The Film Daily (1939)

DAILY Thursday, April 6, 1939 DEBATE N. S. RIGHT TOUGENSEEXGHANGES (Continued from Page 1) to pay the tribute demanded," he charged. Fogo suggested an amendment relieving the theater from contracting for more films than it requires. Ed Lynn, Sydney independent, complained that by the time a competitor took 250 of the 400 films made each year, his choice was limited. "This constitutes a direct effort to drive me out of business and set up a Famous Players monopoly in the Sydney area," he said. Findings of the White Commission in 1931 that "a combine exists in the motion picture industry in Canada within the meaning of the Combines Investigation Act" were quoted by J. T. Macquarrie, Halifax independent. Covert contended Famous Players Canadian Corp. was not a film distributor but a body of exhibitors and as such has no power to withhold films from exhibitors. Covert declared "the exchanges are independent and not interlocked. Every exchange is working for its own balance sheet." Para. Execs, to Attend "Union Pacific" Premiere Paramount's home office contingent to the studio product conferences will attend the premiere of "Union Pacific" in Omaha late this month before returning to New York. Neil Agnew, sales manager, and Robert M. Gillham, advertising and publicity director, leave today, and they will be followed tomorrow by President Barney Balaban, Stanton Griffis, Edwin Weisl, Russel Holman and Leon Netter, meeting Agnew and Gillham in Chicago. Ace Killed Stunting Madrid (By Cable) — Stunting for Nazi newsreel photographers, Flight Commander Joaquin Garcia Morato, leading ace of Franco's army, was killed at Grinon. He had survived 40 aerial combats in which he was victor. Best wishes from THE FILM DAILY to the following on their birthday: APRIL 6 Walter Huston Dudley Nichols J. C. Nugent Arthur Cozine T T T • • • BEHIND-THE-SCENES story of that Warners' "Dodge City" smasheroo ballyhoo in which we will attempt to convey some of the intimate and personal slants that made the trip memorable and incidenally make plain why this campaign from present returns bids fair to break the record for the amount of news stories, special articles and photographs splashed in newspapers and magazines throughout the U. S. A. on one publicity stunt T T T • • • THEY BOUGHT good-will this Warner outfit with the cleverest combo of stars and players' publicity staffs of home office and studio, and the newspaper writers, wire service representatives and trade press men all working together as we have never witnessed before T T T • • • IT WAS Everybody's Party whether you were a Warner player, publicity man, newspaper or trade press gent you found yourself imbued with the idea that you were personally responsible for making it a big success everybody worked when tnere was work to be done everybody played when playtime came. . . . and laughed, and sang, and had one helluva good time never saw anything like it, anywhere, anytime T T T • • • THE SECRET? simple Charlie Einf eld's gang from the studio and home office had done A JOB everything planned to the last detail and it went so smooth because C. E.'s boys were on their toes every minute of the day and night throughout the entire trip your kolyumist didn't hear a squawk from anybody in the party T ▼ T • • • TALKING to M. L. Lyles assistant to the president of the Santa Fe railroad who was frankly amazed at the efficiency with which everything moved a gent whose middle name must be Efficiency in his responsible job .... he said: 'I've just sent a wire to Jack Warner, telling him of the magnificent work done by this man Einfeld. There is a born leader if there ever was one. He knows how to co-ordinate, to work fast, and lo get results without appearing to half try." we were so struck with that testimonial, that we asked Lyle to repeat it slowly, as we wrote it down ▼ T T • • • AND SO looking back on it all it seems to us that here is the possible answer to the industry's search for some permanent method and procedure to keep the public constantly sold on the motion picture organize these Dodge City campaigns as an industry institution plan them to break in certain strategic spots throughout the nation at stated times ballyhooing one major producer's picture here another major producer's picture there with ALL the major producers kicking in with talent and publicity GOOD-WILL stuff without any selfish slants to it building for the entire industry and the good of all T T ▼ • • • IF YOU could have been there when that sweet old lady in Dodge City told us with tears in her eyes that she never had realized that "these picture people were just human folks you could love as well as admire" then you would understand what the Dodge City Ballyhoo means « « « » » » MONO.'S SALES PARLEY OPENS IN GHI. MAY 4 (Continued from Page 1) meetings earlier had been contemplated. In addition to representati^r, of Monogram's 37 offices in the , S. and Canada, execs of its foreign distribution outlets in London, Paris, | Australia and several South American countries will be on hand. George W. Weeks, general sales manager, will present the sales policy, and the 200 salesmen and executives will hear the outline of the , company's plans for 32 features and 24 westerns, the largest schedule ] ever undertaken by the company. Johnston and Scott R. Dunlap i vice-president in charge of production, have been developing the lineup for the past year, with the former operating from his local head { quarters during the greater part oil the time. Arrangements are now being completed whereby the Monogram spe i cial train will leave from New Yorl j for Chicago taking on board repre | sentatives from the Eastern branches \ at stated points. The southern anc | western personnel will likewise con j verge on Chicago in special trains T Overseas contingents will includi j William Gell, managing director o: r Pathe Pictures Ltd. of London; Ar , thur Levey, Monogram's Englisl > representative; Norman Bede Rydge I chairman of the board of Greate: I Union Theaters and of British Em pire Films, distributors of Mono gram product in Australia, Net . Zealand and Tasmania; and Ernes Wettstein, Paris representative. Expect D of J to Reveal Attitude on Strike Todai (.Continued from Page 1) will take in the projectionists' strike if any official action is to materia] ize, are expected here today. Alon. the strike front yesterday there wa no unusual activity. Speculation as to some form o compromise settlement was rife yes terday. The manifest lack of ac tivity by the unions gave rise to th belief that negotiations of some ns ture were in progress, but no offick confirmation was forthcoming. The Mediation Board expects t •, hold two sessions today with th parties concerned in the strike, bi no meetings were held yesterday Jimmy Savage Recovering Chicago — "Jimmy" Savage, B & ': publicity man, is at the Micha Reese Hospital, recovering from a appendicitis operation. Farley Okays Beards Omaha — Official sanction for Omaha postoffice employes to grow beards in observance of the world premiere of "Union Pacific" here April 28 has been received from Postmaster Ceneral James A. Farley.