The Film Daily (1938)

Thursday, December 1, 1938 3* DAILY ZUKOR, HICKS, ROSE TO CONFER IN N. Y. (Continued from Page 1) tion activities. Rose, head of the company's production affairs in England, and Hick= vice-president in charge of the foreign department, sail Saturday on the Normandie for N1 York. it* is understood that Zukor's duties will be clear1" denned at the : scheduled conferences. Rose will remain here only a few days and may return with Zukor to England. Hicks has been acting as managing director of Paramount's British organization since the resignation of John Cecil Graham. Whether Hicks will return to Europe after the Christmas holidays has not been determined. Disney Unable to Appear Before Profit-Sharing Com. Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The profit-sharing sub-committee of the Senate Finance committee announced last night that it had received a telegram from Walt Disney in Hollywood expressing his interest in the committee's work and his regret that he could not take advantage of the invitation to testify on his company's setup because of pressure of his firm's business. The sub-committee expects to complete its hearings next week. Warners' Four In December Warners will release four pix during December, with "Dawn Patrol" selected as the Christmas week release. Others are "Comet Over Broadway," Dec. 3; "Heart of The North." Dec. 10, and "Going Places," Dec. 31. STORKS! Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — John J. Payette, general zone manager for Warners in this territory, and his wife, the former Dorothy Crandall, are celebrating the advent of a seven-and-ahalf pound son, christened Ronald Crandall Payette, born at the local Columbia Hospital on Tuesday morning, last. The new arrival is the fourth member of the Payette offsprings, Dolores is now 12 years old; John, Jr., eight; and Robert, two. A babv girl was born on Tuesday, last, in the Harkness Pavilion of Presbvterian Hospital, to Mrs. Alice Matton Sjoberg, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Carl Nielsen of 100 Riverside Drive. Carl Nielsen was for many years in charge of 20th-Fox interests in 1 Scandinavia, headquartering in Stockholm. Dietvs Flashes Off Coast Wires West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Bob Burns may appear in an original by Irvin S. Cobb for Para. . . . Larry Darmour has started "The Guerillas," third in the Bill Elliott series for Columbia. . . Ann Sheridan gets the femme lead in Warners' "Each Dawn I Die". . . Metro has added Charles Butterworth to "Song of the West". . . RKO has cast Lucille Ball opposite Richard Dix in "12 Crowded Hours". . . Tex Ritter's "Little Tenderfoot" becomes "Song of the Buckaroo". . . Dorr's St. Luke Choristers will sing in Sol Lesser's "Fisherman's Wharf". . . Metro has handed a new pact to Jacques Deval. — WILK. Tennessee Trust Suit Names Four Major Cos. (Continued from Page 1) Rialto, Knoxville; Palace, Fountain City; Palace, Morristown; Palace, Newport, and the Palace, Harriman, all in Tennessee, charges that the defendant companies entered into a conspiracy to prevent the plaintiff's houses from obtaining product, thereby forcing it out of business. The plaintiff alleges that the defendant distributors refused to sell Peerless any pictures without the consent and approval of the Crescent and Cherokee companies, which operate theaters in several of the towns in which Peerless owns theaters. In the case of Columbia, it is charged that this distributor offered to sell pictures to Peerless theaters provided Peerless paid 25 p.c. of the contract in advance, a practice which the plaintiff declares is "irregular, unheard of and impossible." The plaintiff is asking treble damages, plus costs and reasonable attorney fees. West Virginia Exhibitors Plan Fight on Censorship (Continued from Page 1) with President R. J. Healy of the former presiding. Legislative situation in the state will come in for special attention. State Legislature convenes on Jan. 11, and the two exhib. bodies will wage a determined fight to kill the proposed state censorship bill. ITO met this week at Wheeling, with 56 members present. VicePresident R. J. Marks presided in the absence of Healy, ill. I. T. Cohen, Ascap legal rep. in the Virginias and Carolinas, spoke. A dinner and floor show followed. Hakim Talking Deal Distribution deal for four French pix is being negotiated by Ralph Hakim, French producer, who arrived here recently, it was learned yesterday. First picture on program is "The Human Beast," starring Simone Simon and Jean Gabin. Hakim plans a two month stay here and will visit the Coast before he returns to France. Charlie Allen Dead Knoxville, Tenn. — Charlie Allen, violinist and for nine years the orchestra leader at Keith's Theater in Toledo when vaudeville was in its heyday, died here. For four years following his Toledo engagement he directed orchestras in several vaudeville houses in Detroit. UA Talking No Pix Deal With Steffes for Alvin 'Continued from Page 1) seat Minneapolis theater which Steffes will reopen in early 1939, it was learned here yesterday. This refutes reports in circulation in Minneapolis where the Minnesota Amusement Co. is turning back the Alvin to the exhib. leader. New York slant is that the report originated as a result of the fact that UA plans to screen a pix or two at the Alvin. Minneapolis — Local Film Row hears that Department of Justice investigators have been here to delve into the reported experience of W. A. Steffes in lining up product, for the Alvin which he shortly takes over. Figured here that the D of J is interested in view of the wide charges made in the New York equity suit. Several months ago Steffes notified all majors he would consider any run for the Alvin and inquired what product was available for the house on first-run, second-run, 25 cent, 20 cent and 10 cent run. He declared at that time he favored a 20 cent run to break at the Alvin day and date with the 20 cent subsequents. He said he had had several product and run discussions with the major branch managers, but no run could be worked out that would not conflict with the present availability and protection set-up in the city. Steffes' latest declaration on the subject was that he would go to ten cents "if necessary" and perhaps even to dual bills at that price. Max Milder Coming Over for Warner H. O. Parleys Max Milder, managing director for Warners in England, leaves London on the Normandie Saturday for home office conferences with Sam E. Morris, vice-president in charge of foreign distribution. Milder will remain here about three weeks. Set "Everything" at Roxy Pre-release engagement for "Thanks For Everything," new 20thFox musical comedy, has been set for Dec. 9 at the Roxy. Four other pre-release engagements have been set in Indiana, Cleveland, Louisville and St. Louis. National release date for pix is Dec. 23. Reports of previews on Coast have tabbed picture as being outstanding, according to home office execs. BLOCK-BOOKING HIT AS TRUST VIOLATION (Continued from Page 1) mount, MPPDA, First National, M-G-M. Universal, United Artists, Fox Films (now 20th Century-Fox), Pathe, RKO, Educational, Indianapolis Film Board of Trade and Vitagraph. The plaintiff contends that it was forced to take pictures of little or no box office value, thereby suffering heavy losses. It seeks $266,000 in damages. Records and books from 1920 are being introduced as evidence. Edmund H. Bingham, on executive of the plaintiff company, was the first witness. Case is to be continued today when the plaintiff is slated to introduce new evidence. Marquee Ordinance Under Attack by Exhibitors (Continued from Page 1) would make compulsory the scaling down of film theater and other commercial marquees and signs to extend only one foot beyond the property line, thus vastly curtailing the efficiency of visual merchandising by the interests affected. Proposed ordinance would apply to all theaters on Broadway between 69th St. and 120th St., and applicable also to 100 feet East or West of Broadway. During the three-hour session, W. French Githens, president of the Newsveel Theaters, Inc., led the film industry attack, with John Manheimer, secretary of ITO A; Isidore Frey, of Loew's, Inc.; Milton Meyer, of RKO's legal staff; M. Rosen, representing 1.500 sheet metal workers of the local A F of L union: Albert Heyman, representing 27,000 allied sign workers and writers; and J. Vanderveer of the Broadway Association, and others, joining him in militant objections. Realty interests, mainspringed by Fred A. Wykoff of Wood Dolson, realtors, appearad in favor of the measure. Another hearing is expected to be scheduled for this week, but was not definitely set yesterday. Omaha's Para. Closing Omaha — Paramount Theater, 3,000-seater, apparently remains a white elephant. Tri-States is closing the house this week after another try. Quebec Theater Burns Quebec — The Classic theater was destroyed by fire which followed a furnace explosion. WEDDING BELLS Detroit— Timothy J. Cleary, M-GM salesman, will wed Miss Georgina Seivt, of Cincinnati on Jan. 14.