The Exhibitor (Nov 1941-May 1942)

9 Myers Comments On Allied Votes Sees Encouraging Signs Arising New York — Abram F. Myers, Allied general counsel, in a statement made last week said that the results of exhibitor polls on the UMPI sales plan have not been clear-cut and decisive. “In every case,” Myers said, “the action has been accompanied by reservations, suggestions, and counter-proposals. While the reports made to this office indicate strong dissatisfaction with the plan, they seem to imply that further negotiations are desirable. For the returns and other communications, it would seem that con¬ sideration of the proposed selling method has been complicated by what my corre¬ spondents term unreasonable demands for increased film rentals. “They are especially disturbed about the terms being asked for certain patriotic subjects which are in demand because of their timeliness. Also, preferential terms allegedly granted in a particular territory following aggressive action by the exhibi¬ tors therein has stimulated a demand for resort to like tactics in other territories. “While progress has been slow and the results to date have not been spectacular, I feel that the movement launched in Chi¬ cago on Dec. 9 has been worth while. The entire industry is indebted to the men who have striven so hard to keep negotiations alive, and make the movement a success. I am aware of and grateful for the prodig¬ ious efforts of Allied’s representatives. I regret that the war has not wrought a spiritual regeneration in all branches of the industry. It must be that some people do not read the same newspapers that I do.” Cagney-UA Deal Nears Hollywood — Reports here last week had James Cagney closing a deal with United Artists calling for two pictures annually for a three-year period. It is understood that financing will be forthcoming from Bankers Trust of New York and Secur¬ ity First National of Los Angeles, and that these organizations are also financing David O. Selznick and Hal Roach, with the two latter also having some additional financing from CFI. U Preferred Dividend New York— The board of directors of Universal Pictures Company, Inc., last week declared a dividend of $2 per share on the first preferred stock. March 18, 1942 Michigan Idea DETROIT — Michigan’s Allied’s board of directors last week endorsed an al¬ ternate film selling plan, but proposed that films be sold in blocks of 20 to 24 twice annually instead of four times as in the original plan. This was in con¬ nection with consideration of the new sales plan as drafted by UMPI. Schaefer Heads Yeshiva Drive New York — The fourth annual cam¬ paign for scholarship funds for refugee students of Yeshiva College, sponsored by the motion picture industry, was launched last week by George J. Schaefer, presi¬ dent, RKO, and chairman of the Motion Picture Industry Scholarship Fund, it was announced. Each year, the drive conducted by the industry enables 10 refugee students to live and study at Yeshiva College. In the past, the industry has raised $5,000 annu¬ ally. This year the drive is being intensi¬ fied to permit a larger number of worthy students to obtain scholarships. Grants at the college have already been established by Barney Balaban, Nate J. Blumberg, Jack Cohn, Warners, George P. Skouras, and many others. Miss Lamour In Repeat Hollywood — It was announced last fort¬ night that Dorothy Lamour’s recent bond sales tour will have an encore if her pres¬ ent plans are realized. The actress hopes to work out a plan whereby she can devote periods between pictures to vol¬ untary national service, as she did re¬ cently when she sold $52,000,000 worth of defense bonds in a tour sponsored by the Treasury Department. Now working in Paramount’s “The Road to Morocco,” she expects to go out again on a similar tour at the finish of her as¬ signment. New NLRB Election New York — National Labor Relations Board last week ordered an election, to be held within 30 days, at 20th Century-Fox and Movietone News, Inc., to determine whether Screen Office and Professional Employees Guild, Local 109, UOPWA, CIO, is to be collective bargaining agent for the white collar workers in these companies. NLRB hearings involving SOPEG and RKO-Radio Pictures began last week. Remember Pearl Harbor! THE EXHIBITOR Gov’t Wants 16mm. Machines Sound Variety Is Scarce Washington — Owners of 1939, 1940, and 1941 model sound projectors for the show¬ ing of 16 millimeter motion pictures were asked last week by the War Production Board to offer them for sale to the Gov¬ ernment. These machines are essential for the rapid teaching of the Armed Forces and defense workers. Due to the present alum¬ inum shortage, production of new projec¬ tors, which requires the use of alumi¬ num casting, is being curtailed. Approximately 35,000 16mm. sound pro¬ jectors were manufactured in 1939, 1940, and 1941, and sold for various purposes. Many of the purchasers were large cor¬ porations, such as automobile companies, which used the machines for sales promo¬ tion. Any private individual, business organ¬ ization or school owning such machines is requested to write to the WPB, stating the number of machines he owns, how many he is using for defense training, and how many he is willing to sell, the year model or models, and what price he is asking for them. The WPB will not itself buy the machines but will transmit the information to the War and Navy or other Government departments who can then buy the machines they need. This might well curtail the present 16mm. competition to the regular motion picture theatre exhibition. Sears to Coast New York — Gradwell L. Sears, vicepresident, United Artists, left for Holly¬ wood last week. After a few days on the coast, Sears went to Chicago where he arrived in time to attend the United Art¬ ists sales meeting. First general sales meeting of United Artists since the company’s sales re-or¬ ganization started on March 16. Sessions, under the chairmanship of Carl Leserman, United Artists general sales manager, were held at the Blackstone Hotel. CFI Shows Profit New York — Consolidated Film Indus¬ tries, Inc., and subsidiaries last week re¬ ported a net profit of $513,451 for the year ended on Dec. 31, 1941, which is equal to $1.28 a share on 400,000 shares of cumula¬ tive preferred stock, on which dividend arrearages amounted to $10 per share at close of the year. This compares with $590,031 or $1.47 a share on $2 preferred stock in 1940. Net sales in 1941 amounted to $6,256,355 as against $7,235,337 in 1940 PCC Says "No" SAN FRANCISCO— Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners last week unanimously re¬ jected the UMPI’s blocks of 12 pro¬ posal. It was said that the plan was unsatisfactory. QUAD,