The Film Daily (1939)

<1 Hi cK< Friday, November 3, V939 DAILY NEW CASH GIVEAWAY |U. S. Production in Latin American GIVEN NEB. OKAY (Continued from Page 1) here, and subsequently outlawed as a lottery by the Supreme Court some years back, lenience has been given a cash giveaway stunt in Nebraska. Given the go -signal has been "Prosperity Night," which asks for registration in the lobby of the theater, the day and evening of the o-iveaway. It needs no ticket purchase to be eligible, neither does the registrant have to attend the theater, have a minimum time to claim the prize, or have to be present when his name is called. Attorney General Johnson, summing up the Supreme Court's lottery ruling, said a violation needed three points— a prize, chance, and consideration. Since the third point is missing from "Prosperity Night, he believes it to be in the clear. Maynard Grosshans, county attorney in York, brought up the question for the Attorney Generals ruling. , Since Bank Night was socked by adverse rulings, similar stymies were placed on Screeno, Bingo, Job Night, Work Night, etc. New Chi. Circuit Looms Chicago— H. A. Nichols has been elected president of the newly organized Wabash Theater Corp. with offices at 105 W. Monroe St. B. Burk was named vice-president and E H. Allen secretary. The company has taken over the Wabash Theater as the first house of a contemplated circuit. Schmertz Aids CC Drive Cleveland — For the third consecutive year I. J. Schmertz, 20th-Fox branch manager has been named chairman of the motion picture division of the Cleveland Community Fund Drive. Mrs. Georgia Moffett, Variety Club secretary will assist him, as usual. Manos House to Harris Pittsburgh — The 900-seat Manos Theater, Jeannette, now being constructed by Mike Manos and recently having been reported as leased to Warner Theaters, has been leased to the Harris Amusement Co. and will open Nov. 7. Toreado(o)r Ajar! Not even opera can be counted as sacred to Nazi propagandists, Armando A. Miranda, prexy of Puerto Rico's Borinquen Film Co., told the Ampa luncheon meeting yesterday. He said that the film, "Carmen," flickered along smoothly, but at an unexpected moment rang out with a totalitarian tenet. Miranda said that the LatinAmerican countries are up against this sort of thing, and that the inroads of European features can be arrested by U. S. companies supplying more pix which appeal to the Pan-American family of nations . . . and their audiences. Countries Dangerous, Golden Warns {Continued individual, were in rebuttal to criticism launched against American methods in Latin-America by Rene Borgia, attache of the Venezuelan Embassy in charge of publicity; Eddie Le Baron, producer of Spanish-language films; and Armando A. Miranda, president of the Borinquen Film Co., leading indie distrib. in Puerto Rico. Characterizing the bulk of the charges made against the industry here "as clearly an indictment of American methods" and demanding refutation in several important instances, Golden asserted that, inasmuch as the motion picture business is a business, that any steps taken by U. S. producers to make feature films in Latin-America would in a practical sense be training LatinAmerican personnel; building the native industry there, and creating competition which would sooner or later invite quota legislation. Cites Good Will Efforts American majors have been constantly bending efforts of late, Golden said, "to build tre finest of good-will between Latin-America and the United States," and added that the foreign departments of the nroducer-distributor companies and Mai. Frederick L. Herron of MPPDA deserve "a tribute" for their constructive operating: policies in the Latin-American fields, and are in no way responsible for practices indulged in there bv certain "states rights" companies. Golden conceded that in the past few years U. S. playing-time percentage has undergone a slight decline amounting; to five per cent in the approximately 20 Pan-American countries. Currently, the TJ. S. percentage is 75. while that occupied bv French, German, Italian and other product shipped into LatinAmerica amounts to 15 per cent. Native films account for the remainin f 10 ner cent. The best the U. S. distribs. could hone for in the near future, since Latin -America's native production "nav be in for a rise because of the European war. is to cut into the 15 per cent figure of foreisrn nations hv about 10 per cent. fi2 Million Ft. In 9 Months Rise of U. S. pix in Latin-America is evident, he asserts, from the iumn from 61.000 000 feet in 1932 *-n 88.000 000 in 1938 During; th° first r.ino months of the current •rear. 62.000 000 feet have e?one to La tinAmerica. Short subject producers in the U. S.. and The March of Time. Golden PALACE WILL SINGLE 'ALLEGHENY UPRISING' ,r s from Page 1) suggested, can do a big good-will service in South and Central America by making more films delineating the life, customs and scenic assets of Pan-American neighbors, and major producers can send stars there as good-will "ambassadors." The U. S., he said, welcomes LatinAmerica films, and all we want in return is a fair opportunity to compete in the Pan-American markets without having to face harmful legislation. Golden placed Latin-American production in 1938 at 139 features, 50 issuing from Argentina, as against 30 in 1937; 60 from Mexico, which made 52 in 1937; 11 from Peru. where only 2 were made in 1937; and the balance scattering. Golden decried publicity of an adverse and irritating character which has sometimes attended the trips of U. S. distributor execs, into South and Central America. These trips have been accompanied frequently by announcements from press departments that the U. S. is increasing its activities in that market. This has a justifiably poor effect on Latin-American minds, for it produces this reaction: "You're coming down here to make up on us what you are losing elsewhere." Borgia Raps Superfluous Titles Rene Borgia's address was _ read bv Paul Lazarus. Ampa president, and it expressed the view that about 70 per cent of titles in U. S. pix sent into Latin-America are superfluous and interfere with audience enioyment. American methods, he added, are destroying the market for Hollywood product, throuerh lack of understanding of the people there. Eddie LeBaron, Spanish-laneuae-e film producer, declared that the U. S. is doomed to lose Latin-American market dominance bv lack of foresight, princinally bv makinc the market a "dimming ground" for o-ood. bad and indifferent nix alike: failure to use personnel who know the Spanish language and the marVet; and failure to make fil^s for the market in LatinAmerica. Armando A. Miranda. h°^d of the ■Rorinmien Film Co.. a^e indie distributingoutfit in Puerto Rico Wasted the Film Board there and the "suner" bloelc-Viookine methods nrevailine. which, he avers, make -=-»->iihs. buy product thev can't pos=ibl^ use numerirallv. He delivered c s^orchine indictment of American methods: cited the growing; nonularity of foreisrn pix on the 5=1ar>dand pleaded for realism in Hollywood features. (Continued from Page 1) Program will be all-RKO, supporting shorts including "Information Please" and Disney's "Beachff'ic -„ » ' DC i me Walter Brandt Stricken Youngstown, O. — Stricken with a stroke while driving on the highway near here, Walter Brandt, widely known Vitagraph salesmen, is in a critical condition in St. Elizabeth's Hospital here. lindamood to Athletics New Market, Va. — Welden (Lefty) Lindamood, chief of service, New Market Theater, and star pitcher on the New Market Ball Club, has just signed a contract with the Philadelphia Athletics. Pittsburgh — A mile-long pageant led by Superintendent of Public Safety George E. A. Fairley and screen star Claire Trevor this afternoon will touch off a round of activities of civic celebrations to be held here in connection with the observance of the 100th anniversary of the incorporation of the city of Allegheny (now Pittsburgh's North Side) to be climaxed with the $2.50 world premiere of "Allegheny Uprising." The picture will bow in at Loew's Penn Theater as part of the big three-day celebration. P. J. Wolfson, screen author and producer of the show, and Neil Swanson, author of "The First Rebel" novel on which the screenplay is based, are here for the festivities. Miss Trevor arrived here yesterday after two days in Washington and a visit to the colonial exhibit in Williamsburg. Redbook to Make Award Editors of Redbook Magazine announce the inaugural of a motion picture award of the year "to an individual or an organization that, in their estimation, has contributed most to the improvement of the artistic standai-ds during the preceding year." Award will take the form of a trophy. Announcement of the first winner will be made in the January issue, out Dec. 1. M-G-M to Star Vivien Leigh /■« »ast Bureau nf THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — M-G-M has borrowed Vivien Leigh from Selznick Internation to to star in "Waterloo Bridge" which Mervyn LeRoy will direct, with Sidney A. Franklyn as producer. Later LeRoy will produce and direct "Ziegfeld Girl." Blackstone for Great States Chicago — Great States circuit has booked Blackstone, magician, into several of its key spots, starting with the Orpheum, Champaign. Martin Leaving UDT Detroit — Albert F. Martin, auditor for United Detroit Theaters, is resigning. Wanted: Astronomers London (By Cable) — Looks as though film salesmen here will have to take a course in astronomy. Sales execs, are impressing upon their sales forces the necessity for getting as many dates as possible on the nights when the moon is full. Yes, you guessed right — the blackout is the answer.