The Film Daily (1939)

' 'u fuesday, April 4, 1939 13 in PCC UNDER ATTACK IN N. S. LEGISLATURE (Continued from Page 1) .vould give the Nova Scotia board if censors power to require film ex•y>-~\ypn to submit information con•C ing distribution of films, and the erms on which they have been disributed. The exchanges would also oe required to maintain offices and agents in this provincial capital. Patterson asserted that FPCC, in conjunction with "the Nathanson distributing agency," had given a Sydney, Cape Breton Island, theater Dwner the right "to select his pictures and to fix the time for his pictures to be shown." Thus, he said, if a film were shown in Sydney, the same film could not be shown in 'neighboring towns "at the same time or for months afterwards." "It seems to me," he declared, 'that the people of this province, !who patronize the different theaters jare compelled indirectly to contribute to Famous Players Canadian Corporation. They pay a legitimate price, plus a tax to Nathanson." Toronto — Nova Scotia legislative tirade against FPCC was received with astonishment by J. J. Fitzgibbons, vice-president and director of ^theater operations of Famous Playiers Canadian Corporation who described Patterson's accusations as "ridiculous." N. L. Nathanson, president, who was en route from To'jronto to New York, could not be reached for an interview. Nasser Brothers Acquire 3 Harvey Colusa Houses Colusa, Calif. — Nasser Brothers ""Wof San Francisco, have purchased three Colusa County houses formerly owned and operated by the Harflvey Amusement Co. Theodore NasBlser, one of the seven brothers of ensepjthe firm, has taken over the Colusa awCounty territory. lva $25,000 for Refugees Minneapolis — Some time during :the coming week, W. A. Steffes, Chief Barker of the Twin City Variety Club, will present 0. J. Arnold, local head of the German Refugee drive, with a check for $25,000, the result of a two month "drive" by Twin City theater men. y.3, lenr 1 1 Branch's Mother Buried Detroit — Interment rites for Mrs. Charles Holcomb, mother of Ray Branch, president of Allied Theaters of Michigan were held Saturday at Fulton. PCM eififf atiof .;s'r.,'' t.TK: RKO Sidelight Confirmation yesterday of the RKO reorg plan by Federal Judge William Bondy removes what is believed by legalists to be the oldest case under Section 77-B of the Bankruptcy Laws. The proceedings were launched in 1934 coincident with the advent of 77-B. Public Buys Blindly, Too — Pettijohn Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Replying to exhib. critics of "blind buying" at the Neely bill hearing yesterday, C. C. Pettijhon, MPPDA general counsel, said: "While we are on the subject of 'blind buying,' let me modestly suggest to any complaining theater that each and every one of their customers who buys a ticket at their box offices buys that ticket blindly. And they sometimes do not give to John Q. Public as much information about the picture as they themselves have had given to them by the producers." Movietone to Fly Clips Across Atlantic — Talley (Continued from Page 1) vice starts, it was learned yesterday. Truman H. Talley, Movietone chieftain, has been working on the plans for some time, anticipating the plane service, it was said. It is asserted that four to six days will be saved in getting important stories on the screen by use of the plane service, and it will be possible to put an important news event on the American screen within 36 hours after the actual filming in England or nearby France. Shipping schedules, methods of procedure and other matters pertaining to such a service are being set now by Talley, and he expects to inaugurate the service from the European end on his forthcoming trip to England and France the latter part of this month, providing the plane service has been started. Movietone also plans an extension of its policy of special local coverage of events important to certain sections of the country. Policy was inaugurated last year on the Coast with special events, with stories made up and scored by sectionally well known radio men or newspaper men and released in the territory the same day. This special service will be sectionally under the supervision of sectional supervisors; Emile Montemurro in Chicago. Al Waldron in Miami, Webber Hall in Memphis and Leroy Orr in Denver. Movietone is making plans for the reopening of its Spanish office and all Movietone forces throughout Europe generally have been strengthened recently to be prepared for any eventuality, it was stated. Non-Availability of Prints Attacked by New York Allied Albany — Allegation of spasmodic non-availability of prints at schedule time for indies on many occasions highlighted the Eastern New York Allied monthly meeting at the Ten Eyck Hotel yesterday afternoon. Fifteen exhibs. representing 30 theaters were present. While no comments were available on legislation, it is believed conferees ratified last month's action and that a report on the bills' respective standings was available. Upstate opposition among Allied groups to crews of two men in a booth bill has not waned, it was said. Delegation will attend state convention in New York next month. Mitch Conery presided, while Thornton Kelly represented State Allied. Technicolor's 1938 Profit At $1,334,243; Up $703,525 (Continued from Page 1) for 1937 was $630,718.62, representing a gain of $703,525. The annual report points out that shipments of Technicolor prints for 1938 amounted to 66,720,237 feet, contrasted with 40,561,318 in 193J. Further increases are expected this year, inasmuch as shipments during the first two months are approximately 1,500,000 feet more than the corresponding period last year. During the month of December, 1938, Technicolor's enlarged Hollywood plant set a new all-time high record by manufacturing and delivering 9,300,000 feet of prints. 20th-Fox Will Make Third of Shorts in Technicolor Approximately one-third of the Movietone News short lineup for next season will be in Technicolor it was disclosed yesterday when it became known that in addition to the four "Fashion Forecasts" and 10 Terrytoons that will be in color, it is also planned to screen four other shorts in Technicolor. It is possible that more than 10 Terrytoons may be in Technicolor this season, it was said. Reason for increased use of Technicolor by the organization is said to be due to excellent audience reaction that has been received from the shorts they have already done in color. Griffith Subsidiary Adds Three El Reno Theaters Oklahoma City — Purchase of three theaters in El Reno, by Consolidated Theaters. Inc. has been announced by officials of the parent Griffith Amusement Co. here. Purchase of the Criterion (800 seats), Empress (400 seats) and Royal (400 seats) from F. E. Loomis and Orville Enloe is to become effective April 15. Deal involved all real estate connected with the Criterion and leases and equipment only on the other two theaters. A new city manager will be appointed at the time Griffiths take over, it has been announced. Only remaining house in El Reno is the' El Caro owned by E. R. 'Red' Slocum, former Griffith district manager. Extend Mo. Sales Levy Jefferson City, Mo. — The House re-enacted the existing 2 per cent sales tax for another two years to expire on December 31, 1941. WILLIAMS TAKES OVER SEVEN MORE THEATERS Oklahoma City — Addition of seven new theaters to the K. Lee Williams Theaters, Inc. circuit started early in January, has been announced by K. Lee Williams, president. This brings to 10 the number of houses in the chain all acquired in three months. Latest purchases include the Best theater at Broken Bow, Oklahoma, from Charles Buffum who had operated the house for a number of years. The Tower and Arrow theaters at Broken Bow were also purchased from S. B. Callahan. The Williams organization has closed the Arrow for a complete remodeling. Gerry L. Doig has been named temporary manager of the three Williams theaters at Broken Bow. Also purchased was the New theater at Nashville, Ark., from H. H. Baker of Emerson, Ark. Baker had been operating the house under a lease agreement with R. V. McGinnis. Williams theaters secured a closed town by also purchasing the Liberty and Gem theaters at Nashville, Ark., from R. B. Hardy. The Gem will be closed for complete remodeling. Temporary manager for Nashville is O. P. Peachey. Seventh theater purchased by Williams was the Dixie at Ashdown, Ark., from B. K. Walker. This will be taken over May 3 with Bill Frazier, manager of the Dixie for several years, remaining. The New Queen and Gem Theaters were opened at DeQueen, Ark., by Williams Feb. 23 after complete remodeling and the new Pine theater in Dierks, now under construction and set for opening April 15. Williams heads the circuit company which it is understood will continue acquiring properties, particularly in closed situations, as long as good buys are available in Eastern Oklahoma and Western Arkansas. For years Williams has operated K. Lee Williams Road Show Attractions with offices in Oklahoma City and Dallas as well as the K. Lee Williams Film Exchange here in Oklahoma City. D. S. Walker Dies Abroad Montreal — Prominent in the theatrical field in Montreal for half a century, David Scott Walker, 79, who married Mrs. E. Tipling Sisman, Detroit widow, at Cannes, France, March 21, died there Saturday. For many years Mr. Walker was secretary-treasurer of the J. P. Sparrow Amusement Co. Dinner Sets Next? Chicago — Looks as though exhibs. here may end up giving full dinner sets with each femme admish. Latest checkup shows the Embassy offering three plates, the Crawford, three cups and as many saucers and the Essaness Circuit's Davis presenting two dinner plates.