The Film Daily (1939)

w DAILY Tuesday, April 25, 193 ; SELF-REGULATION OX IN AUSTRALIA {Continued from Page 1) turning' then to Australia via the Coast. Self-regulation for the industry in both New Zealand and New South Wales, he declared, is the policy being pursued by their governmental bodies. In former, exhibs and distribs. are operating under a new standard form of contract, and the recently organized New Zealand Film Board of Control is expected to become operative this week, the personnel comprising four exhibs. and four distribs. In New South Wales, the instituted Films Committee is effectively handling trade problems, including arbitration and the controlling of building licenses. There and in Victoria the 25 per cent rejection clause is in force, with exhib. interests apparently well satisfied, the boost having been made from the former 12% per cent. This arrangement, Mason believes, ma" be extended shortly to embrace the other states of the Commonwealth. British product is to be assured playing time via a regulation which provides for compulsory showing of British pix on a 15 per cent basis, and as and when proclaimed, this measure will be in force. In other words, regardless of the rejection percentage, the exhibitor must show 15 per cent British. Business in Australasia is holding up well in face of the adverse psychology of the public which has been suffering from war "jitters," Mason said. However, he believes, the approximately $300,000,000 armament budget may react beneficially by boosting public purchasing power through employment on this program. U. S. films remain supreme in that part of the world, he declared, and the market will be an increasing one for Hollywood productions. Greater Union Theaters' expansion program has been progressing nicely, he stated, with the chief points of building being Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide. CBS to Short Wave "Juarez" Premiere to S. A. World premiere of Warners' "Juarez" at the Hollywood Theater tonight, will be heard over a special short-wave hookup from 8 to 9 p.m. to Mexico and South America arranged by CBS. In addition, WMCA will broadcast the premiere through a national hookup. New Allied Unit Organized For Calif, Ariz., Nevada (Continued from Page 1) zation which already has affiliated with the national body, according to an announcement issued yesterday. Officers and members of the board are Seth Perkins, president; Jules Wolf, vice-president; Fred Hershorn, treasurer; James C. Quinn, executive secretary, and L. L. Bard and B. J. Leavitt, directors. Toss In a Towel Ch'cago — It was left for the Music Box Theater here to introduce towels as giveaways. Archbishop to Officiate at Cocalis Rites Today (Continued from Page 1) calis Circuit, at the Greek Orthodox Cathedral, 319 East 74th St., of which he was a trustee. Until 1:30 p.m. today his body will repose in the Universal Chapel. 597 Lexington Ave., and at the subsequent church services Archbishop Athenagoras, ranking prelate of the Greek Orthodox faith in North and South America, will officiate. Deceased, one of the outstanding exhibs. of the New York-New Jersey area, died on Saturday in Mt. Sinai Hospital, following an operation. The first pix house he owned was the Royal in Elizabeth, N. J., and from this modest beginning he built up theater holdings which numbered at his death 15 houses of the Springer-Cocalis Circuit and 19 houses under the banner of Cocalis Enterprises. Surviving are his wife, Mrs. Chresanthe Cocalis; three sons, George, James and Alexander Cocalis, and four daughters, the Misses Virginia, Ethel and Betty Cocalis, of Deal, N. J., and Mrs. Mary Campouris, of Athens, Greece. Proposed Odeon-GB Merger "Postponed," Says Deutsch London (By Cable) — Following the return of Philip Hill from the U. S. where he conferred with Joseph M. Schenck and Sidney R. Kent concerning a proposal for the merger of the Odeon and Gaumont British circuits, Oscar Deutsch, head of Odeon, stated that "the international situation at this time makes the time not exactly propitious for a big financial transaction of the kind." He added that any deal "was postponed — at least." Gusdanovic-Shore Theater Case is Amicably Settled Cleveland — Injunction charging contract violation brought by Paul Gusdanovic, prexy of East Shore Theater Co. operating the LaSalle Theater, to restrain 20th CenturyFox and Vitagraph from serving the new Shore Theater, two miles distant, on prior or day-and-date basis, was amicably settled yesterday in the office of Common Pleas Judge Lee E. Skeel. Settlement involved price reduction to the LaSalle and a guarantee that the product become simultaneously available to both theaters. N. H. Frowns on Bank Night Concord, N. H. — In answer to a question from one of the state departments, the attorney-general's office here has ruled that "bank days" are "in violation of the law against lotteries and constitute a gambling practice." Music House Suit Against Erpi Upheld by Judge Knox (Continued from Page 1) damages were set, but an accounting was called for with damages expected to reach approximately $170,000. Suit was filed in 1936 and hearing was held last June. Paine asked damages of $211,743 and asked for an interpretation of licensing agreements between the music publishers and Erpi made in 1927 and 1929. These agreements gave Erpi full rights for the use of songs in recording sound tracks for motion pictures. Paine claimed that agreement was violated by Erpi's refusal to pay royalties on presentations in foreign countries regardless of whether in these countries the songs were in the public domain. Plaintiff stated that by witholding permission in this country Erpi would be unable to market the films in foreign countries. Judge Knox upheld Erpi claim that rate of payment on recordings made before 1929 was excessive. Amount involved was approximately $40,000. Mexico Seriously Weighs Backing Film Production (Continued from Page 1) tin Rueda, head of the Mexican government office of general information of the Department of Press and Propaganda. Rueda and Pablo Prida, prominent exhib., who is the oldest living descendant of Benito Juarez, are here as the guests of Warners for the world premiere here tonight of "Juarez." Facilities in Mexican studios are open to foreign producers, but direct interest has been slight, Rueda said. He asserted that European pix were not popular and amounted to less than 10 per cent of the American imports. More than 90 per cent of Mexican theaters are wired for sound, it was added. Rueda and Parida will return to Mexico City in about a week. Government Will File Bill in N. Y. Equity Suit Wed. (Continued from Page 1) Washington, will be brought to New York in the interim by either Seymour Kreiger or Robert L. Wright, special assistants to U. S. Attorney General Frank Murphy. Juarez Once on Coast Wet Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Beverly Hills, Cal.— The Beverly Hills Theater here, will have a special $2 showing of Warners "Juarez" for one performance only at 9 P.M. tonight. PIX GET THE BREAKS INSTATE LEGISLATURE! (Continued from Page 1) tures have adjourned, and there ai about 325 bills pending in stat< that have not finished their session Thirteen bills affecting the irg?ustt in one way or another ha^ybee passed since Jan. 1. They are: Arkansas: Sunday motion pictures legalized. Delaware: Sunday openings legalized after 2 P.M. in cities of more than 25,000 population. Kansas: Sales tokens elimnated, an action favorable to exhibitors. Maine: Sunday shows legalized between 3 and 11 P.M. Maryland: Sunday shows legalized in Wicomico County. Nebraska: Anti-marathon bill passed. North Carolina: Sunday closing law repealed in Johnston, Hyde and Yadkin Counties; a $5 amusement tax assessed for all entertainments with more than 25-cent admission charge; parimutuel betting on dog racing passed in Onslow and New Hanover Counties. North Dakota: Licensing authority set up to pass on building of new theaters in towns where one or more shows are o.peratin g — constitutionality questioned. Tennessee: Bill passed allowing majority of citizens of municipalities to vote on Sunday openings, instead of the former ly required 4/5 vote. Vermont: Sunday shows legalized after 6 P.M. States in which the legislatui are still in session are: Calif orn Colorado, Connecticut, Delawa Florida, Illinois, Iowa, Maine, Ma1 sachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, rj braska, New Hampshire, New Jr sey, New York, Ohio, Oklahon Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tex and Wisconsin. Alabama convenr in special session on March 15 a adjourned March 31. It will recc vene in regular session July Special sessions are contemplated Georgia and Idaho. ■ Call Meeting to Organize Film Co. Office Employ (Continued from Page 1) be held Friday night in the Grt Room of the Manhattan Cent'Efforts will be made to organ the film workers and obtain a cc tract similar to that signed betwe the union and Universal. Chi. Triples Down Chicago — Exhib. use of triples and premiums is down slightly, week-end checkup shows. Rosewood continues showing four features, but triple-feature houses now total only 11. Premium trend at the moment seems to be towards silverware.