The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

Week of April 18 Set For Annual Rogers Drive Leading Executives To Be Examined in Suit Government Takes Action Under Rules New York City — Twenty-six leading executives of the business will be examined by the government beginning February 5, it was announced last week under the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure. They represent all the major defendants with the exception of United Artists. Examination will continue until March 25, with all executives of each company to be handled as a group. Examinations take place in the local Department of Justice office. Schedule follows: February 5 — Harry Cohn, Jack Cohn and A. Montague, Columbia. February 12 — Nate J. Blumberg, William A. Scully, Charles R. Rogers, Universal. February 19 — George J. Schaefer, Ned E. Depinet, Jules Levy, RKO. March 4 — Adolph Zukor, Barney Balaban, Neil F. Agnew, Y. Frank Freeman, Paramount. March 11 — Harry M. Warner, Jack L. Warner, Joseph Bernhard, Gradwell L. Sears, Warners. March 18 — Joseph M. Schenck, Sidney R. Kent, Darryl F. Zanuck, Herman Wobber, 20th Century-Fox, and Spyros Skouras, National Theatres. March 25 — Nicholas M. Schenck, C. C. Moskowitz, William F. Rodgers, Louis B. Mayer, Loew’s. Examination will continue until finished. Under the law, the defendants are given certain privileges, upon which they may call the court to act. Judge Henry W. Goddard was assigned last week to preside at the trial, which is on the calendar for May 1. Judge Goddard was appointed to the bench in 1923 by President Harding. He has heard several actions which have affected the film industry. He was selected at a conference last week between counsel. At the same session, Judge Knox heard interrogatories by the majors on the government, with Colonel William Donovan alleging that the government had backed down on an agreement to adjourn all anti-trust suits until the New York case started. This was denied by government counsel, who said that the government would be willing to adjourn the other suits only if events did not make it necessary to prosecute them first. Judge Knox asked for early agreement on matters in dispute so that the trial cculd start May 1. January 24, 1940 Walter Wanger Elected President of Academy Succeeds Capra in Coast Post Hollywood — Election of Walter F. Wanger to succeed Frank Capra as president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences took place last week at a meeting of the board of governors. Wanger’s election was considered, according to an academy source, to indicate that the liberalization of the organization begun by Capra would continue. The new president issued a statement saying in part that he hopes the academy will introduce a “closer understanding between film creators and their audiences.” Other officers elected were Capra, first vice president; Edward Arnold, second vice president; Robert Riskin, secretary; John Aalberg was elected treasurer. Darryl F. Zanuck and Mervyn Leroy were confirmed, respectively, as chairman of the Research Council and chairman of the Awards Dinner Committee. Donald Gledhill will continue as executive secretary. Republic Restrained New York City — Federal Judge Alfred C. Coxe last week issued an injunction restraining Republic Productions, Inc., from, interfering with negotiations for the sale of The Lone Ranger radio series for motion picture production. Judge Coxe also restrained the Republic from advertising its film, “The Lone Star Ranger,” in a manner which would connect it with The Lone Ranger. The court denied an application of the plaintiff, The Lone Ranger, Inc., to prevent Republic from releasing a Lone Ranger serial already produced. Kuykendall Warns NEW YORK CITY— Again rapping the Neely Bill, Ed Kuykendall, president, MPTOA last week issued another statement against the measure, winding up with a special plea as follows: “Have you talked to your local Parent Teachers? Have you actually made any special effort to get the truth to your Congressman? The next meeting you attend about the Neely Bill should be a Parent Teachers or other civic club gathering and this should be done at once. Let us do our talking where it will do most good.” THE EXHIBITOR Industry Charities To Benefit From Push New York City — Major L. E. Thompson, RKO executive, and chairman of the annual campaign for Will Rogers National Theatre Week, after conferring with Will H. Hays last week, designated the sevenday period beginning April 18 for the observance of the 1940 drive. Collaborating with Major Thompson this year are executive, heads of the five major circuits; Charles C. Moskowitz, Loew’s, Joseph Bernhard, Warners; Leon Netter, Paramount; John J. O’Connor, RKO; Spyros P. Skouras, National; as well as Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA; Harry Brandt, ITOA; Dave Palfreyman, MPPDA; Max A. Cohen, ATO of NY; and Abram F. Myers, Allied. Major Thompson announced that the following general sales managers have accepted appointments on the committee, representing the distributing companies — Neil F. Agnew, Paramount; Harry Buckley, United Artists; Edward Golden. Monogram; James R. Grainger, Republic; Ned. E. Depinet, RKO; Abe Montague, Columbia; William F. Rodgers, Metro; William A. Scully, Universal; Gradwell L. Sears, Warners; Herman Wobber, 20th Century-Fox. Harold Rodner, Warner Brothers executive, who heads the production committee, leaves for the Coast shortly to supervise the filming of the annual short subject, which is shown in the motion picture theatres throughout the United States during Will Rogers National Theatre Week. A. P. Waxman is again director of the campaign for Major Thompson. Eastman-Kodak, Dupont, and Gevaert Companies are co-operating by contributing rawstock for the short subject. Herman Robbins, president, National Screen Service, is again lending the services of his company to handle the shipment of the prints. Committees in the field include every branch manager and every salesman in the United States. General sales managers of the major companies have appointed their branch managers to act as zone chairmen for the 1940 campaign. Hammons Examination Set New York City — Earle W. Hammons, president, Grand National, will be examined February 19 by creditors of the company before the referee, it was announced last week. A temporary office is being opened at 300 Fourth Avenue to handle the affairs of the company, with Harry Fromberg, trustee, in charge. Auction of local office fixtures was held last week. Drive Arranged for Sussman New York City — 20th Century-Fox branches in William Sussman’s division will participate in a drive March 31-April 27, it was announced last week as part of a special sales and play-date push on the part of the company. QUAD.