The Film Daily (1940)

10 Tuesday, October 29, 1940 Exhibs. Ready for Protest on Decree (Continued from Page 1) representing Southeastern exhibitor interests. Allied, whose board directed personal appearance of its counsel at today's hearing, is expected to be represented, although it could not be determined yesterday if Abram F. Myers, general counsel, would be present. Trend of Indie Argument The independents will argue that the decree is of no benefit to any branch of the industry and should be killed. Judge Goddard is expected to withhold his own decision for about two weeks and may grant a formal hearing on the indies' objections during the intervening time. It is generally believed the judge will approve the document inasmuch as both the Government and the distributors, the latter being the actual defendants in the case, have agreed to its provisions. Government attorneys said yesterday that they would not ask for an adjournment of today's session, indicating definitely that the decree would be formally presented to Judge Goddard. Decree Okayed by Jackson A telegram late last night from the Washington Bureau of The Film Daily brought word that a high D of J executive had stated that both Attorney General Robert Jackson and Assistant Attorney General Thurman W. Arnold had passed the decree, and that before the decree is formally entered in court, the court will leave the way open to hear possible objections. The decree will be submitted to the court, the message said, by the three Justice dept. officials who have actively worked on matter — Hayes, Sher and Wright, a ranking D of J executive being authority for the statement. It was also said that neither Attorney General Jackson nor Assistant Attorney General Arnold, or their immediate lieutenants, would appear in the New York court. Jack Kirsch, president of Illinois TO THE COLORS! Chicago — James Holmquist of the Cosmo Theater staff has joined the U. S. Naval Reserves and is now in St. John, N. B.— Lieut. H. F. Parker, who was manager of the Majestic, Yarmouth, before going overseas with a Canadian army unit, has been assigned the command of a mechanized cavalry outfit, which recently captured a German bomber pilot. Richmond, Va. — Louis Starkey, doorman, Park, has enlisted in the Army. Terry Newcomb and Roger Owen, Ponton service staff, have also enlisted. William Andrew, Loew's, joined the National Guard. B&K, Para. Thank Chi. for ISWMP Gala Chicago — B & K and Paramount, following premiere of NWMP, took display space in the dailies here to express thanks to the city for the "splendid reception" of Cecil B. De Mil le and the visiting Hollywood "names," and added: "We trust that the joy and pleasure afforded by this memorable event will more than compensate for any inconvenience we may have caused you." Small Wisconsin Circuits Add to Their Holdings Milwaukee, Wis. — Small independent circuits in Wisconsin have been enlarging their holding in recent weeks. The Fenway at Fennimore has been annexed by the Eskin Theaters, Inc., operators of about a dozen houses in south central Wisconsin; the Tosa in Wauwatosa has been acquired from Ross Baldwin by Marcus & Svenoff, operators of houses in Ripon, Oshkosh and Sparta and the Parkway at Greenwood has been taken over by the Grengs Amusement Co., operating seven houses in Wisconsin and Minnesota, from Mr. and Mrs. M. E. Kenyon. In each instance the new operators have completely renovated the houses. Suspend Buben License, Claiming Taxes Unpaid Columbus, O. — William S. Evatt, head of the Ohio Tax Commission, yesterday suspended for 30 days the Amusement tax license of F. C. Buben, operator of the National Theater in Akron. Suspension, according to Evatt, was ordered because Buben failed to pay admission taxes and assessments amounting to $426.63 on the National and Palace theaters. Latter was formerly operated by Buben. Allied, who is in New York for a brief visit, yesterday issued a statement as to how the proposed selling in blocks-of-five would operate in Chicago. His statement, in part, follows: Kirsch on "Blocks of 5" "In selling pictures in groups of five, as I understand it, a distributor may designate any five trade-shown pictures he wants in a single group, meaning, if you refuse to buy the first group and want to buy the second group, the distributor has the right to interchange pictures and can name pictures from the first group for your second group. Let me explain how this would work in Chicago. Clearance in Chicago is based upon price admission, so if a 25 cent house refuses to buy the first group and a 20 cent house buys it, how can the distributor expect a prior run to repeat on a subsequent run ? It was suggested to the Attorney General that pictures sold in groups of five should be sold on a national release or local distribution-center basis and that exhibitors would all have the same set-up, but under the present system the distributor can juggle pictures. No Studio Personnel Changes, States Kent (Continued from Page 1) of the consent decree on production, said that there was no way to determine effects at this time. He added he would hesitate to give an opinion until it had been in operation for awhile. M of T Offering Exhibition Study Guides for Teachers M of T this month inaugurates a new promotion tie-up with schools — The March of Time Teacher's Study Guide — a monthly Question and answer guide issue of M of T, Albert E. Sindlinger, Advertising and Promotion Director, announced yesterday. Study guide goes out to theater managers free of charge as a part of the M of T Clip and Work Book, and managers then pass it along to teachers. This new feature follows the same promotion line of the Photo Reporter which formerly was sold to exhibitors who then gave it to school children. 20 Warner Houses Will Get Coca Cola Machines Coca Cola vending machines will be installed in some 20 Warner houses in the Chicago and Philadelphia areas, it was learned yesterday when Harold Rodner, theater department executive, returned from a survey tour of these territories. New machines will augment candy vending machines in the houses. First "Bitter Sweet" Dates Initial "Bitter Sweet" engagements were announced yesterday by Metro. The new Jeanette MacDonald-Nelson Eddy film will open Nov. 7 at the Palace, Cincy; Nov. 14 at the Des Moines and Roosevelt, Des Moines, day-and-date, and Nov. 22, at Loew's, Montreal. Blanco, Cuban Distributor Buenos Aires (By Air Mail) — Senor Vincente Blanco, distributor of Argentina Sono Film in Venezuela and Puerto Rico, has accepted A.S.F. representation in Cuba. He will return to Cuba early in November. Luncheon for Zuckmayer Carl Zuckmayer, European playwright and novelist, will be ffuest of honor at a luncheon to be held today in the Russian Tea Room, and attended by the New York film critics. "Grapes" at 40-50c in Cuba Havana (By Air Mail) — "Grapes of Wrath" showed at the Radio Cine here at 40-50c. Up Prices for "Bridge" Havana (By Air Mail) — Encanto theater advanced prices to 50-60c for the premiere of "Waterloo Bridge." BOOK REVIEWS THINKING ON YOUR FEET, by Louis Nizer. Introduction by Bruce Barton. 312 pages, fully indexed. Priced, $2.50. Published by Liveright Publishing Corp., New York. / It is a happy circumstance thaH this timely, absorbing and highly readable book, unique in its particular field, found exactly the right author. Indeed, perhaps it would be not going too far to say that, canvass the present day American scene as you will, there would be found no one so brilliantly equipped, from the dual standpoints of rich experience and literary attainments, as Louis Nizer, distinguished counsellor and notable orator and toastmaster, to set down on paper this volume, "Thinking On Your Feet." The author sub-titles his brainchild, "Adventures in Speaking." It is an apt choice, for, while as Bruce Barton's foreword points out it will prove of inestimable value to all those who must speak and desire to do so effectively, it is something far more than merely a splendid textbook for after dinner speakers and those whose pleasant task it is to present them. The average reader will peruse two highly entertaining parts — "Introductions and Thought Drops" and "Addresses and Thought Drops" — with zest and delight. The character sketches embodied in the introductions are sheer delights. Mr. Nizer has the same deftness in etching characters which won such a wide reading audience for the late Elbert Hubbard a quarter century or so ago. Those whom he presents parade before you as essentially human. The procession is a dazzling one, — Einstein and Winchell, Dorothy Thompson and Harry Hirschfeld, Roxy and James J. Walker, among many others. Of the addresses, beautifully written, each with the golden seal of sincerity, personal choices naturally will vary with the individual reader. Yet to this reviewer, the selections would be "The Spirit of '76 and '77" and "I Pity Germany." Not only are they excellent applications of the speech-making principles enunciated by Mr. Nizer, but they are literary gems. Incidentally, not the least intriguing of the wealth of material at the reader's disposal are the "Thought Drops" which complement or supplement both introductions and addresses. For those who seriously propose to develop natural talents as orators and after dinner speakers, the book's chapters devoted to technique must prove invaluable. What Mr. Nizer has to say about Speechgraph and Bookgraph will bear reading and rereading. Especially this sentence from the latter: "The thought is the precious metal when all else is washed away." — BAHN. , I