The Film Daily (1939)

Monday, November 20, 1939 DAILY VOGEL JOINS LOEWS BOARD OF DIRECTORS (Continued from Page 1) Moskowitz, head of the New York circuit, also is a director of Loew's and of the subsidiary. Starting as an usher in Loew's Yorkville Theater while in high school, Vogel rose rapidly and in fov-^years he was treasurer of Lot,.-s 7th Ave. Theater, going frcm there to the New Rochelle and then to the Greely Square. After returning to the 7th Avenue as assistant manager, he became manager of Loew's Fulton in Brooklyn where he was the youngest manager on the circuit. In 1919 he was promoted to Loew's Victoria and in 1921 he had the honor of being the first manager of the new Loew's State Theater on Broadway. When Col. Ed Schiller retired several years ago, Vogel succeeded him in his present position. His place on the board comes as a recognition of a 30-year career with Loew's. Circuit Deals Completed for 1939-40 WB Product (Continued from Page 1) manager, who asserted that the final pacts concluded were with the T & D Jr. Circuit, operating 34 houses in California and Nevada, and the Crescent Amusement Co. and its affiliates, comprising 64 theaters in Georgia, Tennessee and North Carolina. Carl Leserman, assistant general sales manager, closed the deal with T & D Jr., which was represented in the negotiations by Mike Naiffy. The Crescent contract was effectuated by Ben Kalmenson, Warners' western and southern sales manager, with Tony Sudekum signing for the circuit. Local 702 Launches Drive to Sign Editors, Cutters (Continued from Page 1) at the week-end. Union now embraces all technicians working in laboratories with these exceptions. The Local expects to sign contracts this week with Malcolm Laboi-atorv and Pathe Film Corp.'s New York laboratory. The union has moved to new headquarters at 1560 Broadway in the Bond Building, taking over larger offices. THE WEEK IN REVIEW Production for N. Y.— N. Z. a 100% U. S. Pix Market? By L. H. MITCHELL S-W "Kiddie Checks" To Win Juve Patrons Philadelphia — Stanley Warner theaters, driving for juve patronage, are introducing the "Friendly Service Kiddie Check," sold for a dime or "checkbook" of 10 for $1. "Now," the promotional copy advises parents, "you can reward the kiddies after a hard day's work at school, after running errands and doing small favors around the house, or for being the swell son and daughter that they always are. "You can even write your own kiddie's name into the check. Certainly that will make them feel proud." DOMESTIC PRODUCTION IN EAST: Mayor Fiorello H. LaGuardia of New York, after conferences with bankers, union execs., stated that New York will get a share of motion picture production. Sites were hinted at World's Fair grounds and Staten Island. Ben Hecht and George Jessel will produce in East through New York Pictures, Inc. * * * TELEVISION: Early in week actor unions were reported working on a television setup under three AAAA subsidiaries, but at week-end Actors Equity announced it would press its claim for sole control of tele talent . . . Tele committee of the FCC recommended limited tele commercialization . . . NBC continues to seek sponsors for tele programs to defray production and talent costs. * * * UNIONS: IATSE refused producer's request to relinquish the 15 per cent wage boost recently granted studio locals. A F of L studio unions gave producers until 2:30 p.m. tcday to agree to 10 per cent wage increase retroactive to Aug. 12, and intimated a strike in case of refusal . . . International union presidents and producers will meet in Newark Dec. 6 to consider, among other matters, wages of studio carpenters, electricians and transportation driv SUITS, CODE : Reported that the Gov't might rephrase its equity suit interrogatories. Conferences on the N. Y. C. suit were adjourned to Nov. 30 . . . Balm in the "Letty Lynton" plagiarism case, which M-G-M has appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court, citing eight errors, was fixed by stipulation at $153,030 . . . Allied leaders were reported to look favorably upon a plan to launch uniform arbitration ... Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prexy, stigmatized "Code stuff" as "hooey" and professed to find a sharp change in industry's attitude towards mediation. * * * ITEMS: ITOA's Harry Brandt called on prominent individual stars to clarify their attitude on air appearances which ITOA, allegedly supported by other exhib. units, is fighting . . . Pathe announced a nine months net of $192,002 . . . Sam Goldwyn was reported talking releasing deal with Paramount and RKO . . . UA domestic sales for past year were said to be $7,000,000 ahead, with larger program set for 1940-141 . . . Grand National's Eastern and West Coast creditors agreed upon terms of payment for their claims . . . Possibility of night racing at low admissions added to worries of N. Y. exhibs. re pari-mutuel's adopticn by State. * * * FOREIGN BRITISH EMPIRE: Great Britain was expected momentarily to announce its film policy, while decision on remittances to U. S. was reported near . . . Fading of quotas in New Zealand was foreseen as giving the U. S. 100 per cent market in that Dominion . . . Canada reported that half of its pix theaters are independently operated. TO SPUR TELE THRU COST-PRICE RECEIVERS Danish Exhibitors Looking "Mr. Smith" May Roll Up to U. S. for Film Supply Six Weeks Chicago Run Copenhagen (By Cable) — Ways and means of providing for a normal supply of films, in face of the current European hostilities and attending difficulties of ocean transportation, is the primary concern f Denmark's exhibs. The two questions Danish theater managers are asking are, (1) will U. S. production be maintained, and (2) will it be possible to get the product over here. Thus far, the war's advent has not prevented direct shipments from America, but it is uncertain how long this will continue to be the case. Already there has been a sharp decline in shipments from other countries with German production virtually ceased, and French curtailed, the U. S., which supplied 178 features out of a total of 248 during the first nine months of 1939, is the chief hope of Danish exhibs. If American production and shipments hold up, Hollywood films will all but monopolize Denmark's Chicago — From present indications, Columbia's "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington," may have a six weeks' run at the B & K Apollo theater. Patronage rush has forced extra shows. (Continued from Page \) have been developed by manufacturers during the year, including perfection of square tubes to eliminate the concave effect in reception, manufacturers have been holding them back until the time was deemed right for an intensive marketing drive. While the New York metropolitan area has largely claimed the television spotlight thus far, and probably will continue to do so in the immediate future, the mid-west, notably Chicago and Cincinnati, and the Coast (Los Angeles) are seen as taking on importance. In the East, the current outstanding developments embrace the net work relay station being installed by General Electric between NewYork and Schenectady to assist in transmitting "network" telecasts being the RCA-NBC station and that of GE, and the approaching inaugural of CBS telecasts. DuMont, too, is ready to start as soon as the FCC gives the word. Browne Okays Reinstatement of Coast Studio IA Rebels Otto Ebert Joins S b S Indianapolis — Otto Ebert, formerly booker with Indianapolis Co-operative Theaters, has joined the S & S Theater Corp. in the same capacity. Herbert Gibson, formerly with RKO-Radio exchange as manager of the adv. sales department has succeeded Ebert, and Robert Cook, formerly with Twentieth Century-Fox, has succeeded Gibson as manager of RKO-Radio adv. sales department. Add Knightstown House Indianapolis — Theatrical Managers', Inc., has announced the Strand Theater, Knightstown, as an addition to the circuit. The house has been closed for some time and now being renovated and remodeled. (Continued from Page 1) rebels who, allegedly financed by CIO, has sought to supplant IA in the studios through the United Studio Technicians' Guild. Howard S. Robertson, chairman of the defunct USTG, was also the recipient of the IA amnesty. The rebels could have been barred from employment in the studios where IA holds a closed shop agreement with the producers. A "paternal consideration" for the brothers who had been "misled by undercover CIO agitators within the IA ranks" influenced the decision of IA, according to Frank Stickling, IA representative at the Hollywood headquarters. Acqi juires Cincy Theater Cincinnati — Mrs. J. F. Crone has taken over The Crescent theater, Winton Place. Just Company Folds Detroit — Children's Cinegraf Co., headed by Bessie M. Just, has folded. Company was a commercial film producer. RKO Closes Deals With 4 Chi. Chains Chicago — Four more local circuits have signed with RKO Radio for seasonal product, according to Jack Osserman, branch head. They are Jones, Linick Cr Schaefer, Alliance. Van Nomikos and Lasker.