The Film Daily (1940)

>M 1 > J UU 13 I 1 ST F L ,2 a w 44TH IJ I S T S T Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought FILE COPY DO NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Two Years Old FDAILY 'VOL. 78, NO. 118 NEW YORK, TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 1940 TEN CENTS U. S. HINTS ASCAP CONSENT DECREE NEAR Ohio ITO to Ask Federal and State Bingo Levies Exhib. Asks Members To Supply Data for Drive for Enactment of Tax Acts Columbus, O.— The ITO of Ohio is preparing to ask State and Federal tax legislation for Bingo and similar games, according to a service bulletin to members issued by Pete J. Wood, secretary. Wood asks members to investigate and ascertain just what Bingo games are being operated in their vicinity by church, fraternal and veteran organizations and report on a specially prepared form. The ITO exec, points out that the b. o. intake is not keeping pace with (Continued on Page 3) S. R. Kent's Brother Killed in Car Crash West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Ernest Kent, brother of Sidney R. Kent, was killed yesterday morning in an automobile accident on Hollywood Boulevard. Kent, who was 59, was an executive with Fox West Coast Theaters. He is survived by his mother, his wife, three brothers, Sidney, Larry and Arthur, and a sister, Mrs. Olive Barber. Car he was driving crashed head on into another car when it skidded, killing Kent instantly. Funeral arrangements await arrival of his brother, Sidney R. Kent, who left New York last night and is due here Thursday. Bomb Breaks Windows In Brit. Technicolor Labs. Technicolor's British laboratories had a close call recently when a Nazi aerial bomb landed in comparatively close proximity, it was learned yesterday. All windows in (Continued on Page 6) End of Romance? Albuquerque, N. M. — On the marquee at the Rio Theater: "Hold That Woman" "I'm Nobody's Sweetheart Now." Paramount Is First With Xmas Bonus First Christmas bonus of the season in the film industry proper has been handed out by Paramount. Company gave a week's bonus to all employes making up to $65 per week, with maximum $50. Maximum this year was 20 per cent increase over last year. Metro and Warners are also reported mulling the bonus situation. III. Legislature May Get Censorship Bill Springfield, 111. — Illinois Legislature which convenes in January may be asked to enact a State Censor Board measure as a result of the controversy over municipal censorship in Chicago. Rep. Elmer Sandquist is reported considering slipping such a bill into the hopper. Sandquist also is studying various state tax plans, including the Nebraska proposal for a cent tax on all admissions. FoxWisconsin Wins Suit Brought by Annenberg Co. Milwaukee — Cicuit Judge Gustav G. Gehrz yesterday ruled in favor of Fox-Wisconsin Amusement Corp. in the action brought against it by the M. L. Annenberg Investment Co., charging Fox-Wisconsin with breach of contract in the manage (Continued on Page 6) Ascap to Give Opinion of Blanket License or Paying Fees on a "Per Use" Basis, It is Understood; Pact Also to Include Provision for Clearance at Source By MILTON F. LUNCH Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Despite Ascap denials, reports that the Justice Department and the Society were negotiating a settlement, were more persistent than ever yesterday. Reports here have it that the D of J and Ascap have reached a tentative agreement under which the old Government suit against Ascap in New York will be dropped and Ascap will revise its fee structure. According to a spokesman at the Department, the District Court for the Southern District of New York will be handed a consent decree for approval which will dismiss the Government charges. Broadcasters will be given the option of signing either a blanket contract or take out a license on a "per use" basis. It is also said the agreement in (Coutinucd on Page 7) No Industry Reps. On AAA Directorate Abram F. Myers, general counsel of Allied, has been advised by the American Arbitration Association that in view of long established policies, "there will be no appointments to our board of directors or advisory committees of any persons known to be connected with the motion picture industry and no appointments have been made." Myers was so advised when the general counsel asked the AAA as to the authenticity of a report that R. C. Patterson chairman of the board of RKO, was scheduled to become a member of the AAA board. Equity Boosts Its Dues To Limit Membership In a move to limit the membership of Actor's Equity Association and protect members of long standing from an influx of people who are seeking stage jobs now that Equity has boosted the minimum per week (Continued on Page 7) 16 Service Features in Cycle Flight Command" First; Comedies on Draft Dietz in Washington For "Command" Dinner Howard Dietz, executive in charge of promotion for Metro, left yesterday for Washington, where he will be master of ceremonies at the "Flight Command" banquet tonight at the Hotel Carlton that will precede the "hemispheric pre (Continued on Page 6) By RALPH WILK West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — American studios are climbing aboard the service band wagon with a rush, checkup showing no less than 16 features with a service background on the way or in prospect. Cycle leads off with Metro's "Flight Command" which has_ its hemispheric world premiere tonight (Continued on Page 7) Trouble Under Decree, KuykendallWarnsOTO Oklahoma City — "Nothing but trouble is to be expected for exhibitors from the consent decree," Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prexy, told 150 exhibitors attending the Annual Convention of Oklahoma Theaters Owners, Inc., at the Skirvin Hotel (Continued on Page 3) Judge Campbell Will Hear Stadium Dismissal Motion Chicago — Defendants' motion to dismiss and strike in the Stadium Theater trust case will be held before Federal Judge William Campbell instead of Judge Wilkerson. It (Continued on Page 3) Marquee Criticism? New Orleans — Critical opinion had its say with a vengeance on the marquee of the Circle Theater here with the following: "5 Little Peppers at Home" "Victoria the Great" — 4 Turkeys