The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

16 THE NATIONAL MIRROR (Continued from page 13) last week concluded contracts for renewal of the distribution by Pathe of the Monogram product in the United Kingdom. Gell stated that the first five Monogram pictures, trade-screened in London, had received enthusiastic exhibitor support. British Lion-Republic Set Five-Year Deal After three weeks of negotiations, managing director Sam W. Smith, British Lion Lilm Company, announced November 12 the successful conclusion of a five-year franchise agreement with the Republic Pictures Corporation. In a joint statement, Smith, Republic’s vicepresident Morris Goodman, Consolidated Lilm Industries’ president Herbert J. Yates announced that British Lion planned to produce from eight to 10 pictures in England for distribution in the U. S. by Republic. Warner , Hammons Huddle On Foreign Distribution President Franklyn Warner, Fine Arts, arrived in New York last week for conferences with president Earle W. Hammons, Grand National, on matters persuant to the proposed deal whereby Gaumont British would handle Grand National’s foreign distribution. Universal Gets The Family Angle Following up its sensational success with the twin billing of "Dracula”, "Frankenstein”, Universal indicated last week that it was now reissuing "Dracula’s Daughter” with "The Bride of Frankenstein.” Both will go out as regular reissues, with new paper, etc. PRODUCTION Additional Miscellany From Here and There Production developments, gleaned during the past week, included: Grand National. First of a new series of six westerns, "Trigger Pals,” rolled last week. Star is band leader Arthur (renamed Art) Jarrett, with Republic’s Lee ("Lone Ranger”) Powell, Al St. John. Phil Krasne, as Cinema Arts, producing with Sam Newfield directing. LOCAL NEWSREEL "MPAYBE” Drive Nears Closing Days Highlights of the industry drive last week were: California is running a close second to New York in the number of replies received in the "Movie Quiz” contest. Following in order are Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Ohio, Texas, Connecticut, Missouri, Canada, Alaska, Hawaii, Mexico are also represented in the replies. MPGY received its first plug in a feature picture when a line of dialogue was cleverly woven into a dramatic sequence in Universal’s "Lady Luck.” "Movie Quiz” contest entries have been submitted in English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Hindustani. Box office returns throughout the country continue their upward surge, MPGY campaign officials report. Said Leo Spitz, former RKO-Radio president, "I have found the Movie Quiz has been helping business everywhere I have been.” Five outstanding national figures — Representative Bruce Barton; Mrs. Ogden Reid, vice-president, publisher, New York Herald Tribune ; Dr. James E. West, chief scout executive. Boy Scouts of America; Hendrik Willem van Loon, writer, historian; Helen Wills Moody — will serve as the judges in the $2 50,000 "Movie Quiz” sponsored by the MPGY drive, executive chairman George J. Schaefer announced last week. No single agency has influenced youth as much as the motion picture, Dr. James E. West, chief scout executive, also editor, Boys’ Life, will say in the December issue of that magazine. Doctor West was present at the meeting on June 22, 1922, when the MPPDA was formed. He also helped organize the Motion Picture Public Relations Committee. The United States News, national weekly published in Washington, is devoting part of its series on "The Story of American Efficiency” to a group of articles dealing with the cultural, technological advances in the motion picture industry. Trailer No. 10 is completed by the National Screen Service, will shortly be available through the usual MPGY drive exchanges. The all-industry short, "The World Is Ours,” is to be made in a 16-mm. form for use in clubs, universities, schools, following its run in the nation’s theatres. GROSSES Week-End Reports Business on new pictures, as reported by the home offices, included the following: BROTHER RAT (Warners): In its third week at the Strand, New York, took $18,000 on the week-end for an estimated week gross of $13 5,000. Picture is beating "The Adventures of Robin Hood” by 65 percent in 45 playdates, is being held over in 5 5 percent of the situations. THE CITADEL (Metro): At the Capitol, New York, equalling "Boys’ Town.” SUBMARINE PATROL (20th Century-Fox) : At the Roxy, New York, topped "Suez” opening, with $2 5,954 for the week-end. HOLD PRESS P hilly Suit Gets Sudden Re-Scheduling After the first hearing November 16 in the suit filed by Philadelphia exhibitor Herb Elliott against Warner Brothers Theatres, all major distributors had ON YOUR DESK EVERY WEDN ended, with the expectation that it would come up again in 10 days, it was suddenly scheduled to be heard again November 2 3 following a weekend episode in which the S-W Lane, involved in the clearance suit with Elliott’s Fern Rock, booked in "Drums,” which Elliott claims should belong to him with clearance on the Lane. November 16 the court had ordered Warner Brothers Theatres not to play "That Certain Age,” which Elliott also claimed, prior or day-and-date with the theatre. Booking of "Drums” resulted in Elliott’s attorney Senator Harry Shapiro contacting Federal Judge George Welsh, explaining the facts, with Judge Welsh then setting the November 2 3 for a further hearing. UA Folk Send Protest to Washington Maurice Silverstone, chairman, executive committee, United Artists, last week despatched the following telegram to President Roosevelt: "We heartily applaud your courageous sentiments against the outrages committed on a defenseless and innocent people by the Nazi regime. We, the undersigned, in the motion picture industry, express our grateful appreciation for your humanitarian views. You have ably voiced the feeling of horror and indignation of the American people toward Nazi brutality, and we all earnestly hope in pursuance with your high ideals that, at the proper moment, you will use your great influence towards obtaining a discontinuance of all relationship with a nation that has such wanton disregard for human rights.” Telegram was signed by executives of the Samuel Goldwyn, Alexander Korda, United Artists organizations, headed by such names as H. D. Buckley, Paul Lazarus, James A. Mulvey, Lyn Farnol, Morris Helprin, Samuel Silverstone, Monroe Greenthal, Ben Washer. The Film Division of the Theatre Arts Committee, following Silverstone’s example, also gathered several thousand additional signatures of film industry employees on the same message. UA Discusses New Season Pictures United Artists last weekend began its discussion of 1938-1939 pictures, when the board of directors met. Pictures will be made by Charlie Chaplin, Doug Fairbanks, Alexander Korda (one in Hollywood), others. General manager Maurice Silverstone indicated that the company’s "profit plan” would become effective the end of this year; that all UA producers would deliver pictures made during the past few months; that about eight big pictures would be ready by January 1. The session was then adjourned to November 30. E S D A Y November 2 3, 19)8