The Film Daily (1937)

THE 2% N. Y. SALE TAX APPEAL UP FRIDAY (Continued from Page 1) whether it should be dropped or carried further. Providing the distributors decide to resume their battle against the tax, they can seek a re-argument in the Court of Appeals and if defeated in this move, ask the U. S. Supreme Court for a writ of certiorari. "5-2" Show Cause Order Will be Argued Mar. 31 (Continued from Page 1) tures to be played on a five day-two day split week basis will be held Mar. 31 in Supreme Court. The Brandt circuit claims that the circuits violated their contracts with the Brandt houses by permitting Loew's to play pictures on a five daytwo day split week instead of the four day-three day split long established in New York City. The Brandt circuit charges that the exchanges acted in violation of the state anti-trust law in serving Loew's on the five-two split and that its purpose was to crush the independents. Propose Film Censorship in Oklahoma Senate Bill (Continued from Page i) thorized to assess $2.00 for each 1,200 lineal feet of film and $2.00 for duplicates. Exhibitors would not be permitted to exhibit any film without a permit from the board, with violations subject to fine of $25 to $50 for first offense, and jail sentence of 10 to 30 days. Maine House Tables Bill to Legalize Sunday Films Portland, Me. — A bill to legalize Sunday motion pictures in Maine has been tabled in the House. The Maine Senate, on the same day, defeated legislation to legalize "indoor" Sunday sports and a second bill which would have permitted compensation to participants in Sunday amateur sports. Supplementing a pile of film measures, three more bills have been introduced in the Maine Legislature. One would impose a tax of 50 cents per square foot on billboards, another a 10 per cent tax on admissions and a third a one cent levy on each admission ticket. Simultaneously the Legal Affairs Committee reported favorably on a bill to permit the Racing Commission to grant a license for a 12-day horse race meeting at Old Orchard Beach in July. Readyi ing Briefs in Color Suit Hollywood — Attorneys for Tricolor and Technicolor will present briefs to Judge James the latter part of the week in Tri-Color's suit. On Sunday Technicolor exhibited "Trees" for Judge James and Tricolor showed several subjects made by Charles F. Jones in 1918. -Z&"1 DAILV Tuesday, March 23, 1937 • • • IF YOU have a notion that exhibs don't make use of the campaign books that the producers turn out give ear to the tale of what happened on M-G-G's "Libeled Lady" contest for theater managers the exploitation section of that pressbook gave the rules on two separate contests one for newspaper lineage, and the other for the most original lobby display AND a total of 636 entries were received from both contests • • • THESE CONTESTS were launched last fall with the release of "Libeled Lady" and Billy Ferguson's Exploitation Dep't was swamped with the returns here is the way the awards and honors shaped up on the Newspaper contest, E. J. Melniker, manager of Loew's Grand theater in Atlanta copped the prize the runners-up were J. F. Thames, Ritz theater, Corpus Christi, Tex.; Ray Bell, Loew's Washington theaters; James Cartledge, State, Greenwood, S. C; Maynard S. Joiner, Capitol, Vancouver, B. C. on the Lobby contest, Leon Robertson, manager of the Gillioz theater at Springfield, Missouri, took the first prize crowding him close were John J. Baker, Fox theater, Hackensack, N. J.; Sam Pechner, Loew's Warfield, San Francisco; Len Grotte, Loew's Prospect, Flushing, N. Y. the Answer to the success of these contests rests solely upon the fact that they were intelligently planned, and gave Real Showmen a chance to display their originality and ingenuity and how they went to work! • • e OH CHARLIE how could you! it's Charles Pettijohn speaking before the House Judiciary Committee in the Ohio hearing on the theater divorce bill lookit what Charlie said: "There is no business in the world in which so many 'dumb clucks' have made money as in the motion picture business." of course Mister Pettijohn was aiming his shaft at the dissatisfied exhibitors who are kicking up a fuss against producer-controlled circuits but if a guy wants to sit down and list the dumb clucks in other branches of this biz, what we say is that the guy will have to have a lotta time on his hands now don't all start yelling names at us at once some mug might mention your name then what? so let's all keep quite it's really a very delicate subject • • • THE PREMIERE of Walter Wanger's "History Is Made At Night" at the Rivoli on Saturday eve will be attended by the commanders and chief officers of the U. S. Coast Guard stationed in these parts the smash climax of the picture has an ocean liner being wrecked on an iceberg so the United Artists execs figure that these Coast Guard experts can give an authentic reaction to the way the studio handled the thrill-chill affair • • • ONE OF the better screen commentators Ed Thorgersen, who handles the Movietone Sports certain studio interests are scanning him appraisingly as an actorwriter with real possibilities in the duplicate role one of the best bits ever done in a newsreel Ed's interspersion of clips showing flamingos in the recent Hialeah race, and his sparkling and humorous comments thereon • • • A SWANK premiere for Gaumont's "Silent Barriers" at the New Criterion on Thursday eve the list of guests reads like a cross-section from Who's Who including leaders in finance, industry, science, engineering, as well as social and diplomatic lights SHORT SHOTS FROM EASTERN STUDIOS ~ By F. J. NEIDIG " ^L CHRISTIE has just completed a musical comedy, featuring Pat Rooney, Jr., and Herman Timberg, Jr., titled "Sure Cure" at the General Service Studio in Astoria. The supporting cast includes Prudence Hayes, from the current Broadway musical comedy, "Red, Hot and Blue"; Kay Ballou, George Shelton, Eddie Hall and Eddie Roberts. The story was written by Art Jarrett, Sr., and Marcy Klauber. Warren Murray assisted in the direction and John Graham handled the casting. Music was furnished by Buddy Page and his orchestra. • Another of the Broadway Brevity musicals titled, "Newsboys Nocturne," was recently completed at the Vitaphone Studio in Brooklyn under the direction of Roy Mack. The cast includes Billy and Beverly Bemis, Jack Powell, the Lane Tree and Edwards Trio, Jean Travers, and Maurice and Cordova, dance team, and the Vitaphone ensemble , of 16 girls. • A two-reel comedy featuring Tim and Irene is under way this week at the General Service Studio in Astoria. Al Christie is directing. • A two-reel picture featuring Lennie Hayton and his band has been completed at the Vitaphone Studio in Brooklyn, under the direction of Joe Henebery. Jack Henley, veteran shorts writer for Warner's Vitaphone Studio in Brooklyn, commences his sixth year for that studio and in that time has completed over 200 stories. Hopeful of Readjustment of Heavy Austrian Fines (Continued from Page 1) will be brought about at conferences now under way at Vienna between their representatives and Government officials. The assessment was recently increased 25 per cent. « « « » » » W. Va. Legislature Quits; Four Industry Bills Die (Continued from Page 1) follows: requiring distributors to maintain distributing branches in the state, establishing state censorship, banning Bank Night and imposing a general sales tax of one per cent. Brandt Loses Writ Move in Far Rockaway Action (Continued from Page 1) Loew's, charging a conspiracy to prevent his Gem theater at Far Rockaway from getting product until after the Central at Cedarhurst. Plaintiff is Rock Beach, Inc.