The Film Daily (1945)

M. P. Production Diet. 28 W. 44th St. 21 st floor New York & Y. DOOR NOT CLOSED TO SUIT SETTLEMENT Allied Finds No Change in 16 mm. Availabilities Companies to Continue Outright Sales While Retaining Some Control In an effort to determine to what extent exhibitors can expect 16mm. competition, national Allied through Col. H. A. Cole is making a survey of all companies as to their plans for the supplying of narrow gauge film theatrical accounts. While all of the sales managers, to whom the letters were addressed, have not yet replied to the questionnaire, indications are that there will be no change in the current procedure of making availcontinued on P?ge 6) Todd Will Produce Exclusively for "U ii Michael Todd and Universal have signed a long-term contract by which the Broadway showman will produce motion pictures exclusively for "U." It is expected that some arrangements will be effected to facilitate the appearance of talent in Universal for some of Todd's Broadway productions and also that some of the talent in the latter might find opportunity for motion picture assignments. (Continued on Page 7) L. A. Drafting Ordinance For 5% Admission Tax West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — By a vote of eight to six, City Attorney Chesebro was instructed by the Los Angeles City Council to draft an ordinance assess(Continued on Page 7) IV© Re-freeze Yet of U. S. Coin by V. K. London (By Cable) — Opinion is hardening here regarding the refreezing of American money, but best-advised channels assert that the step will not be taken at this moment. Observers are watching closely progress of lend-lease discussions in Washington. DISTRIBS. CHARGE FRAUD IN R. I. Eight Actions Claim False Box Office Reports and Conspiracy With Checkers at Castle Theater Providence, R. I. — Eight actions charging conspiracy to defraud distributors by furnishing false box office reports of receipts have been filed by the major distributors against Albert Gould, Ida Gould and Castle Amusement Corp., operating the Castle Theater here. Suits, filed by RKO, Loew's, Paramount, Warners, Universal, 20thFox, Columbia and United Artists also claim that, as an aid in carrying out the alleged deception, defendants at times "induced checkers sent by the plaintiff to join with them in the falsification" of percentage reports. Among other charges, it is claimed the distributor was not only damaged in being induced to accept less than it was entitled to on its percentage pictures, but that it was the exhibitors' purpose in misrepresenting the grosses to obtain reductions in rental terms on pictures already shown and lower rental terms for flat (Continued on Page 3) PIC Field Force Joins Victory Drive Wholehearted support of the 110 PIC field representatives in the Victory Loan Drive was pledged at a meeting of PIC and industry drive committee executives. With the addition of the PIC personnel, the Victory campaign will have the greatest amount of field manpower of any (Continued on Page 7) Columbia Execs. Leaving For Coast Board Meet Columbia home office executives and members of the company's board of directors will leave New York early this week to attend the board (Continued on Page 3) No Griffith Decision Before Next February Oklahoma City — Judge Edgar SVaught will not be in a position to deliberate his decision in the Griffith case before next February at the earliest, parties to the action learned as they prepared for final testimony today or not later than tomorrow. Judge Vaught at the close of last (Continued on Page 2) CFI Meeting on Merger Adjourned to Oct. 19 Wilmington, Del. — Friday's special meeting of Consolidated Film Industries stockholders, which was called to vote on the merger of Consolidated into and with Setay Co., (Continued on Pige 6) No NLRB Strike Decision Yet Hears Opposing Counsel; Arguments Later UA Board to Act on Harry Sherman Pact United Artists board of directors is scheduled to meet in New York tomorrow. Mary Pickford arrived Friday morning for the sessions at which a number of corporate affairs (Continued on Page 6) Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — A promise by the NLRB to move as quickly as possible in granting a decision on the issues involved in the studio strike concluded the hearing here Friday, with Chairman Paul Herzog warning that any further pressure to expedite the (Continued on Page 7) Despite Nearness to Date Of Trial, Defendants Are Said to be Still Hopeful The door is not closed to a satisfactory settlement of the Government's anti-trust action, rumors to the contrary, it was reported Friday in the wake of widely circulated reports that nothing could stop the case from going to trial on Oct. 8. While spokesmen could not be specific as to what may transpire between now and next Monday, it was indicated that they were "hopeful" of an agreement. There appeared to be some basis for the belief that there may be a change in (Continued ( n Page 6) IA Defers Action on Withdrawing Charters Expectations on Friday were that the IATSE executive board conference at the Hotel Astor would get around to discussing the Hollywood studio strike today, with Richard F. Walsh, Alliance head, presiding. Gen(Continued on Page 7) Appoint Robert McGuire Warner Exchange Auditor Robert A. McGuire has been promoted to auditor of Warner exchanges, it was announced Friday by Ben Kalmenson, general sales manager. McGuire takes over the duties (Continued on Page 3) VSP-Warner Deal is Confirmed by Board Deal under which United States Pictures, Inc., new producing firm headed by Joseph Bernhard as president and Milton Sperling as vice-president, will distribute through Warners was authorized Friday at a meeting of the Warner board. Bernhard resigned from Warners last week. Harry M. Warner, president, said that no successor will be named for the time being.