Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1937)

Music Tax Restriction Measure to Court Test Lincoln, Neb. — Pushing the anti-Ascap bill to a third reading last week, the Nebraska legislature has taken the attitude that the legislation is too important to be killed and should be tested before the supreme court. It will probably pass easily. Sole disconcerter is T. J. TePoel, counsel on the constitutional committee, who believes the bill takes in too much jurisdiction and will be found taboo by the supreme court. In offering arguments for the bill, Senator Frank Brady read letters from members of the group testifying in favor of the bill who were being intimidated and threatened, he said. Numerous suits have sprung up since the testimony of Joe Malek, Omaha dance operator. Intimidation Charged When wires and letters from KOIL, KFAB, and KFOR, Nebraska radio stations, and Charley Williams, president of MPTO, were read opposing the bill. Senator E. M. Von Seggern, of West Point, jumped up to say: “That’s the very reason we should pass this bill. The society has intimidated every radio station, theatre and dance hall owner in Nebraska. This Ascap is a racket that has been carried on in this state, and every other state, for too long a time.” Conviction of a music copyright law violation is subject to a fine of $250 on the first brush with federal court. NATIONAL SCREEN TO CELEBRATE OPENING Kansas City — A buffet luncheon was scheduled for Friday, May 7, to mark the official opening of the new National Screen Service and Accessories two-story building at 1706 Wyandotte St. Home office executives scheduled to be here are Herman Robbins, president; Sam Dembow, vicepresident; George Dembow, sales manager; J. R. McPherson, division manager; and Mike Kaufman, supervisor of branches. Charles E. Gregory, branch manager, announces the number of employes has been increased to 23 due to the augmented duties of shipping trailers and accessories from Kansas City. WARNER LAUNCHES AD SALES SETUP IN K. C. Kansas City — Warner Bros, introduced its own ad sales department here May 3 with Tommy Brennan as manager. Brennan has been in Hutchinson, Kas., managing the Strand for Fox Midwest. Previously he was for a while in the Fox Midwest offices here, as assistant to L. E. Pope, circuit purchasing agent, and before that he managed the poster department Fox Midwest formerly maintained on Filmrow. Leonard Hahn continues as poster clerk. K. C. K. Clamor for First Runs Holds Kansas City — Kansas City, Kas., exhibitors, city officials, civic and social organizations, the Kansan, etc. — continue their fight to force distributors to zone it as an independent city and give it first-run pictures simultaneously with Kansas City, Mo., first runs. Last week the Kansan continued to hammer away in the general direction of exhibitors, making capital of trade press recognition of its fight in front page stories with 2-column headlmes. Referring to Boxoffice’s story on the city’s move for first runs, the Kansan quoted several paragraphs from the magazine’s treatment of the subject. Kansas Censors Still Red-Faced Kansas City — They continue to poke at the Kansas board of review for its censoring of Senator Burton K. Wheeler’s remarks in the last issue of the March of Time, though the board reinserted the deleted section about a week after the elimination. Sen. Wheeler Speaks in Kansas At Topeka, Kas., last Friday no less a personage than Senator Wheeler himself spoke to some 2,000 Topekans on the supreme court and the censor board. He said he came out to Kansas to see if the reports were true, that the state didn’t have free speech, and so far as he could learn it did. He explained that while the censors thought his talk against Roosevelt’s proposal was too partisan, he made some talks in the state last year in support of Roosevelt’s candidacy that were very partisan. He couldn’t see the difference, himself. Plot Mirage Twitted Twitting Senator Wheeler for implying in his speech that there was a “plot” in connection with the March of Time elimination, the Kansas City Journal-Post editoralized Monday <May 3) on Wheeler’s alleged statement that “You can’t tell me that little lady up there (Miss Mae Clausen, chairman of the censorship board) did that of her own free will. She did it because there was something in it that didn’t set right with Jim Farley.” “Whatever his other sins may be, Jim Farley is no fool,” the Journal-Post suggested. AWARDS ARE MADE AT METRO MEETING Hollywood — Among recipients of awards at the Metro annual sales convention were District Manager Samuel A. Shirley of Des Moines, who won the Billings Competition, consisting of two weeks pay. Billings was not present to receive his award due to the fact that an emergency operation kept him at home. Truly B. Wildman of Kansas City was one of thirteen salesmen who received an award for having a one hundred per cent record in sales for the past year. Among those making short talks at the Tuesday session was Harris P. Wolfberg, district manager from Omaha. Special awards for general meritorious service, comprising a lion’s head pin with a bar and one star, went to several delegates. LEO PLAYS AT HOLLYWOOD C'ONA KNTION Newton, Kansas, was much disappointed when Jack Kelly, Pittsburgh salesman, turned out not to be Clark Gable. Newton sub-debs in particular, after confusing Kelly with Gable, turned on their heels and departed in disgust when his true identity was disclosed. Louis Coen, salesman from Minneapolis, was reputed the finest bridge player on the train. Just to prove that there are all kinds of people. Morrie Abrams of Minneapolis has been a film exploiteer for seventeen years. Harris Wolfberg is going to have plenty of explaining to do when he gets back to his district post in Kansas City. He was talking to a girl on the train and, just as a cameraman started to snap a picture of him, the girl threw her arms about him and kissed him. Harris chased the photographer without avail. Sandy Gottlieb, married in March, is spending a lonesome honeymoon. His bride did not accompany him, but waits at home for the Minneapolis booker — he hopes. CASH GIFT HEARING IN MO. HIGH COURT Kansas City — Fred Bellemere, Kansas City attorney, S. P. Halperin, general counsel for Affiliated Distributors, and R. W. McEwan were in Jefferson City Wednesday, where Bellemere and Halpern represented McEwan before the supreme court. With attorneys for the state, they orally argued the case of Missousi vs. R. W. McEwan, a test case to determine the legality of Bank Night under the Missouri lottery laws. Decision in a Week or Two The case went up to the supreme court on appeal by the county prosecutor here, after Judge Marion D. Waltner of the circuit court had written an opinion unholding the legality, under Missouri statutes, of the promotion. It is understood that a number of exhibitors are waiting the decision of the supreme court, which should be handed down in the next week or two, to begin or resume use of Bank Night. 82 BOXOFFICE ;; May 8, 1937.