The Film Daily (1941)

THE DAILY Thursday, November 13, 194j To Raise, Stagger Prices in Detroit (Continued from Page 1) cents to one o'clock and 65 after that. No move has been made yet for second-runs to increase admissions, but they will probably jump, and allow the keys to go from the present 35 cents to 40 for week-end changes when they play big pictures, definitely establishing the city on a differential price policy according to the days of the week. Pathe Film-duPont Stock Swap Gets Gov't Approval (Continued from Page 1) Internal Revenue ruled that the exchange between Pathe and du Pont constituted a non-taxable reorganization and that no tax would be imposed upon Pathe on receipt of the du Pont shares. The SEC yesterday gave the necessary approval to the transaction, declaring the plan of re-organization fair and equitable to Pathe stockholders among whom 56,750 shares of du Pont de Nemours common will be distributed for their 3,500 shares of Pathe. After the exchange is made, Pathe Film Corp. will be dissolved. Pathe was represented in the dealings by Robert Benjamin and Seymour Peyser, of Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin & Krim. They announced yesterday that the machinery for the exchange and the distribution of the du Pont stock would be placed in operation immediately. It is estimated that Pathe stockholders will receive their ratable interest within 10 days. Publicity Directors Will Welcome AP Editors West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Publicity directors' committee of Association of Motion Picture Producers will arrange special functions, star appearances and other phases of the industry's part in welcoming Associated Press managing editors who will hold their annual convention in Los Angeles in 1942. Eddie Buzzell Edward Alperson H. C. Potter Robert Sterling Nicola Napoli Gertrude Olmstead • • • THAT strange modern version oi the David-Goliath tilt continues to be staged in the exhibition Held The odds against the little fellow, David Short, have been even larger than prevailed in the original bout In that instance, there was only one Goliath to conjure with But today, it's diiierent David Short has two gargantuan guys against him, — Goliath Feature and the latter's big "lug" oi a brother. Second Feature The pity oi it, too, is that there is no iundamental quarrel 'twixt David Short and Goliath Feature Why, right in public they "compliment" each other But, alas! a large segment oi so-called "showmen" have, somewhat sadistically it seems, insisted upon sic-ing Second Feature on the scene and screen V V ▼ • • • BUT this corner isn't worrying any too much about the eventual outcome of this fantastic situation Nor should the public and the shorts producers And that's because many of the exhibitors who are devotees of duals are learning the hard way,— but they're learning In the next place, it is more apparent every day that David Short is not without a helluva lot of popular support, which is becoming progressively more demonstrative and articulate That support likes a balanced, quality diet of film fare,— the balanced diet It abhors the kind of alleged "feast" which cuts out the appetizer, the soup, the salad and the dessert, and, in their place, along with the one commendable main course, serves up, more often than not, a devastating platter of ersatz tripe The only protection poor John (5. Public has is his exercisable freewill He can walk out on the tripe . .... .Many, many do V V V • • • ANOTHER bright spot in the happily-clearing-up dilemma oi worthy David Short is that every day and in every way he is getting better and better His "trainers" see to that Out in his Hollywood camp and wherever else he is groomed, his health and stature are being built-up by solid stories; larger and larger injections oi human interest and humor; clever direction; thoroughly adequate casting; topilight animation, in the case oi cartoons; excellent production values, including the technical side Currently you'll iind more Color in his cheeks You can't keep a good little man like that down! V V T • • • THERE are other bright spots The opportunities for David Short are constantly opening-up in the form of (1) exhibitor defections from the ranks of duals; (2) the great bulk of newlyconstructed theaters embracing single bills; and, (3) rise of the Drive-Ins New niches are being found for shorts Witness, for example, the idea being instituted by the Drive-In located some two miles northwest of Fort Wayne, Ind Its operator isn't shuttering just because Winter comes He, Don Long (whose name is the very antithesis of "short"), is turning the project into a skating rink for the cold months, and will use shorts of name bands to provide the music Yes, and these who come to watch the skating can view the tab productions from their parked cars V V V • • • TODAY in the Hotel Edison, Ampa is holding what amounts to a Short Subject Congress, and it's a fitting move, ior 1941-42 is certain to go down in industry annals as Short Subjects' Greatest Year For that Congress we submit a slogan, — and we're borrowing it irom Will H. Hays It is particularly applicable to the vast entertainment value contained in the contemporary short subject, and one which these exhibitors who have exiled tab reels in iavor oi the awkward, insipid second ieature should speedily adopt: "It's not the size oi the dog in the iight, it's the size oi the iight in the dog!" SPG REJECTS S0PE6 TIE-UP Will Continue to Function 4s Independent Union (Continued from Page 1) verse vote on affiliation re from the belief by "many membei" that "such a move was not necesary to the securing of a speed and acceptable contract." The SP is the first of the indie white colla home office units to reject a CI tie-up; thus far, Local 109 has tr Screen Readers Guild and the hore office unions at Loew-Metro, Colun bia and 20th-Fox as chapters. SPG council's statement read i part: "As negotiations with the produi ers proceed, the Council is convini ed that the Guild membership wi continue to strengthen that unit which it needs to achieve its end and, further, that the membershi is prepared to take whatever stej are necessary to secure its contrac "The SPG greets the growin strength and unity of the organiz* office workers and readers, ai pledges its close and continued c operation in every way possible. A has always been true, such cc operation is necessary to the grea est strength of our own Guild." On behalf of the CIO, John Stanley, secretary-treasurer of thl United Office and Professional Wort ers of America, issued a stateme: expressing "deep regret" over th result of the SPG referendun Stanley, who is in charge of th UOPWA drive to organize the horn offices, continued: "The results of their referendu vote will delay but not prevent th establishment of maximum unit among all white collar workers i the motion picture industry and, i our opinion, will not serve the be interests of the publicists there selves. "The publicists' referendum too place in an atmosphere where pre; udices were given more weigh than informed discussion. We hop that this referendum will serve t initiate serious consideration an discussion of affiliation with th CIO as the only means of guaran teeing genuine collective bargainin for employes of motion picture pu' licity departments." SPG will hold a membership meet ing tonight at the Hotel Piccadillj 1. 1 Triple-Threat Man Detroit — Ray Schreiber, head of Midwest Theaters, has decided to learn show business from the stage end now. He has started taking lessons in: 1, piano-playing; 2, ballet; and 3, singing.