The Film Daily (1938)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought : The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty Years Old 74, NO. 97 NEW YORE, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1938 TEN CENTS Protest Against Film Stars on Air Voted by MPTOA MPTGA LOOKING FOR NATIONAL EXHIBITOR UNITY $1,000/000 for Construction/ Equipment in New England Post Mortem . . on MPTOA meet By CHESTER B. BAHN IT'S a matter of industry history today, the 18th annual convention of the MPTOA. In the light of the morning after — the Oklahoma City sessions concluded last night with a dinner-dance — it would seem that the anticipated importance of the convention was approximated at least. If there was no disclosure of specific concessions offered by the distributors in the continuing trade reform parleys, there was the assurance by William F. Rodgers, on behalf of the Kent committee, that a program is taking shape and may be ready for announcement within the week. That assurance was worth going to Oklahoma City, yes, or any other spot that might have been chosen, to hear. It may be accepted as fact that if Rodgers did not feel that he was in a position to so assure, the statement would not have been made. Thus, unless within the next week someone elects to throw a monkey wrench into the negotiations, this industry, insofar as distributor exhibitor relations are concerned, is finally headed for peace. And not a Munich peace, either. COR the rest, the MPTOA convention ' sessions largely served as a national sounding board for the re-statement of industry criticism and a re-examination of industry issues and practices. That necessarily is the way of all conventions, regardless of trade, and this commentator admits slight patience with those who regard such procedure with either cynicism or condescension. However familiar the ground covered, periodic stock-taking is invaluable. Not only does it serve to clear the air, but it further guarantees that neither the forest nor the trees will be obscured — if you'll pardon two figures of speech in a single sentence. Exhibition, for instance, needs to be reminded that it, too, has its faults . . . and in this connection, Harry Goldberg of War (Continued on Page 2) Total Expenditure for First 10 Months Shows $350,000 Increase By RUDOLPH BRUCE FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Boston — Expenditures for theater construction and equipment in the New England territory for the first 10 months of this year approximate $1,000,000, a Film Daily survey establishes. Expenditures last year for the same period amounted to about 8650,000. All theater supply houses reported business gains. Increase in expenditures was due (Continued on Page 6) DISTRIBUNDALLIED TALK REFORMS IN CHI, BLOCK-BOOKING HEARINGS SURE No Snap Action by Next Congress Pledged Chicago — Scene of trade reform negotiations shifts to this city from New York today with representatives of the distributors' committee scheduled to resume deliberations here with the Allied States conferees (Continued on Page 8) Oklahoma City — Assurances that there would be no action on the Pettengill-Neely anti-block booking and blind selling measure, re-introduction of which is regarded as certain when Congress reconvenes, until new hearings have been held were voiced to the MPTOA convention here yesterday. A. Julian Brylawski of Washington, who outlined the PettengillNeely drive at the last session of Congress, told the convention that Rep. Clarence F. Lea, Democrat, of California, chairman of the Committee on Interstate Commerce, has promised to hold new hearings. In the Senate at the last session, (.Continued on Page 8) Para. Drops Morris Deal; Fletcher Will Purchase URGES WAR ON ASGAP THRU STATE STATUTES Deal initiated for the purchase of Joe Morris Music Corp. by Paramount has fallen through. Lou Diamond, president of Famous Music (Continued on Page 8) Oklahoma City — -An attack on Ascap and explanation of how it was defeated in the State of Washington was given the MPTOA convention yesterday by L. O. Lukan of (Continued on Page 6) MPTOA Resolution Holds Film Stars On Air Destroy Their Popularity Exhibs. Discuss their Problems At ATO of Indiana Meeting Indianapolis — Second day of the twelfth annual meeting of the Associated Theater Owners of Indiana in session here at the Antlers Hotel was devoted to lively discussions by (Continued on Page 6) Oklahoma City — Delegates to the MPTOA convention here yesterday voted to send protests to stars and producers against the appearance of screen personalities on the radio. In a resolution prepared by Frank Cassil of St. Joseph, Mo., it was said that talents of picture people are not adapted to radio broadcasting (Continued on Page 8) Exhib. Practice of Divulging Film Prices Paid by Indies Attacked By AL STEEN FILM DAILY Staff Writer Oklahoma City— The 18th annual convention of the MPTOA closed here yesterday with the delegates expressing the hope that some day Allied and MPTOA could be in such accord on trade problems that the need for two organizations would be eliminated. The "bury the hatchet" suggestion came from J. R. Denniston of Monroe, Mich., who asserted that there was no more need for two national (Contmued on Page 6) MPTOA RESOLUTIONS; ASK QUIZ EXTENSION By ERNEST W. FAIR FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Oklahoma City — A motion asking the film biz drize committee to extend the quiz contest at least 30 days if possible, or to reduce the number of pictures in the book, was adopted by the MPTOA convention yesterday afternoon following a (Continued on Page 7) Studios Rid of Doldrums, Hitting Fast Pace — Dunlap Coast production of all companies, and activity correlated with film making, are currently at an all-time high, Scott R. Dunlap, Monogram studio chief said yesterday upon his arrival in New York. Dunlap was accompanied by Ralph Bettinson, (Continued on Page 2) ITOA Pledges Support to Gov't Equity Suit ITOA proposes to back the Government's equity suit here to the limit. Meeting yesterday, the New York (Continued on Page 7)