viewed  Repub- 
lic serial,  "Lone  Ranger,"  as  exhibit 
in  $250,000  suit  brought  against  Re-( 
public  Pictures  Corp.  and  Republic 
Productions,  Inc.,  by  Buck  Jones. 
Jones  claims  plagiarism,  while  com- 
panies contend  script  was  bought  from 
Lone  Ranger,  Inc.,  radio  producer. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Sauare, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23. 
1938.  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.. 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c. 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


Thursday.  May  II,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Mulvey  Quits 
Directorate  of 
Wanger  Prod. 


Hollywood,  May  10—  James  Mul- 

t ,  one  of  three  United  Artists  repre- 
tatives  on  the  board  of  directors  of 
dter  Wanger  Productions,  Inc.,  re- 
'  signed  yesterday.  No  immediate  re- 
placement is  planned. 

Other  U.  A.  representatives  on  the 
!b<>ard  are  Murray  Silverstone  and  E. 
|C.  Erickson.  Wanger  and  Percy  Guth 
tare  the  other  directors, 
r  Following  individual  meetings  with 
brunch  managers  this  morning  U.  A. 
'salesmen  tendered  a  luncheon  to 
Harrv  Gold  and  L.  J.  Schlaifer,  Divi- 
sion Sales  Managers,  who  were  named 
!U.  A.  vice-presidents,  and  presented 
them  with  appropriate  gifts. 

Go  to  Fair  at  Frisco 
Sessions   continued   this  afternoon 
iiand  delegates  left  tonight  for  the  San 
LiF rancisco   Exposition,   where  tomor- 
row they  will  be  guests  of  the  com- 
'pany.    Monroe  Greenthal,  exploitation 
i  head,  and  Al  Margolies,  publicity  head, 
left  for  New  York  by  plane  today. 
-    Features  of  the  Gold- Schlaifer  lunch- 
"eon  were  laudatorv  talks  bv  Silver- 
stone, Harry  Buckley  and  Arthur  W. 
Kelly.    Paul  Lazarus  was  toastmas- 
;lter.    Congratulatory  telegrams  came 
from  Charles  Chaplin,  Walter  Wan- 
E|ger,  Mary  Pickford  and  others. 
Selznick's  Birthday 
Following   the   luncheon  delegates 
•went  to  the  Hal  Roach  Studios  and 
later    to    Selznick    International  for 
cocktail   parties.     At  the  latter  the 
party   honored    David    O.  Selznick, 
whose  birthday  was  today. 

It  was  announced  at  today's  meet- 
ing that  Sol  Lesser  has  acquired  film 
.rights  to  the  play,  "Our  Town,"  and 
^  will  produce  it  in  color. 

Silverstone,  Gold  and  Schlaifer  are 
.to  remain  here  for  several  days. 


AFA  Gains  5,000 

Members  in  Year 

Membership  in  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Actors  is  up  to  15,000,  with 
5,000  joining  in  the  past  year,  Ralph 
^Whitehead,  executive  secretary,  re- 
ported to  the  annual  meeting  at  the 
Hotel  Edison.  Half  the  membership 
is  in  good  standing.  Eight  council 
members  were  elected  for  four-year 
sterms. 

3  Four  were  reelected  as  follows : 
Rudy  Vallee,  Sally  Rand,  Jed  Dooley 
kand  Walter  Digges.  Four  new  direc- 
tors, Joe  Smith,  Lou  Taylor,  Avis 
[1  Andrews  and  Adye  Alyn,  replace 
(Ben  Bernie,  Harry  Burns,  Chic  Yorke 
and  Howard  Dalton. 

Sophie  Tucker,  president,  spoke  on 
the  Sophie  Tucker  Hospital  Fund  for 
actors  and  said  funds  are  being  raised 
to  provide  hospital  beds.  Addresses 
were  also  made  by  Harry  Richman, 
:hairman  of  the  council  and  others. 


At  UA  Sales  Convention 


'Wuthering*  Wins  Poll 

'Wuthering  Heights'  has  been  voted 
the  best  picture  of  the  month  of  April 
in  a  poll  of  film  critics  of  the  19 
Scripps-  Howard  newspapers  over  the 
country. 


Presiding  at  United  Artists  sales  convention  in  Hollyivood  were,  left  to 
right:  Harry  D.  Buckley,  vice-president ;  Harry  Gold,  vice-president ;  Murray 
Silverstone,  head  of  world  wide  operations;  Arthur  W .  Kelly,  vice-president ; 
I..  J.  Schlaifer,  vice-president. 


Death  Doesn't  Stop 
Visit  by  Roosevelt 

Washington,  May  10.— Even 
the  death  of  his  friend,  Carl 
R.  Gray,  who  extended  the 
invitation,  failed  to  deter 
President  Roosevelt  from  in- 
specting Paramount's  "Union 
Pacific"  special  train  yester- 
day in  its  stop  here. 

Gray,  who  retired  as  presi- 
dent of  the  Union  Pacific 
railroad  in  1937  after  serving 
in  that  post  for  17  years,  re- 
ceived Roosevelt's  promise  to 
accompany  him  on  an  inspec- 
tion of  the  train. 

Gray  was  found  dead  in  bed 
in  his  hotel  yesterday  morn- 
ing. When  the  President  re- 
ceived this  news,  he  declined 
to  cancel  his  plan  to  see  the 
train. 


See  New  Contracts 
As  Australia  Hope 

The  Australian  film  industry  is 
"hopeful"  that  most  of  its  difficulties — 
trade  and  legislative — will  be  solved 
by  the  new  standard  contract  now  be- 
ing drafted,  Harry  Hunter,  Australian 
manager  for  Paramount,  said  yester- 
day on  his  arrival  in  New  York.  Suc- 
cess of  the  contract,  he  believes,  may 
prevent  the  spread  of  adverse  legisla- 
tion among  the  Australian  states. 

Cancellation  looms  as  one  of  the 
most  difficult  problems  confronting  ne- 
gotiators on  the  standard  contract,  it 
was  indicated.  The  New  South  Wales 
law  now  prescribes  a  25  per  cent  re- 
jection right.  Efforts  will  be  made  to 
have  this  reduced  to  \2l/2  per  cent  and 
incorporated  in  the  standard  contract 
for  all  Australian  states. 

Hunter  is  visiting  John  W.  Hicks, 
Paramount  vice  president  and  foreign 
manager,  at  the  home  office.  He  will 
go  to  Los  Angeles  early  in  June  to 
attend  the  company's  national  sales 
convention  and  will  sail  June  21  for 
Australia  from  there. 


Ad-Press  Policies 
At  Texas  Meeting 

Galveston,  May  10. — Advertising 
and  public  relations  topics  consumed 
most  of  the  session  today  of  the  In- 
terstate and  Texas  Consolidated  The- 
atres' managers. 

Bill  O'Donnell,  city  manager  of  San 
Antonio,  discussed  inconsistent  poli- 
cies of  censorship.  Frank  Starz,  cir- 
cuit publicity  chief,  spoke  on  "Special 
Efforts"  month.  Austin  Keough,  le- 
gal head  of  Paramount,  lauded  dele- 
gates' interest  in  subjects  outside  of 
their  own  business. 

Barney  Balaban,  president  of  Para- 
mount, flew  in  from  Hollywood  today 
to  be  present  at  tomorrow's  closing 
sessions. 


Warners  Decide 
'Juarez'  Release 
Nationally  June  10 


Release  of  Warners'  "Juarez"  na- 
tionally on  June  10  was  announced 
yesterday  by  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  gen- 
eral sales  manager. 

Sears  explained  that  Warners  has 
abandoned  its  origihal  intention  +o 
keep  "Juarez"  on  a  road  show  basis. 
He  said  that  the  decision  to  release 
the  film  nationally  at  an  early  date 
was  inspired  by  the  company's  con- 
viction that  exhibitors  will  need  big 
pictures  to  bolster  summer  boxoffices. 
Meanwhile  the  Broadway  roadshow 
run  at  the  Hollywood  will  continue, 
Sears  added. 

Releases  scheduled  for  the  summer 
will  include : 

"Each  Dawn  I  Die,"  James  Cagney 
and  George  Raft ;  "A  Family  Affair," 
same  cast  as  "Four  Daughters" ; 
"Naughty,  But  Nice,"  Ann  Sheridan, 
Dick  Powell  and  Gale  Page ;  "The 
Kid  From  Kokomo,"  Pat  O'Brien, 
Wayne  Morris  and  Joan  Blondell ; 
"Devil  on  Wheels,"  Pat  O'Brien,  John 
Payne  and  Ann  Sheridan ;  "Hell's 
Kitchen,"  Dead  End  Kids. 

Warners  has  increased  its  advertis- 
ing and  exploitation  budgets  for  the 
summer  by  25  per  cent. 


Notables  at  "Juarez" 

Washington,  May  10. — "Juarez" 
was  screened  last  night  for  Secretary 
of  Agriculture  Wallace,  Lawrence 
Duggens,  chief  director  of  the  Ameri- 
can Republic  Union ;  Lowell  Mullett, 
executive  director  of  the  National 
Emergency  Committee,  and  others. 


Luce  Rites  Today 

Scr  anton,  May  10. — Funeral  of 
Arthur  E.  Luce,  for  a  score  of  years 
a  theatre  manager  for  the  Comerford 
Amusement  Co.,  will  be  held  here  to- 
morrow. He  died  Sunday.  Luce  was 
manager  of  the  West  Side  Theatre. 


i 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS 
REGISTRATION  BUREAU 


For  World's  Fair  Visitors 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  Telephone  Circle  7-3100 


Name   ,  

Affiliation   

Home  Address   

Arrive   Depart. 


New  York  Address. 
New  York  Phone... 
Members  of  Party.. 


Clip  the  Coupon  and  Mail  to  World's  Fair  Bureau.  Quigley  Publishing  Company 
1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York 


lMP\)LSt 

■to  W«-UV 


No  wonder  Motion  Picture  Daily  said  BLIND 
ALLEY  is  "two  pictures  in  one"  and  that  "it  may  be 
offered  to  practically  any  type  of  patronage  with 
confidence/'  Imagine,  if  you  can,  a  drama  in 
which  psychiatry  becomes  a  thrilling,  living, 
thing ...  reconstructing  a  murderer's  mind...  bit  by 
bit. ..to  reveal  what  makes  him  kill!  Realism. ..stark 


. . .  grim  . . .  and  plunging  on  to  an  unpredictable, 
unforgettable  climax. ..that  is  BLIND  ALLEY... 

A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE  ....  starring  CHESTER 
MORRIS,  RALPH  BELLAMY,  ANN  DVORAK .  .  and 

with  a  cast  including  Joan  Perry,  Melville  Cooper,  Rose 
Stradner . . .  a  screen  play  by  Philip  MacDonald,  Michael 
Blank  fort,  Albert  Duffy...  and  directed  by  Charles  Vidor. 


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WARNERS 

Dodge  City 
(G)  (D) 

Flynn 
de  Havilland 
Ann  Sheridan 

Women  in 
the  Wind 
(G)  (D) 

Kay  Francis 
William  Gargan 
Victor  Jory 

Dark  Victory 
(G)  (D) 

Bette  Davis 
George  Brent 
Bogari 

You  Can't  Get 
Away  With 
Murder 
(G)  CD) 

Bogart 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 
(G)  CD) 

Robinson 
Lederer 

Torchy  Runs 
For  Mayor 
CG)  CD) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 

Winner 
Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Davis 
Pa  ul  Muni 

UNIVERSAL 

East  Side  of 
Heaven 
(G)  (C) 

Bing  Crosby 
Joan  Blondell 

Code  of  the 
Streets 
(G)  (D) 

Harry  Carey 
Frankie  Thomas 

E- 
P 

Czar 
(G)  (D) 

MacLane 
Ed  Sullivan 

For  Love  or 
Money  CG)  CD) 
June  Lang 
Robert  Kent 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Fairbanks,  Jr. 

Rathbone 
Virginia  Field 

Inside 
Information 

June  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

t 

< 

b 

Wuthering 
Heights 
(A)  (D) 

Oberon 
Olivier 
Flora  Robson 

Zenobia 
(G)  (C) 

Hardy 
Langdon 

Burke 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

20TH-FOX 

Mr.  Moto  in 
Danger  Island 
(G)  (D) 

Lorre 
Hersholt 

Story  of 
Alexander 
Graham  Bell 
(G)  (D) 

Ameche 
Loretta  Young 

Winner  Take 
All  (G)  CD) 

Tony  Martin 
Gloria  Stuart 
Inspector 
Hornleigh 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 
CG)  CD) 
Baxter 
Climbing  High 
Matthews 

Chasing  Danger 
CG)  CD) 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

Rose  of 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  Whelan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 

RKO  RADIO 

Love  Affair 
(G)  (D) 
Boyer 
Irene  Dunne 
Flying  Irishman 
(G)  (D) 

They  Made 
Her  a  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Sally  Eilers 
Allan  Lane 

Fixer  Dugan 
(G)  (D) 
Lee  Tracy 
Peggy  Shannon 

The  Story  of 
Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle 
(G)  CD) 

Rogers-Astaire 
The  Rookie  Cop 

Sorority  House 
(G)  CD) 

Anne  Shirley 
James  Ellison 

Panama  Lady 
CG)  CD) 
Lucille  Ball 
Allan  Lane 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range  CO) 

O'Brien 

The  Dove 

Steffi.  Duna 

Carrillo 
Tim  Holt 

Five  Came 
Back 

Chester  Morris 
Wendy  Barrie 
Lucille  Ball 

REPUBLIC 

The  Night 
Riders 

CO) 

John  Wayne 

Frontier  Pony 
Express 
(G)  CO) 

Roy  Rogers 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 
CG)  CD) 

Blue  Montana 
Skies  CG)  CO) 

Man  of 
Conquest 
CG)  CD) 

Richard  Dix 

Three  Texas 
Steers  CO) 
Southward  Ho 

Roy  Rogers 

The  Zero  Hour 

fnescourt 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

Tidal  Wave 

Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

PARA. 

I'm  From 
Missouri 
CG)  CC) 

Bob  Burns 
3830 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Secret  Police 
Never  Say 
Die 

Back  Door 
to  Heaven 
CG)  CD) 

Erwin 
Wallace  Ford 
McMahon 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 
CG)  CD) 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 
CG)  CD) 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Hotel  Imperial 

Isa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
Reginald  Owen 

Some  Like  It 
Hot  CG)  CC) 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 

Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

Gracie  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 

MONOGRAM 

Undercover 
Agent 

Russell  Gleason 
Shirley  Deane 

Streets  of 
New  York 
CG)  CD) 
Jackie  Cooper 

Wanted  by 
Scotland  Yard 
Stevenson 
Man  from 
Texas 

Boys' 
Reformatory 

Frankie  Darro 

Wolf  Call 

Movita 
Down  the 
Wyoming  Trail 

Tex  Ritter 

Across  the 
Plains 

Jack  Randall 

Girl  From 
Nowhere 

Anne  Nag  el 
Warren  Hull 

M-G-M 

Broadway 
Serenade 
(G)  (M) 

MacDonald 

Ayres 
Ian  Hunter 

The  Kid 
from  Texas 

(G)  (C) 
Denis  O'Keefe 
Rice 

The  Hardys 
Ride  High 
CG)  CC) 

Rooney 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 
CG)  CD) 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

(G)  (C) 
Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  CG)  CC) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 

Annabella 
W.  Connolly 

6000  Enemies 

Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 

COLUMBIA 

The  Lady  and 
the  Mob 
CG)  CC) 

Fay  Bainter 
Ida  Lupino 

First  Offenders 

Walter  Abel 
Beverly  Roberts 

The  Law  Comes 
to  Texas 

Bill  Elliott 

Oklahoma 
Trail 

Starrett 
Meredith 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 

CG)  (D) 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Jean  Arthur 
Cary  Grant 
Barthelmess 

Missing 
Daughters 

Arlen 
Marian  Marsh 

Trapped  in  the 
Sky  CG)  CD) 

DeMille 
Jack  Holt 
Ralph  Morgan 

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April 
14 

April 
21 

April 
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jhursday,  May  II.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Columbia  Sets 
Reserve  Fund 
of  $2,000,000 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
^»  company  goodwill  into  new  cus- 
fcSer  fields. 

'Reporting  on  Columbia's  foreign  ac- 
uities, Joseph  A.  McConville,  foreign 
nanager,  said  that  new  offices  have 
teen  opened  in  Paris,  Marseilles  and 
Brussels  and  plans  are  being  made  to 
pen  offices  in  Bordeaux,  Algiers  and 
Jlle  in  the  near  future. 
'Worldwide  distribution  of  French 
ictures  will  be  handled  by  Columbia 
•a  conjunction  with  Paul  Graetz's 
transcontinental  Films,  McConville 
aid.  In  England,  Columbia  will  pro- 
luce  four  features  annually  at  Den- 
am  under  the  direction  of  Irving 
\sher.  The  first  two  to  be  completed, 
JQ  Planes"  and  "The  Spy  in  Black," 
ill  be  distributed  throughout  the 
world. 

Latin  American  Market 

McConville  also   reported  on  the 
ompany's  plans  for  furnishing  great- 
er service  to  the   Latin  American 
wket,  particularly  in  the  form  of  ex- 
loitation  assistance  on  the  company's 
'roduct  playing  there.    He  said  that 
•ne  company  was  prepared  to  extend 
e\v  forms  of  cooperation  to  customers 
i  that  market  as  a  result  of  the  recent 
ppointment   of   Charles   Roberts  as 
ome    office    supervisor    for  Latin 
\merica.     He  said  he  believes  in  a 
olicy  of    collaboration    with  native 
reducers  in  that  market  for  distribu- 
;5on  of  pictures  on  a  limited  scale. 
|  Sam  Briskin  represented  the  studio 
:  t  the  meeting.  In  addressing  the  men, 
1e  said  the  company's  production  pol- 
apy  would  be  based  primarily  on  its 
ewly   acquired   directorial  strength. 
c5e  described  the  assignments  being 
.iven  each  director  and  pointed  out 
fie  suitability  of  story  material  to 
ach  director's  capabilities  and  pref- 
rences.     His  address  was  followed 
y  the  showing  of  a  three-reel  con- 
ention  special  featuring  Harry  Cohn, 
resident ;  Frank  Capra,  Rouben  Ma- 
loulian,     Frank     Lloyd,  Wesley 
uggles  and  Alexander  Hall  in  dis- 
unions of  pictures  on  the  new  sea- 
on's  program,   together  with  shots 
f  "Mr.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington," 
Only  _  Angels    Have    Wings"  and 
Ither  important  pictures. 

Chicago  Meeting  Monday 
Individual  meetings  for  the  various 
ranches  will  occupy  tomorrow,  the 
nal  day  of  the  convention  here.  The 
ext  regional  meeting  will  open  in 
'hicago  on  Monday  for  three  days 
nd  will  be  followed  by  a  final  meet 
ng  in  San  Francisco. 
Among  the  home  office  executives 
eparting  for  New  York  today  were 
ack  Cohn,  A.  Schneider,  Nate  Spin 
old,  Sam  Briskin,  Leo  Jaffe,  Maurice 
■ergman,  Frank  McGrann,  Harry  Ta 
iff  and  Al  Sherman.     Scheduled  to 
epart  tonight  are  McConville,  Rob 
:rts,  Arnold  Picker,  Ernesto  P.  Smith, 
ecil  F.  Mason  and  F.  Knocke. 


Allied  Proposes  Booking 
Combine  of  2,500  Houses 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

likelihood  of  Congressional  action  on 
anti-block  selling,  and  that  delay  in 
putting  the  trade  practice  program  in- 
to effect  appears  likely  if  not  inevit- 
able, or  that,  if  it  is  made  effective,  it 
will  not  contain  all  that  was  sought. 

Comment  on  the  plan  by  distribution 
company  executives  was  restrained, 
with  considerable  skepticism  in  evi- 
dence. However,  one  unidentified 
"official  distributor"  spokesman  said 
that  "maybe  such  an  arrangement 
would  go  a  long  way  toward  stabiliz- 
ing the  distributors'  contractual  rela- 
tions with  independents  through  a 
central  agency,"  according  to  the  Her- 
ald. 

Rodgers  Non-Committal 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
al  sales  manager,  declined  comment 
"because  it  all  depends  upon  the  prin- 
cipals." He  added  that  "our  pic- 
tures are  for  sale  to  responsible 
people." 

Maurice  Silverstone,  United  Artists 
head,  said:  "In  order  to  make  any 
comment  it  would  be  necessary  to 
know  the  complete  setup,  the  number 
of  houses  and  their  locations  before 
United  Artists  or  any  other  distribu- 
tor could  enter  into  negotiations." 

S.  R.  Kent,  20th  Century-Fox  presi- 
dent, said :  "When  it  becomes  an  ac- 
complished fact  I  will  state  the  com- 
pany's policy." 

Neil  Agnew,  vice-president  and 
distribution  head  of  Paramount,  said: 
"We  are  definitely  and  flatly  opposed 
to  booking  and  buying  combinations 
as  such,  as  against  the  type  of  stock 
and/or  ownership  buying  and  book- 
ing arrangements." 

Blumherff  Doubts  Plan 

Nate  Blumberg,  Universal  president, 
said  he  did  not  believe  there  will  be 
such  a  combine.  "They  have  usually 
been  unsuccessful.  Anyway,  let's 
cross  the  bridge  when  we  come  to  it." 

Edward  A.  Golden,  vice-president 
of  Monogram,  said:  "We  would  have 
to  meet  the  situation  when  it  came 
up.     Frankly,  Monogram  would  like 


very  much  to  sell  to  2,500  theatres 
at  one  time." 

Abe  Montague,  Columbia  general 
sales  manager,  said  he  could  make  no 
comment  until  he  learned  "what  the 
combination  is,  who  is  in  it  and  what 
its  purposes  are." 

Officials  of  other  companies  could 
not  be  reached  for  comment. 


Many  Leaders  to  Attend 
Minneapolis  Convention 

Minneapolis,  May  10. — Many  in- 
dustry leaders  have  signified  their  in- 
tention of  attending  the  national  Allied 
convention  here  June  13  to  IS.  In- 
vitations were  sent  out  by  W.  A. 
Steffes,  convention  chairman.  Major 
company  executives  are  scheduled  to 
discuss  the  trade  practice  code. 

Among  those  from  whom  accept- 
ances have  been  received  are  Neil  F. 
Agncw,  Joseph  I.  Breen,  Harry  H. 
Buxbaum,  Jack  Cohn.  Thomas  J. 
Connors,  George  Dembow,  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  Edward  A.  Golden,  E.  T. 
Gomersall,  James  R.  Grainger,  W. 
Ray  Johnston,  Ed  Kuykendall,  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  Harry  Brandt  and  a 
New  York  I.T.O.A.  committee;  Jules 
Levy,  Abe  Montague,  David  Palfrey- 
man,  C.  C.  Pettijohn,  H.  M.  Richey, 
Max  Roth,  E.  M.  Saunders,  L.  J. 
Schlaifer,  William  A.  Scully,  Gradwell 
L.  Sears,  Harry  Sherman,  Mort 
Singer,  Spyros  Skouras,  P.  S. 
Harrison. 


Small  Gains 
Made  In  Takes 
On  Broadway 


Business  along  Broadway  picked  up 
in  the  past  two  days  but  it  is  still  far 
from  satisfactory.  "Union  Pacific" 
opened  strong  at  the  Paramount  with 
an  estimated  $7,000  for  the  day. 
"Lucky  Night"  grossed  an  estimated 
$19,000  at  the  Capitol.  "Calling  Dr. 
Kildare"  goes  in  today. 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  will 
start  at  the  Music  Hall  today.  "East 
Side  of  Heaven"  drew  an  estimated 
$60,000  there.  "Juarez"  grossed  an 
estimated  $20,000  at  the  Hollywood 
and  seats  are  selling  eight  weeks  in 
advance.  Second  week  of  "The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky"  attracted  an  estimated 
$25,000  at  the  Paramount. 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  and 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  will 
be  held  over  for  second  weeks  at  the 
Strand  and  Roxy.  "Three  Waltzes" 
is  held  for  a  third  week  at  the  Film- 
arte.  "Zenobia"  is  set  for  the  Globe 
Saturday. 


Delay  Lottery  Trial 

Trial  of  Christos  Carnavos.  manager 
and  part  owner  of  the  Momart,  Brook- 
lyn, on  charges  of  operating  a  lottery, 
was  adjourned  to  June  7  in  Special 
Sessions  Court  yesterday.  Motion  for 
transfer  of  the  case  to  Kings  County 
Court  and  for  a  jury  trial  will  be 
argued  tomorrow. 


'Man  of  Conquest* 

In  Second  Week 

San  Francisco,  May  10. — Republic, 
which  closed  its  fourth  and  final 
regional  sales  meeting  here  yesterday, 
announced  today  that  "Man  of  Con- 
quest," is  being  held  over  for  the  sec- 
ond week  at  the  Paramount  here  and 
at  the  Majestic,  Hartford,  Conn.  The 
picture  opens  this  weekend  in  the 
Paramount  and  Fenway,  Boston ; 
Lafayette,  Buffalo;  Fox,  Brooklyn; 
Majestic,  Bridgeport;  Brandeis, 
Omaha,  and  30  other  situations. 


Long's  Mother  Dies 

Washington,  May  10.— Mother  of 
larry  E.  Long,  Loew  Theatres  Cleve- 
and  area  division  manager,  died  here 
uddenly.    She  was  74  years  old. 


NY  Senate  Approves 
Race  Track  Measure 

Albany,  May  10— N.  Y.  State 
Senate  today  passed,  35  to  15,  the 
Dunnigan  resolution  permitting  pari- 
mutuel  bettings  at  race  tracks  in  the 
state.  The  measure  now  goes  to  the 
Assembly  for  action.  Passage  there 
will  assure  a  vote  by  the  people  in 
referendum  form  this  fall. 


IS  MOTION  PICTURE 
ADVERTISING 
OUT  OF  DATE? 


"YES" 


DR. 


says 
J.  S. 


LIST 


Prominent  psychologist 
and  motion  picture  re- 
search expert. 


"NO" 


says 

HARRY  GOLDBERG 

Director  of  Advertising 
and  Publicity,  Warner 
Bros.  Theatres. 


Don't  miss  the  fireworks! 


AMPA 


Hotel  Astor 


12:45  p.m.  Today 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  May  II,  III 


Service  Charge  Cut 
For  Canada  Houses 
By  Dominion  Sound 

Toronto,  May  10. — The  service 
charge  for  maintenance  of  sound  in- 
stallations has  been  reduced  and  re- 
classified in  a  revised  schedule  for 
theatres  in  Canada  by  the  Dominion 
Sound  Equipments,  Ltd.,  according  to 
F.  E.  Peters,  general  manager  of  the 
company  which  represents  both  West- 
ern Electric  and  RCA. 

The  new  charge  for  a  regular  check- 
up once  each  four  weeks  and  emer- 
gency calls  at  any  time  for  "A"  thea- 
tres in  Toronto,  Hamilton,  Montreal, 
Ottawa,  London  and  other  large  cities 
is  $8.75  a  week.  For  "B"  theatres, 
the  fee  is  $7.75  a  week  for  a  regular 
checkup  once  in  six  weeks  and  emer- 
gency service,  while  for  smaller  houses 
the  rate  is  $6  per  week  with  one  sched- 
uled call  every  eight  weeks. 


20th-Fox's  British 
Meet  Opens  Today 

London,  May  10. — British  sales 
convention  of  20th  Century-Fox  will 
onen  here  tomorrow  for  three  days. 
Among  those  attending  will  be  Walter 
J.  Hutchinson,  foreign  distribution 
head;  Herman  Wobber,  general  sales 
manager,  and  Truman  H.  Talley, 
Movietone  producer.  Earlier  they  at- 
tended the  Paris  meeting. 

Francis  L.  Harley,  British  managing 
director,  will  conduct  the  British  meet- 
ing with  R.  Sutton  Dawes,  sales  di- 
rector. Hutchinson  will  present  a 
message  from  S.  R.  Kent,  president. 


Argentine  Official 
To  Inspect  Studios 

Alfredo  P.  Murua  is  here  en  route 
to  Hollywood  to  inspect  technical 
facilities  of  major  studios  in  connec- 
tion with  plans  to  enlarge  the  Side 
studios  in  Buenos  Aires,  which  he 
heads. 

Murua  said  business  in  Argentina 
is  good.  Argentinian  pictures,  he 
added,  are  becoming  more  popular, 
ranking  second  to  Hollywood  films. 
French  pictures  are  third  in  playing 
time. 


Expect  200  atRKO 
Westchester  Meet 

About  200  representatives  of  RKO's 
domestic  and  foreign  sales  forces  will 
attend  the  company's  national  sales 
meeting  to  be  held  June  19-22  at  the 
Westchester  County  Club,  Rye,  Jules 
Levy,  general  sales  manager,  said 
yesterday.  Meeting  will  provide  an 
opportunity  for  a  number  of  the  sales 
representatives  to  meet  George  J. 
Schaefer,  RKO  president,  for  the  first 
time. 


Ontario  IT  A  Seeks 
End  of  Protection 

Toronto,  May  10. — Declaring  that 
"protection  must  be  eliminated  for  the 
good  of  this  industry,"  N.  A.  Taylor 
of  Toronto,  vice-president  of  the  In- 
dependent Theatres  Association  of  On- 
tario, has  announced  formation  of  a 
committee  on  trade  practice  reforms 
to  seek  reduction  in  present  clearance 
schedules. 


Won't  Do  It  Again 

Journal- American  radio 
columnist  Dinty  Doyle  ran  an 
item  in  his  column  inviting 
all  married  couples  named 
Eddie  and  Ida  to  write  him 
for  tickets  to  the  25th  wed- 
ding anniversary  broadcast 
which  Eddie  Cantor  will  pre- 
sent June  5.  To  date  Dinty 
has  received  more  than  600 
replies  from  Eddies  and  Idas. 


F.C.C.  to  Resume 
Radio  Monopoly 
Quiz  on  May  17 


Washington,  May  10. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  an- 
nounced today  the  investigation  of 
chain  broadcasting  and  monopoly  will 
be  resumed  on  May  17,  when  David 
Sarnoff,  president  of  RCA,  and  Marks 
Levine,  manager  of  the  concert  di- 
vision of  NBC,  will  be  called  upon 
to  testify. 

Levine  will  substitute  for  George 
Engels,  vice-president  and  managing 
director  of  the  Artists  Service  De- 
partment of  NBC,  who  was  taken  ill 
during  his  testimony  last  fall  and  was 
excused,  subject  to  recall.  Engels  is 
still  unable  to  appear. 

Sarnoff  will  be  cross-examined  on 
testimony  which  he  gave  Nov.  14. 
These  are  the  only  two  witnesses 
scheduled  to  appear. 


Diplomats  Will  Air 
'Juarez'  Comments 

Five  Latin  American  diplomats  in 
Washington  will  address  their  coun- 
trymen in  praise  of  Warners'  "Juarez" 
tomorrow  at  2:30  P.  M.  over  the 
CBS  short-wave  station,  W2XAU. 
The  envoys  will  extol  the  film  for  its 
adherence  to  the  good  neighbor  policy 
laid  down  by  President  Roosevelt. 

Participating  will  be  Louis  Quin- 
tanilla,  resident  Minister  of  Mexico ; 
Dr.  Pedro  de  Alba,  Charge  d'Affaires 
of  Chile ;  Ricardo  Castro  Beeche, 
Minister  of  Costa  Rica,  and  the  first 
secretary  of  the  Brazilian  Embassy, 
A.  B.  Frigoso. 


Mrs,  Roosevelt  to 
Introduce  Program 

Mrs.  Franklin  D.  Roosevelt  will  in- 
troduce the  forthcoming  dramatic 
series,  "Women  in  the  Making  of 
America,"  which  starts  over  the  NBC- 
Blue  May  19  at  2  P.  M.  Mr-.  Roose- 
velt will  speak  from  the  White  House. 
The  series  is  under  production  of  the 
Federal  Theatre  radio  division  of  the 
Works  Progress  Administration. 


To  Salute  Jap  Station 

CBS  will  broadcast  a  special  salute 
program  to  JOAK,  Broadcasting 
Corp.  of  Japan,  Saturday,  on  the  oc- 
casion of  its  removal  to  new  broad- 
casting studios  and  offices.  KNX  will 
originate  the  show. 


Mennen  Renews  Hawley 

Mennen  Co.,  through  the  M.  Kiese- 
wetter  agency,  has  signed  a  renewal 
of  Mark  Hawley's  Transradio  Press 
news  readings  over  WOR,  effective 
May  17. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 


DON  ABERT,  manager  of 
WJTM,  is  in  New  York  until 
the  close  of  the  week.  .  .  .  Hal 
Kemp  opens  at  the  Starlight  Roof  of 
the  Waldorf  tonight.  .  .  .  Jean  Grom- 
bach,  the  radio  producer,  again  will 
present  Lisa  Maranz  in  a  concert 
over  WQXR  on  Monday. 

Lee  Reiser  celebrates  a  birthday 
today.  .  .  .  Louis  Hayward  will  be 
Bing  Crosby's  guest  star  tonight.  .  .  . 
Alton  Cook  of  the  World-Telegram  is 
recovering  nicely  at  the  Lenox  Hill 
hospital.  .  .  .  Vincent  Price  will  do  a 
scene  from  "Goodbye  Mr.  Chips"  on 
WHN's  "Gotham  Nights"  program 
tomorrow  night  and  will  leave  imme- 
diately after  the  broadcast  for  Holly- 
wood. 


NAB  Files  Appeal  of 
Jolson  NBC  Verdict 

Philadelphia,  May  10. — National 
Association  of  Broadcasters  has  en- 
tered an  appeal  in  the  Supreme  Court 
of  Pennsylvania  to  reverse  a  damage 
verdict  of  $15,000  awarded  a  hotel 
against  NBC  last  fall.  It  was  based 
on  remarks  by  Al  Jolson  about  a  hotel 
during  a  radio  broadcast. 

William  A.  Schnader,  N.A.B.  coun- 
sel, told  the  Supreme  Court  that  Jol- 
son's  remarks  were  ad  libbed,  that  the 
broadcasting  company  had  no  warn- 
ing and  that  the  remark  obviously  was 
intended  to  be  humorous  and  not  dam- 
aging. He  said  that  broadcasting  sta- 
tions merely  rent  facilities  to  others. 


12  Stations  Renew 
NBC  Disc  Service 

A  dozen  stations  have  renewed  their 
subscriptions  to  the  NBC  Thesaurus 
service,  in  addition  to  three  new  sub- 
scribers who  have  just  signed  for  the 
recordings.  Stations  which  have  re- 
newed are  WOMI,  Owensboro,  Ky. ; 
WFLA,  Clearwater;  WHO,  Des 
Moines;  WCSH,  Portland,  Me.; 
WAAT,  Jersey  City;  WFBC,  Green- 
ville, S.  C. ;  WPAY,  Portsmouth,  O. ; 
KQW,  San  Jose;  WOW,  Omaha; 
WAIR,  Winston  Salem;  CKPR, 
Fort  William,  Ontario,  and  HP5K- 
HP50,  Colon,  Panama.  New  sub- 
scribers are  WTMC,  Oscala,  Fla. ; 
KMED,  Medford,  Ore. ;  and  WRAW, 
Reading,  Pa. 


Plans  Resort  Program 

Cincinnati,  May  10. — WKRC  has 
just  completed  arrangements  for  ex- 
clusive broadcasting  of  special  events 
from  Coney  Island,  Cincinnati's  popu- 
lar amusement  resort.  A  daily  inter- 
view program  will  be  presented  and 
WKRC  will  have  exclusive  rights  of 
all  special  occasions,  stunts  and  events 
from  the  park. 


Sarnoff,  Hoover  on  Air 

David  Sarnoff  and  ex-president 
Hoover  will  be  the  principal  speakers 
at  the  banquet  concluding  the  33rd 
annual  convention  of  the  Boys'  Clubs 
of  America,  to  be  broadcast  over  the 
Blue  network  May  18  at  10  P.  M. 
Father  E.  J.  Flanagan,  founder  of 
"Boys  Town,"  also  will  speak. 


FCC  CalendaA 


Washington,  May  10. — Plans 
KM  PC,  Beverly  Hills,  Cal.,  for 
pansion  of  service  were  disclosed 
an  application  filed  with  the  Fed' 
Communications  Commission  for 
thority  to  move  the  station  transmi 
from  Beverly  Hills  to  a  site  r 
Culver  City,  extend  time  from  lie 
to  unlimited  and  increase  powerf 
500  watts  to  1,000  watts  night, 
watts  day. 

Applications  also  were  filed  by 
Willard  Carver,  Thomas  B.  Willi; 
and  Byrne  Ross,  Lawton,  Okla., 
a  new  1,420-kilocycle,  100-watt 
tion;  Cordele  Dispatch  Publisf 
Co.,  Inc.,  Cordele,  Ga.,  for  a  1,'. 
kilocycle  station  with  100  watts  ni 
250  watts  day,  and  WKAQ,  San  Ji 
P.  R.,  for  change  of  frequency  fi 
1,240  to  620  kilocycles  and  increas< 
power  from  1,000  to  5,000  watts. 

The  commission  has  arranged 
tatively  for  hearings  May  23  on 
application    of    WREN,  Lawre 
Kan.,  to  move  its  studio  to  Kat 
City,    Mo.,    and   its  transmitter 
Kansas  City,  Kan. ;  June  7  on 
application  of  WICA,  Ashtabula, 
for  increase  of  power  from  250 
1,000  watts,  and  June  23  on  the 
plication  of  WSUI,  Iowa  City, 
for  increase  of  power  from  500  w 
night,  1,000  watts  day,  to  1,000  w 
night,  5,000  watts  day. 

Seek  Building  Permits 

Construction  permits  for  two 
broadcasting  stations  has  been  as 
of  the  commission. 

Applications  for  the  new  stati 
were  filed  by  the  Hot  Springs  Brc 
casting  Co.,  Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  fc 
1,310-kilocycle  transmitter,  and  by 
Las  Vegas  Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc., 
Vegas,  Nev.,  for  a  1,420-kiloc; 
transmitter,  both  to  have  100  w 
power  night,  250  watts  day. 

Applications  also  have  been  recei 
by  the  commission  from  WP' 
Ponce,  P.  R.,  for  a  change  of 
quency  from  1,420  to  1,480  kilocy( 
extension  of  time  from  specified  he 
to  unlimited,  and  increase  of  po 
from  100  watts  night,  250  watts  t 
to  5,000  watts,  and  KSD,  St.  Lei 
for  change  of  frequency  from  55( 
630  kilocycles  and  extension  of  t 
from  sharing  to  unlimited. 


Lewis  Will  Launch 
'Congress  Revie 

Fulton  Lewis,  Mutual's  Washi 
ton  commentator,  will  start  a  l 
series,  "Congressional  Review  of 
Week,"  on  the  Mutual  network  ) 
day  and  thereafter  on  Fridays  fi 
10:30  to  10:45  P.  M.  New  progi 
will  be  in  addition  to  Lewis'  nigl 
news  commentaries. 


Extends  WMCA  Tim 

Emerson   Radio  has  extended 
current  WMCA  schedule  from  tl 
news  broadcasts  a  week  to  five, 
three  programs  a  week  over  W< 
New   contract   was    placed  thro 
Lightfoot  Associates.  Other  new  b  | 
ness  by  WMCA  includes  sponsor; 
of  "Five  Star  Final"  daily  by 
Lax   Corp.,   a   year's  announcen 
schedule  for  Fruit  Wines  Corp., 
extension  of  Policy  Holders  Advis 
Council  program  from  one  broadi 
a  week  to  a  15-minute  script  si 
five  times  weekly  over  the  Inter-( 
network. 


%isn. 

1 

■  i  L_C_  UUI*  Y 
DO  NOT  REMOVf 


_  ^T.fa"  HOTEL, 
"•^Tlc      &J50TH  ST.. 


PICTURE 

ILY 


45.   NO.  92 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  MAY  12,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


•rive  Against 
iootleg  Films 
Yields  Results 


wernment  Helps  Smash 
Large  Illegal  Ring 

Ikgal  traffic  in  pictures  is  being 
Qt  a  smashing  blow  by  the  Copy- 
it  Protection  Bureau, 
fack  H.  Levin,  director  of  the  bu- 
j  here,  yesterday  disclosed  complet- 
i  of  a  special  investigation  into 
tlegging  of  films  by  itinerant  ex- 
ttors.  More  than  100  illegitimate 
nts  already  have  been  seized  by 
leral  officials. 

E.  E.  Gregg,  who  operates  the  Pan- 
»erican  Laboratory  in  Chicago, 
;s  one-year  imprisonment  or  a 
000  fine  or  both  following  his  plea 
[guilty  to  a  charee  of  distributing 
uthorized  duped  copies  of  films. 
)uped  or  stolen  35  and  16  mm. 
its  were  traced  through  New  York, 
io,  Michigan,  Illinois,  Wisconsin, 
ginia,  Iowa,  New  Mexico,  West 
,  ginia  and  Indiana. 
'  tate  and  local  police  cooperated  in 

investigation,  and  later  the  evi- 
Ce  was  turned  over  to  J.  Edgar 
aver,  head  of  the  Federal  Bureau 

Investigation,  who  pressed  the 
ie. 

.gents  of  the  bureau  conducted  a 
Vs  investigation  before  they  dis- 
ered  the  source  of  the  prints,  which 
"e  distributed  through  illegal  chan- 
to  exhibitors  throughout  the 
aitry. 


'11  Film  Branches 
Unite  in  Tax  Fight 

o.vdon.  May  11. — All  branches  of 
trade  were  represented  at  a  joint 
•ting  today  and  agreed  on  immedi- 
action  to  bring  about  complete 
lition  of  the  newly  increased  im- 
"t  and  excise  duties  on  films. 
>  committee  will  meet  tomorrow  to 
m  up  a  united  appeal  to  the  Chan- 
tor  of  the  Exchequer.    Further  ac- 
i  may  include  the  formation  of  a 
licity  committee,  with  possible  use 
the  press,  Parliamentary  and  pub- 
channels.   The  plan  for  a  concerted 
e  against  the  taxes  was  carried 
hout  a  dissenting  vote.      D.  E. 
ffiths,  president  of  the  K.  R.  S., 
sided,  with  Sam  Eckman,  M-G-M 
tish  head,  playing  a  leading  part. 
Represented  at  the  meeting  were  the 
R-  S.,  C.  E.  A.,  Film  Group  of  the 
leration  of  British  Industries,  labor, 
sreels,  news  theatres,  advertisers, 
'Orters.    short    subject    and  sub- 
idard  interests. 


Max  Cohen  Cold 
To  Allied  Combine 

Max  A.  Cohen,  president  of 
New  York  Allied,  is  opposed 
to  the  plan  of  some  of  the 
national  Allied  leaders  for  a 
huge  buying  and  booking 
combine  of  independent  ex- 
hibitors. 

"In  my  opinion,  the  Govern- 
ment would  frown  on  it,"  said 
Cohen  yesterday.  "It  appears 
to  me  it  would  clearly  be  a 
monopoly  in  restraint  of 
trade." 


Para's  Finances  Are 
Excellent — Balahan 

Galveston,  May  11. — Paramount's 
financial  condition  is  excellent,  Bar- 
ney Balaban,  president,  told  the  final 
session  of  the  Interstate  and  Texas 
Consolidated  convention  here  today. 

He  said  Paramount  has  substan- 
tially completed  its  debt  retirement 
program,  and  praised  Y.  Frank  Free- 
man's management  of  the  studio. 

Balaban  declared  that  all  pictures 
sold  for  1938- '39  will  be  delivered,  and 
that  at  Paramount's  first  big  conven- 
tion in  four  years  in  Hollywood  next 
month  the  sales  forces  will  see  some 
of   next    year's  product. 

Representatives  of  all  major  compa- 
nies spoke  on  their  next  year's  prod- 
uct. Karl  Hoblitzelle  saluted  R.  J. 
O'Donnell  and  his  employees. 


SAG  Gives  Extras 
Chance  to  Drop  Out, 
Organize  Own  Unit 

Hollywood,  May  11. — Extras  today 
were  given  an  opportunity  of  deciding 
whether  they  wish  to  remain  with  the 
Screen  Actors  Guild  or  to  organize  a 
separate  unit  and  do  their  own  collect- 
ive bargaining. 

The  SAG  board,  irritated  by  anony- 
mous attacks  from  extras,  will  send 
to  every  extra  member  ballots  which, 
while  carrying  names  of  Class  B 
council  members  in  re-election,  will 
include  the  question :  "Do  extras  wish 
to  remain  with  the  Guild?" 

A  letter  accompanying  the  ballot 
says  in  part : 

"From  time  to  time  self-appointed 
saviors  of  extra  players  proclaim 
.  .  .  how  badly  Guild  treats  extras 
and  how  much  better  they  would  treat 
extras  if  given  a  chance.  They  fur- 
ther make  blanket  charge  that  extras 
are  coerced  into  staying  in  Guild  and 
would  get  out  if  they  could. 

"The  Guild  wants  the  extra  only  if 
the  extra  wants  the  Guild.  Tf  the  ma- 
jority vote  'no'  we  pledge  ourselves 
to  take  steps  to  waive  conditions  of 
our  contract  with  producers  applying 
to  extras,  including  waiver  of  Guild 
shop  for  extras,  reserving  only  our 
jurisdiction  over  any  player  who 
speaks  a  line,  plays  a  part  or  does  a 
stunt  in  motion  pictures.  .  .  ." 


Watterson  Rothacker  Joins 
Qu  igleyPublish  ing  Company 


W  atterson  R.  Rothacker  has  been 
appointed  vice-president  of  the  Quig- 
ley  Publishing  Company,  publishers 
of  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Motion 
Picture  Daily,  Better  Theatres,  the 
International  Motion  Picture  Almanac , 
Fame  and  Teatro  Al  Dia.  His  head- 
quarters will  be  in  Hollywood. 

Mr.  Rothacker  has  conducted  an  ex- 
haustive survey  of  foreign  market 
conditions  throughout  the  world. 
He  recently  returned  from  a  visit  to 
the  principal  markets  of  Latin 
America.  He  has  had  an  extensive 
experience  in  motion  picture  affairs. 
Initially  his  contact  with  the  motion 
picture  was  in  journalism.  He  was 
variously  connected  with  general 
amusement  and  musical  publications 
and  was  United  States  representative 
of  London  publishing  interests.  He 
contributed  articles  to  various  adver- 
tising and  selling  publications. 

In  1910  he  established  his  own  com- 


pany, being  the  first  to  specialize  in 
motion  pictures  for  general  advertis- 
ing and  educational  purposes.  In  that 
year  he  was  the  author  of  the  first 
book  devoted  to 
those  uses  of 
the  motion  pic- 
t  u  r  e  medium. 
The  Rothacker 
company  was 
founded  in  as- 
sociation with 
Carl  Laemnile 
and  R.  H.  Coch- 
rane. Mr.  Roth- 
acker  subse- 
quently acquired 
complete  own- 
ership of  the 
company. 

In    1915  he 
made  several 
war  pictures,  including  the  evacuation 
of  Antwerp  and  action  on  the  Rus- 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


W.  R.  Rothacker 


RKO  Quarter 
Net  Estimated 
At  $388,822 

Compares   With  $53,205 
Loss  in  '38  Period 


RKO's  estimated  net  profit  for  the 
quarter  ended  April  1  was  $388,822, 
according  to  the  eighth  report  of  Irv- 
ing Trust  Co.  as  trustee  of  RKO, 
which  was  submitted  to  the  Federal 
court  yesterday  by  Andrew  Christen- 
sen,  trustee's  representative. 

Figure  is  after  all  charges  including 
interest  of  $191,027  on  outstanding 
debentures  and  gold  notes  but  before 
providing  for  dividends  on  the  Keith- 
Albee-Orpheum  preferred  stock.  Re- 
sult for  the  quarter  compares  with  a 
net  loss  of  $53,205  for  the  correspond- 
ing period  last  year,  or  an  improve- 
ment of  about  $442,000,  as  indicated 
by  Motion  Picture  Daily  on  April 
27. 

Earnings  Show  Big  Gains 

Earnings  of  both  the  picture  and 
theatre  companies  showed  marked  im- 
provement over  the  first  1938  quarter. 
April  earnings  continued  the  improve- 
ment with  a  succession  of  good  re- 
leases and  no  heavy  writeoffs  of  high 
cost  _  productions.  Company's  cash 
position  remained  about  the  same  as  a 
year  ago  with  $7,652,741. 

Commenting  on  the  consolidated 
earnings  for  1938,  which  amounted  to 
$18,604,  as  reported  earlier,  the  trus- 
tee said  that  theatre  subsidiaries 
showed  net  profit  of  $896,774  for  the 
year,  compared  with  $1,483,281  for 
1937.  Operations  of  RKO  Radio  Pic- 
tures resulted  in  a  net  loss  for  1938 
of  $1,247,553,  after  interest  of  $1,- 
058,079  on  indebtedness  to  RKO,  com- 
pared with  net  loss  in  1937  of  $236,- 
909,  after  interest   of  $1,024,647  on 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Ticket  Tax  Called 
Certainty  in  N.  Y. 

Albany,  May  11. — A  one-cent  tax 
on  theatre  tickets  up  to  50  cents  and  on 
a  graduated  scale  above  is  considered 
certain  of  adoption  by  the  legislature 
before  adjournment  next  week.  This 
is  provided  in  the  housing  law  amend- 
ments as  revenue  for  the  purpose. 


Albany,  May  11.— Gov.  Herbert  H. 
Lehman  has  signed  the  measure  spon- 
sored by  Assemblyman  James  E. 
Owens  which  permits  20  per  cent  of 
the  qualified  voters  in  certain  villages 
to  petition  for  a  referendum  on  sub- 
ject of  Sunday  shows. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

 DAILY  

i  Purely  Personal  ► 


2 


16  mm.  De  Vry 
Projector  Set 
For  Theatres 


A  16mm.  sound  projector  designed 
for  heavy-duty  theatre  use  was  dem- 
onstrated to  metropolitan  circuit  heads 
and  newsreel  house  operators  by  the 
DeVry  Corp.  at  the  Hotel  Astor  yes- 
terday. 

The  projector  has  high  intensity 
carbon  arc  lighting  and  a  magazine 
which  holds  4,000  feet,  the  equivalent 
of  10,000  feet  in  35mm. 

For  16  mm.  Newsreels 

The  machine  has  been  designed  by 
DeVry  especially  for  16mm.  local 
newsreels.  Plan  is  to  have  a  local 
newspaper  shoot  the  reel  and  have 
it  shown  as  part  of  a  regular  show  at 
the  theatre.  The  newspaper  would 
bear  the  cost  of  production  in  return 
for  the  sponsorship. 

One  such  deal  is  reported  to  have 
been  closed  in  Elizabeth,  N.  J.,  but 
the  name  of  the  house  and  the  paper 
were  not  disclosed.  Showings  will 
start  there  in  several  weeks.  A  num- 
ber of  similar  deals  are  pending,  it 
was  said. 

Built  For  Heavy  Duty 

Principal  feature  of  the  machine  is 
that  it  is  built  for  heavy  duty  with 
built-in  arc  projection.  A  separate 
ventilation  system  and  insulated  cop- 
per disks  between  the  carbon  and 
aperture  eliminates  a  heat  resistance 
glass  and  makes  better  lighting  pos- 
sible. 

Hugh  Elsasser  has  been  named 
N.  Y.  newsreel  director  for  DeVry. 

Talk  of  a  chain  of  five  and  10-cent 
16mm.  newsreel  houses  has  dwindled 
and  the  effort  will  now  be  to  place 
the  reel  into  regular  houses  as  a 
special  attraction. 

H.  A.  DeVry,  president,  William 
C.  DeVry,  his  son,  of  Chicago,  H.  M. 
Fisher,  manager  of  N.  Y.  office,  and 
Elsasser  supervised  the  demonstration. 

'Rose'  Hits  $49,000 
In  First  Roxy  Week 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square" 
grossed  an  estimated  $49,000  in  its 
first  week  at  the  Roxy  and  may  run 
three  weeks  there.  Second  week  of 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  drew  an 
estimated  $30,000  at  the  Strand  and 
remains  for  a  third.  "Wuthering 
Heights"  is  holding  up  well  at  the  Ri- 
voli,  with  an  estimated  $17,000  for  its 
fourth  week,  and  it  continues  there. 

"Pygmalion,"  nearing  the  end  of  its 
run  at  the  Astor,  grossed  an  esti- 
mated $5,600  in  its  22nd  week.  The 
film's  attendance  figure  went  over 
the  700,000  mark  yesterday.  "Crime  on 
the  Maginot  Line"  will  start  a  sec- 
ond week  at  the  55th  St.  Playhouse. 


Seek  Examination  Order 

Skouras  Theatres  Corp.,  Fox  Metro- 
politan Playhouses,  Inc.,  and  Fox 
Theatres  Corp  today  will  apply  to 
the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  for  an  order 
directing  David  Laza,  as  president  of 
Lazfox.  Inc.,  to  appear  for  examina- 
tion before  trial.  Lazfox  is  suing  for- 
SI 00,000,  charging  breach  of  a  contract 
of  Feb.  21.  1931  for  the  candy  con- 
cession in  75  theatres. 


HARRY  GOETZ,  Max  Gordon, 
Jack  Cohn,  Sam  Briskin, 
Martin  Quigley,  Al  Adams,  Lou 
Rydell,  Monroe  Greenthal  lunch- 
ing in  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern  yes- 
terday. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spencer  Tracy  re- 
turn from  a  brief  vacation  in  Europe 
today  on  the  Washington:  Gilbert 
Frankau,  British  novelist,  and  Mrs. 
Frankau  also  are  on  board. 
• 

Mrs.  Hal  Roach,  wife  of  the  U.  A. 
producer,  arrives  from  the  coast  to- 
day to  join  her  daughter,  Margaret. 
Mrs.  C.  H.  Roach,  mother  of  the 
producer,  is  expected  soon. 

• 

John  Litel  gets  featured  role  in 
Warners'    "Dust    Be    My  Destiny," 
starring  John  Garfield.    Film  goes 
into  production  in  a  few  days. 
• 

Hibbard  A.  Henderson,  former 
publicity  man  at  the  Beacon,  Boston, 
is  now  working  under  Jack  Saef  at 
the  Paramount  there. 

• 

A.  J.  Herman,  eastern  district  man- 
ager for  Universal,  has  been  in  Bos- 
ton for  several  days,  and  is  expected 
back  tomorrow. 

• 

Don  Martin  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  Beacon,  Boston. 
• 

Arthur  Robie  is  the  new  manager 
of  Boston's  Bowdoin. 

Schlaifer,  Smith  to 
Appear  in  U.  5.  Suit 

L.  J.  Schlaifer,  vice-president,  and 
Andrew  W.  Smith,  general  sales  man- 
ager of  United  Artists  Corp.,  yester- 
day were  requested  by  the  Government 
to  appear  on  May  22  at  10:30  A.  M. 
for  questioning  in  the  anti-trust  suit 
against  the  majors. 

Special  assistant  attorney  general 
Seymour  Krieger  will  conduct  the 
hearing,  a  part  of  the  continued  ex- 
amination before  trial  of  United  Art- 
ists. 


Ross  Transfers  Unks 

Ralph  R.  Unks  has  been  appointed 
Albany  branch  manager  for  Ross  Fed- 
eral, succeeding  K.  A.  Davis,  who  has 
returned  to  the  coast.  Harvey  J.  Han- 
reddy  has  been  transferred  from  Los 
Angeles  to  Indianapolis  as  branch 
head. 


The  coal  strike  situation  features 
the  new  issues.  Reels  and  their  con- 
tents follozv. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  268— Salute 
Britain's  king  and  queen.  Start  mail  ex- 
hibit trip.  Navy  Day  at  West  Point.  Coal 
crisis  conference.  Pershing  in  Washington. 
Army  show  in  Poland.  Polo  team  makes 
debut.     Ladies  day  at  Softball  game. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  70— Visit  Cali- 
fornia mission.  Reconstruct  bridge.  Chorus 
girls  entertain  gobs.  Modern  Art  exhibit. 
Aviators  fly  over  Alps.  Lew  Lehr.  Soft- 
ball game.     Wrestling.     Sail  boat  display. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,    No.   81— Sailors 


NANCY  CARROLL  and  Herbert 
Rawlinson  were  photographed 
yesterday  at  RKO's  World  Fair  head- 
quarters. Another  visitor  was  San- 
tiago Castillo  of  British  Honduras. 
He  is  co-owner  of  the  Palace,  only 
theatre  in  Belize. 

• 

Juan  Suarez  and  Ernesto  Ca- 
parros  of  Producciones  C.H.I.C.H., 
Havana,  are  in  town  with  the  nega- 
tive of  their  first  feature ,  "Ahora 
Seremos  Felices." 

• 

Henry  Danziger,  of  the  N.  Y. 
Film  Board  of  Trade,  will  enter  the 
Jewish  Hospital  of  Brooklyn  Monday 
for  an  operation. 

• 

Mischa  Violin,  associate  conductor 
of  the  Music  Hall  symphony  orches- 
tra, leaves  today  for  Curacao  on  the 
Santa  Paula. 

Shirley  Carter  Burden,  president 
of  Tradefilms,  Inc.,  arrived  from 
Hollywood  yesterday  for  a  month's 
stay  here. 

Ernest  W.  Whitford,  from  the 
Court  Square,  Springfield,  Mass.,  is 
the  new  manager  of  the  Gaiety  in 
Boston. 

• 

Robert  Florey,  Paramount  director, 
returned  from  abroad,  and  left  yester- 
day for  Hollywood. 

• 

Paul  Robeson  will  arrive  from  Eu- 
rope Monday  on  the  Normandie. 


Paramount  Installs 
Television  Receiver 

The  Paramount  Theater  on 
Broadway  has  installed  a 
DuMont  television  receiver  in 
its  Elizabethan  Room,  with 
large  lobby  and  street  signs 
inviting  patrons  to  witness 
television  programs.  This  is 
the  second  theater  installa- 
tion hereabouts,  the  first 
having  been  at  the  Little 
Carnegie  Playhouse. 


Loew's  Books  'Warning' 

"The  Warning,"  English  film  show- 
ing England's  preparedness  for  war, 
has  been  booked  by  the  Loew  circuit, 
according  to  Budd  Rogers,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  Alliance 
Films. 


visit  cadets.  Pershing  arrives  at  White 
House.  Stamp  collection  on  tour.  Art 
museum  dedicated.  Coal  strike  situation. 
Test  army  bombers.  Celebrities  attend  ball 
game. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  85— Conflict 
in  Poland.  Roosevelt  launches  stamp  truck 
tour.  Hot  lightning  produced.  Softball 
game.  Catwalk  under  Niagara.  Museum 
of  art  opens.   Cup  tryouts.    Girls  wrestling. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  770- 
Sailors  visit  West  Point.  Coal  strike. 
Pershing  visits  capitol.  Liquor  confiscated. 
Rebuild  bridge.  Haul  salmon  over  dam. 
Lightning  manufactured.  Fashions.  Soft- 
ball game.     Wrestling.     Horse  riding. 


Friday,  May  12, 


Fair  Reviews 
Amusements 
On  Saturda 


Amusement  sector  of  the  Wor 
Fair,  long  denied  an  official  openi 
will  be  dedicated  with  lots  of  h# 
tomorrow  at  9  P.M.  But  it  carrc 
called  an  opening  if  friendly  relati 
with  the  Fair's  publicity  departm 
are  to  be  maintained — so  it's  a  "Gr; 
Review"  of  the  Amusement  Sectior 

Grover  Whalen  and  Mayor  Fion 
H.  LaGuardia,  dressed  in  10  gal 
hats  and  mounted  on  spirited  hor: 
will  do  the  honors,  lead  a  parade 
500  performers,  and  make  speeches 
10 :30  P.M.  An  electric  eel  wli 
gives  off  400  volts  will  furnish 
power  to  start  the  ceremonies.  1 
N.  Y.  Zoological  Society  will  furn 
the  eel. 

After  the  parade,  which  will  stop 
each  concession,  and  the  speeches  i 
come  a  fireworks  display.  A  "FH 
for  Life,"  with  Ginger  Vess,  18-ye 
old  aerialist,  doing  a  1400  foot  sli 
will  end  the  free  festivities.  Then 
concessionaires  will  go  to  work. 


Doyle,  Australian 
RKO  Manager,  Di 

Ralph  Doyle,   RKO  manager 
Australia,  is  en  route  here  for 
company's    annual    sales  convent 
June  19-22,  and  will  arrive  in  I 
Angeles   on  the   Monterey  Mond 
His  home  office  visit  is  in  line  w 
those  of  the  Australian  managers 
the  other  large  distributing  compan: 
six  of  whom  have  been  here  within 
past  few  months. 

On  the  same  boat  are  Dan  Cam 
head  of  the  Birch,  Carroll,  Coyle  c 
cuit  in  Australia,  and  Charles  Mun 
head  of  Hoyt's  circuit,  who  are  me 
bers  of  the  industry  governing  co 
mittee  of  four  recently  designated 
New  South  Wales. 


Columbia  Outing  June 

Columbian  Club  members  will  In 
their  annual  outing  June  10  at  1 
Pinebrook  Country  Club,  near  Bridj 
port,  Conn. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  ; 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunc 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Cc 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  preside 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasut 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telepho: 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpub 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1! 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  I 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yi 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Moti 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teat 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictc 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Un: 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boc 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weav 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Sgua 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londe 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  : 
1938.  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  ' 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  ( 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  V 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


i*  May  12,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


WR.TFTY 


NEW  YORK, 


OP  MONEY  PIX  THIS  YE 


o  Story  Editors' Jitters  Over 

Anri-NayiTUiPs-RO  Roarrii 


NIG  LEADS  'HH9;  'Rrst  Week 


li 


on  qotu  an 


To  Bv 


n  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Watterson  Rothacker  Joins 
QuigleyPu  blishingCompany 


{Continued 

sian  and  Serbian  fronts  and  behind 
the  lines  in  Germany.  The  first  im- 
portant cartoon  on  film  was  produced 
in  his  studio  that  year.  The  subject 
was  Sydney  Smith's  "Old  Doc  Yak." 
In  the  two  succeeding  years  he  pro- 
duced several  pictures  at  the  Chicago 
studio  and  made  in  New  York  the 
first  motion  picture  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Vernon  Castle.  He  produced  the  first 
motion  pictures  photographed  from 
the  air,  the  actual  camera  work  being 
done  by  Herman  DeVry,  now  head 
of  the  DeVry  corporation. 

At  the  Rothacker  studios,  too,  there 
were  early  experimentations  in  sound 
I  pictures,  recording,  incidentally,  the 
voice  of  the  late  and  famed  Frank 
Bacon,  father  of  Lloyd  Bacon,  the 
director. 

One  of  the  more  pretentious  and 
successful  production  enterprises  of 
the  Rothacker  studios  was  his  produc- 
tion of  "The  Lost  World,"  a  fantasy 
made  with  stop  motion  manipulation 
of  models  and  intricate  sets.  It  was 
a  famous  First  National  release. 

In  1926  Mr.  Rothacker  sold  his 
laboratories  and  studios  to  Herbert  J. 
Yates,  of  Consolidated  Film  Enter- 


from  page  1) 
prises.  Since  then,  between  sundry 
and  extensive  traveling  abroad,  Mr. 
Rothacker  has  been  variously  vice- 
president  and  managing  director  of 
First  National  Productions  at  Bur- 
bank,  also  vice-president  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Producers'  Association 
in  Hollywood,  in  charge  of  the  re- 
organization of  the  General  Service 
Studios  for  Electrical  Research  Prod- 
ucts, Inc.,  and  vice-president  of  Para- 
mount Pictures,  Inc. 

Various  persons  now  prominently 
associated  with  the  industry  were  con- 
nected with  the  Rothacker  organiza- 
tion. Among  these  are :  E.  O.  Black- 
burn and  George  Gibson,  of  J.  E.  Bru- 
latour,  Inc. ;  J.  Wesley  Smith,  of  Du- 
Pont  Film  Manufacturing  Co.,  and 
Harry  Joe  Brown,  Twentieth  Cen- 
tury-Fox producer.  Edgar  Bergen, 
of  Charlie  McCarthy  fame,  incident- 
ally, once  operated  a  polishing  ma- 
chine in  the  Rothacker  Chicago 
studio.  Ralph  Morgan,  now  president 
of  the  Screen  Actors  Guild,  first  faced 
a  motion  picture  camera  at  Roth- 
acker's  Chicago  studio,  co-starring 
with  Peggy  O'Neil  in  a  feature  film 
entitled  "The  Penny  Philanthropist." 


4 


RKO  Quarter 
Net  Estimated 
At  $388,822 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

indebtedness  to  the  parent  company. 
Pathe  News  showed  a  net  profit  of 
$97,199  for  1938,  compared  with  net 
profit  of  $63,011  for  1937. 

Seek  Note  Extension 

The  report  disclosed  that  the  re- 
maining $50,000  of  RKO  secured  gold 
notes  outstanding,  which  are  secured 
by  practically  all  of  the  going  assets 
of  the  company,  have  been  extended  to 
June  30  and  that  a  further  extension 
will  be  asked  by  the  trustee  later.  Re- 
tirement of  the  notes  prior  to  consum- 
mation of  the  company's  reorganiza- 
tion could  complicate  the  procedure 
by  opening  up  the  question  of  whether 
or  not  the  company's  debenture^  would 
then  enjoy  a  first  lien  on  the  assets 
which  secure  the  notes. 

Fixed  indebtedness  of  RKO  was 
further  reduced  by  $610,776  during 
the  latter  half  of  1938,  making  the 
total  reductions  since  July  1,  1934, 
$8,026,238.  During  the  same  period, 
cash  increased  about  $2,650,000. 


RKO  Confirms  Story 
Patterson  Offered  Post 

Financial  interests  associated  with 
the  reorganization  of  RKO  yesterday 
confirmed  published  reports  that  ne- 
gotiations had  been  held  with  Richard 
C.  Patterson,  Jr.,  Assistant  Secretary 
of  Commerce,  with  a  view  to  his  be- 
coming associated  with  the  company 
in  an  executive  capacity.  It  was 
stated  that  the  negotiations  had  not 
progressed  "very  far"  but  were  being 
continued. 

Patterson,  who  plans  to  resign  from 
the  Government  service  about  mid- 
summer, is  also  reported  to  have  been 
offered  a  high  post  with  a  utility  com- 
pany. He  was  formerly  a  vice-presi- 
dent and  director  of  NBC.  It  was 
said  that  no  specific  post  in  RKO  has 
been  offered  him  but  it  is  believed 
he  would  become  either  a  high  admin- 
istrative or  financial  officer. 


82%  of  Brazil  Film 
Trade  Is  American 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  May  11. — American 
films  were  decidedly  popular  with 
Brizilians  in  1938.  Out  of  491  films 
exhibited  last  year  in  this  country,  402 
of  them  were  American  products,  or 
82  per  cent  of  the  total. 

Two  reasons  are  given  for  the  heavy 
American  business  in  Brazil:  (1) 
Large  American  film  companies  have 
agencies  located  in  Brazil,  (2)  Brazil- 
ians favor  American  to  European  films 
or  pictures  in  Spanish  because  Por- 
tuguese is  spoken  universally  in  Brazil 
and  consequently  even  Spanish  pic- 
tures must  be  translated  into  Portu- 
guese. 


Alexander  to  Be  Host 

'  Adolph  Haas  and  Charles  Light  of 
Alexander  Film  Co.  will  be  hosts  at  a 
"housewarming"  at  the  company's 
new  quarters  at  630  Ninth  Ave.  this 
afternoon. 


Awards  Winners 
Arrive  on  Monday 

John  Burhorn,  manager  of  the 
Gayety  in  Chicago,  and  George  Limer- 
ick, city  manager  of  the  Griffith  thea- 
ters, Enid,  Okla.,  will  arrive  in  New 
York  Monday  to  accept  the  1938 
Quigley  Grand  Awards. 

A  record  turnout  of  industry  execu- 
tives is  expected  next  Tuesday  at  the 
Hotel  Astor  luncheon  at  which  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  MGM  general  sales 
manager,  will  present  the  awards  to 
the  two  winners.  Governors  and  sena- 
tors of  Oklahoma  and  Illinois  have 
been  invited  to  attend. 

Among  speakers  at  the  luncheon 
will  be  Snyros  P.  Skouras,  president 
of  National  Theaters.  W.  G.  Schmus, 
managing  director  of  Radio  City 
Music  Hall,  will  guide  the  winners  on 
a  backstage  tour. 

A  large  program  of  entertainment 
has  been  arranged  for  Burhorn  and 
Limerick  during  their  week's  stay  in 
New  York  as  guests  of  Martin  Quig- 
ley. 

The  winners  will  be  guests  at  the 
Ampa  meeting  next  Thursday. 


Carlisle,  Pa.,  Opens 
$100,000  Theatre 

Carlisle,  Pa.,  May  11. — The  new- 
est theatre  in  the  Comerford  Amuse- 
ment Co.  circuit,  the  $100,000  Com- 
erford, opened  here  tonight.  The 
chain's  Orpheum  will  be  permanently 
closed,  but  the  Strand  will  continue. 
Arthur  Glaser  will  manage  the  Com- 
erford and  Strand.  The  new  house 
will  give  daily  continuous  perform- 
ances. 


Defer  Sunday  Film  Vote 

New  Bern,  N.  C,  May  11.— Local 
Board  of  Aldermen  has  deferred  ac- 
tion on  the  request  for  Sunday  shows. 


Jackson  Reported 
With  Irving  Asher 

London,  May  11. — It  is  un- 
officially reported  here  Jer- 
ome Jackson,  former  head  of 
the  Teddington  Warner  Stu- 
dios, has  joined  Irving  Asher, 
who  is  producing  quota  fea- 
tures for  Columbia  release 
at  the  Denham  studios. 


Urge  Pa.  Child  Ban 
At  Sunday  Shows 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May  11. — First  of 
almost  a  score  of  bills  relating  to  the 
picture  industry,  introduced  at  this 
session  of  the  state  legislature,  was 
reported  out  of  committee  today. 

The  bill  which  reached  the  senate 
floor  with  the  committee's  approval 
prohibits  attendance  of  children  15 
years  old  or  younger  at  Sunday  the- 
atrical performances. 

Measures  still  in  committees  include 
one  which  would  abolish  Sunday  mov- 
ies entirely  by  restoring  Sunday  blue 
laws.  It  is  believed  the  legislature 
is  opposed  to  elimination  of  Sunday 
shows. 

Appointment  of  Mrs.  Edna  R.  Car- 
roll of  Philadelphia  as  chairman  of 
the  state  censor  board  was  confirmed 
today. 


Seattle  Races  Banned 

Seattle,  May  11. — City  Council  has 
refused  to  grant  a  license  to  permit 
midget  auto  races  nightly  during  the 
summer  months  at  the  Civic  Auditor- 
ium field.  Four  individual  promoters 
were  attempting  to  obtain  the  li- 
cense, which  was  fought  bitterly  by 
the  M.P.T.O.  of  Washington,  under 
^»e  guidance  of  Secretary  James  M. 
'  '^ne. 


Friday,  May  12,  19 1 

Columbia  Set  ] 
For  Chicago 
Meet  Sunda 


Chicago,  May  11. — The  second  ;j 
Columbia's  three  regional  sales  mel 
ings  will  open  at  the  Drake  Sxf)  j 
with  more  than  70  delegates  pn}/'  j 
from  nine  midwest  exchanges,  Cj 
adian  branches  and  the  home  off  1 
The  third  and  final  regional  meet  J 
will  be  held  in  Los  Angeles. 

The  following  home  office  executi  J 
will  leave  New  York  Friday  for  1 
meeting  here :  Jack  Cohn,  vice-pn  1 
dent ;  Abe  Montague,  general  si  1 
manager;  Rube  Jackter,  Louis  As- 1 
Louis  Weinberg,  Max  Weisfel 
Maurice  Bergman,  Hank  Kaufrr  I 
Maurice  Grad,  George  Josephs  ; 
Irving  Moross. 

Present  from  the  various  midw 
and  Canadian  offices  will  be : 

Chicago— Midwestern  Division  Mana  : 
Phil  Dunas;  Salesmen,  C.  W.  Phillips,  I 
St.  Clair,  T.  Greenwood,  F.  Flaherty  j 
Joseph,  M.  Denalo;  Des  Moines — Brs 
Mgr.  M.  H.  Evidon;  Salesmen,  A. 
Leake,  M.  Goodman,  M.  L.  Godwin,  j 
Miller;  Detroit — Central  Division  Mgr.] 
H.  Shalit;  Salesmen,  H.  R.  Schilds,  R. 
Cloud,  G.  L.  McCoy,  C.  H.  Townsend^ 
Baker;  Indianapolis-Branch  Mgr.  W. 
Craig;  Salesmen,  H.  Kaufman,  C.  Bu  I 
A.  J.  Gelman,  L.  Shubnell;  Kansas  Ci« 
Branch  Mgr.  B.  C.  Marcus;  Salesmen. 
Baldwin,  W.  Bradfield,  C.  E.  Reynoldsi , 
S.  Stulz,  Z.  Beiser. 

Also  Milwaukee — Branch  Mgr.  O. 
Ruby;  Salesmen,  T.  J.  MacEvoy,  S. 
Chapman,  D.  Chapman;  Minneapo 
Branch  Mgr.  H.  J.  Chapman;  Salesr 
M.  E.  Mazur,  I.  Marks,  D.  H.  Con 
M.  W.  Sgutt,  A.  L.  Aved,  W.  Evk 
Omaha— Branch  Mgr.  J.  H.  Jacobs;  Sa 
men,  E.  Dunas,  E.  L.  Brichetto, 
Morphet,  R.  Adler;  St.  Louis— Branch  1 
C.  D.  Hill;  Salesmen,  L.  A.  LaPlante 
Bradford,  C.  Ferris,  R.  Mortenson;  H< 
Office  representatives:  L.  L.  Savage, 
Altshuler;  Canada — General  Mgr.  of  Can 
L.  Rosenfeld;  Sales  Manager,  D.  Cop 
A.  Cass,  W.  Elman,  M.  S.  Bernstein 
Levit. 

Canada  Film  Board 
Measure  Now  Lc 

Toronto,  May  11. — Federal  meas 
for  the  establishment  of  the  Natio 
Film  Board  in  the  Dominion  has 
come  an  enactment  of  the  Governm 
by  Royal  Assent  and  the  stage  is 
for  the  organization  of  the  comn ! 
sion  to  sponsor  and  govern  the  p 
duction,  distribution  and  exhibition  i 
"national  films"  and  document 
short  subjects  under  the  chairm ; 
ship  of  the  Minister  of  Trade  ;  ; 
Commerce. 

A  National  Film  Commissioner  is 
be  appointed  for  three  years  wl 
an  advisory  committee  is  to  organ  I 
a  central  film  distribution  service, 
film  exchange  is  to  be  operated  uii'; 
the  auspices  of  the  Canadian  Gove  j 
ment  Motion  Picture  Bureau. 

Plan  Industry  History 

Hollywood,  May  11. — "Hollyw(: 
Cavalcade,"    history   of    the  mot' 
picture  industry,  to  be  produced 
20th  Century-Fox,  will  be  made 
color,  with  a  budget  estimated  by 
studio  at  $2,000,000.    Mack  Sennett 
aiding  Harry  Joe  Brown  in  the  p  j 
duction. 


McCrea  to  Warners 

Joel  McCrea  has  been  borrowed 
Warners  from  Sam  Goldwyn  for 
leading  role  in  "Career  Man,"  to 
directed  by  Lloyd  Bacon. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Only  Angels  Have  Wings" 

(Columbia) 

Hollywood,  May  11. — Everything  that  makes  a  good  picture — an 
excellent  story,  intelligent  direction  and  production,  skillful  characteriza- 
tions, thrilling  spectacle,  technical  perfection  and  a  lusty  appeal  to  the 
emotions — is  embodied  in  "Only  Angels  Have  Wings,"  which  Columbia 
announces  as  the  first  effort  for  it  of  Howard  Hawks,  some  time  ago 
signed  as  a  director-producer. 

A  story  of  a  group  of  intrepid  aviators  blazing  a  trail  for  a  com- 
mercial aviation  line  over  the  Andes  with  their  base  as  a  little  banana 
port,  the  film  furnishes  stimuli  to  every  emotion. 

It  is  a  picture  in  which  intelligent  showmen  can  find  point  and  coun- 
terpoint for  their  campaigns.  Primary  strength,  of  course,  lies  in  the 
names  of  Cary  Grant  and  Jean  Arthur,  who  ably  plays  the  leading 
feminine  romantic  interest.  The  picture  also  marks  the  return  to  the 
screen  of  Richard  Barthelmess,  a  name  which,  judging  from  preview 
audience  reaction,  is  still  potent.  A  group  of  dependable  players  includ- 
ing Rita  Hayworth,  Thomas  Mitchell,  Allyn  Joslyn,  Sig  Rumann,  Vic- 
tor Kilian  and  Noah  Beery,  Jr.,  complete  the  cast. 

Hawks,  who  produced  and  directed  the  film,  also  furnished  the  story 
which  Jules  Furthman  adapted  with  a  fine  appreciation  for  each  scene. 

The  appeal  of  "Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  lies  not  merelv  in  the 
aviation  spectacle — and  there  are  flying  scenes  in  the  film  that  have 
never  been  surpassed  in  any  air  picture — but  also  in  the  play  upon 
human  nature.  The  central  figure  is  Grant,  in  one  of  his  best  perform- 
ances, who  has  the  role  of  a  hard-headed  chief  of  a  transport  line  being 
established  in  South  America.  Jean  Arthur,  a  showgirl,  falls  in  love 
with  him  on  sight  and  leaves  her  boat  at  the  banana  port  to  be  near 
him.  With  storms  and  bad  weather  a  constant  menace  to  life,  Grant 
forces  his  pilots  through  with  the  mail  in  order  to  qualify  for  a 
government  subsidy.  Barthelmess  comes  on  the  scene,  a  pariah  among 
flyers,  and  his  wife,  Rita  Hayworth,  to  whom  Grant  was  formerly 
married. 

Mention  must  be  made  of  the  technical  skill  with  which  the  picture 
was  endowed.  Outstanding  aerial  photography  by  Elmer  Dyer,  special 
effects  by  Roy  Davidson  and  the  work  of  Paul  Mantz,  technical  advisor 
and  chief  stunt  pilot,  contribute  much  to  the  punch  of  the  film.  "Only 
Angels  Have  Wings"  is  a  picture  to  push. 

Running  time,  119  minutes.  "G."*  Vanck  Kino 


"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hey.  May  12.  1939 


lebate  on  Ads 
fickles  Ainpa; 
icore  is  2  to  1 


K  three-cornered  debate  on  film  ad- 
rtising  methods  at  the  Ampa 
■eon  yesterday  at  the  Astor 
^.ed  and  instructed  a  large  at- 
dance.  At  the  conclusion  it  was 
consensus  that  the  score  was  two 
•one. 

..the  two  who  gave  the  majority 
rion  were  Harry  Goldberg,  War- 
Theatres  advertising  director,  and 
ward  Dietz,  advertising  and  pub- 
tv  chief  for  M-G-M.  The  dissent 
s  delivered  by  Dr.  J.  S.  List,  psy- 
•logist  and  specialist  in  radio  and 
,i  research,  who  is  connected  with 
BC  and  the  National  Board  of  Re- 

List  Amplifies  Charges 

The  debate  was  an  extension  of  Dr. 
it's  charges  at  a  previous  Ampa 

eting  that  "nothing  new  in  film  ad- 
vising has  been  developed  by  the  in- 
>try  since  it  was  started."    He  had 

i-ised  research  to  determine  patrons' 
xtion. 

loldberg  said,  among  other  tilings, 
it  he  had  tried  research  and  it 
T>ved  of  no  value,  that  there  can 
no  scientific  approach  to  film  ad- 
vising and  that  the  only  proved 
thod  is  that  of  trial  and  error. 
Jietz  backed  him  up  and  declared 
V  the  picture  cannot  be  entirely 
jck  considering  that  in  the  10  years 
no  has  reached  its  flower,  film  the- 
«  attendance  has  increased  100  per 
it.  The  necessity  to  use  the  for- 
jla  of  where  and  when  a  film  is 
ying  and  how  much  it  costs  has 
tricted  advertising  men  in  their  ap- 
•ach  to  the  consumer,  he  said. 

\   Human  Nature  Unchanged 

,n  rebuttal,  Dr.  List  held  up  two 

G-M  ads,  pointing  out  an  illustra- 
|i  used  was  similar  to  one  which 

•eared  in  a  trade  ad  IS  years  ago. 
\  Seadler,  M-G-M  advertising  mana- 

,  had  the  last  word.  He  said,  in 
ect,  that  human  relationships  have 
In  unchanged  since  the  Garden  of 

en. 

-"aul  Lazarus,  Jr.,  president,  said 
't  the  meeting  next  Thursday  will 
Iter  around  the  1938  Quigley  Grand 
ards  winners.  The  May  25  meet- 
will  be  the  final  one  of  the  season, 
e  first  fall  meeting  will  honor  past 
'  sidents  of  the  organization. 


Jes  Moines  Club  Elects 

Des  Moines,  May  11.— G.  Ralph 

anton  has  been  elected  president  of 
local  Variety  Club,  with  Nate 
tidier,  vice-president;  Lou  Elman, 

retary;  Harry  Schiffrin,  treasurer; 

k  Levy,  chairman  of  the  house  and 
jtes  committee.    The  club  has  re- 

ned  to  its  former  rooms   in  the 

•tel  Savery. 


Heifetz  Biography 

Hollywood,  May  11— Deems  Tay- 
.  music  critic  and  commentator,  has 
ived  here  to  work  on  a  biography 
Jascha  Heifetz  to  be  used  in  edi- 
tion with  the  exploitation  of  Sam- 
Goldwyn's  "Music  School"  in 
ich  the  violinist  appears. 


Hollywood,  May  11.— John  Wayne, 
whose  work  in  Wanger's  "Stage- 
coach," has  made  him  one  of  the  most 
sought  after  actors  in  Hollywood,  has 
been  loaned  by  Republic  to  RKO  for 
"Pennsylvania  Uprising,"  to  be  based 
on  the  Neil  Swanson  novel,  "The 
First  Rebel."  P.  J.  Wolfson  will 
produce  the  picture  with  an  extended 
budget.  Edward  Ellis  is  also  cast 
for  an  important  role.  .  .  .  Betty 
Field,  young  Paramount  contractee, 
will  play  opposite  Jackie  Cooper  in 
"Seventeen,"  from  the  Booth  Tark- 
ington  story.  .  .  .  Edward  G.  Rob- 
inson's one  picture  commitment  at 
M-G-M  will  be  "Blackmail,"  which 
starts  next  week  with  H.  C.  Potter 
directing  and  John  W.  Considine, 
Jr.,  producing.  .  .  .May  Robson  has 
been  signed  by  Herbert  Wilcox  to 
support  Anna  Neagle  in  the  story  of 
the  life  of  Edith  Cavell  for  RKO 
release. 

Lucille  Ball  gets  her  most  im- 
portant role  to  date — that  of  the  femi- 
nine lead  in  RKO's  "The  Night  of 
January  16,"  from  the  play  of  the 
same  name.  .  .  .  Humphrey  Bogart, 
Priscilla  Lane  and  Ann  Sheridan 
will  support  James  Cagney  in  War- 
ners' "The  World  Moves  On,"  story 


of  a  taxi  cab  driver  who  became  a 
racket  lord.  .  .  .  M-G-M  has  pur- 
chased "A  Call  on  the  President," 
story  by  Damon  Runyon,  and  Edgar 
Selwyn  will  produce  it.  Melville 
Baker  is  working  on  the  screenplay. 
.  .  .  Paramount  is  instituting  a  wide 
search  for  a  girl  singer,  about  IS 
years  old,  to  be  given  an  important 
role  in  "Victor  Herbert,"  which  An- 
drew Stone  will  produce  and  direct. 
.  .  .  Adela  Rogers  St.  John  has  been 
set  by  Paramount  to  write  the  screen- 
play for  "I  Want  a  Divorce,"  from 
the  radio  program  of  the  same  name 
now  on  a  national  hookup. 

+ 

Casting — Vincent  Price  to  "The 
Knight  and  the  Lady,"  Warners.  .  .  . 
Joseph  Schildkraut  to  "Lady  of  the 
Tropics,"  M-G-M.  .  .  .  Leni  Lynn 
to  "The  Women,"  M-G-M.  .  .  .  Akim 
Tamiroff  has  taken,  at  his  own  re- 
quest, a  minor  role  in  "Are  Husbands 
Necessary?"  co-starring  Fred  Mac- 
Murray  and  MADELEfNE  Carroll. 
Steffi  Duna  draws  the  feminine  lead 
in  Lesser-RKO's  "Way  Down  South," 
starring  Bob  Breen.  .  .  .  Elvira  Rios 
to  "The  Real  Glory,"  Goldwyn.  .  .  . 
Gale  Sondergaard  to  "The  Double 
Dyed  Deceiver,"  Sherman-Paramount. 


5 


Neely  Solution 
Seen  Probable 
At  Allied  Meet 


Columbus,  May  11. — Col.  H.  A. 
Cole,  national  Allied  president,  be- 
lieves a  solution  on  controversial  is- 
sues of  the  Neely  bill  can  be  reached 
at  the  national  convention  in  Minne- 
apolis next  month.  He  has  so  in- 
formed the  I.  T.  O.  of  Ohio. 

After  a  full  discussion,  a  vote  will 
be  taken  to  determine  Allied's  course 
on  this  and  other  legislation  as  well  as 
the  trade  practice  code. 


Executives  to  Convention 

Minneapolis,  May  11. — Additional 
acceptances  to  attend  the  national  Al- 
lied convention  here  have  been  re- 
ceived from  W.  C.  Gehring,  20th 
Century-Fox  central  division  mana- 
ger ;  Morgan  Ames,  Mort  H.  Singer 
Theatres ;  Henri  Elman,  Monogram 
Pictures,  Chicago ;  R.  R.  Biechele, 
Kansas  City ;  Fred  Wehrenberg,  St. 
Louis ;  Herman  Robbins,  president  of 
National  Screen,  and  J.  Don  Alex- 
ander, Alexander  Film  Co. 

Unionization  Fight 
Is  Local  in  Mexico 

Attempt  of  the  Mexican  film  work- 
ers' federation  to  enforce  unionization 
of  theatres  has  been  localized  and  is 
not  spreading,  according  to  reports 
reaching  company  foreign  departments 
yesterday. 

The  federation  has  demanded  that 
distributors  cease  servicing  the  Rod- 
riguez Bros,  circuit  in  northern 
Mexico  because  the  circuit  refuses  to 
employ  its  members  and  has  estab- 
lished a  union  of  its  own.  It  is  under- 
stood this  has  been  enforced. 

The  federation  is  also  making  wage 
increases  as  part  of  its  demands. 
American  company's  exchanges  em- 
ploy federation  members.  The  Ala- 
meda Mexico  City's  leading  theatre, 
and  the  Iris  there  have  been  included 
in  the  service  boycott,  although  not 
involved  in  the  dispute. 

Bingo  Drops  26%  in 
Cincinnati  in  April 

Cincinnati,  May  11. — Despite  the 
fact  that  Bingo  activities  here  fell  off 
one-fourth  in  April  compared  with 
the  March  figures,  exhibitors  find  lit- 
tle consolation  in  the  report.  A  sur- 
vey of  the  local  houses  shows  that  the 
game  continues  to  make  appreciable 
inroads  on  theatre  attendance. 

According  to  reports  of  the  police 
department,  the  number  of  games  de- 
clined 26  per  cent,  attendance  22.5  per 
cent,  receipts  23.7  per  cent  and  prizes 
19.2  per  cent.  Numerically,  there 
were  154  games  in  April.  Attendance 
was  149,087;  gross  receipts,  $110,- 
243.89;  prizes,  $27,887.10  and  net 
profit,  $82,356.79. 


Extend  Ruben  Pact 

Hollywood,  May  11. — M-G-M  has 
extended  the  producer  contract  of  J. 
Walter  Ruben,  whose  next  picture 
will  be  "Thunder  Afloat,"  Navy  story 
in  which  Wallace  Beery  and  Robert 
Young  will  be  featured. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'Victory  in 
Minneapolis 
Does  $8,400 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Hotel  Imperial'' 

(Paramount) 

Hollywood,  May  11. — Persons  coming  in  late  on  this  picture  may  be 
pardoned  for  thinking  the  young  woman  playing  the  single  feminine  role 
is  Marlene  Dietrich  back  in  her  youthful  form  again  and  back  in  the 
kind  of  picture  she  made  her  fame  in.  Isa  Miranda,  Paramount  import, 
looks  and  acts  that  much  as  Miss  Dietrich  used  to,  and  the  film  is  a 
war  picture  depicting  life  and  love  as  of  a  town  captured  and  sur- 
rendered repeatedly  by  Austrians  and  Russians  in  1916.  It  is  as  good 
as,  or  better  than,  any  of  like  kind  made  in  the  years  when  the  conflict 
raging  in  that  era  was  popularly  referred  to  as  the  last  war. 

Miss  Miranda's  resemblance  to  Miss  Dietrich  is  incidental.  She  is  a 
competent  actress  in  her  own  right.  She  has  competent  company  in  Ray 
Milland,  romantic  lead;  Reginald  Owen,  an  entertaining  Russian  gen- 
eral; J.  Carrol  Naish,  a  spy,  and  Gene  Lockhart,  general  manager  of 
the  Hotel  Imperial.  Don't  let  the  title  persuade  you  that  it's  a  "Grand 
Hotel"  type  of  story;  it  isn't.  Miss  Miranda  plays  a  Polish  girl  who 
hires  out  as  chambermaid  at  the  hostelry  in  hope  of  finding  out  why 
her  sister,  who  worked  there,  killed  herself.  _  Naish  turns  out  to  be  the 
reason,  but  is  killed  by  Milland,  Austrian  officer,  before  she  has  a  chance 
to  dispatch  him.    A  bombardment  precedes  the  happy  ending. 

Stanley  Goldsmith  produced,  opulently  and  well,  with  Robert  Florey 
directing  effectively  from  a  screenplay  by  Gilbert  Gabriel  and  Robert 
Thoreen  based  on  a  play  by  Lajos  Biro.  It  is  a  solid,  well  built  piece 
of  entertainment,  with  the  hero  a  Pole  serving  as  an  Austrian  officer 
and  the  villain  a  Russian  spy.  A  song  by  Frederick  Hollander  and 
Ralph  Freed,  sung  by  Miss  Miranda  and  the  Don  Cossack  Chorus,  is 
noteworthily  interpolated. 

Running  time,  80  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


"Fixer  Dugan" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  May  11. — While  the  theme  of  "Fixer  Dugan"  tells  a 
human  interest  story,  the  presence  of  Virginia  Weidler  in  the  cast  and 
the  character  effects  incorporated  in  backgrounds  make  it  more  a  show 
for  youngsters  than  it  is  entertainment  for  adults.  Some  of  the  oral 
details  contingent  upon  telling  the  light  weight  story  are  long  drawn  out, 
but  as  a  threadbare  itinerant  circus  is  the  major  locale,  production  fea- 
tures endow  the  piece  with  considerable  excitement,  thrill  and  suspense. 

As  the  circus  "fixer,"  Lee  Tracy  has  plenty  to  do  in  keeping  the 
show  out  of  financial  and  legal  difficulties,  but  his  major  problems  are 
acting  as  waif  Miss  Weidler's  guardian  and  trying  to  keep  lion  tamer 
Peggy  Shannon's  animals  from  being  repossessed.  In  the  beginning 
Miss  Shannon  has  little  regard  for  the  child,  but  the  girl  gradually  wins 
her  affection  and  after  Virginia  runs  away  from  an  orphans'  home  Miss 
Shannon's  heroic  work  in  rescuing  her  from  an  escaped  lion  convinces 
authorities  that  she  and  Tracy,  who  are  to  be  married,  will  be  proper 
foster  parents  for  the  little  girl. 

From  an  acting  viewpoint,  Miss  Weidler  steals  the  show  whether  her 
part  calls  for  her  to  display  pathos  or  comedy.  Yet  Tracy,  Miss  Shan- 
non, Bradley  Page,  William  Edmunds,  Edward  Gargan  and  Jack  Arnold 
contribute  adequate  performances. 

Based  on  a  story  by  H.  C.  Potter,  Bert  Granet  and  Paul  Yawitz  did 
the  screenplay.  The  manner  in  which  Lew  Landers  supplemented  the 
theme  with  color  and  action  gives  his  direction  a  showmanship  flair. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


Minneapolis,  May  11—  "Dark  Vic- 
tory" led  the  box-office  procession  in 
Minneapolis,  getting  $8,400  at  the 
Century.  Next  best  was  "Stagecoach" 
at  the  Orpheum,  which  was  good  for 
$4,900. 

In  St.  Paul,  "Three  Smart  Girls 
Grow  Up"  did  handsomely  at  the 
Riviera,  getting  $3,900. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  4: 

Minneapolis : 

"Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 
"Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

ASTER— (900)   U5c-25c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$1,650.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

CENTURY — (1,600)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $8,400.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Zenobia"  (U.  A.) 

GOPHER— (990)    (25c)    8    days.  Gross: 
$4,100.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,900)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $4,900.    (Average,  $4,800) 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(20th-Fox) 

STATE— (2,300)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,700.    (Average,  $4,400) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $1,200.    (Average.  $1,400) 

St.  Paul 

"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $2,900.    (Average,  $3,200) 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)   (25c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:   $2,900.     (Average,  $4,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)   (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,900.    Average,  $1,800) 
"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 

(Para.) 
"Inside  Story"  (20th-Fox) 

TOWER— (1,000)  (25c)  7  days.  Dual 
bills,  split  week.  Gross:  $2,300.  (Average, 
$1,600) 

"Woman  Doctor"  (Rep.) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-35c)  6  days.  Gross: 
$400.'  (Average,  $700) 


'Affair'  at  $5,200 
In  Oklahoma  City 

Oklahoma  City,  May  11. — "Love 
Affair,"  with  $5,200  at  the  Criterion, 
was  fairly  strong  in  a  week  of 
generally  dull  business,  with  fair 
weather  and  the  opening  of  swim- 
ming pools  and  amusement  parks 
chiefly  responsible. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  4 : 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

CRITERION— (1,500)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,200.     (Average.  $5,500) 
"BlackweU's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

LIBERTY  —  (1,200)    (20c-25c)    4  days. 
Gross:  $1,700.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Within  The  Law"  (M-G-M) 
"Beauty  For  The  Asking"  (RKO) 

LIBERTY  —  (1,200    (20c-25c)    3  days. 
Gross:  $700.    (Average,  $700) 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 

MIDWEST— (1,200)   (25c-35c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $4,300.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

PLAZA— (750)    (2Sc-35c-40c)    7   days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $1,700) 
"The  Strange  Case  of  Dr.  Meade"  (Col.) 
"Tough  Kid"  (Mono.) 

STATE— (1,100)  (20c-25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.     (Average,  $2,500) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

TOWER— (1,000)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $1,800.    (Average,  $2,500) 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


American  Films  Gain 
In  Peruvian  Market 

Washington,  May  11. — American 
films  are  gaining  ground  in  Peru,  ac- 
cording to  a  report  from  Acting  Com- 
mercial Attache  David  M.  Clark  at 
Lima  to  the  Department  of  Commerce. 
Spanish  dialogue  films  are  losing  favor 
because  rentals  have  been  increased 
and  their  themes  lack  interest. 

English  language  films  advanced 
from  48.5  per  cent  in  the  first  quarter 
of  1938  to  52  per  cent  in  the  same 
quarter  this  year.  Spanish  film  de- 
clined from  41.5  per  cent  to  39.7  per 
cent. 


R.  /.  House  Fireman 
Measure  Approved 

Providence,  May  11. — Gov.  William 
H.  Vanderbilt  has  signed  the  Whit- 
wam  bill  authorizing  theatres  in 
Cranston,  R.  I.  to  engage  men  other 
than  regular  members  of  the  city  fire 
department  for  theatre  duty  as  fire- 
men. Men  must  have  approval  of  the 
fire  chief.  The  law  also  requires  all 
Cranston  theatres  to  have  alarm  boxes. 

The  Whitwam  bill  was  the  only 
one  of  three  introduced  affecting  thea- 
tre business  to  be  passed  by  the 
Rhode  Island  legislature  during  the 
current  session. 


Friday,  May  12,  19." 


'Pacific'  Is 


Denver  Lead 


With  $14,00( 


Denver,  May  11.— "Union  Pacific 
ran  to  near  capacity  at  the  Denhar 
and  grossed  a  smash  $14,000.  "D|wi 
City"  gave  the  Aladdin  a  strong  M 
ond  week  $5,000  and  "Three  Sma 
Girls  Grow  Up"  took  $11,000  at  tl 
Denver. 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High,"  wit 
"They  Made  Her  a  Spy,"  drew  $11 
500  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en< 
ing  May  3: 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)   (25c-40c)  7  days,  2i 
week.     Gross:  $5,000.      (Average,  $3,500) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

BROADWAY— (1,100)  (25c-40c)  7  day 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average,  $2,50 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  day 
Gross:  $14,000.     (Average,  $6,500) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

DENVER— (2,525)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  day 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $9,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  day 
Gross:  $11,500.     (Average,  $8,500) 
"Ambush"  (Para.) 
"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)   (25c-40c)  7  day 
Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (20th-Fox) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  "Hounc 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $1,500.  (Averag 
$1,750) 


'Victory'  $23,000 
Leader  in  Capita  l 

Washington,  May  11. — "Dark  V« 
tory"  drew  an  excellent  $23,000  ; 
Warners'  Earle. 

"Dodge  City"  was  the  only  othl 
bright  spot,  with  $7,000  at  the  Metre 
politan. 

Estimated   takings   for    the  wee 
ending  May  4: 

"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

LOEWS   CAPITOL— (3,434)  (25c-66c) 
days.     Stage:  Jessica  Dragonette.  Grosi 
$14,800.    (Average,  $16,500) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

LOEWS  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40c) 
days,  2nd  run.     Gross:   $4,000.     (Averag  j 
$4,500) 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

LOEWS    PALACE — (2,370)  (25c-55c) 
days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $9,000.  (Average 
$12,000) 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

RKO-KEITH'S — (1,836)  (25c-55c)  7  day 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $6,00( 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE— (2.218)  (25c-66c)  j 
days.    Stage:  Marian  Tallev.    Gross:  $23 
000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  —  (1,59! 
(25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $7.M» 
(Average,  $4,000) 


Halt  Wilmington  Picket 

Wilmington,  Del.,  May  11. — Char 
cellor  W.  W.  Harrington  has  grante 
the  application  of  the  Rialto  Theatr 
Co.  for  an  injunction  forbidding  th 
picketing  of  the  company's  New  Ri 
alto  here.  The  action  arose  out  of 
dispute  between  "the  management  an 
the  projectionists  union. 

■'U'  Gets  Veteran  Pact 

Universal  again  has  been  awarde 
the  contract  to  supply  features,  short 
and  newsreels  to  the  80  Veteran; 
Hospitals  and  Soldiers'  Homes,  b 
the  U.   S.   Veterans  Administratis 


ALLIED  OF  NEW  YORK  CONVENTION 


MOTION  PICTURE  EXPOSITION 

May  23rd  to  May  25th 
HOTEL  ASTOR 

NEW  YORK  CITY 

(THERE'S  A  WORLD'S  FAIR  IN  NEW  YORK  TOO) 


IMPORTANT! 
OPEN  FORUM 

THURSDAY,  MAY  25th,  2  P.  M.  SHARP 


CAN  THE  MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 
REGULATE  FROM  WITHIN? 


TICKETS  FOR  THE  BIS  DINNER  THURSDAY  EVENING  CAN  BE  SECURED  FROM 
E.  K.  O'SHEA— LOEWS  INC.  630  NINTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK  CITY 


AND 


<<§>< 


ALLIED  OFFICES 


—  2  I  4   WEST  42nd 


STREET,    NEW  YORK  CITY 


MOTION  NCTURE 

DAILY 


8 


Nets  Complete 
Plans  on  Visit 
Of  Monarchs 


Network  radio  schedules  covering 
the  tour  of  the  King  and  Queen  of 
England  virtually  have  been  com- 
pleted, with  NBC  set  to  do  23  pro- 
grams, CBS  22  and  Mutual  22.  Can- 
adian Broadcasting  Corp.  is  cooperat- 
ing with  all  three  networks.  Approxi- 
mately the  first  11  broadcasts  by  the 
three  webs  will  be  carried  through  the 
cooperation  of  the  Dominion  network. 

The  initial  program  will  mark  the 
arrival  of  the  Royal  couple  in  Quebec 
and  the  attendant  ceremonies  to  be 
broadcast  include  the  parade  to  the 
Parliament  Building,  King  George's 
address  at  a  luncheon  in  his  honor,  and 
other  events. 

Other  Canadian  points  at  which 
programs  will  be  picked  up  are  Mon- 
treal, Ottawa,  Toronto,  and  Victoria. 
In  the  United  States,  broadcasts  are 
scheduled  from  Niagara  Falls,  Wash- 
ington, Mount  Vernon,  Arlington  and 
New  York.  The  Royal  party's  return 
to  Canada,  and  the  King's  farewell  ad- 
dress from  Halifax,  June  IS,  also  will 
be  covered  by  the  networks. 


CBC  Uses  Destroyer 
For  Gulf  Broadcast 

Montreal,  May  11. — Two  Canadian 
destroyers  were  cruising  in  the  St. 
Lawrence  gulf  today,  one  carrying 
CBC  commentator  Ted  Briggs,  and 
equipment  with  which  CBC  will  flash 
news  to  the  world  of  the  British 
royalty's  arrival  in  Canadian  waters 
tomorrow. 

When  Briggs  first  sights  the  Em- 
press of  Australia,  he  will  flash  word 
to  Toronto  headquarters  for  national 
network  program. 

It  is  expected  the  destroyer  will 
meet  the  Empress  sometime  tomor- 
row afternoon  or  early  evening.  On 
Saturday  CBC  will  supply  a  broadcast 
to  the  three  major  U.  S.  chains  and 
to  those  in  the  British  empire. 


Colonel  Cooper  to  Meet 
Monarchs  in  Toronto 

Toronto,  May  11.  —  Among  the 
favored  few  to  receive  official  invita- 
tions to  meet  the  British  Monarchs 
personally  at  the  formal  reception  in 
the  Parliament  Buildings,  Toronto, 
May  22  is  Col.  John  A.  Cooper,  presi- 
dent of  the  Motion  Picture  Distribu- 
tors of  Canada,  who,  with  Mrs. 
Cooper  will  be  presented  to  them. 

Standard  Oil  Takes 
New  Series  on  WOR 

Standard  Oil  Co.  will  sponsor  a  five 
times  weekly  transcribed  serial,  "Ca- 
reer of  Alice  Blair,"  over  WOR, 
starting  Mav  15,  Monday  through 
Friday  from  9  :30  to  9  :45  A.  M.  Mc- 
Cann  Erickson  placed  the  account. 

Manhattan  Soap  Co.  will  present 
Jack  Berch  in  a  Tuesday  and  Thurs- 
day song  series  over  the  same  station, 
starting  May  16,  12  :05  to  12  :30  P.  M. 


Officials  NBC  Guests 

Congressional  party  of  250,  includ- 
ing members  of  Congress  and  their 
families,  were  guests  of  NBC  at  a  spe- 
cial television  showing  last  night  at 
Radio  City. 


A  Major  Surprise 

Major  Lohr  experienced  a 
pleasant  surprise  yesterday. 
He  went  to  the  World's  Fair 
to  attend  what  he  thought 
was  to  be  a  routine  luncheon. 
Instead  the  party  was  in  his 
honor,  given  by  concession- 
aires and  persons  who  were 
with  Lohr  at  the  Chicago  Ex- 
position, of  which  he  was  the 
director. 

►  Radio 
Personals  < 

PHIL  LORD  may  sell  his  "Dis- 
trict Attorney"  series  to  Bob 
Hope's  sponsors  for  the  summer 
spot.  .  .  .  George  McCoy  has  rejoined 
Fred  Coll  in  publicity.  .  .  .  Bea  Wain 
is  leading  the  Radio  Guide  "Star  of 
Stars"  election.  .  .  .  Charles  Green, 
Consolidated  Radio  Artists  president, 
is  back  at  work  after  a  siege  of  flu. 
.  .  .  Ben  Gross,  radio  editor  of  the 
News,  confined  to  his  home  with  an 
attack  of  pleurisy.  .  .  .  George  Hicks 
will  do  his  "Names  Make  News"  pro- 
gram from  two  points  in  Canada  while 
covering  the  visit  of  the  Royalty. 

To  Better  Facilities 
In  British  Columbia 

Montreal,  May  11. — A  survey  of 
radio  coverage  in  British  Columbia 
will  be  launched  soon  by  Canadian 
Broadcasting  Corp.  It  is  seen  as  an 
important  preliminary  to  improving 
reception  throughout  that  province, 
possibly  by  the  construction  of  a  new 
high-powered  station. 

British  Columbia  has  been  one  of 
CBC's  major  problems.  At  present 
radio  broadcasts  are  received  by  only 
two-thirds  of  the  populace ;  there  is  a 
vast  area  both  in  the  interior  and  in 
the  north  not  serviced.  Two  possibili- 
ties for  improvement  are  a  50,000-watt 
station  at  Vancouver,  or  establishment 
of  a  chain  of  subsidiary  stations  in  the 
province. 

Urge  Air  Opinions 
Not  Be  Sponsored 

Ottawa,  May  11. — Network  broad- 
casting of  opinions  on  current  affairs 
should  not  be  available  for  commer- 
cial sponsorship  but  more  adequate 
time  should  be  provided  free  for  this 
purpose,  it  was  indicated  in  the  final 
report  of  the  House  of  Commons 
Committee  on  Radio,  which  has  been 
tabled. 

Direct  recommendations  in  the  re- 
port called  for  repeal  of  the  regula- 
tion by  which  receiving  set  vendors 
must  see  purchasers  have  licenses,  sug- 
gested that  party  political  broadcasts 
during  election  campaigns  should  be 
on  a  sustaining  basis  only,  and  said 
that  fees  for  private  broadcasting 
should  be  revised. 


"Tovarich"  on  Lux  Hour 

William  Powell  and  Miriam  Hop- 
kins have  been  signed  to  perform  "To- 
varich" in  the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre" 
May  15  oyer  CBS.  Cecil  B.  DeMille 
returns  to  the  program  as  producer  at 
the  same  time,  after  an  absence  to 
exploit  "Union  Pacific." 


NBC  Revenue  From 
Cigarette  Accounts 
Is  $109,936  Weekly 

Beginning  June  19,  when  Liggett  & 
Myers  will  present  Fred  Waring  over 
NBC,  revenue  from  cigarette  accounts 
with  the  network  will  have  increased 
853  per  cent  in  the  past  five  years.  In 
1934,  NBC's  revenue  from  this  field 
averaged  $11,539  weekly.  After  June 
19,  the  weekly  revenue  will  total  $109,- 
936. 

A  breakdown  of  the  cigarette  ac- 
counts now  shows  Phillip  Morris 
spending  $10,220;  Lorillard,  $18,429; 
American  Tobacco,  $19,600;  Brown  & 
Williamson,  $26,531;  Liggett  &  My- 
ers, $35,156. 

Munro,  Seldes  Due 
Today  from  England 

Donald  Hunter  Munro,  British 
Broadcasting  Corp.  television  produc- 
tion manager,  serving  CBS  on  a 
"loan"  basis,  and  Gilbert  Seldes,  CBS 
director  of  television  programs,  arrive 
today  on  the  Georgic. 

Seldes  and  Munro  sailed  for  Eng- 
land six  weeks  ago,  the  former  to 
make  a  survey  of  BBC's  television 
production  technique.  Seldes'  and 
Munro's  joint  discussions  and  observa- 
tions were  made  to  help  CBS  define 
methods  applicable  to  American  tele- 
vision production.  After  spending  an- 
other month  here  as  CBS's  television 
consultant,  Munro  will  return  to  Lon- 
don to  resume  his  duties  with  BBC. 

CBS  television  transmitter  in  the 
Chrysler  Building  is  being  tested. 

Miller  System  Buys 
Advertiser  Service 

Advertisers  Recording  Service,  di- 
rect acetate  recording  company,  has 
been  sold  by  Jean  V.  Grombach  to  the 
Miller  Broadcasting  System.  Grom- 
bach also  has  sold  the  studios  and 
transcription  and  recording  equipment 
of  Jean  V.  Grombach,  Inc.,  and  Grom- 
bach Productions,  Inc.,  to  Miller. 

Grombach  Productions  and  Jean  V. 
Grombach,  Inc.,  will  continue  in  busi- 
ness, while  the  entire  personnel  of  Ad- 
vertisers Recording  Service  will  be 
taken  over  by  Miller  Broadcasting. 
For  the  past  year  the  Miller  interests 
have  been  affiliated  with  Grombach 
productions,  experimenting  in  the  pro- 
duction of  tape  transmission  which 
permits  motion  picture  technique,  cut- 
ting and  editing. 

Columbia  and  NBC 
Top  Baseball  Teams 

Standing  of  the  teams  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Baseball  League  after 
the  first  six  games  is  as  follows  :  Col- 
umbia and  NBC  tied  for  first  place, 
each  team  winning  one  game  with  no 
defeats ;  Consolidated  Film  Industries, 
Rockefeller  Center,  RKO  and  Skouras 
Theatres  tied  for  third  place  after  one 
win  and  one  loss  apiece ;  Loew's  and 
Paramount,  last,  each  with  one  loss. 


Thomas  to  Air  Opening 

Lowell  Thomas  will  be  one  of  the 
guest  speakers  on  the  nationwide 
broadcast  over  Mutual  of  the  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln"  premiere  at  the  Fox 
Lincoln,  Springfield,  111.,  Memorial 
Day. 


Friday,  May  12,  I? 


anner 
LINES 


ASPIRIN  was  consumed  pleni 
fully  in  Washington  the  othi 
day  by  the  special  events  ere 
of  WJSV  and  the  Paramount  cop 
tingent  traveling  with  the  "Union  P; 
cific"  train.  ^ 
The  half-hour  exploitation  progJ}[ 
was  scheduled  for  2  P.  M.,  whereupc 
it  developed  that  the  old-fashion< 
wood-burner  cannot  travel  very  fa 
and  would  be  delayed.  Equipment  w; 
set  up  on  the  lower  level  of  the  Wasl 
ington  depot.  Then  the  Paramoui 
people  decided  that  it  would  be  an  in 
position  on  the  public  if  it  came  in  c 
the  lower  level,  and  demanded  th 
the  equipment  be  brought  up  to  tl 
upper  level,  and  so  the  equipment  w; 
transferred.  The  train  arrived  on  tl 
upper  level  and  on  time,  too,  but 
was  shoved  into  track  27  instead  < 
track  30,  where  it  was  expecte 
That's  when  the  harassed  WJSV  ere 
went  on  strike.  The  broadcast  wou 
come  from  track  30,  else  they  wei 
going  home.  The  train  was  shifted 
Now  for  the  denouement.  WJSV 
blaming  the  whole  thing  on  Warner 
being  under  the  impression  th; 
"Union  Pacific"  is  that  company 
picture. 

T 

The  answer  tliat  the  foreign-boi 
gentleman  gave  Ray  Perkins  in  tl 
broadcast  from  the  Westinghouse  ei 
hibit  at  the  World's  Fair  the  otfa. 
day  lingers  with  us.  The  gentlemo 
said  there  was  one  adzuntage  in  bi 
ing  a  European.  Everyone  there  Ik 
the  opportunity  of  becoming  the  Ui 
knovon  Soldier  of  the  next  war. 
▼ 

It's  Nick  Kenny's  idea,  and 
good  one.  He  is  about  to  orgar 
ize  a  "join  Boy's  Town"  movemen 
with  annual  dues  of  $1,  the  mon< 
to  be  sent  to  Father  Flannagan. 
T 

Noses  of  Abe  Schechter,  Pai 
White,  Mike  Foster  and  Ed  Haake 
the  first  two  special  events  and  new 
directors  of  NBC  and  CBS,  respei 
tively,  are  buried  in  books  these  da} 
— etiquette  books  on  how  to  act  in  tl 
presence  of  Royalty.  They  all  lea\ 
tomorrow  for  Canada. 

T 

Martin  Starr,  WMCA's  film  critil 
zvill  review  "Confessions  of  a  Nas 
Spy"  tonight  at  11:45  P.  M.  Win 
makes  it  an  item  for  the  column  i 
that  Starr  covered  the  actual  sp 
trials  for  10  weeks. 

— Jack  Bannf 

WOKO  Studio  to  Be 
Dedicated  Tomorroi 

Albany,  May  11. — New  buildin 
and  studios  of  WOKO,  CBS  affilial 
here,  will  be  dedicated  Saturday,  wit 
ceremonies  to  include  salute  progran 
over  the  CBS  network.  The  ne^ 
building  is  a  five-story  structure  o 
Capitol  Hill,  with  four  studios  and 
large  auditorium. 

Dedicatory  program  from  WOK< 
will  be  aired  from  9  to  10  P.  M.,  whil 
CBS  will  salute  its  affiliate  with 
program  of  Jan  Garber's  music  froi 
11  :30  to  midnight.  The  WOKO  oi 
ganization  will  include  talks  by 
number  of  state  officials.  Harold  I 
Smith  is  general  manager  of  the  st« 
tion. 


lAlert. 
i  Intel 


to  the^tion 
Picture 
Industry 


DO  NOT  REMQiii 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


45.  NO.  93 

V 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  MAY  15,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Trade  Pact's 
Start  Is  Beset 
By  Obstacles 

rbitration  Vital  Point, 
Rodger s  Indicates 


Ha  final  arrangements  for  put- 
ng  the  industry  trade  practice  pro- 
am  into  effect  can  be  made  until 
liberations  on  the  arbitration  provi- 
I>ds  of  the  program  have  been  com- 
?Ud,  William  F.  Rodgers,  chairman 
the  distributors'  negotiating  cont- 
ort ee,  said  over  the  weekend  in  r.e- 
onse  to  a  query. 

[Rodgers  said  that  the  method  of 
option  of  the  plan  by  the  industry 
contingent  upon  the  outcome  of  the 
rrent  efforts  to  agree  on  arbitration 
'ocedure  and  that  pending  the  conclu- 
im  of  those  efforts,  no  definite  plans 
ve  been  made  for  putting  the  plan 
:o  operation. 

The  lawyers'  committee  which  is 
ndling  the  arbitration  problem  is 
ltduled  to  meet  within  the  next  few 
jys  and  may  have  a  decisive  report 
!  make  shortly  thereafter. 
A  canvass  of  distribution  compa- 
ss late  last  week  revealed  consid- 
able  indecision  among  sales  execu- 
tes as  to  whether  or  not  they  would 
willing  to  put  the  other  phases  of 
2  trade  program  into  effect  by  in- 
trporating  them  in  exhibition  con- 
Hcts  in  the  event  the  arbitration  ef- 
-i  "ts  failed  to  produce  results. 
Current  indications  are  that  only 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


JA  Executives  Head 
last  After  Meetings 

Hollywood.  May  14. — Harry  Buck- 
'.  James  Mulvey  and  Harry  Gold, 
lited  executives,  left  for  New  York 
'er  the  weekend  with  the  last  of  the 
legates  to  the  U.A.  annual  sales  con- 
dition here. 

'Murray  Silverstone,  head  of  world- 
ide  operations  for  the  company,  is 
jpected  to  stay  over  until  Tuesday 
!d  will  leave  then  for  the  east  with 
\  T.  Schlaifer. 


Oth-Fox  Drive  Will 
Honor  J.  M.  Schenck 

.Seventh  annual  S.  R.  Kent  Drive 
1 11  be  dedicated  by  20th  Century-Fox 
Joseph  M.  Schenck,  chairman'  of 
board,  in  celebration  of  his  30th 
niversary  in  the  amusement  field. 
Plans  for  the  drive,  to  start  Aug. 
.  will  be  mapped  on  the  return  from 
road  next  Monday  of  Herman  Wob- 
r.  general  sales  manager. 


Variety  Clubs  Give 
Charities  $250,000 

Pittsburgh,  May  14.— More 
than  §250,000  was  contributed 
to  charities  during  1938-'39  by 
Variety  Clubs  of  America,  it 
was  announced  by  John  J. 
Maloney,  chairman  of  the 
charity  committee,  who  is 
district  manager  for  M-G-M. 

The  silver  plaque  for  the 
most  noteworthy  charity  dur- 
ing the  year  will  be  awarded 
to  Tent  No.  11  at  Washing- 
ton. It  installed  a  Premature 
Birth  Station  at  Sibley  Hos- 
pital, where  more  than  200 
infants'  lives  were  reported 
saved. 


NBC  Organizes 
Own  Newsreel  for 
Use  in  Television 


XBC's  television  division  has  set  up 
its  own  newsreel  for  television.  Titled 
"Teletopics,"  several  issues  already 
have  been  released  on  the  air.  These 
have  included  the  filming  of  the  re- 
enactment  of  President  Washington's 
inauguration,  a  number  of  World's 
Fair  sequences,  and  clips  purchased 
from  independent  producers  and  ama- 
teur operators,  which  have  been  in- 
serted into  the  Teletopics  reels. 

The  reels  are  on  regulation  35  milli- 
meter film  and  vary  in  length,  the  run- 
ning time  averaging  five  to  seven  or 
eight  minutes.  A  regular  camera  crew 
has  been  engaged  by  NBC  to  make 
the  reels. 

NBC  refers  to  "Teletopics"  as  "just 
an  experiment."  and  there  is  no  in- 
dication as  to  what  the  future  status 
of  the  "experiment"  will  be. 


AFL  PROBES  REDS 
IN  STUDIO  UNIONS 


Government  Talks 
Fail  to  End  Fight 
Of  Mexican  Union 


By  JAMES  LOCKHART 

Mexico  City,  May  14. — Discussions 
called  at  the  request  of  the  Govern- 
ment having  failed  thus  far,  the  end 
of  the  controversy  involving  Ameri- 
can distributors  in  the  union  fight  be- 
tween  the  Federation  of  Mexican 
Cinematographic  Workers  and  Rodri- 
guez Brothers,  circuit  operators,  is 
not  in  sight. 

The  union,  most  powerful  film  labor 
organization  in  the  country,  has  denied 
reports  that  the  boycott  against  the 
five  Rodriguez  theatres  in  Neuvo  Leon 
State,  near  the  American  border,  is 
designed  to  halt  the  exhibition  of 
American  films  in  Mexico. 

The  labor  group  asserts  the  pre- 
vention of  exhibition  here  of  films  of 
M-G-M,  Universal,  RKO  and  Colum- 
bia is  purely  a  disciplinary  measure 
taken  because  the  distributors  defied 
the  federation  order  that  no  Ameri- 
can or  Mexican  films  be  rented  to 
the  Rodriguez  circuit.  The  federation 
accuses  the  circuit  of  unfair  tactics 
in  the  organization  of  an  alleged  com- 
pany union,  refusing  to  employ  federa- 
tion members,  and  paying  their  em- 
ployes lower  than  union  scale. 

The  boycott  locally  has  embarrassed 
the  Alameda,  Iris  and  Olympia  here, 
which  have  been  forced  to  use  French 
and  some  Mexican  films  to  carry  on. 


Television  Boom  in  England 


Gilbert  Seldes,  CBS  television  pro- 
gram director,  and  Donald  Hunter 
Munro,  British  Broadcasting  television 
production  manager,  the  latter  on 
"loan"  to  CBS,  returned  Friday  from 
a  month's  study  of  BBC  television. 

Communicative  about  British  tele- 
vision, the  pair  refused  to  talk  about 
CBS  plans  until  they  have  had  an  op- 
portunity to  collate  their  findings  this 
week. 

Television  in  England,  Munro  said, 
is  booming.  He  said  that  audience  re- 
action there  has  definitely  shown  that 
people  will  sit  in  their  darkened  homes 
for  television.  Most  popular  television 
programs,  he  said,  are  versions  of 
current  stage  shows,  film  versions  of 


the  plays  and  regular  film  features, 
and  sports  pickups.  He  said  the 
standard  television  screen  in  England 
is  12  by  10  inches. 


Gregg  Sentence  Friday 

R.  E.  Gregg,  operator  of  the  Pan- 
American  Laboratory  in  Chicago,  who 
recently  pleaded  guilty  to  a  charge  of 
distributing  unauthorized  duped  prints, 
will  be  sentenced  Friday.  Gregg  faces 
a  maximum  sentence  of  one  year  im- 
prisonment, a  $1,000  fine,  or  both,  but 
it  is  not  likely  that  the  Copyright  Pro- 
tection Bureau,  which  obtained  the 
conviction  will  press  for  the  maxi- 
mum. 


IATSE  Officer  to  Present 
Evidence  to  Officials 
In  Washington 


By  VANCE  KING 

Hollywood,  May  14. — Communistic 
tendencies  in  Hollywood  labor  unions 
will  be  extensively  investigated  by  of- 
ficers of  various  American  Federation 
of  Labor  internationals  with  which 
production  craft  units  here  are  affili- 
ated. 

The  inquiry,  sought  for  a  long  time 
by  A.  F.  of  L.  leaders  here,  broke  out 
into  the  open  Friday  night  at  a  meet- 
ing of  the  Los  Angeles  Central  Labor 
Council,  when  J.  W.  Buzzell,  veteran 
labor  man  and  executive  secretary  of 
the  council,  charged  on  the  floor  that 
C.I.O.  and  Communist  sympathizers 
had  infiltrated  every  production  craft 
local  in  Hollywood. 

Evidence  to  Washington 

At  the  same  time  it  was-  learned 
that  John  Gatelee,  international  officer 
of  the  I.A.T.S.E.,  who  took  over  its 
local  No.  37,  will  fly  to  Washington 
during  the  week  to  present  evidence  of 
radicalism  and  sabotage  of  A.F.  of  L. 
movements  by  C.I.O. -minded  persons. 

Buzzell  said  radicals  and  C.I.O.  of- 
ficials have  the  tacit  aid  of  local 
authorities  in  creating  chaos  and  con- 
fusion in  Flollywood  labor  situations. 
He  added  that  the  Los  Angeles  Citi- 
zen, official  local  A.F.  of  L.  organ, 
will  start  its  own  expose  of  C.I.O. 
workings  in  Hollywood. 

May  Combine  Probes 

All  internationals  having  local  or- 
ganizations in  Hollywood  will  either 
join  in  a  united  A.F.  of  L.  investiga- 
tion or  conduct  separate  probes.  Penal- 

(Contimted  on  page  2) 


Hays  Is  Due  Today 
From  Trip  to  Coast 

Hollywood,  May  14. — Will  H. 
Hays  left  here  by  train  for  New  York 
Friday  night  after  conferring  for  sev- 
eral days  with  Cecil  B.  DeMille  on 
the  feature  film  for  the  World's  Fair, 
the  exhibition  title  of  which  is  to  be 
changed.  The  present  title  is  "Our 
America."  Hays  is  expected  to  ar- 
rive in  New  York  Monday  morning. 

Dr.  James  T.  Shotwell  of  Colum- 
bia University  has  arrived  here  to 
collaborate  with  DeMille  on  comple- 
tion of  the  film,  which  is  expected  to 
be  ready  by  Decoration  Day. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

 DAILY  

4  Purely  Personal  ► 


2 

Trade  Pact's 
Start  Is  Beset 
By  Obstacles 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

three  major  distributors,  as  of  this 
date,  are  prepared  to  grant  cancel- 
lation, score  charge  elimination  and 
other  contractual  concessions  of  the 
trade  program  without  obtaining-  an 
acceptable  arbitration  procedure  sub- 
scribed to  by  a  majority  of  their  exhib- 
itor accounts. 

There  was  no  denial  in  this  connec- 
tion that  any  inability  of  Allied  States 
to  approve  the  plan  or  to  commit  its 
membership  to  arbitration,  should  an 
acceptable  procedure  be  evolved,  might 
lead  to  the  withdrawal  of  several  dis- 
tributors from  participation.  More- 
over, some  distribution  companies  still 
have  not  decided  whether  they  will 
put  the  program  into  effect  in  the 
event  the  Government  persists  in  its 
refusal  to  approve  it. 

The  canvass  made  it  apparent,  how- 
ever, that  not  all  distributors  are  de- 
cided at  this  stage  on  incorporating 
all  the  contractual  provisions  of  the 
program  in  their  new  season's  con- 
tracts and  permitting  them  to  become 
effective  automatically  when  the  new 
pacts  become  operative. 

Failure  to  achieve  an  acceptable  ar- 
bitration procedure,  failure  of  a  suffi- 
ciently representative  number  of  ex- 
hibitors to  approve  the  program  or 
failure  of  the  Government  to  express 
itself  on  the  subject  could  make  the 
participation  of  at  least  four  distribu- 
tors extremely  doubtful,  it  now  ap- 
pears. 

AFL  Probes  Reds 
In  Studio  Unions 

(Continued  from  pane  1) 

ties  for  members  found  guilty  of  activ- 
ities detrimental  to  their  own  unions 
include  fines,  temporary  suspension  or 
permanent  expulsion. 

Behind  the  Buzzell  action  and  moves 
by  the  internationals  is  believed  to  be 
recent  attempts  of  creating  a  "united 
front"  of  production  crafts  in  organ- 
ization reminiscent  of  the  Federated 
Motion  Picture  Crafts  which  in  1937 
called  the  studio  strike. 

Participated  in  1937  Strike 

Striking  organizations  at  that  time 
were  openly  aided  by  the  C.I.O.  Mem- 
bers of  the  new  crafts  federation  are 
Moving  Picture  Painters,  644;  Studio 
Utility  Employes,  724 ;  Machinists 
Cinema  Lodge,  1185;  Ornamental 
Plasterers,  755,  all  of  whom  engaged 
in  the  1937  strike;  Studio  Electricians 
local.  40;  International  Brotherhood 
of  Electrical  Workers  and  Studio  Car- 
penters, 946,  which  are  in  the  basic 
studio  labor  agreement,  and  deposed 
officers  of  I.A.T.S.E.,  local  37. 


Everybody  in  Show  Business 
MEETS  AT 

SARDI'S 

234  West  44th  Street 

LAckawanna  4-5785 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount 
president,  and  Leonard  Golden- 
son  of  the  home  office  theatre  depart- 
ment, return  to  their  offices  today 
after  attending  the  Interstate  Circuit 
managers'  meeting  in  Galveston  last 
week.  Austin  C.  Keough,  vice-presi- 
dent and  secretary,  who  attended  the 
meeting  also,  is  continuing  his  vaca- 
tion and  will  return  to  New  York 
later. 

• 

Mort  Spring,  Jack  Kirkland, 
Harry  Oshrin,  Robert  Milton, 
Daw  Blum,  Joseph  Rosthal,  Eddie 
Dowling,  Carl  Fisher,  Hiram  Sher- 
man, Martin  Gobel,  Arthur  Krim 
lunching  at  Sardi's  Friday. 

• 

Sarah  Siegel  has    resigned  from 
Motion  Picture  Daily  to  represent 
Helen  Ferguson,   Hollywood  pub- 
licity representative,  in  New  York. 
• 

Lewen  Pizor,  president  of  the 
United  M.  P.  T.  0.,  Philadelphia,  has 
been  named  a  member  of  the  Phila- 
delphia Flag  Committee  for  the  ob- 
servance of  the  day  June  14. 

• 

Ben  Y.  Cammack,  assistant  to 
Phil  Reisman,  RKO  foreign  mana- 
ger, arrived  in  New  York  from  the 
coast  over  the  weekend  after  a  busi- 
ness trip  to  the  Far  East. 

• 

Eddie  Albert,  co-star  of  "The 
Boys  From  Syracuse,"  left  for  the 
coast  yesterday  for  work  in  Warners' 
"On  Your  Toes." 

• 

Jack  C.  Coffey,  ad  sales  promotion 
man  for  Jim  Handy  in  Detroit,  has 
been  promoted  to  the  executive  con- 
tact staff,  with  headquarters  in  Wil- 
mington. 

• 

Hen  war  Rodakiewicz,  associate 
producer  of  "The  City,"  documentary 
film,  flew  to  Hollywood  over  the 
weekend. 

• 

Herbert  Rawlinson  was  guest  star 
at  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  tryouts 
at  Fordham  Theatre  Friday  night. 
• 

Santiago  Castillo,  only  showman 
in  British  Honduras,  visiting  now  in 
New  York,  plans  circuit  in  B.  H. 
e 

Lucille  Ball,  star  of  RKO's  "Pa- 
nama Lady,"  is  ill  and  has  delayed  va- 
cation trip  to  New  York. 

• 

Joe  Walsh,  Pathe  Sportscope  di- 
rector, discussed  "Sport  in  the 
Movies"  on  National  Board  of  Review 
broadcast. 


To  Speed  Work  on 
Copyright  Changes 

Efforts  to  complete  a  program  of 
recommendations  for  changes  in  the 
Federal  copyright  laws  will  be  speeded 
up  this  week  in  the  hope  of  completing 
the  proposals  for  Congress. 

Meeting  of  the  representatives  of  the 
various  interests  engaged  in  the  pro- 
posed revision  of  the  copyright  laws, 
including  this  industry,  met  Friday 
and  are  scheduled  to  meet  again  to- 
day and  Wednesday  in  the  hope  of  at- 
taining an  early  agreement. 


NICHOLAS  M.  SCHENCK  (who 
seldom  lunches  outside  of  his  of- 
fice), Joseph  M.  Schenck  and  Louis 
B.  Mayer  had  a  luncheon  meeting  on 
Friday  at  the  Plaza. 

• 

Bernie  Scholtz  of  RCA,  Bingo 
Brandt,  Maury  Asher,  John  Man- 
heimer  at  the  Alexander  Film  Co. 
open  house  Friday  with  Adolph 
Haas,  Ansell  C.  Knowles  and 
Charles  Light  as  the  hosts.  Among 
others  were  Abe  Leff,  Lionel  Toll, 
Bill  Jones  of  RCA,  Mort  Heine- 
man,  James  Cunningham,  Moe 
Kleinfeld,  M.  Shenk,  H.  Alban 
Mestanza,  Carlos  Morla,  Charles 
Garrett. 

• 

Ed  Thorgersen  is  vacationing  with 
Mrs.  Thorgersen  in  Bermuda,  his 
first  vacation  in  six  years.  They  went 
by  Pan-American  Clipper. 

• 

Leslie  R.  Naftzger,  vice-president 
of  Dufaycolor,  Inc.,  Omar  Kiam, 
Hollywood  dress  designer,  and  Paul 
Robeson,  singer,  arrive  on  the  Nor- 
mandie  today. 

• 

Bill  Robinson  will  observe  his  61st 
birthday  May  25  by  tap  dancing  his 
way  from  the  Broadhurst  Theatre  to 
50th  St.  with  a  police  escort. 

• 

Libertad     Lamarque,  Argentine 
actress,  has  been  signed  by  Vicente 
Blanco  &  Co.,  Havana,  for  a  personal 
appearance  tour  of  the  Americas. 
• 

Steve  Brooks  of  Paramount's  coast 
studios  will  return  in  a  few  days  after 
a  brief  vacation  here. 

• 

George  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  presi- 
dent, has  extended  his  coast  stay  and 
is  not  expected  back  in  New  York 
before  the  end  of  the  week. 

• 

Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.,  left  for  the 
coast  by  train  on  Friday  after  a  few 
days'  visit  in  New  York. 

• 

John  Murray  Anderson,  stage 
producer,  sails  on  the  Normandic 
Wednesday  for  business-vacation  trip 
abroad. 

• 

Ray  Moon  of  Detroit,  who  was  vis- 
iting here  last  week,  left  for  home 
over  the  weekend. 

• 

Earl  Allvine,  associate  editor,  Al 
Gold  and  James  Foreman  are  cover- 
ing the  King  and  Queen  of  England 
in  Canada  for  Movietone  News. 
• 

Robert  Marc  Dirler.  connected 
with  the  film  industry  in  France,  sails 
tomorrow  on  the  He  de  France. 


Ticket  Broker  Code 
Is  Upheld  by  Court 

Ticket  broker  code  established  by 
League  of  New  York  Theatres  was 
upheld  by  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Jus- 
tice Samuel  Hofstadter  Friday  when 
the  report  of  Referee  Morris  Cooper, 
Jr.,  was  confirmed.  Cooper  dismissed 
the  suit  for  an  injunction  of  Acme 
Ticket  Agency  against  the  League  and 
Actors'  Equity.  The  code  limits  a 
broker's  advance  to  75  cents  for  or- 
chestra seats  and  50  cents  for  bal- 
cony. 


Monday,  May  15,  IS 


Majors  to  Ask 
Trust  Details 


During  Wee] 


Application  for  a  more  specific  hJ 
of  particulars  in  the  government's  a 
ti-trust  suit  will  be  filed  by  the 
on  Wednesday  or  Thursday,  it  was  l 
vealed  by  Col.  William  Donovai 
office. 

The  government  on  Saturday  fil 
a  two-page  affidavit  and  a  letter  whi 
Federal  Judge  William  Bondy,  in  l 
ply  to  the  major's  affidavit,  submitt 
in  opposition  to  the  government's  a. 
plication  for  an  order  dispensing  wi 
the  naming  of  witnesses  under  item 
of  the  bill. 

The  letter,  signed  by  John  T.  Cahi 
U.S.  attorney  for  the  local  distri 
and  Paul  Williams,  special  assista 
attorney  general,  urged  Judge  Bon 
to  decide  the  government's  applicati' 
"at  the  earliest  practicable  date  in  c- 
der  that  the  joinder  of  issue  in  tl 
case  may  be  expedited." 

The  government's  affidavit  disput 
the  applicability  of  Federal  Jud 
John  C.  Knox's  decision  in  the  si 
brought  by  Vocafilm  Corp.  of  Ameri 
against  American  Telephone  and  Tel 
graph  Co.,  Western  Electric  Co.  ai 
Erpi,  cited  by  the  majors. 


Special  Day  Fixed 
For  Allied  at  Fai 


May  24  has  been  officially  design' 
as  "Allied  Theaters  of  New  Yorl 
Day  by  the  World's  Fair. 

Besides  the  general  attention  of  tl 
fair,  the  delegates  and  their  guests  w 
be  guided  through  a  number  of  fil 
showings  which  highlight  many  of  tl 
commercial  exhibits. 

The  "Production  and  Distributioi 
show  is  an  eight-minute  film  with  se 
en  synchronized  projectors  focused  < 
a  screen  10  feet  high  and  100  fe 
wide.  Another  attention  center  will  1 
the  three  dimensional  film  in  tl 
Chrysler  exhibit. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  ai 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAME 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sund; 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Cot 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  presiden 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasure 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telephon 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubc 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  19. 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  In 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yoi 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motic 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teati 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictui 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Unic 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. :  Boot 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weave 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  1 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squar 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londoi 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  tl 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  10 


londay.  May  15,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Pacific'  at 
$12,000  Holds 
Denver  Lead 


Screen  ?s  Function  to  Give 
Delight,  States  Jack  Cohn 


I  |  Denver,  May  14. — "Union  Pacific" 

Ithe  second  week  at  the  Denham, 
L^iucd  at  a  smash  pace,  taking 
fljPoO.    "Lucky    Night"    and  "Let 

i-eodom  King"  at  the  Orpheum  was 

hong  with  $10,000. 

F^timated  takings  tor  the  week  end- 

g  May  10: 

Tiree  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

\\  ADDIN— (1,400)   (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
I  tek.   Gross:  $2750.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"he  Hardy's  Ride  Hi«h"  (M-G-M) 
"hey  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 

I  BROADWAY — (1,100)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
1  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average,  $2,500) 
Inion  Pacific"  (Para.) 

'JtN'HAM— (1.750)  (25c -35c- 40c  >  7  days, 
i     week.     Gross:     $12,000.  (Average. 

Lark  Victory"  (F.  N.) 

DENVER — (2,525)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  days. 

ossi  $7,000.    (Average,  $9,000) 

•ucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

et  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

DRPHEUM— (2,600)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 

loss:  $10,000.     (Average,  $8,500) 

eturn  of  the  Cisco  Kid"   (20th- Fox) 

amily  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT — (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
I  oss:  $4,500.    (Average,  $3,500) 

Ufa  City"  (W.  B.) 
I  Basing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

•ilALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  "Dodge 
IB"  3rd  week.    Gross:  $2,500.  (Average, 


chedule  of  Games 
In  Baseball  League 

Schedule  of  games  in  the  Motion 
icture  Baseball  League  follows : 
iMay  15,  Skouras  vs.  Rockefeller 
•nter;  May  17,  Consolidated  Film 
dustries  vs.  Loew's;  May  19,  RKO 
.  Paramount;  May  20,  NBC  vs. 
•lumbia ;  May  22,  Loew's  vs.  Rocke- 
der  Center;  May  24,  Paramount  vs. 
F.  I. ;  May  26,  NBC  vs.  Skouras ; 
ay  27,  Columbia  vs.  RKO ;  May  29, 
aew's  vs.  NBC;  May  31,  Rocke- 
ler  Center  vs.  Paramount ;  June  2, 
■CO  vs.  Skouras ;  June  3,  Columbia 

C.  F.  I. ;  June  5,  NBC  vs.  Rocke- 
ler  Center;  June  7,  C.  F.  I.  vs. 
KO ;  June  9,  Paramount  vs.  Loew's ; 
ne  10,  Columbia  vs.  Skouras ;  June 
.  RKO  vs.  NBC;  June  14,  Rocke- 
.ler  vs.  C.  F.  I. ;  June  16,  Skouras 

Loew's;  June  17,  Paramount  vs. 
ilumbia. 


Frohman  Reelected 

■Daniel  Frohman  was  reelected 
ssident  of  the  Actors  Fund  of 
nerica  at  its  58th  annual  meeting 
Friday.  Walter  Vincent  of  Wil- 
r  &  Vincent  was  reelected  first  vice- 

.asident.     Other  officers  are  Major 

j  rnard  A.  Reinold,  second  vice-presi- 
it;  Sam  A.  Scribner,  treasurer,  and 
•bert  Campbell,  secretary.  Trustees 
cted  for  three  years  are  A.  O. 
own,  Richard  Herndon,  Frank  Mc- 

.tyre,  Chrystal  Heme,  Otis  Skinner 
i  Raymond  Peck. 


"Command"  Showing 

President  Roosevelt  re- 
quested a  private  showing  of 
"Juarez"  at  the  White  House 
this  week.  Warners  have 
gladly  acquiesced. 


Chicago,  May  14. — Columbia  be- 
lieves that  "the  main  function  of  the 
>creen  is  to  provide  delight"  to  its 
audiences,  Jack  Cohn,  vice-president, 
told  the  company's  midwestern  and 
Canadian  sales  forces  at  the  opening 
session  today  of  the  three-day  regional 
sales  meeting  at  the  Drake  here. 

"The  world  looks  today,  as  never 
before,  for  release  from  care  and  for 
entertainment.  The  duty  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  to  entertain  should  never 
be  forgotten.  Where  one  person  may 
go  to  the  theatre  hoping  for  the  strong 
meat  of  controversy,  hundreds  go  for 
lighter  but  no  less  important  fare. 

"This  doesn't  mean  that  we  must 
provide  the  public  with  immature  en- 
tertainment. It  means  that  when  we 
have  a  social  message  to  offer,  we 
must  provide  it  with  interest  and  ex- 
citement. Every  truly  fine  picture  has 
its  message.  Good  films  combine  high 
entertainment  value  with  something 
vital  to  say,"  Cohn  asserted. 

Discussing  present  day  methods  of 
selling  film.  Abe  Montague,  general 
sales  manager,  said  that  it  is  progress- 


ing along  sound  business  lines  as  well 
as  embracing  principles  of  showman- 
ship. 

"This  progress  has  come  about," 
Montague  said,  "through  the  close  as- 
sociation between  home  office  execu- 
tives and  the  salesmen,  through  decen- 
tralization of  authority  and  the  devel- 
opment of  manpower.  A  film  sales- 
man must  be  a  combination  of  show- 
man and  business  man." 

Montague  told  the  men  that  Col- 
umbia would  release  one  important 
feature  a  month  during  the  balance  of 
the  current  season  and  that  additional 
releases  would  be  scheduled  to  provide 
seven  features  during  a  two-month 
period. 

Other  speakers  included  Rube  Jack- 
ter,  assistant  sales  manager ;  Lou 
Weinberg  and  Louis  Astor,  circuit 
sales  supervisors ;  Irving  Moross, 
George  Josephs  and  Maurice  Grad. 
Jackter  announced  the  appointment  of 
Joe  Jacobs,  former  salesman  at  the 
Minneapolis  branch,  as  Omaha  branch 
manager,  and  that  of  Tom  Baldwin, 
former  booker  at  Kansas  City,  to 
salesman  at  that  exchange. 


Bank  Nights  Ruled 
Legal  in  S.  Carolina 

Columbia,  S.  C,  May  14. — Promo- 
tion plans  akin  to  Bank  Night  are 
not  violations  of  the  lottery  laws  and 
are  therefore  legal  in  South  Carolina, 
the  State  Supreme  Court  has  ruled. 

The  ruling  affirmed  a  lower  court 
order  restraining  the  late  Sheriff  J. 
H.  Coker  of  Darlington  County  from 
interfering  with  the  operation  of  such 
a  plan  by  the  Darlington  Theatres, 
Inc.,  and  H.  R.  Berry,  theatre  opera- 
tor. 

The  case  was  selected  for  appeal  as 
a  test  of  the  anti-lottery  laws,  al- 
though the  involved  theatres  aban- 
doned Bank  Night  before  the  suit  was 
heard  bv  the  court. 


Five  New  Companies 
Chartered  at  Albany 

Albany,  May  14. — Basil  Brothers 
of  Buffalo  have  incorporated  Basbro 
Theatres,  Inc.  Nicholas  J.  Basil  of 
Williamsville,  Constantine  J.  Basil  of 
Buffalo  and  Theophilos  J.  Basil  of 
Eggertsville  are  the  directors.  Cameo 
Cinema  Corp.,  Yonkers,  has  been  in- 
corporated. John  Harrison  Foss,  Jr., 
Henry  W.  Carr  and  Samuel  Yamin, 
New  York,  are  the  directors. 

Other  companies  include  Expedi- 
tionary Films,  Inc..  by  Seymour  Olian 
and  Rose  Hummel ;  Heights  Theatre 
Corp.,  by  Donald  H.  Richards,  Don- 
ald L.  Horton  and  Robert  C.  Hor- 
ton,  and  John  Manheimer,  and  Inter- 
Star  Film  Productions,  Inc.,  by  Louis 
Kipnis,  Rudolphine  Schreiber  and  Lil- 
lian Bendell. 


Delay  Game  Decision 

Kings  County  Judge  Fitzgerald  re- 
served decision  Friday  on  motion  made 
by  Harry  G.  Kosch  for  a  transfer  and 
jury  trial  of  lottery  charges  now  pend- 
ing in  Special  Sessions  against  Chris- 
tos  Carnavos. 


London  Notes 


London,  May  14. — A  57  per  cent 
increase  in  trade  is  reported  by  G.  B. 
Equipments,  leading  distributors  of 
trade  apparatus  and  furnishings,  for 
the  first  four  months  of  1939.  It  is 
sponsoring  a  new  sound  head  which 
they  claim  is  revolutionary. 


The  first  film  to  be  made  by  the 
Communist  party  of  Great  Britain  is 
being  shown  here  and  is  titled,  "Peace 
and  Plenty."  It  attacks  the  present 
government. 


A  BBC  questionnaire  sent  to  4,000 
viewers  has  brought  1,200  replies,  90 
per  cent  of  whom  favor  plays  and 
variety  programs  from  theatres,  news- 
reels,  magazines  and  light  entertain- 
ment. 


Momand  Suit  Gets 
New  Hearing  Delay 

Oklahoma  City,  May  14. — Hear- 
ing on  a  motion  to  dismiss  the  amend- 
ed petition  of  the  defendants  in  the 
A.  B.  Momand  suit  against  the  Griffith 
Amusement  Co.  and  20th  Century- 
Fox,  asking  $5,000,000  damages  for 
alleged  violations  of  the  anti-trust 
laws,  was  postponed  Friday  when 
D.  I.  Johnston,  defendants'  attorney, 
could  not  appear  in  federal  court.  The 
hearing  is  now  scheduled  for  June  16. 


Bingo  Bill  Passed 

Hartford,  May  14.  —  Revamped 
Bingo  bill,  reported  favorably  on  re- 
consideration by  the  Judiciary  Com- 
mittee of  the  Connecticut  legislature, 
passed  the  Senate  Friday.  The  House 
vote  is  scheduled  Tuesday.  The  new 
bill  does  not  exclude  private  operators 
from  running  Bingo.  The  bill  provides 
for  local  option  in  cities,  to  be  voted 
annually. 


'Nazi  Spy'  in 
2  L.A.  Spots 
Does  $28,900 


Los  Angeles,  May  14. — "Confes- 
sions of  a  Nazi  Spy"  drew  a  total  of 
$28,900  at  two  houses  here,  $15,400 
at  the  Warner  Hollywood  and  $13,500 
at  the  W  arner  Downtown.  "Union 
Pacific"  was  strong  in  the  second 
week  at  the  Paramount,  with  §18,600. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  10: 

"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 
"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

CHINESE— (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,000.    (Average:  $12,500) 
"Stolen  Life"  (Para.) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-50c)  7  days,  2nd  week. 
Gross:  $4,800.    (Average:  $3,250) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

HI LLSTREET—  (2,700)    (30c-65c)   7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $6,900.    (Average:  $6,500) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (ZOth-Fax) 
"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,500)  (30c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $15,900.    (Average:  $14,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $6,500.    (Average:  $7,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)   (30c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Stage:  F.  &  M.  revue.  Gross: 
$18,600.    (Average:  $15,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (HOLLYWOOD)  — 
(3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,400. 
(Average:  $14,000) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (DOWNTOWN)  — 
(3,400)  (30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,500. 
(Average:  $12,000) 


To  Petition  Simon  in 
British  Tax  Protest 

London,  May  14. — Joint  trade  meet- 
ing of  17  industry  sections  on  Friday 
unanimously  agreed  immediately  to 
petition  Sir  John  Simon,  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer,  to  receive  a  depu- 
tation seeking  adjustment  of  the  in- 
creased film  taxes.  The  deputation 
will  be  preceded  by  a  detailed  resume 
of  the  industry's  demand  that  the 
increases  be  eliminated. 

A  committee  to  draft  the  memo- 
randum includes :  W.  R.  Fuller,  C. 
E.  A.;  Frank  Hill,  K.  R.  S. ;  M.  N. 
Kearney,  Film  Group  of  the  F.  B.  I. ; 
Gordon  Craig,  newsreels ;  George  H. 
Elvin,  labor ;  F.  A.  Hoare,  substand- 
ard film,  and  Miss  Vaughan,  special- 
ized theatres.  The  committee  will  meet 
Friday. 

Meanwhile  the  Films  Council,  meet- 
ing Wednesday,  will  consider  the 
trade's  protest  against  the  taxes. 


Mistake  to  "Bully" 
Writers,  Says  Towne 

Hollywood  writers  should 
not  be  "bullied  journeymen," 
and  the  sooner  producers 
concede  them  freer  rein  in 
the  making  of  pictures  the 
better  for  the  industry.  This 
is  the  opinion  of  Gene  Towne, 
who  has  organized  The  Play's 
the  Thing  Productions  for 
RKO  release.  He  is  in  New 
York. 

George  Schaefer,  RKO 
president,  has  given  Towne 
carte  blanche  to  work  out  his 
own  stories,  select  his  direc- 
tors and  casts. 


i 

u 


CRITICS  AGRE1 
PICTURE  HA 


•  Y.  DAILY  NEWS  "Superb  is  the  word  f, 
Music  Hall  film.  Columbia  Pictures  may  well  rest  on  the 
laurels  for  a  while,  if  they  wish,  for  turning  out  one  of  tl 
finest  pictures  of  the  year.  It  is  with  the  keenest  pleasure  th 
we  discover  'ONLY  ANGELS  HAVE  WINGS'  to  be  a  rare 
beautiful  production  from  all  angles." 


N.  Y.  DAILY  MIRROR  -a  wiidiy 

picture  and  a  profoundly  stirring  one — vivid  atmospheric  bac 
ground,  rousing  thrills,  spectacular  flying,  impressive  direction 


KLY.  HERALD  TRIBUNE 


ONLY  ANGEL 


HAVE  WINGS'  whips  up  terrific  suspense  and  excitemen 
Cary  Grant  is  superb.  Jean  Arthur  is  perfect  and  so  is  Thorn* 
Mitchell.  Barthelmess  plays  with  great  skill." 


No  Y«  JOURNAL  &  AMERICA!) 

"Strong  drama... a  realistically  exciting  story  of  high  adventu] 

and  romance;  vividly  written,  vividly  acted  by  an  expert) 

» 

assembled  cast." 


FHAT  THIS 
EVERYTHING ! 


.  Y.  WORLD-TELEGRAM  "Rousing^ 
tacular, thrilling.  A  fascinating  subject.  A  real  buy  for  your  money." 

i  ■ 

Y»  TMAAES  is  al1  very  exciting!  Mr.  Hawks  has 
staged  his  flying  sequences  brilliantly.  He  has  made  proper 
use  of  the  amiable  performing  talents  of  Mr.  Grant,  Miss  Arthur, 
Thomas  Mitchell,  Mr.  Barthelmess  and  the  rest." 

W.  Y.  POST 

"'ONLY  ANGELS  HAVE  WINGS'  is  a  gen- 
uine edge-of-the-seater  ...  It  will  fill  tonight's  bill  and  leave 
enough  over  for  tomorrow's  day-dreams." 

\*.  Y.  MORNING  TELEGRAPH 

"  'ONLY  ANGELS  HAVE  WINGS'  is  crackling,  electric,  dyna- 
mite-laden melodrama.  To  Howard  Hawks  goes  our  profound 
admiration  plus  a  nomination  for  the  Academy  Award  and  all 
other  compensation  for  brilliant  direction." 

^J*  SU  RI  "As  exciting  entertainment  as  the  screen  has  to  offer. 

'ONLY  ANGELS  HAVE  WINGS'  keeps  the  audience  on  its  toes'.' 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Monday,  May  15, 


Construction 
In  Mexico  Is 
EnjoyingBoom 


Mexico  City,  May  14. — Theatre 
construction  has  taken  an  upward 
swing  in  Mexico  and  promises  to  con- 
tinue strong  for  another  couple  of 
years.  Eleven  large  houses  are  to  get 
under  way  before  summer  here  and 
in  the  provinces,  to  cost  a  total  of 
about  $2,000,000.  American  and  Mex- 
ican capitalists  in  Mexico  are  the 
backers. 

Such  investors  have  come  to  favor 
theatre  construction  over  any  other 
kind  of  investment  in  the  present  fi- 
nancially jittery  state  of  Mexico  be- 
cause the  film  houses  are  about  the 
only  enterprise  in  the  country  that 
does  a  strictly  cash  business,  assuring 
a  swift  and  steady  return  on  invest- 
ments. 

W.  O.  Jenkins  of  Los  Angeles,  who 
made  a  fortune  out  of  sugar  in  this 
country,  is  to  build  three  of  the  the- 
atres. With  seasoned  Mexican  ex- 
hibitors he  is  completing  six  others  in 
Tampico,  Caxaca  City  and  Toluca. 
They  will  seat  from  3,500  to  5,500 
each  and  be  in  service  early  next  year. 

Metro  Holds  Fourth 
Meeting  of  Bookers 

San  Francisco,  May  14. — Fourth 
in  a  series  of  regional  meetings  for 
M-G-M  office  managers,  bookers  and 
checking  supervisors  is  being  held 
here  today  and  tomorrow.  The  next 
will  be  in  Chicago  next  weekend. 

Staffs  from  five  branches  attending 
here  are:  Los  Angeles— Ralph  W. 
Carmichael,  Jack  Valpey,  Clifford  L. 
Harris  ;  San  Francisco — Thomas  As- 
pell,  Jr.,  Harry  W.  Schmidt,  Harry 
Weaverling,  Harry  B.  Foxe,  Leslie 
R.  Smith,  M.  J.  Noonan ;  Portland — 
Mrs.  T.  I.  Hasbrook,  A.  S.  MeCarl, 
Jr.,  Delmore  Nickerson ;  Salt  Lake 
City— George  A.  Derrick,  Sam  Cooper, 
Byron  Darley  ;  Seattle — Joseph  E. 
Comer,  Harry  Blatt,  R.  M.  Nicholson. 

Home  office  representatives  include 
A.  F.  Cummings,  Charles  K.  Stern, 
Joel  Bezahler,  William  Brenner, 
Parke  D.  Agnew,  M.  L.  Simons. 


Plan  Bank  Night  in 
Warner  Ohio  House 

Mansfield,  O.  May  14. — Warners' 
Madison,  which  recently  planned  to 
inaugurate  Bank  Night,  but  subse- 
quently abandoned  the  idea  when 
Mayor  Claude  M.  Hunter  instructed 
police  to  make  arrests  if  a  drawing 
occurred,  now  is  preparing  to  resume 
the  project,  according  to  trailer  an- 
nouncements. 

City  officials  had  no  statement  to 
make  beyond  saying  they  "would  wait 
and  see  how  the  game  is  operated." 


Deny  Bank  Night  Writ 

Milwaukee,  May  14.— Wisconsin 
State  Supreme  Court  has  refused  to 
grant  the  request  of  Circuit  Judge 
Robert  S.  Cowie,  La  Crosse,  for  an 
order  temporarily  restraining  La- 
Crosse  Theatres,  Inc.,  from  conduct- 
ing Bank  Night.  The  court  will  hear 
argument  June  7  in  the  theatre's  ap- 
peal from  a  decision  overruling  its 
demurrer  to  Cowie's  action. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Tell  No  Tales'9 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  May  14. — Here's  a  picture  with  so  much  entertainment 
quality  in  its  favor  that  it  may  develop  into  a  genuine  surprise  attraction. 
Smartly  written  for  the  screen  by  Lionel  Houser  from  the  Pauline 
London-Alfred  Taylor  original  story,  intelligently  staged  by  Edward 
Chodorov  and  directed  with  precision  and  tenseness  to  capitalize  on  all 
amusement  and  personal  values  by  Leslie  Fenton,  "Tell  No  Tales"  stars 
Melvyn  Douglas  and  Louise  Piatt  and  features  Douglas  Dumbrille,  Gene 
Lockhart,  Florence  George,  Halliwell  Hobbes,  Zeffie  Tilbury,  Hobart 
Cavanaugh,  Theresa  Harris  and  Tom  Collins  among  other  capable 
players. 

Basically  the  photoplay  is  a  series  of  episodes,  all  of  which  blend  into 
a  coherent  whole.  Editor  Douglas,  discouraged  when  new  owner  Dum- 
brille announces  he  .  will  discontinue  publishing  the  paper,  accidentally 
comes  into  possession  of  a  $100  bill  which  is  identified  as  part  of  a  kidnap 
ransom  payment.  Setting  out  on  the  trail  of  the  bill  to  learn  through 
whose  hands  it  passed  and  thus  arriving  at  the  kidnap  gang,  Douglas' 
adventures  take  him  through  a  series  of  circumstances  the  entertainment 
substance  of  which  runs  the  gamut  from  comedy  through  melodrama  and 
pathos  to  triumph.  As  the  experiences  of  each  who  has  come  into 
possession  of  the  bill  is  sharply  etched  to  make  separate  and  distinct 
featurettes,  Douglas,  who  has  established  contact  with  Miss  Piatt,  eye- 
witness to  the  kidnapping,  is  betrayed  into  the  hands  of  the  mobsters. 
Escaping  them  and  later  capturing  them,  he  comes  up  with  the  story 
that  forces  Dumbrille,  who  had  been  involved  in  passage  of  the  hot 
money,  to  continue  publication  of  the  paper. 

Full  of  surprises  and  unique  twists  as  well  as  intriguing  situations, 
it  can  be  anticipated  that  "Tell  No  Tales"  will  provoke  and  maintain 
audience  interest. 

Running:  time,  62  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification. 


"Some  Like  It  Hot" 

(Paramount) 

Hollywood,  May  14. — Here  is  Bob  Hope,  as  an  amusement  park 
impresario,  telling  the  Bob  Hope  brand  of  gag  and  singing,  with 
Shirley  Ross,  the  Bob  Hope-Shirley  Ross  brand  of  song,  "The  Lady's 
in  Love  With  You."  And  here  is  Gene  Krupa,  as  Gene  Krupa,  whang- 
ing the  hide  off  of  his  jazz  drums  whilst  his  orchestra  whines  its  hot 
accompaniment.  But  here  is  not,  save  very  briefly,  the  jitterbug  dancing 
with  which  the  film  has  been  identified  in  preliminary  comment  of 
columnists  and  film  editors. 

Reaction  of  the  preview  crowd  which  saw  the  picture  at  the  Para- 
mount theatre  in  downtown  Los  Angeles  was  of  a  sort  to  indicate 
that  more  hot  music  by  Grupa's  outfit  would  have  been  preferred  to  some 
of  the  footage  used  in  telling  the  story,  a  slim  little  tale  about  a  small 
time  showman  who  almost  loses  his  girl  but  doesn't  quite.  This  tale  is 
said  to  derive  from  a  play  by  Ben  Hecht  and  Gene  Fowler  by  way  of 
a  screenplay  by  Lewis  R.  Foster  and  Wilkie  C.  Mahoney. 

George  Archainbaud  directed  the  picture  for  William  C.  Thomas,  as- 
sociate producer.  Frank  Loesser,  Burton  Lane,  Gene  Krupa  and  Remo 
Biondi  share  credits  for  the  two  songs  principally  employed.  Una 
Merkel  and  Rufe  Davis  have  small  supporting  roles. 

Running  ti.me,  65  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*G  denotes  general  classification. 


Cole  En  Route  East 

H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  States  president, 
left  Dallas  yesterday  on  an  eastern 
trip  which  will  take  him  to  regional 
conferences  with  state  organization 
directors  in  Indianapolis,  Detroit,  Col- 
umbus, Baltimore  and  New  York. 
While  here  he  will  attend  the  New 
York  Allied  convention  at  the  Astor, 
May  22-25,  and  thereafter  will  go  to 
Minneapolis  for  national  Allied's  con- 
vention, June  13-15. 


Technicolor  Meet  Today 

Reelection  of  four  Technicolor,  Inc., 
directors  whose  terms  expire  is  sched- 
uled for  the  annual  stockholders' 
meeting  at  3  P.  M.  today  at  the  com- 
pany's office. 


Two  Exhibitors  Retire 

Kansas  City,  May  14.  —  Lee 
Sproule,  who  operated  12  houses  in 
Kansas,  has  dropped  his  last  two 
theatres,  the  Rex,  Newton,  Kans.r  and 
the  Ritz  at  Winfield,  Kans.,  and  is 
taking  a  rest  due  to  ill  health.  John 
C.  Young  has  sold  the  Eagle  at  Lex- 
ington, Mo.,  and  is  retiring  from 
exhibition. 


Erpi  Exhibition  Today 

Erpi  will  hold  an  exhibition  of  the 
new  Mirrophonic  Master  Sound 
System  developed  for  the  foreign  dis- 
tributors of  Western  Electric  equip- 
ment, in  the  Yacht  Room  of  the  Hotel 
Astor  this  afternoon. 


$500,000  Suil! 
Hits  'Gateway 
As  Plagiarism 


Suit  for   $500,000   against  RK 
Radio  Pictures,  Inc.,  Columbia  Bros 
casting  System,  Inc.,  Motion  Pifc~ 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  A^|| 
ica,  Inc.,  Wm.  Wrigley  Jr.  Co.,  Je?) 
L.  Lasky  and  Will  H.  Hays,  over  t 
radio  program,  "Gateway  to  Holl  i 
wood"   was   revealed  Friday   in  t  j 
New  York  Supreme  Court. 

John  C.  Carnevale,  plaintiff,  alleg  I 
that  he  devised  the  scheme  used 
the  program  of  inviting  picture  a 
pi  rants  to  send  in  their  photograp ; 
and  other  information,  in  June,  19^ 
and  submitted  it  to  the  Hays  offii 
Carnevale  stated  he  incorporated  t  j 
idea  at  that  time  as  New  Sere] 
Faces,  Inc. 


H.  &  S.  Sonn  Opposes 
RKO  Defenses  in  Suit 

Application  to  the  New  York  S 
preme  Court  will  be  made  today 
H.  &  S.  Sonn,  Inc.,  to  strike  out  M 
defenses  of  RKO  Film  Booking  Cor 
RKO  Service  Corp.,  and  White  Plai 
Hamilton  Corp.,  owner  of  the  RK 
White  Plains  Theatre,  to  H.  & 
Sonn's    suit    for    $200,000  damag. 
Suit  is  based  on  a  lease  made  in  19 
calling  for  50  per  cent  of  the  prof 
as  part  of  the  rental. 


Universal  Is  Upheld 

In  Suit  Against  Tippetts 

The  Appellate  Division  of  the  sta 
Supreme  Court  Friday  sustained  leg 
sufficiency  of  the  complaint  of  Ur 
versal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc.,  in  its  si 
for  $270,000  damages  and  an  accour 
ing  against  John  D.  and  Eugene 
Tippett  in  a  unanimous  decision. 

Suit  charges  the  defendants  with  e 
tering  a  fraudulent  plan  in  1927  wi 
Carl  Laemmle,  then  president  of  Ur 
versal,  to  split  commissions  on  a  fiv 
year  contract  for  the  sale  by  the  d 
fendants  of  raw  stock  to  Universal. 


20th  Century-Fox  Fights 
Sherwood  Suit  Over  Title 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  Friday  fill 
its  answer  in  the  Supreme  Court 
the  suit  of  Robert  E.  Sherwood  ai 
the  Playwrights  Producing  Co.,  Iff 
which  seeks  damages  and  an  injun 
tion  restraining  the  use  by  Twentie 
Century-Fox  of  the  title  "Young  M 
Lincoln"  for  its  film. 

The  answer  denies  Sherwood's  co: 
tention  that  the  defendant  changed  tl 
title  of  its  film  from  "The  Lawyer 
the  West"  and  is  attempting  to  mi 
lead  the  public  into  believing  that  tl 
film  is  an  adaptation  of  the  Sherwoc 
play,  "Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois." 


Delays  Acting  on  Paramount's 
Plea  in  Blumenthal  Case 

Decision  was  reserved  Friday  1 
the  Appellate  Division  of  the  Supren 
Court  on  an  application  of  Paramoui 
Pictures,  Inc.,  for  permission  to  a] 
peal  to  the  Court  of  Appeals  from 
decision  of  the  Appellate  Divisic 
which  vacated  an  injunction  restraii 
ing  Ben  Blumenthal  from  suing  Pan 
mount  in  England.  BlumenthaPs  su 
charges  Paramount  with  breaching 
contract  to  remunerate  Blumenthal  ( 
the  sale  of  Para's  English  theatre 


lorday.  May  15,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Canada  Faces 
Crowding  Out 
m  Short  Wave 


Montreal,  May  14. — Recent  warn- 
t  by  the  House  Radio  Committee 
jfW  anada  enter  the  short-wave  field 
"mediately  is  interpreted  as  a  warn- 
fc    that    the     Dominion    is  being 
wiled  out  of  the  short-wave  lanes 
other  nations  and  that  failure  to 
ce  advantage  of  short-wave  oppor- 
hities  might  result  in  the  loss  to 
inada  of  channels  now  registered  for 
I  e  Dominion. 

( Arthur  Beaubien,  chairman  of  the 
[huse   Radio   Committee,   has  sug- 
Bted  that  there  be  erected  a  power- 
short-wave  station  as  soon  as  pos- 
Ue,  to  be  financed  as  a  national  un- 
making but   to  be   controlled  by 

f^- 
Ouring  committee  sessions  it  was 

>d  by  Chairman  L.  W.  Brockington 

iCBC  that  such  a  station  would  give 

nada  an  opportunity  to  advertise 

'tiadian  goods.    He  warned  that  two 

three  bands  reserved  for  Canada 

K  already  been  taken  by  other  na- 

■s, 


20th-Fox  Will  Be  Prepared  for 

Television,  Schenck  Indicates 

Flans  by  20th  Century-Fox  to  participate  actively  in  television 
when  it  reaches  a  commercial  stage  have  been  under  way  for 
some  time,  and  the  company  will  be  ready  for  it  when  it  arrives, 
it  is  disclosed  by  Joseph  M.  Schenck,  chairman  of  the  board. 

The  studio  building  plan  launched  by  Schenck  three  years  ago 
provided  for  television  in  the  construction  of  stages  and  the  like. 
The  company  has  television  broadcasting  possibilities  in  sight 
when  buying  story  properties.  It  has  an  affiliation  with  television 
through  its  interest  in  Gaumont  British,  which  controls  Baird  in 
England. 

Schenck  believes,  however,  that  the  time  when  television  will  be 
competition  to  theatres  is  far  off. 


Mexico  Halts  New 
Station  Licenses 
For  Short-Wave 


iykes  Heads  New 
Division  for  NBC 

Svtablishment  of  a  new  division  will 
u:e  Ken  R.  Dykes,  NBC  eastern 
es  manager,  in  charge  of  sales  de- 
opment  and  research.  Dykes  will 
>ucceeded  as  eastern  sales  mana- 
I  by  his  assistant,  I.  E.  Shower- 
up. 

jTlie  new  position  for  Dykes  was 
•ated  to  coordinate  the  promotion, 
earch,  merchandising  and  statistical 
vk  of  the  sales  department.  Under 
new  setup  Dykes  will  supervise 
following  divisions  that  formerly 
•orted  to  Roy  C.  Witmer,  vice 
•sident  of  sales :  sales  promotion  and 
rchandising,  statistics  and  sales  re- 
rch. 


lorida  Bills  Affect 
Broadcasts,  Music 

Tallahassee,  Fla.,  May  14. — Bills 
.ling  with  radio  stations  and  use  of 
•y  right  music  have  been  introduced 

Senator  John  R.  Beacham. 
\  measure  would  exempt  station 
:rators  from  liability  for  libelous 
tements  during  broadcasts  unless  it 
s  affirmatively  declared  the  state - 
nt  was  in  the  operator's  behalf. 
\nother  bill  would  impose  a  three 

cent  tax  on  gross  receipts  on  the 
,vilege  of  selling  performing  rights 
'copyrighted  music. 


500  Broadcasts 

Rudy  Vallee  will  celebrate 
his  500th  broadcast  Thurs- 
day night  and  will  present 
three  of  his  most  prominent 
discoveries  —  Edgar  Bergen 
and  Charlie  McCarthy,  and 
Frances  Langford.  Other  dis- 
coveries of  Vallee  are  Alice 
Faye,  Joe  Penner,  Bob  Burns 
and  Tommy  Riggs. 


Mexico  City,  May  14. — The  Mexi- 
can Government  has  refused  to  grant 
more  licenses  for  short-wave  radio 
stations  on  the  ground  that  Mexican 
channels  are  overcrowded  and  more 
stations  would  increase  broadcasting 
difficulties.  This  action  is  seen  as  fore- 
casting Mexico's  eventual  ratification 
of  international  radio  agreements 
adopted  at  the  Havana  convention  in 
1937. 

The  Mexican  Senate  passed  over 
ratification  of  the  Havana  pacts.  It  is 
expected  that  the  Senate  will  act  on 
this  ratification  before  the  end  of  this 
year.  Mexico  has  also  tightened  regu- 
lations for  amateur  radio  stations  so 
that  the  channels  shall  be  kept  as  clear 
as  possible. 


Milwaukee  Concerts 
Feature  Radio  Names 

Milwaukee,  May  14. — Second  sea- 
son of  municipal  concerts  and  operas 
here  will  feature  a  host  of  radio 
names,  including  concerts  by  Lucy 
Monroe,  Grace  Moore,  Lily  Pons, 
Jessica  Dragonette,  Lanny  Ross, 
James  Melton,  Jean  Dickenson  and 
others.  Opening  festival  will  be  June 
20,  with  Grace  Moore. 

The  musical  festivals  launched  last 
year  and  broadcast  by  WTMJ  drew 
148.000  people.  Don  Griffin,  county 
recreational  director,  engaged  the 
artists. 


Major  Marshing 

Sails  on  Vacation 

Major  John  H.  Marshing.  chief  of 
the  German  section  of  NBC's 
short  wave  division,  sailed  on  the  lie 
de  France  Saturday  for  a  month's  va- 
cation in  Europe. 

Marshing  plans  to  attend  reunions 
of  his  classmates  at  the  Oberrealschule 
in  Freiburg  and  tour  Berlin  and  other 
German  cities  before  returning  to 
America  in  mid-June. 


Renew  "Jordan"  Serial 

McKesson  &  Robbins  has  renewed 
its  daytime  dramatic  serial,  "Joyce 
Jordan,  Girl  Interne."  effective  May 
29.  Show  has  been  heard  from  9 :30 
to  9:45  A.  M.,  but  effective  with  the 
renewal  it  will  be  heard  15  minutes 
earlier,  exchanging  places  with  the 
Procter  &  Gamble  series,  "Manhattan 
Mother." 


Sill  to  Direct  CBS 
Sales  Promotion 


CBS  Radio  Sales  division  will  ex- 
pand its  marketing  and  promotion 
service  to  individual  clients  and  has 
transferred  Jerome  Sill  to  the  new 
post  of  director  of  radio  sales  promo- 
tion. Sill  will  work  with  managers 
of  the  10  CBS-operated  stations. 

Edward  S.  Reynolds,  as  director  of 
station  advertising,  will  continue  to 
produce  advertising  for  the  Radio 
Sales  stations,  both  direct  mail  and  in 
publications. 


New  NBC  Television 
Schedule  Prepared 

XBC's  television  schedule  for 
Wednesday  and  Friday  has  been  set, 
and  the  bills  include  a  number  of 
Broadway  and  Hollywood  acts.  May 
17  the  program  will  comprise  Martha 
Sleeper  in  a  play,  "The  Smart 
Thing;"  a  fashion  show  from  the  Ritz 
Carlton  Hotel,  Hal  Sherman  of 
"Hellzapoppin'  ;"  the  Three  Smoothies 
and  selected  film  subjects.  The  May 
19  offerings  will  include  Grant  Irwin 
and  Anna  Athy  in  a  play,  "Our 
Family."  Clyde  Hager,  Ann  Miller, 
and  Bill  Burns  and  a  bird  act. 


Morency  President 
Of  N.A.B.  District 

Boston,  May  14.— Paul  W.  Mor- 
ency of  WTIC,  Hartford,  has  been 
elected  president  of  the  First  District 
of  the  National  Association  of  Broad- 
casters, succeeding  John  Shepard,  3rd, 
president  of  the  Yankee  and  Colonial 
networks,  who  declined  to  run  for  re- 
election because  of  lack  of  time. 
Neville  Miller,  president  of  the 
N.A.I!.,  addressed  the  meeting  on 
copyright  problems. 


RCA  Loses  Appeal 
In  Patents  Action 

Wilmington,  Del.,  May  14. — The 
Delaware  supreme  court  at  Dover  yes- 
terday sustained  the  decision  of  late 
Chancellor  J.  O.  Wolcott  in  favor  of 
the  Philadelphia  Storage  Battery  Co., 
parent  organization  of  Pliilco  Radio 
and  Television  Corp.,  in  action  against 
Radio  Corporation  of  America.  The 
case  was  an  appeal  from  the  decision 
of  Wolcott  on  an  injunction  bill  filed 
by  the  Battery  company  seeking  to  en- 
join RCA  from  terminating  licensing 
agreement  whereby  the  company  had 
the  right  to  use  basic  radio  patents 
owned  by  RCA. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

BEN  POLLET,  account  executive 
at  Compton,  will  leave  New 
York  today  on  a  tour  of  western 
Canada,  the  Pacific  coast  and  the 
southwest  in  connection  with  various 
Procter  &  Gamble  accounts  handled 
by  his 'agency.  .  .  .  Tom  Doughton, 
with  Young  &  Rubicam  for  the  past 
eight  years,  has  joined  the  Compton 
agency  as  new  traffic  department 
head.  .  .  .  Dick  Fishell  has  a  new 
sponsor  on  WHN. 

• 

Ed  Gardner,  recently  with  Arthur 
Kudner,  has  joined  Warwick  &  Leg- 
ler  as  a  member  of  the  executive  staff 
and  planning  board.  .  .  .  Phil  Spital- 
ny's  orchestra  will  broadcast  the 
"Hour  of  Charm"  May  29  from  Chi- 
cago, where  the  orchestra  will  be  ap- 
pearing at  the  Drake  for  a  month.  .  .  . 
Hildegarde  will  continue  indefinitely 
on  the  Ripley  show,  but  will  leave  the 
Raymond  Paige  program  next  week. 
• 

Perc  and  Wally  Westmore,  head 
makeup  men  for  Warners,  who  ar- 
rived here  Sunday,  will  make  an  ap- 
pearance on  the  "Hobby  Lobby"  pro- 
gram Wednesday.  .  .  .  C.  W.  Far- 
rier, NBC  television  coordinator,  will 
address  the  meeting  of  the  Control- 
lers Institute  of  America  May  17  at 
at  the  Park  Central  Hotel,  on  the 
present  and  future  aspects  of  televi- 
sion. .  .  .  Joseph  Henry  Jackson,  NBC 
book  critic  from  San  Francisco,  has 
arrived  in  New  York  and  will  broad- 
cast from  the  east  for  a  number  of 
weeks. 


Air  Correspondents 
Form  Association 

Washington,  May  14.  —  Radio 
correspondents  here  who  recently 
were  granted  privileges  similar  to  the 
press  in  the  Senate  and  House  gal- 
leries, have  formed  the  Radio  Corres- 
pondents Association  of  Washington. 
First  president  is  Fulton  Lewis  of 
Mutual.  Albert  L.  Warner,  CBS,  is 
vice-president.  Other  officers  are  Wil- 
liam McAndrews,  NBC,  secretary, 
and  Fred  Morrison,  Trans  Radio, 
treasurer. 


Broadcasters  Meet 

Jacksonville,  Fla.,  May  14. — The 
Florida  Broadcasters  Association  and 
the  national  regional  group  opened  the 
annual  meeting  here  today  with  E.  C. 
Mills  as  chief  speaker. 


FCC  Calendar 


Wa  s  h  i  n  gto  n  ,  May  14. — Broad- 
casting hearings  of  the  Federal  Com- 
munications Commission  during  the 
current  week  will  include,  on  May  15, 
the  application  of  KOVC,  Valley 
City,  N.  D.,  for  change  of  frequency 
from  1,500  to  1,340  kilocycles  and  in- 
crease of  power  from  100  watts  night. 
250  watts  day,  to  500  watts  night, 
1,000  watts  day;  May  16,  application 
of  John  R.  Pepper  for  a  new  1,310- 
kilocycle  station  at  Greenville,  Miss., 
with  100  watts  night,  250  watts  day, 
and  May  17,  application  of  Nathan 
Frank  for  a  1,500-kilocycle,  100-watt 
station  at  New  Bern,  N.  C. 


we  offer  you 
an  entirely 
new  show — - 


B 


UT  every  attraction  you  put  on  your  screen 
is  a  new  snow  for  you. 


•  YOU'VE  GOT  TO  GO  AFTER  THE  CUSTOMER 
AND  RRING  HIM  IN  WITH  SMART  SHOW- 
SELLING  ...  AT  THAT  TIME  WHEN  HE'S 
RIPE  FOR  SELLING. 

The  surest  and  most  effective  way  to  do  this  is 
with  visual  advertising  at  the  point  of  sale  .  .  . 
while  he's  in  your  place  of  business. 

That  brings  us  right  up  to  the  National  Screen 
Trailer  ~~ 

•  THE  ONLY  KNOWN  METHOD  OF  SHOW  AD- 
VERTISING  WHICH  GETS  ALL  THE  CUS- 
TOMERS EVERY  TIME. 

•  THE  ONLY  KNOWN  METHOD  THAT  MAKES 
THEM  HEAR  AS  WELL  AS  SEE  WHAT 
YOU'RE  TRYING  TO  SELL. 

•  THE  ONLY  KNOWN  METHOD  THAT  SELLS 
RY  SAMPLES. 

And  the  cost  is  figured  in  fractions  of  a  cent  per 
person  reached,  making  the  National  Screen 
Trailer  the  cheapest  seat-selling  means  at  your 


commanc 


nATi on rlC> service 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


Alert, 


to  the 
Picture 
industry 


tion 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


^^15.  NO.  94  

Equity  Insists 
Dn  Television 
Jurisdiction 

dors'  Guild  and  AFRA 
Opposing  Move 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  MAY  16,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


'Actors  Equity  yesterday  presented 
resolution  to  Associated  Actors  and 
jlistes  of  America,  the  parent  body, 
tiianding  that  jurisdiction  over  the 
k  vision  field  be  granted  to  Equity 
rtlnvith.  Screen  Actors'  Guild  and 
k  American  Federation  of  Radio 
"rtists  are  opposing  any  grant  of 
risdiction  until  it  can  be  seen  in 
hat  direction  commercial  television 
Jes. 

'{Delegates  to  the  A.A.A.A.  board 
fused  to  vote  on  >the  proposition 
Itliout  specific  instructions  from  the 
lions  they  represent  and  the  matter 
iain  was  tabled.  Executive  board 
stings  of  the  member  unions  prob- 
lly  will  be  held  this  week.  Equity 
Jits  resolution  pointed  out  that  juris- 
:tion  over  television  was  specifically 
served  in  its  constitution  eight  years 
'o  and  that  A.F.R.A.  was  denied 
levision  jurisdiction  in  its  charter. 
k  S.A.G.  charter  is  silent  on  this 
(int. 

(Nevertheless,  both  S.A.G.  and  A.F. 
A.  are  reluctant  to  make  an  out- 
;ht  declaration  that  Equity  is  en- 
led  to  this  field,  and  favor  a  period 
"watchful  waiting."  In  Hollywood, 
Bterday,  a  high  ranking  S.A.G.  orfi- 
j\  asserted  that  "assignment  of  juris- 
ftion  should  be  made  on  the  basis  of 
nich  organization  can  best  be  of  ser- 
ce  to  members." 

/Referring  to  the  clause  in  Equity's 
Institution,  the  same  official  said,  "It 

going  to  take  more  than  a  mere 
»im  to  obtain  jurisdiction."    Since  it 

possible  that  a  major  portion  of 
Recasts  may  be  made  from  film,  the 
>]A.G.  is  not  willing  to  yield  too 
,adily  to  Equity. 

Fncouraged  by  this  argument  by 
A.G..  the  radio  artists  also  take  the 
sition  that  the  union  best  suited  to 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


L.  B.  Mayer,  LL.  D. 

Louis  B.  Mayer  left  New- 
York  yesterday  for  Fred- 
erickston.  New  Brunswick, 
where  the  University  of  New 
Brunswick  will  confer  an 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of 
Laws  upon  him  for  contribu- 
tions toward  the  advance- 
ment of  the  interests  of  the 
Province  of  New  Brunswick. 


Simon  to  Hear  Film 
Tax  Plea  Thursday 

London,  May  15. — Sir  John 
Simon,  British  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer,  on  Thursday 
will  receive  the  joint  film 
deputation,  headed  by  D.  E. 
Griffiths,  protesting  the  new- 
film  taxes.  The  Chancellor's 
response  to  the  industry's 
petition  was  received  today. 

The  committee  named  to 
draft  the  industry  case  will 
meet  Wednesday,  and  the 
Simon  delegation  at  the  K. 
R.  S.  offices  Thursday  morn- 
ing. 


Columbia  lo  Have 
$2,000,000  Budget 
For  '39-'40  Shorts 


Chicago,  May  15. — Columbia  has 
set  a  $2,000,000  production  budget  for 
its  new  season  short  subject  sched- 
ule, Max  Weisfeldt,  short  subjects 
sales  supervision  today  told  midwest- 
ern  and  Canadian  delegates  at  the 
second  of  three  regional  sales  meet- 
ings. 

The  session  will  end  tomorrow,  and 
will  be  followed  by  a  final  meeting 
in  Los  Angeles. 

Operation  of  the  industry  trade 
practice  code,  banning  full-line  forc- 
ing, will  place  the  sale  of  shorts  on 
a  quality  and  competitive  basis,  it  was 
pointed  out. 


TRADE  CODE  READY 
IN  AUGUST,  BELIEF 


Goldwyn  Seeking 
To  Change  Name 
Of  U.A.  Studios 


Hollywood,  May  15. — Samuel  Gold- 
wyn today  filed  an  application  with 
the  Secretary  of  State  at  Sacramento 
to  change  the  name  of  United  Artists 
Studios  to  Samuel  Goldwyn  Studios. 
Mary  Pickford  and  Douglas  Fair- 
banks own  the  land  on  which  the 
studio  is  located,  although  it  is  leased 
i<>  Goldwyn,  who  has  been  sole  owner 
since  1935  of  all  the  buildings  and 
equipment  on  the  property. 

Goldwyn' s  action,  believed  to  be  a 
tactical  move  in  connection  with  his 
breach  of  contract  suit  against  the 
company,  has  nothing  to  do  with  the 
United  Artists  distributing  company. 

W  alter  Wanger  is  the  only  U.  A. 
producer  besides  Goldwyn  now  using 
the  studio.  Hal  Roach  has  his  own 
plant,  likewise  David  Selznick,  at 
whose  studio  Fairbanks  is  to  produce. 
Edward  Small  uses  the  General  Serv- 
ice studios.  It  is  understood  that 
Alexander  Korda  and  David  L.  Loew 
will  also  produce  there. 


"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips" 

[M-G-M] 

The  crusty  British  schoolmaster,  Mr.  Chips,  together  with  his  little 
jokes  and  foibles,  has  been  brought  to  life  by  M-G-M  in  as  tender,  sen- 
timental and  heart-touching  a  portrayal  as  has  flickered  across  the  screen 
in  many  a  daw  The  hundreds  of  thousands  who  laughed  and  wept  with 
Mr.  Chips  when  he  first  appeared  on  the  American  scene  in  the  best  sell- 
ing novel  by  James  Hilton  will  find  this  salty  old  character  faithfully 
transcribed  and  as  lovable  as  ever. 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  derives  its  dramatic  quality  from  the  inherent 
human  tenseness  which  may  be  found  in  the  life  of  a  man  who  has 
achieved  his  simple  ambitions  and  has  died  happy  in  the  thought  that 
he  has  endeared  himself  to  generations  of  British  schoolboys.  It  is  a 
simple  character  study.  In  sharp  contrast  to  the  current  cycle  of  outdoor 
action  melodramas,  it  will  come  as  a  welcome  and  stimulating  change. 

The  story  is  made  up  of  a  series  of  episodes  in  the  life  of  a  teacher 
who  taught  his  first  class  during  the  Franco-Prussian  War  and  rose  to 
headmaster  in  the  midst  of  the  World  War.  Each  episode  uncovers  an- 
other facet  of  his  character,  each  scene  adds  a  little  flavor,  until,  at  the 
end,  a  warmly  human  personality  has  been  revealed. 

Chips  is  a  lonely,  harsh  schoolmaster  when  he  first  arrives  at  Brook- 
field,  English  preparatory  school,  scarcely  cognizant  of  the  human  ele- 
ments which  make  a  successful  teacher.  In  middle  age,  he  meets  Kathe- 
rine  (Greer  Gar  son)  whom  he  marries,  but  she  dies  in  childbirth  shortly 
afterward.    It  is  in  these  sequences  that  the  picture  reaches  its  peak  of 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Distributors  Ironing  Out 
Arbitration  Procedure 
At  Meetings  Here 


Industry's  trade  practice  code  is 
scheduled  to  go  into  effect  in  August, 
by  which  time  it  is  expected  all  points 
will  have  been  clarified  between  dis- 
tributors and  exhibitors. 

The  distributors'  trade  practice  com- 
mittee, including  sales  manager  and 
counsel,  held  an  all-day  meeting  yes- 
terday at  the  Astor,  with  revision  of 
arbitration  procedure  the  main  topic. 
At  least  two  more  meetings  of  the 
committee  will  be  necessary  before  the 
proposals  are  in  shape  for  submission 
to  exhibitors.  The  next  meeting  is 
scheduled  tomorrow. 

The  committee  is  rewriting  the  ar- 
bitration provisions  contained  in  the 
code  as  submitted  March  30.  At  that 
time  William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M 
sales  chief,  acting  for  the  committee, 
declared  that  the  provisions  were  only 
a  starting  point  and  elaboration  will 
be  needed.  Suggestions  of  exhibitor 
groups  are  being  considered. 

The  meetings  this  week  are  expected 
to  clarify  each  company's  position  on 
arbitration  and  simplify  the  work  on 
phraseology  to  be  done  by  lawyers. 
This  pertains  to  the  practical  phases, 
the  principles  having  been  agreed  up- 
on. 

Other  points,  such  as  reallocations, 
designations  and  cancellation,  are  also 
under  discussion  by  the  committee. 

Upon  completion  of  the  revisions, 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Pickets  at  Warner 
And  RKO  Theatres 

Bookkeepers,  Stenographers 
&  Accountants  Union  placed 
picket  lines  in  front  of  the 
Strand,  the  Hollywood,  War- 
ner home  office  and  ware- 
house yesterday.  Union  of- 
ficials said  picket  lines  would 
be  placed  today  before  16 
RKO  houses  and  the  Brook- 
lyn Paramount  because  they 
are  showing  Warner  films. 
Strike  was  declared  at  the 
shipping  department  of  the 
Warner  warehouse.  The  union 
claims  jurisdiction  over  about 
10  employes  there.  Strike  was 
called  because  of  failure  to 
reinstate  two  union  members 
Warner  officials  denied  t* 
employes  were  dismissed 
union  activities. 


i 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  May  16,  19 


4  Purely 
Personal  ► 

ADOLPH  ZUKOR,  Barney  Bala- 
ban,  Major  Albert  Warner,  J. 
Robert  Rubin  and  Ned  E.  Depinet 
lunching  at  Nick's  Hunting  room  at 
the  Astor  yesterday.  Among  others 
were  Arthur  Rapf,  William 
Brandt,  Joe  Katsch,  Sam  Rinzler, 
Ed  Auger,  Joe  Hornstein,  Leo  Jus- 
tin, Morris  Kinzler,  Harold 
Franklin,  Harry  Goetz,  Max  A. 
Cohen,  Harry  G.  Kosch,  Adolph 
Haas,  Ansell  C.  Knowles. 

• 

James  Mulvey  and  Arthur  Kelly 
of  United  Artists  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday  by  train  after  attend- 
ing the  company's  annual  sales  con- 
vention in  Hollywood  last  week. 
Other  company  executives  are  ex- 
pected back  during  the  next  few  days. 
• 

George  Schaefer,  Joe  Moskowitz, 
Oscar  Doob,  Edward  A.  Golden,  W. 
Ray  Johnston,  Gus  Eyssell,  Joe 
Pincus,  at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern 
for  lunch  yesterday. 

• 

Theodore  G.  Ehrsan,  manager  of 
the  Huntington,  Century  house  at 
Huntington,  L.  I.,  was  the  first  prize 
winner  in  the  General  Electric  "Let- 
ters Home  from  the  World's  Fair" 
contest. 

e 

H.  W.  Dudley  will  read  a  paper 
before  the  Acoustical  Society  of 
America  following  demonstration  of 
a  new  speech  instrument  by  Bell  Tele- 
phone Laboratories  at  the  Pennsyl- 
vania today. 

• 

John  Aalberg,  RKO  studio  sound 
director,  will  represent  the  Research 
Council  of  the  Academy  on  the  "Sec- 
tional Committee  on  Motion  Pictures" 
of  the  American  Standards  Associa- 
tion. 

• 

Perc  WestmorEj  Warners  makeup 
chief  at  the  studio,  was  host,  with  the 
House  of  Westmore,  at  a  cocktail 
party  in  the  Rainbow  Room  yester- 
dav  afternoon. 

• 

Ben  Goetz,  head  of  M-G-M  British 
production,  will  leave  Hollywood  to- 
day for  New  York  and  London. 
Victor  Saville,  producer,  will  remain 
on  the  coast  for  several  weeks. 
• 

Bob  Snyder,  special  sales  represen- 
tative for  J.  H.  Hoffberg  Co.,  left 
yesterday  on  a  two-month  sale's  trip 
upstate  and  to  Chicago. 

• 

Maxwell   Shane,    screen  writer, 
arrives  in  New  York  from  the  coast 
this  week  to  arrange  for  the  produc- 
tion of  "Willis  Does  a  Strip." 
• 

S.  Barret  McCormick.  RKO  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director,  re- 
turns to  New  York  today  from  a 
business  trip  to  Chicago. 

• 

Louis  Havward  and  Ida  Lupino 
arrived  in  New  York  on  the  20th  Cen- 
tury Limited  from  the  coast  yester- 
day. 

• 

Edwin  P.  Kilroe  of  20th  Century- 
Fox  left  New  York  yesterday  on  a 
one-week  business  trip. 

Paul  Benjamin  returned  to  his 


New  York  Preview 


"The  Mikado" 

(Universal) 

The  producers  of  this  first  screen  version  of  Gilbert  and  Sullivan's 
"The  Mikado"  have  fashioned  a  splendid  entertainment  offering,  not 
only  for  devotees  of  Gilbert  and  Sullivan  but  for  film  audiences.  Adapted 
wnth  fine  discernment,  skillfully  directed,  with  an  outstanding  chorus 
and  orchestra  assisting  a  splendid  cast,  and  produced  in  color,  all  of 
the  fine  melody  and  comedy  which  have  endeared  the  work  to  millions 
are  present  in  its  translation  to  the  screen. 

The  exhibitor,  however,  is  confronted  with  the  problem  of  selling 
the  screen  "Mikado"  to  those  patrons  to  whom  the  names  of  Gilbert 
and  Sullivan  and  the  title  mean  little  or  nothing.  There  are  ready- 
made  audiences  everywhere  for  a  Gilbert  and  Sullivan  offering,  and 
they  are  large  numerically.  The  task  will  be  to  sell  those  who  are 
unfamiliar  with  the  work  and,  as  Universal  suggests,  frequent  reference 
to  its  songs,  which  are  known  to  many  who  do  not  know  the  story  of 
"The  Mikado,"  may  be  the  best  approach. 

Kenny  Baker,  in  the  role  of  Nanki-Poo,  son  of  the  Mikado,  is  best 
known  to  American  audiences.  The  comic  adventures  which  permit 
him  to  escape  the  detested  Katisha,  to  whom  he  has  been  promised  by 
the  Mikado,  and  to  marry  Yum- Yum,  whom  he  loves,  are  depicted 
with  all  the  eye  and  ear-pleasing  properties  in  the  very  best  Gilbert 
and  Sullivan  tradition.  Once  lured  inside  the  theatre,  none  who  see 
and  hear  it  should  be  disappointed.  They  will  probably  go  out  to  sing 
its  praises  to  others.  It  should  find  support  among  many  individuals 
and  groups  not  habitual  film  patrons  and,  in  pleasing  these  as  it  is 
bound  to  do,  it  may  be  classified  with  those  select,  occasional  films 
which,  departing  from  well-trodden  cinematic  paths,  tap  new  sources 
of  patronage. 

Individual  performances  are  uniformly  good.  Particularly  deserving 
of  mention  is  Martyn  Green  as  Ko-Ko ;  Jean  Colin  as  Yum-Yum ;  John 
Barclay  as  the  Mikado:  Sydney  Granville  as  the  Pooh-Bah;  Constance 
Willis  as  Katisha,  and  Baker.  Victor  Schertzinger's  direction  is 
everything  it  should  be.  Geoffrey  Toye  adapted,  conducted  and  pro- 
duced. The  London  Symphony  Orchestra  and  the  chorus  of  the 
D'Oyly  Carte  Opera  Company  contribute  to  the  production's  music. 
Sets  and  costumes  are  lavish  and  colorful,  achieving  rich  pictorial 
effects.  Camera  and  sound  work  are  excellent  and,  by  way  of  re- 
porting, it  ma}'  be  said  that  there  is  no  noticeable  accent  on  the  part 
of  the  English  players  to  confuse  the  American  ear. 

Running  time,  90  minutes.    "G."*  Sherwin  A.  Kane 

*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


desk  yesterday  after  a  three-week 
absence  due  to  illness. 

• 

Leopold  Friedman,  Loew's  general 
attorney,  returned  to  his  desk  yester- 
day from  an  extended  vacation  in 
Honolulu  and  on  the  coast. 

• 

Irwin  Zeltner  and  Louis  D. 
Straus  have  merged  their  publicity 
offices  under  the  name  of  Zeltner  and 
Straus. 

Herb  Morgan,  M-G-M  shorts  pub- 
licity head,  returns  today  from  De- 
troit. 

Jim  Fay,  brother  of  Ed  Fay  of 
Providence,  is  slowly  recuperating 
after  a  long  illness. 


Para.  Golf  Tourney  Set 

Paramount  will  hold  its  12th  an- 
nual company  golf  tournament  May 
18  at  Adolph  Zukor's  golf  course  in 
New  City,  N.  Y.  About  50  company 
officials  will  participate  in  the  tourna- 
ment. 


Warner  Outing  June  21 

Members  of  the  Warner  Club  will 
hold  their  annual  outing  June  21  at 
Bear  Mountain.  Outing  will  include 
a  boatride,  dancing,  games  and  con- 
tests. 


RKO  Fair  Visitors 

Alfred  E.  Grosz,  Cortez  Theatre, 
New  Orleans,  registered  yesterday  at 
RKO's  World  Fair  headquarters. 
Others  were  Sidney  Samuelson,  New- 
ton, N.  J.;  J.  D.  Lee,  Capitol  The- 
atre, Frankfort,  Ky. ;  Harry  Arthur, 
Fanchon  &  Marco  head  in  St.  Louis ; 
J.  McGowan,  Plymouth  Theatre, 
Worcester,  Mass. 


Sail  on  Normandie 

Maurice  Wilson,  joint  managing  di- 
rector of  Grand  National  in  England, 
and  Mrs.  Wilson  sail  on  the  Nor- 
mandie tonight.  Others  scheduled  to 
sail  are  John  Ojerholm  of  Para- 
mount, Henri  Bernstein,  French  play- 
wright, and  Jan  Kiepura  and  Marta 
Eggerth. 


Technicolor  Reelects 

Four  Technicolor  board  members 
were  reelected  yesterday  at  the  annual 
stockholders'  meeting.  They  are  John 
McHugh,  George  F.  Lewis,  Murray 
D.  Welch  and  Robert  Cushman.  Lewis 
presided  at  the  meeting. 


Delay  B-K  Hearing 

Chicago,  May  15. — The  independ- 
ent exhibitors'  anti-trust  suit  against 
the  Balaban  and  Katz  circuit  has  been 
delayed  until  Wednesdav. 


Program  Finished 
For  Allied  MeetinJ 


Schedule   of    New   York  Allied 
World's  Fair  convention  and  equi 
ment  exposition,  May  23  to  25  at  tl| 
Astor,  follows : 

Tuesday,  May  23 — Registratioi 
Eastern  regional  conference ;  op* 
meeting,  appointment  of  resolutio 
committee,  election  of  delegates  to*j» 
tional  convention,  general  busiif*'! 
evening,  attendance  at  Broadway  fir 
run  theatres. 

Wednesday,  May  24 — Open  meetin 
addresses  by  Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  Alii' 
States  president,  and  Abram  F.  Myei 
general  counsel ;  report  by  grievan 
committee ;  resolutions  committee  r 
port ;  discussion  on  insurance  eco 
omy;  matinee  theatre  party  for  t'; 
ladies  at  "The  American  Way";  vis 
to  World's  Fair  at  night. 

Thursday,  May  25 — Open  forum 
2  P.  M.,  open  to  all,  with  self  reg 
lation  as  the  general  topic ;  cockt; 
party,  followed  by  first  annual  dinn 
and  dancing;  matinee  for  the  ladies  ,: 
"Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye." 


Managers  Strike 
At  Bronx  House; 

First  strike  here  by  the  Theatric ; 
Managers,  Agents  and  Treasure  | 
Union  in  its  campaign  to  organize  fil ) 
theatre  managers  was  called  yeste 
day  at  the  Vogue,  operated  by  Mc 
Rosenberg  in  the  Bronx. 

Picketing  started  last  night  and 
scheduled  to  be  extended  today  to  |M 
Metro  and  Congress,  two  other  R 
senberg  houses  in  the  Bronx. 

The  union  said  the  strike  was  calk 
after  two  of  its  members,  Abraha  | 
Ludacer   and    Maurice    Bliss,  man 
gers  of  the  Vogue  and  Metro,  respe 
tively,  were  discharged   Sunday  f<; 
union  activity.  The  T.  M.  A.  T.  plai 
to  file  a  formal  complaint  with  tlj 
State  Labor  Relations  Board  for  r  j 
instatement  and  back  wages. 


Moulan  Rites  Today 

Funeral  services  are  to  be  held  . 
noon  today  for  Frank  Moulan,  ope 
etta  star  who  died  Saturday.  Moulan 
screen  career  included  work  in  "Tl 
Girl  Said  No"  in  1937. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  a> 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM! 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sund; 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Coi 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  presider 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurt 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  i| 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  TelephorJ 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubcj 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  19 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  1m 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  YoJ 
office. 

Other    Quigley   publications:  MoTidj 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teat 
al  Dia,   International  Motion  Pictu 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Uni 
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Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weave! 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  I 
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W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londo I 
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Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2 1 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  * 
under  '.he  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  1 1 
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/  I 

F«*NCISCo    9~h*e  re 

$<oo  or,    ;  ■  K*"s*s  cry  AN 

■■■SALT,      9t'meB°^"atfh  ^ 
(2nrl  •  TULSA  l} 

andl^rUnsl 


THE  KEYSTONE 
OF  YOUR  FUTURE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  May  16,  19391 


Reviewing  the  Lai 

"est  in  S 

)hort 

Subjects 

"Aladdin  and  His 
Wonderful  Lamp" 

(Fleischer-Paramount) 

Based  on  the  fairy  tale  of  the  same 
name,  this  two-reel  Popeye  color  car- 
toon will  be  the  delight  of  children 
and  adults  alike.  With  the  exception 
of  a  prologue  which  shows  Olive  Oyl 
working  as  a  Hollywood  script  writer, 
the  remainder  of  the  cartoon  is  a 
faithful  transcription  of  the  story. 
Popeye  is  Aladdin  who  rescues  the 
princess  Olive  Oyl.  A  sure  fire  hit 
with  any  audience.  Running  time,  22 
mins.  "G."* 


"Tiny  Troubles" 

(M-G-M) 

"Our  Gang"  runs  into  trouble 
when  it  tries  to  exchange  babies. 
Deciding  that  Alfalfa's  little  brother 
cries  too  much,  they  exchange  the 
baby  for  one  found  in  the  park.  The 
second  baby,  however,  turns  out  to 
be  a  criminal  midget  who  poses  as  a 
baby.  The  boys  are  very  much  re- 
lieved when  the  original  is  returned. 
The  mixup  develops  some  really 
funny  spots.  Running  time,  10  min? 
"G"* 


"Muscle  Maulers" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Here  is  a  hilarious  short  on  wrest- 
ling which  should  provoke  howls  from 
the  toughest  audiences.  Lew  Lehr's 
commentary  catches  the  spirit  of  this 
daffy  sport  and  the  sound  effects  help, 
too.  Most  of  the  reel  presents  straight 
shots  taken  at  New  York  arenas  and 
it  ends  with  a  female  bout,  several 
free-for-alls,  and  one  fight  in  a  mud 
pit.  It  should  please.  Running  time, 
11  mins.  "G."* 


"Nellie  of  the  Circus" 

( Universal) 

This  Walter  Lantz  Cartune  is  a 
gay  satire  of  the  old  time  "heavy 
mellerdrama."  Big  Dan  and  his  child- 
hood sweetheart,  Nellie,  are  playing 
together.  Suddenly,  a  circus  talent 
scout,  a  villain  with  a  black  mustache, 
seizes  Nellie  and  takes  her  off  to  the 
circus.  It  all  ends  happily,  however, 
when  our  hero  tracks  them  down  and 
rescues  Nell.  Running  time,  7  mins. 
"G."* 


"While  America  Sleeps" 

(M-G-M) 

Latest  in.  the  series  of  "Crime  Does 
Not  Pay"  series  deals  with  the  activ- 
ities of  foreign  spies  in  this  country. 
The  action  takes  place  in  an  airplane 
factory,  where  a  mechanic  is  induced 
by  small  bribes  to  take  pictures  of 
blueprints  for  a  spy  ring.  The  G- 
men  move  in  and  arrest  the  mechanic 
as  well  as  the  spies.  Lots  of  action. 
Running  time,  21  mins.  "G."* 


skeleton  assembler,  a  town  crier  and 
a  sculptor  who  specializes  in  the  hands 
of  famous  people.  Jean  Parker  is 
shown  at  home  designing  and  model- 
ing her  own  clothes.  In  color,  this  reel 
should  be  easy  to  sell  at  the  box-office 
and  makes  a  worthwhile  addition  to 
the  program.  Running  time,  1 1  mins. 
"G."* 


"Unusual  Occupations, 
L8-5" 

(Paramount) 

Ben  Bernie,  Lanny  Ross,  Jessica 
Dragonette,  Guy  Lombardo  and  Jean 
Parker  appear  in  this  reel.  Unusual 
occupations  shown  are  girls  psycho- 
analyzing-'-casual    pencil    scrawls,  a 


"Moving  Vanities" 

(RKO) 

Leon  Errol,  that  ever  popular  come- 
dian, takes  the  lead  in  this  laugh  pro- 
voker. Rather  than  pay  an  increased 
rent,  Errol  starts  moving  the  family 
furniture  from  house  to  house.  After 
being  disappointed  in-  one  place,  swin- 
dled in  another  and  arrested  in  a 
third,  he  wakes  up  to  find  that  his  fur- 
niture is  on  a  railroad  track  with  a 
locomotive  headed  his  way.  Amuse- 
ment for  any  type  of  audience.  Run- 
ning time,  17  mins.  "G."* 


'Three  Kings  and  a  Queen' 

(Paramount) 

A  musical  short,  this  presents  Barry 
Wood,  Dick  Todd  and  Del  Casino,  all 
known  to  network  audiences,  and 
Betty  Hutton,  the  jitterbug  songstress, 
backed  by  musical  support  of  the  Vin- 
cent Lopez  orchestra.  It's  a  run-of- 
the-mine  subject,  with  the  crooners 
mooing  the  usual  love  ballads,  and 
Miss  Hutton  "sending"  a  typical  jit- 
terburg  version  of  jitterburg  tune. 
Running  time,  11  mins.  "G."* 


"Mystic  Siam" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Movietone's  Magic  Carpet  takes  a 
trip  through  Siam  and  gives  the  reel 
a  timely  slant  by  introducing  the  prob- 
lem of  Japan's  efforts  to  dominate  the 
Orient.  In  several  shots  of  the  tem- 
ples, an  interesting  glimpse  of .  the 
training  of  dancing  girls  is  given.  Also 
shown  are  elephants  at  work,  tropic 
waterways  and  market  places  during 
holidays.  Lowell  Thomas  is  com- 
mentator. Running  time,  10  mins. 
"G."* 


"Pharmacy  Frolics" 

( Universal) 

Six  variety  acts  make  up  this  Men- 
tone  Brevity.  Set  near  a  drug  store 
fountain,  the  continuity  is  weak  al- 
though the  acts  are  good.  Seen  are 
the  Three  Playboys,  Frazee  Sisters, 
Emerson's  Mountaineers,  Gilrone  & 
Starr,  Richard  &  Carson,  and  Dave 
Monahan.  A  pleasant  musical  inter- 
lude.   Running  time,  18  mins.  "G."* 


"Leave  Well  Enough 
Alone" 

(Fleischer-Paramount) 

Popeye,  in  black  and  white,  lets  hiy 
emotions  master  his  judgment.  Ser 
ing  a  number  of  dogs  caged  in  a  pr' 
shop  owned  by  Olive  Oyl,  he  pvr 
chases  all  of  them  and  sets  them  loos*. 
One  wise  old  parrot  refuses  to  leave 
the  comfortable  quarters.  Soon  all  th. 
dogs  are  rounded  up  by  the  dop 
catcher  and  Popeye  barely  rescue'- 
them  from  the  pound.  It  should  anroy* 
the  youngsters.  Running  time,  7  mi«" 
"G."* 


"Their  Last  Bean" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

This  Terrytoon  is  a  gay  burlesque 
on  fox  hunts.  The  foxes  have  nothing 
to  feed  their  family  and  the  last  meal 
is  destroyed  in  the  rush  to  get  away 
from  the  hunters.  Little  Willie  Fox, 
however,  sneaks  down  to  the  Hunt 
Club,  and  after  leading  the  hounds 
and  riders  a  merry  chase,  succeeds  in 
capturing  their  banquet.  Running 
time,  7  mins.  "G."* 


"Somewhat  Secret" 

(M-G-M) 

The  secret  in  this  one  is  why  a  live- 
ly little  musical  swing  number  was 
complicated  with  a  cumbersome  and 
involved  plot.  The  music,  however,  is 
fast  and  pleasant.  Set  in  a  girls' 
finishing  school,  the  story  tells  of  a 
dean  who  refuses  to  permit  the  girls 
to  listen  to  swing.  When  she  falls 
in  love  with  a  disguised  chemistry 
professor,  who  is  really  a  swing  pian- 
ist, she  changes  her  mind  about  jit- 
terbug music.  Running  time,  21  mins. 
"G."* 


"Stranger  Than  Fiction 
No.  62" 

( Universal  ) 

A  well  balanced  reel  containing  six 
oddities.  A  radio  engineer  who  makes 
a  hobby  of  miniature  working  models, 
a  trick  horse,  a  sculptor  who  is  pro- 
ducing rare  examples  of  primitive  art, 
a  new  breed  of  small  mules,  road 
making  in  Holland,  and  "androides," 
small  figures  which  move  and  act  like 
humans.  Worthwhile.  Running  time, 
10  mins.  "G."* 


"The  Story  of  Dr.  Jenner" 

(M-G-M)-  

This  reel  deals  with  the  discovery  of 
the  method  of  preventing  small  pox. 
Starting  with  the  plagues  that  swept 
Europe,  the  story  continues  with  the 
discovery  of  vaccination  and  the  early 
opposition  to  its  use.  Dr.  Jenner 
finally  demonstrates  its  feasibility  by 
injecting  the  small  pox  germ  into  a 
boy.  The  story  will  command  inter- 
est.   Running  time,  10  mins.  "G."* 


"Paramount  Pictorial, 
P8-9" 

(Paramount ) 

Here  is  an  unusually  well-balanced 
Pictorial.  Covered  are  three  subjects 
the  New  London  Academy  of  the 
Coast  Guard,  an  illustration  of  what 
lines  an  average  woman  should  choose 
in  dressing,  and  an  underwater  view 
of  ducks  swimming  on  the  surface 
The  ladies  will  enjoy  the  fashions  and 
the  men  will  like  the  Coast  Guard 
Running  time,  10  mins.  "G."* 


"The  Little  Goldfish" 

(M-G-M) 

A  goldfish  decides  to  leave  the  se 
curity  of  the  goldfish  bowl  for  the 
more  adventurous  high  seas.  He  es- 
capes via  drainpipe  but  encounters 
enough  dangers  to  make  him  return 
home.  The  cartoon  is  done  in  color 
and  some  excellent  effects  are  obtained 
with  the  contrasting  hues  of  tropical 
fish.    Running  time,  8  mins.  "G."* 


"Arcade  Varieties" 

(Nii-Atlas-RKO) 

Five  fairly  good  acts  put  together ! 
for  a  variety  number.  East  &  Dumke  ' 
known  on  the  radio  as  Sisters  of  the ! 
Skillet,  Lillian  Roth,  Frazee  Sis^B> 
Gilrone  &  Starr  and  the  Six  '■' 
harmonicas  make  up  a  well  rounaec ; 
reel.    Continuity  is  provided  by  the  | 
proprietor  of  a  penny  arcade  inspect- 
ing a  new  machine.  A  better  than  av- 
erage  musical.  Running  time,  11  mins  i 
"G."* 


"Good  Skates" 

(Paramount ) 

Skating  on  ice  is  the  subject  pi 
this  Grantland  Rice  Sportlight.  Ai 
forms  of  skating  are  shown,  ict 
hockey,  speed  skating,  dancing  ant 
figure  skating  are  included.  This  ree 
has  no  particular  timeliness  except  p. 
cool  off  the  patrons  on  a  hot  day 
There  are  some  interesting  explana- 
tions of  how  the  more  complicated  fig 
ures  are  executed  on  skates.  Runninj 
time,  10  mins.  "G."* 


"Weather  Wizards" 

(M-G-M) 

The  workings  of  the  weather  bureai 
are  graphically  portrayed  in  this  stor) 
of  the  California  fruit  groves.  Tyinj 
the  weather  forecasts  to  the  daily  lift 
of  the  farmers,  the  reel  shows  how  thi 
first  signs  of  frost  are  detected,  thi 
warnings  sent  and  the  smudge  pot:  i 
lighted.  It  captures  the  tense  situatioi 
with  telling  effect.  Worthwhile 
Running  time,  9  mins.  'G."* 


"America  Takes  to  Skis" 

(Universal) 

A  ski  subject  which  takes  in  al 
aspects  of  the  sport.  Included  an' 
general  views  of  the  action,  how  ski:! 
are  made,  and  instruction  in  the  moril 
difficult  phase  of  the  art.  An  unusua 
treatment  of  a  familiar  subject.  Run  • 
ning  time,  9  mins.  "G."* 


"Television" 

(RKO) 

RKO  Pathe  provides  a  backstagi 
glimpse  of  the  new  art,  television 
Production  methods,  technical  difficul 
ties  and  a  view  of  what  television  wil  | 
be  in  the  home,  are  shown.  A  timel; 
subject.    Running  time,  9  mins.  "G."' 


"The  Hunting  Dog" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Ed  Thorgersen  describes  the  raisin; 
and  training  of  hunting  dogs  in  th 
south.  How  these  intelligent  animal 
are  taught  to  stalk  quail  and  retriev> 
the  game  is  shown,  and  should  hol< 
audience  interest.  Running  time,  1 
mins.  "G."* 


"Marine  Circus" 

(M-G-M) 

Underwater  shots  of  a  submarine 
aquarium  feature  a  number  of  dee] 
sea  fish  in  a  natural  setting.  High 
lights  are  feedings  and  a  wrestliiif 
bout  between  a  diver  and  some  laigi 
fish.    Running  time,  9  mins.  "G." 


*"G"  denotes  gen-eral  classification 


AN 


ADVERTISEMENT 
ABOUT 


PRODUCT 


1 


ANNOUNCEMENT 


SHORTLY 


Columbia  Pictures  will  issue  its  product 


announcement  for  1939-1940.  This  announcement  has  been 


prepared  with  great  care 


because  in  its  ultimate  effect 


ft  II  we  wanted  to  be  certain  that 

mi 
mm 

m 

i  it  was  primarily  FACTUAL 


. . .  simple . . .  direct . . .  sincere. 


Because  it  is  the  most  important  announcement  exhibitor-wise 


that  Columbia  has  ever  made  covering  any  single  year's 


product,  we  urge  you  to  examine  it  very  closely. 


PRINTED  IN  U.S.A. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Hollywood  Preview 


"The  Grade  Allen  Murder  Case" 

t  Paramount ) 

Hollywood,  May  15. — If  the  shade  of  the  late  S.  S.  Van  Dine  looked 
in  upon  the  preview  of  this  preposterously  funny  picture  he  had  a  grand 
laugh  and  left  feeling  happy  about  the  whole  thing.  Everybody  present 
did.  The  bare  idea,  expressed  in  the  title,  is  almost  too  funny  for  soberly 
sensible  consideration,  but  it  is  even  funnier  than  that  as  expressed  in 
the  film  by  Gracie  Allen,  Warren  William,  Ken  Taylor,  Jed  Prouty, 
Donald  MacBride,  Ellen  Drew,  H.  B.  Warner  and  a  long  list  of  associ- 
ates. To  producer  George  Arthur,  director  Alfred  E.  Green  and  screen 
playwright  Nat  Perrin  for  a  murder  comedy  as  hilarious  as  "The  Thin 
Man,"  without  in  any  way  resembling  it,  the  screen  and  its  showmen 
owe  a  neat  debt. 

Miss  Allen,  playing  herself  as  a  dumb  dame  dashing  in  and  out  of  a 
murder  mystery  to  the  complete  confusion  of  crooks  and  detectives 
alike,  is  incredibly  amusing.  The  story,  in  which  two  murders  are  com- 
mitted and  solved,  is  as  adroitly  contrived  as  any  of  the  Van  Dine 
mysteries  and,  treated  seriously,  would  rank  with  the  best  of  them. 
Treated  humorously,  it  ranks  above  the  others.  If  the  author  had  lived, 
it  seems  certain  that  he'd  have  found  it  congenial  to  write  a  series  of 
Gracie  Allen  Murder  Mysteries  through  which  the  star  would  "blunder" 
on  to  new  cinema  fame.  Since  he  didn't,  it  is  to  be  hoped  that  Perrin 
or  someone  else  around  the  Paramount  lot  will  carry  on  in  the  tradition, 
for  this  film  brings  a  new  and  delightfully  diverting  type  of  comedy  into 
a  market  that  needs  plenty  of  new  material  in  the  light  vein. 

Miss  Allen's  lines  are  characteristic  but  her  gags  are  new.  She  sings 
"Snug  As  a  Bug  in  a  Rug,"  by  Matty  Malneck  and  Frank  Loesser,  in  a 
manner  that  moved  the  preview  audience  to  prolonged  applause.  She  is 
riotous  in  a  purely  slapstick  sequence.  She  and  the  picture  are  alto- 
gether tremendous,  soundly  satisfying,  in  a  word,  sensational. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.   "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 

*"G"  denotes  (/cncra.1  classification. 


Tuesday.  May  16,  1939 


'Pacific'  Is 
Boston  Smash 
With  $26,500 

Boston.  May  15. — "Union  Pacific," 
coupled  with  "Winner  Take  All"  at 
Metropolitan  took  a  strong  $26,- 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham 
liell"  and  "Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid," 
dualing  at  Keith  Memorial,  drew 
>_'2,600.  Takings  for  week  ending 
May  10: 

"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.)  (4  days  with 
vaude.) 

"Boy  Slaves"  (RKO)  (4  days  with  vaude.) 
Wife,  Husband  and  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 
(3  days) 

"Saint  Strikes  Back"    (RKOI    (3  days) 
RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3.000)  (20c-30c- 

40c)  Cross:  $8,200.  (Average.  $8,500) 

"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
<20th-Fox) 

"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th- Fox) 
KEITH     MEMORIAL — (2.790)  (25c-35c- 

40c-55c>   7  days.   Gross:   $22,600.  (Average, 

$15,000) 

"Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 
On  Trial"  (W.B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1.797)  <25c-35c-40c-55c) 
:  days.  Gross:  $6,300.  (Average.  $8,500) 
"Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 
"On  Trial"  (W.B.) 

FENWAY-0,382)      (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
•  lays.  Gross:  $4,100.  (Average.  $5,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Winner  Take  AlV  (20th-Fox) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $26,500.  (Average,  $14,- 
500) 

"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  ORPHEl'M— (2,907)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,400.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Ice  Follies  of  1939"  (M-G-M) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,537)  (2Sc-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,200.  (Average,  $10,- 
500) 

"Dodge  City"  (W.B.) 

"Mystery  of  Mr.  Wong"  (Para.) 

SCOI.LAY— (2,500)  (25c-35c-4Oc-50c)  7 
ilays.  Gross:  $6,600.  (Average,  $5,500)  • 


Pacific'  at  $6,800 
In  Oklahoma  City 

Oklahoma  City,  May  15.— "Union 
Pacific"  led  the  field  here,  with  $6,800 
at  the  Criterion.  "Man  of  Conquest" 
was  strong  with  $4,000  at  the  State. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  11  : 

"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

CRITERIOX-(1,500)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  $5,500) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 
"Tom  Sawyer,  Detective"  (Para.) 

I.IHERTY-(1.200)  (20c-25c)  4  days.  Gross: 
t&lOO.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 
"Almost  A  Gentleman"  (RKO) 

LIHERTY-(1.200)  (20c-25c)  3  (lavs.  Gross: 
i700.    (Average,  $700) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

MIDWEST— (1,500)    (25c-35c-40c)   5  days 
Gross:  $2,400.   (Average,  $4,500) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

PLAZA— (750)   (25c-35c-40c)   2nd   week.  7 
days.   Gross:  $1,870.    (Average.  $1,700) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

STATE — (1,100)     (20c-25c-40c)     7  davs. 
Cross:  $4,000.    (Average.  $3,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

TOWER—  (1,000)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,375.    (Average,  $2,500) 

Films  Council  Elects 

Wilmington-, May  15— Mrs.  George 
K.  Cox  has  been  elected  president  of 
the  Wilmington  Better  Films  Council. 
Other  officers  are :  First  vice-presi- 
dent, Mrs.  George  A.  Pedrick ;  second 
vice-president,  Mrs.  Wilmot  R.  Jones  ; 
recording  secretary,  Mrs.  George  C. 
Stradley ;  corresponding  secretary, 
Mrs.  David  B.  Coxe ;  treasurer,  Mrs. 
James  K.  Stack. 


'Wuthering'  Draws 
$14,000,  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  May  15. — "Wuthering 
Heights"  was  in  the  high  bracket  with 
a  $14,000  take  at  the  RKO  Albee. 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Siw"  pulled  a 
strong  $11,500  for  six  days  at  the 
RKO  Palace. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  10-13: 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

RKO  ALREE    (3,300)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.     (Average,  $12,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2.700)  (35c-42c)  6  days. 
Cross:  $11,500.    (Average,  7  days.  $10,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Mutiny  on  the  Bounty"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2.000)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:   $3,300.      (Average,  $6,500) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1.400)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,000.     (Average,  $5,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

RKO   GRAND— (1,200)    (25c-40c)    7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $3,100.    (Average.  $6,500) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 
"Star  Reporter"  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (20c-30c)  4  days. 
Cross:  $1,250.     (Average,  $1,500) 
"First  Offense"  (Col.) 
"Blue  Mountain  Skies"  (Repub.) 

RKO  FAMILY — (1.000)   (20c-30c)  3  davs. 
Cross:  $850.     (Average,  $900) 
"You     Can't     Get     Away    With  Murder" 

(W.  B.) 

KEITH'S — (9,00)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,800.     (Average,  $6,000) 


To  Use  Stage  Shows 

Cincinnati,  May  15.— The  3,300 
seat  RKO  Albee,  playing  straight 
films,  will  play  intermittent  stage 
shows  beginning  May  26,  when  Benny 
Goodman  and  his  orchestra  are 
booked.  The  RKO  Shubert,  2,150- 
seat  house,  which  recently  discontin- 
ued stage  shows  in  favor  of  pictures, 
will  resume  the  combination  policy 
Sept.  1. 


'Victory*  Is  $16,000 
Draw  at  Cleveland 

Cleveland,  May  15. — "Dark  Vic- 
torv"  at  Warners'  Hippodrome  took 
$16,000.  "Union  Pacific"  at  Loew's 
State  drew  a  strong  $12,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  12 : 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

ALLEN — (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME— (3,800)  (30c- 
35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average, 
$12,000) 

"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"  (Col.) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,100)     (30c-42c-55c)  7 
davs.   Stage:  Mikado  in  Swing.  Gross:  $15,- 
000.   (Average,  $15,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)   (30c-35c-42c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

LOEWS  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (30c-35c- 
42c)  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,750.  (Average, 
$5,000) 

"Tales  from  the  Vienna  Woods" 
(Modal  Film) 

CITY— (485)  (35c-42c)  7  days.  Cross:  $700. 
(Average,  $900) 

'Graham  BelV  Draws 
$8,900  Omaha  Lead 

Omaha,  May  15. — "The  Story  of 
Alexander  Graham  Bell"  and  "Am- 
bush" at  the  Orpheum  set  a  good 
pace,  with  $8,900.  "Union  Pacific" 
held  strong  in  the  second  week  at  the 
Omaha,  taking  $8,600.  Takes  for  the 
week  ending  May  10-11: 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"   (W.  B) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

BRANDEIS—  (1.200)   (25e-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,300.     (Average,  $4,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

OMAHA— (2.200)    (25c-40c)    7    days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $8,600.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Story  of    Alexander    Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 
"Ambush"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM — (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,900.     (Average,  $7,600) 


1 


'Pacific'  Hits 
$7,000  Lead 
In  Milwaukee 


Milwaukee,  May  15. — Week's  best 
grossing  films  were  "Union  Pacific" 
and  "Sudden  Money,"  with  $7,000  at 
Fox's  Palace  and  'Lucky  Night"  and 
"Streets  of  New  York,"  at  Fox's  Wis- 
consin with  $7,200. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  9-12 : 

"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

WARNER— (2,400)  (35c-50c)  5  days.  Gross: 
$2,300.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (35c-50c)  5  days.  Gross: 
$1,100.   (Average,  $2,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"I  Was  A  Convict"  (Rep.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)     (25c-30c)     7  days. 
Stage:  Major  Bowes'  New  York  World  Fair 
Revue.   Gross:  $6,500.   (Average,  $6,500) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,200.    (Average,  $5,500) 


'HardyV  $18,000 
Pittsburgh  Gross 

Pittsburgh,  May  15. — "The  Hardys 
Ride  High"  paced  the  field  with  $18,- 
000  at  Loew's  Penn.  The  Stanley  took 
$14,000  with  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  11 : 

"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

ALVIN— (1,900)     (25c-35c-50c)     8  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average,  7  days,  $7,000) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (2<tth-Fox) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,200.     (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS    PENN— (3,600)    (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $18,000.     (Average,  $15,000) 
"Story     of      Alexander      Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 

SENATOR — (2,000)  (25c-40c)  3rd  week,  10 
days.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average,  7  days, 
$3,800) 

"Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 
"Inside-  Story"  (20th-Fox) 

SENATOR— (2,000)      (25c-40c)     4  days. 
Gross:  $1,000.    (Average,  7  days,  $3,800) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

STANLEY—  (3,600)  (25c-3Sc-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.  (Average,  with  vaudeville, 
$17,000) 

"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 
"Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,200.     (Average,  $4,500) 

'Nazi  Spy*  Garners 
$5,800  in  New  Haven 

New  Haven,  May  15. — "Confes- 
sions of  a  Nazi  Spy"  and  "The 
Family  Next  Door"  took  $5,800  at  the 
Roger  Sherman.  Second  week  of 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  and  "With- 
in the  Law"  at  the  College  took  $2,400. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  12: 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

COLLEGE— (1,499)   (35c-50c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,400.    (Average,  $2,700) 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(2<tth-Fox) 

"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW-POLI— (3,040)    (35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average.  $8,000) 
"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
"Back  Door  to  Heaven"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,348)    (35c-50c)   7  days 
Gross:  $2,600.   (Average,  $4,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (F.  N.) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

ROGER  SHERMAN-(2,200)  (35e-50c)  6% 
days.   Gross:  $5,800.    (Average,  $4,700) 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


New  York  Preview 


"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips" 

[Continued  from  Page  1] 

quiet  humor,  tenderness  and  pathos.  Chips  learns  from  Katherine  the 
qualities  of  mercy  and  fun  and  it  is  then  that  the  disliked  Mr.  Chippings 
becomes  the  beloved  Chips  to  colleagues  and  students  alike.  His  subse- 
quent growth  into  a  Brookfield  tradition  and  his  ultimate  death  are  shown 
in  a  manner  likely  to  leave  few  dry  eyes  among  the  toughest  of  audi- 
ences. 

Robert  Donat's  performance  is  one  that  long  will  be  remembered  and 
the  role  is  one  that  permits  the  full  exercise  of  his  splendid  talents.  Both 
as  the  young  man  and  as  the  aging  Mr.  Chips,  Donat  gives  the  part  a 
fulsome,  warming  treatment.  To  Miss  Garson  and  to  young  Terry 
Kilburn  (who  portrays  four  successive  generations  of  schoolboys)  must 
also  go  credit  for  outstanding  performances.  Credit,  indeed,  must  go  to 
the  entire  cast  for  supporting  so  ably  a  story  which  relies  completely 
on  the  ability  of  its  actors. 

Sam  Wood,  who  directed,  has  caught  the  spirit  of  English  prep  school 
life  and  translated  it  with  rare  understanding.  R.  C.  Sherrirf,  Qaudine 
West  and  Eric  Maschwitz  wrote  the  screenplay  and  Victor  Saville  was 
the  producer.  Because  of  its  somewhat  unusual  nature,  the  picture  prob- 
ably will  require  special  exploitation  methods  but  the  wise  showman  is 
likely  to  find  such  efforts  amply  rewarded  at  the  box-office  and  in  the 
appreciation  of  his  audiences. 

Running  time,  1 14  minutes.    "G."*  Ed  Greif 

*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Erpi  Exhibits  New  Sound 
System  for  Sale  in  U.  S. 


8 


Equity  Insists  On 
Television  Control 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
service  the  field  should  be  permitted 
to  dominate  it.  A.F.R.A.'s  request  for 
further  delay  to  study  the  problem 
may  also  be  based  on  considerations 
which  entered  its  recent  negotiations 
with  the  networks.  It  is  understood 
that  when  A.F.R.A.  obtained  its  con- 
tracts it  was  done  with  the  tacit  agree- 
ment not  to  make  any  demands  in  the 
television  field  for  some  years. 

Equity,  on  the  other  hand,  contends 
that  it  was  the  first  union  in  the 
actor's  field  and  that  both  S.A.G.  and 
A.F.R.A.  were  organized  through  its 
efforts.  Equity  is  prepared  to  make 
needed  revisions  in  its  own  organiza- 
tion in  order  to  meet  the  television 
situation. 

All  officers  of  the  A.A.A.A.  were 
reelected  for  two-year  terms  yesterday. 
They  are  Frank  Gillmore,  president ; 
Jean  Greenfield,  Hebrew  Actors,  first 
vice-president ;  Kenneth  Thomson, 
SAG.,  second  vice-president ;  Leo 
Fischer,  Musical  Artists,  treasurer; 
and  Paul  Dullzell,  Equity,  executive 
secretary. 

Committee  Debates 
Boycott  in  Mexico 

Mexico  City,  May  15. — Local  civic 
governments  are  acting  to  end  the 
boycott  against  the  Rodriguez  circuit 
by  the  Federation  of  Cinematographic 
Workers. 

The  governments  have  brought  the 
opposing  parties  togther  and  a  com- 
mittee has  been  named  to  settle  the 
dispute.  Sam  Seidelman,  U.  A.  super- 
visor of  Mexico  and  Central  Amer- 
ica, is  on  the  committee  which  is  to 
report  Wednesday. 


Notarius  Moves 

Hollywood,  May  IS. — Louis  No- 
tarius, associated  with  Paramount 
Theatre  operations  for  the  last  IS 
years,  today  transferred  his  headquar- 
ters from  New  York  to  Hollywood  to 
work  as  liaison  officer  between  pro- 
duction officials  and  exhibitors  and  dis- 
tributors. 


Shapiro  Resigns 

Hollywood,  May  IS. — Victor  M. 
Shapiro,  publicity  director  for  Selznick 
International,  today  resigned  to  return 
to  an  executive  position  with  Baer 
Laboratories  in  which  he  has  partner- 
ship. 


Erpi  yesterday  held  an  exhibition 
at  the  Astor  of  its  new  Mirrophonic 
"Master  Sound"  system,  developed  by 
the  company  for  the  foreign  distribu- 
tors of  Western  Electric  theatre 
equipment. 

The  new  reproducer  is  regarded 
as  an  advance  in  technique  and  de- 
sign over  the  equipment  now  being 
marketed.  It  is  expected  that  it  will 
be  made  available  to  exhibitors  in  the 
United  States  by  Erpi  licensees,  Mo- 
tiograph  and  International  Projector. 

The  new  system  is  for  theatres  of 
any  size  or  type.  According  to  engi- 
neers, it  meets  and  even  exceeds  the 
requirements  recently  set  forth  by  the 
Academy  of  Motion  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences, particularly  in  sound  recording 
as  typified  by  the  high  volume  prints 
which  are  scheduled  soon  from  Holly- 
wood studios. 

While  adequately  handling  higher 
volume,  provision  has  been  made  to 


Designed 
for  any 

theatre — 
regardless 
of  size. 


reduce  noise,  engineers  say,  and  a  new 
damping  fluid  is  used  instead  of  or- 
dinary machine  oil  to  reduce  "flutter" 
below  a  commercially  acceptable  meas- 
urement. 

Single  sprocket  threading  and  15- 
watt  amplifiers  which  cost  less  to 
operate  than  the  present  8-watt  type 
are  among  the  innovations. 

Erpi  officials  attending  the  exhibi- 
tion were :  T.  K.  Stevenson,  presi- 
dent; Fred  Foster,  controller;  E.  S. 
Gregg,  general  foreign  manager ; 
Miles  Goldrick,  assistant  general  for- 
eign manager;  Clifford  W.  Smith, 
west  coast  vice-president ;  Dr.  Donald 
MacKenzie,  director  of  engineering ; 
E.  W.  McLellan,  foreign  department ; 
Herbert  Forster,  Western  Electric  in- 
formation manager,  and  C.  L.  Stong. 

Among  others  were  E.  I.  Sponable, 
chief  sound  engineer,  20th  Century- 
Fox  ;  Herbert  Griffin  and  A.  E. 
Meyers,  International  Projector  ;  L.  W. 
Conrow,  George  Carrington,  Bert 
Sanford,  Frank  Gilbert  and  E.  O. 
Wilschke  of  Altec;  L.  W.  Davee, 
Motiograph;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  S. 
Ashcraft,  Ashcraft  Mfg.  Co. ;  Alfredo 
Murua,  SIDE  studios,  Buenos  Aires  ; 
Eduardo  Zublin,  Argentine  circuit  rep- 
resentative; G.  Burckhardt,  exhibitor 
from  Colombia ;  Alfonso  G.  Merlet, 
Italo-Chileno  circuit,  Chile ;  George 
Schutz  and  Aaron  Nadell,  Better  The- 
atres ;  H.  Alban  Mestanza,  Teatro 
al  Dia,  and  James  Finn. 


C.  F.  I.  Sets  Dividend 

Dividend  of  25  cents  per  share  on 
the  preferred  stock  was  voted  yester- 
day by  the  board  of  directors  of  Con- 
solidated Film  Industries.  The  divi- 
dend is  payable  July  1  to  stockholders 
of  record  on  June  15. 


Tuesday,  May  16,  1939 


Celebrities  Attend 
6Mr.  Chips'  Preview 


Celebrities,  as  usual,  held  the  most 
attention  at  the  invitation  preview  of 
M-G-M's  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips,"  at 
the  Astor  last  night.  Among  those 
attending  were : 

Douglas  Fairbanks,  Sr.,  Mrs.  Vic- 
tor Saville,  wife  of  the  film's  produc- 
er; Grantland  Rice,  William  • 
Brady,  Alice  Duer  Miller,  GraC^ 
George,  Borough  President  Stanley 
M.  Isaacs,  Borough  President  James 
J.  Lyons,  Arthur  Krock,  Conde  Nast, 
William  S.  Paley,  Julius  Ochs  Adler, 
M.  H.  Aylesworth,  Raoul  Fleisch- 
mann,  Arthur  Hayes  Sulzberger,  Mrs. 
Paul  Block,  Irene  Kuhn,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Averil  Harriman,  Mrs.  W.  Bay- 
ard Cutting,  Ira  Nelson  Morris,  James 
Ralph  Bloomer,  T.  J.  Buttikoffer, 
Dick  Hyman,  P.  M.  Hamilton,  John 
O'Hara  Cosgrave,  Herbert  R.  Mayes, 
W.  T.  Dewart,  Thomas  Beck,  H.  B. 
Fairchild  and  John  Hanrahan. 

Three  Dayton,  0.,  critics,  guests  of 
M-G-M  at  the  World's  Fair  Sunday, 
covered  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  open- 
ing for  their  papers. 

Australia  Officials 
N.Y.-Bound  Tonight 

Hollywood,  May  IS. — Theatre  at- 
tendance has  been  hard  hit  by  the  war 
scare  fever  in  Australia,  according  to 
Ralph  Doyle,  managing  director  of 
RKO  Pictures  of  Australia,  Ltd.,  and 
Charles  E.  Munro  of  Hoyt's  Theatres. 

They  arrived  here  on  the  Mon- 
terey for  a  one-day  stopover  before 
continuing  tomorrow  night  to  New 
York  where  Doyle  will  attend  RKO 
meetings  and  Munro  will  look  over 
American  product. 

Passage  of  new  quota  restrictions 
in  Australia,  both  men  said,  has  not 
materially  aided  local  production  thus 
far.  The  quota  law,  passed  last  year, 
raised  from  12^  per  cent  to  25  per 
cent  the  quota  on  American  films, 
gave  exhibitors  3  per  cent  rejection 
privilege  on  American  films  in  favor 
of  domestic  product  and  contained  a 
clause,  as  yet  inoperative,  providing 
for  15  per  cent  of  British-made  film 
in  quota. 

However,  both  officials  agreed  that 
the  latter  quota,  which,  if  proclaimed, 
would  raise  total  quota  limits  affecting 
American  pictures  to  43  per  cent,  was 
passed  only  as  a  lever  for  reciprocal 
dealings   with  England. 


RKO  May  Act  Today 
On  Patterson  Post 

Decisive  action  on  the  ap- 
pointment of  Richard  C.  Pat- 
terson, assistant  Secretary  of 
Commerce,  to  a  high  execu- 
tive post  in  RKO  may  occur 
at  a  meeting  being  held  in 
New  York  today.  Financial 
interests  associated  with  RKO 
conferred  on  the  appointment 
yesterday  without  action  hav- 
ing been  taken.  The  confer- 
ences are  scheduled  to  be  re- 
sumed today. 

Patterson  plans  to  retire 
from  Government  service  this 
summer. 


Tlew  RCA 
PH0T0PH0NE 
MAGIC  VOICE 
of  the 
SCREEN 

with  Rotary  Stabilizer 
PLUS  SHOCK  PROOF  DRIVE 


Tuesday,  May  16,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


9 


Film  Cases  Before  Courts 


Expect  Trade 
Code  to  Start 
Next  August 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
they  will  he  submitted  to  all  organiza- 
tions participating  in  the  negotiations, 
jjied  States  has  called  for  a  vote  of 
"TTiclepeudent  exhibitors  on  the  code  at 
its  national  convention  in  Minneapolis, 
une  13  to  15.    Rodgers  is  scheduled 
to  discuss  the  code  at  the  convention, 
and  Allied  spokesmen  are  expected  to 
■  'ppose  certain  phases  of  it. 
The  pact  is  scheduled  to  go  into  ef- 
|  feet  with  the  1939-'40  season.    At  the 
i  earliest,  the  season  will  not  start  until 
early  in  August,  as  is  the  case  with 
JOth  Century-Fox. 

In  addition  to  Rodgers,  among  those 
1  attending   yesterday's    meeting  were 
Richard  Dwight,  of  counsel  to  20th 
I  Century-Fox ;  E.  W.  Aaron  and  Irv- 
■  ing  Greenfield  of  M-G-M  ;  I.  Howard 
Levinson,  Warners;  Ned  E.  Depinet 
!  and  William   Mallard,   RKO ;  Wil- 
liam  Scully  and  Adolph  Schimel,  Uni- 
versal ;  Neil  F.  Agnew  and  Lou  Phil- 
lips,    Paramount;     Eugene  Picker, 
( Columbia. 


50  Executives  Due 
At  Award  Luncheon 

A  final  check  indicates  an  attend- 
ance of  more  than  50  top  industry 
figures  who  will  be  guests  of  Martin 
Ouigley  today  in  the  North  Garden 
Room  of  the  Hotel  Astor,  at  the 
Ouigley  Grand  Awards  luncheon. 
Presentation  of  the  Grand  Award 
Plaques  will  be  made  by  William  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  general  sales  man- 
ager, and  among  others  expected  to 
:~peak  arc  Spyros  Skouras  and  Frank 
G  Walker. 

The  winners,  John  Purhorn  of  Chi- 
cago and  George  Limerick  of  Enid, 
I  >kla.,  who  arrived  yesterday  to  spend 
ii  a  week  as  guests  of  Motion  Picture 
i  Herald,  were  widely  entertained  dur- 
i  ing  the  day. 


To  Honor  Shaw  Today 

New  Haven,  May  15. — Loew-Poli 
:  theatre  managers  and  members  of  the 
'  division  staff  will  tender  Harry  F. 
•  Shaw  a  dinner  party  at  Ceriano's  to- 
morrow night  in  honor  of  his  fifth 
anniversary  as  division  manager  here. 


Lion  Hunt  Is  On! 
Wanted:  Leo  Jr. 

Lions  International  clubs 
are  inaugurating  a  "lion 
hunt"  to  find  the  successor 
to  Leo  the  Lion  for  M-G-M's 
shorts. 

The  clubs  are  obtaining 
photographs  of  lion  cubs  at 
zoos  and  the  winner  will  be 
chosen  for  grace,  charm, 
majesty  and  photogenic  qual- 
ities and  he  will  be  "adopted" 
by  the  M-G-M  studio. 

The  choice  will  be  an- 
nounced at  the  Lions  Inter- 
national convention  at  Pitts- 
burgh in  July.  Cubs  under 
eight  months  old  are  eligible. 

L  


Loew's,  Inc.,  yesterday  filed  notice 
that  it  will  apply  to  Federal  Judge 
Leibell  Friday  for  an  order  dismiss- 
ing the  stockholders'  suit  brought 
against  it,  35  of  its  officers  and  direc- 
tors, ERPI,  Western  Electric  Co., 
the  Chase  National  Bank,  and  Halsey 
Stuart  &  Co.  by  Norman  Wolf  and 
Manes  Fuld,  for  waste  and  misman- 
agement. 


M-G-M  Settles  $88,500 
Bitner-Feist  Suit 

Suit  for  $88,500  against  M-G-M 
brought  by  Edgar  F.  Bitner  and  the 
estate  of  Leo  Feist,  was  settled  yes- 
terday at  trial  before  Supreme  Court 
Justice  Wasservogel  upon  undisclosed 
terms.  Plaintiffs  had  suit  for  *wo 
installments  of  $44,250  allegedly  due 
as  part  payment  for  the  purchase  by 
M-G-M  of  1,450  shares  of  Leo  Feist, 
Inc.,  which  carried  with  it  the  control 
of  the  company. 


Hearing  Set  May  23 
In  "Snow  White"  Suit 

Walt  Disney  Productions,  Ltd.,  was 
ordered  by  Supreme  Court  Justice  Va- 
lcntc  yesterday  to  submit  to  an  ex- 
amination in  Los  Angeles  on  applica- 
tion of  Adriana  Caselotti  and  Harry 
Stockwell.  RCA.  Mfg.  Co.  was  di- 
rected to  appear  for  examination  here 

Fight  Mexico  Union 
Ban  on  Franco  Films 

Mexico  City,  May  15. — Asserting 
the  action  is  certain  to  prompt  re- 
taliation that  will  harm  Mexican  pic- 
tures, producers  and  distributors  of 
Mexican  films  have  petitioned  Presi- 
dent Lazaro  Cardenas  to  use  his  in- 
fluence toward  upsetting  the  latest 
film  boycott  by  the  Confederation  of 
Mexican  Workers,  Mexico's  strong- 
est labor  organization. 

The  boycott  is  against  all  pictures 
to  be  made  in  Spain  during  the  Franco 
administration.  The  Confederation, 
\\  hich  has  banned  several  German  and 
Italian  made  pictures,  considers  the 
Franco  Government  Fascist. 


Briggs  1938  Salary 
Reported  at  $25,531 

O.  Henry  Briggs,  president  of  Pathe 
Film  Corp.,  received  a  salary  of  $25,- 
531  in  1938,  it  was  reported  yesterday 
by  the  Securities  &  Exchange  Com- 
mission. 

In  radio,  Powell  Crosley,  Jr.,  presi- 
dent of  the  Crosley  Corp.,  received 
$25,000.  Vice-Presidents  Lewis  Cros- 
ley and  James  D.  Shouse  were  paid 
$20,000  and  $19,000  respectively. 


Canadian  Changes 
Made  in  (BelV  Film 

Hollywood,  May  15. — Twentieth 
Century-Fox  will  insert  in  Canadian 
prints  of  "The  Story  of  Alexander 
Graham  Bell"  scenes  of  the  telephone 
inventor's  homestead  in  Canada,  and 
of  the  Canadian  memorial  to  him. 

The  studio  is  now  finishing  added 
scenes  to  placate  the  reported  resent- 
ment caused  by  the  minimizing  of 
Bell's  Canadian  origin  in  the  original 
script. 


on  May  23.  Caselotti  and  Stockwell, 
singers  in  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs,"  are  suing  Walt  Disney  Pro- 
ductions and  RCA  for  $300,000  dam- 
ages, claiming  that  the  defendants, 
without  their  consent,  made  recordings 
of  their  songs  from  the  motion  picture 
sound  track. 


May  29  Hearing  LTpon 
Alger's  RKO  Claim 

Federal  Judge  Bondy  yesterday 
fixed  a  hearing  for  May  29  upon  ap- 
plication of  Special  Master  Alger  for 
an  allowance  of  compensation  for  his 
services  in  the  RKO  reorganization. 
Applications  of  the  Chemical  Bank 
and  Trust  Co.  as  trustee  under  RKO 
note  injunctions  for  $34,375  and 
$4,025  disbursements,  and  its  attor- 
neys, Wright,  Gordon,  Zachary  and 
Parlin  for  $22,500  also  was  set  for  the 
same  day. 


RCA  Stockholder  Allowed 
to  Intervene  in  Suit 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Rosenman 
yesterday  granted  permission  to  Nor- 
man C.  Norman,  holder  of  500  shares 
of  RCA  common  stock,  to  intervene 
in  the  stockholders  suit  against  that 
company,  its  officers  and  directors, 
American  Telephone  and  Telegraph 
Co.,  Westinghouse  Co.  and  General 
Electric  Company,  for  the  alleged  un- 
lawful transfer  of  a  large  block  of 
stock.  Twelve  stockholders  have  al- 
ready filed  action  in  a  suit  previously 
consolidated. 


Ticket  Taxing 
Bills  Opposed 
In  Legislature 


Albany,  May  15. — A  two  per  cent 
sales  tax,  designed  to  raise  $125,000,- 
000  which  would  be  returnable  to  com- 
munities for  local  relief  costs,  is  before 
the  State  Senate  for  consideration. 

Introduced  Saturday  by  Senator 
Martin  of  Syracuse,  it  does  not  ex- 
empt theatre  admissions.  It  seeks  a 
one  cent  tax  on  admissions  from  13 
to  63  cents  and  two  cents  on  admis- 
sions between  64  and  99  cents.  Lead- 
ers believe  the  Martin  bill  is  destined 
for  defeat. 

Western  New  York  opposition  to 
the  Desmond  housing  bill,  which  pro- 
vides for  a  ticket  tax,  is  being  led 
by  the  Buffalo  M.P.T.O,,  which 
comprises  more  than  300  exhibitors. 


$20,175  Monogram 
Profit  in  3  Months 

Profit  of  $20,175  was  earned  by 
Monogram  during  the  first  three 
months  of  1939,  W.  Ray  Johnston, 
president,  advised  stockholders  in  a 
letter  yesterday.  Same  period  last 
year  resulted  in  $35,956  loss. 

The  figure,  unaudited,  is  the  net 
profit  after  allowance  for  amortiza- 
tion but  before  deductions  for  Fed- 
eral income  taxes.  Including  the  last 
two  months  of  1938,  Johnston  re- 
vealed that  profit  for  the  five-month 
period  ending  April  1  totaled  $57,308. 


Hal  Roach's  ZENOBIA  should  be 
a  very  funny  picture.  And  it  isl 


—  NEW  YORK  TIMES 


RELEASED  THRU  UNITED  ARTISTS 


i 


10 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Tuesday,  May  16,  19 


Theatre  Boom 
For  Montreal 
On  Royal  Visit 


Montreal,  May  15. — More  than 
500,000  persons  are  expected  to  flock 
here  for  the  visit  of  British  royalty, 
scheduled  Thursday,  and  exhibitors 
are  anticipating  a  business  increase  up 
to  50  per  cent. 

Tourists  have  been  arriving  here 
since  Saturday,  waiting  for  the  Brit- 
ish monarchs  whose  arrival  has  been 
delayed  by  fog  at  sea.  The  whole 
town  has  taken  on  a  festive  air.  The- 
atres have  arranged  special  shows  and 
decorated  their  marquees.  Exhibitors 
expect  "dead"  houses  during  the  pro- 
cession, but  expect  to  catch  good  eve- 
ning crowds. 


Royalty  Newsreels 
Escape  Delay  Here 

Delay  in  the  landing  of  British 
royalty  will  not  affect  newsreels  ad- 
versely. In  view  of  the  postponement 
from  yesterday  until  tomorrow,  the 
negatives  will  reach  here  in  time  for 
the  regular  editions  of  the  reels  and 
will  not  require  specials. 

Radio  schedules  have  been  revised 
because  of  the  delay  in  arrival  of  the 
Empress  of  Australia.  First  programs, 
originally  scheduled  for  yesterday 
morning,  will  begin  tomorrow  instead. 


Urge  Longer  Terms 
For  Radio  Licenses 

Longer  terms  for  radio  li- 
censes and  definite  standards 
to  guide  censorship  and  con- 
trol have  been  suggested  to 
the  Federal  Communication 
Commission  by  the  National 
Council  on  Freedom  from 
Censorship.  The  proposals 
are  aimed  at  promoting  free- 
dom of  the  air. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 

JOHN  TILLMAN,  formerly  of 
WHAS,  Louisville,  and  WSB, 
Atlanta,  has  joined  the  CBS  an- 
nouncing staff  here.  .  .  .  Wallace 
Walker  has  joined  Mutual's  sales  pro- 
motion department  in  a  market  re- 
search capacity.  .  .  .  Basil  Rathbone 
and  Patricia  Ellis  will  make  guest  ap- 
pearances on  Bing  Crosby's  show 
Thursday.  .  .  .  Tom  Fizdale  is  back 
in  New  York  after  an  extended  stay 
at  his  west  coast  offices.  .  .  .  Nan 
Wynn  joins  the  Hal  Kemp  crew  as 
vocalist  May  19,  succeeding  Maxine 
Grav. 


Name  King  to 
Head  Florida 
Broadcasters 


Jacksonville,  May  15. — Frank  M. 
King,  head  of  the  Florida  Broadcast- 
ing Co.,  operating  WMBR,  Jackson- 
ville, was  named  president  of  the 
Florida  Association  of  Broadcasters  at 
a  meeting  here  in  connection  with  a 
district  convention  of  the  National 
Association  of  Broadcasters. 

Other  officers  elected  were  Gilbert 
Freeman  of  WTAL,  Tallahassee,  first 
vice-president ;  Harold  Danforth, 
WDBO,  Orlando,  second  vice-presi- 
dent; Spencer  Mitchell,  WDAE,  the 
Tampa  Times  station,  secretary-treas- 
urer;  Walter  Tison,  WFLA,  Clear- 
water; Fred  Borton,  WQAM,  Mi- 
ami, and  Henry  Wells,  WCOA,  Pen- 
sacola,  directors. 

Representatives  of  33  stations  in 
Florida,  Georgia  and  Alabama  attended 
a  busines.s  session  called  for  the  pur- 
pose of  formulating  a  "very  definite 
statement  telling  the  reason  why  the 
south  is  not  ready  for  television." 

Principal  speakers  at  today's  session 
were  E.  C.  Mills  of  Ascap  and  Ne- 
ville Miller,  president  of  the  N.  A.  B. 


Group  Theatre  Plays 
On  Kate  Smith  Hour 

Ted  Collins  has  entered  into  an 
agreement  with  the  Group  Theatre  to 
present  a  series  of  radio  versions  of 
dramatic  offerings  starring  players 
from  that  organization  on  the  Kate 
Smith  hour. 

Beginning  with  Thursday's  broad- 
cast, members  of  the  Group  Theatre 
will  be  heard  in  an  adaptation  of 
"Men  in  White,"  with  Frances  Farmer 
and  Luther  Adler ;  May  25  Stella  Ad- 
ler  and  Morris  Carnovsky  will  do 
"Life  of  Sarah  Bernhardt."  and  on 
June  1  "Golden  Boy"  will  be  offered. 


NBC  Will  Televise 
Ball  Game  Tomorrow 

First  televised  showing  of  a  base- 
ball game  has  been  scheduled  by 
W2XBS,  NBC  short-wave  station, 
for  tomorrow  when  the  cameras  will 
cover  the  action  of  the  intercollegiate 
game  between  Columbia  and  Prince- 
ton, from  Baker  Field,  at  4  P.M.  It 
will  be  the  first  sports  telecast  in  this 
country. 


WIOD  Labor  Quiz 

Miami,  May  14. — Labor  practices  of 
WIOD  and  its  parent,  Miami  Daily 
News,  will  be  investigated  by  the  Na- 
tional Labor  Relations  Board  at  a 
hearing  on  charges  growing  out  of  the 
dismissal  last  fall  of  four  radio  art- 
ists. 


FCC  Calendar  of  Hearings 


Washington,  May  15. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  ten- 
tatively assigned  broadcasting  appli- 
cations for  hearings  as  follows :  . 

June  12:  Application  of  KTSW, 
Emporia,  Kan.,  for  extension  of  time 
from  day  to  unlimited. 

June  15:  Application  of  Central 
Broadcasting  Corp.  for  a  new  1,500- 
kilocycle  station  at  Worcester,  Mass., 
with  100  watts  night,  250  watts  day. 

June  26 :  Application  of  Catawba 
Valley  Broadcasting  Co.,  Inc.,  for  a 
new  1,370-kilocycle  station  at  Hickory, 
N.  C,  with  100  watts  night,  250  watts 
day. 

June  30:  Application  of  KALE, 
Portland,  Ore.,  for  increase  of  day 
power  from  1,000  to  5,000  watts. 


July  10 :  Application  of  Samuel  M. 
Emison  for  a  new  1,420-kilocycle,  100 
watt  station  at  Vincennes,  Ind. 

July  12:  Application  of  KUTA, 
Salt  Lake  City,  for  change  of  fre- 
quency from  1,500  to  570  kilocycles 
and  increase  of  power  from  100  to 
1,000  watts. 

Application  for  a  construction  per- 
mij  for  a  new  1.340-kilocycle,  1,000- 
watt  station  has  been  filed  by  the  Por- 
to Rican  American  Broadcasting  Co. 
Inc.,  Ponce,  P.  R. 

Other  applications  included  the  re- 
quests of  KQV,  Pittsburgh,  for  in- 
crease of  night  power  from  500  to 
1,000  watts,  and  KMTR,  Los  Angeles 
for  increase  of  power  from  1,000  to 
5,000  watts. 


Set  New  WMCA  Series 

A  new  Friday  musical  and  variety 
series  featuring  Billy  Glason,  .will 
start  over  WMCA  May  19  from  10  to 
10:30  P.  M.  The  series  will  be  titled 
"Laff  Parade,"  and  in  addition  to 
Glason  will  have  Lee  Grant's  or- 
chestra, and  Shirley  Hall,  Jimmy 
Blair  and  Mildred  King. 


'Chips'  Ads  on  Radio 

M-G-M,  through  Donahue  &  Coe, 
is  using  spot  announcements  for  one 
week  over  WNEW  to  advertise 
"Good-Bye  Mr.  Chips,"  opening  at  the 
Astor  today. 


Study  Television  Here 

San  Francisco,  May  15. — David 
Worrall,  head  of  the  Australian 
Broadcasting  System  and  manager  of 
3DB,  Sidney,  is  here  with  C.  P.  Mc- 
Gregor, Hollywood  transcription  pro- 
ducer, to  see  RCA  television  and  other 
radio  exhibits  at  the  exposition. 


Shift  Television  Time 

NBC  has  revised  its  television  film 
schedule,  from  Mondays,  11  A.M.  to 
4  P.M.,  to  Saturdays  from  4  to  9 
P.M.  Film  schedule  is  primarily  for 
dealer  showings,  and  the  new  schedule 
has  been  arranged  as  an  accommoda- 
tion to  dealers  who  have  urged  the 
Saturday  showings  as  the  best  time 
to  demonstrate  the  sets  to  the  public 


B 


anner 
LINES 


Renew  Reiser  Pact 

Al  and  Lee  Reiser  have  received 
their  fourth  renewal  as  conductors  of 
the  "All-Star  Revue,"  heard  Thurs- 
day at  7:30  P.M.  over  WEAF.  The 
renewal  is  for  13  weeks  starting  June 
?? 


To  Short-Wave  Mutual 

Beginning  June  1,  W1XAL,  Bos- 
ton, in  addition  to  its  regular  short- 
wave schedule,  will  pick  up  the  Mu- 
tual network's  programs  from  10 
A.  M.  to  12  noon,  Monday  through 
Saturday,  for  transmission  to  Europe 
and  South  America. 


IRKED  by  the  success  of  BBj 
in  getting  short-wave  progran ! 
into  Germany,  the  Nazi  Ministr 
of  Propaganda  has  issued  a  dictioi 
ary  defining  some  of  the  terms  fre^ 
quently  used  in  the  British  broac, 
casts.  Some  of  the  official  dej;-i 
tions,   according   to   Ncwsdom,  \ 

Gentlemen — In  England  everyone  : 
i  gentleman  so  long  as  it  is  not  put 
icly  demonstrated  that  he  isn't. 

Consultation — To  ask  permission- 
of  England,  naturally. 

Freedom — A  word  for  which  than 
is  a  fondness,  to  cover  up  other  ill 
sounding  ideas. 

Calico — Cotton    goods,  petroleunj 
coal,  naval  bases,  steel,  rubber — whs 
the    English    statesmen   mean  whe| 
they  speak  of  God  or  Righteousnes 
T 

The  Helen  Menken  series,  "Second 
Husband,"  used  to  have  a  sombre  not\ 
■about  each  episode,  but  iiozl1  it's  mm 
gayer  and  more  sprightly.     If  yc 
seek  an  explanation,   the  change 
format  is  due  to  the  change  in  weati 
cr.     In  other  words,  for  spring  at 
summer  the  show  zvill  stress  lightnc 
and  gayety;  in  the  winter  it  will  pic 
up  its  worrisome  habits  again. 

T 

John  Steinbeck's  "Grapes  (1 
Wrath"  is  a  best-seller  withoul 
the  aid  of  Alton  Cook's  appendix,  <J 
course,  but  the  fact  remains  thai 
the  sale  of  the  book  took  an  upwar I 
hike  while  the  radio  editor  of  thl 
World-Telegram  was  convalescini 
from  his  appendectomy.  Thus  fa| 
he's  received  six  copies  of  the  booi 
from  friends. 

T 

Guy  Hickok  of  NBC's  short-wav  I 
division,  showed  us  the  letters  fronl 
German  listeners.  A  batch  of  theml 
all  requesting  the  network  to  mai  I 
them  copies  of  the  words  and  lyric:  £ 
of — "The  Star  Spangled  Banner." 
▼ 

When  the  King  and  Queen  of  Eng 
land  arrive  in  Washington  for  tin  l 
June  8-9  stopovers.  Mutual  will  mef(/4 
the  special  events  staffs  of  three  sta-% 
tions  to  handle  the  event,  WOV\ 
Washington ;  WBAL,  Baltimore,  one  , 
WOR,  Neiv  York. 

▼ 

CBS  Institutional  Note.  Th<i 
handball  fever  is  raging  over  or 
Madison  Ave.  with  the  network's 
oroduction  department  team  chal 
lenging  all  comers,  particularly 
NBC.  On  the  team  are  Mel  Allen 
Ed  Scoville,  Bob  Ray,  Charles  Cur 
tin,  John  Allen  Wolfe,  Jack  Slocuir 
(a  ringer),  Art  Mundorff,  John  Reic 
King  and  George  Putnam. 

T 

The  Modernaires  are  feuding  with 
the  'Merry  Macs — similarity  of  ar- 
rangements is  the  cause. 

— Jack  Banner 


Foster  WLW  Announcer 

Cincinnati,  May  15. — Fred  Foster, 
Jacksonville,  Fla.,  will  replace  Del 
King  as  WLW  announcer  when  the 
latter  leaves  shortly  to  take  a  post  in 
Chicago. 


Dunham  at  Meeting 

Dr.  Franklin  Dunham,  NBC  edu- 
cational director,  left  yesterday  to  at- 
tend the  three-day  annual  meeting  of 
the  American  Association  for  Adult 
Education  at  Niagara  Falls.  Today 
he  will  participate  in  the  Association's 
round  table  on  new  agencies  of  adult 
education,  which  will  include  a  dis- 
cussion of  radio. 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


Alert, 


to  the^o 
Picture 
Industry 


tion 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


45.   NO.  95 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  17,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Name  Rathvon 
ind  Patterson 
fo  RKO  Posts 


londy  Indicates  He  Will 
Confirm  Nominees 


Nominations  of  Richard  C.  Patter- 
■n  as  a  director  and  chairman  of 
reorgan- 
ized  RKO  and 
X.  Peter  Rath- 
von   as  chair- 
man of  the  new 
company's  ex- 
ecutive commit- 
tee   were  sub- 
mitted yester- 
day to  Federal 
Judge  William 
Bondy  by  Atlas 
Corp.,  propo- 
nent    of  the 
RKO  reorgani- 
zation plan.  The 
ft.  c.  Patterson        court  indicated 
would  approve  the  appointments. 
Patterson,  who  was  Assistant  Sec- 
tary of  Commerce,  would  replace 
oyd  B.  Odium,  head  of  Atlas,  who 
as   named   previously  to   serve  as 
>ard  chairman  temporarily.  Rathvon 
|s  approved  by  the  court  previously 
an  Atlas  nominee  for  the  new  RKO 
ard.    It  was  stated  that  as  execu- 
te committee   chairman   lie  would 
ve  a  substantial  portion,  but  not  all 
his  time,  to  the  post. 
Patterson,  likewise,  will  give  only 
Tt  of  his  time  to  the  chairmanship, 
fob.  appointments,  if  approved  by  the 
turt,  will  be  effective  with  consum- 
ption of   the   RKO  reorganization, 
pected  early  next  fall. 
Active  management  of  the  company 
11  continue  to  be  vested  in  George 
Schaefer,  RKO  president. 


'oncessions  Made 
In  IATSE  Dispute 

Hollywood,  May  16. — I.A.T.S.E. 
Is  embarked  on  a  policy  of  appease- 
ent  and  is  trying  to  settle  its  dispute 

th  deposed  officers  of  Studio  Tech- 
cians  Local  37. 

Concessions  offered  include  return 
local  autonomy,  removal  of  Harold 

.  Smith,  international  representative 
charge  of  the  office  here,  and  the 

ght  to  try  Lew   Blix,   the  local's 

ecutive  secretary,  and  two  members 
the  board  of  governors. 
I  The   local's    officers    also  demand 

larantee  of  autonomy  in  the  future, 
negotiations  are  successful,  court 

tions  scheduled  for  Monday  will  be 

•viated. 


Fourth  House  Here 
Gets  Television  Set 

New  York  showmen  are 
alive  to  the  exploitation  pos- 
sibilities of  television.  The 
New  Amsterdam  is  the  fourth 
theatre  in  the  metropolitan 
area  to  install  a  receiving  set 
in  its  lobby.  The  others  are 
the  Little  Carnegie,  the  Para- 
mount and  the  Plaza. 


Bondy  Postpones 
Trust  Ruling,  Asks 
For  Majors'  Reply 


Federal  Judge  Bondy  is  holding  up 
decision  on  the  Government's  applica- 
tion in  its  anti-trust  suit  against  the 
majors  for  an  order  dispensing  with 
the  naming  of  witnesses  in  the  bill  of 
particulars  until  the  majors  apply  for 
a  more  specific  bill,  he  stated  yesterday. 

The  statement  was  made  during  the 
RKO  hearing,  when  Judge  Bondy 
suddenly  interrupted  Col.  H.  C.  Rick- 
aby,  attorney  for  Atlas  Corp.,  to  ask 
him  whether  he  had  filed  a  motion  for 
a  more  specific  bill.  Col.  Rickaby 
said  he  was  not  directly  interested  in 
the  anti-trust  suit. 

O.  C.  Doering,  attorney  for  RKO, 
replied  that  the  application  would  be 
made  within  the  next  few  days.  Judge 
Bondy  thereupon  said  that  he  did  not 
wish  to  urge  the  majors  to  make  the 
application,  but  if  it  was  made,  he 
would  decide  it  and  the  Government's 
application  simultaneously. 


12  Companies  Ask 
Okla.  Case  Delays 

Oklahoma  City,  May  16.— Twelve 
picture  companies  named  by  the  gov- 
ernment in  the  anti-trust  action  here 
two  weeks  ago  joined  today  in  asking 
extension  of  time  to  answer  the  fed- 
eral petition,  which  is  the  second  suit 
in  the  government's  monopoly  drive 
against  the  industry. 

Four  circuits  which  exhibit  in  the 
Oklahoma  and  Texas  area — Griffith 
Amusement  Co.,  Consolidated  The- 
atres, R.  E.  Griffith  Theatres,  and 
Westex  Theatres — as  well  as  three  of- 
ficers of  the  companies,  L.  C,  H.  J. 
and  R.  E.  Griffith,  asked  through 
their  attorneys  for  at  least  a  60-day 
extension  of  time  from  the  day  the 
summonses  were  served  on  May  1 
and  2. 

Of  the  distributing  corporations, 
United  Artists  and  Columbia  asked 
for  at  least  a  40-day  delay.  Five  other 
companies  asked  extension  until  July 
1  for  formulating  their  answers. 


NEW  FILM  DRIVE 
NEEDED-SKOURAS 


Paramount  Asks 
Reelection  of  All 
16  on  Directorate 


Reelection  of  all  16  Paramount  di- 
rectors for  a  one-year  term  is  asked 
by  the  company  in  its  notice  of  the 
annual  meeting  of  stockholders  at  the 
home  office  June  20.  Notices  of  the 
meeting  were  mailed  yesterday. 

The  management  states  that  it 
knows  of  no  other  business  to  be 
transacted  at  the  meeting  except  the 
election  of  directors.  The  proxy  com- 
mittee for  the  company  will  vote  for 
the  reelection  of  Adolph  Zukor, 
Barney  Balaban,  Stanton  Griffis,  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  Austin  C.  Keough, 
Neil  F.  Agnew,  John  W.  Hicks,  Jr., 
Stephen  Callaghan,  Harvey  D.  Gib- 
son, A.  Conger  Goodyear,  Duncan  G. 
Harris,  John  D.  Hertz,  Earl  I.  Mc- 
Clintock,  Edwin  L.  Weisl,  Maurice 
Newton  and  E.  V.  Richards. 

The  notices  report  that  the  follow- 
ing board  members  own  stock  in  the 
company,  beneficially  or  of  record: 
Balaban,  2,000  shares  of  common ; 
Griffis,  3,000  shares  of  common ; 
Freeman,  500  shares  of  second  pre- 
ferred ;  Keough,  59  shares  of  common 
and  223  shares  of  second  pre- 
ferred; Callaghan,  a  director  of  Al- 
lied Owners  Corp.,  which  owns  9,900 
shares  of  first  preferred  and  $250,000 
principal  amount  of  3J4  per  cent  con- 
vertible debentures;  Gibson,  chairman 
{Continued  on  pane  2) 


U.S.  Film  Boycott 
Ended  in  Mexico 

Mexico  City.  May  16. — Following 
an  agreement  negotiated  by  Mayor 
Raul  Castellano  of  Mexico  City,  for- 
mer private  secretary  to  President  La- 
zaro  Cardenas,  the  boycott  against  the 
circuit  operated  by  Rodriguez  Brothers 
in  Nuevo  Leon  State  has  been 
dropped. 

Also,  the  effort  on  the  part  of  the 
Federation  of  Mexican  Cinemato- 
graphic W'orkers  to  prevent  the  ex- 
hibition here  or  the  product  of  Ameri- 
can distributors  who  were  determined 
to  supply  films  to  the  circuit,  has  been 
abandoned.  The  agreement  provides 
that  all  other  forms  of  reprisal  insti- 
tuted against  the  circuit  in  the  union 
fight  be  stopped  as  well  as  interfer- 
ence with  the  exhibition  of  American 
product  in  any  part  of  Mexico. 


Circuit   Head  Suggests 
Campaign  at  Quigley 
Awards  Luncheon 


By  AL  FINESTONE 

Spyros  Skouras,  president  of  Na- 
tional Theatres,  speaking  at  the  1938 
Quigley  Grand  Awards  presentation 
luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Astor  yester- 
day, urged  that  an  industry-wide  pro- 
motion campaign  be  inaugurated  this 
year  "to  make  the  public  conscious 
of  the  great  pictures  that  the  studios 
are  producing." 

Skouras  was  the  principal  speaker 
at  the  luncheon,  which  was  attended 
by  many  of  the  industry's  ranking 
executives  in  honor  of  the  Grand 
Awards  winners,  John  Burhorn  of 
Chicago  and  George  Limerick  of 
Enid,  Okla.  William  F.  Rodgers, 
general  sales  manager  of  M-G-M,  pre- 
sented the  plaques  symbolic  of  the 
awards.  Martin  Quigley  was  host 
at  the  luncheon  and  toastmaster. 

Hails  1938  Campaign 

In  urging  a  new  promotion  cam- 
paign, Skouras  said :  "Let  us  combine 
our  thoughts  to  devise  another  move- 
ment to  further  the  industry's  prod- 
uct and  goodwill. 

"Some  say  that  the  campaign  last 
year  was  not  successful.  I  disagree. 
There  were  980  editorials  in  important 
newspapers  of  the  United  States  on 
the  industry's  effort,  95  per  cent  of 
which  praised  films.  No  one  can  deny 
that  this  in  itself  was  worth  while. 

"I  am  certain  that  the  campaign  had 
beneficial  results  throughout  the  coun- 

(Continued  on  page  5) 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  16. — Hal  Home, 
eastern  representative  for  Walt  Dis- 
jiey,  (was  elected  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution  and  a  member 
of  board  of  governors  of  Walt  Disney 
Productions.  He  returns  to  New 
York  Tuesday. 

• 

George  J.  Schaefer,  president  of 
RKO,  left  tonight  for  New  York  fol- 
lowing studio  conferences,  accom- 
panied by  Gordon  Youngman  of  the 
legal  department. 

• 

Murray  Silverstone,  U.  A.  head, 
leaves  for  New  York  Thursday.  J.  J. 
Milstein,  Edward  Small's  eastern 
representative,  departs  today.  Charles 
Schwartz,  U.  A.  counsel,  left  for  San 
Francisco  en  route  east. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  May  17,  19! 


Equity  Takes 
Strong  Stand 
On  Television 


Actors'  Equity  has  taken  the  bull  by 
the  horns  in  the  jurisdictional  fight  for 
control  of  the  television  field  and  has 
asserted  its  right  to  control  actors  en- 
gaged in  this  work. 

The  leading  editorial  in  Equity,  the 
official  organ,  will  declare  today : 

"The  Equity  Council  has  no  doubts 
in  its  mind,  and  wishes  to  leave  no 
doubts  in  the  minds  of  others,  that  it 
is  able  and  willing  to  exercise  the 
jurisdiction  it  holds  over  the  field  of 
television.  It  asks  this  help  of  its 
members  at  this  time  to  enable  it  to 
make  the  exercise  of  jurisdiction  a 
matter  of  pride  to  them,  the  Council 
and  the  Association." 

The  magazine,  which  appears  regu- 
larly on  the  15th  of  the  month,  was 
delayed  two  days  in  the  hope  that  the 
Associated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
America,  the  parent  body,  would 
make  an  open  resolution  proclaiming 
that  Equity  had  jurisdiction.  How- 
ever, when  delegates  from  Screen 
Actors'  Guild  and  American  Federa- 
tion of  Radio  Artists  asked  a  week's 
delay  to  consult  the  unions  they  rep- 
resent, Equity  officials  decided  to  re- 
lease the  magazine. 

The  editorial  points  out  that  all 
Equity  members  who  are  approached 
for  regular  work  in  television  are  re- 
quired to  submit  the  offer  and  its 
terms  to  Equity  for  approval. 


Loew's  Files  Brief 
In  Plagiarism  Case 

Appeal  brief  of  Loew's  in  the  in- 
fringement suit  of  Edward  Sheldon 
and  Margaret  Ayer  Barnes,  authors 
who  recovered  a  judgment  of  $532,153 
for  alleged  plagiarism  of  their  play, 
"Dishonored  Lady"  in  the  M-G-M 
film,  "Letty  Lynton,"  was  served  yes- 
terday. John  W.  Davis  will  argue 
the  appeal  for  Loew's  in  the  U.  S. 
Circuit  Court  of  Appeals. 

The  appeal  will  probably  be  heard 
early  next  month.  The  brief  does  not 
question  the  infringement  but  argues 
that  the  method  of  computing  dam- 
ages was  incorrect. 


3  Flights  Daily 
NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

THE  PLAINSMAN 

Lv.  7:10  A.  M.    Ar.  12:29  A.  M. 

THE  MERCURY 

Lv.  5:10  P.  M.   Ar.  7:43  A.  M. 

THE  SOUTHERNER 

Lv.  IO:IO  P.  M.   Ar.  1:55  P.M. 

Ask  your  travel  agent  or  phone 
VAnderbilt  3-2  580.  Ticket  offices: 
45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rocke- 
feller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


LOUIS  B.  MAYER  will  arrive  in 
New  York  from  New  Bruns- 
wick on  Saturday  or  Sunday.  He 
plans  to  remain  here  about  three  days 
before  leaving  for  the  coast. 

• 

Col.  E.  P.  Householder  and  R.  B. 
Murray,  of  the  U.  S.  Army  Motion 
Picture  Service,  Washington,  were  in 
New  York  yesterday  for  a  visit  to 
the  World's  Fair.  Other  registrants 
at  RKO's  World's  Fair  headquarters 
were  Jack  Berman,  Eastland  Thea- 
tres, Los  Angeles ;  J.  E.  Stocker, 
Myrtle  Theatre,  Detroit. 

• 

A.  L.  Pratchett,  Paramount  man- 
ager for  Mexico  and  Central  America, 
arrives  in  New  York  by  plane  this 
morning  from  Mexico  City.  He  will 
be  at  the  home  office  until  June  4 
when  he  leaves  for  the  coast  to  attend 
the  company's  annual  sales  meeting. 
• 

Geraldine  Fitzgerald,  Irish  actress 
featured  in  "Wuthering  Heights"  and 
"Dark  Victory,"   returns   to  Ireland 
today  aboard  the  Washington. 
• 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  20th  Century- 
Fox  board  chairman,  who  has  returned 
to  the  coast,  is  planning  to  return  here 
in  about  two  weeks. 

• 

Harry  Tugander,  formerly  with 
Paramount  News,  has  been  named 
assistant  to  Claude  Collins,  in 
charge  of  newsreels  and  other  films  at 
the  World's  Fair. 

• 

E.  C.  Mills  of  Ascap  is  due  back 
in  New  York  from  Florida  tomorrow. 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  John 
Hicks,  Stanton  Griffis,  J.  Rob- 
ert Rubin,  Max  Wolff.  Arthur 
Loew,  Clark  Robinson,  Herman 
Shumlin,  Charles  Sonin  among 
those  at  Sardi's  for  lunch  yesterday. 
• 

Cecil  F.  Mason,  Columbia  general 
manager  for  Australia,  left  for  the 
coast  yesterdav  by  train  where  he  will 
board  the  Monterey,  sailing  for  Aus- 
tralia, May  23.  He  conferred  with 
home  officials  and  attended  the  com- 
pany's annual  sales  convention  while 
here. 

• 

Simon  Z.  Bell,  Columbia  manager 
at  Trinidad,  B.W.I.,  is  scheduled  to 
arrive  in  New  York  today  on  the 
Uruguay  for  home  office  conferences 
with  Joseph  A.  McConville,  Colum- 
bia foreign  manager. 

• 

Charles  Coburn  is  motoring  east 
after  completing  work  in  RKO's 
"Memory  of  Love,"  and  will  direct 
the  fifth  annual  Mohawk  Drama  Fes- 
tival at  Union  College,  Schenectady. 
• 

Frank  C.  Gilbert,  chief  engineer 
of  Altec,  has  completed  a  6,000-mile 
motor  trip,   visiting  company  offices 
between  New  York  and  the  coast. 
• 

Evelyn  Gerstein  leaves  Monday 
to  do  advance  music  publicity  on 
Goldwyn's  "Music  School,"  going  to 
Boston,  Providence,  Montreal  and 
Atlanta. 

• 

Robert  Anstett,  head  property 
man  at  the  Roxy,  has  been  reelected 
president  of  Local  1,  Stagehands' 
Union. 


Cole  in  Columbus 

Indianapolis,  May  16. — Col.  H.  A. 
Cole,  national  Allied  president,  met 
with  Associated  Theatre  Owners  of 
Indiana  board  of  directors  today.  He 
will  go  to  Columbus  tomorrow  and 
Detroit  Thursday. 


Levy  Appoints  Nolan 

Jules  Levy,  general  sales  manager 
of  RKO,  has  named  R.  V.  Nolan, 
Chicago  salesman,  as  St.  Louis  branch 
manager,  replacing  Bernie  McCarthy, 
who  resigned  because  of  ill  health. 


C.  E.  A.  Meet  June  25 

London.  May  16. — Annual  confer- 
ence of  the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors' 
Association  will  be  held  in  Blackpool, 
from  June  25  to  June  30. 


Local  52  Pact  Ready 

Final  draft  of  the  proposed  contract 
is  expected  to  be  ready  today  when 
eastern  producers  meet  with  Studio 
Technicians'  Union,  Local  52.  The 
union  has  been  operating  under  a 
memorandum  agreement  since  Janu- 
ary, 1938,  and  present  negotiations 
have  been  conducted  since  February. 
The  draft  may  be  agreed  upon  today 
with  actual  signatures  to  follow 
shortly. 


Ojerholm  to  England 

John  Ojerholm,  Paramount  labora- 
tory technician,  sails  for  England 
today  on  the  Aquitania.  While 
abroad,  he  will  install  equipment  in 
Paramount's  British  laboratories  sim- 
ilar to  that  in  the  Long  Island  plant. 
He  will  return  in  four  or  five  months. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Britain's  King  and  Queen  bidding 
fareu'cU  and  a  grain  fire  in  Chicago 
highlight  the  new  issues.  The  reels 
and  their  contents  follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  71— British 
royalty  leave  for  Canada.  Grain  fire  in 
Chicago.  Beck  addresses  Polish  Parliament. 
Army  parade  in  Poland.  Coal  strike  settled. 
Typical  American  mother  chosen.  Fashions. 
Lew  Lehr.  Johnstown  loses  Preakness. 
Boating  at  Niagara  Falls.  Boxing  in  New 
York.    Aquacade  opens. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  269-Grain 
elevators  burn  in  Chicago.  Britain's  rulers 
start  tour.  Beck  speaks  in  Poland.  Taylor- 
Stanwyck  wedding.  Prince  of  Persia  re- 
turns with  bride.    Diving.    Preakness  race. 

PARAMOUNT    NEWS,    No.    82— Royal 


wedding  in  Iran.  New  Italian  provinces  in 
Africa.  Eucharistic  Congress  in  Algeria. 
Tulip  festival.  Taylor  weds  Barbara  Stan- 
wyck. Moral  Rearmament  gathering.  Pa- 
cific fleet  returns.  King  George  and  Queen 
Elizabeth  depart  for  Canada.  Challedon 
wins  Preakness. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS.  No.  86— Fire  in 
Chicago.  G.  P.  Putnam  reports  abduction. 
Coal  pact  signed.  Royal  newlyweds  in 
Persia.  Eucharistic  Congress  in  Algeria. 
Aged  woman  named  "American  Mother." 
Beck  answers  Hitler.  Preakness. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  771— 
King  and  Queen  start  trip.  Grain  fire  in 
Chicago.  Anniversary  of  French  Revolu- 
tion celebrated.  Vice-President  of  Ireland 
arrives  in  New  York.  Eucharistic  Con- 
gress. Prince  of  Persia  weds.  Aquacade 
diving.  Preakness. 


Para.  Seek<| 
16  Reelection; 
As  Director: 


(Continued  from  paue  1) 

and  president  of  Manufactr^  \ 
Trust  Co.,  which  owns  beneficial 
607  shares  of  first  preferred  and  %] 
000,000  principal  amount  of  3%  pu 
cent  debentures;  Goodyear,  1,0( 
shares  of  common  and  600  shares 
first  preferred ;  Harris,  200  shares 
common  and  200  of  second  preferrec 
Hertz,  100  shares  of  common ;  Mc 
Clintock,  100  shares  of  second  pre 
ferred ;  Weisl,  3,200  shares  of  secor 
preferred;  Newton,  8,118  shares 
common  and  2,813  1/5  shares  of  se 
ond  preferred  beneficially,  and  has 
interest  in  an  estate  which  owns  beiT 
ficially  900  shares  of  first  preferre 
and  $125,000  principal  amount  of  3!) 
per  cent  debentures  (he  is  a  direct< 
of  Adams  Express  Co.,  which  owi 
40,000  shares  of  Paramount  secon 
preferred  and  $103,000  princip; 
amount  of  3%  per  cent  debentures) 
Richards,  7,500  shares  of  second  pr 
ferred. 

Zukor,  Agnew  and  Hicks  are  114 
listed  as  owning  any  of  the  company 
stock  or  debentures.     Designation  ij 
the  nominees  for  reelection  originate 
with  the  board,  the  notices  state. 


Towns  in  N.  Y.  Vote 
For  Daylight  Tim 

Albany,  May  16. — Upstate  citie] 
towns  and  villages  are  flocking  to  da'; 
light  saving  time  in  the  wake  <| 
Syracuse  and  Elmira,  including  Bins' 
hamton,  Hammondsport  and  Hancoc 

State    Senator   Roy    M.  Page 
sponsoring  a  bill  to  give  town  an 
village  boards  authority  to  vote  da; 
light  time. 


Netco  Golf  Tourney  Se 

Managers  of  Netco  Theatres  Con 
Poughkeepsie,  will  hold  their  thii 
annual  golf  tournament  at  the  Powe 
ton  Country  Club,  Newburgh,  N.  Ti 
on  June  14.  Dinner  will  follow  tl 
tournament  at  the  Ship  Lantern's  hi 
Milton,  N.  Y. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  ar 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAME 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Con 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasure 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubcc 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  193 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Ini 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yor 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Mono 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatr 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictup 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Unioi 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. :  Boon 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weavei 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  I 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squan 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2: 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  th 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  10( 


FULL  HOUSE 

WITH  CHIPS 
AT  THE  ASTOR! 

|— you  never  saw  such  lines  at  the  box-office! 

i 

—you  never  read  such  lines  in  the  reviews! 

—read  'em  and  leap  With  joy!  {be  chipper  as  you  flip  the  page  — ) 


An  hour  before  the  doors  opened  at  the  Astor,  N.  Y. 
the  first  day  of  "Qoodbye  Mr.  Chips'" 

BEAUTIFUL  LINES! 


"A  motion  picture  which  you  will  want  to  see  time  and 
again  and  will  remember  long  after  the  other  offerings 
of  our  days  have  been  forgotten  .  .  .  Beautiful  and 
eloquently  moving  .  .  .  directed  brilliantly  by  Sam  Wood 
and  performed  consummately  ...  A  screen  masterpiece 
. . .  Has  a  rich  humanity  rarely  achieved  . . .  Mr.  Donat's 
portrayal  inspired  .  .  .  Greer  Garson's  performance 
enormously  sincere,  electric  and  haunting.  A  film  to  be 
remembered!"  — HOWARD  BARNES,  Herald-Tribune 

"'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips'  is  everything  they  said  it  is  and 
more  ...  It  is  one  of  the  few  really  great  photoplays  the 
screen  has  so  far  produced  . . .  Robert  Donat  brilliant . . . 
Greer  Garson  a  real  delight . . .  proves  she  is  just  about 
the  best  thing  that  has  happened  to  the  movies  in  years. . . 
A  great  picture,  and  if  you  miss  it,  you're  playing  a  dirty 
trick  on  yourself."    —WILLIAM  BOEHNEL,  World-Telegram 

"'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips'  stirring  .  .  .  very  moving  picture. 
Mr.  Donat  gives  a  stunning  performance  .  .  .  the  most 
exciting  of  his  career  .  .  .  Greer  Garson  is  exquisite. 
Beautifully  acted  and  artfully  made.  It  constitutes  a  real 
treat  for  film  fans."     —BLAND  JOHANESON,  Daily  Mirror 

"Takes  its  place  as  one  of  the  screen's  finest  entertain- 
ments .  .  .  Wholly  delightful  is  the  work  of  the  two 
principals,  Robert  Donat  and  a  lovely  newcomer  named 
Greer  Garson  ...  A  picture  of  warmth,  interesting  and 
enjoyable  .  .  .  and  its  sentiment  is  genuine." 

— ROSE  PELSWICK,  Journal' American 

"Excellent  .  .  .  Robert  Donat's  portrayal  as  good  as  his 
doctor  in  'The  Citadel'... Greer  Garson  proves  that  her 
next  appearance  cannot  be  too  soon  or  too  long . . .  She 
is  exciting  . . .  performances  beyond  criticism." 

—ARCHER  WINSTEN,  Post 


"Robert  Donat  brings  beloved  Mr.  Chips  to  life  ...  ha 
already  joined  the  ranks  of  fictional  immortals.  Donat' 
performance  puts  him  in  line  for  this  year's  Academ1 
award  .  .  .  An  achievement  of  the  first  order  .  .  .  Gree 
Garson  making  first  screen  appearance  is  beautiful  am 
talented  . . .  The  other  members  of  the  cast  are  fine,  too 
It  is  all  there  on  the  screen  . . .  heart-warming,  charming.' 

—KATE  CAMERON,  Daily  New 

"Told  from  the  heart.  It  will  be  practically  everyone' 
favorite  film  for  quite  a  while.  It  will  be  remembered  loni 
after  most  of  this  year's  and  last  year's  pictures  are  for 
gotten . . .  Donat's  performance  distinguished . . .  You  migh 
as  well  make  it  your  own  favorite  film  before  everyoni 
else  tells  you  it  is  theirs."  —EILEEN  CREELMAN,  Sm 

"A  masterpiece,  a  work  of  beauty  and  charm  that  yoi 
must  see  once,  and  that  you  will  want  to  see  again  anc 
again  .  .  .  The  triumph  of  Donat's  career  . . .  One  of  th< 
screen's  all-time  great  performances  ...  A  superlative 
screen  play,  even  finer  than  its  original." 

—HERBERT  COHN,  Brooklyn  Eagl 

"'Goodbye  Mr.  Chips',  rises  to  the  rank  of  a  great  screer 
classic,  a  radiant,  lovely,  endearing  film.  A  picture  thai 
you  will  see  again  and  again  and  cherish  and  remembe: 
long  after  other  things  have  passed  into  oblivion." 

—LEO  MISHKIN,  Morning  Telegrapl 

"Mr.  Donat  gives  an  incredibly  fine  characterization..! 
Miss  Garson  is  altogether  believable  and  quite  entrancing 
.  .  .  The  picture  is  admirable  and  right.  As  Katharin* 
remarks  to  Chips :  '  What  a  nice  lot  they  are ! '  And  tha' 
suits  the  picture.  What  a  nice  one  it  is!" 

—FRANK  NUGENT,  Time 


Proudly  M-Q-M  presents  to  the  industry 

GOODBYE  MR.  CHIPS 

a  friendly  hit  from  the  friendly  company! 


ieJnesday    May  17.  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


ew  Trade 
Drive  Urged 
By  Skouras 


A  be 

IlK'IT  gtX 


[Continued  from  page  1) 

Those  exhibitors  who  partici- 
benefited.  1  fee"!  that  it  did 
jod  to  help  the  industry.  I 
iel  that  something  along  tliis  line 
■>uld  be  done  this  year." 
The  importance  of  the  individual 
«>wmau  in  exploiting  the  industry's 
ares  and  the  need  for  an  incentive 
Lr li  as  the  Quigley  Awards  afford 
ere  stressed  by  the  speakers. 

In  his  opening  remarks,  Quigley  re- 
Tied  to  the  Awards  presentations  as 
Biializing  conspicuous  efforts  in  the 
Rbrtiotion,  exploitation  and  advertis- 
iij  of  motion  pictures. 
"I  know  very  well,"  he  said,  "that 
i  account  of  the  specific  activities  of 
I  of  you  there  is  no  need  to  eni- 
nasize  the  necessity  of  adequate  pres- 
tation of  films  to  the  public."  He 
iid  the  Quigley  Awards  are  designed 
-o  give  recognition  to  those  who  have 
voted  talent  and  industry  to  promo- 
(f>nal  efforts." 

i  A-Mike  Yogel,  chairman  and  editor 
the  Managers'  Round  Table  of 
to  Hon  Picture  Herald,  through  which 
le  Awards  competition  is  conducted, 
:plained  their  significance  and 
rowth. 


100  Winners  Since  1934 


"Through  the  medium  of  the  Quig- 
ty  Awards  and  what  they  have  ac- 
implished  in  the  five  years  that  they 
ave  been  given,  there  has  been  in- 
mtive  for  the  man  in  the  field  to  ex- 
1  his  efforts  in  exploitation  know - 

g  that  they  will  be  rewarded,"  said 

ogel. 

.  "Of  100  winners  of  monthly  Quig- 
y  Awards  plaques  since  the  inaugu- 
Mion  of  the  Awards  in  \934,  more 
jan  one-third  have  received  promo- 
nns  due  to  their  winning  the  Awards. 
»f  the  10  Grand  Awards  winners  in 
lat  time,  50  per  cent  have  been  pro- 
icted,  and  of  half  of  all  the  others 
ted  fully  50  per  cent  have  received 
ilary  increases  and  bonuses. 

All  this  has  been  established  as 
erectly  due  to  their  being  Awards 
inners.  as  has  been  attested  by  their 
;nployers.  This  record  establishes 
jhe  worth  of  the  Quigley  Awards." 
1 

Formula  for  Showmanship 

Yogel  said  this  was  the  first  time 
he  presentations  had  been  made  in 
<'ew  York  and  had  attracted  so  im- 
:>rtant  a  segment  of  the  industry. 
"We  all  know  of  the  vital  neces- 
sity of  showmanship  and  exploitation 

>  put  the  pictures  over."  he  con- 
nued.    "If   there   is   a   formula  in 

nowmanship.  the  Quigley  Awards 
ave  made  it  possible  by  encouraging 
lowmanship." 

Recalling  that  many  of  the  guests 
Wsent  have  been  Awards  judges 
nee  the  competition  was  started, 
ogel  thanked  them  and  said  that 
ithout  their  cooperation  the  Awards 
ould  not  be  possible. 
Rodgers  presented  the  silver  plaque 

>  Burhorn,  who  is  manager  of  the 
iayety  Theatre.  Chicago,  and  the 
ronze  plaque  to  George  Limerick, 
fity  manager  of  Griffith  Theatres, 
'.nid.  Okla. 

"I  have  a  great  deal  of  respect  for 
it-  aggressive  advertising  and  exploi- 
tion  men  who  by  their  imagination 


Winners  of 

Quigley  Awards 

Honored 

1  *$m*> 

Winners  of  the  Quigley  Grand  .lizards  with  some  of  the  guests  at  the  luncheon  in  their  honor  at  the  Astor  yes- 
terday. From  left  to  right  are:  A-Mike  Vogcl,  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  George  Limerick,  Bronze  Grand  Aiuard  win- 
ner; Martin  Quigley.  John  Burhorn,  Silver  Grand  Award  winner;  Joseph  Bernhard.  Ned  E.  Depinct,  William  f. 
Rodgers,  Spyros  Skouras. 


and  ideas  can  do  the  unusual,"  he  said. 
He  spoke  of  the  value  of  the  Quigley 
Awards  and  commented  on  participa- 
tion in  the  competition  by  showmen 
throughout  the  United  States  and 
Canada  as  well  as  overseas. 

Addressing  himself  to  the  recipients, 
Rodgers  declared :  "You  have  given 
an  incentive  to  the  younger  men  in 
show  business  here  and  abroad  to 
compete  for  these  awards.  Quigley 
Publications  are  to  be  congratulated 
on  this  effort  whereby  these  awards 
are  made  possible  in  recognition  of 
outstanding  showmanship." 

Burhorn  and  Limerick  responded 
briefly. 

Quigley  then  introduced  Skouras  as 
"representing  a  combination  of  Old 
World  genius  and  New  World  enter- 
prise." 

Praises  Mr.  Quigley 

"Since  I  have  known  Quigley  for 
the  last  24  years  I  have  always  ad- 
mired his  constant  efforts  in  behalf  of 
the  motion  picture  industry."  Skouras 
said.  "I  have  been  a  keen  observer 
of  the  Quigley  Awards. 

"Some  people  refer  to  a  good 
showman  as  a  'born  showman,'  but  I 
don't  think  anyone  is  born  with  that 
quality.  I  believe  it  must  be  acquired 
by  making  showmanship  a  habit. 

"Entertainment  is  an  integral  part 
of  life,  and  film  theatres  play  a  great 
part  in  providing  it.  The  screen  has 
contributed  greatly  in  raising  the  men- 
tality of  the  general  public,  and  it  is 
our  duty  especially  today  to  meet  our 
obligations  to  a  public  intelligence 
which  is  becoming  increasingly  aware 
of  the  currents  of  life. 

"Our  films  should  be  produced  with 
that  in  view.  The  studios  have  done 
their  duty  in  that  respect,  and  they 
should  be  congratulated  for  their  ef- 
forts to  raise  the  standard  of  enter- 
tainment. 

"The  lessons  I  learned  in  this  busi- 
ness were  taught  me  by  the  distribu- 
tion branch. 

"The  film  distributors'  advertising 
and  publicity  departments  today  carry 
on  heroically.     The  exploitation  de- 


partments play  a  great  part  in  our 
business  and  their  efforts  should  be 
increased.  Their  activity  should  be 
given  adequate  recognition  by  the  the- 
atres. 

"An  exploitation  man  does  not  come 
to  a  town  to  waste  an  exhibitor's 
time.  He  comes  to  help  him.  When 
we  consider  the  contribution  of  the 
exploitation  departments,  we  realize 
that  they  perform  a  valuable  func- 
tion in  the  industry. 

"The  advertising  and  publicity 
brains  of  this  business  have  shown  the 
way  for  many  other  industries  which 
have  borrowed  showmanship  ideas 
from  us  with  great  success.  The  au- 
tomobile industry  is  conspicuous  in 
this  regard. 

"But  we  must  not  rest  on  our  lau- 
rels. There  is  still  much  we  can  do. 
Our  showmanship  possibilities  have 
not  been  exhausted  by  any  means.  If 
a  picture  fails  to  respond  at  the  box- 
office,  there  is  something  wrong.  It 
is  our  fault,  not  the  public's.  Other 
forms  of  amusement  have  taken  ideas 
from  us,  and  now  we  have  to  com- 
pete with  them  for  part  of  the  public's 
dollar.  We  must  remember  that  'they 
won't  see  it  unless  we  sell  them.'  " 

Present  at  Luncheon 

Among  those  attending  were : 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox ;  Maurice  A.  Bergman,  di- 
rector of  advertising  and  publicity, 
Columbia  Pictures ;  George  Walsh, 
president,  Netco  Theatres,  Pough- 
keepsie,  N.  Y. ;  Harry  Mandel,  adver- 
tising manager,  RKO  Theatres ; 
Frank  J.  McCarthy,  general  sales 
manager,  Universal  Pictures  ;  William 
Heineman,  western  division  sales  man- 
ager, Universal  Pictures ;  Alec  Moss, 
advertising  manager,  Paramount  Pic- 
tures ;  Lynn  Farnol,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity,  United  Art- 
ists ;  Oscar  A.  Doob,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity,  Loew's  The- 
atres ;  Arthur  Mayer,  operator,  Rialto 
Theatre,  New  York. 

Silas  F.  Seadler,  advertising  man- 


ager, M-G-M ;  Gus  Eyssell,  assistant 
managing  director,  Radio  City  Music 
Hall ;  Monroe  Greenthal,  exploitation 
director,  United  Artists ;  Irving  Les- 
ser, managing  director,  Roxy  The- 
atre ;  Lou  Lifton,  director  of  adver- 
tising and  publicity,  Monogram  Pic- 
tures ;  Alvin  A.  Adams,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity,  Republic 
Pictures ;  Herman  Robbins,  president, 
National  Screen  Service;  George 
Dembow,  general  sales  manager,  Na- 
tional Screen  Service ;  Leon  Netter, 
vice-president,  Paramount  Theatres 
Service  Corp. ;  Martin  Quigley,  Col- 
vin  Brown,  A-Mike  Vogel. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president, 
RKO  Radio  Pictures;  Spyros  Skou-. 
ras,  president,  National  Theatres 
Amusement  Co. ;  William  F.  Rodgers, 
general  sales  manager,  M-G-M ;  John 
J.  O'Connor,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager,  RKO  Theatres ;  Joseph 
Bernhard,  general  manager,  Warner 
Bros.  Theatres ;  Terry  Ramsaye,  edi- 
tor, Motion  Picture  Herald;  Grad- 
well L.  Sears,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  Warner  Bros. 
Pictures ;  Mort  Blumenstock,  eastern 
advertising  manager,  Warner  Bros. 
Pictures ;  Wm.  R.  Ferguson,  exploi- 
tation director,  M-G-M. 

Guests  of  Altec 

In  the  evening,  at  the  Diamond 
Horseshoe,  Burhorn  and  Limerick 
were  dinner  guests  of  Altec  Service, 
in  the  company  of  L.  W.  Conrow, 
president ;  George  L.  Carrington,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager,  and 
Bert  Sanford,  district  manager  for 
the  New  York  territory. 

The  winners  were  shown  Univer- 
sale "The  Mikado"  at  a  special 
screening  Monday,  followed  by  a 
luncheon  given  by  Nate  Blumberg, 
president.  The  afternoon  was  taken 
up  with  a  gathering  at  which  Warner 
Bros,  played  host.  Later  the  theatre 
men  were  guests  of  Herman  Robbins 
and  George  Dembow  of  National 
Screen  Service  at  dinner  and  a  round 
of  Broadway  clubs.  They  are  spend- 
ing this  week  in  New  York  as  guests 
of  Motion  Picture  Herald. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


6 

SWG  Refers 
Labor  Issue 
To  AL  Chiefs 

Hollywood,  May  16.  —  Screen- 
Writers'  Guild  at  an  open  board  meet- 
ing last  night  voted  to  present  the 
question  of  affiliation  with  a  national 
labor  organization  to  the  council  of 
Authors'  League  of  America,  of  which 
it  is  a  part.  The  Guild  plans  to  start 
a  membership  drive  in  the  studios  this 
week. 

Lillian  Hellman,  Dashiell  Hammett, 
Alan  Campbell  and  Dorothy  Parker, 
Guild  leaders,  are  in  Washington 
seeking  to  have  N.L.R.B.  reopen  its 
hearings  at  an  early  date  as  a  result 
of  the  breakdown  of  negotiations  be- 
tween the  union  and  producers  for  a 
contract  covering  film  writers. 

Reference  to  the  A.L.A.  followed  a 
letter  from  Marc  Connelly,  president, 
in  which  he  stressed  the  fact  that 
writers'  affiliation  with  labor  organi- 
zations was  of  deep  significance  and 
required  study  by  other  writer  groups. 

Labor  Board  Hears 
Fabian  Union  Case 

Informal  hearing  was  held  yester- 
day at  the  State  Labor  Relations 
Board  on  the  complaint  of  Theatrical 
Managers,  Agents  and  Treasurers' 
Union  against  the  Fabian  circuit  for 
alleged  discharge  of  two  managers  for 
union  activities.  No  agreement  was 
reached  and  a  formal  hearing  will 
probably  follow. 

T.M.A.T.  extended  its  picketing 
yesterday  to  three  Bronx  houses  of 
the  Moe  Rosenberg  circuit.  The 
union  has  under  consideration  exten- 
sion of  the  strike  to  all  independent 
houses  in  the  metropolitan  area. 


Fund  Report  Today 

Group  chairmen  in  the  film  in- 
dustry division  of  the  Greater  New 
York  Fund  are  to  report  pledges  and 
cash  today  at  a  meeting  in  the  office 
of  J.  Robert  Rubin,  M-G-M  counsel. 


Ascap  Will  Amend 
Florida  Law  Fight 


Ascap  will  amend  its  pending  action 
attacking  the  constitutionality  of  the 
Florida  law  penalizing  the  society's 
operations  in  the  state  to  cover  any 
changes  in  the  law  which  may  be 
enacted,  it  was  stated  yesterday  by 
Schwartz  &  Frohlich,  Ascap  counsel. 
Statement  was  made  in  reference  to 
proposed  amendments  to  the  Florida 
law  before  the  legislature,  which 
might  have  a  bearing  on  current  liti- 
gation to  test  the  existing  anti-Ascap 
law. 

Amendments  proposed  include  pro- 
vision for  a  three  per  cent  tax  on 
Ascap's  gross  receipts  in  Florida; 
appointment  of  a  receiver  for  the  so- 
ciety's Florida  business  in  the  event 
the  tax  is  not  paid ;  minimized  penal- 
ties of  the  existing  law  and  repeal  of 
the  provision  prohibiting  infringement 
suits. 


Albany,  N.  Y.,  May  16.— The  As- 
sembly today  delayed  until  tomorrow 
its  vote  on  the  pari-mutuel  betting 
bill.  The  bill  already  has  passed  the 
Senate. 

The  Martin  sales  tax  measure  was 
reported  out  of  the  senate  finance  com- 
mittee, but  advancement  to  the  third 
reading  was  prevented  by  Republican 
objections.  Should  the  session  end 
within  48  hours,  the  bill  faces  defeat, 
but  further  delay  will  improve  the 
bill's  chance  of  passage,  it  was  said. 

The  Ostertag  fee-charging  employ- 
ment agency  bill  was  amended  to  in- 
clude theatrical  agencies. 

Montague  to  Coast 
For  Columbia  Meet 

Chicago,  May  16. — Abe  Montague, 
general  sales  manager  of  Columbia, 
and  Rube  Jackter,  assistant,  left  here 
today  by  train  for  Los  Angeles  where 
they  will  preside  over  the  company's 
third  and  final  regional  sales  meeting 
which  opens  there  on  Saturday  for 
three  days. 


Murphy  to  Coast 
On  Speaking  Tour 

Washington,  May  16. — At- 
torney General  Murphy  will 
go  to  the  west  coast  next 
week  on  a  speech-making 
tour.  He  will  confer  with  De- 
partment of  Justice  officials 
regarding  film  and  other 
cases  being  prepared  there, 
it  was  said. 


Slow  Selling  Found 
Throughout  U.S. 

Philadelphia,  May  16. — Slow  sell- 
ing exists  throughout  the  country,  it 
was  revealed  at  today's  meeting  of 
Allied  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  which 
heard  results  of  a  widespread  ques- 
tionnaire sent  out  by  the  body. 

The  non-theatrical  games  situation, 
carnival  competition  and  legislation 
were  briefly  reported,  but  no  action 
was  taken.  Also  discussed  was  the 
trade  pact,  but  action  was  deferred 
until  after  the  national  Allied  meeting 
at  Minneapolis. 

New  Buying  Agency 
For  Badger  Houses 

Milwaukee,  May  16. — A  new  buy- 
ing service  for  the  majority  of  inde- 
pendents in  Wisconsin  has  been  an- 
nounced by  Max  Weisner  and  E.  F. 
Maertz.  It  is  called  Theatre  Service 
Agency.  Weisner  has  been  associated 
with  film  exchanges  in  this  territory 
for  many  years.  Maertz,  president  of 
the  I.T.P.A.  of  Wisconsin  and  upper 
Michigan,  has  been  an  exhibitor  more 
than  26  years. 


Charlotte,  N.  C,  May  16. — A 
record  attendance  is  anticipated  for 
the  summer  convention  of  the  Theatre 
Owners  of  North  and  South  Carolina 
at  Myrtle  Beach,  S.  C,  June  4,  5  and 
6.  Herbert  J.  Yates  has  promised 
entertainment.  Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P. 
T.O.A.  president,  will  speak. 

Name  John  Fisher  to 
Censor  Board  in  Pa. 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  Mav  16. — Gov- 
ernor James  has  submitted  to  the 
State  Senate  the  name  of  John  Clyde 
Fisher  for  one  of  the  two  vacancies 
on  the  State  Board  of  Motion  Picture 
Censors.  Fisher  has  spent  many  years 
in  the  theatre  and  film  business  as.  a 
trouper,  manager  and  theatre  owner. 


Delay  Paris  Meeting 

Paris,  May  16. — Meeting  of  British 
and  Continental  European  staffs  of 
Movietone  News,  scheduled  yesterday 
and  today  in  Paris,  has  been  post- 
poned. Truman  H.  Talley,  Movietone 
chief,  who  is  to  preside  is  in  Holland. 
He  attended  the  London  meeting  of 
20th  Century-Fox. 


Mrs.  Weisfeldt  Dies 

Milwaukee,  May  16. — Mrs.  Eve- 
lyn Weisfeldt,  wife  of  E.  J.  Weis- 
feldt, managing  director  of  the  River- 
side, died  here  after  several  week's 
illness. 


Wednesday,  May  17,  19: 

120  Writers  to  See 
'Lincoln'  Premier 

Preparations  have  been  complex 
by  20th  Century-Fox  for  its  wor 
premiere  of  'Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  | 
Springfield,  111.,  on  the  night  of  Mer 
orial  Day. 

More  than  120  newspapermen  fpj 
22  cities  have  been  invited.  A£Y. 
cial  train  will  bring  the  eastern'Jfce 
tingent  on  the  morning  of  May  30. 

John  W.  Kapp,  mayor  of  Spriii; 
field,  has  advised  Charles  E.  McCa 
thy,  advertising  and  publicity  direct  , 
that  the  city  will  cooperate  in  evei 
way  and  that  all  the  police  escor 
needed  will  be  available.  McCartl 
will  be  in  charge  of  the  special  train 

At  the  premiere  in  the  evening  tl 
program  will  include  songs  by  Mari; 
Anderson,  famous  negro  contralt 
Lowell  Thomas  will  introduce  ofhi 
celebrities  who  will  appear  in  a  coas 
to-coast  Mutual  broadcast.  This  pa 
of  the  broadcast  will  be  heard  from 
to  8 :30  P.  M.  Central  Time  and  fro 
10  to  10:30,  E.D.S.T. 


Selznick  Publicity 
Post  to  Bill  Heber 

Hollywood,  May  16. — William  H 
bert,  for  the  last  three  years  aide 
Cecil  B.  DeMille  on  picture  and  rad 
work,  today  was  named  publicity  c 
rector  of  Selznick  International,  su 
ceeding  Victor  Shapiro  who  resigin 
yesterday.  Hebert  takes  office  June 

Buck  Jones  Loses 
Suit  on  Plagiarist 

Hollywood,  May  16.  —  Feder 
Judge  Hollzer  today  ordered  a  no 
suit  in  the  trial  of  the  $250,000  acti( 
brought  by  Buck  Jones  against  R 
public  Pictures  Corn,  and  Republ 
Productions,  Inc.,  for  alleged  plag 
arism  of  what  Jones  claimed  were  1 
screen  manners.  Suit  involved  tl 
serial,  "The  Lone  Ranger." 

Carriers  Expand 
Distributors'  Ai 

Operation  by  film  delivery  comp. 
nies  of  shipping,  storage  and  inspe 
tion  departments  for  centralized  ser 
ices  to  distributors  has  been  extendt 
to  14  key  cities  throughout  the  coui^ 
try.    Principal  feature  of  the  plan 
to  have  the  carrier  provide  services  ft 
all  distributors  and  thus  eliminate 
number  of  smaller  exchanges.  Wi' 
the    carriers    providing  the  physic 
handling,  all  that  will  be  necessai 
will  be  a  list  of  bookings  with  varioi 
exhibitors. 


Phila.  Earle  First  Run 

Philadelphia,  May  16. — Warne 
will  restore  the  Earle  to  first  n 
status  beginning  Friday.  Since  i 
stage  shows  were  shifted  to  the  Fc 
three  months  ago,  the  house  has  bet 
playing  third  runs.  The  Palace,  whk 
has  been  playing  first  run  action  film 
goes  back  to  third  runs,  the  Ear 
taking  over  its  programs. 


Heads  Royal  Reels 

Toronto,  May  16. — Frank  O'Bym 
Toronto  manager,  Associated  Scret 
News  Ltd.,  will  supervise  newsrc 
arrangements  for  the  royal  visit  in  tl 
Toronto  district. 


Albany  Vote  Today 
On  Pari-Mutuel  Bill 


Carolina  MPTO 

Convenes  June  4 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Wednesday,  May  17,  1939 

?3  Firms  Hike 
isBC  Spending 
iudgets  849% 

E'frenty- three  advertisers  who  have 
|  i  mii  BC  networks  continuously  for 
ij'ars  or  mure  have  increased  their 
ttkly  expenditures  by  849' t  since 
tst  initiating  their  campaigns,  an 
BC  anrfouncement  said  yesterday. 
[Five  more  advertisers  who  have 
leu  with  NBC  for  more  than  four 
kars  have  raised  their  expenditures 

(From  the  first  week  on  the  air  un- 
April.  1939,  the  28  have  increased 
eir  spendings  from  $81,353  to 
43,909,  or  692'i.  Expenditures  of 
e  five-vear  continuous  advertisers 
ire  increased  from  $57,089  to  $541.- 
8.  or  8497c. 

Advertisers  on  the  air  more  than 
■jur  years  and  their  current  and  open- 
g  weekly  expenditures  are : 
American  Home  Products,  starting 
3th  $2,000  and  now  spending  $35,- 
8  weekly ;  American  Tobacco  Corp., 
.130-$29.087;  Bristol-Myers,  $1,840- 
3.604;  Carnation  Co.,  $930-$  1 1,299  ; 
ities  Service,  $3,920413,303;  Cum- 
ir  products  Co.,  $4,102-$1 3,312  ; 
restone  Tire  Co.,  $4,648-$l  1.534 ; 
tch  Co..  $1,972-$10,005;  General 
'bods  Corp.,  $3,081-845.480;  General 
:|ills.  $1.6ll-$47.602;  Andrew  Jer- 
ns  Co.,  $3,157-$12,482 ;  S.  C.  John- 
hi  Co..  $5.875-$l  1,722;  Kellogg  Co., 
&75-$15,740 ;  Ladv  Esther  Co..  $1,- 
'7  -  $8,700 ;  Miles  Laboratories, 
,(i/6-$3 1.274;  Philip  Morris.  $4,601- 
',900;  National  Dairy.  §603-$29,260 ; 
Bcific  Borax  Co..  $l,469-$6.780 ;  Pep- 
dent.  $9,306-$9.726;  Pillsbury  Flour, 
,,005-$l 0,860;  Princess  Pat.  $476-81,- 
18;  Procter  &  Gamble,  $2,531-$118,- 
I;  Richfield  Oil,  $1.375-$3,840 ; 
landard  Brands,  $990-S52,688  ;  Stand- 
id  Oil  of  California.  $550-$2.134; 
terling  Products,  $1 ,453 -$58,455  ; 
mi  Oil  Co..  $1,962-$1 3.908;  Welch 
■ape  Juice  Co.,  $3,068-85,520. 

idvertisers  Urged 
To  Use  Television 

Advertisers  were  urged  to  present 
levised  programs  at  yesterday's 
feting  of  the  Sales  Executives  Club 
j  E.  P.  H.  James,  NBC  sales  pro- 
lotion  manager. 

James  said  NBC  is  willing  to  do- 
''  te  time  for  such  shows  with  spon- 
'rs  having  no  expense  other  than 
je  price  of  preparing  the  show. 

"elecast  at  Bike 
Race  on  Saturday 

(A  six-day  bicycle  race  will  be  tele- 
xed for  the  first  time  at  8  :30  P.  M. 
turday.  NBC  will  set  its  television 
Imeras  inside  Madison  Square  Gar- 
n  and  film  the  event.  This  will  be 
h  second  sports  events  to  be  tele- 
xed by  NBC,  the  first  being  today's 
looting  of  the  Columbia-Princeton 
11  game  from  Bakers  Field. 


To  Televise  Fashions 

First  fashion  show'  to  be  televised 
f>m  NBC  tonight  at  8  P.  M.,  will 
firture  Nancy  Turner,  WMCA's  wo- 
un  commentator.  Miss  Turner  will 
scribe  the  show  and  explain  each 
stume.  to  be  displayed  by  nine  mani- 
fos. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

JOHN  RANDOLPH,  free-lance 
actor,  has  joined  YVHN  as  an- 
nouncer .  .  .  Tommy  Dorsev  re- 
turns to  New  York  May  24  .  .  . 
Grantland  Rice  becomes  a  member  of 
"The  Circle"  May  21  .  .  .  Burns  and 
Allen  will  not  stay  in  New  York  for 
the  duration  of  their  current  series, 
but  will  return  to  the  coast  instead 
.  .  .  Mary  Martin  will  be  the  first 
guest  vocalist  on  the  Raymond  Paige 
show  May  24  .  .  .  B.  B.  Musselman, 
manager  of  WSAN,  Allentown,  Pa., 
here  on  business  .  .  .  Gerald  Cock, 
BBC  director  of  television,  returns  to 
England  today  after  visiting  here  for 
two  weeks. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  May  16. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  set 
hearings  May  18  on  the  applications 
of  KERN,  Bakersfield.  Cal.,  for 
change  of  frequency  from  1,370  to 
1,380  kilocycles  and  increase  of  power 
from  100  to  1.000  watts,  and  KOH, 
Reno,  New,  for  change  of  frequency 
from  1,380  to  630  kilocycles  and  in- 
crease of  power  from  500  to  1,000 
watts. 

Other  hearings  scheduled  by  the 
commission  are  as  follows : 

May  25:  Applications  of  Sentinel 
Broadcasting  Corp.  for  a  620-kilo- 
cycle,  1,000-watt  station  at  Salina,  N. 
Y. ;  Civic  Broadcasting  Corp.  for  a 
1,500-kilocycle,  100-watt  station  at 
Syracuse,  and  WHJB,  Greensburg, 
Pa.,  for  extension  of  time  from  day  to 
unlimited  and  increase  of  power  from 
250  to  1,000  watts. 

June  9:  Application  of  Neptune 
Broadcasting  Corp,  for  a  1.420-kilo- 
cycle  station  at  Atlantic  City,  with 
100  watts  night,  250  watts  day. 

fuly  10:  Applications  of  Samuel 
M.  Emison  for  a  1,420-kilocycle,  100- 
watt  station  at  Vincennes,  Ind.,  and 
John  F.  Arrington,  Jr.,  for  a  1,230- 
kilocycle,  250-watt  station  at  Val- 
dosta,  Ga. 

July  11:  Application  of  WCOV, 
Montgomery.  Ala.,  for  extension  of 
time  from  day  to  unlimited. 

Application  for  a  construction  per- 
mit for  a  new  1,500-kilocycle  station, 
with  100  watts  power  night,  250  watts 
day,  has  been  filed  with  the  commis- 
sion by  Frank  R.  Pidcock,  Sr.,  Moul- 
trie, Ga. 


Hoey  Back  on  Radio 

Boston,  May  16.  —  Fred  Hoey, 
whose  fans  instituted  a  high  pressure 
campaign  to  have  him  reinstated  on 
the  Yankee  network  when  he  was  re- 
placed by  Frankie  Frisch  after  12 
years  of  sports  broadcasting,  is  back 
on  the  air  with  a  new  sponsor,  broad- 
casting sports  summaries  over  WTBZ. 
Boston,  and  WBZA,  Springfield. 


P.G.  Serial  Expands 

Procter  &  Gamble  will  add  12 
stations  for  "This  Day  is  Ours", 
serial  heard  Mondays  through  Fri- 
days at  1  :45  P.  M.  Total  for  the 
network  will  be  35.  P.  &  G.  will 
have  seven  CBS  programs  when 
"Knickerbocker  Playhouse"  bows  May 
21. 


Mutual  Broadcasts 
From  Royal  Escort 

Mutual  yesterday  became 
the  first  American  network 
to  present  a  broadcast  in  con- 
nection with  the  arrival  in 
Canada  of  the  King  and 
Queen  of  England.  Through 
a  feed  by  CBC,  Mutual  at 
2:30  P.  M.  presented  a  broad- 
cast from  the  Canadian  de- 
stroyer Saguenay,  which  met 
the  Empress  of  Australia  as 
it  neared  port. 


Bard  Named  WNEW 
Special  Events  Head 

Dick  Bard  has  joined  the  staff  of 
WNEW  as  director  of  special  events 
and  publicity.  Bard  is  a  former 
newspaper  and  radio  man,  serving 
with  the  San  Francisco  Examiner, 
Pittsburgh  Sun-Telegraph  and  the 
A.P.,  and  with  CBS,  NBC  and  WHN. 
He  succeeds  Larry  Nixon,  who  re- 
signed some  months  ago.  Judy  Du- 
Puy.  assistant  publicity  director,  has 
been  in  charge  of  the  department  since 
Nixon's  resignation. 

Lorillard  Sets  WHN 
Benchley  Show  Deal 

P.  Lorillard  &  Co.  has  entered  into 
a  new  contract  with  WHN  for  the 
broadcasting  of  the  Bob  Benchley 
scries  starting  May  23,  when  the  pro- 
gram switches  from  CBS  to  NBC, 
Tuesdays  at  9  P.  M.  Lennon  &  Mit- 
chell placed  the  account. 

Astor  Theatre  is  advertising  "Good- 
bye, Mr.  Chips"  over  WHN  in  an- 
other contract ;  Ken  Laboratories 
have  purchased  participation  in  the 
"Polly  the  Shopper"  series,  and  J.  W. 
W  illiams  Co.  has  entered  into  par- 
ticipation in  the  "Early  Bird"  series. 

Facsimile  Station 
Is  Sought  in  Dallas 

Dallas,  May  16.— WFAA,  the 
Dallas  News  station,  has  asked  E.C.C. 
permission  to  operate  an  experimental 
facsimile  station  to  transmit  a  radio 
newspaper. 

The  station  is  the  first  unit  south 
of  St.  Louis  to  request  a  facsimile 
permit.  The  station  plans  to  purchase 
facsimile  receivers  and  scatter  them 
in  homes  and  throughout  the  business 
section  of  the  city. 


Burns  and  Allen  Signed 

George  Burns  and  Grade  Allen 
have  signed  a  contract  for  a  new 
sponsor,  Lehn  &  Fink,  for  Hinds 
Honey  and  Almond  Cream.  The  show, 
which  includes  the  entire  Burns  and 
Allen  troupe  and  Ray  Noble's  orches- 
tra will  start  in  October.  The  net- 
work is  not  definite  yet.  The  come- 
dians currently  are  completing  a  pro- 
gram for  Chesterfield. 


To  Air  'Liberty'  Opening 

CBS,  NBC  and  Mutual  will  cover 
the  world  premiere  of  "Sons  of  Lib- 
erty," Warner  historical  short,  which 
will  be  held  May  21  in  Chicago  in 
connection  with  a  dinner  planned  to 
raise  funds  for  a  statue  of  Hyam 
Salomon,  upon  whose  career  the  film 
is  based.  Harry  M.  Warner,  Crane 
Wilbur  and  John  Litel  will  participate 
in  the  event. 


Banner 
LINES 

NEW  YORK  station  owners,  an- 
nouncers and  commentators 
might  paste  the  text  of  the 
Moffat  bill  in  their  hats  for  ready 
reference.  The  act,  which  has  just 
become  a  law,  affords  radio  reporters 
the  same  sort  of  protection  from  libel 
that  a  newspaperman  receives.  The 
act  reads : 

"Privileges  of  radio  broadcasting  in 
action  for  libel  or  slander.  An  action, 
civil  or  criminal,  cannot  be  maintained 
against  a  reporter,  announcer,  com- 
mentator, speaker,  editor,  broadcaster 
or  proprietor  of  a  radio  broadcasting 
station,  facility  or  system,  for  the  pub- 
lication therefrom  by  radio  broadcast- 
ing apparatus  of  a  fair  and  true  re- 
port, oral  or  written,  of  any  judicial, 
legislative  or  other  public  and  official 
proceedings,  or  for  any  title  or  head- 
note  to  such  a  report  which  is  a  fair 
and  true  title  or  headnote  thereto. 

"This  section  does  not  apply  to  a 
libel  or  slander  contained  in  any  other 
matter  added  by  any  person  concerned 
in  the  publication ;  or  in  the  report 
of  anything  said  or  done  at  the  time 
and  place  of  the  public  and  official 
proceedings  which  was  not  a  part 
thereof." 

▼ 

Young  &  Rubicam  yesterday  audi- 
tioned a  summer  replacement  show 
for  Phil  Baker's  scries.  Auctioneers 
included  Milton  Bcrlc  as  M.C.,  au- 
thors Max  Eastman  and  Ruth  Mc- 
Kenna,  Harry  Hershficld,  Jay  C. 
I  lip  pen,  and  Lyn  Murray's  orchestra. 
T 

Another  indication  that  television 
is  here.  Pease  &  Elliman,  the 
realtors,  constructing  a  new  apart- 
ment house  on  Park  Avenue,  have 
contracted  with  RCA  for  the  latter 
to  install  individual  television  out- 
lets fed  by  a  multiple  antenna  sys- 
tem. One  of  the  drawbacks  to 
television  is  the  special  antenna 
required. 

T 

Producers  of  the  Lux  serial,  "Life 
and  Love  of  Dr.  Susan,"  put  in  a 
hectic  weekend  as  a  result  of  the  delay 
in  the  arrival  of  the  King  and  Queen 
of  England.  Notified  by  CBS  that 
the  afternoon  time  of  the  serial  would 
be  taken  up  by  broadcasts  of  the 
Royal  couple's  arrival  in  Canada,  the 
cast  went  their  respective  ways.  Then 
came  notice  of  the  delayed  arrival  of 
the  King  and  Queen;  and  the  tele- 
phone and  telegraph  wires  burned. 
Eight  of  the  nine  actors  due  in  the 
studio  for  the  broadcast  were  sucess- 
fully  reached — all  save  "Dr.  Susan," 
who  couldn't  be  located. 

— Jack  Banner 


Boyer  Off  for  Summer 

Charles  Boyer,  star  of  the  "Wood- 
bury Playhouse"  series  on  NBC,  will 
leave  the  program  for  the  summer,  ef- 
fective July  2,  and  replacing  him  will 
be  Jim  Ameche,  brother  of  Don,  and 
Gale  Page,  who  will  be  featured  until 
the  return  of  Boyer. 


Expand  Short-Wave 

CBS  short-wave  department  has  ex- 
panded its  schedule  to  include  broad- 
casts to  Europe  in  German,  French 
and  Italian.  Each  broadcast  will  be 
10  minutes  in  duration. 


RpSE-OF 


^SHllstGTO^ 


i 


HELD 
FOR 

,  ROXY 
i  N.Y. 

And  everything's 

'ROSY''  in: 

BALTIMORE 

(in  2nd  smash  week) 

SPRINGFIELD,  III. 
ST.  LOUIS 
PROVIDENCE 
BUFFALO 
WATERBURY 


CHARLOTTE 
KANSAS  CITY 
SAN  FRANCISCO 
MEMPHIS 
BRIDGEPORT 

SPRINGFIELD,  Mass. 


THE  KEYSTONE 
OF  YOUR  FUTURE 


and  everywhere  else! 

IT'S  20™  AGAIN,  SMASHING  THROUGH 
WITH  THE  BIG  SUMMER  HITS! 


Alert, 
IntelUgeii 


Ho  theN 
Picture 
Industry 


r  ill  uuri 

DO  NOT  REMOVE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


3  43-  NO.  96 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  MAY  18,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


?und  Drive 
Is  15%  Ahead 
Of  Last  Year 


llm  Division  Focusing 
On  Exhibitors 


Cash  contributions  and  pledges  re- 
ived by  the  Film  Industry  Division 
!  the  Greater  New  York  Fund,  in 
e  campaign  under  way,  total  15 
ir  cent  more  than  the  amount  re- 
■ived  last  year.  Last  year's  contribu- 
ons  were  about  $63,000. 
This  year's  quota  is  $100,000,  and 
ie  committee,  of  which  J.  Robert 
ubin,  M-G-M  general  counsel,  is  the 
iad,  is  intensifying  its  efforts  for 
«  remainder  of  the  campaign,  which 
Ids  May  31. 

Employe  as  well  as  employer  con- 
ibutions  are  important  in  the  drive. 
At  a  meeting  of  group  chairmen  in 
dbin's  office  yesterday,  he  said  that 
liile  generous  donations  have  been 
ceived,  the  division  is  determined  to 
acli  its  quota.  Many  of  the  large 
jntributors  are  increasing  their  orig- 
al  donations. 

During  the  remainder  of  the  cam- 
ign,  an  effort  will  be  made  to  obtain 
rreased  participation  in  the  Fund 
independent  circuits  and  individual 
hibitors. 

The  group  chairmen  at  yesterday's 

(Continued  on  paijc  2) 

dlied  to  Stay  Till 
It  Clears  Business 

Minneapolis,  May  17. — W.  A. 
effes,  national  Allied  convention 
airman,  said  today  that  the  inde- 
ident  exhibitors'  referendum  on  the 
de  practice  code  and  other  contro- 
"sial  questions  "will  likely  make  it 
:essary  to  extend  the  convention 
o  davs."  It  is  scheduled  here  June 
to  15. 

Steffes  included  Ed  Kuykendall, 
?sident  of  the  M.P.T.O.A.,  among 
»se  who  would  want  to  "sound  off" 
length.  Kuykendall  has  not  yet 
icated  he  will  attend. 
Said  Steffes :  "We  will  keep  the 
ivention  going  all  summer  if  neces- 
y  to  thrash  out  our  problems." 


Film  Groups  Merge 

Associated  Film  Audiences 
and  Films  for  Democracy, 
the  organization  from  which 
Walter  Wanger  recently  re- 
signed because  of  its  refusal 
to  take  a  stand  against  Com- 
munism, have  merged. 


Movietone  Sets  Up 
Hague  Quarters 

Truman  H.  Talley,  producer 
of  Movietone  News,  released 
by  20th  Century-Fox,  this 
week  set  up  newsreel  head- 
quarters in  The  Hague,  Hol- 
land. As  neutral  territory, 
this  will  be  a  clearing  house 
for  footage  resulting  from 
any  conflict  in  Central  Eu- 
rope. 

This  is  said  to  be  the  first 
time  any  newsreel  has  had 
any  direct  representation  at 
The  Hague,  which  heretofore 
was  covered  on  assignment 
from  Paris. 

Talley  arrived  in  Paris  yes- 
terday to  conduct  a  meet- 
ing of  Movietone's  European 
staff  and  early  next  week 
will  go  to  Spain  to  re-estab- 
lish newsreel  coverage  there. 


Burhorn,  Limerick 
Ampa  Guests  Today 

A  special  meeting  of  Ampa  in  hon- 
or of  the  Quigley  Grand  Award  win- 
ners, John  Burhorn  and  George  Lim- 
erick, today  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  will 
feature  a  round  table  discussion  led 
by  the  visiting  theatremen  on  home  of- 
fice exploitation,  publicity  and  adver- 
tising aids,  according  to  Paul  Lazarus, 
Jr.,  president. 

Among  theatremen  expected  to  at- 
tend are  delegations  from  Loew's, 
Skouras,  RKO,  Randforce,  in  addi- 
tion to  groups  from  Columbia,  United 
Artists,  M-G-M,  Universal,  Mono- 
gram, Republic,  Warners  and  20th 
Century-Fox. 

Yesterday's  entertainment  program 

(Continued  on  pane  2) 


Ontario  Censors 
Lenient,  Ban  Only 
Two  Films  in  Year 


Toronto,  May  17. — Only  two  fea- 
tures were  banned  by  the  Ontario 
Board  of  Moving  Picture  Censors 
during  the  fiscal  year  ending  March 
31  last,  according  to  the  official  report 
of  Chairman  O.  J.  Silverthorne.  A  to- 
tal of  2,681  subjects  of  all  lengths 
were  reviewed  with  eliminations  or- 
dered in  380. 

One  of  the  banned  features  was 
Russian,  while  several  European  pic- 
tures were  subjected  to  considerable 
alteration  before  approval,  two  of  these 
being  from  Poland  and  two  from  Ger- 
many. Propaganda  rather  than  inde- 
cency was  a  major  problem  of  the 
board. 

Regarding  complaints  against  gang- 
ster pictures,  Silverthorne  declared 
that  the  board  was  more  concerned 
with  certain  individuals  whom  he 
classed  as  "national  gangsters"  who 
were  threatening  world  peace  and  se- 
curity. 


'Chips9  Has  Strong 
Box  Office  at  Astor 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  started 
strong  at  the  Astor  with  capacity 
houses  for  the  first  two  days.  Almost 
6,500  admissions  were  paid  Tuesday 
and  an  equal  apiount  yesterday  was 
indicated. 

"Union  Pacific"  grossed  an  esti- 
mated $47,000  in  its  first  week  at  the 
Paramount.  "Only  Angels  Have 
Wings"  drew  an  estimated  $78,000  at 
the  Music  Hall.    Both  are  held  over. 

"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  took  an  esti- 

(Continucd  on  pane  7) 


U.  S.  Firms  Maintaining 
Gains  in  Central  America 


By  SHERWIN  A.  KANE 

American  film  distributors  have  not 
lost  ground  in  Central  America  and 
Mexico  despite  the  fact  that  recent 
Department  of  Commerce  reports  in 
that  territory  show  that  Hollywood 
product  accounts  for  70  per  cent  of  the 
total  used  as  compared  with  95  per 
cent  several  years  ago.  The  explana- 
tion, according  to  A.  L.  Pratchett, 
Paramount  manager  for  Central 
America  and  Mexico,  who  arrived  in 
New  York  by  plane  yesterday,  is  that 
the  market  has  experienced  so  great 
a  growth  that  Hollywood's  share  of 
it  is  more  extensive  than  ever. 

"Obviously,  it  is  better  to  have  70 
per  cent  of  $200  than  95  per  cent  of 


$100,"  is  the  way  Pratchett  explains 
it. 

Much  of  the  growth  of  the  Central 
American  and  Mexican  film  market 
can  be  attributed  to  native-made  prod- 
uct and  other  Spanish  language  pic- 
tures. These  have  won  new  audiences 
for  the  motion  picture  among  people 
who  had  no  interest  in  American  films 
and  were  unable  to  read  the  Spanish 
subtitles. 

By  way  of  example  of  what  is  hap- 
pening to  the  south  of  us,  he  reported 
that  the  Collosso,  a  5,200-seat  house, 
was  opened  recently  in  Mexico  City 
and  the  Colonial,  now  under  construc- 
tion there,  will  seat  7,000,  or  800  more 
than  the  Music  Hall  here. 


Seek  to  Bar 
U.S.  Evidence 
In  Trust  Suit 


Defense  Aims  to  Force 
Government's  Hand 


Defense  attorneys  at  a  conference 
yesterday  decided  to  make  "minimum 
and  only  reasonable"  demands  for  fur- 
ther details  in  the  Government  anti- 
trust suit.  Motion  will  ask  that  the 
Government  submit  a  further  bill  giv- 
ing all  details  required  in  the  original 
order  of  Federal  Judge  William 
Bondy. 

In  the  event  the  particulars  are  not 
supplied,  defense  counsel  will  insist 
that  the  Government  be  precluded 
from  offering  any  testimony  on  such 
points. 

Present  strategy  is  to  ask  for  only 
those  items  which  the  defense  feels 
it  is  absolutely  entitled  to  and  thus 
force  the  Government's  hand. 

Judge  Bondy  has  indicated  he  will 
withhold  his  decision  on  a  Govern- 
ment motion  to  be  excused  from  nam- 
ing witnesses  until  the  defense  motion 
is  filed. 

Austin  C.  Keough,  Paramount  vice- 
president,  filed  an  affidavit  yesterday 
with  Judge  Bondy  denying  the  Gov- 
ernment's assertion  that  Paramount 
had  retaliated  against  witnesses  and 
participants  in  anti-trust  suits. 

Keough  specifically  referred  in  his 
affidavit  to  the  statement  of  Special 
Assistant  Attorney-General  Paul  Wil- 
liams, to  the  effect  that  Keough  had 
branded  a  witness  in  a  previous  suit 
as  an  "ungrateful  customer"  and  that 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Blumberg  to  Spend 
Summer  on  Coast 

Nate  J.  Blumberg,  Universal  presi- 
dent, will  leave  for  the  coast  late  next 
week  to  spend  most  of  the  summer  at 
the  studio.  He  will  go  to  Toronto 
next  Thursday  with  W.  A.  Scully, 
general  sales  manager,  and  F.  J.  A. 
McCarthy,  eastern  sales  manager,  to 
attend  the  company's  Canadian  sales 
meeting  and  will  go  to  the  coast  from 
there. 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  Universal  board 
chairman,  who  has  been  on  the  coast 
for  the  past  two  months  on  a  com- 
bination business  and  vacation  trip,  is 
expected  back  in  New  York  on  Mon- 
day. He  will  be  accompanied  by 
Anthony  Petti,  his  home  office  assist- 
ant. Cowdin  may  leave  for  Europe 
early  in  June  on  a  business  trip  of  a 
month  or  six  weeks. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  May  18,  1939  i 


Fund  Drive 
Is  15%  Ahead 
Of  Last  Year 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

meeting  were  Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice- 
president  of  RKO,  in  charge  of  dis- 
tributing companies ;  Ben  S.  Moss,  ex- 
hibitors, and  Ralph  I.  Poucher,  Con- 
solidated Film  Industries,  representing 
H.  J.  Yates,  in  charge  of  laboratories. 
The  fourth  member  is  Herman  Rob- 
bins,  National  Screen  Service,  head 
of  the  allied  and  accessories  group. 


Columbia  Broadcasting  System  has 
contributed  $10,000  to  the  Greater 
New  York  Fund.  Contributions  of 
the  other  radio  networks  and  the  New 
York  stations  are  unreported. 


Burhorn,  Limerick 
Ampa  Guests  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

for  the  winners  opened  with  a  lunch- 
eon by  International  Projector  Corp., 
hosts  being  Herbert  Griffin,  vice-pres- 
ident, and  Arthur  E.  Meyer,  general 
sales  manager,  followed  by  an  inspec- 
tion trip  through  the  New  York  plant. 
For  the  afternoon,  W.  G.  Van 
Schmus,  managing  director  of  the 
Music  Hall,  arranged  a  backstage  tour 
of  the  theatre.  S.  Barret  McCormick, 
advertising  director  of  RKO,  was  host 
at  a  theatre  party  to  see  "Abraham 
Lincoln,"  the  day's  program  ending 
with  a  tour  of  Greenwich  Village, 
sponsored  by  Mort  Blumenstock, 
Warner's  eastern  advertising  mana- 
ger  


COMMUTER  AIR  SERVICE! 


TO  CHICAGO 
4HRS.35  MIN.! 


Now  -7  Fast  Flights  a  Day! 

Now  there's  a  fast  TWA  flight  to  Chi- 
cago any  time  you  want  to  go!  TWA's 
new,  frequent,  convenient  departures 
actually  make  it  possible  for  you  to 
commute  by  air  to  Chicaeo! 

TWA's  Nonstop  "Sky  Chief"  leaves 
5:30  p.m.  .  .  .  puts  you  in  Chicago  9:05 
that  night!  Six  other  convenient  fast 
flights    $44.95 

10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips!  i 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 


Phone  Travel  Agent  or  MU  6-1640 

Transcontinental  &  Western  Air,  Inc. 
70 E.  42nd  St.— Air  Desk,  Penn.Station 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


HERMAN  WOBBER,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox general  sales  manager, 
left  England  on  the  Queen  Mary  yes- 
terday, due  in  New  York  Monday. 
• 

Louis  Phillips  of  the  Paramount 
legal  department  is  in  Chicago  in  con- 
nection with  anti-trust  litigation 
against  the  company  there.  He  is 
expected  back  in  10  days. 

• 

Max  Gordon  and  Harry  Goetz 
leave  for  the  coast  tomorrow  to  pro- 
duce RKO's  'Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois." 
Last  night  they  were  guests  of  honor 
at  a  party  at  the  Gay  Nineties  Club. 
• 

H.  M.  Addison,  Loew's  division 
manager  in  New  England,  visited  here 
this  week. 

• 

Juan  Pulido,  Spanish  baritone,  and 
his  wife,  Dalia  Iniguez,  Cuban  in- 
terpretive artist,  are  due  today  from 
a  South  American  tour  on  the 
Chiriqui. 

• 

Joe  Pen  nek,  returned  from  two 
weeks  in  Bermuda,  is  spending  a  few 
days  in  New  York  before  returning 
to  the  RKO  Studios. 

• 

E.  K.  O'Shea,  E.  I.  Lopert,  Ar 
thur  Krim,  Robert  Milton,  Charles 
Reagan,   Arthur   Friend  lunching 
at  Sardi's  yesterday. 

• 

Ronald  Reagan  has  been  signed 
to  a  new  contract  by  Warners.  He 
will  continue  to  play  leads  in  the 
"Secret  Service"  series. 

• 

Ruby  Newman  and  his  band  will 
begin  a  personal  appearance  engage 
ment  at  the  Strand  tomorrow. 


Form  Newsreel  Club 
In  Radio  City  House 

Rockefeller  Center  Newsreel  Club  j 
has  been  formed  by  Major  A.  G. 
Rudd,  general  manager,  to  stimulate 
attendance  among  the  Center's  tenants 
at  the  newsreel  house  in  the  AP 
Building. 

The  promotion  takes  the  form  of  a 
club  with  membership  cards  which  j 
admit  the  bearer  for  15  cents  up  to 
3  P.M.  every  day  except  Saturday. 
A  letter,  addressed  to  tenants,  points 
out  that  busy  executives  can  keep  in- 
formed and  relaxed  by  an  hour's  at- 
tendance at  the  house  and  makes  re- 
cipients charter  members  of  the  club. 


Loew  Dismissal  Routine 

Discontinuance  of  the  Wilmington 
stockholders'  suit  brought  against 
Loew's  was  a  formality,  it  was  learned 
here  yesterday.  The  same  issues  were 
involved  in  the  New  York  suit,  and 
two  of  the  three  plaintiffs,  Hanna  W. 
Goldstein  and  Louis  Susman.  were 
also  plaintiffs  in  the  original  New 
York  action.  Suit  brought  by  Arnold 
Herrmann  continues. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

156  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


Only  One  UA  Film 
Set  for  Music  Hall 


MARY  PICKFORD  is  accom- 
panying Murray  and  Mrs.  Sil- 
verstone  to  New  York.  They  are  ex- 
pected here  on  Saturday.  L.  J. 
Schlaifer,  United  Artists  vice-presi- 
dent, is  not  expected  in  New  York 
until  Monday. 

Montague  Marks,  financial  asso- 
ciate of  Douglas  Fairbanks,  Sr., 
plans  to  leave  New  York  for  the  coast 
tomorrow  or  Saturday.  He  arrived 
from  England  early  this  week. 
• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglas  Fairbanks 
have  again  postponed  their  departure 
for  Europe  and  are  remaining  in  New 
York  a  bit  longer. 

• 

Erich  Pommer,  British  producer, 
has  deferred  his  sailing  from  Eng- 
land to  May  24  on  the  Normandie, 
scheduled  to  arrive  here  May  29. 
• 

Dorita  Norby,  singer  sent  by  the 
Argentine  government  for  opening  of 
the  Argentine  Pavilion  at  the  World's 
Fair,  is  in  town  with  Erminio  Jime- 
nez, her  accompanist. 

e 

Mrs.  Elias  Compton,  "American 
Mother  of  1939,"  has  received  a  cer- 
tificate of  honorary  membership  in  the 
Hardy  Family  clubs,  signed  by 
Lewis  Stone. 

e 

Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paramount 
vice-president,  was  host  yesterday  in 
Hollywood  to  officers  of  H.M.S. 
Orion,  British  cruiser,  on  a  goodwill 
visit  to  Southern  California. 


V 


FLY 


UNITED'S 

MAINLINERS 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Just  overnight  in  the  fa- 
mous "Continental  "and 
"Overland  Flyer  "Main- 
liner  Sleeper  planes. The 
distinguished  way  to  Los 
Angeles.  Finest  meals 
aloft.  Call  United,  travel 
agents,  hotels. 

UNITED  AIR  LINES  PJ™E 

58  E.  42nd  St.  2"7300 


"Captain  Fury"  may  be  the  last 
United  Artists  picture  to  play  the 
Music  Hall  for  some  time  to  come. 
The  company's  next  two  releases, 
"Four  Feathers"  and  "Music  School," 
although  not  definitely  dated  yet,  are 
expected  to  be  booked  into  the  RiMfJV  j 
to  follow  "The  Mikado,"  which  ope^j#^ 
there  next  week.  "Fury"  is  expected 
to  follow  "Only  Angels  Have  Wings" 
at  the  Music  Hall. 

United  Artists  advertising  and  pub- 
licity department  is  mapping  cam- 
paigns now  on  the  Korda  and  Gold- 
wyn  pictures.  Fact  that  work  is  in 
progress  on  "Music  School,"  Gold- 
wyn's  next,  indicates  that  the  pro- 
ducer's breach  of  contract  suit  against 
United  Artists  has  not  cancelled  his 
current  releases  from  the  company's 
schedule. 

The  Goldwyn  suit,  however,  is  re- 
garded as  having  brought  about  a 
delay  in  the  start  of  Douglas  Fair- 
banks, Sr.'s  producing  activities.  The 
deal  between  Fairbanks  and  United 
Artists  was  attacked  in  the  Goldwyn 
action,  as  a  result  of  which  there  is 
a  possibility  that  Fairbanks  may  not 
start  production  until  the  Goldwyn 
litigation  has  been  decided. 


Betting  Bill  Passed; 
Voters  Act  in  Fall 

Albany,  May  17. — The  Dunnigan 
pari-mutuel  betting  bill  passed  the 
Assembly  today,  77  to  69,  thus  send- 
ing the  issue  to  the  electorate  in 
November. 

The  Senate's  defeat  of  the  Mitchell- 
Coudert  ticket  broker  bill,  providing 
a  ceiling  of  75  cents,  may  possibly  be 
overridden  before  adjournment  which 
is  expected  Saturday. 

It  is  doubtful  whether  the  housing 
bill  will  be  amended  to  delete  the  levy 
on  outdoor  advertising.  Passage  of 
the  sales  tax  measure  also  looms  as 
doubtful. 


Smith  in  New  U.  A.  Post 

Guy  Croswell  Smith,  who  was  ap- 
pointed United  Artists  manager  in 
Cristobal,  Canal  Zone,  recently,  sailed 
on  the  Quirigua  yesterday  to  take 
over  his  new  post.  Smith,  a  former 
U.  A.  manager  in  France,  succeeds 
Paul  Wir,  resigned. 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  — Hollywood:  Postal  Union 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boone 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver, 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square, 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  London; 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23, 
1938.  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.. 
i:nder  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  10c. 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


lursday,  May  18,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Dodge  City' 
Does  $14,400 
In  Twin  Cities 


MlNNEAPOLI 

:--)Aty"  grossed 


May  17.— "Dodge 
,700  in  eight  days  at 


r— Je  State  here. 

In  St.  Paul  "Dodge  City"  again  out- 
distanced rivals,  getting  §5,700  at  the 
Paramount. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  9: 

Minneapolis: 

"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
•Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

ASTER— (900)  (15c-25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
i  1,400.    (Average.  $1,500) 

Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (2Sc-40c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
'Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

GOPHER— (990)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$3,200.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2.900)     (25c -40c)     8  days. 
Gross:  $5,300.    (Average,  $4,800) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

STATE— (2,300)  (25c-40c)  8  days.  Gross: 
J3.700.   (Average,  $4,400) 
"Professor  Mamlock"  (Amkino) 

TIME— (290)  (25c-35c)  7  days.  Gross:  $600. 
(Average,  $700) 
"Three  Smart  Girls"  (Univ.) 
"Mother  Love"  (Foreign) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  "Girls,"  4  days. 
3rd  week,  "Love,"  3  days.  Gross:  $800. 
(Average,  1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"I'm  from  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  "Missouri," 
4  days,  "Madden,"  3  days.  Gross:  2,500. 
(Average,  $3,200) 

Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Cross:  $5,700.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

R I VI ERA— (1.000)   (25c)  7  days.  Second 
week.   Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

TOWER— (1.000)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,400.  (Average.  $1,500) 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

WORLD—  (400)  (25c -35c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$700.    (Average,  $700) 


Indianapolis  Gives 
'Pacific'  Big  $9,000 

Indianapolis,  May  17. — "Union 
Pacific"  drew  a  smash  $9,000  at  the 
Circle.  "The  Hardys  Ride  High" 
and  "The  Kid  from  Texas"  took  $10,- 
500  at  Loew's. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  12 : 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

APOLLO—  (1,100)    (25c-40c)   7  days.  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $2,800.     (Average,  $2,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
59.000.     (Average,  $5,500) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
S10.500.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
Wayne  King  Band  Show.  Gross:  $12,200. 
(Average,  $8,000) 


Photo-Crime  Shorts 

Hollywood,  May  17.  —  Leonard 
Goldstein  today  consummated  a  deal 
v;ith  "Look"  magazine  for  production 
rights  to  its  photo-crime  feature  and 
will  produce  a  series  of  shorts. 


White  Cuba  Manager 

Herbert  White  has  been  named  20th 
Century-Fox  manager  for  Cuba.  He 
has  been  managing  the  Trinidad 
branch,  and  will  be  succeeded  there  by 
James  B.  O'Gara. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"The  Girl  From  Mexico" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  May  17. — "The  Girl  from  Mexico"  was  built  for  laugh 
purposes.  Everything  in  it,  all  of  which  is  elementary  comedy  and 
much  of  which  is  slapstick,  is  farce  that  tickles  the  funny  bone.  Due  to 
the  facile  manner  in  which  Lionel  Houser  prepared  the  original  story 
and  collaborated  with  Joseph  Fields  on  the  screenplay,  the  spirited  man- 
ner in  which  Lupe  Velez,  Donald  Woods  and  Leon  Errol  as  well  as 
the  competent  support  went  about  their  work  and  the  good  use  Leslie 
Goodwins  made  of  timing  in  spotting  gags  and  situations,  the  show 
is  amusement  that  didn't  need  a  lot  of  money  or  the  services  of  big 
names  to  carry  it  along. 

Radio  executive  Woods,  talent  scouting  in  Mexico,  digs  up  a  singing 
sensation  in  Lupe  Velez.  Brought  to  New  York,  the  fiery  Latin,  under 
the  guidance  of  Errol  goes  for  the  big  city  in  a  big  way.  Her  audition 
flops  because  she  has  lost  her  voice  screeching  and  yelling  at  a  baseball 
game  and  wrestling  match.  She  finds  it  again,  wins  a  night  club  singing 
job  and  attracts  another  radio  sponsor. With  farce  comedy  interludes, 
everything  for  a  time  goes  according  to  the  rule  and  letter  of  personal 
drama.  Then  Miss  Velez  decides  the  chiseling  society  girl,  Linda 
Hayes,  is  not  a  suitable  person  to  have  such  a  suitor  as  Woods. 
Prodded  by  Errol,  she  steals  Woods  from  Miss  Hayes.  Triumphant  in 
marrying  him,  the  firebrand  cannot  resist  the  temptation  to  indulge 
in  a  wild  and  wooly  bit  of  hair  pulling  with  Miss  Hayes  as  the  wed- 
ding party  leaves  the  church. 

Fun  is  the  thing  to  sell  here. 

Running  time  70  minutes.  "G."* 

G.  McC. 


"Code  of  the  Secret  Service" 

( Warners) 

Hollywood,  May  17. — This  is  a  headlong  stretch  of  action  and  adven- 
ture strictly  in  the  serial  tradition.  Ronald  Reagan  is  the  hero  of  the 
fisticuffs,  dashes,  escapes  and  super-escapes,  and  Rosella  Towne  comes 
into  the  picture  toward  the  end  to  furnish  the  necessary  touch  of 
romance.  Eddie  Foy,  Jr  ,  is  in  and  out  of  it  recurrently  as  the  comedy 
relief. 

Regan  plays  a  U.  S.  Secret  Service  man  sent  on  the  trail  of  counter- 
feiters who  have  stolen  authentic  plates  from  the  mint  and  are  about  to 
let  loose  upon  the  country  a  flood  of  undetectably  spurious  greenbacks. 
He  trails  them  to  Mexico,  where  most  of  the  adventuring  occurs,  stop- 
ping at  El  Paso  en  route  for  a  lusty  brawl  in  which  a  murder  occurs. 
The  incidents,  enough  for  a  12-chapter  serial  and  the  right  kind,  are  too 
complicated  and  varied  for  minute  synopsis. 

It's  a  Bryan  Foy  production  directed  by  Noel  Smith  from  a  screen- 
play by  Lee  Katz  and  Dean  Franklin  based  on  material  compiled  by  W. 
H.  Moran,  ex-chief  of  the  U.  S.  Secret  Service.  That  origin  seems  a 
point  to  stress  in  exploitation. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


New  York  Preview 


"Rangle  River" 

(J.  H.  Ho  ff  berg) 

The  action  formula  of  western  fare  is  followed  adroitly  in  Zane  Grey's 
story  of  ranching  in  the  spacious  herding  areas  of  Australia  where  "Ran- 
gle River"  was  filmed.  The  essential  and  usual  ingredients  are  included, 
fighting,  hard  riding,  a  light  treatment  of  romance. 

Victor  Jory,  Margaret  Dare  and  Robert  Coote  are  the  principal 
players  with  George  Bryant,  Rita  Pauncefort,  Leo  Cracknell  and  Cecil 
Perry  in  support.  Clarence  Badger  directed. 

Jory  as  foreman  of  an  Australian  cattle  ranch  is  confronted  with 
irrigation  problems  when  the  Rangle  River  runs  dry  because  of  a  dam 
built  by  a  rival  rancher.  The  Rangle  ranchers  seek  to  remedy  the  situa- 
tion without  success.  The  plot  is  discovered  in  due  time  and  the  Rangle 
River  again  provides  water  for  the  cattle.  Miss  Dare,  as  the  ranch 
owner's  daughter,  provides  the  love  interest.  Robert  Coote  offers  refresh- 
ing comedy. 

Running  time,  72  minutes.  "G."* 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Pacific'  Gets 
$39,000  Take 
In  Loop  Bow 


Chicago,  May  17. — "Union  Pacific" 
steamed  into  the  Chicago  and  took 
$39,000.  "Dark  Victory"  in  a  second 
Loop  week  at  the  Roosevelt  garnered 
a  good  $12,200. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  10-13 : 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,400)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days.  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c -55c -75c)    7  days. 
Stage:  Joe  Sanders  &  Band.   Gross:  $39,000. 
(Average,  $32,000) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

GARRICK— (900)     (35c-40c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,400.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 
"Mystery  of  Mr.  Wong"  (Mono.) 

ORIENTAL — (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville  &  Revue.  Gross:  $12,000. 
(Average,  $13,000) 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,500)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross:  $16,- 
300.    (Average,  $19,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,200.  (Average,  $11,000) 
"Let  Us  Live"  (M-G-M) 

STATE-LAKE— (2,700)      (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross:  $12,- 
400.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,000.    (Average,  $15,000) 


'Hardys'  $15,600 
Kansas  City  Lead 

Kansas  City,  May  17.  —  "The 
Hardys  Ride  High"  and  "Within  the 
Law"  took  $15,600,  at  the  Midland. 
"Union  Pacific"  to  $10,700  at  the 
Newman. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  9-11 : 

"The  Cisco  Kid"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,900.    (Average,  $3,000) 
"The  Cisco  Kid"  (ZOth-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)      (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $3,500.     (Average,  $3,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)     (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $10,700.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)     (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $15,600.    (Average,  $11,500) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Swing,  Sister,  Swing"  (Univ.) 

FOX  TOWER—  (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $3,300.    (Average,  $5,000) 


days. 


days. 


days. 


Schine  Verdict  Reserved 

Johnstown,  N.  Y.,  May  17. — Su- 
preme Court  Justice  Ellsworth  C. 
Lawrence  has  reserved  decision  in  the 
action  of  Schine  Theatrical  Enter- 
prises, Inc.,  against  the  Massachusetts 
Bonding  Co.  The  circuit  seeks  to  re- 
cover interest  and  counsel  fees  of 
$2,250.70,  on  a  compensation  claim 
paid  in  the  death  of  William  Brady, 
circuit  projectionist  who  died  as  the 
result  of  burns  suffered  in  a  fire  in 
the  projection  booth  of  a  Glens  Falls 
house. 


Para.  Signs  Jones 

Hollywood,  May  17. — Paramount 
has  signed  Allan  Jones  to  a  term  con- 
tract, and  will  star  him  in  "Victor 
Herbert,"  a  story  of  the  effect  of  the 
composer's  music  on  the  lives  of  a 
young  couple.  He  is  now  playing  in 
"Are  Husbands  Necessary." 


i 


cHA^0rr£- 


TH  E  YWf  Wi 


81DNSY  WILMSH 


For  Release 


fit 


^last  s 


PALI 


company  that  led 
™f '-  'Robin  Hood' 


in 


JUARE 


A  STORY  SO  MOMENTOUS  THAT  IT  REQUIRES  A  SUPPORTING  CAST  OF  1186  PLAYERS,  HEADED 

BRIAN  AHERNE 

CLAUDE  RAINS  •  JOHN  GARFIELD  •  DONALD  CRISP 

Joseph  Calleia  •  Gale  Sondergaard  •  Gilbert  Roland  •  Henry  O'Neill 
Directed  by  William  Dieterle 

Screen  Play  by  John  Huston,  Aeneas  MacKenzie  and  Wolfgang  Reinhardt  •  Based  on  a  Play  by  Franz  Werfel  CHM 
the  Novel,  "The  Phantom  Crown"  by  Bertita  Harding  •  Music  by  Erich  Wolfgang  Korngold 


12?0    SI*TH  A 
0  R  K 


leading  the  Line-up  that  Again  Proves 

THERE  WILL  BE  NO  HOLD- 


S  IN  TH 
BY  WARNERS 


a4 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  May  18,  193 J 


Another  Big  J?  Scoop  for 


The  Quigley 
Grand  Award  Winners 

JOHN  BURHORN 

OF  SOUTH  CHICAGO,  ILL. 

GEORGE  LIMERICK 

OF  ENID,  OKLAHOMA 


leading  a  discussion 
on  the  subject 

"HOME  OFFICE  AIDS 
TO  THE  EXHIBITOR" 


Tariff: 

$1.25  FOR  MEMBERS 
$1.50  FOR  NON-MEMBERS 


Coast  Production 
Shows  Gain  With 
45  Films  in  Work 


Hollywood,  May  17. — Production 
spurted  to  45  pictures  shooting,  as  11 
started  and  seven  finished.  Twenty- 
three  are  being  prepared,  and  59  are 
being  edited. 

Started  were:  "A  Woman  Is  the 
Judge,"  "Mounted  Police  No.  2,"  Co- 
lumbia ;  "Babes  in  Arms,"  M-G-M ; 
"Double  Dyed  Deceiver,"  Paramount ; 
"The  Spellbinder,"  RKO ;  "The 
Fighting  Irish,"  "Oklahoma  Out- 
laws," Republic;  "Chicken  Wagon 
Family,"  20th- Century- Fox  ;  "The 
Underpup,"  "Dames,"  Universal ; 
"The  Knight  and  the  Lady"  (tenta- 
tive), Warners. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  are : 
"Mr.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington," 
"Golden  Boy,"  "Parents  on  Trial," 
"Coast  Guard,"  Columbia ;  "The  Real 
Glory,"  "Music  School,"  Goldwyn ; 
"On  Borrowed  Time,"  "Stronger 
Than  Desire,"  "Lady  of  the  Tropics," 
"The  Women,"  M-G-M  ;  "Heaven  on 
a  Shoestring,"  "The  Star  Maker," 
"Ruler  of  the  Seas,"  "Disputed  Pas- 
sage," "Nightwork,"  "Our  Leading 
Citizen,"  Paramount ;  "Way  Down 
South,"  Principal-RKO  ;  "Memory  of 
Love,"  "Career,"  "Timber  Stam- 
pede," RKO ;  "Mickey  the  Kid,"  "In 
Old  Caliente,"  Republic ;  "Gone  with 
the  Wind,"  Selznick ;  "Charlie  Chan 
at  Treasure  Island,"  "The  Rains 
Came,"  "Elsa  Maxwell's  Hotel  for 
Women,"  20th  Century-Fox ;  "The 
Phantom  Creeps,"  "Modern  Cinder- 
ella," Universal ;  "Winter  Carnival," 
Wanger;  "Dust  Be  My  Destiny," 
"Not  Wanted,"  "Nancy  Drew  and  the 
Hidden  Staircase,"  "Dead  or  Alive," 
Warners ;  "Miracle  of  Main  Street," 
Arcadia-Grand  National. 


Ontario  Quiz  Aimed 
At  Theatre  Prizes 

Toronto,  May  17. — Gordon  Conant, 
Attorney  General  of  Ontario,  has 
placed  new  restrictions  on  lotteries  or 
games  or  chance  by  forbidding  prize 
stunts  for  charity  by  service  clubs  and 
similar  organizations. 

It  is  reported  that  the  Ontario 
Government  is  quietly  investigating 
gift  night  and  quiz  contest  stunts 
staged  by  theatres  with  a  view  of 
banning  these  prize  inducements  under 
the  anti-premium  law. 


Hey  wood-Wake  field  Move 

Heywood- Wakefield  Co.  will  open 
larger  offices  and  showroom  at  1  Park 
Ave.,  tomorrow,  when  a  housewarm- 
ing  will  be  held.  Officials  of  the  com- 
pany from  Gardner,  Mass.,  as  well  as 
local  exhibitors  and  circuit  heads,  are 
expected. 


Letter  to  Exhibitors 

Hllywood,  May  17. — Jack  L.  War- 
ner, head  of  Warner  production,  has 
addressed  a  letter  to  virtually  all  of 
the  country's  exhibitors,  calling  their 
attention  to  "A  Family  Affair,"  which 
will  be  released  in  July. 


Calgary  Tops  RKO  Drive 

RKO's  Calgary  office  continues  to 
lead  the  company's  38  branches  at  the 
close  of  the  fourteenth  week  of  the 
George  Schaefer  sales  drive. 


Beauty  Lecture 

New  York  women  will  get 
beauty  advice  directly  from 
Perc  Westmore,  head  of 
Warner's  makeup  depart- 
ment at  tomorrow's  matinee 
of  "Juarez"  at  the  Hollywood. 
Women  attending  will  be  eli- 
gible to  send  photos  to  West- 
more  in  Hollywood  and  re 
ceive  suggestions  for  faci 
charm. 


B-K  Hearing  Opens: 
U.S.  Gets  Records 

Chicago,  May  17. — Hearing  of  th( 
Government's  anti-monopoly  sur 
against  the  Balaban  &  Katz  circui 
and  other  majors  started  today  befon 
Master  in  Chancery  Edgar  Eldredge 

The  opening  session  was  devoted  t< 
the  introduction  of  documents  sub 
poenaed  by  the  Government.  It  is  be 
lieved  that  from  10  days  to  tw(, 
months  will  be  necessary  before  al 
records  are  introduced. 

Attorneys  for  all  companies  wen 
present  as  Robert  L.  Wright  of  th< 
U.  S.  Attorney  General's  office  callec 
for  the  documents  which  the  Govern 
ment  will  examine  in  preparing  it 
case. 

Postponement  of  the  Adelphi,  or  th< 
independents,  case  against  B.  &  K.  anc 
the  majors  will  be  for  approximate!; 
30  days.  Attorneys  for  the  independ 
ents  are  occupied  with  another  case 
thus  necessitating  the  delay. 


Legion  Approves  9 
Of  14  New  Pictures 

National  Legion  of  Decency  for  th< 
current  week  has  approved  14  of  1] 
new  pictures  reviewed  and  classified 
nine  for  general  patronage  and  fivi 
for  adults.  One  was  classed  as  objec 
tionable  in  part  and  two  were  con 
demned.  The  new  films  and  thei: 
classification  follow. 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gen  | 
eral  Patronage:  "Grade  Allen  Mul- 
der Case,"  "Law  Comes  to  Texas,' 
"Nancy  Drew,  Trouble  Shooter,' 
"Panama  Patrol,"  "Singing  Cowgirl,'^ 
"Six-Gun  Rhythm,"  "Skanor-Fals 
terbo"  (Swedish),  "Spoilers  of  th< 
Range,"  ;'Tell  No  Tales."  Class  A-2 
Unobj  ectionable  for  Adults :  "Crimt 
in  the  Maginot  Line,"  "Dead  Met 
Tell  No  Tales,"  "The  Eagle  and  th< 
Hawk,"  "Rose  of  Washingtoi 
Square,"  "Invitation  to  Happiness.' 
Class  B,  Objectionable  in  Part:  "Es- 
cape from  Yesterday"  (French) 
Class  C,  Condemned :  "Indiscretions' 
(French),  "Wages  of  Sin." 


Circuit  Meeting  Today 

Kansas  City,  May  17. — Common- 
wealth Amusement  Corp.  is  holding 
three  regional  meetings  for  its  man- 
agers, the  first  tomorrow  at  Great 
Bend,  Kan. ;  the  second  May  23,  at 
Columbia,  Mo. ;  and  the  third  Maj 
25,  at  Hollister,  Mo. 


Quits  Monogram  Post 

Kansas  City,  May  17. — L.  F.  Dur- 
land  has  sold  his  interest  in  the  Mono- 
gram exchange  here,  and  will  resigt 
as  manager.  He  will  be  succeeded  b} 
Douglas  Desch,  resigning  from  Granc 
National.  Sol  Hankin  will  take  ovei 
Grand  National  here. 


(.u-sday.  May  18,  1939 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Toronto  Puts 
Tighter  Rules 
on  Alien  Films 


oroxto,  May  17.  —  Censorship 
JjUations  on  imported  foreign  lan- 
— <e  films  have  been  tightened  by 
tsil  censors. 

A  published  protest  against  "Alex- 
ider  Nevsky"  attracted  wide  atten- 
jii  and  audiences  have  shown  resent- 
pnt  against  other  alien  films.  To 
oid  further  inter-racial  feeling,  cen- 
irs  will  be  more  stringent  in  passing 
i  foreign  product. 

Although  "Club  de  Femmes"  has 
e  approval  of  Quebec  and  Ontario 
nsors,  it  has  been  ordered  with- 
rawn  by  W.  J.  Major,  Manitoba 
torney  general,  who  regards  it  as 
linoral. 


azi  Films  Under 
iquiry  In  Canada 

Montreal,  May  17. — The  federal 
r.ernment  at  Ottawa  is  investigating 
ie  showing  of  Nazi  propaganda  films 

British  Columbia. 

The   government's   attention   to  a 
•ries  of  lectures  and  films  being  con- 
.  icted  by  an  Austrian  Nazi  was  called 
Grote  Stirling,  Conservative.  He 
tid  the  film  consists  chiefly  of  "Heil 
litler"  yells  and  singing  of  the  Ger- 
an  Socialist  anthem.    He  reported 
jhlic  resentment  great. 
In  Vancouver  police  are  searching 
)r  a  German  film  propagandist,  re- 
nted to  be  concentrating  his  activi- 
;|es  in  small  towns  of  Okanagan  val- 
•y  and  Nelson  regions. 


Chips'  Has  Strong 
Box  Office  at  Astor 

(.Continued  from  parte  1) 

ated  $20,000  at  the  Capitol.  "It's 
Wonderful  World"  goes  in  today, 
t  the  Globe,  "King  of  the  Turf" 
pew  an  estimated  $4,800.  "Blind  Al- 
'y''  will  start  there  Saturday  after 
ie  week  for  "Zenobia." 
"The  Kid  from  Kokomo"  goes  into 
ie  Strand  tomorrow.  Opening  date 
•r  the  "Mikado"  has  been  moved 
ick  to  June  1  at  the  Rivoli.  "With  a 
[mile,"  (French  M.  P.  Corp.)  is  held 
•  er  for  a  second  week  at  the  World. 
.  During  the  World's  Fair.  20th  Cen- 
iry-Fox  has  arranged  for  its  films  to 
ave  world  premieres  at  the  Roxy. 
'hose  scheduled  are  "Young  Mr.  Lin- 
oln,"  "Susannah  of  the  Mounties." 
Stanley  and  Livingstone,"  "Second 
iddle,"  "The  Rains  Came,"  a  second 
hirley  Temple  film  based  on  the 
31ue  Bird."  "The  Grapes  of  Wrath," 
prums  Along  the  Mohawk,"  "Little 
Id  New  York."  "Hollvwood  Caval- 
ide."  "Say  It  With  Music"  and  "The 
fark  of  Zorro." 

At  the  Paramount,  next  films  will 
:  "Invitation  to  Happiness,"  "Man 
bout  Town,"  "Jamaica  Inn,"  "Beau 
este,"  "Our  Leading  Citizen"  and 
The  Star  Maker." 


"Fury"  Starts  Strong 

,  Topping  the  gross  of  any  picture  to 
ay  the  house  in  the  past  two  years, 
al_  Roach's  "Captain  Fury"  grossed 
,456  on  its  opening  day  Tuesday  at 
»e  California,  San  Diego,  it  is  re- 
nted by  United  Artists. 


In  the  Courts 


John  S.  Stover,  attorney  for  Ernest 
W.  Stirn,  holder  of  1,234  shares  of 
Class  A  RKO  stock,  filed  appeal  with 
the  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  yesterday 
and  listed  thirteen  arguments  support- 
ing his  contention  that  the  RKO  re- 
organization plan  is  invalid.  Argu- 
ments will  be  heard  during  the  week 
of  June  5. 


Vedis  Films  Denied 
Writ;  Trial  on  May  29 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Miller  yes- 
terday denied  an  application  of  L. 
Lawrence  Weber  for  an  injunction  to 
restrain  Vedis  Films,  Inc.,  on  Lenarch, 
Inc.,  owner  of  the  Filmarte  Theatre, 
from  exhibiting  the  film,  "Trois 
Valses,"  and  ordered  trial  for  May 
29.    Weber  claims  infringement. 


Times  Square  Theatre,  Inc. 
Loses  Plea  to  Kill  Suit 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Shientag 
yesterday  denied  application  of  Times 
Square  Theatre  Co.,  Inc.,  owner  of 
the  Apollo,  to  dismiss  a  $25,000  suit 
brought  against  it  by  Isidore  Masor, 
and  upheld  the  sufficiency  of  the  com- 
plaint. Masor,  according  to  the  com- 
plaint, was  assaulted  by  theatre 
patrons  whom  he  had  sought  to  quiet 
while  celebrating  New  Year's  Eve. 

Appeal  Dismissal  of 
Moredall  Realty  Case 

Appeal  has  been  filed  by  Wendel 
Foundation  from  the  dismissal  of  its 
suit  against  Moredall  Realty  Corp., 
operators  of  the  Capitol.  Action  in- 
volves a  lease  under  which  Moredall 
agreed  to  pay  income  taxes,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  stipulated  rental  to  the  late 
Ella  Wendel.  After  Miss  Wendel's 
death,  the  land  went  to  a  charitable 
foundation  which  is  exempt  from  in- 
come taxes  and  Moredall  contends 
that  it  is  no  longer  obligated  to  make 
the  extra  payments. 


Sues  Disney  on  Alleged 
Infringement  of  Patents 

Los  Angeles,  May  17. — Alleging 
infringements  of  three  of  its  patents, 
the  Meinograph  Process,  Inc.,  of  De- 
troit, has  filed  suit  against  Walt  Dis- 
ney and  Walt  Disney  Productions, 
Ltd.,  in  Federal  Court,  demanding  an 
accounting  of  profits  and  an  injunction 
to  restrain  further  use  of  the  color 
processes. 


Margaretta  Tuttle  Sues 
Metro,  Warners  on  Title 

Los  Angeles,  May  17. — Suit  over 
rights  to  a  title  of  a  literary  work- 
has  been  filed  in  Federal  court  by 
Margaretta  Tuttle,  novelist,  seeking 
$100,000  damages  from  Loew's,  Inc., 
Metro-Goldw  yn-Mayer  Corp.,  First 
National  Pictures,  Inc.,  and  Warner 
Bros.  Pictures.  Inc.,  over  a  picture, 
"The  Unguarded  Hour."  made  by 
M-G-M  in  1937. 


Charges  Plagiarism  of 
Story  in  "Rembrandt" 

Hollywood,  May  17.  —  Charging 
plagiarism  of  her  story  in  the  making 
of  "Rembrandt,"  Elsie  H.  Hunt,  sce- 
nario writer,  has  filed  a  $500,000  dam- 
age suit  in  Federal  Court  against 
United  Artists  Studios,  Inc.,  London 
Film  Productions,  Inc.,  Alexander 
Korda,  Samuel  Goldwyn  and  Carl 
Zuckmayer,  English  writer. 


Britain's  Tax 
Raises  Film 
Rental  Costs 


London,  May  17. — At  a  meeting  to- 
day of  the  London  and  Home  Coun- 
ties Branch  of  the  Cinematograph 
Exhibitors'  Association,  E.  J.  Hinge, 
president,  declared  he  had  evidence 
that  exhibitors  already  were  being 
asked  higher  film  rentals  because  of 
the  increased  film  taxes. 

Major  A.  J.  Gale,  C.E.A.  treasurer, 
suggested  that  the  distributors  could 
and  should  bear  the  financial  burden 
of  the  tax  increases. 

It  has  been  indicated  that  newsreels 
will  receive  a  tax  rebate  on  all  waste 
film  not  actually  included  in  the  fin- 
ished print.  This  is  considered  a  con- 
siderable concession.  The  trade  depu- 
tation of  protest  will  see  Sir  John 
Simon,  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer, 
tomorrow. 


Theatrical  Unions 
In  Whalen  Warning 

New  York  Theatrical  Trades  Coun- 
cil, organization  of  theatrical  unions, 
yesterday  served  an  ultimatum  on 
Grover  Whalen  that  unless  their  de- 
mands were  met  shortly,  they  would 
take  steps  to  force  agreements.  Nego- 
tiations between  Nils  T.  Granlund, 
producer  of  the  Congress  of  Beauty, 
and  American  Federation  of  Actors 
failed  to  attain  agreement  vesterdav. 


Hope  to  Complete 
Pact  By  Saturday 

Efforts  will  be  made  to 
complete  the  arbitration  pro- 
visions of  the  industry  trade 
practice  program  and  thereby 
achieve  a  final  draft  by  Sat- 
urday, distribution  executives 
said  yesterday.  The  revised 
program  upon  completion 
will  be  submitted  to  exhibitor 
organizations. 


Seek  to  Force  U.  S. 
Hand  in  Trust  Suit 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

Paramount  had  refused  to  sell  him 
products. 

Williams  had  referred  to  Rubin 
Frels,  a  Texas  exhibitor,  Keough 
stated,  but  had  omitted  to  read  that 
portion  of  the  testimony  which  ex- 
plained Paramount's  attiude. 

In  the  1930-'31  and  1931-'32  seasons, 
the  affidavit  continued,  Frels  had  been 
licensed  by  Paramount,  in  spite  of  the 
fact  that  he  owned  a  50  per  cent  in- 
terest in  competing  theatres. 

Frels,  however,  persisted  in  partici- 
pating in  and  financing  unmeritorious 
conspiracy  suits  against  Paramount 
and  other  majors  which  were  dis- 
missed on  trial,  Keough  declared,  and 
Paramount  did  not  wish  to  do  busi- 
ness with  an  exhibitor  of  this  type. 


Argue  Censor  Ban 

Albany,  May  17. — Appeal  from  the 
censorship  ban  on  "The  Birth  of  a 
Baby"  was  argued  before  the  Appellate 
Division  of  the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
today.    Decision  was  reserved. 


The  mirth  invoked  by  Hal  Roach's 
ZENOBIA  is  thoroughly  hearty!" 


NEW  YORK  DAILY  MIRROR 


RELEASED  THRU  UNITED  ARTISTS 


M 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Thursday,  May  18,  193 


- 


Conquest'  Is 
$18,000  Lead, 
Philadelphia 


Phladelphia,  May  17. — Best  bill 
in  a  slow  week  was  at  the  Fox,  with 
"Man  of  Conquest"  and  Hugh  Her- 
bert, Ella  Logan  and  the  Eddie  de 
Lange  band  taking  $18,000.  "Con- 
fessions of  a  Nazi  Spy"  took  $16,000 
at  the  Stanley.  "Wuthering  Heights" 
held  up  to  $7,400  in  its  fourth  week 
at  the  Aldine. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  12 : 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

ALDINE— (1,300)  (32c-42c-57)  7  days,  4th 
week.    Gross:  $7,400.    (Average,  $8,160) 
"San  Francisco"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (25c-42c-S7c)  6  days. 
Reissue.  Gross:  $1,800.  (Average,  7  days, 
$2,800) 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.)' 

BOYD— (2,400)    (32c-42c-57c)   7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $13,500.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Midnight"  (Para.) 

EARLE— (2,000)   (26c-32c-42c)  7  days,  3rd 
run.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Republic) 

FOX— (3,000)    (32c-37c-42c-57c-68c)   7  days 
(6  days  stage).    Stage:  Hugh  Herbert,  Ella 
Logan.  Eddie  de  Lange  orch.    Gross:  $18,- 
000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Return  of  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $2,800.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S — (2,000)     (32c-42c-57c)    7  days, 
2nd  run,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $3,200.  (Aver- 
age, $4,000) 
"Zenobia"  (U.  A.) 

PALACE— (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross 
$3,500.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Confessions  of  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

STANLEY— (3,700)    (32c-42c-57c)    9  days 
Gross:  $16,000.    (Average,  7  days,  $14,000) 
"Back  Door  to  Heaven"  (Para.) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  6  days 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  7  days,  $7,000) 


St.  John  Surrenders 
Republic  Franchise 

Hollywood,  May  17.  —  Floyd  St 
John  has  disposed  of  his  distribution 
rights  of  Republic  pictures  in  San 
Francisco  to  Republic  Pictures  Corp. 
of  N.  Y.,  effective  May  19,  a  joint 
statement  by  James  R.  Grainger,  Re 
public  president,  and  St.  John  says. 

Pending  arrangements  with  a  new 
franchise  holder,  the  home  office  will 
operate  the  Los  Angeles  and  San  Fran 
cisco  exchanges.    Personnel  of  both 
offices  will  remain  the  same. 


Montreal  Houses  to 
Close  During  Parade 

Montreal,  May  .  17. — All  first  run 
theatres  here  will  close  tomorrow  dur- 
ing the  hours  of  the  Royal  procession 
to  permit  the  staffs  to  see  the  King 
and  Queen.  Audiences  will  be  issued 
return  checks  good  until  6  P.  M.,  to 
allow  them  to  see  the  remainder  of 
the  shows. 


Royalty  Newsreels 

Newsreel  offices  worked 
overtime  last  night  getting 
out  reels  showing  the  arrival 
of  British  royalty  at  Quebec. 
The  shots  were  included  in 
the  regular  edition  for  local 
houses  but  were  rushed  by 
plane  to  out-of-town  ac- 
counts. 


►  Radio 
Personals  i 

FRED  RAPHAEL  is  the  father 
of  a  new  baby  girl.  He  is  pro- 
gram director  of  WHN.  .  .  . 
Sammy  Kaye's  orchestra  will  be  this 
week's  feature  on  Mutual's  "Show  of 
the  Week."  .  .  .  Laurette  Taylor  and 
the  cast  of  "Outward  Bound"  will  be 
the  guests  of  Lisa  Sergio  on  her 
"Column  of  the  Air"  over  WQXR  to- 
morrow. .  .  .  Ruth  Mix,  daughter  of 
Tom,  will  be  interviewed  by  Parks 
Johnson  and  Wally  Butterworth  on 
the  "Vox   Pop"   program  Saturday. 


Orders  Stations  to 
Announce  Payment 

Washington-,  May  17. — The  F.  C. 
C.  has  issued  a  memorandum  to  all 
stations  calling  attention  of  all  li- 
censees to  the  stipulation  in  the  Com- 
munications Act  which  requires  that 
in  cases  where  programs  are  paid  for, 
this  shall  be  announced  during  the 
broadcast. 

The  F.  C.  C.  asserts  that  violations 
of  the  rule  have  been  brought  to  its 
attention  and  insists  upon  compliance. 


Local  Hotels 
Delaying  Use 
Of  Television 


Anti-Fireworks  Plea 
In  Free  Radio  Disc 

A  free  transcription  of  a  10-minute 
program  dealing  with  July  4  fireworks 
accidents  is  being  offered  to  radio  sta- 
tions by  the  National  Society  for  the 
Prevention  of  Blindness,  New  York. 


Derby  Telecast  Set 

London,  May  17. — Three  major 
theatres  here,  the  Victoria,  Tatler  and 
Marble  Arch  Pavilion,  will  telecast 
the  English  Derby  May  24  on  large 
screens,  using  the  Baird  System. 


New  York  hotels,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  the  Waldorf-Astoria,  have  not 
yet  installed  television  receivers  in 
their  public  rooms,  a  checkup  re- 
veals. The  Waldorf  has  two  receiv- 
ers in  operation. 

The  American  Hotel  Association 
states  it  has  no  knowledge  of  plans 
for  installation  of  receivers  in  mem- 
ber hotels  here.  A  canvass  of  the  in- 
dividual New  York  hotels  brought  the 
reply:  "No  receivers — yet." 

The  hotel  managements  are  watch- 
inging  television's  development,  par- 
ticularly from  a  program  standpoint, 
and  installation  of  receivers  eventually 
will  come  as  a  "service"  to  guests. 
There  is  no  chance,  however,  of  tele- 
vision receivers  being  installed  in  in- 
dividual rooms,  according  to  the  con- 
sensus of  the  managements. 


Television  All  Over 
U.  S.  Seen  by  Cock 

Gerald  Cock,  director  of  television 
for  the  British  Broadcasting  Corp., 
who  ended  a  month's  stay  here  yester- 
day when  he  sailed  on  the  Aquitania, 
predicted  the  ultimate  spread  of  tele- 
vision over  the  United  States. 

"America  has  the  youth,  the  energy 
and  resources  to  make  a  go  of  tele- 
vision," he  declared.  He  foresaw  two 
years  of  "distress  and  tremendous  ex- 
pense" for  television,  however,  but 
said  that  at  the  end  of  that  time 
America  will  have  established  an  im- 
portant industry. 


Dupont  Off  Air 

Dupont  program,  "Cavalcade  of 
America,"  ends  its  CBS  season  the 
last  week  in  May,  and  starting  June 
5,  its  time  will  be  occupied  by  the 
Ethyl  program,  "Tune  Up  Time,"  with 
Andre  Kostelanetz  and  Walter  O'Keefe. 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS 
REGISTRATION  BUREAU 


For  World's  Fair  Visitors 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  Telephone  Circle  7-3100 


Name    .-  

Affiliation   

Home  Address   

Arrive   Depart. 


New  York  Address. 


New  York  Phone . . 
Members  of  Party. 


Clip  the  Coupon  and  Mail  to  World's  Fair  Bureau.  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York 


Faster  Radiophoto 
System  by  RCA 

Commercial  inauguration  of 
a  new  system  for  the  trans- 
Atlantic  transmission  of  Ra- 
diophotos  was  announced  yes- 
terday by  R.C.A.  Communi- 
cations. 

The  new  system  makes  pos- 
sible the  sending  of  pictures 
and  other  graphic  material  irfk 
vastly  improved  detail  witw/-- 
transmission  speeds  three 
times  greater  than  hereto- 
fore. 

The  system  becomes  avail- 
able in  time  for  the  heavy 
traffic  anticipated  during  the 
British  royalty's  visit  to 
Canada  and  United  States. 


Town,'  Burns-Aller 
Lose  High  Rating 

Edward  G.  Robinson's  "Big  Town! 
radio  series  and  the  Burns  and  Alle; 
program  have  been  replaced  amon] 
the  first  10  most  popular  radio  pre  I 
grams  by  the  Kay  Kyser  and  Fibbe 
McGee  shows,  the  new  report  reveal 
Other  changes  show  the  Chase  an. 
Sanborn  program  and  the  Jack  Benn  . 
show  in  slight  declines,  with  the  Luj 
"Radio  Theatre"  showing  increase 
popularity. 

The  popularity  ratings,  in  order,  at 
Chase  and  Sanborn,  Jack  Benny,  Lu 
"Radio  Theatre,"  Bing  Crosby's  Hou 
Kate  Smith's  series,  the  Major  Bowt 
Amateur  Hour,  M-G-M  "Good  New? 
program,  Kay  Kyser's  "Kollege  c 
Musical  Knowledge,"  the  Fibber  M<. 
Gee  series  and  Eddie  Cantor. 


Royal  Broadcasts 
Changed  in  Ottawa 

Montreal,  May  17— CBS  has  ar 
nounced  new  plans  for  the  Ottaw 
broadcast  schedule  for  the  Royal  visi 
Their  Majesties  will  remain  in  Ottaw 
for  only  two  and  a  half  days  instea 
of  four.  Friday's  Supreme  Coui 
broadcast  is  being  cancelled  to  repor 
the  arrival  of  the  King  and  Queer 
11  A.M.  to  12:30.  On  Saturday  th 
trooping  of  the  colors  will  be  broac 
cast  at  10:30  A.M.;  Supreme  Cour 
ceremony  from  11:30  to  12:15  P.]Vv 
The  National  Memorial  unveiling  wi 
be  broadcast  Sunday  from  10:45  t 
11 :30  A.M. 


New  Morris  Show  Set 

"Guess  Where?"  quiz  series  spon' 
sored  over  Mutual  by  the  Phillip  Mor 
ris  Co.,  will  be  replaced  with  a  ne^ 
series  starting  May  19.  New  shov 
will  be  a  musical  program,  wit5 
Johnny  Green's  orchestra,  Ray  Bloch'j 
choir  and  Beverly  Bel-Airs,  a  git 
singing  group.  Title  of  the  replace' 
ment  series  will  be  "Breezing  Along. 
Milton  Biow  agency  handles  the  ac 
count. 


American  Record  Movei 

Executive,  sales  and  advertisin 
offices  of  the  American  Record  Corp 
CBS  company,  will  be  moved  nejf 
week  to  new,  enlarged  quarters  at  th 
company's  _  factories  in  Bridgepor 
Conn.  Artists  and  repertoire  depar 
ments  are  to  remain  in  New  York. 


r  i 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


)45.  NO.  97 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  MAY  19,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


ara.  to  Make 
)wn  Trailers; 

Start  in  1940 



tins    Warners,  M-G-M 
In  Producing  Plan 


'aramount   will   produce   its  own 
tiers,  starting  in  January,  1940.  At 
6t  two  types  of  trailers  will  be 
(tie,  one  for  first  run  theatres  and 
•ther  for  subsequent  runs. 
Paramount  is  the  third  company  to 
in  production  and  distribution  of 
own  trailers,  Warners  and  M-G-M 
'ring  done  so  for  several  years, 
n  announcing  the  move  the  com- 
iy  states  that  "the-  combined  pro- 
rtion  resources  of  the  entire  studio 
1  be  available  to  turn  out  the  type 
;  trailer  we  have  in  mind,  and  it  is 
this  reason  that  Paramount  has 
ided  that  the  task  of  making  trail- 
should  be  concentrated  within  its 
n  organization." 

rirst  trailer  to  be  made  and  dis- 
mted  by  the  company  will  be  for 
leature  release  of  Jan.  5,  1940. 


Late  Flashes 


-os  Angeles,  May  18. — Jeff  Kibre, 
,iority  leader  of  Studio  Technicians 
j:al  37,  I.A.T.S.E.,  and  his  wife  to- 
filed  $250,000  suit  against  John 

elee,  Frank  Stickling  and  Harold 
Smith,    International  representa- 

:s;  Lew  C.  Blix,  business  represen- 
tve,   and    Detective    Lieut.  Leroy 

iderson.  False  arrest  on  criminal 
,dicalism  charge  is  basis  of  suit. 

• 

Iontreal,  May  18.  —  Theatres  at 
o'clock  tonight  reported  50  per  cent 
n  after  procession  for  the  British 
alty.  With  midnight  shows,  busi- 
s  was  expected  to  soar  75  per  cent. 


Hollywood,  May  18. — Ted  Bonnet 
I  been  assigned  to  handle  publicity 
'  Cecil  B.  DeMille.  .  .  .  Ingrid  Berg- 
n.  Swedish  player  who  appeared  in 
edish  version  of  "Intermezzo,"  will 
-  in  Selznick  International's  film  of 
le  name. 


Iartford,  Conn.,  May  18.  —  Bill 
ulating  bingo  was  further  revised 
ay  in  the  House  to  exclude  theatres. 


Strike  by  Theatrical  Managers, 
ents  and  Treasurers  Union  at  the 
ee  Bronx  houses  of  the  Moe  Rosen- 
g  circuit  has  been  settled. 


Albany  Vote  Today 
On  Admission  Tax; 
Sales  Levy  Loses 


Albany,  May  18. — The  Desmond- 
Moffit  housing  bill,  authorizing  a  cent 
tax  on  theatre  admissions  of  50  cents 
and  a  graduated  tax  on  higher  admis- 
sions, has  been  placed  on  the  special 
order  of  business  for  the  Senate  to- 
morrow. The  legislature  adjourns 
Saturday. 

The  anti-Bund  measure,  which  pro- 
hibits theatres  from  permitting  as- 
semblage of  persons  wearing  uniforms 
of  foreign  governments,  is  up  for 
final  approval  tomorrow. 

The  Martin  sales  tax  bill  is  admit- 
tedly doomed  at  this  session.  Its  pas- 
sage at  a  special  session  later  is  con- 
sidered inevitable. 

A  delegation  consisting  of  John 
Manheimer,  executive  secretary  of  the 
I.T.O.A.,  Bernard  Brandt  and  others 
was  here  today  to  protest  the  sales 
tax  bill.  The  industry  generally  in 
Xew  York  is  opposed  to  the  meas- 
ure. 


Allied  at  Syracuse 
Protests  Two  Bills 

Syracuse,  May  18. — Members  of 
the  Syracuse  unit.  New  York  Allied, 
today  wired  their  disapprovals  of  the 
sales  tax  bill  and  the  housing  bills 
to  legislators  in  Albany. 

The  clearance  situation  in  Bingham- 
ton  and  Syracuse  was  discussed. 
Three  Binghamton  exhibitors  were 
present. 

Members  planning  to  attend  the 
Xew  York  Allied  convention  are  Rap- 
ley  P.  Merriman,  regional  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Ray  Pashley.  Xorman  Pearl- 
man.  Jack  Karp  and  James  Constanino. 


100  Plan  to  Drop 
Duals  in  Michigan 

Efforts  to  end  double  featuring  in 
more  than  100  theatres  associated  with 
Cooperative  Theatres  of  Michigan, 
Inc.,  are  under  way  as  a  result  of  evi- 
dence that  at  least  60  per  cent  of 
the  patrons  in  the  area  prefer  single 
features,  officers,  here  from  Detroit 
on  a  film  buying  and  sightseeing  trip, 
said  yesterday. 

In  the  party  are  Fred  De  Lodder, 
Jr.,  president  of  the  Cooperative; 
Carl  Buermele,  manager ;  Barney  Kil- 
bride, treasurer ;  William  H.  Kaplan, 
Leo  Wisper  and  Charles  A.  Komer. 

Komer  reported  Cooperative  mem- 
bers are  being  polled  now  on  their  at- 
titude toward  single  features  and  that 
if  complete  accord  is  attained  the  en- 
tire organization  will  abandon  duals. 

He  said  that  business  in  the  Michi- 
gan territory  is  off  about  40  per  cent 
and  that  conditions  are  equally  bad 
throughout  the  central  area. 


U.  S.  ORDERED  TO 

NAME  WITNESSES 


Trust  Developments 

Court  orders  Government 
to  name  anti-trust  suit  wit- 
nesses. 

Department  of  Justice  will 
not  advise  business  on  pos- 
sible illegal  effects  of  trade 
practice  agreements,  Murphy 
says. 

Majors  seek  further  details 
and  new  extension  of  time  to 
answer  complaint. 

Government  files  details  of 
complaint  against  United 
Artists. 

House  Appropriations  Com- 
mittee grants  additional  $5i9,- 
940  to  anti-trust  division  for 
next  fiscal  year. 


Murphy  Explains 
Anti-Trust  Stand 

Washington,  May  18. — Depart- 
ment of  Justice  has  no  authority  to  ad- 
vise business  of  possible  illegal  effects 
of  trade  practices  or  agreements,  but 
it  "will  endeavor  to  make  its  own 
views  as  to  what  the  law  requires  as 
clear  and  as  unequivocal  as  possible," 
Attorney  General  Murphy  declared  to- 
day. 

The  statement  was  seen  as  finally 
disposing  of  any  possibility  that  the 
Government  will  approve  the  proposed 
industry  trade  practice  agreement. 

Murphy  said  his  recent  Xew  York 
conferences  were  designed  to  speed 
the  trial  of  the  film  anti-trust  suit. 
Murphy  explained  the  department 
hopes  to  aid  business  men  who  are 
trying  to  eliminate  harmful  practices, 
but  the  department  has  no  authority 
to  grant  immunity  from  anti-trust 
laws,  or  to  modify  or  suspend  them. 


Trade  Pact  Parleys 
Continue  Next  Week 

Major  company  attorneys  continued 
efforts  to  complete  work  on  the  arbi- 
tration provisions  of  the  industry 
trade  practice  code  at  a  long  meeting 
at  M.P.P.D.A.  headquarters  yester- 
day. Considerable  progress  was  re- 
ported but  it  was  apparent  work  on  a 
final  draft  of  the  trade  plan  will  not 
be  completed  by  tomorrow  as  hoped. 

Attorneys  will  report  back  to  sales 
executives  at  a  meeting  which  William 
F.  Rodgers,  chairman  of  the  distribu- 
tors' negotiating  committee,  will  at- 
tempt to  arrange  for  early  next  week. 


Majors  Ask  for  Further 
Trust  Suit  Details; 
UA  Bill  Filed 


The  Government  yesterday  was  di- 
rected to  name  in  a  bill  of  particulars 
in  its  anti-trust  suit  against  the 
majors,  its  witnesses  who  will  testify 
to  alleged  coercive  selling  methods. 

Permission  was  granted,  however, 
to  withhold  the  names  until  30  days 
before  commencement  of  the  trial  in 
instances  where  such  witnesses  have 
asked  the  Government  to  withhold 
the  names  and  where  the  witnesses  are 
now  doing  business  with  any  of  the 
defendants.  Federal  Judge  William 
Bondy,  who  denied  the  Government's 
request  to  be  excused  from  listing  its 
witnesses,  declared  that  "the  court  in- 
timates no  opinion,  however,  that  any 
fear  of  retaliation  is  well  founded." 

All  major  companies,  except  United 
Artists  and  Columbia,  submitted  a 
joint  25-page  petition  for  further  de- 
tails, and  asked,  in  the  alternative,  that 
all  portions  of  the  complaint,  referring 
to  details  which  were  not  submitted, 
be  stricken  out.  Additionally,  they 
asked  for  a  further  extension  of  time 
to  answer  the  complaint  until  60  days 
after  the  second  bill  is  filed,  and  for  a 
number  of  details  granted  originally  to 
Columbia  and  U.A.  which  other 
majors  failed  to  request. 

The  petition  charged  that  statements 
in  the  bill  of  particulars  submitted 
by  the  Government  were  "equivocal, 

(.Continued  on  page  2) 


Add  Extra  $519,940 
To  Anti-Trust  Fund 

Washington,  May  18. — House  Ap- 
propriations Committee  today  provided 
for  a  $519,940  increase  for  the  anti- 
trust division  of  Department  of  Jus- 
tice for  the  next  fiscal  year.  The 
total,  $1,300,000  for  anti-trust  enforce- 
ment, is  $230,000  under  the  amount 
requested  by  Assistant  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Arnold. 

Arnold,  when  he  appeared  before 
the  committee,  stated  the  additional 
sum  was  needed  to  prosecute  suits 
already  prepared.  He  included  in  this 
list  10  new  suits  against  the  film 
industry,  the  first  of  which  has  been 
started  in  Oklahoma. 

Committee  commented  that  no 
"trust-busting"  campaign  was  planned 
and  that  "much  of  beneficial  result 
can  doubtless  be  obtained  through  the 
relatively  simple  means  of  a  consent 
decree." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

 DAILY  

4  Purely  Personal  ► 


2 

U.  S.  Ordered 
ToTellNames 
Of  Witnesses 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

uninformative  and  inadequate  and  fail 
to  comply  with  the  decision  of  this 
court." 

Judge  Bondy's  order  was  stressed 
and  it  was  pointed  out  that  definite 
time,  place,  names,  and  agreements  in 
each  alleged  act  were  required  to  be 
set  forth.  The  petition  recited  the 
various  items  in  which  the  Govern- 
ment had  answered  in  general  terms  or 
had  denied  present  knowledge  of  the 
facts,  and  assserted  that  such  answers 
were  unsatisfactory. 

The  Government  filed  a  24-page  bill 
of  particulars  for  United  Artists, 
similar  in  most  respects  to  the  details 
previously  furnished  to  other  majors. 
U.A.  was  charged  with  exacting  ex- 
cessive rentals  from  independents, 
renting  to  independents  on  percentage 
basis  only,  encouraging  overbuying, 
extending  options  to  theatre  affiliated 
with  major  companies  and  refusing 
second  runs  to  independents  where 
they  compete  with  affiliated  exhibitors. 
The  Government  alleged  that  a  dis- 
tributor is  under  obligation  to  prevent 
overbuying. 


Momand  Anti-Trust 
Plea  Up  Tomorrow 

Oklahoma  City,  May  18. — Argu- 
ments by  major  companies  and  Grif- 
fith Amusement  Co.  for  dismissal  of 
anti-trust  suits  against  them  by  A.  B. 
Momand,  Shawnee,  Okla.,  exhibitor, 
will  be  heard  by  Judge  A.  P.  Murrah 
in  Federal  Court  here  Saturday. 

'Conquest'  to  Play 
Loew  N.  Y.  Circuit 

Republic's  "Man  of  Conquest" 
opens  June  8  at  Loew's  State,  then 
plays  the  Paradise  and  Valencia,  then 
the  remainder  of  Loew's  metropoli- 
tan circuit.  Bookings  call  for  five- 
day  runs  on  preferred  playing  time. 
This  is  the  first  Republic  film  to  play 
the  entire  Loew  N.  Y.  circuit.  The 
picture  opens  first  run  at  the  United 
Artists,  Detroit,  May  25. 


Korda  Goes  All-Color 

All  five  of  Alexander  Korda's  pro- 
ductions for  release  by  United  Artists 
during  the  new  season  will  be  made 
in  color,  the  company  reported  yes- 
terday. As  a  result,  Korda's  produc- 
tion budget  for  the  group  will  be  the 
largest  he  has  set  for  any  single 
season's  activities,  the  announcement 
stated. 


New  Altec  Territory 

Altec  has  created  a  new  service 
territory  in  the  Philadelphia  district, 
increasing  service  facilities  in  the 
Washington  and  Baltimore  areas. 
W.  M.  Schubert  will  service  the  new 
territory  from  Dover,  Del. 


Rogers  Unveiling  June  6 

Oklahoma  City,  May  18. — Statue 
ni"  Will  Rogers  will  be  unveiled  in  the 
rotunda  of  the  Capitol  in  Washington 
on  June  6,  according  to  the  plans  of 
the  Oklahoma  Will  Rogers  Memorial 
Commission. 


SR.  KENT,  20th  Century-Fox 
•  president,  sails  on  the  Brazil  at 
midnight  tonight  to  attend  the  com- 
pany's conventions  in  Rio  de  Janeiro 
and  Trinidad. 

• 

Edward  C.  Raferty,  United  Artists 
counsel,  returned  to  New  York  yester- 
day, from  the  coast  after  attending 
the  company's  annual  sales  conven- 
tion. Paul  O'Brien,  also  of  counsel, 
returned  earlier. 

• 

Bob  Gillham,  William  Pine, 
Monroe  Greenthal,  Arthur  Kelly, 
George  Weeks,  T.  Hays  Hunter, 
Louis  Schine,  Gus  Lampe,  Maurice 
Cleary  lunching  at  Bob  Goldstein's 
Tavern  yesterday. 

• 

David  Bernstein,  Lynn  Farnol, 
Father  Flanagan  (Boystown),  Ben 
Washer,  Colvin  Brown,  Buddy 
Ebsen,  Joe  Vogel  at  Sardi's  yester- 
day for  lunch. 

• 

William  Rodgers,  Barney  Bala^ 
ban,  George  Skouras,  George  Jessel, 
among  those  at  Nick's  Hunting  Room 
in  the  Astor  yesterday  for  lunch. 
• 

Col.  William  Donovan,  RKO 
trustee's  counsel,  has  left  New  York 
for  the  coast. 

• 

Charles  Schwartz,  United  Artists 
director,  will  return  to  New  York 
from  the  coast  on  Monday. 

• 

E.  C.  Mills,  chairman  of  the  Ascap 
administrative  committee,  returned  to 
New  York  yesterday  from  a  week's 
business  trip  to  Florida. 

• 

James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  presi- 
dent, is  due  Sunday  from  the  coast. 


Kuykendall  to  Speak 
At  Oklahoma  Meeting 

Oklahoma  City,  May  18. — Ed 
Kuykendall,  president  of  the  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.,  will  be  among  the  speakers 
at  the  annual  convention  of  Oklahoma 
Theatre  Owners,  Inc.,  to  be  held  here 
June  26  and  27.  Other  speakers  will 
include  Robert  O'Donnell,  president 
of  the  Interstate  Circuit,  Dallas. 


RKO  to  Film  'Damien' 

Hollywood,  May  18. — RKO  has 
purchased  screen  rights  to  "Father 
Damien,"  biography  by  John  Farrow 
of  the  Belgian  priest  who  worked  with 
the  Molokai  lepers.  Robert  Sisk  will 
produce  with  Farrow  directing. 


Arrival  of  Britain's  King  and  Queen 
in  Canada  is  the  major  event  depicted 
in  the  latest  newsreel  issue.  The  reels 
and  their  contents  follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  72— King  and 
Queen  in  Canada.  Troops  called  in  coal 
district.  Send  logs  down  Idaho  river. 
Test  new  forest  fire  engine.  General 
Motors  exhibit.  Fashions.  Bicycle  race. 
Coeds  play  lacrosse.  War  canoe  race. 
Swimming  race. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  270— British 
royalty  arrives  in  Canada.  Coal  strike. 
Atlantic  fleet  leaves  New  York.  Suite 
leaves  for  France.  Gaelic  football.  Swim- 
ming. 


GEORGE  J.  SCHAEFER,  RKO 
president ;  Gordon  Youngman, 
company  attorney,  and  Ralph  Doyle, 
RKO  manager  for  Australia,  will  ar- 
rive in  New  York  from  the  coast  by 
train  today. 

Joe    Seidelman,    Universal  vice- 
president  and  foreign  manager,  will 
return  to   New   York  this  weekend 
from  a  brief  visit  at  the  studio. 
• 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram 
president,  and  Mrs.  Johnston  cele- 
brated their  25th  wedding  anniversary 
with  a  party  for  25  friends  at  Ben 
Marden's  Riviera  Wednesday  night. 
• 

Edna  Best  arrives  from  England 
on  the  Nieuiv  Amsterdam  today,  en 
route  to  Hollywood  to  appear  opposite 
Leslie  Howard  in  David  O.  Selz- 
nick's  "Intermezzo." 

o 

Glenda  Farrell  is  in  town  to  start 
rehearsals  in  "Anna  Christie"  to  be 
produced  by  the  summer  stock  com- 
pany at  Westport,  Conn. 

• 

Charles  Munro  of  Hoyt's  circuit, 
Australia,  is  expected  in  New  York 
from  the  coast  today. 

• 

C.  C.  Margon,  Columbia  supervisor 
for  Latin  America,  is  on  a  two  or 
three  months'  trip  to  South  America. 
• 

Ben  Kalmenson,  Warners'  west- 
ern and  southern  division  manager, 
left  last  night  for  the  midwest,  to 
return  in  a  week. 

• 

M.  J.  Siegel,  Republic  production 
head,  is  on  a  Caribbean  cruise. 


Debate  Revisions 
Of  Copyright  Law 

In  order  that  some  concrete  pro- 
posals for  revision  of  the  federal  copy- 
right laws  may  be  prepared  before 
Congress  adjourns,  the  Shotwell  com- 
mittee is  holding  daily  meetings  at 
Washington.  Progress  so  far  has 
been  slight.  Film,  music  and  pub- 
lishing industries  are  taking  an  active 
part  in  the  deliberations. 


157  'Juarez'  Dates 

Warners  yesterday  added  50  play- 
dates  for  "Juarez,"  thus  making  157 
Memorial  Day  week  showings  set  al- 
ready. "Juarez"  is  being  released  na- 
tionally the  week  of  June  10. 


PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  83— Stamp 
plan  for  surplus  food.  Snite  goes  to 
France.  New  tank  for  forest  fires.  Na- 
tional Guard  in  coal  district.  Canada  hails 
royalty. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  87— Canadians 
welcome  King  and  Queen.  National  Guard 
patrols  coal  region.  New  illumination  de- 
vice. "Food  Stamps"  experiment.  Logs 
jam  Idaho  river.  Gaelic  football  game  in 
New  York. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  772— Ac- 
claim King  and  Queen  in  Canada.  Coal 
mines  open.  Cricket  plague.  Log  rolling. 
Exhibit  at  Fair.  Crew  practice.  Milking 
contest.  Motorcycle  display  in  England. 
Test  war  planes. 


Friday,  May  19,  193 


S.  A.  G.  Urges 
Joint  Council 
OnTelevisior 


Hollywood,  May  18. — In  a  counts 
move  against  Actors'  Equity's  r^h 
for  jurisdiction  over  television  eWB 
executive  committee  of  the  Screen  Ac 
ors'  Guild  has  proposed  a  temporar 
joint  council  representing  the  S.A.G 
Equity  and  American  Federation  ( 
Radio  Artists. 

"Jurisdiction  should  not  be  veste 
in  any  organization  at  this  time,"  tl 
committee  declared  and  suggested  th; 
the  joint  council  administer  the  fie! 
until  the  new  medium  gains  commei 
cial  standing.  "Interests  of  membei 
of  the  various  unions  are  paramount, 
Kenneth  Thomson,  S.A.G.  executh 
secretary,  pointed  out.  "Nobody  know 
yet  which  way  television  will  turn,  an 
to  what  extent  motion  picture  an 
live  talent  will  be  used." 


U.  A.'s  'Iron  Mask' 
Taken  by  Music  Hal 

Music  Hall  has  booked  "The  Ma 
in  the  Iron  Mask"  from  United  Artis' 
in  addition  to  "Captain  Fury."  Bool 
ings  for  "Music  School"  and  "Fot 
Feathers"  have,  not  been  complete 
yet. 

All  legal  and  financial  obstacles  I 
a  production  start  on  Douglas  Fail 
banks'  picture  for  United  Artists  n 
lease  have  been  cleared  and  the  pictui 
is  being  sold  by  the  company  on  tl 
basis  of  an  early  start. 


Kuhn  Seeking  Writ 
ToStop'NaziSpi 

Fritz  J.  Kuhn  filed  notice  yesterds 
that  he  will  ask  for  a  temporary  ii 
junction  today  to  restrain  Warnei 
from  exhibiting  "Confessions  of  a  Na 
Spy,"  pending  trial  of  the  action.  Fe< 
eral  Judge  Vincent  L.  Leibell  will  he; 
the  plea  at  10:30  A.  M.  Kuhn  ri 
cently  filed  suit  for  $5,000,000  dan 
ages  against  Warners.  Kuhn  charge 
the  film  untruthfully  depicts  the  Bun 
with  engaging  in  espionage  activities 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY.  Editor-in-Chief  at 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN.  Editor;  JAME 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sund; 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Coi 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  presiden 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasure 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  Telephon 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubc 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  19 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Ir, 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yo 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motk 
Ptcture  Herald.  Better  Theatres.  Teati 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictui 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Unh 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. :  Boo: 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weave 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squai 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpuhco.  Londo 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  'S 
under  'he  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  t 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  1( 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Paramount 
to  produce  own 
screen  trailers  .  .  . 

After  long  study  and  serious  deliberation  .  .  .  based  on  the  fundamental  idea  of 
furnishing  to  theatres  the  best  advance  trailers  that  showmanship  brains  can 
devise  and  money  can  buy . . .  Paramount  has  decided  to  make  and  distribute  its 
own  screen  trailers,  starting  in  Januarv.  1940. 

We  have  long  felt  that  no  routine  scheme  of  trailer  production  can 
satisfy  the  demands  of  theatres  day  in  and  day  out.  We  have  long  felt  that  dif- 
ferent types  of  pictures  demand  different  trailer  treatment.  We  feel  that  trailers 
should  possess  novelty  and  intense  human  interest  .  .  .  that  they  should  reflect 
the  SELLING  angles  inherent  in  the  picture  they  are  advertising.  We  feel  that 
such  trailers  are  the  only  kind  that  should  be  made  .  .  .  and  that  they  should  be 
forceful,  intriguing  and  dramatic  .  .  .  short! 

The  combined  production  resources  of  the  entire  studio  will  be  available 
to  turn  out  the  type  of  trailer  we  have  in  mind  . . .  and  it  is  for  this  reason  that 
Paramount  has  decided  that  the  task  of  making  trailers  should  be  concentrated 
within  its  own  organization. 

At  least  two  types  of  trailers  will  be  available:  DeLuxe  trailer  for  the 
first-run  theatre,  and  a  second  type  of  trailer  specifically  designed  for  the  subse- 
quent run  and  smaller  theatres. 

The  first  NEW  Paramount- made  trailer  distributed  by  Paramount  — 
keyed  to  the  NEW  SELLING  IDEAS — will  be  ready  with  the  Paramount  feature 
to  be  released  January  5th,  1940. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Friday.  May  19,  193 , 


Simon  Hears  Film 
Tax  Protests  But 
Promises  Nothing 


London,  May  18.— Sir  John  Simon, 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  gave  no 
indication  of  any  intention  to  make 
concessions  in  the  new  film  taxes,  fol- 
lowing a  meeting  today  with  a  deputa- 
tion representing  17  industry  branches, 
and  headed  by  D.  E.  Griffith,  president 
of  the  K.R.S. 

Informed  opinion  is  inclined  to  be- 
lieve that  whatever  concessions  are 
made,  none  will  be  to  foreign  distribu- 
tors. Simon  stated,  however,  that 
the  Government  is  tabling  certain 
amendments.  . 

Next  reading  of  the  Finance  bill  in 
Commons  will  be  May  25.  Simon 
promised  to  study  the  film  case  and 
expressed  appreciation  of  the  docu- 
mentary presentation  of  the  situation. 
He  asked  if  millions  of  pounds  did  not 
leave  the  country  annually  for  the 
United  States,  and  Griffiths  replied 
that  the  United  States  annually  sends 
millions  of  pounds  in  working  capi- 
tal to  England. 


Small  Theatres  Deserve 
More  Ad  Aid,  Ampa  Told 


British  Operators 
Fight  Conscription 

London,  May  18.— The  new  British 
Conscription  bill  will  deplete  the 
ranks  of  theatre  projectionists  by  be- 
tween 8,000  and  10,000,  according  to 
T.  O'Brien,  secretary  of  the  National 
Association  of  Theatrical  and  Kine 
Employes. 

The  C.E.A.  and  the  union  will  ask 
the  Home  Secretary  to  receive  a 
deputation  on  the  matter.  There  are 
approximately  15,000  projectionists 
employed  in  British  theatres.  It  is 
claimed  that  chaos  will  result,  not 
only  from  the  long  training  periods 
but  also  from  the  weekly  drills. 


Distributing  companies'  advertising 
and  exploitation  experts  yesterday  at 
a  special  Ampa  luncheon  meeting  at 
the  Astor  heard  what  the  exhibitor 
in  the  field  thinks  could  be  done  to 
improve  advertising  aids. 

The  information  came  from  the  two 
Quigley  Grand  Award  winners  for 
1938 — John  Burhorn,  manager  of  the 
Gayety,  operated  by  Indiana-Illinois 
Theatres  in  Chicago,  and  George 
Limerick,  city  manager  in  Enid,  Okla., 
for  the  Griffith  circuit.  Both  are  com- 
pleting a  week  in  New  York  as  guests 
of  Quigley  Publications.  They  were 
honor  guests  at  the  Ampa  luncheon. 

More  Press  Book  Aid 

The  point  stressed  in  the  exhibitors' 
discussion,  which  developed  into  an 
open  forum,  was  that  since  the  small 
town  and  subsequent  run  theatres  are 
so  important  in  film  company  revenue, 
advertising  departments  should  not 
overlook  them  when  preparing  press 
books  and  other  aids. 

Both  Burhorn  and  Limerick  de- 
Glared  that  on  the  whole  good  service 
is  given,  but  sometimes  press  book 
copy  is  not  slanted  for  local  consump- 
tion. 

Burhorn  stressed  the  importance  of 
keeping  a  sufficient  supply  of  press 
books  and  ad  mats  at  exchanges  for 
exhibitors  who  play  pictures  late.  It 
was  brought  out  that  more  attention 
should  be  given  to  the  exhibitor  who 
writes  companies'  home  offices  for  in- 


formation or  assistance  on  exploitation. 

Lee  Blumberg,  Warner  exploitation 
and  press  book  manager,  and  Manny 
Reiner,  Monogram  press  book  man- 
ager, participated  in  the  discussion. 
Martin  Starr,  WMCA  commentator, 
elicited  the  information  from  Limerick 
that  his  local  radio  station  cooperates 
on  exploitation  more  than  the  news- 
paper. 

Finai  Meeting  June  1 

Burhorn  said  his  only  working  tools 
are  press  books  and  Motion  Picture 
Herald's  Managers  Round  Table  De- 
partment. A-Mike  Vogel,  chairman 
and  editor  of  the  department,  intro- 
duced the  speakers. 

Paul  Lazarus,  Jr.,  president,  an- 
nounced that  Ampa's  final  meeting  of 
the  season  will  be  held  June  1. 

Among  those  present  were  :  George 
Dembow,  Paul  Benjamin  and  Capt. 
Paul  Kimberley  of  National  Screen 
Service ;  Lester  Thompson  and  Joel 
Swensen  of  the  Hays  office ;  Sid 
Blumenstock  and  Ferdinand  Ziegler, 
20th  Century-Fox ;  Thomas  W.  Ger- 
ety  and  James  Englander,  M-G-M ; 
H.  M.  Richey,  Leon  Bamberger,  Rut 
gers  Neilson,  James  Boyle,  Ethyl  Ha 
worth,  RKO  ;  Bert  Sanford  and  Har- 
old Wengler,  Altec ;  J.  Goldsmith, 
Warners ;  Lee  D.  Balsly,  Lee  Kauf 
man,  Eli  Sugarman,  Charles  Alicoate, 
Joe  Bernat,  Maury  Asher,  Jack  Har- 
rower,  Al  Steen,  James  A.  Cron,  T.  J. 
Sullivan,  Gertrude  Merriam  and  a 
group  from  Quigley  Publications. 


British  Films  Pass 
Quotas  of  New  Act 
During  First  Yea 


London,  May  18. — Board  of  Trac  i 
figures  today  revealed  870,904  feet  < 
British  features  were  registered  du 
ing  the  first  12  months,  ending  Map 
31,  1939,  of  the  new  Films  Ac^i 

The  figure  represents  a  quotWfe 
centage  of  21.3.  The  minimum  pe 
centage  is  15.  Foreign  footage  | 
taled  3,214,347. 

British  shorts  under  the  distrib 
tors  quota  during  the  same  12  montl 
period  totaled  335,437  feet,  or  equiv; 
lent  in  percentage  to  27.3.  The  statv 
tory  minimum  is  15.  Foreign  foo 
age  had  a  minimum  of  891,840. 

Excess  of  footage  over  the  stat  1 
tory  quota  percentage  was  consider' 
a  significant  comment  on  the  oper 
tion  of  the  new  Films  Act  during  i 
first  year. 

Figures  on  the  last  year  durii 
which  the  1927  act  operated  reve 
that  exhibitors'  quota  of  footage  f 
the  year  ending  Sept.  30,  19c 
screened  in  British  theatres,  was  eqi 
valent  to  26.4  per  cent. 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


'Spy'  Gets  $28,000 
Final  Strand  Week 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  grossed 
an  estimated  $28,000  at  the  Strand  in 
a  third  week.  "The  Kid  from  Ko- 
komo"  opens  there  today.  At  the 
Roxy,  "Rose  of  Washington  Square" 
drew  an  estimated  $39,000  in  its  sec- 
ond week  and  continues  a  third.  In 
its  fifth  week  at  the  Rivoli,  "Wuther- 
ing  Heights"  grossed  an  estimated 
$17,000. 

Halt  Game  Insurance 

Madison,  May  18. — Action  against 
Sol  Epstein,  charged  with  operating 
a  lottery  by  offering  Bank  Night  in- 
surance to  persons  participating  in  the 
Capitol's  Bank  Night,  has  been  dis- 
missed upon  motion  of  Walter  Bjork, 
Assistant  District  Attorney.  The  plan 
has  been  halted. 


Ozzie  at  Allied  Fete 

Ozzie  Nelson  and  Harriet  Hilliard 
will  provide  music  and  entertainment 
for  the  New  York  Allied  convention 
banquet  at  the  Astor  next  Thursday 
night. 


KMT  A  Changes  Dates 

Kansas  City,  May  18. — Kansas 
Missouri  Theatres  Association  has 
changed  its  convention  dates  from 
May_  22-23  to  May  24-25  at  the  Hotel 
President  here. 


Hollywood,  May  18. — Paramount 
has  signed  Janine  Darcey,  Parisian 
star,  to  play  with  Ellen  Drew  and 
Ray  Milland  in  "French  Without 
Tears."  .  .  .  James  Dunn's  first  pic- 
ture for  Sam  Katzman  of  Victory 
Pictures  will  be  "Kid  Racketeers,"  an 
aviation  story.  .  .  .  Lead  in  Para- 
mount's  "Dr.  Cyclops,"  opposite  Al- 
bert Dekker,  will  be  Janice  Logan, 
contractee  at  the  studio.  .  .  .  War- 
ners will  have  Wayne  Morris,  Den- 
nis Morgan,  Pat  O'Brien,  Gale 
Page,  Rosemary  Lane  and  Henry 
O'Neill  in  "The  Army  and  the 
Navy,"  football  story  of  two  brothers, 
one  playing  for  West  Point  and  the 
other  for  Annapolis.  .  .  .  Joel  Mc- 
Crea  has  been  borrowed  from  Sam- 
uel Goldman  for  "Career  Man,"  in 
which  Warners  will  also  place  Ann 
Sheridan.  .  .  .  Miss  Sheridan,  un- 
der a  reciprocal  deal,  will  be  loaned 
to  Goldwyn  for  his  "Black  Gold." 
+ 

Remake  of  "The  Patent  Leather 
Kid"  which  starred  Richard  Bar- 
thelmess  may  be  a  John  Garfield 
vehicle  at  Warners.  .  .  .  The  studio 
is  planning  a  series  of  features  based 
upon  "The  Hobby  Family,"  first  of 
which  has  been  made.  Irene  Rich, 
who  played  in  the  first,  will  be  the 
lead  in  the  second.  .  .  .  Paul  Mal- 
vern has  lined  up  for  support  of  John 
Trent,  in  "Stunt  Pilot,"  second  of 
the  "Tailspin  Tommy"  pictures  for 
Monogram,  Marjorie  Reynolds, 
Milburn  Stone  and  Jason  Robards. 
.  .  .  Ida  Lupino  will  play  opposite 


Ronald  Colman.  in  Paramount's 
"The  Light  That  Failed."  .  .  .  Mau- 
rice Moscovith  has  been  signed  by 
Jack  Coyle  of  Cathedral  Films  for  a 
featured  role  in  "The  Great  Com- 
mandment," supporting  John  Beal. 
Irving  Pichel  will  direct. 

+ 

Casting — Cecil  Kellaway  to  "In- 
termezzo," Selznick  International.  .  .  . 
Dorothy  Sebastian  to  "The  Wo- 
men," M-G-M.  .  .  .  Guy  Kibbee  to 
"Babes  in  Arms,"  M-G-M.  .  .  .  Wil- 
liam Frawley  to  Paramount's  "Night 
Work,"  second  of  the  "Fitch  Family" 
stories  featuring  Charles  Ruggles 
and  Mary  Boland.  .  .  .  Charles 
Winninger  and  Henry  Hull  to 
"Babes  in  Arms,"  M-G-M.  .  .  . 
Helen  Broderick  to  "Are  Husbands 
Necessary?",  Paramount.  .  .  .  Paul 
Guilfoyle  Clarence  Kolb  and  Monte 
Blue  to  "Our  Leading  Citizen,"  Par- 
amount. .  .  .  Keye  Luke  to  "Disputed 
Passage,"  Paramount.  .  .  .  Margaret 
Lindsay  gets  the  top  feminine  role 
in  "Return  of  Dr.  X,"  Warners.  .  .  . 
John  Litel  to  "Dust  Be  My  Destiny," 
Warners.  .  .  .  Montague  Love  and 
David  Torrence  to  'Ruler  of  the 
Seas,"  Paramount. 

+ 

Contracts — Republic  has  signed 
Raymond  Hatton  to  a  term  contract 
as  one  of  the  Three  Mesquiteers,  the 
other  two  being  John  Wayne  and 
Ray  Corrigan.  .  .  .  Robert  Paige, 
under  contract  to  Paramount,  draws 
the  lead  in  "Every  Day  Is  Sunday," 
which  Sidney  Kingsley  is  adapting. 


Columbia  Regional 
On  Coast  Tomorro 

Los  Angeles,  May  18. — Columbi; 
third  and  final  regional  sales  meet! 
will  open  at  the  Ambassador  he 
Saturday  and  continue  through  Mo 
day.  Abe  Montague,  general  sal 
manager ;  Rube  Jackter,  assistant,  a 
Jerome  Safron,  western  division  ma 
ager,  will  preside. 

The  following  delegates  will  atten 
Denver — Denver  Salt  Lake  Super 
sor,   R.   C.   Hill;    Salesmen,  B. 
Snooker,  S.  Dare ;  Salt  Lake  City 
Branch  Mgr.,  W.  G.  Seib ;  Salesmc 
K  Lloyd,  H.  Green,  L.  E.  Kennec 
W.   (Sterzer  ;    Los   Angeles — Bran 
Mgr.,  W.    C.    Ball, ;  Salesmen, 
Wineberg,  S.  Fisher,  H.  M.  Lentz, 
L.   Meyer ;   Portland — Branch  Mg 
J.  R.  Beale;  Salesmen,  C.  E.  Tillm; 
W.  T.  Withers,  L.  Metzelaar;  Si 
Francisco — Branch  Mgr.,  L.  E.  Ti 
man;  Salesmen,  C.  Scott,  P.  We. 
stein,  E.  Roberts,  M.  Klein ;  Seattle 
Branch  Mgr.,  L.  N.  Walton;  Sal 
men,  R.  A.  Ackles,  W.  G.  Beckwi 
W.  Kostenbader.    Home  Office — 
E.  Pratt. 


NLRB  Complaint 
In  Warner  Strii 

Bookkeepers,  Stenographers 
Accountants  Union  filed  yesterday, 
complaint  with  the  N.L.R.B.  agai 
three  Warner  subsidiaries — First  r 
tional,  Vitagraph  and  Globe  Expor 
in  connection  with  the  strike  at 
Warner  warehouse.  Complaint  char, 
unfair  labor  practices  in  discharg 
two  employes  for  union  activity. 


A  F  M  Meet  Indecisiv 

Continuation  of  discussions  of 
American  Federation  of  Musicians 
employment  in  theatres  occupied 
meeting  of  film  company  represei 
tives  and  the  executive  committee 
the   Federation  yesterday.  Meeti 
held  at  the  residence  of  Joseph 
Weber,  president  of  the  Federation, 
suited  in  no  decisive  action  of 
kind. 


©NYWF 


A  SINGLE  MIND 

WITH  BUT 
TWO  THOUGHTS 


a  i 


CO 


99  TT* 


WARNERS 

Women  in 
the  Wind 
(G)  (D) 

Kay  Francis 
William  Gargan 
Victor  Jory 

Dark  Victory 
(G)  (D) 

Bette  Davis 
George  Brent 
Bogart 

You  Can't  Get 
Away  With 
Murder 
(G)  (D) 

Bogart 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Robinson 
Lederer 

Torchy  Runs 
For  Mayor 
(G)  (D) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 

Winner 
Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Tozme 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Davis 
Paul  Muni 
Brian  Aherne 

Nancy  Drew 
Trouble  Shooter 

Bomta  Granville 
Frank  Thomas,  Jr. 

UNIVERSAL 

Code  of  the 
Streets 
(G)  (D) 

Harry  Carey 
Frankie  Thomas 

Big  Town 
Czar 
(G)  (D) 

MacLane 
Ed  Sullivan 

For  Love  or 
Money  (G)  (D) 

June  Lang 
Robert  Kent 

Ex  Champ 

McLaglen 
Tom  Broivn 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

Inside 
Information 

June  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Rathbone 
Fairbanks,  Jr. 

< 

D 

Wuthering 
Heights 
(A)  (D) 

Oberon 
Olivier 
Flora  Robson 

Zenobia 
(G)  (C) 

Hardy 
Langdon 
Burke 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

X 
O 
fe 

X 

H 
o 

CM 

Story  of 
Alexander 
Graham  Bell 
(G)  (D) 

Ameche 
Loretta  Young 

Winner  Take 
All  (G)  CD) 

Tony  Martin 
Gloria  Stuart 
Inspector 
Hornleigh 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 
(G)  (D) 
Baxter 
Climbing  High 
Matthews 

Chasing  Danger 
(G)  (D) 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

Rose  ot 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  W he lan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 
Marjorie  Weaver 

a    fc  i\ 

*  o  o  5  5 
.2  ft  £>  o  o 
.5  ^2  « 1 

RKO  RADIO 

They  Made 
Her  a  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Sally  Eilers 
Allan  Lane 

Fixer  Dugan 
(G)  (D) 

Lee  Tracy 
Peggy  Shannon 

The  Story  of 
Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle 
(G)  (D) 
Rogers-Astaire 
The  Rookie  Cop 

Sorority  House 
(G)  (D) 

Anne  Shirley 
James  Ellison 

Panama  Lady 
(G)  (D) 

Lucille  Ball 
Allan  Lane 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range 
(O) 

O'Brien 

The  Girl 
From  Mexico 

Lupe  Velez 
Donald  Woods 

Saint  in 
London 

George  Sanders 
Sally  Gray 

The  Girl  and 
the  Gambler 

Steffi  Duna 
Carrillo 

REPUBLIC 

The  Night 
Riders 
(O) 

John  Wayne 

Frontier  Pony 
Express 
(G)  (O) 

Roy  Rogers 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 
(G)  (D) 

Blue  Montana 
Skies  (G)  (O) 

Man  of 
Conquest 
(G)  (D) 

Richard  Dix 
Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Southward  Ho 

Roy  Rogers 

The  Zero  Hour 

Inescort 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

S.O.S. 
Tidal  Wave 

Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

< 
K 
< 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Secret  Police 
Never  Say 
Die 

Back  Door 
to  Heaven 
(G)  (D) 

Erwin 
Wallace  Ford 
McMahon 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 
(G)  (D) 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 
(G)  (D) 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Hotel  Imperial 

Isa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
(G)(D) 

Some  Like  It 
Hot  (G)  (C) 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

Gracie  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
Janice  Logan 

Invitation  to 
Happiness 

Dunne 
MacMurray 

MONOGRAM 

Streets  of 
New  York 
(G)  (D) 

Jackie  Cooper 

Wanted  by 
Scotland  Yard 
Stevenson 
Man  from 
Texas 

Boys' 
Reformatory 

Frankie  Darro 

Wolf  Call 

Movita 
Down  the 
Wyoming  Trail 

Tex  Ritter 

Across  the 
Plains 

Jack  Randall 

Girl  From 
Nowhere 

Anne  Nag  el 
Warren  Hull 

M-G-M 

The  Kid 
from  Texas 

(G)  (C) 
Denis  O'Keeje 
Rice 

The  Hardys 
Ride  High 
(G)  (C) 

Rooney 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 
(G)  (D) 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

(G)  (C) 
Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Lay 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  (G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 

Annabella 
W.  Connolly 

6000  Enemies 

Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 

Tarzan  Finds 
a  Son 

W  eissmuller 
O'Sullivan 

COLUMBIA 

First  Offenders 

Walter  Abel 
Beverly  Roberts 

The  Law  Comes 
to  Texas 

Bill  Elliott 

Oklahoma 
Trail 

Starrett 
Meredith 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 
(G)  (D) 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 



Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Jean  Arthur 
Cary  Grant 
(G)  (D) 

Missing 
Daughters 

Arlen 
Marian  Marsh 

Trapped  in  the 
Sky  (G)  (D) 

DeMille 
Jack  Holt 
Ralph  Morgan 

Arizona  Cowboy 
(O) 

Starrett 
Meredith 

"Q"  Planes 

Olivier 
Valerie  Flobson 
The  Awful 

April 
14 

April 
21 

April 
28 

?\ 

«  CM. 

Q  OS 

•-5 

c  I 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


flay.  May  19,  1939 


ucky  Night' 
risco's  Best 
With  $13,700 

Ban  Francisco.  May  18. — "Lucky 
fP^i,"  paired  with  "Adventures  of 
to-  Arden"  drew  the  best  gross  of 
|  week  with  $13,700  at  the  W'arfield. 
[an  of  Conquest"  and  "W  omen  in 
.  Wind"  drew  $12,500  at  the  Para- 
lunt.  "Stagecoach"  drew  $9,200  at 

L'nited  Artists. 
Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
-  May  9-12: 

•de  of  the  Streets"  (Univ.) 

IC'LDEX  GATE — (2,850)  (35c-40c-55c)  7 
Is.  Stage:  vaudeville.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Av- 
er, $15,000) 

i5t  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
jmance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

KPHEUM— (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
s    2nd  week.    Gross:  $8,200.  (Average. 

too) 

an  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
cmen  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

ARAMOUNT— (2.740)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
i  7  days.  Gross:  $12,500.   (Average.  $11,- 

ncky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
dventures  cf  Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 
iv.VR  FIELD — (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c) 
-Hys.   Gross:  $13,700.    (Average,  $12,000) 
a.on  Pacific"  (Para.) 
■fOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  days 
week.  Gross:  $13,500.   (Average,  $16,000) 
ark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

id  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 
fl".  FRANCIS — (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
»  7  davs.  3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,200.  (Aver- 
I,  $6,000) 

agecoach"  (U.  A.) 

'MTED  ARTISTS—  (1,200)  (15c-35c-40c- 
-65c)  7  davs.  Gross:  $9,200.  (Average, 
M>  >) 

on  Quixote"  (Du-WoHd) 

i.LAY— (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
ft   (Average.  $1,000) 
amele"  (Sphinx) 

..\RKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
pss:  $800.   (Average.  $1,000) 


'Happiness'  Shows 

*7ive  special  screenings  of  Para- 
lunt's  "Invitation  to  Happiness" 
te  been  arranged  before  important 
janizations  in  Pittsburgh.  Salt  Lake 
y.  Detroit,  Chicago  and  Toronto, 
:<rting  today  in  Pittsburgh. 


Sustain  Canopy  Veto 

AIadisox,  May  18. — Mayor  James 
Law's  veto  of  the  ordinance  which 

•uld  have  removed  all  restrictions 
erection  of  signs  over  canopies  has 

pi  sustained  by  the  Common  Coun- 


To  Release  "Gulliver" 

Arthur  Mayer  and  Joseph  Burstyn 
II  release  in  the  fall  the  American 
rsion  of  "Gulliver's  Travels,"  fea- 
e  wliich  employs  one  boy  and  sev- 
il  thousand  puppets. 


Butlers'  Holiday 

When  Arthur  Treacher,  who 
plays  the  part  of  a  butler 
in  films,  arrived  Wednesday 
from  the  coast  to  begin  a 
week's  engagement  at  Loew's 
State,  he  was  met  by  a  dele- 
gation from  the  Staff  Club, 
made  up  of  butlers  for 
Anne  Morgan,  the  Vander- 
bilts,  Astors  and  other  first 
families. 

The  butlers  turned  out  with 
striped  pants,  Oxford  coats 
and  British  accents,  and 
before  news  photographers 
could  withdraw  made 
Treacher  honorary  president 
of  their  club.  And  all  with 
the  greatest  of  seriousness. 


'Union  Pacific'  in 
Detroit  Garners 
Strong  $17,000 


Detroit,  May  18. — The  Michigan 
led  with  "Union  Pacific"  and  "Women 
in  the  Wind"  at  $17,000.  "Lucky 
Night"  drew  $8,000  at  the  United  Art- 
ists. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ng  May  12: 

"The  Castles"  (RKO) 
"Flying   Irishman"  (RKO) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

FOX— (5.000)  (20c-65c)  7  days.  Stage, 
Variety  acts.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average, 
$20,000) 

"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

MICHIGAN— (4,000)     (20c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Black-well  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

PALMS-STATE— (3,000)  (15c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2,000)  (20c-65oJ  7 
days.   Gross:  $8,000.   (Average,  $5,000) 

'Pacific'  Scores  in 
Providence,  $9,000 

Providence,  May  18. — "Union  Pa- 
cific," single-featured  at  the  Strand, 
set  the  pace,  garnering  $9,000.  "Dark 
Victory"  and  "Torchy  Runs  for 
Mayor"  brought  the  Majestic  $7,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  10-12: 

"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)     (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)    (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,230)   (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.   Gross:  S9.000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Zenobia"  (U.  A.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

RKO- ALBEE— (2,239)  (25c-35c-50c)  6  days. 
Gross:  $3,000.  (Average  for  7  days,  $6,000) 
"Code  of  the  Streets"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)      (25c-35c-40c)      7  days. 
Vaudeville.   Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Fighting  Thoroughbreds"  (Repub.) 

CARLTON — (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $2,200.    (Average,  $3,500) 


Air  Shipments  Gain 

Gross  revenue  from  air  express  for 
the  first  quarter  of  1939  increased 
20.4  per  cent  over  the  same  period  in 
1938,  according  to  the  Air  Express 
Division  of  Railway  Express  Agency. 
Shipments  increased  17.9  per  cent  to 
a  total  of  185,084. 


'Society  Lawyer,' 
Eleanor  Powell  at 
$21,800  in  Capital 


Washington,  May  18.  —  "Society 
Lawyer,"  with  Eleanor  Powell  on  the 
stage,  pulled  an  excellent  $21,800  at 
Loew's  Capitol.  "The  Story  of  Ver- 
non and  Irene  Castle."  at  RKO- 
Keith's  turned  in  a  strong  $11,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  11  : 

"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS    CAPITOL— (3,434)    (25c-65c)  7 
davs.    Stage:  Eleanor  Powell.    Gross:  $21.- 
800.    (Average,  $16,500) 
"Mutiny  cn  the  Bounty"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA— (1.243)  (25c-4Cc)  7 
days.  Revival.  Gross:  $4,600.  (Average, 
$4,500) 

"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S    PALACE— (2,370)     (25c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:   $10,600.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

RKO- KEITH'S — (1,836)   (25c-55c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'     EARLE — (2.218)  (25c-66c) 
2nd  week,  7  davs.    Stage:   Marion  Talley. 
Gross:  $14,000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Blcndie"  (Col.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  —  (1.591) 
(25c-40c)  5  days.  Gross:  $3,100.  (Average, 
$4,000,  7  days) 

'BelV  Hits  $19,900, 
Smash  Buffalo  Lead 

Buffalo,  May  18. — "The  Story  of 
Alexander  Graham  Bell,"  with  Tony 
Martin  and  Xavier  Cugat  on  the 
stage,  earned  $19,900  at  the  Buffalo. 
"Union  Pacific"  took  a  strong  $11,000 
at  the  Great.  Lakes. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  13 : 

"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(20th-Fox) 

BUFFALO — (3,000)  (30c-55c)  7  days.  (On 
stage:  Tony  Martin  and  Xavier  Cugat's 
orchestra).  Gross :  $19,900.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

GREAT  LAKES — (3,000)  (30c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $7,500) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 

HIPPPODROME— (2,500)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,C00.    (Average,  $6,800) 
"You  Can't  Get  Away  with  Murder" 
(W.  B.) 

"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,300.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Mono.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,300)  (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,500.    (Average,  $6,300) 


Colbert  in  'Drums' 

Hollywood,  May  18.  —  Twentieth 
Century-Fox  has  signed  Claudette 
Colbert  to  play  opposite  Henry  Fonda 
in  "Drums  Along  the  Mohawk,"  to  be 
produced  by  Raymond  Griffith  with 
$2,000,000  budget.  John  Ford  will  di- 
rect picturization  of  Walter  E.  Ed- 
mond's  best  selling  novel. 


New  DeVry  Exhibit 

DeVry  Corp.  will  again  demon- 
strate its  16mm.  projection  equipment 
next  week.  DeVry  has  been  invited 
to  show  its  equipment  to  Government 
departments  at  the  U.  S.  Department 
of  Agriculture  Auditorium,  Washing- 
ton Monday  and  Tuesday. 


Welles  Praises  'Juarez' 

Harry  M.  Warner,  president  of 
Warners,  has  received  a  letter  from 
Sumner  Welles,  Undersecretary  of 
State,  praising  the  company's  "Juarez" 
for  promoting  Pan-American  relations. 


Seattle  Gives 
'Pacific'  Big 
$7,800  Gross 

Seattle,  May  18. — "Union  Pacific" 
at  the  Paramount  led  with  $7,800.  The 
dual  of  "The  Hardys  Ride  High"  and 
"The  Kid  from  Texas"  took  $4,300 
at  the  Blue  Mouse.  The  weather  was 
warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  12 : 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Kid  from  Texas"  (Para.) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $4,300.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"The  Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

FIFTH  AVENUE— (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)   (30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $3,900.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM — (2,450)     (30c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $3,200.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Disbarred"  (Para.) 

PALOMAR— (1,500)     (15c-25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.    Buzzington's   Rube   Band  on  stage. 
Gross:  $5,300.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)    (30c -40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Orage"  (Tri-Natl.) 

UPTOWN— (750)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,400.    (Average,  $1,500) 


'Victory'  Scores 
$11,600,  Montreal 

Montreal,  May  18. — "Dark  Vic- 
tory" scored  at  the  Palace  with  $11,- 
600.  Second  week  of  "Dodge  City" 
accounted  for  6,300  at  the  Capitol. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  13  : 

"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

CAPITOL  —  (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,300.  (Average, 
J8.000) 

"The  Storv  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (30c-40c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,700.  (Average,  $5,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,600.    (Average.  $10,000) 
"The  Hound  of  the  Baskervilies"  (20th-Fox) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

PRINCESS  —  (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $6,200.    (Average,  $6,500) 


Charles  Boyer  to  Paris 

Hollywood,  May  18.  —  Charles 
Boyer  will  leave  for  Paris  to  be  fea- 
tured in  "Le  Corsaire,"  which  Andre 
Daven  will  produce,  when  he  finishes 
work  in  Universale  "Modern  Cin- 
derella." He  will  return  here  to  ap- 
pear with  Deanna  Durbin  in  "First 
Love." 


Associate  Producers 
Get  Warner  Credit 

Hollywood,  May  18. — Hence- 
forth, associate  producers  on 
"A"  pictures  at  Warners  will 
get  screen  credit.  The  de- 
cision was  reached  following 
the  preview  of  "Juarez,"  and 
Henry  Blanke.  producer,  will 
be  the  first  Warner  producer 
to  receive  mention  on  the 
screen. 


A  Good  Home 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May  18.— A 
comfortable  resting  place  for 
the  remainder  of  its  life  has 
been  found  for  the  pipe  organ 
in  the  Victoria,  which  is  being 
razed.  The  instrument  has 
been  practically  unused  since 
the  advent  of  sound.  The 
problem  of  what  to  do  with 
:  the  organ  was  solved  when  it 
was  learned  that  St.  Paul's 
Episcopal  Church  was  in  need 
of  an  organ  to  replace  its  60- 
year-old  instrument. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


8 


Fire  Rules  on 
Films  Changed 
For  Industry 


Important  changes  have  been  made 
in  the  regulations  governing  film 
buildings  and  in  the  handling,  storage 
and  exhibition  of  regular  motion  pic- 
ture film  by  the  National  Fire  Pro- 
tection Association. 

The  new  regulations  chiefly  will  af- 
fect new  theatre  construction,  which 
must  include  larger  projection  rooms, 
and  remodeling  jobs.  Booths  must  be 
eight  feet  wide  by  10  feet  deep  by 
eight  feet  high,  for  one  projectionist, 
and  14  feet  wide  by  10  feet  deep  by 
eight  feet  high  for  two  projectionists. 
Existing  theatres  not  remodeling  are 
not  required  to  alter  their  booths. 

In  one  way  or  another  the  changes 
apply  to  the  256  film  exchanges  of  the 
eight  major  companies  and  the  157 
independent  exchanges,  as  well  as  to 
the  numerous  laboratories  and  stor- 
age vaults  in  New  York  and  Holly- 
wood. The  new  revisions  are  the  first 
since  1936,  when  amendments  were 
made  to  the  original  regulations  of 
1931. 

Dickinson  Makes 
Personnel  Changes 

Kansas  City,  May  18. — Several 
personnel  changes  have  been  made  by 
Griffith-Dickinson  Theatres.  W.  G. 
McKinney,  manager  of  the  Dickinson, 
Lawrence,  Kan.,  now  is  supervisor  for 
both  the  Dickinson  and  Varsity  there. 
Irwin  Tucker,  formerly  with  Griffith 
Amusement,  now  is  managing  the 
Dickinson,  Fayette,  Mo.,  replacing 
Ken  Baird,  who  goes  to  the  Dickinson, 
Herington,  Kan.  Ray  Helson,  Her- 
ington  manager  has  resigned.  Charles 
Hoge,  who  has  been  in  the  circuit 
office  here,  now  is  managing  the  Dick- 
inson, Olathe,  Kan.,  replacing  Bob 
Parker. 


Plan  Mexican  Studio 

Mexico  City,  May  18. — Plans  for 
establishing  a  film  studio  are  being 
made  by  the  government  of  Jalisco 
State,  an  important  western  region. 
Gov.  Silvano  Barba  Gonzalez  is  one 
of  the  backers  of  the  proposition, 
which  calls  for  an  investment  of  $600,- 
000.  The  studios  are  to  be  in  Guada- 
lajara, the  Jalisco  capital. 


Attacks  N.C.  Bank  Night 

PvUTHERFORDTON,  N.   C,   May  18. — 

Judge  J.  A.  Rousseau  of  Wilkesboro, 
N.  C,  in  convening  a  criminal  term 
of  Superior  Court  here,  stated  in  his 
charge  to  the  grand  jury  that  Bank 
Night  at  theatres  violates  the  state 
lottery  laws.   He  ordered  enforcement. 


Wolff  in  Bernie's  Place 

Nat  Wolff,  with  the  radio  depart- 
ment of  the  Myron  Selznick  Holly- 
wood office,  has  arrived  to  take  charge 
of  the  New  York  office  as  temporary 
successor  to  Herman  Bernie,  resigned. 


Move  Republic  Branch 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  May  18. — Local 
Republic  exchange  will  move  June  1 
into  new  quarters  at  227  W.  Fourth 
St.,  formerly  occupied  by  RKO. 


Derby  Leads  Duke 

According  to  official  ratings 
20th  Century-Fox  had  a  big- 
ger radio  audience  in  spon- 
soring the  description  of  the 
running  of  the  Kentucky 
Derby  than  the  Duke  of 
Windsor  had  when  he  deliv- 
ered his  "peace  plea."  The 
reports  show  that  13.4  per 
cent  of  radio  set  owners,  in- 
terviewed heard  the  plugs  for 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square" 
in  the  Derby  broadcast,  while 
10.1  per  cent  listened  to  the 
Duke. 


Television  Program 
Is  Set  for  Tonight 

Revised  television  program  from  8 
to  9  P.  M.  tonight  on  W2XBS,  NBC 
transmitter,  will  have  seven  "live"  acts 
and  one  film. 

The  acts  include  Glenn  Riggs  as 
M.C.,  Bill  Burns  and  Canary  Circus, 
Ann  Miller,  dancer;  Clyde  Hager, 
comedian;  Margaret  Brill,  harpist; 
the  Kidoodlers,  novelty  musical  act ; 
"Any  Family,"  dramatic  sketch  with 
Phyllis  Welch,  and  a  film,  "Love's 
Memorial." 

Next  week's  program  will  include, 
on  Wednesday,  Hildegarde,  Patricia 
Bowman,  a  dramatic  piece,  "Like  and 
Dislikes"  with  Edwin  Burke,  Mary 
Callahan,  John  Bouruff  and  Allan 
Bunce,  and  Marion  Bishop's  Marion- 
ettes. Friday  the  schedule  will  include 
a  telecast  of  the  Intercollegiate  track 
meet  at  Randall's  Island,  the  Merry 
Macs,  Hartmans  and  a  hair  style  show. 


Columbia  Tops  League 

Columbia  has  a  slight  lead  in  the 
Motion  Picture  Baseball  League,  win- 
ning the  two  games  played.  Consoli- 
dated Film  Industries  and  Skouras  are 
tied  for  second.  NBC,  Paramount  and 
RKO,  each  winning  and  losing  one 
game,  are  tied  for  the  next  position. 
Rockefeller  Center  and  Loew's  share 
the  cellar.  RKO  and  Paramount  play 
today. 


79  Carry  Show 

Six  more  stations  will  carry  the 
NBC-Blue  program,  "Letters  from 
Home,"  featuring  Ray  Perkins,  and 
broadcast  from  the  Westinghouse 
Electric  Co.  at  the  World's  Fair. 
WALA,  Mobile;  WNBC,  New  Brit- 
ain; WCOA,  Pensacola;  WCOL,  Co- 
lumbus ;  WTAR,  Norfolk,  and  WIS, 
Columbia,  joined  73  other  stations 
carrying  the  program. 


Lord  Show  to  Pepsodent 

Pepsodent  has  signed  Phil  Lord's 
"District  Attorney,"  to  replace  Bob 
Hope's  program  for  the  summer, 
starting  July  27.  Hope  and  his  troupe 
will  return  to  the  spot  Sept.  19. 


Huston  in  'Playhouse' 

Walter  Huston  will  appear  in  an 
original  play,  "The  President  Speaks," 
in  the  initial  broadcast  of  "Knicker- 
bocker Playhouse,"  which  starts  over 
CBS  May  21  at  10  P.  M. 


'Angels'  on  Lux  Hour 

James  Cagney  wil  team  with  Pat 
O'Brien  in  the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre" 
Monday  in  a  broadcast  of  "Angels 
With  Dirty  Faces."  Both  appeared  in 
the  film. 


Leading  5  Ad 
Agencies  Hike 
NBC  Spending 

The  five  leading  agencies  in  order 
of  their  1938  total  network  radio  ex- 
penditures have  increased  their  ex- 
penditures in  the  first  four  months 
of  1939  on  the  NBC  networks  by 
6.03  per  cent  over  the  first  four 
months  of  1938,  NBC  officials  report. 

The  agencies  are  Blackett-Sample- 
Hummert,  J.  Walter  Thompson, 
Young  &  Rubicam,  Benton  &  Bowles 
and  Lord  &  Thomas. 

Expenditures  on  NBC  by  the  five 
leaders  for  1939  were  $6,675,974,  com- 
pared to  $6,296,412.  NBC  billings  for 
the  first  four  months  of  1939  totaled 
$15,514,431,  an  increase  of  7.7  per  cent 
over  the  $14,408,905  of  1938. 

Of  the  total  1938  expenditures,  the 
five  leaders  placed  40.6  per  cent,  or 
$29,099,357,  of  the  total  network  ad- 
vertising business  which  was  $71,- 
728,404.  Of  this,  $18,178,374,  or  62.4 
per  cent,  was  placed  with  NBC,  with 
$15,391,557,  or  52.9  per  cent,  going 
to  the  Red  network. 


Theatre  Television 
To  Get  British  Study 

London,  May  18. — A  deputation 
representing  the  Kinematograph  Rent- 
ers' Society  (distributors)  and  the 
Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion discussed  television  in  theatres 
with  the  Postmaster  General  today. 
It  was  agreed  that  a  memorandum 
setting  out  the  film  case  would  be 
submitted. 

The  official  promised  to  give  the 
matter  consideration  and  take  it  up 
before  the  Television  Advisory  Com- 
mittee. 

Women's  Committee 
Plans  Radio  Series 

Women's  National  Radio  Commit- 
tee, in  conjunction  with  CBS,  will 
present  a  new  series  titled  "Women 
in  the  World  of  Tomorrow,"  starting 
May  27,  at  12:15  P.  M.  Participating 
units  include  National  Society  of  New 
England  Women,  Sigma  Alpha  Iota, 
American  Legion  Auxiliary,  National 
Council  of  Jewish  Women,  National 
Committee  of  Churchwomen  and  num- 
bers of  other  women's  groups. 


Berch  in  New  Series 

Jack  Berch,  currently  broadcasting 
over  WJZ  twice  a  week  for  Sweet- 
heart Soap,  will  start  a  five  times 
weekly  schedule  for  the  same  spon- 
sor, starting  Monday.  He  will  be 
heard  over  WJZ  Mondays,  Wednes- 
days and  Fridays  at  10:30  A.  M., 
and  on  WOR  each  Tuesday  and 
Thursday  at  12:15  P.  M.  CBS  Art- 
ists Bureau  placed  the  contract. 


Title  New  P  &  G  Show 

"Knickerbocker  Playhouse"  is  the 
title  of  the  dramatic  serial  which 
Procter  &  Gamble  will  place  on  CBS 
beginning  May  21.  Show  will  be 
broadcast  Sundays  from  10  to  10:30 
P.  M.,  with  Elliott  Lewis  and  guest 
players. 


Friday,  May  19, 

►  Radio 
Personals  < 

JOHN  J.  ANTHONY,  director  ' 
the  "Good  Will  Hour,"  is  the  f; 
ther  of  a  baby  boy.  .  .  .  TW  Rad 
Productions  is  adapting  "Bomba,  tl, 
Jungle  Boy,"  for  radio.  .  .  .  Gle; 
Anders  has  been  assigned  a  pafcj 
the  "Carters  of  Elm  Street,"  netvroi 
serial.  .  .  .  Jimmy  Dorsey  opens  at  tl" 
Meadowbrook  on  Tuesday. 

• 

Louis  Allan  Weiss,  manager  of  tl 
Don  Lee  network,  is  in  New  Yoi 
.  .  .  Hugh  Herbert  will  be  on  Georj 
Jessel's  program  Tuesday  night  .  . 
Ida  Lupino  was  heard  opposite  Ors( 
Welles  last  night  in  "The  Bad  Man 
• 

Myron  Weiss,  associate  editor 
Time,  and  Lewis  H.  Carris,  gener 
director  of  the  National  Society  f( 
the  Prevention  of  Blindness,  are  fe; 
tured  in  the  Society's  "safe  and  sani 
Fourth  of  July  transcription. 

Met  Auditions  to 
Return  in  Octobe 

Sherwin-Williams  Paint  Co.  wi 
sponsor  the  "Metropolitan  Auditioi 
of  the  Air"  for  the  fifth  consecutii 
season,  starting  Oct.  1.  Edward  Johr 
son  again  will  act  as  chairman  of  tl 
judges  committee;  Milton  Cross  wil 
be  the  announcer  and  Wilfred  Pell' 
tier  musical  director.  Warwick 
Legler  will  place  the  program. 

NBC  will  carry  the  series.  D' 
cision  to  return  the  show  to  the  a 
followed  a  survey  undertaken  by  tl 
sponsors,  totaling  over  25,000  inte 
views. 


'Silver  Theatre'  Here 

True  Boardman,  script  writer ;  Gl< 
Hall  Taylor,  Young  &  Rubicam  pn 
duction  man,  and  Conrad  Nag< 
M.  C.  of  the  "Silver  Theatre"  pr 
gram,  arrived  in  New  York  yesterd; 
from  Hollywood.  They  will  rema 
here  for  two  weeks  of  broadcastin 
when  the  series  will  be  concluded  f< 
this  season.  It  will  resume  in  t! 
fall. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  May  18. — Feder 
Communications  Commission  has  be< 
asked  to  approve  plans  for  new  broai 
casting  stations  in  Pennsylvania  ai 
California. 

Applications  for  construction  pe. 
mits  for  the  new  stations  were  filf 
by  the  Lackawanna  Broadcasting  C< 
Inc.,  Scranton,  for  operation  on  1,31 
kilocycles  with  100  watts  power  nig' 
and  250  watts  day,  and  Richard 
Sampson,  Riverside,  Cal.  for  open 
tion,  day  only,  on  1,390  kilocycles  wi' 
250  watts  power. 

The  commission  ordered  hearinj 
held,  at  dates  to  be  set  later,  on  t! 
applications  of  the  Lakeland  Broai 
casting  Co.,  Willmar,  Minn.,  for' 
new  680-kilocycle,  250-watt  day  st; 
tion,  and  WMBO,  Auburn,  N.  Y.,  f{ 
increase  of  night  power  from  100  ' 
250  watts,  and  KDAL,  Duluth,  f( 
increase  of  day  power  from  100 
250  watts. 


1 


n^>  NOT  R:„  

m-  p.  Prodis* PICTURE 


20  WEST  44TH  ST 
NEW  YORK.  T 
N. 


o  the  tYTQuun 
Picture 
fidustry 


First  in 


w 

Accural*! 


and 

Impartial 


H,  45.  NO.  98 


NEW  YORK.  MONDAY,  MAY  22,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


:ko  win  List 

0  to  54  Films 
it  Sales  Meet 


'haefer  Returns  After 
Coast  Conferences 


■   

Mxnit  50  to  54  features  will  he  an- 
Liiced  by  RKO  for  the  new  season 
■the  company's  annual  sales  con- 
Jtion  June  19-22,  at  Westchester 
antry  Club. 

1  ri rial  arrangements  for  new  season 
vkluct  were  made  at  the  studio  by 
jjrge  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  head,  dur- 
i  his  stay  of  several  weeks  there, 
toaefer  returned  to  Xew  York  late 
week,  completing  the  final  lap  of 
i  trip  from  the  coast  by  plane  from 
ilcago.  He  was  accompanied  by 
'■don  Youngman  of  the  company's 
Be  office  legal  department,  who  as- 
led  with  the  making  of  new  season 
'duction,  release  and  talent  contracts 
itlie  studio. 

Product  Announced 

\mong  the  product  for  which  deals 
fe  closed  during  Schaefer's  studio 
•it   are   those   with    Gene  Towne 
1  Graham  Baker  for  four ;  with  Ste- 
rns-Lang for  three  "Dr  Christian" 
tures  starring  Jean  Hersholt;  one 
*in  Harold   Lloyd ;    a    Laurel  and 
rdy  picture  to  be  produced  by  Boris 
■rros,  and  RKO  release  for  eight 
!»rros  remakes  of  French  pictures, 
'1  a  three-picture  deal  for  Richard 
K.    The  company  will  also  have  at 
Bt  two   from    the    Max  Gordon- 
Try  Goetz  team  ;  three  or  four  from 
•rbert  Wilcox;  two  or  three  each 
in  Leo  McCarey,  Gregory  La  Cava 
|1  the  Bob  Breen  unit. 
\alph     Doyle,     RKO  -Australian 
:nager,  arrived  by  train  Friday  after 
ompanying   Schaefer  and  Young- 
n  as  far  as  Chicago.    He  is  here 
home  office  conferences  and  to 
bid  the  sales  meeting. 


romise  U.S.  Shorts 
•or  BBC  Television 

tvfajor  companies  will  cooperate  in 
Iking  their  short  subjects  available 
^  the  British  Broadcasting  Co.  for 
pvision  use,  subject  to  certain  regu- 
Eons  designed  to  eliminate  possible 
^■ctions  from  exhibitors  in  England, 
/eature  pictures  are  not  to  be  in- 
;ded  in  the  arrangements  and,  in 
t.  no  request  for  features  was  made 
Gerald  Cock,  B.B.C.  television  di- 
:tor,  when  he  presented  his  request 
film  material  to  the  distributors 
•e  during  his  recent  visit. 
An  understanding  that  B.B.C.  al- 
(Coiitinued  on  page  5) 


20th-Fox  Foreign 
Plans  Reciprocal 

Plans  of  20th  Century-Fox 
to  expand  in  Latin  America 
will  be  on  a  reciprocal  basis 
with  the  development  of  the 
industry  in  that  market  taken 
into  consideration. 

S.  R.  Kent,  president,  before 
sailing  Friday  night  for  Rio 
de  Janeiro,  declared'. 

"Reciprocity  in  business  re- 
lations between  America  and 
foreign  countries  is  impera- 
tive. Whatever  we  have  in 
mind  for  future  expanded 
activity  in  Latin  America 
takes  into  consideration  the 
welfare  of  exhibitors  in  the 
countries  there." 


Albany  Votes  Tax 
Upon  Admissions 


Albany,  May  21. — New  York 
State  legislature  before  adjournment 
yesterday  passed  the  Moffat-Mitch- 
ell-Desmond  low  cost  housing  meas- 
ure, which  allows  cities  to  ievy  a  tax 
of  one  cent  on  theatre  admissions  up 
to  50  cents,  with  a  graduated  scale 
above,  and  a  franchise  tax  of  one  cent 
per  square  foot  per  year  on  outdoor 
advertising  signs  in  excess  of  three 
square  feet. 

The  two  per  cent  sales  tax  measure, 
which  would  include  a  tax  on  theatre 

{Continued  on  page  4) 


U.  S.  HINTS  FEWER 
ANTI-TRUST  SUITS 


U.A.  Stock,  Studio 
Are  Not  For  Sale, 
Says  Miss  Pickford 


United  Artists'  stock  is  not  for  sale 
to  Samuel  Goldwyn  or  any  one  else, 
and  neither  is  the  studio,  said  Mary 
Pickford,  one  of  the  five  producer- 
owners,  on  Saturday.  The  four  stock- 
holders exclusive  of  Goldwyn  intend 
to  retain  their  holdings  indefinitely, 
she  added. 

Miss  Pickford  and  Murray  Silver- 
stone,  United  Artists  executive  head, 
held  a  press  conference  following  their 
arrival  from  the  coast.  Present  were 
Harry  Gold  and  L.  J.  Schlaifer.  vice- 
presidents,  and  Ted  Carr,  joint  man- 
aging director  in  England. 

As  to  Goldwyn's  desire  to  withdraw 
from  the  company  unless  certain  terms 
are  met,  Miss  Pickford  pointed  out 
that  the  five  stockholders  are  con- 
tracted until  1942  to  release  through 
U.  A. 

Miss  Pickford  said  that  Goldwyn's 
lease  on  the  U.  A.  studio,  obtained 
from  Douglas  Fairbanks,  Sr.,  and  her- 
self, expires  in  1941  and  it  carries  a 
five-year   renewal   option.  Goldwyn 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Allied  Convention  Here 
To  Draw  Trade  Leaders 


Several  hundred  exhibitors  are  ex- 
pected at  the  World's  Fair  conven- 
tion and  equipment  exposition  of  Al- 
lied Theatre  Owners  of  New  York 
which  opens  tomorrow  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  for  three  days.  This  is  the 
organization's  first  annual  conven- 
tion. 

Highlight  of  the  meeting  will  be  an 
open  forum  on  Thursday  at  which 
William  F.  Rodgers,  general  sales 
manager  of  M-G-M,  and  other  dis- 
tribution heads  are  scheduled  to  speak 
on  the  trade  practice  code  and  in- 
dustry topics.  Among  those  invited 
to  speak  are  George  J.  Schaefer, 
RKO  president;  Ned  E.  Depinet, 
RKO  vice-president ;  Neil  F.  Agnew, 
Paramount  general  sales  manager,  and 
Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Warners'  sales 
chief. 

Abram  F.  Myers,  Allied  States  gen- 
eral counsel,  and  Col.  H.  A.  Cole, 


president,  and  other  national  Allied 
officials  are  expected. 

Max  A.  Cohen,  president  of  New 
York  Allied,  declared  that  "much  of 
a  constructive  nature"  is  expected  to 
be  accompli  shed  at  the  convention  in 
creating  a  better  understanding  be- 
tween distributors  and  exhibitors. 

Francis  C.  Lydon  of  Boston,  Al- 
lied's  eastern  regional  vice-president, 
on  Friday  informed  Cohen  that  the 
eastern  regional  conference  of  Allied 
leaders,  scheduled  in  conjunction  with 
the  convention,  had  been  postponed 
because  it  would  be  impossible  for 
them  to  attend  the  New  York  meet- 
ing and  the  national  convention  in 
Minneapolis  within  a  three-week  per- 
iod. The  conference  has  been  post- 
poned until  after  the  Minneapolis  con- 
vention, Lydon  said. 

Lydon  had  asked  New  York  Al- 
(Continued  on  page  5) 


Federal  Officials  Refuse 
To  Reveal  Next  Step 
In  Fight  on  Majors 

Washington,  May  21.  —  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  officials  indicated  over 
the  week-end  that  the  number  of  the 
government's  anti-trust  suits  against 
major  film  companies  will  be  less  than 
the  originally  announced  figure  of 
"about  ten." 

At  hearings  before  the  House  ap- 
propriations committee,  where  funds 
were  sought  to  finance  investigation 
and  prosecution,  Assistant  Attorney 
General  Thurman  Arnold  had  said 
that  there  would  be  about  a  "round 
dozen"  of  suits. 

Federal  officials  assumed  a  reticent 
attitude  when  approached  for  informa- 
tion on  new  developments  in  its  fight 
against  the  majors.  They  declined  to 
reveal  whether  any  new  suits  are 
scheduled  for  early  filing.  New  York 
and  Oklahoma  suits  are  the  only  ac- 
tions before  the  courts  at  present. 

The  same  officials  would  not  com- 
ment upon  Friday's  order  in  New 
York,  requiring  the  government  to 
disclose  the  identity  of  its  witnesses  in 
the  New  York  suit. 

Government's  "Good  Faith" 
Called  Biggest  Problem 

Reaction  is  varied  among  defense  at- 
torneys in  the  Government  anti-trust 
suit  to  Federal  Judge  William  Bondy's 
order  instructing  the  Government  to 
name  its  witnesses.  Question  of  the 
Government's  "good  faith"  looms  as 
the  largest  problem. 

Attorneys  point  out  that  the  order 

(Continued  on  page  5) 


UA  Acts  to  Quash 
Goldwyn  Complaint 

United  Artists  on  Saturday  filed  a 
motion  'to  dismiss  the  amended  com- 
plaint of  Samuel  Goldwyn  and  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  Inc.,  in  the  breach  of  con- 
tract suit  now  pending  in  Wilmington 
Federal  court.  Basis  of  the  motion  is 
Goldwyn's  failure  to  name  Alexander 
Korda  and  Douglas  Fairbanks  as  de- 
fendants. U.  A.  contends  that  the  lat- 
ter and  their  companies  are  necessary 
parties  to  the  action  and  that  the  com- 
plaint should  be  dismissed  because  of 
the  failure  to  name  them. 

Action  also  charges  that  Goldwyn's 
case  is  not  a  proper  one  for  a  declara- 
tory judgment  such  as  that  sought 
from  the  court  and  questions  whether 
Goldwyn  has  established  a  proper 
cause  of  action. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  19 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Tax  Revenues 
Show  Biggest 
Slump  in  Year 


Washington,  May  21. — Admission 
tax  collections  in  April  were  at  _  the 
lowest  point  for  any  month  since 
January,  1938,  totaling  only  $1,384,- 
722  as  compared  with  $1,606,996  in 
March  and  $1,541,518  in  April,  1938, 
it  was  reported  yesterday  by  the  In- 
ternal Revenue  department. 

The  decline  was  general  throughout 
the  country,  it  was  indicated  with 
New  York's  Broadway  revenues  drop- 
ping to  $506,685  from  $612,785  in 
March  and  $596,035  in  April  of  last 
year. 

Figures  for  the  Third  New  York 
district  showed  that  receipts  from 
box-office  admissions  dropped  from 
$549,647  in  March  to  $442,085  last 
month,  while  revenues  frorn  free  or 
reduced  rate  admissions  increased 
from  $5,639  to  $6,811,  and  from  roof 
gardens  and  cabarets  from  $42,478  to 
$46,621. 

Revenues  from  tickets  sold  by  brok- 
ers dropped  from  $13,934  to  $11,168, 
and  there  were  no  revenues  from 
tickets  sold  by  proprietors  in  excess 
of  established  price  or  from  permanent 
use  or  lease  of  boxes  and  seats,  from 
which  March  collections  were  $1,068 
and  $18,  respectively. 

As  a  result  of  heavier  than  normal 
decline  in  April,  total  collections  for 
the  first  four  months  of  the  year  were 
approximately  $268,000  under  same 
period  last  year,  figures  being  $6,058,- 
979  compared  with  $6,327,650. 

Award  Winners  End 
Visit  of  Week  Here 

Finishing  a  week's  stay  in  New 
York  as  guests  of  Motion  Picture 
Herald,  the  Quigley  Grand  Awards 
winners,  John  Burhorn  and  George 
Limerick,  leave  today  after  a  weekend 
at  the  World's  Fair,  on  Saturday  with 
M-G-M  as  host  and  on  Sunday  as 
guests  of  Republic.  Bill  Ferguson, 
exploitation  director,  represented 
M-G-M,  and  Al  Adams,  advertising- 
head,  Republic. 

The  winners  were  guests  Thursday 
of  Universal  at  Jack  Dempsey's  for 
dinner,  followed  by  a  theatre  party 
at  "Helzapoppin."  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox  honored  the  men  at  luncheon  Fri- 
day at  the  Waldorf-Astoria,  with  Earl 
Wingart,  publicity  manager,  as  host. 
In  the  evening  United  Artists  ar- 
ranged their  attendance  at  "Leave  It 
to  Me." 

Resume  Trade  Pact 
Conferences  Today 

Sales  managers  will  convene  today 
with  major  company  attorneys  at  the 
Astor  to  continue  work  on  final  phases 
of  the  industry  trade  practice  program. 
Attorneys  will  report  results  of  their 
meeting  last  Thursday  and  continue 
discussions  on  phraseology  of  the  un- 
completed arbitration  provisions. 


SARDI'S 

Everybody  in  Show  Business 
MEETS  AT 
234  West  44th  Street 
LAckawanna  4-5785 


BEN  GOETZ,  delayed  in  his  sched- 
uled departure  from  Hollywood 
last  week,  arrives  in  New  York  by 
train  today.  With  Mrs.  Goetz,  who 
preceded  him  to  New  York,  he  plans 
to  sail  for  London  Wednesday. 
• 

Louise  M.  Felt,  Westmar  Theatre, 
Norristown,  Pa. ;  F.  J.  McCarthy, 
State,  Brookings,  S.  D.,  and  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Merle  Bucknum  of  the  Ideal 
and  Liberty,  Emmett,  Idaho,  among 
registrants  at  RKO  World's  Fair 
headquarters. 

• 

Dan  Carroll,  manager  of  the 
Prince  Edward  Theatre,  Sydney,  Aus- 
tralia, was  guest  of  Y.  Frank  Free- 
man, Paramount  vice-president,  at  a 
studio  luncheon. 

• 

Arthur  Treacher,  appearing  at 
Loew's  State  this  week,  was  given  a 
cocktail  party  Friday  by  the  Staff 
Club,  consisting  of  butlers  for  the 
"first  families." 

• 

Morris  Goodman,  Republic  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  distribu- 
tion, is  now  in  Colombia  on  a  Latin 
American  trip.  He  is  due  back  in 
two  months. 

• 

Charles  Munro  of  Hoyt's  Circuit, 
Australia,  arrived  in  New  York  from 
the  coast  by  train  on  Friday  for  a 
series  of  conferences  with  home  office 
officials. 

• 

Errol  Flynn's  parents,  Prof,  and 
Mrs.  Thompson  Flynn  of  Belfast, 
Ireland,  will  visit  him  in  Hollywood 
for  first  time  in  four  years. 

• 

Jay  Gove,  M-G-M  sales  promotion 
manager,  is  handling  the  Distributor, 
house  organ,  while  M.  L.  Simons, 
editor,  is  on  a  field  trip. 

• 

Sam  Shain,  editor  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily,  returns  to  New  York 
late  this  week  after  three  weeks  in 
Hollywood. 

• 

Vincent  Sherman,  Warner  writer, 
has  been  given  a  director's  contract 
by  the  studio,  his  first  "The  Return 
of  Dr.  X." 

• 

Edna  Best  has  left  for  Hollywood 
to  appear  in  the  leading  femine  role 
of  "Intermezzo,"  David  O.  Selznick 
film. 

• 

H.  J.  Yates,  president  of  Consoli- 
dated Film  Industries,  is  due  from  the 
coast  late  this  month. 

• 

Samuel  Hadelman,  operator  of 
the  Capitol,  Bridgeport,  is  the  father 
of  a  girl,  Susan. 

• 

William  Sirica  of  the  Lido,  Wa- 
terbury,  Conn.,  suffered  injuries  to  his 
arm  in  a  fall. 

• 

Joseph  Stanzler  is  the  new  mana- 
ger of  the  Greenwich,  East  Greenwich, 
R.  I. 

Fred  P.  Fielding  has  joined  Ross 
Federal's  Philadelphia  office. 

• 

Moss  Hart  has  leased  a  house  in 
the  Sutton  Place  section. 

Sam  Aberman  is  celebrating  his 
birthday  today. 


ET.    (TEDDY)    CARR,  United 
•  Artists  joint  managing  director 
for  England,  arrived  in  New  York 
from  the  coast  over  the  weekend  and 
plans  to  sail  for  London  on  May  31. 
• 

John  Farrow  and  his  wife,  Mau- 
reen O' Sullivan,  have  been  accepted 
as  passengers  on  the  maiden  flight  of 
the  trans-Atlantic  clipper  of  Pan- 
American  Airways  between  New 
York  and  Ireland.  No  definite  date 
has  been  set  for  the  flight. 

• 

Charles  Schwartz  of  Schwartz  & 
Frohlich,  law  firm,  arrives  in  New 
York  from  the  coast  by  train  today 
after  attending  the  U.  A.  sales  con- 
vention and  the  San  Francisco  Fair. 
• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  E.  Samuelson 
and  daughter,  of  the  Intermountain 
Theatres,  Salt  Lake  City,  Utah,  have 
registered  with  the  RKO  World's 
Fair  headquarters. 

• 

Peggy  Foldes  of  the  RKO  publicity 
department,  has  been  reelected  chair- 
man of  the  associate  members  of  the 
New  York  Newspaper  Women's  Club. 
• 

Harold  Hendee,  director    of  re- 
search for  RKO,  will  speak  on  "The 
Authentication   of   Motion  Pictures" 
this  evening  at  Columbia  University. 
• 

Capt.  Paul  Kimberley,  managing 
director  of  National  Screen  Service 
in  England,  will  return  Wednesday 
after  a  week's  stay  here. 

• 

Harry  Kosiner,  eastern  sales  rep- 
resentative for  Walter  Wanger  Pro- 
ductions, returns  to  New  York  today 
from  a  studio  visit. 

• 

L.  J.  Schlaifer,  United  Artists 
western  general  sales  manager,  re- 
turned to  New  York  from  the  coast 
over  the  weekend. 

• 

J.  J.  Milstein,  eastern  representa- 
tive for  Edward  Small  Prod.,  arrived 
in  New  York  from  the  coast  over  the 
weekend. 

• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglas  Fairbanks 
have  reserved  passage  on  the  Queen 
Mary,  jailing  for  England  Wednesday. 
• 

Lou  Lifton,  advertising  and  pub- 
licity director  for  Monogram,  cele- 
brated a  birthday  Friday. 

• 

Max   Weisfeldt,   Columbia  short 
subjects  sales  supervisor,  has  returned 
to  New  York  from  Milwaukee. 
• 

Louis   W.   Schine  has   been  re- 
elected president  of  the  Community 
Center  at  Gloversville,  N.  Y. 
• 

Morris  Fogelson,  owner  of  the 
Denville,  Denville,  N.  J.,  is  on  a  coast 
honeymoon. 

• 

Herman  Rieper,  20th  Century-Fox 
auditor,  leaves  for  a  Bermuda  cruise 
this  week. 

• 

Harry  Goetz  left  for  the  coast  by 
train  over  the  weekend. 

Bill  Pine  sailed  for  Bermuda  Sat- 
urday for  a  week's  rest. 

• 

Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.,  is  in  town, 
stopping  at  the  Pierre. 


U.A.'s  Holding 
Not  For  Sale 
Says  Pickfor< 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

owns    only    the    movable    prope:  j 
The  studio  land  and  buildings  hi 
belonged  to  Miss  Pickford  and  Fa  j 
banks  for  years. 

"Four  stockholders  are  very  h/!?'  I 
Miss  Pickford  declared.    "Thar  j,  1 
for  Alexander  Korda,  Charlie  Chapl 
Fairbanks  and  myself. 

"Since  Silverstone  took  charge 
United  Artists'  direction,  there  is  i 
an  outstanding  producer  who  has 
his  eye  on  the  company.  Eventuallj 
believe  we  will  get  "many  of  them." 

Miss     Pickford     praised  Silv 
stone's  management  and  particula 
the  "Silverstone  plan"  of  distributi 
whereby  the  world-wide  distributi 
charges  assessed  against  the  films 
the  11  producers  are  in  inverse  ra 
to  the  grosses.  Because  of  the  expe  I 
ed  large  gross  of  Chaplin's  next  fil  \ 
"The    Dictators,"     the    distributi  j 
charge  is  figured  at  possibly  15  i  i 
cent. 

The  "Silverstone  plan,"  said  M  j 
Pickford,  is  of  greater  benefit  to  1 
producers  than  the  stockholders.  C 1 
producer  last  year  received  three  a  ] 
one-half  times  as  much  as  the  di  j 
dends  paid  the  stockholders. 

Silverstone  said  that  of  the  28  to  [ 
fil  ms  scheduled  for  1939-'40,  four  v.  I 
be  ready  shortly.  These  are  Wal  f 
Wanger's  "Winter  Carnival,"  Go  1 
wyn's  "Music  School,"  Edward  Sma  I 
"Man  in  the  Iron  Mask"  and  Selzni  [ 
International's  "Intermezzo."  A  fif  1 
Korda's  "Four  Feathers"  is  complet  I 

Chaplin  will  start  shooting  "Tl 
Dictators"  in  three  weeks  and  plans  I 
October  release. 

Silverstone,  Miss  Pickford  and  G  1 
will  sail  on  the  Nonnandie  May  31  j 
attend  the  company's  European  cc  I 
vention  in  London.  Fairbanks  sails  i  I 
England  Wednesday  on  the  Quern 
Mary  and  will  return  in  about  tin  1 
weeks  to  start  his  first  production  ' 
the  coast. 


Tone  Gets  Metro  Pad 

Hollywood,  May  21.  —  Francl 
Tone  has  signed  a  contract  w 
M-G-M  for  two  pictures,  the  first 
be  "Thunder  Afloat." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  i 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunc 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Cc 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  preside: 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasur 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephoi 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpub 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1! 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  I: 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Y< 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Moti 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teat 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictu 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Uni 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boc 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weav 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C. 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squa 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londc 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  ', 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  ' 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  1 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  1' 


RULING 
FAVORITES 


EASTMAN'S  three  new  motion  picture  neg- 
ative films  have  quickly  established  them- 
selves as  the  favorites  of  the  industry.  Plus- 
X  for  general  studio  work  . . .  Super-XX  for 
all  difficult  exposures  .  .  .  fine-grained  Back- 
ground-X  for  backgrounds  and  all-round  ex- 
terior work.  Each  makes  its  special  con- 
tribution, and  all  have  that  typical  reliabil- 
ity closely  identified  with  Eastman  films. 
Eastman  Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
(J.  E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  Fort  Lee, 
Chicago,  Hollywood.) 


EASTMAN  Ptus-X . . . 
Super-XX ...  Mtackground-X 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  V). 


Para.  Scores 
In  Blumenthal 
Court  Ruling 


Permission  to  appeal  to  the  N.  Y. 
Cotfrt  of  Appeals  in  Albany  from  a 
decision  denying  an  application  for 
an  injunction  restraining  Ben  Blu- 
menthal from  bringing  suit  in  Eng- 
land, and  for  a  stay  of  proceedings 
was  granted  Friday  to  Paramount 
Pictures,  Inc.  by  the  Appellate  Divi- 
sion of  the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court. 

Paramount  sought  the  injunction 
in  a  suit  which  claimed  that  Blumen- 
thal had  no  right  to  sue  in  an  Eng- 
lish court  for  remuneration  on  the 
sale  of  Paramount's  English  theatre 
holdings. 


Pathe  Stockholders 

Lose -in  Two  Legal  Moves 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Ro- 
senman  Friday  denied  the  applica- 
tion of  Anna  Bashlow,  stockholder 
of  Pathe  Film  Corp.,  for  an  order 
granting  permission  to  examine  the 
books  of  Pathe  and  dismissed  her  suit. 
Justice  Rosenman  also  denied  an  ap- 
plication of  10  stockholders  holding 
1,820  shares  to  intervene  in  the  Bash- 
low  suit  because  of  his  denial  of  her 
application. 

In  opposing  the  action,  Phillips  & 
Nizer,  Pathe  counsel,  charged  bad 
faith  and  attacked  Bernard  J.  Reis, 
who  had  submitted  an  affidavit  in  sup- 
port of  the  plaintiff's  motion,  charging 
that  he  had  testified  in  other  minority 
stockholders'  actions  against  a  film 
company.  Counsel  charged  that  he  did 
so  on  a  contingency  basis  and  that  he 
had  acquired  stock  in  Pathe  after  he 
learned  of  the  alleged  mismanagement. 
Reis  testified  recently  for  the  plain- 
tiffs in  a  stockholders'  action  against 
Loew's. 

Para.  Seeks  Details 
In  Rae  Nasoff  Action 

Application  will  be  made  today  by 
Paramount  to  the  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  for  an  order  striking  out  alle- 
gations of  the  complaint  of  Rae  Na- 
soff, stockholder,  and  to  direct  her 
to  make  her  complaint  more  definite. 
The  plaintiff  seeks  an  accounting  and 
appointment  of  a  receiver  because  of 
alleged  mismanagement. 


Kuhn's  Plea  for  Writ 
Adjourned  to  May  26 

Application  of  Fritz  J.  Kuhn  for  a 
temporary  injunction  pending  trial  to 
restrain  the  exhibition  of  Warners' 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  was  ad- 
journed Friday  by  Federal  Judge  Vin- 
cent L.  Leibell  to  May  26  at  War- 
ners' request.  In  opposing  the  ad- 
journment, Vahan  H.  Kalenderian,  at- 
torney for  Kuhn,  stated  that  he  was 
ready  to  try  the  action  within  24 
hours.  Suit,  which  charges  libel,  is 
for  $5,000,000  damages  and  an  injunc- 
tion. 


Sherwood  Attacks 
20th-Fox  Suit  Reply 

Robert  E.  Sherwood  and  the  Play- 
wrights Producing  Co.,  Inc.,  plain- 
tiffs in  an  injunction  and  damage  suit 
against  20th  Century-Fox,  today  will 
apply  to  the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
for  an  order  striking  out  the  de- 
fenses raised  by  20th  Century-Fox  in 
its  answer.  Plaintiffs  seek  to  restrain 
use  of  the  title,  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln," 
which  has  allegedly  made  the  public 
believe  that  the  picture  is  an  adapta- 


Hollywood  Review 


"The  Kid  from  Kokomo" 

(  Warners) 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Quite  a  spell  after  this  slam-bang  comedy  gets 
rolling  May  Robson  comes  into  it  as  an  alcoholic  octogenarian  arrested 
for  shoplifting  and  from  there  on  it's  her  picture.  Before  then  Pat 
O'Brien,  lightly  principled  fight  promoter,  has  gone  into  the  backwoods 
and  sold  Wayne  Morris,  sentimental  slugger,  on  the  idea  of  entering 
the  ring  under  his  management  for  the  sake  of  newspaper  publicity 
which  he  promises  will  attract  attention  of  the  lad's  22-years-missing 
mother.  O'Brien  persuades  the  judge  to  parole  the  prisoner  to  him, 
passes  her  off  on  the  boy  as  his  long  lost  mother,  and  from  there  on 
the  story  bounces  along  a  groove  hewn  midway  between  "Lady  for 
a  Day"  and  "A  Slight  Case  of  Murder,"  winding  up  in  a  slapstick 
sequence  wherein  elderly  graduates  of  the  Hell's  Kitchen  school  of 
fisticuffs  defeat  a  gang  of  modern  gun  throwers. 

O'Brien's  fight  manager  is  a  graphic  portrayal.  Morris  makes  the 
sentimental  fighter  look  real.  Maxie  Rosenbloom  gets  sound  laughs 
as  the  defending  champion.  Joan  Blondell  is  satisfactory  as  O'Brien's 
bubble-dancer  girl  friend,  Jane  Wyman  furnishes  a  dash  of  flip  charm, 
Ed  Brophy  plays  O'Brien's  dumb  assistant  characteristically  and  Sidney 
Toler  submits  a  humorous  judge  that  is  quite  something.  Ward  Bond, 
Paul  Hurst,  Stanley  Fields  and  Morgan  Conway  are  among  the 
others  present. 

Jerry  Wald  and  Richard  Macaulay  wrote  the  screenplay  from  Dalton 
Rumbo's  story,  "Broadway  Cavalier,"  and  Lewis  Seiler  directed  for 
associate  producer  Sam  Bischoff.  The  production  is  designed  exclusively 
for  laugh  purposes  and  kept  its  preview  audience  merry. 

Running  time,  90  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


tion  of  Sherwood's  play,  "Abe  Lincoln 
in  Illinois." 


Film  Recording  Corp. 
Sues  Over  Patents 

Film  Recording  Corp.  filed  a  pat- 
ent infringement  suit  in  U.  S.  District 
Court  Friday  against  Miles  Reproduc- 
er Co.,  Inc.,  Samuel  Bernbaum  and 
Jacob  M.  and  Hattie  Kulick.  Suit 
charges  they  sell  machines  embodying 
patents  held  by  the  plaintiff. 


Theatre  Changes 


New  operator  of  the  Hastings, 
Hastings-on-Hudson,  N.  Y.,  is  the 
Hastings  Amusement  Co.,  Inc.  Irving 
Stern  is  president  and  Samuel  Feir, 
secretary-treasurer. 


Walter  O'Keefe  Wins 
Ruling  in  Breach  Fight 

Order  directing  examination  for 
trial  of  Chester  La  Roche  as  presi- 
dent of  Young  and  Rubicam,  Inc.,  and 
of  the  Packard  Motor  Car  Co.  by  one 
of  its  officers  was  upheld  by  the  Ap- 
pellate division  of  the  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  Friday  in  the  $48,750  damage 
suit  of  Walter  O'Keefe,  who  charges 
breach  of  a  contract. 


New  Orleans  Admission 
Tax  Appeal  Is  Heard 

New  Orleans,  May  21. — Appeal 
of  Claude  J.  Derbes,  secretary  of  Le 
Petit  Theatre  du  Vieux  Carre,  fined 
$1  in  New  Orleans  Recorder's  Court 
for  refusing  to  pay  the  city's  two  per 
cent  amusement  tax,  has  been  taken 
under  advisement. 


'Chips'  to  Dayton 

Dayton,  May  21. — M-G-M  again 
has  chosen  Dayton  as  the  "typical 
American  city"  and  will  premiere 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  at  Loew's  on 
June  1.  Other  first  run  showings  are 
in  New  York  and  Los  Angeles.  Day- 
ton also  was  selected  for  the  "Pyg- 
malion" premiere. 


Sutherland  Is  Signed 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Boris  Mor- 
ros  has  signed  Edward  A.  Sutherland 
to  direct  Stan  Laurel  and  Oliver 
Hardy  in  "The  Flying  Deuces,"  for- 
merly titled  "The  Aviators,"  which 
RKO  will  release.  Shooting  is  sched- 
uled to  start  July  1  at  the  General 
Service  Studios. 


Plans  Brooklyn  House 

Anthony  Paolilo  has  filed  plans  with 
the  city  for  the  erection  of  a  new 
house  at  Ave.  U  and  East  2nd  St., 
Brooklyn. 


Acquire  Bronx  Theatre 

New  operator  of  the  Beach,  Bronx, 
is  the  Beach  Movie  Corp.  Arnold 
Forman  is  president  and  George  Weiss 
vice-president. 


Mexican  Film 
Industry  Is1 
Showing  Gair 


Mexico  City,  May  21. — Film  i 
dustry  in  Mexico  is  generally  in  go* 
shape,  better,  in  fact,  than  most  oth 
businesses  in  this  period  of  acute  ec 
nomic  depression.  The  public  is  a . 
for  amusement,  and  the  screen  hhi 
them  the  most  for  their  money.  ^* 

Exhibitors  are  doing  well  at 
average  top  of  30  cents  for  the  bi 
houses,  and  the  country  is  enjoyi 
the  greatest  theatre  building  boom 
its  history,  chiefly  because  investc 
therein  find  the  best  and  quickest  l 
turn  on  their  money. 

American  pictures  continue  to  don 
nate  the  field.  The  anti-Nazi  a 
anti-Fascist  attitude  of  the  all-pow< 
ful  Confederation  of  Mexican  Wor 
ers  has  stopped  any  possible  comf 
tition  from  German  or  Italian  produ 
while  French  films  are  offering  soi 
competition. 

The  production  situation  is  begi 
ning  to  show  improvement  after 
poor  winter  because  of  faulty  financi 
and  competition  from  Hollywoo< 
Spanish  language  films.  The  Gc 
ernment  has  begun  the  subsidizati 
of  production,  but  its  financial  cc 
dition  is  weak  and  the  extent  of  t 
financing  is  uncertain.  The  ch 
production  complaint  is  for  bet' 
stories.  Directors  and  other  prodi 
tion  talent  are  better  paid  than  hei 
tofore,  and  the  same  is  true  of  pte 
ers,  with  producers  complaining  tl 
the  demands  of  the  strong  lah 
unions  are  responsible  for  the  i 
creased  production  costs. 


Buys  Jersey  Unit 

Gary  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  taken  over 
operation  of  the  Atlantic,  Atlantic 
Highlands,  N.  J.  Maurice  Parks  is 
president. 

Has  Yonkers  House 

J.  H.  Foss  has  taken  over  the  op- 
eration of  the  Cameo,  Yonkers. 


Buys  in  Yonkers 

Broadway,  Yonkers,  has  been  taken 
over  by  Parkhill  Broadway  Corp. 
(Charles  Goldreyer.) 


Shows  Italian  Films 

Irving  Place  Theatre  has  changed 
to  an  Italian  film  policy  and  will  be 
operated  by  Clemente  Giglio. 


Plans  Queens  House 

Ernest  Newmann  is  building  a  new 
house  at  66th  Ave.  and  Queens  Blvd., 
Forest  Hills,  L.  I.  It  will  be  com- 
pleted about  Oct.  1. 


Open  in  Branchville 

Branchville,  Branchville,  N.  J.,  a 
210-seat  house,  has  been  opened  by 
Branchville  Theatre  Corp.  Paul  C. 
Rennert  is  the  principal. 


Bill  Banning  Duals 
Dropped  in  Illino 

Springfield,  111.,  May  21. — Wit 
drawal  of  his  bill  proposing  a  ban 
double  features  has  been  announc 
by  Rep.  Schnackenberg.     Other  k 
islators    ridiculed   the  measure. 

Senator  Mendell's  bills  on  divorc 
ment,  censorship  and  prohibition 
children  in  theatres  after  10  p. 
are  now  up  for  third  reading  in  t 
Senate.  Illinois  exhibitors  still  l. 
fuse  to  take  an  active  part  in  fighti 
the  bills,  being  confident  that  t 
bills  have  no  chance  of  being  passt 


Albany  Votes  Tax 
Upon  Admission 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tickets,  failed  to  make  the  grade  k 
fore    adjournment,    but    there  is 
strong  possibility  that  a  special  sf 
sion  this  summer  may  enact  the  sal 
tax. 

The  anti-Bund  bill  prohibiting  tl 
atre  managers  from  permitting  t 
assemblage  of  persons  wearing  ui 
forms  of  foreign  governments  al 
was  passed. 


"Mikado"  in  Seattle 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Uni versa 
"The  Mikado"  has  its  coast  premie 
May  24  in  Seattle  at  the  Music  Bo 
Dave  Lipton,  studio  publicity  directc 
is  arranging  the  opening. 


Town  Honors  Mayer 

St.  John,  N.  B.,  May  21—  Lou 
B.  Mayer  received  this  town's  acclai 
Friday.  He  started  here  as  a  jfbi 
boy,  son  of  immigrants. 


,Jav,  May  22.  1«J39 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


- 


rade  Chiefs 
Will  Address 
Allied  of  N.Y. 


{Continued  from  paiic  1) 

tto  arrange  for  the  conference  and 
ined  Col.  Cole's  approval.  None 
the  units  scheduled  to  attend  the 
ujhiial    conference    have  cancelled 
i  reservations,  Cohen  said. 


>hen  wrote  Lydon  in  part  as  fol- 


1  want  to  call  your  attention  to  the 
fc  that  you  asked  for  permission 
ihold  the  Eastern  regional  meeting 
conjunction  with  New  York  Al- 
1.  and  further,  that  you  wired  for 
said  consent  immediately  that 
i  had  received  the  approval  to  hold 
same  from  Colonel  Cole. 
Of  course,  you  understand  that 
hv  York  Allied  had  no  idea  that 
a  intended  such  a  meeting  and, 
Ihermore,  only  acceded  to  your  re- 
pst  after  your  correspondence  on 
subject.  Under  these  circum- 
nces,  the  cancellation  of  this  meet- 
certainly  must  reflect  negatively 
lunst  national  Allied  and  hinders 
her  than  promotes  the  main  objec- 
ts we  are  trying  to  accomplish. 
1  do  hope,  however,  that  mcm- 
s  of  your  unit  including  yourself 
1  give  us  the  pleasure  of  having 
U  visit  with  us  as  I  am  certain  that 
Sy  will  find  at  this  convention  a 
tet  many  matters  of  interest,  locally 
<i  nationally. 

"Looking  forward  to  the  opportu- 
j  of  greeting  you,  I  am  with  kind- 
regards, 

Cordially, 

Max  A.  Cohen- 
['P.S.  Since  dictating  this  letter,  I 
ve  learned  that  you  wired  the  trade 
■jPers  advising  them  of  the  cancella- 
m  of  this  meeting.   Therefore,  under 
ese  circumstances,  you  have  left  me 
alternative  but  to  give  them  a  copy 
my  replv  to  your  letter  under  date 
Mav  18." 


lontague  Heard 
At  Coast  Meeting 

Los  Angeles,  May  21.— Abe  Mon- 
tue,  Columbia  general  sales  mail- 
er, looks  forward  to  a  better  under- 
•-nding  in  industry  relations,  he  told 
•legates  to  the  company's  western 
?ional  sales  convention  here  Satur- 
W.  Fifty  representatives  are  attend- 
%■    The  meeting  ends  Monday. 


London  Notes 


ondox,  May  21.— The  Films  Coun- 
I  at  its  meeting  Wednesday  will 
i>ider  the  trade's  memorandum  on 
ikes  included  in  the  new  budget. 


-t  is  believed  that  the  television  ad- 
ory  committee's  report  has  impelled 
Postoftice  department  to  consider 
establishment  of  television  statutes 
Manchester,  Leeds  and  Birming- 

W.   

t  is  reliably  reported  that  the  Cine- 
t'lgraphic  Exhibitors'  Association 
I  the  Kinematographic  Renters'  So- 
ty  (distributors)  have  asked  the 
stmaster  General  to  refuse  permis- 
n  to  theatres  to  show  BBC  tele- 
ts. 


To  Al,  from  Ed 

New  York,  N.  Y.( 
May  20,  1939. 
"Mr.  \V.  Al  Steffes, 

Nicollet  Hotel, 

Minneapolis,  Minn. 
"Because  Allied  and  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.  have  such  widely  dif- 
ferent approaches  to  industry 
problems,  and  because  I  feel 
that  the  placing  of  myself 
and  members  of  my  organi- 
zation on  your  committee  was 
in  jest,  and  that  we  would  not 
feel  like  injecting  our  view- 
points into  your  convention, 
feeling  also  that  whatever 
came  out  of  the  open  discus- 
sions your  board  of  directors 
would  still  speak  for  the 
convention,  as  in  the  past,  I 
can  see  no  benefits  to  be  de- 
rived for  your  or  my  organi- 
zation by  my  attendance. 

"I  also  have  meetings 
scheduled  with  stale  M.  P. 
T.  O.  A.  units  at  this  time. 

"May  you  have  a  well  at- 
tended, constructive  conven- 
tion. 

Kind  personal  regards, 
(Signed)  Ed  Kuvkendall, 
President  M.  P.  T.  O.  A." 


Promise  U.S.  Shorts 
For  BBC  Television 

(Continued  from  patic  1) 

ready  has  obtained  television  rights 
to  a  number  of  old  Walt  Disney  sub- 
jects through  United  Artists  in  Lon- 
don was  a  primary  factor  in  inducing 
the  American  companies  to  make  ad- 
ditional shorts  available. 

The  companies  feel  that  if  the  uni- 
versally popular  Disney  subjects  are 
in  use  already  it  would  be  pointless 
to  withhold  subjects  less  widely 
known.  The  fact  that  B.B.C.  is  a 
British  government  agency,  giving  an 
official  nature  to  the  request,  also  fig- 
ures in  the  decision. 

A  reasonable  price  will  be  paid  for 
use  of  the  subjects  which  are  designed 
for  showing  as  "fillers,"  that  is,  they 
will  be  used  only  between  television 
broadcasts  of  "live"  entertainment  or 
events,  and  not  as  a  program  in  them 
selves. 


4- A  Delays  Meeting 
On  Television  Rule 

Meeting  of  Associated  Actors  and 
Artistes  of  America  executive  board 
to  determine  jurisdiction  over  the  tele 
vision  field  scheduled  this  afternoon 
has  been  postponed  to  Wednesday.  A 
special  meeting  of  Actors'  Equity 
council  will  be  held  today  to  consider 
the  problem. 

Dispute  between  Equity  and  Amer- 
ican Federation  of  Actors  over  the 
production  of  "Ziegfeld  Follies"  at  the 
San  Francisco  World's  Fair  will  be 
settled  at  an  A.A.A.A.  meeting  today 
Question  is  whether  it  is  a  legitimate 
stage  attraction  or  an  outdoor  vaude 
ville  show. 


Housewarming 

Heywood- Wakefield  Co.  on  Friday 
had  a  "housewarming"  at  its  redeco 
rated  show  room  and  offices  at  1  Park 
Ave.  Company  officials  present  were 
Richard  N.  Greenwood,  president ;  H. 
C.  Perry,  Seth  Heywood,  F.  K.  Hill, 
Raymond  S.  Reed,  Leslie  Kinley,  Carl 
B.  Lugbauer  and  others. 


U.S.  Indicates 
Less  Than  10 
Trust  Actions 


(Continued  from  pufir  1) 

permits  the  Government  to  withhold, 
until  30  days  before  trial,  the  name 
of  any  witness  who  fears  reprisals, 
it  is  possible  that  the  prosecution  may 
decide  to  take  advantage  of  this  loop- 
hole and  refuse  to  name  any  except 
those  no  longer  doing  business  with 
any  of  the  defendants. 

On  the  other  hand,  some  attorneys 
believe  that  the  Government  may  re- 
spect the  spirit  of  the  order  and  sub- 
mit all  names  except  where  the  wit- 
ness has  a  genuine  fear  of  reprisals. 

If  the  Government  does  not  act  in 
good  faith,  it  was  also  pointed  out,  it 
may  lay  the  basis  for  the  rejection  of 
the  list  at  the  later  date.  If  such 
rejection  were  upheld  by  the  court, 
the  Government  would  be  precluded 
from  offering  any  evidence  bearing  on 
the  issue  of  coercion. 


International  Sells 
Its  Own  Equipment 

In  connection  with  the  new  West- 
ern Electric  Mirrophonic  "Master 
Sound"  system  for  theatres,  intro- 
duced May  15,  it  had  been  reported 
tliat  it  would  be  available  from  Erpi 
licensees. 

International  Projector  Corp.,  which 
manufactures  its  own  sound  system 
under  Erpi  license,  states  that  it  will 
continue  to  sell  only  its  own  equip- 
ment. Erpi  equipment  is  being  dis- 
tributed in  the  foreign  market. 


Halliday  New  Para. 
Studio  Story  Editor 

Richard  Halliday,  eastern  story 
editor  for  Paramount,  will  be  trans- 
ferred to  Hollywood  where  he  will 
succeed  Manny  Woolf  as  studio  story 
editor.  Woolf  will  supervise  the  Para- 
mount writing  department,  which  he 
has  been  doing  in  conjunction  with  the 
story  editorship.  Halliday  will  go  to 
the  coast  after  a  vacation. 


Jed  Harris  on  Coast 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Jed  Harris, 
Xew  York  stage  producer,  is  here. 
He  negotiated  the  sale  of  the  film 
rights  of  "The  Flying  Yorkshireman" 
to  RKO  as  a  vehicle  for  Eddie  Cantor, 
and  his  present  trip  was  to  close  for 
the  film  rights  of  "Our  Town"  to  Sol 
Lesser.  He  has  no  plans  to  enter  film 
production. 


Study  Foreign  Prints 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Academy  Re- 
search Council  committee  on  foreign 
releases  is  studying  the  results  of  a 
survey  of  foreign  release  print  condi- 
tion, technique  and  procedure.  Gerald 
M.  Best  of  Warners  is  chairman. 


Allen  Joining  Famous 

Alfred  A.  Allen,  manager  of  the 
Philadelphia  Orchestra,  is  resigning 
to  join  Harry  Edington's  Famous 
Productions,  which  will  release  next 
season  through  Universal. 


Loew's  Gives  $10,000 

Loew's,  Inc.  has  made  a  $10,000 
contribution  to  the  Greater  New  York 
Fund,  it  was  announced  by  Fund  au- 
thorities over  the  weekend. 


Missouri's  Ascap 
Bill  Faces  Defeat 

Jefferson  City,  Mo.,  May  21. 
— The  House  criminal  juris- 
prudence committee  has  put 
a  "Do  not  pass"  notation  on 
the  anti-Ascap  bill  introduced 
by  Representatives  Turner 
and  Hamlin.  This  is  a  re- 
introduction  of  a  measure 
that  had  been  offered  earlier 
in  two  bills,  both  of  which 
were  killed  by  the  Senate  and 
the  house  revision  committee. 


MGM  Office  Staffs 
Meet  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  May  21. — Fifth  of  a  se- 
ries of  M-G-M  regional  meetings  for 
office  managers,  bookers  and  checking 
supervisors  was  held  here  Saturday 
and  Sunday. 

Five  branches  were  represented,  as 
follows :  Chicago — John  G.  Kemptgen, 
office  manager ;  Edna  Frank,  David 
Moskovitz,  Walter  Bennin,  Harry  A. 
Hopkins,  Arthur  O'Toole,  Charles 
Vetrover.  Detroit — Gilbert  L.  Becker, 
office  manager ;  John  J.  Dembeck, 
A.  W.  Fitzgerald,  W.  B.  Potts. 

Indianapolis — F.  B.  Gauker,  office 
manager,  D.  S.  MacLeod,  D.  W. 
Taute.  Milwaukee — Joseph  H.  Im- 
hof,  office  manager,  A.  J.  Sontag, 
William  Sorenson.  Minneapolis — A. 
C.  Putz,  office  manager,  Arthur 
Zuelch,  George  J.  Deutz. 

Home  office  representatives  included 
A.  F.  Cummings,  C.  K.  Stern,  Joel 
Bezahler,  P.  D.  Agnew,  William 
Brenner  and  M.  L.  Simons. 


Monogram  Forming 
Non-Theatrical  Unit 

Establishment  of  a  non-theatrical 
division  here,  supervised  by  Joseph  A. 
Kehoe,  is  announced  by  Monogram. 
Each  Mongram  branch  in  the  country 
has  similarly  set  up  such  a  department 
to  handle  the  release  of  films  for  en- 
gagements which  do  not  compete  with 
regular  theatres. 


Western  Budgets  Raised 

Holly  w wood,  May  21. — Monogram 
has  set  higher  budgets  for  western 
production.  It  will  release  three 
series  of  outdoor  dramas. 


Cosmocolor  Deal  Set 
By  Franklyn  Warner 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Franklyn 
Warner,  president  of  Fine  Arts  Pic- 
tures, Inc.,  today  announced  the  pur- 
chase of  a  large  block  of  stock  in 
Cosmocolor,  new  color  process,  and 
plans  to  produce  six  pictures  in  color. 
The  first  will  be  "Trouble  Over  the 
Pacific"  with  a  $150,000  budget.  Al- 
though Fine  Arts  releases  through 
Grand  National,  no  deal  for  distribu- 
tion of  the  color  films  will  be  an- 
nounced until  a  realignment  of  G.  N. 
schedules  is  made,  Warner  said. 


Six  Shows  Close 

Six  legitimate  shows  closed 
on  Broadway  with  their  Sat- 
urday night  performances. 
They  were  "Swing  Mikado," 
"Mexicana,"  "Day  in  the  Sun," 
"Kiss  the  Boys  Goodbye," 
"Mamba's  Daughters,"  and 
"My  Heart's  in  the  Highland." 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  193' 


Bill  in  Florida 
Aims  to  Tax 
Film  Grosses 


Tallahassee,  Fla.,  May  21. — 
Amusements,  excepting  race  tracks 
and  those  from  which  receipts  go  to 
religious  or  fraternal  organizations, 
would  be  subject  to  a  10  per  cent 
gross  receipts  tax  under  a  bill  to  be 
introduced  in  the  house  by  Representa- 
tives E.  Clay  Lewis  and  Guy  M. 
Strayhorn. 

The  levy  would  be  made  on  the- 
atres, baseball  parks,  tent  shows,  ath- 
letic events  of  other  than  a  collegiate 
nature,  Lewis  said,  adding  that  the 
tax  should  bring  between  $1,500,000 
and  $2,000,000  per  year,  or  enough  to 
make  up  for  the  gross  receipts  tax  on 
merchants  which  has  been  repealed 
in  the  Senate  and  appears  likely  to  be 
repealed  in  the  House. 


Federal  Court  Puts 
Gregg  on  Probation 

Chicago,  May  21. — R.  E.  Gregg, 
operator  of  Pan-American  Film  Labo- 
ratories, who  pleaded  guilty  in  Fed- 
eral Court  last  week  to  violation  of 
the  copyright  law  by  making  unau- 
thorized prints  of  films,  on  Friday 
was  .  placed  on  probation  for  six 
months  by  Federal  Judge  Sullivan. 
At  the  same  time,  Judge  Sullivan 
formally  dismissed  a  conspiracy  count 
against  Gregg  and  Barney  Gold,  an 
associate,  but  granted  the  Government 
permission  to  reinstate  it  later  if  found 
desirable.  The  Copyright  Protection 
Bureau  succeeded  in  tracing  the  un- 
authorized prints  to  Gregg. 


Denies  Connection  with  Firm 

Chicago,  May  21. — John  R.  Freu- 
ler,  president,  American  Film  Corp., 
wants  it  made  clear  that  his  company 
has  no  connection  with  the  Pan-Amer- 
ican Film  Laboratories.  Freuler  says 
that  he  intends  to  return  actively  to 
the  industry. 


Distributors  Fight 
Canada  Profit  Tax 

Toronto,  May  21. — Canadian  dis- 
tributing companies  are  protesting  the 
decision  of  Finance  Minister  Charles 
Dunning  to  raise  the  special  tax  on 
excess  profits  sent  out  of  the  country 
to  home  offices,  the  increase  being 
from  two  percent  to  5  percent  on  the 
total  amount  of  such  cash  payments. 
*  The  move,  which  became  effective 
with  the  tabling  of  the  budget  in  the 
Canadian  House  of  Commons,  repre- 
sents the  restoration  of  the  super-tax 
to  its  original  level,  a  reduction  to 
two  percent  having  been  obtained 
when  distributors  made  vigorous  pro- 
tests to  the  Department  of  Finance. 


'City'  Opening  Friday 

"The  City,"  four-reel  documentary 
film  which  dramatizes  city  planning, 
will  open  at  the  Science  and  Educa- 
tion Building  at  the  World's  Fair  next 
Friday,  and  will  be  shown  to  the 
public  during  the  period  of  the  Fair. 


Hollywood  Previews 


''Ex-Champ" 

{Universal) 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Everybody  knows  that  Victor  McLaglen  is  a 
former  pugilist,  but  it's  taken  Hollywood  all  this  while  to  get  around 
to  giving  him  an  ex-pugilist  to  play.  He  does  it  as  if  he'd  been  waiting 
eagerly  for  a  crack  at  the  role.  His  performance  of  the  ex-champ  in  this 
ringside  melodrama  is  realistically  simple  and  powerfully  plain,  a  por- 
trayal from  which  the  many  actors  who  have  undertaken  similar  assign- 
ments without  benefit  of  ring  experience  may  take  valuable  lessons. 

The  ex-champ  played  by  McLaglen  is  an  earnest  fellow  who  has  in- 
vested his  life's  earnings  in  the  education  of  a  son  who  goes  high-hat 
on  him  and  marries  a  socialite  while  pretending  to  be  an  orphan.  Nan 
Grey,  the  ex-boxer's  daughter,  interests  him  in  training  Tom  Brown  for 
a  match  with  the  champion.  On  the  eve  of  this  match  the  ex-champ 
learns  his  boy  has  spent  money  not  his  own  and,  in  an  effort  to  save 
him  from  exposure,  plans  to  throw  the  fight.  The  surprise  ending  is 
a  happy  one. 

McLaglen's  excellent  performance  as  the  ex-champ  is  balanced  by 
William  Frawley's  humorous  portrayal  of  his  buddy.  Ably  directed  by 
Philip  Rosen  from  a  screenplay  by  Alex  Gottlieb  and  Edmund  L.  Hart- 
mann  based  on  Gordon  Kahn's  story,  the  film  is  free  of  mock  heroics 
and  emotional  excesses  commonly  found  in  fight  pictures,  strong  in  di- 
rectness and  plainness.  Jack  Otterson's  settings  and  associate  producer 
Burt  Kelly's  general  arrangements  are  in  key. 

Running  time,  72  minutes.   "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


"The  Gorilla" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  May  21. — The  zany  Ritz  Brothers  are  on  the  loose  again, 
this  time  in  a  new  version  of  an  old  thriller,  "The  Gorilla,"  in  which 
they  cavort  as  three  private  detectives  engaged  to  guard  the  occupants 
of  a  house  honeycombed  with  mysterious  passages.  Chief  attributes  of 
the  picture  are  the  antics  of  the  Ritzes,  who  contribute  nothing  new  in 
their  characterizations,  the  suspense  and  laughs  created  by  a  real  and  a 
bogus  gorilla,  and  comedy  contributed  by  Patsy  Kelly.  Others  in  the 
cast  are  Anita  Louise,  Lionel  Atwill,  Bela  Lugosi,  Joseph  Calleia, 
Edward  Norris,  Wally  Vernon,  Paul  Harvey  and  Art  Miles. 

Containing  nostalgic  items  of  the  silent  film  era's  posterior  buffeting, 
the  story's  action  takes  place  in  an  old  house,  occupants  of  which  are 
menaced  by  "The  Gorilla,"  a  notorious  murderer.  The  common  ruse  of 
supplying  a  multitude  of  suspects  is  applied,  with  the  climax  coming  as 
Harry  Ritz  uncovers  the  real  criminal. 

Running  time,  67  minutes.  "G."*  Vance  King. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Enroll  Anti-Fascist 
Hollywood  Writers 

Hollywood,  May  21. — A  member- 
ship drive  will  be  started  this  week 
by  the  League  of  American  Writers 
to  enlist  scenarists  in  the  campaign  to 
fight  the  spread  of  Fascism,  it  was 
disclosed  today.  It  was  first  pro- 
posed that  the  group  be  an  intramural 
part  of  the  Screen  Writers  Guild,  but 
this  idea  was  rejected.  Some  SWG 
members  have  been  anxious  for  an 
organization  which  would  stress  "cul- 
tural activities." 


Warners  Defy  Ohio 
Bank  Night  Warning 

Mansfield,  O.,  May  21. — Warners' 
Madison  Theatre,  despite  threats  by 
Mayor  Hunter  that  arrests  will  fol- 
low awarding  of  prizes  in  Bank 
Night,  will  re-establish  the  game 
Thursday. 

William  M.  Skirball,  Cleveland 
theatre  operator  and  co-lessee  of  the 
Madison  with  Warners,  said : 

"I'll  be  on  hand  to  take  the  rap 
if  there  is  one.  If  necessary  the  case 
will  be  taken  into  court." 


Enterprise  Plus 


Harlan,  la.,  May  21. — The  Browns,  father  and  son,  had  a  prob- 
lem and  enterprise  solved  it  for  them. 

Able  to  procure  only  one  print  of  "Union  Pacific"  and  desiring 
to  show  the  pictures  simultaneously  at  their  theatres — the  Harlan 
here  and  the  Harris-Avoca  at  Avoca — they  faced  a  difficult 
situation. 

Avoca  is  12  miles  from  Harlan.  The  Browns  stationed  three 
cars  at  their  theatre  here.  After  the  first  reel  was  shown,  the 
car  raced  it  to  Avoca.  Other  reels  followed  at  20-minute  intervals. 
As  soon  as  a  reel  was  finished  at  Avoca,  it  was  rushed  back  to 
Harlan  in  time  for  the  next  show. 

A  total  of  750  miles  was  covered  with  the  film  during  the  three 
days'  showing  at  both  houses. 


Para.  Parley 
To  Draw  250 
To  Hollywood 


Hollywood,  May  21. — Paramount': 
250  delegates  to  the  convention  hen 
June  7  to  10  inclusive  will  be  giver 
a  royal  reception. 

They  will  be  met  by  a  band  onyir- 
riving  in  San  Bernardino  andfh^i1 
corted  to  Los  Angeles  where  bussS 
will  take  them  to  the  studio  for  i 
welcoming  program. 

Business  sessions  will  start  Thurs- 
day, June  8,  with  William  LeBaron 
Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Harold  Hurlej 
and  others  making  addresses.  Neil 
F.  Agnew,  general  sales  manager 
will  outline  the  new  season's  pro- 
gram on  June  9,  followed  by  a  lunch- 
eon and  screenings.  Final  event  will 
be  a  banquet  in  the  Ambassadoi 
Hotel's  Cocoanut  Grove. 


Dinner  at  Chicago 
Honors  Salomon 

Chicago,  May  21. — Civic  and  religi- 
ous leaders  attended  a  dinner  lay 
night  to  honor  the  memory  of  Hayn 
Salomon,  Jewish  hero  of  the  Ameri- 
can Revolution.  Guests  saw  the  w^ork 
premiere  of  "Sons  of  Liberty,"  War- 
ner short  based  on  the  life  of  Salo- 
mon. Guests  included  Alben  W.  Bark- 
ley,  majority  leader  of  the  U.  S.  Sen- 
ate ;  _  Most  Rev.  Bernard  J.  Sheil 
Auxiliary  Bishop,  Catholic  Archdio- 
cese of  Chicago;  Rev.  Duncan  H 
Brown,  Rector  of  St.  James  Episcopal 
Church,  and  Rabbi  Michael  Aaron- 
sohn,  of  Cincinnati.  Also  at  the  speak- 
ers' table  were  Mayor  Kelly,  Col 
A.  A.  Sprague,  Laurance  H.  Armour. 
Edgar  L.  Schnadig  and  Lester  N. 
Selig. 


Theatre  Leased  for 
Chicago  Reel  Houst 

Chicago,  May  21. — Lease  for  si 
600-seat  theatre  in  the  Loop  has  beerl 
signed  bv  a  group  which  plans  tc 
give  Chicago  its  first  newsreel  housf  j 
about  the  first  of  next  year.  Site  ii  ,j 
the  new  Capitol  Building  at  Randolpl  i 
and  State  Sts. 

Financial  group  reported  interestec  I 
in  establishing  a  national  newsree;  j 
theatre  circuit  includes  Paul  Felix  I 
Warburg,  Angier  Biddle  Duke,  Her- 1 
bert  Scheftel  and  Edwin  J.  Reeves  I 
Their  first  newsreel  house  is  operat-  ] 
ing  in  San  Francisco.  The  one  here! 
is  the  second  to  be  made  known. 


Local  52  Confabs 

Further  conferences  between  easterr 
producers  and  Studio  Technicians' 
Union,  Local  52,  may  be  held  this 
week.  Discussions  Friday  failed  to 
produce  an  agreement  but  considerable 
progress  was  reported. 


Frank  NTS  Branch  Heao 

James  Frank,  Jr.,  has  been  pro- 
moted from  the  sales  promotion  de-' 
partment  of  National  Theatre  Sup- 
ply to  manager  of  the  New  York' 
branch,  succeeding  C.  H.  Secor,  re- 
signed. 


Sign  Lamour  and  Baker 

Leonard  Joy,  manager  of  Victor 
Recording  Co.,  has  signed  Dorothy 
Lamour  and  Kenny  Baker  for  record- 
ings on  the  Victor  Blue  Bird  seal. 


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8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  19' 


Air  Monopoly 
Hearings  End; 
Report  in  Fall 


Washington,  May  21. — Having 
finished  its  anti-monopoly  hearings 
which  began  Nov.  14,  1938,  the  Fed- 
eral Communications  Commission  is 
now  studying  more  than  15,000  pages 
of  testimony  and  700  exhibits. 

F.C.C.  officials  predict  that  the  com- 
mittee, in  view  of  the  exceptionally 
heavy  record  to  be  digested,  will  not 
be  able  to  make  a  report  to  the  full 
commission  before  September  at  the 
earliest. 

Included  in  the  record  are  opinions 
of  network  officials,  transcription  com- 
panies, broadcasters  and  representa- 
tives of  labor  and  other  organizations 
interested  in  broadcasting. 

Writers  Congress 
Will  Debate  Radio 

American  Writers  Congress,  meet- 
ing June  3  at  Carnegie  Hall,  this 
year  will  include  a  radio  session  in 
its  agenda  for  the  first  time. 

Prize-winning  shows  will  be  pre- 
sented and  discussed  by  Arch  Obeler 
of  NBC,  Robert  Shayon  of  Mutual 
and  Norman  Corwin  of  CBS.  Jerry 
Danzig  of  Mutual,  Lew  Titterton  of 
NBC  and  Max  Wylie  of  CBS,  in 
another  session,  will  discuss  writing 
for  radio. 

In  a  round-robin  on  broadcasting, 
Phil  Cohan  and  Evans  Roberts  of  the 
Federal  Radio  Theatre  and  the  others 
will  discuss  radio  generally.  H.  V. 
Kaltenborn  will  be  chairman  of  the 
round-robin. 


Pillsbury  Renews  Show 

Pillsbury  Flour  Mills  Co.,  spon- 
soring the  dramatic  serial,  'Women 
in  White,"  heard  Monday  through 
Friday  on  the  NBC-Red,  has  renewed 
the  series  for  another  year,  effective 
May  29.  Series  is  broadcast  from 
10:45  to  11  A.  M.  The  Hutchinson 
advertising  agency  has  the  account. 


Rogers  to  Farnsworth 

Cincinnati,  May  21.  —  John  T. 
Rogers,  vice-president  of  the  Crosley 
Corp.,  in  charge  of  the  private  brands 
division,  has  been  appointed  vice- 
president  and  treasurer  of  the  Farns- 
worth Television  and  Radio  Corp.,  at 
Fort  Wayne,  Ind. 


Wire  Programs  Formed 

Dover,  Del.,  May  21.— Wire  Pro- 
grams, Inc.,  has  been  incorporated 
here  to  deal  in  radio  broadcasting, 
with  a  capital  of  100  shares,  no  par 
value.  The  incorporators  are  David 
H.  Jackman,  John  E.  Cosgrove,  and 
Edwin  E.  Lindgren  of  New  York. 


Install  Television 
In  Gramercy  Park 

Gramercy  Park  Cinema  will 
install  a  General  Electric  tel- 
evision receiver  in  its  lounge 
early  in  June.  The  house 
will  be  the  fifth  local  theatre 
to  be  equipped  with  televi- 
sion. Sam  S.  Kestenbaum  is 
manager  of  the  Cinema. 


►  Radio 
Personals  4 

JOHN  TAYLOR,  script  supervisor 
at  the  Compton  agency,  to  Chicago 
for  a  week  of  conferences  with  Irna 
Phillips,  Jane  Cruisenberry  and  Paul 
Rhymer,  authors  of  three  Chicago- 
originated  shows  handled  by  Comp- 
ton. 

William  S.  Paley,  CBS  president, 
has  been  elected  a  director  of  the  Pan 
American  Airways  Corp.  .  .  ."Chuck" 
Goldstein,  of  the  "Modernaires"  is 
father  of  a  baby  girl. 

Judy  Canova  and  Nick  Lucas  have 
been  added  to  the  NBC  television  cast 
for  this  week's  schedule. 

Nanette  Steinhauser,  daughter  of  Si 
Steinhauser,  radio  editor  of  the  Pitts- 
burgh Press,  arrives  tomorrow  to  ap- 
pear on  Dave  Elman's  "Hobby  Lobby" 
.  .  .  Dave  Driscoll  of  Mutual's  special 
events  staff  will  leave  for  the  In- 
dianapolis speedway  races  May  27  as 
guest  of  Capt.  Eddie  Rickenbacker 
.  .  .  Ben  C.  Featherston,  formerly 
with  Life  Office  Management  Asso- 
ciation, has  joined  the  media  depart- 
ment at  the  Compton  agency. 

Horn  Show  to  Move; 
10  Years  on  W ABC 

The  Horn  and  Hardart  Flour, 
broadcast  over  WABC  for  the  past  10 
years,  and  the  oldest  client  on  the 
CBS  key  station,  will  shift  to  WEAF, 
effective  June  4,  on  a  52-week,  non- 
cancellable  contract.  It  will  be  heard 
on  Sundays  from  10:30  to  11:30 
A.  M.  until  Aug.  27.  Effective  Sept. 
3  it  will  be  heard  from  11  A.  M. 
until  noon. 


Lyons,  Daniels  on  BBC 

Ben  Lyons  and  Bebe  Daniels,  for- 
mer Hollywood  stars  now  residing  in 
England,  will  headline  the  BBC 
Music  Hall  program  June  10,  which 
will  be  short-waved  here  and  car- 
ried by  the  Mutual  network  from  3 
to  4  P.  M. 


RCA  Shifts  Under  hill 

Joseph  L.  Underbill,  for  10  years 
manager  for  RCA  Photophone,  Ltd., 
London,  has  returned  to  Camden  to 
take  up  a  new  post  under  the  direction 
of  Max  C.  Batsel,  chief  engineer. 


FCC  Calendar 


Washington,  May  21. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  has 
made  public  its  calendar  of  hearings 
on  broadcasting  cases  as  follows : 

May  23:  Application  of  WREN, 
Lawrence,  Kan.,  for  authority  to  move 
studio  to  Kansas  City,  Mo.,  and  trans- 
mitter to  Kansas  City,  Kan. 

May  24 :  Application  of  Patrick- 
Henry  Broadcasting  Co.  for  a  new 
1,420-kilocycle  station  at  Martinsville, 
Va.,  with  100  watts  power  night,  250 
watts  day. 

May  25 :  Applications  of  Sentinel 
Broadcasting  Corp.  for  a  new  620- 
kilocycle,  1,000-watt  station  at  Sa- 
lina,  N.  Y. ;  Civic  Broadcasting  Corp. 
for  a  new  1,500-kilocvcle.  100-watt 
station  at  Syracuse ;  WHJB,  Greens- 
burg,  Pa.,  for  extension  of  time  from 
day  to  unlimited  and  increase  of  power 
from  250  to  1,000  watts,  and  M.  L. 
Medley  for  a  new  1,370-kilocycle  sta- 
tion at  Cookeville,  Tenn. 


Bill  Granting  FCC 
Copyright  Control 
Offered  in  House 


Washington,  May  21. — Bill  grant- 
ing Federal  Communications  Commis- 
sion full  authority  over  the  licensing 
of  copyrighted  works  has  been  intro- 
duced in  the  House  by  Representa- 
tive Moser  and  referred  to  the  Com- 
mittee on  Patents. 

The  bill  proposes  that  where  a 
copyright  holder  refuses  to  grant  per- 
mission for  the  performance  or  print- 
ing of  his  work,  the  F.C.C.  may  grant 
such  license  and  fix  the  royalties 
without  the  consent  of  the  author  or 
dramatist.  F.C.C.  would  first  deter- 
mine if  such  licensing  is  in  the  pub- 
lic interest  and  then  hold  hearings  to 
determine  what  price  to  fix.  The  bill 
does  not  limit  the  commission's  juris- 
diction to  radio,  and  it  would  affect 
all  fields  using  copyrights,  including 
films. 

'Fu  Manchu'  Series 
Booked  in  Michigan 

King-Trendle  have  acquired  the 
"Shadow  of  Fu  Manchu"  series  for 
their  Detroit  station,  WXYZ,  with 
possible  expansion  to  the  Michigan 
network  indicated.  Allen  Campbell, 
general  manager  of  King-Trendle,  and 
William  Anderson  of  Radio  Attrac- 
tions handled  the  deal.  Latter  firm 
is  distributor. 

In  another  contract  for  the  same 
series,  the  Des  Moines  Register  and 
Tribune  is  using  the  discs  as  promo- 
tion for  the  paper.  Stations  are 
KRNT,  Des  Moines;  WMT,  Cedar 
Rapids,  and  KMA,  Shenandoah. 

Hearing  Set  June  1 
On  Broadcast  Rules 

Washington,  May  21. — The  F.  C. 
C.  has  set  June  1  as  date  for  hearing 
of  arguments  upon  exceptions  to  the 
proposed  new  rules  governing  regular 
broadcast  stations  and  standards  of 
engineering  practice.  The  new  rules 
were  drafted  by  Commissioners  Nor- 
man S.  Case,  Commander  T.  A.  M. 
Craven  and  George  Henry  Payne. 


Air  Liehowitz  Dinner 

Harry  Rich-man,  Jimmy  Durante, 
Orson  Welles,  Lou  Holtz,  Milton 
Berle  and  Harry  Hershfield  comprised 
the  entertainment  at  the  testimonial 
dinner  to  Attorney  Samuel  Liebowitz 
at  the  St.  George  Hotel  yesterday, 
which  was  broadcast  by  WMCA. 


Babb  Joins  Brewers 

J.  Vance  Babb,  who  resigned  as 
manager  of  the  NBC  press  depart- 
ment last  year,  has  joined  the  United 
Brewers  Industrial  Foundation  as  di- 
rector of  publicity.  Babb  begins  his 
new  work  today. 


Resigns  at  WSAI 

Cincinnati,  May  21. — C.  J.  Thorn- 
quist,  sales  manager  of  WSAI,  has 
resigned.  Dewey  Long,  general  man- 
ager, is  handling  his  duties  until  a 
successor  is  named. 

Set~WMCA~Series 

Allic  Lowe  Miles  has  a  new  series 
of  programs  over  WMCA  on  Sun- 
days from  7:30  to  8  P.  M„  titled 
"Falling  in  Love." 


anner 
LINE! 


A SHORT  while  ago,  followirj 
some  claims  by  Lou  RuppeH 
CBS  press  department,  Clay  Morgsfl 
of  NBC  addressed  to  this  column  j 
good-natured  complaint  about  CBS  ir! 
accuracies.  Now  a  note  from  RuppJ 
says  that  Morgan  should  move  oil 
of  a  glass  house. 

Ruppel  asks  us  to  call  Morgan's,  a 
tention  to  the  fact  that  he  is  no  lwjlf 
managing  editor  of  the  Chicago  Tr-,ih 
Morgan,  it  seems,  persists  in  sendir- 
letters  to  Ruppel  in  Chicago,  eviN 
though,  writes  Ruppel : 

"I've  told  him  about  the  error  \\ 
his  mailing  list  several  times  at  Dutc-i 
Treat  luncheons.     Would  you  mir 
calling  it  to  his  attention?     It  migr 
help." 

Anything  for  a  friend,  sez  we.  Tl 
attention  of  Morgan  is  hereby  calk 
— we  hope. 

Incidentally,  we  like  the  pencil  hf 
tation  written  by  Gail  Borden,  Ru] 
pel's  successor  on  the  Times,  on  tl 
last  letter  sent  by  Morgan  to  Rupp. 
in  Chicago.  In  forwarding  the  le  j 
ter  to  CBS  Borden  jotted  down: 

"Your  pal  sure  wastes  stamps." 

▼ 

Warner  Bros.'  "White  Ban- 
ners," whose  radio  rights  are 
owned  by  T.  W.  Radio  Produc- 
tions, will  most  likely  be  sold  to 
a  sponsor  within  the  week, 
▼ 

If  early  indications  are  any  criteric! 
— and  we  believe  they  are — the! 
Frank  Hummert  again  has  prove  i 
that  he  is  the  smartest  and  shrewde 
trader  in  radio,  in  arranging  that  ti< 
up  with  WMCA  whereby  the  loc: 
station  rebroadcasts  during  evenir  I 
hours  transcribed  versions  of  tl  j 
Blackett  -  Sample  -  Hummert  agency ' 
daytime  serial  scripts. 

We  know  of  no  other  agency  witl 
enough  gumption  to  attempt  such 
revolutionary  arrangement.  We  cs 
conceive  of  some  agency  timidly  pit 
chasing  perhaps  one  or  two  15-miif 
ute  periods  for  local  duplication  < 
network  shows,  but  to  step  forth  at 
buy  a  block  of  time  of  two  hours,  c 
a  one-year  non-cancellable  basis — Mi 
required  daring.  It  deserves  the  sui! 
cess  it  is  achieving. 

T 

Irving  Mansfield  is  handling  f| 
Eddie  Cantor  •account,  the  Tom  Fi: 
dale  publicity  office  having  lost  tl 
banjo-eyed  comic  to  Mansfield. 

The  signing  of  Nick  Kenny,  son? 
writing  columnist  of  the  New  Yor 
Mirror,  and  his  brother  Charley,  il 
write  songs  for  M-G-M  pictures,  j 
further  proof  that  the  boys  are  head 
ing  for  an  AA  Ascap  rating  If  the 
do  that  before  the  year  is  out  thei 
will  have  accomplished  it  in  the  unb(;| 
lievably  short  span  of  two  years.  J 

In  the  past  two  years  they  hav 
turned  out  eight  consecutive  hit 
which  is  a  better  batting  record  f(: 
such  a  span  than  even  Irving  Berli 
or  Jerome  Kern  have. 

The  climb  started  with  "Carelessly  I 
and  continued  consecutively  wit 
"Cabin  of  Dreams,"  "Goldmine  ii 
the  Sky,"  "While  a  Cigarette  W; 
Burning,"  "It's  a  Lonely  Trail  Win 
You're  Travelin'  All  Alone,"  "Catln 
dral  in  the  Pines,"  "I  Need  a  Frienc 
(from  the  Paramount  picture,  "Bac 
Door  to  Heaven"),  and  their  lates 
"Little  Skipper." 

— By  Jack  Banne 


Alert, 


MOTION  PICTURE 


riLL  UUMY 
DO  NOT  P-EMQVC 


MR.    MAURICE  MCKENZIE, 
%  MOTION   PICTURE   PROD.  & 
DIST.    OF   AMERICA,  INC. 
2  3   WEST  44TH   ST. , 
NEW  YORK,    N.  Y. 


t-icture 
Industry 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


45.  NO.  99 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  MAY  23,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


dlied  Forum 
May  Get  New 
Draft  of  Code 


ew  York  Unit  Will  Open 
Convention  Today 

Distributors'  committee  intends  to 
ve  the  trade  practice  code  in  suf- 
lently  completed  form  by  Thursday 
l>e  able  to  reveal  the  revised  ar- 
Tation  pro- 
Sure  at  the 
ten  forum  of 
New  York 
lied  conven- 
n  that  after- 
on. 

»[  a  x  A  . 
•hen.  p  r  e  s  i- 
nt  of  the  unit, 
lich  opens  its 

st  annual  con- 
ntion  at  the 
otel  Astor  to- 
y.  has  invited 

-industry  par- 
•ipation  in  the 
rum,  which  is 
ipected  to 
His,  on  the  code. 

It  has  been  indicated  that  New 
•rk  Allied  is  dissatisfied  with  na- 
nal  Allied's  attitude  on  the  code 
Sotiations.  The  unit  may  seek  to 
.re  its  parent  organization  continue 
ively  in  the  negotiations  in  order 
make  the  code  effective  as  soon  as 
;sible. 

rfarry  G.  Kosch,  counsel  for  New 
'rk  Allied,  stated :  "I  am  against 
vernment  intervention  of  any  kind, 

(Continued  on  pane  3) 


Max  A.  Cohen 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  22.— J.  Cheever 
wdin,  chairman  of  Universal's 
ird,  and  Joseph  Seidelman,  foreign 
'es  manager,  left  by  plane  tonight 
Xew  York.  Seidelman  sails  May 
Ion  the  Normandic  for  two  months' 
y  abroad. 


imanuel  Silverstone,  who  remained 
"e  on  business  following  U.  A.  con- 
»ion,  left  tonight  for  San  Francisco 
ere  he  will  visit  exhibitors  and  at- 
d  fair  tomorrow  and  Wednesday. 

will  stop  Over  two  days  in  Chi- 
o  on  return  trip  to  New  York, 
ere  he  expects  to  arrive  early  next 
riek. 


Aarners  will  produce  "City  of  the 
gels,"  featuring  Errol  Flynn,  Olivia 
Havilland  and  Alan  Hale. 


Allied  States  Abandons 
'Divorce'  by  Legislation 


U.S.  Ready  to  File  Third 
Trust  Suit  on  Coast,  Report 

Reports  were  current  here  yesterday  that  the  Government  will 
file  its  third  anti-trust  suit  against  the  industry  at  Los  Angeles 
in  the  next  few  days,  possibly  this  week.  Actions  are  pending 
in  New  York  and  Oklahoma  City. 

Thurman  \V.  Arnold,  assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General  in  charge 
of  the  film  prosecution,  is  in  Los  Angeles,  presumably  in  connec- 
tion with  this  matter.  Attorney  General  Frank  Murphy  leaves 
Washington  for  the  coast  tomorrow,  primarily,  it  was  said,  to  keep 
a  speaking  engagement. 


Film  Men  in  Europe 
Fight  Odds-Wobber 

Americans  are  more  pessimistic 
over  the  European  situation  than  the 
film  men  in  Europe  themselves,  re- 
ported Herman  Wobber,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox general  sales  manager,  who 
returned  yesterday  from  abroad.  He 
attended  the  company's  Paris  and 
London  conventions. 

"We  in  America  think  it  is  worse 
than  it  really  is,"  Wobber  said.  "Our 
staffs  over  there  are  fighting  against 
great  odds  but  are  not  discouraged, 
despite  the  difficult  conditions." 

The  company  is  re-establishing 
Spanish  headquarters  this  week,  with 
M.  J.  Messeri,  formerly  in  charge  of 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


IATSE  Dissolves 
Technicians  Union 

Hollywood,  May  22. — The  breach 
between  International  I.A.T.S.E.  of- 
ficers and  heads  of  Studio  Technicians 
Local  37  widened  today  when  the 
Alliance  International  dissolved  Local 
37  and  created  five  new  organizations 
to  replace  it. 

Newly-chartered  groups,  announced 
by  J.  W.  Buzzell,  executive  secretary 
of  the  Central  Labor  Council,  are : 
Motion  Picture  Studio  Grips  Local 
80,  Motion  Picture  Prop  and  Special 
Effects  Men  Local  44;  Motion  Pic- 
ture Studio  Laborers  and  Utility 
Workers  Local  727 ;  Motion  Picture 
Studio  Chief   Electricians,  Floormen 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Showing  of  Banned  Films 
Protested  By  Exhibitors 


New  York  theatre  men  yesterday 
aggressively  expressed  their  unanimous 
protest  against  the  showing  of  "The 
Puritan,"  banned  by  the  New  York 
State  Censor  Board,  and  all  other 
similar  non-theatrical  films  which 
compete  directly  with  regular  estab- 
lished theatres. 

"The  Puritan,"  a  French  product 
which  is  the  case  study  of  a  murderer- 
religious  fanatic,  is  the  newest  picture 
to  arouse  the  ire  of  exhibitors. 

"The  Puritan,"  whose  banning  was 
upheld  by  the  Board  of  Regents,  was 
shown  Sunday  continuously  from  4 
to  9  :30  P.  M.  at  the  New  School  for 
Social  Research  in  an  auditorium  with 
a  seating  capacity  exceeding  500,  un- 


der auspices  of  Film  Audiences  for 
Democracy,  a  recent  merger  of  Asso- 
ciated Film  Audiences  and  Films  for 
Democracy.  A  third  sponsor  was  the 
Theatre  Arts  Committee. 

Illegality  of  such  a  showing  was  cir- 
cumvented by  the  requirement  that 
each  person  pay  an  "assessment  fee" 
of  50  cents.  The  law  forbids  the  pay- 
ment of  admission  to  any  banned  film. 

Spyros  Skouras,  president  of  Na- 
tional Theatres,  commenting  on  this 
illegal  competition,  said : 

"These  showings  unquestionably  are 
in  direct  competition  with  theatres." 

Others  who  agreed  with  him  were 
Charles  Moscowitz  of  Loew's,  John  J. 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Cole  Says  Organization 
Puts  Faith  in  U.  S. 
Trust  Actions 


By  AL  FINESTONE 

Allied  States  has  dropped  its  cam- 
paign to  obtain  "divorcement"  of  ex- 
hibition from  production  and  distribu- 
tion by  legislation,  and  will  pin  its 
hopes  on  the  Government's  anti-trust 
suit  pending  in  New  York  to  achieve 
this  reform,  it  is  disclosed  by  Col. 
H.  A.  Cole,  president. 

Cole  is  here  for  the  New  York  Al- 
lied convention,  which  starts  today. 

"To  sponsor  such  bills  in  48  dif- 
ferent states  requires  a  lot  of  effort 
and  money,"  said  Cole.  He  declared 
his  belief  in  the  success  of  the  Govern- 
ment's prosecution  to  bring  about  this 
and  other  changes  in  the  industry's 
practices  which  Allied  has  sought  for 
years. 

The  only  "divorce"  law  known  to 
be  sponsored  by  Allied  was  the  North 
Dakota  statute  which  was  repealed 
this  year.  Several  bills  have  been  in- 
troduced in  other  states,  but  Allied 
leaders  have  disclaimed  responsibility. 

The  organization's  leaders  had 
hoped  for  a  Supreme  Court  decision 
on  the  North  Dakota  statute  as  a 
guide  to  further  legislation  of  the  same 
kind.  But  repeal  of  the  law  prevented 
an  opinion  from  the  high  court. 

Fate  of  the  trade  practice  code  as 
far  as  Allied  is  concerned  will  not  be 
determined  until  the  national  board 
meets  in  Minneapolis  on  June  13  in 
conjunction  with  the  national  conven- 
tion. 

Cole  said  that  the  Allied  negotiating 
committee,  disbanded  March  1,  will 
not  be  recalled. 

"The  distributors'  committee  has  de- 
clared that  it  has  made  the  maximum 
concessions,  and  the  rest  is  a  matter 
of  phraseology,"   said   Cole.  "Under 

{Continued  on  page  3) 


Newsreels  Vision 
Ocean  Air  Speed 

Newsreels  are  watching  the 
trans-Atlantic  airplane  serv- 
ice of  Pan  American  Airways, 
launched  Saturday,  as  a  pos- 
sible means  of  shipping  prints 
from  Europe  in  far  less  time 
than  that  currently  con- 
sumed via  liners.  In  its 
initial  flight,  the  Yankee 
Clipper  spanned  the  North 
Atlantic  in  26 '/2  hours.  Liners 
cross  the  ocean  in  five  days. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  1939 


 1 

Roth  Gets  New! 
Republic  Post; 
Benjamin  Too 

J.  R.  Grainger,  Republic  president, 
yesterday  announced  appointment  of 
William  Benjamin  as  central-midwest 
district  sales  manager. 

Beginning  May  29,  Benjamin  yf.'l 
supervise  the  Kansas  City,  St.  Lc%jjf 
Omaha  and  Des  Moines  territories, 
headquartering  at  Kansas  City.  These 
exchanges  were  formerly  handled  by 
Max  Roth,  midwest  sales  chief,  who 
will  concentrate  on  the  Chicago,  Mil- 
waukee, Indianapolis  and  Minneapolis 
branches.  Detroit  will  be  transferred 
from  the  central  division  under  the 
new  setup. 

Benjamin,  in  New  York  conferring 
with  Grainger,  leaves  for  his  territory 
the  end  of  the  week. 

Grainger  also  announced  that  Ar- 
thur Newman  has  been  named  Re- 
public's sales  representative  in  the  Al 
bany  area. 


Equity  Urges 
$75  Minimum 
For  All  Actors 


Issue  of  a  $75  weekly  minimum  for 
actors  on  the  legitimate  stage  was  re- 
vived by  Actors'  Equity  yesterday. 
The  council  elected  a  committee  of 
eight,  headed  by  E.  J.  Blunkall,  to 
study  the  question  and  report. 

Present  minimum  is  $40  but  the  ex- 
isting one-year  contract  expires  in 
August.  Appointment  of  the  commit- 
tee yesterday  was  made  in  preparation 
for  the  start  of  negotiations. 

Heretofore,  Equity  has  refrained 
from  fixing  minimums  at  too  high  a 
scale  because  it  was  feared  that  it 
might  affect  employment.  Lately, 
however,  Equity  has  changed  its  stand 
and  is  insisting  that  other  unions  make 
the  concessions.  When  the  question 
of  Sunday  shows  was  broached  last 
month,  Equity  insisted  that  all  other 
unions  consent  before  a  referendum 
of  Equity  membership  was  started. 
When  the  stagehands  balked,  Equity 
/efused  to  go  ahead. 

Equity  is  also  resentful  at  the  atti- 
tude taken  by  the  Theatrical  Mana- 
gers, Agents  and  Treasurers'  Union. 
Recently,  when  a  comedy  was  about 
to  fold,  the  actors  kept  it  alive  (it 
is  still  running)  by  voluntarily  ac- 
cepting minimums  and  placing  the  en- 
tire cast  on  a  cooperative  basis.  The 
T.M.A.T.,  however,  refused  to  lower 
its  $150  minimum  for  press  agents. 

Equity  will  hold  its  annual  meeting 
at  the  Hotel  Astor  Friday.  Bert  Ly- 
tell,  vice-president,  will  preside. 


B.-K.  Records  Filed 
With  U.  S.  in  Court 

Chicago,  May  22. — The  admission 
of  documents  into  the  court  record  is 
still  going  on  in  the  government's 
anti-monopoly  suit  against  Balaban  & 
Katz  and  other  majors.  This  will 
probably  continue  throughout  the 
week.  The  government  will  then  have 
its  auditors  examine  the  documents, 
after  which  the  case  will  come  up 
formally  for  trial. 


Chicago  Air  Show 
Rights  to  Moore 

Chicago,  May  22.  —  James  Moore, 
RKO  talent  scout,  today  closed  a  deal 
whereby  he  will  have  screen  rights 
to  all  "First  Nighter"  radio  plays 
that  have  been  broadcast  during  the 
last  nine  years.  Moore  will  make 
these  plays  into  three-reelers  starting 
this  fall. 


New  Stage  Show 

Only  new  Broadway  stage 
production  this  week  is 
"Clean  Beds,"  by  George  S. 
George  (Youacca  G.  Satovsky) 
which  is  scheduled  to  open  at 
the  Golden  tonight.  It  is  a 
story  of  derelicts.  Vadim 
Uraneff  directed  and  Cled, 
Inc.,  produced.  The  cast  in- 
cludes Joseph  Holland,  Sheila 
Trent,  Nat  Burns,  Emma 
Bunting,  Pat  Gleason,  James 
Welch  and  others. 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


MORRIS  JOSEPH,  Universal 
New  Haven  manager  since  1914, 
will  be  honored  today  at  a  silver  an- 
niversary cocktail  party  at  the  ex- 
change. William  Scully,  F.  J.  A. 
McCarthy  and  Al  Herman  will  go 
from  the  home  office,  and  Nat  Furst, 
Maurice  Wolfe,  Herman  Rifkin 
and  Steve  Broidy  will  attend  from 
Boston. 

Herbert  Crooker,  manager  of  the 
Macfadden  exhibit  at  the  World's 
Fair,  has  been  named  director  of  the 
Macfadden  Studio,  in  charge  of  the 
photographic  illustrations  of  the  Mac- 
fadden publications. 

Hal  Horne,  vice-president  of  dis- 
tribution for  Walt  Disney  Produc- 
tions, returned  yesterday  from  a  three- 
week  stay  at  the  studio,  accompanied 
by  Richard  Condon  of  the  Disney 
eastern  publicity  office. 

• 

Charles  F.  Riesner,  directing 
Walter  .Wanger's  "Winter  Car- 
nival," has  completed  his  second  book 
on  child  psychology,  "The  Inch-Highs 
in  Grown-Up  Land." 

• 

Ardis  Gaines,  New  York  girl,  has 
been  signed  by  Warners  and  her  first 
role  will  be  opposite  Joel  McCrea  in 
"Career  Man."  Her  film  name  will  be 
Brenda  Marshall. 

• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Roy  of  the 
State,  Eugene,  Ore.,  have  registered 
at  the  RKO  World's  Fair  head- 
quarters. 

Harry  M.  Bessey,  secretary-treas- 
urer of  Altec,  has  returned  from  a 
10-day  trip  through  Mississippi,  Ar- 
kansas and  Alabama. 

• 

Austin  Keough,  Paramount  vice- 
president  and  secretary,  has  returned 
to  New  York  from  a  month's  vaca- 
tion in  the  south. 

• 

George  Palmer  Putnam  and  Mrs. 
Jean-Marie  Consigny  James  of  Los 
Angeles  were  married  over  the  week- 
end.   They  are  en  route  east. 
• 

Mrs.  Hal  Roach  and  her  daughter, 
Margaret,  leave  New  York  tonight 
for  their  home  in  Hollywood  after  10 
days  in  New  York. 

• 

Moe  Howard,  Larry  Fine  and 
Jerry  Howard,  the  Three  Stooges, 
sail  tomorrow  on  the  Queen  Mary  for 
their  first  bookings  abroad. 

• 

Casey  Robinson,  Warner  writer, 
has  left  Hollywood  for  New  York, 
and  will  go  to  Eurone  for  an  extended 
vacation. 

• 

Oscar  Deutsch,  head  of  the  Odeon 
circuit  in  England,  has  been  named  a 
director  of  Denham  Laboratories,  Ltd. 
• 

Nat  I.  Walken  of  the  Grand  and 
State.  Salem,  O.,  is  convalescing  from 
an  appendicitis  operation. 

• 

Paul  Rotha,  English  documentary 
film  producer,  is  the  author  of  a  book, 
"Documentary  Film." 

• 

Ben  Goetz,  M-G-M  production 
head  in  England,  leaves  Wednesday 
on  the  Queen  Mary  with  Mrs.  Goetz. 


LOUIS  B.  MAYER,  M-G-M  vice- 
president,  and  Howard  Strick- 
ling,  studio  publicity  head,  are  en 
route  to  the  coast  from  an  'eastern 
visit. 

• 

Chester  L.  Tobias,  superintendent 
of  the  laboratory  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture division  of  the  Army  Air  Corps 
at  Wright  Field,  Dayton,  is  in  Holly- 
wood studying  laboratory  .procedure 
for  two  months. 

• 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  Universal 
board  chairman,  arrives  in  New  York 
today  from  the  coast  by  plane.  An- 
thony Petti,  assistant  to  Cowdin, 
is  en  route  to  New  York  by  train. 
• 

Roy  Haines,  eastern  and  Canadian 
sales  manager  for  Warners,  left  yes- 
terday for  a  trip  to  the  Montreal  and 
Toronto  branches.  He  will  return  at 
the  end  of  the  week. 

• 

George  Roberts,  20th  Century-Fox 
district  manager  in  Cleveland,  and  I. 
J.  Schmertz,  branch  manager,  are 
due  this  week  for  two  days  of  home 
office  conferences. 

• 

Ernest  A.  MacKenna,  Ross  Fed- 
eral executive,  and  Doris  M.  Wil- 
liams of  New  Orleans  will  be  mar- 
ried in  that  city  June  28. 

Vera  Zorina  has  left  for  Holly- 
wood to  start  in  Warners  "On  Your 
Toes." 


'Lincoln'  Premiere 
To  Draw  Notables 

Springfield,  111.,  May  22. — Alice 
Brady,  Arleen  Whelan,  Binnie  Barnes, 
Eddie  Collins  and  Cesar  Romero  will 
head  a  contingent  of  Hollywood  stars 
who  will  attend  the  premiere  of  20th 
Century-Fox's  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln" 
here  on  the  night  of  Memorial  Day. 
More  than  100  writers  and  many  nota- 
bles will  attend.  There  will  be  a  coast- 
to-coast  broadcast. 


Sheriff  Literary 

Adviser  for  Korda 

London,  May  22.  ■ —  Alexander 
Korda  has  appointed  R.  C.  Sheriff, 
author,  as  literary  adviser  in  the  new 
organization  of  Alexander  Korda  Film 
Productions.  His  first  assignment  is 
on  "Thief  of  Bagdad,"  for  which  he 
wrote  the  screenplay. 


Rhoden  on  Committee 

Kansas  City,  May  22. — Elmer  C. 
Rhoden,  head  of  Fox  Midwest  The- 
atres, Inc.,  has  been  named  a  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Forward  Kansas  City  Committee.  The 
committee  was  formed  last  week  by 
leading  Kansas  City  civic  and  busi- 
ness leaders  to  push  cleanup  of  the 
local  political  mess. 


'Follies'  Dispute 

Another  meeting  of  Associated  Ac- 
tors &  Artistes  of  America  will  be 
held  today  to  determine  whether 
American  Federation  of  Actors  or 
Actors'  Equity  has  jurisdiction  over 
"Ziegfield  Follies"  at  the  San  Fran- 
cisco World's  Fair.  Yesterday's  con- 
ference failed  to  reach  a  decision. 


Collective  Buying 
For  Actors  Urgeo 

All  actor  unions  have  been  re- 
quested to  send  delegates  to  a  Con 
sumers'  Cooperative  Conference  b} 
Paul  Turner,  counsel  to  Associate! 
Actors  and  Artistes  of  America.  Nc 
date  has  been  set  for  the  meeting 
Plans  have  been  laid  for  cooperativi 
purchasing  by  actors. 

Although  the  idea  has  been  afoo 
for  some  time,  the  recent  wholesal 
eviction  of  actors  from  midtown  hotel 
to  make  room  for  World's  Fai 
visitors  has  stimulated  the  movemenl 
Principal  purpose  of  the  plan  is  i 
permit  actors  to  increase  their  pur 
chasing  power  by  collective  buying. 


Reelection  for  All 
Para.  Officers  Seei 

No  change  in  Paramount  officers  i 
expected  to  occur  at  the  annual  elec 
tion  about  June  22,  following  the  an 
nual  meeting  of  stockholders.  Re 
election  of  Barney  Balaban,  president 
Adolph  Zukor,  chairman ;  Stanto, 
Griffis,  executive  committee  chairman 
Austin  Keough,  secretary,  and  a! 
other  officers  is  anticipated. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  O  ft 'ice) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  an 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAME 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Con 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasure 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  < 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  TelephoiK 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubci 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  193 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Im 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yor 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Mono 
Picture  Herald.  Better  Theatres.  Teatr' 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictur 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  — Hollywood :  Postal  Unio 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boor 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weave 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  I 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squati 
W.  1:  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londor 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2'. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  tt 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.   Single  copies  10' 


Wsday.  May  23,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


illied  Drops 
Divorcement' 
3y  Legislation 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tese   circumstances.    I    can   see  no 
cessity  for  further  negotiations." 
2At    the    Minneapolis  convention, 
&  will  be  an  "open  forum"  on  the 
^fe,  with  distributor  and  exhibitor 
jolcesmen  participating.     This,  said 
Be,   will   be   in   the   nature   of  a 
nass  meeting,"  and  while  a  vote  on 
ie  code  will  be  taken  of  the  indepen- 
dent exhibitors  present.  Cole  makes 
ear  that  Allied  will  not  be  bound  by 
e  result. 

"Allied's  policies  are  determined 
jlely  by  vote  of  the  directors,  who 
present  every  affiliated  unit,"  he 
id.  "I  am  not  saying  that  conven- 
bn  vote  may  not  have  a  tremendous 
feet  on  the  decision  of  the  board,  but 
,any  of  the  ballots  will  be  cast  by  ex- 
bitors  from  the  Minneapolis  area. 
"Allied's  board,  however,  repre- 
nts  all  sections  of  the  country,  and 
-vote  by  the  directors  would  be  truly 
;|>resentative  of  Allied  sentiment  na- 
jually." 

Cites  Oklahoma  Suit 

Cole  described  the  Government's  an- 

I  trust  suit  in  Oklahoma  City,  involv- 
-)g  the  Griffith  circuit  and  major  dis- 
libutors,  as  a  "complement"  to  the 

fijor  action  pending  in  New  York. 

'"It  was  inevitable,"  he^said,  "that 

«  Department  o?  Justices  oiild  •wove 
;  ainst  independent  circuits  with  large 

lying  power  when  exercised  unfairly 

•ainst  competition. 

"The  Oklahoma  suit  will  determine 
»e  'right  to  buy'  for  which  Allied  has 
!  mended  and  which  the  Department 
Justice  now  recognizes.  The  New 
ork  suit  will  determine  other  issues. 
"It  seems  to  me  that  the  major  com- 
mies would  find  it  to  their  advantage 
\  recognize  the  'right  to  buy'  as  hold- 
g  possibilities  for  greater  revenue 
rough  free  competition. 

More  Suits  Called  Certain 

"The  Government  is  not  stopping 
j  tli  these  two  suits.  I  believe  there 
jll  be  more. 

""But  it  is  not  too  late  for  the  dis- 
butors  to  stop  the  Government's 
^mpaign.  They  can  do  it  by  making 
equate  concessions. 
Applications  have  been  filed  for 
Hied  units  by  exhibitors  in  three 
ates. 


New  York  I.T.O.A. 
Defers  Meeting 

Harry  Brandt,  president, 
J  has  postponed  a  regular 
j  meeting  of  the  New  York  I. 
T.  O.  A.  scheduled  for  tomor- 
row in  order  to  permit  mem- 
bers to  attend  the  New  York 
Allied  convention. 

The  I.  T.  O.  A.,  a  Greater 
New  York  City  organization, 
is  cooperating  with  Allied, 
which  is  a  state  unit.  Brandt's 
group  has  a  booth  at  the  Al- 
lied convention  with  a  large 
banner  on  which  is  inscribed 
a  welcome  to  visiting  exhib- 
itors. 


30  DISPLAYS  AT  ALLIED 


Exposition  to  Show  N.  Y.  Exhibitors  Most 
Modern  Theatre  Equipment 


Thirty  displays,  including  theatre 
equipment  and  accessories  and  film 
company  exhibits,  comprise  the  expo- 
sition phase  of  the  New  York  Allied 
convention  opening  at  the  Hotel  Astor 
today.  The  exhibits  are  just  outside 
the  grand  ballroom  where  the  sessions 
will  be  held. 

Manufacturers  and  dealers  have  set 
up  their  most  up-to-date  equipment, 
with  company  representatives  on  hand 
to  demonstrate  or  explain  new  devel- 
opments. 

Many  exhibitors  will  get  their  first 
glimpse  of  television  at  an  RCA  re- 
ceiver which  is  scheduled  to  pick  up 
daily  NBC  programs.  Adjacent  to 
it  is  a  demonstration  of  an  RCA  cellu- 
lar speaker.  Ed  Cahill,  Homer  Snook, 
Ed  Auger,  E.  T.  Jones  and  Bernie 
Scholtz  will  be  present. 

International  Projector  Corp..  has 
set  up  its  Simplex  "Four  Star"  the- 
atre reproducer  incorporating  the  com- 
pany's latest  developments.  Herb 
Griffin,  vice-president,  and  others  will 
be  then.-. 

Hornstein  Exhibit  Largest 

The  largest  exhibit  is  that  of  Joe 
Hornstein,  who  has  displays  for  Ideal 
Seating,  Brenkert  Light  Projection 
Co.,  Motiearaph  sound  equipment, 
Robin  Imperial  generators,  Raytone 
sound  screens  and  A.  &  M.  Karag- 
heusian  rugs.  In  addition  to  Horn- 
stein, Carl  Brenkert  and  L.  W.  Davee, 
Motiograph  eastern  division  manager, 
will  be  on  hand. 

Sanitary  Automatic  Candy  Co., 
headed  by  Charles  C.  O'Reilly,  former- 
ly head  of  the  Theatre  Owners' 
Chamber  of  Commerce,  will  distribute 
free  samples  at  a  display  of  attendant 
and  automatic  types  of  vendors.  Ben 
Sherman  will  be  present. 

National  Carbon  Co.  has  a  display- 
board  of  carbon  trims  for  projection 
and  studio  lighting.  W.  C.  Kunz- 
mann,  P.  D.  Ries  and  F.  Hohmeister 
will  be  there. 

American  Seating  Co.  will  have  the 
latest  in  theatre  seating  and  models 
installed  at  the  World's  Fair.  On 


hand  will  be  Kenneth  Hunter,  James 
Yermeulen,  L.  N.  Olmstead  and  R. 
W.  Wood. 

Dictograph  Products  Co.  (Walter 
Smith  and  YVillard  Mears)  has  a 
"hearing  well'  to  demonstrate  aids  for 
patrons  who  are  hard  of  hearing. 

Vallen,  Inc.  will  show  curtain  tracks 
(and  controls.  E.  J.  Vallen  of  Akron, 
'president,  and  Lee  Spivack,  eastern 
'representative,  are  here.  Spivack  has 
-just  opened  a  New  York  office  at  229 
West  42nd  St. 

i  National  Screen  Accessories 
i  Charles  L.  Casanave,  general  man- 
has  lobby  displays.  National 
■SoSlfeen  Service  officials  also  will  be 
mingling  with  the  exhibitors. 

Altec  Is  Represented 

Altec  Service  Corp.  will  be  repre- 
sented by  L.  W.  Conrow,  president, 
Bert  Sanford  and  others,  to  explain 
its  theatre  service. 

Film  companies  are  represented  at 
the  exposition.  Several  cutouts  of 
I  eg  the  Lion  as  a  traffic  cop  guide  vis- 
i  ^  to  the  M-G-M  display.  W.  R. 
Ferguson,  Eddie  Carrier  and  Capt. 
Volney  Pheifer  will  greet  visitors. 

Monogram's  booth  is  decorated  with 
silk  banners  announcing  next  season's 
,product.  Lou  Lifton  and  Russell  Bell 
will  be  on  hand,  and  W.  Ray  Johson- 
ston,  Edward  Golden  and  George  W. 
Weeks  will  attend. 

An  electric  flasher  will  call  atten- 
tion to  the  Columbia  booth,  where 
Lou  Weinberg,  Lou  Astor,  Maurice 
Bergman  and  Frank  McGrann  will 
greet  visitors.  » 

Paramount,  Warners,  RKO,  20th 
Century-Fox,  Universal  and  Republic 
are  also  represented.  H.  M.  Richey 
is  the  RKO  greeter. 

Other  exhibits  include  National  The- 
atre Supply,  which  has  equipment  and 
accessories  displayed  in  three  booths ; 
Premier  Scenery  Studio,  National 
Committee  for  Education  (Book 
Night),  Novelty  Games  Co.,  Dennis 
Games,  Hollywood  Advertising  Co. 
and  C.  S.  Ashcraft  Manufacturing  Co. 


IATSE  Dissolves 
Technicians  Union 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
and  Lamp  Operators  Local  72,  and 
Motion  Picture  Studio  Projectionists 
Local  165. 

Buzzell  declared  the  International 
move  was  to  combat  radicalism  and 
CIO  leanings  of  Local  37  members. 
All  members  of  Local  37  are  being 
given  member-at-large  status  and  will 
be  officially  notified  to  take  out  cards 
in  newly-created  groups. 

Splitting  up  of  Local  37  came  as  the 
trial  of  counter  suits  for  control  of 
the  organization  was  called  today  in 
Superior  court.  Denyinsr  a  motion  for 
continuance  made  by  the  International, 
Judge  Willis  ordered  triaLto  proceed 
tomorrow  morning. 

Floyd  M.  Billingsley,  International 
vice  presidept,  is  in  town.,  directing 
the  changeover. 


Film  Men  in  Europe 
Fight  Odds- Wobber 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Spain,  as  managing  director,  Wobber 
said.  The  main  problem  there  is 
frozen  currency  accumulations. 

Wobber  said  that  the  British  film 
industry  is  not  worried  about  tele- 
vision. He  had  a  receiver  with  12  by 
15-inch  screen  in  his  hotel  room  in 
London  and  programs,  two  or  three 
hours  daily,  were  satisfactory.  But  in 
his  opinion  television  is  still  primitive 
and  "will  need  a  lot  of  money  for 
development." 

Four  of  the  10  films  being  made  for 
20th  Century-Fox  in  England  will  be 
distributed  here  during  1938-'40.  Two 
of  these  may  be  Gracie  Fields  pictures. 

This  was  Wobber's  first  trip  to 
Europe  in  12  years.  He  was  accom- 
panied by  Mrs.  Wobber.  He  expects 
.t(W&ave  soon  f°r  the  coast  prior  to 
W'start  of  the  S.  R.  Kent  Drive.'1 


Allied  Meeting 
May  Get  New 
Draft  of  Code 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

whether  legislative  or  judicial.  I  am 
in  favor  of  conciliating  all  differences." 

National  Allied's  policy  is  at  vari- 
ance with  this  view. 

Sales  executives  and  company  law- 
yers worked  on  a  rephrasing  of  the 
code's  arbitration  provisions  at  a 
seven-hour  session  yesterday.  The 
lawyers  are  to  meet  today,  and  their 
draft  will  be 
submitted  at  a 
joint  conference 
with  sales  heads 
later  in  the 
.—■PI  week.  U  p  o  n 
/»  j  final  approval, 
the  draft  will  be 
made  available 
to  exhibitors  im- 
mediately. 

New  York 
Allied's  conven- 
tion will  start 
at  noon  today 
with  a  meeting 
of  directors  and 
state  officers. 
The  first  gen- 
eral session  is  scheduled  for  2  P.  M. 
in  the  Astor's  grand  ballroom. 

This  evening  the  reception  commit- 
tee, including  representatives  of  film 
companies,  will  entertain  the  delegates. 
Those  who  register  will  be  given 
tickets  good  for  tonight's  performances 
at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall,  Capitol, 
Paramount  and  "Juarez"  at  the  Holly- 
wood. 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  national  Allied 
president,  and  Abram  F.  Myers,  gen- 
eral counsel,  will  speak  at  tomorrow's 
session. 


Harry   G.  Kosch 


Showing  of  Banned 
Films  Is  Protested 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

O'Connor  of  RKO  Theatres,  Monroe 
Stein,  general  counsel  for  the  Cocalis 
Circuit,  and  Samujel  Rosen,  vice-presi- 
dent of  Fabian- Theatres.    Rosen  said: 

"It  stands  to  reason  that  people  at- 
tending the  showing  of  such  films,  re- 
gardless of  the  locality,  are  kept  away 
from  the  theatres,  in  that  locality." 

Such  films  are  used  mostly  to  raise 
funds  for  organizations.  Similar  shows 
were  recently  held  by  the  American 
Newspaper  Guild,,  which  had  screened 
"The  Puritan,"  in  addition  to  "Stolen 
Life,"  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy" 
and  "The  Mikado." 


Sales  Policies  Told 
At  Columbia  Parley 

Hollywood,  ,  May  22.  —  The  third 
and  final  day  of  Columbia's  western 
sales  convention  today  was  devoted  to 
explanation  of:  sales  policies  govern- 
ing the  marketing  of  40  features,  16 
westerns,  four  seiials  and  120  shorts. 

The  sales  forc«was  being  schooled 
in  importance  of* Directors  Frank  Ca- 
pra,-  Wesley  Ruggles,  Frank  Lloyd, 
Howard  Hawks,  Alexander  Hall  and 
Rouben  Mamoulian  in  the  new  sea- 
son's product. 

A.  Montague,  general  sales  manager, 
and  Rube  Jackter,  assistant,  will  leave 
tomorrow  for  New  York. 


This  Stops  Fast  Drivers 


Never  a  let-up!  Fall  and  Wint 


NOWHERE  ELSE  IS  THERE  ANYTHIM 

PART  OF  OUR  SUMMB 


For  the  Summer!  For 

JUAREZ  •  THE  KID  F! 

Muni  and  Davis  in  the  No.  1  dramatic  attraction  of  all  timet  Funnier  and  speedier  than  1 

For  the  Summer! 

HELL'S  KITCHEN  •  A 

First  big  starring  show  for  the  'Dead  End'  Kids  since  'Crime  School'!  John  Garfiel 

For  the  Summer! 

THE  DEVIL  ON  WHEELS 

Most  UnUSUal,  mOSt  thrilling  Story  Of  dare-devil  driversl  (Pat  O'Brien,  John  Payne,  Ann  Sheridan) 


>ps  Fast  Talkers! 


KID  FROM  KOKOMO 
AMILY  AFFAIR 
MAN  WHO  DARED 


BROTHER  RAT 
DEVIL'S  ISLAND 


THE  SISTERS 


ANGELS  WITH  DIRTY  FACES 
THE  DEVIL  ON  WHEELS 
VELL'S  ISLAND 


FOUR  DAUGHTERS 


>pring  and  Summe  ! 


T  APPROACHES  EVEN 
HEDULE! 


nmerl 


f 


m  KOKOMO 

■  ayne  Morris,  Pat  O'Brien,  other  top  names!) 

^or  the  Summer! 

VIILY  AFFAIR 

'lughters,  and  'Four  Daughters'  cast  and  director  reunitedl 

For  the  Summer! 

ICH  DAWN  I  DIE 

Co-starring  Cagney  and  Raft!  Terrific  follow-up  for  'Angels'! 


Vvarners 


are  on  top! 

The  Record  is  Here! 
The  Record  Proves  It! 


JACK  L.  WARNER  •  HAL  B  WALLIS 

In  Charge  of  Production  Executive  Producer 


MoTidN  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  1939  * 


'Heaven'  Hits 
Big  $2*3,600 
In  L.  A.  Spots 


Los  Angeles,  May.  22.— "East  Side 
of  Heaven"  and  "Twelve  Crowded 
Hours"  scored  heavily,  with  a  total 
of  $23,600  at  two  Hifflses,  $11,600  at 
the  Hillstreet  and  $12;i)00  at  the  Pan- 
tages.  Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  17 : 

"Stolen.  Life"  (Para.) 

4-STAR— (900)   (40c-50c)  5  days.  Gross: 
$2,700.   (Average.  $3,250) 
"East   Side  of   Heaven"  (Para.) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)  (30c-65c) 
Gross:  $11,600.   (Average.  $6,500) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE — (2,500)  (30c-$l.)  7  days 
Gross:  $14,700.  (Average,  $14,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Para.) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)     (30c-65c)  7 
Gross:   $12,000.   (Average,  $7,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT — (3.595)    (30c-65c)  7 
3rd  week.    Stage:  F.  &  M.  revue.  Gross: 
$16,500.    (Average,  $15,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.B.) 

WARNER     BROS.  (HOLLYWOOD)- 
(3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$9,700.  (Average,  $14,000)..-- 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"   (W.B.)  y, 

WARNER     BROS.  (DOWNTOWN)-? 
(3,500)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$9,500.  (Average.  $12,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

WILSHIRE— (2,300)  (30c-$l)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,900. 


days. 


days. 


days. 


'Pacific'  Garners 
$14,500,  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  May  22.  —  "Union 
Pacific"  did  the  best  comparative 
business,  bringing  the  RKO  Palace  a 
smash  $14,500  on  an  eight-day  run. 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  pulled  a 
strong  $15,500  at  the  RKO  Albee. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17-20 : 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

RKO   ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:    $15,500.     (Average,  $12,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)  (35c-42c)  8  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.  (Average,  7  days,  $10,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  SHUBERT—  (2,150)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,300.  (Average,  $10.- 
000) 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

RKO  CAPITOL  (2,200)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,200)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:    $3,900.     (Average,  $6,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

RKO   GRAND— (1,200)    (25c-40c)    7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $2,000.    (Average,  $2,700) 
"Mr.  Moto  On  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 
"Adventures  of  Jane  Anden"    (W.  B.) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)   (20c-30c)  4  days. 
Gross:   $1,100.     (Average,  $1,000) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 
"Sunset  Trail"  (Para.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20e-30c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $900.    (Average,  $900) 
"San  Francisco"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S—  (1,500  (30e-40c)  5rfdays.  Gross: 
$2\20O.     (Average,  7  days,  $<S0OO)  "> 


Million  Dollar  Prod. 
Sets  Deal  with  Sack 

Hollywood,  May  ?22. — Harry  M. 
Popkin,  general  manager  of  Million 
Dollar  Productions,  Inc.,  producing 
Xegro  features,  and  Alfred  Sack  of 
Sack  Amusement  Enterprises  have 
closed  a  deal  whereby  Sack  will  dis- 
tribute the  Million  Dollar  product. 

Both  companies  will  retain  their 
identities,  and  Sack  will  open  ex- 
changes in  Los  Angeles  and  New 
York.  Lester  J.  Sack,  vice-president, 
will  be  in  charge  in  New  York. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Hidden  Power" 

(Columbia-Darmour) 

Hollywood,  May  22. — A  soundly  contrived  human  interest  story, 
rather  than  slam-bang  action  common  in  most  Larry  Darmour  produc- 
tions which  star  Jack  Holt,  is  the  entertainment  and  commercial  sub- 
stance of  "Hidden  Power."  Sensibly  written  by  Gordon  Rigby,  whose 
evident  aim  was  to  provide  thrills  that  would  influence  the  mind  and 
imagination  rather  than  physical  reactions,  the  show,  which  Lewis 
D.  Collins  directed  thoughtfully  and  with  disregard  for  formula,  gives 
Holt  an  exceptional  chance  to  be  convincing  as  a  humanitarian  who 
ignores  the  possibility  of  profit  that  mankind  might  benefit  by  his  chem- 
ical discovery. 

Accidentally  discovering  a  compound  that  has  great  medical  proper- 
ties and  which,  in  addition,  is  a  powerful  explosive,  Holt  loses  his  job 
when  an  assistant,  experimenting  against  orders,  blows  up  the  plant. 
His  refusal  to  take  financial  advantage  of  the  explosive  leads  to  a  domes- 
tic rift.  However,  continuing  his  experiments  to  make  his  formula 
medically  safe,  after  it  has  been  believed  to  be  the  cause  of  one  fatality, 
he  finally  perfects  it.  His  success  comes  just  in  time  to  save  the  life  of 
his  son,  Dickie  Moore,  who  had  been  seriously  burned  in  an  auto  acci- 
dent which  caused  the  death  of  his  mother,  Gertrude  Michael. 

Played  seriously,  the  only  humor  being  that  pertaining  to  a  good  pal 
father  and  son  relationship,  the  picture  undoubtedly  will  be  quite  a  sur- 
prise to  Jack  Holt's  fans,  but  at  the  same  time  one  that  is  potent  and 
powerful  enough  to  grip  and  hold, the  attention  of  audiences.  While 
Ho^  dominates  the  picture",.  he^is^given^"gobd  sT!S^tfI|^Mx)ore,  Miss 
Michael,  William  B.  Davidson;,'*' Hejfry  Kolker,  HatryfHayden,  Marylin 
Knowlden  and  Christian  Rub. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


"Wolf  Call" 

(Monogram) 

Hollywood,  May  22. — George  West's  screenplay  brings  Jack  London's 
novel  up  to  date  with  something  of  a  bang,  supplying  airplanes,  radio, 
a  radium  mine  and  other  materials  the  late  writer  of  redblooded  fiction 
died  too  young  to  deal  with,  but  the  essential  plot  is  unchanged.  John 
Carroll  plays  the  hero,  exercising  his  robust  baritone  voice  on  two  songs 
by  Fleming  Allen,  and  Movita,  who  shares  them  with  him,  plays  the  half- 
breed  heroine.  Holmes  Herbert,  Peter  George  Lynn,  Guy  Usher  and 
Polly  Ann  Young  have  principal  supporting  roles,  while  Grey  Shadow 
and  an  unnamed  sweetheart  take  care  of  the  canine  assignments  ade- 
quately. 

Paul  Malvern  is  down  as  producer,  for  Scott  R.  Dunlap  and  George 
Waggner  directed.  The  story  opens  in  New  Y'ork  with  Carroll  and  Miss 
Young  as  reckless  participants  in  a  party  treasure  hunt.  Next  morning 
Carroll's  father  sends  him  to  the  Northwest  to  look  after  a  radium  mine 
which,  unknown  to  him,  his  employes  are  trying  to  obtain  for  the  nefari- 
ous monopolists  who  have  been  keeping  the  price  of  radium  extortionately 
high.  Here  he  meets  the  halfbreed  girl  he  falls  in  love  with,  a  fighting 
priest,  a  backwoods  chemist  and,  of  course,  various  villains.  His  dog 
meets  and  falls  in  love  with  a  wolf.  When  Carroll  has  outwitted  the 
plotters  and  brought  the  price  of  radium  within  the  reach  of  all,  he  and 
the  dog  decide  to  stay  in  the  Northwest  with  their  respective  loves. 

Running  time,  61  minutes.  "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Handles  Foreign  Films 

'  Transatlantic  Films,  Inc.,  has  been 
organized  by  Eugen  Scharin,  formerly 
with  20th  Century-Fox  and  RKO  in 
Europe,  to  distribute  foreign  films, 
mostly  French,  in  this  country.  The 
films  include :  "La  Maisofi  du  Mal- 
taise,"  "White  Slave  Girl,";  "Conflict," 
"Drama,  de  Shanghai,"  'Girlhood," 
"Wedding  in  White"  andi"No  More 
Lovers." 


Charity  Premiere 

Rivoli  Theatre  is  preparing  a  re- 
served seat  charity  premiete^  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn's  "Music  School," 
featuring  Jascha  Heifetz,  on  or  about 
July  15. 


'Hardys'  at  $8,700 
Is  Leader  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  May  22. — "The  Hardys 
Ride  High"  and  "One-third  of  a  Na- 
tion" took  a  good  $8,700  at  the 
Omaha,  while  "Alan  of  Conquest'-'  and 
"Sorority  House"  drew  $6,400  at  the 
Brandeis. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17-19: 

"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

BRANDEIS — (1,200)  '(25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,400.    (Average.  $4,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"One- Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,700.  (AverajZ£_,$6,000) 
"Cafe  Society^Para.) 
"Beachcomber"  (Para.) 

.  ORPHEUM  —  (3,000)  (25c-4flc)  7  days. 
;;Gttoss:  $8,400.    (Average.  $7,600) 


'Nazi  Spy'  Is 
Hub  Winner 
With  $22,000 


01 


Boston,  May  22. — "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy"  and  "Torchy  Runs  for 
Mayor,"  dualing  at  the  Metropolita 
took  a  big  $22,000.  "Let  Freed" 
Ring"  and  "Broadway  Serena 
playing  at  the  Loew  houses,  Orpheum 
and  State,  took  $14,500  and  $12,000 
in  that  order. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17 : 

"Call  of  the  Wild"  (Mono.)   (4  days  with 
vaude.) 

"Lone  Wolf  Spy  Hunt"  (Col.)  (4  days  with 
vaude.) 

"The    Three    Musketeers"     (2Cth-Fox)  (3 
days) 

"Inside  Story"  (ZOth-Fox)  (3  days) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,200)  (20c-30c- 
40c).     Gross:   $6,000.     (Average,  $8,500) 
"The    Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell" 

(20th-Fox) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (2Cth-Fox) 

KEITH    MEMORIAL— (2,907)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $13,000. 
(Average,  $14,500) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (1,797)  (2Sc-35c-40c-55c) 
7  days.     Gross:  $8,500.     (Average,  $8,000),. 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police"  (Para.) 

FENWAY  —  (1,382)    (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $6,000.     (Average,  $5,300) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average, 
$15,000) 

"Let  Freedom  Ring",  (M-G-M) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM'— (2,900 1  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE  —  (3,600)  (25c-35e-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average, 
$10,500) 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.)   (2nd  run) 
"My  Wife's  Relatives"  (Rep.) 

SCOLLAY  —  (2,500)  (25c-35c-40c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $8,500.     (Average,  $5,000). 


'Rose9  at  $6,500  as 
Providence  Slumps 

Providence,  May  22.  —  Grosses 
were  generally  off  here,  with  "Rose  of 
Washington  Square"  and  "Sweep- 
stakes Winner"  doing  the  best  com- 
parative business  with  $6,000  at.  the 
Majestic. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17-18: 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Outside  These  Walls"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,230)    (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)    (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)  (25c-35c-50c)  2nd  week. 
5  days.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average  for  seven 
days,  $6,000) 

'They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 
"White  Woman"  (Para.  Revival) 

RKO -ALBEE — (2,239)  (25c-35c-50c)  5  days.l 
Gross:  $2,200.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Big  Town  Czar"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)     (25e-35c-40c)  Vaudeville. 
7  days.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average.  $6,500) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

CARLTON — (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 


Two  Houses  Cut  Prices 

Mansfield,  O.,  May  22. — Warners' 
Ohio  has  reduced  the  matinee  price 
from  30  to  20  cents,  and  the  evening 
rate  from  42  to  35  cents.  Adrissions 
at  Warners'  Madison,  showing  duals, 
have  been  cut  to  15  cents  for  matinee, 
and  25  cents  evenings. 


HELLO 


Allied  States  Exhibitors! 


An  absolute  sensation  at  the  Astor,  N.  Y.  and  4 -Star  Theatre,  L.  A. 
Topping  "Pygmalion"  and  now  being  launched  in  the  same 
showmanship  manner.  A  friendly  hit  from  the  Friendly  Company. 


Directed  by  SAM 
WOOD.  Screen  Play 
by  R.  C.  Scherriff. 
Claudine  West  and 
Eric  Maschwitz. 
Produced  by  Victor 
Saville.  An  M-G-M. 
Picture. 


GOODBYE  MR.  CHIPS 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  IS 


TRUE  STORIES  FROM  ALTEC  FILES 


V.  U.  YOUNG 

President, 
Theatrical  Man- 
agers, Inc., 
Gary,  Indiana 


Inspectors  Saved 
Important  Event, 
House  Owner  Says 


GARY,  INDIANA— "For  nearly  a  year,  we 
had  been  having  trouble  with  our  public 
address  system  at  the  Palace  Theatre  here" 
said  V.  U.  Young,  president  of  the  Theat- 
rical Managers,  Inc.  Circuit,  "and  we  were 
particularly  concerned  about  its  function- 
ing properly  during  a  style  show  for  which 
we  had  enlisted  large  community  interest 
and  support. 

"Our  Altec  Inspector  R.  C.  Gray,  and 
D.  A.  Swanagan,  from  the  Altec  Chicago 
office,  cheerfully  put  in  long  hours  work- 
ing under  high  tension  on  the  problem, 
and  never  gave  up  until  our  troubles  were 
licked.  Our  style  show  was  a  complete 
success. 

"It  is  that  kind  of  work  by  Altec  field 
men  that  reminds  theatre  operators  of  the 
value  of  Altec  service  and  forcibly  reminds 
them  of  how  great  a  protection  Altec  serv- 
ice is  to  owner  and  manager  alike." 


The  Altec  service  inspector  takes  personal 
pride  in  belonging  to  an  organization 
which  renders  to  its  exhibitor  customers 
service  that  goes  beyond  the  required  obliga- 
tion. Let  the  Altec  man  in  your  locality 
explain  how  Altec  service  can  "bring  out 
the  best"  in  quality  and  performance,  in 
the  equipment  now  in  your  theatre. 


^LTEC 

250  West  57th  Street,  New  York  City 

THE  SERVICE  ORGANIZATION 
OF  THE  MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


SDG  Reelects 
Capra,  Ratifies 
Producer  Pact 


Hollywood,  May  22. — Frank  Capra 
last  night  was  reelected  president  of 
the  Screen  Directors  Guild,  which 
also  ratified  the  producer-director 
basic  studio  agreement. 

Other  officers  named  were  W.  S. 
Van  Dyke,  first  vice-president ;  John 
Cromwell,  second  vice  -  president ; 
Frank  Tuttle,  secretary,  and  Phil 
Rosen,  treasurer. 

Elected  to  the  board  of  directors 
were  John  Ford,  William  K.  How- 
ard, Gregory  LaCava,  Rowland  V. 
Lee,  Frank  Lloyd,  Rouben  Mamou- 
lian,  Lewis  Milestone,  Leo  McCarey, 
King  Vidor,  William  Wellman  and 
William  Wyler. 

David  Friedman,  recently  named 
president  of  the  Unit  Managers  Guild, 
Inc.,  addressed  the  directors,  inform- 
ing them  that  his  Guild  had  ratified 
an  agreement  with  producers  for  their 
craft. 


Extras  Want  to  Stay 
In  SAG,  Poll  Shows 

Hollywood,  Mav  22. — Extra  play- 
ers, voting  in  a  poll  conducted  by  the 
Screen  Actors  Guild,  voted  3,962  for 
and  65  against  remaining  in  the  Guild, 
results  of  the  new  election,  made  pub- 
lic today,  disclosed. 

Fourteen  members  of  the  Class  B 
Council,  governing  body  for  atmos- 
phere players  in  the  Guild,  were  re- 
elected in  balloting  which  replaced  the 
recent  illegal  vote. 


Union  Benefit  June  2 

Cleveland,  May  22. — Film  Ex- 
change Employes,  Local  B-5,  will  hold 
'ts  annual  benefit  dance  June  2  at 
Moose  Hall.  Charles  Rice,  20th-Fox 
shipper,  is  chairman  of  the  entertain- 
ment committee.  Pearl  Geib  of  War- 
ners has  been  named  the  local's  repre- 
sentative to  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  district 
convention  to  be  held  at  the  May- 
flower Hotel,  Akron,  June  4-5-6. 


Showmen  Fight  Ban 
Upon  Free  Pictures 

Lincoln,  May  22— Attempt 
to  ban  free  film  shows  in  op- 
position to  theatres  was 
killed  when  an  amendment  to 
the  state  fair  trade  act  failed 
in  the  legislature. 

The  amendment  would  de- 
clare it  an  unfair  practice  for 
merchants  to  use  free  shows 
as  a  business  bait  within  25 
miles  of  a  theatre.  Leading 
the  fight  against  the  amend- 
ment were  Senator  Bill  Diers, 
Gresham  exhibitor,  and  Sena- 
tor Mekota  of  Crete,  which 
has  3,500  population  and 
three  competing  theatres. 


Empire-Universal 
To  Meet  Thursday 

Toronto,  May  22. — Eastern  region- 
al convention  of  Empire-Universal 
Films,  Ltd.,  opens  at  the  Royal  York 
Hotel  here  Thursday  for  a  three-day 
program  with  company  officials  pres- 
ent from  the  Toronto,  St.  John  and 
Montreal  branches.  Three  executive 
officers  of  Universal,  with  attend  from 
New  York.  Announcements  will  be 
made  of  next  season's  product  and 
policy. 

Toronto  arrangements  are  in  the 
hands  of  Paul  Nathanson,  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Canadian  company,  and 
Alfred  Perry,  general  manager.  Other 
officials  will  include  Harry  Paynter 
of  Montreal ;  Jerry  Hoyt,  St.  John, 
and  Archie  Laurie  and  Frank  Fisher 
of  Toronto.  President  Nate  Blum- 
berg,  Frank  J.  McCarthy,  eastern 
sales  head,  and  William  A.  Scully, 
general  sales  manager,  will  come  from 
New  York. 


William  Witz  Dies 

Cincinnati,  May  22. — William 
Witz,  74,  pioneer  exhibitor,  who  origi- 
nally operated  the  old  Bijou,  one  of 
the  first  picture  houses  in  the  down- 
town sector,  died  at  General  Hospital. 
His  widow  and  a  daughter  survive. 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hollywood,  May  22. — "Frontier 
Marshal,"  20th  Century-Fox,  star- 
ring Binnie  Barnes  and  Randolph 
Scott,  goes  into  production  June  5. 
Allan  Dwan  will  direct  Sam  Hell- 
man's     original  screenplay  

Jackie  Cooper  and  Freddie  Bar- 
holomew  share  the  lead  in  Univer- 
sale "Bright  Victory,"  which  Joseph 
~antley  will  direct;  Bert  Kelly, 
producer.  .  .  .  Harold  Young  will  di- 
rect "Dames"  for  Universal.  Sigrid 
Gurie  and  Donald  Briggs  are  starred. 


Rehearsals  for  "On  Your  Toes" 
have  started  on  the  Warner  lot.  Rob- 
ert Haas  has  been  named  art  direc- 
tor for  the  musical,  in  which  Zorina 
s  slated  for  an  important  role.  .  .  . 
Warners  have  signed  Ronald  Rea- 
gan to  a  new  contract.  .  .  .  "Are  Hus- 
bands Necessary"  will  be  Allan 
Jones'  first  vehicle  for  Paramount. 
.  .  .  Lucien  Moraweck  signed  by 


Edward  Small  to  do  musical  score  of 
"The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask." 
+ 

Casting — Frank  Coughlan,  Bob 
Parry  and  Claude  Wisberg  to  "Dust 
Be  My  Destiny,"  Warners.  .  .  .  Wil- 
liam Frawley  to  "Night  Work," 
Paramount.  .  .  .  Leland  Hodgson  and 
Milton  Owen  to  "Elizabeth  and  Es- 
sex," Warners.  .  .  .  Robert  Paige  to 
"Every  Day  Is  Sunday,"  Paramount. 
.  .  .  Creighton  Hale  and  Frank 
Mayo  to  "The  Return  of  Dr.  X," 
Warners.  .  .  .  Chief  Thunder  Cloud 
to  "Cat  and  the  Canary,"  Paramount, 
r* 

Tim  Holt,  son  of  Jack  Holt,  gets 
a  leading  role  in  "My  Fifth  Avenue 
Girl,"  RKO,  cast  of  which  includes 
Walter  Connolly,  Verree  Teasdale 
and  Franklin  Pangborn.  .  .  .  Alfred 
Newman,  Samuel  Goldwyn's  musi- 
cal director,  will  appear  as  a  musical 
director  in  "Music  School,"  starring 
Jascha  Heifetz. 


Best  Wishes 


to 


Allied 
Theatre  Owners 
of  New  York 


Benjamin  Sherman 


ALLIED  SEATING  CO.,  Inc. 

36-38  West  1 3th  St.,  New  York  City 

For  Your  Theatre  Chairs 
Visit  Us 
While  You  Are  in  New  York 


Best  Wishes  to 

Allied  Theatre  Owners 

of  New  York 
• 

Lobby  Display  Frame  Corp. 

549  West  52nd  St.,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
Columbus  5-6889 
EDWARD  SIDE,  President 


GOOD  LUCK 
ALLIED  THEATRE  OWNERS 
of  New  York 

NOW  READY 

"HEROES  OF  THE  MARNE' 

(English  titles) 

Superb  acting  .  .  .  reaches  a  height 
of  beauty   and   art.  —  M.   P.  DAILY. 

Spectrum  Pictures  Corp. 

729  Seventh  Ave.      New  York,  N.  Y. 
Distributors  of 
MUSICAL  WESTERNS 
starring   FRED  SCOTT 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  1939 


Honor  Kent  Drive  Chief 


Minneapolis,  May  22. — More  than 
100  producer  representatives,  exhibi- 
tors and  other  industry  leaders  tonight 
honored  Morton  A.  Levy,  district 
manager  for  20th  Century-Fox,  at  a 
testimonial  dinner  at  the  Nicollet 
Hotel.  Levy  recently  was  appointed 
national  leader  for  the  1939-'40  S.  R. 
Kent  sales  drive. 

William  Elson  was  toastmaster. 
Speakers  included  John  Friedl  and 
Theodore  Hays,  Minnesota  Amuse- 
ment Co. ;  Clyde  Eckhart,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox Chicago  manager ;  (Ralph 
Branton,  general  manager  of  the  Tri- 
State    Circuit,    Des    Moines ;  Roger 


Ferri,  editor  of  Dynamo,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox house  organ ;  Joseph  Podo- 
loff,  assistant  to  Levy. 

Guests  included :  Jack  Lorsen,  dis- 
trict manager  in  Milwaukee  for  20th 
Century-Fox ;  Joe  Scott,  Omaha  dis- 
trict manager ;  Stanley  J.  Mayer, 
Des  Moines  district  manager ;  Joseph 
Deitch,  booker  for  Tri- States  Circuit, 
Chicago ;  Don  West,  booker  for  Cen- 
tral States  Circuit,  Chicago ;  Frank  D. 
Rubel,  general  manager  of  Pioneer 
Theatres,  Des  Moines  ;  Charles  Brown, 
Ray  Brown  and  Charles  Marks,  Iowa 
exhibitors,  and  Max  Roth  of  Repub- 
lic. 


'em  first.  ^  £ ^  for  BigS ^cj,^  r        _  ^ 


AIR 


C.  S.  ASHCRAFT  MANUFACTURING  CO. 

47-31  -  35th  Street 
Long  Island  City,  N.  Y. 

Manufacturers  of  Projector  Arcs  and  Rectifiers 


Extends  its  best  wishes  to  the 
Allied  Theatre  Owners 
of  New  York 


theatre  — 
regardless  of  size 


No  Exceptions 

Kansas  City,  May  22.— 
Lindburgh,  operated  by  Abe 
and  Rosa  Baier  here,  is  the 
one  theatre  that  has  re- 
mained firm  against  use  of 
giveaways.  But  the  last  two 
Fridays  the  theatre  has  is- 
sued the  following  challenge: 

"All  passes,  two  for  one, 
gift  checks,  premium  cards, 
script  books  or  what  have 
you  issued  by  any  theatre  in 
Kansas  City  honored  here 
tonite!" 


Florida  Chain  Tax 
Bill  Hits  Theatres 

Tallahassee,  Fla.,  May  22. — A  bill 
to  make  the  state's  chain  store  gross 
receipts  tax  applicable  to  theatres  and 
other  places  of  amusement,  not  cov- 
ered by  it  at  present,  has  been  intro- 
duced in  the  House. 

Representative  Griner  of  Dixie, 
sponsor  of  the  measure,  said  the  reve- 
nue would  go  to  the  state  public 
school  fund. 


George  Mooser  Dies 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — George 
Mooser,  during  the  World  War  in 
charge  of  American  film  propaganda 
in  Russia,  died  here  after  a  two-month 
illness.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he 
was  assistant  to  the  general  manager 
of  the  Golden  Gate  International  Ex- 
position here. 


Seek  to  Cut  Booth 
Cost  in  Cleveland 


Cleveland,  May  22. — Cleveland 
Motion  Picture  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion has  named  a  committee  to  seek  ' 
from  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  an  arrange- 
ment permitting  the  use  of  one  man 
instead  of  two  in  the  projection  booth 
as  a  means  of  cutting  exhibitors'  over- 
head. 

If  the  union  will  not  concede  the  fit|i 
demand  the  committee  will  ask  for  IjjL 
man  in  houses  seating  800  or  lesIT 
The  move  is  designed  to  help  meet 
the  25  to  40  per  cent  drop  in  business 
reported  by  the  independents. 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president  of  Na- 
tional Allied,  attended  a  meeting  late 
last  week,  as  did  P.  J.  Wood,  secre- 
tary of  the  I.  T.  O  of  Ohio,  and  Mar- 
tin G.  Smith,  its  president. 

The  Cleveland  group  also  plans  to 
seek  whole  or  partial  elimination  of 
premiums  and  double  bills,  and  may 
ask  reductions  in  film  rentals  on  their 
new  contracts. 


'Juarez'  to  Mexico 
$30,000,000  House 

Mexico  City,  May  22. — Plans  are 
being  completed  for  the  premiere  here 
of  Warners'  "Juarez"  at  the  $30,000,- 
000  Palacio  de  Bellas  Artes,  follow- 
ing which  the  film  will  go  into  its 
regular  run  at  the  Rex.  President  Car- 
denas of  Mexico  saw  "Jaurez"  at  a 
private  showing  at  Juarez  over  the 
weekend. 


Film  Actions  In  Court 


L.  J.  Schlaifer,  vice  -  president 
and  western  sales  head  of  United  Art- 
ists, was  questioned  yesterday  by  Spe- 
cial Assistant  Attorney  General  Sey- 
mour Krieger  in  the  Government's 
anti-trust  suit  on  the  activities  of  the 
12  exchanges  under  his  supervision, 
and  of  their  negotiations  with  theatres 
on  the  sale  of  product.  In  response 
to  the  questions  as  to  why  certain 
theatres  received  first  run  clearance 
and  others  did  not,  Schlaifer  said  the 
choice  is  based  solely  on  which  the- 
atre would  return  a  better  revenue. 

Paul  Lazarus,  head  of  the  U.  A. 
contract  department,  testified  that  he 
passed  on  contracts  betwen  exhibitors 
and  exchanges  and  upon  approving 
them,  forwarded  the  contracts  to  the 
producers  for  their  consent. 


Reserves  Decision 
On  Sherwood  Plea 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Lloyd 
Church  reserved  decision  yesterday  on 
an  application  of  Robert  E.  Sherwood 
and  the  Playwrights  Producing  Co., 
Inc.,  to  strike  out  the  defenses  raised 
by  20th  Century-Fox  in  the  suit  to 
restrain  the  film  company  from  using 
the  title,  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln'-'  for 
its  film  as  alleged  unfair  competition 
with  Sherwood's  play,  "Abe  Lincoln 
in  Illinois." 


Lazar  Is  Ordered 
To  Testify  in  Suit 

David  Lazar,  president  of  Lazfox, 
Inc.,  plaintiff  in  a  $100,000  damage 
suit  against  Skouras  Theatres  Corp., 
Fox  Metropolitan  Playhouses,  Inc., 
and  Fox  Theatres  Corp.,  was  ordered 
yesterday  to  testify  in  connection  with 


the  suit  by  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Jus- 
tice Bernard  L.  Shientag.  Lazfox 
claims  breach  of  a  contract  for  the 
candy  concessions  to  a  large  number 
of  the  Fox  theatres,  made  on  Feb. 
21,  1931,  and  assigned  to  Skouras. 


Order  Examination 
In  Milwaukee  Case 

Milwaukee,  May  22. — Paramount, 
20th  Century-Fox,  United  Artists, 
Welworth  Theatre  of  Wisconsin  and 
Minnesota  Amusement  Co.  have  been 
ordered  by  Federal  Judge  Gunnar 
Nordby  to  submit  to  pre-trial  ques- 
tioning in  connection  with  a  $1,050,000 
anti-trust  suit  brought  against  them 
by  LaCrosse  Theatres,  Inc. 


Momand  Hearing  Is 
Delayed  to  May  27 

Oklahoma  City,  May  22. — Hear- 
ing on  motion  to  dismiss  the  anti- 
trust suit  complaint  of  A.  B.  Momand 
against  Griffith  Amusement  Co.  and 
major  companies  has  been  adjourned 
to  May  27  by  Federal  Judge  A.  P. 
Murrah.  Objections  to  consideration 
of  the  motion  were  overruled. 


Connecticut  Exhibitor 
Is  Sued  for  $169,000 

Middletown,  Conn.,  May  22. — 
Middlesex  Theatre,  Inc.,  owner  of  the 
Middlesex  here,  and  Franklyn  Ar- 
rigoni,  stockholder,  seek  to  collect 
$169,000  damages  from  Salvatore 
Adorno,  owner  of  the  Palace,  and  to 
enjoin  him  from  building  proposed 
new  theatres  in  Middletown,  in  a  writ 
returnable  to  the  Superior  Court. 
Middlesex  County,  June  6. 


luesdav.  May  23.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Pool  Question 
At  Thursday  s 
KMT  A  Parley 


Kansas  City.  May  22.— Pool  buy- 
ig  of  film  by  independents,  the  Neely 

Ki-block  booking  and  anti-blind  sell- 
bill,  the  trade  practice  code  and 
use  of  state  and  federal  anti-trust 
•s  to  obtain  relief  for  independents 
juffering  from  "unfair"  clearances 
.ill  be  debated  by  the  Kansas-Mis- 
ouri  Theatres  Association  at  its  con- 
tention at  the  Hotel  President  here 
Thursday  and  Friday. 

Speakers  will  include  Frank  Cassil, 
It,  Joseph.  Mo.,  president ;  H.  M. 
^ichey,  exhibitor  relations  director 
cr  RKO;  Fd  Kuykendall.  MPTOA 
president;  George  W.  Weeks,  general 
►ales  manager,  Monogram;  Maurice 
-loffman,  St.  Joseph,  prosecuting  at- 
torney, and  Dr.  J.  G.  Christy,  speaker 
if  the  Missouri  House. 

K.M.T.A.  will  be  host  to  the  in- 
flustry  at  a  luncheon  Thursday.  It 
a  ill  go  into  an  executive  session  at 
S  30  p.  m.  It  will  entertain  the  in- 
dustry again  Friday  evening  at  a 
buffet  supper. 


Set  Commercial  Feature 

Audio  Productions  has  started  work 
»t  the  Long  Island  City  studio  on 
The  Middleton  Family  at  the  New 
it'ork  World's  Fair,"  full  length 
mmercial  feature  in  color  for  the 
■*\'estinghouse  Electric  &  Manufactur- 
ng  Co.  The  film  is  intended  for  the 
]se  of  Westinghouse  dealers  and  16 
dnd  35  mm.  color  prints  will  be  used. 


Cater  to  Children 

Alfred  E.  Grosz,  owner  of 
the  Cortez,  New  Orleans, 
here  visiting  the  World's 
Fair,  believes  Hollywood 
should  turn  out  more  films 
with  particular  appeal  to 
children.  Youngsters  bring 
their  parents,  he  thinks,  "and 
the  more  we  cater  to  the 
younger  generation  the  more 
likely  box-office  receipts  are 
to  climb." 


Legion  Approves  All 
Of  15  New  Pictures 

National  Legion  of  Decency  has  ap- 
proved all  15  new  pictures  reviewed 
and  classified  this  week,  eight  for  gen- 
eral patronage  and  seven  for  adults. 
The  new  films  and  their  classification 
follow  : 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gen- 
eral Patronage :  "Across  the  Plains," 
"Boy  Friend,"  "Down  the  Wyoming 
Trail,"  "Girl  from  Mexico,"  "Good- 
bye, Mr.  Chips,"  "Racketeers  of  the 
Range,"  "Some  Like  It  Hot,"  "Wolf 
Call."  Class  A-2,  Unobjectionable  for 
Adults :  "Climbing  High,"  "Ex- 
Champ,"  "The  House  of  Fear,"  "It's 
a  Wonderful  World,"  "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings,"  "Undercover  Doctor," 
"Widow's  Island." 


Production  Pace 
Maintained  With 
45  Films  in  Work 


Royalty  to  Aid  Film  Fund 

London,  May  22. — King  George  VI 
and  Queen  Elizabeth  will  attend  a 
special  performance  at  the  State 
Cinema,  Kilburn.  in  October  or  No- 
vember for  the  benefit  of  the  Cine- 
matograph Trade  Benevolent  Fund. 


Hollywood,  May  22. — Production 
remained  at  45  pictures  before  the 
cameras  this  week,  as  eight  finished 
and  eight  started. 

Started  were :  "Escape  from  Alca- 
traz,"  "Blondie  Takes  a  Vacation," 
Columbia ;  "Are  Husbands  Neces- 
sary?" Paramount;  "Nurse  Edith 
Cavell,"  "Bad  Lands,"  RKO;  "Har- 
mony at  Home,"  20th  Century-Fox ; 
"Bright  Victory,"  Universal ;  "Career 
Man,"  Warners.  Also  shooting  were  : 
"Mr.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington," 
"Golden  Boy,"  "Coast  Guard,"  "A 
Woman  Is  the  Judge,"  "Mounted  Po- 
lice No.  2,"  Columbia ;  "Music 
School,"  "The  Real  Glory,"  Goldwyn ; 
"On  Borrowed  Time,"  "Stronger 
Than  Desire,"  "Lady  of  the  Tropics," 
"The  Women,"  "Babes  in  Arms," 
M-G-M ;  "Memory  of  Love,"  "The 
Spellbinder."  RKO ;  "Heaven  on  a 
Shoestring,"  "The  Star  Maker," 
"Ruler  of  the  Seas,"  "Disputed  Pas- 
sage." "Our  Leading  Citizen,"  "Night- 
work,"  "Doubled  Dyed  Deceiver," 
Paramount ;  "Mickey  the  Kid,"  "The 
Fighting  Irish,"  "Wyoming  Outlaws," 
Republic ;  "Gone  with  the  Wind," 
Selznick  International ;  "The  Rains 
Came,"  Elsa  Maxwell's  Hotel  for 
Women,"  "Chicken  Wagon  Family," 
20th  Century-Fox;  "The  Phantom 
Creeps,"  "Modern  Cinderella,"  "The 
Underpup,"  "Dames,"  Universal ; 
"Winter  Carnival,"  Wanger ;  "Dust 
Be  My  Destiny,"  "Nancy  Drew  and 
"Hidden  Staircase,"  "Dead  or  Alive," 
"Elizabeth  and  Essex,"  Warners. 


Theatre  Changes 


Philadelphia,  May  22. — William 
Goldman  plans  a  750-seat  house  on 
the  outskirts  of  the  city. 


Danz  Adds  Theatre 

Seattle,  May  22. — John  Danz  has 
added  the  Grand,  neighborhood  house, 
to  his  Sterling  suburban  circuit.  Jack 
Kirk,  former  owner,  continues  as 
manager. 


Form  Charlotte  Firm 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  May  22. — Ever- 
ett Enterprises,  Inc.,  has  been  organ- 
ized here  to  operate  theatres.  In- 
corporators are  H.  H.  Everett,  F.  H. 
Kennedy  and  E.  J.  Hanson. 


Close  Brooklyn  House 

Riviera,  St.  Johns  PI.,  Brooklyn, 
has  been  closed.  It  will  be  reopened 
in  the  fall  by  Randforce  Amusement 
Corp.  (Samuel  Rinzler  and  Louis 
Frisch.) 


To  Reopen  in  Jersey 

Strand  in  Ocean  Groce,  N.  J.,  will 
reopen  the  middle  of  June  for  a  sum- 
mer run. 


Reopens  at  Newton,  N.  J. 

J.  D.  Weidenhafer  has  opened  the 
Court  Square,  new  house  at  Newton, 
N.  J.  It  seats  550. 


Manages  Frisco  House 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — Arvid 
Erickson  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  Warfield,  succeeding  the  late  Sam 
Pechner.  Frank  Newman  has  suc- 
ceeded Erickson  as  manager  of  the 
St.  Francis. 


ALLIED  CONVENTION  VISITORS 

See  our  displays  of 


TRADE  MARK  REG  3, 


E-7 

PROJECTORS 


FOUR 

★★★★ 

STAR 


AT  THE 

HOTEL  ASTOR 
BOOTH  G 


AT  OUR 

NEW  YORK  BRANCH 

356  West  44th  Street 


NATIONAL  THEATRE  SUPPLY  COMPANY 

JAMES  FRANK,  JR.,  Manager  Circle  6-5900 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  19: 


Civil  Liberty 
Group  Urges 
Air  Freedom 


National  Council  on  Freedom  from 
Censorship,  affiliate  of  the  Civil  Lib- 
erties Union,  is  presenting  to  the  F. 
C.  C.  a  resolution  urging  the  adoption 
of  rules  to  promote  freedom  on  the 
air. 

Two  matters  touching  on  freedom  of 
the  air  should  be  left  to  Congress,  ac- 
cording to  the  council.  One  is  to  re- 
lieve stations  of  liability  for  slander 
in  programs  concerning  public  issues 
on  sustaining  time,  the  other  is  the 
provision  in  the  Communications  Act 
concerning  obscene,  indecent  and  pro- 
fane language,  "the  use  of  which  may 
be  the  occasion  for  refusing  the  re- 
newal of  a  license  or  for  revoking  it." 

The  council  also  calls  attention  to 
the  policy  of  the  networks  in  refusing 
to  sell  time  for  non-commercial  pro- 
grams. "This  policy  results  in  an 
unfair  handling  of  public  issues,  for 
commercial  sponsors  have  used  the 
time  they  buy  for  the  discussion  of 
controversial  issues  which  cannot  be 
presented  by  the  other  side  unless  it 
too  has  goods  or  public  services  to 
sell."  The  problem,  suggests  the  coun- 
cil, may  be  left  to  regulation  by  the 
industry. 

In  connection  with  the  granting  of 
license  renewals,  the  council  contends 
that  radio  is  inevitably  under  an  indi- 
rect form  of  censorship  and  control  by 
the  F.  C.  C.  through  its  interpretation 
of  the  phrase,  "public  interest,  conve- 
nience and  necessity."  The  council 
asks  that  the  six-month  license  term 
be  extended. 


NBC  Inaugurating 
Speakers  Division 

NBC  is  reentering  the  lecture  field 
with  the  inauguration  of  a  Speakers 
Division  under  the  direction  of  Sam  L. 
Ross.  Ross  will  continue  to  handle 
NBC  Artists  Service  local  station  ac- 
tivities in  addition  to  his  new  assign- 
ment. 

The  new  department  will  handle 
bookings  for  lecturers. 


Television  Meet  Today 

London,  May  22. — Committee  rep- 
resenting the  Cinematograph  Exhibit- 
ors' Association  and  Kinematograph 
Renters'  Society  (distributors)  will 
meet  tomorrow  to  draw  up  a  memo- 
randum for  submission  to  the  Post- 
master General  asking  that  permits  be 
refused  theatres  for  the  showing  of 
television  broadcasts. 


Robson  on  New  Series 

William  N.  Robson,  CBS  producer 
and  director,  has  been  signed  to  write 
and  direct  a  transcription  series  star- 
ring Nick  Dawson.  The  series,  "Be- 
yond Reasonable  Doubt,"  is  to  be  re- 
corded for  Associated  Music  Pub- 
lishers. Script  Division  of  the  CBS 
artists  bureau  set  the  deal. 


'Angels'  on  Lux  Hour 

A  current  picture,  "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings"  will  be  dramatized  on 
the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre"  May  29, 
with  the  picture's  stars,  Cary  Grant 
and  Jean  Arthur,  reenacting  their 
roles  on  the  air. 


NBC  Plans  to  Establish 
Own  Television  Theatre 


Favor  Belmont  as  Site; 
Officials  Are  Silent 
Upon  Their  Plans 

Although  official  verification  is  un- 
obtainable at  present,  it  appears  vir- 
tually certain  that  NBC  will  be  first 
among  various  television  interests  to 
operate  a  television  theatre  of  its  own. 

NBC-RCA  engineers  and  architects 
have  been  inspecting  the  premises  of 
the  Belmont  Theatre,  48th  st.  immedi- 
ately off  Sixth  ave.,  a  stone's  throw 
from  Radio  City,  with  indications  that 
a  deal  to  convert  the  Belmont  into 
a  television  playhouse  will  be  closed 
late  this  week.  The  Belmont  is  owned 
by  the  Amusement  Securities  Corp., 
of  which  Sam  Krelberg  is  president. 

At  Radio  City,  NBC  television  offi- 
cers would  not  discuss  the  matter. 
Krelberg  showed  a  similar  attitude, 
although  he  did  admit,  however,  that 
NBC  engineers  have  been  inspecting 
the  theatre. 

NBC's  plan,  according  to  a  report, 
is  to  install  theatre  projection  televi- 
sion equipment  in  the  theatre,  and 
admit  an  audience  in  the  same  manner 
in  which  spectators  are  admitted  into 
studios  to  witness  a  regular  broadcast. 
It  is  strongly  doubted  that  an  ad- 
mission price  will  be  sought,  although 
it  is  entirely  possible  that  a  moderate 
sum  may  be  charged. 

Meanwhile,  little  is  known  about 
the  progress  of  Baird  Television  in 
that  company's  efforts  to  obtain  a 
television  theatre.  Such  efforts  have 
been  underway  since  the  arrival  here 
some  weeks  ago  of  Ian  C.  Javal, 
Baird  Television  production  head. 


Heads  NAB  District 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — Howard 
Lane,  general  manager  of  five  radio 
stations  owned  by  the  McClatchy 
newspapers,  has  been  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  fifteenth  district  of  the 
National  Association  of  Broadcasters, 
succeeding  Ralph  R.  Brunton,  general 
manager  of  KJBS-KQW,  who  held 
the  post  for  four  years. 


Gruen  Extends  Time 

Gruen  Watch  Co.  has  extended  its 
13-week  time  signal  test  over  WNEW 
to  a  full  year  through  the  McCann- 
Erickson  agency.  The  Howard  Co. 
has  signed  a  year's  contract  to  spon- 
sor Elton  Britt,  six  quarter-hours  a 
week,  over  the  same  station,  through 
the  Levy  agency. 


Station  Advertising 
On  Theatre  Screens 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — 
KSAN  is  announcing  its  new 
affiliation  with  California  Ra- 
dio System  through  medium 
of  newsreel  trailers,  on  the 
screens  of  14  district  houses 
of  the  Golden  State  Circuit. 
Slides  also  are  shown  calling 
attention  to  outstanding  new 
features  on  the  station's 
schedule. 


Albany  NAB  Unit 
Talks  Legislation 

Albany,  May  22. — Discussion  of 
Federal  and  state  radio  legislation 
highlighted  the  N.  A.  B.  Second  Dis- 
trict meeting  at  Schenectady  over  the 
weekend. 

Presiding  was  Col.  Harry  C.  Wil- 
der, head  of  WFBL,  Syracuse ; 
WTRY,  Troy;  WJTN,  Jamestown, 
and  WNBX,  Springfield,  Vt.  Out- 
lining bills  now  before  Congress  was 
Andrew  Bennett,  Washington  coun- 
sel for  the  N.  A.  B. 

Visitors  toured  the  new  WGY  stu- 
dios and  were  guests  at  General  Elec- 
tric at  a  television  demonstration. 
New  York  City  station  men  who  were 
present  included  H.  A.  Woodman  and 
H.  M.  Boyd  of  NBC,  Sid  Kaye  and 
Jap  Gude  of  CBS,  William  Moore  of 
WBNX,  Dick  O'Dea  and  J.  Weiner 
of  WNEW. 


Amateur  Radio  Meet 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — New 
methods  by  which  amateur  radio  op- 
erators could  aid  in  time  of  emergen- 
cies were  considered  at  a  meeting  of 
the  board  of  directors  of  the  Ameri- 
can Radio  Relay  League.  Eighteen 
directors  from  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  representing  20,000  members. 
E.  C.  Woodruff  is  the  president. 


New  Frisco  Outlet 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — KSAN, 
250-watt  independent  station,  has  re- 
placed 500-watt  KYA  as  local  outlet 
of  California  Radio  System,  owned 
and  operated  by  McClatchy  newspaper 
interests,  with  stations  in  Fresno, 
Stockton,  Sacramento,  Bakersfield  and 
Reno. 


Television  Via  Telephone  Wires! 

A  feat  long  considered  impossible — transmission  of  television 
pictures  over  ordinary  telephone  lines — was  accomplished  by  NBC 
and  the  Bell  Telephone  Laboratories  Saturday  with  a  telecast  of 
the  six-day  bicycle  race  at  Madison  Square  Garden.  The  tele- 
phone line  hookup  was  a  little  over  a  mile  long. 

Although  obviously  jubilant  over  the  successful  transmission, 
officials  of  both  the  network  and  the  telephone  company  are  em- 
phasizing that  the  program  was  strictly  an  experiment.  They 
claim  that  its  success  does  not  warrant  a  prophesy  of  national 
television  service. 

Heretofore  only  coaxial  cable  has  been  used  in  the  transmission 
of  television  images.  The  drawback  to  coaxial  cable  has  been  its 
terrific  cost.  Last  year  Bell  Laboratories  installed  a  coaxial  cable 
line  between  New  York  and  Philadelphia,  at  a  cost  estimated  to 
have  been  $500,000. 


Stricter  Rules 
On  Broadcast 
Of  Royal  Visil 


Washington,  May  22. — If  officii 
restrictions  on  radio  descriptions  < 
the  visit  of  the  King  and  Queen  f 
Washington  get  much  tighter,  the  ne 
works  may  relinquish  the  plan  ofaii  \ 
ing  the  world  a  step-by-step  veK/J 
of  the  arrival  of  their  Majesties  i 
the  Capitol. 

This  became  known  today  as  Go\ 
ernment  officials  stated  there  shall  t 
no  broadcasting  of  the  parade  dow 
Pennsylvania  Ave.  from  cars  in  tr 
line  of  march.  It  was  originally  pre 
posed  that  network  staffs  would  be 
come  a  part  of  the  Army  parade. 

In  order  not  to  jar  military  ai 
rangements,  the  radio  and  newsrei 
men  were  to  be  permitted  in  the  parad 
in  two  scout  cars,  wearing  Army  un: 
forms.  Official  word  now  is  that  th 
plan  is  out,  and  that  no  descriptio 
of  the  progress  of  the  procession  an 
no  pictures  en  route  will  be  per 
mitted. 

The  White  House  reception  wi 
be  even  more  difficult  for  radio  an 
newsreel  men.  A  space  in  the  sout 
yard  of  the  grounds  has  been  reserve 
for  them,  but  it  is  quite  far  remove 
from  the  main  scene.  Newsreel  me 
are  planning  to  present  their  case  t 
Sir  Ronald  Lindsay,  British  Ambas 
sador,  in  the  hope  that  he  will  adjus 
the  matter. 


WINS  Discontinues 
Coughlin  Speeche 

WINS,  Hearst  radio  station  i 
New  York,  has  abrogated  its  contrac 
to  carry  the  Sunday  radio  addresses  c 
Father  Charles  E.  Coughlin,  Detro 
"radio  priest,"  after  only  two  broad 
casts.  WINS  became  Father  Cough 
lin's  New  York  City  outlet  two  week 
ago.  The  station  declined  to  mak 
any  official  comment  on  its  action. 


Open  CBR  Thursday 

Toronto,  May  22.  —  Canadians; 
Broadcasting  Corp.  will  hold  the  fori 
mal  opening  of  the  building  housinj  f 
the  Vancouver  unit  of  the  national 
network,  CBR,  on  Thursday.  Th  I 
Vancouver  studio  is  the  third  larges  t 
production  unit  of  the  CBC  chair  | 
originating  approximately  50  program 
weekly. 


KSFO  Production  Head 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — Arthu 
W.  Stowe,  former  producer  of  Horao 
Heidt's  Alemite  program  and  Genera 
Mills  shows  in  Chicago,  has  beei 
named  CBS  production  manager  a 
KSFO  here.  Stowe  recently  produce* 
"Hollywood  in  Person"  at  KNX,  foi 
CBS  coast  stations. 


Radio  Personals 


CHARLES  SIMON,  Paris  cor 
respondent  of  Transradio  News! 
arrives  today  on  the  Chainplain  ' 
.  .  .  William  A.  Schudt,  Jr.,  genera 
manager  of  WKRC,  Cincinnati,  hen 
to  see  his  mother,  who  is  ill.  .  . 
Lou  Allen  Weiss,  head  of  the  Doi 
Lee  network,  returned  to  Califomi; 
after  spending  a  week  in  the  east. 


1 


DO  NOT 


P.    PRODUCERS  & 
DISTRIBUTORS   OF  Ait 
28  WEST  44TH  ST. 
NEW  YORK , 


N.  Y. 


(Picture 
Industry 


ON  PICTURE 

jiAILY 





First  in 


and 

Impartial 


1,2"..  45.  NO.  100 


NEW  YORK.  WEDNESDAY.  MAY  24,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Jiggest  RKO 
Roster  Boasts 
60  New  Films 


)  Big  Budget  Pictures 
For  New  Season 


By  SHERWIN  A.  KANE 

RKO  will  have  a  maximum  of  60 
i.tures  for  new  season  release,  the 
Igest  schedule  to  be  announced  by 
•  company  since  its  organization. 
The  studio's  own  producing  roster 
\\  contribute  a  total  of  46.  of  which 
Tiinimum  of  20  are  scheduled  to  be 
pi  budget  productions.  This  is  six 
»re  than  were  carded  earlier,  which, 
:h  14  features  from  outside  produc- 
,  boosts  the  total  from  54  to  60. 
•rbert  Wilcox  productions  are  in- 
ided  in  the  46  from  KKO's  studio. 
Dutside  productions  include  four 
kwii  Gene  Towne  and  Graham  Bak- 
two  from  Harry  Goetz  and  Max 
«rdon,  three  from  Stephens-Lang. 
'5  from  Harold  Lloyd,  three  starring 
rhard  Dix  and  one  from  Boris  Mor- 

^The  company's  national  sales  con- 
ation will  be  held  at  the  Westches- 
:  Country  Club,  June  19-22. 


Coast  Flashes 


^Hollywood,  May  23. — Xicky  Arn- 
Jn  today  filed  a  $400,000  suit  against 
pi  Century-Fox,  alleging  libel  and 
/asion  of  his  rights  to  privacy  in  the 
]n,  "Rose  of  Washington  Square." 

• 

-Iollywooi).  May  23. — U.  S.  Attor- 

J  General  Frank  Murphy  and  J. 
hgar  Hoover,  F.B.I,  chief,  are  ex- 

:ted  tomorrow  afternoon  by  plane 
Uhj  El  Paso.  Reports  that  Murphy's 

it  here  in  connection  with  filing  fed- 
vl  suit  against  film  companies  lacked 

■rial  confirmation  today. 

Max  Gordon  arrived  today  to  corn- 
he  preparations  for  the  filming  of 
:lie  Lincoln  in  Illinois,"  current 
padway  hit,  which  RKO  expects  to 
rt  June  15. 


P.  Loach  Named 
To  Monogram  Board 

7.  P.  Loach,  treasurer  of  Pathe 
,  in,  has  been  elected  to  Monogram's 
ird  of  directors,  W.  Ray  Johnston, 
:sident,  disclosed  yesterday.  Harry 
Iverson  has  been  named  comp- 
iler. Loach  replaces  William  Rhine- 
ider  Stewart  and  Iverson  replaces 
n  Agren. 


Exhibitors  Form 
Group  at  Chicago 

Chicago,  May  23. — At  a 
closed  meeting  today  22 
downstate  exhibitors  formed 
an  organization  to  handle 
legislative  matters.  Eddie 
Zorn,  Pontiac  exhibitor,  was 
chairman. 

Ed  Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A. 
president;  Jules  J.  Rubens  of 
(Jreat  States  Theatres;  Mor- 
ris Leonard  of  Balaban  and 
Katz  were  principal  speakers. 
E.  E.  Alger,  George  Kero- 
sotes  and  A.  D.  McCuIlom 
were  circuit  leaders  in  at- 
tendance. 


Broadway  Films 
Get  Good  Grosses 


Broadway  first  run  grosses  showed 
an  upswing  in  the  past  week. 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  grossed  an 
estimated  $16,500  in  its  first  week  at 
the  Astor  where  it  is  set  for  an  in- 
definite run.  Second  week  of  "Union 
Pacific"  drew  an  estimated  $35,000  at 
the  Paramount  and  will  continue  for 
a  third. 

"Juarez"  will  go  into  the  Strand 
June  2,  after  a  five-weeks'  run  at  the 
Hollywood.  The  film  grossed  an  es- 
timated $14,000  in  its  fourth  week 
and  enters  its  final  week  today. 

Picture*  for  the  holiday  will  be 
"The  Gorilla,"  at  the  Roxy ;  "Cap- 
tain Fury,"  Music  Hall ;  "Bridal 
Suite,"  Capitol ;  "Union  Pacific," 
Paramount ;  "The  Kid  from  Kokomo, 
Strand ;  "Wuthering  Heights,"  Rivoli ; 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips,"  Astor ; 
"Juarez,"  Hollywood;  "Climbing 
High,"  Globe ;  "Some  Like  It  Hot," 
Criterion. 


IATSE  TRIAL  TESTS 
RULE  OVER  LOCALS 


N.Y.  Allied  Hears 
Cohen  Tell  Aims; 
Cole  Talks  Today 


New  York  Allied,  in  the  first  year 
of  its  existence,  has  played  an  impor- 
tant part  in  protecting  the  interests  of 
independent  exhibitors  in  the  state,  de- 
clared Max  A.  Cohen,  president,  at 
the  opening  session  yesterday  of  the 
organization's  convention  at  the  Hotel 
Astor.  The  convention  runs  through 
Thursday. 

The  first  day's  session  was  taken  up 
largely  by  preliminaries.  Allied's  na- 
tional policies  and  industry  problems 
will  be  discussed  this  afternoon  by  Col. 
H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  States  president. 
The  meeting  will  be  climaxed  to- 
morrow afternoon  by  an  open  forum 
at  which  distribution  heads  are  sched- 
uled to  speak. 

Arthur  Pelterson  of  the  Mitchell 
May  insurance  office  at  today's  general 
session  will  outline  a  plan  for  savings 
in  group  buying  of  liability  insurance 
Theatre  liability  rates  in  New  York 
City  on  June  1  will  be  increased  40 
per  cent.  The  upstate  New  York  rate 
has  also  been  increased. 

"We  are  laying  down  policies  that 
will  build  a  strong  organization,"  said 
Cohen.  "We  are  fighting  for  the  small 
exhibitor  in  legislative  and  industry 
matters,  for  our  economic  security  and 
true  independence.  We  believe  in  the 
motto  of  'clean  hands'." 

Following  Cohen's  opening  address, 

(Continued  on  page  5) 


Theatre  Building  in  April 
Surpasses  1938  Figures 


April  was  the  first  month  of  1939 
to  show  a  gain  over  the  correspond- 
ing month  last  year  in  the  valuation 
of  theatre  building  contracts,  amount- 
ing to  $2,172,000,  according  to  Dodge 
Reports,  daily  news  division  of  the  F. 
W.  Dodge  Corp.  The  survey  includes 
the  37  states  east  of  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains. 

A  total  of  72  building  and  altera- 
tion projects  were  recorded  in  April 
of  this  year,  involving  an  aggregate  of 
229,000  square  feet  of  floor  space.  In 
April.  1938,  82  projects  were  com- 
pleted, but  due  to  the  larger  percent- 


age of  alterations  last  year,  the  valu- 
ation was  only  $2,071,000. 

Through  the  first  four  months  of 
this  year  there  have  been  a  total  of 
228  theatres  projects  in  the  area,  in- 
volving 693,000  square  feet,  with  a 
valuation  of  $5,950,000.  The  same 
period  of  1938  showed  a  total  of  267 
projects,  with  992,000  square  feet,  val- 
ued at  $7,691,000. 

During  the  four  months  of  1939,  the 
number  of  projects  were:  January, 
47;  February,  49;  March,  60;  April, 
72.  The  corresponding  four  months 
in  last  year  showed  totals  of  43,  67, 
75  and  82. 


Disclosures  of  Alliance's 
Workings  Made  at 
Coast  Hearing 


Los  Angeles,  May  23. — Disclosures 
of  the  inner  workings  and  executive 
politics  of  the  I.A.T.S.E.  were  made 
here  today  at  the  start  of  trial  of  the 
suit  by  deposed  officers  of  Studio 
Technicians  Local  37  against  the 
I.A.T.S.E.  and  its  officers  for  control 
of  the  local.  Trial  is  in  Superior 
Court. 

The  action  is  regarded  as  an  un- 
precedented test  of  the  I.A.T.S.E.'s 
control  over  local  affiliated  unions. 
The  I.A.T.S.E.  has  a  counter-suit 
pending.  Local  37  was  dissolved  yes- 
terday by  order  of  the  parent  union 
and  five  new  locals  organized  to  re- 
place it. 

Cite  'Handpicked'  Delegates 

Evidence  purporting  to  show  the 
tenure  of  President  George  Browne 
was  extended  by  a  convention  com- 
posed of  many  "handpicked"  delegates 
on  1936  was  introduced. 

Stephen  Newman,  former  Interna- 
tional aide  of  Browne  and  in  charge 
of  four  Hollywood  locals  from  1935  to 
1936,  when  first  suspension  of  auton- 
omy was  ordered,  declared  he  person- 
ally selected  conclave  delegates  from 
units  here  after  conferring  with 
Browne. 

Officers'  Terms  Extended 

Motion  to  extend  terms  of  elected 
officers  from  two  to  four  years  was 
passed  by  margin  of  eight  votes,  New- 
man declared.  At  time  of  convention, 
Newman  added,  about  five  other  locals 
had  autonomy  suspended  and  delegates 
presumably  were  not  chosen  by  mem- 
bers. 

Newman  also  declared  that  Harland 
Holmden,  International  vice-president, 
and  William  Bioff,  aide  to  Browne  at 
that  time,  were  in  Hollywood  for  sev- 
eral months  prior  to  calling  of  a  state 
of  emergency  by  Browne  and  the  re- 
sultant suspension  of  autonomy  which 
was  restored  last  year. 

Charges  Treachery 

A.  Brigham  Rose,  attorney  for  Jo- 
seph W.  Carpenter  and  other  local 
officers  ousted  by  International  Rep- 
resentatives John  Gatelee  and  Frank 
Stickling  on  March  13,  declared  in  his 
opening  statement  that  he  intended  to 
show  International  officers  and  Browne 
want  to  maintain  continual  state  of 
emergency  among  Hollywood  locals, 
and  "engage  in  conspiracy  of  treach- 
ery against  rank  and  file  of  the  mem- 
(Continued  on  page  5) 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  24,  193! 


Metro  Holds 
Last  Booker 
Parley  Today 


Final  regional  conference  of  the 
M-G-M  bookers,  office  managers  and 
checking  supervisors  will  be  held  at 
the  Astor  here  today  and  tomorrow. 

Delegates  will  be  present  from  Al- 
bany, Boston,  Buffalo,  Cleveland, 
New  Haven  and  New  York.  Alan 
F.  Cummings,  in  charge  of  exchange 
operations,  will  preside. 

From  the  home  office  will  be :  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  general  sales  man- 
ager ;  T.  J.  Connors,  eastern  division 
manager ;  Ted  O'Shea,  district  man- 
ager ;  Charles  K.  Stern,  assistant 
treasurer  of  Loew's. 

Others  from  the  home  office  are: 
Charles  F.  Deesen,  Isidor  Hirsch, 
M.  L.  Simons,  Parke  D.  Agnew,  Wil- 
liam Brenner,  Irving  Helfont,  Charles 
E.  Quick,  Arthur  Lacks,  Ira  S.  Mar- 
tin, Rose  Klein  and  Banks  Hudson, 
Jr. 

Exchange  delegates  follow :  Albany 
— William  Williams,  William  Gad- 
doni,  Edward  Urschel ;  Boston — 
Henry  Wolper,  Joseph  M.  Cummings, 
Charles  Repec,  Henry  Myerson, 
Harry  Golden  ;  Buffalo — Mary  Ryan, 
Velmar  Klaiber,  Gage  Havens ; 
Cleveland — John  P.  Harrington,  Dor- 
sey  Brown,  C.  Robert  Long;  New 
Haven — Frank  Mullen,  Charles  Laz- 
arus, George  E.  Weber;  New  York — 
Harold  Goldgraben,  Charles  Wittner, 
Robert  Ellsworth,  Joseph  Rahm, 
David  Klein. 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Photophone  in  Deal 
With  Brenkert  Light 

RCA  Photophone  and  the  Brenkert 
Light  Projection  Co.  have  completed 
an  arrangement  for  cooperation  in  the 
sale  of  complete  theatre  booth  equip- 
ment. Independent  supply  dealers  sell- 
ing Brenkert  products  and  the  RCA 
Photophone  sales  representatives  will 
sell  equipment  of  either  of  the  com- 
panies. 

Homer  B.  Snook,  reproducer  sales 
manager  of  Photophone,  and  Wayne 
D.  Brenkert,  sales  manager,  prepared 
the  details  of  the  arrangement,  which 
will  not  affect  the  personnel  of  either 
company. 


J J.  O'CONNOR,  Harry  Bux- 
•  baum,  Bill  Sussman,  Joe 
Moskowitz,  Jim  Brennan,  Fred 
Meyers,  Joe  Lee  at  Bob  Goldstein's 
Tavern  yesterday  for  lunch.  Also 
Arthur  Gottlieb,  Jack  Goetz,  Joe 
Pincus,  Arthur  Lee  and  J.  J.  Mil- 
stein. 

Sol  Kravitz  has  been  appointed 
office  manager  of  Monogram's  New 
York  exchange,  succeeding  Sid  Hey- 
man.  Heyman  has  been  shifted  to 
the  home  office. 

• 

Archie  Mayo,  director,  has  left  the 
coast  on  a  slow  trip  to  New  York 
for  a  vacation  after  completing  Sam- 
uel Goldwyn's  "Music  School." 
• 

James  Clark,  ad  sales  manager  of 
RKO,  has  joined  the  hole-in-one  im- 
mortals, the  miracle  scored  at  the 
Bayside  links  in  Queens. 

• 

Edward  Fielding  will  fly  to  the 
coast  Saturday  to  appear  in  David  O. 
Selznick's  "Intermezzo,"  his  first 
screen  role. 

• 

Arthur  Hornblow,  Jr.,  producer, 
arrives  by  plane  today  from  Coast. 
He  will  see  plavs  for  possible  films. 
• 

Harry   Decker,   New   York  and 
Brooklyn  branch  manager  for  War- 
ners, is  vacationing  in  Atlantic  City. 
• 

Joe  Linett,  head  cashier  at  Mono- 
gram's New  York  exchange,  has  a 
new  assistant,  Doris  Musica. 
• 

Charles  L.  O'Reilly  was  in  Chi- 
cago this  week. 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  Adolph 
Zukor,  Herman  Wobber,  Larry 
Hart  and  Charles  McCarthy  among 
those  at  Sardi's  during  lunch  hour 
yesterday. 

• 

Ben  Kalmenson,  southern '  and 
western  sales  manager  for  Warners, 
has  "adopted"  a  five-year-old  Span- 
ish boy,  Zasarias  A.  Alonso,  through 
the  Foster  Parents'  Plan  for  Spanish 
Children. 

• 

Laurence  Olivier,  appearing  in 
"Wuthering  Heights,"  will  be  host  at 
a  cocktail  party  at  the  Rivoli  tomor- 
row afternoon,  celebrating  the  seventh 
week  of  the  film  at  the  house. 
• 

Henri  Bernstein,  French  author 
and  dramatist,  will  attend  the  inaugu- 
ration of  the  French  Pavilion  at  the 
World's  Fair  today. 

• 

Max  Glass,  French  producer,  ar- 
rived yesterday  on  the  Champlain  to 
spend  three  or  four  weeks  in  New 
York. 

• 

Hal  Wallis,  accompanied  by  his 
wife,  Louise  Fazenda,  and  their  two 
sons,  sailed  Tuesday  on  the  Nienw 
Amsterdam. 

• 

Ken   Maynard,   E.    K.  O'Shea, 
Tom    Connors,   lunching   at  Nick's 
Hunting  Room  in  the  Astor  yesterday. 
• 

Edward  Raquello,  featured  player, 
has  arrived  from  Hollywood  and  will 
vacation  here  fc-  three  weeks. 
• 

J.  Don  Alexander  is  in  town  from 
Colorado  Springs. 


Joseph  Feted: 
25  Yr.  Recorc 
With  Universa 


Ben  Goetz  to  Coast; 
Delays  London  Trip 

Ben  Goetz,  head  of  M-G-M's  Brit- 
ish production  activities,  returned  to 
the  coast  by  plane  last  night,  postpon- 
ing his  departure  for  London  by  at 
least  a  week.  He  had  planned  to  sail 
today  on  the  Queen  Mary. 

It  is  understood  Goetz  will  resume 
discussions  of  arrangements  for  new 
London  production  activities  at  the 
studio  and  may  be  back  in  New  York 
in  time  to  sail  on  the  Norm-andie, 
May  31. 


3  Flights  Daily 
NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

THE  PLAINSMAN 

Lv.  7:10  A.  M.   Ar.  12:29  A.  M. 

THE  MERCURY 

Lv.  5:10  P.  M.   Ar.  7:43  A.  M. 

THE  SOUTHERNER 

Lv.  10:10  P.  M.   Ar.  1:55  P.  M. 

Ask  your  travel  agent  or  phone 
VAnderbilt  3-2  580.  Ticket  offices: 
45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rocke- 
feller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES  / 


Para.  Board  to  Meet 

Monthly  meeting  of  Paramount 
board  of  directors  will  be  held  at 
the  home  office  tomorrow.  Only 
routine  business  is  scheduled. 


Name  Brecheen  RKO 
Manager  in  Atlanta 

Joe  Brecheen,  former  RKO  manager 
in  Charlotte,  has  been  promoted  to 
manager  in  Atlanta  by  Jules  Levy, 
general  sales  manager.  Brecheen  suc- 
ceeds Guy  Brown,  resigned,  and  is 
replaced  in  Charlotte  by  N.  J.  Col- 
quhoun,  former  Memphis  salesman. 

Other  changes  include :  Lou  Padolf, 
rejoining  the  company,  and  assigned 
to  Detroit  as  salesman  ;  Grover  Wray, 
assigned  to  the  Memphis  staff ;  Scott 
Chesnutt,  added  to  the  Oklahoma  City 
staff ;  Harry  Levinson,  former  Chi- 
cago booker,  named  office  manager  in 
Detroit ;  Lou  Fink,  Robert  Renz  and 
Joseph  P.  Smith,  assigned  as  student 
salesmen  in  Los  Angeles,  Buffalo  and 
Boston,  respectively. 


New  Haven,  May  23. — More  tha 
100  friends  gathered  at  the  Univers; 
exchange  here  today  to  honor  Morri 
Joseph,  branch  manager,  on  his  silve 
anniversary  with  the  company.  ! 

Joseph  started  with  Universif;^ ! 
1914,  successively  in  New  F/J 
Springfield,  New  Haven,  Cleveland 
and  Kansas  City.  In  1925  he  becam' 
exchange  manager  here,  where  he  ha  j 
been  since. 

Home  office  executives  attending  tc 
day  included  William  A.  Scully,  gen 
eral  sales  manager;  F.  J.  A.  McCar 
thy,  eastern  sales  manager,  and  A.  j  l 
Herman,  district  manager. 
Exhibitor  guests  included: 

From  New  Haven:  H.  Lavietes,  J.  Can 
non,  J.  DeLucia,  J.  Hurwitz,  A.  Johnsoi 
M.  Bailey,  M.  Tomasino,  Fishman  brother: 
representing  their  circuit  of  seven  theatre 
in  Fairfield  and  New  Haven. 

From  Bridgeport:    M.  Jacobson,  M.  Le ! 
vine,  M.  Kaufman,  Al  Schuman,  S.  Hade] 
man,    Harold    Tabackman,    Joe  Corwek 
Phil  Schwartz,  A.  Prakas,  Louis  Anger. 

From  Hartford:    George  Landers,  man 
ager  of  E.  M.  Loew  Theatres;  Mike  Daly*! 
Charles  Repass,  Martin  Keleher,  M.  Lieber  > 
man,  M.  Shulman,  Theodore  Harris. 

From  Waterbury:  C.  Mascoli,  J.  Mascol 
N.  Mascoli,  E.  Van  Doren,  William  SiricE 
F.  Quatrano,  M.  Sirica. 

Also,  M.  Cascioli,  D.  Blaine,  J.  Beren: 
Ted  Jacocks,  James  Casey,  A.  BoscarduM 
J.  Faith,  N.  Lambert,  S.  Lambert,  J.  Mar  i 
koff ,  James  Mahoney  of  the  Interstat ; 
Theatres  Corp.;  William  Pine  and  Johnn 
Evers,  Joe  DiFrancesco,  William  Hoyt  an 
A.  Jacocks,  J.  Dombe,  Jr.,  Leo  Schapiro. 

Also,  S.  Rosen,  A.  Lockwood,  Leo  Bonofl 
A.  L.  Ricci,  M.  Pouzzner,  E.  Doran,  Mrs 
L.  Flack,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hess,  J.  Findlaj 
Ralph  Pasho,  P.  Perokas,  J.  D.  Sirica,  Ma 
Tabackman,  George  Lewitt,  J.  Rata,  Irwi 
Wheeler,  Charles  Morse,  A.  J.  Smith,  B 
Fontaine,  M.  Hadelman,  J.  Walsh  and  Be 
Leo. 

Also,    J.    Panoras,    Al    Pickus,  Robei 
Schwartz,    George    Wilkinson,    Joe  Reec 
Nick  Del  Rosso,  George  Comden  and  A.  I ! 
Smith. 

From  the  Warner  Theatre  Department 
were  present:  I.  J.  Hoffman,  Max  Hoffmar 
Dan  Finn,  Guy  Barrett,  B.  E.  Hoffman  an 
Larry  Germaine. 

Harry  Shaw,  Poli.  New  England  Divisio 
manager;  Matt  Saunders,  manager  of  th ; 
Poli,  Bridgeport,  and  M.  Rosenthal,  man! 
ager   of   the   Majestic    in   Bridgeport  alsj 
attended. 


Paradise  Alterations 

Paradise  in  Brooklyn  will  close  fo 
alterations  the  latter  part  of  nex 
week. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


King  George  and  Queen  Elizabeth 
in  Canada  receive  major  attention  in 
all  the  new  issues,  contents  of  which 
follow : 

MOVIETONE  NEWS.  No.  73— King  and 
Queen  in  Canada.  Chamberlain  speaks  in 
London.  Polish  army  parade.  Prepared- 
ness parade  in  Rumania.  Victor  Emanuel 
reviews  Italian  army.  Test  new  stratoliner. 
French  plane  lands  in  Long  Island.  Yan- 
kee Clipper  takes  off.  Lew  Lehr.  English 
polo  team  practices.  Prince  Olav  in  boat 
race.    Accommodation  train  in  Connecticut. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  271— Hail 
King  and  Queen.  Trans-Atlantic  clipper 
leaves.  Spanish  Government  feeds  babies. 
Mussolini  in  Turin.  Folding  boats.  French 
daredevil  thrills  spectators. 


PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  84—Clipper 
starts  trans- Atlantic  air  service.-  Feed 
babies  in  Spain.  British  polo  team  in  train- 
ing, American  team  prepares  for  match. 
New  Yorkers  try  fold  boating.  Highlights 
of  royal  visit  in  Canada.  Princess  Eliza- 
beth and  Princess  Margaret  inspect  zoo 
in  England. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS.  No.  88— Acclaim 
Britain's  Monarchs  in  Canada.  Germany 
and  Italy  sign  war  pact.  Launch  trans- 
Atlantic  air  service.  Norwegian  Prince 
loses  boat  race.  Cuba  celebrates  anni- 
versary of  independence.    Crew  race. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  773.— 
Maytime  festival.  Mayday  in  Cuba.  Ger- 
many and  Italy  in  war  pact.  New  English 
ship  ready  for  service.  Clipper  starts  air 
mail  service.  New  stratoliner  tested.  King 
and  Queen  in  Canada. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  V.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  am 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMEi 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda: 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com 
pany.  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurer 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  a 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubco 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  193! 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yorl 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motioi 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  Teatri 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picturi 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Unioi 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boon 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Weaver 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  B 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Square 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco.  London 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y. 
under  '.he  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  thi 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10c 


CHIPS 
M-G-M! 


■ 


"GOODBYE 
MR.  CHIPS" 


Not  only  launching  a  great  cur- 
rent attraction,  but  solidifying 
the  box-office  stature  of  Robert 
Donat  and  introducing  the 
screen's  sensational  new  star 
Greer  Garson. 


"On  BORROWED 
TIME" 


Broadway's  beloved  stage  hit 
comes  to  the  screen  with 
power,  thrill  and  human 
appeal.  The  top  role  in 
Lionel  Barrymore's  career! 
And  a  new  juvenile  star  is 
born,  Bobs  Watson! 


"TARZAN 
Finds  A  Son!" 

The  first  Tarzan  film  in  3  years, 
with  all  new  and  all  different 
thrills  to  pack  in  the  devoted 
fans.  With  Johnny  Weissmuller, 
Maureen  O'Sullivan  and  a 
Tarzan,  Jr.  child  wonder! 


"MAISIE"  The 
Explosive  Blonde 

Watch  for  M-G-M's  trade  an- 
nouncement "How  To  Exploit 
'MaisieVThis  surprise  picture 
is  a  showman's  opportunity. 
Ann  Sothern,  Robert  Young 
in  a  sock  entertainment! 


"Andy  HARDY 
Gets  Spring  Fever 

Completed  and  ready  for  preview 
and  already  the  studio  is  hum- 
ming with  advance  raves.  Lewis 
Stone,  Mickey  Rooney  and  all 
the  folks  in  a  Hardy  picture 
sensationally  different  from  any 
one  thus  far! 


TAYLOR- 
LAMARR 


The  most  eagerly  awaited  picture 
of  years  is  "LADY  OF  THE 
TROPICS"  and  those  who  have 
seen  it  thus  far  are  predicting  the 
biggest  box-office  property  of 
the  heat  waves!  Tell  your  folks 
"Hedy  was  worth  waiting  for!" 


Now  —  and  in  the  months  to  come  —  and  in  glorious  1930-40! 

THE  FRIENDLY  COMPANY 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1935 j 


■ 


Foreign  Film 
Imports  Show 
Ontario  Gain 


Toronto,  May  23. — Treasury  De- 
partment of  the  Ontario  Government 
has  reported  a  substantial  increase  in 
the  number  of  films  imported  from 
foreign  countries  during  the  past  fis- 
cal year,  apart  from  those  originating 
in  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain. 
The  total  for  the  12  months  ending 
March  31  was  102,  as  compared  with 
39  foreign  films  for  the  previous  cor- 
responding period. 

It  is  reported  that  a  few  of  these 
pictures  were  obviously  propaganda 
and  16  of  the  subjects  were  revised 
before  approval,  with  one  feature,  from 
Russia,  condemned  in  its  entirety.  Of 
the  foreign  films  under  review  during 
the  1938-'39  year,  77  were  of  standard 
width  while  25  were  16  mm. 

Motion  picture  advertising  accesso- 
ries totaling  29,383  were  inspected 
during  the  past  year  ;  156  were  con- 
demned and  118  were  ordered  changed 
to  meet  the  regulations  restricting 
nudity,  gun  play  and  scenes  of  ex- 
treme violence.  During  the  previous 
year,  152  displays  were  turned  down 
out  of  a  total  of  30,289  and  68  were 
revised. 


Para.  Negotiating 
Two  Theatre  Deals 

Negotiations  have  been  opened  by 
Paramount  with  George  Trendle  of 
Detroit  and  Lucas  &  Jenkins,  Atlanta, 
for  extension  of  their  operating  con- 
tracts, which  expire  next  month. 
Trendle's  operations  cover  the  17 
houses  in  the  United  Detroit  Theatres 
Corp.  Those  of  Lucas  &  Jenkins 
cover  37  houses  in  Georgia. 

Negotiations  also  are  in  progress 
between  Paramount  and  Joe  Cooper 
whereby  the  former  would  acquire  a 
larger  interest  in  the  Cooper  opera- 
tions in  Colorado  and  Nebraska. 


RKO's  Talent  Quest 
Voting  Here  Today 

Regional  selections  here  in  the 
RKO  Gateway  to  Hollywood  talent 
quest  will  meet  today  at  the  Hotel 
Warwick.  Auditions  are  being  held 
simultaneously  in  the  Chicago  and 
San  Francisco  districts,  concluding  the 
series  of  21  regional  meetings  in  the 
second  Jesse  Lasky  quest. 

At  today's  luncheon  here  will  be 
Mrs.  Lela  Rogers,  mother  of  Ginger 
Rogers ;  Frances  Duff-Robinson,  dra- 
matic coach ;  Nancy  Carroll,  Raymond 
Massey  and  Ethyl  Haworth.  Lasky 
will  be  represented  by  Herbert  Raw- 
linson. 


10  RKO  Closings 

Set  for  Summer 

RKO  will  close  10  houses  this  sum- 
mer beginning  with  the  Strand,  Syra- 
cuse, on  Friday.  Others  will  be  Trent, 
Trenton,  May  28;  Albee,  Providence, 
and  Majestic,  Columbus,  May  31 ; 
Orpheum,  Kansas  City,  and  Colonial, 
Dayton,  June  1 ;  Central,  Yonkers, 
June  4 ;  Orpheum,  Champaign,  June 
11;  Century,  Rochester,  June  14;  and 
\i<kn,  Jamaica,  June  21  or  25.  John 
J.  O'Connor,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  circuit,  said  these 
were  the  usual  summer  closings. 


Hollywood  Preview 


" Bridal  Suite" 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  May  23. — Annabella,  Robert  Young,  Walter  Connolly, 
Billie  Burke,  Gene  Lockhart,  Reginald  Owen  and  Arthur  Treacher  are 
the  names  available  for  marquee  purposes  in  connection  with  this  other- 
wise moderate  enterprise.  It  is  a  frothy  comedy  of  manners  dependent 
upon  acting  ability  of  its  performers,  wit  of  its  dialogue  and,  in  a 
measure,  on  setting.  It  is  funniest  during  a  sequence  wherein  amorous 
Young  and  Annabella  are  marooned  with  apprehensive  Connolly  on  the 
slipper}'  edge  of  an  Alp.  It  is  promisingly  amusing  in  its  early  scenes 
presenting  Young  as  a  bridegroom-to-be  who  can't  quite  get  around 
to  being  it,  routine  in  a  formula  finish. 

Edgar  Selwyn  produced  the  picture,  handsomely,  with  William  Thiele 
directing.  Samuel  Hoffenstein  devised  the  screenplay  from  a  story  by 
Gottfried  Reinhardt  and  Virginia  Faulkner.  William  Buddie  and  Gus 
Kahn  supplied  a  song  which  Annabella  sings  to  zither  accompaniment. 

Young  plays  a  wealthy  idler  whose  parents  would  like  him  to  marry 
eligible  Virginia  Field..  He  gets  drunk  and  misses  the  wedding.  His 
mother  takes  him  to  Switzerland  to  see  a  psychiatrist  who  will  supply 
him  an  amnesia  alibi,  but  he  meets  Annabella,  Swiss  miss,  and  marries 
her  instead.  An  episode  in  which  Young  lures  Annabella  to  his  bed- 
room by  feigning  illness  and  by  some  unseen  action  incurs  her  wrath 
in  the  darkness  may  or  may  not  be  regarded  as  coming  under  the  head 
of  good  clean  fun.    Running  time,  68  minutes.    General  classification. 


Schuyler- Arden 

Dispute  to  Court 

Clearance  dispute  between  the 
Schuyler  and  the  Arden,  both  on  Co- 
lumbus Ave.,  Manhattan,  has  resulted 
in  a  suit  filed  in  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
yesterday. 

Schuyler  Theatre  Corp.  filed  suit 
against  Columbia  Pictures  for  breach 
of  a  contract  made  last  December,  un- 
der which  the  Schuyler  purchased  40 
films.  The  contract  provided,  it  is 
alleged,  that  the  Arden  was  not  to  re- 
ceive clearance  over  the  Schuyler.  The 
complaint  charges,  however,  that  the 
clearance  was  granted. 

Schuyler  will  apply  today  to  Jus- 
tice Lloyd  Church  for  a  temporary 
injunction  pending  trial  to  prevent  Co- 
lumbia from  granting  clearance  to 
Arden  in  the  future. 

Harry  Brandt  does  booking  for  the 
Schuyler,  which  is  a  Kaybern  house. 
William  Kaster  operates  the  Arden. 


U.  A.  Goldwyn  Suit 
Motion  Faces  Delay 

Motion  by  United  Artists  to  dismiss 
the  complaint  of  Samuel  Goldwyn  and 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  in  the  breach 
of  contract  suit  in  Wilmington  may 
not  be  reached  for  hearing  before  the 
fall,  it  was  learned  yesterday. 

Procedure  in  the  Delaware  Federal 
courts  is  to  hear  all  motions  in  the 
order  in  which  they  are  filed.  The 
calendar  is  more  than  a  month  behind 
and  unless  action  is  speeded  before 
the  summer  recess,  the  U.A.  motion  is 
not  likely  to  be  argued  before  October. 
No  answer  to  the  complaint  will  be 
filed  until  the  motion  is  decided. 


Sparks  Adds  House 

Jacksonville,  Fla.,  May  23. — E.  J. 
Sparks  will  add  a  new  theatre  to  his 
circuit  operations  with  construction  of 
a  450-seat  house  at  Dania  in  the  near 
future. 


Film  Actions  in  Court 


United  Artists  was  examined  yes- 
terday as  to  its  business  relations 
with  Balaban  &  Katz,  Chicago  circuit, 
during  the  examination  of  Jack 
Schlaifer,  vice-president  and  western 
sales  manager  of  U.  A.,  by  Seymour 
Krieger,  special  assistant  attorney- 
general,  in  the  Government's  anti-trust 
suit  against  the  majors. 

Schlaifer  said  he  had  offered  United 
Artists  product  for  1938  and  1939  to 
Jones,  Linnick  &  Schaefer  in  Chicago 
but  did  not  close  the  deal  because  he 
could  not  get  sufficient  compensation. 

Edward  C.  Raftery,  U.  A.  attor- 
ney, refused  to  allow  further  question- 
ing on  Chicago  business  because,  he 
said,  United  Artists  is  fighting  a  con- 
spiracy suit  there. 

Minneapolis,  Kansas  City,  St.  Paul, 
Los  Angeles,  Seattle,  Milwaukee  and 
Omaha  were  also  covered  by  Krieger 
in  his  questions.  Examination  of 
Schlaifer  was  closed  and  the  "Govern- 
ment stated  it  would  examine  Andrew 
W.  Smith,  former  U.  A.  sales  mana- 
ger, on  June  4  or  5. 


Communion  Broadcast 
Suit  Won  by  WNYC 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Ber- 
nard L.  Shientag  yesterday  ruled  that 
WNYC  was  acting  legally  in  broad- 
casting without  charge  the  Commun- 
ion Breakfasts  of  the  Holy  Name  So- 
ciety, Catholic  organization.  Justice 
Shientag  dismissed  an  injunction  suit 
brought  by  Joseph  Lewis  as  a  tax- 
payer, in  which  it  was  claimed  that 
the  broadcasts  were  a  violation  of  the 
State  Constitution. 


RKO,  Writers  Sued 
On  "Radio  City  Revels" 

Suit  to  restrain  the  exhibition  of 
the  picture,  "Radio  City  Revels"  was 
filed  yesterday  in  Federal  Court 
against  RKO  and  Matt  Brooks,  Eddie 
Davis,  Anthony  Veiller  and  Mortimer 
Offner,  scenario  writers,  by  Jesse  Sol- 
omon. Plaintiff  charges  the  defend- 
ants with  plagiarizing  his  play,  "It 
Goes  Through  Here,"  copyrighted  in 
1936,  in  "Radio  City  Revels." 


Paramount's 
Europe  Chiefs 
Coming  Here 


Paramount  foreign  sales  executive- 
are  en  route  to  New  York  from  mar 
points  for  home  office  conferences  i 
advance  of  the  company's  annual  sale 
meeting  in  Los  Angeles  June 
which  they  will  attend.  ^' 

C.  G.  Dickinson,  general  sales  man 
ager  for  Great  Britain,  and  T.  C._  Red  i 
din,  advertising  and  publicity  directo 
there,  will  arrive  next  Tuesday  o; 
the  Aqititania.  Henri  Klarsfeld,  gen 
eral  manager  in  France,  is  schedule 
to  arrive  Monday  on  the  Normandu 
Floyd  C.  Henry,  manager  in  the  Phil 
ippines,  is  due  in  New  York  front 
the  coast  by  train  today. 

Harry  Hunter,  managing  directo 
for  Australia  and  New  Zealand,  atv 
A.  L.  Pratchett,  general  manager  i 
Central  America  and  the  Caribbear 
arrived  in  New  York  earlier. 


W anger  to  Honor 
Shotwell  of  N.  Y 

Hollywood,  May  23. — Dr.  James  1 
Shotwell  of  Columbia  University  an 
president  of  the  League  6i  Nation 
Association  will  be  guest  of  honor  a 
a  dinner  to  be  tendered  by  Walte 
Wanger,  his  long-time  friend,  here  o 
Friday.  Dr.  Shotwell  has  been  her 
for  ten  days  collaborating  with  Cec 
B.  De  Mille  in  preparing  film  fc 
showing  at  the  New  York  and  Sa 
Francisco  W'orld's  Fairs. 


Hold  Reynolds  Rites 

Washington,  May  23. — Funen 
services  were  held  here  today  fo  I 
Daniel  R.  Reynolds,  43,  who  died  Sal 
urday  after  a  brief  illness.  He  wa 
manager  of  Warners'  Penn  here  sine  i 
its  opening  in  1935.  Interment  was  i  j 
Cedar  Hill  Cemetery. 


Theatre  Changes 


Bridgeport,  Conn.,  May  23. — Ro; 
Grossman  has  bought  the  Barnui 
Theatre  Building,  under  lease  for  tb 
next  three  years  to  Lou  Anger. 


Conn.  House  Option 

Windsor,  Conn.,  May  23. — Natha 
Lampert  has  taken  an  option  on 
site  for  a  500-seat  house  here.  Lair 
pert,  of  the  Colchester,  Glastonbur 
and  other  suburban  houses,  already  o[: 
erates  a  smaller  house  outside  ( 
Windsor. 


Plan  Three  in  Madison 

Madison,  May  23. — Three  new  th< 
atres  have  been  announced  for  tb' 
city's  west  side,  all  to  be  constructe 
on  Monroe  St.  New  houses  ai_ 
planned  by  Nicolet  Corp.,  Minneapt;  f 
lis ;  Fair  Oaks  Theatre  Corp.  an 
Ashley  Theatre  Co.,  affiliated  with  tb 
Fox-Wisconsin  Amusement  Co. 


Opening  on  June  9 

J.  D.  Weidenhafer  will  open  th 
Court  Square  in  Newton,  N.  J 
June  9. 


Gets  Pawling  House 

New  operator  of  the  Alberma 
Pawling,  is  Pawling  Theatre,  Inc. 


Wednesday.  May  24,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


ATSE's  Trial 
Pests  Control 
)ver  Unions 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
ir>liip"    in    maintaining    control  of 
(oily wood   locals   to   "sell  members 
*»vn   the   river   to   producers"  and 
about  new  two  per  cent  assess- 

Ceorge  M.  Breslin.  chief  counsel  for 
itcrnational.  said  International  ofti- 
T>  are  acting  under  constitution  and 
Haws  in  revoking  autonomy  of  Local 

because  of  state  of  emergency  and 
jat  assessment  is  not  issue  in  the  cur- 
-m  case.  He  proposed  to  show  that 
.  machinery'  provided  by  Internation- 

constitutions  have  been  followed  by 
ri>wne  and  aides. 

Much  of  today's  session  was  con- 
mied  with  introduction  of  various  ex- 
bits  consisting  of  communications 
torn  Browne  to  aides  and  members 
;d  copies  of  constitutions  and  pro- 
<edings  of  conventions. 


air  Brings  Many 
Exhibitors  to  City 

■  Exhibitors  from  various  parts  of  the 
■DOtry  continue  to  arrive  daily  to 
git  the  World's  Fair.  Among  the 
nst  recent  visitors  to  register  at  the 
KO  World's  Fair  lounge  are  the 
11  owing : 

£.  C.  Beatty,  president  and  treas- 
Sfcr,  Butterfield  Circuit,  Detroit ;  Mr. 
>d  Mrs.  L.  Tunick,  Brooklyn  The- 
re, Baltimore ;  John  Gardner,  Gard- 
hr's  Theatres,  Schenectady ;  Charles 
Wilson,  Bijou,  Troy,  N.  Y. ;  J. 
jnstantine,    James    Theatre,  Syra- 
.ise;  Steven  Tarbell,  Smalley  The- 
Ires,  Cooperstown,  N.  Y. ;  Ray  Pash- 
•.  Lake  Theatres,  Interlaken,  X.  Y. ; 
.muel  A.  Feir,  Hastings,  Hastings- 
-Hudson,  N.  Y. ;  J.  C.  Caldwell, 
-e,  Appomattox,  Va. ;  I.  M.  Rappa- 
:,rt,  Hippodrome,  Baltimore. 


■JtBC  Use  of  Shorts 
Reported  by  Carr 

E.  T.  Carr,  joint  managing  director 
r  United  Artists  in  London,  who  is 
siting  in  New  York,  renorted  yes- 
rday  to  the  M.P.P.D.A.  television 
mmittee  on  the  regulations  govern- 
'g  the  use  in  television  broadcasts  of 
'alt  Disney  short  subjects  by  the 
■e  of  feature  productions. 
Indications  are  that  the  same  or 
nilar  regulations,  designed  to  pre- 
nt  the  use  of  short  subjects  on  tele- 
sion  programs  in  competition  with 
tatres.  will  be  adopted  by  other 
^  erican  distributors  when  thev  make 
i'f>rts  available  to  BBC.  as  already 
'cided. 



Jewsreels  Watch 
Fair  Photo  Strike 

Xewsreels  are  standing  pat,  await- 
z  developments  in  the  World's  Fair 
'ike  situation  created  by  Camera- 
:n's  Union,  Local  644.  The  camera- 
fcn  have  declared  that  they  will  not 
ter  the  Fair  grounds  until  a  dispute 
tr  the  hiring  of  camermen  for  pub- 
ity  stills  is  settled.  The  newsreels 
;  affected  indirectly  because  they  are 
iliated  with  the  still  cameramen. 


Cohen  Outlines  Aims  to  Allied  Convention 


.Allied  of  New  York  state  officers  and  regional  vice-p residents  smile  for  the  camera  at  the  first  session  of  their 
convention  yesterday.  Left  to  right,  bottom  rote:  Albert  Francis,  Max  A.  Cohen,  president;  Irving  Sherman,  Thomas 
Di  Lorenzo,  assistant  treasurer;  Joseph  Rosensweig,  treasurer.  Center  roiv.  Raplcy  P.  Merriman,  Louis  Goidel,  E. 
Thornton  Kelly,  executive  secretary.    Top  rozc:  Mitchell  Conery,  Max  Cohen.   (Photo  by  Cosmo-Silco) 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Thomas  Di  Lorenzo  of  New  Paltz, 
finance  committee  chairman,  recom- 
mended an  increase  in  dues  to  meet 
the  unit's  budget.  After  a  debate  in 
which  Harry  Brandt,  president  of  the 
New  York  I.T.O.A.  participated, 
Cohen  named  a  committee  to  report 
on  the  matter  today. 

Cohen  named  the  following  to  the 
resolutions  committee,  which  is  to  re- 
port today :  R.  P.  Merriman,  Max 
Cohen  of  Brooklyn,  Mitchell  Conery, 
Albert  Francis  and  Harry  G.  Kosch, 
counsel. 

Conery,  Kosch  and  Cohen  of  Brook- 
lyn were  elected  delegates  to  the  na- 
tional convention  in  Minneapolis  next 
month.    The  president  will  also  attend. 

Abram  F.  Myers.  Allied  States  gen- 
eral counsel,  will  be  unable  to  attend 
the  convention,  it  was  said. 


Today's  Program 

Open  meeting,  2  P.  M. 

Address  by  Col.  H.  A.  Cole, 
president  national  Allied. 

Report  of  finance  commit- 
tee. 

Report  of  grievance  com- 
mittee. 

Report  of  resolutions  com- 
mittee. 

Discussion  on  "Insurance 
Economy." 

7  P.  M,  visit  to  World's  Fair. 

Matinee  party  for  ladies  at 
"The  American  Wav,"  Center 
Theatre. 


Tom  Keene,  western  star,  was  intro- 
duced to  the  delegates. 

One  of  the  interesting  exhibits  at 


Attending  Allied  Meetings 


The  following  registered  yesterday 
at  the  opening  of  the  New  York  Allied 
convention  : 

Charles  H.  Olive,  Washington ; 
Arthur  K.  Howard,  Boston ;  Lauritz 
Gorman,  Baltimore :  R.  P.  Merriman, 
James  Constantine,  Syracuse ;  Steve 
Tarbell,  Cooperstown ;  Mitchell  Con- 
ery, Ravena  ;  Charles  Wilson,  Troy  ; 
John  W.  Gardner,  Schenectady ; 
Marvin  Atlas,  Niagara  Falls ;  Herbert 
Hoch,  Mrs.  Minna  G.  Rosen,  Albert 
Francis.  Buffalo ;  Alec  Papayanakos, 
Canton  ;  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Louis  Tunick, 
Baltimore ;  Irving  Gerber,  Photoplay 
magazine,  New  York. 

Herman  Lorence,  Cattaraugus, 
N.  Y. ;  Andrew  Geitner,  Silver  Creek ; 
Irving  Sherman,  Pearl  River ;  Abe 
Le\-y,  New  York ;  Joseph  Rosenzweig, 
New  York ;  Max  Cohen,  Brooklyn ; 


Adolph  Haas,  Ansell  C.  Knowles, 
Alexander  Film  Co. ;  Howard  Carroll, 
Rochester. 

Louis  Goidel,  Brooklyn ;  Ray  Pash- 
ley,  Interlaken  ;  Charles  Mazar,  Man- 
ville,  N.  J. ;  Michael  Baumanson, 
Malone,  N.  Y. ;  Abe  Stone,  Albany; 
Archer  S.  Tompkins,  Schenectady ; 
Irving  Landau,  New  York ;  Thomas 
Di  Lorenzo,  New  Paltz,  N.  Y. ;  Mar- 
tin Wagner,  William  Morris  agency ; 
Morris  Flaks,  Benjamin  Flaks,  Balti- 
more ;  B.  Bordenaro,  Orlean,  N.  Y. 

Among  others  attending  are  Harry 
Brandt,  David  Rosenzweig,  John  Man- 
heimer,  William  Brandt,  Lionel  Toll, 
representing  New  York  I.T.O.A. ; 
William  B.  Stein,  general  manager, 
Imperial  Theatres  of  New  Jersey ; 
Maurice  Shulman,  Connecticut  Allied, 
Hartford ;  Irving  Wernick,  Ellenville. 


the  Allied  convention  is  at  the  M-G-M 
booth  where  free  voice  tests  are  made 
for  all  comers.  The  exhibit  was  set 
up  by  W.  R.  Ferguson,  exploitation 
manager. 

The  voice  apparatus,  developed  by 
Radio  Development  &  Research  Corp., 
uses  steel  tape  instead  of  disc  and 
gives  an  immediate  playback.  Milton 
Loewenstein,  M-G-M  engineer,  is  in 
charge. 

Also  at  the  exhibit  is  Tarzana, 
chimpanzee  who  has  appeared  in 
M-G-M's  "Tarzan"  films.  Capt. 
Voleny  Phifer,  her  trainer,  puts  the 
chimp  through  the  paces.  Two  of  John 
Powers'  models  are  on  hand. 


Schlaifer  to  Allied  Meet 

L.  J.  Schlaifer,  vice-president  and 
western  general  sales  manager  of 
United  Artists,  has  accepted  the  invi- 
tation of  Al  Steffes,  convention  chair- 
man, to  attend  the  Allied  States  meet- 
ing in  Minneapolis  June  13-15.  Schlai- 
fer will  arrive  in  Minneapolis  June  12. 


Para.  Has  Coast 
Television  Hopes 

Paramount  or  DuMont  may 
establish  a  television  trans- 
mitter on  the  coast  at  some 
future  date  but  no  definite 
plans  exist  at  this  time,  an 
official  spokesman  for  the  two 
companies  said  yesterday. 

DuMont,  in  which  Para- 
mount has  a  large  interest, 
has  applied  for  a  license  from 
the  Federal  Communications 
Commission  for  a  transmit- 
ting station  in  the  east  but 
no  action  has  been  taken  on 
the  application  yet.  No  ap- 
plication has  been  made  for  a 
West   Coast   transmitter  li- 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1931 


'Hardys'  Is 
Loop  Leader 
With  $17,000 


Chicago,  May  23. — "The  Hardys 
Ride  High"  garnered  $17,000  at  the 
United  Artists.  "East  Side  of 
Heaven"  took  $19,600  at  the  Palace. 
Business  elsewhere  was  off. 

E  timated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17-20 : 

"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

APOLLO  —  (1,400)  (35c-55c-7Sc)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO-(4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
2nd  week.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
$24,000.  (Average,  $32,000) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

GARRICK—  (900)     (35c-40c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $4,600.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Zero  Hour"  (Rep.) 
"Risky  Business"  (Univ.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c) 
Stage:  Vaudeville  &  Revue.  Gross 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

PALACE  —  (2,500)  (35c-55c-75c) 
Stage:    Vaudeville    Revue.  Gross: 
(Average,  $19,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

ROOSEVELT  —  (1,300) 
days.  3rd  week.  Gross:  } 
$11,000) 

"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

STATE-LAKE  —  (2,700)   (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.    Stage:     Vaudeville    Revue.  Gross: 
$11,400.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-55c-75c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average,  $15,000) 


7  days. 
$11,000. 


7  days. 
$19,600. 


(35c-55c-75c)  7 
1,000.  (Average, 


'Glorious  Years'  Is 
$5,500  in  Montreal 

Montreal,  May  23.— "Sixty  Glori- 
ous Years"  led  comparatively  with 
$5,500  at  the  Capitol.  Preparations 
for  the  visit  of  the  King  and  Queen 
had  a  disastrous  effect  on  receipts. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  19: 

"Angels  With  Dirty  Faces"  (W.  B.) 

CAPITOL  —  (2,547)     (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $5,800.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"Sixty  Glorious  Years"  (RICO) 

LOEWS— (2,800)     (30c-40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.  (Average,  $7,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.A.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)  (2Sc-35c-50c)  7  days. 
4th  week.  Gross:  $1,500.  (Average,  $5,000). 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,300.  (Average,  $10,000) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 

PRINCESS  —  (2,272)  (25c -35c -50c -65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $3,200.  (Average,  $6,500) 


Personnel  Moves 


Cleveland,  May  23. — Lester  Ir- 
win, Paramount  booker  here,  has  been 
advanced  to  salesman  in  the  Toledo 
territory,  succeeding  Weldon  Waters, 
transferred  to  Albany.  Louis  Van 
Baalen  moves  up  from  cashier  to 
booker  and  Donald  Clark  has  been 
named  cashier. 


U.  A.  Shifts  Cadman 

Seattle,  May  23. — R.  J.  Cadman, 
former  Salt  Lake  City  branch  man- 
ager for  United  Artists,  has  joined 
the  local  exchange.  He  was  replaced 
in  Salt  Lake  by  Tony  Hartford. 


Hollywood  Previews 


Withers  to  Monogram 

Cleveland,  May  23. — Nate  Schultz, 
local  Monogram  franchise  owner,  has 
named  Jack  Withers,  formerly  with 
Universal,  to  the  sales  staff  succeed- 
ing Jack  Finberg,  resigned. 


"The  Jones  Family  in  Hollywood" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  May  23. — Here's  a  treat  for  this  series'  regular  cus- 
tomers and  a  show  to  convince  any  group  of  customers  that  they  are 
missing  a  lot  of  fun  if  they  are  not  regular  followers  of  "The  Jones 
Family"  adventures.  The  title  tells  the  story.  The  regular  members  of 
the  family  troupe,  Jed  Prouty,  Spring  Byington,  Ken  Howell,  George 
Ernest,  June  Carlson  and  Florence  Roberts,  abetted  by  William  Tracy, 
June  Gale,  Hamilton  MacFadden  and  Matt  McHugh,  working  under 
the  shrewd  direction  of  Malcolm  St.  Claire,  put  it  across  in  amusing 
style. 

Delegated  to  the  Legion  convention  in  the  film  city,  Prouty  has  dif- 
ficulty trying  to  keep  his  brood  out  of  Hollywood  and,  later,  getting 
it  to  leave  the  place.  While  he  alternately  plays  the  tuba  in  parades 
and  gets  chased  by  fierce  screen  Arabs,  the  whole  family  "Goes  Hol- 
lywood." June  Carlson's  crush  on  juvenile  star,  Tracy,  leads  that 
worthy  to  arranging  a  screen  test  for  her.  Ken  Howell  falls  for  the 
charms  of  screen  siren,  Miss  Gale.  Although  June's  makeup  trans- 
forms her  from  a  little  country  girl  to  a  gaudy  butterfly,  her  test  flops. 
Simultaneously  Howell  learns  that  Miss  Gale  was  romancing  with  him 
just  to  get  "atmosphere."  The  old  man,  trying  to  straighten  things 
out,  gets  himself  into  a  scandal-threate°ning  jam  and  it  remains  for 
Ernest,  who  beats 'up  Tracy  for  double  crossing  his  sister,  to  rescue 
the  family  and  start  it  back  to  the  old  home  town. 

Results  of  the  clean,  wholesome,  fast-breaking  fun  served  up  on  the 
screen  in  "The  Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  is  hearty  laughter.  Harold 
Tarshis'  story  and  the  Joseph  Hoffman-Buster  Keaton  screenplay  are 
splendidly  contrived  for  humorous  effects. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


"The  Zero  Hour" 

{Republic) 

Hollywood,  May  23. — Republic  continues  its  stride  toward  greater 
entertainment  with  "The  Zero  Hour,"  a  deftly  made  production  of 
innate  appeal  to  women.  Misleading  though  its  title  may  be,  "The 
Zero  Hour"  is  the  love  story  of  an  actress  and  an  actor,  the  latter,  after 
he  becomes  permanently  crippled,  making  the  sacrifice  of  his  life  that 
the  woman  he  loves  might  find  happiness. 

Frieda  Inescort  has  the  feminine  lead,  ably  supported  by  Otto  Kruger, 
Adrienne  Ames,  Don  Douglas,  Jane  Darwell,  J.  M.  Kerrigan,  Ann 
Todd,  Leonard  Carey,  Sarah  Padden,  Ferris  Taylor,  Willard  Parker 
and  Landers  Stevens. 

Miss  Inescort  rises  to  her  greatest  heights  in  this  film,  her  charac- 
terization of  a  woman  sacrificing  herself  for  an  ideal  not  likely  to  be 
forgotten.  What  might  have  been  a  maudlin  drama  was  avoided  by 
Sidney  Salkow,  the  director,  and  Garrett  Fort,  writer  of  the  original 
screenplay.  The  story  is  not  new,  but  the  condensation  of  it  into  65 
minutes  of  screen  unfolding,  the  crispness  and  conciseness  of  the  di- 
rection by  Salkow,  and  the  elimination  of  unnecessary  angles  are.  In 
its  compactness,  "The  Zero  Hour"  is  potentially'  ideal  popular  enter- 
tainment, despite  its  inborn  appeal  to  women. 

The  story  concerns  two  actors — one  who  rises  to  great  heights,  and 
the  other  who,  confined  to  a  wheelchair,  makes  the  sacrifice  of  his  life 
that  she  and  her  real  love,  together  with  an  adopted  child,  might  be 
happy. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.   "G."*  Vance  King 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Pass  Employment 
Agency  Bill  in  NY 

Albany,  May  23. — Ostertag  bill, 
providing  for  regulation  of  fee-charg- 
ing agencies  by  local  licensing  author- 
ities in  New  York  State,  passed  by 
the  legislature  in  the  closing  hours  of 
the  session  Saturday,  is  awaiting 
action  by  Governor  Lehman.  The- 
atrical agencies  and  artists'  represen- 
tatives are  included. 

The  Stagg-Todd  bill  for  regulation 
of  outdoor  advertising  was  defeated. 
In  the  Desmond-Mitchell-Moffat  hous- 
ing bill,  which  provides  for  an  admis- 
sion tax  of  one  cent  on  tickets  up  to 
50  cents  with  a  graduated  scale  above, 
the  provision  for  a  tax  on  outdoor  ad- 
vertising was  eliminated. 


'Rose'  Clears 
Good  $19,500 
Frisco  Grosi 


San  Francisco,  May  23. — "Rose  ( 
V\  ashington  Square"  paired  with  "M 
Moto  in  Danger  Island"  to  take  $19 
500.  Also  good  were  "Lady  andvJ- 
Mob"  with  $15,800  at  the  GfA 
Gate,  and  "Abused  Confidence"  at'i' 
Clay,  getting  $1,050. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en(  [ 
ing  May  16-19: 

"Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

GOLDEN   GATE— (2,850)  (35c-40c-55c) 
days.  Stage:  vaudeville.  Gross:  $15,800.  (A\ 
erage,  $15,000) 

"East  Side  of  Heaven."  (Univ.) 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-S5c; 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $6,300.  (Averag 
$8,000) 

"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-55< 
75c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,200.  (A- 
erage,  $11,500) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Adventures  of  Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (15C-35C-40C-55C-75.. 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Averag 
$12,000) 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Mr.  Moto  in  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  day 
Gross:  $19,500.  (Average,  $16,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

ST.    FRANCIS— (1,400)  (15C-35C-40C-55. 
75c)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,800.  (A- 
erage,  $6,000) 
"Stage  Coach"  (U.A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS — (2,200)  (15c-35c-4G, 
55c-65c)   7  days,  2nd  week.   Gross:  $7,00 
(Average,  $8,000) 
"Abused  Confidence"  (Col.) 

CLAY—  (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gros 
$1,050.  (Average,  $1,000) 
"The  400  Million"  (Joris  Ivens) 

LARKIN  —  (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  day 
Gross:  $950.  (Average,  $1,000) 


Royal  Visit  Hurts 
Toronto  Theatres 

Toronto,  May  23. — The  visit  of  the 
British  royalty  here  found  most  of  the 
populace  spending  14  hours  in  the  open 
air  and  giving  tumultous  reception  to 
the  king  and  queen.  Theatres  had  lit- 
tle patronage  until  late  in  the  eve- 
ning. Attendance  was  far  below  ex- 
pectations. 


Contract  to  Werker 

Hollywood,  May  23. — Alfred  Wer- 
ker has  been  given  a  20th  Century- 
Fox  contract  and  his  first  directorial 
assignment  will  be  a  new  Sherlock 
Holmes  story. 


'Castles'  at  $5,000 
Oklahoma  City  Bes 

Oklahoma  City,  May  23. — "Tl 
Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castk 
led  here,  with  $5,000  at  the  Midwes 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Grahai 
Bell"  took  $2,900  at  the  Tower. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  enc 
ing  May  18: 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

CRITERION— (1,500)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  day 
Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $5,500) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (Z0th-Fox) 
"You    Can't    Get    Away    With  Murdei 

(W.  B.) 

LIBERTY— (1,200)  (20c-25c) 
Gross:  $1,500.  (Average,  $1,800) 
"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 
"Inside  Story"  (20th-Fox) 

LIBERTY— (1,200)  (20c-25c) 
Gross:  $600.  (Average,  $700). 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castlf 

(RKO) 

MIDWEST— (1,500)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  day 
Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PLAZA— (750)    (25c-35c-40c)   2nd  week, 
days.  Gross:  $1,870.  (Average,  $1,700) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

STATE — (1,100)  (20c-25c-40c)  7  days,  2r 
week.  Gross:  $2,500.  (Average,  $3,000) 
"The    Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell 

(20th-Fox) 

TOWER— (1,000)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  day- 
Gross:  $2,900.  (Average,  $2,500) 


day 


day 


"Captain  Fury"  at  Fair 

United  Artists  will  hold  a  press  pr< 
view  of  "Captain  Fury"  this  afternoo 
at  the  Australian  Pavilion  of  the  Bri 
ish  Empire  Building  at  the  World 
Fair.  Official  hosts  at  the  screenin 
and  buffet  to  follow  will  be  L.  R.  Ma( 
Gregor,  Australian  High  Commi 
sioner  at  the  Fair,  and  W.  G.  Va 
Schmus,  managing  director  of  th 
Music  Hall.  The  picture  opens'  at  tl 
Music  Hall  tomorrow. 


COVERING  EVERY  PHASE  OF  PRODUCTION, 
DISTRIBUTION,  EXHIBITION  FOR  1939-40 

•  WHO'S  WHO.    Minute  biographies  of  more  than  12,000  people  who  made  and  are  making 
motion  picture  history  in  the  industry  throughout  the  world. 

•  CORPORATE  STRUCTURES,  capital  investments  and  annual  financial  summaries  of  the  leading 
corporations.    An  important  yearly  survey  of  the  state  of  the  industry. 

•  ANNUAL  RELEASES,  dates  and  titles,  a  resume  of  thousands  of  pictures  listed  by  company,  and 
alphabetically  for  quick  and  easy  reference. 

•  THEATRE  CIRCUITS  and  Exhibitor  organizations.    Checked  for  accuracy  up  to  the  last  minute 
of  publication. 

•  PRODUCING  AND  DISTRIBUTING  organizations,  list  of  personnel  in  studio  and  home  office, 
including  all  exchange  staffs. 

•  FILM  EDITORS  of  all  the  leading  newspapers  in  the  United  States.  Extremely  valuable  to  produc- 
ing organizations  and  to  exhibitors. 

•  EQUIPMENT.  A  survey  of  the  whole  field  of  theatre  maintenance  and  a  complete  list  of  theatre 
vendors. 

•  ABROAD.    A  perspective  of  the  film  situation  in  foreign  countries  and  a  list  of  important 
foreign  film  figures. 

•  RADIO. 

•  AND  COUNTLESS  OTHER  IMPORTANT  ITEMS  OF  REFERENCE. 

7939-40    EDITION    NOW    IN    PREPARATION  .  .  .  .   ORDER    TOD^IIf,    $3.00    PLUS  POSTAGE 

MOTION  PICTURE  ALMANAC 

OCKEFELLER        CENTER,  NEW  YORK 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Newsreels,  Radio  At  'Sub'  Disaster 

Newsreels  and  radio  networks  dispatched  camera  crews  and 
special  events  men  by  plane  yesterday  to  cover  the  rescue  efforts 
for  the  crew  of  the  U.  S.  Submarine  Sgualis. 

It  is  expected  that  the  story  will  be  one  of  the  biggest  of  the 
year  for  the  reels.  Planes  will  bring  back  negatives  in  time  for 
inclusion  in  the  regular  Thursday  issue. 

Networks  broadcast  the  first  flash  of  the  disaster  almost  simul- 
taneously at  approximately  2:30  P.  M.,  and  thereafter  intermittent 
bulletins  were  offered.  All  networks  also  broadcast  messages  to 
officers  and  men  of  naval  vessels  stationed  in  Brooklyn  Navy  Yard 
to  report  back  to  the  base  immediately. 

NBC  was  first  on  the  air  with  a  direct-from-the-scene  broadcast 
at  about  4:20  P.  M.,  through  the  cooperation  of  WHEB,  an  inde- 
pendent station  in  Portsmouth.  Special  events  men  who  flew  to 
Portsmouth  are  Bob  Trout  of  CBS,  Arthur  Feldman  of  NBC  and 
Dave  Driscoll  of  Mutual. 


8 


Decision  Due 
In  Union  Fight 
On  Television 


Associated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
America  will  meet  today  to  decide  the 
television  jurisdictional  dispute. 

Actors'  Equity  will  insist  that  it  re- 
ceived the  jurisdiction  in  1930  and 
Screen  Actors'  Guild  will  present  a 
proposal  for  a  joint  committee  of 
Equity,  S.A.G.  and  American  Federa- 
tion of  Radio  Artists  to  administer 
the  field. 

Yesterday  another  meeting  was  held 
on  the  jurisdictional  fight  between 
Equity  and  American  Federation  of 
Actors  for  control  of  the  "Ziegfeld 
Follies"  at  the  San  Francisco  World's 
Fair  but  decision  again  was  post- 
poned. 

New  FCC  Ruling 
On  World  Stations 

Washington,  May  23. — Interna- 
tional stations  will  be  permitted  to 
accept  sponsored  programs  under  new 
regulations  issued  todav  by  the  Fed- 
eral Communications  Commission,  ef- 
fective immediately. 

Advertising  continuities,  however, 
must  be  limited  to  announcement  of 
the  name  of  the  sponsor  and  the  name 
and  general  character  of  the  commod- 
ity or  service  advertised. 

Under  the  new  rules,  licensees  of 
international  stations  will  be  required 
to  render  service  "which  will  reflect 
the  culture  of  this  country  and  which 
will  promote  international  goodwill, 
understanding  and  cooperation." 


Air  Georgetown  Fete 

As  part  of  the  nationwide  observ- 
ance of  the  150th  anniversary  of 
Georgetown  University,  the  oldest 
Catholic  institution  of  learning  in  the 
country,  Mutual  will  present  the 
"Story  of  William  Gaston"  over  the 
network,  May  31  from  4  to  4  :30  P.  M. 
Gaston  was  the  first  student  at  the 
university. 


Dorothy  Alt  on  CBC 

Toronto,  May  23. — Dorothy  Alt, 
Canadian  actress,  has  returned  to  To- 
ronto after  seven  months  of  film  and 
television  work  in  England.  She  will 
appear  this  summer  over  CBC  in  a 
weekly  musical  program  under  the  di- 
rection of  Percy  Faith.  She  will  re- 
turn to  England  in  September. 


Radio  Brevities 


Phil  Baker's  option  has  been  taken 
up  by  his  sponsor,  effective  July  12. 
Beginning  July  5  his  "Honolulu 
Bound"  will  switch  to  Wednesday 
nights  at  8  o'clock  with  repeat  at 
midnight.  .  .  .  WHOM,  operating  on 
a  temporary  permit,  yesterday  became 
a  fully  licensed  station. 

Mutual's  commentator,  Raymond 
Gram  Swing,  will  be  on  a  regular 
evening  schedule,  starting  June  5. 
Swine  thereafter  will  be  heard  Mon- 
days, Wednesdavs  and  Fridays  from 
10  to  10:15  P.M.  over  the  network. 


►  Radio 
Personals  < 

JOAN  EDWARDS  will  make  a 
guest  appearance  on  the  RCA 
"Magic  Key"  Sunday.  .  .  .  Deems  Tay- 
lor joins  "The  Circle"  with  Made- 
leine Carroll  Sunday.  .  .  .  Carl  Hoff 
celebrates  his  second  year  on  the  Al 
Pearce  program  next  Monday. 
• 

Ingra  Nelson,  Swedish  comedienne 
who  has  appeared  in  Fred  Allen's 
program  a  number  of  times,  has  been 
signed  as  a  member  of  the  Fred  War- 
ing troupe  .  .  .  Harry  Miller,  Leo 
Russoto  and  Lou  Martin  are  com- 
posers of  "Come  to  New  York  to  the 
World's  Fair"  which  Al  Roth  intro- 
duced last  night  over  NBC. 

M'Connell  in  New 
Sales  Post  at  NBC 

James  V.  McConnell,  assistant  to 
Roy  Witmer,  NBC  vice-president  in 
charge  of  sales,  ha  =  been  appointed  to 
the  new  post  of  national  spot  and  local 
sales  manager.  McConnell  will  head 
all  sales  activities  of  NBC  owned, 
operated  and  programmed  stations. 

McConnell  has  been  with  NBC 
since  1931,  when  he  joined  as  a  net- 
work salesman.  Previously  he  had 
been  sales  promotion  manager  of 
General  Outdoor  Advertising  Co.,  and 
with  Campbell-Ewald  and  Batten, 
Barton,  Durstine  &  Osborn. 


WMCA  Day  at  Fair 

Radio's  first  official  day  at  the 
World's  Fair  will  be  held  on  Friday 
when  "WMCA  Day"  is  celebrated 
with  a  two-hour  broadcast,  originating 
in  the  Hall  of  Special  Events.  Among 
those  who  will  participate  are  Arthur 
Boran,  Sid  Gary,  Jerry  Baker,  Allie 
Lowe  Miles,  Sheila  Barrett,  Rose 
Marie,  Billy  Jones,  Billy  Glason, 
Zefle  Manners  and  others. 


Track  Meet  on  NBC 

The  IC4-A  track  and  field  cham- 
pionships at  Randalls  Island  Friday 
and  Saturday  will  be  broadcast  ex- 
clusively by  NBC.  Program  will  be- 
gin tomorrow  with  pre-meet  inter- 
views and  will  end  on  Saturday  with 
a  two-and-a-half  hour  description  of 
the  finals. 


Renew  WNEW  Deal 

Michael's  Department  Store  has  re- 
newed its  contract  with  WNEW  for 
Richard  Brooks,  six  quarter-hours  per 
week,  for  another  year. 


London  to  Expand 
Television  Links 

London,  May  23. — Provincial  de- 
velopments in  television  are  fore- 
shadowed by  recent  activities  in  Great 
Britain. 

It  is  reported  that  a  relay  link,  en- 
abling- the  transmission  of  Alexandra 
Palace  programs  to  a  wider  provincial 
area,  is  to  be  set  up  in  the  Chilterns — 
range  of  hills  in  the  30-40  mile  limit 
of  London's  western  and  northwest- 
ern horizons. 

Experiments  toward  a  radio  tele- 
vision link  between  Birmingham  and 
London  are  being  completed  by  Post 
Office  engineers.  The  Postmaster 
General  is  at  present  considering-  rec- 
ommendations made  by  him  to  the 
Radio  Manufacturers'  Association, 
who  have  offered  a  financial  guarantee 
as  backing  to  the  establishment  of  a 
television  station  at  Birmingham. 

CEA,  KRS  at  Odds 
In  Television  Fight 

London,  May  23. — Cinematograph 
Exhibitors'  Association  and  Kinemat- 
ograph  Renters'  Society  conferred  to- 
day, with  E.  J.  Hinge,  C.E.A.  presi- 
dent, presiding,  on  the  preparation  of 
a  memorandum  to  urge  the  Postmas- 
ter General  to  refuse  permits  for  tele- 
casts in  film  houses. 

Failing  to  reach  an  agreement,  the 
two  groups  decided  to  confer  with 
their  respective  organizations  again. 
The  K.R.S.  will  meet  next  month,  and 
the  C.E.A.  will  take  up  the  matter  at 
the  general  council  meeting  at  Black- 
pool, possibly  referring  the  matter  to 
local  branches. 


General  Mills  Renews 

General  Mills  has  renewed  its  hour 
over  NBC,  effective  at  the  close  of 
this  month.  The  programs  in  the  hour 
are  "Arnold  Grimm's  Daughter," 
"Valiant  Lady,"  "Betty  and  Bob,"  and 
"Hymns  of  All  Churches."  The  re- 
newal is  for  one  year,  through  Black- 
ett-Sample-Hummert. 


Vallee  Resuming  Here 

Rudy  Vallee's  broadcasts  will  be 
resumed  from  Radio  City  tomorrow, 
after  broadcasts  from  Hollywood  for 
the  past  eight  weeks.  For  the  home- 
coming, Vallee  will  present  Max  Baer, 
Lou  Holtz,  Robert  Morley  and  Simon 
Barer. 


Welch  Renews  Irene  Rich 

Welch  Grape  Juice  Co.  has  renewed 
Irene  Rich  for  another  year  of  broad- 
casting over  the  NBC-Blue  network. 


Wednesday,  May  24,  193* 


anner 
LINES] 


TED  COLLINS,  who  is  doing  J 
bit  of  all  right  handling  Ka  j 
Smith's  affairs,  is  now  offeririj 
two  new  productions  for  sponsorshi 
on  the  air.  One  is  a  feature  presen 
ing  Drew  Pearson  and  Robert  S.  Al 
len  in  a  series  based  on  and  title 1 
after  their  political  newspaper  colunr'l 
"The  Washington  Merry-Go-Ro*;J J 
The  other  is  a  dramatized  story  nffy'1 
"Linda  Waring." 

T 

As  a  promotion  for  the  series,  Mi 
tual  is  presenting  a  session  of  th\ 
"Author,  Author"  program  at  the  At 
vertising  Club  luncheon  June  1.  77 
session  will  be  broadcast  by  WMC. 
and  the  Inter-City  network.  WOh 
Mutual  will  be  unable  to  carry  the 
own  show  because  of  the  interference 
of  a  commercial  program. 

T 

Gilbert  Seldes  will  come  out  r 
hiding  today  to  meet  the  press  i 
a  discussion  on  television  at  h 
office  in  the  CBS  television  studic 
in  the  Grand  Central  Statior 
Seldes,  since  his  recent  return  froi 
England,  where  he  studied  BB 
television  production  methods,  hj 
kept  out  of  sight  of  newspaperme 
while  he  prepared  a  report  of  hi 
studies. 

▼ 

Some  while  ago  NBC  schedule: 
coverage  of  last  night's  Madiso 
Square  Garden  fight  between  Pedr 
Montanez  and  Davey  Day,  assignin 
George  Hicks  and  Bill  Stern  to  cove, 
the  bout. 

Thereafter  the  network  apparentl 
went  to  sleep  on  the  matter,  for  tn 
fight  was  not  even  scheduled  in  tl  j 
program  sheet  from  which  newsp; 
pers  make  their  listings. 

The  awakening  came  yesterda 
afternoon  when  Hicks  and  Ster 
yelped  to  the  publicity  departmei  i 
about  the  lack  of  publicity  and  ti 
absence  of  listings. 

•  T 

"Five   Star   Final,"   pioneer  neu\ 
dramatization   program,   this  Sunda. 
will  devote  a  considerable  period  << 
its  air  time  to  enacting  the  story  < 
Haym  Salomon.  To  enable  the  actot. 
to  characterise,  and  be  familiar  win 
the  story  and  dialects,  Warners  hat 
given    permission    to    producer  Pit 
Barrison  a>td  writer  Milton  Lewis  h 
bring  their  cast  to  the  Warner  projc^ 
Hon  room  to  see  a  special  showing  () 
"Son  of  Liberty,"  Warner  short  whit 
is  based  on  the  life  of  Salomon. 
T 

The  television  program  producer 
are  not  overlooking  a  single  bet  i , 
their  experiments  to  learn  jui.J 
what  type  of  programs  are  beij 
suited  for  the  radio  camera  lense 
Apparently  educational  progran  \ 
will  occupy  an  important  niche,  f<  ; 
they  plan  to  teach  viewers  how  1 
dance,  play  bridge,  golf  and  tenni 
Just  included  in  tonight's  televisic ! 
schedule  is  a  ballet  lesson. 

▼ 

If  Billy  Rose  is  to  be  believed  (ar 
the  figures  are  supposedly  registen 
by  World's  Fair  official  turnstiles  ;  u 
the  gate),  274,404  persons  have  a 
tended  his  Aquacade  at  the  World' 
Fair  since  its  premiere  May  4.  Tha  ; 
if  our  arithmetic  is  correct,  amoun  ^ 
to  13,720  admissions  a  day.  The  fi).  ! 
ures   compare   more   than   favorab'j  : 
with  Broadway  houses  playing  the'  ; 
best  productions. — Jack  Banner.  [] 


°°  fNPf  RE  MOV! 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


L.  45.  NO.  101 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  MAY  25,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


3erman  Asks 
RKO  Release 
By  October  1 

lager  for  Long  Vacation; 
Successor  Undecided 


Hollywood,  May  24. — Pandro  S. 
eritian  is  seeking  to  terminate  his 
'iitract  with  RKO  as  vice-president 
id  executive 
•oducer  in  the 
"ear  future  to 
jrmit  him  to 
ke  an  extend- 
i  vacation. 
iBerman's  con- 
act   has  until 
:arch  1,  1940, 

run.  Accord- 
ig  topresentar- 
ngements  the 
ict  would  be 
rminated  not 
fer  than  Oct.  1 
the  producer's 
quest.  Berman 

said  to  have 
st  asked  for  an  early  release  from 
s  contract  about  three  months  ago. 
RKO  has  not  decided  on  a  suc- 
ssor  to  Berman  yet  but  will  do  so 
ell  in  advance  of  his  retirement  from 
e  studio,  it  is  said.  There  is  a  pos- 
iility  that  the  future  studio  head  will 

known  by  the  time  of  the  company's 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Fight  Plans  to  Limit 
Times  Square  Signs 

A  proposal  to  limit  all  bill- 
boards and  illuminated  signs 
in  New  York  City,  which 
would  affect  the  Times  Square 
area,  and  theatre  marquee 
signs  was  opposed  by  real 
estate  interests  at  a  meeting 
yesterday  before  the  city 
planning  commission.  Another 
meeting  is  scheduled  June  1. 


I'undro   S.  Berman 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  24. — A.  Brigham 
»se,  attorney  for  Studio  Technicians 
>cal  37,  involved  in  dispute  with 
\.T.S.E.,  said  today  he  would  con- 
with  Attorney  General  Frank 
urphy  and  J.  Edgar  Hoover,  F.B.I. 
;ief,  who  arrived  tonight.  Rose  said 
would  ask  Federal  action  against 
rernational  officers. 

• 

Long  campaign  of  I.A.T.S.E.  locals 
-e  for  autonomy  and  recall  of  the 
fc  per  cent  salary  assessment  were 
•ited  today  in  trial  of  suit  by  Local 
against  I.A.T.S.E.  for  control  of 
local.  Stepehen  Newman,  former 
ernational  representative,  continued 
stand  throughout  the  day. 
• 

Screen  Writers  Guild  today  pro- 
ved to  producers  use  of  James 
osevelt's  name  in  letter  to  N.L.R.B. 
:ing  that  hearing  of  charges  of 
agner  Act  violation  not  be  re- 
ined. SWG  said  Roosevelt,  vice- 
■.sident  of  Samuel  Goldwyn  Inc., 
3  not  figured  in  the  negotiations 
:h  studios. 


4-A  Acts  to  Merge 
13  Member  Units 
Into  One  Big  Union 


Consolidation  of  the  13  member 
unions  of  the  Associated  Actors  and 
Artistes  of  America  "into  one  union 
which  shall  include  all  performers  in 
the  entertainment  world"  was  recom- 
mended in  the  first  provisional  report 
of  the  reconstruction  committee  at  an 
international  board  meeting  yesterday. 

The  "one  big  union"  idea  has  been 
under  discussion  for  several  years,  but 
it  was  not  until  Kenneth  Thomson, 
executive  secretary  of  the  Screen 
Actors'  Guild,  came  east  early  this 
year  that  a  committee  was  appointed 
to  study  the  matter. 

The  tentative  nature  of  the  report 
was  stressed  and  it  was  pointed  out 
that  approval  of  any  plan  would  re- 
quire the  endorsement  of  the  member- 
ship of  the  various  branches. 

Nevertheless,  it  was  stated  that  "the 
new  plan  hopes  to  meet  the  growing 
demand  of  the  membershin  for  one 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


TRADE  PACT  READY; 
REPORT  DUE  TODAY 


National  Allied's 
Policies  Win  N.Y. 
Allied  Approval 


New  York  Allied,  in  the  second  day 
of  its  annual  convention  yesterday  at 
the  Astor,  voted  complete  endorse 
ment  of  Allied  States'  policies. 

At  the  same  time  the  convention 
urged  that  the  parent  body  continue 
negotiations  on  the  trade  practice  code 
and  appoint  a  negotiating  committee 
representative  of  all  affiliated  units. 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole  told  the  convention 
that  such  a  committee  would  be  un 
wieldy  as  there  are  17  units.  Allied 
States     welcomes  recommendations 
from  its  regional  groups,  he  said. 

Cole  privately  disclosed  that  the 
trade  practice  recommendation  will  not 
be  considered  by  the  national  board 
until  the  national  convention  in  Min- 
neapolis, June  13. 

Abram  F.  Myers,  Allied  States 
board  chairman  and  general  counsel, 
will  attend  the  convention  today  but 
is  not  scheduled  to  speak.  Today's 
program  starts  with  a  luncheon  at 
which  the  grievance  committee  will 
report.  Open  forum  is  scheduled  at 
2  P.M.  A  banquet  will  start  at  8  P.M. 

Harry  G.  Kosch,  New  York  Allied 
counsel,  read  the  resolutions  stating 
the  unit's  stand  with  regard  to  Allied 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Managers9  Union  Seeking 
Rule  in  150  N.  Y.  Theatres 


By  ED  GREIF 

Film  division  of  the  Theatrical 
Managers,  Agents  and  Treasurers 
Union  has  filed  13  petitions  with  the 
New  York  State  Labor  Relations 
Board  for  designation  as  collective 
bargaining  agent  for  managers,  as- 
sistant managers  and  press  agents. 
About  150  independent  circuit  houses 
in  the  metropolitan  area  are  named. 
The  union  claims  a  majority  of  the 
employes  at  the  theatres  involved. 

This  brings  to  a  head  the  union's 
campaign  to  unionize  film  theatres  in 
the  east.  The  film  division  was  or- 
ganized six  months  ago. 

The  union  has  filed  charges  of  un- 
fair labor  practices  against  Si  Fabian 


circuit.  It  is  alleged  Joe  Foster,  man- 
ager of  the  Strand,  Great  Kills,  and 
Harry  Keller,  manager  of  the  Sta- 
dium, Tottenville,  both  on  Staten 
Island,  were  discharged  for  union 
activity.  The  labor  board  has  ordered 
hearings. 

Joseph  Weinstock's  City  Hall  Thea- 
tre, Manhattan,  is  being  picketed  be- 
cause the  only  T.M.A.T.  member 
there,  Edward  Spritzer,  assistant  man- 
ager, was  discharged  for  alleged  union 
activity.  The  management  denies  that 
this  was  the  cause  for  discharge. 

Petitions  for  recognition  have  been 
filed,  according  to  the  union,  against 
these  circuits :  Brandt,  Prudential, 
Rugoff  &  Becker,  Moe  Rosenberg, 
Rayburn  (Dave  Weinstock  and  Harry 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Arbitration  Issues  Done; 
Submission  to  N.  Y. 
Allied  Is  Likely 

Work  on  the  industry  trade  prac- 
tice program  was  completed  yesterday. 
A  joint  meeting  of  sales  executives 
and  distribution  company  attorneys 
saw  final  touches  put  to  the  arbitra- 
tion provisions  of  the  plan,  which  will 
be  sent  at  once  to  national  and  re- 
gional exhibitor  organizations  for 
their  approval. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  negotiating  commit- 
tee, said  that  a  full  report  on  the  arbi- 
tration provisions  would  be  made  to- 
day. No  official  statement  was  issued 
on  completion  of  the  plan  at  the  close 
of  the  seven-hour  session  yesterday. 

Exhibitors  to  Get  Copies 

Copies  of  the  final  draft  will  be 
mailed  to  exhibitor  leaders  as  soon  as 
they  are  completed.  Allied  of  New 
York,  now  in  convention  at  the  Astor 
here,  may  be  the  first  unit  to  receive 
a  copy  of  the  completed  arbitration 
provisions. 

It  is  believed  likely  that  they  will 
be  discussed  at  today's  session  of  the 
convention.  Rodgers  and  Gradwell  L. 
Sears,  members  of  the  negotiating 
committee,  are  to  address  the  meeting 
today. 

Arbitration  Final  Chapter 

Trade  practice  sections  of  the  pro- 
gram are  unchanged  from  the  form  in 
which  they  were  made  public  last 
month.  Completion  of  the  arbitration 
provisions  adds  the  final  chapter  to 
the  program.  Exhibitor  acceptance  of 
arbitration  must  be  voluntary. 

Members  of  the  committee  were 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  Sears,  Abe  Montague 
and  George  J.  Schaefer. 


City  to  Escape  New 
Sales  Levy,  Report 

New  York  and  other  cities 
which  have  a  sales  tax  will 
be  exempted  from  the  sales 
tax  bill  which  will  be  spon- 
sored in  the  coming  special 
session  of  the  legislature. 

This  was  disclosed  by  Harry 
Brandt,  I.T.O.A.  president, 
who  said  he  obtained  the  in- 
formation from  a  legislative 
leader.  There  will  be  an  en- 
abling act  to  include  an  ad- 
mission tax  for  localities 
which  do  not  have  a  sales 
tax,  said  Brandt. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  25,  193! 


Berman  Asks 
RKO  Release 
By  October  1 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

annual  sales  convention,  to  be  held  in 
the  east  beginning  June  19. 

Berman  has  been  in  charge  of  RKO 
production  for  the  past  five  years. 
Prior  to  that  he  was  assistant  to 
Merian  C.  Cooper,  while  Cooper  head- 
ed the  RKO  studio,  and  to  David  O. 
Selznick  and  William  Le  Baron,  who 
occupied  the  post  earlier.  He  also 
was  associated  with  the  old  FBO 
company,  predecessor  of  RKO,  and 
held  production  posts  with  Universal 
and  Columbia. 

His  desire  to  be  responsible  only  for 
a  small  number  of  productions  annually 
has  been  voiced  frequently.  For  this 
reason  it  is  believed  here  that  at  the 
conclusion  of  his  vacation  he  may  or- 
ganize his  own  producing  company  to 
make  several  pictures  a  year  for  re- 
lease through  one  of  the  large  com- 
panies. 


Towne  Sets  4  Films 
For  Release  by  RKO 

Gene  Towne,  producing  indepen- 
dently for  RKO  under  the  name  of 
"The  Play's  the  Thing  Productions," 
plans  four  films,  "Swiss  Family  Rob- 
inson," "The  Deerslayer,"  "Tom 
Brown's  School  Days"  and  "African 
Intrigue,"  it  was  disclosed  following 
the  return  to  New  York  of  George 
Schaefer,  RKO  president,  from  the 
coast. 

Two  of  the  four  will  have  screen- 
plays by  Towne  and  Graham  Baker, 
associated  with  him  in  the  new  unit. 


UNITED 

TO  CHICAGO 

Only  4  hrs.  35  min. 
★ 

shortest 

AIR  ROUTE 

★ 

tastest 

AVERAGE  SERVICE 
★ 

famous 

MAINLINERS 

★ 

non-stops: 
the  '12:15'    the  '3:15' 
the  '5:15'* 

Call  United,  travel 
agents,  hotels.  (*e.s.t.) 

UNITED 


AIR  LINES 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


ADOLPH    ZUKOR,  Paramount 
board  chairman,  and  John  W. 
Hicks,    vice-president    and  foreign 
manager,  plan  to  sail  for  Australia  on 
the  Niagara  from  Vancouver,  July  5. 
• 

Arthur  W.  Kelly,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  United  Artists  foreign 
distribution,  was  host  last  night  to  50 
British  sailors  at  a  home  office  screen- 
ing of  the  Hal  Roach  film,  "Captain 
Fury." 

• 

Edmund   Goulding,   director  and 
playwright,   who   recentlv  completed 
work  on  "The  Old  Maid"  for  War- 
ners, is  in  town  for  a  vacation. 
• 

Eddie  Saunders,  Alfred  McCos- 
ker,  Ken  Maynard,  Lou  Holtz, 
Arthur  Bodansky  among  those 
lunching  at  Nick's  Hunting  Room  in 
the  Astor  yesterday. 

• 

Joseph  Burstyn,  associate  of  Ar- 
thur L.  Mayer  in  the  distribution  of 
foreign  films,  sails  for  Europe  on  the 
Champlain  today,  for  five  weeks  of 
conferences  with  French  producers. 
• 

John    H.    Payne   has    quit  the 
Schine  home  office  at  Gloversville  to 
become  associate   editor   of  Gloves, 
trade  paper  of  the  glove  industry. 
• 

Mrs.  Paul  Dietrich,  wife  of  the 
owner  of  the  Oxnard  circuit,  Los  An- 
geles, visited  the  RKO  World's  Fair 
lounge  yesterday.  Others  were  Phil- 
ip N.  Berger  and  Herman  Field, 
Treat  Theatre,  Newark,  and  New 
York  Allied  delegates. 


fU'  Heads  Leaving 
For  Toronto  Today 

Nate  J.  Blumberg,  Universal  presi- 
dent ;  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  board  chair- 
man ;  W.  A.  Scully,  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager,  and  F.  J.  A. 
McCarthy,  eastern  sales  manager, 
leave  for  Toronto  today  to  attend  the 
sales  convention  of  Empire-Universal 
Pictures  tomorrow  and  Saturday. 

In  addition  to  the  Universal  offi- 
cials, others  attending  will  include 
Paul  Nathanson,  president  of  Empire- 
Universal,  which  distributes  Universal 
product  throughout  the  Dominion ; 
Oscar  Hanson,  general  manager,  and 
Alf  Perry,  sales  manager. 

Blumberg  will  go  to  the  coast  fol- 
lowing the  meeting  to  establish  sum- 
mer headquarters,  returning  to  New 
York  only  at  brief  intervals  as  his 
presence  here  may  be  required.  Cow- 
din,  Scully  and  McCarthy  will  return 
to  New  York  following  the  meeting. 


Grainger  to  Detail 
Republic's  Product 

J.  R.  Grainger,  president  of  Republic, 
left  last  night  to  attend  the  annual 
sales  convention  of  Empire  Universal 
Films,  Ltd.,  Republic  distributor  in 
Canada,  today  and  tomorrow,  at  the 
Royal  York  Hotel,  Toronto.  Grainger 
will  outline  the  1939-'40  program  to 
delegates  tomorrow,  and  will  return 
Saturday. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


GEORGE  W.  WEEKS,  general 
sales  manager  of  Monogram,  is 
attending  the  Kansas-Missouri  Thea- 
tres Association  convention  in  Kansas 
City  today  and  tomorrow,  and  will 
make  stops  at  various  exchanges  be- 
fore returning  to  New  York  in  three 
weeks. 

• 

Edward  Small  returned  to  Holly- 
wood yesterday  from  a  vacation  in 
Hawaii  to  start  activity  on  his  1939- 
'40  program  for  U.A.  release. 
• 

Mark  Jerome,  author  of  Para- 
mount's  "Invitation  to  Happiness," 
visited  with  A-Mike  Vogel  of  Man- 
agers' Round  Table  of  Motion  Picture 
Herald  yesterday.  Jerome  leaves  Sat- 
urday for  Hollywood. 

• 

Fred  Lange,  Paramount's  Conti- 
nental European  manager  who  has 
been  here  for  the  past  month  on  a 
home  office  visit,  will  sail  for  France 
Tuesday  on  the  Normandie. 

• 

Lou  Diamond,  head  of  Paramount's 
short  subject  department,  leaves  for 
the  coast  shortly  to  examine  inde- 
pendent product. 

• 

Sam   Galanty,   mid-east  division 
manager  for  Columbia,  is  in  Pitts- 
burgh on  a  short  business  trip  from 
his  headquarters  in  Washington. 
• 

Bill  Robinson  will  celebrate  his 
61st  birthday  today  with  a  tap  dance 
at  2  p.m.  from  61st  St.  and  Broadway 
to  the  Broadhurst  Theatre  on  44th  St. 
• 

Sander  Lazar  of  the  Schine  pub- 
licity staff  was  married  recently  to 
Marion  Booth  of  Albany. 


LOS  ANGELES 
BOUND? 


ONLY  OVERNIGHT 

VIA 


Sleep  your  way  to  Los  Angeles — on  TWA's 
"Sky  Chief" — fastest  air  service  coast-to- 
coast!  Leave  5:30  any  afternoon — arrive 
7:13  next  morning  I 

TO  SAN  FRANCISCO — via  Los  Angeles  or 
Boulder  Dam!  120-day  stopover  privi- 
leges,   anywhere    en    route,    at    no  extra 

fare  $149.95 

KANSAS  CITY — New  Daily  afternoon  ser- 
vice— leave  at  1 :00  p.m. — arrive  in  Kansas 
City  at  8:15  p.m  J66.45 

10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 

Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 
Phone  Travel  Agent  or  Ml)  6-1640 
Transcontinental  &  Western  Air.  Inc. 
70  E.   42nd  St. — Air  Desk.  Penn. 
Station 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


Merger  of  13 
Unions  in  4- A 
Draws  Favo 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
card  and  one  payment  of  dues  a 
initiation  fee." 

The  report  continued  with  the  ga 
to  be  had  under  a  "one-for-all-a#j  j 
for-one"  arrangement,  econorrT  - 
operation,  elimination  of  jurisdictioi 
disputes,  greater  efficiency,  greater  ■ 
ordination  in  organizational  drives  a 
better  service  to  members. 

Yesterday's  board  meeting  was  cc 
cerned  with  two  jurisdictional  d 
putes.  At  the  request  of  the  S.A. 
decision  on  the  claim  of  Equity  i 
control  of  television  was  deferred  I 
two  weeks.  Also  postponed  was 
tift  between  Equity  and  Americ 
Federation  of  Actors  for  jurisdicti 
over  "Ziegfeld  Follies"  at  the  S 
Francisco  World's  Fair. 

Florence  Marston,  eastern  rep 
sentative  of  the  S.A.G.,  is  chairrr 
of  the  reconstruction  committee. 


Rivoli  Books  Three 
Paramount  Pictun 

Joseph  Unger,  Paramount  east< 
and  southern  division  sales  manag 
has  closed  a  deal  with  John  Wrig 
manager  of  the  Rivoli,  for  thi 
Paramount  releases,  "Jamaica  I 
and  "London  After  Dark,"  both 
ring  Charles  Laughton,  and  "St 
Life,"  starring  Elisabeth  Ber 
The  Bergner  film  will  follow 
Mikado"  at  the  Rivoli,  prob 
about  June  15,  and  "Jamaica 
will  play  some  time  in  July. 


Hold  'Union  Pacific' 

The  Paramount  will  hold  "Un 
Pacific"  for  a  fourth  week.  The  fi 
two  weeks  resulted  in  a  gross  of  ; 
proximately  $80,000.  The  film  is  n 
in  its  third  week. 


'Happiness*  Dates 

World  premieres  of  Paramoui 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  will  be  h 
simultaneously  in  New  York  and  J 
Francisco.  It  opens  at  the  Paramo 
here  May  31. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  V.  S.  Patent  Office)  I 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY.  Editor-in-Chief  . , 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM| 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sun<| 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  C| 
pany.    Inc.,    Martin    Quigley,  presiefcj 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  trea^u 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telepho 
Circle  7-3100.    Cable  address:  "Quigpul 
New  York."    AH  contents  copyrighted  I 
by    Quigley     Publishing    Company,  1 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Y 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Mot 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Tea 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pier 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  —  Hollywood:  Postal  Ut. 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Bo 
Mancall,  manager;  William  R.  Wea' 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,C 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Sou; 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Lond 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N. 
under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copiei 


Warners  gave  it  the  action  of  'Galahad'! 

Warners  gave  it  the  laughs  of  'Brother  Rat'! 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  25,  1939 


'Let  Freedom9 
Does  $11,100, 
Minneapolis 


Minneapolis,  May  24. — Aided  by 
the  Shep  Fields  orchestra  and  stage 
entertainment,  "Let  Freedom  Ring" 
got  the  best  gross  in  Minneapolis, 
$11,100  at  the  Orpheum. 

In  St.  Paul,  the  comparative  leader 
was  "Dark  Victory"  at  the  Riviera 
with  $2,300. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  18 : 

Minneapolis: 

"They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 
"Back  Door  to  Heaven"  (Para.) 
"Renegade  Trail"  (Para.) 
"Inspector  Hornleigh"  (20th-Fox) 

ASTER— (900)    (15c-25c)   Dual  bills,  split 
week.  Gross:  $1,600.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $3,300.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

GOPHER — (990)     (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,800.  (Average,  $2,500) 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,900)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Shep  Fields  Orchestra.  Gross:  $11,100.  (Av- 
erage, $4,800) 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (Zttth-Fox) 

STATE—  (2,300)   (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.  (Average,  $4,400) 
"Grand  Illusion"  (World) 

WORLD — (400)  (25c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,400.   (Average,  $1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"You  Can't  Cheat  An  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $3,300.  (Average,  $3,200) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 

(RKO) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

RIVIERA  —  (1.000)     (25c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,300.  (Average,  $1,800) 
"Let  Us  Live"  (Col.) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

TOWER— (1,000)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,300.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 

WORLD — (400)  (25c-35c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $700.  (Average,  $700) 


Ted  Lewis,  'Code,' 
Score  $11,000  for 
Milwaukee's  Lead 


Milwaukee,  May  24.— "Code  of 
the  Streets"  and  Ted  Lewis  in  per- 
son at  the  Riverside,  grossed  $11,000. 
Second  money  went  to  "Rose  of 
Washington  Square"  and  "Pardon 
Our  Nerve"  with  $8,000  at  Fox's  Wis- 
consin. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  16-19 : 

"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

"You    Can't    Get    Away    With  Murder 
(W.  B.) 

WARNER  —  (2,400)    (35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)    (35c-50c)    7   days.  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $4,000  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Mystery  of  the  White  Room"  (Univ.) 

ALHAMBRA— (2,660)  (25c-30c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Earl  Taylor's  Revue.  Gross:  $6,500. 
"Code  of  the  Streets"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE — (2,700)  (30c-40c)  Stage:  Ted 
Lewis.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (35c-50c)  9  days.  Gross: 
$3,000.  (Average,  $2,000) 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Pardon  Our  Nerve"  (20th-Fox) 

WISCONSIN—  (3,200)  (35c-50c)  8  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.  (Average,  $5,500). 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Unmarried" 

(Paramount) 

Hollywood,  May  24. — Buck  Jones  rides  no  horses  and  shoots  no 
Indians  in  this  soundly  produced  human-interest  melodrama  but  he 
makes  the  regeneration  of  a  down-and-out  boxer  a  real  and  convincing 
experience.  Helen  Twelvetrees  is  equivalently  successful  in  doing  like- 
wise with  a  night  club  proprietress  assignment.  It's  a  plain,  direct 
and  soundly  conducted  retelling  of  a  Grover  Jones-William  Slavens 
McNutt  story  produced  in  other  fashion  with  other  players  several  years 
ago,  a  genuinely  entertaining  film. 

Donald  O'Connor  plays  the  boy  whose  influence  upon  the  principals 
brings  them  gradually  to  the  straight  and  narrow;  John  Hartley  plays 
the  boy  grown  up.  Robert  Armstrong,  Sidney  Blackmer  and  Larry 
Crabbe  are  the  others  prominent  in  the  casting.  Lillie  Hayward  and 
Brian  Marlow  wrote  the  present  script  and  Kurt  Neymann  directed 
with  complete  effectiveness. 

Jones  and  Miss  Twelvetrees  investigate  the  estate  of  an  associate 
killed  by  police  and  find  themselves  abruptly  in  custody  of  his  now 
orphaned  son  who  believes  them  man  and  wife  and  expects  them  to 
take  care  of  him.  Deciding  to  stay  over  in  the  small  town  for  a  day, 
their  stay  lengthens  into  years,  the  boy  grows  up,  becomes  a  football 
hero  and  is  being  recruited  for  the  boxing  ring  when  Jones  intervenes. 
The  boy  knocks  out  the  aging  pugilist,  regrets  it  and  asks  that  he  and 
Miss  Twelvetrees  adopt  him.  The  film  ends  as  they  are  being  married 
preparatory  to  doing  so. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.  "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Angels'  Hits 
$10,500  for 
Seattle  Lead 


Seattle,  May  24. — "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings"  scored  the  big  gross 
at  the  Liberty  with  $10,500.  "Rose 
of  Washington  Square"  and  "Pardon 
Our  Nerve"  took  $7,900  at  the  Fifth 
Avenue,  and  "Union  Pacific"  drew 
$6,200  in  second  week  at  Paramount. 

Estimates  for  week  ending  May  18 : 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
'The  Kid  from  Texas"  (Para.) 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,300.  (Average, 
$4,000) 

'Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Pardon  Our  Nerve"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FIFTH  AVENUE—  (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
lays.    Gross:   $7,900.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

LIBERTY— (1,800)  (25c-30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
",ross:  $10,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days, 
rd  week.    Gross:  $3,200.    (Average,  $5,000) 
'Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 
'Risky  Business"  (20th -Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)     (30c-40c)     10  days. 
Gross:  $4,600.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"One  Third  of  a  Nation"  (Para.) 

PALOMAR  —  (1,500)     (15c-25c-35c-40c)  7 
lays.    Vaudeville  headed  bv  Chick  &  Lee. 
~,ross:  $5,100.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)  (30c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,200.  (Average,  $6,000) 
'Orage"  (Tri-Natl.) 

UPTOWN— (750)  (30c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $1,250.    (Average,  $1,500) 


Films  Made  at  Fairs 

Columbia  has  a  camera  crew  get- 
ting shots  at  the  World's  Fair  for  a 
one-reeler  which  will  be  a  companion 
film  to  "Man-Made  Island,"  filmed  at 
the  San  Francisco  Fair. 


'Mortal  Storm*  to  Metro 

Hollywood,  May  24.— M-G-M  has 
acquired  film  rights  to  "The  Mortal 
Storm,"  novel  by  Phyllis  Bottome, 
which  was  published  last  year. 


'Pacific'  Big 
$11,000  Beats 
Denver  Slump 


Denver,  May  24. — "Union  Pacific" 
continued  to  lead  the  field,  in  its  third 
week  at  the  Denham,  with  $11,000. 
Other  houses  were  below  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17 : 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2«d 
week.     Gross:   $2,500.     (Average,  $3,500) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

BROADWAY— (1,100)  (25c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average, 
$2,500) 

"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"   (W.  B.) 

DENVER  —  (2,525)    (25c-35c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average,  $9,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"Beauty  for  the  Asking"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average,  $8,500) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
"Dodge  City"  4th  week.  Gross:  $3,000. 
(Average,  $3,500) 

"Three  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  "Smart 
Girls"  3rd  week.  Gross:  $1,500.  (Average, 
$1,750) 


'Conflict',  'Ecstasy* 
Bans  Get  Appeals 

Albany,  May  24. — Application  for 
review  of  the  Board  of  Regents'  ruling 
on  the  revised  version  of  "Ecstasy," 
comes  before  Supreme  Court  Justice 
Gilbert  Schenck  Friday.  Eureka  Pro- 
ductions, appellants,  hold  exclusive 
American  distribution  rights. 

Transatlantic  Films,  importer  of 
foreign  product,  plans  to  anpeal  to  the 
Board  of  Regents  the  N.  Y.  State 
Censor's  ban  on  "Conflict,"  French 
film. 


'Kildare'  and 
Heidt  $18,50 
Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,  May  24. — "Calling  I 
Dr.  Kildare,"  plus  Horace  Heidt's  uni| 
on  the  stage,  took  a  good  $18,500  a 
the  Fox.  "Union  Pacific"  drew  $15 
000  at  the  Stanley.  g  , 

"Wuthering  Heights"  at  the  A^^| 
grossed  $6,000  for  the  fifth  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end 
ing  May  18: 


"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.)  - 

ALDINE— (1,300)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days,  5tl 
week.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $8,160) 
"Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (25c-42c-57c)  7  days,  3r 
run.    Gross:  $2,100.    (Average,  $2,800). 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

BOYD— (2,400)    (32c-42c-57)    6   days,  3r, 
week.    Gross:    $8,500.    (Average,    7  day: 
$14,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 

EARLE—  (2,000)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days,  3n 
run.    Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (3,000)  (32c-42c-57c-68c)  7  days  14 
days  stage).  Stage:  Horace  Heidt  wit] 
band,  revue.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Average 
$16,000) 

"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average,  $4,000 
"Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO 

KEITH'S—  (2,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days,  2ni 
run.    Gross:  $3,200.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross 
$3,600.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

STANLEY—  (3,700)    (32c-42c-57c)   7  dayi 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days 
2nd  run.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 


Strouds,  'Romance' 
Lead  Kansas  City 
Grossing  $9,101 


Kansas  City,  May  24.— Stroui 
Twins  and  "Romance  of  the  Red 
woods"  did  $9,100  at  the  Fox  Towei 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  tool 
$7,000  in  two  houses,  the  Esquire  an 
Uptown. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end 
ing  May  16-18: 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Grosi 
$3,200.  (Average,  $3,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2n 
week.  Gross:  $5,700.  (Average,  $11,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)  (25c-40c)  8  days,  2n 
week.  Gross:  $6,900.  (Average,  8  days 
$7,600) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM— (1,500)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2n 
week.  Gross:  $3,100.  (Average,  $5,000) 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

FOX  TOWER— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  day; 
Stage:  The  Stroud  Twins,  the  Four  Clover! 
Two  Kays,  Gilbert  &  Armon,  and  Al  Zim 
ray.  Gross:  $9,100.  (Average,  combmatio 
bill.  $7,000)  * 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross 
$3,800.  (Average,  $3,500) 


Reade  Shifts  Managers 

Walter  Reade  circuit  has  made  sev 
eral  management  changes,  as  follows 
Harold  Van  Orst,  from  the  Queens 
boro,  Long  Island,  to  St.  James,  As 
bury  Park;  Malcolm  Marshall  t< 
Paramount,  Asbury  Park;  Charle 
Litt,  from  Warren  to  Community; 
Hudson,  N.  Y. ;  Edward  LaRue  tj 
Warren  ;  Richard  Mooney,  from  Para 
mount  to  Casino,  Asbury  Park. 


Gum  Shoe  Grade 
in  Paramoutit's 
THE  GRACIE  ALLEN 
MURDER  CASE 


Read  what  these 
West  coast  news- 
hawkshaws  say: 


"Grade  keeps  the  audience 
in  howls  of  laughter  ...one 
of  the  funniest  pictures  of 
the  season  . . .  should  be.  a 
box  office  winner." 

—Film  Daily 

"Takes  its  place  beside  the 
most  infectious  comedies  of 
this  or  any  season  . . .  has 
exceptional  earning  capac- 
ity." — Daily  Variety 


"As  hilarious  as  'The  Thin 
Man'."  — Motion  Picture  Daily 


"It's  an  uproarious  amusing 
comedy.  It  is  all-purpose, 
all-place  entertainment,  a 
complete  justification  of  its 
innately  humorous  title 
and  an  extremely  amusing 
film."  — Motion  Picture  Herald 


Are  you 
on  the 

U  .Par  amount 
BEAT? 


Have  you  done  the  top 
business  all  the  others  are 
getting  with  Paramount's 
"Midnight"?  Have  you 
joined  the  U.  P  (Union 
Pacific")  Gold  Rush? 
Have  you  read  the  great 
reviews  on  "Invitation  to 
Happiness". ..  and,  by  the 
way,  do  you  know  that 
9,784  women  in  special 
previews  in  36  key  cities 
have  acclaimed  this  the 
best  women's  picture  of 
the  year?  Have  you  heard 
the  grapevine  whisper 
that  "Man  About  Town" 
is  the  best  picture  Jack 
Benny  ever  made  ...  a 
smash?  And  did  you  read 
about  how  the  jitterbugs 
actually  danced  in  the 
aisles  when  we  pre- viewed 
"Some  Like  It  Hot".  Also, 
what's  the  tune  you  hear 
every  time  you  turn  on  a 
radio  these  days?  "The 
Lady's  in  Love"  and  what 
picture  is  it  from . . .  right 
"Some  Like  It  Hot*\..Boy 
the  gold  is  pouring  out  of 
that  old  Paramount  moun- 
tain this  spring  .  .  ,  Para- 
mount's on  the  UP  BEAT 
ALL  RIGHT. . .  BETTER 
GET  WISE  AND  GET 
YOUR  GROSSES  ON 
THE  UP  AND  UP  WITH 
PARAMOUNT. 


fcursday,  May  25,  1939 


Motion  Picture  daily 


150  Theatres 
In  Managers9 
Union  Drive 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

randt),  Five  Boro  (Jack  Hattem), 
lindson  (Hyman  Rachmil  and  Isaac 
^atz)  and  Kaybern  (Ben  Knobel). 
f^^titions  have  been  filed  also 
'vr.mst  individual  theatres,  including 
ae  Jewel,  Brooklyn ;  Rex,  Bronx ; 
cstello,  Manhattan ;  Stanley,  Man- 
attan,  and  President,  Bronx.  A  pe- 
tion  naming  the  Nelson  &  Renner 
ircuit  will  be  filed  today,  the  union 
aid. 

For  the  present  the  union  is  not 
Peking  contracts  covering  wages, 
ours  and  working  conditions,  but  is 
Dnfining  its  campaign  to  obtaining 
ecognition.  Later  a  city-wide  agree- 
lent  will  be  sought. 
Such  petitions  usually  are  followed 
ithin  several  weeks  by  "invitations" 
y  the  state  labor  board  to  the  em- 
loyer  to  attend  an  informal  hearing. 

the  employer  fails  to  attend,  the 
oard  usually  sets  a  formal  hearing  at 
hich  attendance  is  compulsory.  If 
le  employer  denies  the  union  repre- 
ss a  majority  of  his  employes,  an 
ection  is  held. 

A  number  of  informal  hearings  have 
Iready  been  held,  but  in  several  cases 
le  circuits  were  not  represented. 


?ox  Stockholders 
In  Weisman  Protest 

Objections  to  the  approval  of  the 
nal  accounting  of  Milton  C.  Weis- 
lan  as  receiver  of  Fox  Theatres  Corp. 
i  which  Weisman  was  attacked  for 
Uegedly  managing  the  company  in  a 
negligent,  grossly  improvident  and 
ireless  manner"  were  filed  with  Fed- 
ral  Judge  John  C.  Knox  yesterday. 

Judge  Knox,  upon  receipt  of  the 
bjections,  made  by  Gustavus  A.  Rog- 
rs,  chairman  of  the  Fox  Class  A 

ockholders'  protective  committee,  and 
le  Trust  Company  of  Georgia,  or- 
ered  hearings  before  a  special  master 
j  be  named  later. 

Weisman,  as  receiver,  and  William 
'..  Atkinson,  his  predecessor,  had  filed 
etitions  with  Judge  Knox  requesting 
lat  the  final  accounting  be  approved 
nd  that  Weisman  be  discharged  from 
is  office.  On  Jan.  30,  a  plan  of  liqui- 
ation  for  the  company  was  approved 
y  former  Circuit  Judge  Martin  T. 
lanton,  and  Weisman  and  Kenneth 
Steinrich  were  designated  as  trus- 
ses to  carry  out  the  plan. 


\7J>00  Contributed 
To  Fund  by  20th-Fox 

Recent  contributions  by  the  home 
Sees  of  film  companies  in  New 
'ork  to  the  Greater  New  York 
und,  in  addition  to  that  of  $10,000 
/  Loew's,  Inc.,  include  one  of  $7,500 
f  20th  Century-Fox. 

Other  firm  gifts  reported  are: 
'aramount,  $5,000;  Warners,  $3,000; 

KO,  $2,500;  National  Screen  Serv 

e,  $1,500;  Columbia,  $1,000;  Con 
)lidated  Amusement  Enterprises, 
nc,  operated  by  Laurence  S.  Bolog 
ino,   and   the   Albemarle  Theatre, 

rooklyn,  $100. 


Allied  of  N.  Y.  Indorses 
National  Allied  Policies 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

States  and  trade  practices.  He  de- 
clared they  were  framed  to  dispel  any 
impression  of  friction  with  the  national 
group. 

Max  A.  Cohen,  president,  affirmed 
his  belief  in  national  Allied's  policies. 
He  said,  however,  that  he  favored 
"regulation  from  within,"  but  failing 
"a  true  bill  of  rights"  for  independent 
exhibitors,  his  unit  would  continue  to 
back  the  Government's  anti-trust  cam- 
paign. Give  the  trade  practice  code  a 
fair  trial,  he  urged. 

Col.  Cole  reviewed  Allied's  spon- 
sorship of  legislation  and  litigation  and 
the  Government's  prosecutions. 

"It  is  not  healthy  for  the  industry 
to  be  under  strict  Government  super- 
vision, and  I  don't  think  that  will  be 
necessary,"  he  said.  "The  time  will 
come  when  we  will  have  a  clear  defi- 
nition of  limits  and  rights  by  courts, 
legislature  and  Congress.  When  that 
comes  trade  practice  negotiations  will 
be  undertaken  and  succeed.  It  will 
take  big  men  and  big  thoughts  to  work 
out  a  fair,  scientific  basis." 

Harry  Brandt,  president  of  the  New 
York  I.T.O.A.,  an  unscheduled  speak- 
er attacked  Allied  States'  policies  and 
reaffirmed  his  belief  in  self-regulation. 
He  called  for  a  new  national  organi- 
zation, led  "by  men  with  exhibitors' 
motives  at  heart,"  to  which  the 
I.T.O.A.  could  belong. 

Arthur  Pelterson  of  the  Mitchell 
May,  Jr.,  insurance  office  outlined  sav- 
ings possible  in  collective  buying  of 
liability  insurance.  Cohen  appointed 
a  committee  which  will  meet  shortly 
to  draft  a  plan,  which  will  have  ser- 
vice as  well  as  buying  features. 
•  A  scale  of  dues  ranging  from  $35 
to  $100  a  year  was  adopted  on  recom- 
mendation of  the  finance  committee. 


Chicago  Men  at  Meet 

Chicago,  May  24. — Headed  by  Jack 
Kirsch,  Illinois  Allied  leader,  about 
35  members  of  the  Allied  Theatres  of 
Illinois,  as  well  as  other  local  film 
men  are  expected  to  attend  the  na- 
tional meeting  of  Allied  in  Minneapo- 
lis next  month. 


G.  N.  Takes  'Nation' 

London,  May  24.  —  Distribution 
rights  to  "One  Third  of  a  Nation" 
have  been  acquired  by  Grand  National, 
Ltd.,  throughout  the  British  Empire. 


Phone  Interview 

Of  12,000  Miles! 

Ralph  Doyle,  Australian 
managing  director  for  RKO, 
here  for  the  sales  convention 
next  month,  last  night  was 
interviewed  by  telephone  by 
Eric  Solomon  of  the  Film 
Weekly,  trade  paper  in  Syd- 
ney, 12,000  miles  away. 

Doyle  has  appointed  Percy 
L.  Curtis  as  publicity  head  in 
Australia  for  RKO,  replacing 
Victor  Hobler,  resigned. 


New  South  Wales 
Cancellation  Hit 

Opposition  to  the  25  per  cent  cancel- 
lation provision  of  the  New  South 
Wales  film  legislation  was  voiced  by 
Dan  Carroll,  Sydney  theatre  owner, 
who  arrived  yesterday  from  the  coast. 

The  proposed  standard  contract  for 
the  Australian  trade  contemplates  the 
\2l/2  per  cent  cancellation  in  the  event 
New  South  Wales  alters  its  film  stat- 
ute to  conform. 

Carroll  will  confer  with  home  of- 
fice sales  executives  and  Charles  Mun- 
ro  of  Hoyts  and  Norman  B.  Rydge 
of  Greater  Union,  also  in  New  York, 
on  Australian  trade  problems.  Carroll 
came  here  as  a  delegate  of  the  Aus- 
tralian Film  Board  of  Trade.  After 
a  month  he  will  visit  England,  then 
return  to  Australia  by  way  of  Amer- 
ica. 


Renew  Drama  Guild 
Pact  Talks  Shortly 

Discussion  by  the  Dramatists'  Guild 
of  the  proposed  modification  of  the 
minimum  basic  agrement  will  be  re- 
sumed shortly,  it  was  learned  yester- 
day. Sidney  R.  Fleisher,  Guild  attor- 
ney, has  recovered  sufficiently  from  a 
recent  operation  to  permit  him  to  at- 
tend council  meetings.  Members  have 
been  reluctant  to  go  ahead  in  his  ab 
sence  because  of  the  many  legal  phases 
involved.  The  proposed  modification 
would  permit  film  companies  backing 
legitimate  stage  plays  to  buy  rights 
in  advance  of  production. 


'Fury9 Previewed  at  Fair; 
A  ustralia  Notables  A  ttend 


A  score  of  Australian  notables  at- 
tended the  screening  of  the  Hal  Roach 
film,  "Captain  Fury,"  at  the  Australian 
Pavilion  of  the  British  Empire  Build- 
ing at  the  World's  Fair  yesterday. 

"Captain  Fury,"  which  dramatizes 
the  colonization  of  Australia,  is  the 
first  feature  production  to  be  pre- 
viewed at  the  World's  Fair. 

Highlight  of  the  festivities  was 
presentation  of  a  bound  copy  of  the 
Australian  constitution  to  the  U.  S. 
government. 

L.  R.  MacGregor,  Australian  High 
Commissioner  at  the  Fair,  and  W.  G. 
Van  Schmus,  managing  director  of  the 
Music  Hall,  where  the  picture  opens 


today,  were  hosts  at  the  screening. 

Among  those  who  attended  were 
Grover  A.  Whalen,  U.  S.  Commission- 
er Edward  Flynn,  Sir  Louis  Beale, 
British  Commissioner  General ;  Doug- 
las Cole,  Canadian  Trade  Commission- 
er; Emil  F.  Horn,  Consul  for  the 
Union  of  South  Africa ;  Sirdar  H.  S. 
Malik,  Indian  Government  Trade 
Commissioner ;  E.  W.  McCaulley, 
Irish  Consulate  General ;  Norman 
Yule,  Commissioner  General  for 
Southern  Rhodesia  and  R.  M.  Firth, 
Commissioner  General  for  New  Zea- 
land. 

"Captain  Fury"  was  reviewed  in 
Motion  Picture  Daily  May  5. 


Survey  Tells 
Of  'Menaces9 
In  Ad  Films 


There  is  no  general  "consumer  ac- 
ceptance" at  present  for  commercial 
films,  despite  the  countless  efforts  to 
open  the  field  over  a  period  of  years, 
according  to  a  survey  which  will  ap- 
pear in  Business  Week  on  Saturday. 

"There  are  probably  less  than  200 
consistent  business  users  of  sound  pic- 
tures in  the  country,"  according  to  the 
publication,  which  places  the  respon- 
sibility for  the  situation  first  on  pro- 
ducers of  industrial  subjects.  "The 
one-camera,  fly-by-night  'Hollywood' 
directors  who  have  flitted  in  and  out 
of  the  field"  are  called  the  "curse  of 
the  business." 

"The  professional  optimists  who 
have  glossed  over  the  very  real  prob- 
lem of  distribution  with  their  talk  of 
unlimited  circulation  have  been  an- 
other menace,"  the  publication  says. 

Hollywood  is  blamed  as  an  "oppres- 
sing factor"  in  the  development  of  the 
commercial  film,  but  one  of  the  most 
important  reasons  for  slow  progress 
of  commercial  films,  according  to 
Business  Week,  is  that  advertising 
agencies  have  not  been  sold  on  them. 

It  is  reported  that  business  men  are 
puzzled  by  the  "complicated  produc- 
tion and  distribution  machinery." 

Of  several  hundred  organizations 
which  label  themselves  producers  of 
commercial  films,  there  are  about  20 
who  own  adequate  studios,  and  these 
do  about  80  per  cent  of  the  business. 


Langton  Tops  Para, 
Writing  Department 

Hollywood,  May  24. — Francis 
Langton  has  been  appointed  head  of 
the  Paramount  studio  writing  depart- 
ment, succeeding  Manny  Wolfe,  whose 
duties  as  story  editor  were  assigned 
to  Richard  Halliday  last  week. 

Langton  has  been  with  Paramount 
for  seven  years.  Wolfe  plans  to  enter 
production. 

Rushing  Copyright 
Report  to  Congress 

Work  on  the  proposed  changes  in 
the  Federal  Copyright  laws  which  has 
been  in  progress  for  many  months 
may  be  completed  tomorrow.  Present 
plan  is  to  have  the  recommendations 
in  shape  for  submission  to  Congress 
early  next  week. 


To  Resume  Picketing 

Hartford,  May  24. — Operator  union 
has  notified  E.  M.  Loew's  Theatre 
that  picketing  will  be  resumed  follow- 
ing Supreme  Court  nullification  of  the 
anti-picketing  injunction  issued  last 
year,  if  A.  F.  of  L.  units  are  not  met 
in  a  bargaining  conference.  The  Su- 
preme Court  reversed  the  earlier  de- 
cision of  the  Superior  Court. 


Gregg  Sentence  a  Year 

Chicago,  May  24. — R.  E.  Gregg, 
operator  of  Pan-American  Film  Lab- 
oratories, who  pleaded  guilty  to  vio- 
lation of  the  copyright  law  by  making 
unauthorized  prints  of  films,  was 
placed  on  probation  for  one  year,  and 
not  six  months,  it  was  disclosed  when 
the  final  papers  were  handed  down. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  25,  1! 


FCC  to  Delay 
Setting  Rules 
On  Television 


Washington,  May  24. — Recom- 
mending a_  policy  of  delay  in  acting 
on  standards  for  television  proposed 
by  the  Radio  Manufacturers  Associa- 
tion, the  special  television  committee 
of  the  FCC  today  submitted  a  report 
that  "practical  television  services  to 
the  public  on  a  nationwide  basis  can- 
not be  expected  for  some  time." 

The  committee  pointed  out  that 
facilities  for  the  nationwide  distribu- 
tion of  television  programs  have  yet  to 
be  developed,  financed  and  constructed. 
For  the  next  few  years  only  metro- 
politan centers  will  have  television, 
it  was  said. 

The  commission  was  urged  to  adopt 
a  policy  of  cooperation  with  the  indus- 
try and  undertake  further  studies  so 
as  to  keep  abreast  of  developments.  A 
formal  hearing  on  the  subject  of  pro- 
posed standards  is  considered  inadvis- 
able at  this  time  "because  it  does  not 
appear  that  constructive  results  will 
be  obtained  at  this  early  stage  of 
development." 


Pick  Two  Winners 
In  Gateway  Contest 

Eliminations  for  the  second  series 
of  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  contests 
conducted  by  RKO  were  held  at  the 
Hotel  Warwick  yesterday.  Winners 
were  Marie  Nash  and  Robert  Shackel- 
ton.  They  will  be  considered  for  roles 
in  "Three  Sons." 

Among  those  present  were  Jules 
Levy,  J.  J.  O'Connor,  Fred  Meyers, 
Ed  McEvoy,  Phil  Reisman,  Cresson 
Smith,  H.  M.  Richey,  Arthur  Willi, 
Ralph  M.  Doyle,  S.  Barret  Mc- 
Cormick,  Rutgers  Neilson,  Harry 
Michalson,  Max  Fellerman,  Ben  Cam- 
mack,  Harry  Mandell,  Louis  Gold- 
berg, Leon  Bamberger,  John  Cas- 
sidy,  Russell  Emde,  Herbert  Rawlin- 
son,  Frances  Robinson-Duff  and  Nan- 
cy Carroll. 


Joan  Edwards  Renewed 

Joan  Edwards  has  been  renewed  as 
the  featured  feminine  vocalist  ©n  the 
Paul  Whiteman  program  for  another 
13  weeks,  effective  July  12. 


Gets  Record  Account 

Ward  Wheelock  Co.  has  been  ap- 
pointed advertising  agency  of  Ameri- 
can Record  Corp.,  CBS  owned  and 
operated. 


CBS  Expects  Television 
Delay  Until  Mid-Summer 


Air  Show  on  Stage 
Boosts  Loop  Gross 

Chicago,  May  24. — Staging 
of  the  NBC  network  show, 
"Dr.  I.  Q.,"  from  the  stage 
of  the  Chicago  Theatre  every 
Monday  night  is  proving  a 
strong  box-office  draw,  Bala- 
ban  &  Katz  report.  The  two 
broadcasts  to  date  have  in- 
creased grosses  for  the  day 
about  $1,000,  it  is  reported. 

The  "Dr.  I.  Q."  show  is 
slated  to  appear  at  the  Chi- 
cago for  four  weeks,  but  may 
be  held  longer  if  it  continues 
to  pull. 


Record  Crowds  See 
Telecasts  of  Derby 


London,  May  24. — Theatre  tele- 
casting in  England  established  new 
records  today  with  the  showing  of  the 
running  of  the  English  Derby  at  Ep- 
som Downs. 

Screenings  were  held  at  four  major 
West  End  houses.  A  total  of  5,000 
saw  the  screening  via  the  Baird  Sys- 
tem at  three  film  houses,  with  the 
race  clearly  shown  from  start  to  fin- 
ish. The  new  Baird  cathode  tube  was 
credited  with  giving  improved  defini- 
tion. The  Scophony  System  was  used 
at  the  Odeon,  on  a  large  screen. 

Electrical  Musical  Industries  (EMI) 
previewed  large  screen  television  ap- 
paratus at  its  Hayes  factory  today. 
The  company  may  follow  Baird  in  at- 
tempting to  enter  the  United  States 
market. 


Approve  Relay  Station 

San  Francisco,  May  24. — Permis- 
sion to  build  an  experimental  relay 
broadcast  station,  using  call  letters 
W6XDP,  has  been  granted  KSFO, 
local  CBS  outlet,  according  to  man- 
ager Phil  Lasky.  Station  will  be 
ready  for  first  broadcast  in  July. 


Extend  Ed  Hill  Series 

Metropolitan  Life  Insurance  Co.  has 
extended  Edwin  C.  Hill's  "Stop,  Look 
and  Listen"  series  to  WOL,  Wash- 
ington, and  effective  June  5  to  WAAB, 
Boston,  both  Mutual  network  stations. 


Blames  Slow  Equipment; 
New  Field  to  Benefit 
Cinema — Seldes 


CBS  will  not  be  on  the  air  with 
television  until  "sometime  in  mid- 
summer," it  was  said  yesterday  by 
Gilbert  Seldes,  television  program 
di  rector. 

This  is  a  setback  from  the  time 
originally  set  for  the  CBS  start  some- 
time in  June.  The  delay  is  occasioned 
by  a  wait  for  equipment. 

Seldes,  recently  returned  from  Lon- 
don, where  for  six  weeks  he  studied 
BBC  television  production  methods, 
said  that  Columbia's  television  pro- 
gram schedule  will,  at  the  outset,  con- 
sist mainly  of  CBS  studio  produc- 
tions, and  filming  of  news  events. 

Seldes  said  that  the  televising  of 
stage  shows  and  motion  picture  films 
is  still  somewhat  far  off.  He  added, 
however,  that  the  picture  industry  and 
the  allied  radio  and  television  indus- 
tries ultimately  will  "get  together." 

Experience  in  London  has  shown, 
he  said,  that  television  can  be  a  defi- 
nite asset  to  both  the  stage  and  screen 
interests.  Theatre  producers  in  Lon- 
don, he  said,  have  publicly  declared 
that  the  televising  of  plays,  or  ex- 
cerpts, have  helped  the  boxoffice  busi- 
ness. 

As  an  example  of  what  television 
can  do  for  the  cinema,  Seldes  dis- 
closed the  experience  of  the  documen- 
tary film,  "The  River."  Booking  of 
the  film  had  been  desultory,  until  the 
BBC  broadcast  it  on  television,  where- 
upon, through  the  great  public  inter- 
est aroused,  its  bookings  increased  ten 
fold. 


Renew  'Vox  Pop'  Series 

Kentucky  Club  Tobacco  Co.  has  re- 
newed Parks  Johnson  and  Wally  Biit- 
terworth,  conductors  of  the  "Vox  Pop" 
broadcasts.  Series  is  heard  on  the 
NBC-Red. 


New  Station  in  Mexico 

Mexico  City,  May  24.— This  city 
has  a  new  commercial  radio  station, 
XESM,  of  1,400  kilocycles.  It  is 
owned  and  operated  by  Salvador  San 
Martin. 


KRIC  Is  Organized 

.  Austin,  Tex.,  May  24.— KRIC,  Inc., 
Beaumont,  has  been  granted  a  charter 
for  radio  broadcasting  under  author- 
ized capital  of  $50,000. 


Rural  Vs.  City  Radio  Popularity 


Cooperative  Analysis  of  Broadcast- 
ing, producer  of  the  "Crosley  Re- 
ports," has  just  concluded  its  third 
annual  survey  of  program  audiences 
of  rural  areas,  which  gives  ratings  for 
all  network  programs  broadcast  in 
the  basic  area,  rural  versus  city. 

The  study  reveals  that  in  compari- 
son with  city  people,  rural  set  owners 
use  their  receivers  more  in  the  day- 
time and  less  at  night.  Generally 
evening  programs  rate  less  in  rural 
communities  than  in  cities,  while  day- 
time programs  rate  higher. 

Out  of  89  evening  programs,  only 


14  rated  higher  in  rural  areas,  while 
out  of  67  daytime  programs,  only  11 
rated  less  in  rural  than  in  urban  com- 
munities. 

Among  evening  programs  compara- 
tively more  popular  with  rural  peo- 
ple are :  National  Barn  Dance,  rural 
18.4,  city  9.4;  Lowell  Thomas,  19.2 
versus  city  rating  of  12.8;  Mr.  Keen, 
Tracer  of  Lost  Persons,  11.7  against 
8.6;  Lum  and  Abner,  10.7  compared 
with  6.0. 

In  the  daytime,  Joyce  Jordan,  Girl 
Interne ;  Bachelor's  Children :  The 
O'Neills;  Women  in  White;  Road  of 


Life;  Little  Orphan  Annie;  and 
Valiant  Lady  rated  considerably  more 
in  rural  areas  than  in  cities,  each  of 
them  being  between  40  and  65  per 
cent  more  popular  in  country  districts 
than  in  the  Cooperative  Analysis  of 
Broadcasting  cities. 

Members  of  the  governing  commitee 
of  the  C.A.B.  are  D.  P.  Smelser  of 
Procter  &  Gamble;  C.  H.  Lang  of 
General  Electric ;  George  Gallup  of 
Young  &  Rubicam ;  A.  Wilbor  of  Gen- 
eral Mills  ;  L.  D.  H.  Weld  of  McCann- 
Erickson  and  A.  W.  Lehman  of  the 
C.A.B. 


B 


anner  j 
LINES 


T  NVARIABLY  when  an  import 
*■  special  news  event  "breaks"  i 
networks  bicker  about  which  was  fi 
on  the  air  with  vital  news.  1 
Squalus  sub  disaster  has  provided 
most  recent  basis  for  claims.  Tr 
would  be  funny  if  it  were  not  sucb 
tragic  subject. 

Mutual  was  first  under  the*.., 
yesterday  with  a  claim  that 
first  on  the  air  with  news  that 
rescue  chamber  was  on  the  way 
from  the  sunken  sub  with  seven  rr 
aboard.     That   was    at    1 :18  P. 
NBC's  special  events  department  cai 
next  with  the  claim  that  they  were 
the  air  first,  at  1 :25  P.M.,  with  ne 
that  the  rescue  chamber  was  abo 
the  waterline. 

CBS  doesn't  claim  anything,  t 
pointedly  says  that  it  broadcast  1 
rescue  news  at  1 :29  P.M.  NBC  wai 
it  known  that  it  was  first  on  the  ; 
with  the  news  of  the  dead,  at  1 : 
P.M.,  while  Mutual  says  it  was  fi: 
on  the  air  with  the  casualties. 

Two  asides  are  worth  noting 
connection  with  the   Squalus  broa 
casts.    One  is  the  telegram  sent 
John  Shepard,  president  of  the  Colon 
network  to  his  news  editor,  Lela 
Bickford,    who   was    "feeding"  pr 
grams  to  Mutual.  Learning  that  Bic 
ford  was  about  to  go  on  the  air 
read  a  list  of  the  probable  casualti' 
Shepard  wired  Bickford: 

"Son,  be  sure  that  you  get  tho 
names  right !" 

The  other  is  the  fact  that  WAI 
did  not  cut  into  the  baseball  comme 
cial  for  a  broadcast  from  Portsmout 
but  instead  sliced  into  the  Empire  D; 
broadcast,  in  which  all  parts  of  t 
British  Empire  saluted  King  Geor 
and  Queen  Mary.  Probably  eve 
Irishman  within  earshot  of  a  receiv 
tuned  to  the  salute  broadcast  w 
write  bitterly  to  CBS  because  t 
slice  occurred  in  the  Irish  portion 
the  broadcast. 

T 

NBC's  press  department  (wi 
such  vehemence!)  denies-  it  we; 
to  sleep  in  publicizing  the  Da 
Montanez  fight,  and  offers  pro 
that  the  fight  was  scheduled  in  i 
daily  program  listings  to  new! 
papers.  We  do  not  need  to  e 
amine  the  evidence.  Any  depat 
ment  that  can  protest  with  such  vi 
is  sufficiently  wide-awake  for  us. 
T 

CBS  has  just  finished  constructs 
of  a  neivs  room  -and  a  news  studi 
adjoining.     To  facilitate  the  passu 
of  news  copy  from  the  news  room 
the  studio,  a  glass-enclosed  slot,  ve:\ 
much  like  one  of  those  Automat  re\\ 
taurant  slots,  has  been  inserted  in  t)i 
wall  separating  the  rooms.  Yesterdi- 
a  wag  placed  a  stale  piece  of  app 
pie  in  the  receptacle  and  hung  up 
sign  reading,  "Apple  pie,  two  nickels 
—JACK  BANNER. 


New  Ipana  Series  Set 

Bristol  Myers  Co.  has  purchase 
rights  to  "The  Life  of  Mary  Sothern 
a  dramatic  serial,  for  five-time-a-wee 
daytime  sponsorship  over  five  mi( 
western  stations  for  Ipana  Toothpast 
Pedlar  &  Ryan  is  the  agency. 


Compton  Gets  Wheatent 

Wheatena  Corp.  has  appointed  th 
Compton  agency  as  its  advertisin 
agency.  The  account  formerly  wa 
represented  by  Rohraback  &  Gibsoi 


Alert. 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


J 


MOT^N  PICTURE 


1  *yoR* 


45.  NO.  102 


NEW  YORK.  FRIDAY.  MAY  26,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Code's  Arbitration  Terms 
Go  to  Exhibitors  For  O.  K. 


l.S.  Charges 
55  Coercions 
To  4  Majors 

ill  of  Particulars  Filed 
In  Anti-Trust  Suit 


!.'!ie  Government  filed  a  detailed  list 
55  specific  instances  of  alleged  co- 
inn  and  "distress  selling"  on  the 
h  of  defendant  film  companies  in 
Federal  District  Court  yesterday, 
e  list  was  filed  as  part  of  the  Gov- 
ment's  bill  of  particulars  in  its 
i-trust  suit. 

'aramount  was  charged  with  43 
tances  of  coercion,  20th  Century- 
\  with  six,  Warner  Bros,  and 
•J)  with  three  each. 

Violations  Cover  20  Years 
\ccording  to  the  bill,  the  alleged 
awful  acts  involved  93  theatres 
|  r  a  period  extending  from  1918 
ough  1938.  In  23  instances,  ex- 
itors  were  forced  to  sell  their  the- 
es ;  in  10  instances  exhibitors  were 
rived  of  product ;  in  seven  in- 
ices  producers  threatened  to  build 
ipeting  houses ;  in  six  instances 
atre  owners  were  forced  to  lease 
ir  houses ;  in  four  cases  they  were 
reed  under  threat  that  the  majors 
aid  acquire  competing  theatres ; 
ce  licenses  were  refused  to  cxhibi- 

twice  excessive  film  rentals  were 
Tged ;  and  once  an  exhibitor  was 
ted  to  cancel  construction  of  a  the- 
fe  the  bill  stated. 

("he  bill  was  qualified  by  the  state- 
it  that  the  Government  was  un- 
it to  furnish  a  complete  list  at  the 
sent  time. 

he  bill  listed  the  following  exhibi- 
as  allegedly  being  coerced  by  Par- 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  25. — Application 
Sacramento  yesterday  for  incor- 
ation  of  Television  Productions, 
.,  with  Paul  Raburn.  executive  as- 
ant  to  Barney  Balaban,  as  presi- 
"t.  was  explained  today  by  the 
.  amount  studio  as  anticipatory  for 
itever  advances  television  may 
<e.  Y.  Frank  Freeman  is  vice- 
sident,  Edith  Shaffer,  secretary, 
Iter  B.  Cokell,  treasurer. 


Tolly  wood.  May  25—  Gaylord 
yt  Productions,  Hoyt,  president, 
n  J.  Raskob,  Jr.,  secretary-treas- 
r,  was  formed  today  to  produce 
atrial  advertising  films  here. 


Rodger s  Urges  National 
Allied  to  Give  Plan 
Its  Indorsement 


By  AL  FINESTONE 

William  F.  Rodgers,  general  sales 
manager  of  M-G-M  and  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  trade  practice  nego- 
tiating committee,  urged  adoption  of 
the  code  by  Allied  members  in  an  ad- 
dress at  the  final  session  of  the  New 
York  Allied  convention  at  the  Astor 
yesterday. 

"We  will  get  it  adopted  if  we  have 
to  go  out  personally  and  canvass  17,- 
000  theatre  owners,"  Rodgers  said,  the 
inference  being  that  the  distributors 
will,  if  necessary,  seek  to  obtain  sig- 
natures to  the  code  through  their  sales 
staffs  in  the  field.  Max  A.  Cohen, 
president,  introduced  Rodgers. 
Quick  Approval  Urged 

Rodgers  said  later  that  the  code  will 
go  into  effect  as  soon  as  a  majority  of 
exhibitors  sign  it.  He  reiterated  the 
desire  of  the  distributors  to  set  up 
arbitration  machinery  as  quickly  as 
possible. 

Abram  F.  Myers,  Allied  States' 
board  chairman  and  general  counsel, 
who  preceded  Rodgers  as  a  speaker, 
told  the  convention  that  Allied's  "final 
decision  on  the  code  should  be  arrived 
at.  after  discussion,  by  the  time  of 
Allied's  national  convention  in  June." 

Allied's  leaders,  Myers  declared, 
"will  do  finally  what  they  think  is 

{Continued  on  page  7) 


Neely  May  Force 
Vote  On  His  Bill 

Washington,  May  25. — Irked 
by  inability  to  obtain  prompt 
action  on  his  anti-block  book- 
ing bill.  Senator  Neely  today 
warned  the  Senate  he  would 
move  tomorrow  for  consider- 
ation of  his  resolution  to 
discharge  the  committee  in 
charge  of  the  measure.  This 
would  force  the  bill  to  a  vote 
on  the  floor. 


Browne  Defended 
On  IATSE  Funds 


Los  Angeles,  May  25. — George  E. 
Browne,  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  president,  has 
"no  one  but  his  conscience"  to  ac- 
count to  for  the  two  per  cent  assess- 
ment k  vied  on  union  members,  Judge 
Henry  Willis  ruled  today  in  Superior 
Court. 

Judge  Willis  is  hearing  trial  of  suit 
by  officers  of  Studio  Technicians  Local 
37  against  International  officers  for 
control  of  the  local.  The  judge  ruled 
that  Browne  is  empowered  by  I.  A.  T. 
S.  E.'s  constitution  and  by-laws  to 
dispose  of  the  funds  as  he  sees  fit. 
Local  37  counsel  had  sought  to  show 
that  the  president  failed  to  account 
for  the  money. 


Theatres  Suffer  Drastic 
Rise  in  Insurance  Rates 


By  ED  GREIF 

Exhibitors  are  paying  more  for  their 
liability  insurance,  beginning  this 
week,  as  a  result  of  rate  increases 
which  have  gone  into  effect  nationally. 

Rates  are  fixed  by  the  National 
Bureau  of  Casualty  and  Surety  Under- 
writers which  says  that  the  experi- 
ence tables  prove  the  number  of  claims 
has  risen  and  the  cost  per  claim  has 
also  gone  up.  Another  factor  cited  is 
that  calculations  were  poorly  made 
when  rates  were  changed  in  1935  from 
a  seat  to  an  admission  basis. 

Insurance  companies  base  the  rise  on 
experience  tables  drawn  from  policies 
written  between  May,  1935,  the  date 
of  the  last  increase  and  Dec.  31,  1936. 

Boston  is  hit  hardest  with  a  rise 


from  15  cents  to  25  cents  per  100  ad- 
missions. Kansas  City  and  St.  Louis 
houses  must  pay  21  cents  instead  of  15. 
New  York  City,  except  the  borough  of 
Richmond,  rises  from  11  to  18.  Based 
on  estimated  insurance  company  seat 
and  attendance  figures,  rates  have  ris- 
en in  New  York  City  from  40  cents 
per  seat  in  1927,  to  51  cents  in  1935, 
and  to  71  cents  per  seat  at  present. 

Since  each  state  has  its  own  rate, 
and  large  cities  within  the  states  have 
separate  rates,  experience  tables  are 
based  on  particular  localities.  During 
the  experience  period  (policies  writ- 
ten between  May,  1935  and  Dec.  31, 
1936)  1,736  claims  arose  from  336,- 
300,000   insured   admissions   in  New 

(.Continued  on  page  2) 


Settlement  of  Industry's 
Differences  Voluntary ; 
Seek  Early  Approval 


By  SHERWIN  A.  KANE 

Proposed  rules  of  arbitration  for  the 
industry  trade  practice  code,  providing 
for  the  establishment  of  arbitration 
boards  in  31  exchange  centers,  were 
mailed  to  national  and  regional  ex- 
hibitor organizations  yesterday. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  negotiating  commit- 
tee, advised  exhibitors  that  further 
discussion  of  the  arbitration  provisions 
with  a  view  to  changes  or  additions 
might  be  bad. 

However,  while  minor  changes  in 
trade  practice  provisions  will  appear 
in  the  fourth  draft  of  the  plan,  nego- 
tiations will  not  be  reopened  on  trade 
practice  subjects. 

Exhibitors'  O.K.  Needed 

Acceptance  of  the  arbitration  pro- 
visions by  exhibitors  will  be  at  their 
own  election.  If  an  exhibitor  does 
not  sign  the  arbitration  agreement  he 
can  neither  bring  a  complaint  nor 
have  a  complaint  brought  against  him 
for  adjudication  by  a  local  arbitra- 
tion board.  However,  ultimate  suc- 
cess of  the  provisions  obviously  dc- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


U.  S.  Will  Be  'Fair,' 
Promises  Murphy 

Los  Angeles,  May  25. — "We  are 
doing  the  most  in  our  power  to  do 
the  equitable  thing,"  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Frank  Murphy  declared  today 
when  asked  if  the  trade  practice  code 
would  obviate  the  necessity  of  trial 
of  the  Government's  anti-trust  suit 
against  major  companies.  He  is  here 
in  connection  with  an  F.B.I,  investi- 
gation of  "possible  labor  racketeer- 
ing," including  film  unions. 

"In  all  such  matters,  we  are  at- 
tempting to  be  constructive,"  he  said. 
"We  are  doing  all  in  our  power  to 
conduct  matters  to  the  best  interest 
of  the  public.  No  one  can  sav  we 
have  destructive  thoughts  at  heart. 
We  are  conducting  a  constructive 
campaign  to  promote  public  good 
through  releasing  all  industries  to 
free  competition." 

He  parried  Questions  relating  di- 
rectlv  to  the  film  case  and  attempted 
to  confine  the  interview  to  general 
phases  of  the  Government's  anti-trust 
drive.  He  was  non-commital  on  the 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  May  26,  193' 


i  Purely 
Personal  ► 

WILL  H.  HAYS  will  speak  on 
the  Indiana  Day  program  at  the 
New  York  World's  Fair  next  Thurs- 
day afternoon  at  the  invitation  of  Gov- 
ernor Townsend  of  Indiana. 


Frank  W.  Huss,  Jr.,  Associated 
Theatres,  Cincinnati ;  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
A.  Stone,  Eagle  Theatre,  Albany, 
and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thomas  di  Lo- 
renzo, New  Paltz  Theatre,  New 
Paltz,  N.  Y.,  were  among  visitors  at 
RKO  World's  Fair  Lounge  yester- 
day. 

• 

Richard  Rosson,  M-G-M  camera- 
man, and  Mrs.  Rosson  have  been  re- 
leased by  German  Secret  Police  after 
having  been  held  for  a  month  in  Vi- 
enna on  charges  of  photographing 
military  objects. 

• 

Leon  Rosenblatt  has  been  ap- 
pointed chairman  of  the  committee  on 
arrangements  for  the  L  T.  O.  A.  dele- 
gation which  will  attend  the  national 
Allied  convention  in  Minneapolis 
June  13-15. 

Arthur  Treacher  presented  a 
plaque  to  the  typical  American  fam- 
ily of  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y.,  selected 
by  the  Rotary  Club,  on  the  stage  of 
Loew's  Theatre  there. 

• 

Arthur  A.  Lee,  Gaumont  British 
vice-president,  left  last  night  night  to 
address  the  Empire  Universal  sales 
meeting  in  Toronto.  He  will  return 
Monday. 

Abe  Montague  and  Rube  Jackter 
will  arrive  in  New  York  today  from 
the  coast  after  conducting  the  last  of 
Columbia's  three  regional  sales  meet- 
ings there. 

• 

Joseph  Allen,  Jr.,  will  retain  the 
"Jr."  in  billing,  to  avoid  confusion 
with  his  father,  stage  player,  the 
Paramount  studio  has  decided. 

Robert  Mintz,  Hal  Horne,  Kay 
Kamen,  Dave  Sussman,  Sid  Weill, 
Bert  Mayers  lunching  at  Bob  Gold- 
stein's Tavern  yesterday. 

• 

Herman  Wobber,  Arthur  Loew, 
Mort  Spring,  Conrad  Nagel, 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  at  Sardi's  for 
lunch  yesterday. 

• 

E.  J.  Vallen,  president  of  Vallen, 
Inc.,  leaves  today  for  Akron  after 
attending  the  N.  Y.  Allied  convention 
here. 

• 

William  Boyd  will  be  guest  of 
honor  at  the  Des  Moines  Register  and 
Tribune  convention  June  10. 

• 

George  Kann,  manager  of  Loew's 
Willard,  is  vacationing  at  his  sum- 
mer place  at  Oakdale,  L.  I. 

• 

Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  con- 
tact, plans  to  leave  New  York  for  the 
coast  early  next  week. 

• 

H.  A.  Ross,  president  of  Ross  Fed- 
eral, returns  early  next  week  from  a 
trip  to  branches. 


Judell  Forms  Producing 
Firm*  Bills  36  Features 


Formation  of  a  new  producing  com- 
pany with  national  distribution  outlets 
was  announced  here  yesterday  by  Ben 
Judell,  a  veteran  of  34  years  in  the 
industry. 

Judell  said  the  company  plans  pro- 
duction of  36  features  for  the  new 
season,  with  three  releases  a  month 
scheduled  beginning  Sept.  3.  A  mini- 
mum of  $1,000,000  will  be  spent  on 
the  program,  he  said. 

Sig  Neufield  will  be  in  charge  of 
production  and  the  new  company, 
whose  name  has  not  been  decided  yet, 
will  have  six  associate  producers. 
Studio  sp^ce  will  be  rented  in  Holly- 
wood. 

Distribution  will  be  through  Ju- 
dell's  own  offices  in  some  key  cities 
and  through  regional  distributors  in 
others.  A  total  of  27  exchanges  is 
planned,  he  said.  Among  them  will 
be  offices  which  he  plans  to  operate 


himself  in  Chicago,  Milwaukee,  St. 
Louis,  Kansas  City,  Philadelphia,  Los 
Angeles  and  Washington. 

Other  distributors  include  the  fol- 
lowing :  Pittsburgh,  Lou  and  Milton 
Lefton  of  Monarch  Pictures ;  New 
York,  Melvin  Hirsch  and  Bert  Kulick 
of  Syndicate  Pictures  •  Cincinnati,  Lee 
Goldberg ;  Detroit,  William  Flemian 
and  Ann  O'Donnell  of  Excellent  Pic- 
tures ;  Boston,  Harry  Asher ;  Cleve- 
land, Lee  Goldberg,  and  San  Fran- 
cisco, Armand  Cohn  of  All-Star  Film 
Distributors. 

Harry  Rathner  has  been  named 
sales  manager  and  eastern  represen- 
tative with  headquarters  in  New 
York.  Jerry  Olenick  will  be  adver- 
tising and  publicity  manager  at  the 
main  offices  in  Los  Angeles. 

Judell,  who  has  been  here  for  a 
week  completing  organization  of  the 
company,  leaves  for  Chicago  today  en 
route  to  the  coast. 


Special  for  'Lincoln' 
Leaves  Here  Monday 


A  special  train,  carrying  newspaper 
and  trade  paper  people  and  guests 
from  the  east,  will  leave  New  York 
at  2,:30  P.M.  Monday  for  the  Spring- 
field, 111.,  premiere  of  the  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox film,  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln" 
on  May  30. 

From  20th  Century-Fox  will  be 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity ;  Earl  Wingart, 
publicity  manager ;  Leonard  Gaynor, 
Christy  Wilbert,  William  Chambliss, 
Jeannette  Sauer,  Irving  Lincer,  in 
charge  of  transportation,  and  Roger 
Ferri.  Rodney  Bush,  exploitation 
manager,  and  Lou  Davidson  are  in 
Springfield  preparing  for  the  premi- 
ere. 

Roy  Dannenbaum  of  the  coast  pub- 
licity department  will  be  in  charge  of 
a  group  of  stars  who  will  arrive  in 
Chicago  Tuesday  and  then  leave  for 
Springfield. 

Lowell  Thomas  will  give  his  regu- 
lar NBC  news  broadcast  from  Abra- 
ham Lincoln's  home  in  Springfield  on 
Memorial  Day,  in  addition  to  acting 
as  master  of  ceremonies  for  the  open- 
ing. 

The  Hollywood  stars  and  visiting 
newspaper  men  will  be  guests  at  a 
luncheon  by  the  Mid-Day  Luncheon 
Club  of  Springfield  on  Memorial  Day. 
Mayor  John  W.  Kapp  will  welcome 
the  visitors. 


Strict  Censorship 
To  Stay  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  Neb.,  May  25.— Dan 
Butler,  re-elected  mayor,  to- 
day announced  he  is  going  to 
continue  his  stiff  censorship 
over  films,  drama  and  night 
life  here. 

"I'm  going  to  see  that  we 
have  decent,  clean  shows  and 
literature  in  Omaha,"  he  said. 
"We  don't  want  scavengers, 
chiselers  and  gamblers  here." 


'Gorilla'  to  Roxy; 
Grosses  Reported 

"The  Gorilla"  opens  today  at  the 
Roxy.  "Rose  of  Washington  Square" 
grossed  an  estimated  $30,000  in  its 
third  week  here.  "Kid  from  Kokomo" 
drew  an  estimated  $25,000  at  the 
Strand  and  is  held  over.  Sixth  week 
of  "Wuthering  Heights"  attracted  an 
estimated  $15,000  at  the  Rivoli.  At 
the  Music  Hall,  "Only  Angels  Have 
Wings"  grossed  an  estimated  $70,000 
in  its  second  week.  "It's  a  Wonder- 
ful World"  drew  an  estimated  $25,000 
at  Capitol.  "Three  Waltzes"  (Vedis) 
goes  to  55th  St.  Playhouse  June  3. 


Set  Variety  Club  Banquet 

Pittsburgh,  May  25. — John  Har- 
ris, chief  barker  of  the  Variety  Clubs 
of  America,  has  set  the  12th  annual 
Variety  Club  banquet  for  Oct.  29. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Nezv  issues  concentrate  primarily 
on  tlie  rescue  of  the  survivors  of  the 
submarine  Squalus.  Visit  of  Eng- 
land's King  and  Queen  also  gets  con- 
siderable attention.  The  reels  and 
their  contents  follow : 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  74— Submarine 
rescue.  Roosevelt  speaks  at  Retailers 
Forum.  King  and  Queen  in  Canada.  Arch- 
bishop Spellman  takes  post.  Christen 
giant   plane.      Sweepstake  winners. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  273— Navy 
rescues  sub  crew.  Plane  in  test  hop.  En- 
thronement of  Archbishop  Spellman.  Brit- 
ain's Monarchs  tour  Canada.  Sweepstake 
winners. 


PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  85— Sub- 
marine disaster.  King  and  Queen  at  dedi- 
cation of  War  Memorial  in  Canada. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  89— Sub- 
marine rescue.  Roosevelt  discusses  Gov- 
ernment debt.  Airplane  crashes.  Golf 
tryouts.  Wisconsin  honors  right  to  vote. 
Premature  birthday  party  for  King  in  Can- 
ada. Archbishop  Spellman  installed. 
"Town  of  Tomorrow"  at  World's  Fair. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  774— 
Squalus  disaster.  Wisconsin  grants  vote 
certificates.  Roosevelt  addresses  Retailers 
Forum.  Plane  in  trial  flight.  Army  plane 
crashes.  Pet  parade.  Frog  jumping  con- 
test. King  and  Queen  in  Canada.  Ar- 
gentine training  ship  in  New  York. 


Surety  Rates 
For  Theatres 
Rise  Sharply 


{Continued  from  paye  1) 

York  City,  or  approximately  5.2  per 
million. 

No  basis  of  comparison  exists,  be- 
cause prior  to   1935   insurance  (7 
written  on  a  seat  basis.  In  1929,  r&;, 
claims  resulted  from  each  10,000  seats 
insured.    In   1930,   17.9;   1931,  23.5 
1932,  23.9;   1933,  26.8;   1934,  23.0 
first  part  of  1935,  29.9. 

Cost  per  claim  filed,  however,  af- 
fords  a  basis  for  comparison.  In  1929, 
average  cost  per  claim  was  $187  ;  1930, 
$105;  1931,  $138;  1932,  $165;  1933, 
$159;  1934,  $132;  1935,  $141;  1936, 
$182. 

As  a  minor  compensating  factor  tcj 
the  rate  rise,  is  the  fact  that  property 
damage  insurance  (clothing,  etc.)  has 
been  reduced  from  two  cents  per  100 
admissions  to  1  cent. 

In  some  states,  such  as  New  Jersey, 
Connecticut,  Ohio,  Michigan,  Ala- 
bama, Florida,  Oregon,  Minnesota, 
and  Texas,  rates  remain  the  same. 

Increases  Listed 

Increases  in  some  representative 
states  follow.  All  rates  are  for  mini- 
mum $5,000-$10,000  coverage  for  per- 
sonal injury  public  liability  policies. 
The  tabulation  indicates  the  rate  in 
cents  per  100  admissions. 
State  New  rate  Old  rate 
N.  Y. : 

N.  Y.  C              18  11 

(except  Richmond) 

Remainder                10  6 

Mass. : 

Boston                    25  15 

11  cities  .'               12  10 

Remainder                10  9 

California                     8  6 

111.: 

Chicago                    10  6 

Remainder                 5  5 

Penn. : 

Philadelphia   ....      9  6 

Pittsburgh                13  10 

Remainder                 5  5 

Mo.: 
Kansas  City  and 

St.  Louis                 21  15 

Remainder                14  10 

Wash.,  D.C                12  10 

Rhode  Island : 

Providence               13  10 

Remainder   -    5  5 

Wisconsin : 

Milwaukee                 9  6 

Remainder                 7  5 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  and 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAMES 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com- 
pany, 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:  "Quigpubcn. 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  1939 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc. 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  York 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatro 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Picture 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.. 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  the 
Americas  and  $12  foreien.  Single  copies  10c. 


JOHN 
AteSBlTT 


00* 
GAUO 


RT2PATltCK 
TRAVELW 


■  I 


■ 4* 


T*16      J '  iEICHVET 


SHORTS! 


by  Leo,  Jn 


SHORT 


but  to  the  point-let's  be  frank  about  1939-40! 

Virtue  is  its  own  reward! 

M-G-M  has  fought  the  battle  of  Shorts! 

The  early  1939-'40  selling  is  convincing  proof! 

Exhibitors  are  generously  rewarding  us  today 

For  a  long  established  and  unchanging  policy  of  quality. 

We  believed  sincerely  in  the  importance  of  Shorts — 

We  know  theatre  operation  from  experience 

And  we  know  that  good  Shorts  help  the  entire  show! 

We  know  they  definitely  help  sell  tickets  too! 

And  when  other  companies  economized  in  quality — 

M-G'M  refused  to  compromise  its  established  policy! 

"If  it's  worth  making,  it's  worth  making  right." 

We  have  continually  introduced  new  personalities,  new  ideas — 

With  the  most  consistent  short  promotion  in  the  industry. 

The  result  is  that  M-G-M  is  famous  for  its  Shorts 

That's  why  M-G-M  today  can  say  sincerely: 

"Let  Short  Subjects  stand  on  their  own  merit!" 


PROMOTE! 

(Samples  shown  at  right) 

Exhibitors  now  realize  that  the  time- 
worn  stock -phrase  "Also  Selected 
Shorts"  no  longer  suffices  in  present- 
ing the  broad  range  of  M-G-M  Shorts 
from  the  quirks  of  history  to  the 
quips  of  Benchley.  Presaging  a  New 
Deal  for  Shorts,  showmen,  aroused 
to  their  merchandising  possibilities 
and  box  office  potentialities,  staged 
for  M-G-M's  nation-wide  Shorts 
exploitation  contest  a  mass  demon- 
stration of  showmanship  unequalled 
in  Short  Subject  history. 


Bmm""  ""'r-nSS 


um*-  _CAR€V  ISDN'S 

Miracle  4  Salt 


"  00  rou  THINK?' 


Feb.  17th  is  "What 


IRE  YOU  GETTING  THIS 
jlAGAZINE  REGULARLY? 

he  importance  of  M-G-M  Shorts  is 
.■fleeted  in  the  big  monthly  magazine 
he  only  one  of  its  kind)  which  goes 
>  11,000  exhibitors  and  to  thou- 
nds  of  magazines  and  newspapers. 


1939-40 

M-G-M  SHORTS 

73  ONE  REEL  SUBJECTS 
6  TWO  REEL  SUBJECTS 
04  ISSUES  NEWS  OF  THE  DAY 


THE  BEST! 

CRIME    DOES    NOT    PAY    (6)  (Tu,  Reels  Each) 

Racket  exposes,  cramming  dramatic  thunderbolts  of  entertainment  into  two  thrill- 
packed  reels.  Greatest  publicity  "naturals"  in  short  subject  history. 

PETE  SMITH  SPECIALTIES  (13) 

A  name  that  goes  up  on  the  marquees  and  into  the  ads  everywhere.  Personality  plus 
sure-fire  showmanship.  Promotion  angles  that  capture  reams  of  newspaper  space. 
Audiences  love  them! 

THE  PASSING  PARADE  (8) 

In  his  first  short  year  John  Nesbitt's  tributes  to  history's  great  have  become  tops  in 
screen  tidbits.  Watch  him  build  even  greater  next  season! 

ROBERT  BENCHLEY  (4) 

A  nationally  known  literary,  screen  and  radio  name  that  sells  tickets.  The  demi  tasse 
to  perfect  screen  fare  are  Benchley's  inimitable  characterizations  of  the  average  man 
wrestling  with  everyday  problems. 

M-G-M  MINIATURES  (9) 

Featuring  the  astounding  Carey  Wilson  investigations  into  fascinating,  unexplored 
fields.  This  series  won  the  Academy  Award  for  last  year's  "That  Mothers  Might  Live." 

OUR  GANG  COMEDIES  (8) 

18  years  old  and  Our  Gang's  still  going  strong.  A  national  institution  for  which  the  public 
(old  and  young)  is  still  happily  receptive.  Introducing  new  ideas  for  the  new  series. 

FITZPATRICK  TECHNICOLOR  TRAVELTALKS  (12) 

An  established  and  popular  series  eagerly  received  by  audiences  everywhere.  Their 
Technicolor  beauty  and  intelligent  presentation  set  them  apart  among  travel  subjects. 

M-G-M  TECHNICOLOR  CARTOONS  (18) 

Hugh  Harman  and  Rudolph  Ising  who  are  rated  at  the  very  top  in  the  cartoon  field  are 
developing  fresh  viewpoints,  delightful  story  ideas  and  newly  discovered  technical 
improvements  for  their  deluxe  Technicolor  series.  Watch! 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY  (104) 

A  progressive,  alert  newsreel  with  unmatchable  world-wide  coverage  presented  by 
crisp  authoritative  specialists.  Featuring  the  nationally  known  radio  commentator 
John  B.  Kennedy,  the  sports  authority  of  the  airwaves  Bill  Stern  and  the  famed 
feminine  stylist  Adelaide  Hawley. 

METROSCOPIX  (1) 

By  popular  demand  a  new  Metroscopix!  This  greatest  of  all  novelties  among  short 
subjects,  which  has  convulsed  shrieking  audiences  by  its  third-dimensional  tricks,  will 
be  presented  in  brand  new  and  even  more  exciting  form. 


AND 


THF 

i  nc 

LINE-UP 

FOR  1939-40! 

_  —  Leo,  Jr.  Your  Friendly  Short  Subject 


1  Friday,  May  26,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Exhibitors  Get 
Code's  Terms 
'Of  Arbitration 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

jtuds  upon  the  maximum  of  exhibi- 
br  participation. 

~r^>  u  as  the  case  with  the  trade  prac- 
provisions,  which  were  completed 
ate  in  March,  the  distributors'  nego- 
tiating committee  forwarded  copies 
pi  the  arbitration  provisions  to  the 
Department  of  Justice  in  accordance 
with  assurances  of  counsel  that  the 
Department  would  be  kept  informed  of 
developments  in  connection  with  the 
industry  conferences. 

U.  S.  Acceptance  Sought 

Whether  the  companies  will  pro- 
ceed with  the  program,  in  whole  or 
In  part,  lacking  some  expression  from 
he  Department  on  its  acceptability, 
emains  a  matter  for  company  attor- 
neys to  decide. 

L'nder  the  proposed  provisions  for 
urbitration,  local  organized  exhibitor 
groups  will  have  a  position  equal  to 
mat  of  distributors  and  affiliated  ex- 
hibitors together.  In  each  of  the  31 
iwchange  centers  panels  of  five  to  10 
mitral  arbitrators  will  be  appointed 
>\  unanimous  action  of  distributors 
.nd  affiliated  exhibitors  and  organized 
i-xhibitor  groups.  Neutral  arbitra- 
tors will  be  paid  for  their  services, 
nut  will  not  be  associated  with  either 
lUtributor  or  exhibitor  interests. 

Arbitration  Boards 

Permanent  arbitration  boards  will 
je  selected  from  panels  of  20  arbitra- 
tors, 10  to  be  appointed  by  distribu- 
ors  and  affiliated  exhibitors  and  10 
by  organized  exhibitor  groups  in  each 
exchange  center. 

The  board  will  consist  of  one  arbi- 
rator  from  the  neutral  panel  and  two 
:rom  the  panel  of  20. 

Of  the  latter  two,  one  will  be  from 
he  group  named  by  distributors  and 
ffiiliated  exhibitors  and  the  other  from 
he  group  named  by  the  local  organ- 
zed  exhibitor  groups.  The  latter  two 
lesignate  the  neutral  member  who 
(will  become  the  third  member  of  the 
x>ard  and  its  chairman. 

Members  of  the  panels  are  appointed 
or  six  months'  terms  but  will  serve 
)n  the  boards  in  rotation  for  a  lengtb 
hi  time  to  be  determined  by  the  mem- 
bers of  such  panels. 

Office  for  Each  Board 

Permanent  boards  will  have  secre- 
aries  to  be  appointed  by  unanimous 
rhoice  of  the  participating  distributor, 
affiliated  exhibitor  and  organized  ex- 
hibitor groups.  Each  board  will  main- 
ain  an  office  and  hearing  quarters. 
I   In  addition  to  the  permanent  boards, 
provision  is  made  for  special  arbitra- 
ion  boards  which  may  be  requested 
by  any  party  to  an  arbitration  matter. 
Panels  of  20,  appointed  in  the  same 
nanner  as  the  permanent  boards,  will 
be  provided  for  the  special  boards, 
vith  the  difference  that  a  party  to 
arbitration  desiring  a  hearing  before 
i  special  board  may  be  represented  by 
in  arbitrator  who  is  not  a  member  of 
iny  panel. 

In  two-party  disputes  each  side  may 
tame  an  arbitrator,  the  two  arbitrators 
o  choose  a  third,  who  would  be  chair- 
man. In  disputes  relating  to  clearance 
he  two  exhibitors  involved  each  select 


Rodger s'  Letter  of  Transmittal 

Folloiving  is  the  letter  from  W.  F.  Rodgers,  chairman  of  the  dis- 
tributors' trade  practice  negotiating  committee,  accompanying  text  of 
draft  of  the  rules  of  arbitration  sent  last  night  to  exhibitor  organiza- 
tions and  the  Department  of  Justice: 

"In  my  letter  to  you  of  March  30  enclosing  a  draft  of  the  trade 
practice  code,  bearing  the  same  date,  I  stated  that  we  had  not 
then  completed  a  revision  of  the  provisions  with  respect  to  arbitra- 
tion machinery,  and  for  that  reason  was  enclosing  the  basis  of 
arbitration  theretofore  submitted  to  you. 

"Since  that  date,  we  received  many  suggestions  on  arbitration 
machinery  from  several  sources.  We  have  now  succeeded  in  re- 
vising the  provisions  with  respect  to  arbitration  machinery  and 
have  prepared  a  draft  in  page  proof  of  the  proposed  rules  of 
arbitration. 

"The  trade  practice  code  also  has  been  somewhat  revised  to  meet 
certain  suggestions.  Soon  we  will  mail  to  you,  as  one  document, 
the  trade  practice  code  and  the  rules  of  arbitration.  I  am  send- 
ing to  you  herewith  the  draft  of  the  rules  of  arbitration  because 
of  our  desire  to  place  it  in  your  hands  at  the  earliest  possible 
moment. 

"Following  our  previous  course,  we  are  sending  a  copy  of  this 
letter  and  enclosure  to  the  Department  of  Justice,  in  accordance 
with  assurances  of  counsel  that  the  Department  would  be  kept 
informed  of  the  results  of  our  industry  conferences." 


an  arbitrator,  and  the  distributors  in- 
volved select  a  third.  The  three  desig- 
nate two  more,  and  one  of  the  two  is 
then  elected  chairman.  The  right  to 
eliminate  an  arbitrator  is  established. 

All  disputes  subject  to  arbitration 
under  the  trade  practice  code,  with  the 
exception  of  clearance  and  overbuying, 
are  classified  as  two-party  disputes. 
That  is,  exhibitor  and  distributor. 

In  the  case  of  overbuying  disputes, 
distributors  who  have  signed  the  code 
and  who  sell  product  to  the  exhibitor 
complained  against  have  all  participat- 
ing rights  in  the  hearings  except  the 
right  to  appoint  an  arbitrator. 

Procedures  Explained 

Disputes  relating  to  clearance  are 
three-party  actions :  complaining  ex- 
hibitor, responding  exhibitor,  and  dis- 
tributors who  sell  to  the  first  and 
grant  clearance  to  the  second.  Dis- 
tributors' participating  rights,  how- 
ever, do  not  include  appointment  of 
an  arbitrator. 

Arbitrators  and  witnesses  serve 
under  oath.  Proceedings  may  be  initi- 
ated merely  by  filing  a  claim  setting 
forth  the  grievance  and  the  identity 
of  principals,  together  with  a  demand 
for  arbitration  and  designation  of  an 
arbitrator. 

Proceedings  are  filed  with  the  secre- 
tary of  the  local  boards.  A  filing  fee 
of  $5  is  levied.  Secretaries  then  pro- 
ceed to  notify  all  interested  parties  in 
a  prescribed  procedure  and  arrange  for 
a  hearing. 

Oral  hearings  may  be  waived  and 
written  affidavits  of  complaining  and 
responding  parties  substituted,  as  de- 
sired. 

Local  rules  and  regulations  may  be 
added  to  the  arbitration  provisions  so 
long  as  they  conform  with  the  arbitra- 
tion rules  of  the  code.  Deficiencies  in 
costs  of  operating  the  boards,  if  any, 
are  to  be  provided  proportionately  by 
the  participating  distributors,  affiliated 
exhibitors,  and  organized  exhibitor 
groups. 


John  F.  Miller  Dies 

Culver  City,  Cal.,  May  25. — John 
F.  Miller,  67,  former  newspaper  man 
and  pioneer  film  producer,  died  yes- 
terday. 


Raymond  Freil  Passes 

Yonkers,  N.  Y.,  May  25. — Ray- 
mond A.  Freil,  45,  cartoonist,  scenario 
writer  and  former  film  director,  died 
here  yesterday. 


Kuykendall  Gives 
Views  to  KMTA 

Kansas  City,  May  25. — Ed  Kuy- 
kendall, M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  president, 
addressing  the  Kansas-Missouri  The- 
atre Association  convention,  which 
opened  here  today,  reiterated  his  op- 
position to  "divorcement,"  and  the 
Neely  bill  and  said  the  Government 
anti-trust  suits  are  unsatisfactory 
answers  to  independents'  complaints. 

George  Weeks  of  Monogram  re- 
ported complaints  about  the  film  bus- 
iness are  mounting,  and  said  "only 
fear  will  kill  us." 

W  eeks  said :  "Television,  which  is 
all  dressed  up,  but  has  no  place  to 
go,  may  mean  an  exhibition  boom." 

Officers  will  be  elected  tomorrow. 
H.  M.  Richey  of  KKO,  who  flies  in 
tomorrow  from  New  York,  will 
speak. 


U.  S.  Will  Be  'Fair/ 
Promises  Murphy 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
possibility  of  future  suits  against  the 
industry. 

The  Attorney  General  said  he  is 
here  for  "  a  general  probe  of  labor 
racketeering  in  the  construction  in- 
dustry, which  has  raised  costs  ar- 
tificially." 

He  said :  "If  we  find  anything 
which  conflicts  with  the  Federal  laws, 
we  shall  act  whether  it  pertains  to 
the  motion  picture  industry  or  not. 
But  I  will  say  that  certain  acts  with- 
in the  motion  picture  industry  are 
definitely  under  question." 


$70,000  'Heights'  Rental 

Film  rental  on  Samuel  Goldwyn's 
"Wuthering  Heights"  for  its  seven 
weeks  at  the  Rivoli  will  amount  to 
more  than  $70,000,  the  theatre  re- 
ported yesterday.  Beginning  of  the 
seventh  week  of  the  picture's  run  was 
celebrated  at  the  theatre  at  a  cocktail 
party  with  Laurence  Olivier  as  host. 

Among  those  attending  were  John 
Barclay,  Bob  Gillham,  Lynn  Farnol, 
Arthur  W.  Kelly,  Jack  Alicoate,  Al 
Margolies,  Monroe  Greenthal,  Alec 
Moss,  James  Mulvey,  Danton  Walker, 
John  Chapman,  Frank  Lynch,  Wanda 
Hale,  Bland  Johaneson,  Irene  Thirer, 
Radie  Harris,  Bill  Boehnel,  Eileen 
Creelman,  Archer  Winsten  and  Ben 
Cris'er. 


Rodgers  Asks 
Allied  to  Adopt 
Industry  Code 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
right  for  the  greatest  number  of  inde- 
pendent exhibitors." 

Rodgers,  after  the  meeting,  said  that 
the  arbitration  rules  drafted,  will  be 
subject  to  revision  on  the  basis  of  ex- 
hibitors' suggestions.  Several  points 
in  the  code  itself  are  being  reconciled 
with  exhibitor  suggestions.  When  all 
revisions  have  been  made,  the  trade 
practice  and  arbitration  provisions  will 
be  presented  to  the  industry  as  a  single 
document,  and,  said  Rodgers,  "it  will 
be  final." 

"One  thing  is  certain,"  he  said,  "we 
do  not  intend  to  make  any  further  con- 
cessions." 

The  M-G-M  sales  chief,  who  has 
had  a  large  part  in  the  negotiations, 
was  the  principal  speaker  at  the  "open 
forum"  session,  which  was  the  best 
attended  of  the  three-day  convention. 
Rodgers  answered  numerous  questions 
from  exhibitors  relating  to  the  code 
and  other  matters. 

Among  other  distribution  represen- 
tatives at  the  session  were  Gradwell 
L.  Sears,  Warners'  general  sales  man- 
ager;  William  Sussman,  Harry  H. 
Buxbaum  and  Joe  Lee  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox; Moe  Streimer,  Paramount, 
and  Tom  Connors  and  Edward  Aaron 
of  M-G-M. 

The  meeting  attracted  a  large  num- 
ber of  New  York  City  and  New  Jer- 
sey exhibitors.  Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  na- 
tional Allied  president,  was  an  "ob- 
server." 

Final  event  of  the  convention  was 
the  banquet,  attended  by  about  400. 
Cohen  was  toastmaster.  Speakers 
were  Maurice  Silverstone,  Sears, 
Rodgers,  Sussman,  W.  Ray  Johns- 
ton, Edward  Golden,  Colonel  Cole, 
Harry  Gold,  Mitchell  Conery  and 
others.  E.  Thornton  Kelly,  execu- 
tive secretary,  was  presented  a  car, 
and  Cohen  a  set  of  pictures. 


Code  Highlights 

Arbitration  boards  to  be  es- 
tablished in  31  exchange 
centers. 

Panels  of  five  to  10  neutral 
arbitrators  to  be  selected  by 
distributors,  affiliated  exhibi- 
tors and  organized  exhibitor 
groups. 

Remainder  of  panels  to  be  ap- 
pointed 10  each  by  distribu- 
tors and  affiliated  exhibitors, 
on  the  one  hand,  and  organ- 
ized exhibitor  groups  on  the 
other. 

Permanent  arbitration  boards 
of  three  members  to  be 
designated  from  the  panels, 
one  from  the  neutral  panel 
and  one  each  from  the  panel 
designated  by  distributors 
and  affiliated  exhibitors,  and 
the  panel  designated  by  or- 
ganized exhibitors. 
Special  arbitration  boards 
may  be  designated  from  a 
panel  of  20  selected,  half  by 
distributors  and  affiliated  ex- 
hibitors, and  half  by  organ- 
ized exhibitors,  or  from  out- 
side the  panel. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  May  26,  193' 


Reviewing  the  Latest  in  Short  Subjects 


i. 


"The  March  of  Freedom" 

(  Universal) 

Proponents  of  single  features  aug- 
mented by  shorts  undoubtedly  have  in 
mind  product  such  as  Universal's  ad- 
dition to  the  Americanism  cycle.  The 
picture  highlights  the  hardships  suf- 
fered by  Americans  from  the  struggle 
for  independence  to  the  present  battle 
against  the  "isms"  which  have  de- 
veloped throughout  the  world.  The 
"American  Way"  is  compared  with 
the  methods  of  dictators.  Extreme 
timeliness  adds  to  the  selling  possibili- 
ties. Graham  McNamee  narrated. 
Running  time,  21  mins.  "G."* 


'Barnyard  Egg-Citemenf 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Many  excellent  color  shots  are  con- 
tained in  this  Terrytoon.  The  barn- 
yard community  becomes  excited  at 
the  birth  of  a  chick  and  helps  Papa 
Rooster  celebrate.  The  festivities  are 
interrupted  when  a  hawk  kidnaps  the 
chick.  However,  he  is  rescued  by  a 
flying  squadron.  It  will  provoke  a 
numbers  of  chuckles.  Running  time,  7 
mins.  "G."* 


"Dog-Gone" 

(RKO) 

This  is  the  familiar  comedy  plot 
where  a  husband  misunderstands  a 
conversation  about  the  family  dog 
and  thinks  he  is  about  to  die.  After 
being  examined  by  the  family  phy- 
sician and  found  healthy,  James  Fin- 
layson  overhears  a  prescription  for 
the  dog.  The  complications  follow 
when  he  starts  on  a  diet  of  raw  meat 
and  grass.  Slow  moving.  Running 
time,  16  mins.  "G."* 


"Believe  It  or  Else" 

(Schlesinger-W  arners) 

This  Merrie  Melody  in  color  is  a 
satire  on  the  famous  oddities  series. 
It  is  enlivened  by  a  heckler  who  re- 
fuses to  believe  what  he  sees.  It 
should  draw  a  number  of  laughs  from 
the  audience.  Running  time,  7  mins. 
"G."* 


"Voodoo  Fires" 

( Warners) 

Floyd  Gibbons  adds  another  excit- 
ing chapter  in  his  "Your  True  Ad- 
venture" series.  As  usual,  the  actual 
hero  of  the  tale  appears  in  the  film 
to  receive  his  check.  This  story  deals 
with  a  lone  white  man  at  a  sugar 
plantation  who  decides  to  discover  the 
secrets  of  voodooism  and  barely  es- 
capes with  his  life.  Will  hold  audi- 
ence interest.  Running  time,  12  mins. 
"G."* 

"Small  Fry" 

(Fleischer-Paramount) 

Using  the  popular  tune,  "Small 
Fry,"  for  its  background,  this  color 
cartoon  tells  of  a  small  fish  who  tries 
to  become  a  "big  fry."  The  results 
are  amusing,  particularly  when  the 
older  fish  start  an  initiation.  Some 
splendid  color  shots  are  obtained  when 
the  small  fish  swims  out  to  meet  the 
monsters  of  the  deep.  Running  time 
7  mins.  "G."* 


"March  of  Time,  No.  10" 

(RKO) 

"Dixie"  is  the  title  of  the  latest 
"March  of  Time"  reel  and  it  deals 
with  the  economic  condition  of  the 
deep  south.  Considerable  pains  have 
been  taken  to  make  this  survey  an 
impartial  and  inoffensive  presentation. 
As  a  result,  the  reel  lacks  the  vigor 
characteristic  of  its  more  controversial 
subj  ects. 

After  showing  the  natural  resources 
and  industrial  potentialities  of  the 
south,  a  description  of  conditions  in 
the  schools,  housing  and  the  plight  of 
the  sharecroppers  follow.  The  subject 
ends  with  the  efforts  of  Negroes  and 
whites  to  better  conditions  with  proper 
schooling  and  a  scientific  approach  to 
agriculture.  Running  time,  20  mins. 
"G."* 


"Golf  vs.  Archery" 

(J.  H.  Hoffberg) 

As  the  title  suggests,  the  short  is 
centered  about  a  unique  sporting  ven- 
ture in  which  each  competitor  is  to 
complete  his  task  in  as  few  shots  as 
possible,  the  golfer  sinking  the  ball, 
the  archer  hitting  the  target.  Both 
sports  are  explained  and  illustrated 
in  an  informative  narration.  Running 
time,  9  mins.  "G."* 


"Donald's  Country 
Cousin" 

(Disney-RKO) 

Donald  Duck  prepares  an  elaborate 
"spread"  for  Gus  Goose,  his  country 
cousin,  but  in  virtually  nothing  flat 
the  meal  minded  Gus  consumes  the 
food.  Donald  finally  rids  himself  of 
the  pest.  This  is  up  to  the  standard 
of  previous  Donald  Duck  shorts. 
Running  time,  7  mins.  "G."* 


'Dean  of  the  Pasteboards' 

( Warners) 

Luis  Zingone,  the  card  expert,  again 
undertakes  a  demonstration  of  the 
sharper's  methods.  Zingone  is  invited 
to  speak  to  college  students  who  have 
been  fleeced  at  a  gambling  house  and, 
after  the  demonstration,  exacts  a 
promise  from  the  students  not  to  pat- 
ronize the  place.  Cleverly  done,  this 
reel  will  amaze  and  entertain  all  card 
players.  Running  time,  10  mins.  "G."* 


"Swing  Sanitarium" 

(Universal) 

"Dr."  Collins,  of  Stone  &  Collins, 
discovers  that  swing  music  will  cure 
a  number  of  ills.  Roscoe  Ates  is  his 
patient.  Other  acts  are  The  Three 
Marshalls,  Kathleen  May,  The  Rob- 
bins  Bros.,  Margie  and  the  Melva 
Sisters.  A  Mentone  Brevity.  Run- 
ning time,  18  mins.  "G."* 


"Donald's  Penguin" 

(Disney-RKO) 

A  penguin  which  he  receives  from 
Admiral  Byrd  brings  Donald  Duck 
trouble  and  the  audience  amusement. 
Upon  his  arrival,  the  penguin  sees  a 
few  goldfish  in  a  bowl  and  tries  to 
devour  them.  Donald  objects  and  the 
fun  begins.  Running  time,  7  mins. 
"G."* 


"Charlie  Cuckoo" 

(  Universal) 

The  little  bird  who  resides  in  a 
cuckoo  clock  decides  that  his  work 
day  is  too  long  and  quits  his  job  to 
take  advantage  of  the  Wage  and  Hour 
law.  After  a  series  of  misadventures, 
he  rushes  back  and  is  happy  to  find 
that  his  job  is  still  waiting  for  him. 
A  Walter  Lantz  Cartune.  Running 
time,  7  mins.  "G."* 


"The  Hockey  Champ" 

(Disney-RKO) 

Donald  Duck  gracefully  mimics 
Sonja  Henie  on  the  ice  but  is  in- 
terrupted by  his  three  nephews  playing 
hockey.  Donald's  boasting  leads  to  a 
game  and  then  the  excitement  starts 
in  true  Donald  Duck  fashion.  Should 
provoke  many  chuckles.  Running 
time,  7  mins.  "G."* 


"Smooth  Approach" 

(RKO) 

This  Sportscope  is  designed  to 
catch  the  seasonal  interest  in  golf. 
Four  experts,  Horton  Smith,  Jimmy 
Thompson,  Ed  Dudley  and  Dick  Metz 
illustrate  the  proper  methods  for  the 
chip  shot  and  putting.  Golf  fans  will 
like  it.   Running-  time,  9  mins.  "G."* 


"Quiet  Please" 

(Warners) 

Here  is  a  hilarious  bit  of  back- 
stage slapstick  comedy  in  color  that 
should  prove  popular.  Hollywood 
methods  are  burlesqued  as  a  temper- 
amental star,  a  nervous  director  and 
a  gorilla  become  involved  in  the  pro- 
duction of  a  picture.  Crane  Wilbur 
directed.  Running  time.  20  mins. 
"G."* 


"Beach  Picnic" 

(Disney-RKO) 

A  beach  picnic  is  not  enjoyed  by 
Pluto  and  Donald  Duck  as  much  as 
they  had  expected,  because  of  a  fracas 
with  a  rubber  horse  in  the  water  and 
an  ant  invasion.  The  disturbance  cre- 
ated by  the  ants  is  extremely  funny. 
Running  time,  8  mins.  "G."* 


"Theatre  of  the  Sky" 

(Universal) 

A  tour  of  the  Adler  Planetarium  in 
Chicago  is  of  diversified  interest. 
Various  instruments  used  through  the 
ages  as  time  pieces  and  odd  astron- 
omy devices  are  filmed.  Educational. 
Suggests  school  tieups.  Running  time, 
9y2  mins.  "G." 


"Clown  Princes" 

(M-G-M) 

Our  Gang  undertakes  to  save 
Porky's  home  by  raising  the  rent 
money.  They  run  a  circus  with  side 
show,  acrobats  and  all.  Running  time, 
10  mins.  "G." 


"Swans" 

(Paramount) 

The  life  of  a  swan  is  filmed.  Fol- 
lowing a  "courtship,"  the  female 
hatches  the  eggs  while  the  male  keeps 
constant  guard.  The  young  learn  to 
swim  and  fly,  the  reel  ending  with  the 
birds  migrating  to  the  south.  Running 
time,  10  mins.  "G." 


"Oregon  Trail" 

(Universal) 

In  the  first  three  episodes  of  this  IS 
chapter  serial,  John  Mack  Brown  an' 
Fuzzy  Knight  are  secretly  hired  by  th 
Government  to  expose  an  unlawful  fu 
trading  syndicate  which  is  preventy| 
pioneers  from  reaching  Oregon.  Vi 
two  join  a  covered  wagon  train  bourr 
for  the  fur  regions.  The  outlaws  ar| 
range  Indian  attacks  and  a  prairie  fir 
to  impede  the  progress  of  the  travel 
ers.    Crowded  with  action,  the  seria: 
should  meet  with    approval    by  an 
weekend  matinee  audience.  Runnin 
time,  each  episode,  21  mins.  "G." 


"The  Pointer" 

(Disney-RKO) 

Mickey  Mouse  and  Pluto  anticipat 
a  delicious  supper  as  they  set  out  t 
hunt  quail,  but  are  disappointed  whe 
a  bear  turns  up.  The  short  will  b 
appreciated,  especially  by  the  young 
sters.    Running  time,  8  mins.    "G."  [ 


"With  Best  Dishes" 

( U niversal ) 

A  variety  revue  with  Charles  Kemp 
er  and  Billy  Rayes  heading  the  cast  i 
average  musical  fare.  Entertainer 
are  George  Roche,  dancer ;  Toy  an ! 
Wing,  Chinese  dancers ;  Lillian  Rotl 
singer ;  Pied  Pipers,  singers,  and  th 
Philharmonicas.  Kemper  and  Rayt 
"carry"  the  short.  Running  time,  161 
mins.  "G." 


"Gals  and  Gallons" 

(Universal) 

"Sisters  of  the  Skillet,"  gas  statio 
proprietors,  acquire  Rita  Rio  and  h« 
revue  to  promote  sales.  Rita  sing 
as  does  Jan  Peerce;  Deneet  and  Da 
dance  and  a  novelty  act  with  Pans 
the  horse  complete  the  revue.  Exhil 
itors  should  have  good  results  wit 
this  short.  Running  time,  16J4  min  i 
"G." 


"Art  Gallery" 

(Harmon-M-G-M) 

This  color  cartoon  is  set  in  an  a 
gallery  after  dark  when  the  figun 
come  to  life.  Nero  decides  to  set  fu 
to  a  painting  of  Rome,  but  encounte: 
some  difficulty  in  finding  matches.  Tl 
fire  is  finally  started  and  sweeps  tl 
gallery  until  dawn  breaks.  There  ai 
a  number  of  amusing  scenes  when  tl 
fire  reaches  different  masterpiece 
Running  time,  8  mins.  "G."* 


"Glimpses  of  Australia" 

(M-G-M) 

Glimpses  of  Australian  beaches,  tl 
Sydney  gardens  and  Melboun 
are  in  this  FitzPatrick  Traveltal 
Done  in  color,  the  shots  of  the  lif 
guard  games  are  particularly  impre 
sive.  Better  than  average.  Runnii 
time,  9  mins.  "G."* 


"Java  Journey" 

(M-G-M) 

A  FitzPatrick  Traveltalk  in  col< 
which  shows  the  waterfront  and  cana 
of  Java.  Running  time,  9  mins.  "G.' 


*"G"  denotes  general  classificatio 


iFridav.  May  26.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


U.S.  Charges 
55  Coercions 
To  4  Majors 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

amount:  Joe  and  John  Johnson  of 
Jasper,  Ala.,  sold  the  Colonial  and 
|U-gw  Jasper  Theatres ;  R.  V.  McGin- 
Dl  of  Russelville,  Ark.,  sold  the  New 
^ieatre;  Andy  McNeil  and  Dwight 
IH.  Blackwood  of  Little  Rock,  Ark., 
s>  Id  the  Arkansas  Theatres;  Harry 
'■|Bott  of  Lakeland,  Florida,  forced  to 
iclose  the  Lakewood ;  L.  D.  Joel  of 
Lakeland  sold  the  Auditorium  The- 
atre; N.  V.  Darley  of  Tampa,  Fla., 
owning   the    Rivoli    Theatre,  threat- 
•ened. 

|    Claude  D.  Swint  of  Atlanta,  Ga., 
iorced  to  cease  construction  of  the 
■Gordon  ;  Mary  Cinciolo  of  Gainesville, 
c  |Ga.,  sold  the  Alamo  Theatre ;  Greater 
Chicago  Theatres  Corp.,  of  Oak  Park, 
Pull.,  deprived  of  product  for  the  Lake 
1  Theatre ;  Verner  U.  Young  of  Gary, 
j-ilnd.,  owning  a  large  number  of  the- 
atres, threatened. 

Leases  and  Sales  Charged 

Theatrical  Managers,  Inc.,  of  South 
iBend,  Ind.,  owning  the  State  Theatre, 
threatened;  Gail  L.  Pettit  or  Algona, 
(jla.,  sold  the  State;  Nathan  and  Abe 
:.Sadoff  of  Sioux  City,  la.,  forced  to 
•lease  the  Granada ;  Willard  B.  Har- 
iMvood  of    Gardiner,    Me.,    sold  the 
'Strand;    William   X.   Youngclass  of 
;  Columbus,    Neb.,    sold    the    Swan ; 
Frank   D.   Kager  of   Lincoln,  Neb., 
ileased  the  Liberty  and  Orpheum. 

Edward   Quittner  of  Middletown, 
IN.  Y.,  owning  the  State  and  Strat- 
lon  Theatres,  threatened  with  harsh 
selling  terms ;   Theatrical  Managers, 
1  due,  of   Marion,   O.,  owner  of  the 
Palace  and   Marion,  threatened;  L. 
■s|D.  Joel  of  Grenneville,  S.  C,  sold 
'the    Garing;    Carl    P.    Knudsen  of 
\\  atertown.   S.   D.,   sold  the  State; 
\<  <>!>ert  Z.  Glass  of  Beaumont,  Texas, 
''sold  the  Rio  Theatre  and  the  Knox, 
Fair  and   Log  Theatres   of  Dallas, 
[Texas;  Paul  Scott  of  Dallas  sold  the 
Varsity. 

H.  E.  Fulgham  of  Tyler,  Texas, 
iwner  of  Joy   Theatre,   threatened ; 
Theo    Palamanakos    of  Greenville, 
^Texas.     sold     the     Opera  House, 
W.  H.  Powers  of  Henderson,  Texas, 
■sold  theatre;    Inca    Theatres,  Inc., 
'-(■Id  eight  theatres  in  Texas;  Ross 
nDorbandt  of  Jacksonville,  Texas,  sold 
•  he  Dorbandt  and  Claire;  M.  G.  Fry 
rf  Tyler,   Texas,  sold  lease  to  the 
Majestic. 

Threats  in  Chicago 

Sam  Myers,  Chicago,  owner  of  Cine, 
«   lireatened;  Harry  Solomon  of  Chi- 
ago,  owner  of  Belmont,  threatened ; 
,  iust  Constan  of  Decatur,  111.,  owner 
tjlof    Avon,    threatened ;    Verner  U. 
rpoung  of  Anderson,   Ind.,   sold  his 
i).':heatre ;  Kalil  Sliman  of  New  Iberia, 
-a.,  owner  of  the  Evangeline,  threat- 
:ned;  Irving  Gillman  of  North  Man- 
:<ato,  Minn.,  closed  the  Urban. 

H.  A.  Cole  and  A.  W.  Milly  of 
jreenville,  Texas,  owners  of  the 
^ialto  and  Colonial,  threatened  by 
ompetition;  C.  L.  Hackworth  of 
luntsville,  Fla.,  owner  of  three  the- 
atres, threatened ;  L.  D.  Joel  of  Jack- 
j{  onville,  Fla.,  sold  the  Casino  and  Lib- 
rty;  Joseph  C.  Boss  of  McAllister, 
^>kla..  owner  of  Photosho,  subjected 


Hollywood  Preview 


"6,000  Enemies" 

t  M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  May  25. — Although  several  novel  twists  are  developed, 
"6,000  Enemies"  follows  an  entertainment  road  well  rutted  by  many 
previous  prison  melodramas.  Action  and  excitement,  bound  by  a  wav- 
ering thread  of  suspense,  are  the  chief  ingredients ;  romance  and  grim 
humor  the  substantiating  factors.  The  featured  highlights  are  a  smash- 
ing ring  battle  and  the  hero's  act  of  frustrating  a  jail  break  and  saving 
the  prison  doctor's  life  by  breaking  a  pipe  and  releasing  clouds  of  steam. 

Walter  Pidgeon  and  Rita  Johnson  are  the  leading  players  and  Nat 
Pendleton,  Harold  Huber,  Paul  Kelly,  Grant  Mitchell,  John  Arledge, 
Raymond  Hatton  and  Willie  Fung  the  most  active  supporting  players. 
Based  on  a  realistic  original  story  prepared  by  Wilman  Menard  and 
Leo  Stanley,  the  screenplay  by  Bertram  Milhauser  and  George  B.  Seitz' 
directing  technique  concentrate  on  emphasizing  the  grim  prison  at- 
mosphere. 

Prosecutor  Pidgeon,  who  has  stopped  at  nothing  to  send  many,  in- 
cluding Miss  Johnson,  to  jail,  is  framed  by  racketeer  Huber  and  sent  to 
the  penitentiary,  where  6,000  inmates  consider  him  their  natural  enemy. 
Although  Warden  Mitchell  and  Doctor  Kelly  want  to  isolate  him  for 
safety's  >ake,  Pidgeon  proves  his  courage  by  associating  with  other 
prisoners  and  beating  Pendleton  in  a  wild  brawl.  Learning  from  Miss 
Johnson  that  Huber  had  framed  both  of  them,  Pidgeon,  whose  brother, 
Arledge,  is  killed  while  attempting  to  bring  exonerating  evidence,  plans 
escape.  But,  a>  other  convicts  go  berserk  and  menace  Kelly's  life, 
Pidgeon  prevents  a  general  break.  His  innocence  established,  as  well  as 
that  of  the  girl,  while  Huber  gets  a  death  sentence,  Pidgeon  visions 
joniance  witli  Miss  Johnson  as  he  starts  again  on  a  climb  to  the  district 
attorney's  post. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.   "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


to  harsh  practices ;  H.  H.  Jackson  of 
Columbia,  Tenn.,  sold  the  Grand ;  F. 
R.  Newman  of  Greenville,  Texas, 
sold  the  Crystal ;  H.  S.  Cole  of  Rang- 
er, Texas,  sold  the  Lone  Star  and 
Lamb  Theatres;  and  E.  H.  Hulsey 
of  Texas  sold  11  theatres. 

Fox  "Coercions"  Alleged 

Exhibitors  listed  as  being  allegedly 
subjected  to  coercion  by  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox follow :  Compton  Theatre 
Corp.  of  Compton,  Calif.,  sold  the 
Compton ;  H.  L.  Gumbiner  of  Los  An- 
geles leased  the  Power ;  Maurice  Fei- 
genbaum  of  Pomona,  Calif.,  sold  the 
Sunkist ;  Brookside  Theatre  Corp.  of 
Kansas  City  sold  the  Brookside ;  B. 
K.  Fischer  of  Milwaukee,  Wis.,  leased 
four  theatres ;  and  Charles  Washi- 
check  of  Milwaukee  sold  three  the- 
atres. 

RKO  was  charged  witli  coercion 
against  the  following :  C.  C.  Duns- 
moor  of  Marshalltown,  la.,  leased 
the  Capitol ;  Century  Circuit  of  N.  Y. 
surrendered  the  Kingsway  of  N.  Y. 
and  the  Merrick  of  Long  Island. 

Finally,  Warner  Bros,  allegedly 
subjected  the  following  to  "distress 
selling"  methods :  Wm.  E.  S.  Wilcox 
of  Silver  Spring  Md.,  sold  the  Seco 
and  Silver  Theatres ;  William  Filcock 
of  Lake  Geneva,  Wis.,  owner  of  the 
Geneva  and  Delavan,  subjected  to 
harsh  selling  practices,  and  the  Capitol 
Theatre  Co.  of  Wheeling,  W.  Va., 
also  subjected  to  harsh  practices. 


50c/c  for  Eleanor  Powell 

Chicago,  May  25. — Getting  a  split 
of  50  per  cent,  starting  from  the  first 
dollar,  Eleanor  Powell,  who  will  play 
a  week  at  the  Palace,  starting  tomor- 
row ranks  among  the  top  billings 
at  the  theatre.  Eddie  Cantor  and  Mae 
West  have  been  the  only  stage  and 
screen  stars  to  obtain  the  same  terms 
from  the  RKO  house. 


Government  B.  &  K. 
Suit  Off  to  June  22 

Chicago,  May  25. — Government 
anti-trust  suit  against  Balaban  &  Katz 
and  the  major  companies  was  con- 
tinued today  until  June  22.  The  delay 
is  to  permit  the  Government  time  to 
examine  several  thousand  documents 
offered  in  evidence  by  the  defendants. 

The  Government  expects  to  com- 
plete its  examination  in  two  weeks 
and  allow  the  defense  two  weeks  to 
study  the  prepared  tabulations.  Mas- 
ter-in-Chancery  Edgar  Eldredge  will 
decide  in  a  few  days  on  admittance 
as  evidence  the  figures  showing 
rentals  paid  to  major  companies  by 
B.  &  K.  during  the  past  10  years. 


Select  Contest  Judges 

Judges  for  Columbia's  $4,000  prize 
contest  for  the  best  campaigns  on 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  were  se- 
lected yesterday.  They  are  Jack 
Alicoate,  Red  Kann,  Chick  Lewis, 
Martin  Ouigley  and  Terry  Ramsaye. 
Contest  opened  yesterday  and  con- 
tinues for  six  months. 


Seattle  Golf  Tourney 

Seattle,  May  25. — Northwest  Film 
Club's  third  annual  golf  tournament 
will  be  held  the  latter  part  of  June  at 
a  course  soon  to  be  selected.  Commit- 
tee on  arrangements  includes :  Wil- 
liam Shartin,  Roy  Peacock,  Jack  Ros- 
enberg, Mrs.  John  Hamrick,  Mrs.  Ben 
Shearer  and  Mrs.  Guy  Navarre. 


Morros  Gets  Partner 

Hollywood,  May  25. — Nat  Wachs- 
berger,  French  publisher  and  producer, 
who  arrived  here  last  week,  today  be- 
came the  partner  of  Boris  Morros.  He 
will  be  associate  producer  on  Morros' 
first  film  after  the  Laurel  and  Hardy 
picture  now  in  work. 


'Pacific'  Is 
Capital  Lead 
With  $21,500 


Washington,  May  25.  —  "Union 
Pacific"  was  the  only  film  to  do  big 
business,  $21,500  at  Warners'  Earle. 
"Dark  Victory,"  in  a  return  engage- 
ment at  the  Metropolitan,  took  $6,300. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  18 : 

"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S    CAPITOL— (3,434)    (25c-66c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Kitty  Carlisle.  Gross:  $14,000. 
(Average,  $16,500) 
"Wuthering  Heights"   (U.  A.) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA — (1,243)  (25c-40c) 
7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average, 
$4,500) 

"The    Story    of    Alexander    Graham  BeM" 
(20th- Fox) 

LOEWS    PALACE— (2,370)    (25c -55c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle" 
(RKO) 

RKO  KEITH'S — (1,836)   (25c-55c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,800.  (Average,  $6,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

WARNER'S  EARLE— (2,218)   (25e-66c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Variety  week.  Gross:  $21,500. 
(Average,  $16,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN— (1,591) 
(25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,300.  (Average, 
$4,000) 


'Pacific'  Leader  in 
New  Haven,  $7,600 

New  Haven,  May  25. — "Union  Pa- 
cific" and  "Bulldog  Drummond"  took 
$7,600  at  the  Paramount.  At  the 
Roger  Sherman,  "Dark  Victory"  and 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  grossed  $7,400. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  19 : 

"Boy  Slaves"  (RKO) 

"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

COLLEGE— (1,499)  (25c-35c)  (split  week 
— 2  and  5  days  each  dual).  Gross:  $1,300. 
(Average,  $2,700) 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Mr.  Moto  on  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW-POLI— (3,040)    (35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $8,500.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 

(Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,348)     (35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,600.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

ROGER  SHERMAN— (2,200)  (35c-50c)  7% 
days.  Gross:  $7,400.  (Average,  $4,700) 


Hollingshead  Heads 
Shorts  for  Warner 

Hollywood,  May  25. — Gordon 
Hollingshead  today  was  appointed 
head  of  Warners'  short  subjects  pro- 
duction department  which  will  operate 
under  the  supervision  of  Bryan  Foy, 
who  will  continue  to  produce  features. 
Seventy-eight  subjects,  ranging  from 
one  to  four  reels,  will  be  made  next 
season. 


Hitler  Reels  Banned 

Warsaw,  May  25.— The  Polish 
Government  today  banned  all  news- 
reels  showing  pictures  of  Adolf  Hit- 
ler and  Benito  Mussolini,  following 
boos  at  local  theatres. 


G.N.  Bookings  Set 

Sol  Edwards,  eastern  sales  mana- 
ger of  Grand  National,  has  set  18  first 
run  dates  in  the  east  on  "Exile  Ex- 
press" and  "Panama  Patrol,"  prior 
to  release. 


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For  Mayor 
(Q)  (I>) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 

Winner 
Marie  WUson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Davis 
Paul  Muni 
Brian  Aherne 
(G)  (D) 

Nancy  Drew 
Trouble  Shooter 

Bondta  Granville 
Frank  Thomas,  Jr. 

The  Kid 
from  Kokomo 

O'Brien 
Wayne  M orris 
(G)  (C) 

Ex  Champ 

McLaglen 
Tom  Brown 
(G)  (D) 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

Inside 
Information 

June  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Rathbone 
Fairbanks,  Jr. 

( 

ISO 


«0^  acq 


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20TH-FOX 

Winner  Take 
All  (G)  CD) 

Tony  Martin 
Gloria  Stuart 
Inspector 
Hornleigh 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 
(G)  (D) 
Baxter 
Climbing  High 
Matthews 

Chasing  Danger 
(G)  (D) 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

Rose  of 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  W he lan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 
Marjorie  Weaver 

Charlie  Chan 
in  Reno 

Sidney  Toler 
Ricardo  Cortes 
Phyllis  Brooks 

The  Girl 
from  Brooklyn 

Alice  Fayc 

Baxter 
Winninger 

RKO  RADIO 

Fixer  Dugan 
(G)  (D) 

Lee  Tracy 
Peggy  Shannon 

The  Story  of 
Vernon  and 
Irene  Castle 
(G)  (D) 
Rogers-Astaire 
The  Rookie  Cop 

Sorority  House 
(G)  (D) 

Anne  Shirley 
James  Ellison 

Panama  Lady 
(G)  (D) 

Lucille  Ball 
Allan  Lane 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range 

O'Brien 

The  Girl 
From  Mexico 

Lupe  V elez 
Donald  Woods 
(G)  (C) 

Saint  in 
London 

George  Sanders 
Sally  Gray 

The  Girl  and 
the  Gambler 

Steffi  Duna 
Carrillo 

Five  Came 
Back 

Chester  Morris 
Lucille  Ball 

REPUBLIC 

Frontier  Pony 
Express 
(G)  (O) 
Roy  Rogers 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 
(G)  (D) 

Blue  Montana 
Skies  (G)  (O) 

Man  of 
Conquest 
(G)  (D) 

Richard  Dix 
Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Southward  Ho 

Roy  Rogers 

The  Zero  Hour 

Inescort 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

S.O.S. 
Tidal  Wave 

Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

Mountain 
Rhythm 
(O) 

Gene  Autry 

PARA. 

Back  Door 
to  Heaven 
(G)  (D) 

Erwin 
Wallace  Ford 
McMahon 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 
(G)  (D) 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 
(G)  (D) 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Hotel  Imperial 

Isa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
(G)  (D) 

Some  Like  It 
Hot  (G)  (C) 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

Gracie  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
Janice  Logan 

Invitation  to 
Happiness 

Dunne 
Mac  Murray 
(G)  (D)" 

Grand  Jury 
Secrets 

John  Howard 
Gail  Patrick 

MONOGRAM 

Wanted  by 
Scotland  Yard 
Stevenson 
Man  from 
Texas 

s| 

a 

Wolf  Call 

Movita 
Down  the 
Wyoming  Trail 

Tex  Ritter 

Across  the 
Plains 

Jack  Randall 

Girl  From 
Nowhere 

Anne  Nagel 
Warren  Hull 

M-G-M 

The  Hardys 
Ride  High 
(G)  (C) 

Rooney 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 
(G)  (D) 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

(G)  (C) 
Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  (G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 

Annabella 
W.  Connolly 

6000  Enemies 

Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 

Tarzan  Finds 
a  Son 

W  eissmuller 
O'Sidlivan 

Maisie 

Ann  Sothern 
Robert  Young 

COLUMBIA 

The  Law  Comes 
to  Texas 

Bill  Elliott 

Oklahoma 
Trail 

Starrett 
Meredith 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 
(G)  (D) 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Jean  Arthur 
Cory  Grant 
(G)  CD) 

Missing 
Daughters 

Arlen 
Marian  Marsh 

Trapped  in  the 
Sky  (G)  (D) 

DeMille 
Jack  Holt 
Ralph  Morgan 

Arizona  Cowboy 
(O) 

Starrett 
Meredith 

"Q"  Planes 

Olivier 
Valerie  Hobson 

The  Awful 
Truth  (reissue) 

Parents  on 
Trial 

Jean  Parker 
Johnny  Downs 

< 

April 
28 

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2  H 

2  N 

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"INFORMATION  PLEASE" 

YOU'LL  FIND  ALL 
THE  FACTS  AND 
FIGURES  ABOUT 
THE  MOTION  PIC- 
TURE INDUSTRY  IN 
THE  MOTION  PIC- 
TURE ALMANAC 

MOTION  PICTURE  ALMANAC 

ROCKEFELLER        CENTER,       NEW  YORK 


op 


1939-40  EDITION  NOW 
IN  PREPARATION 
RESERVE  YOUR  COPY 
$3.25  POSTPAID 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  May  26,  193, 


Predicts  Lifting  of  Fight 
Picture  Ban  A  fter  Hearing 


Oppose  BBC 
Television  Use 
Of  U.S.  Shorts 


Views  of  American  distributors 
who  were  favorably  disposed  towards 
the  request  of  British  Broadcasting 
Co.  for  a  supply  of  short  subjects  for 
television  use  have  undergone  a 
change  as  result  of  the  opposition  of 
E.  T.  Carr,  United  Artists  joint  man- 
aging director  in  England. 

Carr,  visiting  in  New  York,  was 
consulted  on  the  B.B.C.  request  early 
this  week.  He  expressed  unqualified 
disapproval  of  the  American  com- 
panies' intention  of  aiding  television 
in  the  manner  proposed  by  Gerald 
Cock  of  B.B.C.  during  the  latter's 
recent  visit. 

"I  am  opposed  to  giving  any  aid  to 
television  which  would  make  it  a 
stronger  competitor  for  London  thea- 
tres than  it  is  already,"  Carr  said. 
"If  any  films  are  made  available  for 
television  they  should  be  only  those 
that  are  so  old  that  everyone  must 
have  seen  them  already." 

A  member  of  the  M.P.P.D.A.  tele- 
vision committee,  which  consulted 
Carr,  said  that  the  United  Artists' 
official's .  views  will  carry  "great 
weight"  with  the  committee. 

Carr  denied  knowledge  of  arrange- 
ments by  which  old  Walt  Disney  sub- 
jects were  reported  to  have  been  made 
available  to  B.B.C.  by  United  Artists 
in  London.  It  was  this  report  more 
than  anything  else  which  led  the 
American  distributors  to  regard  the 
British  request  for  shorts  favorably. 

Product  Talks  Bring 
Para.  Partners  Here 

Paramount  theatre  operating  part- 
ners from  several  sections  of  the  coun- 
try converged  on  New  York  yesterday 
for  home  office  and  product  confer- 
ences in  advance  of  the  company's  an- 
nual sales  convention. 

Among  those  here  to  confer  with 
Barney  Balaban,  Paramount  president, 
are  J.  J.  Friedl  and  L.  J.  Ludwig  of 
Minnesota  Amusement  Co.,  Minne- 
apolis ;  Vincent  McFaul  of  Buffalo ; 
A.  H.  Blank  and  Ralph  Branton  of 
Tri-States  Theatres,  Des  Moines ; 
Martin  Mullin  and  Sam  Pinanski  of 
M.  &  P.  Theatres,  Boston,  and  Hunter 
Perry  of  Richmond. 


ALA  Delays  Action 
On  SWG  Affiliation 

Authors'  League  of  America  will 
take  no  action  on  the  proposal  of  the 
Screen  Writers'  Guild  to  affiliate  with 
one  of  the  national  labor  organizations 
until  an  official  request  from  S.W.G. 
is  received,  it  was  learned  here  yes- 
terday. 


Equity  Election  Today 

Annual  meeting  of  Actors'  Equity 
will  be  held  at  the  Hotel  Astor  at  2  :30 
this  afternoon.  Elections  scheduled 
are  for  a  vice-president  and  several 
members  of  the  council.  There  are  no 
contests. 


Otterson  Signs  Again 

Hollywood,  May  25. — Jack  Otter- 
;,on,  art  director  at  Universal  studio 
for  the  past  three  years,  has  signed 
a  new  one-year  pact. 


Promise  Adjustment 
In  British  Film  Tax 

London,  May  25. — Captain 
Crookshank,  Financial  Secre- 
tary of  the  Treasury,  declared 
tonight  that  Sir  John  Simon, 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer, 
was  satisfied  certain  adjust- 
ments were  necessary  in  the 
new  film  duties  included  in 
the  British  budget. 

In  Commons  tonight  it  was 
declared  that  excise  and  im- 
port duties  on  newsreels 
should  be  abolished  in  the  in- 
terests of  education.  Indica- 
tions were  that  concessions 
would  be  made  to  the  in- 
dustry. 


Grainger  Addresses 
Empire  Convention 

Toronto,  May  25. — James  R.  Grain- 
ger, Republic  president,  outlined  the 
new  season's  product  at  the  opening 
session  here  today  of  the  three-day 
sales  convention  of  Empire-Universal 
Films,  Ltd.,  at  the  Royal  York  Hotel. 
A  dinner  to  Grainger  was  given  to- 
night by  President  N.  L.  Nathanson 
of  Famous  Players  Canadian ;  and  O. 
R.  Hanson,  Paul  Nathanson  and  A. 
W.  Perry,  executives  of  Empire-Uni- 
versal. 

The  Toronto  branch  was  announced 
as  the  winner  of  the  Republic  17-week 
sales  contest,  with  the  St.  John  branch 
second  and  Winnipeg  third. 

Checking  Studied 
By  M-G-M  Bookers 

Analysis  of  the  problems  of  the 
checking  organization  and  discussion 
of  cooperation  with  the  sales  force 
featured  the  second  day  of  the  regional 
meeting  at  the  Astor  yesterday  of 
M-G-M  bookers,  office  managers  and 
checking  supervisors. 

At  today's  final  session,  Alan  F. 
Cummings,  manager  of  exchange  op- 
erations, will  discuss  duties  of  office 
managers.  Delegates  from  six  eastern 
exchanges,  Canada  and  the  home  of- 
fice visited  the  World's  Fair  last 
night,  and  will  return  to  their  home 
cities  tonight. 

Booking  Bill  Passed 
By  Illinois  House 

Springfield,  111.,  May  25. — Illinois 
House  yesterday  approved  by  a  vote 
of  81  to  eight  the  bill  of  Representa- 
tive Harold  Lund  prohibiting  blind 
selling  and  block  booking  of  pictures. 

The  measure  requires  distributors  to 
furnish  synopses  of  all  pictures  over 
2,000  feet  in  length  at  the  time  the 
deal  for  product  is  made,  and  if  the 
finished  film  differs  from  the  synopsis, 
the  exhibitor  would  have  the  right  to 
cancel. 

Cleveland  Rejects 
Daylight  Savings 

Cleveland,  May  25. — The  city 
council  today  unanmiously  defeated 
proposed  daylight  saving  legislation 
following  strong  opposition  of  film 
and  union  labor  interests. 


Washington,  May  25— Enactment 
of  his  bill  repealing  the  27-year  ban 
on  the  interstate  transportation  of 
fight  films  was  forecast  today  by  Sen- 
ator Barbour  of  New  Jersey,  follow- 
ing hearings  before  a  Senate  Inter- 
state Commerce  subcommittee. 

Former  heavyweight  champion  Jack 
Dempsey  and  other  luminaries  of  the 
world  of  sport  urged  that  boxing  pic- 
tures be  legalized. 

Pointing  out  that  no  objection  has 
even  been  raised  to  the  broadcasting 
of  boxing  bouts,  Neville  Miller,  presi- 
dent of  the  N.A.B.,  told  the  subcom- 
mittee that  undoubtedly  fights  will  be 
telecast  and  the  situation  should  be 
clarified  before  that  point  is  reached  in 
television. 

"Never  Seriously  Enforced" 

Testifying  that  the  law  has  never 
been  seriously  enforced,  Dempsey  de- 
clared that  boxing  is  legal  in  every 
state  and  fight  pictures  are  highly 
popular  wherever  shown.  Interest  in 
the  ring  has  grown  to  a  point  where 
the  pictures  should  be  legalized,  to  pre- 
vent the  "bootlegging"  which  now  ex- 
ists, he  said. 

"Continuance  of  the  ban  accom- 
plishes no  useful  purpose  and,  except 
for  the  showing  here  and  there  of 
bootlegged  films,  millions  of  people 
are  deprived  of  the  right  to  enjoy  a 
legitimate  form  of  entertainment," 
Senator  Barbour  said,  in  urging 
adoption  of  the  bill. 


Study  Air  Reception 
In  British  Columbia 

Vancouver,  B.  C,  May  25.— L.  W. 
Brockington,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  governors  of  Canadian  Broadcast- 
ing Corp.  is  here  with  Donald  Man- 
son,  board  secretary,  for  a  preliminary 
survey  of  the  problem  of  radio  re- 
ception in  British  Columbia. 

Improvements  to  CBC  stations 
throughout  Canada,  or  additions,  are 
under  consideration.  British  Colum- 
bia is  to  have  first  consideration,  $250,- 
000  having  been  suggested  as  ear- 
marked for  improvements. 

CBR  here  may  be  increased  in  pow- 
er, or  a  new  station  may  be  established 
in  the  interior  of  the  province.  De- 
cision will  await  a  detailed  report  to 
be  prepared  by  K.  A.  MacKinnon, 
head  of  the  research  and  development 
department  of  CBC. 


Industry  Donations 
Swell  Charity  Fund 

Further  contributions  and  pledges 
collected  by  the  film  division  of  the 
Greater  New  York  Fund  were  re- 
ported yesterday  at  a  meeting  of  group 
chairmen  in  the  office  of  J.  Robert 
Rubin,  vice-president  of  Loew's,  di- 
vision-chairman. 

Ben  S.  Moss,  chairman  of  the  ex- 
hibitors' group,  reported  cash  and 
pledges  of  $9,000 ;  Charles  Casanave, 
chairman  of  the  allied  and  accessory 
group,  reported  $3,500  and  an  addi- 
tional $1,000  in  prospect 

Consolidated  Amusement  Enter- 
prises, Inc.,  headed  by  Laurence  S. 
Bolognino,  contributed  a  firm  gift  of 
$725  to  the  Fund,  not  $100  as  re- 
ported. Next  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee will  be  June  6.  , 


CBS  May  Get 
More  Shows 
In  Hollywood 


Hollywood,  May  25. — William  B 
Lewis,  CBS  vice-president  in  charg 
of  programs,  told  newspapermen  her 
today  that  "renewals  of  contracts*^ 
sponsors  now  presenting  Holly^j 
shows  indicate  at  least  a  similar  nuru 
ber  of  programs  featuring  motion  pic 
ture  stars  next  fall." 

CBS  plans  also  include  an  increase 
in  budget  for  sustaining  program 
emanating  from  Hollywood,  he  said. 


CBS  currently  presents  12  Holly 
wood  programs  a  week,  and  it  i 
probable  that  all  12  will  be  with  CB; 
in  the  fall,  with  a  likelihood  that  nev 
contracts  now  under  consideration  ma; 
swell  the  total. 

The  programs  are :  Amos  'n'  Andy 
which  will  continue  indefinitely;  Jo< 
E.  Brown  program,  which,  from  pres 
ent  indications,  will  continue  into  am 
beyond  the  fall ;  Lum  'n'  Abner,  wh' 
will  vacation  for  the  summer  and  rc 
turn  in  the  fall ;  Screen  Actors  Guili 
series,  which  will  remain ;  "It  Hap 
pened  in  Hollywood,"  an  indefinit 
run ;  "Silver  Theatre,"  which  will  va 
cation  next  week  but  is  scheduled  bad 
in  the  fall ;  the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre,' 
"Big  Town"  with  Edward  G.  Robin 
son  and  Claire  Trevor,  and  the  Did 
Powell-Martha  Raye  series,  all  o 
which  will  be  absent  for  the  summe 
but  back  in  the  fall ;  Jimmie  Fidle 
broadcasts,  slated  to  continue  indefi 
nitely;  Texaco  "Star  Theatre,"  of 
for  the  summer  but  returning ;  am 
the  RKO  "Gateway  to  Hollywood,' 
which  will  most  likely  continue  indefi 
nitely. 

Await  Test  of  Big 
Television  Screei 

Demonstration  of  large  screen  tele 
vision  here  by  Baird  television  wil 
be  delayed  pending  the  arrival  of 
new  tube  which  was  demonstrated  ii 
London  during  the  running  of  th 
English  Derby,  Ian  C.  Javal,  com 
mercial  director  of  Baird  television 
said  here  yesterday.  The  new  tub 
gave  perfect  definition  of  the  runnini 
of  the  Derby  on  a  screen  larger  thai 
any  hitherto  used,  20  x  15  feet,  cabl 
advices  to  New  York  stated. 


Radio  Personals 


RUTH  CARHARDT  renewed  b; 
CBS  for  another  year.  .  . 
Maurice  Barrett,  production  head  a 
WHN,  is  completing  a  book.  .  .  .  Jan* 
Crusinberry,  network  author,  back  t( 
Chicago  after  a  three-day  business  tri| 
here.  .  .  .  Arthur  Church,  head  o 
KMBC,  Kansas  City,  in  town  on  busi 
ness.  .  .  .  Jim  Moran,  Washington 
newspaper  man,  has  been  added  to  th> 
Fred  Waring  press  staff  for  the  forth 
coming  Chesterfield  series.  ...  Ha 
Kemp  winds  up  his  engagement  at  tb 
Waldorf  June  1  and  heads  out  on  th> 
road  for  a  series  of  one  night  stands 
• 

David  Sarnofr  in  an  address  yes 
terday  at  the  World's  Trade  Din 
ner,  discussed  the  progress  of  radii 
as  the  youngest  of  the  world's  imple 
ments  of  trade. 


Alert. 


to  the 
Picture 
Industry 


FILE  COPY 

MOTION  PICTtTKE 

DAILY 


First  in 


Accu 
and 

Impartial 


m 


).  45.  NO.  103 


NEW  YORK.  MONDAY,  MAY  29,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


♦IPTOA  Head 
4sks  for  Fair 
Test  of  Code 


'ules  Can  Be  Corrected, 
Says  Kuykendall 


Ed   Kuykendall,    president   of  the 
.I'.T.O.A.,  feels  that  the  arbitration 
lies  proposed  by  the  distributors  late 
>t  week  should  be  given  a  fair  trial 
•md  corrected  if  necessary." 
|In  a  statement  given  in  Kansas  City 
Saturday,  Kuykendall,  pointing  out 
at  "the  proof  of  the  pudding  is  in  the 
ling,"  said :  "Let  us  enter  whole- 
lartedly  in  the  trade  practice  pro- 
isals  and  continue  to  demand  those 
ings  that  are  not  provided  for  but 
'e  right." 

Early  Vote  Anticipated 

Kuykendall  indicated  that  an  analy- 
;  of  the  rules  would  be  given  by 
|e  M.P.T.O.A.  after  he  and  other 
'wlers  have  studied  them  fully. 
The   M.P.T.O.A.  has  consistently 
vored  conciliation  over  arbitration. 
Exhibitor    organizations  received 
pies  of  the  proposals  over  the  week- 
id.  An  early  vote  by  their  directors 
d  members  is  anticipated. 
M.P.T.O.A.'s   action   will   be  de- 
led by  its  board  of  directors,  who 
11  be  influenced  by  the  sentiment  of 
iliated  regional  units.    A  mail  poll 
the  directors  will  probably  be  taken. 

Kuykendall  to  Jacksonville 

Kuykendall  went  from  Kansas  City 
.  Jacksonville  to  speak  at  the  South- 
ern Theatre  Owners  Association 
mention   starting  today.    He  will 
invass  opinion  there  as  well  as  at  the 
mentions  of  the  Theatre  Owners 
|  North  and  South  Carolina.  June  4, 
d  the  M.P.T.O.  of  Virginia,  June  11. 
:Allied's  attitude  will  not  be  known 
il  its  national  convention  in  Min- 
polis  when  the  directors  are  sched- 
i  to  vote  on  the  code  June  13. 
t  is  known  that  many  Allied  mem- 
s  favor  putting  the  code  into  effect, 
is  is  the  sentiment  of  New  York 
led  leaders,  who  favor  a  fair  test. 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


i  British  Censors 

Pass  'Nazi  Spy' 

London,  May  28.— Warners' 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy." 
which  had  been  held  for  ac- 
tion by  the  British  Board 
of  Censors  pending  the  re- 
turn from  sick  leave  of  Lord 
Tyrrell,  president,  was  passed 
on  Friday. 


Movietone  Ready 
For  African  'War' 

Truman  H.  Talley,  Movie- 
tone News  chief,  believes  war 
will  break  out  in  North 
Africa,  where  Italy  is  seeking 
French  possessions.  He  has 
set  up  headquarters  at  Tripoli, 
with  Ettore  Villani,  Rome 
supervisor,  training  a  staff. 

Talley  is  now  in  Madrid, 
where  he  has  reestablished 
Spanish  headquarters,  closed 
during  the  Civil  War.  Arthur 
De  Titta,  formerly  Hays  office 
and  .Movietone  representative 
in  Washington,  has  been  as- 
signed to  Paris  as  assistant 
to  Russell  Muth,  European 
director. 


British  Trade  Irked 
By  Stand  on  Taxes 

London,  May  28. — Indication  in 
Commons  by  Captain  Crookshank, 
Financial  Secretary  of  the  Treasury, 
that  Sir  John  Simon,  Chancellor  of 
the  Exchequer,  would  make  adjust- 
ments in  the  new  film  taxes,  was  re- 
ceived with  undisguised  dissatisfaction 
by  the  trade. 

An  official  statement  from  D.  E. 
Griffiths,  K.R.S.  president,  and  head 
of  the  industry  protest  committee,  is 
expected  in  a  few  days. 

Newsreel  and  sub-standard  interests 
are  hopeful  of  full  relief  from  the 
taxes,  but  the  trade  generally  is  dis- 
satisfied with  the  limited  promise  of 
partial  relief  instead  of  complete  aboli- 
tion. Active  anti-Government  agitation 
is  brewing  in  the  trade,  with  local 
threats  of  refusal  to  cooperate  with 
Whitehall's  propaganda  campaign. 


New  Federal  Reply 
Charges  Columbia 
With  Illegal  Tactics 


June  1  has  been  set  as  the  date  for 
Federal  Judge  Bondy  to  hear  the  mo- 
tion of  the  defendants  in  Government 
anti-trust  suit  for  a  more  specific  and 
additional  bill  of  particulars. 

Defendants  contend  that  the  Gov- 
ernment failed  to  make  its  first  bill 
sufficiently  specific. 

Friday,  the  Government  filed  an- 
other bill  of  particulars.  The  bill  set 
forth  details  of  the  claims  alleged 
against  Columbia. 

In  it  were  listed  15  exhibitors  who 
w  ere  allegedly  compelled  by  Columbia 
from  1934  through  1937  to  maintain 
minimum  admission  prices  and  were 
allegedly  prevented  from  double-fea- 
turing Columbia  product. 

The  Government  also  claimed  in  the 
bill  that  Columbia  had  a  working 
agreement  with  the  Interstate  Circuit, 
Inc.,  operators  of  15  theatres  in  Dal- 
las, Ft.  Worth,  San  Antonio  and 
Houston,  Texas,  not  to  license  certain 
of  its  pictures  exhibited  in  Interstate 
Circuit  theatres  to  any  other  exhibitor 
in  the  four  Texas  cities  at  a  smaller 
adult  evening  admission  price  than 
25c. 

The  Government  reserved  the  right, 
in  its  bill,  to  augment  the  list  of  al- 
leged specific  violations  at  any  time 
prior  to  the  trial. 

Columbia,  the  bill  stated,  had  com- 
pelled independents  to  pay  four  or 
five  times  the  rental  upon  subsequent 
runs  that  major  producer  exhibitors 
paid.  As  an  example,  it  continued, 
during  1935-36  Henry  Lazarus,  op- 
erator of  the  Coliseum  Theatre  in 
New  Orleans,  paid  more  than  four 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


British  Industry  Makes 

War  Emergency  Plans 


The  British  film  industry  is  making 
efficient  preparations  to  cope  with  a 
war — while  hoping  and  praying  for 
peace. 

Herman  Wobber,  20th  Century-Fox 
general  manager  of  distribution,  who 
returned  last  week  from  Europe,  says 
that  "so  long  as  the  element  of  un- 
certainty exists,  we  have  something  to 
worry  about  and  we  here  must  in- 
crease our  efforts  to  offset  it." 

Companies  will  move  their  opera- 
tions to  Wembley,  a  London  suburb, 
in  event  London  is  raided  from  the 
air.  Twentieth  Century-Fox  is  build- 
ing 30  vaults  where  negatives,  prints 
and  the  like  will  be  stored  if  the  com- 
pany is  forced  to  evacuate  its  Soho 


Square  building  in  London. 

Duplicate  records  have  been  made 
for  six  months,  one  set  remaining  at 
the  home  office  and  the  other  stored 
at  Wembley.  Complete  office  furnish- 
ings and  equipment  are  being  kept  at 
the  emergency  headquarters. 

At  the  Wembley  offices,  which  will 
be  ready  for  occupancy  at  a  moment's 
notice,  trenches  have  been  dug  and 
other  safeguards  taken  for  the  per- 
sonnel. This  will  afford  protection 
from  air  bombardments. 

Every  employe  knows  exactly  what 
to  do  in  case  something  should  hap- 
pen. Air  raid  drills  are  held  regularly. 
Hundreds  have  enlisted  in  the  services 
and  civil  defence,  subject  to  call  at  any 
time. 


Neely  Forces 
'Showdown' 
By  Thursday 


Attack  U pon  Delay  Brings 
Promise  of  Action 


Washington,  May  28. — The  Senate 
Interstate  Commerce  Committee  will 
meet  before  Thursday  to  consider  the 
Neely  anti-block  booking  bill,  accord- 
ing to  assurances  given  by  Chairman 
Wheeler  over  the  weekend.  Senator 
Neely,  in  consequence,  is  withholding 
his  motion  to  dismiss  the  committee 
from  further  consideration  of  the 
measure,  which  would  have  forced  a 
vote  on  the  floor. 

Senator  Neely  said,  however,  he 
would  renew  his  motion  if  the  com- 
mittee fails  to  take  action  on  the 
bill  before  June  1. 

Condemns  Delays 

In  a  flailing  attack  on  the  subcom- 
mittee, Senator  Neely  charged  no 
measure  in  Congress  has  ever  met 
with  the  "unreasonable  and  unjusti- 
fied" delay  accorded  the  block  booking 
bill,  and  declared  the  subcommittee's 
iack  of  action  has  been  "unpardonable, 
inexcusable  and  disgraceful." 

Asking  for  a  vote  on  his  motion, 
he  pleaded  with  the  Senate  to  "help 
me  drag,  pull,  haul  or  snake  this  bill 
out  of  the  subcommittee  and  get  it  on 
the  calendar." 

Outlining  the  history  of  the  legisla- 
tion, he  declared  there  have  been 
ample  hearings  and  that  the  last  hear- 
ing record  ran  over  600  printed  pages. 

Efforts  to  secure  action  by  Senator 
Smith,  subcommittee  chairman,  now 
absent  because  of  his  wife's  illness, 
or  Senator  Barkley,  were  futile,  he 
told  the  chamber. 

Quick  Action  Promised 

Contending  that  discharge  of  the 
committee  would  be  a  reflection  upon 
the  absent  chairman,  Senator  Barkley 
pointed  out  that  Chairman  Wheeler 
of  the  full  committee  could  order  the 
subcommittee  to  take  action,  and  the 
latter  promised  that  if  the  subcom- 
mittee did  not  meet  immediately  on 
Senator  Smith's  expected  return  next 
week,  he  would  call  a  meeting  of  the 
full  committee  and  take  the  matter 
up. 


No  Paper  Tomorrow 

Motion  Picture  Daily  will 
not  be  published  tomorrow, 
Memorial  Day. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  19 


Plea  for  Fair 
Trial  of  Code 
By  Kuykendall 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Harry  G.  Kosch,  counsel  for  the  unit, 
in  commenting  on  the  proposed  arbi- 
tration setup,  said  it  was  "the  best 

yet." 

Critics  of  the  proposals  believe  it 
may  be  difficult  to  induce  a  sufficiently 
large  number  of  independent  exhibi- 
tors to  accept  arbitration. 

Those  who  favor  conciliation  over 
arbitration  declare  a  basic  weakness 
is  that  the  awards,  if  ignored  by  a 
party  to  a  dispute,  could  not  be  en- 
forced without  court  action,  which, 
they  assert,  is  open  to  the  complainant 
at  the  outset. 

While  conciliation  which  was  fav- 
ored by  the  M.P.T.O.A.,  is  not  pro- 
vided, it  is  understood  the  plan  is  to 
recommend  informal  conciliation  to 
the  disputants  before  arbitration  pro- 
ceedings are  started.  Conciliation 
without  any  formal  rules  is  now 
practiced  in  numerous  instances. 

Holiday  Closes  Offices 

All  home  offices  will  be  closed  to- 
morrow for  the  holiday.  A  consider- 
able portion  of  the  staffs,  however, 
started  the  vacation  earlier  and  many 
will  not  be  in  their  offices  today. 


Variety  Club  Leases 

Kansas  City,  May  28. — Variety 
Club  has  extended  the  lease  on  its 
present  quarters  on  Film  Row  for  two 
years,  and  is  installing  air  condition- 
ing. 


LATEST  THING  IN  TRAVEL 

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day!  Take  the  "Sun  Pacer"  at  8:30  a.m. 
—be  in  Chicago  righ t  af  ter  lunch ! 


FARE 

PITTSBURGH 

$21— 

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10  FLIGHTS  A  DAY! 

'Commute"  to  Pittsburgh  by  air!  Have 
more  time  at  home— or  for  business! 
Also  10  fast  nights  returning! 
10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 

Phone  travel  agent  or  MU  6-1640 
Transcontinental  &  Western  Air.Inc. 
70  E.  42  St. ;  Air  Desk,  Penn.  Station 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


MARY  PICKFORD,  Buddy  Rog- 
ers and  E.  T.  Carr,  U.  A.  joint 
managing  director  in  London,  sail  on 
the  N ormandie  tomorrow  night.  Miss 
Pickford  and  Rogers  will  return  to 
New  York  early  in  July. 

• 

Thomas  Donaldson,  M-G-M; 
Barney  Pitkin,  RKO ;  Al  Pickus, 
operator  of  the  Stratford ;  Max 
Hoffman,  Warner  Theatres ;  George 
Wilkinson,  Jr.,  Wilkinson  Theatre, 
Wallingford,  played  in  the  Racebrook 
Country  Club's  invitation  golf  tourna- 
ment at  New  Haven  late  last  week. 
• 

Jorge  Enrique  Pardo  of  Teatro 
San  Jorge,  Bogota,  Colombia,  has  left 
for  Chicago  after  a  brief  visit  here. 
He  will  spend  some  time  at  the  Mayo 
clinic,  Rochester,  Minn.,  then  return 
here. 

• 

Charles  Mazur,  Manville  Theatre, 
Manville,  N.  J.,  and  Roy  L.  Kalver 
of  the  Adams  and  Madison,  Decatur, 
Ind.,  were  visitors  at  the  RKO 
World's  Fair  Lounge  Friday. 

• 

Zac  Freedman,  who  left  the  Para- 
mount, Newark,  to  handle  the  tour  of 
Abe  Lyman  and  his  band,  has  joined 
Mae  West  in  Cincinnati,  and  will 
continue  with  her  to  the  coast. 
• 

Lou  Smith,  associate  producer  to 
Frank  Lloyd  on  Paramount's  "Rul- 
er of  the  Seas,"  in  New  York  last 
week  on  the  picture,  returned  to  the 
coast  over  the  weekend. 

• 

H.  M.  Richey,  in  charge  of  exhibi- 
tor relations  for  RKO,  returned  to 
New  York  yesterday  from  Kansas 
City  where  he  addressed  the  K.  M. 
T.  A.  convention. 

• 

Joseph  Seidelman,  Universal  vice- 
president  and  foreign  manager,  sails 
for  Europe  tomorrow  night  on  the 
N ormandie,  to  be  gone  about  two 
months. 

• 

Morris  J.  Rotker,  a  New  York 
projectionist  since  1907,  and  former 
official  of  Local  306,  will  celebrate  his 
25th  wedding  anniversary  on  June  17. 
• 

Sam  Shain,  editor  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily,  is  New  York-bound  from 
the  coast  with  stopovers  at  San  Fran- 
cisco, Chicago  and  Springfield,  111. 
• 

Walter  Brecher,  son  of  Leo 
Brecher,  circuit  head,  has  announced 
his  engagement  to  Roslyn  Kaplan, 
daughter  of  Dr.  Ira  Kaplan. 

• 

Murray  Silverstone,  United  Art- 
ists chief  executive,  has  postponed  in- 
definitely a  European  trip  which  he 
planned  to  begin  tomorrow. 

• 

Vera  Zorina,  stage  star,  is  due  at 
the  Warner  studio  on  Wednesday  to 
start  work  in  the  leading  feminine 
role  of  "On  Your  Toes." 

• 

Lynn  Farnol,  United  Artists'  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director,  has 
gone  to  Maine  for  the  Decoration  Day 
weekend. 

• 

Maurice  Bergman,  Columbia  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  head,  is  spend- 
ing the  holiday  at  Atlantic  City. 
• 

Fred  Schaefer,  RKO  pressbook 
editor,  and  Mrs.  Schaefer  are  on  a 
vacation  trip. 


ERICH  POMMER  arrives  today 
on  the  Normandie  to  confer  with 
Paramount  on  production  on  his  "Ad- 
mirable Crichton."  He  may  attend  the 
Paramount  sales  convention  in  Los 
Angeles. 

• 

Richard  Rawls  is  the  new  tech- 
nical director  of  New  York  Federal 
Theatre  productions. 

• 

John  J.  Maloney,  M-G-M  district 
manager  in  Pittsburgh,  will  receive  an 
honorary  LL.D.  degree  and  be  the 
chief  speaker  at  the  93rd  commence- 
ment of  St.  Vincent's  College,  Latrobe, 
Pa.,  on  Thursday.  Maloney  gradu- 
ated from  the  school  in  1908. 

• 

William  Heineman,  western  sales 
manager  for  Universal,  left  over  the 
weekend  by  plane  on  a  week's  tour  of 
the  midwest  territory,  stopping  at  Chi- 
cago, Minneapolis,  Milwaukee  and 
Detroit. 

• 

Jack  Segal,  manager  of  foreign 
exchange  operations  for  Columbia,  re- 
turns on  the  Normandie  today  after 
seven  months  in  Europe,  Egypt  and 
India. 

• 

M.  M.  Bergher,  Columbia's  mana- 
ger for  Japan,  arrives  from  the  coast 
today  to  confer  with  Joseph  A.  Mc- 
Conville,  foreign  manager. 

• 

Alfred  Harty,  editor  of  Equity,  of- 
ficial organ  of  Actors  Equity,  ad- 
dressed Local  5  of  American  Federa- 
tion of  Teachers  Friday. 

• 

Mrs.  Mervyn  LeRoy  has  arrived 
from  the  coast  to  join  her  parents, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Harry  M.  Warner,  at 
the  Waldorf-Astoria. 

• 

Louis  Hayward  and  his  wife,  Ida 
Lupino,  left  for  the  coast  yesterday 
after  a  honeymoon  in  New  York  of 
two  weeks. 

• 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president  of  na- 
tional Allied,  left  yesterday  for  Dallas 
after  attending  the  N.  Y.  Allied  con- 
vention. 


Kuhn  Suit  Against 
Warners  Delayed 

Hearing  on  Fritz  Kuhn's  applica- 
tion for  a  temporary  injunction  pend- 
ing trial  to  restrain  Warner  Bros. 
Picture  Co.,  Inc.,  from  exhibiting 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  was  ad- 
journed Friday  by  Federal  Judge 
Leibell  to  June  2,  upon  request  of 
Warner  Brothers.  Four  attorneys  are 
busy  preparing  evidence  to  fight 
Kuhn's  application.  Suit  is  for  an  in- 
junction and  $5,000,000  damages, 
charging  that  the  picture  libels  Kuhn 
and  the  German- American  Bund. 


20th-FoxTrai 
To  Springfiel 
Leaves  Toda 


RKO  Trustee  Wins 
More  Time  to  Pay 

Federal  Judge  Bondy  Friday  signed 
an  order  which  authorized  the  Irving 
Trust  Co.,  RKO  trustee,  to  extend 
time  of  payment  by  it  of  $50,000  in 
secured  6%  gold  debentures  from 
June  1,  1939  to  Jan.  1,  1940. 

The  $50,000  is  the  final  balance  due 
on  an  original  issue  of  $1,118,500  pay- 
able under  a  contract  between  RKO, 
Bank  of  America  National  Trust  and 
Savings  Association,  the  Chemical 
Bank  and  Trust  Co.  and  RCA. 


The  20th  Century-Fox  special  tr 
carrying  more  than  100  newspaj 
magazine  and  syndicate  writers 
photographers,  leaves  New  Yor^ 
day,  bound  for  tomorrow's  elal 
premiere  of  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln"' 
the  Fox-Lincoln  in  Springfield,  111 

From  Hollywood  will  go  a  cont 
gent  of  stars,  while  newspaperm 
from  midwestern  cities  are  travel 
directly  to  Springfield. 

Premiere  Broadcast 

The  program  will  be  broadcast  ov 
a  72-station  hookup  of  the  Muti, 
Broadcasting  System,  from  10  to  10:1 
P.M.,  E.D.S.T.,  tomorrow.  Lowl 
Thomas  will  be  master  of  ceremoni 
for  the  broadcast,  and  Marian  Ande 
son,  contralto,  will  be  featured. 

In  addition  to  newspaper  represe  | 
tatives  from  20  cities,  film  guests  w 
include  Clyde  Eckhardt,  20th  Centur  | 
Fox  Chicago  manager ;  Archie  He 
zoff  of  Balaban  &  Katz;  E.  V.  Dinej 
man,     RKO     Palace,  Cincinnati 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  Rodney  Bus 
Bill  Chambliss,  Louis  Davidson,  Ro 
er   Ferri,   Leonard   Gaynor,  Chris 
Wilbert  and  Earl  Wingart.  20th  Ce 
tury-Fox  home  office ;   B.  B.  Rei 
gold,  20th  Century-Fox,    St.  Loui^ 
Gus  Lampe,   RKO    Schine  Theati 
Syracuse;    Carter    Barron,  Loev,) 
Theatres,  Washington. 

From  the    coast    will    be  Binr! 
Barnes,  Alice  Brady,  Eddie  Collir 
Roy     Dannenbaum,     Hector  Doc 
Cesar  Romero  and  Arleen  Whelam 

Arranges  Day's  Program 

The  day's  program  for  the  guesj 
in  Springfield  includes  a  lunchec 
tendered  by  the  Mid-Day  Luncher 
Club  at  the  Leland  Hotel,  wi' 
Thomas  acting  as  spokesman  for  tl 
party. 

Tours  to  points  of  interest  will  o>! 
cupy  the  afternoon,  and  a  buffet  su]j 
per  will  be  served  after  the  openit 
at  the  Abraham  Lincoln  Hotel.  Tl 
train  will  return  to  the  east  at  noc 
on  Wednesday,  arriving  in  New  Yor 
on  Thursday. 

Lt.  Gov.  John  Stelle  of  Illinois  ar 
a  committee  of  14  legislators  will  re] 
resent  the  state  at  the  premiere. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  ar 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAME 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday.  Sund; 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Cor 
pany,  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  presiden 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasure. 

Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephone 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Ouigpubc 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  19. 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  In 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yoi 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications:  Mono 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  Teatf 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictui 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS: — Hollywood:  Postal  Unic 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts.;  Boor 
Mancall.  manager:  William  R.  Weave 
editor.  Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C.  I 
O'Neill,  manager.  London:  4  Golden  Squar 
W.  1 :  cable  address,  Quigpubco,  Londoi 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept.  2. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y 
under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  tl 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  10 


PULLING 

POWER- 

Newspapers,  magazines,  posters  rely  on  the  eye-catching  values  of  the  illus- 
1 1  trated  printed  word ...  but  lack  the  heart-stirring  qualities  of  the  human  voice. 

THE  NATIONAL  SCREEN  TRAILER  HAS  BOTH! 

Radio  appeals  through  the  ear-catching  values  of  music,  sound-effects  and 
voice  ...  but  it  doesn't  give  you  the  thrill  of  seeing. 

THE  NATIONAL  SCREEN  TRAILER  GIVES  YOU  BOTH! 

Plus  Lowest  cost  per  person  reached  because  the  National  Screen  Trailer 
reaches  a  hundred  per-cent  audience  all  of  the  time. 

You  KNOW  how  many  ticket-buyers  see  and  hear  your  National  Screen 
Trailer  .  . .  you  can  only  guess  when  it  comes  to  other  advertising 
mediums. 


That's  why  the  National  Screen  Trailer  is  the  biggest  advertising  dollar's  worth 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  19 


Equity  Offers  Compromise 
In  Television  Control  Fight 


KMTA  Elects, 
Debates  Code, 
Doesn't  O.K.  It 

Kansas  City,  May  28. — After  a 
debate,  the  Kansas-Missouri  Theatres 
Association  convention  Friday  adopted 
a  resolution  mildly  commending  dis- 
tributors for  their  efforts  in  drafting 
the  trade  practice  code. 

No  approval  of  the  code  was  given. 
O.  F.  Sullivan  of  Wichita  led  the 
fight  against  approval.  He  said  the 
distributors  would  use  the  code  to 
bolster  their  defense  against  the  Gov- 
ernment anti-trust  suit. 

Explains  Arbitration 

H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor 
relations  for  RKO,  discussed  the 
code's  arbitration  provisions,  stressing 
clearance.  The  code's  success,  he  said, 
depends  on  the  cooperation  of  local 
exhibitors  and  distributors. 

Frank  Cassil,  St.  Joseph,  Mo.,  was 
reelected  president ;  Homer  Strowig, 
Abilene,  Kan.,  vice-president,  and  Fred 
Meyn,  Kansas  City,  Kan.,  secretary- 
treasurer. 

Directors  elected  were :  From  Kan- 
sas, Gus  Diamond,  S&lina,  R.  R. 
Biechele,  Kansas  City,  Strowig  and 
Meyn;  from  Missouri,  John  Stapel, 
Rock  Port,  George  Harttmann,  North 
Kansas  City,  Tom  Edwards,  Eldon, 
and  Tom  Wilhoit,  Plattsburg. 

Kuykendall  Attends 

Those  who  registered  at  the  conven- 
tion included : 

J.  W.  Grantham,  Baxter  Springs, 
Kans. ;  Fred  Meyn,  Kansas  City, 
Kan. ;  J.  G.  Caldwell,  Aurora,  Mo. ; 
Tom  Wilhoit,  Plattsburg,  Mo. ;  Reu- 
ben Finkelstein,  Kansas  City,  Mo. ; 
Ed  Kuykendall,  Columbus,  Miss. ;  Ed 
Rolsky,  Kansas  City ;  R.  R.  Biechele, 
Kansas  City ;  Frank  Cassil,  St. 
Joseph ;  George  Harttmann,  North 
Kansas  City. 

H.  C.  Musgrave,  Minneapolis,  Kan. ; 
Warren  Webber,  Stafford,  Kan. ;  M. 
A.  Otto,  Pleasanton,  Kan.;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Charles  Barron,  Pratt,  Kan. ; 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Abe  Baier,  Mrs.  George 
Maloney  and  Mrs.  C.  H.  Burkey, 
Kansas  City ;  Homer  Strowig,  Abi- 
lene, Kan.;  O.  F.  Sullivan,  Wichita, 
Kan. ;  J.  D.  Rankin  and  Virgil  Harbi- 
son, Tarkio,  Mo. ;  I.  Danowsky, 
Rialto,  St.  Joseph,  Mo. ;  Earl  Cour- 
ter,  St.  Joseph,  Mo. ;  Senn  Lawler, 
Lon  Cox,  and  H.  E.  Jameyson,  Fox 
Midwest ;  Sam  Sosna,  Manhattan, 
Kan. ;  Louis  Sosna,  Moberly,  Mo. ; 
Jay  Means  and  W.  D.  Fite,  Kansas 
City. 


Levy  Quits  M-G-M 

David  A.  Levy  has  resigned  as  New 
Jersey  branch  manager  for  M-G-M, 
effective  next  month.  He  has  no 
definite  plans. 


Ampa  Fetes  Trotta 

Ampa  on  Thursday  will 
honor  its  only  active  charter 
member,  Vincent  Trotta, 
Paramount  art  director,  who 
also  is  celebrating  his  25th 
year  in  the  industry.  A  spe- 
cial program  has  been  ar- 
ranged and  more  than  150 
are  expected  to  attend.  It 
will  be  called  "Ampa's 
Trottazapoppin'  Luncheon." 


Compromise  proposal  on  jurisdic- 
tion of  Actors'  Equity  over  television 
is  now  pending  before  the  internation- 
al board  of  Associated  Actors  and 
Artistes  of  America. 

The  board  has  sent  out  a  resolution 
urging  the  grant  of  immediate  juris- 
diction to  Equity  and  then  referring 
the  matter  to  the  Reconstruction  Com- 
mittee. 

The  committee  is  working  on  a  plan 
to  form  "one  big  union"  to  eliminate 
jurisdictional  disputes  between  actor 
unions. 

The  compromise  offer  was  revealed 
by  Philip  Loeb,  member  of  Equity 
council,  in  a  report  to  the  26th  an- 
nual meeting  of  Equity  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  Friday.  The  A.A.A.A.  resolu- 
tion requires  the  approval  of  Equity, 
Screen  Actors'  Guild  and  American 
Federation  of  Radio  Artists. 

Equity  council  has  voted  approval 
but  S.A.G.  has  countered  with  a  pro- 
posal of  a  joint  committee  of  the 
three  unions  to  administer  the  field 
until  television  develops  commercially. 

Equity  has  set  June  7  as  a  dead- 
line for  a  decision  and  there  is  a  pos- 
sibility that  S.A.G.  may  modify  its 


Empire  Universal 
Hears  of  Product 

Toronto,  May  28. — Empire  Uni- 
versal Films,  Ltd.,  yesterday  concluded 
its  three-day  sales  convention  at  the 
Royal  York  Hotel  here,  with  an  out- 
line of  G.B.  product  by  Arthur  A.  Lee, 
vice-president.  Thursday's  session  was 
devoted  to  Republic,  with  James  R. 
Grainger,  president,  presenting  the  de- 
tails. Friday  was  Universal  day. 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  board  chairman 
of  Universal ;  Nate  Blumberg,  presi- 
dent ;  W.  A.  Scully,  general  sales 
manager,  and  F.  J.  A.  McCarthy, 
eastern  sales  manager,  represented 
that  company  and  addressed  the  meet- 
ing. 

Cowdin,  Scully  and  McCarthy  re- 
turned to  New  York  over  the  week- 
end.   Blumberg  went  to  the  coast. 

At  a  luncheon  Friday,  guests  in- 
cluded N.  L.  Nathanson,  president  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian ;  Henry  L. 
Nathanson,  general  manager  of  Regal 
Films,  Ltd. ;  Col.  John  A.  Cooper, 
president  of  the  Motion  Picture  Dis- 
tributors of  Canada ;  J.  Earl  Lawson, 
member  of  the  Dominion  House  of 
Commons ;  N.  A.  Taylor,  vice-presi- 
dent of  the  Independent  Theatres  As- 
sociation of  Ontario  and  general  man- 
ager of  20th  Century  Theatres,  Ltd. ; 
Ben  Geldsaler,  Morris  Stein,  R.  S. 
Roddick,  Clarence  Robson,  T.  J. 
Bragg  and  R.  W.  Bolstad  of  Famous 
Players  Canadian ;  Jule  Allen  and 
Herbert  Allen  of  Premier  Theatres, 
Ltd. ;  H.  T.  Long  and  D.  Main  of 
Associated  Theatres,  Ltd.,  and  local 
film  critics. 

Among  those  representing  Empire- 
Universal  were :  President  O.  R.  Han- 
son ;  Vice-President  Paul  Nathanson ; 
General  Manager  Alfred  W.  Perry ; 
Assistant  General  Manager  A.  J. 
Laurie  ;  Secretary- Treasurer  M.  Strat- 
ton ;  Frank  Fisher,  Toronto  branch 
manager  ;  Harry  Paynter,  Montreal ; 
Jerry  Hoyt,  St.  John,  N.  B. ;  Walter 
Kennedy,  exploitation  manager ;  and 
A.  Oulahan  of  Toronto. 


stand  before  that  time.  A.F.R.A.  has 
not  yet  voted  on  the  resolution  but 
is  expected  to  endorse  whatever  stand 
S.A.G.  finally  takes. 

A  profit  of  $39,000  was  realized 
from  operations  during  the  year  end- 
ing March  31,  1939,  Paul  Dulzell,  ex- 
ecutive secretary  treasurer,  reported. 

Assets  are  $456,776,  a  drop  of  $13,- 
207  from  last  year's  $469,983.  Dullzell 
explained  that  this  was  caused  by  set- 
ting up  a  reserve  fund  and  writing- 
down  the  value  of  physical  assets 
which  were  held  on  the  books  at  too 
high  a  figure. 

William  A.  Brady,  producer,  mem- 
ber of  Equity,  appealed  for  reconsid- 
eration of  Equity's  refusal  to  permit 
Sunday  shows.  The  matter  was  tabled 
indefinitely. 

All  elections  were  uncontested.  Bur- 
gess Meredith  was  named  third  vice- 
president.  Patricia  Collinge,  Dudley 
Digges,  Augustin  Duncan,  Muriel 
Kirkland,  Loeb,  John  A.  Lorenz,  Hi- 
ram S.  Sherman,  Jack  Whiting,  Mer- 
win  Williams  and  Harold  Vermilye 
were  elected  to  the  council  for  five- 
year  terms,  John  Alexander  for  two 
years  and  George  Heller  and  Thomas 
Chalmers  for  one. 


Outburst  by  Bioff 
Marks  Union  Trial 

Los  Angeles,  May  28. — William 
Bioff,  former  personal  aide  to  George 
Browne,  president  of  the  I.A.T.S.E., 
shouted  from  the  witness  stand, 
"You're  a  liar,"  at  A.  Brigham  Rose, 
Local  37  attorney,  when  the  latter  on 
Friday  told  the  court  he  would  at- 
tempt to  prove  that  Bioff  obtained 
$100,000  in  cashiers'  checks  from  Jo- 
seph M.  Schenck  in  1937. 

The  outburst,  which  brought  threats 
of  contempt  action  from  Superior 
Court  Judge  Henry  Willis,  trying  the 
suit  over  control  of  the  studio  union, 
came  as  Bioff  balked  at  answering 
Rose's  questions. 

"The  only  purpose  of  this  question- 
ing is  to  smear  me,"  Bioff  told  the 
court. 

Japanese  Propose 
Full  Film  Control 

Washington,  May  28.— Complete 
control  of  the  film  industry  by  the 
Japanese  Government  is  provided  in 
a  proposed  law  now  under  considera- 
tion by  the  Imperial  Diet,  according 
to  a  report  to  the  Department  of  Com- 
merce by  Consul  S.  G.  Slavens,  Tokyo. 

Control  of  the  industry  would  in- 
clude censorship,  designation  of  the 
kind  of  films  which  might  be  produced, 
importation  and  exportation  of  all 
films,  exhibition  and  every  other  as- 
pect of  the  film  business. 


Heads  French  Players 

Viviane  Romance  has  been  selected 
by  French  exhibitors  as  the  most 
popular  feminine  French  star,  in  a  poll 
conducted  by  La  Cinematographic 
Francais?,  trade  paper.  Jean  Gabin 
was  voted  the  most  popular  masculine 
star.  Transatlantic  Films  will  import 
two  of  Miss  Romance's  starring  films 
in  the  fall. 


New  U.  S.  Bill 
Cites  Sales 
By  Columbii 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
times  as  much  film  rental  for  21  fe 
tures  as  the  Isis  Theatre,  operated 
Paramount  Pictures,  Inc. 

With  respect  to  the  Governmen 
charge  that  Columbia  encourag 
double-featuring  on  the  part  of  affi 
ated  theatres,  the  bill  set  forth  the  f( 
lowing  examples :  Contracts  allegec 
made  during  the  1934-35  and  1935- 
seasons  with  theatres  controlled 
National  Theatres  Corp.  which  pr 
vided  for  reductions  in  film  rentals 
5  per  cent  if  certain  Columbia  pictur 
were  shown  in  conjunction  with  oth 
ieatures  ;  similar  contracts  w  i  1 ■ 
Loew's,  Inc.  and  its  subsidiaries  frc 
1934  through  1937  and  with  Warn  I 
Bros.  Pictures,  Inc.  and  its  subsk 
aries,  serviced  by  the  Boston,  N(i 
Haven,  Philadelphia  and  West  Co; 
exchanges. 

The  Lincoln  Theatre  in  Union  Ciij 
N.  J.  was  specifically  referred  to  I 
a  Warner  house  benefited  by  an  agre: 
ment  of  this  type. 

An  alleged  incomplete  list  of  sta 
who  were  placed  under  contract 
multaneously  by  Columbia  and  otr 
producers  was  also  stated  as  follow 
Gloria  Blondell,  under  contract  wi 
Warner  Bros. ;  Melvin  Douglas  wi 
M-G-M;  Irene  Dunne  with  Par 
mount ;  RKO  and  Universal ;  Ca 
Grant  with  RKO ;  and  Edward 
Robinson  with  Warner  Bros. 

Complaints  of  15  Exhibitors 

The  Government  listed  15  exhibitc 
compelled  to  maintain  minimum  pric 
as  follows : 

Sam     Kirchheimer,     North  Si 
Theatre,    Houston,    Texas ;  O. 
Bridges,  Midway  Theatre,  Housto 
North  Fort  Worth  Amusement  C 
Isis  and  Rose  Theatres,  Ft.  Wor 
Texas ;  Robt.  Wygant,  Heights  The 
tre,  Houston;  Sam  Archibald,  Ho' 
Theatre,  Ft.  Worth;  Queens  Amu; 
ment  Co.,  New  Liberty  Theatre  a"" 
Ideal    Theatre,    Ft.    Worth ;  Lot 
Richker,  Gaiety  Theatre,  Ft.  Wort 
H.    C.    Houston,    Trinity  Theat 
Dallas. 

B.  J.  Highpower,  Texan  Theat 
Ft.  Worth;  C.  A.  Dickey,  Avert1 
Theatre,  Ft.  Worth ;  Donald  Dixc 
Haskell  Theatre,  Dallas;  O.  C.  E; 
ter,  Peak  Theatre,  Dallas;  L.  L.  Du 
bar,  Queen  Theatre,  Dallas ;  L. 
Bessinger,  Queen  Theatre,  Dalla 
Robert  Z.  Glass,  Knox  St.,  Fair,  a 
Lawn  Theatres. 

In  other  respects  the  bill  close 
followed  that  filed  for  the  otf 
majors  in  the  consolidated  motion  a 
for  United  Artists  Corp.  It  reiterati 
definitions  of  coercive  selling,  unf;u 
trade  practices,"  key  cities  and  maji 
producers. 

Union  Deadline  Set 
For  5-Boro  Circu 

Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  a; 
Treasurers  Union  has  set  this  aftf 
noon  as  deadline  for  the  Five  Bc| 
circuit  (Leff,  Strassberg  &  Goli 
baum)  to  recognize  the  union  as  ci 
lective  bargaining  agent,  union  sourc 
disclosed  over  the  weekend.  Only 
sue  involved  is  union  recognition, 
was  said. 


Lnday,  May  29,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Pacific'  Still 
Denver  Lead 
With  $8,000 


[Denver,  May  2S. — "Union  Pacific" 

i still  running  strong  enough  to  top 
town,  with  $8,000  in  its  fourth 
I.  at  the  Denham.  "Man  of  Cou- 
rt" and  "Streets  of  New  York" 
lew  $4,500  at  the  Paramount. 
Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
|  May  24: 

.est  Horizon"  (Col.) 

ftLADDIN— (1.400)     (25c-40c)  7 
iss:  $-1,000.  (Average,  $3,500) 
al.ing   Dr.   Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
.eauty  for  the  Asking"  (RKO) 
P  ROADWAY — ( 1 , 1 00 )    (25c-40c)  ! 
er  a  week  at  the  Orpheum.  Gross 
vt-rage.  $2,500) 
Jnion  Pacific"  (Para.) 

JENHAM— (1.750)    (25c -35c -40c)    7  days, 
i  week.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average,  $6,500) 
^uthering  Heights"  (U.A.) 
)ENVER— (2,525)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  days, 
o-s:  $7,500.  (Average,  $9,000) 
fs  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
lying  Irishman"  (RKO) 
) R PH E L' M— (2,600)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
o.-s:  $7,000.  (Average,  $8,500) 
San  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
treets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 
A  RA. MOUNT— (2,200)   (25c-40c)   7  days. 
to>s:  $4,500.  (Average.  $3,500) 
'ark  Victory"  (F.N.) 
mtside  These  Walls"  (Col.) 
rtlALTO—  (878)   (25c-40c)   7  days.  "Dark 
:tory"  3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average, 
750) 


da 


days. 
$2,000. 


ariety  Club  Award 
o  Father  Flanagan 

Pittsburgh,  May  28. — Variety  Clubs 
America  will  present  their  first  an- 

lal  National  Humanitarian  Award 
June  26  to  the  Rt.  Rev.  Msgr.  Ed- 

Ard  J.  Flanagan  of  Boystown,  Neb., 

rording  to  Chief  Barker  John  H. 

larris. 

Following  a  vote  of  the  21  variety 
fits  recently  in  Detroit,  Harris  will 
to  Omaha,  with  M-G-M  Zone 
anager  John  J.  Maloney  of  Pitts- 
rgh  and  Robert  J.  O'Donnell  of 
alias,  to  present  the  first  silver 
ique  to  Father  Flanagan  at  a  testi- 
)iiial  dinner  being  arranged  by  the 
naha  Variety  Club. 
Present  will  be  Gov.  Roy  L.  Cochran 
Nebraska,  Senator  Edward  R. 
jrke,  Bishop  James  H.  Ryan  of 
naha,  International  President  Henry 
onsky  of  B'nai  B'rith,  President 
liam  Jeffers  of  Union  Pacific  Rail- 
jad,  Chief  Justice  Robert  G.  Sim- 
ins  of  the  Nebraska  Supreme  Court, 
esident  A.  H.  Blank  of  Tri-States 
leatres  Corp.,  President  Joseph 
'oper  of  F.  H.  Cooper  Enterprises, 
ayor  Daniel  Butler,  Publisher  Henry 
»orly  of  the  Omaha  World-Herald, 
d  others. 


Best  Dressed'  Title 
Won  by  Si  Seadler 

Si  Seadler,  dignified  adver- 
tising manager  of  M-G-M, 
was  awarded  first  honors  as 
'best  dressed"  man  in  the 
"monkey  business"  division  of 
a  men's  fashion  contest 
staged  by  Random  House  in 
connection  with  a  cocktail 
party  for  Elizabeth  Hawes, 
author  of  "Men  Can  Take 
It." 

Heywood  Broun  and  Moss 
Hart  were  among  the  judges. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"SOS.  Tidal  Wave" 

(Republic) 

Hollywood,  May  28. — Seemingly  born  of  timely  speculation  anent 
televisipns's  ultimate  place  in  daily  affairs  and  of  recollections  of  the 
Orson  Welles  panic  program,  "S.O.S.  Tidal  Wave"  ends  in  an  extreme- 
ly thrilling  sequence  wherein  political  gangsters  commandeer  a  televi- 
sion station  and  substitute  horror  films  for  factual  reporting  to  convince 
citizens  that  a  tidal  wave  has  destroyed  New  York  and  is  sweeping  inland. 
Panic  ensues. 

This  most  novel  and  genuinely  exciting  finish  is  something  new  on 
the  screen,  something  to  see  and,  incidentally,  something  for  the  F.C.C. 
to  keep  in  mind  when  television  newsreels  become  as  commonplace  in 
the  daily  routine  of  the  population  as  radio  newscasts  are  now. 

hi  a  slow  buildup  to  this  terrific  ending,  Ralph  Byrd  is  established 
as  a  Winchell  of  the  telenewsreels  with  Frank  Jenks  his  amusing  assist- 
ant, Marc  Lawrence  as  a  gangster  backing  a  mayoral  candidate  of 
criminal  background,  George  Barbier  as  a  television  ventriloquist  and 
Kay  Sutton,  Dorothy  Lee,  Ferris  Taylor  and  Donald  as  others  intimately 
affected. 

Lawrence's  use  of  the  fake  telecast  to  throw  the  city  into  panic  on 
election  day  is  more  effective  by  reason  of  this  early  slowness.  It  is 
strong  enough  to  carry  the  picture  unassisted. 

Armand  Schaefer  produced  the  film  with  John  H.  Auer  directing  the 
screenplay  by  Maxwell  Shane  and  Godron  Kahn  based  on  a  story  by 
James  Webb. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Mexico  Notes 


Mexico  City,  May  28. — President 
Lazaro  Cardenas  has  promised  Mexi- 
can producers  and  distributors  a  re- 
duction in  taxes  on  all  pictures  in 
Spanish.  The  extent  of  the  reduction 
is  left  to  the  Government. 


Rafael  Sanchez  Tello,  producer,  has 
sued  the  Mexican  Cinematographic 
Workers'  Union  for  recovery  of  §3,1)00 
he  claims  he  put  up  to  start  produc- 
tion of  a  film.  He  contends  the  union 
failed  to  start  the  film  and  gave  un- 
satisfactory reasons  for  the  delay. 

President  Cardenas  has  requested 
the  Confederation  of  Mexican  Work- 
ers to  reconsider  its  intention  to  boy- 
cott all  pictures  made  in  Spain  dur- 
ing the  Franco  administration,  since 
it  considers  that  Government  to  be 
Fascist.  The  request  followed  a  plea 
by  producers  and  distributors  to  the 
President  that  such  a  move  would  kill 
Mexican  films  in  Spain,  their  best 
market. 


Mexican  producers  are  fighting  shy 
of  naming  films  after  popular  songs. 
The  practice  was  extensively  adopted 
when  producers  believed  a  hit  song 
would  carry  a  picture,  but  several  suc- 
cessive failures  have  caused  them  to 
veer  away  from  the  idea. 


Set  Columbus  Duals 

Columbus,  O.,  May  28.— RKO 
Palace  and  Grand,  firsf  and  second 
runs,  respectively,  will  inaugurate 
double  feature  policies  June  2,  to  con- 
tinue for  the  balance  of  the  summer. 
No  change  in  the  admissions  will  be 
made. 


Reissue  'Neu)  Movie' 

Dell  Publishing  Co.  is  reissuing 
New  Movie,  the  trade  mark  and  other 
assets  of  which  were  purchased  from 
Tower  Publications  in  1934. 


London  Notes 


London,  May  28. — Television  will 
be  featured  on  the  agenda  of  the  next 
Cinematographic  Exhibitors  Associa- 
tion conference  at  Blackpool.  An- 
other session  will  be  devoted  to  the 
training  of  projectionists.  Sydney 
Bernstein,  chief  of  the  Bernstein  the- 
atres, will  read  a  paper  on  trade  prob- 
lems. Reginald  Stamp,  chairman  of 
the  London  county  council,  has  been 
invited  to  address  the  conference  on 
licensing  matters. 


A  parliamentary  move  is  being 
made  to  include  cinemas  and  other 
places  of  entertainment  within  reaches 
of  the  new  civil  defense  bill.  If  suc- 
cessful, picture  houses  will  be  com- 
pelled to  take  immediate  precautions 
for  operation  in  the  event  of  war. 
These  refer  mainly  to  lighting  of 
premises. 


A  new  company,  Bank  Night,  Ltd., 
has  been  registered  in  Britain  with 
a  share  capital  of  £100.  The  organi- 
zation plans  to  extend  bank  night 
schemes  in  British  cinemas. 


Brandt  Books  "Marne" 

Brandt  Circuit  has  booked  the 
Spectrum  release,  "Heroes  of  the 
Marne,"  French  importation,  starring 
Raimu.  "Two  Gun  Troubadour,"  last 
of  a  series  of  six  Fred  Scott  musical 
westerns,  has  been  completed  and  will 
be  released  shortly  by  Spectrum. 


N.  B.  Theatre  Burns 

Fredericton,  N.  B.,  May  28. — 
Gaiety  Theatre  here  and  a  number  of 
frame  buildings  were  destroyed  in  a 
$200,000  fire. 


Ornato  Starts  Comedies 

Joseph  Ornato  has  started  work  on 
"Good  Scout,"  first  of  a  series  of 
comedies  to  be  titled  "Our  Kids," 
which  he  is  producing  and  directing 
for  Century-Television-Pictures,  Inc. 


'Some  Like  It9 
At  $17,500  in 
Phila.  Slump 


Philadelphia,  May  28. — "Some 
Like  It  Hot,"  with  "The  Mikado  in 
Swing"  on  the  stage,  gave  the  Fox 
§17,500.  No  other  house  did  better 
than  average  in  a  week  of  holdovers 
and  circus  competition. 

"Wuthtring  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

AI.ULNEl— (1.300)  (32c-42c-57c)  7 
6th  week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average, 
"Calling   Dr.   Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA— (600)     (25c-42c-57c)  7 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average,  $2,800) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

BOYD— (2,400)  (32c-42c-57c)  7 
Gross:  $11,000.  (Average,  $14,000) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

EAR1E — (2.000)     (26c-32c-43c)  7 
Gross:   $7,000.   (Average.  $8,000) 
"Seme  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

FOX— (3,000)  (32c-42c-57c-68c)  7  days.  (6 
days  stage).  Stage:  "The  Mikado  in 
Swing."  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average,  $16,000) 
'Mutiny  on  the  Bounty"  (M-G-M) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days. 
Revival.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

KEITH'S— (2,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days. 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Stcry  of  Vernon  and  Irene  Castle"  (RKO) 

PALACE— (1,000)  (26c-42c)  7  days.  Gross: 
£3,000.  3rd  run.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

STANLEY— (3,700)  (32c-42c-57c)  6  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average.  $12,000) 
"Confessions  of  a   Nazi  Spy"   (W.  B.) 

STANTON — (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average. 
$7,000) 


days. 
$8,160) 

days. 


days. 


days. 


Sees  Hollywood  Best 
On  Spanish  Pictures 

Ramon  Peon,  Cuban  producer  and 
director,  here  with  Raul  Medina  of 
International  Films  of  Cuba,  is  of 
the  opinion  that  Hollywood  alone  of- 
fers the  necessary  technical  facilities 
for  producing  Spanish  language  films. 

He  believes,  however,  that  talent 
should  be  imported  from  Spanish 
speaking  countries,  and  that  native 
directors  and  writers  should  be  in 
charge  of  production. 


Asher  Productions 
Start  Work  Shortly 

London,  May  28. — Irving  Asher 
Productions,  Ltd.,  recently  formed, 
with  Jerome  J.  Jackson  as  associate 
producer,  will  start  shortly  on  the 
first  film.  A  minimum  of  four  pic- 
tures a  year  is  planned  with  a  total 
cost  of  $1,250,000. 


Fairbanks,  Chaplin 
In  Z7.  S.  Tax  Cases 

Washington,  May  28. — Douglas 
Fairbanks,  Sr.,  and  Charles  Chaplin 
had  business  with  the  Tax  Appeals 
Board  Friday.  Fairbanks  agreed  to 
pay  $87,283.01  back  income  taxes  and 
Chaplin  disputed  the  government's 
claim  for  $65,208.48  additional  and  de- 
manded instead  a  refund  of  $24,938.04 
already  paid. 


Five  Shows  Close 

Five  more  legitimate  stage 
shows  closed  Saturday  in 
Broadway's  rapidly  fading 
season.  "Stars  in  Your  Eyes," 
"One  for  the  Money,"  "Prim- 
rose Path,"  "Clean  Beds"  and 
the  American  Lyric  Theatre's 
repertoire  shut  down.  Sixteen 
remain. 


m 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  193! 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Racketeers  of  the  Range" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  May  28. — Modernized  as  it  is,  yet  basing  its  merits  as 
popular  entertainment  with  especial  appeal  for  juvenile  audiences  on 
tried  and  proved  action  adventure  elements,  "Racketeers  of  the  Range" 
is  a  standard  George  O'Brien  western  melodrama.  Thrills  and  excite- 
ment are  the  main  features,  with  romantic  interest  based  on  a  taming 
of  the  shrew  premise.  The  comedy  and  musical  interludes  are  elemen- 
tary. There  are  enough  solo  and  mass  fights,  chases,  gunplay  and 
breakneck  antics  aboard  a  speeding  cattle  train  to  suit  the  most  avid 
thrill  addicts. 

Hoodwinking  Marjorie  Reynolds,  owner  of  a  packing  plant,  into  an 
association,  big  business  racketeers,  aided  by  a  contingent  of  rustlers, 
freeze  out  honest  cattle  raisers.  Holding  up  trains  and  using  motor 
trucks  to  steal  cows  is  one  of  their  tricks.  The  cattle  men  seemed 
doomed  until  O'Brien  takes  a  hand.  Buying  up  all  his  neighbors'  cows, 
after  becoming  receiver  for  the  plant,  his  two  problems  are  to  deliver 
the  cattle  safely  and  convince  Miss  Reynolds  she  is  allied  with  the  wrong 
lineup.    He  succeeds,  of  course,  in  both  objectives. 

O'Brien,  naturally,  is  pretty  much  the  whole  show,  yet  he  has  ca- 
pable assistance  from  Miss  Reynolds,  Chill  Wills,  Gay  Seabrook,  Rob- 
ert Fiske  and  Monte  Montague. 

Bernard  McConville  wrote  the  original  story  and  Oliver  Drake  the 
screenplay.    D.  Ross  Lederman  directed. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.  G.  McC. 


Boston  Gives 


'Rose'  Good 


$17,500  Lead 


Boston,  May  28. — "Rose  of  Wash- 
ington Square"  and  "Risky  Business" 
dualing  at  Keith  Memorial,  took  top 
money  with  $17,500.  "Lucky  Night" 
and  "Tell  No  Tales,"  playing  at 
Loew's  Orpheum  and  State,  took  $16,- 
500  and  $11,500  respectively. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  24 : 

"Blondie  Meets  the  Boss"   (Col.)    (4  days 

with  vaude.) 
"Undercover  Agent"  (Mono.)  (4  days  with 

vaude.) 

"3  Smart  Girls  Grow  Up"  (Univ.)  (3  days.) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO)  (3  days) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,200)  (20c-30c- 
40c).    Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $8,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Risky  Business"  (Univ.) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2,907)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Union   Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Winner  Take  All"   (20th -Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.  2d  run.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"Union   Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

FENWAY  —  (1,382)  (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.  2d  run.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average, 
$5,300) 

"Gracie  Ai'len  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.A.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average, 
$15,000) 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— ($3,600)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,500.  (Average, 
$10,500) 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (2,900)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.)   (2d  run) 
"Eagle  and   the   Hawk"  (reissue) 

SCOLLAY  —  (2,500)  (25c-35c-40c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $5,700.    (Average,  $5,000) 

'Rose'  Big  $16,000 
Best  in  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  May  28. — "Rose  of 
Washington  Square"  led  with  $16,000 
at  the  RKO  Albee.  "The  Hardys 
Ride  High"  in  a  second  week  at  the 
RKO  Capital  did  $6,700. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  24-27: 

"Rose  of   Washington   Square"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $16,000.   (Average,  $12,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)  (35c-42c)  6  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,900.  (Average,  7  days, 
$10,000) 

"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

RKO  SHUBERT—  (2,150)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.  (Average,  $10,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,700.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)    (35c-42)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,900.   (Average,  $5,000) 
"The    Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell" 

(2«th-Fox) 

RKO   GRAND— (1,200)    (25c-40c)   7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Average,  $2,750) 
"On  Trial"  (W.B.) 

"Bulldog      Drummond's      Secret  Police" 
(Para.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (20c-30c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,100.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"They  Made  Me  a  Criminal"  (RKO) 
"Manhattan  Shakedown"  (Warwick) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)   (20c-30c)  3  days. 
Gross:   $900.    (Average,  $900) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

KEITH'S—  (1,500)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 


Move  Atlanta  Exchange 

Atlanta,  May  28— Dixie  Film 
Exchange,  independent  here,  has 
moved  to  new  and  larger  quarters  at 
145  Walton  St. 


Pathe  Common  Stock 
Purchased  by  Young 

Washington,  May  28. — Acquisi- 
tion by  Robert  R.  Young,  Jersey  City, 
Pathe  director,  of  600  shares  of  Pathe 
common  stock  in  March,  bringing  his 
holdings  to  20,427  shares,  has  been 
reported  by  the  Securities  and  Ex- 
change Commission  in  its  semi-month- 
ly summary. 

The  commission  also  disclosed  that 
it  had  received  January  reports  on 
Monogram  ■  Pictures,  showing  that 
Joseph  A.  Sisto,  New  York,  director, 
through  J.  A.  Sisto  &  Co.,  had  dis- 
posed of  78,130  options  for  common 
stock,  reducing  his  holdings  to  55,742, 
and  that  William  R.  Stewart,  New 
York,  director,  also  through  J.  A. 
Sisto  &  Co.,  had  acquired  5,000  op- 
tions, his  total  holdings. 

A  December  report  for  Preston 
Davie,  New  York,  Universal  Pictures 
director,  showed  acquisition  of  10 
shares  of  first  preferred,  bringing  his 
holdings  to  110  shares. 


Bingo  Legalized 

Hartford,  Conn.,  May  28. — Gov- 
ernor Raymond  E.  Baldwin  has  re- 
ceived from  the  state  legislature  a 
bill  legalizing  Bingo.  The  Bill  pro- 
vides for  municipal  control  over  the 
game  with  permits  to  be  issued  to 
non-profit  organizations  of  at  least 
two  years'  standing.  Cash  prizes  are 
banned. 


Asks  'Ecstasy'  Trial 

Albany,  May  28. — Henry  Pearl- 
man,  appearing  before  Supreme  Court 
Justice  Schenck,  yesterday  asked  for 
trial  by  civil  jury  in  an  effort  to  lift 
the  bans  imposed  on  Eureka  Pro- 
ductions' "Ecstasy."  Pearlman  main- 
tains all  objectionable  scenes  have 
been  lifted. 


Lazarus  Gets  Release 

Hollywood,  May  28. — Jeff  Lazarus 
has  obtained  his  release  from  his 
Paramount  producer  contract  effective 
in  mid-August  upon  completion  of 
pictures  under  his  supervision. 


Para.  Gets  Benny 
As  Banquet  Emcee 

Hollywood,  May  28. — Jack  Benny 
wil  be  master  of  ceremonies  at  the 
entertainment-banquet  marking  com- 
pletion of  Paramount's  three-day  an- 
nual sales  convention  at  the  Ambas- 
sador here,  June  8-10. 

More  than  250  delegates  from  the 
company's  domestic,  Canadian  and 
foreign  sales  forces  and  the  home 
office  are  expected. 


_  Robert  Gillham,  Paramount  adver- 
tising and  publicity  director,  left  New 
York  by  train  last  night  en  route  to 
the  company's  sales  convention.  He 
will  stop  over  in  Chicago  and  Kansas 
City,  arriving  in  Los  Angeles  a  few 
days  ahead  of  the  home  office  delega- 
tion which  leaves  here  June  4. 

'Sun  Never  Sets' 
Next  at  Music  Hall 

"The  Sun  Never  Sets,"  Universal 
film,  has  been  booked  to  follow  "Cap- 
tain Fury"  in  the  Music  Hall.  This 
will  be  the  second  Universal  picture 
to  be  played  in  the  theatre  this  sea- 
son. "East  Side  of  Heaven"  was  the 
first. 


Des  Moines  'U'  Outing 

Des  Moines,  May  28— J.  J.  Span- 
dau,  manager  of  the  Universal  Ex- 
change here,  is  planning  an  outing  to 
reward  his  office  staff  for  helping  the 
Exchange  to  win  district  first  prize  in 
the  recent  Playdate  drive  and  second 
in  the  country. 


Copyright  Draft  Today 

Draft  of  the  Shotwell  committee's 
recommendations  for  changes  in  the 
Federal  copyright  laws  is  scheduled 
to  be  completed  today  and  forwarded 
to  Congress  for  consideration  at  this 
session. 


'Juarez'  to  Europe 

Warners  will  release  "Juarez"  in 
Europe  late  in  July.  Its  national  re- 
lease date  in  United  States  is  June 
10. 


'Victory'  Hits 
$29,900  in  2 
L.  A.  Houses 


Los  Angeles,  May  28.  —  "Darl 
Victory"  scored  here,  with  a  total  o 
$29,900  at  two  houses,  $15,100  at^h, 
Warner  Hollywood  and  $14,800  a^t 
Warner  Downtown. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end 
ing  May  24: 

"Goodbye  Mr.  Chips"  (MGM) 

4  STAR — (900)    (40c-50c)   7  days.  Gross 
$9,000.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Para.) 
"Whispering  Enemies"  (Col.) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)   (30c-65c)  7  days 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $6,500 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,500)  (30c-$l)  7  days 
Gross:  $15,700.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Para.) 
"Outside  These  Walls"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2n. 
week.    Gross:  $5,300.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT—  (3,595)   (30c-65c)  7  days 
4th  week.  Stage:  F.  &  M.  revue.  Gross 
$15,000.    (Average,  $15,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (Hollywood)— (3,000) 
(30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,100.  (Average 
$14,000) 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (Downtown)— (3,400) 
(30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,800.  (Average 
$12,000.) 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Danger  Island"  (Col.) 

WILSHIRE— (2,300)  (30c-$L0O)  7  days 
Gross:  $11,000. 

Ohio  ITO  in  Battle 
For  Tax  Recover i 

Columbus,  May  28. — Carlton  S 
Dargusch,  former  vice-chairman  of  tin 
Ohio  Tax  commission,  has  been  re- 
tained by  the  I.T.O.  of  Ohio  as  coun- 
sel to  protect  interests  of  members  ii 
actions  to  recover  on  the  state  thre< 
per  cent  sales  tax. 

The  state's  answers  in  connectioi 
with  two  suits  for  recovery  are  due  ii 
Franklin  County  Court  of  Appeal: 
June  15. 

The  I.T.O.  has  advised  member; 
that  they  must  pay  the  "use"  tax  01 
purchases  made  outside  the  state.  Ta> 
Commission  auditors  have  been  check- 
ing exhibitors'  books  and  in  maty 
cases  exhibitors  have  been  compellec 
to  pay  the  tax  plus  a  15  per  cent  pen- 
alty. 

Para.  Seeks  Coast 
Television  Sendei 

Paramount  and  Allan  B.  DuMon 
Laboratories  will  make  application  tc 
the  Federal  Communications  Commis- 
sion for  a  license  for  a  televisioi 
transmitter  on  the  coast  in  the  neai 
future. 

Plan  is  to  erect  the  transmitter  or 
the  company's  new  studio  site.  Con- 
struction would  start  within  a  shor 
time   after  favorable   F.C.C.  action 

Television  Prod.,  Inc.,  for  whicl 
incorporation  papers  were  filed  latt 
last  week  in  Sacramento,  will  operah 
the  transmitter  under  direction  of  Pau 
Raibourn,  president  of  the  new  com: 
pany. 


RCA  Gets  Deal 

Deal  has  been  closed  whereby  6! 
theatres  of  the  Saenger  Amusement: 
and  United  Theatres  circuits  are  t( 
have  their  sound  reproducing  equip 
ment  serviced  by  RCA  Photophone 


RESERVE  YOUR  COPY  NOW 

Have  you  reserved  your  copy  of  the  1939-40  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
that  is  now  in  preparation?  We  suggest  that  you  order  yours  now  because  each 
year  the  demand  is  much  greater  than  the  supply. 

The  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac  is  the  annual  product  of  the  world-wide 
staff  of  the  Quigley  Publications,  focusing  between  its  covers  the  up-to-the-minute 
statistical  record  of  the  entire  industry.  Year  after  year  the  Almanac  serves  the 
world's  showmen  through  its  voluminous  compilation  of  significant  facts  and  fig- 
ures,— vigilantly  reflecting  the  ever-changing  panorama  of  the  business. 

To  the  producer,  distributor  and  exhibitor  and  to  all  those  whose  activities  im- 
pinge upon  the  entertainment  industry,  the  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
is  the  supreme  reference  authority,  conveniently  arranged  and  indexed  for  instant 
dependable  use. 

The  1939-40  edition  will  contain  over  1200  pages  and  will  represent  the  most  am- 
bitious effort  since  the  inauguration  of  the  first  Almanac,  more  than  a  decade  ago. 

ORDER  TO-DAY  ....  $3.25  POSTPAID 


v\OTION  PICTURE  ALMANAC 

OCKEFELLER       CENTER,  NEW  YORK 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  193 


NBC  Renewal 
Given  Fidler, 
Other  Shows 


Jimmy  Fidler's  NBC  broadcasts 
have  been  renewed  for  another  year, 
which  will  keep  Fidler  on  the  air 
over  NBC  until  June,  1940.  The 
film  gossiper  is  also  heard  over  CBS. 
Both  of  his  programs  are  sponsored 
by  Procter  &  Gamble,  with  the  H. 
W.  Kastor  agency  representing  the 
client. 

Another  program  renewed  on  NBC 
is  the  "Uncle  Jim  Question  Bee"  se- 
ries, sponsored  by  George  Washing- 
ton Coffee.  This  renewal  also  is  for 
one  year. 

On  the  west  coast,  the  Sperry  Flour 
Co.  has  extended  the  contract  of  the 
serial,  "Dr.  Kate,"  for  13  weeks,  ef- 
fective immediately.  Series  is  heard 
over  the  Pacific  split  Red  and  Moun- 
tain Red  networks.  Westco  agency 
handles  the  account. 

A  number  of  local  renewals  are 
"Musical  Varieties,"  sponsored  by 
RCA  Manufacturing  Co.  and  broad- 
cast mornings  over  WEAF,  for  13 
weeks ;  "Along  Fifth  Avenue,"  broad- 
cast over  WJZ  and  renewed  for  an 
additional  five  weeks  through  the 
World  Wide  agency ;  and  Benrus  time 
signals,  renewed  for  another  year 
through  J.  D.  Tarcher  agency. 


White  House  Party 
To  Hear  Girls'  Band 

Cincinnati,  May  28. — The  Coon 
Creek  Girls,  Lily  Mae,  Rosie  Leford, 
Viola  Hoehler  and  Daisy  Lange,  from 
the 'Kentucky  Mountains,  will  enter- 
tain President  and  Mrs.  Roosevelt  and 
the  King  and  Queen  of  England  at 
the  White  House  on  June  8.  The 
girls'  band  made  its  radio  debut 
slightly  over  a  year  ago  on  WCKY. 


Radio  Day  Delayed 
For  World's  Fair 

Although  plans  for  celebration  of 
the  first  official  radio  day  at  the 
World's  Fair  had  been  set  for  this 
week,  with  a  two-hour  WMAC  show, 
incomplete  Fair  facilities  for  the 
broadcast  have  necessitated  postpone- 
ment. The  new  date  is  expected  late 
in  June. 


Report  CBS  Stock  Gift 

Washington,  May  28. — Disposition 
of  600  shares  of  Columbia  Broadcast- 
ing System  Class  A  stock,  by  gift,  in 
December,  1938,  by  Jerome  H.  Louch- 
heim,  Philadelphia,  a  director  in  the 
company,  has  been  reported  tonight 
by  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Com- 
mission. At  the  close  of  the  year 
Louchheim  held  19,010  shares  of  Class 
A  stock. 


Baer  Fight  on  Air 

RCA  Manufacturing  Co.  has  signed 
to  sponsor  the  broadcast  of  the  Max 
Baer-Lou  Nova  heavyweight  prize 
fight  Thursday.  Broadcast  will  start 
at  10  and  will  be  aired  over  85  to 
95  stations  of  the  Blue  network. 


Sponsor  Buys  Show 

"Name  It  and  Take  It,"  program 
with  Ed  East  on  WJZ  for  the  past 
four  weeks,  has  been  sold  to  a  spon- 
sor. Effective  June  2,  American  Bev- 
erage Co.  will  be  behind  the  series. 


CBS's  Summer  Business 
Leaps  45%;  13  New  Shows 


Only  12  Programs  Taking 
Vacations  Off  Air; 
8  Return  in  Fall 


CBS  clients  will  broadcast  more 
than  45  per  cent  more  program-hours 
this  summer  than  last,  and  will  utilize 
over  60  per  cent  more  station  facili- 
ties, according  to  business  now  on  the 
books. 

Last  year  54  programs  were  broad- 
cast weekly  during  summer  months ; 
this  year  there  will  be  67.  Last  year 
20  programs  took  summer  vacations 
from  the  network ;  this  year  only  12 
are  planning  to  suspend,  with  eight  of 
the  12  already  scheduling  a  definite 
return  after  their  hiatus. 

New  CBS  programs  launched  at  the 
start  of  this  summer  include  "News 
and  Rhythm,"  for  Bowey's ;  "Music" 
by  Malneck  for  Pall  Mall;  "When  a 
Girl  Marries"  for  Prudential  Insur- 
ance and  a  new  series  for  Woodbury. 

Among  leading  accounts  which  are 
maintaining  full  summer  schedules  this 
year  are  Ford,  Reynolds  Tobacco,  and 
Pet  Milk.  Only  once  before  has  Ford 
continued  throughout  the  summer ; 
Camel  cigarettes  will  continue  both  of 
their  half-hour  programs.  Pet  Milk 
for  the  first  time  will  keep  its  "Satur- 
day Night  Serenade"  on  CBS  plus  its 
daytime  "Pet  Milk  Way"  show  all 
summer  Ions:. 


Radio  to  Describe 
Army  Maneuvers 

U.  S.  Army  authorities  have  extend- 
ed permission  for  extensive  radio  cov- 
erage of  the  Army  maneuvers  August 
16  to  25  in  the  vicinity  of  Plattsburg. 
Arrangements  were  negotiated  by  the 
Army  General  Staff,  Abe  Schechter, 
representing  NBC;  Bill  Dunn,  CBS; 
Morris  Novick,  WNYC,  and  Leon 
Goldstein  of  WMCA.  Mutual  was  not 
represented,  but  one  of  the  other  net- 
works was  its  proxy. 


RCA  Dividend 

RCA  has  declared  a  quarterly  divi- 
dend of  87yi  cents  per  share  on  its 
First  Preferred  stock  and  a  dividend 
of  $1.25  per  share  on  "B"  Preferred 
stock. 


Ruppert  Quits  WKRC 

Cincinnati,  May  28. — William  A. 
Schudt,  Jr.,  general  manager  of 
WKRC,  has  announced  the  resigna- 
tion of  R.  A.  Ruppert,  director  of 
advertising  and  sales  promotion. 


Free  Legal  Advice 
Is  Aired  in  Mexico 

Mexico  City,  May  28.— 
Radio  is  being  put  to  a  new 
use  in  Mexico  by  the  local 
Chamber  of  Commerce.  Free 
legal  advice  regarding  busi- 
ness problems  is  being  broad- 
cast for  businessmen  for  15 
minutes  every  Thursday  af- 
ternoon by  leading  lawyers, 
who  talk  for  publicity's  sake, 
from  Station  XEQ. 


Broadcasting  Rules 
Argument  Thursday 

Washington,  May  28. — Oral  ar- 
gument on  the  proposed  report  of  the 
Comrnittee  on  Rules  governing  opera- 
tion of  standard  broadcast  stations  will 
be  disposed  of  in  one  day  by  the  time 
limitations  adopted  yesterday  by  the 
F.C.C. 

The  argument  will  be  heard  June 
1,  and  the  commission  has  allocated 
six  hours,  of  which  the  N.A.B.  will 
be  given  40  minutes,  the  clear  channel 
group  80  minutes,  the  National  As- 
sociation of  Regional  Broadcast  Sta- 
tions one  hour,  and  the  National  In- 
dependent Broadcasters  40  minutes. 
CBS,  NBC  and  five  individual  broad- 
casters will  be  given  20  minutes  each. 


Radio  Personals 


C^BS  announcer  John  Allen  Wolfe 
;  became  the  father  of  a  baby  boy 
on  his  wedding  anniversary,  May  25. 
.  .  .  Jane  Froman  starts  her  new 
CBS  series  June  11,  about  the  same 
time  she  opens  in  George  White's 
"Scandals"  and  makes  a  week's  stay 
at  the  Paramount.  .  .  .  Frank  Vigneau, 
Guy  Lombardo's  pianist,  back  with 
the  band  after  being  out  with  ap- 
pendicitis. .  .  .  Barry  Woods,  CBS 
singer,  opens  with  his  own  band  at 
the  Claremont  June  1. 

• 

Fred  Weber,  general  manager  of 
Mutual,  back  from  Boston  on  Satur- 
day. .  .  .  Mary  Little,  radio  editor  of 
the  Des  Moines  Register  and  Tribune, 
accompanied  by  Gwen  McCleary, 
KRNT-KSO  commentator,  will  be  in 
New  York  tomorrow  for  one  week. 
Miss  Little  will  cover  radio  shows 
here  for  her  papers.  .  .  .  Dr.  Walter 
Damrosch  has  been  set  for  a  guest 
appearance  on  Bing  Crosby's  program 
Thursday. 


AP  News  for  Sale  to  Radio  Stations 


Associated  Press,  after  long 
consideration  of  the  problem, 
has  lifted  restrictions  against 
the  broadcasting  of  its  news 
on  sponsored  radio  programs. 

AP  is  the  last  of  the  great 
news  services  to  capitulate  to 
radio.  United  Press  and  Inter- 
national News  Service  have 
been  conducting  business  with 
radio  profitably  for  a  number 
of  years. 

AP  news  may  be  used  in 
sponsored   fashion    upon  pay- 


ment of  a  25  per  cent  special 
assessment.  However,  on  spon- 
sored programs,  credit  need  not 
be  given  AP  for  the  news.  On  un- 
sponsored  programs  the  grant- 
ing of  full  credit  will  be  man- 
datory. 

AP  news  recently  became 
available  to  stations  serviced 
with  news  by  the  Press  Radio 
Bureau  when  the  latter  went 
out  of  business.  This,  however, 
was  only  a  temporary  arrange- 
ment. 


B 


anner 
LINES 


THERE  isn't  much  likelihood  th; 
the  networks  will  sell  time  6 
their  short-wave  stations  now  that  th 
F.C.C.  has  granted  permission  to  d 

so. 

There  are  a  number  of  reasons  t* 
give  them  pause.  In  the  first  plae 
the  F.C.C.  ruling  is  so  muddle 
no  one  we  have  questioned  has 
fessed  to  understand  it.  The  stipula 
tion  that  programs  must  be  of  th 
type  to  "reflect  the  culture  of  thi 
country  and  which  will  promote  it 
ternational  goodwill,  understandin 
and  cooperation"  is  as  elastic  as 
rubber  band. 

Short-wave  operators  are  not  chii, 
dren  and  they  do  not  care  to  exper 
ment  by  seeing  how  far  it  can  stretc1 
before  breaking. 

They  do  not  need  to  be  reminde 
that  a  sting  follows  the  breaking  ( 
a  rubber  band. 

Again,  no  one  anticipates  that  tl 
money  to  be  derived  from  commerci; 
short-wave  will  ever  amount  to  in 
portant  revenue.  We've  talked  t 
both  NBC  and  CBS,  and  contrary  1 
what  has  been  printed  elsewhere,  ther 
has  been  no  rush  on  the  part  of  spot 
sors  to  crowd  the  short-wave  chat 
nels.  Networks  do  not  anticipate  an 
such  rush. 

Right  now  we  definitely  know  th;; 
the  surest  way  to  make  CBS  or  NBj 
unhappy  would  be  by  coming  up  an 
asking  to  buy  some  shortwave  tint 
Fact,  we'd  bet  they  won't  sell  ycj 
time. 

For  the  third  and  final  point,  rigl  I 
now  the  American  short-wave  st;' 
tions  are  very  much  in  favor  wit] 
South  American  listeners,  publishei 
and  broadcasters.  Private  belief  hei 
is  that  the  moment  they  start  to  conj 
pete  with  the  newspapers  and  statiot 
down  there,  they'll  have  a  dogge 
fight  on  their  hands.  All  in  all,  oi  ] 
short-wave  stations  have  received 
grant  they  did  not  seek,  and  no  h< 
want,  now  that  they've  got  it. 
T 

Newspapers  demonstrated  coi; 
clusively  in  the  Squalus  traged 
that  the  press  can  handle  domest 
news  as  quickly  and  efficiently 
radio.  It  was  a  lesson  radio  needei 
in  our  estimation,  for  broadcaster 
have  been  more  than  cocky  sinc\; 
they  licked  the  pants  off  the  pres1 
in  the  Czechoslovakia  crisis. 

▼ 

It  is  doubted  that  CBS  and  Mil 
tual  will  offer  facilities  of  their  Nc:\ 
York  City  key  stations  for  the  bast 
ball  broadcasts  again  next  sumrnc  i 
Tying  up  the  key  stations  raises  to\ 
much    havoc    ivith    their  nctzvor 
schedules,  they've  learned.  Probabt 
next  season  the  games  will  be  broat 
cast  over  local  stations  such  as  WHi 
and  WMCA. 

T 

CBS  and  NBC  will  again  take  a( 
tion  to  soft-pedal  the  monthly  tim 
sale  revenue  figures.  Business  depar 
ments  of  both  webs  are  currentl 
meeting  to  devise  a  new  method  ( 
conveying  such  information  to  t£ 
press.  The  new  policy,  it  is  indicate! 
will  stress  the  program  rather  tha 
the  financial  end. 

Last  year  the  networks,  for  a  pel 
riod,  withheld  completely  the  billin 
figures,  but  the  boycott  was  abandone 
when  the  press  succeeded  in  obtainin 
the  figures  despite  the  ban. 

By  Jack  Banne 


Alert, 


to  the  IVVotion 

Picture 

ndustry 


HO  NOT  R  EMC 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


.  45.  NO.  104 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  31,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


enate  Group 
Weighs  Neely 
Report  Today 

i position  to  Bill  Shown 
By  Committeemen 

Vashington,  May  30. — Carrying 
the  promise  made  to  Senator 
ply  last  week,  the  Interstate  Com- 
rce  subcommittee  in  charge  of  the 
:k  booking  bill  will  meet  tomorrow 
ruing  to  consider  the  recommenda- 
h  to  be  reported  to  the  full  com- 
Ttee. 

[eturning  to  Washington  yesterday, 
airman  Smith  of  the  subcommittee 
tied  a  call  for  the  meeting,  as  Chair- 
n  Wheeler  of  the  full  committee 
I  promised  May  26,  after  Senator 
ely  "let  loose"  on  the  floor  over  the 
issitudes  to  which  his  bill  had  been 
•jected. 

Vhile  the  committee  last  year,  with- 
hearings,  made  a  favorable  report 

the  measure,  observers  here  believe 
subcommittee  will  submit  an  ad- 

se  report,  basing  their  prediction 

the  attitude  of  members  attending 
hearings. 

At  that  time,  it  is  pointed  out, 
lator  Smith  frequently  expressed 
obt  as  to  the  desirability  of  the 
islation ;  Senator  White  voted 
linst  the  bill  in  the  Senate  last  year, 
I  Senator  Tobey,  not  present,  is 
>ected  to  take  his  cue  from  Senator 

'nite. 

3arkley  is  noncommital. 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  30. — James  Roose 
t.  vice-president  of  Samuel  Gold 
n.  Inc.,  today  sent  his  regrets  to 
A.   Steffes  of  Minneapolis,  na 
nal  Allied  convention  chairman,  who 
1  invited  him  to  address  the  meet 
Roosevelt  will   probably  leave 
ursday  for  New  York. 

• 

A  arners  will  release  two  one-reel 
ijects  produced  by  Errol  Flynn  and 
•ward  Hill  on  hunting  and  fishing 
h  bows  and  arrows. 

• 

3aramount  has  signed  Joel  McCrea 
two  years  on  exclusive  contract, 
will  be  co-starred  with  Madeleine 
.  rroll  in  "Safari."  .  .  .  Selznick  Inter- 
ional  will  star  Carole  Lombard  in 
he  Flashing  Stream,"  which  Alfred 
tchcock   will   direct.    .    .    .  Claire 
evor  will  play  opposite  John  Wayne 
RKO's   "Pennsvlvania  Uprising," 
ich   P.   J.   Wolfson   will  produce 
•m  his  own  script. 


MGM  Short  Grows 
Into  a  Full  Feature 

Hollywood,  May  30. — M-G- 
M  will  make  a  feature  release 
out  of  "They  All  Come  Out," 
originally  a  "Crime  Does  Not 
Pay"  two-reeler.  A  documen- 
tary on  Federal  prison  re- 
form, the  film  was  enlarged 
to  four  reels,  and  now  will  be 
made  as  a  six-reeler. 

It  will  have  romance  and  a 
regular  story,  with  Rita 
Johnson  taking  the  feminine 
lead  opposite  Tom  Neal.  This 
will  be  the  first  feature  for 
Jack  Chertok,  shorts  pro- 
ducer. 


Merger  of  Hoyts 
and  Greater  Union 
Houses  Under  Way 


Warner  26-Week 
Operating  Profit 
Totals  $1,665,888 


Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Inc.,  and 
subsidiaries,  report  a  net  operating 
profit  of  $1,665,888.90,  for  the  26 
weeks  ending  Feb.  25,  1939,  after  de- 
ducting all  charges,  including  amorti- 
zation and  depreciation  and  Federal 
income  taxes. 

The  net  compares  with  a  net  oper- 
ating profit  of  $2,824,618.13  for  the 
corresponding  period  the  previous 
year. 

The  net  profit  from  operations  for 
the  more  recent  period,  before  charges 
for  amortization  and  deprecation  of 
properties  and  Federal  income  taxes, 
was  $5,187,173.83.  Gross  income  for 
the  period,  after  eliminating  intercom- 
pany transactions,  was  $25,216,483.13. 
the  comparable    figure    for    the  pe- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


By  LIN  ENDEAN 

Sydney,  May  30.— Merger  of  Hoyts 
Theatres  and  Greater  Union  Theatres, 
Australia's  dominant  circuits,  is  under 
way. 

The  combination  would  merge  145 
theatres  in  key  cities,  suburbs  and 
secondary  towns.  The  deal  provides 
for  consolidation  of  the  two  companies 
and  affiliates  into  one  company.  A  new 
corporation  would  be  formed. 

The  merger  would  include  all  the- 
atres and  other  interests.  The  the- 
atres operated  by  Dan  Carroll,  the 
Prince  Edward  in  Sydney  and  Win- 
ter Garden,  Brisbane,  would  be  in- 
cluded. Greater  Union  is  interested 
in  these  holdings.  Any  profits  derived 
from  the  operation  of  these  houses 
would  be  included  in  the  pool. 

Hoyts  owns  about  100  theatres,  in- 
cluding 80  suburban  houses.  Greater 
Union  has  about  40. 


The  merger  negotiations  are  in 
progress  in  New  York  between 
Charles  E.  Munro,  managing  director 
of  Hoyts,  and  Norman  Bede  Rydge, 
Greater  Union  managing  director.  Dan 
Carroll  is  also  here. 

In  addition  to  the  interests  named 
above,  the  deal  would  include  the 
Snider-Dean  operations  grouped  in 
National  Theatres,  which  are  jointly 
owned  with  Hoyts.  These  include  the 
St.  James,  Brisbane ;  Lyceum,  Mel 
bourne  ;  Mayfair,  Sydney  ;  a  theatre  in 
Hobart  and  one  in  Launceston,  both  in 
Tasmania. 

Hoyts  and  Greater  Union  in  1932 
combined  in  joint  operation  under  a 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


6U9  Sets  Production  Record; 
Seven  Pictures  Being  Shot 


Hollywood,  May  30.  —  Universal 
studios  reach  a  production  peak  this 
week  as  the  company  enters  its  second 
year  under  new  management.  Seven 
major  productions  are  in  work,  taxing 
present  facilities,  with  2,500  employes 
on  the  payroll.  This  is  said  to  be  an 
all-time  high  for  the  company. 

N.  J.  Blumberg,  president,  has  ar- 
rived for  an  indefinite  stay  at  Uni- 
versal City  to  check  current  produc- 
tion and  supervise  plans  for  continued 
expansion,  in  collaboration  with  Cliff 
Work,  Matty  Fox,  Milton  Feld  and 
other  studio  executives. 

The  studios  have  undergone  a  physi- 
cal transformation   since  Blumberg's 


first  official  visit  here  a  year  ago 
Improvements,  under  the  supervision 
of  David  S.  Garber,  operations  man- 
ager, have  been  made  in  every  depart- 
ment. 

More  than  $300,000  has  been  spent 
on  reconstruction  and  new  equipment 
and  additional  sums  have  been  appro- 
priated. Extra  crews  have  been 
ordered  on  two  new  sound  stages.  By 
working  24  hours  a  day,  it  is  planned 
to  complete  both  units  by  July  1.  Con- 
struction is  being  speeded  because  of 
the  increased  production  schedule, 
which  calls  for  shooting  at  top  speed 
on  nine  features  throughout  July. 
Present  facilities  accommodate  seven. 


Para.  In  Study 
of  Television 
For  Key  Cities 


Watch  All  Developments, 
Circuit  Chiefs  Told 


Paramount  theatre  operators  have 
been  asked  to  make  surveys  to  deter- 
mine the  feasibility  of  establishing 
television  transmitters  in  their  key 
cities  throughout  the  country. 

Paramount  officials,  admitting  that 
the  idea  of  such  a  network  of  tele- 
vision transmitters  had  been  con- 
sidered, said  that  for  the  present  seri- 
ous thought  had  been  given  only  to 
the  erection  of  stations  in  New  York 
and  Los  Angeles.  Elsewhere,  the 
prospect  of  early  construction  activity 
is  not  a  live  one,  it  was  said. 

Circuit  operators  affiliated  with  the 
company  in  populous  centers  such  as 
Chicago,  Detroit,  Boston,  Atlanta, 
New  Orleans  and  Dallas  have  been 
urged  to  keep  abreast  of  television 
developments,  to  survey  its  practical 
application  to  their  territories  and  to 
consider  as  an  ultimate  objective  the 
establishment  of  transmitters  in  their 
key  cities. 

Paramount  has  a  50  per  cent  inter- 
est in  DuMont  Laboratories,  manufac- 
turer of  television  equipment.  Their 
applications  for  transmitter  licenses 
both  here  and  on  the  coast  may  be 
acted  upon  by  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission  in  the  near  future. 

Paramount  recently  completed  or- 
ganization of  Television  Productions, 
Inc.,   in   California   with   Paul  Rai- 

(Confinued  on  page  7) 


20th-Fox  Meeting 
At  Rio  Tomorrow 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  May  30.  —  First 
South  American  convention  of  20th 
Century-Fox  will  start  here  Thurs- 
day for  three  days  with  S.  R.  Kent, 
president,  and  Walter  J.  Hutchinson, 
foreign  chief,  attending.  Kent  arrives 
Thursday  from  New  York. 

The  20th  Century-Fox  president  will 
outline  Latin  -  American  production 
plans  and  a  program  to  strengthen 
ties  with  exhibitors  and  the  industry 
in  that  market. 

Kent  will  be  received  by  President 
Vargas  and  Foreign  Minister  Oswaldo 
Aranha  of  Brasil. 

J.  C.  Bavetta,  Brazil  managing  di- 
rector, is  host  to  the  gathering,  which 
will  be  attended  by  Managing  Direc- 
tors S.  S.  Horen  of  Argentina,  S. 
Chiesa  of  Peru  and  Arthur  Ruscica 
of  Chile  and  40  salesmen. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  31,  193'! 


25,000  More 
Members  Set 
As  Aim  of  4A 


"First  obligation  of  any  actors' 
union  is  to  organize  every  entertainer 
in  the  country,  and  it  is  the  aim  of  the 
Associated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
America  to  increase  its  membership 
from  the  present  25,000  to  more  than 
50,000,"  Florence  Marston,  eastern 
representative  of  the  Screen  Actors' 
Guild,  declared  Monday. 

Mrs.  Marston  is  chairman  of  the 
Reconstruction  Committee  of  the 
A.A.A.A.  which  seeks  to  reorganize 
the  13  member  unions  into  "one  big 
union." 

"Many  legal,  financial  and  technical 
difficulties  stand  in  the  way,"  Mrs. 
Marston  continued,  "but  we  are  ap- 
proaching the  problem  from  an  en- 
tirely new  angle.  Today  we  are 
starting  from  scratch  and  disregarding 
the  existing  setup. 

"We  are  asking  ourselves  how  we 
can  best  be  of  service  to  our  25,000 
members  and  working  out  the  details 
to  suit  them.  The  unskilled  and  semi- 
skilled are  the  greatest  problem.  They 
work  in  only  one  field  and  have  spe- 
cial problems  in  that  field.  The  screen 
extras,  for  example,  have  little  inter- 
est in  the  legitimate  stage,  radio  or 
vaudeville." 

Mrs.  Marston  pointed  out  that  there 
are  hundreds  of  cities  and  towns 
where  entertainers  are  still  unorgan- 
ized. The  little  theatres,  night  clubs, 
radio  stations  and  tent  shows  will  be 
the  focal  point  of  an  organization 
drive. 


Washer  In  Goldwyn 
Publicity  Post  Again 

Ben  Washer  is  returning  to  Samuel 
Goldwyn  as  eastern  publicity  and  ad- 
vertising representative.  He  will  start 
officially  July  12.  His  first  assign- 
ments will  be  "Music  School"  and 
"The  Real  Glory." 

Washer  was  with  Samuel  Goldwyn, 
then  became  United  Artists  publicity 
manager.  He  resigned  some  months 
ago  to  handle  publicity  for  George 
Abbott  Productions.  He  will  be  suc- 
ceeded in  that  post  by  Frank  J.  Mc- 
Carthy. 


3  Flights  Daily 
NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

S}    THE  PLAINSMAN 

Wm       Lv.  7:10  A.  M.   Ar.  12:29  A.  M. 

I   THE  MERCURY 

JB        Lv.  5:10  P.  M.   Ar.  7:43  A.  M. 

!   THE  SOUTHERNER 

Lv.  10:10  P.  M.    Ar.  1:55  P.  M. 

Ask  your  travel  agent  or  phone 
VAnderbilt  3-2  580.  Ticket  offices: 
45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rocke- 
feller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES  / 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


FRED  LANGE,  Paramount's  Euro- 
pean supervisor,  and  Joseph  H. 
Seidelman,  Universal  foreign  chief, 
sailed  yesterday  on  the  N  ormandie. 
Others  aboard  were  Leon  G.  Turrou, 
author  of  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi 
Spy" ;  Mary  Pickford,  Clare  Booth, 
Henri  Bernstein,  French  playwright, 
and  Ignace  Jan  Paderewski. 
• 

Raymond  Massey  will  receive  an 
honorary  degree  from  Lafayette  Col- 
lege June  9.  He  will  be  the  first  actor 
so  honored  in  the  college's  108  years 
existence. 

• 

Annabelle  Kelly,  20th  Century- 
Fox  ad  sales  manager  in  Cincinnati, 
is  celebrating  her  20th  anniversary  as 
an  employe  of  the  company. 

• 

J.  J.  Ferretti  of  United  States  Air 
Conditioning  International  Corp.,  now 
in  South  Africa,  writes  he  is  sailing 
for  home  next  month. 

• 

Herbert  Rawlinson,  eastern  repre- 
sentative for  Jesse  L.  Lasky  in  the 
"Gateway  to  Hollywood"  talent  quest, 
has  gone  to  the  coast. 

• 

Herman  Gluckman,  head  of  Re- 
public's New  York  exchange,  is  ex- 
pected back  tomorrow  after  a  brief 
Havana  vacation. 

• 

Fay  Holden  and  Leslie  Fenton 
have  been  signed  to  new  M-G-M  con- 
tracts. 

Abe  Cohen,  assistant  office  man- 
ager at  Columbia's   New   York  ex- 
change, is  vacationing  upstate. 
• 

Anna  Bell  Ward  of  the  Eliott- 
Ward  Enterprises,  Lexington,  Ky.,  is 
in  New  York  on  a  buying  trip. 
• 

Ed  Schnitzer,  eastern  district  man- 
ager for  Warners,  returns  today  from 
a  brief  visit  to  Montreal. 

• 

Benny  Goodman,  playing  at  the 
RKO  Albee,  Cincinnati,  is  celebrating 
his  30th  birthday. 


STUART  E.  DUNLAP,  M-G-M 
sales  head  in  South  America,  ar- 
rives in  New  York  from  Chile  today 
on  the  Santa  Lucia.  He  will  remain 
here  about  a  month,  combining  busi- 
ness with  a  vacation. 

• 

Anthony  Petti,  assistant  to  J. 
Cheever  Cowdin,  Universal  board 
chairman,  returned  to  New  York  over 
the  weekend  from  an  extended  coast 
visit. 

Milton  Harris,  Loew  publicity  di- 
rector in  Cleveland,  and  Mrs.  Harris, 
sail  June  3  on  the  Quirigua  for  a 
three-week  southern  cruise. 

• 

Sid  Heyman,  recently  appointed 
Monogram  auditor,  will  take  over  his 
new  post  Monday  following  a  week's 
vacation  in  Lake  George. 

• 

William  Rowland,  producer  of 
Spanish  films  for  RKO  release,  has 
left  for  Mexico  City  by  plane  to  re- 
sume production  there. 

• 

Pearle  Fireman  of  the  Warner 
Chicago  exchange  will  be  married 
August  6  to  Ted  Levy,  Warner  cir- 
cuit booker  in  Chicago. 

• 

Emanuel  Silverstone,  Alexander 
Korda's  American  representative,  ar- 
rived yesterday  from  the  coast  after 
a  brief  stopover  in  Chicago. 

• 

Mitchell  Rawson,  Warners  pub- 
licity manager,  is  vacationing. 


FA  Seeks  Big  Deal 
With  Grand  National 

Hollywood,  May  30. — Thirty  pro- 
ductions will  be  Fine  Arts  contribu- 
tion to  Grand  National's  19,39-40  pro- 
gram if  a  deal  now  being  negotiated 
by  attorneys  for  both  companies  is 
made,  according  to  Franklyn  Warner, 
Fine  Arts  president. 

Fine  Arts  is  now  making  "Trouble 
Over  Pacific,"  in  color.  Warner  said 
should  negotiations  fail,  Fine  Arts  will 
reduce  its  output  to  eight  films  and 
try  to  arrange  a  major  release. 


Springfield  Turns  Out 
For  'Young Mr.  Lincoln' 


Springfield,  111.,  May  30. — This 
capital  city  of  Illinois,  where  Abraham 
Lincoln  practiced  law  as  a  young  man, 
was  the  scene  today  of  the  premiere  of 
the  20th  Century-Fox  feature,  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln,"  at  the  Fox-Lincoln. 

With  newspaper  and  magazine  writ- 
ers brought  in  by  special  train  from 
New  York  and  the  midwest,  and  an- 
other contingent  of  writers  and  stars 
from  the  coast,  with  the  legislature 
of  Illinois  adjourned  for  the  day  and 
the  city  virtually  turned  over  to  the 
visitors  by  Mayor  John  W.  Kapp  of 
Springfield,  the  picture  was  greeted 
royally. 

The  city's  streets  were  appropri- 
ately decorated  for  the  dual  observ- 
ance of  the  opening  of  the  film  in  the 
evening  and  Memorial  Day. 

The  program  in  the  evening  in- 
cluded a  broadcast  from  10  to  10:30 
o'clock  over  a  72-station  Mutual  hook- 


up. Lowell  Thomas  was  master  of 
ceremonies.  Marian  Anderson,  Negro 
contralto,  featured  the  broadcast. 

The  state  was  represented  at  the 
premiere  by  Lieut.  Gov.  John  Stelle 
and  a  committee  of  seven  members  of 
the  State  Senate  and  seven  Represen- 
tatives. 

A  luncheon  was  given  by  the  Mid- 
Day  Club  for  the  visitors,  welcomed 
by  Mayor  Kapp.  At  the  speakers' 
table  were  Thomas,  Alice  Brady,  Ar- 
leen  Whelan,  Binnie  Barnes,  Cesar 
Romero,  Charles  E.  McCarthy,  Eddie 
Collins,  Emanuel  Hertz,  Lloyd  Lewis, 
Elmer  Rhoden,  Fox  Midwest  division 
manager,  and  Dr.  Herman  B.  Wells, 
president  of  Indiana  University. 
Points  of  historical  interest  were  vis- 
ited during  the  afternoon. 

A  buffet  dinner  at  the  Abraham 
Lincoln  Hotel  followed  the  screening 
in  the  evening. 


Managers  Go 
on  Strike  at  71 
5-Boro  Houses 


Seven  houses  of  the  Five  Boro  cir 
cuit  (Leff,  Strassberg  &  Goldbaum 
were  called  out  on  strike  by  the  The1' 
atrical  Managers,  Agents  and  T|q 
urers  Union  at  6  P.  M.  Monday.  HI 
strike  was  called  to  obtain  recogn 
tion  of_  the  T.M.A.T.  as  collectiv 
bargaining  agent  for  managers  an 
assistants. 

Houses  involved  are  the  DeLuxi 
Freeman,  Tower,  Lido,  Fenway  an 
Zenith,  in  the  Bronx,  and  the  Grar 
ada,  Brooklyn.  The  union  declare 
the  following  managers  and  assis 
ants  had  struck : 

Charles  Friedman,  manager,  Irvin 
Siegel,  assistant,  DeLuxe ;  Marti 
Wurtzberger,  manager,  Jack  Brigh 
assistant,  Granada ;  Jack  Weinsteii 
manager,  Jerry  Sanders,  assistan 
Freeman ;  Louis  Klein,  manage 
Herman  Kornweiser,  assistant,  Tout 
er ;  Edmund  Brandhorst,  manager,  J< 
seph  Zillon,  assistant,  Lido;  Morr 
Shan,  manager,  Harry  Gandel,  a: 
sistant,  Fenway;  and  C.  E.  Baroi 
manager,  Zenith. 


Legion  Approves  8 
Of  Nine  New  Film 

National  Legion  of  Decency  for  tl 
current  week  has  approved  eight  c 
the  nine  new  films  reviewed  ad 
classified,  five  for  general  patronaf 
and  three  for  adults,  and  designate 
one  as  objectionable  in  part.  The  ne 
films  and  their  classification  follo\ 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gei 
eral  Patronage— "Blue  M  on  tar 
Skies,"  "Captain  Fury,"  "Flamir 
Lead,"  "Mystery  Plane,"  "Triggi 
Fingers."  Class  A-2,  Unobjectiona 
for  Adults— "Blind  Alley,"  "Brid; 
Suite,"  "The  Gorilla."  Class  B,  01 
jectionable  in  Part — "The  Kid  fro: 
Kokomo." 


ir 
V 
b 


Signed  as  Director 

Hollywood),  Ma^  30. — Twentiei 
Century-Fox  has  signed  Hamiltc 
McFadden  as  director.  Metro  has  n 
newed  Leslie  Fenton's  contract  as  d 
rector. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  LY 

(Registered  V.  S.  Patent  Office) 
MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  Editor-in-Chief  a 
Publisher;  SAM  SHAIN,  Editor;  JAM" 
A.  CRON,  Advertising  Manager. 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundfl 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Coil 
pany,  Inc.,  Martin  Quigley,  president 
Colvin  Brown,  vice-president  and  treasurn 
Publication  office:  1270  Sixth  Avenue  |] 
Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  Telephonl 
Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address:  "Quigpubcj 
New  York."  All  contents  copyrighted  19  ] 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Ir 
Address  all  correspondence  to  the  New  Yff  l 
office. 

Other  Quigley  publications :  Motic  ■ 
Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  TeatiI 
al  Dia,  International  Motion  Pictu  I 
Almanac  and  Fame. 

BUREAUS:  -^-Hollywood:  Postal  Unii 
Life  Building,  Vine  and  Yucca  Sts. ;  Boo  y 
Ma'ncall,    manager';    William    R.    Weave  fl 
editor.    Chicago:  624  S.  Michigan  Ave.,  C 
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W. ^  1 :  cable  address,   Quigpubco,  Londo 
Hope  Williams,  manager. 

Entered  as  second  class  matter  Sept. 
1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  1 
under  the 'act  .of  March  3,  1879. 

Subscription  rates  per  year  $6  in  tj 
Americas  and  $12  foreign.  Single  copies  U 


1 


vfEWED! 


"The  best  Tarzan  picture  I  have  ever  seen/'  says 
author  Edgar  Rice  Burroughs!  A  fortune  is  coming  to  the  box- 
offices  of  America  and  M-G-M's  tip  to  you  is  Get  Your  Share! 


from  the  Friendly  Company 


-I 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  31,  19 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Tarzan  Finds  a  Son" 

(M-G-M) 

_  Hollywood,  May  30.— A  quick  description  of  M-G-M's  latest  Tarzan 
picture,  "Tarzan  Finds  a  Son,"  would  be  "cops  'n'  robbers  in  a 
jungle."  The  picture,  replete  with  melodramatic  thrills  on  land,  in  the 
air  and  in  water,  perhaps  will  be  the  most  popular  of  M-G-M's  series 
teaturing  Johnny  Weissmuller  by  virtue  of  making  use  of  almost  every 
minute  for  thrills  and  comedy. 

Supporting  Weissmuller  in  his  familiar  role  are  Maureen  O'Sullivan, 
as  his  mate,  "Jane,"  and  John  Sheffield,  a  youngster  whose  displayed 
prowess  makes  him  a  "find."  Others  in  the  cast  are :  Ian  Hunter,  Henry 
Stephenson,  Frieda  Inescort,  Henry  Wilcoxon,  Laraine  Day  and  Mor- 
ton Lowry. 

There  are  fights  between  wild  animals,  an  elephant  charge,  comedy 
among  the  chimpanzees,  entrancing  shots  of  African  wild  life,  and  some 
views  of  underwater  swimming  by  Weissmuller  and  the  boy  that  are 
spectacular. 

A  preview  audience  of  young  and  old  were  entranced  by  the  picture 
and  they,  although  regarding  some  of  the  scenes  overdone,  were  wildly 
enthusiastic. 

Sam  Zimbalist  produced  the  film,  with  Richard  Thorpe  directing  and 
Cyril  Hume  writing  the  screenplay  based  on  the  characters  created  by 
Edgar  Rice  Burroughs. 

Tarzan  and  his  mate  adopt  an  infant,  sole  survivor  of  a  jungle  plane 
wreck.  Five  years  later,  a  safari  arrives  in  Tarzan's  domain  to  see  if 
there  are  any  survivors.  In  the  party  are  two  cousins  of  the  boy  who 
plot  to  obtain  his  estate  in  England,  and  Tarzan's  mate  permits  them, 
through  tricking  Tarzan,  to  take  the  boy.  Their  true  intentions  are 
revealed  as  all,  with  the  exception  of  Tarzan,  are  captured  by  cannibals. 
Tarzan  with  the  aid  of  his  animal  friends,  rescues  the  party. 

Running  time,  81  minutes.  Vance  King 


"Across  the  Plains" 

(Monogram) 

Hollywood,  May  30. — A  good  story,  production  detail  that  features 
scenic  beauty  and  gets  full  value  for  every  dollar  spent,  natural  acting 
and  the  full  quota  of  thrills,  excitement  and  action  establish  "Across 
the  Plains"  as  better  than  an  average  western.  It  has  the  stuff  to  engage 
both  juvenile  and  adult  attention. 

The  theme  concerns  two  brothers,  made  orphans  when  marauders 
murder  their  pioneer  parents.  One,  Denis  Moore,  adopted  by  bandits, 
becomes  a  first  class  bad  man  on  reaching  maturity.  The  other,  Jack 
Randall,  adopted  by  Indians,  lives  only  to  avenge  himself  upon  those 
who  killed  his  parents.  Their  paths  cross  and  immediately  they  be- 
come enemies.  But  through  old  scout  Hal  Price  they  learn  their  rela- 
tionship just  as  they  are  about  to  fight  a  pistol  duel.  Moore,  learning 
that  the  bandits  headed  by  Robert  Card  are  those  who  made  him  an 
orphan,  joins  with  Randall  to  prevent  their  looting  of  a  wagon  train. 
Moore  is  killed  in  the  melee  ensuing  and  Randall,  his  days  of  wandering 
for  vengeance  over,  settles  down  to  romance  with  Joyce  Bryant. 

While  Randall  gives  his  usual  convincing  performance,  Moore  is  out- 
standing in  his  role.  Capable  support  is  contributed  by  Price,  Card, 
Miss  Moore,  Bud  Osborne  and  Glen  Strange. 

Running  time,  50  minutes.  "G."* 

G.  McC. 


'Kentucky'  at 
$32,600  Best 
As  Loop  Slips 


Chicago,  May  30. — "The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky"  aided  by  Eddie 
Duchin  and  his  band,  gave  the 
Chicago  $32,600.  Business  generally 
was  badly  off.  "On  Trial"  at  the 
State  Lake  was  the  only  other  house 
to  better  average,  with  $12,100. 

Estimated   Takings   for   the  week 
ending  May  24-27 : 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

APOLLO— (1,400)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:    Eddie    Duchin    and    Band.  Gross: 
$32,600.    (Average.  $32,000) 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

GARRICK — (900)     (35c-40c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $4,700.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"First  Offenders"  (Col.) 
"Almost  a  Gentleman"  (RKO) 

ORIENTAL—  (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville  &  Revue.    Gross:  $10,800. 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days, 
2nd  week.    Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
$13,000.    (Average,  $19,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,200.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

STATE-LAKE  —  (2,700)    (25c-35c-40c)  7 
cays.     Stage:     Vaudeville    Revue.  Gross: 
112,100.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS—  (1,700)  (35c-55c-75c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Aver- 
age, $15,000) 

'Wonderful'  Draws 
$11,000,  Providence 

Providence,  May  30. — Loew's  State 
dual,  "It's  a  Wonderful  World"  and 
"Tell  No  Tales"  with  $11,000,  and 
the  Majestic  theatre's  combination  of 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  and  "The 
Last  Warning"  with  $7,000,  were 
leaders  here. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  24-25 : 

"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,230)   (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"The  Last  Warning"  (Univ.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)   (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

RKO-ALBEE— (2,239)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 
"Sunset  Trail"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)     (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Mystery  of  the  White  Room"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S  — (1,800)     (25c-35c-40c)     7  days. 
Vaudeville.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (Z0th-Fox) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

CARLTON — (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $3,500) 


'Pygmalion9  Omaha's 
Best,  Strong  $8,200 

Omaha,  May  30.  —  "Pygmalion," 
dualled  with  "Newsboys  Home,"  drew 
$8,200  at  the  Omaha.  "Sergeant 
Madden"  and  "Everybody's  Baby" 
took  $7,900  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  25-26: 

"You    Can't    Get    Away     with  Murder" 
(W.B.) 

"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.B.) 

BRANDEIS — (1,200 J   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,900.   (Average,  $4,000) 
"Pygmalion"  (M-G-M) 
"Newsboys'  Home"  (Univ.) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
58.200.     (Average.  $6,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Everybody's  Baby"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ORPHEUM — (3.000)  (25c-40c)  7  days 
Gross:  $7,900.    (Average.  $7,600) 


'Rose'  Collects  $2,700 
In  New  Haven  Slump 

New  Haven,  May  30. — The  only 
bill  to  reach  average  business  was 
the  holdover  of  "Rose  of  Washing- 
ton Square"  and  "Mr.  Moto  on  Dan- 
ger Island,"  which  took  $2,700  at  the 
College. 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Mr.  Moto  on  Danger  Island"  (Z0th-Fox) 

COLLEGE— (1,499)   (35c-50c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,700.    (Average,  $2,700) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 

LOEW-POLI— (3,040)    (3Sc-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 
(Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,348)   (35c-50c)   5  days. 
(Holdover).    Gross:  $3,600.   (Average,  $4,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

ROGER  SHERMAN-(2,200)  (35c-50c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $4,700) 


'Union  Pacific'  Hits 
$8,300  in  Montreal 

Montreal,  May  30. — "Union  Pa- 
cific" stood  out  here  taking  $8,300  at 
Loew's.  "East  Side  of  Heaven,"  on 
a  double  bill  at  the  Capitol,  drew 
$7,000.  Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  26 : 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c).  Gross: 
$7,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  —  (2,800)    (30c-40c-60c).  Gross: 
$8,300.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Zenobia"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)    (25c-35c-50c).  Gross: 
*3,200.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c).  Gross: 
$8,500.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

PRINCESS  —  (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c). 
Gross:  $4,400.    (Average,  $6,500) 


'Heights'  Hits 
$6,300  Gross 
In  Milwauke 


Milwaukee,  May  30. — "Wuth< 
ing  Heights"  and  "Fisherma 
Wharf"  collected  $6,300  at  the  W; 
ner  for  the  week's  bigh.  "The  iS 
of  a  Baby"  was  good  for  $5,5(1^. 
the  Alhambra. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  we 
ending  May  25-26 : 

"The  Birth  of  a  Baby" 

ALHAMBRA—  (2,660)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  da 
Gross:  $5,500. 

"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)     (25c-30c)     7  da 
Stage:  "Broadway  Merry-Go-Round."  Gro 
$6,500.    (Average,  $6,500") 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

WARNER  —  (2,400)     (35c-50c)     7  da 
Gross:  $6,300.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 
"Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  (20th-Fox) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Boy  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

PALACE — (2,400)  (35c-50c)  3  and  4  da 
respectively.  Gross :  $3,800.   (Average,  $4,( 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (3Sc-50c)  7  days.  Grc 
$1,600.    (Average,  $2,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (35c-50c)  7  da 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,500) 


'Freedom'  $26,500 
Pittsburgh  Lead* 

Pittsburgh,  May  30. — "Let  Fr 
dom  Ring,"  grossed  an  exceptio 
$26,500  at  the  Stanley  with  a  M 
show.  "Rose  of  Washington  Squa 
brought  $7,600  to  the  Fulton,  and 
second  week  of  "Union  Pacific"  g; 
$6,300  to  the  Warner. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  ei 
ing  May  25 : 

"The  Gorilla"  (Zttth-Fox) 

ALVIN  —  (1,900)     (25c-35c-50c)     7  d; 
Gross:  $3,900.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (Z0th-Fo>' 

FULTON— (1,700)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Grc 
$7,600.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

LOEW'S    PENN— (3,600)  (25c-35c-50c7 
days.    Gross:  $14,400.    (Average,  $15,000) 
"Missing  Daughters"  (Col.)  4  days 
"My  Man  Godfrey"  (Uni.)  3  days 
"Old  Dark  House"  (Uni.)  3  days 

SENATOR- (2,000)  (25c-40c)  split  weel 
days.  Gross:  $1,800.  (Average,  $3,800)  (1 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY  —  (3,600)    (25c-40c-60c)  sta 
Eleanor    Powell,    Andy    Iona's  Hawaii; 
Pichinchi  Troupe,  Randall  Sisters,  Joe  K 
7  days.    Gross:  $26,500.    (Average,  $17,(-ii 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days, 
week.    Gross:  $6,300.    (Average,  $4,500) 


'Hardys'  Registers 
$13,000,  Clevelar 

Cleveland,  May  ,30. — "The  Han 
Ride  High"  led  here  with  $13,000 
Loew's  State.  "Dark  Victory"  pi; 
ing  its  third  week  downtown  finis! 
with  $4,500  at  the  Allen. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  ei 
ing  May  26: 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days, 
week.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (ZOth-Fo) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME  —  (3,1 
(30c-35c-42c)  7  davs.  Gross:  $11,000.  (A\ 
age,  $11,000) 

"The  Gorilla"  (Zffth-Fox) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,100)  (30c-42c-55c) 
days.    Stage:  Mae  West  in  person.  Grt 
$15,000.    (Average,  $15,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)  (30c-35c-42c 
days.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average,  $11,000) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLM  AN— (1,900)  (30c-, 
42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $2,500.   (Average,  $4,1 


Lincoln' at  Springfield  Is 
Memorable  Industry  Event 


(Special  to  Motion  Picture  Daily) 

Springfield,  III.,  May  30. — Probably  the 
greatest  demonstration  of  audience  enthusiasm  in 
notion  picture  history  greeted  "Young  Mr.  Lin- 
coln" at  its  world  premiere  tonight. 

The  audience,  including  100  key  representatives 
3f  the  nation's  press,  wept,  laughed,  thrilled  and 
without  restraint  greeted  the  conclusion  of  the  pic- 
ure  with  sustained  salvos  of  applause. 
The    reception    proves    Darryl    F.  Zanuck's 
Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  one  of  the  mightiest  class 
md  mass  attractions  the  industry  has  yet  produced. 


And  millions  the  country  over 
were  listening  in  to  the  World 
Premiere  broadcast  over  72 
stations! 


i 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  31,  19. 


75  Paramount 
N.Y.  Delegates 
To  Coast  Meet 


Paramount's  national  sales  conven- 
tion which  opens  June  8  at  the  Am- 
bassador Hotel,  Los  Angeles,  will  be 
attended  by  274  members  of  the  com- 
pany's sales  force,  home  office  offi- 
cials, foreign  representatives  and 
studio  executives. 

About  75  delegates  will  go  to  the 
meeting  from  New  York  oti  the  con- 
vention special  leaving  here  next  Sun- 
day afternoon.  In  the  delegation  will 
be: 

Barney  Balaban.  Stanton  Griffis,  Adolph 
Zukor,  Austin  Keough,  I.  Cohen,  John  W. 
Hicks,  George  Weltner,  Lou  Diamond, 
Russell  Holman,  H.  Klarsfield,  A.  L. 
Pratchett,  F.  C.  Henry,  H.  Hunter,  C.  R. 
Dickinson,  T.  Reddin,  Neil  F.  Agnew,  J.  J. 
Unger,    Charles    Reagan,    Oscar  Morgan, 

G.  B.  J.  Frawley,  H.  L.  Lorber,  A.  J. 
Dunne,  M.  R.  Goodman,  F.  A.  Leroy,  J. 
Roper,  L.  Flynn,  Alec  Moss,  Al  Wilkie, 
Don  Velde,  Sam  Palmer,  A.  O.  Dillenbeck. 

Den  Gibbs,  Moe  Kallis,  M.  S.  Kusell. 
I.  A  Lesser,  J.  P.  Touhy,  M.  R.  Volck, 
M  Gluck,  T.  Aber,  M.  Mendel,  E.  H. 
Bell,  H.  A.  Kaufman,  A.  Gebhart,  J.  C. 
Perley,  E.  W.  Sweigert,  TJ.  F.  Smith,  H. 
Rubin,  George  T.  Beattie,  J.  D.  Holman, 
R.  Garman,  W.  W.  Sharpe,  J.  E.  Fon- 
taine, H.  C.  Thompson,  J.  Bryan,  W.  V. 
Dougherty,  H.  Davidson,  R.  M.  Grace, 
R.  Doyle,  A.  M.  Kane,  J.  Moore,  J.  Gub- 
bins,  T.  Duane,  E.  Bradley,  W.  L.  Hughes, 
P.  Broderick.  J.  Bown,  H.  Germaine,  R. 
Carroll  and  T.  P.  Thornton. 

The  following  trade  paper  represen- 
tatives, making  the  trip  as  guests  of 
Paramount,  will  also  be  aboard  the 
convention  special :  Terry  Ramsaye, 
Pete  Harrison,  Charles  Lewis,  Red 
Kann,  W.  R.  Wilkinson,  Sherwin 
Kane  and  George  Morris. 

En  route  the  following  will  join 
the  group :  C.  G.  Eastman,  R.  D. 
Hayes,  W.  Waters,  G.  Schuller 
Beattie,  L.  Beecher,  K.  G.  Robinson, 
M.  Simon,  F.  H.  Myers,  W.  Rose- 
now  and  E.  Walter. 

Arriving  in  Chicago,  85  sales  rep- 
resentatives from  the  midwest  will 
join  the  party.    They  are: 

H.  H.  Goldstein,  M.  R.  Clark,  M. 
Greenwald,   T.    L.    Irwin,   J.    B.  Gardner. 

H.  Roth,  M.  Barrett,  D.  Kimelman,  E.  M. 
Stuve,  G.  Elmo,  R.  E.  Caskey,  G.  H. 
Peterson,  C.  Morgan,  R.  L.  Clark,  J.  J. 
Oulahan,  M.  S.  Cummins,  N'.  B.  Kaplan, 
V.  A.  Kramer,  C.  W.  Powers,  H.  Eberts. 
J.  Harris.  E.  Ruff.  M.  A.  Mulligan,  J.  L. 
Hunter,  W.  J.  O'Neill.  H.  Pfaff,  R.  Mur- 
phy, H.  O.  Burns,  M.  A.  Brown,  T.  Dow- 
biggan,  P.  J.  Hogan,  A.  Usher,  H.  R. 
Hamburg,  E.  L.  Goldberg,  H.  Wirthwein, 

B.  F.  Elrod,  W.  H.  Hamm,  L.  Aurelio. 
J.   Scott,   J.   T.    Howard,  J.   E.  Ryder. 

J.  R.  Young,  H.  E.  Stuckey,  J.  E. 
Thompson,  W.  J.  Embach,  J.  W.  Brown, 
F.  C.  Clark,  R.  Sheinbaum.  K.  J.  Wer- 
thamer,  R.  W.  Baker,  J.  V.  Lenahan,  R. 
Weinfurter,  J.  H.  Stevens,  D.  C.  Newman, 
W.  H.  Esch,  F.  E.  Wagoner,  C.  Kemp, 
A.  Fromuth,  H.  F.  Wilkie,  J.  F.  Kirby, 
J.  D.  Campbell,  K.  Chalman,  J.  C.  Good- 
son,  W.  G.  Bradley,  O.  O.  Ray,  A.  H. 
Duren,  J.  S.  Young,  W.  F.  Bugie,  S. 
Frifield,  H.  L.  Dean,  T.  S.  Watson,  H.  T. 
Baker,  H.  E.  Pickett,  E.  M.  Adams,  B.  A. 
Slaughter,  S.  Lett,  C.  P.  Freeman,  D. 
Baum,  E.  B.  Price.  E.  E.  Shinn,  M.  J. 
Artigues,  S.  M.  Otis,  J.  J.  Nicoll  and 
William  Young. 

At  Omaha,  the  following  will  be  picked 
up:  J.  T.  Manfre,  G.  W.  Hinton,  R.  Carnie, 
J.  W.  Stark,  J.  R.  Young,  P.  Hannon. 
A.    H.    Cole,   J.    H.    States,   N.  Burruss, 

C.  E.  House,  C.  A.  Roeder,  J.  T.  McBride. 
W.  A.  Wandel,  C.  Scheufler,  A.  Mendenhall, 

E.  I.  Rubin,  C.  H.  Weeks,  B.  A.  Tomte, 
W.  B.  Haarmann,  W.  A.  Overturf,  R.  M. 
Copeland,  P.  W.  Robbins,  F.  V.  Thomas, 
S.  O'Hara,  W.  J.  Curry. 

H.  T.  Bahner,  B.  T.  Banner,  B.  Blotcky, 
J.  Wolf,  F.  R.  Anderson,  R.  P.  Ableson, 
V.   Sessler,  L.  A.   Hummel,   E.   B.  Lund, 

F.  C.  Meyers,  J.  R.  Fritcher,  A.  S.  Carr, 
H.  W.  Bralv,  L.  W.  McClintock,  C.  L. 
Dees.  C.  H.  Weaver,  H.  G.  Simmons.  B.  H. 
Brager,  T.  W.  Bridge,  F.  Larned,  W.  C. 
Kroeger,   H.    H.    Gleaves,    M.  Schweitzer, 


Theatre.  Personnel  Moves 


Desch  in  Monogram  Post 

Douglas  Desch,  former  Grand  Na- 
tional branch  manager  in  Kansas  City, 
has  been  named  manager  of  Mono- 
gram's exchange  there,  replacing  Les- 
ter Durland,  who  has  sold  his  inter- 
est in  the  exchange.  J.  R.  Wilson, 
Monogram  home  office  supervisor,  is 
in  Kansas  City  until  Desch  takes  over. 


Harris  Shifts  Policy 

Pittsburgh,  May  30. — The  Sen- 
ator, Harris  Amusement  house,  has 
changed  from  stage  shows  and  films 
to  a  second  run  dual  film  policy,  two 
changes  weekly.  Barry,  Skirboll  cir- 
cuit house,  has  closed  for  the  summer. 


Closes  for  Summer 

Providence,  May  30. — RKO  Albee 
here  has  closed  for  the  summer,  with 
William  McCourt,  manager,  return- 
ing to  his  regular  post  as  assistant  at 
the  Keith  Memorial,  Boston. 


Anger  to  Remodel 

Bridgeport,  May  30. — Lou  Anger, 
operator  of  the  Colonial,  will  renovate 
and  redecorate  it  completely. 


Oshrey  Joins  Warners 

Cincinnati,  May  30. — Sam  Oshrey, 
booker  for  Grand  National,  has  re- 
signed to  accept  a  similar  post  with 
the  local  Warner  branch.  He  is  suc- 
ceeded by  Martin  McNamee. 


Building  in  N.  C. 

Morgantown,  N.  C,  May  30. — C. 
V.  Davis  is  building  a  new  theatre 
here,  to  cost  $75,000.  Associated  with 
him  will  be  W.  I.  and  F.  W.  Davis. 


Charlotte  House  Ready 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  May  30. — The 
Dilworth,  new  600-seat  house  of  North 
Carolina  Theatres,  Inc.,  will  open  at 
the  end  of  the  month. 


Take  Kansas  City  Unit 

Kansas  City,  May  30. — Griffith- 
Dickinson  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  taken 
over  the  500-seat  Mainstreet  in  In- 
dependence, Kan. 


Form  Theatre  Company 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May  30. — Tenth 
and  Arch  Streets  Corp.  has  been 
chartered  here  to  operate  theatres  in 
Philadelphia.  Incorporators  are  Jules 
Arliss,  Aaron  Kohn  and  Lenora  S. 
Kohn. 


New  Milwaukee  Manager 

Milwaukee,  May  30. — Leonard 
Grossman  has  succeeded  A.  J. 
Cooper  as  manager  of  the  Alhambra, 
recently  reopened  downtown  house. 


John  Scott  Shifted 

Cleveland,  May  30. — John  Scott, 
Paramount  ad  sales  manager  here,  has 
been  transferred  to  Chicago  to  take 
a  similar  position.  Melvin  Barrett, 
assistant  ad  sales  manager  in  Pitts- 
burgh has  been  promoted  to  Scott's 
post  here. 


Tarr  Joins  Commonwealth 

Kansas  City,  May  30. — John  Tar, 
Jr.,  who  has  been  managing  E.  Van 
Hyning's  Best  at  Independence,  Kan., 
has  resigned  to  join  the  Common- 
wealth Amusement  Corp.  as  manager 
of  the  Sherman,  Goodland,  Kan. 


Plan  Louisville  House 

Louisville,  Ky.,  May  30. — Horace 
A.  and  T.  P.  Taylor,  Jr.,  plan  a  store 
building  and  theatre  here,  to  be  com- 
pleted by  Oct.  1.  The  house  will  seat 
1,100. 


Open  Virginia  House 

Luray,  Va.,  May  30.— The  Page, 
new  $75,000  theatre,  has  opened  here. 

Close  Cleveland  House 

Cleveland,  May  30.  —  The  City 
Theatre,  which  plays  foreign  pictures 
in  the  winter  season  and  which  later 
turned  to  revivals  of  American  films, 
has  closed  for  the  summer. 


Lease  Ohio  Theatre 

Georgetown,  O.,  May  30. — Earl 
Hewitt  &  Son,  who  operate  a  the- 
atre at  Bethel,  O.,  have  taken  a  10- 
year  lease  on  the  Arcade  here  from 
Mrs.  Ida  Purdum.  The  house  will  be 
remodeled. 


J.  J.  Curry,  H.  Nicholson,  T.  H.  McKean, 

G.  Caughan,  S.  Brunk,  E.  Plumlee. 

At  Evanston,  Wyo.,  G.  A.  Smith  and  C. 
N.  Peacock  will  board  the  special  while 
at  Salt  Lake  City  the  following  12  mem- 
bers of  the  sales  staff  will  board  the 
train  en  route  to  Hollywood;  C.  J.  Bell, 
C.  J.  Duer,  R.  C.  Ryan,  W.  M.  Williams, 
J.  Vos,  W.  A.  Plunkett,  F.  H.  Smith,  A. 
Heid,  H.  M.  Glanfield,  J.  G.  Wilcos,  H. 
Smith,  and  C.  Burdette. 

The  following  will  travel  via  auto  and 
special  train  meeting  the  conventioneers 
in  Hollywood:  G.  K.  Haddow,  R.  M.  Gill- 
ham,  M.  Sattler,  H.  Randel,  W.  H.  Erbb, 
W.  Hansher,  W.  O'.  Kelly,  G.  Lynch,  J. 
J.  Donohue,  H.  N.  East,  J.  M.  Bettencourt, 
A.  R.  Taylor,  H.  W.  Haustein,  J.  E.  Hur- 
ley, R.  C.  McDonnell,  M.  Segel,  D.  Sprach- 
er,  G.  H.  Haviland,  R.  L.  Estill,  F.  A. 
Roe,  A.  R.  Anderson,  G.  Brogger,  L.  G. 
DeWaide,  L.  G.  Stang,  D.  A.  Wilson,  S. 
Ralston,  D.  Brickman,  R.  Simpson,  J.  C. 
Rodman,  R.  C.  LiBeau  and  G.  Sessler. 

Members  from  the  Los  Angeles  exchange 
attending  the  session  include  I.  G.  White, 

H.  Haas,  M.  C.  Buries,  L.  C.  Bristol  and 
J.  Haas. 


Jack  Warner  Honored 

Hollywood,  May  30.— Jack  L. 
Warner,  vice-president  of  Warners, 
tomorrow  will  receive  one  of  the 
1939  awards  of  the  American  Insti- 
tute of  Cinematography  for  screen 
achievement.  He  will  be  made  an 
honorary  member. 


Calgary  Tops  RKO  Drive 

RKO's  Calgary  branch  continues  to 
lead  the  38  offices  at  the  end  of  the 
16th  week  of  the  18-week  George 
Schaefer  sales  drive.  New  York  is 
in  second  place  and  Detroit  third. 
The  northeastern  district  leads  the 
seven  districts  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada.  The  eastern  division 
heads  the  western. 


Assign  Mono.  Options 

Options  on  78,130  shares  of  Mono- 
gram common  stock  were  assigned  by 
J.  A.  Sisto  &  Co.  during  January,  a 
report  to  the  S.E.C.  revealed  Monday. 
The  firm  still  held  options  on  55,742 
shares.  Option  on  5,000  shares  was 
assigned  to  William  R.  Stewart,  ex 
director.  The  Sisto  firm  sold  its  last 
2,267  Monogram  shares  in  March. 


Two  RKO  Outings 

June  12  and  June  19  have  been  set 
for  the  annual  RKO  employees'  out- 
ings. Boat  ride  on  the  Peter  Stuy- 
vesant  to  Bear  Mountain,  entertain- 
ment and  sports  are  on  the  programs. 


Studios  Busy 
With  43  Films 
Now  Shooting 


Hollywood,  May  30. — Forty-thra 
pictures  were  before  the  cameras  thii 
week,  as  10  finished  and  eight  started 
Twenty-three  are  being  prepared,  £ft 
72  are  in  the  cutting  rooms.  ™ 

Started  were  :  "Criminal  at  Large,' 
Columbia ;  "Thunder  Afloat,"  anc 
"Miracles  for  Sale,"  M-G-M ;  "Stun' 
Pilot,"  Monogram ;  "My  Fifth  Ave- 
nue Girl,"  RKO;  "Here  Am  I  t 
Stranger,"  20th  Centry-Fox  ;  "I  Stolt 
a  Million,"  Universal ;  "The  Retun 
of  Dr.  X,"  Warners. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  were 
"Mr.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington,' 
"Golden  Boy,"  "Escape  from  Al 
catraz,"  "Blondie  Takes  a  Vacation,' 
Columbia ;  "The  Real  Glory,"  Gold- 
wyn ;  "On  Borrowed  Time,"  "Strong 
er  Than  Desire,"  "The  Women,' 
"Babes  in  Arms,"  M-G-M ;  "Heavei 
on  a  Shoestring,"  "The  Star  Maker,' 
"Ruler  of  the  Seas,"  "Disputec 
Passage,"  "Our  Leading  Citizen,' 
"Double  Dyed  Deceiver,"  "Are  Hus 
bands  Necessary?"  Paramount 
"Memory  of  Love,"  "The  Spell 
binder,"  "Nurse  Edith  Cavell,"  "Bat 
Lands,"  RKO;  "The  Fighting  Irish,' 
Republic ;  "Gone  with  the  Wind,' 
"The  Rains  Came,"  "Elsa  Maxwell': 
Hotel  for  Women,"  "Chicken  Wagoi 
Family,"  "Harmony  at  Home,"  20tl 
Century-Fox ;  "Modern  Cinderella,' 
"The  Underpup,"  "Dames,"  "Brigh 
Victory,"  Universal ;  "Dust  Be  M; 
Destiny,"  "Nancy  Drew  and  the  Hid 
den  Staircase,"  "Career  Man,"  "Thi 
Knight  and  the  Lady,"  Warners. 

Finished  were :  "A  Woman  Is  tin 
Judge,"  "Mounted  Police  No.  2,' 
Columbia ;  "Music  School,"  Goldwyn 
"Lady  of  the  Tropics,"  M-G-M 
"Nightwork,"  Paramount ;  "Micke; 
the  Kid,"  "Wyoming  Outlaws,"  Re 
public ;  "The  Phantom  Creeps,' 
Universal ;  "Winter  Carnival,"  Wan 
ger ;  "Dead  or  Alive,"  Warners. 


Jewish  Refugee  Aid 
Meeting  Tomorrou 

Luncheon-meeting   of   the  Amuse- 
ment Division  of  the  United  Jevvisl 
Appeal  for  Refugees  will  be  held  a  I 
the  Hotel  Edison  tomorrow  at  12:30 J 
Sponsoring     committee,  comprising 
David   Bernstein,   chairman ;  Alber 
Warner,  Jack  Cohn,  Abe  Schneidei 
and  Barney  Balaban,  will  outline  cam- 
paign activities.    Rabbi  Abba  Hille.l 
Silver   of    Cleveland   will   be  gues:.J 
speaker. 


'U'  Meeting  at  Paris 

J.  H.  Seidelman,  Universal  vice- 
president  and  foreign  head,  who  sailec 
on  the  Normandie  yesterday  for  ai 
extended  trip  abroad,  will  convent 
the  company's  European  sales  repre- 
sentatives in  Paris  shortly  after  hi.1 
arrival  there.  On  June  27  he  wil 
attend  the  annual  C.  E.  A.  conventior 
at  Blackpool,  England,  where  he  wil 
screen  "The  Sun  Never  Sets." 


Raise  Camp  Funds 

Cleveland,  May  30. — Nat  Wolf 
chief  barker  of  the  Cleveland  Variet) 
Club,  announces  that  funds  have  beei 
raised  to  send  350  children  to  summei 
camps  this  year. 


Ldnesday,  May  31.  1939  MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY  7 


ilidwest  Wins 
Sears  Drive, 
Coast  Second 


The  16-weeks  sales  drive  named  in 
(nor  of  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  general 
jes  manager  of  Warners,  was  won 
»  year  by  the  Midwest  district,  it 
B  announced  Monday  by  Carl 
-serman,  coordinator.  Warners  West 
!>ast  and  Central  districts  finished 
irond  and  third,  respectively. 
Sharing  in  the  $25,000  prize  money 
e  the  following : 

First  Prize :  Rud  Lohrenz  as  head 
the  Midwest  District ;  branches  in 
is  district  receiving  cash  prizes  are : 
licago,  Tom  Gilliam.  Mgr. ;  Minne- 
tolis,  Clarence  Olson.  Mgr. ;  Mil- 
tukee,  R.  T.  Smith,  Mgr. ;  St.  Louis, 
all  Walsh,  Mgr. ;  Des  Moines,  A. 
.  Anderson,  Mgr. ;  and  Omaha,  Sid 
ose,  Mgr. 

Second  Prize  :  W.  E.  Callaway,  West 
oast  District  Manager,  and  the  fol- 
ding exchanges:    Salt  Lake  City. 

I  m.  F.  Gordon.  Mgr. ;  San  Francisco. 

Shmitken,  Mgr. ;  Portland,  V. 
ewart,  Mgr. ;  Denver,  E.  A.  Bell. 

.gr. ;  and  Los  Angeles,  N.  H. 
ower.  Mgr. 

Third  Prize :  Robert  Smeltzer,  Cen- 
*1  District  Manager ;  and  the  fol- 
ving  branches :  Pittsburgh.  Harry 
+ed,  Mgr. ;  Detroit,  F.  E.  North. 
Sgr. ;  Philadelphia,  W.  G.  Nansell, 
fgr. ;  Cincinnati,  Ralph  Kinsler, 
:tgr. ;  and   Cleveland,   H.   J.  Ochs. 

With  the  announcement  of  the  win- 
ks, Leserman  also  revealed  that  this 
ar's  Drive,  after  the  final  tabula- 
Mi  of  figures,  was  by  far  the  most 
'iccessful  in  the  history  of  the  com- 
my,  topping  last  year's  Drive  by  25 
rcent.    The  final  week  of  the  Drive 
ached  a  new  high  with  nearly  two 
•  llion  dollars  in  billings  recorded. 
Towards  the  end  of  the  Sears  Drive 
'riod,  Rud  Lohrenz  was  promoted  to 
strict   head   of   the   newly  formed 
-airie  District.    However,  the  Sears 
'ive  results  were  tabulated  accord- 
?  to  the  previous  alignment  of  six 
;tricts,  with   Lohrenz  heading  the 
(id west  contingent. 
Ben  Kalmenson,  Western  and  South- 
n  sales  manager,  won  a  personal 
t  of  $1,000  from  Roy  Haines,  East- 
n  and  Canadian  sales  head,  on  the 
(<sults  of  the  Sears  Drive,  in  which 
almenson's  territory  won  two  out 
the  three  prizes  offered. 

(old  Funeral  Rites 
For  Samuel  Berman 

Funeral  services  were  held  Mon- 
y  for  Samuel  I.  Berman,  64,  former 
hibitor,  who  died  Friday  at  United 

i  ospital.  Port  Chester.    Burial  was 

I  Greenwood  Union  Cemetery,  Rye. 
At  one  time  he  operated  the  Walker 

■  d  Senate  in  Brooklyn,  retiring  in 
29.  He  was  part  owner  of  the 
eatre  buildings,  now  under  lease  to 

.indforce.  Survivors  are  Mrs.  Mar- 
ret  O'Brien  Berman  and  a  son, 
anley  J.,  emplo3'ed  by  Western 
ewspaper  Union. 


C.  H.  Innes,  Lawyer,  Dead 

Boston,  May  30.— Funeral  services 
:re  held  here  yesterday  for  Charles 
Innes,  68,  father  of  Hiller  Innes, 
^amount  home  office  production 
inager. 


Wrong  Station 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president 
of  Allied  States,  has  a  com- 
plaint against  the  Astor 
Hotel. 

He  had  planned  to  leave 
Sunday  night  for  his  home  in 
Dallas,  after  attending  the 
N.  Y.  Allied  convention  here, 
and  had  the  hotel  buy  his 
ticket. 

When  he  arrived  at  Penn- 
sylvania Station  to  catch  an 
8:35  train,  he  discovered  he 
was  at  the  wrong  station.  He 
rushed  to  Grand  Central  Sta- 
tion, to  find  the  last  train  for 
Dallas  had  left  a  half-hour 
earlier.  He  finally  got  away 
Monday  night. 


Smith  Forced  Out 
In  IATSE  Dispute 


Los  Angeles,  May  30. — Resigna- 
tion of  Harold  V.  Smith,  I.A.T.S.E. 
representative  in  charge  of  the  Holly- 
wood office,  brought  no  apparent  solu- 
tion today  of  the  fight  between  Inter- 
national officers  and  leaders  of  Studio 
Technicians  Local  37. 

Smith's  resignation  was  demanded 
by  Local  37's  minority  leaders.  Stephen 
B.  Newman  was  named  to  succeed  him 
as  the  first  step  of  the  move  to  push 
the  campaign  to  divide  the  local  into 
five  studio  units.  Newman  organized 
Local  37  in  1935. 

Meanwhile,  trial  of  the  Superior 
Court  action  in  which  Joseph  Car- 
penter and  other  deposed  local  leaders 
seek  to  regain  possession  of  their 
offices,  premises  and  about  $90,000  in 
cash  continued  yesterday.  Smith  was 
a  witness  in  the  plaintiff's  attempt  to 
show  that  the  I.A.T.S.E.  officers  took 
a  three-year  lease  on  quarters  here  in 
1936.  A.  Brigham  Rose,  attorney  for 
Carpenter  and  others,  declared  this 
indicated  "conspiracy  of  International 
officers  to  maintain  a  long  state  of 
emergency"  under  which  autonomy  of 
the  studio  locals  was  suspended. 

Some  time  this  week  Rose  and  In- 
ternational attorneys  will  go  to  Tucson 
where  George  E.  Browne,  Interna- 
tional president,  will  be  questioned  in 
connection  with  the  suit. 

Seek  Hoyts  Merger 
With  Greater  Union 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

five-year  agreement.  The  two  formed 
General  Theatres  as  an  outside  com- 
pany with  theatres  in  principal  cities. 
Although  the  "  Hoyts-Greater  Union 
combine  agreement  expired  in  Decem- 
ber, 1937,  General  Theatres  was  not 
affected  and  continued  under  50-50 
ownership. 

General  Theatres  includes  operations 
in  Sydney,  Melbourne,  Adelaide,  Bris- 
bane and  Perth.  During  the  period  of 
the  Hoyt-Greater  Union  pool,  Genera! 
Theatres  acquired  several  houses  i 
principal  cities,  including  key  city  first 
runs. 


Turrou  to  London 

Leon  G.  Turrou,  adviser  on  War- 
ners' "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy," 
sailed  yesterday  on  the  Normundie  to 
assist  in  the  London  opening  of  the 
film  at  the  Warner  Theatre  June  9. 


Hearings  Set  June  5 
on  RKO  Extensions; 
Validity  Challenged 


Atlas  Corp.,  proponent  of  the  RKO 
reorganization  plan,  next  Monday  will 
apply  to  the  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals 
for  dismissal  of  the  appeal  of  Ernest 
W.  Stirn  from  confirmation  of  the 
plan. 

This  was  disclosed  Monday  during 
argument  before  Senior  Circuit  Court 
Judge  Learned  Hand  on  request  of 
John  S.  Stover,  attorney  for  Stirn, 
for  an  extension  of  time  to  file  his 
brief. 

Judge  Hand  expressed  doubt 
whether  previous  extensions  given  to 
Stirn  had  been  valid  and  set  June  5 
as  the  date  for  a  three-judge  court  to 
pass  on  both  the  application  for  an 
extension  and  the  counter  move  for  a 
dismissal. 

Previous  extensions  were  attacked 
on  the  ground  that  only  a  District 
Court  judge  had  the  right  to  grant 
them,  and  Judge  Hand  stated  that  if 
this  were  so,  a  "dismissal  of  the  ap- 
peal would  be  in  order." 

Two  other  appeals  from  the  con- 
firmation by  other  parties  will  not  be 
affected  by  the  decision. 


Warners  Reports 
Profit  of  $1,665,888 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

riod  in  the  preceding  year  was 
$53,958,988.78. 

The  net  profit  for  the  latest  period 
is  equivalent  to  $16.50  per  share  on 
103,107  shares  of  preferred  stock  out- 
standing on  Feb.  25,  1939.  Dividends 
in  arrears  as  of  March  1,  1939, 
amounted  to  $26.95  per  share.  After 
allowance  for  current  dividend  re- 
quirements on  the  preferred,  the  net 
profit  is  equivalent  to  39  cents  per 
share  on  3.701,090  shares  outstanding 
(after  deducting  shares  held  in  treas- 
ury) at  Feb.  25,  1939. 


$40,000  of  $6,196,000 
Debentures  Deposited 

Approximately  $40,000  of  $6,196,000 
Warners'  outstanding  debentures  have 
been  deposited  for  exchange  for  the 
new  1948  series  since  April  28  when 
notice  of  redemption  was  given.  The 
remainder  of  the  original  issue  of 
$25,534,000  had  previously  been  de- 
posited. The  outstanding  debentures 
must  be  surrendered  for  exchange 
before  June  28  and  for  payment  be- 
fore .  June  29. 


Film  Business 
Up  In  Britain, 
Says  Pommer 


Improved  prospects  for  British  pro- 
duction are  in  view  now  with  more 
pictures  in  preparation  at  London 
studios  than  have  been  projected  there 
in  months,  Erich  Pommer  reported  on 
his  arrival  in  New  York  on  the  Nor- 
mandic  Monday. 

Pommer,  who  came  here  to  attend 
the  Paramount  national  sales  conven- 
tion in  Los  Angeles  next  week,  will 
discuss  a  new  producing-distributing 
deal  with  the  company  while  here. 
His  fourth  and  final  picture  on  his 
current  contract  with  the  company 
will  go  into  work  in  July  and  is  sched- 
uled to  be  delivered  around  Dec.  1. 
The  picture  is  "The  Admirable 
Crichton,"  starring  Charles  Laughton. 
Pommer  brought  a  print  of  "Jamaica 
Inn,"  his  third  production  for  Para- 
mount. He  hopes  to  negotiate  a  new 
two-year  deal  for  five  pictures,  he  said. 

Pommer  praised  British  production 
facilities,  asserting  that  they  are  as 
good  as  Hollywood's,  while  on  a 
smaller  scale.  He  said  he  would  con- 
tinue to  work  at  Elstree. 

He  said  that  in  the  event  of  war, 
there  would  be  no  British  film  indus- 
try "for  the  first  few  months,  at 
least." 

Television  For  Key 
Cities  Para's  Hope 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

bourn  as  president  to  operate  its  tele- 
vision transmitters  and  produce  pro- 
gram material. 


Paramount  Suit 
Involves  DuMont 

Suit  for  an  undisclosed  figure  was 
filed  Monday  in  the  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  against  Paramount  Pictures, 
Inc.  Stanton  Griffis,  and  Henry  A. 
Schatzkin  and  Mortimer  W.  Loewi, 
trading  as  Schatzkin,  Loewi  &  Co., 
by  Blanche  W.  Laurence  and  Jules  C. 
Leeds,  executors  of  the  estate  of 
Abram  L.  Leeds,  and  the  firm  of 
Stear  and  Leeds. 

No  details  of  the  suit  were  avail- 
able, but  it  probably  involves  purchase 
by  Paramount  of  a  50  per  cent  inter- 
est in  the  DuMont  Television  Co. 
Leeds  owns  an  interest  in  the  company 
and  claims  part  of  the  purchase  price, 
it  is  understood. 


Ask  your  Photophone  representative  about  the  sensational 

[  710  RCA  PHOTOPHONE 
I  MAGIC  VOICE  of  the  SCREEN 

I    with  Rotary  Stabilizer  PLUS  SHOCK  PROOF  DRIVE ! 


Designed  for  any  theatre- 
regardless  of  size 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  31,  193? 


NBC  Renewals 
Hit  $8,262,401 
In  Single  Week 


NBC  has  signed  $8,262,401  in  re- 
newals in  the  past  week.  They  in- 
clude contracts  of  two  of  NBC's 
heaviest  spenders,  Procter  &  Gamble 
and  General  Mills,  whose  renewals 
contribute  more  than  $6,000,000  to  the 
week's  total.    The  accounts  are : 

American  Tobacco  Co.,  gross  of 
$254,800 ;  Jergens  -  Woodbury  Co., 
$159,965;  Procter  &  Gamble,  $5,464,- 
836;  Bristol-Myers  Co.,  $840,320; 
General  Mills,  $1,442,480  and  George 
Washington  Coffee,  $100,000.  The 
agencies  for  the  above  accounts  are, 
respectively,  Lord  &  Thomas,  Lennen 
&  Mitchell,  Young  &  Rubicam, 
Blacket  -  Sample  -  Hummert,  Compton 
Co.,  Cecil  &  Presbry. 

George  H.  Frey,  network  salesman, 
has  been  appointed  sales  service  man- 
ager of  the  eastern  division,  assuming 
the  duties  of  I,  E.  Showerman,  who 
has  been  promoted  from  assistant 
eastern  sales  manager  to  eastern  sales 
manager. 


Will  Present  Paley 
Award  Here  June  6 

Arrangements  have  been  com- 
pleted for  the  presentation  of  the  Wil- 
liam S.  Paley  Amateur  Radio  Award 
to  Wilson  E.  Burgess  on  June  6  at 
the  Hotel  Pierre.  Members  of  the 
Army,  Navy,  Coast  Guard,  Red 
Cross,  radio  and  the  press  will  par- 
ticipate. 

Burgess  was  selected  for  the  award 
because  of  his  heroism  in  setting  up 
equipment  during  the  New  England 
hurricane  of  September,  1938,  and 
remaining  on  the  air  for  56  hours 
without  a  break.  He  is  the  third 
recipient  of  the  Paley  award. 


Gardner  to  Head 

Lux's  New  Show 

J.  Walter  Thompson  is  scheduling 
a  large  variety  show  headed  by  pro- 
ducer Ed  Gardner  as  emcee  to  re- 
place the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre,"  which 
shortly  leaves  the  air  for  the  summer. 
Gardner  recently  made  a  hit  on  the 
"So  This  Is  New  York"  series  over 
CBS. 


WFBM  Sale  Set 

Indianapolis,  May  30. — Negotia- 
tions have  been  completed  for  sale  of 
WFBM,  CBS  outlet  owned  by  the  In- 
dianapolis Power  and  Light  Co.  to 
Harry  M.  Bitner,  of  Pittsburgh,  for- 
mer general  manager  of  Hearst  News- 
papers. F.C.C.  confirmation  is 
awaited.  Harry  M.  Bitner,  Jr.,  will 
operate  the  station,  which  has  5,000 
watts  daytime,  1,000  night. 


Close  Deal  on  WHN 

Television  Training  Corp.  has  en- 
tered into  a  13-week  contract  with 
WHN  for  the  broadcasting  of  five 
minute  talks  every  Sunday. 


Ruppert  to  WSAI 

Cincinnati,  May  30.  —  Dewey 
Long,  manager  of  WSAI,  has  ap- 
pointed Richard  A.  Ruppert  promotion 
manager,  succeeding  R.  W.  Gardner, 
who  joins  the  WSAI  sales  staff. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


SIGN-ON  ...  In  the  face  of  all  sales  arguments,  Buick  Motor  Co.  could 
not  be  budged  to  take  on  the  Baer-Nova  fight,  which  is  why  RCA  be- 
latedly signed  to  sponsor  the  brawl.  Buick's  last  two  fight  broadcasts 
were  fizzles  because  in  each  fight  the  lights  were  doused  after  a  minute 
or  two  of  action.  Watch  and  see  who  sponsors  the  forthcoming  Galento- 
Louis  bout.  It'll  be  "RCA  all  the  way"  because  most  likely  no  one  else  will 
be  found  willing  to  tempt  the  fates  sponsoring  a  melee  that  threatens-  to  be 
ended  with  one  punch. 

▼ 

AMBITION  .  .  .  Edmund  Goulding,  Warner  director  now  in  town,  is 
nursing  an  unfulfilled  ambition.  He'd  like  a  fling  as  one  of  the  judges 
on  "Information  Please." 

▼ 

GOOD  NEWS  .  .  .  Helen  Strauss  of  Benton  &  Bowles  is  recovering  nicely 
from  her  breakdown  but  will  not  be  back  to  work  until  fall. 

T 

BAND  STAND  .  .  .  NBC  press  accused  us  of  throwing  a  curve  when  we 
said  it  had  fallen  asleep  on  the  Day-Montanez  fight.  Now  it  fanfares  the 
dance  bands  that  will  be  heard  on  its  networks,  listing  almost  two  score  or- 
chestras. Absent  from  the  list,  although  scheduled  to  play,  is  Jimmie  Lunce- 
ford,  one  of  the  "big  10"  of  popular  music. 

▼ 

VOYAGER  .  .  .  John  Steel,  Mutual's  London  and  foreign  representa- 
tive, is  coming  to  New  York  on  the  new  Mauretania  to  visit  Mutual 
offices  here. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  May  Robson  will  speak  from  Hollywood  on  "My  Lucky 
Break"  program  Sunday,  following  a  dramatization  of  her  career.  .  .  . 
Walter  Huston  will  be  the  featured  guest  on  Bing  Crosby's  show  tomorrow. 
.  .  .  John  Chapman  and  Irene  Kuhn  sign  "30"  to  their  Loft  Candy  Co.  show  on 
WOR  next  week,  but  they'll  be  back  in  the  fall.  .  .  .  Mildred  Bailey  will  at- 
tempt a  commercial  air  comeback  this  summer.  .  .  .  CBS'  "March  of  Games" 
has  been  sold  to  a  candy  company  and  will  take  up  part  of  the  time  occupied 
by  the  Horn  &  Hardart  show,  which  is  going  NBC. 

T 

IT  STILL  HAPPENS  ...  The  script  called  for  a  battle  scene  and  An- 
nouncer Vine  Palmeri  of  WELI  fired  a  couple  of  blanks  out  of  an  open 
window.  In  a  jiffy  the  cops  arrived  in  answer  to  a  telephone  call  reporting 
someone  being  murdered. 

T 

BIG  BUSINESS  .  .  .  There  has  been  printed  comment  about  Jack 
Benny  just  signing  a  new  long-term  contract  for  $15,000  a  week. 
Apparently  those  who  carried  the  report  forget  that  Benny's  current 
contract,  at  $10,000  a  week,  still  has  more  than  a  year  to  run. 

T 

NEWS  .  .  .  RCA  "Magic  Key"  will  give  up  its  long-term  Sunday  after- 
noon spot,  and  starting  June  16,  will  be  heard  from  8  to  9  P.  M.  Program 
that  night  will  feature  Rudy  Vallee,  Tyrone  Power  from  Hollywood,  and  a 
pickup  from  Norway  for  Sonja  Henie.  This  settles  two  current  theories 
about  "Magic  Key" — (1)  that  it  would  leave  the  air  altogether,  (2)  that 
it  would  continue,  but  under  a  change  of  format. 

T 

TIP  .  .  .  NBC's  contract  with  the  20th  Century  Sporting  Club  expires  this 
week  and  will  not  be  renewed  until  some  time  in  October.  The  network, 
therefore,  is  wide  open  for  prize  fights  and  is  trying  to  effect  tieups  with 
independent  promoters. 

T 

TELEVISION  .  .  .  RCA  television  cameras  were  in  action  for  four 
hours  yesterday  televising  the  Memorial  Day  parade. 

▼ 

SCOOP  .  .  .  Recently  WNEW  and  International  News  set  up  a  special 
system  of  direct  telephone  wires  for  coverage  on  "flash"  news  when  wires 
at  the  station  were  closed.  Using  the  system  for  the  first  time  the  past  Sun- 
day, WNEW  scored  a  clean  beat  with  first  news  of  the  sinking  of  the  excur- 
sion boat  in  the  East  River. 

T 

MUNCHAUSEN  .  .  .  Hardly  an  evening  goes  by  now  but  that  a  number 
of  World's  Fair  visitors  come  to  the  networks  headquarters  and  by  dint  of 
hard  talking  attempt  to  gain  admission  to  a  broadcast.  In  the  main  they  are 
turned  down,  of  course,  but  occasionally  they  tell  such  admirable  lies  that  the 
bars  are  let  down.  Prize-winner  the  other  night  was  the  chap  who  was  ob- 
viously from  the  sticks,  but  who  affected  a  British  accent,  said  he  had  just 
arrived  from  England  and  was  returning  the  very  next  day,  and  he  simply 
had  to  see  the  Eddie  Cantor  program.  "You  came  to  America  for  a  one-day 
visit?"  he  was  asked  increduously.  Without  batting  an  eyelash,  he  answered: 
"Right-o."    He  got  in  to  see  the  program. 

T 

SIGN-OFF  .  .  .  The  SAG  show  curls  up  Sunday  for  the  season.  The 
program  will  be  loaded  to  the  teeth  with  stars  for  the  sign-off.  Tyrone  Power, 
Dick  Powell,  Marie  Wilson,  Lionel  Stander,  George  Murphy,  Jean  Hersholt, 
Reggie  Gardner,  with  Sid  Lanfield  as  producer.  Though  it  was  never  a 
really  popular  show  by  Crosley  standards,  the  sponsors  are  nevertheless  re- 
turning it  to  the  air  this  fall. 


FCC  Hearings 
For  June,  July 
Are  Scheduled 


Washington,  May  30.  —  Hearing 
dates  for  broadcasting  application  - 
have  been  assigned  tentatively  by  the 
Federal  Communications  Commisska? 
as  follows :  y\ 

June  1  :  Application  of  WJMS,  Inc 
for  a  new  1,370-kilocycle,  100- watt 
station  at  Ashland,  Wis. 

June  2 :  Application  of  WCOU 
Lewiston,  Me.,  for  increase  of  day 
power  from  100  to  250  watts. 

June  15:  Applications  of  King 
Trendle  Broadcasting  Corp.  for  ; 
1,010-kilocycle,  250-watt  station  at. 
Grand  Rapids,  and  WSBT,  South 
Bend,  Ind.,  for  change  for  frequency 
from  1,360  to  1,010  kilocycles,  exten- 
sion of  time  from  sharing  to  unlimited, 
and  increase  of  power  from  500  tc 
1,000  watts. 

June  19:  Application  of  WJBW 
New  Orleans,  for  extension  of  time 
from  sharing  to  unlimited. 

June  30 :  Application  of  KALE 
Portland,  Ore.,  for  increase  of  da> 
power  from  1,000  to  5,000  watts. 

July  12:  Applications  of  KUTA 
Salt  Lake  City,  for  change  of  fre: 
quency  from  1,500  to  570  kilocycle! 
and  increase  of  power  from  100  tc 
1,000  watts,  and  KFIO,  Spokane,  fot 
change  of  frequency  from  1,120  tc 
950  kilocycles,  extension  of  time  fron 
day  to  unlimited  and  increase  of  powei 
from  100  to  1,000  watts. 

The  commission  has  ordered  hear 
ings,  at  dates  to-  be  designated  later 
on  a  number  of  applications,  including 
those  of  WCBS,  Springfield,  111.,  foi 
change  of  frequency  from  1,420  tc 
1,290  kilocycles  and  increase  of  powei 
from  100  watts  night,  250  watts  day 
to  500  watts  night,  1,000  watts  day 
WBNY,  Buffalo,  for  extension  of  tim 
from  snaring  to  unlimited,  and  th( 
Union  Broadcasting  Co.  for  a  nev 
1,370-kilocycle  station  at  Scranton 
with  100  watts  night,  250  watts  day. 

Rehearings  will  be  granted  on  th< 
applications  of  WAPO,  Chattanooga 
Tenn.,  for  change  of  frequency  fron 
1,420  to  1,120  kilocycles  and  increasi 
of  power  from  100  watts  night,  25( 
watts  day,  to  500  watts  night,  1,00( 
watts  day,  and  WJBO,  Baton  Rouge 
La.,  for  increase  of  power  from  50t 
to  1,000  watts.  _ 

The  commission  has  received  an  ap 
plication  from  KXL,  Portland,  Ore. 
for  change  of  frequency  from  1,420  t( 
730  kilocycles,  extension  of  hours  fron 
sharing  to  unlimited,  and  increase  o 
power  from  100  watts  night,  25( 
watts  day,  to  10,000  watts. 


New  Lewis  Sponsors 

Cadillac  Motor  Co.  has  purchasec 
sponsorship  of  the  Fulton  Lewis  com 
mentaries,  which  are  presented  fm 
times  nightly  over  Mutual.  Sponsor 
ship,  however,  is  confined  to  KHJ  anc 
the  southern  California  outlets  of  th> 
Don  Lee  Broadcasting  System. 


Plan  Radio  Company 

Scranton,  Pa.,  May  30. — Michac 
J.  and  Francis  Lavelle  and  Geral 
White  have  filed  application  for 
state  charter,  planning  to  operate 
radio   station   here.     They   plan  t 
capitalize  at  $25,000. 


MOT^7  PICTlMl 


PRODVJ 


r£RS  & 


*•  l^oWs  of  a--- 

NEVJ  YORK. 


INC 


ILY 


45.  NO.  105 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  1,  1939 


TEN  CENT 


six-Month  Net 
'rofit  for 

s  $739,578 


ompares  With  $588,285 
Loss  Last  Year 


I'niversal's  net  profit  for  the  six 
mths  ended  April  29,  last,  was 
o9,578,  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chair- 
jan  of  the  board,  reported  yesterday. 
;>ult  for  the  first  half  of  the  com- 
111/5  current  fiscal  year  is  before 
;deral  income  taxes.  For  the  corre- 
, ending  period  last  year,  Universal 
-0'irted  a  loss  of  $588,285. 
Net  profit  of  $581,587  was  reported 
x  the  13  weeks  ended  April  29,  last, 
nich  compares  with  a  net  loss  of 
99,487  for  the  13  weeks  ended  April 
,  1938. 

After  Eight  Years  of  Losses 

Results  mark  the  third  consecutive 
tarter  during  which  Universal  has 
•crated  in  the  black  after  eight  years 
losses  averaging  about  $1,000,000 
bnually. 

,'  Company  went  into  the  black  during 
^e  last  quarter  of  the  fiscal  year 
jided  Nov.  1,  1938,  about  eight  months 
ter  the  new  Universal  management 
ok  office  with   Nate  J.  Blumberg 
president  and  William  A.  Scully 
charge  of  sales. 

Operations  for  the  current  month 
,-e  reported  to  be  continuing  at  a 

•ofitable  level  although  somewhat  be- 
,  w  the  level  for  the  second  quarter. 


^eo  Abrams  Heads 
'IT  Shorts  Sales 

William  A.  Scully,  general  sales 
anager  of  Universal,  yesterday  ap- 
!  minted  Leo  Abrams,  for  many  years 
anager  of  Universale  Big  U  ex- 
lange  in  New  York,  as  short  subject 
lies  manager. 

J  It  is  a  newly-created  position,  since 
lort  subject  sales  have  been  under 
Icully's  direct  supervision  since  he 
jok  over  as  general  sales  manager, 
rior  to  that,   Edward  Bonns  was 
iort  subject  sales  head. 
Scully  has  named  David  A.  Levy, 
jrmer   M-G-M   New   York  branch 
lanager,  to  Abrams'  former  post  as 
ig  U  exchange  manager. 
Abrams  has  been  with  Universal  for 
3  years,  starting  in  New  York,  go- 
ig  to  Kansas  City  as  branch  mana- 
ir  for  many  years  and  returning  to 
Tew  York. 

No  decision  has  been  made  as  yet 
n  a  replacement  for  Levy  at  M-G-M. 


N eely  Bill  Wins  Approval 
From  Senate  Committee 


Closings  Set 
For  Quebec; 
Blame  Taxes 


Quebec,  May  31. — This  city  will  be 
without  film  entertainment  by  Friday 
unless  the  deadlock  between  the  thea- 
tre owners  and  municipal  authorities 
over  the  10  per  cent  increase  in  amuse- 
ment taxes  is  broken. 

Faced  with  the  necessity  of  increas- 
ing prices  to  meet  the  22^2  per  cent 
tax,  owners  of  all  11  local  film  houses 
announced  they  will  close  their  doors 
on  Friday  unless  a  compromise  is  ef- 
fected. A  steady  decrease  in  attend- 
ance has  been  reported  since  the  in- 
crease became  effective. 

Proprietors  met  with  city  officials 
this  afternoon,  but  the  latter  refused 
to  consider  abrogation  or  modification 
of  the  new  tax. 

Representatives  of  the  Capitol, 
Empire,  Cartier,  Cambrai,  Victoria, 
Canadaien  and  Cinema  de  Paris  the- 
atres, at  the  meeting,  announced  they 
would  close  their  doors  Friday  night. 

American  and  British  films  are 
shown  exclusively  in  five  houses. 
Three  show  only  French  films  and 
the  others  mixed'  bills. 


Bill  Legalizing  Fight 
Films  Gets  Approval 

Washington,  May  31.— Bar- 
bour bill  to  legalize  interstate 
transportation  of  fight  films 
was  approved  today  by  the 
Senate  Interstate  Commerce 
Committee. 

There  was  no  opposition  to 
a  favorable  report,  which  rec- 
ommends repeal  of  the  pres- 
ent ban.  Senator  Lundeen  of 
Minnesota,  chairman  of  the 
subcommittee  which  last 
week  held  hearings  on  the 
measure,  will  probably  write 
the  report. 


Film  Trade  Awaits 
Jap,Manchu,  Spain 
Market  Regulations 

New  trade  regulations  which  will 
decide  the  fate  of  three  important  in- 
ternational markets  for  American  dis- 
tributors will  be  made  known  within 
the  next  few  months,  it  was  disclosed 
during  a  joint  interview  yesterday 
with  Jack  Segal,  manager  of  foreign 
exchange  operations  for  Columbia,  and 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Late  News  Flashes 


Los  Angeles,  May  31. — Demand  by  Superior  Judge  Willis  that  the  charter 
of  Studio  Technicians  Local  67,  I.A.T.S.E.,  be  produced  with  bank  deposit 
records  of  William  Bioff,  showing  $100,000  in  his  account  on  June  25,  1937, 
featured  the  trial  today  of  the  suit  in  which  local  officers  are  seeking  restora- 
tion of  their  autonomoy.  The  charter  apparently  disappeared  when  the 
international  took  over  the  local's  premises  March  13. 


Hollywood,  May  31. — Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Warner  distribution  chief,  an- 
nounced upon  arrival  today  that  increases  of  25  per  cent  in  advertising  budgets 
have  been  set  for  June,  July  and  August  releases  to  boost  hot  weather  business. 


Chicago,  May  31. — John  Barrymore  was  placed  in  an  oxygen  tent  this  after- 
noon and  all  performances  of  his  play,  "My  Dear  Children,"  have  been  can- 
celled until  Monday.    He  is  suffering  from  a  heart  attack. 


Springfield,  111.,  May  31. — The  Illinois  House  today  gave  its  third  reading 
of  Rep.  Sandquist's  bill  seeking  15-minute  intermissions  between  all  movie 
shows  every  two  hours. 


Rochester,  Minn.,  May  31. — Leo  Spitz,  Chicago  attorney  and  former  presi- 
dent of  RKO,  is  recovering  nicely  after  undergoing  an  operation  at  the  Mayo 
Clinic.    It  is  expected  that  he  will  return  home  in  two  weeks. 


Measure   Assured  Vote 
Before  Adjournment; 
Barkley  Absent 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  May  31. — Favorable 
report  on  the  Neely  anti-block  book- 
ing bill  was  given  today  by  the  Senate 
Interstate  Commerce  Committee, 
which  moved  to  clear  its  slate  of  leg- 
islation in  anticipation  of  a  mid-July 
adjournment  of  Congress. 

Action  on  the  Neely  bill  followed  a 
subcommittee  meeting  this  morning 
at  which  a  two-to-two-vote  served  to 
bring  block  booking  before  the  full 
committee  this  afternoon. 

Barkley  Doesn't  Attend 

It  is  understood  Senator  Tobey  of 
New  Hampshire,  who  attended  none 
of  the  hearings  on  the  bill,  voted  with 
Senator  Neely  to  report  the  measure 
to  the  committee  favorably. 

Chairman  Smith  of  South  Carolina 
and  Senator  White  of  Maine  voted 
against  it.  Senator  Barkley  of  Ken- 
tucky, fifth  member  of  the  subcom- 
mittee, did  not  attend  the  meeting. 

Neely  to  Write  Report 

At  the  session  of  the  full  committee 
it  was  decided  to  let  the  bill  go  to  the 
Senate  for  a  vote,  and  Senator  Neely 
was  instructed  to  write  the  report. 

While  details  of  the  meeting  were 
not  disclosed,  it  was  said  that  con- 
siderable opposition  was  presented  but 
it  was  finally  agreed  that,  the  Senate 
having  voted  the  measure  last  session, 
it  should  have  the  final  word. 


Richardson  Looms 
As  RKO  Treasurer 

Charles  E.  Richardson,  former  vice- 
president  and  treasurer  of  Fox  Film, 
and  a  reorganization  trustee  of  Para- 
mount Publix,  is  regarded  as  the  like- 
ly choice  of  reorganization  principals 
as  treasurer  of  RKO. 

Richardson  has  taken  on  active  part 
in  film  affairs  since  withdrawing  as 
a  Paramount  director  early  in  1936. 
He  has  continued  active  in  financial 
affairs,  however,  and  is  highly  re- 
garded by  influential  RKO  creditors. 

No  candidate  was  proposed  for 
treasurer  of  RKO  in  the  list  of  offi- 
cers and  directors  submitted  to  Fed- 
eral Judge  Bondy  for  approval  some 
weeks  ago  by  the  reorganizers. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  1,  193 


8  Majors  Ask 
For  Lenrose 
Suit  Details 


Application  by  the  M.P.P.D.A.  and 
the  eight  major  companies  for  a  bill 
of  particulars  detailing  the  complaint 
of  the  Lenrose  Amusement  Corp., 
operator  of  an  independent  theatre  in 
Xewark,  N.  J.,  was  filed  yesterday  in 
the  U.  S.  District  Court. 

The  request,  which  will  be  heard 
June  23,  is  in  reference  to  a  suit  for 
$150,000  damages,  charging  violation 
of  the  Sherman  Anti-Trust  Act  by 
the  defendants. 


Louis  Marks,  Universal 
Settle  §15,000  Suit 

Suit  for  $15,000  against  Universal 
Pictures  Co.,  Inc.,  by  Louis  Marx, 
former  Universal  foreign  sales  repre- 
sentative, was  revealed  in  the  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court  when  a  stipulation  set- 
tling and  discontinuing  the  action  for 
an  undisclosed  figure  was  filed  yes- 
terday. 

No  details  of  the  suit  were  on  file, 
but  it  was  learned  that  Marx,  who 
had  been  employed  from  1925  to  1938, 
sought  to  recover  the  difference  in  his 
salary  caused  by  the  devaluation  of  the 
dollar  from  1933  to  1938. 


20th-Fox  Answers 
Song  Writer's  Suit 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  Film  Corp. 
yesterday  filed  its  answer  in  U.  S. 
District  Court  denying  charges  of 
Robert  Brooker  Wyatt  in  his  suit 
against  20th-Fox,  Mack  Gordon, 
Harry'  Revel  and  Leo  Feist,  Inc. 
Wyatt  claims  song  infringement. 


FLY  TO  THE 
GOLDEN  GATE! 


VIA 


GRAND  CANYON 
BOULDER  DAM! 


Less  than  a  Day— By  TWA! 

Double  your  fun — when  you  travel  to 
the  San  Francisco  Fair!  Fly  TWA,  and 
see  Grand  Canyon  and  Boulder  Dam — 
2scenic  thrills  you  mustn't  miss! 

Only  TWA  offers  you  such  a  trip! 
Latest  departure  from  New  York — al- 
lows full  evening  at  home. 

LOSANGELESorSAN  FRANCISCO — Over- 
night via  Skysleeper!  Board  TWA's"  Sky 
Chief"  5:30  p.m. — arrive  Los  Angeles 
early  next  morning ...  in  San  Francisco 
at  9 :45  a.m. 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 

PHONE  TRAVEL  AGENT  or  MU  6-1640 
TRANSCONTINENTAL  &  WESTERN  AIR,  INC. 
70  E.  42nd  St.  ...  Air  Desk,  Penn.  Station 

FARE 
ONLY 

70%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 


149*> 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Archie  Mayo,  Hal  Horne, 
Charles  Stern,  Arthur  Willi, 
Phil  Malcolm,  Charles  Bonn, 
William  German,  Charles  Payne, 
Leonard  Schneider,  Ralph  Poucher, 
among  those  lunching  at  Bob  Gold- 
stein's Tavern  yesterday. 

• 

George  S.  Applegate,  managing 
director  of  the  Wrestern  Electric  Co. 
(Australia)  Pty.  Ltd.,  and  Mrs. 
Applegate,  are  en  route  from  England 
for  a  vacation  here.  They  will  re- 
turn to  Australia  about  July  1. 
• 

Thomas  Orchard,  associate  pro- 
ducer of  the  March  of  Time,  has  been 
awarded  an  honorary  Master  of  Arts 
degree  by  Hobart  College  from  which 
he  graduated. 

• 

Leota  Lane,  sister  of  Rosemary, 
Priscilla  and  Lola,  was  graduated 
last  night  from  the  Julliard  School 
of  Music.  She  spurns  films  and  pre- 
fers an  opera  career. 

• 

Joe  Heppner  of  Metropolitan  Photo 
Service  has  returned  from  a  four- 
week  trip  to  the  coast  where  he  did 
special  photographic  work  for  Walt 
Disney. 

• 

John  Hampton,  former  theatre  ad- 
vertising man  in  Oklahoma  City,  is  in 
town  discussing  with  architects  the 
construction  of  his  own  theatre. 
• 

M.  J.  Siegel,  Republic  production 
head,  left  with  his  family  last  night 
for  the  coast  after  a  17-day  West  In- 
dies cruise. 

• 

Phyllis  Fraser,  RKO  player,  is  in 
New  York  on  a  visit  to  her  aunt,  Mrs. 
Lela  Rogers,  mother  of  Ginger 
Rogers. 

• 

Maxwell  Anderson  has  arrived  on 
the  coast  to  do  the  screen  play  for 
the  next  production  by  Leo  McCarey 
at  RKO. 

• 

Chester  Morris  has  been  elected 
west  coast  regional  vice-president  of 
the  Society  of  American  Magicians. 
• 

Pablo  Cavallo,  co-owner  of  Lau- 
taret  and  Cavallo  circuit  in  Argentine, 
is  in  town  from  Buenos  Aires. 
• 

William  Pine,  associate  producer 
of  "Union  Pacific,"  is  back  on  the 
coast  after  New  York  trip. 

• 

Mildred  Shay,  New  York  social- 
ite, will  make  her  film  debut  in  "The 
Girl  and  the  Gambler." 

• 

Sigrid  Gurie,  Scandinavian  actress, 
has  been  given  a  five-year  contract 
by  Universal. 

• 

Princess  of  Sarawak,  screen  play- 
er, sailed  for  Europe  yesterday  on  the 
Manhattan. 

• 

Fred  Wehrenberg.  St.  Louis  ex- 
hibitor, and  Mrs.  Wehrenberg,  are 
in  town. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


Gradwell  L.  Sears,  W'arner  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  is  en  route  to 
the  coast  to  line  up  advertising  cam- 
paigns with  S.  Charles  Einfeld  and 
confer  with  Jack  L.  Warner. 
• 

M.  A.  Levy  and  J.  P.  O'Loghlin, 
present  and  former  Kent  drive  leaders 
for  20th  Century-Fox,  respectively, 
will  confer  with  Wtilliam  C.  Gehring, 
central  division  manager,  at  the  home 
office  today. 

• 

Julian  B.  Tuthill,  film  editor  of 
the  Hartford  Ti>nes,  will  supervise  op- 
eration of  the  250-seat  Colony,  re- 
named Conrose's  Cinema  City,  in  the 
Connecticut  city. 

• 

Jack  Fairley,  Wrollongong  Thea- 
tres, Australia,  and  R  R.  W:inship 
of  the  Majestic,  Phillipsburg,  Kan., 
visited  at  RKO  World's  Fair  lounge 
yesterday. 

• 

Syros  Perakos,  son  of  Peter 
Perakos,  New  Britain,  Conn.,  ex- 
hibitor, has  been  named  assistant  man- 
ager of  Warners'  United  States  in 
Hoboken. 

• 

Jack  Schwartz  of  the  West  End, 
Bridgeport,  and  George  Comden,  Fine 
Arts,  Wrestport,  have  been  named  third 
degree  Masons. 

• 

Kathryn  Hohn,  RKO  player,  has 
been  renamed  Kathryn  Adams. 


Vancouver  Wins  Drive 

Toronto,  May  31. — The  Vancouver 
branch  was  the  winner  in  the  Canadian 
Universal  sales  drive  of  17  weeks. 
Calgary  was  second  and  Toronto 
third. 


FLY 


UNITED'S 

MAINLINERS 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Just  overnight  in  the  fa- 
mous ''Continental'' and 
"Overland  Flyer"Main- 
liner  Sleeper  planes. The 
distinguished  way  to  Los 
Angeles.  Finest  meals 
aloft.  Call  United,  travel 
agents,  hotels. 

UNITED  AIR  LINES  PJ™E 

58  E.  42nd  St.  2'7300 


Holiday  Take 
On  Broadwa 
Drop  Off  30 


year. 
\.v.  :  i 


Holiday  business  along  Broad 
and  in  the  neighborhoods  was  d 
to  30  per  cent  below  last  year, 
was  estimated  yesterday.  Busi 
New  Jersey  was  also  badly 
New  England  reported  somewhai 
ter  business  although  it  was  also 
low  last  year's  grosses. 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  continued 
do  capacity  business,  however.  \ 
timated  gross  for  its  second  week 
the  Astor  was  $16,000.  "Captain  Fu] 
finished  its  first  week  at  the  Mu 
Hall  with  an  estimated  $75,000  \ 
continues  there.  At  the  ParamouJ 
"Union  Pacific"  drew  an  estimaf 
$28,000  in  its  third  week  and  is  fj 
for  a  fourth.  "Tell  No  Tales"  opj 
today  at  the  Capitol.  "Bridal  Su? 
did  an  estimated  $17,000  there.  "Bl 
Alley"  was  withdrawn  from  the  Gl> 
after  three  days  in  its  second  w 
and  "Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  sub; 
tuted.  "Blind  Alley"  grossed  an  e 
mated  $9,600  for  the  10  days. 

Legitimate  stage  houses  found  hi 
day  business  fair  but  additional  ca 
ings  in  the  near  future  are  expect 
Eleven  shows  which  had  matin1 
Decoration  Day  found  business  oj 
the  average  Saturday  matinees,  ] 
the  evening  grosses  were  off. 


San  Francisco,  May  31. — "Inv 
tion  to  Happiness"  grossed  an 
mated  $3,500  when  it  opened  at 
Paramount  yesterday. 


Honor  Trotta  Today 

Ampa  promises  "a  riot  of  fun'" 
the  "Trottazapoppin'  "  luncheon  raj 
ing  at  the  Astor  today  honoring  V 
cent  Trotta.  Trotta  is  Ampa's  o 
active  charter  member  and  is 
serving  his  25th  year  in  the  indus- 
John  C.  Flinn  will  be  among 
speakers.  This  will  be  Ampa's  fi 
meeting  of  the  season. 

Va.  MPTO  Meet  June 

Roanoke,  Va.,  May  31.— M.P.T 
of  Virginia  will  hold  its  annual  rr 
summer  convention  at  the  Hi 
Roanoke  here  on  June  12.  Ma; 
Walter  W.  Wood  will  welcome 
delegates  at  the  business  session 
the  morning.  A  dinner  dance  wnll 
held  in  the  evening. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  LY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
holidays  by  Ouigley  Publishing  Comp; 
Inc  ,  Rockefeller  .Center,  New  York  C 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  add 
"Quigpubco.  New  York."  Martin  Quig 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brc 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager ;  V 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  f 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Adverti: 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau.  624  South  Mi 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  I 
lvwood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Build 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau.  4,  Go! 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  rr 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  Londi 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Qui; 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Qui! 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald.  Be 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  . 
lion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Ent( 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23.  1938,  at 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y..  under 
act  of  March  3.  1879.  Subscription  rates 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  fore 
Single  copies  10c. 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


Come  on  over  and 

SEE  MRS.  TURNER 

...  Or  write  her.  She  and  her  staff 
can  help  you  pick  the  spots  you'll 
want  to  see,  the  places  you'll  want 
to  dine  at,  the  shows  you'll  want  to 
go  to.  Remember  us  when  you  make  your  plans 
for  the  World's  Fair— and  remember  that  Mrs. 
Turner  will  worry  about  the  details . . .  because 
every  friend  of  Warner  Bros,  is  a  friend  of  hers. 


<7a5tet  titan  the  camera  5  click..   7a5tet  titan  the  w 

"YOUNG  MR.  LINCOLN 

ALL-TIME  BIG-  MONE 


Jalh  it.,    the  wotd  ka5  5ptead. . 

ONE  OF  THE 
ICTURES! 


I.  N.  P.  Sound  Photo  of  spectac- 
ular "Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  world 
premiere  at  Springfield,  111.,  that 
attracted  nationwide  attention. 


THE  KEYSTONE  OF  YOUR  FUTURE 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  1,  1939 


Southeastern 
TOAReelects 
Milton  Moore 


Jacksonville,  Fla.,  May  31. — Mil- 
ton C.  Moore  was  elected  for  his 
fourth  consecutive  term  as  president 
of  the  Southeastern  Theatre  Owners' 
Association,  at  the  closing  session  of 
the  two-day  convention  here. 

Col.  T.  E.  Orr  was  named  treasur- 
er, and  Tom  Brandon,  secretary. 
Oscar  Lam  was  reelected  representa- 
tive on  the  board  of  the  M.P.T.O.A. 

The  trade  practice  code  was  the 
principal  topic  of  discussion.  Ed  Kuy- 
kendall,  M.P.T.O.A.  president,  an- 
alyzed the  pact,  pointing  out  that  it 
offered  a  way  for  the  industry  to  solve 
its  own  problems,  without  recourse  to 
courts  or  legislation. 

Earlier,  Kuykendall  had  attacked 
the  growing  trend  in  Washington  to 
meddle  with  business,  and  discussed 
the  Neely  block  booking  bill,  which 
he  said  is  opposed  by  95  per  cent  of 
the  country's  theatre  owners,  because 
it  is  considered  a  step  toward  Govern- 
ment regulation. 

Other  speakers  were  Colonel  Orr ; 
Burton  Clark,  Wometco  Theatres ; 
Roy  E.  Martin,  circuit  operator  of 
Columbus,  Ga. ;  Richard  Kennedy, 
Wilby-Kincy  Corp. ;  Oscar  Morgan, 
Paramount  sales  executive. 

E.  J.  Sparks,  head  of  Florida  State 
Theatres,  was  host  at  a  shore  dinner. 
Guy  A.  Kenimer,  of  the  Florida  cir- 
cuit, was  in  charge  of  convention  ar- 
rangements. 


W anger  Lists  Five 
U  A  Release  Films 

Hollywood,  May  31. — Walter 
Wanger  completed  plans  today  for  the 
five  pictures  he  will  make  for  United 
Artists  release  during  the  1939-'40 
season. 

Titles  are  "Winter  Carnival," 
"Whose  Wife?"  starring  Loretta 
Young  and  David  Niven,  with  Tay 
Garnett  directing  from  the  original 
by  Gene  Towne  and  Graham  Baker ; 
"House  Across  the  Bay,"  starring 
Joan  Bennett,  Archie  Mayo,  direc- 
tor, story  by  Myles  Connelly,  screen 
play  by  Sarah  Y.  Mason  and  Victor 
Heerman;  "My  Personal  Life,"  John 
Meehan's  adaptation  of  Vincent 
Sheean's  novel,  and  "Send  Another 
Coffin,"  F.  G.  Presnell's  new  novel 
which  Tay  Garnett  will  direct. 


Set  R.  I.  Fee  Hearing 

Providence,  May  31. — Rhode  Island 
Supreme  Court  on  June  5  will  hear 
arguments  on  the  petition  of  four 
Woonsocket  theatres  asking  reversal 
of  the  action  of  the  Woonsocket  Po- 
lice Commission  increasing  license 
fees  from  $12  to  $30  weekly.  Court 
action  was  sought  by  the  exhibitors 
after  appeals  to  the  commission  and 
city  government  proved  ineffectual. 


Dr.  Millar  Rites  Today 

Private  funeral  services  will  be  held 
today  for  the  Rev.  Dr.  William  Bell 
Millar,  secretary  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Foundation  of  the  United  States 
of  America,  who  died  Tuesday  at  the 
Neurological  Institute  of  a  stroke. 
He  was  73  years  old. 


Midwest  Preview 


"Young  Mr.  Lincoln" 

{20th  Century-Fox) 

Springfield,  III.,  May  31. — With  characteristic  courage,  Darryl 
Zanuck,  in  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln,"  offers  a  specially  limited  character 
study  of  the  Great  Emancipator.  The  story  is  devoted  to  a  formative 
phase  in  the  life  of  Lincoln.  It  is  skillfully  produced,  artfully  directed 
by  John  Ford  and  the  roles  are  expertly  enacted  by  a  well  chosen  cast 
headed  by  Henry  Fonda  and  Alice  Brady. 

There  is  nothing  of  a  controversial  political  or  social  issue  in  this 
picture.  It  begins  with  the  apprentice  days  of  young  Lincoln,  in  the 
law  business,  and  it  ends  while  Lincoln  still  is  young. 

Early  scenes  of  New  Salem  and  Springfield  are  shown.  There  are 
colorful  countryside  action  sequences  in  the  film.  Romantic  interest 
is  quite  subordinated  but  the  picture  has  considerable  humor  and  a  flock 
of  interesting  characters.    The  camera  work  is  very  good. 

Lincoln  is  seen  as  a  fighter,  as  a  rail  splitter  and  as  a  lawyer.  The 
contemplative,  the  witty  and  the  physical  sides  of  him  are  treated 
with  considerable  detail.  His  apperceptions  are  keenly  delineated,  but 
the  way  of  his  heart  is  left  uncharted. 

Correctly  titled  and  being  concerned  mostly  with  the  man  himself 
in  a  single  phase  of  his  life,  the  picture  represents  a  bold  piece  of  show- 
manship. Its  course  at  the  box-office  is  to  be  watched  with  more  than 
ordinary  interest.  This  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  is  the  forerunner  of 
other  Lincoln  films  to  follow  and  it  will  be  the  guide  for  these. 

There  is  only  incidental  reference  to  Ann  Rutledge,  Mary  Todd  and 
Stephen  A.  Douglas. 

The  Lincoln  which  has  been  created  by  Lamar  Trotti,  who  wrote 
the  screenplay,  and  brought  to  life  on  the  screen  under  Ford's  direc- 
tion, has  an  air  of  worldliness  about  him,  although  he  is  still  essentially 
a  homespun  character.  All  told,  the  plot  is  that  of  a  backwoods  murder 
trial,  laden  with  sentiment  and  mob  excitement. 

As  the  young  Lincoln,  Henry  Fonda,  by  his  performance  gains  im- 
portance and  prestige.  Alice  Brady  has  the  role  of  Abigail  Clay, 
mother  of  the  two  boys  accused  of  murder.  Her  part  is  a  substantial 
one  and  she  fulfills  its  tender  possibilities  completely.  Other  players 
include  Marjorie  Weaver,  Arleen  Whelan,  Eddie  Collins,  Pauline  Moore, 
Richard  Cromwell  and  Eddie  Quillan. 

Contained  in  this  film  is  a  plentiful  supply  of  exploitation  suggestions. 
At  the  Fox-Lincoln  here  in  Lincoln's  home  town,  where  the  picture 
was  given  its  world  premiere,  the  screen  show  was  supplemented  by 
the  personal  appearance  of  Marian  Anderson,  celebrated  colored 
contralto. 

The  premiere  was  excellently  managed  and  presented,  with  fitting 
dignity.  It  was  the  final  festive  event  in  a  remarkable  program  which 
made  this  Memorial  Day  one  of  the  greatest  Lincoln  days  ever  held. 

Running  time,  101  minutes.  "G."* 


"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Two  More  5-Boro 
Houses  Join  Strike 

Managers  of  two  additional  Five 
Boro  houses  yesterday  joined  the 
strike  called  Monday  by  Theatrical 
Managers,  Agents  and  Treasurers 
Union  to  bring  the  total  up  to  nine 
houses  being  picketed.  A  number  of 
cashiers,  ushers,  doormen  and  matrons 
also  have  walked  out  in  a  sympathy 
strike. 

Possibility  of  a  union  of  the  latter 
class  of  employes  loomed  yesterday. 
It  is  likely  that  the  T.M.A.T.  will 
assist  in  the  organization  although 
they  will  not  be  included  in  the 
T.M.A.T.  Efforts  to  negotiate  a  set- 
tlement of  the  strike  were  started  yes- 
terday. 


Rogers  to  Star  Girl,  14 

Hollywood,  May  31. — Charles  R. 
Rogers,  independent  producer,  today 
announced  he  will  star  Linda  Ware, 
14-year-old  actress-singer,  in  "A  Star 
in  Manhattan,"  a  story  of  New  York 
autograph  seekers  being  written  by 
Dorothy  Kilgallen  and  Jerry  Horwin. 
Work  starts  in  July. 


Product  Shortage 
Closes  B  &  K  House 

Chicago,  May  31. — Balaban  &  Katz 
disclosed  today  that  they  will  close 
the  United  Artists  here  on  June  3, 
with  shortage  of  top  product  given  by 
circuit  executives  as  the  reason  for 
the  closing. 

The  house  will  remain  dark  until 
sufficient  good  product  is  available. 
No  other  B.  &  K.  houses  are  scheduled 
to  close.  A  show  window  for  M-G-M 
and  United  Artists  product,  the 
United  Artists  has  been  hard  hit  of 
late,  finding  few  pictures  which  could 
run  more  than  one  or  two  weeks. 
The  theatre  usually  holds  films  three 
to  six  weeks. 


Take  Gregory  Circuit 

Chicago,  May  31. — Gregory  Thea- 
tre Circuit,  operating  about  30  thea- 
tres in  Illinois,  Indiana  and  Wiscon- 
sin, will  be  taken  over  next  week  by 
Hub  Stern  and  affiliates.  The  Stern 
group,  formerly  interested  in  Balaban 
&  Katz  when  that  circuit  started,  are 
local  theatre  veterans. 


'Pacific'  Hits 
$14,000  Lead 
In  Twin  Cities 


Minneapolis,  May  31.  —  "Union 
Pacific"  easily  outdistanced  all  rivals 
to  get  $9,000  at  the  State. 

In  St.  Paul,  "Union  Pacific"  ate) I 
led,  getting  $5,000  at  the  Paramof)^! 

Estimated   takings    for    the  week 
ending  May  25 : 

Minneapolis: 

"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 
"Saint  Strikes  Back"  (RKO) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ASTER— (900)    (15c-25c)    dual   bills,  splil 
week.    Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

CENTURY  — (1,600)     (25c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $1,900.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

GOPHER— (990)    (25c)    9    days.  Gross: 
•■2,800.    (Average,  $2,500) 

"You  Can't  Cheat  an  Honest  Man"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,900)    (25c-40c)    6  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $4,800) 
"Union  Pacfic"  (Para.) 

STATE — (2,300)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,000.    (Average,  $4,400) 
"Grand  Illusion"  (Foreign) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  "Illusion,  4  days, 
2nd  week,  "Prison,"  three  days.  Gross: 
$1,200.    (Average,  $1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (Zttth-Fox) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,000)    (25c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $3,200) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)   (25c-40c)  7  days: 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)    (25c-40c)   7  days,  2nC 
week.    Gross:  $1,800.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (Univ.) 
"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

TOWER— (1,000)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,600.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Dark  Rapture"  (Univ.) 

WORLD— (400)    (25c-35c).  Gros 
(Average,  $700) 


$1,000 


Bert  Reisman  Says 
S.  A.  Not  Neglected 

Assertions  that  lost  European  reve- 
nue may  be  recouped  in  Latin  America 
by  means  of  more  intensive  exploita- 
tion of  that  market  must  be  taken 
with  a  grain  of  salt,  according  to 
Bert  Reisman,  RKO  sales  representa-, 
tive  for  Peru  and  Bolivia,  who  arrived 
early  this  week  to  attend  the  com-| 
pany's  national  sales  convention  here 
June  19-22. 

"Statements  of  that  kind,"  Reisman 
pointed  out,  "imply  first  of  all  thai 
Latin  America  has  been  a  neglected 
market.  That,  quite  obviously,  is  not 
true.  We  are  and  have  been  doing 
business  everywhere  that  there  is  busi- 
ness to  be  done." 

Reisman  reported  the  demand  foi 
Spanish  language  pictures  is  increas- 
ing in  subsequent  run  theatres  and  in 
the  provinces  in  South  America. 


Cole  Optimistic 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president 
of  Allied  States,  is  optimistic 
over  theatre  business  pros- 
pects for  the  next  few 
months.  On  his  latest  trip 
he  contacted  exhibitors  in 
several  centers,  and  on  the 
basis  of  what  was  reported 
to  him,  he  feels  that  grosses 
will  be  on  the  upgrade  this 
summer  and  fall.  Recent 
films  have  been  of  box-office 
proportions,  he  says. 


Sunday,  June  1.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


(that's  What 
!n  Hollywood; 
Casts  Chosen 

Hollywood,  May  31. — Paramount 
is  extended  the  contract  of  Dorothy 
(vmour,  now  playing  in  "Disputed 
•f^age"  .  .  .  Among  vehicles  sched- 
[jvat  Warners  for  Edward  G.  Rob- 
Tson,  is  "The  Prince  of  Imposters," 
ory  of  the  life  of  James  Addison 
■AXIS  who  in  the  last  century  per- 
trated  a  huge  land  fraud  in  Arizona 
id  surrounding  states  .  .  .  Paramount 
III  star  Madeleine  Carroll  in 
,  afari,"  laid  against  the  background 
the  South  African  veldt. 


Charles  Bickford's  next  picture 
Republic  will  be  "Jungle  Gold," 
i>ry  of  a  South  American  rubber 
Iron,  from  an  original  by  Louis 
evens  and  Garrett  Lloyd  .  .  .  Re- 
fclic  has  signed  the  Weaver 
cothers  and  Elviry,  hillbilly  team, 
■  four  pictures,  first  of  which  will 
"In  Old  Missouri"  and  the  sec- 
Id.  "Jeepers  Creepers"  .  .  .  Robert 
+ung  and  Florence  Rice  have  the 
.ds  in  "Miracles  for  Sale,"  which 
id  Browning  is  directing  at  M-G-M 
.  A  switch  in  casting  places  Pris- 
xa  Lane  in  the  feminine  lead  of 
•ust  Be  My  Destiny"  opposite  John 
hkfield  at  Warners  and  M argot 
even  son,  who  worked  a  week  in 
i  role  opposite  Garfield  in  the 
'thcoming  "20,000  Years  in  Sing 
ng,"  in  the  spot  formerly  assigned 
Ann  Sheridan. 


Warners'  "The  Return  of  Dr.  X" 
nich  was  announced  for  some  time 
a  Boris  Karloff  vehicle,  has 
trted  shooting — but  without  Kar- 
rF  in  the  cast.  With  the  picture 
l/en  a  larger  budget,  Humphrey 
«art  replaces  Karloff,  and  others 
the  cast  are  Wayne  Morris,  Rose- 
iRY  Lane,  Lya  Lys,  Dennis  Mor- 
n  and  John  Litel.  Vincent 
ierman,  writer  recently  made  a  di- 
ctor,  is  guiding  the  picture. 


Urn  Trade  Awaits 
Japan,  Spain  Rules 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

i  M.  Bergher,  manager  for  Japan, 

!io  arrived  over  the  holiday. 

Markets  for  which  new  regulations 
!  being  drawn  are  Japan,  Man- 
jkuo  and  Spain.  New  Japanese  reg- 

,  tions  are  expected  to  be  established 
Sept.  1  and  are  not  expected  to 
"severe."  Manchukoan  regulations 
1  be  worked  out  by  Government  of- 
als  during  the  next  few  months 
lowing  conferences  with  a  delega- 

.n  of  American  managers  consisting 
Richard  Speirman  of  RKO,  Wil- 

|-n  Piper.  Paramount ;  Jules  Ber- 
n.  M-G-M,  and  Joseph  Goltz, 
ited  Artists. 

Bergher,  who  is  here  for  about  two 
eks  of  home  office  conferences,  re- 
nted that  the  Manchukoan  market 
Still  good  and  is  dissatisfied  with  the 
ianese  and  Chinese  product  being 
'nished  it  by  Government  monopoly. 
Segal,  who  spent  seven  months  be- 
:en  Europe  and  India,  said  that  new 
filiations  governing  the  opening  up 
the  Spanish  market  will  be  made 
Jwn  in  a  month.  Segal  opened  new 
inches  in  France  and  Belgium  which 
■  expected  to  recoup  the  Central 
ropean  market  losses. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


TELEVISION  .  .  .  NBC  will  televise  the  Max  Baer-Lou  Nova  heavy- 
weight prizefight,  which  takes  place  in  the  Yankee  Stadium  tonight.  It 
will  be  the  first  such  attempt  in  this  country,  although  in  England  the 
telecasting  of  a  prizefight  is  now  commonplace.    The  televising  will  be  on  a 
purely  experimental  basis,  which  means  that  NBC  is  not  paying  a  fee  to 
Promoter  Mike  Jacobs. 

Several  problems  in  connection  with  the  event  are  still  bothering  NBC  en- 
gineers, who  spent  most  of  yesterday  in  the  Stadium  grounds  inspecting  the 
layout.  A  telescopic  lens  is  not  practicable  on  a  television  camera,  and  so 
valuable  ringside  space  will  be  taken  up  by  the  camera  equipment,  a  situation 
which  is  causing  Jacobs  no  end  of  unhappiness. 

The  lighting  problem  is  also  bothering  television  experts.  Where  to  place 
the  lumbering  mobile  unit  was  easy,  in  the  far  reaches  of  the  Stadium  where 
the  outfielders  roam  for  baseballs. 

▼ 

ANSWERING  FATHER  COUGHLIN  .  .  .  Radio  friends  of  Rev.  Thomas 
L.  Harris  and  Rev.  John  F.  Kiernan,  both  of  whom  are  engaged  in  answering 
Father  Coughlin's  social,  political  and  racial  doctrines  and  theories,  over 
\\  CNW  and  WEVD  respectively,  are  starting  a  campaign  to  obtain  bigger 
air  outlets  for  the  ministers.  WMCA  is  considered  a  possibility  for  at  least 
one  of  the  speakers. 

▼ 

STRANGE  AS  IT  SEEMS  .  .  .  WNEW  reports  two  peculiar  commercial 
offers  received  within  the  past  several  days.  The  first  caller  wanted  to  adver- 
tise a  reward  for  the  return  of  a  drowned  body,  and  yesterday  a  bond  sales- 
man who  lost  a  bagful  of  bonds  wanted  to  buy  spot  announcements  to  advertise 
his  loss.  The  station  referred  both  callers  to  the  classified  columns  of  the 
newspapers. 

T 

THRILL  .  .  .  A.  L.  Ashby,  vice  president  and  general  counsel  of  NBC,  will 
enjoy  a  unique  experience  June  18  when,  as  an  alumnus  of  Olivet  College,  he 
gives  the  commencement  address  at  the  same  time  that  his  son  John,  receives 
his  bachelor's  degree,  and  his  father,  John  Henry,  receives  an  honorary  doctor 
of  laws  degree. 

▼ 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Phil  Baker's  sponsor,  Atherton  Richards,  president  of  the 
Hawaiian  Pineapple  Co.,  sails  for  Honolulu  today  after  spending  several 
weeks  here.  .  .  .  Walter  Barber,  space  buyer  at  the  Compton  agency,  marries 
Florence  Gaffney,  also  with  Compton,  tomorrow.  .  .  .  Charles  N.  Van  Why, 
formerly  of  Young  &  Rubicam,  has  joined  Compton  as  a  member  of  the  traffic 
department.  .  .  .  Bob  Wilkinson  of  Benton  &  Bowles  the  father  of  a  baby  girl. 
.  .  .  Ross  Worthington,  head  of  the  research  department  of  the  air  show,  "We, 
the  People,"  sailed  on  the  N ormandie  Tuesday  for  a  vacation  in  England  and 
France.  .  .  .  Benay  Venuta  probably  will  be  signed  for  the  Cel-Ray  commer- 
cial on  WOR,  today.  .  .  .  Carlos  Franco,  head  of  station  relations  at  Young 
&  Rubicam,  is  back  at  work  after  a  six  months'  absence  brought  about  by  a 
general  collapse.  W.  B.  Lewis,  CBS  vice  president,  due  back  any  day  from 
his  trip  to  Hollywood.  Lou  Ruppel,  CBS  press  head,  to  Washington  yester- 
dav  to  attend  a  press  dinner. 

▼ 

TIME  RENEWAL  .  .  .  Andrew  Jergens  Co.,  which  recently  renewed  the 
contracts  of  Walter  Winchell  and  Charles  Boyer,  yesterday  reserved  NBC 
time  for  another  year  for  both  programs  on  which  the  commentator  and  actor 
appear. 

T 

HOLLYWOOD  SHUTDOWN  .  .  .  Tom  Wright  of  the  Hollywood  office  of 
Young  &  Rubicam,  due  in  town  in  a  couple  of  days  to  work  here  for  the 
summer.  Hollywood  office  of  the  agency  will  practically  be  shuttered  for  the 
summer,  what  with  Jack  Benny,  Lum  V  Abner,  Silver  Theatre,  Screen  Actors' 
Guild  and  the  Al  Pearce  programs  departing  for  the  season.  Only  Y  &  R 
program  to  come  from  Hollywood  this  summer  will  be  the  Matty  Malneck 
show,  and  there  is  a  possibility  that  even  this  one  will  come  to  New  York. 

T 

HOBBY  LOBBY  PRAYER  .  .  .  Dickering  still  going  on  about  the  sum- 
mer status  of  Dave  Elman's  "Hobby  Lobby."  There  is  an  odd  chance  that  it 
may  be  held  over  for  the  summer,  but  in  any  event,  the  show  in  all  probability 
will  come  back  in  the  fall,  for  its  current  sponsor. 

T 

NEW  BUSINESS  .  .  .  Berkey  &  Gay  Co.  has  signed  to  sponsor  two  morn- 
ing programs  on  WABC — "Tune  for  Today"  and  "Odd  Side  of  the  News." 
Contracts  are  effective  immediately. 


Monogram  Winners 

Edward  Bilek,  Jr.,  Chicago,  and 
Mrs.  E.  C.  Armbruster,  Oak  Park, 
111.,  winners  of  Monogram's  Chicago 
"wisecrack"  contest  for  "Streets  of 
New  York/'  will  arrive  here  Satur- 
day as  guests  of  Monogram  for  four 
days.  With  them  will  be  Bill  Ken- 
nedy and  Ray  Serafin,  winners  of  a 
newsboys'  contest  conducted  at  the 
same  time  in  cooperation  with  the  Chi- 
cago Evening  American. 


Edit  Venezuelan  Film 

"La  Gran  Sabana"  ("The  Great 
Prairie"),  a  three-reel  film  of  the  un- 
explored interior  of  Venezuela,  is  be- 
ing edited  and  scored  here.  It  was 
produced  by  the  Capuchin  Mission  of 
El  Coroni  with  the  cooperation  of  the 
Venezuelan  Government.  Father  Bal- 
tasar  de  M'atallana,  who  is  negotiat- 
ing a  release,  is  completing  the  com- 
mentary   in    Spanish    and  English. 


Pennsylvania 
Film  Bills  Die 
In  Legislature 


Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May  31.— The 
film  industry  came  through  the  state 
legislative  session  unscathed,  as  a 
score  of  bills  relating  to  the  business 
went  into  discard  when  the  legislat- 
ure adjourned  yesterday. 

Most  important  of  the  measures 
which  failed  to  be  enacted  were  the 
theatre  divorcement  bill,  prohibiting 
producers  or  distributors  from  operat- 
ing theatres,  and  an  anti-Ascap  law 
which  would  have  prevented  the  music 
licensing  society  from  operating  with- 
in the  state. 

_  Among  other  measures  which  were 
sidetracked  were:  Repeal  of  the  local 
option  Sunday  film  law,  which  would 
have  restored  the  old  blue  laws;  ban 
on  attendance  of  children  under  15  on 
Sundays ;  admission  tax  of  one  cent 
on  each  25  cents  of  admission ;  com- 
pulsory display  of  the  American  flag 
and  singing  of  the  national  anthem  at 
all  performances ;  stricter  regulation 
of  theatre  electrical  devices. 

Other  unsuccessful  bills  provided 
that  as  many  licensed  projectionists  be 
employed  as  there  are  projection  ma- 
chines in  the  theatre;  that  all  pro- 
jectionists have  at  least  10  years' 
experience;  that  admissions  on  Sun- 
days and  holidays  be  no  higher  than 
on  weekdays. 

Anti-Ascap  Law 
Doomed  in  Michigan 

Chances  of  enactment  of  an  anti- 
Ascap  law  in  Michigan  died  with  the 
adjournment  of  the  state  legislature. 
The  measure,  designed  to  curb  the 
operations  of  the  society  in  the  state, 
was  introduced  early  in  the  session 
but  no  action  was  taken. 

Ascap  will  resume  its  court  battle 
to  test  the  constitutionality  of  the 
Florida  statute  shortly  after  June  18, 
date  on  which  the  state  is  scheduled 
to  answer  the  Ascap  complaint.  Case, 
which  has  already  been  to  the  U.  S. 
Supreme  Court  on  preliminary  tech- 
nicalities, will  be  docketed  for  trial 
following  filing  of  the  state's  answer. 


Hartford  Party  Sunday 

Hartford,  Conn.,  May  31. — Local 
division  of  the  Warner  Theatre  Club 
will  hold  a  dinner-dance  at  the  Hilltop 
House  on  Sunday  with  several  of  the 
New  Haven  club  members  as  guests. 
The  Hartford  group  includes  man- 
agers from  Hartford,  Manchester, 
Bristol  and  New  Britain. 


Encyclopedia  Cites 
Theatre  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  May  31. — Esquire, 
new  streamlined  theatre  here 
operated  by  H.  and  E.  Bala- 
ban,  is  the  subject  of  a  full 
page  of  pictures  in  the  latest 
issue  of  the  Encyclopedia 
Britannica.  The  theatre,  seat- 
ing 1,400,  is  represented  as  an 
outstanding  example  of  mod- 
ern motion  picture  architec- 
ture. W.  L.  Pereira  was  the 
architect. 


I 

u 


V 


I 


at  RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

"A  swashbuckling  story  of  adventure  .  . 
moves  quickly  and  excitedly  across  the 
screen",  says  New  York  Daily  News. 
Beats  every  attraction  in  town.  Held 
over  second  big  week. 

at  the  CALIFORNIA,  SAN  DIEGO 

Breaks  all  time  attendance  and  money 
record.  Moved  over  to  Orpheum  for  con- 
tinuous first  run. 

at  LOEWS  STATE,  NEW  ORLEANS 

Hits  137  per  cent  of  average  as  first  four 
days  equal  normal  weekly  gross  for 
theatre. 

at  the  ORPHEUM,  MONTREAL 

Joe  Lightstone,  owner  of  the  Orpheum, 
reports  second  biggest  opening  of  year. 
Held  over  second  week  of  indefinite 
long  run. 


HAL  ROACH  presents 


.tarnng  BRIAN  AHERNE  •  VICTOR  McLAGLEN 

with  JUNE  LANG  •  JOHN  CARRADINE  •  PAUL  LUKAS  •  DOUGLASS  DUMBRILLE 
GEORGE  ZUCCO  •  VIRGINIA  FIELD  •  and  a  TREMENDOUS  SUPPORTING  CAST 

Directed  by  HAL  ROACH  Screenplay  by  Grover  Jones.  Jock  Jevne  and  William  DeMille 

RELEASED  THRU  UNITED  ARTISTS 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


to  theS^gti 


Dicture 
ndustry 


W .    P.    PRODUCERS  & 
DISTRIBUTORS   OF  AM. 
28  WEST  44TH   ST . , 
NEW  YORK. 

N.    Y.  (3 
tion 


>N  PICTURE 


45.  NO.  106 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  2,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


five  I.A.T.S.E. 
)fficials  Cited 
'or  Contempt 

earing  June  13;  Missing 
Charter  Located 


,c>s    Angeles.    June     1. — George 
j\vne,  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  International 
■sident,  and  four  aides,  besides  J. 
Buzzell,   executive   secretary  of 
Los  Angeles  Central  Labor  Coun- 
today   faced   contempt   of  court 
*rges. 

Wl  six  must  appear  in  court  June 
to  show  cause  why  they  should 
be  cited  for  contempt  as  result  of 
.*ged  violation  of  a  preliminary  in- 
lction  prohibiting  them  from  split- 
g  up  Technicians  Local  37  and  re- 
dng  its  charter. 

f\iter  conferring  with  A.  Brigham 
•se,  attorney  for  deposed  officers  of 
ral  37,  and  George  Breslin,  Inter- 
'i<>nal  attorney.  Judge  E.  H.  Wil- 
i  signed  the  contempt  citation  nam- 

besides  Browne  and  Buzzell,  the 
lowing  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  officers: 
JoldV.  Smith,  John  Gatelee,  Frank 
ckling  and   Floyd   M.  Billingsby, 

latter  an  International  vice  presi- 
it  and  living  in  San  Francisco. 
Kn  injunction  obtained  May  5  by 
cers  of  the  local  prohibited  the  In- 

(Contimtcd  on  pane  13) 


Late  Flashes 


Jolly  WOOD,  June  1.  —  Gregory 
rkson.  who  became  publicity  direc- 
tor Samuel  Goldwyn  Production 
r  weeks  ago,  has  resigned,  effective 
urday.  He  leaves  Sunday  for  Xew 
rk  and  will  vacation  in  the  east. 

left  Walt  Disney  Productions  to 
1  Goldwyn. 

• 

rilm  committee  of  Non-Sectarian 
ti-Xazi  League,  consisting  of  for- 
n  film  distributors,  yesterday  ex- 
ded  its  boycott  of  German  films, 
e  League  will  ask  that  foreign  film 
tributors  include  clauses  in  cou- 
rts that  films  are  not  of  German 
^in  and  that  no  revenue  returns  to 
Reich. 

• 

•Ioxtreal,  June  1. — German  au- 
rities  here  have  been  refused  a  re- 
n  of  the  film  seized  three  weeks  ago 
provincial  police.  Premier  Maurice 
Dlessis  said  today, 
"he  German  Consul  here  had  writ- 
the  Attorney  General  asking  for 
return  of  the  Xazi  film,  "Pour  Le 
rite."  He  was  informed  it  was 
>ounded  pending  court  action. 


Ascap  Escapes  Regulation 
In  12  of  14  Legislatures 

Ascap  escaped  legislative  regulation  in  12  out  of  14  states  in  which  measures 
adverse  to  the  music  licensing  society's  operations  were  introduced  during 
193S-'3(.>  session  of  legislatures,  a  checkup  completed  yesterday  disclosed. 
All  14  legislatures  in  which  the  anti- 


Ascap  measures  were  introduced  have 
adjourned.  North  Dakota  and  Kansas 
were  the  only  states  which  enacted  the 
bills.  States  in  which  they  were  de- 
feated are  Arkansas,  Xew  Mexico, 
Oklahoma,  Minnesota.  Indiana,  Illi- 
nois, Oregon,  Connecticut.  Ohio,  Mis- 
souri, Michigan  and  Pennsylvania. 

Vermont  enacted  an  Ascap  bill 
which  levies  a  five  per  cent  tax  on  the 
society's  collections  within  the  state 
and  requires  Ascap  to  file  a  list  of 
its  music  annually.  The  measure  does 
not  have  the  effect  of  barring  the  so- 


ciety from  operating  within  the  state, 
as  would  the  bulk  of  the  Ascap  legis- 
lation if  enacted.  For  that  reason 
Ascap  regards  the  measure  as  "harm- 
less." 

The  Florida  house  has  amended  the 
anti-Ascap  law  enacted  last  year  and 
now  being  contested  in  Federal  courts. 
No  action  has  been  taken  by  the 
Senate,  however,  and  the  Florida 
legislature  adjourns  today. 

W  ashington,  Tennessee  and  Nebras- 
ka enacted  anti-Ascap  laws  two  years 
ago. 


More  N.Y.  Summer 
Closings  Forecast 

Summer  closings  of  neighborhood 
houses  in  the  New  York  metropolitan 
area  will  be  somewhat  more  numerous 
than  normally,  it  is  indicated  by  cir- 
cuit heads.  Competition  from  the 
World's  Fair  is  regarded  as  an  im- 
portant factor. 

Most  operators  contemplating  clos- 
ings will  make  no  decision  for  another 
week  or  10  days,  and  this  will  depend 
on  how  business  is  affected  by  the 
weather  and  attendance  at  the  Fair. 

Consolidated  Amusement  (  Laurence 
Bolognino )  has  sent  notices  to  man- 
agers to  prepare  for  closings,  if  neces- 
sary. The  Brandt  circuit  closed  eight 
last  year  and  may  increase  the  num- 
ber this  summer.   Cocalis  circuit  will 

{Continued  on  pane  13) 


Stars  on  Goodwill 
Missions  to  S.  A. 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  June  1. — A  repre- 
sentative list  of  20th  Century-Fox 
stars  and  contract  players  will  visit 
leading  South  American  cities  at  reg- 
ular intervals,  beginning  this  summer, 
it  was  learned  here  coincident  with 
the  arrival  of  Sidney  R.  Kent,  presi- 
dent of  20th  Century-Fox,  for  the 
company's  South  American  sales  con- 
vention. 

Selection  of  South  America  as  a 
vacation  and  touring  objective  for  the 
stars  is  being  encouraged  by  the  com- 
pany as  a  contribution  to  the  goodwill 
which  exists  between  the  American 
industry  and  this  important  neighbor- 
ing customer. 

Popularity  of  American  film  stars 

(Continued  on  pafie  13) 


Club  For  25- Year  Film  Veterans 

A  new  industry  social  club,  to  be  known  as  Picture  Pioneers,  is 
being  formed  by  Jack  Cohn,  Columbia  vice-president.  Membership 
is  limited  to  men  who  have  been  members  of  the  industry  for  25 
years  or  more. 

The  organization  will  charge  no  dues  and  will  be  conducted 
primarily  to  arrange  three  or  four  annual  get-togethers,  to  be 
known  as  "conferences"  because  of  the  prevalence  of  the  term 
in  picture  circles,  Cohn  explained. 

Among  those  who  will  be  identified  with  the  new  organization 
are:  Jack  Alicoate,  Louis  Astor,  Barney  Balaban,  Leon  J.  Bam- 
berger, Jack  Bellman,  Maurice  A.  Bergman,  B.  K.  Blake,  Clayton 
E.  Bond,  Harry  Brandt,  William  Brandt,  Leo  Brecher,  Jules  E. 
Brulatour,  Harry  D.  Buckley,  Thomas  J.  Connors,  George  Dembow, 
Sam  Dembow,  Jr.,  Ned  E.  Depinet,  S.  H.  Fabian,  Leopold  Fried- 
man, Harry  Goetz,  Paul  Gulick,  P.  S.  Harrison,  Ed.  Hatrick,  Hal 
Hode,  Joe  Hornstein,  Arthur  A.  Lee,  Charles  E.  Lewis,  Joseph  A. 
McConville,  Chas.  C.  Moskowitz,  Dan  Michalove,  P.  A.  Powers, 
Martin  Quigley,  W.  F.  Rodgers,  George  J.  Schaefer,  L.  J.  Schlaifer, 
Charles  Stern,  Albert  Warner,  A.  P.  Waxman,  George  Weeks, 
Lou  Weinberg,  M.  J.  Weisfeldt,  Herman  Wobber,  and  Robert  S. 
Wolff. 


Warner  Sells 
Away  From 
West  Coast 


No  Chance  of  Expanding 
Income,  Says  Sears 

Los  Angeles,  June  1. — Warners 
have  decided  to  sell  away  their  1939- 
'40  product  from  Fox  West  Coast, 
operated  by  Charles  Skouras.  The 
company  feels  that  it  can  obtain  more 
revenue  elsewhere  and  is  critical  of 
Fox  West  Coast's  operating  policies, 
particularly  double  billing  at  flat 
rental. 

Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Warners'  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  disclosed  this  de- 
cision upon  arriving  from  New  York. 

Sears  said  Warners  had  examined 
income  records  from  Fox  West  Coast 
over  a  period  of  years  and  had  conr 
eluded  that  the  circuit's  double  billing 
on  flat  rental  engagements  offered  no 
opportunity  for  expanded  income. 

Independent  exhibitors  and  circuit 
operators  began  seeking  Warner  prod- 
uct when  learning  of  the  situation. 

Albert  A.  Galston,  president  of  the 
Independent  Theatre  Owners  of 
Southern  California,  said:  "There  is 
no  doubt  in  my  mind  that  Sears'  the- 
ories are  correct.  All  independent  ex- 
hibitors will  welcome  earlier  playing 
time  and  better  breaks. 

"Warners'  move  will  produce  more 
revenue  for  the  company,  but  good 
pictures  should  bring  more  returns  to 
producers." 

Charles  Skouras  said  tonight  that 
any  statement  concerning  the  situation 
would  have  to  come  from  Spyros 
Skouras,  head  of  National  Theatres, 
in  New  York. 


Arrive  At  Truce 
In  5-Boro  Strike 

Truce  was  signed  yesterday  in  the 
Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  and 
Treasurers  Union  strike  against  nine 
houses  of  the  Five  Boro  circuit.  All 
men  returned  to  work  at  7  :30  P.  M. 
with  no  loss  of  pay.  The  strike  started 
in  seven  houses  Monday  evening  and 
spread  to  two  additional  theatres  Wed- 
nesday, with  a  number  of  cashiers 
ushers,  doormen  and  matrons  walking 
out  in  sympathy. 

A  meeting  will  be  held  today  to 
arrange  terms  of  settlement.  T.  M. 
A.  T.,  which  includes  in  its  jurisdic- 
tion managers,  assistants  and  press 
agents,  will  also  represent  those  who 
joined  in  the  sympathy  strike  until 
such  time  as  it  is  determined  which 
union  has  jurisdiction. 


1 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  2,  1939 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Theatre  Men 
Of  Carolinas 
Meet  Sunday 


Charlotte,  N.  C,  June  1. — Theatre 
Owners  of  North  and  South  Carolina 
will  hold  their  semi-annual  convention 
at  the  Ocean  Forest  Hotel  at  Myrtle 
Beach,  S.  C,  Sunday,  Monday  and 
Tuesday. 

Lyle  M.  Wilson  of  Roanoke  Rapids, 
president,  will  preside.  H.  R.  Berry 
is  chairman  of  the  program  commit- 
tee. About  300  are  expected  to  at- 
tend. 

Ed  Kuykendall,  president  of  the 
M.  P.  T.  O.  A.,  will  make  the  major 
address  of  the  meeting.  He  will  dis- 
cuss the  trade  practice  code.  Roy 
Rogers  and  his  Hillbilly  band  from 
Hollywood  will  entertain. 

The  first  business  session  will  be 
held  Monday.  A  closed  session  for 
exhibitors  on  Monday  afternoon  will 
be  led  by  Boyd  Brown,  H.  E.  Bu- 
chanan, Roy  Rosser,  Berry  and  Roy 
Rowe. 

Committees  include :  Resolutions, 
M.  S.  Mill,  chairman;  E.  L.  Hearne, 
Albert  Sottile ;  membership,  George 
Pharr,  chairman ;  S.  S.  Stevenson,  J. 
I.  Sims ;  publicity,  W.  C.  Ormond, 
chairman ;  Mrs.  C.  H.  Albrecht,  R.  B. 
Benfield ;  ladies'  entertainment,  Mrs. 
Runa  Curtis,  chairman ;  Mrs.  M.  W. 
Johnson,  Mrs.  H.  T.  Green ;  recrea- 
tion, John  Vickers,  chairman  ;  Buster 
Schnibben  and  L.  C.  Sipe. 

'Lincoln9  to  Roxy; 
'Juarez9  to  Strand 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  opens  today 
at  the  Roxy  and  "Juarez"  starts  a 
popular  price  run  at  the  Strand. 

Although  the  heat  wave  abated 
somewhat  yesterday,  business  contin- 
ued being  off.  "The  Gorilla"  grossed 
an  estimated  $29,000  at  the  Roxy. 
The  second  week  of  "Kid  from  Ko- 
komo"  at  the  Strand  drew  an  esti- 
mated $19,000.  At  the  Rivoli,  "Wuth- 
ering  Heights"  grossed  an  estimated 
$11,500  for  its  seventh  week. 

"Sun  Never  Sets"  is  next  at  the 
Music  Hall.  "Undercover  Doctor" 
will  open  at  Criterion  Wednesday. 

Trade  Is  Watching 
'Mikado'  at  Rivoli 

"The  Mikado,"  first  Gilbert  and 
Sullivan  operetta  to  be  transferred  to 
the  screen,  opened  at  the  Rivoli  last 
night. 

The  trade  is  watching  the  picture's 
performance  with  more  than  usual  in- 
terest for  guidance  in  selling  it  and 
pictures  of  similar  character.  Picture 
did  excellent  business  in  trial  engage- 
ments in  Miami,  Des  Moines  and  Ca- 
nadian bookings. 

"The  Mikado"  was  reviewed  in 
Motion  Picture  Daily  May  16. 


20th-Fox  Dividends 

Directors  of  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox  Film  Corporation  yesterday  de- 
clared a  cash  dividend  of  37^4  cents 
per  share  for  the  second  quarter  of 
1939  on  the  outstanding  preferred 
stock,  payable  June  30,  to  stockhold- 
ers of  record  June  15.  The  Board 
also  declared  a  cash  dividend  of  50 
cents  per  share  on  outstanding  com- 
mon stock,  payable  June  30. 


HARRY  GOLD,  Archie  Mayo, 
Ham  Fisher,  Sam  Shain, 
Charles  Stark,  Ken  Dolan,  Eddie 
Grainger,  James  Cron,  Shirley 
Ross,  Cal  Swanson,  Oscar  Doob 
at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern  during 
lunch  hour  yesterday. 

• 

Jack  Schaindlin,  for  five  years  as- 
sociated with  Milton  Schwartz- 
wald,  has  opened  his  own  office  at 
the  Eastern  Service  Studios  and  will 
compose  original  scores  for  independ- 
ent producers. 

• 

Arthur  Krim,  Herman  Wobber, 
Charles  McCarthy,  Nat  Karson, 
Maynard  Morris,  John  Golden, 
John  S.  Royal  at  Sardi's  for  lunch 
yesterday. 

• 

Rick  Ricketson,  Intermountain 
Theatres  division  head  at  Denver,  is 
in  town  for  conferences  with  Spyros 
Skouras. 

• 

Oscar  Serlin  is  en  route  to  Holly- 
wood, having  completed  work  here  on 
"The  City,"  documentary  film  being 
shown  at  the  World's  Fair. 

• 

Rubel  Hutchings  of  the  Allen 
Theatre,  Allen,  Neb.,  has  registered 
at  the  RKO  World's  Fair  headquar- 
ters. 

Dave  Lebovitz,  treasurer  of  Harlem 
Amusement  Co.,  Memphis,  is  in  town, 
accompanied  by  Mrs.  Lebovitz. 
• 

Lee  Stewart,  for  several  years 
casting  director  at  the  Warner  Vita- 
phone  studios,  leaves  Sunday  for  a 
vacation  and  business  trip  to  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Charles  Coburn,  stage  player,  re- 
turns to  New  York  from  Hollywood 
today,  having  finished  work  in  "Little 
Mother"  at  RKO. 

• 

Bernice  Metz  of  National  Screen 
Service  is  on  a  vacation  tour  of  Can- 
ada and  Niagara  Falls. 

• 

R.  R.  Winship  of  the  Majestic, 
Phillipsburg,  Kan.,  is  in  town  for  a 
few  days. 

• 

Chaflan,   star   of    Mexican  and 
South  American  films,  visited  the  of- 
fices of  Teatro  al  Dia  yesterday. 
• 

Ivan  Kahn,  Hollywood  talent 
scout,  is  in  Chicago  looking  over 
Little  Theatre  groups,  high  school 
and  college  dramatics. 


Memorial  Day  parade,  King  and 
Queen  in  Canada  and  the  Indianapolis 
auto  race  highlight  the  new  issues. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS.  No.  76  —  Naval 
cadets  graduate.  Pilot  lost  at  sea.  King 
and  Queen  in  Calgary.  Queen  Mary  with 
Princesses  Elizabeth  and  Margaret  in  Lon- 
don. Pope  Pius  in  religious  ceremony. 
Memorial  Day  parade.  Dog  show.  Queen 
Wilhelmina  visits  King  Leopold.  War  vets 
parade  in  Philadelphia.  Fashions.  Metro- 
politan golf  championships.  Indianapolis 
auto  races.    Englewood  track  opens. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  274— Aviator 
takes  off  for  Ireland.  June  week  in  Annap- 
olis. Fred  Snite  in  France.  Flexible  gate 
for  railroad  crossings.  Memorial  Day 
parade.  War  alliance  signed.  Queen  Mary 
with  grandaughters.    Indians  greet  Britain's 


ADOLPH  ZUKOR,  William 
Brandt,  Max  A.  Cohen,  Joseph 
Bern  hard,  among  those  lunching  at 
Nick's  Hunting  Room  in  the  Astor 
yesterday. 

• 

Andrew  Kelly,  Jay  Carmody, 
Carter  Barron,  of  Washington,  Nor- 
man Clark  and  Lou  Azrael  of  Bal- 
timore, in  town  for  a  one-day  visit 
yesterday  en  route  to  their  offices 
from  Springfield,  where  they  attended 
the  premiere  of  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln." 
• 

John  Pavone,  Warner  New  Haven 
branch  manager,  was  in  town  yester- 
day conferring    with    Roy  Haines, 
eastern  and  Canadian  sales  manager. 
• 

Virginia   Field,    here    for  three 
weeks'  vacation,  left  last  night  for  the 
coast  via  TWA.   With  her  is  Auriol 
Lee,  her  aunt,  a  stage  director. 
• 

Herb  Morgan  of  M-G-M's  shorts 
department  is  on  a  four-week  trip 
which  will  take  him  to  the  coast.  He 
is  arranging  for  a  college  football  pic- 
ture. 

• 

Dell  Goodman,  20th  Century-Fox 
Far  East  supervisor,  is  due  here 
shortly. 

Kuykendall  to  Speak 
At  Oklahoma  Parley 

Oklahoma  City,  June  1. — Ed  Kuy- 
kendall, president  of  the  M.P.T.O.A., 
will  head  the  list  of  speakers  at  the 
annual  convention  of  the  Oklahoma 
Theatre  Owners,  Inc.,  at  the  Biltmore 
Hotel  here  June  26  and  27.  Morris 
Loewenstein  is  president. 

Other  speakers  will  be  D.  R.  Mil- 
stein,  Tulsa,  state  representative  for 
Ascap ;  Bessa  Short,  booker  of  shorts 
for  Interstate  Circuit,  Dallas ;  Bob 
O'Donnell,  president  of  Interstate,  and 
Paul  Short,  sales  manager  of  National 
Screen  Service. 


Quits  Variety  Club 

Cincinnati,  June  1. — Joseph  John 
Oulahan,  local  Paramount  manager, 
has  resigned  as  chief  barker  of  the 
Cincinnati  Variety  Club,  due  to  pres- 
sure of  other  duties.  Arthur  M. 
Frudenfeld,  RKO  Midwest  division 
manager,  formerly  first  assistant  chief 
barker,  moves  into  Oulahan's  post. 
James  J.  Grady,  20th  Century-Fox 
manager,  goes  from  second  to  first 
assistant  chief  barker,  and  Paul 
Krieger,  Universal  manager,  formerly 
a  director,  succeeds  Grady. 


Monarchs.    Speed  race  in  Indianapolis. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  87  —  Czech 
pavilion  opens  at  Fair.  Dress  parade  in 
Annapolis.  Paderewski  sails  for  Europe, 
Panda  performs  in  English  zoo.  Heat  wave 
in  New  York.  British  sovereigns  on  tour. 
Shaw  wins  auto  race. 

RKO  PA  THE  NEWS,  No.  91— King  and 
Queen  in  Canada.  Plans  for  streamlined 
building.  Honor  prison  farm  in  California. 
Open  exposition  in  Belgium.  Display  gravity- 
driven  machine.  Triple  auto  crash  in  In- 
dianapolis race. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  776— Me- 
morial Day  parade.  Flier  lost  in  Atlantic. 
Hail  King  and  Queen.  Fred  Snite  in  France. 
Test  robot  life  saving  boat.  Women  traffic 
cops  in  California.  Society  of  Magicians 
convenes  at  Fair.  Annapolis  dress  parade. 
Horse  racing.     Auto  classic. 


Ruling  Hurts 
Government 
In  B-K  Action 


Chicago,  June  1. — The  federal  gov- 
ernment was  dealt  a  blow  today  in  its 
anti-monopoly  suit  against  Balaban 
and  Katz  and  the  majors.  ^ 

The  government,  charging  violatfft1 
of  the  consent  decree,  sought  to  have 
records  showing  film  rentals  paid, 
box-office  grosses  and  other  data  from 
1926  to  the  present  day. 

Master  in  Chancery  Edgar  Eldredge 
allowed  the  government  access  to  data 
from  1935,  instead  of  1926. 

The  next  hearing  in  the  case  is 
scheduled  June  22. 

Para.  Sales  Contest 
Winners  Are  Named 

Winners  of  Paramount's  13-week 
Four-Star  sales  drive  were  disclosed 
yesterday  by  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager, 
as  follows : 

District  managers  —  George  A. 
Smith,  first;  Ralph  A.  LiBeau,  second. 
Branch  managers — Albert  Mendenhall, 
Omaha,  first;  John  T.  Howard,  De- 
troit, second ;  Chester  J.  Bell,  Denver, 
third.  Salesmen — I.  G.  White,  Los 
Angeles,  first ;  E.  Rubin,  Omaha,  sec- 
ond ;  J.  Wilcox,  Salt  Lake  City,  third. 

In  the  bookers'  division,  first  place 
was  won  by  Omaha,  with  Detroit 
second  and  Denver  third.  Among 
ad  sales  managers,  Wendall  Overturf, 
Omaha,  was  first ;  Selby  Carr,  Minne- 
polis,  second,  and  James  Nicoll,  New 
Orleans,  third. 


Fleischer  Expanding 

Miami,  June  1.  —  Max  Fleischer, 
president  of  Fleischer  Studios,  Inc., 
has  expanded  his  organization  here, 
with  the  rental  of  two  bungalows  for 
the  scenario  and  story  departments. 
He  employs  400,  with  weekly  salaries 
of  $18,000.  He  is  building  a  cafeteria 
which  will  seat  200. 


Set  Albany  Allied  Meet 

A  report  on  New  York  Allied's 
annual  convention  here  last  week  will 
be  given  at  a  meeting  of  the  unit's 
Albany  group  at  the  Ten  Eyck  Hotel 
there  Monday. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi- 
gan Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building. 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man- 
ager, cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigley 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  per 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign. 
Single  copies  10c. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


j  Friday.  June  2,  19.V) 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Deal  Merging  160 
Australian  Houses 


Negotiations    To  Unite 
Greater  Union,  Hoyts 
Nearly  Done 


^Papers  in  the  Hoyts-Greater  Union 
Il4rgt'i'  in  Australia,  which  will  com- 
^ffne  about  160  theaters,  will  be  signed 
in  Australia.  The  combine  will  be  an 
Australian  company,  separate  from 
American  interests.  Negotiations  are 
not  yet  concluded. 

Hoyts.  with  105  theatres,  will  have 
about  75  per  cent  interest  in  the  new 
rorporation,  and  Greater  Union  inter- 
ests the  remainder. 

Affiliates  Not  Involved 

(ireater  Union's  affiliates,  Cinesound 
>tudio  and  British  Empire  Films,  dis- 
tributing company,  are  not  involved 
in  the  deal. 

Norman  Bede  Rydge,  Greater  Union 
managing  director,  plans  to  leave 
June  10  for  Sydney  by  way  of  the 
west  coast.  Charles  E.  Munro,  man- 
aging director  of  Hoyts,  will  remain 
here  until  next  month.  They  are  ne- 
gotiating the  merger  with  the  assis- 
>  tance  and  advice  of  Spyros  Skouras, 
president  of  National  Theatres,  which 
lias  an  equity  in  Hoyts. 

20- Year  Contract 

Essentially,  the  deal  is  a  renewal  of 
the  Hoyts-Greater  Union  five-year 
pool  which  expired  in  1937.  The  new 
deal  will  be  a  permanent  one,  the  con- 
tract being  for  20  years. 

Theatre  affiliates  of  the  two  cir- 
cuits are  included,  among  them  the 
|  ( ieneral  Theatres  group  in  which  the 
two  major  circuits  have  an  equal 
equity.  There  will  be  a  general  reor- 
ganization of  holdings. 

The  merger,  it  is  believed,  will  sta- 
bilize exhibition  in  Australia  and  re- 
dound to  the  benefit  of  the  Australian 
industry  and  investors.  It  will  bring 
about  proper  runs  for  pictures  and  im- 
proved distribution  of  product. 


Lab  U nion  to  Hear 
Negotiations  Report 

Negotiations  committee  of  Labora- 
'  tory  Technicians'  Union,  Local  702, 
ill  submit  a  report  of  conferences 
with  Consolidated  Film  Industries  to 
a  membership  meeting  at  the  Midtown 
I  Social  Hall  tonight.  Meeting  with 
Consolidated  was  held  yesterday  at 
which  counter  proposals  to  the  union's 
contract  were  made. 


Reich  Films  Show 
Big  Gains  in  Spain 

Madrid,  June  1. — German 
films  have  made  inroads  in 
Spain  since  General  Franco's 
victory. 

The  German  industry  is 
getting  favored  treatment 
and  believes  this  foreshadows 
weakening  of  the  strong  lead 
held  by  American  films. 
Italian  films  are  increasingly 
noticeable.  A  few  French  pic- 
tures are  in  circulation. 

A  company  has  been  formed 
in  Rome  to  produce  Spanish 
pictures,  with  Spanish  stories, 
directors  and  casts. 


JOKE! 

Trotta  Broadcasts 
Over  Dead  Mike 


Majors  Call  U.S. 
'Evasive'  in  Suit 


Vincent  Trotta,  Ampa's  guest  of  honor,  prepares  to  read  his  speech  over  the 
WMCA  microphone — which  wasn't  hooked  up.  Paul  Lazarus  looks  on, 
knowingly,  while  Martin  Starr  guides  the  "victim"  to  the  "mike." 


Paramount  Art  Director 
Honored  By  Ampa  on 
25th  Anniversary 


By  AL  FINESTONE 

Vincent  Trotta's  25th  anniversary 
as  art  director  for  Paramount  was 
celebrated  by  the  Ampa  yesterday  at 
the  Hotel  Astor  in  Ampa's  best 
"Naked  Truth"  manner. 

It  was  a  rousing,  riotous,  lusty 
salute  to  the  industry's  first  art  de- 
partment head  in  point  of  service. 
The  luncheon  was  billed  as  "Trot- 
tazapoppin'  ".  The  ribbing  was  plen- 
tiful.   Trotta  showed  he  could  take  it. 

The  affair  also  was  in  tribute  to 
Trotta  as  Ampa's  only  active  charter 
member.  It  attracted  an  overflow 
gathering  of  160  friends  and  some  of 
Trotta's  relatives. 

There  was  a  climax  of  a  sort.  Paul 
Lazarus,  Jr.,  Ampa  president,  prepar- 
ing for  a  WMCA  broadcast  of  an 
address  by  Trotta,  called  for  order 
and  introduced  Martin  Starr,  WMCA 
commentator,  wrho  in  turn  presented 
the  guest  of  honor. 

Trotta's  speech,  made  with  the  ut- 
most gravity,  was  about  10  minutes 
under  way,  when  Eddie  Schreiber  of 
Warners  rushed  to  the  dais  and  ex- 
claimed, "We've  had  just  about  enough 
of  this,"  and  yanked  the  microphone 
from  the  table. 

Trotta  took  it  calmly.  He  merely 
wiped  his  eyeglasses  and  remarked 
qui#tly,  "I  suspected  the  darn  thing 
wasn't  hooked  up." 

John  C.  Flinn,  an  Ampa  charter 
member  and  former  president,  was 
permitted  the  only  "straight"  address. 
He  recalled  the  organization's  begin- 
ning and  called  the  roll  of  those 
present  at  the  first  meeting. 

Lazarus  read  a  burlesque  version 
of  Trotta's  life  and  career,  in  the  illus- 
trated song  manner.  He  then  made 
amends  by  presenting  a  testimonial  to 
Trotta  and  flowers  to  Mrs.  Trotta. 
The  testimonial  declared : 

"The    Associated    Motion  Picture 


Year's  Production 
Peak  in  Hollywood 

Hollywood,  June  1. — Pro- 
duction reached  a  peak  for 
the  year  last  week,  with  61 
units  shooting. 

M-G-M  had  seven  features 
in  work;  Columbia,  Para- 
mount, RKO  and  Universal, 
six  each;  20th  Century-Fox 
and  Warners,  five  each;  Re- 
public, Selznick  International, 
Samuel  Goldwyn  and  Walter 
Wanger,  one  each. 

Two  units  were  working  at 
the  same  time  on  some  of 
these  pictures.  In  addition, 
there  were  eight  independent 
feature  units  working,  exclu- 
sive of  shorts. 


Advertisers  extend  to  Vincent  Trotta 
felicitations  and  heartfelt  good  wishes 
upon  the  occasion  of  his  25th  anni- 
versary in  the  motion  picture  industry. 
His  record  of  service,  courage  and 
loyalty  will  be  forever  an  example  to 
those  who  follow  him  as  it  has  been 
a  constant  inspiration  to  us." 

Messages  of  congratulation  were 
read  from  Barney  Balaban,  S.  R.  Kent, 
George  J.  Schaefer,  Jesse  L.  Lasky, 
A.  M.  Botsford,  Walter  Wanger, 
Eugene  Zukor,  Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
Mel  Shauer,  Neil  F.  Agnew,  Herman 
Wobber,  Arthur  Mayer,  Maurice  A. 
Bergman,  Ed  Finney,  Joe  Unger, 
Charles  M.  Reagan,  Oscar  Morgan, 
George  Petty,  Jerome  Beatty  and 
other  friends  and  associates. 

This  was  Ampa's  final  meeting  of 
the  season. 


Arnstein  Suit 

Hollywood,  June  1. — Hearing  on  an 
order  to  show  cause  why  20th  Century- 
Fox  should  not  be  restrained  from  fur- 
ther distribution  of  "Rose  of  Wash- 
ington Square"  has  been  continued  to 
Monday.  Nicky  Arnstein,  charging  in- 
vasion of  privacy,  is  suing  for  $400,000. 


Ask  for  Further  Details; 
Charge  'Vagueness' 
By  Government 


Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  re- 
served decision  yesterday  on  the  appli- 
cation of  major  company  defendants, 
with  the  exception  of  Columbia  and 
United  Artists,  for  further  details  in 
the   Government  anti-trust  suit. 

Decision  was  also  reserved  on  the 
alternative  request  for  dismissing  the 
petition  for  failure  to  comply  with 
Judge  Bondy's  earlier  order  and  on 
another  request  for  extension  of  time 
to  answer  the  complaint  until  60  days 
after  a  further  bill  of  particulars  is 
served. 

Majors  contended,  through  attor- 
neys William  Donovan  and  Thomas 
D.  Thacher,  that  the  Government  had 
evaded  the  order  requiring  details  by 
using  vague  terms  and  stating  that 
details  were  unknown. 

It  was  argued  that  the  petition 
should  be  dismissed  if  the  Govern- 
ment is  unaware  of  details  in  its 
case. 

Special  Assistant  Attorney  General 
Paul  Williams  declared  that  the  de- 
fendants "know  very  well  what  we  in- 
tend to  prove,"  and  that  details  could 
not  be  furnished  without  searching 
records  "through  the  inquisitorial 
power  of  the  Government." 

Williams  protested  against  contin- 
ued delay  and  stated  that  the  Govern- 
ment was  subjected  to  criticism  be- 
cause the  defendants'  answers  were 
not  yet  on  file. 

Judge  Bondy  also  expressed  dissat- 
isfaction with  the  delay  and  said  he 
would  have  previously  ordered  the 
answers  filed  if  court  rules  had  per- 
mitted. 


Funds  for  Jewish 
Relief  Are  Collected 

Cash  and  pledges  were  collected  yes- 
terday at  the  fund-raising  luncheon  of 
the  Amusement  Division  of  the  United 
Jewish  Appeal  at  the  Hotel  Edison. 
About  250  attended. 

Rabbi  Abba  Hillel  Silver,  national 
chairman,  made  the  principal  address, 
and  David  Bernstein,  Division  chair- 
man, was  toastmaster.  The  division 
will  sponsor  a  luncheon  for  performers 
at  the  Edison  June  12  and  a  midnight 
meeting  for  projectionists  at  a  later 
date. 

Among  those  on  the  dais  yesterday 
were  Albert  Warner,  co-chairman  of 
the  Amusement  Division;  Jack  Cohn 
and  Barney  Balaban,  vice-chairman ; 
Harry  Brandt,  chairman  of  independ- 
ent theatre  owners'  section ;  Walter 
Reade,  vice-chairman ;  B.  S.  Moss, 
chairman  accessory  section ;  William 
Klein,  chairman  lawyers ;  Louis  Bern- 
stein, chairman  music  publishers,  and 
Herman  Robbins,  chairman  equipment. 


Three  Companies  Formed 

Albany,  June  1. — Film  companies 
chartered  here  recently  include  Ban- 
ner Pictures,  by  Irving  B-J  Levine, 
Irving  Klein  and  Paul  P.  Geyer ;  Sill- 
bar  Productions,  Inc.,  by  Leonard 
Sillman,  Hyman  I.  Bucher  and  John 
L.  Horgan,  Jr.,  and  Cinespano  Corp., 
by  Don  Avion,  E.  Louis  Gothelf  and 
Beatrice  Singer. 


WARNERS 

You  Can't  Get 
Away  With 
Murder 
(G)  (D) 

Bogart 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 
(G)  (D) 

Robinson 
Lederer 

Torchy  Rttm 
For  Mayor 

(G)  (D) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 

Winner 
Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Dains 
Paul  Muni 
Brian  Aherne 
(G)  (D) 

Nancy  Drew 
Trouble  Shooter 

Bonita  Granville 
Frank  Thomasjr. 
(G)  (D) 

The  Kid 
from  Kokomo 

O'Brien 
Wayne  Morris 
(G)  (C) 

UNIVERSAL 

For  Love  or 
Money  (G)  (D) 
June  Lang 
Robert  Kent 

Ex  Champ 

McLaglen 
Tom  Brown 
(G)  (D) 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

Inside 
Information 

June  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Rathbone 
Fairbanks,  Jr. 

House  of  Fear 

Win.  Gargan 
Irene  Hcrvcv 

U.  A. 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

Man  in  the 
Iron  Mask 

Hayward 
Joan  Bennett 

20TH-FOX 

Return  of  the 
Cisco  Kid 
(G)  (D) 
Baxter 
Climbing  High 
Matthews 

Chasing  Danger 
(G)  (D) 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

Rose  of 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  Whelan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 
Marjorie  Weaver 

Charlie  Chan 
in  Reno 

Sidney  Toler 
Ricardo  Cortez 
Phyllis  Brooks 

The  Girl 
from  Brooklyn 

Alice  Faye 

Baxter 
Winninger 

It  Could 
Happen  to  You 

Gloria  Stuart 
Stuart  Erivin 

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REPUBLIC 

Street  of 
Missing  Men 
(G)  (D) 

Blue  Montana 
Skies  (G)  (O) 

Man  of 
Conquest 
(G)  (D) 

Richard  Dix 
Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Southward  Ho 

Roy  Rogers 

The  Zero  Hour 

Inescort 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

S.O.S. 
Tidal  Wave 

Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

Mountain 
Rhythm 
(O) 

Gene  Autry 

Mickey  the 
Kid 

Bruce  Cabot 
Ralph  Byrd 

PARA. 

The  Lady's 
from  Kentucky 
(G)  (D) 

Raft 
Drew 

Union  Pacific 
(G)  (D) 

Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Hotel  Imperial 

Isa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
(G)  (D) 

Some  Like  It 
Hot  (G)  (C) 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

Gracie  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
Janice  Logan 

Invitation  to 
Happiness 

Dunne 
MacMurray 
(G)  (D) 

Grand  Jury 

Secrets 
Heritage  of 
the  Desert 
(O) 

Island  of 
Lost  Men 

Anna  May  Wong 
Truex 

MONOGRAM 

Boys' 
Reformatory 
Frankie  Darro 

Wolf  Call 

Movita 
Down  the 
Wyoming  Trail 

Tex  Ritter 

Across  the 
Plains 

Jack  Randall 

■ 

Girl  From 
Nowhere 

Anne  Nag  el 
Warren  Hull 

Stunt  Pilot 
John  Trent 
Roll,  Wagon, 
Roll  (O) 

M-G-M 

Calling  Dr. 
Kildare 
(G)  (D) 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Lew  Ayres 

Lucky  Night 

(G)  (C) 
Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  (G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 
Annabella 

W.  Connolly 
(G)  (C) 

6000  Enemies 

Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 

Tarzan  Finds 
a  Son 

W  eissmuller 
O' Sullivan 

Maisie 

Ann  Sot  hern 
Robert  Young 

Stronger 
than  Desire 

Virginia  Bruce 
Walter  Pidgeon 

COLUMBIA 

Oklahoma 
Trail 
Starrett 
Meredith 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 

(G)(D) 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 
Jean  Arthur 
Cory  Grant 
(G)  (D) 

Missing 
Daughters 

Arlen 
Marian  Marsh 

Trapped  in  the 
Sky  (G)  (D) 

DeMille 
Jack  Holt 
Ralph  Morgan 

Arizona  Cowboy 
(O) 

Starrett 
Meredith 

"Q"  Planes 

Olivier 
Valerie  Hobson 

The  Awful 
Truth  (reissue) 

Parents  on 
Trial 

Jean  Parker 
Johnny  Downs 

Good  Girls 
Go  to  Paris 
BlondcU 
The  Man  from 
Sundown  (O) 

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18,000  Women  weep  with  rapture  •  • .  See  next  page 


18,000  Womet 


AT  SPECIAL 
PREVIEWS 
IN  36 

KEY  CITIES: 


▲ 


I 


I 


INDIANAPOLIS  ENDORSERS 
OF  PHOTOPLAYS  Accept  Para- 
mount's  "Invitation  to  Happiness  " 

"In  describing  this  picture  we  might  use  such  adjectives 
as  entertaining,  delightful,  enjoyable, outstanding,  superb, 
and  many  other  superlatives,  and  they  would  all  be  true. 
In  our  opinion  this  picture  owes  its  greatness  (and  no 
one  seeing  it  can  doubt  its  greatness)  to  its  very,  very 
'down  to  earth  humanness'. . .  a  picture  of  Americans  for 
Americans  that  will  find  a  place  in  the  hearts  of  all 
theatre-goers." 

—  Mary  E.  Sharp,  Acting  Secretary 


NEWSPAPER  COLUMNIS 
Paramount's  "Invitatis 

"Fred  MacMurray  gives  one  of  the  greatest  perform- 
ances of  the  MacMurray  career.  Wesley  Ruggles  has  i 
never  made  a  poor  picture,  and  this  one  is  his  great- 
est. This  love  story  packs  a  wallop  for  every  woman." 

—  Ed  Sullivan 


"Mark  'Invitation  to  Happiness'  down  as  an  emotional 
treat  not  to  be  missed." 

—  W.  Ward  Marsh,  Cleaveland  Plain  Dealer 


"I  recommend  the  film.  I'm  going  to  see  it  again." 

— Des  Moines  Register 


:cept  Paramount  s  ^Invitation  to  Happiness 

i  diences  of  women  chosen  from  leaders  in  each  city's  civic  and  cultural  life  .  .  .  acclaimed 
Imitation  to  Happiness"  as  "a  story  you  will  carry  in  your  heart  always".  .  ."a  picture  with 
|  ;nty  of  'umph' ".  .  ."should  have  the  Pulitzer  prize".  .  ."as  much  a  man's  picture  as  a 
i  tman's".  .  ."terrific  entertainment  with  a  real  heart  tug".  .  .They  applauded.  They  wept  with 
i?er  rapture.  We  have  a  stack  of  comment  cards  that  would  fill  a  room  .  .  .  and  each  and 
;  :ry  one  is  a  rave  for  this  picture  ...  In  36  key  cities  these  hundreds  of  women  are  telling 
|  :ir  families  and  their  friends  "Invitation  to  Happiness"  is  the  year's  best  .  .  .  are  giving  this 
esley  Ruggles'  triumph  the  biggest  word  of  mouth  build-up  ever  engineered  for  a  picture! 


ND  CRITICS  Accept 
Happiness" 

It's  a  story  that  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Public  will  ap- 
reciate  and  understand.  Box  office,  is,  of  course, 
nportant,  and  'Invitation  to  Happiness'  has  all  the 
igredients."  —Louella  Parsons 

[ 

Top-flight  entertainment.  Jot  it  down  as  one  of  the 
righter  approaching  events." 

—  Winsor  French,  Cleveland  Press 

Paramount  may  point  with  pride  to  this  one  . . .  it's 
smoothie." 

— Little  Rock,  Arkansas  Democrat 


"  RADIO  COMMENTATORS 
Accept  Paramount^ 
Invitation  to  Happiness" 

"'Invitation  to  Happiness'  is  an  invitation  to  fun  and 
romance.  Accepted."  — Jimmie  Fidler 

"Top  flight  movie  entertainment.  Women  will  find  this 
one  of  the  greatest  love  stories  of  the  season.  I  won't 
whisper  this  .  .  .  I'll  shout  it." 

—  George  Fisher,  Mutual  Broadcasting  System 

"Best  thing  I  have  seen  since  Notre  Dame  came  from 
behind  to  knock  down  Ohio  State  in  1935,  but  unlike 
that  game,  it  has  sustained  punch  plus 
the  same  terrific  climax."  —  Ted  Husing 


The  Trade  Papers  Accept  Paramoil 


"IRENE  DUNNE'S 

work  is  definitely  in  the  superior 
class."  — Hollywood  Reporter 

"Irene  Dunne's  portrayal  is  unusually 
fine,  giving  the  picture  its  charm  and 
humanness." 

— Showman's  Trade  Review 

"Irene  Dunne  does  splendid  work." 

— Film  Daily 

"Irene  Dunne  plays  in  an  impressive 
manner."  — AI-  P.  Daily 

"For  Irene  Dunne  it  is  a  decided 
change  of  pace  from  her  more  recent 
sophisticated  comedies.  A  refreshing 
change.  She  shows  her  versatility  in 
a  performance  of  persuasive  appeal 
and  sound  merit."      — Daily  Variety 

"Miss  Dunne's  portrayal  of  the  wife 
is  excellent."  P.  Herald 


"Paramount  can  look  for  hefty 
grosses  from  'Invitation  to 
Happiness.'  The  picture  doesn't 
miss  a  trick  in  playing  on 
every  emotional  response  that 
can  be  expected." 

— Hollywood  Reporter 


nt's  44 Invitation  to  Happiness"! . 


'FRED  Mac  MURRAY 

has  never  done  better  work." 

— Film  Daily 

"Mr.  MacMurray's  performance  is  his 
best  to  date."  _M.  p.  Herald 

"Fred  MacMurray  continues  to  grow 
in  stellar  stature  and  here  gives  one 
of  his  most  sterling  and  impressive 
enactments  in  a  role  eminently 
adapted  to  him."       — Daily  Variety 

"MacMurray  turns  in  his  best  per- 
formance to  date."       — M.  P.  Daily 


"First,  last  and  always  a  love 
story,  excellently  told." 

— M.  P.  Daily 

"Swell  human  interest  story; 
should  play  to  heavy  grosses 
in  all  theatres.  One  of  the  most 
human  pictures  that  has  come 
to  the  screen  in  many  a  moon." 

— Film  Daily 

"The  tale  is  written,  directed 
and  played  with  moving  emo- 
tional appeal. ..one  of  the  best 
in  some  time."    — Daily  Variety 


44 WESLEY  RUGGLES, 

producer-director,  has  done  a  masterly 

—Film  Daily 

"Directed  by  Wesley  Ruggles  at  the 
peak  of  a  brilliant  career,  'Invitation 
to  Happiness'  is  just  what  the  title 
declares  it  to  be."        — m.  P.  Daily 

"A  Wesley  Ruggles  production  in  that 
veteran  director's  ablest  manner.  It  is 
solid  entertainment."  M.  P.  Herald 

"The  Wesley  Ruggles  production 
packs  a  solid  wallop  in  the  heart  in- 
terest department." 

— Hollywood  Reporter 

"Wesley  Ruggles  has  skillfully  direc- 
ted it,  so  that  it  plays  on  every  emo- 
tion and  should  have  a  tremendous 
audience  response." 

— Showman's  Trade  Review 


fast 


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-    «  Cobb's  t»eart.tuggh»8 
Xtetotb.A«eH.a«sp«.t 

OUR  LEADING 
CITIZEN" 


Elisabeth  Bergner's 
Greatest  Performance 

"STOLEN 
LIFE 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


'Spy'  Proves 
Seattle  Lead, 
Pulls  $7,700 


Seattle,  June  1. — "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy"  and  "The  Family  Next 
Door"  led  at  the  Paramount  here  with 
'(^TlK),  in  a  week  of  slow  grosses  and 
weather. 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  grossed 
57,200  at  the  Liberty. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  26: 

"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
BI.l'E    MOl'SE  —  (950)     (30c-40c-55c)  7 

■  lays.  3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Average, 
-4,000) 

Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

FIFTH  AVENUE- -(2.500)  (30c-40c-55c>  7 
days.    Gross:   $6,900.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

LIBERTY— (1,800)  (20c -30c -10c -55c)  7  days, 
_"nd  week.  Gross:  $7.20).  (Average,  S5.000) 
"Mutiny  on  the  Bounty"  (M-G-M) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c> 
Gross:  $4,100.    (Average,  $5,000) 

King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 
"Twelve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

ORPHEIM  —  (2,450)  (30c-40c> 
Gross:  $4,300.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"I  Was  a  Convict"  (Repub.) 
"The  Long  Shct"  (G.  N.) 

P  ALOMAR  —  (1.500)     (15c-25c-35c-40c)  7 

■  lays.    "Broadway   Merry-Go- Round"  stage 
revue.    Gross:  $5.3(J0.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050 >    < 30c- 40c  I    7  dav-. 
Gross:  $7,700.    (Average.  $6,000) 
"Smiling  Along"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (750)  (30c -40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
-1,400.    (Average,  $1,500) 


da 


•Rose'  in  Detroit 
Good  at  $27,000 

Detroit.  June  1. — "Rose  of  Wash- 
ington Square"  led  the  parade,  giv- 
ing the  Fox  $27,000.  Michigan  took 
$11,000  with  "Oklahoma  Kid"  and 
"Some  Like  it  Hot." 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
May  25 : 

"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
>5.000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX-(5,000)  (20c-65c)  7  days.  Stage. 
\anety  show.  Gross:  $27,000.  (Average. 
-20.000) 

"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

MICHIGAN  —  (4,000)    (20c-65c)    7  days 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average.  $10,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

PALMS-STATE—  (3.000)  (15c-50c)  7  days, 
'.ross:  $7,500.    (Average.  $5,000) 
"San  Francisco"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Champ"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS-(2,000)  (20c-65c)  7 
'lays.    I, ross:   $5,000.    (Average.  $10,000) 

Rose'  Is  Smash  Hit 
Indianapolis,  $8,900 

Indianapolis,  June  1— "Rose  of 
Washington  Square"  was  a  smash  hit 
at  the^  Circle  with  $8,900.  "Sorority 
House"  shared  the  bill.  Other  grosses 
were  weak.  The  weather  was  hot. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  May  26: 

"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Woman  Doctor"  (Rep.) 

.J£PLL°—^-100>  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
>2,2C0.    (Average.  $2,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
•  Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

0<S?CVF~(2'800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
>8.900.    (Average,  $5,500) 
Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
•Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

--^2.E^".S_(2'800)  f25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 

sj.800.    (Average,  $7,000) 

'  Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W   B  ) 

rU,'RI■£-^2;?00,  f25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
\audev.lle.    Gross:  $5,300.    (Average,  $8,000) 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Charlie  Chan  in  Reno" 

(10th  Century-Fox) 

HOLLYWOOD;  June  1. — There's  more  mystery  in  "Charlie  Chan  in 
Reno"  than  lias  been  the  case  in  any  of  the  "Chans"  for  quite  a  while. 
At  the  same  time,  the  production  has  all  the  comedy  that  any  of  the 
series  ever  had.  The  combination  is  served  up  by  Sidney  Toler  with 
the  assistance  of  Ricardo  Cortez,  Phyllis  Brooks,  Slim  Summerville, 
Kane  Richmond,  Sen  Yung.  Pauline  Moore,  Eddie  Collins,  Kay  Linaker, 
Lonise  Henry,  Robert  Lowery,  Charles  D.  Brown,  Iris  Wong,  Morgan 
l  onway  and  Hamilton  MacFadden.  It  proved  sufficiently  worthy  to 
win  the  appreciation  of  the  preview  audience.  Norman  Foster,  capital- 
izing on  all  the  merits  in  Philip  Wylie's  original  and  the  Frances  Hy- 
land,  Albert  Ray  and  Robert  E.  Kent  screenplay,  directed  smoothly. 

Anything  may  happen  in  Reno,  the  nation's  divorce  capital,  and  while 
what  happens  in  "Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  is  melodramatically  theatrical, 
all  seems  logical  and  believable.  The  mysterious  murder  of  divorce 
candidate  Miss  Henry  with  suspicion  centered  on  Miss  Moore,  another 
marital  freedom  seeker,  brings  Toler  into  the  case.  An  idea  of  how 
complicated  things  are  may  be  gleaned  from  the  fact  that  Richmond, 
Mi>>  Moore's  husband,  plans  to  marry  Miss  Henry.  However,  as 
Yung  and  rural  sheriff  Summerville  blunder  through  things  to  create 
comedy.  Toler.  confronted  with  a  multiplicity  of  suspects,  all  of  whom 
might  have  had  reason  for  wanting  the  victim  out  of  the  way,  un- 
snarls the  tangle  while  the  audience  is  left  wondering  who  it  is  up  to 
the  final  minute. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.  "G."* 

G.  McC. 


"Cuando  Canta  La  Ley" 

("The  Singing  Charro") 

( Faralla-Paramount) 

Hollywood,  June  1. — First  all-Spanish  musical  western  produced  in 
Hollywood.  "Cuando  Canta  La  Ley"  presents  Tito  Guizar  in  an  im- 
pressive production  shrewdly  calculated  by  its  producer,  Dario  Faralla, 
to  open  a  new  vista  in  the  Spanish  market.  Fourth  of  his  production 
efforts  starring  Guizar  for  Paramount  release,  this  Faralla  picture  com- 
bines action,  romance,  story  and  music  in  such  proportions  as  to  be 
of  general  interest.  Again  associated  with  Faralla  is  director  Richard 
Harlan,  who  guided  the  other  three  Guizar  pictures. 

Enruque  Qnthoff  wrote  the  Spanish  screenplay  which  places  Guizar 
in  the  role  of  a  Mexican  secret  service  operative  who  becomes  a  sing- 
ing cowboy  to  track  down  a  murdering  bond  thief.  Comedy  is  supplied 
by  Martin  Garralaga,  in  the  role  of  an  insurance  company  detective, 
who  joins  forces  with  Guizar.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Tana,  Martin 
Garralaga,  Paul  Ellis.  Pilar  Arcos,  Jose  Tortosa,  Carlos  Ruffino,  Carlos 
Montalban,  Raoul  Eechuga,  Jose  Pena  Pepet  and  Arroyita. 

Guizar  and  Garralaga  are  hired  as  cowhands  by  Tana,  who  owns  a 
huge  ranch.  Still  keeping  their  disguise,  they  track  down  the  murderer, 
who  turns  out  to  be  the  ranch  owner's  fiance.  After  gun  fights  and 
spectacular  riding.    Guizar  recovers  the  loot  and  captures  the  criminal. 

Running  time,  81  minutes.    "G."*  Vance  King 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Home  Town  to  Get 
Benny's  Premiere 

Chicago,  June  1. — Details  for  the 
world  premiere  of  Jack  Benny's  new 
film,  "Man  About  Town,"  at  Wau- 
kegan,  111.,  Benny's  home  town,  have 
been  worked  out  here  by  Robert 
Gillham  of  Paramount.  The  event 
takes  place  June  25.  Plans  include 
the  broadcast  of  the  entire  Benny 
show  with  the  cast  being  brought  to 
Waukegan. 


Wachsberger  Sets  First 

Hollywood,  June  1. — Nat  Wachs- 
berger, parner  of  Boris  Morros  in 
Boris  Productions,  will  produce  as  his 
first  picture  an  English  version  of 
"Royal  Box."  burlesque  of  royal  dic- 
tatorship, which  was  produced  by 
Tobis  in  Germany  several  years  ago. 


Nine  Arenas  Form 
New  Booking  Pool 

Pittsburgh,  June  1. — Nine  of  the 
country's  largest  arenas  have  organ- 
ized here  to  establish  group  booking 
policies,  distribute  information  about 
their  field  and  develop  means  of  stimu- 
lating business.  The  combine,  incor- 
porated as  the  Arena  Managers'  As- 
sociation, have  a  New  York  office. 

Officers  are  John  H.  Harris  of  the 
Harris  Amusement  Co.,  president ; 
Walter  Brown,  Boston,  vice-president 
and  treasurer,  and  Louis  Pierie  of 
Providence,  secretary. 

Charter  members  are  the  Rhode 
Island  Auditorium  in  Providence; 
Springfield,  Mass.,  Auditorium ;  Du- 
quesne  Garden  in  Pittsburgh,  and  the 
arenas  of  Boston,  Cleveland,  Philadel- 
phia, Syracuse,  New  Haven  and  Her- 
shey  Estates. 


'Juarez'  Hub 
Big  Grosser 
With  $19,500 


Boston,  June  1.  —  "Juarez"  and 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  led  at  the 
Metropolitan  with  $19,500.  "The 
Hardys  Ride  High"  and  "Blind  Alley" 
dualing  at  Loew's  Orpheum  and  State 
took  $17,000  and  $13,500  respectively. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  31  : 

"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

(3  days  with  vaude.) 
"Boy's  Reformatory"  (Mono.) 

(3  days  with  vaude.) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.B.)  (4  days) 
"12  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO)  (4  days) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,200)  (20c-30c- 
40c).    Gross.  $6,500.     (Average,  $8,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Fisherman's  Wharf"  (RKO) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2.907)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c).    7  davs.    2nd   week.     Gross,  $13,000. 
(Average.  $14,500) 
"The  Gorilla"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Back  Door  to  Heaven"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $6,500.    (Average.  $8,000) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 
"Back  Door  to  Heaven"  (Para.) 

FENWAY   —   (1,382)    (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,300) 
"Juarez"  (W.B.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.B.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 

55c)  7  davs.  Gross:  $19,500.  (Average. 
$14,500) 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM  —  (2,900)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average. 
$14,500) 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE-(3.600)  (25c-35c-40c-55c) 
7  .lays.     Gross:  $13, 500.     (Average,  $10,500) 
'Union  Pacific"  (Para.)   (3rd  run) 
"Made  for  Each  Other"   (U.A.)    (2nd  run) 

SCOLLAY  —  (2.500)  (25c-35c-4Oc-50c)  7 
days.     Gross:    $5,000.     (Average,  $5,100) 


'Love  or  Money' 
K.C.  Lead,  $9,500 

Kansas  City,  June  1. — "For  Love 
or  Money,"  plus  a  stage  show  at  the 
Fox  Tower,  grossed  $9,500  for  the 
best  comparative  showing. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  23-25 : 

"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)  (25c-40c) 
Gross:  $4,100.  (Average,  $6,200) 
"Rose   of   Washington  Square" 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  8 
week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average, 
"Rose   of   Washington  Square" 

UPTOWN— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  8  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $2,700.  (Average,  8  days, 
$4,000) 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,800.    (Average,  $11,500) 
"You  Can't  Get  Away  with  Murder"  (W.B.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (1,500)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $3,400.      (Average,  $5,000) 
"For  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

FOX  TOWER— (2,200)  -(25c -40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Count  Berni  Vici's  French  Folies. 
Gross:  $9,500.     (Average,  $7,000) 


6  days. 

(20th-Fox) 

days,  2nd 

53,400) 

(20th-Fox) 


Exhibitors  Escape 
Conn.  Ticket  Levy 

Hartford,  Conn.,  June  1. — With 
the  budget  balanced,  exhibitors  are 
free  of  the  threatened  amusement  tax 
for  two  more  years.  However,  much 
resentment  is  expressed  over  the  dis- 
criminatory Bingo  bill  which  has 
passed  both  houses,  and  now  awaits 
the  Governor's  signature  to  become 
law  July  1. 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  2,  1939 


Previews  of  Films 


"Undercover  Doctor" 

{Paramount) 

Hollywood,  June  1. — A  little  too  late  to  have  much  topical  sig- 
nificance, "Undercover  Doctor"  nevertheless  measures  up  as  satisfactory 
crime  melodrama. 

Featuring  J.  Carroll  Naish  as  the  central  character,  the  story  was 
prepared  by  Horace  McCoy  and  William  R.  Lipman  from  chapters 
in  J.  Edgar  Hoover's  book,  "Persons  In  Hiding."  It  treats  of  episodes 
in  the  career  of  an  unscrupulous  doctor  who  made  a  profitable  practice 
of  ministering  to  wounded  criminals  and  failing  to  report  to  authorities. 

In  fear  of  the  mob  headed  by  Broderick  Crawford  and  sponsored  by 
presumably  respectable  Richard  Carle,  an  alliance  which  in  turn  is 
partially  held  in  check  by  its  fear  of  Naish,  Lloyd  Nolan's  G-Men  are 
brought  into  the  story  by  Naish's  ethical  nurse  Janice  Logan.  Repeating 
incidents  in  the  lives  of  notorious  criminals  that  at  one  time  made 
sensational  headlines,  Nolan  catches  up  with  Crawford  and  Naish  as 
the  latter  is  about  to  perform  a  face-lifting  operation  on  the  outlaw 
following  a  murderous  bank  car  robbery. 

Naish's  performance  as  well  as  those  of  Crawford,  Nolan,  Carle, 
Heather  Angel,  Raymond  Hatton,  Clem  Bevans  and  John  Eldredge 
are  realistic  and  convincing.  Romance  and  comedy  are  equally  subordi- 
nated in  the  films.  Louis  King's  direction  accentuated  the  production's 
melodramatic  quality. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 

"Three  Waltzes" 

( Vedis  Films,  Inc.) 

A  new  company  handling  French  films  makes  its  bow  with  "Three 
Waltzes,"  and  its  start  is  auspicious.  Yvonne  Printemps'  presence  in 
the  musical  comedy-drama  assures  its  appeal.  Her  piquant  verve  and 
voice  add  much  to  the  picture's  charm,  and  charmingly  gay  it  is. 

The  plot  ingeniously  traces  a  feud  between  two  families,  in  which 
love  affairs  of  two  generations  are  successfully  consummated  in  the 
third.  Miss  Printemps  is  successively  a  ballet  dancer,  a  singer  and  a 
film  star.  Pierre  Fresnay,  one  of  France's  leading  players,  is  the  other 
protagonist,  and  Henri  Guisol,  as  an  impresario,  gives  a  fine  and  humor- 
ous characterization.  The  music  is  by  the  Johan  Strausses  and  Oscar 
Straus. 

Running  time,  90  minutes.  "G."* 
*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Only  Angels' 
Hits  $22,000 
For  L.A.  Lead 


Los  Angeles,  June  1.  —  "Only 
Angels  Have  Wings"  and  "Risky 
Business,"  grossed  a  total  of  $22,000 
at  two  houses,  $10,700  at  the  Hill- 
street  and  $11,300  at  the  Pantages. 
"Goodbve,  Mr.  Chips"  was  strong 
with  $7,800  at  the  4  Star. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  1 : 

"Gocdbye  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 

4  STAR— (900)    (40c-50c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$7,800.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Risky  Business"  (Univ.) 

HILLSTREET—  (2,700)    (30c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $10,700.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE—  (2,500)  (30c-$l)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)     l,30c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $11,300.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,5951    (30c-65c)  7  days. 
Stage:  F.  &  M.  Ice  Revue.    Gross:  $14,000. 
(Average,  $18,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER    BROS.    (HOLLYWOOD)  - 
(3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$13,300.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER    BROS.     (DOWNTOWN)  — 
(3,400)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$13,400.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

WILSHIRE  —  (2,300)  (30c-$l)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,200. 


'Nazi  Spy'  Draws 

$9,500  in  Buffalo 

Buffalo,  June  1. — "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy,"  coupled  with  "Women 
in  the  Wind"  at  the  Great  Lakes, 
earned  $9,500.  Other  grosses  were 
off. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  27 : 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

BUFFALO  —  (3,000)     (30c-55c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (30c -50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,400.    (Average,  $7,500) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2,500)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,600.    (Average,  $6,800) 
"Fixer  Dugan"  (RKO) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 
(Para.) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,300.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE  —  (3,300)  (25c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,900.    (Average,  $6,300) 


Dividends  in  Canada 


Toronto,  June  1. — Famous  Play- 
ers Canadian  Corp.  has  declared  a 
dividend  of  25  cents  for  the  second 
quarter  of  1939  on  each  of  the  com- 
mon shares  of  the  company,  payable 
June  30.  This  is  the  second  dividend 
of  the  same  amount  for  the  current 
year. 


Marcus  Loew's  Theatres,  Ltd., 
Toronto,  has  declared  a  dividend  of 
3  lA  per  cent  on  the  seven  per  cent 
preference  shares  for  the  six  months 
ending  Dec.  31,  1936,  this  being  a 
further  payment  on  arrears  for  pre- 
ferred stock  which  bears  cumulative 
interest. 


Mexico  Notes 


Mexico  City,  June  1. — Mexican 
Government,  through  its  Ministry  of 
Finance,  and  the  National  Workers 
and  Industrial  Bank,  have  made  a  deal 
for  official  financial  assistance  for  pic- 
ture producers,  with  the  Producers' 
Association. 

Producers  recommended  by  the  as- 
sociation and  the  two  film  labor  or- 
ganizations, Federation  of  Cinema- 
tographic Industry  W orkers  and  the 
Union  of  Picture  Studio  Workers,  get 
adequate  financing. 


Two  representatives  have  been  ap- 
pointed by  the  Mexican  M.  P.  Pro- 
ducers' Association  to  establish  ex- 
changes in  Central  and  South  Amer- 
ica, made  possible  by  the  appropria- 
tion of  $10,000  by  the  Mexican  Gov- 
ernment. 


Mexican  Motion  Picture  Directors' 
Union  has  elected  the  following  of- 
ficers :  president,  Fernando  de  Puen- 
tes ;  secretary,  Armando  Vargas  de  la 
Maza,  and  treasurer,  Arcady  Boytler. 


Rodriguez  Family,  in  many  branch- 
es of  the  Mexican  industry,  have 
turned  producers.  They  have  rented 
George  Stahl's  studios  here  for  two 
months  for  their  first  picture,  to  be 
released  in  the  late  summer. 


London  Notes 


London,  June  1. — Independent  com- 
mittee of  the  London  Branch  of  the 
Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion claim  after  a  survey  that  there 
are  widespread  breaches  of  film  con- 
tracts on  the  part  of  distributors.  The 
committee  will  gather  complaints  and 
plans  to  take  them  up  with  the  in- 
dividual distributors. 


An  experiment  in  program  changes 
is  planned  by  the  Odeon  circuit  this 
summer.  They  intend  changing  their 
bills  on  Thursday,  instead  of  Sunday, 
at  their  seaside  houses. 

Following  the  budget  tax  complica- 
tions, and  fearing  a  shortage  of  appro- 
priate films,  and  unwilling  to  pay  in- 
creased import  duties  on  foreign  items, 
Jack  Davis,  chief  of  the  Monseigneur 
circuit  of  news  theatres,  plans  to  con- 
vert his  eight  theatres  into  repertory. 


A  10-year  ban  on  features  being  re- 
duced to  sub-standard  size  is  proposed 
by  the  Manchester  branch  of  the 
C.E.A.  The  ban  was  in  the  form  of 
a  resolution  to  the  General  Council. 
The  proposal  comes  as  a  result  of  the 
growing  annoyance  with  free  shows 
given  on  sub-standard  film. 


'Graham  BelF 


With  $12,000 
Denver  Lead 


Denver,  June  1. — "The  Story  of 
Alexander  Graham  Bell,"  aided  by  a 
Major  Bowes'  unit,  topped  the  town 
with  $12,000  at  the  Denver.  "UfyV 
Pacific"  did  $6,000  in  its  fifth  MM 
at  the  Denham. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  31 : 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.A.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)   (25c-40c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 

BROADWAY  —  (1,100)  (25e-40c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $1,500.  (Average,  $2,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    f25c-35c-40c)    7  days 
5th  week.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,500i 
"The    Story    of    Alexander    Graham  Bell' 
(20th-Fox) 

DENVER  —  (2,525)  25c-35c-40c)  7  days 
Stage  show.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average 
$9,000) 

"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 
"Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)   (25c-35c-40c)  6  days1 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  7  days,  $8,500) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.A.) 
"Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  (ZOsth-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)    (25c-40c)   7  days 
Gross:   $4,500.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"Lost  Horizon"  (Col.) 
"Risky  Business"  (Univ.) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  "Los 
Horizon"  2nd  week.  Gross:  $1,750.  (Aver-' 
age,  $1,750) 

'Rose'  at  $5,500  Bucks 
Oklahoma  City  Heai 

Oklahoma  City,  June  1. — Recor< 
heat  for  May  took  its  toll  of  local 
box-offices,  no  theatre  succeeding  ir 
doing  better  than  average.  "Rose  o) 
Washington  Square"  did  the  bes' 
business  with  an  average  $5,500  at  the 
Criterion. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  weel 
ending  May  25 : 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th -Fox) 

CRITERION— (1,500),  25c-35c-40c,  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $5,500) 
"Boy  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Back  Door  to  Heaven"  (Para.) 

LIBERTY— (1,200),  20c-25c,  4  days.  Gross 
$1,600.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Unmarried"  (Para.) 

"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police"  (Para. 

LIBERTY — (1,200),  20c-25c,  3  days.  Gross 
$560.    (Average,  $700) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

MIDWEST— (1,500),   25c-35c-40c,    7  days.: 
Gross:  $3,800.    (Average,  $4,200) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PLAZA— (750),  25c-35c-40c,  third  week, 
days.    Gross:  $1,700.    (Average,  $1,700)  , 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

STATE—  (1,100).  20c-25c-40c,  7  days.  Or 
stage:  Johnny  O'Brien  and  His  Harmonic: 
Hi-Hats.  Gross:  $1,750.  (Average,  $3,000 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

TOWER—  (1,000),  25c-35c-40c,  7  days,  2n. 
week.    Gross:  $2,100.    (Average,  $2,500) 


Toronto  Exhibitors 
Fighting  Protectior 

Toronto,  June  1.  —  Independen 
Theatres  Association  here  is  making 
a  canvass  of  all  independent  theatn 
owners  in  Canada  for  the  Anti-Pro- 
tection League,  which  seeks  reliei 
from  clearance  schedules  now  ii 
effect.  The  argument  is  advancec 
that  protection  in  its  present  form  is 
having  a  disastrous  effect  on  subse- 
quent run  business. 

A  special  committee  of  the  I.T.A. 
with  J.  O.  Scott  of  Toronto  as  chair- 
man, is  organizing  the  drive  for  con- 
cessions and  it  is  claimed  that  60  in- 
dependents of  the  Greater  Torontc 
area  already  have  become  leagu; 
members. 


>nday.  June  2,  1W 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


13 


L  ight  Beauties 
To  Greet  300 
Para.  Envoys 


Hollywood.    June    1. — Paramount 
I  Will    comb    the    town    to  discover 
LMjlK' wood's  eight  prettiest  girls  who 
I  'L^be  selected  to  sere  as  a  wel- 
'  oTmng  committee  to  the  more  than 
BOO  delegates  who  will  arrive  next 
fveek  for  the  company's  national  sales 
convention  at  the  Ambassador,  June 
8  to  10. 

They  will  be  at  Union  Station  with 
boutonnieres  for  every  delegate.  Their 
-o>tume  will  be  an  adaptation  of  the 
rrench  Foreign  Legion  uniform,  for 
io  other  reason  than  that  Paramount 
s  making  a  picture  known  as  "Beau 
Geste." 

The  home  office  and'  eastern  dele- 
gation, numbering  more  than  75,  will 
iea%re  New  York  Sunday  afternoon. 
|They  will  be  joined  by  other  large 
lelegations  at  Chicago,  Omaha  and 
Salt  Lake  City. 

Bookkeepers,  W.  B. 
Discuss  Bargaining 

jl  Problem  of  number  of  employes  to 
ncludc  in  bargaining  unit  occupied 
Inost  of  yesterday's  informal  confer- 
ence between  the  Bookkeepers,  Sten- 

•  igraphers  and  Accountants  Union  and 
Warners.     B.  S.  &  A.  U.  has  peti- 

Jiioned  for  recognition  at  the  Warner 
.varehouse  and  has  also  filed  charges 

Jjf  unfair  labor  practices  against  War- 
liers. 


Five  LA.T.S.E.  Chiefs 
Cited  For  Contempt 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

lernational  from  revoking  the  charter 
vand  splitting  up  the  membership  end- 

ng  the  outcome  of  suits  now  before 

he  courts. 


Missing'  Charter 
Found;  It's  in  N.  Y  . 

Los  Angeles,  June  1. — Mystery  of 
lie  missing  Technicians  Local  37 
rharter  was  solved  today  when  George 
Browne,  International  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 
^resident,  telegraphed  Judge  Henry 
\\  illis  that  he  had  ordered  the  charter 
licked  up  and  given  to  Louis  Krouse 
)f  New  York,  general  secretary  of 
'he  International,  who  now  holds  it. 

Browne  said  in  the  telegram  that  he 
iad  revoked  the  local's  charter  be- 
•ause  the  local  had  failed  to  hold  a 
nembership  meeting  in  a  three  months' 
-  leriod  and  therefore  had  violated  the 

onstitution. 
)   Judge  Willis    yesterday  demanded 
j:liat  the  charter  be  produced  in  court 
lifter    it    was    revealed    that    it  had 
'disappeared." 

The  first  witness  at  today's  trial 
if  the  local's  suit  for  restoration  of 
ts  autonomy  was  C.  B.  Weber,  spe- 
cial agent  for  a  telephone  company 
who  was  called  in  an  attempt  to  show 
:hat  most  of  the  communications  to 
Browne  from  here  were  made  by  Har 
jlcl   V.    Smith,   former  International 
representative   and   described   by  A. 
Brigham  Rose,  attorney  for  the  de 
posed  officers  of  Local  37,  as  the  "man 
who  engineered  a  false  state  of  emer 
jency  to  enable  the  International  to 
take  over  the  local." 


SHORT  SUBJECT 

REVIEWS 


"Stranger  than  Fiction" 

(Universal) 

Contains  six  oddities :  miniature 
roller  coaster  built  by  a  student;  a 
wooden  press ;  a  collection  of  odd 
clocks  ;  a  dog  that  extinguishes  fire ; 
etching  made  easy  and  a  one-legged 
man  who  participates  in  sports  and 
dances.  Above  average.  Running 
time,  9  mins.  "G." 

"Paramount  Presents 
Hoagy  Carmichael" 

(Paramount) 

Hoagy  Carmichael  and  Jack  Tea- 
garden  are  featured  in  a  musical  of 
high  entertainment  calibre.  Teagar- 
den's  orchestra  plays  Carmichael's 
compositions  while  the  latter  sings  and 
quips.    Running  time,  10  mins.  "G." 

"Popular  Science  J8-5" 

(Paramount) 

Camera  concentrates  on  production 
of  "Popeye"  cartoons,  from  the  story 
selection  to  the  finished  product.  Also 
included  are  a  radio-controlled  air- 
plane used  for  air-raid  maneuvers  ;  a 
school  for  aged  pupils,  and  new 
workshop  devices.  Filmed  in  color. 
Running  time,  11  mins.  "G." 

"Mechanix  Illustrated, 
No.  4" 

( Warners) 

Inside  views,  in  color,  of  the  crime 
laboratory  of  the  New  York  City  Po- 
lice Department,  a  candy  factory,  a 
rubber  manufacturing  plant  and  a  pen- 
cil factory  are  included  in  this  reel. 
Careful  camera  handling  results  in 
some  splendid  color  shots.  Worth- 
while. Running  time,  10  mins.  "G."* 

"Porky  and  TeabiscuW 

(Schlesinycr-Warners) 

This  black  and  white  "Looney 
Tune"  finds  Porky  at  a  horse  auction. 
He  bids  inadvertently,  and  finds  him- 
self the  owner  of  a  race  horse.  He 
enters  a  race  and  after  a  series  of  mis- 
haps wins.  Not  up  to  par.  Running 
time,  seven  mins.  "G."* 


"Bola  Mola  Land" 

(Lants-U  niversal) 

Animated  burlesque  of  travelogue 
shorts  that  is  amusingly  different. 
Witty  commentary  describing  the  trip, 
places  visited  and  creatures  met,  such 
as  Corrigan  birds  that  fly  backwards, 
whispering  pines  that  actually  whis- 
per.   Running  time,  6  mins.  "G." 

"Musical  Mountaineers" 

( Fleischer-Paramount) 

Here  is  special  appeal  to  jitterbug 
patronage  as  Betty  Boop  and  a  family 
of  "feudin'  "  hillbillies  resort  to  a  bit 
of  "rug  cutting."  Believing  Betty 
is  an  enemy,  the  hillbillies  command 
her  to  dance.  She  convinces  them  they 
are  wrong  so  they  join  the  dance. 
Running  time,  7  mins.  "G." 


"Diamond  Dusf 

(Paramount) 

This  timely  reel  will  interest  sport 
fans.  Introduction  is  by  Judge  Lan- 
dis.  The  rights  and  wrongs  of  base- 
ball are  illustrated.  A  few  words 
from  Joe  McCarthy  and  part  of  a 
Yankee  game  end  the  short.  Running 
time,  10  mins.  "G." 

"Paramount  Pictorial 
P8-10" 

(Paramount) 

Leads  off  with  escort  service  con- 
ducted by  Ted  Pinkham.  Lore  and 
craftsmanship  in  the  Far  East,  and 
a  resume  of  the  song,  "Thanks  for 
the  Memory,"  complete  the  reel.  Run- 
ning time,  11  mins.  "G." 


"Dark  Magic" 

(M-G-M) 

Robert  Benchley  excels  himself  in 
this  reel  and  the  result  is  one  of  the 
funniest  shorts  to  be  seen.  He  pur- 
chases a  magic  set  for  his  youngster 
but  starts  to  use  it  himself.  At  the 
beginning  none  of  the  tricks  works  but 
Benchley  amazes  himself  and  his  audi- 
ences by  making  himself  disappear. 
Running  time,  9  mins.  "G." 


f"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Wave  of  Paralysis 
Closes  S.  C.  Houses 

Charleston,  S.  C,  June  1. — Thea- 
tre business  throughout  South  Caro- 
lina slumped  perceptibly  as  a  result 
of  an  increasing  number  of  infantile 
paralysis  cases  in  recent  weeks. 

Health  authorities  have  requested 
exhibitors  to  bar  children  under  14 
from  theatres.  Attendance  dropped  off 
to  such  an  extent  that  some  houses 
were  forced  to  close,  others  are  op- 
erating on  curtailed  schedules  and 
scores  of  exhibitors  are  requesting 
temporary  film  rental  adjustments. 

Charleston  is  reported  to  be  the 
most  seriouslv  affected. 


Damrosch's  Debut 

Hollywood.  June  1. — Conducting  a 
65-piece  symphony  orchestra.  Dr.  Wal- 
ter Damrosch,  67,  dean  of  American 
orchestra  conductors,  yesterday  made 
his  film  debut  in  Bing  Crosby's  new 
picture,  "The  Star  Maker." 


Studios  Send 
Stars  to  S.  A. 
For  Goodwill 


Democracy  Lauded 
By  Will  Hays  at  Fair 

Will  H.  Hays,  M.P.P.D.A.  presi- 
dent and  leading  citizen  of  Sullivan, 
Ind.,  spoke  at  the  World's  Fair  yes- 
terday in  connection  with  the  Indiana 
Day  program. 

Extolling  the  "spirit  of  Democracy," 
as  known  to  Hoosiers,  Hays  urged 
liberal  doses  of  it  for  other  sections 
of  America. 

"In  Indiana  when  there  is  a  reason 
for  discontent  we  meet  it  squarely," 
Hays  said.  "We  correct  the  cause 
where  there  is  a  cause.  ...  It  is  not 
the  spirit  of  America  to  attempt  to 
divide  section  against  section,  group 
against  group,   or  sect  against  sect. 


Edward  L.  Riggs  Dies 

Cincinnati,  June  1. — Edward  L. 
Riggs,  29,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Palace,  at  nearby  Aurora,  Ind.,  was 
found  dead  in  his  home  from  a  self- 
inflicted  bullet  wound. 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

throughout  South  America  is  well 
known,  yet  the  people  seldom  have 
the  opportunity  to  glimpse  a  star  in 
person. 

The  appearance  of  Henry  Fonda, 
currently  visiting  at  Santiago,  Chile, 
marks  the  start  of  the  celebrities' 
regular  visits  to  this  continent.  They 
will  be  followed  shortly  by  Annabella 
and  Tyrone  Power,  who  were  married 
recently  following  a  romance  which 
became  known  here  a  year  ago.  Others 
will  come  at  regular  intervals,  it  has 
been  indicated,  and  other  companies 
and  their  stars  may  join  in  the  south- 
ward trek  later,  it  has  been  suggested. 

The  personal  appearances,  naturally, 
will  have  their  practical  side  in  that 
they  will  aid  in  increasing  the  popu- 
larity of  the  stars  and  their  pictures. 
Increased  attendance  at  theatres  will 
benefit  both  exhibitor  and  distributor, 
adding  to  goodwill  in  this  market. 


Hutchinson  Outlines 
Product  at  Rio  Meeting 

Rio  de  Janeiro,  June  1. — Walter  J. 
Hutchinson,  vice-president  in  charge 
of  foreign  distribution  for  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, outlined  the  .  company's 
1939-'40  product  at  the  opening  ses- 
sion today  of  the  three-day  sales  con- 
vention, the  company's  first  in  South 
America. 

Sidney  R.  Kent,  president,  arrived 
today  from  New  York,  and  was  host 
at  a  cocktail  party  for  the  press. 
Other  speakers  at  today's  session,  at- 
tended by  about  40  salesmen,  were 
Carlos  Bavetta,  managing  director  for 
Brazil ;  S.  S.  Horen,  Argentine  man- 
ager ;  Arthur  Ruscica,  manager  in 
Chile,  and  Santiago  Chiesa,  Peru 
manager. 


More  N.  Y.  Summer 
Closings  Forecast 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

darken  the  New  Empire  on  Sunday 
and  the  Dale,  Bronx,  on  Monday,  and 
is  considering  several  others.  Consoli- 
dated^ Ascot,  Bronx,  has  already 
closed,  but  this  theatre  closes  every 
summer. 

Rapf  &  Ruden  will  close  the  Broad- 
moor, Bloomfield,  N.  J.,  July  1. 
Rosenblatt  &  Welt  will  shutter  the 
Orpheum,  Jersey  City.  Neither  cir- 
cuit had  closings  last  year.  The  Para- 
dise, Brooklyn,  closes  June  7.  The 
Metro,  Fort  Lee,  has  been  shut. 


Something  Fishy 

Kansas  City,  June  1.  —  It 
was  really  hot  for  the  patrons 
of  the  Lyric  at  Plattsburg, 
Mo.,  the  other  evening.  On 
one  of  the  hottest  evenings 
of  the  year,  according  to  Tom 
VVilhoit,  Lyric  operator,  some- 
one deposited  a  mess  of  dead 
fish  in  the  alley  back  of  the 
theatre,  which  made  it  highly 
impracticable  to  turn  on  the 
air  conditioning  system, 
which  draws  its  air  supply 
from  that  region. 


14 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  2,  193? 


Banner  Lines 

 By  JACK  BANNER  

AF.R.A.  MOVES  IN  .  .  .  A.F.R.A.'s  prestige  established  by  its  network 
and  out-of-town  victories,  the  radio  union  has  now  moved  in  on 
•  the  local  New  York  City  stations.  Mrs.  Emily  Holt  and  George 
Heller  of  the  union  yesterday  unexpectedly  visited  WMCA  and  presented  a 
form  of  what  it  seeks.  WHN  and  WNEW,  which  with  WMCA  comprise 
the  "Class  B"  group  of  local  stations,  will  receive  visits  from  the  A.F.R.A. 
delegation  in  the  next  day  or  so.  The  "Class  C"  stations,  such  as  WOV, 
WBNX,  WEVD,  etc.,  also  will  hear  from  A.F.R.A. 

Just  what  A.F.R.A.  is  seeking  from  the  local  stations  Mr.  Holt  will  not 
say  at  this  early  stage  of  the  negotiations,  but  presumably  A.F.R.A.  will  ask 
for  the  "A.F.R.A.  shop,"  minimum  wages,  cause  for  dismissal,  and  other  union 
benefits. 

T 

IN  PRAISE  OF  WARNERS  .  .  .  Warners'  Charlie  Einfeld  comes  in  for 
some  fine  words  in  the  current  issue  of  TIDE,  advertising  magazine,  for  his 
astute  short-wave  radio  campaign  in  behalf  of  "Juarez."  Reginald  Clough 
of  the  TIDE  radio  staff  wrote  the  piece. 

T 

PHIL  LORD'S  NEW  SHOW  .  .  .  Prolific  Phil  Lord  has  bobbed  up  with 
still  another  program — a  serial  dramatization  of  the  Kathleen  Norris  novels. 
The  series  will  get  its  baptism  next  week  over  KYW,  Philadelphia.  If  all 
goes  well  with  the  show  during  its  13-week  tryout,  it  will  probably  go  network. 
General  Mills  is  sponsoring  the  trial. 

T 

THE  PRESIDENT'S  SON  .  .  .  Elliott  Roosevelt  will  shake  the  Texas 
alfalfa  for  a  trial  as  a  national  commentator  over  Mutual,  starting  Satur- 
day. To  start,  WOR,  New  York;  WOL,  Washington,  and  WAAB,  Boston, 
will  carry  his  addresses,  in  addition  to  the  23  stations  of  the  Texas  State 
Network  over  which  he  has  been  heard  for  some  time  past.  Eventually,  he 
is  expected  to  receive  a  coast-to-coast  hookup  on  Mutual.  Emerson  Radio  Co. 
will  sponsor  young  Roosevelt's  series.  First  program  will  originate  in 
New  York,  and  thereafter  he  will  shuttle  between  this  city  and  Washington 
to  deliver  his  talks. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Milton  Biow,  of  the  Biow  agency,  has  sailed  for  Europe 
on  vacation.  .  .  .  Johnnie  Johnston,  WOR  publicity  director,  will  sail  for 
Europe  June  7  to  return  with  John  Steele  on  the  maiden  sailing  of  the 
Maurctania.  Steele  is  Mutual's  foreign  representative.  .  .  .  Irv  Ashley, 
formerly  of  CBS,  has  been  retained  to  handle  radio  exploitation  for  "The 
Little  Foxes,"  current  Broadway  stage  show.  .  .  .  Mann  Holliner,  director  of 
radio  for  Lennen  &  Mitchell,  expected  back  from  Hollywood  early  next  week. 
.  .  .  Shirley  Ross,  wife  of  Ken  Dolan,  flew  to  the  coast  yesterday. 

T 

JOE  E.  BROWN  STAYS  .  .  .  General  Foods,  sponsors  of  Joe  E.  Brown's 
program  on  CBS,  yesterday  signed  to  continue  the  program  through  the 
summer.    Program  had  been  set  to  take  a  hiatus. 

T 

WILL  ROGERS'  MEMORIAL  .  .  .  The  three  networks  will  broadcast  the 
Will  Rogers'  Memorial  services  from  Washington  June  6  at  4  P.  M.  Sister  of 
Rogers,  a  number  of  Oklahoma  editors,  the  governor  of  Oklahoma  and  Senator 
Alben  Barkley  will  participate  in  the  ceremonies. 

T 

SQUALUS  BENEFIT  .  .  .  Radio  and  Broadway  columnists  have  formed 
a  committee  to  plan  a  benefit  for  the  families  of  those  who  went  down  in 
the  Squalus.  The  plan  has  received  government  sanction,  and  tonight  the 
committee  will  meet  to  map  a  campaign.  The  active  committee  comprises 
Hy  Gardner  of  the  Brooklyn  Eagle,  Lou  Sobol,  Dorothy  Kilgallen,  "Dinty" 
Doyle  of  the  Journal-American ;  Leonard  Lyons,  Leonard  Carlton  of  the  Post ; 
Frank  Farrell,  George  Ross,  Alton  Cook  of  the  World-Telegram;  Dan 
Walker,  Bob  Sylvester,  Ben  Gross,  Sid  Shalit  of  the  News ;  Nick  Kenny,  Ted 
Friend,  Bob  Coleman  of  the  Mirror ;  Malcolm  Johnson  of  the  Sun,  Al  Simon 
of  WHN,  Jack  Harrower  of  Film  Daily,  and  yours  truly. 

▼ 

N.A.B.  MEETS  HERE  .  .  .  N.A.B.  committee  working  on  the  new  code 
of  program  standards,  met  here  yesterday  at  the  Ritz  Towers.  Final  draft 
of  the  code  will  be  completed  today,  it  is  expected,  whereupon  printed  copies 
of  the  code  will  be  mailed  to  stations  for  inspection  and  comment.  The  code 
will  be  presented  for  adoption  at  the  N.A.B.  convention  next  month  in 
Atlantic  City.  Present  at  yesterday's  meeting  were  Neville  Miller,  president 
of  N  A.B. ;  Gilson  Gray  and  Janet  McCrory  of  NBC,  Ted  Streibert  of 
Mutual,  Edgar  Bill  of  Peoria,  Herb  Hollister  of  Wichita,  Carl  Wilder  of 
El  Paso,  Paul  Morency  of  Hartford,  Ed  Craney  of  Butte,  Walter  Damm  of 
Milwaukee,  Ed  Kirby  of  the  broadcasters  association,  and  Bill  Hedges, 
NBC  vice-president. 


'Chips'  Draws 
Dayton  Chiefs 
To  Premiere 

Dayton,  O.,  June  1. — With  all  the 
fanfare  of  a  Hollywood  opening, 
M-G-M  held  the  midwest  premiere  of 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  at  Loew's  here 
tonight. 

Mayor  Charles  J.  Brennan  and  vir- 
tually all  city  officials  attended.  From 
the  industry  were  William  R.  Fergu- 
son and  Oscar  Doob,  of  the  Loew  and 
M-G-M  advertising  and  publicity  de- 
partments ;  M.  J.  Cullen,  Columbus, 
M-G-M  district  manager ;  Russell  A. 
Bovim,  Columbus,  O.,  city  manager 
for  Loew's ;  Wm.  G.  Bishop,  Chicago 
district  exploitation  manager ;  J.  M. 
Allen,  William  Devaney,  M-G-M, 
Cincinnati ;  Barrett  G.  Kiesling,  as- 
sistant publicity  director,  Culver  City ; 
Fred  Oestreicher,  publicity  director, 
Loew's,  Columbus. 

Newspapermen  from  several  cities 
were  tendered  a  cocktail  party  and  din- 
ner at  the  Hotel  Biltmore  prior  to  the 
premiere.  They  were  in  charge  of 
J.  A.  Watson,  C.  C.  Deardorff  and 
Harold  Marshall,  exploitation  men. 

Patron  interviews  following  the 
showing  were  broadcast  over  WHIO. 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  will  open  at 
Loew's  State.  Cleveland,  and  Loew's 
Ohio,  Columbus,  on  June  8. 


Milwaukee  Unit  Aids 
Film  Tax  Bill  Fight 

Milwaukee,  June  1. — Legislative 
committee  of  the  Association  of  Com- 
merce has  voted  to  oppose  the  bill  in 
the  Wisconsin  legislature  which  would 
assess  a  tax  of  $2.50  per  1,000  feet 
on  film  handled  by  exchanges  operat- 
ing in  the  state. 

The  tax  measure  was  introduced  by 
the  Committee  on  State  and  Local 
Government  and  has  been  referred  to 
the  Committee  on  Corporations  and 
Taxation,  before  which  a  hearing  was 
held  today.  The  entire  industry  in 
Wisconsin  has  cooperated  to  fight  the 
bill. 

Glass  Sees  Higher 
Budgets  in  France 

French  producers  are  gradually  in- 
creasing their  budgets  on  a  number  of 
films  which  are  being  made  with  an 
e}'e  on  the  American  and  English 
markets,  according  to  Max  Glass, 
French  producer,  who  is  in  New  York. 

Glass  will  remain  here  for  another 
week  to  arrange  for  distribution  of 
two  of  his  pictures,  "Entente  Cor- 
diale"  and  "Imperial  Tragedy,"  and 
then  spend  two  weeks  on  the  coast. 
He  is  considering  the  production  of  a 
film  in  Hollywood. 

Run  Play  with  Film 

Chicago,  June  1. — Orson  Welles 
will  present  a  short  play  as  the  stage 
attraction  at  the  RKO-Palace  for  one 
week,  starting  June  9.  The  Welles 
attraction  is  a  new  idea  in  stage 
presentation.  It  will  be  presented 
four  or  five  times  daily. 


Garbo  Film  in  Work 

Hollywood,  June  1. — "Ninotschka," 
M-G-M  film  starring  Greta  Garbo, 
has  gone  into  production,  with  Ernst 
Lubitsch  directing.  It  is  her  first  role 
since  "Conquest." 


Outlaw  Picketing  Ban 

Denver,  June  1.— A  34-year-old 
state  anti-picketing  law  has  been  de- 
clared unconstitutional  by  the  Colo- 
rado Supreme  Court.  The  court  held 
the  statute  violated  free  speech  guar- 
antees of  the  Constitution. 


Screen  "End  of  Day" 

A  series  of  private  showings  for 
theatrical  groups  has  been  arranged 
on  "The  End  of  the  Day,"  French 
film  which  will  be  released  here  in  the 
fall  by  I.  E.  Lopert  of  Juno  Films, 
Inc. 


First  Telecast 
Of  Ring  Show 
Gets  Acclaim 


First    experiment    in    televising  . 
prize  fight  in  this  country  was  coiW 
ducted  last  night  by  RCA-NBC  whicl, 
broadcast    the    event    from    Y^h  i 
Stadium  in  which   Louis  Nova 
over  .  Max  Baer  on  a  technical  knock 
out  in  the  eleventh  round. 

Observers  of  the  telecast  at  severa 
places  gave  it  as  their  opinion  that  th 
test  was  successful.  At  the  NB( 
studio,  the  big  question  among  specta 
tors  was  how  soon  such  events  woul 
be  received  on  large  screens. 

The  broadcast  was  the  forerunner  <;  j 
similar  attempts  by  NBC. 

Theatres  which  have  television  set 
in  their  lobbies  took  full  advantage  o 
the  box-office  draw  of  the  fight  b 
television.  The  Paramount  reporte 
some  400  spectators  drawn  by  tli 
"free  ringside  seats,"  the  New  Arr 
sterdam  300  and  the  Little  Carnegr 
100.  These  three,  among  others  ha\ 
ing  receivers,  had  advertised  the  evei 
on  their  marquees. 

The  televison  camera  was  stations 
about  40  feet  from  ringside.  Camer 
technique  was  good  and  the  fightei 
easily  distinguishable.  There  \\i 
shadow  interference  when  spectatoi 
sprung  up  between  the  camera  and  tl" 
objective,  similar  to  shadow  on  a  rnc 
tion  picture  screen.  Another  flaw  w; : 
a  haze,  or  "bloom,"  around  the  rim  ( 
the  screens,  probably  caused  by  tl 
bright  lights  over  the  ring. 

The  fight  was  received  on  screei 
8  by  7  and  9  by  12  inches.  Lhoffici; 
estimates  place  the  number  of  hon 
receivers  in  the  metropolitan  area  ." 
500. 


Ford  Summer  Hour 
To  Feature  Melto 

The  Ford  Summer  Hour,  replacii 
the  company's  Sunday  night  concer 
for  the  summer  season,  will  featui 
James  Melton,  Francia  White  ai 
Don  Voorhees'  orchestra,  and  a  V 
voice  choir.  A  weekly  guest  arti 
will  be  presented.  The  new  seri' 
starts  Sunday. 


Replaces  SAG  Show  5 

Replacement  program  for  tl 
Screen  Actors  Guild  series  has  bei' 
set  by  Young  &  Rubicam,  agen< 
handling  the  Gulf  account.  The  sur 
mer  show  will  feature  Erno  Rapee 
orchestra,  and  singers  Jan  Peerce  ai 
Jane  Froman.  It  starts  June  11  < 
CBS. 


Musical  Quiz  Series 

New  musical  quiz  series  will  sta 
over  CBS  Sunday  from  6  to  6: 
P.  M.  Series  will  have  Ted  Cott 
master  of  ceremonies  and  David  Rc 
as  intermediary.  Prizes  will  cons 
of  tickets  to  Carnegie  Hall  concei 
and  autographed  copies  of  books  y 
music. 


Writers  on  Air 

WQXR  will  broadcast  exclusive  j 
the    addresses    of    Eduard  Ben' 
Thomas  Mann,  Vincent  Sheean  a 
others    from    the    Third  Americ 
Writers   Congress  at  Carnegie  H  I 
from  10  to  11  o'clock  tonight. 


p  PRODUCERS 

S-arsss  s; 

NEVU  YORK. 
N.  V. 


ION 


...w  m i u 1. 1 o n 
I  Picture 
Industry 


DO  NOT 

PICTURE 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


i<-  -  -  \ 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JUNE  5.  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Independents 
Face  Higher 
Surety  Rates 

Hay   Take  ''Experience 
Rated"  Policies 


Study  of  recent  rate  increases  for 
,ieatre  liability  policies  indicates  that 
:ill  further  raises  may  be  in  store 
or  many  independent  houses.  Some 
f  them  may  be  forced  to  take  "ex- 
erience  rated"  policies. 

Questionnaires  will  be  mailed  this 
eek  to  members  of  New  York  Al- 
ed  and  the  I.  T.  O.  A.  for  data  con- 
erning  policies  and  amount  of  cover- 
ge.  The  move  is  in  accordance  with 
le  decision  of  the  N.  Y.  Allied  con- 
ention  to  study  the  problem  of  rate 
ises  from  11  cents  to  18  cents  per 
00  admissions. 

Under  an  "experience  rated"  pol- 
•y,  premiums  are  increased  or  re- 
uced  in  accordance  with  the  number 
tid  cost  of  claims  filed  against  a  pol- 
ryholder.  In  most  cases,  ratings  have 
«en  on  the  debit  side  and  caused  in- 
Teased  premiums.  In  some  instances, 
remiums  for  the  basic  $5.000-$10,000 
olicy  have  been  nearly  doubled,  al- 
lough  credit  generally  has  been  re- 
vived for  coverage  above  the  basic 
mount. 

This   would   mean   that   an  inde- 

(Continucd  on  page  2) 


\KO  Expects  250 
At  Rye  Convention 

.'  Attendance  at  RKO's  national  sales 
mvention  June  19-22  at  the  West- 
lester  Country  Club,  Rye,  will  be 
iXnit  250,  making  it  the  largest  in  the 
ompany's  history,  according  to  Jules 
evy,  general  sales  manager. 
All  salesmen  from  the  company's  38 
^changes  in  this  country  and  Canada 
-ill  attend,  in  addition  to  home  office 
nd  studio  delegations,  branch  mana- 
gers, district  and  division  managers, 
Kmie  office  field  representatives  and 
large  representation  from  the  com- 
-any's  foreign  organizations. 
Among  the   latter  will    be  Ralph 
lanbury.    United    Kingdom ;  Ralph 
Joyle.    Australia;    Nat  Liebeskind, 
Argentina ;  Bert  Reisman,  Peru :  Max 
fomez,  Mexico ;  Pedro  Saenz,  South 
.merica ;   Reginald   Armour,  Conti- 
ental    Europe :    Leon    Britton,  Far 
Xast;  Bruno  Cheli.  Brazil;  Fred  S. 
iulbransen.  Panama;  Ned  S.  Seck- 
*r.  Cuban  home  office  representative, 
nd  Gus   Schaefer.  district  manager 
or  central  and  northern  South  Amer- 
:a. 


New  Trust 
Suit  Starts 


World  to  Get  Film  News! 
Short  Wave  Broadcasts 
From  Hollywood  Billed 

Columbia  Broadcasting  System  has  offered  to  make  available  to  the 
him  industry  a  15-minute,  5-day  weekly  program  on  short  wave,  to  Latin- 
America  and  Europe,  in  which  program  the  film  companies  will  be 
enabled  to  broadcast  motion  picture  news  on  an  extensive  world-wide 
scale  direct  from  Hollywood. 

These  broadcasts  are  intended  to 
promote  international  development  of 
the  film  business  besides  encouraging 
interest  in  the  radio  company's  short 
wave  programs. 

Such  programs,  it  is  believed,  will 
help  film  companies  greatly  to  supple- 
ment their  South  American  film  devel- 
opments, in  which  the  industry  is  so 
intensely  interested  at  this  time.  The 
offer,  essentially,  is  intended  as  a  good- 
will stimulant  for  both  sides. 

The  broadcasts  will  be  given  each 
day  in  a  different  language,  including 
English,  French,  Portuguese  and  Span- 
ish. CBS  is  giving  the  time  and  pro- 
duction free.  Studios  will  provide 
translators  and  commentators. 

NBC  has  offered  a  duplicate  pro- 
posal which  the  companies  are  also 
considering. 

This  might  be  the  opening  wedge  to 
a  solution  of  the  differences  between 
radio  and  films  with  both  working  for 
a  common  purpose  in  this  new  venture. 

Scheduled  this  week  is  a  meeting  of 
company  representatives  to  consider 
both  offers. 

Records  of  the  broadcast  companies 
show  that  there  is  a  great  interest  in 
short-waved  motion  picture  news. 


Anti-trust  suit  against  the  eight 
major  companies,  Monogram,  Repub- 
lic, Randforce  Amusement  Corp., 
Samuel  Rinzler  and  Louis  Frisch, 
(operators  of  Randforce)  for  $750,- 
000  triple  damages  was  filed  Friday 
in  the  U.  S.  District  Court  by  Folly 
Amusement  Holding  Corp.,  former  op- 
erator of  the  Folly,  Brooklyn. 

Complaint  charges  violation  of  the 
Sherman  anti-trust  act.  Randforce,  the 
complaint  alleges,  attempted  to  force 
the  plaintiff  to  sell  the  Folly,  which 
is  in  the  neighborhood  of  the  Rand- 
force houses,  Alba,  Rainbow,  Com- 
modore and  Republic.  When  this  ef- 
fort failed,  the  complaint  continues, 
Randforce  secured  from  the  other  de- 
fendants exclusive  rights,  special  privi- 
leges and  preferences  for  its  houses. 

As  a  result  of  unreasonable  clear- 
ance and  failure  to  secure  satisfactory 

(.Continued  on  page  2) 


Showing  of  Banned  Films 
Must  Cease,  Warns  Moss 


New  York  License  Commissioner 
Paul  Moss  has  served  notice  that  non- 
theatrical  showings  in  the  city  of  pic- 
tures which  have  not  been  approved 
by  the  N.  Y.  State  Censor  Board  will 
not  be  tolerated. 

The  commissioner  held  a  hearing 
Friday  of  officials  of  the  New  School 
for  Social  Research,  who  held  a 
screening  of  "The  Puritan,"  French 
film  banned  by  the  state  censor. 

Mocs's  attention  had  been  called  to 
the  all-day  screening  of  the  picture 
recently  in  the  school's  500-seat  audi- 
torium by  an  article  in  Motion  Pic- 
tube  Daily.  The  showing  was  under 
the  auspices  of  Film  Audiences  for 
Democracy,  a  recent  merger  of  Asso- 
ciated Film  Audiences  and  Films  for 


Democracy,  and  the  Theatre  Arts 
Committee. 

Officials  of  the  New  School  pleaded 
ignorance  at  the  Friday  hearing,  and 
were  excused  with  a  warning  that 
showings  of  banned  films  will  sub- 
ject them  to  penalties  in  the  future. 

Commissioner  Moss  explained  Fri- 
day that  actually  films  cannot  be 
shown,  even  in  private  homes,  with- 
out a  license  from  his  office,  but  that 
obviously  it  is  impossible  to  regulate 
home  showings.  The  commissioner,  in 
granting  licenses,  governs  himself  by 
the  action  of  the  N.  Y.  State  Censor 
Board,  and  will  not  license  the  show- 
ing of  unapproved  films. 

He  declared  that  the  elimination  of 

(.Continued  on  page  2) 


Neely  Defends 
Bill  in  Lengthy 
Senate  Report 

Law  Will  Mean  No  Loss 
To  Industry,  Claim 


Washington,  June  4. — Declaring 
that  his  block  booking  bill  meets  "in 
as  moderate  a  manner  as  possible"  a 
need  for  legislation  which  is  constantly 
growing  more  acute,  Senator  Neely 
over  the  week  end  made  available  his 
formal  report  on  the  measure  to  the 
Senate. 

In  a  15-page  discussion  of  the  ex- 
hibition situation,  backed  up  by  a  four- 
page  brief  on  the  constitutionality  of 
the  legislation,  the  Senator  asserted 
that  enactment  of  the  bill  "cannot  re- 
sult in  loss  to  the  industry  as  a  whole" 
since  the  playing  time  of  the  theatres 
is  fixed  and  loss  from  the  curtailment 
of  time  for  poor  pictures  will  be  more 
than  compensated  for  by  the  playing 
time  of  good  ones. 

"What  the  Big  Eight  fear  is  loss  of 
monopolistic  privileges  over  and  above 
the  legitimate  rewards  of  enterprise — 
privileges  that  have  been  enjoyed  so 
long  that  they  are  now  regarded  as 
vested  rights,"  he  reported. 

"These  privileges  have  given  rise  to 
great  benefits  as  indicated  by  the  exec- 
utive salary  list  printed  in  the  record. 
One  Hollywood  executive  received,  in 

<  Continued  on  page  6) 


Silence  Rules  Over 
West  Coast  Break 

Whatever  moves,  if  any,  will  be 
made  by  Fox- West  Coast  (National) 
in  answer  to  the  position  taken  by 
Warner  Bros,  in  selling  away  from 
that  circuit  have  not  yet  appeared. 
Various  principals  questioned  here  and 
on  the  Coast  over  the  weekend  were 
not  prepared  to  make  statements. 

Spyros  Skouras,  head  of  National 
Theatres,  didn't  care  to  comment. 
There  has  been  no  statement  issued 
by  Charles  Skouras. 

In  various  segments  of  the  press 
this  situation  was  discussed  as  the 
opening  of  a  campaign  by  Warner 
Bros,  to  end  double  bills  for  all  time. 
The  statement,  made  by  Gradwell 
Sears,  Warner  Bros,  general  sales 
manager,  on  the  coast,  confined  itself 
to  the  alleged  practice  of  double  bill- 
ing top  rate  pictures. 

The  stand  taken  by  Warner  Bros, 
recalls  the  sales  deal  dispute  of  several 
years  ago  between  Paramount  and 
Warner  Bros.,  which  was  one  of  the 
major  booking  controversies  in  trade 
history. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  5,  193*, 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Banned  Film 
Shows  Must 
Cease — Moss 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

an  admission  charge  for  attendance 
does  not  automatically  clear  the  way 
for  such  screenings,  and  he  warned 
that  showing  of  such  films  will  be 
followed  by  a  permanent  loss  of 
screening  licenses. 

At  the  time  of  the  showing  of  "The 
Puritan"  exhibitor  leaders  in  New 
York  unanimously  protested  the  di- 
rect competition  which  such  screen- 
ings offered  to  established  motion  pic- 
ture theatres.  Commissioner  Moss 
expressed  himself  as  entirely  in  sym- 
pathy with  their  protest. 

The  New  School  for  Social  Re- 
search had  sought  to  circumvent  the 
law  by  requiring  that  each  person  pay 
an  "assessment  fee"  of  50  cents,  rath- 
er than  an  admission  charge. 

Theatres  Face  New 
Surety  Rates  Boost 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

pendent  house  might  find  itself  with 
liability  insurance  cost  raised  from 
11  cents  to  36  cents  per  100.  New 
York  law  requires  all  companies  pay- 
ing $500  or  more  annually  for  liabil- 
ity insurance  to  be  "experienced 
rated." 

At  the  old  11 -cent  rate,  454,000  an- 
nual admissions  brought  premiums  up 
to  the  $500  mark  but  this  now  has 
been  reduced  to  280,000  under  the  18- 
cent  rate. 

Several  plans  are  under  considera- 
tion for  a  cooperative  solution  of  the 
problem  of  increased  rates.  Arthur 
Pelterson,  of  the  Mitchell  May,  Jr., 
office  has  prepared  the  questionnaires 
and  will  present  a  proposal  based  on 
the  answers  received.  Pelterson  will 
work  with  a  joint  committee  of  Al- 
lied and  I.  T.  O.  A. 

Colorado  Theatres 
Undergo  Rebuilding 

Fox  Intermountain  Theatres  in  the 
Denver  area  have  built  or  recon- 
structed 37  theatres  in  the  last  few 
years,  it  is  disclosed  by  Rick  Ricket- 
son,  division  head,  who  is  visiting  in 
New  York.  Ricketson  said  it  is  the 
circuit's  plan  to  build  or  rebuild  two 
theatres  each  year. 

The  circuit  is  completing  plans  for 
a  house  in  Longmont,  Colo.,  to  seat 
900,  which  will  mean  two  theatres  for 
Fox  Intermountain  in  the  town.  A 
theatre  in  Laramie,  Wyo.,  is  being  re- 
built and  modernized. 

A  major  reconstruction  is  of  the 
Broadway  in  Denver,  which  is  one  of 
the  city's  landmark's.  Seats  50  years 
old  are  being  replaced,  and  moderniza- 
tion includes  the  building  of  loges. 
Originally  seating  1,400,  the  theatre 
will  have  800  seats  when  completed, 
with  the  galleries  closed  off. 

Miriam  Howells,  III, 
Quits  Goldwyn  Post 

Miriam  Howells  has  resigned  as 
story  editor  of  Samuel  Goldwyn  pro- 
ductions because  of  illness.  She  has  no 
other  commitments  and  will  leave 
shortly  for  a  rest.  ' 


TAMES  ROOSEVELT,  vice-presi- 
»J  dent  of  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  ar- 
rives from  the  coast  today. 

• 

Barrett  C.  Kiesling,  M-G-M 
coast  exploitation  man,  has  recovered 
from  malaria,  which  confined  him  to 
a  hospital  in  Memphis,  and  attended 
the  premiere  of  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips" 
in  Dayton,  O.,  late  last  week. 
• 

Terry  Kilburn,  11-year-old,  and 
Alan  Curtis  have  been  borrowed 
from  M-G-M  by  20th  Century-Fox, 
the  former  for  "The  Adventures  of 
Sherlock  Holmes"  and  the  latter  for 
"Falling  Stars." 

• 

Bob  Breen  has  been  honored  with  a 
gold  plaque  making  him  a  honorary 
life  member  of  the  famous  Boys'  Re- 
public of  Arlington,  Va.  He  was  cited 
as  one  of  the  30  outstanding  Ameri- 
cans of  1939. 

• 

K.  Matzner,  manager  in  Hungary 
for  20th  Century-Fox  under  Ben 
Miggins,  continental  European  head, 
and  winner  of  the  Hutchinson  Euro- 
pean merit  award  for  1938,  arrives  late 
this  month. 

• 

J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  vice-president  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.,  is 
recuperating  at  his  home  in  Toronto, 
following  his  recent  discharge  from 
St.  Mary's  Hospital,  Rochester,  Minn. 
• 

Frederic  Ullman,  Jr.,  who  has 
been  at  Callander,  Ontario,  as  produc- 
tion chief  on  the  new  Dionne  quintup- 
lets film,  "Five  Came  Back,"  returned 
to  New  York  over  the  week-end. 
• 

Sonja  Henie,  with  her  mother, 
Mrs.  Selma  Henie,  are  stopping  at 
the  Waldorf-Astoria,  prior  to  sailing 
Wednesday  on  the  Queen  Mary  for  a 
vacation  abroad. 

• 

T.  G.  Barber,  export  manager  of 
American  Seating  Co.,  is  convalescing 
in  the  Catskills  following  a  recent 
throat  infection. 

• 

J.  Don  Alexander  and  Mrs.  Alex- 
ander were  hosts  to  a  party  of  friends 
yesterday  on  their  yacht,  "2  Smiles." 
• 

Erich  Pommer  leaves  for  the  coast 
by  plane  tomorrow  to  attend  the  Par- 
amount national  sales  convention. 
• 

A.  G.  Doyle,    20th  Century-Fox 
managing  director  for  Japan,  is  visit- 
ing in  Buffalo,  his  home  town. 
• 

Mura,  well-known  Italian  play- 
wright, is  in  New  York  after  a  two 
months'  stay  in  Hollywood. 

• 

Ben  Kalmenson,  Warner  western 
and  southern  sales  manager,  is  visit- 
ing midwest  branches. 

• 

Eddie  Dowling  opens  a  week's  en- 
gagement of  "Our  Town"  tonight  at 
the  Albee,  Providence. 

• 

Gregory  Dickson,  due  here  early 
this  week,  plans  to  vacation  in  the 
east  six  weeks. 

• 

H.  J.  Yates,  head  of  Consolidated 
Film,  is  due  from  the  coast  next  week- 
end. 


PL.  PALMERTON,  managing  di- 
•  rector  of  the  Western  Electric 
Co.,  Ltd.,  London,  and  John  Riley, 
company's  chief  engineer  in  England, 
are  due  here  this  week  for  confer- 
ences and  expect  to  return  about  June 
15. 

• 

Lily  Pons  and  Andre  Kostelanetz 
celebrated  their  first  wedding  anni- 
versary with  a  party  Friday  night  at 
their  home  in  Silvermine,  Norwalk, 
Conn. 

• 

Jack  Cohen,  Gus  Eyssell,  M.  A. 
Schlesinger,  Sam  Shain,  Walter 
Winchell,  Harry  Ritz  among  those 
dining  at  Moore's  Friday  night. 
• 

Anatole  Litvak,  Warner  director, 
and  Miriam  Hopkins,  (Mrs.  Lit- 
vak) arrive  this  morning  from  the 
coast  for  a  vacation. 

>  • 

Lady  Dunn,  with  a  print  of  "In 
Mozart's  Footsteps,"  arrives  today  on 
the  Queen  Mary.  Fred  Astaire  is 
also  aboard. 

• 

Paul  Nathan,  secretary  to  Hal 
B.  Wallis,  Warner  executive  produc- 
er, is  in  town  for  a  two-week  vaca- 
tion. 

• 

Eleanor  Powell  returned  to  the 
Coast  over  the  week-end  after  a  per- 
sonal appearance  tour  in  the  East. 
• 

Bill  Saal,  Republic  representative, 
is  back  in  town  after  an  extended  trip, 

Robinson  Contact 
For  Jersey  Allied 

Charles  Robinson,  former  New 
Jersey  exhibitor,  has  been  appointed 
field  contact  man  by  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New  Jersey.  The  posi- 
tion has  been  vacant  since  E.  Thorn- 
ton Kelly  resigned  as  executive  secre- 
tary to  take  a  similar  post  with  New 
York  Allied. 

Robinson  operated  the  Mount  Pros- 
pect in  Newark  many  years  and  re- 
cently the  Cameo,  Jersey  City. 

The  unit's  next  meeting  will  be 
held  tomorrow  in  the  Sardi  Building. 
Larger  quarters  will  be  taken  shortly 
in  the  same  building. 


Audio-Eastern  Elects 

Frank  K.  Speidell  has  been  re-elect- 
ed president  of  Audio  Productions  and 
Eastern  Service  Studios.  Charles  L. 
Glett  has  been  renamed  vice-president 
of  the  studio  company  in  charge  of 
productions.  A.  J.  Wilson  is  vice- 
president  of  Audio  in  charge  of  In- 
dustrial productions.  G.  C.  Wagner 
continues  as  secretary-treasurer  of 
both  companies  and  P.  J.  Mooney  as 
assistant  secretary. 


New  Warner  Service 

As  a  service  to  visiting  exhibitors, 
Warners  has  established  an  informa- 
tion service  at  its  home  office,  321 
W.  44th  St.,  with  Mrs.  Isabel  Turner 
of  the  advertising-publicity  department 
in  charge. 


'Ecstasy'  Loses  Again 

Albany,  June  4. — The  Supreme 
Court's  civil  jury  will  not  view  a  re- 
vised version  of  "Ecstasy,"  banned 
film.  Justice  Gilbert  Schenck  has  sent 
the  case  to  the  Appellate  division. 


Independents 
File  Another 
Trust  Actior 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

product,  plaintiff  was  compelled  t 
form  a  subsidiary,  Lyric  Frolics,  Inc 
and  affiliate  with  the  Springer  C«j&J 
Corp.  in  May,  1938,  and  was  d^„, 
sessed  in  November,  the  complaint  a 
leges. 

Ida  Shereff,  as  secretary-treasun 
of  Folly  Amusement  Corp.,  signed  tl 
complaint. 


U.  S.  Suit  Settlement 
Discussion  Continues 

Discussions  looking  to  a  possib 
settlement  of  the  Government  ant 
trust  suit  have  been  held  betwee 
major  company  counsel  and  Depari 
ment  of  Justice  officials  and  are  to 
continued,  it  was  learned  over  tl 
weekend. 

The  peace  endeavor  is  described  ( 
having  two  phases,  the  attempt  ) 
discover  whether  or  not  a  basis  f 
an  agreement  exists  and,  if  so,  th 
the  attempt  to  devise  a  procedure  X 
which  a  truce  could  be  effected.  T 
discussions,  it  is  stated,  have  not  pro; 
ressed  beyond  the  first  stage  yet. 

The  talks  are  understood  to  ha 
taken  place  here  and  in  Washingti 
In  addition,  some  phases  have  be 
explored  in   correspondence  betwel 
defendants'    counsel   and  departme" 
officials. 

Defense  attorneys  declined  to  es  I 
mate  the  chances  of  a  settlement,  e ' 
plaining  that  so  little  progress  h  j  i 
been  made  to  date  that  no  basis  f 
such  a  prediction  exists.      It  w  J 
pointed  out  that  the  defendant  coi  [  j 
panies  and  the  Government,  for  e 
ample,  are  as  far  apart  now  in  tin 
views  on  theatre  divorcement  as  th 
were  when  the  action  was  begun. 

Fight  Chicago  Ban 
On  "Oppenheimei  \ 

Chicago,  June  4. — Various  cr 
organizations  are  seeking  to  have  t 
Chicago  police  censor  board  retr; 
its  ban  on  "The  Oppenheimer  Famih 
Russian  anti-Nazi  film  scheduled  i , 
the  Sonotone.  Lieut.  Harry  Costel 
censor  chief,  said  the  film  "exposes  j 
contempt,  derision  or  obloquy  a  cl;l 
of  citizens." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  1 1 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compa  I 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  C I 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  addi  I 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quig'  I 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Bro  I 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wl 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Si 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertis  I 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Mi<;  - 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  IV 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildi I 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  I. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Gol  ji 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  m  1 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  Londc  fl 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quif  jf 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quif  F 
publications :  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Be  r 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  ]  I 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Ent<  I 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  e 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  e 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  r 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  fore  I 
Single  copies  10c. 


Seldom  in  the  history  of  this  business  has  a  picture 
so  won  audiences  and  evoked  such  an  enthusiastic 
reaction  as  YOUNG  MR.  LINCOLN  in  its 
every  showing — Springfield,  111.,  New  York  City, 
Baltimore,  Toledo,  Atlantic  City,  elsewhere — 
living  up  to  every  word  of  praise  heaped  upon 
it  the  nation  over! 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  5,  193* 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


'Juarez9  Hits 


Big  $18,000, 
Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,  June  4. — -"Juarez" 
was  the  leader  here  with  $18,000  at 
the  Boyd.  "Rose  of  Washington 
Square"  drew  a  strong  $17,000  in  11 
days  at  the  Stanley.  Other  grosses 
were  only  fair,  largely  due  to  the 
record-breaking  heat. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  1 : 

"Stolen  Life"  (Para.) 

ALDINE— (1,300)    (32c-42c-57c)    11  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  7  days,  $8,160) 
"Can't  Take  It  With  You"  (Col.) 

ARCADIA  —  (600)  (25c-42c-57c)  3  days. 
Revival.  Gross:  $800.  (Average,  7  days, 
$2,800) 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

BOYD  —  (2,400)     (32c-42c-57c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $18,000.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 

EARLE —  (26c-32c-42c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$5,500.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (3,000)   (32c-37c-42c-57c-68c)  7  days. 
(6   days   stage.)    Stage:   Arthur  Treacher, 
Marion    Talley,    Frankie    Masters  Band. 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (25c-42c-57c)  7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (2,000)  (25c-42c-57c)  10  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average,  7  days, 
$4,000) 

"Confessions  of  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

PALACE— (1,000)    (26c-42c)   7   days,  3rd 
run.    Gross:   $3,500.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Rose   of   Washington   Square"  (20th-Fox) 

STANLEY—  (3,700)   (32c-42c-57c)  11  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.    (Average,  7  days,  $14,000) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (32c-42c-57c)  6  days. 
Gross:  $3,400.    (Average,  7  days,  $7,000) 


'Wuthering'  Does 
$17,000  in  Detroit 

Detroit,  June  4.  —  "Wuthering 
Heights"  and  "The  Gracie  Allen 
Mufcder  Case"  led  the  field  here  with 
a   strong  $17,000   at   the  Michigan. 

Estimated  takings  week  ending 
June  1 : 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Missing  Daughters"  (20th-Fox) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

FOX— (5,000)    (20c-65c)    7    days.  Stage: 
Erik     Rhodes     and     Harmonica  Rascals. 
Gross:  $25,000.    (Average,  $20,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Gracie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 

MICHIGAN  —  (4,000)    (20c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Oklahoma  Kid"  (W.  B.) 
"Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 

PALMS  STATE— (3,000)  (15c -50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (2,000)  (20c -65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 


'Only  Angels'  Good 
For  $6£00  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  June  4. — "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings,"  dualed  with  "Rookie 
Cop,"  hit  $6,200  at  the  Brandeis. 
"Lucky  Night"  and  "Kid  from  Texas" 
at  the  Omaha  drew  $7,100. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  31-June  1 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Rookie  Cop"  (RKO) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,200.      (Average,  $4,000) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Kid  From  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,100.     (Average,  $6,000) 
"Dodge  City"  (W.  B.) 
"Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

OR PHEUM— (3,009)  (25c-40c)  7  ■  day's. 
Gross:  $8,200.     (Average,  $7,600) 


Remodel  2  in  Wisconsin 

Janesville,  Wis.,  June  4. — In  as- 
suming the  leases  on  the  Myers  and 
Beverly  here  from  James  Zanias,  the 
Fox  Janesville  Corp.,  Fox  Wisconsin 
Amusement  Corp.  subsidiary,  plans 
extensive  modernization  of  both  the- 
atres. Russell  Leddy,  former  district 
manager  for  Fox,  has  been  named 
manager  of  the  local  houses. 


Buy  Kansas  City  House 

Kansas  City,  June  4. — Vogel  Get- 
tier,  associated  with  circuit  and  in- 
dependent theatre  operation  in  the  mid- 
west for  some  years,  and  Alexander 
Sabry  have  taken  over  the  Colonial 
from  E.  E.  Webber  and  W.  D.  Fulton. 


Detroit  House  Closes 

Detroit,  June  4. — The  United  Ar- 
tists here  has  closed  and  the  Fox  has 
dropped  stage  shows  and  switched  to 
double  bills.  The  changes  leave  four 
first  runs  showing  duals  and  no  stage 
entertainment  in  the  city's  houses. 


Lam  Closes  with  Altec 

Oscar  O.  Lam  has  signed  with  Altec 
to  service  his  theatres  in  Cedartown, 
Newman  and  LaGrange,  Ga.,  in  addi- 
tion to  the  three  Rome,  Ga.,  houses  al- 
ready being  serviced.  H.  B.  Moog 
negotiated  the  deal  for  Altec. 


Takes  Indianapolis  House 

Indianapolis,  June  4.  —  Joe  Can- 
tor, owner  of  the  Rivoli  and  Emerson, 
de  luxe  neighborhoods,  has  acquired  a 
smaller  house,  the  Garrick,  on  long- 
term  lease.  After  remodeling,  it  will 
be  named  the  Esquire. 


Takes  K.C.  Theatre 

Kansas  City,  June  4. — Harry  A. 
Beynon  has  taken  over  the  Ritz  here 
from  H.  H.  Barrett,  who  has  operated 
it  since  1925.  Barrett  is  retiring  be- 
cause of  ill  health. 


Quits  Denver  Theatre 

Denver,  June  4. — James  Howell  has 
resigned  as  manager  of  the  Roxy,  and 
Abel  Davis,  owner,  plans  to  remodel 
the  house  this  summer. 


Closes  House  in  Denver 

Denver,  June  4.  —  Ed  Mapel  has 
closed  the  Tivoli  for  the  summer. 
This  will  leave  him  two  other  grind 
houses  here. 


Hoppen  Repurchases  House 

Denver,  June  4.  —  Paul  Hoppen, 
formerly  operating  the  Plaza  and  Pal- 
ace, has  purchased  the  houses  from 
Ruptle  &  Wagner. 


Books  Foreign  Films 

Ronson,  Newark,  has  changed  its 
name  to  the  Polonia  and  will  play 
Polish  and  Hungarian  films. 

Milwaukee  Stops 
Tavern  Film  Shows 

Milwaukee,  June  4. — An  investiga- 
tion to  determine  how  many  taverns 
are  showing  silent  pictures  as  part  of 
their  entertainment  program  and  to 
determine  whether  such  places  comply 
with  safety  standards  has  been  or- 
dered by  Leon  M.  Gurda,  building 
inspector. 

Assistant  City  Attorney  Carl  F. 
Zeidler  said  that  tavern  operators 
would  have  to  comply  with  safety 
standards  if  they  showed  films. 


Wangberg  Promoted 

Kansas  City,  June  4. — RKO  has 
promoted  John  Wangberg,  office  man- 
ager at  the  exchange  here  for  two 
years,  to  home  office  representative, 
with  supervision  of  the  New  Orleans, 
Charlotte,  Atlanta,  and  Dallas  ex- 
changes. 


Matteson  to  News  Theatre 
Philadelphia,  June  4. — Bill  Mat- 
teson, former  manager  of  the  Trans- 
Lux,  and  later  of  the  Studio,  will  take 
over  as  manager  of  William  Gold- 
man's News  Theatre.  House  operates 
on  a  policy  of  revivals  and  complete 
newsreels. 


Columbus  House  Closed 

Columbus,  O.,  June  4. — The  Ma- 
jestic, one  of  the  three  local  RKO 
units,  playing  double  features,  has 
gone  dark.  No  announcement  has 
been  made  by  C.  Harry  Schrieber, 
city  manager,  as  to  when  the  house 
will  reopen. 


Collins  U.  A.  Manager 

Denver,  June  4.  —  Earl  Collins, 
salesman,  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  U.  A.  Denver  exchange,  where 
he  succeeds  Al  Hoffman,  manager  for 
several  years.  Hoffman  goes  on  the 
road  for  the  company. 


Two  Close  in  Philadelphia 

Philadelphia,  June  4.  —  Warners 
have  installed  a  new  cooling  system  in 
the  Stanley  here.  The  Fox  has  been 
reseated.  The  Aldine,  first  run,  and 
Keith's  second  run,  have  closed  for  the 
summer. 


Hutchinson  City  Manager 

Lenoir,  N.  C,  June  4. — Andrew 
A.  Hutchinson,  former  manager  of 
Lenoir  Theatres,  Inc.,  here,  has  been 
named  city  manager  for  the  circuit  in 
Anderson,  N.  C. 


Two  in  Philadelphia  Shut 

Philadelphia,  June  4.— The  Al- 
dine and  Keith's,  Warner  houses, 
have  closed.  Aldine  is  a  first  run 
house,  Keith's  a  second  run. 


Boost  to  Warners 

Denver,  June  4. — Frank  Boost,  re- 
cently assistant  manager  of  the  State, 
has  joined  the  Warner  exchange  as 
shipper. 


Joins  Monogram 

Kansas  City,  June  4.  —  M.  G. 
Shackelford,  formerly  with  Republic- 
Midwest,  has  joined  Monogram  here 
as  salesman  for  Kansas. 


Building  in  Shelby,  N.  C 

Shelby,  N.  C,  June  4.- — George 
D.  Washburn  is  building  a  $40,000 
house  here  to  seat  500. 


London,  June  4. — -All  Gaumont 
British  theatres  equipped  with 
Baird  television  apparatus  will  tele- 
vise "Trooping  of  the  Colors,"  the 
annual  ceremony  in  honor  of  the 
King's  official  birthday,  on  June  8. 

This  will  be  the  first  subject  to  be 
televised  for  a  second  time.  In  June, 
1938,  it  was  shown  at  the  Tatler  on 
a  screen  eight  by  six  feet.  Improve- 
ments in  television  over  the  past  12 
months  will  be  observed  by  officials. 


'Nazi  Spy'  Is 
Frisco's  Best 


With  $16,50( 


San  Francisco,  June  4. — "Confe; 
sions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  and  "Some  Lik 
It  Hot"  took  a  strong  $16,500  at  tr 
Warfield.  M 

"Sorority  House"  grossed  a  ^^fo 
$17,000  with  vaudeville  at  the  Golde 
Gate. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  enc 
ing  May  23-26 : 

"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,850j  (35c-40c-55c) 
days.  Stage:  vaudeville.  Gross:  $17,(X 
(Average,  $15,000) 

"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-5f 
75c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Averag 
$11,500) 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fo 
"Mr.  Moto  in  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-3Sc-40c-55c-75c)  7  da^ 
2nd  week.   Gross:  $14,000.   (Average,  $16,00 
"San  Francisco"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Champ"  (M-G-M) 

ST.  FRANCIS  —  (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-5!! 
75c)  7  days.  Gross:  $5,400.  (Averai 
$6,000) 

"Stagecoach"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (15c-35c-4l 
55c-65c)  5  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,0 
(Average,  $8,000) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

WARFIELD— (2,680;  (15c-35c-40c-55c-7:1 
7  days.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average,  $12,000 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c) 
days.    Gross:  $8,200.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Abused  Confidence"  (Col.) 

CLAY— (400)    (15c-35c-40c)    7    days,  2t| 
week.    Gross:  $850.    (Average,  $1,000) 
"The  40©  Million"  (Joris  Ivens) 

LARKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days,  I 
week.    Gross:  $800.    (Average,  $1,000) 


Cincinnati  Gives 
'Lucky'  $21,50 

Cincinnati,  June  4.  —  "Luc 
Night"  plus  Benny  Goodman's  orche 
tra  on  the  stage  took  a  smash  $21,5 
at  the  RKO  Albee.  "It's  a  Wonderf 
World"  did  $10,500  at  the  RKO  P; 
ace,  and  "Union  Pacific"  had  a  $3,1 
third  w'eek  at  the  RKO  Grand. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  May  31-June  3: 

"Lucky   Night"  (M-G-M) 

RKO     ALB  EE — (3,300)  (35c-42c-60c) 
days.     Stage:  Benny  Goodman's  orchest 
Gross:  $21,500.     (Average,  $12,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)  (35c-42c)  7  da 
Gross:    $10,500.       (Average,  $10,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

RKO     SHUBERT— (2,150)  (35c-42c) 
days,  2nd  week.     Gross:  $3,000.  (Avera: 
$10,000) 

"The   Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c-42c)  7  da 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,400.  (Average,  $6,5i 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fc 

RKO  LYRIC— (1,400)  (35c-42c)  7  da- 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average,  $5,0 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,200)   (25c-40c)   7  da 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $3,100.     (Average,  $2,7 
"Street    of    Missing    Men"  (Republic) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  4  da 
Gross:  $1,100.    (Average,  $1,100) 
"Fixer  Dugan"  (RKO) 
"For  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (20c-30c)  3  da 
Gross:  $850.     (Average,  $900) 
"The  Gorilla"  (ZOth-Fox) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (30c-40c)  6  da 
Gross:  $3,750.    (Average,  7  days,  $6,000) 


William  Boag  Dies 

William  Boag,  72,  for  30  yea 
stage  manager  for  David  Belas( 
died  Friday  night  at  his  home  in  Dc 
gan  Hills,  S.  I.  He  was  stage  mar 
ger  for  David  Warfield  for  nearly 
years  before  joining  Belasco. 


Trooping  of  Colors 
Telecast  Scheduled 


SHAKE  HANDS  WITH  THE 


WINNERS ! 


arr 


and 


•  Paramount  Headliners  proved  themselves  Headliners  again  this  year 
by  grabbing  the  only  two  Jay  Emanuel  Awards  for  Musical  Short  Sub- 
jects. Phil  Spitalny  and  his  All-Girl  Orchestra  received  the  award  for 
the  best  color  short,  "Moments  of  Charm"  and  Hal  Kemp  and  his 
Orchestra  took  the  medal  for  the  best  black  and  white  musical  short. 

Congratulations,  Phil... Congratulations,  Hal. ..and,  if  you  boys  don't 
mind,  we'll  take  a  little  bow  ourselves  for  turning  out  the  best 
musical  shorts  in  the  business. 


Paramount  s  "A  SONG  IS  BORN"  and  '  SCHUBERT'S  UNFINISHED 
SYMPHONY"  were  the  two  runners- up.  Competing  against  the  entire 
industry's  band  shorts  .  .  .  Paramount  walked  off  with  every  prize! 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  5,  193! 


i 


Neely  Defends 
Bill  in  Lengthy 
Senate  Report 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
1937,  a  salary  that  exceeded  the  com- 
bined salaries  of  the  96  United  States 
Senators.    Most  of  all,  they  fear  com- 
petition." ..> 

Neely  attacked  the  producers'  trade 
practice  proposals  as  perpetuating 
block  booking  and  blind  selling,  and 
called  attention  to  the  Government's 
New  York  suit  and  its  primary  pur- 
pose of  divorcing  exhibition  from  pro- 
duction and  distribution. 

"In  no  other  industry  are  all  of  the 
risks  of  the  manufacturer  or  producer 
passed  on  to  the  retailer  and  the  con- 
sumer," the  report  said.  "The  Big 
Eight  designate  a  certain  number  of 
pictures  to  be  paid  for  on  the  basis  of 
a  stated  percentage  of  the  gross  re- 
ceipts of  the  theatres  while  showing 
such  pictures.  But  these  designations 
are  not  made  until  after  the  box-office 
value  of  the  picture  has  been  deter- 
mined by  test  runs,  so  that  no  risk  is 
involved  so  far  as  the  Big  Eight  are 
concerned. 

"The  independent  exhibitor,  in  order 
to  get  any  films,  is  obliged  by  contract 
to  accept  and  pay  for  all  that  the  pro- 
ducer sees  fit  to  release  during  the 
•  contract  period — one  year.  He  cannot 
cultivate  the  good  will  and  suit  the 
preferences  of  his  patrons  by  selecting 
the  pictures  best  calculated  to  please 
them.  Subject  only  to  minor  excep- 
tions, the  rule  is  'All  or  none'." 
I  To  meet  objections  of  producers 
that  Section  4  will  be  unduly  burden- 
soine,  Senator  Neely  disclosed  in  his 
report  that  he  would  seek  an  amend- 
ment to  the  bill,  when  brought  up  on 
the.  floor,  simplifying  the  synopses  re- 
quirements to  provide  for  a  general 
outline  of  the  story  and  description  of 
the  principal  characters  and  a  state- 
ment describing  the  manner  of  treat- 
ment concerning  any  scenes  depicting 
vice,  crime  of  suggestion  of  sex. 


Summer  Weather  Takes 

Toll  of  Theatre  Receipts 

-  Unseasonable  summer  weather  has  taken  its  toll  of  box-office  grosses  in 
key  city  theatres  over  the  country,  according  to  Motion  Picture  Daily's 
tabulation  of  theatre  receipts. 

The  aggregate  business  of  155  theatres  during  the  week  ending  May  25-26 
was  $1,274,050,  a  decrease  of  $44,250  from  the  $1,318,300  total  recorded  in 
the  week  ending  May  18-19  from  154  houses.   The  most  recent  total  compares 
with  $1,639,300  from  154  theatres  for  the  week  ending  April  13-14. , 
.   Tabulation  of  key  city  grosses  weekly  from  Sept.  8-9  follows : 

No.  Theatres 

Sept.  8-9   138 

Sept.  15-16   137 

Sept.  22-23    138 

Sept.  29-30    137 


Oct.  6-  7 
Oct.  13-14 
Oct.  20-21 
Oct.  27-28 
Nov.  3-  4 
Nov.  10-11 
Nov.  17-18 


137 
138 
138 
140 
142 
141 
143 


Court  Orders  Detail 
In  Universal  Action 

Federal  Judge  John  W.  Clancy  on 
Friday  directed  Howard  Y.  Bary, 
plaintiff  in  a  $307,000  damage  action 
against  Universal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc., 
Lester  Cowan,  W.  C.  Fields  and  Al 
Wagner  and  Ann  Dempster,  trading  as 
Al  Wagner  Theatrical  Agency,  to  file 
a  detailed  statement  of  his  complaint. 

The  plaintiff  charges  the  defendants 
with  inducing  the  breach  of  a  contract 
which  he  had  with  Alverson  Blacaman 
and  his  troupe  and  furthermore  claims 
plagiarism  of  his  story,  "A  Circus 
Episode,"  in  the  Universal  film,  "You 
Can't  Cheat  an  Honest  Man." 


Para's  Plea  to  Kill 
Stock  Suit  Delayed 

Application  of  Paramount  Pictures, 
Inc.,  to  dismiss  the  stockholders'  suit 
brought  by  Frank  Jablow  and  Sam 
Acker  for  alleged  waste  and  misman- 
agement was  adjourned  to  June  9  be- 
cause of  the  service  of  an  amended 
complaint  upon  Paramount.  Plaintiffs 
have  added  to  the  old  complaint  by 
including  charges  referring  to  transac- 
tions of  Paramount  with  the  Hoblit- 
zelle and  A.  H;  T31ank  circuits^ 


Nov.  24-25   141 

Dec.    1-2  ,   142 

Dec.    8-9    140 

Dec.  15-16   134 

Dec.  22-23    139 

Dec.  29-30    150 

Jan.    5-  6,  1939   151 

Jan.  12-13    145 

Jan.  19-20   •   146 

Jan.  26-27    145 

Feb.    2-3  ;   147 

Feb.   9-10   147 

Feb.  16-17   i   146 

Feb.  23-24   147 

March   2-3    146 

March    9-10    147 

March  16-17    155 

March  23-24   154 

March  30-31   151 

April    6-7   1   151 

April  13-14    154 

April  20-21   '   149 

April  27-28    151 

May    4-5    154 

May  11-12    155 

May  18-19    154 

May  25-26   155 

{Copyright,  1939,  Quiglcy  Publishing  Company,  Inc.) 


Gttoss 

$1,572,099 
1,407,481 
1,382,059 
1,398,438- 
1,519,793 
1,429,288 
1,430,924 
1,394,023 
1,353,407 
1,386,939 
1,323,918 
1,283,153 
1,461,730 
1,275,136 
1,159,371 
1,041,911 
1,562,044 
1,829,822 
1,372,400 
1,368,322 
1,345,715 
1,469,400 
1,494,600 
1,393,100 
1,417,700 
1,400,000 
1,352,050 
1,366,800 
1,439,600 
1,322,225 
1,283,100 
1,639,300 
1,432,900 
1,401,600 
1,386,280 
1,352,845 
1,318,300 
1,274,050 


Judge  To  See 
'Spy'  In  Kuhn 
Suit  on  Film 


Hollywood  Preview 


"The  Sun  Never  Sets" 

(Universal) 

Hollywood,  June  4. — Designed  as  a  tribute  to  Britain's  consular 
service,  prime  appeal  of  "The  Sun  Never  Sets"  is  to  those  to  whom  the 
glory  of  the  empire  and  its  servants  is  a  tradition.  It  is  wordy  and  long 
drawn  out,  with  spectacular  action  isolated  in  the  last  few  minutes. 
There  are  many  long  times  in  which  the  characters  are  merely  talking 
or  looking  out  of  windows. 

Patriotic  duty,  heroism  and  sacrifice,  of  course,  are  stressed  in  flag- 
waving  style,  yet  when  the  story  concerns  itself  with  love  interest,  pathos 
is  stressed.  With  an  exception  or  two,  comedy  is  practically  absent. 

For  centuries,  members  of  the  "Randolph"  family  have  served  Eng- 
land in  overseas  consular  service.  Maintainence  of  a  proud  tradition 
is  the  life  aim  of  Basil  Rathbone.  His  younger  brother  wants  no  part 
of  it,  but  is  inveigled  into  service  by  his  grandfather,  C.  Aubrey  Smith. 
Both  are  assigned  to  the  African  Gold  Coast,  a  point  from  which  a  mys- 
terious war-mongering  propaganda  via  radio  is  emanating.  Fairbanks' 
dereliction  in  duty  in  consideration  of  brother's  wife,  Barbara  O'Neil, 
who  is  about  to  have  a  baby,  brings  a  disgraceful  recall  to  Rathbone 
who  suspects  psuedo-scientist  Lionel  Atwill  as  enemy  of  national  peace. 

Suddenly  realizing  his  duty,  Fairbanks  spies  out  Atwill's  radio  and 
through  the  use  of  an  old  family  phrase  brings  a  fleet  of  bombing  planes 
to  destroy  it.  The  family  tradition  upheld,  Rathbone  is  reinstated  and 
Fairbanks  looks  forward  to  a  great  career  in  his  country's  service. 

While  Fairbanks  and  Rathbone  carry  the  show,  valuable  contribu- 
tions are  made  by  Miss  O'Neill,  Virginia  Field,  Atwill,  Smith,  Mel- 
ville Cooper  and  Theodore  Von  Eltz.  Rowland  V.  Lee  was  producer 
and  director.    Running  time,  100  minutes.  G.  McC. 


Federal  Judge  Leibell  Friday  aske 
that  Warners'  film,  "Confessions  c 
a  Nazi  Spy,"  be  shown  in  U.  S.  Di; 
trict  Court  on  June  13  to  aid  h*'1  j 
deciding  the  application  of  Ifett 
Kuhn,  German-American  bund  leadei 
Kuhn  seeks  to  restrain  Warners  froi 
showing  the  film,  contending  that  i 
untruthfully  depicts  the  Bund  as  be 
ing  engaged  in  espionage  activities. 

Affidavits  of  Stanley  Freedmat 
Leon  G.  Turrou,  former  G-man,  Mot 
B.  Blumenstock  and  Carl  Leserma 
were  submitted  Friday  for  Warne 
Bros,  charging  Kuhn  with  hypocris; 
Leserman  stated  that  the  film  coi 
$700,000  and  had  future  contracts  fo 
9,000  play  dates,  with  a  total  esti 
mated  gross  of  $1,875,000. 

Kuhn,  in  an  affidavit,  accused  War 
ner  Bros,  of  "attempting  to  lynch  hir 
in  the  public  eye."  Continued  argu 
ment,  if  necessary,  will  be  heard  o 
June  14. 


Mexico  O.K.'s  "Spy" 

Mexico  City,  June  4.— The  Stat 
Censor  Board  here  has  approve 
Warners'  "Confessions  of  a  Na; 
Spy."  The  feature  is  being  release 
throughout  Mexico  this  week. 


Interstate  Aiding 
Community  Wort 

Dallas,  June  4. — Texas  Interstat 
circuit  plans  to  extend  its  communit 
work  along  lines  suggested  by  Kai 
Hoblitzelle,  president.  The  circu: 
is  undertaking  a  campaign  in  Texa 
public  schools  to  promote  traffi 
safety  with  the  cooperation  of  loa 
theatres. 

Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  circuit  ger 
eral  manager,  plans  to  give  specu 
shows  for  children,  the  proceeds 
be  used  to  purchase  badges  for  junia 
traffic  directors  and  copies  of  Irvin. 
Caesar's  "Sing  a  Song  of  Safety. 
Caesar  will  probably  travel  south  i 
the  fall  to  "sell"  safety  to  youn ; 
Texans.  He  has  appeared  in  man 
public  schools  in  the  east  in  connec 
tion  with  safety  programs. 

Hoblitzelle     has     also  suggeste 
sponsorship  of  contests  among  hig 
school  bands,   with   probable  benefi 
performances  where  instruments  ar! 
needed. 


Authors  Win  Extra 
Plagiarism  Awan 

An  additional  $16,470  was  recom 
mended  for  Edward  Sheldon  and  Mar 
garet  Ayer  Barnes,  authors,  by  Specia 
Master  Kenneth  E.  Walser  in  Federa 
Court  Saturday  for  alleged  plagiarisr 
of  "Dishonored  Lady"  in  M-G-M' 
"Letty  Lynton."  The  authors  had  pre 
viously  been  awarded  $532,000  again; 
Loew's  and  subsidiaries,  on  which  a 
appeal  will  be  heard  this  month.  Sat 
urday's  award  was  made  against  More 
dall  Realty  Corp.,  operators  of  tb 
Capitol.  - 


tlonday.  June  5.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


- 


War,  Biography  and  History  Form  New  Cycle  of  Films 


War  or  conquest  will  form  the 
J.sic  theme  or  production  background 
approximately  30  per  cent  of  the 
tatures  planned  for  1939-'40,  a  sur- 
■v  indicates.  Also  the  trend  among 
jajor  companies  and  independents  is 
iward  outdoor  action  pictures. 

Paramount  and  RKO  have  not  yet 
I^ET^sed  their  new  season  production 
bra,  but  the  former  has  "Beau 
'teste"  and  "Geronimo"  ready  for  re- 
pse,  and  the  latter  will  have  the 
lerbert  Wilcox  picture,  "Nurse 
dith  Cavell." 

Columbia  plans  several  such  films, 


3aramount's 
Parley  Fixes 
Study  of  Code 


Application  of  the  industry  trade 
actice  program  to  sales  policies  and 
stribution  activities  will  be  discussed 
an  executive  session  of  Paramount 
strict  and  branch  managers  on  the 
lal  day  of  the  company's  national 
les  meeting  in  Los  Angeles  next 
Saturday. 

Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice  president  and 
stribution  head,  and  Austin  C. 
eough,  vice  president  and  counsel, 
ill  preside  at  this  session. 
Agnew  will  open  the  sales  meeting 
the  Ambassador  Hotel  Thursday 
orning.  Others  participating  in  the 
oening  day  program  will  be  Adolph 
ukor,  chairman  of  the  board ;  Bar- 
•y  Balaban,  president ;  Stanton  Grif- 
\  chairman  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee ;  John  W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  vice-pres- 
»ent  and  foreign  manager;  J.  J. 
nger,  eastern  division  manager,  and 
.  B.  J.  Frawley. 

Production  officials,  including  Y. 
rank  Freeman,  William  Le Baron  and 
.  M.  Botsford,  will  participate  in  the 
ternoon  program.  The  company's 
!W  season  production  plans  will  be 
itlined  by  Agnew  Friday  morning. 
Advertising  department  activities 
ill  be  reported  on  at  the  afternoon 
ssion  by  R.  M.  Gillham,  A.  O.  Dil- 
nbeck  of  the  Buchanan  Agency,  and 
on  Velde.  Russell  Holman  and  Lou 
iamond  will  report  on  newsreel  and 
-iort  subject  plans. 
Studio  visits  and  screenings  of  new 
oduct  have  been  scheduled.  The 
invention  will  close  with  a  dress 
inquet  Saturday  night. 


including  "Arizona,"  "Tree  of  Lib- 
erty" and  "The  Pioneers." 

War,  of  course,  is  the  background 
of  "Gone  With  the  Wind,"  as  it  is 
of  Goldwyn's  "The  Real  Glory,"  Hal 
Roach's  "Captains  Cautious"  and  Ed- 
ward Small's  historical  biographies, 
"Quantrill,  the  Raider"  and  "Kit  Car- 
son." 

"Thunder  Afloat,"  "War  Eagles," 
"Soldiers  Three,"  "Northwest  Pas- 
sage" and  "Journey's  End"  will  be 
M-G-M  contributions  to  the  predomi- 
nant trend  and  from  20th  Century- 
Fox  will  come  "Drums  Along  the 
Mohawk,"  "Red  Cross  Nurse,"  "20,- 
000  Men  a  Year"  and  "The  Khyber 
Rifles." 

Warners  plan  "Eyes  of  the  Army" 
and  "The  Yanks  Are  Coming,"  and 
Republic  has  lined  up  "The  Dark 
Command,"  "Storm  Over  India," 
"Bengal  Border  Patrol"  and  "Here 
Come  the  Marines." 

Another  cycle  of  the  new  season 
will  be  biography.  The  personal  sto- 


ries of  about  50  personalities  are  being 
prepared.  Included  are  the  stories 
of  Beethoven,  Chopin,  John  Dillinger, 
Admiral  John  Paul  Jones,  Lord 
Kitchener  and  Disraeli.  The  story 
of  Notre  Dame's  great  football  coach, 
Knute  Rockne,  and  the  history  of  Ru- 
dolph Valentino  and  Lillian  Russell 
will  be  told. 

From  the  field  of  science  will  come 
pictures  based  on  the  careers  of  Dr. 
Erlich,  Mile.  Curie,  Thomas  Edison, 
Alfred  Nobel  and  Steinmetz.  The 
lives  of  Brigham  Young,  Mormon 
religious  leader,  and  Belle  Starr,  no- 
torious woman  bandit  of  the  pioneer 
west,  also  will  be  re-enacted.  The 
Abraham  Lincoln  biographical  cycle, 
started  with  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln," 
will  be  followed  by  RKO's  "Abe  Lin- 
coln in  Illinois"  and  others. 

When  Warners  made  "Confessions 
of  a  Nazi  Spy,"  the  doors  were  open 
to  the  treatment  of  such  material. 
At  present  it  is  definite  that  M-G-M 
will  produce  the  Sinclair  Lewis  novel, 


Quebec  Theatres  Closed; 
Protest  Burden  of  Taxes 


Levies  Get  40%  of  Gross; 
Shutdowns  Throw  150 
Out  of  Jobs 


^owdin  Off  June  15 
On  Trip  to  London 

I  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  Universal  board 
lairman,  will  sail  for  England  about 
fane  15  for  general  business  confer- 
ees with  C.  M.  Woolf  and  other 

■  niversal  associates  in  London. 
There  will  be  no  change  in  the  seven- 
•ar  deal  under  which  General  Film 
istributors  handles  Universal  prod- 
~t  in  the  United  Kingdom  as  a  result 

I  the  trip. 

■  Cowdin  will  be  abroad  for  several 
eeks,  returning  to  New  York  about 

:,e  end  of  July.  J.  H.  Seidelman. 
ce-president  and  foreign  manager, 
"rives  in  Europe  today  for  a  two 
onths'  visit. 


Quebec,  June  4. — This  city  was 
without  movie  entertainment  today  as 
the  result  of  eleven  theatres  closing 
Friday  night  in  protest  against  what 
they  said  was  "exorbitant  taxation." 

After  long  negotiations  with  city  of- 
ficials who  refused  to  rescind  or  revise 
tluir  recent  increase  in  municipal  taxes 
from  10  to  20  per  cent,  theatre  owners 
said  that  this  additional  burden  made 
it  imperative  that  they  close  their 
doors. 

Nearly  150  employes  have  been 
thrown  out  of  work  as  result  of  the 
closings. 

Theatres  used  either  the  newspapers 
or  their  screens  to  announce  their  de- 
cision to  discontinue  operation.  All 
agreed  that  the  closings  were  made 
imperative  by  taxes  which  were  tak- 
ing 40  per  cent  of  their  grosses. 

One  theatre,  which  announced  that 
it  had  never  been  able  to  pay  a  divi- 
dend due  to  excessive  levies,  said : 
"We  have  been  paying  25  different 
taxes." 

The  film  houses  tried  operation  for 
four  weeks  under  the  municipal  tax 
boost,  but  found  that  it  was  highly 
unprofitable. 

Quebec  obtained  an  amusement  tax 
with  new  imposts  on  liquor  sales  and 
incomes  from  the  provincial  legislature 
in  order  to  balance  its  budget. 


Fair  Camera  Truce 

Cameramen's  Union,  Local  644,  will 
continue  negotiations  with  World's 
Fair  authorities  this  week  in  an  effort 
to  compel  the  Fair  to  hire  union  men 
for  publicity  still  work.  The  truce, 
in  effect  a  week  ago,  under  which 
newsreel  men  agreed  to  reenter  Fair 
grounds,  is  continuing. 


Neely  Abandons  Bill 
On  Daylight  Savings 

Washington,  June  4. — Sena- 
tor Neely  has  abandoned  all 
efforts  to  have  enacted  at 
this  session  of  Congress  his 
bill  which  proposes  daylight 
savings  time  on  a  national 
scale.  It  was  indicated  that 
he  will  renew  the  bill  in  Con- 
gress next  year. 


Natan  Sentenced 
To  4 -Year  Term 
In  Pathe  Swindle 

Paris,  June  4. — Bernard  Tanenzapf, 
who  as  Bernard  Natan,  was  known  as 
the  French  film  "czar,"  has  been  found 
guilty  with  two  associates  of  defraud- 
ing stockholders  of  the  French  Pathe 
Film  Co.,  which  has  no  connection 
with  any  American  Pathe  company. 

Tanenzapf  was  sentenced  to  four 
years  in  prison.  Jean  Cerf  was  sen- 
tenced to  three  years  and  Alexandre 
Johannides,  Greek  film  engineer,  to 
two  years. 

A  judgment  in  the  13,000,000  franc 
film  swindle  of  5,000,000  francs  ($130,- 
000)  was  ordered  against  the  three 
jointlv,  in  addition  to  individual  fines 
of  3,000  francs  ($78).  The  5,000,000 
francs  is  to  come  from  the  receiver- 
ship management  of  Pathe  Cinema. 


UA  Suit  Dropped 

Suit  for  $50,000  damages,  an  in- 
junction and  accounting  against 
United  Artists  Corp.  by  Greenberg, 
Publisher,  Inc.  was  discontinued  Fri- 
day in  the  U.  S.  District  Court. 

The  plaintiff  claimed  literary  in- 
fringement. 


"It  Can't  Happen  Here"  and  possibly 
"The  40  Days  of  Musa  Dagh." 

"I  Had  a  Comrade,"  which  deals 
with  present  day  affairs  in  Germany, 
will  be  produced  and  Charlie  Chap- 
lin's satire,  "The  Dictators"  is  set. 
Warners  will  produce  "The  Bishop 
Who  Walked  with  God,"  the  story 
of  Martin  Niemoeller,  the  German 
clergyman  and  foe  of  Nazism.  "Ca- 
reer Man,"  a  story  of  the  U.  S.  diplo- 
matic service,  is  in  preparation  at 
Warners.  At  20th  Century-Fox,  Dar- 
ryl  Zanuck  plans  a  film  based  on  John 
Steinbeck's  "Grapes  of  Wrath,"  which 
treats  of  present  political  matters. 


Baird  Delays 
Its  Television 
For  Theatres 


Baird  Television  (Gaumont  British) 
has  deferred  indefinitely  all  efforts  to 
establish  its  equipment  in  theatres 
here  on  a  commercial  basis,  it  was 
learned  over  the  weekend. 

Principal  reason  for  the  suspension 
of  plans  announced  earlier  by  the 
company  is  the  meager  amount  of 
program  material  suitable  for  theatre 
use. 

Although  Ian  C.  Javal,  Baird  com- 
mercial director,  arrived  in  New 
York  more  than  a  month  ago  with 
the  company's  theatre  television  equip- 
ment. Assembly  of  a  complete  work- 
ing set  in  the  G-B  offices  here  is  now 
being  completed. 

The  principal  difficulty  to  be  en- 
countered here  was  the  difference  in 
broadcasting  cycles  here  and  in  Eng- 
land, for  which  the  Baird  equipment 
is  designed.  This  necessitated  de- 
velopment of  a  new  transformer 
which,  with  other  equipment,  ar- 
rived in  New  York  only  last  week. 

In  addition  to  the  dearth  of  tele- 
vision program  material  suitable  for 
theatre  use,  it  was  indicated  that  un- 
certainties over  F.C.C.  licensing  of 
commercial  television  programs  and 
of  receiving  rights  to  televised  mate- 
rial and  its  use  for  commercial  pur- 
poses have  been  confronted. 


TM AT  Negotiating 
Five  Boro  Contract 

Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  and 
Treasurers  Union  will  start  negotia- 
tions today  for  a  contract  covering 
wage  and  hour  conditions  for  mana- 
gers, assistants,  cashiers,  ushers,  door- 
men and  matrons  employed  by  Five 
Boro  circuit.  Employes  returned  to 
work  Thursday  after  a  three-day 
strike. 


Strike  Vote  Wednesday 

The  Laboratory  Technicians  Union 
Local  702  will  meet  Wednesday  to  take 
a  strike  vote  against  the  Consolidated 
Film  Industries.  The  vote  was  or- 
dered Friday  when  the  negotiating 
committee  reported  to  a  membership 
meeting  that  the  Consolidated  had  re- 
fused to  accept  the  union's  demands. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  5,  1939 


Banner  Lines 

 By  JACK  BANNER  

TELEVISION  .  .  .  There  will  be  a  change  in  television  programming  al 
NBC  shortly.    Variety  programs,  which  to  date  have  provided  the  main 
fare,  other  than  sporting  spectacles,  will  be  dropped.    Hour-long  drama- 
tizations of  original  and  stage  plays  will  be  inserted. 

While  on  the  subject  of  television,  it's  almost  definite  that  Mike  Jacobs 
will  not  permit  the  televising  of  the  Galento-Louis  fight. 

▼ 

JEWISH  RADIO  PROGRAM  .  .  .  Jewish  Peoples  Committee  is  girding 
to  combat  anti-semitism  by  way  of  a  nationwide  radio  campaign.  By  fall  the 
Committee  expects  to  present  the  first  of  a  score  of  prominent  speakers,  with 
the  inaugural  and  subsequent  programs  emanating  from  Detroit,  where  the 
Father  Coughlin  broadcasts  originate.  In  fact  the  Committee's  air  show  is 
being  designed  to  "expose  fully  the  distorted  and  inflammatory  addresses  of 
Father  Coughlin." 

The  Committee  is  attempting  to  line  up  the  stations  over  which  Father 
Coughlin  speaks,  so  that  counter-statements  may  be  heard  by  the  one  audi- 
ence. Programs  are  to  be  both  live  and  transcribed.  End  of  August  is  set 
as  the  starting  date. 

T 

NO  ROYAL  BROADCAST  .  .  .  The  networks  have  been  preparing  to 
broadcast  a  speech  by  King  George  from  the  World's  Fair  June  10,  but  ac- 
cording to  our  information,  there  will  be  no  Royal  broadcast. 

T 

SET  TALENT  FOR  WOODBURY  SHOW  .  .  .  New  Woodbury  program 
on  CBS,  "Waring  Family,"  will  star  Leon  Janney,  Hollywood  youngster, 
who  was  signed  for  the  show  Friday.  Program  starts  July  7  and  will  have 
62  stations  after  the  first  13  weeks. 

T 

ALL'S  FAIR  .  .  .  Good  part  of  each  day  in  the  NBC  Sports  Department 
is  spent  by  members  in  listening  to  the  sports  programs  broadcast  over  CBS 
and  Mutual.  That's  to  provide  copy  for  Bill  Stern's  6:45  P.  M.  sports  review 
on  NBC. 

T 

LOHR  DISCUSSES  TELEVISION  .  .  .  Major  Lohr  will  tell  the  opening 
session  of  the  three-day  convention  of  the  Edison  Electrical  Institute  tomor- 
row all  about  the  present  status  of  television. 

▼ 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  John  L.  Grimes,  advertising  manager  of  the  Wheeling 
Steel  Corp.,  sponsors  of  the  Mutual  program,  returned  to  West  Virginia 
Saturday  after  spending  a  number  of  days  here  conferring  with  Mutual  offi- 
cials. .  .  .  Ted  FioRito  signed  for  "Show  of  the  Week"  June  11.  ...  .  Jean 
Masson,  head  of  Radio  Luxembourg,  powerful  French  station,  arrives  here 
today  on  the  He  de  France.  .  .  .  Jan  Savitt's  orchestra  signed  for  a  two-weeks' 
engagement  at  the  Paramount  for  sometime  in  November.  .  .  .  H.  V.  Kalten- 
born  receives  two  honorary  degrees  next  week  from  Hamilton  College  and 
University  of  Wisconsin. 

T 

HAPPY  BELLS  .  .  .  Have  just  pealed  for  Elizabeth  Ann  Tucker,  pro- 
gram director  of  the  CBS  short-wave  department,  who  yesterday  became  the 
bride  of  W.  Gillette  Bird,  a  member  of  the  New  York  Stock  Exchange.  They 
will  honeymoon  at  Lake  George. 

▼ 

TWO  RENEWALS  .  .  .  Milton  Biow,  before  sailing  for  Europe,  arranged 
renewals  for  two  of  his  agency's  Mutual  programs,  it  develops.  The  programs 
renewed  are  "Breezing  Along"  for  Philip  Morris,  and  "Name  Three,"  the 
quiz  show  sponsored  by  Dunhill. 

T 

TAXI  .  .  .  "Americans  at  Work"  series  over  CBS  June  10  will  offer  a 
dramatization  of  the  life .  led  by  taxi  drivers  .  .  .  and  so  CBS  is  hustling 
emissaries  to  all  cab  companies,  asking  that  every  cab  radio  be  turned  on  at 
that  hour. 

T 

SURPRISE  .  .  .  Walter  Wanger,  Melvyn  Douglas  and  Rodney  Pantages 
were  surprise  visitors  on  "People's  Platform"  over  CBS  yesterday,  for  a 
discussion  on  "Motion  Pictures  and  Democracy." 


Murray  Sees 
Slow  Growth 
Of  Television 


Cincinnati,  June  4. — "The  future 
of  television  still  is  uncertain  because, 
among  other  things,  it  is  the  most  ex- 
pensive type  of  entertainment,"  de- 
clared Albert  F.  Murray,  engineer  in 
charge  of  television  for  Philco  Radio 
and  Television  Corp.,  in  conducting 
company  demonstrations  here. 

"Television  transmission  is  confined 
to  limits  of  the  horizon  because  of 
range  limitations,"  he  said.  "The  time 
will  come  when  television  will  be  a 
reality,  but  before  it  becomes  commer- 
cially practical  the  F.C.C.  must  devise 
a  system  of  commercial  licenses,  large 
sums  of  money  must  be  expended  in 
city  after  city  to  build  broadcasting 
stations,  sources  of  program  material 
must  be  developed,  ways  and  means 
must  be  devised  to  broadcast  programs 
from  city  to  city,  and  satisfactory  tele- 
vision receiving  sets  must  be  made 
available  at  prices  the  masses  can 
afford. 

FCC  Assigns  First 
Fall  Hearing  Date 

Washington,  June  4. — The  Fed- 
eral Communications  Commission  has 
made  its  first  assignment  for  hearings 
for  the  fall  term,  tentatively  setting 
Sept.  5  as  the  date  for  a  hearing  on 
the  application  of  KGLO,  Mason  City, 
la.,  for  change  of  frequency  from  1,210 
to  1,270  kilocycles  and  increase  of 
power  from  100  watts  night,  250  watts 
day,  to  1,000  watts.  _ 

The  commission  will  close  its  cur- 
rent hearing  term  July  15  and  will  not 
open  the  new  term  until  after  Labor 
Day. 


Colman  in  Lux  Show 

Ronald  Colman  will  do  the  "Pris- 
oner of  Zenda"  in  the  Lux  Radio 
Theatre  over  CBS  today.  It  will 
mark  Colman's  first  radio  stint  since 
he  resigned  from  "The  Circle"  be- 
cause the  material  dissatisfied  him. 


Bader  Joins  Agency 

Hollywood,  June  4.  —  David  A. 
Bader  has  joined  the  Lichtig  and  Eng- 
lander  Agency,  in  charge  of  the  story 
department.  Bader's  Literary  Corp. 
of  America  is  absorbed  bv  the  agency. 


Named  WIBA  Engineer 

Madison,  June  4. — Norman  Hahn, 
on  the  engineering  staff  of  WIBA 
for  several  years,  has  been  named  chief 
engineer,  succeeding  Merrill  F. 
Chapin,  resigned  to  manage  private 
enterprises. 


WBNX  to  Air  News 

WBNX,  New  York,  has  subscribed 
to  International  News  Service,  to  be 
presented  in  five-minute  English  peri- 
ods morning  and  evening  with  supple- 
mentary bulletins  spotted  through  the 
day  and  evening.  The  English  sched- 
ule will  be  augmented  by  foreign 
language  periods. 


Mile  Has  Disc  Show 

Mile  Laboratories  is  sponsoring  a 
new  transcribed  show  on  WOR, 
Mondavs  through  Fridays.  "Hoosier 
Hot  Shots"  and  the  "Vass  Family" 
provide  the  entertainment.  Contract  is 
through  the  Wade  Advertising 
Agency. 


KQW  Plans  Antenna 

San  Francisco,  June  4. — Erection 
of  a  new  5,000-watt  transmitter  for 
KQW,  San  Jose,  in  the  salt  marshes 
near  Alviso,  will  begin  within  30  davs. 
Station  is  owned  and  operated  by 
Ralph  Brunton,  general  manager  of 
KTBS  here. 


Golf  Tourney  on  Air 

National  Golf  Open  again  will  be 
presented  exclusively  over  CBS,  from 
Tune  8  through  June  10,  with  Ted 
Husing  in  charge. 


Ayer  Places  Program 

N.  W.  Ayer  &  Son  is  placing  a 
half-hour  program  over  approximate- 
ly 25  stations  for  Hess  &  Clarke,  Inc. 


Three  Webs 
Have  Record 
May  Revenue 


Record  time  sale  billings  were  es- 
tablished at  all  three  major  networks 
for  the  month  of  May. 

May,  1939,  was  the  biggest  month- ji 
CBS  history,  with  revenue  at  $3,B.tt 
329,  a  gain  of  25.4  per  cent  over  ttk 
May,  1938,  billings,  which  were  $2,- 
442,283.  Only  once  before  has  CBS 
topped  monthly  billings  exceeding 
$3,000,000— in  March,  1938. 

CBS  cumulative  total  for  the  five 
months  of  the  year  totaled  $14,058,638 
a  gain  of  4.4  per  cent  over  the  cumu- 
lative total  for  the  same  period  lasi 
year,  which  totaled  $13,461,060. 

NBC  also  achieved  an  all-time  higl 
for  the  month  of  May,  with  billing! 
totaling  $3,702,102,  an  increase  of  8/ 
per  cent  over  the  May,  1938,  total  ol 
$3,414,200.  NBC's  cumulative  billing; 
for  the  first  five  months  of  1939  to- 
taled $19,216,533,  up  7.8  per  cem 
over  the  previous  record  of  $17,823,10! 
in  the  same  period  of  1938. 

Mutual's  May  billings  continued  3 
13-month  consecutive  rise,  with  th(. 
total  20.9  per  cent  over  the  previous' 
May.  The  May,  1939,  billings  wen 
$234,764.  The  billings  for  the  same 
month  last  year  totaled  $194,201. 

Mutual's  five-month  total  was  $1,- 
396,049,  up  22.5  per  cent  over  the 
same  period  in  1938,  which  was  $1, 
139,767. 

NBC  Revises  Policy 
On  Basic  Red  Satei 

Effective  immediately,  NBC  is  re- 
vising network  policy  pertaining  tt 
the  sale  of  the  Basic  Red  networl 
on  a  non-split  basis  during  daytirm 
hours.    Modifications  follows : 

A  split  network  on  the  Red  is  ac- 
ceptable Sunday  afternoons  from  1  tc 
4  P.  M.  and  Saturdays  from  10  A.  |l 
to  12  noon  on  condition  that  (a)  al 
such  contracts  shall  contain  a  30-da\ 
removal  clause  which  will  enable 
NBC  to  move  the  schedule  to  any 
available  period  within  the  time  zones 
given  above,  and  (b)  only  those  split; 
which  do  not  block  circuits  from  serv- 
ice will  be  acceptable. 


New  Quiz  Series 

Cal  Tinney,  New  York  Post  col- 
umnist, will  referee  a  new  quiz  series! 
over  NBC,  starting  tomorrow.  "Youtl 
vs.  Age"  is  the  title.  Contestants  wil 
consist  of  two  fathers  or  mothers  com- 
peting with  teams  of  sons  or  daugh- 
ters. 


Carmichael  S house  Aide 

Cincinnaci,  June  4.  —  Cecil  Car- 
michael, who  last  January  resignec 
from  WKRC,  local  CBS  affiliate,  tc 
become  press  relations  director  o:. 
WLW-WSAI,  has  been  appointed  as- 
sistant to  James  D.  Shouse,  vice- 
president  of  the  Crosley  Corp. 


Bayuk  Renews  Show 

Bayuk  Cigar  Co.  has  renewed  "In- 
side of  Sports,"  with  Sam  Baiter 
over  the  coast-to-coast  Mutual  net- 
work. The  renewal  is  for  52  week; 
and  becomes  effective  June  24.  Serie; 
is  heard  over  24  stations.  Ivey  5 
Ellington  is  the  agency. 


Biggest  Fan  Mail 

Mexico  City,  June  4. — Mex- 
ico's most  popular  radio  en- 
tertainer is  Manuel  C.  Ber- 
nal,  who  recites  a  serial  story 
of  his  own  comnosition  for 
children  from  XEW  here. 

Bernal  has  the  largest  vol- 
ume of  radio  fan  mail  in 
Mexico.  During  the  three 
years  of  his  broadcast  he  has 
received  from  1,500  to  2,000 
letters  daily  from  children. 




DO  NOT  REMnvr 


»«     P.    PRODUCERS  & 
DISTRIBUTORS  OF  AM. 


28 
NEW 
N. 


Picture 
Industry 


N  PICTURE 

west'aath  st.,  mmmm      W     WjP  V" 

J  YORK,  t3   coPlE  ^Bk 

may  LY 


First  in 


L  45.  NO.  108 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  6,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


FILM  CHIEFS,  U.S.  IN  TRUST  PARLEY 


\ssails  F.C.C., 
]ites  Danger 
)f  Censorship 

tiller  Sees  Federal  Rule 
Over  U.  S.  Stations 


Washington,  June  5. — Challenging 
e  Federal  Communications  Commis- 
bn  to  show  a  legal  basis  for  its 
Gently  announced  regulations  for 
ternational  broadcasting  stations, 
eville  M.  Miller,  president  of  the 
ational  Association  of  Broadcasters, 
day  told  the  commission  that  its  pro- 
"am  restrictions  will  set  a  dangerous 
•  ecedent  for  government  control 
hich  could  well  be  extended  to  do- 
tstic  stations. 

In  a  letter  to  Chairman  Frank  R. 
cNinch,  Miller  criticized  the  com- 
ission  for  incorporating  rules  with- 
it  holding  hearings  to  determine 
eir  desirability  and  pointed  out  that 
e  program  restrictions  will  necessi- 
te  abandonment  of  the  most  popular 
ograms,  news  broadcasts. 
Miller  indicated  the  thought  that 
ich  a  step  would  be  considered 
I  road  as  acknowledgement  by  this 
vcrnment  of  the  rights  of  foreign 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


f.  S.  Plans  Funds 
F or  Goodwill  Films 

Washington.  June  5. — Motion  pic- 
re  work  will  be  a  feature  of  Presi- 
nt  Roosevelt's  program  for  develop- 
%  better  relations  with  Latin  Amer- 
i,  enabling  legislation  for  which  was 
ssed  today  by  the  House. 
A  total  of  $176,000  will  be  required 
T  the  film  work,  $30,000  for  editing 
d  rescoring  six  films  now  in  posses- 
|«n    of    Government    departments ; 
5,000  for  the  production  of  one  film 
the  United  States  for  distribution 
Latin  America  and  a  similar  sum 
r  production  of  a  Latin  American 
:ture  for  distribution  here ;  $6,000 
-  distribution  costs;  $6,000  for  ex- 
nses;   $6,500   for   a    film  library, 
8,000  to  put  projection  equipment  in 
nerican  embassies  in  South  America, 
d  $10,000  for  a  Coast  Guard  film. 
.The    legislation    approved  today 
:rely  authorized  the  President  to  go 
ead  with  his  program,  but  makes  no 
propriations. 


50  Mexicans  Die 
In  Theatre  Blaze 

Mexico  City,  June  5. — Fifty 
persons  perished,  including 
18  women  and  10  children, 
when  fire  Saturday  night 
gutted  a  wooden  film  house 
in  Zacatepec,  in  Morelos,  90 
miles  from  here.  More  than 
40  persons  suffered  injuries. 

Located  on  the  site  of  a 
Government-sponsored  coop- 
erative sugar  central,  it  was 
Mexico's  worst  film  fire  in  re- 
cent years,  destroying  200 
buildings  in  all. 

The  blaze  was  caused  by  a 
cigarette,  tossed  by  a  patron 
annoyed  at  the  faulty  exhibi- 
tion of  the  picture,  a  western. 


I  A  TSE  Unionization  Drive 
Expands  Into  New  Fields 

Boston,  June  5. — The  semi-annual  I.A.T.S.E.  regional  meeting  for 
New  England  yesterday  voted  to  concentrate  on  a  unionization  drive  of 
E.  M.  Loew  houses,  the  16  mm.  field,  supply  house  installation  and  main- 
tenance and  Summer  legitimate  theatres. 

Special  assessment  of  10  cents  now 
being  levied  for  the  organizational  ac- 
tivities directed  against  E.  M.  Loew 
houses  will  be  continued  after  the 
drive  is  completed  and  will  be  used 
to  finance  efforts  against  other  em- 
ployers. 

Necessity  of  gaining  a  foothold  in 
the  16mm.  field  was  stressed  by  Rich- 
ard J.   Walsh,   fourth  vice-president, 


Hays  Delegation  Talks 

With  Hopkins  at  Capital 

Kent,  Schaefer,  Schenck,  Warner  Go  To  Meeting; 
Monopoly,  Block  Booking  Issues  Face  Debate 

Washington,  June  5. — Leading  executives  of  the  industry  will  confer 
tomorrow  with  Secretary  of  Commerce  Harry  Hopkins  and  other  of- 
ficials of  the  Department  of  Commerce  in  an  effort  to  develop  an  approach 
for  settlement  of  the  Government's  anti-trust  suit. 

Due  to  attend  the  meeting  are  Will  Hays,  head  of  the  M.P.P.D.A.; 
Sidney  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Century-Fox;  George  J.  Schaefer, 
president  of  RKO;  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  of  Loew's,  and  H.  M. 
Warner. 

The  meeting  will  be  the  third  to  be  held  by  Department  of  Commerce 
officials  with  representatives  of  industries  under  fire  from  the  Govern- 
ment, under  a  program  which  is  being- 
developed  by  Secretary  Hopkins  to 
act  as  mediator  between  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  and  big  business. 

Representatives  of  the  oil  and  phos- 
phate industries,  both  involved  in  anti- 
trust suits,  have  already  conferred 
with  department  officials,  although  it 
has  been  admitted  there  were  no  con- 
crete results. 

In  disclosing  the  projected  confer- 
ence, the  department  made  no  specific 
mention  of  the  anti-trust  suit,  explain- 
ing that  the  meeting  would  "discuss 
economic  problems  confronting  the  in- 
dustry, including  those  affecting  the 
industry  in  its  relation  to  the  general 
economic  structure." 

The  meeting,  it  was  said,  "is  in  line 
with  the  policy  of  Secretary  Hopkins 
of  serving  as  a  Government  agency 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


who  urged  that  the  field  be  union- 
ized before  it  is  too  late.  Wage  scales 
should  be  made  secondary  to  union 
recognition  at  this  point,  Walsh  said. 

The  meeting  heard  a  bitter  attack 
on  supply  houses  which  use  non-union 
men  for  installation  and  maintenance 
at  salaries  of  $20  to  $25  instead  of 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Quebec  Mayor  Threatens 
Quiz;  Theatres  Favor  It 

Quebec,  June  5. — With  Quebec's  eleven  theatres  closed  since  Friday 
night  in  protest  against  high  taxes,  Mayor  Lucien  Borne  today  threaten- 
ed to  order  an  inquiry  into  the  entire  film  industry  here. 
"Such    an    investigation    will  be 


highly  welcomed,"  chorused  theatre 
owners,  whose  gross  receipts  have 
been  subjected  to  taxation  as  high  as 
40  per  cent. 

Many  of  the  133  theatre  employes 
thrown  out  of  work  called  on  the 
Mayor,  who  told  them :  "Go  back  to 
your  employers  and  tell  them  to  put 
you  back  to  work." 

The  Capitol  theatre  is  ready  to  re- 
sume operations  for  any  given  pe- 


riod if  the  city  is  willing  to  shoulder 
any  deficit  incurred,  J.  Arthur  Pa- 
quet  said  in  answering  Mayor  Borne's 
charge  that  Quebec's  houses  had 
"banded  together  to  bring  about  an 
organized  strike." 

While  the  deadlock  continued, 
crowds  jammed  the  parks  and  beaches. 
Many  journeyed  across  the  St.  Law- 
rence river  to  Levis  for  cinema  enter- 
tainment. 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  June  5. — Testifying  in 
the  I.A.T.S.E.  International-Tech- 
nicians Local  37  suit  today,  Joseph 
Buchta,  special  investigator,  said  that 
after  doing  special  work  for  Harold 
V.  Smith,  resigned  I.A.T.S.E.  repre- 
sentative, he  signed  five  alleged  fake 
reports  and  two  affidavits  "in  fear  of 
my  life."  Buchta  was  called  as  a  sur- 
prise witness  by  A.  Brigham  Rose, 
counsel  for  Local  37. 

• 

Nicky  Arnstein  today  made  an  out- 
of-court  settlement,  believed  to  be 
$25,000,  with  Twentieth  Century-Fox 
in  his  suit  involving  "Rose  of  Wash- 
ington Square." 

• 

Eddy  Eckels,  former  RKO  studio 
publicity  director,  joined  Universal's 
publicity  staff  today. 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Tuesday,  June  6,  1939  ■ 


Chile  Tribute 
To  U.  S.  Films 
Set  for  Fair 


Republic  of  Chile  will  pay  tribute 
to  the  American  film  industry  for  its 
contribution  to  the  trade  development 
of  that  country  at  a  reception  June 
16  from  2  to  6  P.  M.  in  the  Chilean 
Pavilion  at  the  New  York  World's 
Fair,  with  the  cooperation  of  Teatro 
al  Dia,  the  Quigley  Pan-American 
publication. 

Alberto  Cabero,  Chilean  Ambassa- 
dor to  the  United  States ;  Senator  Ro- 
dolfo  Michel,  Commissioner  General 
of  Chile  to  the  World's  Fair,  and 
Anibal  Jara  Letelier,  Chilean  Consul 
General  in  the  United  States,  signed 
the  invitations  sent  to  various  film 
groups. 

Alfonso  Merlet,  Chilean  delegate 
to  the  Fair,  and  H.  Alban-Mestanza, 
editor  of  Teatro  al  Dia,  are  in  charge 
of  arrangements. 

A  special  short-wave  radio  program 
will  be  broadcast  through  CBS,  with 
rebroadcasts  planned  by  stations  in 
Chile,  Argentina,  Peru,  Brazil  and 
Uruguay. 

Special  buses  will  carry  the  guests 
from  9  Rockefeller  Plaza,  where  the 
New  York  office  of  the  Chilean  con- 
sulate is  located,  directly  to  the  Fair, 
leaving  at  1  :30  P.  M.  Guests  will 
be  given  a  Chilean  buffet-luncheon. 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Warner  Circuit  Zone 
Managers  Meet  Here 

Joseph  Bernhard,  general  manager 
of  Warner  Theatres,  will  preside  at 
a  meeting  of  theatre  zone  managers  at 
the  home  office  today. 

Attending  will  be  the  following 
zone  managers :  James  Coston,  Chi- 
cago;  Nat  Wolf,  Cleveland;  I.  J. 
Hoffman,  New  Haven ;  Don  Jacocks, 
Newark ;  Moe  Silver,  Albany ;  Ted 
Schlanger,  Philadelphia ;  Harry  Kal- 
mine,  Pittsburgh ;  John  Payette, 
Washington,  and  Herbert  Copelan, 
Atlantic  City. 

Among  the  home  office  executives 
who  will  participate  are :  Clayton 
Bond,  Ed  Hinchy,  Leonard  Schles- 
inger,  Harry  Goldberg,  Williard  C. 
Patterson,  Frank  Phelps,  Nat  Fell- 
man,  Abel  Vigard,  W.  Stewart  Mc- 
Donald, Harry  Rosenquest,  Louis 
Kaufman,  Herman  Maier  and  Frank 
Cahill. 


iV.  Y.  Allied  to  Talk 
On  Clearance  Here 

Albany,  June  5. — N.  Y.  Allied  unit, 
meeting  here  today,  decided  to  send 
a  committee  of  Albany,  Troy  and 
Schenectady  members  to  a  meeting  in 
New  York  Thursday  or  Friday  with 
Si  Fabian  and  Henry  Ritchie  on  the 
clearance  situation. 

Clearance  in  some  cases  is  under- 
stood to  be  running  up  to  120  days. 
Mitchell  Conery,  regional  vice-presi- 
dent, was  named  delegate  to  the  na- 
tional Allied  convention  in  Minneapolis 
next  week. 


DAVID  BERNSTEIN,  E.  J. 
Churchill  (Donahue  &  Coe), 
Colvin  Brown,  Sam  Shain,  Oscar 
Doob,  Leopold  Friedman,  B.  S.  Moss, 
Monroe  Greenthal,  Charles  Stern, 
Sam  E.  Morris  at  Moore's  yesterday 
for  lunch. 

•  ■ 

Talbot  Jennings,  M-G-M  writer, 
has  received  an  honorary  degree  from 
the  University  of  Idaho,  at  Moscow, 
Idaho,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1924.  He  was  commencement  speaker. 
• 

Herman  G.  Weinberg  has  finished 
editing  the  American  release  of  the 
French  film,  "The  End  of  a  Day,"  and 
leaves  for  Baltimore  this  weekend  to 
complete  a  book. 

• 

Maurice  Silverstone,  Ray  Johns- 
ton, Harry  Gold,  Manny  Silver- 
stone,  Bill  German,  Edward  Alper- 
son  among  those  lunching  at  Bob 
Goldstein's  Tavern  yesterday. 
• 

David  Toddy,  RKO  talent  scout  on 
Jesse  L.  Lasky's  "Gateway  to  Holly- 
wood" program,  has  returned  to  the 
coast  after  a  tour  of  more  than  15,000 
miles. 

• 

Merle  Oberon  became  the  bride  of 
Alexander  Korda  in  a  civil  ceremony 
Saturday  at  Antibes,  France.    It  is 
her  first  marriage  and  Korda's  second. 
• 

Douglass  Montgomery  arrived  in 
New  York  yesterday  after  completing 
a  role  in  Paramount's  "The  Cat  and 
the  Canary." 

• 

Arthur  Loew,  Mort  Spring,  Dave 
Blum,  Dennis  King,  Robert  Mil- 
ton, John  Golden  lunched  at  Sardi's 
yesterday. 


V  FRANK  FREEMAN,  Para- 
*  •  mount  vice-president  in  charge  of 
production,  flew  to  the  Georgia  School 
of  Technology  at  Atlanta  yesterday  via 
American  Airlines  to  attend  the  com- 
mencement. He  will  return  to  the 
coast  tomorrow. 

• 

Gustav  Gran,  chief  inspector  of 
film  houses  in  Oslo,  Norway;  Thom- 
as J.  Sullivan,  owner  of  the  Grande, 
Detroit,  and  Mrs.  Sullivan,  and 
Harold  Armistead,  operator  of  the 
Lyric  and  Avalon  in  Easley,  S.  C, 
with  Mrs.  Armistead  and  his  mother, 
Mrs.  E.  A.  Armistead,  were  visitors 
yesterday  at  RKO's  World's  Fair 
lounge. 

• 

Lieut.  William  C.  Chambliss  of 
the  20th  Century-Fox  publicity  de- 
partment is  credited  with  assistance  by 
Norman  Corwin  in  writing  "They  Fly 
Through  the  Air  With  the  Greatest 
of  Ease."  The  script  of  the  program 
has  just  been  published. 

• 

James  Constantinedes  has  become 
engaged  to  Helen  Stamatis,  daugh- 
ter of  George  Stamatis,  operator  of  a 
New  York  circuit,  and  niece  of  the 
late  S.  D.  Cocalis,  head  of  the  Co- 
calis  circuit. 

• 

Sonja  Henie  has  built  a  new  home 
near  Oslo,  Norway,  where  she  will 
spend  her  vacation  with  her  mother. 
They  leave  tomorrow  on  the  Queen 
Mary,  to  return  in  eight  weeks. 
• 

Si  Saunders,  southern  district 
booker  for  Fox  Intermountain  in  Den- 
ver, has  married  Lucile  Oleon  of 
Ogden,  Utah. 

• 

H.  J.  Yates  leaves  the  coast  today 
for  New  York,  due  here  Friday. 


Assails  F.C.C., 
Cites  Dangers: 
of  Censorship 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

nations  to  demand  censorship  of  the 
American  press  and  radio,  pointing  out 
that  repeated  protests  have  been  filed 
with  the  state  department.  It  haslj^. 
ways  been  the  department's  answv.' 
that  it  had  no  power  to  abridge  the 
constitutional  right  of  freedom  of 
speech,  he  said. 

Declaring  that  "the  Federal  Com- 
munications Act  of  1934  is  silent  on 
the  subject  of  program  content,"  the 
N.A.B.  head  took  the  stand  that  "if 
the  commission  has  the  authority  to 
promulgate  this  character  of  regula- 
tion in  the  international  field,  it  must 
have  equal  authority  with  respect  to 
domestic  broadcasting. 

"If  licensees  of  international  broad- 
cast stations  can  be  required  to  re- 
strict their  programs  to  any  regulatory 
authority's  concept  of  American  cul- 
ture, it  would  seem  clear  that  the  li- 
censees of  domestic  broadcasting  sta- 
tions could  be  required  to  limit  their 
programs  to  some  'official'  definition 
of  culture,  education  and  entertain- 
ment," he  said. 


Conn.  Groups  Join 
In  Bingo  Bill  Fight 


Decision  Reserved 
In  RKO  Case  Appeal 

Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  yesterday 
reserved  decision  on  a  request  for  ad- 
ditional time  to  file  his  record  on 
appeal  from  confirmation  of  the  RKO 
plan  of  reorganization,  by  John  S. 
Stover,  attorney  for  Ernest  W.  Stirn, 
holder  of  1,234  Class  A  shares. 

The  court  said  it  would  consider 
the  question  of  dismissing  his  appeal 
on  the  ground  that  Stirn  is  now  in 
default  in  filing  his  record.  Previous 
extensions  granted  Stirn  were  attacked 
by  Hamilton  C.  Rickaby,  attorney  for 
Atlas  Corp.,  proponent  of  the  plan. 

Two  other  appeals  from  the  plan 
taken  by  H.  Cassell  &  Co.  and  the 
Copia  Realty  Co.  will  not  be  affected 
by  the  decision  of  the  Circuit  Court." 


Erpi  Files  Patent  Suit 

Los  Angeles,  Tune  5. — Erpi  has 
filed  suit  in  Federal  court  here  against 
Glen  Glenn  Sound  Co.,  alleging  in- 
fringement of  patents  relating  to  the 
recording  of  sound  on  film.  An  in- 
junction is  sought. 


$1,500,000  Is  Paid 
For  Gregory  Circuit 

Chicago,  June  5. — Gregory  circuit, 
operating  29  houses  in  Illinois,  In- 
diana and  Wisconsin,  was  taken  over 
today  by  Alliance  Theatre  Co.,  headed 
by  Herbert  L.  Stern  and  T.  J.  Dee. 
The  deal  was  said  to  involve  $1,500,- 
000.  S.  J.  Gregory  will  be  in  charge 
of  circuit  operation.  Rube  Levine  was 
broker. 


Actor  53  Years,  Dies 

Dodson  Lomax  Mitchell,  71,  mem- 
ber of  the  well-known  theatrical  fam- 
ily and  an  actor  for  53  years,  died 
Saturday  in  Polyclinic  Hospital. 


Quigley' s  Son  Wins 
Georgetown  Honors 

Washington,  June  5.  —  Martin 
Schoefield  Quigley,  son  of  Martin 
Quigley,  head  of  Quigley  Publica- 
tions, graduated  today  from  George- 
town University.  He  received  his 
Bachelor  of  Arts  degree  magna  cum 
laude,  as  well  as  the  Ryan  Medal 
for  the  highest  average  of  the  year  in 
psychology,  natural  theology  and 
ethics,  and  the  Quicksall  Medal  for 
the  best  oral  examination  in  three 
plays  of  Shakespeare.  He  led  his 
class  over  a  period  of  four  years. 


National  Theatres 
Renews  Photophone 

RCA  Photophone  has  renewed  its 
contract  with  National  Theatres  to 
service  sound  reproducing  equipment 
in  more  than  300  theatres  in  four  divi- 
sions of  the  circuit. 

The  divisions  include  Fox  West 
Coast,  Evergreen,  Fox  Wisconsin  and 
Fox  Intermountain  (Denver).  The 
original  service  deal  was  made  in  1936 
and  has  been  renewed  each  year. 


Protest  Madison  Houses 

Madison,  Wis.,  June  5. — Common 
Council  has  referred  to  its  Zoning 
Board  of  Appeals  a  petition  signed 
by  200  west  side  residents  protesting 
the  proposed  construction  of  three 
theatres  on  Monroe  St.  here.  Indica- 
tions are  that  possibly  two  of  the 
three  houses  will  be  built. 


New  Haven,  June  5. — Allied  The 
atres  of  Connecticut  and  the  Connecti- 
cut M.P.T.O.  have  protested  by  wirey 
to  Gov.  Raymond  Baldwin  against  the 
"discriminatory"  Bingo  bill,  which 
has  passed  both  houses  and  awaits  thej 
governor's  signature,  asking  that  a 
committee  be  granted  an  audience  to 
state  the  theatremen's  position.  The 
bill  would  limit  Bingo  to  organiza- 
tions. 


Chorus  Equity  Elects 

Chorus  Equity  Association  has 
elected  Paul  Dullzell  as  chairman  of1 
the  executive  committee.  Other  offi- 
cers include:  Gerald  Moore,  recording 
secretary:  Francis  Clarke,  Carrington 
Lewis,  Emily  Marsh,  John  Mucio, 
Thomas  Scott,  Beau  Tilden  and  Fran- 
ces Wade,  executive  committee,  and 
Jack  Barnes,  Jay  Amiss,  LeRoy  Mac- 
Lean,  Moore  and  Miss  Marsh  to  serve 
on  the  council. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau.  624  South  Michi-  ' 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building, 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man- 
ager, cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigley 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  per 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign. 
Single  copies  10c. 


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Competing  against  hot  weather,  the  San 
Francisco  Golden  Gate  Exposition,  and  3 
important  motion  pictures,  Paramount 's 
"INVITATION  TO  HAPPINESS"  opened 
at  the  San  Francisco  Paramount  Theatre 
to  the  biggest  business  in  two  years. 


Paramount  $uccess.»* 

Boys,  Paramount's  rolling  the  winning  numbers  .  .  ."Midnight"  still  packing  them 
in  .  .  ."Union  Pacific"  one  of  the  year's  top  grossers  .  .  .  and  now  "Invitation  to 
Happiness"  starting  off  like  a  whirlwind  .  .  .  and  take  it  from  the  tipsters,  "Man 
About  Town,"  the  "best  of  the  Benny's"  is  going  to  turn  the  old  thermometer  to  ice 
water. ..then  there's  TamirofT  the  Terrific  in  "The  Magnificent  Fraud". ..Bob  Burns 
as  "Our  Leading  Citizen". .  ."The  Star  Maker"  with  Bing  Crosby  and  an  all-star  cast. 


ome  Summer  success 


$toryi 


Music  Hall 


LAURENCE  OLIVIER 

(star  of  "Wuthering  Heights1') 


Direct  from  their  smash  roles  in  two  big  "class"  productions  come  Laurence  Olivier 
and  Ralph  Richardson  in  a  "mass''  show  if  ever  there  was  one... timely,  exciting, 
dramatically  filled  with  the  sensational  facts  about  the  world-wide  war  on  spies ! 


une  15th 


RALPH  RICHARDSON 


(star  of  "The  Citadel") 


w,h  VALERIE  HOBSON 

Screen  play  by  Ian  Dalrymple  •  Directed  by  Tim  Whelan 

A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  6,  1939  i 


Code  Fairest 
Bill  of  Rights: 
MPTOAHead 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Grand  Jury  Secrets" 

(Paramount) 

Hollywood,  June  5. — "Grand  Jury  Secrets,"  a  crime  melodrama  the 
chief  figure  of  which  is  a  newspaper  reporter,  offers  for  showmen  a 
chance  for  wider  exploitation  than  might  be  expected  from  the  title. 
Included  in  the  plot  is  the  important  use  of  short  wave  radio,  which 
naturally  makes  for  appeal  to  the  ever  growing  army  of  "hams."  The 
use  of  the  short  wave  transmitters  and  receivers  lifts  the  story  out  of 
the  formula  class. 

Chief  figures  are  portrayed  by  John  Howard,  a  brash  newspaperman ; 
Gail  Patrick,  fiancee  of  his  brother,  an  assistant  district  attorney,  played 
by  Harvey  Stephens ;  and  William  Frawley,  as  a  newspaper  photog- 
rapher. Others  in  the  cast  are  Jane  Darwell,  Porter  Hall,  John  Hartley, 
Elisha  Cook,  Jr.,  Kitty  Kelly,  Morgan  Conway,  Jack  Norton,  Richard 
Denning,  Frank  M.  Thomas  and  Edward  Marr. 

Directing  this  Sam  Engel  production  was  James  Hogan,  from  a 
screenplay  by  Irving  Reis  and  Robert  Yost  based  on  a  story  by  Reis  and 
Maxwell  Shane. 

Howard  embarrasses  his  brother  by  using  a  story,  obtained  through 
the  use  of  a  short  wave  transmitter,  concerning  the  new  grand  jury 
which  is  to  probe  bucket  shops.  Lack  of  ethics  causes  him  to  be  shunned 
by  his  brother  and  his  mother,  and  he  determines  to  bring  the  criminals 
to  justice  himself.  As  he  obtains  the  solution  to  the  crimes,  he  is  taken 
prisoner  by  the  criminal,  but  is  saved  by  a  crew  of  "hams"  who  re- 
spond to  his  signals. 

Running  time,  62  minutes.  "G."*  Vance  King 


Myrtle  Beach,  S.  C,  June  5. — The 
trade  practice  program  is  a  "fairer 
bill  of  rights  than  has  ever  before 
been  offered,  and  while  it  is  not  ex- 
actly Utopian,  it  should  be  accepted 
when  completed." 

This  conviction  was  expressed  to- 
day by  Ed  Kuykendall,  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
president,  in  addressing  North  and 
South  Carolina  exhibitors,  district  and 
branch  managers  and  salesmen  in  con- 
vention here. 

Kuykendall  pleaded  for  closer  co- 
operation between  exhibitors  and  dis- 
tributors. He  condemned  the  Neely 
bill  and  assailed  governmental  inter- 
ference in  business. 

Kuykendall  took  issue  with  Abram 
Myers,  Allied  attorney,  for  his  stand 
on  the  Neely  bill.  He  recommended 
the  organization  of  a  delegation  to 
create  legislation  against  Ascap. 

H.  M.  Richey,  exhibitor  relations 
head  of  RKO,  also  spoke  on  the  fair 
trade  practice  code.  He  said  it  was 
the  "nearest  approach  to  the  solution 
of  the  industry's  problems  yet  ad- 
vanced." 

The  meeting  was  presided  over  by 
Lyle  Wilson,  exhibitor  of  Roanoke 
Rapids,  N.  C.  Addresses  of  welcome 
were  made  by  Col.  Holmes  Springs  of 
Myrtle  Beach  and  Frank  Beddingfield 
of  Charlotte. 

A  routine  board  of  directors'  meet- 
ing was  held  yesterday.  Visitors 
registered  at  the  convention  include : 
O.  C.  Lam,  Rome,  Ga. ;  Edward 
Auger,  RCA  Photophone,  New  York ; 
Gus  King,  Capitol  City  Supply  Co., 
Atlanta ;  Hugh  Anderson,  National 
Carbon  Co.,  Atlanta ;  John  Maug- 
ham, Atlanta  Monogram  exchange. 

Also,  Hubert  M.  Lyns,  district 
manager  for  RKO,  Atlanta ;  Charles 
Lester,  district  manager.  National 
Screen  Service,  Atlanta ;  Fred  M. 
Jackson,  district  manager  of  Warners, 
Dallas ;  Roy  Rogers,  Republic  west- 
ern star ;  Nandy  Fiore,  Altec,  At- 
lanta. 


Cleveland  Tourney  Set 

Cleveland,  June  5.  —  Cleveland 
Variety  Club  will  hold  its  annual  golf 
tournament  July  21  at  the  Beechmont 
Country  Club.  "Duke"  Clark,  M.  B. 
Horwitz  and  Jack  Shulman  are  in 
charge  of  arrangements. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


French  Bill  Doesn't 
Hurt  V.  S.,  Says  Zay 

Bill  pending  in  France  for  control 
of  the  film  industry  will  not  interfere 
with  any  existing  treaties  or  agree- 
ments between  France  and  other  coun- 
tries, especially  the  United  States,  de- 
clared Jean  Zay,  French  Minister  of 
Education,  who  arrived  last  night  on 
the  He  de  France. 

Zay  is  sponsor  of  the  proposed  leg- 
islation, on  which  action  has  been  de- 
ferred to  fall.  He  is  here  on  educa- 
tional matters  and  to  receive  a  degree 
from  Columbia  University. 

American  companies  have  feared 
that  the  bill,  if  enacted,  would  seri- 
ously affect  their  revenue  and  opera- 
tions in  France,  as  a  ban  on  double 
billing  was  included. 


Reissue  'Bondage' 

RKO  will  reissue  "Of  Human 
Bondage,"  starring  Leslie  Howard 
and  Bette  Davis,  Jules  Levy,  general 
sales  manager,  said  yesterday.  The 
national  release  date  will  be  July 
14. 


Cantor  to  Headline 
Show  for  Refugees 

A  gigantic  benefit  for 
Christian  German  refugees 
will  be  held  June  15  at  the 
Winter  Garden.  The  midnight 
benefit  will  inaugurate  a  drive 
for  $600,000. 

Headlining  the  show  will 
be  Eddie  Cantor.  Other  stars 
who  will  be  seen  on  the  pro- 
gram include  Raymond  Mas- 
sey,  Tallulah  Bankhead,  Fred- 
ric  March,  Hildegarde  and 
Kitty  Carlisle. 


Tippetts  Lose  Appeal 

Application  of  John  D.  and  Eugene 
T.  Tippett  for  leave  to  appeal  to  the 
Court  of  Appeals  in  Albany  from  a 
decision  of  the  Appellate  Division  of 
the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  which  up- 
held the  sufficiency  of  a  suit  for  $270,- 
000  damages  against  the  Tippetts  by 
Universal  Pictures  Co.,  Inc.,  was 
denied  yesterday.  Commissions  on  the 
sale  of  film  raw  stock  are  involved. 


Suit  Over  Movie  Quiz 

Edward  J.  Churchill,  president  of 
Donahue  &  Coe,  Inc.,  was  ordered 
yesterday  by  the  Appellate  Division  of 
the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court,  to  submit 
to  examination  before  trial  in  the 
$100,000  damage  suit  of  Edward  J. 
Pfeiffer,  who  claims  to  have  given 
Churchill  and  his  company  the  idea 
of  the  movie  quiz  contest. 


Gordon  Filman  Dies 

Toronto,  June  5. — Gordon  J.  Fil- 
man, 52,  pioneer  independent  theatre 
owner  of  Ontario,  died  suddenly  at 
his  home  in  London,  Ont.,  of  heart 
failure.  He  was  associated  with 
Thomas  Moorehead  of  Brampton  in 
the  operation  of  a  circuit  from  St. 
Thomas  to  Ottawa. 


IATSE  Union 
Fight  Widens 
In  N.  Y.  Zone 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

union  men,  who  receive  $80  weekly. 
The  delegates  voted  to  discipline  sup- 
ply house  members  who  permitted 
such  conditions  to  continue. 

Also  under  consideration  was 
fact  that  only  four  of  New  Eng- 
land's 50  Summer  theatres  had  I.  A. 
contracts.  Here,  too,  it  was  urged 
that  salary  scales  be  made  secondary 
to  obtaining  union  contracts. 

James  J.  Brennan,  sixth  vice  presi- 
dent, presided  at  the  meeting. 


IATSE  Resists  TMAT 
Over  Theatre  Employes 

International  Alliance  of  Theatrical 
and  Stage  Employes  will  resist  any 
effort  to  infringe  on  its  jurisdiction 
over  cashiers,  ushers,  doormen  and 
ticket-taker,  an  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  official 
said  yesterday. 

Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  and 
Treasurers  Union,  also  an  A.  F.  of 
L.  affiliate  but  not  a  member  of  the 
I.  A.,  recently  undertook  to  bargain 
for  this  class  of  employes  in  New 
York  City. 

"Jurisdiction  was  granted  to  us  by 
the  A.  F.  of  L.  in  1935  and  since 
that  time  we  have  established  77  locals 
covering  these  employes,"  the  official 
explained.  "The  locals  are  known  as 
'Theatre  Employes'  Union'  and  are 
organized  in  many  cities." 

It  is  known  that  the  T.  M.  A.  T. 
has  applied  for  affiliation  with  the 
I.  A.  Negotiations,  however,  have 
been  dormant  for  several  months.  In 
view  of  these  negotiations  it  is  not 
likely  that  any  jurisdictional  dispute 
will  come  into  the  open  at  the  present 
time. 

The  T.  M.  A.  T.,  whose  chief  in- 
terest is  in  managers,  assistants  and 
press  agents,  was  virtually  compelled 
to  act  as  bargaining  agency  for  the 
other  employes  when  the  latter  walked 
out  in  sympathy  in  the  Five  Boro 
Circuit  strike. 

Film  Chiefs  and  U.  S. 
In  Anti-Trust  Parley 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

with  which  business  men  can  confer 
on  specific  problems." 

It  was  admitted,  however,  that  the 
questions  of  monopoly  and  block  book- 
ing would  be  among  those  discussed. 

The  conferences,  which  are  being 
held  with  industries  against  which  the 
Department  of  Justice  is  moving,  are 
in  conformity  with  President  Roose- 
velt's recommendation  for  the  creation 
of  a  Bureau  of  Industrial  Economics 
to  give  businessmen  advice,  which  was 
given  the  support  of  Attorney  General 
Frank  Murphy  last  month  in  his 
statement  on  anti-trust  policy. 

Quebec  Prosecutes 
Nazi  Film  Showings 

Quebec,  June  5. — In  the  first  step 
against  Nazi  or  Fascist  propaganda  in 
Quebec  province,  the  attorney  gen- 
eral's office  today  charged  Harmonia 
Club  with  two  offences  under  the 
provincial  film  act.  The  Nazi  film, 
"Le  Merite,"  was  seized  by  police  dur- 
ing a  showing  in  the  club  on  April 
28  and  the  audience  dispersed.  The 
film  lacked  censorship  approval. 


"The  XYZ  has 
ancient  sound, 
that's  why  it's 
in  the  red." 


Its  owner  sits 
wake  all  night 
with  worry 
in  the  head." 


"In  the  theatre 
down  the  street 
the  business 
is  terrific." 


For  Better  Box  Office,  Install  Better  Sound 

THE^RCA  PHOTOPHONE 
MAGIC  VOICE  of  the  SCREEN  T 

with  Rotary  Stabilizer— 
plus  SHOCK-PROOF  DRIVE  I* 


Better  sound  means  better  box  office— and  RCA  tubes  mean  better  sound 

RCA  Manufacturing  Co.,  Inc. 

Camden,  New  Jersey  •  A  Service  of  the  Radio  Corporation  of  America 


It  is  time  to  be  making  plans  for  your  summer 
renovizing  program.  Your  problem  is  how  to 
spend  the  funds  available  so  as  to  give  your 
theater  the  greatest  possible  increase  in  draw- 
ing power. 

HAVE  YOU  INSTALLED  HIGH  INTENSITY  PROJECTION? 

If  not,  you  should  give  it  careful  consideration 
in  your  plans,  for  more  than  a  third  of  the 
theaters  in  this  country  are  now  using  this 


superior,  snow  white,  projection  light. 

The  little  book  illustrated  above,  "The  Eternal 
Triangle  in  Picture  Projection,"  tells  you  in 
clear,  simple  language,  supplemented  by  explan- 
atory illustrations,  how  Simplified  High  Inten- 
sity projection  attracts  new  patronage  to  your 
theater. 

Wnite  fjOSi  a  faee,  copy,  today! 


SIMPLIFIED 


aiuiiiiiia 

Wiqhf%intMisL 


PROJECTION 


jOOODOODOOPDOaDu 


WITH  NATIONAL  SUPREX 

/oooooooaoo°o°ooaouoo  □ooDatJDODO  noaoo 


n AND  MODERN  ( 


The  words  "NationaV*  and  "Suprex"  are  trade-marks  of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 


N A L  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  IHM  and  Carbon  Corporation 

CARBON  SALES  DIVISION,  CLEVELAND,  OHIO 
General  Offices:  30  East  42nd  Street,  New  York,  N.  Y. 
BBMElLSlLESJltEiCIS:  HF1UJ1JU      RLUSBJlRfik 1    CHinABO  SilLEAdJUHit^ 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  6,  19 


Banner  Lines 

 By  JACK  BANNER  

FIRST  BURN-UP  ABOUT  TELEVISION  .  .  .  NBC  is  trying  to  persu- 
ade Mike  Jacobs  to  permit  the  televising  of  the  Galento-Louis  heavy- 
weight championship  fight.  Jacobs,  however,  is  angry  about  what  oc- 
curred in  the  vicinity  of  the  Yankee  Stadium  the  evening  of  the  Baer-Nova 
fight,  which  was  televised.  Seems  that  the  Earle  Theatre,  a  house  adjoining 
the  Stadium,  hung  up  a  huge  sign  advising  the  fans  that  the  fight  could  be 
seen  on  the  theatre's  television  receiver  "at  no  increase  in  price."  Price  of 
admission  to  the  Earle  is  35c. 

▼ 

WELLES  NOT  THROUGH  .  .  .  Those  who  counted  out  Orson  Welles 
when  it  was  rumored  he  was  through  on  the  Campbell  Playhouse,  will  now 
learn  that  their  tolling  was  premature.  Welles  was  re-signed  by  telephone 
yesterday  to  bring  the  Playhouse  back  to  CBS  this  Fall.  He  will  probably 
have  a  new  spot,  though. 

T 

MASSON  ARRIVES  .  .  .  Jean  Masson,  program  director  of  Radio  Luxem- 
bourg, arrived  here  yesterday  in  the  Normandie  to  effect  a  reciprocal  arrange- 
ment with  March  of  Time,  he  said.  March  of  Time  currently  is  off  the  air, 
but  it  is  expected  to  be  resumed  in  the  Fall. 

Masson  made  an  interesting  disclosure  at  the  pier.  He  said  that  the  BBC 
feud  with  Radio  Luxembourg  over  the  latter's  commercial  broadcasts  into 
England  was  now  a  thing  of  the  past.  Settlement  of  the  feud  was  effected 
when  Radio  Luxembourg  broadcast  German  translations  of  Prime  Minister 
Chamberlain's  "Munich  Pact"  speech  14  times  over  its  directional  antenna  into 
Germany.  BBC  was  so  pleased  over  the  action  that  it  extended  the  olive 
branch  to  the  French  station. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Bill  Baker,  Maxwell  House  account  executive  at  Ben- 
ton &  Bowles,  returns  today  from  Hollywood,  probably  with  news  of  the 
M-G-M  program  .  .  .  Lee  Gebhart,  who  once  wrote  the  "Ma  Perkins"  scripts, 
has  been  signed  as  writer  of  the  new  CBS  series,  "Donna  Curtis.".  .  .  .  Con- 
dolences to  "Dinty"  Doyle,  Journal-American  radio  columnist,  whose  mother 
just  passed  away.  .  .  .  Penny  Singleton  and  Arthur  Lake,  stars  of  the 
"Blondie"  movie  series,  will  do  the  act  on  the  air  as  the  replacement  for 
Eddie  Cantor,  starting  July  3.  .  .  .  William  C.  Flynn  has  joined  the  Weed 
Co.  as  salesman,  coming  from  the  Brooklyn  Eagle.  .  .  .  Earnest  Boyd  has 
resigned  from  the  NBC  script  division  to  free  lance  as  a  writer. 

▼ 

DR.  KOSTELANETZ  .  .  .  Andre  Kostelanetz,  with  Lily  Pons  at  his  side, 
yesterday  received  an  honorary  Doctor  of  Music  Degree  from  Albion  Col- 
lege, Michigan,  and  spent  most  of  what  remained  of  the  day  flying  back  to 
New  York  for  his  regular  broadcast  last  night. 

▼ 

SAG  .  .  .  Screen  Actors  Guild  is  not  reconsidering  its  stand  on  television, 
according  to  a  Ken  Thomson  wire.  Thomson  states :  "We  believe  it  is 
not  clear  in  the  present  status  of  television  exactly  where  jurisdiction  should 
be  centered.  For  the  present  we  believe  it  should  continue  in  control  of  the 
4-A's.  Finally  we  do  not  believe  that  SAG  members  should  be  forced  to 
join  any  other  organization  in  order  to  work  in  television." 


U.  S.  Subsidy 
Called  Legit's 
Only  Savior 


"The  legitimate  theatre  is  30  years 
behind  the  times  and  nothing  will 
save  it  except  a  Federal  subsidy,"  Ar- 
thur Hornblow,  Jr.,  Paramount  pro- 
ducer, stated  before  leaving  for  the 
coast  yesterday. 

Hornblow,  formerly  associated  with 
Broadway  production,  came  east  for 
the  first  time  in  two  years  to  view 
current  stage  productions.  Working 
on  a  matinee  and  evening  basis,  he 
took  in  10  shows  in  one  week. 

"The  American  audience  wants 
much  more  for  its  money,"  Hornblow 
said.  "Witness  the  double  feature. 
Price  cutting  is  difficult  in  the  legiti- 
mate field  but  is  necessary  if  the 
public  is  to  regain  its  lost  habit  of 
theatre  going.  At  any  rate,  produc- 
tion budgets  should  be  increased. 
Present  production  is  slipshod  and 
shoddy. 

"Legitimate  theatres  are  poorly  ven- 
tilated— almost  unbearable  during  the 
summer — and  badly  maintained.  I  had 
to  search  for  one  theatre  when  I 
was  standing  directly  in  front  of  it. 
That's  poor  showmanship." 

Modification  of  the  Dramatists' 
Guild  basic  agreement,  now  being  stud- 
ied, may  provide  the  needed  stimulus, 
Hornblow  believes.     He  adds  : 

"Broadway's  principal  contribution 
to  the  films  is  the  introduction  of 
new  ideas  and  the  breaking  down  of 
old  barriers  because  it  can  appeal  to 
small  groups.  It  is  in  a  better  con- 
dition to  experiment." 

"Federal  WPA  theatre  projects," 
Hornblow  points  out,  "have  proved 
that  the  public  is  anxious  to  go  to 
the  theatre  for  reasonable  prices.  A 
WPA  show  enjoyed  a  three-year  run 
on  the  coast.  In  New  York,  the 
WPA  'Swing  Mikado'  went  com- 
mercial, raised  its  prices  and  flopped." 


Scophony  Capital 
Increased  Million 

London,  June  5. — Capital  of  Sco- 
phony, Ltd.,  television  firm,  has  been 
increased  from  $1,500,000  to  $2,500,- 
000,  Solomon  Sagall,  managing  di- 
rector, told  the  annual  meeting  of  the 
company  today. 

Oscar  Deutsch,  head  of  Odeon  cir- 
cuit and  a  Scophony  director,  pre- 
dicted the  future  of  theatre  and  home 
television  as  the  equal  of  radio  broad- 
casting. He  said  negotiations  are  be- 
ing carried  on  with  BBC  for  control 
of  fees  on  theatre  telecasts. 

Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion will  decide  its  policy  on  the  use 
of  large  screen  television  at  the  annual 
confernce  at  Blackpool  later  this 
month.  Kinematograph  Renters'  So- 
ciety (distributors)  is  opposing  large 
screen  television. 

Miss  Winwood  Gets 
Matunuck  Star  Role 

Providence,  June  5. — Estelle  Win- 
wood,  lately  seen  on  Broadway  in 
"The  Importance  of  Being  Earnest," 
will  star  in  Rachel  Crother's  "Susan 
and  God"  which  will  open  the  summer 
season  at  the  Theatre-by-the-Sea, 
Matunuck.  Thorn  Conroy  is  the  new 
director. 


Legion  Approves  4 
Of  Eight  New  Films 

National  Legion  of  Decency  for  the 
current  week  has  approved  four  of 
eight  new  films  reviewed  and  classi- 
fied, three  for  general  patronage  and 
one  for  adults.  Three  others  were 
classed  as  objectionable  in  part  and 
one  was  condemned.  The  new  films 
and  their  classification  follow. 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gen- 
eral Patronage— "Street  of  Missing 
Men,"  "Three  Texas  Steers,"  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln."  Class  A-2,  Unobjec- 
tionable for  Adults — "6,000  Enemies." 
Class  B,  Objectionable  in  Part — 
"Missing  Daughters,"  "The  Ware 
Case,"  "Youth  in  Revolt."  Class  C, 
Condemned — "The  Puritan." 

Approve  Milwaukee 
Tavern  Film  Shows 

Milwaukee,  June  5. — Building  In- 
spector Leon  M.  Gurda  has  given  a 
clean  bill  of  health  to  local  taverns 
showing  old  films.  Gurda  announced 
that  the  spots  are  showing  films  made 
of  slow  burning  materials,  involving 
little  danger  of  fire,  and  are  conform- 
ing to  the  tavern,  amusement  and 
building  codes.  An  investigation  fol- 
lowed complaints  that  safety  standards 
were  being  violated. 


Ontario  Posts  Ban 
On  European  Films 

Toronto,  June  5. — Ontario 
censors  have  imposed  a  tem- 
porary ban  on  features  from 
Europe,  because  of  a  fear 
that  propaganda  is  seeping 
into  the  province.  It  is  un- 
derstood that  France  is  ex- 
cluded from  the  ban. 

The  provincial  Govern- 
ment of  Quebec  has  main- 
tained a  permanent  ban  on 
Russian  films.  Ontario  has 
never  placed  a  restriction  on 
Soviet  films. 


Remodel  'U'  Exchange 

Cleveland,  June  5.— Local  Uni- 
versal exchange  is  being  entirely  re- 
modeled. It  is  being  extended  30  feet 
to  allow  more  working  space,  new 
offices  will  be  designed  for  the  execu- 
tives and  air  conditioning  will  be  in- 
stalled. 


Burns  in  'Uprising' 

Hollywood,  June  5. — Bob  Burns 
has  been  assigned  by  RKO  to  share 
the  top  spot  in  "Pennsylvania  Upris- 
ing" with  John  Wayne  and  Claire 
Trevor. 


44  Features 
Are  Shooting 
In  Hollywoo< 


Hollywood,  June  5. — Forty-foi 
pictures  were  before  the  cameras  th 
week,  as  nine  started  and  nine  finishe 
Twenty-eight  are  being  preparedly 
70  are  being  edited.  fej 

Those  started  were :  "A  Day  at  tl 
Circus,"  "Ninotchka,"  "They  A 
Come  Out,"  M-G-M  ;  "Colorado  Su 
set,"  "Should  Husbands  Work?"  R 
public ;  "A  Chump  at  Oxford 
Roach ;  "Falling  Stars,"  20th  Centur; 
Fox ;  "Desperate  Trails,"  Universa 
"Kid  Nightingale,"  Warners. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  were 
"Mr.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington 
"Golden  Boy,"  "Coast  Guard,"  "E 
cape  from  Alcatraz,"  "Blondie  Tak 
a  Vacation,"  Columbia;  "The  Re; 
Glory,"  Goldwyn ;  "The  Star  Maker 
"Ruler  of  the  Seas,"  "Disputed  Pa 
sage,"  "Our  Leading  Citizen,"  "Doi 
ble-Dyed  Deceiver,"  "  Are  Husban< 
Necessary?"  Paramount;  "Memory  < 
Love,"  "Nurse  Edith  Cavell,"  "M 
Fifth  Avenue  Girl,"  RKO;  "Goi 
with  the  Wind,"  Selznick ;  "The  Rait 
Came,"  "Elsa  Maxwell's  Hotel  fc 
Women,"  "The  Chicken  Wagon  Fan 
ily,"  "Harmony  at  Home,"  "Here  Ai 
I,  a  Stranger,"  20th  Century-Fox 
"The  Underpup,"  "Modern  Cindere 
la."  "Bright  Victory,"  "I  Stole  a  Mi 
lion,"  Universal ;  "Dust  Be  My  De; 
tiny,"  "The  Knight  and  the  Lady 
"Career  Man,"  "The  Return  of  D 
X,"  Warners. 

Finished  were:  "On  Borrowe 
Time,"  "Stronger  than  Desire,"  M 
G-M ;  "Stunt  Pilot,"  Monogram 
"Heaven  on  a  Shoestring,"  Pan 
mount ;  "The  Spellbinder,"  "Ba 
Lands,"  "The  Fighting  Irish,"  Reput 
lie ;  "Dames,"  Universal ;  "Nanc 
Drew  and  the  Hidden  Staircase, 
Warners. 

RKO  and  Warners  are  each  shool 
ing  one  short  subject.  Four  are  be 
ing  prepared  and  11  are  being  editec 

Four  New  Television 
Companies  Forma 

Albany,  June  5. — United  State 
Television  Manufacturing  Corp.,  ha 
filed  papers  of  incorporation  here,  wit 
capital  stock  of  $150,000.  J.  B.  Milli 
ken,  P.  H.  Milliken  and  L.  B.  Jubie 
of  New  York  City  are  the  incorpor 
ators. 

Other  television  corporations  formei 
here  include  World  Television  Corp 
with  $20,000  capital;  Independen 
Sales  Corp.  for  radio  and  televisioi 
enterprises,  and  Wire  Broadcasting 
Inc.,  New  York. 


Fox  Decision  Delayed 

Pending  investigation  into  the  re 
ceivership  of  Fox  Theatres  Corp-, 
Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox  post 
poned  decision  yesterday  on  an  applica 
tion  of  Archibald  R.  Watson  for  $41, 
500  final  allowance  for  services  ren 
dered  as  attorney  to  the  receivers  o 
Fox  Theatres. 


Cuba  Passes  'Spy' 

Havana,  June  5. — The  Cuban  Cen 
sor  Board  has  passed  Warner  Bros. 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy."  It  wil 
open  June  19  at  the  Radio  Cine. 


Alert. 
jlnteMgei 

to  the^fo 
Picture 
Industry 


tion 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


FILE  COPY 

TlRLtUVIUV/M 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


~o}  45.  NO.  109 


NEW   YORK,   WEDNESDAY,   JUNE   7,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


'Peace'  Parleys  With  U.S. 
May  Yield  Consent  Decree 


■ikouras  Tells 
Facts  Behind 
Warner  Split 


ays  His  Company  Did 
Not  Solicit  Product 


''Since  last  November  we  have  dis- 
Lssed  in  a  number  of  conferences 
iith  Gradwell  Sears  and  Carl  Leser- 
an  of  the  Warner  Bros,  sales  de- 
.rtment,  an  adjustment  for  1937-38 
i.sed  on  our  experience  with  those 
ctures  and  also  other  liabilities  pro 
id  con  under  the  existing  contract, 
'e  expect  that  all  these  matters  will 
negotiated  and  settled  in  the  regu- 
r  course." 

This  was  stated  last  night  by  Spy- 
,  s  Skouras,  executive  vice-president 
National    Theatres  Corporation. 
:he  rest  of  his  statement  follows : 
"Concerning  Warner  Bros.'  state- 
ent  that  they  propose  to  sell  to  other 
thibitors  in  our  competitive  situa- 
ons,  we  beg  to  say  that  this  meets 
ith  our  wholehearted  approval.  We 
live  not  solicited  Warner  pictures  for 
e  coming  year.    We  cannot,  and  of 
►urse    do    not,    object    to  Warner 
ros.'  election  to  sell  to  other  exhibi- 
ts.    This  freedom  to  contract  has 
ways  been  respected  by  us.  We  wish 
/arner  Bros,  every  success. 
"Our  present  contract  with  War- 
•r  Bros,  is  for  the  two  theatrical 
,asons   1937-38  and   1938-39.  The 
imber  of  designations  of  'A'  pictures 
)  largely  in  excess  of  those  in  pre- 
ous  years. 

'  "If  Warner  Bros,  aspire  to  the 
!i>nor  of  being  the  standard  bearers 
jr  the  abolition  of  double  features, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Late  Flashes 


Los  Angeles,  June  6. — The  Board 
;  Governors  of  Technicians  Local  37 
1936  approved  unanimously  the 
king  over  of  the  union  by  the 
A.T.S.E.  International,  Harry 
rainge,  board  member  at  that  time, 
stifled  today  in  the  suit  over  con- 
ol  of  the  organization  before  Su- 
trior  Judge  Willis.  Strainge  said 
at  several  governors  at  that  time 
)iced  the  opinion  that  if  the  Interna- 
onal  did  not  absorb  the  organization 
ome  killings  might  result." 


Washington,  June  6.— The  Fed- 
al  Communications  Commission  to- 
ly  refused  to  act  on  a  motion  of 
:>mmissioner  Craven  to  rescind  its 
der  that  international  stations  must 
ansmit  only  "goodwill"  programs. 


Fair  Faces 
Strike  Call 


Strike  by  New  York  Theatrical 
Trades  Council  at  the  Amusement 
Zone  of  the  World's  Fair  appeared 
imminent  last  night  with  union  offi- 
cials predicting  that  a  strike  would  be 
called  before  the  end  of  the  week. 

Failure  of  Fair  authorities  to  assist 
the  unions  in  obtaining  contracts  from 
concessionnaires  and  to  employ  more 
union  men  for  its  own  work  is  given 
as  the  cause. 

It  was  pointed  out  that  assurances 
were  given  earlier  that  the  Fair  was 
"union-minded"  and  that  assistance 
would  be  given  the  unions  in  their 
organization  work.  Instead,  union 
sources  declare,  the  Fair  has  not  only 
failed  to  assist,  but  has  hindered  or- 
ganization. 

Seven  unions  comprise  the  Council. 
They  are  Musicians'  Union,  Local  802, 
American  Federation  of  Actors ;  Pro- 
jectionists' Union,  Local  306;  Camera- 
men's Union,  Local  644;  Stagehands' 
Union,  Local  4 ;  Motion  Picture  Stu- 
dio Mechanics'  Union,  Local  52,  and 
Theatrical  Teamsters'  Union,  Local 
817. 

In  the  event  that  the  Council  estab- 
lishes a  picket  line,  it  is  regarded  as 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


SEC  Report  Shows  Film 
Business  Up  $31,000,000 


Washington,  June  6. — Seven  of 
the  10  film  producing  companies  reg- 
istered under  the  Securities  Exchange 
Act  of  1934  had  a  combined  volume 
of  business  in  their  fiscal  vears  ending 
on  or  about  Dec.  31,  1937,  of  $406,- 
855,095,  compared  with  $375,703,530 
in  their  1936  year  and  $336,950,924  in 
1935,  it  was  reported  tonight  by  the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission. 

The  seven  companies  reporting  were 
Columbia,  Educational,  Loew's,  Para- 
mount, 20th  Century-Fox,  Universal 
and  Warners. 

In  a  report  containing  "selected  in- 
formation" on  producers  and  distribu- 
tors, the   S.E.C.  showed  that  these 


Industry  Reported  in  Bargaining  Mood; 
Trade  Evils  Debated  at  Washington; 
New  Hopkins  Meeting  Next  Week 

Washington,  June  6. — Headed  by  Will  Hays,  a  group  of  leading  film 
executives  today  conferred  with  Department  of  Commerce  officials  for  six 
hours  on  problems  confronting  the  film  industry  here  and  abroad. 

The  film  group,  consisting  of  George  J.  Schaefer,  president  of  RKO ; 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  of  Loew's;  H.  M.  Warner  and  J.  H. 
Hazen  of  Warner  Brothers,  met  with  Secretary  of  Commerce  Harry  Hop- 
kins, Willard  L.  Thorp,  his  economic  adviser ;  Nathan  D.  Golden,  chief 
of  the  motion  picture  division,  and  Ernest  A.  Tupper,  chief  statistician 
of  the  Bureau  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  Commerce. 

Because  of  his  planned  attendance  at  the  ceremonies  of  the  unveiling 
of  the  Will  Rogers  statue  in  the  Capitol,  Hays  attended  only  the  morning 
session.  The  remainder  of  the  group,  however,  stayed  through  the  after- 
noon session,  which  did  not  break  up  until  5  :30. 

'We  Have  No  Strings,'  U.  S.  Replies 

Both  commerce  department  officials  and  members  of  the  film  group 
denied  that  the  government's  antitrust  suit  was  discussed  but,  when  asked 
whether  the  conferences  which  are  to  follow  today's  meeting  might  not 
lead  to  the  development  of  a  consent  decree,  with  the  department  acting 
as  intermediary  between  the  film  industry  and  the  department  of  justice, 
Dr.  Thorp  said : 

"Almost  anything  you  suggest  is  a  possibility.  We  have  no  strings  on 
what  we  are  doing." 

The  conference,  representatives  of  both  groups  said,  took  up  the  various 
problems  of  the  industry,  including  foreign  trade,  labor  difficulties,  and 
trade  practices. 

In  connection  with  the  last,  the  industry  representatives  submitted  a 
copy  of  the  proposed  trade  practice  agreement  and  explained  its  aims. 
The  discussion  of  foreign  trade,  it  was  said,  covered  not  only  the  dif- 
ficulties which  the  industry  is  facing  in  Europe  but  also  the  possibilities 
of  developing  the  Latin-American  market. 

During  the  discussion,  it  became  ap- 
parent that  further  consideration  of 
various  problems  Avas  dependent  upon 
the  development  of  factual  informa- 
tion. It  was  arranged  that  Hazen 
should  stav  over  in  Washing-ton  and 
confer  with  department  officials  to- 
morrow in  regard  to  the  various 
types  of  information  which  will  be 
necessary. 

Meeting  Next  Week 

The  meeting  today  was  merely  a 
preliminary  discussion  of  these  ques- 
tions, it  was  said,  and  the  groun  will 
confer  again,  probably  next  week. 

Before  leaving  the  conference,  Hays 
explained  that  the  discussions  were 
merely  preliminary  to  meetings  at 
which  some  definite  program  of  co- 
operation between  the  government  and 
industry  could  be  worked  out. 

"We    discussed    all    the  economic 
problems  involving  the  industry  that 
we  could  think  of,"  he  said.  "They 
were  in  the  nature  of  a  general  survey 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


companies  had  a  combined  operating 
profit  of  $40,911,459,  or  10.1  per  cent 
of  sales,  for  their  1937  fiscal  year, 
compared  with  $32,822,156,  or  8.7  per 
cent,  for  1936,  and  $24,402,985,  or  7.2 
per  cent  for  1935. 

These  results,  it  was  explained, 
were  after  combined  charges  for  de- 
preciation, depletion,  etc.,  of  aporoxi- 
mately  $14,000,000,  or  3.5  per  cent  of 
sales,  in  1937,  $14,000,000,  or  3.8  per 
cent,  in  1936,  and  $14,000,000,  or  4.2 
per  cent,  in  1935.  Of  the  seven  enter- 
prises, it  was  said,  six  reported  oper- 
ating profits  and  one  reported  an  op- 
erating loss  in  each  of  the  three  years. 

A  combined  profit,  after  all  charges 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  7,  193  j 


4  Purely 
Personal  ► 

DENSMORE    A.    ROSS,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of 
Ross  Federal,  and  Richard  E.  Ross, 
director  of  branch  operations,  are  on 
an  extended  tour  of  midwest  branches. 
• 

Anthony  Collins,  signed  by  Her- 
bert Wilcox  to  do  the  score  of 
"Nurse  Edith  Cavell,"  now  shooting 
at  RKO,  leaves  England  today  and 
will  arrive  on  the  Normandie  on 
Monday.  He  will  go  directly  to 
Hollywood. 

• 

William  Scully^  W.  Ray  John- 
ston, Si  Seadler,  Oscar  Doob, 
Monroe  Greenthal,  Arthur  Gott- 
lieb, Buddy  Morris,  Cal  Swan  son, 
Al  Young  lunching  at  Bob  Gold- 
stein's Tavern  yesterday. 

• 

Bill  Johnson,  manager  of  the 
Opera  House,  Millinocket,  Me., 
dropped  in  at  the  Managers'  Round 
Table  Department  of  Motion  Picture 
Herald  while  in  town  to  visit  the 
World's  Fair. 

• 

Roger  Ferri,  editor  of  the  Dynamo, 
20th  Century-Fox  publication,  has  re- 
turned from  Springfield,  111.,  and  Chi- 
cago where  he  published  the  "Young 
Mr.  Lincoln"  special  edition  of  the 
paper. 

• 

Oscar  A.  Doob,  Loew's  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  was  host  to 
Washington  and  Baltimore  critics  the 
other  day.  They  came  in  to  see 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  at  the  Astor. 
• 

Mrs.  Ray  Milland,  wife  of  the 
screen  player,  is  staying  at  the  Wal- 
dorf-Astoria for  a  few  days  after  re- 
turning from  abroad.  With  her  is 
her  mother,  Mrs.  Harry  Weber. 
• 

Norman  Bede  Rydge,  managing 
director  of  Greater  Union  Theatres, 
Australia,  plans  to  leave  Friday  for 
the  coast  and  will  sail  June  21  on  the 
Mariposa  for  Sydney. 

• 

William  Saal,  special  representa- 
tive for   Republic,   leaves   for  Eng- 
land today  on  the  Queen  Mary  for 
the  premiere  of  "Man  of  Conquest." 
• 

H.  M.  Richey  of  RKO  returns 
today  from    Myrtle    Beach,    S.  C, 


FLY 

AMERICAN 

NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Cool  All  the  Way 
3  FLIGHTS  DAILY 

Call  your  travel 
agent   or  VAn- 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


7:10  A.  M. 
5:10  P.  M. 
10:10  P.  M. 


derbilt  3-2580. 
Ticket  Offices: 


45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rock- 
efeller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES  / 


A  FTER   three   weeks   in  Holly- 
/-%  wood,    it's   great   to   be  back 
■*•       among  familiar  faces  and  reg- 
ular places. 

At  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern,  with 
Jim  Cron  for  lunch  and  Moore's  for 
dinner  with  Gus  Eyssel  and  M.  A. 
Schlesinger.  At  Sardi's  with  the  mat- 
inee crowd  and  in  Nick's  Hunting 
Room,  with  Murray  Silverstone,  Ed. 
Saunders,  Martin  Beck  and  Sidney 
Phillips. 

It  is  warmer  in  New  York  than  it 
is  on  the  coast,  and  business  in  the 
theatres  is  not  good. 

"Juarez,"  and  "Goodbye  Mr.  Chips," 
are  standing  up  strongly  against  the 
heat  and  the  competition  of  the 
World's  Fair.  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln" 
is  doing  fairly  well,  too.  Otherwise, 
the  Main  Stem  box-offices  are  falter- 
ing. 


There  is  a  general  seasonal  decline 
in  the  grosses  at  this  time  of  the  year, 
but  the  present  drop  in  Broadway 
grosses  is  sharper  than  has  been  an- 
ticipated. The  grosses  are  from  20  to 
65  per  cent  below  expectations. 

A  dozen  legit  shows  have  closed 
during  the  month. 


Leaving  Hollywood  a  week  ago, 
where  business  seemed  pretty  good, 
and  passing  through  Chicago,  where 
business  was  awful,  we  journeyed 
to  Springfield,  Illinois,  for  the  premi- 
ere of  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  on 
Memorial  Day.  It  was  a  great  Lincoln 


where  he  addressed  the  M.  P.  T.  O. 
of  North  and  South  Carolina. 
• 

Nick  Lucas  will  sail  July  18  for 
Australia.     He  will  open  in  vaude- 
ville in  Melbourne  Aug.  14  and  will 
sing  twice  weekly  over  the  radio. 
• 

Mitchell  Rawson,  eastern  publi- 
city manager  of  Warners,  has  re- 
turned from  a  two-week  vacation  in 
his  home  town,  Atlanta. 

Mrs.  K.  M.  Hyde  Bennett,  RKO 
representative  in  Toronto,  was  a  vis- 
itor at  the  RKO  World's  Fair 
lounge  yesterday. 

• 

Jack  Pegler,  Sam  Shain,  Cros- 
bey  Gaige,  Carlos  Isreals  at  the 
Waldorf  Grill  for  lunch  yesterday. 
• 

Jack  Ellis,  president  of  Motion 
Picture  Associates,  has  announced  his 
engagement  to  Evelyn  Bassett. 
• 

Leo  Spitz  is  recovering  nicely  in 
Rochester,  Minn.,  following  an  oper- 
ation. He  is  expected  in  New  York 
in  about  10  days. 

• 

Lois  Jacoby,  Samuel  Goldwyn's 
eastern  talent  representative,  has  re- 
signed. No  successor  has  been  named 
as  yet. 

• 

Matthew    Fox,   vice-president  of 
Universal  Pictures,  will  be  coming  to 
New  York  soon  for  a  short  stay. 
• 

Frieda  Inescourt  has  returned 
from  Hollywood  after  appearing  in 
"Tarzan  Finds  a  Son." 


Day.  No  doubt  Hollywood  had  an 
equally  great  premiere  on  June  2,  but 
the  south  was  not  to  be  outdone  in  its 
homage  to  the  picture.  Exhibitors 
from  all  parts  of  Texas  came  to 
Houston  to  attend  the  Lone  Star 
State's  premiere  of  the  film  at  the 
Metropolitan  on  Thursday. 


"Why  not  a  movie  about  young  Mr. 
Washington?"  asks  the  New  York 
Daily  News,  in  an  editorial  on  Tues- 
day. And — we  ditto — why  not?  It  is 
the  fact  that  Kate  Cameron,  the  News, 
critic  gave  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln,"  the 
new  Darryl  Zanuck,  20th  Century- 
Fox  picture  a  4-star  rating  which  in- 
spires the  newspaper  to  comment  edi- 
torially on  the  subject.  With  this  the 
editor  of  the  News  turns  in  an  edi- 
torial script  suggesting  how  to  make 
the  film.  It  is  altogether  a  nice  and 
fitting  tribute  to  the  screen's  possibili- 
ties for  historical  dramaturgy. 


In  Hollywood,  the  folks  are  talking 
about  the  businesslike  management  of 
the  Paramount  studio  by  Y.  Frank 
Freeman.  Overhead  operations  have 
been  considerably  reduced  and  pro- 
duction speeded  up.  Jack  Moss  has 
been  added  to  the  roster  of  producers. 
He  is  considered  topnotch. 

At  the  General  Service  studios, 
where  Edward  Small  makes  his  pic- 
tures, enthusiastic  whispers  are  wafted 
about  "The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask,' 
said  to  be  among  Small's  greatest  pro- 
ductions. The  boys  and  girls  are  ex- 
cited about  this  one. 


Walter  Wanger,  at  the  Goldwyn 
studios,  will  have  a  real  ice  scene  in 
his  "Winter  Carnival."  It  was  quite 
a  show  to  see  the  shooting  of  this 
sequence  with  the  lads  and  lassies 
whirling  down  a  real  ski  slide  on 
natural  ice  right  in  the  studio. 


At  20th  Century-Fox,  they  are  very 
happy  over  "Second  Fiddle,"  with  Ty- 
rone Power,  Sonja  Henie  and  Minna 
Gombel,  directed  by  Sidney  Lanfield ; 
and  "Hotel  for  Women,"  directed  by 
Gregory  Ratoff,  and  "The  Rains 
Came." 


Bush  Chosen 
Press-Exploit 
Chief  for  Fo? 


Samuel  Goldwyn  is  ready  to  offer 
a  new  thrill  in  pictures  with  "Music 
School,"  a  story  of  the  regeneration 
of  youngsters  of  the  slums  by  music. 
Jascha  Heifetz  makes  his  film  debut 
in  this  one.  Goldwyn  also  is  about 
ready  with  "Road  to  Glory,"  a  story 
of  the  Philippines  with  Gary  Cooper 
and  Andrea  Leeds,  directed  by  Henry 
Hathaway. 


At  the  Hotel  Edison,  next  Monday, 
on  behalf  of  the  refugees,  there  will 
be  a  Benny  Goodman  testimonial  din- 
ner. William  Morris  is  treasurer  of 
the  committee. 


David  Selznick  will  feature  Ingrid 
Bergman,  a  Swedish  actress,  in  his 
new  picture,  "Intermezzo,"'  and  Irene, 
Hollywood  stylist,  has  been  retained 
to  costume  Miss  Bergman. 


Rodney  Bush,  20th  Century-Fox  e> 
ploitation  manager,  yesterday  was  ai 
pointed  head  of  the  company's  pul 
licity  and  exploitation  departi^t 
which  have  been  merged. 

The  appointment  was  disclosed  1 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  director  of  a< 
vertising  and  publicity,  who  said  tl 
merger  is  in  the  interest  of  greatf 
efficiency. 

Leonard  Gaynor,  with  the  public 
department  seven  years,  resigned  y< 
terday  and  plans  a  vacation.  His  wo 
will  be  taken  over  by  William  (| 
Chambliss,    until    now    assistant  t 
Bush  in  the  exploitation  departmen 
Earle  Wingart  will  continue  to  hand! 
publicity  and  trade  paper  contacts. 

Bush  will  have  complete  charge  t 
publicity  and  exploitation  under  Mi 
Carthy.  He  joined  the  company  t\v 
years  ago  to  handle  cooperative  cart 
paigns  on  major  pictures.  Prior  t 
joining  the  company  he  was  easter 
representative  for  Walter  Wange 
Productions.  He  received  his  earl 
training  in  theatres  and  was  wit 
Paramount  and  RKO  in  Hollywoo 
and  New  York. 

Gaynor  has  been  in  charge  of  cor 
tacts  with  New  York  newspapers  an : 
syndicates  and  has  worked  on  man 
major  campaigns.  He  also  had  charg 
of  exploitation  until  the  exploitatio 
department  was  established  last  yea  ; 


Stop  Probing  AFA 
Affairs,  4 A  Advisa 

American  Federation  of  Actors  ye;  ! 
terday  sent  a  resolution  to  Associate 
Actors  and  Artistes  of  America,  th 
parent  body,  demanding  that  the  14 
weeks'  investigation  of  A.F.A.  affair 
be  concluded  immediately.  It  wa; 
pointed  out  that  the  investigation,  or 
iginally  requested  by  the  A.F.A.  itsel 
is  seriously  hampering  union  activity 

Television  jurisdiction  meetin 
scheduled  for  today  has  ben  posl 
poned  by  the  AAAA.  Actors'  Equit 
appointed  a  committee  of  six  to  a< 
as  an  advisory  body  to  its  4- A  dels 
gates.  Equity  feeling  is  that  question 
of  television  and  reconstruction  of  th 
parent  body  require  decisions  by 
larger  group. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  an 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compan; 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  Ot; 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  addre< 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quiglei 
Editor-m-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Browi 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sai 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertisin 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Mich 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Ho 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildini 
Boone  MancalL  manager,  William  I 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golde 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  mat 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London. 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Qujgl' 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigle 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Bettf 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mc 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entere 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  th 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y. ,  under  th 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rate»  p< 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  fereigi 
Single  copies  10c. 


TARZAN  BILL 
RODGERS  is  doing  it! 


TARZAN  EDDIE 
SAUNDERS  is 
doing  it! 


TARZAN  TOM 
CONNORS  is  d 


Everybody  at  M-G-M 
is  doing  it!  And  you'll 
join  the  joyful  yells  for 
the  big  Show  of  Shows! 


TARZAN 


DS  A  SON 


Screen  it  fast!  It's  more  excitement  than  the  screen  has  known  in  years.  It's  a  circus! 

A  show  for  showmen!  Give  a  YELL! 

The  one  and  only  JOHNNY  WEISSMULLER  with  Maureen  O'Sullivan  and  John  Sheffield,  Ian  Hunter,  Henry  Stephenson, 
Frieda  Inescort,  Henry  Wilcoxon,  Laraine  Day   •   Screen  Play  by  Cyril  Hume   •   Based  upon  the  Characters  Created  by  Edgar 
Rice  Burroughs   •  Directed  by  Richard  Thorpe  •  Produced  by  Sam  Zimbalist 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  7,  193! 


'Redwoods' 
Milwaukee's 
Best,  $12,000 


Milwaukee,  June  6. — Bob  Crosby's 
band  and  "Romance  of  the  Redwoods" 
grossed  $12,000  at  the  Riverside.  Sec- 
ond money  went  to  "Calling  Dr.  Kil- 
dare"  and  "Bridal  Suite"  with  $6,000 
at  the  Wisconsin. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing J  une  1-2 : 

"The  Birth  of  a  Baby" 

ALHAMBRA  —  (2,660)      (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $4,000. 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)  (25c-30c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:    Bob   Crosby   and   his   ork.  Gross: 
$12,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

WARNER—  (2,400)     (35c  -50c)  7 
Gross:   $4,500.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Oniy  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"boy  Friend"  (Zftth-FoxJ 

PALACE — (2,4WJ )  (35c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Union  Facinc "  (Para.) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

STkANu— (1,400;    (3oc-50c)   7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:   $1,500.    (Average,  $2,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"Bridai  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

WlbCUN  SIN  —  (3,200)  (35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $D,500) 


days. 


New  Union  Formed 
After  5-Boro  Strike 

Seeking  to  avoid  any  jurisdictional 
dispute  with  the  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.,  the 
Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  and 
Treasurers  Union  yesterday  declined 
to  negotiate  contracts  for  cashiers, 
ushers,  doormen,  matrons  and  ticket 
takers  in  conferences  with  the  Five 
Boro  circuit. 

Instead  a  new  union,  the  Entertain- 
ment, Exhibition  and  Exposition  Em- 
ployes National  Union  has  been 
formed,  which  will  represent  such 
employes. 

At  present,  members  of  this  new 
union  are  limited  to  the  Five  Boro  cir- 
cuit and  the  City  Hall,  Manhattan. 
In  both  cases,  a  sympathy  walkout 
took  place  when  the  T.  M.  A.  T.  de- 
clared a  strike. 

The  E.  E.  E.  E.  N.  U.  is  repre- 
sented by  Gustave  A.  Gerber,  who  is 
also  attorney  for  T.  M.  A.  T.  The 
new  union  has  no  affiliation  with 
either  the  A.  F.  of  L.  or  the  C.  I.  O. 
In  order  to  make  the  separation  of 
both  unions  more  definite,  Gerber 
filed  a  petition  for  recognition  for  the 
new  union  with  the  State  Labor  Re- 
lations Board. 


Houghton  Returns 
To  Breen' s  Office 

Arthur  Houghton  of  the  West  Coast 
staff  of  Joseph  I.  Breen,  Production 
Code  Administration  head,  has  re- 
turned from  London  where  he  went 
several  months  ago  on  a  leave  of 
absence. 

Houghton  was  attached  to  the  staff 
of  Ambassador  Joseph  P.  Kennedy  in 
connection  with  British  film  quota 
matters. 

Houghton  left  yesterday  for  the 
coast  to  resume  his  duties  with  Breen. 
He  has  long  been  a  personal  friend 
and  associate  of  Kennedy. 


Barrymore  Tax  Liens 

Hollywood,  June  6. — Income  tax 
liens  have  been  filed  by  the  Federal 
Government  against  John  Barrymore 
for  $17,296  and  Elaine  Barrymore  for 
$14,462. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Maisie" 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  June  6. — "Maisie"  isn't  one  picture — it's  five.  The  whole 
is  highly  entertaining  and  possesses  unique  exploitation  potentialities. 
So  are,  and  do,  its  separate  but  smoothly  blended  components. 

It's  a  western  even  down  to  the  cowboy  crooning.  While  one  part  tells 
a  comedy  romance  story,  the  other  pictures  a  philandering  romance. 
Every  one  knows  that  the  man  who  died  committed  suicide,  but  cir- 
cumstances make  it  appear  murder.  And  out  of  all  comes  an  exciting 
court  drama.  Everything  that  happens  is  as  natural  as  it  is  understand- 
able and  believable.  To  the  credit  of  producer  J.  Walter  Ruben,  director 
Edward  L.  Marin,  story  author  Wilson  Collison  and  screenplay  writer 
Mary  McCall,  Jr.,  there  isn't  a  vestige  of  artificiality  in  the  show.  It 
concerns  human  beings  doing  things  that  ordinary  men  and  women 
might  be  expected  to  do. 

Down  on  her  luck,  show-girl  Ann  Sothern  attaches  herself  to  woman 
hating  cowboy,  Robert  Young.  Glib,  crackling  dialogue  and  cleverly 
contrived  characterizations  and  situations  make  their  experiences  en- 
joyable. Meanwhile  Ian  Hunter  and  his  wife,  Ruth  Hussey,  of  whom 
he  is  jealously  suspicious,  come  to  the  ranch  and  it  is  Miss  Sothern's 
lot  to  catch  (Miss  Hussey)  in  a  clandestine  rendezvous  with  Anthony 
Allan.  Disillusioned,  although  he  does  not  know  the  facts,  Hunter  com- 
mits suicide  and  circumstantial  evidence  charges  Young  with  his  mur- 
der. But  a  letter  which  Hunter  wrote  to  Miss  Sothern,  who  has  left  the 
ranch,  catches  up  with  her  while  she  is  on  the  witness  stand  trying  to 
save  Young.  Not  only  does  the  information  prove  Hunter's  self  destruc- 
tion, but  leaves  the  ranch  to  Miss  Sothern,  who  promptly  marries  Young. 

Fast  moving,  never  losing  its  interest  and  full  of  incidents  that  pro- 
voke smiles  and  laughs  as  well  as  occasional  pathos,  the  show  looks  like 
a  sleeper  attraction  that  should  generate  much  favorable  word  of  mouth 
comment. 

Running  time,  75  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


"The  Girl  and  the  Gambler" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  June  6. — A  little  music  and  dancing,  both  pleasing,  have 
been  added  to  "The  Girl  and  the  Gambler,"  which  was  the  Willard 
Mack  stage  play,  "The  Dove"  as  produced  by  David  Belasco  since  it 
last  was  a  subject  of  screen  attention.  Essentially,  however,  the  piece 
depends  upon  comedy  and  melodrama  as  its  entertainment  elements. 
Plot  concerns  the  adventures  of  a  romantic  Mexican  bandit,  a  cantina 
entertainer  and  an  American  gambler.  The  gay  bandit,  Leo  Carrillo, 
considering  himself  a  Don  Juan,  wagers  with  his  cohorts  that  he  can 
win  the  heart  of  "The  Dove,"  Steffi  Duna.  She,  to  complicate  things, 
has  promised  herself  to  dealer  Tim  Holt.  Unwilling  to  have  his  pride 
humbled,  Carrillo  arranges  to  have  his  men  shoot  Holt  and  forces  Miss 
Duna  to  go  away  with  him.  But  she,  playing  upon  her  captor's  vanity, 
tricks  and  wiles  him  into  a  bet  which  when  she  wins  allows  her  to 
escape  Carrillo  and  rejoin  Holt.  Accompanying  action  naturally  stresses 
the  standard  western  outdoor  excitement  and  thrills. 

Joseph  A.  Fields  and  Clarence  Young  wrote  the  present  adaptation 
and  Lew  Landers  directed. 

Running  time,  64  minutes.  "G."* 


"Inside  Information" 

( Universal) 

Hollywood,  June  6. — Hackneyed  though  this  story  might  be,  "Inside 
Information"  has  some  exploitable  qualities  by  virtue  of  the  cinematically 
old  struggle  between  two  schools  of  police  work — scientific  detection  and 
"rubber  hose  in  back  rooms." 

The  cast  is  composed  of  Dick  Foran,  Harry  Carey,  June  Lang,  Mary 
Carlisle,  Addison  Richards,  Joseph  Sawyer,  Grant  Richards,  Selmar 
Jackson,  Paul  McVey,  Frederick  Burton,  Robert  Homans  and  John 
Harmon. 

Foran  enacts  the  role  of  a  rookie  cop  trained  in  scientific  methods  of 
crime  detection.  His  enthusiasm  is  not  dimmed  by  Carey,  an  officer  of 
the  old  school  of  using  the  fists  on  suspects,  and  under  whom  he  is 
placed.  Carey's  niece,  with  whom  he  falls  in  love,  backs  Foran  and 
eventually  enlists  the  aid  of  Carey  in  catching  jewel  thieves. 

Charles  Lamont  directed  the  picture,  which  was  produced  by  Irving 
Starr.  Alex  Gottlieb  wrote  the  screenplay  which  is  based  on  an  original 
story,  "The  47th  Precinct,"  by  Martin  Mooney  and  Burnet  Hershey. 

Running  time,  62  minutes.  "G."*  Vance  King 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Hardys'  Does 
$15,600,  Lead 
In  Twin  Cities 


Minneapolis,  June  6. — Twin  city 
business,  spurred  by  the  holidays,  was 
good.  In  Minneapolis,  "The  Hardys 
Ride  High"  did  $9,500  at  the  St*£ 

In  St.  Paul,  the  same  picturef^V.s 
also  the  leader,  grossing  $6,100  at  the 
Riviera. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  1 : 

Minneapolis: 

"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 
"Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 
"Racketeers  on  the  Range"  (RKO) 
"Fixer  Dugan"  (RKO) 

ASTER— (900)    (15c-25c)   dual  runs  split 
week.   Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

CENTURY — (1,600)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.   Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

GOPHER  —  (990)    (25c)    7   days.  Gross: 
$3,100.    (Average,  $2,500) 
'Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,900)    (25c-40c)  "Confes- 
sions," 5  days;  "Angels,"  2  days.  Gross: 
$7,000.    (Average,  $4,800) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (2,300)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,500.    (Average,  $4,400) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,000.    (Average,  $1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,000)    (25c-40c)  6 
Gross:  $3,700.    (Average,  $3,200) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)    (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $6,100.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Let  Freedom  Ring"  (M-G-M) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,100.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Society  Smugglers"  (Univ.) 
"Mr.  Moto  in  Danger  Island"  (2flth-Fox) 

TOWER  —  (1,000)    (25c)   7   days.  Grosf: 
$2,500.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"Dark  Rapture"  (Univ.) 

WORLD  —  (400)  (25c-35c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $600.    (Average,  $700) 


days. 


days. 


Fair  Amusements 
Area  Faces  Strike 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
likely  that  many  other  unions  may 
refuse  to  enter  the  Fair  grounds.  Ad- 
ditionally, a  number  of  concessions 
which  have  signed  union  agreements 
with  Council  members  will  also  be 
affected  as  it  will  be  a  general  strike 
and  union  members  will  not  be  per- 
mitted to  enter. 

A.  F.A.  officials  declared  themselves 
unsatisfied  with  the  manner  in  which 
contract  terms  are  being  enforced,  but 
have  been  unable  to  obtain  satisfaction. 
Local  306  has  been  dickering  unsuc- 
cessfully for  its  men  to  operate  the 
16mm.  machines.  More  recently,  the 
Cameramen's  Union  refused  to  permit 
newsreel  men  to  enter  the  Fair.  A 
truce  was  declared,  but  no  satisfactory 
settlement  has  been  negotiated. 

Fair  authorities  yesterday  main- 
tained their  policy  of  "no  comment 
on  labor  matters." 


Frisco  Fair  Shorts 

Emerson  Yorke,  in  cooperation  with 
Loucks  and  Norling  Studios,  Inc.,  has 
completed  a  series  of  documentary 
short  subjects  for  the  Golden  Gate 
International  Exposition  Commission 
with  the  assistance  of  H.  R.  Stus- 
man,  Assistant  to  the  United  States 
Commissioner,  and  Nathan  D.  Golden. 


TRIPLE 

SUCCESS 


THREE  good  reasons  why  Eastman's 
three  new  films  enjoy  continued  success: 
The  outstanding  special  features  they 
bring  to  their  particular  jobs  The  un- 
surpassed photographic  quality  they  im- 
part to  every  scene. . . .  The  priceless  as- 
surance of  reliability  they  give  to  the 
whole  motion  picture  industry.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  (J.  E. 
Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  Fort  Lee, 
Chicago,  Hollywood.) 


EASTMAN 


PLIJS-X  SUPER-XX 

for  general  studio  use  for  alt  difficult  shots 


BACKGROUND -X 

for  backgrounds  and  general  exterior  uaorh 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  June  7,  19j 


Skouras  Tells 
Facts  Behind 
Warner  Split 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
they  should  abolish  double  features  in 
some  three  hundred  theatres  which 
they  own  and  operate  themselves. 

"For  instance,  the  Warner  Bever- 
ly Theatre  of  Beverly  Hills,  Cal.,  has 
recently  played  double  bill  such  at- 
tractions as  the  following :  'Four 
Daughters'  with  'Valley  of  the  Giants,' 
'Wings  of  the  Navy'  with  'Yes,  My 
Darling  Daughter,'  'Dodge  City'  with 
'Story  of  Vernon  and  Irene  -Castle,' 
'Three  Smart  Girls'  with  'Confessions 
of  a  Nazi  Spy,'  and  'Dark  Victory' 
with  'Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy.' 

"This  double  feature  policy  is  prac- 
ticed in  over  three  hundred  Warner 
theatres  located  in  the  territories  of 
Pittsburgh,  Chicago  and  Albany  and 
in  the  states  of  Connecticut,  New 
Jersey,  Ohio  and  Wisconsin. 

"Our  effort  is  and  always  has  been 
to  arrange  programs  which  would 
yield  the  greatest  revenue  both  for  the 
producer  and  exhibitor  and  at  the  same 
time  afford  the  best  entertainment  for 
the  public. 

Double  Features  Demanded 

"While  we  appreciate  that  many 
people  do  not  like  double  features, 
nevertheless  experience  has  shown  us 
that  the  masses  demand  double  fea- 
tures. It  is  well  known,  of  course, 
that  many  excellent  pictures  are  not 
box  office  attractions  in  themselves. 

"These  pictures  have  found  an  au- 
dience by  being  coupled  on  the  pro- 
gram with  other  pictures  that  had 
greater  public  appeal.  This  has  been 
beneficial  to  the  public,  to  the  pro- 
ducer and  to  the  theatre  operator. 
This  necessity  is  recognized  by  the 
Warner  Theatres  as  well  as  by  other 
theatre  operators  throughout  the  coun- 
try. 

Opposed  to  Dual  Shows 

"We  ourselves  are  personally  op- 
posed to  double  features,  and  I  want 
to  point  out  that  as  long  ago  as  the 
NRA  conferences  in  Washington,  our 
representative  was  instructed  to  ad- 
vocate the  abolition  of  double  feature 
programs.  Although  he  was  unsuc- 
cessful, his  endeavors  and  the  efforts 
of  those  who  joined  with  him  are  a 
matter  of  record.  It  is  well_  recog- 
nized that  competitive  conditions  at 
present  necessitate  the  use  of  double 
feature  programs  in  certain  locali- 
ties. 

"In  their  statement  Warner  Bros, 
attacked  the  showmanship  with  which 
we  exhibited  their  product  and  stated 
that  our  methods  were  costing  them 
loss  of  revenue.  Under  the  present 
management  of  Fox  West  Coast  The- 
atres Corporation  and  the  other  the- 
atre interests  of  National  Theatres 
Corporation,  the  film  rental  paid  to 
Warners  for  their  pictures  was  about 
$500,000  for  the  year  1932  and  will 
be  over  $1,500,000  for  the  year  1939 
for  the  same  number  of  theatres." 

From  Hollywood  yesterday  came 
word  that  Gradwell  Sears,  Warner 
distribution  chief,  summoned  his  sales 
executives  for  conferences  Thursday 
and  Friday  to  set  up  machinery  for 
selling  new  season  product  away  from 
Fox  West  Coast. 

Sears  said  about  50  product  deals 
to  independents  in  Kansas  and  vicinity 
have  already  been  made. 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


Connecticut  Closings 

New  Haven,  June  6. — Warners 
have  closed  the  Tremont,  Ansonia, 
Conn.,  for  the  summer  but  the  Capitol, 
Danbury,  dark  last  summer,  remains 
open.  Loew's  expect  to  close  the 
Palace,  Hartford.  Fishman  Theatres 
have  reduced  Apollo  operation  to 
three  days  a  week,  and  will  shut  the 
Lyric  and  Winchester. 


Albee  to  Legitimate 

Providence,  June  6. — RKO-Albee, 
which  ceased  presentation  of  films 
May  31,  has  been  leased  by  Jules 
Leventhal,  New  York  legitimate  pro- 
ducer,  for   the   summer   road  show 


Named  Canton  Manager 

Canton,  O.,  June  6.— R.  C.  Mc- 
Williams  has  been  appointed  assistant 
manager  of  the  Palace  here  by  George 
A.  Delis,  district  manager  of  the  In- 
terstate Theatres,  Inc. 


Planning  Denver  Theatre 

Denver,  June  6. — J.  J.  Goodstein, 
who  formerly  operated  theatres  in 
Pueblo,  Rocky  Ford  and  Loveland, 
Col.,  plans  a  $100,000  house  here,  to 
seat  1,000. 


Buys   Spokane  House 

Spokane,  Wash.,  June  6. — H.  A. 
Black,  Seattle  exhibitor,  has  acquired 
the  Empress  here  from  Ronald  Camp. 
Before  reopening  he  is  remodeling. 


Weiss  Theatre  Ready 

Stamford,  Conn.,  June  6. — Weiss 
Amusement  Co.,  shortly  will  open  the 
750-seat  Avon  here.  Samuel  Weiss 
will  manage  the  house. 


Building  in  Ontario 

Toronto,  June  6. — Harry  Goldhar 
is  constructing  a  new  theatre  at  Gait, 
Ontario,  the  Palace,  scheduled  to  open 
July  1.  It  will  seat  800. 


Close  Columbus  House 

Columbus,  O.,  June  6. — Majestic 
here  has  closed  and  will  reopen  in  the 
fall,  according  to  M.  F.  McCafferty, 
manager. 


Plans  Bethel,  Conn.,  House 

Bethel,  Conn.,  June  6. — Athan 
Prakas,  of  the  Rivoli,  Bridgeport, 
plans  a  theatre  and  three  stores  here. 


Opens  in  Marion,  O. 

Marion,  O.,  June  6.— Oakland  here 
has  been  reopened  by  D.  P.  Bowman 
of  Bowman  Theatres,  Inc. 


Buys  Nebraska  House 

Denver,  June  6. — R.  M.  Hough  has 
bought  the  Star  at  Imperial,  Neb., 
from  Ruby  Teller. 


Denver  Manager  Resigns 
Denver,  June  6. — Frank  Milton  has 

resigned  as  manager  of  the  Santa  Fe 
theatre. 


Summer  Reopenings 

West  End,  Long  Beach,  and  the 
Lido  will  reopen  shortly  for  the  sum- 


Remodel  in  Denver 

Denver,  June  6. — Fox  will  remodel 
the  Broadway,  at  a  cost  of  $20,000. 


Alden  Reopens  July  1 

The  Alden  (RKO),  Jamaica,  will 
reopen  July  1. 


Lefton  Shifts  Men 

Cleveland,  June  6. — Nat  L.  Lefton, 
Ohio  Republic  franchise  owner,  has 
made  the  followings  shifts  in  the  local 
office :  Frank  E.  Belles,  covering  the 
Toledo  territory,  has  been  promoted 
to  special  representative.  He  will 
work  the  entire  Ohio  territory  and 
handle  city  sales  as  assistant  to  S.  P. 
Gorrel,  branch  manager.  Rudy  Nor- 
ton succeeds  Belles  in  Toledo. 


Midwest  Moves  Ritter 
Kansas  City,  June  6. — Frank  Rit- 
ter, manager  of  the  Fox  Tower,  and 
Harry  Biederman,  assistant,  have 
been  shifted  by  Fox  Midwest  to  the 
Uptown,  where  they  will  occupy  the 
same  position.  The  Fox  Tower  has 
closed  for  the  summer. 


Close  Cincinnati  Shubert 

Cincinnati,  June  6. — RKO  Shu- 
bert, playing  stage  shows  and  pictures, 
but  which  switched  to  straight  films 
several  weeks  ago,  has  closed.  Re- 
opening with  combination  policy  is 
scheduled  for  Sept.  1. 


Open  in  Bantam,  Conn. 

Bantam,  Conn.,  June  6.  —  Joseph 
Reed  has  opened  the  renovated  New 
Bantam.  Reed  will  manage  the  house, 
while  Joseph  Reed,  Jr.,  will  take  over 
the  Bryan  Memorial,  Washington 
Depot. 


Open  Soon  in  Ontario 

Toronto,  June  6. — The  Palace,  in 
course  of  construction  at  Gait,  Ont., 
is  scheduled  to  open  July  1,  according 
to  the  owner,  Harry  Goldhar  of 
Toronto.  It  will  seat  800  persons. 


Open  Conn-  Theatre 

Stafford,  Conn.,  June  6.  —  John 
Bourgeois  and  John,  Jr.,  newcomers 
to  the  business,  have  converted  the 
Town  Hall  into  a  250-seat  film  the- 
atre. 


Builds  in  Windsor,  Conn. 

Windsor,  Conn.,  June  6. — Nathan 
Lampert  has  acquired  a  site  for  a  new 
500-seat  house  this  summer.  Lampert 
already  operates  a  smaller  house  here. 


Remodel  in  Vancouver 

Vancouver,  B.  C,  June  6. — Prin- 
cess, subsequent  run  here,  plans  com- 
plete renovation  at  a  cost  of  $40,000 
to  $50,000. 


Close  Cleveland  House 

Cleveland,  June  6.  —  The  Perm 
Square,  subsequent  run  independent 
neighborhood  house,  has  closed  for 
the  summer. 


Theatres  in  Iowa 
Get  Improvements 

Des  Moines,  June  6. — Recent  the- 
atre improvements  in  Iowa  include 
the  following: 

Fred  Fritz,  who  sold  the  Oxford 
Theatre  at  Oxford  Junction,  has  re- 
purchased it  and  closed  it  for  redeco- 
ration.  .  .  .  Robert  Oliver,  manager  of 
the  Iowa  and  Onawa  at  Onawa,  is  in- 
stalling new  air  conditioning  in  the 
Iowa.  .  .  .  Lester  Anderson  has  in- 
stalled a  new  amplifier  and  lenses  in 
his  Cozy  at  Fayette.  .  .  .  The  Des 
Moines  Universal  Exchange  is  under- 
going extensive  remodeling. 


Reich  Protes 
on  'Nazi  Spy 
To  Hays  Office 


There  will  be  no  "appeasement"  i 
German  resentment  over  Warner 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy,"  again 
which  German  Charge  d'Affain 
Hans  Thomsen  lodged  a  protest  £;\ 
the  State  Department  in  WashingcC 
it  was  indicated  yesterday. 

The  State  Department  forwards 
the  protest  to  the  Hays  office,  whic 
took  the  matter  calmly,  and  yesterds 
notified  Warners  of  Germany's  di:, 
pleasure.   There  the  matter  rests. 

Acknowledging  the  protest,  tl 
Hays  office  informed  the  State  D( 
partment  that  the  picture  was  base 
on  actual  court  records  of  the  Na 
spy  case  in  New  York.  The  M.  P.  I] 
D.  A.  gave  the  film  a  production  cor 
seal  as  conforming  to  the  require 
ments  of  the  Production  Code  Admii 
istration. 

At  Washington,  the  State  Depar 
ment   maintained  its   usual  attitud 
pointing  out  that  it  has  no  contn 
over  freedom  of  expression.  The  Gei 
man  Embassy  had  charged  the  film 
"pernicious  propaganda,"  which  wi] 
react  against  friendly  relations  b<! 
tween  the  United  States  and  Geif 
many. 

The  State  Department  has  learne 
that  the  Nazis  plan  a  retaliatory  serie . 
of  documentary  films  on  America 
unemployment,  gangsterism  and  jud ; 
cial  corruption. 


Warners  Previews 
'Daughters'  June  1 

Warners  will  entertain  trade  pape 
editors  and  exhibitors  at  a  special  pre 
view  of  "Daughters  Courageous,"  an 
luncheon  at  the  Warner  home  offic 
on  June  14.  On  the  same  day  th 
picture  will  have  its  coast  premier 
at  the  W.  B.  Hollywood  Theatn 
Carl  Lesserman,  Mort  Blumenstoc 
and  Sid  Rechetnick  will  be  hosts  at  th 
preview  here.  This  is  the  beginning 
of  Warners'  plan  to  have  simultaneou 
East- West  premieres. 


Lincoln  Stamps  at  Roxy 

In  conjunction  with  the  showing  o 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln,"  the  Roxy  is  dis 
playing  on  its  balcony  foyer  a  collec 
tion  of  stamps  bearing  the  engravei 
head  of  Lincoln.  Collection  was  com 
piled  by  Edward  Stern,  president 
Economists  Stamp  Co.  Also  in  th' 
exhibit  are  political  badges  an< 
brochures  used  during  Lincoln's  presi 
dency. 


Delay  'Spy'  in  London 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy,"  whicP 
was  to  open  at  the  Warner  Theatn 
in  London  yesterday,  according  to  ad 
vices  from  England,  has  been  put  of 
for  one  week.  Leon  Turrou,  formei 
F.B.I,  agent  and  author  of  the  story 
is  now  in  London  engaged  on  th< 
advance  campaign  on  the  film. 


Warner  Chiefs  Depart 

Warner  Theatre  zone  manager; 
leave  today  for  their  respective  terri- 
tories after  a  one-day  conference  ai 
the  home  office.  Joseph  Bernhard 
general  manager,  presided.  A  dinnei 
at  the  Hotel  Astor  last  night  closec 
the  meeting. 


Wednesday.  June  7,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


?ilm  Business   'Peace 9  Parleys  with  U.  S. 


Up  31  Million, 
SEC  Reports 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
!  including  non-operating  gains  and 
[  psses,  prior  claims,  interest  and  in- 
BfiK  taxes),  of  $34,091,330,  or  8.3 
I'OIcent  of  sales,  was  reported  for 
1  t?o7,  compared  with  $27,146,462,  or 
2  per  cent,  for  1936.  and  $13,039,979, 
|  r  3.8  per  cent,  for  1935. 
'  For  1937,  the  return  on  invested 
i  npital  at  book  value,  based  on  l  total 
*  et  profit  before  prior  claims,  interest 
nd  income  taxes  of  $49,000,000.  was 
I  3.6  per  cent,  against  9.2  per  cent  in 
!  £36  and  5.9  per  cent  in  1935.  Divi- 
'  ends  paid  by  the  seven  companies 
\  staled  $22,000,000  out  of  the  $34,000,- 
>  X)  combined  profit  after  all  charges ; 
\  i  the  previous  vear  dividends  totaled 
I  14.000,000  and"  in  1935  they  were 
I  5.000,000. 

!  Of  the  total  of  approximately  $42,- 
I  XK 000  paid  out  in  dividends  during 
t  le  four  years.  1934-'37,  $40,000,000 
[".ere  in  cash  and  $2,000,000  in  stock. 

The  volume  of  business  of  the  seven 
I  jmpanies  for  which  complete  infor- 
!  iation  is  available  was  given  by  the 
[  inimission  as  follows  : 
'  Columbia  Pictures:  $20,101,699  in 

J37;  $19,066,100  in  1936;  $17,499,028 

.  1935. 

Educational:  $2,312,849  in  1937; 
2.425,370  in  1936;  $2,597,824  in  1935. 

Loew's:  $107,821,923  in  1937;  $94,- 
15.279  in  1936 ;  $85,032,702  in  1935. 

Paramount:  $104,185,953  in  1937; 
102,820,646  in  1936;  $90,581,006  in 

1  Twentieth  Century-Fox:  $56,172,- 
12  in  1937 ;  $51,670,694  in  1936 ;  $42,- 
47.609  in  1935. 

Universal  Pictures:  $16,396,242  in 
1937;  $14,711,314  in  1936;  $14,317,188 
i  1935. 

Warner   Brothers:   $99,864,237  in 
.337;  $90,204,127  in  1936;  $84,475,567 
i  1935. 

For  1938,  as  indicated  in  financial 
:atements  of  the  companies,  and  not 
lcluded  in  the  S.E.C.  report,  total 
perating  revenue  was  as  follows : 

Loew's,  $122,737,214;  Universal, 
20.190,117  ;  20th  Century-Fox,  $60,- 
J31.473;  Warners,  $102,205,911;  Para- 
munt,  $104,360,381  ;  Columbia,  $20,- 
,31.699. 

The  total  assets  of  these  companies 
i  1937  were:  Columbia,  $16,515,933; 

Educational,  $996,902;  Loews,  $142,- 
44.024;     Paramount,  $120,219,281; 

.3th  Century-Fox,  $60,364,096;  Uni- 


May  Yield  Consent  Decree 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

and  we  hope  much  will  come  out  of 
it." 

Members  of  the  group  said  that  it 
was  probable  a  number  of  conferences 
would  be  held  before  a  concrete  pro- 
gram was  worked  out,  but  that  some 
suggestions  would  be  brought  to 
Washington  next  week. 

The  film  representatives  apparently 
were  well  pleased  over  the  friendly 
reception  accorded  them  and  hopeful 
that  the  department  could  be  of  assist- 
ance in  solving  the  problems  which 
were  outlined,  either  by  itself  or  in 
cooperation  with  other  branches  of 
the  industry. 

While  both  department  and  film  of- 
ficials denied  that  the  New  York  suit 
was  a  subject  of  discussion,  it  was 
learned  unofficially  that  the  matter  was 
brought  up  almost  at  the  inception  of 
the  meeting  this  morning,  together 
with  block  booking  and  the  trade 
practice  proposal. 

It  was  said  that  the  industry  ap- 


peared ready  to  make  quite  a  few  con- 
cessions to  secure  a  consent  decree  and 
seems  to  be  in  a  "bargaining  mood." 

The  bulk  of  the  information  which 
will  be  sought  of  Hazen  it  was  in- 
peared  ready  to  make  quite  a  few  con- 
dicated,  will  consist  of  material  nec- 
essary for  a  full  understanding  of 
the  entire  situation  by  department  of- 
ficials before  they  take  the  matter  up 
with  the  Department  of  Justice. 

It  was  pointed  out  that  if  trade 
troubles  generally  were  all  that  was 
involved,  it  would  not  be  likely  that 
the  highest  salaried  men  in  the  indus- 
try would  be  ready  to  make  repeated 
trips  to  Washington. 

Undoubtedly,  it  was  said,  the  major 
purpose  of  the  meetings  is  a  consent 
decree,  with  the  department  serving  in 
a  liaison  role.  It  was  also  pointed  out 
that  this  was  the  third  group  to  hold 
such  a  meeting  with  department  heads 
and  that  the  other  two  groups  also 
were  from  industries  against  which  the 
department  of  justice  is  proceeding. 


Paramount  Greets 
Delegates  Today 

Hollywood,  June  6. — Para- 
mount convention  delegates 
arrive  on  a  14-car  Union 
Pacific  special  train  tomor- 
row morning  and  will  go  to 
the  studio  for  the  welcome 
ceremonies. 

The  convention  will  get 
under  way  Thursday  and  end 
with  a  dinner-dance  Satur- 
day. Following  the  dance, 
delegates  will  go  to  San 
Francisco  where  they  will  be 
guests  of  Paramount  at  the 
Fair. 


versal  Pictures,  $11,765,602;  Warner 
Brothers,  $177,544,606. 

Other  companies  on  which  some 
data  was  available  were  Grand  Na- 
tional Films,  for  which  only  1936  sales 
of  $1,205,651  and  1936  total  assets  of 
$1,857,652  were  reported;  Monogram, 
for  which  only  1937  11-month  sales  of 
$286,780  and  1937  assets  of  $1,262,376 
were  available,  and  Universal  Corp., 
parent  of  Universal  Pictures,  which 
had  sales  in  1937  of  $16,359,879 
against  $14,718,696  in  1936,  and  assets 
in  1937  of  $13,372,241. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Xeiv  issties  devote  considerable 
>>ufoge  to  sporting  events.  Reels  and 
icir  contents  follozv. 
MOVIETONE  NEWS.  No.  77— League 
Xations  in  session.  Queen  Wilhelmina 
Belgium.  Female  soldiers  in  Rome. 
Smile  Girl"  is  chosen.  Huge  transport 
ane  over  New  York.  Aviation  meet  in 
ranee.  Miss  American  Aviation  is 
owned.  Bombers  fly  in  formation.  Lew 
Jehr.  English  derby.  Golf  tournament, 
olo  match.  Graduation  at  Annapolis. 
NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  275— Level 
~ea  for  new  dam.  King  and  Queen  in 
anada.  Middies  graduate.  DC4  over 
ew  York.  Glider  meet  in  France.  Fred 
one  at  Lourdes  Shrine.  Mussolini  mob- 
zes  women.  Polo  game.  Epsom  Derby. 
PARAMOUNT  NEWS.  No.  88-Hoover 
:  university  graduations.  Air  circus  in 
ranee.      Explosion   wrecks   Ohio  school. 


Inland  sea  in  Washington.  Plane  in  test 
flight.  Derby  in  England.  Lou  Nova  and 
Max  Baer  interviewed.  Tony  Galento  pre- 
pares for  title  bout.  America  defeats  Brit- 
ain in  polo. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS.  No.  92— Refugee 
ship  in  Havana  harbor.  Daladier  and  Bull- 
itt honor  war  dead.  William  Leiserson 
appointed  to  Labor  Board.  Polo  series 
opens.  Oil  well  floods  town  in  California. 
Danish  gymnasts  arrive  in  New  York.  Ga- 
lento in  training.    Belmont  Stakes. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  777 — 
Graduation  at  Annapolis.  Refugees  on  Ger- 
man liner.  Women  Fascists  parade  in 
Rome.  King  and  Queen  in  Canada.  Snite 
visits  France.  Area  cleared  for  Coulee 
Dam.  School  explosion  in  Ohio.  DC4  ar- 
rives in  New  York.  Air  show  in  France. 
American  air  show.  Indian  suicide  race. 
School  of  gymnasts  in  New  York.  Inter- 
national polo  match. 


RKO'S  Convention 
Committees  Named 

Jules  Levy,  RKO  general  sales 
manager,  yesterday  named  the  com- 
mittees to  officiate  at  the  company's 
sales  convention  at  the  Westchester 
Country  Club,  Rye,  N.  Y.,  June  19- 
22.  The  committees  are  as  follows : 

General — A.  A.  Schubart,  M.  G. 
Poller,  W.  J.  McShea,  Harry  Gittle- 
son,  S.  Barret  McCormick ;  reception 
— Schubart,  McShea,  Poller,  Robert 
Wolff,  Frank  L.  Drumm,  Phil  Hodes, 
Jack  Ellis,  Lou  Kutinsky,  Edward 
Carroll,  Harry  Zeitals,  John  Dacey ; 
foreign  reception — Phil  Reisman,  B.  D. 
Lion,  Michael  Hoffay,  R.  L.  Hawkin- 
son  ;  publicity — McCormick,  Rutgers 
Neilson,  Gittleson,  Hoffay ;  decora- 
tions— Leon  J.  Bamberger,  Lou  Gau- 
dreau  ;  transportation — McShea,  Geg- 
enbach. 

Gus  Schaefer,  district  manager  for 
Central  America  and  Mexico,  arrived 
yesterday  on  Orizaba  for  the  meeting. 


Seek  to  Settle 
Upstate  Fight 
On  Clearance 


Negotiations  looking  to  revision  of 
clearance  upstate  will  begin  here  late 
this  week  or  next  week.  The  first 
meeting  will  discuss  clearance  in  Al- 
bany, Troy,  Schenectady. 

New  York  Allied,  which  seeks  re- 
lief for  the  independents,  says  that 
the  circuits'  protection  in  that  area  is 
as  much  as  180  days  and  120  days  in 
some  spots. 

Upstate  delegations  will  meet  here 
with  Si  Fabian,  H.  M.  Richey  of 
RKO  and  a  Warner  representative. 
Max  A.  Cohen,  New  York  Allied 
president ;  E.  Thornton  Kelly,  state 
executive  secretary,  and  Harry  G. 
Kosch,  counsel,  will  sit  in. 

Allied  members  will  meet  in  Buffalo 
Monday  on  clearance.  Kelly,  who  will 
attend  the  meeting,  will  attend  the 
Variety  Club  dinner  that  night  to 
Joseph  Miller,  Columbia  branch  man- 
ager, transferred  to  Albany,  and  then 
will  leave  for  the  national  convention 
at  Minneapolis. 


Baird  Demonstrating 
Television  Shortly 

Baird  Television  (Gaumont  British) 
is  completing  arrangements  for  a 
demonstration  of  its  television  equip- 
ment for  theatres  here. 

In  correcting  an  impression  that 
Baird  has  "deferred  indefinitely"  put- 
ting large  screen  apparatus  in  New 
York  theatres,  officials  yesterday  said 
that  the  television  demonstration  setup 
in  the  company's  offices  at  1600  Broad- 
way is  nearly  complete.  Demonstra- 
tions will  be  held  prior  to  arrange- 
ments with  theatres  and  circuits  which 
have  made  inquiries. 


Batcheller  with  Reed 

Hollywood,  June  6.  —  George 
Batcheller,  Jr.,  for  two  years  Repub- 
lic assistant  director,  has  resigned  to 
join  Roland  Reed  Productions  as  as- 
sistant to  Reed,  with  headquarters 
at  the  Selznick  International  studio. 


3 


ottice  y 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  7,  193 


Banner  Lines 

 By  JACK  BANNER  

JAMES  J.  WALKER  .  .  .  Politicians  apparently  make  poor  spellbinders  on 
the  air,  strange  as  that  may  seem.   Jimmie  Walker,  after  only  a  short  pe- 
riod locally  on  NBC,  has  been  given  his  notice.  Ex-Governor  Harold  G. 
Hoffman  of  New  Jersey  tried  his  luck  on  WOR,  but  he,  too,  gave  up  the 
ghost  a  short  time  ago. 

▼ 

F.  D.  R.'S  REQUEST  .  .  .  When  Kate  Smith  was  invited  to  sing  at  the 
White  House  by  Mrs.  Roosevelt  at  the  reception  for  the  King  and  Queen, 
Henry  Junge,  who  arranges  all  White  House  musicals,  requested  that  the 
swanee  singer  provide  a  list  of  numbers  she  intended  to  sing.  Her  list  pro- 
vided for  "Home  on  the  Range,"  "Macushla,"  "Ah,  Sweet  Mystery  of  Life" 
and  "These  Foolish  Things  Remind  Me  of  You."  Yesterday  she  received  a 
wire  from  the  President,  asking  her  to  include  "When  the  Moon  Comes  Over 
the  Mountain." 

T 

TED  COLLINS  SELLS  ...  Ted  Collins  has  sold  his  new  script  show,  "My 
Son  and  I,"  to  General  Foods  for  sponsorship  over  CBS  starting  Oct.  9. 
Betty  Garde  and  Kingsley  Colton  will  be  featured  in  the  series.  Young  & 
Rubicam  handled  the  deal. 

▼ 

RUPPERT  WON'T  BOW  TO  ELLIOTT  . . .  Elliott  Roosevelt's  commen- 
tary won't  be  heard  over  WOR  tomorrow  night  at  7:15.  That  period  has 
been  occupied  by  Jimmy  Jemail,  broadcasting  for  Ruppert  Beer.  Latter's  con- 
tract specifies  that  two  weeks'  notice  be  given  the  firm  before  vacating  the 
period,  and  Ruppert  is  taking  full  advantage  of  the  stipulation. 

T 

CONSIDER  THY  NEIGHBOR  .  .  .  Last  time  WOR  broadcast  a  Brook- 
lyn Dodger  night  baseball  game  the  contest  lasted  until  past  1  A.M.  Sta- 
tion was  deluged  with  telephone  calls  from  people  who  couldn't  sleep  because 
of  blaring  radios.  Tonight  WOR  broadcasts  another  night  game,  and  an- 
nouncements will  be  given  throughout  the  game  urging  listeners  to  tune 
down  their  sets  to  lowest  reception  ebb. 

T 

WMCA  TURNS  MUSICAL  .  ._.  WMCA,  which  to  this  point  has  avoided 
presentation  of  serious  music,  will  compete  with  WQXR  and  WHN  by 
presenting  a  one-hour  recorded  show  of  classics  each  night  at  11  o'clock 
starting  Monday. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Vaughn  de  Leath,  grand  old  lady  of  radio,  receives  a 
deserved  break  when  she  steps  in  as  the  Summer  replacement  to  the  "Voice 
of  Experience"  over  Mutual  Sept.  26.  .  .  .  Larry  Menkin  has  been  signed  as 
writer  and  director  for  the  new  Fred  Waring  program.  .  .  .  Ernie  Cutting, 
former  director  of  auditions  for  NBC,  is  now  free  lancing  as  talent  scout  and 
analyst  and  has  made  tieups  with  principal  recording  studios  whereby  his 
firm  will  conduct  search  for  talent.  .  .  .  Guy  Lombardo's  speedboat  burned 
down  yesterday,  but  Guy  has  two  others  left,  so  don't  fret.  .  .  .  Bette  Garde 
is  back  from  a  Bermuda  vacation. 

T 

BILL  BACHER  OUT  .  .  Bill  Bacher  will  be  through  as  director  of  the 
Texaco  Star  Theatre  when  the  series  takes  its  hiatus.  Upon  its  return  Ed 
Gardner  will  take  over  production  of  the  series. 

T 

BERNIE  AND  THE  LADS  .  .  .  Won't  have  any  sponsor  worries  for 
some  time  to  come,  for  the  troupe  has  just  been  contracted  to  continue  through 
the  Fall  and  well  into  the  Winter  for  Half  and  Half  tobacco. 

T 

SISTER  WRITERS  .  .  .  Ruth  Borden,  sister  of  Edith  Meiser,  writer  of 
the  "Dr.  Susan  Brown"  series  for  Lux,  achieves  full  stature  as  a  network 
author,  by  signing  on  as  script  writer  of  the  "Valiant  Lady"  sketches. 

T 

PALEY  AWARD  .  .  .  Wilson  E.  Burgess,  amateur  radio  operator,  yester- 
day received  the  William  S.  Paley  Amateur  Radio  Award  for  heroic  serv- 
ice during  the  New  England  hurricane  last  year.  In  addition  to  a  host  of 
CBS  and  government  officials,  the  turnout  of  newspanermen  at  the  luncheon 
included  E.  L.  Bragdon,  Alton  Cook,  Nick  Kenny,  Charles  Butterfield,  Len 
Carlton,  Orrin  Dunlap,  Dick  O'Brien,  Ben  Gross,  Sam  Kaufman,  Eldridge 
Peterson,  Jo  Ranson,  Bruce  Robertson,  Ted  Rogers,  Fred  Sammis  and 
M.  H.  Shapiro. 


No  Monopoly, 
Reply  to  Suit 
By  Columbia 


Columbia  yesterday  served  notice 
on  the  Department  of  Justice  that  it 
will  apply  to  Federal  Judge  William 
Bondy  June  16  for  an  order  either 
dismissing  the  Government's  anti-trust 
suit  against  it,  barring  the  Govern- 
ment from  presenting  evidence  at  trial 
of  charges  made  against  Columbia,  or 
directing  the  Government  to  file  a 
more  detailed  bill  of  particulars  on 
the  Government's  claim  of  participa- 
tion by  Columbia  in  the  alleged  mo- 
nopoly in  the  industry. 

Although  motion  papers  have  not 
been  filed  as  yet,  it  is  understood  Co- 
lumbia's motion  in  many  respects  fol- 
lows closely  that  previously  made  by 
the  other  defendants  in  their  consoli- 
dated application,  which  Judge  Bondy 
is  now  considering. 

Affidavits  submitted  with  the  appli- 
cation argued  that  the  Government 
had  no  legal  right  to  list  instances  of 
violations  which  referred  to  the  Inter- 
state Circuit  in  Texas,  since  these  in- 
stances were  all  heard  and  adjudicated 
in  a  previous  anti-trust  suit  in  Texas 
which  involved  Interstate. 

Finally,  Columbia  will  seek  a  dis- 
missal of  the  suit  in  its  entirety  on 
the  contention,  previously  raised,  that 
it  is  only  in  the  production  field  and 
not  tied  up  with  exhibition.  Columbia 
points  to  the  instances  of  specific  vio- 
lations in  the  Government's  previous 
bill  which  Columbia  claims  indicates  a 
lack  of  evidence  by  the  Government  of 
violations  in  exhibition. 

Columbia  Reports 
Loss  for  9  Months 

Columbia  Pictures  Corp.  yesterday 
reported  net  loss  for  the  nine  months 
ended  April  1,  1939,  of  $80,158.80, 
after  all  charges  and  provision  for 
Federal  income  and  other  taxes. 

The  net  loss  compares  with  a  net 
profit  for  the  same  period  the  previ- 
ous year  of  $438,268. 

The  balance  sheet  for  the  1939  pe- 
riod shows  current  assets  of  $12,105,- 
516.22  and  current  liabilities  of  $1,- 
285,161.51.  Working  capital  amounted 
to  approximately  $10,800,000. 

For  the  same  period  in  the  previous 
year,  curent  assets  were  reported  at 
$11,652,650  and  current  liabilities  at 
$1,531,825. 

Carolina  Exhibitors 
Praise  Kuykendall 

Myrtle  Beach,  S.  C,  June  6. — 
Membership  of  the  Theatre  Owners  of 
North  and  South  Carolina,  closing 
their  three-day  annual  convention  here 
today,  voted  appreciation  to  Ed  Kuy- 
kendall, M.P.T.O.A.  president,  for  his 
efforts  in  their  behalf  on  the  trade 
practice  code. 

The  meeting  voted  a  resolution  op- 
posing the  Neely  block  booking  bill, 
and  approved  action  of  distributors  in 
opposing  non-theatrical  exhibitions. 


Times  Square  Tieup 

Fire  atop  a  building  at  the  south- 
west corner  of  42nd  St.  and  Seventh 
Ave.  tied  up  Times  Square  traffic  for 
almost  an  hour  yesterday  afternoon. 
Thousands  gathered  as  flames  10  feet 
high  shot  up  from  the  roof. 


E.  C.  Grainger  Plans 
New  Theatre  in  Ohio 

E.  C.  Grainger,  general  manager  of 
Shea  Theatrical  Enterprises,  was  in 
Columbus  yesterday,  conferring  with 
H.  C.  Holbrook,  architect  for  the  cir- 
cuit, on  construction  of  a  new  theatre 
in  New  Philadelphia,  O.  Shea  owns 
and  operates  the  Union  Opera  House 
in  that  city. 

Following  these  conferences, 
Grainger  will  make  a  tour  of  the  Shea 
Ohio  towns,  including  Fremont,  Lan- 
caster, Youngstown,  Newark,  Mari- 
etta, Cambridge  and  Akron. 


Paramount  to  Honor 
Edison  in  Broadcast 

Los  Angeles,  June  6. — Paramount 
has  completed  arrangements  with  CBS 
for  presentation  of  a  network  orosram 
commemorating;  the  50th  anniversary 
of  Thomas  Edison's  invention  of  the 
Kinetescope.  The  broadcast  will  pre- 
cede the  banquet  at  the  Paramount 
convention,  and  will  be  aired  at  9  p.  m 

Jack  Benny  will  be  master  of  cere- 
monies. Others  on  the  program  will 
be  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  Bob  Hope, 
Dorothy  Lamour,  Tito  Guizar  and 
Linda  Ware. 


U.  S.  Notables 
In  Chile  Salute 
To  U.  S.  Films 


Will  H.  Hays,  president  of  Motio 
Picture  Producers  and  Distributors  c 
America ;  Alberto  Cabero,  Chilea 
Ambassador  to  the  United  Stgw 
Martin  Quigley,  publisher  and  e^,'r 
in-chief  of  the  Quigley  Publications 
and  Anibal  Jara  Letelier,  Chileai 
Consul-General,  are  among  speaker 
expected  to  take  part  in  the  Pan 
American  radio  broadcast  arrange* 
on  the  occasion  of  the  reception  ten 
dered  by  the  Chilean  Government  ir 
honor  of  the  American  motion  pictur 
industry,  with  the  co-operation  o 
Teatro  al  Dia,  the  Quigley  Pan 
American  magazine. 

This  reception  will  be  held  Friday 
June  16,  from  2  to  6  P.M.  in  th. 
Chilean  Pavilion  at  the  World's  Fair 
Special  buses  will  drive  the  guest 
leaving  from  9  Rockefeller  Plaza 
where  offices  of  the  Chilean  Consulate 
General  are  located  in  New  York. 

The  committee  in  charge  of  the  af 
fair  has  arranged  for  a  typical  Chileai 
fiesta  which  will  include  outstandinj 
native  stars  at  present  appearing  ii 
New  York  City.  A  buffet  consistinj 
of  Chilean  dishes  will  be  served,  an< 
the  industry  will  be  toasted  with  Chil 
ean  wine. 

The  broadcast  has  been  arrangei 
through  CBS  and  its  international  sta 
tions  in  New  York  and  Philadelphia 
It  will  be  re-transmitted  by  leading 
tations  in  Latin  America. 

Dorita  Norby,  Argentine  delegati 
to  the  World's  Fair,  and  one  of  Latii 
American  foremost  folk-lore  singers 
Tito  Coral,  Venezuelan  baritone,  anc 
other  noted  Spanish-American  artist: 
will  take  part  in  the  program. 

Alfonso  Merlet,  Chilean  delegate  t< 
the  World's  Fair,  who  with  H.  Alban 
Mestanza,  editor  of  Teatro  al  Dia 
are  in  charge  of  the  arrangements 
will  be  master  of  ceremonies. 


'Happiness'  Opens 
At  Paramount  Todai 

"Invitation  to  Happiness"  opens  to- 
day at  the  Paramount.  Fourth  week  Oi; 
"Union  Pacific"  grossed  an  estimated 
$21,000.  Both  "Juarez"  and  "Young- 
Mr.  Lincoln"  got  off  to  good  stark; 
with  a  three-week  run  possible  foi 
both. 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  drew  an  esti- 
mated $32,000  in  its  first  five  days  al 
the  Roxy  and  "Juarez"  grossed  an  esti- 
mated $34,000  at  the  Strand. 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  is  still  a 
strong  draw  at  the  Astor  with  an  esti- 
mated $15,000  for  its  third  week. 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  drew  an  esti- 
mated $2,500  in  four  days  at  the  Globe. 
Columbia's  "Clouds  Over  Europe"  is 
set  for  the  Music  Hall  June  15. 


Send  Out  Contracts 
For  Projectionists 

Operators'  Union,  Local  306,  has 
sent  all  home  offices  and  newsreel  com- 
panies formal  contracts  covering  pro- 
jectionists. Contracts  embody  terms 
agreed  upon  in  April  when  the  306  ■ 
strike  was  settled.  Wages  are  $87.50 
weekly  for  projectionists.  The  con- 
tracts run  to  Aug.  1,  1940. 
i 




OT  REMOVE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


Accu 
and 

Impartial 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  8,  1939 


New  Neely  Strategy 

Sees  W ay  to  Assure  Vote  by  Having  Bill  Listed 
as  'Unfinished  Business' 


Washington,  June  7. — In  an  at- 
tempt to  force  prompt  action  on 
his  block  booking  bill,  Senator 
Neely  next  week  will  file  a  motion 
to  make  his  bill  unfinished  business 
in  the  Senate. 

Observers  believe  that  the  motion 
will  be  approved  and  that  Neely's 
measure,  when  brought  up  for  a 
vote,  will  be  passed  and  sent  to  the 
House,  where  action  will  be  post- 
poned until  the  next  session  of 
Congress. 

Senator  Neelv's  effort  to  force 


consideration  of  the  bill  is  based 
on  his  expectation  that  when  the 
bill  is  reached  during  a  call  of  the 
calendar  it  will  be  overlooked.  A 
single  objection,  undebatable,  can 
prevent  consideration  of  a  bill  on 
the  calendar. 

While  it  is  expected  that  there 
will  be  a  lengthy  debate  on  the  bill, 
it  is  not  believed  that  any  real  ef- 
fort will  be  made  by  Administration 
leaders  to  defeat  it.  The  Senate 
last  year  passed  the  measure  with 
only  two  dissenting  votes. 


20  Stations  Fume  as  Fair 
Restricts  Royal  Broadcast 


Alert, 


Picture 


Industry 


OL.  45.  NO.  110 


*aramount's 
Films  Budget 
$30,000,000 

8  Features  for  1939-'40; 
Sales  Meeting  Today 

Los  Angeles,  June  7. — Paramount's 
hedule  of  58  features  for  next  sea- 
m  will  represent  an  investment  of 
W.000,000,  company  officials  said  to- 
iv.  The  national  sales  convention 
oens  at  the  Ambassador  here  tomor- 

)W. 

The  current  year's  releases,  includ- 
g  westerns,  and  two  from  England 
ill  total  61  pictures. 
The  total  expenditure  for  new  sea- 
m  product  is  expected  to  exceed  last 
•ason's  by  at  least  $2,500,000.  This 
dudes  the  production  cost  of  at  least 
vo  features  from  England  to  be  giv- 
l  world  distribution  by  Paramount. 

275  Delegates  Convene 

The  three-day  meeting  will  be  at- 
nded  by  about  275  delegates,  headed 
,•  Adolph  Zukor,  board  chairman ; 
arney  Balaban,  president :  Stanton 
riffis,  chairman  of  the  executive  com- 
ittee,  and  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice-presi- 
ent  in  charge  of  distribution. 
Agnew  will  act  as  chairman  at  the 
xning  business  session  tomorrow 
orning.  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice- 
resident  in  charge  of  studio  opera- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Jrge  Self-Surety 
For  Independents 

Self-insurance  by  New  York  inde- 
■ndent  exhibitors  for  liability  cover- 
?e  will  be  investigated  by  an  I.T.O.A. 
.  munittee    appointed    yesterday  by 

arry  Brandt,  president. 

Arthur  Pelterson  of  the  Mitchell 
lay,  Jr.,  insurance  office  at  the 
TO. A.  meeting  yesterday  outlined 

plan  for  group  self-insurance  where- 
p  economies  can  be  effected. 

Pelterson  said  that  the  rate  is  now 
cents  a  seat  in  New  York  City  and 

creases  are  in  prospect.  The  rate 
;xt  year  may  be  $1  a  seat,  he  said, 
y  group  self-insurance,  savings  of 
om  25  to  75  per  cent  may  be  made, 
:  declared. 

He  pointed  out  that  relief  can  come 
i\y  by  collective  action,  and  that  the 
oew  circuit  has  been  a  self-insurer 
•r  several  years. 

The  I.T.O.A.  committee  will  de- 
rmine  the  attitude  of  members  to- 
ard  the  proposal.  It  consists  of  Otto 
ederer,  chairman;  David  Weinstock, 
ranees  Bregman,  Irving  Renner, 
ernard  Pear. 


Only  Networks  Permitted 
at  Reception  Saturday; 
Reason  Is  Mystery 

Independent  metropolitan  radio  sta- 
tions— there  are  approximately  20 — 
have  been  denied  the  privilege  of 
broadcasting  from  Federal  Hall  at  the 
World's  Fair  where  on  Saturday  the 
British  King  and  Queen  will  be  enter- 
tained at  luncheon  by  a  select  gather- 
ing. Only  the  networks  will  be  per- 
mitted to  run  broadcasting  lines  into 
the  building. 

As  matters  now  stand,  no  radio 
lines  whatsoever  will  be  permitted  in- 
to Perylon  Hall  where  the  Royal 
visitors  are  to  be  received  officially 
by  Mayor  LaGuardia  and  Fair  Direc- 
tor Grover  Whalen.  However,  the 
networks  may  yet  win  this  privilege, 
as  they  are  exerting  strong  pressure 
upon  Fair  officials  to  win  this  point. 

No  explanation  of  any  kind  has 
been  offered  to  locals  for  their  ex- 
clusion. Yesterday  afternoon  repre- 
sentatives of  nine  local  stations  con- 
ferred with  John  S.  Young,  Fair 
radio  director.  Despite  a  heated  ses- 
sion, no  action  was  taken. 

WNEW  has  offered  to  pay  line 
charges  and  feed  through  master  con- 
trol of  CBS  and  NBC  so  that  all 
other  local  units  can  pick  up  the  pro- 
ceedings. WNEW  also  undertook  to 
do  the  broadcast  anonymously  to  void 
any  danger  of  its  call  letetrs  being 
picked  up  bv  the  other  stations.  As 
yet  WNEW  has  not  had  a  reply  to  its 
proposal. 

The  stations  turned  down  the  one 
concession  that  was  offered  them — the 
privilege  of  setting  up  equipment  on 
the  steps  of  the  buildings. 


Thomson  to  N.  Y. 
In  Television  Fight 

Hollywood,  June  7. — Ken 
Thomson,  executive  vice- 
president  of  Screen  Actors 
Guild,  is  New  York-bound  to 
attend  the  television  juris- 
diction meeting  of  Associated 
Actors  and  Artistes  of 
America. 

Thomson  decided  to  present 
personally  the  S.A.G.  stand 
that  jurisdiction  should  be 
vested  in  a  joint  committee 
of  Actors  Equity,  American 
Federation  of  Radio  Artists 
and  S.A.G. 


IATSE  Trial  Hears 
of  Smith  Warning' 

Los  Angeles,  June  7.— Minutes  of 
two  meetings  of  the  deposed  Board 
of  Governors  of  Technicians  Local 
37,  at  which  Harold  V.  Smith,  then 
International  I.  A.  T.  S.  E.  represen- 
tative, was  present,  were  read  today 
into  records  of  the  trial  of  the  local 
suit  for  control  of  the  organization. 

Guy  Cooper,  recording  secretary  of 
the  local,  presented  reports  of  meet- 
ings at  which  Smith  addressed  offi- 
cers and  urged  them  to  name  the  In- 
ternational as  the  local's  bargaining 
agency  with  producers. 

Officers  refused  to  do  this,  how- 
ever, and  Smith  was  said  to  have  told 
them :  "Your  local  is  very  strong  nu- 
merically, but  it  is  weak  in  economic 
power.  The  producers  could  put  you 
out  of  the  studios  tomorrow  if  they 
wanted  to  and  if  you  did  not  have  us." 


TEN  CENTS 


U.S.  to  Stand 
Pat  on  Trust 
Prosecutions 


Murphy  Denies  Change  in 
N.  Y.  Suit  Plans 


Washington,  June  7. — Conferences 
of  Department  of  Commerce  officials 
with  representatives  of  the  film  indus- 
try will  have  no  effect  on  Department 
of  Justice  plans  for  prosecution  of  the 
New  York  anti-trust  suit,  Attorney 
General  Frank  Murphy  said  today. 

However,  he  added,  "We  will  view 
with  great  respect  and  consideration 
any  recommendations  that  Secretary 
Hopkins  may  make  and  know  he  will 
only  try  to  be  helpful." 

"Must  Enforce  the  Law" 

Mr.  Murphy  suggested  that  it  is 
possible  that  the  Commerce  Depart- 
ment conferences  will  reach  some 
trade  practice  agreement  that  may 
simplify  settlement  of  the  litigation 
now  in  progress  in  New  York  and 
elsewhere. 

"As  with  all  industries  engaged  in 
practices  in  violation  of  the  anti-trust 
laws,  we  have  to  take  immediate  ac- 
tion to  enforce  the  law,"  he  explained. 
"Whatever  we  do,  we  hope  it  will 
have  an  effect  good  for  the  public. 
We  hope  it  will  be  good  for  the  in- 
dustry, too,  because  we  want  it  to 
flourish." 

Consent  Decree  Looms 

The  Attorney  General  admitted  the 
implication  that  the  Commerce  De- 
partment was  acting,  possibly,  as  an 
intermediary  and  negotiator  for  a  con- 
sent decree  in  the  film  case,  and  that 
the  conferences  had  been  suggested  by 
the  Justice  department. 

He  made  it  plain,  however,  that 
while  it  might  be  possible  to  settle 
civil  cases  by  consent  decree,  no  such 
action  could  be  taken  with  respect  to 
criminal  prosecutions. 

Film  executives  are  scheduled  to 
meet  again  in  Washington  next  week. 

World  Fair  Strike 
Parley  Set  Tonight 

A  strike  call  at  the  New  York 
World's  Fair  is  expected  to  result, 
unless  an  agreement  can  be  reached 
between  the  Fair  authorities  and  the 
New  York  Theatrical  Trades  Council 
at  a  final  meeting  scheduled  for  to- 
night. 

_  Union  officials  yesterday  held  out 
little  hope  of  an  agreement  being 
reached.  If  the  strike  is  called,  it  is 
expected  to  become  effective,  follow- 
ing the  visit  to  Fair  of  King  George 
VI  and  Queen  Elizabeth  of  England. 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Thursday,  June  8,  19;j 


Drama  Guild's 
O.K.  Forecast 
On  Agreement 


Approval  of  modifications  to  the 
minimum  basic  agreement  of  the 
Dramatists'  Guild  will  be  given  by  the 
guild  council  within  the  next_  few 
weeks,  it  is  indicated.  The  council  has 
been  studying  a  draft  agreement  pre- 
pared by  Sidney  R.  Fleisher,  guild 
attorney,  after  conferences  with  J. 
Robert  Rubin,  Loew  vice-president, 
and  Jake  Wilk,  Warner  story  editor. 

The  modifications,  which  would  per- 
mit the  purchase  of  film  rights  to  a 
play  before  production,  were  approved 
in  principle  two  months  ago  but  many 
of  the  details  were  disputed.  When 
Fleisher  returned  from  his  recent  ill- 
ness he  was  able  to  satisfy  the  guild 
on  many  of  the  technicalities  involved. 

Whether  the  modifications  can  be 
settled  in  time  for  the  beginning  of  the 
new  season  next  fall  is  uncertain.  The 
council  will  meet  next  week  and  its 
approval  is  expected  shortly  thereafter. 
A  special  meeting  of  the  guild  mem- 
bership then  will  be  held  and  final 
approval  from  the  League  of  New 
York  Theatres  also  will  be  required. 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Loew's  Votes  Third 
50c  Extra  Dividend 

Directors  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  yesterday 
declared  an  extra  dividend  of  50  cents 
and  a  regular  50-cent  dividend  on  the 
common  stock,  payable  June  30  to 
stockholders  of  record  June  20. 

This  makes  the  third  extra  50-cent 
dividend  for  the  fiscal  year.  Similar 


UNITED 

TO  CHICAGO 

Only  4  hrs.  35  min. 
★ 

shortest 

AIR  ROUTE 

★ 

tastest 

AVERAGE  SERVICE 
★ 

famous 

MAINLINERS 

★ 

NON-STOPS: 

the  '12:15'    the  '3:15' 
the  '5:15'* 

Call  United,  travel 
agents,  hotels.  (*e.s.t.) 

UNITED 


AIR  LINES 


HARRY  GOLD,  Emanuel  Silver- 
stone,  Morris  Helpern,  Rube 
Jackter,  Louis  Weinberg,  Monroe 
Greenthal,  William  Brandt,  Sam 
Shain,  Al  Margolies,  Morris  Kin- 
zler,  Harry  Koziner,  Mac  Litt- 
man,  Charles  Perry,  A-Mike  Vo- 
gel  lunching  at  Lindy's  yesterday. 
• 

M.  Ramirez  Torres  of  Medal  Film 
Exchange,  RKO  distributor  in  San 
Juan,  Porto  Rico,  was  a  visitor  at 
the  RKO  World's  Fair  lounge  yester- 
day. 

• 

John  Barclay,  who  played  in  the 
screen  version  of  "The  Mikado,"  will 
appear  in  "Devil's  Disciple,"  Shaw 
comedy,  at  the  Starlight  Theatre, 
Pawling,  N.  Y.,  next  week. 

• 

P.  L.  Palmerton,  Western  Electric 
head  in  England,  and  John  Riley, 
chief  engineer  there,  arrive  tomorrow 
on  the  New  Amsterdam  for  home 
office  conferences. 

• 

Gregory  Dickson,  who  resigned 
last  week  as  Samuel  Goldwyn's 
publicity  director  on  the  coast,  ar- 
rived in  town  yesterday. 

• 

Alexander  Korda  has  signed  John 
Justin,  newcomer,  to  a  seven-year 
contract,  and  given  him  an  important 
role  in  "Thief  of  Bagdad." 

• 

Maxie  Rosenbloom  will  be  fea- 
tured in  a  series  of  Warner  shorts, 
to  be  supervised  by  Gordon  Hol- 
lingshead. 

• 

Ira  Genet,  Warner  writer  and  di- 
rector, will  work  this  summer  on  the 
series  of  "Color  Parades"  which  will 
be  made  in  the  east. 

• 

Edward  Everett  Horton  will  play 
summer  stock  in  Maine. 

• 

Harry  G.  Kosch,  New  York  Allied 
counsel,  is  under  the  weather. 


60  Pictures  Billed 
By  Judell  Company 

Hollywood,  June  7. — Producers 
Distributing  Corporation  today  was 
chosen  as  title  of  the  new  company 
formed  by  Ben  Judell. 

With  Judell  as  president,  Clare  Ju- 
dell as  vice-president,  and  H.  Judell 
as  secretary,  the  company  will  produce 
24  westerns  in  addition  to  the  36  melo- 
dramas already  announced.  Produc- 
tion of  the  first  film  will  start  July  6. 

Eleven  more  exchanges  will  be 
added  to  the  16  already  organized  to 
give  the  company  complete  national 
distribution. 


George  Fawcett  Dies 

Nantucket,  Mass.,  June  7. — 
George  D.  Fawcett,  77,  stage  and 
screen  actor,  died  yesterday  of  a  heart 
ailment.  He  started  his  stage  career 
in  1886  and  was  a  veteran  of  the 
screen. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


J ROBERT  RUBIN,  vice-president 
•  of  Loew's ;  William  S.  Paley, 
president  of  CBS,  and  Lenox  Lohr, 
president  of  NBC,  will  be  among  the 
industry  leaders  serving  as  sponsors 
of  the  1939  Williamstown  Institute  of 
Human  Relations,  Aug.  27  to  Sept.  1. 
• 

Al  Pickus,  operator  of  the  Strat- 
ford, Stratford,  Conn.,  was  awarded  a 
silver  cup  as  one  of  the  winners  in 
the  Mill  River  Country  Club  golf 
tourney. 

• 

Leo  Justin,  Harry  Thomas  lunch- 
ing at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern  yester- 
day. Archie  Mayo,  Mitchell  Ros- 
san   sipping  cocktails   in  the  after- 


Charles  Stern,  United  Artists  dis- 
trict manager,   left  yesterday  for  a 
brief  visit  to  Baltimore  and  Washing- 
ton. He  will  return  tomorrow. 
• 

James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  presi- 
dent, is  due  tomorrow  from  Boston 
where  he  is  conferring  on  new  season 
circuit  deals. 

• 

Jack  Benny  will  be  Delegate  No.  1 
to  the  American  Legion's  21st  annual 
national  convention  to  be  held  in  Chi- 
cago Sept.  25-28. 

• 

Don  Higgins,  who  formerly  han- 
dled "March  of  Time"  radio  publicity, 
is  now  doing  the  same  work  for  the 
reel. 

• 

Joseph  M.  Schenck,  20th  Century- 
Fox  board  chairman,  is  here  for  two 
weeks.  He  arrived  early  this  week. 
• 

Will  H.  Hays  is  expected  from 
Washington  today. 


BUSINESS  MEN! 


WANT  MORE 
TIME  AT  HOME? 


Fly  TWA!  Make  Your  Longest 
Trip  Home  in  a  Few  Hours! 

LOS  ANGELES  or  SAN  FRANCISCO — Over- 
night via  TWA's  Skysleeper!  Leave  at 
5:30  p.  m.  —  fly  the  fastest  route  to  the 
Coast — arrive  in  either  city  after  break- 
fast! $149.95 

KANSAS  CITY— New  Daily  afternoon  ser- 
vice— Leave  at  1 :00  p.m. — arrive  in  Kan- 
sas City  at  8:15  p.  m  $66.45 

CHICAGO— 4  hrs.  35  min.!  New  Daily 
"Commuter  Air  Service"  to  Chicago — 8 
flights  a  day    (2  Nonstop)    .   .  $44.95 

10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips!  < 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 


Phone  Travel  Agent  or  MU  6-1640 

Transcontinental  &  Western  Air,  Inc 
70  E.  42nd  St.— Air  Desk,  Penn.Station 


Brokers  Ask 
For  Revisei 

Tickets  Co< 


Accredited  ticket  brokers  recogni: 
under  the  ticket  code  are  formulat 
demands  to  be  presented  to  the  Leaf  j 
of  New  York  Theatres  when  negoif 
tions  for  next  season's  code  agreem 
start  in  July.  z^1 

The  brokers,  who  have  been  wt^j 
an  unsuccessful  fight  for  abolition  j 
the  code,  claim  that  brokers  who 
fused  to  sign  last  year  have  succee 
in  obtaining  better  choice  of  seats. 

Meanwhile,  the  League  and  Act| 
Equity  are  studying  methods  for  ml 
stringent  enforcement.  Equity  may  [ 
fuse  to  sign  the  code  unless  it  canj 
proved  that  the  code  'is  stimulat 
theatre  attendance. 

Brokers  point  out  that  they 
been  hampered  by  the  fact  that  n« 
accredited  agencies  have  been  able 
continue  in  business  although  the  ci 
forbids  the   allotment   of  tickets 
them.  In  addition,  they  say,  the  put| 
has  not  benefited. 


'U'  Sales  Executives  I 
Go  on  Circuit  Toi\ 

Universal's  three  leading  sales  \ 
ecutives,  William  A.  Scully,  genel 
sales  manager ;  F.  J.  A.  McCartl 
eastern  sales  manager,  and  Willi! 
Heineman,  western  sales  manager,  II 
yesterday  for  a  series  of  conferenJ 
on  circuit  deals  for  the  new  seasof 
product. 

Scully  and  McCarthy  left  for  Mel 
phis   and   Heineman   for  Louisvifl 

From   Memphis,   McCarthy  will 
alone  to  New  Orleans  and  Nashvi) 
while  Scully  will  join  Heineman 
Louisville  and  acompany  him  to  E 
troit.   The  three  are  expected  to  \ 
turn  in  10  days. 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


Illinois  Exhibitor 
Meeting  Postpone 

Springfield,  III.,  June  7. — Meetiii 
of  United  Theatre  Owners  of  Illino 
scheduled  here  today,  was  unexpei 
edly  postponed.  The  unit  was  form 
recently  in  Chicago  to  fight  adver 
legislation.  Its  membership  consi; 
of  downstate  Illinois  exhibitors.  Fr 
Zorn  of  Pontiac  is  president. 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  a; 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compaoi 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  Cli 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  addre 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigle 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brow 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wa 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sa 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertisii' 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Micl 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  H( 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildin 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Gold 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  ma 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quig' 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigl' 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Bett 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  M 
lion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Enter 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  ti 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  tl 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  p 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  f»reig 
Single  copies  10c. 


L.WARNER  h  awgn  of  Pn>4i««K>  •  HAL  B.  WALL  1 5 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  8,  193! 


Frisco  Gives 
'Juarez'  Good 
$17,000  Lead 


San  Francisco,  June  7. — "Juarez" 
drew  $17,000  at  the  Fox  to  lead 
grosses.  "Fixer  Dugan"  did  well  with 
$15,200  at  the  Golden  Gate. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  30-June  2: 

"Fixer  Dugan"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,850)  (35c-40c-55c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $15,200. 
(Average,  $15,000) 

"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"On  Trial"  (W3.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)    7    days,    2nd    week.    Gross:  $8,700. 
(Average,  $11,500) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Mr.  Moto  of  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 

ST.    FRANCIS  —  (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
75c)  7  days,  3rd  week  (moved  over  from 
Fox).   Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (15c-35c-40c- 
55c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

WARFIELD — (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $13,500.  (Aver- 
age, $12,000) 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,800.  (Average, 
$8,000) 

"The  Lady  Vanishes"  (G.  B.) 

CLAY— (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,100.    (Average,  $1,000) 
"Concentration  Camp"  (Amkino) 

LARKIN  — (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $800.    (Average,  $1,000) 


'Juarez*  Cleveland 
Smash  with  $16,500 

Cleveland,  June  7. — "Juarez"  was 
the  hit  of  the  week  with  $16,500  at 
Warners  Hippodrome.  "Man  of  Con- 
quest" at  the  RKO  Palace  with  Gene 
Krupa  and  his  orchestra  leading  a 
vaudeville  bill,  drew  $15,000.  The 
weather  was  fine. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing- June  2: 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.   Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER'S  HIPPODROME  —  (3,800) 
(30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Aver- 
age, $11,000) 

"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

RKO  PALACE  —  (3,100)  (30c-42c-S5c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Gene  Krupa  and  orchestra, 
Eddie  Rio  and  Bros.,  Hudson  Wonders, 
Tommy  Trent.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average, 
$15,000) 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,500)   (30c-35c-42c)  7 
days.   Gross:  $7,500.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STILLMAN  —  (1,900)  (30c-35c- 
42c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,000. 
(Average,  $5,000) 


Closing  of  Theatre 
Ordered  by  Ontario 

Toronto,  June  7. — Theatre  Branch 
of  the  Ontario  Government  has  or- 
dered the  closing  of  the  Orillia,  at 
Orillia,  Ont,  on  June  30  because  it 
allegedly  does  not  comply  with  the 
new  regulations  of  the  Cinematographs 
Act.  The  theatre  is  owned  by  the 
municipality  and  the  town  council  re- 
cently leased  it  to  L.  H.  Vicary,  at 
a  rental  of  $4,200  per  year,  the  agree- 
ment with  Associated  Theatres,  Ltd., 
being  due  to  expire  at  the  end  of  June. 


Hollywood 
Notes 


Hollywood,  June  7. — Frank  Crav- 
en, of  "Our  Town,"  has  been  signed 
by  Paramount  for  "Our  Neighbors — 
The  Carters,"  to  play  opposite  Fay 
Bainter,  and  by  M-G-M  in  "Miracles 
for  Sale"  ...  In  addition  to  starring 
in  Paramount  films  made  for  the  Latin 
market,  Tito  Guizar  will  appear  in 
three  pictures  for  English  speaking 
consumption  this  year.  Two  of  them 
will  be  "The  Thief  of  Old  Monterey" 
and  "Drums  Over  Havana." 

+ 

Casting — Frank  McHtjgh  and 
Brenda  Marshall  to  "Career  Man," 
Warners  .  .  .  Verree  Teasdale,  Tim 
Holt  and  Franklin  Pangborn  to 
"My  Fifth  Avenue  Girl,"  RKO  .  .  . 
Chester  Morris  and  Virginia  Grey 
to  "Thunder  Afloat,"  M-G-M  .  .  . 
Wesley  Barry  to  "Stunt  Pilot," 
Malvern-Monogram  .  .  .  Erik  Rhodes, 
James  Gleason,  Frank  McHugh 
and  Alan  Hale  to  "On  Your  Toes," 
Warners  .  .  .  Gloria  Dickson  to  "The 
Fighting  69th,"  Warners  .  .  .  Lynne 
Overman,  Janice  Logan  to  "Dog 
Show  Murder,"  Paramount  .  .  . 
Maxie  Rosenbloom  to  "The  Return 
of  Dr.  X,"  Warners  .  .  .  James  El- 
lison to  "My  Fifth  Avenue  Girl," 
RKO  .  .  .  Thomas  Mitchell  to  "The 
Light  That  Failed,"  Paramount. 
+ 

Directors — George  Marshall,  for 
the  last  13  years  at  20th  Century-Fox, 
will  direct  "The  Man  from  Montana," 
at  Universal.  Formerly  titled  "Destry 
Rides  Again,"  the  film  will  star  James 
Stfwart  and  be  produced  by  Joe 
Palternak  .  .  .  William  Setter 
leaves  20th  Century-Fox  to  direct 
RKO's  "Pennsylvania  Uprising,"  to 
star  John  Wayne. 


'Cisco'  at  $2,300 

In  New  Haven  Lull 

New  Haven,  June  7.  —  Grosses 
slumped  again,  with  a  torrid  Memorial 
weekend  partly  responsible.  "Return 
of  the  Cisco  Kid"  and  "Missing 
Daughters"  took  $2,300  at  the  College. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  2 : 

"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 
"Missing  Daughters"  (Col.) 

COLLEGE— (1,499)     (25c-35c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $2,300.    (Average,  $2,700) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"hioy  Slaves"  (R-K-O) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW-POLI  —  (3,040)    (35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 
"Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,348)   (35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,600.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"You  Can't  Get  Away  with  Murder" 
(W.  B.) 

ROGER-SHERMAN— (2,200)  (35c-SOc)  6 
days.   Gross:  $4,100.    (Average,  $4,700) 


Elmer  Fleming  Dies 

Chicago,  June  7. — Elmer  Fleming, 
50,  personnel  director  for  Warner 
Brothers  in  Chicago  and  Wisconsin, 
died  at  his  home  today  of  a  heart 
attack.  Fleming  had  been  personnel 
chief  for  seven  years.  He  is  survived 
by  his  wife  and  two  children.  A  son, 
Jack,  is  employed  in  the  Chicago  War- 
ners office. 


3  Shows  Closing 

At  least  three  closings  of 
Broadway  legitimate  produc- 
tions are  set  for  this  week 
with  the  possibility  that 
there  may  be  more.  "The 
American  Way,"  "The  Boys 
from  Syracuse"  and  "Family 
Portrait"  will  close,  although 
"The  American  Way^'  may 
reopen  after  five  weeks.  The 
three  closings  will  leave  11 
theatres  lighted,  of  which 
only  eight  are  this  season's 
product. 


'Only  Angels' 
Draws  $7,600 
Seattle  Gross 


Seattle,  June  7.  — "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings"  drew  a  strong  $7,600 
in  its  third  week  at  the  Liberty 
"Juarez"  drew  $7,800  at  the  Fifth  Av- 
enue. The  weather  was  fair  and  cool. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  2 : 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

BLUE  MOUSE  — (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average, 
$4,000) 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

FIFTH  AVENUE-(2,50O)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $7,800.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

LIBERTY  —  (1,800)  (20c-30c-40c-55c)  7 
days  3rd  week.  Gross:  $7,600.  (Average, 
$5,000) 

"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

MUSIC  BOX-(950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,300.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police" 
(Para.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,450)    (30c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

P  ALOMAR  —  (1,500)  (15c-25c-30c-40c)  7 
days.  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $5,800.  (Average, 
$5,000) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)  (30c-40c)  5  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,100.  (Average,  $6,000) 
"Smiling  Along"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (750)  (30c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.   Gross:  $1,100.    (Average,  $1,500) 


Hungary  to  Form 
Own  Film  Industry 

Budapest,  June  7— Plan  of  the 
new  Hungarian  Film  Commission  to 
establish  a  national  film  industry  is 
expected  eventually  to  affect  imports. 

However,  the  time  when  the  Buda- 
pest studios  will  be  able  to  supply 
sufficient  product  to  Hungarian  the- 
atres is  remote.  Despite  some  agita- 
tion and  a  link  with  Germany,  Amer- 
ican films  still  lead  here. 

During  April,  for  instance,  of  15 
films  which  received  first  runs  in  Bu- 
dapest theatres,  eight  were  American. 
Three  were  French,  Hungary  and 
Germany  supplied  two  each. 

There  has  been  some  production 
here  by  German  and  French  compa- 
nies as  a  means  of  absorbing  cur- 
rency which  they  cannot  take  out  of 
this  country. 


Two  Directors  Assigned 

Hollywood,  June  7. — Darryl  F. 
Zanuck  has  assigned  two  directors  to 
"Falling  Stars,"  20th  Century-Fox 
film  in  color,  Irving  Cummings  and 
Mai  St.  Clair. 


'Angels'  Pulls 
Neat  $10,000 
In  Pittsburg! 


Pittsburgh,  June  7. — "Only  Ange 
Have  Wings"  paced  the  field  wit 
$10,000  at  the  Harris  Alvin.  "Luck 
Night"  drew  $12,500  at  Loew's  Pen] 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  enc 
ing  June  1 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ALVIN  —  (1,900)     (25c-35c-50c)     7  day 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

FULTON— (1,700)    (25c-40c)   7  days,  2i 
week.    Gross:  $5,600.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  PENN— (3,600)  (25c-35c-50c) 
days.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average,  $15,000) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

STANLEY— (3,600)  (25c-40c-60c)  7  day 
Stage:  The  Ritz  Brothers,  Bea  Saxo 
Hollywood  Jitterbugs,  Marcelle  Willian 
Trio,  Buddy  Hughes.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Ave 
age,  $17,000) 

"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 
"Never  Say  Die"  (Para.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  day 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $4,500) 


'Kildare'  $17,500 
In  Capital's  Hea 

Washington,  June  7. — "Calling  D 
Kildare"  was  strong  with  $17,500  ; 
Loew's  Capitol.  "East  Side  of  Heai 
en,"  in  its  second  week  at  RIO 
Keith's,  drew  $6,500.  The  heat  w:t 
severe. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  em 
ing  June  1 : 

"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S   CAPITOL— (3,434)  (25c-65c) 
days.   Stage:  Paul  Haakon.   Gross:  $17,5( 
(Average,  $16,500) 

"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40c) 
days,    2nd    run.   Gross:    $2,500.  (Averag 

$4,500) 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S    PALACE— (2,370)  (25c-55c) 
days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $7,800.  (Averag 
$12,000) 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836)  (25c-55c)  7  day 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average,  $6,00 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE—  (2,218)  (25c-66c) 
days.    Stage:  Hot  Weather  Revue.  Gros. 
$13,500.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.)  4  Days 
"You  Can't  Get  Away  With  Murder" 
(W.  B.)  3  Days 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  —  (1,59 
(25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,8 
(Average,  $4,000) 


Propose  Elimination  jj 
Of  Ontario  Game  Ba 

Toronto,  June  7. — Attorney-Gener 
Gordon  Conant  of  Ontario  has  placi 
a  proposal  before  the  Federal  Go 
ernment  of  Canada  for  the  eliminate 
of  those  sections  of  the  Criminal  Coi 
which  prohibit  games  of  chance,  co: 
tests  for  cash  or  merchandise  priz 
and  lotteries,  claiming  that  such  lav 
cannot  be  enforced  and  are  in  oppos 
tion  to  public  opinion.  The  abolitii 
of  these  regulations  would  permit  tl  j 
theatres  to  conduct  various  pri 
stunts  which  are  now  officially  illeg;  j 


'Ecstasy'  in  Court 

Philadelphia,  June  7. — Judge  Ot 
Heiligman  today  ordered  the  Pen 
sylvania  Censor  Board  tn  show  ne 
Tuesday  why  "Ecstasy"  was  disa 
proved.  Eureka  Productions  conten 
the  film  was  rejected  by  an  illegall 
constituted  Censor  Board. 


AMERICA  HAS  TAKEN 
YOUNG  MR.  LINCOLN 
TO  ITS  HEART! 


Be  -release  engagements  show  the  picture-going 
nasses  are  looking  beyond  the  Great  Emancipator  to  the 
varm-blooded  youth  who  wrestled  in  the  streets  of 
Springfield.  LIFE  picks  YOUNG  MR.  LINCOLN  as 
:he  "Movie  of  the  Week."  Critics  hail  it . .  ."outstanding 
experience !"♦  ♦  ♦"finest  of  this  or  any  year!"  ♦  ♦  ♦  "everyone 
should  see  it!"  Audiences  everywhere  greet  it  with 
unprecedented  applause!  Exhibitors  acclaim  it  entertain- 

i 

tnent  at  its  greatest!  The  nation  has  again  found  a  hero 
...and  it's  YOUNG  MR.  LINCOLN/ 


THE  KEYSTONE  OF  YOUR  FUTURE 


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WARNERS 

Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy 

Robinson 
Lederer 

Torchy  Runs 
For  Mayor 
(G)  (D) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 
Winner 

Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Davis 
Paul  Muni 
Brian  Aherne 
(G)  (D) 

Nancy  Drew 
Trouble  Shooter 

Bonita  Granville 
Frank  Thomas,  Jr. 
(G)  (D) 

The  Kid 
from  Kokomo 

O'Brien 
Wayne  Morris 
(G)  (C) 

SQ  1 

UNIVERSAL 

Ex  Champ 

McLaglen 
Tom  Brown 
(G)  (D) 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

Inside 
Information 

Jxwie  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Rathbone 
Fairbanks,  Jr. 

House  of  Fear 

Wm.  Gargan 
Irene  Hervey 

U.  A. 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

Man  in  the 
Iron  Mask 

Hayward 
Joan  Bennett 

20TH-FOX 

Chasing  Danger 
(G)  (D) 

Foster 
Lynn  Bari 

Rose  of 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  Whelan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 
Marjorie  Weaver 

Charlie  Chan 
in  Reno 

Sidney  Toler 
Ricardo  Cortez 
Phyllis  Brooks 

Susannah 

of  the 
Mounties 

Shirley  Temple 
Scott 

It  Could 
Happen  to  You 

Gloria  Stuart 
Stuart  Erwin 

Mr.  Moto 
Takes  a 
Vacation 

Peter  Lorre 
Schildkraut 

RKO  RADIO 

Sorority  House 
(G)  (D) 

Anne  Shirley 
James  Ellison 

Panama  Lady 
(G)  (D) 

Lucille  Ball 
Allan  Lane 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range 
(O) 

O'Brien 

The  Girl 
From  Mexico 

Lupe  Velez 
Donald  Woods 
(G)  (C) 

Saint  in 
London 

George  Sanders 
Sally  Gray 

The  Girl  and 
the  Gambler 

Steffi  Duna 
Carrillo 

 — 

Five  Came 
Back 

Chester  Morris 
Lucille  Ball 

Timber 
Stampede 

Geo.  O'Brien 

Career 

Anne  Shirley 
Edward  Ellis 

REPUBLIC 

Blue  Montana 
Skies  (G)  (O) 

Man  of 
Conquest 
(Gt)  (D) 
Richard  Dix 
Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Southward  Ho 

Roy  Rogers 

The  Zero  Hour 

Inescort 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

S.O.S. 
Tidal  Wave 

Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

Mountain 
Rhythm 
(O) 

Gene  Autry 

In  Old 
Caliente 

Roy  Rogers 
Mary  Hart 

Mickey  the 
Kid 

Bruce  Cabot 
Wyoming 
Outlaw  (O) 

She  Married 
a  Cop 

Phil  Regan 
Jean  Parker 

PARA. 

Union  Pacific 
(G)  (D) 
Stanwyck 
McCrea 
Tamiroff 

Hotel  Imperial 

Jsa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
(G)  (D) 

Some  Like  It 
Hot  (G)  (C) 

ShirUy  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
.Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

Gracie  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
Janice  Logan 

Invitation  to 
Happiness 

Dunne 
MacMurray 
(G)  (D) 

Grand  Jury 

Secrets 
Heritage  of 
the  Desert 
(O) 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Bride 

John  Howard 
Heather  Angel 

Man  About 
Town 

Jack  Benny 
Dorothy 
Lamour 

M-G-M 

Lucky  Night 

(G)  (C) 
Robert  Taylor 
Myrna  Loy 

Tell  No  Tales 

Melvm  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  (G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 
Annabella 

W.  Connolly 
(G)  (C) 

6000  Enemies 

Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 

Tarzan  Finds 
a  Son 

W  eissnmller 
0' Sullivan 

Maisie 

Ann  Sothern 
Robert  Young 

Stronger 
than  Desire 

Virginia  Bruce 
Walter  Pidgeon 

On  Borrowed 
Time 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Hardwicke 

COLUMBIA 

Outside  These 
Walls 

Costello 
Whalen 

Blind  Alley 
(G)  (D) 

Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

Missing 
Daughters 
Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Lost  Horizon 
(reissue) 
Trapped  in 
the  Sky 

Awful  Truth 
(reissue) 
Western 

Caravans  (O) 

Clouds  Over 
Europe 

Olivier 
Valerie  Hobson 

Parents  on 

Trial 
Good  Girls 
Go  to  Paris 

<3  IT) 

2 

ri  vo 

2  N 

s  ^ 

W 

s  <s 

3  en 

Thursday.  June  8.  1939 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Y.  FRANK 
FREEMAN 
Vice-President, 
Production 


STANTON 
GRIFFIS 
Chairman, 
Executive 
Committee 


4DOLPH  ZUKOR 
Board  Chairman 


NEIL  F.  AGNEW 
Vice-President- 
Gen.  Sales  Mgr. 


BARNEY  BALABAN 
President 


tOBERT  M. 
GILLHAM 
irector,  Adver- 
I  ising,  Publicity 


WILLIAM 
LE  BARON 
Managing 
Director, 

Production 


JOHN  W.  HICKS 
Vice-President, 
Foreign 


LOU  DIAMOND 
Head  of  Short 
Subjects  Dept. 


J.  J.  UNGER 
Eastern  Sales 
Manager 


CHARLES 
REAGAN 
Western  Sales 
Manager 


OSCAR  MORGAN 
Southern  Sales 
Manager 


3  More  N.  Y.  Area 
Summer  Closings 

Thirteen  additional  summer  closings 
ve  been  reported  in  the  Metropoli- 
i  area.  The  Strand,  Brooklyn  first 
n,  closed  last  night  for  the  Summer. 

will  be  altered  extensively  before 

reopening  in  the  Fall. 
Brandt  Theatres  have  locked  the 
jifton,  Manhattan,  and  the  Plaza, 
t.  Vernon.  Consolidated  has  closed 
:  Ascot,  Avalon  and  Mt.  Eden,  all 
the  Bronx. 

The  Rivoli  (Jayem  circuit)  will 
■se  Wednesday  and  Thursday  of 
:h  week,  beginning  June  21,  and  the 
indsor,  Manhattan  (Benjamin  For- 
.) ,  will  be  open  weekends  only, 
calis  circuit  has  closed  the  Empire, 
hway.  The  Cinema,  Brooklyn,  also 
3  been  shut.  The  Wilson,  Brooklyn 
j  andforce).  will  close  June  15,  the 
mberland.  Brooklyn  (Stamatus), 
ie  12,  and  the  Broadmoor,  Bloom- 
d.  on  July  5. 


Permission  Bill 
Passed  in  Illinois 

SPRINGFIELD.  III.,  June  7. — The 
'.nois  House  today  passed  and  sent 
the  Senate  a  bill  prohibiting  film 
nvs  longer  than  two  hours  unless 
/re  is  an  intermission  of  15  minutes 
the  beginning  of  each  hour  in  ex- 
s  of  two  hours. 


$30,000,000  Paramount 
Budget  for  New  Season 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tions,  and  William  LeBaron,  manag- 
ing director  of  production,  will  address 
the  delegates. 

Tomorrow's  session  will  be  opened 
with  a  roll  call  by  G.  B.  J.  Frawley, 
followed  by  an  address  of  welcome 
by  Agnew.  Short  addresses  will  be 
made  by  Zukor,  Balaban,  Griffis  and 
John  W.  Hicks,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  foreign  distribution.  Mem- 
bers of  the  foreign  department  and  the 
100  Per  Cent  Club  of  J.  J.  Unger, 
eastern  division  sales  manager,  will  be 
introduced. 

Screening  of  outstanding  films  of 


the  1939-'40  schedule  already  com- 
pleted, will  be  held  tomorrow  eve- 
ning. 

Agnew  will  outline  the  new  season's 
production  schedule  at  the  Friday 
morning  session,  followed  by  a  dis- 
cussion of  advertising  plans  by  Robert 
M.  Gillham,  director  of  advertising 
and  publicity,  and  A.  O.  Dillenbeck 
of  the  Buchanan  agency.  Don  Veldo 
will  speak  on  ad  sales. 

The  Friday  afternoon  session  will 
be  devoted  to  newsreels  and  short  sub- 
jects, with  the  discussion  to  be  led  by 
Lou  Diamond,  head  of  the  short  sub- 
ject department,  and  Russell  Holman. 


4  RKO  Executives 
Due  for  Convention 

Four  RKO  foreign  distribution  ex- 
ecutives will  arrive  Monday  for  the 
company's  sales  convention  at  the 
Westchester  Country  Club,  Rye,  N. 
Y.,  June  19-22.  Due  on  the  Nor- 
mandie  are  Reginald  Armour,  Euro- 
pean general  manager ;  Ralph  Han- 
bury,  manager  for  the  United  King- 
dom, and  Leon  Britton,  Far  Eastern 
manager.  Bruno  Cheli,  manager  in 
Brazil,  is  due  the  same  day  on  the 
Argentine. 


Royalty  Will  Greet 
Capt,  Auten  at  Fair 

Capt.  Harold  Auten,  American  rep- 
resentative of  Greater  Union  Theatres 
of  Australia,  will  be  presented  to  King 
George  and  Queen  Elizabeth  at  the 
reception  Saturday  at  the  World's 
Fair. 

Capt.  Auten,  who  will  be  the  only 
industry  representative  presented,  re- 
ceives the  honor  as  a  holder  of  the 
Victoria  Cross  for  distinguished  war 
service  while  commissioned  as  a  Q- 
ship  commander. 


N.  J.  Allied  to  Hold 
Convention  in  Fall 

New  Jersey  Allied  will  hold  its 
seventh  annual  convention  in  Atlantic 
City  in  September. 

In  conjunction,  there  will  be  the 
usual  eastern  regional  conference  of 
independent  exhibitors,  with  Allied 
units  in  District  No.  1  represented. 
This  meeting  had  been  scheduled  for 
the  Allied  of  New  York  convention 
here  recently,  but  was  postponed. 

Allied  units  in  District  No.  1  com- 
prise New  England  (Massachusetts 
and  Connecticut),  New  York,  New 
Jersey,  eastern  Pennsylvania,  Dela- 
ware, Virginia,  Maryland  and  Wash- 
ington, D.  C.  Frank  C.  Lydon  of 
Boston  is  eastern  regional  vice-presi- 
dent. 

New  Jersey  Allied  will  hold  its 
next  meeting  at  Asbury  Park  June  27. 


Dismisses  Two  Suits 
On  Unlicensed  Films 

Federal  Judge  Knox  yesterday  dis- 
missed two  suits  involving  unlicensed 
film  exhibitions  because  of  failure  to 
prosecute. 

First  suit  was  brought  by  Para- 
mount against  Trio  Amusement  Co., 
Inc.,  and  Jack  W.  Springer  for  $13,000 
for  showing  Paramount  News,  1935 
and  1936,  and  the  second  by  M-G-M 
against  Spuyten  Amusement  Corp. 
and  Jack  Springer  for  showing  "Live 
Ghosts"  in  1935. 


: 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  8,  19 


Protest  Made 
On  Televising 
Of  Films  Here 


George  Gold,  president,  Allied  Thea- 
tre Owners  of  New  Jersey,  yesterday 
sent  a  letter  to  George  J.  Schaefer, 
RKO  president,  protesting  the  televis- 
ing of  "Gunga  Din." 

Gold  said:  "It  has  come  to  our  at- 
tention that  RKO  Radio  Pictures,  Inc., 
has  been  furnishing  films  for  use  over 
television  systems.  We  are  greatly 
surprised  that  any  producer  should 
provide  a  source  of  competition  to  its 
exhibitor  customers. 

"We  strongly  oppose  such  action  by 
any  distributor-producer,  and  urge 
that  you  discontinue  this  practice. 

"Will  you  please  let  us  know  what 
action  you  take  in  this  matter." 

This  is  the  first  protest  by  any  ex- 
hibitor organization  against  the  tele- 
vising of  theatrical  films. 

RKO  made  a  trailer  of  "Gunga 
Din"  for  NBC,  running  lSl/2  minutes. 
It  has  been  televised  twice,  the  first 
time  on  April  30,  when  NBC  inaugu- 
rated regular  broadcasts  with  the 
opening  of  the  World's  Fair,  and 
again  on  May  26. 

Unofficial  estimates  place  the  num- 
ber of  television  receivers  in  the 
metropolitan  area  at  about  500. 


Columbia  Film  Deal 
With  Greater  Union 

Columbia  has  closed  a  long-term 
franchise  with  Greater  Union  Theatres 
of  Australia.  The  company  hereto- 
fore had  sold  its  films  to  Hoyts,  com- 
petitive circuit. 

The  deal,  started  before  the  Hoyts- 
Greater  Union  negotiations  to  merge 
160  theatres,  was  worked  out  here  by 
Cecil  F.  Mason,  Columbia's  Australian 
head,  and  Norman  B.  Rydge,  Greater 
Union  chief.  Mason  is  en  route  to 
Australia. 

Hoyts  is  also  working  on  product 
deals  with  Warners  and  RKO.  Any 
product  bought  by  either  circuit  will, 
of  course,  be  available  to  the  merged 
theatres. 


Kansas  City  Area's 
Closings  Increase 

Kansas  City,  June  7. — Theatre 
closings  for  the  summer  are  more 
numerous  this  year  than  last. 

During  the  past  week  the  Fox  Tow- 
er and  the  RKO  Orpheum,  first  runs 
in  downtown  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
closed  their  doors.  At  Wichita,  the 
Fox  Orpheum  shut  down.  At  Arma, 
Kan.,  Glen  Neeley  is  closing  June  12 
for  the  summer.  William  Welton's 
Chapman  at  Chapman,  Kan.,  is  cutting 
to  one  change  a  week,  from  three. 
Warren  Weber  has  closed  the  De- 
luxe at  St.  John,  Kan.,  for  the  sum- 
mer. 


New  Haven  Union  Elects 

New  Haven,  June  7. — Jack  Mullen 
has  been  elected  president  of  Ex- 
change Employes'  Union  B-41  for 
1939-'40.  Other  officers  are:  Jerry 
Massimeno,  vice-president ;  James 
Mahan,  recording  secretary ;  William 
Nutile,  treasurer ;  Katherine  Fitz- 
gerald, business  agent.  Robert  Hoff- 
man and  Henry  Brunig  were  elec- 
ted to  the  executive  board,  and  Ed- 
ward Canelli  is  sergeant-at-arms. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


20TH  CENTURY-FOX  DINNER  ON  AIR  .  .  .  Mutual  will  broadcast 
ceremonies  attending  the  dinner  which  20th  Century-Fox  will  tender  to 
President  Somoza  of  Nicaragua  June  12,  from  5 :30  to  6  P.  M.  The 
broadcast  will  emanate  from  the  20th  Century  lot. 

T 

THE  CIRCLE  VACATIONS  ...  The  Circle  with  its  galaxy  of  film  stars, 
joins  the  ranks  of  disappearing  programs  after  the  July  9  broadcast.  The 
show  will  be  back  in  the  Fall  but  with  the  benefit  of  two  shakeups — a  new 
cast  and  new  time.  Program  got  off  to  a  black  start  when  its  three  main- 
stays, Ronald  Colman,  Cary  Grant  and  Carole  Lombard,  resigned  because  of 
dissatisfaction  with  the  material. 

T 

ROYAL  TELECAST  .  .  .  The  State  Department  has  given  its  approval  so 
NBC  will  televise  the  visit  of  the  British  King  and  Queen  to  the  World's 
Fair  Saturday. 

T 

CHANGE  IN  ED  ROBINSON'S  "BIG  TOWN"  .  .  .  There  has  been  no 
announcement,  but  Claire  Trevor,  after  a  number  of  seasons  supporting  Ed- 
ward G.  Robinson  in  his  widely  successful  "Big  Town"  series,  will  not  re- 
appear in  the  program  when  it  returns  to  the  air  in  the  Fall.  Her  successor 
most  likely  will  also  be  a  screen  personality. 

Incidentally,  Robinson's  show  leaves  the  air  two  weeks  in  advance  of  its 
regular  departure  date  to  enable  the  star  to  work  in  a  picture.  The  final 
broadcast  will  be  July  4.  Lever  Bros.,  sponsors  of  "Big  Town,"  also  spon- 
sor the  Dick  Powell  program,  which  follows  "Big  Town"  on  the  air.  To 
fill  in  the  two  half-hour  gaps  occasioned  by  the  premature  leavetaking  of  the 
Robinson  show,  the  client  is  planning  to  enlarge  Powell's  program  into  full 
hour  length  proportions  for  two  weeks.  Powell  is  none  too  happy  about  the 
setup,  as  he  fears  the  full  hour  shows. 

▼ 

MARY  MARGARET  McBRIDE  REPLACEMENT  .  .  .  General  Foods  is 
regretfully  replacing  Mary  Margaret  McBride  on  CBS  with  a  script  show, 
"Joyce  Jordan,  Girl  Interne."  The  new  show  starts  July  3.  It  will  be  heard 
five  days  a  week,  but  only  on  three  days  will  it  be  sponsored.  The  remaining 
two  broadcasts  each  week  are  to  be  given  on  sustaining  basis.  Miss  McBride 
has  done  wonders  for  General  Foods  on  CBS,  but  the  sponsor  desires  a 
change  of  time  in  the  Fall  for  this  series.  Miss  McBride  cannot  accept  the 
new  time,  because  she  has  a  host  of  commercials  on  WOR,  where  she  broad- 
casts as  "Martha  Deane."  She  is  unwilling  to  give  up  her  WOR  accounts 
unless  General  Foods  adds  that  revenue  to  her  CBS  salary,  and  this  the 
client  is  unwilling  to  do. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  David  Lowe,  WNEW  movie  commentator,  and  Waite 
Hoyt,  the  ex-baseball  pitcher  and  now  radio  sports  commentator,  have  writ- 
ten a  story,  "Love  at  First  .  .  ."  which  Universal  is  now  considering  pur- 
chasing. .  .  .  Kate  Smith  left  for  Washington  yesterday  to  appear  in  the  White 
House  musicale  tonight.  Bill  Thomas  of  the  Young  &  Rubicam  agency,  de- 
parts for  the  capital  this  morning.  .  .  .  Kay  Winn,  of  the  radio  department 
of  Batten,  Barton,  Durstine  &  Osborn,  off  on  a  cruise  with  her  husband,  John 
Harper  of  CBS.  .  .  .  Dick  Mooney  of  the  Earle  Ferris  office  back  from  a  trip 
with  Andre  Kostelanetz. 

T 

HELLZAPOPPIN  AND  CBS  ...  Lou  Ruppel  stopped  in  to  see  "Hellzapop- 
pin"  a  short  time  ago,  observed  that  the  microphones  used  in  the  radio  bits 
of  that  crazy  opus  bore  no  call  letters  and  made  Olsen  &  Johnson  an  offer 
to  provide  shiny  new  mikes  for  the  skits — CBS  ones,  of  course.  The  offer 
has  been  accepted  and  so  from  now  on  the  considerable  "Hellzapoppin"  audi- 
ences will  get  a  nightly  gaze  at  the  CBS  ads. 


Air-Theatres  Tieup 

San  Francisco,  June  7. — Closer 
tieup  between  radio  and  theatres  in 
this  area  is  indicated  by  a  summer 
tour  mapped  for  Bennie  Walker  of 
KGO.  Walker,  accompanied  by  five 
of  his  performers,  will  make  regular 
appearances  at  theatres  in  Berkeley, 
Fairfax,  San  Jose  and  San  Rafael. 


Sheffield  on  WEAF 

A  new  series  for  Sheffield  Farms 
Co.,  talent  not  yet  selected,  will  start 
over  WEAF  June  19,  three  times 
weekly,  for  13  weeks.  N.  W.  Ayer  & 
Son  placed  the  contract. 


Fio  Rito  Signed 

American  Beverage  Corp.  yesterday 
signed  Benay  Venuta  and  Ted  Fio 
Rito's  orchestra  for  a  new  WOR  pro- 
gram starting  Monday. 


Bank's  Radio  Campaign 

San  Francisco,  June  7. — Bank  of 
America,  with  branches  throughout 
the  state,  has  launched  a  13-week 
radio  campaign  on  25  California  sta- 
tions, using  transcribed  and  live  an- 
nouncements, and  quarter-hour  pro- 
grams. 


McCauley  to  KSRO 

San  Francisco,  June  7. — Howard 
McCauley  has  resigned  as  assistant 
production  chief  of  RCA's  television 
exhibit  at  the  fair  to  join  KSRO, 
Santa  Rosa,  as  head  of  the  news  de- 
partment. 


Loretta  Young  Broadcast 

Loretta  Young  on  Sunday  will  make 
her  third  visit  this  season  to  the  Chase 
and  Sanborn  hour.  She  will  play  op- 
posite Don  Ameche  in  a  dramatic  skit. 


ITOA  Elects 
Brandt,  Asks 
Revised  Cod< 


Harry  Brandt 


Harry  Brandt  was  elected  preside; 
of  the  I.  T.  O.  A.  for  a  sixth  term 
a  membership  meeting  yesterday 
the   Hotel  As- 
tor.  Other  offi- 
cers were  re- 
elected and  the 
regular  slate  of 
directors  was 
chosen. 

Brandt  told 
the  meeting  that 
the  I.T.O.A.'s 
acceptance  of 
the  trade  prac- 
tice code  hinges 
on  the  distribu- 
tors meeting  the 
organization's 
demands  on  ar- 
bitration. 

Brandt  said 
the  I.  T.  O.  A.  wants  revision  of  tl 
proposed  arbitration  rules  to  assu 
fair  representation  for  independent  e: 
hibitors  on  the  panels.  He  believ 
that  under  the  proposed  setup  the  di 
tributors  and  affiliated  circuits  ha1 
an  advantage. 

Conferring  on  Changes 

Milton  C.  Weisman,  I.  T.  O.  i 
counsel,  is  conferring  with  the  di 
tributors'  committee  on  the  request! 
changes. 

"If  they  give  us  what  we  want, 
will  announce  at  the  Allied  nation 
convention  in  Minneapolis  that  tl 
I.  T.  O.  A.  accepts  the  code,"  sa 
Brandt. 

Arbitration  of  wage  scales  and  coi 
ditions  with  operators'  Local  306  w 
start  June  16,  it  was  said  at  the  mee 
ing.  David  Weinstock  and  V 
French  Githens  will  represent  tl 
I.  T.  O.  A. 

Revisions  under  the  10-year  bas 
agreement  with  the  union  were  d\: 
last  September.  The  union  demand* 
a  40  per  cent  increase,  then  reduc< 
its  demand  to  24  per  cent.  Negoti; 
tions  broke  down,  and  it  was  agret 
to  submit  the  matter  to  arbitratio 
The  local  is  to  appoint  two  arbitr; 
tors,  and  there  will  be  a  fifth  neutr; 
member. 

Fights  Ban  Upon  Signs 

The  organization  drive  of  the  Thi 
atre  Managers,  Agents  and  Trea: 
urers  Union  was  discussed.  I.  T.  0.  i 
members,  when  approached,  were  ii 
structed  to  refer  the  union  to  the  o; 
ganization,  which  acts  as  the  bargaii 
ing  agent  for  members  in  union  ma 
ters. 

The  I.  T.  O.  A.  decided  to  fight  tl 
move  of  the  City  Planning  Commi: 
sion  to  limit  all  signs,  includin 
marquees  and  other  outdoor  adverti: 
ing  displays,  in  business  sections  ar 
to  eliminate  them  completely  in  res 
dential  areas. 

John  Manheimer,  executive  seen 
tary,  will  represent  the  I.  T.  O.  A.  ; 
a  City  Planning  Commission  hearir 
on  the  matter  tomorrow. 

David  Weinstock,  chairman  of  tl 
board  and  first  vice-president,  ar 
Mrs.  Weinstock  were  presented 
chest  of  silver  for  their  efforts  i 
handling  the  I.  T.  O.  A.'s  annu; 
"movie  ball"  at  the  Astor.  Weinstoc 
was  chairman  of  arrangements. 


— 

Alert. 
InteWgep 

P 

to  the 
Picture 
Industry 


DO  NOT  R  FMnwt 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 
Film  an 


Accurate 
and 

Impartial 


IT 


45.  NO.  Ill 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  9,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


ialaban  Calls 
For  Stronger 
Sales  Policy 

falf  of  $60,000,000  Debt 
Paid  in  Three  Years 


Hollywood,  June  8— Representing 
investment  estimated  at  $30,000,000, 
features  and  85  short  subjects  will 
released  by   Paramount  Pictures 

ring    1939-'40,    it    was  announced 

day  at  Paramount's  national  sales 

mention. 

Although  Paramount's  lineup  of  fea- 
res  for  the  new  year  is  numerically 
e  >ame  as  1938-'39,  the  production 
ndget  is  $2,500,000  greater.  The 
<>ri  subject  total  is  17  less  than  the 
2  on  the  1938-'39  program. 

Urges  New  Sales  Methods 

Asserting  that  the  economic,  legal 
d  legislative  problems  confronting 
e  industry  can  be  solved  only  by  en- 
ely  new  formulae,  Barney  Balaban, 
iramount  president,  advised  the 
fits  organization  to  be  prepared  for 
e  eventual  introduction  of  "an  en- 
ely  new  method  of  selling." 
"Government  suits,  anti-trust  ac- 
•ns,  trade  practice  concessions,  state 
d  federal  legislation,  contraction  of 
reign  markets  and  uncertainties  in 
.  mestic  market  all  affect  film  rev- 
ues and  thus  the  entire  industry," 
ilaban  said. 

Balaban  Hails  Economies 

"The  situation  existing  today  is  a 
w  one.  We  must  find  the  solution 
new  formulae.  It  is  my  belief  that 
e  face  an  entirely  new  method  of 
,  ling — not  this  year  perhaps,  but  it 
not  too  early  to  plan." 
Balaban  said  the  studio  has  made 
reat  strides"  in  reorganizing  its  op- 
tions and  effecting  economies  as 
>ult  of  which  he  believes,  it  is  "pre- 
red  to  meet  any  emergency  that  may 

Stanton  Griffis,  executive  committee 
airman,  presented  figures  to  show 
bt  half  of  the  $60,000,000  debt  with 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


pitz  Recovering; 
To  New  York  Soon 

Rochester,  Minn.,  June  8. — Leo 
>itz  is  fast  on  his  way  to  recovery 
~>m  his  recent  operation  and  in  a 
.v  days  will  be  leaving  the  Kahlor 
otel  where  he  is  recuperating. 
Mrs.  Spitz  has  gone  on  to  New 
irk  to  prepare  for  his  arrival  there. 
:ter  leaving  here,  Spitz  will  stop 
er  in  Chicago  for  two  or  three  days 
fore  proceeding  to  New  York  to 
in  Mrs.  Spitz. 


Telecast  Boasts 
High  Film  Quality 

London,  June  8. — Telecast 
today  of  the  ceremony, 
"Trooping  of  the  Colors,"  via 
large  screen,  was  reported 
to  be  highly  successful.  It 
was  described  by  observers 
as  the  best  television  repro- 
duction yet  seen,  and  closely 
approximating  regular  film 
quality. 


Majors  Make 
New  Federal 
Trust  Attack 

An  additional  attack  on  the  Federal 
government's  "vagueness"  and  reliance 
upon  circumstantial  evidence  in  its 
anti-trust  suit  against  major  film  com- 
panies is  included  in  the  memorandum 
filed  yesterday  with  Judge  William 
Bondy  by  the  majors. 

The  memorandum  furthermore  criti- 
cizes the  government's  failure  to  file 
an  additional  bill  of  particulars,  which 
the  majors  have  been  seeking  for  some 
time.  Failure  to  file  such  particulars, 
majors  contend,  will  delay  the  trial. 

Each  company  is  entitled  to  know 
the  government's  basis  for  its  charges 
of  conspiracy,  and  a  definition  of  terms 
and  phrases  used  in  the  Federal  com- 
plaint. 


Pneumonia  Takes 
Life  of  Osterman 

Atlantic  City.  June  8. — Jack 
Osterman,  "the  bad  boy  of  Broadway," 
died  of  pneumonia  here  today.  His 
father  was  J.  J.  Rosenthal,  general 
manager  for  George  M.  Cohan. 


MINORITY  REPORT 
CALLS  NEELY  BILL 
BAD'  FOR  TRADE 

Three  Senators  Urge  Defeat  of  Measure; 
Deny  Allied' s  Monopoly  Claim 

Washington,  June  8. — Declaring  that  block  booking  is  a  business 
practice  of  the  motion  picture  industry,  interference  with  which  might 
lead  to  harmful  results,  Senator  Ellison  D.  Smith,  South  Carolina 
Democrat,  chairman  of  the  sub-committee  which  was  in  charge  of  the 
legislation,  today  submitted  a  minority  report  recommending  defeat  of 
the  Neely  bill. 

Writing  of  a  minority  report,  rarely 


undertaken  with  legislation  of  less 
than  major  importance,  was  seen  in 
Washington  as  an  indication  that 
vigorous  opposition  may  be  offered  the 
bill  when  it  is  brought  up  for  con- 
sideration. 

Urges  Hands  Off  Policy 

During  the  hearings,  Senator  Smith 
several  times  expressed  the  view  that 
Congress  should  not  attempt  to  deal 
with  the  mechanics  of  motion  picture 
distribution  and  that  the  industry 
should  settle  its  controversies  within 
its  own  ranks. 

Doubtful  whether  enactment  of  the 
legislation  would  lead  to  the  exhibition 
of  only  the  best  pictures,  Senator 
Smith  held  that,  given  a  choice  be- 
tween a  "culture"  film  and  a  less 
desirable  one,  exhibitors  naturally 
would  select  the  picture  which  would 
attract  the  largest  box-office. 

Question  "Community  Selection" 

The  report  was  signed  by  Senators 
Smith,  White  of  New  Hampshire  and 
Gurney  of  South  Dakota. 

Pointing  out  that  nobody  is  forced 


Neely's  Bill  Before 
Senate  Wednesday 

Washington,  June  8.  —  The 
Neely  Bill  is  scheduled  to 
come  up  before  the  Senate 
next  Wednesday,  unless  un- 
forseen  delays  occur.  It  was 
originally  scheduled  to  come 
up  in  the  upper  house  yes- 
terday, but  owing  to  the  visit 
of  the  British  King  and 
Queen,  Congress  was  ad- 
journed and  no  sessions  were 
held. 


to  attend  the  showing  of  any  particu- 
lar picture  and  that  in  most  places 
there  is  more  than  one  theatre,  the 
minority  questioned  "community  selec- 
tion" as  a  meaningless  term  and  flatly 
rejected  the  contention  that  the  exhibi- 
tor is  the  only-  point  -of  contact  be- 
tween the  people  and  the  industry. 

"The  problem  of  selectivity  for  dif- 
ferent persons  in  any  given  community 
is  met  entirely  by  the  achievement  of 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Newsreels,  Radio  Busy  with  Royalty 


All  newsreels  rushed  out  special 
footage  last  night  on  the  Washington 
parade  and  reception  for  King  George 
and  Queen  Elizabeth.  Executives  said 
this  event  was  given  the  most  com- 
prehensive coverage  of  any  story  in 
years. 

The  trans-Atlantic  Clipper  tomor- 
row morning  will  transport  special 
reels  to  England  and  elsewhere  in 
Europe.  London  audiences  may  see 
the  films  Monday  night. 

About  80  newsreel  men  covered  the 
story  in  Washington  yesterday.  The 
arrangements,  as  during  the  entire 
visit  of  the  royal  couple,  were  sur- 


rounded with  elaborate  precautions. 
The  State  Department,  Secret  Service, 
Scotland  Yard  and  other  authorities 
all  took  a  hand. 

Movietone  News  is  making  a  special 
subject  of  the  visit  for  distribution 
throughout  the  world.  It  will  be  made 
in  seven  languages.  Camera  units 
were  brought  from  as  far  west  as 
Kansas  City  to  augment  regular  crews. 

Extensive  preparations  have  been 
made  to  shoot  the  arrival  of  the  royal 
couple  Saturday  in  New  York,  the  re- 
ception at  Columbia  University  and 
their  visit  to  the  World's  Fair.  Cam- 
era crews  will  go  down  the  bay  in  tugs 


to  meet  the  incoming  U.  S.  destroyer 
bringing  the  British  monarchs  from 
New  Jersey. 


Local  Stations  Win  Fight 

Local  radio  stations,  denied  the 
privilege  of  broadcasting  the  reception 
of  the  King  and  Queen  of  England 
from  the  World's  Fair,  yesterday 
were  informed  by  Fair  authorities 
that  the  order  has  been  rescinded. 

To  avoid  the  confusion  that  would 
result  if  some  20-odd  stations  were  to 
run  broadcasting  lines  into  Federal 
Hall,  however,  only  one  local  station 
will  be  permitted  entrance.    That  sta- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  9, 


4  Purely 
Personal  ► 


Insider's  Outlook 

=  By  SAM  SHAIN  — 


HERMAN  ROBBINS,  president 
of  National  Screen  Service,  and 
George  Dembow,  general  sales  man- 
ager, will  leave  Monday  for  Min- 
neapolis to  attend  the  Allied  National 
convention  June  13-15. 

• 

Vincent  Trotta  Martin  Starr, 
Paul  Lazarus,  Herb  Berg,  Eli 
Sugarman,  Kenneth  Clark,  Lou 
Lifton,  Jim  Cron,  comprising  the 
Ampa  board  of  governors,  attending 
a  luncheon  at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tav- 
ern yesterday.  Archie  Mayo,  Sam 
Citron,  Joe  Malcolm,  Sam  Shain, 
Harry  Gold,  Arthur  Kelly,  Leo 
Morrison,  Harry'  Thomas  also  seen 
there  during  the  lunch  hour. 

• 

Henry  Siegel,  operator  of  the 
Little  Carnegie  Playhouse,  and  Mrs. 
Siegel  left  for  Washington  yester- 
day to  attend  the  marriage  of  their 
son,  Arthur,  to  Kay  C.  Chaplin  of 
Greensville,  S.  C.  at  the  Raleigh 
Hotel  today. 

• 

Ralph  Hanbury,  managing  direc- 
tor for  RKO  in  England,  and  Wil- 
liam Levy,  Walt  Disney's  repre- 
sentative in  England,  are  en  route  here 
on  the  N  ormandie ,  to  attend  the  com- 
pany's sales  convention.  They  are  due 
Monday. 

• 

Mike  Moodabe  of  the  Moodabe  cir- 
cuit in  New  Zealand  arrives  in  Los 
Angeles  Monday  on  the  Mariposa.  He 
is  due  in  New  York  shortly  to  con- 
fer with  Walter  J.  Hutchinson, 
20th  Century-Fox  foreign  chief. 
• 

Ray'  Bell  of  Loew's,  Washington, 
and  Ted  Kirkmeyer,  manager  of  the 
Marlow,  Helena,  Mont.,  return  to- 
morrow on  the  Chumplain.  The  trip 
was  given  by  M-G-M  in  an  exploi- 
tation contest. 

• 

Robert  Smeltzer,  central  district 
manager  for  Warners,  was  in  town 
yesterday  from  his  Washington  head- 
quarters conferring  with  Roy  Haines, 
eastern  and  Canadian  sales  manager. 
• 

Harry  Brandt,  I.  T.  O.  A.  head, 
and  Lee  Shubert,  legitimate  producer, 
lunching  together  in  Nick's  Hunting 
Room  at  the  Astor  yesterday. 
• 

Mrs.  Patia  Power,  mother  of  Ty- 
rone Power,  expects  to  be  in  New 
York  about  June  12  or  13.  She  will 
stop  at  the  Waldorf  Astoria. 

• 

Raymond  Massey  will  receive  the 
honorary  degree  of  Doctor  of  Let- 
ters at  the  commencement  of  Lafay- 
ette College  today  at  Easton,  Pa. 
• 

Broderick  Crawford  returns  today 
from  the  coast  where  he  completed 
a  part  in  Samuel  Goldwyn's  "The 
Real  Glory." 

• 

Paul  Benjamin,  National  Screen 
Service  production  manager,  leaves 
today  for  a  brief  vacation. 

• 

William  Downs,  Loew's  district 
manager  for  N.  Y.  midtown  houses 
is  vacationing. 

• 

A.  G.  Herman,  Universal  eastern 
division  manager,  left  for  Philadel- 
phia yesterday. 


Individ-UA-lly  ■'  This  will  be 
the  rallying  cry  of  United  Artists 
in  that  company's  new  season 
selling  drive.  This  unique  way  of 
symbolizing  what  the  company  stands 
for  in  production  and  distribution 
seems  most  fitting. 

This  slogan  was  conceived  by 
Murray  Silverstone,  directing  head  of 
the  company. 

U.A.'s  roster  of  producers  will  con- 
tain 11  noted  names,  one  of  the 
greatest  groupings  of  individual  pro- 
ducers ever  attempted  by  a  company. 
It  is  Silverstone  who  shepherded  most 
of  them  into  the  U.A.  fold. 

The  list  includes  David  Selznick, 
Charles  Chaplin,  Samuel  Goldwyn, 
Alexandra  Korda.  Walter  Wanger, 
Ernst  Lubitsch,  Douglas  Fairbanks, 
Sr.,  Edward  Small,  Sol  Lesser,  David 
Loew  and  Hal  Roach. 


It  was  a  few  years  ago  that  Hal 
Roach  made  a  world  tour  with  Arthur 
Loew.  They  crossed  the  Atlantic  and 
traveled  over  the  Continent  and  into 
China,  Japan  and  India.  On  our 
recent  journey  to  Hollywood  we  had 
occasion  to  visit  with  Roach  and  we 
talked  about  that  trip  he  made  with 
Loew.  Above  all  things  which  he  saw 
on  that  world  tour,  we  learned,  that 
which  impressed  him  most  was  the 
Taj  Mahal,  that  marble  mausoleum  at 
Agra,  India,  erected  in  the  17th 
Century. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  figures 
in  the  land  of  never-knotv-when, 
which  we  call  Hollywood,  is  Henry 
Ginsberg.  He  is  the  business  head  of 
Selznick-International.  He  is  David 
Selznick's  right  arm.  But  more  than 
this,  he  is  one  of  the  most  sought  after 
advisers  in  the  business.  Producers 
and  company  chieftains,  big  and  small, 
come  to  him  for  counsel. 


At  the  Selznick-International  studio, 
we  saw  them  shooting  "Gone  With  the 
W  ind."  Those  proud  murmurs  we 
heard  from  the  studio  folks  indicate 
that  Selznick  is  creating  a  picture 
which  is  big  in  the  truest  sense  of  that 
word. 


On  the  Warner  lot,  one  day,  at 
lunch,  we  were  in  the  company  of 
more  big  business  leaders  than  in 
many  a  month  back  here.  Present 
were  the  vice-president  of  the  Santa 
Fe  Railroad,  the  head  of  General 
Foods,  besides  the  president  of  the 
McCall  magazine  publishing  company. 
They  were  the  guests  of  Jack  Warner 
and  S.  Charles  Einfeld. 


It  is  humbly  suggested  to  Al  exander 
Korda  that  there  is  a  way  to  top  the 
junket  fad  of  the  film  companies  for 
transporting  newspapermen  to  distant 
cities  for  premieres.  This  would  be 
by  taking  the  scriveners  to  a  premiere 
of  "Four  Feathers,"  somewhere  in 
Africa. 


John  Cromwell  has  been  signed  to 
direct  the  Abraham  Lincoln  picture 
which  Max  Gordon  and  Harry  Goetz 
will  make  for  RKO  release. 


The  New  York  Law  Journal  seeks 
the  reason  for  newspapers  being 
exempt  from  the  Federal  law  relating 
to  interstate  transportation  of  fight 
pictures.    It  is  an  interesting  point. 

"While  the  law  referred  to  was 
doubtless  intended  primarily  to  pro- 
hibit the  transportation  of  moving 
pictures  of  prize  fights,"  the  paper 
states,  "its  provisions  appear  to  apply 
equally  to  still  life  protographs." 

The  statute  involved  (18  U.S.C.A. 
sec.  405)  bans  "any  film  or  other  pic- 
torial representation  of  any  prize  fight 
or  encounter  of  pugilists  under  what- 
ever name,  which  is  designed  to  be 
used  or  may  be  used  for  purposes  of 
public  exhibition." 


In  Mansfield,  Ohio,  they  have  "Bank 
Night  insurance"  For  a  weekly  fee  of 
12  cents,  absentee  theatre  patrons  are 
insured  for  the  prize  they  would  have 
won  had  they  been  present  at  the 
drawing. 


William  Brandt  says  he  knows  a 
boat  owner  who  has  his  rank  fashioned 
in  Neon  lights  on  his  yachting  cap. 


J.  P.  McEvoy  has  written  an  article 
about  Darryl  Zanuck  which  will  be 
published  shortly  in  the  Saturday 
Evening  Post. 


In  Missouri,  they  have  photograph 
contests.  Patrons  are  photographed 
and  some  of  the  pictures  are  shown 
later  on  the  screen.  Those  shown  are 
winners  of  cash  prizes.  One  prose- 
cutor, in  Jefferson  City,  has  declared 
such  contests  to  be  lotteries. 


The  premiere  of  "Land  of  Liberty," 
a  pictorial  history  of  the  United  States 
prepared  by  the  film  industry,  will 
have  its  premiere  at  the  World's  Fair, 
on  Wednesday,  June  14,  in  the  theatre 
in  the  United  States  Building. 


In  Buffalo,  on  Monday  the  Variety 
Club  will  honor  Joe  Miller  at  a  fare- 
well dinner. 


Joel  McCrae  and  Barbara  Stanwyck 
will  soon  be  Paramount  stars. 


Herman  Wobber,  20th  Century-Fox 
director  of  distribution,  leaves  tonight 
for  San  Francisco.  He  will  remain  on 
the  coast  about  three  weeks,  during 
which  he  will  confer  with  Darryl  F. 
Zanuck,  production  chief. 

Roger  Ferri,  editor  of  the  Dynamo, 
company  publication,  leaves  tomorrow 
for  Los  Angeles.  M.  A.  Levy,  Min- 
neapolis district  manager  and  Kent 
drive  leader,  will  leave  Wednesday. 
On  June  19  they  will  meet  with  Wob- 
ber at  the  studio  to  make  preparations 
for  the  drive,  which  starts  Aug.  20. 


Weeks  Shifts 
Monogram'* 
Sales  Fore 


Changes  in  the   personnel  of 
Monogram  exchanges  were  made  3 
terday  by  George  W.  Weeks,  v 
president  in  charge  of  sales,  sm 

New  York :  Sidney  Kulick  hl| 
signed  as  salesman  and  Irving  Lan 
has  been  appointed  to  the  staff.  P 
adelphia :  Simon  Perlswig,  salesn 
resigned,  and  Moe  Sherman  joi 
the  company.  Seattle :  A.  M.  Hi 
salesman,  resigned,  and  D.  D.  M; 
transferred  to  this  office  from 
Angeles.  New  Orleans :  M.  L.  St 
ens,  salesman,  has  been  transferred 
Charlotte  as  manager  and  W.  C.  i 
ken  has  been  appointed  salesman. 

Memphis :  M.  E.  Wiman,  manaj 
has  been  transferred  to  Atlanta 
salesman  and  W.  G.  Carmicheal 
been  transferred  from  manager  of 
Charlotte  exchange  to  manager  of 
Memphis  office.  Atlanta :  W.  J.  ( 
lins,  salesman,  has  resigned. 
Louis :  Bert  Day  has  been  appoir 
salesman  here. 

Detroit:  Clive  Waxman  has  joi 
the  local  exchange  as  a  salesn 
Cleveland :  Jack  Withers  is  a  n 
salesman  and  Jack  Finberg  has 
signed  as  salesman.  Des  Moines 
F.  Peckinpaugh  has  replaced  Wa 
Lohman  as  booker.  Jess  Collins  i 
new  salesman. 

Kansas  City :  Lester  Durland 
resigned  as  manager  and  has  been 
placed  by  Douglas  Desch.  M. 
Schakelford  is  a  new  salesman.  C 
cinnati :  W.  J.  Burns  has  been 
pointed  a  booker.      Boston :  Rot 
Murray,  salesman,  has  resigned  ; 
Jeremiah  Callahan  has  joined  the  s 
as  salesman.    Chicago:  S.  Bordee 
resigned  and  Rube  Leventhal  is 
new  booker. 


Columbia  Employei 
Frolic  Tomorro 

The  Columbian  Club  of  Colurn 
Pictures  will  frolic  at  its  annual  c 
ing  tomorrow  at  Pine  Brook  Coun 
Club,  Nichols,  Conn.  A  golf  tour 
ment,  tennis  and  baseball  are  sch 
uled  with  a  steak  supper  in  the  e 
ning.  About  250  are  expected.  F 
Weissman  is  president. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compa 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  C 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  addi 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigl 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Bro- 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  W 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  S 
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Wobber  Off  Tonight 
For  Zanuck  Talks 


•iday,  June  9.  1939 


Motion  Picture  daily 


PARAMOUNT  LISTS  NEW  PRODUCT 


De  Mille  Signs 

4-Year  Contract 

Hollywood,  June  8.— Cecil  B. 
De  Mille  has  signed  a  new 
four-year  contract  as  pro- 
ducer with  Paramount,  it 
was  announced  at  the  sales 
convention  today  by  Y.  Frank 
Freeman,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  production.  His 
current  contract  has  about  a 
year  to  go,  and  commits  him 
to  two  more  pictures.  De 
Mille's  first  film  under  the 
new  contract  will  be  one  deal- 
ing with  the  Canadian  North- 
west police. 


Hollywood.  June  8. — Following  is  the  official  list  of  product  for  the  1939-'40 
Lson  announced  at  Paramount's  annual  sales  convention  today : 
(Beau  Geste.  action-drama,  by  producer-director  William  A.  Wellman,  from 
r  Percival  Christopher  Wren's  story  of  the  French  Legion,  with  Gary 
ioper,  Kay  Milland  and  Robert  Preston,  supported  by  Brian  Donlevy,  Susan 
jyward.  J.  Carrol  Xaish,  Donald  O'Connor,  James  Stephenson,  Broderick 
lawford  and  Charles  Barton. 
Iamaica  Inn,  film  version  of  ' 
tphne  Du  Maurier's  novel,  starring 
~  es  Laughton  in  a  role  carrying 
'e  'Captain  Bligh"  in  'Mutiny  on 
•  Bounty"  tradition.  Directed  by 
Ifred  Hitchcock.  The  picture  fea- 
pes  Maureen  O'Hara,  Leslie  Banks, 
:ily  Williams  and  Robert  Newton. 
Geronimo,  action  story  of  Apache 
oredations  in  early  Arizona ;  a  suc- 
Esor  to  "The  Plainsman''  and  "Union 
■cine."  The  film  features  Preston 
Ister,  Ellen  Drew,  Andy  Devine, 
ne  Lockhart,  William  Henry,  Ralph 
organ.  Chief  Thundercloud  and  a 
kt  of  thousands  of  Indians,  cowboys 
1  soldiers. 

The  Cat  and  the  Canary,  based 
[  the  stage  play  by  John  Willard. 
reoted  by  Elliott  Nugent  and  star- 
,g  Bob  Hope  and  Paulette  Goddard, 
pported  by  John  Beal,  Douglas 
ontgomery,  Gale  Sondergaard,  Xydia 
estman,  Elizabeth  Patterson  and 
iorge  Zucco. 

What  a  Liee,  based  on  the  George 

butt  stage  play,  now  in  its  second 
,ir.  Theodore  Reed  will  direct  with 
ickie  Cooper  and   Betty   Field  co- 

rring  and  supported  by  John  How- 
1,  Janice   Logan,   Lionel  Stander, 

ughan  Glaser,  James  Corner  and 
•dda  Hopper. 

Happy  Ending,  directed  by  Lewis 

lestone,  and  co-starring  Pat  O'Brien 
i  Olympe  Bradna,  supported  by 
'•land  Young,  Reginald  Gardiner  and 

orge  Stone. 

Disputed  Passage,  from  the  novel 
Lloyd  C.  Douglas.  Directed  by 
ank  Borzage,  with  Dorothy  Lamour, 
in  Howard  and  Akim  Tamiroff. 
Are  Husbands  Necessary,  co-star- 
g  Fred  MacMurray  and  Madeleine 
rroll  and  featuring  Allen  Jones, 
den  Broderick,  Osa  Massen  and 
rolyn  Lee.  Edward  H.  Griffith 
ected. 

3i  ler  of  the  Seas,  a  Frank  Lloyd 
)duction  telling  the  story  of  the 
,amph  of  steam  over  sail  in  the 
■rth  Atlantic.  Douglas  Fairbanks, 
,  Margaret  Lockwood  and  Will 
ft'e  are  co-starred. 

French  Without  Tears,  from  Ter- 
Xe  Rattigan's  Broadway  and  Lon- 
i  stage  play,  produced  in  London 
ier  the  direction  of  Anthony  As- 
th,  co-director  with  Leslie  Howard 
"Pygmalion"  and  co-starring  Ray 
Hand  and  Ellen  Drew. 
The  Double-Dyed  Deceiver,  pro- 
:ed  by  Harry  Sherman  from  the 
Tenry  story,  "The  Llano  Kid," 
h  Tito  Guizar,  Emma  Dunn,  Alan 
>\vbray,  Gale  Sondergaard,  Jane 
tyton  and  Minor  Watson.  E.  H. 
nturi  directed. 

^ange  War,  a  Harry  Sherman 
opalong  Cassidy"  film,  with  Wil- 
li Boyd,  directed  by  Lesley 
ander. 

"he  New  Yorker,  taken  from  the 
c  Hatch  book,  "Fly  by  Night,"  to 
r  Jack  Benny. 

"he  Road  to  Singapore,  with  Bing 
«by,  Bob  Hope  and  Dorothy 
nour,  set  against  a  South  Seas 
k  ground. 

1  \\  ith  this  great  lineup  of  pictures 
~ady  completed  or  on  the  verge  of 


completion,"  continued  Mr.  Agnew, 
"Paramount  is  ready  to  go  forward 
with  the  remainder  of  the  features 
which  will  make  up  the  most  sen- 
sational release  schedule  in  the  history 
of  Hollywood.    They  will  include : 

The  Light  that  Failed,  Rudyard 
Kipling's  story  of  the  gentleman  ad- 
venturer-artist, played  by  Ronald  Col- 
man,  who  returns  to  the  Sudan.  Pro- 
duced and  directed  by  William  A. 
Wellman,  with  Ida  Lupino  and 
Thomas  Mitchell  in  support  of 
Colman. 

Victor  Herbert,  starring  Allan 
Jones,  and  featuring  the  composer's 
melodies.    Andrew  Stone  will  direct. 

White  Flame,  to  be  made  in  color, 
against  the  background  of  the  Cana- 
dian northwoods  and  starring  Ray 
Milland,  Patricia  Morison,  and  Akim 
Tamiroff,  under  the  direction  of 
George  Archainbaud. 

Remember  the  Night,  starring 
Barbara  Stanwyck,  in  a  story  of  a 
girl-thief  and  a  district  attorney. 
Directed  by  Mitchell  Leisen,  who  re- 
cently completed  "Midnight." 

Safari,  an  adventure-romance  set 
against  the  background  of  the  African 
veldt,  and  co-starring  Madeleine  Car- 
roll and  Joel  McCrea.  with  Edward 
H.  Griffith  directing. 

Riders  of  the  Panamint,  a  Harry 
Sherman  "Hopalong  Cassidy"  film, 
with  William  Boyd,  directed  by  Lesley 
Selander. 

Every  Day  Is  Sunday,  starring 
Bing  Crosby  in  the  same  type  of  role 
as  in  "Sing  You  Sinners,"  and  directed 
by  Henry  Hathaway. 

Dr.  Cyclops,  to  be  made  in  color 
and  directed  by  Ernest  Schoedsack, 
who  directed  "King  Kong,"  "Chang," 
"Grass"  and  "Last  Days  of  Pompei." 

Amazing  Lady,  starring  Claudette 
Colbert,  whose  most  recent  film  has 
been  "Midnight." 

The  Roy'al  Canadian  Mounted, 
a  story  of  the  Canadian  mounted 
police,  which  will  be  produced  and 
directed  by  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  whose 
last  film  was  "Union  Pacific."  The 
film  will  be  made  in  color. 

Casey  Jones,  starring  Bob  Burns 
as  the  railroading  hero. 

South  of  Samoa,  with  Dorothy 
Lamour  as  a  half-caste  jungle  queen 


and  Robert  Preston,  supported  by 
Lynne  Overman.  Edward  H.  Griffith 
will  direct. 

Triumph  Over  Pain,  the  story  of 
the  discovery  of  anaesthesia,  taken 
from  the  book  by  Rene  Fulop-Miller. 
Henry  Hathaway  will  direct. 

Diamonds  Are  Dangerous,  played 
against  the  background  of  the  South 
African  diamond  mines,  co-starring 
Isa  Miranda  and  George  Brent. 

London  After  Dark,  the  story  of  a 
London  Music  Hall  "Busker"  and  the 
girl  he  raised  to  stardom,  with  Charles 
Laughton  and  Vivien  Leigh  (star  of 
"Gone  With  the  Wind"). 

Seventeen,  from  the  Booth  Tark- 
ington  novel,  with  Jackie  Cooper  and 
Betty  Field.  Louis  King  will  direct 
the  comedy. 

The  Farmer's  Daughter,  by  Harry 
Leon  Wilson,  starring  Martha  Rave 
as  a  small  town  girl  who  comes  to 
Hollywood. 

The  Texas  Rangers  Ride  Again, 
telling  the  story  of  the  Twentieth  cen- 
tury Texas  rangers. 

The  Way  of  All  Flesh,  starring 
Akim  Tamiroff  and  directed  by  Kurt 
Neumann.  William  Henry  will  head 
the  supporting  cast. 

Our  Neighbors — The  Carters,  the 
story  of  a  small  town  American  family, 
with  Fay  Bainter,  1939  Academy 
Award  winner,  and  Frank  Craven, 
star  of  the  1939  Pulitzer  Prize  play, 
"Our  Town."  Ralph  Murphy  will 
direct. 

Gulliver's  Travels,  full  length, 
cartoon  comedy-romance  made  in  color 
by  Max  Fleisher  from  Dean  Swift's 
story  of  Gulliver's  visit  to  the  Lilli- 
putians, and  with  music  by  Ralph 
Rainger  and  Leo  Robins. 

The  World  on  Parade,  a  story  of 
television,  adventure  and  romance. 

Emergency  Squad,  about  the  rescue 
heroes  of  the  cities,  starring  Lloyd 
Nolan. 

Portrait  of  a  Mother,  a  story  of 
mother  love,  with  a  background  of  the 
burlesque  stage.  Henry  Hathaway  will 
direct. 

The  Ne'er  Do  Well,  from  the  Rex 
Beach  novel,  to  be  brought  to  the 
screen  as  a  "special"  by  Harry  Sher- 
man. 

I  Want  a  Divorce,  from  the  radio 
program  of  the  same  name. 

$1, 000  a  Touchdown,  a  comedy 
about  professional  football,  co-starring 
Joe  E.  Brown  and  Martha  Raye. 

Paroles  for  Sale,  successor  to  J. 
Edgar  Hoover's  "Persons  in  Hiding" 
and  "Undercover  Doctor,"  telling  the 
story  of  the  parole  racket. 

Other  titles  which  will  round  out 
Paramount's  1939-40  schedule  include 
"Honorable  Uncle  Lancy,"  "The 
Woman  from  Hell,"  "Campus  Wives," 
"Broken  Heart  Cafe,"  "The  Warden 
Goes  to  Jail,"  "Hot  Ice,"  "Opened  by 
Mistake,"  "Strange  Money,"  "Light  of 
the  Western  Stars,"  and  "Knights  of 
the  Range." 

In  the  short  subject  field  Para- 
mount's lineup  will  include  12  Popeye 
cartoons,  12  Stone  Age  cartoons,  six 
Color  Classics,  10  Paramount  Head- 
liners,  13  Grantland  Rice  Sportlights, 
six  Popular  Science  shorts,  six  Un- 
usual Occupations  Features,  10  Para- 
mount Paragraphics,  seven  Paramount 
Color  Cruises  and  three  Symphonic 
shorts,  as  well  as  104  issues  of  the 
Paramount  News. 


Balaban  Calls 
For  Stronger 
Sales  Policy 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

which  the  company  was  saddled  on  its 
emergence  from  reorganization  had 
been  retired  during  the  past  three 
years. 

He  forecast  retirement  of  the  last 
$2,000,000  of  the  company's  six  per 
cent  debentures  still  outstanding  of  an 
original  issue  of  $26,000,000  and  re- 
ported that  $10,000,000  of  preferred 
stock  had  been  converted  into  com- 
mon. 

He  discussed  television  briefly,  say- 
ing that  it  will  be  an  adjunct  of  films 
and  not  a  competitor. 

Adolph  Zukor,  board  chairman, 
w  arned  domestic  sales  organization  it 
must  be  prepared  to  accept  some  of 
burden  of  recouping  revenue  lost  in 
closed  or  curtailed  foreign  markets. 

John  W.  Hicks,  foreign  head,  said 
all  problems  of  international  markets 
would  be  solved  or  lessened  by  good 
product. 

George  Weltner,  Hicks'  assistant ; 
C.  R.  Dickinson,  British  sales  mana- 
ger ;  Tony  Reddin,  British  publicity 
director ;  Henry  Klarsfeld,  general 
manager  for  France ;  A.  L.  Pratch- 
ett,  Latin  America ;  F.  C.  Henry, 
Philippines,  also  spoke. 

Some  of  the  stars  who  will  appear 
in  Paramount  product  next  season 
include  : 

Rochester  (Eddie  Anderson),  Fay 
Bainter,  George  Bancroft,  John  Beal, 
Jack  Benny,  Mary  Boland,  Bill  Boyd, 
Olympe  Bradna,  George  Brent,  Joe  E. 
Brown,  Bob  Burns,  Madeleine  Car- 
roll, Claudette  Colbert,  Ronald  Col- 
man, Gary  Cooper,  Jackie  Cooper, 
Frank  Craven,  Bing  Crosby,  Andy  De- 
vine,  Melvyn  Douglas,  Leif  Erikson, 
Douglas  Fairbanks,  Jr.,  Preston  Fos- 
ter, William  Frawley,  Will  Fyffe, 
Paulette  Goddard,  Tito  Guizar,  Bob 
Hope,  John  Howard,  Allan  Jones, 
Dorothy  Lamour,  Charles  Laughton, 
Margaret  Lockwood,  Ida  Lupino, 
Fred  MacMurray,  Joel  McCrea,  Ray 
Milland,  Isa  Miranda,  Douglas  Mont- 
gomery, Thomas  Mitchell,  Victor 
Moore,  J.  Carrol  Naish,  Lloyd  Nolan, 
Pat  O'Brien,  Donald  O'Connor,  Lynne 
Overman,  Elizabeth  Patterson,  An- 
thony Quinn,  Martha  Raye  Shirley 
Ross,  Charlie  Ruggles,  Barbara  Stan- 
wyck, Akim  Tamiroff  and  Roland 
Young. 

In  addition,  there  are  17  in  Para- 
mount's socalled  "Golden  Circle," 
young  players  who  are  being  groomed 
for  stardom.  They  include :  Joseph 
Allen,  Jr.,  Muriel  Angelus,  Judith 
Barret,  Louise  Campbell,  Tom  Coley, 
Ellen  Drew,  Betty  Field,  Virginia 
Dale,  Susan  Hayward,  William 
Henry,  William  Holden,  Evelyn  Keyes, 
Janice  Logan,  Joyce  Matthews,  Betty 
Moran,  Patricia  Morison  and  Robert 
Preston. 

The  directors  for  the  new  product 
include :  George  Archainbaud,  An- 
thony Asquith,  Frank  Borzage,  Cecil 
B.  DeMille,  Eddie  Dmytryk,  George 
Fitzmaurice,  Robert  Florey,  Edward 
H.  Griffith,  Henry  Hathaway,  Alfred 
Hitchcock,  James  Hogan,  Louis  King, 
Mitchell  Leisen,  Frank  Lloyd,  Lewis 
Milestone,  Ralph  Murphy,  Kurt  Neu- 
mann, Elliott  Nugent,  Theodore  Reed, 
Alfred  Santell,  Ernest  Schoedsack, 
Lesley  Selander,  Paul  Sloane,  Andrew 
Stone,  William  A.  Wellman,  Tim 
Whelan  and  E.  H.  Venturini. 


"HELLO  MR.  EXHIBITOR!'' 

- 

Here  are  Two  Big  M-G-M  Shows  for  Showmen ! 

Just  when  the  thermometer  goes  and  your  business  goes  ^  along 
comes  The  Friendly  Company  with  two  grand  box-office  attractions. 
Screen  them  fast!  They'll  inspire  you  to  roll  up  your  sleeves  and  yell 
"Hello  Tarzan !  Hello  Maisie!  Welcome  to  the  box-offices  of  America !" 


6 


Motion  picture  daily 


Friday,  June  9,  193! 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


Los  Angeles 
Gives  $27,500 
To  'Conquest9 


Los  Angeles,  June  8. — "Man  of 
Conquest"  and  "On  Trial"  grossed 
$27,500  in  two  theatres,  $13,500  at 
the  Warner  Hollywood  and  $14,000 
at  the  Warner  Downtown. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  7 : 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-50c)  7  days,  3rd  week. 
Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)    (30c-65c)    7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS    STATE— (2,500)    (30c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,300.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $8,900.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Gracie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)    (30c-65c)   7  days. 
Stage:  F.  &  M.  Ice  Revue.    Gross:  $12,500. 
(Average,  $18,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Republic) 
"On  Trial"   (W.  B.) 

WARNER    BROS.    (HOLLYWOOD)  - 
(3,000)    (30c-65c)    7    days.     Gross:  $13,500. 
(Average,  $14,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Republic) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER    BROS.     (DOWNTOWN)  — 
(3,400)    (30c-65c)    7    days.     Gross:  $14,000. 
(Average,  $12,000) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

WILSHIRE— (2.300)  (30c -$1.00)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,600. 

Providence  Dull; 

'Angels;  $10,500 

Providence,  June  8. — Good  weather, 
the  opening  of  shore  resorts  and  the 
rodeo  in  the  Rhode  Island  Auditorium 
hit  grosses.  Best  business  was  done 
by  "Only  Angels  Have  Wings," 
dualled  with  "Boy  Slaves"  at  Loew's 
State  for  a  gross  of  $10,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  31-June  1 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings" 
"Boy  Slaves" 

LOEW'S   STATE— (3,230)    (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,500.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Long  Shot"  (G.  N.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)    (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Missing  Daughters"  (Col.) 

STRAND  —  (2,100)    (25c-35c-50c1    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Old  Dark  House"  (Univ.) 
"My  Man  Godfrey"  (Univ.) 

RKO- ALBEE— (2,239)    (25c-35c-50c)  Re- 
vivals.    5    days.     Gross:    $2,000.     (7  day 
average,  $6,000) 
"The  Boy  Friend"  (Zttth-Fox) 

FAY'S—  (1,800)     (25c-35c-40c)     7  days. 
Vaudeville.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $2,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 


Final  Text  of  Trade 
Code  Due  in  Week 

Final  text  of  the  complete  trade 
practice  code  is  expected  to  be  ready 
early  next  week.  William  F.  Rodgers, 
general  sales  manager  of  M-G-M  and 
chairman  of  the  distributors'  negotiat- 
ing committee,  left  last  night  for  De- 
troit and  Chicago. 

Rodgers  will  discuss  the  code  at  the 
open  forum  of  Allied's  convention  in 
Minneapolis  Wednesday.  By  that  time 
he  will  have  received  a  copy  of  the 
final  text. 

Rodgers  is  accompanied  on  his  trip 
by  Ed  Saunders,  western  division 
manager. 


Loew's  Shifts  Crouch 

Indianapolis,  June  8. — Orville  W. 
Crouch,  assistant  manager  of  Loew's 
here,  has  been  transferred  to  the 
southern  division  and  will  spend  the 
summer  as  a  relief  manager,  begin- 
ning at  Evansville  and  then  going  to 
Memphis.  Joseph  P.  Holleran  suc- 
ceeds him  here. 


Close  Conn.  House 

Windsor  Locks,  Conn.,  June  8. — 
The  600-seat  Rialto  has  closed  for 
renovation.  It  will  reopen  some  time 
next  month. 


Takes  Columbia  Post 

Kansas  City,  June  8. — Carl  Hood- 
enpyle,  formerly  with  Warners,  is  in 
charge  of  the  poster  department  at 
the  Columbia  exchange  here,  succeed- 
ing Ken  Levy,  resigned.  Harold  Hell- 
man,  formerly  at  Detroit  for  Colum- 
bia, has  been  transferred  here  as  as- 
sistant booker,  a  new  post. 


Abraham  Joins  RKO 

Kansas  City,  June  8. — Leon  Abra- 
ham, four  years  head  booker  at  the 
M-G-M  exchange  here,  has  joined  the 
RKO  branch  as  office  manager,  suc- 
ceeding John  Wangberg,  who  last 
week  moved  up  to  a  post  as  home 
office  representative  in  the  south.  Al 
Adler  succeeds  Abraham. 


Waldorf,  50th  St.,  Manhattan,  has 
been  taken  over  by  the  Myron  Thea- 
tre Co.,  Inc.  (Brandt). 


Seattle  Theatre  Damaged 

Seattle,  June  8. — Damage  estimated 
at  more  than  $5,000  was  suffered  by 
the  Prosser,  operated  by  the  Pearl 
Brothers,  in  a  fire  here. 

Consolidated  Strike 
Called  by  Lab  Union 

Laboratory  Technicians  Union, 
Local  702,  declared  a  strike  at ,  the 
Fort  Lee  laboratories  of  Consolidated 
Film  Industries  at  6  P.  M.  yesterday. 
The  union  claimed  a  100  per  cent 
walkout  of  the  250  men  employed  at 
the  eastern  plant.  No  official  of  Con- 
solidated could  be  reached  for  com- 
ment. 

Yesterday's  efforts  of  union  officials 
to  negotiate  a  satisfactory  contract 
following  the  strike  vote  Wednesday 
night  were  unsuccessful.  The  union 
is  insisting  on  a  contract  identical  in 
terms  with  that  signed  by  DeLuxe 
Laboratories. 

Consolidated's  eastern  laboratory  is 
used  by  RKO,  Republic,  Universal 
News  and  United  Artists  for  domestic 
release  printing,  and  by  M-G-M  for 
foreign  prints. 

Grand  National  Sees 
Finance  Deal  Today 

Announcement  of  new  production 
financing  for  Educational-Grand  Na- 
tional may  be  made  this  afternoon, 
Earl  W.  Hammons,  operating  head, 
said  yesterday.  The  new  financing  has 
been  approved  by  the  board  of  di- 
rectors and  the  papers  have  been 
drawn.  Closing  of  the  deal,  together 
with  signing  of  contracts,  is  set  for  this 
morning.  A  reoort  on  the  coast  that 
a  $1,000,000  financing  deal  had  been 
made  brought  no  comment  from  Ham- 
mons. 


"U"  Changes  in  Denver 

Denver,  June  8.  —  Jack  Langan, 
Universal  exchange  manager,  has 
made  one  addition  and  several  promo- 
tions. Carl  Mock,  formerly  salesmen 
with  United  Artists  at  Dallas,  has 
been  added  as  salesman;  Tom  Mc- 
Mahon  goes  from  booker  to  office 
manager ;  Don  McCormack  from  the 
accessory  department  to  booker,  and 
Joe  Aldrich,  formerly  with  G.  B.,  gets 
the  accessory  post. 


Columbia  Promotes  Kramer 

Denver,  June  8. — Sam  Kramer  has 
been  promoted  from  uoster  clerk  at 
the  Columbia  exchange  to  salesman, 
and  is  succeeded  in  the  poster  depart- 
ment by  Don  Tweddale,  from  War- 
ners. 


Theatre  Firms  Formed 

Albany,  June  8. — Two  new  theatre 
companies  chartered  here  are  Ditmars 
Amusement  Co.,  Inc.,  by  Edward 
Wagreich,  Harry  B.  Lader  and  G. 
Barkin,  New  York,  and  Kale  Amuse- 
ment Corp.,  Rochester,  by  George 
Katz,  Albert  and  Harold  Lebowitz. 


Buy  Wisconsin  House 

Sheboygan  Falls,  Wis.,  June  8. — 
Nor-Wis  Theatre  Co.,  Tomahawk, 
Wis.,  has  purchased  the  Falls  here, 
formerly  operated  by  Stan  Kohlberg. 
H.  W.  Robarge,  formerly  associated 
with  his  father  in  the  operation  of  the 
Cosmo,  Merrill,  Wis.,  is  the  new  man- 
ager of  the  Falls. 


Altec  in  Essaness  Deal 

Altec  has  contracted  to  service  five 
additional  Essaness  theatres  in  Chi- 
cago.   R.  Hilton  negotiated  for  Altec. 

Coast  Exhibitors 
Meet  Sears  Today 

Los  Angeles,  June  8. — Plans  for 
selling  Warners'  1939-'40  product  to 
independent  exhibitors  in  opposition  to 
National  Theatres  in  the  western  area 
will  be  discussed  at  a  meeting  of  sales 
representatives  to  be  held  here  to- 
morrow by  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  gen- 
eral sales  manager. 

J.  G.  Von  Herberg,  president  of 
the  Jensen  &  Von  Herberg  circuit, 
and  John  Danz  of  the  Sterling  cir- 
cuit are  due  tomorrow  from  Seattle 
to  discuss  deals  with  Sears. 

Ben  Kalmenson,  western  and  south- 
ern division  manager,  arrives  tomor- 
row from  New  York  to  participate. 
W.  E.  Callaway,  coast  district  man- 
ager, will  sit  in,  as  will  these  branch 
managers :  E.  A.  Bell,  Denver ;  Jack 
Brower,  Los  Angeles ;  V.  Stewart, 
Portland ;  William  F.  Gordon,  Salt 
Lake  City;  William  Shartin,  Seattle, 
and  A.  Shmitken,  San  Francisco. 

Receiver  for  Lopez 
Enterprises  Asked 

Vincent  Lopez  and  Vincent  Lopez 
Enterprises,  Inc.,  which  supply  or- 
chestras and  vocalists  for  radio  and 
theatrical  enterprises,  were  named  de- 
fendants yesterday  in  a  stockholders 
suit  filed  by  Agnes  V.  Russell  who 
asked  appointment  of  a  receiver. 
Plaintiff,  the  alleged  owner  of  one- 
third  interest  in  the  company,  charges 
excessive  salaries,  waste,  and  the  mis- 
appropriation of  funds. 


Loop  Collects 
Good  $12,500 
On  'Nazi  Spy* 


Chicago,  June  8. — "Confessions  o 
a  Nazi  Spy"  was  the  leader  with  $12,- 
500  at  the  Roosevelt  in  a  dull  weel 
of  partly  unsettled  weather.  ^ 

Eleanor  Powell  and  a  revue  on  A 
stage  of  the  Palace  with  "Sororffl 
House"  on  the  screen,  drew  $23,800. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  31-June  3 : 

"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (28th-Fox) 

APOLLO  — (1,400)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,600.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)   7  days 
Stage:    Vaudeville   Revue.     Gross:  $26,50) 
(Average,  $32,000) 
"Eagle  and  the  Hawk"  (Para.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

GARRICK— (900)     (35c-40c-65c)     7  days 
Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 
"Big  Town  Czar"  (Univ.) 

ORIENTAL—  (3,400)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days 
Stage:    Oswald   &   Revue.     Gross:  $12,000 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

PALACE  —  (2,500)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days 
Stage:  Eleanor  Powell  and  Revue.  Gross 
$23,800.    (Average,  $19,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

ROOSEVELT  —  (1,300)     (35c-55c-75c)  ! 
days.    Gross:  $12,500.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Mr.  Moto  On  Danger  Island"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ST  ATE -LAKE— (2,700)     (25c-35c-40c)  ! 
days.    Stage:    Music   Hall   Parade.  Gross 
$10,600.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (35c-55c-75c 
7  days.    Gross:   $10,300.    (Average,  $15,000 

' Hardy s'  Garners 
$7,800  in  Montreal 

Montreal,  June  8. — "The  Hardy; 
Ride  High"  and  "Within  the  Law' 
accounted  for  $7,800  at  the  Capitol 
Other  grosses  were  off. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  2: 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  Gross: 
$7,800.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  —  (2,800)     (30c-40c-60c)  Gross: 
$4,600.    2nd  week.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 
"Strange  Boarders"  (British) 

ORPHEUM  —  (919)    (25c-35c-50c)  Gross: 
$4,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Story  of  Alexander  Graham  Bell" 
(20th-Fox) 

PALACE— (2,600)   (25c-40c-55c-65c)  Gross: 
$6,200.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 
"Going  Places"  (F.  N.) 

PRINCESS  —  (2,272)  (25c-35e-50c-65c) 
Gross:  $3,300.    (Average,  $6,500) 


'Express'  $9,700 

Indianapolis  Lead 

Indianapolis,  June  8. — "Exile  Ex- 
press," with  the  Clyde  McCoy  band 
on  the  stage,  was  the  only  bill  to 
better  average,  with  $9,700  at  the 
Lyric. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  2 : 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

APOLLO— (1,100)    (25c-40c)    7   days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  (20th-Fox) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.    (Average,  $5,500) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
S6,700.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Exile  Express"  (G.  N.) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
Clyde  McCoy  Baud  Show.  Gross:  $9,7110. 
(Average,  $8,000) 


•nda 


v,  June  9.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Neely  Bill  Bad, 
ays  Minority 
enate  Report 


(.Continued  from  paiic  1) 

hi  industry  which  makes  available  all 
|ver  the  United  States  expensively 
duced  motion  pictures  at  a  low  cost 
|mich  permits  their  display  at  all 
places,  and  gives  the  public  so  many 
lictures  to  choose  from,"  it  was  de- 
:1a  red. 

Dismiss  Allied  Contention 

Dismissing  Allied's  contention  that 
•lock  booking  was  leading  to  a  mon- 
■poly,  the  report  pointed  out  that  since 
he  legislation  was  first  introduced 
our  new  companies.  Republic,  Mono- 
ram,  Grand  National  and  Gaumont 
British,  have  established  national 
.holesale  distribution  systems. 

The  report  also  declared  the  inde- 
endents'  charge  that  affiliated  houses 
ave  broad  rejection  privileges  which 
re  denied  to  them,  citing  a  situation 
ivolving  the  Atlas  Theatre,  Washi- 
ngton, was  not  true  and  that,  in  the 
jase  of  the  Atlas,  the  facts  were  ex- 
ctly  the  reverse  of  the  charges  made 
■nd  that  the  producer-owned  houses 
(.■ere  required  and  actually  did  play 
:r  pay  for  the  pictures  mentioned  but 
iiat  Atlas  had  the  right  to  reject  the 
lame  films  without  paying  for  them. 

Voided  by  Court 

The  minority  found  that  the  block 
0'>king  prohibition  of  the  bill  is  sub- 
tantially  identical  with  the  provisions 

>f  the  Federal  Trade  Commission 
rder  of  1927  in  the  Paramount  Fa- 
ious  Lasky  case,  and  pointed  out  that 

flat  order  was  set  aside  by  the  courts. 

"It  is  singular  that  although  12 
ears  have  elapsed  since  the  language 
mbodied  in  Section  Three  was  first 
mmulgated  by  the  Federal  Trade 
ommission,  despite  the  attack  there- 

0  ever  since,  no  measure  has  been 
rafted  except  in  terms  identical  with 
lat  voided  by  the  court,"  it  was  com- 
lented. 

"It  needs  to  be  appreciated,  as  the 
burt  which  reversed  the  order  stated. 
■iat  its  provisions  operate  in  a  field 
f  'ordinary  incidents  of  bargaining 
ind  negotiating  between  seller  and 
layer  out  of  which  a  contract  may 
r  may  not  result.'  " 

Lead  to  Price  Problem 

The  report  also  attacked  the  see- 
on  as  leading  to  difficult  pricing 
problems.  "Legislation  which  would 
lenture  into  the  perilous  regions  of 
rice  regulation  in  a  field  where  price 
etermination  is  subject  to  so  many 
jaried  factors  which  differ  in  each  me- 
diation, ought  to  be  at  the  least  suffi- 

1  ently  certain  and  definite  so  that 
lose  who  are  directed  to  give  obeiji- 
ice  to  the  legislative  mandate  under 
ain  of  criminal  sanctions  may  be  ap- 
rised  of  the  standards  of  conduct  to 
hich  they  must  give  obedience." 
The  lack  of  standards  in  the  bill, 
was  declared,  "is  without  precedent 

-although  it  may  be  compared  with 
auses  in  contracts  pursuant  to  the 
landate  of  the  German  Reich  film 
hamber  which  requires  contracts  to 
rovide  that  such  contracts  'shall  be 
iterpreted  in  the  sense  of  National 
ocialism.' " 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hollywood,  June  8.  —  Warners  is 
planning  to  make  a  picture,  "Tomb- 
stone," with  the  same  principals  who 
appeared  in  "Dodge  City."  Michael 
Ci  rtiz  will  direct  the  cast  headed  by 
Errol  Flyxx,  Olivia  de  Havilland 
and  Ann  Sheridan.  Mark  Hel- 
linger  will  be  associate  producer.  .  .  . 
"Passport  to  Life,"  story  of  a  gangster 
who  fled  America  to  escape  indictment 
but  later  returns  to  his  punishment 
and  regeneration,  will  be- produced  by 
Paxdro  S.  Berman  for  RKO.  It  is 
from  an  idea  by  Fanya  Foss,  and 
Garson  Kaxin  will  direct.  .  .  .  W.  S. 
Van  Dyke  will  take  over  direction  of 
"The  Return  of  the  Thin  Man,"  to 
co-star  William  Powell  and  Myrna 
Loy,  instead  of  "It  Can't  Happen 
Here,"  at  M-G-M.  Leslie  Fenton 
draws  the  latter  picture  as  his  third 
feature  directorial  task. 


Francis  Lyon,  for  the  last  four 
years  film  editor  for  Alexander 
Korda.  has  returned  to  Hollywood 
and  has  been  signed  to  edit  Selznick 
International's  "Intermezzo."  .  .  . 
Reeves  Eason  has  been  signed  by 
Selznick  to  direct  the  battle  sequence 
for  "Gone  With  the  Wind." 


Maxwell  Anderson  has  arrived 
in  Hollywood  to  work  on  Leo  Mc- 
Carey's  next  production  for  RKO. 
.  .  .  Victor  McLaglen,  Joseph 
Calleia  and  Lucille  Ball  will  have 
the  top  roles  in  RKO's  "Full  Confes- 
sion," to  be  produced  by  Rorert  Sisk 
and  directed  by  John  Farrow.  .  .  . 
M-G-M  lia^  purchased  "Pretty  Penny." 
original  by  Jac  k  Goodman  and  Agnes 
RumseYj  for  Lew  Ayres  and  Flor- 
ence Rice,  and  "Dancing  Co-Ed, " 
original  bv  Niven  BUSCH. 


Casting — Gloria  Dickson  to  "On 
Your  Toes,"  Warners.  .  .  .  Lynn 
Rari.  Robert  Lowery  and  Alan 
Curtis  to  "Falling  Stars,"  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox. .  .  .  Robert  Barrat  and 
Larry  Crabbf.  to  "Colorado  Sunset," 
Republic.  .  .  .  Marie  Wilson  to 
"Should  Husbands  Work?"  Republic. 
.  .  .  Terry  Kilburn  has  been  bor- 
rowed from  M-G-M  for  20th  Century- 
Fox's  "The  Adventures  of  Sherlock 
Holmes." 

Astrid  Allwyn  to  "Miracles  for 
sale,"  M-G-M.  .  .  .  Walter  Catlett 
and  Edward  Brophy  to  "Kid  Night- 
ingale." Warners.  .  .  .  Sidney  Toler 
to  "Argentina,"  Sherman-Paramount. 
.  .  .  Ann  Rutherford,  Mary  Beth 
Hughes  and  Marsha  Hunt  to 
"These  Glamour  Girls,"  M-G-M.  .  .  . 
Barxett  Parker  to  "Babes  in  Arms," 
M-G-M. 


Title  Changes  —  Warners  :  "Kid 
Caruso"  to  "The  Singing  Swinger," 
with  Dennis  Morgan  and  Marie 
Wilson  ;  "Torchy — Dead  or  Alive," 
to  "Playing  with  Dynamite,"  with 
Tane  Wyman  and  Allen  Jenkins; 
"Not  Wanted"  to  "No  Place  To  Go," 
with  Gloria  Dickson,  Fred  Stone 
and  Dennis  Morgan;  "Lighthorse 
Harry"  to  "The  Cowboy  Quarter- 
back," with  Bert  Wheeler  and  Marie 
Wilson;  "Gantry  the  Great"  to 
"Steeplechase,"  and  "The  Dead  End 
Kids  at  Valley  Forge"  to  "The  Dead 
End  Kids  at  Military  School." 


Republic :  "Laughing  Irish  Hearts" 
to  "She  Married  a  Cop." 

Paramount :  "Lawful  Outlaws"  to 
"Range  War,"  and  "Dog  Show 
Murder"  to  "Death  of  a  Champion." 


Contracts — M-G-M  has  extended  the 
contracts  of  Fay  Holden,  Lew  Ayres 
and  Terry  Kilburn,  players,  and  of 
Frederick  Stephani,  producer  of  the 
"book  detective"  series. 

Niccolai  Yoshkin,  now  to  be 
known  as  Martin  Kosleck,  Nanette 
Fabares,  Ronald  Reagan,  players 
and  Vincent  Sherman,  director,  have 
been  given  contracts  by  Warners. 

RKO  has  extended  the  contract  of 
director  John  Farrow,  and  given  a 
new  pact  to  Dorothy  Lovett,  who 
made  her  film  debut  in  "The  Flying 
Irishman." 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


"March  of  Time  No.  11" 

(RKO) 

"War,  Peace  and  Propaganda"  is 
the  subject  of  the  latest  Time  reel. 
After  defining  propaganda  as  an  effort 
to  influence  public  opinion,  the  reel 
portrays  the  efforts  of  the  "Peace 
Front"  nations  to  gain  sympathy  in 
the  United  States. 

Opening  with  shots  of  the  foreign 
section  at  the  World's  Fair,  the  reel 
offers  a  quick  review  of  the  exhibits. 
Visit  of  the  King  and  Queen  is  de- 
scribed as  another  effort  to  gain 
friends  for  Great  Britain.  Then  the 
war  preparations  on  the  continent  and 
a  glimnse  into  the  Caribbean  situation 
are  pictured.  The  reel  ends  with  a 
meeting  of  U.S.  Senators  who  are 
considering  neutrality  legislation.  The 
subject  is  of  considerable  timeliness 
and  interest.  Running  time,  19  mins. 
"G."* 

"Happily  Buried" 

(M-G-M) 

"Happily  Buried"  is  a  two-reel  mu- 
sical with  enough  plot  structure  to 
draw  lots  of  laughs.  It  concerns  the 
adventures  of  a  boy  and  girl  who  head 
rival  waffle  iron  factories.  A  yogi 
who  becomes  devoted  to  the  hero  and 
assists  him  in  business  and  love  adds 
to  the  merriment.  This  is  a  well  bal- 
ance musical  and  should  please.  Run- 
ning time,  20  mins.  "G." 


Kuykendall  to  Go 
To  Allied  Meeting 

Ed  Kuykendall,  president  of  the 
M.P.T.O.A.,  yesterday  decided  to  at- 
tend the  national  Allied  convention  in 
Minneapolis,  starting  next  Tuesday. 

Recently  invited  by  W.  A.  Steffes, 
convention  chairman,  Kuykendall  in- 
dicated that  he  might  attend.  Later, 
wrote  Steffes  explaining  that  because 
he  planned  to  attend  conventions  of 
M.P.T.O.A.  units  next  week,  he 
would  be  unable  to  go  to  Minneapolis. 

Kuykendall  has  been  in  Washington 
the  last  two  days. 


Thomson  Sees 
Peace  in  Fight 
On  Television 


Screen  Actors  Guild  is  hopeful  that 
an  "amicable  settlement"  of  the  tele- 
vision jurisdiction  dispute  may  be 
arrived  at  with  Actors  Equity. 

Kenneth  Thomson,  S.A.G.  execu- 
tive secretary,  who  arrived  from  the 
coast  Wednesday,  immediately  went 
into  conference  with  leaders  of  the 
Associated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
America. 

Thomson  is  particularly  interested 
in  three  A.A.A.A.  problems.  Besides 
television,  these  are  reconstruction  of 
the  parent  body  and  all  its  branches 
into  "one  big  union"  and  the  current 
investigation  into  the  affairs  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Actors. 
Thomson  is  generally  credited  with 
being  the  initiator  of  the  present  re- 
construction move. 

Board  meetings  will  start  today. 
Thomson  is  relying  on  the  fact  that 
previous  jurisdictional  disputes  have 
always  been  disposed  of  amicably. 

Equity  leaders,  on  the  other  hand, 
commented  unofficially  yesterday  that 
they  still  stood  by  their  original  de- 
mands for  the  jurisdiction  which  was 
granted  to  them  in  1935.  Length  of 
Thomson's  stay  is  indefinite  as  he 
may  be  called  back  to  the  coast  early 
next  week. 


Monogram  Finishes 
Schedule  by  Aug.  15 

Monogram  will  complete  its  pro- 
duction schedule  for  the  second  time 
in  its  two  years  of  reorganized  exist- 
ence, W.  Ray  Johnston  declared 
yesterday. 

The  full  quota  of  26  features  and 
16  westerns  will  be  completed  by  Au- 
gust 15.  Three  re-issues  were  re- 
leased during  the  season  as  specials. 

Production  on  four  features  and 
three  westerns  will  be  started  shortly. 
The  features  are  "Murder  in  the  Big 
House,"  "Mr.  Wong  at  Headquarters" 
and  two  "Tailspin  Tommy"  films. 
The  westerns  include  two  in  which 
Jack  Randall  will  star  and  one  with 
Tex  Ritter. 


Newsreel 
Parade 


Newsreels  are  post-releasing  the 
arrival  of  King  George  and  Queen 
Elizabeth  in  Washington  for  inclusion 
in  the  weekend  issues.  The  full  con- 
tents of  the  reels  follow. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  78— Statue 
of  Will  Rogers  unveiled.  Navy  bombers 
in  trial  flight.  Flier  to  Mars  crashes. 
Umbrella  parachute  fails.  Fashions  in 
jewels.  Horse  racing.  Gymnasts  train  in 
Sweden.  Louis  and  Galento  in  training. 
Horse  show.    Lew  Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  276— Fire  in 
Times  Square.  Rogers'  statue  unveiled. 
British  fleet  drills.  Galento  and  Louis 
prepare  for  bout. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  89— Entire 
issue  is  devoted  to  the  arrival  in  the 
United  States  of  the  British  monarchs. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  93— Recon- 
struction in  China.  Rogers'  statue  un- 
veiled.    Summer  fashions. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  778— 
Rogers'  statue  unveiled.  Fire  in  Times 
Square.  Flier  to  Mars  arrested.  Bowling. 
Birthday  party  for  5,000  children.  Christen 
bears  at  zoo.  Girl  with  perfect  back 
chosen.  Prince  of  Norway  skiing.  Fash- 
ions.   Bombers  in  test  flight. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  9,  193 


Big  Newsreel, 
Air  Coverage 
Of  Royal  Visit 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

tion  is  WNEW.  However,  WNEW 
will  feed  the  program  to  any  local 
stations  that  desire  to  pick  up  its 
broadcasts.  Mutual  also  will  feed 
pickups  to  independent  stations  de- 
siring to  accept  its  offer. 

Meanwhile,  networks  have  com- 
pleted extensive  plans  for  broadcast- 
ing the  trip  of  the  King  and  Queen 
to  the  Fair  tomorrow.  The  programs 
are  to  begin  at  approximately  10 :30 
A.  M.  over  all  networks,  and  will  con- 
tinue with  practically  no  interruptions 
until  the  King  and  Queen  depart  from 
the  Fair  and  proceed  to  Hyde  Park, 
where  they  will  be  guests  of  Presi- 
dent and  Mrs.  Roosevelt.  This  will 
be  at  approximately  4  P.  M. 

Additionally,  the  Royal  visitors  also 
will  be  seen  by  television.  Televising 
will  begin  at  approximately  3  P.  M. 
when  they  will  pose  for  NBC  tele- 
vision engineers,  newsreels  and  photog- 
raphers in  front  of  the  Federal 
building. 

On  Sunday,  a  special  program  will 
be  broadcast  over  NBC  at  3  P.  M. 
from  Hollywood,  with  British-born 
stars  saluting  their  Majesties.  Those 
who  will  appear  in  the  program  in- 
clude Gertrude  Lawrence,  Leslie 
Howard,  Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke,  C. 
Aubrey  Smith,  Anna  Neagle,  Ronald 
Colman,  '  Madeleine  Carroll,  Cissie 
Loftus  and  Freddie  Bartholomew. 


Pal  he  Film  3-Month 
Net  Profit  Is  $9,901 

Pathe  Film  Corp.  and  subsidiaries 
yesterday  reported  net  profit  for  the 
three  months  ending  March  31,  1939, 
of  $9,901.75. 

DuPont  Film  Manufacturing  Corp., 
of  whose  common  stock  Pathe  Film 
owns  35  per  cent,  had  a  net  profit, 
after  all  charges,  of  $395,000  for  the 
first  three  months  of  193Q  This  com- 
pares with  a  net  profit  of  $329,000  for 
the  corresponding  period  of  1938. 

Pathe  Film's  share  amounted  to 
$138,000  in  1939  and  $115,000  in  the 
1938  period.  Of  these  earnings,  $103,- 
000  was  undistributed  in  1939  and 
$80,000  in  1938.  The  undistributed 
sum  was  not  indicated  in  the  report. 

The  statement  notes  that  the  operat- 
ing assets  and  liabilities  of  Pathe  Film 
were  taken  over  by  Pathe  Labora- 
tories, Inc.,  on  Feb.  27,  1939. 


Short  Wave  Tribute 
To  Argentine  Today 

Teatro  al  Dta,  the  Quigley  Pan- 
American  magazine,  and  CBS  will  join 
in  a  tribute  to  Argentina  via  a  short 
wave  radio  broadcast  from  3 :00  to 
3  :_30  P.M.  today.  Argentine  stations 
will  pick  up  the  program  and  rebroad- 
cast  it. 

Those  who  will  be  heard  over  the 
air  include  Dorita  Norby,  Argentine 
artistic  delegate  to  the  World's  Fair 
and  a  prominent  South  American  folk- 
lor  interpreter;  Alfredo  Murua,  owner 
of  S.I.D.E.  productions ;  Herminio 
Gimenez.  Paraguayan  singer ;  Tito 
Coral,  Venezuelan  baritone ;  Pablo 
Cavallo,  co-owner  of  the  Lautaret- 
Cavallo  theatre  circuit ;  and  H.  Alban- 
Mestanza,  editor  of  Teatro  al  Dta. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


HOLLYWOOD  ENLISTED  IN  PATRIOTIC  PROGRAM  .  .  .  Ameri- 
can Bar  Association  will  present  a  radio  program  over  NBC  June  14 
to  celebrate  Flag  Day,  and  has  called  upon  Hollywood  to  enhance  the 
show.  Louis  K.  Sidney  will  produce,  and  Don  Amechp  and  Robert  Young 
will  serve  as  emcees.  Gary  Cooper  will  present  a  tribute  to  the  flag;  the 
"Hardy  Family"  with  Louis  Stone,  Mickey  Rooney,  Fay  Holden,  Cecelia 
Parker  and  Ann  Rutherford  will  offer  a  dramatic  piece  written  by  Rupert 
Hughes.  Tyrone  Power,  Judy  Garland,  Lionel  Barrymore,  John  Carradine, 
Pat  O'B  rien,  John  Litel,  Beulah  Bondi,  and  Warren  Hull  also  will  par- 
ticipate.   Broadcast  will  be  aired  from  9  to  10  P.  M.  over  the  Blue  network. 

T 

TIM  HEALY  BACK  .  .  .  Capt.  Tim'Healy  keeps  bobbing  in  and  out  of 
radio  with  his  stamp  program.  He'll  now  be  back  with  a  local  show  over 
WEAF  starting  June  19. 

T 

MAYOR  HAGUE  LINES  UP  JERSEY  NETWORK  .  .  .  Frank  Hague, 
political  boss  of  New  Jersey,  has  lined  up  a  radio  network  to  help  him  sell  to 
the  Jersey  citizenry  a  bill  to  legalize  horse  racing  in  the  state.  WHOM  will 
broadcast  his  speech  and  feed  it  to  WBRB,  Red  Bank,  :while  recordings  of  his 
talks  will  be  broadcast  over  WCAP,  Asbury  Park";  and  WMCA  and  WNEW 
of  New  York.    It  all  occurs  tonight. 

T 

TELEVISION  FILM  SCHEDULE  REDUCED  .  .  .  NBC  is  taking  cog- 
nizance of  a  bad  public  reaction  to  its  television  film  schedule,  and  will  cut  the 
schedule  from  25  hours  a  week  to  half  that.  Films  in  the  main  have  been 
commercials  lacking  entertainment  value.  Constant  repetition  of  the  same  reels 
has  made  them  pall  on  viewers. 

T 

CBS  FOLKS  IN  RCA  AD  .  .  .  Yesterday's  dailies  ran  RCA  television  ads 
with  a  picture  insert  showing  "a  number  of  well  known  New  York  personali- 
ties" watching  the  NBC  television  broadcast  of  the  Baer-Nova  fight.  In  the 
forefront  of  the  photo  are  the  countenances  of  Jim  Tyler  and  Miss  Rena  Dean, 
both  CBS  employees. 

▼ 

FRED  ALLEN'S  CRACK  .  .  .  Bill  Rousseau  of  Young  &  Rubicam  and 
producer  of  the  Fred  Allen  series,  recently  became  a  father  and  Fred,  dropping 
into  the  agency,  was  informed  of  the  birth  by  other  agency  men  and  told  the 
baby  weighed  7  pounds.  Later  Rousseau  personally  phoned  Allen,  and  told  him 
the  baby  weighed  7y2  pounds.  "Wouldn't  you  know,"  cracked  Fred,  "that  the 
agency  would  deduct  15  per  cent !" 

▼ 

SQUALUS  BENEFIT  SET  .  .  .  The  columning  committee  arranging  the 
benefit  for  the  families  of  those  who  died  in  the  Squalus  has  secured  the  Center 
Theatre  for  the  benefit,  which  will  be  held  June  21.  Committee  is  now  lining 
up  an  all-star  cast.    Each  columnist  will  take  a  turn  as  emcee. 

▼ 

GERSHWIN  MEMORIAL  .  .  .  Last  year  on  the  anniversary  of  George 
Gershwin's  death  which  occurs  July  9,  CBS  presented  a  special  memorial  pro- 
grain,  with  Paul  Whiteman's  orchestra.  The  network  is  planning  to  repeat  the 
show,  again  with  Whiteman. 

T 

ELLERY  QUEEN  TO  CBS  .  .  .  Ellery  Queen,  the  mystery  story  collabo- 
rators, will  present  a  new  detective  mystery  quiz  series  on  CBS  starting  next 
Sunday.  The  writers  have  been  producing  a  program,  "Author,  Author,"  on 
Mutual,  but  apparently  that  promising  program  has  now  been  lost  to  Mutual. 
The  CBS  program  will  be  a  disguised  version  of  "Author,  Author."  This  is 
the  second  time  Mutual  has  lost  its  outstanding  program  to  another  network. 
Mutual  started  "Hobby  Lobby,"  but  as  soon  as  the  program  caught  on  it  was 
taken  elsewhere. 

▼ 

KAY  KYSER  RENEWED  .  .  .  American  Tobacco  Co.  has  just  renewed 
Kay  Kyser's  quiz  series  for  another  13-weeks'  stay  on  NBC,  effective  July  5. 
Lord  &  Thomas  placed  the  renewal. 

T 

RE  BASEBALL  BROADCASTS  .  .  .  Head  of  one  of  the  great  survey 
bureaus  yesterday  informed  us  that  a  poll  just  finished  indicates  that  baseball 
broadcasts  in  New  York  are  not  faring  as  well  as  was  expected.  The  survey 
shows  that  interest  in  baseball  broadcasts  here  are  just  half  of  what  they  are 
in  other  cities  where  baseball  is  broadcast.  This  finding  is  more  or  less  vin- 
dicated by  the  extensive  promoting  WABC  and  WOR  are  doing  to  interest 
lady  fans  in  the  broadcast  games. 

T 

FORGETFUL  BRIDEGROOM  .  .  .  Bill  Conway  of  the  Paul  Whiteman 
singing  troupe  marched  down  the  aisle  of  the  Little  Church  Around  the  Corner 
yesterday  at  5  P.  M.  with  Bernice  Walker  on  his  arm.  Attendants  were  Paul 
Whiteman,  Joan  Edwards  and  the  other  three  members  of  the  troupe.  Then 
the  minister  asked  for  the  license  .  .  .  but  need  we  go  on?  The  license  had 
been  left  home  in  Bronxville.  More  than  two  hours  lapsed  before  Hal  Dicken- 
son, one  of  the  troupe,  after  a  mad  motor  dash,  brought  in  the  license. 


Moss  Warns 
Of  Television 
Peril  to  Filing 


Now,   before   television   has  mad 
greater  progress,  is  the  time  for  th'^ 
film  industry  to  think  of  ways  an* 
means  of  meeting  the  competition  J . 
free    entertainment    from  the 
medium,  believes  B.  S.  Moss,  pion>. 
New  York  theatre  owner  and  show 
man. 

After  a  study  of  television  in  Lon 
don  last  year,  Moss  concluded  that  th 
greatest  competition  to  exhibitors  wil; 
not  be  through  television  in  theatre 
but  the  television  shows  that  may  b 
given  on  small  screens  in  cafes. 

"For  a  nickel  or  a  dime  a  patro 
may  sit  and  sip  a  drink  and  watch  th 
show  at  the  same  time  without  extr 
charge,"  says  Moss.  "The  same  wil 
probably  happen  in  this  country.  I 
such  free  shows  become  widespreac 
the  competition  to  theatres  will  prob 
ably  be  big." 

Moss  avers  this  would  be  com 
parable  to  the  novelty  of  radio  broad 
casts  in  corner  cigar  stores,  restau 
rants  and  other  places  in  the  earl; 
days  of  broadcasting. 

"The  imaginative  and  creative  brain 
of  our  business  should  now  be  thinkin 
of  what  to  do  when  television  become 
competition.  We  should  anticipate  it, 
says  Moss. 


MPTO  of  Virginia 
To  Meet  on  Mondai 

Roanoke,  Va.,  June  8.— M.P.T.C 
of  Virginia  will  hold  its  annual  mid 
summer  convention  at  the  Hotfi 
Roanoke  here  on  Monday. 

Routine  matters  only  are  expecte 
to  occupy  the  delegates.  The  firs 
business  session  will  be  held  Monda 
morning,  preceded  by  an  address  o 
welcome  by  Mayor  Walter  W.  Woo< 
of  Roanoke.  A  cocktail  party  i 
planned  for  4  P.M.,  at  Rockledge  In; 
on  Mill  Mountain,  and  a  drive  in  th  I 
morning  for  guests  not  attending  th 
business  sessions.  An  informal  dinne 
dance  at  the  hotel  in  the  evening  wil 
conclude  the  convention. 

Officers  are  W.  F.  Crockett,  presi 
dent;  Benjamin  T.  Pitts,  vice-presi 
dent ;  Harold  Wood,  secretary,  am 
Sam  Bendheim,  Jr.,  treasurer. 


Columbia  Unbeaten; 
Heads  Ball  Leagm 

Columbia,  still  undefeated,  leads  thi 
Motion  Picture  Baseball  Leagu< 
standings  with  Consolidated  Film  In 
dustries  and  NBC  tied  for  seconi, 
position.  Paramount  and  Loew's  play 
today,  Columbia  and  Skouras  tomor  i 
row.    Team  standings  follow  : 

Won  Lost  Percentag 

Columbia    4  0 

Cons.    F.   Ind   3  2 

NBC    3  2 

Skouras    2  2 

RKO    2  2 

Paramount    2  3 

Rock.  Center    2  4 

Loew's    1  4 


1000 
600 
600 
500 
500 
400 
333 
200 


Weigh  Wis.  Game  Plea 

Madison,  Wis.,  June  8. — The  Stati 
Supreme  Court  has  taken  under  ad 
visement  the  plea  for  an  injunctioi 
sought  by  Circuit  Judge  Robert  Cowie 
La  Crosse,  to  restrain  the  La  Crossi 
Theatres  Co.  from  operating  Banl 
Night. 


DO  NOT  REMOVE 


Alert, 

InteUigeiit. 

to  thelifljction 
Picture 
ndustry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 
Fjlm  M«k 

Accurals 
and 

Impartial 


45.    NO.  112 


NEW  YORK.  MONDAY,  JUNE  12.  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


69  Theatres 
Protest  Plans 
For  Sign  Ban 


iaim  Ordinance  Would 
Exert  Great  Harm 


\  committee  representing  769  film 
uses  met  with  the  City  Planning 
nimission  Friday  to  oppose  enact- 
mt  of  the  proposed  regulation  and 
nination,  in  some  cases,  of  electrical 
n>.  marquees  and  other  outdoor  ad- 
vising. Joining  in  the  protest  were 
itimate  theatres. 

The  committee,  appointed  to  repre- 
t  the  industry  at  a  meeting  last 
ek.  pointed  out  that  the  existence  of 
atres  would  be  threatened  by  such 
islation. 

Total  assessment  of  the  houses  is 
!1, 955,000  with  $6,333,221  in  realty 
es  paid  annually  in  addition  to 
ny  other  taxes.  The  city's  income 
m  this  source  might  be  considerably 
».uced  if  the  ordinance  were  enacted, 
nmittee  members  said. 
Theatres  in  this  city  pay  approxi- 
itelv  $2,250,000  annually  for  current 
electric  signs  and  the  total  main- 
ance  cost  is  approximately  $5,500,- 
i  Employment  obtained  through 
se  sources  would  be  eliminated  un- 
•  the  proposed  plan,  it  was  said, 
^resent  were  Senator  Henry  Wal- 
John  O'Connor,  RKO,  C.  C. 
iskowitz.  Loew's,  Harry  Brandt, 
T.  O.  A.,  Louis  Frisch,  Randforce 
lusement,  and  Thomas  Lamb,  archi- 
t.  James  F.  O'Reilly,  executive 
retary  of  the  League  of  New  York 
eatres,  and  Milton  Weinberger, 
igue  attorney,  represented  the  legiti- 
te  stage. 


aramount  to  Obey 
Code,  Says  Agnew 

Los  Angeles,  June  11. — Paramount 
1  comply  fully  with  the  industry 
de  practice  program  if  it  is  ap- 
»ved  by  exhibitors  and  the  Gov- 
ment  and  is  placed  in  effect,  Neil 
Agnew,    general    sales  manager, 
:ed  at  the  end  of  the  company's 
ional  sales  convention  Saturday, 
vgnew,  Austin  Keough,  vice-presi- 
t   and    general    counsel,  Charles 
?an,  J.  J.  Unger,  Oscar  Morgan 
district  division  and  branch  mana- 
!s  discussed  the  code's  provisions 
its  effect  on  company  sales  poli- 
at  a  closed  meeting, 
nterpretations  of  code  clauses  and 
manner  of  making  them  effective 
'e  related  by  Agnew  and  Keough. 
esmen  are  to  be  instructed  in  code 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Denied  Studio  Product, 
Television  Relies  Upon 
Amateurs'  16mm.  Films 


By  AL  FINESTONE 

Unable  to  make  deals  with  the  major  film  companies  for  their  pictures, 
XBC  will  shortly  start  televising  16  mm.  films  which  have  been  purchased 
or  acquired  from  amateurs  and  commercial  sources. 

Holmes  Projectors  Co.  of  Chicago  is  perfecting  a  special  16  mm.  projector 
for  television  on  order  from  NBC.  It  will  incorporate  technique  developed 
by  RCA-NBC  engineers  and  is  expected  to  be  in  operation  late  this  month. 

The  film-television  situation  has 
reached  a  stalemate.  Without  any  def- 
inite policy  on  television,  the  attitude 
of  the  major  film  companies  centers 
on  two  points : 

1.  Television  broadcasters  probably 
could  obtain  old  pictures  if  they  were 
willing  to  pay  the  price. 

2.  There  is  a  feeling  that  if  films 
were  made  available  to  television,  ex- 
hibitors would  object  on  the  score  of 
unfair  competition  and  a  strong  sales 
resistance  would  be  set  up.  This  would 
apply  particularly  to  new  pictures. 

Privately,  the  film  companies  have 
informed  television  interests  that  they 
fear  exhibitor  reaction  and  that  on  the 
basis  of  experience  with  radio  shows 
in  which  film  companies  participated, 
exhibitors  may  start  another  crusade, 
with  possible  harmful  effects  on  sales 
and  film  rentals. 

During  the  period  that  television 
cannot  offer  adequate  returns  for  the 
product,  the  film  companies  feel  it  is 
their  wisest  course  to  let  well  enough 
alone  and  await  developments. 

For  this  reason,  the  M.  P.  P.  D.  A. 
television    committee,    consisting  of 

{Continued  on  page  11) 


Congress  Will  Get 
New  Bill  on  Films 

Washington,  June  11.  — 
Congressman  Lyle  H.  Boren 
(D.  of  Okla.)  revealed  today 
that  he  was  preparing  to  in- 
troduce in  the  near  future  in 
the  House  new  legislation 
dealing  with  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry. 

In  an  exclusive  interview, 
he  disclosed  that  his  meas- 
ure would  deal  with  divorce- 
ment as  well  as  block  book- 
ing and  blind  selling. 

Boren  expressed  the  belief 
that  the  situation  at  the  capi- 
tal will  make  impossible  the 
enactment  of  the  Neely  Bill, 
but  that  his  own  measure  will 
be  acceptable  to  a  large 
group  of  members  who  are 
interested  in  motion  pictures, 
but  who  have  not  yet  ex- 
pressed themselves  on  the 
subject. 


Drop  Duals,  Cut  Summer 
Rental,  Illinois  Allied  Plea 


Chicago,  June  11. — Defiantly  de- 
manding reductions  in  film  rentals  for 
the  Summer  and  the  abolishment  of 
double  features  in  Chicago,  75  mem- 
bers of  the  Allied  of  Illinois  Friday 
afternoon  held  a  four-hour  session  that 
was  the  stormiest  in  the  organization's 
history. 

Allied  announced  that  it  will  take 
immediate  steps  to  obtain  relief  for 
the  Summer  period.  A  majority  of  the 
members  went  even  so  far  as  to  say 
that  they  would  close  their  theatres 
entirely  or  go  on  a  limited  operation 
basis  during  the  Summer  if  their  de- 
mands are  ignored. 

A  committee  composed  of  Allied 
officers  and  exhibitors,  Nate  Wolff, 
Joe  Weiss  and  William  Charuhas,  will 


direct  the  fight  to  eliminate  duals  here. 
More  than  97  per  cent  of  all  Allied 
members  are  in  favor  of  singles,  Jack 
Kirsch,  Allied  president,  said. 

A  telegram  to  Neil  Agnew,  Para- 
mount general  sales  manager,  said  in 
part : 

"Your  subsidiary,  Balaban  &  Katz, 
is  the  only  stumbling  block  that  pre- 
vents 95  per  cent  of  smaller  subsequent 
run  theatres  from  operating  in  the 
black.  Balaban  &  Katz  refuses  to  co- 
operate in  any  way.  Can  you,  for  sake 
of  future  sales  to  these  theatres,  do 
anything  to  help?" 

It  is  understood  that  film  buy- 
ing will  be  at  a  standstill  here  and 
downstate  Illinois  until  after  the  Min- 
neapolis Allied  convention. 


Allied  Parley 
Draws  Many 
Studio  Chiefs 


3-Day  Mill  City  Meeting 
Opens  Tomorrow 

Executives  of  every  film  company 
will  attend  the  10th  annual  convention 
of  Allied  States  at  the  Nicollet  hotel 
in  Minneapolis,  starting  tomorrow  for 
three  days. 

A  large  New  York  delegation  will 
be  present.  Several  company  execu- 
tives are  scheduled  to  speak  at  the 
"open  forum"  Wednesday  afternoon. 

Paramount's  Representatives 

Paramount  will  be  represented  by 
Neil  F.  Agnew,  general  sales  man- 
ager ;  Charles  Reagan,  division  man- 
ager, and  Austin  C.  Keough,  counsel, 
who  will  arrive  from  the  company's 
convention  in  Hollywood. 

Other  company  representatives  are : 
William  Sussman  and  W.  C.  Gehring, 
20th  Century-Fox ;  Abe  Montague, 
Columbia ;  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  War- 
ners ;  William  F.  Rodgers  and  Ed 
Saunders,  M-G-M ;  Ned  E.  Depinet 
and  H.  M.  Richey,  RKO;  L.  J. 
Schlaifer  and  Harry  Goldhar,  United 
Artists ;  William  A.  Scully.  Univer- 
sal ;  Edward  A.  Golden,  Monogram. 
District  and  branch  managers  also  will 
attend  from  the  field. 

Many  New  Yorkers  Going 

Others  from  New  York  attending 
will  be  David  Palfreyman,  M.  P.  P. 
D.  A. ;  William  Powers,  National 
Theatres  ;  George  P.  Skouras ;  Her- 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Consolidated  Lab 
Strike  Is  Settled 

Strike  at  the  eastern  laboratory  of 
Consolidated  Film  Industries  was  set- 
tled 24  hours  after  it  had  begun  with 
the  men  returning  to  work  at  6  P.M. 
Friday. 

Contract  signed  granted  a  closed 
shop  to  M.P.  Laboratory  Technicians, 
Local  702,  and  pay  increases  ranging 
from  three  dollars  weekly  to  $18.  The 
contract  was  retroactive  to  May  29. 

Other  provisions  included  a  one- 
week  vacation,  effective  this  year, 
minimum  of  eight  hours'  pay  for  each 
working  day,  arbitration  of  disputes, 
guarantee  of  three  working  days  per 
week,  and  time  and  a  half  for  holidays 
and  overtime. 

Those  in  supervisory  positions  re- 
ceive 10  per  cent  over  the  basic  pay 
schedule. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  12,  1939 


Insider's  Outlook 

-   '-■   -  -      -  —    By  SAM  SHAIN  ^==^= 

THE  story  we  hear  is  that  if  it  were  not  for  the  fact  that  an  aggressive 
film  salesman  attempted  to  oversell  a  small  town  exhibitor  who  had 
been  the  political  campaign  manager  for  a  New  England  Senator,  it 
is  probable  that  the  Neely  bill  today  might  have  been  a  dead  issue. 

When  this  salesman  tried  to  force  this  exhibitor  to  purchase  more  product 
and  for  a  greater  number  of  years  than  the  exhibitor  desired,  he  so  angered 
the  man  that  the  latter  communicated  with  the  Senator  and  urged  him  to  act 
favorably  upon  the  Neely  bill.  Otherwise,  the  result  of  that  Sub-Committee 
vote  might  have  been  3  to  1  against  the  bill. 


<<'TpELL  me,''  an  exhibitor  said  to  Howard  Dietz,  "What  is  becoming  of 
*■  the  theatre  business  ?" 
"Is  your  business  off?"  asked  Dietz. 

"Oh,  no,"  answered  the  theatre  man,  "as  a  matter  of  fact,  my  business  is 
very  good,  but  what  I  am  complaining  about  is  last  year's  business." 


AFTER  that  recent  statement  of  Attorney  General  Frank  Murphy,  a  good 
many  of  the  people  in  the  trade  feel  that  the  anti-trust  suit  against  the 
film  companies  will  go  to  trial.  There  has  been  an  over-abundance  of  official 
Washington  talk  pro  and  con. 


WE  shouldn't  wonder  if  the  repeated  reference  to  American  film  com- 
panies "invading"  South  America  with  films  is  upsetting  to  our  South 
American  neighbors.  There  again  it  seems  to  be  a  case  of  too  much  talk. 
.  There  have  been  suggestions  from  important  men  in  the  business  that  all  of 
us  should  be  more  prudent  and  less  aggressive  about  the  matter.  Actually, 
there  is  not  much  Spanish  film  production  being  done  under  American  auspices. 
In  Hollywood,  for  instance,  where  we  interviewed  several  producers  and  studio 
chieftains  on  the  subject,  we  found  them  only  slightly  interested. 

The  Coast  people  see  many  problems  involved.  One  is  the  problem  of 
dialect. 

Department  of  Commerce  reports  on  Peru  indicate  that  in  that  country  the 
public  in  general  is  tiring  of  monotonous  themes  and  the  same  background  of 
Spanish  dialogue  films  which  are  offered.  According  to  the  Commerce  report, 
the  situation  applies  principally  to  Mexican  pictures. 

"American  quality  productions,  together  with  plots  containing  action,  serious 
treatment,  and  international  background,  scheduled  for  release  during  1939, 
are  far  superior,  commercially  speaking,  for  this  particular  country  than  pro- 
ductions offered  to  the  public  in  Peru  last  year,"  the  report  states. 

Spanish  dialogue  pictures,  Mexican  especially,  have  lost  considerable  ground 
in  this  market  so  far  this  year,  compared  with  unprecedented  success  during 
the  three  and  a  half  month  period  in  1938. 

Nat  Liebeskind,  RKO  supervisor  for  southern  South  America  and  manager 
for  Argentina,  here  to  attend  the  RKO  sales  convention  next  week,  says  that 
the  potentialities  of  the  South  American  market  already  are  fully  developed 
and  that  it  is  too  much  to  expect  that  additional  South  American  business  can 
overcome  the  lost  business  in  European  markets. 

Spanish  films  play  only  in  subsequent  run  houses  in  Latin  America,  he 
declared,  and  offer  no  real  competition  to  American  product.  Already  nega- 
tive costs  on  native  product  have  risen  sharply,  largely  because  of  players' 
salary  demands.  Those  once  getting  3,000  pesos  per  film  are  now  receiving 
65,000. 

Native  films  cost  about  $45,000  each,  he  said. 


EDGAR  KENNEDY  established  a  Hollywood  record  this  past  week  when 
he  started  his  tenth  consecutive  year  as  star  of  the  "Average  Man"  short 
subject  series  for  RKO.  This  is  by  far  the  longest  run  of  the  two-reel 
comedy  field,  according  to  Vance  King. 


WARNER  BROS,  last  wtfek  inaugurated  its  "Film  Committee  for  Editors' 
Summer  Relief"  under  which  its  stars  become  "editorial  stand-ins"  for 
vacation-minded  editors  and  columnists.  They  are  offering  the  following 
players  for  such  purpose :  Paul  Muni,  Errol  Flynn,  Bette  Davis,  Edward  G. 
Robinson,  Humphrey  Bogart,  George  Brent,  Olivia  de  Havilland,  Geraldine 
Fitzgerald,  John  Garfield,  Priscilla  Lane,  Rosemary  Lane,  Jeffrey  Lynn, 
Wayne  Morris,  Pat  O'Brien,  Ann  Sheridan  and  John  Payne. 
As  far  as  we're  concerned,  they  can  all  start  writing  for  us  right  away. 


ON'T  forget  the  Benny  Goodman  luncheon  at  the  Edison,  today,  given 
on  behalf  of  the  refugees. 


4  Purely- 
Personal  ► 

HENRY  GINSBERG,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of 
Selznick-International  Pictures,  is  the 
father  of  a  boy,  born  to  Mrs  Gins- 
berg in  Hollywood.  It  is  the  second 
son. 

• 

Dorothy  Butler,  seventh  floor  re- 
ceptionist at  Loew's,  will  be  married 
July  1  to  John  Raith,  General  Elec- 
tric engineer,  at  the  Church  _  of  the 
Immaculate  Conception,  Astoria.  The 
ceremony  will  be  performed  by  the 
groom's  brother,  the  Rev.  Vincent  J. 
Raith. 

• 

Irving  Berlin  left  yesterday  for  the 
coast  by  TWA  plane.  Leo  Morrison 
flew  to  Chicago  Friday  over  the  same 
airline  en  route  to  the  coast.  Law- 
rence Tibbett  left  by  TWA  Friday 
on  a  quick  trip  to  Hollywood. 
• 

Frank  Donovan,  RKO  Pathe  pro- 
duction manager,  has  returned  to  New 
York  from  Callander,  Ont,  where  he 
directed  the  two-reel  special  featuring 
the  Dionne  Quintuplets,  "Five  Times 
Five." 

• 

Louis  Davidson,  former  New  York 
newspaperman,  has  been  appointed  as- 
sistant to  Rodney  Bush,  recently  ap- 
pointed publicity  and  exploitation  chief 
for  20th  Century-Fox. 

• 

Joe  E.  Brown  has  accepted  an  in- 
vitation to  be  toastmaster  of  the  an- 
nual banquet  of  the  National  Football 
Coaches'  Association,  to  be  held  next 
Jan.  1  in  Los  Angeles. 

• 

Truman  H.  Talley,  Movietone 
News'  producer,  and  Mrs.  Talley 
arrive  today  on  the  Normandie  after 
eight  weeks  in  Europe. 

• 

Anthony  Collins,  who  will  pre- 
pare the  musical  score  for  Herbert 
Wilcox's  "Nurse  Edith  Cavell,"  is 
due  today  on  the  Normandie,  en  route 
to  Hollywood. 

• 

Raymond  Massey  has  received  the 
annual  Diploma  of  Honor  from  Lin- 
coln Memorial  University  at  Harro- 
gate, Tenn. 

• 

Gilbert  Miller,  producer,  is  due 
today  from  London  to  start  casting 
his  next  show,  "Ladies  and  Gentle- 
men." 

• 

Paul  Byram,  Paramount  story  ex- 
ecutive, returned  Saturday  from  Eu- 
rope. He  looked  over  the  London 
plays. 

• 

Cary  Grant  plans  a  European  va- 
cation of  three  weeks  after  completing 
RKO's  "Memory  of  Love"  this  week. 
• 

Sally  Eilers  leaves  New  York 
for  Hollywood  today  to  start  work  in 
"Full  Confessions"  at  RKO. 

• 

I. eon  Britton,  Far  Eastern  divi- 
sion manager  for  RKO,  arrives  to- 
day on  the  Normandie. 

• 

H.  J.  Yates  arrived  Saturday  from 
an  extended  stay  on  the  coast. 
• 

Elaine  Barrymore  arrived  from 
Chicago  Friday  via  TWA. 

• 

Mrs.  Ted  Fio  Rito  sailed  Friday  on 
the  Vulcania. 


Erich  Pommer  flew  to  the  coast 
Friday  night  via  TWA.  He  is  booked 
to  fly  back  tomorrow. 

• 

Richard  Carle  has  been  given  a 
role  in  "Ninotschka,"  M-G-M's  new 
Greta  Garbo  picture. 


John  Rosenfeld,  film  editor  of  the 
Dallas  Ncivs,  and  his  wife,  are  here 
on  a  vacation. 

• 

TfJx  Ritter,  Monogram  nvestern 
star,  will  start  a  personal  appearance 
tour  July  13. 


Allied  Parley 
Draws  Many 
Studio  Chiefs 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

man  Robbins  and  George  Dembow, 
National  Screen  Service ;  Pete  Harri- 
son and  Sam  Fier. 

Harry  Brandt,  president,  and  Y"^ 
ton  C.  Weisman,  general  counsel,  v0m 
represent  the  I.  T.  O.  A.  and  are 
scheduled  to  speak. 

The  New  York  Allied  delegation 
will  include  Max  A.  Cohen,  president ; 
Harry  G.  Kosch,  counsel ;  E.  Thorn- 
ton Kelly,  Mitchell  Conery  of  Ravena 
and  Max  Cohen  of  Brooklyn. 

Lee  Newbury  of  Belmar  and  Harry 
Kridel  of  Newark  will  represent  New- 
Jersey  Allied. 

Richey  flies  to  Minneapolis  today 
and  Powers  tomorrow,  both  via 
TWA. 


Minnesota  Governor 
To  Speak  at  Banquet 

Minneapolis,  June  11. — Gov.  Har- 
old E.  Stassen  will  be  guest  of  honor 
and  will  speak  at  national  Allied's  con- 
vention banquet  Thursday  night. 

W.  A.  Steffes,  convention  chairman, 
expects  an  attendance  of  about  700. 
More  than  500  hotel  reservations  have 
been  made. 

The  convention  will  be  attended  by 
large  delegations  from  Chicago,  De- 
troit, New  England,  Milwaukee  and 
other  midwest  points. 

This  will  be  the  first  convention  pre- 
sided over  by  Col.  H.  A.  Cole  of  Dal- 
las, who  was  elected  president  last 
year. 

Royal  Visit  Delays 
Fair  Strike  Parley 

Conferences  between  New  York 
Theatrical  Trades  Council  and  World's 
Fair  authorities  scheduled  to  be  held 
over  the  weekend  were  postponed  be- 
cause of  the  visit  of  the  British  royal 
couple.  Definite  agreement  or  strike 
action  is  scheduled  for  this  week, 
union  officials  state. 


Para.  Preview  Wednesday 

Paramount  on  Wednesday  evening 
will  hold  a  press  preview  of  the  Jack 
Benny  film,  "Alan  About  Town,"  at 
the  Paramount  Theatre,  preceded  by 
a  dinner  and  floor  show  at  the  Para- 
mount Hotel. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi- 
gan Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building, 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man- 
ager, cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley  I 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  j 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better! 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  per 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign,  i 
Single  copies  10c. 


series  of  successes 


n  MOTIO 


PRODUCTIONS 

(one  co-starring  Charles  Boyer) 

Produced  by  JOE  PASTERNAK 


HENRY  ROSTER 


Hk  OCEAN 


FOUR  PICTURES... FOUR  SMASH  HITS! 
THAT'S  KOSTER'S  AMERICAN  HISTORY! 

Produced  by  JOE  PASTERNAK 

Story  by         Screenplay  by 
Bruno  Frank       Bruce  Manning 


***** 


MORE  THAN  EVER  IT  WILL  B 


O    E  PASTE 


The  Hero  of  "YOU  CAN'T  TAKE  IT  WITH  YOU,"  "MADE 
FOR  EACH  OTHER"  and  "MR.  SMITH  GOES  TO  WASHINGTON" 

JAMES  STEWART 


in 


THE  MAN  i>.m  MONTANA 

with  MISCHA  AUER 


An  assured  box  office  smash -hit  with 
the  star  of  "The  Awful  Truth"  and 
"Love  Affair" 


-  *oVI '     l^.ssot  to 


ERSAL  in  1939-1940!^ 


Production  s 


NAN  GREY     ROBERT  CUMMINGS 


GLORIA  JEAN  in 


T#£  0AfD£B  PifP 

with  Beulah  Bondi,  Margaret  Lindsay,  C.  Aubrey  Smith,  Ernest  Truex 
Billy  Gilbert,  Raymond  Walbum,  Paul  Cavanagh,  Ann  Gillis,  Doris  Lloyd 
Original  story  by  I.  A.  R.  Wylie  Screenplay  by  Grover  Jones 

Directed  by  RICHARD  WALLACE 


DANIELLE 

DARRIEU  X 

Produced  by  JOE  PASTERNAK 


*  I. 


EDGAR  BERGEN 


and 


t 


cc 


PRODUCTION 

Another  sure-fire  hit-with  a 


battery  of  front  line  stars  added - 
and  MORTIMER  SNERD,  too! 


RET 
SULLAVAN 

PRODUCTION 

In  a  role  destined  to  outshine  even  her  own  unfor- 
gettable performance  in  "Three  Comrades"  which 
won  her  the  highest  awards  of  the  season. 


► 


MORE  THAN  EVER  IT  WILL 


PRODUCTIONS 
Thrilling,  appealing,  exploitable  box  office 
productions,  topical  stories  of  America's  youth! 

Produced  by  BURT  KELLY-  Directed  by  JOSEPH  SANTLEY 


BASIL  RATHBONE 


ft 


TOWER  of  I0ND0N 

One  of  the  greatest  masterpieces  of  shock  literature  makes  a 
perfect  film  vehicle  for  the  arch -master  of  the  sinister! 

Produced  and  Directed  by  ROWLAND  V.  LEE, 
who  made  "The  Sun  Never  Sets"  and  "Son  of  Frankenstein"! 


n 


VICTORIA  DOCKS ^» 

BASIL  RATHBONE 

With  red  fury  coiled  like  a  snake  in  his  mind,  he  sought 
the  peace  of  destruction  in  the  throes  of  blind  dementia! 

An  original  story  by  Rufus  King  and  Charles  Beahan 

Produced  and  Directed  by  RICHARD  WALLACE 


JOE  MAY 


Original   Story  by 

JOE  MAY  and 
KURT  SIODMAK 


RETURNS 

Demanded  by  exhibitor  and  public 
alike!  Once  again  to  fight  his 
strange  fight,  to  the  amazement 
of   unprecedented  audiences! 


BURT  KELLY 


Associate 
Producer 


The  production  strength  of  a  cast  of 
distinguished  stars  and  a  director  of 
outstanding  merit  will  be  given  Cooper 
in  this  story — aimed  to  hit  the  pinnacle 
of  his  remarkably  successful  career! 


JNIVERSAL  in  I030-I940!r. 


OF 
THE 


Associate  Producer 
MAX  H.  GOLDEN 


Here's  ADVENTURE  at  Flood-Tide  — pro- 
duced on  a  scale  matching  in  magnitude  the 
panoramic  sweep  of  the  thrilling  story! 


TWO  PRODUCTIONS  in 

THE  FAMILY 
NEXT  DOOR" 


SERIES  •  surring  HUGH  HERBERT 

with  Joy  Hodget,  Eddit  Quillan,  Ruth  Donnelly,  Juanita 
Quiojey,  Benny  B.rtlett  and  "SANDY",  the  Wonder  Baby! 


KEN  GOLDSMITH 
Associate  Producer 


7  PRODUCTIONS 

Richard  ARLEN  '  Andy  DEVINE 


I 


Produced  by  > 

BEN  PIVAR 


KARLOFF  LUGOSI 

'ynutaf  ike  8- 

The  Merchants  of  Fear  ready  to  declare  even 
greater  dividends  than  were  paid  to  you  with 
their  never-to-be-forgotten  "Frankenstein"! 

2  i I TTLE 
TOUGH  GUYS 

PRODUCTIONS 

"CALL  A  MESSENGER" 
"ACADEMY  WINNER" 

With  Added  Assets  in  Important  Names 
for  the  Casts,  Stories   and  Production! 


Stories  by  the  greatest 
authors  of  all-time! 
• 

"Mutiny  on  the  Blackhawk" 
"Man  from  Montreal" 
"Way  of  the  West" 
"Raging  Rivers"        J  j| 
Air  Express 
"Sea  Patrol 
"Steel" 


UEE  PICTURES/ 

4 


To  liven  up  the  box-office  .  .  . 
To  attract  Every  Type  of  Patron! 


8 


EXPLOITATION  PRODUCTIONS 

Titles  that  can  he  campaigned  —  Group  Casts  that  sell  tickets ! 

"LIVE  ALONE  AND  LIKE  IT"  •  "MISSING  EVIDENCE" 
"CONVICTED  WOMEN"  •  "ADVICE  TO  THE  LOVELORN" 


MUSICAL  PRODUCTIONS 

Zipful,  xestful  comedy-romances  seasoned  with  hit-tunes  and  gals  I 

"PENTHOUSE  SERENADE"  •  "DANCING  FOR  LOVE" 
"RHYTHM  FOR  SALE".  "ROMANCE  IN  THE  TROPICS" 


ACTION 


PT\  f\  IN  I  I  f  T  I  ^\  Ik]  O  They  guarantee  entertainment.  Stories  hot  from  the  news  and  fads 
Kvl/UL  I    I  V  n  J       of  the  day  I   This  series  will  be  selected  from  the  following  stories: 

Distress  Signal  •  The  Witness  Vanishes  •  Eyes  of  the  Coast  Guard 
Slightly  Tempted  •  Vice  Ring  •  Front  Page  Confession  •  Counterfeit  Ring 
Jail  Baby  •  Freedom  of  the  Air  •  Homicide  Bureau  •  Ghost  Ship 
Hidden  Money  •  Hero  for  a  Day  •  Inquiring  Reporter 


Zr7XmH  MACK  BROWN'S 

I  with  BOB  BAKER  and  FUZZY  KNIGHT 


The  three  favorites  of  your  action  fans, 
in  a  series  of  pictures  thatawill  keep 
them  jumpin'  for  joy 


Hi 


MORE  THAN  EVER  IT  WILL 


3  FAMOUS  productions 

A  new  producing  organization  T  T  7\  "D  OV  TP  T  "NT  T1  (~\  "NT 
of  major  importance,  headed  by    11^X1.11.  I     JZi  LJ  1  1 N  \Jl  1  \J  IN 


SOUTH  OF  THE  ANAZ 

An  original  story  and  screen  play  by  Frances  Marion 
Cast  with  Stars  of  the  First  Magnitude! 


NIVERSAL  in  I939-I940n 


.  .  .  A  QUARTETTE  OF 
MONEY-MAKING,  CROWD- 
PULLING  CHAPTER-PLAYS 

Produced  by  the  King 
of  Serial  Producers — 

HENRY  MacRAE 


THE  OREGON  TRAIL'  .. 

15  Thrill -Packed  Episodes  of  Pioneer  Days  — with  John  Mack  Brown 

THE  PHANTOM  CREEPS  

Starring  BELA  LU60SI  in  12  Episodes  of  Fantastic  Action 

"THE  GREEN  HORNET  .  J 

in  13  Episodes.  Universal  scoops  the  field  with  this  radio  sensation  y 

BUCK  ROGERS  Conquering  the  Universe 

12  Breath-taking  Episodes  with  Larry  Crabbe  'JjT^ 


u 


HERE  ARE  52  WEEKS  OF  BOX  OFFICE  INSURANCE! 


Ill 

2  RE  ISSUES'   The  Greatest  Combination  Show  of  the  Season! 


MY  MAN  GODFREY 


THE  OLD  DARK  HOUSE 


Presenting  an  Unprecedented  Array  of  Big  Star  Names:  — 
POWELL-  LOMBARD  •  DOUGLAS  •  LAUGHTON  •  KARLOFF  •  AUER  •  PATRICK  •  BRADY*  MASSEY 


13  color  CARTOONS  h  13  ^MUSICALS 


Another  step  forward  in  Universal  Short 
Subject  Supremacy. ..  the  added  wallop  of 
glowing  color  to  America's  favorite 
program  novelty.  .  .  produced  by 
A\JJ  ,  WALTER  LANTZ 


TWO 
REEL 

To  Be  Produced  at  Universal  City  where  the  huge 
production  facilities  will  guarantee  the  utmost  in  life, 
sparkle  and  novelty  for  the  series.  The  cast  will 
be  studded  with  top-notch  entertain-  l 


ment  names. 


A  favorite  with  Universal  exhibitors  for 
many  years . . .  bringing  to  theatre  patron- 
age the  far  places  of  the  world . . .  picture 
stories  finely  photographed  by  foot  loose 

cameramen  who  rove  the  Seven  Seas. 
• 

Commentary  by  the  ace-voice  of  radio — 

GRAHAM  McNAMEE 


Long  established  as  a  high  spot  in 
theatre  programs  where  showmen  build 
audience-appeal  bills.  Bringing  to  the 
screen  the  strange,  startling,  and  almost 
unbelievable  photographic  evidence  that 
"Truth  Can  Be  Stranger  Than  Fiction." 

• 

Commentary  by  ALOIS  HAVRILLA 


A  TWO  REEL  SPECIAL 

A  startling,  dynamic,  thrilling  exposition 
on  the  Rediscovery  of  America— the  land 
where  Freedom  still  flourishes!  The 
most  exciting  screen  document  ever 
recorded— America's  March  of  Freedom 
since  the  founding  of  our  nation! 

PRODUCED  BY 

TOM  MEAD  ud  JOSEPH  O'BRIEN 


A 


The  Number  One  Newsreel  of  the 
Industry ...  A  pioneer  leader — and 
still  the  leader  by  actual  exhibitor 
vote!  104  ISSUES  (Twice  Weekly) 
• 

Commentary  by  GRAHAM  McNAMEE 


The 


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WALTER 

WINCHELL 

says: 

SUPREMACY! 


DANTON 

WALKER 

says: 
"WILL  CREATE  A 

SENSATION! 


DOROTHY 

KILGALLEN 

says: 

"Cutest  thing  in  Technicolor 
since  Snow  White  !" 


I 


Monday,  June  12,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Spanish  Films  Will  Stay, 
Director  Shauer  Avers 


Films  Denied 
To  Television; 
16mm.  Deal 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

(Hurry  D.  Buckley,  United  Artists 
gee-president,  chairman ;  C.  C.  Mos- 
itz  of  Loew's  and  Paul  A.  Rai- 
rn  of  Paramount,  is  proceeding 
Ifcith  caution.  >  « 

The.  committee  .  is  giving  much 
thought  to  the  problem.  It  is  probable 
■at  no  policy  will  be  established  for 
several  months. 

Urges  Cooperation  of  Studios 
i    The  television  attitude  is  expressed 
■)\  Clarence  W.  Farrier,  NBC  coordi- 
nator of  television.  He  said  : 

"The  television  habit  will  be  estab- 
lished in  the  first  year.  If  we  cannot 
^et  the  right  type  of  film,  we  will  use 
btlier  shows.  So  far  direct  pickups  of 
lews  and  other  events  have  proved  the 
most  popular.  We  may  find  that  we 
ran  get  along  very  well  without  the 
rooperation  of  the  film  industry." 

Farrier  continued :  "The  time  for 
;he  film  companies  to  work  with  us  is 


Television  Spreads 
To  Public  Places 

There  are  no  restrictions 
on  television  reception  in 
cafes,  restaurants  or  other 
places  for  the  public,  NBC 
has  decided. 

A  number  of  television  re- 
ceivers have  been  installed  in 
New  York  in  public  places, 
and  several  are  at  the  World's 
Fair,  other  than  the  RCA 
exhibit. 

B.  S.  Moss,  New  York  show- 
man, has  expressed  fear  that 
if  television  reception  be- 
comes widespread  in  public 
places,  theatres  will  have 
competition. 


now,  when  we  are  shaping  our  pro- 
*nim  policies.  They  ought  to  come  in 
ind  get  their  feet  wet,  as  we  are  do- 
ng. 

XBC  is  spending  $500,000  a  year 
)n  television  in  its  present  experimen- 
al  status.  The  cost  will  increase  pro- 
gressively. We  have  no  hope  for  re- 
urns  for  another  eight  or  nine  years. 

"The  film  companies  should  not  ex- 
tact  to  reap  rewards  upon  our  efforts 
.llone.  The  two  mediums  should  work 
.  ogether.  The  film  industry's  share  of 
'he  cost  would  be  a  fraction  of  our 
|>wn." 

"No  Films  for  Nothing" 

To  this,  the  film  companies  answer : 
The  television  people  cannot  expect 
o  get  our  pictures  for  nothing." 

And  there  the  problem  is  joined. 

Refusal  of  the  film  companies  to 
upply  product  has  forced  NBC  to  cut 
ts  television  schedule  from  27  hours 
veekly  to  about  half.  Heretofore,  the 
chedule  has  consisted  of  23  hours  of 
ilms  for  test  and  dealer  demonstration 
•urposes,  two  hours  of  "live"  studio 
'roadcasting  and  two  hours  of  outside 
lickups  by  the  mobile  cameras. 

Since  April  30,  when  NBC  began 
egular  public  broadcasting,  about  1,- 
•00,000  feet  of  film  have  been  tele- 
ised  by  NBC,  Farrier  estimates.  He 
oints  out  that  the  medium  uses  a  tre- 
nendous  amount  of  material,  and  in 
Tder  to  avoid  repetition,  NBC  in  the 


By  H.  ALBAN -MESTANZA 

Editor.  Teatro  At  Dia 

"The  Spanish  picture  is  here  to 
stay,  but  it  is  no  longer  a  question 
of  mere  footage,"  says  Mel  Shauer, 
well-known  Hollywood  producer  who 
is  leaving  Friday  for  Argentina  to 
produce  six  pictures  for  United  Art- 
ists release. 

Shauer,  w  ith  William  Gordon,  head 
of  Victoria;  Films,  is  of  the  opinion 
that  Spanish  language  pictures,  in- 
stead of  competing  with  Hollywood 
product,  will  tend  to  increase  theatre 
attendance,  especially  in  those  coun- 
tries where  the  majority  of  the  popu- 
lation is  unable  to  read  superimposed 
titles. 

The  industry  in  Latin  America, 
however,  is  going  through  an  experi- 
mental period,  according  to  Shauer. 
The  market  has  been  swamped  with 
poor  pictures,  and  so  far  first  run 
exhibitors  feel  reluctant  to  give  any 
playing  time  to  this  type  of  product, 
Shauer  said. 

Most  producers  have  acted  blindly 
in  their  rush  to  be  the  first  to  meet 
the  demand  for  Spanish  language 
films.  No  attempt  has  been  made  as 
yet  to  produce  pictures  which  will 


future  will  not  rely  on  films  as  the 
mainstay  but  will  increase  its  "live" 
shows  and  news  pickups.  These  will 
be  increased  from  a  total  of  four  hours 
weekly  to  10  hours. 

Sixteen  millimeter  product  offers  a 
partial  solution.  NBC  has  several 
hundred  thousand  feet  of  narrow- 
gauge  film  in  its  vaults.  Much  of  this 
is  well  adapted  for  televising,  says 
Farrier,  and  is  being  edited  for  use  as 
soon  as  the  16  mm.  projectors  are  in- 
stalled. 

Great  Deal  of  Tourist  Product 

NBC  has  investigated  all  possible 
sources  of  film,  theatrical,  non-theatri- 
cal, commercial,  industrial  and  Gov- 
ernmental, both  here  and  abroad. 
Much  was  offered  without  charge  by 
commercial  companies  and  foreign 
tourist  bureaus.  The  network  plans 
to  use  a  large  amount  of  foreign 
"tourist"  product. 

In  attempting  to  arrange  for  televis- 
ing "The  River,"  a  Government  pic- 
ture, NBC  came  up  against  the  same 
problem  it  encounters  in  dealing  with 
the  film  companies.  Pare  Lorentz, 
who  produced  the  film  and  who  has 
the  rental  rights,  wanted  more  than 
NBC  was  willing  to  pay. 

One  other  possible  film  course  is 
open  to  NBC,  and  the  network  lias  it 
under  consideration.  Feature  pictures 
produced  by  independent  producers,  as 
well  as  a  number  of  foreign  made 
pictures,  have  been  offered  to  the  net- 
work at  nominal  prices. 


Bank  Night  Case  Appeal 

Pittsburgh,  Pa.,  June  11. — The 
Stahl  theatre  is  appealing  from  Al- 
derman Kocurkovic's  judgment  for 
$300  in  favor  of  Louis  Reichenbach, 
patron  who  claimed  the  theatre  re- 
fused to  honor  his  winning  Bank 
Night  ticket  last  April  20. 


Smith  Quits  Imperial 

E.  J.  Smith  has  severed  his  con- 
nection with  Imperial  Distributing  Co. 
and  Imperial  Pictures,  Inc.,  and  is 
formulating  plans  for  the  distribution 
of  several  features. 


appeal  outside  of  each  country ;  there 
has  been  technical  problems  to  over- 
come, and  distribution  has  been  han- 
dled on  a  hit-or-miss  basis.  These 
obstacles,  nevertheless,  are  being 
gradually  overcome. 

In  Mexico  and  in  Argentina,  par- 
ticularly, serious  efforts  are  being 
made  to  establish  native  production 
on  a  business-like  foundation.  Well- 
equipped  studios  are  now  available, 
and  the  producers  are  paying  more 
and  more  attention  to  the  importance 
of  the  international  value  of  their 
pictures. 

Shauer,  who  has  spent  considerable 
time  in  Spanish-speaking  countries, 
plans  to  make  a  thorough  survey  of 
conditions  in  Argentina  before  at- 
tempting to  start  production.  He 
wants  to  get  the  "feeling"  of  the  mar- 
ket, acquainting  himself  with  local 
methods  and  requirements  in  order  to 
profit  by  the  experience  of  those  who 
had  pioneered  the  Spanish  language 
industry. 

His  plans,  therefore,  are  still  in- 
definite, although  Rosita  Moreno,  his 
wife,  will  start  in  two  of  the  six 
pictures  which  he  will  make  in  Buenos 
Aires,  with  the  native  directors,  writ- 
ers and  technicians. 


Long  Distance  Plea 
Yields  Two  Passes 

Chicago,  June  11. — W.  A. 
Stinchcom,  manager  of  the 
Hi-Art  theatre  at  Waybourne, 
Saskatchewan,  Can.,  called 
Roy  Bruder  at  the  Chicago 
theatre  here  by  long  distance 
the  other  evening.  Stinchcom 
said  he  planned  to  visit  Chi- 
cago in  a  couple  of  weeks  and 
asked  for  two  passes  to  the 
Chicago.    He  got  them. 


16mm.  Group  Elects; 
Denies  Competition 

Allied  Non-Theatrical  Film  Asso- 
ciation, Inc.,  lias  been  formed,  with 
offices  here,  to  encourage  wider  use 
of  visual  education,  distribute  infor- 
mation and  otherwise  to  promote  the 
non-theatrical  field. 

The  association  declares  it  aims  to 
cooperate  with  producers  and  exhibi- 
tors in  avoiding  situations  competi- 
tive with  the  15mm.  field.  Its  mem- 
bers are  said  to  be  chiefly  concerned 
with  the  use  of  16mm.  films  in  schools 
and  other  places  where  the  showing 
of  35mm.  films  is  not  feasible.  Con- 
ferences with  producer  and  exhibitor 
groups  are  planned. 

Officers  are  Bertram  Willoughby. 
president ;  Harry  Kapit,  first  vice- 
president  ;  William  K.  Hedwig,  sec- 
ond vice-president ;  Thomas  J.  Bran- 
don, executive  secretary ;  Harry  Post, 
treasurer ;  Laurence  Saltzman,  A.  C. 
Atkinson,  H.  T.  Edwards,  J.  H.  Hoff- 
berg,  directors. 


Herndon  Forms  Agency 

Hollywood,  June  8.  —  William  S. 
Herndon,  executive  assistant  to  Dave 
Diamond,  head  of  the  story-writer 
department  of  M.  C.  A.  Artists,  Ltd., 
has  resigned  to  open  his  own  agency 
to  handle  writers  and  directors  ex- 
clusively. 


Agnew  Gives 
Para.  Pledge 
To  Obey  Code 


(Continued  from  pane  1) 

matters    by    managers  subsequently. 

briday's  session  was  given  over  to 
description  of  Paramount's  advertising 
and  publicity  plans  for  the  new  season 
by  Robert  M.  Gillham,  and  .to  a  dis- 
cussion of  the  company's  British  pro- 
duction activities  by  Russell  Holman, 
Eastern  production  representative. 

Gillham  said  newspaper  advertising 
would  have  the  most  important  place 
in  the  company's  schedule.  Special 
campaigns  are  planned  for  more  im- 
portant pictures.  A  plan  of  splitting 
local  ad  appropriations  three  ways  for 
individual  campaigns  on  first,  subse- 
quent and  general  release  runs  of 
pictures,  rather  than  putting  all  into 
an  opening  campaign,  will  be  tested. 
The  plan  is  now  being  tried  in  New 
England  theatres. 

Abandon  "Quota"  Pictures 

Holman  reported  that  Paramount 
has  abandoned  the  production  in  Eng- 
land of  so-called  "quota"  pictures  and 
will  concentrate  on  quality  productions 
designed  for  the  international  market. 
"French  Without  Tears"  will  be  first 
under  this  policy. 

Holman  also  gave  the  meeting  de- 
tails of  production  progress  on  "Gul- 
liver's Travels,"  feature  length  car- 
toon under  way  at  Max  Fleischer's 
Florida  studio. 

The  convention  closed  with  a  ban- 
quent  at  Cocoanut  Grove  Saturday 
night  with  Jack  Benny  as  master  of 
ceremonies.  Most  of  the  265  dele- 
gates left  yesterday  to  visit  the  San 
Francisco  World's  Fair. 

Barney  Balaban,  president,  Stanton 
Griffis,  chairman  of  executive  commit- 
tee, Adolph  Zukor,  Agnew  and  Y. 
Frank  Freeman  will  go  East  together 
at  the  end  of  the  week  to  attend  an- 
nual meetings  of  company's  stockhold- 
ers and  board  of  directors  on  June  29. 


Griffis  Acquires  3,000 
Shares  of  Common  Stock 

Washington,  June  11. — Stanton 
Griffis,  chairman  of  Paramount's  ex- 
ecutive committee,  reported  acquisition 
of  3,000  shares  of  Paramount  common 
stock  to  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission  in  April.  This  amount 
represented  his  entire  holdings  in  that 
class  at  the  close  of  April. 

Other  April  transactions  reported 
included  the  acquistion  of  five  shares 
of  Loew's  Boston  Theatres  common 
stock  by  Loew's,  Inc.,  bringing  its 
holdings  to  99,692  shares ;  disposition 
of  400  shares  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  common 
stock  by  J.  Robert  Rubin  of  New 
York,  officer,  reducing  his  holdings  to 
33,075  shares ;  and  acquisition  of  10 
shares  of  Universal  Pictures  first  pre- 
ferred stock  by  Preston  Davie  of  New 
York,  director,  bringing  his  holdings 
to  120  shares. 

A  report  on  transactions  in  Warner 
Bros,  stocks  showed  that  Jack  L. 
Warner,  officer,  disposed  of  210  shares 
of  preferred  during  the  month,  reduc- 
ing his  holdings  to  14,884  shares,  and 
that  the  three  Warner  brothers  ex- 
changed their  optional  six  per  cent 
convertible  debentures  for  new  deben- 
tures, the  transaction  involving  1,739,- 
000  debentures  held  by  Albert  War- 
ner, and  5,460  held  through  a  holding 
company;  1,379,000  held  by  Harry  M. 
Warner  and  1,183,000  by  Jack  Warner. 


THE  PILOT  THE  DETECTIVE         LADY  OF  LEISURE  CO-PILOT 

Iron-jawed  man  of  action  to  whom  Escorting  a  desperate  prisoner  Gold-digger  by  choice  ...  fugitive  Two-fisted  man  against  the  sky 
beautiful  women  are  passengers    to  doom  on  the  scaffold.  by  necessity  . . .  siren  by  nature.     ...  a  pushover  for  romance. 


IETY  HEIRESS 


GANGSTER 


CRIMINAL 


.III,  headstrong,  demanding  Taking  his  chief s  little  son  away  The  doomed  man  to  whom  the 
■  pkaj  to  escape  boredom      from  (Millet-riddled  streets  jungte's  terror  meant  only  delay. 


CONTENTED  COUPLE 

The  botanist  and  his  wife,  to  whom  the  jungle  was  alive  with 
interest ...  and  life  full  of  happy  things! 


14 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  12,  193 


Denver  Gives 
Good  $5,000 
To  'Nazi  Spy 


Denver,  June  11. — "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy"  and  "Torchy  Runs  for 
Mayor,"  with  $5,000  at  the  Para- 
mount, warranted  holding  another 
week,  the  first  holdover  since  De- 
cember. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  7 : 


days. 


"Mutiny  on  the  Bounty"  (M-G-M) 

ALADDIN  —  (1,400)     (24c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (2(rth-Fox) 

DENVER— (2,525)   (25c-35c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $9,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)  (25c-35c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $8,500) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)   (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 
"Alexander  Graham  Bell"  (Zttth-Fox) 
"For  Love  of  Money"  (Univ.) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  "Bell" 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $2,000.    (Average,  $1,750) 


days. 


days. 


McConville  Leaving 
On  Nine-Month  Tour 

J.  A.  McConville,  foreign  manager 
of  Columbia,  will  leave  on  the  Wash- 
ington Wednesday  for  a  world  tour  of 
the  company's  foreign  offices.  The 
nine-month  trip  will  take  him  to 
Europe,  Latin  America,  Australia  and 
the  Far  East. 

In  England,  McConville  will  con- 
fer with  Joseph  Friedman,  managing 
director,  and  attend  the  English  sales 
convention,  to  be  set  after  his  arrival. 
He  will  visit  recently  opened  offices 
in  Marseilles  and  Brussels.  On  his 
return  from  Europe,  McConville  will 
go  to  Central  and  South  America,  at- 
tending sales  meetings  in  Havana  and 
Buenos  Aires. 

Again  returning  to  the  United 
States,  McConville  will  leave  for  Aus- 
tralia and  the  Far  East,  attending  a 
sales  meeting  in  Sydney. 


Show  Aids  $600J000 
Drive  for  Refugees 

A  gigantic  stage  show  in  the  Winter 
Garden  Thursday  night  will  inaugu- 
rate the  Christian  German  Refugees' 
drive  to  raise  $600,000. 

^Among  those  who  will  appear  in 
the  show  are  Eddie  Cantor,  Sophie 
Tucker;  Victor  Moore,  Tallulah 
Bankhead,  Raymond  Massey,  William 
Gaxton,  Fredric  March,  Florence  El- 
dridge,  Kitty  Carlisle,  Ethel  Waters, 
Sheila  Barrett,  Bill  Robinson,  Mary 
Martin  and  Hildegarde. 

Strub  Frisco  Fair  Head 

San  Francisco,  June  11. — Charles 
H.  "Doc"  Strub,  operator  of  the 
Santa  Anita  racetrack,  has  been  named 
managing  director  of  the  Exposition, 
serving  without  compensation.  Gwynn 
Wilson,  Strub's  righthand  man,  will 
serve  as  his  chief  assistant. 


Take  Astor  Franchise 

Astor  Pictures  Corp.  franchise  for 
the  Los  Angeles  territory  has  shifted 
from  Selected  Pictures,  Inc.,  to  Astor 
Film  Co.  of  Southern  California, 
newly  formed  by  Louis  Goldstein. 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Five  Came  Back" 

{RKO) 

Hollywood,  June  11. — RKO  during  the  last  six  months  has  brought 
forth  several  pictures  which  have  surpassed  expectations  as  to  their 
appeal.  "Five  Came  Back"  perhaps  will  meet  with  the  same  response, 
ft  is  a  melodrama  of  occurrences  which  follow  the  crash  of  a  plane  with 
10  persons  aboard  in  an  uncharted  South  American  jungle.  It  is  simply 
and  forcibly  told,  ably  enacted  and  full  of  thrill  and  suspense.  , 

The  cast  consists  of  Chester  Morris,  Lucille  Ball,  Wendy  Barrie,  John 
Carradine,  Allen  Jenkins,  Joseph  Calleia,  C.  Aubrey  Smith,  Kent  Tay- 
lor, Patric  Knowles,  Elisabeth  Risdon,  youthful  Casey  Johnson  and  Dick 
Hogan — in  the  roles  of  passengers  on  the  plane.  The  plane,  one  of  its 
motors  broken,  lands  in  a  jungle  and  pilots  Morris  and  Taylor  work  for 
days  to  repair  it,  only  to  discover  that  the  plane  will  take  but  five  of 
them  back  to  civilization.  The  breaking  of  the  veneer  of  some  and  the 
regeneration  of  others  forms  the  plot. 

The  screenplay  by  Jerry  C^dy,  Dalton  Trumbo  and  Nathanael  West, 
who  adapted  the  story  by  Richard  Carroll,  wastes  little  time  in  opening 
the  story  and  continues  to  deliver  fully  throughout.  John  Farrow's 
direction  of  this  Robert  Sisk  production  is  punctilious.  Lee  JVIarcus  was 
executive  producer. 

Running  time,  74  minutes.   "G"*  Vance  King 


"The  House  of  Fear" 

(Universal) 

Hollywood,  June  11. — Fast  moving  farce  comedy  and  mystery  melo- 
drama are  the  entertainment  substance  of  "The  House  of  Fear."  While 
cast  names  are  not  exceptionally  strong,  each  is  well  spotted  in  his  or  her 
individual  roles  and  under  Edmund  Grainger's  showmanlike  production 
guidance  and  Joe  May's  astute  direction  the  performances  of  all  are  good. 

The  plot  is  not  new,  but  the  many  new  twists  introduced  give  it  an 
air  of  freshness.  An  actor  is  mysteriously  murdered ;  the  case  baffles  the 
police  as  the  house  is  hoodooed  and  the  cast  members  terrorized.  A  year 
later,  Detective  William  Gargan,  posing  as  a  producer,  rounds  up  the 
old  cast  and  plans  to  reproduce  the  show  with  the  view  of  finding  the 
killer.  While  comedy  provided  by  El  Brendel  and  Tom  Dugan  counter- 
balance suspense,  Gargan,  Irene  Hervey,  Dorothy  Arnold,  Harvey  Ste- 
phens and  Walter  Woolf  King  become  the  victims  of  sinister  mystic  in- 
fluences, Alan  Dinehart  and  Robert  Coote  lurk  in  the  background.  As 
hidden  doors  and  secret  passages  are  brought  into  action  to  accentuate  the 
melodrama,  King  is  murdered.  His  killing  sets  Gargan  on  the  trail  of 
the  shrouded  murderer,  who  after  an  exciting  chase  through  the  flies  and 
wings  proves  to  be  Dugan,  Coote's  pawn. 

Adapted  from  the  play,  "The  Last  Warning."  Peter  Milne's  screenplay 
is  clever  screen  writing  that  makes  for  exploitable  entertainment. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


Cincinnati's   Gayety  Closes 

Cincinnati,  June  11. — The  Gayety, 
which '  recently  switched  from  bur- 
lesque and  pictures  to  straight  films, 
has  closed.  Reopening  is  set  for  early 
Autumn  with  former  combination 
policy.     Morris  Zaidens  is  manager. 


Barry  Closes  in  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh,  June  11. — Manuel 
Greenwald,  manager  of  the  Barry 
Theatre  from  its  opening  in  Septem- 
ber, 1937,  to  last  week  when  it  closed 
for  the  Summer,  is  considering  sev- 
eral offers.  Allen  Wolsey,  assistant 
manager  of  the  Barry  under  Green- 
wald, is  in  Philadelphia. 


Bank  Night  Warning 

Sioux  City,  la.,  June  11.— H.  Z. 
Sturgeon,  public  safety  commissioner, 
has  notified  theatre  managers  they 
may  be  liable  to  arrest  unless  they  find 
a  way  to  keep  Bank  Night  crowds  out 
of  the  streets. 


Filmack  Staff  Change 

Chicaco,  June  11. — The  Filmack 
Trailer  Co.  has  appointed  Manning 
Silverman  as  its  Milwaukee  represen- 
tative, succeeding  Harlan  Croy,  re- 
signed. 


Griffith  Offices  Moved 

Kansas  City,  June  11. — Home  of- 
fices of  Griffith-Dickinson  Theatres 
are  again  located  at  3525  Broadway 
after  a  sojourn  in  Johnson  County 
(suburban  Kansas  City)  for  the  past 
six  months.  The  third  floor  of  the 
Broadway  location  is  being  remodeled 
for  permanent  occupancy  by  the  cir- 
cuit. 


Little  Takes  Over  Visualite 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  June  11. — Tom 
Little,  North  Carolina  exhibitor,  has 
taken  over  the  Visualite  Theatre  from 
the  Hoffheimer  interests  and  will  con- 
tinue to  operate  the  house  as  a  sub- 
sequent run. 


Boxoffice  Lull 
In  Pittsburgh: 
Penn  at  Besl 


Pittsburgh,  June  11. — Theatit 
fared  badly  for  the  week  here,  wit 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  turning  i 
the  best  showing,  $13,800  at  Loi 
Penn. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  em 
ing  June  8 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ALVIN— (1,800)   (25c-35c-50c)  8  days,  2r 1 
week.      Gross:   $4,000.      (Average,  7  day 
$7,000) 

"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-F<» 

FULTON— (1,800)    (25c-40c)    6   days,  3t 
week.     Gross:  $4,000.     (Average,  $5,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS    PENN— (3,600)  (25c-35c-50c) 
days.      Gross:  $13,800.      (Average,  $15,00 
"Algiers"  (U.  A.)  (Reissue) 
"Stand  Up  and  Fight"  (M-G-M)  (ReUsui 
"Four  Daughters"  (W.  B.)  (Reissue) 
"Cowboy  and  the  Lady"    (U.   A.)  (Rei: 

sue) 

SENATOR— (2,000)  (15c -25c)  split  wee; 
7  days.  Gross:  $1,500.  (Average,  first  ru 
$3,800) 

"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY—  (3,600)  (25c-40c-60c)  7  day 
On  stage:  Bert  Wheeler,  Trado  Twin 
Iris  Wayne,  other  acts.  Gross:  $11,00 
(Average,  $17,000) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 
"Mutiny  on  the  Bounty"   (M-G-M)  (ft 

issue) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  day 
Gross:  $4,000.     (Average,  $5,000) 


Upstate  Clearance 
Meeting  on  June  2 

A  conference  to  discuss  upstal 
clearance  has  been  set  for  June  21  i 
the  office  of  H.  M.  Richey,  RK( 
director  of  exhibitor  relations. 

The  meeting  was  requested  by  Ne> 
York  Allied  following  complaints  b 
members  in  Albany,  Troy  and  Sch< 
nectady  areas,  where  circuit  prote< 
tion  is  said  to  run  as  high  as  120  an 
180  days. 

Allied  delegations  from  the  thre 
areas  will  attend  the  conference 
Others  scheduled  to  sit  in  are  J 
Fabian,  head  of  the  Fabian  circuit 
Moe  Silver,  Albany  zone  manager  fc 
Warner  theatres ;  Max  A.  Cohei 
New  York  Allied  president,  and  Harr 
G.  Kosch,  counsel. 


Film  Bookers  Frolic 
In  Illinois  on  June  2 

Chicago,  June  11. — The  Film  Bool 
ers  Club  of  America  will  Shold  i\ 
first  outing  at  the  Alger  Farm  nea 
La  Salle,  111.,  on  June  24.  The  grou 
plans  to  hold  a  "true  or  false"  conte; 
with  the  Filmrow  Girls'  Club  ne> 
week  at  the  Crillon  Hotel. 


Harrison's  Mother  Dies 

Mrs.  Pauline  Harrison,  67,  mothe 
of  Robert  Harrison,  radio  advertisin 
manager  of  Motion  Picture  Daim 
died  on  Friday  at  Reconstruction  Ho; 
pital,  of  injuries  sustained  when  sli 
was  struck  by  a  truck  while  crossin 
the  street.  Her  home  was  at  172  % 
79th  St.  She  is  survived,  in  additio 
to  Robert,  by  two  daughters,  Hele 
and  Mrs.  Edith  Tobias.  Burial  \va 
made  Sunday  in  Bayside  Cemetery. 


Radio  Show  on  Stage 

Chicago,  June  11. — The  "Dr.  I.  Q. 
radio  show  broadcast  every  Monda 
night  from  the  stage  of  the  Chicag 
theatre  has  been  renewed  for  anothe 
four  weeks  or  until  July  3,  accordin 
to  Manager  Roy  Bruder. 


jHiday.  June  12.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


15 


.  S.  Criticizes 
llajor's  Delay 
With  Answers 


a  letter  addressed  to  Federal 
;  William  Bondy,  U.  S.  Attor- 
in  the  Government  anti-trust  suit 
nst  major  companies  demanded 
the  defendants  be  compelled  to 
„..it  their  answers  immediately. 
The  letter  asserted  that  the  defend- 
ts  had  been  sufficiently  apprised  of 
•  nature  of  the  suit  and  should  be 
n  'tiled  to  admit  or  deny  the  allega- 

fudge  Bondy  had  stated  at  a  hearing 
lit  he  would  order  the  answers  filed 
he  had  authority  to  do  so.  The  Gov- 
unent  contended  in  the  letter  that  it 
*s  not  necessary  to  wait  until  the 
I  of  particulars  was  filed  before  or- 
-ing  the  answers. 


I  J.  Allied  in  Fight 
On  Horse  Race  Bets 

Allied  of  New  Jersey  members  are 
wing  a  trailer  asking  voters  to 
pose  legalization  of  horse  race  bct- 
g.  on  which  there  will  be  a  state 
erendum  June  20. 

Exhibitors  believe  that  the  estab- 
hment  of  race  tracks  will  affect  their 
siness.  Church  elements  are  aligned 
th  exhibitors  in  opposing  horse  rac- 
Mayor  Frank  Hague  of  Jersey 
ty  is  conducting  a  campaign  for  it. 


rts  Unions  Name 
Feinberg  as  Chief 

Federation  of  Arts  Unions  on  Fri- 
y  elected  W  illiam  Feinberg,  of  the 
usicians  Union,  Local  802,  as  chair- 
for  the  next  year  to  succeed 
-tluir  Byron  of  Actors  Equity.  Byron 
is  named  honorary  chairman.  Others 
^cted  were  John  Lorenz,  first  vice- 
airman;  John  F.  Casey,  second 
•e  chairman ;  Chet  LaMore,  third 
e-chairman ;  Edward  Everett  Hale, 
:retary,  and  Robert  Stern,  treasurer. 


rovidence  Clamps 
Ban  on  Two  Plays 

.Providence,  R.  I.,  June  11. — The 
ircau  of  Police  and  Fire  has  banned 
y\  Steinbeck's  dramatization  of  "Of 
ice  and  Men"  and  Claire  Boothe's 
,  he  Women"  as  being  "cheap,  bawdy 
d  lusty."  Both  plays  were  denied 
enses  for  presentation  at  the  Albee. 
Board  member  explained :  "We  do 
t  think  the  people  of  Providence 
?d  this  kind  of  lowdown  stuff." 


letro  Drops  Plans 
For  Sinclair  Story 

Hollywood,  June  11. — Metro-Gold- 
In-Mayer  has  abandoned  all  plans 
produce  Sinclair  Lewis'  story,  "It 
m't  Happen  Here,"  which  is  re 
rded  as  too  controversial.  The  studio 
o  maintains  a  lack  of  boxoffice  in 
rest  in   propaganda  films. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


epublic's  Bermuda  Deal 

(•Republic  has  made  its  first  deal  in 
rmuda  by  signing  the  Colony  The- 
res  Hamilton,  to  a  contract  for  26 
itures,  26  westerns  and  four  serials, 
over  C.  Schaefer.  vice-president, 
•sed  the  deal  with  Charles  B. 
Bilks  of  the  circuit. 


NEW  PROGRAM  POLICIES  OF  NBC  .  .  .  New  booklet  outlining 
NBC's  program  policies,  is  just  off  the  press.  The  policies,  as  now  re- 
vised, are  these,  briefly :  Taboos  include  statements  which  are  offensive 
to  religious  views  and  racial  characteristics ;  use  of  the  Deity's  name  is  per- 
missible only  when  used  reverently ;  material  which  depends  upon  physical 
imperfections  for  humorous  effect  is  not  acceptable ;  sacriligeous,  profane  or 
obscene  material  is  not  allowed ;  dramas  must  be  free  of  morbidity ;  emphasis 
on  insobriety  is  not  permitted ;  details  as  to  the  technique  employed  to  accom- 
plish criminal  or  anti-social  practices  must  be  minimized ;  figures  of  national 
prominence  must  be  presented  with  fairness ;  the  use  of  the  word  "flash"  is 
reserved  for  the  announcement  of  special  news  bulletins  exclusively  (this  stems 
from  the  Orson  Welles'  "Mars  fright"). 

NBC  asks  all  scripts  to  be  submitted  for  approval  24  hours  in  advance  of 
broadcasts ;  commercials  on  15-minute  programs  must  occupy  less  than  three 
minutes  of  the  period ;  in  evening  programs  the  commercials  are  to  be  con- 
fined to  less  than  15  per  cent  of  the  period  of  a  quarter-hour,  and  less  than 
10  per  cent  of  the  longer  program  periods. 

The  company  will  not  accept  advertising  of  medical  product  unless  all  mate- 
rial facts  concerning  the  product  are  made  known  to  the  company ;  commercial 
copy  which  dramatizes  distress  or  morbid  situations  is  not  allowed ;  the  words 
"safe"  and  "harmless"  or  words  of  similar  meaning  are  not  acceptable  in 
medical  copy. 

Children's  programs  are  subjected  to  the  following  restrictions :  No  torture 
or  impending  horror,  no  use  of  the  supernatural ;  no  profanity,  no  kidnaping, 
no  "cliff-hanging"  serial  episodes. 

Concerning  news  programs,  NBC  stipulates  it  must  never  be  treated  sensa- 
tionally, it  must  avoid  sex  crimes,  and  the  announcer  must  never  distort  the 
news  by  an  inflection  of  the  voice. 

▼ 

STRANGE  BUT  TRUE  ...  It  may  read  like  a  figment  of  fancy, 
but  it  actually  occurred.  Friday,  the  Honorable  F.  W.  Bulcock,  Australian 
Commissioner  of  Agriculture,  visited  Radio  City  and  was  escorted  through 
the  broadcasting  citadel  by  President  Lohr.  Came  the  stop  in  the  short-wave 
division,  and  in  describing  the  response  from  foreign  listeners,  Lohr  took  the 
Australian  Commissioner  into  the  audience  mail  section  of  the  department  and 
invited  him  to  read  a  few  of  the  written  comments.  He  handed  Mr.  Bulcock  a 
number  of  missives,  selected  at  random.  The  Commissioner  casually  glanced 
through  the  letters  until  he  came  to  one  which  made  him  exclaim. 

"Why,  here's  one  from  a  dear  friend  and  next  door  neighbor  of  mine,"  he 
said  excitedly.  It  was  from  a  Bill  Holgate,  who  lives  next  to  the  Commissioner 
in  Queensland. 

T 

A  DITHER  ABOUT  A  MYSTERY  SHOW  .  .  .  Our  paragraph  about  El- 
lery  Queen's  forthcoming  mystery  show  on  CBS,  and  the  conjecture  that 
"Author,  Author,"  the  Ellery  Queen  show  on  Mutual  may  pass  out  of  the 
Mutual  province,  has  caused  more  excitement  than  the  visit  of  the  King  and 
Queen.  With  the  excitement  subsided  and  the  facts  collected,  the  situation 
is  this :  "Author,  Author"  will  remain  on  Mutual  with  Ellery  Queen  continu- 
ing active  participation  in  it.  The  CBS  show  merely  will  be  written  by  them 
and  will  differ  radically  from  the  Mutual  program. 

T 

A.F.R.A.  PRESIDENTIAL  NOMINEES  .  .  .  With  the  date  for  the  A.F. 
R.A.  convention  set,  conjecture  is  being  heard  about  who  will  be  the  radio 
union's  next  president.  In  the  opinion  of  union  members,  the  presidential  nomi- 
nees most  likely  will  be  Eddie  Cantor,  who  has  been  president  since  its  incep- 
tion;  Lawrence  Tibbett,  Mark  Smith  (twice  president  of  the  New  York  local)  ; 
Singer  Margaret  Speaks ;  Carlton  KaDell  (the  Los  Angeles'  announcer)  ; 
Virginia  Payne  (chief  executive  of  the  union  in  Chicago)  ;  Alex  McKee  (na- 
tional chairman  of  the  Singer's  Committee)  ;  George  Heller  of  the  New  York 
board.  Others  mentioned  as  presidential  possibilities  are  Jack  Benny  and 
Jean  Hersholt. 

T 

PERSONALS  ■  .  ■  Tom  Brooks,  J oumal- American  radio  editor,  left  on  Fri- 
day for  a  two-weeks'  studio  tour  of  Chicago,  Denver,  Salt  Lake  City  and 
Hollywood.  .  .  .  Airs.  Jimmie  Lunceford,  wife  of  the  swing  bandleader,  gradu- 
ated this  past  week  from  Columbia  with  an  M.A.  degree.  Her  husband  is 
the  possessor  of  four  degrees.  .  .  .  Anona  Winn,  British  radio  commentator, 
arrives  tomorrow  on  the  Aquitania.  .  .  .  Carson  Robertson  and  his  "Buckaroos" 
return  on  the'  same  vessel,  after  a  number  of  months  broadcasting  over 
BBC.  .  .  .  H.  S.  Maraniss,  formerly  with  RCA  Manufacturing  Co.,  has  joined 
the  Columbia  Recording  Corp.  as  assistant  to  the  president. 


GOODYEAR  CONTRACT  EXPIRING  .  .  .  the  contract  for  the  Good- 
year farm  radio  news  program,  with  Don  Goddard  and  Phil  Evans,  is  run- 
ning out  in  two  weeks.  However,  because  of  its  service  qualities,  it  is  unlikely 
that  NBC  will  suspend  the  series.   Most  likely  it  will  continue  as  a  sustainer. 


CAMEL  DEFINITELY  TO  NBC  .  .  .  There  has  been  much  specula- 
tion about  the  Benny  Goodman  program  for  Camel  cigarettes  switching  from 
CBS  to  NBC,  but  it  only  became  definite  Saturday,  when  the  Esty  agency 
placed  an  executive  order  with  NBC  for  the  series.  Contract  is  for  one  year, 
for  80  stations  of  the  Red  network,  and  starts  July  8.  It  will  be  the  first  time 
in  more  than  eight  years  that  NBC  has  had  the  Camel  account. 


RKO  Special 
From  Chicago 
To  Convention 


RKO  district  managers,  managers 
and  salesmen  from  the  far  west  and 
midwest  will  leave  Chicago  on  a  spe- 
cial train  next  Saturday,  en  route  to 
the  company's  annual  sales  convention 
at .  the  W estchester  Country  Club, 
Rye,  N.  Y.,  June  19-21. 

On  the  special  will  be  sales  per- 
sonnel from  13  branches  and  two  dis- 
trict chiefs.  En  route  east,  the  train 
will  make  five  stops,  where  delegates 
from  16  additional  offices  will  be 
picked  up. 

At  Chicago,  H.  C.  Cohen,  western 
district  manager,  and  W.  E.  Branson, 
midwestern  district  manager,  will  be 
aboard,  with  the  staffs  from  Chicago, 
Denver,  Des  Moines,  Kansas  City, 
Los  Angeles,  Milwaukee,  Minneapolis, 
Omaha,  Portland,  Salt  Lake  City,  San 
Francisco,  Seattle  and  Sioux  Falls. 

En  route  east,  delegations  will  be 
picked  up  from  Indianapolis,  Detroit, 
Cincinnati,  Cleveland,  Dallas,  Mem- 
phis, Oklahoma  City,  St.  Louis,  Buf- 
falo, Toronto,  Calgary,  Toronto,  Van- 
couver, Winnipeg,  Albany,  Montreal 
and  St.  John.  The  Canadian  men 
will  be  picked  up  at  Buffalo  and 
Albany.  Nat  Levy,  eastern  central  dis- 
trict manager,  and  S.  M.  Sachs,  south- 
western district  manager,  will  join  the 
train  en  route. 

Max  Gomez,  RKO  manager  for 
Mexico,  and  Ned  Seckler,  Cuban 
home  office  representative,  will  arrive 
tomorrow  on  the  Siboncy.  Fred  S. 
Gulbransen,  Panama  manager,  will 
arrive  by  plane  on  Wednesday. 


MGM  Signs  College 
Students  As  Writers 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  has  signed 
the  following  ten  junior  writers  from 
34  graduating  classes :  Joy  Davidman, 
Hunter ;  Ethel  Frank,  Vassar ;  Vir- 
ginia Rooks,  Manhattanville ;  Walter 
Doniger,  Alfred  Eisner,  and  Stan- 
ford Hunter  Hendee,  Harvard ; 
Thomas  Seller,  Yale ;  John  T.  South- 
well, Grinnell ;  Bernard  Straub, 
Washington ;  and  Robert  Metzler, 
University  of  Southern  California. 
The  writers  will  be  trained  by  Ken- 
neth MacKenna,  Metro  scenario 
chief. 


Republic  Films  Suit 

Republic  filed  suit  in  the  Federal 
Court  Friday  against  Federal  Film 
Co.,  Inc.,  and  Frank  J.  Whittle 
charging  that  defendants  distributed 
plaintiff's  films  without  authority.  The 
complaint  alleges  that  the  films  were 
assigned  to  Republic  by  Cajo  Co., 
Inc.,  in  April,  1937.  Immediate  im- 
pounding of  the  films  is  sought.  Ten 
pictures  are  involved. 


Reserve  Fox  Decision 

U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  re- 
served decision  Fridav  on  the  appeal 
of  Trust  Co.  of  Georgia  from  an  or- 
der of  former  Judge  Martin  T.  Man- 
ton  which  refused  to  grant  priority  to 
the  Trust  Co.  claim  against  Fox 
Theatres  Corp.  The  claimant  origi- 
nally sought  $1,053,646  for  rentals  of 
Atlanta  theatre  properties,  but  this 
was  reduced  to  $400,000. 


1 


S  1 


cd  low 


you  must  use  NATIONAL  SCREEN  TRAILERS 

...consistently  good  for  almost  twenty  years... 

you  must  use  NATIONAL  SCREEN  TRAILERS 

reaching  a  hundred  percent  audience  at 
every  performance  . . . 

you  must  use  NATIONAL  SCREEN  TRAILERS 

with  their  double  selling  values  . . .  appealing 
through  BOTH  the  printed  word  and  the 
spoken  word  . . . 

you  must  use  NATIONAL  SCREEN  TRAILERS 

reaching  more  people,  selling  more  seats  at 
lower  cost  than  any  other  advertising  you 
can  buy  . . . 


PRIZE  fffffff  OF  THE  MDUSTRY 


nlfuonfu 

L5ERVICE 


W  NOT  R 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


EMOVF 


45.  NO.  113 


NEW  YORK.  TUESDAY,  JUNE  13,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


Siggest  Allied 
3arley  Open; 
Chiefs  Attend 

jcret  Ballot  Will  Reveal 
Attitude  Upon  Code 

Minneapolis,  June  12. — Allied's 
licies  on  pending  industry  matters, 
fading  the  trade  practice  code,  will 
■determined  at  the  10th  annual  con- 
tion  which  gets  under  way  here  to- 
rn >w  for  three  days. 
Highlights  of  the  convention  will 
le  Wendesday  afternoon  when,  after 
ull  discussion  of  the  code  by  dis- 
>utor  and  independent  exhibitor  rep- 
jntatives,  the  exhibitors  present  will 
asked  to  vote  by  secret  ballot 
:ther  they  accept  or  reject  it. 

Banquet  Thursday  Night 

'he  convention  at  the  Nicollet  Ho- 
will  wind  up  Thursday  night  with 
annual  banquet  at  which  addresses 
I  be  made  by  industry  leaders  as 
1  as  state  and  city  officials. 
William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
sales  manager  and  chairman  of 
distributors'  negotiating  committee, 
speak  at  Wednesday's  "open  for- 
"  Other  speakers  scheduled  are 
"rv  Brandt,  president  of  the  New 
k  I.  T.  O.  A.;  Milton  C.  Weis- 
i,  I.  T.  O.  A.  counsel ;  Abram  F. 
Brs,  Allied  board  chairman  and 
;ral  counsel ;  W.  A.  Steffes,  North- 
t  Allied  president,  and  Col.  H.  A. 
e,  president.  Cole  will  preside  at 
sessions. 

Largest  Allied  Convention 

i  addition,  representatives  of  all  film 
ipanies  and  other  exhibitor  leaders 
'e  been  invited  to  address  the  forum. 
Iffes,  chairman  of  convention  ar- 
*ements,  has  declared  that  anyone 
:he  meeting  will  be  permitted  to 
e  his  say  on  trade  practices. 
(teffes  expects  this  to  be  the  larg- 
Al lied  convention  in  several  years, 
ance  reservations  have  been  heavy. 

Kuykendall  to  Attend 

,d  Kuykendall.  president,  M.  P.  T. 
IA..  will  attend  and  probably  speak, 
is  is  unprecedented  in  Allied's  Con- 
xion annals. 

mong  other  matters  to  be  discussed 
double  bills,  giveaways,  non-the- 
cal  and  16  mm.  competition,  radio 
television,  and  film  rentals.  There 
I  be  an  analysis  of  each  companies' 
*ng  policies  for  the  coming  season 
wvell  as  the  current  year, 
teffes,  as  convention  chairman,  is 
I'd  by  a  special  convention  commit- 
consisting  of  these  Allied  regional 
iers :  Jack  Kirsch,  Chicago  ;  Mau- 
Rubin,  Indianapolis  ;  Henry  Laza- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Trade  Code  Completed! 
Goes  Out  to  Exhibitors 


Final  text  of  the  industry's  trade  practice  code  and  rules  of  arbitration  of 
disputes,  as  revised,  was  sent  to  exhibitor  organizations  yesterday  by  the  dis- 
tributors' negotiating  committee. 

The  text  of  the  code  itself  represents  no  substantial  changes  from  that  sub- 
mitted to  exhibitor  groups  on  March  30,  and  the  distributors'  committee  re- 
gards it  as  final. 

The  arbitration  rules,  however,  have  been  revised  and  enlarged  and  may 
be  subject  to  further  minor  changes  in  order  to  clarify  or  simplify  them,  if 
necessary. 

The  full  text  of  the  code  and  rules 
of  arbitration  were  submitted  as  one 
document,  covering  29  printed  pages. 

The  arbitration  plan  is  based  on 
suggestions  from  various  sources,  in- 
cluding exhibitors,  distributors  and 
groups  which  have  dealt  with  arbitra- 
tion. The  rules  originally  incorpo- 
rated many  suggestions  of  Abram  F. 
Myers,  board  chairman  and  general 
counsel  of  Allied  States. 

The  revisions  are  the  result  of 
discussions  with  exhibitor  interests, 
including  Harry  Brandt,  president, 
and  Milton  C.  Weisman,  of  coun- 
sel, of  the  New  York  I.T.O.A. 

"This  is  the  first  full  and  complete 
plan  of  arbitration  submitted  to  the 
industry,"  said  Tyree  Dillard,  M-G-M 
attorney  and  a  member  of  the  drafting 
committee.  "After  much  discussion, 
it  comes  as  near  being  complete  as 
anyone   could   make  it." 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
eral sales  manager  and  chairman  of 


the  distributors'  negotiating  commit- 
tee, will  discuss  the  code  and  arbitra- 
tion rules  in  detail  at  tomorrow's 
session  of  the  Allied  States  convention 
in  Minneapolis. 

A  letter  accompanying  the  text  and 
bearing  Rodgers'  signature,  said  in 
part : 

"Following  the  same  course  as  be- 
fore, we  are  sending  a  copy  of  this 
letter  and  enclosure  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  in  accordance  with  as- 
surances of  counsel  that  the  Depart- 
ment would  be  kept  informed  of  the 
results  of  our  industry  conferences. 

"As  you  know,  the  enclosed  draft 
of  the  trade  practice  code  resulted 
from  conferences  between  the  distribu- 
tors and  the  various  exhibitor  groups 
representing  most  of  the  theatre  op- 
erators throughout  the  country,  and 
it  is  understood  that  any  final  agree- 
ment with  respect  thereto  is  subject 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Give  More  Details, 
Bondy  Orders  U.S. 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  yes- 
terday ordered  the  Government  to  ex- 
pand the  original  bill  of  particulars,  in 
its  action  against  major  companies,  by 
naming  each  defendant  who  had  been 
allegedly  engaged  in  unfair  selling 
practices,  and  by  stating  exactly  what 
unfair  practices  had  been  employed 
against  exhibitors. 

The  decision  also  directs  the  Gov- 
ernment to  define  more  exactly  the 
type  of  control  or  interest  which  de- 
termines whether  a  theatre  is  an  affili- 
ate and  whether  the  term  "exhibitor- 
defendant"  in  the  complaint  means 
"producer-exhibitor-defendant." 

The  court  denied  other  phases  of 
the  majors'  request  for  a  more  de- 
tailed bill  of  particulars.  Bondy  re- 
fused the  defendants'  application  for 
60  days  from  the  filing  of  a  further 
bill  to  prepare  and  serve  answers. 
Companies  were  ordered  to  file  an- 
swers within  10  days  of  receipt  of  a 
further  bill. 

Columbia  and  United  Artists  are  not 
affected  by  the  ruling. 


New  Congress  Bill 
Will  Govern  Films 

Washington,  June  12.  —  Block 
booking  will  be  prohibited  to  exhibi- 
tors as  well  as  distributors  in  the  new 
film  legislation  which  is  being  pre- 
pared for  introduction  in  the  House  of 
Representatives  by  Congressman  Lyle 
H.  Boren  of  Oklahoma,  it  was  learned 
today. 

Congressman  Boren's  bill,  which 
may  be  offered  as  a  substitute  for  the 
Neely  bill  should  the  latter  be  taken 
uo.  will  be  the  most  comprehensive 
piece  of  film  legislation  ever  intro- 
duced in  Congress. 

Having  as  its  chief  objectives  the 
divorcement  of  exhibition  from  pro- 
duction, elimination  of  block  booking 
and  blind  selling  and  the  encourage- 
ment of  competition  in  exhibition,  the 
bill  will  deal  with  such  details  as 
cancellations,  exclusive  privileges  and 
circuit  advantages. 

The  whole  purpose  of  the  bill, 
Boren  told  Motion  Picture  Daily 
today,  will  be  to  protect  the  inde- 
pendent exhibitor  and  provide  the  na- 
tional audience  a  wider  choice  of  thea- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


New  Hopkins 
Parley  Called 
'Improbable' 

Justice  Department  Balks 
At  Any  Compromise 


Washington,  June  12. — The  sec- 
ond conference  between  leaders  of  the 
film  industry  with  Secretary  of  Com- 
merce Harry  Hopkins  and  his  aids, 
scheduled  this  week,  has  been  post- 
poned. 

This  revelation  was  interpreted  to- 
day as  indicating  that  the  industry  is 
losing  its  confidence  in  Hopkins'  abil- 
ity to  successfully  carry  out  his  pro- 
gram as  intermediary  between  the  film 
trade  and  the  Department  of  Justice 
in  its  anti-trust  campaign. 

Whole  Matter  'Up  In  Air' 

When  Hollywood  executives,  headed 
by  Will  Hays,  president  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Producers  and  Distribu- 
tors of  America,  conferred  here  last 
week,  it  was  understood  that  they 
would  return  this  week  to  resume 
discussions. 

Today  at  the  Department  of  Com- 
merce, officials  said  that  such  a  meet- 
ing might  be  held  in  ten  days,  but 
apparently  the  whole  matter  is  "up 
in  the  air." 

It  is  understood  that  Secretary  Hop- 
kins is  facing  the  same  situation  with 
respect  to  films  as  he  did  with  the  oil 
industry,  i.e.,  refusal  of  Department 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


N.  Y.  Officials  Call 
Report  Erroneous 

Industry  officials  in  New 
York  yesterday  declined  to 
comment  on  the  Washington 
version  of  the  film  industry 
conferences,  except  to  indi- 
cate that  it  was  "erroneous." 

However,  from  other  au- 
thoritative sources  it  was  as- 
certained that  the  Hopkins 
conference  last  week  with 
studio  executives  was  ad- 
journed sine  die.  These  same 
sources  said  that  there  was 
no  new  meeting  scheduled 
this  week  and  that  none  is 
in  immediate  prospect. 

It  was  furthermore  learned 
that  there  had  been  no  dis- 
cussion about  yielding  by 
means  of  a  consent  decree  to 
the  Department  of  Justice. 
The  Hopkins  parley  last  week 
was  purely  a  "business  meet- 
ing," it  was  maintained. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  13,  19;' 


Stand  Trial, 
Order  By  4A 
To  Whitehead 


Ralph  Whitehead,  executive  secre- 
tary of  the  American  Federation  of 
Actors,  was  ordered  yesterday  to 
stand  trial  before  the  Associated  Act- 
ors and  Artistes  of  America,  parent 
body.  An  A.  A.  A.  A.  investigating 
committee,  headed  by  Florence  Mars- 
ton,  eastern  representative  of  Screen 
Actors  Guild,  rendered  its  report 
which  was  "critical  of  Mr.  Ralph 
Whitehead  and  of  the  conduct  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Actors." 

International  board  of  the  A.  A. 
A.  A.  heard  a  statement  by  Sophie 
Tucker,  A.  F.  A.  president,  and  then 
ordered  a  hearing.  It  will  take  place 
as  soon  as  all  sides  have  completed 
their  preparations,  expected  within 
two  or  three  weeks. 

Besides  Mrs.  Marston  on  the  com- 
mittee were  Paul  Dullzell,  Actors 
Equity ;  George  Heller,  American 
Federation  of  Radio  Artists ;  Frank 
Gillmore,  president  of  A.  A.  A.  A., 
and  Paul  Turner,  its-  counsel. 

Principal  basis  of  the  charges  is  the 
alleged  lack  of  democratic  control 
within  the  union,  it  was  reported.  The 
union  has  jurisdiction  over  actors  em- 
ployed in  vaudeville,  night  clubs  and 
out-of-door  entertainments  generally. 


North  to  Republic 

Hollywood,  June  12.  —  Robert 
North,  formerly  with  Columbia,  today 
joined  Republic  as  associate  producer. 
M.  H.  Hoffman,  producer,  resigned 
over  the  weekend. 


FASTEST  WAY 
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arrives  7:13  a.m.!  Or  take  TWA's  day- 
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TO  CHICAGO  —4  hrs.  35  min.  Nonstop 
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Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


Phone  Travel  Agent  or  Ml)  6-1640 

Transcontinental  &  Western  Air,  Inc 
70E.42ndSt.— Air  Desk,  Penn.Statioi 


HARRY  M.  WARNER,  president 
of  Warners,  has  returned  to  Bur- 
bank  after  an  extended  New  York 
stay. 

• 

Eddie  Dowling,  starring  in  "Our 
Town"  at  the  Albee,  Providence,  was 
honored  at  a  testimonial  luncheon  by 
Edward  M.  Fay.  Among  those  at- 
tending were  Ed.  McBride,  Martin 
Toohey,  Albert  Clarke,  Bernard 
Fay,  James  Fay  and  John  Carroll. 
• 

Russell  Lowden,  cameraman  em- 
ployed by  the  Canadian  Government, 
has  received  a  pair  of  gold  cuff  links 
from  King  George  VI  in  apprecia- 
tion of  the  private  screenings  ar- 
ranged for  the  royal  couple. 

• 

Ralph  J.  Batschelet  of  the  Fox 
Intermountain  Bluebird,  Denver,  in 
town  for  the  World's  Fair,  was  a 
visitor  yesterday  at  the  Managers' 
Round  Table  department  of  Motion 
Picture  Herald. 

• 

Harold  Koenigsburg,  assistant  to 
Ralph  Whitehead,  executive  secre- 
tary of  American  Federation  of  Ac- 
tors, left  for  a  honeymoon  trio  yester- 
day. His  wife  is  the  former  Beatrice 
Kahn. 

• 

John  Hesse  has  returned  to  his 
post  as  manager  of  the  Roger  Sher- 
man, New  Haven,  after  six  weeks  in 
an  exchange  of  posts  with  Edward 
Lynch  of  the  Warner,  Bridgeport. 
• 

Myrna  Loy  arrives  by  plane  from 
the  coast  today  with  her  husband, 
Arthur  Hornblow,  Jr.  She  will  sail 
tomorrow  on  the  Normandie  for  three 
weeks  in  Europe. 

• 

Jascha  Heifetz  left  for  the  coast 
over  the  weekend  by  car  and  will  sail 
his  yacht  from  Los  Angeles  to  Hono- 
lulu. He  will  return  east  for  con- 
certs in  August. 

• 

John  McManus,  manager  of 
Loew's  Midland,  Kansas  City,  has  left 
by  automobile  with  Mrs.  McManus 
and  their  three  children  for  two  weeks 
in  California. 

• 

Ernie  Emerling  of  Loew's  adver- 
tising and  publicity  department  and 
Mrs.  Emerling  return  Thursday  on 
the  Conte  di  Savoia  from  a  vacation. 
• 

Joe  Goetz,  assistant  division  man- 
ager of  RKO  Midwest  in  charge  of 
personnel,  is  in  Christ  Hospital,  Cin- 
cinnati, with  a  broken  foot. 

• 

Harold  Heffernan,  Hollywood 
correspondent  for  the  North  Ameri- 
can Newspaper  Alliance,  is  in  town 
to  catch  a  few  shows. 

• 

Russ  McKibbon,  manager  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian's  Royal  in 
Guelph,  Canada,  is  visiting  the 
World's  Fair. 

• 

Sam  Wheeler,  20th  Century-Fox 
branch  manager  in  Washington,  has 
recovered  from  an  operation. 

• 

_  Mrs.  Lily  Pons,  mother  of  the 
singer,  sails  today  on  the  Champlain 
after  visiting  here. 

• 

Barney  Balaban,  Paramount  pres- 
dent,  will  return  to  New  York  on  Fri- 
day. 


WILL  H.  HAYS  is  playing  host 
at  his  Waldorf-Astoria  apart- 
ment to  General  Charles  D.  Her- 
ron  and  Mrs.  Herron  of  Honolulu 
who  yesterday  attended  the  graduation 
of  their  son,  William  M.  Herron,  at 
West  Point. 

• 

Erich  Von  Sternberg,  director, 
will  sail  tomorrow  on  the  Normandie. 
Others  who  have  reserved  passage  on 
the  ship  include  Cary  Grant,  Mar- 
lene  Dietrich,  Rex  Ingram.  Margot 
Graham  and  Erich  Maria  Re- 
marque. 

• 

Joseph  Mathieu,  Capitol,  Win- 
chendon,  Mass. ;  John  W.  Howe, 
Olympia,  Portsmouth,  N.  H,  and 
Thomas  Alfieri,  Community,  Mill- 
brook,  N.  Y.,  were  visitors  at  the 
RKO  World's  Fair  lounge  yesterday. 
• 

John  Garfield  is  flying  from  Hol- 
lywood today  to  attend  the  Mexico 
City  premiere  of  Warners  "Juarez." 
He  will  be  accompanied  by  Mrs. 
Garfield  and  Irving  Rapper,  dialogue 
director  of  the  film. 

• 

Linda  Hayes,  former  San  Fran- 
cisco hat  check  girl  and  candidate  on 
the  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  talent 
quest,  has  been  assigned  her  second 
part  in  two  months,  in  "The  Spell- 
binder." 

• 

Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  20th  Century- 
Fox  vice-president  in  charge  of  pro- 
duction, arrived  here  over  the  week- 
end for  conferences  with  Joseph  M. 
Schenck,  chairman  of  the  board. 
• 

Lynn  Farnol,  Archie  Mayo,  Leo 
Justin,  Joe  Malcolm,  William 
German,  Cal  Swanson,  Jack  Kirk- 
land,  lunching  at  Bob  Goldstein's 
Tavern  yesterday. 

• 

Truman  H.  Talley,  general  man- 
ager of  Movietone  News,  returned  on 
the  Normandie  yesterday  from  his  an- 
nual inspection  trip  of  Movietone 
offices  abroad. 

• 

Sally   Eilers   left   yesterday  for 
Hollywood.    She  acted  as  guest  host- 
ess at  the  RKO  lounge  on  Friday. 
• 

H.  M.  Richey  of  RKO  stopped  off 
in  Chicago  yesterday  en  route  to  the 
Allied  convention  in  Minneapolis. 
• 

_  Edward  P.  Curtis,  head  of  motion 
picture  film  sales  for  Eastman  Kodak, 
is  in  town  from  Rochester,  N.  Y. 
• 

W.  J.  Merrill,  formerly  with  Atlas 
Corporation,  is  assistant  to  George 
J.  Schaefer,  president  of  RKO. 
• 

G.   L.    Carrington,  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  Altec,  is  back 
after  a  business  trip  to  Detroit. 
• 

Louis  Astor,  circuit  sales  execu- 
tive at  Columbia,  left  yesterday  for  a 
week's  business  trip  to  Boston. 
• 

Frank  Walker  has  been  called  to 
Butte,  Mont.,  because  of  the  death  of 
Mrs.  Walker's  father. 

• 

Mrs.  Harry  Buxbaum  is  recuper- 
ating at  the  Doctors  Hospital  follow- 
ing a  major  operation. 

• 

Mrs.  Fred  Meyer,  wife  of  the  chief 
film  booker  of  the  RKO  circuit,  is  ill 
at  home. 


New  Hopkin 
Film  Meeting 
Said  Unlikel 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

of  Justice  officials  to  consider  ai 
compromise  in  their  anti-trust  pra 
cutions.  I 
Meanwhile,  the  record  of  hearir 
on  the  Department  of  Justice  appr 
priation  bill,  made  public  in  the  Se 
ate,  disclosed  that  Assistant  Attorn 
General  Thurman  Arnold  complain 
to  the  committee  of  the  "obstruction: 
tactics  which  the  film  industry  has  r 
sorted  to  to  delay  trial  of  the  N« 
York  suit,"  and  recommended  esta 
lishment  of  a  special  court  to  spe 
such  matters. 

Committee  Approves 
$1,300,000  Trust  Fund 

Washington,  June  12. — Wh 
countermanding  an  order  which  wot 
permit  the  establishment  of  regior 
officers  by  Assistant  Attorney  Genei 
Thurman  Arnold's  anti-trust  divisic 
the  Senate  appropriations  committ 
today  approved  the  appropriation 
$1,300,000  for  anti-trust  prosecutioi 

The  Senate  Committee,  reporti: 
the  Department  of  Justice  supj 
bill  to  the  Senate,  amended  it  to  cou 
termand  the  House  order  providing  f 
the  regional  offices. 

The  amendment,  in  effect,  increa; 
the  funds  available  for  prosecution 
monopoly  complaints  in  the  moti 
picture,  oil  and  phosphate  industri 
which  the  government  at  the  prese 
time  is  investigating.  Arnold  h 
asked  for  approximately  $200,000  mc 
than  was  granted  by  the  House. 

In  dealing  with  Department  of  Ji 
tice  appropriations,  the  Committee  i 
eluded  a  provision  that  the  present 
tion  or  prosecution  of  cases  under  t 
anti-trust  laws  shall  be  conducted 
cooperation  with  the  Federal  distr: 
attorneys  of  the  districts  in  whi 
they  are  brought. 


Stop  Warner  Picketini 

Bookkeepers,  Stenographers  ai 
Accountants  Union  has  abandoned  i 
picketing  of  Warner  warehouse  ai 
home  office  pending  outcome  of  N. 
R.  B.  hearings.  None  of  the  employ 
who  were  allegedly  dismissed 
union  activities  has  been  rehired. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  a 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compai 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  Ci 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  addr< 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigle 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Bro« 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  W; 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  S; 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertisi 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Micl 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  CNeill,  manager;  Hi 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildir 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Gold 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  ma 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  Londor 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigl 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigl 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Betl 
Theatres,  Teatro  AI  Dia,  International  M 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Enter 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  ' 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y,  under 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates ; 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreig 
Single  copiet  10c. 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


OUT  TODAY ! 


The  Industry's  BEST  SELLER 


< 


It'll  Sell  You  on  Selling  Paramount  Pictures... 


//•' 


It's  got  all  the  right  answers  to  your 
1939-1940  program,  the  kind  of  pictures 
you  like,  the  kind  of  pictures  you  need 
. . .  pictures  with  plenty  of  MOTION . . . 
pictures  with  world-wide,  out-of-doors(J 
backgrounds  .  .  .  colorful  .  .  .  varied  .  .  . 
and  above  all,  pictures  with  BIG  NAME 
PERSONALITIES  .  .  .  AND  PLENTY 
OF  THEM  .  .  . 

Here  are  a  few  of  the  highlights... 


Note  that  Paramount 
Product  Book  Smile! 


That's  how  you're  going  to  look  when 
you  read  about  the  Paramount  Pro- 
gram for  1939-1940  ...  pictures  like 
"Beau  Geste,"  with  Gary  Cooper,  Ray 
Milland  and  Robert  Preston  in  the  top 
roles  ...  or  "The  Light  That  Failed," 
Kipling's  immortal  story,  with  Ronald 
Colman  playing  the  lead...or"Disputed 
Passage,"  right  now  a  Lloyd  Douglas 
best  seller  ...  or  Frank  Lloyd's  huge 
"Ruler  of  the  Seas"  or  Cecil  B. 
DeMille's "Royal  Canadian  Mounted" 
...  or  Charles  Laughton  in  "Jamaica 
Inn"  or. . .  but,  listen,  you've  got  to  get 
the  book  and  read  it  . . .  Read  Frank 
Freeman's  message . . .  Read  William 
Le  Baron's  message  .  .  .  They'll  show 
you  IT'S  OUR  YEAR  BECAUSE 
IT'S  YOUR  YEAR! ! ! 


\Vues 
e0ou^ 


•up 


the  v>uS         lnstt*e  5 


48 


NOW  ACTUALLY 
COMPLETED 

NOW 

SHOOTING* 


5 


Practically  our  entire  first  quarter  program  ready  long  before  the  season 
starts.. .and  what  pictures!  Just  look  at  the  actual  stills  from  these  pictures 
in  the  Paramount  Product  Book... they'll  show  you  IT'S  OUR  YEAR! 


FEATU  R  E 
PICTURES 


The  biggest  program  for  your  business  from  the  biggest  company 
in  the  business  ...  at  least  one  big  MOTION  picture  each  and  every 
week  •  •  •  from  the  company  that's  given  you  at  least  one  a  week 
for  the  past  1,300  weeks. 


o(  'etlCV 

A-tect  ******** 

aO° 


t  par*1**         r  ii 
patarno^ 


bo* 


THE  BIGGEST  NEWS  OF  THE  SCREEN  YEAR  ! 
A  FULL-LENGTH  FEATURE  CARTOON 
COMPLETELY  FILMED  IN  TECHNICOLOR . 


COlORf 


,  the  V«r«n°Unt 
more         *  „ 


PARAMOUNT  RELEASE  SCHEDUL 


RELEASE  DATE 


TITLE 


September  1 


BEAU  6ESTE 


tl 


September  8 


GERONIMO!" 


September  15 


THE  WORLD  ON  PARADE" 


(Tentative  Title) 


September  22 


THE  CAT  AND  THE  CANARY 


September  29 


ii 


$1000  A  TOUCHDOWN 


tl 


September  29 


RANGE  WAR    (Hopalong  Cassidy) 


October  6 


1 1 


WHAT  A  LIFE 


11 


October  13 


&  i 


JAMAICA  INN 


October  13 


PAROLES  FOR  SALE 


October  20 


HAPPY  ENDING 


If 


October  27 


DISPUTED  PASSAGE" 


November  3 


ft* 


A  DOUBLE-DYED  DECEIVER" 


(Tentative  Title) 


November  10 


ARE  HUSBANDS  NECESSARY? 


11 


November  17 


ft « 


EMERGENCY  S0UAD" 


November  17 


(*4, 


RIDERS  Of  thePANAMINT9f  (HopalongCassidy) 


November  24 


«4 


RULER  OF  THE  SEAS" 


■ 


i  ptember  *  October  •  November  1939    _  - 


CAST 

DIRECTOR 

Jary  Cooper  •  Ray  Milland  •  Robert  Preston  •  Brian  Donlevy 
oisan  Hayward  •  J.  Carrol  Naish 

William  A.Wellman 

?eston  Foster  •  Ellen  Drew  •  Andy  Devine  •  William  Henry 

Paul  H.  Sloane 

James  Hogan 

ob  Hope  •  Paulette  Goddard  •  John  Beal*  Douglass  Montgomery 
rale  Sondergaard  •  Nydia  Westman  •  Elizabeth  Patterson 

Elliott  Nugent 

oe  E.  Brown  •  Martha  Raye 

'illiam  Boyd  •  Russell  Hayden  •  Matt  Moore  •  Brett  Wood 
itty  Moran  •  Pedro  de  Cordoba  •  Kenneth  Harlan 

Lesley  Selander 

ackie  Cooper  •  Betty  Field  •  John  Howard  •  Janice  Logan 
ionel  Stander  •  Vaughan  Glaser  •  James  Corner 

Theodore  Reed 

harles  Laughton  •  Maureen  O'Hara  •  Leslie  Banks 
nlyn  Williams  •  Robert  Newton 

Alfred  Hitchcock 

loyd  Nolan  «John  Hartley  •  Wm.Frawley  •  Richard  Dennig 

Robert  Florey 

it  O'Brien  •  Olympe  Bradna  •  Roland  Young 
eginald  Gardiner  •  George  E.  Stone 

Lewis  Milestone 

'orothy  Lamour  •  Akim  Tamiroff"  •  John  Howard 
idith  Barrett  •  Gordon  Tones 

Frank  Borzage 

ito  Guizar  •  Emma  Dunn  •  Alan  Mowbray 

ale  Sondergaard  •  Jane  Clayton  •  Minor  Watson 

E.  H.  Venturini 

ed  MacMurray  •  Madeleine  Carroll  •  Helen  Broderick 
1  sa  Massen  •  Carolyn  Lee 

Edward  H.Griffith 

oyd  Nolan  •  William  Henry 

Louis  King 

>  llliam  Boyd  •  Russell  Hayden  •  George  Hayes 

Lesley  Selander 

ouglas  Fairbanks,  Jr.  •  Will  Fyffe  •  Margaret  Lockwood 
eorge  Bancroft  •  Vaughan  Glaser 

Frank  Llovd 

1939  - 


SUN  MONJ 


3 

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24  25  26  27  28  29  30 


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OCTOBER 


SUN      MON      TUE  WED 


1    2  3 


THU 


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4    '  , 

11  12  13. 

I 

25  26 


JANUi 


10  11  12  13  14 
17  18  19  20  21  22  23 
24^07  28  29  30 


:>4 


31 


SUN  MON 


CH 


THU 


SUN 


PRIL 


■  WED 


SAT 


3  4   5   6  7 
10  11  12  13  14  15  16 

17  18  19  20  21  22  23 
%  25  26  27  28  25i 


JUNE 


SUN      MON  TUE 


WED  THU 


2   3   4   5   6  7 
9  10  11  12  13  14  15 
16  17  18  19  20  21  22 

24  25  26  27  28  29 


23 


30 


2T^ 

28  29  30^37 


lesJay,  June  13,  1939 


Motion  Picture  daily 


9 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


Big  Peril  Seen 
If  New  Taxes 


I  J.  Officials 
lid  Theatre's 
ilonopoly  Suit 

Philadelphia,    June    12. — Landis 
•eatre,  Vineland,  N.  J.,  filed  a  mo- 
iQlv  action  against  Warner  Brothers 
•iFatres  and   major   distributors  in 
ijderal  Court  here  today, 
f  Jo-complainants   with   the  theatre 
I:  virtually  all  civic  officials  of  the 
lirough  of  Vineland  and  surrounding 
E:ndis  Township.      Mayor  Gittone, 
jo  commissioners  and  five  township 
■nmitteemen  are  listed.    They  filed 
Is  suit  in  behalf  of  the  welfare  of 
j:  community,  but  not  as  a  corpo- 
■  e  act  of  the  borough. 
(Eugene  Mori,  operator  of  the  Lan- 
'  ,  alleges   discrimination   in  favor 
,  the    Grand    and    Globe,  circuit 
[iuses.  The  plaintiff  seeks  an  injunc- 
M  restraining  the  defendants  from 
firing  competing  theatres,  and  di- 
cing Warner  Theatres  to  divest  it- 
i  f  of   interest   in   the   Globe  and 
land,  and  asks  that  alleged  illegal 
nspiracies  in  restraint  of  trade  be 
ioken  up. 

Vomers  Theatre 
Chiefs  Meet  Today 

Warner  Bros.'  theatre  district  man- 
fyers  will  meet  in  the  company's 
|  me  office  this  morning  with  Joseph 
rnhard,  general  manager  of  Warner 
:r  leatres.  District  managers  attend- 
I ;  are : 

Pittsburgh,    C.    J.    Latta,  B.  F. 
I  pore,    T.    J.    Fordham    and  Sid 
cobs;     Chicago,     Harry  Turrell, 
arles  C.  Ryan  and  N.  W.  Wheel- 
;  Milwaukee,  Jack  Keegan ;  New- 
<,  Tony  Williams,  Dick  Hill,  R. 
Kuehn  and  Chas.  Dooley ;  Phila- 
phia,  L.  B.  Craver,  Paul  Costello, 
ui>  Davidoff,  Stephen  Barutio,  Al 
ough,  Ed  Moore  and  Jack  Mul- 
II;  Washington,  Nat  Classer,  Harry 
•hmeyer  and  Guy  Wonders  ;  Albany, 
as.  Smakwitz  and  Ralph  Crabill ; 
eveland,     Frank     Harpster,  Roy 
[iO\vn    and    Dick    Wright ;  New 
Piven,  Henry   Needles,   Dan  Finn, 
■y  Barrett  and  Max  Melinoff. 
;,Home  office  executives  at  the  meet- 
K  will  include  Clayton  Bond,  Leon- 
|i  Schlesinger,  Willard  C.  Patter- 
(ji,  Frank  Phelps  and  Harry'  Gold- 


$1,000,000  Libel  Suit 

A    $1,000,000    libel    suit  against 

.mberger  Broadcasting  Service,  Inc., 
;  'ner  of  WOR ;  Wodaam  Corp., 
iaer  of  WNEW,  Edwin  C.  Hill, 
ijroy  A.  Lincoln,  and  the  Metropoli- 

i  Life  Insurance  Co.  has  been  filed 
j  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  by  Donald 

sdine,  insurance  consultant. 


Young  Has  Own  Firm 

Hollywood,  June  12. — Lon  Young 
5  left  Roland  Reed  and  Hollywood 
iustrial  Pictures  to  open  his  own, 
ices  for  the  production  of  public 
ations,  sales-training,  documentary 
i  industrial  pictures,  under  the  name 
Lon  Young  Productions.  Freeman 
sk  will  be  associated  with  him. 


Fulton  to  Close  Soon 

Pittsburgh,  June  12. — The  Fulton 
theatre  will  close  for  five  or  six  weeks 
after  the  close  of  the  current  run  of 
"The  Mikado,"  Manager  John  Walsh 
announced. 


Remodels  Des  Moines  Theatre 

Des  Moines,  la.,  June  12. — L.  H. 
Kahrj  of  the  Grand  is  erecting  a  new 
front  and  neon  sign  at  his  theatre. 
It  is  the  beginning  of  a  remodeling 
program. 


New  Charlotte  Theatre 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  June  12. — The 
Wilby-Kincey  circuit  plans  to  open 
its  new  suburban  second  run  house 
here  the  end  of  June. 


Handles  "Miss   America"  Pageant 

Pittsburgh,  June  12. — Ken  Hoel 
is  acting  publicity  director  of  the 
Harris  Amusement  Co.  for  the  next 
three  months,  while  George  Tyson, 
regular  advertising  head,  is  in  Atlan- 
tic City  handling  the  "Miss  Amer- 
ica" beauty  pageant. 


Form  Charlotte  Firm 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  June  12. — Eliza- 
beth Theatre  Corn,  capitalized  at 
$100,000,  has  been  formed  to  operate 
theatres.  Incorporators  are  T.  A. 
Little,  A.  B.  Craver  and  T.  B.  Autrey, 
all  of  Charlotte. 


Open  North  Carolina  House 

Kannapolis,  N.  C,  June  12. — 
Dixie  Theatre  has  opened  here  recent- 
ly. H.  R.  Butler  is  manager  of  the 
new  house,  which  seats  500. 

18  More  Theatres 
Operate  in  Ontario 

Toronto,  June  12. — The  Province 
of  Ontario  now  has  372  licensed  the- 
atres, an  increase  of  18  over  the  pre- 
vious fiscal  year.  Official  figures 
show  that  permission  was  granted 
for  the  modernizing  of  15  houses  dur- 
ing the  latest  fiscal  12  months. 

A  substantial  reduction  is  noted  in 
the  number  of  licenses  issued  to  pub- 
lic halls  in  which  16  mm.  shows  are 
permitted,  as  well  as  other  forms  of 
entertainment,  the  total  dropping  to 
2,736  from  2,921  of  one  year  ago. 

Start  Spanish  Film 
For  United  Artists 

Hollywood,  June  12. — "La  Immacu- 
lada,"  first  of  the  all-Spanish  pictures 
to  be  produced  by  Atalaya  Films,  Inc., 
for  United  Artists,  has  started  shoot- 
ing at  Grand  National  with  Fortunio 
Bona  Nova,  Andrea  Palma,  Tana, 
Milissa,  Luis  Diaz  Flores  and  Daniel 
Rea  in  the  cast. 

Bona  Nova  and  Maury  M.  Cohen 
are  co-producing,  from  the  novel  by 
Catalina  d'Erzell,  adapted  by  Paul 
Perez.  Lotus  Gasnier  is  directing, 
with  John  Gonzales  as  dialogue  di- 
rector. 


RKO  Outing  Held 

RKO  home  office  employes  yester- 
day held  their  annual  boat  ride  and 
outing,  a  steamer  trip  to  Bear  Moun- 
tain, with  all  the  usual  contests.  As 
in  the  past,  half  the  employes  went 
yesterday  and  the  rest  will  go  next 
Monday. 


Annexes  2  Milwaukee  Houses 

Milwaukee,  June  12. — Latest  neigh- 
borhood houses  to  be  annexed  by  Fox 
are  the  Astor  and  Jackson,  formerly 
operated  by  Harry  Perlewitz.  The 
circuit  has  closed  the  Kosciuzsko  and 
Ogden  for  the  summer  and  is  operat- 
ing the  Grace  and  World  weekends 
only.    All  are  neighborhood  houses. 


Two  Companies  Formed 

Albany,  June  12. — Two  theatre 
companies  have  been  incorporated 
here,  Arnlew  Corp.,  by  Arnold  Dan- 
iels, Josephine  Kriger  and  Mandel  M. 
Einhorn,  and  Adlon  Amusements,  Inc., 
by  E.  F.  Goldberg,  F.  Rimler  and  I. 
Druck.  Both  are  New  York  City 
companies. 


Plans  House  in  S.  C. 

Lancaster,  S.  C,  June  12. — George 
W.  Parr,  owner  of  the  Imperial  here, 
plans  a  new  850-seat  house,  expected 
to  be  ready  for  opening  in  the  fall. 


Waterstreet  to  M-G-M 

Kansas  City,  June  12. — Irving 
Waterstreet  has  succeeded  Claude 
Morris  as  exploiteer  for  the  H.  P. 
Wolfberg  division  of  M-G-M,  with 
headquarters  here.  Morris  has  been 
transferred  to  St.  Louis. 


Close  Two  Foreign  Houses 

Seattle,  June  12. — Seattle's  two 
foreign-language  theatres  have  closed 
for  the  summer.  They  are  Walter 
Rosener's  Montlake,  which  will  be  re- 
modeled, and  John  Danz's  Uptown. 


London  Notes 


London,  June  12. — Exhibitor  mem- 
bers of  the  Portsmouth  branch  of  the 
Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion held  a  long  discussion  of  Vice- 
President  H.  P.  E.  Mears'  report  on 
television,  and  were  understood  to 
have  concluded  that  continued  opposi- 
tion to  television  would  be  futile. 


Members  of  the  British  Home  Of- 
fice Advisory  Committee  on  the  Films 
Act  are  expected  to  press  for  a  ban 
on  all  child  performers. 


The  Film  Employes  Council  plans 
to  demand  of  the  Board  of  Trade  that 
quota  percentages  be  increased  and 
triple  credits  be  abolished  from  the 
Films  Act,  "notwithstanding  decisions 
of  the  Government  Films  Council." 


A  measure  to  cut  the  present  nine- 
penny  per  seat  entertainment  tax  to 
one  penny  was  tabled  in  the  House  of 
Commons. 


Efforts  are  being  made  behind  the 
scenes  to  allow  Australian  pictures  to 
count  in  the  British  distributors'  quota 
in  return  for  a  15  per  cent  exhibitors' 
quota  in  New  South  Wales.  British 
producers  are  understood  to  be  op- 
posing the  move. 


London  &  Home  Counties  branch 
of  the  C.E.A.  plan  to  fight  the  Middle- 
sex County  Council's  recently  pro- 
posed action  instituting  a  seat  price 
control  rule  based  upon  that  set  up 
by  the  London  County  Council. 


Win  in  Britain 


Proposed  new  industry  taxes  in 
Great  Britain  threaten  to  end  British 
production  of  features  and  short  sub- 
jects and  may  eventually  lead  to  the 
closing  of  many  British  theatres,  ac- 
cording to  Ralph  Hanbury,  RKO 
manager  for  the  United  Kingdom, 
who  arrived  yesterday  on  the  Nor- 
mandie. 

"The  new  tax  measure,  if  made  per- 
manent in  the  budget  law,  will  virtu- 
ally preclude  further  production  of 
British  features  and  shorts  at  a  vol- 
untary basis,  as  distinct  from  quota 
production  and  will  stop  the  produc- 
tion and  distribution  of  newsreels, 
educational  films  and  sub-standard 
product,"  Hanbury  said. 

"The  new  taxes  will  also  entail  a 
reduction  in  the  number  of  films  im- 
ported into  England,  thereby  reducing 
the  number  of  films  produced  for  quota 
purposes,  increasing  unemployment  in 
British  studios  and  further  curtailing 
the  already  inadequate  supply  of  pic- 
tures." 

In  the  last  quota  year  639  foreign 
films  were  registered  for  distribution. 
This  number  is  less  than  the  previous 
year  and  may  force  theatres  to  close 
for  a  lack  of  product,  Hanbury  said. 

The  only  salvation  for  production 
would  be  to  place  the  full  burden  of 
the  taxes  on  exhibitors,  but  this  would 
lead  to  a  "result  equally  disastrous," 
he  concluded. 


Legion's  Approval 
Given  7  New  Films 

National  Legion  of  Decency  ap- 
proved seven  of  10  films  reviewed  and 
classified  this  week  and  found  three 
objectionable  in  part.  The  films  and 
their  classifications  follows : 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  gen- 
eral patronage  —  "Boys'  School," 
"Southward  Ho  !"  and  "Trapped  in  the 
Sky."  Class  A-2,  Unobjectionable  for 
adults — "Charlie  Chan  in  Reno,"  "Five 
Came  Back,"  "It  Can  Happen  to  You" 
and  "The  Sun  Never  Sets."  Class  B, 
Objectionable  in  part — "Maisie,"  "Pan- 
ama Lady"  and  "The  Zero  Hour." 


Chicago  Outing  June  22 

Chicago,  June  12. — Tom  Flannery, 
head  of  the  Whiteway  Sign  Co.  will 
entertain  members  of  the  local  film 
industry  at  an  outing  June  22,  at 
Nippersink  Golf  and  Country  Club. 
Flannery  annually  holds  an  outing  for 
the  film  men  at  the  resort. 


Clipper  Takes  Royal 
Visit  Reels  to  London 

American  newsreel  clips  of 
the  British  King  and  Queen's 
visit  in  New  York  were  due 
to  arrive  in  London  last 
night.  They  left  New  York 
by  transAtlantic  clipper  Sat- 
urday, with  most  of  the  reels 
sending  lengthy  editions. 
Paramount  took  advantage  of 
the  great  interest  in  the  New 
York  City  tour  to  issue  a  spe- 
cial edition  containing  local 
shots. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  13,  193' 


Code  Ready! 
Copies  Going 
To  Exhibitors 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

to  approval  of  the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice. 

"Again  we  renew  our  previous  sug- 
gestion that  a  joint  conference  be  held 
with  the  Department  of  Justice  at  the 
earliest  possible  date  for  the  purpose 
of  obtaining  its  approval  of  these  trade 
practice  proposals  and  considering  the 
methods  of  putting  them  into  effect." 

The  changes  representing  deviations 
from  the  previous  text  are  chiefly  in 
phraseology,  although  some  additions 
were  made  at  the  request  of  exhibitor 
groups.  Legal  terminology  has  been 
reduced  to  a  minimum. 

Allocation  of  Features 

The  provision  on  allocation  of  fea- 
tures has  the  following  addition: 

"After  the  notice  of  price  allocation 
of  a  feature  for  a  particular  theatre 
has  been  given  by  a  distributor  to  an 
exhibitor,  such  price  allocation  shall 
not  be  changed  for  such  theatre  except 
by  mutual  agreement  between  the  dis- 
tributor and  the  exhibitor." 

In  the  clause  pertaining  to  arbitra- 
tion awards  for  non-performance  of  a 
license  agreement,  there  is  an  addition 
providing  that  if  the  distributor  has 
arbitrarily  and  wilfully  withheld  a  fea- 
ture, or  violated  "run"  or  clearance, 
the  exhibitor  can  collect  damages  in 
excess  of  the  liquidated  damages  pro- 
vided in  the  license  agreement. 

An  added  provision  states :  "Each 
signatory  who  carries  on  business  in  a 
jurisdiction  where  arbitration  awards 
cannot  be  made  legally  effective,  cove- 
nants that  he  will  nevertheless  abide 
by  and  perform  in  good  faith  any 
award  that  may  be  made  hereunder  or 
under  said  rules  of  abitration." 

Cooperation  Stressed 

The  distributors  are  pledged  to  ob- 
tain the  full  cooperation  of  affiliated 
circuits  or  theatres  in  which  they  are 
interested,  but  over  which  they  have 
no  control.  Exhibitor  groups  signing 
the  code  likewise  are  pledged  to  en- 
deavor to  secure  the  cooperation  of  all 
members  and  theatres  operating  in 
their  areas. 

The  distributor  involved  in  an  arbi- 
tration award  on  overbuying  is  made 
bound  by  the  decision. 

Disputes  relating  to  overbuying  are 
kept  on  a  two-party  basis,  with  no 
right  to  the  distributor  to  name  an 
arbitrator.  Disputes  involving  clear- 
ance are  kept  on  a  three-party  basis, 
with  the  distributors,  as  a  group,  en- 
titled to  name  an  arbitrator  in  addi- 
tion to  the  opposing  exhibitors. 


GN  Retains  Felt  Co. 
For  Financing  Plan 

Educational  Pictures,  Inc.,  and 
Grand  National  Pictures,  Inc.,  have 
retained  Felt  &  Co.,  Wall  Street  firm, 
to  provide  a  plan  of  readjustment  of 
the  corporate  and  financial  structure  of 
the  companies,  according  to  a  state- 
ment issued  yesterday. 

Educational  owns  a  substantial 
amount  of  the  preferred  and  83  per 
cent  of  the  common  stock  of  Grand 
National,  according  to  E.  W.  Ham- 
mons,  president  of  both  companies. 
Approximately  $1,000,000  will  be  pro- 
vided for  production  and  working  cap- 
ital, under  the  Felt  plan,  it  was  said. 


Largest  Allied  Convention 
Draws  Host  of  Film  Chiefs 


Kuykendall  May  Speak; 
Many  New  Yorkers 
To  Minneapolis 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

rus,  New  Orleans ;  Herman  Blum, 
Baltimore ;  Nathan  Yamins,  former 
national  president,  Fall  River,  Mass. ; 
Ray  Branch,  Michigan;  Irving  Doll- 
inger,  New  Jersey;  M.  B.  Horwitz, 
Cleveland;  P.  J.  Wood,  Columbus; 
Martin  Smith,  Toledo;  M.  A.  Rosen- 
berg, Pittsburgh;  Sidney  Samuelson, 
Philadelphia;  C.  H.  Olive,  Washing- 
ton, D.  C. ;  Edward  F.  Maertz,  Mil- 
waukee. 

Registrants  will  receive  guest  tickets 
to  any  theatre  in  Minneapolis.  They 
will  also  receive  free  golf  tickets. 


New  Yorkers  Depart 
For  Allied  Convention 

James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  presi- 
dent, leaves  by  plane  tonight  for  Min- 
neapolis for  the  Allied  convention. 
Republic  will  also  be  represented  by 


Allied  Program 

TODAY— 11  A.  M.,  registra- 
tion; 12  noon,  luncheon 
meeting  of  Allied  national 
board,  Junior  Ballroom;  2 
P.  M.,  first  general  session, 
Col.  H.  A.  Cole  presiding. 

WEDNESDAY  —  11  A.  M., 
meeting  of  national  board 
of  directors;  12  noon, 
luncheon  for  registered 
guests,  Minnesota  Terrace; 
2  P.  M.,  second  general  ses- 
sion and  open  forum  on 
trade  practices;  7  P.  M., 
dinner,  Minnesota  Terrace. 

THURSDAY— 10  A.  M.,  meet- 
ing of  national  board;  12 
noon,  buffet  luncheon;  1 
P.  M.,  third  general  ses- 
sion; 7  P.  M.,  10th  annual 
birthday  dinner,  Gov.  Harry 
E.  Stassen  of  Minnesota, 
guest  of  honor. 


Max  Roth,  western  district  sales  man- 
ager, of  Chicago. 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram  presi- 
dent, and  Edward  A.  Golden,  vice- 
president,  also  leave  today. 

Harry  Brandt,  president,  I.T.O.A., 
and  Milton  C.  Weisman,  counsel,  left 
yesterday.  Lionel  Toll,  also  repre- 
senting the  organization,  flies  to  Min- 
neapolis today. 


Chicago  Film  Club 
Formed  by  Women 

Chicago,  June  12. — Newly  organ- 
ized Women's  Film  Industry  Club 
of  Chicago  has  elected  Selma  Hack- 
man,  of  20th  Century-Fox,  president. 
Other  officers  include :  Beth  Morgan- 
stern  of  Allied  Theatres  of  Illinois, 
vice-president ;  Ila  Elwood  of  M-G-M, 
ecretaary ;  Mildred  Jedlicka  of  Ess- 
aness,  treasurer ;  Goldie  Davidson 
of  B.  &  K.,  publicity  director. 

Committee  chairmen  are:  Dorothy 
Palowsky,  entertainment ;  Bea  Blu- 
menthal,  membership ;  Myrtle  Collins, 
by  -laws ;  Florence  Lipschitz,  welfare ; 
Marge  Brown,  good  cheer. 


Allied  Officers 


COL.  H.  A.  COLE 

President 
National 
Allied 


W.  A.  STEFFES 


Northwest 

Allied 
President 


ABRAM  MYERS 

I  Board  Chairman 
and 

General  Counsel 


New  Congress  Bill 
Will  Govern  Films 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tres  and  films.  The  bill  will  provide 
that  circuits  be  given  no  advantages 
in  price,  protection  or  other  details 
which  are  not  available  also  to  inde- 
pendent competitors,  somewhat  along 
the  lines  of  the  Robinson-Patman 
Anti-Price  Discrimination  Act. 

In  addition  to  forbidding  exhibitors 
to  buy  in  blocks,  the  measure  may  in- 
clude a  stipulation  that  the  synopsis 
which  is  required  under  the  section  to 
outlaw  blind  buying  need  not  be  at- 
tached to  the  contract  for  any  picture 
which  an  exhibitor  sees  before  buying. 

Also  a  possibility  is  a  provision  ex- 
tending to  trailers  the  same  restrictions 
against  false  or  misleading  advertising 
as  now  are  applied  by  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission  to  newspapers  and 
radio  programs. 

In  outlining  the  aims  of  his  measure, 
Boren  declared  that  it  has  been  drawn 
without  assistance  from  either  pro- 
ducer or  exhibitor  interests.  It  is 
aimed  at  monopolistic  conditions  and 
unfair  practices  in  the  industry,  he  ex- 
plained, whether  engaged  in  by  major 
companies  or  independent  exhibitors, 
hence  the  restrictions  which  it  pro- 
poses to  impose  upon  the  latter. 


Film  Leader 
In  Fund  Drive 
Fete  Goodmar 


Leaders  of  the  film  industry,  stag< 
radio,  music  and  allied  amusements  at 
tended  a  luncheon  at  the  Hotel  Edisa 
yesterday  in  honor  of  Benny  Gom 
man,  orchestra  leader,  and  in  behalf  c 
the  United  Jewish  Appeal  for  Refu 
gees. 

Eddie  Cantor  was  toastmaster.  Othe 
speakers  were  Ben  Bernie,  chairma 
of  the  luncheon;  Rabbi  William  Ro; 
enblum  of  Temple  Israel,  and  Gooc 
man.  About  300  attended. 

The  luncheon  formally  launched  th 
effort  of  the  Amusement  Division 
behalf  of  the  emergency  appeal  whic 
seeks  funds  to  carry  on  the  relief  pre 
gram  of  the  three  major  Jewish  agei 
cies  helping  refugees  and  other  victin 
of  oppression  overseas — the  Joint  Di 
tribution  Committee,  the  United  Pa 
estine  Appeal  and  the  National  Coo: 
dinating  Committee. 

Quota  Is  $250,000 

The  Amusement  Division's  quota 
$250,000.    Many    large  contributioi 
were  announced  at  the  luncheon. 

Cantor  told  of  the  Nazi  persecutiot 
and  made  an  earnest  appeal  for  suj 
port  of  the  campaign.  He  urged  th; 
contributions  be  increased  over  la| 
year  as  the  need  is  more  acute. 

Among  those  on  the  dais  were  Dav 
Bernstein,  chairman  of  the  Amus> 
ment  Division;  Albert  Warner,  a 
chairman ;  Jack  Cohn,  vice-chairmar 
William  Morris,  treasurer ;  Commi: 
sioner  Paul  Moss,  Arthur  M.  Loev 
Louis  Nizer,  Phil  Baker,  Harry  Hersl 
field,  Henry  F.  Samstag,  Lou  Holt 

Other  committee  leaders  are  Barm 
Balaban  and  Nate  J.  Blumberg,  bot 
vice-chairmen. 

Generous  Contributions 

Cantor  announced  generous  contr 
butions  from  Nicholas  M.  Schenc' 
Murray  Silverstone,  Barney  Balabai 
Albert  Warner,  David  Bernstein,  Ai 
thur  M.  Loew,  Lee  Shubert,  Al  Jo 
son,  Motion  Picture  Art  Fund  fc 
German  Refugees,  Herman  Robbin 
Benny  Goodman,  Ben  Bernie,  Jac 
Robbins,  Arthur  Mayer,  Harry  Goet 
William  and  Harry  Brandt,  Artht 
Murray,  Columbia  Pictures  (Harr 
and  Jack  Cohn),  Louis  Bernsteii 
Warner  Bros.  Pictures,  Donald  Flamn, 
Al  Goodman,  Jewish  Theatrical  All 
ance,  William  Morris,  family  of  tr 
late  Sol  Brill,  Lou  Brecher,  Jac 
Goetz,  Harry  Goodman,  Mrs.  Benn 
Goodman,  Louis  Frisch,  Sam  Rinzle 
Carole  Saxe. 


'Polygamy9  Banned; 
Hays  Office  Vetoet 

For  the  first  time  in  five  years,  th 
State  Board  of  Regents  yesterda 
overruled  a  Will  Hays  purity  se£ 
by  disapproxing  "Polygamy,"  a  fill 
dealing  with  a  multi-wife  religious  cul 
in  Utah. 

The  decision  sustained  a  veto  of  th 
state's  censors  headed  by  Irwin  Es 
mond.  It  marks  the  initial  setbac 
suffered  by  an  American  film  sine 
Joseph  I.  Breen  joined  the  Hays  of 
fice  as  official  sanctioner. 

The  decision  is  called  remarkable  i 
that  New  York  censors  specially  note* 
that  none  of  its  scenes  are  offensive. 


co 


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INVITATION  TO  HAPPINESS 
—now  packing  'em  in  at  the 
New  York  Paramount  to  the 
tune  of  the  best  business 
on  Broadway  .  .  .  running 
neck  and  neck  with  that 
record-breaking  hit  of  hits, 
"Union  Pacific"! 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  13,  193S 


Banner  Lines 

=  By  JACK  BANNER  1 

KING  AND  QUEEN  TELEVISED  136  MILES  AWAY  .  .  The  gener- 
ally accepted  theory  is  that  television  is  limited  to  a  receiving  distance  of 
about  40  miles  because  television  impulses  do  not  follow  the  curvature  of 
the  earth  and  are  drawn  to  the  ground  at  horizon  distance.  Occasionally  this 
theory  is  defied,  however,  and  no  one  knows  the  explanation  for  it.  A  notable 
example  is  the  reception  here  of  BBC  telecasts. 

Saturday,  General  Electric  set  up  receiving  apparatus  in  a  barn  15  miles 
outside  Albany,  and  about  136  miles  from  New  York.  With  a  score  of  farm- 
ers as  onlookers,  they  tuned  to  NBC's  television  wavelength  and  received 
perfect  pictures  of  the  World's  Fair  visit  of  King  George  and  Queen  Eliza- 
beth. The  G-E  receiver  derived  its  power  from  a  small  gas-driven  generator, 
and  four  poles  covering  a  diamond-shaped  space  of  some  400  feet,  served  as 
the  directive  antenna. 

T 

A  NEW  CHANGE  AT  NBC  .  .  .  Places  the  publicity,  information  and 
short  wave  divisions  into  the  Department  of  Information.  Another  new  edict 
places  the  sales  promotion  division  under  the  supervision  of  Clay  Morgan. 
All  four  of  the  departments,  except  short  wave,  were  formerly  operated  under 
the  direction  of  Wayne  Randall,  now  on  vacation  for  his  health. 

T 

HILL  BLACKETT,  GOP  COMMITTEEMAN  .  .  .  Hill  Blackett,  presi- 
dent of  Blackett-  Sample-Hummert,  has  been  named  Republican  National 
Committeeman,  succeeding  the  late  George  F.  Harding.  Blackett  handled 
the  radio  broadcasts  for  the  Landon  campaign  in  1938.  Blackett's  partner, 
Frank  Hummert,  is  a  New  Dealer. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Johnny  Green,  radio  maestro,  right  after  his  broadcast  to- 
night, flies  to  Halifax  where  he  will  be  soloist  and  guest  conductor  at  the 
farewell  ball  tomorrow  for  the  King  and  Queen  of  England.  .  .  .  Max  Mar- 
cin,  script  writer  of  the  skits  in  the  Philip  Morris  programs,  has  been  re- 
newed for  another  13  weeks  by  the  Biow  agency.  .  .  .  Charles  Kenny,  brother 
of  Nick,  will  be  married  to  Joy  Hathaway  in  Vancouver  next  week.  .  .  Fred 
Waring  is  tendering  a  press  cocktail  party  Thursday  in  the  Rainbow  Grill. 
.  .  .  Jack  Shannon,  CBS  singer,  receives  a  B.A.  degree  from  Manhattan 
College  tonight. 

▼ 

CEL-RAY  FROM  BENAY  .  .  .  Blond  Benay  Venuta,  who  started  a  new 
WOR  program  yesterday  for  Cel-Ray  soda,  sent  the  press  four  bottles  of  her 
sponsor's  product.   The  hot  pastrami  sandwiches  are  awaited. 

T 

KYSER  DOUBLES  ON  WOR  .  .  .  Kay  Kyser's  "College  of  Musical 
Knowledge"  broadcast  over  NBC  tomorrow  will  be  repeated  over  WOR  the 
following  night  via  Miller  Tape  method,  a  new  process  of  transcribing  on 
film.  The  setup  is  rather  vague,  but  it  is  believed  that  the  deal  is  for  the  one 
program  only,  as  a  test  of  the  Miller  Tape  system.  There  is  nothing  novel 
about  such  an  arrangement,  other  than  the  fact  that  it  is  a  new  idea  of 
transcribing  by  film.  A  whole  block  of  Blackett-Sample-Hummert  network 
programs  are  repeated  by  transcription  on  WMCA,  and  WHN  carries  a 
number  of  network  shows  simultaneously  with  the  New  York  stations  of  the 
webs.  However,  if  the  Miller  Tape  system  proves  itself  successful  in  the  WOR 
test,  a  vast  new  market  for  film  will  be  opened. 

T 

RADIO  GUIDE  WINNERS  .  .  .  Radio  Guide  on  Thursday  will  make 
known  the  winners  of  its  annual  "Star  of  Stars"  election.  The  winner,  we 
can  tell  you,  is  Nelson  Eddy,  with  Jessica  Dragonette  as  runner-up. 

T 

WMCA  HONORED  .  .  .  Col.  Francis  Vigo  post,  American  Legion, 
yesterday  honored  WMCA  by  presenting  a  gold  medal  to  the  station  in  appre- 
ciation of  its  activities  "in  behalf  of  Americanism."  Board  members  of  the 
post  include  Gov.  Lehman,  Lieutenant-Governor  Poletti,  Judge  Cotillo  and  At- 
torney General  Bennett. 


No  Television 
Peril  Visioned 
For  Theatres 


Theatres  should  have  no  immediate 
fears  from  the  competitive  encroach- 
ment of  television,  which  is  still  in  its 
swaddling  clothes. 

This  conviction  was  expressed  yes- 
terday in  a  letter  which  W.  J.  Merrill, 
assistant  to  President  George  J. 
Schaefer  of  RKO,  sent  to  George 
Gold,  president  of  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New  Jersey. 

Gold  recently  protested  to  Schaefer 
over  the  use  of  "Gunga  Din"  for  tele- 
vision, charging  it  provided  competi- 
tion for  regular  theatres. 

Mr.  Merrill's  letter  follows  in  part : 

"Some  months  ago  a  trailer  on 
'Gunga  Din'  was  used  in  San  Fran- 
cisco for  experimental  television  tests. 
Such  use,  rather  than  being  competi- 
tive with  any  theatre,  was  an  experi- 
ment with  a  new  medium  of  exploita- 
tion for  feature  product.  We  have 
made  no  arrangements  for  the  furnish- 
ing of  films  for  television.  .  .  . 

"At  the  present  time  we  do  not 
know  of  any  case  where  a  theatre  in 
this  country  is  equipped  to  project  tele- 
vision pictures,  and  inasmuch  as  we 
understand  that  less  than  1,000  home 
sets  have  been  sold  in  the  Metropoli- 
tan area  since  the  official  beginning  of 
telecasts,  the  present  outlook  of  a 
threat  to  motion  picture  theatres  seems 
very  small,  indeed." 

Since  President  Lohr  of  NBC  has 
estimated  that  it  will  be  at  least  five 
years  before  chain  telecasting  will  be 
possible,  "we  do  not  feel  apprehensive 
at  the  present  time  of  encroachment  of 
television  on  the  motion  picture  the- 
atre," stated  Merrill. 

Bigger  Film  Taxes 
In  China  Forecast 

Additional  taxes  may  be  levied  soon 
on  films  in  the  Chinese  market,  Leon 
Britton,  RKO  Far  Eastern  manager, 
declared  yesterday  upon  his  arrival 
on  the  Normandie.  The  new  imposts 
will  probably  take  the  form  of  im- 
port  duties,   Britton  said. 

Japan  has  restricted  American  com- 
panies to  the  seacoast  cities'  and  easily 
accessible  towns  in  the  interior.  How- 
ever, in  such  localities  where  busi- 
ness is  permitted,  grosses  have  been 
holding  up  well,  he  reported. 

Britton  came  to  New  York  for  the 
RKO  convention.  With  him  were 
Ralph  Hanbury,  RKO  manager  for 
the  United  Kingdom,  William  Levy, 
Walt  Disney's  European  representa- 
tive, and  W.  Feignoux,  assistant  to 
Levy.  All  will  remain  in  New  York 
for  the  convention  and  then  go  to  the 
coast. 


Plan  K.  C.  Television 

Kansas  -City,  June  12. — First  Na- 
tional Television,  Inc.,  operated  by 
KITE,  will  have  television  programs 
on  the  air  within  eight  weeks,  accord- 
ing to  the  station.  Jenkins  Music  Co. 
and  Stromberg-Carlson  have  demon- 
strated television  receiving  sets  to 
dealers  and  others  here. 


Settle  Plagiarism  Suit 

Plagiarism  suit  for  $250,000  dam- 
ages by  Gerald  K.  Rudulph  against 
Columbia  Pictures  Corp.  has  been 
settled  in  U.  S.  District  Court. 


Acquisition  of  CBS 
Stock  Is  Reported 

Washington,  June  12.— Acquisition 
in  April  of  400  shares  of  CBS  Class 
A  stock  by  Joseph  A.  W.  Iglehart, 
New  York,  director,  bringing  his 
holdings  to  2,600  shares,  was  reported 
by  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Com- 
mission over  the  weekend. 

Also  reported  was  the  acquisition  of 
200  shares  of  Class  A  stock  by  Harry 
C.  Butcher,  Washington,  vice-presi- 
dent. 


$60,000  Transmitter 

San  Francisco,  June  12. — Con- 
struction has  begun  at  Alviso,  on 
southern  end  of  the  bay,  for  erection 
of  new  $60,000  transmitter  for  KQW, 
San  Jose.  Station  expects  equipment 
to  be  ready  by  September  1,  when 
power  goes  up  to  5,000  watts. 


10  New  Accounts 
Signed  Up  by  WHN 

WHN  has  signed  10  new  accounts 
in  the  past  10  days.  Business  includes 
a  year's  renewal  for  Home  Diathermy ; 
renewal  for  13  weeks  of  the  Metro- 
politan Insurance  Co.  show  with 
Edwin  C.  Hill ;  a  new  contract  for  Air 
Conditioning  Institute ;  two  participa- 
tions in  the  Polly  Shedlove  programs ; 
Federal  Life  and  Casualty  Co.  contract 
for  participation  in  the  Zeke  Manners 
and  Art  Green  programs,  and  spot 
contracts  for  Postal  Telegraph,  Renault 
Wines  and  I.  J.  Fox. 


New  Mills  Series 

General  Mills  has  signed  to  sponsor 
a  new  script  series,  "Caroline's  Sun- 
shine Store,"  over  a  split  NBC  net- 
work of  nine  stations.  Blackett- 
Sample-Hummert  is  the  agency. 


F.C.C.  Facing 
Congress  Ban 
On  Censorship 


Washington,  June  12. — Failure  o 
the  Federal  Communications  Commis 
sion  to  rescind  its  "culture  program^ 
order  for  international  broadcastiB 
stations  will  result  in  the  enactment  63 
Congress  of  legislation  more  drastical 
ly  restricting  the  commission  fron 
censorship,  it  was  warned  today  bj 
Senator  Wheeler  of  Montana. 

Chairman  of  the  Senate  Interstatt 
Commerce  Committee  in  charge  o 
radio  legislation,  Senator  Wheeler  de 
clared  that  the  order  might  be  con 
strued  even  to  keep  Senators  fron 
making  speeches  over  the  internationa 
stations  if  some  authority  considera 
that  their  addresses  would  not  con 
tribute  to  the  "goodwill"  of  foreigi 
countries. 

The  Senator  disclosed  that  the  com 
mission  has  received  a  number  of  re 
quests  for  a  hearing  on  the  order  anc 
expressed  the  hope  that  it  would  gran 
one  and  modify  its  rule. 

"This  is  a  form  of  censorship  whicl 
Congress  never  contemplated  when  i 
passed  the  law,  but,  on  the  contrary 
specifically  provided  there  should  bi 
no  censorship,"  he  said. 

Wheeler's  attitude  was  commendec 
by  Senator  Johnson  of  California,  wh< 
told  the  Senate  "we  want  no  censor 
ship  of  any  sort  in  this  country." 


Loew's  in  Columbus 
Watch  RKO's  Dual 

Loew's  are  watching  development 
in  Columbus,  O.,  where  RKO  firs 
runs  have  gone  to  double  bills,  be 
fore  deciding  whether  to  put  its  tw< 
first  runs  there  on  the  same  policy. 

RKO's  Palace  and  Grand  startei 
double  billing  last  Friday  which  ii 
an  innovation  for  these  houses.  Thi 
circuit  has  closed  the  Majestic. 

Loew's  Ohio  and  Broad,  the  onlj 
other  first  runs  in  Columbus,  remaii 
on  a  single  bill  policy. 


Steffes  to  Close  House 

Minneapolis,  June  12. — W.  A 
(Al)  Steffes  will  close  his  Work 
Theatre  June  17  due  to  inability  tc 
get  suitable  pictures,  he  said.  Th; 
theatre  has  been  showing  foreign  anc 
other  films. 


Newest  Radio  Boon 
Aids  War  on  Crime 

Cincinnati,  June  12. — Fac- 
simile-equipped police  cruis- 
ers are  seen  as  a  possibility 
here  with  announcement  by 
James  D.  Shouse,  vice-presi- 
dent, Crosley  Corp.,  that  his 
company  plans  to  install  ex- 
perimental facsimile  receiv- 
ing sets  in  police  patrol  cars, 
thus  enabling  squad  car  men 
to  receive  printed  descrip- 
tions, pictures  and  finger 
prints.  In  recent  preliminary 
tests  conducted  by  WLW  to 
determine  the  practicability 
of  facsimile  as  a  law  enforce- 
ment factor,  Crosley  engi- 
neers transmitted  pictures 
and  fingerprints  as  far  as 
San  Jose,  Calif. 


ttsday,  June  13.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


13 


(  0  New  Films; 
Studios  Work 
On  38  Others 


HOLLYWOOD,  June  12. — Forty-eight 
ttures  were  before  the  cameras  this 
jek,  as  10  started  and  six  finished. 
Runty-five  are  being  prepared,  and 
"are  being  edited, 
ptarted  were :  "Blackmail,"  "These 
jamour  Girls,"  M-G-M  ;  "Mr.  W  ong 
Chinatown,"  Monogram  ;  "$1,000  a 
kuchdown,"  "The  World  on  Parade," 
I  ramount ;  "Heaven  with  a  Barbed 
|  fire  Fence,"  "The  Adventures  of 
>erlock  Holmes,"  20th  Century-Fox  ; 
landy  Takes  a  Bow,"  Universal ; 
•n  Your  Toes,"  "The  Dead  End 
ids  at  Military  School,"  Warners. 
Ir.  addition  to  these,  shooting  were : 
Ir.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington," 
loiden  Boy,"  "Blondie  Takes  a  Ya- 
□on,"  "Coast  Guard,"  "Criminal  at 
Tge,"  Columbia ;  "The  Real  Glory," 
4dwyn ;  "The  Women,"  "A  Day  at 
;  Circus,"  "Babes  in  Arms,"  "Thun- 
-  Afloat,"  "Miracles  for  Sale," 
lady  of  the  Tropics,"  "Ninotchka," 
{hey  All  Come  Back."  M-G-M; 
'he  Star  Maker,"  "Ruler  of  the 
fls,"  "Our  Leading  Citizen,"  "Dou- 
d  Dyed  Deceiver,"  "Are  Husbands 
pessary,"  Paramount ;  "Nurse  Edith 
■veil,"  "My  Fifth  Avenue  Girl," 
tLO;  "Colorado  Sunset,"  "Should 
asbands  Work?"  Republic;  "A 
ump  at  Oxford,"  Roach;  "Gone 
th  the  Wind,"  Selznick  Interna- 
nal ;  "The  Rains  Came,"  "Here  am 
1  a  Stranger,"  "Falling  Stars,"  20th 
iintury  -  Fox  ;  "The  Underpup," 
Icdern  Cinderella,"  "Bright  Vic- 
"y."  "I  Stole  a  Million,"  "Desperate 
jails,"  Universal ;  "Dust  Be  My 
estiny,"  "The  Knight  and  the 
dy,"  "Career  Man,"  "The  Return 
I  Dr.  X,"  "Kid  Nightingale,"  Wrar- 

lished  were:  "Escape  from  Al- 
z,"   Columbia ;   "Disputed  Pass- 
Paramount;  "Memory  of  Love," 
>0;   "Elsa   Maxwell's   Hot-el  for 
omen,"  "The  Chicken  Wagon  Fam- 
and  "Harmony  at  Home,"  20th 
ntury-Fox. 


wo  British  Film 
Groups  to  Merge 

-OJ.DON,  June  12. — Merger  of  the 
m  Production  Employers'  Federa- 
n  and  the  Film  Producers'  Associa- 
n  is  scheduled  at  a  meeting  W'ed- 
iday. 

The  Producers'  Association  was 
K-viously  the  Film  Group  of  the  Fed- 

.tion  of  British  Industries,  producer 

ranization  of  long  standing  which 
Organized  recently  in  an  effort  to 

nulate  lagging  interest   of  mem- 

•s. 


R 


ites  for  Owen  Moore 

i  3everly  Hills,  Calif.,  June  12  — 
neral  services  were  held  today  for 
.en  Moore,  first  husband  of  Mary 

rrktord  and  one  of  the  brightest  stars 
the  silent  film  era.  He  died  Fri- 
'  of  a  heart  ailment. 


Royalty  to  See  'Fury* 

'Captain  Fury."  Hal  Roach-United 
tists  film,  will  be  shown  to  King 
orge  VI  and  Queen  Elizabeth  on 
■  Emf>ress  of  Britain  during  their 
urn  trip  to  England. 


Hollywood  Review 


"It  Could  Happen  to  You" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  June  12. — The  showmanship  worth  of  this  exploitable 
title  is  supplemented  by  a  soundly  constructed  human  interest  story. 
But  for  a  few  episodes  in  which  drinking  and  drunkenness  are  excessively 
accentuated,  "It  Could  Happen  To  You,"  adapted  by  Allen  Rivkin  and 
Lou  Breslow  from  Charles  Hoffman's  original,  would  be  almost  criti- 
cism-proof. David  Hempstead  and  Alfred  Werker  produced  and  directed. 
A  capable  cast  is  very  convincing. 

Everything  that  happens  in  the  piece  might  or  possibly  could  happen 
to  almost  everybody,  either  directly  or  within  the  scope  of  immediate 
experience.  Thus  the  story  has  an  aura  of  reality  which  is  made  all 
the  more  appealing  by  the  natural  manner  in  which  it  is  presented. 

Stuart  Erwin,  ad  company  employe,  is  too  kind  hearted  and  consider- 
ate for  his  own  good.  While  a  rival  employe,  Douglas  Fowley,  cap- 
italizes on  Erwin's  ideas,  his  wife,  Gloria  Stuart,  tries  to  prod  him 
into  doing  things  for  himself.  Up  to  the  time  Erwin  attends  a  party 
given  by  his  boss,  Raymond  Walburn,  where  he  wins  some  recognition, 
the  show  has  all  the  earmarks  of  domestic  comedy. 

Then  following  a  spree  and  the  finding  of  a  woman's  body  in  Erwin's 
car,  the  film  turns  melodramatic.  Arrested,  deserted  by  his  fair  weather 
friends,  Erwin  pictures  himself  as  on  the  way  to  the  electric  chair  until 
his  wife  takes  a  hand.  She,  turning  detective,  ferrets  out  the  real  killer, 
establishes  her  husband's  innocence,  and,  of  course,  causes  Walburn  to 
appoint  him  to  an  executive  job. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Market  Returning 
To  Normal  in  Spain 

Spanish  market  is  rapidly  returning 
to  normalcy  and  a  return  to  pre-civil 
war  conditions  for  American  film  com- 
panies may  be  expected  shortly, 
Reginald  Armour,  general  European 
manager  for  RKO,  predicted  yester- 
day. RKO  has  set  up  10  regional 
offices  in  Spain  within  the  past  month 
and  is  already  arranging  product  deals. 

Headquarters  have  been  established 
in  Barcelona  with  Antonio  Blanco  in 
charge.  At  present,  Spain  is  still 
using  the  old  product,  but  despite  the 
age  of  the  films,  theatre  business  there 
is  on  the  upgrade.  Problem  of  get- 
ting currency  out  of  Spain  is  still  be- 
ing negotiated,  he  said. 

The  general  situation  in  Europe  is 
still  unsettled  according  to  Armour. 
Production  on  the  continent  has  fallen 
off  somewhat  because  of  the  difficulty 
of  obtaining  capital.  Only  American 
films  have  been  able  to  assure  con- 
tinuity of  supply  and  they  are  profit- 
ing as  a  result. 

Warner  Deal  with  Circuit 

Warner  Bros,  has  closed  a  deal 
with  the  Wilmer  and  Vincent  Thea- 
tres, whereby  the  circuit  of  18  houses 
will  play  the  entire  lineup  of  Warner 
Bros.-First  National  Pictures  for 
1939-40  season,  Carl  Leserman,  as- 
sistant general  sales  manager,  an- 
nounced yesterday.  The  contract  was 
signed  by  Roy  Haines,  Robert 
Smeltzer  and  W.  G.  Mansell  for 
Warners,  and  by  Joseph  Eagan  and 
Frank  Fowler  for  the  circuit. 


Drama  Guild  Meeting 

Dramatists  Guild  council  will  meet 
tomorrow'  afternoon  to  vote  on  pro- 
posed modifications  to  the  minimum 
basic  agreement  which  permit  the  pur- 
chase of  film  rights  in  advance  of 
production  of  legitimate  plays.  Ap- 
proval of  the  modifications  is  ex- 
pected. 


Mexico  Theafres 
In  Tribute  to  Flier 

Mexico  City,  June  12. — All 
film  houses  here  and  in  most 
of  Mexico  were  closed  during 
the  matinee  period  today  in 
respect  to  Francisco  Sarabia, 
"Lindbergh  of  Mexico,"  who 
was  killed  while  taking  off  at 
Washington  for  a  return  fight 
here.  The  funeral  was  held 
here  today. 


Paramount  May  Go 
Back  to  Legit  Field 

Paramount  may  reenter  Broadway 
legitimate  stage  production  if  pending 
negotiations  for  modification  of  the 
Dramatists  Guild  pact  are  successful, 
John  Bryam,  head  of  Paramount's 
play  department,  declared  yesterday 
on  his  return  from  England  on  the 
Xormandie.  Bryam  stated  that  he 
had  spent  some  time  viewing  English 
plays  and  was  considering  a  number 
of  them,  but  added  that  no  deals  had 
been  closed. 


'World'  Gets 
Fair  $17,000 
Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,  June  12. — Best  com- 
parative figure  was  the  $17,000  at  the 
Fox  for  "It's  a  Wonderful  World," 
with  a  variety  show  on  the  stage. 
"Union  Pacific"  got  $2,800  at  the  Ar- 
cadia. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  8 : 

"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (25c-40c-57c)  7  davs,  2nd 
run.   Gross:  $2.S00.   (Average,  $2,800) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

BOYD — (2,400)    (32c-42c-57c)   7  days,  2nd 
week.   Gross:  $13,000.   (Average,  $14,000) 
"Missing  Daughters"  (Col.) 

EARLE—  (2,000)     (26c-32c-42c)  7 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (3,000)  (32c-37c-42c-57c-68c)  7  days. 
(6  days  stage)   Stage:   Cass  Daley,  Weire 
Brothers,  Chaney  and  Fox.    Gross:  $17,000. 
(Average,  $16,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (25c-42c-57c)  7  days, 
2nd  run.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Aver- 
age. $4,000.) 

"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

PALACE— (1,000)    (26c-42c)    7    days.  3rd 
run.  Gross:  $4,500.   (Average,  $4,500) 
"Ex-Champ"  (Univ.) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  6  days. 
Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  7  days,  $7,000) 


days. 


New  Bank  Night  Test 
Case  Looms  in  Ohio 

Troy,  O,  June  12.— C.  F.  Pfister, 
manager  of  the  Troy  Amusement  Co., 
operating  the  Mayflower  here,  has 
been  arrested  on  a  warrant  filed  by  a 
citizen,  and  charged  with  promoting  a 
game  of  chance  in  connection  with 
Bank  Night,  conducted  at  this  theatre 
for  more  than  two  years.  It  is  ex- 
pected to  make  this  another  test  case 
for  Ohio  on  the  legality  of  Bank 
Night. 


Current  RKO  Comedy 
Schedule  Completed 

Hollywood,  June  12. — RKO  has 
completed  its  1938-'39  schedule  of  24 
two-reel  comedies.  Bert  Gilroy,  head 
of  the  comedy  production  unit,  is  pre- 
paring for  the  new  season  product. 

The  current  season's  program  in- 
cluded six  Leon  Errol  comedies,  six 
Edgar  Kennedy  subjects,  four  singing 
cowboy  films  starring  Ray  W^hitley, 
four  Radio  Headlines  and  four  Radio 
Flashes. 


I      Designed  and  priced  for  theatres 
^  of  every  size! 

Tkti/  RCA  PH0T0PH0NE 
MAGIC  VOICE  of  the  SCREEN 

with  Rotary  Stabilizer— plus  SHOCK-PROOF.  DRIVE 

ENABLES  YOU  TO  PRESENT  THE  KIND  OF  /f^OP 
SOUND  YOUR  CUSTOMERS  WANT  TO  HEAR  /V^- 


Better  sound  means  better  box  office— and  RCA  Tubes 
mean  better  sound 

RCA  Manufacturing  Company,  Inc. 

Camden,  N.J.  •  A  Service  of  the  Radio  Corporation  of  America 


CALIFORNIA  CALLING! 
LISTEN  AMERICA! 

"Sensational  preview  of  'ANDY 
HARDY  GETS  SPRING  FEVER'  at 
Huntington  Park  last  night.  Ecstatic 
audience  concensus  of  opinion  that 
this  is  overwhelmingly  greatest 
Hardy  box-office  smash  of  all!" 

(M-G-M  to  the  rescue  as  the  thermometer  soars.  "MAISIE"  is  a  daisy.  Harrisburg  and  Providence  engagement; 
great!  "TARZAN  FINDS  A  SON"  a  wow!  Watch  this  week's  openings!  "ON  BORROWED  TIME' 
is  the  talk  of  the  West  Coast!  "GOODBYE  MR.  CHIPS"  terrific  in  Dayton,  Columbus,  Cleveland,  the  firs 
spots  outside  of  New  York  and  Los  Angeles  to  play  it!  And  now  comes  "ANDY  HARDY  GETS  SPRINC 
FEVER"!  Remember  this:  when  a  feller  needs  a  friend  there's  always  THE  FRIENDLY  COMPANY!) 


Alert, 


to  the^jJotion 
°icture 
ndustry 


MOTION  PICTURE" 

DAILY 


 , 


45.  NO.  114. 


NEW  YORK,   WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  14,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


.FM  Votes 
New  Ban  on 
Recordings 

€cision  Hits  Discs  With 
Commercial  Blurbs 

By  KENNETH  FORCE 
Kansas  City,  June  13.— Union 
Lsicians  hereafter  will  not  be  per- 
tted  to  make  transcriptions  or  re- 
adings which  contain  commercial 
muncements  nor  will  they  be  per- 
tted  to  make  recordings  which  are 
I  be  used  as  accompaniment  by  or 
actors,  according  to  a  resolution 
opted  today  at  the  annual  conven- 
n  of  the  American  Federation  of 
jsicians  now  in  session  here.  Only 
special  permission  of  the  executive 
ard  will  such  work  be  allowed. 
(The  resolution  is  aimed,  it  is  pre- 
med,  at  the  operators  of  "Opera  on 
lur,"  Yode-Yision,  and  recording 
,npanies  which  have  attempted  to 
ke  and  market  phonograph  record- 
I  containing  commercial  blurbs, 
fpera  on  Tour"  and  Vode-Vision 
tre  two  efforts  to  place  live  talent 
the  stage  to  the  accompaniment  of 
timed"  music. 

Unemployment  Changes 

Another  resolution  passed  at  the 
nention  was  that  the  Federation 
rk  for  the  amendment  of  the  social 
airity  act,  so  that  one  or  more 
ployees  instead  of  the  present  eight 
.1  be  covered  by  unemployment  in- 
f-ance. 

Among  resolutions  presented  to  the 
•eting,  on  which  action  has  not  yet 
;n  taken,  are  one  recommending 
it  the  A.F.M.  buy  outright  all  music 
ned  by  publishers,  composers  and 
thors  who  are  willing  to  sell  at  a 
ce  set  by  the  A.F.M. ,  provided  it  is 
Droved  by  a  committee  of  the  feder- 
'»n. 

Closed  Shop  in  Hotels 

Also,  that  all  music  be  tax  free  to 
radio  stations,  theatres,  night  clubs, 
:.,  and  all  individuals  who  employ 
leration  members  in  good  standing. 
Another  would  force  hotels  to  ac- 
bt  a  closed  shop  policy,  and  deny 
j  leration  members  permission  to 
rve  in  any  hotel  employing  non- 
ion  orchestras. 

fThe  federation  also  is  asked  to 
:ommend  the  settlement  of  difficul- 
s  between  the  A.  F.  of  L.  and  the 
I.O.,  with  a  copy  of  the  recom- 
;ndation  going  to  William  Green 
d  John  L.  Lewis. 


Neely  Vote  June  21 

Washington,  June  13. — The 
Neely  block  booking  bill  will 
be  brought  before  the  Senate 
for  consideration  on  June  21, 
Senator  Neely  announced  to- 
day. 


Tax  Changes 
Fail  to  Please 
British  Reels 


London,  June  13. — Xewsreel  chiefs 
here  expressed  themselves  as  being 
"utterly  disappointed"  at  the  amend-, 
ments  to  the  budget  of  Sir  John 
Simon,  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer, 
which  were  submitted  to  the  House  of 
Commons  today.  It  is  estimated  the 
newsreels  will  now  pay  an  aggregate 
tax  of  approximately  $425,000  an- 
nually. 

The  amendments  provide  a  rebate 
of  three  pence  per  square  foot  on  stock 
used  for  newsrcel  prints.  Imported 
single  prints  not  used  for  duplicating 
and  presumably  for  specialized  the- 
atres will  pay  two  pence  instead  of 
six  pence. 

Several  negatives  for  color  films 
will  count  as  a  single  negative.  The 
proposed  amendments  make  no  con- 
cession on  ordinary  film  prints  or  im- 
ports. There  is  no  concession  on  news 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


ALLIED  TO  ACCEPT 
CODE  WITH  SOME 
REVISIONS,  BELIEF 

Pact  Biggest  Topic  Before  Convention; 
Arbitration  Clauses  Fair — Myers 


Bill  Legalizing  Fight 
Pictures  Is  Passed 

Washington,  June  13. — The  Sen- 
ate today  passed  without  debate  the 
Barbour  bill,  introduced  by  Senator 
Barbour  of  New  Jersey.  It  provides 
for  repeal  of  the  1912  law  prohibiting 
the  interstate  transportation  of  fight 
films. 


'Land  of  Liberty9  Hailed; 
125  Films  Knit  Into  One 


By  JACK  BANNER 

"Land  of  Liberty."  a  14-reel  mosaic 
made  up  of  thousands  of  scenes  from 
feature  motion  pictures,  short  sub- 
jects, newsreels  and  commercial  films, 
was  given  its  press  preview  yester- 
day in  the  United  States  Building  at 
the  World's  Fair  where,  starting  to- 
morrow, it  will  be  shown  on  a  con- 
tinuous basis  free  of  charge  to  Fair 
visitors. 

The  film  is  sponsored  by  the  M.  P. 
P.  D.  A.,  and  is  the  work  of  the 
entire  picture  industry. 

A  remarkably  cohesive  document 
for  all  of  the  125  different  pictures  and 
shorts  which  have  gone  into  its  mak- 
ing, the  film  graphically  traces  the 
evolution  of  America  from  an  un- 
charted wilderness  to  its  present  emi- 
nence as  the  leading  nation  of  the 
world. 

No  American  seeing  it  will  be  able 


By  SHERWIN  A.  KANE 

Minneapolis,  June  13. — That  Allied  States  will  accept  the  proposed  in- 
dustry trade  practice  code  with  reservations  appeared  to  be  the  sentiment  of 
approximately  225  delegates  assembled  at  the  Nicollet  Hotel  today  for  the 
opening  of  Allied's  tenth  annual  convention. 

Indications  are  that  demands  will  be  made  for  certain  changes  in  the  code's 
provisions  and  that  even  with  its  conditional  approval,  Allied  will  not  re- 
linquish its  campaign  for  industry  regulation  by  legislation  and  litigation. 

In  fact,  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  presdent,  said  in  his  opening  address  to  the  con- 
vention that  continued  activity  on  behalf  of  the  Neely  bill  is  "essential."  He 
predicted  passage  of  the  bill  within  a  year. 

Answering  opponents  of  the  measure,  he  defended  whatever  aspects  of  Gov- 
ernment regulation  of  the  industry  may  be  inherent  in  the  Neely  bill. 

Indication  of  the  changes  or  additions  to  the  trade  practice  code  which 
Allied  may  demand  as  the  price  of  its  approval  are  to  be  found  in  an  official 
statement  in  the  convention  program,  headed  "Allied's  Creed  for  Protection." 

The  statement  asserts  Allied  seeks 
formation  of  a  national  appeal  board 
consisting  of  an  equal  number  of  dis- 
tributors and  independent  exhibitors 
to  hear  appeals  from  rulings  of  local 
arbitration  boards  in  contract  cases 
and  to  have  original  jurisdiction  in 
matters  of  general  importance. 

Vital  Problems  Listed 

It  will  ask  that  problems  to  be 
dealt  with  include  the  following : 
Compulsory  block  booking,  unreason- 
able protection,  undue  theatre  expan- 
sion, the  "right  to  buy,"  contract  re- 
vision, designated  play  dates,  unfair 
allocations,  non-delivery  of  pictures 
and  radio  competition. 

In  its  present  form  the  code  does 
not  make  provision  for  treatment  of 
all  of  these  nor  does  it  propose  forma- 
tion of  a  national  appeal  board.  Other 
changes  or  additions  to  the  code  may 
be  made  as  a  result  of  the  open  forum 
tomorrow  and  other  convention  delib- 
erations, most  of  which  concern  the 
code. 

Instructed  Upon  Code 

The  first  convention  session  this 
afternoon  was  turned  over  to  "edu- 
cational" discussion  of  code  with  Sid- 
ney Samuelson,  New  Jersey  national 
director,  and  Nathan  Yamins,  New 
England  director,  reading  the  final 
pact  by  sections  and  explaining  or 
answering  questions.  The  session  was 
nurely  instructive  and  delegates  were 
advised  not  to  arouse  controversies 
but  save  those  for  the  open  forum  to- 
morrow. 

Allied's  final  stand  on  the  code,  of 
course,  will    be    determined    by  the 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


to  withhold  pride  in  his  American- 
ism and  the  achievements  of  his  fore- 
bears because  it  possesses  such  stir- 
ring qualities. 

Opening  with  an  address  by  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  at  the  rededication  of 
the  Statue  of  Liberty,  the  picture 
fades  briefly  to  the  Europe  of  some 
400  years  ago  to  show  the  intoler- 
able conditions  under  which  people 
lived,  and  thence  rapidly  to  the  Colo- 
nial days  here.  Thereafter  the  film 
becomes  a  rich  tapestry  of  American 
history  and  people. 

"Land  of  Liberty"  was  edited  by 
Cecil  B.  DeMille,  assisted  by  Her- 
bert Moulton,  William  H.  Pine  and 
Francis  S.  Harmon.  Narration  was 
written  by  Jeannie  MacPherson  and 
Jesse  Lasky,  Jr.  James  T.  Shotwell 
was  historical  consultant.  Fifty-three 
studios  contributed  in  the  making  of 
the  picture. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  14,  193 


Russian  Deals 
On  U.S.  Films 
Being  Made 


A  deal  is  on  between  the  Russian 
Government  and  Warners  whereby 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  will  be 
shown  in  the  Soviet  Union.  Amkino, 
American  agency  for  the  Russian  film 
industry,  has  asked  Warners  to_  send 
a  print  to  Russia  for  the  inspection  of 
officials  there. 

The  Russian  industry  purchases  a 
negative  and  makes  its  own  prints  and 
handles  its  own  distribution.  It  has 
not  bought  an  American  film  in  sev- 
eral years. 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln,"  20th  Century- 
Fox  film,  is  also  considered  a  good 
subject  for  Russia  by  Amkino,  and  the 
agency  plans  to  recommend  it  to  Mos- 
cow for  a  possible  deal. 

Negotiations  on  Walt  Disney's 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs" 
have  been  underway  with  RKO,  but 
have  not  progressed  far  because  of  the 
price  question. 

The  Russian  industry's  purchases 
here  have  been  curtailed  especially 
with  regard  to  film  equipment.  The 
United  States  formerly  was  the  chief 
source  of  equipment  for  Russian  stu- 
dios. Equipment  is  now  being  manu- 
factured in  Russia.  Amkino  is  still 
buying  large  quantities  of  raw  stock 
from  Eastman  and  DuPont. 


'Happiness*  Tallies 
$42,000  First  Week 

First  week  of  "Invitation  to  Happi- 
ness" grossed  an  estimated  $42,000  at 
the  Paramount  and  is  being  held  over. 
"Stolen  Life"  opens  at  the  Rivoli  to- 
day. "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  continued 
to  hold  up  well  at  the  Astor  with  an 
estimated  $14,000  for  its  fourth  week. 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  at  the  Roxy, 
and  "Juarez"  at  the  Strand,  will  be 
held  for  three  weeks.  "Climbing  High" 
grossed  an  estimated  $3,500  at  the 
Globe.  "Mr.  Moto  Takes  a  Vacation" 
starts  there  Saturday. 


W.  E.  Dividend 

Directors  of  the  Western  Electric 
Company  yesterday  declared  a  divi- 
dend of  35  cents  per  share  on  its  com- 
mon stock.  The  dividend  is  payable 
June  30. 


FLY 

AMERICAN 
NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Cool  All  the  Way 
3  FLIGHTS  DAILY 

7:10  A.  M.  Call  your  travel 
5:IOP.M.     age?1..01  V_An" 


10:10  P.  M. 


derbilt  3-2580. 


Ticket  Offices: 
45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rock- 
efeller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES  / 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount 
president,  has  returned  to  New 
York  from  the  sales  convention  in 
Los  Angeles. 

Mrs.  Howard  Dietz  sails  on  the 
Normandic  today  for  a  visit  with  rela- 
tives in  England.  Among  other  pas- 
sengers are  Jean  Zay,  French  Min- 
ister of  Education  and  author  of  the 
Zay  bill  for  control  of  the  French 
film  industry ;  Mrs.  Freeman  Gos- 
den  and  son,  Freeman  ;  Margot  Gra- 
hame  and  her  husband,  Allan  A. 
Martin,  Montreal  financier,  and 
Bruno  Lessing. 

• 

Peter  Colli,  Warner  supervisor 
for  Cuba,  Mexico,  Central  America 
and  Peru,  arrived  yesterday  for  a 
vacation. 

• 

Richard  Rowland,  producer,  is  in 
town. 

• 

Cary  Grant  leaves  today  on  the 
N ormandie  for  a  visit  with  relatives 
in  England.  He  has  just  finished  "The 
Kind  Men  Marry"  at  RKO. 

• 

Pat  O'Brien,  Warner  star,  has 
been  selected  as  the  "typical  American 
father"  by  the  National  Father's  Day 
Committee. 

• 

Francis  Falkenburg,  manager  of 
the  Alabama  in  Birmingham,  is  con- 
valescing from  a  recent  operation. 
• 

Fred  Gregor,  Majestic,  New  Wat- 
erford,  Nova  Scotia ;  Leonard  Noerr, 
Regal,  Suva,  Fiji  Islands,  and  Ed^ 
ward  Ellis,  RKO  actor,  were  visi- 
tors yesterday  at  the  RKO  lounge. 
• 

Lee  Tracy  will  pilot  his  sloop, 
Adore,  in  the  California-to-Honolulu 
yacht  race  which  starts  from  San 
Francisco  July  4.  In  his  crew  will 
be  Dick  Powell. 

• 

Jeffrey  Lynn  has  been  given  a 
new  term  contract  by  Warners. 


Joseph   M.   Schenck,  Darrly  F. 
Zanuck  and  William  Goetz,  who 
have  been  conferring  here,   plan  to 
leave  for  the  coast  in  a  day  or  two. 
• 

Joseph  Schloss  has  succeeded 
Harry  Feldman  as  manager  of  the 
Waldorf. 

• 

Andrew  Stone,  Paramount  direc- 
tor, is  New  York-bound  on  a  week's 
talent  scouting  expedition. 

• 

Tito  Guizar,  singing  star,  is  con- 
sidering a  $25,000  offer  for  a  'Concert 
tour  of  the  Philippines. 

• 

Miles  F.  Gibbons  of  the  eastern 
production  department  of  Paramount, 
is  ill  at  St.  Lukes  Hospital. 

• 

William  Rogers,  Harold  Frank- 
lin, Charles  E.  McCarthy,  Wil- 
liam Brandt,  Edward  Saunders, 
Tom  Connors  lunching  at  Nick's 
Hunting  Room  in  the  Astor  yester- 
day. 

• 

Joseph  McConville,  Jack  Segal, 
Harry  Gold,  William  German, 
Arthur  Lee,  William  Fitelson 
among  those  at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tav- 
ern for  lunch  yesterday. 


U.  S.  Summons  B-K 
Executives  at  Trial 

Chicago,  June  13. — The  Federal 
government  has  subpoenaed  exchange 
managers  and  Balaban  &  Katz  circuit 
executives  to  appear  before  Master  in 
Chancery  Edgar  Eldredge  on  June  22 
at  the  hearing  in  the  government's 
suit  against  B.  &  K.  and  the  majors. 


Patriotic  Screening 

In  connection  with  patriotic  organ- 
izations' observance  of  Flag  Day, 
M-G-M  will  screen  "Yankee  Doodle 
Goes  to  Town"  at  noon  today  for  the 
D.  A.  R.,  Y.  M.  C.  A.,  Boy  Scouts  of 
America,  Boys  Club  of  America  and 
representatives  of  the  New  England 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs. 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS 
REGISTRATION  BUREAU 


For  World's  Fair  Visitors 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  Telephone  Circle  7-3100 


Name   

Affiliation   

Home  Address   

Arrive   Depart. 


New  York  Address. 
New  York  Phone... 
Members  of  Party.. 


Clip  the  Coupon  and  Mail  to  World's  Fair  Bureau.  Quigley  Publishing  Company. 
1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York 


Tax  Changes 
Fail  to  Please 
British  Reels 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

film  imported,  but  not  used  unless  t 
film  is  destroyed. 

Sir  Gordon  Craig,  executive  dir. 
tor  and  general  manager  of  Bri 
Movietone  News,  declared  newsr 
profits  are  still  impossible  under  th 
amended  budget.  He  said  the  Chan 
cellor  of  the  Exchequer  has  had  news 
reel  balance  sheets  and  knows  the  in 
come  tax  figures,  and  thus  must  kno\ 
that  the  tax  is  uneconomic. 

Trade  meetings  to  discuss  the  ta 
situation  are  scheduled  by  the  news 
reel  association  tomorrow,  and  th 
Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Associa 
tion  and  Kinematograph  Renters'  Sc 
ciety  (distributors)  Thursday. 


Kent  to  Trinidad; 
Returns  June  2 

S.  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cert 
tury-Fox  is  due  back  in  New  Yor 
June  26  after  attending  the  company 
South  American  convention  in  Rio  c 
Janeiro  and  the  Central  American  coi 
ventiori  in  Trinidad  for  one  day. 

Kent  and  Walter  J.  Hutchinson,  d  i 
rector  of  foreign  distribution,  saj 
from  Rio  de  Janeiro  today  for  Trin  i 
dad.  Hutchinson  will  remain  there  fc 
the  three  days  of  the  meeting,  Jur; 
21  to  23,  and  is  due  back  here  ear!' 
in  July. 


'Chips*  Air  Symposium 

Motion  Picture  Committee  of  tr. 
Department  of  Secondary  Educatioi 
National  Education  Association,  sc 
lected  "Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips,"  as  th 
subject  of  its  first  radio  symposiui 
over  WNYC  Monday.  Chief  speake 
was  Dr.  John  Edward  Dugan  c 
Princeton  High  School,  who  prepare 
a  guide  to  the  film  published  by  Edt 
cational  and  Recreational  Guides,  In 


B.  &  K.  Dividends 

Chicago,  June  13. — A  dividend  c 
75  cents  on  common  stock  and  th 
regularly  quarterly  divideM  of  $1.7 
on  preferred  stock,  payable  June  3( 
were  declared  today  by  Balaban  i 
Katz.  The  last  disbursement  was 
SO  cents  dividend  on  common  stock  o 
March  30. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  V.  S.  Patent  Office) 

Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  an 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compan; 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  Cit 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  addre 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigle 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brow: 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wal 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sai 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertisin 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Mich: 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Ho; 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildinj 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  I 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golde 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London. 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigle 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigle 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Bette 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entere 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  th 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  th 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  pe 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  fereigt 
Single  copiei  10c. 


FINDS  A  SON! 

starring  the  one  and  only 
JOHNNY  WEISSMULLER 

Maureen  O'Sullivan,  John  Sheffield,  Ion 
Hunter,  Henry  Stephenion,  Frieda  IrteKort, 
Henry  Wilcoxon,  Laraine  Day  •  Screen  May 
by  Cyrl  H>M  •  Bated  upon  *•  Chatoete'v 
O«ot»d  by  Edaaf  Rice  But 'Ovarii  •  Directed  br 
Richard  Thorp*  •  Produced  by  Sam  limb 


at  ,    the  ^ 


bo%-o^ce 


1  hat  goes  f~  i 
us  W       °r  bo*  of 

*    W*H  'till  VOM  „ 

your  bis  sh  UQpen 

Can,7  W  9t  th*  N  V 
.  Uapitoi  today  ajlr,.   '  r* 

^^-4"/  °ied° 
°et  the  gajs  wiJI  - 

The  Explosive  Blonde      FLASH  AT  PRESS  TIME! 


with  Robert  Young,  Ann  Sothern 

Rvth  Huuey,  Ian  Hunter,  Cliff  Edwards 
Screen  Play  by  Mary  C.  McCall,  Jr. 
Directed  by  Edwin  L  Marin 
Produced  by  J.  Walter  Ruben 


Two  more  M-G-M  previews  on  West 
Coast  are  sensational.  "ON  BORROWED 
TIME"  and  "ANDY  HARDY  GETS 
SPRING  FEVER"  continue  M-G-M's 
streak  of  box-office  hits ! 


COOL  THO 


FOR  HOT  DAYS  FROM  M-G-M  ! 


AT  RADIO  CITY  M 

and  GENERAL  RELEASE  JUNE  9 

Drama  of  Death  at  the  Outposts  of  Life  !  i 


BASIL 


Screenplay  by  W.  P.  LIPSCOMB  *  Original  story 
by  Jerry  Horwin  and  Arthur  Fitz-Richard 
Produced  and  Directed  by 

ROWLAND  V.  LEE 


GILBERT  §  % 
SULLIVAN'S 


By  Arrangement  with 
RUPERT   DOYLY  CARTE 


IK*DO 


IN  TECHNICOLOR 

-  KENNY  BAKER  •  Jean  Colin 

Marfcyn  Green  •  Sydney  Granville  •  John  Barclay  and  the 

DOYLY   CARTE   CHORUS   £Nu  nAdcrVd°s 

Recorded  by  the  LONDON  SYMPHONY  ORCHESTRA  •  Adapted,  Conducted 
and  Produced  by  GEOFFREY  TOYE  •  Directed  by  VICTOR  SCHERTZINGER 


R  BOOKING  IN  50  KEY  CITIES ! 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  June  14,  19  ' 


'Only  Angels' 
Pulls  $10,300 
In  Twin  Cities 


Minneapolis,  June  13. — Top  grosser 
for  the  week  in  Minneapolis  was 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  which 
brought  $6,100  to  the  Orpheum. 
"Lucky  Night"  at  the  State  was  good 
for  $5,100. 

In  St.  Paul,  "Wings"  again  was  the 
leader,  getting  $4,200  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  8 : 

Minneapolis: 

"You  Can't  Get  Away  with  Murder"  (W.B.) 
"Panama  Lady"  (RKO) 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 
"Code  of  the  Secret  Service"  (F.  N.) 

ASTER— (900)  (15c-25c)  7  days,  split  week. 
Gross:  $2,300.    (Average,  $1,500) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

GOPHER— (990)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$2,300.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,900)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $6,100.    (Average,  $4,800) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (2,300)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,100 

"Lie  of  Nina  Petrovna"  (Foreign) 
"Wolf  Cry"  (Mono.) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  "Nina,"  four 
days;  "Crv,"  3  days.  Gross:  $600.  (Aver- 
age. $1,400) 

St.  Paul: 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)     (25c-40c)     8  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $3,200) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

RIVIERA— (1,000)   (25c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$2,100.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Blackwell's  Island"  (W.  B.) 
"Almost  a  Gentleman"  (RKO) 

TOWER— (1,000)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,900.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Flight  Into  Darkness"  (Foreign) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-35c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$600.    (Average,  $700) 


'Mikado'  Capital 
Hit  with  $13,800 

Washington,  June  13.  —  "Only 
Angels  Have  Wings,"  "The  Mikado" 
and  "Rose  of  Washington  Square" 
were  the  best  bets.  The  first  did 
$22,500  at  Warners'  Earle,  the  sec- 
ond, $13,800  at  RKO-Keith's  and  the 
third,  $16,000  at  Loew's  Palace.  The 
royal  visit  helped. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  8 : 

"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S    CAPITOL— (3,434)    (25c-66c)  7 
days.     Stage:    Novelties    of    1939.  Gross: 
$14,000.    (Average,  $16;500) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40c)  7 
days.   Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S    PALACE— (2,370)    (25c-55c)  7 
days.   Gross:  $16,000.   (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836)   (25c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $13,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE— (2,218)   (25c -66c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Command  Performance.  Gross: 
$22,500.    (Average,  $16,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  -  (1,591) 
(25c-40c)  2nd  run,  7  days.  Gross:  $4,500. 
(Average,  $4,000) 


Date  'Juarez'  in  Mexico 

'Juarez'  will  open  in  Mexico  City 
on  June  23  at  the  Palacio  de  Bellas 
Artes,  the  next  day  going  into  the 
Rex  for  its  regular  run.  It  will  open 
at  the  Campoamor  in  Havana  on  June 
26. 


Fans — or  Else! 

Bloomington,  111.,  June  13. 
— Projectionists  at  the  Irvin 
walked  out  the  other  evening 
and  the  management  had  to 
refund  admissions. 

The  operators  complained 
of  bad  ventilation,  demanding 
additional  electric  fans  in 
the  booth.  The  next  day 
more  fans  were  installed 
and  the  show  went  on  as 
usual. 


'Juarez9  Tops 
Heat  in  Loop 
With  $35,600 


Chicago,  June  13. — "Juarez"  was 
the  outstanding  attraction  in  the  Loop, 
with  $35,600  at  the  Chicago  in  an 
otherwise  dull  week.  "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy"  did  $9,000  in  the  second 
week  at  the  Roosevelt.  Excessive  heat 
hurt  grosses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  7-10 : 

"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 

APOLLO  —  (1,400)  (35c-5Sc-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

CHICAGO-(4,000)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross:  $35,600. 
(Average,  $32,000) 

"Rcse  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

GARRICK— (900)    (35c-40c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 
"For  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross:  $12,300. 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"Mikado"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,500) 
Stage:  Vaudeville 
(Average,  $19,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)  (35c-55c-75c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average, -$11,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 

STATE-LAKE  —  (2,700)  (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
$10,400.    (Average,  $12,000) 


(35c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Revue.     Gross :  $14,600. 


'Juarez'  at  $8,200 
In  New  Haven  Heat 

New  Haven,  June  13. — "Juarez" 
and  "Sorority  House"  weathered  the 
heat  to  reach  $8,200  at  the  Roger 
Sherman.  Second  week  of  "Only 
Angels  Have  Wings"  and  "Society 
Lawyer"  at  the  College  took  $2,600. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  8: 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

COLLEGE— (1,499)   (35c-50c)  7  days, 
week.   Gross:  $2,600.    (Average,  2,700) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Repub.) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW-POLI— (3,040)    (35c-50c)  7 
Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Gracie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 
"Woman  Doctor"  (Repub.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,348)   (35c-50c)  8  days. 
Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

ROGER  SHERMAN— (2,200)  (35c-50c)  8 
days.    Gross:  $8,200.    (Average,  $4,700) 


2nd 


days. 


Autry  to  Tour  England 

Gene  Autry,  Republic  western  star, 
is  scheduled  to  make  a  personal  ap- 
pearance tour  of  England  in  about  a 
month.  He  will  be  gone  six  weeks. 
William  Saal,  Republic  special  repre- 
sentative, who  sailed  recently  to 
prepare  for  the  London  premiere  of 
"Man  of  Conquest,"  will  lay  the 
groundwork  for  Autry's  tour. 


'Heaven'  at  Seattle 
Takes  Good  Gross 


Seattle,  June  13. — "East  Side  of 
Heaven,"  dualed  with  "Ambush"  at 
the  Paramount,  cleared  a  good  $7,900, 
in  a  week  of  cool  and  rainy  weather. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  9 : 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

,  BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  6  days, 
3rd  week.   Gross:  $3,400.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

FIFTH  AVENUE—  (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  7 
days.   Gross:  $7,200.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

LIBERTY— (1,800)  (20c-30c-40c-55c)  7  days, 
4th  week.   Gross:  $5,300.   (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.   Gross:  $5,200.   (Average,  $5,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 

"The  Jones   Family   in   Hollywood"  (20th- 
Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,450)     (30c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $6,300.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"On  Trial"  (W.  B.) 
"Wolf  Call"  (Mono.) 

PALOMAR  —  (1,500)    (15c-25c-30c-40c)  7 
days.    Vaudeville  headed  by  Hickey  Bros. 
Gross:  $5,000.   (Average,  $5,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Ambush"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)   (30c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,900.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Song  of  Freedom"  (British  Lion) 

UPTOWN— (750)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,600.    (Average,  $1,500) 


'Nazi  Spy'  Brings 
,500,  Montreal 

Montreal,  June  13. — "Confessions 
of  a  Nazi  Spy"  at  Loew's  took  $8,500. 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  regis- 
tered $8,200  as  the  single  feature  at 
the  Palace. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  9: 

"Lucky  Night"  (MGM) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c).  Gross: 
$7,300.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

LOEW'S  —  (2,800)    (30c-40c-60c).  Gross: 
$8,500.    (Average,  .$8,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 
"Strange  Boarders"  (British) 

ORPHEUM— (919)  (25c-35c-50c)  2nd  week. 
Gross:  $2,300.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c -40c -55c -65c).  Gross: 
$8.2011.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

PRINCESS  —  (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c). 
Gross:  $3,000.   (Average.  $6,500) 


'Kildare;  $12,500 
Leads  Kansas  City 

Kansas  City,  June  13. — "Calling 
Dr.  Kildare"  and  "Streets  of  New 
York"  gave  the  Midland  $12,500. 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  took  $6,300  at 
the  Uptown  and  Esquire.  "Juarez" 
did  $7,600  at  the  Newman.  The 
weather  was  warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  6-8 : 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln  (2ftth-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,300.    (Average,  $3,000) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)     (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $12,500.    (Average,  $11,500) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

NEWMAN— (1.900)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,600.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)      (25c-40c)  7 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 


days. 


days. 


F.  P.  Canadian  Meeting 

Toronto,  June  13. — Annual  man- 
agers' meeting  of  Famous  Players 
Canadian  Corp.  is  scheduled  to  be  held 
for  three  days  during  the  last  week 
of  July,  or  one  month  earlier  than 
usual. 


Frisco  Gives 
$15,000  Tail 
TVEx-Champ 


San  Francisco,  June  13. — f'E 
Champ"  drew  a  good  $15,000  at  t 
Golden   Gate.     "The   Mikado"   to. : 
$8,500  at  the  United  Artists.  "Jua* 
drew  $13,000  in  the  second  weeP; 
the  Fox. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  June  6-9 : 

"Ex-Champ"  (Univ.) 

GOLDEN  GATE — (2,850)  (35c-40c-55c) 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $15,0 
(Average,  $15,000) 

"The  Eagle  and  the  Hawk"  (Para.) 
"Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO) 

ST.  FRANCIS  —  (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-5. 
75c)  7  days.  Gross:  $5,400.  (Averai 
$6,000) 

"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 
"Bulldog  Drummond's  Secret  Police"  (Par 

PARAMOUNT  —  (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-5. 
75c)  7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Averai 
$11  500) 

"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS—  (1,200)  (15c-35c-4( 
55c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Averai 
$8,000) 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  da-  9 
2nd     week.      Gross:     $13,000.  (Averai 
$16,000) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-7: 
7  days,  3rd  week.    Gross:  $9,500.    (Averai  ^ 
$12,000) 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c) 
days,  3rd  week.    Gross:  $6,500.  (Averai. 
$8,000) 

"Baldevin's  Wedding"  (Scan.  Talking) 

LARKIN— (390)     (15c-35c-40c)     7    da;  ll 
Gross:  $900.    (Average,  $1,000) 
"The  Lady  Vanishes"  (G.  B.) 

CLAY— (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days,  2' 
week.    Gross:  $800.    (Average,  $1,000) 


'Angels'  $13,500 
Cincinnati's  Beg 

Cincinnati,  June  13.  —  "On 
Angels  Have  Wings"  soared 
$13,500  at  the  RKO  Albee  in  an  othe 
wise  dull  week.  "The  Hardys  Ri 
High"  pulled  $2,900  on  its  third  dow 
town  stanza  at  the  RKO  Grand. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  June  7-10: 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42c)   7  da; 
Gross:  $13,500.   (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Gracie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 

RKO  PALACEV-(2,700)  (35c-42c)  7  daj 
Gross:  $5,100.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c-42c)  7  da> 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,300.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)    (35c-42c)    7  daj 
Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,200)  (25c-40c)  7  da) 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,900.  (Average,  $2,750) 
"The  Flying  Irishman"  (RKO) 
"Code  of  the  Streets'  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c -30c)  4  daj 
Gross:  $1,100.    (Average,  $1,100) 
"Panama  Patrol"  (G.  N.) 
"Outside  These  Walls"  (Col.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (20c-30c)  3  day 
Gross:  $800.    (Average,  $900) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gros 
$4,400.   (Average,  $6,500) 


Set  Benny  Celebration 

Officials  of  Waukegan,  111.,  hai 
designated  June  21  through  June  \ 
as  "Waukegan  Celebrity  Days"  : 
honor  of  Jack  Benny.  The  comedia 
and  his  Jello  program  cast  will  broai 
cast  from  the  stage  of  the  _  Genesi 
Theatre  June  25,  in  connection  wil 
the  opening  of  Benny's  Paramoui 
film,  "Man  About  Town." 


fednesday,  June  14,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


SHORT  SUBJECT 

REVIEWS 


'Heaven'  Hits 
Good  $5,500 
In  Milwaukee 


]xpect  Allied 
To  Give  Code 
Its  Approval 


(Continued  from  faye  1) 

Lrd  of  directors  regardless  of  the 
|n  forum. 

j  his  opening  address  Cole  extolled 
B<fs  and  Abram  F.  Myers'  "con- 
fency"  over  ten  years  of  the  organi- 
tton's  existence.  He  said  Myers 
I  never  swerved  from  the  principal 
active  of  his  fight  against  "inde- 
tdents'  domination  by  chains."  He 
erted  that  Allied  originally  stood 
"negotiation  and  conciliation"  of 
iustry  disputes,  but  was  forced  into 
oolicy  of  legislation  and  litigation 
h  the  distributors'  threat  of  ex- 
sive  selling  six  years  ago. 

Code  Biggest  Parley  Topic 

3ole  traced  the  organization's  ac- 
ties  under  this  policy  from  that 
•e  up  to  the  filing  of  the  Govern- 
n  anti-trust  suit  and  the  recent 
■ional  suits,  the  "late"  North  Da- 
a  theatre  divorce  law  and  the 
By  bill,  inferring  Allied  is  respon- 

|  e  for  whatever  has  developed  along 

I  ?e  lines. 

she  code  is  unquestionably  the  most 
•ortant  convention  topic,  if  not  the 
y  major  one,  with  today's  and 
norrow's  general  sessions  being 
en  over  to  it  and  Thursday's  board 
•ting  scheduled  to  take  final  action 
lit. 

(Tie   direction    of    Allied  leaders' 
uphts  on  the  code  was  indicated 
»  by  Samuelson  and  Yamins  at  the 
•ucational"  meeting  today  with  both 
■ssing  the  fact  that  approval  of  the 
e  in  its  present  form  will  mean 
roval  of  what  is  not  in  it  as  well  as 
jit  is.    Thus,  they  contended,  since 
code  does  not  mention  theatre  di- 
cement,  block  booking  and  blind 
ing,  approval  of  the  code  implies 
roval  of  those  and  other  activities 
specifically    corrected    or  con- 
wed. 

'Fair  Document,"  Says  Myers 

lyers  described  the  arbitration  pro- 
ons  of  the  code  as  "in  the  main,  a 
document."    He  told  the  conven- 

I  that  while  the  arbitration  clauses 
icide  in  all  important  particulars 
l  his  own  recommendations  to  the 

Iributors'    negotiating  committee. 

I  it  was  to  be  arbitrated  was  equally 

i  mportant  as  the  machinery  of  ar- 
ation. 

[vers  said  that  the  bulk  of  the  con- 
tion's     consideration,  therefore, 
I  aid  be  given  to  the  trade  practice 
ions  of  the  code  rather  than  to 
,  tration  in  deciding  whether  they 
for  or  against  it. 
lyers'  major  criticism  of  the  ar- 
jation  provisions  is  that  exhibitor 
-Is  should  be  solely  independent, 
i  he  only  committee  appointed  today 
1   the  one  on  resolutions.    It  con- 
;  of  Jack  Kirsch,  Chicago ;  Max 
en.  New  York;   Moe  Horowitz, 
eland:    L.    C.    Tidball,  Texas: 
es  C.  Quinn.  California ;  Herman 
n.  Maryland,    and    Abe  Kaplan, 
nesota. 

radwell  L.  Sears,  Warners'  gen- 
sales  manager,  was  the  only 
|  ranking  sales  executive  at  the  con- 
ion  today.  VV.  F.  Rodgers. 
re  s  sales  manager,  is  expected 
'  tomorrow. 


"Hollywood  Hobbies** 

(M-G-M) 

Hobbies  of  various  stars  in  Holly- 
wood are  described  in  this  tour  of  the 
film  city.  Reginald  Denny's  model 
airplanes,  Clark  Gable's  whitewashing, 
Robert  Young  and  Allan  Jones,  with 
Irene  Hervey,  at  their  stables,  are 
shown.  The  reel  winds  up  with  a 
charity  baseball  game  with  Spencer 
Tracey,  Virginia  Bruce,  James  Cag- 
ney,  Tyrone  Power,  Joan  Davis, 
James  Stewart  and  George  Murphy. 
The  fans  should  like  this.  Running 
time,  10  mins. 


"Radio  Hams" 

(M-G-M) 

Exploits  of  the  radio  amateurs  in 
emergencies  form  the  subject  of  this 
reel.  Typical  rescues  and  services  ren- 
dered thousands  of  miles  from  the 
scene  of  the  disaster  are  described.  A 
youngster  in  search  of  "distance"  pro- 
vides the  continuity.  A  Pete  Smith 
Specialty.    Running   time,    10  mins. 


"Angel  of  Mercy" 

(M-G-M) 

This  is  the  story  of  the  pioneering 
efforts  of  American  women  to  estab- 
lish a  nursing  service  for  war  needs. 
Clara  Barton,  who  led  this  fight,  is 
the  central  figure.  Her  difficulties  and 
the  final  establishment  of  the  Ameri- 
can Red  Cross  are  dramatized  with 
telling  effect.  Running  time,  10  mins. 


"Rural  Hungary" 

(Fit=Patrick-M-G-M) 

Gay  and  colorful  customs  of  Hun- 
gary's peasantry  are  the  feature  of  this 
"Traveltalk."  Done  in  color,  the  reel 
captures  the  light  spirit  of  their  fes- 
tivities, the  bright  costumes  and  the 
quaint  habits.  Worthwhile.  Running 
time,  9  mins. 


"Pest  from  the  West" 

(Columbia) 

A  mildly  amusing  Buster  Keaton 
vehicle,  with  the  sour-face  comedian 
indulging  in  his  usual  antics.  Buster 
drifts  into  a  Mexican  town  in  his  yacht 
and  becomes  entranced  with  Conchita, 
a  cigarette  girl  in  a  cafe.  However, 
the  boss  of  the  cafe  and  Ferdinand,  a 
bull  fighter,  have  sworn  to  kill  any 
other  rival.  Buster's  adversaries  dis- 
pose of  each  other  and  her  husband 
appears.    Running  time,  18  mins. 


"Lucky  Pigs" 

(Columbia) 

In  this  take  off  on  sweepstakes  win- 
ners, Mamma  and  Papa  Pig  buy  a 
sweepstakes  ticket,  win  the  big  prize, 
and  embark  on  a  wild  shopping  spree. 
Overlooked  is  the  income  tax  collector, 
who  collects  so  much  money  that  the 
pigs  find  themselves  worse  off  finan- 
cially than  when  they  started.  Run- 
ning time,  7  mins. 


"Screen  Snapshots" 

(Columbia) 

Background  is  the  Bel  Air  estate 
of  the  Basil  Rathbones  on  the  eve- 
ning of  a  charity  ball.  Practically 
every  star  in  Hollywood  attends  the 
event,  and  the  camera  affords  interest- 
ing glimpses  of  their  arrival  and  sub- 
sequent festivities.  Running  time,  10 
mins. 


"Home  Early" 

(M-G-M) 

Robert  Benchley  succeeds  in  creating 
uproarious  comedy  when  he  decides  to 
come  home  early  to  surprise  his  wife. 
He  finds  her  entertaining  the  bridge 
club.  After  convincing  her  that  he  is 
sober  and  not  sick,  he  faces  the  prob- 
lem of  amusing  himself  and  yet  keep- 
ing out  of  the  way  of  the  guests.  This 
is  Benchley  at  his  best.  Running  time, 
9  mins. 


Milwaukee,  June  13. — -"East  Side 
of  Heaven"  and  "Man  of  Conquest" 
was  the  week's  best  combination  with 
$5,500  at  the  Warner. 

Estimated  takinss  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  8-9: 

"The  Birth  of  a  Baby" 

ALHAMBRA— (2.660)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $2,000. 
"Big  Town  Czar"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2.700)  (25c-30c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Tizzie  Lish.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Aver- 
age, $6,500) 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

WARNER— (2,400)  (3Sc-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.   (Average,  $4,5C0) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Bey  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Lady's  from  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

PALACE — (2,400)  (35c-50c)  3-4  days,  re- 
spectively, split  week.  Gross:  $3,600.  (Aver- 
age, $4,0001 

"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 
"Love  Affair"  (RKO) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (35c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,200.    (Average,  $2,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"It  Could  Happen  to  You"  (ZOth-Fox) 

WISCONSIN—  (3.200)  (35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $5,500) 

Press  Agents  Win 
In  TMAT  Elections 

Press  agents  led  a  victorious  fight 
in  the  Theatrical  Managers,  Agents 
and  Treasurers  Union  elections  and 
succeeded  in  choosing  two  independent 
candidates  in  four  contests.  Hal  01- 
ver,  business  agent,  was  defeated  by 
Joseph  Grossman.  Morrie  Seamon, 
the  other  business  agent,  was  re- 
elected. 

William  Fields  captured  the  vice- 
presidency  from  Dan  Melnick,  incum- 
bent, but  Saul  Abraham  was  re-elect- 
ed president.  James  J.  Murphy  was 
unopposed  for  secretary-treasurer. 


City  Hall  Strike  Settled 

M.  P.  Division  of  the  T.  M.  A.  T. 
disclosed  yesterday  that  the  strike  at 
the  City  Hall,  Manhattan,  had  been 
settled  but  terms  were  not  revealed. 


Delay  'Ecstasy'  Case 

Philadelphia,  June  13. — Appeal  of 
Eureka  Productions  to  get  "Ecstasy" 
passed  over  the  Pennsylvania  censor 
board's  rejection  was  postponed  today 
until  June  26  by  Judge  Brown. 


Newsreel 
Parade 


Tour  of  Britain's  Monarchs  in  the 
United  States  is  covered  uniformly  in 
the  new  issues.  The  reels  and  their 
contents  folloiv. 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  79— King  and 
Queen  in  IJ.  S.  British  submarine  sinks. 
Open  golf  championship.  Candidates  for 
Olympic  diving  team. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  277— Royalty 
on  tour.  Thetis  tragedy.  Golf  match.  Div- 
ing try-outs. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  90— British 
submarine  disaster.    Resume  of  Royal  visit. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  94—  Thetis 
rescue  attempt.  Royalty  visits  U.  S.  Japs 
in  Mongolia.  Dedicate  Joan  of  Arc  shrine. 
Divers  in  training.   Nelson  wins  golf  title. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  779— 
King  and  Queen  visit  U.  S.  Return  body 
of  Mexican  flier.  Rose  festival.  Diving. 
Nelson  wins  open  golf  match.  Submarine 
sinks. 


At  Minneapolis  Convention 


Minneapolis,  June  13. — Among  those  attending  the  National  Allied  con- 
vention  here   are  the  following : 


Adrian  D.  Rosen.  Detroit;  F.  A.  Schnei- 
der, Detroit;  James  C.  Quinn.  Los  Angeles; 
J.  J.  Weiss,  Chicago;  M.  Biemond,  Ord, 
Xeb.;  Arthur  J.  Goldberg.  Chicago;  Fred 
Strief.  Cincinnati;  H.  A.  Blum,  Baltimore; 
E.  F.  Maertz,  Milwaukee;  O.  E.  Lockrem. 
Circle,  Mont.;  Isaac  R.  Holycroos,  Indian- 
apolis; Leslie  L.  Lyons,  Chicago;  L.  Suss- 
man.  Chicago;  C.  H.  Olive,  Washington: 
Maurice  Rubin,  Michigan  City.  Ind. 

E.  M.  Jackson.  Plenty  wood.  Mont.:  G.  W. 
Erdmann.  Cleveland;  Elmer  E.  Benesch. 
Chicago:  Jack  Rubens.  Chicago;  Philip  L. 
March,  Wayne,  Neb.;  Jack  Rose,  Chicago; 
George  L.  March,  Vermilion,  S.  D.;  Rich- 
ard Weber,  Milwaukee;  Charles  Cooper, 
Chicago:  Louis  Abramson,  Chicago;  Feter 
Protoepolius.  Chicago;  Jack  Kirsch.  Chi- 
cago; Oscar  Henriksen.  Grafton,  N.  D.; 
William  Sussman.  New  York;  M.  B.  Hor- 
witz.  Cleveland;  Harvey  B.  Day.  New 
York. 

Irving  Goldman.  Chicago:  Robert  Hart- 
man.  Chicago;  David  Palfreyman.  New 
York;  Clint  Weyer.  New  York:  E.  Wagner. 
Chicago;  John  Griffin.  Chinook,  Mont.: 
W.  S.  Smith,  Menomonie,  Wis.;  Julius 
Overmoe.  Hillsboro.  N.  D. :  A.  A.  Paulson. 
Amery.  Wis.:  Stanley  W.  Hand.  New 
York;  R.  Hilton.  Chicago;  C.  L.  Rosen. 
Baraboo..  Wis.;  Edward  A.  Cuddy.  Boston: 
Joseph  Brennan.  Boston. 

Henry    Morton.    Winnipeg:    Charles  Lee 


Hyde,  Pierre.  S.  D. ;  A.  C.  Berkholtz,  West 
Bend.  Wis.;  Eddie  Brunell.  Chicago;  Albert 
J.  Simon,  Chicago;  W.  C.  Gehring.  New 
York;  H.  M.  Richey,  New  York;  A.  W. 
Lilly.  Greenville,  Texas;  Michael  Felt,  Phil- 
adelphia David  Milgram  Fhiladelphu  Mo 
Wax,  Philadelphia;  Jack  Hey  wood,  New 
Richmond.  Wis. 

Howard  Reif.  Cleveland;  Harry  W.  Walk- 
er, Crafton,  Pa.;  John  D.  Kalafat.  Cleve- 
land; Jack  Piller.  Valley  City,  N.  D.;  Tohn 
Piller.  Jr.,  Valley  City.  N.  D.;  M.  S.  Fine, 
Cleveland;  Max  Lefkowich.  Cleveland;  Wil- 
liam R.  Wheat.  Jr.,  Sewickley,  Pa.;  E.  T. 
Bcedle.  Canonsburg,  Fa.;  Stan  Martin, 
Chicago;  L.  C.  Tidball,  Ft.  Worth;  Edward 
Auger,  Camden,  N.  J.;  Homer  B.  Snook, 
Camden.  N.  J.;  Jerry  Stul.  Oberlin,  Ohio; 
W.  G.  Ripley.  Longview,  Wash. 

Frank  Panpolos.  Clairton,  Pa. ;  Raymond 
Schwartz,  Philadelphia;  Josef  Pastor,  Chi- 
cago; Joseph  G.  Haney,  Colorado  Springs. 
Colo.:  F.  J.  McWilliams,  Madison,  Wis.; 
Leo  F.  Wolcott.  Eldora,  Iowa. 

W.  B.  Littlefield,  Boston;  Joseph  Con- 
way, Philadelphia;  F.  X.  Faust.  Forsvth, 
Mont.;  Kermit  C.  Stengel,  XTashville:  W~.  B. 
Franke.  Humboldt.  Iowa;  Harry  Goldman. 
Tippy  Harrison.  Ben  Lasker.  Chicago;  M. 
C.  Cooper,  Grand  Forks.  X".  D. :  Leo  Gilles. 
Wahpeton.  N.  D.;  Max  A.  Cohen.  H.  G. 
Kosch.  New  York;  Nathan  Yamins.  Fall 
River,  Mass.;  Arthur  K.  Howard,  Boston. 


8 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  June  14 


Banner  Lines 


■By  JACK  BANNER 


TELEVISION  ...  Is  television  catching  hold?  Apparently  NBC  is 
more  than  certain  that  it  is  because  starting  next  week  the  company's 
television  program  schedule  will  be  increased  more  than  double  its  pres- 
ent state.  Under  the  new  plan,  evening  studio  telecasts  will  be  increased  to 
three  a  week  (two  are  telecast  at  present).  Outdoor  telecasts  will  be  stepped 
up  to  three  hours  a  week,  and  an  innovation  will  be  four  noonday  hours 
weekly  from  the  NBC  studios.  Under  the  new  plan,  film  will  play  a  minor 
role.  Hereafter  no  film  will  be  shown  during  evening  hours,  and  the  after- 
noon hours  will  have  only  30  minutes  of  film  three  times  weekly. 

T 

WANGER  TO  TALK  ON  AIR  .  .  .  Outspoken  Walter  Wanger  will  tell 
what  happens  to  books  in  Hollywood  in  a  talk  June  23  over  the  NBC-Blue. 
The  producer  will  discuss  the  reception  of  books  in  Hollywood  and  explain 
their  importance  as  scenario  material  for  motion  pictures. 

y 

WNEW  ANNOUNCERS  MAKE  NEWSREELS  .  .  .  When  Paramount 
was  preparing  to  cover  the  King  and  Queen  they  made  "on-the-spot"  shots 
of  three  announcers  before  the  arrival  here  of  the  Royal  pair.  The  an- 
nouncers were  John  Jaeger,  George  Hogan  and  Hal  Moore  of  the  WNEW 
staff. 

T 

ROYAL  CHAMPAGNE  .  .  .  Frank  Gallop,  CBS  announcer,  did  the  com- 
mentary for  his  network's  broadcast  of  the  luncheon  attended  by  the  Royal 
party  at  the  Fair.  Gallop  took  note  that  the  King  and  Queen  barely  sipped 
their  champagne.  After  their  departure  he  polished  off  the  drinks  and 
now  claims  the  proud  distinction  of  being  the  only  one  ever  to  partake  of 
a  drink  touched  by  Royal  lips. 

▼ 

HOLLYWOOD  PROMOTION  .  .  .  Bill  Lewis,  CBS  vice-president,  re- 
cently returned  from  Hollywood,  yesterday  revealed  that  Frank  Vanda  has 
been  named  to  the  newly-created  post  of  western  program  director.  The 
appointment  is  effective  July  3.  John  Dolph,  who  assumed  V'anda's  pro- 
duction duties  when  the  latter  was  loaned  by  CBS  to  the  Wrigley  Co.  to 
produce  the  RKO  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  series,  now  returns  to  his  posi- 
tion as  assistant  to  west  coast  vice  president  Don  Thornburg. 

▼ 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Frank  Lovejoy  of  the  "Gang  Busters"  series  will  be 
wed  next  week  to  Frances  Williams,  now  performing  at  the  Aquacade.  .  .  . 
Mrs.  Franklin  D.  Roosevelt  comes  to  New  York  tomorrow  for  an  appear- 
ance on  Kate  Smith's  program.  .  .  .  Claire  Sherman,  former  CBS  singer  and 
now  on  WFEL,  Syracuse,  is  visiting  in  New  York.  .  .  Jim  Fleming,  the 
newscaster,  is  taking  a  six  months  leave  of  absence  to  tour  Europe. 

T 

WORLD  FAIR  EPISODE  .  .  .  There  was  quite  an  argument  on  the 
World  Fair  grounds  Monday  night  during  a  WHOM  broadcast.  WHOM 
now  is  doing  a  nightly  one-hour  program  from  the  Fair  Grounds.  Obtain- 
ing word  that  Mayor  LaGuardia,  Governor  Lehman  and  Secretary  of  Interior 
Ickes  were  attending  the  Sun  Valley  concession,  the  WHOM  crew  hurried 
there.  The  noted  visitors  consented  to  being  placed  on  the  air  and  the  broad- 
cast was  well  under  way  when  a  Fair  executive  hove  into  view  and  angrily 
ordered  that  the  radio  crew  be  tossed  from  the  grounds,  because  they  had  not 
obtained  official  permission  to  place  the  party  of  celebrities  on  the  air. 

T 

LONG  DISTANCE  CHESS  ...  To  Bob  Hall  of  the  San  Francisco  Call- 
Bulletin,  we  are  indebted  for  the  following.  Mannie  Segal  of  the  sound  effects 
department  in  Radio  City,  is  engaged  in  a  long-distance  chess  game  with 
Frank  Nelson  of  NBC's  KGO.  Moves  are  sent  across  the  country  by  mail. 
Neither  is  ahead  yet,  because  they've  only  been  playing  for  17  weeks. 


SAG  Defeats 
Thomson  Or 
'Single  Unio 


Screen  Actors  Guild,  largest  u 
within  the  Associated  Actors  and 
istes  of  America,  is  opposed  to 
proposed  "one  big  union"  idea 
will  fight  any  effort  to  abolish 
autonomy  at  the  present  time. 

Kenneth  Thomson,  executive  si 
tary,  long  the  leading  proponent 
one  union  for  all  performers,  revc 
in  an  interview  yesterday  that 
S.  A.  G.  board  had  overruled  hin 

Other  items  discussed  by  Thoi 
included : 

The  S.  A.  G.  will  resist  any  i 
by  Actors  Equity  to  claim  telev 
jurisdiction. 

Licensing  agreement  with  agen 
nearing  completion  and  may  be  si 
within  a  few  days. 

S.  A.  G.  favors  strengthening 
4-A's  along  certain  lines. 

Reduction  of  extra  ranks  to 
may  be  accomplished  before  the 
of  the  year. 

Dissension  created  by  a  mm 
group  of  extras  who  sought  sej 
tion  from  the  S.  A.  G.  has  been  ( 
mated  by  the  recent  overwheli 
vote  in  favor  of  continued  associ; 
with  the  Guild. 

"Principal  fear  of  the  one-union 
all  is  that  control  will  pass  frorr 
tors  to  paid  officials,"  Thomson 
"Obviously,  the  screen  actors'  j 
lem  cannot  be  governed  from 
York,  nor  the  legitimate  stags 
radio  from  the  coast.  Membei 
meetings  will  not  be  practicable 
control  will  drift  into  the  hand 
executives. 

"This  does  not  mean  that  the  | 
should  not  be  strengthened,  or  ttu 
influence  should  not  be  widened 
December,  we  proposed  se' 
changes  and  they  may  still  be  ado 
We  suggested  two  types  of  cards 
for  those  who  work  in  only  one 
and  another,  with  higher  dues, 
those  who  desire  interchangeab 
There  should  be  a  uniform  systei 
dues." 

On  television,  Thomson  decl 
that  it  was  too  early  to  give  juri 
tion  to  any  union.    He  pointed 


RKO  to  Open 
Three  More 
Brazil  Offices 


Three  additional  offices  will  be 
opened  by  RKO  in  Brazil  next  season, 
Bruno  Cheli,  manager  in  Brazil,  stated 
yesterday.  There  are  six  branches 
there  now.  The  Lima  conference  did 
much  to  establish  goodwill  for  Ameri- 
can films,  Cheli  declared.  French  films 
are  second  in  importance,  German, 
third  and  native  product  fourth. 

Cheli  said  there  is  no  foundation  to 
reports  that  Brazil  was  considering  a 
state  monopoly  of  the  film  business. 
Cheli  believes  that  short-wave  broad- 
casts could  be  of  considerable  promo- 
tional value  but  that  they  are  of  little 
use  at  present.  He  pointed  out  that  the 
broadcasts  now  are  timed  with  the 
United  States  premieres  instead  of 
South  American  openings. 

Others  who  arrived  for  the  RKO 
convention  with  Cheli  were  Pedro 
Saenz,  Cuban  representative ;  Fer- 
nando Mier,  his  assistant ;  Ned  Seck- 
ler,  home  office  representative  in  Cuba, 
and  Max  Gomez,  Mexican  manager. 

Radio  Builders  Get 
Craven's  Warning 

Chicago,  June  13. — A  warning 
against  standardization  of  television 
development  and  a  plea  for  courage 
and  initiative  in  its  advancement  were 
voiced  by  T.  A.  M.  Craven,  member  of 
the  Federal  Communications  Commis- 
sion, in  addressing  the  Radio  Manu- 
facturers' Association  in  convention 
here  today. 

Craven  said  that  the  F.C.C.  would 
move  slowly  in  licensing  television  sta- 
tions, adding  that  it  would  be  several 
years  before  long  distance  television  is 
practical. 

Attorneys  Discuss 
Trust  Action  Plans 

Counsel  for  major  company  de- 
fendants met  at  the  Hays  office  yester- 
day and  mapped  further  procedure  in 
the  Government's  anti-trust  suit. 

After  discussing  Federal  Judge  Wil- 
liam Bondy's  order  that  the  Govern- 
ment expand  its  original  bill  of  par- 
ticulars, the  lawyers  started  drafting 
the  formal  order  which  will  be  sub- 
mitted to  the  court. 


Columbia  Loses  Plea 

Federal  Judge  John  W.  Clancy  yes- 
terday refused  to  allow  the  application 
of  Columbia  Pictures  Corp.  for  a  fur- 
ther bill  of  particulars  in  the  Govern- 
ment's anti-trust  suit  to  be  referred  to 
Judge  William  Bondy  for  hearing  and 
fixed  June  16  as  the  date  for  argu- 
ments. Judge  Clancy  retained  juris- 
diction over  the  Columbia  application. 


Jolson  in  'Swanee'  Role 

Hollywood,  June  13. — Al  Jolson 
has  been  signed  by  20th  Century-Fox 
for  the  role  of  E.  P.  Christie,  minstrel 
troubador,  in  "Swanee  River."  Henry 
King  will  direct  and  Kenneth  Mac- 
gowan  will  be  associate  producer. 


'Career'  Opening  July  2 

Des  Moines,  June  13. — "Career," 
RKO's  film  from  the  Phil  Stong 
story,  will  have  its  world  premiere 
here  July  2. 


Alperson  Sues  G.  N. 

Edward  L.  Alperson,  former  presi- 
dent and  sales  manager  of  Grand  Na- 
tional Pictures,  Inc.,  filed  suit  yester- 
day for  breach  of  employment  contract 
in  U.  S.  District  Court,  in  which  he 
asks  $35,525  damages  against  Grand 
National  and  a  decree  directing  the 
company  to  turn  over  10,000  shares  of 
its  own  stock  to  him  and  $100,000  in 
damages  against  Educational  Pictures, 
Inc.,  and  E.  W.  Hammons,  its  presi- 
dent. 


Patent  Suit  Dropped 

Stipulation  was  filed  yesterday  _  in 
the  U.  S.  District  Court  discontinuing 
the  suit  of  Nakken  Patents  Corp. 
against  Erpi  and  Western  Electric  Co. 
Suit  had  been  brought  for  patent  in- 
fringements. 


Critics  Honor  Gaynor 

Leonard  Gaynor  was  guest  of  honor 
at  a  dinner  tendered  by  the  New  York 
Film  Critics  at  Pietro's  last  night. 
Gaynor  recently  resigned  from  20th 
Century-Fox  publicity  department. 


Win  Plagiarism  Ruling 

U.  S.  Circuit  Court  yesterday  re- 
versed an  order  of  Federal  Judge 
Woolsey  which  had  dismissed  a 
plagiarism  suit  of  Clara  Dellar  and 
Robert  Louis  Shayon  against  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  Inc.,  United  Artists  Corp., 
Eddie  Cantor  and  Samuel  Goldwyn, 
and  ordered  that  the  suit  proceed  to 
trial.  The  plaintiffs  charge  piracy  of 
their  play,  "Oh  Shah." 


Sues  to  Stop  Film 

Philadelphia,  June  13. — The  Rex 
today  filed  an  injunction  suit  against 
the  Pearl  theatre,  Morris  Wax,  officer 
in  the  owning  company.  Paul  Klein- 
man,  manager,  and  Million  Dollar 
Productions,  Inc.,  to  stop  showing 
"Gang  Smashers"  at  the  Pearl.  The 
Rex  charges  breach  of  contract.  A 
hearing  is  scheduled  Thursday. 


Ticket  Price  Hearing 

Hearing  on  the  Spellman  bill  to 
limit  price  advances  by  ticket  brokers 
to  75  cents  per  ticket  will  be  held  at 
the  City  Hall  Friday  afternoon. 


mat  jraramouni  was  installing  i^ 
vision  stages  and  that  screen  ai 
rather  than  legitimate  stage  ai 
might  be  needed. 

$40,000  Republic 
Wing  for  Writ 

Hollywood,  June  13. — Republic 
break  ground  in  ten  days  on  a 
writers'  building  as  the  first  step 
studio  expansion  program.  The  b 
ing  will  be  a  new  wing  to  the 
ministration  building  and  will 
$40,000.    It  will  contain  40  of 

IATSE  Contempt 
Hearing  Postpor 

Los  Angeles,  June  13. — Sh; 
warning  defendants  "not  to  t 
fate,"  Superior  Judge  Wilson  1 
continued  until  June  22  the  he; 
on  an  order  for  J.  W.  Buzzell, 
Angeles  Central  Labor  Co 
executive  and  three  Internat 
I.A.T.S.E.  officers  to  show  cause 
they  should  not  be  held  for  cont 
of  court  for  splitting  up  Technl 
Local  37  into  five  groups. 


Klert. 


riLL  uun 

MOVT 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


and 

Impartial 


0  45.  NO.  115 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  15,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


opkins  Calls 
Conference 
Of  Exhibitors 


nds  Invitations  to  Cole 
And  Kuykendall 

I/ashington,  June  14. — Secretary 
Commerce  Harry  Hopkins  today 
ted  exhibitor  groups  to  confer  with 
I  in  the  Department's  studv  of  in- 
:ry  conditions.  He  suggested  Tues- 
Tune  20,  for  a  conference  with 
ted  and  the  following  dav  for  a 
lussion  with  the  M.P.T.O.A. 
hese  conferences  are  apart  from 
discussions   the   Department  is 
ling  with  the  distributors,  who  re- 
fiy    conferred    with    Hopkins  in 
shington.    The   invitations  1  were 
to  Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  presi- 
.  and  Ed  Kuykendall,  president 
M  P.T.O.A.,  by  Dr.  YVillard  L. 
■>rp,  special  assistant  to  Hopkins. 

ioing  to  New  York  for  Facts 
rnest  A.  Tupper,  chief  statistican 

the  Bureau  of  Foreign  and 
nestic  Commerce,  will  confer  in 
v  York  Friday  with  Joseph  H. 
ten,  Warner  executive,  regarding 

statistical  material  which  Hazen 
I  ?athering   for    the  Department's 

it  develops  that  the  information 
i  ifficiently  complete,  another  meet- 
will  be  called  between  Department 
ials  and  the  distributor  group  next 

he  projected  exhibitor  conferences 
no  relation  to  either  the  trade 
tice  code  or  the  reported  effort 
obtain  a  consent  decree  in  the 
ling  New  York  anti-trust  suit,  it 
explained  by  a  Department 
esman. 

,*Ve  just  want  to  get  the  problems 
and  get  the  views  of  the  various 
ested  groups,"  Thorp  said.  "At 
moment  there  is  no  purpose  nor 
hing  we  are  trying  to  sell.  It  is 
dy  that  in  these  matters  the  ex- 
iors  have  an   important  part  to 

Cites  Hopkins'  Interest 

■>ecretary  Hopkins  is  very  much 
rested  in  the  motion  picture  indus- 
and  would  like  to  have  the  De- 
\  ment  help  on  some  of  its  prob- 
**  Whether  it  can  do  so  or  not 
ains  to  be  seen." 

Department  spokesman  made  it 
"  that  the  trade  practice  code  had 
been  discussed  and  that  the  dis- 
itors  had  not  asked  for  its  con- 
ation. No  thought  has  been  given 
ie  calling  of  an  international  con- 
ice,  he  said.  So  far,  he  declared, 
pecific  problems  have  been  taken 
nd  the  Department  is  feeling  its 


Television  Unafraid 
of  Films — Mullen; 
Sees  Million  Jobs 

Chicago,  June  14. — Televi- 
sion has  $1,000,000,000  to  put 
to  work  and  jobs  for  a  mil- 
lion persons,  Frank  Mullen, 
vice-president  of  RCA,  said 
here  today. 

"Movies,  newspapers,  radio 
and  television  must  cooper- 
ate to  forestall  any  compli- 
cations that  may  arise,"  he 
said. 

"Television  is  ready  to  meet 
any  attempt  on  the  part  of 
pictures  to  hinder  it.  Tele- 
vision will  provide  what  it 
needs  to  meet  film  competi- 
tion." 


AFA  and  4-A 
Hurl  Charges 
At  Each  Other 


Charges  and  counter-charges  were 
hurled  yesterday  between  American 
Federation  of  Actors  and  Associated 
Actors  and  Artists  of  America,  the 
parent  body. 

The  4-A's  made  public  eight  charges 
which  the  A.F.A.  must  answer  in 
writing  before  June  24  and  which  will 
be  the  subject  of  an  international 
board  meeting  on  July  10. 

In  response,  the  A.F.A.  called  upon 
the  American  Federation  of  Labor 
to  investigate  the  4-A's  for  its  "mali- 
cious investigation"  of  the  A.F.A.  and 
issued  a  response,  written  by  Sophie 
Tucker,  president,  to  the  charges. 

The  charges,  if  upheld,  may  result 
in  the  revocation  or  suspension  of  the 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


PASS  CODE,  ALLIED 
PLEA  BY  RODGERS 


Photographs  from  the  Min- 
neapolis Allied  Convention  on 

page  5. 


Steffes  Leads  Strong  Attack  Against  Pact; 
Membership  Opinion  Divided 

By  SHERWIN  A.  KANE 

Minneapolis,  June  14. — William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  general  sales  man- 
ager and  chairman  of  the  distributors'  negotiating  committee,  pleaded  for 
adoption  of  the  trade  practice  code  at  the  Allied  convention  here  today.  W. 
A.  Steffes,  Allied  leader,  started  the  debate  on  the  code  by  urging  exhibitors 
present  not  to  endorse  it. 

Speaking  for  the  distributors'  committee,  Rodgers  said :  "We  hope  Allied 
adopts  the  code.  Of  course,  we  want  to  see  it  accepted.  But  if  to  secure 
its  adoption  additional  concessions  are  asked  beyond  those  which  already  have 
been  agreed  to,  you  may  rest  assured  no  distributor,  affiliated  or  otherwise, 
will  agree  to  any  expansion  of  its  already  broad  policies." 

Rodgers  spoke 
before  the  debate 
by  delegates 
whether  the  code 
should  be  adopted 
or  rejected.  In- 
dependent exhibi- 
tors at  the  con- 
vention will  vote 
on  the  question  in 
secret  ballot  to- 
morrow. 

Continuing  i  n 
his  plea  for  the 
code,  Rodgers 
said :  "There  is  a 
great  deal  of  ap- 
prehension on  the 
part  of  some  dis- 
tributors as  to  whether  or  not  they 
can  operate  profitably  under  the  pro- 
posed plan. 

"Although  I  do  not  believe  that  the 
plan  of  voting  here  on  the  code  would 
be  of  any  material  benefit,  either  for 
or  against,  because  you  do  not  have 
the  number  of  people  here  qualified 
to  register  a  national  choice,  the  fact 
remains    that    it    is    in    your  hands 


W.  F.  Rodgers 


WPA  Changes 
Jobs,  Says 


Peril  8,000 
AFM  Protest 


Kansas  City,  June  14. — American 
Federation  of  Musicians,  now  in  con- 
vention here,  today  wired  all  con- 
gressmen to  oppose  changes  in  the 
WPA  music  setup  proposed  recently 
in  Congress. 

The  Federation  is  convinced  that 
the  Government's  efforts  to  pass  some 
of  the  cost  on  to  state  and  local  gov- 
ernments will  effect  elimination  of 
such  projects  which  now  support  8,000 
musicians. 

The  convention  declined  a  proposal 
that   the   Federation   sponsor   a  na- 


tional network  program  to  promote 
living  music  and  recommitted  a  reso- 
lution which  would  in  effect  abrogate 
the  I.A.T.S.E. — AFM  agreement. 

The  resolution  charges  I.A.T.S.E. 
with  causing  employment  loss  to 
musicians  by  enlarging  jurisdictional 
claims  to  include  hotels,  radio  sta- 
tions, symphonies,  dog  tracks,  small 
night  clubs  and  public  address  sys- 
tems used  by  the  Federation's  jobbing 
bands. 

Among  those  attending  today's  ses- 
sion was  Jules  Stein  of  MCA. 


whether  or  not  you  want  to  adopt 
it." 

Rodgei  s  said  the  consensus  of  other 
exhibitor  organizations  is  that  they 
want  the  code. 

Explaining  the  code's  principles, 
Rodgers  said  that  distributor  entry 
into  exhibition  was  first  adopted  only 
as  a  measure  of  protection.  He  con- 
fined : 

"While  there  may  be  some  isolated 
case  where  this  statement  seems  far 
fetched,  I  can  tell  you  that  for  each 
such  isolated  instance,  there  were  10 
others  where  there  was  only  one 
course  left  for  a  distributor  to  pro- 
tect his  interests,  and  that  was  ac- 
quisition of  show  windows  for  his 
merchandise." 

Calls  Code  Practical 

Rodgers  said  the  code  as  completed 
is  not  complicated  and  that  it  is 
practical. 

"If  adopted,"  he  declared,  "it  will 
contribute  more  to  the  progress  of 
this  industry  than  any  move  contem- 
plated since  the  inception  of  films  as 
the  world's  greatest  entertainment. 

"If  it  is  not  perfect,  it  is  neverthe- 
less a  great  improvement  over  the 
existing  unsatisfactory  conditions." 

Rodgers  Raps  Neely  Bill 

Rodgers  attacked  the  Neely  bill, 
saying  it  would  compel  exhibitors  and 
distributors  to  adopt  unsound  prac  - 
tices  and  that  it  would  hurt  "the  little 
fellow." 

He  called  the  convention  "the  most 
important  in  many  years." 

Attacking  the  code,  Steffes  at  the 
same  time  defended  Allied's  assistance 
to  the  Government  in  its  anti-trust 
suits. 

Steffes  said  the  lawyers  had  had 

(Continued  on  page  5) 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  15, 


Leaders  Plan 
Chicago  Fete 
For  Eckhardt 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Chicago,  June.  IS. — A  committee 
meeting  will  be  held  Friday  at  the 
Congress  Hotel  to  arrange  details  for 
the  Clyde  Eckhardt  silver  anniversary 
testimonial  dinner  July  17  at  the 
C  ngress. 

Co-chairmen  for  the  event  are  John 
Balaban,  Jack  Kirsch  and  Jack 
Osserman. 

On  the  committee  are  Ed  Alger, 
Fred  W.  Anderson,  H.  U.  Bauley, 
Harry  Balaban,  Percy  Barr,  Steve 
Bennis,  Herman  Bland,  James  E. 
Coston,  Mort  Goldberg,  Harry  Gold- 
man, Julius  Goodman,  A.  L.  Hain- 
line,  Edward  L.  Harris,  Charles  F. 
House,  John  Jones,  George  Kerasotes, 
Ben  Lasker,  A.  B.  McCollum,  Sam 
Meyers,  Jack  Miller,  V.  A.  Nomikos, 
Lou  Reinheimer,  Leonard  Rorer,  Jack 
Rose,  Jules  Rubens,  Maurice  Rubens, 
Maurice  Rubin,  Arthur  Schoenstadt, 
Jack  Schumow,  Edwin  Silverman, 
Emil  Stern,  Joe  Stern,  M.  O.  Wells, 
Nate  Wolf,  Verne  Young  and  Edward 
Zorn. 


Set  'School'  Preview 

A  documentary  film,  "School,"  pro- 
duced by  Lee  Dick,  Inc.,  for  the 
American  Film  Center,  Inc.,  and 
Progressive  Education  Association, 
will  be  previewed  at  the  Museum  of 
Modern  Art  next  Wednesday.  The 
film,  on  16  mm.,  is  20  minutes  long, 
was  produced  at  the  Hessian  Hills 
School  at  Croton-on-Hudson  and  will 
*be  shown  at  the  Science  and  Educa- 
tion Building  at  the  New  Yor1' 
World's  Fair. 


UNITED'S 

MAINLINERS 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Just  overnight  in  the  fa- 
mous "Continental  "and 
"Overland  Flyer  "Main- 
liner  Sleeper  planes. The 
distinguished  way  to  Los 
Angeles.  Finest  meals 
aloft.  Call  United,  travel 
agents,  hotels. 

UNITED  AIRLINES  P™E 

58  E.  42nd  St.  2"7300 


CR.  DICKINSON,  Paramount's 
•  general  sales  manager  in  Great 
Britain,  and  Tony  Reddin,  publicity 
director  there,  leave  the  coast  by  train 
tomorrow  for  New  York.  Milton 
Kusell,  New  York  district  manager, 
is  flying  to  New  York  from  the  coast 
via  American  Airlines. 

• 

Capt.  Dwight  L.  Mulkey  of  the 
U.  S.  Army  Signal  Corps  has  re- 
turned to  Washington  to  produce  army 
training  films,  following  an  eight 
months'  course  in  production  under 
the  auspices  of  the  Research  Council 
of  the  Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Sciences  on  the  coast.  Lieut. 
Harry  J.  Lewis  will  go  to  Holly- 
wood   in    September    for    a  similar 


Morris  J.  Rotker,  charter  member 
of  Local  306,  and  veteran  projection- 
ist, will  celebrate  his  silver  wedding 
anniversary  Sunday  at  the  Hotel 
Newton.  New  York  Postmaster  Al- 
bert Goldman,  County  Judge  Lester 
W.  Patterson  and  Joseph  D.  Bas- 
son,  president  of  306,  will  be  among 
the  guests. 

• 

Victor  Jurgens,  March  of  Time 
cameraman,  en  route  to  Guam,  was 
operated  on  for  appendicitis  by  Naval 
surgeons  aboard  the  U.SS.  Goldstar 
and  removed  to  the  Naval  Hospital  at 
Guam. 

• 

Herbert  Griffin,  vice-president  of 
International  Projector  Corp.,  is  visit- 
ing western  branches  of  National  The- 
atre Supply  Co.,  and  is  attending  the 
national  Allied  convention  in  Minne- 
apolis. 

• 

Shirley  Temple  returned  to  the 
20th  Century-Fox  studio  yesterday 
from  a  vacation  in  Honolulu  with  her 
parents.  Her  next  film  will  be  "The 
Blue  Bird." 

William  A.  Gedris  of  Ideal  Seat- 
ing Co.  stopped  off  in  town  to  see  his 
export  agent,  J.  E.  Robin,  en  route 
to  Washington  for  the  opening  of  the 
Kennedy  Theatre. 

• 

L.  A.  Bernero,  general  manager  of 
Ensell  Brothers,  St.  Louis,  and  David 
Rabinowitz,  Lincoln  Theatre,  Gaines- 
ville, Fla.,  were  visitors  yesterday  at 
the  RKO  lounge. 

• 

William  Powell  and  Claudette 
Colbert  will  co-star  in  the  Lux  Radio 
Theatre  production  of  "The  Ex-Mrs. 
Bradford"  over  CBS  Monday  evening 
at  9  P.  M. 

• 

Wilf  Beckett,  Columbia's  special 
representative   in    New   Zealand  for 
three  years,  yesterday  visited  A-Mike 
Vogel  of  the  Managers  Round  Table. 
• 

Herb  Morgan,  M-G-M  shorts  pub- 
licity head,  has  arrived  on  the  coast 
for  conferences  with  Jack  Chertok, 
producer. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHiclcering  4-4200 


STANTON  GRIFFIS,  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee  of  Para- 
mount, leaves  by  train  today  from  San 
Francisco  for  New  York. 

• 

President  Anastasio  Samoza  of 
Nicaragua,  his  wife,  and  daughter, 
Lillian,  yesterday  were  shown  a 
rough  print  of  sequences  of  Para- 
mount's "Ruler  of  the  Seas,"  by 
Frank  Lloyd,  director,  at  the  studio. 
• 

Rutgers  Neilson,  RKO  Radio's 
publicity  manager,  became  a  member 
of  the  Circus  Saints  and  Sinners  at 
the  Astor  yesterday  noon. 

• 

E.  M.  McDaniel,  manager  of  the 
Strand  in  Port  Arthur,  Texas,  is  re- 
covering at  his  home  after  a  recent 
operation. 

• 

Felix  Jenkins  was  a  guest  at  the 
annual  banquet  of  the  Virginia  M.  P. 
T.  O.  at  the  Hotel  Roanoke  in  Ro- 
anoke, Va. 

Leota  Lane,  sister  of  Rosemary, 
Priscilla  and  Lola,  made  her  screen 
debut  in  "You're  Next  to  Closing," 
Warner  short. 

• 

Enid  Bennett,  star  of  the  earlier 
days  of  the  screen,  has  been  signed  to 
a  role  in  David  O.  Selznick's  "In- 
termezzo." 

• 

Madge  Evans,  actress,  and  Sidney 
Kingsley,  playwright  and  scenarist, 
have  announced  their  engagement. 
• 

Watt  Parker,  manager  of  Amity 
Pictures  Co.,  Charlotte,  is  in  town. 


Decision  Reserved 
In  Goldwyn  Action 

Wilmington,  June  14. — Federal 
Judge  Nields  reserved  decision  today 
on  the  motion  of  United  Artists  to 
dismiss  the  amended  complaint  in  the 
breach  of  contract  suit  brought  by 
Samuel  Goldwyn  and  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn, Inc.  Goldwyn  was  given  until 
Monday  to  file  briefs  supporting  his 
complaint  and  U.  A.  was  given  until 
the  following  Friday  to  reply. 

Former  Senator  George  H.  Pepper 
and  Robert  H.  Richards  represented 
U  A.  and  Max  D.  Steuer  argued  for 
Goldwyn.  The  defendants  contend 
that  the  complaint  must  be  dismissed 
because  of  the  failure  of  Goldwyn  to 
include  Alexander  Korda  and  Douglas 
Fairbanks,  Sr.,  as  defendants  in  the 
action. 


Five  New  Summer 
Closings  in  District 

Five  additional  Summer  closings 
have  been  reported  in  the  metropolitan 
area.  Loew's  will  close  the  Holly- 
wood, Ave.  B,  Manhattan,  June  25, 
and  the  Opera  House,  Bayonne,  will 
close  Sunday.  The  Grace,  Brooklyn, 
the  Congress,  Bronx,  and  the  Rialto, 
Patterson,  have  been  closed. 


Air  Shipments  Gain 

Air  Express  shipments  of  Railway 
Express  Agency  increased  20.8  per 
cent  in  April,  1939,  over  April,  last 
year.  Shipments  for  the  first  four 
months  of  1939  increased  19  per  cent 
over  the  same  period  in  1938,  the 
company  reports. 


Mexico  City,  June  14.  —  Str 
against  film  houses  to  enforce  uri  j 
ization  of  their  employes  is  the  1; 
in   Mexican  picture  labor's  stru 
for   control   of   the  business, 
action  has  been  started  in  Irapi 
Guanajuato  state,  an  important  w 
ern  railroad  and  industrial  centei 
delegation  of  the  state  film  worfl 
union   swooped   down   on  theB 
Club  during  a  performance,  drov! 
the  audience,  shooed  off  the  protes  ] 
exhibitor,  and  closed  the  theatre 
a   picket   cohort   and   the  red-b| 
banner  of  organized  Mexican  label 

The  exhibitor  has  protested  to  j 
State  and  Federal  Governments 
to  the  national  film  workers'  org 
zation.  

A   group   of  local  exhibitors 
petitioned  Congress  to  pass  a  law 
stricting  the  number  of  houses 
may  operate  in  the  Federal  Dist 
which  includes  this  city. 


Jose  Perucho,  one  of  the  lea 
picture  directors  of  Spain  during 
Loyalist  Government  regime, 
found  refuge  in  Mexico  and  is 
ranging  to  establish  Film  Popula 
newsreel  in  Spanish. 

Vitaphone  Reveals* 
Decathlon  Winrw 

Hal  Walsh,  St.  Louis  branch  rl 
ager  for  Warners,  finished  first  in 
western  division  of  the  Vitapl 
Decathlon  drive  which  ended  Apri 
it  was  announced  yesterday  by 
man  Moray,  Vitaphone  sales 
Robert  Smeltzer,  central  district 
ager ;  Harry  Seed,  Pittsburgh  br; 
manager,  and  Bill  Mansell,  Phil; : 
phia  branch  manager,  competing 
the  eastern  division,  were  tied  for : 
Engraved  watches  will  be  award^ 
the  winners. 


Three  RKO  Appeal 
Before  Court  Tod 

U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals 
day  will  hear  three  separate  apt 
from  the  order  of  Judge  Bondy  m 
confirmed  the  plan  of  reorganize 
of  RKO.  The  appeals  were  takej 
Ernest  W.  Stirn,  holder  of  J 
shares  of  Class  A  stock  of  RKO 
Cassel  &  Co.,  holder  of  $175,00 
RKO  debentures,  and  the  Qj 
Realty  Corp.,  contingent  credito 
RKO. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda; 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Com 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York 
Telephone    Circle    7-3100.      Cable  ad 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."   Martin  Qu 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Bi 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager; 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President; 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Adver 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  1 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager; 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bui 
Boone     Mancall,     manager,  William 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  G 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams, 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  Lon 
All   contents   copyrighted   1939  by  Qi 
Publishing  Company,   Inc.     Other  Qi 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  I 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  En> 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  a  | 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  unde.i 
act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rate 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  w  | 
Single  copiei  10c. 


'On 


AN 


Dick  Powell  •  Gale  Page  •  Helen  Broderick  •  Ronald  Reagan  •  Allen  Jenkins 
7.asu  Pitts  •  Maxie  Rosenbloom  and  The  National  Jitterbug  Champions 

t  rected  by  Roy  Enright  •  Ofig.  Screen  Ploy  by  Richard  Mocaolay  and  Jerry  Wold  •  Song*  by  Warren  and  Mercer  with  acknowledgment*  to  Wagner,  Liszt,  Mozart,  Bach 


It's  sweet  to  handle— so  handle  it  right! 


t 


Producers 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  15, 


Federal  Theatre  Doomed  Short 
June  30  in  House  Report  Subject 


AFA  and  4-A 
Hurl  Charges 
At  Each  Other 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

A.F.A.  charter,  Frank  Gillmore, 
A.A.A.A.  president,  declared. 

The  A.F.A.  is  charged  with  ob- 
structing the  work  of  the  investigating 
committee,  paying  organizers  on  a 
percentage  basis ;  failing  to  use  demo- 
cratic methods ;  failing  to  organize 
presentation  houses ;  organizing  circus 
people  who  are  not  eligible  for 
A.A.A.A.  membership;  failure  to  use 
moneys  received  from  benefit  perform- 
ances for  relief  purposes;  failure  to 
cooperate  in  the  organization  drive 
of  the  4-A's  in  unorganized  fields ;  be- 
coming involved  in  jurisdictional  dis- 
putes ;  using  "ungentlemanly  tactics" 
in  organizing  in  specified  cases;  poor 
administration  of  Coast  branches ; 
procuring  an  A.  F.  of  L.  representa- 
tive to  assist  improperly  in  internal 
affairs. 

Miss  Tucker,  in  her  response,  as- 
serted that  the  investigation  was 
sought  by  the  A.F.A.  but  that  the 
report  was  not  "constructive";  that 
full  cooperation  was  given  to  the 
committee  but  that  the  A.F.A.  refused 
to  underwrite  the  expense;  that  the 
acts  of  Ralph  Whitehead,  executive 
secretary,  were  fully  authorized  by  a 
democratically-controlled  council ;  that 
the  A.F.A.  was  refused  loans  for  or- 
ganizing while  other  branches  were 
receiving  aid. 

Miss  Tucker  further  charged  that 
benefit  funds  were  being  transferred 
to  a  hospitalization  fund ;  that  com- 
missions were  paid  to  organizers  be- 
cause no  other  funds  were  available ; 
that  presentation  houses  are  being  or- 
ganized with  a  present  membership  of 
1,700  chorus  people;  that  the  A.F.A. 
now  has  15,000  members,  of  whom 
6,120  are  members  in  good  standing; 
that  the  A.F.A.  organized  circus 
people  without  objection  from  the 
4-A's  until  January  and  that  they 
since  have  been  made  a  part  of  a 
separate  division. 

Drama  Pact  Talks 
By  Fleisher,  Reilly 

With  approval  of  amendments  to 
the  minimum  basic  agreement  by  the 
Dramatists  Guild  council  virtually  as- 
sured, Sidney  R.  Fleisher,  Guild  at- 
torney, and  James  Reilly,  executive 
secretary  of  the  League  of  New  York 
Theatres,  are  to  meet  today  to  discuss 
amendments  from  the  legitimate  stage 
producers'  viewpoint.  Guild  vote  on 
the  amendments,  scheduled  yesterday, 
was  postponed  to  next  week. 


French  Film  for  Dietrich 

Marlene  Dietrich,  who  sailed  yester- 
day on  the  Normandie,  will  make  a 
film  in  Paris  for  Forrester-Parant. 
The  picture  will  be  made  in  French 
and  English  versions.  It  has  a  Mont- 
martre  theme.  Miss  Dietrich,  who  re- 
turns to  France  with  her  husband, 
Rudolph  Siebert,  plans  to  be  back  here 
in  several  months. 


Dietrich  Tax  Lien 

An  income  tax  lien  for  $142,193  was 
filed  today  in  the  District  Court 
against  Marlene  Dietrich  and  her  hus- 
band, Rudolph  Sieber,  for  the  years 
1936  and  1937. 


Washington,  June  14. — Abandon- 
ment of  the  Federal  Theatre  project 
on  June  30  is  provided  in  a  change 
written  by  the  House  Appropriations 
Committee  into  the  $1,716,600,000  re- 
lief supply  bill  for  1940. 

The  measure,  reported  to  the  House 
today,  provides  extensive  changes  in 
relief  administration,  including  estab- 
lishment of  a  three-man  board  to  op- 
erate WPA. 

In  making  its  decision  on  the  Fed- 
eral theatre,  the  Committee  pointed 
out  that  the  project  was  one  of  only 
two  nation-wide  projects  operated  by 
the  Works  Progress  Administration 
with  Federal  sponsorship.  All  other 
projects  are  sponsored  by  states  or 
localities,  and  the  Committee  took  the 
attithde  that  there  should  be  no  dis- 
crimination. 

Future  of  the  United  States  Film 
Service  became  highly  uncertain  as 
the  committee  refused  to  make  any 


Don  O'Reilly,  St.  Paul;  Don  Conley,  Min- 
neapolis; Mrs.  Bud  L.  Jensen,  White  Bear, 
Minn.;  Clyde  L.  Cutter,  Robbinsdale,  Minn.; 
Harry  Dickerman,  Minneapolis;  Robt.  Haz- 
elton,  Minneapolis;  7.  S.  Cohan,  Minneapo- 
lis; Louis  Cohan,  Minneapolis;  R.  G.  Risch, 
Appleton,  Minn.;  Harvey  G.  Thorpe,  Cros- 
by, Minn.;  E.  L.  Peaslee,  Stillwater,  Minn.; 
Lowell  Smoots,  Little  Falls,  Minn.;  Harold 
Lyons,  Minneapolis;  Irving  Gillman,  Min- 
neapolis; Dave  Gillman,  Minneapolis. 

Les  Rees,  Minneapolis;  Ben  Meshbesher, 
Minneapolis;  Gilbert  Nathanson,  Minneapo- 
lis; George  Fosdick,  Minneapolis;  W.  J. 
Carter,  Plainview;  A.  A.  Kaplan,  St.  Paul; 
Jos.  Milnar,  Spring  Valley,  Minn.;  Geo. 
Granstrom,  St.  Paul;  Karl  Korstad,  Redby, 
Minn.;  S.  J.  Blackmore,  Duluth;  W.  A. 
Steffes,  Minneapolis;  T.  E.  Mortenson,  Min- 
neapolis; Harold  Mortenson,  Minneapolis; 
W.  D.  Gowan,  Ortonville;  Ted  Galanter, 
Minneapolis;  Frank  Ressler,  Park  Rapids, 
Minn. 

Harry  M.  Dryer,  Minneapolis;  Chas. 
Rubenstein,  Minneapolis;  William  H.  Crys- 
tal, Minneapolis;  Max  Torodor,  Minneapo- 
lis; Herb  Nicholas,  Fairmont;  Percil  Steph- 
enson, Fairmont;  G.  N.  Turner,  Pine  City; 
Harold  Field,  Minneapolis;  Paul  H.  Mans, 
Minneapolis;  Andy  Anderson,  Detroit  Lakes; 
Leo  Aved,  Minneapolis;  O.  E.  Maxwell, 
Minneapolis;  Lyle  Carisch,  Wayzata,  Minn. 

Tack  Demarce,  Benson,  Minn.;  Wm. 
Pearl,  Highland,  111.;  Odes  A.  B.  Hilton, 
Sioux  City,  la.;  Chick  Lewis,  New  York; 
Kenneth  Johnson,  Bricelyn,  Minn.;  W.  Ray 
Johnson,  New  York;  Edw.  A.  Golden,  New 
York;  M.  H.  Hottinger,  Bricelyn;  Geo. 
Esterl,  Park  Falls,  Wis.;  Irving  Mack, 
Chicago;  Wm.  T.  Powers,  New  York;  P.  S. 
Harrison,  New  York;  Samuel  A.  Feir,  New 
York;  Earl  S.  Lorentz,  Minneapolis. 

William  P.  Cameron,  Minneapolis;  N.  F. 
Hall,  Minneapolis;  Don  Ruliffson.  Minne- 
apolis; Wayne  Brenkert,  Detroit;  Harry 
Markun.  Indianapolis;  John  Kaiser,  Chilli - 
cothe,  O. ;  John  Wright,  Red  Wing,  Minn.: 
Norman  G.  Olson,  Nashwauk,  Minn.;  W.  H. 
Aiken,  Grand  Rapids,  Minn.;  Sim  E.  Heller. 
Grand  Rapids,  Minn.;  N.  F.  Hall.  Minne- 
apolis; William  G.  Mussman.  Minneapolis: 
Bob  Euler,  Dallas,  Texas;  William  Elson. 
Minneapolis;  O.  C.  Christopher,  Minneapo- 
lis; Ted  Karatz,  Minneapolis;  Jos.  Fodloff. 
Minneapolis;  B.  J.  Benfield,  Morris,  Minn. 

E.  T.  McCarthy,  Fergus  Falls,  Minn.; 
W.  T.  McCarthy.  Fergus  Falls;  M.  Thomp- 
son,   St.    Paul,    Neb.;    Lee   W.  Newbury. 


London,  June  14. — The  Leicester 
Square,  film  house  in  the  West  End, 
has  been  deprived  of  its  license  for 
July  1  and  2,  following  the  complaint 
of  a  patron  that  he  had  been  induced 
to  buy  expensive  tickets  when  cheaper 


provision  for  activities  after  June  30. 
30. 

Another  highlight  of  the  report  was 
the  allocation  of  $20,000  for  the  radio 
division  of  the  National  Emergency 
Council. 

The  Film  Service,  which,  with  the 
radio  division,  is  to  be  transferred 
from  the  N.  E.  C.  to  the  office  of 
education,  which  is  to  be  a  part  of  the 
new  federal  security  agency  set  up 
July  1  under  President  Roosevelt's 
reorganization  plan,  had  asked  the 
committee  for  $335,840  for  the  coming 
fiscal  year. 


Delegation  to  Washington 

A  delegation  from  all  unions  whose 
members  are  employed  in  the  WPA 
Federal  Theatre  Project  left  last 
night  for  Washington  to  protest  the 
dropping  of  1,500  actors  and  craft 
unionists  from  the  project. 


Belmar,  N.  J.;  G.  L.  Berquist,  Chisholm, 
Minn.;  Al  Charon,  Minneapolis;  F.  R.  Puf- 
fer, Cresco,  la.;  Ben  Marcus,  Ripon,  Wis.; 
A.  P.  Bill,  Minneapolis,  R.  C.  A.  Mfg.  Co.; 
I.  E.  Swirnoff,  Neillsville,  Wis.;  Robert 
Wile,  Press;  E.  M.  Hartley,  N.  Y.,  Nat'l 
Theatre  Supply;  Geo.  Kerasotes,  Springfield, 
111.;  Nick  Kerasotes,  Springfield;  Louis 
Kerasotes,  Springfield;  Don  W.  Buckley, 
Redwood  Falls,  Minn.;  John  Henry  Hiser, 
Bethesda,  Md. ;  Benjamin  Tendler,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C. ;  Milton  C.  Weisman,  New 
York,  I.  T.  O.  A. 

Harry  Brandt,  New  York,  I.  T.  O.  A.; 
W.  Mansfield,  Tama,  la.;  H.  W.  Peterson, 
Chicago;  J.  P.  Adler,  Marshfield,  Wis.; 
E.  .J.  Myers,  Chillicothe,  O.;  Van  Nomikos, 
Chicago;  Nathan  Fisher,  Minneapolis;  Henry 
J.  Green,  Minneapolis;  Geo.  F.  Wester- 
man,  Milaca,  Minn.;  Sidney  Volk,  Minne- 
apolis; Bennie  Berger,  Minneapolis;  Ted 
Manns,  St.  Paul;  Leo  A.  Backer,  Browns 
Valley;  A.  H.  Blank.  Des  Moines;  S.  J. 
Backer.  Hankinson,  N.  D. ;  B.  L.  Larkin, 
Madelia,  Minn.;  Sol  Fisher,  Minneapolis; 
Geo.  C.  Gold,  Glencoe. 

Gerald  Kerr,  Dallas;  L.  M.  Threet,  Dallas; 
Philip  Bland.  Chicago;  W.  P.  Grossman, 
Nevada.  Ia.;  O.  J.  Benjamin,  Nevada;  W. 
R.  Hiller,  Marshall,  Minn.;  George  Crane, 
Cambridge,  Minn.;  Arnold  Crane.  Lake 
City;  W.  C.  Schneider,  Monticello,;  A. 
Engler,  Hopkins;  Frank  Koppelberger,  La 
Crosse,  Wis. ;  L.  G.  Roessner,  Winona ; 
Frank  Woskie,  Parkway,  Minneapolis;  Carl 
S.  Goodman.  Chicago;  Geo.  G.  Baker,  Brit- 
ton,  S.  D. ;  Roay  A.  Chartier,  New  York 
City;  Ben  Friedman.  Minneapolis;  Sidney 
Samuelson,  Newton,  N.  J.;  Herman  Joch- 
ims,  Luverne. 

L.  T.  Molitor.  Norwood,  Minn.;  Frank  C. 
Fowler.  Forest  Lake;  W.  R.  Frank.  St. 
Paul;  P.  C.  Schram,  Kalamazoo,  Mich.; 
Ray  Branch,  Hastings,  Mich.;  H.  B.  John- 
son, Minneapolis  (Universal);  Archie  Zach- 
erl,  Universal;  Jos.  Fieldman,  Universal; 
Don  Guttman,  Universal;  Ted  Hays,  Alex- 
ander Film;  A.  J.  (Timmy)  Long.  Alexan- 
der Film;  Bill  Volk.  Minneapolis;  E.  Thorn- 
ton Kelley.  New  York;  M.  A.  Rosenberg, 
Pittsburgh;  Max  Cohen,  Brooklyn;  Fred  J. 
Herrington,  Pittsburgh;  S.  J.  Mealey. 
Monticello,  Minn.;  Will  J.  Glaser,  Fari- 
bault; Minn.;  Irving  Rachrach.  Faribault; 
Harry  Nichols,  Hollywood;  Harry  I.  Wax- 
mann,  Atlantic  City  ;  W.  Rasmussen,  Leroy, 
Minn.;  Andrew  Jacobson,  Alexandria;  Ben 
Ashe.  Fergus  Falls. 


seats  were  empty  in  the  theatre. 

This  is  the  first  instance  of  a  thea- 
tre losing  its  license  under  the  recently 
inaugurated  seat  price  rules  of  the 
London  County  Council.  The  house 
may  ask  a  new  license  after  July  2. 


Reviews 


"Man  Made  Island" 

{Columbia)  - 
Treasure  Island,  base  of  the™ 
Francisco  World's  Fair,  is  atti 
tively  presented  in  color.  Colo 
exhibits  seen  are  the  imposing  To 
of  the  Sun,  Court  of  the  Moon, 
Evening  Star  statue,  the  Arch 
Triumph,  the  Lakes  of  the  Nation 
tour  of  the  amusement  section  an 
view  of  the  foreign  pavilions.  N 
shots  in  the  color  camera  are  part 
larly  well  photographed.  Rum 
time,  10  mins. 


"Tempest  Over  Tunis" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

This  "Magic  Carpet"  short  prov 
a  picturesque  view  of  the  Frt 
colony.  After  some  intimate  shot: 
native  customs,  the  reel  shows 
defense  measures  takes  by  the  Fr< 
Government  to  prevent  invasion, 
worthwhile  travelogue.  Running  t 
11  mins. 


"Sports  Immortals" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Ed  Thorgersen  dips  into  the  his 
of  sport  and  brings  back  to  the  sci 
the  leading  athletes  of  yesteryear, 
are  shown  against  a  background  of 
sports  in  which  they  excelled.  Inch 
are  "Red"  Grange,  Helen  Wills,  I 
anne  Lenglen,  Barney  Oldfield,  Gr< 
Alexander,  Babe  Ruth,  Knute  Roc 
Man  O'  War,  Gertrude  Ederle,  P; 
Nurmi,  Jack  Dempsey,  Bobby  J< 
and  Sonja  Henie.    An  excellent 
ject  for   sentimental   sport  fans, 
should    please.    Running  time, 
mins. 


"Good  Neighbors'* 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Striking  aerial  views  of  S( 
America  highlight  this  travelo 
After  a  quick  view  of  a  numbei 
the  larger  cities  below  the  Equa 
and  several  shots  of  Inca  villages, 
camera  takes  to  the  air  for  a  lool  [ 
the  Andes  Mountains.  Outstam 
photography.    Running  time,  11  trj 

Sam  Houston's  Soi 
Fails  to  Stop  Fii 

Houston,  Texas,  June  14. — Ha 
County  District  Court  today  de'  I 
the  application  for  a  preliminary 
junction  in  the  $1,000,000  libel  I 
filed  by  Andrew  Jackson  Houston,  • 
year-old  son  of  Sam  Houston,  aga  4' 
Republic  Productions,  Inc.,  and  otljii 
in  connection  with  the  film  "Mai  t 
Connuest." 

Defendants  include  Republic  i 
tures  of  Texas,- the  Interstate  Cin  I 
and  the  Horwitz-Texan  Theatre  • 
here.  The  suit  charged  the  film  I 
jures  the  memory  of  Sam  Hous  'i 
subject  of  the  biographical  film. 

Film  Library  Sues 

Charging  loss  of  negatives  and  n 
ter  positives  of  ten  films,  Stone  I  1 
Library  filed  suit  yesterday  for 
400    damages    against    the  DeL-' 
Laboratories,   Inc.,   in   the  Suprijj 
Court.    The  negatives  were  destrc  1 
by  fire  in  1937. 


At  Minneapolis  Convention 


Minneapolis,  June  14. — Additional  names  of  theatre  men  attending  the  tenth 
annual  national  Allied  convention  at  the  Nicollet  Hotel  follow: 


Ticket  Price  Protest  Shuts  London  House 


,jr>Jay.  June  15.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


 .  

idopt  Code, 
Allied  Urged 
By  Rodgers 

(Can tinui'd  from  page  1) 

much  to  do  in  preparing  the  code 

Shat  it  "lacked  sincerity."  He  at- 
d  the  cancellation  clause, 
jibe  Montague,  Columbia  general 
!?s  manager  supported  Rodgers  in 
Siding  the  pact,  saying  it  repre- 
ss one  of  the  greatest  steps  for- 
rt!  in  his  30  years  in  the  business. 
Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  president, 
,  his  address  said  Allied  "has  not 
Udoned  its  policy  of  theatre  di- 
■cement.  either  by  court  or  legisla- 
t  action." 
Membership  Divided  on  Code 

•Although     today's     session  was 
aided  in  advance  as  an  open  forum, 
Allied  rank  and  file  took  no  part 
.lit.    Applause  was  about  evenly  di- 
ied  for  the  distributor  defendants 
the  pact  on  the  one  hand  and  its 
ied  critics  on  the  other. 
There  was  no  decisive  indication  of 
, v  the  majority  of  Allied  members 
>nd  on  the  code  question.    If  any- 
ing.  the  meeting  today  indicated  a 
.rp  division  of  opinion  between  the 
mbership    and    Allied's  officers, 
|ny  of  the   former  obviously  not 
iring  Steffes'  view  that  the  code 
mid  be  "torn  up"  and  an  arbitration 
tern  to  hear  all  complaints  arising 
the  future  be  set  up  in  its  place. 
'So  membership  vote  on  the  code  is 
warded  as  likely,  but  the  directors 
1  ballot  on  it  tomorrow. 

Asks  "50-50"  Break 

t.T.O.A.  of  New  York  will  sign  the 
de  practice  code,  asking  changes 
ly  in  the  arbitration  provisions 
ich  will  give  independent  exhibitors 
'50-50  chance,"  Harry  Brandt  told 
•  convention. 

\ddressing  the  afternoon  session, 
.h  Brandt  and  Milton  C.  Weisman, 
\O.A.  counsel,  urged  Allied  dele- 
es  to  accept  the  code  as  "a  step 
the  right  direction." 
.'It's  either  the  code  or  regulation 
.the  industry  by  legislation,"  Brandt 


Plan  Yiddish  Feature 

panmel  Productions  has  acquired 
,  rights  to  Chawer  Pawers'  drama- 
ation  of  the  novel,  "Fischke  der 
umme,"  by  Mendel  Mechas-Phurim, 
i  will  produce  it  as  a  Yiddish  film, 
gar  G.  Ulmer  will  direct. 


Buenos  Aires  Puts 
Ban  on  'Nazi  Spy* 

City  authorities  of  Buenos 
Aires  have  issued  an  edict 
barring  the  showing  of 
W  arners'  "Confessions  of  a 
Nazi  Spy"  in  all  theatres  in 
the  city's  metropolitan  area, 
according  to  a  Trans-Radio 
broadcast  by  Arthur  Hale 
over  the  Mutual  network  last 
night.  Warner  officials  there 
said  they  would  appeal  the 
ruling.  This  is  the  first 
American  film  ever  to  have 
been  barred  in  Buenos  Aires. 
No  explanation  was  given. 


Camera  Snaps  Relaxing  Delegates 


Left  to  Right:  Oscar  Kenriken,  Grafton,  N.  D.;  F. 
N.  D.;  M.  C.  Cooper,  Grand  Forks,  N.  D. 


J.  Mc Williams,  Madison;  Julius  Overmore,  Hillsboro, 


In  the  group  are:  John  D.  Kalafat,  M.  S.  Fine,  Howard  Reif,  G.  W.  Erdmann,  Max  Lefkowitz,  all  Cleveland; 
H.  M.  Richey,  RKO ;  Jerry  Steele,  Oberlin,  O. 


Spitz  in  Chicago; 
Plans  Frisco  Trip 

Chicago,  June  14. — Leo  Spitz  ar- 
rived here  yesterday  from  Rochester, 
Minn.,  following  his  recuperation  from 
a  recent  operation.  He  will  remain 
here  a  few  days,  and  be  joined  by  Mrs. 
Spitz,  who  is  coming  on  from  New 
York  to  meet  him.  On  June  24  they 
will  leave  for  San  Francisco. 


Bank  Night  Suit 

Troy,  O.,  June  14.— Suit  for  $128 
has  been  filed  against  C.  F.  Pfister, 
manager  Troy  Amusement  Co.,  by 
A.  J.  Attenweiler,  who  a  few  days 
ago  caused  Pfister's  arrest  for  op- 
erating Bank  Night  at  the  Mayflow- 
er here.  Plaintiff  asks  judgment 
under  the  Ohio  lottery  law  for  $28, 
representing  payment  of  20  cents  ad- 
mission for  140  weeks,  in  addition  to 
asking  $100  damages. 


Retitle  Heifetz  Film 

Hollywood,  June  14. — "They  Shall 
Have  Music"  is  the  new  title  of  the 
Samuel  Goldwyn-U.  A.  film  starring 
Jascha  Heifetz  in  his  screen  debut.  It 
has  been  known  as  "Music  School." 


A  right  cross  to  the  jaw  of  W.  A.  (Al)  Steffes,  is  delivered  with  a  smile 
by  Abram  F.  Myers,  in  an  idle  moment  at  the  Allied  national  convention 
in  Minneapolis. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  15,  19 : 


'Sun9  Clears 
$15,100  in  2 
L.A.  Theatres 


Los  Angeles,  June  14. — "The  Sun 
Never  Sets"  and  "Code  of  the 
Streets"  cleared  $15,100  at  two  houses 
here,  $7,500  at  the  Hillstreet  and 
$7,600  at  the  Pantages. 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  took  $7,100 
in   its  fourth  week  at  the  4  Star. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  14 : 

"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-50c)  7  days,  4th  week. 
Gross:  $7,100.    (Average,  $3,250) 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 
"Code  of  the  Streets"  (Univ.) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)    (30c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average,  $6,500) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  (20th- 

Fox) 

LOEWS    STATE— (2,500)    (30c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 
"For  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

PANTAGES— (3,000)     (30c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $7,600.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,595)   (30c-65c)  7  days. 
Stage:  F.  &  M.  Ice  Revue.    Gross:  $15,000. 
(Average,  $18,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (DOWNTOWN)— 
(3,400)  (30c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,300.  (Av- 
erage, $12,000) 

"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER     BROS.  (HOLLYWOOD)— 
(3,000)    (30c-65c)    7   days.      Gross:  $9,800. 
(Average,  $14,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"The  Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  (ZOth- 
Fox) 

WILSHIRE— (2,300)  (30c-$1.00)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,200. 


Employment  Agency 
Measure  Is  Vetoed 

Albany,  June  14. — Governor  Leh- 
man has  vetoed  the  Ostertas;  bill  to 
regulate  fee  -  charging  employment 
agencies.  Executive  objections  were 
to  local  administration  of  the  pro- 
posed law  rather  than  by  the  state 
labor  denartment.  Mayor  F.  H.  La- 
Guardia  of  New  York  and  organized 
labor  opposed  the  bill. 

The  bill,  as  passed,  provided  for 
strict  regulation  of  theatrical  employ- 
ment agencies  and  artists  representa- 
tives. License  Commissioner  Paul 
Moss  would  have  administered  the 
law  in  New  York  City,  with  powers 
to  revoke  or  suspend  licenses  for  in- 
fractions. 


Sponsor  Buys  All  Seats 

General  Foods  Corp.  has  purchased 
from  Great  States  Circuit  all  tickets 
for  the  June  25  opening  of  Jack 
Benny's  Paramount  film,  "Man  About 
Town,"  in  the  comedian's  home  town, 
Waukegan,  111.  Tickets  will  be  given 
to  residents  making  written  applica- 
tion. Benny's  final  Jello  broadcast  of 
the  season  will  be  made  from  the 
Genesee  Theatre.  General  Foods  is 
his  sponsor. 

New  Wanger  Title 

Walter  Wanger  announces  the  se- 
lection of  the  title,  "Eternallv  Yours," 
for  the  screenplay  by  Gene  Towne 
and  Graham  Baker,  hitherto  known 
as  "Whose  Wife?" 


Rebush  Sets  First  Film 

Roman  Rebush,  who  recently  or- 
ganized Credo  Pictures,  Inc.,  plans 
"Mirele  Efros,"  based  on  the  novel 
by  Jacob  Gordin,  as  the  first  of  four 
Jewish  films  planned. 


New  York  Previews 


"Daughters  Courageous" 

( Warners) 

For  human,  romantic  and  heart-tugging  qualities,  for  the  performance 
of  its  cast  and  sheer  entertainment,  "Daughters  Courageous"  deserves 
a  niche  all  its  own  in  the  annals  of  hot  weather  releases. 

The  women  will  love  it,  and  it  will  please  pretty  nearly  everybody. 

Showmen  definitely  have  something  to  sell — the  majority  of  the  play 
ers  were  in  "Four  Daughters,"  the  three  Lane  sisters,  Gale  Page,  John 
Garfield,  Claude  Rains,  May  Robson  and  others.   The  film  has  the  same 
box-office  appeal  as  "Four  Daughters." 

As  directed  by  Michael  Curtiz  from  a  screenplay  by  Julius  and  Philip 
Epstein,  the  plot  carries  consistent  suspense  to  the  fadeout.  The  story 
of  domestic  involvements  could  very  well  have  become  complicated,  but 
deft  handling  draws  along  the  main  line,  with  sketched-in  byplots  re- 
lieving dramatic  situations. 

The  story  is  of  the  Masters  family,  the  mother  (Fay  Bainter)  and 
four  daughters.  The  mother  has  just  sealed  her  engagement  to  an  old 
friend,  Donald  Crisp,  and  the  family  looks  forward  to  a  comfortable 
future,  when  home  comes  the  prodigal  father,  Claude  Rains,  who  yearns 
for  the  hearth  after  20  years  of  imagining  he  had  a  rendezvous  with 
the  universe. 

The  family,  of  course,  treats  him  coldly,  the  sting  of  desertion  being 
a  sharp  one  to  heal.  But  he  takes  it  all  in  his  stride,  and  by  his  charm, 
wistful  affection  and  thoughtfulness  breaks  down  the  daughters'  opposi- 
tion, one  by  one. 

Soon  there  is  a  bombshell  in  the  family  when  Priscilla  declares  her 
love  for  John  Garfield,  an  irresponsible  son  of  a  fisherman.  The  mother 
pleads  with  her  not  to  throw  away  her  life  as  she  had  done  when  she 
married  Rains. 

Rains  gives  Priscilla  encouragement  to  follow  her  own  heart,  until 
Miss  Bainter  pleads  with  him  to  prevent  the  daughter  from  doing  the 
unwise  thing,  and  then  he  is  instrumental  in  convincing  the  young  man 
that  Priscilla  is  not  for  him. 

The  plot  is  resolved  as  Rains,  agreeing  that  his  presence  is  not  de- 
sirable, wanders  off  again  with  Garfield  as  a  companion,  and  Priscilla 
tearfully  and  courageously  decides  to  forget. 

The  cast  also  includes  May  Robson,  Jeffrey  Lynn,  Frank  McHugh, 
Dick  Foran,  George  Humbert,  Berton  Churchill. 

The  story  was  suggested  by  the  play,  "Fly  Away  Home."  Henry 
Blanke  was  associate  producer.   Running  time,  107  minutes.  "G."* 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


"Stolen  Life" 

(Orion-Paramount) 

Those  film  patrons  who  have  discovered  in  Elisabeth  Bergner  one  of 
the  leading  artists  on  the  screen,  will  find  in  "Stolen  Life"  one  of  her 
outstanding  performances.  Here,  cast  in  the  dual  role  of  twin  sisters, 
Miss  Bergner  displays  her  virtuosity ;  on  the  one  hand,  as  Martina,  she 
is  sincere,  generous  and  forthright,  on  the  other  side,  as  Sylvina,  piquant, 
but  grasping  and  dishonest. 

The  story  is  a  trifle  slow  in  getting  under  way  and  maintains  a  leisure- 
ly pace  throughout  but  succeeds  in  building  up  to- many  tense  and 
dramatic  moments.  The  scene  where  Sylvina  perishes,  after  being 
accidently  cast  overboard  from  a  sailboat  during  a  storm,  is  an  eloquent 
bit  of  camera  technique. 

Alan  McKenzie  (Michael  Redgrave),  an  explorer,  discovers  Martina 
during  a  mountain  climbing  jaunt  and  a  strong  friendship  develops. 
Without  realizing  it,  he  subsequently  meets  the  twin,  Sylvina,  who  flirta- 
tiously steals  his  love.  McKenzie  marries  Sylvina  and  leaves  on  an  ex- 
pedition shortly  thereafter.  When  Sylvina  drowns,  the  rescue  party 
mistakes  Martina  for  her  sister  and  Martina  decides  to  continue  the 
deception  in  the  hope  of  regaining  McKenzie's  love.  Ultimately,  she 
discovers  the  disagreeable  facets  of  Sylvina's  character,  learns  that  Mc- 
Kenzie was  about  to  divorce  his  wife,  and  Martina  then  renounces  the 
pretense. 

Redgrave  gives  a  creditable  performance  as  the  husband  and  Wilfrid 
Lawson  is  well  cast  in  the  supporting  role  of  the  girl's  father.  Paul 
Czinner,  producer  and  director,  did  much  to  make  this  story  a  moving 
and  intriguing  tale  instead  of  the  usual  feminine  battle  for  the  man  who 
is  loved.  Margaret  Kennedy  adapted  K.  J.  Benes'  novel  for  the  screen. 
Several  scenes  dealing  with  Sylvina's  indiscretions  make  the  film  un- 
suitable for  children. 

Running  time,  89  minutes.  "A."*  Ed  Greif 


*"A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


'Heaven'  Tips 
Boston  Scale 
With  $14,501 


Boston,  June  14. — "East  Side 
Heaven"  and  "Mr.  Moto  in  Dang 
Island"  at  the  Keith   Memorial  1] 
the  town  with  $14,500.  £ 

"Juarez"  and  "Women  in  the  wH 
took  $13,500  at  the  Metropolitan 
the  second  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  June  7 : 
"Panama  Patrol"    (G.   N.)    (4  days  w. 
vaude.) 

"Racketeers  on  the  Range"  (RKO)  (4  da 

with  vaude.) 
"King  of  the  Underworld"  (W.  B.)  (3  da) 
"Afanost  a  Gentleman"  (RKO)  (3  days) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,200)  (20c-3l 
40c).    Gross,  $7,500.    (Average,  $8,500) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Mr.  Moto  in  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox 

KEITH  MEMORIAL  —  (2,907)  (25c-3: 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross,  $14,500.  (Avera, 
$14,500) 

"You  Can't  Get  Away  with  Murder"  (W.I 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c) 
days.    Gross,  $7,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"You  Can't  Get  Away  with  Murder"  (W.l 
"Chasing  Danger"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FENWAY  —  (1,382)  (25c-35c-40c-55c) 
days.    Gross,  $5,000.    (Average,  $5,300) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.B.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,332)  (25c-35c-+ 
55c)  7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross,  $13, £ 
(Average,  $14,500) 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  ORPHEUM— (2,900)  (25c-3 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross,  $13,000.  (Avera 
$14,500) 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE  —  (3,600)  (25c-35c-4 
55c)  7  days.  Gross,  $10,500.  (Average,  $1 
500) 

"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 
"Gracie  Allen  Murder  Czse"  (Para.) 

SCOLLAY  —  (2,500)  (25c-35c-40c-50c) 
days.  Both  2nd  run.  Gross,  $5,500.  (Av 
age,  $5,000) 

Propose  New  Ticket 
Levy  in  Wisconsi 

Madison,  Wis.,  June  14. — Becat 
of  popular  opposition  to  a  general  sa 
tax,  administration  leaders  have  aba 
doned  this  proposal  and  have  intr 
duced  a  tax  measure  which  includes 
three  per  cent  theatre  tax. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  admissi 
tax  will  raise  $600,000  during  the  ne 
two  years.  The  new  tax  program 
a  modification  of  a  plan  previous 
presented  by  the  governor,  whi 
called  for  an  occupational  tax 
theatres,  designed  to  raise  $300,0 
annually. 

The  admission  tax  would  also 
assessed  against  athletic  amusemen 
exclusive  of  schools. 


Theatre  Retires  Stock 

Toronto,  June  14. — The  retireme 
of  half  of  the  $125,000  seven  per  ce 
preference  shares  of  Paramou 
Oshawa  Theatres,  Ltd.,  out  of  cr 
rent  revenue  at  a  premium  of  $' 
above  par  value  of  $100,  has  been  a 
nounced,  the  other  half  of  preferr 
stock  being  replaced  by  a  new  iss 
bearing  five  per  cent  interest.  T 
company,  which  operates  the  Regei 
Oshawa,  is  a  subsidiary  of  Famo 
Players  Canadian  Corp. 


Benny  Film  Previewed 

Paramount  last  night  played  he 
to  the  trade  and  daily  press  at  a  pi 
view  of  the  Jack  Benny  picture,  "M. 
About  Town,"  at  the  Paramou 
Theatre.  The  showing  was  preced 
by  a  dinner  and  floor  show  at  t 
Hotel  Paramount. 


RESERVE  YOUR  COPY  NOW 

Have  you  reserved  your  copy  of  the  1939-40  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
that  is  now  in  preparation?  We  suggest  that  you  order  yours  now  because  each 
year  the  demand  is  much  greater  than  the  supply. 


The  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac  is  the  annual  product  of  the  world-wide 
staff  of  the  Quigley  Publications,  focusing  between  its  covers  the  up-to-the-minute 
statistical  record  of  the  entire  industry.  Year  after  year  the  Almanac  serves  the 
world's  showmen  through  its  voluminous  compilation  of  significant  facts  and  fig- 
ures,— vigilantly  reflecting  the  ever-changing  panorama  of  the  business. 

To  the  producer,  distributor  and  exhibitor  and  to  all  those  whose  activities  im- 
pinge upon  the  entertainment  industry,  the  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
is  the  supreme  reference  authority,  conveniently  arranged  and  indexed  for  instant 
dependable  use. 

The  1939-40  edition  will  contain  over  1200  pages  and  will  represent  the  most  am- 
bitious effort  since  the  inauguration  of  the  first  Almanac,  more  than  a  decade  ago. 


ORDER  TO-DAY 


$3.25  POSTPAID 


NAOTION  PICTURE  ALMANAC 


OCKEFELLER  CENTER, 


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YORK 


8 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Thursday,  June  15, 


Banner  Lines 

— — — —  By  JACK  BANNER  

G ROVER  WHALEN  ON  M-G-M  SHOW  .  .  .  Frank  Morgan,  now  va- 
cationing here,  will  broadcast  his  part  of  the  M-G-M  show  tonight  from 
the  World's  Fair  grounds.    Grover  Whalen  has  consented  to  go  on  the 
air  with  him,  and  they  will  do  a  comedy  skit.    It's  about  the  first  time  that 
the  imperturbable  Whalen  will  let  his  hair  down  in  public. 

T 

FREE  TELEVISION  SETS  .  .  .  RCA  is  offering  local  radio  editors  free 
installation  of  television  receivers  either  in  their  homes  or  their  offices. 

T 

CBS  SIGNS  STATIONS  .  .  .  Five-year  contracts,  effective  this  Fall, 
have  been  signed  by  CBS  with  two  of  the  network's  basic  stations,  WJR, 
Detroit,  and  WGAR,  Cleveland.  Former  joined  CBS  last  year,  latter  has 
been  with  CBS  for  four  years. 

▼ 

REFUGEE  BENEFIT  AIRED  .  .  .  CBS  has  arranged  with  the  Ameri- 
can Committee  for  Christian  German  Refugees  to  broadcast  the  peak  of  to- 
night's benefit  show  from  the  Garden.  Broadcasting  will  start  at  12:30 
A.  M. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Jack  Adams,  formerly  of  Erwin  Wasey,  leaves  by 
motor  this  morning  with  Mrs.  Wasey  for  Fort  Worth  to  take  up  his  new  du- 
ties as  vice-president  and  general  manager  of  the  Texas  State  Network.  Adams 
was  radio  director  of  the  agency.  .  .  .  Norman  Weiser  of  Radio  Daily  going 
to  the  Jewish  Memorial  Hospital  this  morning  for  an  appendectomy.  .  .  . 
Harold  and  Mrs.  Oxley,  and  daughter,  sail  for  Europe  on  the  lie  de  France 
next  week.  Oxley  is  manager  of  the  Jimmie  Lunceford  orchestra.  .  .  .  Cesar 
Ladeira,  owner  of  the  biggest  station  in  Brazil,  is  in  New  York.  .  .  .  Bob 
Brenner,  who  formerly  broadcast  over  a  number  of  New  York  stations,  now 
program  director  of  WFTC,  Kingston,  N.  C. 

T 

DELAYED  BY  HITLER  .  .  .  March  13,  1938,  a  broadcast  of  folk 
music  from  the  Grossglockner  mountain  region  of  Austria,  was  on  NBC's 
schedule  for  a  pick-up.  That  day  Hitler's  troops  marched  into  Austria  and 
the  broadcast  never  took  place.  Yesterday  came  cable  word  from  Max  Jor- 
dan, NBC's  European  representative,  notifying  the  network  that  the  same 
show  is  again  available.  NBC  will  make  the  pick-up  Sunday. 

T 

PRESS  SCOOP  •  .  .  Bill  Maloney,  press  representative  for  Kate  Smith 
and  Ted  Collins,  came  through  with  the  prize  "break"  during  the  recent  visit 
of  the  King  and  Queen  to  Washington.  In  the  Capital,  he  arranged  with  the 
U.  P.  for  a  writer  to  be  assigned  to  Miss  Smith  at  the  CBS  studios  of 
WJSV  after  her  repeat  broadcast,  at  which  time  she  gave  the  first  story 
concerning  happenings  during  the  White  House  dinner  for  their  Majesties. 
(No  reporters  were  allowed  at  the  dinner.)  Working  with  the  reporter, 
Maloney  was  able  to  get  a  by-line  story  for  Miss  Smith  syndicated  on  all 
U.  P.  wires — even  beating  Mrs.  Roosevelt's  "My  Day"  column  about  the 
dinner. 

T 

P  &  G  RENEWS  FOUR  .  .  .  Executive  orders  for  four  renewals  of  P 
&  G  shows  were  received  at  NBC  yesterday.  The  renewals,  each  for  a  year, 
are  for  "The  O'Neills,"  "Vic  and  Sade,"  "Story  of  Mary  Marlin,"  and  "Pep- 
per Young's  Family." 

T 

NEW  NEWS  PROGRAM  .  .  .  Palmer  Bros,  have  signed  for  the  Blue  net- 
work for  a  Sunday  news  program  to  come  from  New  York  and  Washington, 
Commentator,  however,  is  yet  to  be  selected. 

T 

ABOUT  BABE  RUTH  .  .  .  Babe  Ruth,  attending  the  Memorial  Baseball 
festivities  at  Cooperstown,  was  asked  by  radio  announcers  to  say  a  few 
words  on  the  air,  but  the  Babe  refused  to  talk.  Later,  at  the  sports  program 
from  the  World's  Fair,  Ruth  asked  to  be  allowed  to  go  on  the  air,  but  this 
time  he  got  the  "brush  off." 

T 

CBS  MEN  ON  CLIPPER  .  .  .  Bob  Trout,  CBS  announcer,  and  Clyde 
Houldson,  a  short-wave  engineer,  will  be  on  board  the  Pan-American  Air- 
ways' Atlantic  Clipper  when  the  plane  leaves  for  Europe  Sunday.  They  will 
broadcast  several  times  while  crossing  the  ocean. 


U.  S.  Awaiting 
Mexico  Action 
On  Radio  Pact 


Washington,  June  14. — Nine  ap- 
plications for  new  broadcasting  sta- 
tions or  expanded  facilities  are  being 
held  up  by  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission,  pending  ratification 
of  the  North  American  regional  broad- 
casting agreement  by  the  Mexican 
Government. 

It  was  explained  that  the  applica- 
tions conflict  with  or  involve  the 
agreement,  and  that  granting  of  them 
might  lead  later  to  difficulties  when 
the  treaty  becomes  effective.  The  pact 
has  been  ratified  by  the  United  States, 
Canada  and  Cuba,  and  only  Mexican 
approval  is  necessary  to  make  it  op- 
erative. 

Applications  on  which  action  has 
been  suspended,  it  was  said,  include 
new  station  requests  of  the  Evening 
News-Press,  Port  Angeles ;  Michael 
J.  Mingo,  Tacoma ;  and  Tacoma 
Broadcasters,  Inc.,  Tacoma,  Wash. ; 
St.  Lawrence  Broadcast  Co.,  Ogdens- 
burg,  N.  Y. ;  Cuyahoga  Valley  Broad- 
casting Co.,  Cleveland,  and  King- 
Trendle  Broadcasting  Corp.,  Grand 
Rapids,  Mich.,  and  applications  for 
changes  in  facilities  of  KEEN,  Seat- 
tle;  KSEI,  Pocatello,  Idaho,  and 
WSBT,  South  Bend,  Ind. 

Met.  Air  Auditions 
Set  for  87  Stations 

Sherwin-Williams  Paint  Co.  has 
signed  with  NBC  for  87  stations  of 
the  Blue  network,  Sundays  beginning 
Oct.  1,  for  the  "Metropolitan  Audi- 
tions of  the  Air."  Warwick  &  Legler 
is  the  agency. 

Two  other  renewals  are,  General 
Mills  for  the  serial  strip,  "Jack  Arm- 
strong," 15  stations  of  the  Red  net- 
work through  the  Knox  Reeves  agen- 
cies, and  Ralston-Purina  for  its  series 
on  the  Blue,  through  the  Gardner 
agency. 

B  &  W  Tobacco  Co.,  for  "Planta- 
tion Party,"  has  just  ordered  10  ad- 
ditional stations  for  the  series,  mak- 
ing a  total  of  73  stations. 

'Magic  Key9  Show 
On  'Second  Fiddle' 

Entire  program  of  the  RCA  "Magic 
Key"  hour  June  26,  inaugurating  the 
new  night  series  of  the  show,  will  fea- 
ture music,  scenes,  and  personalities 
appearing  in  "Second  Fiddle,"  forth- 
coming 20th  Century-Fox  picture.  The 
Blue  network  of  NBC  will  carry  the 
broadcast,  from  8 :30  to  9 :30  P.  M. 

The  broadcast  will  be  picked  up 
from  Oslo,  Norway,  London,  Buenos 
Aires,  New  York  and  Hollywood,  and 
will  feature  Rudy  Vallee,  Mary  Healy, 
Irving  Berlin,  Darryl  Zanuck  and  Sid- 
ney Lanfield.  Lou  Silvers'  and  Frank 
Black's  orchestras  will  provide  the 
music. 

Miss  Henie  will  play  a  scene  from 
the  picture  from  Oslo,  where  she  will 
be  vacationing.  Tyrone  Power,  Za- 
nuck and  Lanfield  will  broadcast  from 
Hollywood,  and  Vallee  from  New 
York. 


Postpone  MPPDA  Meet 

Meeting  of  M.  P.  P.  D.  A.  direc- 
tors scheduled  for  yesterday  has  been 
postponed.  It  may  be  held  next  week. 


New  Trade  Protest 
On  British  Taxation 

London,  June  14. — Tax  concessions 
in  the  amended  budget  of  Chancellor 
of  the  Exchequer  Sir  John  Simon, 
described  by  the  trade  as  highly  in- 
adequate, brought  new  and  vigorous 
protests  today. 

The  newsreel  association  met  today 
and  immediately  sent  telegrams  to 
members  of  Parliament  asking  as- 
sistance in  the  fight.  New  joint  trade 
action  on  the  tax  situation  is  ex- 
pected at  a  meeting  Monday. 


Mexican  Musicians 
Ask  Employment  Law 

Mexico  City,  June  14. — National 
Musicians  Syndicate,  which  claims  a 
membership  of  90,000,  has  asked 
President  Lazaro  Cardenas  for  legis- 
lation requiring  the  employment  of 
musicians  in  theatres  and  other  amuse- 
ment centers,  replacing  mechanized 
music. 

The  group  also  is  seeking  a  ban 
on  all  foreign  musicians.  It  contends 
phonographs  and  radio  are  depriving 
many  musicians  of  employment. 


4-Year  Prob 
Yields  'Mild 
AT&T  Repoi 

Washington,  June  14. — In  its  fi 
report  on  the  American  Telephone 
Telegraph  Co.,  the  Federal  Co 
munications  Commission  today  vtL 
a  number  of  suggestions  on  poh^ 
the  company  without  making  spec  | 
recommendations  in  respect  to 
A.  T.  &  T.'s  activities  in  radio  i 
films. 

The  F.  C.  C,  in  the  916-page 
port,   asks   that  the  commission 
given  greater  authority  over  pr 
tices,  regulations  and  charges  in  ci 
nection  with  chain  broadcasting. 
Inquiry  Cost  $1,500,000 

The  inquiry  into  the  A.  T.  & 
was  undertaken  more  than  four  ye; 
ago  and  cost  $1,500,000. 

Recommendation  that  the  telephc 
company  license  others  to  use  the 
T.  &  T.'s  radio  and  motion  picti 
patents  is  strongly  urged  in  the 
port. 

The  report,  sent  to  Congress,  ; 
proved  "in  principle,  and  largely 
substance,"  the  "proposed  repo 
made  public  April  1,  1938,  it  was  i 
clared  by  Commissioner  Paul 
Walker,  who  was  in  charge  of  the 
vestigation. 

Research  Work  Cited 

"In  the  event  of  the  refusal  of  z 
common  carrier  utility  engaged 
interstate  communications  to  lice: 
others  upon  reasonable  terms  uni 
any  patents  obtained  in  connect 
with  communication  service  to 
general  public  as  a  common  carr 
utility,"  the  F.  C.  C.  urges,  "the  co 
mission  should  be  empowered,  uf 
the  application  of  parties  so  refus 
to  order  the  issuance  of  such  licen 
provided  that  the  granting  thereof  V 
not  be  detrimental  to  the  commu 
cations  service  rendered  by  the  util 
holding  such  patents  and  not  det 
mental  to  technical  progress. 

"The  A.  T.  &  T.  is  now  conduct! 
research  in  newer  forms  of  comn 
nication,  including  television  and  ul 
short  wave  radio,  which  may  co 
pete  directly  with  the  service  afforc 
by  the  Bell  System." 

"This  has  given  rise  to  cert; 
claims  of  unjust  discrimination  in 
stances  where  wire  facilities  of  otl 
carriers  have  been  offered  to  bro; 
casting  stations  on  a  basis  of  charf 
apparently  much  lower  than  th< 
made  by  the  Bell  System.  Those  co 
plaints  involve  several  problems  wh 
must  be  handled  in  the  light  of  1 
facts  appearing  in  each  particu 
case." 


New  Station  in  Alash 

Seattle,  June  14. — Business  offt 
have  been  opened  here  by  No: 
America's  farthest-North  radio  bro; 
casting  station,  KFAR,  now  uni 
construction  in  Fairbanks,  Alas 
KFAR  will  have  power  of  1,( 
watts,  and  will  be  the  most  power 
commercial  station  in  Alaska.  Bro; 
casting  begins  about  Sept.  15. 


Take  WFIL  Program 

Hollywood  Health   Bread  Co. 
sponsoring  "Keep  Fit  to  Music" 
WFIL,  through  the  Richard  A.  Fo! 
agency.    The  series,  a  cooperative 
sponsored  show  on  mutual,  original 
from  WLW,  Cincinnati. 


riert, 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


REMOTE 


First  in 


i 


45.  NO.  116 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  16,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


inusements 
Mck  Jewish 
Drive  Chiefs 


.'0,000  New  York  Quota 
Will  Aid  Refugees 


.lni  people  and  members  of  other 
bement  fields  throughout  the  coun- 
Bre  being  solicited  in  the  present 
imwide  campaign  of  the  United 
ish  Appeal  for  Refugees.  The 
;pnal  quota  is  $20,000,000. 
(ical  committees  have  been  set  up, 
amusement  divisions  in  a  number 
lities. 

ne  New  York  amusement  division 
leeking  $250,000.    Its  drive  will 

inue  another  month,  and  the  inten- 
;.  is  to  solicit  everyone  in  the  film, 

trical,    radio,    music    and  allied 

David  Bernstein  Chairman 

avid  Bernstein,  vice-president  and 
(iurer  of  Loevv's,  is  chairman  of 
imusement  division.    Albert  War- 
vice-president  of  Warners,  is  co- 
wman.   Vice-chairmen  are  Barney 
'ban,  Paramount  president;  N.  J. 
■iberg,  president  of  Universal,  and 
Cohn,  Columbia  vice-president, 
miniittee  representation  follows : 
•lumbia  —  Abe    Schneider,  Max 
fman,  Nathan  D.  Spingold. 
lucational  Pictures — Jack  Skirbal. 
iew's-M'-G-M — Oscar  Doob,  Leo- 
Friedman,    Arthur    M.  Loew, 
Hes    C.    Moskowitz,    Joseph  R. 

itional  Screen  Service — Herman 
oins. 

.the — Fred  Ullman,  Jr. 
iramount — Arthur  Israel.  Jr. 
KO — Leon     Goldberg,  Malcolm 
l;sberg,  Jules  Levy,  Phil  Reisman. 
rpublic    Pictures  —  Herman  B. 
anan. 

ilm  Companies  Represented 

ventieth  Century-Fox — Joseph  H. 
kowitz. 

.liversal  Pictures — Samuel  Mach- 
:ch,  Joseph  Seidelman. 
arner   Bros.  —  Max  Blackmail, 
;  Levey,  Sam  E.  Morris, 
lited  Artists— Murray  Silverstonc, 
N.  Lazarus. 

dependent  Producers  —  Budd 

pfs. 

.  >reign  departments  and  film  im- 
.rs — Max  A.  Schlesinger. 
otion    picture    operators — Joseph 
Sasson. 

"otion  Picture  Producers  and  Dis- 
>tors  of  America — Isroy  M.  Norr. 
"oadcasting  —  Donald  Flamm, 
"man. 

istumes  and  uniforms — James  E. 
«ock. 

dependent  theatre  owners — Harry 

{Continued  on  pane  2) 


Code  Rejected  By  Allied; 
Rodgers  to  Drop  Talks 


Cole  and  Kuykendall 
Accept  Hopkins'  Bid 

Washington,  June  15. — In- 
vitations extended  vesterdav 
by  Dr.  Willard  L.  Thorp, 
special  assistant  to  Secretary 
of  Commerce  Hopkins,  to  Ed 
Kuykendall,  M.P.T.O.A.  presi- 
dent, and  Col.  A.  H.  Cole, 
National  Allied  president,  to 
confer  with  Washington  of- 
ficials on  film  industry  prob- 
lems were  accepted  today  by 
both  leaders. 

Kuykendall  wired  that  a 
group  of  M.P.T.O.A.  officials 
would  meet  with  Federal  au- 
thorities here  on  June  21. 
Cole  telegraphed  that  Allied 
officers  would  not  be  able  to 
come  to  Washington  before 
June  26. 

Kuykendall,  in  his  wire, 
said  that  "M.P.T.O.A.  will 
subscribe  to  anything  bene- 
ficial to  the  industry,"  but 
asked  for  a  preliminary  con- 
ference in  Washington  Mon- 
day to  learn  the  nature  of 
Hopkins'  study  and  decide 
then  whether  its  aims  permit 
M.P.T.O.A.  participation. 


Rule  on  Television 
Ours,  Says  Equity 

With  the  passage  of  the  deadline  set 
by  Actors  Equity  for  the  Associated 
Actors  and  Artistes  of  America  to 
determine  jurisdiction  over  the  tele- 
vision field,  Equity  declared  yesterday 
that  it  will  proceed  to  organize  the 
field. 

"When  the  A.A.A.A.  raised  the 
question  and  failed  to  follow  it  through 
with  a  decision,  they  clearly  left  the 
next  move  up  to  us,"  Paul  Dullzell, 
executive  secretary,  stated. 

"We  cannot  at  this  time  disclose  the 
methods  or  starting  date  for  this  drive 
but  we  wish  it  to  be  known  that 
Equity  has  jurisdiction  and  intends  to 
exercise  it." 

Equity  originally  set  June  7  as  the 
last  day  for  a  4-A  decision,  but  waited 
an  additional  week  before  reasserting 
its  claim. 

When  Kenneth  Thomson,  executive 
secretary  of  Screen  Actors  Guild,  re- 
turned to  the  Coast  last  night,  the  pos- 
sibility of  an  early  decision  by  the 
4-A's  was  precluded. 


Pact  Does  Not  Remedy  Major  Abuses, 
Board  Says  In  Decision 

By  SHERWIN  A.  KANE 

Minneapolis,  June  15. — Allied  States  rejected  the  proposed  trade 
practice  code  and  rules  of  arbitration  at  the  closing  session  of  the  organi- 
zation's tenth  annual  convention  at  the  Nicollet  Hotel  here  today. 

No  vote  was  taken  by  the  delegates,  but  a  belated  resolution  offered  just 
before  the  close  of  the  convention  with  about  half  the  delegates  present, 
calling  for  approval  of  the  Allied  negotiating  committee's  report  and 
recommendation,  was  passed. 

It  was  revealed  by  H.  A.  Cole,  Allied  president,  that  the  board  of  direc- 
tors  had  approved  the  negotiating  committee's  report  on  Tuesday,  before 
any  discussion  of  the  pact  had  been  conducted  on  the  convention  floor 
and  before  the  widely-heralded  open  forum  had  taken  place. 

Cole  said  announcement  of  this  had  been  deferred  to  permit  change  of 
action  in  the  event  convention  developments  warranted  one. 

Immediately  upon  hearing  of  the  board's  action,  William  F.  Rodgers, 
chairman  of  the  distributors'  negotiating  committee,  informed  the  con- 
vention that  he  was  withdrawing  the  trade  practice  proposals  insofar  as 
any  further  negotiations  with  Allied  are  concerned. 

He  stated,  however,  that  the  code  would  be  open  for  acceptance  by 
exhibitors  individually,  and  many  delegates  stated  frankly  that  they  had 
no  intention  of  refusing  the  concessions  offered  by  the  pact. 

Grounds  on  which  rejection  was  voted  by  the  board  and  negotiating 
committee  were  that  "the  code  does  not  provide  an  effective  remedy  for 
major  abuses  complained  of  by  Allied;  that  the  final  draft  "does  not  fully 
and  accurately"  reflect  the  substance  of  the  negotiations  and  representa- 
tions made  by  the  distributors,  that  reports  have  been  received  that 

"distributors  already  are  taking  steps 
to  circumvent  and  nullify  the  moder- 
ate concessions  offered." 

It  was  further  contended  that  ac- 
ceptance would  handicap  exhibitors  in 
seeking  other  relief,  would  hinder  the 
Government  in  prosecution  of  anti- 
trust suits  and  would  aid  distributors 
in  combating  the  Neely  bill. 


UA  Asks  for  Facts, 
Calls  U.  S.  Evasive 

United  Artists  Corp.  filed  notice  in 
U.  S.  District  Court  yesterday  that 
it  will  apply  to  Federal  Judge  Clancy 
on  June  20  for  a  more  detailed  bill 
of  particulars  in  the  Government's 
anti-trust  suit. 

Supporting  the  demand,  an  affidavit 
of  Edward  C.  Raftery,  attorney  for 
United  Artists,  characterized  the  pre- 
vious bill  filed  by  the  Government  as 
"most  evasive"  and  declared  that 
United  Artists,  as  neither  a  producer 
or  exhibitor  "should  not  be  a  party 
to  this  action  in  any  manner  whatso- 
ever." 

In  addition,  the  notice  contained  a 
demand  that  the  complaint  be  dis- 
missed or,  in  the  alternative,  that  part 
of  the  complaint  referring  to  United 
Artists  be  stricken  out  for  failure  to 
file  a  proper  bill. 

United  Artists  also  asks  for  sixty 
days  for  filing  of  a  further  bill  to 
answer  the  complaint.  Most  of  the 
items  asked  for  by  United  Artists  are 

(Continued  on  page  S) 


Spirited  Pleas  for  Code 

Announcement  of  the  board's  action 
was  preceded  by  spirited  pleas  for 
adoption  of  the  code  by  Austin 
Keough,  Paramount  vice-president 
and  secretary ;  Neil  F.  Agnew,  Para- 
mount vice-president  and  distribution 
head;  H.  M.  Rickey,  RKO  special 
representative;  and  Ed  Kuykendall, 
M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  president. 

Keough  denied  that  the  final  draft 
of  the  code  varied  at  all  in  spirit 
from  the  memorandum  prepared  by 
Allied's  negotiating  committee,  as 
charged  at  Wednesday's  session.  He 
defended  the  attorneys'  part  in  the 
preparation  of  the  code,  stating  their 
job  was  to  put  the  provisions  into  ef- 
fect legally  and  with  the  idea  that 
they  would  work. 

Agnew,  urging  acceptance  of  the 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


i 


Motion  picture  Daily 

4  Purely  Personal  ► 


2 


RKO  Opening 
Sales  Meeting 
Here  Monday 


RKO  sales  delegations  from  the 
west  and  midwest  are  scheduled  to 
arrive  over  the  weekend  for  the  com- 
pany's annual  sales  convention,  which 
will  open  Monday  at  the  Westchester 
Country  Club,  Rye,  N.  Y.,  and  run 
through  Thursday. 

A.  A.  Schubert,  RKO  manager  of 
exchange  operations  and  general  con- 
vention committee  chairman,  has  vir- 
tually completed  details  of  the  meet- 
ing. 

A  record  number  of  sales  executives 
from  foreign  offices  of  RKO  will  at- 
tend the  meeting  this  year. 

Thursday,  the  final  day  of  the  con- 
vention, has  been  designated  as  "RKO 
Radio  Day"  at  the  New  York  World's 
Fair.  Attending  at  the  Fair  will  be 
Anna  Neagle,  star  of  "Nurse  Edith 
Cavell,"  and  Herbert  Wilcox,  pro- 
ducer of  the  film,  who  will  come  on 
from  Hollywood  for  the  convention, 
arriving  on  Wednesday. 


Increase  Music  Department 

Hollywood,  June  15. — Dave  Dreyer, 
head  of  the  music  department  of  the 
RKO  studio,  will  increase  his  person- 
nel by  about  25  per  cent  for  the  new 
season's  production  schedule.  Alfred 
Newman  and  Russell  Bennett  have 
been  recalled  to  the  staff.  Roy  Webb 
will  supervise  the  scoring  of  a  number 
of  films. 

Warners  Open  New 
Washington  House 

Washington,  June  15. — Warners' 
newest  local  theatre,  the  Kennedy, 
was  opened  here  tonight  with  appro- 
priate ceremonies.  It  was  dedicated 
by  Commissioner  Melvin  C.  Hazen 
and  accepted  on  behalf  of  the  com- 
munity by  D.  W.  Gabelein,  president 
of  the  Chillum  Heights  Citizens'  As- 
sociation. 

A  delegation  from  the  Warner  home 
office  was  headed  by  Joseph  Bernhard, 
head  of  Warner  Theatres.  Attend- 
ing were  Herman  Maier,  Warners' 
chief  of  construction ;  Major  Nathan 
Levinson,  Warner  studio  sound  de- 
partment head;  Frank  Cahill,  John 
Eberson,  architect  who  designed  the 
house ;  Sam  Golder,  William  Gedris, 
I.  J.  Hoffman,  Harry  Goldberg, 
Leonard  Schlesinger,  Charles  Kenney, 
Harold  Rambusch,  Drew  Eberson,  H. 
E.  Schwarz,  Martin  Bennett,  Lief 
Neandross,  E.  Nilson,  Joseph  Holman 
and  others. 

Claude  Land,  former  manager  of  the 
Colony,  is  manager  of  the  Kennedy. 
Harris  Shapero  owns  the  theatre,  with 
Warners  operating  under  a  long  term 
lease. 

Mecca  Gives  Lab 

Union  a  Contract 

M.P.  Laboratory  Technicians'  Union, 
Local  702.  signed  a  contract  with 
Mecca  Laboratories  yesterday.  Con- 
tract provides  for  pay  raises  ranging 
from  one  to  three  dollars,  effective 
Sept.  1.  Other  terms  are  similar  to 
those  in  recent  contracts  with  DeLuxe 
and  Consolidated  and  include  one- 
week  vacations  with  pay,  a  40-hour 
week,  and  time  and  a  half  for  over- 
time and  holiday  work, 


DARRYL  F.  ZANUCK,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox production  chief,  Wil- 
liam Goetz,  executive  assistant  to 
Zanuck,  and  Sam  Silver  left  for  the 
Coast  last  night  by  a  special  TWA 
plane  after  a  few  days  in  New  York. 
• 

Murray  Silverstone,  Archie 
Mayo,  Joe  Malcolm,  Harry  Buck- 
ley, Arthur  Kelly,  James  Mulvey, 
Mel  Shaur,  Harry  Thomas  lunch- 
ing at  the  Tavern  yesterday.  Also, 
William  German,  Lynn  Farnol, 
Harry  Gold,  Sam  Citrin,  John 
Wright,  Henry  Spitzer  and  Rich- 
ard Rowland. 

• 

Kent  Thomson,  Screen  Actors 
Guild  executive  secretary,  boarded  the 
TWA  Sky  Chief  last  night  for  Holly- 
wood. Also  on  board  were  Frank 
Orsatti  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fred 
Astaire. 

• 

Mrs.  William  H.  Garner,  mother 
of  Peggy  Anne  Garner,  six-year-old 
RKO  player,  is  in  New  York  for  a 
week  conferring  with  RKO  execu- 
tives on  her  daughter's  new  seven- 
year  contract. 

• 

Raymond  Massey  and  the  cast  of 
"Abraham  Lincoln  in  Illinois"  at- 
tended a  private  screening  of  "The 
End  of  a  Day,"  French  film  to  be 
distributed  here  by  Juno  Films,  Inc. 
• 

E.  A.  Helouis,  office  manager  at 
Columbia's  New  York  exchange,  will 
leave  June  24  for  a  two-week  vacation. 
Jack  Sokoloff,  Brooklyn  salesman, 
leaves  Monday  also  for  a  vacation. 
• 

Walter  Doniger,  son  of  Harry 
Doniger,  New  Jersey  exhibitor,  has 
arrived  at  the  coast  to  fulfill  a  writing 
contract  which  he  recently  signed  with 
M-G-M. 

• 

Hal  Danson  of  the  Paramount 
home  office  is  the  father  of  a  seven- 
pound  son,  his  first,  born  to  Mrs. 
Danson  at  the  Harkness  Pavilion, 
Medical  Center,  yesterday. 

• 

Mrs.  L.  M.  Flynn,  mother  of 
Errol  Flynn,  arrives  from  England 
Monday  on  the  Scythia. 

• 

Ernest  Emerling  of  Loew's,  and 
Mrs.  Emerling  returned  yesterday 
from  a  tour  of  England,  France, 
Switzerland  and  Italy. 

• 

Mrs.  Tyrone  Power,  Sr.,  mother 
of  the  screen  player,  is  in  town  at  the 
Waldorf-Astoria  for  an  indefinite  stay. 


President  Roosevelt  captures  the 
spotlight  in  the  nczv  issues  as  he  of- 
ficiates at  the  West  Point  graduation 
exercises.  The  reels  and  their  con- 
tents follow: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  80— Roosevelt 
addresses  West  Point  graduates.  Italy's 
troops  in  Spain  return.  Gambling  casino 
at  sea.  Flag  industry  in  New  Jersey. 
Rodeo  in  California.  Twin  convention. 
Emperor  of  Anman  visits  France.  Duchess 
of  Kent  at  charity  festival.  Nicaraguan 
president  in  California.  Lew  Lehr.  Base- 
ball anniversary.    Polo  match. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  278 -President 
at  West  Point  commencement.  Duke  and 
Duchess  of  Kent  at  fire  drill.  Open  road 
over  Rockies.  Rodeo.  Judy  Garland's  birth- 
day party.  Baseball  celebration  in  Coopers- 
town.  Polo. 


WILLIAM  F.  RODGER  S, 
M-G-M ;  Gradwell  L.  Sears, 
Warners,  and  Abe  Montague,  Co- 
lumbia, are  due  back  over  the  week- 
end from  the  Allied  convention  in 
Minneapolis.  Rodgers  will  stop  off 
in  Chicago  en  route. 

• 

Tom  Connors,  Charles  E.  Mc- 
Carthy, Sydney  Phillips,  Marcus 
Heiman,  Sam  Shain,  Harold  B. 
Franklin,  John  Hicks,  Ed  Rigney, 
Edward  Churchill  (Donahue  & 
Coe),  and  J.  J.  Milstein  at  Nick's 
Hunting  Room  in  the  Astor  for  lunch 
yesterday. 

• 

A.  E.  Munro,  M'unro  Theatre, 
Rolla,  N.  D. ;  Maurice  White,  For- 
est Theatre,  Cincinnati ;  Ike  Libson, 
RKO  Midwest  Circuit,  Cincinnati,  and 
Richard  Lashley,  manager  of  the 
Wilby-Kincy  Circuit,  Greeneville, 
S.  C,  were  visitors  yesterday  at  the 
RKO  lounge. 

• 

Robert  Gillham,  Paramount  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  chief,  and  Al 
Wilkie,  publicity  manager,  are  re- 
maining on  the  coast  for  a  week  or 
two.  They  may  go  to  Waukegan, 
111.,  for  the  premiere  of  "Man  About 
Town,"  Jack  Benny  film. 

• 

Neil  F.  Agnew,  Austin  C.  Keough 
and  Charles  Reagan,  Paramount  ex- 
ecutives, are  due  Monday  from  Minne- 
apolis, where  they  attended  the  Allied 
convention. 

• 

Jack  Glenn,  March  of  Time  direc- 
tor, returned  to  New  York  yesterday 
after  three  months'  work  in  Cuba  and 
the  southern  states  and  in  the  Carib- 
bean with  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

• 

Al  Margolies,  publicity  director 
for  United  Artists,  will  move  out  to 
his  summer  home  on  Fire  Island  this 
weekend. 

• 

Gabriel  Pascal,  British  producer, 
is  expected  today  from  the  coast  en 
route  to  England  to  produce  his  next 
George  Bernard  Shaw  film. 

• 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  Universal 
board  chairman,  has  postponed  his 
scheduled  trip  to  London  for  a  week 
or  two. 

• 

Joseph  Linett,  Monogram  cashier, 
and  Gertrude  Rosch  will  be  married 
June  25. 

• 

Lew  Seiler,  Warner  director,  has 
received  a  new  term  contract. 


PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  81-Roose- 
velt  urges  peace  at  West  Point.  Glider 
spans  Lake  Michigan.  Summer  skiing. 
Norwegian  Royalty  in  Montana.  Japan  - 
Britain  dispute  in  China.  Refugee  ship  at 
sea.  Celebrate  baseball  centennial.  National 
open  golf  tourney. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  95— Gradua- 
tion at  West  Point.  Baseball  anniversary 
observed.  War  on  New  York  slum  dis- 
tricts. Skeet  shooting  competition.  Cooley 
Dam  nears  completion.  Fire  fighting  re- 
view in  England.    Greyhound  racing. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  780— 
Roosevelt  attends  cadet  graduation.  Police 
demonstration  in  China.  Legionnaires  leave 
Spain.  Bury  Mexican  flier.  Gambling  ship. 
Twins  convene  in  Alabama.  Cavalcade  of 
baseball.  Rodeo.  International  polo  finals. 
Archbishop  Schrenbs  celebrates  anniversary. 
Dedicate  cow  statue. 


Friday,  June  16,  1' 


Amusements 
Name  Jewish 
Drive  Chiel 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Brandt,  chairman ;  William  Bra 
Leo  Brecher,  Simon  H.  Fabian,  L< 
Frisch,  Arthur  L.  Mayer,  Loui^ 
Nelson,  Hyman  Rachmil,  \\^ 
Reade,  Samuel  Rinzler,  San 
Rosen,  Max  Rudnick,  Edward 
Rugoff,  Rudolph  Sanders,  Aub 
Schenck,  Fred  J.  Schwartz,  San 
Straussberg. 

Laboratories — Alan    E.  Freedn 
chairman ;  Jack  Goetz. 

Legitimate  Theatre — Marcus  I 
man,  chairman ;  Howard  Dietz,  S; 
uel  M.  Forrest,  Harry  M.  Goetz,  i 
Gordon,  Lee  Shubert,  Alex  Yokel 

Motion  Picture  Accessories — I 
jamin  S.  M'oss,  chairman;  Sam  D 
bow,  Jr.,  Emil  Friedlander,  Jos 
Hornstein,  Eugene  Picker,  Jos 
Seider. 

Music  Publishers  &  Composei  ^ 
Louis  Bernstein,  chairman ;  In  !i 
Caesar,  Irving  Berlin,  Jack  J.  Bi  - 
man,  Jack  Mills,  Edwin  H.  Moijj 
Jack  Robbins. 

Sam  Pokrass  Dies; 
Composer  for  Fill  ? 

Samuel  Pokrass,  composer  I 
lyricist,  died  of  a  heart  ailment  t 
Roosevelt  Hospital  yesterday  morn  I 
He  was  45  years  old  and  was  bj 
in  Russia.  Before  coming  to  ; 
country,  he  composed  many  fan  > 
compositions  in  Russia,  the  best  km  i 
of  which  was  "Tchto  Mnie  Gc  ' 
("What  Do  I  Care"). 

For  the  last  two  years  Poki  s 
was  under  contract  to  20th  Cenu  - 
Fox  and  was  responsible  for  the  m  I 
in  "Rebecca  of  Sunnybrook  Far  ' 
"Happy  Landing,"  "Three  Mu;  I 
teers,"  "The  Little  Princess"  i 
"Wife,  Husband  and  Friend."  He  - 
cently  completed  an  operetta,  "Cyr  I 
de  Bergerac,"  on  which  he  wor 
seven  years,  and  plans  were  b< ; 
made  to  produce  it  on  Broadway.  ;i 


W.B.  Outing  Wednesd 

Warner  Club  of  home  office  1 
ployes  will  hold  the  annual  boat 
to  Bear  Mountain  next  Wednes< 
More  than  1,000  members  and  gu, 
are  expected. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  J 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Comp  . 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  ( I 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  add  u 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quit 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Bo  i 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  v  • 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  ' 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Adverti  I 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  M  I 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  !  <J 
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Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  n  I 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  Lond 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Qui  I 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Qui  I 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  B(  jf 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  • 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Ent  I 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  I 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y..  under  : 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  | 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  fore  ■ 
Single  copies  10c. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


id-iy.  June  16.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


illied  Board 
Rejects  Code; 
Condemns  It 


{.Continued  from  page  1) 

tie.  pointed  out  that  Allied  frequent- 
I  has  clamored  for  "unity  in  the 
J|fc.try"  and,  with  the  code,  was  con- 
ERed  with  the  opportunity  of  doing 
hitthing  about  it. 

Richey  related  that  exhibitors  with 
|k>iu  he  had  come  in  contact  all 
er  the  country  want  some  regula- 
-y  procedure  with  which  to  begin 
kde  practice  reforms. 
[•'Let'  try  the  code,"  he  said,  "If  it's 
i  all  that  it  should  be,  at  least,  it's 

Nothing  Will  Stop  Suits  Now' 

K:ykendall  emphasized  that  the 
le  would  aid  90  per  cent  of  the  ex- 

oiturs  and  should  be  tried  as  the 

■it  procedure  now  available.  He 
d.  in  his  opinion  adoption  of  the 
it  would  have  no  effect  on  prose- 

tion  by  the  Government  of  anti- 

as  suits. 

1 'Nothing  will  stop  the  suits  now," 
said.    "It  may  be  two  years  more 


Walk  Out  Protest 
By  Distributors 

Minneapolis,  June  15.  —  A 
distributor  delegation  con- 
sisting of  William  F.  Rodgers, 
Metro  sales  manager;  Abe 
Montague,  Columbia  sales 
manager;  Gradwell  Sears, 
Warners  sales  manager;  Aus- 
tin Keough,  vice  president  of 
Paramount;  and  Neil  F.  Ag- 
new,  Paramount's  sales  man- 
ager, walked  out  of  the  Allied 
convention  today  in  a  body  in 
protest  after  hearing  the 
Allied  board's  reasons  for  re- 
jecting the  code. 

"Several  of  the  reasons 
given,"  Rodgers  said  later, 
"are  factually  incorrect.  That 
we  failed  to  get  in  touch  with 
Allied  on  the  code  after  Jan. 
lti  is  disproved  by  the  fact 
that  Myers  (Allied  general 
counsel)  was  in  negotiation 
with  our  attorneys  during 
February." 


^ore  it  is  determined,  but  it  will  be 
iciuded  only  in  court." 
He  warned  the  Allied  membership 
Government  regulation  of  the  in- 
stry  which   might  follow  passage 
the  Neely  bill,  declaring  it  to  be 
5  terrible  mistake"  to  indorse  the 
I 

Cites  Chicago  Situation 

''Spokesmen  on  behalf  of  the  code 
re  followed  by  Jack  Kirsch,  head 

Illinois  Allied,  and  Abram  F. 
yers.  Allied  general  counsel.  Kirsch 
ed  theatre  policies  which  he  said 
isited  in  Chicago  and  could  not  be 
greeted  by  the  code  or  arbitration. 
"If  distributors  are  sincere."  he  said, 
ley  shouldn't  object  to  making  fur- 
2r  changes  in  the  code.  In  the 
iantime.  exhibitors  shouldn't  disarm 

relinquishing  legislative  and  court 
orts  to  achieve  reforms." 
Myers  criticised  suggestions  that  re- 
gion of  the  code  and  enactment  of 
:  Neely  bill  would  lead  to 'govern- 


Delegates  Rest  Up 


i 


Left  to  Right:  A.  A.  Kaplan,  George  Grandstrom,  both  St.  Paul;  Henry 
Morton,  Winnipeg.    Man  in  rear  is  unidentified. 


mental  regulation  of  the  business.  He 
charged  that  it  is  the  distributors  who 
are  inviting  Government  intervention 
in  the  business  by  participating  in 
current  conferences  with  the  Depart- 
ment of  Commerce. 

Resolutions  condemning  the  making 
available  of  any  films  for  16mm.  use 
and  the  appearance  of  film  stars  on 
radio  programs  were  presented  and 
adopted  as  the  convention  adjourned. 


Business  in  Mexico, 
Cuba  Hailed  as  Good 

No  difficulty  for  U.  S.  distributors 
in  Mexico  in  renewing  union  contracts 
when  they  expire  in  August  is  an- 
ticipated. Max  Gomez,  RKO  manager 
for  Mexico,  declared  yesterday.  Con- 
struction of  two  new  deluxe  houses  in 
Mexico  City  is  proceeding  and  they 
may  be  open  by  the  first  of  next  year, 
he  said,  and  there  is  some  theatre  con- 
struction outside  of  Mexico  City. 

Appeal  of  native-produced  Spanish 
language  films  is  declining  as  the 
novelty  is  wearing  off,  F.  S.  Gulberson, 
RKO  manager  in  Panama  and  neigh- 
boring Central  American  countries,  as- 
serted. As  a  result,  American  films 
are  gaining,  although  business  is 
hampered  by  entertainment,  sales  and 
income  taxes  and  the  slackening  of 
tourist  trade  in  Panama,  he  added. 

Cuban  producers  have  released  about 
12  films  since  they  started  production 
about  a  yrear  ago,  but  this  has  merely 
created  new  film  audiences  and  has  not 
affected  attendance  at  American  films, 
according  to  Pedro  Saenz,  Cuban 
manager.  Several  efforts  to  raise 
admission  prices  have  been  unsuccess- 
ful, he  said. 

Gomez,  Gulberson  and  Saenz  are 
here  for  the  RKO  convention. 


Broadway  Hopes 
For  Early  Pickup 

Business  along  Broadway 
continued  in  the  doldrums 
yesterday  with  most  man- 
agers looking  forward  to  an 
upturn  in  the  next  week  or 
two  when  the  World's  Fair 
visitors  may  start  their  trek 
to  New  York. 

"The  Sun  Never  Sets" 
grossed  an  estimated  $65,000 
at  the  Music  Hall.  At  the 
Capitol,  "Six  Thousand 
Enemies"  was  withdrawn 
after  six  days,  with  an  es- 
timated $11,000,  and  "Tarzan 
Finds  A  Son"  opened  a  day 
early. 

"Juarez"  drew  an  estimated 
$35,000  at  the  Strand  in  its 
second  week.  "Young  Mr.  Lin- 
coln" attracted  an  estimated 
$29,500  at  the  Roxy  in  its 
second  week.  Both  are  held 
over.  "SOS  Tidal  Wave"  will 
open  at  the  Criterion  next 
Wednesday. 


Huston  in  Kipling  Film 

Hollywood,  June  15. — Walter  Hus- 
ton was  signed  today  by  Paramount 
for  Kipling's  "The  Light  That  Fail- 
ed," replacing  Thomas  Mitchell,  who 
is  busy  on  another  lot. 


Herbert  Cohen  Rites 

Hollywood,  June  IS. — Funeral  ser 
vices    will    be    held    tomorrow  for 
Herbert  Cohen,  26,  associate  producer 
on  RKO  shorts,  and  son  of  Maury  M 
Cohen. 


UA  Demands 
Facts,  Labels 
U.S.  Evasive 


(Continued  from  pane  1) 

identical  to  those  which  Columbia 
Pictures  Corp.  will  apply  for  to  Judge 
Clancy  at  a  hearing  scheduled  today.  ' 

Information  concerning  the  date 
when  United  Artists  allegedly  entered 
the  conspiracy,  production  of  alleged 
contracts  covering  division  of  U.  S. 
territory,  a  statement  of  specific  un- 
fair selling  practices  conducted  by 
United  Artists,  with  the  names  of  ex- 
hibitors and  theatres  that  overbuy  is 
requested. 

The  application  also  attacks  the  con- 
stantly used  phrase,  "for  many  years 
last  past"  referring  to  the  dates  of 
various  alleged  monopolistic  practices 
and  asks  for  more  specific  dates. 

The  Government  is  attempting 
"through  some  fanciful  theory"  to 
force  competition  in  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry,  Raftery  stated,  but  has 
no  evidence  of  any  conspiracy  prac- 
tices by  United  Artists.  Numerous 
examinations  by  United  Artists  wit- 
nesses conducted  by  the  Government 
conclusively  prove  this  lack  of  evi- 
dence, he  continued,  and  further  show 
that  United  Artists  is  "in  no  wise  con- 
cerned in  the  controversy  which  the 
U.  S.  is  having  with  some  of  the 
other  defendants." 


Florida  Town  Sets 
Amusements  Tax 

Ft.  Myers,  Fla.,  June  15. — The  city 
council  has  passed  an  amusement  tax 
to  obtain  money  for  welfare  purposes, 
adding  five  cents  to  all  motion  picture, 
boxing  show  and  circus  tickets  selling 
for  more  than  15  cents  and  up  to  and 
including  50  cents,  with  a  10-cent  tax 
on  tickets  selling  for  more  than  50 
cents. 

All  money  collected  from  this  tax 
will  be  earmarked  for  what  Mayor 
Shapard  and  Chairman  Dave  Ireland 
of  the  Lee  County  Welfare  Federation 
agreed  was  an  "alarming  increase  in 
cost  of  taking  care  of  the  poor  sick 
and  unemployed." 


English  Producer 
Groups  in  Merger 

London,  June  15. — Film  Production 
Employers'  Federation  and  the  Film 
Producers'  Association  have  completed 
a  merger.  The  latter  organization  for- 
merly was  the  Film  Group  of  the 
Federation  of  British  Industries. 

Members  of  the  council  of  the 
merged  organization  include :  Capt. 
Richard  Norton,  former  chairman  of 
the  Employers'  Federation,  chairman ; 
Francis  W.  Baker,  R.  Baker,  S.  W. 
Smith,  L.  G.  Hill,  Paul  Kimberley, 
Alexander  Korda,  E.  Harry  George. 


Decision  Reserved 
In  Plagiarism  Suit 

Decision  was  reserved  yesterday  by 
U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  on 
cross-appeals  of  M-G-M  and  Edward 
Sheldon  and  Margaret  Ayer  Barnes, 
authors,  who  were  awarded  $532,000 
for  alleged  plagiarism  of  "Dishonored 
Lady"  in  the  M-G-M  film,  "Letty 
Lynton." 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  16,  IS 


'Dr.  Kildare' 
Gets  $32,500 
To  Lead  Hub 


Boston,  June  15. — "Calling  Dr.  Kil- 
dare" dualling  with  "Bridal  Suite,"  at 
Loew's  Orpheum  and  State  drew  high 
money  with  a  total  of  $32,500,  $19,000 
and  $13,500  respectively  for  the  two 
houses. 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  and  "Boy 
Friend"  took  a  good  $16,000  at  the 
Metropolitan. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  14 : 

"Mystery  of  Mr.  Wong"  (Mono.)  (3  days 

with  vaude.) 
"Wolf  Call'"  (Mono.)   (3  days,  with  vaude.) 
"The  Mysterious  Miss  X"  (Rep.)  (4  days) 
"Woman  Doctor"  (Rep.)  (2  days) 
"Yes,  My  Darling:  Daughter"  (W.  B.)  (2 

days) 

"Pardon  Our  Nerve"  (20th-Fox)  (2  days) 

RKO  KEITH  BOSTON— (3,200)  (20c-30c- 
40c).     Gross,  $S,000.     (Average,  $8,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"The  Family  Next  Door"  (Univ.) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2,907)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)   7   days,   2nd  week.      Gross:  $12,500. 
(Average,  $14,000) 
"Juarez"   (W.  B.) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,797)  (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average, 
$8,500) 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

FENWAY— (1,382)  (25c -35c -40c -55c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average, 
$5,300) 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"Boy  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average, 
$14,500) 

"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM — (2,900)  (25c-35c- 
40c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average, 
$14,000) 

"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,600)  (25c-35c-40c- 
55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,500.  (Average, 
$10,500) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 

SCOLLAY—  (2,500)  (25c-35c-40c-50e)  7 
days.  Both  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Av- 
erage, $5,000) 


'Angels'  at  $5,500 
In  Oklahoma  City 

Oklahoma  City,  June  15. — "Only 
Angels  Have  Wings"  scored  here, 
with  $5,500  at  the  State,  in  a  week 
of  good  grosses  despite  cool  weather. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  8: 

"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

CRITERION — (1,500)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,100.    (Average,  $5,500) 
"The  Eagle  and  the  Hawk" 
"The  Code  of  the  Streets"  (Univ.) 

LIBERTY— (1,200)  (20c-25c)  4  days.  Gross: 
$2,800.    (Average.  $1,800) 
"For  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

LIBERTY— (1,200)  (20c-25c)  3  days.  Gross: 
$700.    (Average,  $700) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

MIDWEST— (1,500)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average,  $4,200) 
"Broadway  Serenade"  (M-G-M) 

PLAZA— (750)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days.  (Re- 
turn).   Gross:  $1,100.    (Average,  $1,700) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

STATE— (1,100)  (20c-25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,500.    (Average,  $3,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"   (U.  A.) 

TOWER— ($1,000)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $1,500.    (Average,  $2,500) 


Increase  License  Fee 

Marshfield,  Wis.,  June  15. — The 
City  Council  has  raised  the  annual 
theatre  license  fee  from  $10  to  $50. 
Marshfield  has  three  houses,  the  New 
Adler,  Adler  and  Relda,  all  operated 
by  J.  P.  Adler. 


Theatre*  Personnel  Notes 


Shift  S.  C.  Managers 

Columbia,  S.  C,  June  15. — Wallace 
Martin,  now  assistant  manager  of  the 
Palmetto,  has  been  appointed  manager 
of  the  new  Five  Points,  which  will 
open  July  1.  Bradley  Reese,  assistant 
manager  of  the  Ritz,  goes  to  the  Pal- 
metto. John  Fitzgerald,  Jr.,  will  be- 
come assistant  manager  of  the  Ritz. 


Dickinson  Changes 

Kansas  City,  June  15.— L.  A.  Chat- 
ham has  replaced  Ted  Siler  as  man- 
ager of  the  Booth  and  Mainstreet, 
Independence,  Kan.,  for  Griffith-Dick- 
inson Theatres,  Inc.  Sam  Carr  is  the 
new  manager  of  the  Dickinson  at 
Osage  City,  Kan.  He  succeeds  Ed 
Smith,  resigned.  Harold  Sachse  has 
gone  to  Slater,  Mo.,  as  manager  of 
the  Dickinson,  succeeding  Gordon 
Howard. 


Griffith  Buys  Two 

Kansas  City,  June  15.  —  Griffith 
Amusement  Co.  interests  have  pur- 
chased the  Whiteway  from  A.  W. 
Pugh,  and  the  Klock  from  Glen  E. 
Klock,  both  at  Fredonia,  Kan. 


Acquire  Indiana  House 

Winslow,  Ind.,  June  15. — McCord 
&  Kemp,  operators  of  the  Star  here 
several  years,  have  sold  the  house  to 
Mrs.  Rose  Eskind  and  her  son, 
Irving  Eskind. 


Sproule  Retakes  Theatre 

Kansas  City,  June  15. — Lee  Sproule 
has  taken  back  the  Star,  Clay  Center, 
Kan.,  from  Max  Davisson. 


Remodel  Arkansas  Houses 

Hardy,  Ark.,  June  15. — The  Big- 
gers  Building  has  been  remodeled  for 
the  Hays  Theatre  here.  The  Ozark 
Amusement  Co.  has  remodeled  its 
theatre  and  installed  new  equipment. 


7  Theatres  Renew  Altec 

Westland  Theatres,  Inc.,  of  Colo- 
rado Springs,  Colo.,  has  renewed 
sound  service  contracts  with  Altec  for 
seven  theatres  and  has  added  two 
more  to  Altec  service.  Victory  The- 
atres of  Denver  have  also  renewed 
with  Altec. 


Shift  Sparks  Managers 

Lakeland,  Fla.,  June  15. — Resigna- 
tion of  Myron  Booth  as  manager  of 
the  Lakeland  theatres  and  the  ap- 
pointment of  C.  T.  Chapin,  manager 
of  Sparks  houses  at  Barstow,  was 
disclosed  by  B.  B.  Garner,  general 
manager  of  the  Sparks  circuit. 


To  Reopen  in  Iowa 

Pomeroy,  la.,  June  15. — George 
Storms  of  Des  Moines  has  bought  the 
Palm  here  and  will  reopen  it  soon.  It 
has  been  closed  for  some  time. 


Renovate  Wisconsin  House 

Waupaca,  Wis.,  June  15. — Palace 
here  is  being  thoroughly  renovated  in- 
cluding the  addition  of  a  new  canopy, 
remodeled  lobby,  and  new  air  condi- 
tioning system. 


Manager  in  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee,  June  15.— Stanley  Se- 
gelbaum,  former  manager  of  Fox's 
Miller,  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  circuit's  State  here. 


Griffith  Plans  Theatre 

Oklahoma  City,  June  15. — Grif- 
fith Amusement  Co.  is  remodeling  a 
building  in  Sapulpa,  Okla.,  to  be  used 
for  a  theatre.  James  Zartaludes  will 
be  manager. 


Standard  Theatres  Shifts 

Oklahoma  City,  June  15. — James 
Adams,  manager  of  the  Warner,  oper- 
ated by  Standard  Theatres  Corp.,  has 
resigned  and  has  been  replaced  by 
Julius  Krisch,  assistant  booker  for 
Standard.  Paul  Rice,  chief  usher  at 
the  Midwest,  has  been  promoted  to 
assistant  manager  under  Spence 
Pierce,  succeeding  Owen  B.  Robert. 


Shift  Cincinnati  Prices 

Cincinnati,  June  15. — RKO  fami- 
ly, which  recently  advanced  its  scale 
from  10  and  20  cents  to  20  and  30 
cents,  and  went  from  three  changes 
of  single  features  to  a  twice-weekly 
change  of  duals,  has  reduced  prices 
to  15  and  25  cents,  and  reinstated  the 
single  features  policy,  changing  three 
times  weekly. 


To  Reopen  in  Connecticut 

Walnut  Beach,  Conn.,  June  15. — 
Albert  L.  Smith  will  open  the  350- 
seat  Tower  on  July  1,  after  being 
closed  for  the  winter.  He  also  operates 
the  Colonial. 


Mooney  Adds  Booker 

Cleveland,  June  15.  —  Milton  A. 
Mooney,  head  of  Cooperative  Theatres 
of  Ohio,  has  added  James  Mooney  to 
his  Cincinnati  booking  force,  which 
now  includes  three  bookers. 


Forms  Partnership 

Marshalltown,  la.,  June  15. — E. 
W.  Kerr  of  Council  Bluffs,  la.,  man- 
ager of  a  circuit  in  Missouri,  Nebraska 
and  Iowa,  has  bought  a  partnership 
with  M.  C.  Rosckopf  and  Sam  Hor- 
witz,  owners  of  the  Casino  here.  The 
partnership  was  formed  for  the  pur- 
pose of  remodeling  and  reopening  the 
Odeon  here,  closed  for  several  years. 


Conn.  Airdrome  Ready 

Middletown,  Conn.,  June  14. — Sal- 
vatore  Adorno,  former  operator  of 
three  Middletown  houses,  will  open 
his  750-seat  Airdrome  on  June  24. 


Providence  Gives  $7,000  to  'Juarez' 


Providence,  June  15. — With  five 
instead  of  the  usual  six  downtown 
houses  operating,  best  business  was 
garnered  by  the  Majestic,  $7,000  with 
"Juarez." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  7-8: 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
"North  Sea"  (Lenauer) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $7,000) 


"Captain  Fury"  (U.A.) 

"The  Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,230)   (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.   Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

STRAND— (2,100)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,800.   (Average,  $6,000) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 

FAY'S— (1,800)  (25c-35c-40c)  Vaudeville.  7 
days.    Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Boy  Slaves"  (RKO) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.   Gross:  $2,000.   (Average,  $3,500) 


Denver  Gives 
6Only  Angels 
Good$10,00 


Denver,  June  15. — With  half 
first  runs  above  average  and  the  r  I 
below,  "Only  Angels  Have  Win; 
took  the  lead  with  $10,000  z.ti 
Denver. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  e 
ing  June  14: 

"Rose  of  Washington   Square"  (ZOth-F 

ALADDIN— (1,400)   (25c-40c)  7  days, 
week.     Gross:  $4,000.     (Average,  $3,500 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  d. 
Gross:  $5,500.     (Average,  $6,500) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

DENVER— (2,525)    (25c-35c-40c)    7  d 
Gross:  $10,000.      (Average,  $9,000) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 
"6,000  Enemies"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  d; 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average,  $8,500) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (F.  N.) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  d 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average,  $3,' 
"Missing  Daughters"  (Col.) 
"Code  of  the  Streets"  (Univ.) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gr 
$2,000.     (Average,  $1,750) 


'Juarez'  Gets  Big 
$13,000  in  Detrc 

Detroit,  June  15.  —  "Juarez" 
"Jane  Arden"  gave  the  Michigan 
lead  with  $13,000.  First  week 
double  features  at  Fox  did  $12 
with  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  and 
Could  Happen  to  You." 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  ( 
ing  June  8 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Girl  from  Mexico"  (RKO) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-40c)  7  days.  G 
$5,500.   (Average,  $5,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"It  Could  Happen  to  You"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX — (5,000)  (20c-55c)  7  days.  G 
$12,000. 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
"Jane  Arden"  (W.  B.) 

MICHIGAN— (4,000)     (20c-65c)     7  < 
Gross:  $13,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Can't  Get  Away  with  Murder"  (W.  B. 
"Lone  Wolf  Call"  (Mono.) 

PALMS-STATE— (3,000)  (15c-50c)  7  < 
Gross:  $6,500.   (Average,  $5,000) 


1, 


'Nazi  Spy9  Garners 
$11,000,  Clevelai  l 

Cleveland,  June  15. — "Confess  Is 
of  a  Nazi  Spy"  took  the  lead  \m 
$11,000  at  the  RKO  Palace.  "Ifi 
Wonderful  World"  did  $8,000  1 
Loew's  State. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  wja 
ending  June  9 : 

"Ex  Champ"  (Univ.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)     (30c-3Sc-42c)     7  &U 
Gross:  $3,000.     (Average,  $4,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'     HIPPODROME  —  (3  ■ 
(30c-35c-42c)    7   days,   2nd   week.      Gi  i  . 
$8,500.     (Average,  $11,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"   (W.  B.'." 

RKO'    PALACE— (3,100)  (30c-35c-42c4S 
days.     Gross:  $11,000.     (Average,  $8,0(1 
"It's  a   Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3.500)  (30c-35c-42,||| 
days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average,  $11,CX  , v  , 
"Seme  Lake  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (30c  I 
42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Avei  M 
$4,000) 


Metro  Films  for  Roy  a 

Film  entertainment  for  King  Gee 
and  Queen  Elizabeth  aboard  the 
press  of  Britain  enroute  to  Englj 
will    include    three    Metro-Goldw  [ 
Mayer  pictures,   "The   Hardys  1 
High,"     "Huckleberry  Finn" 
"Maisie;" 


HOW 

HEY 
SOLD 


riCKETS 

♦ 

i  Harrisburg 
nd  Providence! 


Dmote!  Exploit!  It's  a  daisy! 
erybody's  crazy  about  M-G'M's 


'cubic 


see 
the 
next 
page 


I     HERE  9  YOUR  CAMPAIGN! 


THERE'S  MONEY  IN  "MAISIE '! 

Gay  crowds  became  pay  crowds  in  big 
Harrisburg  and  Providence  hit  engagements! 

IN  HARRISBURG  AND  PROVIDENCE  - 

everybody  Wanted  to  Know  -WHO  IS  MAISIE? 

Both  M-G-M  test  campaigns  created  a  lot  of  talk  and  good-natured  kidding  —  but  the  public  knew  "Maisie"  was  on  the  way!  It  played 
Loew's  Theatre,  Harrisburg,  Pa.  and  Loew's  State,  Providence,  R.  L,  where  even  the  people  in  the  stores  were  asking  "Who  the  H  ...  is 
Maisie?"  Exploit  "Maisie"  on  a  note  of  hilarity!  Don't  overlook  a  bet! 


NEWSPAPER  PUBLICITY  AND  ADVERTISING:  Commencing  two  weeks 
in  advance,  when  the  picture  was  booked,  the  columnists  of  the  three 
daily  newspapers,  the  Patriot,  Evening  News,  and  Telegraph,  started 
kidding  "Maisie"  in  their  columns,  and  have  not  missed  a  single  day 
until  the  regular  advance  stories  commenced.  "Maisie"  sent  the  col- 
umnists flowers,  candy,  arm-bands,  and  other  gay  presents,  all  of  which 
were  acknowledged  in  the  columns  in  a  good-natured  joshing  fashion. 

On  Thursday,  Friday,  Saturday,  before  opening,  personals  were  used 
in  the  papers,  seeking  information  as  to  the  whereabouts  of  a  girl 
named  Maisie,  known  as  an  explosive  blonde,  and  asking  that  readers 
telephone  Slim,  at  the  theatre  number.  The  theatre  cashiers  report  that 
they  actually  received  up  until  Saturday  night  76  telephone  calls  offer- 
ing to  help  in  response  to  these  ads.  Commencing  Monday  before 
opening  Maisie  replied  in  these  personal  columns  that  she  had  seen 
Slim's  ad  and  would  meet  him  at  Loew's  Theatre  on  Thursday  (the 
opening  day  of  engagement). 

Commencing  with  the  first  ad,  on  Saturday  before  opening,  the 
Harrisburg  Telegraph  started  a  contest  asking  readers  to  read  the  ads 
in  the  series  and  write  their  opinions  of  them  for  cash  awards,  stating 
that  it  is  a  brand  new  picture  and  that  the  picture  company  is  anxious 
to  know  if  they  are  the  kind  that  will  make  people  want  to  see  the  pic- 
ture. This  contest  runs  until  after  the  opening  day. 

The  advertising  campaign  commenced  on  Saturday  before  opening, 
with  a  2  column  by  4  inch  teaser  ad,  and  builds  up  to  the  opening. 

The  newspapers  are  giving  ample  space,  stories  and  art  in  their 
regular  picture  columns. 

KIDDING  THE  TITLE:  A  campaign  was  started  by  the  employees  of  the 
theatre,  school  children,  etc.,  in  fact  everybody  with  whom  we  could 
get  into  contact,  by  telephone  or  otherwise,  to  make  a  nickname  of 
"Maisie." 

.STICKERS:  10,000  stickers,  bearing  the  legend  "Who  Is  Maisie?"  were 
Jused  on  lamp-posts,  buildings,  fences,  telegraph  poles,  etc. 
3UMPER  STRIPS  ON  AUTOMOBILES:  50  of  these  were  used  on  the 
IjHarrisburg  taxicabs.  First  time  used  in  over  a  year. 
!  MAISIE"  BADGES:  Ribbon-badges  were  worn  by  the  cashiers  and 
"ushers  of  the  theatre  and  the  clerks  of  Murphy's  Dime  Store,  com- 
mencing a  week  in  advance. 

-JEWS-STAND  DISPLAYS:  For  fifty  news-stands  in  Harrisburgh  the 
(attendants  were  furnished  with  sun  helmets,  also  paper-weights  the 
size  of  bricks,  and  red  wooden  chairs— all  with  "Maisie"  ad.  News- 
stands are  on  street  corners,  and  the  chairs  are  placed  so  that  legend 
Jan  back  can  be  read  by  pedestrians  crossing  the  street  and  by  auto- 
nobilists  in  passing;  also  the  fronts  of  the  backs  are  lettered,  so  that 
f  attendant  is  standing  legend  can  be  read  there  also.  It  is  submitted 
hat  this  is  a  humane  stunt  in  this  weather,  and  that  the  news-stand- 
attendants  have  taken  hold  of  it  with  eagerness  and  appreciation. 
IME-HONORED  SUNDAE:  No  campaign  is  complete  without  a  sundae 
named  for  the  picture,  but  look  at  the  coverage  they  get.  In  Rolle's 
Restaurant,  on  Market  Street  (main  shopping  street),  which  is  having  a 
'Maisie"  sundae,  streamers  announcing  it  are  placed  at  the  soda 
:ounter,  and  also  in  every  booth  on  mirrors  (the 
ables  are  in  booths),  on  the  walls  of  the  restau- 
'ant,  and  on  the  menus.  Murphy's  Dime  Store 
also  has  a  "Maisie"  sundae. 
ETTERED  NAPKINS:  Rolle's  Restaurant  is  dis- 
tributing 10,000  napkins  with  legend. 
COOL  WINDOW  CARDS:  100  cards,  14x17, 
placed  in  windows,  bearing  the  legend,  "It's 
comfortably  cool  at  Loew's.  I'll  see  you  Thurs- 
day, 'Maisie'." 

WESTERN  UNION  BOYS  DELIVERING  POSTER: 

Five  Western  Union  messenger  boys,  carrying 


Robert  Young.  Ann  Sothern, 
th  Hussey,  Ian  Hunter  and  Clitf  Edwards, 
een  play  by  Mary  C.  McCall,  Jr.  A  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture.  Directed  by  Edwin 
reduced  by  J.  Walter  Ruben. 


hand-lettered  posters,  30x40,  with  strip  across  top  reading  "Deliver  to 
Loew's  Theatre",  are  riding  on  busses,  street  cars,  and  walking  on  main 
streets,  for  four  hours  a  day,  commencing  Monday  before  opening. 
GIRLS  ON  BICYCLES:  Six  girls  on  bicycles,  each  with  a  letter  of  the  title 
on  her  back,  rode  up  and  down  main  streets  of  town  day  before  and 
opening  day. 

GIRLS  WITH  CUT-OUT  LETTERS  SIX  FEET  HIGH:  Six  girls,  dressed  in 
shorts,  each  carrying  a  cut-out  letter  six  feet  high,  in  single  file, 
patrolled  main  streets  of  town,  day  before  and  opening  day. 
GIRL  IN  FORD  STATION  WAGON:  Girl,  dressed  in  cowgirl  costume, 
with  shorts,  and  sombrero,  and  with  wagon  bannered,  drove  about 
main  streets,  day  before  and  opening  day.  Wagon  is  being  supplied 
by  Ford  dealer. 

"MAISIE"  CANDY  KISSES:  10,000  candy  kisses,  in  cellophane  bag, 
bearing  legend,  "A  Kiss  from  Maisie",  are  being  distributed  by  girls, 
at  street  corners,  from  attractive  wicker  baskets. 

GOOD  OLD  BLOTTERS:  10,000  blotters,  bearing  the  legend  "This  will 
blot  your  letters.  'MAISIE'  will  blot  your  cares  away,"  etc.,  are  being 
distributed  in  office  buildings,  stores,  and  in  the  buildings  on  "Capitol 
Hill"  (State  employes). 

TRICK  FOLDERS:  10,000  small  oblong  folders,  with  front  bearing 
legend  "What  I  know  About  Men,  by  MAISIE",  two  center  pages 
blank,  and  playdate  on  back,  are  being  distributed,  and  enclosed  in 
packages  by  one  of  the  stores. 

GROCERY  BAGS:  10,000  of  these  bags,  imprinted,  are  being  used  by 
the  Isaacman  Brothers  Grocery  Stores.  These  stores  have  a  tremendous 
circulation. 

THE  OLD  RED  SPOT  CARD:  Cards  bearing  the  legend  (containing  red 
spot  in  center)  with  word  "CONFIDENTIAL"  at  top  and  rest  of  letter- 
ing small— "If  this  spot  turns  black,  see  your  doctor  at  once.  If  it  does 
not,  see  'MAISIE',"  etc.  10,000  of  these  are  being  distributed  in  every 
conceivable  place. 

BENCH  IN  FRONT  OF  THEATRE:  A  bench  is  being  placed  in  front  of 
theatre,  two  days  before  opening,  with  boys  sitting  on  it  and  large  sign 
on  the  back,  bearing  the  legend  "We  Are  Waiting  to  See  'Maisie','' 
etc.  The  bench  was  borrowed  from  the  Park  Commission.  The  boys 
will  be  extra  ushers. 

GIRL  WITH  SUITCASE:  Blonde  girl,  in  shorts,  carrying  suitcase,  with  the 
legend,  "I'm  'MAISIE',  the  explosive  blonde,  on  my  way  to  Loew's 
Theatre",  will  patrol  the  downtown  streets  for  several  hours  day  before 

opening. 

GIRL  IN  BED  STUNT:  This  is  the  honey  of  them  all.  Arrangements  have 
been  made  with  Kade's  Furniture  Store  to  have  a  window  furnished  as 
bedroom.  In  the  bed  will  be  a  blonde  girl,  apparently  asleep;  on  table 
beside  her  will  be  a  clock,  with  placard  bearing  the  legend:  "This  is 
'MAISIE'.  When  will  she  awaken?  Step  inside  and  make  your  guesses. 
Fifty  coming  nearest  will  receive  passes  to  see  'MAISIE',"  etc.  The 
police  will  let  this  stunt  ride  until  it  blocks  traffic  too  much.  It  will  be 
done  the  afternoon  before  the  opening  of  the  picture. 
RADIO  BROADCASTS:  Loew's  Theatre  conducts  a  daily  broadcast  in 
the  morning,  at  nine-thirty  o'clock,  over  Station 
WHP.  "MAISIE"  has  been  "plugged"  on  this, 
commencing  over  a  week  in  advance. 

Station  WKBO  conducts  a  "man  on  the  street" 
broadcast,  Monday,  Wednesday,  Friday. 
"MAISIE"  was  used  on  this  broadcast  on  all 
three  days  last  week,  and  will  be  used  again 
the  three  days  of  this  week. 

Paul  Walker,  columnist  of  the  Harrisburg 
Telegraph,  conducts  a  daily  newsbroadcast,  on 
Station  WKBO.  He  has  been  kidding  about 
"MAISIE"  on  his  broadcast  for  over  a  week. 


Jung/e  /Ioat,  with  live  chimpanzee  atop  elephant  is  part  of  the  big  showmanship  splurge  in  New  York. 
Extra  ad  space,  flash  theatre  front;  and  bigy  live-wire  campaign  launched  a  hit  show  in  gala  style1. 


CROWDS  HAIL 


THE  NEXT 


BIG  M-G-M  SHOW! 


when  you  ro 
up  the  sleeves 
you  roll  up 
the  grosses!" 


Boys,  there's  profit  in  promotion!  And  I\ 
got  the  shows  for  you!  After  "MAISIE 
there's  "TARZAN  FINDS  A  SON",  th 
greatest  Tarz an  show  ever  made.  And  wa 
till  you  see  »oN  BORROWED  TIME, 
and  "ANDY  HARDY  GETS  SPRIN( 
FEVER"  (just  previewed!  A  honey! 
Remember  this :  when  your  box-office  need 
a  friend  depend  on  The  Friendly  Company 


hi  Jay.  June  16,  1<W 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Accept  Fox 
Compromise, 
Court  Urges 


Atlantic  City,  June  15. — Accept- 
ne  of  a  settlement  offer  in  the  suit 
baght  by  Hiram  W.  Steelman,  trus- 
.w>  of  the  bankrupt  estate  of  William 
Kx,  to  recover  alleged  Fox  assets 
Kin  the   All-Continent   Corp.,  was 
lecommended   today    by  Bankruptcy 
Referee  Allen  B.  Endicott,  Jr. 

I  onii>rorn'co.  which  was  offered  by 
L|rs.  Fox  and  her  two  daughters, 
Miners  of  All-Continent,  involved  the 
»a\  ment  of  $600,000  cash  and  can- 
[dlation  of  $41,000,000  in  claims 
LRainst  the  estate. 

Dropping  of  All  Claims 

Included  in  the  settlement  was  the 
Bopping  of  all  claims  against  All- 
Lontinent  and  Fox  Film  Corp.  Fox 
Bin)  abandoned  $10,000,000  in  claims 
kgainst  the  estate,  which  is  included 
pi  the  $41,000,000  figure,  and  received 
n  return  release  from  $2,000,000  in 
Maims  against  it. 

I  The  Referee's  recommendation  is 
Mibject  to  the  approval  of  Federal 
iudee  John   Boyd   Avis.  Creditors 

'(nay  oppose  the  settlement.  Total  of 
UXOOO.OOO  in  claims  would  still  be 
•utstanding  if  the  settlement  is  finally 
approved.    These  claims  have  not  yet 

jfoeeii  adjudicated  and  may  be  reduced 
pr  disallowed  entirely. 

Question  of  discharge  in  bankruptcy 
or  Fox  was  not  involved  in  the  settle- 
ment and  the  motion  for  discharge  is 
hot  expected  to  be  heard  for  several 
inunths. 

Reasons  for  Recommendation 

In  a  20-page  opinion,  the  Referee 
Jted  his  reasons  for  recommending  the 
iiettlement.  He  pointed  out  that  the 
rust  fund,  set  up  in  1931,  had  shrunk 
•torn  its  original  value  of  $6,900,000 
o  $1,500,000,  as  revealed  by  a  recent 
Hudit.  Also  stressed  was  the  fact  that 
he  litigation  against  All-Continent 
night  not  be  successful  and  that  in 
uch  case  the  creditors  would  get 
lothing. 

The  $600,000  is  to  be  paid  in  three 
>arts — $350,000  in  cash  upon  approval 
>f  the  settlement,  $150,000  is  contin- 
ent upon  the  outcome  of  claims  by 
he  trustee  against  the  Capital  Co., 
ind  the  balance  of  $100,000  will  be 
•aid  over  a  three-year  period. 


SHORT  SUBJECT 

REVIEWS 


'Prophet  Without  Honor" 

{M-G-M) 

.Matthew  Fontaine  Maury,  founder 
of  the  U.  S.  Weather  Bureau,  is 
honored  in  this  subject.  Maury  starts 
as  a  young  officer  on  the  sailing  ships 
but  a  crippling  accident  confines  him 
to  shore  duties.  By  painstaking  re- 
search, he  discovers  a  method  of 
charting  currents  and  winds.  During 
the  Civil  War,  he  sides  with  his  native 
South  and  acts  as  a  foreign  envoy. 
Maury,  not  included  in  the  general 
amnesty,  cannot  return  to  the  United 
States  until  he  is  pardoned  many  years 
later.  A  moving  and  well  directed 
short  that  should  be  enjoyed  by  all. 
Running  time,  11  mins.  "G."* 


Skouras  Nine  Rises 
In  Baseball  League 

The  Skouras  baseball  team  jumped 
rom  fourth  to  third  place  in  the  past 
veek  in  the  Motion  Picture  League. 
Today  Loew's  opposes  Consolidated. 
Paramount  and  Columbia  play  tomor- 
ow.    Team  standings  follow : 

Won  Lost  Percentage 

'ohimbia    4  0  1000 

-"ons.  F.  Ind   4  2  .666 

Skouras    3  2  .600 

N'BC    3  3  .500 

<KO    2  2  .500 

Paramount    2  4  .333 

<ock.  Center   2  4  .333 

-oew's    2  5  .285 


Pathe  Film  Dividend 

Directors  of  Pathe  Film  Corpora- 
ion  yesterday  declared  the  regular 
luarterly  dividend  of  $1.75  per  share 
>n  the  $7  convertible  preferred  stock, 
>ayable  July  1  to  stock  holders  of 
-ecord  June  23. 


"Jockeys  Up" 

(Columbia) 

Excellent  and  entertaining,  "Jockeys 
Up"  reveals  behind-the-scenes  aspects 
of  a  jockey's  life.  Highlight  scenes 
are  those  showing  how  jockeys  con- 
dition themselves  down  to  weight, 
early  morning  dockers  timing  the 
horses  in  their  workouts,  the  social 
and  home  life  of  the  riders.  The 
actors  are  famous  jockeys.  Running 
time,  10  mins.  "G."* 


"Sand  Hogs" 

(20t!i  Century-Fox) 

The  difficult  and  thrilling  job  of  the 
man  who  go  below  rivers  to  bore  the 
modern  tunnel  is  portrayed  here. 
Two  projects,  the  Lincoln  tunnel  and 
the  San  Jacinto  Mountain  aqueduct, 
provide  the  background.  Lew  Lehr 
is  the  commentator  but  he  has  dropped 
the  comedy  style  for  this  reel.  Run- 
ning time,  10  mins.  "G."* 


"Cousin  Wilbur" 

(M-G-M) 

"Our  Gang"  enters  the  field  of  high 
finance  with  the  organization  of  an 
insurance  company.  Cousin  Wilbur, 
dignified  and  neat,  tells  the  gang  to 
issue  policies  against  black  eyes, 
spankings,  etc.  They  do  a  land  office 
business  until  Butch  decides  to  wreck 
the  enterprise  by  fighting  with  all  the 
policyholders.  A  good  comedy.  Run- 
ning time,  10  mins.  "G."* 


Theatres  Ask 
Canada  Talks 
On  Protection 


"Community  Sing, 
No.  10" 

(Columbia) 

With  Danny  Webb  as  M.C.,  who 
prods  the  audience  to  sing,  and  the 
King  Sisters  doing  the  vocals,  this 
community  sing  registers  favorably. 
The  King  Sisters  harmonize  well,  and 
photograph  very  attractively.  Tunes 
offered  are  "All  I  Do  Is  Dream  of 
You,''  "Among  My  Souvenirs,"  "I'll 
See  You  in  My  Dreams,"  "Thanks  for 
the  Memory"  and  "Rainbow  Round 
My  Shoulder."  Running  time,  10 
mins.  "G."* 


"Nick's  Coffee  Pof' 

(Terry-20tli  Century-Fox) 

A  new  restaurant  opens  in  Bugville 
and  there  are  attendant  celebrations. 
A  waitress  and  kitchen  boy  fall  in  love 
but  the  entire  community  is  thrown 
into  panic  when  a  spider  discovers  the 
place.  An  amusing  chase  develops 
with  the  bugs  coming  up  victorious. 
In  black  and  white.  Running  time,  7 
mins.  "G."* 


"A  Bully  Romance" 

(Terry-20th  Century-Fox) 

This  black  and  white  Terrytoon 
finds  Gandy  Goose  in  old  Mexico.  He 
discovers  romance  when  a  fair  senorita 
encourages  his  attentions.  An  irate 
father,  however,  insists  that  Gandy 
prove  his  bravery  by  engaging  in  a 
bull  fight.  He  does,  with  hilarious 
effects.    Running  time,  7  mins.  "G."* 


'Angels'  at  $6,300 
As  Buffalo  Slumps 

Buffalo,  June  15. — "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings"  held  its  place  for  the 
second  week,  with  $6,300  at  the 
Lafayette.  All  others  were  below 
average  in  the  early  June  heat. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  10 : 

"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

BUFFALO  —  (3,000)     (30c-55c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $8,900.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 
"The  Girl  from  Mexico"  (RKO) 

GREAT  LAKES — (3,000)  (30c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $7,500) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 
"Torchy  Runs  for  Mayor"  (W.  B.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,500)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $6,800) 
"The  Eagle  and  the  Hawk"  (Para.) 
"Nancy  Drew,  Reporter"  (W.  B.) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,200.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3.300)  (25c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $6,300.    (Average,  $6,300) 


Warners  Name  Summers 

James  D.  Summers,  supervisor  of 
checkers  for  Warners  at  the  New 
York  exchange,  has  been  named  per- 
sonnel manager  of  the  company's  the- 
atre zone  in  Chicago  and  Milwau- 
kee, by  Ralph  W.  Budd,  personnel 
director.  Summers  will  maintain 
headquarters  in  Chicago. 


'East  Side'  Draws 
$9,100,  Omaha  Lead 

Omaha,  June  15. — "East  Side  of 
Heaven,"  dualed  with  "Spirit  of  Cul- 
ver," was  good  for  $9,100  at  the  Or- 
pheum.  "It's  a  Wonderful  World" 
and  "Society  Lawyer"  pulled  $7,600 
at  the  Omaha. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  8-9 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 
"Rookie  Cop"  (RKO) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $4,100.   (Average,  $4,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (2Sc-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,600.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Spirit  of  Culver"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,100.    (Average,  $7,600) 


Florida  Rejects  Films 

Tallahassee,  Fla.,  June  15. — Pur- 
chase of  an  all-Florida  motion  picture 
by  the  state  road  department  for  $17,- 
798.25  has  been  disapproved  by  Gov- 
ernor Cone.  He  vetoed  a  bill  author- 
izing the  road  department  to  pay  Dave 
Newell,  writer  and  explorer,  for  a  pic- 
ture already  made  for  showing  in 
Florida's  exhibit  at  the  New  York 
World's  Fair. 


Toronto,  June  15. — Overtures  have 
been  made  by  the  conciliation  commit- 
tee of  the  Board  of  Trade  here  to  the 
Anti-Protection  League,  headed  by 
J.  O.  Scott  of  the  Weston  Theatre, 
for  the  calling  of  a  conference  to  con- 
sider the  subject  of  protection  with  a 
view  to  the  revision  of  clearance 
schedules  now  in  force  in  Canada  un- 
der the  standard  rental  license  agree- 
ment. 

A  message  has  been  conveyed  to  the 
league  that  the  committee  will  hold  a 
meeting  soon  at  which  concrete  pro- 
posals of  a  deputation  representing  in- 
dependent exhibitors  will  be  received, 
providing  the  league  wil  submit  a  defi- 
nition of  the  word  "protection"  which 
would  form  the  basis  for  a  broad  prin- 
ciple under  which  the  discussion  could 
proceed. 

Call  Protection  Necessary 

The  suggestion  has  been  made  in 
behalf  of  the  committee  that  the  pro- 
posal of  the  A.P.L.  should  contain  an 
official  recognition  that  a  form  of  pro- 
tection is  necessary  in  the  ordinary 
routine  of  the  film  business  in  the 
same  manner  as  prior  rights  are 
effected  in  other  lines  of  trade. 

This  is  taken  to  mean  that  the  con- 
ciliation committee  will  not  accept  any 
recommendation  which  does  not  in- 
clude the  acceptance  of  the  principle 
that  protection  in  some  form  is  essen- 
tial. The  total  elimination  of  priority, 
as  implied  in  the  title  of  "Anti- Pro- 
tection League,"  cannot  be  considered, 
it  is  understood. 

Seek  to  Modify  Clearance 

The  hint  has  been  made  that  the 
primary  intention  of  the  conciliation 
committee  will  be  to  consider  the 
modification  of  protection  in  relation 
to  third  and  subsequent  runs.  Gener- 
ally speaking,  the  clearance  between 
first  and  second  runs  will  remain 
practically  unchanged  because  of  the 
heavy  investment  involved  in  large 
downtown  theatres  of  the  larger  cities. 

The  conciliation  committee  is  made 
up  of  representatives  of  exchanges, 
ciircuits  and  organized  independents. 


Continue  With  RKO 
Arguments  Today 

Argument  of  appeals  in  the  RKO 
reorganization  started  yesterday  in  the 
U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  and 
will  be  continued  today.  Nathan  Ro- 
senberg, attorney  for  H.  Cassel  & 
Co.,  debenture  holders,  opposed  the 
plan  of  reorganization  on  the  grounds 
that  the  proposed  exchange  of  deben- 
tures for  preferred  stock  deprived 
debenture  holders  of  their  security. 
The  Court  refused  to  permit  the  In- 
dependent Stockholders'  Committee  to 
file  a  brief  in  support  of  the  plan  on 
the  ground  that  briefs  with  a  total 
of  more  than  300  pages  already  have 
been  filed. 


Film  on  Father  Duffy 

Darryl  F.  Zanuck  yesterday  an- 
nounced that  20th  Century-Fox  will 
soon  put  into  production  a  picture  en- 
titled, "Father  Duffy  of  the  Fight- 
ing Sixty-Ninth,"  based  on  the  life 
of  Rev.  Francis  P.  Duffy,  Chaplain 
of  the  165th  Regiment,  (the  Old  69th) 
during  the  World  War. 


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WARNERS 

Torchy  Runs 
For  Mayor 
(G)  (D) 

Glenda  Farrell 
Barton  MacLane 

Sweepstakes 

Winner 
Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Davis 
Paul  Muni 
Brian  Aherne 
(G)  (D) 

Nancy  Drew 
Trouble  Shooter 

Bonita  Granville 
Frank  Thomas,  Jr. 
(G)  (D) 

The  Kid 
from  Kokomo 

O'Brien 
Wayne  Morris 
(G)  (C) 

Naughty 
But  Nice 

Dick  Powell 

Waterfront 

Gloria  Dickson 
Hell's  Kitchen 

UNIVERSAL 

Ex  Champ 

McLaglen 
Tom  Brown 
(G)  (D) 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

Inside 
Information 

June  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Rathbone 
Fairbanks,  Jr. 
(G)  (D) 

House  of  Fear 

Wm.  Gargan 
Irene  Hervey 

Sandy  Takes 
a  Bow 

Baby  Sandy 
Mischa  Auer 

I  Stole  a 
Million 

George  Raft 
Claire  Trevor 

< 

b 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

Man  in  the 
Iron  Mask 

Hayward 
Joan  Bennett 

20TH-FOX 

Rose  of 
Washington 
Square 

Power 

Fay 
Jolson 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  Whelan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Rite  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 
(G)  (D) 

Charlie  Chan 
in  Reno 

Sidney  Toler 
Ricardo  Cortez 
Phyllis  Brooks 

Susannah 

of  the 
Mounties 

Shirley  Temple 
Scott 

It  Could 
Happen  to  You 

Gloria  Stuart 
Stuart  Erwin 

Mr.  Moto 
Takes  a 
Vacation 

Peter  Lorre 
Schildkraut 

Second  Fiddle 

Henie 
Power 
Vallee 

RKO  RADIO 

Panama  Lady 
(G)  (D) 
Lucille  Ball 
Allan  Lane 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range 
(O) 

O'Brien 

The  Girl 
From  Mexico 

Lupe  Velez 
Donald  Woods 
(G)  (C) 

Saint  in 
London 

George  Sanders 
Sally  Gray 

The  Girl  and 
the  Gambler 

Steffi  Duna 
Carrillo 

Five  Came 
Back 

Chester  Morris 
Lucille  Ball 
(G)  (D) 

Timber 
Stampede 

Geo.  O'Brien 

Career 

Anne  Shirley 
Edward  Ellis 

REPUBLIC 

Man  of 
Conquest 
(O)  (D) 

Richard  Dix 
Three  Texas 
Steers  (O) 

Southward  Ho 

Roy  Rogers 

The  Zero  Hour 

Inescort 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

S.O.S. 
Tidal  Wave 

Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

Mountain 
Rhythm 
(0) 

Gene  Autry 

In  Old 
Caliente 

Roy  Rogers 
Mary  Hart 

Wyoming 
Outlaw  (O) 

John  Wayne 

Mickey, 
the  Kid 

Bruce  Cabot 

She  Married 
a  Cop 

Phil  Regan 
Jean  Parker 

1 

PARA. 

Hotel  Imperial 

Isa  Miranda 
Ray  Milland 
(G)  (D) 

Some  Like  It 
Hot  (G)  (C) 

SMrUy  Ross 
Bob  Hope 

Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  Of 'Connor 
Stolen  Life 
Bergner 

Gracie  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
Janice  Logan 

Invitation  to 
Happiness 

Dunne 
MacMurray 
(G)  (D) 

Grand  Jury 

Secrets 
Heritage  of 
the  Desert 
(O) 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Bride 

John  Howard 
Heather  Angel 

Man  About 
Town 

Jack  Benny 
Dorothy 
Lamour 

^  'I 

O  «l  <o 

M-G-M 

Tell  No  Tales 
Melvin  Douglas 
Louise  Piatt 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  (G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 
Annabella 

W.  Connolly 
(G)  (C) 

6000  Enemies 

Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 

Tarzan  Finds 
a  Son 

Weissmuller 
0' Sullivan 

Maisie 

Ann  Sot  hem 
Robert  Young 

Stronger 
than  Desire 

Virginia  Bruce 
Walter  Pidgeon 

On  Borrowed 
Time 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Hardwicke 

They  All 
Come  Out 

Rita  Johnson 

COLUMBIA 

Blind  Alley 
(G)  (D) 
Chester  Morris 
Bellamy 
Dvorak 

Missing 
Daughters 
Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Lost  Horizon 
(reissue) 
Trapped  in 
the  Sky 

Awful  Truth 
(reissue) 
Western 

Caravans  (O) 

Clouds  Over 
Europe 

Olivier 
Valerie  Hobson 

Parents  on 

Trial 
Good  Girls 
Go  to  Paris 

A  Woman  Is 
the  Judge 

Rochelle 
Hudson 

?\ 

_ 

2  N 

g  SO 

4" 

a  n 
>-> 

s  © 

S  CO 

»-» 

•-4 

4  H 

'riday.  June  16,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


New  York  Preview 


"Man  About  Town" 

(Paramount) 

In  view  of  Jack  Benny's  popularity  rating  on  the  radio's  Jello  program, 
the  exhibitor  should  have  a  field  day  in  the  exploitation  and  selling  of 
tHi s  comedy  to  his  patronage.  At  the  same  time,  he  need  have  no  fear 
that  he  will  let  them  down,  since  "Man  About  Town"  offers  a  well- 
paced,  lively  and  decidedly  amusing  item  of  entertainment,  for  any  theatre, 
any  time. 

It  is,  essentially,  of  the  type  of  the  radio  programs,  transferred  to  the 
screen  with  the  enhanced  effect  which  that  transplantation  naturally 
affords.  The  gags  are  there  in  full  bloom,  and  they  kept  the  audience  in 
a  state  of  expressive  enjoyment  virtually  throughout  the  film.  Benny 
is  excellent,  but  the  picture  definitely  is  stolen  by  one  Eddie  Anderson, 
colored,  and  more  familiarly  known  to  radio  audiences  as  "Rochester." 

The  Benny  "butler"  and  performer  in  the  revue  Benny  is  staging  in 
London  is  the  hit  of  the  piece.  The  audience  waits  for  his  appearances 
on  the  screen,  then  greets  him  with  enthusiasm  during  and  after  his  bits. 
Fortunately  producer  Arthur  Hornblow,  Jr.,  and  director  Mark  Sandrich 
have  made  him  much  in  evidence.  That  does  not  imply  that  the  film 
dragged  without  him,  but  that  he  is  a  major  asset  to  the  film. 

Dorothy  Lamour,  Edward  Arnold,  Binnie  Barnes  and  Phil  Harris 
have  the  chief  supporting  roles.  Morrie  Ryskind  wrote  the  screenplay, 
from  a  story  by  himself,  Allen  Scott  and  Z.  Meyers.  Benny,  in  London 
to  put  on  his  show,  is  in  love  with  his  star,  Miss  Lamour,  but  she  con- 
siders him  too  solid  and  respectable.  In  an  effort  to  correct  that  im- 
pression, he  succeeds  by  accident  in  becoming  involved  with  the  wives 
of  Arnold,  titled  Englishman,  and  a  Frenchman. 

As  they  go  gunning  for  him,  and  he  ducks,  bits  of  his  stage  revue  make 
for  effective  musical  sequences  and  Rochester  keeps  the  laughs  going  at 
a  steady  pace.   It  is  an  excellent  piece  of  highly  saleable  entertainment. 

Running  time,  85  minutes.    "G."*  Charles  S.  Aaronson 


Vofits  Share 
Set  for  Union, 
Hoyts  Merger 


Sharing  of  profits  in  the  Hoyts- 
[rcater  Union  combine  in  Australia 
|  ill  be  about  75  per  cent  for  Hoyts 

125  per  cent  for  Greater  Union,  it 
inderstood. 
I  Understanding  reached  by  principals 
(ere  to  merge  the  two  dominant  Aus- 
a  ian  circuits  is  subject  to  ratifica- 
10"  by  the  respective  boards.  The  con- 
>lidation  will  include  all  theatre  in- 
vests of  the  two,  Hoyts  accounting 
br  about  120  theatres  and  Greater 
"riion  about  60,  including  affiliates. 
.  The   consolidation    will    solve  the 
(roblem  of  product-sharing  between 
-He  two  circuits,  which  is  believed  to 
lave  been  a  factor  in  the  film  legisla- 
Jon  passed  in  New  South  Wales. 

Harmony  In  Australia 

The  move  is  expected  to  bring  about 
eace  and  harmony  in  the  Australian 
ulustry  and  obviate  the  necessity  for 
overnment  intervention  because  of  the 
hortage  of  product  in  some  exhibition 
ua  iters. 

Xorman  Bede  Rydge,  Australian 
'nance  expert  and  managing  director 
f  Greater  Union,  leaves  tonight  for 
_  -os  Angeles  from  where  he  will  sail 
iVednesday  on  the  Mariposa  for  Syd- 
Ity,  He  has  been  here  about  two 
'lonths. 

Charles  E.  Munro,  Hoyts  managing 
irector  and  the  other  principal  in  the 
eal,  remains  here  another  few  weeks. 

General  Theatres  Corp.  Title 

The  combine  will  be  formed  as  Gen- 
ral  Theatres  Corp.  This  company  was 
n  active  operating  unit  during  the 
loyts-Greater  Union  pool.    When  the 
»onl  was  dissolved  at  the  end  of  1937. 
ieneral  Theatres  Corp.  was  continued 
s  a  corporation,   with    Rydge  and 
[unro  as  joint  managing  directors,  but 
ias  been  almost  completely  inactive  as 
n  operating  company. 
The  revived  General  Theatres  will 
•e  a  management  and  buying  organiza- 
tion.   The  merger  will   run  for  20 
Micatres.  It  will  combine  approximately 
.  0  per  cent  of  the  wired  houses  in 
Australia. 

Product  from  all  companies  will  be 
vailable  to  the  combine.  Hoyts  here- 
of ore  has  had  most  of  the  major  com- 
panies' pictures  under  franchise. 
Greater  Union  has  had  Universal,  Re- 
)ublic.  Monogram  and  some  M-G-M 
■md  Paramount  films. 

Farewell  Tonight 
For  Leo  Abrams 

Leo  Abrams,  recently  appointed 
Universal  short  subjects  sales  man- 
ager, will  be  tendered  a  farewell  din- 
ler  tonight  at  the  Hickory  House  by 
issociates  at  the  Big  U  exchange 
■vliere  he  was  branch  manager  for  the 
»a^t  ten  years. 

Those  who  will  attend  include  Max 
Cohen.  Big  U  sales  head;  Al  Herman. 
Jistrict  manager ;  Nat  Goldberg,  office 
nanager ;  Jules  E.  Ligett,  Harry 
Furst,  Ben  Price,  Phil  Winnick,  sales- 
men; Leo  Simon,  James  Bello,  Hal 
Rosenthal  and  Jim  Cumtnings,  bookers. 

Abrams  assumes  his  new  duties 
Tune  26.  David  A.  Levy,  who  suc- 
ceeds Abrams,  takes  over  the  post 
Monday  following  a  week's  vacation 
H  Virginia  Beach. 


*"G"  dciwtcs  general  classification. 


List  Party  Attending 

Hollywood,  June  15. — Traveling  to 
Waukegan,  111.,  for  the  opening  there 
of  the  Jack  Benny  Paramount  film, 
"Man  About  Town,"  will  be  most 
of  the  Benny  radio  program  cast, 
as  well  as  several  players. 

In  the  party  will  be  Mary  Living- 
ston and  Benny,  their  daughter, 
Joan ;  Bill  Morrow,  Eddie  Beloin  and 
Hilliard  Marx,  Benny's  writers;  Mrs. 
Andy  Devinc,  Producer  Murray  Bo- 
land,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Eddie  Anderson 


Waukegan  Opening 

(Rochester),  Jack  Daily  of  the  Para- 
mount advertising  department,  Don 
English,  Paramount  still  photogra- 
pher, and  Harry  Baldwin,  Benny's  sec- 
retary. 

Don  Wilson,  announcer ;  Phil  Har- 
ris and  his  orchestra,  and  Andy  De- 
vine,  will  go  on  later  via  TWA ; 
Kenny  Baker  and  Mahlon  Merrick 
will  go  by  train,  and  Dorothy  La- 
mour, who  appears  in  the  film,  will 
go  to  Waukegan  from  New  York. 


New  Republic 
Changes  Set 
At  Branches 


Jack  Berkowitz  has  turned  back  his 
Republic  franchise  for  Albany,  Buf- 
falo and  Detroit  to  Republic  Pictures. 
He  has  been  the  company's  distributor 
in  these  territories  four  years. 

Sam  Seplowin  remains  as  manager 
of  the  Detroit  branch.  A  successor 
will  be  named  for  Bernie  Mills,  man- 
ager in  Albany.  Arthur  Newman, 
formerly  Grand  National  manager  in 
Albany  who  was  recently  named  Re- 
public special  representative  there,  may 
remain  as  branch  head.  Berkowitz 
handled  the  Buffalo  office. 

Jack  Bellman,  eastern  district  man- 
ager, will  supervise  the  Buffalo  and 
Albany  offices  pending  the  appointment 
of  branch  managers. 

Berkowitz  was  president  of  Repub- 
lic Distributing  Corp.  of  Upper  New 
York  and  Republic  Pictures  Corp.  of 
Michigan.  The  franchise  dissolution 
was  on  a  basis  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned, according  to  Republic. 

Five  territorial  offices  are  now  han- 
dled by  the  home  office.  In  addition 
to  those  turned  back  yesterday,  Floyd 
St.  John  recently  quit  as  franchise 
holder  in  Los  Angeles  and  San  Fran- 
cisco. 


London  Notes 


London,  June  15. — General  pur- 
poses committee  of  the  Cinematograph 
Exhibitors'  Association  resolved  today 
to  appeal  to  Chancellor  of  the  Ex- 
chequer Sir  John  Simon  to  withdraw 
his  plans  for  film  taxation. 

At  the  same  time,  the  group  disso- 
ciated the  C.E.A.  from  any  threats  of 
reprisal  by  closing  the  screen  to  films 
of  Government  activity,  especially  on 
war  preparedness,  as  had  been  indi- 
cated recently. 

Short  subject  producers  estimated 
that  the  new  tax  equals  20  per  cent  of 
gross  receipts.  The  newsreel  associa- 
tion, in  a  statement  of  protest,  de- 
clared the  tax  to  be  unequaled  any- 
where in  the  world. 


Film  imports  into  Eire  showed  a 
decline  in  April,  1939,  as  compared 
with  April,  1938.  The  value,  how- 
ever, was  greater.  This  April  592,- 
172  feet  were  imported,  and  in  April, 
1938,  599,172  feet.  The  value  rose 
from  $17,000  to  $17,500. 


During  the  past  nine  months  300 
films  have  been  added  to  the  National 
Film  Library  created  by  the  British 
Film  Institute,  bringing  the  footage 
acquired  to  more  than  2,000,000. 


The  Films  Council  will  review  a 
color  feature  produced  by  Horace 
Shepherd  and  submitted  under  the 
quality  clause  of  the  British  distribu- 
tors' quota.  Its  cost  was  below  the 
minimum  specified  under  the  Films 
Act  for  the  distributors'  quota. 


Russ  Film  Chief  Quits 

Moscow,  June  15. — Semyen  Dukel- 
sky  resigned  today  as  chairman  of  the 
M.P.  Section  of  the  Council  of  People's 
Commissars.  Ivan  Grigorivich  will 
succeed  him  as  head  of  the  Soviet  film 
industry. 


i 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS 
REGISTRATION  BUREAU 


For  World's  Fair  Visitors 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  Telephone  Circle  7-3100 

Name   

Affiliation   

Home  Address   

Arrive   Depart  


New  York  Address. 
New  York  Phone... 
Members  of  Party. . 


Clip  the  Coupon  and  Mail  to  World's  Fair  Bureau.  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  16,  J 


AFM  Weighs 
Disc  Machine 
Jurisdiction 


Kansas  City,  June  IS. — Board  of 
the  American  Federation  of  Musicians 
today  in  convention  undertook  consid- 
eration of  a  proposal  that  it  assume 
jurisdiction  over  operations  of  record 
playing  machines  in  radio  stations, 
theatres  and  other  amusement  places, 
so  that  federation  members  will  have 
some  employment  in  operation  of  de- 
vices which  continue  to  displace  them. 

Also  referred  to  the  board  was  the 
problem  of  phonograph  music  in  tav- 
erns and  other  small  places  which  are 
Ascap-free.  The  convention  overrode 
the  committee  and  turned  down  a  pro- 
posal to  give  locals  the  right  to  de- 
mand for  every  network  sustaining 
remote  broadcast  by  a  traveling  band, 
a  broadcast  of  a  local  band  plus  the 
right  to  prohibit  all  remote  broadcast- 
ing by  stations  which  decline  the  rule. 

Only  nominees  for  offices  are  incum- 
bents, thus  assuring  the  reelection  of 
Joseph  Weber  as  president,  C.  L. 
Bagley  as  vice-president,  Fred  N. 
Birnbach  as  secretary,  and  H.  E. 
Brenton  as  treasurer. 


Washington,  June  15.  —  Federal 
Communications  Commission  has  or- 
dered hearings  held  on  the  applications 
of  the  Hot  Springs  Broadcasting  Co. 
for  a  new  1,310-kilocycle  station  at 
Hot  Springs,  Ark.,  and  Opelika- 
Auburn  Broadcasting  Co.  for  a  new 
1,370-kilocycle  station  at  Opelika, 
Ala.,  both  with  100  watts  power  night, 
250  watts  day. 

Hearings  also  were  ordered  on  the 
applications  of  KM  PC,  Beverly  Hills, 
Cal.,  for  authority  to  move  transmit- 
ter site  to  near  Culver  City,  extend 
time  from  limited  to  unlimited  and 
increase  power  from  500  watts  to 
1,000  watts  night  and  5,000  watts  day ; 
KSD,  St.  Louis,  for  change  of  fre- 
quency from  550  to  630  kilocycles  and 
extensions  of  time  from  sharing  to 
unlimited,  and  KXOK,  St.  Louis,  for 
change  of  frequency  from  1,250  to  630 
kilocycles  and  increase  of  day  power 
from  1,000  to  5,000  watts. 

Authority  to  construct  a  new  broad- 
casting station,  to  operate  on  1,390 
kilocycles  with  1,000  watts  power,  has 
been  asked  by  Hazelwood,  Inc.,  Or- 
lando, Fla. 

Other  applications  include  requests 
of  WISN,  New  York,  for  increase  of 
night  power  from  250  to  500  watts  ; 
an  amendment  to  the  application  of 
Frank  R.  Pidcock,  Sr.,  Moultrie,  Ga., 
for  a  new  station,  changing  the  re- 
quested frequency  from  1,500  to  1,370 
kilocycles,  and  a  request  by  WILM, 
Wilmington,  for  extension  of  time 
from  sharing  to  unlimited. 

Dates  for  hearings  on  broadcasting 
applications  follow : 

June  19:  Application  of  WJBW, 
New  Orleans,  for  extension  of  time 
from  specified  hours  to  unlimited. 

July  11:  Applications  of  WCOV, 
Montgomery,  Ala.,  for  extension  of 
time  from  day  to  unlimited  with  100 
watts  power,  and  KNEL,  Brady, 
Tex.,  for  extension  of  time  from  day 
to  unlimited  with  100  watts  night,  250 
watts  day. 


Banner  Lines 


By  JACK  BANNER 


GUNTHER  SIGNED  FOR  RADIO  .  .  .  Some  months  ago  we  chron- 
icled that  NBC  was  seeking  an  international  commentator  of  the 
calibre  of  Columbia's  Hans  Kaltenborn.  We  stated  Arthur  Krock  of 
The  Times  had  been  offered  the  job,  and  when  we  learned  that  The  Times 
would  not  allow  Krock  to  go  on  the  air  we  said  that  NBC  was  seeking 
John  Gunther  for  the  job.  Both  items  met  with  furious  denial  here.  Yester- 
day NBC's  John  Royal  signed  Gunther.  He  sails  for  Europe  on  a  roving 
commission  to  traverse  the  continent  in  search  of  suitable  air  material. 
He  will  not  have  a  set  schedule  but  will  come  on  the  air  whenever  the  occasion 
warrants. 

T 

BLACK  THROUGH  ON  MAGIC  KEY  Frank  Black,  who  has  conducted 
the  symphony  orchestra  on  the  Magic  Key  series  since  its  inception,  will  be 
succeeded  by  another  conductor,  probably  Nat  Shilkret,  a  week  or  so  after 
the  series  changes  from  a  Sunday  afternoon  to  a  Monday  night  feature. 

T 

TEXACO'S  PLANS  .  .  .  Texas  Co.  hasn't  decided  yet  on  Fall  plans 
for  the  "Star  Theatre,"  but  it  is  understood  the  client  is  dickering  with  David 
Broekman,  Ned  Sparks,  Ken  Murray  and  Francis  Langford,  all  of  last  sea- 
son's cast,  to  return  in  the  Fall. 

T 

EMBARRASSING  .  .  .  Dr.  Albert  F.  Murray,  engineer  in  charge  of  re- 
search for  Philco,  addressed  the  press  yesterday  about  a  new  improvement  in 
television  Philco  is  about  to  introduce.  The  improvement  is  to  remove  what 
is  known  as  an  ion  blemish  from  the  screen.  An  ion  blemish  is  a  dark  little 
spot  usually  seen  in  all  television  screens.  Following  the  address,  Dr.  Mur- 
ray turned  on  his  new  invention  .  .  .  and  what  could  be  seen  but  a  nice  little 
dark  spot  smack  center  in  the  Philco  screen.  However,  the  Dr.  assured  all 
that  it  wasn't  due  to  a  fault  in  the  invention.  It  was  a  hole  burned  in  the 
camera  lens  that  had  occurred  at  a  most  inopportune  moment. 

▼ 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Irma  Phillips,  script  writer,  is  in  town  from  Chicago,  as 
is  Carl  Webster  of  the  Webster  agency.  .  .  .  Ray  Katz,  WHN  daytime 
operations  manager,  to  Hollywood  today  for  a  month's  vacation.  .  .  .  Bob 
Crosby  is  in  town  to  discuss  program  matters  with  his  sponsor.  .  .  .  Charles 
Funnell,  formerly  with  McCann-Erickson,  joins  the  Compton  agency  as  ac- 
count executive  Monday.  .  .  .  Mary  Louise  Anglin,  script  buyer  for  Compton, 
returns  from  vacation  the  same  day.  .  .  .  Ernie  Watson,  NBC  maestro,  to 
Buffalo  to  direct  the  orchestra  at  Shea's  Theatre  for  the  Summer. 

▼ 

PLUNGING  SAMMY  KAYE  ...  Maestro  Sammy  Kaye  noticed  that 
a  horse  named  Sammy  K.  was  running  at  Suffolk  Downs.  On  a  hunch  Kaye 
bet  $50  on  the  nag  which  came  in  at  17  to  1.  Or  so  Dave  Alber  tells 
us,  and  we  never  doubt  a  p.  a. — much. 

T 

WHK  SALUTE  .  .  .  WHK,  Mutual's  Cleveland  affiliate,  starts  operations 
with  increased  daytime  power  of  5,000  watts  Sunday,  and  Mutual  will  tender 
musical  salutes  to  its  Cleveland  station  throughout  that  day  and  night. 

▼ 

PET  MILK  RENEWS  .  .  .  Saturday  Night  Serenade,  Pet  Milk  Co.  show 
on  CBS  with  Mary  Eastman  and  Gus  Haenschen's  orchestra,  has  just  been 
given  a  Summer  renewal,  effective  July  1.  The  week  following  the  renewal 
the  show  shifts  to  a  new  time,  at  9  :45  P.  M. 

T 

WOOLLCOTT  ARGUES  ...  CBS  executives  and  members  of  the  agency 
handling  the  Texaco  "Star  Theatre"  had  their  hands  full  with  Alexander 
Woollcott  Wednesday  night  when  he  appeared  in  the  studios  with  three  stories, 
all  "off-color"  in  the  opinion  of  the  authorities  in  charge  of  the  show  and  net- 
work. Woollcott  finally  agreed  to  delete  two  of  his  stories,  and  he  was  allowed 
to  broadcast  the  third — after  it  had  been  repaired  satisfactorily.  This  one 
concerned  the  presentation  of  the  Dionne  quintuplets  to  the  King  and  Queen 
of  England. 


FCC  Calls  Hearing  After 
Protests  on  Censorship 

Washington,  June  15. — Complaining  that  its  rule  restricting  in- 
ternational broadcasting  stations  to  programs  promoting  "good- 
will understanding  and  cooperation"  has  been  "misunderstood 
in  some  quarters,"  the  Federal  Communications  Commission  to- 
day bowed  to  demands  from  broadcasters  and  Congress  for  modi- 
fication and  announced  that  a  public  hearing  would  be  held 
July  12. 

The  hearings  will  be  confined  exclusively  to  the  one  rule  publi- 
cation, which  with  other  regulations  for  the  14  short-wave  in- 
ternational stations,  brought  charges  of  censorship  against  the 
commission  from  both  international  and  domestic  broadcasters, 
the  general  press  and  Congress. 

Senator  Wheeler  of  Montana  last  week  issued  a  warning  that 
unless  the  Commission  modified  the  order,  legislation  would  be 
enacted  specifically  prohibiting  such  censorship  efforts. 


Large  Screen] 
Television  SeJ 
Here  Tonigll 


Baird  Television  will  show  la 
screen  television  for  the  first  tini(j 
this  country  tonight  in  the  studi<"° 
the  Gaumont  British  offices. 

The  Baird  screen  is  20  x  15B; 
Baird  has  been  televising  spoiV 
events  in  England  on  screens  of  I 
size.  Three  theatres  in  London  h 
shown  prize  fights,  the  Oxford-C; ' 
bridge  boat  race  and  the  Ep! 
Downs  Derby  at  prices  ranging  ft] 
$1.50  to  $5  admission. 

Ian  C.  Javal,  commercial  directoi 
Baird  television,  came  here  in  A 
with  engineers  and  apparatus,  to  dj 
onstrate  his  company's  large  scr' 
efforts. 


Philco  Television 
Inventions  Shot 

Philco  engineers  yesterday  stage 
press  demonstration  of  two  new  t 
vision    inventions    developed  in 
Philco  laboratories.    The  demonsij 
tion  was  held  in  the  Women's  cl 
house  on  59th  St. 

The  inventions  are  a  flat  cathode 
tube,  and  a  tube  that  removes  the  j 
blemish  usually  found  on  most  t 
vision  screens. 

The  pictures  seen  on  the  flat  suri| 
of  the  new  Philco  tube  seemed  to  hi 
less  distortion  than  images  seen  on 
rounded  surfaces  of  other  televisj 
sets.    The  Philco  screen  is°  6  by 
inches. 


Canada  Radio  Set 
Production  Gai 

Ottawa,  June   15. — Production 
radio  receiving  sets  in  Canada  dur 
the  first  quarter  of  1939  totaled  33,(1 
with  an  aggregate  factory  selling  va 
of  $806,076. 

It  compares  with  72,710  sets,  wc 
$2,788,907,   in   the   previous  quar 
and  15,648  sets,  valued  at  $524,972, 
the   corresponding   three  months 
1938. 


Open  Mexican  Statioi 

Mexico  City,  June  15. — First 
made-in-Mexico     commercial  ra 
station  has  opened  in  Tepic,  capital 
the  Pacific  seaboard  state  of  Naya 
The  station,  XEXT,  owned  by 
state  government,  is  of  1,000  watts 
erating  on  1,260  kilocycles.  All 
equipment  was  manufactured  in 
Federal  Government's  radio  shop-1 
oratory  here  at  a  cost  of  about  $3/ 
which  is  claimed  to  be  less  than  1 
that  of  imported  equipment. 


Takes  KOWH  Post 

Omaha,  June  15. — Clem  W.  You 
Omaha  advertising  man,  has  been 
pointed  commercial  manager 
KOWH.  He  was  formerly  advir 
ing  manager  of  the  Sioux  City  1 
bune.  The  World-Herald  recer 
took  over  ownership  of  KOWH. 


Paul  Sets  News  Perioi 

Peter  Paul,  Inc.,  has  signed  a  ye; 
contract  for  news  comment  on  WE. 
starting  Aug.  28,  Mondays  throi 
Saturdays.  Platt-Forbcs  agency  pla 
the  business. 


FILE  COS^Y 


Uert, 


Picture 
idustry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


45.    NO.  117 


NEW  YORK.  MONDAY,  JUNE  19.  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


KO  to  List 
ilms  Today 
i  Convention 


apect  50  to  54  Features 
On  1939-40  Schedule 


KO's  product  lineup  for  1939-'40, 
ected  to  total  between  50  and  54 
lures,  will  be  disclosed  to  the 
enth  annual  sales  convention  this 
moon  at  the  Westchester  Country 
b,  Rye.  N.  Y. 

led  E.  Depinet,  vice-president, 
announce  the  new  product.  The 
ting  will  be  opened  this  morning 
I  Depinet  and  Jules  Levy,  general 
s  manager,  who  will  preside  at 
sessions.  George  Schaefer,  com- 
y  president,  will  meet  the  entire 
s  organization  for  the  first  time 
e  assuming  the  presidency. 

Barret  McCormick,  director  of 
:rtising    and    publicity,    has  pre- 
ed  an  announcement  book  which 
be  distributed  to  the  250  dele- 
's. 

.  A.  Schubart,  manager  of  ex- 
hge  operations  and  general  con- 
:ion  committee  chairman,  will  call 
roll  at  the  opening  of  the  session, 
sent  will  be  home  office  and  studio 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


cket  Broker  Bill 
Assured  Passage 

pellman    bill  to    limit    price  ad- 
:es  by  ticket  brokers  to  75  cents 
j  ticket  was  virtually  assured  pas- 
:  Friday  when  the  General  Wel- 
Committee  of  the  City  Council 
•d  unanimously  to  report  the  bill 
irably  on  Sept.  1. 
ouncilman  Howard  Spellman.  spon- 
of  the  bill,  predicts  that  the  Coun- 
will  pass  it  without  a  dissenting 
It  will  go  into  effect  probably 
he  beginning  of  the  new  legitimate 
e  season. 

he  bill  will  operate  similarly  to 
■*  Feld-Crawford    price-fixing  act 

will  permit  theatre  owners  to 
jlate  the  re-sale  price  of  tickets 
!  to  brokers  or  at  the  boxoffice. 
tave  A.  Gerber,  attorney  for  As- 
ated  Theatre  Ticket  Agencies,  at- 
■ced  the   bill   as  unconstitutional 

stated  that  it  was  unwanted  by 
itregoers. 

epresentatives  of  League  of  New 
k  Theatres,  Actors'  Equity,  Mum- 
is'  Union.  Local  802,  Stagehands' 
on.  Local  1,  Electrical  Workers' 
•on,  Local  3,  and  American  Fed- 
:ion  of  Actors  appeared  in  support 
:he  bill. 


At  the  Chilean  Pavilion  of  the  New  York  World's  Fair  on  Friday, 
when  the  Chilean  Government  and  Teatro  al  Dia,  Quigley  Pan-Ameri- 
can publication,  paid  tribute  to  the  American  film  industry.  Left  to 
right:  Martin  Quigley,  H.  Alban-Mestanza,  editor  of  Teatro  al  dia; 
Anibal  Jara  Letelier,  Consul  General  of  Chile  to  the  United  States; 
Will  Hays,  president  of  the  M.P.P.D.A.;  Senator  Rudolfo  Michels,  Com- 
missioner General  of  Chile  to  the  World's  Fair;  Alberto  Cabero, 
Chilean  Ambassador.    Story  on  Page  7.  (Cosmo  Sileo  Photo) 


9x12  Foot  Theatre  Screen 
Television  Amazes  Press 


By  JACK  BANNER 

Theatre  television  on  a  screen  12  by  9  feet  as  against  the  usual  home 
screen  of  10  by  7l/2  inches,  was  displayed  in  an  amazingly  successful 
manner  Friday  night  by  the  Baird  Television  Corp.  in  an  especially  built 
theatre  in  the  Gaumont  British  offices  on  Broadway.  Several  score  news- 
papermen attended  the  demonstration. 

A  variety  television  program  pre- 
sented by  NBC  provided  Baird  the 
entertainment. 

A  burst  of  applause  from  news- 
papermen who  have  viewed  all  types 
of  television  without  any  such  mani- 
festations, was  given  at  the  conclusion 
of  the  showing,  and  many  personally 
congratulated  Ion  C.  Javal.  Baird 
commercial  director,  under  whose 
guidance  the  equipment  was  set  up,  at 
the  close. 

It  is  the  first  time  that  large  screen 
television  of  quality  has  been  seen  in 
this  country.  The  pictures  were  bright, 
had  amazing  high-quality  definition, 
and  were  comparable  in  many  ways 
to  motion  pictures  of  no  more  than  a 
dozen  years  back.  The  apparatus 
demonstrated  Friday  is  capable  of  pro- 


jecting a  picture  20  by  15  feet,  al- 
though due  to  the  limitations  in  size 
of  the  demonstration  theatre  the  pic- 
ture was  restricted  to  the  12  by  9  foot 
size. 

The  television  projector  was  located 
in  the  center  of  the  floor  of  the  demon- 
stration theatre  approximately  30  feet 
awav  from  the  screen. 


Eddie  Cantor  Quits 
AFA  Council  Post 

Eddie  Cantor,  a  member  of  the 
council  of  the  American  Federation  of 
Actors,  announced  Saturday  that  he 
had  resigned.  He  was  critical  of  the 
way  AFA   "affairs  are  being  run." 


Distributors 
Press  Battle 
To  Win  Code 


Rodger s  Will  Call  Meeting 
To  Decide  Next  Step 


Distributors'  further  course  in  ob- 
taining exhibitor  adoption  of  the  trade 
practice  code  will  be  decided  early  this 
week.  Allied's  rejection  of  the  code, 
while  a  discouraging  factor,  will  not 
Jeter  the  distributors  from  putting  the 
pact  into  effect. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  general  sales 
manager  of  M-G-M  and  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  negotiating  commit- 
tee, will  call  a  meeting  of  the  com- 
mittee, including  sales  managers  and 
company  attorneys,  to  determine  what 
should  be  done  next. 

The  committee  plans  to  obtain  ac- 
ceptances from  exhibitor  groups  other 
than  Allied  and  individual  exhibitors. 
The  committee  feels  that  majority  of 
independent  exhibitors  favor  the  con- 
cessions and  is  proceeding  on  that 
premise  in  the  hope  that  arbitration 
boards  may  be  set  up  in  the  31  ex- 
change centers  by  the  start  of  the 
1939-'40  exhibition  season,  no  later 
than  Sept.  1. 

The  New  York  I.T.O.A.  is  pre- 
pared to  cooperate  with  the  distribu- 
tors' committee  and  to  line  up  inde- 
pendent exhibitor  support  nationally. 

Harry  Brandt,  I.T.O.A.  president, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


British  Tax  Burden 
Put  Upon  Exhibitors 

London,  June  18. — "As  it  is  impos- 
sible for  the  distributors  to  carry  the 
burden  of  the  new  taxes  without  cur- 
tailing the  supply  of  British  and  for- 
eign pictures  to  the  extent  of  putting 
many  theatres  out  of  business,  it  has 
been  decided  unanimously  as  the  lesser 
of  two  evils  to  pass  the  full  burden 
of  the  increased  taxes  on  to  the  exhibi- 
tors," the  Kinematograph  Renters' 
Society  (distributors)  announced  Fri- 
day. 

The  statement  expressed  keen  dis- 
appointment at  the  failure  of  the 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer  to  recog- 
nize the  "disastrous  consequences"  of 
the  "ill-advised"  tax. 

The  taxes  will  be  added  on  all  new 
rental  contracts  after  June  26.  The 
statement  asks  Parliament  for  an 
eleventh  hour  repeal  of  the  budget. 
New  amendments  allow  a  two-pence 
rebate  on  standard  width  educational 
short  subjects,  and  full  rebate  on 
sub-standard  educational  shorts. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  19,  193' 


4  Purely 
Personal  ► 

MARTIN  QUIGLEY,  accompa- 
nied by  Mrs.  Quigley,  two 
daughters  and  a  son,  sailed  Saturday 
for  a  motor  tour  of  Italy,  France, 
England  and  Ireland.  The  party  is 
expected  to  return  on  Aug.  18. 
• 

Alec  Moss,  Paramount  advertising 
head  at  the  home  office,  and  Irving 
Cohen  of  the  legal  department  re- 
turned yesterday  from  the  sales  con- 
vention. Moe  Kallis  of  the  art  de- 
partment, will  arrive  today  after  a 
stop  in  Kansas  City. 

• 

Allen  Rivkin  will  arrive  today 
from  the  coast.  He  has  just  finished 
the  story  of  "Sarong,"  Dorothy  La- 
mour  film  for  Paramount,  and  will 
spend  the  Summer  writing  in  Ver- 
mont. 

• 

John  Casey,  Montreal  ad  sales 
manager  for  20th  Century-Fox,  and 
Mildred  Dowbiggin,  secretary  to  Ed- 
ward English,  branch  manager 
there,  will  be  married  July  6. 
• 

Don  Mario  Urbini,  of  San  Jose, 
Costa  Rica,  owner  of  22  theatres  in 
Costa  Rica,  Friday  visited  the  War- 
ners' office  here. 

• 

Bob  Broder  will  leave  for  the  coast 
tomorrow  to  attend  the  American 
Bar  Association  convention.  He  will 
be  away  six  weeks. 

• 

E.  C.  Grainger,  general  manager  of 
the  Feiber  and  Shea  Circuit,  has  re- 
turned after  a  two  weeks'   trip  in 
Ohio,  visiting  all  the  theatres. 
• 

W.  Ray    Johnstone,  Monogram 
president,   and  Edward  A.  Golden, 
vice-president,  arrive  today  from  the 
Allied  convention  in  Minneapolis. 
• 

Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Warners' 
sales  manager,  is  back  from  the  Min- 
neapolis Allied  convention. 

• 

Mrs.  Oscar  Hammerstien  and 
Carol  Goodner,  actress,  arrive  from 
England  today  on  the  Queen  Mary. 

9 

Dan  Casey,  Universal  sales  mana- 
ger in  Australia,  will  sail  from  Syd- 
ney soon  for  home  office  conferences. 


EXCLUSIVE 

Official  Motion  Picture 

Photographers 
New  York  World's  Fair 

Have  the  sole  rights 
to   produce   and  sell 

STOCK  SHOTS 

eight,  sixteen  and  thirty-five 
millimeter 
of 

N.  Y.  WORLD'S  FAIR 

50,000  feet  of  stock  shots  available 

ALL  RIGHTS  RESERVED 
OFFICIAL  MOTION  PICTURE 
PRODUCERS,  INC. 

1441  Broadway  N.  Y.  C. 

Cable  address:  Rubycam 

EXCLUSIVE 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


T^ROBABLY  in  all  the  industry's  history,  the  trade  has  not  been  beset 
with  more  politics,  within  and  without,  than  at  present.  The  wonder 
of  it  all  is  that  the  business  keeps  going  along.  In  Washington,  there 
has  been  a  meeting  between  the  Department  of  Commerce  and  the  heads 
of  major  companies  with  an  apparent  view  to  dissolving  some  of  the  ex- 
ternal political  pressure  against  the  business  and  liquidating  some  of  the  mis- 
understandings between  the  Government  and  the  trade. 

Similar  meetings  between  the  Department  of  Commerce  and  exhibitors 
are  to  be  held.  But  in  the  meantime  the  Department  of  Justice  spokesmen  are 
saying,  "What  of  it?" 

At  the  same  time,  the  Neely  bill  is  pending,  and  in  the  House  another 
anti-industry  bill  is  being  prepared,  with  large  factional  groups  in  the  busi- 
ness engaged  actively  in  fostering  and  prompting  this  anti-film  legislation. 

There  are  pressure  groups  and  agitators  on  both  sides,  and  it  is  a  remark- 
able thing  that  although  business  in  the  trade  is  not  good,  the  trade  hasn't 
collapsed  entirely.  When  that  happens,  the  Government,  the  agitation  groups 
and  all  of  us  in  the  business  will  lose  out. 


npWENTY-TWO  New  York  film  critics,  the  other  night,  tendered  a 
A  dinner  to  a  press  agent.    That  was  the  first  time  many  of  us  knew  there 
were  that  many  picture  critics  here. 

It  was  probably  also  the  first  time  that  a  publicist  was  so  honored.  The 
man  is  Leonard  Gaynor,  who  recently  resigned  from  the  20th  Century-Fox 
publicity  department.  At  the  dinner,  which  was  held  in  a  little  East  Side 
restaurant,  Pietro's,  there  were  four  critics  from  the  N.  Y.  Times  and 
three  from  the  Daily  News,  besides  the  others.  From  the  Times,  there  were 
Frank  Nugent,  Ben  Crisler,  Tom  Prior,  Bosley  Crowther.  From  the  Daily 
Neivs,  there  were  Kate  Cameron,  Wanda  Hale,  Dorothy  Masters.  Others 
included  William  Boehnel  of  the  World-Telegrah,  Howard  Barnes  of  the 
Herald-Tribune,  Leo  Mishkin  of  the  Morning  Telegraph,  Rose  Pelswick  of 
the  Journal- American. 


TO  some  men,  there  is  no  such  escape  from  pressure  of  business  and  the 

routine  of  living,  no  greater  relaxation  than  owning  a  boat,  and  we 

learned  about  it  the  other  day  when  we  visited  with  Harry  Gold  and  his 
family  aboard  the  trim  craft  "Haliglo"  off  Kenilworth. 


NOT  until  you  get  away  from  New  York  can  you  appreciate  what 
a  great  city  it  is,  and  we  learned  about  it  very  pointedly  when  we 
returned  from  the  coast  not  so  long  ago.  Sitting  in  the  Sherry-Netherlands 
dining  room  overlooking  the  Park,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Murray  Silverstone, 
it  was  like  being  in  Paris,  overlooking  the  Bois — only  more  so. 

Or,  the  sidewalk  cafe  of  the  Brevoort  Hotel  on  the  outskirts  of  Greenwich 
Village  with  Ben  Washer  on  a  hot  summer's  evening,  sipping  a  Tom  Col- 
lins, where  you  get  a  little  bit  of  the  Old  World  atmosphere. 

At  the  Edison,  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Roger  Ferri,  one  evening  we  got 
that  hotcha  touch  in  cafes,  celebrating  their  departure  for  San  Francisco. 

More  active  stimulation  came  on  a  visit  to  Jack  White's  or  Leon  and 
Eddie's  in  the  heart  of  the  Roaring  Fifties,  on  West  52nd  St.  Jack  White 
has  been  called  one  of  the  greatest  night  club  performers  in  the  business. 
Once  or  twice  he  went  into  films  but  always  came  back  into  that  field  of 
amusement  where  he  has  had  few  equals.  Today  equally  prominent  is  Eddie 
Davis  of  Leon  and  Eddie's  and  between  the  two  they  corral  most  of  the  high 
jinks  seekers  within  the  city's  gates. 


"TpHE  N.  Y.  World's  Fair  publicists  issue  some  interesting  facts.  Among 
these  are  that  the  men  who  guess  your  weight  at  the  Fair  work  on  a 
strict  commission  basis  and  that  they  are  pretty  good,  because  they  earn 
from  $40  to  $95  a  week. 

Also  that  the  foreign  governments  have  spent  approximately  $31,000,000  on 
buildings  and  exhibits  at  the  N.  Y.  World's  Fair. 

The  average  visitor  to  the  Fair  during  its  first  month  remained  on  the 
grounds  for  seven  hours.  He  spent  $1.17  per  visit.  This  compares  with 
$1.08  per  capita  expenditure  at  the  Century  of  Progress  exhibition  at 
Chicago. 

The  weather  angle  is  always  important  in  show  business.  It's  the  same  for 
the  World's  Fair  and  according  to  the  latest  statistics  issued  from  there, 
there  were  only  four  rainy  days  during  the  first  month  of  the  big  show.  Dur- 
ing that  period  the  Fair  experienced  14  clear  days  and  13  cloudy  ones.  The 
highest  temperature  was  89°  on  May  31 ;  on  May  3  it  experienced  its  lowest 
temperature,  49°.  The  official  New  York  City  temperature  on  May  31  was  92°, 
so  that  it  was  3°  cooler  at  the  Fair. 


RKO  Radio  will  hold  the  premiere  of  "Career"  in  Des  Moines  on 
July  2.  Des  Moines  was  selected  because  of  the  film's  Iowa  setting.  In 
that  picture  there  are  two  of  Jesse  Lasky's  new  discoveries  from  the  first 
talent  quest  undertaken  in  connection  with  the  radio  program  "Gateway  to 
Hollywood." 


Trade  Chiefs 
To  Oklahoma 
City  Meeting 


Oklahoma  City,  June  18. — Lead 
ers  from  every  branch  of  the  film  in 
dustry  will  address  the  annual  con 
vent  ion  of  the  Theatre  Owners  a 
Oklahoma,  Inc.,  meeting  here  at  t| 
Biltmore  Hotel,  June  26  and  27. 

Speakers  will  include  Gov.  Leo: 
C.  Phillips,  Robert  O'Donnell,  hea 
of  the  Interstate  Circuit,  Texas ;  E 
Kuykendall,  president  of  the  M.  F 
T.  O.  A. ;  Jack  Corgan  of  Dallas,  on 
of  the  leading  theatrical  architects  i 
the  country ;  Dr.  Henry  Bennett,  pres 
ident  of  Oklahoma  A.  and  M.  Col 
lege ;  David  R.  Milsten  of  Tub? 
state  president  of  Ascap ;  Paul  Shor 
of  National  Screen  Service. 

Television  and  its  probable  effec 
upon  exhibitors  will  have  an  impor 
tant  place  on  the  convention  agendj 
Earl  Hull,  chief  engineer  of  WK\ 
Oklahoma  City,  will  discuss  the  tele 
vision  angle. 

Morris  Loewenstein,  president,  ~w\l 
preside  at  the  convention.  The  organ 
ization  has  inaugurated  a  monthl 
bulletin,  the  first  issue  of  which  ap 
peared  last  week. 


Don't  Drop  Federal 
Theatre,  Critics  Bet 

N.  Y.  dramatic  critics  jointly  se 
letters  to  U.  S.  congressmen  and  ser 
ators  Friday,  protesting  discontinu- 
ance of  the  WPA  Federal  Theatr 
Project  and  praising  it  as  a  "valuabl 
contribution"  to  the  modern  theatn 
Eddie  Cantor  telephoned  the  Whit 
House  directly  to  join  the  protest. 


Williams  Resigns 
Educational  Pos 

T.  R.  Williams,  treasurer  and  a  d: 
rector  of  Educational  Pictures  sine 
1932,  and  also  treasurer  of  Gran 
National,  has  resigned.  Williair 
plans  to  stay  in  the  film  industry  an! 
will  announce  his  plans  soon. 


Plagiarism  Suit 

Milton  Herbert  Gropper  has  file' 
suit  against  Warners  charging  pl;| 
giarism  of  his  play,  "Ex-Racketeer  I 
in  the  picture,  "Alcatraz  Prison." 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(.Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  ai 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Comparr 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,   New  York  Cit } 
Telephone    Circle    7-3100.      Cable  addre 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."    Martin  Quigle  j 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brpw' 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wa  I 
lerson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  _Sa ; 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertisii  j 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Micl , 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  He  j 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildin  1 
Boone     Mancall,     manager,     William  '. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Gold'; 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  ma 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London 
All   contents   copyrighted   1939  by  Quigl'  j 
Publishing  Company,   Inc.     Other  Quigl' 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Bett  i 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  M  j 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.    Enter'  ] 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  tl 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  tl 
act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  p  j 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreig ! 
Single  copie«  10c. 


onJa>.  June  1°,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


iKO  to  List 
Minis  Today 
it  Convention 


(Continued  from  pane  1) 

tacutives,  producers'  representatives, 
ign   delegates,    salesmen,  branch 
lagers,  district  and  division  mana- 

he  morning  session  today  will  be 
i  voted  to  a  discussion  of  the  windup 
a  current  season's  product  by  Depi- 
t  and  Levy.  Talks  by  studio  and 
iotlucer  representatives  will  follow. 
■The  afternoon  will  be  confined  to 
*  outline  of  new  season's  product. 
Id  the  evening  will  be  devoted  to 
reenings,  including  "Bachelor  Moth- 
"  and  several  short  subjects. 
Tomorrow  morning  Lew  will  dis- 
ss the  1939-MO  sales  policy.  Phil 
Ssman,  general  foreign  manager, 
111  be  chairman  of  the  afternoon  ses- 
>n,  introducing  the  13  foreign  dele- 
tes. Sales  and  district  managers 
d  home  office  department  heads  also 
11  speak  during  tomorrow  after- 
ion's  session.  The  delegates  will 
i-.it  the  World's  Fair  on  Thursday. 
Jack  Ellis,  song-writing  salesman 
the  New  York  exchange,  has  com- 
bed two  songs  for  the  convention. 
We're  Going  Places"  and  "Mr.  RKO 
udio  Jones." 

iComplete  list  of  those  attending  the 
n\  cntion  follows : 

-HOME  OFFICE:  President  George  J. 
rhaefer:  Vice-President  Ned  E.  Depinet; 
meral  Sales  Manager  Jules  I,evy;  S.  B. 
^Cormick,  director  of  advertising  and 
blicity;  A.  A.  Schubart,  manager  of  ex- 

•  lange  operations;  C.  E.  Smith,  western 
d  southern  sales  manager;  E.  L.  Mc- 
;'oy.  eastern  and  Canadian  sales  mana- 
r;  Harry  Michalson.  short  subject  sale- 
Imager;  W.  A.  Clark,  treasurer;  W.  V. 
rli  m.  comptroller;  W.  J.  Merrill,  as- 
lant to  Schaefer;  Sid  Kramer,  mana- 
r  print  and  negative  department; 
Harry  Gittleson,  editor  of  Flash;  Tames 
irk,  ad   sales   manager;   G.    E.  Young- 

<|in.  assistant  secretary;  W.  J.  McShea. 
sistant  manager  of  exchange  operations; 
hn  Farmer,  executive:  Harold  Hendee. 
"ector  of  research;  I.ou  Gaudreau,  pur- 
asing   agent;    William    Mallard,  general 

Efinsel:  I. eon  Bamberger,  sales  promo- 
n  manager;  Dave  Strumpf.  art  direc- 
•;  Arthur  Willi,  eastern  talent  scout : 
M.  Richey.  director  of  exhibitor  rela- 
ns:  George  Muchnic,  assistant  secretary; 
ttgers  Neilson.  publicity  manager; 
n  Grimm,  advertising  department; 
M.  G.  Poller,  manager  playdate  depart 
?nt ;  E.  J.  Smith,  contract  department: 
loli  Rolan.  publicity  department;  R.  V. 
iderson,  RKO  Pathe  News;  Lou  Miller, 
ntract  approval  for  west  and  south;  W. 
Dahler.   contract   approval   for  eastern 

I  S.  and  Canada:  William  Horne.  cir- 
it  contact:   Phil   Barbanell,  secretary  to 

-ties  Lew. 

DISTRICT  MANAGERS:  H.  C.  Cohen, 
stern:  W.  E.  Branson,  midwestern;  Nat 
vy.  eastern  central:  S.  M.  Sachs,  south - 
stern;  H.   M.   Lyons,   southeastern;  J. 

Maclntyre,  northeastern;  L.  M.  De- 
nev.  Canadian. 

PUBLICITY:    Jack    Lewis.    Jack  Level, 

ving  Shiffrin.    Tames  Bovle. 
HOME  OFFICE  TRAVELING  REPRE- 
:NTATIVES:  W.  A.  Burl-.   T    E.  Cash 

ton,  J.  A.   Downing,   J.   C.    DeWaal.  J. 

fangberg,  J.  J.  Schmitzer.  Elmer  Sedin. 
-OREIGN:  Reginald  Armour,  general 
iropean  manager:  Ralph  Handbury,  man- 
er    for    the    United    Kingdom:  Ralph 

We,  manager  for  Australasia:  Nat  Lie- 
skind.  Southern  South  America  super- 
or:  Gus  Schaefer.  district  manager  for 
ntral  and  Northern  South  Ameria;  Bert 
isman,  manager  for  Peru;  Max  Gomez, 
inager  for  Mexico;   Pedro   Saenz.  RKO 

jtributor,     President     Cia..     Cubana  de 

:  liculas,  S.  A.;  Leon  Britton,  manager  for 

•-  Far  East:   Bruno  Cheli.   manager  for 
azil;   Fred  S.   Gulbransen.   manager  for 
nama;  Ned  S.  Seckler.  Cuban  home  of- 
e  representative;  Gordon  New,  manager 
Trinidad. 

;OREIGN  DEPARTMENT,  HOME 
FICE:  Phil  Reisman,  general  manager: 
K.  Hawki  nson,  Latin -American  division 

mager;   Michael  Hoffay.  publicity  man- 


RKO  Executives  at  Sales  Convention 


NED   E.  DEPINET 
Vice-President 


GEORGE  SCHAEFER 
President 


FANDRO  HERMAN 
Vice-President 
Production 


JULES  LEVY 
General  Sales 
manager 


PHIL  REISMAN 
Foreign  Sales 
Manager 


r.  Mcdonough 

Vice-President 


S.   B.  McCORMICK 
Director,  Advertis- 
ing and  Publicity 


E.  L.  MeEVOY 
Eastern  Sales 
Manager 


CRESSON  SMITH 
Western  .Sales 
Manager 


A  A.  SCHUBART 
Mgr.  Exchange 
Operations 


HARRY  MICHALSON 
Short  Sales 
Manager 


FRED  ULLMAN,  Jr. 
RKO  Pathe  News 
Vice-President 


ager;  Alfred  Frank,  assistant  to  Hawkin- 
son;  Ben  Y.  Cammack,  assistant  to  Phil 
Reisman;  B.  D.  Lion,  European  division 
manager;  Edward  LTgast,  assistant  to 
Lion;    Harry    Ehrreich,    service  manager. 

STUDIO:  Howard  Benedict,  studio  pub- 
licity director;  Charles  Leonard,  studio 
publicity  representative. 

MARCH  OF  TIME:  Louis  deRochemont. 
producer;  Major  G.  Fielding  Eliot,  author; 
John  Wood,  treasurer;  Al  Sindlinger,  pub- 
licitv  director. 

WALT  DISNEY:  Hal  Horne,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  distribution;  Roy  Disney, 
general  manager;  Gunther  Lessing,  coun- 
sel; Kay  Kamen.  head  of  Disney  merchan- 
dise; Chester  Feitel,  assistant  to  Kay  Ka- 
men; Wally  Feignoux,  Paris  representa- 
tive; William  B.  Levy,  London  represen- 
tative; Richard  Condon,  eastern  publicity 
representative;  Leo  Samuels,  manager  for- 
eign feature  contracts;  James  Finey,  man- 
ager domestic  feature  contracts. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS:  Fred  Ullman, 
vice-president  and  general  manager; 
Frank  Donovan,  production  manager. 


SOL      LESSER  REPRESENTATIVE: 

Louis  Hyman,  Principal  Productions. 

W.  G.  Van  Schmus,  director  of  Music 
Hall;  Jack  Pegler,  Lord  &  Thomas  rep- 
resentative; Charles  Casanave,  National 
Screen  representative. 

RKO  THEATRES:  A.  Christensen,  vice- 
president  Irving  Trust  Co. ;  O.  C.  Doering, 
Jr.,  counsel  to  Irving  Trust  Co.;  J.  J. 
O'Connor,  general  manager  in  charge  of 
theatre  operation;  L.  E.  Thompson,  theatre 
operations;  Leon  Goldberg,  treasurer;  Max 
Fellerman,  assistant  film  buyer;  Fred 
Meyers,  chief  film  buyer;  Malcom  Kings- 
berg,  vice-chairman  of  KAO  board;  Mort 
Singer,  division  operator;  Nat  Holt,  Great 
Lakes  division  manager;  H.  McDonald,  ac- 
counting department;  Jim  Brennan,  New 
Jersey,  Washington  division  manager; 
Louis  Goldberg,  N.  Y.  division  manager; 
Harold  Emdee,  N.  Y.  division  manager; 
Harry  Mandel,  director  theatre  publicity 
and  advertising:  Sol  Schwartz.  N.  Y.  divi- 
sion manager;  Tom  Gorman,  Chicago  divi- 
sion manager;  Ike  Libson,  midwest  division 
manager. 


Photographer:    Joe  Heppner. 

ALBANY:  B.  G.  Kranze,  branch  man- 
ager; G.  F.  Tucker,  Leon  A.  Herman, 
salesmen. 

ATLANTA:  J.  B.  Brecheen,  branch 
manager;  F.  W.  Salley,  P.  Harrison,  R. 
C.  Price,  H.  H.  Wright,  salesmen;  I. 
Stone,  office  manager. 

BOSTON:  R.  C.  Cropper,  branch  mana- 
ger; W.  H.  Gardiner,  H.  F.  Goldstein,  F. ' 
G.   Ross,   C.   L.    DeVizia,   M.   M.  Ames, 
salesmen,    C.    McGerigle,    office  manager; 
J.  P.  Smith,  student  salesman. 

BUFFALO:  C.  Boasberg,  branch  mana- 
ger; J.  G.  Chinell,  N.  L.  Sper,  E.  Lux, 
salesmen;  R.  Renz.  student  salesman. 

CHARLOTTE:  N.  J.  Colquhoun,  branch 
manager;  R.  F.  Branon,  R.  S.  Mitchell, 
F.  W.  Gebhardt,  salesmen. 

CHICAGO:  T.  C.  Osserman,  branch 
manager;  S.  Gorelick,  J.  Cozzi,  J.  T. 
Clarke,  H.  H.  Walders,  M.  J.  Kassel, 
salesmen;   R.   A.  O'Brien,  office  manager. 

CINCINNATI:    S.     C.    Jacques,  branch 
manager;    A.    L.    Sugarman,    J.    A.  Mc- 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


EVERYTHING  THAT  MADE 
FOUR  DAUGHTERS'  GREAT  NOW  MAKE 
THIS  PICTURE  STILL  GREATER! 


aug 


■Ml 


t  has  the  cast  of  Jrour 


Daughters 


JOHN  GARFIELD 

CLAUDE  RAINS  •  JEFFREY  LYNN  •  FAY  BAINTER 

DONALD  CRISP  •  MAY  ROBSON  •  Frank  McHugk  •  Dick  Foran 

and  THE  "FOUR  DAUGHTERS" 

PRISCILLA  LANE 
ROSEMARY  LANE 
LOLA  LANE  •  GALE  PAGE 


r 


MX 


the  dr 


ghte 


[1CHAEL  CURTIZ 

His  amazing  kit  record  is  still  greater  now!  ('Dodge  City' 
Lis  —  and  so  was  'Angels  witn  Dirty  Faces'!) 


was 


1 


lot  a  sequel  but  a  story  tkat  is 
production  still  greater  every  inch  of  tne  way! 

Original  Screen  Play,  fcj  Julius  J  and  Phillip  G.  Epstein  •  Suggested  tj  a  Play  by 
Dorothy  Bennett  and  Irving  White  •  Music  hy  Max  Steiner  •  A  First  National  Picture 


WARNER  BROS.,  Su 


) 


acfc  L.Wamer 

In  Cha  rge  of  Production 


Hal  B.Wallis 

Executive  Producer 


enry  w .  Dlaniee 

Associate  Producer 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  19,  1939 


Sidelights  at  the  Convention 


RKO  to  List 


Films  Today 
At  Convention 


(Continued  from  page  3) 

Knight.  A.  L.  Kolitz,  R.  Williams,  sales- 
men. 

CLEVELAND:  G.  Lefko,  Wnch  man- 
ager; A.  Goldsmith,  M.  E.  Lefko,  J.  Law- 
rence, salesmen. 

DALLAS:  C.  W.  Allen,  branch  mana- 
ger; W.  V.  Adwell,  J.  E.  Huey,  V.  H. 
Adams,  C.J.  Wheeler,  salesmen;  R.  Helms, 
office  manager. 

DENVER:  J.  PI.  Ashby,  branch  mana- 
ger;  F.  J.   Lee,   F.   P.   Brown,  salesmen. 

DES  MOINES:  L.  Elman.  branch  man 
ager;  W.  F.  DeFrenne,  E.  E.  Gruenberg, 
P.    Fine,  salesmen. 

DETROIT:  J.  F.  Sharkey,  branch  man 
ager;  F.  Bonnem,  M.  E.  Cohen,  Lou  Pa- 
dolf,  salesman. 

INDIANAPOLIS:  R.  E.  Churchill, 
branch  manager;  R.  L.  Brentlinger,  G. 
Hancock,   P.   J.   Fortune,  salesmen. 

KANSAS  CITY:  T.  R.  Thompson, 
branch  manager;  E.  L.  Dyson,  J.  Lewis, 
A.  A.  Renfro,  K.  G.  Howe,  salesmen. 

LOS  ANGELES:  N.  P.  Jacobs,  branch 
manager;  S.  W.  Whitehead,  J.  Ruben - 
stein,  J.  F.  Samuels,  salesmen;  Lou  Fink, 
student  salesman. 

MEMPHIS:  A.  M.  Avery,  branch  man- 
ager; Grover  Wray,  R.  V.  Reagin,  sales- 
men. 

MILWAUKEE:  A.  N.  Schmitz,  branch 
manager;  M.  Anderson,  H.  Melcher,  E. 
Spiers,  salesmen. 

MINNEAPOLIS:  L.  E,  Goldhammer. 
branch  manager;  W.  G.  Winters,  A.  F. 
Stern,  E.  C.  Stengl,  F.  Abelson,  Joseph 
Loeffel,  salesmen. 

NEW  HAVEN:  B.  Pitkin,  branch  man 
ager;  W.  Canelli,  salesman. 

NEW  ORLEANS:  P.  M.  Baker,  branch 
manager;  R.  E.  Pfeiffer,  T.  C.  Cox,  sales- 
men. 

NEW  YORK:  R.  S.  Wolff,  branch  man 
ager;  P.  Hodes,  E.  T.  Carroll,  J.  J.  Dacey, 
J.  Ellis,  L.  I.  Kutinsky,  H.  Zeitels,  sales- 
man; F.  Drum,  office  manager. 

OKLAHOMA  CITY:  R.  B.  Williams 
branch  manager;  P.  D.  Fielding,  C.  A. 
Blakeley,   Scot  Chestnutt,  salesmen. 

OMAHA:  C.  J.  Dressell,  branch  mana- 
ger; Sol  Yeager,  J.  Rosenberg,  R.  Olson, 
R.   F.   Egner,  salesmen. 

PHILADELPHIA:  F.  L.  McNamee. 
branch  manager;  S.  Lefko,  H.  W.  Tyson. 
M.  Shulman,  J.  J.  McFadden,  Jr.,  E.  J. 
Epstein,  salesmen;  C.  Zagrans,  office  man- 
ager. 

PITTSBURGIH:  H.  H.  Greenblatt, 
branch  manager;  R.  H.  Lange,  J.  Graham, 
E.    Lebby    ,    J.    P.    Lefko,  salesmen. 

PORTLAND:  M.  E.  Cory,  branch  man- 
ager; S.  S.  McFadden,  G.  M.  Engelman, 
salesmen. 

ST.  LOUIS:  R.  V.  Nolan,  branch  man- 
ager; H.  D.  Levy,  M.  A.  Raymon,  L.  S. 
Gruenberg,  salesmen. 

SALT  LAKE  CITY:  H.  C.  Fuller,  branch 
manager;  G.  Davidson,  A.  T.  Mabey,  A.  W. 
Baron,  salesmen. 

SAN  FRANCISCO:  G.  William  Wolf, 
branch  manager;  G.  R.  Seach,  E.  A.  Stein, 
C.  J.  Crowley,  salesmen. 

SEATTLE:  E.  A.  Lamb,  branch  mana- 
ger; J.  F.  Burk,  L.  L.  Goldsmith,  sales- 
men. 

SIOUX  FALLS:  S.  W.  Fitch,  branch 
manager;  E.  J.  Frace,  C.  H.  Snyder,  sales- 
men. 

WASHINGTON:  R.  J.  Folliard,  branch 
manager;  H.  E.  Kahn,  E.  W.  Grover,  C. 
Knox,  A.  P.   Folliard,  salesmen. 

CALGARY:  H.  F.  Taylor,  branch  man- 
ager; J.  McPherson,  salesman. 

MONTREAL:  Mark  Plottel,  branch  man- 
ager: H.  B.  Miller,  salesman. 

ST.  JOHN:  E.  A.  Whelpley,  branch 
manager. 

TORONTO:  J.  F.  Meyers,  branch  mana- 
ger; M.  L.  Devaney,  H.  Decker,  salesmen. 

VANCOUVER:  W.  S.  Jones,  branch  man- 
;igrr. 

WINNIPEG:  H.  Woolfe,  branch  manager; 
L.  Plott    el,  salesman. 


Fair  Signs  Winik 

Official  Motion  Picture  Producers, 
Inc.,  headed  by  Leslie  Winik,  has  been 
signed  as  the  official  World's  Fair 
photographers,  and  will  handle  exclus- 
ively all  non-theatrical  films  of  the 
Fair.  Edward  Ruby  is  the  producer 
of  the  series,  assisted  by  Harold  God- 
soe. 


"Uncle  John  Dacey"  of  New  York 
is  known  as  the  "Daddy  of  Pathe 
News"  and  has  never  missed  an  issue 
since  it  reached  the  screen. 


Although  with  RKO  some  twenty 
years,  "Gabby"  Dyson  of  Kansas  City 
still  holds  the  secret  of  what  that  L 
(Earl  L.)  stands  for. 


Eph  Rosen  is  "A  Man  to  Remem- 
ber" in  his  territory — knows  the  ex- 
hibitors and  their  children,  and  the 
history  of  each  family  and  community 
he  visits. 


Kay  Kamen,  best  trainer  of  licen- 
sees in  the  industry  and  the  person 
who  has  put  Mickey  Mouse  on  so 
many,  many  things,  is  now  trying  to 
put  him  on  the  point  of  a  pin. 

Lou  Miller  was  spied  sporting  a 
cane — no,  just  a  minute,  not  a  cane, 
but  a  niblick! 


Barret  McCormick  has  been  com- 
muting early  and  often  via  plane  from 
New  York  to  Hollywood,  Chicago, 
etc.,  of  late  and  rates  some  kind  of 
aerial  honors. 


Publicity  Manager  Rutgers  Neil- 
son  and  "Flash"  Editor  Harry  G'ttle- 
son  have  the  tremendous  tasks  of  ar- 
ranging for  photographs  and  putting 
the  convention  into  words.  These 
boys  are  covering  more  ground  than 
the  Yankee  outfield. 


Court  Finds  RKO 
Arguments  Weak 


U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  Fri- 
day indicated  that  it  saw  little  merit 
in  the  contentions  of  John  S.  Stover, 
attorney  for  Ernest  W.  Stirn,  and  C. 
Frank  Reavin,  attorney  for  Copia 
Realty  and  Fabian  Operating  Corp. 
who  argue  that  the  RKO  reorganiza- 
tion plan,  confirmed  by  Federal  Judge 
Bondy,  should  be  upset  because  it  is 
unfair  and  inequitable. 

Both  Judge  Hand  and  Judge  Pat- 
terson, however,  showed  interest  in 
the  arguments  raised  by  Nathan 
Rosenberg,  attorney  for  H.  Cassel  & 
Co.,  holder  of  $217,000  in  RKO  deben- 
tures. 

Judge  Hand  stated  that  he  did  not 
understand  Stover's  grievance,  and  de- 
clared that  Stover  would  force  the 
company  to  start  anew  and  would 
scuttle  the  entire  reorganization. 
Reavin  asked  that  the  court  direct  the 
plan  to  include  a  provision  for  the  sale 
of  RKO  stock,  followed  by  holding 
the  receipts  in  trust  in  order  to  pro- 
tect his  clients,  Copia  and  Fabian,  who 
are  contingent  creditors,  from  the  pos- 
sibility of  RKO  failing  again  within 
the  next  few  vears.  Judge  Hand, 
however,  indicated  that  this  course  of 
action  was  not  feasible. 


Ohio  Court  Upholds 
Sunday  Show  Bans 

Columbus,  O.,  June  18. — The  Ohio 
Supreme  Court  has  upheld  the  right  of 
municipalities  to  forbid  Sunday  film 
showings.  It  also  refused  to  consider 
any  further  appeals. 


Roy  Churchill  of  Indianapolis  is 
said  to  keep  in  trim  by  walking  while 
Mrs.  Churchill  uses  the  car. 


Every  exhibitor  in  the  territory  of 
Harry  Tyson  of  Philadelphia  has  a 
standing  invitation  to  visit  Hollywood 
(Harry  lives  in  Hollywood,  Fox 
Chase,  Pa.) 


A  convention  bridegroom  is  Sam 
Lefko  of  Philadelphia. 


Leonard  Gruenberg  of  St.  Louis  is 
a  candid  camera  enthusiast. 


The  weaknesses  of  Sol  Yaeger  of 
Omaha  are  dogs,  pipes  and  diamond 
rings. 


The  twin  sons  of  Stan  Jacques  of 
Cincinnati,  Robert  and  Donald,  are 
learning  the  inside  of  motion  pictures 
at  the  University  of  Southern  Cali- 
fornia. 


If  someone  calls  out  numbers, 
"Prof."  Davison  of  Salt  Lake  City  is 
likely  to  fold  his  right  arm  and  start 
moving.  Davison  was  once  a  star  foot- 
ball player. 


Rogers  Mitchell  of  Charlotte  is  an 
authority  on  bridge. 


New  Yorkers  report  that  they  are 
planning  to  send  out  a  checker  to 
verify  Harry  Zeitell's  golf  scores. 


Continue  Admission 
Taxes,  House  Urged 

Washington,  June  18. — Ad- 
mission taxes  are  to  be  con- 
tinued for  another  two  years 
and  the  undistributed  profits 
tax  eliminated  in  favor  of  a 
flat  levy  on  corporate  income, 
under  revenue  legislation 
submitted  by  the  Ways  and 
Means  Committee  to  the 
House  of  Representatives 
Friday. 

The  bill  is  to  be  taken  up 
for  passage  this  week.  Ac- 
tion of  the  committee  with 
respect  to  the  admission  tax 
was  fully  expected,  Adminis- 
tration plans  calling  for  an 
extension  of  all  of  the  so- 
called  nuisance  levies. 


ITOA  and  Operators 
Resume  Wage  Talks 

Discussions  will  be  resumed  today 
between  the  I.  T.  O.  A.  and  Opera- 
tors' Local  306  on  the  appointment  of 
a  neutral  arbitrator  in  the  negotia- 
tions on  wage  scales  and  working 
conditions. 

A  session  was  held  Friday  be- 
tween W.  French  Githens  and  David 
Weinstock,  I.  T.  O.  A.  arbitrators, 
and  Joseph  D.  Basson,  president, 
and  Charles  Kielhurn,  business  agent, 
of  Local  306,  named  as  arbitrators  for 
the  local. 

The  union  is  seeking  a  substantial 
increase  in  wages  and  shorter  hours, 
which  the  exhibitors  say  they  cannot 
afford.  The  union's  original  demand 
was  for  a  40  per  cent  increase. 


Distributors 
Press  Battle 
To  Win  Code 

( Continued  from  page  I) 
Saturday  issued  a  statement  criticizing 
the  Allied's  rejection  of  the  code,  ft 
reads  in  part : 

"In  Minneapolis,  I  spoke  to  ar» 
number  of  Allied  men,  and  did  ifl 
find  one  who  did  not  want  to  sign  the 
code.  This  is  in  direct  contrast  to  the 
attitude  adopted  by  Allied  leaders. 

"Allied  leaders,  in  a  star  chamber 
session,  rejected  the  code  even  before 
the  convention  was  opened,  which 
shows  the  respect  they  have  for  the 
opinion  of  Allied's  exhibitor  members, 
the  open  forum  on  Wednesday  was 
no  open  forum  at  all. 

"The  I.T.O.A.  has  accepted  the  code 
with  the  provision  that  several  clauses 
in  the  arbitration  set-up  will  be 
changed  in  accordance  with  our  coun- 
sel's service.  .  .  ." 

In  a  letter  accompanying  Allied 
States'  negotiating  committee's  report 
rejecting  the  code,  Rodgers  is  the  sub- 
ject of  criticism  for  his  "attitude  at 
the  Minneapolis  convention." 

George  Gold,  president  of  '  New. 
Jersey  Allied,  said  that  his  organiza- 
tion will  support  the  decision  of  the 
national  board.  Sidney  Samuelson, 
New  Jersey  Allied's  delegate  to  the 
national  convention,  will  report  at  the 
unit's  meeting  at  Asbury  Park  June 
27  and  members'  sentiment  will  be 
determined  at  that  time. 

Gold's  specific  objection  to  the  code 
is  that  the  arbitration  rules  on  clear- 
ance do  not  treat  independent  exhib- 
itors fairly  in  that  distributors  and 
affiliated  circuits  are  permitted  one 
arbitrator  each,  as  against  one  for  the 
independent  theatre  owner,  in  addition 
to  two  neutrals. 

Max  A.  Cohen,  president  of  New 
York  Allied,  had  to  be  back  in  New 
York  before  the  debate  on  the  code 
at  the  national  convention  and  there- 
fore withholds  comment  until  he  has 
conferred  with  unit's  other  delegates. 

Documentary  Film 
Makers  Organize 

Organization  of  the  Association  of 
Documentary  Film  Producers  was  an- 
nounced Saturday.  Officers  are :  Joris 
Ivens,  president ;  Paul  Strand  and 
Willard  Van  Dyke,  vice-presidents ; 
William  Osgood  Field,  treasurer; 
Mary  Losey,  secretary ;  Lionel  Ber- 
man,  Joseph  Losey,  Irving  A.  Jacoby, 
committee  chairmen. 


AFA  Asks  Confidence 

Vote  of  confidence  will  be  sought 
by  American  Federation  of  Actors  of- 
ficials at  a  midnight  mass  meeting  to-s 
night  at  the  Hotel  Edison.  Sophie 
Tucker,  A.F.A.  president,  visited 
night  clubs,  theatres  and  World's 
Fair  shows  over  the  weekend  to  in- 
vite attendance.  Meeting  is  scheduled 
to  run  until  dawn  with  supper  being 
served  to  permit  performers  to  arrive 
immediately  after  their  shows  are 
over. 


Griffith  Joins  Roach 

Hollywood,  June  18.— D.  W.  Griffith 
will  return  to  active  participation  in 
the  film  industry  this  week  as  a  mem- 
ber of  the  executive  staff  at  the  Hal 
Roach  Studios. 


inJav.  June  19.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Banner  Lines 

 By  JACK  BANNER  

MUTUAL  EXPANDS  .  .  .  Mutual  network  expands  into  the  Southwest 
with  the  acquisition,  effective  today,  of  four  North  Carolina  stations. 
They  are  WRAL,  Raleigh;  WSOC,  Charlotte;  WSTP,  Salisbury, 
and  WAIR,  Winston-Salem.  The  additions  bring  the  Mutual  network  total 
to  118  stations.  Arrangements  for  the  affiliations  were  made  by  Fred  Weber, 
network's  general  manager. 

T 

SAPHIER  WEDS  .  .  .  Jimmy  Saphier,  the  Music  Corp.  executive,  eloped 
to  Las  Vegas  with  Erna  Finston,  daughter  of  the  M-G-M  musical  director, 
we  have  just  learned. 

T 

PROGRAMS  DROOP  .  .  .  New  Crosley  just  out  discloses  every  major 
program  on  the  air  taking  a  downward  swoop  in  rating,  except  the  Lux 
Radio  Theatre,  which  has  taken  a  healthy  rise. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Joe  Donahue,  producer  for  the  Esty  agency,  left  for 
Hollywood  Saturday  to  take  up  production  of  the  "Blondie"  program.  .  .  . 
Oliver  Jensen  has  joined  the  publicity  staff  of  Benton  &  Bowles  in  New 
York. 

▼ 

PHIL  LORD  SET.  .  .  "Mr.  District  Attorney,"  Phil  Lord's  sustaining 
show,  has  finally  been  selected  as  the  replacement  to  the  Bob  Hope  series, 
although  it  comes  as  a  surprise  to  no  one.  Harry  Herman  will  write  the  script, 
and  Ed  Byron  will  produce.  Arlene  Francis  has  been  given  the  lead  feminine 
role. 

T 

YOUNG  SARNOFF  GETS  JOB  .  .  .  Bob  Sarnoff,  youngest  son  of  David 
Sarnoff,  and  just  out  of  Harvard,  is  working  in  radio,  but  not  for  his  dad's 
interests.  Bob  is  now  a  member  of  John  S.  Young's  radio  staff  at  the  World's 
Fair. 

T 

NEW  NBC  POLICY  .  .  .  NBC  is  adopting  a  new  policy  on  courtesy  an- 
nouncements. Heretofore,  an  announcement  of  explanation  was  made  when 
a  commercial  program  was  cancelled  for  a  program  such  as  a  Presidential 
Fireside  chat,  or  any  other  broadcast  of  such  importance,  immediately  pre- 
ceding and  following  the  substituted  program.  Now,  however,  NBC  is  noti- 
fying advertising  agencies  that  such  announcements  hereafter  will  be  given 
"as  near  to  the  advertiser's  time  as  possible."  It  is  presumed  that  the  net- 
work is  taking  such  action  in  order  to  avoid  any  chance  of  being  criticised  for 
allowing  an  advertiser  to  cash  in  on,  say  a  Presidential  broadcast. 

▼ 

MORE  STATIONS  FOR  BENCHLEY  .  .  .  Bob  Benchley  will  have  one 
of  the  largest  networks  of  any  program  when  his  sponsor  adds  five  more 
outlets  on  July  4.  The  total  number  of  stations  for  the  Benchley  series  after 
that  date  will  be  105. 

T 

WNEW  WINS  LOCAL  SURVEY  .  .  .  WNEW  is  shown  as  the  most 
popular  independent  station  in  New  York  in  the  newest  Hooper-Holmes  Bu- 
reau survey. 

T 

RKO  "GATEWAY"  TO  IOWA  .  .  .  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  broadcast 
will  come  from  the  stage  of  the  Shrine  Temple  in  Des  Moines  on  July  2,  date 
of  the  world  premiere  of  the  picture,  "Career."  Winners  of  the  "Gateway" 
contests  appear  in  Career."  Des  Moines  has  been  chosen  for  the  site  because 
the  locale  of  the  picture  is  Iowa,  and  the  home  of  the  writer  of  the  story,  Phil 
Strong,  is  near  Des  Moines. 

T 

PRESS  WOMEN  TO  GIVE  RADIO  AWARDS  .  .  .  National  Federa- 
tion of  Press  Women  will  make  awards  to  radio  programs  at  a  banquet  in 
the  Waldorf  a  week  from  today.  CBS  will  broadcast  the  awards  banquet. 
H.  V.  Kaltenborn  heads  the  list  of  speakers. 


virile  Tribute 
Paid  to  Film 
Trade  at  Fair 


First  tribute  to  the  motion  picture 
W>try  at  the  World's  Fair  was  pre- 
fted  by  the  Government  of  Chile 
[day  at  that  country's  pavilion. 
*hout  300  persons  representative  of 
'"industry,  including  many  leaders, 
end  the  gala  reception,  which  was 
insored  in  conjunction  with  Teatro 
\Dia,  Quigley  Pan-American  publi- 
co. 

tonong  those  attending  were  Am- 
isador  Alberto  Cabero,  of  Chile ; 
hator  Rodolfo  Michel,  Commis- 
si-r  General  of  Chile  to  the  World's 
lr;  Anibal  Jara  Letelier,  Chilean 
nsul  General ;  Alfonso  Merlet. 
ilean  delegate  to  the  Fair;  Will  H. 
Ws,  president,  M.  P.  P.  D.  A. ; 
irtin  Quigley  and  Sam  Shain, 
'nor  of  Motion  Picture  Daily. 
.,IBS  in  a  special  short  wave  ar- 
jgement  broadcast  an  hour's  salute 
the  Chile  and  the  American  motion 
'ture  industry.  Quigley,  sending 
(etings  to  Latin  America,  observed  : 

is  fitting  that  the  first  Pan- 
nirican  gathering  of  motion  picture 
p  should  be  held  on  the  occasion  of 

World's  Fair,  under  the  auspices 
Chile,  a  people  who  have  a  record 
uninterrupted  and  genuine  friend- 
jp  for  the  United  States  of  America, 
fin  the  motion  picture  industry. 
rticularly,  Chile  stands  out  as  a  pro- 
■ssive  nation.  I  am  sure  the  Amer- 
n  industry  shall  always  seek  to  pre- 
ive  and  safeguard  this  relationship." 

.  S.  to  Ask  Defense 
Books  in  Trust  Suit 

Government   will   subpoena  books 
<i  records  of  all  defendants  for  ex- 
ination   before  trial   of  the  anti- 
st  suit,  Special  Assistant  Attorney 
ncral  Paul  Williams  told  Federal 
Ige  John  W.  Clancy  Friday, 
udge  Clancy  reserved  decision  on 
notion  by  Columbia  for  a  further 
of  particulars  and  an  extension 
time  to  answer.     Louis  D.  Froh- 
m  Columbia  attorney,  pointed  out 
I  t  Columbia  could  not  have  entered 
r  conspiracy  in  1918,  as  charged, 
ause  it  was  not  organized  until 
14.     Question  of  whether  alleged 
p  against  Texas  theatres  included 
}  the  Interstate  case  could  be  re- 
ared to  again  in  the  present  suit  also 
s  argued. 


rainger  Finishes 
6  Yr.  Universal  Tie 

Hollywood,  June  18. — Edmund 
|,ainger,  for  the  past  six  years  asso- 
,te  producer  at  Universal,  Friday 
Jnpleted  his  contract  and  has 
j-cked  off  the  lot.  During  that  period 
produced  approximately  50  pie- 
ces. Following  a  short  vacation, 
i  ainger,  son  of  J.  R.  Grainger,  presi- 
i  it  of  Republic,  will  announce  a 
v  affiliation. 


rrace  Cartoon  History 

■  \  survey  of  the  development  of  the 
mated  cartoon  and  the  puppet  film 
1  be  given  at  the  Museum  of  Mod- 
i  Art  Film  Library  tomorrow.  The 
'gram  has  been  arranged  by  Joseph 
pcy,  and  will  trace  the  development 
the  medium  since  1907. 

n  , 


Visual  Education 
Meet  Opens  Today 

Chicago,  June  18. — National  Con- 
ference on  Visual  Education  and  film 
exhibition  will  be  held  here  at  the 
Francis  W.  Parker  School,  beginning 
tomorrow.  It  will  be  the  ninth  an- 
nual session  of  the  group.  A.  P. 
Hollis  is  director  of  the  conference. 


New  Cincy  Competition 

Cincinnati,  June  18. — Exhibitors 
here  face  new  competition,  in  addition 
to  amusement  parks  and  major  league 
ball  games,  from  the  summer  season 
of  Zoo  opera,  opening  June  25,  and 
the  Bryant  Players,  who  this  week 
inaugurate  their  annual  summer  sea- 
son of  plays  on  a  show  boat  in  the 
Ohio  River. 


Ohio  Film  Tax  Suit 
Extended  to  July  1 

Columbus,  O.,  June  18. — Franklin 
County  Court  of  Appeals  has  granted 
an  extension  to  July  1  for  filing 
answers  in  the  suit  of  John  V.  Bost- 
wick,  a  taxpayer,  against  the  Tax 
Commission  of  Ohio. 

The  suit  challenges  the  commis- 
sion's authority  to  exempt  film  rentals 
from  the  state  sales  tax,  and  seeks  to 
enforce  collection  of  the  tax  since  the 
law  became  effective  a  few  years  ago. 


Jury  Condemns  Film 

A  federal  jury  Friday  voted  to  de- 
stroy for  indecency  the  Viennese  film, 
"Science  of  Mankind"  or  "Mysteries 
of  Sex."  The  film  was  impounded 
by  the  Government  several  years  ago 
and  Jewel  Productions,  Inc,  the  im- 
porters, sued  for  its  release. 


France  Drops 
From  Venice 
Film  Festival 


Paris,  June  18. — The  French  Gov- 
ernment has  decided  officially  to  ab- 
stain from  the  International  Film 
Festival  at  Venice  next  August. 
French  producers  may  present  their 
films  individually. 

The  United  States  and  England 
also  will  not  be  officially  represented. 
France  will  hold  its  own  exposition 
on  similar  lines  under  the  auspices  of 
Jean  Zay,  Minister  of  Education. 

It  will  be  held  at  Cannes,  Sept.  3 
to   17,  with  the  United  States  and 
England  expected  to  be  officially  rep-  m 
resented. 

Signor  Croze,  Italian  Government 
representative,  has  been  unsuccessful 
to  obtain  English  and  French  partici- 
pation in  the  Venice  festival.  Ameri- 
can and  British  delegates  resigned  as 
members  of  the  international  jury  at 
the  close  of  last  year's  festival  due 
to  alleged  discrimination. 

The  French  film  pioneer,  Louis  Lu- 
miere,  will  be  honorary  president  of 
the  French  exposition. 

Drama  Guild  Acts 
On  Pact  Tomorrow 

Producers  of  legitimate  stage  plays 
over  the  week  end  declared  it  is  "too 
early"  to  comment  on  proposed  modi- 
fications of  the  Dramatists  Guild  pact 
which  would  permit  film  rights  to  be 
purchased  in  advance  of  production. 

Producers  were  given  their  first  of- 
ficial view  of  the  modifications  last 
Thursday,  although  negotiations  be- 
tween film  companies  and  the  Guild 
have  been  conducted  over  a  two-year 
period. 

Informal  comment  from  producers 
indicated  that  they  were  eager  for  the 
return  of  Hollywood  backing.  Some 
restrictions  on  the  closing  of  a  play 
are  regarded  as  burdensome,  but  it 
is  likely  that  they  will  be  accepted. 

Another  meeting  is  scheduled  in 
ten  days.  Guild  council  is  scheduled 
to  approve  the  modifications  at  a 
meeting  tomorrow. 


Chicago  Mayor  Lifts 
Ban  on  'Oppenheim' 

Mayor  Edward  J.  Kelly  of  Chicago 
has  reversed  Police  Lieutenant  Cos- 
tello,  local  censor,  on  his  ban  of  "The 
Oppenheim  Family,"  Russian  film  of 
Nazi  persecutions,  according  to  word 
received  by  Amkino,  Russian  film  dis- 
tributor. 

Costello  had  declared  that  the  pic- 
ture might  incite  disturbances  and 
that  "a  foreign  power"  had  protested 
its  showing.  Mayor  Kelly,  in  lifting 
the  ban,  stated  that  as  long  as  he  is 
Mayor,  any  anti-Nazi  and  anti-Fascist 
picture  will  be  permitted  in  Chicago. 


Doob  Services  Held 

Cincinnati,  June  18. — Funeral 
services  for  Henry  Doob,  80,  father 
of  Oscar  A.  Doob,  Loew's  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity,  were  held 
here  today.  He  died  suddenly  Thurs- 
day following  a  heart  attack.  Surviv- 
ing are  another  son,  Edgar,  manager 
of  Loew's  in  Wilmington,  and  a  sis- 
ter, Irene,  of  Chicago. 


N.Y.  CRITICS  PRAISE  CLOUDS  OVER  EUROP 
AT  RADIO  CITY  NDSIC  HALL 


1    „  Knd  *•»  * 


I  JIs         ^  &  spools- 
abundance  in  .^sideM^ 


in 
My 


snjoyS 


v/as 


all 


fclen 


doTba!^ 


andesgi 


otvagS.- 


«y  spy  pictu  "  •* 

Bri^t  dialogue    P,SteJy  °ri^ 


N.Y 


DAILY  MIRROR 

"  poUshed  spy  melod ram- 


°ne  °f  the  p]€ 
an*est  to  corn, 
th©  screen  |j 
season. 'Re  . 


H  V.  H£R&11)  acc  gasasss 


apvie^er/ 
ce  and  xvhat 

N.Y.  JOURNAL  &  AMERICAN 

"Diverting  spy  melodrama." 

LAURENCE  OLIVIER  .  CLOUDS  OVER  EUROF 

RALPH  RICHARDSON  •  valerie  hobson  .  Jvr.Vx'iV  b.yv 'iVwTn 

A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


P.   PRODUCERS  & 
DISTRIBUTORS  OF  AM.  I»r 
28  WEST  44TH  ST.,  C 
NEW  YORK, 

H'  Y*  (3  COPIE 


NO.  118 


NEW  YORK,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  20,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


•2  Features 
)n  RKO  List 
Next  Season 


0  Salesmen  Will  Hear 
Schaefer  Today 


i  new  season  production  schedule 
52  features,  six  westerns  and  94 
rt  subjects  and  104  issues  of  RKO 
the  newsreel  was  described  to  the 

0  sales  force  at  the  opening  ses- 

1  vesterday  of  the  company's  inter- 
zonal sales  convention  at  the  West- 
faer  Country  Club,  Rye. 
announcement  of  the  product  fol- 
'ed  introduction  of  George  J.  Schac- 

KKO  president,  to  the  sales  rep- 
Mitatives  and  reports  by  Jules  Levy 
-selling  accomplishments  of  the  do- 
»tic  organization  during  the  past 
Json.  Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-presi- 
t  and  distribution  head,  announced 

product  to  the  meeting. 
\mong  the  features  listed  are  the 
owing : 

The  Hunchback  of  Notre  Dame," 
•ring  Charles  Laughton,  to  be  di- 
:ed  by  William  Dieterle,  who  will 
borrowed  from  Warners  for  the 
Lgnment. 

The  American  Way,"  a  picturiza- 
i  of  the  George  Kaufman  and  Moss 
rt  play,  to  be  produced  by  Max 
"don  and  Harry  Goetz.  Kaufman 
<clieduled  to  direct. 
Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois,"  a  picturi- 

(Continucd  on  page  i) 


,ist  Rites  Today 
For  Isidor  Frey 

"uneral  services  will  be  held  at  2 
M.  today   for   Isidor   Frey,  61, 
istant  general  counsel  of  Loew's, 
who  died   Sunday   morning  in 
Sinai  Hospital  following  an  ill- 
s  of  three  weeks. 

;  Judge"  Frey,  as  he  was  known, 
lough  he  never  held  judicial  of- 
was  an  assistant  secretary  and 
irector  of  the  company,  with  which 
was  associated  20  years, 
services  will  be  held  at  Riverside 
morial  Chapel,  76th  St.  and  Am- 
rdam  Ave.  All  of  Loew's  directors 
1  officers  will  attend. 
3orn  in  New  York,  the  son  of  Jo- 
h  and  Babette  Frey,  .Judge  Frey 
nded  schools  here  and  received  a 
degree  from  New  York  Univer- 
He  was  admitted  to  the  Bar  in 
"9  and  began  the  practice  of  law 
the  office  of  the  late  Alfred  Steck- 
former  Supreme  Court  justice. 
(Continued  on  page  125 


Film  Men  Today  Arrange 
Short  Wave  Broadcasts 


Advertising  and  publicity  heads  of  all  the  major  film  companies,  to- 
gether with  representatives  of  the  foreign  departments,  meet  today  at  the 
Hays  office  to  consider  the  offers  of  Columbia  Broadcasting  System  and 
the  National  Broadcasting  Company,  to  make  available  to  the  film  in- 
dustry a  5-day  weekly,  15-minute  short  wave  broadcast  of  picture  news 
to  Latin  America  and  Europe. 

At  today's  meeting  the  group  will 
hear  opinions  of  the  foreign  repre- 
sentatives to  whom  the  proposals  had 
been  submitted  following  an  original 
meeting  early  this  month  of  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  chieftains. 

Favorable  action  is  expected.  In 
that  event,  the  programs  may  begin 
every  soon,  and  an  operating  commit- 
tee to  work  with  the  networks  prob- 


ably will  be  set  up.  It  also  is  intend- 
ed to  establish  a  unit  on  the  Coast 
which  will  work  with  the  these  groups 
in  assembling  and  preparing  the  copy 
for  the  broadcasts. 

These  broadcasts  will  be  given  each 
day  in  a  different  language,  including 
Spanish,  French,  Portuguese,  Italian 
and  French. 


Bronx  Theatres  Sign  Pact 
To  Stop  Admission  Abuses 

An  agreement  to  abide  by  minimum  admission  clauses  in  film  contracts 
and  eliminate  indiscriminate  distribution  of  passes,  five-cent  admissions, 
two-for-ones  and  other  cut-rate  practices  has  been  entered  into  by  a 
dozen  theatres  in  the  Bronx. 

The  agreement  results  from  confer- 
ences held  by  Louis  Nizer,  attorney, 
who  was  called  in  to  mediate  com- 
plaints by  exhibitors  that  others  in 
the  Bronx  were  violating  minimum 
admission  provisions.  It  was  feared 
the  practice  would  spread. 

The  agreement  restricts  the  issu- 
ance of  passes  to  advertising  on  the 
basis  of  one  pass  for  each  ad  tieup. 
Heretofore  the  passes  have  been  dis- 
tributed in  the  neighborhoods  and  car- 
ried a  service  charge.    Some  of  the 


cut-rate  admissions  were  two  for  five 
cents.  Minimum  admissions  in  con- 
tracts are  10  or  15  cents. 

An  agreement  among  some  of  the 
exhibitors  was  reached  on  June  7  and 
at  a  meeting  in  Nizer's  office  yester- 
day the  other  involved  exhibitors 
signed  the  pact. 

The  agreement  states  that  "issuance 
of  passes  is  to  the  detriment  of  our 
business  and  we  believe  it  is  desirable 

(.Continued  on  page  9) 


Majors  Must  Give  Trust 
Suit  Answers  in  10  Days 

As  a  result  of  the  filing  by  the  Government  yesterday  of  its  supple- 
mental bill  of  particulars  in  the  anti-trust  suit  against  the  majors,  the 
defendant  companies  must  file  their  answers  within  10  days. 
The  necessity  for  the  answers  in 


10  days  was  incorporated  in  the  order 
of  Federal  Judge  Bondy  directing  the 
filing  of  the  Government  supplemen- 
tal bill  of  particulars,  which  includes 
very  few  details  not  already  set  forth 
in  the  action. 

The  Government  bill  states  that 
Universal  Pictures  Corp.  is  the  only 
maior  defendant  not  charged  with  co- 
ercive selling  methods. 

The  bill  defines  the  words  "partici- 
pation" and  "interest"  of  the  defend- 
ants in  theatres  which  would  deter- 


mine whether  a  theatre  is  an  affiliate. 
Affiliation  is  created,  the  bill  said,  by 
the  activities  or  relationship  of  a 
theatre  executive  or  manager  with  a 
major  or  its  subsidiary,  taking  into 
consideration  competitive  conditions  in 
the  locality  of  the  theatre. 

The  Government,  however,  does  not 
claim  affiliation  if  the  only  interest  of 
a  defendant  in  the  theatre  is  a  share 
of  receipts  for  specified  pictures  pur- 
suant to  customary  percentage 
clauses  in  contracts. 


Kuykendall, 
Hopkins  Talk 
To  morrow 


Allied  Officials  to  Capital 
After  Fourth  of  July 

Washington,  June  19. — Depart- 
ment of  Commerce  officials  will  meet 
Wednesday  with  Ed  Kuykendall  and 
any  officials  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A. 
whom  he  may  bring  to  Washington, 
to  discuss  exhibitor  problems  but  will 
not  confer  with  Allied  officials  or 
again  with  the  producers  until  after 
Independence  Day,  it  was  learned  to- 
day. 

Officials  of  the  department  said 
they  have  not  been  informed  whether 
Kuykendall  will  come  alone  or  bring 
a  group  with  him. 

The  delay  in  meeting  with  repre- 
sentatives of  Allied,  it  was  explained, 
is  due  to  the  fact  that  officers  of  that 
association  could  not  reach  Washing- 
ton until  next  week.  Other  engage- 
ments for  the  entire  week  already  had 
been  made  by  the  department  officials 
who  are  handling  the  film  conferences. 

Ernest  A.  Tupper,  chief  statistician, 
who  last  week  conferred  with  J.  H. 
Hazen  of  Warners  in  New  York, 
expects  to  hold  another  meeting  with 
him  in  the  near  future  for  further 
discussion  of  the  material  which  is 
being  gathered,  but  said  no  general 
meeting  with  the  producer  group 
would  be  held  until  after  July  6. 


Paramount  Elects 
16  Directors  Today 

Reelection  of  all  16  Paramount  di- 
rectors is  anticipated  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  stockholders  of  the  com- 
pany at  the  home  office  today. 

Directors  are  Adolph  Zukor,  chair- 
man ;  Barney  Balaban,  president ; 
Stanton  Griffis,  executive  committee 
chairman ;  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  vice- 
president  and  studio  head ;  Austin  C. 
Keough,  vice-president,  secretary  and 
chief  counsel ;  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice- 
president  and  distribution  head ;  John 
W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  vice-president  and  for- 
eign distribution  head ;  Stephen  Cal- 
laghan,  Harvey  D.  Gibson,  A.  Conger 
Goodyear,  Duncan  G.  Harris,  John 
D.  Hertz,  Earl  I.  McClintock,  Edwin 
L.  Weisl,  Maurice  Newton  and  E.  V. 
Richards. 

Indications  yesterday  were  that 
sufficient  proxies  had  been  deposited 
with  the  company's  proxy  committee 
to  provide  a  quorum  for  today's  meet- 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  20,  193 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Save  Federal 
Theatre!  N.Y. 
Plea  to  Senate 

Delegation  headed  by  Frank  Gill- 
more,  president  of  Associated  Actors 
and  Artistes  of  America,  is  scheduled 
to  fly  to  Washington  today  to  appear 
before  the  Senate  Finance  Committee 
to  protest  the  proposed  dropping  of 
the  WPA  Federal  Theatre  Project. 

Gillmore  will  charge  that  commit- 
tees investigating  the  project  never 
called  upon  persons  actually  working 
in  the  theatre  for  information.  "The 
Federal  Theatre  has  given  new  life 
and  hope  to  thousands  formerly  em- 
ployed on  the  legitimate  stage,  and 
brought  the  theatre  to  millions  who 
never  knew  it  before,"  Gillmore 
stated. 

Others  in  the  delegation  include 
Tallulah  Bankhead,  Blanche  Yurka 
and  Philip  Loeb,  members  of  Actors 
Equity  Council ;  Herman  Shumlin, 
producer,  Donald  Ogden  Stewart,  au- 
thor, and  James  Brennan,  vice-presi- 
dent of  I.  A.  T.  S.  E. 

Kansas  City  Houses 
Protest  Carnivals 

Kansas  City,  June  19. — Influx  of 
carnivals,  most  of  them  obtaining  the 
sponsorship  of  neighborhood  civic 
groups  to  prevent  protests  of  resi- 
dents, finally  drew  protest  from  ex- 
hibitors here. 

E.  S.  Young  of  the  Central,  Jay 
Means  of  the  Oak  Park  and  Bag- 
dad, and  Arthur  Burke  of  the  Gill- 
ham  appeared  before  the  City  coun- 
cil to  protest  specific  carnivals.  In 
one  instance  the  sponsor  was  a  ward 
political  club,  in  the  other,  a  boy 
scout  troop. 

Goetz,  Montgomery 
Will  Sail  Tomorrow 

Ben  Goetz,  in  charge  of  M-G-M 
production  in  England,  and  Robert 
Montgomery,  accompanied  by  his 
wife  and  two  children,  arrived  in 
New  York  from  the  coast  yesterday, 
and  will  sail  on  the  Queen  Mary  to- 
morrow for  England.  The  star  will 
make  two  pictures  in  England. 

Montgomery's  two  films,  to  be 
made  at  the  Denham  studios  for 
M-G-M,  will  be  "Busman's  Honey- 
moon" and  "The  Earl  of  Chicago." 


"Career"  Special  Set 

Des  Moines,  June  19. — Approx- 
imately 75  players  and  film  and 
radio  executives  are  expected  here 
by  special  train  July  1  for  the  world 
premiere  of  the  RKO  film,  "Career," 
at  Tri-States  Orpheum  and  Para- 
mount July  2. 


Eddie  Healy  Killed 

Providence,  June  19. — Eddie  Healy, 
44,  formerly  of  the  vaudeville  team 
of  Healy  &  Cross,  plunged  to  his 
death  yesterday  in  an  effort  to  escape 
from  a  fire-swept  building.  Two 
others  died  in  the  blaze. 


Chicago  Palace  to  Close 

Chicago,  June  19. — RKO  Palace 
here  will  close  June  29  for  six  weeks. 
It  is  understood  a  shortage  of  prod- 
uct is  the  cause  of  the  shutdown. 


TAMES  R.  GRAINGER,  Repub- 
*J  lie  president,  left  last  night  for 
Buffalo  and  Albany,  where  he  will 
confer  with  Jack  Bellman,  eastern 
district  manager,  and  then  will  go 
to  Detroit  where  he  will  meet  Max 
Roth,  midwest  district  head. 

• 

Martin  Good  Rider,  13-year-old 
Blackfoot  Indian  boy,  who  appears  in 
20th  Century-Fox's  "Susannah  of  the 
Mounties,"  will  arrive  in  town  today 
to  attend  the  premiere  of  the  film  at 
the  Roxy  Friday.  He  will  be  ac- 
companied by  Archie  Big  Wind, 
nine.  The  two  will  make  a  later  ap- 
pearance at  Loew's  Poli,  Bridgeport, 
Conn. 

• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  F.  Clarke,  Mat- 
toon,  Time  and  Clark  Theatres,  Mat- 
toon,  111. ;  John  Connor,  Jr,  Savoy, 
Glace  Bay,  Nova  Scotia,  and  R.  I. 
Payne,  R.  E.  Griffith  Theatres,  Dal- 
las, were  visitors  yesterday  at  the 
RKO  World's  Fair  lounge. 

• 

W.  A.  Scully,  general  sales  man- 
ager, and  W.  J.  Heineman,  western 
division  manager  of  Universal,  re- 
turned over  the  weekend  from  Minne- 
apolis. F.  J.  A.  McCarthy,  eastern 
division  manager,  is  expected  back 
next  week  from  the  south. 

• 

Howard  Dietz,  M-G-M  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  left  last  night 
for  the  coast  on  the  American  Air- 
lines Mercury.  He  will  line  up  cam- 
paigns for  fall  films  and  returns  in 
two  weeks. 

• 

James  Jordan,  Universal  contract 
department  manager,  and  Tom  Mur- 
ray, branch  operations  assistant  to 
W.  A.  Scully,  general  sales  mana- 
ger, are  touring  the  various  company 
branches. 

• 

James  F.  Greene,  Dorthe  Hoff- 
man and  Michael  Raymond  have 
sold  their  original  story,  "Newspaper 
Handicapper"  to  Victory  Pictures,  as 
a  vehicle  for  James  Dunn. 

• 

L.  W.  Conrow,  president  of  Altec, 
has  returned  to  New  York  after  vis- 
its to  the  conventions  of  the  M.  P. 
T.  O.  of  Virginia  at  Roanoke,  and 
Allied  States  at  Minneapolis. 

• 

Milton  Biow  of  the  Biow  adver- 
tising agency  and  Mrs.  Biow  re- 
turned yesterday  on  the  Queen  Mary 
from  a  European  vacation. 

• 

William  A.  Warner  has  been 
named  assistant  manager  in  Philadel- 
phia for  Ross  Federal.  J.  A.  Krak- 
er  is  branch  head. 

• 

Eugene  Lourie,  designer  of  the  sets 
for  "Grand  Illusion,"  sails  tomorrow 
for  France  after  several  weeks  in 
New  York. 

• 

Ben  Lyon  and  Bebe  Daniels  ar- 
rive today  on  the  He  de  France  from 
a  personal  appearance  tour  abroad. 
• 

Evan    Jacobs.   20th  Century-Fox 
booker  in  Des  Moines,  is  spending  a 
two-week  vacation  in  New  York. 
• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  Don  Alexander 
have  returned  to  Colorado  Springs 
after  a  New  York  visit. 

• 

Morton  Frank  of  the  Pittsburgh 
Press  is  in  town. 


T_T  ARRY  M.  WARNER  has  re- 
*■  ceived  the  Department  Com- 
mander's Gold  Medal  of  the  Veterans 
of  Foreign  Wars,  in  Hollywood  for 
"distinguished  patriotic  service  during 
a  perilous  period." 

• 

Charles  Laughton  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday  on  the  Queen  Mary, 
accompanied  by  Maureen  O'Hara, 
who  has  the  feminine  lead  in  "Jamaica 
Inn,"  Laughton  film  which  Para- 
mount will  release.  Laughton  will 
leave  tomorrow  or  Thursday  for  the 
coast,  to  apnear  in  "The  Hunchback 
of  Notre  Dame"  for  RKO. 

• 

Alexander  Hall,  director  of  Co- 
lumbia's "Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris," 
arrived  yesterday  for  the  opening  of 
the  picture  at  the  Music  Hall  Thurs- 
day and  a  careful  checkup  of  Broad- 
way productions.  He  will  be  here  a 
week. 

• 

Billie  Simons,  Universal  home  of- 
fice employe  for  the  past  nine  years, 
was  married  Sunday  to  Joseph 
Wright.  The  couple  is  honeymoon- 
ing in  Canada  and  New  England. 
• 

Peggy  Wood  left  for  the  Coast  yes- 
terday for  work  in  the  forthcoming 
"Housekeeper's  Daughter,"  which 
Hal  Roach  will  produce  and  direct 
for  United  Artists  release. 

• 

Everett  Crosby,  brother  and  busi- 
ness manager  of  Bing,  and  his  bride, 
the  former  Florence  George,  re- 
turned yesterday  on  the  Queen  Mary 
from  their  honeymoon. 

• 

Paul  N.  Turner,  counsel  to  Asso- 
ciated Actors  and  Artistes  of  America, 
is  vacationing  at  his  Summer  home  in 
Nantucket.  He  is  due  back  at  his 
desk  next  Monday. 

• 

George  Blenderman,  head  booker 
at  the  20th  Century  Fox  New  York 
exchange,  left  over  the  weekend  for  a 
two-weeks  vacation.  He  is  due  back 
at  his  office  Tulv  5. 

• 

Broderick      Crawford,  featured 
player    in    Goldwyn's    "The  Real 
Glory,"  returned  to  Hollywood  yes- 
terday after  a  week's  stay  here. 
• 

Paul  Muni  returned  yesterday 
from  a  Honolulu  vacation  to  start 
work  on  "We  Are  Not  Alone"  at  the 
Warner  studio. 

• 

Dan  Carroll,  managing  director  of 
the  Birch,  Carroll  &  Coyle  circuit, 
Australia,  will  sail  on  the  Queen  Mary 
for  England  tomorrow. 

• 

Gabriel  Pascal,  British  producer, 
arrived  yesterday  from  the  coast 
where  he  conferred  on  his  next  film 
for  M-G-M. 

• 

Elsie  Berger  of  the  bookkeeping 
department  of  20th  Century-Fox  and 
Louis  Sklar  will  be  married  next 
month. 

• 

Stuart  Dunlap,  M-G-M  manag- 
ing director  in  Chile,  is  vacationing 
on  the  coast  with  Mrs.  Dunlap. 
• 

Ann   Sotiiern  has  been  given  a 
new  long  term  contract  by  M-G-M. 
• 

Margaret  Lockwood  sails  tomor- 
row for  England  on  the  Queen  Mary. 


Pennsylvania 
Circuit  Taxes 
Ruled  Illega 


Harrisburg,  Pa.,  June  19. — Tl 
Pennsylvania  Supreme  Court  here  t( 
day  upheld  a  decision  of  the  Dauphi 
County  Court  invalidating  the  gradi 
ated  chain  store  and  theatre  Jvai 
tax  enacted  by  the  1937  stat^Kgl 
lature. 

The  lower  court  in  March  had  hel 
the  tax,  ranging  from  $1  to  $500  pe 
year,  depending  on  the  number  c 
store  or  theatre  units  operated  by  on 
corporation  within  the  state,  to  be  ur 
constitutional.  The  state  appealed  t 
the  Supreme  Court. 

The  high  court's  decision  was  unan: 
mous.  Justice  James  B.  Drew  wrot 
the  opinion,  and  Justice  Horace  Ster 
wrote  a  concurring  opinion.  The  co! 
lection  of  the  tax  had  been  stayed  b 
injunction  pending  disposition  by  th 
courts. 

State's  Attorney  General  Reno  ha 
not  yet  decided  whether  he  will  carr 
the  case  to  the  United  States  Su 
preme  Court. 

The  state  high  court  held  that  th 
tax,  progressively  graduated,  lack 
uniformity,  and  therefore  is  unconsti 
tutional. 

Carry  Wisconsin 
Tax  Fight  to  Publi 

Milwaukee,  June  19. — Local  ex 
hibitors  are  going  directly  to  the  pub 
lie  in  fighting  the  state  bill  which  pro 
vides  for  a  three  per  cent  theatre  ad 
mission  tax. 

Through  handbills  and  trailers  the; 
are  urging  patrons  to  phone,  wire  o 
write  their  Senators  or  Assemblymei 
voicing  their  objection  to  any  addi 
tional  tax  on  theatres. 

Patrons  are  informed  that  if  th 
bill  passes,  it  will  necessitate  an  in 
crease  of  the  admission  price  in  ever 
theatre  in  the  state  and  will  fore- 
many  theatres  to  close,  thereby  addinj 
to  unemployment. 


Two  Companies  Formed 

Albany,  June  19. — Recently  forma'' 
here  have  been  Bible  Picture  Manage' 
ment  Corp.,  to  distribute  religion 
films,  by  Bertram  Reshkin  and  Orvil 
C.  Sanborn,  New  York,  and  Radian 
Productions,  Inc.,  Jacques  Kappes 
Jacques  Green  and  Joseph  M.  Herman 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  an< 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City 
Telephone    Circle    7-3100.      Cable  addres.' 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."   Martin  Quigley 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat 
lerson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  San 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hoi  | 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building 
Boone     Mancall,     manager,     William  R 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Goldei 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London.' 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quiglej 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.    Other  Quiglej  I 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Bettei  j 
Theatres,  Teatro  AI  Dia,  International  Mo-  ] 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  Ycrk,  N.  Y.,  under  th( 
act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  pet  j 
year  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign,  [ 
Single  copies  10c. 


kiesday.  June  20.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


]  

12  Features 
On  RKO  List 
Next  Season 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

ion  of  Robert  E.  Sherwood's  Pulit- 
•  Prize  nlay,  with  Raymond  Massey 
the-  title  role.  John  Cromwell  will 
,-j^fcjr  Max  Gordon  and  Harry 
cT."*J  --^ducers. 

'Passport  to  Life,"  starring  Cary 
bint. 

Vigil  in  the  Night,"  by  A.  J. 
cnin,  starring  Carole  Lombard, 
orge  Stevens,  producer-director, 
reenplay  by  Norman  Krasna. 

'Ivanhoe'  Coming  to  Screen 

'Ivanhoe,"  a  picturization  of  Sir 
lalter  Scott's  novel.  "My  Fifth 
enue  Girl,"  starring  Ginger  Rogers, 
egory  LaCava,  producer-director, 
hi  a  second  Ginger  Rogers  vehicle. 
'Allegheny  Frontier,"  based  on 
he  First  Rebel,"  by  Neil  Swanson. 
J.  Wolfson,  producer-writer;  Wil- 
nn  Seiter,  director.  John  Wayne, 
hire  Trevor,  Bob  Burns  and  Sir 
Idric  Hardwicke  in  the  cast.  "Chas- 
Rainbows,"  Harold  Lloyd,  pro- 
pter; "Parts  Unknown,"  George  Ste- 
:hs,  producer-director ;  "Nurse  Edith 
Well,"  starring  Anna  Neagle,  with 
•rbert  Wilcox  directing;  "The  Man 
ho  Lost  Himself,"  to  be  made  in 
gland  with  Leslie  Howard  as  star 


Disney's  'Pinocchio' 
Set  for  Yule  Release 

Contract  by  which  RKO 
Radio  will  distribute  "Pinoc- 
chio," Walt  Disney's  second 
feature  length  cartoon, 
throughout  the  world  were 
signed  yesterday  by  George  J. 
Schaefer,  RKO  president,  and 
Roy  Disney. 

Picture,  which  has  been  in 
the  making  for  the  past  two 
years,  is  scheduled  to  be  com- 
pleted simultaneously  with 
the  opening  of  the  new  Dis- 
ney Hollywood  studio  and  is 
scheduled  to  be  released 
around  the  Christmas  holi- 
days. 


i  co-producer-director ;  Jean  Her- 
blt  in  three  "Dr.  Christian"  pic- 
jes  based  on  his  radio  characteriza- 
n.  to  be  produced  by  Stephens-Lang 
tod. ;  "Reno,"  starring  Richard  Dix; 
he  Day  the  Bookies  Wept,"  starring 
J  Penner ;  "The  Flying  Deuces," 
Tring  Stan  Laurel  and  Oliver  Har- 
Boris  Morros,  producer,  and  Ed- 
Td  Sutherland,  director  ;  "Full  Con- 
sion,"  starring  Victor  McLaglen 
h  Sally  Eilers,  and  "Anne  of  Windy 

f)lars,"  starring  Anne  Shirley  in  the 
M.  Montgomery  favorite. 
Towne-Baker  Schedule 

Also,  "African  Intrigue,"  an  adven- 
)e  story   by   Alfred    Batson.  and 
om  Brown's   School   Days,"  with 
ne  Towne  and  Graham  Baker  as 
■dueer  and  writer.    This  team  will 
jP  produce  "The  Deerslayer,"  the 
.mes  Fenimore  Cooper  classic,  and 
wiss  Family  Robinson,"  from  the 
mlar  Johann  David  Wyss  story. 
'The   Saint"    series,   with  George 
iders  in  the  title  role  of  the  Leslie 
arteris   detective    stories,   will  be 
(.Continued  on  page  11) 


When  Salesmen  Get  Together 


Here  you  see  four  RKO  chieftains  enjoying  a  bit  of  repartee  with  their  "best  customer,"  on  the  lawn  of  the 
Westchester  Country  Club,  during  the  company  convention.  The  "best  customer"  is  W.  G.  Van  Schmus  (center), 
managing  director,  Radio  City  Music  Hall.   They  are  Cresson  Smith,  Jules  Levy,  Ned  Depinet,  George  Schaefer. 


Two  visitors  from  the  Coast  at  the  RKO  convention 
are  Charles  Leonard  (left)  and  Howard  Benedict 
(right). 


S.  Barret  McCormick,  advertising  and  publicity 
director  of  RKO,  and  Ned  Depinet,  distribution 
chief,  discuss  advertising  plans. 


In  front  of  W.  G.  Van  Schmus  and  Gunther  Lessing,  counsel  for  the  Disney  interest,  Roy  Disney  and 
George  J.  Schaefer  with  a  strong  handclasp  seal  the  Disney-RKO  deal  on  "Pinocchio." 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  20,  193 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


'Angels'  Tops 
Heat  in  Phila. 
With  $15,000 

Philadelphia,  June  19.— Breaking 
the  heat  barrier,  "Only  Angels  Have 
Wings"  soared  to  $15,000  at  the  Stan- 
ley. 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  at  the  Fox, 
Johnny  Davis  the  stage  headliner, 
reached  a  fair  $16,500. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15 : 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA — (600)  (25c-40c-57c)  3  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $1,000.  (Average,  7  days, 
$2,800) 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

BOYD— (2,400)    (32c-42c-57c)   7  days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $9,000.    Average,  $14,000) 
"Undercover  Doctor"  (Para.) 

EARLE— (2,000)     (26c-32c-42c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,300.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX— (3,000)   (32c -37c -42c -57c -68c)  7  days. 
(Stage    show,     6    days).     Stage:  Johnny 
"Scat"    Davis    and   band.     Gross:  $16,500. 
(Average.  $16,000). 
"Stolen  Life"  (Para.) 

KARLTON—  (1,000)  (32c-42c-57c)  7  days, 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $2,800.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Wuthering  Heights"  (U.  A.) 

PALACE— (], 000)    (26c-42c)    7    days,  3rd 
run.    Gross:  $3,800.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

STANLEY— (3,700)    (32c-42c-57c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  run.     Gross:  $6,500.     (Average,  $7,000) 

'Angels9  at  $8,800 
As  Montreal  Slips 

Montreal,  June  19. — "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings"  had  the  highest  gross, 
$8,000  at  the  Palace. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  16 : 

"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

CAPITOL  —  (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c). 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average,  $8,000). 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

LOEWS— (2.800)   (30c-40c-60c)   2nd  week. 
Gross:   $5,300.     (Average,  $8,000) 
"Dark  Rapture"  (Univ.) 
"My  Wife's  Relatives"  (Rep.) 

ORPHEUM— (919)   (25c-35c-50c).  Gross: 
$2,800.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

PALACE—  (2,600)  (25c-40c-55c-65c).  Gross: 
$8,800.     (Average,  $11,000) 
"Sergeant  Madden"  (M-G-M) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

PRINCESS  —  (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c). 
Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 

Court  Orders  RCA 
Stock  Suits  Merged 

Order  consolidating  all  stockhold- 
ers' suits  against  RCA  in  the  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court  and  appointing  Abra- 
ham L.  Pomerantz  general  counsel 
for  stockholders  was  affirmed  yester- 
day by  the  Appellate  Division  of  the 
N.  Y.  Supreme  Court.  The  court, 
however,  struck  out  a  provision  of  the 
order  which  directed  stockholders  to 
employ  Max  D.  Steuer  as  their  trial 
counsel.  The  suit,  brought  against 
RCA,  its  officers  and  directors,  Amer- 
ican Telephone  &  Telegraph  Co., 
Westinghouse  Electric  &  Manufactur- 
ing Co.  and  General  Electric  Co.,  in- 
cludes in  its  complaint  a  charge  that 
$80,000,000  of  preferred  stock  was  is- 
sued for  $17,000,000. 


Judell  Closes  Branch 

Indianapolis,  June  19. — B.  N. 
Judell,  Inc..  has  closed  its  exchange 
here.  Big  Features  Rights  will  exe- 
cute its  contracts  and  distribute  new 
Judell  product  in  this  territory. 


Sell  Indiana  House 

English,  Ind.,  June  19. — The  Eng- 
lish here  has  been  sold  by  Dr.  G.  B. 
and  Dr.  F.  G.  Hammond,  brothers, 
who  built  it  and  operated  it  17  years, 
to  the  Luckett  Amusement  Co. 


Install  Cooling  Plants 

New  Haven,  June  19— Air  con- 
ditioning jobs  in  the  territory  this 
summer  include  the  West  End,  Rivoli 
and  Colonial,  Bridgeport,  and  Mid- 
dlesex, Middletown. 


Joins  Universal  Staff 

Cleveland,  June  19. — Dave  Miller, 
Universal  district  manager,  has  as- 
signed Peter  Rosian,  special  sales  rep- 
resentative to  the  Pittsburgh  territory. 


Columbus  House  to  Use  Duals 

Columbus,  O.,  June  19. — Loew's 
Broad,  first  run,  has  inaugurated  a 
double  feature  policy.  The  RKO 
Palace  and  Grand  went  to  double  fea- 
tures two  weeks  ago.  This  leaves 
Loew's  Ohio  as  the  only  first  run  here 
with  singles. 


Drop  Boston  Vaudeville 

Boston,  June  19.— RKO  Keith  Bos- 
ton has  discontinued  vaudeville.  The 
house  had  been  presenting  stage  shows 
four  days  weekly  on  Thursday,  Fri- 
day, Saturday  and  Sunday. 


Manages  S.  C.  Theatre 

Columbia,  S.  C,  June  19. — Wal- 
lace Martin,  assistant  manager  of  the 
Palmetto,  has  been  appointed  manager 
of  the  new  700-seat  Five  Points  at 
Five  Points,  to  be  opened  shortly. 
Bradley  Reese,  assistant  manager  of 
the  Ritz,  has  been  named  to  succeed 
Martin  at  the  Palmetto,  and  John 
Fitzgerald,  Jr.  will  become  assistant 
manager  of  the  Ritz. 


RKO  Moves  Henninger 

Seattle,  June  19. — Floyd  Hen- 
ninger, formerly  with  RKO  in  Los 
Angeles,  has  arrived  here  to  become 
head  booker  at  the  local  RKO  ex- 
change. He  succeeds  Louis  Gold- 
smith, who  will  represent  the  same 
company  in  eastern  Washington. 


Kosco  Quits  Columbia 

Pittsburgh,  June  19. — Charles 
Kosco,  Columbia  salesman  in  West 
Virginia  for  seven  years,  has  resigned 
to  become  booker  for  the  Anderson 
and  Urling  Circuit,  operating  30 
theatres  in  the  Tri-State  area,  with 
headquarters  in  Kingwood,  W.  Va. 
George  Wheeler,  formerly  with  Grand 
National,  succeeds  Kosco  af  Colum- 
bia. 

Oklahoma  City  Wins 
Ross  Federal  Drive 

Oklahoma  City  won  first  place  in 
Ross  Federal's  ninth  anniversary 
President's  Month  testimonial  drive, 
honoring  Harry  A.  Ross,  president. 
Milt  Gore  is  branch  manager.  New 
Orleans  finished  second  and  Washing- 
ton third. 

The  company  has  started  a  contest 
among  employes  seeking  a  trademark, 
with  cash  prizes  offered. 


Ohio  Rejects  6  Reels 

Columbus,  O.,  June  19. — Six  reels 
were  rejected  by  the  Ohio  censors  for 
the  week  ending  June  16,  during  which 
114  reels  were  reviewed  and  six  elim- 
inations ordered. 


Paramount  Shifts  Bahner 

Des  Moines,  June  19.— H.  T. 
(Jerry)  Bahner,  ad  sales  manager  at 
the  Paramount  exchange,  has  been 
transferred  to  the  Paramount  office 
in  Minneapolis  and  Con  Curtis,  his  as- 
sistant, has  taken  his  place  at  the  local 
exchange. 


Schine  Acquires  Interest 

Bowling  Green,  O.,  June  19. — The 
Schine  circuit  has  become  partner 
with  Clark  M.  Young  in  the  operation 
of  the  Cla-Zell  Theatre.  Schine  will 
buy  and  book  for  the  house. 


Manages  Danz  Theatre 

Seattle,  June  19. — Murray  Peck, 
former  vaudeville  and  night  club  en- 
tertainer and  master-of-ceremonies, 
has  been  appointed  manager  of  John 
Danz's  Colonial  here. 


Form  Theatre  Company 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  June  19. — M. 
Switow  &  Sons  Enterprises,  Inc., 
Louisville,  capitalized  at  $250,000.  has 
been  chartered  here.  The  concern  is 
a  consolidation  of  M.  Switow  &  Sons 
Enterprises  and  Lafayette  Amusement 
Co. 


Providence  Albee  Dark 

Providence,  June  19. — RKO-Albee 
here  is  dark  again  and  probably  will 
remain  so  until  late  August,  when  it 
resumes  film  programs.  Leased  by 
Jules  Leventhal,  New  York  producer, 
for  stage  plays,  he  abruptly  cancelled 
his  plans  when  the  local  censor  banned 
two  plays. 


Take  Over  Old  Ohio  House 

Ironton,  O.,  June  19. — The  South 
Side,  350-seat  house,  oldest  theatre 
here,  operated  but  a  few  times  since 
the  1937  flood  in  which  it  was  con- 
siderably damaged,  has  been  taken 
over  by  the  Hunter  Theatre  Co., 
Huntington-,  W.  V.  It  will  be  reno- 
vated and  reopened  as  the  Roxy. 


Burkhardt  to  Boston 

Howard  Burkhardt,  manager  of 
Loew's  Capitol,  Washington,  has  been 
transferred  to  manager  of  Loew's 
Orpheum,  Boston,  replacing  George 
Jones,  resigned.  Gene  Ford,  formerly 
with  the  production  department,  re- 
places Burkhardt  in  Washington. 


Fay's  Closed  for  Summer 

Providence,  June  19. — Fay's  The- 
atre has  closed  for  the  summer,  as 
usual.  Painting  and  repairing  will  be 
done  during  the  summer,  the  house 
reopening  the  last  week  of  August. 

Seven  New  Pictures 
Get  Legion  Approval 

National  Legion  of  Decency  for  the 
current  week  approved  seven  of  eight 
new  pictures,  four  for  general  patron- 
age and  three  for  adults,  and  classed 
one  as  objectionable  in  part.  The  new 
films  and  their  classification  follow. 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for  Gen- 
eral Patronage — "Adventures  of  the 
Masked  Phantom,"  "Bulldog  Drum- 
mond's  Bride,"  "Inside  Information," 
"Susannah  of  the  Mounties."  Class 
A-2,  Unobjectionable  for  Adults — 
"The  Girl  and  the  Gambler,"  "Should 
a  Girl  Marry,;'  "SOS  Tidal  Wave." 
Class  B,  Objectionable  in  Part — 
"Daughters  Courageous." 


' Juarez'  Hits 
Fine  $20,500 
In  Pittsburg! 


Pittsburgh,  June  19.  —  "Juarez 
paced  the  field  with  a  strong  $20,5i)i 
at  Loew's  Penn.  Runnerup  was  'TV 
Mikado"  with  $5,800  at  the  Fulton 
followed  by  the  Alvin's  $6.0rjnrJ*ow| 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln."  m<  P 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end  I 
ing  June  15  : 

"Young   Mr.  .  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ALVIN— (1,900)     (25c-35c-50c)     7     dav=  I 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)      (25c-40c)      7     days  1 
Gross:  $5,800.     (Average,  $5,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

LOEW'S  PENN— (3,600)  (25c-35c-50c)  | 
daj's.  Gross:  $20,500.  (Average,  $15,000)  I 
"The  Kid  From  Kokomo"  (W.  B.) 

STANLEY— (3,600)    (25c-40c-60c)   7  days! 
Stage:    Marion   Talley,   Slate   Bros.,  othel 
acts.     Gross:   $11,000.     (Average,  $17,000)  I 
"I'm  From  Missouri"  (Para.) 
"You  Can't  Get  Away  With  Murder" 
(W.  B). 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days  I 
Gross:   $3,500.     (Average,  $4,500) 

$6,800  to  'Lincoln' 
Indianapolis  Besi  \ 

Indianapolis,  June  19. — "Youngl 
Mr.  Lincoln"  and  "The  Gorilla"  gavel 
the  Circle  $6,800  in  a  week  thal'l 
brought  extremes  of  hot  and  cole  I 
weather.  Competing  was  one-daj  I 
stand  of  Ringling  Bros.-Barnum  &  I 
Bailey  circus. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- J 
ing  June  16 : 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

APOLLO— (1,100)    (25c-40c)    7  days,  2nc| 
week.     Gross:  $2,400.     (Average,  $2,500) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"The  Gorilla"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CIRCLE  —  (2,800)      (25c-40c)      7  days^ 
Gross:  $6,800.     (Average,  $5,500) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kilkare"  (M-G-M) 
"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mono.) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross:! 
$6,500.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  (20th-Fox) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Stage: 
June  Jubilesta,  with  A.  Robins,  Ward  & 
Milford,  Four  O'Connors,  12  World's  Fait 
Girls.    Gross:  $7,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 

Miss  Tucker  Defends 
AFA  Against  Attack 

Answering  charges  that  the  Ameri-j 
can  Federation  of  Actors  had  failed  to' 
organize  night  club,  vaudeville  and 
chorus  performers,  Sophie  Tucker, 
president,  yesterday,  declared  that  the 
"A.F.A.  has  organized  12,873  per- 
formers, of  8,850  are  in  good  standing, 
since  it  started  in  March,  1934.  In' 
addition  to  those  the  A.F.A.  has  3,2001 
in  its  circus  and  carnival  employes 
division." 

In  New  York,  the  A.F.A.  has  135: 
night  club,  hotel  and  World's  Fair 
shows  operating  under  contracts.  The 
San  Francisco  Fair  is  100  per  cent 
A.F.A.  and  16  shows  in  the  New 
York  Fair  are  signed,  according  to 
Miss  Tucker. 

Membership  increased  by  900  since 
May  1,  and  1,700  have  been  organized  ' 
in  the  chorus  section  in  the  14  months 
of  its  existence,  Miss  Tucker  stated. 
Salary  claims  totalling  $10,000  have 
been  collected  in  the  past  fiscal  year. 

'Waltzes'  Openings  Set 

Oscar  Strauss  musical  "Three 
Waltzes,"  starring  Yvonne  Printemps, 
will  open  at  the  Fine  Arts  in  Boston  j 
tomorrow  and  at  the  Esquire  in  Hol- 
lywood Friday.  Vedis  Films  owns  the 
American  distribution  rights. 


PRODUCERS  like  Pandro  S.  Herman,  Max  Gordon, 


I 


others . . .  PRODUCER-DIRECTORS  like  Gregory  La  Cava,  1 1 
like  William  Dieterle,  William  Seiter,  John  Cromw 


Lombard,  Car?  Grant,  Ginger  Rogers,  Anna  Neagle,  Doug 
McLaglen,  Jean  Hersholt,  Richard  Dix,  Bob  Burns, 


PROPERTIES  like  Hunchback  of  Notre  Dame  -  The 


Swiss  Family  Robinson — Allegheny  Frontier — Ivanhi 
Days  -  Kitchener — The  Ramparts  We  Watch — and 


SIX  Wl 
AND  THE  SCRE 

Walt  Disney  Productions  —  March  of  Time* 
Information  Please  —  Reelisms  —  Sportscoj* 

Comedies  . . .  and  addiii 


Gene  Towne,  Sol  Lesser,  Harold  Lloyd  and  man? 


Y,  George  Stevens,  Herbert  Wilcox . . .  DIRECTORS 


n  Kanin  and  many  more  .  .  .  STARS  like  Carole 


banks,  Jr.,  Laurel  and  Hardy,  Charles  Laughton,  Victor 
vne,  Anne  Shirley,  and  others  to  be  announced  . . . 


ay -Abe  Lincoln  in  Illinois — Nurse  Edith  Cavell— 


|  W 

il  in  the  Night  -  The  Deerslayer— Tom  Brown's  School 
ny  others  you'll  find  in  the  book  . . . 


TERNS 

I'S  BEST  SHORTS 

O-Pathe  News -Two-Reel  Dionne  Special - 
Edgar  Kennedy,  Leon  Errol,  Ray  Whitley 
short -length  features. 


Ilf   AND  PLENTY  MORE! 


Jay.  June  20.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


Bronx  Houses 
Check  Abuses 
On  Admission 


Cooling  Off 

Providence,  June  19. — Lo- 
cal theatres  are  taking  no 
chances  on  poor  business 
this  summer  because  of  the 
heat.  Ed  Fay  has  a  crew  of 
diggers  already  down  200 
feet  sinking  an  artesian  well 
for  a  cooling  system  for  the 
Majestic.  Antonio  A.  Ro- 
mano has  installed  systems 
at  the  Park  and  Palace,  and 
Ted  Rosenblatt  has  cooled 
off  the  Community  at  Cen- 
tredale,  R.  I. 


Musart  Picture  Set 

ichael  J.  Gann,  president  of  Mus- 
Productions,  will  start  production 
le  east  shortly  on  "Princess  Aza," 
e  made  in  English,  French,  Rus- 
and  Spanish.  Musart's  "Cos- 
>  in  Exile"  opens  Saturday  at  the 
ory,  Trenton.  X.  J.,  after  four 
cs  in  Xew  York. 


Hold  Metro  Club  Party 

New  Havex,  June  19. — Metro  Pep 
ub  held  its  annual  spring  dinner 
By  at  Baybrook,  with  Thomas  Don- 
iteon,  exchange  manager  and  Wil- 
rm  Marsh,  traveling  auditor,  as 
pests  of  honor.  George  Weber,  presi- 
nt,  was  in  charge. 


Release  'Warning'  Here 

Budd  Rogers,  American  general 
manager  for  Alliance  Films  Corp., 
has  arranged  for  the  distribution  of 
"The  Warning,"  showing  English 
war  preparations,  in  Boston,  New 
Haven,  Cincinnati,  Cleveland.  Indiana, 
Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco,  Seattle, 
Portland  and  Washington  territories. 

Withdraw  Bank  Night 

Milwaukee,  June  19. — Bank  Night, 
at  Fox's  Palace,  first  run  house, 
proved  a  failure  and  the  game  has 
been  pulled  after  six  weeks.  The  cir- 
cuit is  continuing  the  game  at  the 
Varsity,  second  run  six  blocks  from 
the  Palace. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

to  maintain  in  the  fullest  sense  the 
minimum  admission  provision  in  our 
contracts." 

It  is  further  stipulated  that  "this 
agreement  is  reached  on  the  under- 
standing that  the  present  policy  in 
giveaways,  both  in  respect  to  the  num- 
ber of  days  upon  which  such  give- 
aways and  premiums  are  indulged  in 
as  well  as  the  amount  of  money  in- 
volved in  toto  in  such  giveaways  do 
not  become  increased  in  the  future." 

The  agreement  was  reached  after 
meetings  held  by  Nizer  with  repre- 
sentatives of  Loew's,  RKO  and  inde- 
pendent theatres. 

Theatres  assenting  to  the  agreement 
are :  Jackson,  Max  Suderov ;  Presi- 
dent, Charles  Morse  ;  Burland,  Loew's  ; 
Prospect,  Max  A.  Cohen ;  Congress, 
Moe  Rosenberg ;  Empire,  RKO : 
Morningside,  Al  Suchman ;  Park 
West,  Harry  Karesh ;  Manhattan, 
George  Reisner;  Arden,  William 
Kaster ;  Rose,  Max  Suderoff ;  West 
End,  Max  Cohen. 

Only  a  minority  of  those  signing 
practiced  the  cut-rate  admissions,  but 
all  theatres  in  the  neighborhoods  in- 
volved were  brought  in  to  accept  the 
pact. 

Foreign  Business 
Brighter,  Says  Erpi 

Erpi's  business  prospects  in  foreign 
markets  are  brighter  today  than  at 
any  time  in  recent  years,  E.  S.  Gregg, 
general  foreign  manager,  said  yester- 
day on  the  basis  of  a  checkup  made 
during  the  company's  first  internation- 
al sales  conference  which  was  held  at 
the  home  office  here  last  week. 

Gregg  said  that  the  world  total  of 
Western  Electric  equipment  installa- 
tions is  now  12,000  and  that  a  large 
number  of  advance  orders  are  on 
hand.  In  addition,  orders  for  non- 
theatrical  products  such  as  hearing 
instruments  are  increasing  rapidly,  he 
said. 

Among  those  who  attended  the  in- 
ternational sales  conference  were  G.  S. 
Appelgate,  Australia ;  William  De- 
mello,  Brazil ;  Edwin  Cline,  Argen- 
tina ;  P.  L.  Palmerton,  European  man- 
ager ;  John  Riley,  chief  engineer, 
London ;  H.  B.  Allinsmith,  Cuba ; 
F.  E.  Peters,  Canada,  G.  L.  Carring- 
ton,  vice-president,  Altec  Service 
Corp.,  Gregg  and  other  executives. 


Ban  on  Wisconsin 
Bank  Night  Urged 

Oshkosh,  Wis.,  June  19. — Winne- 
bago County  Board  has  voted  to  peti- 
tion the  state  legislature  asking  that 
the  statutes  be  revised  so  that  Bank 
Night  will  be  officially  construed  a  lot- 
tery and  therefore  illegal. 

The  Paulson  bill,  introduced  in  the 
State  Senate  in  March,  which  bans 
the  giving  of  money  or  merchandise  by 
lot  or  drawing,  is  still  in  committee. 
If  passed,  the  measure  would  prohibit 
Bank  Night  and  similar  games. 


No  Mansfield,  O.,  Arrests 

Mansfield,  O.,  June  19. — Although 
police  were  prepared  to  carry  out  their 
threat  to  arrest  the  manager  of  War- 
ner's Madison  when  making  the  first 
award  in  Bank  Night,  inaugurated  re- 
cently, no  action  was  taken  at  the 
drawing  late  last  week  because  the 
winner  had  not  purchased  a  ticket. 

"Participation  without  payment  of 
admission  does  not  constitute  violation 
of  the  Ohio  lottery  law,"  declared 
Police  Chief  Meade  K.  Bates.  "How- 
ever, when  the  winner  has  paid  money 
for  a  ticket  we  propose  to  make 
arrests,"  he  added. 


Theatres  Add  Television 

Midwood  and  Patio,  operated  by 
Century  Circuit  in  Brooklyn,  have 
been  added  to  the  list  of  theatres 
which  have  installed  television  sets  as 
added  boxoffice  stimulants.  At  Cen- 
tury's Grove  in  Freeport  a  television 
set  will  be  included  in  the  premiums 
offered  to  patrons. 


Visit  RKO  Lounge 

Visitors  at  the  RKO  exhibitors' 
lounge  yesterday  included  David  Rab- 
inowitz  of  the  Lincoln,  Gainesville, 
Fla. ;  Fred  Gregor,  New  Waterford, 
Nova  Scotia,  and  M.  L.  A.  Bernero 
and  Mrs.  Bernero  of  the  Ansell 
Brothers  Circuit,  St.  Louis. 


Hollywood  Previews 


Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris" 

mlmnbia) 

Hollywood.  June  19. — "Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris"  is  a  comedy  riot. 

priding  with  clever  dialogue  and  alive  with  engaging  situations  and 
'aracterizations  which  Melvyn  Douglas,  Joan  Blondell,  Walter  Con- 
.  By.  Alan  Curtis,  Joan  Perry,  Isabel  Jeans,  Stanley  Brown,  Alexander 
"Arcv,  Henrv  Hunter,  Clarence  Kolb  and  Howard  Hickman  put  across 
IjJ^  nd  style,  it  is  the  kind  of  amusing  entertainment  that  is  synony- 
nhs  with  big  box-office. 

Novel  vet  natural,  the  piece  generates  its  fun  immediately  and,  as  it 
oceed>  >peedily.  permits  no  let  downs  or  dull  moments.  Much  of  the 
jetlit  for  the  picture's  entertainment  merit  goes  to  Douglas,  Connolly 
id  Miss  Blondell  for  their  capable  performances.  Alexander  Hall's 
recting  technique,  never  better  than  when  he  is  handling  light  comedy 
Uterial.  is  always  expert  and  the  manner  in  which  screenplay  writers 

Idys  Lehman  and  Ken  Englund  endowed  the  lively  Lenore  Coffee- 

illiam  Joyce  Cowen  original  with  peppy  lines  and  surprising  circum- 
•uices  is  commendable. 

College  waitress  Joan  Blondell's  preliminary  excursions  into  the  art 

golddigging  anil  amateur  blackmailing  result  disastrously  but  win  her 
e^frieiubhip  of  Professor  Douglas.  The  scene  shifts  to  New  York  and 
a  strange  quirk  of  fate  Miss  Blondell  lands  in  Connolly's  house, 
here,  meanwhile  effecting  Connolly's  mental  and  physical  regeneration, 

e  demonstrates  that  Curtis  is  not  a  thoroughly  bad  boy.  that  daughter 
liss  Jeans  is  a  chiseler  and,  after  showing  up  younger  daughter  Miss 
Wry  as  a  two-timer  not  worthy  of  Douglas,  she  winds  up  by  marrying 

-niglas  and  getting  that  trip  to  Paris  to  which  all  bad-good  little 

nicrican  girls  aspire. 

Running  time,  70  minutes.  "G."*  G.  McC. 


Susannah  of  the  Mounties 

"ti  entieth  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  June  19— Shirley  Temple,  four-time  No.  1  star  of  the 
ternational  box-office,  returns 'in  this  picture  to  the  simple,  childish 
cupations  in  which  she  established  her  unprecedented  championship, 
is  a  story  about  the  brave  Northwest  Mounted  and  the  Indians  who 
dn't  take  too  kindlv  to  the  brave  white  man's  iron  horse  as  it  plodded 
^stward  across  Canada.  It  contains  a  deal  of  fighting,  an  attack  on  a 
rt.  some  not  too  gorev  killing  and  quite  a  lot  of  pleasant  humor  in 
lich  Miss  Temple  learns  about  Indians  from  Martin  Good  Rider,  a 
•ung  chief  slightly  her  senior.  '  These  are  the  most  entertaining  pas- 
Randolph  Scott,  who  finds  Miss  Temple  the  sole  survivor  of  a  wagon 
in  massacre  and  brings  her  into  the  fort,  is  the  adult  hero  of  the 
>rv  Margaret  Lockwood,  the  girl  of  the  incidental  romance.  J.  I-arrell 
acDonald  plavs  the  orderlv  who  becomes  Miss  Temple's  immediate 
:endant  and  Victor  Jorv  impersonates  the  bad  Injun  who  stirs  up  all 
e  trouble.  Melodramatic  incidents  culminating  in  the  near  burmng-at- 
e-take  of  the  hero  are  treated  entirely  for  juvenile  eyes  and  ears. 
Miss  Temple  plavs  the  lead  simply  and  with  her  accustomed  charm, 
le  instructs  Scott'  in  the  intricacies  of  the  waltz,  but  does  not,  other- 
se,  sing  or  dance. 

William  A.  Seiter  directed  for  associate  producer  Kenneth  Macgowan. 
ne  screenplav  bv  Robert  Ellis  and  Helen  Logan  is  from  a  story  by 
•  del  La  Barb'a  and  Walter  Ferris  which  is  based,  in  turn,  upon  a  book 
Muriel  Denison. 

Running  time,  73  minutes.  "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 

*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Answer  America's  Demand  for 
Good  Sound  with  the  Best! 


RCA  Manufacturing  Company,  Inc. 

CAMDEN,  N.  J.  •  A  SERVICE  OF  RADIO  CORPORATION  OF  AMERICA 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  20, 


Nizer  Analyzes  Trade  Practice  Code 


Louis  Nizer,  counsel  for  the  New  York  Film  Board  of  Trade,  yes- 
terday analyzed  the  highlights  of  the  Trade  Practice  Code  in  an  ex- 
clusive interview  he  gave  yesterday. 

Nizer  declined  to  comment  on  the  acceptance  or  rejection  of  the  code 
by  any  exhibitor  groups.  "The  question  of  adopting  the  code  is  partly 
in  the  political  realm  and  I  do  not 
wish  to  participate  in  that  discussion," 
he  said.  "Before  anyone  can  pass 
judgment  on  the  Code,  however,  he 
must  know  what  is  in  it." 

Nizer  then  analyzed  some  of  the 
most  important  provisions  in  non-legal 
terms. 

First  he  explained  the  cancellation 
clause  which  is  called  the  "exclusion 
privilege"  in  the  Code.  It  grants  a 
cancellation  right  which  ranges  from 
10  per  cent  to  20  per  cent  of  the  fea- 
tures contracted  for  by  the  exhibitor. 
If  the  average  price  of  the  features 
bought  is  not  more  than  $100,  exhibi- 
tor may  cancel  20  per  cent  of  these 
features.  If  the  average  price  is  not 
more  than  $250,  he  may  cancel  15 
per  cent.  If  the  average  price  is  more 
than  $250,  he  may  cancel  10  per  cent. 

Cancellation  Without  Payment 

The  cancellation  may  be  made  with- 
out any  payment  of  any  kind.  The 
chief  condition  imposed  on  the  right 
to  cancel  is  that  the  exhibitor  be 
not  in  a  material  default  under  the 
contract  at  the  time  he  exercises  his 
rights. 

Nizer  continued : 

"Concerning  preferred  playing  time, 
the  Code  takes  away  the  right  of  the 
distributor  to  designate  such  time  for 
any  feature  which  is  bought  on  either 


a  flat  rental  or  a  percentage  with  a 
fixed  minimum  guarantee.  In  other 
words,  under  the  Code,  the  distribu- 
tor can  designate  preferred  playing 
time  only  for  those  pictures  which  are 
bought  on  a  straight  percentage  basis. 

"There  is  another  provision  in  the 
Code,  designed  to  meet  the  objection 
of  certain  exhibitors  to  'exclusive  sell- 
ing.' This  clause  tries  to  assure  to 
every  exhibitor  the  ability  to  obtain 
at  least  some  run  for  his  theatre. 

Fair  Competition  Approved 

The  Code  provides  that  an  exhibi- 
tor's policy  shall  not  be  considered 
destructive  or  such  as  will  reduce 
the  revenue  if  it  is  established  under 
methods  of  competition  normal  and 
fair  in  such  a  situation.  The  ques- 
tions as  to  whether  an  exhibitor's 
theatre  is  of  an  obsolete  character, 
is  in  good  condition,  and  whether  the 
exhibitor  is  of  a  good  reputation  or 
financial  responsibility,  are  all  sub- 
ject to  arbitration.  The  question  as 
to  whether  the  exhibitor  and  distribu- 
tor can  agree  upon  terms  of  the  con- 
tract is  not  subject  to  arbitration. 

"Score  charges  are  eliminated  for 
the  1939-1940  season. 

"Short  subject,  newsreels,  foreign 
pictures  or  reissues  may  not  be  im- 
posed upon  an  exhibitor  as  a  condi- 


s 


he  wants  to  forget  her  home  prairie 
with  romance  that's  devil-may -carey... 
She  wants  to  wear  sables 
not  wait  on  six  tables — 
or  fondle  a  cow  in  a  dairy! 


OPENING  RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


tion  for  his  obtaining  features.  If 
the  exhibitor  claims  a  violation  of 
this  clause  he  may  submit  the  matter 
to  arbitration.  The  arbitrators  may 
cancel  the  contract  for  shorts  in  such 
a  case.  To  assert  such  a  claim  the 
exhibitor  must  give  notice  to  the  dis- 
tributor within  48  hours  after  delivery 
by  exhibitor  of  a  signed  application 
for  the  short  subjects. 

"In  selective  contracts  the  exhibi- 
tor must  give  written  notice  of  ac- 
ceptance or  rejection  within  21  days 
after  the  mailing  of  the  notice  of 
availability.  If  he  doesn't,  he  is  deemed 
to  have  accepted  the  picture. 

"No  distributor  may  coerce  an  ex- 
hibitor into  entering  into  a  contract 
by  threatening  to  build  or  aquire  a 
theatre  in  competition  with  it.  If 
the  exhibitor  claims  the  contract  was 
obtained  under  such  a  threat,  he  may 
submit  the  matter  to  arbitration.  The 
arbitrators  have  the  power  to  cancel 
the  contract  made.  To  have  such  an 
arbitration  right  the  exhibitor  must 
make  his  claim  in  writing  within  48 
hours  after  delivery  of  the  contract 
to  him. 

No  Way  to  Evade  Clauses 

"Every  clause  of  the  Code  makes  it 
possible  to  submit  certain  questions  to 
arbitration  in  order  that  the  purpose 
of  the  clause  may  not  be  evaded  in 
practice.  The  Code  also  submits 
breaches  of  contract  to  arbitration  and 
the  question  as  to  whether  clearance 
is  reasonable. 

"The  Code  recognizes  that  reason- 
able clearance  is  essential  in  the  dis- 
tribution and  exhibition  of  pictures, 
and  that  any  exhibitor  has  the  right 
without  restriction,  to  buy  a  certain 
run  which  he  is  able  to  negotiate  with 
the  distributor.  However,  any  dispute 
as  to  whether  the  existing  clearance 
in  any  particular  instance  is  unreason- 
able, is  subject  to  arbitration.  The 
Code  also  submits  to  arbitration  the 
question  of  overbuying. 

"The  term  of  the  Code  is  two  ex- 
hibition seasons  beginning  1939-1940. 
Each  season  begins  September  1  and 
ends  August  31.  Thereafter  the  term 
runs  on  indefinitely.  Anyone  may 
withdraw  from  the  Code  at  the  end 
of  the  second  exhibition  season  or  at 
the  end  of  any  subsequent  season. 

Neutral  Arbitrators  Provided 

"Annexed  to  the  Trade  Practice 
Code  are  the  rules  of  arbitration. 
They  provide  for  a  panel  of  neutral 
arbitrators  in  each  exchange  territory. 
These  neutral  arbitrators  may  be  paid 
for  their  services  and  may  have  a 
knowledge  of  the  industry  but  they 
must  not  be  associated  with  either  dis- 
tributor or  exhibitor  interests. 

"The  distributors  and  affiliated  ex- 
hibitors then  appoint  a  panel  of  ten 
arbitrators.  The  organized  exhibitor 
groups  similarly  appoint  a  panel  of 
ten  arbitrators.  The  permanent  arbi- 
tration board  is  composed  of  one  neu- 
tral arbitrator  and  one  arbitrator  each 
from  the  two  panels,  thus  selected. 

"There  are  also  special  arbitration 
boards.  In  case  of  disputes  involving 
clearance,  the  complaining  exhibitor 
designates  an  arbitrator.  The  exhib- 
itor complained  against  designates  an 
arbitrator  and  the  distributors  desig- 
nate an  arbitrator.  The  three  arbi- 
trators so  selected  must  by  unanimous 
consent  designate  two  arbitrators  who 
may  be  neutral  arbitrators." 


Little  Chance 
For  Film  BilL 
Up  in  Illinoi 


Springfield,  III.,  June  19. — W  \ 
only  two  weeks  remaining  of  the  c  i 
rent  session  of  the  Illinois  legislat  ' 
little  chance  is  seen  for  enactment  1 
any  of  the  bills  bearing  on  the  filw. 
dustry  in  Illinois.  j£| 

Two  bills  have  been  approved  by 
House,  another  is  pending-  in  the  sa 
chamber  and  three  others  are  pend  | 
in  the  Senate. 

One  of  those  passed  by  the  Ho  ] 
prohibits  compulsory  blind  selling  i\ 
block  booking. 

The  second  would  make  it  unlaw' 
for  an  exhibitor  to  show  one  or  mi 
films  for  a  longer  period  than  t] 
consecutive  hours,  unless  there  is 
15-minute  intermission  at  the  begi 
ning  of  each  hour  in  excess  of  two 

The  measure  pending  on  third  re; 
ing  in  the  House  would  prohibit  I 
showing  of  a  picture  in  which  •} 
pears  any  person  divorced  two 
more  times.  The  sponsor  of  this  I 
plans  to  amend  it  to  exempt  th< 
who  have  received  divorces  up  to  t 
time  of  the  enactment  of  the  leg 
lation. 

The  three  bills  pending  on  th- 
reading in  the  Senate  would  make 
unlawful  for  any  exhibitor  to  perr 
a  child  under  14  to  enter  his  thea: 
after  9  p.m.,  or  to  permit  any  ch 
to  remain  after  10  p.m. ;  theatre 
vorcement  and  the  creation  of  a  st; 
film  censor  board. 


TM AT  Names  Four 
To  Governor  Boar 

In  accordance  with  new  provisio 
of  the  Theatrical  Managers,  A^eil 
and  Treasurers  Union  constitution, 
second  vice-president  and  four  met 
bers  of  the  board  of  governors  ha 
been  elected.  Charles  Carroll  w 
named  vice-president  and  a  member 
the  board.  Other  members  are  W 
liam  S.  Scott,  Joseph  Silverman  a' 
Charles  Shollod. 


Defer  Chicago  Hearini 

Chicago,  June  19. — A  hearii 
scheduled  for  today  in  the  local  ind 
pendent  exhibitors'  anti-trust  actic. 
against  B.  &  K.  and  major  distrib 
tors  was  postponed  until  June  29. 


2-Year  Ticket  Tax 
Is  Voted  by  House 

Washington,  June  19. — Con- 
tinuance of  the  admission  tax 
for  another  two  years  was 
voted  today  by  the  House  of 
Representatives  when,  before 
passing  the  new  revenue 
measure,  it  defeated,  57  to  83, 
a  motion  by  Congressman 
Harter  of  Ohio  to  limit  the 
extension  to  one  year. 

There  was  little  debate  on 
the  proposed  amendment. 
Representative  Knutson  of 
Minnesota  led  the  opposition 
and  pointed  out  that  the  con- 
dition of  the  Treasury  was 
such  that  more  assurance  of 
continued  income  should  be 
given  than  would  be  com- 
prised in  a  one-year  exten- 
sion. 


JsJay.  June  20. 


Motion  Picture  daily 


ii 


2  Features 
Dn  RKO  List 
Next  Season 


Banner  Lines 


By  JACK  BANNER 


{Continued  from  pane  3) 

frinued.  Pictures  will  be  "The 
fit's  Vacation"  and  "The  Saint 
board."  Others  include  "Father 
n."  with  Robert  Sisk  producing 
biography  by  John  Farrow. 

>  will  direct.     Screenplay   is  by 

■  Twist.  Bobby  Breen  in  two  Sol 
jscr  productions ;  "Marines  in  the 
„'  starring  Richard  Dix;  Douglas 
rbanks,  Jr.,  in  an  as  yet  undeter- 
red number :  "Village  Scandal," 
-ring  Edward  Ellis,  with  Barbara 
id;  "Three  Sons,"  also  starring 
is  and  featuring  the  finalists  in 
LO's  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  tal- 

search. 

Kibbee  in  Kelland  Stories 
klso,  "Cross  Country  Romance," 
h  Lucille  Ball  and  James  Ellison, 
fT  Reid,  producer:  "Child  of  Di- 
jce,"  with  Anne  Shirley ;  "Distant 
Ids,"  with  Barbara  Read  and  John 
fher :  "Men  Against  the  Sky." 
sk  Xo  Returns,"  "Silver  City," 
'led  for  Libel,"  "Little  Orvie,"  "Sun- 
"  starring  Tim  Holt :  Guy  Kibbee 
LJiree  to  be  based  on  Clarence  Bud- 
tc  ii  Kelland's  "Scattersood  Baines," 
"The  Ramparts  We  Watch,"  a 
ture  to  be  made  by  March  of  Time 
I  sold  separately. 

Wso,  one  to  be  produced  and  di- 
led  by  Gregory  LaCava,  and  two 
ibe  produced  and  directed  by  Leo 
Carey,  one  of  which  will  be  written 
Maxwell  Anderson.  Two  will  be 
de  in  England  by  Herbert  Wilcox, 

•  based  on  the  life  of  Lord  Kitch- 
>r.  the  other  the  story  of  Marie 
•yd,  British  music  hall  favorite  of  a 

jade  ago.  Also,  a  second  as  yet 
flitled  picture  from  Leslie  1  loward 
[;1  be  made  in  England. 

Six  O'Brien  Westerns 
Lriie  six  new  season  westerns  will 
[  ture  George  O'Brien. 
Iflie  short  subject  line-up  includes  18 
I  dt  Disney  one-reel  cartoons  ;  13  one- 
1  "Reelisms" :  13  "Sportscopes"  of 

•  reel  each  ;  13  "Information  Please" 
•-reelers ;  six  two-reelers  starring 
gar  Kennedy ;  six  two-reelers  star- 
g  Leon  Errol ;  four  Ray  Whitley 
-sical  westerns  of  two  reels  each 
1  eight  of  the  Radio  Flash  two- 
llers.  In  addition,  there  will  be  the 
■Ual  bi-weekly  issues  of  the  RKO 
'  the  News  and  13  issues  of  March  of 

me.  RKO  Pathe  also  will  make 
ive  Times  Five."  a  two-reeler  with 

Dionne  Quintuplets. 
Schaefer  welcomed  the  company's 

>  convention  delegates  in  his  first 
dress  to  the  international  sales 
tees. 

Voices  Thanks  for  Loyalty 
"fie  thanked  the  men  for  their  loy- 
f  during  his  six  months  in  office 
1  predicted  that  the  organization 
•uld  move  forward  rapidly  during 

■  coming  year.    The  men  of  the 
es  organization,  he  said,  had  been 
trumental  in  laying  the  cornerstone 
new  policies  and  a  new  day  for 

|p  Radio. 

Schaefer's  main  address  will  be  giv- 
at  today's  meeting. 
Dther  speakers  included  Depinet, 
o  introduced  Schaefer  and  described 
t  remaining  pictures  on  the  corn- 
er s  current  season  schedule  ;  Levy, 
io  announced  promotions  in  the  sales 
?anization  and  rewarded  the  com- 


TRIAL  AND  TRIBULATION  .  .  .  Network  representatives  almost 
found  themselves  left  off  the  Yankee  Clipper  when  the  ship  took 
off  for  Europe  the  other  day.  Seems  that  CBS  and  NBC  spent  some 
$4,000  each  for  special,  light-weight  short-wave  transmitters  for  the  flight. 
Practically  at  the  last  minute  they  were  informed  that  the  transmitters  weighed 
too  much,  and  took  up  too  much  space.  Both  networks  hastily  got  together 
and  made  a  composite  of  the  two  transmitters  and  formulated  working  agree- 
ments for  sharing  it  on  the  air.  Meanwhile  Mutual  belatedly  tried  to  get  a 
man  aboard  the  ship,  but  CBS  and  NBC  were  reluctant  to  allow  the  use  of 
their  transmitter  by  a  third  network.  Mutual  finally  affected  a  tie-up  with  the 
Chicago  Tribune's  aviation  editor,  Wayne  Thomis,  who  doubled  for  the  news- 
paper and  network.  However,  CBS  and  NBC  were  able  to  broadcast  enroute, 
while  Mutual  listeners  received  their  first  account  of  the  flight  after  the  plane 
landed  at  Lisbon,  Portugal. 

T 

TELEVISION  TRAILER  .  .  .  First  television  equipped  private-owned 
trailer  made  its  initial  appearance  yesterday  in  the  Plaza  of  Radio  City.  The 
house  on  wheels  cost  about  $17,500  to  build,  and  is  the  property  of  Myron  C. 
Zobel,  advertising  executive.  It  was  inspected  by  Alfred  H.  Morton  and 
Clav  Morgan,  NBC  executives. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Bobby  Hackett's  band  has  given  up  the  ghost  .  .  .  Shir- 
ley Sudley,  WBBM  singer,  is  vacationing  here.  .  .  .  Raymond  Massey  flying  to 
Chicago  Saturday  to  portray  Lincoln  on  the  "Knickerbocker  Plaj-house"  Sun- 
day. .  .  .  Renee  Carroll,  titian-hair  hat  snatcher  at  Sardi's.  will  tell  all  about 
her  trade  on  "We,  the  People"  tonight.  ...  A  book  on  radio  production 
methods  by  John  S.  Carlile,  CBS  production  head,  will  be  off  the  presses 
tomorrow. 

▼ 

PROMOTION  AT  NBC  ...  Ed  R.  Hitz.  NBC  salesman,  has  just  earned 
a  promotion  as  assistant  to  Roy  Witmer,  vice-president  in  charge  of  sales. 
Hitz  will  also  be  co-ordinator  of  all  general  sales  operations  on  matters  of 
policy,  rates,  and  acceptability  of  accounts. 

T 

CALL  FROM  LISBON  ...  A  "ham"  operator  in  Brooklyn.  F.  Lopes, 
was  fiddling  with  his  apparatus  Sunday  evening  and  pulled  in  CSW7.  Lisbon. 
Portugal,  whose  operator,  Clyde  Houldson,  urged  anyone  in  New  York  hear- 
ing him  to  call  Wickersham  2-2000  and  report  that  fact.  Lopes  called  full  of 
excitement  to  report  his  air  catch.  CBS — that's  their  number — was  excited, 
too.  because  Houldson  is  the  network's  short-wave  engineer  on  the  Yankee 
Clipper.  Subsequently  it  developed  that  no  emergency  was  connected  with 
the  call — Houldson  had  a  few  idle  moments,  and  not  knowing  what  to  do  with 
them,  he  placed  his  calls  on  the  air. 

■  T 

DINNER  FOLLOWING  PREMTERE  .  .  .  NBC  last  evening  tendered  a 
dinner  to  executives  of  Liggett  &  Myers  and  the  Newell-Emmett  agency  fol- 
lowing the  premiere  of  the  Fred  Waring  series  for  Chesterfield.  Attending 
were  N.  S.  McEvoy.  C.  D.  Newell.  C.  S.  Walsh.  Don  B.  Langan  and  Karl 
Keffer  of  the  Newell-Emmett  agency ;  B.  F.  Few.  W.  D.  Carmichael.  Ben 
Carroll  and  C.  W.  Whitaker  of  Liggett  &  Myers,  and  from  NBC.  Lenox 
Lohr.  Niles  Trammell.  Roy  C.  Witmer.  John  Royal.  Frank  Mason,  I.  E.  Show- 
erman  and  Ken  Dvke. 


nanv's  "100  per  cent"  salesmen  :  and 
Phil  Reisman.  foreign  department 
head,  who  thanked  home  office  execu- 
tives on  behalf  of  the  foreign  dele- 
gates and  welcomed  the  latter  to  the 
convention. 

Lew  reported  that  the  United  States 
and  Canadian  branches  had  sold  87 
ner  cent  of  their  possibilities  during 
the  current  season  for  an  increase  over 
the  preceding  o-,e.  There  also  had 
been  an  increase  in  sales  in  dollars 
over  previous  years,  he  reported.  He 
told  the  meeting  that  while  final  fig- 
ures on  the  recent  George  Schaefer 
sales  drive  are  not  yet  available,  ship- 
ments during  the  period  of  the  drive 
were  greater  than  for  any  previous 
similar  period  in  the  company's  his- 
tory. 

Star  Salesmen  Rewarded 

The  four  salesmen  who  received 
cash  prizes  and  gold  buttons  for  hav- 
ing sold  100  per  cent  of  their  sales 
possibilities  during  the  1938-'39  season 
are  Jack  Ellis.  New  York:  F.  G. 
Ross,  Boston ;  W.  Canelli.  New  Ha,- 
ven.  and  Harry  Kahn.  Washington. 

Among  the  promotions  reported  by 
Levy,  all  from  within  tlfe  organization, 
were  those  of  H.  M.  Lyons,  from 
Atlanta  branch  manager  to  southeast- 
ern district  manager;  S.  M.  Sachs, 
from  Dallas  manager  to  southwestern 


district  manager ;  J.  B.  Brecheen. 
from  office  manager  at  Dallas  to  At- 
lanta branch  manager :  N.  J.  Colqu- 
lioun.  Memphis  salesman  to  Charlotte 
branch  manager  ;  C.  J.  Dressell,  Min- 
neapolis salesman  to  Omaha  branch 
manager :  H.  F.  Taylor.  Toronto 
salesman  to  Calgary  branch  manager, 
and  R.  V.  Nolan.  Chicago  salesman 
to  St.  Louis  branch  manager. 

There  were  12  additional  minor 
promotions  and  appointments  of  24 
new  salesmen. 

Executives  on  Dais 

On  the  dais  at  the  opening  session 
were  Schaefer,  Depinet,  Levy.  Reis- 
man, William  Mallard,  general  coun- 
sel ;  John  J.  O'Conner,  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  RKO  Thea- 
tres ;  S.  Barret  McCormick,  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  director ;  Howard  S. 
Benedict,  studio  publicity  director; 
Fred  Ullman,  Pathe  News  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Cresson  E.  Smith,  western  divi- 
sion manager;  E.  L.  McEvoy,  eastern 
division  manager,  and  Harrv  Michal- 
son,  short  subjects  manager. 

Others  attending  included  Roy  Dis- 
ney. Hal  Home,  Malcolm  Kingsberg. 
W.  H.  Clark,  W.  V.  Derham.  W.  J. 
McShea,  W.  J.  Merrill,  George  Much- 
nic,  M.  G.  Poller,  A.  A.  Schubart, 
Ben  Y.  Cammack,  John  Farmer  and 
H.  M.  Richey. 


RKO  Reveals 
Star-Director 
Producer  List 


Stars  on  RKO's  new  season  roster, 
announced  yesterday  at  the  Rye 
convention,  include  Ginger  Rogers, 
Charles  Laughton,  Leslie  Howard, 
Carole  Lombard.  Cary  Grant,  Stan 
Laurel,  Oliver  Hardy,  Jean  Hersholt, 
Anna  Neagle.  Douglas  Fairbanks,  Jr., 
Bob  Burns,  Raymond  Massey,  George 
Sanders,  Anne  Shirley,  Victor  McLag- 
len,  Richard  Dix,  Guy  Kibbee,  John 
Wayne,  George  O'Brien,  Bobby 
Breen,  Lee  Tracy,  Claire  Trevor  and 
Joe  Penner. 

Featured  plavers  include  Lucille 
Ball,  Edward  Ellis,  Sally  Eilers, 
James  Ellison,  Chester  Morris,  Allan 
Lane,  Tim  Holt.  Barbara  Read,  John 
Archer,  Alice  Eden.  Wendy  Barrie 
and  Ray  Whitley.  Casts  will  also 
include  numerous  new  faces  as  well  as 
such  established  favorites  as  May  Rob- 
son,  Edna  May  Oliver,  Zasu  Pitts, 
H.  B.  Warner,  Joseph  Calleia,  Sir 
Cedric  Hardwicke  and  others. 

Berman  Heads  Producers 

Producing  responsibility  will  be  in 
the  hands  of  Pandro  S.  Berman,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  production,  and 
leading  producer-directors  as  well  as 
those  of  veteran  producer  executives. 
The  producer-directors  include  Greg- 
ory LaCava,  Leo  McCarey,  George 
Stevens,  Herbert  Wilcox  and  Leslie 
Howard.  Producers  include  Gene 
Towne,  Max  Gordon  and  Harry 
Goetz.  Harold  Lloyd,  Sol  Lesser, 
Boris  Morros,  Robert  Sisk,  Cliff  Reid, 
George  Haight,  Lee  Marcus,  William 
Sistrom  and  Bert  Gilroy.  P.  J.  Wolf- 
son  is  a  producer-writer-director. 
Shephens-Lang  will  produce  the  "Dr. 
Christian"  series. 

Directors  Listed 

Directors  are  William  Dieterle, 
Garson  Kanin,  William  Seiter,  John 
Farrow,  John  Cromwell,  Edward 
Sutherland,  George  Nichols,  Jr..  Les- 
lie Goodwins,  David  Howard,  Leigh 
Jason.  Lew  Landers,  D.  Ross  Leder- 
man.  Jack  Hively  and  Bert  Granet. 

Writers  and  authors  include  Robert 
E.  Sherwood,  George  S.  Kaufman  and 
Moss  Hart,  Dr.  A.  J.  Cronin,  Max- 
well Anderson.  Gene  Towne  and  Gra- 
hame  Baker,  James  Fenimore  Cooper, 
Victor  Hugo,  Sir  Walter  Scott,  L.  M. 
Montgomery,  Clarence  Buddington 
Kelland,  Booth  Tarkington,  Leslie 
Charteris.  Rita  Weiman,  Morrie  Rys- 
kind  and  Norman  Krasna. 


Strike  at  Jewel 

Strike  by  the  Theatrical  Managers, 
Agents  and  Treasurers  Union  at  the 
Jewel.  Brooklyn,  is  scheduled  to  start 
at  12 :30  P.  M.  today.  Refusal  to  rec- 
ognize the  union  and  the  discharge  of 
Joseph  Kliegel,  former  manager,  on 
April  24,  and  Sam  Shultz,  assistant 
manager,  yesterday  for  alleged  union 
activities  are  given  as  causes  of  the 
strike. 


Meridian  Dissolution 

Confirmation  of  a  recommendation 
for  dissolution  of  Meridian  Pictures 
Corp.  by  Referee  Edward  J.  McDon- 
ough  will  be  sought  today  from  Su- 
preme Court  Justice  Hammer  by  offi- 
cers of  that  company  today.  Dissolu- 
tion is  sought  because  Meridian,  list- 
ing thirty  creditors  with  liabilities  of 
$56,768  and  assets  of  $119,  is  hopeless- 
ly insolvent. 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  20. 


AFM  to  Study 
Music  Angles 
Of  Television 


Kansas  City,  June  19. — American 
Federation  of  Musicians,  in  its  conven- 
tion here  last  week,  authorized  Presi- 
dent Joseph  N.  Weber  to  investigate 
the  operation  and  methods  of  tele- 
vision to  determine  ways  and  means 
of  protecting  musicians  in  connection 
with  recordings  for  television. 

The  trade  agreement  concluded  be- 
tween the  A.F.M.  and  the  I.A.T.S.E. 
was  described  as  primarily  a  theatrical 
agreement  intended  to  protect  mutual 
interests  of  the  two  organizations,  and 
to  apply  only  to  theatres  and  actual 
show  business. 

More  Musicians  in  Theatres 

The  matter  of  negotiations  with  film 
producers  to  bring  about  an  increase 
in  the  employment  of  musicians  in  the 
theatres  of  the  country  was  finally  re- 
ferred to  the  executive  board,  where  it 
had  been  before  the  meeting.  Nego- 
tiations remain  in  the  air,  Weber  re- 
ported to  the  700  delegates  present. 

The  executive  board  was  empow- 
ered to  study  the  feasibility  of  the 
federation  going  into  the  recording 
business,  and  to  appropriate  the  neces- 
sary funds  if  entrance  into  the  business 
is  deemed  advisable. 

The  executive  board  also  was  in- 
structed to  negotiate  with  Ascap  to 
reduce  its  fees  assessed  on  employers 
for  the  use  of  copyrighted  music.  The 
meeting  held  that  the  high  fees  were 
resulting  in  the  loss  of  employment  by 
musicians. 

Fears  Jurisdictional  Fight 

Weber  opposed  the  resolution  call- 
ing on  the  A.F.L.  to  grant  to  A.F.M. 
jurisdiction  over  operation  of  record 
playing  machines  in  radio  stations. 
Weber  said  it  would  lead  to  a  juris- 
dictional fight. 

Also  referred  to  the  executive  board 
were  two  resolutions  dealing  with  the 
assignment  of  performing  rights  on 
recordings  to  the  A.F.M.  by  federa- 
tion members. 

The  meeting  "morally  condemned" 
the  Saenger  circuit  for  continuing  its 
policy  of  non-unionism. 


Rodgers  Due  Today 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
eral sales  manager  and  chairman  of 
the  distributors'  trade  practice  nego- 
tiating committee,  arrives  today  from 
Chicago. 


Schenck  Instigated 
Peace,  Court  Told 

Hollywood,  June  19. — It  was 
at  the  instigation  of  Joseph 
M.  Schenck  that  District  At- 
torney Buron  Fitts  tried  to 
settle  the  dispute  between 
the  I.A.T.S.E.  and  Local  37 
leaders,  Joseph  W.  Carpenter, 
deposed  president  of  the  local 
studio  unit,  testified  today  in 
the  controversy  now  before 
the  superior  court  involving 
these  parties. 

The  peace  move  failed,  Car- 
penter told  the  court,  when 
he  and  other  officers  refused 
to  relinquish  their  posts  and 
stand  for  a  new  election. 


KO  Sidelights  at  the  Convention 


Photographers  were  about  to  shoot 
the  official  convention  pictures  at  the 
Westchester  Country  Club  yesterday 
when  Ned  Depinet  rushed  up  with  a 
determined  hold  on  W.  G.  Van 
Schmus,  managing  director  of  the 
Music  Hall. 

"Make  way  for  our  best  customer," 
Depinet  called  out  and  George 
Schaefer  and  Jules  Levy  moved  apart 
to  make  a  place  for  the  newcomers  in 
the  center  of  the  group. 


Jack  Pegler  of  Lord  &  Thomas 
is  attending  his  ninth  RKO  national 
sales  convention.  No  national  meet- 
ing was  held  by  the  company  last  year. 
Pegler  couldn't  find  a  seat  in  the  con- 
vention hall  yesterday  but  was  dis- 
covered in  an  advantageous  position 
behind  a  screen. 


Frank  Ross,  Boston's  one-hundred 
percenter,  closed  for  features  in  123 
situations  in  his  territory,  which  is 
some  kind  of  record. 


Irving  Shiffrin  shot  the  only  ace  on 
Sunday — a  10-yard  putt  on  the  practice 
green. 


It  was  the  twelfth  straight  conven- 
tion attended  by  Rutgers  Neilson 
and  like  the  Marines  he's  always  the 
first  in  and  the  last  out. 


Leon  Bamberger  and  Lou  Gaudreau 
can  take  some  bows  for  their  colorful 
decoration  scheme  at  the  convention 
hall. 


Stan  Jacques  was  sporting  a  new 
moustache  of  the  hairline  variety. 


Canadian  District  Manager  L.  M. 
Devaney  thanks  the  King  and  Queen 
for  the  trailer  work  they  did  toward 
selling  "Victoria  the  Great." 


Mike  Hoffay,  foreign  publicity  di- 
rector, was  inquiring  for  a  typewriter 
with  Polish  lettering. 


John  O'Conner  and  Fred  Meyers 
were  looking  over  the  19th  hole  as 
possible  location  for  a  new  theatre. 


Jack  Schmitzer  tagged  a  couple  of 
hundred  grips  for  the  boys  at  the 
Penn  Station. 


Ely  Epstein  of  Philadelphia  re- 
ceived a  Father's  Day  wire  from  his 
two  children. 

C.  McGerigle  of  Boston  is  a  great 
booster  for  the  American  Legion. 
Says  the  1940  Legion  convention  will 
go  to  Boston. 


Branch  Manager  "Ching"  Allen  of 
Dallas  is  a  dead  ringer  for  Paul 
Runyan.  He's  a  friend  of  Paul's  and 
"Ching"  can  shoot  in  the  70's. 


Two  lions  and  three  wolves  were 
around  wondering  what  became  of 
Frank  Buck.  They  were  B.  D.  Lion 
of  the  foreign  department ;  South- 
eastern District  Manager  H.  M. 
Lyons,  Branch  Manager  H.  Woolfe 
of  Winnipeg;  Wolff  of  New  York 
and  Wolf  of   San  Francisco. 


Ned  Depinet  and  Jules  Levy 
greeted  the  big  delegation  at  the 
March  of  Time  cocktail  party.  And 
they  know  'em  each  by  name. 


Two  aviation  bugs  were  in  many  a 
huddle — Elmer  Sedin  and  G.  M.  En- 
gelman.  Elmer  lacks  but  two  hours 
for  a  solo  license  and  Engelman  has 
a  commercial  pilot's  license.  High 
flyers,  these  boys.  Sedin  a  home  of- 
fice representative  and  Engelman  a 
salesman  at  Portland. 


Howard  Benedict,  director  of  RKO 
studio  publicity,  stopped  off  in  Bal- 
timore en  route  east  to  visit  the  rela- 
tives in  his  home  town. 


Ames,  Ross  and  Goldstein  of  Bos- 
ton were  comparing  number  of  years 
in  the  business  while  waiting  at  Grand 
Central  and  the  boys  were  about  even 
at  about  18  each. 


Bill  Dahler  of  the  home  office  and 
J.  J.  McFadden  of  Philadelphia  hit 
the  waves  Sunday  afternoon  for  some 
"he  man"  stuff. 


N.  /.  Ballots  Today 
On  Race  Track  Bets 

New  Jersey  votes  on  legalization  of 
pari-mutuel  betting  at  racetracks  to- 
day. Exhibitors  throughout  the  state 
have  opposed  the  move  in  cooperation 
with  women's  clubs,  church  groups 
and  others. 

Mayor  Frank  Hague  of  Jersey  City 
and  other  political  leaders  favor  the 
amendment,  and  there  has  been  a 
strong  campaign  on  both  sides. 


Trailers  Te 
London  Aboi 
High  Taxatio 


London,  June  19. — An  inten 
lobbying  campaign  in  Commons, 
use  of  every  theatre  screen  in 
country  and  extensive  use  of  new 
per  advertising  will  be  empk|<#1 
the  British  industry  in  its  atff* 
the  new  film  taxes,  it  was  decide* 
a  joint  industry  meeting  today. 

A  committee  was  appointed  to  i 
tact  members  of  Parliament  and 
other  to  prepare  newspaper  app 
and  film  trailers.  The  newsreel 
sociation  is  already  conducting  its  < 
campaign  for  elimination  of  the  ta 

Trailer  manufacturers  have  ag) 
to  make  4,000  trailer  prints  imm 
ately,  running  approximately  500 
each.  D.  E.  Griffiths,  president  of 
Kinematograph  Renters  Society  ( 
tributors),  continues  to  lead  the 
dustry's  fight  against  the  taxes. 


Last  Rites  Today 
For  Isidor  Fr 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

It  was  then  that  Frey  became  km 
as  "the  Judge."  He  was  unman 
and  for  years  lived  at  the  Essex  Ho 
His  nearest  surviving  relatives 
a  nephew,  Alexander  Frey,  mans 
of  Loew's  Hollywood  on  Avenue 
Manhattan,  and  two  nieces,  the  Mi 
Ethel  and  Ruth  Frey,  both  of  > 
York. 


M 


Meet  an  eyeful  from  Maple  Leaf,  Minn., 
who  wants  very  badly  to  win\^ 
any  man  with  the  cash 
that  you  need  for  a  dash 
to  Paris — and  then  PJ-  -  f 


OPENING  RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HAL! 


flert. 

Ob 


the^k 


4i 
tion 


icture 
ndustry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


k:  t  iMO\/P 

First  in 


Film  and 


Accurate 
and 

Impartial 


45.  NO.  119 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  21,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


KO  Raises 
Production 
Budget  40% 

desmen  Hear  Schaefer 
Voice  Confidence 


n  appreciable  increase  in  produc- 
Imrlgets  planned  to  give  RKO 
jlio  a  greater  number  of  big  pictures 
H  season  than  ever  before  was 
ounced  yesterday  by  George  J. 
lacfer,  president,  in  addressing  the 
ipany's  international  sales  conven- 
at   Westchester   Country  Club, 

'•chaefer  estimated  the  increase  in 
faction  investment  would  be  40  per 
J  more  than  for  any  preceding  sea- 

in  RKO's  history, 
.mphasizing  the  number  of  big  pic- 
as completed,  in  work  or  planned, 

RKO  president  reminded  the  sales 
:e  that  courage  had  been  required 
lapprove  the  increased  appropria- 
i  in  the  face  of  unsettled  business 
ditions  and  contracting  foreign 
ikets  but  that  the  move  was  under- 
m  confidently. 

%  Barret  McCormick,  advertising 
publicity  director,  discussed  plans 
campaigns  on  the  company's  more 
•ortant  product  for  the  new  season. 
L.  McEvoy,  eastern  and  Canadian 
■s  manager,  and  Cresson  E.  Smith, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Warners  Defy  Protests, 
Decide  to  Produce  Two 
New  Nazi  Expose  Films 

Hollywood,  June  20. — Warners  plan  to  go  ahead  with  the  production 
of  two  pictures  of  a  politically  controversial  nature  despite  the  protests 
which  greeted  "Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy,"  Jack  L.  Warner,  production 
head,  announced  today. 

The  two  films  are  "The  Bishop  Who  Walked  With  God,"  by  Quentin 
Reynolds,  the  story  of  Bishop  Nei- 


moeller,  Lutheran  minister  now  in  a 
German  concentration  camp,  and  a 
story  depicting  secret  opponents  of  the 
Nazis  in  modern  Germany. 

Warner  declared,  "We  produced 
'Nazi  Spy'  because  we  believed  first, 
that  it  would  supply  dramatic  enter- 
tainment, and  second,  because  we  felt 
it  exposed  conditions  concerning  which 
every  American,  every  free  man 
everywhere  should  be  informed." 

"The  public  now  has  rendered  its 
verdict  both  in  this  country  and 
abroad  and  we  are  pleased  to  report 
that  'Spy'  will  be  one  of  most  suc- 
cessful pictures  Warners  has  produced 
this  year,"  Warner  said. 

"Especially  in  foreign  countries  does 
'Spy'  promise  an  unusually  great  suc- 
cess. This  reception  in  foreign  coun- 
tries is  interesting  to  note  and  indi- 
cates that  the  subject  of  espionage  is 
of  vital  interest  in  all  free  nations  of 
the  world. 

"Naturally  the  success  of  this  revo- 


Unions  Seek  Hays' 
U.  S.  Theatre  Stand 

Federation  of  Arts  Unions, 
organization  of  14  A.F.L.  and 
C.I.O.  unions  in  the  theatrical 
field,  yesterday  requested 
Will  Hays,  president  of  the 
M.P.P.D.A.,  to  state  whether 
the  film  industry  had  any 
interest  in  the  proposed 
abolition  of  the  WPA  Fed- 
eral Theatre  Project.  William 
Feinberg,  secretary  of  the 
Musicians  Union,  Local  802, 
and  chairman  of  the  Federa- 
tion, addressed  a  telegram  to 
Hays  along  these  lines. 


lutionary  type  of  picture,  which  drew 
sharp  protest  from  the  Nazi  Govern- 
ment and  Nazi  sympathizers  in  this 
country  has  not  been  pleasing  news  to 
certain  people  and  they  have  been  in- 

(Continued  on  page  5) 


Senate  Faces 
Action  Today 
On  Neely  Bill 

Hopkins  Explains  Parley 
In  Letter  to  Senator 


Washington,  June  20.  —  Block 
booking  legislation  is  scheduled  to  be 
considered  by  the  Senate  tomorrow 
but  whether  the  measure  will  actually 
be  reached  will  depend  largely  upon 
the  prior  demands  of  other  legislation 
on  the  Senate's  time.  There  is  some 
likelihood  that  it  may  not  be  acted 
upon  for  another  10  days  or  two 
weeks. 

In  a  letter  to  Senator  Neely,  Secre- 
tary of  Commerce  Harry  Hopkins 
asserted  that  he  was  greatly  "con- 
cerned to  learn  that  some  groups  of 
exhibitors  and  organizations  interested 
in  the  problems  of  the  industry  are 
convinced  that  these  conferences  may 
interfere  with  the  consideration  of  the 
Neely  Bill  by  Congress. 

The  Department  of  Commerce,  he 
pointed  out,  has  just  started  its  study 
of  the  industry  and  some  time  will  be 
required  to  complete  it.  Accordingly, 
he  said,  "Congress,  after  the  long 
months  of  consideration  it  has  given 
to  this  subject,  should  not  be  influenced 
in  its  legislative  program  by  the  fact 
that  we  have  so  recently  undertaken 
to  give  special  attention  to  the  prob- 
lems of  the  motion  picture  industry." 


details  of  Drama  Guild's 
Agreement  Made  Public 

Details  of  the  proposed  modification  of  the  Dramatists  Guild  minimum 
ac  agreement  were  made  known  yesterday  by  the  Guild  Council  with 

outlook  being  favorable  for  adoption  before  the  beginning  of  the  new 
!.son.   The  Council  met  until  a  late  hour  last  evening  and  acceptance  of 

amendments  was  strongly  indicated, 
'he  contract  is  still  in  draft  form 


h  amounts  of  royalty  and  duration 
the  contract  still  unsettled,  but 
Se  terms  are  expected  to  be  ad- 
ted  by  early  conferences.  The 
dirication  will  take  the  form  of  a 
•plemental  agreement  to  the  pres- 
hasic  pact  which  was  signed  in 
irch,  1936.  and  still  has  until 
irch,  _  1941,  to  run.  A  third  method 
acquiring  film  rights  to  a  legitimate 
ge  production  is  added  to  the  ex- 
ng  two. 

\t  present,  film  rights  may  be  ac- 
red after  production  by  payment  of 
flat  sum,  or  before  production  by 
royalty  agreement.  The  third 
thod  provides  for  purchase  before 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


'Rump '  Meeting  of  AFA 
To  Air  Fair  Strike  Issue 

Sentiment  among  dissenting  groups  in  the  American  Federation  of 
Actors  was  growing  yesterday  for  a  "rump"  meeting  at  which  com- 
plaints of  members  could  be  aired.    The  move  followed  the  riotous  meet- 
ing which  wound  up  at  the  Hotel  Edison  at  4:30  A.  M.  yesterday.  _ 
The  official  meeting,  which  was  called  by  Sophie  Tucker,  president, 

'  to  obtain  a  vote  of  confidence  for  the 


Film  Men  Form  Short  Wave  Committee 

Charles  McCarthy,  advertising  director  of  20th  Century-Fox,  was 
chosen  chairman  of  a  committee  to  work  out  details  for  a  series  of 
short-wave  programs  in  behalf  of  the  film  industry,  at  yesterday's 
meeting  of  advertising  and  publicity  heads  of  all  major  studios, 
in  the  offices  of  Will  Hays. 

Others  selected  to  serve  on  the  committee,  which  will  meet  for 
the  first  time  today,  include  Dave  Blum  and  Al  Deane  of  the 
foreign  departments  of  M-G-M  and  Paramount  respectively,  and 
Lester  Thompson  and  Ken  Clark  of  the  Hays  office. 

Problems  the  committee  will  tackle  today  include  script  matters, 
coordination  of  the  news  so  that  it  will  coincide  with  the  release 
of  pictures  in  foreign  markets,  and  translation  of  copy  into  five 
languages.  Programs  are  to  be  broadcast  daily,  over  both  NBC 
and  CBS,  to  Europe  and  Latin  American  countries. 


union  officials,  was  compelled  to  aban- 
don its  efforts  for  a  vote  when  most 
of  the  estimated  1,000  members  pres- 
ent appeared  to  be  hostile. 

In  the  forefront  of  the  opposition 
group  were  performers  engaged  at 
various  shows  at  the  World's  Fair, 
principally  the  "Aquacade."  These 
performers  have  been  urging  for  sev- 
eral weeks  that  a  general  strike  be 
declared  at  the  Fair  and  this  has  been 
supported  by  some  of  the  other  unions 
in  the  New  York  Theatrical  Trades 
Council. 

Present  difficulties  in  the  A.F.A. 
make  such  a  move  unlikely  at  present. 

Hearing  on  charges  against  A.F.A. 
is  scheduled  for  July  10. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  21,  19 


Studios  Busy 
With  47  Films 
In  Production 


Hollywood,  June  20. — Forty-seven 
pictures  are  shooting  this  week,  as 
nine  finished  and  eight  started.  Twen 
ty-seven  are  being  prepared,  and  78 
are  being  edited. 

Started  were :  "The  Man  from 
Texas,"  Monogram ;  "Dr.  Cyclops," 
"Death  of  a  Champion,"  Paramount; 
"Full  Confession,"  RKO ;  "Dick 
Tracy  and  His  G-Men,"  Republic ; 
"Intermezzo,"  Selznick ;  "Frontier 
Marshal,"  20th  Century-Fox;  "Fury  of 
the  Tropics,"  Universal. 

In  addition  to  these,  shooting  were : 
"Mr.  Smith  Goes  to  Washington," 
"Golden  Boy,"  "Coast  Guard," 
"Blondie  Takes  a  Vacation,"  Colum- 
bia ;  "The  Real  Glory,"  Goldwyn ; 
"The  Women,"  "Ninotchka,"  "Babes 
in  Arms,"  "Thunder  Afloat,"  "Mi- 
racles for  Sale,"  "A  Day  at  the  Cir- 
cus," "Lady  of  the  Tropics,"  "Black- 
mail," "These  Glamour  Girls," 
M-G-M ;  "Mr.  Wong  in  Chinatown," 
Monogram ;  "Ruler  of  the  Seas," 
"Doubled  Dyed  Deceiver,"  'Are  Hus- 
bands Necessary?,"  "$1,000  a  Touch- 
down," "The  World  on  Parade," 
Paramount ;  "Nurse  Edith  Cavell," 
"My  Fifth  Avenue  Girl,"  RKO;  "A 
Chump  at  Oxford,"  Roach ;  "Gone 
with  the  Wind,"  Selznick;  "The 
Rains  Came,"  "Here  Am  I,  a  Strang- 
er," "Falling  Stars,"  "Heaven  With 
a  Barbed  Wire  Fence,"  "The  Adven- 
tures of  Sherlock  Holmes,"  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox ;  "The  Underpup,"  "Modern 
Cinderella,"  "I  Stole  a  Million," 
"Sandy  Takes  a  Bow,"  Universal ; 
"The  Knight  and  the  Lady,"  "Career 
Man,"  "The  Return  of  Dr.  X,"  "Kid 
Nightingale,"  "On  Your  Toes,"  "The 
Dead  End  Kids  at  Military  School," 
Warners. 

Finished  were :  "A  Criminal  at 
Large,"  Columbia ;  "They  All  Come 
Out,"  M-G-M;  "The  Star  Maker," 
"Our  Leading  Citizen,"  Paramount ; 
"Colorado  Sunset,"  "Should  Hus- 
bands Work?,"  Republic;  "Bright 
Victory,"  "Desperate  Trails,"  Uni- 
versal ;  "Dust  Be  My  Destiny,"  War- 
ners. 


FLY 

AMERICAN 

NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Cool  All  the  Way 
3  FLIGHTS  DAILY 

7:10  A.  M.  Call  your  travel 
5:IOP.M.     a.Kel}L  or  VAn- 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


IO:IO  P.  M. 


derbilt  3-2580. 


Ticket  Offices: 
45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rock- 
efeller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 


AIRLINES 


CHRISTOPHER  M  c  H  A  L  E  , 
Broadway,  Lawrence ;  Paul 
Wenzel,  Strand,  Newburyport ;  Har- 
old Cummings,  Warner,  Lynn;  Rus- 
sell Barrett,  Strand,  Woburn; 
James  O'Laughlin,  Strand,  Ames- 
bury  ;  Frank  Morin,  Colonial,  Hart- 
ford; Bill  Flanagan,  Lenox,  Hart- 
ford; Tom  Maller,  Rialto,  Hartford; 
Tom  Grace,  Circle,  Manchester ;  Joe 
Borenstein,  Embassy,  New  Britain ; 
Victor  Morelli,  Bristol ;  George 
Harvey,  Empress,  Danbury ;  John 
Scanlon,  Warner,  Torrington  ;  Man- 
ny Kugel,  Palace,  South  Norwalk, 
are  the  Warner  New  England  theatre 
men  now  on  vacation. 

• 

Bob  Hope,  Paramount  star,  leaves 
the  coast  today  for  personal  appear- 
ances in  Minneapolis,  Chicago  and 
New  York,  prior  to  sailing  for  his 
native  England  on  the  Noriiumdie 
Aug.  2.  With  him  will  go  Dolores 
Reade,  his  wife,  and  an  aunt  and 
uncle,  Mr.  and'  Mrs.  Fred  Hope. 
• 

Among  Latin  American  visitors  to 
W arners  home  office  yesterday  were 
Rafael  Marti  of  Teatros  Modernos 
Circuit,  San  Juan,  Puerto  Rico ;  A. 
Santoni,  Arecibo,  Puerto  Rico ; 
Carlos  Sanchez,  Havana,  Cuba ; 
Ramon  Becali,  critic  of  "El  Pais," 
Havana  daily. 

• 

Irvin  Elliott  Bernstein,  Yale 
graduate,  won  the  Nathan  Burkan 
Memorial  Prize,  awarded  annually  to 
the  Yale  Law  School  student  who  pre- 
pares the  best  paper  on  copyright  law, 
for  his  paper  on  "The  Motion  Picture 
Distributor  and  Copyright  Law." 
• 

James  Mulvey,  W.  Ray  Johnston, 
William  Fitelson,  Arthur  Kelly, 
Harry  Gold,  Joe  Malcolm,  Boris 
Morros,  Al  Christie,  Bert  Wheeler, 
Maurice  Cleary,  Sam  Citron  lunch- 
ing at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern  yes- 
terday. 

• 

Evelyn  O'Connell,  former  secre- 
tary of  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  has  been 
reamed  official  hostess  of  Paramount 
to  New  York  World's  Fair  visitors. 
Her  headquarters  are  on  the  ninth 
floor  of  the  Paramount  Building. 
• 

Dr.  J.  B.  Fishman  of  Fishman 
Theatres,  New  Haven,  has  been  re- 
appointed honorary  research  fellow  in 
nhysiological  chemistry  at  the  Yale 
Medical  School  for  the  year  1939-'40. 
• 

John  Gunther,  NBC's  roving  cor- 
respondent in  Europe,  sails  today  on 
the  Tie  de  France.  Also  sailing  is 
William  R.  Wilkerson. 

• 

Mildred   Blanche    Coles.  Para- 
mount player,  has  been  given  a  new 
professional  name,  Gloria  Carter. 
• 

Rolf   Passer,   newspaperman,  has 
been  signed  by  Monogram  to  write  the 
screenplay  of  "Rip  Van  Winkle." 
• 

John  Carroll,  Monogram  star,  has 
returned  to  the  coast  after  a  visit  to 
his  mother  in  New  Orleans. 

• 

Russell  Birdwell  is  due  in  New 
York  by  plane  from  the  coast  to- 
morrow morning. 

• 

Victor  Orsatti,  agent,  sails  on  the 
Queen  Mary  today. 


ROY  HAINES,  eastern  and  Cana- 
dian sales  manager  for  Warners, 
left  yesterday  for  a  tour  of  central 
district  branches,  including  Pittsburgh, 
Cleveland,  Detroit  and  Cincinnati. 
• 

Joseph  Haimovici,  Scala  and  Regal 
Theatres,  Bucharest;  M.  Shapiro, 
Radio  Theatre,  Baltimore ;  J.  S. 
Cauley,  Capitol,  Peterboro,  Ont. ; 
Joseph  Goldstein,  Mikado,  St.  Louis  ; 
S.  Firestone,  Firestone  Theatre,  To- 
ronto ;  J.  Smith,  Kun  C.  Theatre 
Toronto,  and  Leo  T.  Jones,  Star, 
Upper  Sandusky,  O.,  were  visitors  at 
the  RKO  World's  Fair  lounge  yes 
terday. 

• 

F.  Alverez  Coto,  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  Peliculas  Cubanas 
S.  A.,  is  in  town,  and  expects  Dr. 
Oscar  Zayas,  president  of  the  com- 
pany and  well-known  Cuban  news- 
paperman, tomorrow. 

• 

Julio  Molina  Font  and  Manuel 
Peon  B.,  co-producers  of  "Mujeres  y 
Toros,"  Mexican  feature  picture,  are 
in  town  with  a  print  of  their  latest 
production. 

• 

Ray  Milland  will  leave  England 
on  the  N  ormandie  today,  and  his  next 
Paramount  film,  "The  White  Flame" 
is  scheduled  to  go  into  work  on  the 
coast  July  5. 

• 

Al  Paris,  short  subjects  booker  for 
Walter  Reade  Theatres,  is  on  a  two- 
month  leave  of  absence,  due  to  illness. 
Rae  Cohen,  his  assistant,  is  handling 
the  job. 

• 

Benjamin  Thau,  M-G-M  produc- 
tion executive,  is  in  town  for  confer- 
ences with  Nicholas  M.  Schenck 
and  J.  Robert  Rubin. 


Albert  Lewis  Quits 
As  Para.  Producer 

Hollywood,  June  20. — Albert  Lewis 
has  resigned  as  an  associa'te  producer 
at  Paramount,  as  a  result  of  dissatis- 
faction over  the  studio's  refusal  to  pro- 
duce "Knights  of  the  Round  Table," 
on  which  he  already  had  spent  eight 
months  in  research. 

Under  the  terms  of  the  amicable 
settlement  of  his  contract,  Lewis  re- 
tains his  options  on  "Knights  of  the 
Round  Table"  and  on  "Gettysburg," 
the  latter  recently  announced  as  a 
high  budget  picture  by  Paramount. 


Kent  to  Trinidad; 
Due  Here  Monday 

S.  R.  Kent,  president  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, and  Mrs.  Kent,  with  Walter 
J.  Hutchinson,  foreign  chief,  arrive 
in  Trinidad  today  en  route  from  Rio 
de  Janeiro.  After  a  short  stop,  the 
Kents  will  proceed  to  New  York  on 
the  Brazil,  due  here  next  Monday. 

Hutchinson  remains  in  Trinidad 
three  days  for  the  duration  of  the 
company's  Central  American  conven- 
tion. He  is  due  back  in  New  York 
about  July  10. 


Hinchy  Promoted 

Ed  Hinchy  has  been  appointed  as- 
sistant film  buyer  for  Warner  theatres 
by  Joseph  Bernhard,  general  manager 
of  the  circuit.  He  will  assist  Clayton 
Bond,  chief  film  buyer.  Hinchy  has 
been  with  Warners  eight  years. 


Drama  Guild 
Pact  Changes 
Made  Publi 


(Continued  from  page  \) 

production  upon  payment  of  a  mil 
mum  sum  which  will  be  fixed  betwe 
$15,000  to  $25,000  and  a  royalty  ba 
on  the  total  gross  of  the  legiti( 
play  production. 

This  royalty  will  be  fixed  at  a 
proximately  10  per  cent  of  the  grc 
both  on  Broadway  and  road  sk 
runs,  but  there  is  a  possibility  that 
sliding  scale  may  be  adopted. 

The  new  provision  will  be  ma 
available  to  recognized  film  compan: 
only.  The  contract  will  be  made  t 
tween  a  manager  who  is  a  signato 
to  the  pact,  the  Guild  and  the  coi 
pany  backing  the  play.  The  auth 
may,  of  course,  insist  on  higher  pa 
ments  than  the  minimums  providt 
Other  terms  of  the  basic  agreemt 
remain  in  effect. 

Since  the  payment  to  the  auth 
depends  on  the  length  of  the  pla' 
run,  precautions  have  been  taken 
prevent  premature  closings.  An  ope 
ing  budget  is  fixed  by  estimate  at  t- 
time  the  play  is  purchased  and 
estimated  budget  may  not  be  exceed, 
by  more  than  20  per  cent  without  mJ 
tual  consent. 

As  long  as  the  gross  runs  close 
meeting  the  budget  (the  exact  perce 
tage  will  be  fixed  by  further  negoti 
tion)  the  show  must  be  kept  ope 
When  it  drops  below  the  fixed  ma 
either  the  manager  or  author  m; 
continue  it  but  royalties  will  be  pa 
only  if  grosses  nick  up.  An  arbitr 
tion  clause  will  also  be  worked  oul 

The  new  contract  will  be  for 
short  term,  probably  one  year.  T 
film  company  is  required  to  pay  ; 
the  expenses  of  production  and  ope 
ating  costs.  Release  date  of  the  fil 
is  delayed  until  after  the  lapse 
one  season  after  the  show  closes  hei 

Payment  for  options  to  plays  r 
mains  stationary  at  $100  per  mon 
for  the  first  six  months  and  $1. 
monthly  thereafter.  Also  the  sari 
is  the  provision  for  a  maximum 
40  per  cent  of  all  payments  for  fil 
rights  to  go  to  the  manager  at 
backer;  the  remaining  60  per  ce 
goes  to  the  author. 

After  approval  by  the  council,  t\\ 
agreement  must  be  accepted  by  tf 
membership  and  two-thirds  of  ti| 
managers  who  are  parties  to  the  pai 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  a 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compai 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  Cit 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  addre 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigle 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brom 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wa 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sa 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertisii 1 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Micl 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  H<  i 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildin 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Gold 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  ma 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigl 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigl 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Bett 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  M 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Enter 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  t 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  t 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  p 
year  $6  in  the  America!  and  $12  fereig 
Single  copies  10c. 


LEAPING 


CHIPPER  MR.  CHIPS"! 


Cincinnati  joins  the  ranks  of  Dayton,  Columbus  and  Cleveland  to  establish  "Goodbye  Mr.  Chips"  (Robert 
Donat,  Greer  Garson  ;  directed  by  Sam  Wood)  as  a  sure- fire  sensation  everywhere!  Watch  the  new  openings  nation- 
wide! Imagine!  The  5th  week  at  the  Astor,  N.  Y.  tops  the  previous  week! 


MAISIE  IS  A  DAISY! 


This  exploitation  natural  is  a  hot-weather  box-office  tonic!  "MAISIE",  the  Explosive  Blonde  (Robert  Young,  Ann 
Sothern;  directed  by  Edwin  L.  Marin)  is  delighting  audiences  and  exhibitors  everywhere. 


THAT  "TARZAN  YELL! 

From  coast  to  coast  showmen  are  doing  their  stuff  and  "TARZAN  FINDS  A  SON"  (Johnny  Weissmuller, 
Maureen  Oy  Sullivan;  directed  by  Richard  Thorpe)  is  topping  all  previous  Tarzan  hits. 


LUCKY  7*h  HARDY  HIT! 


Flash  from  Huntington  Park,  Cal.:  "Sensational  preview  of 'ANDY  HARDY  GETS  SPRING  FEVER',  the 
lucky  7th  Hardy  hit.  Ecstatic  audience  almost  tore  the  house  down."  (Directed  by  W.  S.  Van  Dyke,  n). 


si 


ON  BORROWED  TIME"  GREAT! 


"ON  BORROWED  TIME"  (Lionel  Barrymore  and  bigcast,  directed  by  Harold  S.  Bucquet)  is  the  talk  of  the  West  Coast. 
The  stage  hit  has  become  a  screen  triumph,  one  of  the  best  produced  by  any  studio  this  year  ! 

WATCH  THAT  DEPENDABLE  LION! 

He's  in  full  stride  and  you  ain't  seen  nothin'  yet!  "LADY  OF  THE  TROPICS"  (Robert  Taylor,  Hedy  Lamarr; 
directed  by  Jack  Conway);  "THE  WOMEN"  (Norma  Shearer,  Joan  Crawford,  Rosalind  Russell  and  All -Star  Cast; 
directed  by  George  Cukor);  "BLACKMAIL"  (Edward  G.  Robinson;  directed  by  Henry  C.  Potter)  and  other  BIG  ONES 
for  June,  July,  August.  When  your  box-office  needs  a  friend,  there's  always  THE  FRIENDLY  COMPANY! 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  21,  1 


'World'  Does 
Good  $5,700; 
Twin  Cities  Off 


Minneapolis,  June  20. — Business  in 
general  was  dull,  with  "It's  a  Won- 
derful World"  taking  first  place  here 
with  $5,700  at  the  Orpheum. 

In  St.  Paul,  "East  Side  of  Heaven" 
did  §3,800  at  the  Paramount  to  lead 
the  field. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15 : 

MINNEAPOLIS: 
"Lady  and  the  Mob"  (Col.) 
"Unraorried"  (Para.) 

ASTER— (900)    (15c-25c)    5   days.  Gross: 
$1,100.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (1,600)     (25c-40c)     7  days 
Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

GOPHER— (990)     (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$2,400.  (Average,  $2,£00) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,900)     (25c-40c)     7  davs. 
Gross:  $5,700.  (Average,  $4,800) 
"Concert  in  Tyrol"  (Foreign) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-55c)  9  davs.  Gross: 
$1,000.  (Average,  $1,400) 

ST.  PAUL: 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $3,500.  (Average,  $3,200) 
"Society  Lawyer"  (M-G-M) 

RIVIERA — (1,000)    (25c)   7   days.  Gross: 
$1,700.  (Average,  $1,800) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,500)    (25c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $3,800.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 
"Romance  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.) 

TOWER— (1,000)     (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,500.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 

WORLD-(400)  (25c-35c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$700.    (Average,  $700) 


'Lincoln'  at  $7,500 
Best  in  Providence 

Providence,  June  20. — "Young  Mr. 
Lincoln"  and  "Charlie  Chan  in  Reno" 
led  the  grosses  here,  comparatively, 
with  §7,500  at  the  Majestic. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15-16 : 

"Maisie"  (M-G-M) 

"6,000  Enemies"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE — (3,230)   (25c-30c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)   (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Gracie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 
"Undercover  Doctor"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)     (25c-35c-50c)    7  days 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 

FAY'S— (1,800)    (25c-35c-40c).  Vaudeville. 
7  days.    Gross:  $4,800.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Jaurez"  (W.  B.) 
"North  Sea"  (Lenauer) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  2nd  week, 
7  days.    Gross:  $3,000.    (Average,  $3,500) 


Two  Reissues  Lead 
Omaha  With  $5,800 

Omaha,  June  20.  —  "Of  Human 
Bondage"  and  "Star  of  Midnight," 
two  reissues,  pulled  $5,800  at  the 
Brandeis  for  comparatively  best  money 
of  the  week. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  16-17: 

"Of  Human  Bondage"  (RKO  reissue) 
"Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO  reissue) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,800.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (20th-Fox) 
"Hound  of  the  Baskervilles"  (20>th-Fox) 

OMAHA— (2,200)       (25c-40c)       7  days. 
Gross:  $6,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"King  of  the  Turf"  (U.  A.) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)  (35c-S5c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Ted  Lewis  and  revue.  Gross:  $13,- 
600.  (Average,  $14,000) 


Hollywood  Preview 


'Down  the  Wyoming  Trail' 


(Monogram) 

Hollywood,  June  20. — Staged  principally  in  the  snow  country  around 
Jackson's  Hole,  Wyoming,  this  Tex  Ritter  western  is  eye-filling  and 
exciting  stuff  in  its  exterior  sequences,  less  remarkable  when  the  action 
moves  indoors  but  well  balanced  over  all.  Ritter's  principal  associates 
in  the  cast  are  Mary  Brodell,  Bobby  Lawson,  Charles  King,  Bob  Terry, 
Horace  Murphy  and  Ernie  Adams. 

Produced  by  Edward  Finney  and  directed  by  Al  Herman  from  a 
story  and  screenplay  by  Peter  Dixon,  the  picture  offers  Ritter  as  a  two- 
fisted  cowhand  equally  at  home  with  guitar  and  six-gun,  a  fearless 
fellow  utterly  untimid  about  breaking  into  song  without  notice  whilst 
held  captive  in  the  snowbound  cabin  of  cut-throats  whose  operations 
have  made  him  momentary  fugitive  from  plains  justice.  He  handles 
the  job  nicely. 

Ritter  is  framed  for  the  murder  of  a  ranch  hand  and  escapes  a  posse 
with  cooperation  of  the  friendly  sheriff  on  the  understanding  that  he 
will  join  the  outlaw  band  and  bring  in  the  real  murderer.  He  brings 
in  the  whole  gang,  employing  superstition  as  well  as  fisticuffs  and  cun- 
ning in  an  unusual  working  out  of  the  basically  familiar  formula. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.   "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Juarez'  $9,000 
Detroit  Leader 

Detroit,  June  20. — Second  run  of 
"Juarez"  at  the  Palms-State  plus 
"Nancy  Drew,  Trouble  Shooter"  led 
the  field  with  $9,000.  "Young  Mr. 
Lincoln"  gave  the  Adams  a  good  $7,- 
000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15 : 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"Boy  Friend"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ADAMS— (1,700)    (15c-40c)    7    days,  2nd 
run.    Gross:  $7,000.     (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

FOX— (5,000)    (20c-55c)    7   days.  Gross: 
$10,000.     (Average,  $10,000) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

MICHIGAN— (4,000)     (20c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.     (Average,  $10,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

"Nancy  Drew,  Trouble  Shooter"   (W.  B.) 

PALMS -STATE  — (3,000)  (15c-50c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average, 
$5,000) 


'Juarez'  Garners 
$14,500,  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  June  20.  —  "Juarez," 
with  $14,500  at  the  RKO  Albee,  was 
the  only  picture  to  go  over  average. 
"Captain  Fury"  had  a  fair  week  with 
$9,000  at  the  RKO  Palace.  Business 
at  the  other  houses  was  slow. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  14-17: 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

RKO   ALBEE— (3,300)    (35c-42cl    7  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)   (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2.000)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,600.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"(Hotel  Imperial"  (Para.) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,400.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO   GRAND— (1,200)    (25c-40c)    7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $2,500.    (Average,  $2,750) 
"Romrnce  of  the  Redwoods"  (Col.)  (2  days) 
"Big  Town  Czar"  (Univ.)  (3  days) 
"The  Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M)   (2  days) 

RKO  FAMTLY — (1,000)  (15c-25c).  Gross: 
$1,900.    (Average,  $2,400) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S — (1,500)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,300.    (Average,  $6,000) 


'Juarez'  $10,000 
Milwaukee  Smash 

Milwaukee,  June  20.  —  "Juarez" 
and  "Sweepstakes  Winner"  took  a 
strong  $10,000  at  the  Warner,  the  only 
house  to  do  better  than  average. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  14-16 : 

"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

PABST—  (1,624)  (25c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,800. 

"Forged  Passport"  (Rep.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)     (25c-30c)     7  days. 
Stage:    Hawaiian    Follies.     Gross:  $6,000. 
(Average,  $6,500) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2,400)      (35c-50c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Maisie"  (M-G-M)  ' 
"6,000  Enemies"  (M-G-M) 

WISCONSIN—  (3,200)    (35c-50c)    6  days. 
Gross:  $4,300.    (Average,  $5,500) 
"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 
"Undercover   Doctor"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-50c),  4-3  days,  re- 
spectively,    split     week.       Gross:  $4,000. 
(Average,  $4,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (35c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $1,200.     (Average,  $1,500) 


'Gorilla'  Hits  $2,500 
In  New  Haven  Slump 

New  Haven,  June  20— "The  Goril- 
la" and  "Kid  from  Texas"  at  the  Col- 
lege were  closest  to  hitting  normal 
business  in  a  torrid  week.  Take  was 
$2,500.  At  the  Roger  Sherman,  "The 
Mikado"  and  "Secrets  of  a  Nurse" 
grossed  $4,300. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  17 : 

"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 
"Kid  From  Texas"  (M-G-M) 

COLLEGE  —  (1,499)     (25c-35c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $2,500.     (Average,  $2,700) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW-POLI— (3,040)    (35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average,  $8,000) 
"The  Lost  Patrol"  (RKO) 
"Star  of  Midnight"  (RKO) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,348)   (35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $2,800.     (Average,  $4,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 
"Secrets  of  a  Nurse"  (Univ.) 

ROGER  SHERMAN— (2,200),  35c-50c,  7 
days.     Gross:  $4,300.     (Average,  $4,700) 


Seattle  Slow; 
'Heaven'  Hits 
Fair  $6,30 


Seattle,  June  20.  —  Grosses  v 
off  here.  Best  comparative  busi 
was  done  by  "East  Side  of  Hea\ 
and  "Ambush"  with  $6,300  in. 
second  week  at  the  Paramount.  C 
weather  was  cool  and  night  bast 
supplied  competition. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  i 
ing  June  16: 

"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 

■'The  Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  (20th- 1 

BLUE  MOUSE— (950)  (30c-40c-55c) 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Aver 
$4,000) 

"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

FIFTH  AVENUE— (2,500)  (30c-40c-55i 
days.  Gross:  $6,900.  (Average,  $7,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

LIBERTY— (1,800)  (2Sc-30c-40c-55c)  7d- 
5th  week.    Gross:  $3,800.    (Average,  $5, 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  d 
3rd  week.    Gross :  $4,300.    (Average,  $5, 1 
"Gracie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 
"Women  in  the  Wind"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,450)    (30c-40c)    7  d 
Gross:  $5,800.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Comet  Over  Broadway"  (W.  B.) 
"Street  of  Missing  Men"  (Rep.) 

PALOMAR  —  (1,500)  (15c-25c-30c-40e 
days.    Sterling    Young's    Band    on  st 
Gross:  $5,100.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Ambush"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)  (30c-40c)  7  d' 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $6,300.    (Average,  $6, , 


'Chips'  $15,000 

Hit  in  Clevelait 

Cleveland,  June  20.  —  "Good 
Mr.  Chips"  at  Loew's  State  piled 
$15,000.  "Only  Angels  Have  Win 
at   Warners'   Hippodrome,  the  oj 
other  new  picture  on  the  first  i 
program  did  $12,000.  The  weather 
cool. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  e 
ing  June  16: 

"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days, 
week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $4,000; 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (CoL) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME  —  (3, 
(30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12. 
(Average,  $11,000) 

"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,100)  (30c-35c-42c) 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Aver; 
$8,000) 

"Goodbye  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)  (30c-35c-42c 
days.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average,  $11,000; 
"IPs  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILM AN— (1,900)  (30c-35c-< 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Ai 
age,  $5,000) 


'Lincoln,'  $4,300 
Kansas  City  Let 

Kansas  City,  June  20. — "Yoir 
Air.  Lincoln"  took  §4,300  at  the  t 
town,  for  a  better  second  than  fi 
week  at  the  house.  "It's  a  Wonder 
World"  and  "Tell  No  Tales"  at 
Midland  drew  $11,900. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  ei 
ins;  June  13-15 : 

"Ex-Champ"  (20th-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Grc 
$3,200.  (Average,  $3,000) 
"It's  a  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Tell  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND—  (4.000)      (25c-40c)     7  d; 
Gross:  $11,900.  (Average,  $11,500) 
"Juarez"  (W.B.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)   (25c-40c)  7  days, 
week.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average,  $7,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)  (2Sc-40c)  7  days, 
week.   Gross:   $4,300.    (Average,  $3,500; 


■I 


rfd.iesJax.  June  21.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


5 


♦  arners  Plan 
■wo  New  Nazi 
»xpose  Films 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

uinental  in  spreading  rumors  that 
Jy'  is  not  a  successful  picture.  These 
lues  have  caused  certain  other  stu- 
A  1  understand,  to  abandon  plans 
p/  had  made  to  produce  pictures  of 
linular  nature. 

W  arners  intends,  however,  to  carry- 
its  original  independent  program. 
i-  quite  evident  to  me  that  our 
•oiients.  who  either  have  a  personal 
:  to  grind  or  who  are  not  anxious 
|  see  the  screen  mature  to  a  place 
ere  it  can  handle  controversial  sub- 
Its,  do  not  have  an  understanding 
| the  Warner  type  of  determination 
,progressiveness. 

The  same  spirit  which  guided  us 
■  giving  the  world  talking  pictures 
tinst  the  cries  of  some  of  these 
tie  critics,  to  present  the  first  talk- 
s' film  in  color,  first  of  the  gangster 
jns,   which   exposed   conditions  of 

t  era,  as  well  as  'Pasteur,'  Zola,' 
arez'  and  countless  other  films  of  a 
nriitely  progressive  nature  is  guid- 

us  in  our  determination  to  stick  to 
r  policy  of  showing  the  public  what 
<sts  in  the  world  today. 
^We  firmly  believe,  as  Zola  did, 

t  'truth  is  on  the  march'  and  noth- 
'  can  stop  it,  and  we  hope  to  play 
•art  in  bringing  these  evident  truths 
all  the  people  of  all  the  world." 


Kuhn  Loses  'Spy'  Move 
•ederal  Judge  Leibell  yesterday  re- 
>ed  an  application  of  Fritz  Kuhn, 
rman  Bund  leader,  to  restrain  ex- 
Mtion  of  Warners  "Confessions  of  a 
zi  Spy"  pending  trial.  Judge  Lei- 
1  ruled  that  no  injunction  may  be 
ued  to  prevent  the  publication  of  a 
el  and  refused  to  consider  the  merits 
Kuhn's  charges  at  this  time. 


learance  Parley 
Delayed  for  Week 

Conference  on  proposed  revision  of 
arance  in  upstate  cities,  scheduled 
todav.  has  been  postponed  to  next 
ek. 

a.  M.  Richey  of  RKO,  one  of  the 
leduled  conferees,  is  attending  the 
npany's  convention,  and  E.  Thorn- 
ii  Kelly,  executive  secretary  of  New 
Jirk  Allied,  which  brought  the  com- 
-ints,  is  out  of  town. 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Timber  Stampede" 

{RKO) 

Hollywood,  June  20. — Action  and  adventure  are  the  main  ingredients 
of  this  semi-historic  story,  with  comedy  and  romantic  love  interest  as 
sustaining  qualities.  Marking  George  O'Brien's  sixty-third  appear- 
ance either  as  a  star  or  featured  performer,  the  film  concentrates  on 
those  elements  that  show  the  fourth  ranking  western  box-office  per- 
sonality off  to  best  advantage.  While  O'Brien  is  the  dominating  figure 
in  "Timber  Stampede,"  he  is  ably  supported  by  Guy  Usher,  Morgan 
Wallace,  Marjorie  Reynolds,  with  whom  he  shares  the  love  interest, 
and  Chill  Wills  and  Earl  Dwire,  who  account  for  the  comedy. 

The  land  grabbing  activities  of  railroad  president  Usher  and  lum- 
berman Wallace  which  threaten  to  ruin  cattlemen  is  the  picture's  story- 
basis.  Direct  object  of  their  raiding  is  Dwire,  publisher  of  the  local 
paper.  Meanwhile,  as  romance  grows  between  O'Brien  and  Miss  Rey- 
nolds, who  has  been  deceived  into  aiding  their  scheme,  Usher  and  Wal- 
lace overrun  the  ranges  with  fake  homesteaders.  But  just  as  it  appears 
that  the  cattlemen  are  fighting  a  losing  battle,  O'Brien  unearths  evi- 
dence exposing  their  fraudulent  scheme  and  the  stage  is  set  for  the 
exciting  siege  and  gun  battle. 

Bernard  McConville's  story  and  Morton  Grant's  screenplay  are  full 
of  those  exciting  incidents  that  start  youngsters  whooping  and  hollering, 
vet  the  manner  in  which  David  Howard  directed  gives  the  show  appeal 


to  grownups. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.  "G."* 


G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Johnston  Leaving 
For  England  Today 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  president  of 
Monogram,  will  sail  today  on  the 
Queen  Mary  for  London,  to  confer 
with  Monogram's  English  distribu- 
tor, William  J.  Gell,  and  to  visit  the 
exchanges  of  Pathe  Pictures,  Ltd., 
which  handles  Monogram  product  in 
England,  Ireland,  Scotland  and 
Wales.  Johnston  also  will  confer 
with  Ernest  Wettstein,  Monogram's 
representative  in  Paris. 

Accompanying  Johnston  will  be 
Ralph  Bettinson,  Pathe  representative 
in  Hollywood,  and  George  West,  dis- 
tributor of  Screeno,  and  part  owner 
of  several  Monogram  exchanges.  This 
will  be  Johnston's  first  trip  abroad. 

Fined  for  Tax  Delay 

Max  Wilner,  Simon  Wolf  and 
Irving  Richman.  officers  of  the  Fiel- 
wol  Amusement  Corp.,  operators  of 
the  Hopkinson,  Brooklyn,  were  fined 
$600  vesterday  by  Federal  Judge 
Matthew  T.  Abruzzo,  after  pleading 
guilty  to  a  charge  of  unduly  delaying 
pavnient  of  Federal  amusement  taxes. 
On  plea  of  their  attorney,  the  three 
were  given  until  Aug.  3  to  pay  fine. 


Meeting  Tomorrow 
Of  Syracuse  Allied 

Syracuse,  June  20. — Rapley  P. 
Merriam,  regional  vice-president  of 
New  York  Allied,  will  discuss  the 
clearance  situation  in  Syracuse  and 
Binghamton  at  the  meeting  of  the  lo- 
cal unit  of  the  exhibitor  organization 
at  the  Hotel  Syracuse  Thursday. 

E.  Thornton  Kelly,  executive  sec- 
retary of  New  York  Allied,  will  give 
the  highlights  of  the  recent  Minneapo- 
lis convention  of  national  Allied. 


Max  Arnow  Joins  W anger 

Hollywood,  June  20. — Max  Arnow, 
former  casting  director  for  Warners, 
has  joined  the  Walter  Wanger  or- 
ganization as  production  executive. 
He  will  act  as  contact  with  other 
studios  and  will  be  in  charge  of  cast- 
ing. 


U.  S.  Evidence 
of  Conspiracy 
Said  Lacking 


The  Government  has  no  written  evi- 
dence of  conspiracy  by  the  majors  and 
must  rely  on  examination  of  the  files 
of  film  companies  and  answers  to 
questionnaires  to  obtain  its  evidence, 
Special  Assistant  Attorney  General 
Paul  Williams  told  Federal  Judge 
Conger  yesterday  during  argument  of 
an  application  by  United  Artists  for 
a  further  bill  of  particulars. 

The  exact  status  of  United  Artists 
is  even  yet  unknown  to  the  Govern- 
ment, Williams  continued,  but  since 
complaints  of  exhibitors  are  coming  in 
against  that  company  the  Department 
of  Justice  must  include  United  Artists 
in  all  charges  made  against  other  com- 
panies until  the  department  discovers 
whether  United  Artists  has  been 
guilty  equally  with  the  other  de- 
fendants. 

Benjamin  Pepper  spoke  for  United 
Artists  and  charged  the  Government 
with  conceiving  its  bill  of  particulars 
"with  the  intent  of  deceiving  us." 
When  the  company  sought  to  learn 
exactly  which  exhibitors  the  Govern- 
ment claimed  have  been  overbuying 
from  United  Artists,  Pepper  declared, 
the  sole  answer  had  been  a  "phi- 
losophic discussion  of  how  it  took 
place." 


Goldwyn  Files  Brief 
InU.  A.  Pact  Action 

Wilmington,  Del.,  June  20.  — 
Samuel  Goldwyn  yesterday  filed  sup- 
plementary briefs  in  Federal  court 
here  answering  United  Artists'  plea 
for  dismissal  of  the  Goldwyn  action 
against  U.  A.,  alleging  breach  of  con- 
tract. 

The  Goldwyn  answer  declares  that 
U.  A.  itself  "does  not  take  seriously" 
its  point  of  community  of  interest  in 
that  the  plaintiff's  complaint  failed  to 
include  Alexander  Korda,  Douglas 
Fairbanks,  London  Films  and  Elton 
Corp.  as  parties  to  the  suit.  U.  A. 
has  until  Friday  to  file  briefs. 


n 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


■in  assortment  of  comparatively  un- 
fportant  events  comprise   the  new 
s.    The  reels  and  their  contents 

>VIETONE  NEWS.  No.  81— Military 
<eant  in  England.  King  and  Queen 
farewell.  Atlantic  Clipper  takes  off. 
aiders  on  good  will  voyage.  King  and 
;en  of  cotton  are  crowned.  Frisco  Fair, 
scions.  Lew  Lehr.  Finland's  Minister 
•  s  war  debt  installment.  Henry  Ford 
New  York  Fair.  William  Strang  flies 
Russia.  King  Gustav  in  Sweden.  Ascot 
•e  in  England.  Women's  open  golf 
irnament.  Track  meet.  Poughkeepsie 
ratta. 

■.'EWS  OF  THE  DAY.  No.  279— King 
i  Queen  leave  for  England.  Trooping 
the  colors  in  England.  Atlantic  Clipper 
lyes.  Finland  pays  war  debt.  Unveil 
iTre  statue.  Italian  legions  return  from 
ain.    Crew  race.     Invitation  mile  race. 


PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  92— Britain 
prepares  for  Monarchs'  return  as  they  em- 
bark for  home.  New  York  Fair.  Garden 
party  in  London.  W.  J.  Eck  buys  first 
clipper  ticket.  Auto  consumes  coal  gas. 
California  wins  crew  race.     Track  meet. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  96— Royalty- 
ends  tour.  Finland  meets  war  debt  install- 
ment. Ambassador  Kennedy  is  honored 
at  Cambridge  University.  Fascist  legions 
home  from  Spain.  Rowing  race  at  Pough- 
keepsie. Trooping  of  the  colors  in  Eng- 
land. Fenske  wins  mile  race.  Pepper  Mar- 
tin in  home  town. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL.  No.  781— 
Trooping  of  colors  in  England.  Italian 
troops  return  from  Spain.  Marshal  Joffre 
memorial.  Finland  pays  debt.  New  Rus- 
sian ambassador  takes  office.  Clipper  in 
flight.  Henry  Ford  at  Fair.  Test  liquid 
coal  gas.  King  and  Queen  depart.  Aged 
couples  convene.  Poughkeepsie  regatta. 
Princeton  meet. 


/J 


-    ^ll    MS     TU  ,,^anunu|e£^d 


,  ,  -to E*f"M M«c' 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  21,  l!j 


- 


RKO  Raises 
Production 
Budget  40% 

(Continued  from  pane  1) 
western  and  southern  sales  manager, 
spoke    briefly    followed    by  Harry 
Michalson,  short  subject  sales  man- 
ager. 

Howard  Benedict,  studio  publicity 
head,  delivered  a  message  of  greeting 
from  studio  departments.  J.  J.  O'Con- 
nor, RKO  theatre  head,  also  greeted 
the  convention  delegates. 

Predicts  New  Sales  Record 

Jules  Levy,  general  sales  manager, 
and  A.  A.  Schubart,  manager  of  ex- 
change operations,  were  among  the 
speakers  at  the  morning  session.  The 
new  season  sales  policy  was  described 
to  the  men  in  detail  by  Levy.  He 
predicted  that  the  field  force,  while 
getting  a  late  start  in  selling,  would 
establish  a  new  sales  record  on  the 
merit  of  the  new  product  and  the  com- 
pany's policies. 

Referring  to  the  short  subject  pro- 
gram, Levy  said  a  general  increase  in 
the  quality  of  features  will  serve  to 
reduce  the  number  of  double  feature 
houses,  opening  the  way  for  more 
playdates  for  one  and  two-reelers. 

Schubart  discussed  the  trade  prac- 
tice code  and  its  relation  to  sales 
policies. 

Disney  Officials  Speak 

Activities  of  the  Walt  Disney  studio 
were  related  to  the  sales  force  by  Roy 
Disney.  Gunther  Lessing,  counsel, 
complimented  Schaefer  on  his  accom- 
plishments as  head  of  the  company  for 
the  past  six  months  and  predicted  that 
RKO  Radio  "would  soon  lead  the  in- 
dustry in  production  and  selling." 

Hal  Home,  Disney  vice-president, 
described  promotional  plans  for  "Pi- 
nocchio,"  the  new  feature  length  car- 
toon to  be  released  at  holiday  time. 
Kay  Kamen,  Disney  merchandising 
manager,  reported  that  merchandise 
employing  copyrighted  Disney  designs 
is  grossing  $35,000,000  annually. 
"Pinocchio"  merchandise  will  be  pro- 
duced by  56  manufacturers,  he  said. 

Other  speakers  from  the  Disney 
company  were  William  B.  Levy  of 
London  and  Wally  Feignoux  of  Paris. 

39  Short  Subjects  Set 

Details  of  the  production  program 
of  39  short  subjects  to  be  undertaken 
by  RKO  Pathe  were  provided  by 
Frederic  Ullman,  Jr.,  vice-president 
and  general  manager.  He  said  that 
many  improvements  are  planned  for 
RKO  Pathe  News  during  the  year. 

Frank  Donovan,  RKO  Pathe  pro- 
duction manager,  and  Louis  Hyman, 
representing  Sol  Lesser,  also  spoke 
briefly  on  production  activities  with 
which  they  are  associated. 

Final  business  meetings  will  be  held 
today.  Completion  of  unfinished  busi- 
ness will  be  followed  by  individual 
district  and  branch  meetings. 

E.  L.  McEvoy,  eastern  and  Canadian 
manager,  and  Cresson  E.  Smith, 
western  and  southern  manager,  will 
meet  with  their  respective  district  and 
exchange  personnel. 


Bathing  Beauty  Contests 

Proctor's  125th  Street,  RKO  house, 
will  augment  the  Summer  shows  with 
a  bathing  beauty  contest  every  Friday. 


George  J.  Schaefer,  RKO  president,  delivering  his  address  to  the  con- 
vention delegates,  while  listening  attentively  are,  seated  left  to  right: 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president;  Jules  Levy,  general  sales  manager,  and 
William  Mallard,  general  counsel. 


RKO  Sidelights  at  the  Convention 


George  Schaefer  said  he  had  as 
busy  a  time  as  did  the  King  and  Queen 
on  their  recent  visit,  for  he  glad- 
handed  almost  90  per  cent  of  the  con- 
vention gang  between  Sunday  and  the 
opening  of  the  first  session. 


Ned  E.  Depinet  proved  that  he  was 
one  of  the  best  amateur  photographers 
at  the  meeting,  when  he  took  over  the 
direction  of  the  big  mob  scene,  told 
the  boys  to  give  their  all — and  only 
one  take  was  necessary. 


James  Finey  of  the  Walt  Disney 
gang  was  around  greeting  many  of 
his  old  comrades  from  the  days  when 
he  served  under  Jules  Levy. 


When  A.  A.  Schubart  was  making 
a  roll  call  he  inadvertently  asked 
whether  he  was  present  and  Ned  Dep- 
inet let  out  a  loud  yell  to  indicate 
that  he  was. 


Fred  Ullman  of  RKO  Pathe  took 
advantage  of  the  rest  sessions  to  get 
some  expert  lowdown  on  the  Euro- 
pean situation  from  Phjl  Reisman. 


Harry  Mandel,  director  of  the  RKO 
Theatres  publicity  and  advertising  de- 
partment, was  seen  in  a  corner  having 
a  private  conference  with  RKO  Radio 
Pictures'  ad  and  publicity  director, 
S.  Barret  McCormick. 


Lou  Gaudreau  spent  many  an 
anxious  moment  worrying  whether  the 
flashy  RKO  product  announcement 
book  would  arrive  on  time,  and  when 
one  of  the  bellhops  rushed  in  with  a 
message  that  all  was  okay,  Lou  heaved 
a  sigh  of  relief. 


Michael  Hoffay,  foreign  publicity 
representative,  kept  signaling  to  many 
of  his  cronies,  but  the  domestic  boys 
found  it  difficult  to  get  a  line  on  his 
secret  code  messages.  From  the 
happy  look  on  Harry  Ehrreich's  face 
they  must  have  been  very  fancy. 


Mildred  Hartman,  secretary  to 
William  McShea,  assistant  manager 
of  exchange  operations,  and  Florence 
Fineman  of  the  publicity  department 
represented  the  feminine  contingent 
outside  the  convention  hall,  where  the 
typewriters  clicked  oft  the  stories. 


Ned  Depinet  in  his  Monday  morn- 
ing talk  read  telegrams  of  best  wishes 
to  RKO  Radio  from  A.  F.  Sams,  Jr., 
Charles  W.  Peakway  and  Carol  Bain- 
ford  of  North  Carolina,  Charlie  Koer- 
ner,  Sol  Lesser,  John  H.  Harris,  Ber- 
nie  McCarthy,  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  of  Southern  California,  and 
Leo  Spitz. 


Jules  Levy  introduced  three  mid- 
gets as  the  George  Schaefer  Drive 
home  office  committee  and  half  a 
dozen  gag  letters  were  read  by  them. 
If  the  drive  had  been  better  there 
would  have  been  a  bigger  committee, 
Jules  said.  They  answered  the  roll 
call  in  squeaky  voices  that  brought  a 
gale  of  laughs. 


Dick  Condon  was  ever  the  cheerful 
host  in  502.  The  boys  had  a  chance  to 
try  Donald  Duck  highball  containers. 


Charles  Laughton  was  so  impressed 
with  the  Westchester  Country  Club 
landscape  that  he  nearly  missed  his 
car  back  to  New  York. 


Fred  Ullman  screened  his  first  "In- 
formation Please !"  and  the  boys 
learned  a  lot  and  laughed  a  lot. 


Dave  Strumpf,  art  chief,  and  Ben 
Grimm,  ad  man,  were  all  smiles  when 
President  Schaefer  paid  tribute  to  the 
Barret  McCormick  gang  for  the  fine 
announcement  books. 


Bill  Dahler  and  Lou  Miller,  aids 
to  E.  L.  McEvoy  and  Cresson  Smith, 
were  as  usual  inseparable  in  session, 
but  otherwise  Bill  was  playing  ball 
and  Lou  was  on  the  links. 


RKO  Foreign 
Sales  Boom:! 
Meetings  Se 


A  series  of  RKO  sales  conventi. 
in  leading  foreign  territories  throu; 
out  the  world  will  be  started  in  1 
near  future,  Phil  Reisman,  gene ' 
manager  of  the  RKO  foreign  de#  j 
ment,  reported  yesterday  in  adaw  i 
*ng  the  company's  international  sj ! 
meeting  at  Westchester  Country  CI 
Rye. 

Meetings  have  been  scheduled 
Central    America,    Australia,  Ira] 
France,  England  and  South  Amer  i 

Promotions  Announced 

The   following  promotions  in 
foreign  department  were  announc 
Nat   Liebeskind,   supervisor  for 
Argentine,  is  given  Brazil,  Peru  A 
Chile  additionally,  and  Leon  Britl 
supervisor  for  Japan,  Philippines  a 
China,  is  made  supervisor  of  In< : 
Ceylon,  Straits  Settlement  and  Du 
East  Indies  additionally. 

A  52-week  foreign  sales  drive 
planned  beginning  August  1,  and  i 
be  participated  in  by  the  27  dii| 
distributing    centers    throughout  ] 
world  apart  from  the  axis-control 
nations. 

100%  Sales  Record 

Ralph  Hanbury,  managing  direc 
for  United  Kingdom,  reported  t> 
that  territory  had  shown  increa 
grosses  each  year  for  the  past 
years.  He  said  the  organization  1 
a  100  per  cent  sales  record  for 
period  of  the  George  J.  Schaefer  dr 
and  that  this  should  be  bettered  w 
the  new  releases. 

Other  speakers  on  foreign  operati 
included  Ben  Y.  Cammack,  assist 
to  Reisman ;  and  Reginald  Armc 
general  European  manager,  who 
clared  his  territory  has  shown  a 
per  cent  increase  in  business  last  yt 


'Magic  Key'  Show 
On  'Second  Fiddl 

Details  have  been  set  for  the  f 
Monday  program  on  June  26  of 
RCA  "Magic  Key"  program,  wfr 
will  be  devoted  to  exploitation  of  i 
20th  Century-Fox  film,  "Second  F 
die,"  which  has  Irving  Berlin  iftd' 

The  program  will  be  heard  over 
NBC  Blue  network,  covering 
United  States,  Canada  and  Cuba 
total  of  60  stations.  The  time  is  8 
to  9 :30  P.M.  The  program  will  ju 
about  the  globe,  starting  in  New  Yo 
with  renditions  of  the  Berlin  meloc 
from  the  film  by  Rudy  Vallee. 

The  show  then  will  go  to  Hoi" 
wood,  for  a  word  from  Darryl  Zanu 
and  singing  by  Mary  Healy  of 
film's  cast.  Berlin  will  be  introdu'' 
from  New  York,  Vallee  will  s 
again,  Frank  Black's  orchestra  \ 
perform,  and  a  three-way  hookup 
Oslo,  Norway,  New  York  and  Hoi 
wood  will  feature  a  love  scene  betW' 
Sonja  Henie  in  Oslo  and  Tyn 
Power  in  Hollywood,  with  Vallee 
New  York  setting  the  scene. 

Jack  Harris'  orchestra  in  Lond 
and  Osvaldo  Fresdo  and  his  orches 
in  Buenos  Aires  also  will  be  hes 
the  program  closing  on  the  coast  w 
a  talk  by  Sidney  Lanfield,  direc! 
and  another  song  by  Miss  Healy. 


Jnesdav.  June  21.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


illen  Case/ 
Visco's  Best, 
Pulls  $14,000 


i\v  Francisco,  June  20. — "Grade 
In  Murder  Case,"  paired  with 
|e  Gorilla"  at  the  Paramount  to 
ft  $14,000,  best  gross  of  the  week. 
"Jiig  Mr.  Lincoln"  and  "Tell  No 
fe"  drew  $13,500  at  the  Fox. 
stimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
June  13-16: 

elve  Crowded  Hours"  (RKO) 

DI  DEN'    GATE  -(2.850)    (35c-40c-55c)  7 
.  ^tage:  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Av- 
$15,000) 

trcx"  (W.  B.)  „  „ 

•  FRANCIS—  (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
7  days.  3rd  week.  Gross:  $6,400.  (Aver- 
i  $o.000) 

*cie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Para.) 
=■  Gorilla"  (ZOth-Fox) 

\K  AMOUNT— (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-55c- 
i  7  days.   Gross:  $14,000.    (Average,  $11,- 

?  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

n'ITED  ARTISTS—  (1,200)  (15c-3:jc-40c- 
:Kc)  7  davs,  2nd  week.   Gross:  $6,000. 

l-rage.  $8,000) 

Mr.  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 

1  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 

ON— (5,000)  (!5c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  days. 

is:  $13,500.  (Average,  $16,000) 

?  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 

-  Love  of  Money"  (Univ.) 

Rr'HEUM— (2,440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
>  Gross:  $6,800.  (Average,  $8,000) 

liing  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

,dal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

-\R  FIELD — (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-Mc-75c)  7 

f.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average,  $12,000) 

e  Puritan  "  (Lenaur-Int'l) 

\RKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
.».  (Average.  $1,000) 

*er  Depths"  (Mayer-Berstein) 

,AY— (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
Average,  $1,000) 


happen'  at  $12,800 
Despite  Buffalo  Lull 

vffalo,  June  20.— "It  Could  Hap- 
to  You,"  at  the  Buffalo,  aided  by 

Ijor  Bowes'  World's  Fair  Revue, 
..red  $12,800  to  lead.    It  was  the 

,•  bill  to  do  better  than  average. 

Stimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
June  17 : 

Could  Happen  to  You"  (20th-Fox) 

I" FFALO— (3,000)  (30c-55c)  7  days.  On 
c    Major  Bowes'  World's  Fair  Revue, 
s.-:  $12,800.    (Average,  $12,000) 
•ung  Mr.  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 
asing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 
R EAT  LAKES — (3,000)  (30c-50c)  7  days, 
ss:  $6,500.    (Average,  $7,500) 
!1  No  Tales"  (M-G-M) 
e  Jones  Family  in  Hollywood"  (ZOth-Fox) 
Il'PODROME— (2,500)  (25c-40c)  7  days, 
fes:  $4,200.    (Average.  $6,800) 
idercover  Doctor"  (Para.) 
nobia"  (U.  A.) 

ENTURY— (3.000)  (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 

DO.   (Average,  $6,000) 

:-Champ"  (Univ.) 

r  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

A  FAYETTE—  (3,300)  (25c)  7  days, 
iss:  $5,800.    (Average,  $6,300) 


roadcasters'  Code 
Explained  to  Ad  Men 

"Seville  Miller,  National  Association 
'  Broadcasters  president,  presented 

proposed  broadcasters'  code  before 
oint  session  of  the  American  Fed- 
tion  of  Advertisers  members  and 
'adcasters  yesterday  at  the  Waldorf. 
Both  sides  offered  suggestions  and 
:ed  for  a  clarification  of  the  various 
;ms.  No  specific  changes  in  the  code 
re  made,  but  it  was  agreed  that 
inges  deemed  necessary  should  be 
::  in  writing  and  forwarded  to  the 
AB.  before  its  convention  at  At- 
Itic  City  next  month. 

n  substance,  the  code  closely  fol- 
>•?  manv  clauses  adopted  recently 

NBC.  " 


SHORT  SUBJECT 

REVIEWS 


"Old  Glory" 

( Waruer-Sclilcsinger) 

Prepared  with  Independence  Day 
programs  particularly  in  mind,  but 
with  year-around  suitability  a  basic 
consideration,  this  Leon  Schlesinger 
"Merrie  Melodie"  is  a  compact  and 
pleasantly  palatable  lesson  in  Ameri- 
canism predicted  on  Porky's  indiffer- 
ence to  the  pledge  of  allegiance  to  the 
flag  and  worked  out  by  means  of  a 
dream  sequence  in  which  Uncle  Sam 
tells  the  stammering  piglet  about  Pat- 
rick Henry.  Paul  Revere,  George 
Washington  and  other  early  Ameri- 
cans who  made  the  country  what  it  is 
today.  A  great  deal  of  historical  back- 
ground is  adroitly  reviewed  and  Porky 
finds  a  new  significance  in  the  pledge 
at  picture's  end.  It's  a  nice  job  of  car- 
tooning, more  serious  than  most,  an 
excellent  short  for  children  and 
equally  appropriate  for  adults.  Run- 
ning time.  10  mins. 


"Pictorial,  P  8-11" 

( Paramount} 

Three  functions  of  water,  as  a  his- 
torical background,  as  the  basis  for 
industry,  and  as  a  playground  make  up 
this  "Pictorial."  A  trip  down  the 
Thames  provides  the  setting  for  com- 
ment on  England's  rich  history.  A 
second  sequence  shows  an  interesting 
industry,  fish  farming.  Lifeguards  in 
action  on  Miami  Beach  wind  up  the 
reel.  A  varied  and  well-knit  travel- 
ogue. Running  time,  10  mins. 


"Tempo  of  Tomorrow" 

( Paramount) 

Richard  Himber  and  his  orchestra 
provide  a  melodic  interlude.  Four 
songs  are  offered  with  a  jam  session 
as  a  climax.  Stuart  Allen,  baritone, 
and  Patricia  Gilmore  are  heard  in 
several  vocal  numbers.  Swing  fans 
should  like  it.   Running  time,  10  mins. 


"For  Your  Convenience" 

( Warners ) 

A  color  subject,  this  interesting 
short  shows  a  Bowery  specialist  whose 
forte  is  making  up  black  eyes ;  the 
packing  of  a  parachute,  indicating  the 
care  which  is  essential  to  its  proper 
functioning  ;  the  making  of  coffee  from 
bean  to  cup,  and  the  gadgets  used  by 
women  to  attain — or  maintain — slim- 
ness.    Running  time,  10  mins. 


"On  the  Air" 

(  Warners) 

Leith  Stevens  and  his  Saturday 
Night  Swing  Club  offer  a  rendition 
of  modern  swing  music  in  the  setting 
of  a  radio  studio.  Nan  Wynn  sings, 
Leslie  Lieber  performs  on  a  toy 
whistle  and  Melvin  Allen  is  the  an- 
nouncer. The  "jitterbugs"  will  like 
it.    Running  time,  10  mins. 


"Polar  Pals" 

{Warners) 

Young  Porky,  animated  pig,  is 
North  Pole  animal  protector,  and 
when  the  fur  trapper  arrives  with  his 
tommy  gun,  frightening  the  animals. 
Porky  gets  his  gun  and  makes  short 
work  of  the  intruder.  Routine  car- 
toon material,  its  icy  atmosphere 
should  make  it  a  good  warm  weather 
bit.    Running  time,  7  mins. 


"Jamaica" 

( Paramount) 

A  "Color  Cruise"  through  the  West 
Indian  island,  Jamaica.  The  cities, 
bathing  girls,  banana  plantations,  old 
Spanish  forts,  and  the  method  of  har- 
vesting coconuts  are  shown.  Running 
time,  10  mins. 


"Wotta  Nitemare" 

(Fleischer-Paramount) 

Popeye  suffers  a  nightmare  and  en- 
counters the  difficulties  that  are  usu- 
ally found  in  dreams.  He  finds  his 
path  blocked  by  prison  bars,  his  bicycle 
turns  to  a  snail  when  he  is  trying  to 
escape  from  a  steam  roller,  food  dis- 
appears when  he  tries  to  eat,  etc. 
F.ven  when  he  reaches  for  the  custom- 
ary spinach,  he  discovers  carrots  and 
beets  instead.  Exceptionally  well  done. 
Running  time,  7  mins. 


"The  Scared  Crows" 

(Fleischer-Paramount) 

Betty  Boop  and  her  dog,  Pudgy,  run 
into  some  trouble  with  crows  when 
they  start  planting  their  garden.  A 
scarecrow  solves  the  problem  tempo- 
rarily but  the  birds  return  to  raid  the 
kitchen.  After  a  scrap,  Betty  scares 
them  off  permanently.  A  black  and 
white  cartoon.   Running  time,  7  mins. 


Studio  Brevities 


Hollywood,  June  20. — Deanna  Dur- 
bin  and  Charles  Boyer  are  leading 
draws  in  American  films  bein^  shown 
in  South  America,  Pablo  Cavallo  of 
Lauteret  and  Cavalolo,  large  South 
American  theatre  circuit,  said  here  to- 
day.   He  is  flying  to  New  Nork. 


Formation  of  a  new  Hollywood 
chapter  of  Radio  W riters  Guild,  affili- 
ated with  the  Authors  League  of 
America,  is  scheduled  to  be  effected 
tonight  at  a  meeting  to  be  addressed 
by  Marc  Connelly,  A.L.A.  president. 


Warners  today  suspended  for  ten 
days  the  shooting  of  "Knight  and 
Lady"  because  of  injuries  suffered  by 
Errol  Flynn  in  a  motor  accident. 
Fourteen  stitches  were  required  to 
close  gashes  in  face  and  head. 


Cowdin  Sails  Today 
For  London  Parley 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  Universal  board 
chairman,  sails  on  the  Queen  Mary  to- 
day for  a  three  or  four-week  business 
trip  to  London.  The  trip  is  his  usual 
summer  one  for  conferences  with 
Universal  associates  in  England. 

With  Nate  J.  Blumberg,  Universal 
president,  at  the  studio  for  a  visit  of 
indefinite  duration,  Charles  D.  Prutz- 
man,  vice-president,  will  be  in  charge 
of  the  home  office  during  the  next  few 
weeks. 


Arbitration  Delayed 

Arbitration  discussions  scheduled 
Monday  between  Operators'  Local 
306  and  the  I.  T.  O.  A.,  representing 
New  York  independent  exhibitors, 
were  postponed  until  today. 


Chicago  Gives 
Good  $12,200 
To  'Conquest' 


Chicago,  June  20. — "Man  of  Con- 
quest" led  here  with  $12,200  at  the 
Roosevelt  in  a  week  of  poor  grosses. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  13-17: 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,400)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,600.    (Average,  $6,500) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

CHICAGO—  (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days, 
2nd     week.      Stage:     Vaudeville  Revue. 
Gross:  $26,800.    (Average,  $32,000) 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

GARRICK— (900)    (35c-40c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.     (Average,  $6,500) 
"Old  Dark  House"  (Univ.  Reissue) 
"My  Man  Godfrey"  (Univ.  Reissue) 

ORIENTAL— (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.     Gross:  $11,000. 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

PALACE— (2,500)    (35c-5Sc-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:   Vaudeville  Revue.     Gross:  $18,600. 
(Average,  $19,000) 
"Man  of  Conquest"  (Rep.) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)  (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $12,200.  (Average,  $11,000) 
"King  of  Chinatown"  (Para.) 

STATE-LAKE— (2,700)  (25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
$12,000.    (Average,  $12,000) 


'Juarez'  $17,800 
Gross  in  Capital 

Washington,  June  20. — Sultry 
weather  kept  local  grosses  low.  Only 
feature  to  do  outstanding  business  was 
"Juarez,"  which  took  $17,800  at  War- 
ners' Earle. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  IS : 

"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS    CAPITOL— (3,434)    (25c-66c)  7 
days.     Stage:    Arthur    Treacher.  Gross: 
$16,500.    (Average.  $16,500) 
"The  Hardys  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $4,300.    (Average,  $4,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (ZOth-Fox) 

LOEWS  PALACE— (2,370)  (25c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,700.  (Average, 
$12,000) 

"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836)  (25c-55c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $6,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE— (2,218)  (25c -66c)  7 
days.  Stage,  vaudeville.  Gross:  $17,800. 
(Average,  $16,000) 

"Con'essions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  —  (1,591) 
(25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,900. 
(Average,  $4,000) 


British  Open  Drive 
To  Fight  New  Taxes 

London,  June  20. — The  British  film 
industry  today  launched  a  vigorous 
nationwide  drive  to  combat  the  new 
film  taxes. 

All  theatres  in  the  country  showed 
trailers  protesting  the  taxes.  The 
films  warn  the  public  that  the  new 
taxes  will  result  in  fewer  pictures, 
shorter  programs  and  an  increase  in 
unemployment.  Patrons  are  asked  to 
address  letters  to  members  of  Parlia- 
ment. 

A  national  newspaper  advertising 
campaign  along  similar  lines  will  be 
started  at  once. 


Warner  Outing  Today 

Warner  Club  of  home  office  em- 
ployes will  hold  its  annual  outing  and 
boat  ride  today.  The  Peter  Stuyvesant 
will  carry  them  to  Bear  Mountain. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  J  jne  21,  1? 


Para's  Studio 
"In  the  Black', 
Says  Balaban 


Disclosure  that  Paramount  studio 
operations  are  currently  in  the  black 
highlighted  a  favorable  report  on  the 
company's  financial  position  given  to 
stockholders  at  their  annual-  meeting 
yesterday  by  Barney  Balaban,  presi- 
dent. 

Stockholders  reelected  the  16  direc- 
tors for  one-year  terms  without  a  dis- 
senting vote.  Directors  are  :  Barney 
Balaban,  Neil  F.  Agnew,  Stephen 
Callaghan,  Harvey  D.  Gibson,  A. 
Conger  Goodyear,  Stanton  GrifBs, 
Duncan  G.  Harris,  John  Hicks,  Jr., 
Edwin  L.  Weisl,  John  D.  Hertz,  Aus- 
tin C.  Keough,  Earl  I.  McClintock, 
Maurice  Newton,  E.  V.  Richards, 
Adolph  Zukor  and  Y.  Frank  Free- 
man. 

Board  Meeting  Tomorrow 

The  board  is  scheduled  to  meet  to- 
morrow, at  which  time  all  officers  are 
expected  to  be  reelected. 

There  were  2,295,870  shares  of 
all  classes  of  stock,  representing  about 
67  per  cent,  voted  at  the  meeting.  The 
session  progressed  smoothly  with 
Balaban  presiding,  Keough  acting  as 
secretary,  and  Griffis  and  Weisl  the 
only  other  company  directors  shar- 
ing the  platform.  Individual  stock- 
holders complimented  Balaban  individ- 
ually and  the  management  as  a  group 
on  the  financial  condition  of  the  com- 
pany and  its  prospects  of  continued 
improvement. 

No  Theatre  Division  Losing 

Balaban  stated  in  aswer  to  a  stock- 
holder's question  that  consolidated  in- 
come is  derived  about  equally  from 
film  rentals  and  theatre  admissions. 
He  said  that  25  to  30  per  cent  of  the 
film  rentals  paid  by  Paramount  the- 
atres is  paid  for  Paramount  pictures. 
No  Paramount  theatre  division  is  los- 
ing money,  he  said. 

In  answer  to  another  question  Bala- 
ban said  that  Paramount  had  no  in- 
tention of  voluntarily  divesting  itself 
of  its  affiliated  theatres  and  pointed 
out  that  the  company  was  fighting  the 
Government  anti-trust  suit  which  has 
the  separation  of  exhibition  as  one 
of  its  major  objectives. 

He  said  that  only  about  $300,000 
cash  was  involved  in  acquisition  of 
the  new  west  coast  studio  property, 
that  the  new  studio  will  be  built  in 
units  over  a  period  of  years  and  that 
no  new  financing  is  involved  in  the 
development. 

Operating  Now  at  Profit 

Balaban  reported  that  heavy  com- 
mitments and  inventories  undertaken 
by  the  studio  in  1937  in  anticipation 
of  continued  improvement  in  business 
have  been  fully  liquidated  and  that 
the  studio  currently  is  operating  at 
a  profit.  He  added  that  earnings  of 
the  parent  company  for  the  current 
quarter  are  running  substantially 
ahead  of  earnings  for  the  correspond- 
ing quarter  last  year. 

Stockholders  were  told  that  a  term 
loan  of  3^2  per  cent  is  being  arranged 
for  the  retirement  of  the  last  $1,935,- 
000  of  Paramount's  six  per  cent 
debentures  outstanding.  Earnings  of 
$4,106,000  for  1938  and  $1,300,000  for 
the  first  quarter  of  the  current  year 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


RADIO  SHY  OF  FAIR  .  .  .  New  York's  local  stations  a  number  of 
weeks  ago  raised  such  a  cry  about  the  treatment  they  were  receiving 
at  the  World's  Fair  that  the  management  of  the  "World  of  Tomor- 
row" arranged  a  special  "local  network"  to  facilitate  pick-ups  from  the  Fair 
grounds.  We  have  just  learned  of  the  dissolution  of  the  special  network  by 
Fair  edict,  because  the  stations  did  not  take  advantage  of  the  special  facili- 
ties. As  a  further  straw  in  the  wind  about  how  the  stations  feel  about 
the  Fair,  there  are  less  than  60  programs  a  week  coming  from  the  Fair 
grounds.  Of  this  total,  however,  more  than  25  are  being  carried  by  Municipal 
station  WNYC.  Latter  is  in  to  the  hilt  because  it  feels  that  as  a  Municipal 
station,  it  should  boost  Gotham's  greatest  event.  Another  explanation  is  that 
WNYC  is  the  only  local  station  which  does  not  have  to  pay  a  special  fee  to 
the  music  union  for  tune  pick-ups. 

T 

STAGE  PLAYERS  GROUP  JOINS  RADIO  .  .  .  For  the  second  time, 
a  legitimate  theatre  group  has  joined  forces  with  radio.  Orson  Wells  broke 
precedent  when  he  brought  his  Mercury  Players  to  CBS  last  year,  and  now, 
according  to  well-founded  report,  the  Group  Theatre  has  signed  a  long  term 
contract  to  appear  on  Kate  Smith's  program  throughout  next  year.  The 
Group  players  made  five  or  six  guest  appearances  on  the  Smith  show  the 
current  season,  resulting  in  the  deal  for  next  year. 

T 

JOHNSTONE  AT  IT  AGAIN  .  .  .  Johnny  Johnstone,  WOR's  director  of 
news  and  publicity  who  is  now  on  the  new  Cunard  liner  Mauretania,  broad- 
cast from  mid-ocean  yesterday,  and  after  giving  an  excellent  and  colorful 
account  of  what  was  transpiring,  signed  off  by  saying  "and  this  is  Johnny 
Johnstone  speaking  to  you  from  the  Aquitania."  It  wasn't  so  long  ago  that 
Johnny  came  on  the  air  and  said,  "good  evening,  ladies  and  Johnstone."  But 
everyone  loves  Johnny  nevertheless. 

T 

SUGGESTION  TO  NBC  .  .  .  NBC  still  is  at  it  trying  to  line  up  a  spon- 
sor for  the  Joe  Louis-Tony  Galento  fight.  It  is  our  idea  that  they  try  to  sell 
the,  broadcast  to  Bristol-Meyers  Co.,  for  two  specific  products  of  that  com- 
pany. Vitalis,  whose  slogan  is  "the  60  second  rub,"  is  one  likely  customer. 
The  other  is  "Minute  Rub." 

T 

KENNY'S  PROGRAM  MOST  POPULAR  .  .  .  Nick  Kenny's  children's 
show  on  WMCA  and  the  Inter-City  network  is  that  medium's  most  popular 
daytime  feature,  a  survey  proves.  The  Mirror's  radio  editor  has  been  con- 
ducting the  feature  for  the  past  eight  years. 

▼ 

L.  B.  WILSON'S  GREAT  STUNT  .  .  .  More  than  300  newspapers  in 
Ohio,  Kentucky  and  Indiana  are  giving  page  one  lead  stories  to  WCKY, 
Cincinnati,  as  the  result  of  Manager  L.  B.  Wilson's  smart  promotion  in  in- 
viting newspaper  men  to  stage  a  WCKY  broadcast  honoring  the  home  town. 
Programs  are  to  start  next  week,  and  will  run  through  October. 

T 

COOPERATION  .  .  .  Ralph  Brewster  of  the  Paul  Whiteman  "Modern- 
aires"  has  to  undergo  a  tonsilectomy  this  week,  and  Joe  McMichaels  of  the 
Merry  Macs  is  taking  care  of  the  emergency  by  stepping  into  Brewster's 
place  for  the  Whiteman  broadcast. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Wendell  Williams,  who  was  sent  to  Hollywood  by  NBC 
as  continuity  editor  following  the  Mae  West  fiasco,  is  in  town  to  be  mar- 
ried. .  .  .  Tim  Marks  of  the  Earl  Ferris  office  is  back  at  work  following  two 
weeks'  vacation  at  Virginia  Beach.  .  .  .  Bob  Hawk  of  Mutual  flies  to  Ber- 
muda today  on  a  Clipper  to  vacation.  .  .  .  Stella  Unger,  who  recently  re- 
signed as  head  of  the  radio  department  at  Erwin  Wasey,  has  been  signed  by 
Conde  Nast  to  do  a  series  of  Hollywood  stories  for  Glamour  Magazine.  .  .  . 
Jackie  Osterman,  before  his  death,  collaborated  with  Irving  Strouse  in  writ- 
ing a  screen  scenario,  and  it  is  now  being  handled  by  Mark  Hanna's  office. 
.  .  .  Dick  McKnight,  formerly  writer  for  Joe  Penner  and  Doc  Rockwell,  to 
Chicago  yesterday  where  he  will  write  the  Sunbrite  program  scripts. 

T 

NEW  AYER  DIRECTORS  .  .  .  Five  new  directors  have  been  named 
at  N.  W.  Ayer  &  Son  advertising  agency.  The  new  directors  are  Thurman 
L.  Barnard.  George  W.  Cecil,  John  Hansel,  Paul  L.  Lewis  and  Frank  L. 
Scott,  Jr.  In  addition  to  the  five  new  board  members,  William  M.  Armistead, 
Clarence  L.  Jordan,  Adam  Kessler,  Jr.,  Gerald  M.  M.  Lauck,  and  President 
H.  A.  Batten  have  been  re-elected  directors. 


were  reported  earlier. 

Foreign  revenue  has  been  "substan- 
tially maintained"  despite  obstacles  in 
several  important  world  markets,  the 
meeting  was  told.  Paramount  allo- 
cates only  15  per  cent  of  the  cost  of 
each  negative  to  the  foreign  market 
and  this  amount  is  written  off  in  15 
months  following  release  of  the  pic- 
ture in  the  United  States.  No  credit 
is  given  to  subsidiaries  operating  in 
foreign  countries  where  exchange  re- 
strictions exist  unless  American  dol- 
lars are  actually  received  therefrom. 


Big  Drive  to  Boost 
Korda's  'Feathers' 

Special  advertising  and  exploitation 
campaigns  have  been  prepared  for 
Alexander  Korda's  "Four  Feathers" 
bv  United  Artists.  Plans  include  a 
$100,000  newspaper  campaign  budget 
in  addition  to  full  color  pages  in  Life, 
Look  and  American  Weekly.  An  ex- 
ploitation staff  of  40  men  will  be  as- 
signed to  the  first  key  city  engage- 
ments of  the  picture  by  United  Artists. 


Film  Leaders 
Attend  Frey'i 
Burial  Rite 


About  600  mourners  paid  final  i 
spects  to  Isidor  Frey,  assistant  gi 
eral  counsel  of  Loew's,  at  servifl 
yesterday  afternoon  at  Riverside  Y 
morial  Chapel,  67th  St.  and  Anwi 
dam  Ave.    Frey  died  Sunday, 

In  the  gathering  were  manv  exe< 
tives  of  Loew's  and  other  busim 
associates,  relatives  and  friends.  T 
Rev.  Dr.  Jonah  B.  Wise,  rabb'i 
Central  Synagogue,  delivered 
eulogy.  Burial  was  at  Mt.  Cam 
Cemetery  in  Queens. 

Among  Loew  executives  attend) 
the  services  were  Nicholas  M.  Schen 
president;    J.   Robert   Rubin,  Da,! 
Bernstein,  Leopold  Friedman,  C. 
Moskowitz,   Joseph   R.    Vogel,  Ea 
Goetz,  Benjamin  Thau,  Arthur  Loe] 
Oscar  A.  Doob,  Mort  Spring,  Mar' 
Schenck,  Dave  Blum,  Sam  Meinhc' 
Harry  Moskowitz,  Lester  Isaacs,  Gi  I 
Meyer,    William    F.    Rodgers,   T< ' 
Connors,   Ed   Saunders,   Si  Seadl 
Harry  Bernstein,  Gene  Picker,  C. 
Stern  and  Charles  Sonin. 

Others    were :    Herman  Robbi 
Archie    Weltman,    Sam  Braunbe 
Ernest  Emerling,  William  Orr,  V. 
Gonzales,  George  Dembow,  Lou  Ast 
William  Brandt,  Ed  Hatrick,  Willi; 
Klein,   Mrs.   David   Bernstein,  Mi 
Mort  Spring,  Al  Rosen,  Ted  O'Shi 
B.    S.   Moss,    Charles    Moss,  Maf 
Hammerstein,    William    Jaffe,  S;i 
Rodgers,    Joseph    Moskowitz,  M| 
Gene    Meyer,    Joe    Pincus,  Arttj 
Herschmann,  Dr.   Morris  Senft, 
Senft,  Irving  Snyder,  Harry  Kara; 
Seymour    Mayer,    Dominic   Barre 1 
Morrie  Seidlitz,  Gene  Ford,  Laurei 
Beatus,  Irving  Greenfield,  John  Mi 
phy.  Max  Wolff,  Tom  Gerety,  Hu 
Pettey,  Arthur  Moskowitz,  Mr.  a] 
Mrs.  Jacob  Rosenheim,  D.  O.  Deck 
Joel  Levy,  Sidney  Phillips,  Mel  Hi 
mann,  Ben  Simon,  Charles  Moses,  W 
Cameron,  Al  Bernstein,  Mel  Morg;; 
stern  and  Jay  Eisenberg. 

Charles  Lipsett,  president  of  tJ 
Milburn  Country  Club,  to  which  FiJ 
belonged,  and  many  members  attenc 
the  services. 


Ben  N.  Berinstein' s 
Burial  Rites  Todc 

Los  Angeles,  June  20. — Fune 
services  will  be  held  tomorrow  ! 
Home  of  Peace  Memorial  Chapel  f 
Ben  N.  Berinstein,  53,  veteran  sou' 
ern  California  exhibitor,  who  df 
vesterday.  He  had  been  ill  for  a  lo 
time. 

Berinstein,  who  was  born  in  Rus 
and  came  to  Los  Angeles  25  ve;j 
ago,  was  a  former  president  of  1 
M.P.T.O.  of  Southern  California  I 
fore  its  affiliation  with  the  I.T.O.  ' 
Southern  California.  He  was  at  c 
time  president  of  the  I.T.O. 

Surviving  are  his  widow,  Sil 
Berinstein,  a  daughter,  Federicka,  a 
a  son,  Paul. 


Warners  Buffalo  Deal 

Warners  have  closed  a  1939-'40  d' 
with  Shea's  Publix  Theatres,  BufFa 
whereby  the  product  will  play  the  c 
cuit's  first  and  subsequent  runs 
Buffalo  and  first  run  in  Niagara  Fa 
Roy  Haines,  eastern  sales  manag 
acted  for  Warners  and  Vinci 
McFaul  for  Shea. 


*lert, 


o  the  Motion 

•icture 

ndustry 


DO  NOT  R 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


EMOVE 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


01  45.  NO.  120 

r- 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  22,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


21,000,000 
1KO  Budget 
On  New  Films 


»0  Salesmen  Will  Frolic 
at  Fair  Today 


(iforgi-  3.  Bchaefer 


'reduction  investment  in  RKO's 
v  season  product  will  run  to  a  mini- 
|m  of  $21,000,000,  it  was  stated  yes- 
iay  at  the  closing  business  session 
J  the  company's  international  sales 
1  vent  ion  at 
estch ester 
untry  Club, 

The  figure 

i resents  an 

Toximate  in- 

ase   of  $6,- 

i',000  over  the 

Tregate  cost 
current  sea- 
's product. 

"he    c  o  m  - 

ly's  52  fea- 

fes  will  be 

4  in  six  price 

tisions. 

ijcorge  J. 
aefer,  RKO 

sident,  said  that  no  decision  has 
n  made  yet  on  the  designation  of  a 
cessor  to  Pandro  Berman,  who  re- 
s  as  studio  head  next  Fall,  but  that 
appointment  will  be  made  in  two 
three  months.  Schaefer  scoffed  at 
orts  that  he  would  establish  head- 
rters  at  the  studio, 
he  RKO  president  emphasized 
i:  the  company  is  as  staunch  a  sup- 
*er  of  the  industry  trade  practice 
«  as  ever,  despite  the  fact  that  it 

been  rejected  by  Allied  States, 
said  distribution  companies  would 
ceed  with  the  program  in  the  hope 

ultimately  attaining  something 
cli  would  bring  the  various 
nches  of  the  industry  together, 
ules  Levy,  general  sales  manager, 
ounced  the  creation  of  a  new  sales 
rict  and  several  promotions  as  a 
sequence  of  the  added  territory. 
■  new  district  will  consist  of  the 
incapolis,  Omaha,  Des  Moines  and 
u.\  Falls,  S.  D.,  exchanges.  L.  E. 
dhammer,  former  Minneapolis 
ich  manager,  has  been  appointed 
lager  of  the  new  district.  C.  J. 
•ssel,  Omaha  branch  manager,  has 
i  made  manager  at  Minneapolis, 
:eeding  Goldhanimer,  and  R.  F. 
ner,  formerly  Minneapolis  sales- 
fc  has  been  made  Omaha  branch 
nager. 

esterday's  session  closed  with  in- 
dua]  district  and  branch  managers' 
tings,  presided  over  by  E.  L.  Mc- 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


Kuykendall  Gives 
Views;  U.  S.  Hears 
Brandt  on  July  18 


Washington,  June  21. — Ed  Kuy- 
kendall, president  of  the  M.P.T.O.A., 
today  gave  Department  of  Commerce 
officials  his  views  on  the  major  eco- 
nomic problems  confronting  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry. 

Kuykendall,  unaccompanied  by  a 
delegation  from  his  organization,  is 
the  first  exhibitor  to  meet  with  the 
Commerce  department  at  the  invita- 
tion of  Secretary  Harry  Hopkins. 

National  Allied,  also  invited  to 
Washington  to  express  its  attitude  on 
important  problems  involving  the  film 
industry,  is  expected  to  send  delegates 
here  early  next  month. 

Department  officials,  following  the 
Kuykendall  meeting,  declined  to  re- 
veal the  nature  of  the  discussions,  but 
said  that  they  followed  "general  lines," 
largely  covered  in  the  recent  Hopkins 
conference  with  producers. 

Secretary  Hopkins  is  awaiting  a  re- 
ply to  his  invitation  to  independent 
producers  in  Hollywood  to  come  East 
for  a  conference. 

The  invitation  was  sent  by  Dr.  Wil- 
lard  L.  Thorp,  special  assistant  to  the 
Secretary,  to  I.  E.  Chadwick,  presi- 
dent of  Independent  Motion  Picture 
Producers  Association. 

Hopkins  asked  Chadwick,  if  he  can- 
not make  the  trip,  to  express  his  views 
in  writing. 

A  conference  is  scheduled  Tuly  18  in 
Washington  with  Harry  Brandt, 
president  of  the  New  York  I.T.O.A., 
and  a  committee  of  three  members. 

Brandt  yesterday  accepted  Hopkins' 
invitation  to  confer  with  him  and 
other  department  officials.  The  dele- 
gation will  present  the  independent 
exhibitors'  viewpoint. 


BRITAIN  ABANDONS 
NEW  FILM  TAXES 


Senate  Postpones 
Action  on  Neely  Bill 

Washington,  June  21. — Due 
to  the  pressing  need  of  con- 
sidering other  bills  of  far 
greater  importance,  the  Neely 
bill  had  to  be  postponed  to- 
day in  the  Senate.  The  film 
measure  may  not  reach  the 
Senate  floor  until  early  next 
month,  it  was  indicated. 


Exhibitors  Hail  Victory; 
Chancellor's  Decision 
Comes  as  Surprise 


Air  Writers  Form 
Los  Angeles  Guild 

Hollywood,  June  21. — Los  Angeles 
Radio  Writers'  Guild,  an  affiliate  of 
the  Authors  League  of  America,  was 
organized  last  night,  with  temporary 
officers  elected  and  a  constitution 
adopted.  About  60  writers,  including 
members  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Radio  Actors,  attended. 

Talks  were  made  by  Marc  Connelly, 
president  of  the  A.L.A.,  and  Charles 
Brackett  and  Dudley  Nichols  of  the 
Screen  Writers  Guild. 

Preliminary  lines  of  organization 
were  drawn  and  Forrest  Barnes  was 
named  temporary  president.  Selected 
as  council  members  were  Lindsay  Mc- 
Harrie,  John  Boylan,  Hector  Chev- 
igny,  Betty  Stella,  Mel  Williams,  Don 
Clark,  True  Boardman,  John  Slot, 
David  Taylor  and  Noreen  Gammil. 

Twenty-five  members  of  A.F.R.A. 
signed  a  petition  to  resign  as  writer 
members  of  that  organization,  pro- 
vided approval  is  given  by  the  national 
A.F.R.A.  board. 


AFA  Probed  by  Dewey; 
'Rump 9  Meeting  Monday 


District  Attorney  Thomas  E.  Dewey 
has  stepped  into  the  investigation  of 
American  Federation  of  Actors  and 
has  subpoenaed  the  report  of  the  ac- 
countant and  investigating  committee 
of  Associated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
America,  it  was  learned  yesterday. 

Meanwhile,  the  "Ferrets,"  an  oppo- 
sition group  within  the  A. FA.,  called 
a  midnight  meeting  for  Monday  to 
discuss  grievances.  The  meeting  place 
has  not  been  set. 

Principal  complaint  against  the 
union's  officialdom  is  the  failure  to 
enforce  proper  conditions  at  the 
World's  Fair.    Methods  used  by  the 


union's  organizers  and  alleged  lack  of 
democratic  control  of  the  union  are 
reported  to  be  other  sore  spots  with 
many  members. 

The  Dewey  investigation  is  princi- 
pally concerned  with  the  committee's 
charge  that  $12,997  which  was  re- 
ceived from  the  Theatre  Authority 
was  used  in  part  for  general  union 
purposes  instead  of  relief  for  needy 
actors.  These  funds  were  raised  at 
tax  free  benefits. 

Ralph  Whitehead,  A.F.A.  executive 
secretary,  has  answered  this  charge 
with  the  declaration  that  the  funds  had 
been  "earmarked"  for  relief. 


London,  June  21. — Complete  aboli- 
tion of  the  new  excise  tax  on  films 
and  a  corresponding  adjustment  of 
customs  duties  was  announced  in  the 
House  of  Commons  today  by  Sir  John 
Simon,  Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer. 

The  industry  received  the  news  with 
great  relief,  coming  as  a  surprise  on 
the  eve  of  a  meeting  of  the  Budget 
Committee  of  Commons,  and  on  the 
heels  of  the  opening  of  the  industry's 
film  and  newspaper  campaign  against 
the  tax. 

It  is  generally  believed  in  informed 
Government  circles  that  the  Govern- 
ment waited  for  action  by  the  trade 
before  reaching  its  decision,  and  in- 
terpreted the  industry's  protest  cam- 
paign as  a  determination  to  make  a 
political  issue  of  the  matter. 

The  statement  of  Sir  John  Simon  in 
Commons  today  said : 

"On  close  examination  of  the  opera- 
tion of  the  proposed  tax  on  cinemato- 
graph film  and  especially  of  the  differ- 
ent circumstances  in  which  the  excise 
duty  would  have  to  be  applied,  the 
Chancellor  has  reached  the  conclusion 
that    that    portion    of    his  proposal 

{Continued  on  page  8) 


Broadway  Gains 
Noted  in  Grosses 

Aided  by  unsettled  weather  over  the 
weekend,  this  week's  grosses  showed 
a  slight  upturn.  Openings  set  today 
are  "Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris"  at  the 
Music  Hall  and  "Maisie"  at  the  Capi- 
tol. Tomorrow,  "Daughters  Courage- 
ous" goes  into  the  Strand  and  "Susan- 
nah of  the  Mounties"  starts  at  the 
Roxy. 

"Invitation  to  Happiness"  grossed 
an  estimated  $32,000  in  its  second 
week  at  the  Paramount.  "Man  About 
Town"  opens  there  next  Wednesday. 
At  the  Music  Hall,  "Clouds  Over 
Europe"  drew  an  estimated  $75,000. 
In  eight  days  at  the  Capitol,  "Tarzan 
Finds  a  Son"  brought  an  estimated 
$26,000. 

"Stolen  Life"  grossed  an  estimated 
$12,000  at  the  Rivoli  and  is  held. 
"Jamaica  Inn"  is  next  there.  "Good- 
bye, Mr.  Chips"  is  still  strong  at  the 
Astor  with  an  estimated  $14,000  in  its 
fifth  week.  "Missing  Daughters"  drew 
an  estimated  $4,500  at  the  Globe. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  22,  19.' 


Federal  Trial 
Of  B.&K.  Suit 
Starts  Today 


Chicago,  June  21. — The  U.  S.  gov- 
ernment's suit  against  Balaban  and 
Katz  and  the  majors  for  violation  of 
the  consent  decree  gets  underway  to- 
morrow. 

Circuit  and  exchange  officials  have 
been  subpoenaed  to  testify,  but  it  is 
unlikely  that  they  will  take  the  wit- 
ness stand  tomorrow. 

Assistant  U.  S.  District  Attorney 
Robert  Wright  is  expected  to  review 
the  complaint  before  Master  in  Chan- 
cery Edgar  Eldredge.  Indications  are 
that  this  will  require  most  of  the  open- 
ing day. 

An  explanation  of  the  Chicago 
clearance  system  and  descriptive  terms 
used  in  film  business  will  be  brought 
to  the  Master's  attention. 

Answer  to  the  defendants'  motions 
in  the  case  of  Frank  Ford  versus 
Balaban  and  Katz  and  the  majors  was 
filed  today  by  the  plaintiff's  attorney, 
Lewis  F.  Jacobson. 


Bank  Night  Illegal, 
Wisconsin  Ruling 

Milwaukee,  June  21. — Although 
refusing  to  issue  a  temporary  injunc- 
tion against  the  LaCrosse  Theatres 
Co.  restraining  it  from  holding  Bank 
Night,  the  Wisconsin  Supreme  Court 
today  ruled  that  the  game  is  a  lottery 
and  that  it  violates  the  state's  criminal 
laws.  The  decision  held  that  lower 
courts  have  the  right  to  abate  Bank 
Night  as  a  public  nuisance  by  issuing 
injunctions. 


UNITED 

TO  CHICAGO 

Only  4  hrs.  35  min. 
★ 

shortest 

AIR  ROUTE 

★ 

t  a  s  t  e  s  t 

AVERAGE  SERVICE 
★ 

famous 

MAINLINERS 

★ 

NON-STOPS: 

the  '12:1s'    the  '3:15' 
the  '5:15'* 

Call  United,  travel 
agents,  hotels.  (*e.s.t.) 

UNITED 

AIR  LINES 


58  E.  42nd  St. 


MU-2-7300 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


STANTON  GRIFFIS,  Barney 
Balaban,  Austin  Keough,  Ed- 
win Weisl  and  Ralph  W.  Crocker 
lunching  at  Sardi's. 

• 

Rudolph  Kneuer,  assistant  sales 
manager  of  International  Projector 
Corp.,  and  president  of  the  Interna- 
tional Fishing  Club,  will  take  50  club 
members  who  are  company  employes 
on  an  annual  fishing  trip  to  Montauk 
Point  on  Saturday. 

• 

Robert  Tallman,  former  assistant 
editor  of  the  "March  of  Time"  radio 
program,  has  been  signed  by  Walter 
Wanger  to  collaborate  with  John 
Lay  on  the  screenplay  of  "Send  An- 
other Coffin." 

e 

Dorothy  Lamour  left  New  York 
for  Waukegan,  111.,  last  night  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  world  premiere  of  Jack 
Benny's  Paramount  film,  "Man 
About  Town,"  there  on  Sunday  night. 
• 

Louis  Davidson  of  the  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox publicity  department  has 
sold  a  series  of  fiction  stories  to  the 
N.  Y.  Daily  News-Chicago  Tribune 
Syndicate. 

• 

Arthur  E.  Meyer,  general  sales 
manager  of  International  Projector, 
has  left  on  a  week's  visit  to  New 
England  branches  of  National  Theatre 
Supply. 

• 

Norman  Bede  Rydge,  managing  di- 
rector  of    Greater   Union  Theatres, 
Australia,  sailed  today  for  home  on 
the  Mariposa  from  Los  Angeles. 
• 

Henry    Danziger,    of    the  Film 
Board  of  Trade,  returned  to  his  desk 
yesterday  after  having  been  out  for 
several  weeks  for  an  operation. 
• 

Larry  Kent,  Fox  West  Coast  chief 
booker,  is  here  from  Los  Angeles  in 
connection  with  film  deals. 

• 

Alexander  Hall,  director  of 
"Good  Girls  Go  to  Paris,"  will  attend 
the  premiere  of  the  film  at  the  Music 
Hall  this  evening. 

• 

Jake  Wilk,  Warners  story  editor, 
is  conferring  on  the  Coast  regarding 
story  properties. 

• 

George  Weber,  M-G-M  checking 
supervisor,  is  on  a  tour  of  exchanges. 
• 

Joseph  R.  Vogel,  Loew  theatre  ex- 
ecutive, is  due  back  from  Toronto  to- 
day. 


Film  on  Royal  Visit 
Is  Ready  in  Canada 

Montreal,  June  21. — "Royal  Ban- 
ners Over  Ottawa,"  color  film  of  the 
two-day  visit  of  the  King  and  Queen 
to  the  Canadian  capital,  will  be  re- 
leased here  immediately  by  Associated 
Screen  News. 

Gordon  Sparling,  who  directed,  took 
the  filrn  to  London  for  processing  and 
previewing  by  the  Canadian  High 
Commissioner.  It  was  flown  back  to 
Canada  on  the  Yankee  Clipper. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

156  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


H 


JARRY  COHN,  Columbia  presi- 
dent, is  in  town,  planning  to  re- 
turn to  the  Coast  next  week. 

• 

Julio  Molina  Font  and  Manuel 
Peon  B.,  co-producers  of  Mujeres  y 
Toros,"  Mexican  feature,  gave  a 
luncheon  yesterday  at  Fornos  Res- 
taurant in  honor  of  H.  Alban-Mes- 
tanza,  editor  of  Teatro  al  Dia.  Other 
guests  were  Fernando  Mier,  F.  Al- 
varez Goto,  F.  Garcia  Ortega, 
Francisco  J.  Ariza  and  Ray  Gallo. 
• 

Violet  Dubinsky,  sister  of  the 
Dubinsky  Brothers,  who  operate  the 
Dubinsky  circuit,  and  herself  asso- 
ciated with  the  operation  of  the  thea- 
tre group  for  some  years,  and  Max 
Hoffman,  Kansas  City,  were  married 
there  Tuesday. 

• 

Ed  Ruiz  Toledo  of  the  United 
Theatre,  San  Juan,  Porto  Rico,  was 
a  visitor  yesterday  at  the  RKO 
World's  Fair  lounge. 

• 

Alice  Gorham,  publicity  director 
for  Trendle- Paramount  theatres  in 
Detroit,  is  vacationing  here. 

• 

Max  Gordon  is  due  Monday  from 
the  coast. 


/.  T.O.A.  Will  Hear 
Insurance  Report 

Insurance  committee  of  the  I. T.O.A. 
has  held  a  series  of  meetings  on  a 
proposal  that  New  York  independent 
exhibitors  form  a  self  insurance  or- 
ganization with  a  view  to  substantial 
economies.  The  committee,  of  which 
Otto  Lederer  is  chairman,  will  report 
to  the  membership  at  a  meeting  next 
Wednesday  at  the  Astor. 


COMMUTER  AIR  SERVICE! 


TO  CHICAGO 
4  HRS.  35  MIN.! 


Now— 8  Fast  Flights  a  Day! 

Now  there's  a  fast  TWA  flight  to  Chi- 
cago anv  time  you  want  to  go!  TWA's 
new,  frequent,  convenient  departures 
actually  make  it  possible  for  you  to 
commute  by  air  to  Chicago! 

TWA's  Nonstop  "Sky  Chief"  leaves 
5:30  p.m.  .  .  .  puts  you  in  Chicago  9:05 
that  night!  Also  Nonstop  "Gold  Coaster." 
Leaves  4   p.m.    6  other   flights!  $44.95 

10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 


Phone  Travel  Agent  or  MU  6-1640 

Transcontinental  &  Western  Air,  Inc. 
70  E.  42nd  St. —Air  Desk,  Penn.  Station 


$21,000,000 
RKO  Budgel 
On  New  Film 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Evoy,  eastern  and  Canadian  divis 
manager,  and  Cresson  E.  Smith,  we 
ern  and  southern  division  man? 
Schaefer  informally  addressed^ 
managers  and  also  spoke  at  a  separ 
meeting  of  foreign  department  rep 
sentatives.  Harry  Michalson,  shj 
subject  sales  manager,  also  addres: 
the  closing  session. 

At  World's  Fair  Today 

Gifts  were  presented  to  A.  A.  Scl; 
bart,  manager  of  exchange  operatic 
and  M.  G.  Poller,  head  of  the  playd 
department,  on  behalf  of  the  conv 
tion  for  their  work  on  arrangeme 
for  the  meeting. 

The   300   sales    delegates  will 
given   free   rein   at  the  New  Yi 
World's  Fair  all   day  today.  Rlj 
Pathe  News  will  be  host  at  a  cock 
party  at  the  Romanian  Pavilion  1  ji 
evening,  which  will  be  followed  b; 
company  dinner  at  the  French  Pa 
ion  and  a  visit  to  the  Aquacade  la 

Last  night  the  delegates  dined  ,: 
the  Tavern  and  attended  the  regi'] 
performance  of  "Abe  Lincoln  in  1 
nois." 


Miles  Again  Heads 
Goldwyn's  Publici  i 

Hollywood,  June  21. — John  Pelf 
Miles,  who  resigned  two  months  .  I 
as  publicity  director  for  Samuel  G(!$; 
wyn  Productions,  but  retained  a  > 
in  the  department  on  special  assi  jl 
ments,  will  continue  as  departrr  I 
head. 

Miles  resumed  the  post  of  publi<  I 
director  following  the  resignation  I 
Gregory  Dickson  two  weeks  ago.  I 


Para.  Will  Answer 
Stockholders  Si 

Application  of  Paramount  Pictv. 
Corp.  to  dismiss  the  $25,000,000  sto 
holders  suit  of  Frank  Jablow  and  S 
Acker  in  the  U.  S.  District  Court 
lack  of  jurisdiction  was  withdra 
yesterday.  Paramount  is  expected 
file  its  answer  to  the  suit  today.  5  S 
charges  waste  and  mismanages  I 
against  Paramount  officials. 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY  I 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  1 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Comp;  I 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  C I 
Telephone    Circle    7-3100.      Cable    add  ft 
'Quigpubco,  New  York."    Martin  Quig ,» 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Bro 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  V  (■ 
lerson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  f| 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertit 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Mi 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  I 
lywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Build 
Boone     Mancall,     manager,  William 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Gol 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams, 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  Lond< 
All   contents   copyrighted   1939  by  Quif  '■' 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.     Other  Qui|  f 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Be  ' 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  ]  I 
tion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.    Ent<  jl 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  jl 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  p 
act  of  March  3.  1879.   Subscription  rates  " 
year  $6  in  the  Americai  and  $12  fere  i 
Single  copiei  10c. 


o\o« 


See  it  the  minute 
you  can! ..  .You'll 
demand  to  see  it 
on  youi  marquee! 

There's  never  been  a  car- 
toon subject  like  it.  An 
extra -length  super- special 
added  attraction  at  no  extra 
cost. . .  Put  your  call  in  today 
for  the  Vitaphone  Booker 
—  he's  got  prints  available 
starting  JULY  4th  at  the 
fair  and  square 

WARNER  BROS. 

Exchange 


A  Leon  Schlesinger  Production 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  12,  19, 


Insider's  Outlook 

X      By  SAM  SHAIN  ■ 

THERE  were  less  than  100  shareholders  in  attendance  at  the  annual 
meeting  of  Paramount  the  other  day.  In  1937,  there  were  perhaps 
four  times  as  many.  This  lesser  attendance  bespeaks  the  growing 
confidence  in  the  company's  management  under  Barney  Balaban.  It  is  when 
stockholders  are  dissatisfied  that  they  go  in  droves  to  such  sessions'.  This 
year's  meeting  was  unusual  in  that  even  the  two  or  three  stockholders 
who  came  to  agitate  remained  to  applaud.  No  greater  commendation  can 
be  accorded  any  executive  than  that  which  was  given  to  Barney  Balaban,  who 
conducted  the  meeting  with  skill  and  tact.    Certainly,  his  star  is  rising. 


D  ERHAPS  the  greatest  record  of  association  between  a  film  company 
*■  and  an  advertising  representative  is  that  which  is  enjoyed  by  Jack  Pegler 
of  the  Lord  and  Thomas  Agency.  His  association  with  RKO  ranges  over 
a  period  of  10  years.  In  that  time  he  has  attended  nine  of  the  company's 
annual  sales  conventions.  The  reason  that  he  did  not  attend  10  meetings  is 
that  in  those  10  years  only  nine  were  held. 


'  I  VHE   matter   of  an   institutional   drive   by   the   industry   was  proffered 
and  tabled  at  a  recent  meeting  of  business  leaders.    That  does  not  mean 
that  the  idea  has  been  turned  down,  as  we  take  it,  but  that  definite  action 
has  been  put  off  for  the  time  being. 


T^ROM  Washington  comes  word  that  administration  leaders  who  are 
acquainted  with  the  situation  believe  constructive  and  advantageous  re- 
sults will  come  out  of  the  industry  meetings  with  Secretary  of  Commerce 
Harry  Hopkins.  We  feel  that  such  meetings  could  not  have  taken  place 
without  the  prior  knowledge  and  perhaps  even  the  consent  of  President 
Franklin  D.  Roosevelt  and  Attorney  General  Frank  Murphy.  As  a  matter 
of  fact,  Attorney  General  Murphy  was  reported  in  the  press  as  having  indi- 
cated that  the  Department  of  Commerce  conferences  with  industry  chieftains 
were  inaugurated  only  after  the  Department  of  Justice  had  been  consulted. 


THERE  is  an  Italian  restaurant  on  West  47th  St.  known  as  Del  Pezzo. 
It  is  a  good  restaurant.  The  place  has  one  favorite  customer.  He  goes 
there  only  occasionally  because  he  is  not  always  in  the  city.  He  may  not 
have  visited  the  place  for  a  year  or  two,  but  every  time  he  goes  he  gets  the 
greatest  attention  from  the  entire  service  staff  and  the  owner.  He  is  Ben 
Piazza,  presently  in  New  York  from  California. 


D  ARAMOUNT  plans  a  testimonial  to  Gus  Edwards  in  connection  with 
*■  the  picture,  "The  Star  Maker,"  which  is  based  on  a  story  inspired  by 
Edwards'  career.  The  date  has  not  yet  been  revealed  but  the  testimonial 
will  be  held  in  New  York.  Eddie  Cantor  probably  will  be  master  of  cere- 
monies. 


UNUSUAL  indeed  is  the  World's  Fair  influence  on  Broadway.  It  is  not 
enough  that  the  Flushing  show  has  drawn  the  cream  of  Broadway's 
amusement  patronage  away  from  the  Main  Stem,  but  now  to  attract  the 
swarm  of  Fair  visitors  Broadway  is  shaping  to  a  curious  mid-way,  the 
like  of  which  the  old  Broadway  could  never  have  envisioned. 

Bob  Ripley  is  opening  an  "Oddities,"  and  that  block  on  West  50th  Street, 
between  7th  and  6th  Avenues,  with  its  bus  terminals,  parking  spaces  and 
small  popcorn  and  candy  shops  and  novelty  stores  will  soon  resemble,  in 
miniature,  any  resort  boardwalk. 

CECIL  DE  MILLE  has  named  M.  A.  Mulligan  of  Toronto  as  his  agent 
in  discussions  with  officers  of  the  Canadian  Government  for  the  pro- 
duction of  a  picture  on  the  history  of  Canada,  and  of  which  the  Royal  Mounted 
police  will  be  an  integral  part. 


EIGHT  Canadian  newsreel  cameramen  received  the  personal  commenda- 
tion of  the  British  King  and  Queen  at  the  conclusion  of  their  tour.  These 
cameramen  were  "mentioned  in  dispatches."  They  were  Roy  Tash,  D.  Har- 
rison, Walter  Darling,  Lucien  Roy,  Norman  Hull,  Ross  Beasley,  Arnold 
Hague,  and  Harvey  Bassett,  employes  of  the  Associated  Screen  News  and 
the  Canadian  Government  Motion  Picture  Bureau. 


Theatres  Push 
Cleanup  Drive 
In  Kansas  City 


Kansas  City,  June  21. — At  a  meet- 
ing called  by  E.  C.  Rhoden,  head  of 
Fox  Midwest  Theatres,  Inc.,  exhibi- 
tors and  film  men  agreed  to  back  the 
Forward  Kansas  City  Committee,  an 
organization  whose  purpose  is  to  clean 
up  the  city.  The  motion  picture  in- 
dustry here  will  aid  with  publicity, 
which  probably  will  include  use  of 
trailers. 

Rhoden  is  chairman  of  the  motion 
picture  committee  of  the  movement. 
Other  members  are  W.  E.  Truog, 
United  Artists ;  Jay  Means,  Oak 
Park;  W.  H.  Hendren,  Jr.,  United 
Film  Ad  Service;  E.  S.  Young,  Cen- 
tral ;  Arthur  Cole,  Paramount ;  Sam 
Abend,  Film  Delivery;  John  Wolf- 
berg,  Strand  and  Mokan;  C.  H.  Pot- 
ter, Admiral,  Baltis  and  Murray ; 
Reuben  Finkelstein,  Byam  and  Bel- 
mont ;  Mrs.  Abe  Baier,  Lindbergh, 
and  Ben  Achtenberg,  attorney,  who  is 
one  of  the  owners  of  the  Regent. 


Altec  in  Reciprocal 
Plan  on  Servicing 

Altec  Service  Corp.  has  prepared 
a  plan  for  the  reciprocal  interchange 
of  technical  information  pertaining  to 
sound  reproducing  servicing  with  or- 
ganizations in  foreign  countries,  ac- 
cording to  G.  L.  Carrington,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  of 
Altec. 

Carrington  pointed  out  that  the 
plan  will  enable  foreign  equipment 
and  service  companies  to  avail  them- 
selves of  American  technical  skill, 
thus  benefiting  American  films 
abroad,  and  American  theatres  will 
benefit  by  the  technical  experience  in 
foreign  service  problems. 


Fine  3  in  Montreal 
On  Child  Admissions 

Montreal,  June  21. — Three  local 
theatre  operators  were  fined  $10  and 
costs  today  by  Recorder  Amedee 
Thouin  for  admitting  children  under 
16  to  performances  of  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  last  Septem- 
ber. 

Thus  12  of  125  similar  cases  now 
before  the  courts  are  disposed  of.  De- 
fendants pleaded  that  newspapers  had 
indicated  the  law  would  be  relaxed  for 
the  showing  of  "Snow  White,"  but  the 
court  ruled  such  publication  did  not 
nullify  the  law. 


Goodwill 

Hollywood,  June  21. — Elev- 
en German  newspapermen,  in 
this  country  on  a  goodwill 
mission  for  the  Nazis,  toured 
the  M-G-M  studio  yesterday. 

Leaders  of  the  group  were 
Carl  Cranz,  Heinz  Beller,  di- 
rector of  the  German  Library 
of  Information  in  New  York; 
Dr.  Perter  Winkelnkemper, 
Erich  Scheyder.  Cranz,  Win- 
kelnkemper and  Scheyder  are 
editors  of  important  Nazi 
papers  in  Germany. 


Meridian  Dissolved 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Ham- 
mer yesterdav  ordered  dissolution  of 
Meridian  Pictures  Corn,  upon  applica- 
tion of  its  officers.  Decision  followed 
a  report  of  Referee  McDonough  that 
the  company,  with  liabilities  of  $56,- 
768  and  assets  nf  $119,  was  hopelessly 
insolvent. 


Renews  Plaza  Lease 

Leo  Brecher,  who  has  operated  the 
PI  aza  theatre  on  E.  58th  St.  since  1925 
and  who  founded  the  original  Plaza 
on  Madison  Ave.,  where  he  introduced 
pictures  on  New  York's  fashionable 
East  Side,  yesterday  announced  he  had 
renewed  the  lease  on  his  present  site 
for  20  years. 


Cuba  Official} 
Attend  'Spy' 
Ban  May  Lif 

Havana,  June  21. — Warners'  "Co 
fessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy"  was  screen 
today  for  the  President  of  Cuba,  St 
retary  of  Interior  and  the  Ame£ 
ambassador  following  suspension* 
the  film  last  night  after  its  openi 
to  a  large  crowd  and  favorable  i 
views. 

It  is  understood  the  Cuban  cens 
board  stopped  further  showings  of  t 
film  upon  instructions  from  the  Pre 
dent  who  is  understood  to  have  had 
protest  from  the  German  ambassadi 

At  a  late  hour  tonight  no  wo 
of  decision  of  today's  official  executi 
inspection  of  the  film  had  been  a 
nounced. 

5  Units  Absorb  Half 
Local  37  Membei 

Hollywood,  June  21. — Half  of  t 
approximately  6,000  members  of  Lo< 
37,  involved  in  a  jurisdictional  fight 
Los  Angeles  Superior  Court,  ha 
been  absorbed  in  five  new  units  < 
tablished  by  the  I.A.T.S.E.  The  } 
maining  half  are  expected  to  be  a 
sorbed  in  the  near  future. 

The  registration  of  Local  37  mei 
bers  in  the  five  new  units  followed  t 
dissolving  of  the  studio  union  by  t 
LA.  some  time  ago. 

Next  Pascal  Picture 
Is  'Major  Barbar 

Gabriel  Pascal,  British  produc 
who  has  the  film  rights  to  Geor 
Bernard  Shaw's  plays,  plans  "Maj 
Barbara"  as  his  next  picture,  to 
made  at  Pinewood  studio.  Pasc 
sailed  yesterday  on  the  Queen  Ma 
to  start  the  film.  In  the  spring 
plans  to  make  "Doctor's  Dilemma." 

Accompanying  him  were  Vict 
Orsatti,  Hollywood  agent,  who  is  g 
ing  over  to  assist  in  working  out 
release,  and  Marion  Baldwin  of  t 
Orsatti  office. 


'Juarez'  in  Mexico 

Mexico  City,  June  21— T, 
premiere  of  Warners  "Juarez"  will  : 
held  here  tomorrow  night  with  hi) 
government  dignitaries  attending  a 
the  event  being  broadcast  over  she 
and  long  wave  hookups  to  reach  Ce 
tral  and  South  America. 


George  and  Ray! 

Lou  Lifton,  Monogram  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  chief, 
prepared  a  large  photo  of  W. 
Ray  Johnston,  president, 
shaking  hands  with  King 
George  of  England  with 
Queen  Elizabeth  standing  by. 

The  photo  was  placed  in 
Johnston's  cabin  on  the 
Queen  Mary  before  he  sailed 
yesterday  for  England. 

When  the  English  steward 
spied  the  composite  montage, 
he  exclaimed:  "My  word!" 

Johnston  expects  to  get  all 
sorts  of  attention  on  his  trip, 
once  the  word  gets  around 
that  he  and  the  King  are 
"like  that." 


irsday.  June  22.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


5 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


fuarez'  a  Hit 
With  $40,000, 
Los  Angeles 

Vos  Angeles,  June  21. — "Juarez" 
t  a  real  hit  here,  taking  a  total  of 
UO0  at  two  houses,  $19,500  at  the 
flier  Hollywood  and  $20,500  at  the 
Jrner  Downtown.  Otherwise  busi- 
(s  was  off,  except  "Goodbye,  Mr. 
ips,"  which  scored  $6,200  in  its 
i  week  at  the  4  Star. 
•Miniated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
June  21 : 

aisie"  (M-G-M) 

•fling  Dr.  Kildaire"  (M-G-M) 

HIXESE— 12.5CO)     (30c -$1.00)     7  days. 

$10,400.     (Average.  $12,500) 
>o*ye  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 
STAR — (900)  (40c-50c)  7  days.  5th  week. 
►s>:  $6JCO.     (Average.  $3,250) 
rre  Came  Back"  (RKO) 
xlt  Dugan"  (RKO) 

ILLSTREET— (2,700)   (30c-65c)  7  days, 
bs;  $6,200.    (Average.  $6,500) 
•isie"  (M-G-M) 
»fjng  Dr.  Kildaire"  (M-G-M) 
(OEW'S    STATE— (2,500)    (30c-$1.00)  7 
is.    Gross:  $11,600.     (Average,  $14,000) 
rte  Came  Back"  (RKO) 
oe  Girl  from  Mexico"  (RKO) 
AXTAGES — (3,000)     (30c-65c)     7  days. 
►Si:  $5,800.    (Average,  $7,000) 
\  tation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 
'ARAMOUXT—  (3.395)   (30c-65c)   7  days, 
week.     Stage:     F.  &  M.  revue.  Eton 
e     Gross:  $12,000.     (Average,  $18,000) 
«rex"  (W.  B.) 

,'ARXER     BROS.  (HOLLYWOOD)— 
1)0)   (30c-65c)   7  davs.      Gross:  $19,500. 
rerage,  $14,000) 
erez"  (W.  B.) 

ARXER  BROS.  (DOWXTOWX)- 
M0)  (30c-6Sc)  7  days.  Gross:  $20,500. 
'-erage,  $12,000) 

I 

hurches  Offer  New 
Competition  in  Cincy 

Zincinnati,    June    21. — Although 
ngo  continues  to  be  a  highly  com- 
itive  factor  for  theatres,  a  new 
irce  of  competition  has  sprung  up 
I  iong  churches  here,  some  of  which 
I  i  are  conducting  "True  or  False" 
I  «tests,  with  prizes  equalling  those 
red  at  Bingo  parties, 
-ity  officials  are  taking  steps  to 
rulate  the  contests  by  imposing  the 
ne  restrictions  which  govern  Bingo. 


Set  New  Haven  Meet 

"Jew  Haven,  June  21. — Invitations 
v  all  independents  in  the  territory 
we  gone  out  to  attend  an  indepen- 
it  exhibitor  rally  and  luncheon  at 
Hofbrau  Haus  here  June  2/.  Ex- 
.itors  are  invited  to  discuss  busi- 
s  problems  and  relations  with  ex- 
inges.    The  invitation  came  from 
L.  Schuman  of  the  Black  Rock, 
•idgeport ;  Maurice  Shulman  of  the 
\  K>fi  and  Webster,  Hartford,  presi- 
it  of  Allied  of  Connecticut,  Harry 
'  Lavietes  of  the  Pequot,  Xew  Ha- 
I  i:  Morris  Bailey  of  the  Whalley. 
W  Haven ;  Adolph  G.  Johnson  of 
Strand.  Hamden,  and  Dr.  J.  B. 
■hman  of  Fishman  Theatres. 


apitol  Books  Features 

Next  nine  features  to  follow  "Tar- 
i  Finds  a  Son"  have  been  set  for 
.  Capitol.  They  are  "Maisie," 
tronger  Than  Desire,"  "On  Bor- 
.ved  Time,"  "Andy  Hardy  Gets 
ring  Fever,"  "Miracles  for  Sale," 
ady  of  the  Tropics,"  "A  Day  at  the 
"cus,"  "The  Women"  and  "Babes 
Arms." 


Lease  to  Fox  Midwest 

Kansas  City,  June  21. — Fox  Mid- 
west has  taken  a  10-year  lease  on  the 
Isis,  which  burned  down  this  spring. 
The  theatre  is  being  completely  rebuilt 
and  re-equipped,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$200,000.  It  will  seat  1,800  persons. 
Opening  is  scheduled  for  early  fall. 


Harttmann  Buys  Three 

Kansas  City,  June  21. — George 
Harttmann,  who  operates  in  Kansas 
and  Missouri,  has  taken  over  the 
Plaza  and  Little  Plaza  at  Lamar,  Mo., 
and  the  Plaza  at  Greenfield,  Mo.,  from 
A.  J.  Simmons,  who  is  temporarily  re- 
tiring from  the  show  business. 


Renovate  Bridgeport  House 

Bridgeport,  Conn.,  June  21. — Jack 
Schwartz,  operator  of  the  West  End, 
will  renovate  the  700-seat  house,  in- 
stalling air-conditioning  and  new 
equipment. 


Hollywood  Notes 


Hollywood,  June  21. — M-G-M  will 
star  Wallace  Beery  in  "Twenty 
Mule  Team,"  story  of  the  transporta- 
tion of  borax  across  the  deserts.  J. 
Walter  Ruben  will  produce.  .  .  . 
Mark  Sandrich,  who  directed  Jack 
Benny  in  "Man  About  Town,"  has 
been  signed  by  Paramount  to  produce 
and  direct  "Buck  Benny  Rides  Again," 
the  comedian's  next.  Eddie  "Roches- 
ter" Anderson  will  be  featured. 
Sandrich  has  been  signed  to  a  new 
contract.  .  .  .  W  arners  has  set  Crane 
Wilbur  to  writing  a  script  based  on 
the  life  of  Edgar  Allen  Poe,  who 
will  be  portrayed  by  Claude  Rains. 

M-G-M  has  lent  James  Stewart 
to  Warners  for  "And  It  All  Came 
True,"  with  Ann  Sheridan  and 
Humphrey  Bogart.  However,  Ste- 
wart first  goes  to  Universal  to  make 
"Destry  Rides  Again,"  Joe  Paster- 
nak production  at  one  time  called 
"The  Man  from  Montana."  .  .  .  Para- 
mount's  mystery'  picture,  "Dr.  Cy- 
clops," has  started  shooting  in  color. 
Cast  thus  far  includes  Albert  Dek- 
ker,  Janice  Logan,  Tom  Coley, 
Charles  Halton  and  Victor  Kili- 
an.  Ernest  Schoedsack  is  directing 
the  Dale  Van  Every  production. 

Sally  Eilers  draws  the  feminine 
lead  in  RKO's  "Full  Confession,"  in 
which  Victor  McLaglen  has  the  top 
masculine  role.  .  .  .  Marjorie  Rey- 
nolds has  been  signed  for  the  fem- 
inine lead  in  Monogram's  "Mr.  Wong 
in  Chinatown." 


Flamm  to  Be  Questioned 

Ira  Herbert  has  been  granted  a 
motion  for  examination  before  trial 
of  Donald  Flamm,  president  of 
Knickerbocker  Broadcasting  Co. 
(WMCA),  in  his  suit  in  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  for  an  accounting  of 
commissions  allegedly  due.  The  or- 
der, by  Justice  Hammer,  calls  for 
examination  of  William  Weisman, 
vice-president,  if  Flamm  is  unavail- 
able. Herbert  formerly  was  a  sales- 
man for  WMCA  and  now  works  for 
WHN.  He  is  represented  bv  Phillips 
&  Nizer. 


Republic  Names  Mewmann 

Albany,  June  21.— Arthur  New- 
mann.  special  representative  for  Re- 
public here,  has  been  appointed  branch 
manager.  He  will  take  over  his  duties 
on  Aug.  1,  when  the  present  Berko- 
witz-Mills  franchise  expires. 


Takes  Kansas  House 

Johnson,  Kan.,  June  21. — P.  D. 
Hogue  has  taken  over  the  Bell  here 
from  Forrest  Walker. 


Reopening  in  Kansas 

Virgil,  Kan.,  June  21. — Richard 
Fryer  is  reopening  the  long-dark  Vir- 
gil here,  shortly.  Fryer  also  has  the 
Grove,  Grove,  Okla. 


Open  Airdrome  July  1 

Middletown,  Conn.,  June  21. — 
Opening  date  of  Sal  Adorno's  new 
750-seat  airdrome,  to  be  called  the 
College,  is  scheduled  for  July  1. 

'Night'  at  $4,300; 
Oklahoma  City  Off 

Oklahoma  City,  June  21. — Grosses 
tumbled  here,  the  best  showing  being 
made  by  "Lucky  Night,"  with  $4,300 
at  the  Midwest.  "East  Side  of  Heav- 
en" took  $1,900  at  the  Plaza. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15 : 

"Dark  Victory"   (W.  B.) 

CRITERION— (1,500)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.     (Average,  $5,500) 
"The  Kid  From  Texas"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Tarnished  Angel"  (RKO) 

LIBERTY — (1.200)  (20c-25c)  4  days.  Gross: 
$1,700.     (Average.  $1,800) 
"The  Ex-Champ"  (Univ.) 
"On  Trial"  (Col.) 

LIBERTY— (1,200)      (20c-25c)     3  days. 
Gross:  $750.     (Average.  $700) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

MIDWEST— (1.500)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,300.     (Average,  $4,200) 
"East   Side   of   Heaven"  (Univ.) 
,  PLAZA— (750)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,900.     (Average,  $1,700) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

STATE— (1,100)  (20c-25c-40c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $3,000.    (Average.  $3,000) 
"The  Hardy^s  Ride  High"  (M-G-M) 

TOWER— (1.000)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $2,300.    (Average.  $2,500) 


Miles  Gibbons  Dies; 
Of  Para's  Newsreel 

Miles  F.  Gibbons,  associated  with 
the  Paramount  newsreel  for  the  past 
12  years,  died  yesterday  afternoon  at 
St.  Luke's  Hospital. 

Gibbons  was  born  in  Pittston,  Pa., 
in  1882.  Prior  to  joining  Paramount, 
he  was  with  Pathe,  joining  Paramount 
News  as  a  sales  assistant  in  April, 
1927.  He  is  survived  by  his  widow7, 
Ruth,  one  son  and  three  daughters. 
Funeral  arrangements  had  not  been 
set  last  night. 


Loses  Song  Suit 

Copyright  of  William  A.  Brady  to 
"Way  Down  East"  has  expired,  the 
Appellate  Division  of  the  N.  Y.  Su- 
preme Court  ruled  Tuesday  in  a  de- 
cision upholding  the  dismissal  of  a 
$250,000  damage  suit  which  Brady 
had  brought  against  the  Bamberger 
Broadcasting  Service,  Inc.,  Mutual 
Broadcasting  System,  Inc.,  Blackett- 
Sample-Hummert,  Inc.,  and  Charles 
H.  Phillips  Chemical  Co. 


New  French 
Decree  Rules 
Film  Imports 


By  PIERRE  AUTRE 

Paris,  June  21. — A  new  French 
Government  decree,  regulating  the 
importation  and  exhibition  of  foreign 
films  in  France  for  the  year  from  July 
1,  next,  was  published  today  in  the 
Journal  Officiel. 

The  decree  follows  the  lines  of  that 
issued  last  year  for  the  year  ending 
June  30,  with  three  important  excep- 
tions. The  first  calls  for  the  issuance 
of  188  dubbing  visas  per  year,  instead 
of  94  for  each  six-month  period. 

Second,  a  maximum  of  12  extra 
dubbing  permits  may  be  granted  on 
recommendation  of  an  international 
film  commission.  Third,  as  of  Jan.  1, 
1939,  original  versions  of  dubbed  films 
must  have  had  their  first  public  pres- 
entation in  the  country  of  origin  less 
than  two  years  before  the  completely 
dubbed  film  is  deposited  at  the  French 
censor's  office  for  registration. 

American  interests  here  fear  that 
the  issuance  of  188  annual  visas,  in- 
stead of  94  half-year,  may  result  in 
the  filling  of  the  complete  year's  quota 
at  once,  which  would  oblige  American 
companies  to  wait  a  year  for  new 
dubbing  permits. 

As  last  year,  the  decree  includes  a 
provision  allowing  a  Government  com- 
mission to  make  an  allotment  of  dub- 
bing visas  between  importing  coun- 
tries, a  situation  which  American  in- 
terests always  have  opposed,  except  if 
they  are  granted  at  least  170  visas  per 
year. 

The  decree  virtually  extends  for  an- 
other year  the  regulations  in  force 
since  1932. 

Nine  Metropolitan 
Area  Houses  Close 

Nine  additional  Summer  closings 
have  been  made  in  the  metropolitan 
area.  The  New  14th  Street  and  the 
Washington,  (Harry  Harris)  ;  the 
Boro,  Bronx,  (H.  Savage)  :  Burke, 
Bronx,  (John  Bolte)  ;  Dale,  Bronx, 
(Cocalis  Circuit)  ;  Juliet,  Arlington, 
and  Park,  Newburgh,  (both  Netco 
Circuit)  ;  Radio,  Brooklyn,  (S.  Ste- 
phens) ;  Rex,  East  Rutherford, 
(Maurice  Stahl)  ;  and  Hastings,  Has- 
tings-on-Hudson,  have  been  closed. 

Malo  &  Kutchen  have  reopened  the 
Broadway  and  the  Rialto  in  Monti- 
cello  for  the  Summer.  The  Model, 
Brooklyn,  (Abe  Levy)  has  been  re- 
opened after  having  been  shut  down 
for  alterations.  The  Penn  Newsreel, 
Manhattan,  (Joseph  Steiner),  is  being 
demolished. 


Employment  Agency 

Birmingham,  Ala.,  June  21. 
— Russell  Morgan,  manager 
of  the  Alabama  here,  was  a 
one-man  employment  agency 
one  day  recently,  when  he 
used  unemployed  stenogra- 
phers in  the  lobby  to  record 
patron  reactions  to  the  film. 

The  result  was  that  four  of 
the  girls  got  jobs  and  many 
others  have  lined  up  pros- 
pective positions. 


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MONOGRAM 

Wolf  Call 

Movita 
Down  the 
Wyoming 

Trail 
Tex  Ritter 
(May  19) 

Across  the 
Plains 

Jack  Randall 
(June  2) 

Should  a 
Girl  Marry? 

Anne  Nagel 
Warren  Hull 
(June  9) 

Stunt  Pilot 
John  Trent 
Roll,  Wagon, 
Roll  (O) 
(June  30) 

The  Man  from 
Texas  (O) 

Tex  Ritter 
(July  21) 

G.  N. 

Six-Gun 
Rhythm  (O) 

Tex  Fletcher 
(May  12) 

Panama  Patrol 

Leon  Ames 
Ch.  Wynters 
(May  19) 

Exile  Express 

Anna  Sten 
Alan  Marshal 
(May  26) 

Singing 
Cowgirl  (O) 

Dorothy  Page 
(June  2) 

WARNERS 

Sweepstakes 
Winner 

Marie  Wilson 
Allen  Jenkins 
John  Davis 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Davis 
Paul  Muni 
Brian  Aherne 
(G)  (D) 

Nancy  Drew 
Trouble  Shooter 

Bonita  Granville 
Frank  Thomas,  Jr. 
(G)  (D) 

The  Kid 
from  Kokomo 

O'Brien 
Wayne  Morris 
(G)  (C) 

Naughty 
But  Nice 

Dick  Powell 

Waterfront 

Gloria  Dickson 
Hell's  Kitchen 

a  I 

•C  w>  »  6  1 
bum  05  I 
n         ~  1 
5  S  5  b 

UNIVERSAL 

Ex  Champ 

McLaglen 
Tom  Broivn 
(G)  (D) 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

Inside 
Information 

June  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Rathbone 
Fairbanks,  Jr. 
(G)  (D) 

1 

House  of  Fear 

Wm.  Gargan 
Irene  Hervey 

Unexpected 
Father 

Baby  Sandy 
Forgotten 
Woman 

Sigrid  Gurie 

I  Stole  a 
Million 

George  Raft 
Claire  Trevor 

< 

Captain  Fury 

Aherne 
McLaglen 

20TH-FOX 

Boy  Friend 

Jane  Withers 
Arleen  Whelan 
Richard  Bond 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 
(G)  (D) 

Charlie  Chan 
in  Reno 

Sidney  Toler 
Ricardo  Cortez 
Phyllis  Brooks 

Susannah 

of  the 
Mounties 

Shirley  Temple 
Scott 

It  Could 
Happen  to  You 

Gloria  Stuart 
Stuart  Erwin 
(G)  (D) 

Mr.  Moto 
Takes  a 
Vacation 

Peter  Lorre 
Schildkraut 

Second  Fiddle 

Henie 
Power 
Vallee 

News  Is  Made 
at  Night 

Preston  Foster 

RKO  RADIO 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range 
(O) 

O'Brien 

The  Girl 
From  Mexico 

Lupe  Velez 
Donald  Woods 
(G)  (C) 

Saint  in 
London 

George  Sanders 
Sally  Gray 

The  Girl  and 
the  Gambler 

Steffi  Duna 
Carrillo 

Five  Came 
Back 

Chester  Morris 
Lucille  Ball 
(G)  (D) 

Timber 
Stampede 

Geo.  O'Brien 

Career 

Anne  Shirley 
Edward  Ellis 

Of  Human 
Bondage 
The  Lost 
Squadron 
(reissues) 

Way  Down 
South 

Bobby  Breen 

REPUBLIC 

Southward  Ho 

Roy  Rogers 

The  Zero  Hour 

Inescort 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

S.O.S. 
Tidal  Wave 

Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

Mountain 
Rhythm 
(O) 

Gene  Autry 

In  Old 
Caliente 

Roy  Rogers 
Mary  Hart 

Wyoming 
Outlaw  (O) 

John  Wayne 

Mickey, 
the  Kid 

Bruce  Cabot 

She  Married 
a  Cop 

Phil  Regan 
Jean  Parker 

1 

PARA. 

Some  Like  It 
Hot  (G)  (C) 

Shirley  Ross 
Bob  Hope 
Gene  Krupa 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 

Bergner 

Gracie  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
Janice  Logan 

Invitation  to 
Happiness 

Dunne 
MacMurray 
(G)  (D) 

Grand  Jury 

Secrets 
Heritage  of 
the  Desert 
(O) 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Bride 

John  Howard 
Heather  Angel 

Man  About 
Town 

Jack  Benny 
Dorothy  Lamour 
(G)  (C) 

Million 
Dollar  Legs 

Betty  Grable 
Jackie  Coogan 

... 

Magnificent 
Fraud 

Akiiii  Tamiroff 

M-G-M 

It's  a  Wonderful 
World  (G)  (C) 

Colbert 
Stewart 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 
Annabella 

W.  Connolly 
(G)  (C) 

6000  Enemies 

Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 
(G)  (D) 

Tarzan  Finds 
a  Son 

W  eissnmller 
O'Sullivan 

Maisie 

Ann  Sot  hern 
Robert  Young 

Stronger 
than  Desire 

Virginia  Bruce 
Walter  Pidgeon 

On  Borrowed 
Time 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Hardwicke 

They  All 
Come  Out 

Rita  Johnson 

12  c  - 

cs'C  1-  5 

M  &  \ 

COLUMBIA 

Missing 
Daughters 
Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Lost  Horizon 
(reissue) 
Trapped  in 
the  Sky 

Awful  Truth 
(reissue) 
Western 

Caravans  (O) 

Clouds  Over 
Europe 

Olivier 
Valerie  Hobson 

Parents  on 

Trial 
Good  Girls 
Go  to  Paris 

A  Woman  Is 
the  Judge 

Rochelle 
Hudson 

$  III 

sir. 

C  ON 

i 

i  «h 

CJ 

5  ° 

4  rt 

r- 

S  N 

SOUND 
TROUBLE- 
SHOOTING 
CHARTS 

We  have  arranged  a  special  printing  of  the 
invaluable  sound  trouble-shooting  charts  which 
supplement  the  second  revision  of  the  sixth 
edition  of  F.  H.  Richardson's  Bluebook  of 
Projection.  There  are  nineteen  practical,  de- 
tailed charts  that  provide  a  simplified  guide  to 
quick  trouble-shooting,  enabling  the  projec- 
tionist to  spot  and  repair  sudden  break-downs 
both  in  the  projection  and  sound  apparatus. 
These  are  available  now  in  handy  brochure 
form  at  minimum  cost.  The  supply  is  lim- 
ited so  be  sure  to  order  your  copy  now. 


Price 

ONE  DOLLAR 


OP 


QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 


ROCKEFELLER  CENTER 


NEW  YORK 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  22,  19 


Banner  Lines 

 By  JACK  BANNER  

FIGHT  SOLD  .  .  .  Having  valiantly  tried  to  sell  the  broadcast  rights  in 
the  Joe  Louis-Tony  Galento  prize  fight  to  practically  every  firm  that  has 
ever  been  in  radio,  NBC  finally  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  client  for  the 
brawl  in  the  Schick  Repeating  Razor  Co.,  a  firm  that  has  never  before  tried 
its  hand  in  paying  an  air  bill.    Credit  for  the  sale  goes  to  Fred  Thrower,  of 
the  network's  sales  department. 

Financial  setup  of  the  sale  is  still  under  discussion.  Several  alternate  plans 
for  payment  of  air  time  have  been  offered  to  Schick,  but  just  what  the  plans 
consist  of  is  very  much  a  secret. 

Buick  Motor  Co.,  which  sponsored  the  past  several  Joe  Louis  fights,  bought 
its  time  in  15-minute  blocks.  But  the  Brown  Bomber  in  his  last  two  efforts 
polished  off  his  opponents  in  a  matter  of  about  one  minute  each,  which  found 
Buick  in  the  highly  uncomfortable  predicament  of  paying  for  15-minutes,  and 
obtaining  service  and  value  of  only  one  minute. 

Schick  doesn't  want  that  to  happen  to  it,  and  apparently  neither  does  NBC, 
for  several  alternate  methods,  all  affording  some  measure  of  protection  to  the 
sponsor,  are  under  consideration.  But  as  we  say,  we  do  not  know  what  those 
measures  are. 

T 

HAYS  BY  TELEPHONE  .  .  .  Will  Hays  has  been  invited  by  the  National 
Association  of  Broadcasters  to  speak  before  its  members  at  the  Atlantic  City 
convention,  July  10  to  13.  Hays  has  accepted  the  offer,  but  he  will  be  heard 
by  remote  control,  according  to  a  plan  now  being  devised.  Because  he  will 
be  on  the  West  Coast  while  the  NAB  convention  is  in  session,  the  leader  of 
the  motion  picture  industry  will  speak  by  radio  from  Hollywood. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  Guy  Richards,  magazine  space  buyer  and  account  execu- 
tive at  the  Compton  agency,  off  this  week-end  for  a  four  weeks  vacation.  .  .  . 
Cal  Swanson,  account  executive  at  J.  Walter  Thompson,  is  out  of  town  on 
business.  .  .  .  Phil  Baker  has  signed  Norman  Panama  and  Mel  Frank,  former 
writers  for  Bob  Hope,  to  write  material  for  his  series.  .  .  .  Written  and  di- 
rected by  Emerson  Yorke,  the  film,  "In  the  Hills  of  Old  New  Hampshire," 
was  televised  by  NBC  yesterday  from  the  World's  Fair.  .  .  .  Jack  Frazer, 
NBC  announcer,  yesterday  became  father  of  a  baby  boy.  His  wife  is  the 
former  Betty  Glenn,  once  a  radio  writer. 

T 

WEAF,  VVJZ  BILLINGS  RISE  .  .  .  May  billings  on  WEAF  and  WJZ, 
NBC  key  stations  here,  were  67  per  cent  ahead  of  May  last  year,  with  the 
cumulative  total  for  the  first  five  months  of  this  year  20  per  cent  ahead  of 
the  comparable  period  for  1938. 

▼ 

WAUKEGAN  RESERVATION  .  .  .  Paramount  has  taken  over  the  entire 
premises  of  the  Waukegan  Hotel  for  the  preview  of  the  Jack  Benny  picture, 
and  Benny  radio  broadcast,  Sunday,  from  that  Illinois  home  town  of  the 
comedian.    The  hotel  is  a  tremendous  structure  of  20  rooms. 

T 

RKO  STAYS  ON  AIR  .  .  .  Confirming  an  earlier  item  here,  Wrigley  Co. 
yesterday  announced  the  picking  up  of  the  option  of  the  RKO  "Gateway  to 
Hollywood"  series,  which  is  piloted  by  Jesse  Lasky.  The  final  show  this 
season  is  set  for  July  2,  but  it  will  return  to  the  air  Oct.  8  for  another  26- 
weeks'  spin. 

T 

TRANSRADTO  SETS  NEW  STATIONS  .  .  .  Transradio  will  service 
WOKO  and  WABY,  Albany,  on  expiration  of  the  United  Press  contract 
with  those  stations,  early  in  the  Fall. 

T 

PRESS  WOMEN  SET  AIR  SPEAKERS  .  _  .  .  National  Federation  of 
Press  Women,  who  on  Monday  will  tender  radio  awards  at  a  luncheon  at  the 
Waldorf,  will  be  addressed  by  Lenox  Lohr,  William  S.  Paley  and  Alfred  J 
McCosker,  presidents  respectively  of  NBC.  CBS  and  WOR,  and  by  Major 
Gladstone  Murray,  chief  executive  of  the  Canadian  Broadcasting  Corp., 
Grover  Whalen  and  John  S.  Young.  The  three  networks  will  broadcast 
the  addresses. 


Short 

Subject 

Reviews 

"Haunted  House" 

( Warners) 

One  of  Floyd  Gibbons'  "Your  True 
Adventure"  series,  this  subject  drama- 
tizes the  frightening  adventure  of  two 
young  girls,  seeking  shelter  from  the 
rain  in  a  "haunted"  house,  who  are 
trussed  up  and  abandoned  by  an  es- 
caped convict.  They  spend  a  terrible 
night,  and  are  rescued  in  the  morning 
by  state  police  hunting  the  convict. 
It  makes  for  a  telling  piece  of  drama. 
Running  time,  12  mins. 


"Death  Valley  Thrills" 

{Paramount) 

This  Grantland  Rice  "Sportlight"  is 
one  of  the  funniest  reels  produced  in 
this  series  in  a  long  time.  Two 
brothers  and  a  dog,  go  traveling 
through  Death  Valley  in  a  rebuilt  sec- 
ond hand  automobile.  They  ski  and 
"aquaplane"  on  the  sands  and  the  auto- 
mobile goes  up  and  down  hills  like  a 
goat.  This  one  should  bring  down  the 
house.  Running  time,  10  mins. 


Take  Phil  Cook  Show 

Posto-Photo  will  sponsor  Phil 
Cook's  "Morning  Almanac"  on 
WABC  three  mornings  a  week,  start- 
ing at  once.  The  schedule  is  for  Mon- 
days, Wednesdays  and  Fridays.  Red- 
field-Johnstone  is  the  agency. 


Quits  Oklahoma  Net 

Ardmore,  Okla.,  June  21— KVSO 
here  has  withdrawn  from  the  Okla- 
homa Network,  according  to  James 
Griffith,  station  manager.  All  accounts 
have  been  retained  by  the  station  un- 
der the  change. 


Mexico  Notes 


Mexico  City,  June  21.- — Another 
program  for  advancing  picture  produc- 
tion in  Mexico  is  being  formulated  by 
the  national  studio  workers'  union.  It 
plans  a  cooperative  society  to  produce 
at  least  two  pictures  a  month.  The 
union  looks  to  the  Government's  Na- 
tional Workers  and  Industrial  Bank 
for  financing.  The  society  is  to  in- 
clude players  and  technicians. 


Scrupulous  examination  of  all  local 
film  houses  to  ascertain  whether  or 
not  they  are  observing  safety  and 
fire  regulations  is  being  conducted  by 
the  municipal  government  as  a  result 
of  the  blaze  in  a  theatre  at  Zacatepec, 
a  sugar  central  near  here,  that  cost 
50  lives. 


All  indications  are  that  "Upa  y 
Apa,"  the  Mexican  Government-spon- 
sored stage  revue  which  was  intended 
to  depict  the  true  Mexico  and  which 
failed  in  New  York  under  the  name, 
"Mexicana,"  will  be  a  total  loss  for 
the  Mexican  administration.  Efforts 
to  sell  the  plot  of  the  revue  to  film 
producers  have  failed. 

It  is  said  that  this  theatrical-pic- 
ture venture  lost  the  Mexican  Gov- 
<  rnment  $40,000  of  badly  needed 
money. 


Court  Weighs  Suit 
On  Mae  West  Skit 

Los  Angeles,  June  21. — U.  S.  Dis- 
trict Court  Judge  Harry  A.  Hollzer 
today  took  under  advisement  and  re- 
served judgment  in  the  suit  of  Joan 
Storm  against  NBC,  Mae  West  and 
others  for  using  allegedly  plagiarized 
material  on  the  "Adam  and  Eve" 
broadcast  on  the  Chase  and  Sanborn 
program  which  caused  such  a  stir  in 
December.  1937.  NBC  officials  testi- 
fied that  Mae  West,  who  did  not  ap- 
pear in  court,  received  $4,000  for  ap- 
pearing on  the  program  and  that  NBC 
profit  from  sale  of  the  time  consumed 
by  the  skit  was  $122.50. 


WNEW  Extends  News 

Revision  of  schedules  extending 
news  programs  by  more  than  50  per 
cent,  has  been  started  at  WNEW.  On 
the  old  schedule  WNEW  broadcast 
a  total  of  six  hours,  15  minutes  of 
news  a  week.  The  schedule  now  calls 
for  a  total  of  nine  hor—  35  minutes 
weekly. 


CBC  Sets  Dance  Series 

Montreal,  June  21.  —  Canadian 
Broadcasting  Corp.  and  NBC  are  co- 
operating on  a  dance  broadcast  series 
to  start  the  first  week  in  July,  com- 
ing from  Murray  Bay,  St.  Lawrence 
River  resort,  and  featuring  Luigi 
Romanelli's  orchestra. 


Summer  Lul 
At  Box  Office 
Over — Cowdir 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  board  chai  j 
man  of  Universal,  said  yesterday  t,| 
fore  boarding  the  Queen  Mary  for  I 
European  visit  described  as  "routjfc  n 
that  the  early  Summer  lull  in  a\\^'.  . 
ance  throughout  the  United  Stat 
seems  to  have  lifted. 

"With  the  public  showing  more  di  | 
crimination  than  ever  before,  t  j 
quality  of  pictures  is  as  important  | 
profits  as  general  business  conditions  | 
he  said. 

"With  the  new  crop  of  pictures  f  I 
1939-'40  designed  to  meet  this  diJ 
crimination,  boxoffice  receipts  shou 
reflect  improvement  in  the  near  f  ij 
ture." 

He  reported  that  Universale  bu:  j 
ness  is  continuing  to  hold  at  kv< 
well  above  a  year  ago. 

Telecasts  of  Sports 
To  Start  Saturda 

Starting  Saturday,  NBC  will  ma  I 
a  series  of  telecasts  from  Manhatt;! 
Beach  as  a  means  of  experimentii  • 
with  various  forms  of  sports  prl 
grams. 

The  first  broadcast  will  be  of  t  j 
Women's  Swimming  Associatioi  I 
championship  meet,  from  4  to  5  P.  It  ■ 
Saturday. 

NBC  plans  to  televise  a  lacros!i 
game,  said  to  be  the  first  ever  p  j- 
on  the  air,  as  well  as  Softball,  han  1 
ball,  tennis,  boxing,  ping  pong  aijl 
other  sports. 

Province  Telecasts 
Sought  for  Britai 

London,  June  21. — A  joint  deput 
tion  of  all  English  radio  manufactu 
ers  and  retailers,  meeting  with  til 
Postmaster  General,  today  stressed  tl 
need  for  provincial  and  Scotch  tel  ;t 
vision  service. 

They  suggested  a  separate  televisii 
license  of  10  shillings  annually,  decla-  > 
ing  the  public  would  be  willing  to  p;fl 
it.   The  Government  official  promisi  I 
consideration  of  the  suggestions.  n 

Britain  Abandons 
New  Film  Taxe 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

should  be  dropped. 

"The  result  would  be  that  the: 
should  be  no  excise  duty  on  cinema 
ograph  films.  The  proposals  for  cu  i 
toms  duty  would  need  corresponds 
adjustment  and  there  might  be  mine 
changes,  but  of  course  these  would  aj 
pear  later." 


RCA  Closes  U.  S.  Deal 

RCA  Mfg.  Co.  has  been  awarded 
$1 5.000  contract  by  the  War  Depar 
ment  for  motion  picture  recordir 
equipment.  The  Navy  Departmei 
has  awarded  the  company  a  contra< 
for  sound  reproducing  equipmen 
totaling  $12,328. 


Woodyard  Heads  WSMi 

Dayton,  O.,  June  21. — Ronald  I 
Woodyard,  former  manager  < 
WLAR,  Zanesville,  O.,  has  been  ai 
pointed  general  manager  of  WSM] 
here. 


r  iuu  v^v/ 1  i 


tion 


"icture 
ndustry 


MOTION  VlCfVW. 

DAILY 


_ 

First  in 

dio\N  ^ 


- 


)L.  45.  NO.  120 


NEW  YORK,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  23,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


^•oadcasting 
Licenses  Now 
For  12  Months 


€C  Doubles  Half  Year 
Permit  Period 


a\  ashingtox,  June  22. — Broadcast- 
;  >tation  licenses  hereafter  issued  by 

f   Federal    Communications  Com- 

fesion  will  be  for  a  one  year  term, 
tead  of  six  months  as  at  present, 

drr  action  taken  today  by  the  Com- 

(ssion. 

By  unanimous  vote,  the  Commission 
feed  to  extend. the  license  period, 
J  recommended  by  its  committee  on 
i.ndards  of  good  engineering  prac- 
e.     The  longer  term  will  be  put 
o  effect  as  outstanding  licenses  ex- 
e  and  are  renewed. 
It  was  said  at  the  Commission  that 
!  doubling  of  the  license  term,  un- 
rtaken    under    provisions    of  the 
fnimunications  act  giving  it  author- 
to  fix  any  period   up  to  three 
ars,  may  be  the  forerunner,  if  suc- 
jpsiul,  of  a  still  longer  period,  but 
it  further  extension  would  probably 
;t  be  undertaken  until  after  consid- 
bble  experience  with  the  new  sys- 


Picture  Pioneers 
Meet  on  June  29 

First  dinner  of  the  execu- 
tive committee  of  Picture 
Pioneers,  newly-formed  or- 
ganization of  men  who  have 
been  associated  with  the  in- 
dustry for  25  years  or  more, 
will  be  held  June  29  in  the 
Barberry  Room,  19  E.  52d  St. 
Jack  Cohn,  Columbia  vice- 
president,  who  founded  the 
veterans'  organization,  an- 
nounced yesterday. 

Idea  of  the  Pioneers'  club 
has  proved  so  popular  in  sec- 
tions outside  New  York  that 
the  parent  organization  is 
considering  issuing  special 
charters  to  other  units  else- 
where. 


FA  Wages  Battle 
For  Control  of  4A 

Present  controversy  between  the 
norican  Federation  of  Actors  and 
;s<>ciated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
nerica,  parent  body  of  actors' 
lions,  has  resulted  in  a  struggle  for 
mtrol  of  the  A.A.A.A. 
Control  of  the  parent  body  depends 
per  capita  payments  for  members 
good  standing,  with  one  vote  for 
zh  300  members. 

Ralph  Whitehead,  A.F.A.  executive 
rretary,  has  declared  that  A.F.A. 
w  has  a  paid  up  membership  of 
550  which  would  entitle  it  to  29 
rtes  instead  of  the  present  22.  White- 
Jad  also  declared  that  the  Screen 
[,:tors'  Guild,  by  far  the  largest  union 
I  to  the  present  with  34  votes,  is  not 
titled  to  this  number  because  it  has 
I  en  reducing  its  membership  to  elimi- 
I  'te  overcrowding  the  extra  field. 
Strength  of  other  unions  at  pres- 
t  follows :  American  Federation  of 
adio    Artists,    12    votes ;  Actors 
juity.  11;  American  Guild  of  Musical 
rtists,  3 ;  Chorus  Equity,  3  ;  Hebrew 
dors,  2 ;  Italian  Actors,  2 ;  Hun- 
rian  Actors.  1  ;  Burlesque  Artists,  1, 
d  Hebrew  Chorus,  1. 
A    move    to    reduce    the  voting 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


^Negotiations  Begin 
Upon  Ticket  Code 

Negotiations  for  a  ticket  brokers' 
code  for  next  season  were  opened 
yesterday  by  the  League  of  New  York 
Theatres  at  a  meeting  between  legiti- 
mate stage  managers,  theatre  owners 
and  brokers. 

James  Reilly,  executive  secretary, 
presented  the  terms  which  will  be  less 
costly  to  brokers  provided  some  ar- 
rears are  paid. 

Because  of  the  litigation  brought  by 
Acme  Ticket  Agency  to  void  the  code, 
many  brokers  who  signed  the  code 
refrained  from  making  the  payments 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


TRUST  SUIT  FACED 
BY  SCHINE  CIRCUIT 


More  Than  50  Monopoly 
Charges  By  Exhibitors 
in  Federal  Courts 


Upwards  of  50  anti-trust  suits  by 
exhibitors  against  major  distributors 
and  competitive  circuits  are  pending 
in  federal  district  courts. 

The  Government's  anti-trust  action 
brought  in  New  York  a  year  ago  has 
greatly  encouraged  independent  ex- 
hibitors to  file  conspiracy  suits  against 
the  principal  companies.  More  than 
30  such  actions  have  been  filed  in  the 
last  year. 

Generally,  the  complainants  claim 
"freezeouts,"  with  inability  to  obtain 
product  and  clearance  as  the  chief 
causes  of  action. 

Industry  executives  point  to  the 
sharp  increase  in  litigation  as  a  prime 
reason  for  the  setting  up  of  arbitra- 
tion boards  as  tribunals  where  exhibi- 
tors may  seek  adjudication  of  com- 
plaints. 

The  Department  of  Justice,  which 
is  receiving  complaints  constantly,  has 
forwarded  many  of  them  to  the  dis- 
tributors for  additional  information 
and  to  get  the  companies'  side  of  the 
controversies. 

This  has  been  the  tipoff  to  the  com- 
panies to  attempt  to  settle  the  dis- 
putes where  possible.  One  major  com- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Short  Wave  Broadcasts 

By  Studios  Start  in  July 


Series  of  short-wave  broadcasts 
planned  by  the  major  film  companies 
over  CBS  and  NBC  to  Europe  and 
Latin  America  is  expected  to  start  in 
July. 

It  will  be  institutional  and  all- 
industry  in  character,  the  purpose  be- 
ing to  foster  goodwill,  understanding 
and  support  for  American  films.  It 
is  not  intended  to  promote  individual 
companies,  their  pictures   or  stars. 

The  working  committee  headed  by 
Charles  E.  McCarthy,  20th  Century- 
Fox  advertising  and  publicity  direc- 
tor, is  formulating  methods,  including 
news  sources,  subjects  to  be  covered, 
how  to  channel  the  material  to  the 
networks  and  so  on. 

CBS  and  NBC  reserve  the  right  to 
approve  the  scripts.  The  broadcasts 
will  be  in  six  languages,  English, 
French,  Italian,  German,  Spanish  and 
Portuguese. 

The    broadcasts,    emanating  from 


New  York,  will  be  15  minutes  each 
and  of  the  column-of-the-air  type.  In- 
cluded will  be  fan  and  trade  informa- 
tion, news  of  new  films,  Hollywood 
anecdotes,  humor  and  the  like.  The 
scripts  will  be  factual.  There  will 
be  no  direct  commercial  plugs. 

The  broadcast  will  be  at  a  specified 
time  each  week,  gauged  to  the  best 
hours  for  foreign  reception. 

Definite  policies  and  a  program  for- 
mula may  not  be  established  until 
after  reaction  is  obtained  to  the  first 
few  broadcasts.  A  Hollywood  clear- 
ing house  for  script  material  probably 
will  be  set  up.  Players  and  directors 
may  be  put  on  the  air  while  visiting 
New  York. 

Program  plans  will  be  discussed 
further  at  a  meeting  of  foreign  pub- 
licity representatives  of  all  distribu- 
tion companies  with  the  McCarthy 
committee  at  M.  P.  P.  D.  A.  head- 
quarters today. 


U.  S-  Will  Launch  Action 
Within  Three  Weeks; 
Florida  Suit  Seen 


Government  anti-trust  suit  may  be 
filed  against  the  Schine  circuit  of 
Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  within  the  next 
three  weeks,  the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice disclosed  yesterday. 

A  suit  will  also  be  instituted  shortly 
against  a  large  independent  circuit  in 
Florida,  Department  officials  said. 

The  Schine  complaint,  being  pre- 
pared in  Washington,  will  probably 
be  filed  in  the  Federal  District  Court 
at  Buffalo.  The  Department  of  Jus- 
tice has  received  numerous  complaints 
from  independent  exhibitors  upstate. 

Government  suits  pending  are  the 
one  in  New  York  and  a  second  against 
the  Griffith  circuit  and  major  distribu- 
tors in  Oklahoma  City. 

A  Department  of  Justice  official  in- 
dicated that  the  Government  is  anxious 
to  show  that  it  is  not  discriminating 
against  the  major  company  defendants 
in  the  New  York  suit  and  that  it  will 
bring  action  against  independent  cir- 
cuits which  the  Government  feels  are 
violating  the  anti-trust  laws. 

Counsel  for  the  majors  said  yester- 
day that  answers  will  be  filed  in 
the  Government's  suit  against  the 
eight  principal  companies  either  Tues- 
day or  Wednesday  of  next  week. 

The  answers  will  cover  all  impor- 
tant defendants  except  Columbia  and 
United  Artists.  Negotiations  are  in 
progress  to  facilitate  substitutions  of 
new  defendants  who  recently  became 
associated  with  RKO. 


Rye  Golfing  Honors 
To  MGM  Foursome 

Rye,  N.  Y.,  June  22. — Under  sunny 
skies,  the  27th  Film  Daily  Golf  Tour- 
nament was  acclaimed  the  "greatest 
ever"  by  film  executives  and  rank-and- 
filers  who  mingled  on  the  fairways  and 
tennis  courts  at  the  Rye  Country  Club. 

M-G-M's  foursome,  composed  of 
William  Orr,  John  Murphy,  Sidney 
Bromberg  and  Tom  Gerety,  won  the 
Albee  Memorial  Cup  as  the  winning 
team  in  match  play.  E.  A.  Williford 
turned  in  the  lowest  net  score,  Leonard 
Palumbo.  the  lowest  gross. 

Among  the  exhibitors,  Moe  Seider 
had  lowest  net  and  Edward  L.  Hy- 
man,  lowest  gross.  Murray  Schoen 
won  the  putting  contest  and  Irving 
Raskin  the  driving  test.  John  F. 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday.  June  23.  19.' 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


All  Executives 
Of  Paramount 
Retain  Posts 


All  officers  of  Paramount  Pictures, 
Inc..  were  reelected  for  another  year 
at  the  initial  meeting  of  the  newly 
elected  board  of  directors  yesterday. 

Officers  are  :  Barney  Balaban,-  pres- 
ident ;  Adolph  Zukor,  chairman  of  the 
board ;  Stanton  Griffis,  chairman  of 
the  executive  committee ;  Y.  Frank 
Freeman,  Austin  C.  Keough,  Neil  F. 
Agnew,  John  W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  and 
George  L.  Bagnall,  vice-presidents ; 
Walter  B.  Cokell,  treasurer;  George 
Bagnall,  assistant  treasurer ;  Fred 
M ohrhardt,  comptroller  ;  Austin 
Keough,  secretary ;  Norman  Collyer, 
Jacob  'H.  Karp  and  Frank  Meyer,  as- 
sistant secretaries.  . 

All  members  of  the  executive  com- 
mittee were  also  reelected. 

Marcus  Is  Republic 
Manager  in  Buffalo 

James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  presi- 
dent, has  appointed  Nat  Marcus  as 
Buffalo  branch  manager,  in  addition 
to  Arthur  J.  Newman  as  Albany  man- 
ager. The  company  recently  took 
back  Jack  Berkowitz's  franchise  for 
these  offices  and  Detroit. 

Marcus  was  Republic  salesman  in 
Buffalo.  He  succeeds  Berkowitz  and 
Newman  replaces  Bernie  Mills,  re- 
signed. 

Police  Protection 
Bill  Passed  in  Conn. 

Hartford,  Conn.,  June  22. — Ex- 
hibitors have  just  learned  of  a  little- 
publicized  bill,  which  passed  both 
houses  in  the  last  days  of  the  legis- 
lative session  and  awaits  the  Gover- 
nor's signature,  which  gives  the  chief 
of  police  the  right  to  determine  how 
much  police  protection  is  necessary  for 
any  public  amusement,  to  furnish  such 
protection  and  charge  it  to  the  operator. 

Negotiations  Begin 
U pon  Ticket  Code 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
required  under  it.     These  payments 
are  based  on  the  number  of  tickets 
sold. 

Under  the  proposal  by  Reilly,  if  all 
arrears  due  up  to  March  31,  are  paid 
before  July  15  no  further  payments 
will  be  required  until  the  beginning 
of  next  season.  In  addition,  the  per 
ticket  payment  will  be  reduced.  The 
brokers  must  agree  to  bring  no  addi- 
tional law  suits. 


ATLANTIC  BEACH  HOTEL 

and  Bath  Club  •  LONG  ISLAND 

Former  Home  of  ATLANTIC  BEACH  CLUB 


Complete  Hotel  Facilities 
BEACH  CLUB 

Cabanas  and  Bath  Cabins 


NON-MEMBERS  MAY  INQUIRE 

Phone: 

BArday  7-0535  —  Cedorhurst  7700 


CG.  DICKINSON,  Paramount 
•  general  sales  manager  in  Eng- 
land, and  Tony  Reddin,  publicity  di- 
rector for  England,  who  came  here 
for  the  company's  annual  sales  con- 
vention, sail  for  London  on  the  Aqui- 
tania  next  Wednesday. 

• 

William  Rodgers,  William  F. 
Scully,  Leo  Friedman,  John  Hicks, 
Jr.,  Sam  Harris,  Max  Gordon,  Wil- 
liam Morris,  Jr.,  at  Nick's  Hunting 
Room  in  the  Astor  for  lunch  yester- 
day. 

• 

Joseph  B.  Kleckner,  former  presi- 
dent of  Motiograph,  Inc.,  has  been 
named  to  the  executive  staff  of  the 
Jam  Handy  organization,  Detroit.  The 
company  has  moved  to  larger  quarters. 
• 

Mrs.  Harry  Buxbaum,  wife  of  the 
manager  of  the  20th  Century-Fox 
New  York  exchange,  returned  to  her 
home  yesterday  after  an  operation  at 
the  Women's  Hospital. 

• 

Marjorie  Reynolds  has  been  signed 
to  a  new  five-year  contract  by  Mono- 
gram. She  will  appear  next  with 
Boris  Karloff  in  "Mr.  Wong  at 
Headquarters." 

• 

Dave    Oppenheim,    son    of  Sam 
Oppenheim  of  RKO,  has  returned  to 
New  York  after  receiving  a  B.A.  de- 
gree from  the  University  of  Wisconsin. 
• 

E.    F.   Lomba,   20th  Century-Fox 
special  home  office  representative,  is 
attending  the  company's  Central  and 
Caribbean  convention  in  Trinidad. 
• 

E.  J.  London,  former  Boston  ex- 
hibitor now  operating  the  Costello, 
Bronx,  and  Annette  Schwartz  will  be 
married  in  about  six  weeks. 

• 

Ed  Schnitzer,  Eastern  district 
manager  for  Warners,  left  last  night 
for  a  brief  visit  at  the  Boston  and 
Buffalo  branches. 

• 

Charles  Gilmour,  president  of 
Gibraltar  Enterprises,  Denver,  exhibi- 
tor leader  there,  is  recovering  from  a 
hand  infection. 

• 

Arthur  M.  Frudenfeld,  division 
manager  for  RKO  Midwest  in  Cin- 
cinnati, has  left  for  a  vacation  on  the 
coast. 

• 

Donald  Woods  and  Jane  Wyatt, 
film  players,  will  head  the  cast  of  the 
Elitch  summer  theatre  in  Denver  this 
year. 

• 

Norman   McLeod,   director,   is  in 
town  for  a  few  days  with  Mrs.  Mc- 
Leod, stopping  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria. 
• 

Charles  Laughton  left  yesterday 
for   the   Coast   to   appear   in  "The 
Hunchback  of  Notre  Dame"  for  RKO. 
• 

Tracy  Barham,  Paramount  theatre 
associate  in  Ohio,  is  at  the  home  office 
for  several  days  of  conferences. 
• 

George  Stamatus,  Jr.,  son  of  the 
circuit  head,  has  been  appointed  man- 
ager of  the  Tremont,  Bronx. 

e 

Chandler  Sprague's  original  screen 
story,  "The  Search  of  Youth,"  has 
been  bought  by  M-G-M. 

• 

John  D.  Hertz,  Jr.,  has  returned 
from  Akron,  O. 


JOSEPH  M.  SCHENCK,  20th  Cen- 
«J  tury-Fox  board  chairman,  will 
confer  with  S.  R.  Kent,  president,  who 
arrives  Monday  from  South  America 
and  plans  to  leave  later  in  the  week. 
• 

T.  M.  Stevenson,  Chief  Theatre, 
Oberlin,  Kan. ;  Harry  E.  Welch, 
Glen,  Glen  Burnie,  Md. ;  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Mort  G.  Goldberg,  G.C.S.  Cir- 
cuit, Chicago,  and  Ben  Jacobson, 
Dixie,  Louisville,  visited  the  RKO 
World's  Fair  lounge  yesterday. 
• 

George  A.  Hickey,  M-G-M  district 
manager  with  headquarters  at  Los 
Angeles,  is  conferring  here  with  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  general  sales  man- 
ager, and  Ed  Saunders,  western  di- 
vision head. 

» 

Will  Fyffe,  Scotch  character  ac- 
tor, arrived  from  the  coast  yesterday 
after  finishing  work  in  Paramount's 
"Ruler  of  the  Seas"  and  will  sail  on 
the  Aquitania  on  Wednesday. 
• 

Morris  Kurtz,  New  Jersey  sales- 
man for  20th  Century-Fox,  will  cele- 
brate his  19th  wedding  anniversary 
and  the  graduation  of  his  daughter, 
Beverly,  on  June  27. 

e 

May  Robson  is  en  route  from  the 
Warner  studio  for  a  short  vacation  in 
the  east.  She  is  due  over  the  week- 
end. 

• 

Barrett  C.  Kiesling,  M-G-M  trav- 
eling publicity  representative,  has  ar- 
rived in  New  York. 

• 

Burtus  Bishop,  Pittsburgh  branch 
manager  for  M-G-M,  is  in  town, 
e 

John  D.  Hertz  is  in  town. 

Hays  Leaves  Today 
For  Wedding  of  Son 

Will  H.  Hays,  president  of  the 
M.P.P.D.A.,  and  Mrs.  Hays  leave  to- 
night for  Indianapolis  to  attend  the 
wedding  of  their  son,  Will,  Jr.,  next 
Tuesday  afternoon.  The  bride  is 
Margaret  Louise  Chapin,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Pond  Chapin 
of  Indianapolis. 

The  ceremony  will  be  performed  at 
the  Episcopal  Church  of  the  Advent. 
The  groom's  father  will  be  best  man. 
Two  of  his  cousins,  John  T.  and 
Charles  Edward  Hays,  of  Sullivan, 
Ind.,  will  be  ushers. 

Following  a  motor  trip  to  the  Coast, 
the  couple  will  reside  in  New  Haven, 
where  Will  is  a  student  at  the  Yale 
School  of  Law,  from  which  he  will 
graduate  next  year. 

Rites  Tomorrow 

For  Miles  Gibbons 

Funeral  services  for  Miles  F.  Gib- 
bons, of  Paramount  Newsreel,  who 
died  Wednesday  at  St.  Luke's  Hos- 
pital, will  be  held  tomorrow  morning 
from  the  family  home  at  409  Fowler 
Ave.,  Pelham  Manor,  N.  Y.,  and  Saint 
Catherine's  Chapel. 


Closes  Monogram  Deal 

T.  R.  Williams,  who  recently  re- 
signed as  treasurer  and  a  director  of 
Educational-Grand  National,  has  closed 
a  deal  with  Monogram  to  produce  four 
pictures.  Williams  was  associated 
with  E.  W.  Hammons  for  a  number 
of  years.  He  arrived  on  the  Coast  a 
few  days  ago.  ■ 


AFA  Battles 
To  Seize  4-A 
Rule  by  SAC 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

strength  of  the  S.A.G.  by  limiting 
union  to  one-third  the  total  is  und 
consideration  by  branches  but  no  firi 
action  has  been  taken.  Although  a 
proval  is  almost  certain,  Frank  Gi 
more,  A.A.A.A.  president,  has  stat 
that  the  amendment  is  not  like^1 
take  effect  before  the  A.F.A.  triai1'. 
July  10. 

Another  factor  in  the  situation  is  t 
vote  needed  to  sustain  charges  agair 
the  A.F.A.  It  has  been  indicated  th 
a  two-thirds  vote  will  be  required  a- 
the  present  strength  of  the  A.F.A.  \v 
be  enough  to  block  a  vote  if  it  c 
rally  the  support  of  one  of  the  small 
unions. 

A.F.A.  yesterday  demanded  a  b 
of  particulars  of  the  charges  fil 
against  it.  The  answer,  due  June  \ 
will  be  given  48  hours  after  the  c 
tails  are  obtained,  Whitehead  statec 


Allied  at  Syracuse 
Backs  Code  Defea 

Syracuse,  N.  '  Y.,  June  22. 
Syracuse  unit  of  New  York  Alii 
endorsed  action  of  the  national  orga 
ization  in  rejecting  the  code  at  t 
recent  Minneapolis  convention  yest( 
day  after  E.  Thornton  Kelley,  st? 
executive  secretary,  had  given  a  f 
convention  report. 

In  discussing  games  and  giveawa; 
Syracuse  members  announced  tl 
they  expect  to  meet  next  week 
give  the  question  further  considei 
tion.  After  it  was  reported  that  bu 
ness  in  this  section  is  off  from  40 
45  per  cent,  members  agreed  tl 
games  and  premiums  aren't  drawi 
patrons  to  their  houses. 

Next  meeting  of  the  Syracuse  u 
will  be  held  in  Binghamton  on  Ji 
21,  with  meetings  alternating  betwe 
Syracuse  and  Binghamton  montl 
thereafter. 


Acquires  Cuban  Right 

I.  E.  Lopert  of  Juno  Films,  Ir 
has  acquired  the  Cuban  distributi 
rights  to  "The  End  of  a  Day,"  Frer 
film  directed  by  Julien  Duvivier. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  ; 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Compa 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,   New  York  C  . 
Telephone    Circle    7-3100.      Cable  add! 
"Quigpubco.  New  York."    Martin  Quig 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Bro 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Vi  I 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  S  I 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertis  t 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Mn 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  I  1 
lvwood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Buildi  J 
Boone     Mancall,     manager,     William  ! 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Gol  » 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  m 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  Londc 
All   contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quif  ' 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.     Other  Quia 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Be  ' 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  J  i 
lion  Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Ent< 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  :i 
act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  ratei  ■ 
year  $6  in  the  America!  and  $12  fere  ■?! 
Single  copiei  10c. 


AN  IMPORTANT 

STATEMENT! 


Our  audiences  have  enthusi- 


I  astically  received  Columbia's 


CLOUDS  OVER  EUROPE' 

and  the  business  of  the  picture 
has  been  the  most  pleasant 


surprise  of  the  summer. 


99 


MANAGING  DIRECTOR 
RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  June  23,  193 


Theatres  Balk 
At  Wisconsin's 
Gross  Taxes 


Madison,  Wis.,  June  22.— Strenu- 
ous opposition  to  the  administration's 
proposed  tax  bill,  which  provides, 
among  other  things,  for  a  three  per 
cent  gross  income  tax  on  theatre 
admissions,  was  voiced  by  theatremen 
yesterday  before  the  joint  committee 
on  finance  here. 

If  enacted,  the  tax  would  force 
many  theatres  to  close  and  necessitate 
an  increase  in  admission  prices  at 
others,  it  was  contended. 

No  opposition  has  been  voiced  to 
amendments  to  the  Mace  bill,  which 
seeks  to  legalize  pari-mutuel  betting 
and  which  also  originally  provided  for 
an  occupational  and  seat  tax  on  cir- 
cuit theatres.  The  amendments  elim- 
inate this  provision. 

A  substitute  measure  legalizing 
horse  racing  and  pari-mutuel  betting, 
similar  in  many  respects  to  the  Mace 
bill,  has  been  introduced  in  the  assem- 
bly. 

Schneider  Acquires 
100  Columbia  Shares 

Washington,  June  22. — Acquisi- 
tion in  April  of  100  Columbia  Pic- 
tures common  voting  trust  certificates, 
bringing  his  holdings  to  204,  was  re- 
ported through  the  Securites  and  Ex- 
change Commission  today  by  Abra- 
ham Schneider,  New  York,  treasurer 
of  the  company. 

The  only  other  transaction  shown 
by  the  commission  in  its  semi-monthly 
summary  was  the  exchange  of  41,000 
Warner  Brothers  optional  debentures 
by  S.  P.  Friedman,  New  York,  officer, 
for  other  debentures. 

Kenneth  M.  Young,  New  York,  was 
reported  as  holding  1,300  shares  of 
Pathe  common  stock  when  he  became 
an  officer  and  director  April  27. 

Set  F.  P.  Canadian 
Convention  July  24 

Toronto,  June  22. — Annual  theatre 
managers'  conference  of  Famous  Play- 
ers Canadian  Corp.  is  scheduled  for 
the  General  Brock  Hotel,  Niagara 
Falls,  Ontario,  for  four  days  starting 
July  24. 

J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  vice-president  and 
managing  director,  will  preside  at  the 
general  meetings  while  the  various  dis- 
trict managers  will  be  in  charge  of 
group  and  regional  gatherings.  Presi- 
dent N.  L.  Nathanson  will  address  the 
managers  and  home  office  officials  on 
the  final  day  of  the  meeting,  July  27. 


Schine  Meeting  Aug.  2 

Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  June  22. — An- 
nual managers'  convention  of  the 
Schine  circuit  has  been  set  tentatively 
for  Aug.  2-4  here.  All  "A"  house 
managers  will  be  present,  and  several 
from  the  "B"  houses. 


Injury  Verdict  Slashed 

A  verdict  of  $25,177  rendered  to 
Philomena  De  Salva  against  Stanley- 
Mark  Strand  Corp.  for  injuries 
suffered  when  two  persons  in  the 
balcony  of  the  Strand  fell  on  her  has 
been  reduced  by  the  Appellate  Divi- 
sion to  $12,677. 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


Shift  Schine  Managers 

Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  June  22. — 
George  Cameron,  formerly  of  Schine's 
Regent,  Geneva,  N.  Y.,  goes  in  as 
manager  of  the  Geneva,  Geneva. 
Arch  Rogers,  formerly  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  Geneva,  becomes  man- 
ager of  the  Regent.  John  Tucker, 
former  manager  of  the  Geneva,  goes 
to  the  Monroe,  Rochester,  as  man- 
ager, succeeding  Paul  Ketchum,  re- 
signed. William  Le  Compte  goes  in 
at  Schine's  Hurlock,  Hurlock,  Md., 
while  Edward  Elliot  of  the  Hurlock 
is    transferred   to   the    Music  Hall, 

Easton,  Md.   

Galston  Opens  Theatre 

Hollywood,  June  22. — Albert  A. 
Galston  and  Jay  Sutton,  who  operate 
the  Marcal  in  Hollywood  and  other 
theatres,  this  week  opened  their  new 
Center  in  East  Los  Angeles. 

Milwaukee  House  to  Fox 

Milwaukee,  June  22. — Fox's  latest 
local  acquisition  is  E.  F.  Maertz's 
Zenith,  North  side  neighborhood 
house.  Maertz  is  president  of  the 
Independent  Theatre  Protective  As- 
sociation of  Wisconsin. 

Manager's  Widow  Gets  Post 

Mrs.  Mary  McCartney,  widow  of 
W.  P.  McCartney,  has  been  named 
to  succeed  her  late  husband  as  mana- 
ger of  the  Jefferson,  Punxsutawney, 
Pa.,  by  Harry  Kalmine,  Warners' 
Pittsburgh  zone  manager. 


Defense  in  IATSE 
Trial  Starts  Monday 

Los  Angeles,  June  22. — A.  Brig- 
ham  Rose,  attorney  for  Local  37,  to- 
day completed  evidence  in  the  Superior 
Court  trial  against  international  of- 
ficers of  the  I.A.T.S.E.  which  seeks 
restoration  of  autonomy  of  the  local. 

Testimony  today  consisted  of  com- 
pleting the  reading  of  a  140-page  dep- 
osition by  George  Browne,  I.A.T.S.E. 
president,  after  which  Rose  examined 
the  telephone  company  representative 
in  an  attempt  to  show  that  Harold 
V.  O.  Smith,  former  Coast  head  of 
I.A.T.S.E.,  communicated  with  Browne 
on  the  night  when  I.A.T.S.E.  repre- 
sentatives seized  the  premises  and  took 
over  affairs  of  the  local. 

Superior  Judge  Henry  Willis  re- 
cessed the  case  until  Monday  when 
I.A.T.S.E.  counsel  will  open  defense. 


Two  Ready  in  San  Antonio 

San  Antonio,  Tex.,  June  22. — Tol 
Teeters  has  leased  the  new  800-seaf 
Joy  from  J.  L.  Litz.  The  building 
cost  $25,000.  J.  L.  Greenwood  is 
manager.  The  city's  twelfth  theatre, 
the  Broadway,  is  nearing  completion 
and  will  be  opened  at  the  end  of  the 
month.  Interstate  Theatres,  Inc., 
will  operate  the  house,  with  Henry 
Bergman  as  manager,  and  Gerald 
O'Donnell  as  assistant  manager.  The 
house  will  seat  1,200.  The  El  Na- 
cional  here  has  been  closed  for  re- 
pairs.   G.  A.  Luccheuse  is  manager. 

Managing  2  Fox  Houses 

Denver,  June  22. — Roy  Notheis, 
manager  of  the  Mayan,  has  also  taken 
over  management  of  the  Webber.  Al 
Yohe,  Webber  manager,  has  resigned. 
Ralph  Lee,  Tabor  manager,  and 
Frank  Culp,  Isis  manager,  have  ex- 
changed posts.    All  are  Fox  houses. 

Milwaukee  House  Dark 

Milwaukee,  June  22. — The  Alham- 
bra,  downtown  house  which  has  op- 
erated under  a  variety  of  policies 
since  its  reopening  two  months  ago,  is 
again  dark.       ,  . 

Theatre  Changes  Name 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  June  22. — Ritz 
Theatre,  Hickman,  Ky.,  has  filed 
amended  articles  of  incorporation, 
changing  the  name  to  Roxy  Amuse- 
ment Co. 


Rialto  Closes  at  Paterson 

Rialto,  500-seat  house  in  Paterson, 
N.  J.,  has-  closed  for  the  Summer. 

Hawthorne  Closes 

Hawthorne  in  Hawthorne,  N.  J., 
operated  by  Harry  L.  Newman,  will 
close  for  the  Summer  Saturday. 

Remodels  Franklin  House 

Ace  Munson  is  remodeling  his 
Franklin  Theatre  in  Franklin,  N.  J. 


B-K  Executives  Take 
Stand  Today  at  Trial 

Chicago,  June  22. — The  govern- 
ment's suit  against  Balaban  and 
Katz  and  the  majors  formally  gets 
under  way  tomorrow.  Assistant  At- 
torney General  Robert  Wright  today 
outlined  the  government's  case.  To- 
morrow exchange  and  circuit  execu- 
tives will  start  testifying.  The  trial 
is  expected  to  continue  for  six  weeks. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Tornado  in  Minnesota;  Brazil's 
army  chief  at  Annapolis  and  a  Nor- 
wegian training  ship  in  New  York 
Bay  are  the  major  events  in  the  new 
issues.  The  reels  and  their  contents 
follow : 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  82— Naval 
cruisers  combat  storm.  Cruisers  on  good 
will  tour.  Brazilian  general  in  America. 
Tornado  in  Minnesota.  Norwegian  train- 
ing ship  in  New  York.  Plane  lands  at 
Battery.  Gehrig  retires.  Trotting  race. 
Galento   and    Louis    discuss   coming  bout. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  280— Far 
East  crisis.  Tornado  sweeps  Minnesota 
towns.  Christian  Radich  in  New  York 
Harbor.  Harvard  confetti  battle.  Pool 
for  children.  London  health  league  show. 
Gehrig  paralysis  victim.  Louis  and  Ga- 
lento predict  victory. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  92— Harvard 


class  day.  Squalus  raised  as  probe  starts. 
Tornado  tragedy  in  Minnesota.  General 
Monteiro  at  Annapolis.  Vikings  visit  New 
York.  Fire  in  Chinatown.  Paralysis 
forces  Gehrig's  retirement.  Track  meet 
in  Los  Angeles.  Louis  and  Galento  op- 
timistic as  fight  nears. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  97— U.  S. 
welcomes  chief  of  Brazil's  army.  Minne- 
sota towns  raked  by  tornado.  Calisthenics 
demonstrated.  Sub  disaster  probed.  Treas- 
ure hunt  off  Virginia  coast.  Introduce 
new  dance.  Norwegian  merchant  marine 
ship  arrives  in  New  York. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  782— 
Brazilian  general  on  tour.  Norwegian 
ship  in  New  York.  Fire  in  Philadelphia 
warehouse.  Cyclone  disaster  in  Minne- 
sota. Baby  forecast  errs.  Baby  Sandy 
gets  haircut.  Model  of  Queen  Mary. 
Children's  day  in  English  town.  Paralysis 
ends  Gehrig's  career.  Midget  auto  race. 
Skiing  on  water. 


$221,000  Rise 
In  Admissior 
Tax  Collectior 


Washington,  June  22. — Admissic 
tax   collections   in    May  reached 
total   of   $1,605,988,   an   increase  < 
$221,000  over  the  April  collections 
$1,384,722    and   $211,000   above  tl 
May,  1938,  revenue  of  $1,394,659, 
was  reported  today  by  the  Bureau  i 
Internal  Revenue.  fliw 

The  May  collections  brought  % 
total  for  the  first  five  months  of  tl 
calendar  year  to  $7,664,967,  very  cloi 
to  the  $7,722,309  received  in  the  co: 
responding  period  last  year,  it  w< 
shown. 

For  the  first  11  months  of  the  fi 
cal  year,    however,    the  receipts 
$17,979,541  showed  a  loss  of  $l,19c 
785  from  the  $19,176,326  reported  f< 
the  same  period  a  year  ago. 

The  improvement  over  April  f< 
the  country  as  a  whole  was  not  shan 
in  the  Broadway  sector,  a  report  i 
collections  for  the  Third  New  Yoi 
District  showing  that  May  receip 
were  $492,012  against  $506,685  in  tl 
previous  month.  As  compared  wii 
May,  1938,  however,  when  collectioi 
were  $415,798,  the  month  showed  ; 
improvement  of  more  than  $76,000. 

The  Broadway  report  showed  th 
box-office  collections  dropped  fro 
$442,085  in  April  to  $425,376  the  fc 
lowing  month  and  that  receipts  fro 
free  or  reduced  rate  tickets  droppi 
from  $6,811  to  $2,529.  Collections  < 
tickets  sold  by  brokers  jumped  fro 
$11,168  to  $15,578,  and  $161  was  cc 
lected  on  tickets  sold  by  proprietors 
excess  of  established  prices  ai 
$1,857  from  permanent  use  or  lease 
boxes  and  seats,  neither  of  which  r 
turned  any  revenue  in  April.  A 
missions  to  roof  gardens  and  cabare 
returned  $46,512  against  $46,622 
April. 

G.  N.  Stockholders* 
Meet  Off  to  June  2 

Meeting  of  Educational-Grand  N 
tional  stockholders  scheduled  for  ye 
terday  to  consider  a  proposal  for  ne 
financing  for  the  companies  was  pos 
poned  to  June  29  because  of  a  la> 
of  a  quorum. 

E.  W.  Hammons,  Educational  pre: 
dent ;  Franklyn  Warner,  head  of  Fi 
Arts,  and  Jack  Skirball,  producti' 
aide  to  Hammons,  continued  confe 
ences  yesterday  on  prospective  releas 
which  were  begun  with  the  arrival 
Warner  and  Skirball  from  the  coa 
earlier. 


306  Asks  Confirmation 

Proceedings  were  filed  yesterday 
N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  by  Local  3( 
to  confirm  a  decision  of  Arbitrat 
Ben  Golden,  restraining  Bell  Amu; 
ment  Corp.,  operator  of  the  Huds 
Playhouse,  New  York,  from  hirii 
any  but  Local  306  projectionists,  a 
fining  the  company  $656. 


5  Boro  Negotiations 

Negotiations  will  be  resumed  tod 
between  the  Five  Boro  Circuit  a 
Theatrical  Managers,  Agents  a 
Treasurers  Union  for  a  contract  cc 
ering  wage  and  hour  schedules  1 
managers  and  assistants. 


TRIPLE 

SUCCESS 


THREE  good  reasons  why  Eastman's 
three  new  films  enjoy  continued  success: 
The  outstanding  special  features  they 
bring  to  their  particular  jobs.  ...The  un- 
surpassed photographic  quality  they  im- 
part to  every  scene. ...  The  priceless  as- 
surance of  reliability  they  give  to  the 
whole  motion  picture  industry.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y.  (J.  E. 
Brulatour,  Inc.,  Distributors,  Fort  Lee, 
Chicago,  Hollywood.) 


EASTMAN 


PLUS-X  SUPER-XX 

for  general  studio  use  for  ail  difficult  shots 

BACKGROUND -X 

for  backgrounds  and  general  exterior  work 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  23,  19; 


Hollywood  Previews 


"Stronger  Than  Desire" 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  June  22. — This  is  a  remake  of  "Evelyn  Prentice,"  pro- 
duced by  the  same  studio  in  1934  with  William  Powell  and  Myrna  Loy 
in  the  principal  roles.  This  time  Walter  Pidgeon  and  Virginia  Bruce 
play  them.  Lee  Bowman,  Ann  Dvorak,  Ilka  Chase  and  Rita  Johnson 
are  runners-up,  with  Ann  Todd  adding  a  dash  of  interest  as  the  child 
in  the  case. 

The  case,  of  course,  is  the  same  one,  although  presented  this  time  via 
a  screenplay  by  David  Hertz  and  William  Ludwig.  Leslie  Fenton 
directed  for  associate  producer  John  W.  Considine,  Jr.,  and  the  pro- 
duction job  is  first  grade. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  story  is  about  a  lawyer  so  busy  he 
doesn't  get  home  much  and  his  idle  wife  who  finds  a  young  scoundrel's 
company  so  charming  that  she  has  to  shoot  him  to  get  back  her  letters. 
There's  a  flighty  society  girl  who  ambushes  the  attorney  in  his  Pull- 
man stateroom,  too,  but  this  detail  gets  lost  sight  of  after  the  dead  man's 
wife  is  charged  with  his  murder  and  the  lawyer's  wife  persuades  him 
to  defend  her. 

The  court  room  scene,  which  is  the  big  one  of  the  picture,  shows 
him  proving  his  wife's  melodramatic  confession  unfounded,  fixing  the 
guilt  on  the  defendant  he's  been  defending  and  then  talking  the  jury 
into  voting  her  an  acquittal,  a  forensic  display  Pidgeon  manages  handily. 

Naturally,  it  isn't  the  sort  of  material  kiddies  are  presumed  to  be  in- 
terested in. 

Running  time,  80  minutes.    "A."*  Roscoe  Williams 


"She  Married  a  Cop" 

(Republic) 

Hollywood,  June  22. — Entertainment  of  wide  appeal  is  the  essence 
of  "She  Married  a  Cop,"  a  farce  which  tells  the  story  of  a  singing 
policeman  who  marries  an  animated  cartoon  producer  and  whose  mar- 
ried life  is  made  temporarily  unhappy  when  he  discovers  that  she  had 
tricked  him  into  becoming  the  "voice"  of  a  pig  cartoon  character.  The 
picture  contains  a  novel  exploitation  angle,  and  quality  to  justify  added 
expenditure  to  tell  show  shoppers  about  it. 

Phil  Regan  and  Jean  Parker  play  the  principal  roles  and  are  sup- 
ported by  Jerome  Cowan,  Dorothea  Kent,  Benny  Baker,  Barnett  Parker, 
Horace  MacMahon,  Oscar  O'Shea,  Mary  Gordon,  Muriel  Campbell, 
Peggy  Ryan  and  Richard  Keene.  The  comedy,  action  and  love  scenes 
are  well  paced  by  Sidney  Salkow,  the  director,  who  brought  to  the 
screen  the  competent  scenario  of  Olive  Cooper. 

Producer  of  the  picture  is  Sol  C.  Siegel,  who,  with  Salkow  as  direc- 
tor, has  turned  out  several  of  the  more  popular  of  Republic's  recent  offer- 
ings. 

Regan  sings,  in  addition  to  "My  Wild  Irish  Rose,"  three  songs  by 
Ralph  Freed  and  Burton  Lane — "I  Can't  Imagine,"  "I'll  Remember," 
and  '"Here's  to  Love." 

Regan,  as  the  singing  policeman,  is  induced  to  become  a  motion  pic- 
ture "actor"  and  is  not  told  that  his  voice  will  be  used  as  the  voice  of  a 
pig  in  an  animated  cartoon.  Falling  in  love  with  the  producer,  played 
by  Miss  Parker,  on  the  day  of  the  preview,  he  leaves  her  at  the  show- 
ing because  of  the  jibes  of  his  fellow  officers.  However,  all  turns  out 
well  when  he  later  discovers  that  the  pig  character  has  become  a  hit. 

Running  time,  64  minutes.  "G."*  Vance  King 


Short 

Subject 

Reviews 

"Ave  Maria" 

(French  Film  Exchange) 

This  is  a  film  which  undertakes  to 
portray  the  architectural  grandeur  of 
the  Cathedral  of  Notre  Dame  de 
Chartres.  Many  of  the  views  are  in- 
deed breathtaking,  but  as  a  whole  the 
photography  is  below  par.  Views  of 
the  town,  the  interior  of  the  cathedral 
and  the  sculpture  on  the  exterior 
make  up  the  reel.  The  sound  accom- 
paniment is  impressive.  English  nar- 
ration.  Running  time,  10  mins. 


"Trip  to  the  Sky" 

(French  Film  Exchange) 

Here  is  a  study  in  astronomy  which 
should  delight  and  instruct  any  au- 
dience. It  is  a  trip  from  the  earth 
to  the  moon,  then  to  the  planets  and 
finally  to  the  outer  rim  of  the  known 
universe.  Produced  by  LTnstitut  de 
Cinematographic  Scientifique,  it  first 
shows  how  astronomy  grew  as  a 
science,  how  distances  are  measured 
and  how  each  astral  body  would  look 
if  a  human  could  land  on  it.  A 
highly  interesting  subject.  English 
narration.    Running  time,  11  mins. 


"Rembrandf 

(French  Film  Exchange) 

A  history  of  art  done  in  connection 
with  the  life  of  Rembrandt.  The  fa- 
mous masters'  works  are  shown  and 
analyzed  and  a  study  of  Rembrandt's 
masterpices  follows.  Done  in  a  man- 
ner to  entertain  both  a  lay  and  art- 
loving  audience.  Running  time,  10 
mins. 

50  Anti-Trust  Suits 
Before  U.  S.  Courts 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

pany  has  satisfactorily  adjusted  about 
40  complaints  in  the  last  few  months, 
on  information  received  from  the  De- 
partment of  Justice. 

The  latest  action  on  which  com- 
panies have  been  served  with  sub- 
poenaes  was  brought  by  Tegue's 
Palace  Theatre,  Inc.,  of  St.  Johns- 
bun-,  Vt,  against  Interstate  Theatre 
Corp.  and  all  principal  distributors  ex- 
cept RKO  and  20th  Century-Fox. 
Alleging  product  "freezeout,"  the  com- 
plainant seeks  $100,000  triple  dam- 
ages under  the  anti-trust  laws. 

George  S.  Ryan,  Boston  attorney 
who  represents  exhibitors  in  a  number 
of  similar  cases,  filed  the  action  in 
federal  district  court  at  Burlington, 
Vt. 


Post  to  Ed  Maize,  Jr. 

Edwin  R.  Maize,  Jr.,  has  joined 
Radio  Attractions  as  southern  sales 
manager.  He  is  now  on  a  tour  of 
the  area  in  the  interests  of  the  com- 
pany's current  release,  "Shadow  of 
Fu  Manchu."  Maize  has  been  a 
merchandising  counsellor  and  general 
sales  manager. 


/.  T.  O.  A.  Outing  July  25 

Sixth  annual  all-industry  outing, 
sponsored  by  the  I.T.O.A.,  will  be 
held  July  25  at  Indian  Point. 


'A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


Hicks  to  Join  Zukor 
In  Honolulu  in  July 

John  W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  Paramount 
vice-president  and  foreign  department 
head,  will  leave  New  York  toward 
the  end  of  next  week  for  Vancouver, 
from  where  he  will  sail  July  5  on 
the  Niagara  for  Hawaii  and  Aus- 
tralia on  a  month's  business  trip. 

Hicks  will  meet  Adolph  Zukor  in 
Honolulu  and  the  two  will  proceed 
to  Australia  together  from  there. 
Zukor  sails  from  Los  Angeles  June  29 
on  the  Matsonia.  The  two  are  sched- 
uled to  return  on  the  Monterey,  which 
arrives  at  San  Pedro,  Sept.  5. 


Only  300  Television 
Sets  in  N.  Y.  District 

Approximately  300  television  sets  of 
all  makes  and  models  have  been  sold 
here  since  May  1,  when  broadcasting 
of  regular  programs  was  begun,  ac- 
cording to  estimates  made  yesterday 
by  television  company  officials. 

The  number  is  far  below  advance 
estimates  and  general  expectations  in 
the  television  industry,  obviously  aver- 
aging fewer  than  100  sales  per  com- 
pany for  the  leading  manufacturers. 

Estimates  of  television  officials  place 
the  total  number  of  sets  now  in  use  in 
the  United  States  at  800. 


Erpi  Device'; 
Sound  Trick; 
Amaze  Chief, 


Hollywood,  June    22. — Heads 
studio  sound  departments  last  nig' 
witnessed  a  demonstration  by  Horn 
Dudley,  Bell  Telephone  engineer,  ji 
Erpi's  Vocoder,  an  instrument  still 
the  process   of   development,  whic 
does  seeming  miracles  with  voice..' 
cordings. 

Held  at  the  Erpi  laboratory  her 
the  demonstration  including  raisir 
and  lowering  the  pitch,  changing  ii 
flection,  breaking  speech  down  im 
its  component  parts  and  rebuilding 
to  achieve  the  effect  of  age,  infanc 
or  other  desired  results. 

A  discussion  followed  during  whic 
sound  engineers  were  invited  to  sua 
gest  ways  of  making  the  instrumei 
of  service  to  production. 

100  Radio  Editors 
To  Benny  Premier 

Approximately  100  radio  editors  ai 
expected  to  attend  Sunday's  premiei 
of  the  Paramount  picture  "Man  Abov 
Town,"  and  the  Jack  Benny  broadcas' 
from  Waukegan,  111.,  home  town  i. 
the  comedian. 

The  radio  contingent  will  be  chief 
from  the  mid-west.  From  New  Yoij 
City  J.  E.  Doyle  and  Ben  Gross  II 
the  Journal- American  and  the  New 
have  been  invited. 

Cliff  Lewis,  Paramount  studio  pul 
licity  director,  is  in  charge  of  tt 
Waukegan  celebration,  assisted  t 
Carl  Krueger  and  Terry  de  Lapp,  als 
of  the  studio.  The  Hollywood  coi 
tingent  to  the  event  includes  Jac! 
Benny  and  Mary  Livingstone,  Ph 
Harris,  Eddie  Anderson  and  And 
Devine,  with  the  possibility  th£ 
George  Raft,  Edward  Arnold  an 
Binnie  Barnes  will  also  be  on  hand. 


Berke  Is  Autry  Produce) 

Hollywood,  June  22.  —  Williat 
Berke  today  was  named  producer  c 
Republic's  Gene  Autry  westerns  fo 
the  1939-'40  season,  with  George  Sher 
man  directing. 


Musketeers  Bring 
Press  Invitations 

Hollywood,  June  22.  — 
Hollywood  newspapermen 
yesterday  were  visited  in 
their  homes  and  offices  by 
two  tall  men,  wearing  the 
habiliments  of  17th  Century 
musketeers. 

After  doffing  their  plumed 
hats  and  tilting  their  swords 
the  cavaliers  presented  the 
astounded  reporters  with 
scrolls  inviting  them  to  "the 
wedding  of  Louis  XIV,  King 
of  France,  and  Maria  The- 
resa, Infanta  of  Spain  and 
Princess  of  Austria,  and 
other  events  of  historical 
and  romantic  importance." 

It  was  the  way  of  Mur- 
phy McHenry,  publicity  di- 
rector for  Edward  Small,  for 
sending  preview  invitations 
for  "The  Man  in  the  Iron 
Mask." 


BE  PREPARED  FOR  EVERY 
PROJECTION  ROOM  EMERGENCY  WITH 

THE  SOUND 
TROUBLE -SHOOTING 
CHARTS 

THAT  SUPPLEMENT  THE  SECOND 
REVISION  OF  THE  SIXTH  EDITION  OF 

F.  H.  Richardson's 

BLUEBOOK  of 
PROJECTION 

NOW  AVAI  L  A  B  L  E  I  N 
BROCHURE  FORM 

SEND  FOR  IT  TODAY- PRICE  ONE  DOLLAR 

QUICLEY  BOOKSHOP 

ROCKEFELLER       CENTER       •       NEW     YORK  CITY 


8 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  June  23,  193 


MGM's  Team 
Captures  Rye 
GolfingHonors 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

Murphy  was  the  birdie  winner. 

William  German  was  voted  best 
dressed.  Booby  prize  went  to  Vincent 
Trotta.  Milton  Pearlman  took  the 
tennis  singles  honors,  while  Orton 
Hicks  and  William  Merrill  proved 
to  be  the  best  double  team. 

The  winners  follow ! 

Winning  Team 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer— William  Orr,  John 
Murphy,  Sidney  Bromberg  and  Tom  Gerety. 

First  Runner-up 

Exhibitors  Team— William  Brandt,  D.  J. 
Chatkin,  Lester  Reiger  and  Harold  Rinzler. 

Second  Runner-up 

Warner  Bros. — Albert  Warner,  Leonard 
Palumbo,  Larry  Golob  and  Bob  Williams. 

Third  Runner-up 

Trade  Press — James  Crcn,  John  Flinn. 
Paul  Greenhalgh  and  Herb  Fecke. 

Fourth  Runner-up 

National  Screen  Service — George  Dembow, 
Abe  Rachlin,  Lou  Semels  and  Al  Semels. 

Individual  Play 

Low  net— E.  A.  Williford. 
Low  Net  Runner-up — Al  Manheimer. 
Low  Net  Second  Runner-up— Harry  Pim- 
stein. 

Low  Net  Third  Runner-up — Charles  B. 
Gardner. 

Low  Gross — Leonard  Palumbo. 

Low  Gross  Runner-up — Anthony  Moreno. 

Low  Gross  Second  Runner-up — Abe  Rach- 
lin. 

Low  Net-Exhibitor — Moe  Seider. 
Low  Net-Exhibitor-Runner-up — Gary  Pic- 
cione. 

Low  Gross-Exhibitor — Edward  L.  Hyman. 

Lew  Gross-Exhibitor-Runner-up  —  George 
P.  Skouras. 

Putting  Contest  Winner — Murray  Schoen. 

Putting  Contest  Runner-up — Gordon  W. 
Hedwig. 

Putting  Contest  Second  Runner-up — Wil- 
liam Frankel. 

Driving    Test  -Winner — Irving  Raskin. 

Driving  Test  Runner-up — Ted  Curtis. 

Driving  test,  second  runner-up — Tom  Ger- 
ety. 

Birdies  Winner  -Monroe  Eisenberg. 
Birdie  Runner-up — John  F.  Murphy. 
Best    dressed    golfer — (William  German. 
Booby  Prize — Vincent  Trotta. 

Tennis  Tournament 

Singles  Winner — Milton  Pearlman 

Singles  Runner-up —Jack  Levin. 

Doubles     Winners  Orton     Hicks  and 

Wiliiam  Merrill. 

Doubles  Runner-up — Louis  Nizer  and  B. 
Brandt. 


MGM,  Fox  to  Have 
Joint  London  'Lab' 

London,  June  22. — M-G-M  and 
20th  Century-Fox  jointly  will  estab- 
lish a  laboratory  here,  according  to 
plans  made  during  the  visit  in  America 
of  Ben  Goetz,  M-G-M's  production 
chief  in  England.  Goetz  is  due  here 
Monday  from  New  York. 

The  move  is  an  economy  measure. 
The  laboratory  will  be  for  negative 
and  print  work,  primarily  for  the 
United  Kingdom.  It  is  possible  that 
United  Artists  may  be  included  in  the 
arrangement  later. 


Cuba  Lifts  'Spy'  Ban 

Havana,  June  22. — The  censorship 
ban  against  Warners'  "Confessions  of 
a  Nazi  Spy,"  imposed  Tuesday  night, 
was  lifted  today  following  a  private 
screening  of  the  film  for  Cuban  cab- 
inet members  and  the  American  am- 
bassador. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


NEW  PROGRAM,  NEW  IDEA  .  .  .  Turns,  Inc.,  through  the  Stack- 
Goble  agency,  has  just  signed  Horace  Heidt  for  a  new  series  on  NBC. 
Starting  date  and  time  is  still  indefinite.  It  is  believed,  however,  that 
the  show  will  get  under  way  in  the  very  near  future,  and  once  having  estab- 
lished an  audience,  format  will  be  changed  from  a  straight  musical  to  include 
a  monster  contest  idea.  No  details  are  available  about  the  contest,  but  it  will 
be  based  on  a  "wheel  of  fortune"  idea.  The  wheel  will  "select"  a  telephone 
subscriber  somewhere  in  the  United  States,  whereupon  the  subscriber  will  be 
called  direct  from  the  radio  studio.  If  the  call  is  answered,  the  subscriber  will 
receive  a  prize  of  $1,000.  If  the  party  is  not  at  home,  he  will  receive  $100, 
and  the  $900  will  be  carried  over  into  a  jackpot.  That,  at  least,  is  the  plan  as 
it  has  been  told  to  us. 

T 

WALTER  O'KEEFE  THROUGH  ON  SERIES  ...  It  is  doubted  that 
Walter  O'Keefe  will  return  on  "Tune  Up  Time"  when  that  show  returns  to 
the  air  Aug.  21,  following  a  July  3  close.  During  the  interval,  Andre 
Kostelanetz  will  do  a  number  of  concerts  with  his  wife,  Lily  Pons,  and  then 
will  return  to  the  radio  show. 

T 

WARNERS  BUYS  CORWIN  SCRIPT  .  .  .  Norm  Corwin's  script,  "They 
Fly  Through  the  Air  with  the  Greatest  of  Ease,"  a  blank  verse  travesty  on 
war  dealing  with  the  bombing  of  defenseless  cities,  which  was  accorded  a 
great  reception  when  it  was  produced  on  the  air  this  Spring  over  CBS,  has 
been  bought  by  Warners  for  a  two-reel  featurette.  The  deal  was  arrange 
by  Bill  Lewis,  CBS  vice-president,  during  his  recent  West  Coast  visit. 

T 

CASHING  IN  ON  A  BITE  .  .  .  Ernie  Mack,  the  chap  who  received 
front  page  publicity  by  being  bit  on  the  neck  by  an  enraged  chorus  girl  at  the 
recent  stormy  AFA  meeting,  is  already  cashing  in  on  the  bite.  He'll  do  a 
television  bit  for  NBC  tonight  at  $50,  and  the  producers  of  "We,  the  People," 
are  nibbling  for  him  to  make  guest  appearances  on  that  show. 

T 

"WAXING"  ED.  G.  ROBINSON  .  .  .  Sponsors  of  "Big  Town,"  the 
Edward  G.  Robinson  series,  are  "waxing"  past  episodes  of  the  program  and 
will  place  the  recordings  on  26  stations  in  that  many  metropolitan  cities. 
"Big  Town"  leaves  the  air  for  the  Summer  in  another  week,  and  the  sponsor 
is  using  the  transcription  method  of  keeping  interest  in  the  show  alive  until 
it  gets  back  to  the  network. 

T 

PAUL  SULLIVAN  ON  CBS  .  .  .  Paul  Sullivan,  former  WLW  and  now 
WHAS  commentator,  who  is  widely  known  despite  his  local  broadcasts,  now 
will  have  the  network  he  so  long  has  deserved.  Brown  &  Williamson  has 
signed  him  for  a  six-night-a-week  commentary  series  over  CBS  starting 
Sept.  24.    Thirty-five  stations  will  be  used. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Bill  Spires  of  McCann  Erickson  sails  for  a  Bermuda 
vacation  next  week  with  his  air  actress  wife  Dorothy  Lowell.  .  .  .  Kay  Lor- 
raine, Hit  Parade  vocalist,  has  been  signed  by  Raymond  Paige  as  the  "girl 
of  the  week"  July  14.  .  .  .  Bandsmen  Bob  Crosby  and  Lebert  Lombardo  be- 
came fathers  of  baby  girls  yesterday.  .  .  .  Ben  Kaplan,  radio  editor  of  the 
Providence  Journal,  in  town.  ...  J.  Fred  Coots  will  introduce  his  new  tune. 
"This  is  the  Night,"  over  NBC  television  tonight 

T 

QUIZ  STAYS  ON,  BUT  REDUCED  .  .  .  Noxema  isn't  cancelling  "Prof. 
Quiz,"  as  intended,  but  will  carry  on  with  the  show  for  another  13  weeks,  but 
with  a  greatly  reduced  network.  Program  has  been  using  40  stations,  now 
will  take  but  six — in  New  York,  Detroit,  Minneapolis,  Kansas  City,  St. 
Louis,  Chicago. 

T' 

CBS  "SARONG  MAN"  .  .  .  Steve  Fuld,  CBS  station  relations  man,  es- 
corted Dorothy  Lamour  to  a  night  club  the  other  evening,  and  as  is  usual 
these  days,  Dorothy  was  besieged  by  reporters  and  photographers  seeking 
news  of  her  latest  romance.  Kiddingly,  Dorothy  pointed  to  Steve  and  said 
he  was  "it."  Journal-American  carried  the  story  and  picture  of  the  couple 
yesterday,  and  Steve  spent  a  miserable  day  at  network  headquarters,  receiv- 
ing twitting  calls  and  callers.  Couple  of  sarongs  were  delivered  to  his  desk, 
too. 


Censor  Board  Bill 
Dropped  in  Illinois 

Springfield,  III.,  June  22. — A  bill 
to  create  a  state  board  of  censors  to 
pass  on  motion  pictures  was  killed  in 
the  State  Senate  today  when  its  spon- 
sor, Senator  Joseph  Mendell  of  Chi- 
cago had  it  stricken  from  the  calendar. 

Mendell  also  struck  two  other  bills 
which  would  prohibit  children  attend- 
ing late  shows  and  prohibit  producers 
and  distributors  from  having  an  inter- 
est in  theatres. 

Stricken  in  the  House  was  the  Gibbs 
bill  prohibiting  the  showing  of  pic- 
tures in  which  appeared  persons  who 
had  been  divorced  more  than  twice. 


Columbia  Leading 
Baseball  League 

Columbia's  baseball  team,  despite  its 
first  defeat  of  the  season  by  Para- 
mount, is  conceded  to  be  the  winner 
of  the  first  half  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Baseball  League.  The  second  half 
schedule  starts  Monday.  Team  stand- 
ings follow : 

Won      Lost  Percentage 

Columbia    5  1  .813 

Cons.  Film  1   4  2  .  666 

Skouras    4  2  .666 

NBC    3  3  .500 

Paramount    3  4  .425 

RKO    2  3  .400 

Rock.  Center    2  5  .  285 

Loew's    2  5  .285 


Film  Imports 
Face  British 
Tax  Slashes 


London,  June  22. — Amendments  ( 
the  British  budget,  offered  in  tF 
House  of  Commons  today  by  Sr 
John  Simon,  Chancellor  of  the  E? 
chequer,  provide  for  the  eliminatio 
of  excise  duties,  and  reduce  the  in  i 
port  duties  considerably  below  tr 
level  proposed  in  the  original  bu<\\. 

Tax  on  raw  stock  has  been  Ltl-.. 
doned.      The  import   tax  on  unejj 
posed  film  is  now  1/3  penny  per  linej 
foot,   and   on   exposed   film   is  fi\ 
pence  per  linear  foot.      The  lattr 
figure  affects  first  copies,  with  sull 
sequent  prints  to  be  taxed  one  penU 
per  foot.    Exposed  sub-standard  fil 
will  have  an  import  duty  of  one  penr. 
per  linear  foot. 

Newsreel  interests  expressed  coi  | 
tinued   dissatisfaction   over  the  fa*  | 
that  there  were  no  specific  concessioi 
for  the  reels.     One  ''amendment  o  , 
fered  today  called  for  a  duty  of  oi 
penny  per  foot  on  the  first  copy  < 
imported  newsreel  film. 

The  full  committee  of  the  Commoi 
tonight  accepted  Simon's  amendmen 
abandoning  the  excise  taxes.  Form- 
discussion  is  scheduled  next  Tuesdj 
or  Wednesday  on  the  import  dufj 
amendments  with  approval  almo 
certain. 

Simon  frankly  admitted  that  whi 
believing  in  the  principle  of  excid 
duties,  he  had  not  realized  the  compl 
cations  and  difficulties  it  develops. 

Thomas  Williams,  Labor  membe 
and  Geofrey  Mander,  Liberal,  ar 
Miss  Hornsburgh,  Conservative,  pleae 
ed  for  further  concessions  to  new:i 
reels.  Simon  agreed  to  consider  tl 
newsreel  situation  further. 


Wireless  Licenses 
Show  British  Boon 

London,  June  22. — The  British  Po: 
Office  issued  455,174  wireless  receiv 
ing  licenses  during  May  of  this  yea 
This  figure  represents  a  net  increa; 
of  21,554  in  the  number  of  licen; 
holders  during  the  month,  after  mal 
ing  allowance  for  expired  licenses  an, 
renewals. 

The  approximate  total  number  o 
licenses  in  force  at  the  close  of  Mai 
was  8,984,250  as  compared  with  8,627 
860  at  the  close  of  May,  1938,  an  ir: 
crease  during  the  year  of  256,390. 


Neutral  Arbitrator 
In  306-ITOA  Talk 

A  neutral  arbitrator  is  to  be  af 
pointed  by  Local  306  and  the  I.T.O./ 
to  act  as  the  fifth  member  of  a  corr 
mittee  which  will  arbitrate  demand 
of  the  operators'  union.  Negotiation 
have  brought  no  agreement.  Davi 
Weinstock  and  W.  French  Gitlien 
represent  the  exhibitors.  Joseph  I 
Basson  and  Charles  Kielhurn  are  act 
ing  for  the  union. 


Hays  Meet  Adjourned 

Quarterly  meeting  of  the  M.  P.  I 
D.  A.  board  of  directors  was  ad 
journed  to  June  30  following  a  brie 
session  yesterday.  'Absence  of  severa 
directors  from  the  city  and  prior  en 
gagements  of  others  held  down  at 
tendance  at  the  meeting  and  restricte< 
business  to  routine  matters. 


Jert, 


K,  the  T^qtion 
icture 
idustry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


DO  NO   '  R  E  h 


45.  NO.  122 


NEW  YORK,  MONDAY,  JUNE  26,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


iritain,  U.  S. 
leased  Over 
Tax  Situation 


crease  in  Import  Duty 
Is  Only  Revision 


.ondon,  June  25. — As  the  tumult 
I  the  shouting  over  the  proposal 
increase  film  excise  taxes  and  im- 
t  duties  subsides,  the  fact  emerges 
1  with  one  exception,  the  situation 
as  it  was  before  the  introduction 
Sir  John  Simon,   Chancellor  of 
Exchequer,    of   the   drastic  in- 
ases  in  his  recent  budget, 
he  single  exception  is  the  import 
Jy,  which  has  been  increased  to 
i  pence  per  linear   foot  on  first 
•ies  of  all   films,  and  one  penny 
foot  on  all  subsequent  copies.  The 
mier  duty  was  two  pence  per  linear 
t  for  all  copies. 

The  increase  is  expected  to  be  ac- 
■ted  without  protest  by  American 
crests,  which  are  particularly  con- 
ned. It  is  anticipated  that  the 
mer  system  of  importing  lavender 
nts  will  be  abandoned,  and  in  place 
l  be  continued  the  new  system  of 
porting  negatives,  with  consequent 
^nomies  in  printing  and  improved 
'  finical  results. 

Under  the  previous  system,  American 
npanies  sent  to  England  usually 
iee  copies  of  a  film  to  handle  the 

(Continued  on  page  2) 




overnment  B  &  K 
nit  Off  for  Summer 

Chicago,  June  25. — Trial  of  the 
tvernment  anti-trust  suit  against  B. 

K.  and  distributors  will  adjourn 
j  the  Summer  following  a  hearing 

July  7,  Special  Master  Edgar  El- 
;;dge  announced  at  the  close  of 
iday's  hearing.  The  trial  will  be 
urned  Sept.  5. 

.two  witnesses  were  called  by  the 
vernment  on  Friday.     H.  C.  Van 

.It,  F.  B.  I.  investigator,  described 

I  audit  he  had  made  of  B.  &  K.'s 
ords,  and  Tom  Gilliam,  Warner 
nch  manager  here,  told  of  the  op- 
tions of  his  exchange, 
lonferences  between  counsel  for 
h  sides  will  be  held  Monday  and 

L  esday  in  an  effort  to  facilitate 
ntification    of    the    thousands  of 

i  :uments  to  be  introduced  in  evi- 

'  ice.   The  hearing  resumes  again  on 

]  2dnesday. 

!  Special  Assistant  Attorney  General 
bert  Wright  and  his  assistant, 
i  mour  Simon,  expect  to  complete 
1  ir  side  of  the  case  prior  to  the  ad- 
i  irnment  for  the  Summer. 


Home  Town  Fetes 
Benny  at  Premiere; 
150,000  See  Stars 


Waukegan,  111.,  June  25.  —  This 
northern  Illinois  city  went  wild  today 
over  one  of  the  biggest  celebrations  in 
its  history.  Nearly  150,000  visitors 
flocked  here  to  participate  in  the  fes- 
tivities put  on  for  the  three-theatre 
world  premiere  of  "Man  About 
Town."  They  honored  Jack  Benny, 
star  of  the  picture  and  a  home  town 
boy. 

The  city  fathers  gave  the  keys  of 
the  city  to  Benny,  and  the  occasion 
was  a  sentimental  one,  for  they  were 
the  star's  boyhood  pals.  They  also 
honored  the  players  who  came  here 
with  Benny  from  Hollywood. 

Dorothy  Lamour  was  here.  So  was 
Andy  Devine,  Mary  Livingston,  Phil 
Harris  and  members  of  his  band, 
Eddie  "Rochester"  Anderson,  Gert- 
rude Neisen  and  Tony  Martin.  They 
left  this  town  of  33,000  population 
more  than  a  little  frenzied. 

The  world  premiere  tonight  at  the 
Genesee  Theatre  was  the  climax  of 
five  days  of  celebration.  The  Holly- 
wood delegation  participated  in  the 
colorful  events  preceding  the  opening. 
There  were  parades  and  other  doings 
Saturday  and  today. 

The  show  was  a  double-barreled 
one,  for  Benny  made  his  Jell-O  broad- 
cast over  NBC  from  the  stage  of  the 
theatre. 

Nearly  350  newspaper  men  attended 
the  broadcast  and  premiere. 


Seeks  Writ  to  Stop 
Coast  Labor  'Reds' 

Los  Angeles,  June  25. — At- 
torney William  G.  Kenney  an- 
nounced Saturday  that  he  will 
seek  an  injunction  Monday  to 
restrain  the  Communist  party, 
Harry  Bridges,  CIO  leader, 
and  John  L.  Lewis,  CIO  pres- 
ident, from  "disrupting  the 
affairs  of  Hollywood  motion 
picture  unions." 

A  statement  issued  under 
the  name  of  the  Central  Labor 
Council  describes  Kenney  as 
"representing  the  rank  and 
file  workers  in  the  studios." 


Theatre  Men  Meet 
Today  in  Oklahoma 


Oklahoma  City,  June  25.- — The 
annual  convention  of  the  Oklahoma 
Theater  Owners,  Inc.,  opens  here  to- 
morrow with  Morris  Loewenstein, 
president,  presiding. 

The  address  of  welcome  will  be 
given  by  Loewenstein  with  the  re- 
sponse by  Ed  L.  Kuykendall,  president 
of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  A.  from  Columbia, 
Miss. 

The  report  of  the  Secretary,  Orville 
Enloe  of  El  Reno,  Okla.,  will  follow 
and  an  open  forum  on  any  subject  not 
covered  by  the  convention  program 
will  be  held  to  complete  the  morning's 
session. 

At  1 :30  p.m.  a  buffet  lunch  will  be 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


MGM  Perisphere  Booth 
To  Open  in  Times  Square 


Loew's  and  M-G-M  are  sponsoring 
a  World's  Fair  Information  Center 
at  Times  Square  as  a  public  goodwill 
builder,  and  will  open  the  structure 
Wednesday  noon  with  Eddie  Cantor 
as  master  of  ceremonies.  Many 
Broadway  "names"  are  being  lined 
up  for  the  event. 

The  structure,  in  the  form  of  the 
Fair  theme,  trylon  and  perisphere,  is 
located  on  the  island  at  46th  St.,  fac- 
ing Duffy  Square. 

The  perisphere  will  house  an  in- 
formation both  where  attendants  will 
answer  questions  relating  to  the  city 
and  the  Fair.  For  the  benefit  of  for- 
eign visitors,  attendants  will  be  on 
hand  with  a  knowledge  of  French, 
Spanish,  German,  Italian  and  Rus- 
sian. 

While  not  ostensibly  intended  as  an 
advertising  stunt,  visitors  will  be  en- 
couraged to  attend  Loew  theatres  or 
houses  where  M-G-M  films  are  play- 


ing. Suitable  literature  will  be  handed 
out. 

There  will  be  a  registry  and  index 
service  whereby  visitors  may  list  their 
New  York  addresses  and  telephone 
numbers  to  permit  other  home  town 
visitors  to  locate  them.  Maps  and 
guide  booklets  will  be  distributed  as 
well  as  pamphlets  on  the  Fair. 

The  booth  will  be  open  from  8 
A.  M.  to  midnight,  every  day,  dur- 
ing the  Fair.  The  trylon  is  42  feet 
high. 

As  a  gesture  of  appreciation  to  the 
city  for  permitting  the  structure,  the 
Center  will  cooperate  with  police  of- 
ficials in  a  traffic  safety  campaign. 
Signs,  posters  and  pamphlets  on  the 
subject  will  be  included. 

The  idea  was  worked  out  by  Wil- 
liam R.  Ferguson,  M-G-M  exploita- 
tion manager,  with  Oscar  A.  Doob, 
Loew  theatres  advertising  and  pub- 
licity chief. 


Cash  for  FCC 
Cut  $200,000 
By  Committee 

Reorganization  Expected  ; 
Censorship  Assailed 


Washington,  June  25.  —  The 
House  Appropriation  Committtee  on 
Friday  recommended  an  appropriation 
of  $1,838,175  for  maintenance  of  the 
Federal  Communications  Commission 
during  the  coming  fiscal  year.  This 
is  $200,000  less  than  the  F.  C.  C. 
sought,  but  it  is  an  increase  of  $93,- 
175  over  last  year's  appropriation  fig- 
ure. 

In  its  report,  the  Committee  pointed 
out  that  the  Commission's  appropria- 
tion had  been  delayed  in  the  expecta- 
tion that  legislation  reorganizing  the 
F.  C.  C.  would  be  enacted,  but  in 
the  absence  of  such  legislation  it  be- 
came necessary  to  provide  funds  if  the 
Commission  was  not  to  go  out  of  ex- 
istence June  30. 

Hearings  Next  Month 

During  hearings  on  the  bill  last 
week,  members  of  the  Committee  in- 
quired into  the  Commission's  "cen- 
sorship" rule  for  international  sta- 
tions, and  Representative  Emmet 
O'Neal  of  Kentucky  warned  the  Com- 
missioners that  he  would  oppose  en- 
forcement of  the  rule  if  the  F.  C.  C. 
retained  it  unchanged  after  hearings 
which  are  to  be  held  next  month. 

Calls  Censorship  Un-American 

"I  will  never  vote  for  a  dime's 
worth  of  appropriation  for  any  such 
un-American  doctrine  as  that,"  he 
said.  "If  they  can  do  it  internation- 
ally, they  can  do  it  nationally." 

Within  five  years,  enforcement  of 
the  radio  law  will  cost  at  least 
$5,000,000  a  year,  the  Committee  was 
told  by  E.  K.  Jett,  chief  engineer  for 
the  Commission. 

New  Broadcasting  Rules 

New  rules  and  regulations  for  stand- 
ard broadcast  stations  have  been  adopt- 
ed by  the  FCC  to  become  generally 
effective  on  August  1. 

Under  these  regulations,  the  num- 
ber of  classes  of  stations  will  be  in- 
creased from  three  to  four  by  the  ad- 
dition of  a  new  class  sharing  clear 
channels ;  the  number  of  clear  chan- 
nels for  exclusive  use  will  be  reduced 
from  40  to  26;  the  maximum  night 
power  of  regional  Class  III  stations 
will  be  increased  from  1,000  to  5,000 
watts,  and  the  maximum  night  power 
of  local  stations  will  be  increased  from 
100  to  250  watts. 


I 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  26,  1939 


4  Purely  Personal  ► 


Britain,  U.  S. 
Pleased  Over 
Tax  Situation 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

trade  show  requirements.  Two  copies 
were "  used  for  London  trade  shows 
and  one  for  trade  shows  in  other 
cities.  Negatives  were  then  made 
from  the  lavender  prints  and  release 
prints  followed.  Lavenders  are  dupli- 
cating prints  from  which  satisfactory 
negatives  can  be  made. 

Under  the  new  method,  necessitated 
by  the  new  import  duties,  a  negative 
will  be  sent,  and  all  necessary  prints, 
for  trade  shows  and  regular  release, 
will  be  struck  from  that  in  England. 
Thus,  the  five-pence  per  foot  duty  is 
paid  on  the  negative,  or  first  copy,  and 
no  other  import  duty  is  required. 

Virtually  all  major  American  com- 
panies are  establishing  laboratory  fa- 
cilities in  England  which  are  the  equal 
of  those  available  in  the  United  States. 

It  is  expected  that  Commons  will 
accept  the  Simon  amendments  which 
modified  the  original  drastic  film 
taxes,  as  well  as  the  amendment  in- 
troduced by  members  of  Parliament 
which  provides  that  newsreels  will  be 
assessed  only  a  straight  penny  per 
foot  import  duty,  as  heretofore. 

Chaplin  Plant  Starts 
Action  on  'Dictator* 

Hollywood,  June  25. — Ending  three 
years  of  idleness,  the  Charles  Chaplin 
studio  on  Friday  began  the  construc- 
tion of  sets  for  "The  Great  Dictator." 
The  first  set,  a  Continental  tenement 
street,  will  be  ready  in  10  days. 

The  only  cast  name  thus  far  an- 
nounced is  that  of  Paulette  Goddard, 
who  will  play  opposite  Chaplin  in  his 
first  all  talking  film.  The  comedian  is 
withholding  all  information  relative  to 
the  film's  story,  beyond  saying  it  is  a 
comedy.  Ira  Morgan  and  Rollie  Toth- 
eroh,  who  worked  on  "Modern 
Times,"  will  photograph  it. 

Russell  Spencer  is  art  director,  and 
William  Bogdanoff  is  construction  su- 
perintendent. Jack  Wilson  has  been 
named  assistant  to  Alfred  Reeves, 
Chaplin's  general  manager. 


Shine  Gets  Ross  Post 

W.  J.  Shine  has  been  appointed  co- 
ordinator of  research  activities  for 
Ross  Federal  Research  Corp.  He  will 
work  under  C.  B.  Ross,  director  of 
research.  A  former  Columbus  news- 
paperman, Shine  comes  here  from 
Cincinnati,  where  he  has  been  in 
charge  of  research  sales  for  Ross. 


WILLIAM  A.  SCULLY,  Univer- 
sal general  sales  manager,  and 
F.  J.  A.  McCarthy,  division  mana- 
ger, were  in  Gloversville  over  the 
weekend  on  the  Schine  product  deal. 
• 

Ellen  Drew  sailed  from  England 
over  the  weekend  on  the  Nieuw  Am- 
sterdam scheduled  to  arrive  here 
Thursday.  She  is  slated  for  the  co- 
starring  role  in  Paramount's  "The 
Broken  Heart  Cafe." 

• 

William  Pratt,  manager  of  the  L 
&  J  Paramount  in  Atlanta,  and  Mrs. 
Pratt,  visited  the  Managers'  Round 
Table  of  Motion  Picture  Herald  on 
Friday,  while  in  town  to  see  the 
World's  Fair. 

• 

Michael  J.  Moodabe  of  the 
Moodabe  Circut,  New  Zealand;  Wil- 
liam and  Leo  Bennes  of  the  Lin- 
coln, Lincoln,  111.,  among  the  regis- 
trants at  the  RKO  World's  Fair 
Fridav. 

• 

Arthur  Shields,  Abbey  Theatre 
player,  arrived  in  New  York  on  the 
Mauretania  Saturday  en  route  to  the 
20th  Century-Fox  studios  for  work  in 
"Drums  Along  the  Mohawk." 

• 

Gwendolyn  A.  Altman,  daughter 
of  Edward  Altman,  owner  of  the 
Capitol  Stage  Lighting  Co.,  was  mar- 
ried last  week  to  Theodore  Van- 
Bemel. 

Ray  Milland  returned  to  New 
York  on  the  Mauretmiia  Satur- 
day from  England  where  he  completed 
"French  Without  Tears"  for  Para- 
mount. 

Cliff  Nazarro,  double-talk  come- 
dian, arrives  in  New  York  today  for 
a  personal  appearance  at  the  Para- 
mount beginning  Wednesday. 

• 

Milton   Bren,   M-G-M  producer, 
has  arrived  from    the    Coast  with 
Mrs.  Bren.    Bren  is  conferring  with 
Norman  McLeod,  M-G-M  director. 
• 

Ralph  Clark,  Sr.,  Warner  man- 
aging director  in  Australia,  will  sail 
this  week  from  Los  Angeles  for  Syd- 
ney after  home  office  conferences. 
• 

W.  H.  Earles  of  Ross  Federal's 
Seattle  office  has  returned  from 
Alaska  where  he  contacted  company 
representatives. 

• 

Mary  Lee  Martin,  former  secre- 
tary  at   Universal's    coast  publicity 
department,  has  been  cast  in  Para- 
mount's "Are  Husbands  Necessary?" 
• 

Garson  Kanin,  director  of  RKO's 
"Bachelor  Mother,"  is  in  town  for  the 
premiere  of  the  picture  at  the  Music 
Hall  June  29. 

• 

Harry    H.    Ballance,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox district  manager  at  Atlanta, 
is  recuperating  from  an  operation, 
e 

Barbara    Wortfi    and  Bernard 
Straub  have  been  placed  under  con- 
tract as  writers  at  M-G-M's  studio. 
• 

Dr.  Oscar  Zayas,  president  of 
Peliculas  Cubanas  of  Havana,  is  in 
town. 


SAM  E.  MORRIS,  vice-president 
of  Warners  in  charge  of  foreign 
activities,  will  sail  for  South  Amer- 
ica late  in  July  for  a  general  check- 
up. 

Guy  P.  Morgan,  United  Artists 
chief  in  Argentina,  Paraguay  and 
Uruguay,  and  Clemente  Eococo, 
managing  director  of  the  Opera  The- 
atre in  Buenos  Aires  and  circuit  head, 
arrive  in  New  York  today  on  the 
Brazil. 

• 

Bob  Suits,  Evansville ;  Frank 
Henson,  Canton;  Clinton  Wander, 
Loew's  Broad,  Columbus,  and  Matt 
Saunders,  Bridgeport,  were  a  dele- 
gation of  Loew  managers  visiting  in 
New  York.  Wander  was  here  on  his 
honeymoon. 

Barrett  C.  Kiesling,  M-G-M 
traveling  publicity  representative,  left 
last  night  for  New  England  after 
conferences  with  Si  Seadler  and 
William  R.  Ferguson. 

• 

Wesley  Ruggles,  Columbia  direc- 
tor, arrives  in  New  York  from  Eu- 
rope on  the  N  ormandie  today  and  will 
spend  a  few  days  here  before  leaving 
for  Hollywood. 

• 

Edmund  Goulding  and  Anatole 
Litvak,  Warner  directors,  left  for 
the  Coast  over  the  weekend  after  a 
vacation  in  the  East. 

• 

Morris  Shapiro,  Baltimore  exhib- 
itor, has  returned  there  after  a  New 
York  visit. 

• 

Fanny  Cimbol,  secretary  to  Alan 
Corelli  of  the  Theatre  Authority, 
was  married  yesterday  to  Dr.  Jacob 
Leftoff. 

• 

Charles     Cohen     of  Howard 
Dietz's  staff  at  M-G-M  is  vacation- 
ing this  week  at  Woodburne,  N.  Y. 
• 

William  R.  Fergusonv  M-G-M 
exploitation  chief,  was  in  New  Eng- 
land over  the  weekend. 


James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  pres- 
ident, returns  today  from  Albany  and 
Buffalo. 

• 

Herman  Stern  of  the  Universal 
commercial  films  department  is  in  a 
local  hospital  for  observation. 
• 

Al  Christie,  Grand  National  pro- 
ducer, is  in  town. 

Associates  to  Honor 
Abrams  and  Levy 

Motion  Picture  Associates  at  a 
luncheon  Wednesday  at  the  Astor  will 
honor  Leo  Abrams,  Universal  branch 
manager  here  who  has  been  promoted 
to  short  subjects  sales  manager,  and 
David  A.  Levy,  his  successor. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
eral sales  manager ;  William  A.  Scul- 
ly, Universal  sales  head,  and  Louis 
Nizer,  attorney,  are  scheduled  as 
speakers.  A  large  industry  turnout  is 
expected.  Jack  Ellis,  Associates'  pres- 
ident, will  be  toastmaster. 

This  will  be  the  Associates'  last 
meeting  of  the  Summer,  and  is  called 
for  12 :30  P.  M. 


Theatre  Men 
Gather  Today 
In  Oklahoma 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

served  in  the  Hotel  Biltmore,  con-  j 
vention  headquarters. 

Addresses  for  the  afternoon  sess  (Ex 
include  "Visual  Education,"  by  Dr. 
H.  G.  Bennett,  president  of  the  Okla- 
homa  A.  &  M.  College  at  Stillwater; 
"Ascap"  by  D.  R.  Milstein,  Tulsa,  j 
state  representative  for  Ascap,  to  be 
followed  by  an  open  forum  on  Ascap 
problems;  "The  Return  of  Flesh  to 
the  Motion  Picture  Theatre"  by  Ralph 
Talbot,  head  of  Ralph  Talbot  Thea- 
tres, Tulsa,  Okla. ;  "Developing  Radio 
Into  a  Powerful  and  Stimulating 
Factor,"  Paul  Short,  Dallas,  Tex., 
district  manager  for  National  Screen 
Service;  "Money  from  Your  Screen," 
C.  B.  Akers,  Dallas,  Tex.,  Griffith 
Amusement  Company,  and  "Television 
—Will  It  Help  or  Hurt  ?"  E.  C.  Hull, 
chief  engineer  of  radio  station  WKY, 
Oklahoma  City. 

Election  Tuesday  Morning 

Tuesday  morning  will  be  devoted 
entirely  to  a  presentation  of  1939-40 
product  by  local  exchange  managers. 
Exceptions  will  be  Charles  E.  Kes- 
nick,  southern  district  manager  for 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer,  who  will  pre- 
sent that  company's  product  and  E. 
Walker,  presenting  the  product  of 
K.  Lee  Williams  Film  Exchange,  Inc., 
Oklahoma  City.  Election  of  officers 
will  close  the  Tuesday  morning  ses- 
sion. 

Tuesday  afternoon  delegates  present 
will  hear  the  following  addresses : 
"Common  Sense  in  Politics,"  by  E. 
W.  Smartt,  chairman  of  the  state 
board  of  affairs  ;  "Booking  and  Selling 
of  Short  Subjects,"  Mrs.  Bessa  Short, 
Dallas,  Tex.,  booker  of  short  subjects 
for  the  Interstate  circuit;  "The  Thea- 
tre of  Tomorrow,"  William  Moore  of 
Moore  and  Corrigan,  Dallas,  Tex., 
theatre  architects,  and  "What  Is 
Ahead  for  the  Showman  of  To- 
morrow?" by  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  presi- 
dent of  the  Interstate  circuit,  Dallas; 
"Trade  Practices,  Block  Booking  and 
the  Business  Outlook,"  Kuykendall. 

Tuesday  evening  delegates  will  be 
entertained  at  a  banquet,  dance  and 
floor  show  at  the  Oklahoma  City 
Golf  and  Country  Club. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City. 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi- 
gan Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building, 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man- 
ager, cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigley 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  ratei  per 
year  $6  in  the  America!  and  $12  foreign. 
Single  copies  10c. 


Editing  En  Route 

Roger  Ferri,  editor  of  the 
Dynamo,  20th  Century-Fox 
house  organ,  prepared  the 
latest  issue  while  traveling 
3,000  miles  from  New  York 
to  San  Francisco.  Yesterday 
copies  were  received  at  the 
home  office  from  San  Fran- 
cisco, where  the  20-page  edi- 
tion was  printed.  Ferri  is  on 
the  coast  attending  S.  R. 
Kent  Drive  conferences  with 
Herman  Wobber,  general 
sales  manager,  and  M.  A. 
Levy  of  Minneapolis,  drive 
leader. 


it  m 


K 


V 


MAN  A 


furring  jACK 

BENNY 

Radio's  No  i  ^ 

-Prince  of  heart  k     ,  °ther 
"eart-brealsers! 

S'-'rtng  DOROTHY 

f AMOUR 

''"ed  wrong  '  new  "ream. 

25  she  *ngS  that'  <  "T  ^  the  ea« 
Hnchantme„t--  hit'  "Strange 


Starring  EDWARD 

ARNOLD 

S^°Ut  star  ofdozens  JT**" 

Jack  on  the  ]am; 


td*»^  breast  *°  sia 
lot  ^e  d*Q  {SorfO*° 


J  UT  TOWN" 


with 

ROCHESTER 

lion  laughs  f     d     r  3  mi|- 

w»th  THE 

PETTY  GIRLS 

Famous  artist  Pettv'c 
«ous  beauties  Z^ZT 
Pag«  of  ,he  maga£  ™  *1 
come  to  life!  d 


Wlth  4  G»EAT 

SONG  HITS! 

Grange  Enchant™—... 


'tra"ge  £nchantment- 

7  hlS°^estra, West  Coast 
•,ng  sensations.' 


4  Aisv-  "1. 

ag  mucE  Kffimiin  i 


^iie  up  a/,    ,teftaio<neot  k 

efo^aclcBeOQy,..  4"  '^ai 

prod«cti0o  l "    ™P  °us  take  of 

aQ{f  rm  leather 

office  refCe"051 
"Great  „  ~B°*0Jgice 

°">W'e  Ms«.f',J 
'«os  coJ "**  *  not.  •B„\,,'"e« 

tester' isasat  Pa-amoUQt, 
QteftalQnieQt  „     °*  ilaghiy 


PARAMOUNT 

GOES  TO  TOWN 


MAN  ABOUT  TOWN 

starring  Jack  Benny*  Dorothy  Lamour 
Edward  Arnold  with  Binnie  Barnes  •  Phil  Harris 

Betty  Grable  •  "Rochester"  •  Matty  Malneck  and  Orch. 

Directed  by  Mark  Sandrlch  •  Original  Screen  Play  by  Morrie  Rysklnd  •  A  Paramount  Picture 


11 


"THE  S*AK  ?!^w»»»e'*! 


t|»nda\.  June  26.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Mikado'  Hits 
Good  $16,000 
For  Hub  Lead 


Boston,  June  25.  —  "The  Mikado" 
mi  "Sorority  House"  at  Keith 
Memorial  cleared  $16,000.  "Invitation 
—  Happiness"  and  "Undercover  Doc- 
01"  drew  $14,500  to  the  Metropolitan. 
; Juarez"  took  $6,000  at  the  Scollay. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
iig  June  21  : 

Tumbleweeds"  (Astor)  (reissue)  (3  days 
with  vaude.) 

Fixer  Dug  an"  (RKO)  (3  days  with 
vaude.) 

'BlackweU's  Island"  (W.  B.)  (3rd  run) 
(2  days) 

'The  Story  of   Vernon  and   Irene  Castle" 

I  RKO)    (3rd    run)    (2  days) 
'The    Hound   of    the    Baskervillss"  (20th- 

Fox)    (2  days)    (3rd  run) 
•Winner  Take   All"    (ZOth-Fox)    (3rd  run) 

(2  days) 

KKO    KEITH     BOSTON — (3,300)  (20c- 
^40c)     Gross:  $7,500.     (Average.  $8,000) 
The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 
•Sorority   House"  (RKO) 

<EITH  MEMORIAL— (2.907)  (25c-35c- 
«V-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Aver- 
se. $14,000) 

•Prison  Without  Bars"    (U.  A.) 
Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUN T-(  1 .797 )      (25c  35c - 40c -55c) 
lays.     Gross:  $7,000.     (Average.  $8,000) 
'Prison   Without    Bars"    (U.  A.) 
•Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

FENWAY— (1.382)      (25c-35c-40c-55c)  7 
Mays.    Gross:  $4,500.    (Average,  $5,300) 
Invitation    to    Happiness"  (Para.) 
'Undercover    Doctor"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4.332)  (25c-35c-40c- 
»5c)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average, 
sl4,500) 

'It's  a  Wonderful   World"  (M-G-M) 
'Missing    Daughters"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (2,900)  (25c -35c- 
«0c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,500.  (Average. 
;i  4,000) 

'It's  a  Wonderful   World"  (M-G-M) 
'Missing  Daughters"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,000)  25c-35c-40c- 
•55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,700.  (Average, 
SI  0,000) 

'Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
'Unmarried"  (Para.) 

SCOLLAY— (2.500) 
lays.    Gross:  $6,000. 


(25c-35c-40c-50c) 
(Average.  $5,000) 


'Juarez',  $8,700, 

Is  Omaha  Winner 

Omaha,  June  25.  —  "Juarez," 
iualled  with  "Chasing  Danger,"  hit 
"3,700  at  the  Omaha.  "Rose  of 
Washington  Square"  was  good  for 
$",100  at  the  Orpheum. 
f  Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ng  June  23-24 : 

'Kid  From  Kokomo"   (W.  B.) 
'Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

BRANDEIS— (1.200)   (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Ttoss:  $5,200.      (Average,  $4,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 
'Chasing  Danger"   (20th -Fox) 

OMAHA— (2,200)  (25c-40c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
M.700.     (Average.  $6,000) 

'Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
'Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (3,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
>oss:  $9,100.      (Average.  $7,600) 


Films  Need  Press 
Freedom — W  anger 

Sax  Francisco,  June  25. — Calling 
motion  pictures  one  of  greatest  weap- 
'ons  for  the  safeguarding  of  Democ- 
racy, Walter  Wanger,  producer,  Fri- 
day told  the  American  Library  Con- 
gress that  films  must  enjoy  the  same 
freedom  as  the  press. 

"Films  which  attempt  to  be  informa- 
tive and  which  interpret  burning  ques- 
tions of  the  day  should  not  be  nobbled 
•or  haltered,"  Wanger  said.  "If  films 
cannot  speak  truthfully  and  freely 
where  great  issues  are  involved,  then 
they  can  be  used  as  a  weapon  against 
democracies." 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hollywood,  June  25. — Warners 
will  star  May  Robson  in  "The  Case 
of  the  Dangerous  Dowager,"  a  Perry 
Mason  story  by  Erle  Stanley 
Gardner.  .  .  .  Dudley;  has  been 
signed  by  Samuel  Goldwyx  to  write 
the  screenplay  on  "Seventh  Cavalry," 
forthcoming  Gary  Cooper  vehicle. 
Erxest  Haycox  wrote  the  treatment. 
.  .  .  Alan  Baldwin,  Goldwyn  con- 
tract player,  has  been  loaned  to 
Monogram  for  the  lead  in  "The  Girl 
from  Rio,"  starring  Movita.  .  .  .  Ray 
Millaxd's  Paramount  film,  "The 
W  hite  Flame,"  story  of  the  Canadian 
Northwest,  with  Patricia  Morison 
and  A  KIM  Tamiroff,  will  be  pro- 
duced by  Paul  Jones,  with  George 
Archainbaud  directing. 


Warners  has  purchased  "Lost  Beau- 
ty," story  by  John  van  Druten  for 
Geraldine  Fitzgerald,  George 
Brent,  Jeffrey  Lynn  and  Claude 
Rains.  Edmund  Goulding  will  di- 
rect. .  .  .  Another  purchase  is  "City 
of  Iron  Men,"  based  on  the  famous 
Seaman's  Institute  in  New  York,  as  a 
James  Cagney  vehicle.  .  .  .  Maury 
Con  ex  and  Fortuxio  Bonanova,  co- 
producers  of  Atalaya  Films,  making 
Spanish  pictures  for  United  Artists, 
have  signed  Imperio  Argentina,  Span- 
ish actress,  for  their  second  picture. 
The  deal  is  contingent  on  whether  she 
can  arrange  permission  to  leave  Spain 
and  enter  the  United  States. 

Another  Warner  vehicle  for  Ed- 
ward G.  Robinson  is  announced  as 
"Gusher,"  tale  of  the  oil  fields.  Set 
tentatively  as  supporting  players  are 
Humphrey  Bogart,  Gale  Page, 
John  Payne,  Alan  Hale  and  Jane 
W'yman.  .  .  .  J.  D.  Trop  has  gone  to 
New  York  to  conclude  a  deal  for  dis- 
tribution of  "Taku,"  feature  picture 
of  Alaska,  which  he  produced  with 


Norman  Dawn.  Dawn  some  years 
ago  produced  "Tundra,"  picture  of  the 
frozen  wastelands.  .  .  .  Allan  Lane 
and  Linda  Hayes  will  head  the  cast 
of  "Conspiracy,"  which  Cliff  Reid 
will  produce  and  Lew  Landers  direct. 


Atalaya  Films  has  purchased  two 
novels,  "The  Merry  and  Confident 
City,"  by  Jacinto  Benavente,  and 
"No,  I  Am  Not  a  Gigolo,"  by  Juan 
Desclaux.  .  .  .  John  Garfield  will 
go  into  the  top  role  with  Fay  Bain- 
ter  in  Warners'  "Forgive  Us  Our 
Trespasses,"  based  on  the  Lloyd  C. 
Douglas  novel.  .  .  .  John  Wayne 
drops  out  of  Republic's  "Three  Mes- 
quiteers"  series  under  a  new  contract 
given  him,  and  will  do  instead  five 
high  budget  pictures  a  year.  .  .  . 
Hugh  Herbert  heads  the  supporting 
cast  to  Loretta  Young  and  David 
Niven  in  "Eternally  Yours,"  formerly 
titled  "Whose  Wife?" 


RKO's  "Pennsylvania  Uprising"  is 
now  being  called  "Alleghany  Fron- 
tier." .  .  .  Laraine  Day  draws  the 
feminine  lead  in  "Northwest  Passage," 
at  M-G-M,  in  which  Robert  Taylor, 
Spencer  Tracy  and  Walter  Bren- 
NAN  will  have  the  top  masculine  roles. 
.  .  .  Monogram  is  preparing  for  pro- 
duction on  "Rip  Van  Winkle,"  from 
the  Washington  Irving  story.  .  .  . 
Paramount  has  changed  the  title  of 
"Heaven  on  a  Shoestring"  to  "Happy 
Ending." 


Casting — Tim  Holt  to  "Three 
Sons,"  starring  Edward  Ellis  at 
RKO.  .  .  .  Gene  Lockhart  to  "Black- 
mail," M-G-M.  .  .  .  Charles  Rug- 
gles  to  "Balalaika,"  M-G-M.  .  .  . 
Colin  Tapley  to  "The  Light  That 
Failed."  Paramount. 


Heifetz  Booklets 
Plug  Goldwyn  Film 

New  exploitation  stunt  for  Samuel 
Goldwyn's  "They  Shall  Have  Music" 
is  being  tried  by  United  Artists  with 
the  distribution  of  20,000  copies  of  a 
biographical  study  of  Jascha  Heifetz, 
with  reference  to  his  first  motion  pic- 
ture, which  has  been  prepared  by 
Deems  Taylor,  well  known  music 
critic. 

Booklets  have  been  printed  in  at- 
tractive form  and  will  be  distributed 
to  every  newspaper,  theatre,  circuit 
head  and  music  school  in  the  coun- 
try. Evelyn  Gerstein  and  Art  Catlin 
will  handle  the  work  on  special  as- 
signment in  more  than  75  cities  dur- 
ing the  next  four  weeks. 


Feiber  &  Shea  Now 
Control  Ohio  Town 

Cleveland,  June  25. — Feiber  &  Shea 
have  taken  over  the  Beulah,  Ashta- 
bula, Ohio,  which  gives  the  circuit 
control  of  the  four  theatres  in  the 
town. 


Asks  Kuhn  Libel  Facts 

Warners  filed  application  Friday  in 
U.  S.  District  Court  for  an  order  di- 
recting Fritz  Kuhn  to  file  a  more  de- 
tailed statement  of  his  complaint  in 
his  libel  suit  for  $5,000,000  damages, 
injunction,  and  accounting  on  "Con- 
fessions of  a  Nazi  Spy."  Application 
will  be  heard  on  June  30. 


Warners  to  Appeal 
Argentine  'Spy'  Ban 

Buenos  Aires,  June  25. — Warners 
will  appeal  the  ban  on  "Confessions 
of  a  Nazi  Spy"  to  the  Ministry  of 
Justice  of  Argentina.  The  ban  was 
ordered  by  the  Mayor  of  Buenos  Aires 
last  week. 

Although  the  censorship  officially 
applies  only  to  the  capital,  exhibition 
elsewhere  in  the  country  is  doubtful 
unless  the  ban  is  lifted.  It  is  believed 
official  circles  wish  to  avoid  any  con- 
flict with  the  German  Embassy. 


Governor  Ignores 
Sales  Tax  Appeals 

Albany,  June  25. — Despite  a  plea 
by  the  state  mayor's  conference  for 
consideration  of  the  sales  tax  at  the 
special  session  which  convened  Fri- 
day, Governor  Lehman's  message  to 
the  legislature  specified  only  consider- 
ation of  the  invalidated  budget.  The 
Governor,  if  he  wishes,  can  expand 
the  extraordinary  session  to  permit 
consideration  of  other  measures,  but 
the  message  was  interpreted  to  indi- 
cate that  no  such  permission  will  be 
forthcoming. 


Change  Corporate  Name 

Albany,  June  25. — Change  of  name 
of  Republic  Distributing  Corp.,  Buf- 
falo, to  B.  M.  Film  Exchanges,  Inc., 
has  been  filed  with  the  Secretary  of 
State  here. 


'Lincoln'  Nets 
Seattle  Lead 
With  $8,200 


Seattle,  June  25. — "Young  Mr. 
Lincoln,"  paired  with  "Sorority 
House"  at  the  Fifth  Avenue,  led  here 
with  $8,200.  Other  grosses  were  gen- 
erally off,  with  competition  strong 
from  night  baseball.  The  weather  was 
fair. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  23 : 

"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 
"Ambush"  (Para.) 

BLUE  MOUSE  -(950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days, 
3rd  week  from  Paramount.  Gross:  $3,600. 
(Average,  $4,000) 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

FIFTH  AVENUE— (2,500)  (30c-40c-55c)  8 
days.    Gross:  $8,200.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.  A.) 
"Zenobia"  (U.  A.) 

LIBERTY — (1,800)  (25c-3Oc-40c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Ballerina"  (Mayer-Burstyn) 

MUSIC  BOX— (950)  (30c-40c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,400.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Kid  from  Kokomo"  (W.  B.) 
"Mr.  Moto  in  Danger  Island"  (20th-Fox) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,450)    (30c-40c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,600.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Blue  Montana  Skies"  (Repub.) 
"Whispering  Enemies"  (Col.) 

PALOMAR  — (1,500)    (15c-25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.    Vaudeville  headed  by  Colorado  Hill 
Billies.    Gross:  $5,500.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 
"For  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (3,050)  (30c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,900.    (Average,  $6,000) 


'Chips'  at  $14,500 
Smash  in  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  June  25. — "Goodbye, 
Mr.  Chips"  came  through  with  a 
smash  $14,500  at  the  RKO  Palace. 
"Juarez"  gave  the  RKO  Capitol 
$6,000  in  the  second  week.  Business 
was  only  fair  otherwise. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21-24: 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (2flth-Fox) 

RKO   ALB  EE — (3,300)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"Goodbye,  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  PALACE — (2,700)  (35c-42c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (35c-42c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Ex-Champ"  (Univ.) 

RKO   LYRIC-(1,400)    (35c-42c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $3.C00.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

RKO  GRAND — (1,200)    (25c-40c)   7  days. 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $2,250.    (Average,  $2,750) 
"Within  the  Law"  (M-G-M)  (2  days) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.)  (3  days) 
"Rookie  Cop"  (RKO)  (2  days) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (15c-25c).  Gross: 
SI. 800.    (Average,  $2,400) 
"Clouds  Over  Europe"  (Col.) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (30c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,400.    (Average,  $6,000) 


'Happiness'  Clears 
$8,000,  Providence 

Providence,  June  25.— "Invitation 
to  Happiness"  and  "Silver  on  the 
Sage,"  dualed  at  the  Strand,  took 
$8,000.  Other  houses  did  well. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21-22 : 

"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 
"Silver  on  the  Sage"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,100)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days 
Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Tarzan  Finds  a  Son"  (M-G-M) 
"Panama  Patrol"  (G.  N.) 

LOEW'S  STATE-(3,230)   (25c-35c-50c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10700.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 
"Fcr  Love  or  Money"  (Univ.) 

MAJESTIC-(2,250)   (25c-35c-50c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"Maisie"  (M-G-M) 
"6,00«  Enemies"  (M-G-M) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (25c-35c-50c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  «?.800.    OAverage,  $3,500) 


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V 


30 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  26,  1939 


Short 

Subject 

Reviews 


"Bear  That  Couldn't 

Sleep" 

(Ising-M-G-M) 

Done  in  color,  this  cartoon  tells  the 
story  of  a  bear  who  settles  into  bed 
ready  to  hibernate  for  the  winter.  He 
sets  his  alarm  clock  for  March  1  and 
bolts  the  door.  A  number  of  disturb- 
ances, such  as  a  leaky  roof  ancFbang- 
ing  shutters  keep  him  awake  for  a 
while  and  insomnia  does  the  rest.  As 
he  dozes  off,  the  birds  signal  the  ad- 
vent of  spring.  Pleasant  and  amus- 
ing.   Running  time,  9  mins. 


"Poetry  of  Nature" 

(M-G-M) 

Photography  of  wild  life  in  the 
California  redwood  forests  is  excellent 
in  this  reel.  To  some  unusual  and 
amusing  shots,  is  added  Pete  Smith's 
commentary  which  gives  the  reel  con- 
tinuity. Pete  describes  a  crow  which 
steals  eggs  of  other  birds.  Running 
time,   8  mins. 


"Help  Wanted" 

(M-G-M) 

Latest  in  the  "Crime  Does  Not 
Pay"  series  exposes  the  employment 
agency  racket.  It  tells  the  story  of 
unscrupulous  agencies  which  induce 
employers  and  foremen  to  hire  men 
for  a  month,  collect  half  their  pay  as 
commissions,  and  then  discharge  them 
to  make  way  for  a  new  crew.  It 
packs  a  dramatic  punch.  Running  time, 
21  mins. 


Mealand  Paramount 
Eastern  Story  Head 

Richard  Mealand,  former  associate 
editor  of  Good  Housekeeping,  has 
been  appointed  eastern  story  editor  for 
Paramount,  under  the  supervision  of 
Russell  Holman,  New  York  produc- 
tion head. 

Mealand  succeeds  Richard  Halli- 
day,  who  will  report  at  the  Para- 
mount studio  July  5  to  assume  his 
new  post  as  head  of  the  studio  story 
department.  Mealand  will  share  edi- 
torial duties  here  with  John  Byram, 
continuing  as  eastern  play  editor. 
Mealand  will  start  in  his  new  post 
immediately. 


Permit  Sunday  Films 

New  Bern,  N.  C,  June  25. — Board 
of  Aldermen  has  voted  to  legalize 
Sunday  films  here.  The  shows  will 
be  held  from  2  to  6  P.  M.  and  after 
9:15  P.  M. 


"Juarez"  in  Mexico  City 

Mexico  City,  June  25. — Warners 
"Juarez"  enjoyed  a  brilliant  premiere 
in  the  government's  Palace  of  Fine 
Arts  National  Theatre  here  with  num- 
erous high  government  officials  and 
socialites  attending.  It  is  the  first 
commercial  film  to  be  screened  in  the 
Palace. 


Roosevelt  Back  on  Job 

Hollywood,  June  25. — James  Roose- 
velt returned  to  his  duties  Saturday  at 
the  Goldwyn  studio  following  a  check- 
up on  his  physical  condition  at  the 
Mayo  Clinic,  Rochester,  Minn. 


Seasonal  Decline  Reduces 
Key  Grosses  to  $1,133,950 

The  seasonal  decline  in  business,  plus  the  customary  summer  closings  of 
many  theatres  throughout  the  country,  accounted  for  the  drop  in  the  aggre- 
gate of  key  city  grosses  for  the  week  ending  June  15-16. 

The  total,  from  141  theatres  in  24  cities,  was  $1,133,950,  which  com- 
pares, for  example,  with  a  total  of  $1,256,050  from  153  theatres  in  24  cities 
for  the  week  ending  June  1-2,  according  to  Motion  Picture  Daily's  tabu- 
lation of  box-office  receipts.  The  aggregate  from  143  houses  in  24  cities 
for  the  week  ending  June  8-9  was  $1,141,700. 

Tabulation  of  key  city  grosses  weekly  from  Sept.  8-9  follows : 

No.  Theatres 

8-9   138 

15-16    137 

22-23   138 

29-30  .   137 


Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Sept. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Oct. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Nov. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Dec. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 


6-  7 

13-14 

20-21 

27-28 
3-  4 
10-11 
17-18 
24-25 
1-  2 
8-  9  . 
15-16 

22-23  . 


137 
138 
138 
140 
142 
141 
143 
141 
142 
140 
134 
139 


29-30   . .   150 

5-  6,   1939   151 

12-13   145 

19-20    146 

26-27    145 

2-3    147 

9-10   147 

16-17   "   146 

23-24   •   147 

March    2-3   146 

March    9-10    147 

March  16-17    155 

March  23-24   154 

March  30-31   :  151 

April    6-7   151 

April  13-14    154 

April  20-21    149 

April  27-28    151 

May   4-5    154 

May  11-12    155 

May  18-19    154 

May  25-26    155 

June    1-2    153 

June    8-9   143 

June  15-16    141 

(Copyright,  1939,  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.) 


Gross 

$1,572,U99 
1,407,481 
1,382,059 
1,398,438 
1,519,793 
1,429,288 
1,430,924 
1,394,023 
1,353,407 
1,386,939 
1,323,918 
1,283,153 
1,461,730 
1,275,136 
1,159,371 
1,041,911 
1,562,044 
1,829,822 
1,372,400 
1,368,322 
1,345,715 
1,469,400 
1,494,600 
1,393,100 
1,417,700 
1,400,000 
1,352,050 
1,366,800 
1,439,600 
1,322,225 
1,283,100 
1,639,300 
1,432,900 
1,401,600 
1,386,280 
1,352,845 
1,318,300 
1,274,050 
1,256,050 
1,141,700 
1,133,950 


'Juarez'  Best 
With  $11,000; 
Denver  Gains 


Denver,  June  25. — "Juarez"  was  the 
leader  here,  with  $11,000  at  the  Den- 
ver. "Invitation  to  Happiness"  also 
was  strong,  clearing  $8,000  at 
Denham.  Business  generally 
good. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)  (25c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average,  $3,500; 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

DENHAM — (1,750)  (25c-35c-40c) 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average,  $6,500) 
"Juarez"   (W.  B.) 

DENVER-(2,525)    (25c-35c-40c)  7 
Gross:   $11,000.      (Average,  $9,000) 
"Five  Came  Back"  (RKO) 
"Girl  From  Mexico"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,600)   (25c-3Sc-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:   $7,000.      (Average,  $8,500) 
"The  Gorilla"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

PARAMOUNT-(2,200)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,000.      (Average,  $3,500) 
"Rose  of  Washington  Square"  (20th-Fox) 
"Trapped  in  the  Sky"  (Col.) 

RIALTO— (878)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  "Rose" 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,500.  (Average 
$1,750) 


days. 


days. 


QUIGLEY  PUBLICATIONS 
REGISTRATION  BUREAU 


For  World's  Fair  Visitors 

Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  Telephone  Circle  7-3100 


Name   

Affiliation    

Home  Address   

Arrive   Depart. 


New  York  Address. 
New  York  Phone... 
Members  of  Party.. 


Variety  Club  Award 
To  Flanagan  Today 

Omaha,  June  25.— Variety  Clubs 
of  America  will  present  the  organi- 
zation's national  humanitarian  award 
here  tomorrow  to  Msgr.  Edward  J. 
Flanagan,  founder  and  director  of 
Boys  Town,  Neb. 

John  H.  Harris  of  Pittsburgh,  na- 
tional chief  barker;  John  J.  Maloney, 
Pittsburgh,  Heart  of  Variety,  and  R. 
J.  O'Donnell,  Dallas,  national  chair- 
man, will  be  on  hand  to  participate  in 
the  ceremonies.  Business  and  civic 
leaders  and  persons  prominent  in  the 
industry  will  attend  the  affair. 

John  B.  Kennedy,  radio  news  com- 
mentator, will  be  principal  speaker. 

Harry  J.  Shumow,  M-G-M  ex- 
change manager  and  chief  barker  of 
the  Omaha  club,  is  in  charge  of  ar- 
rangements. 


Clip  the  Coupon  and  Mail  to  World's  Fair  Bureau.  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
1270  Sixth  Avenue,  New  York 


Franklyn  Warner 
Sets  Two  Features 

Franklyn  Warner,  head  of  Fine 
Arts  Pictures,  will  start  production  on 
two  new  features  this  week,  he  said 
Saturday  prior  to  his  departure  from 
New  York  for  the  Coast. 

Warner  was  here  last  week  for  con- 
ferences with  E.  W.  Hammons,  Edu- 
cational-Grand National  head,  on  fu- 
ture releasing  arrangements  with  the 
latter  company. 

Warner  said  that  a  distribution  deal 
for  the  new  pictures  would  await  the 
outcome  of  the  scheduled  meeting  of 
Educational-Grand  National  stock- 
holders-on  Thursday  at  which  pro- 
posed new  financing  for  the  company 
would  be  considered. 


Hampden  to  Films; 
38  Years  on  Stage 

Hollywood,  June  25.  —  Walter 
Hampden,  famous  actor,  Saturday 
capitulated  to  the  movies  after  a  38- 
year  career  on  the  legitimate  stage. 
He  was  signed  by  RKO  to  play  the 
role  of  the  archbishop  in  "The  Hunch- 
back of  Notre  Dame"  with  Charles 
Laughton. 


■ 


doming 
Soon! 


THE  INDUSTRY'S 
WORLDWIDE  REFER- 
ENCE AUTHORITY 


NTERNATIONAL 

viOTION  PICTURE  ALMANAC 
1939-40 


RDER  TODAY-$3.25  POSTPAID 


QP 


Revised,  enlarged  and  brought  up  to  the  minute, 
it  will  include  every  development  of  a  dramatic 
year.  There  will  be  more  than  1,200  pages 
crammed  with  facts  and  figures  covering  every 
phase  of  the  motion  picture  industry. 

The  Who's  Who  Section  will  record  over  I  1 ,000 
biographies;  statistical  data  will  include  every 
branch  of  Production,  Distribution  and  Exhibi- 
tion. And    .    .    .    also  a  Radio  Department. 


QUICLEY  PUBLICATIONS 


ROCKEFELLER  CENTER 


NEW  YORK 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  26,  1!' 


Grosses  Hold 
On  Broadway, 
Outside  Cities 


Circuit  business  out  of  town  is  run- 
ning better  than  last  year,  according 
to  Loew's  officials,  who  attribute  this 
to  a  number  of  strong  attractions.  It 
is  expected  that  business  will  hold 
its  own  through  the  Summer,  and 
few  closings  are  indicated. 

Oscar  A.  Doob,  Loew  advertising 
and  publicity  chief,  worked  out  an 
"optimism"  story  with  Jack  Smith  of 
the  J ' ournal- American,  the  idea  being 
to  counteract  the  word  of  mouth  and 
newspaper  reports  that  "main  stem" 
theatre  business  was  off  on  account 
of  the  World's  Fair  draw  and  the 
columnists'  quips  that  "Grover 
Whalen  had  given  Broadway  six 
weeks  to  get  out  of  town." 

The  paper  ran  a  six-column  photo 
layout  showing  crowds  in  front  of 
Loew's  State,  Capitol,  Music  Hall 
and  other  theatres  an  an  appropriate 
story.  The  caption  said,  "Business 
is  picking  up  on  Broadway." 

Theatre  grosses  along  the  "main 
stem"  were  reported  up  in  the  last 


BBC  Use  of  U.  S. 
Shorts  Is  Halted 

Opposition  of  distribution  execu- 
ives  of  American  companies  in  Lon- 
don to  the  proposal  for  making  old 
short  subjects  available  to  British 
Broadcasting  Co.  for  television  use 
appears  to  have  successfully  barred 
the  move  for  the  present. 

Television  committee  of  the  M.  P. 
P.  D.  A.  will  prepare  both  a  majority 
and  minority  report  on  the  B.  B.  C. 
request  in  the  next  week  or  10  days, 
it  is  believed.  Indications  are  that  the 
majority  report  will  recommend  re- 
jection of  the  British  application  for 
films  and  the  minority  report  will  set 
forth  reasons  for  giving  future  con- 
sideration to  the  request. 


Ex-RKO  Directors 
Out  of  Trust  Action 

Former  directors  of  RKO  will  be 
dropped  as  defendants  in  the  Govern- 
ment's anti-trust  suit,  under  a  stipula- 
tion entered  with  Federal  Judge  Bondy 
on  Saturday. 

The  former  board  members  are  Cor- 
nelius N.  Bliss,  Edward  W.  Harder, 
DeWitt  Millhauser,  David  Sarnoff, 
M.  H.  Aylesworth,  Maurice  Goodman, 
Frederick  Strauss.  Also  dropped  is 
Courtland  Smith,  former  president  of 
Pathe  News. 

New  board  members  will  be  added 
as  defendants  when  Judge  Bondy  ap- 
proves the  directorate. 


New  Shares  Issued 
By  Transamerican 

Albany,  June  25. — Issuance  of  new 
shares  and  elimination  of  the  old  stock 
set-up  by  Transamerican  Broadcasting 
and  Television  Corp.  were  made 
known  here  through  papers  submitted 
to  Michael  F.  Walsh,  Secretary  of 
State,  by  Sol  A.  Rosenblatt,  New 
York.  Formerly,  2,000  shares,  with  no 
par  value,  were  in  existence.  The  pres- 
ent plan  permits  3,500  shares,  with 
1,000  common,  no  par,  and  2,500  pre- 
ferred with  par  value  of  $100  each. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


FIGHT  A  BARGAIN  .  .  .  According  to  our  information,  and  it  is  utterly 
reliable,  the  Magazine  Repeating  Razor  Co.  is  paying  a  flat  half-hour  of 
$6,000  in  time  charges  for  the  59  Blue  network  stations  that  will  carry 
the  Joe  Louis-Tony  Galento  fight.  That's  the  time  fee  whether  the  fight  goes 
the  full  hour,  or  closes  in  one  punch. 

This,  by  all  odds,  is  probably  the  most  advantageous  time  buy  since  radio 
became  available  to  nationwide  ears.  Compared  to  what  Buick  Motor  Co. 
paid  in  time  charges  for  the  past  two  Louis  fights,  it  is  a  drop  in  the  bucket. 

Just  how  much  the  client  is  paying  Fight  Promoter  Mike  Jacobs  for  the 
fight  is  not  known,  although  presumably  this  fee,  too,  is  a  bargain  because 
of  the  difficulty  encountered  in  selling  the  fight.  The  client  in  addition  will 
pay  for  the  announcers  and  commentators.  Ben  Grauer  will  be  the  roving  in- 
terviewer, Bill  Stern  will  do  the  blow-by-blow,  and  Howard  Petrie  will 
deliver  the  commercials  from  the  studio.  As  yet  unselected  is  the  announcer 
who  will  do  the  "color"  angle  of  the  fight. 

T 

NBC  TOUR  CLEANUP  .  .  .  Cash  from  World  Fair  visitors  is  clinking 
a  merry  tune  in  the  NBC  cash  registers  for  studio  and  television  tours. 
Friday  was  the  all-time  attendance  high  for  the  year,  with  payees  numbering 
3,055.  Biggest  tour  business  was  during  the  American  Legion  convention 
here,  but  NBC  expects  to  top  the  Legion  mark  when  the  Fair  trek  gets  under 
full  headway,  some  time  in  July. 

T 

TRANSCRIPTIONS  CLICK  .  .  .  Transcribed  shows,  "Meet  Miss  Julia" 
and  "Career  of  Alice  Blair,"  which  have  been  undergoing  tests  on  a  handful 
of  stations  during  the  past  few  months,  have  proved  airworthy,  and  starting 
July  10  they'll  be  spotted  over  51  stations.  They  are  McCann-Erickson  pro- 
grams, for  Flit  and  Daggett  &  Ramsdell,  respectively. 

▼ 

AGENCY  DIDOS  .  .  .  Quite  wonderful  are  the  ways  of  agency  folk. 
We've  just  learned  that  the  J.  Walter  Thompson  offices  in  Chicago  include  a 
number  of  "thinking  rooms."  After  a  session  in  one  of  the  rooms,  jaded 
copywriters  are  supposed  to  emerge  with  minds  refreshed.  Also,  the  Neisser- 
Meyerhoff  agency  features  a  round  "huddle  desk."  Idea  men  sit  in  the  slots 
of  the  circular  desk,  noses  almost  touching,  and  stare  at  each  other  until  an 
idea  arrives. 

T 

PERSONALS  .  .  .  Tom  Fizdale  left  Friday  for  a  number  of  days  in  Chi- 
cago. .  .  .  Ruth  Chatterton,  who  has  never  before  been  heard  on  a  script 
show,  has  been  signed  for  a  lead  role  in  the  network  serial,  "Big  Sister." 
.  .  .  Niles  Trammell  of  NBC  will  address  the  Woodmen  of  the  World  to- 
night. .  .  .  Bette  Davis  had  a  throat  ailment  and  consequently  was  unable 
to  fulfill  her  date  on  Chase  &  Sanborn  yesterday.  .  .  .  Walter  G.  Preston, 
Jr.,  assistant  to  John  Royal,  has  been  elected  to  serve  on  the  Yale  Alumni 
Board  .  .  .  Tenor  John  Carter  was  tendered  a  farewell  dinner  yesterday 
at  the  Bear  Mountain  Inn.    He  returns  to  Hollywood  this  week. 

T 

CBS  SHIFT  ...  Ed  Cashman  of  the  CBS  artists  bureau,  has  been  con- 
verted into  a  producer  and  is  currently  handling  the  Hal  Kemp  "Time  to 
Shine"  show.  Peter  Toyer  from  the  West  Coast  will  replace  Cashman  in  the 
artist  bureau. 

T 

RENEWAL  .  .  .  Beneficial  Management  Corp.,  sponsoring  the  script 
serial,  "Doc  Barclay's  Daughters,"  has  written  a  second  26-week  renewal  of 
the  series.    Blackett-Sample-Hummert  is  the  agency. 

T 

ADD  SUGGESTIONS  .  .  .  From  Tom  Casey  of  the  Ivy  Lee-T.  J.  Ross 
offices,  a  note  anent  our  recent  suggestion  that  NBC  triy  to  sell  the  Louis- 
Galento  fight  to  Bristol-Myers  for  Vitalis  "the  60  second  workout,"  and 
Minit-Rub.  "If  Tony  is  still  in  the  ring  after  four  rounds,"  writes  Casey, 
"he  ought  to  be  groggy  enough  to  make  the  customers  appreciate  a  Ply- 
mouth-Chrysler Tie-up  :  'Look  at  All  Three  !'  " 


Radio  Executives 
Back  from  Abroad 

Radio  contingent  which  arrived  Sat- 
urday on  the  new  Cunard  liner  Manre- 
tania,  comprised  Johnny  Johnstone, 
publicity  director  of  WOR ;  John 
Steele,  European  commentator  for  Mu- 
tual ;  William  Shirer,  European  repre- 
sentative of  CBS;  Miss  Mildred  Bout- 
wood  for  NBC ;  Michael  Wren  of 
Transradio  ~  and  B.  D.  Freeston,  C.  J. 
Gardiner,  L.  F.  Lewis,  A.  R.  Phillips 
and  F.  W.  Chignall,  all  of  British 
Broadcasting  Corp. 


Gregg  on  Far  East  Tour 

E.  S.  Gregg,  general  foreign  mana- 
ger of  ERPI,  departed  Sunday  on  a 
four  months'  inspection  tour  of  his 
company's  activities  in  the  Far  East. 
After  a  brief  stop  on  the  coast,  he  will 
sail   from   San   Francisco  June  30. 


Radio  Technicians 
Will  Join  A.  F.  of  L. 

Omaha,  June  25. — Members  of  As- 
sociated Broadcast  Technicians,  inde- 
pendent radio  union,  will  soon  affiliate 
with  the  A.  F.  of  L.,  according  to 
Walter  Myers  of  KOWH,  national 
vice-president  of  A.  B.  T. 

The  Omaha-Lincoln  chapter,  of 
which  Myers  is  president,  includes  30 
technicians  from  staffs  of  KOIL  and 
KOWH,  Omaha,  and  KFOR  and 
KFAB,  Lincoln. 


'Dr.  I.       Shifts  July  10 

Mars,  Inc.,  sponsoring  the  quiz 
series,  "Dr.  I.  Q."  over  a  split  Blue 
network,  without  a  New  York  City 
outlet,  is  shifting  the  series  to  the  Red 
network  beginning  July  10.  The  net- 
work will  comprise  32  stations,  in- 
cluding WEAF. 


British  Film 
Parley  Takes 
Up  Televisioi 


London,  June  25. — Television  v 
be  the  major  subject  before  the  ;( 
nual  Summer  conference  of  the  Cii 
matograph  Exhibitors'  Assoc 
which  opens  tomorrow  at  BlacV 
seaside  resort. 

Among  important  speakers  and  si 
jects  will  be  Reginald  Stamp,  ent 
tainment  chief  of  the  London  Com 
Council,  on  theatre  licensing;  Caj 
Richard  Norton,  production  executi 
on  production;  A.  B.  Watts,  on  e 
hibitor  problems;  and  Major  C. 
Bell,  on  television. 

"The  Sun  Never  Sets,"  Univer 
film,  and  "Poison  Pen,"  Associai 
British  release,  are  to  be  screened. 


Kansas  Will  Changi 
Tax  Payment  Syste 

Topeka,  Kan.,  June  25. — The  Io 
bracket  system  of  sales  tax  payme: 
is  expected  to  be  adopted  by  the  K; 
sas  tax  commission  for  collection 
the  two  per  cent  levy  when  the  pr 
ent  tokens  go  out  on  July  1.  T 
system  calls  for  one  cent  on  pi 
chases  of  15  cents  to  65  cents,  t. 
cents  on  purchases  of  65  cents 
$1.15,  no  tax  on  purchases  of  I 
than  15  cents. 

Since  it  is  mandatory  under  1 
Kansas  sales  tax  law  that  the  reta 
er,  or  exhibitor,  report  on  all  sa 
and  pay  the  tax  on  them,  10-cent  i 
missions,  unless  bought  in  groups 
two  or  more,  won't  return  the  exhi 
tor  anything.  However,  the  perct 
tage  collected  on  the  15,  20,  25,  a 
30-cent  admissions — or  any  less  th 
50  cents — will  yield  more  than  t 
prescribed  two  per  cent.  Exhibitc 
in  states  using  the  bracket  system 
collection  have  found  it  profitable, 
is  said. 


RKO  Books  Called 
In  Suit  Over  RenU 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Carew  ; 
Saturday  signed  an  order  for  exarP 
nation  before  trial  of  RKO  officials 
connection  with  the  suit  of  S.  and  ! 
Sonn  for  recovery  of  rents  involvi 
the  RKO  White  Plains. 

The  sweeping  order  calls  for 
covery  of  books  and  records  of  t 
entire  RKO  circuit.    Plaintiffs  clai 
the  circuits  defaulted  in  rent  and  se 
$200,000. 

Defendants  are  RKO  Theatres  Cor 
RKO  Service  Corp.,  RKO  Film  Boo 
ing  Corp.  Plaintiffs  are  represent 
by  Weisman,  Quinn,  Allan  and  Spe 


Canty  Quits  Universal 

George  R.  Canty,  formerly  engage 
in  the  diplomatic  service  of  the  U. 
Government,  but  who  for  the  past  tv 
years  has  been  Universal's  Gener 
Manager  for  Continental  Europe,  h; 
just  resigned  his  position  with  Ur 
versal  in  order  to  return  to  his  woi 
with  the  Government. 


RCA  Promotes  Two 

Appointment  of  Fred  W.  Wentk 
as  assistant  Photophone  division  mai 
ager,  and  of  W.  L.  Jones  as  nation 
service  manager,  has  been  announce 
by  the  RCA  Manufacturing  Compan 


Alert. 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


OL.  45.  NO.  123 


NEW  YORK.  TUESDAY,  JUNE  27.  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


\>lit  in  AFA 
Widens;  Trial 
Board  Picked 


id  to  Oust  Whitehead; 
Hearing  on  July  10 

A  grievance  meeting  of  about  500 
tt:-administration  members  of  the 
inierican  Federation  of  Actors  was 
hid  early  this  morning  at  the  Palm 
arden. 

lit  was  indicated  before  the  session 
:at  the  meeting  would  adopt  a  reso- 
ttion  asking  the  removal  of  Ralph 
Whitehead,  executive  secretary.  They 
Bo  were  expected  to  decide  on  ac- 
bn  to  be  taken  at  the  trial  of  the 
l.F.A  executives  July  10  before  the 
■s>ociated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
nierica,  parent  body. 
The  4A,  meanwhile,  is  considering 
issible  action  against  the  A.F.A.  for 
■faulting  in  its  answer  to  the  4A 
ixcific  charges,  due  Saturday. 
The  procedure  against  the  A.F.A. 
being  challenged  by  Abraham  J. 
.alprin,  its  counsel,  who  conferred 
isterday  with  Joseph  A.  Pad  way. 
eneral  counsel  for  the  American 
^deration  of  Labor. 
A  trial  board  of  more  than  30 
•.embers  on  July  10  will  hear  charges 
'  maladministration  preferred  against 
le  A.F.A.  The  hearing  will  be  be- 
•re  the  international  board  of  the 
\'s  including  delegates  from  the  11 
filiated  unions. 

Besides  the  A.F.A.  representatives, 
hich  are  to  be  named,  the  trial  jury 
ill  include : 

Actors'  Equity :  Walter  N.  Greaza, 
eed  Brown.  Jr..  Maida  Reade ;  Win- 
red  Lenihan.  Benjamin  S.  Lackland, 
ternates. 

Screen  Actors  Guild :  Lucille  Glea- 
on,  Richard  Bishop,  Frank  Mc- 
[ellis. 

American  Federation  of  Radio  Art- 
Is  :  Alex  McKee,  Mark  Smith, 
[rs.  Emily  Holt;  Wilfred  Lytell, 
td  Corsia.  alternates. 

American  Guild  of  Musical  Artists : 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Michalove  to  Fill 
Post  in  Australia 

Dan  Michalove,  assistant  to  S.  R. 

ent.  president  of  20th  Century-F°x- 
eaves  for  Australia  in  August  or 
eptember  in  an  advisory  capacity  on 
perations  of  the  new  General  The- 
tres  circuit,  which  will  consist  of 
He  merged  Hoyts  and  Greater  Union 
nterests.  He  probably  will  be  there 
*o  years.  Michalove  spent  about 
ve  months  in  Australia  last  year  in 
onection  with  a  survey  of  the  Hoyts 
leatres. 


Majors  to  Answer 
Trust  Suit  Thursday 

Answers  of  the  majors  to 
the  Government's  anti-trust 
suit  will  contend  that  the 
Government  figures  and  sta- 
tistics in  its  complaint  are 
inaccurate,  attorneys  for 
defendants  revealed  yester- 
day. The  major  defendants, 
which  expect  to  file  separate 
answers  on  Thursday,  will 
ask  for  a  dismissal  of  the 
complaint  with  a  forthright 
denial  of  all  Government 
charges.  The  Government 
will  also  be  taken  to  task 
for  alleged  misuse  of  trade 
terms,  attorneys  said. 


Oklahoma  Theatre 
Men  Elect  Today 

Oklahoma  City,  June  26.— -Elec- 
tion of  officers  will  be  the  principal 
business  confronting  the  annual  con- 
vention of  the  Oklahoma  Theatre 
Owners,  Inc.,  here  tomorrow. 

Yesterday  afternoon  the  following 
nominating  committee  was  appointed 
to  formulate  overnight  the  slate  of 
officers :  Ralph  Talbot,  Tulsa ;  Leon- 
ard White,  Weatherford;  C.  O.  Fulg- 
ham,  Oklahoma  City ;  Luther  Groves, 
Sapulpa,  and  Carl  Burton  of  Cordell. 

Tomorrow  afternoon  Ed  Kuyken- 
dall,  president  of  M.  P.  T.  O.  A., 
will  speak.  He  will  discuss  trade 
practices,  block  booking  and  other 
problems  vital  to  the  film  industry. 

The  convention  is  expected  to  vote 
upon  the  acceptance  or  rejection  of 
the  arbitration    clauses    as    now  in- 

(Continucd  on  fane  8) 


Broadway  Fetes 
For  Eddie  Cantor; 
Returns  to  Stage 


Eddie  Cantor's  return  to  a  Broad- 
way theatre  after  an  absence  of  six 
years  from  the  Main  Stem  will  be 
celebrated  tomorrow  and  Thursday  by 
the  Broadway  Association.  Cantor  be- 
gins a  week's  engagement  at  the 
Loew's  State  theatre  Thursday,  and 
this  is  part  of  the  ballyhoo. 

Tomorrow  the  Association  will 
sponsor  a  luncheon  honoring  the  com- 
edian at  the  Astor,  with  200  expected. 
Present  will  be  Mayor  F.  H.  La- 
Guardia,  Borough  President  Stanley 
Isaacs,  James  J.  Walker,  former  may- 
or, and  a  host  of  Broadway  personali- 
ties including  George  M.  Cohan.  Rudy 
Yallee,  George  Jessel,  Fred  Waring. 
Harry  Richman  and  others. 

A  scroll  signed  by  everyone  present 
will  be  presented  to  Cantor  "in  appre- 
ciation for  all  he  has  done  and  will 
do  for  Broadway." 

Prior  to  the  luncheon  Cantor  will 
officiate  at  the  dedication  of  the  Loew- 
M-G-M  World's  Fair  Information 
Center  at  Times  Square. 

At  Thursday  noon  Cantor  will  be 
the  center  of  a  parade  starting  at  57th 
and  Broadway  to  Loew's  State. 

The  State  has  designated  days  for 
boroughs  of  Manhattan,  Bronx, 
Brooklyn  and  Queens.  Saturday  will 
be  East  Side  Day.  The  final  night, 
Wednesday,  will  be  a  celebration  by 
the  Grand  Street  Boys  Association 
The  members  will  march  to  the  thea- 
tre in  a  body.  Former  Judge  Jonah 
J.  Goldstein,  president,  will  present 
Cantor  a  diamond  pin  insignia  of  the 
Association. 


Late  News  Flashes 


Chicago,  June  26. — Postponement  of  the  independents'  suit  against  Bala- 
ban  &  Katz  and  the  majors  until  Fall  seemed  likely  today  when  it  was  learned 
that  the  defendants'  attorneys  and  witnesses  will  be  tied  up  with  the  govern- 
ment's case  here  for  some  months.  Next  hearing  on  the  independents'  suit  is 
Friday  at  which  time  Judge  Wilkerson  will  probably  set  a  date  for  early 
this  Fall. 


Hollywood,  June  26. — Del  Goodman,  Far  East  distribution  manager  for 
Twentieth  Century-Fox,  who  arrived  today  for  studio  conferences,  said  that, 
although  China  and  Japan  now  furnish  a  negligible  market,  India  is  far  more 
favorable.  He  added  that  Fox  is  now  planning  to  aid  Indian  production  and 
distribution.   Goodman  leaves  for  New  York  later  this  week. 


Los  Angeles,  June  26. — Attorney  A.  Brigham  Rose  for  deposed  officers  of 
Technicians  Local  37  today  closed  the  presentation  of  testimony  by  attacking 
the  validity  of  a  telegram  purportedly  from  George  Browne,  I.A.T.S.E.  head, 
ordering  seizure  of  the  Local's  premises  and  books  last  March.  Counsel  for 
two  International  officers  in  charge  of  Hollywood  affairs  will  open  the 
defense  case  tomorrow  morning.  The  Local's  testimony,  which  has  consumed 
several  weeks  of  trial  in  Superior  Court,  seeks  to  set  aside  I.A.T.S.E.  can- 
cellation of  the  charter  and  restore  autonomy  to  it. 


Sidney  K.  Kent 


Hope  for  Code 
Despite  Defeat 
By  Allied:  Kent 

It's  Negotiation  or  Court 
On  Trust  Suit,  He  Says 

By  SAM  SHAIN 

Anti-trust  laws,  the  trade  practice 
code  and  the  Spanish  language  film 
situation  in.  South  America  held  re- 
porters' interest 
when  they  met 
Sidney  R.  Kent, 
president  of  20th 
Century  -  Fox, 
yesterday,  upon 
his  return  to 
the  States  after 
attending  suc- 
cessful sales 
meetings  of  his 
company  in 
Buenos  Aires 
and  Trinidad. 

On  the  pend- 
ing anti  -  trust 
law  suit  in  New 
York  by  the 
Government  against  major  companies, 
Kent  said :" 

"All  the  industry  can  do  is  to  try 
to  negotiate  out  of  the  case  or  battle 
it  through  the  courts." 

Distributors'  Final  Offer 

On  the  trade  practice  code,  he 
stated : 

"The  rejection  of  the  code  by  Al- 
lied is  not  the  determining  effect  of 
the  code.  It  may  have  to  be  tackled 
from  another  angle.  The  distribu- 
tors have  made  their  final  offer. 

"Allied's  rejection  of  the  trade 
practice  code,  was  not  unexpected." 

Kent  recalled  to  the  inquiring  news- 
men that  he  had  predicted  such  Allied 
action  as  possible,  at  the  time  he  sailed 
for  South  America,  several  weeks  ago. 

The  code  will  be  submitted  to  ex- 
hibitors individually,  in  view  of  Al- 
lied's recent  action. 

Calls  Myers  Presumptuous 

"After  we  have  made  all  the  con- 
cessions possible,  we  would  probably 
have  a  better  chance  with  the  Gov- 
ernment than  with  Allied.  I  would 
rather  take  chances  with  Thurman 
Arnold  than  with  Abram  Myers.  Ar- 
nold has  a  job  to  do  and  we  know 
that  he  is  doing  it  the  best  he  knows 
how. 

"We  don't  know  what  is  in  Myers' 
mind— certainly  he  can't  be  thinking 
of  peace. 

"Abram  Myers  is  presumptuous  in 
expecting  us  to  talk  with  him  on  di- 
vorcement.    Such  discussions  cannot 
(Continued  on  pane  2) 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  27,  193': 


Theatres  Vote 
to  End  Policy 

Of  Giveaways 


Beginning  next  Monday,  July  3,  a 
number  of  theatres  in  the  Manhattan 
midtown  section  will  eliminate  give- 
aways of  all  kinds.  The  agreement 
includes  Loew's,  RKO,  Brandt,  Con- 
solidated Amusement,  William  Yoost 
and  others. 

The  areas  covered  are  34th  to  72nd 
Sts.,  on  the  west  side,  and  from  34th 
to  59th  Sts.  on  the  east  side.  This 
is  an  experiment,  and  if  it  works  out 
may  be  extended. 

The  agreement  was  negotiated 
through  the  offices  of  the  I.T.O.A.,  at 
meetings  attended  by  C.  C.  Mosko- 
litz  of  Loew's,  John  J.  O'Connor  of 
RKO,  Harry  Brandt,  Laurence  Bo- 
lognino  and  other  circuit  heads,  who 
believe  it  is  a  step  in  the  right  direc- 
tion. 

Among  theatres  who  will  abolish 
cash  prizes  and  premiums  are  Loew's 
42nd  St.  and  Lincoln  Square;  RKO's 
Colonial  and  58th  St. ;  Consolidated's 
Arena  and  Tivoli  and  several  Brandt 
and  Yoost  houses. 


Hays  to  Coast  Soon 

Will  H.  Hays  is  scheduled  to  leave 
for  the  Coast  at  the  end  of  the  week 
where  he  will  spend  the  remainder  of 
the  Summer  at  his  Hidden  Valley 
ranch.  Hays  returns  to  New  York 
tomorrow  from  Indianapolis  where  he 
attended  his  son's  wedding.  He  will 
preside  at  the  adjourned  meeting  of 
the  M.  P.  P.  D.  A.  board  on  Friday 
and  will  leave  for  the  Coast  either 
the  same  day  or  Saturday. 


LOS  ANGELES 
BOUND? 


ONLY  OVERNIGHT 

VIA 


$14995 


Sleep  your  way  to  Los  Angeles — on  TWA's 
"Sky  Chief" — fastest  air  service  coast-to- 
coast.  Leave  5:30  any  afternoon  —  arrive 
7:13  next  morning! 

TO  SAN  FRANCISCO  —  via  Los  Angeles 
or  Boulder  Dam!  120-day  stopover  privi- 
leges,    anywhere     en    route,     at     no  extra 

fare  $149.95 

KANSAS  CITY — New  Daily  afternoon  ser- 
vice— leave  at  1:00  p.m. — arrive  in  Kansas 
City    at    8:15    p.m  .$66.45 

10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 

Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Time 
Phone  Travel  Agent  or  MU  6-1640 
Transcontinental  &  Western  Air,  Inc. 
70  E.   42nd  St.— Air  Desk,  Penn. 
Station 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


HARRY  COHN,  Abe  Schneider, 
William  Sussman,  Cresson 
Smith,  Morris  Helprin,  Al  Margo- 
lies,  Monroe  Greenthal,  Sam 
Shain,  Max  Fellerman,  Rube 
Jackter,  Abe  Montague,  Nat  Levy, 
Nate  Spingold,  Harry  Cohen 
(RKO),  Walter  Branson,  at  Lin- 
dy's  for  lunch  yesterday. 

• 

Tony  Reddin,  director  of  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  for  Paramount  in 
Great  Britain,  visited  yesterday  with 
A-Mike  Vogel,  chairman  of  Man- 
agers' Round  Table  of  Motion  Picture 
Herald. 

• 

Larry  Starsmore,  manager  of  Col- 
orado Westland  theatres,  was  married 
in  Taos,  N.  M.,  to  Cecelia  Heid  of 
Colorado  Springs,  where  they  will 
make  their  home. 

• 

Art  Cooper,  manager  of  the  Prince 
Edward,  Prince  Edward  Island,  in 
town  for  the  Fair,  was  a  visitor  at 
Managers'  Round  Table  headquarters 
yesterday. 

• 

Stanley  Gosnell,  manager  of 
Loew's,  Toronto,  was  a  visitor  at  the 
home  office.  Eddie  Richardson  of 
Loew's  Orpheum,  Boston,  also  was 
here. 

• 

Mrs.  Doris  Wise  Sideman,  secre- 
tary to  William  O'Donnell,  city 
manager  of  the  Interstate  Circuit, 
Texas,  is  in  Mexico  City. 

• 

Walter  J.  Hutchinson,  head  of 
the  foreign  department  of  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, will  arrive  from  Trinidad 
in  about  a  week. 

• 

Lee  Brandenfeld,  formerly  20th 
Century-Fox  manager  in  Czechoslo- 
vakia, has  been  assigned  to  Mexico 
City. 

Charles  Coburn  is  in  town  and 
will  attend  the  opening  of  "Bachelor 
Mother,"  RKO  film,  at  the  Music 
Hall  on  Thursday. 

• 

Joseph  Moskowitz,  Irving  Hoff- 
man, Arthur  Lee,  Joe  Pincus,  Jack 
Goetz,  Bert  Wheeler  lunching  at 
Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern  yesterday. 
• 

Basil  Dean,  British  producer  and 
director,  departs  for  England  tomor- 
row on  the  Aquitania. 

• 

Ruth    Schwerin   of  Monogram's 
publicity  department  was  operated  on 
at  the  French  Hospital  yesterday. 
• 

Eddie  Bremer  of  the  Kerby  in 
Houston,  Texas,  is  vacationing  in 
Kerrville. 

Maurice  Brunet  of  the  Columbia 
home  office  celebrates  a  birthday  to- 
morrow. 

• 

Walter  Brown,  midwest  division 
manager  of  Ross  Federal  Service,  has 
returned  to  Chicago  after  a  week's 
vacation  in  New  York. 

• 

Earle  Wingart  of  20th  Century- 
Fox  publicity  department  is  vacation- 
ing. 

• 

Mary  Pickford  and  Buddy  Rogers 
are  seeing  the  sights  in  Moscow. 
• 

Roy  Disney  will  leave  for  the  coast 
on  Thursday. 


GEORGE  W.  WEEKS,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  sales  for  Mono- 
gram, has  left  on  a  tour  of  21  ex- 
changes which  will  take  six  or  seven 
weeks.  He  is  due  back  in  New  York 
about  the  middle  of  August. 

• 

Nate  Evans  and  Chalmers  Cul- 
lins  of  the  Savoy  and  Orpheum  The- 
atres in  Memphis,  Tenn. ;  Nat  Wil- 
liams, Interstate  Enterprises,  Thom- 
asville,  Ga. ;  Carl  A.  Russell,  Va- 
lencia, Evanston,  111.,  were  visitors  at 
the  RKO  World's  Fair  lounge  yes- 
terday. Also  H.  M.  Lowenstein, 
treasurer  of  the  Griffith  Amusement 
Co.,  Ardmore,  Okla. ;  C.  Martinez 
Davila,  Martinez  Theatre,  Santiago, 
Chile,  and  Lane  King,  Adrian  The- 
atre, Adrian,  Minn. 

• 

Erich  Pommer,  producer  of  "Ja- 
maica Inn" ;  Garson  Kanin,  director 
of  RKO's  "Bachelor  Mother,"  and 
Grace  Moore  will  sail  on  the  Nor- 
mandie  tomorrow.  Also  Harold 
Rosson,  cameraman,  and  Sam  Le- 
vene,  actor. 

• 

Jack  Benny,  Andy  Devine  and 
Eddie  Anderson  (Rochester)  accom- 
panied by  their  wives,  arrive  in  New 
York  today  from  Waukegan,  111., 
where  they  attended  the  opening  of 
Benny's  Paramount  film,  "Man  About 
Town." 

• 

Percy  Taylor,  who  has  been  on  a 
leave  of  absence  from  his  duties  as 
western  Canadian  division  manager 
for  Columbia,  has  returned  to  To- 
ronto from  California. 

• 

Ray  Milland,  Paramount  player, 
arrived  in  New  York  yesterday  from 
abroad  on  the  Normandie.  He  flew 
to  the  coast  last  night. 

• 

Frank  C.  Walker  has  returned 
from  Butte,  Mont.,  where  he  was 
called  by  the  death  of  Mrs.  Walk- 
er's father. 

• 

Barney  Balaban,  Paramount  pres- 
ident, is  spending  a  week  or  10  days 
vacationing  in  the  Thousand  Islands. 
• 

Richard  Thorpe,  M-G-M  director, 
is  due  in  New  York  from  the  coast 
today. 

• 

Leon  Goodman  of  Loew's  publicity 
department  will  be  married  Sunday  to 
Frances  Delugo. 

• 

George  Schenck,  Loew's  district 
manager,  is  vacationing. 


Legion  Approves  IS 
Of  15  New  Pictures 

National  Legion  of  Decency  has  ap- 
proved 13  of  15  new  pictures,  nine  for 
general  patronage,  four  for  adults, 
and  has  condemned  two.  The  films 
and  their  classification  follow. 

Class  A-l,  Unobjectionable  for 
General  Patronage — "Clouds  Over 
Europe,"  "Four  Feathers,"  "Grand 
Jury's  Secrets,"  "In  Old  Caliente," 
"Land  of  Liberty,"  "Mountain 
Rhythm,"  "Mutiny  on  the  Blackhawk," 
"Tarzan  Finds  a  Son,"  "Western 
Caravans."  Class  A-2,  Unobjection- 
able for  Adults — "Good  Girls  Go  to 
Paris,"  "The  Magnificent  Fraud," 
"Man  About  Town,"  "Naughty  But 
Nice."  Class  C,  Condemned — "Chil- 
dren of  the  Sun,"  "The  Pace  That 
Kills." 

r 


Hope  for  Code 
Despite  Defeat 
By  Allied:  Kenl 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

be  binding  on  him,  on  us  or  tin 
United  States  Government." 

On  the  South  American  situation 
the  20th  Century-Fox  chieftain,  said  j 

"The  best  way  to  serve  Sostfi 
America  is  to  give  them  good  pictunte 
Down  there,  as  up  here,  the  peopli 
don't  want  to  go  to  inferior  pictures 

"There  are  certain  types  of  Spanisl 
productions  which  are  especially  suit 
able  for  local  consumption.  Nativi 
showmen  can  do  better  with  thes<  I 
than  we  can,  and  they  should  be  le 
alone  to  do  them." 

Kent  spoke  highly  of  the  fine  hos 
pitality  shown  to  him  and  his  asso 
ciates  not  only  by  Government  official: 
in  Buenos  Aires  and  in  Trinidad,  bu 
also  by  exhibitors  and  the  press. 

"Nobody  could  have  been  more  hosl 
pitable,"  he  said. 

"It  is  too  bad  all  executives  of  al| 
the  American  companies  couldn'f 
travel  to  South  America  and  set) 
things  for  themselves.  It  is  mucl 
more  impressive  from  down  there  thai" 
from  New  York." 


American  Films  Still 
Dominate  Argentina 

Native  Spanish  language  film  pro- 
duction in  South  America  can  nevei 
hope  to  replace  American  films  or 
that  continent,  in  the  opinion  of  Cle- 
mente  Lococo,  leading  exhibitor  anc 
Spanish  film  producer  in  Buenos 
Aires.  With  his  wife  and  daughter 
Lococo  arrived  here  yesterday  for  a 
visit  to  this  country  on  the  Brazil 
They  will  be  here  about  three  months 
following  which  they  plan  to  go  tc 
Hollywood  for  a  visit  of  several 
weeks,  looking  at  production  and  vis- 
iting the  studios. 

According  to  Lococo,  native  produc- 
tion is  improving  and,  all  told,  they 
produce  in  the  Argentine  about  IS 
pictures  annually,  at  an  average  ofi 
about  150,000  pesos,  or  approximately 
$40,000.  He  said  there  are  certain 
theatres  in  that  country  which  cater 
to  a  particular  type  of  clientele  which! 
demands  native  production.  However,! 
in  general  drawing  power,  he  says,  the 
native  pictures  are  not  up  to  the] 
standard  of  American  productions. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY  I 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing:  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City. 
Telephone    Circle    7-3100.      Cable    address  I  |i 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."    Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown,  ,j 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi-  j 
gan  Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building, 
Boone     Mancall,     manager,     William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man-  j 
ager,  cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley  ( 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.    Other  Quigley 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rateiper 
year  $6  in  the  America!  and  $12  foreign. 
Single  copies  10c. 


son 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


INFORMATION  PLEASE! 

(an  easy  one  Co  answer) 

QUESTION:-*  ran  41  weeks  on 

"  "  Broadway! 

— it  was  cheered  by  thrilled 
audiences! 

— it  was  acclaimed  by  all 
the  critics! 


it  became  the  most  dis- 
cussed entertainment  of 
last  season! 


motion  picture  compa- 
nies competed  to  buy 
screen  rights! 

•it  has  been  made  into  a 
motion  picture  that  you'll 
be  proud  to  exhibit! 


one 


C\oo< 


0* 


Pron 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  27,  1939 


Twin  Premiere 
For  'Career'; 
Depinet  Going 


Ned  E.  Depinet,  vice-president  of 
RKO  Radio,  will  head  a  home  office 
delegation  to  the  twin  premiere  of 
"Career"  in  Des  Moines  next  Sunday, 
at  the  Paramount  and  Orpheum  the- 
atres. 

Others  in  the  New  York  group  will 
be  Cresson  Smith,  western  sales  man- 
ager ;  S.  Barret  McCormick,  adver- 
tising and  publicity  director ;  Arthur 
Willi,  head  of  the  eastern  talent  de- 
partment, and  Ralph  Rolan. 

Also  expected  are  Walter  Branson, 
midwest  district  manager  with  head- 
quarters in  Chicago ;  Jack  Osserman, 
Chicago  branch  manager,  and  other 
midwest  branch  heads. 

Almost  the  entire  cast  of  "Career," 
including  Anne  Shirley,  Edward  Ellis, 
Leon  Errol,  and  John  Archer  and 
Alice  Eden,  winners  in  the  "Gateway 
to  Hollywood"  quest,  will  be  in  Des 
Moines.  Also  Jean  Hersholt,  Patricia 
Ellis,  Bob  Breen,  Jean  Parker,  Joy 
Hodges  and  other  players. 

The  Hollywood  contingent  will  in- 
clude also  Jesse  Lasky  and  eight  can- 
didates in  the  "Gateway  to  Holly- 
wood" second  finals ;  Phil  Stong,  au- 
thor of  "Career,"  and  Mrs.  Stong; 
Leigh  Jason,  director ;  Robert  Palmer, 
casting  director ;  Paul  Snell,  publicity 
representative  for  Lasky,  and  Frank 
Healy  of  the  coast  publicity  staff. 

Two  of  the  eight  finalists  in  the 
"Gateway  to  Hollywood"  quest  will  be 
selected  at  a  broadcast  of  the  Lasky 
program  over  CBS  just  before  the 
premiere  of  the  film.  They  will  be 
awarded  roles  in  RKO's  "Three  Sons" 
and  will  adopt  the  names  of  Robert 
Stanton  and  Virginia  Vale. 

Louis  Alleman  and  Charles  Levy  of 
RKO's  publicity  department  are  in 
Des  Moines  handling  arrangements. 


Metro  Pays  Honor 
To  'Typical  Family' 

Bert  Wheeler  is  scheduled  to  offi- 
ciate at  a  Kiwanis  Club  luncheon  to- 
day at  the  Towers  Hotel,  Brooklyn, 
at  the  presentation  of  a  plaque  to 
"Brooklyn's  typical  American  fam- 
ily." The  plaque  is  the  gift  of 
M-G-M's  "Hardy  Family"  and  is 
signed  by  Mickey  Rooney,  Lewis 
Stone  and  others.  The  couple  chosen 
is  Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Van  Bus- 
kirk.  Eddie  Dowden  of  Loew's  han- 
dled the  stunt.  A  similar  presenta- 
tion has  been  made  in  New  Rochelle. 


Hearing  on  'Ecstasy' 

Philadelphia,  June  26. — The  hear- 
ing" on  "Ecstasy,"  denied  censorship 
approval,  started  today  in  Common 
Pleas  court  before  Judge  Heiligman, 
who  continued  the  case  until  tomor- 
row. Elizabeth  E.  Craven,  member 
of  the  mayor's  board  of  theatrical  con- 
trol, and  Mrs.  Hazel  Lowenstein, 
lawyer  associated  with  the  Legal  Aid 
Society,  defended  the  film  while  Mrs. 
Edna  R.  Carroll,  chairman  of  the  state 
board  of  censors,  called  certain  scenes 
"positively  indecent." 


Warner-Danz  Deal  Set 

Seattle,  June  26. — Warners  has 
closed  a  deal  with  John  Danz's  Ster- 
ling Theatres,  to  play  the  Warner 
lr>39-'40  first  run,  beginning  Sept.  1. 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


THERE  will  be  a  meeting  of  the  Hays  board  on  Friday,  whereat  the 
bigwigs  of  the  trade  once  again  will  discuss  among  themselves  matters 
pertaining  to  a  second  Washington  conference  among  distributors,  pro 
ducers  and  Secretary  of  Commerce  Harry  Hopkins,  on  industry  problems. 

Secretary  Hopkins  has  requested  vital  information  from  the  companies 
which  the  latter  are  now  assembling  and  will  present  to  him. 

Neither  the  information  to  be  given  Hopkins,  nor  the  meetings  already 
held  or  those  which  are  to  be  held,  have  reference  to  the  pending  anti-trust 
suit.    That  suit  is  another  matter  entirely. 

Our  diminishing  foreign  trade  is  of  great  concern  to  the  Department  of 
Commerce. 

Also  of  interest  to  the  Government  is  the  future  of  the  small  business  man 


FROM  Al  Finestone  we  learn  about  A.  E.  and  Leonard  Noerr,  operators 
of  the  Regal  Theatre,  in  Suva,  Fiji  Islands.  Leonard  is  now  in  New 
York.  The  Noerrs  are  among  those  responsible  for  some  unusual  charitable 
work  among  the  natives.  With  the  Catholic  Sisters  of  Suva  and  the  Suva 
Rotary  Club  they  have  arranged  regular  film  showings  for  a  colony  of  650 
lepers,  in  the  islands.  These  showings  are  twice  weekly  and  held  outdoors 
because  the  lepers  are  not  permitted  to  congregate  indoors. 

Films  are  supplied  by  the  distributors  and  the  colony  inmates  sit  on  mats 
or  the  bare  ground  at  the  shows. 

Leonard  Noerr  is  30  and  this  is  his  first  visit  to  New  York.  Suva  has 
only  2,000  whites  out  of  a  population  of  16,000.  Fijians,  Chinese,  Japanese 
and  India  natives  make  up  most  of  the  population,  but  films  are  in  English. 


<t/^OODBYE,  Mr.  Chips,"  is  being  accorded  the  same  selling  policy  by 
VJ  M-G-M  as  the  company  gave  to  "Pygmalion," — "test-run"  engage- 
ments backed  by  a  special  advertising  and  exploitation  campaign,  before  gen- 
eral release.  This  plan  proved  highly  successful  on  "Pygmalion,"  and  already 
the  returns  on  the  first  few  showings  of  "Chips,"  are  proving  the  policy. 

"Chips"  has  been  held  over  from  one  to  five  weeks  wherever  shown,  thus 
far.  It  is  in  its  sixth  week  at  Los  Angeles  and  on  Broadway,  and  in  its 
third  week  at  Cleveland. 

"Pygmalion,"  played  at  the  Astor,  Broadway,  for  23  weeks.  Despite  the 
summer  weather  and  the  World's  Fair,  "Chips"  appears  strong  enough  to  do 
as  well  if  not  better. 


STORIES  published  here  and  in  Hollywood  that  Loew's  was  negotiating 
a  bank  loan  to  refund  its  $12,334,000  3>4  percent  sinking  fund  deben- 
tures have  been  officially  denied  by  the  company. 


M 


URRAY  SILVERSTONE,  head  of  United  Artists,  granted  general 
salary  increases  to  employes  in  the  foreign  department,  last  week. 


Amusements  Swell 
Greater  City  Fund 

Additional  contributions  to  the 
Amusements  Division  of  the  Greater 
New  York  Fund  campaign  indicate 
greater  support  than  in  last  year's 
drive. 

The  following  additional  major 
gifts  have  been  reported:  United  Art- 
ists, $2,500;  RKO,  $2,500;  Columbia 
Pictures,  $1,000  ;  Consolidated  Amuse- 
ment Enterprises  (Laurence  Bolog- 
nino  and  employes),  $750;  Walt  Dis- 
ney Productions,  $500;  J.  E.  Brula- 
tour,  Inc.,  $250;  DuPont  Film  Mfg. 
Corp.,  $250;  Agfa  Ansco  Corp.,  ad- 
ditional, $150;  International  Projec- 
tor Corp.,  $100 ;  Interboro  Circuit, 
$100. 

Also  contributions  from  Rapf  & 
Ruden,  Gallis  Films,  Inc.,  Lenauer 
International  Films,  Arthur  Mayer 
and  Joseph  Burstyn,  Pax  Films, 
World  Pictures  Corp. 


Pommer-Para.  Deal 

Further  discussions  of  a  new  deal 
between  Erich  Pommer  and  Para- 
mount will  be  held  by  the  producer 
with  David  Rose,  Paramount's  British 
production  head,  when  Pommer  re- 
turns to  London,  the  latter  said  yes- 
terday. Pommer  sails  from  New  York 
on  the  Normandie  tomorrow  after 
four  weeks  here.  His  current  deal 
with  Paramount  will  be  concluded  by 
next  fall. 


Seek  Mexican  Law 
To  Aid  Native  Films 

Mexico  City,  June  26. — 
Producers  have  petitioned  the 
local  municipal  government 
to  enact  a  law  which  will 
make  it  compulsory  for  first 
run  exhibitors  to  show  a 
Mexican  picture  at  least  once 
every  seven  weeks  and  cir- 
cuits to  present  a  Mexican 
film  once  a  month.  The  pro- 
ducers also  ask  that  theatres 
be  exempted  from  municipal 
tax  payments  during  the 
weeks  they  present  Mexican 
films. 


Dannenberg  in  Hospital 

Cleveland,  June  26. — Sidney  Dan- 
nenberg, head  of  the  local  Warner 
publicity  department,  is  in  "fair"  con- 
dition at  Glenville  Hospital,  after 
having  been  discovered  by  his  wife 
with  both  wrists  slashed.  He  suffered 
a  nervous  breakdown  last  Fall: 


Malcolm  Cook  Dies 

Okmulgee,  Okla.,  June  26. — Mal- 
colm Cook,  33,  manager  and  part 
owner  of  the  Inca  here,  died  following 
an  operation.  He  is  survived  by. his 
wife,  parents  and  a  brother.  Burial 
was  in  Oklahoma  City. 


Police  Taking 
Games  Action 
In  Wisconsin 


Milwaukee,  June  26.— Steering 
clear  of  houses  playing  Bank  Night, 
local  police  have  confiscated  equip- 
ment at  Fox's  Riviera  and  Warner- 
Saxe's  Uptown,  Modjeska  and  Mil- 
waukee here,  used  in  connection  wstr. 
the  playing  of  Cash  Night  at  the  fete 
house  and  Hollywood  at  the  other! 
three. 

In  response  to  a  request  for  war- 
rants  against  the   theatres,  District 
Attorney    Herbert    J.    Steffes  an- 
nounced he  would  first  have  to  study! 
the  state  Supreme  Court's  recent  de-1 
cision  declaring  Bank  Night  a 
tery,  to  determine  whether  or  not  it 
covers  other  games. 

Locally,   both    Fox   and  Warner- 
Saxe    circuits    have    dropped  Ban 
Night  "pending  a  study  of  the  Su-j 
preme  Court's  ruling." 

District  attorneys  in  various  cities 
have  announced  their  intention  of  put- 
ting an  end  to  Bank  Night. 

At  La  Crosse,  Frank  L.  Koppel- 
berger,  general  manager  of  the  La 
Crosse  Theatres  Co.,  against  which 
action  was  taken  by  Circuit  Judge 
Robert  S.  Cowie,  resulting  in  the  high 
court  decision,  said  Bank  Night  would 
be  continued  by  the  circuit  until  the 
lower  court  decides  against  it. 

The  Supreme  Court  decision  held 
that  lower  courts  have  the  right 
to  halt  Bank  Night  as  a  public  nui- 
sance. 


rer- 
an k 
Su- 


Radio  Leading  Topic 
At  Frisco  Ad  Parley 

Sax  Francisco,  June  26. — With 
radio  advertising  as  one  of  the  prin- 
cipal themes  of  discussion,  the  36th 
annual  Pacific  Advertising  Clubs  As 
sociation  convention  onened  here  today 
for  five  days,  with  a  record-breaking 
attendance.  Speakers  include  Don 
Gilman  and  Donald  Thornburgh, 
NBC  and  CBS  vice-presidents  on  the 
West  Coast,  and  Lewis  Allen  Weiss, 
Mutual-Don  Lee  general  manager. 
Sessions  will  be  ..-held  at  Treasure 
Island  for  the  first  two  days. 


John  Medland  Dies 

Denver,  June  26. — John  Medland, 
58,  scenic  artist  who  designed  the  sets 
for  John  Gilbert's  first  picture,  and 
for  "The  Connecticut  Yankee,"  died 
in  a  local  hospital  of  injuries  re- 
ceived in  a  fall.  Surviving  are  his 
widow,  Mrs.  Helene  Suher  Medland, 
and  a  four-year-old  daughter,  Gail 
Germaine. 


Sunday  Films  Legalized 

New  Bern,  N.  C,  June  26. — Sun- 
day movies  have  been  legalized  by  the 
board  of  aldermen.  Shows  will  be 
held  from  2  to  6  p.m.  and  after  9.1 5 
p.m.  Almost  all  other  towns  in  this 
immediate  area  have  Sunday  shows. 


Libel  Suit  Stands 

Application  of  the  Knickerbocker 
Broadcasting  Co.,  owner  of  WMCA, 
and  Donald  Besdine,  to  dismiss  a  $550,- 
000  libel  suit  brought  by  the  Metro- 
politan Life  Insurance  Co.  was  denied 
yesterday  by  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court 
Justice  T.  Collins. 


"You  are  planning  a  trip  to  New  York  this  summer?  You 
want  hotel  reservations  made  for  you.  You  want  to  know  the 
easiest  way  to  get  to  the  World's  Fair,  the  highlights  of  the 
Fair.  You  want  to  know  how  to  get  to  Jones  Beach,  to  Coney 
Island,  to  West  Point,  to  the  Empire  State  Building.  You  want  to  know  the 
restaurants  with  the  best  food  at  the  most  reasonable  price. 


"All  right... I'm  here  in  a  fine,  big,  comfortable  hostess  suite  on  the  Ninth  Floor 
of  the  Paramount  Building  on  Times  Square,  ready  to  help  you,  your  family,  or 
your  friends  enjoy  and  get  the  most  out  of  their  trip  to  New  York  this  summer. 

"And  if  it's  'business  as  usual'  for  you  while  in  town,  I'll  be  glad  to  assist  you 
with  stenographic  or  secretarial  service.  In  short,  I'm  here  to  give  you  the  same 
neighborly,  friendly  service  which  for  25  years  has  characterized  every  dealing  of 
this  great  Paramount  organization." 


,  «jSot^ot    c  rmario^ 


for 

******** 

visits 


ltvet' 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  27,  19 


Studios  Busy; 
50  Films  Now 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


In  Production 


Hollywood,  June  26. — Production 
was  rolling  along  at  an  optimistic  clip 
with  50  pictures  shooting  at  the  week- 
end. Paramount  had  10  in  work, 
M-G-M  eight,  with  Warners  and  Uni- 
versal tied  at  six  each.  The  week 
showed  a  gain  of  three. 

Placed  before  the  cameras  were 
M-G-M's  "Balalaika,"  Paramount's 
"Argentina,"  "The  Light  That  Failed," 
"Our  Neighbors  the  Carters"  and 
"Seventeen,"  RKO's  "Conspiracy" 
and  "The  Day  the  Bookies  Wept." 
Also  started  were  Republic's  "In  Old 
Monterey"  and  "Rulers  of  the  Waste- 
land," Universal's  "Hawaiian  Nights," 
Walter  Wanger's  "Eternally  Yours," 
Warners'  "Queer  Money"  and  Sol 
Lesser's  Principal  production,  "Every- 
thing's On  Ice." 

Columbia  last  week  finished  "Gold- 
en Boy,"  "Coast  Guard"  and  "Blondie 
Takes  a  Vacation,"  while  M-G-M 
wound  up  "Miracles  for  Sale"  and 
"Lady  of  the  Tropics."  Monogram 
completed  "Mr.  Wong  in  Chinatown" 
and  "The  Man  from  Texas,"  Para- 
mount finished  "Double  Dyed  De- 
ceiver," Hal  Roach  sent  "Chump  at 
Oxford,"  a  Laurel-Hardy  featurette, 
to  the  cutting  room,  20th  Century-Fox 
canned  "The  Rains  Came"  and  War- 
ners "Kid  Nightingale." 

M-G-M  started  four  shorts,  and 
RKO,  which  had  finished  one,  started 
another,  bringing  the  total  in  that  di- 
vision to  five,  with  six  more  in  prep- 
aration and  11  in  the  editing  stage. 

New  Wisconsin  Bill 
Drops  Theatre  Tax 

Madison,  Wis.,  June  26. — In  re- 
sponse to  statewide  protest,  including 
that  from  the  film  industry,  the  ad- 
ministration has  introduced;  in  the 
state  Assembly  a  new  tax  bill  which 
eliminates  the  three  per  cent  theatre 
tax. 

In  eliminating  the  admission  tax  to- 
gether with  other  sales  tax  features, 
the  difference  would  be  made  up  by 
tapping  the  state  highway  fund.  This 
recommendation  was  made  by  the- 
atremen  at  a  legislative  joint  finance 
committee  hearing  in  protest  against 
the  theatre  tax. 

The  Assembly  has  passed  a  bill 
permitting  reciprocal  agreements  be- 
tween Wisconsin  and  other  states  on 
the  licensing  and  taxing  of  motor 
trucks.  The  measure  now  goes  to 
the  Senate.  It  is  of  particular  interest 
to  film  delivery  firms. 


Sue  Union  on  Picketing 

Seattle,  June  26. — W.  T.  Coy  and 
Ernest  Lindgren,  owners  of  the  Cen- 
ter at  White  Center,  are  asking  dam- 
ages of  $25  a  day  from  the  operators 
union,  Local  154  here.  They  assert 
union  pickets  are  forcibly  preventing 
persons  from  buying  tickets,  because 
the  theatre's  projectionists  have  not 
joined  the  union. 


Reservation  Deadline 

Pittsburgh,  June  26.  —  Advance 
reservations  for  Variety  Club's  elev- 
enth annual  banquet  to  be  held  Oct. 
29  cannot  be  made  after  July  1,  ac- 
cording to  J.  H.  Harris,  national  head. 


Hollywood,  June  26. — Hedda  Hop- 
per, actress-columnist,  notified  her 
readers  a  few  weeks  ago  that  "The 
Women"  was  not  a  proper  property 
for  filming,  attracting  no  little  atten- 
tion by  her  outspoken  denunciation  of 
the  M-G-M  project  in  which  she  was, 
as  of  then,  uncast.  So  now  Louella 
Parsons,  columnist-actress,  tells  her 
readers,  in  the  course  of  an  item  about 
visiting  the  set  where  "The  Women" 
is  being  produced,  that  she  was  "a 
little  amused  to  see  Hedda  Hopper 
playing  a  newspaper  woman,  especial- 
ly in  view  of  the  fact  that  she  said 
she  felt  'The  Women'  should  never 
be  put  on  the  screen,  but  a  job's  a 
job  in  any  language."  "The  Women" 
is  a  play  by  Claire  Luce  about 
woman's  feline  attitude  toward  woman. 


Buys — M-G-M  has  purchased  "The 
Days  Before  Lent,"  a  novel  by  Ham- 
ilton Basso,  and  "Valedictory," 
another  by  McKinlay  Kantor.  .  .  . 
Lou  Diamond  has  invited  independent 
producers  to  submit  short  subjects 
deemed  suitable  for  inclusion  on  Par- 
amount's  shorts  program. 


Writers  —  Henwar  Rodakiewicz 
has  signed  an  M-G-M  contract.  .  .  . 

So     has     Martin  Berkeley  

Maurice  Hanline  is  writing  the 
script  of  "Where  There's  a  Will"  for 
Warners  and  Charles  Belden  is 
doing  "Girls  Without  Names"  for  the 
same  studio.  .  .  .  Allan  Lemay  is 
back  in  town  after  five  years  to  write 
"Royal  Canadian  Mounted  Police"  for 
Cecil  B.  DeMille. 


Directors  —  Howard  Bretherton 
will  direct  "Sky  Pilot"  for  Mono- 
gram. .  .  .  Lloyd  Bacon  will  do  "The 
Patent  Leather  Kid"  for  Warners  and 
George  Hippard  has  been  signed  as 


Grjffth  Takes  Three 

Kansas  City,  June  26. — Operation 
of  the  Booth  and  Paramount,  Ne- 
braska City,  Neb.,  and  the  Booth,  Au- 
burn, Neb.,  has  been  taken  over  by 
the  Griffith-Dickinson  circuit  here. 
Robert  Booth,  who  has  been  asso- 
ciated with  W.  W.  Booth  in  the  oper- 
ation of  the  houses,  will  remain  at 
Nebraska  City  as  city  manager. 


Quits  Jefferson  Circuit 

Port  Arthur,  Tex.,  June  26. — Fred 
Putnam  has  resigned  as  manager  of 
the  Pearce  here,  Jefferson  Amusement 
Co.  theatre. 


Warner  Managers  Shifted 

Racine,  Wis.,  June  26. — Stanley 
Lambert,  former  manager  of  Warners' 
Shore,  Chicago,  has  been  named  man- 
ager of  the  circuit's  Rialto  here,  suc- 
ceeding Harvey  Kny,  named  manager 
of  the  circuit's  Venetian.  Kny  replaces 
Don  Nichols,  who  has  been  transferred 
to  the  east. 


Lenoir  Texas  Manager 

San  Antonio,  June  26. — Formerly 
a  member  of  Interstate's  training  staff 
for  managers  here,  Adkins  Lenoir  has 
assumed  the  management  of  the  Plaza, 
a  Texas-Consolidated  theatre  in  San 
Marcos. 


assistant  director  for  Paramount's 
"The  White  Flame." 


Players — Betty  Grable  will  be 
seen  opposite  Joe  Penner  in  RKO's 
"The  Day  the  Bookies  Wept.".  .  . 
Marjorie  Reynolds  has  signed  with 
Monogram  for  five  years.  .  .  .  War- 
ners have  cast  Leo  White  and 
Stuart  Holmes  in  "Career  Man," 
Alice  Connors  and  Vera  Lewis  in 
"The  Return  of  Dr.  X,"  and  Donald 
Crisp  gets  a  top  role  in  "Captain 
Hornblower."  M-G-M  castings  of  the 
week  include :  Edmund  Lowe  in  "Our 
Neighbors,  the  Carters,"  Laraine 
Day  in  "Northwest  Passage,"  Tom 
Collins  and  Nella  Walker  in 
"These  Glamour  Girls,"  Joseph  Cre- 
han  and  Libby  Taylor  in  "Babes  in 
Arms,"  and  Dennis  O'Keefe  and 
Ann  Morriss  for  the  romantic  leads 
in  "Henry  Goes  Arizona." 

Wilfred  Lawson  will  have  an  im- 
portant role  in  RKO's  "Alleghany 
Frontier,"  Ann  Shirley  in  the  same 
company's  "Vigil  in  the  Night"  and 
Spencer  Charters  in  "The  Hunch- 
back of  Notre  Dame.".  .  .  Eight-year- 
old  Scotty  Beckett  will  be  seen  in 
Paramount's  "Our  Neighbors,  the 
Carters.".  .  .  Joyce  Bryant  has  signed 
with  Sam  Katzman  to  play  a  prin- 
cipal role  in  Victory  Pictures'  "Fight- 
ing Renegade.".  .  .  Anna  Demetrio, 
Spanish  character  player,  will  appear 
in  two  films  to  be  made  by  Cine  Sono 
in  South  America. 


Title  Trouble — Warners  have  re- 
christened  "The  Knight  and  the  Lady" 
as  "The  Lady  and  the  Knight,"  Betty 
Davis  and  Errol  Flynn  being  the 
stars  thereof,  and  have  renamed  "Girls' 
Reform  School"  "Girls  Without 
Names.".  .  .  M-G-M  has  changed  the 
name  of  "Pups  and  Penguins,"  an  Our 
Gang  comedy,  to  "Dog  Daze." 


To  Show  Foreign  Films 

Park,  subsequent  run  Brandt  house, 
will  change  its  policy  in  the  Fall  to 
first  run  foreign  films.  Brandt's  Flat- 
bush  in  Brooklyn  will  resume  its 
vaudeville  policy  about  Sept.  1. 
V audeville  was  dropped  in  the  house 
two  weeks  ago. 


Form   Florida  Theatre  Firm 

Pensacola,  Fla.,  June  26.— Pensa- 
cola  Theatrical  Enterprises,  Inc.,  has 
been  chartered  here  with  capital  of 
100  shares,  $50  par  value,  by  Grace 
Ortee,  L.  Garcia  and  M.  Vucovich. 


Comerford  Opens  House 

Scranton,  Pa.,  June  26. — Comer- 
ford  Amusement  Co.  has  opened  the 
new  $100,000,  1,400-seat,  theatre  in 
Carlisle,  Pa.  Known  as  the  Comer- 
ford,  it  will  be  managed  by  Arthur 
R.  Glaser. 


Cut  Milwaukee  Prices 

Milwaukee,  June  26. — Fox's  Wis- 
consin, Strand  and  Wisconsin,  first 
run  houses,  have  dropped  prices  from 
35  to  25  cents.  New  policy  calls  for 
25  cents  to  1  P.M.,  35  cents  to  6  P.M. 
and  50  cents  thereafter.  The  War- 
ner continues  to  charge  35  until  6 
P.M. 


'Capt.  Fury' 
Nets  $9,600, 
Leads  Frisc< 


San  Francisco,  June  26. — "Fi  i 
Came  Back"  at  the  Golden  Gate  drt'j 
$16,000,  and  "Captain  Fury"  xo>\ 
$9,600  at  the  United  Artists. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  en 
ing  June  20-23  :  /SU. 

"Five  Came  Back"  (RKO)  ™e 

GOLDEN  GATE — (2,850.)  (35c-40c-55c) 
days.    Stage:    vaudeville.    Gross:  $16,0 
(Average,  $15,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.B.) 

ST.  FRANCIS— (1,400)  (15c-35c-40c-5: 
75c)  7  days.  4th  week.  Gross:  $5,500.  (A 
erage,  $6,000) 

"Gracie  Allen  Murder  Case"  (Par.) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT — (2,740)  (15c-35c-40c-5: 
75c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (A 
erage,  $11,500) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.A.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (15c-35c-4( 
55c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,600.  (Averaj 
$8,000) 

"The  Kid  From  Kokomo"  (W.B.) 
"The  Lady's  From  Kentucky"  (Para.) 

FOX— (5.000)   (15c-35c-40c-55c-75c)  7  dav 
Gross:  $13,500.  (Average,  $16,000) 
"Clouds  Over  Europe"  (Col.) 
"House  of  Fear"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM—  (2.440)  (15c-35c-40c-55c) 
days.  Gross:  $6,700.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"Susannah  of  the  Mounties"  (20th-Fox) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  (20th-Fox) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (15c-35c-40c-55c-7: 
7  days.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average,  $12,0( 
"Immortal  Melodies"   (Viennese  Film  O 

CLAY— (400)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gros 
$800.  (Average,  $1,000) 
"The  Puritan"  (Lenaur-Int'l) 

LARKIN— (390)  (15c-35c-40c)  7  days,  2 
week.  Gross:  $1,100.  (Average,  $1,000) 

Warners'  Booking 
Drive  Set  in  Augm 

Warners  will  hold  a  national  boo 
ers'  drive  during  August,  according 
A.  W.  Schwalberg,  supervisor  of  e: 
changes. 

August  will  be  known  as  "Cleam 
Month."  Special  promotional  mat 
rial  will  be  sent  to  bookers,  and 
broadside,  The  Booker-Salesman, 
being  issued  weekly  by  A.  C.  Braui 
inger  to  bookers  in  all  Warner  e: 
changes. 


Schuyler  Suit  Settled 

Settlement  of  the  suit  brought  t 
Schuyler  Theatres  Corp.  against  Ct 
lumbia  Pictures  Corp.  was  announce 
yesterday.  Schuyler  had  sought  a 
injunction  against  Columbia,  claimin 
it  violated  a  contract  made  on  Dec.  ! 
1938,  licensing  40  pictures  for  plaii 
tiff's  Schuyler  Theatre,  with  the  ur 
derstanding  that  the  Schuyler  woul 
receive  the  same  dating  as  its  corr 
petitor,  the  Arden  Theatre. 


Oakland  Game  Raided 

Oakland,  June  26. — Police  enters 
the  T  &  D  Theatre  and  raided  a  so 
called  "80  Spot"  game,  which  Polic 
Chief  Bodie  Wallman  termed  a  lot 
tery.  Willard  Welch,  manager  of  thJ 
theatre,  was  booked  for  running  a  lot 
tery,  and  Maurice  Le  Vine,  copy' 
wright  owner  of  the  game,  was  als< 
held.  Both  were  released  on  $50( 
bail. 


Baseball  Competition 

Seattle,  June  26. — Night  basebal 
is  offering  heavy  competition  to  tin 
theatre  box-offices  here.  Last  weel 
more  than  55,000  persons  attended  th< 
ball  games  during  the  six-day  series 
between  Seattle  and  Los  Angeles. 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


ucsday.  June  27.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


press  Women 
^onor  Leading 
Air  Programs 


National  Federation  of  Press  Wom- 
i  presented  certificates  of  award  to 
*Jio  programs  in  14  different  classi- 
cations  last  night  at  the  Federation's 
mal  banquet,  in  the  Hotel  Astor. 

ceremonies  were  broadcast  by 
yZ,  CBS,  Mutual,  Canadian  Broad- 
ting  Corp.,  and  by  short-wave  to 
Europe,  Latin  America  and  Asia. 
Individual  citations  were  tendered 
>  David  SarnotT  for  sponsoring  the 
"iscanini  concerts,  to  Alfred  Mc- 
Ysker  for  the  re-broadcasting  of 
European  radio  bulletins  over  Mutual 
.Airing  the  European  crisis  of  last 
ear,  to  William  S.  Paley  of  CBS  for 
resenting  the  Philharmonic  Orchestra 
u  a  sustaining  basis. 

Another  award  went  to  Mutual  and 
Jired  J.  Wallenstein,  conductor  of 
Be  "Sinfonietta"  series,  "an  important 
untribution  to  musical  knowledge." 

Major  Gladstone  Murray,  of  CBS, 
f'aley,  McCosker  and  Major  Lohr  of 
■.'Be,  each  accepted  the  certificate  in 
le  name  of  his  company. 

Program  Awards  Listed 

The  program  awards,  determined  by 
ationwide  balloting,  were  as  follows  : 

Dr.  William  Stidger's  program, 
Getting  the  Most  Out  of  Life,"  spon- 
ored  by  Standard  Brands  over  XBC 
-the  best  forenoon  weekday  program. 

Best  afternoon  weekday  program, 
American  School  of  the  Air,"  CBS. 

Winning  program  among  the  news 
ommentators  was  H.  V.  Kaltenborn's 
Kaltenborn  Edits  the  Xews,"  Pure 
)il  Co.  over  CBS. 

Best  radio  program  contributed  by 

woman  was  Dorothy  Thompson's 
•art  in  "Hour  of  Charm,"  General 
Electric,  NBC. 

For  good  taste  and  restraint  in  ad- 
ertising  announcements,  Ford  "Sun- 
day Evening  Hour,"  CBS. 

Qj-son  Welles  Is  Cited 

Best  pYogram  designed  for  rural 
isteners,  '.'Farm  and  Home  Hour," 
>ver  NBC. 

Best  susta'ining  program  for  devel- 
•ping  minds  and  characters  of  chil- 
dren under  12,  Ireene  Wicker's  musical 
•lays,  NBC.  A  corresponding  award 
vent  to  Walter  Damrosch,  also  NBC. 

Orson  Welles'  "Mercury  Play- 
louse,"  CBS,  was  given  the  award  in 
Iramatic  art.  "America's  Town 
deeting,"  NBC,  was  adjudged  the 
nost  effective  in  presenting  and  build- 
ng  American  ideals. 

"The  Salute  to  the  Nations,"  ar- 
anged  in  honor  of  the  World's  Fair, 
eceived  a  special  award.  Special  cer- 
iricates  were  presented  to  John  S. 
» oung.  World's  Fair  radio  director 
vho  conceived  the  idea  for  the  series, 
ind  Grover  Whalen,  president  of  the 
"air. 

Mrs.  Joseph  E.  Goodbar,  president 
>I  the  Federation  of  Press  Women, 
resided  at  the  meeting. 


MGM  Promotes  Abner 

Ben  Abner  has  been  named  acting 
jranch  manager  for  M-G-M-  in  the 
\"ew  Jersey  territory,  where  he  has 
oeen  a  salesman  for  the  company  13 
•'ears.  He  succeeds  David  A.  Levy, 
ecently  appointed  Universal  branch 
lead  here. 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


BAIRD  PRESS  MYSTERY  .  .  .  Baird  large  screen  television  has  re- 
ceived enthusiastic  acclaim  in  all  of  the  trade  press,  but  other  than  a  few 
brief  review  lines  which  appeared  in  the  Daily  News,  no  other  general 
newspaper  has  published  a  word  about  the  company's  demonstrations.  New 
York  Times,  among  other  newspapers,  had  a  man  at  the  initial  showing  of 
the  Baird  large  screen,  and  we  know  lor  a  fact  that  the  reporter  made  a  fa- 
vorable report  of  what  he  saw,  yet  the  piece  was  not  published. 

T 

UNIVERSAL-NBC  FETE  McNAMEE  .  .  .  Graham  McNamee  started 
spieling  words  for  NBC  16  years  ago,  and  for  Universal  newsreel  10  years 
ago.  Both  companies  will  tender  a  reception  in  Graham's  honor  Thursday  in 
the  Rockefeller  Center  Club. 

T 

A  FIRST  .  .  .  Hotel  Roosevelt  becomes  the  first  hotel  to  go  on  the  networks 
with  a  sponsored  series.  Starting  tomorrow,  the  Roosevelt  will  try  out  a 
three  times  weekly  show  over  Mutual,  with  Ed  East  interviewing  guests  of 
the  hotel  on  World  Fair  impressions.  Show  will  be  on  the  air  from  1:15 
to  1 :30  P.M.,  utilizing  six  stations  in  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  Detroit,  Boston, 
Providence,  Cleveland.    It'll  be  tested  for  six  weeks. 

T 

TELEVISION  .  .  .  Over-all  cost  to  NBC  for  those  evening  hour-length 
television  performances,  runs  to  about  $600  a  performance,  including  cast,  cos- 
tuming and  settings.  Currently  the  network  is  hiring  the  required  accoutre- 
ments from  local  costumers  and  warehouses,  but  it's  only  a  question  of  short 
time  before  NBC  will  start  building  its  own  costuming  and  prop  departments. 
Practically  the  only  condition  holding  them  back  now  is  the  lack  of  storage 
space  at  Radio  City. 

Incidentally,  the  network  is  ordering  its  second  televison  mobile  unit  for 
outdoor  pickups. 

T 

RADIO  MIRROR'S  BAND  WINNERS  .  .  .  MacFadden  Publication's 
Radio  Mirror  is  announcing  Eddie  Duchin  as  the  winner  of  its  band  contest, 
with  runners-up,  Benny  Goodman,  Horace  Heidt,  Sammy  Kaye,  Guy  Lom- 
bardo,  Kay  Kyser,  Tommy  Dorsey,  Art  Shaw,  Freddie  Martin,  Rudy  Vallee. 
Couple  of  strange  names  in  that  list  of  the  nation's  "big  10,"  but  that's  the 
way  the  Mirror's  fans  voted. 

▼ 

PERSONALS  .  -  .  Lowell  Thomas  is  writing  a  book  on  radio  and  televi- 
sion. .  .  .  Chris  Mathison,  radio  editor  of  the  Washington  Star,  transferred 
to  general  news  work.  .  .  .  Richard  Gilbert,  managing  editor  of  Metronome, 
replacing  Sidney  Kaufman  as  conductor  of  the  "Cinema  Comment"  series 
over  WQXR.  .  .  .  Colleen  Moore  and  her  doll  house  will  be  on  "Hobby 
Lobby"  tomorrow.  .  .  .  Ralph  Edwards  succeeds  Harry  Von  Zell  as  an- 
nouncer on  the  Phil  Baker  show.  .  .  .  Jack  Miller's  orchestra  assigned  to  the 
"Aldrich  Family"  program  as  it  replaces  Jack  Benny. 

▼ 

MUTUAL  WORKS,  NBC  REAPS  .  .  .  Fulton  Lewis,  Mutual's  Washing- 
ton commentator,  fought  strenuously  for  two  years  to  obtain  the  same  rights 
for  radio  commentators  that  newspaper  writers  enjoy  in  the  House.  Yester- 
day, about  two  hours  after  Congress  had  adopted  a  resolution  permitting 
commentators  to  broadcast  from  a  radio  gallery,  NBC  was  on  the  air  from 
the  House  with  a  broadcast  by  H.  R.  Baukhage. 


WLW  Loses  Fight 
Over  Super-Power 

Washington,  June  26. — Orders  of 
the  Federal  Communications  Commis- 
sion revoking  the  super-power  experi- 
mental license  of  Crosley  station 
WLW,  Cincinnati,  were  affirmed  to- 
day by  the  District  of  Columbia  Court 
of  Appeals.  The  decision  maintained 
that  WLW's  appeal  was  an  effort  to 
retain  privileges  which  had  been 
granted  temporarily  and  which  it 
knew  could  be  recalled. 


Radio  Sets  Census 
Assured  for  1940 

Washington,  June  26. — Census  bu- 
reau officials  today  reversed  their  for- 
mer attitude  and  agreed  to  take  a 
count  of  radio  sets  in  the  United 
States  as  part  of  the  1940  census. 

The  decision  to  secure  such  infor- 
mation was  made  after  F.C.C.  officials, 
who  originally  requested  the  count, 
pointed  out  that  the  information  might 
be  of  considerable  value  in  the  event 
of  war. 


'Second  Fiddle'  on  Air 

"Second  Fiddle,"  20th  Century-Fox 
film,  was  extensively  exploited  last 
night  when  the  RCA  "Magic  Key" 
program  devoted  its  entire  hour  to  the 
picture. 


'Only  Angels' 
Loop  Winner 
With  $34,400 


Chicago,  June  26. — "Only  Angels 
Have  Wings"  zoomed  to  a  fine  $34,400 
at  the  Chicago.  "Captain  Fury"  at 
the  Roosevelt  and  "Blind  Alley"  at 
the  State- Lake  took  $11,300  and 
$12,000,  respectively.  Inclement  weath- 
er hurt  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21-June  24: 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 

APOLLO — (1,400)  (35c-55c-7Sc)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,000)  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

CHICAGO— (4,000)    (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:    Vaudeville    Revue.    Gross:  $34,400. 
(Average,  $32,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.B.) 

GARRICK— (900)     (35c-40c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $4,700.  (Average,  $6,500) 
"Kid  from  Texas"  (M-G-M) 
"Sudden  Money"  (Para.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,400)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days. 
Stage:    Vaudeville    Revue.    Gross:  $10,800. 
(Average,  $13,000) 
"Ex-Champ"  (RICO) 

PALACE—  (2,500)     (35c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Stage:    Vaudeville    Revue.    Gross:  $12,000. 
(Average,  $19,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.A.) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,300)      (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $11,300.  (Average,  $11,000) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

STATE-LAKE  —  (2,700),  25c-35c-40c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross: 
$12,000.  (Average,  $12,000) 


Exchange  Shows, 

Networks  Urged 

San  Francisco,  June  26. — A  pro- 
posal that  Australian  and  American 
radio  networks  exchange  radio  pro- 
ductions and  producers,  in  a  manner 
similar  to  exchange  professorships 
among  universities,  was  advanced  by 
William  G.  James,  federal  controller 
of  music  for  the  Australian  Broad- 
casting System,  on  his  arrival  from 
Melbourne.  James  is  on  his  way  to 
Europe  to  confer  with  British  radio 
leaders. 


Skinnay  Ennis  Signed 

Skinnay  Ennis  has  been  signed 
igain  to  conduct  the  orchestra  on  the 
Bob  Hope  show  when  it  returns  to 
NBC  Oct.  3,  for  Pepsodent.  Deal 
was  set  by  Hal  Hackett  of  MCA  and 
Alex  Holden,  Ennis'  manager.  Lord 
&  Thomas  represented  the  sponsor. 


'Inn'  Opening  in  Fall 

"Jamaica  Inn,"  Erich  Pommer  pro- 
duction starring  Charles  Laughton,  re- 
leased by  Paramount,  will  open  at  the 
Rivoli  shortly  after  Labor  Day. 


1.  "I  show  the  best  in  pictures 
but  my  seats  are  never  full." 

"That's  because 
your  sound  resembles 
the  roaring  of  a  bull." 


3.  "Are  you  insinuating  that  my 
sound  is  very  bad?" 


For  real  box  office  results  give  America  the  good  sound  it  demands! 

INSTALL v^RCA  PHOTOPHONE 
MAGIC  VOICE  OF  THE  SCREEN 

with  Rotary  Stabilizer  plus  SHOCK-PROOF  DRIVE!  y^^^X 


Better  sound  means  better  box  office— and  RCA  tubes  mean  better  sound 

RCA  Manufacturing  Company,  Inc. 

Camden,  N.J.  •  A  Service  of  the  Radio  Corporation  of  America 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  27,  193' 


'Happiness' 
Gets  $14,500 
Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,  June  26. — Despite 
bad  weather,  "invitation  to  Happi- 
ness" took  $14,500  at  the  Boyd. 

"Maisie"  drew  $7,300  at  the  Earle. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22: 

It's  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA— (600)     (25c-40c-57c)     7  days. 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $2,700.  (Average,  $2,800) 
''Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

BOYD  —  (2,400)     (32c-42c-57c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.  (Average,  $14,000) 
"Maisie"  (M-G-M) 

EARLE— (2.000)     (26c-32c-42c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $7,300.   (Average,  $8,000) 
"Tarzan,  Finds  a  Son"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (3,000)  (32c-37c-42c-57c-68c)  7  days. 
(6  days  stage).  Stage:  Blue  Barron  orches- 
tra. Gross:  $16,000.  (Average,  $16,000). 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON— (1,000)   (32c-42c-57c)   7  days. 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (1,000)    (26c-42c)    7    days.  3rd 
run.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average,  $4,500) 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

STANLEY— (3,700)  (32c-42c-57c)  6  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average,  7  days, 
$14,000) 

"Juarez"  (W.B.) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (26c-32c-42c)  7  days. 
2nd  run.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average,  $7,000) 


Oklahoma  Theatre 
Men  Elect  Today 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

eluded  in  the  trade  practice  code. 

Television,  visual  education,  screen 
advertising  and  stage  shows  were 
topics  discussed  by  speakers  today. 
Henry  G.  Bennett,  president  of  Okla- 
homa A.  &  M.  College,  said  that  in 
the  future  adult  education  will  be 
largely  accomplished  through  films. 

A  telegram  from  William  F.  Rodg- 
ers,  M-G-M  general  sales  manager 
and  chairman  of  the  distributors'  code 
negotiating  committee,  was  read.  It 
follows : 

"While  we  do  not  claim  that  the 
proposed  code  is  perfect  in  its  gen- 
eral setup,  we  do  claim  that  it  will 
be  of  material  assistance  in  adjudicat- 
ing many  differences  existing  in  the 
industry.  We  are  certain  that  after 
careful  consideration,  the  draft  as 
proposed  will  be  acceptable  to  your 
organization." 


Fox  Receivership 
Case  Ruling  Upheld 

The  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  yes- 
terday unanimously  sustained  a  ruling 
of  former  Judge  Manton  in  the  Fox 
Theatres  Corp.  receivership,  denying 
the  right  to  the  Trust  Co.  of  Georgia 
to  treat  its  claim  of  $400,000  against 
Fox  Theatres  as  preferred  and  rele- 
gated it  to  the  status  of  a  general 
creditor.  The  Trust  Co.  originally 
filed  claim  of  $1,012,333,  reduced  to 
$400,000,  against  Fox  Theatres  for 
damages  caused  by  the  cancellation  of 
leases  on  Atlanta  theatre  properties. 


Hollywood  Preview 


Bank  Night  Verdict 

Troy,  O.,  June  26. — Jury  in  a  local 
court  returned  a  verdict  for  C.  F. 
Pfister,  head  of  Troy  Amusement  Co., 
defendant  in  suit  filed  by  A.  J.  At- 
tenweiler,  who  asked  judgment  for 
$28  covering  admissions  to  Bank  Night 
at  the  Mayflower  over  a  two-year 
period,  plus  $100  damages  under  the 
Ohio  lottery  law.  Plaintiff  is  expect- 
ed to  appeal  to  Common  Pleas  Court. 


"The  Saint  in  London" 

(RKO) 

Hollywood,  June  26. — Customers  need  not  have  followed  the  "Saint" 
series  up  to  this  point  to  collect  a  full  measure  of  satisfaction  from  this 
best  of  the  pictures  about  the  detective  who  masquerades  as  a  criminal. 
Nor  need  they  go  on  with  the  series  from  here,  although  that  seems  a 
good  idea  and  a  natural  consequence.  "The  Saint  in  London"  is  complete 
without  preface  or  followup  and  a  completely  satisfying  melodrama  in 
the  best  crime-detection  tradition. 

As  has  been  previously  reported,  this  number  in  the  "Saint"  series 
was  produced  in  England.  It  was  expertly  directed  by  John  Paddy  Car- 
stairs  for  producer  William  Sistrom  from  a  tightly  woven  screenplay 
by  Lynn  Root  and  Frank  Fenton  based  on  "The  Million  Pound  Day" 
by  Leslie  Charteris.  George  Sanders'  performance  in  the  title  role  is 
a  splendid  achievement  and  the  work  of  his  associates,  Sally  Gray,  David 
Burns,  Gordon  McLeon,  Henry  Oscar,  Athene  Seyler,  John  Abbott  and 
others,  is  uniformly  excellent. 

Principally  concerned  in  the  plot  is  the  thwarting  of  a  scheme  to 
circulate  fraudulently  printed  currency  of  an  unnamed  nation  in  the 
London  market.  Sanders,  pursued  by  the  romantically  and  helpfully 
inclined  Miss  Gray,  gets  into  and  out  of  a  great  number  of  tight  situa- 
tions in  the  course  of  the  proceedings.  There  is  a  wealth  of  action  but 
no  raising  of  the  voices  engaged  in  delivery  of  finely  written  dialogue 
rich  in  humorous  as  well  as  melodramatic  content.  An  especially  en- 
tertaining humorous  performance  is  contributed  by  Burns  in  the  role 
of  American  ex-convict  unwittingly  enrolled  on  the  side  of  justice. 

Running  time,  70  minutes.    "G."*  Roscoe  Williams 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Trial  Board  Named 
To  Air  AFA  Battle 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Frank  Chapman,  Eva  Gauthier,  Leo 
Fischer ;  Margaret  Speaks,  alternate. 

Chorus  Equity :  Philip  Loeb,  Al- 
fred Kappeler,  Ruth  Richmond  ;  Emily 
March,  alternate. 

Hebrew  Actors  Union :  Jean  Green- 
field, Reuben  Guskin,  Charles  Cohan. 

Hungarian  Actors  and  Artists 
Assn. :  Tibor  Garthy  and  Lily  de 
Lyse. 

Brother  Artists  Assn.:  Thomas  J. 
Phillips  and  Pat  Kearney. 

Italian  Actors  Union  will  be  rep- 
resented by  Ario  Dramis  and  the  He- 
brew Chorus  Union  by  Michael 
Zwiback. 

The  A.F.A.  has  received  a  letter 
from  Robert  H.  Thayer,  assistant  dis- 
trict attorney,  denying  that  he  has 
seized  the  books  and  records  of  the 
union  or  subpoenaed  its  officers  as  re- 
cently reported  in  several  newspapers. 


Morgan  Back  From 
South  America  Post 

Guy  P.  Morgan,  who  manages 
United  Artists  business  in  Chile,  Ar- 
gentina and  Uruguay,  arrived  with  his 
wife  and  two  daughters  from  Buenos 
Aires  yesterday.  This  is  Morgan's 
first  visit  to  the  United  States  in  six 
years.  They  will  be  here  about  three 
or  four  months,  during  which  he  will 
confer  with  his  chiefs,  Murray  Silver- 
stone  and  Arthur  Kelly,  and  he  prob- 
ably will  also  visit  California. 

It  is  Morgan's  view  that  of  ap- 
proximately 700  possible  theatre  out- 
lets in  Argentina,  nearly  300  are  prac- 
tically closed  to  American  product  and 
utilize  only  native  Spanish  language 
films.  Nearly  all  of  these  theatres 
operate  only  one  day,  Sunday. 


Roach,  Jr.,  a  Producer 

Hollywood,  June  26. — Hal  Roach, 
Jr.,  has  been  made  a  producer  by  his 
father,  on  attaining  his  21st  birthday. 


Little  Change 
On  N.Y.  Stage 
Despite  Pact 


Sentiment  among  members  of  thd 
Dramatists  Guild  and  legitimate  stag<.j 
managers  is  that  the  proposed  modi 
fications  to  the  minimum  agreemenj 
will  make  little  difference  in  produc" 
tion  next  season.     Principal  Tt^\ 
given  is  that  the  down  payment,  wK.'i 
will  be  at  least  $15,000,  is  too  mucPi 
for  film  rights  in  advance  of  produc 
tion. 

Experienced    playwrights    can,  o 
course,  obtain  backing  for  their  play: 
from  other  than  film  sources  and  an 
not  likely  to  accept  backing  which 
requires  that  they  sell  the  rights  ii 
advance.    As  for  the  younger  groui, 
of  dramatists,  for  whose  benefit  th< 
modifications  were  devised,  it  is  no 
considered  likely  that  film  companie: 
will  be  willing  to  pay  $15,000  plu: 
weekly  royalties  of  approximately  1(; 
per  cent  of    the    play's    gross,  anc 
gamble  on  its  acceptance  by  the  pub- 
lic. 

No  final  action  has  been  taken  bj 
the  Guild  council.  Luise  Sillcox,  ex 
ecutive  secretary,  received  a  revisec 
draft  from  Sidney  R.  Fleisher,  Guile 
attorney,  for  study  over  the  week- 
end. The  revisions  are  in  accord 
ance  with  suggestions  made  at  tht 
council  meeting  last  Tuesday.  Then1 
is  no  doubt,  however,  that  it  will  b(' 
accepted  in  time  for  next  season's 
production. 


to  the  ftfation 
Picture 
industry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


— 


45.  NO.  124 


NEW  YORK,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  28,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


British  Bank 
\ight  Scored 
By  Exhibitors 

EA  Orders  Probe  Into 
Games  Situation 


London,  June  27. — A  heated  discus- 
ton  on  Bank  Night  featured  today's 
moral  council  meeting  at  the  annual 
mimer  conference  of  the  Cinemato- 
aph     Exhibitors'     Association  at 
.ackpool,  seaside  resort. 
iFollowing  the  introduction  of  prize 
mies  by  the  Gaumont  circuit,  the 
wncil  characterized  Bank  Night  as 
idesirable,    and    warned  exhibitors 
at  they  are  risking  prosecution  for 
sembling  crowds,  with  the  resultant 
■riger  of  fire  and  panic. 
Arthur  W.  Jarratt,  Gaumont  thea- 
Es  head,   defended  the  policy,  but 
id  Gaumont  would  fall  in  line  if  it 
uld  be  assured  the  C.E.A.  would 
ad  its  members  not  to  use  the  games. 
At  the  suggestion  of  Ken  Nyman, 
sident,  a  committee  will  be  named 
investigate  the  entire  situation  of 
atre    inducements    to    the  public, 
rious  members  attacked  the  circuits 
rply  for  the  practice,  which  was 
led  undignified  and  shameful. 
A  long  report  on  the  television  situ- 
lon  was  presented  to  the  conference 
the  general  council.    It  was  agreed 
t,  despite  the  dissatisfaction  with 
present  status,  especially  the  sys- 
7i  of  payment  for  the  right  to  screen 
ecasts,  an  ultimatum  refusing  co- 
cratio-i  would  not  yet  be  sent  to  the 
-tmaster    General,    under  whose 
isdiction  are  the  B.B.C.  telecasts. 


.Y.  Allied  to  Push 
Code  Negotiations 

Xew  York  Allied  intends  to  con- 
me  negotiations  on  the  trade  prac- 
e  code,  despite  national  Allied's  re- 

tion  of  the  code. 

Our  organization's  aim  is  to  fight 
continued  negotiations  in  the 
pe  that  a  bill  of  rights  can  be  writ- 
for   the   independent  exhibitor," 

d  Max  A.  Cohen,  president.  He 
ntinued : 

'I  am  against  Government  regula- 
wi  of  the  business.  If  by  negotia- 
n  we  can  get  relief  for  the 
ependents  without  Government 
gulation,  we  will  do  so  ceaselessly, 
hting  day  and  night." 
Cohen  added  that  "an  exhibitors' 
st  duty  is  to  his  own  business." 
Cohen  said  that  he  is  opposed  to 
eatre  divorcement,  which  is  sought 

{Continued  on  page  7) 


Illinois  Bill  Bars 
Film  Shows  Longer 
Than  135  Minutes 

Springfield,  111.,  June  27.— 
The  State  Senate  today 
passed  a  bill  prohibiting  the 
showing  of  film  shows  longer 
than  two  hours  and  15  min- 
utes in  Illinois.  Approved  by 
a  26  to  11  vote,  the  bill  now 
goes  to  the  House  for  action 
on  a  Senate  amendment.  If 
the  House  concurs  the  bill 
goes  to  the  Governor. 

The  debate  on  the  measure 
brought  out  a  charge  that 
some  shows  in  Chicago  have 
three  features  and  last  four 
hours.  Opponents  of  the  bill 
declared  that  they  have  had 
no  complaints  about  the 
length  of  cinema  shows. 


Exhibitors  of  Okla. 
Avoid  Code  Action 

Oklahoma  City,  June  27.  —  The 
Oklahoma  Theatre  Owners,  Inc.,  just 
before  closing  its  annual  convention 
today,  decided  not  to  take  any  action 
upon  the  trade  practice  code. 

Morris  Lowenstein,  re-elected  presi- 
dent, appointed  the  following  commit- 
tee to  study  the  code  and  report  its 
recommendations  to  the  board  of  di- 
rectors within  30  days :  L.  C.  Griffith. 
Homer  Jones,  Fred  Pickrel,  T.  B. 
Xoble,  Jr.,  and  Louis  Groves. 

Non-commitment  on  the  code  fol- 
lowed a  speech  by  Ed  Kuykendall. 
president  of  M.P.T.O.A.,  who  urged 
the  exhibitors  to  approve  the  code  as 
it  now  stands.  Griffith,  president  of 
the  Griffith  Amusement  Co.,  urged 
delay  of  action  until  the  code  is  fully 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


SENATORS  RESCUE 
FEDERAL  THEATRE; 
1,500  FIRED  IN  N.  Y. 


Reorganization  of  2,000 
Remaining  Workers 
Ordered  in  City 


Four  hundred  dismissal  notices 
were  received  yesterday  from  Wash- 
ington by  workers  on  Federal  Theatre 
Project  No.  1,  the  New  York  project. 

A  total  of  1,500  will  be  dropped 
from  the  Federal  pavroll  by  tomor- 
row. All  dismissal  notices  carry  an 
effective  date  two  weeks  after  date  of 
issuance. 

The  remaining  2,000  on  the  project 
in  New  York  will  be  reorganized  un- 
der a  new  plan.  No  project  activity, 
in  vaudeville,  light  opera  or  circus 
work,  currently  carried  on,  will  be 
abandoned  completely.  The  super- 
visory personnel  will  be  cut  relatively 
more  than  the  lists  of  workers. 

"Pinocchio,"  "Life  and  Death  of  an 
American"  and  "Sing  for  Your  Sup- 
per," project  plays  currently  on 
Broadway,  are  to  be  continued. 

Those  formerly  working  in  WPA 
vaudeville,  light  opera  and  circus  will 
be  reorganized  into  a  single  troupe, 
rotating  through  the  year  in  a  reper- 
tory of  similar  fare.  Also,  the  several 
companies  formerly  presenting  classi- 
cal dramas  at  schools  and  the  like  will 
be  consolidated  into  one  company. 

It  was  not  learned  whether  payroll 
reductions  will  be  made  in  other 
American  cities. 


"The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask" 

[Edward  Small — United  Artistsl 


Hollywood,  June  27 — Showmen  who  have  been  waiting  around  for 
Edward  Small  to  give  them  "another  picture  like  'The  Count  of  Monte 
Cristo,'  "  needn't  wait  any  longer.  This  is  it.  Here  again  are  swash- 
buckling swordsmen  doing  and  dying,  this  time  for  France  and  instead 
of  for  vengeance,  and  here  again  are  sumptuous  palace  interiors  and 
bleak  dungeon  depths,  sinister  villainies  and  valorous  heroisms. 

Showmen  have  been  saying  since  1934  that  they  can  sell  another 
picture  like  this.    Small  has  furnished  plenty  of  names  to  sell  it  with. 

The  top  name  in  this  particular  case  would  seem  to  be  that  of 
Alexander  Dumas,  who  wrote  the  thing  imperishably  in  the  first  place. 
The  names  of  George  Bruce  as  screen  playwright  and  James  Whale  as 
director  fit  nicely  with  M.  Dumas'  by  reason  of  past  achievement. 

Top  spot  on  the  marquee  goes  to  Louis  Hayward,  who  plays  the 
dual  lead  as  competently  as  any  actor  of  stage  or  screen  ever  played 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Approve  Appropriation; 
Local  Agencies  Share 
Cost  After  Oct.  31 


Washington,  June  27. — The  Sen- 
ate Appropriations  Committee,  in  re- 
porting the  1940  relief  funds  measure 
today  to  the  Senate,  authorized  con- 
tinuation of  the  Federal  Theatre 
project. 

The  project,  ordered  discontinued 
June  30  by  a  House  committee,  will 
be  continued  on  one  condition,  i.e.,  that 
after  October  31  local  interests  shall 
share  the  cost  of  maintaining  the  Fed- 
eral theatre  as  they  do  in  respect  to 
other  WPA  activities. 

8,000  Employed  on  Project 

Testimony  at  hearings  before  the 
Senate  committee  regaled  that  there 
are  almost  8,000  employees  on  the  the- 
atre project  at  the  present  time,  that 
during  the  first  ten  months  of  the 
current  fiscal  year  expenditures  were 
$9,949,999  and  "that  during  nine  months 
boxoffice  receipts  werp  $679,644. 

A  delegation  of  prominent  New 
York  theatrical  leaders  visited  Wash- 
ington recently  and  protested  the  pro- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Paramount  to  Get 
$2,000,000  Loan 

Arrangements  were  completed  yes- 
terday with  the  First  of  Boston  Corp. 
for  a  $2,000,000  term  loan  at  Zy2  per 
cent  with  which  to  retire  the  last  of 
Paramount's  six  per  cent  debentures 
outstanding.  Notice  of  the  calling  of 
the  debentures  will  be  published  early 
next  week. 

There  is  $1,939,000  of  six  per  cent 
debentures  outstanding  of  an  original 
issue  of  $26,000,000.  Refunding  of  the 
entire  amount  at  appreciably  lower  in- 
terest rates  has  been  accomplished 
during  the  past  three  years  with  the 
cooperation  of  Paramount  theatre  sub- 
sidiaries under  the  direction  of  Barney 
Balaban,  Paramount  president,  and 
Stanton  Griffis,  chairman  of  the  ex- 
ecutive committee.  M.  &  P.  Theatres 
of  Boston  is  understood  to  be  a  par- 
ticipant in  the  last  of  the  several  re- 
funding loans. 

An  annual  interest  saving  of  more 
than  $700,000  will  be  effected  for  Par- 
amount as  a  result  of  the  retirement 
of  the  six  per  cent  debentures. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1939 


i  Purely 
Personal  ► 

HERMAN  WOBBER  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox general  sales  manager, 
is  due  back  from  the  coast  the  middle 
of  July. 

• 

Garson  Kanin,  RKO  director, 
sails  on  the  N ormandie  today.  Other 
passengers  will  be  Harold  Rosson, 
M-G-M  cameraman ;  Grace  Moore 
and  her  husband,  Valentin  Parera; 
Sam  Levene,  actor ;  Trudi  Schoop, 
dancer,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Erich 
Pommer. 

• 

G.  Murdock  and  V.  A.  Voebel  of 
Interstate  Theatres,  Houston,  Texas ; 
M.  Conner,  Rhodes  Theatre,  Chi- 
cago, and  Mrs.  Jack  Zimmerman  of 
Lucas  &  Jenkins  Theatres  Circuit, 
Atlanta,  Ga.,  registered  at  the  RKO 
World's  Fair  lounge  yesterday. 
• 

Herbert  Wilcox,  British  producer, 
and  Anna  Neagle,  star  of  "Nurse 
Edith  Cavell,"  which  Wilcox  has 
produced  on  the  coast  for  RKO  re- 
lease, arrive  today  from  the  coast  fol- 
lowing completion  of  the  film,  en  route 
to  England. 

• 

Benjamin  Trustman,  lawyer  for 
the  M  &  P  Circuit,  Boston,  and  Fred 
Kent,  lawyer  for  E.  J.  Sparks  Cir- 
cuit, Jacksonville,  Fla.,  were  visitors 
at  the  Paramount  home  office  yester- 
day. 

• 

Tyrone  Power  and  his  bride, 
Annabella,  arrive  today  at  Newark 
Airport  from  the  coast  and  will  sail 
Saturday  on  the  Rex  on  a  two-month 
trip  through  Europe. 

• 

Clifford  E.  Giesseman,  former 
general  manager  of  United  Detroit 
Theatres,  has  been  named  Altec  sales 
representative  in  the  midwest,  with 
headquarters  in  Detroit. 

• 

Wilfred  Lawson,   English  actor, 
arrives  tomorrow  on  the  Bremen,  en 
route  to    Hollywood    to    appear  in 
RKO's  "Allegheny  Frontier." 
• 

Marlowe  Conner,  manager  of  the 
Rhodes  in  Chicago,  yesterday  visited 
the  Managers'  Round  Table  at  the 
Motion  Picture  Herald. 

• 

Bryan  Foy,  Warner  producer,  is 


FLY 

AMERICAN 
NEW  YORK 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Cool  All  the  Way 
3  FLIGHTS  DAILY 

Call  your  travel 
agent  or  VAn- 
derbilt  3-2580. 
Ticket  Offices: 
45  Vanderbilt  Ave.,  and  Rock- 
efeller Center  at  18  W.  49th  St. 

AMERICAN 
AIRLINES 


7:10  A.  M 
5:10  P.  M 
10:10  P.  M 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  SAM  SHAIN 


YOU  will  read  elsewhere  in  this  issue  that  England,  too,  now  has  the 
problem  of  giveaways.  There  was  a  heated  argument  at  the  annual 
Summer  conference  of  the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Association  on 
the  matter.  The  general  council  called  the  games  undesirable,  warned  exhibi- 
tors against  the  assembling  of  crowds  attracted  to  the  games  and  verbally 
hammered  the  Gaumont  circuit  for  the  introduction  of  Bank  Night.  The 
games  in  this  country  "just  growed,"  but  in  England  they  appear  to  be  facing 
a  strong  possibility  of  a  high  infant  mortality  rate. 


MRS.  LELA  ROGERS,  mother  of  Ginger  Rogers,  is  giving  a  theatre 
party  for  friends  at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall  tomorrow  in  connection 
with  the  premiere  of  "Bachelor  Mother"  in  which  Ginger  Rogers  appears. 


NL.  NATHANSON  is  the  donor  of  a  trophy  emblematic  of  the  golf 
•  championship  of  the  Canadian  film  business  at  the  first  annual  golf 
tournament  to  be  held  at  the  Oakdale  Golf  Club,  Toronto,  August  14. 


IT  is  hoped  that  the  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  will  render  its  decision  this 
week  in  connection  with  the  RKO  reorganization  matters  pending  in  the 
courts,  so  that  the  company's  77b  situation  may  be  disposed  of  definitely  and 
it  can  begin  a  new  career  under  George  J.  Schaefer,  coincident  with  the  new 
season. 


HERBERT  J.  YATES  plans  to  sail  for  London  soon.  He  will  be  crossing 
on  business  pertaining  to  Republic's  "Man  of  Conquest"  and  the  per- 
sonal appearance  tour  in  England  by  Gene  Autry.  Sol  Siegel,  Republic's 
foreign  sales  executive,  is  presently  in  London  engaged  in  preliminary  dis- 
cussions upon  these  matters. 


WE  hear  from  Bill  Gladish  that  Walt  Disney  and  his  father,  Elias,  are 
planning  to  visit  childhood  scenes  and  meet  relatives  in  Huron  County, 
Ontario,  their  former  home.  Among  their  relatives  is  Peter  Cantelon  of 
Goderich,  Ont.,  a  cousin  of  Elias  Disney,  who  visited  the  Disneys  in  Cali- 
fornia last  Winter. 


AT  Lindy's,  with  J.  J.  Milstein  and  Joe  Moskowitz,  we  learned  that  Darryl 
Zanuck  did  one  of  the  best  international  selling  jobs  on  the  air  in  con- 
nection with  the  "Magic  Key"  broadcast  tie-up  with  the  20th  Century-Fox 
picture,  "Second  Fiddle."  In  the  brief  time  that  Zanuck  was  on,  according 
to  these  gentlemen,  he  had  sold  the  whole  20th  Century-Fox  program. 


LEONARD  GOLDENSON,  theatre  executive  of  Paramount,  and  Isabelle 
Weinstein  will  be  wed  in  the  Fall.  Announcement  of  their  betrothal 
will  be  made  this  week  by  Miss  Weinstein's  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Max 
Weinstein. 


in  town  looking  over  plays  and  inter- 
viewing authors  for  story  material  for 
his  1939-'40  schedule. 

• 

Joseph  Moskowitz,  James  Mul- 
vey,  J.  J.  Milstein,  Sam  Shain,  Joe 
Pincus  among  those  lunching  at 
Lindy's  yesterday. 

• 

Ted  I.  Nicholas,  manager  of  the 
Lyric,  Indianapolis,  has  been  elected 
president    of    the  Arsenal  Technical 
High  School  Alumni  Association. 
• 

Marlowe    Conner,    Ben  Cohen 
and  Ray  Dunn,  Warner  theatre  man- 
agers in  Chicago,  won  prizes  in  the 
M-G-M  contest  on  "Honolulu." 
• 

Lillian  Lange,  office  director  for 
Songwriters'    Protective  Association, 
celebrates  her  birthday  today. 
• 

Oscar  A.  Doob,  Loew's  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  leaves  tomor- 
row for  a  week's  vacation  in  Chicago. 
• 

Eddie  Cantor  was  in  Albany  yes- 
terday. 

George  Scharf  of  Loew's  publicity 
staff  is  vacationing. 

Roy  Haines.  Warners  division  man- 
ager, returns  today  from  Philadelphia. 


United  Artists  Sets 
4  Early  Releases 

United  Artists  will  shortly  release 
four  important  pictures,  and  of  these, 
it  is  interesting  to  note  that  the  Sam- 
uel Goldwyn  picture,  "They  Shall 
Have  Music,"  will  play  at  the  Rivoli 
Theatre  beginning  on  July  25. 

Other  United  Artists  pictures  will 
go  intc  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall. 
Among  these  are  Edward  Small's 
"The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask"  which 
is  booked  to  open  July  13,  and  Walter 
Wanger's  "Winter  Carnival"  which 
will  follow.  "Four  Feathers,"  the 
fourth  of  the  United  Artists  mid-sum- 
mer releases,  an  Alexander  Korda 
production,  is  scheduled  for  the  Radio 
City  Music  Hall  early  in  August. 


Picture  Pioneers 
Will  Publish  Book 

Picture  Pioneers,  association  of 
veterans  who  have  been  in  the  busi- 
ness 25  years  or  more,  plans  to  pub- 
lish a  book  which  will  list  members 
and  their  pictures  as  they  appear  today 
and  as  they  looked  25  years  ago. 

Jack  Cohn,  Columbia  vice-president, 
who  is  president  of  the  Pioneers,  has 
called  the  first  dinner  "conference"  of 
the  group  for  tomorrow  night  at  the 
Barberry  Room,  19  E.  52nd  St. 


Oust  Leaders, 
AFAVRump' 
Meeting  Asks 


"The  Ferrets,"  group  of  dissatisfied 
members  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Actors,  early  yesterday  mornine  did 
the  expected,  and  passed  resolutions^- 

( 1 )  anproving  the  Associated  Actrjnei 
and  Artistes  of  America  investigation 
of  the  A.F.A. ;  (2)  demanding  the 
resignations  of  Sophie  Tucker,  presi- 
dent ;  Ralph  Whitehead,  executive 
secretary  and  the  council ;  (3)  asking 
the  executives  to  abide  by  any  de- 
cision of  their  trial,  and  (4)  asking  a 
hearing  by  the  4A  to  air  their  own 
grievances. 

Yesterday  the  A.F.A.  declared  that 
many  of  those  attending  the  meeting 
were  not  members  in  good  standing 
of  the  A.F.A.,  and  that  Phil  Irving, 
who  acted  as  chairman,  is  now  in 
arrears. 

Meanwhile,  the  A.F.A.'s  counsel, 
Abraham  Halprin,  up  to  yesterday  had 
not  received  any  answer  to  his  re- 
quest for  a  bill  of  particulars  from  the 
4A  relative  to  the  charges  leveled  by 
the  parent  body  against  A.F.A.  officials. 
The  trial  is  scheduled  for  July  10. 


Dallas  Variety  Club 
Holds  Outing  July  15 

Dallas,  June  27. — Committees  are 
busy  completing  arrangements  for  the 
large  outing  which  will  be  given  by 
the  Variety  Club  at  Vickery  Park  on 
July  15  for  employes  of  all  local  film 
exchanges,  Interstate  Circuit,  Robb 
and  Rowley,  Jefferson  Amusements 
Co.  and  the  Griffith  Amusements  Co. 
Harry  Sachs  is  general  chairman. 

Committee  men  include  Charles 
Meeker,  Ray  Litsey,  A.  V.  Philbin, 
J.  E.  Mitchell,  Roy  Sachs,  Robert 
Helms,  Lowell  Russell,  A.  M.  Which- 
er,  Dutch  Cammer,  Charles  Lees, 
T.  P.  Tidwell,  R.  I.  Payne  and 
Charles  Meeker. 


Di  Pesa  Recuperates 

Joseph  A.  Di  Pesa,  Loew's  publicity 
man  in  Boston,  has  recuperated  from 
a  long  illness  and  is  back  on  the  job. 
Lou  Brown,  who  has  been  handling 
his  work,  returns  to  his  post  as  pub- 
licity man  for  the  Poli  circuit  at  New 
Haven,  and  Matt  Saunders,  who  has 
been  subbing  for  Brown,  is  back  as 
manager  in  Bridgeport. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

{Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City. 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi- 
gan Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager ;_  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building, 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man- 
ager, cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
AH  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Otner  Quigley 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  ratei  per 
year  $6  in  the  America!  and  $12  foreign. 
Single  copies  10c. 


TOPS 
THEM 
ALL! 


V// 

oS 


That  leaping  Lion  has  done  it  again! 
And  M-G-M  customers  win,  as  usual! 
When  your  patrons  come  to  New  York 
On  a  World's  Fair  visit 
They'll  find  there's  only 
One  Information  Service 
On  Broadway— at  the 
Crossroads  of  the  World! 
And  that's  Leo's! 
Watch  for  the  Special 
Trailer  for  your  screen, 
And  guest  cards  for  your 
Patrons  to  Leo  on  Broadway! 

QALA  OPENINQ  TODAY/ 

LOEW-METRO- 
GOLDWYN-MAYER 

WORLD'S  FAIR 
INFORMATION 
CENTER 


in  the  heart  of  Times  Square,  N.  Y. 


,  open  DoUj  8  A.  M 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1939 


Hollywood  Preview 


"Mickey  the  Kid" 

(Republic) 

Hollywood,  June  27. — Several  new  story  twists  have  been  incor- 
porated in  this  edition  of  the  father-and-son  story  plot.  Generally  melo- 
dramatic, yet  not  without  comedy  incidents  that  provoke  laughter  and 
occasional  moments-  of  sympathy-stirring  human  interest,  "Mickey  the 
Kid,"  while  of  interest  to  adults,  is  an  attraction  for  youngsters. 

Featuring  Bruce  Cabot,  Jessie  Ralph  and  young  Tommy  Ryan  in  the 
leading  roles,  with  Ralph  Byrd,  Zasu  Pitts,  June  Storey,  John  Qualen, 
Scotty  Beckett  and  J.  Farrell  MacDonald  as  principal  supports,  the  show 
is  capably  directed  by  Arthur  Lubin  from  a  screenplay  by  Doris  Malloy 
and  Gordon  Kahn  based  on  Alice  Altschuler's  original. 

Bank  robber  Cabot,  fleeing  G-men,  contrives  to  place  his  son,  Ryan, 
in  the  care  of  his  grandmother,  Miss  Ralph.  Ryan,  incorrigible  at  first, 
gradually  wins  his  way  into  Miss  Ralph's  affections  and,  under  the  in- 
fluence of  maid  Miss  Pitts  and  school  teacher  Miss  Storey,  gradually 
transforms  himself  into  a  regular  boy.  He  becomes  a  hero  to  his  com- 
panions when  he  licks  the  school  bully. 

Meanwhile  officers,  learning  that  Ryan  is  Cabot's  son  plan  to  trap 
the  criminal  at  the  farm  home.  The  scheme  works,  but  Cabot,  trying 
to  escape,  highjacks  the  school  bus.  Thereupon  is  reenacted  that  episode 
of  a  few  winters  ago  (when  a  bus  load  of  Colorado  children  were  kept 
alive  by  a  young  hero)  until  rescue  is  brought  by  Cabot,  who  dies  in 
the  blizzard. 

Although  some  irrelevant  material  is  included,  the  action  and  excite- 
ment of  the  story  make  it  move  rapidly,  with  the  suspense  packed  climax 
giving  the  show  a  real  human  interest  wallop. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.   "G."*  G.  McC. 


'Heaven'  Hits 


Fine  $8,500, 
Minneapolis 


Minneapolis,  June  27. — Best  gross- 
er Minneapolis  was  "East  Side  of 
Heaven"  at  the  State,  with  a  hand- 
some $8,500. 

In  St.  Paul,  the  leader  was  "Invi- 
tation to  Happiness,"  which  brought 
$4,900  to  the  Paramount. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22 : 

Minneapolis 

"Sweepstake  Winner"  (W.B.) 
"Boy  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

ASTER— (900;    (15c-25c)   7   days.  Gross: 
$1,650.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 

CENTURY— (1,600)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $3,100.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

GOPHER— (990)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$3,200.  (Average,  $2,500) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $5,900.  (Average,  $4,800) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

STATE— (2,300)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,500.  (Average,  $4,400) 

St.  Paul 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,900)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $2,300.  (Average,  $3,200) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT—  (2,500)   (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,900.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

RIVIERA — (1,000)    (25c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$1,700.  (Average,  $1,800) 
"Zenobia"  (U.A.) 
"They  Made  Her  a  Spy"  (RKO) 

TOWER— (1,000)    (25c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$1,600.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Ecstasy"  (Jewell) 
"Prison  Without  Bars"  (U.A.) 

WORLD— (400)  (25c-35c)  "Ecstacy,"  4 
days,  "Bars,"  3  days.  Gross:  $800.  (Av- 
erage, $700) 


'Juarez'  Milwaukee 
Leader  with  $5,100 

Milwaukee,  June  27.  —  "Juarez" 
and  "Sweepstakes  Winner,"  in  the  sec- 
ond week  at  the  Warner,  grossed  the 
best  business  of  the  week  with  $5,100. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22-23 : 

"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 
"Undercover  Doctor"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (35c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$3,500.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"For  Love  Or  Money"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)  (25c-30c)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville  Revue.  Gross:  $5,200 
(Average,  $6,500) 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"East  Side  of  Heaven"  (Univ.) 

STRAND— (1,400)    (35c-50c)    6  days.  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $1,100.  (Average,  $1,500) 
"Juarez"  (W.B.) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.B.) 

WARNER— (2,400)    (35c-50c)   7  days.  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $5,100.   (Average,  $4,500) 
"Susannah  of  the  Mounties"  (20th-Fox) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  (20th-Fox) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (35c  -50c),  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $5,500) 


Sign  Dolores  del  Rio 
For  Mexico  Picture 

Mexico  City,  June  27.  —  Dolores 
del  Rio  has  agreed  to  play  the  lead 
in  "Santa"  ("Saintess"),  a  drama 
based  upon  the  classic  Mexican  novel. 
The  picture  is  to  be  made  here  by 
Pedro  Calderon,  who  produced  "La 
Zandunga,"  which  featured  Lupe 
Velez. 

This  will  be  the  second  time  that 
"Santa"  has  been  made  into  a  picture 
in  Mexico.  In  1930,  Antonio  Mo- 
reno initiated  talking  films  in  this 
country  with  the  production  of  this 
story. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Chips'  Is  $7,000 
Hit  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland,  June  27.— "Goodbye  Mr. 
Chips"  for  the  second  successive  week 
held  top  spot,  with  $7,000  at  Loew's 
Stillman.  "Only  Angels  Have  Wings," 
another  holdover,  took  $5,000  at  the 
Allen. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  23 : 

"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  $4,000) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (ZOth-Fox) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME  —  (3,800) 
(30c-35c-42c)  7  days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Av- 
erage, $11,000) 

"The  Kid  From  Kokomo"  (W.B.) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,100)     (30c-35c-42c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,500)    (30c-35c-42c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average,  $11,000) 
"Goodbye  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (30c-35c- 
42c)  7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Av- 
erage, $5,000) 


'Happiness'  $9,900; 
Kansas  City  Dull 

Kansas  City,  June  27. — Rain  con- 
tributed little  to  grosses,  but  "Invita- 
tion to  Happiness"  did  $9,900  at  the 
Newman.  "Captain  Fury"  and 
"Bridal  Suite"  at  the  Midland  did 
$10,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  20-22 : 

"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,400.     (Average,  $3,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (4,000)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,600.      (Average,  $11,500) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)     (25c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $9,900.     (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN  —  (2,000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $2,700.     (Average,  $3,500) 


'Wonderful  World' 
$18,500  in  Capital 

Washington,  June  27. — "It's  A 
Wonderful  World"  topped  the  town 
with  $18,500  at  Loew's  Capitol.  "Only 
Angels  Have  Wings"  did  $5,800  in  a 
return  week  at  Loew's  Metropolitan. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22 : 

"It's  A  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  CAPITOL— (3,434)    (25c-66c)  7 
days.    Stage:  Bert  Walton.   Gross:  $18,500. 
(Average,  $16,500) 
"Calling  Dr.  Kildare"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA— (1,243)  (25c-40c)  7 
days.  2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,800.  (Average, 
$4,500) 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S    PALACE— (2,370)    (25c -55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $8,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

RKO-KEITH'S— (1,836)  (25c-55c)  7  days. 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average,  $6,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

WARNERS'  EARLE— (2,218)  (25c-66c)  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Stage  Vaudeville.  Gross: 
$12,500.    (Average,  $16,000)  ' 
"Only  Angels  Have  Wings"  (Col.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN— (1,591) 
(25c-40c)  7  days.  2nd  run.  Gross:  $5,800. 
(Average,  $4,000) 


'Maisie'  Is  Detroit 
Leader  at  $13,500 

Detroit,  June  27. — The  Michigan 
led  here  with  "Maisie"  and  "Invitation 
to  Happiness,"  taking  $13,500.  "Sun 
Never  Sets"  and  "Sorority  House" 
gave  the  Adams  $7,000. 

Estimated  takings  for  week  ending 
June  24 : 

"Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

ADAMS— (1,700)  (15c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Mikado"  (Univ.) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (20c-55c)  7  days.  Gross:  $10,- 
000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Maisie"  (M-G-M) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

MICHIGAN— (4,000)     (20c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $13,500.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"6,000  Enemies"  (M-G-M) 
"Mutiny  on  the  Bounty"  (M-G-M) 

■pALMS— (3,000)  (15c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 


Ascap  Fights 
Florida  Law; 
Calls  It  Illegal 

Motion  to  dismiss  Ascap's  action 
contesting  the  constitutionality  of  the 
Florida  law  barring  the  music  licens- 
ing society  from  operating  in  t>  * 
state  was  filed  in  Federal  court^6'1 
New  Orleans  yesterday  in  conjunction 
with  the  state's  answer  to  a  bill  of 
complaint  filed  some  time  ago  by 
Ascap. 

Florida  officials  contend  in  their 
answer  that  a  new  law  enacted  by  the 
legislature  during  the  last  session  re- 
places the  old  one  and,  therefore,  in- 
validates the  Ascap  action  which  was 
instituted  against  the  original  statute. 

Ascap,  through  its  counsel,  Schwartz 
&  Frohlich,  plans  to  ask  an  injunction 
restraining  Florida  from  enforcing  the 
new  statute.  At  the  same  time,  the 
society  will  contend  that  the  existing 
statute  is  not  materially  different  from 
the  original  but  has  been  amended  in 
minor  particulars  only. 

A  trial  date  for  the  action  attacking 
the  constitutionality  of  the  legislation 
will  be  set  soon  after  Ascap  has  filed 
its  response. 

'Lincoln'  at  $4,200 
Oklahoma  City  Best 

Oklahoma  City,  June  27.— Cool 
and  wet  weather  took  toll  of  grosses 
here,  as  "Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  led 
with  an  average  $4,200  at  the  Mid- 
west. "Captain  Fury"  drew  $4,950  at 
the  Criterion. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22: 

"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 

CRITERION— (1,500)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days 
Gross:  $4,950.    (Average,  $5,500) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 
"Chasing  Danger"  (20th-Fox) 

LIBERTY— (1,200)    (15c-20c-25c)    4  days. 
Gross:  $1,800.    (Average,  $1,800) 
"Charlie  Chan  In  Reno"  (20th-Fox) 
"Sweepstakes  Winner"  (W.  B.) 

LIBERTY—  (1,200)    (15c -20c -25c)    3  days. 
Gross:  $560.    (Average,  $700) 
"Young  Mr.  Lincoln"  (20th-Fox) 

MIDWEST— (1,500)   (25c-35c-40c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.    (Average,  $4,200) 
"Lucky  Night"  (M-G-M) 

PLAZA— (750)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,600.    (Average,  $1,700) 
"Zenobia"  (U.  A.) 
"My  Son  Is  A  Criminal"  (Col.) 

STATE— (1,100)   (15c -25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Dark  Victory"  (W.  B.) 

TOWER— (1,100)  (25c-35c-40c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.   Gross:  $2,250.   (Average,  $2,500) 


'Juarez'  Garners 

$9,500,  Montreal 

Montreal,  June  27. — "Juarez"  at 
Loew's  grossed  $9,500.  "The  Sun 
Never  Sets"  brought  $7,300  to  the 
Palace,  while  at  the  Capitol,  "Bridal 
Suite"  and  "Whispering  Enemies," 
grossed  $6,000.  _ 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  23 : 

"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 
"Whispering  Enemies"  (Col.) 

CAPITOL— (2,547)  (25c-40c-55c-65c)  7  days 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)     (30c-40c-60c)     7  days 
Gross:  $9,500.    (Average,  $8,000) 
"Exile  Express"  (G.  N.) 
"Sorority  House"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (919)    (25c-35c-50c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,700.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,600)  (25c-40c-S5c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,300.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"The  Return  of  the  Cisco  Kid"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Boy  Friend"  (20th-Fox) 

PRINCESS— (2,272)  (25c-35c-50c-65c)  7 
days.   Gross:  $4,100.    (Average,  $6,500) 


THIS  WEEK 
RADIO  CITY 
MUSIC  HALL 
PLAYS  THE  MEW 
ALL  TIME  TOP 
IN  SCREEN 
COMEDY 


THE  MOST  PROFIT-PROMISING  SHOW  THE  BUSINESS  HAS! 
SEEN  IN  MONTHS! 


RKO  RADIO  believes  the  story  to  be 
the  most  NOVEL  and  refreshing  your 
screen  has  ever  told1.  . .  .  Fun  and  ro- 
mance in  the  embarrassing  moments 
of  a  glamorous  shopgirl  who  adopted 
a  doorstep  baby  which  everyone 
believed  to  be  hers!  .  .  .  More  laughs 
when  David  Niven,  the  boss'  son, 
comes  a  'wooing  .  .  .  and  the  biggest 
surprise  of  all  the  sock  finish!  .  .  . 


with. 


CHARLES  COBURN 
FRANK  ALBERTSON 
E.E.CLIVE 

DIRECTED  DY  G ARSON  KANIN 
PRODUCED  RY  D,  G.  DeSYLVA 


s. 


IN  CHARGE  OF 
PRODUCTION 
SCREEN  PLAY  BY  NORMAN  KRASNA  •  STORY  BY  FELIX  JACKSON 


k  K  o 
RADIO 

PICTURES 

V 


•Wednesday.  June  28.  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


New  York  Preview 


"Mountain  Rhythm" 

( Republic) 

Exceptional  production  values  are  evident  in  this  newest  Gene  Autry 
release,  giving  it  added  conviction  and  a  polish  not  found  in  every  west- 
ern. The  picture  should  please  the  many  Autry  fans  and  win  new  ones 
as  well. 

Autry  and  his  partner,  Smiley  Burnette,  undertake  to  aid  a  group  of 
ranchers  to  save  their  grazing  land  from  promoters  who  want  it  for  a 
resort  site.  The  land  is  offered  at  auction  by  the  Government  and  unless 
the  ranchers  are  successful  in  acquiring  it  they  will  be  unable  to  continue 
live  stock  raising.  All  of  the  nefarious  attempts  of  the  promoters  to 
prevent  the  ranchers  from  bidding  on  the  property  are  successfully  frus- 
trated by  Autry  and  Burnette  with  the  aid  of  hobo  leaders  whom  they 
have  befriended.  There  is  a  generous  amount  of  hard  riding,  physical 
encounters,  homely  humor  and  Autry's  harmonizing.  June  Storey  con- 
tributes the  incidental  heart  interest. 

The  cast  is  large  and  capable  and  lends  an  impressive  production  note 
on  occasions,  particularly  those  of  a  gold  mining  sequence  and  another 
of  a  cattle  roundup.  Harry  Grey  was  associate  producer  and  B.  Reeves 
Eason  directed  from  a  screenplay  by  Gerald  Geraghty. 

Running  time,  57  minutes.  "G."*  Sherwin  A.  Kane 


Short 


Subject 


Reviews 


"How  to  Eat" 

\M-G-M) 

ik  TJpbert  Benchley  lectures  his  film 
_fcicncc  l'ii  the  fine  art  of  digestion, 
la  id  illustrates  his  lesson  with  several 
examples  of  the  emotions  which  inter- 
(fcre  with  eating.  A  rumor  of  a  reor- 
ganization in  his  office  spoils  one 
rieal,  he  falls  in  love  and  spoils  an- 
ther. His  appetite  is  also  ruined 
\  hen  he  expects  to  be  called  upon  to 
>  >cak  at  a  banquet.  Problem  of  eat- 
ling  at  picnics,  in  bed  and  at  family 
gatherings  are  also  discussed.  Should 
produce  plenty  of  laughs.  Running 
time,  10  mins. 


"The  Greener  Hills" 

( M-G-M ) 

This  reel  is  intended  as  an  inspira- 
tional item  with  an  "if  you  don't  suc- 
ceed at  first,  try  again"  theme.  A 
husband  leads  his  family  from  one 
'big  deal"  to  another  but  they  fail 
to  come  off.  He  buys  a  peanut  farm 
tut  after  the  plants  grow,  no  peanuts 
are  in  sight.  He  leaves  his  family 
for  another  unsuccessful  venture  in 
raising  bees.  When  he  returns,  he 
learns  that  his  wife  discovered  that 
peanuts  grow  underground  and,  to- 
gether, they  cash  in  on  the  crop.  Run- 
ning time,  11  mins. 

.V.  Y.  Allied  to  Push 
Code  Negotiations 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

by  national  Allied  and  the  Department 
of  Justice. 

"1  am  not  in  favor  of  it  because  I 
would  rather  have  Loew's  and  RKO 
as  competitors  in  preference  to  any 
independent  circuit,"  he  said. 

He  made  it  plain  that  this  is  his 
I>ersonal  view  and  does  not  express 
the  sentiment  of  New-  York  Allied. 

Cohen  has  called  a  statewide  meet- 
ing of  his  organization  in  Syracuse 
July  6.  He  said  there  will  be  "a  com- 
plete discussion  of  the  code  as  a  re- 
sult of  the  Minneapolis  convention." 

The  New  York  City  unit  will  meet 
this  afternoon  in  the  organization's 
office  in  the  Xew  Amsterdam  Theatre 
Building. 


Delay  Eckhardt  Dinner 

Chicago,  June  27. — Date  for  the 
Clyde  W.  Eckhardt  testimonial  dinner 
has  been  postponed  a  week,  until  July 
24.  It  was  formerly  set  for  July  17. 
It  will  be  at  the  Congress  Hotel. 


Patrons  on  Wheels 

Indianapolis,  June  27.  — 
Morris  Cantor,  manager  of 
the  Emerson,  de  luxe  neigh- 
borhood, is  convinced  that 
the  bicycle  is  back  to  stay. 
So  many  of  his  younger  pa- 
trons two-wheel  themselves 
to  the  Emerson  that  he  had 
to  install  a  bike  rack  some 
time  ago.  Now  he's  hired  an 
attendant  to  guard  the  as- 
sembled vehicles  and  keep  an 
eye  on  traffic. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Mexico  Notes 


Mexico  City,  June  27. — Mexican 
interests  have  asked  the  Government 
of  Coahuila  State,  on  the  American 
border,  for  permission  to  build  and 
operate  five  large  film  theatres  in  the 
principal  Coahuila  cities.  The  the- 
atres are  planned  for  Saltillo,  the 
state  capital,  Piedras  Negras,  opposite 
Eagle  Pass,  Tex.,  Monclova,  Sabinas 
and  Allende. 


Charles  Fitten,  10-year-old  son  of 
James  Fitten,  American  boxing  pro- 
moter in  Mexico,  who  was  beginning 
to  make  a  name  for  himself  in  Mexi- 
can pictures,  died  at  his  home  here. 


Minimum  daily  wages  at  last  have 
come  to  the  picture  industry.  Pro- 
ducers have  fixed  the  following  mini- 
mum daily  pay  for  players :  Stars, 
$20;  second  and  third  supports,  $15 
and  $5.  respectivelv,  and  bit  players, 
$3. 


Cine  Tearto  Alameda,  de  luxe  local 
first  run,  has  induced  the  muncipal 
government  to  reconsider  the  fine  im- 
posed by  one  of  its  amusements  in- 
spectors because  the  theatre  intro- 
duced on  its  program  a  picture  and 
music  in  homage  to  Francisco  Sara- 
bia,  Mexican  aviator  killed  at  Wash- 
ington in  an  attempted  nonstop  flight 
to  Mexico. 

The  audience  received  the  feature 
cordially,  but  the  inspector  imposed 
the  fine  because  the  theatre  had  not 
announced  the  feature  as  the  regula- 
tions demand.  Any  unannounced 
change  in  programs  of  theatres  here 
is  illegal. 


7-Day  Week  Approved 

Authorization  for  a  seven-day  week 
for  "Railroads  on  Parade"  at  the 
World's  Fair  was  granted  yesterday 
by  the  Council  of  Actors  Equity  on 
condition  that  performers  be  given 
time  and  one-half  for  the  seventh  day. 
A  similar  authorization  was  granted 
earlier  to  "The  Hot  Mikado"  cast,  the 
second  World  Fair  show  over  which 
Equity  has  judisdiction. 


Domino  Completes 
Initial  Negro  Film 

Domino  Productions,  Inc.,  has  been 
formed  here  for  the  production  of 
features  employing  Negro  casts  ex- 
clusively. Arthur  Leonard  is  presi- 
dent and  George  A.  Walbridge,  vice- 
president  and  general  manager. 

The  company  has  already  completed 
the  first,  "Straight  to  Heaven,"  pro- 
duced at  the  Biograph  studio  in  the 
Bronx,  and  starring  Nina  Mae  Mc- 
Kinney  and  Jack  Carter.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  there  are  about  200  the- 
atres in  the  country  catering  exclus- 
ively to  Negroes. 

Exchanges  Awaiting 
Scotia  Board  Action 

Toronto,  June  27. — Film  ex- 
changes here  are  accepting  no  new 
commitments  until  the  newly-created 
conciliation  board  of  Nova  Scotia  for- 
mulates a  general  plan  of  priority  and 
clearances  for  all  theatres  in  Nova 
Scotia.  The  last  legislature  passed 
a  bill  providing  for  the  prosecution  of 
exchanges  for  any  unjust  discrimina- 
tion. 

Auten  Damage  Suit 
Judgment  Is  Denied 

N.  Y.  Supreme  Court  Justice  Wil- 
liam T.  Collins  yesterday  denied  an 
anplication  for  a  summary  judgment 
against  Harold  Auten  in  a  suit  for 
$197,000  damages  and  an  injunction 
and  accounting  brought  by  Maurice 
Manger  and  Marrel  Coutant  as  trus- 
tees in  bankruptcy  of  Societe  Pathe 
Cinema  S.  A. 

Auten  had  been  made  exclusive 
agent  to  sell  U.  S.  rights  to  seven 
foreign  pictures  under  a  contract  made 
in  April,  1933,  the  complaint  stated, 
but  had  allegedly  refused  to  account 
for  the  proceeds  or  to  cease  selling 
the  rights  upon  expiration  of  its 
agency.  Auten  has  counterclaimed 
for  $17,500. 


Para.  Buys  'Street' 

Hollywood,  June  27. — Paramount 
has  purchased  "The  Man  in  Half 
Moon  Street,"  stage  play  by  Barre 
Lyndon,  now  playing  in  London. 


U.  S.  Theatre 
To  Continue; 
Funds  Voted 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

posed  abandonment  of  the  Federal 
Theatre. 

The  Approoriations  Committee  re- 
fused to  annrove  a  recommendation  of 
the  sub-committee  in  charge  of  the 
measure  that  $150,000  be  provided  for 
continuance  of  the  United  States  Film 
Service,  to  be  transferred  July  1  from 
the  National  Emergency  Council  to 
the  Office  of  Education,  which  is  to 
be  a  part  of  the  New  Federal  Security 
Agency. 

It  accepted  the  House's  decision  that 
no  funds  should  be  provided  directly 
for  such  work,  which  heretofore  has 
been  financed  by  contributions  from 
relief  funds  and  from  departments  for 
which  pictures  have  been  made. 


Equity  Thanks  Delegation 

Council  of  Actors  Equity  yesterday 
gave  a  vote  of  thanks  to  its  committee 
headed  by  Talullah  Bankhead  and 
Blanche  Yurka  which  went  to  Wash- 
ington last  week  to  plead  the  case  of 
the  Federal  Theatre  Project. 

Cantor's  $500,000 
Estate  to  Charity 

Eddie  Cantor  has  offered  his  $500,- 
000  estate  at  Great  Neck  for  charitable 
purposes.  He  has  announced  that  he 
will  deed  the  property  to  any  non- 
sectarian  organization  as  a  home  for 
the  aged  and  children.  Cantor  bought 
the  17-room  house  and  10  acres  of 
land  in  1929.  He  spends  most  of  his 
time  on  the  coast. 


Picket  E.  M.  Loew  House 

Hartford,  Conn.,  June  27. —  A.  F. 
of  L.  union  operators  are  again  picket- 
ing E.  M.  Loew's  Theatre  following 
lifting  of  the  anti-picketing  injunction 
by  the  state  Supreme  Court  recently. 
The  controversy,  which  is  over  two 
years  old,  is  between  rival  unions. 


Indiana  Outing  July  5 

Chicago,  June  27.— Associated  The- 
atre Owners  of  Indiana  will  hold  their 
second  annual  summer  outing  at 
Spink  Wauwausee,  Ind.,  July  5-7. 


'Illusion'  in  Mexico 

World  Pictures  has  sold  the  French 
film,  "Grand  Illusion,"  in  Mexico  and 
Cuba,  and  it  will  have  its  Mexican 
premiere  at  the  Alemeda,  Mexico  City. 


Benny  Remembers 

Cincinnati,  June  27. — Rem- 
iniscing about  Ohio  in  gen- 
eral and  Cincinnati  in  par- 
ticular following  tke  premi- 
ere of  "Man  About  Town" 
Sunday  night,  Jack  Benny  re- 
called that  he  received  his 
start  in  the  Barrison,  at 
Waukegan,  when  he  was  fea- 
turing musical  numbers,  add- 
ing that  Arthur  Frudenfeld 
was  then  manager  of  the  the- 
atre. Frudenfeld  now  is  divi- 
sion manager  of  RKO  Mid- 
west here. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1939 


Banner  Lines 

 — — By  JACK  BANNER  

EIGHTEEN  hundred  words  to  go,  and  so  to  bat.  Gabriel  Heatter  is  the  sur- 
prise selection  to  do  the  color  broadcasting  in  tonight's  Louis-Galento 
bout  by  radio.    George  Hicks,  now  on  his  way  back  from  Europe,  was 
wanted,  but  the  Rex  arrives  a  day  after  the  fight. 

In  an  interview  with  Fulton  Oursler,  editor-in-chief  of  MacFadden  publi- 
cations, Eitel  Wolf  Dobert,  a  former  Captain  in  Hitler's  Storm  Troops,  last 
night  denounced  Nazism,  over  NBC.  .  .  .  Pickups  from  Argentine,  Norway 
and  other  points  across  the  sea  were  made  perfectly  on  Monday  night's  Magic 
Key  broadcast  devoted  to  exploiting  the  20th  Century-Fox  picture,  "Second 
Fiddle,"  but — and  it  always  happens — on  a  routine  pickup  from  Hollywood, 
the  lines  failed  for  a  few  moments. 

T 

Following  a  demonstration  at  the  NAB  convention  in  July,  NBC  will  sus- 
pend all  studio  and  remote  television  broadcasts  until  August. 

▼ 

NBC  promotion  director  Clay  Morgan  and  night  program  manager  Burke 
Miller  celebrated  birthdays  the  other  day.  Miller,  an  astrology  bug,  sent 
Morgan  a  wire  saying  "from  one  gemini  to  another,  happy  birthday."  He 
signed  it  Pollux.  .  .  .  Jim  Harkins,  Fred  Allen's  assistant,  once  was  a  chiro- 
practor and  he's  taught  a  few  of  the  adjustments  to  agent  Bill  Bachelor,  who 
now  administers  spinal  pops  to  Mrs.  Bachelor  when  she  complains  of  her  back. 

Lyn  Murray,  CBS  choir  director,  steps  into  big  time  band  circles  by  taking 
over  Harry  Salter's  place  as  maestro  on  the  Phil  Baker  series.  .  .  .  Postal  Tele- 
graph will  deliver  compacts  to  the  wives  of  local  radio  editors  with  their 
names  and  addresses  engraved  in  acetate  on  the  covers.  .  .  .  May  Robson  will 
be  a  guest  on  Rudy  Vallee's  program  tomorrow  night.  • 

National  Press  Women's  selection  of  radio  programs  for  awards  are  more 
intelligent  picks  than  those  made  by  any  other  lady  groups.  .  .  .  Probably  be- 
cause of  objections  by  the  bandleader,  the  sponsors  of  the  "Waring  Family" 
script  series  have  changed  the  name  of  the  show  to  the  "Parker  Family.".  .  . 
Jack  Benny  may  make  a  personal  appearance  at  the  Paramount  while  he's 
in  town.  .  .  .  Back  from  the  Waukegan  trip  yesterday  were  Joe  Stauffer, 
Tom  Harrington,  Bill  Louis  and  A.  Brockway  of  Young  &  Rubicam. 

T 

Eddie  Cantor  has  lined  up  a  new  program  idea  which  the  William  Morris 
office  is  now  endeavoring  to  sell.  Story  around  is  that  Cantor  could  have  re- 
mained with  his  past  sponsor  had  he  agreed  to  give  up  his  off-radio  anti- 
Nazi  activities.  .  .  .  Al  Jolson  on  Monday  auditioned  a  new  program  for  Lord 
&  Thomas,  for  Lucky  Strikes. 

Mutual  has  arranged  an  interesting  stunt  for  tomorrow — a  "hands  across 
the  sea"  reception  to  its  European  representative,  John  Steele.  During  the 
reception,  Mutual  will  air  a  forum  in  which  Steele,  Elliott  Roosevelt,  Fulton 
Lewis,  Jr.,  Raymond  Gram  Swing  and  Gabriel  Heatter,  all  Mutual  com- 
mentators, will  exchange  opinions  on  the  national  and  international  situation. 
.  .  .  We  forgot  to  add  when  discussing  Cantor  that  Cobina  Wright,  Jr.,  will 
be  a  permanent  member  of  his  cast  if  and  when  he  sells  the  show. 

Things  look  dark  for  radio  columns  in  Pittsburgh,  although  the  general 
trend  seems  to  be  a  return  of  columns. 

▼ 

Tom  Revere,  vice-president  in  charge  of  radio  at  Benton  &  Bowles,  leaves 
for  Hollywood  late  this  week,  probably  to  line  up  talent  for  the  fall  Max- 
well House  Coffee  program.  .  .  .  Mark  Warnow  will  return  his  "Blue  Vel- 
vet" broadcasts  to  CBS  sometime  in  mid-July. 

T 

A  new  sponsored  show  at  NBC  is  set  for  August,  with  Nola  Luxford,  Gra- 
ham McNamee,  Bill  Stern  and  Baukhage,  the  Washington  commentator,  doing 
something  new  in  newscasting.  .  .  .  No  one  more  deserved  the  honors  he  re- 
ceived at  the  Press  Women's  affair  the  other  evening  than  John  Young,  the 
World  Fair's  director  of  radio. 


The  Newsreel  Parade 


Oklahoma  City 
Parley  Avoids 
Vote  on  Code 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

studied.  Half  of  the  members  present, 
by  raised  hands,  indicated  they  had 
not  had  an  opportunity  to  examine  the 
code's  provisions. 

The  following  officers  were  elected, 
in  addition  to  Lowenstein,  who  has 
been  president  of  the  organization  for 
more  than  10  years  and  who  is  national 
secretary  of  M.P.T.O.A. :  Leonard 
White  of  Weatherford,  secretary- 
treasurer  ;  Max  Brock  of  Lawton, 
vice-president;  John  Giffin,  Ralph 
Talbot,  J.  C.  Hunter,  directors. 

A  motion  putting  Oklahoma  The- 
atre Owners,  Inc.,  on  record  as  op- 
posed to  the  passage  of  the  Neely  bill 
was  passed.  Telegrams  to  Oklahoma 
Senators  and  Congressmen,  urging 
their  vote  against  the  bill,  will  be  sent 
to  them  in  Washington. 

Kuykendall  in  his  address  attacked 
Allied  members  of  Oklahoma  who  had 
issued  bulletins  charging  that  the 
M.P.T.O.A.  was  a  "Hays  office  pro- 
ducer -  distributor  -  controlled  organiza- 
tion." The  bulletin,  he  said,  was  dis- 
tributed at  the  convention  headquar- 
ters in  the  Biltmore  Hotel  here. 

Kuykendall  deplored  the  action  of 
the  Allied  States  convention  at  Min- 
neapolis recently  when  the  code  was 
rej  ected. 

"They  could  have  treated  us  with 
courtesy,"  he  said,  referring  to  R.  J. 
(Bob)  O'Donnell,  general  manager  of 
the  Interstate  Circuit,  who  was  pres- 
ent at  the  convention  here.  "They 
didn't  even  extend  to  Mr.  O'Donnell 
an  opportunity  to  speak." 

"At  least  90  per  cent  of  the  Allied 
exhibitors  present  at  the  Minneapolis 
convention  told  me  that  they  would 
individually  sign  the  code,  and  they 
told  me  they  did  not  understand  how 
a  few  Allied  leaders  could  keep  the 
code  from  being  put  up  for  their  ap- 
proval which  the  board  of  directors 
refused  to  do,"  Kuykendall  added. 

Zenith  Gets  Patent 
On  New  Air  Device 

Chicago,  June  27. — Zenith  Radio 
Corp.  today  was  granted  a  patent  on 
its  detachable  wave  magnet,  the  com- 
pany's annual  meeting  of  stockholders 
was  informed  "by  Eugene  F.  McDon- 
ald, president. 

The  wave  magnet  makes  it  possible 
to  obtain  radio  reception  even  inside  a 
steel  room,  as  in  a  railroad  train  or 
airplane,  as  long  as  there  is  a  window 
available. 

Air  Censor  Hearing 
Postponed  to  July  14 

Washington,  June  27. — Federal 
Communications  Commission  today 
postponed  until  July  14  the  hearing 
scheduled  for  July  12  on  its  "censor- 
ship" order  for  international  stations. 


O.  K.  Walker  for  FCC 

Washington,  June  27. — Nomina- 
tion of  Paul  A.  Walker  for  a  seven- 
year  term  as  a  member  of  the  Federal 
Communications  Commission,  sent  to 
the  Senate  yesterday  by  President 
Roosevelt,  was  approved  by  the  Sen- 
ate Interstate  Commerce  Committee 
today. 


There  are  no  outstanding  events  in 
the  new  issues.  Arrival  in  New  York 
of  the  new  Mauretania  is  covered  by 
all  the  reels,  contents  of  which  fol- 
lozv: 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  83— Maure- 
tania sails  again.  Daladier  inspects  air  de- 
fenses. Franco  observes  anniversary. 
Refugees  arrive  in  Belgium.  Clipper  leaves 
Fort  Washington.  Brazil's  army  chief  at 
White  House.  McNutt  returns  to  Amer- 
ica. Fashions.  Harvard -Yale  crew  race. 
Japs  play  baseball.  Water  sports.  Lew 
Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  281—5*. 
Louis  lands  m  Antwerp.  Citizenship  Day  in 
New  York.  Fred  Snite  returns.  Family 
travels  on  bikes.  Mauretania  arrives  in 
New  York.  Tiny  drawing  of  Madonna. 
Gymnastics  in  Stockholm.  Japanese  base- 
ball game.     Crew  race. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  94— Maure- 


tania ends  maiden  voyage.  Air  show.  Mc- 
Nutt en  route  to  White  House.  Decorate 
Italian  ships.  Franco  regime  celebrates 
anniversary.  Refugees  find  haven  in  Bel- 
gium. Trans- Atlantic  air  passenger  ship 
returns.  Clipper  takes  off.  War  Admiral 
retires.  Skeet  championships.  College 
boat  race. 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  98— Political 
shakeup  in  Louisiana.  Refugee  ship  ar- 
rives in  Antwerp.  New  Roosevelt  ap- 
pointees. New  York  welcomes  Mauretania. 
Brazilian  general  tours  army  posts.  Water 
ski  demonstration.  Mountain  blasted. 
Yale-Harvard  regatta. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL.  No.  783— 
Mauretania  arrives  in  New  York.  French 
mourn  sub  victims.  Brazil's  army  chief 
reviews  air  corps.  Clipper  departs  for 
Europe.  McNutt  arrives  on  coast.  War 
banners  on  Italian  navy.  Freighter 
grounded.  Bicycles  become  fad.  Festival 
in  North  Carolina:  Harvard  wins  crew 
race.  War  Admiral  retires.  Water  skiing. 
Glider  meet. 


Silver  Action 
Stirs  Jitters 
Over  Mexico 


Mexico  City,  June  27. — Americar 
film  distributors  in  Mexico  are  in  a 
jittery  state  as  a  result  of  United 
States  Treasury's  action  of  slai^.n  g 
the  buying  price  of  silver  by  v  i  m 
cents  an  ounce. 

Banks  today  were  buying  foreign 
money  at  old  rates  with  brokers  sell- 
ing the  dollar  for  as  high  as  5.3C 
pesos  per,  a  new  high  in  modern 
Mexico. 

The  situation  at  exchanges  resem- 
bled the  old  one  when  the  Mexicar 
government  expropriated  American  oi! 
properties  in  Mexico,  many  person; 
calling  it  even  worse.  Bankers  ad- 
mitted that  they  do  not  know  jusl 
how  high  the  dollar  will  soar. 


'Lost  Plays'  Series 
Will  Start  on  July  6 

An  elaborate  new  Summer  series 
of  dramatic  presentations,  titled. 
"America's  Lost  Plays,"  will  be  oh 
fered  by  NBC  Thursdays  over  thej 
Red  network  from  9  to  10  P.  M.J 
starting  July  6. 

Dramas  are  to  be  based  on  manu- 
scripts of  once  famous  works  and 
until  recently  thought  to  be  lost.  They 
have  been  unearthed  bv  the  Drama- 
tists' Play  Service,  with  the  aid  oi 
the  Rockefeller  Foundation,  Authors 
League  of  America  and  the  Dramatists 
Guild. 


Coast  Brevities 


Los  Angeles,  June  27. — Federal 
Judge  Paul  J.  McCormick  today  de- 
nied RKO  counsel's  motion  to  dismiss 
copyright  infringement  suit  brought 
by  Alfred  Gould,  assignee  of  Alfred 
Goulding,  N.  Y.  writer,  claiming 
"Gunga  Din"  infringed  Goulding'; 
story  submitted  to  and  rejected  by  the 
studio  in  1934.  After  viewing  the  film 
and  reading  Goulding's  script,  thej 
Judge  ruled  that  the  suit  must  go  td 
trial  on  its  merits. 


Samuel  Goldwyn,  James  Roosevelt, 
Jock  Lawrence,  Edwin  Knopf  were! 
routed  from  Goldwyn's  private  pro- 
jection room  today  as  fire  consumed 
100  feet  of  rushes  being  shown.  Dam- 
age was  negligible. 


Jake  Wilk,  Eastern  production  ex- 
ecutive for  Warners,  arrived  in  Holly- 
wood today  for  conferences  with  stu- 
dio executives  on  the  purchase  of  cur- 
rent Broadway  stage  plays. 


Superior  Court  Judge  Willis,  hear- 
ing Technicians'  Local  37  suit  seeking! 
restoration  of  the  local's  autonomy,!  j 
granted  I.A.T.S.E.   defense  attorneyj 
George  Breslins  his  motion  to  strike  i 
from  the  record  of  the  trial  to  date  , 
all   references  to  alleged  receipt  ofl 
$100,000  from  producers  by  William! 
Bioff,  former  Hollywood  representa-  j 
tive  of  I.A.T.S.E.  president,  George  || 
Brown.    Also  stricken  was  practically 
all  of  Brown's  deposition  which  was 
read  into  the  record  by  A.  Brigham  || 
Rose,  attorney  for  Local  37. 


m 


'ednesday.  June  28,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Ihas  never 
been  a 
picture 
with  the 
high-pitchei 


"The  Man  in  the  Iron  Mask" 

[Edward  Small — United  Artists] 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

any  twin  characterization.  And,  of  course,  Joan  Bennett's  name  rates 
proportionate  prominence  as  the  feminine  star.  Then  come  such  de- 
pendables  as  Warren  William,  Joseph  Schildkraut,  Alan  Hale,  Montagu 
Love,  Nigel  de  Brulier,  Bert  Roach,  Doris  Kenyon,  Miles  Mander, 
Boyd  Irwin  and  Marian  Martin,  to  name  only  a  handful  of  a  long  cast. 

Showmen  are  quite  safe  in  likening  the  picture  to  "Monte  Cristo" 
for  exploitation  purposes.  It  is  like  "Monte  Cristo"  when  it  is  at  its 
best,  which  is  in  the  dashing  sequences  of  high  adventure,  in  the  chases 
on  horseback  and  the  sword  fighting  at  close  quarters.  It  is  some- 
what less  like  "Monte  Cristo"  in  the  quiet  stretches,  the  conversa- 
tional passages  wherein  is  laid  the  groundwork  for  the  action  se- 
quences. The  preview  audience  was  a  bit  restive  in  some  of  these 
spots,  but  it  came  to  attention  abruptly,  and  sometime  to  applause,  when 
the  story  swung  into  high  gear  again. 

The  scene  is  the  France  of  Louis  XIV  and  the  story,  it  will  be 
recalled,  is  about  his  twin  brother,  imprisoned  in  an  iron  mask  as  a 
threat  to  the  throne,  and  liberated  ultimately  by  the  Four  Musketeers 
in  time  to  replace  the  venal  Louis  and  bring  relief  to  an  oppressed  na- 
tion. The  place  and  period  are  reproduced  with  evident  fidelity.  The 
film  is  opulently  mounted  and  reflects  great  sincerity  on  the  part  of  its 
producer  and  his  associates. 

Running  time,  110  minutes.    "G."*  William  R.  Weaver 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


K.C.  Cleanup  Group 
Plans  Short  Series 

Kansas  City,  June  27. — The  Mo- 
tion picture  committee  of  the  For- 
ward Kansas  City  movement,  which 
has  as  its  purpose  the  cleanup  of  Kan- 
sas City,  has  outlined  a  plan  of  pro- 
ducing several  short  subjects  dealing 
with  the  civic,  cultural  and  commer- 
cial assets  of  Kansas  City.  These 
would  be  distributed  to  theatres 
throughout  the  Kansas  City  trade  ter- 
ritory. 

Adoption  of  the  plans  will  be  up 
to  exhibitors,  who  will  be  called  to- 
gether shortly  to  vote  on  the  project. 
E.  C.  Rhoden,  Fox  Midwest  The- 
atres, is  chairman  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture committee. 


'Happiness'  $5,600 
In  New  Haven  Heat 

New  Haven,  June  27. — "Invitation 
to  Happiness"  and  "Woman  Doctor" 
grossed  $5,600  at  the  Paramount. 
Otherwise,    the   heat    hurt  business. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  23: 

"Streets  of  New  York"  (Mon.) 
"Trapped  in  the  Sky"  (Col.) 

COLLEGE  —  (1.499)     (25c-35c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $1,700.  (Average.  $2,700) 
"Tarzan  Finds  a  Son"  (M-G-M) 
"Bridal  Suite"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW-POLI—  (3.040)  (35c-50c) 
Gross:  $6,500.  (Average,  $8,000) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 
"Woman  Doctor"  (Repub.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.348)  (35c-50c) 
Gross:  $5,600.  (Average.  $4,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.A.) 
"Nancy  Drew-Trouble  Doctor"  (W.B.) 

ROGER  SHERMAN— (2.200)  (35c-50c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $4,000.   (Average,  $4,700) 


days. 


days. 


Missouri  Sales  Tax 
Extended  Two  Years 

Kansas  City,  June  27. — The  two 
per  cent  sales  tax  in  Missouri  is  as- 
sured for  another  two  years  following 
Senate  approval  of  a  measure  to  ex- 
tend the  levy  to  Dec.  31,  1941. 

The  bill  already  had  been  passed 
by  the  House.  The  legislature,  after 
the  longest  session  in  the  history  of 
the  state,  adjourned  a  few  days  ago. 


Theatre  Notes 


Griffith  Signs  Altec 

Griffith-Dickinson  Theatres,  Inc., 
has  signed  with  Altec  Service  Corp.  to 
service  sound  equipment  in  30  of  the 
circuit's  houses  in  Kansas,  Missouri, 
Iowa  and  Nebraska.  C.  J.  Zern  and 
W.  E.  Gregory  negotiated  the  deal  for 
Altec,  and  H.  J.  Griffith  acted  for  the 
circuit. 


Intermountain   Reopens  Two 

Denver,  June  27. — Two  Fox  Inter- 
mountain houses  which  have  been 
closed  are  being  reopened.  The  Rialto 
at  Walsenburg,  Colo.,  will  show  Span- 
ish films  with  one  change  a  week.  The 
other  house  is  the  Coronado  at  Las 
Vegas,  N.  M. 


Griffith  Building  Two 

Denver,  June  27. — Two  houses  in 
New  Mexico  are  being  built  by  the 
R.  E.  Griffith  Theatres.  One,  at 
Hobbs,  will  seat  780  and  cost  about 
$20,000;  and  the  other,  at  Clovis,  will 
seat  900  and  cost  $30,000. 


Rebuilding  Burned  Theater 

China  Grove,  N.  C,  June  27. — The 
new  Grove  Theatre  will  be  opened 
here  in  July,  officials  announced.  The 
theatre  was  burned  several  months  ago 
and  rebuilding  is  now  nearing  com- 
pletion. 


New  Monroe,  N.  C,  House 

Monroe,  N.  C,  June  27. — Monroe 
Theatres,  Inc.,  operators  of  the  State 
theatre  which  was  burned  some  time 
ago,  have  purchased  several  uptown 
buildings  and  will  start  work  imme- 
diately on  remodeling  operations  for 
a  new  theatre.  ■  Wheeler  Smith  is 
president  of  the  company. 


Seeks  Frisco  Theatre 

San  Francisco,  June  27. — Ralph 
Blank,  who  recently  sold  his  interests 
in  the  Blank  circuit  of  Nebraska  and 
Iowa,  is  negotiating  for  the  purchase 
of  a  theatre  here. 


realism 
will  fill 
you  with 
awe  like 


THE 


BEST 

SELLER 

W  THE  BUS  I NESS 


jTmrionnL 

^SERVICE 

PniZt  BHBJf  OF  JHf  inousTRy 


THE  BEST  SEAT  SELLER  IN  THE 
BUSINESS  IS  THE  NATIONAL 
SCREEN  TRAILER.  IT  REACHES 
MORE  PEOPLE .  IT  COSTS  LESS 
PER  SEAT  SOLD.  IT  IS  FORCEFUL 
DRAMATIC . .  .STREAMLINED. 
NOTHING  COMPARES  WITH 
THE  NATIONAL  SCREEN  TRAILER 
FOR  LOW-COST,  HIGH -POWER 
THEATRE  ADVERTISING. 

IT  SELLS  SEATS  I 


to  ine 

Picture 

Industry 


M.    P.    PRODUCERS  & 
DISTRIBUTORS  OF  AM 
28  WEST  44TH  ST. . 
NEW  YORK, 


"»N  PICTURE 


1N< 


and 

Impartial 


L.  45.  NO  125 


NEW  YORK,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  29,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


NBC  Secures 
Foreign  Films 
For  Telecasts 


First  Showing  of  Feature 
Scheduled  July  4 


NBC  has  secured  enough  feature 
motion  pictures  to  last  throughout  the 
Summer  and  Fall  television  schedule. 
]  hey  are  the  first  feature  motion  pic- 
nires  XBC  has  been  able  to  obtain 
since  the  start  of  regular  television 
programming. 
For  the  main,  the  pictures  are  for- 
gn  productions.  This  bears  out  a 
brophesy  made  some  months  ago  by 
NBC's  television  program  manager, 
l  orn  Hutchinson,  who  in  an  exclusive 
statement  to  Motion  Picture  Daily, 
stated  that  if  domestic  picture  product 
■  >ntinued  unavailable  to  television, 
NBC  would  turn  to  the  makers  of 
foreign  pictures,  and  to  independent 
Droducers  here. 

Not  all  of  the  titles  of  pictures  now 
ivailable  to  NBC  are  known.  Here 
»re  the  known  products :  "Generals 
Without   Buttons."    a    French    film ; 
"Edge  of  the    World,"    an  English 
documentary ;   "Ballerina,"  a  French 
)icture ;    "The    Wave,"    a  Mexican 
ilm;  "Peg  of  Old  Drury"  and  "Old 
uriosity   Shop,"  both  English  pro- 
uctions ;  "Carnival  in  Flanders,"  a 
rench    picture;    Stacy  Woodward's 
Inrumentary  film,    "The  Adventures 
Chico"  ;  "Heart  of  Paris,"  a  French 
ilm.  and  "Heart  of  New  York,"  with 
1  Jolson,  Madge  Evans  and  Harry 
.angdon. 

Art  Hungerford,  NBC's  film  con- 
act  man,  negotiated  the  deals  for  the 
■ictures.  The  pictures  have  been 
tased  for  single  showings  at  a  rental 
if  approximately  SI  50  per  showing,  it 

understood. 

Showing  of  the  feature  length  pic- 
ures  will  start  July  4,  when  a  new 
t  levision  program  policy  will  be  insti- 
uted. 

The  films  will  be  telecast  on  Wed- 
sdav  and  Saturdav  evenings  from 
to  10  P.  M. 


Three  Home  Offices 
To  Close  on  Monday 

RKO,  Monogram  and  Re- 
public will  remain  closed  all 
day  Monday,  giving  employes 
a  four-day  holiday  this  week- 
end. All  other  companies  will 
operate  as  usual  on  Monday, 
it  was  indicated  yesterday, 
although  several  had  made  no 
final  decisions. 


Roosevelt  Gets  New 
Goldwyn  Contract 

Samuel  Goldwyn  yesterday 
announced  that  he  has  signed 
a  new  long 
term  con- 
1  tract  with 
£  James 
Roosevelt, 
vice  -  presi- 
dent  of  Sam- 
uel Gold- 


wyn, Inc. 
The  con- 
tract has 
been  aw  ard- 
ed in  recog- 
n  i  t  i  o  n  of 
Roosevelt's 
fine  work 

Jnn.es  Koo»evelt     during    h  i  S 

past  six 
months  with  Goldwyn. 


kit 


Warners  Refunds 
,000,000  Today 

W  arners  today  will  begin  cash  re- 
demption of  about  $6,000,000  optional 
6  per  cent  convertible  debentures,  due 
Sept.  I,  1939,  with  accrued  interest 
from  March  1,  1939,  to  date.  Holders 
may  turn  in  their  bonds  for  cash  at 
the  Manufacturers  Trust  Co.,  trustee, 
55  Broad  St. 

This  will  complete  the  refunding  or 
retirement  of  an  original  amount  of 
$29,400,000  debentures  outstanding. 
Of  this  amount,  some  $19,400,000  have 
been  exchanged  for  new  debentures 
maturing  in  1948  and  bearing  the  same 
rate  of  interest.  Yesterday  was  the 
deadline  for  the  exchange  of  deben- 
tures. 

Of  the  balance  of  approximately 
$10,000,000  debentures  outstanding,  the 
company  has  retired  some  $4,000,000. 


FIRST  LOTTERY 
CONVICTION  HERE 


Grosses  Gain 
On  Broadway 


Jack  Benny  and  Dorothy  Lamour 
made  a  personal  appearance  yesterday 
at  the  Paramount  on  Broadway,  in 
connection  with  "Man  About  Town," 
and  the  theatre  hung  up  a  new  open- 
ing day  attendance  record  for  the  year, 
according  to  Robert  M.  Weitman, 
managing  director. 

Benny  and  Miss  Lamour  made  two 
appearances  at  the  evening  show  and 
at  the  supper  show.  The  stage  pres- 
entation for  the  week  is  headed  by 
Gene  Krupa  and  his  orchestra,  also 
Cliff  Nazarro  and  the  Andrews  Sis- 
ters. Figures  released  by  the  theatre 
show  a  gross  of  about  $1 1 ,000,  or  the 
best  opening  day  in  12  months. 

Another  show  that  is  way  out  in 
front  is  "Daughters  Courageous," 
W  arner  picture  at  the  Stra-d  Theatre, 
and  on  the  stage  there  is  Sammy  Kaye 
and  his  band.  Business  is  very  big, 
performances  beginning  at  8  a.m.  and 
the  possibility  being  that  the  show  will 
go  beyond  $45,000  for  the  week. 

Business  at  the  Roxy  Theatre,  where 
"Susannah  of  the  Mounties"  is  play- 
ing, supported  by  a  stage  band,  is  fair, 
and  ought  to  do  $30,000.  The  house 
is  awaiting  "Second  Fiddle"  which 
comes  in  'Friday. 

"Good  Girls,"  one  of  Columbia's 
toppers,  finished  the  week  at  the  Radio 
City  Music  Hall  with  a  very  good 
$84,000  in  the  face  of  strong  compe- 
tition and  warm  weather. 


Fear  IS.  Y.  Federal  Theatre 
May  Be  Wiped  Out  Oct.  31 


Paul  Edwards,  administrator  of  the 
Federal  Arts  Project  in  New  York, 
of  which  the  Federal  Theatre  Project 
is  a  major  part,  expressed  fear  yester- 
day that  the  project  may  be  wined  out 
as  a  result  of  the  Senate  measure 
which  provides  that  the  project  will 
be  continued  after  Oct.  31,  only  if 
local  interests  share  the  cost  of  oper- 
ation. 

Edwards  disclosed  yesterday  that 
the  city  administration  had  been  ap- 
proached for  municipal  sponsorship, 
and  although  Mayor  F.  H.  LaGuardia 
expressed  interest  in  the  project,  he 
was   "dubious  about  the  city's  pro- 


viding financial  sponsorship." 

The  administrator  pointed  out  that 
if  the  25  per  cent  sponsorship  clause 
in  the  measure  is  retained,  $2,500,000 
in  sponsor  contributions  will  be  need- 
ed to  continue  the  New  York  projects. 
Edwards  declared,  "The  Mayor  has 
informed  me  that  providing  such  a 
sr  •  is  impossible." 

The  Mayor  declared  that  local  tech- 
nicalities may  interfere  writh  city  spon- 
sorship, and  expressed  the  belief  that 
a  heavy  burden  will  fall  on  the  city 
after  Oct.  1  as  a  result  of  the  pro- 
visions requiring  dismissal  from  WPA 
rolls  after  18  months  of  continuous 
employment. 


Fine,  Jail  Term  Given; 
All  Games  of  Chance 
Illegal,  Rules  Court 


Judge  Bayes  in  Special  Sessions, 
Brooklyn,  yesterday  imposed  a  fine  of 
$500  and  30  days  in  jail  on  the  man- 
agement of  the  Atlantic  Theatre, 
Brooklyn,  on  lottery  charges.  The 
court  held  that  all  chance  games  are 
illegal,  regardless  of  the  method. 

This  is  the  first  conviction  of  its 
kind  on  record  in  Greater  New  York 
under  this  type  of  ruling. 

More  Cases  Pending 

Four  or  five  similar  cases  against 
theatres  are  pending  in  Brooklyn  and 
have  been  adjourned  or  will  be  pend- 
ing appeal  of  the  Atlantic  case.  The 
Atlantic  is  operated  by  Herman  Eisen- 
stadt.  A  Mr.  May  is  the  manager. 

The  I.  T.  O.  A.  is  interested  in 
fighting  the  case.  Melvin  Albert  of 
Weisman,  Quinn,  Allan  &  Spett,  coun- 
sel to  the  organization,  appeared  for 
the  defendant.  He  argued  that  under 
the  Court  of  Appeal's  decision  in  Peo- 
ple vs.  Miller  in  1937,  chance  games 
are  legal  when  the  participants  are  not 
required  to  pay  a  consideration,  in  this 
case  an  admission. 

Theatre  to  Appeal  Case 
The  court  answered  that  even  if 
only  one  patron  buys  admission  to  a 
performance  when  there  is  a  %arae, 
that  makes  it  illegal.  Counsel  plans  to 
appeal. 

The  case  of  Christy  Carnavos  of  the 
Morhart  Theatre.  Brooklyn,  also  in- 

(Contiuued  on  page  7) 


Let's  Stop  Fighting, 
Theatre  Men  Urged 

Establishment  of  a  home  for  the 
aged  and  disabled  in  the  industry  was 
urged  by  Jack  Ellis,  president  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Associates,  at  a  lunch- 
eon meeting  of  the  organization  yester- 
day at  the  Astor. 

Ellis  said  that  the  Associates  plan 
to  start  a  movement  for  such  a  home. 
He  cited  the  charitable  activities  of 
the  Variety  Clubs  in  other  cities,  and 
declared  that  the  Motion  Picture  Asso- 
ciates would  affiliate  with  the  Variety 
Clubs  if  it  is  a  necessary  means  of  ex- 
tending its  charitable  work. 

The  luncheon  was  a  testimonial  to 
Leo  Abrams,  former  Universal  branch 
head  here,  who  recently  was  placed  in 
charge  of  Universal's  shorts  distribu- 
tion, and  David  A.  Levy,  formerly 
M-G-M  branch  manager  in  New  Jer- 

(Continued  on  page  2) 


.4 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  29,  1939 


Norton  Urges 
Better  British 
Industry  Ties 


London,  June  28. — The  greatest 
needs  of  the  British  film  industry  to- 
day are  manpower  and  brains,  and 
provision  for  eauitable  sales  arrange- 
ments, Capt.  Richard  Norton  declared 
in  a  paper  read  today  at  the  annual 
Summer  conference  of  the  Cinemato- 
graph Exhibitors'  Association  at 
Blackpool. 

Norton  cited  the  fact  that  the 
strength  of  American  producers  often 
rested  in  writers,  rather  than  stars. 
He  declared  it  is  virtually  impossible 
to  find  a  fair  formula  for  the  sale  of 
British  independent  product,  and  asked 
distributors  to  give  producers  "a 
break."  He  suggested  that  discussions 
looking  toward  a  greater  liaison  be- 
tween producers  and  exhibitors  be 
started. 

Reginald  Stamp,  head  of  entertain- 
ment division  of  the  London  County 
Council,  discussed  theatre  licensing 
problems  and  emphasized  the  need  for 
cooperation  between  the  licensing  au- 
thorities and  exhibitors.  He  warned 
exhibitors  against  widespread  violation 
of  the  law  prohibiting  admission  of 
children  to  films  classed  by  the  censor 
as  adult  entertainment. 

Major  C.  H.  Bell,  in  a  paper  on 
television,  voiced  exhibitor  uneasiness 
over  the  situation  and  predicted  that 
the  9,000,000  radio  listeners  in  the 
country  ultimately  would  be  television 
viewers.  He  forecast  patent  difficulties, 
and  saw  the  possible  necessity  for  a 
new  lease  or  rental  system  in  the  han- 
dling of  telecasts  by  theatres. 


FLY 


UNITED'S 

MAINLINERS 

TO 

LOS  ANGELES 

Just  overnight  in  the  fa- 
mous "Continental  "and 
"Overland  Flyer  "Main- 
liner  Sleeper  planes. The 
distinguished  way  to  Los 
Angeles.  Finest  meals 
aloft.  Call  United,  travel 
agents,  hotels. 

UNITED  AIR  LINES 

58  E.  42nd  St.  2-7300 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


BEN  KALMENSON,  western  and 
southern  sales  manager  for  War- 
ners, is  scheduled  to  return  to  New 
York  from  a  western  trip  on  July  IS. 
• 

Charles  Coburn  will  play  host  at 
the  opening  of  "Bachelor  Mother"  at 
the  Music  Hall  todav  to  Eugenie 
Leontovich,  Anna  Neagle,  Joseph 
Cummings  Chase,  painter ;  Stuart 
Robertson,  British  singer  and  brother 
of  Miss  Neagle,  and  Mrs.  Lela 
Rogers,  mother  of  Ginger  Rogers, 
who  stars  in  the  film.  , 
• 

F.  J.  A.  McCarthy,  Universal  east- 
ern and  southern  sales  manager,  went 
to  Jacksonville  by  plane  yesterday 
shortly  after  his  return  to  New  York 
with  W.  A.  Scully,  general  sales 
manager,  from  Gloversville.  McCar- 
thy will  go  to  Nashville  later,  return- 
ing to  New  York  in  about  two  weeks. 
• 

Alberto  Sergio,  Mexican  musician 
and  arranger,  has  arrived  from  Mexi- 
co City  to  handle  Spanish  orchestra- 
tions under  Edward  Kay,  for  Mono- 
gram's Spanish  speaking  version  of 
"Girl  from  Rio." 

• 

Mrs.  M.  A.  Lightman,  wife  of  the 
president  of  Malco  Theatres,  Memphis, 
and  their  daughter  visited  the  World's 
Fair  yesterday  with  Evelyn  O'Con- 
nell,  Paramount's  official  hostess. 
• 

Ellen  Drew,  who  arrives  in  New 
York  tomorrow  aboard  the  Nieuw 
Amsterdam  from  England,  will  star 
in  "The  Broken  Heart  Cafe"  for 
Paramount. 

• 

Ella  Herbert,  daughter  of  Victor 
Herbert,  has  been  signed  by  Para- 
mount as  technical  adviser  on  Para- 
mount's film,  "Victor  Herbert." 
• 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Richard  Thorpe, 
who  have  been  in  town  for  several 
days,  will  return  to  the  coast  at  the 
end  of  the  week. 

• 

Rufus  Shepherd,  manager  of  the 
United  Detroit  Vogue  Theatre,  De- 
troit, visited  Round  Table  headquar- 
ters yesterday. 

• 

Jack  Da  iley,  of  the  Paramount 
studio  publicity  department,  is  starting 
from  Chicago  on  a  nationwide  tour  of 
newspapers. 

• 

Joe  Abramson,  former  booker  for 
Capitol  Films,  has  returned  to  Chi- 
cago after  eight  months  in  Hollywood. 
• 

Flossie  Freedman,  English  dra- 
matic coach,  has  arrived  in  New  York 
for  a  vacation. 

• 

Ruth  Gillis  of  M-G-M's  film  and 
research  department  celebrates  a  birth- 
day today. 

• 

Edward  Levin  of  the  B.  &  K. 
publicity  staff  in  Chicago,  is  vacation- 
ing. 

• 

Jerry  Keyser  is  sprucing  up  his 
Connecticut  farm. 


For  Lunch,  Dinner  or  Supper 

LaHIFF'S  TAVERN 

The  Industry's 

MEETING  and  EATING  PLACE 

1 56  W.  48th  St.  Tel.  CHickering  4-4200 


DOUGLAS  FAIRBANKS,  JR., 
has  accepted  an  invitation  to  be 
guest  of  honor  and  speaker  at  the  an- 
nual convention  of  the  National  Edu- 
cational Association  in  San  Francisco 
July  4. 

• 

Irving  Cummings,  currently  direct- 
ing "Hollywood  Cavalcade"  for  20th 
Century-Fox,  will  be  tendered  a  lunch- 
eon at  the  studio  today  in  observance 
of  his  thirtieth  year  with  the  industry. 
• 

Harry  Cohn  and  Al  Hall  left 
New  York  for  the  coast  yesterday. 
Wesley  Ruggles,  who  planned  to  ac- 
company them,  is  remaining  in  New 
York  a  few  additional  days  instead. 
• 

S.  D.  Sacks,  formerly  connected 
with  various  lithographing  companies 
which  cater  to  the  industry,  has  organ- 
ized the  Saxon  Offset  Lithograph  Co. 
on  E.  45th  St. 

• 

Errol  Flynn  resumed  work  at  the 
Warner  lot  yesterday  in  "The  Lady 
and  the  Knight"  following  a  week's 
absence  due  to  injuries  suffered  in  a 
motor  accident. 

• 

Murray  Silverstone,  Monroe 
Greenthal,  Joe  Malcolm,  Arthur 
Lee,  Martin  Starr,  Jack  Trop  at 
Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern  for  lunch 
yesterday. 

• 

C.  H.  Stuart,  manager  of  the  Waco 
in  Waco,  Texas,  and  Mrs.  Stuart  are 
visiting  the  World's  Fair. 

• 

Will  H.  Hays  returned  to  New 
York  yesterday  from  Indianapolis. 


LATEST  THING  IN  TRAVEL 

TWA'S  COMMUTER 
AIR  SERVICE! 


CHICAGO 

4Hrs.35Min. 

8  FLIGHTS  A  DAY! 


FARE 

>44?5 


Giant  TWA  Skyliners  leave  regularly  all 
day!  Take  the  "Sun  Pacer"  at  8:45  a.m. 
— be  in  Chicago  right  after  lunch!  


FARE 

*2]oo 


PITTSBURGH 

2  Hrs.  10  Min. 

I  10  FLIGHTS  A  DAY! 


"Commute"  to  Pittsburgh  by  air!  Have 
more  time  at  home— or  for  business! 
Also  10  fast  flights  returning! 
10%  Discount  on  Round  Trips! 
Schedules  Shown  are  Standard  Timey' 

Phone  travel  agent  or  MU  6-1640 

Transcontinental  &  Western  Air.Inc.  I 
70  E.  42  St. ;  Air  Desk,  Penn.  Station 


SHORTEST,  FASTEST 
COAST-TO-COAST 


Let  Us  Stop 
Fighting,  Plea 
To  Film  Men 


(Continued  from  page  X) 

sey,  who  has  succeeded  Abrams  at 
Universal. 

About  300,  including  film  men  and, 
many  exhibitors,  attended.  Ellis  wf? 
toastmaster. 

The  trade  practice  code  was  referred 
to  by  some  of  the  speakers,  and  indi- 
rectly the  luncheon  became  a  tribute 
to  William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  for  his  efforts  in 
behalf  of  the  code. 

Louis  Nizer,  attorney,  lauded  Rod- 
gers' efforts  and  pleaded  for  "cessation 
of  the  war  that  has  been  waged  in 
the  industry  in  the  past  several  years." 
He  said  that  much  money  has  been 
lost  to  the  industry  in  lawsuits  as  re- 
sult of  dissension,  and  urged  that  the 
"industry  listen  to  Rodgers." 

Harry  Brandt,  I.  T.  O.  A.  president, 
referred  to  the  attacks  made  on  Rod- 
gers at  the  Allied  national  convention 
in  Minneapolis  and  branded  them  "un- 
fair." 

In  reply,  Rodgers  said :  "Even 
though  I  was  slightly  slapped,  I  don't 
propose  to  stay  down.  In  the  main 
most  of  us  in  the  business,  exhibitors 
and  distributors,  have  a  kindly  feeling 
toward  each  other,  but  there  are  a  few 
who  seek  to  sow  the  seeds  of  discon- 
tent. In  a  short  time  we  will  have  a 
program  that  will  make  all  of  us 
happy." 

Among  others  who  spoke  were  Wil- 
liam A.  Scully,  Universal  general  sales 
manager ;  Max  A.  Cohen,  president  of 
New  York  Allied ;  Tom  Connors,  M- 
G-M  division  manager,  and  Abrams 
and  Levy. 

In  addition  to  those  named,  William 
Heineman,  Universal  division  man- 
ager ;  Si  Fabian,  Moe  Sanders,  Sol 
Trauner,  Charles  Panzer  and  Moe 
Fraum  were  on  the  dais. 

This  was  the  Associates'  last  meet- 
ing of  the  season.  Ellis  announced  the 
organization  will  have  its  annual  din- 
ner-dance Nov.  29  at  the  Astor. 


Theatres  Plug  Programs 

San  Francisco,  June  28. — Pro- 
grams on  KYA  are  getting  intensive 
ballyhoo  through  the  medium  of  the- 
atre trailers  here,  in  Oakland,  and  on 
Treasure  Island.  Ten  first  run  houses 
are  averaging  30  trailers  a  week. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City. 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi- 
gan Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building, 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man- 
ager, cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigley 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  ratel  per 
year  $6  in  the  America!  and  $12  foreign. 
Single  copiet  10c. 


Thursday,  June  29,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


First  Meeting 
Of  Industry's 
25-Year  Vets 


Juck  Colin 


Approximately  90  members  of  Pic- 
ture Pioneers,  the  organization  of  in- 
dustry veterans  of  25  years  or  more 
^wliich  was  launched  recently  by  Jack 
--Cohn,    Columbia    vice-president,  are 
expected   at   the   organization's  first 
dinner  tonight 
at  the  Barberry 
Room,     19  E. 
52nd  St. 

Members  of 
the  organiza- 
tion, most  of 
whom  are  ex 
pected  at  the 
dinner,  are  : 
Cohn,  Charles 
C.  Moskowitz, 
"Chick"  Lewis, 
S.  S.  Krellberg, 
Rube  Jackter, 
Louis  Astor 
Herman  Rob- 
bins,  Hal  Hode, 
Nicholas  M. 
Schenck,  Ar- 
thur A.  Lee,  C.  C.  Pettijohn,  Leo 
Brecher,  G.  B.  Odium,  Ben  Blumen- 
thal,  Harry  M.  Buxbaum,  Leo  Abrams, 
P.  S.  Harrison,  Max  A.  Cohen,  Ed- 
ward A.  Golden,  J.  E.  Brulatour  and 
Ned  E.  Depinet. 

Also  Harry  H.  Thomas,  Marvin  H. 
Schenck,  W.  F.  Rodgers,  Louis  F. 
Blumenthal,  William  Brandt,  Leopold 
Friedman,  F.  N.  Phelps,  Paul  Gulick, 
George  F.  Dembow,  Barney  Balaban, 
George  W.  Weeks,  F.  F.  McConnell, 
B.  S.  Moss,  Clayton  E.  Bond,  B.  K. 
Blake,  Samuel  Rubenstein,  L.  J. 
Schlaifer,  A.  C.  Hayman,  A.  P.  Wax- 
man,  Dan  Michalove,  Leon  Bam- 
berger, M.  J.  Weisfeldt. 

Also  Ray  Gallagher,  Jake  Milstein, 
Saul  E.  Rogers,  Henry  Sigel,  Harry 
D.  Buckley,  Sam  E.  Morris,  Joseph 
J.  Lee,  Thomas  J.  Connors,  Moe 
Streimer,  Samuel  Rinzler,  Robert  S 
Wolff,  Joseph  M.  Seider,  John  C. 
Flinn,  Abe  Montague,  S.  H.  Fabian, 
Joe  Hornstein,  Emil  C.  Jensen,  A.  S. 
Aronson,  Oscar  Hanson,  Clair  Hague, 
D.  J.  Chatkin,  Charles  H.  Moses. 

Also  Herbert  J.  Yates,  Max  Levey, 
Jack  Goetz,  Terry  Ramsaye,  Martin 
Quigley,  M.  A.  Schlesinger,  Arthur 
W.  Kelly,  Louis  Frisch,  Jack  Barn- 
styn,  William  M.  Home,  Sam  Dem- 
bow, Jr.,  George  P.  Skouras,  Fred 
Rothenberg,  Al  Young,  Tom  Evans, 
Charles  J.  Hirliman,  Jack  Skirball, 
Joe  Skirball,  Sam  Citron,  Al  Reid 
and  Charles  Stern. 


Seeks  to  Enforce 
Seattle  Blue  Laws 

Seattle,  June  28.  —  Gray 
Warner,  local  prosecuting  at- 
torney, under  fire  from  re- 
ligious and  civic  groups  for 
his  failure  to  end  vice  and 
gambling,  today  ordered  the 
police  to  enforce  rigidly  the 
blue  law  statute  enacted  in 
1909. 

The  law  requires  all  thea- 
tres, baseball  games,  horse 
races  and  other  amusements 
to  close  on  Sundays. 


New  York  Preview 


"On  Borrowed  Time" 

(M-G-M) 

With  complete  fidelity  to  the  original,  M-G-M  has  transferred  Paul 
Osborn's  play,  "On  Borrowed  Time,"  to  the  screen.  As  a  play,  it  was 
highly  successful,  running  for  nearly  a  year  on  Broadway,  and,  especially 
to  that  type  of  audience  which  saw  it  on  the  stage,  it  should  be  equally 
appealing  as  a  picture. 

Osborn's  play  was  based  on  the  original  novel  by  Lawrence  Edward 
Watkin,  published  in  1937.  It  is  at  once  a  fantasy  and  a  warming  and 
moving  story  of  an  old  man's  fight  to  save  his  grandson  from  a  grasping 
and  bitter  aunt,  and  his  strange  struggle  with  "Mr.  Brink,"  who  is 
Death,  come  to  keep  his  varied  appointments.  He  fights  off  Mr.  Brink — 
for  a  time — trees  him  and  holds  the  world  "deathless"  for  a  span  of 
several  days,  then  surrenders,  as  Pud,  his  grandson,  goes  with  him  at 
Mr.  Brink's  imperative  summons. 

Director  Harold  S.  Bucquet  was  scrupulously  careful  in  adhering  to 
the  stage  original,  and  it  was  a  wise  decision.  Alice  D.  G.  Miller,  Frank 
O'Neill  and  Claudine  West  wrote  the  screenplay  and  Sidney  Franklin 
produced. 

The  cast  is  uniformly  splendid,  led  by  Lionel  Barrymore  as  "Gramps," 
and  Bobs  Watson  as  "Pud,"  his  grandson.  Mr.  Brink  is  flawlessly  per- 
formed by  Sir  Cedric  Hardwicke,  while  Beulah  Bondi,  Una  Merkel, 
Henry  Travers,  Grant  Mitchell  and  Eily  Malyon,  the  latter  as  the  ob- 
noxious aunt,  all  deliver  fine  performances. 

The  story  is  a  deft  and  engaging  combination  of  fantasy  and  dramatic 
story.  Basically  it  is  the  old  man's  fight  to  provide  for  the  future  of  his 
grandson,  after  Mr.  Brink  keeps  an  automobile  appointment  with  the 
boy's  parents.  Mr.  Brink  calls  for  Granny  (Miss  Bondi),  and  seeks 
out  Gramps,  but  he,  suddenly  discovering  that  Pud's  boyish  wish  comes 
true,  holds  Mr.  Brink  in  the  backyard  apple  tree. 

Miss  Malyon  would  have  him  committed  as  insane,  in  her  effort  to 
get  boy  and  money.  Torn  between  love  of  the  boy  and  the  damage  he 
is  causing  by  keeping  death  at  bay,  Barrymore  finally  gives  in,  but  the 
forlorn  Pud  is  made  happy  as  Mr.  Brink  dares  him  to  climb  the  fence, 
he  falls,  and  is  taken  from  his  frightful  suffering  by  Mr.  Brink. 

It  is  by  no  means  ordinary  entertainment,  and  should  be  treated  as 
unusual  by  the  exhibitor  in  his  selling. 

Running  time,  99  minutes.   "G."*  Charles  S.  Aaronson 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Pittsburgh  Gives 

$6,700  to  'Juarez' 

Pittsburgh,  June  28. — Rain  and 
heat  combined  to  make  things  difficult 
at  local  box-offices,  but  "Juarez"  at 
the  Warner  succeeded  in  clearing  a 
profitable  $6,700. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week 
ending  June  22: 

"Young  Mr.  Lincoln  (ZOth-Fox),  3  days 
"The  Sun  Never  Sets"  (Univ.),  4  days 

ALVIN— (1,850)  (25c-50c).  Gross:  $3,400. 
(Average,  $5,800) 

"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

LOEWS  PENN — (3,450)  (25c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.    (Average,  $14,000) 
"Captain  Fury"  (U.  A.) 

STANLEY— (3,652)  (25c-60c)  7  days,  with 
Orson  Welles  Troupe  on  stage.   Gross:  $13,- 
800.  (Average,  $18,000) 
"Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (25c-50c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,700.  (  Average,  $5,800) 


To  Honor  Wilkinson 

New  Haven,  June  28. — George 
Wilkinson,  operator  of  the  Wilkinson, 
Wallingford,  Conn.,  pioneer  exhibitor 
of  the  territory,  will  be  honored  at  a 
testimonial  luncheon  at  the  Racebrook 
Country  Club  on  July  11.  In  charge 
of  arrangements  is  Barney  Pitkin, 
RKO  manager,  assisted  by  Irving  C. 
Jacocks,  Jr.,  Branford ;  Sam  Rosen, 
Winsted;  Thomas  J.  Donaldson, 
M-G-M  manager ;  Ben  Simon,  20th 
Century-Fox ;  John  Pavone,  War- 
ners ;  Morris  Joseph,  Universal ;  Lou 
Wechsler,  U.  A. ;  T.  O'Toole,  Colum- 
bia ;  Edward  Ruff,  Paramount ; 
Philip  Sherman,  Monogram ;  George 
Rabinowitz,  Republic,  and  I.  Levine, 
Grand  National. 


Coast  Brevities 


Hollywood,  June  28. — Bobby  Ver- 
non, comedy  star  of  silent  pictures  and 
for  past  six  years  a  writer  at  Para- 
mount, died  of  a  heart  attack  today. 
His  mother,  wife  and  daughter  survive. 


Howard  Dietz,  Metro's  publicity 
and  advertising  director,  left  for  New 
York  by  plane. 


Warner  studio  was  informed  today 
that  Poland  has  approved  "Confes- 
sions of  a  Nazi  Spy"  without  any 
deletions. 


The  defense  in  the  trial  of  Tech- 
nicians Local  37,  which  seeks  restora- 
tion of  its  autonomy  after  having  been 
suspended  by  International  I.A.T.S.E., 
expects  to  complete  its  case  by  Friday 
night,  George  M.  Breslin,  attorney, 
said  today. 

20th-Fox  Disputes 
U.  S.  on  Dionne  Tax 

Washington,  June  28. — Appealing 
from  a  ruling  that  it  owes  the  Federal 
government  $10,000  income  taxes  for 
1936,  attorneys  for  20th  Century-Fox, 
appearing  today  before  the  board  of 
tax  appeals,  contended  that  the  $225,- 
000  paid  the  Dionne  quintuplets  was 
"compensation  to  non-resident  aliens." 
They  contended  that  the  Commissioner 
of  Internal  Revenue  erred  by  claiming 
that  the  $225,000  constituted  royalties. 


Chicago  Film 
Sales  Facing 
Federal  Writ 


Chicago,  June  28. — With  the  Gov- 
ernment forces  straining  to  get  action 
in  the  anti-trust  suit  against  B.  &  K. 
and  major  distributors  here  before  the 
Summer  adjournment  of  court,  the 
possibility  loomed  today  that  an  ap- 
plication this  week  will  be  made  for 
an  injunction  to  restrain  distributors 
from  selling  new  season's  product  un- 
til the  case  is  decided. 

Neither  side  would  comment  on  the 
subject. 

Hearing  of  the  case  continued  in 
Federal  court  here  today  with  branch 
managers  Tom  Gilliam,  Warners ; 
James  Donohue,  Paramount ;  Irving 
Schlank,  United  Artists,  and  Clyde 
Eckhardt,  20th  Century-Fox,  taking 
the  stand.  For  the  most  part,  they 
identified  information  regarding  pic- 
ture contracts  and  clearance  sched- 
ules. 


Subsidy  Delay  Hurts 
Mexican  Producers 

Mexico  City,  June  28. — Govern- 
ment's delay  in  coming  through  with 
the  subsidy  it  promised  them  has  Mex- 
ican producers  frankly  worried.  They 
are  holding  meetings  to  devise  some 
plan  for  approaching  the  Government 
again  regarding  this  financing  or  to 
find  badly  needed  money  from  another 
source.  The  Government's  financial 
condition  is  none  too  good. 

Contending  that  lack  of  the  prom- 
ised subsidy,  some  $60,000,  is  holding 
up  start  of  production  of  his  first  pic- 
ture, "La  Marcha  Zacatecana"  ("Za- 
catecas  March"),  a  romance  based 
upon  one  of  Mexico's  standard  march- 
es, Roberto  Soto,  veteran  stage  come- 
dian, has  asked  the  Government  to  put 
up  at  least  part  of  the  promised  money. 


Trust  Action  Drops 
8  Ex-RKO  Officials 

Federal  Judge  Edward  A.  Conger 
yesterday  signed  an  order  approving 
of  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to 
drop  as  defendants  in  its  anti-trust 
suit  Cornelius  N.  Bliss,  Edward  H. 
Harden,  DeWitt  Millhauser,  David 
Sarnoff,  Maurice  Goodman  and  Fred- 
erick Strauss,  as  former  directors  of 
RKO ;  Merlin  H.  Aylesworth,  former 
chairman  of  the  board,  and  Courtland 
Smith,  former  president  of  Pathe  News 
Inc. 

Recently  stipulation  was  entered  into 
between  the  Government  and  the  Irv- 
ing Trust  Co.  as  trustee  of  RKO,  con- 
senting to  the  elimination  of  former 
directors  of  RKO  as  defendants. 


Sam  Wood  Signs 
Goldwyn  Contract 

Hollywood,  June  28.— Sam  Wood 
was  signed  to  a  long  term  contract 
with  Samuel  Goldwyn  today.  His  first 
assignment  will  be  "Raffles,"  with 
David  Niven  and  Olivia  De  Havil- 
land. 

Wood,  who  directed  "Goodbye  Mr. 
Chips,"  has  been  employed  in  Holly- 
wood 24  years,  10  of  which  were  with 
Paramount  and  the  past  14  with 
M-G-M.  His  association  with  Gold- 
wyn is  effective  immediately. 


IT'S  SUPERIOR  TO  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'!"— WALTER  WINCHELL  •  "WILL  TRUMP  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'  FOR  THE  Q 


FILM  DAILY  _ 

■  . 


enomen. 


After  a 
five  Jays  in  tLe  first  city  1 
playing  time  has  been  Extende 


aug 


o 


.  O.  SLAM!  IT'S  A  LOLLAPALOOZA!  THE  CAST  IS  SUPER-SUPER!' 
AME  B.O.  APPEAL  AS  'FOUR.  DAUGHTERS'.  DESERVES  A  NICHE 
LL  ITS  OWN!"— M.  P.  DAILY  •  "A  MAJOR  FILM 
ACHIEVEMENT.  IT  WILL  UNQUESTIONABLY 
DRAW  HEAVILY!"— HOLLYWOOD 
REPORTER  •  "TOP  FLIGHT  IN  EN- 
TERTAINMENT. SHOULD  DO 
EVEN  BETTER  THAN  'FOUR 
DAUGHTERS!"—  DAILY 
ARIETY 'REPEATS  THE 
CELLENT  JOB  OF 
OUR  DAUGHTERS! 
HERE'S  A  READY 
ADE  AUDIENCE 
GER  TO  SEE 
!"—  VARIETY 
"HAL  B.WALLIS 
AND  HENRY 
BLANKE  HAVE 

URNED  OUT  I 
MANY  A  BIG  PIC- 
URE.  THIS  RATES 
ITH  THEIR  BEST 
N  ANY  AND  EVERY 
BASIS  OF  COMPARI- 
SON! BETTER  THAN 
OUR  DAUGHTERS'."— M. 
ERALD-"IT'S  REALLY  GREATE 
HAN  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'!"— N.  Y. 
AILY  MIRROR-"THERE  IS  ONLY 
POSSIBLE  MARGIN  OF  SURPRISE  BETWEEN 
'FOUR  DAUGHTERS' AND  THIS."-N.Y.TIMES-"IF  YOU 
LIKED  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'  YOU  ARE  CERTAIN  TO  BE 

TAINED  BY  THIS!"  —  N.  Y.  HERALD  TRIBUNE  •  "WARNERS  TURNED  OUT  A 

MUCH  BETTER  PICTURE  IN  THIS  THAN  THEY  DID  IN  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'."— N.  Y.  MORNING  TELEG 


II 


jo 


in  't  hetter  the 
unite  J  them  for 


CLAUDE 

JEFFREY  LYNN  •  FAY  BAINTER  •  DONALD  CRIi 

ana  THE  'FOU1 


PRISCILLA  L 

LOLA  LANE  •  (I 


Directed  by  MI 


creen  Plaj  h?  Julius  J   and  Pkillip  G.  Epstein  • 

Music  bj  Max  Steiner  •  A 

Jack  L.Warner 

In  Charge  of  Production 


Hal  B.  W 

Executive  Pi 


ja^e  it,  New  York, 
-initely  for  Warner  Bros.7 


Y  ROBSON  •  Frank  McHugn  •  Dick  Foran 
TERS' 


MARY  LANE 
j  PAGE 


JURTIZ 


hy  DorotLj  Bennett  and  Irving  Wkite 
ictuze 


MONOGRAM 

Across  the 

Plains 
Jack  Randall 
(June  2) 

Should  a 
Girl  Marry? 

Anne  Nag  el 
Warren  Hull 
(June  9) 

Stunt  Pilot 
John  Trent 
Roll,  Wagon, 
Roll  (0) 
(June  30) 

The  Man  from 
Texas  (O) 

Tex  Ritter 
(July  21) 

G.  N. 

Exile  Express 
Anna  St  en 

Alan  Marshal 
(May  26) 

Singing 
Cowgirl  (O) 

Dorothy  Page 
(June  2) 

WARNERS 

Code  of  the 
Secret  Service 

Reagan 
Towne 

The  Man  Who 
Dared 

Grapewin 
Jane  Bryan 

Juarez 

Bette  Davis 
Paul  Muni 
Brian  Aherne 
(G)  (D) 

Nancy  Drew 
Trouble  Shooter 

Bonita  Granville 
Frank  Thomas ,Jr. 
(G)  (D) 

The  Kid 
from  Kokomo 

O'Brien 
Wayne  Morris 
(G)  (C) 

Naughty 
But  Nice 

Dick  Powell 

Waterfront 

Gloria  Dickson 
Hell's  Kitchen 

Daughters 
Courageous 

John  Garfield 
Priscilla  Lane 
(G)  (D) 

►>  <9  j>  r-a  ■* 

UNIVERSAL 

They  Asked 
For  It 

Lundigan 
Joy  Hodges 
Whalen 

Inside 
Information 

June  Lang 
Dick  Foran 
Harry  Carey 

The  Sun 
Never  Sets 

Rathbone 
Fairbanks,  Jr. 
(G)  (D) 

House  of  Fear 

Wm.  Gargan 
Irene  Hervey 

Unexpected 
Father 

Baby  Sandy 
Forgotten 
Woman 

Sigrid  Gurie 

I  Stole  a 
Million 

George  Raft 
Claire  Trevor 

U.  A. 

Captain  Fury 
Aherne 
McLaglen 

They  Shall 
Have  Music 

Jascha  Heifetz 
Andrea  Leeds 

Winter 
Carnival 

Ann  Sheridan 
Richard  Carlson 

20TH-FOX 

The  Gorilla 

Ritz  Bros. 
Anita  Louise 
Patsy  Kelly 

The  Jones 
Family  in 
Hollywood 

Young  Mr. 
Lincoln 

Fonda 
Alice  Brady 
(G)  (D) 

Charlie  Chan 
in  Reno 

Sidney  Toler 
Ricardo  Cortez 
Phyllis  Brooks 

Susannah 

of  the 
Mounties 

Shirley  Temple 
Scott 

It  Could 
Happen  to  You 

Gloria  Stuart 
Stuart  Erwin 
(G)  (D) 

Mr.  Moto 
Takes  a 
Vacation 

Peter  Lorre 
Schildkraut 

Second  Fiddle 

Henie 
Power 
Vallee 

News  Is  Made 
at  Night 

Preston  Foster 
Ware  Case 

Clive  Brook 

Frontier 
Marshal 

Randolph  Scott 
Binnie  Barnes 

RKO  RADIO 

Racketeers  of 
the  Range 
(O) 

O'Brien 

The  Girl 
From  Mexico 

Lupe  Velez 
Donald  Woods 
(G)  (C) 

Saint  in 
London 

George  Sanders 
Sally  Gray 
(G)  (D) 

The  Girl  and 
the  Gambler 

Steffi  Duna 
Carrillo 

Five  Came 
Back 

Chester  Morris 
Lucille  Ball 
(G)  (D) 

Timber 
Stampede 

Geo.  O'Brien 

Career 

Anne  Shirley 
Edward  Ellis 

Of  Human 
Bondage 
The  Lost 
Squadron 
(reissues) 

Way  Down 
South 

Bobby  Breen 
Alan  Mowbray 

The 
Spellbinder 

Lee  Tracy 
Barbara  Read 

REPUBLIC 

The  Zero  Hour 

Inescort 
Otto  Kruger 
Adrienne  Ames 

S.O.S. 
Tidal  Wave 
Ralph  Byrd 
Kay  Sutton 
George  Barbier 

Mountain 
Rhythm 
(0) 

Gene  Autry 

In  Old 
Caliente 

Roy  Rogers 
Mary  Hart 

l 

j 

i 

Outlaw  (O) 

John  Wayne 

Mickey, 
the  Kid 

Bruce  Cabot 

She  Married 
a  Cop 

Phil  Regan 
Jean  Parker 

Colorado 
Sunset  (O) 

Gene  Autry 
Smiley  Burnette 

i 

< 

Oh 

Unmarried 

Buck  Jones 
Donald  O'Connor 
Stolen  Life 
Bergner 

Grade  Allen 
Murder  Case 

Allen 
Warren  William 

Undercover 
Doctor 

Lloyd  Nolan 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
Janice  Logan 

Invitation  to 
Happiness 

Dunne 
MacMurray 
(G)  (D) 

Grand  Jury 

Secrets 
Heritage  of 
the  Desert 
(O) 

Bulldog 
Drummond's 
Bride 

John  Howard 
Heather  Angel 

Man  About 
Town 

Jack  Benny 
Dorothy  Lamour 
(G)  (C) 

Million 
Dollar  Legs 

Betty  Grable 
Jackie  Coogan 

Magnificent 
Fraud 

Akim  T amir  off 
Lloyd  Nolan 

Island  of 
Lost  Men 

Anna  May  Wong 
Truex 
Blore 

M-G-M 

Bridal  Suite 

Robert  Young 
Annabella 

W.  Connolly 
(G)  (C) 

6000  Enemies 
Walter  Pidgeon 
Rita  Johnson 
(G)  (D) 

Tarzan  Finds 
a  Son 

Weissmuller 
0' Sullivan 

Maisie 

Ann  Sot  hern 
Robert  Young 

Stronger 
than  Desire 

Virginia  Bruce 
Walter  Pidgeon 
(A)  (D) 

On  Borrowed 
Time 

Lionel 
Barrymore 
Hardwicke 

They  All 
Come  Out 

Rita  Johnson 

Andy  Hardy 
Gets  Spring 
Fever 

Rooney 
Lewis  Stone 

Goodbye, 
Mr.  Chips 

Robert  Donat 
Miracles  for  Sale 

Robert  Young 

COLUMBIA 

Missing 
Daughters 
Only  Angels 
Have  Wings 

Lost  Horizon 
(reissue) 
Trapped  in 
the  Sky 

Awful  Truth 
(reissue) 
Western 

Caravans  (O) 

Clouds  Over 
Europe 

Olivier 
Valerie  Hobson 
(G)  (D) 

Parents  on 

Good  Girls 
Go  to  Paris 


A  Woman  Is 
the  Judge 

Rochelle 
Hudson 

Blondie  Takes 

a  Vacation 
penny  Singleton 
The  Man  from 
Sundown 

Escape  from 
Alcatraz 

Brian  Donlevy 
Jacqueline  Wells 

&  vo 

June 
16 

>-» 

June 
30 

4  rt 

^  n 
3  N 

Motion  Picture  Daily 

Arbitration  Rule  Changes 
Called  Certain  ByL  T.  O.A. 


ursdav.  June  29.  1939 


Juarez'  Gets 
$30,000  in  2 
L.  A.  Houses 


Los  Angeles,  June  28. — "Juarez" 
icored  well  with  $30,000  in  two 
(ouses  for  the  second  week,  $14,500 
i:  the  Warner  Hollywood  and  $15,- 

•  Jat  the  Warner  Downtown.  "Good- 
H§  Mr.  Chips"  was  still  strong  with 
?o,900  in  its  sixth  week  at  the  4  Star. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
tig  J  une  28 : 

'Tarzan  Finds  a  Son"  (M-G-M) 
Winner  Take  All"  (20th-Fox) 

CHINESE  —  (2,500)   (30c-$1.00)  7  days. 

■ross:  $9,000.   (Average.  $12,500) 
Goodbye  Mr.  Chips"  (M-G-M) 

4  STAR— (900)  (40c-50c)  7  days,  5th  week. 

.ross:  $6,900.  (Average,  $3,250) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

HILLSTREET—  (2,700)   (30c-65c)   7  days, 
(iross:   $7,100.    (Average.  $6,500) 
'Tarzan  Finds  a  Son"  (M-G-M) 
"Winner  Take  AU"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEWS  STATE  —  (2.500)  (30c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $15,900.   (Average.  $14,000) 
"The  Mikado"  (Univ.) 

Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES — (3,000)    (30c-65c)    7  days. 
[Iross:  $7,400.  (Average.  $7,000) 
The  Old  Dark  House"  (Univ.) 
My  Man  Godfrey"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT — (3,595)  (30c-65c)  7  days. 
Stage:  F.  &  M.  revue.  Don  Rice.  Gross: 
$10,000.    (Average,  $18,000) 

•  Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  (HOLLYWOOD)— 
(3,000)  (30c-65c)  7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$14,500.    (Average.  $14,000) 

•  Juarez"  (W.  B.) 

WARNER  BROS.  .  (DOWNTOWN)— 
(3.400)  (30c-65c)  7  davs.  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$15,500.    (Average,  $12,000) 


Changes  in  the  arbitration  rules  re- 
quested by  representatives  of  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  will  be  made  in  the 
trade  practice  code,  according  to  the 
I.T.O.A. 

"After  conferences  which  have  al- 
ready been  held,  we  are  certain  these 
rules  will  be  changed  in  accordance 
with  our  wishes  and  so  make  arbitra- 
tion a  fact,  resulting  in  the  general 
improvement  of  our  business,"  says 
an  I.T.O.A.  statement. 

The  organization  states  that  this  is 
also  the  sentiment  of  the  other  in- 
dependent exhibitors'  groups  which 
participated  in  the  negotiations,  and 
that  they  will  sign  the  code  with  the 
knowledge  that  the  requested  changes 
will  be  made. 

The  chief  revision  asked  for  is  that 
in  arbitration  disputes  involving  clear- 
ance, the  affiliated  theatre  and  dis- 
tributor be  represented  by  one  arbi- 
trator instead  of  a  spokesman  for  each, 
as  provided.  The  independents  claim 
this  would  give  them  equal  footing. 

At  a  meeting  of  the  I.T.O.A.  yes- 
terday at  the  Astor,  Harry  Brandt, 
president,  reported  on  the  national 
Allied  convention  in  Minneapolis, 
which  he  attended.  He  was  critical  of 
tiie  proceedings,  and  again  urged 
"every  exhibitor  in  the  United  States 
to  sign  the  code  after  it  has  been 
approved  by  the  I.T.O.A."  and  the 
independent  groups  with  which  it  is 
cooperating. 


"We  want  the  industry  regulated 
from  within  and  we  are  extending 
every  effort  toward  that  end,"  said 
Brandt.  "If  our  efforts  fail,  then  we 
shall  resort  to  Government  aid  and 
protection." 

Allied  of  N.  F.  City 
Elects  Max  Cohen 

Max  Cohen  of  Brooklyn  was  elected 
regional  vice-president  of  the  New 
York  City  unit  of  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New  York  at  a  meeting 
yesterday. 

George  Abramson  of  the  New  Unit- 
ed Theatre,  Brooklyn,  was  elected 
secretary  and  Louis  Goidel  chairman 
of  the  grievance  committee. 

The  committe  will  report  at  unit 
meetings  once  a  month  and  attempts 
will  be  made  to  adjudicate  differences 
with  distributors  and  exhibitors. 

Exhibitors  Protest 
High  Film  Rentals 

New  Haven,  Conn.,  June  28. — At 
the  largest  meeting  of  exhibitors  held 
here  in  years,  theatre  owners  today 
went  on  the  warpath  against  increased 
film  rentals  which  they  said  are  being 
demanded  despite  decreasing  grosses. 
Associations  have  dropped  their  lines 
and  are  preparing  for  unified  action. 


7 


First  Lottery 
Jail  Sentence 
In  New  York 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

volving  a  lottery,  was  due  to  be  heard 
following  the  Atlantic  case,  but  coun- 
sel asked  for  postponement  pending 
determination  of  the  Atlantic  case  on 
appeal.  The  Momart  case  was  then 
adjourned  to  Nov.  20. 

Motion  for  transfer  of  the  Momart 
case  to  Kings  County  Court,  which 
would  have  permitted  a  jury  trial,  was 
previously  denied. 


Exhibitors  Sought 
Giveaway  Elimination 

New  York  exhibitors  have  been  at- 
tempting for  months  to  arrive  at  a 
plan  to  eliminate  giveaways.  Efforts 
to  reach  a  citywide  agreement  have 
failed,  but  exhibitors  in  the  midtown 
section  have  agreed  to  abolish  chance 
games  beginning  July  3  in  the  area 
from  34th  and  72nd  Sts.  on  the  west 
side  and  34th  to  59th  Sts.  on  the  east 
side. 

License  Commissioner  Paul  Moss 
attempted  to  bring  exhibitors  together 
on  a  no-giveaways  policy  last  winter, 
and  suggested  that  this  be  done  in  one 
section  as  an  experiment.  If  it  suc- 
ceeds, he  suggested  that  it  be  extended 
to  other  areas  in  Greater  New  York. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Banner  Lines 


-By  JACK  BANNER 


ONE  little  word  after  another,  and  some  day  a  press  release  will  come 
along  that  doesn't  identify  Andy  Devine  as  the  "gravel-voiced"  comic. 
.  .  .  George  Ross,  the  World-Telegram  Broadway  columnist,  will  do  a 
weekly  interview  and  gossip  stint  via  NBC  television  starting  next  week.  .  .  . 
Alton  Cook  of  the  same  paper  and  its  radio  editor  is  doing  a  series  on  old- 
time  vaudeville.  .  .  .  Smart  tie-up  by  Sammy  Kaye  with  the  Loew  Theatres. 
His  recordings  will  be  played  as  exit  music  in  the  chain's  Metropolitan  houses. 

▼ 

CBS  is  realigning  its  morning  WABC  programs.  .  .  .  NBC's  television 
department  is  trying  to  effect  a  deal  with  English  and  French  newsreel  com- 
panies for  a  bi-weekly  release  via  television.  .  .  .  Frank  Lovejoy,  the  "Gang- 
busters"  actor,  marries  Frances  Williams  of  Billy  Rose's  Aquacade  today. 
.  .  .  Leonard  Carlton,  The  Post  radio  critic,  to  vacation  next  week,  with  Lester 
Rice  doing  the  column  in  his  absence.  .  .  .  Martin  Weldon,  WINS  announcer 
and  theatrical  critic,  vacations  via  freighter  to  Porto  Rico  beginning  in  July. 
.  .  .  Ballantine's  Inn  at  the  World  Fair  has  bought  a  twice  weekly  musical 
period  over  WMCA. 

▼ 

Backs  of  the  fight  tickets  for  last  night's  championship  brawl  carried  the 
printed  warning  "no  televising  permitted."  .  .  .  The  musicians'  union  has  au- 
thorized permission,  and  so  Paul  Whiteman's  13-year-old  son  will  tour  with 
the  band  this  Summer  to  play  drums  during  jam  sessions.  Whiteman's  regu- 
lar drummer  will  be  retained.  ...  It  appears  than  Bea  Lillie  will  be  back  on 
the  air  this  Fall.  .  .  .  Joe  Penner  has  been  signed  by  Ward  Baking  Co.  for  a 
Fall  program.  .  .  .  An  ambulance  waited  outside  the  Canadian  Broadcasting 
Corp.  studios  in  Montreal  while  Rupert  Kaplan,  actor-producer,  finished  an 
air  stint,  and  then  whisked  him  to  the  hospital  for  an  operation. 

T 

Hy  Gardner  of  the  Brooklyn  Eagle  will  do  a  guest  shot  on  "Gotham 
Nights"  over  WOR  Sunday.  .  .  .  WHN  as  well  as  WOR  will  carry  the  Hotel 
Roosevelt  commercial.  .  .  .  "Little  Foxes"  is  now  using  spot  announcements 
over  WHN  to  advertise  the  show.  .  .  .  NBC  divisional  engineers,  who  meet 
once  a  year,  and  now  in  town,  are  W.  J.  Purcell,  Schenectady;  A.  E.  John- 
son, Washington;  S.  E.  Leonard,  Cleveland;  H.  C.  Luttgens,  Chicago;  C.  A. 
Peregrine,  Denver ;  A.  E.  Saxton  and  C.  D.  Peck  of  San  Francisco.  New 
York  divisional  engineers  are  J.  O.  Milne  and  George  McElrath. 


'Boost  Broadway9  Drive 
Proposed  at  Cantor  Fete 


8 

Stations  Show 
$111,358,000 
Total  Revenue 


Washington,  June  28. — Total  rev- 
enues of  three  major  networks  and 
060  broadcast  station  licensees  for  the 
past  year  exceeded  $111,358,000, 
against  which  broadcast  expenses  of 
$92,504,000  were  charged,  it  was  re- 
ported today  by  the  Federal  Commu- 
nications Commission. 

Total  time  sales  by  nets  and  stations 
brought  in  $117,379,000  from  which 
commissions  of  $16,487,000  were  de- 
ducted. 

Of  the  660  stations  reporting,  240 
showed  losses  for  the  year  of  $2,223,- 
195,  one  broke  even,  and  419  reported 
a  net  income  of  $16,728,533. 

Only  175  stations  had  time  sales  of 
less  than  $25,000  it  was  shown.  As  a 
group  these  stations  showed  a  loss 
although,  individually,  a  few  reported 
a  profit.  Payroll  expenditures  of  658 
stations  and  networks  were  $45,663,000 
and  at  the  close  of  the  year  they  em- 
ployed a  total  of  23,060  persons,  in- 
cluding staff  musicians  and  other  ar- 
tists on  the  regular  payroll. 


W anger  Sues  News 
For  $1,000,000  Libel 

Walter  Wanger  and  the  Walter 
Wanger  Productions,  Inc.  filed  a  $1,- 
000,000  libel  suit  yesterday  against  the 
News  Syndicate  Co.,  Inc.,  publisher  of 
the  Daily  News,  and  Ed  Sullivan,  in 
the  N.  Y.  Supreme  Court. 

Application  to  dismiss  the  suit  for 
failure  to  state  a  cause  of  action  will 
be  heard  today  by  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  Justice  William  T.  Collins. 

Wanger  contends  that  the  defendants 
in  "Hollywood,  by  Ed  Sullivan,"  pub- 
lished in  the  Daily  Neivs  on  May  21, 
1939,  implied  that  he  produced  inferior 
motion  pictures  and  that  he  lacks  the 
skill  and  ability  to  produce  high  qual- 
ity films. 

The  idea  conveyed  by  Sullivan  to 
both  the  film  industry  and  the  general 
public,  the  complaint  stated,  was  that 
the  plaintiffs  associated  with  United 
Artists  solely  for  the  purpose  of  sup- 
plying inferior  motion  pictures. 

The  law  firm  of  Schwartz  &  Froh- 
lich  is  representing  Wanger  in  the 
action. 

City  Will  Get  New 
Full-Time'  Station 

Washington,  June  28. — F.  C.  C 
has  approved  an  application  for  au- 
thority to  transfer  station  WPG,  At- 
lantic City  municipal  station,  to  New 
York  City. 

Greater  New  York  Broadcasting 
Corp.,  of  which  Arde  Bulova  is  the 
bead,  proposes  to  acquire  WPG  and 
transfer  it  to  New  York.  Under  the 
proposal,  Bulova  would  then  consoli- 
date WPG,  WOV  and  WBIL  into  one 
full-time  station.  The  new  New  York 
station  would  operate  at  5,000  watts, 
full  time. 


Rivoli  Closing 

The  Rivoli  will  close  tomorrow, 
following  the  run  of  "Stolen  Life,"  to 
complete  alterations  prior  to  the  open- 
ing on  July  26  of  the  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn-U.A.  film,  "They  Shall  Have 
Music." 


A  campaign  to  boost  Broadway  and 
its  entertainment  attractions  was 
urged  at  a  testimonial  in  honor  of 
Eddie  Cantor  yesterday  at  the  Astor 
by  H.  Frederick  Bright,  managing 
director  of  the  Broadway  Associa- 
tion. 

Bright,  who  was  toastmaster,  said 
that  in  the  last  few  weeks  there  have 
been  "a  great  many  complaints"  that 
the  World's  Fair  had  hurt  Broad- 
way. 

"In  the  last  few  days,  however, 
hotels,  night  clubs  and  theatres  tell 
us  that  business  is  picking  up,"  he 
continued.  "World's  Fair  visitors  are 
coming  to  Broadway  in  large  num- 
bers." 

Bright  urged  use  of  the  slogan, 
"Come  to  Broadway — the  permanent 
World's  Fair"  to  boost  business  dur- 
ing the  time  the  Fair  will  be  closed 
and  in  the  future. 

About  200  members  of  the  Associa- 
tion, comprising  business  men,  and  a 
number  of  Loew  and  M-G-M  execu- 
tives and  Broadway  personalities 
turned  out  for  the  luncheon. 

L.  L.  Strauss,  Association  presi- 
dent, presented  Cantor  a  scroll  signed 
by  those  present.  It  read,  "Welcome, 
Eddie,  back  to  the  street  you  helped 
make  famous."  The  occasion  was  in 
honor  of  Cantor's  return  to  a  Broad- 
way stage  after  an  absence  of  six 
years.  He  opens  today  at  Loew's 
State  for  a  week's  engagement. 

Cantor  responded :  "Everything  I 
have  in  the  world  I  owe  to  this 
street." 

Stanley  M.  Isaacs,  borough  presi- 


Borough  President 
Opposes  Signs  Ban 

Stanley  M.  Isaacs,  Manhat- 
tan's borough  president,  de- 
clared himself  against  the 
City  Planning  Commission's 
proposal  to  limit  signs,  mar- 
quees and  other  displays  in 
Times  Square. 

Speaking  at  the  Eddie  Can- 
tor testimonial  luncheon  at 
the  Astor  yesterday,  he  said: 
"I  want  to  see  no  control  that 
will  dim  the  bright  lights  of 
Broadway.  Entertainments 
are  the  life  blood  of  the  city." 


dent  of  Manhattan;  Rudy  Vallee  and 
Dr.  Christian  F.  Reisner,  pastor  of 
the  Broadway  Temple,  were  other 
speakers.   Mrs.   Cantor  was  present. 

The  committee  of  welcome  to  Can- 
tor included :  C.  C.  Moskowitz,  Wil- 
liam Morris,  Raymond  Massey,  Irving 
Berlin,  Milton  Berle,  Stanley  Boriss, 
Maurice  Brill,  Gene  Buck,  Irving 
Caesar,  Alan  Corelli,  Robert  K. 
Chistenberry,  Bobby  Clark,  George 
M.  Cohan,  Mayor  F.  H.  LaGuardia, 
Peter  Fuchs,  Paul  Hollister,  Stanley 
M.  Isaacs,  George  Jessel,  Chic  John- 
son, Al  Jolson,  Leo  Lindy,  Maurice 
Miller,  Victor  Moore,  Ole  Olson, 
Harry  Richman,  Bill  Robinson,  Dave 
Rubinoff,  Kay  St.  Germaine,  Sophie 
Tucker,  Rudy  Vallee  and  Fred  War- 
ing. 


Thursday,  June  29,  19." 


Chicago  Shut* 
22  Theatres 
For  Summei 

Chicago,    June    28. — Twenty-tw 
theatres  have  closed  to  date  for  tl 
Summer  in  Chicago,  according  to 
report   from   the   Operators'  Unio 
This  is  the  largest  number  of  Sur-  c  | 
closings  here  in  years.    In  th(\  it' 
two  years  less  than  10  houses  wet 
shuttered  for  the  hot  months. 

Allied  Theatres  of  Illinois  recentl  'l 
announced  that  from  half  to  three 
fourths  of  their  members  planned  tV 
shut  down  unless  conditions  improve(  \j 
This  decision,  they  said,  is  prompte' 
largely  by  their   inability  to  obtai-i 
lower  film  rentals. 

Shortage   of  pictures  compels  thj 
closing  of  the  RKO  Palace  here  to  j 
morrow  with  the  reopening  schedule 
Sept.  1. 

Notices  of  possible  shutdown  hav  I 
been  served  on  employes  of  the  Roose 
velt  and  Apollo,  B.  &  K.  houses,  am 
the  Oriental,  operated  by  Jones,  Linicl j 
&  Schaefer.  All  three  are  in  the  Loop! 


M-G-M  Dedicates 
Times  Square  Booth 

Several     thousand  persons  linec 
Times    Square   and   many   stood  oil 
roofs  to  witness  the  dedication  of  th<; 
Loew-M-G-M    World's    Fair  Infor-j 
mation  Center  yesterday  noon. 

George  Hamilton  Combs,  WHN 
commentator,  introduced  the  speak- 
ers.  Eddie  Cantor  officiated  at  tliej 
dedication.  "They  couldn't  bring  Times, 
Square  to  the  Fair,  so  they  broughl 
the  Fair  to  Times  Square,"  he 
quipped. 

Other  speakers  were  L.  L.  Strauss 
president,  Broadway  Association : 
Stanley  M.  Isaacs,  borough  president  j 
of  Manhattan;  Col.  John  Reed  Kil-J 
Patrick,  president  of  Madison  Square  j 
Garden  and  of  the  West  Side  Cham- ! 
ber  of  Commerce,  and  Richard 
Thorpe,  M-G-M  director. 


Delay  Test  Hearing 
On  B.  &  K.  Contests 

Chicago,  June  28. — Municipal  Court 
Judge  Hastens  today  postponed  until' 
July  18  hearing  of  the  city's  action 
against  Balaban  &  Katz  for  running 
a  "jitterbug"  contest  at  the  State- 
Lake  and  "Dr.  I.  Q."  broadcasts  from 
the  stage  of  the  Chicago. 

City  officials  are  seeking  to  deter- 
mine whether  the  contests  fall  within 
the  category  of  "games  of  chance  " 
B.  &  K.  officials  declare  that  partici- 
pants in  the  contests  may  continue  to 
appear  until  the  case  is  heard.  Cir- 
cuit officials  were  summoned  to  ap-j 
pear  at  the  hearing  to  establish  the 
legality  of  the  contests. 

G  N  Financing  Plan 
Facing  New  Delay 

Second  adjournment  of  the  special 
meeting  of  Educational-Grand  Na- 
tional stockholders  scheduled  today  to 
act  on  the  proposed  new  financing  for 
the  companies  appeared  likely  yester- 
day when  proxies  for  an  estimated 
10,000  shares  still  were  needed  to  ob- 
tain a  quorum  for  today's  meeting. 
The  session,  originally  scheduled  for  a 
week  ago,  was  postponed  to  today  for 
lack  of  a  quorum. 


r 


Alert, 


tion 


|°icture 
ndustry 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 





First  in 


and 

Impartial 


■    ^45.  NO.  126 


NEW  YORK.  FRIDAY,  JUNE  30,  1939 


TEN  CENTS 


loss  Would 
Clear  Games 
Policy  Here 

'eeting  With  Exhibitors 
Probable  Next  Week 


License   Commissioner   Paul  Moss 
ins  to  meet  with  an  independent 
hibitors'  committee  next  week  to 
,cuss  the  chance  games  situation  in 
light  of  the  conviction  Wednesday 
the  Atlantic  Theatre  in  Brooklyn 
lottery  charges. 
Moss  said  he  wants  to  help  the  ex- 
ritors  work  out  the  problem  and 
11  render  any  assistance  possible  if 
guested.    He  recalled  that  it  was 
t  his  instance  that  arrests  of  theatre 
imagers  were  inaugurated  five  years 
q  in  the  five  boroughs. 
More  recently,  however,  the  Com- 
ssioner  has  been  attempting  to  ob- 
in  an  agreement  among  exhibitors 
abolish  the  practice. 
\.n   I.T.O.A.   committee  appointed 
consider    the    situation  includes 
avid  Weinstock,  Ray  Rhonheimer, 
rnard  Brandt  and  Harry  Pear. 
Counsel   for  the   Atlantic  Theatre 
Is  started  preparing  the  appeal  to 
c  appellate  division  of  the  Supreme 
>urt.     In  the  event  that  the  case 
iy  not  be  heard  until  fall,  it  is  pos- 
>le  that  an  emergency  session  of  the 
,  'jrt  will  be  asked.    If  the  decision 
'  against  the  theatre  there,  an  appeal 
till  be  taken  to  the  Court  of  Appeals, 
hich  once  held  chance  games  legal 
lien  no  admission  is  required. 


A  Defends  Power 
Despite  AFA  Blast 

A  double-barreled  charge  of  accu- 
f'.tions  was  fired  at  the  Associated 
actors  and  Artistes  of  America  yes- 
'rdav  by  its  member  union,  Ameri- 
in  Federation  of  Actors. 
The  charges  were  made  by  Abra- 
im  J.  Halprin,  AFA  attorney,  dur- 
I     a  hearing  to  determine  whether 
Rte  4A's  would  furnish,  as  the  AFA 
-quested,  a  bill  of  particulars  giving 
:tails  of  its  charges  upon  which  the 
P-FA  is  scheduled  to  be  heard  on 
Luly  10. 

Sophie  Tucker,  president ;  Ralph 
.Whitehead,  executive  secretary,  and 
|  iree  AFA  delegates  appeared  at  the 
i  earing  with  Halprin. 
I  The  4A's  International  Board  (par- 
i  it  organization  of  all  actors'  unions) 
-ecided  it  would  furnish  by  July  5 

nly  whatever  information  its  attor- 

iy  deems  necessary. 
Paul    Turner,    attorney    for  the 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Picture  Pioneers 
Elect  Jack  Cohn; 
Frolic  Like  Youth 

Banishing  all  business  worries,  108 
pioneers  of  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try frolicked  with  youthful  enthusiasm 
last  night  at  the  Barberry  Room,  10 
E.  52nd  St. 

The  occasion  was  the  first  get-to- 
gether of  Picture  Pioneers,  a  new 
organization  consisting  of  persons 
with  a  record  of  25  years  or  more  in 
the  industry. 

In  an  impressive  ceremony,  Judge 
Ferdinand  Pecora  administered  an 
"oath"  to  the  108  veterans,  all  swear- 
ing that  they  have  actually  served  25 
years  or  more  in  the  film  business. 
Pecora  Honorary  Member 

The  pioneers  promptly  made  Judge 
Pecora  the  first  honorary  member. 
But  no  sooner  had  he  accepted  the 
tribute  than  he  regaled  the  crowd 
with  the  revelation  that  he,  too,  was 
a  film  pioneer,  having  operated  as  far 
back  as  1914  a  projection  machine 
and  a  song  slide  at  a  theatre  on  14th 
St. 

Following  invocation  by  Jack  H. 
Skirball,  vice-president  of  Grand  Na- 
tional, Ned  E.  Depinet  nominated 
Jack  Cohn,  vice-president  of  Colum- 
bia and  founder  of  Picture  Pioneers, 
as  house  manager.  He  was  unani- 
mously elected. 

Cohn  appointed  the  following  ex- 
ecutive committee  to  prepare  a  slate 
of  nominations  for  the  remaining  of- 
fices to  be  filled :  Cohn.  Marvin  H. 
Schenck,   George   Schaefer,  Herman 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


SIX  MAJORS  DENY 
MONOPOLIES,  ASK 
U.  S.  TO  DROP  SUIT 


By  SHERWIN  A.  KANE 

Blanket  denials  of  all  allegations  of  conspiracy  and  violations  of  the 
Federal  anti-trust  laws  were  made  by  six  groups  of  film  companies 
which  yesterday  filed  nine  separate  answers  to  the  Government's  bill  of 
complaint  in  the  anti-trust  action  begun  one  year  ago. 

The  answers,  filed  in  U.  S.  District  Court  here,  contended  that  many 
of  the  Government's  definitions  of  trade  terms  are  either  erroneous  or 
inaccurate. 

They  denied  without  qualification  the  charges  of  the  Government 
that  they  have  combined  to  monopolize  production,  distribution  and 
exhibition,  and  denied  that  they  have  engaged  in  any  of  the  unfair  trade 

practices  charged  or  made  any  dis- 
crimination in  their  dealings  between 
affiliated  and  independent  theatres. 

In  conclusion,  the  defendants  asked 
that,  having  made  complete  answers 
to  the  Government's  complaint,  the 
anti-trust  action  be  dismissed. 

Answers  were  filed  by  Paramount 
on  behalf  of  itself  and  19  officers  and 
directors ;  by  Keith-Albee-Orpheum 
for  Malcolm  Kingsberg  and  Leon 
Goldberg ;  by  Irving  Trust  Co.,  as 
trustee  of  RKO ;  RKO  Pathe  News, 
Van  Beuren  Corp.,  RKO  Proctor 
Corp.,  RKO  Midwest  Corp.  and  seven 
individual  officer-s  and  directors ; 
Loew's  and  M-G-M  with  M-G-M 
Distributing  Corp.  of  Texas  and  17 
officers  and  directors ;  20th  Century- 
Fox  for  itself,  Movietonews,  20th 
Century-Fox  of  Texas,  20th  Century- 
Fox  Distributing  Corp.  and  15  offi- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Heart  Attack  Fatal 
To  Phil  Di  Angelis 

Phillipe  Di  Angelis,  one  of  the  last 
of  the  oldtime  theatrical  and  film 
billboard  "snipers,"  died  Wednesday 
night  at  his  home  in  Yonkers  from  a 
heart  attack  while  listening  to  the 
Tony  Galento-Joe  Louis  fight  broad- 
cast.   He  was  59  years  old. 

Di  Angelis  conducted  his  own  Di 
Angelis  Outdoor  Advertising  Co., 
New  York,  and  carried  out  all  of 
M-G-M's  billboard  campaigns  with 
William  R.  Ferguson,  exploitation  di- 

He  was  known  in  billboard  and 
theatrical  circles  from  coast  to  coast, 
at  one  time  or  another  handling  bill- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Second  Fiddle" 


[20th  Century-Fox 


'  Second  Fiddle" 

(  Twentieth  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  June  29. — It's  true  what  they've  been  saying  in  the  ads 
about  "Second  Fiddle."  The  picture  is  an  entertainment  natural  and  a 
box-office  property  a  hungry  showman  can  sink  his  exploitation  teeth 
into.  It's  a  right  kind  of  film  for  the  time  of  year  and  in  more  than  one 
respect  for  the  several  stellar  personalities  concerned  as  well  as  for  the 
screen  in  general  at  this  somewhat  debatable  point  in  its  career.  It's 
a  hit. 

Associate  Producer  Gene  Markey  or  studio  chief  Darryl  Zanuck 
and  /  or  director  Sidney  Lanfield,  screen  playwright  Harry  Tugend, 
author  George  Bradshaw  or  all  of  these  gentlemen  seem  to  have  been 
stricken  with  a  broadside  of  good  ideas. 

One,  of  course,  was  to  have  Irving  Berlin  dash  off  a  half-dozen  songs 
for  the  picture,  but  that's  just  plain  common  sense.  A  rarer  thought  was 
to  bring  Tyrone  Power  back  to  the  world  of  here  and  now  by  casting 
him  as  a  studio  press  agent  and  letting  him  play  it  as  is. 

Of  a  pattern  with  this  intelligent  and  timely  enterprise  was  the  con- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Vote  on  Neely  Bill 
Looms  Next  Week 

Washington,  June  29. — Senator 
Neely  declared  in  the  Senate  today 
that  he  would  offer  a  motion  next 
Thursdav  for  immediate  action  on  his 
film  legislation. 

Neely  first  said  he  would  offer  his 
motion  on  Wednesday,  but  deferred 
his  action  when  Floor  Leader  Bark- 
lev  pointed  out  that  the  Senate  had 
more  important  business  before  it  and 
plans  to  recess  from  Saturday  until 
Wednesday. 

Senator  White  of  Maine,  who  also 
urged  that  action  be  postponed  a  day, 
indicated  his  desire  to  be  present  when 
the  bill  is  discussed.  Since  he  may 
not  be  present  on  Wednesday,  he 
suggested  that  the  bill  be  held  over 
until  the  following  session. 

White's  suggestion  indicated  that  he 
would  speak  on  the  measure  during 
the  debate.  When  it  was  before  the 
Senate  last  year,  he  was  one  of  two 
members  voting  against  the  bill. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  30,  193 


Two  Parleys 
For  National 
Theatres  Set 


National  Theatres  has  set  two  re- 
gional conventions,  the  first  in  Kan- 
sas City,  Aug.  8  to  10,  for  theatre 
staffs  in  the  Milwaukee,  Denver  and 
Kansas  City  divisions,  and  the  sec- 
ond Aug.  14  to  16  in  Los  Angeles 
for  Seattle,  northern  California  and 
southern  California  divisions. 

Chief  feature  will  be  the  awarding 
of  prizes  in  the  Spyros  Skouras  Show- 
manship Campaign,  which  ends  July  8. 
A  total  of  165  prizes  will  be  awarded, 
aggregating  $25,000,  on  the  basis  of 
business  increases.  Arch  Bowles, 
northern  California  division  manager, 
is  field  marshal  of  the  campaign. 

Discussions  will  be  on  plans  for  the 
new  season,  the  annual  business  cam- 
paign to  start  in  the  Fall  and  opera- 
tions generally.  Product  deals  closed 
for  the  new  season  will  be  detailed. 

Attending  both  meetings  will  be 
Spyros  Skouras,  National  Theatres 
chief,  and  Charles  Skouras,  head  of 
Fox  West  Coast,  as  well  as  J.  J. 
Sullivan,  William  Powers,  Irving 
Barry  and  Edward  Zabel  of  the  home 
office.  Aubrey  Schenck,  Milton  Hoss- 
feld  and  George  Balsdon  of  the  home 
office  will  attend  the  Kansas  City 
meeting. 


Adolph  Zukor  Sails; 
Will  Visit  Australia 

Los  Angeles,  June  29.— Adolph 
Zukor,  chairman  of  the  board  of  Para- 
mount, and  Mrs.  Zukor,  sailed  today 
on  the  Matsonia  for  Honolulu,  en 
route  to  Australia. 

Following  a  short  vacation  in  Hono- 
lulu, Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zukor  will  be 
joined  by  John  W.  Hicks,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  foreign  sales,  and 
Mrs.  Hicks  on  the  Niagara,  bound 
for  Australia.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Zukor 
plan  to  return  home  Aug.  18  on  the 
Monterey. 


G.  B.  Garbarino  Dies 

Toronto,  June  29. — G.  B.  Garba- 
rino, 62,  local  exhibition  veteran,  and 
owner  of  the  Odeon,  neighborhood 
house  for  nearly  25  years,  died  here. 
His  two  sons  will  continue  operation 
of  the  theatre. 


Massey  Lounge  Host 

Raymond  Massey,  star  of  "Abraham 
Lincoln  in  Illinois,"  who  will  play  in 
the  RKO  film  based  on  the  play,  will 
be  at  the  RKO  World's  Fair  lounge 
at  11  :30  A.  M.  next  Wednesday  to 
greet  exhibitors  and  other  visitors. 


}  ATLANTIC  BEACH  HOTEL 

I  and  Bath  Club  •  LONG  ISLAND 

Va  former  Home  ol  ATLANTIC  BEACH  CLUB 

i 

0  Complete  Hotel  Facilities 

j  BEACH  CLUB 

£  Cabanai  and  Bath  Cabim 

i 

&  NON-MEMBERS  MAY  INQUIRE 

\  Phone: 

%  Mre/oy  7-0535  —  Cedarhurst  7700 


i  Purely  Personal  ► 


JOHN  HICKS,  Russell  Holman, 
John  Bryam,  Charles  E.  Mc- 
Carthy, Herman  Robbins,  George 
Dembow,  Arch  Reeve,  Sam  Shain, 
Ben  Washer  at  Nick's  Hunting 
Room  in  the  Astor  for  luncheon 
yesterday. 

• 

Howard  Dietz,  M-G-M  advertising 
and  publicity  director,  returned  yes- 
terday from  the  coast.  William 
Hebert,  publicity  head  for  Selznick 
International,  also  arrived.  He  and 
Dietz  will  set  plans  for  publicizing 
"Gone  With  the  Wind." 

• 

Glenda  Farrell,  currently  on  a 
vacation  from  Hollywood,  leaves  for 
Westport,  Conn.,  tomorrow  for  six 
weeks  of  legitimate  plays,  starting 
with  a  week  in  "Anna  Christie"  at  the 
Playhouse. 

• 

Richard  Rowland,  Joseph  Mos- 
kowitz,  Joe  Pincus,  Jack  Goetz, 
Monroe  Greenthal,  Charles  Stern, 
Cal  Swanson  and  Moe  Streamer 
lunching  at  Bob  Goldstein's  Tavern 
vesterday. 

Dave  Burns,  former  legitimate 
player  currently  appearing  in  RKO's 
"The  Saint  in"  London,"  is  in  town 
from  London  on  a  vacation.  He  re- 
turns July  29. 

• 

Priscilla  Lane,  Warner  star,  has 
been  chosen  America's  typical  daughter 
by  the  Gold  Star  Mothers.  National 
Daughter's  Day  is  celebrated  July  23. 
• 

Frank  M.  Murphy,  manager  of 
Loew's    State,    Syracuse,   and  Joan 
Gallagher  of  Loew's  Boston  office 
have  announced  their  engagement. 
• 

Michael  Shatin,  Warners  man- 
aging director  in  Japan,  leaves  today 
for  the  coast  en  route  to  his  head- 
quarters in  Tokyo. 

• 

Barret  Keisling,  M-G-M  studio 
traveling  representative,  is  in  Boston 
conferring  with  film  editors  and  ex- 
hibitors. 

• 

Richard  De  Vries,  manager  of  the 
Ritz  at  Correctionville,  la.,  was  mar- 
ried to  Jessie  Elder  of  Belmond,  la. 
• 

Kitty  Kweller,  secretary  to  Paul 
Lazarus   at   United   Artists,    ill  at 
Israel  Zion  Hospital,  Brooklyn. 
• 

Abe    Spitz,    veteran   showman  in 
Providence,  is  at  Boothbay  Harbor, 
Me.,  for  three  weeks  of  fishing. 
• 

Samuel  Spring,  film  attorney,  is 
vacationing   in    New   England.  He 
will  be  away  for  several  weeks. 
• 

Roy  E.  Harrold,  exhibitor  of 
Rushville,  Ind.,  visited  the  Paramount 
World's  Fair  office  yesterday. 

• 

Charles  Ballance,  Paramount 
manager  for  India,  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday  on  the  Rex. 

• 

Louis  Phillips  of  the  Paramount 
legal  department  returns  to  New  York 
today  from  Chicago. 

• 

Jim  Loughborough,  formerly  with 
the  film  division  of  the  F.  H.  A.,  is 
now  in  Baltimore. 

• 

Charles  Nelson,  manager  of  the 
Park,  Auburn,  R.  I.,  starts  on  vaca- 
tion Sunday. 


MORRIS  KINZLER,  account 
executive  at  Cayton-Spiro  ad- 
vertising agency,  is  the  father  of  a 
girl,  born  Wednesday  at  Polyclinic 
Hospital. 

• 

Chuck  Shannon,  manager  of  the 
Belmar,  Pittsburgh,  and  Mrs.  Shan- 
non visited  Managers'  Round  Table 
of  Motion  Picture  Herald  yesterday, 
while  in  town  for  the  World's  Fair. 
Incidentally,  they  are  also  honey- 
mooning. 

• 

Jorge  Miranda,  operator  of  four 
theatres  in  Rancagua,  Chile,  is  in 
town  with  Mrs.  Miranda.  They  plan 
to  visit  San  Francisco  and  Europe 
before  returning  to  Chile. 

• 

Mark  J.  Wolf  and  A.  R.  Hocher 
of  Theatrical  Managers,  Inc.,  In- 
dianapolis, accompanied  by  their 
wives,  registered  at  the  RKO  World's 
Fair  lounge  yesterday. 

• 

Teodulo  Llamas  and  Rafael 
Marti,  of  Teatros  Modelo,  San  Juan, 
Puerto  Rico,  are  in  town  to  purchase 
equipment  for  six  new  houses  they  are 
building. 

• 

I.  A.  Goldberg  of  Loew's  account- 
ing department  leaves  today  for  a 
week's  vacation  in  Peekskill. 

• 

Clemente  Lococo,  operator  of  the 
Opera  and  other  leading  Argentine 
motion  picture  houses,  is  in  town. 
• 

Samuel  Carlisle.  Warner  comp- 
troller, is  at  the  studio,  due  to  return 
in  10  days. 

• 

James  Roosevelt  is  coming  here 
after  July  4  for  a  short  stay. 


iV.  /.  Allied  to  Vote 
Upon  Code  July  11 

Members  of  New  Jersey  Allied  will 
discuss  the  trade  practice  code  at  a 
meeting  July  11  in  Asbury  Park,  N.J. 
It  has  been  indicated  that  a  majority 
of  the  members  favor  the  concessions 
and  will  sign  the  code. 

The  committee  arranging  for  the  an- 
nual convention  includes  Lee  New- 
bury, chairman  ;  Irving  Dollinger  and 
Maurice  Miller.  It  will  be  held  at 
Atlantic  City  in  September. 

Charles  Robinson  has  resigned  as 
field  contact  man  for  the  organization 
and  has  been  named  manager  of  a 
Newbury  house  in  South  Jersey. 


Delay  Until  July  14 
On  GN  Loan  Vote 

Scheduled  meeting  of  Educational- 
Grand  National  stockholders  was  ad- 
journed yesterday  to  July  14  because 
of  the  lack  of  a  quorum  and  to  pro- 
vide additional  time  in  which  to  pre- 
pare further  information  for  stock- 
holders "concerning  the  consummation 
of  a  substantial  loan  in  conjunction 
with  the  proposed  Felt  plan,"  accord- 
ing to  the  company's  announcement. 


Set  Paramount  Week 

Paramount  Week  will  be  celebrated 
this  year  from  Sept.  3  to  9,  inclusive, 
according  to  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  sales.  Partici- 
pants in  the  week  will  receive  gratis 
advertising  material  consisting  of  one 
sheets  3  x  10  cloth  banners,  stickers 
and  two  types  of  cardboard  pennants. 


160  Theatres 
Await  Labor 
Board  Action 


Action  on  the  complaints  again  s 
160  New  York  independent  theatre 
filed  with  the  State  Labor  Relation 
Board  by  the  Theatrical  Managers 
Agents  and  Treasurers  Union  is  j^fit 
held  in  abeyance  pending  compft-'jii 
of  negotiations  with  the  Five-Bon 
circuit,  a  unit  of  the  Interboro  Cir- 
cuit. An  agreement  is  expected  to  b< 
reached  in  10  days. 

The  union  has  petitioned  the  laboi 
board  for  recognition  on  the  grounc 
that  it  has  a  majority  of  eligible  em- 
ployes at  the  theatres  involved.  As 
an  alternative,  the  union  wants  a  vote 
to  determine  the  bargaining  agent. 

T.M.A.T.  claims  it  has  members  al 
260  New  York  theatres,  100  of  which 
are  not  majority  controlled.  It  is 
continuing  to  picket  Samuel  Fried- 
man's Jewel  Theatre,  Brooklyn. 

A  meeting  on  the  Five-Boro  con- 
tract was  held  in  Milton  C.  Weis- 
man's  office  yesterdav,  and  another  is 
scheduled  for  next  Wednesday. 

Representing  the  circuit  were  Abe 
Lett,  Sol  Straussberg  and  Mack  Gold- 
baum.  with  Mel  Albert  as  attorney. 
Charles  Carroll  and  William  Scott 
represented  the  union,  with  Gustave 
A.  Gerber,  attorney. 


Fourth  Film  Added 
To  List  by  Selznick 

Hollywood,  June  29. — Selznick  In- 
ternational will  produce  four  instead 
of  three  pictures  for  United  Artists 
release  during  the  new  season,  it  was 
decided  here  today.  First  two,  as 
originally  planned,  will  be  "Inter- 
mezzo," now  in  production,  and  "Re- 
becca." scheduled  to  go  into  produc- 
tion next  month. 

The  third  and  fourth  productions 
will  be  selected  from  a  number  of  stor- 
ies which  David  O.  Selznick  has 
under  consideration  now. 


'Bird'  Shirley's  Next 

Hollywood,  June  29. — Shirley 
Temple's  next  film  for  20th  Century- 
Fox  will  be  Maurice  Maeterlinck's 
"The  Blue  Bird,"  to  be  filmed  in  color 
and  scheduled  for  Christmas  release. 
"Lady  Jane"  will  be  made  after  "The 
Blue  Bird,"  instead  of  before,  as 
originally  planned. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

(Registered  U.  S.  Patent  Office) 
Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday  and 
holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company, 
Inc.,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York  City. 
Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address 
"Quigpubco,  New  York."  Martin  Quigley, 
Editor-in-Chief  and  Publisher;  Colvin  Brown, 
Vice-President  and  General  Manager;  Wat- 
terson  R.  Rothacker,  Vice-President;  Sam 
Shain,  Editor;  James  A.  Cron,  Advertising 
Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michi- 
gan Avenue,  C.  B.  O'Neill,  manager;  Hol- 
lywood Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Building, 
Boone  Mancall,  manager,  William  R. 
Weaver,  editor;  London  Bureau,  4,  Golden 
Square,  London  Wl,  Hope  Williams,  man- 
ager, cable  address  "Quigpubco,  London." 
All  contents  copyrighted  1939  by  Quigley 
Publishing  Company,  Inc.  Other  Quigley 
publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better 
Theatres,  Teatro  Al  Dia,  International  Mo- 
tion Picture  Almanac  and  Fame.  Entered 
as  second  class  matter  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the 
act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  ratei  per 
year  $6  in  the  Americai  and  $12  foreign. 
Single  copiet  10c. 


?ix  times  Greater  Than  Four  Daughters' ! " 


"DAUGHTERS  COURAGEOUS'  IS  SUPERIOR  TO  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'!" 

Walter  Winchell 


"WILL  TRUMP  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'  FOR  A  B.  0.  SLAM!  A  L0LLAPAL00ZA! 

Film  Daily 


"WARNERS' FOLLOW-UP  TO  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS'- AND  BETTER!" 

Jimmy  Fidler 


iid 


"IT  WILL  DO  EVEN  BETTER  THAN  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS?' 

Daily  Variety 


"DESERVES  A  NICHE  ALL  ITS  OWN!  SAME  APPEAL  AS  '4  DAUGHTERS'!" 

Motion  Picture  Daily 


"THIS  IS  A  BETTER  PICTURE  THAN  '4  DAUGHTERS'!" 

Motion  Picture  Herald 


he  top  week  &  gross  of  past  six  mon  ths  in  N.  Y.  premiere'. 

Jack  L.Warner  JOHN  GARFIELD 

In  Cha  rge  of  Production  CLAUDE  RAINS 

.  JEFFREY  LYNN  •  FAY  BAINTER  •  DONALD  CRISP 

Hal  B.  Wallis  MAY  ROBSON  •  Frank  McHugk  •  Dick  Foran 

Executive  Producer  a„J  THE  'FOUR  DAUGHTERS" 

Henry  Blanke  PRISCILLA  LANE  •  ROSEMARY  LANE 

a—*.  Projuc„  LOLA  LANE  •  GALE  PAGE 

Directed  ky  MICHAEL  CURTIZ 

Original  Screen  Pla?  tE  Juliui  J  anJ  Phillip  Q.  Epalcin  •  Subtle  J  L?  a  PIaS  bE  DorotK?  Bennett  ani  Irving  Wtitc  *  Mu.ic  tg  Max  Stoince  •  A  Fiat  National  Pichico 


A 


^  %S 


YESTERDAY' 
MOTHER"  AT 
THE  BIGGEST  IN 
BIGGER  EVEN 
RECORD-BREAM 


■5?-* 


GINGER  ROGERS 

■ 


DAVID  NIVEN 


OPENING  OF  BACHELOR 
IDIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 
ALMOST  SIX  MONTHS . . . 
f HAN  THAT  OF  THE 
ING  GUNGA  DIN!  ... 


YOU'VE  ASKED  FOR  NEW  FACES . . .  AND 

The  two  young  hopefuls  selected  through  Jesse  L.  Lasky's 
thirteen -week,  nation-wide  radio  search  for  new  screen 
talent  ...  in  a  picture  made  from  a  book  that  rips  and 
blasts  with  the  teeth  of  its  rugged  drama  as  it  heals  and 
charms  with  the  warmth  of  its  young  romance!  ^ 


I 


with 

ANNE  SHIRLEY 
EDWARD  ELLIS 
SAMUEL  S.  HIND 
JANET  BEECHER 
LEON  ERROL 


JOHN  ARCH 

★  ★  ★ 


WATCH  DES  MOINES  JULY  1st  and  2nd! 

side  down  for  the  world  premiere  of  Iowa's  own  story! 
the  service  clubs,  and  all  other  civic  groups  are 
Hollywood  delegation  arriving  on  special  Rock  Island 
ball  at  the  Drake  University  football  stadium  ...  to  L 
second  "Gateway  To  Hollywood"  series  ...  to  take 
most  glamorously  full  weekend  the  Middle  West 
hear  all  about  what's  going  on...  and  YOUR  folks 


I 


★  *  ★ 


. .  They're  turning  the  state  of  Iowa  up- 
. .  The  Des  Moines  Register  and  Tribune, 
irning  out  en  masse  to  welcome  a  big 
•ain  ...  to  attend  the  mammoth  movie 
ee  and  hear  the  final  broadcast  of  the 
art  in  all  the  excitement  planned  for  the 
ver  experienced!  . . .  YOUR  TOWN  will 
ill  want  to  see  the  picture,  too! 


O 


m 


L  * 


r»T*i'f»i3»§»j 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  30,  1939 


No  Monopoly, 
Majors  Reply 
To  Trust  Suits 


cers  and  directors ;  National  Theatres 
Corp.  on  behalf  of  itself  and  Spyros 
Skouras,  A.  S.  Gambee,  H.  C.  Cox 
and  John  P.  Edmondson ;  Chase  Na- 
tional Bank  on  its  own  behalf ;  War- 
ners on  behalf  of  itself  and  Yitagraph, 
Vitaphone  Corp.,  Warner  Brothers 
Circuit  Management  Corp.  and  15  in- 
dividual officers,  and  Universal  on  be- 
half of  itself,  three  subsidiaries  and 
16  individual  defendants. 

Para.  Denies  Domination 

Paramount's  answer,  similar  in  all 
major  respects  to  those  of  other  de- 
fendants, denied  in  full  53  paragraphs 
of  the  Government's  complaint  and 
asserted  there  was  no  domination  or 
control  of  the  industry  on  the  part  of 
Paramount,  either  individually  or  in 
concert  with  other  defendants,  but 
that  on  the  contrary  the  "market  is 
free,  open  and  untrammeled." 

In  addition,  the  answer  denied 
knowledge  or  information  sufficient  to 
form  a  belief  as  to  44  paragraphs  of 
the  Government  complaint  which  cov- 
ered the  history  of  the  industry  and 
set  forth  a  Government  analysis  of 
statistics  which  the  Government  had 
claimed  proved  the  monopoly. 

Definitions  Disputed 

Among  a  large  number  of  Govern- 
ment definitions  of  trade  terms  which 
were  disputed  were  those  in  refer- 
ence to  "block  booking,"  "major  pro- 
ducer and  distributor,"  "independent 
exhibitor,"  "key  cities"  and  "prere- 
lease." 

The  answer  attacked  the  Govern- 
ment's charges  of  harsh  and  discrimi- 
natory selling  practices,  alleged  ex- 
tension of  favors  and  benefits  between 
major  companies,  alleged  exclusion  of 
independent  producers  and  exhibitors 
form  the  best  industry  markets  and 
the  allegations  of  divisions  of  terri- 
tories. 

Block  Booking  Denied 

The  Government's  assertion  that,  as 
part  of  the  alleged  conspiracy,  inde- 
pendent exhibitors  were  subjected  to 
block  booking,  forced  sales  of  shorts 
and  newsreels,  overbuying,  unfair  film 
rentals,  score  charges  and  minimum 
admissions,  was  denied. 

The  answer  also  denied  that  inde- 
pendent producers  were  placed  in  an 
inferior  position,  as  alleged,  by  the 
defendants'  refusal  to  loan  stars  and 
technicians  and  by  any  deliberate  ex- 
clusion of  their  product  from  the  first- 
run  theatre  market. 

The  Government's  contention  that 
an  independent  producer  cannot  suc- 
cessfully produce  high  quality  pictures 
unless  he  has  access  to  first-run  the- 
atres upon  a  fair  competitive  basis 
was  also  disputed. 

Preferences  Refuted 

Assertions  that  major  companies 
extend  preferences  and  priorities  to 
each  other  and  to  affiliated  circuits 
and  that  the  alleged  preferences  are 
pursuant  to  franchises  and  contracts 
and  apply  to  theatres  subsequently  ac- 
quired, and  that  the  result  was  to 
place  independents  at  an  unfair  com- 
petitive disadvantage,  were  completely 
denied. 

Cooperation  between  companies  in 


4  4 


Second  Fiddle 

[20th  Century-Fox] 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

cocting  of  a  role  for  Sonja  Henie  in  which  she  skates  only  incidentally, 
the  finding  of  a  suitable  screen  occupation  for  Rudy  Vallee  and  the 
restoration  of  Edna  Mae  Oliver  to  the  powder-dry  variety  of  comedy 
role  in  which  she  is  without  rival. 

Striking  enough,  all  this  was  accomplished  simply  by  cooking  up  a 
story  pertaining  to  matters  which  all  hands  know  a  good  deal  about,  a 
story  about  Hollywood  and  the  processes  by  which  motion  pictures  and 
publicity  and  glamor  are  manufactured.  Power  plays  a  press  agent 
assigned  to  plant  in  the  papers  a  phoney  romance  between  Vallee  and 
Miss  Henie,  a  type  of  undertaking  he  understands  well.  Miss  Henie 
plays  a  Scandinavian  girl  who  can  skate  but  knows  she  can't  act,  yet 
finds  herself  a  famous  star  in  spite  of  that. 

Vallee  portrays  a  crooner  in  need  of  a  buildup  for  picture  purposes 
and  that's  not  unfamiliar  territory  for  him,  either.  Working  with  these 
familiar  materials,  the  three  of  them  turn  in  performances  realistic  to 
the  point  of  reality. 

The  picture  starts  off  as  a  riotously  amusing  burlesque  on  the  David 
O.  Selznick  quest  for  a  Scarlett  O'Hara.  Miss  Henie  plays  the  find  dug 
up  in  deep  Minnesota  and  Power  the  press  agent  sent  to  bring  her  in. 
It's  long  after  he's  involved  her  in  a  publicity  romance  with  Vallee  as  a 
means  of  getting  that  actor's  name  in  the  papers  when  he  realizes  he's  in 
love  with  her  himself,  and  much  longer  after  that  when  he  convinces 
her  she's  in  love  with  him. 

An  immense  amount  of  surefire  comedy  is  put  by  meanwhile.  Berlin's 
best  song  is  "I'm  Sorry  for  Myself,"  which  is  sung  by  Mary  Healy,  a 
young  woman  w-ho  knows  her  way  about  among  the  sharps  and 
flats.  His  next  best  is  "Back  to  Back,"  also  sung  by  Miss  Healy,  and 
this  number  yields  a  dance  routine  at  least  as  plausible  as  the  Lambeth 
Walk  and  therefore  likely  to  get  itself  played  a  lot  and  danced  some  in 
the  night  spots. 

It's  also  possible  that  whatever  causes  sane  people  to  whistle  "Three 
Little  Fishes"  will  make  his  "Song  of  the  Metronome"  a  Hit  Parade 
item.  "Second  Fiddle"  can  be  exploited  as  a  musical,  a  comedy,  a 
Hollywood  story  or  a  Power-Henie-Vallee  vehicle.  It  contains  all  it 
needs  to  stand  up  as  any  or  all  of  these.  It  is,  as  previously  stated,  an 
entertainment  natural. 

Running:  time,  90  minutes.    "G."*  William  R.  Weaver 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification. 


the  form  of  sharing  advertising  costs, 
giving  optional  contracts,  allowing  for 
over-age  and  under-age  and  cancella- 
tion of  shorts  as  a  form  of  conspiracy 
was  also  denied.  Paramount  has  not 
decreased  its  production  of  pictures 
pursuant  to  any  agreement,  the  an- 
swer asserted. 

hinally,  there  was  a  denial  that  the 
majors  cooperate  to  control  the  pro- 
duction field  by  an  exchange  of  stars, 
directors  and  technicians,  by  tieing  up 
personnel  under  contract  and  by  par- 
ticipation in  the  profits  of  pictures  to 
the  exclusion  of  independent  produc- 
ers. 

Jurisdiction  Challenged 

In  addition  to  K-A-O's  denial  of 
all  allegations  in  the  complaint  which 
sought  to  connect  the  defendants  with 
an  alleged  conspiracy,  that  answer 
asked  a  dismissal  of  the  Government 
action  on  the  grounds  that  the  court 
had  no  jurisdiction  and  no  facts  had 
been  set  forth  against  K-A-0  "on 
which  relief  can  be  granted." 

The  20th-Fox  answer  denied  the  al- 
legations contained  in  69  paragraphs 
of  the  Government's  complaint  in  their 
entirety  and  stated  that  it  had  no 
knowledge  or  information  of  the  alle- 
gations contained  in  71  other  para- 
graphs. 

Ignorant  of  Violations 

It  denied  any  violations  of  the  anti- 
trust laws  and  asserted  that  the  finer 
types  of  motion  pictures  are  produced 
by  domestic  and  foreign  producers 
other  than  the  defendants.     In  other 


respects  the  answer  is  similar  to  Para- 
mount's. 

The  National  Theatres  answer  de- 
nies all  charges  of  anti-trust  law  vio- 
lation and  lists  a  large  number  of 
violations  about  which  it  says  its  in- 
dividual defendants  know  nothing. 

Chase  National  Bank  admitted  only 
that  it  owns  58  per  cent  of  National 
Theatres.  It  denied  that  the  company 
was  a  holding  concern  for  20th-Fox 
theatre  interests  and  denied  any  con- 
nection with  monopolistic  practices. 

The  Universal  answer  claimed  that 
its  principals  had  no  knowledge  of  the 
subject  matter  of  107  paragraphs  of 
the  Government  complaint  and  denied 
the  allegations  of  57  other  paragraphs 
in  toto.  It  denied  that  Universal  Pic- 
tures Co.,  Inc.,  Universal  Film  Ex- 
changes, Inc.,  or  Big  U  Exchange  are 
wholly  owned.  It  denied  there  was 
any  domination  of  the  industry  and 
charged  there  was  no  cause  of  action 
set  forth. 

Denials  by  Warners 

Warners  denied  anti-trust  law  vio- 
lations. The  answer  admitted  the  nec- 
essity of  access  to  some  of  the  prod- 
uct of  one  or  more  of  the  defendants 
or  that  of  other  producers  of  quality 
pictures  in  order  to  operate  a  first- 
run  theatre  successfully.  It  asserted 
that  all  producers  of  quality  pictures 
have  access  to  the  first  run  market. 

_  Loew's  answer  was  a  blanket  de- 
nial of  all  violations  alleged,  admit- 
ting only  the  fundamental  and  univer- 
sally accepted  industry  facts  and  prac- 
tices. 


Ask  Revisions 
For  Canada's 
Trade  Rules 


Toronto,  June  29. — A  second  open 
invitation  was  extended  today  to 
Chairman  J.  0.  Scott  of  the  Anti- 
Protection  League  of  Canada  bv^n 
emissary  of  the  Motion  Picture  dis- 
tributors of  Canada  to  place  specific 
proposals  for  revision  of  present  trade 
practices  before  either  the  distributors 
association  or  the  Conciliation  Com- 
mittee of  the  Toronto  Board  of  Trade 
Film  Section. 

The  spokesman  for  the  film  ex- 
changes declared  that  the  league 
should  open  negotiations  by  writing 
an  official  letter  to  the  distributor 
group  outlining  suggestions  and  ask- 
ing for  a  conference  among  repre- 
sentatives of  the  league  and  the  ex- 
changes to  consider  protection  and 
clearance.  Assurance  was  given  that 
the  distributors  would  appoint  a  spe- 
cial committee  to  deal  with  the  matter. 

It  was  pointed  out  that  neither  the 
Motion  Picture  Distributors  of 
Canada  nor  the  Toronto  Board  of 
Trade  has  received  any  direct  recom- 
mendations from  the  league  and  can- 
not act  until  definite  suggestions  have 
been  submitted. 

Further,  Scott  was  invited,  as  an 
independent  theatre  proprietor,  to  join 
the  Toronto  Board  of  Trade  Film 
Section,  where,  he  would  have  access 
to  the  records  and  accomplishments  of 
its  conciliation  committee  and  would 
automatically  become  eligible  for  ap- 
pointment to  that  committee,  of  which 
three  independents  are  already  mem- 
bers, N.  A.  Taylor,  Harry  Firestone 
and  Hyman  Freedman,  officers  of  the 
Independent  Theatres  Association  of 
Ontario. 


Australian  Merger 
Wins  Hicks'  Praise 

Proposed  consolidation  of  Greater 
Union  Theatres  and  Hoyts'  was 
praised  yesterday  as  a  practical  means 
of  solving  the  product  supply  diffi- 
culties of  Australia's  leading  circuits 
by  John  W.  Hicks,  Paramount  vice- 
president  and  foreign  head,  on  the  eve 
of  his  departure  from  New  York  for 
Australia. 

Hicks  leaves  for  Vancouver  tonight 
from  where  he  will  sail  on  the  Nia- 
gara on  July  5.  With  Adolph  Zukor, 
Paramount  board  chairman,  whom  he 
will  meet  in  Honolulu,  he  will  preside 
at  the  company's  sales  convention  in 
Sydney,  Aug.  2. 


Heart  Attack  Fatal 
To  Phil  Di  Angelis 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

board  campaigns  for  virtually  every 
film  company.  He  did  the  billboards 
for  practically  every  motion  picture 
road  show  since  "The  Birth  of  a 
Nation." 

Di  Angelis  is  survived  by  his 
widow,  Jesse  Di  Angelis,  who  in  the 
past  10  years  or  more  worked  with 
him  in  managing  the  company,  and  bv 
three  children,  Bernice,  Edward  and 
Angela.  The  funeral  will  be  con- 
ducted Monday  from  his  home  on 
Hyatt  Avenue,  City  Line,  Yonkers, 
and  services  will  be  held  at  St. 
Barnabas  R.  C.  Church,  East  241st 
Street  and  Martha  Ave. 


Friday.  June  30,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


Short 


Subject 
Reviews 


"A-Hunting  We  Will  Go" 

( Universal) 
\  Little  Eight  Ball,  Walter  Lantz's 
^Vred  cartoon  character,  sets  out  to 
j^ve  to  a  baby  ghost  that  he's  scare- 
proof  and  almost  succeeds.  He  is 
taken  to  a  haunted  mill,  the  home  of 
the  ghosts,  where  after  a  conclave  he 
is  "given  the  works."     It's  in  color. 


"Bird  on  Nellie's  Hat" 

(Universal) 

Beautiful  Xell  is  on  her  way  to  de- 
liver lunch  to  husband  Handsome 
Dan  when  the  villian  drives  by  and 
inveigles  Xell  into  his  car.  When  she 
resists  the  villian's  advances,  he  ties 
her  to  the  railroad  tracks  and  sends 
the  train  on  its  way.  Thereupon  the 
bird  on  Nellie's  hat  comes  to  life,  flies 
off  to  warn  Dan  and  he  comes  on  the 
gallop  to  untie  Xell  just  in  the  nick  of 
time,  tra  la.    Running  time,  7  mins. 


"Going  Places' 


( Universal) 

Places  this  release  takes  one  to  are 
a  legendary  Mexican  village ;  a  clock 
factory  in  Connecticut  and  the  Botani- 
cal Museum  at  Harvard  University, 
famous  for  its  glass  flowers.  Most 
picturesque  is  the  clip  dealing  with 
the  Mexican  village  which  remained 
forgotten  and  unchanged  from  the 
time  of  Cortez  until  some  200  years 
ago,  when  it  was  rediscovered. 


"To  the  Windwards" 

(  Universal) 

Another  in  the  series  of  "Going 
Places,"  this  one  finds  the  camera  at 
the  Winward  Islands  in  the  Carib- 
bean. The  film  is  resplendent  with 
colorful  shots  of  these  beautiful 
islands,  their  natives,  and  the  indus- 
tries. Sepia  tint  helps  convey  the 
beauty  of  the  islands.  Running  time, 
9  mins. 


Ross  Federal  Expands 

For  the  ^second  time  in  six  months, 
Ross  Federal  Research  Corp.  is  ex- 
panding its  space  due  to  a  business 
increase.  The  company  is  taking  over 
another  entire  floor  at  18  East  48th 
St. 


Sacha  Guitry  Honored 

Paris,  June  29. — Sacha  Guitry,  au- 
thor, actor,  motion  picture  producer 
and  occasional  poet,  has  been  elected 
a  member  of  the  select  Goncourt 
Academy  here.  Guitry  is  the  author 
of  more  than  100  plays. 


Theatres  in  City 
Escape  Signs  Ban 

Exhibitors'  fears  that  they 
would  have  to  limit  their  use 
cf  signs  and  displays,  includ- 
ing marquees,  have  been  al- 
layed. Rexford  Guy  Tugwell, 
chairman  of  the  City  Plan- 
ning Commission,  which  is 
sponsoring  an  ordinance  to 
remove  certain  signs,  has 
given  the  assurance  that  the- 
atre signs  will  not  be  affected. 


Theatre,  Personnel  Notes 


Shift   Frisina  Managers 

Springfield,  111.,  June  29. — Several 
personnel  transfers  affecting  its 
houses  in  Illinois  and  Missouri  have 
been  made  by  the  Frisina  Amusement 
Co.  Randolph  Pedrucci,  manager  at 
Shelbyville,  111.,  has  been  transferred 
to  the  home  office  here  as  assistant 
bookkeeper.  His  Shelbyville  post  will 
be  assumed  by  Charles  Bennati,  man- 
ager at  Gillespie,  111.,  and  Pio  Pe- 
drucci, assistant  manager  of  the  Ritz 
at  St.  Charles,  Mo.,  will  take  over  as 
manager  of  the  Gillespie  house.  An- 
thony Covi,  assistant  at  the  Ritz, 
Litchfield,  111.,  will  be  moved  to 
Gillespie. 


Ross  Federal  Changes 

John  J.  Tarpey,  Jr.,  formerly 
branch  auditor  for  Ross  Federal  Re- 
search Corp.,  has  been  promoted  to 
director  of  budget  operations.  Robert 
Pollard,  chief  accountant,  replaces 
Tarpey  as  branch  auditor,  and 
Charles  Taylor  is  the  new  chief  ac- 
countant. 


Opens  Connecticut  House 

Broadbrook,  Conn.,  June  29.  — 
Oscar  Hausner  has  opened  the  250- 
seat  Broadbrook  Theatre,  formerly 
owned  by  Nathan  Lampert.  The 
house  has  been  dark  for  several 
months. 


Closing  in  Springfield 

Springfield,  Mass.,  June  29.  — 
Paramount,  Springfield's  newest  the- 
atre, will  close  shortly  at  least  until 
Labor  Day.  Western  Massachusetts 
Theatres,  Inc.,  recently  attempted  ne- 
gotiating with  the  unions  in  an  effort 
to  change  the  policy  to  a  single  fea- 
ture and  vaudeville,  but  no  agreement 
was  reached.  Lack  of  product  is  be- 
lieved to  be  the  reason  for  closing. 


'Dared/  Stage  Show 
Indianapolis  $9,500 

Indianapolis,  June  29.  —  With 
Henry  Busse's  orchestra  on  the  stage, 
"The  Man  Who  Dared"  brought  the 
Lyric  $9,500.  The  weather  was  warm. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  23 : 

"Young  Mr.  Lircoln"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Gorilla"  (20th-Fox) 

APOLLO— (1.100)    (25c-40c)   7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $2,200.    (Average,  $2,500) 
"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 
"Some  Like  It  Hot"  (Para.) 

CIRCLE— (2.800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,800.    (Average.  $5,500) 
"It's  A  Wonderful  World"  (M-G-M) 
"Blind  Alley"  (Col.) 

LOEWS — (2,800)  (25c-40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,300.    (Average,  $7,000) 
"The  Man  Who  Dared"   (F.  N.) 

LYRIC— (2.000)  (25c-40c)  7  days. 
Henrv  Busse  Band  Show.  Gross 
(Average,  $8,000) 


Stage: 
$9,500. 


Trenton  Stock  Suit 

B.  F.  Keith  Corp.,  the  Trenton, 
New  Brunswick  Theatres  Co..  Leon 
Goldberg,  and  the  estate  of  Frank  V. 
Storrs  were  named  defendants  Wed- 
nesday in  a  suit  filed  in  N.  Y.  Supreme 
Court  by  Walter  Reade  Jr.  Reade  is 
seeking  a  court  order  directing  Gold- 
berg, trustee  under  a  voting  stock 
agreement,  to  transfer  in  his  name  250 
shares  of  Trenton  XTew  Brunswick 
Theatre  stock. 


World  Has  Baur  Film 

"Hatred,"  French  film  in  which 
Harry  Baur  is  starred,  has  been  set 
for  September  release  by  World. 


Horn   Joins  Columbia 

Omaha,.  June  29.  —  Fred  Horn, 
Grand  National  exchange  manager, 
has  joined  Columbia  here  as  salesman. 
The  G.  X.  branch  will  be  managed  by 
Lou  Levy,  who  also  has  the  Des 
Moines  branch  under  his  jurisdiction. 


Remodel  "U"  Omaha  Office 

Omaha,  June  29. — Universal  ex- 
change here  is  being  remodeled,  en- 
larged and  redecorated. 


Egner  Heads  RKO  Branch 

Omaha,  June  29. — Russell  Egner, 
former  city  sales  manager  for  RKO 
at  Minneapolis,  is  the  new  RKO 
branch  manager  here,  C.  J.  Dressell, 
former  exchange  head  here,  has  been 
moved  to  Minneapolis.  Dressell  will 
replace  L.  E.  Goldhammer,  recently 
named  midwest  division  manager  for 
RKO  when  Walter  Branson  was 
moved  to  the  home  office. 


College  Has  Theatre 

New  London,  Conn.,  June  29.  — 
Newest  non-theatrical  house  in  the 
territory  is  Connecticut  College  for 
Women's  new  1,375-seat  Palmer  Me- 
morial Auditorium,  for  films  and 
other  exhibitions. 


Remodel   Para.  Exchange 

Chicago,  June  29. — Offices  in  the 
Paramount  exchange  are  being  redec- 
orated, according  to  James  Donohue, 
branch  manager. 


Britain's  Film 
Buying  Policy 
Draws  Attack 


London,  June  29. — Bad  buying  by 
exhibitors  was  criticized  at  the  Sum- 
mer conference  at  Blackpool  today  of 
the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Asso- 
ciation by  A.  B.  Watts,  South  Wales 
exhibitor. 

Discussing  exhibition  problems, 
Watts  said  exhibitors  could  reduce 
their  rentals  and  obtain  product  by 
amalgamation  of  local  independents, 
and  cited  American  examples. 

He  declared  television  may  give 
the  business  a  new  lease  on  life,  and 
called  Bank  Night  an  insane  method 
of  doing  business.  He  suggested  that 
the  C.E.A.  arrange  a  financing  plan 
with  insurance  companies. 

It  was  the  general  concensus  in 
subsequent  discussion  that  the  first 
needs  of  exhibitors  in  solving  their 
problems  are  solidarity  and  loyalty. 
It  was  suggested  that  an  equitable 
rental  system  might  be  worked  out 
in  a  joint  discussion  among  producers, 
distributors,  salesmen  and  exhibitors. 

The  meeting  decided  after  long  dis- 
cussion that  the  C.E.A.  support  plans 
for  specialized  training  for  young  pro- 
jectionists. Union  and  educational 
leaders  urged  the  C.E.A.  to  cooperate 
with  technical  colleges  to  facilitate 
the  training  of  projectionists. 

The  conference  ended  tonight  with 
the  annual  banquet,  attended  by  about 
550  film  trade  people. 


Diddle-diddle  diddum, 

diddum  ga 


ga-ga  moo 

SANDY!" 


(Translation)  "If  my  new  picture 
doesn't  get  me   even  more 
raves  than  I  got  in  "East  Side 
of   Heaven",  then   my  name 
isn't  Sandy" ! 


UNIVERSAL 

presents 


Baby  SANDY 


"UNEXPECTED  FATHER" 

with 

Shirley  Dennis  Miachu 

ROSS     O'KEEFE  AUER 

For  Release  July  7th 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  30,  1939 


Schine  Circuit 
Meeting  Aug.  1 
To  Draw  350 


Gloversville,  N.  Y.,  June  29. — 
Annual  convention  of  managers  of 
Schine  Enterprises,  Inc.,  will  be  held 
here  Aug.  1-4.  It  will  be  attended 
by  about  350. 

The  convention  will  open  with  a  ses- 
sion at  the  Hippodrome,  at  which 
Mayor  Chauncey  C.  Thayer  and 
Louis  W.  and  J.  Myer  Schine  will 
welcome  the  managers.  Each  dis- 
trict manager  will  then  speak  briefly. 
Conferences  with  department  heads 
will  complete  the  first  day,  with  the 
evening  devoted  to  a  "theatre  clinic" 
and  a  special  screening. 

The  second  day  will  be  given  over 
to  speakers  from  film  companies. 
They  will  include  Alec  Moss,  Para- 
mount ;  Bill  Ferguson,  M-G-M ;  Louis 
Pollock,  Universal ;  Charles  McCar- 
thy, 20th  Century-Fox ;  Mort  Blumen- 
stock,  Warners ;  Monroe  Greenthal, 
United  Artists ;  Maurice  Bergman, 
Columbia  ;  Barret  McCormick,  RKO  ; 
A.  J.  Rademacher,  Altec  sound  engi- 
neer, and  David  Palfreyman  of  the 
Hays  office. 

A  dinner  honoring  the  special 
guests  will  be  held  the  evening  of 
the  second  day,  and  the  third  will  be 
devoted  to  a  golf  tournament  at  the 
Pine  Brook  Country  Club.  General 
summary  of  the  sessions  will  close  the 
meeting  on  the  fourth  day.  Harold 
F.  Sliter  is  general  chairman  of  the 
convention,  assisted  by  Gene  Curtis. 


Brandt  Building  New 
Times  Square  House 

Brandt  Theatres  will  erect  a  new 
850-seat  theatre  in  the  Times  Square 
area  this  Summer.  House  will  be  lo- 
cated on  a  site  just  east  of  Broadway, 
extending  from  42nd  Street  through 
to  43d  Street.  Demolition  of  the 
structure  now  occupying  the  site  has 
begun  and  the  theatre  is  scheduled  to 
be  ready  for  opening  by  Fall. 

A  new  theatre,  known  as  the 
Cameo,  will  open  in  Brewster,  N.  Y., 
July  1.  Ownership  of  the  Roys  The- 
atre, Blairstown,  N.  J.,  goes  to  Frank 
C.  Walker  of  Comerford  Theatres  on 
July  1. 

Negotiations  for  the  Congress, 
Metro  and  Vogue,  all  in  the  Bronx, 
are  under  way  between  Eddie  Pes- 
kay  and  Moe  Rosenberg,  the  latter 
the  present  owner  of  the  theatres. 
Leases  are  understood  to  have  been 
prepared  and  signing  is  expected  with- 
in a  few  days. 


Union  Fight  Shuts  House 

Indianapolis,  June  29. — Refusing 
to  meet  demands  of  Local  30  of  the 
Stagehands  Union  for  increase  in  pay 
from  $55.50  per  week  to  $60.50, 
Charles  M.  Olson  will  close  the 
Lyric,  2,000-seat  downtown  house,  on 
on  July  6.  Eight  stagehands  are  em- 
ployed. 


Colonel  Campbell  Dead 

New  Bedford,  Mass.,  June  29. — Fu- 
neral arrangements  were  being  com- 
pleted today  for  Col.  Thomas  C. 
Campbell,  New  Orleans  theatre  man- 
ager for  more  than  40  years.  He  died 
yesterday  at  the  age  of  77.  He  was 
once  associated  with  A.  L.  Erlanger, 
New  York  producer. 


Hollywood  Preview 


61 Stunt  Pilot" 

{Monogram ) 

Hollywood,  June  29. — Those  who  follow  the  adventures  of  "Tailspin 
Tommy"  in  Hal  Forrest's  cartoon  strips,  those  who  saw  the  first  pic- 
ture adaptation  of  the  idea,  "Mystery  Plane"  and  those  who  like  to  see 
a  lot  of  action  and  excitement  in  the  air  and  on  the  ground  should  find 
"Stunt  Pilot"  satisfactory  entertainment.  Once  the  story  settles  down 
to  its  thrills  and  chills,  there's  excitement  enough  for  all  and  plenty  to 
start  the  youngsters  hollering. 

Produced  and  directed  by  Paul  Malvern  and  George  Waggner,  who 
made  the  initial  picture,  "Stunt  Pilot"  features  the  same  four  principals, 
John  Trent,  Marjorie  Reynolds,  Milburn  Stone  and  Jason  Robards. 
The  picture  supplements  their  name  value  with  those  of  Pat  O'Malley, 
George  Meeker,  Wesley  Barry  and  George  Cleveland. 

Finding  plane  stunting  for  a  film  company  not  conducive  to  safety, 
transport  pilot  Trent  retires  from  the  job  in  favor  of  professional  aeiial 
acrobat,  Meeker.  Meeker,  disliked  by  director  O'Malley,  earns  Trent's 
displeasure  when  he  makes  Miss  Reynolds  an  unwilling  passenger  during 
some  wild  sky  flying.  This  sets  the  stage  for  Trent's  involvement  in 
a  murder. 

To  square  accounts  with  Meeker,  O'Malley  places  real  bullets  in  a 
machine  gun  on  a  plane  operated  by  Trent  and  in  a  spectacular  dog 
fight  the  former  is  killed.  Trent  clears  himself  of  the  murder  charge 
with  the  help  of  pictures  made  by  young  Buddy  Cox  and  through 
O'Malley's  confession  following  a  sensational  plane-train  chase.  As 
usual,  the  climax  is  a  trailer  for  the  next  picture. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.    "G."*  G.  McC. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Out  Hollywood  Way 


Hollywood,  June  29. — Leslie  How- 
ard, star  and  associate  producer  of 
"Intermezzo"  for  Selznick  Interna- 
tional, says : 

"The  Federal  Theatre  project  has 
been  the  great  incubator  of  talent  for 
the  American  stage  and  screen.  The 
training  it  has  given  ambitious  new- 
comers has  enabled  many  young  un- 
knowns to  launch  themselves  on 
worthwhile  careers  in  motion  pictures 
or  on  the  stage. 

"If  this  great  training  school  is 
eliminated  from  the  theatrical  setup, 
within  a  short  time  only  young  foreign 
actors  will  have  sufficient  training  to 
step  into  important  roles  in  motion 
pictures." 


Elmo  Lincoln,  out  of  pictures  since 
1927,  returns  to  the  screen  in  support 
of  George  O'Brien  in  RKO-Radio's 
"Timber  Stampede,"  and  Chester  Con- 
klin,  once  ubiquitous  slapstick  come- 
dian, is  among  the  extras  appearing 
in  the  same  studio's  "The  Spellbinder.' 


Writers — Jesse  L.  Lasky  Jr.  has 
been  added  to  the  writing  staff  pre- 
paring Cecil  B.  DeMille's  next  pro- 
duction, "Royal  Canadian  Mounted." 
.  .  .  Norton  S.  Parker  has  been  signed 
to  write  the  screen  play  for  the  next 
Tailspin  Tommy  feature  at  Mono- 
gram studio. 

Players — Walter  Miller,  veteran 
serial  star,  returns  to  films  in  Repub- 
lic's chapter  play,  "Dick  Tracy's 
G-Men."  .  .  .  Wanda  McKay,  TWA 
hostess,  whose  real  name  is  Dorothy 
Quackenbush,  has  signed  a  Para- 
mount contract.  .  .  .  Suzanne  Kaaren, 
Peggy  Shannon  and  Virginia  Peine 
have  been  cast  in  M-G-M's  "The 
Women,"  Rand  Brooks  goes  into  the 
studio's  "Thunder  Afloat"  and  Edwin 
Stanley,  Dorothy  Adams,  Hans  Joby, 
Jacques  Vanaire  and  Wolfgang  Zizer 
have    been    given    assignments  in 


"Ninotchka,"  the  forthcoming  Greta 
Garbo  vehicle. 

Lya  Lys,  featured  in  Warners' 
"Confessions  of  a  Nazi  Spy,"  will  be 
seen  in  the  same  company's  "Life  of 
Beethoven,"  a  Paul  Muni  number.  .  .  . 
Republic  will  star  Phil  Regan  in 
"Flight  at  Midnight"  and  John  Wayne 
in  "Wagons  Westward."  .  .  .  Eric 
Wilton,  Monte  Vandergrift  and  Ed  Le 
Saint  go  into  Paramount's  "The 
World  on  Parade." 


'Happiness'  $13,100 
Despite  Buffalo  Rain 

Buffalo,  June  29.— "Invitation  to 
Happiness"  drew  $13,100  at  the  Buf- 
falo, in  spite  of  cold  and  rain  that 
drenched  the  city  for  seven  days. 
"Missing  Daughters"  and  "The  Mu- 
tiny of  the  Elsinore"  earned  $7,000 
at  the  Lafayette. 

Estimated  takings  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  24: 

"Invitation  to  Happiness"  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— (3,000)      (30c-55c)  7 
Gross:   $13,100.     (Average,  $12,000) 
"Tarzan  Finds  a  Son"  (M-G-M) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  Reno"  (20th-Fox) 

GREAT  LAKES — (3,000)  (30-5Sc)  7  days. 
Gross:   $6,600.    (Average,  $7,500) 
"Maisie"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Man  Who  Dared"  (W.  B.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,500)  (25c -40c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,800.    (Average,  $6,800) 
"Mutiny  on  the  Bounty"  (M-G-M) 
"Secret  Service  of  the  Air"  (W.  B.) 

CENTURY— (3,000)   (25c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$4,400.    (Average,  $6,000) 
"Missing  Daughters"  (Col.) 
"The  Mutiny  of  the  Elsinore"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE  —  (3,300)  (25c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.  (Average,  $6,300) 


days. 


Peace  Film  at  Fair 

The  Biosophical  Institute  on  Satur- 
day will  show  "World  Leaders  on 
Peace  and  Democracy,"  film  featur- 
ing various  world  leaders,  at  the  Lit- 
tle Theatre  of  the  Science  and  Educa- 
tion Building  of  the  World's  Fair. 


Film  Pioneers 
Elect  J.  Colin; 
Frolic  at  Fete 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Robbins,  Joe  Hornstein,  Harry 
Brandt  and  Harry  D.  Buckley. 

Hal  Hode  was  elected  secretanr- 

Pioneers  in  addition  to  those  plf-*" 
viously  announced  include  William 
Brandt,  William  Adoret,  James 
Grainger,  Louis  Eller,  Jack  Gluck- 
man,  Leon  Netter,  Harold  Rodner, 
Herman  Riskin  and  H.  Herzburn. 
They  were  present  last  night. 

Telegrams  were  read  from  other 
pioneers,  who  regretted  their  inabil- 
ity to  attend  either  on  account  cf 
illness  or  absence  from  the  city. 

Plans  had  been  made  for  a  show, 
but  it  was  cancelled  when  the  vet- 
erans, in  an  unusual  merrymaking 
mood,  found  considerable  fun  in 
viewing  old  stereopticon  slides, 
singing  songs  and  exchanging  rem- 
iniscences. 


4A's  Defend  Power 
Despite  AFA  Blast 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

4A's,  admitted  that  its  constitution 
does  not  authorize  it  to  try  a  mem- 
ber as  the  4A  proposes  to  try  the 
AFA.  The  admission  came  after 
Halprin  had  challenged  Frank  Gill- 
more,  president  of  the  International 
Board,  to  cite  the  section  of  the  Con- 
stitution which  contained  such  au- 
thorization. 

Despite  this,  the  International 
Board  decided  they  had  jurisdiction  to 
sit  as  a  trial  board  on  July  10. 

In  challenging  the  fitness  of  the 
4A's  International  Board  to  sit  in 
judgment  on  the  AFA,  Halprin  de- 
clared that  the  desire  of  Actors 
Equity  to  "gobble  up"  the  AFA  is 
one  real  reason  for  the  charges 
against  AFA. 

"The  deal  already  has  been  made 
and  the  spoils  divided,"  Halprin  said. 

Terms  of  the  deal,  he  said,  provide 
for  assignment  of  jurisdiction  over 
television  to  the  Screen  Actors  Guild 
in  return  for  granting  Equity  juris- 
diction over  the  bulk  of  AFA's  mem- 
bership. 


Coast  Brevities 


Hollywood,  June  29. — Paramount 
today  disclaimed  knowledge  of  a  pro- 
test by  the  National  Maritime  Com- 
mission seeking  abandonment  of  the 
production  of  "Ruler  of  the  Sea." 


James  Roosevelt  today  signed  a  new 
three-year  contract  with  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn  as  vice-president  with  a  salary 
increase  of  $10,000  annually. 


Two  Firms  Formed 

Albany,  June  29— Cinema  Film 
Laboratories,  Inc.,  has  been  incorpo- 
rated, with  Frederick  T.  O'Grady, 
Thomas  E.  Murray,  Jr.,  and  Morgan 

A.  Jones  of  New  York  as  directors. 
Multi-Vox  Recorder  and  Phonograph 
Corp.  has  been  licensed,  with  Lester 

B.  Holmes,  Philip  Silver  and  Selig 
Liese,  New  York,  as  directors. 


Fridav  June  30,  1939 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Banner  Lines 

 By  JACK  BANNER  

NEW  YORK  Post  will  shortly  announce  the  signing  of  Sid  Skolsky 
to  do  a  daily  Hollywood  column,  and  Raymond  Gram  Swing,  Mu- 
tual's  ace  commentator,  for  a  daily  Washington  column.  .  .  .  Sponsors 
of  the  Louis-Galento  fight  took  no  chances  of  holding  the  bag  by  a  quick 
termination  of  the  fight,  and  delivered  a  four  minute  commercial  at  the  start 
of  the  broadcast.  And  Gabe  Heatter,  who  did  the  between  rounds  chatter, 
apparently  was  under  orders  to  get  a  commercial  mention  into  his  speil  at 
least  once  every  round.  .  .  .  Columnist  Franklin  P.  Adams  listened  to  the  fight 
in  Radio  City,  and  almost  swallowed  his  cigar  when  Galento  spread  Louis 
over  the  canvas. 

▼ 

MAJOR  LOHR  received  a  present  Wednesday  from  Mrs.  Martin  John- 
son— two  bear  cubs.  He's  taken  them  to  Tarrytown  as  mascots  for 
his  children.  .  .  .  Summer  format  of  "Gateway  to  Hollywood"  will  consist 
of  a  dramatized  version  of  the  RKO  picture,  "Career."  .  .  .  Adelaide  Hawley, 
narrator  of  women's  news  in  the  "News  of  the  Day"  newsreels,  has  been 
signed  for  a  commercial  over  WABC.  .  .  .  Eight  more  newspapers  have 
just  added  Leon  Goldstein's  WMCA  radio  column.  .  .  .  "Hit  Parade"  has 
been  renewed  for  another  13  weeks. 

T 

MARY  MARGARET  McBRIDE,  CBS  air  columnist,  off  to  Holly- 
wood on  vacation.  .  .  .  Mark  Warnow  is  sending  around  cartons  of 
book  matches  containing  ads  for  his  Lucky  Strike  series.  With  the  matches 
comes  notes  admonishing  the  newspaper  folk  to  use  the  matches  for  burning 
copy  they  don't  like,  reading  theatre  programs  in  the  dark,  setting  off  fire 
crackers,  applying  the  hot  foot,  and  kindred  subjects.  .  .  .  The  Drier  Hotels, 
in  a  smart  stunt,  are  buying  spot  announcements  all  over  the  country  to 
dispel  the  illusion  that  hotels,  and  theirs  in  particular,  have  raised  rates  as 
a  result  of  the  World's  Fair. 

T 

FEDERAL  Theatre  salvation  received  eloquent  support  last  night  over 
XBC  in  a  program  which  presented  Mayor  LaGuardia,  Lyn  Murray,  Tallu- 
lah  Bankhead,  Miriam  Hopkins,  Eddie  Cantor,  George  Jessel,  Orson  Welles, 
Donald  Ogden  Stewart,  Tyrone  Power,  Raymond  Paige,  Fred  Waring,  Leon- 
ard Lyons,  and  Eddie  Dowling  as  emcee.  .  .  .  Cocktail  party  at  Young  & 
Rubicam  to  Joe  Stauffer,  the  agency's  West  Coast  radio  director.  .  .  .  Paul 
Muni  in  a  special  appearance  Sunday  over  CBS  will  recite  a  dramatic 
monologue,  "An  American  Father  to  His  Son,"  in  the  "Democracy  in  Action" 
series.  ...  In  another  patriotic  gesture,  H.  V.  Kaltenborn  will  be  presented 
as  the  intermission  guest  in  the  Lux  "Radio  Theatre"  in  which  he  will  outline 
the  liberties  enjoyed  in  this  country.  .  .  .  Today  is  CBS  announcer  Frank 
Gallop's  birthday. 


Quebec  Civic 
Houses  Face 
Lack  of  Films 


Toronto,  June  29.— The  city  of 
Quebec,  whose  11  theatres  have  been 
closed  tor  a  month  in  protest  against 
the  increase  of  the  municipal  amuse- 
\nt  tax  to  20  per  cent,  will  not  be 
<,j1e  to  get  films  for  its  proposed  two 
civic  theatres,  even  though  the  local 
government  proceeds  with  the  open- 
ing of  two  new  houses  to  provide 
entertainment  for  residents  who  are 
now  going  elsewhere  for  their  films. 

This  was  indicated  at  the  exchanges 
here  which  handle  American  and 
British  product  and  there  is  implied 
agreement  on  the  part  of  France- 
Film,  Ltd.,  distributing  French  lan- 
guage films  in  Canada. 

Available  product  is  under  contract 
to  the  11  theatres  in  Quebec  City  for 
an  indefinite  period,  it  is  declared,  and 
the  contracts  are  binding  to  the  ex- 
tent that  the  films  cannot  be  released 
to  opposition  theatres. 

"It  is  not  likely  that  the  owners  of 
the  closed  theatres  would  consent  to 
the  transfer  of  their  product  to  mu- 
nicipal theatres  when  they  themselves 
cannot  operate  because  of  the  drastic 
nature  of  civic  taxation,"  it  was  stated. 


Debate  Differences 
On  Federal  Theatre 

Washington,  June  29.— Differences 
between  Senate  and  House  over  the 
future  of  the  Federal  Theatre  Project 
will  be  worked  out  in  conference,  it 
was  expected  today  as  the  relief  ap- 
propriation bill  passed  by  the  Senate 
last  night  was  returned  to  the  House 
for  consideration. 

In  passing  the  bill,  the  House  pro- 
vided that  the  theatre  project  should 
be  abandoned  June  30,  but  the  Senate 
restored  it,  although  cutting  the  ap- 
propriation for  the  arts  projects  as  a 
whole  from  the  more  than  $35,000,000 
spent  during  the  past  year  to  three- 
fourths  of  one  per  cent  of  WPA 
funds,  which  will  be  about  $11,000,000. 

During  the  first  10  months  of  the 
fiscal  year  now  ending  the  theatre 
project  alone  spent  close  to  $10,- 
000:000. 

Suit  by  Independents 
Delayed  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  June  29. — Federal  Judge 
James  Wilkerson  today  postponed  the 
suit  of  the  independent  exhibitors 
against  Balaban  and  Katz  and  majors 
until  July  13.  Another  postponement 
is  expected  at  that  time,  thus  delaying 
the  trial  until  Fall. 

The  government  trial  of  its  suit 
against  the  same  defendants  continued 
today  with  John  Kemptgen,  Metro 
office  manager;  M.  M.  Gottlieb,  Uni- 
versal branch  manager,  and  Jack 
Osserman,  RKO  branch  manager, 
identifying  documents  and  explaining 
clearance  schedules. 

Government  attorneys  refuse  to  re- 
veal the  identity  of  witnesses  who 
will  follow  the  distribution  executives. 


Reel  Tax  Cut  Offered 

London,  June  29. — Sir  John  Simon, 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer,  today 
introduced  in  Commons  amendments 
reducing  the  tax  on  imported  news- 
reels  to  one  penny  per  linear  foot,  as 


Philadelphia  Allied 
Backs  Code  Defeat 

Philadelphia,  June  29. — At  the 
Allied  meeting  here  today,  a  resolu- 
tion approving  rejection  of  the  trade 
practice  code  at  the  Minneapolis  con- 
vention was  adopted.  Other  resolu- 
tions supported  the  general  policies  of 
the  National  Allied  and  urged  Con- 
gressional passage  of  the  Neely  bill. 
A  buying  survey  to  be  made  public 
every  two  weeks  to  Allied  members 
will  be  started. 


NBC  Will  Use  Discs 
For  Its  Pacific  Blue 

NBC  will  accept  electrical  tran- 
scriptions over  the  Pacific  Blue  net- 
work, including  Pacific  coast  stations 
which  are  available  as  supplementaries 
to  the  Blue  network. 

Free  origination  points  will  be  as  in 
the  case  of  live  talent  programs,  name- 
ly NBC  studios  at  San  Francisco  and 
Hollywood.  Originations  at  any  other 
point  will  be  subject  to  regular  re- 
mote pickup  rates. 


Newsreel 


Parade 


President  Roosevelt,  playing  host  to 
11  governors  at  his  Hyde  Park  estate, 
gets  considerable  attention  in  the  new 
issues.  The  reels  and  their  contents 
follozv : 

MOVIETONE  NEWS,  No.  84— Roosevelt 
is  host  to  governors.  Bombers  take  off  for 
Honolulu.  Endurance  fliers  land.  Young 
musicians  at  Frisco  exposition.  Shriners 
convene.  Political  controversy  in  Louisiana. 
Admiral  takes  stand  against  Japs.  Japs  free 
arrested  cameraman.  Prince  Olav  receives 
L.L.D.  degree.  Fashions.  Gymnastics  at 
Fair.  Lifeguards  in  training.  Dog  racing. 
Lew  Lehr. 

NEWS  OF  THE  DAY,  No.  282— Mass 
flight  to  Hawaii.  Clipper  leaves  Port  Wash- 
ington. Governors  at  West  Point.  New 
commander  of  army.  New  Louisiana  gov- 
ernor. Children  in  commencement  exercises. 
Louis  and  Galento  weigh  in.  Hollywood 
stunt  stars. 

PARAMOUNT  NEWS,  No.  95— Fleet  de- 
parts from  France.  Women's  golf  tourna- 
ment. Diving.  Governors  lunch  with 
Roosevelt.  Auto  acrobats.  Louis-Galento 
fight.    Premiere  of  "Man  About  Town." 

RKO  PATHE  NEWS,  No.  99— Roosevelt 
and  governors  at  Hyde  Park.  Father 
Flanagan  awarded  Humanitarian  medal. 
Rodeo  in  Montana.  Olav  lauds  America. 
Test  cars  at  Fair.  Bombers  in  mass  flight 
to  Hawaii.    Motorboat  race  on  Mississippi. 

UNIVERSAL  NEWSREEL,  No.  784— 
Shriners  on  parade.  Mass  naval  flight. 
First  trans-Atlantic  passenger  hop.  Sub- 
marine launched.  Estate  of  Otto  Kahn  sold. 
Italian  festival  in  New  York.  Lifeguards  in 
mass  drill.  Graduations  at  Children's  Aid 
Society.  Fur  show  at  Bronx  Zoo.  Galento- 
Louis  bout.  Rodeo. 

Alliance,  Tri-Nat'l 
Merger  Called  Near 

An  affiliation  of  John  E.  Otterson's 
Tri-National  Pictures  with  Alliance 
Films  to  form  a  new  importing  and 
distributing  organization  for  British 
and  French  product  is  being  discussed 
and  may  be  consummated  some  time 
next  week. 

Alliance,  headed  by  Budd  Rogers, 
has  provided  American  representation 
for  Associated  British  Pictures  (John 
Maxwell)  and  Mayflower  Films 
(Erich  Pommer).  Otterson's  com- 
pany has  been  importing  selected 
French  and  British  productions  for 
this  country. 

Rogers,  Otterson  and  Charles  B. 
Paine,  the  latter  treasurer  of  Tri- 
National,  will  head  the  new  organiza- 
tion if  the  negotiations  are  successful. 

Iowa-Neb.  M.P.T.O. 
Vote  on  Code  July  11 

Omaha,  June  29.— C.  E.  Williams, 
president  of  the  M.  P.  T.  O.  of  Ne- 
braska and  western  Iowa,  has  called 
a  meeting  of  all  independent  exhibi- 
tors in  this  district  for  July  11-12 
to  decide  their  stand  on  the  trade 
practice  code.  Meeting  will  be  held 
at  Hotel  Loyal. 

Features  of  the  code  will  be  ex- 
plained. Williams  emphasized  that 
it  would  be  an  open  meeting  rather 
than  just  M.  P.  T.  O.  membership. 

"Regardless  of  what  action  is  taken 
at  our  meeting,  the  code  remains  an 
individual  proposition,"  Williams  said. 
"It's  up  to  the  individual  theatre  op- 
erator to  sign  or  not  sign  as  he  sees 
fit." 


Harry  Wilson  Dies 

Monterey,  Cal.,  June  29. — Harry 
Leon  Wilson,  author,  died  at  his  home 
here  last  night  at  the  age  of  72.  Wil- 
son's stories  which  were  adapted  for 
the  screen  include  "Ruggles  of  Red 
Gap,"  Paramount,  and  "Oh,  Doctor," 
Universal. 


Fete  M'Namee,  16  Years  on  Air 


Graham  McNamee  was  honored  at  a  reception  yesterday  afternoon  in  the 
Rockefeller  Center  Club,  given  by  NBC  and  Universal,  in  observance  of 
his  16th  anniversary  on  the  air,  and  his  10th  year  as  a  newsreel  commen- 
tator. 

Approximately  100  radio,  film  and  sports  figures  attended  the  party,  as 
McNamee  received  the  congratulations  of  Lenox  R.  Lohr,  president  of  NBC, 
and  William  A.  Scully,  general  sales  manager  of  Universal. 

Among  those  present  were:  W.  J.  Heineman,  Universal  western  division 
sales  manager ;  Ford  Bond,  Bill  Stern,  Clair  Hague,  General  James  G. 
Harbord,  Lowell  Thomas,  James  Cunningham,  Sam  Shain,  Charles  D.  Prutz- 
man,  Lester  Cowman,  William  A.  Scully,  Antony  Petti,  Adolph  Schimel,  W. 
C.  Artz,  Winthrop  Parkhurst,  Hank  Linet,  Frank  Jones,  George  Engles,  Don 
Glasman,  David  Sarnoff,  Tom  Meade,  Joseph  O'Brien,  Ben  Grauer,  Milton 
Cross,  Clay  Morgan,  John  Royal,  Leslie  Joy,  Clem  McCarthy  Lou  Pollock, 
Tom  Mead,  Horton  Heath,  Frank  James  and  Bill  Steinke. 


I  nEKE 

HAS 

BEEN  A 
PICTURE 


LIKE 


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