Boxoffice (Jul-Sep 1939)

Newspaper Screen Critics Hold Executive Meet Chicago — A meeting of the executive group of the Newspaper Screen Critics Ass’n of America was held here during the press premiere of RKO’s “Nurse Edith Cavell.” Completion of the organization’s constitution was practically set. Its principal points include: To increase the importance of the screen writers and drama critics’ positions. To increase the amount of lineage given to pictures. To alienate the theatrical page from the advertising department on newspapers. To work in closer harmony and cooperation with the studios. To exclude “hack writers.” It was made clear again by those in attendance that the organization is not a guild. Thus far, there has been better than 90 per cent acceptance of membership by those solicited by the association. The executive body included Merle Potter, Minneapolis Tribune; Keith Wilson, Omaha World Herald; Harry Martin, Memphis CommercialAvveal. and Buck Herzog, Milwaukee Sentmel. Two Quaker City Unions Join "Citizen" Protest Philadelphia — Two local unions joined the parade of protesters against the Paramount picture “Our Leading Citizen.” The United Office and Professional Workers Union and its affiliate, the Insurance Guild, CIO, passed resolutions instructing members to boycott the picture as anti-union. They wrote to the StanleyWarner circuit, urging it not to run the film. "Citizen" Escapes Sniping In a Strong Labor Town Troy, N. Y, — “Our Leading Citizen,” protested in several key cities on grounds of alleged unfairness to organized labor, escaped sniping in this strong workingman town during an engagement at Warner’s Lincoln. Troy was the only town in the Albany exchange area to react publicly against “Confessions of a Nazi Spy” when a delegation of Trojans requested Warner’s Troy to withdraw the picture because it was “Communistic propaganda.” The request was denied. Warner Houses in Western Zone Resume Schedules Albany — Warner theatres in the western zone are back on regular schedule. Winter Garden, Jamestown, and State, Glean, reopened after summer shuttering. Majestic and Strand, Hornell, returned to full time operation. No Warner houses were darkened in the Albany-'Ti’oy-Utica district, supervised by Charles A, Smakwitz. One Still Dark Albany — The Hippodrome, Little Falls, is the one Schine house which shuttered this summer and has not yet reopened. Canadian Imporls Are Under Reslriciions Ottawa — With the appointment of the Foreign Exchange Control Board by Hon. J. L. Ralston, minister of finance in the Canadian government, important rulings have been made in the regulation of import trade transactions and the flow of money between Canada and the United States and other countries for the period of the war. The measures affect the film trade. A license system has been invoked for control of cash payments to individuals or firms in foreign countries and for the export and import of goods and securities, while it affects travelers coming into Canada who bring more than $100 in cash with them, a permit being required for a larger amount. Provision is made for the establishment of authorized agents for the issue of licen,ses or permits, these being chartered banks or postmasters. While there will be no prohibition of imports, according to the Order-in-Council, the licensing provisions insure that foreign exchange requirements are based on normal commercial transactions, it is pointed out, the foreign exchange control being essential to Canada’s war activities. Reading between the lines, probably what is meant is that large sums cannot be sent out of the country for the obvious purpose of safekeeping. Licenses for export of currency, securities and foreign exchange must be obtained from authorized agents while licenses must be obtained for the import or export of goods and these include films, advertising accessories and theatre equipment or supplies. Articles to be mailed outside of Canada are to be submitted for examination at a postoffice, otherwise they are subject to seizure. For ordinary transactions, a person or firm may purchase foreign exchange not exceeding $100 in any month through an authorized agent without using the permit required for larger amounts. Imports of goods not exceeding $100 in one month are permitted without license. Non-residents may bring their automobiles into the Dominion without special license requirements but a permit is necessary if they take goods or money in excess of $100 out of the dominion. Shareholders of companies whose head offices are in another country who own stock in excess of $1,000 are required to file a declaration with the board. This also applies to securities not exclusively payable in Canadian dollars. Permits are to be issued for salaries, commissions and royalties received from a foreign country. Exchangelady in Albany Albany — Eleanor Paradies, owner of the Hollywood exchange, Buffalo, stopped here briefly en route to New York. She is said to be the only woman exchange operator in upstate New York and one of the few in the entire country. Round Out Washington Variety Dance Plans Washington — ^Plans are being rounded out here under the general chairmanship of Hardie Meakin, manager of RKO Keith’s Theatre, for the Variety Club’s annual dinner and dance. Meakin was named head of the arrangements by Abe Lichtman, chief barker. Others named to assist Meakin are: Sam Galanty, vice chairman; Ticket committee: Sam Wheeler, chairman, and Archie Engel, Nat B. Browne. Entertainment: Carter Barron, chairman; Guy Wonders, Harry Lohrneyer, Harry Anger, Gene Ford, Clark Davis, Phil Hayden. Reception: Sam Flax, chairman; Vincent Dougherty, George Crouch, Eddie Plohn, Kemp Mohler, Dave Birnet, Jerry Price, Jake Flax, Fred Rohrs, Bernie Kreisler and J. Simon. Publicity: Kay Bell, chairman; Andrew R. Kelley, Nelson B. Bell, Jay Carmody, Bill Dolph, Gordon Hittenmark and Art Brown. Printing; Archie Engel, chairman; Nat Glasser and Bill Hoyle. Program: Sidney Dust, seating; Harry Brown, chairman, and Rudolph Berger. Decorations: Harry Sommervllle, chairman; Chas. Schulman, H. Sauber and Fred Kogod. Hotel Reservations: Harry Lohrneyer, chairman; Joe Kaliski, Carroll Dikeman, K. Mohler. Dinner: A. Julian Brylakswi, chairman; Tom O’Donnell and Harry Sommerville. Finance and Budget: Rudolph Berger, chairman; Sam Flax, Angle Ratto, Sam Galanty. Talent Hosts: Eddie Fontaine, chairman; Eddie Melniker, Allan Bachrach, James B. Fitzgerald and Alvin Newmeyer. Out of Town Contracts: Rudolph Berger, chairman; Harry Bachman, Carlton Duffus and Bob Folliard. Special Talent: Harry Sommerville and A. Mann and distinguished guest committee of John J. Payette, A. Julian Brylawski and A. E. Lichtman. Advocates Dissolution of New York Censor Board New York — Dissolution of the New York censor board and abolition of all forms of “political censorship” pertaining to films, is advocated by Dr. Russell Potter, director of the division of motion picture study at Columbia University, in his annual report. Said Dr. Potter: “The division opposes political control of motion pictures on the ground it is un-American, inevitably and wholly stupid in its administration and an unfair hidden tax on the producer, the exhibitor and the public.” Metro French Executive Recuperates on Coast Hollywood — Louis Chatain, M-G-M executive in France, is out of a local hospital and resting at home following a relapse recently. Chatain suffered a heart attack while flying from New York to be the guest at Cary Grant’s home. Arthur M. Loew, head of the M-G-M foreign department, has made two quick trips here to visit Chatain, who now appears well on the road to recovery. Paramount Again Takes Title in Film League New York — Paramoimt again takes the championship in the film league. The deciding game with Consolidated Film Laboratories ended in a six to five score. In the semi-finals. Consolidated bested Loew’s by eight to five and Paramount took Columbia by a tally of four to nothing. 40-L BOXOFFICE : : September 23, 1939