The Film Daily (1938)

Agreement with Gov t on Theater Expansion Move Near Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought {See Column 3 Below) The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty Years Old V ■■^=) 74, NO. 122 NEW YORK, FRIDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1938 TEN CENTS 20th Century-Fox to Enter French Production Field NEW MOVE TO ELIMINATTGAMES LAUNCHED IN N.Y. fOA Plans General Exhibitor Discussion of Reforms Meeting Expected to be Set for New York City on Dec. 21 ITOA will invite all interested exhibitors to attend its next meeting for the purpose of discussing the trade reform draft. Date for the session has not been set but it probably will be held on Dec. 21. Meanwhile Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA president, and Lewen Pizor, a member of the executive committee, yesterday continued their study (Continued on Page 11) TRI-STATE CONCLAVE MAY ACT ON REFORMS Memphis, Tenn. — First MPTOA affiliate to formally indicate its reaction to the distributors' proposals for trade reform may be the MPTO of Arkansas, Mississippi and Tennessee which will convene in the Hotel Gayoso here Sunday and Monday. Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prexy, ar (Continued on Page 10) Mrs. Roosevelt Buys First Ticket for Refugee Raffle Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt and Jack Benny co-starred in their own skit yesterday when, before newsreel cameras, Benny sold the President's wife the first ticket on a raffle of paintings sponsored by the Motion (Continued on Page 12) Dallas Refugee Benefit Nets More Than $70,000 Dallas — It is estimated that receipts from the benefit of German refugees given in the theaters of the Hoblitzelle O'Donnell Interstate Circuit in 137 locations, is in excess of $70,000. The Dallas Variety Club contributed $1,000 to the fund, (Continued on Page 11) D of J Agent "Listens In" on Squttwhs Seymour Kreiger, a member of the Department1 of Justice, "observed" remarks made yesterday by independent exhibitors during the meeting for the discussion of theater games at the Hotel Astor. Kreiger took down the names and addresses of those who complained of certain trade practices. He has been making similar surveys here over a period of several weeks. Kreiger left last night for Washington. WORLD-WIDE, G6 AND 20TH-F0X DEAL NEXT? Contract closing 20th-Fox-Gaumont British-Gainsborough distribution and producing deal was officially signed yesterday morning by President Sidney R. Kent of 20thPox and Arthur A. Lee, vice-president and general manager of GB. Pact calls for 20th-Fox to fulfill all GB contracts regarding distribution of pictures on the latter company's announced program. Pact does not include world-wide (Continued on Page 11) Harry Hummell New Prexy of New York Film Board A new slate of officers with the exception of that of treasurer has been elected by the New York Film Board of Trade, it was announced yesterday. Election was held Wednesday night. Harry Hummell, of Warner Bros., (Continued on Page 11) AGREEMENT NEAR ON THEATER EXPANSION Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Final confirmation of the proposed agreement between the Government and major film companies,— calling on the one hand for the latter to refrain from theater acquisition during progress of the current equity action unless such moves are known and approved by the Government, and, on the other hand, for the Government to lift the threat of a temporary injunction, (Continued on Page 10) Arguments in Chicago's Contempt Case Continue Chicago — Federal Judge Charles Woodward will continue to hear arguments on the defense motion for a bill of particulars in the criminal contempt proceedings instituted by the Government against B & K and the majors, except Columbia. The defendants are represented by (Continued on Page 12) 20th-Fox Enters French Prod. Thru Deal Closed With Andre Davene New York Circuits Talk Contract Terms with AFA Meeting yesterday in the office of C. C. Moskowitz, head of Loew's theater operations, labor representatives of large New York circuits discussed terms of an American Federation of Actors contract with (Continued on Page 6) Twentieth Century-Fox has closed a deal to enter the French production field next year. Four pictures are scheduled to be produced in France by Andre Davene and will be distributed in Europe by the 20th-Fox organization, it was leai'ned yesterday from an authoritative source. Deal was signed recently on the (Continued on Page 3) Idea Meets With Approval And Opposition At Open Meeting Renewed efforts to eliminate games in New York City theaters met with both opposition and approval yesterday when representative exhibitors convened at the Hotel Astor on the invitation of the ITOA. The attitude of the license department of the city was explained by Commissioner Paul Moss, who said that it was the opinion of his department that cash giveaways were an illegal practice. After an open forum in which (Continued on Page 3) UA LIABLETOW. VA. TAX, COURT IS TOLD Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — United Artists is liable to intra-state taxes of West Virginia because it derives revenue from exhibition of its films within the state in theaters that come under the Business and Occupation Tax Law, the U. S. Supreme Court was told yesterday by C. W. Meadows, representing the state, as arguments (Continued on Page 6) RKO Reorg. Hearing Today To Clarify Stock Waiver Hearing on th RKO organization, called by Federal Judge William Bondy to take place at 5 p.m. today in his chambers, is slated to clarify the question as to whether physical presentation of stock certificates should be waived with respect to the filling of consents. Possibility loomed last evening that (Continued on Page 12) Zanuck, Wurtzel's 20th-Fox Pix Through May Finished All releases scheduled by 20th-Fox through May that are on the Darryl F. Zanuck and Sol Wurtzel programs (Continued on Page 12)