The Film Daily (1943)

— ^ r, i i n it i . (. v i N 2H W 44TH ST N Y C 22 NN FL iftiu DAILY Wednesday, June 30, 194 LETTERS Nashville, Tenn. June 29, 1943. Editor, The Film Daily, Re Crescent anti-trust suit. Dispatch from Nashville published in your issue June 24 misquotes me. I made no statement concerning pleas of "three corporations" or to the effect that the decree concerning Muscle Shoals had any bearing whatsoever on any client we represent. I expressed no opinion as to what action Judge Davies might possibly take in connection with any intervening petitions or motions to intervene filed by individuals. George H. Armistead, Jr. High Food Costs Hurting Movies — Rep. Barry to FDR {Continued from Page 1) B. Barry, New York Democrat. "If they go to movies they won't be able to eat," said Barry. In a letter sent President Roosevelt yesterday, Barry quoted Department of Labor figures to show that food costs in 56 cities increased 46.2 per cent between January, 1941, and May of this year. Although organized labor has won wage increases during that period approximately 15 per cent, he said, "the great unorganized white collared class of Americans during that time has received on the whole much less than a 15 per cent salary increase, in fact, millions have received no increase at all." Theater box-offices have already suffei'ed, Barry said. "Buy to Retain a Profit," Iowa-Neb. Exhibitors Told Eldora, la. — A recommendation that the individual exhib. provide his own solution to the film rental situation by analyzing his operation, determining his overhead "and then buy so he can retain a profit, only from those companies who will sell and treat him right" highlights a bulletin just released by Prexy Leo F. Wolcott of the Allied-Independent Theater Owners of Iowa-Nebraska, Inc. "There are still such companies," says Wolcott, adding, "Those who'll go for tough deals to get pictures ahead of his neighbor is just cutting his own throat." "If there's any such thing as a market in the picture business it's not a buyer's market, that's sure," he continues. "Result, today overselling is the rule, not the exception, which is certainly not in step with the economic policy of the nation." Wolcott also charges that the small towns are getting "fed up" with war films. He said the customers have been walking out on war pictures at his house in Eldora. FTC Order Hits Ad Fix Firms Exclusive Deals with Theaters Under Ban (Continued f trol more than 90 per cent of the production and distribution of advertising trailers — are Motion Picture Advertising Service, New Orleans, United Film Ad Service, Kansas City, Ray-Bell Films, St. Paul, Alexander Film Co., Colorado Springs, and the A. V. Cauger, Independence, Mo. These companies comprise the Association of Advertising Film Companies. The booking agencies are Screen Broadcast Corp., New York, and General Screen Advertising, Chicago. The individuals against whom the order is directed are Albert E. Fair, Screen Broadcast head, J. D. Alexander, president of Alexander Film and chairman of the board of General Screen Advertising, and C. J. Mabry, Motion Picture Advertising Service vice-president. Exclusive contracts with exhibitors for the showing of advertising films ' are ruled out by the order. Thousands of these are believed to have been signed throughout the country. The order also specifically prohibits: 1. Fixing or maintaining' screening' or display rates to be charged national advertisers, or rates, commissions or other compensation to be paid booking' agencies. 2. Entering into, continuing or carrying' out any agreements with the respondent booking' agencies whereby the distributors agree not to accept national film advertising: from any other source than such booking ag'encies in any designated territory, or whereby either of the booking agencies agrees to sell film advertising to national advertisers for screen corn Page 1) ing in theaters under contract with the respondent distributors according to screening or display rates co-operatively fixed and listed with such booking agencies by the respective distributors. 3. Furnishing to either of the respondent booking agencies a list of theaters under contract with the distributors for classification by the booking agencies according to their size, circulation or weekly attendance, for the purpose or with the effect of determining display rates or charges to advertisers. 4. Declining to accept or release any film for a national advertising account unless it is booked through one of the respondent agencies. 5. Observing any rate card issued by a booking agency for computing the screening or display rate or the amount of compensation due each distributor or theater. 6. Adopting standard rates of compensation for use in dealing with national advertisers in connection with co-operative advertising programs. 7. Adopting or observing, in dealing with advertisers or theaters, rate books or similar devices issued by the respondent trade association or by any booking agency. The order further directs the respondent distributors and the respondent booking ag'encies and their officers and agents to cease and desist from entering into or carrying out any agreement whereby the distributors agree not to accept national film advertising from any source other than the booking agencies, or whereby the booking agencies or the individual respondents, Albert E. Fair ' and J. D. Alexander, agree to sell national film advertising for screening in theaters under contract with the distributors according to screening or display charges co-operatively fixed by the respondent distributors. FTC found that the respondent corporations have conspired since 1933, and particularly since 1937, to fix rates charged to advertisers and booking agencies and the terms under which the films are to be shown in theaters. $10,000,000 Gross Seen By Wallis for "Army" (Continued pom Page 1) price gala affair, with probably a $25 top, it was learned yesterday with the arrival from the Coast of Hal B. Wallis, who co-produced the picture with Jack L. Warner, and Michael Curtiz, the director, and Berlin. Proceeds of the benefit opening, like all other profits from the film, will go to the Army Emergency Reief Fund. Wallis said on arrival at Grand Central that he estimated the picture would gross around $10,000,000. The only charge against the gross will be a nominal distribution expense, with the Army fund getting the big bulk of the intake. To carry out the extensive campaign for "This is the Army," it is expected that the War Department will assign additional men in uniform to work with the public relations group now functioning with Mort Blumenstock's department at the Warner home office. This group now includes Sgt. Ben Washer, Sgt. Nathan Schenker, Pfc. Max Gendel and Pfc. Alfred Palca. Warner Circuit Ad Men Meet Here on "Army" Premieres Warner Circuit zone advertising men will meet today in the office of Harry Goldberg, director of advertising and publicity, to discuss the "Best Foot Forward' Does That At Astor Metro's "Best Foot Forward" played to SRO throughout the day in its world premiere at the Astor theater yesterday. House management indicated late in the day that initial figures would equal those of "For Me and My Gal" and "The Human Comedy." Duals for Providence Met. Providence — Metropolitan here has dropped its vaudeville-film week-end bookings for the Summer. House will try double features. 36 premieres of "This is the Army" scheduled for Warner houses immediately following the Broadway premiere. Participating in the discussions will be Joseph Bernhard, general manager of the theaters; Ben Kalmenson, sales head; Harry M. Kalmine, assistant general manager; More Blumenstock, in charge of Warners advertising and publicity in the East, and Col. Charles Johnson, U. S. Army. Zone advertising men present will include J. Knox Strachan, Cleveland; Dan Finn, New Haven; Robert Paskow, Newark; Charles Smakwitz, Albany; Irving Blumberg, Philadelphia; Jimmie Totman, Pittsburgh; Frank LaFalce, Washington and Marcel Brazee, Milwaukee. Metro's 12 Shooting Tops Coast Activity (Continued from Page 1) with 12 shooting, is the most activ< The check-up: At Columbia: Three shooting, in eluding "Footlight Glamor," corned} featuring Penny Singleton and thur Lake, with Irving Bacon, Savage, Jonathan Hale, Grace H Rafael Storm and Thurston Hal Frank Strayer producing and di recting. At M-G-M: Twelve shooting, includin "See Here, Private Hargrove," adapted frai the best-seller by Marion Hargrove, featui ing Robert Walker, with Danna Reed, Chi Wills, Ray Collins, Keenan Wynn, Bill Phi lips, George Offerman, Jr. George Heigh producing and Wesley Ruggles directing. At Monogram: Four shooting, includin "Nearly Eighteen," musical starring Gal Storm, with Rick Valin and Bill Henrj Lindsley Parsons production with Arthu Dreifuss directing: and "Blazing Guns. Western, with Hoot Gibson, Ken Maynar and Betty Miles. Robert Emmett directin for producer Robert Tansey. At Paramount: Pour shooting. At PRC: One shooting. At RKO-Radio: Five shooting, plus tw from Samuel Goldwyn. At Republic: Four shooting, includin "Beyond the Last Frontier," first of th John Paul Revere series with Lou Gra producing and Howard Bretherton directing "In Old Oklahoma,"starring John Wayn and Martha Scott, with Al Rogell directin for producer Robert North; and, "A Serear In the Night," mystery drama, with Georg Sherman producing and directing. At 20th Century-Fox: Five shooting. At Universal: Eight shooting, includin "His Butlers Sister," starring Deanna Durbii: with Pat O'Brien, Franchot Tone, Evely) Ankers, Walter Catlett, Akim Tamiroff an Sig Arno. Felix Jackson producing, wit! Frank Shaw, the associate producer, an> Frank Borzage directing. At Warners: Five shooting. Continental Pictures: "Teen Age," fo state rights market, with Sylvia and Bett. Stanton in the leads, Rob Luby directin and K. D. Kendis producing. SPG and Five Majors to Arbitrate Pay Increase (Continued from Page 1) on negotiations on behalf of all it: members. The move to arbitral the matter was agreed upon by botl sides under the terms of existing contracts between the guild and th< employers involved. The five film companies are Para mount Pictures, RKO Radio Pictures M-G-M, Universal Pictures and Co lumbia Pictures, the circuits bein Loew's and RKO. Arbitration proceedings will stai at the earliest possible moment, : was said. Arbitration will be conducted bj a board of three on behalf of al companies now negotiating with ths SPG, except United Artists anc 20th-Fox, neither of which has ar arbitration clause in its contrad with the guild. Rites Held for Ruby Elzy Corinth, Miss. — Funeral service; for Ruby Elzy. 33, Negro concerl and stage singer who appeared ii: several motion pictures, were held yesterday at the home of her mother She died Saturday in Detroit. Besides her mother, survivors include her father, her husband, Jack Cantwo sisters and a brother. y