The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

Mrs. Ruth Wertz Clarifies Censor Position Advises Senate Committee On Maryland Bill Mrs. Ruth D. Wertz, chairman of the Maryland State Board of Censors, last week clarified the body’s position in the bill introduced to classify films for adults and those under 16. She wrote Emanuel Garfine, chairman, Senate Judiciary Committee, that the board had rescinded its request for such a law. She indicated that to pass such a law would be an injustice to the industry and those who are trying to observe the production code. She intimated that it would simply be playing into the hands of those who would like the opportunity to sell pictures via the "adults only,” "men only,” or "women only” label. Drive Meet at RKO Oftice Executives of RKO-Radio Pictures descended last week on the Washington office for a "big push” meeting to further the cause of the George J. Schaefer Drive, which ends June 2. Present were midwestern district manager W. E. Branson, who is also captain of the drive; eastern central district manager Nat Levy, short subjects sales manager Harry J. Michaelson, branch manager Robert J. Folliard, members of the staff. The Washington office is now in sixth place, having jumped in a very short time from 17th position. Va. MPTO Considering Pact The Virginia MPTO was this week considering the trade pact as submitted to it by the distributors. It was one of the 10 organizations which received a copy. Balto. Golf Tourney Scheduled The Baltimore, Maryland, Varietymen last week indicated that they would have a golf tournament during the summer. Rodney Collier, Stanley, was appointed chairman of the event. June 12 Set for Virginia MPTO Meeting Roanoke Gets Mid-Summer Sessions The mid-summer convention of the Motion Picture Theatre Owners of Virginia will be held in Roanoke June 12 at the Roanoke Hotel, it was made known last week after a meeting of the board of directors of the organization in Richmond. Elmore Heins has been appointed chairman of the convention committee. Routine matters were taken up. W. F. Crockett, Virginia Beach, president, was present, as were Ben Pitts, Fredericksburg, vice-president; Harold Wood, Richmond, secretary; Sam Bendheim, Jr., treasurer. Others were Morton G. Thalhimer, Allen Sparrow, A. Frank O’Brien, Colonel Robert Barton, Richmond; Herman Rubin, Petersburg; Hunter Perry, Charlottesville; Ellison Loth, Waynesboro; Charles Roth, Harrisonburg. Neely Hearing Highlight With the Neely bill hearings on, local film men again found the district the center of attention as organization heads, distributor representatives, other dropped into town last week. Most publicized witness against the bill was Metro star Robert Montgomery, testifying as the Screen Actors Guild board chairman. Commenting on the topic in his About the Showshops column in the Washington Post, Nelson B. Bell, for more than 2 5 years closely associated with the industry, declared: "The success of the bill will tear down a structure that has been built up not on antagonisms and prejudice, but upon a 'trial and error’ test of the years that has evolved the very best possible working policy for the industry. There are defects in the present modus operandi that need to be corrected, of course, but their remedy seems not to lie in the bill that now again is before the Congress for its serious consideration.” New Martinsburg House Opening Opening of the new Warner Strand, Martinsburg, West Virginia, was set for this week. Lou Kusner manages the house. Localites Interested in N. C. Sunday Decision Charlotte Exhibitor Dismissed by Judge Virginia and other theatremen were interested last week in the decision in a Charlotte, North Carolina, Sunday opening case. Judge Frank K. Sims, Jr., dismissed the Sunday law violation charge against Neill McGill, manager, Imperial, who was cited to court because a show ran 16 minutes past Saturday midnight. Charge was dismissed on the ground of difference between standard time and solar time, the judge holding with the defense that the difference is 23 minutes, Charlotte meridian, and therefore the show closed before midnight, solor time. Chief of Police E. D. Pittman said that it sun time is the rule of law as to Saturday night shows, he could see no reason why it should not apply to Sunday midnight shows, and therefore hereafter the motion picture houses must not start their Sunday midnight shows at 12:01 as heretofore but not earlier than 12:24 A.M. Laurel, Md., Manager Arrested First arrest was made last week in Delaware under the new ruling of the Delaware State Supreme Court outlawing "Bank Night.” Deputy Attorney General Daniel J. Layton, Jr., leading state detective Charles Elwood Wilkins and officer C. C. Seitz, swooped down on all kinds of games of chance and in the drive walked in on the Waller, Laurel, arresting manager H. E. Hefner on a charge of violating the anti-gambling laws and Donald Mitchell, Laurel, who had drawn a lucky ticket for a trip to the World’s Fair, as a material witness. Hefner was quickly released by Magistrate W. Elwood Wright in $500 bail. Mitchell’s bail of $200 was furnished. According to Deputy Attorney General Layton, tickets were given to each patron entering the theatre for a drawing, the lucky one getting the World’s Fair trip. Official contended it came under the ruling of the Supreme Court. Md. MPTO Board Elected Board of directors of the MPTO of Maryland, Inc., last fortnight was elected as follows: Frank A. Hornig, Louis Garman, Herman A. Blum, Julius Goodman, Walter Pacu, Arthur B. Price, Oscar B. Coblentz, Jr., Harry Silver, E. B. McCurdy, J. Louis Rome and Samuel Soltz. April 12, 19)9 NAT