The Film Daily (1940)

<3fe Wednesday, December 11, 1940 5-Slale Exhib. Meet On Legislation! (Continued from Page 1) sin, Minnesota and the upper peninsula of Michigan will be invited. Louis B. Schwartz, attorney for the organization, has advised that every objective of the Government anti-trust suit could be achieved through state legislation notwithstanding the consent decree and that any competent attorney familiar with the trade could draw such legislation which would stand a court test. "Zingo" and "Cash Quiz" Legal, Philly Judge Rules (Continued from Page 1) be legal games, thereby approving playing of the games for cash in local theaters. The court ruled that the games as played were dependent on skill, not chance. Decision is expected to increase the number of games-playing houses, which have been at a minimum since "Bank Nights," etc., were outlawed. David W. Yaffee was the attorney in both cases. Griffith Interrogatory Objections Due Jan. 2 (Continued from Page 1) R. E. Griffith Theaters, Inc., Westex Theaters, Inc., Consolidated Theaters, Inc. and Griffith Amusement Co., and the three Griffi'th brothers, L. C. Griffith, R. E. Griffith, and H. J. Griffith. Press Previews at Studios West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood— Effective Dec. 15 all press preview showings will be held in studio projection rooms, according to an announcement made by Y. Frank Freeman, president of MPPA. WEDDING BELLS Des Moines, la. — Isabelle Conkling of Paramount's branch will be married to David B. McCurnin in the Spring. Latter is an attorney. Richmond, Va. — Robert Dunnavant, Venus Theater attache, was married to Edith Bass. Racine, Wis. — Leonard A. Dorece, associated with his father, Steve, in the operation of the Crown theater here, was married to Mini Schafer. Green Bay, Wis. — Malcolm Parks, attache of the Packer theater here, was married in Fort Atkinson, to Caryl Clark. Sheboygan, Wis. — Roland Blankenmeier, local projectionist, was married to Mildred Scherer. Decree Relieves Warners of Great Expense And Rish of Long Litigation, Says Counsel Wilmington, Dei. — Through the consent decree in the New York equity suit, Warners is relieved "from the great expense and risk of long and arduous litigations with the Government in many courts," the company's stockholders were informed at the annual meeting here. Statement on the decree, read by Edwin D. Steel, Jr., of Warner counsel, emphasized that there had been no admission that the company had done any wrongful act or violated the law, and pointed out that while the Big Five will not engage in any general program of extending their theater holdings for three years, "they are free to acquire theaters to protect their investment or their competitive position, or for ordinary purposes of their business." Expect 1,000 to Attend O'Shea-Bowen Luncheon (Continued from Page 1) York and New Jersey, at the Astor on Dec. 19. Arrangements for the testimonial were completed yesterday at a meeting of the committee, headed by Harry Brandt. Tickets will be $5 per head and may be secured from Joe Lee at the 20th Centtiry-Fox exchange. Checks are to be made out to Arthur Rapf, treasurer. Serving with Brandt on the committee are: J. J. O'Connor, C. C. Moskowitz, Hon. James J. Walker, Samuel Rinzler, Laurence Bolognino, William A. Scully, William F. Rodgers, Tom Connors, Edward Saunders, Martin Levine. Howard Dietz, Edward Rugoff, Samuel Strausberg, Walter Reade, Si Fabian. J. Meyer Schine, Frank C. Walker, Vincent McFaul, Charles Hayman, Max A. Cohen, Charles Moses, Leo Brecher, Joseph Katsch, Leon Rosenblatt, Don Jaycox, Harry Hecht, Lee Newbury, David Snaper, David Weinstock, Joseph Seider, Frank Moscato, H. F. Kincey, Ben Rosenwald, Sidney Lust, William Crockett, Milt Kusell, also— Harry Buxbaum, Joe Lee, Bob Wolfe, David Levy, jack Ellis, Nat Cohn, Edward Schnitzer, Clarence Eiseman, Ben Abner, Oscar A. Doob, A. P. Waxman, Lionel Toll, Si Seadler, Burtus Bishop, Harris Wolfberg, John Maloney, Maurice Kann, Chick Lewis, Jack Alicoate, Chester B. Bahn, Sam Shain, Terry Ramsaye, Herman Robbins, J. J. Thompson, Charles L. O'Reilly. Ontario Clearance Board Meets Again on Tuesday (Continued from Page 1) ing on the board are Ben Geldsaler, Morris Stein and T. J. Bragg, representing the chains; A. Alexander, H. Freedman and N. A. Taylor, representing the independents, with H. Firestone as alternate for the independents. There are two representatives of the distributors still to be named. These will be non-voting members and eligible to be present on invitation only. Ahepa to Use Reserve Funds for Greek Relief Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Following a meeting ,of Ahepa leaders at the Hamilton Hotel here yesterday, attended by more than 60 chapter leaders from all parts of the nation, Van A. Nomikos, Chicago theater operator and president of the Greek Society, said it would turn over a large portion of its reserve fund to the nationwide drive to raise $10,000,000 for relief of Greek war victims. Associated British Now Producing at Welwyn Associated British production, transferred from the Elstree Studios, is proceeding in Welwyn, well outside of the blitzkreig area, according to a letter received in New York yesterday from Jack Grossman, company exec. On the production side, only the laboratories and cutting rooms remain active at Elstree. However, part of the shipping department has been shifted there from Wardour St. Grossman writes that the rest of the Elstree plant is being used "for a much more vital purpose." The Associated British exec, discusses the work accomplished by the Elstree Fire Brigade, now part of the London Region, since the Nazis began their aerial assaults. The studio fire fighters, he says "have had the great luck to be called upon on many occasions to be among those to take part in all the big London fires — all caused by enemy action and practically every one of a non-military objective." "The London Fire Service has been badly hit in casualties, but they have been of a very small proportion considering the great risks which all the boys seem to take without a single thought of danger," Grossman writes. "Many film folk are in the Civil Defense Services, which comprise women ambulance drivers, rescue squads, demolition squads, first aid detachments, etc., and nearly every time we are out on a job, I have come across men and women of all ages who have at some time earned quite a good livelihood with studio grease paint upon their faces." Canadian Pix Contribute To Brit. Air Raid Relief London (By Air Mail) — The Lord Mayor of London has received a contribution of £5,000 from the Motion Picture War Service Committee of Canada for the aid of victims of Nazi air raids. Army-Film Liaison Officer West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Captain Charles Spodter has arrived here to act as liaison officer between the chief signal officer of the U. S. Army and the motion picture production defense commit 4 Interstate Suits To Trial in January (Continued from Page 1) state and the distributors violated the Sherman anti-trust laws. The contracts forced subsequent-runs to hold their admission prices to a min-i imum of 25 cents. Independent exhibitors are claiming damages on the grounds that they were forced to raise their prices from 20 cents to 25 cents, thereby suffering losses of patronage. Ploquin Named French Film Commissioner Vichy (By Cable) — Active head of the French film industry under Vice Premier Pierre Laval, whose post as "czar" corresponds to the control exercised over the German industry by Dr. Goebbels, will be Rene Ploquin, designated as Government Commissioner. Setup provides additionally for a Central Committee composed of Marcel Pagnol, Jean Painleve, Jean Galland and Marcel Archard who, in turn, will head sub-committees. Ploquin's Film Commission itself is a sub-division of the Ministry of Information, portfolio of which is held by Laval. Commission is armed with broad powers, and will be financed through special dues to be paid by all theaters. Licensing of producing companies and restrictions on length and complexion of film programs is provided. Schreiber Again on Stand In His Midwest Suit (Continued from Page 1) sold away from him regardless of what price he offered to pay, and that minors took advantage of the situation to charge increased rentals. Jack Broder, owner of the Time, Times Square, and Rainbow Theaters, testifying for the plaintiff, said that he did not get a chance to bid on pictures, although he offered to sign blank contracts giving distributors the right to fill in the names of pictures. Larchmont to Prudential The Larchmont Theater, Larchmont, N. Y. has been sold to Prudential Playhouses by the Palmer Amusement Corp., it was announced yesterday by Berk and Krumgold, theater realty operators. Prudential, headed by J. M. Seider, now operates about 40 houses in the Met area. STORKS! Indianapolis — A baby boy was born to Mr. and Mrs. Larry Shubnell at St. Vincent's Hospital here. Father is office manager at Columbia's exchange.