The Film Daily (1938)

1 3 i i n i j The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty Years Old * .^'74, NO. 74 NEW YORK, MONDAY, OCTOBER 3, 1938 Illinois Allied Bidding for D of J Action in Trust Suit GNANNJUNCES 11 TITLESTOR NEW SEASON LINEUP Re-enactment of Admissions Levy Looming in Ontario Pe ace I onic . . . for U. S. films = By CHESTER B. BAHN — THE assurance of European peace result' ing from the historic Munich conference cannot but have a marked tonic effect upon the American film industry. For reasons that are all too apparent, the threat of hostilities in Central Europe, with the added knowledge that the conflict, once started, inevitably must spread, constituted a major headache for Hollywood, New York and points in between. The headache, incidentally, has persisted for not weeks, but months. The potentialities of the European scene since last Winter necessarily have been taken into consideration by executives of all companies, in studios, in home offices and in headquarters of foreign distributing subsidiaries. THERE remain, of course, other problems ' abroad for the industry — the Italian monopolistic decree, Japanese restrictions, etc. — but these, comparatively, are minor. The prospect of a loss of upwards of 30 per cent of world revenues was something else again, and that is exactly what a general European conflict might have cost U. S. film companies. Unless the Fates elect to toss a monkeywrench into the peace machinery evolved in the Bavarian city, there is no reason why this industry should not immediately forget its recent war jitters and settle down to its essential job. Domestically, there is every encouragement for it to do so. The impetus derived from the "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment" campaign, now in progress, and from the better quality of product turned out of late by Hollywood is credited with improving the American and Canadian box office "take" 30 per cent. THAT is the extremely good word from ' Howard Dietz, chairman of the campaign's executive publicity committee. This represents a percentage figure even more generous than those mentioned by George J. Schaefer when the plans for the {Continued on Page 2) Provincial Exhibs. Worried by Proposal to Raise Revenue for Cities Toronto — Considerable anxiety is felt in film circles in Toronto and throughout the province because of Premier Mitchell Hepburn's statement that Ontario may permit each municipality to place a tax on theater and amusement admissions in order to bolster civic revenues. Toronto City Council already has fig {Continued on Paae 7) MPTOA BIDS 8 ALLIED HEADS TO CONVENTION Invitations to attend the MPTOA convention in Oklahoma City will be mailed this week to national Allied leaders and to Harry Brandt, president of the ITOA, it was stated over {Continued on Page 7) Contest Bureau for Drive Participants Established A contest bureau to establish rules and receive exhibitors' campaigns in the $2,100 contest which is being sponsored for showmen participating in the industry business drive has been appointed by Howard {Continued on Page 7) THE WEEK IN REVIEW War Clouds Pass — By GEORGE H. MORRIS— DOMESTIC Dispelling of Europe's war clouds, which had hung like an ominous pall over home offices until the Munich settlement, brought assurance to the U. S. film industry that its huge economic stake in the foreign field and at home would remain intact, and, further, that adjustments of international disputes, which have caused upheavals, with their attending handicaps, in various parts of the world, hold out promise of great {Continued on Page 5) BUERMELE REPLACES MOON AT DEL GO-OP Detroit — Carl Buermele is the new general manager of Cooperative Theaters of Michigan, following a reported shakeup within the organization. Retirement of Ray Moon, former general manager, was announced by Fred Delodder, president, {Continued on Page 8) ///. Allied Files Squawk With D of J, Pledges Gov't Co-op in New York Suit Allied Eastern Regional Plans Pix Buying Survey A product buying survey of all theaters represented and an analysis of the new season's programs will be two highlights on the business agenda at the annual convention of Eastern Allied units, scheduled for Oct. 19-21 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Atlantic City. Other sub {Continued on Page 8) By PRESCOTT DENNETT Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Bidding for Department of Justice action in the Chicago anti-trust suit filed recently by 89 indie plaintiffs against B & K and 14 other defendants, Attorney Joseph Rosenberg, counsel for Allied Theaters of Illinois, presented a formal complaint to Assistant U. S. Attorney General Thurman Arnold and Special Assistant U. S. Attor{Continued on Page 4) Program of 44 Features and 26 Westerns Planned; 44 Shorts Chicago — Forty-four features, 24 westerns and 44 short subjects, with the possible addition of two specials, will comprise the 1938-39 program of Grand National Pictures, Inc., it was announced here at a week-end sales meeting of branch managers from the midwest and western exchanges. The westerns are to be divided into four groups of six each. Eighteen of the Educational shorts will be two-reel star comedies and the balance one-reel subjects. Fine Arts Pictures will deliver {Continued on Page 5) SIX DISTRICT MGRS. NAMED BY GR. NAT'L Chicago — Appointment of six district sales managers, a circuit sales manager and a N. Y. branch head for Grand National Pictures was announced here yesterday by Edward L. Alperson, general sales manager, who conducted a two-day sales meeting of midwestern and western representatives. A similar meeting will be held next Saturday and Sunday in New York. The delegation here was addressed, {Continued on Page 6) Majors' Foreign Managers To Hold Meeting Tomorrow A meeting of major company foreign managers has been scheduled for tomorrow at the Hays office to discuss European matters, and the Italian situation in particular, it was {Continued on Page 8) Republic Sales $1,000,000 Ahead of Last Year — Grainger West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — • Republic sales exceed by $1,000,000 sales for the {Continued on Page 5)