The Exhibitor (Nov 1939-May 1940)

9 More Exhibitor Names Listed in Gov’t Suit RK0 1940-1941 Plans Include 18-20 ‘A’ Features Edington Outlines Plans In Interview New York City — An advance shot of what will comprise the RKO lineup for 1940-41 was given to the trade press by Harry Edington, newly-appointed executive producer, at a conference in the Sherry-Ne'herland last week, when he opined that between 18 and 20 “A” pictures will be made on the home lot and that an equal number will come from outside producers. The remainder of the 52picture schedule will be drawn from George O’Brien westerns and “Better ‘B’ films.” A very tentative outline of productions for the forthcoming year, according to Edington, would include two Carole Lombards (split in accordance to flexible plans); two Laughtons; one Orson Welles; one Ginger Rogers-Ronald Colman; two Cary Grants; three Ginger Rogers (one with Grant); one Irene Dunne: two Maureen O’Haras; one Charles Laughton-Carole Lombard starrer from a prominent stage play; one Michelle Morgan (the outstanding French star of 1938-39) ; two Lucille Balls (who has been upped to “A” stardom) ; at least one Herbert Wilcox-Anna Neagle; two Ann Shirleys and oossibly two or three in Cosmo-color from FranklynWarner. Ned Depinet, RKO vice-president in charge of distribution, added that there would, be one Joel McCrea feature and one Kay Kyser starrer on the program. President George Schaefer asserted that the ’40-’41 program will contain 52 features, at a budget of not less, and possibly more, than last year’s. Edington, who will not personally produce product for RKO, will supervise all (See next page ) Michalson Honored New York City — As part of the Ned Depinet Drive, RKO last week designated the period from April 13 to April 26 as Harry Michalson Weeks, as a tribute to the short subjects sales manager. Convention Dates Near NEW YORK CITY— Two compares were reported set on their convention dates last week. Universal may go to Atlantic City, May 15, while Metro may assemble a few days later in Chicago. April 10, 1940 "Rebecca” Hits New High NEW YORK CITY— Murray Silverstone, chief of world-wide operations of United Artists, last week issued the following statement: “ ‘Rebecca’ is making motion-picture history this year. It is one of the biggest grossing pictures we have ever had, and, in our 20 years, we have had some big ones.” No. 19 Recorded by MPPDA Leader Hays Directors Also Chosen At Session New York City — The following board of directors was elected last week at the annual meeting of the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America: Barney Balaban, Nate J. Blumberg, Jack Cohn, Cecil B. deMille, E. W. Hammons, E. B. Hatrick, Will H. Hays, F. L. Herron, Sidney R. Kent, Sol Lesser, Hal E. Roach, George J. Schaefer, Nicholas M. Schenck, Maurice Silverstone, Walter Wanger, Albert Warner and Harry M. Warner. The board of directors met immediately afterwards and elected Hays for the 19th consecutive year as president of the MPPDA and chairman of the board. General industry problems, foreign and domestic, were considered at the annual meeting. First session of the annual meeting was held March 25, at which time Hays presented his annual report on the industry, and an adjournment was taken. Decency Figures Released New York City — A total of 573 feature motion pictures were reviewed by the National Legion of Decency in the period from November, 1938, to November, 1939, according to figures released by the Legion last week. Of the pictures reviewed, 511 were domestically produced and 62 were produced by foreign companies in six languages. Among the 573, 312 were rated as unobjectionable for general patronage, 200 were rated as unobjectionable for adults, 50 were rated as objectionable in part, nine were rated as condemned, and two were separately classified. THE EXHIBITOR Additional Witnesses Noted New York City — More names added to list of witnesses for the government were filed last week by the Department of Justice in the equity suit. The list of 103 contains cases where the government claims the majors acquired theatres or interests in them through coercion. At the same time, the Department of Justice filed a supplement bill referring specifically to Columbia, citing 68 instances where Columbia allegedly allowed an exhibitor to overbuy; five instances where Columbia allegedly barred an exhibitor from showing its features as part of a double feature program, and 38 instances where the company allegedly fixed the minimum admission price to be charged by an independently owned theatre. In the territory covered by The Exhibitor, the additional witnesses named, names of the theatres which were subjected. to purported coercive methods by majors, and names of defendants who acquired interest in the theatres included: MAINE — Willard B. Harwood, Strand, Gardner (Paramount-Pub ix) ; Abraham Goodside, Strand, Portland (Paramount-Publix). MASSACHUSETTS— Walter V. Littlefield, Eggleston, Boston (Paramount) ; Nathan Yamins, Fall River (Publix) ; George Ramsdell, Granada, Strand, Mystic, Orpheum, Malden (Loew’s). NEW JERSEY — Eugene Mori, Landis, Vineland (Warner’s). NEW YORK — B. S. Moss, Criterion, New York City (Loew’s) ; Benjamin Bordenaro, Palace, Olean (Warner’s) ; W. W. Farming. State, Erie, Strand, Van Curler, Schenectady (RKO). PENNSYLVANIA — Harry Fried, Suburban, Ardmore (Warner’s) ; Joseph Wodock, County, Doylestown (Loew’s) ; Charles Segall, Bromley, Philadelphia (Warner’s) ; George Graves, Carman, Philadelphia (Warner’s) ; William Freihofer, Nixon, Tower, Frankford, Roosevelt, Philadelphia (Paramount); William Goldman, Terminal, Philadelphia (Warner’s) ; H. A. Batastiny, Alpine, Punxsutawney (Warner’s) ; I. Ouslander, Pinebrook, Scranton (Paramount) ; Harry Fried, Wayne, Seville, Wayne and Ardmore (Warner’s). VIRGINIA — J. V. Trent, Trenton, Lynchburg (Paramount). WEST VIRGINIA Don Tapulias, Capitol, Wheeling (Warner’s) ; J. M. Ulmer, Capitol, Wheeling (Warner's). That the government has information only of a general nature as regards charges of monopoly and discrimination in production in its equity action was admitted by Paul Williams, Special Assistant Attorney General, in fighting an application by attorneys for the major companies last fortnight. Williams stated that investigation into production by government agents had ended in 1936. At a hearing, the defendants had charged that the government was pro( See next page) Triple Header NEW YORK CITY — Fred Allen, Jack Benny, Mary Martin will be costarred in a forthcoming Paramount feature it was made known exclusively to THE EXHIBITOR last week from a usually reliable source.