The Film Daily (1940)

cfte Wednesday, December 11, 1940 Copyright Violations Show Slight Drop (Continued from Page 1) for each theater found to be involved in unauthorized extensions of run or so-called "hold-overs," there were seven theaters found to be involved in bicycling. On the other hand, Levin said, where general territorial investigations, not based on specific complaints, were made of the theaters in a number of selected exchange territories, it was found that six theaters were involved in holdovers to only one engaged in bicycling. In regard to exhibitors who were found to have appropriated unlicensed extra days' use at the same or another theater, Levin's report stressed the fundamental copyright basis of the distribution system; namely, that only those exhibitions booked in advance of playdate, as confirmed in writing in the regular course by the distributors for specified dates at a designated theater, are considered licensed exhibitions. This basic principle, the report states, is unaffected by the consent decree, whether pictures are marketed singly or in blocks of any number. During the current year, investigations of stolen, duped and bootlegged prints became a regular department of the bureau's activities. This activity, according to Levin, resulted in the recovery and return to distributors of 91 subjects in whole or in part. Investigations ranged from the recovery of duped and stolen prints from the bootleg distributors to locating their sources of supply. The bureau also obtained certain deletions of infringing sequences from 35 mm. and 16 mm. negative and positive films. A former theater employe and a bootleg distributor to whom he had sold such pictures were criminally prosecuted and convicted on the evidence submitted to Chicago police by Harold L. Groves, in charge of field investigations. Tribute to the late Gabriel Hess, special counsel for the distributors on copyright matters, was paid by his successor, Edward A. Sargoy, in an accompanying report. Associated with Sargoy is Joseph L. Stein. Morros, Usher Hosts To Chi. Film Critics Chicago — Boris Morros and Allen Usher, Paramount district manager, will be hosts to the Chicago film critics at a special showing of "Second Chorus," at the Yar restaurant tomorrow evening. Jaffe Back With Loew's Leo Jaffe, now superintendent of the Clark Building, (S-W), Pittsburgh, has resigned to rejoin the Loew fold as superintendent of the Loew building here. He reports Dec. 23. Biz Upward Trend Continues Storms Hurt in Some Areas; Quick Comeback (Continued f tinues to pick up. B. 0. temporarily hit by weather. DETROIT: Holiday rush has started and business in general looks very good. Weather temporarily hurt grosses. CLEVELAND: Current theater grosses are above average. PITTSBURGH: Theater grosses up, with general business at its highest peak since 1935. MILWAUKEE : Department stores expect the heaviest buying of any year in the last 10. Theater grosses show improvement. BOSTON: Little change in the trend of general business for the past week or so. Weather hit northern b.o. WASHINGTON: General business in Washington, Baltimore and Norfolk continues good. Theater business is slightly above average, with many pictures being held over. Grosses in the smaller towns are up; matinee business is good. KANSAS CITY: Increasing number of theater patrons are commenting on an apparent change for the better in the quality of current releases. ST. LOUIS: Manufacturing and retailing are from 10 to 20 per cent better than they were at this time last year. Theater grosses are back to normal. LOS ANGELES: Increased employment in the aviation industry, makes for general improvement. SAN FRANCISCO: All types of om Page 1) business in San Francisco and the Bay area continue to show rising indices. SEATTLE: Lumber mill strike hurt biz. DENVER: Most theater grosses are showing an increase over past average business. There is reason to look for continued improvement. SALT LAKE CITY: Theater grosses have not yet showed the expected increase, except for some of the bigger pictures. DES MOINES: The bigger pictures are doing exceptionally well. Lively public interest in films. CHARLOTTE: Business is generally good throughout the Carolinas. ATLANTA: All lines of business continue on the upgrade. NEW ORLEANS: Polio epidemic which had been felt in parts of northwestern Louisiana is about over. Theaters have reopened and children are again admitted. Grosses, however, have not yet fully recovered. Defense program has put a considerable number of men to work in Alexandria, La., and several new indie theaters are being built in the vicinity. OMAHA: Regional retail business improved, with the local crop outlook brighter. PORTLAND: Business in general above average, but this has not yet been reflected in theater grosses. NEW HAVEN: Business throughout Connecticut is generally good. Film companies are optimistic. DALLAS: Heavy rains hurt biz. Fewer Films Go Before Chicago Censor Board Chicago — Chicago Censor Board in November reviewed 32 fewer films than in the same month last year. Total for this year was 106, with footage of 507,000, as against 138 with footage of 660,000. No rejections were made last month, there were no pink films and only 38 cuts were made, whereas in November, 1939, four films were rejected by the Board. The Board has received a request from N. H. Brower, general manager of Soundies, as to the amount of license fees, required to exhibit Soundies equipment in the Chicago territory. Lieut. Harry Costello advised the City Council will have to determine as there are no provisions in the City Code. Pan-American Day Banquet Toronto — Toronto Flying Club, member of the Canadian Flying Clubs Association, will sponsor a Pan-American Day banquet at the Royal York Hotel and the "hemispheric premiere" of M-G-M's "Flight Command" at Loew's, on Dec. 17, as a tribute by Canadian flyers to the associates in the United States. Brazee Named District Manager for WB Houses Chicago — Marcel Brazee, formerly manager of the Avalon Theater, has been named district manager for seven Warner theaters in Wisconsin, including the Venetian, Rialto and State, Racine, the Rex, Sheboyean; Majestic at Sheboyean, and the Warner Theater in Milwaukee. Brazee will make his headquarters in Milwaukee. Jack Keegan has been named manager of the Venetian Theater, Racine. Baseball Pix in 8 B & K Theaters as Free Shows Chicago— In a triple tie-up, the official baseball pix of the American and National Leagues go into the B & K Tivoli, Uptown, Paradise, Norshore, Southtown, Hardin*?, Berwyn and Gateway Theaters Dec. 24, 26, 27 for free morning shows. Ticket distribution is via the sports department of the Daily News. Rites for "Bill" Franey West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Funeral rites for William "Bill" Franey, 58, veteran comedian, will be held today. 3 Defendants Fined In Chi. Contempt Case (Continued from Page 1) Judge Woodward's decree are: B & K, $500; B & K Management Corp., $2,500, and Paramount Pictures, Inc., $2,500. These companies entered n<r defense. Eldredge found no evidence of guilt on the part of Barney Balaban in his report and recommended that the charge against him be dismissed. The following defendant companies were acquitted of the contempt charge in Judge Woodward's decree: Warner Bros., 20th Century-Fox, RKO Radio, Loew's, Inc., United Artists, Universal and Vitagraph. 40 Off Today on Warner Trip to "Santa Fe" Bow Contingent of approximately 40 leading newspaper editors, columnists, radio commentators and others, headed by Mort Blumenstock, Warners' Eastern advertising and publicity head, leave New York today to attend the three-theater World Premiere of "Santa Fe Trail" in Santa Fe, N. M., at the week-end. Midwestern newspaper critics, syndicate writers and columnists will board the train in Chi. Attending from the East and Midwest: Doris Arden, Chicago Herald Examiner; Louis Alwell, I.N.S. ; James C. Austin, U.P. ; Howard Barnes, Herald Tribune; Lucius Beebe. Herald Tribune; Cliff Buechel, manager, Mary Anderson Theater. Louisville, Ky. ; Mrs. Douglas Churchill; Kyle Crichton, Col lier's; John Cutter. Chicago U.P. ; Ivan Dmitri, Frank Farrell, World Telegram; Abel Green. Variety ; Nate Gross, Chicago Herald Examiner; Mr. and Mrs. Sid L. Hydeman. Redbook Magazine; Jack Lait, Daily Mirror; Mr. and Mrs. Boyd Martin, Louisville Courier Journal ; Harry Martin, Memphis Commercial Appeal; Mary Mason, N.B.C. ; John McManus, PM ; Lionel Moise, King Features; Lee Mortimer. Daily Mirror; Mrs. Barney Oldfield, Lincoln, Nebr. ; Lucia _ Perrigo, Chicago American ; Merle Potter, Minneapolis Times Tribune; Terry Ramsave, M. P. Herald; Monroe Rubinger, Ardis Smith, Buffalo Evening News; Louis Sobol, Journal American; Louis Stevenson, Bell Syndicate; Ed Sullivan; M. R. Werner, New Yorker; Prunella Wood, King Features. Going from the Warner Home Office, in addition to Mort Blumenstock, are: Mitchell Rawson. Ralph Budd, Gil Golden and Sid Rechetnik. GM Sending Out Two Free Shows; to Play South, West Detroit — Two touring shows, one for outdoor and the second for indoor exhibition, are being routed by General Motors. The outdoor show, Parade of Progress will play the larger cities in the South; it will travel in 22 motor transports and will have a staff of 50 under J. M. Jerpe. Previews of Progress, indoor show, will play the West, its itinerary including smaller situations. E. L. Foss is in charge of the latter show and will have a staff of seven. Both will be free attractions. Shows will feature highlights of the GM exhibits at the New York World's Fair and the San Francisco exposition.