The Film Daily (1938)

In This Issue: Industry Drive News from Everywhere E Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought (Turn to Page 6) The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty Years Old 3" 74, NO. 57 NEW YORK. THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 8. 1938 TEN CENTS Schenck to Place Proposed GB Deal Before Executives HAMMONS-JACKSON AGREE ORALLY ON NEW GN DEAL New York Campaign Gets Business Committee Backing Industry Drive . . interdependability By CHESTER B. BAHN A S the industry's business campaign ** gains in momentum on both sides of the American-Canadian international line, it becomes increasingly evident that its benefits will persist long after the present barrage of newspaper advertising and publicity is terminated and the 5,000 awards in the $250,000 "Movie Quiz" bestowed. This drive for increased theater attendance as a medium of industry prosperity is clicking because it has the concerted backing of all branches, and it is the realization of that fact all along the line that holds the richest promise for the trade. For a period of years, there has been a crying need for something to make the industry think in terms of the industry and many of the difficulties it has confronted— and continues to confront — are traceable to lack of cohesion. If the lesson of interdependability is learned in lasting fashion, the $1,000,000 invested in the campaign by producerdistributors and exhibitors, affiliated and unaffiliated, will be the best investment this industry ever made. — • — DEFORE the campaign formally opened, '"' it was predicted, here and elsewhere, that one of its fruits would be a rebirth of old-fashioned showmanship. It is a prediction already being well fulfilled throughout the United States and Canada. That corking campaign press book, invaluable in itself, has proven a spur to exhibitor initiative, and the results, in part, may be noted daily in the special "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment" pages in this newspaper. The industry has found the dailies of the United States and Canada in a receptive mood, and, as the committee points out, editorial comment is universally favorable to the purposes of the drive, with papers generally adopting as their own the campaign slogan, "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment." There is, of course, no mystery in this. In the words of the Brooklyn Daily Eagle, "Where motion picture theaters are prosperous, there is general prosperity." Another example, if you please, of interdependability. West Side Association Names Special Group to Co-operate Recognizing the fact that the rise and fall of retail sales and industry and jobs are closely related, and that all are stimulated by attendance figures of the motion picture theaters, the West Side Association of Commerce, New York, has taken under its sponsorship some of the activities of the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year Campaign for New York City. Ben Serkowich, chairman of the (Continued on Page 6) KUYKENDALL REPEATS TRADE PARLEY PLEA Kansas City, Mo. — Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prexy, addressing the annual meeting of the Kansas-Missouri Theater Owners Association (Continued on Page 7) KENT, RODGERS TO TALK CODE Definite Announcement Is Believed Near W. F. Rodgers, M-G-M general sales manager and a member of the distributors' negotiating committee for the preparation of a fair trade practice code, said yesterday he expected to meet sometime this week with Sidney R. Kent, chairman, for the purpose of resuming discussions. It is believed that a definite announcement will be forthcoming shortly. Clarification of Exchange Contract Sought at Meet A meeting between John F. Gatelee, IATSE executive, and the heads of the New York exchanges will be held today at the Warner home (Continued on Page 7) RKO REORG, HEARING MAY BE SET SEPT. 29 Adjournment of today's scheduled hearing on the RKO reorg. plan will be asked at 10 a.m. in Federal Court by counsel for Atlas Corp., proponents of the plan, in concert with creditor interests involved in the action, it was definitely stated yesterday. Postponement of the hearing pending the return of Federal Judge William Bondy, who has been on (Continued on Page 7) Decision on GB Reciprocal Deal Waits on Schenck's Conferences With Execs. Rep. Closes Trendle Deal for New "Ranger" Serial Announcement was made yesterday at Republic's home office that a deal has been concluded with George W. Trendle, whereby Republic acquires the right to make a new 15-chapter serial, "Lone Ranger Returns." Production on the new (Continued on Page 7) Whether or not Joseph M. Schenck, board chairman of 20thFox, returns to England this Fall for further conferences with the Ostrers to discuss a reciprocal producing deal between 20th-Fox and Gaumont Britsh, will depend upon the outcome of future conferences with company execs., Schenck said (Continued on Page 4) Briton Sails to Place Plan Before English Financial Interests An oral agreement is understood to have been reached between Louis Jackson, representing British financial interests, and E. W. Hammons, president of New Grand NationalEducational, whereby the former's associates will become identified with the new American company. Jackson sailed yesterday on the Queen Mary for London where he will present a plan ■ discussed by Hammons and Jackson to his banking firm. It is understood that consummation of the deal depends on the approval of the English interests. The plan also must be rati (Continucd an Page 4) SMITH'S UA STATUS UP AS BOARD MEETS Official status of Andy W. Smith, Jr., United Artists general sales manager, is expected to be determined at a meeting of the board of directors this afternoon. Reports were current yesterday of impending executive changes, (Continued on Page 7) Grune Plans Early Return to Effect U. S. Financing Sailing yesterday on the Manhattan after several months of negotiations in this country, Karl Grune, head of British Chemicolor, told The Film Daily that he expected (Continued an Page 4) Sol J. Hyman Again Prexy of W. Virginia Managers White Sulphur Springs, Va. — Sol J. Hyman was re-elected to the presidency of the West Virginia Theaters Managers .Ajssociatiohj at the closing session of the annual i s i r i v r* c 1*1 d < ! Vi