The Film Daily (1942)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought fiLE COPY __NQT REMOVE FDAILY' The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Three Years Old m . 81. NO. 78 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, APRIL 23, 1942 TEN CENTS WRIGHT TO TRY SCHINE CASE FOR GOV'T All 4 PCC of ITO Units Okay UMPI Sales Plan Would Clarify Language Of Clause V On No. of Films in Each Bracket West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — PCC of ITO announces hat regional meetings of its Washngton, Oregon, Northern California and Southern California units of the inal proposed selling plan of UMPI lave been completed and the trustees nave endorsed its action. All four groups are unanimous in accepting the UMPI sub-committee urogram points one to five inclusive as a whole, with the exception that (Continued on Page 8) Block-Booking Bill Again in Puerto Rico By E. SANCHEZ ORTIZ FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent San Juan, P. R., (By Air Mail)— U. S. distributors in Puerto Rico lave requested a hearing before the rlouse of Representatives where several industry bills are now pending. 3ne measure (Senate Bill Bo438) vould prohibit block-booking. Rep. Baria Libertad Gomez, the (Continued on Page 8) Official Washington Turns Out for "Saboteur" Bow tashington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Universale "Sabour" had its world premiere here ast night at the RKO Keith Theiter before an audience of men who (Continued on Page 8) Dulce et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori Grove City, Pa. — H. M. Carruthers, Jr., son and nephew, respectively, of H. M. Can-others, Sr., and J. C. Carruthers, who operate the Guthrie Theater here, who was the youngest pilot instructor in the U. S. Army A'r Corps, was killed at Miami, Fla., in an airplane crash in which four other fliers also met their death. 20th Century-Fox Pittsburgh Exchange Training Four Femmes for Boohing Duty Pittsburgh — Because a number of their male employes are in the draft, the local 20th Century-Fox exchange is training four of its feminine employes as bookers in the event it is necessary to replace the men should they be called into service. Ambassador, Philly, WPB, Exhibs. Parley Asks Clearance Cut Ambassador Theater. Philadelphia, has filed a demand for ai-bitration, claiming unreasonable clearance. Only defendant is RKO. Complainant charges that the clearance granted by RKO to the Benn and Cross Keys Theaters is excessive and asks that the clearance between the two houses and the Ambassador be cut to one day. Morgenthau's Bond Sale Talk on Theater Screens Excerpts from Secretary of the Treasury Morgenthau's speech urging purchase of War Stamps and Bonds will be flashed on the screens of many theaters almost simultaneously with its delivery tomorrow, the WAC announced yesterday. Key camera men shot the material in Washington Monday and the Treasury has already made available 10,000 advance prints. Behind Closed Doors Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The first meeting of the newly-created Motion Picture and Speaking Stage Industry Advisory Committee was held here yesterday behind closed doors. Announcement of what took place during the session was withheld from the press, but it is believed exhibitors were informed by Government officials of the contents of the forthcoming order governing construction and repair of theaters, and that restrictions relative to equip (Continucd on Page 4) Chas. Skouras Assumes NT Presidency Today Assumption of the presidency of National Theaters by Charles P. Skouras will be made official today at a meeting of the company's board. Details of the new administration are expected to be set at the meeting. Among other questions to be settled is that of whether to trans(Continued on Page S) Talent Priority for] Gov't 30 Stars to Sell War Bonds in 120 Cities Will Modify New British Tax for Workable Prices London (By Cable)— Taxes on seats scaled between nine pence and four shillings will be adjusted under the new Entertainments Tax to permit workable gross prices. New scales, doubling existing rates, take effect May 17, a week later than originally set. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Los Angeles — Government priority on motion picture star talent becomes effective immediately through the Hollywood Victory Committee. Official sanction of specific war activities within the film industry and allied agencies was announced in a report made at a special meeting of the Victory committee. Priority on talent rating by Wash(Continued on Page 4) He Succeeds Seymour Simon Who Reports to The U. S. Navy May 4 Buffalo— Robert L. Wright, Special Assistant to the Attorney General, was revealed yesteday as Seymour Simon's successor as prosecutor of the Government's anti-trust suit against, the Schine circuit and others, scheduled for trial "oh May 19. Wright headed the D of J's array of counsel in the prosecution of the New York equity suit and now serves as the head of a special (Continued on Page 5) Playdate Blockade Recurs in Detroit Detroit — Reports of a slowdown in film selling here, current on Film Row for the past couple of weeks, turn out on investigation to be based chiefly on difficulty in setting playdates, rather than on selling poli (Co-ntinned on Page 8) Gary Cooper in Trailer For Army and Navy Relief Gary Cooper will make the appeal trailer to be supplied to all theaters (Continued on Page 5) East's Largest Test Blackout for Jersey As a preliminary to a surprise blackout for the entire state, six New Jersey counties and portions of eight others will stage the East's largest trial blackout next Tuesday. Test will start at 10 p.m., last 15 minutes. Area affected comprises 4,460 square miles. Territory extends in zigzag fashion from the uppermost tip of New Jersey in Sussex County opposite Port Jervis, N. Y., to the Southernmost boundary at Cape May. At least 70,000 air-raid wardens and 15,000 fire and police auxiliaries will take part, aiding state and local police in enforcing rules.