The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

9 Equity Still Claims Television Jurisdiction ITOA Sends Letters To Stars on Radio Tiff Makes Problem Personal Issue with Players New York City — The ITOA's campaign intended to rid the air waves of motion picture stars took the form last week of letters to many of the stars who have appeared over the radio during the past month. Copies of the letters were forwarded to exhibitor leaders who are cooperating with the ITOA in this move. Producers to whom the stars in question are under contract also received a copy of the letter. Tenor of the letter to the stars was that cumulative appearance of picture performers tended to decrease box office receipts and dissipated the stars’ own box office standing; that the investments of theatre owners were imperilled and the complete removal of star names from radio was the only solution to the problem that is now of major importance in the industry. Letters, signed by Harry Brandt, ITOA president, asked the stars pointblank whether they intended to compete with themselves on the screen by continuing to broadcast. First batch of letters, which have already gone out, were sent to Olivia de Havilland, Clark Gable, Judy Garland. Nan Grey, Walter Connolly, Merle Oberon, John Garfield, Edward Arnold, Loretta Young, Irene Dunne, David Niven, Madeleine Carroll, Fred MacMurray, Miriam Hopkins, Joan Bennett, Claudette Colbert, Jean Arthur, Nigel Bruce, George Raft, Basil Rathbone, Paulette Goddard. "Geronimo” Debut Nov. 2 5 Hollywood — Safford, Arizona, once a riproaring frontier town and scene of many of the depradations of the Apache raider, Geronimo, will regain something of its old time flavor November 25. Arrangements were completed last week between Paramount and the Long to add Safford to Phoenix and Tucson as cities which will simultaneously world premiere Paramount’s film epic, “Geronimo,” that day. Sol Lesser in East New York City — Sol Lesser left Hollywood for the east November 17 for final conferences with Thornton Wilder on his forthcoming screen production of Wilder’s Pulitzer prize-winning play, “Our Town.” U. S. Film Exports Down, Commerce Dep’t Declares Golden Releases Figures for Nine Months Washington — United States exports of positive motion picture film decreased more than 27 million feet during the first nine months of the year as compared with the corresponding period of 1938, according to a study prepared by Nathan D. Golden, Chief, motion picture division, Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce, last week. Exports for the first three-quarters of this year aggregated 112,486,707 feet of positive film with a declared value of $2,284,277 while shipments for the first nine months of 1938 totaled 140,133,067 feet valued at $2,989,872. (Declared value estimated on a cost of two cents per foot for raw film.) Exports of negative film for the period under review totaled 5,698,594 feet valued at $242,796 while shipments during the first nine months of 1938 aggregated 6,387,602 feet valued at $228,752. While this decline would, at first glace, seem to indicate a severe falling off of our foreign motion picture markets, this is not entirely true, since it is believed that American companies are shipping duplicate negatives to major markets having laboratory facilities for the printing of positive films. This belief is substantiated by the fact that increased shipments of negative film have been sent to France, Australia and New Zealand. "Lynton” Damages Fixed New York City — Damages of $153,030 against Loew’s, Inc., MGM Pictures Corporation, MGM Distributing Corporation and Culver Export Company for alleged plagiarism of the play “Dishonored Lady,” by the film, “Letty Lynton,” was fixed in a decree presented to Federal Judge Bondy last week end. Attorneys’ fees are $34,595, costs $2,632, the rest going to the plaintiffs, Edward Sheldon and Margaret Ayer Barnes. Schenck Heads Drive Hollywood — Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the board of 20th Century-Fox, was again appointed vice-chairman of the Committee for the Celebration of the President’s Birthday last week. Proceeds aid infantile paralysis work. THE EXHIBITOR Co-operative Committee for Consultation, Report New York City — Battle over union jurisdiction of television cropped up again last week when Equity declared that it alone controlled the field and that it would proceed to organize television actors Actor unions have been attempting to agree upon scales and working conditions through a joint committee and it was believed that eventually a working arrangement would be made by all unions to administer the field. Equity’s Paul Dullzell, executive-secretary declared: “The story in The New York Times is not in accord with Equity’s understanding of the situation. The committee in question, appointed by Equity AFRA and the Screen Actors’ Guild, was a consultation committee for the sole purpose of reaching an understanding between the organization as to the basic schedules of pay and working conditions in television and was to have before it no consideration of the larger question of jurisdiction.” Four A’s television sub-committee will report on wage scales and working conditions November 22. Actor unions are expected to seek a substantial raise in wage scales for the television performers, it was indicated. Negotiations with the NBC are expected to start early in December, although an attempt at a permanent scale may not be made. One union official said that “cognizance of the experimental phases” of television will be taken. It is also expected that the auditors report on the information sent in by the AAAA member unions regarding their set-ups with an eye to “one big union” will be ready. Tracy Leads in ''Fortune” New York City — Spencer Tracy is the American public’s favorite film actor and other Metro stars are among the 31 leaders, according to a survey recently by the Elmo Roper organization for Fortune, which includes the results in its current (November, 1939) issue. Metro led the male division with seven favorites among the first 10, Clark Gable taking second place behind Tracy. Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Robert Taylor, William Powell and Nelson Eddy complete the preponderant Culver City representation. No other company placed more than one player in this section. Among women, Metro gained five places among the leaders, with Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, Norma Shearer, Joan Crawford and Greta Garbo all high. Bette Davis was the leading woman player. First 10 ranking men, women were as follows: Spencer Tracy, Clark Gable, Tyrone Power, Wallace Beery, Lionel Barrymore, Paul Muni, Robert Taylor. Gary Cooper, William Powell, Nelson Eddy; Bette Davis, Myrna Loy, Jeanette MacDonald, Irene Dunne, Norma Shearer, Shirley Temple, Janet Gaynor. Ginger Rogers, Claudette Colbert, Joan Crawford. November 22, 1939 QUAD.