The Film Daily (1939)

L L S T l R T HI 1 MP I3 A D 2H W 44TH ST ^ 1 C , l ) N DAILY Tuesday, January 17, 1939 BRITISH EXHIBS. GOLD TO INCREASE IN QUOTAS (Continued from Page 1) uct. This is based on the fact that U. S. distribs. might, as a result, find it commerciallv impracticable to retain the figures of their present imports should a still higher quota commitment be imposed. Labor wants to stimulate production here as a solution of the studio unemployment problem. Exhibitors feel_ that greater indie production rather than a higher quota is the key. Greater indie production activity, however, is essentially dependent upon City financing. The Board of Trade, under the Quota Act, is empowered to alter quotas by Order in Council. Any revision would applv from Oct. 1 next insofar as exhibitors' quotas are concerned, and, in the instance of distributors' quotas, from April 1, 1940. Horse Cruelty Charges Denied by Kent, Zanuck (Continued from Page 1) the filming of "Jesse James" which were brought by S. H. Coleman, president of the American Humane Society. Both pointed out that only one horse was injured although 300 were used, that the accident was not due to lack of care, and that the scene in question was repeated with absolutely no injury to either horse or rider. Kent expressed amazement that "not one word of criticism or disapproval reached our ears until after the picture had been released in New York," said it was "very odd" no attempt was made to ascertain "the actual facts" insofar as the company was concerned, and asserted, "on three different occasions parties have endeavored to sell the studio copies of similar photographic negative and the studio has consistently refused to deal with anyone having taken photographs of this nature." Theater Darkened for Day on Misleading Ad Charge Lowell, Mass. — License commission suspended the license of the Gates Theater for one day for allegedly publishing misleading advertising. The theater remained closed yesterday. An advertisement containing a picture of a woman almost completely unclothed used in announcing the week's program was the basis of the commission's action. When a representative of the theater denied plans to present the program, the commission found that the theater had been guilty of misleading advertising. Vaude Out In Cincy? Cincinnati — RKO Shubert is reported dropping vaudeville for films only, in February. History Makers of 1938 C (Continued from Page 1) of the FWC group, and successfully, it is reported, with operating income of circuit upped considerably. Plans complete elimination of all giveaways through entire chain. Presiding at sales meetings, holding telephonic conferences with his field leaders and serving on MPGY general board along with his usual round of activities kept him busy, not to mention several cross country junkets on company business. • • LYNN FARNOL • • BACK in 19 3 4 Lynn left Samu e 1 Goldwyn to join the Donahue & C o e advertising ag e n c y , but in July of last year he was back in the United Artists fold as director of publicity and advertising. And since that time he has been hopping back and forth between the coasts in the interest of UA's product and putting over some neat space-grabbing stunts. Three Defendants Assail A. B. Momand Complaint Oklahoma City — Motions asking that the amended complaint of A. B. Momand in his suits against major producers and distributors be made more definite and certain have been filed by three groups of defendants in the $4,500,000 suits now pending in the Western District Court of Judge A. P. Murrah. Regal Theaters, Inc., alleged that "the amended complaint wholly fails to state the facts sufficient to construe any cause of action against this defendant," and prays for dismissal. It also denies all material allegations of the amended complaint. Griffith Amusement Co. asked for "a more definite statement" and citing of names, dates and more facts with regard to the charges in the amended complaint. The defendants, RKO Distribut;ng Co., Universal Film Exchange, Twentieth Century-Fox, Loew's, Vitagraph, RKO Radio Pictures and United Artists asked "that the plaintiff be required to make the points more definite and certain." • HARRY SHERMAN • CTHE "Hopalong'' producer hopped a 1 o n g himself during « the past year wL and continued llmmw&mb, -n^wL to produce 1 Class A westerns. Inking William Boyd's name to a new contract i n February, Harry maintained his pictures' and his own popularity by giving the exhibs the kind of pictures they like. In August he announced that he was boosting the budgets on his "Hopalongs" and in November he came through with the announcement that he would spend $750,000 on a picture based on the life of Al Jennings. Flint's Theaters Will Adopt Double Feature (Continued from Page 1) practice of the past couple of seasons, Flint theaters have had double bills for one change a week only, as the result of a friendly agreement. Dissatisfaction with the situation developed, and, as a result, double bills will be used on all changes by most houses, under the new plan. This marks one of the first serious extensions of double bills to upstate towns, despite universal double billing in Detroit. BELISAN AD SYSTEM IS DEGREED LOTTERY "Beachcomber" Clicking Paramount's "The Beachcomber" has grossed 60 per cent above house average in its first five pre-release engagements in New York City, Toronto, Montreal and Miami, it was announced yestreday. Picture will be released nationally on March 3. Femme Flyers Off on Air Tour to Plug 20th-Fox Pix Nationwide exploitation campaign for "Tailspin," new 20th-Fox film, got under way last night when four prominent women flyers and two members of the home office publicity and exploitation staffs left for the Coast via TWA on the first leg of tour that will take them to 19 different cities. Group was comprised of Ruth Nichols, Cecile Kenyon, Margo Tanner, Betty Gillies, William Chambliss and James Johnson. They will remain in Hollywood 10 days and then split into two groups, taking Northern and Southern routes. They leave the Coast Jan. 28 and meet again in New York on Feb. 7. Cities which will be visited by the two groups include: Kansas City, Oklahoma City, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Memphis, Nashville, Atlanta, Philadelphia, Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, Salt Lake City, Denver, Chicago, St. Louis, Detroit, Cleveland and Pittsburgh. "U" Signs Lugosi West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Bela Lugosi has been signed by Universal to a five-year contract. (Continued from Page 1 ) "illegally conducting a lottery" in his theater, in contravention of artcle 236 of the criminal code. First giveaway case in the Quo* ^c '•ourts, it was made a test caserXy Lhe Attorney-General. Registered at Ottawa by Robert Delaney, the Belisan plan consisted in giving each person attending the theater a coupon to fill in. On certain nights a drawing was held and the winner was given a sum of money, after signing a contract engaging himself to bring at least three persons to the theater. Rioux contended that the money was simply a salary engaging the winner as a publicity agent, but the plan made no mention of the qualifications necessary for this post, except, as the judge pointed out, that each applicant had to pay his way into the theater to become eligible. > P Anti-Bank Night Measure Introduced in New Mexico (Continued from Page 1) tatives here. Speaker George W. Armijo, Sr., Democrat, is the author of the measure. Bank Nights are popular in pix houses throughout the state. ■ Bank Night Legalization Move Reported in Florida Tampa — Next session of the Florida Legislature is expected to be asked to legalize Bank Night. It is understood measure will be sponsored by Rep. Peter Tomasello, of Okeechobee. It is understood that in the event that Bank Night is legalized, it will be placed under the jurisdiction of the State Racing Commission, with the state taking proportionate cut. : Frank Rogers, vice-prexy of Sparks : Theaters is a member of the commission. Would Legalize Games for Charity In Conn • .. Hartford — A bill seeking to make cash award games legal for "charitable" organizations has been filed in the new session of the Legisla-r ture, full text being expected this week before the January 20th deadline for filing of bills. Thus far no theater action has been taken, although many exhibitors have ex : pressed need of the games. Lehmans File RKO Claims Two notes of issue were filed yesterday in Federal Court by Lehman Bros, and The Lehman Corp. against J: RKO Corp., covering respective claims of $9,098.04 and $4,511.64 for tax transfer charges on RKO stock. H ' -: