The Film Daily (1938)

Friday, September 30, 1938 DAILY SCHAEFER TALK SOLVES UA'S PHILLY PROBLEM (Continued from Page 1) was invited to speak by President Lewen Pizor. Schaefer made a magnificent impression, wasted no time, spoke the ex' 'tor's language, gave UA's side of .ie story and wound up, well knowing that the problem was solved. The two main points of his talk were (1) UA gave in its 1937-38 contract both the exhibitor and individual producer the right to cancel out any pictures sold but not released by Sept. 15 last. (2) the company used its cancellation privilege on the six pictures because it had to meet a specific selling problem in that manner. Schaefer explained this problem at great length, pointing out that the company had to do this in order to avoid possible selling confusion in certain national situations. Schaefer went on record as instructing Harry Bodkin, local UA manager to negotiate deals for the six pictures with individual exhibitors for the new season. Schaefer specified that no exhibitor who had been sold the pictures on the 193738 contract and then had them cancelled would lose the privilege of buying them on new negotiation. What those terms would be he said was between exchange and exhibitor, but he inferred that if the exhibitor insisted he would get them for the same terms as on the 1937-38 contract. Generally, Schaefer reviewed UA's setup and its problems. He also said that personally he was against the practice of a company using an outstanding picture as bait for a product deal, then informing the customer that the company would not deliver and then reselling at higher terms next season. Schaefer's remarks were so well received that exhibitors present started to question him on industry problems generally. The importance of the session yesterday, it was said by exhibs., should not be overlooked in light of the attempts being made to have meetings between exhibitors and distributors on industry problems. It was quite evident here from the impression Schaefer made thai, exhibitors here at least welcome the round-table type of discussion. That his visit benefited UA immeasurably could not be disputed. Arthur Loew Off for S. A.; May Sail for Europe Later (Continued from Page 1) similar inspection trip. He may go direct from South America, although it is possible he will return to New York first. Loew will go first to Florida, then to Cuba and Mexico, after which he will start his tour of South America. He cancelled his sailing for Europe on the Normandie Wednesday. Daily In THE FILM DAILY "fllOTIOn PICTURES ARC VOUR B6ST C-RTERTfllRniEnT" Campaign News From Everywhere Okla. City Fall Business Shows Increase Over 1937 Oklahoma City — Fall business at downtown major houses will gross around $70,000 for the first four weeks of September as compared with a gross of about $65,000 for the same houses in the first four weeks of September, 1937. This increase has been due, in part, to the entertainment drive as well as to better pictures, it is said here. Comparison of the estimated $70,000 gross for the four houses in September are $60,150 for four weeks in August of this year and $46,000 for four weeks of July of this year. This comparison applies to only four of the first-run houses, but reflects the general trend for all first-run houses locally. Toronto Theaters Planning Industry Parade on Oct. 22 Toronto — Representatives of film distributors and of the industry in general are preparing for a bigstreet paz-ade to be held on Saturday Movie Week in St. Louis Proclaimed by the Mayor St. Louis — Mayor Bernard F. Dickmann has proclaimed the week beginning Oct. 7 as Motion Picture Week, to further stimulate local interest in the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign and the "Movie Quiz Contest." St. Louis is already setting the pace for real interest in the big Movie Quiz Contest among the larger cities of the country. Upwards of 150,000 of the contest quiz booklets have already been distributed through the St. Louis theaters and practically all of the local houses have now swung in behind the campaign 100 per cent. morning, Oct. 22. This parade will mark the half-way point of the Motion Pictures' Are Your Best Entertainment campaign here and be a means of renewing enthusiasm in it. It is planned to have every theater in the Toronto area (totalling well over one hundred) take part in this parade. IA Coast Election Returns iGN Seeks to Withdraw Autonomy to Studio Locals West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — With the election of officers of the Local 37 the program for returning economy to IATSE studio local has been completed. International officers who have been serving here have been withdrawn and will be sent to other fields. Harold B. Smith, representative of Sound Technicians Local 695, declared that the results of the elections were gratifying and showed that the real IA members had expressed confidence in the leadership and policies under which the IATSE present closed shop agreement with the Employers was negotiated and maintained. Lew C. G. Blix was re-elected as business representative of Local 37 and Ed Heim was named secretarytreasurer and Guy H. Cooper, recording secretary. Common from Curb Mart Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The SEC has set Oct. 25, as che date for a hearing on the application of Grand National Films, Inc., to withdraw its common stock, $1 par value, from listing and registration on the New York Curb Exchange. The hearing will be held at the commission's Washington offices. SEC said that Grand National states it is a debtor in a proceeding under section 77B of the bankruptcy act; that it has ceased to exist except at a corporate shell; and that trading in its common stock on the Exchange has been very slight. Mrs. Yetta Steel Dies Cleveland — Mrs. Yetta Steel, 70, mother of Jerry Steel who owns and operates the Apollo Theater, Oberlin, died at her home here. Two other sons also survive. 20-Year-Old Theater Tichet Still Good Mena, Ark. — H. C. Putman, of near here, presented a 20-year-old theater ticket at the Lyric this week which was promptly honored by Manager L. E. Gwaltney. Putman attended the matinee. He explained that 20 years ago the local branch of a wholesale grocery company gave away theater tickets in connection with a sales promotion scheme. The ticket Putman, held was issued June 12, 1918. He said that while looking through some old records he ran across the ticket and decided to try it out. ARNOLD, COUNSELS MAY CONFER AGAIN (Continued from Page 1) take place in 10 days or a fortnight. The published report that Solicitor General Jackson is taking a lead in the case was denied. Meanwhile, it was understood that the Department of Justice was manifesting a lively interest in the anti-trust suit recently launched in Chicago by affiliates of Illinois Allied and other indie exhibs. against B & K, et al. Joseph Rosenberg, of Illinois Allied's counsel, is here to confer today with Arnold. Ground work for the continued consideration of the Government's action in all its aspects was understood to have been laid at the unprecedented informal dinner meeting of counsels with Arnold and Paul Williams, special assistant Attorney General, at the Georgetown residence of Col. William J. Donovan Wednesday night. Arnold yesterday declined to amplify a formal press statement which merely said that "all aspects" of the case had been discussed at Wednesday's meeting and that an understanding had been reached that future parleys would be held. Film attorneys who had dined with Arnold and Williams were likewise disinclined to make any amplifying statement. Colonel Donovan, prior to his departure for New York yesterday, said that counsels had agreed to issue no statement. However, in Justice Department circles yesterday the conference and its results were described as "constructive," and in some Government circles there was persistent talk that a consent decree might eventuate. Attorneys who participated in the Washington conference returned to New York yesterday. They numbered: William Mallard, RKO: Austin Keough, Paramount; J. Robert Rubin, Metro: Robert Perkins, Warners; Ralph Harris and John Caskev. Twentieth Century-Fox; Col. William J. Donovan, representing RKO in receivership. However, it was learned on excellent authority that the negotiations had scarcely developed far enough to discuss intelligently the possibility of a consent decree. The Department is essentially concerned, it is said, with at least a tacit acceptance of its status quo proposal. In other words, the Department would like to be clear to enter court or seek a consent decree with the industry picture as it now is and without additional involvements consequent upon any new exhibition expansion. A Justice Department spokesman took occasion yesterday to deny trade paper reports published prior to Wednesday's conference suggesting departmental "irritation" over "delays."