The Film Daily (1940)

THE' Hit NEWSIER OF FILM COM i "W** ■ ^^ All THE TIME Vol. 78, No 115 Thurs. Dec. 12, 1940 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE Publisher 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 Sindicalismo, 99, Tacubayo, D. F. FINANCIAL (Wednesday, Dec. 11) NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. <21/2%1 Columbia Picts. pfd. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. East. Kodak 1 do pfd Gen. Th. Eq Loew's, Inc do pfd 1 Paramount Para. 1st pfd Para. 2nd pfd Pathe Film RKO RKO $6 pfd 20th Century-Fox . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Univ. Pict. pfd 1 Warner Bros do pfd NEW YORK Keith B. F. ref. 6s46. Loew's deb. 3y2s46.1 Para. B'way 3s55 Para. Picts. cv. 3y4s47 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 NEW YORK Monogram Picts. . . . Sonotone Corp Technicolor Trans-Lux Universal Corp. vtc. Universal Picts High Low Close Net Chg. 11% 11V2 H% + 31% 303/4 303/4 + 08 1/4 108 1/4 108 '/4 + 101/2 10 101/2 + 97% 971/4 971/4 — IOI/4 10% IOI/4 + 10% IOI/4 IOV4 — 3 23/4 27/s + 40 39% 40 + 6 53/4 6 + 17 16i/2 17 + 12 1091/2 110 + 31/4 31/4 + 531/2 51 53i/2 + BOND MARKET 04% 1043/g 1043/s . 52 5IV2 52 95% 953/8 95% 96i/4 95% 96 CURB MARKET 1/2 7-16 7-16 9% 9% 91/2 6%' i" 61/4 Can't Show Mexican Colors in Defeat Havana (By Air Mail) — Cuban Films Censorship Board cut scenes showing the Mexican flag" flying over defeated forces from UA's "Kit Carson," following protests received after the picture had been released. Sam Bianco Funeral Held Clymer, Pa. — Sam Bianco, who owned and operated the State Theater here for many years, died after a brief illness. Funeral services were held yesterday. Realistic Decree Attitude By Exhibs. Urged by Myers Pittsburgh — Abram F. Myers, general counsel for Allied, made a flying visit here at the request of the AMPTO of Western Pennsylvania, Inc., to address a meeting on the consent decree and its effects on exhibitors. After Myers' explanation of the decree, there was an open discussion. Myers was quoted as saying that although he did not favor the decree, exhibitors must take a realistic viewpoint of the situation, and go along in the matter, that it is here and must be made the best of by all concerned. A buffet luncheon was served prior to the meeting, which was attended by 130 members of the AMPTO. President Fred A. Beedle presided. Loew Names Richmond As Associate Executive Boston— E. M. Loew yesterday announced the appointment of Louis W. Richmond as his associate general manager. Succeeding Richmond as sales manager will be Walter McGee, formerly an executive with the Winchester Amusement Co. at Flint, Mich. Richmond has been 12. years with the E. M. Loew organization, the last six of which he has spent as sales manager. Musicians' Committee Will Confer on Security Tax Chicago — The Executive Committee of the American Federation of Musicians, meeting here yesterday with President James Petrillo presiding, appointed a committee to confer with Government officials on the security tax situation. In Chicago, employers have paid the taxes for bands, but travelling bands have created a situation that has not been straightened out to date. Mackinnon 111; May Affect Resignation of Grierson Montreal— Illness of J. L. Mackinnon, Canadian Minister of Trade and Commerce, who is believed to be now in a hospital at Balboa or in some other city in Colombia, Central America, may affect the filed resignation of John Grierson, Commissioner of Canada's National Film Board. "Dictator" B. A. Premiere Receipts to Aviation Group Buenos Aires (By Cable) — Receipts from the world premiere of "The Great Dictator" at the Opera, Broadway and Normandie Theaters here have been offered by their operator to the Junta Nacional de Aviacion, Government-subsidized organization which aims to assure 5,000 Argentine airmen. Thursday, December 12, 1940 Metro Aims for Academy Consideration for "Story" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Metro is making every effort to get a quick booking of "The Philadelphia Story" in the Los Angeles territory so that the film will qualify for consideration in this year's Academy awards. With announcement yesterday by M-G-M of second weeks for "The Philadelphia Story" in Cincinnati and Milwaukee, the Katharine Hepburn-Cary Grant-James Stewart picture now boasts a 100 per cent holdover record in six pre-release engagements throughout the country. Decree Out, But Ascap Will Talk Terms if Gov't Asks Possibility of Ascap accepting a consent decree settlement in the prolonged Government action which has apparently entered a final stage was definitely spiked yesterday when sources close to Ascap asserted that there will be no acquiescence by Ascap via a consent decree. Attitude of the Society's advisors appeared to be that if the Government wishes to sit down with Ascap and reach an amicable solution patently fair and equitable to both, that such discussions would undoubtedly be entered into by Ascap. Joe Friedman Studying Production on Coast West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Joseph Friedman, Columbia's European supervisor, is currently studying production details at the company's studio here to acquaint himself with every phase and detail of actual film-making, with, it is said, the end in view of applying the most advanced techniques to European production as and when that market eventually opens. London reports recently asserted that Friedman's presence at the studio may herald his active entry into U. S. production for Columbia, but this is discounted in view of the present solidarity of the company's staff, and Friedman's far greater value to the film field overseas. Will Examine Warner Execs. In Folley Suit Harry Decker, Edward Schnitzeland Roy Haines, Warner execs., are to submit to an examination before trial under a notice filed in the Federal Court yesterday by Folley Amusement Corn. Folley is suing the eight majors, Republic and Monogram for $750,000, claiming that they conspired to deprive the Folley Theater, Brooklyn, of product in violation of the anti-trust laws. Commonwealth Opens Melba Batesville, Ark. — Commonwealth's new Melba Theater has opened with Bill Headstream managing. COmmG and G0MG ANDY SMITH, RKO sales manager, returned yesterday from the Coast. JEANETTE MacDONALD, accompanied by her husband, GENE RAYMOND, left yesterday for Detroit. After spending the holidays at the West Coast. Miss MacDonald will leave on a | sf the South after Christ ERROL FLYNN arrived at the Coast yesterday, after his p. a. at a Cleveland Christmas charity dinner, just in time to join the "Santa Fe Trail" special train pulling out for the premiere of the film in Santa Fe. PAUL SHORT, divisional manager of National Screen Service and newly elected chief barker of the Variety Club of Texas, Tent No. 17 is due in New York this morning for a week's stay. LEONARD ELLIOTT, Broadway stage actor, has arrived in Hollywood for a role in Universal's "Buck Privates." AL RUSSELL of 20th-Fox's foreign department, is in New Haven for a study of film exchange operation before sailing on Dec. 27 for Johannesburg, South African territory of the company. CLARENCE BROWN, M-G-M director, is here from the Coast fcr a round of the Broadway plays. JOHN R. CSEORNE, general manager of the Dipson Theatrical Enterprises, leaves Pittsburgh next week for his annual winter vacation in CHARLES SHERMAN, new Universal writer, leaves New York for the Coast studios at the end of this week. HERBERT J. YATES returns to New York today after three weeks at the Coast where he conferred on Republic product for the next season. JOHN BFAL is here from the Coast in answer to a 'phone call from Philip Barry asking him to play a role in Barry's new play for the Theater Guild. PETER V. RATHVON and JOHN E. PARSONS, members of RKO's board of directors, leave the Coast tomorrow for New York after a 10-day visit at the company's studies. ARTHUR W. KELLY has returned to New York from a trip to the field. JOSEPH SEIDELMAN, "U" vice-prexy in charge of foreign sales, leaves tomorrow for the Coast for confabs on next season's product. BORIS KARLCFF has left the Coast for New York. CLAUDETTE COLBERT and her husband, DR. JOEL PRESSMAN, have left the Coast to spend the holidays at Sun Valley. NORMA SHEARER has left the Coast for New York. MIKE LEVEE has arrived back at the Coast from a New York trip. BORIS MORROS and ALEX MCSS leave Chicago today for trade showings of "Second Chorus" in Kansas City and other Western points. THE FILM DAILY to Harry M. Warner Rube Jackter Edna Marion Herbert Crooker George Lepschultz J. J. Felder Karen Morley