Boxoffice (Jan-Mar 1940)

FTC Cites Northwest Film Ad Service Washington — Extending its activities into the advertising film field, the federal trade commission has issued a formal complaint charging the Northwest Film Ad Service, Inc., Portland, Ore., and Frank D. Atkins, president of the corporation, with unfair methods of competition and unfair and deceptive acts and practices. Announcing its action, the commission explained that “for the purpose of inducing the purchase of their advertising films and trailers,” the complaint charges, “the respondents have made false and misleading statements and representations, among which are that they are producers as well as distributors of advertising films and trailers; that their business is nation-wide in its scope and that they maintain offices in numerous cities throughout the United States; that they have contacted manufacturers or distributors of various products sold by prospective purchasers of the films and that these manufacturers and distributors have agreed to cooperate in the cost of the film advertising of their respective products and pay a portion of the costs; that the respondents have negotiated contracts with local theatres to show their films and trailers, and that the advertising films supplied by them will be of the kind and quality designated by the purchaser. “The respondents also are alleged to have represented that certain of their competitors are out of business.” To support these charges, the commission alleges that the company’s business is not nation-wide in scope but confined largely to Oregon, Washington and California; that it has no offices other than the office in Portland, Ore., and that other representations made by it are false and misleading, Local B-22 Keeps Hood as Manager Till Elections Seattle — George T. Hood has been retained in the capacity of business representative and secretary-treasurer of Theatre Employes union Local B-22, filling the vacancy left by the resignation of Lawence Wicklund. Wicklund, who has been on leave of absence for six months, is assistant manager of the Seattle Civic Auditorium. Action on Hood was taken by the executive board. He will fill the vacancy until August, when an election will be held by the union. Hood has been acting in the post since Wicklund took leave. "Abe” at Four Star Los Angeles — “Abe Lincoln in Illinois” opened its roadshow engagement at the Four Star Theatre with a gala premiere at $5.50 top. It supplanted United Artists’ “Of Mice and Men,” which played five weeks on a continuous-run policy. Into Seattle — B. W. Ardell, who heads the new Seattle branch in expansion of activities by Altec Service Corp. He reports to H. W. Dodge, district manager, at Los Angeles. Ardell has been connected with Altec since the company’s formation, and had been associated with the film industry for 10 years previously. Paralysis Fund Drive Nets Greater Sum Los Angeles — While official figures are, are yet, lacking, preliminary estimates indicate that Fox West Coast and independent operators have collected some $10,000 more in the 1940 infantile paralysis campaign than in the 1939 drive, with the total for this year standing at around $52,000, compared to the official $42,750 collected last year. Collections in the Warner and RKO houses have been forwarded directly to their respective home offices, as in the past, and are not included in the total tabulations here. FWC’s houses in Southern California have turned in about $40,000 to date, Charles A. Buckley, head of the circuit’s legal department, who is handling the campaign for the chain, reported. Added contributions are coming in daily for tabulation. Collections from FWC’s Montana, northern California and northwest holdings are being handled on a separate basis and no figures on receipts from those areas are available yet. Independents have forwarded an approximate $12,000 to Robert Poole, of the Independent Theatre Owners of So. Calif, and Ariz., which is acting as clearinghouse for unaffiliated showmen. This is double the $6,000 garnered in 1939, with Poole opining the grand total may jump another $1,000 to $2,000 before all collections are in and recorded. An official count by both the ITO and FWC will be made in about 10 days. Oppose Distributor Accessories Curb Los Angeles — Opposition to the action of producers and distributors to force purchase of advertising matter from a single source is indicated in a resolution adopted by the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners at a meeting here. The resolution condemns attempts to curb the unrestricted use of producer-distributor advertising copyrights. The annual convention of the new organization, a conference of several coastal units will be held May 8 to 10, the meeting decided. Guaranteed runs of films were approved “provided the showman does not allow his house to become obsolete and if the run is not obtained through fraud.” Chief among the problems discussed at the meeting of the board of trustees of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners were commercialized “previews” and first-run moveovers, and steps in the campaign of elimination thoroughly threshed out. The PCCITO trustees also laid plans for the organization’s first annual convention, to be held this spring. Attending the two-day parley were: Hugh Bruen and Jack Y. Berman, ITO of So. Calif, and Ariz.; L. O. Lukan and William Ripley, ITO of Washington, Idaho and Alaska; Rotus Harvey and Ben Levin, ITO of No. Calif.; and Bob White and Wes Johnson, ITO of Oregon. Bob Poole, executive director of the PCCITO, presided. Wilbur Again President M. P. Research Council San Francisco — Dr. Ray Lyman Wilbur, president of Stanford University, was reelected president of the Motion Picture Research Council at its meeting here. Others re-elected are Mrs. Calvin Coolidge and Stephen P. Cabot, honorary vicepresidents; Mrs. William Cavalier, executive vice-president, and Allen W. Widenham, treasurer. In the principal address, Wilbur denounced “propaganda” against the Neely bill and reiterated his organization’s support of the measure. Heads Altec Branch Seattle — H. W. Dodge, western district manager for Altec Service Corp., has announced B. W. Ardell as manager of the new branch established here. Ardell will head service to exhibitors in the northwest and Rocky Mountain territory. Manages Vaughn Studio Vaughn, N. M. — Frank Cross, formerly manager of the Mesa at Roy, N. M„ now is managing the Studio here, which opened in December. Score by Hollander Hollywood — Frederick Hollander is scoring Columbia’s “Too Many Husbands.” BOXOFFICE February 10, 1940 37