The Film Daily (1941)

International :n Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Three Years Old -1FDAILY' I =L 80. NO. 96 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 1941 TEN CENTS 10 YEARS FOR BIOFF AND 8 FOR BROWNE . . Two Issues Involved in Unity Plan — Kuykendall Trade Defense Held One, Internal Business Problems Another.MPTOAView MPTOA sees two "quite different land somewhat unrelated projects" involved in the proposed unity proeram and •'it is a mistake to confuse the two in dealing with them," > Ed Kuyken• ddl declares in a bulletin made public vesterday. 'The MPTOA p r e s i dent asserts that a u n i t ed front in defense of the business against outside attacks is one issue and the other is joint ne ( Continued on Page 8) ED KUYKENDALL $4,200,000 Eastman Wage Dividend Set Rochester — A wage dividend of 84,200,000 was declared by Eastman ' man Kodak Co. here yesterday. At the same time, an extra com , mon stock dividend of $1 a share was declared for Kodak stockhold {Continued on Page 7) 20th-Fox to Ask Court For Franchise Ruling Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard tomorrow will be asked by 20thFox to construe Section 15 of the New York consent decree in connection with certain theater franchises of the company. Section 15 provides that the decree shall not apply to any franchise signed before June 6, 1940. 20th-Fox will seek a ruling that certain franchises are not barred by this provision of the decree. Knox Spurns Mercy Pleas Text of Federal Judge John C. Knox's remarks in imposing sentence yesterday on George E. Browne, former 1ATSE prexy, and Willie Bioff, his ex-West Coast personal rep., convicted on extortion charges: "This is not unhappily the first time on which I have had occasion to sentence leaders of labor for violation of their country's laws. For reasons that were entirely unsound I have upon each such occasion been asked to consider the circumstances that these leaders upon behalf of the interests of labor are entitled to special dispensations of mercy. Great as is my sympathy for the (Continued on Page 9) Convince Solons Pictures Are Not a Luxury— MPTOA Convicted Extortionists Also Fined $20,000 Each; Additional 10Year Sentences for Conspiracy Are Suspended; Release on Bail Pending Appeal Asked Willie Bioff yesterday drew a sentence of 10 years in a Federal prison and George E. Browne one of eight years from Federal Judge John C. Knox for violation of Federal anti-racketeering laws in extorting huge sums from the film industry. Each defendant was fined $20,000, with specific instructions from the court that they remain in prison until the fines are paid in full. At the same time, Judge Knox sentenced each defendant to additional imprisonment terms of ten years on the third (conspiracy) (Continued on Page 9) SPG Rejects Tie-up With ClO's S0PEG New York Screen Publicists Guild will continue as an indie union, its membership voting down a proposal for affiliation with the CIO via Local 109, Screen Office and Professional Employes Guild, in the recent mail referendum, it was announced yesterday. Statement issued by the SPG executive council explained the ad( Continued on Page 4) Exhibitors and exhibitor associations throughout the country "must convince _ legislators that motion picture entertainment is not a luxury to the people of this country and that excessive admission taxes are a real burden to the local theaters, not just a tax that can be entirely passed on to the consumer, without any injury to the theater," Prexy Ed Kuykendall of the MPTOA (Continued on Page 8) National Board Conference Expected to Attract 300 Three-day 18th Annual Conference of the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures opens today at 10:30 a.m. in the Hotel Pennsylvania, with "Movies in a Democracy" as meeting's theme. Attendance of 300 is anticipated. Launching the series of sessions will be this morning's huddle of com(Continued on Page 9) Det. to Raise, Stagger Prices First-Runs to Start lipping Thanksgiving Day Pathe Film-duPont Stock Swap Gets Gov't Approval U. S. Treasury Dept. and the SEC have approved the proposed exchange by Pathe Film Corp. of its holdings in DuPont Film Manufacturing Corp. for common stock in E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co. On Nov. 10, the Commissioner of (Continued on Page 4) Detroit — Detroit first-runs agree to raise prices Thanksgiving Day from the present 55 cents at night and 40 at matinees to a completely new staggered schedule. Monday through Thursday will be 40 cents at matinees and 55 at nights; Friday will be 40 cents to six o'clock, 65 at nights; Saturday will be 50 cents to five o'clock, 65 at nights; Sundays and holidays will be 50 (Continued on Page 4) ~~l A ■± s 20lh-Fox and RKO Would Sell in Minn. RKO will seek to be relieved from complying with certain sections of the New York consent decree in order to sell in Minnesota. An application may be made today to Judge (Continued on Page 8) Warner Stockholders Meeting Set for Dec. 8 Annual stockholders meeting of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., will be held Dec. 8 in Wilmington. Proxy notice for the meeting (Continued on Page 7) 24-Hour Operation Looming in Vallejo San Francisco — Practically all Vallejo film houses, circuits and indies, are playing owl shows. Coining money, too. Navy Yard town is rated one of the hottest boom spots in the U. S., with many stores staying open full 24 hours to cater to three shifts of shipyard workers. Main stem is as crowded at 2 a.m. as at 2 p.m. Talk now is that several of the houses may shortly be showing pictures the clock around. 1S1 z =3= =&£ H J-t7 •* MHZ •is i ci y "Cimi d -ci -w >\ 3 I MH ±.t\n £1 1 'JclM 1 n