The Film Daily (1940)

Vol. 78, No. 97 Fri., Nov. 15, 1940 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE DONALD M. MERSEREAU : General Manager CHESTER B. BAHN :::::: Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer. Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938, at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable address: Filmday, New York. Representatives: HOLLYWOOD, Calif.Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. LONDON— Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. PARIS— P. A. Harle, La Cinematographic Francaise, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). MEXICO CITY — Marco-Aurelio Galindo, Depto. 215, Calle del Sindicaliimo, 99, Tacubayo, D. F. FINANCIAL (Thursday, Nov. 14) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. Am. Seat 10y4 9% 10 + ft Col. Picts. vtc. (2y2 %) 6ft 6ft 6ft Columbia Picts. pfd Con. Fm. Ind % % % + ft Con. Fm. Ind. pfd... 9% 9% 9%— ft East. Kodak 142 141 142 + % do pfd Cen. Th. Eq lift 11 11 — ft Loew's, Inc 30 29% 293A do pfd Paramount 9ft 9 9ft Para. 1st pfd 94ft 94 94 Para. 2nd pfd 10ft 10 10 Pathe Film 10% 10% 10% RKO 20th Century-Fox .... 6ft 63/8 63/8 20th Century-Fox pfd. 16ft 16ft 16ft — ft Univ. Pict. pfd 100 100 100 + 1 Warner Bros 3ft 3 3ft + ft do pfd NEW YORK BOND MARKET Keith B. F. ref. 6s46 Loew's deb. 3fts46 Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. 6s55 Para. Picts. cv. 3fts47 93ft 93 93ft + ft Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 88 88 88 + ft NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts Sonotone Corp Technicolor 9ft 9ft 9ft Trans-Lux 1ft 1ft 1ft Universal Corp. vtc. . . 4 4 4 + ft Universal Picts Charles J. Welsman Dead Toronto — Charles J. Welsman, 75, pioneer Toronto exhib., is dead. He owned and operated the Brighton and Le Plaza. Prominent in musical circles, he was organizer and first leader of the Governor General's Bodyguard Band. Regal's Ben Kaufman Dead Montreal — Ben Kaufman, for 22 years representative of Regal Films, distributors of Metro Pictures, died in Royal Victoria Hospital. 170 Picture Pioneers In Canadian Affiliate Toronto — Imposing total membership of 170 was reported at first annual meeting of the Canadian Picture Pioneers held at the Royal York Hotel. This total comprises 123 life, 42 regular and five honorary memberships. From New York City there came as guests Hal Hode, secretary of Picture Pioneers of the U. S. A.; A. Schlesinger, Arthur Lee and Gene Autry, the latter accompanied by his wife. A special gold membership plate was presented to Autry. At the business session it was stressed that CPP, although less than a year old, had sponsored the recent successful war stamp theater night in Canada and had made the arrangements for Autry to come to Toronto for the three-day rodeo, a benefit for the London Lord Mayor's fund for air raid victims. Directors were elected as follows: Ben Cronk, Leo M. Devaney, Claire Hague, Archie Laurie, Haskell Masters, N. L. Nathanson, James P. O'Loghlin, Tom Daley, Harry Alexander and Ernest Moule. Five district supervisors, also automatically board members, are: Archie Mason, for maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island; Sim Rost, Winnipeg center; Walter Wilson, Calgary Center; William S. Jones of Vancouver, British Columbia Center and Edward English, Montreal, of Quebec Center. The directors were empowered to elect CPP officers for the coming IATSE Executive Board To Meet in New Orleans IATSE Executive Board will convene Monday in New Orleans for a week of conferences. Meeting is concurrent with the AF of L meeting there. Louis Krouse, Richard Walsh and James Brennan, IA execs, will attend from here. Gene Tierney for 'Tobacco Road' West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — ■ Twentieth CenturyFox has assigned Gene Tierney, New York stage actress, to the role of Ellie May in "Tobacco Road," in which Marjorie Rambeau, Ward Bond and William Tracey will appear. Friday, November 15, 1940 Quins Aid Navy League Callender, Ont. — The Dionne Quintuplets were filmed here yesterday for a newsreel in aid of the Navy League of Canada. They were photographed packing "ditty bags" for five seamen an Canadian destroyers and five on ships of the Royal Navy. 20th-Fox Pacts Cobina Wright, Jr. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — After seeing Cobina Wright, Jr., New York socialite and singer, in rushes of "Murder Among Friends," Twentieth Century Fox signed her to a term contract. Tells Chaplin "Dictator" Terms Restrict Audience New Haven— Dr. J. B. Fishman, general manager of Fishman Theaters, Inc., operating here and in Fairfield, and a director of Connecticut Allied, has addressed an open letter to Charles Chaplin protesting against the distribution policy of "The Great Dictator." Fishman writes : "In your latest picture, 'The Great Dictator,' you tackle the most vital problem in the world today courageously and fearlessly. By making the dictators appear ridiculous, you perform the greatest service to the people of America. If you are sincere in your beliefs, as I feel you are, you should want every man, woman and child in this country to see your picture. "All this, however, is very difficult to reconcile with the distribution policy announced in the press. A 7030 split will keep the picture out of the smaller theaters of America for a long time to come. The great majority of the moviegoers, unable to see the picture in the small neighborhood theaters at regular admission prices, will go without seeing it." Yates, Grainger Attend Rep. Toronto Sales Meet Toronto — James R. Grainger, Republic's prexy, arrives here this morning to join Herbert J. Yates, president of CFI, for a two-day sales meeting at the Royal York Hotel. A. W. Perry, general manager of Empire Films, Ltd., distributors of Republic pictures in Canada, together with the following branch managers, will attend: H. O. Painter, Toronto; I. W. Blankstein, Calgary; M. J. Isman, Montreal; B. Plottel. Vancouvier; Frank L. Vaughan, Winnipeg, and Gerald M. Hoyt, St. John. Warner Circuit Employes Aiding British War Relief Warner Bros, theater employes are closing a drive for $5,000. to be expended for British war relief today. Drive results from a movement launched at the home office to raise funds for the nurchase of an ambulance, with extension following the collection of more than $1,800. Larger fund will permit the purchase additionallv of a motor kitchen unit, a mobile feedins: unit and 21 hospital bed equipments. Joseph Bernhard In Albany Albanv — General Manager Joseph Bernhard. of Warner Brothers theaters yesterday was in Albany for all-day conferences with Zone Manager N. A. Silver and staff. Bernhard inspected Strand. Ritz, Madison and Albany theaters here and Troy, Lincoln and American theaters, Troy. COminG and G0MG WILL H. HAYS left for the Coast last night for a stay of two to three weeks. DAVID ROSE, Paramount's U.K. managing director, is awaiting the Clipper at Lisbon. JAMES R. GRAINGER left for Toronto last night. ^ HERBERT J. YATES is in Toronto. LOUIS KROUSE, RICHARD WALSH and JAMES BRENNAN, IATSE executives, leave this weekend for New Orleans to attend the executive board meeting there next week. MARY PICKFORD and BUDDY ROGERS were scheduled to leave last night for the Coast. WILLIAM GERMAN, vice-president of J. E. Brulatour, Inc., leaves tomorrow for the Coast by train. He returns here about the middle of December. B. G. KRANZE, branch manager of RKO Radio's Albany exchange is in New York conferring with home office and circuit executives. Lavine Joins R. E. Snider As General Manager Philip H. Lavine, formerly with j the Phil Smith Circuit in New England as general manager, is now with the Ralph E. Snider Theaters in the same capacity. Circuit has "A" houses and de luxe nabes in Maine, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. In addition to the picture houses, the Metropolitan in Providence presents operas and concerts, while at the Playhouse, same city, legitimate attractions are offered. "Lady, Be Good" to Metro Metro has acquired the 1925 Broadway musical, "Lady, Be Good" as a tri-starring vehicle for Ann Sothern, Eleanor Powell and Tony Martin. Picture will be produced by Arthur Freed and directed by Busby Berkeley. Lon Fidler Hospitalized Denver — Lon T. Fidler, owner of the Monogram franchise here and Salt Lake City, is recuperating from an illness in St. Luke's hospital here. From THE FILM DAILY to NOVEMBER 15 Lewis Stone Herbert Rawlinson Samuel Ornitz Hal Dansen Joseph P. Reddy NOVEMBER 16 Lawrence Tibbett Corinne Griffith Bruce Mitchell Caryl Lincoln NOVEMBER 17 John R. Freuler Crane Wilbur Frank Fay Milton H. Feld Eddie Baker Leon Rosenberg Sara Haden Edna Murphy Samuel Goldstein