Boxoffice (Apr-Jun 1939)

German Travelogs Not Alone In Suppression on Coast Hollywood — As a repercussion of the exclusive story appearing in the April 29 issue of Boxoffice, outlining the difficulties confronting Mary Warner, of Altadena, Cal., in her attempts to distribute a series of one-reel German travelogs in this country, another instance has come to light where a film constructed along similarly provocative lines has been kept off the motion picture screens of this area. This revelation came concurrently with the filing of objections by Max Shapiro to that portion of the article pertaining to Miss Warner’s unsuccessful efforts to gain distribution locally through Selected Pictures, independent exchange which Shapiro operates. The suppressed film was “The Wandering Jew,” a feature-length talking picture, produced in England some five years ago with Conrad Veidt in the title role. Distribution for this territory was acquired last fall by Selected Pictures, operated by Shapiro, and was set for a booking in Tally’s Criterion Theatre, downtown house, then operating on a lease to Robert Lazarene, showman from northern California. Acting on the belief that the picture placed an unfavorable light on both Judaism and Catholicism and would do considerable damage, for that reason, if it was shown, Ralph Cohn, an associate producer at Columbia studios who is prominently identified with the Hollywood Anti-Nazi League and other progressive groups within the industry, stepped in and persuaded Shapiro and Lazarene to cancel the deal. Cohn declares he acted purely as a private individual and did not represent the HANL or any other group when he arranged with Selected Pictures and Operator Lazarene to kill the booking; and explained further that Shapiro acceded readily to the suggestion when, at Cohn’s instance, he screened the picture and viewed it himself for the first time. That the HANL played no official part in the affair was confirmed by a League official. This HANL attache said the film “might be considered an indictment of Jewry,” but admitted the League had taken no action in regard to cancellation of the booking. The picture at present is collecting dust on the shelves of the Selected exchange, where Shapiro declares it will remain. At the same time, Shapiro denies that, as reported in Boxoffice, it was pressure from the HANL that caused him to reject Miss Warner’s proposition for distribution of the German travelogs. He declares that, upon viewing the shorts at a special screening and observing the “made in Germany” trademark, he simply informed Miss Warner that he would not undertake to handle them for that reason; although, like Miss Warner, he was of the opinion that in the large sense they are not indictable as propaganda. Shapiro declares he wants it made clear that he turned down the films before the HANL intervened, and that the group’s claims that pressure was brought to bear on him are incorrect. Enlist Police for Run of "Spy" Pasadena, Cal. — Because of a barrage of telephone calls threatening the management should “Confessions of a Nazi Spy/' scheduled to open its run May 24, hit the screen, the United Artists Theatre, a Fox West Coast house, has enlisted police aid and is taking every precaution to insure safety and order when the Warner film begins its engagement. Manager Stan Meyer, against whom most of the calls have been directed, has called in city detectives in an attempt to trace them down. After discussing the matter with B. V. Sturdivant, FWC district manager, Meyer has decided to mask the house screen with a substitute and is installing sprays to combat stench bombs in the event such tactics are resorted to by the hecklers. Most of the threats have been of the "you'll be sorry" type, Meyer declared, and he considers none of them as being particularly serious. Bund Injecting Religious Issue Into "Spy" Row (Continued from page 9) ed to combat the Jewish Hollywood combine can stop this basest of fighting methods! You readers who know us! Help us marshall the resources of public indignation at a raw deal! Go see this film, and see a classic example of how ‘public opinion,’ made to order by those who have reason to fear our arguments, is being whipped up against us! Then help us reach the confused, unenlightened stranger! Help by telling the nation the truth about it! Help fight, so that these mind-poisoners may be made powerless before Americanism is destroyed!” Met grimly and without disturbance by the Warners is a libel suit for $5,000,000 filed in federal court by Fritz J. Kuhn, for himself and as president of the Bund. The action is aimed at Warner and the following men who were identified with production of the film; John Wexley, Milton Krims and Leon G. Turrou. The complaint charges the film alleges to be a true representation of two trials, one in the Canal Zone and the other in New York; that it charges the Nazis with espionage and claims spies connected with the Bund are trying to undermine American institutions and steal naval and military secrets. It further alleges the film charges these individuals, naturalized American citizens of German birth, are abusing the rights of citizenship, betraying trusts, professing a loyalty to Germany, endeavoring to eliminate the Bill of Rights and destroy America. All of this is false, says Kuhn, who asserts the Bunds are “a patriotic, loyal A New Business Hypo Plan Is Developed By B. O. TELLER New York — A business-stimulating plan that ties merchants together with the exhibitor in their community has been devised by Nationwide Coupon Distributing Corp., which is headed by Morton Van Praag. The plan is known as “Movie Cash” which is provided in the form of coupons, ranging from one-fourth to five cents in value and which are cashable as part or full admission at the theatres using the plan. According to Van Praag, “Movie Cash” is designed to bring patrons to the theatre without the offering of cash or other prizes. The coupons do not need to be saved up for a full admission price, but may be applied as part cash. Thus they tend to insure a spread of patronage that will not be concentrated on peak nights to the detriment of other nights in the week. Another advantage of the plan is its accredited “no-cost” to the exhibitor. The Nationwide Co. furnishes all display accessories both to exhibitor and merchants and undertakes to make the merchant tieups. The coupons are bought and paid for by the merchant and the exhibitor who “cashes them in” receives face value for them from Nationwide. In fact, the plan operates uniquely in that the exhibitor writes his own check each week, drawn on the Nationwide company’s bank, to reimburse himself for the coupons received at his boxoffice. Oppose Efforts to Tilt Arbitration Boards (Continued from page 10) tures, spending more money in lining up directors, producers and story properties in an effort to produce outstanding pictures which exhibitors would not want to cancel. Both Universal and Columbia have increased budget expenditures for next season to peak levels in the hope they will benefit in the end, not only insofar as trade practices are concerned but in improving their standings with exhibitors There are some exhibitors who feel UA’s withdrawal from the code does not entirely absolve the company from adhering to principles designed to be made industrywide. In this connection, it is stated, exhibitors will insist on certain steps before signing contracts, specifically that UA adhere to the new clearance and zoning schedules, arbitrate differences on contracts, and, where pictures are bought in groups of more than 10 regardless of how many producers are involved in the making, that exhibitors be given the right to eliminate, without payment, at least one film. American organization, upholding the Constitution and the laws of the United States.” Aside from damages, he seeks an injunction against showing of the film. 16 BOXOFFICE :; May 20, 1939