The Film Daily (1940)

Wss? Thursday, December 19, 1940 2,000 More Theaters Get Red Cross Film (Continued from Page 1) not completed and the session was adjourned to Dec. 31. The reel which features Deanna Durbin and 32 other stars will be made available to approximately 50 cities in which there were no Red Cross drives in November. It is estimated that about 2,000 additional theaters will play the picture. Foreign situation, including the British remittance proposals for the current year, was discussed, it is understood, but the renewal of the Will H. Hays' contract did not come up, presumably going over until the later date. Attending the meeting yesterday were Hays, Barney Balaban, Jack Cohn, E. B. Hatrick, Major F. L. Herron, Joseph Hazen, W. C. Michel, Charles D. Prutzman, George J. Schaefer, Nicholas M. Schenck and Murray Silverstone. Para.-RCA Victor Tieup For Latin-American Plugs "Love Thy Neighbor" and "Christmas in July" get plugs in en exploitation tieup the Paramount foreign publicity and exploitation department has arranged with RCA Victor on a Latin-American film-disc co-op campaign. This is the initial tie-up of a series to extend over a period of months. Tieups are slated for mutual co-op between exhibitors and RCA Victor record distributors and agencies, plugging film titles, film music and names of film stars who are also Victor recording artists. Mrs. Martha E. Branon Funeral in Charlotte Mrs. Martha E. Branon, 86, mother of Thomas A. Branon, president of Affiliated Producers, Atlanta exchange, died in Charlotte Tuesday night. Branon, who has been visiting in New York, left for Charlotte yesterday for the funeral which will be at her home, 716 Tremont Ave. tomorrow. Interment will be at Harmony Church Grove, Yadkin, N. C. Mrs. Branon is also survived by R. Branon of the Charlotte RKO exchange and M. D. Branon who is with Affiliated in Atlanta. Mrs. Domingo Martinez Dead Cienfuego, Cuba. (By Air Mail)— .Mrs. Domingo Martinez, whose husband is manager of the Prado, Terry ' and Luisa Theaters here, is dead. Strand, Syracuse, Reopening Syracuse, N. Y. — RKO-Schine Strand here reopens Christmas Day with the Peters Sisters vaude unit in for six days; Clyde McCoy and the Sugar Blues ork follow on Dec. 31, also for six days. PLANTATION SHOW PLAN Fla. Exhib. Takes Films to Sugar Workers Clewiston, Fla. — Possible solution to the competitive problem presented when large employers undertake to provide film entertainment in their own establishments for workers is found in the plan followed by the U. S. Sugar Corp. here. Corporation employs thousands of Negro seasonal and permanent workers on its miles of sugar plantations, and, while Clewiston has a film theater, obviously it cannot accommodate the sugar company's workers. To provide films, the corporation has contracted with an exhib. from an adjacent town to furnish equipment, operators and programs twice weekly, the shows being presented in each plantation's community hall. Admission charge is 15 cents. Typical program includes a feature, preferably a Western, a serial and a cartoon comedy. Audience reaction is terrific. Empire, Syracuse, Going To Schines Under Lease (Continued from Page 1) lease, it was learned yesterday. House, originally the home of K & E legit, in Syracuse, has been dark for several months. Lease is understood to provide for a maximum annual dark period of about seven weeks, but what policy will go in is uncertain. Pool in the same block has Keith's and the Paramount. There is a strong possibility that the Empire will accept legit, bookings. Want Nation's Theaters To Play All Defense Pix (Continued from Page 1) pictures made by the Government in connection with defense. Among those attending were Robert Wilby, E. V. Richards, Nate Yamins, Ed Kuykendall, Harry Brandt, Charles C. Moskowitz, Leonard Goldenson and others. Nomikos, Skouras to N. O. For Greek Relief Meet (Continued from Page 1) mdnight film shows for the drive's benefit are expected to get under way shortly on a national basis. Sullivan on "Lucky Baldwin" West Coast Bureau of THE FILM (DAILY Hollywood — C. Gardner Sullivan, screen writer, has been assigned to do the screenplay of 20th CenturyFox' "Lucky Baldwin." Comerford Basketball League Names Gaughan Scranton, Pa. — Jack Gaughan was elected president at the reorganization of the Comerford Theaters Basketball League here. At the same time plans were made for the reopening of the court league with the Capitol, West Side, Comerford, State, Strand and Riviera theaters competing. The Riviera won the straight season last year while the Capitol captured the play-off series. Other officers elected were Bob Kilcullen, secretary-treasurer, and Joseph Phillips, chairman of publicity. Lessy Sells Diamond At Philly to Warner Philadelphia — Stanley-Warner has purchased Mike Lessy's Diamond Theater here. Lessy's son, Perry, who has been managing the house goes to the Lindley for S-W, with Harold Barson moving to the Diamond from the Lindley. Testimonial dinner for Lessy, who has been in film biz 35 years, is being planned. Henie Biz in Nose-dive In St. Louis Engagement St. Louis — Sonja Henie's Hollywood Ice Revue played to 33 1/3 per cent fewer cash customers at the Arena this year. Attendance was 51,192 as against 80,749. Good Housekeeping Calls Off Single Feature Drive Single features drive and short subjects promotion has been dropped by Good Housekeeping's Movie Forum department, along with awards for distinctive subjects. Local 74 Re-elects O'Connell New Haven — Re-electing its entire slate, Local No. 74, stage employes, is again headed by John S. O'Connell, president, and Daniel Cummings, business agent. Charles McBridge is vice-president, Robert C. Watson, recording secretary, Charles Langley, financial secretary, and Edward O'Connell, Derby business agent. The Executive Board includes all officers and William O'Connell and Harry Feldman. The annual Christmas party will be omitted in favor of a celebration in May to honor the union's fortieth birthday here. "Gang Busters" as "U" Serial West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Screen rights to the radio program, "Gang Busters," have been acquired by "U" from Metro for serial purposes. Endert Sells to Spongier Friday Harbor, Wash. — Clarence A. Spangler has acquired the Island Theater here from George Endert, Jr. "U" Sticks lo Tender Plan Despite Kicks Universal's announced plan to retire part of its outstanding first preferred via tenders from stockholders, with $1,000,000 set aside for such purpose, stands despite a protesting memorandum presented' to the board on Tuesday by two directors, Samuel I. Posen and J. Dabney Penick, it was learned yesterday. In the memorandum, Posen and Penick said: "We believe that it is reckless to retire any of the preferred stock by reason of the following fact: During the years 1936 through 1938 the company's losses were $3,511,595 while profits during the years 1939 and 1940 were $3,553,621 making total net earnings for the years 1936 through 1940 $41,725. Of the total earnings of the company for the period $1,560,000 are blocked in Great Britain. "Apart from the foregoing we believe that the retirement is improper because it is the primary duty of the company to pay dividends to preferred stockholders and a secondary duty to provide the benefits of a sinking fund. Where funds are available in amount sufficient to pay all accumulations of unpaid dividends it is a form of coercion to divert such funds to the accumulated payments on the sinking fund. The purchase of any preferred stock at a price in excess of $110, the call price, will result in the unlawful payment of dividends to some stockholders and not to others. "In inviting tenders it is good practice to set a fixed price at which tenders will be accepted to the extent of the fund available thereby giving each stockholder an equal opportunity to dispose of his stock. We further believe the approval of common stockholders should be procured." Denis to Seek Major Release for S. A. Film Armand Denis leaves for South America on Jan. 15 to make arx-angements to produce a combination documentary-entertainment film on that continent. Same unit that made "Dark Rapture," released by Universal in 1938, will accompany Denis. A major company outlet will be sought for the film. New Pact for Col. Joy West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Col. Jason Joy, public relations head at 20th Century-Fox, studio since 1935, has been signed to a new two-year contract. Hopalongs in Denver's Para. Denver — Fox Intermountain's Paramount theater, circuit's top house, will play the Hopalong Cassidy series. Deal follows a test showing.