The Film Daily (1944)

A^ n©W iiOiriS *^diniCK""cjjreA of to assume charge of distribution for all David 0. Selznick's enterprises throughout the world. Agnew confers with Barney Balaban today to determine his departure date from Paramount with which he has been identified for 24 years. Selznick releases through UA and Agnew will work closely with Grad Intimate in Character international in Scope Independent in Thought C The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old -IFDAILY 9 J/OL. 85. NO. 65 NEW YORK. MONDAY. APRIL 3. 1944 FULLEST INDUSTRY CO-OP FOR Circuits Lukewarm to War Areas Theater Plan THE WEEK TS REVIEW ITOA Proposals By L H. MITCHEU STATE CONTROL: ITOA of New York has prepared a bill calling for state control of the film industrythrough the creation of an M. P. Practices Board, but only as "a last resort" if the proposed revision of the N. Y. consent dceree does not do away with unfair trade practices, 31 of which are listed in its announcement of the proposed bill. . . Allied and unaffiliated exhibs. have expressed agreement with MPTOA Prexy Ed Kuykendall's decree proposals. HAYS' REPORT: MPPDA Prexy Will Hays' annual report called trade barriers "vicious censorship" and asserted that U. S. pix ask only to compete on a basis of artistic worth; remarked further that comedies are up sharply as melodramas decline in popular favor; that features are being shortened for classroom use; noted a 24 per cent jump in pay of extras last year, totalling $4,190,060; that 27,000 miles of film were shipped daily without a fire loss; that 2,270 film titles were registered during 1943, bringing the total to 42,000. EVENTS OF THE WEEK: Death list included John J. McGuirk, formerly president of the Stanley Co. of America and of First National Pictures; and Mort H. Singer, head of the Singer Circuit in the MidWest. . . Films' golden jubilee will be celebrated by the industry extending over a period of nine months. William Fox is planning to re-enter the film field as producer, distributor and exhibitor. . . In response to Red Cross officials' request, more than 5,000 theaters pledged to continue Red Cross collections over the week-end. . . William F. Rodgers, in a trade press interview, asserted there is no remedy for trade problems in legislation, and pleaded for unity. Exhib. organization leaders (Kuykendall, Myers, Brandt) ex (.Continued on Page 10) See Liability on Hands At War's End; Equipment Also An Adverse Factor Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Exhibition interests, especially those operating large units, appear to be lukewarm to the Government's recommendations for new theaters in communities that have mushroomed due to war industries, according to information compiled here. Because the new houses would be constructed in war boom areas, industry sources see only a temporary demand for amuse (Continucd on Page 10) Carnegie Hall Story From Morros for UA A picture based on the history of Carnegie Hall in New York will be produced by Boris Morros for distribution through United Artists, Moi-ros announced at a press luncheon Friday. Picture, which will be designed to be a musical festival with the richness of the hall's traditions, will require approximately 18 (Continued on Page 10) To Examine WB. MPPDA Execs. In Hillside Suit Executives of Warner Bros, and Vitagraph will be examined on April 10 and MPPDA representatives on April 21, according to notices of examinations before trial filed in N. (Continued on Page 10) Flood Brings Film Deliveries hy Boat Memphis — Film delivery by boat was in progress by Film Transit at the week-end to provide service to theaters at Columbus, Miss., as a result of raging flood waters which washed out bridges and covered miles of highways. Local exchanges reported late Friday that up to that time no theaters had been required to close in the flooded territory because of lack of film. Counter-Proposals on Studio Pads Today Submission of counter-proposals by the film companies in the negotiations with the 11 lATSE studio unions for new agreements to replace those that expired on Jan. 1 will start this morning at the New York offices of Pat Casey, producers' labor contact, four weeks after the opening of talks between company and union spokesmen. The session will be interrupted (Continued on Page 9) Arthur's EDC to Handle New Productions Only St. Louis — All pictures to be distributed by Harry C. Arthur's Exhibitors Distributing Corp. will be new subjects produced for the company, Arthur said last week in deny (Continued on Page 9) BriL in IS mm, Mexican Drive Planning to Exploit Non -Theatrical Market Perry Again President Of New England Indies Boston— All officers of Independent Exhibitors, Inc., were re-elected last week when at a meeting the members voted to re-affiliate the unit with national Allied. Officers are Francis Perry, presi(Continued on Page 5) Mexico City (By Air Mail)— British exploitation of the 16 mm. horne movie, non-theatrical market in Mexico and other Latin American countries in the post-war period is being carefully planned. British spokesmen in this city are assuring Mexican movie fans that, upon the return of peace, they will be offered the opportunity to buy (Continued on Page 9) Drive to Start June 12; Skouras and Aides to Get Gov't Thanks on Thursday Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The biggest War Bond drive yet — the Fifth War Loan Drive — has been definitely scheduled for June 12-July 8, it was revealed this morning. Over-all goal, as earlier announced, will be 16 billion dollars, two billion more than in the last drive. The pix industry again will be called upon for the fullest co-operation, it was said, with the quota of Bond sales to individuals raised above the gigantic total sought for during the last drive. The individual Bond sales total has been set (Continued on Page 5) Philly Tlieaters Gef C" Manpower Rating ifftt Philadelphia — A solution to the hiring problem in theaters was seen here last week through a co-operative agreement arrived at by the United States Employment Service which placed motion picture establishments in the "C" classification in the Manpower Budget Plan. Under the terms of the agreement, (Continued on Page 10) Standing Room Isn't For the Bus Patrons Muncie, Ind. — Intersection of Adams and Mulberry Streets here is a bus stop, and also locale of the Rivoli Theater whose lobby passengers are accustomed to use as a waiting room in inclement weather. But the Board of Public Works and Safety, following a hearing on complaint of fire prevention inspectors, has nixed the practice. At session, counsel for the bus company suggested that theater's ticket window be moved inside the lobby to provide waiting facilities for the passengers. Leonard Sowar, stand's manager, proposed moving bus stop away from theater, and this will probably be the solution.