The Film Daily (1938)

Friday, October 28, 1938 V\ DULY "BIG STICK" THREAT DENIED BY D OF J Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — "The Department of Justice has not used any threat of criminal proceedings to force the J5utfl(fcsion of a consent decree on I the motion picture industry. On the [contrary, it has always been stated iand understood that any decree proposed must be voluntarily submitted by the parties." That official denial of published reports to the effect that the Department of Justice was wielding a "big stick" on the majors, defendants in the New York equity suit, was authorized by Wendell Berge, second in command of the Government's side in the anti-trust action. It is understood, however, that the D of J feels that it is still free to act in "individual aggravated situations in the industry which might require criminal prosecutions." This is believed to explain recent departmental activity in Chicago, Philadelphia and other spots. Notices of appearances in the Government's equity suit were filed in Federal Court here yesterday by Loew's, Inc., its subsidiaries and personnel. Service of all papers will be accepted by the law firm of Davis, Polk, Wardwell, Gardner and Reed. Appeal is Authorized in 20th-Fox Copyright Case (Continued from Page 1) song) would be original and distinctive." Counsel for the appellants, answered in the affirmative, submitting that the title conveyed one idea only. He also argued that if one work had an original and distinctive title, none was entitled to take it in its entirety to use for another work. Several months ago the Ontario Court of Appeals dealt with the suit, when Shapiro, Bernstein & Co. of New York, as agents of the English publishing house of Francis Day and Hunter, acted as complainants. The publishers entered suit when a motion picture bearing the name "The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo," identical to the name of a song written about 40 years ago, was produced. Hungarian Fix to Open American premiere for "Busuljon A Lo" (Family Bonus), new Hungarian film, has been set for today at the Modern Playhouse. Jitterbug Epidemic Chicago — Jitterbug contests are epidemic here. B & K are staging 'em under Sam Herman's direction in a number of houses, while Harry Balaban has set contests twice weekly in the Commercial Theater, South Chicago. T ▼ ▼ • • • OFF fo an auspicious start the iirst AMP A luncheon of the season in the Hotel Astor grill had an attendance of almost 100 guests the honor guest was Murray Silverstone of United Artists who spoke impressively on the responsibilities of the advertising fraternity in keeping alive the traditions of our democracy freedom of thought and of speech as expressed in the printed word through the medium of the motion picture art reaching the American public T ▼ T • • c A JESTER was also present at the luncheon Hugh Herbert who told the story of a bit player who had been out of work for a long time and finally he got a call to a studio after passing through a third-degree and several cross-examinations and giving his entire histrionic background, he was finally hired for a part, and instructed by the assistaiit director "All you've got to do," said the assistant director, "is to come on the set and answer one question" the actor felt slightly let down, but decided that this was his big opportunity to put that line over strong "Fine! What do I say?" "When the director asks you if you saw the murder, you say: 'I did'." so the bit player rehearsed for several hours saying "I did" in a dozen different inflections till he figured he had just the right dramatic tone. Then he goes in to see the director, who asks him if he saw the murder "DID I!" yells the highly nervous gent another good yarn that Hugh told was about the faithful manservant who told his employer he was going to be married so the boss did the handsome thing and said he could use his closed country house for the honeymoon the servant thanked him gratefully "Oh, by the way," said the employer, "how long will you want to occupy the house?" the guy chirps: "About twenty minutes." Ruth Texas sang a cowboy song, she being the only lady Texas Ranger Paul Lazarus, Jr. was the toastmaster T V ▼ • • • TONITE the Showman's Club of Philly will hold a Hallowe'en Party a number of local vaude celebs will entertain prizes will be given for the best costumes each Friday eve the gang holds seme sort of shindig in the clubrooms the Club in no way conflicts with the Variety Club they now have 200 members. T ▼ T • • • BACHELOR dinner to be given Leonard Schles inger, Warner theater exec at the Ritz Tower on Wednesday, Nov. 2, by his home office associates he will hop on the marriage merry-go-round on Nov. 4 in the company of Rose Coyle of Philly ▼ ▼ ▼ • • • UNIQUE trailer stunt devised by Branch Manager C. W. Allen of RKO Radio's Dallas office he had National Screen make up a special trailer for the territory on "A Man fo Remember" the trailer in the name of the management announces the production as a heart-warming saga of a country doctor, and offers any dissatisfied customer his money back if the picture isn't all they claim. • Dinner for Consolidated Film Industries' baseball team, winners in the M. P. League this season, was held last nite at Charlie's Grill, Little Ferry, N. J. . . 9 Premiere of the Yiddish film, "The Singing Blacksmith," at the Continental Theater on Nov. 1 starring Moishe Oysher, produced by Collective Films « « « » » » 750 ATTENDANCE MARK EXPECTED BY MPTOA (Continued from Page 1) gates is assured from the Chicago area. W. M. Moore of Jacksonville, Fla., has also advised that a special Pullman is being arranged to start from Atlanta tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. to arrive in Oklahoma City at 12:40 noon Sunday. The Dallas Variety Club has reserved three suites and four rooms at Convention headquarters to hold open house for all Variety club members and will have the nationally famous entertainer members of the club, Walter and Edgar, on hand. Tad Screen Advertising Service of Dallas has announced that their "Dog House" tried at state conventions for the first time last year will be used this year. Two cameramen will be on the job, one snapping pictures of delegates at all times from arrival to convention sessions and the other working in a dark room at the hotel which will permit showing of the pictures one hour after they have been snapped in the Tad booth where those in the pictures may claim them for their private collections. Arrangements have been made for a comprehensive lighting display by Westinghouse and the Oklahoma Gas & Electric Co. as part of the convention program. This will feature front and interior theater lighting under direction of Westinghouse's Oklahoma City manager, W. C. Baird, and Walter L. Metcalfe of O G & E as well as a high voltage demonstration by O G & E. The Skirvin Hotel management has taken over the Ladies' Style Show for presentation in its new Silver Glade Room and will provide the MCA orchestra playing at the hotel at the time for the meeting. Arrangements will be made with a local women's wear store to conduct the showings to be modeled by sorority girls from the University of Oklahoma. To Attend MPTOA Conclave Chicago — Sheldon F. Myers, manager of air conditioning sales for the Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Co., Robert Kroeschel, Chicago executive and Bob Buchanon, manager of the B & K maintenance department will attend the MPTOA convention at Oklahoma City. Horrors! Milwaukee, Wis. — Fox's Strand and the Alhambra, which reopened yesterday, are waging horrific competition. Former spot is advertising "The original horror boys, Boris Karloff in 'The Walking Dead' and Bela Lugosi in 'White Zombie'," while latter is urging the public to "wait for the 'real McCoy' horror show." Alhambra will play "Frankenstein" and "Dracula."