The Film Daily (1940)

M I •" I ' 1< U IJ Zii V4 44 T H ST Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought FILE COPY OO NOT REMOv^E The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Two Years Old VOL. 77, NO. 114 -/oi= NEW YORK. TUESDAY. JUNE 11, 1940 TEN CENTS SETTLEMENT ACTION MAY BE DECIDED TODAY Further Film Loss Seen By Italy's War Entry Pix Shipments to Balkan Nations Will Now Be Sent by Way of Bagdad Entrance of Italy into the war yesterday further disrupted sched i lies for shipments of films and lihreatened a further loss of busi less to the American companies, vith foreign department heads ex iressing the belief that war in the aajor portions of the Mediterranean jirea was not far off. However, lassce, Barnett & Co., film forward |:rs, stated that shipments to the ( Continued on Page 4) tfarners Open First ^f 2 Sales Parleys {! Pittsburgh— Wtih more than 200 lelegates present, Warner Bros, yes;rday opened the first of two sales mventions at the William Penn !j!otel. Pittsburgh became a WarijBr city where every theater played jl Warner picture and newspapers !i[led their columns with Warner 3WS. Reiterating the stand taken by (Continued on Page S) jlew Rule on Canadians I'o Hurt Detroit Houses Detroit — Detroit theaters stand to v/lse heavily by the Government rul g against Canadian citizens com g into this country without the rmality of a passport. Thousands ' Canadians have made a habit of ming over to Detroit theaters on indays, when Canadian houses are 5sed, and this trade will be prac •ally blacked out by the new rul (Continued on Page S) & ]\athanson Elected CBC Vice-Chairman Montreal — N. L. Nathanson, president of Famous Players Canadian Corp.. has been named vice-chairman of the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He replaces Major-General Victor W. Odium, of Vancouver, who is in command of the second division of the Canadian Active I Force. There Will Be Many Vacant Exec. Chairs Along Film, Rotv Today . . . GoWs Got 'Etn! Should you phone exec, offices around local Film Row today, and be advised by an evasive, cryptic-sounding secretary that her boss isn't in, it's only because he's a lover of the great outdoors, green pastures, cold beer (and plenty of it), and the kind o' birdies that sing around the fairways of a verdant country club. In short, don't be jealous of your business quarry, because he's out at Glen Oaks playing the great and ancient Scottish game, or a spot of tennis. For today THE FILM DAILY Golf Tourney is on! New Admission Tax Looms in Louisiana Baton Rouge, La. — Film theaters and all other places of amusements not only face a state admission tax but will also apparently be compelled to post bond to insure collection of the tax if House bill 246 is passed by the Louisiana legislature. This was the opinion here after a comparatively quiet week-end which found a plethora of general legislation and at least six meas (Continued on Page 8) Eight Studios Start 13 Films This Week West Coast Bureau of THE FILM \DAILY Hollywood— Thirteen pictures are scheduled to go into production this week. At Columbia: "Clay Pigeon" starring Joe E. Brown and Frances Robinson. At RKO-Radio: The Charles Laughton-Carole Lombard picture. "They Knew What They Wanted" (Continued on Page 5) Rep. Takes Brandies In Omaha, Des Moines Republic's ' offices in Des Moines and Omaha, both of which have been under franchise pacts, were taken over by the company effective a week ago. Additionally, it was disclosed that Republic has renewed its franchise agreement with J. H. Sheffield, headquartering in Seattle, for the territories whose keys represent Port (CoHtinued on Page 6) To Appeal Neb. Ascap Decision Within 2 Weeks Lincoln, Neb. — ■ Walter Johnson, attorney general for Nebraska, definitely stated last week that Nebraska's Ascap law, batted down in a three-judge decision in federal court, will be appealed to the U. S. Supreme Court and within a couple of weeks. It will have to be done before July 1, because the 90-day privilege following the judgment (Continued on Page 5) Says Execs, MuUed Chance Distribs. Failed to Clean House— Myers Ask Ohio Supreme Court To Pass on Bank Night Troy, O. — The Ohio Supreme Court has been asked to decide whether Bank Night, as perfected by the moving picture houses, is a lottery and in violation of state laws. The Troy Amusement Co. here appealed to the Supreme Court to re(Continued on Page 5) The industry has muffed the opportunities to clean house on a basis that would be permanent and enduring, Abram F. Myers, Allied general counsel, declared yesterday in a special bulletin in which he denounced alleged "mud throwing" at Allied and its leaders during the Neely hearings and in the opening statements in the Government suit. These outbursts Myers said are particularly ill-timed in view of the (Continued on Page 8) Situation Said to Have Been Discussed by Counsels for Both Sides Whether the equity trial will be continued tomorrow may be determined today when counsel for the majors and the Government convene to compare notes as to what progress has been made towards reaching a settlement of the case. Attorneys for the companies were said to have discussed the situation with top executives, and Paul Williams is reported to have talked with Thurman Arnold and Robert Jackson. Fruits of these individual discussions probably will be laid on the table today. Urges Settlement A further adjournment yesterday of the Government's equity action until tomorrow lent credence to re(Continued on Page 6) Para. Sales Policy Flexible, Says Agnew Paramount's policy of selling is a flexible one, Neil Agnew, general sales manager, said yesterday in denying printed reports on the Coast to the effect that the company would sell the new program, with one exception, only on percentage. Agnew said that fully one-third (Continued on Page 4) Over Hundred Expected At Col/s A.C. Meeting Atlantic City — More than 100 delegates are expected at the second of Columbia's sales meetings which opens here today at the Hotel Ritz (Continued on Page 8) JVBC to Televise Naval Launching Television will flash its first graphic record of the launching of a man o' war on Thursday, when the new 35,000ton battleship North Carolina slides down the ways at the New York Navy Yard, Brooklyn. Launching, first to be telecast anywhere in the world, will be seen by televiewers over NBC's Station W2XBS, starting at 3:30 p.m. Program also will include films of U. S. naval activities. ^ V T A MI'