The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

THE EXHIBITOR 11 Col. Serves Interrogatories New York City — Columbia and subsidiaries, together with company officials and other individuals comprising the so-called Columbia group of defendants served a total of 65 interrogatories on the government last week in connection with the latter’s local equitv action against the majors. The 61-page document asserted that the interrogatories, except as otherwise indicated by the interrogatory itself, shall be considered by the government as having been propounded by each Columbia defendant and shall be so answered. The Columbia interrogatories amount substantially to a blanket demand that the government disclose its entire case. UA Order Entered New York City — Federal Judge Alfred C. Coxe last week end signed an order pursuant to a stipulation entered into between the Department of Justice and United Artists providing that the interrogatories of UA in the government suit will be answered by the government in their entirety on or before February 1, 1940. The stipulation provided that the government waive all obiections to any of the questions interposed by UA. Under the agreement, the Department of Justice will furnish the names of all witnesses required by the interrogatories and any additional names will be subsequently furnished “promptly after they become known to the government.” KAO Dividend Voted New York City — Directors of the Keith Albee-Orpheum Corporation last week voted a dividend, out of operating surplus, of $3.50 a share on the seven percent cumulative convertible preferred stock for the quarters ending March 31 and June 30, 1937, payable on December 22. Disbursements for 1939 amounted to 8.75 a share, the same as last year. Paramount On the Air New York City — Paramount has purchased a series of spot anouncements to be aired over WJZ only each morning at 7.40 A. M., it was disclosed last week. The company will plug the attraction at the Paramount here, changing the continuity of the 50-word anonuncement as the bill at the theatre changes. Business was placed through Buchanan and Company. Fred Meyer Boosts RKO New York City — Film buyer Fred S. Meyer, RKO theatres, returned this week from a business trip to the coast studios. Having seen “Abe Lincoln in Illinois,” “Hunchback of Notre Dame,” and “Swiss Family Robinson,” Meyer was most enthusiastic. "Wind” For Press Dec. 1 8 New York City — A preview, exclusively for the press, of “Gone With the Wind” will be held December 18 at the Astor. The local premiere of the SelznickInternational production takes place the following day. Legion Pledge Renewed NEW YORK CITY— At the request of their spiritual heads, more than 20,000.000 Catholics renewed December 10 the Legion of Decency pledge to abstain from attending all motion pictures held by competent aulhorify to he indecent or immoral. Pledges were taken by Catholics in all parts of the United States. NYC Smoking Measure Signed New York City — Mayor La Guardia announced last week end that he had signed the local law amending the administrative code to prohibit smoking in theatres, opera houses, motion pictures and parts of buildings used for theatrical purposes, except in certain specified sections. Law was introduced by Mrs. Genevieve B. Earle, Brooklyn Councilman, and sponsored by the Fire Department. The mayor sent an approval message to the Council praising the law as a “progressive measure” and recommending that it be amended to allow motion-picture theatres without balconies to set aside a section for smoking in the orchestra. The law permits smoking in loges, boxes, mezzanines or balconies of motion -picture theatre provided fire prevention precautions are taken. Mono.’s "Gentleman” Bows Phoenix, Arizona — This city went fiesta December 7 in honor of the world premiere at the Orpheum of Monogram’s “The Gentleman from Arizona,” the first full length, all -color film ever to be produced in this city. Jersey Allied Meets Dec. 19 New York City— The next meeting of Allied Theatre Owners of New Jersey will be held at the Hotel Astor here December 19, it was announced last week by president Lee Newbury. Miami Boosts Miami MIAMI, FLORIDA, December 4— Miami last week entered the fight to lure from Hollywood some of its film production business. Florida resort called attention to the fact that it already has a motion picture industry of its own, that its first picture is ready for release and that Mayor LaGuardia is going to meet stiff competition in his efforts to attract film production from Hollywood to New York. Florida entered the arena when Paramount announced that the world premiere of the feature-length Technicolor cartoon, “Gulliver’s Travels,” produced by the Max Fleischer studio in Miami, would be held on December 18 in the city where the film was made. “We offer tax exemption for 15 years and a year-round climate that makes even Californians want to change the subject when you speak of the weather,” the city’s head said. Columbia Schedules Meetings New York City — A series of four divisional sales meetings will be held by Columbia all during the month of January, with A. Montague, general sales manager presiding, it was announced late last week. First of these sessions will be held January 6, 7 in Washington, with Samuel A. Galanty, division manager, heading the delegates from the mideast territory, which includes the Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, and Washington branches. The home office executives who will attend this meeting include A. Montague, Rube Jackter, Louis Astor, Lou Weinberg and Max Weisfeldt. Montague and Jackter will be the only home office representatives to attend the other meetings. British Productions Up London — Reports last week end showed that production was being boosted. Warners studio at Teddington is scheduled to produce five films, making four studios now open out of 22. Another move to re-establish film production in. England was made by RKO with the assignment of William Sistrom, producer, to fly to this city January 2 to prepare for the resumption of RKO’s oversea activities. Robert Kane, 20th Century-Fox British production head, announced upon his arrival in the United States last week end that a minimum of three pictures would be made in England next year. Production on the new program may be resumed April 1. Frank Gilbert to Altec New York City — Resignation of Frank C. Gilbert, chief engineer, Altec Service Corporation, to become chief engineer of the West Coast studios, Paramount Pictures, Inc., was announced late last week jointly by Altec and Paramount West Coast. Gilbert’s resignation becomes effective January 1. Gilbert’s appointment at Paramount’s studios is the result of a long contemplated move to co-ordinate all engineering activities on the Paramount lot. Gilbert will be concerned with general plant engineering, in connection with both the present studio and the proposed new one. Reisman RKO V.-P. New York City — Phil Reisman last week was elected vice-president in charge of foreign distribution of RKO-Radio at a meeting of the board of directors. Reisman has been in charge of foreign distribution. $100 Weekly, Publicitymen Hollywood — The men and women who write motion picture publicity stories last week agreed v/ith producers on a salary scale, with a minimum of $100 a week for writers with three years’ experience. 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