The Film Daily (1938)

MOT P set i3^«ra 2H W 4 * T H & TW E E T & 13 ! S T DO JNJOT R£MOV, Intimate in Character Internationa! in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty Years Old y^L. 73, NO. 109 NEW YORK. WEDNESDAY, MAY 11, 1938 TEN CENTS I/" Adopts Flexible Policy, Lists 21 of 40 Titles // WARNERSREVEALS 37 TITLES OF PLANNER 60 PIX Allied's Convention to Chart Course on Divorcement Renewal of Campaign for Legislation in States to be Discussed Pittsburgh — Allied States' national convention, opening here on Monday night and continuing through Thursday, is expected to chart Allied's course insofar as further divorcement legislation is concerned. Allied's final pre-convention bulletin, made public yesterday, disclosing that divorcement legislation is on the agenda, says, "Next January many state legislatures will again be in session. Shall the campaign to secure such legislation be renewed? Do you want such a bill in your state?" With reference to conciliation, (Continued on Page 4) MONO. DISTRIBUTION WORLDWIDE— RLTGHEY Cincinnati — Distribution of Monogram's pictures is world-wide, with outlets in every country either set or in negotiation, Norton V. Ritchey, the company's foreign export manager, told the conventioneers at yesterday's session at the Netherland Plaza Hotel. Recently returned from a South American tour, he (Continued on Page 11) Judell Exchange System To Span 63% of Country An exchange system which will embrace 63 per cent of the film trade territories in the U. S. is now being set up by Ben N. Judell, president of Progressive Pictures, who recently disclosed plans to make 44 (Continued on Page 9) 1940 Detroit Fair? Detroit — Plans for a Detroit World's Fair in 1940 are being sponsored by Raymond J. Meurer, attorney for United Detroit Theaters, who has asked the Council to place the proposition upon the fall election ballot. Sussman, Weeks, Rodgers at Allied Meet Pittsburgh — William Sussman, Eastern division manager for 20th Century-Fox, and George W. Weeks, general sales manager of Monogram, in addition to William F. Rodgers of Metro, already scheduled, will address the Allied States national convention here next week, ft was announced yesterday by M. A. Rosenberg, convention chairman. XPECT TWO NEW U. S, PRODUCERS WITH UA At least two new American producers are expected to become affiliated with United Artists, with negotiations practically completed, it was learned yesterday on the eve of the departure of George J. Schaefer, vice-president and general manager, and James Mulvey, manager for Samuel Goldwyn, for the Coast. Schaefer and Mulvey are due to (Continued on Page 11) Cohen Names Committees for New York Allied Unit Max A. Cohen, temporary chairman of the newly-formed Allied Theaters of New York, yesterday announced the operating committees of the organization. A convention committee which (Continued on Page 9) PLAN GO-OPERATION New Haven, Conn. — Allied Theaters of Connecticut and the Connecticut MPTO will hold a series of joint meetings, seeking a mutual solution to exhibitor problems, it was announced last night following yesterday's dual parley. First of the series is set for May 24. At yesterday's meeting, with a (Continued on Page 10) Columbia Regional Opens at Hotel Warwick Friday Columbia will hold its New York meeting at the Hotel Warwick, Friday through Sunday. This is the first of a series of four sales meetings which will take place in New York, Chicago, Dallas and San (Continued on Page 4) 21 of 40 Universal Feature Titles Listed by Rogers/ Policy, Flexible Universal Will Hold Four Regional Meetings West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Plans for four Universal regional sales conventions, with the first to start Friday in San Francisco, were announced yesterday by William A. Scully, general sales manager. Other divisional sessions will be held in Chicago, New Orleans and Washington, D. C. The San Francisco meeting will (Continued on Page 9) By RALPH WILK West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Indicating a fixed policy of story and personality flexibility for 1938-39, Charles R. Rogers, vice-president in charge of production for Universal, yesterday announced 21 new titles of the 40 features the company plans for the new season. "After a series of conferences with President Nate Blumberg and W. A. Scully, sales manager, it be(Continued on Page 9) Action to Be 1938-39 Program Keynote, Sears Tells Sales Meet Thirty-seven of the 60 features planned by Warners for 1938-39 were designated by title yesterday by Grad L. Sears, company's sales chief, speaking at the second day of the three-day Eastern and Canadian sales convention at the Hotel Roosevelt. Roy Haines, Eastern and Canadian sales manager, presided. In addition, Sears disclosed that three series of features would account for 11 others, leaving 12 of the 60 features planned to be later designated. The Warner lineup, Sears told the (Continued on Page 8) WARNER PRODUCTION BUDGET AT NEW TOP Warners' production budget for 1938-39 will hit an all-time high, the company's Eastern and Canadian sales forces were told yesterday at the Hotel Roosevelt convention by S. Charles Einfeld, advertising-publicity director, who analyzed the feature lineup. No figures was mentioned. Einfeld, who was introduced by (Continued on Page 8) Majors Will Ask Appeal Right in Pa. Duals Case Counsels for major distributors yesterday decided to ask permission of the U. S. Supreme Court to appeal the Philadelphia anti-duals de (Continued on Page 4) J. Whitney En Route London (By Cable)— John Hay Whitney, bringing his European visit to an end, is on the Normandie and arrives in New York Monday. As he sailed, it was understood that he planned an early departure for Hollywood to discuss Si's continuance with UA.