The Film Daily (1939)

Tuesday, March 21, 1939 "<?$ DAILY 21 DRAFTING STANDARD AUSTRALIAN CONTRACT (Continued from Page 1) if Australia. Any point in dispute will be passed upon by the Film Commission of N.S.W. which consists of a chairman and two committeemen, all laymen appointed by the Government. Arriving Australians were Norma "sJBede Rydge, managing direc;o— m_ Greater Union Theaters, who was met by Capt. Harold Auten, his American representative; Bernard Freeman of M-G-M, and Clarence Hake of 20th Century-Fox. Harry Hunter of Paramount is due here April 17 as is Charles Munro of Hoyts Theaters. Freeman's trip was not prompted, he said, by problems raised by the Film Act in N.S.W. which provides for 25 per cent cancellation and a production quota. Y. Frank Freeman of Paramount will be host to Rydge at a luncheon on Thursday. Rydge leaves Friday for New York and from there will go to London to study television. He said that his theaters had never exercised the rejection privilege and are short of product. He declared that grosses on important pictures at his theaters have pleasantly surprised American distributors and that his circuit has friendly relations with the distributors. He expects that "Pygmalion," now in its 14th week at the New Victory, Sydney, will play 20 weeks at that house. It will be followed by "The Mikado." "Son of Frankenstein" had a record opening at the State Theater, Sydney. Rydge expects that his company, Cinesound Productions, and other producers will make 12 pictures in Australia this year. He declares that attendance in Australia has shown a big improvement over a year ago. N. M. Legislature Quits; Bank Night Bill Tabled Sante Fe — Adjournment of the New Mexico Legislature on Saturday found Senate Bill 85 killed by pocket veto, it being one of six to fail in receiving okay of Governor Miles who approved 238 measures in all. Bill required filing of copyrighted musical compositions used by radio stations with the Secretary of State. House Bill 290, providing a tax on Bank Nights, was tabled. Providence Theater Strike Is Set Back Pending Talks Providence — Threatened strike of ushers, doormen, cleaners and cashiers in Providence theaters, set for Friday was postponed by union officers after a meeting held at Carpenter's Hall here. A committee from the local will meet with chain executives in New York Thursday to discuss terms. Crosley, Don Lee Tele Applications REP. SHIFTS DATES Referred to Three FCC Commissioners FOR THREE REGIONALS Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — FCC has referred the television applications of Crosley Corp. and Don Lee broadcasting system to a committee composed of Commissioners Craven, Brown and Case, the Commission announced yesterday. Crosley and Don Lee have applied for construction permits for new television broadcast stations to operate on an experimental basis with Crosley asking for 50,000-56,000 kc. with aural and visual power of 1,000 watts unlimited time and Don Lee requesting 42,000-56,000 kilocycles with aural and visual power of 1,000 watts unlimited time. The applications are for the purpose of developing television broadcasting as a service to the public in distinction to other authorizations which permit a development of technical systems with public reaction secondary. The proposed stations will try to develop a program for the general public. Equity Nominating Com. to be Appointed Friday Reports of dissension in Actors Equity emerged yesterday with membership meeting set to form a nominating committee on Friday at the Hotel Astor. Opposition to Philip Loeb, liberal councilor, despite opposition expressed in some quarters is expected to run as an independent if not named as a candidate. Factions by and large, are seeking to perpetuate the recent spirit of harmony in the organization. An Equity committee will report today on question of Sunday shows, and subject is probable topic to come before Friday's membership huddle. Kansas City Jubilesta Set for June; to Run 5 Days Kansas City, Mo. — Plans made to present Kansas City's Jubilesta, early in June instead of September as before, were favored generally by local exhibs. whose business has suffered considerably in the past. The executive committee also made tentative arrangements to cut the usual 10-day program of acts featuring pix-radio stars. Side attractions such as trade exhibits and musical shows will be eliminated. "Missouri" Clicking Kansas City — Paramount's Bob Burns starring vehicle "I'm From Missouri" in its first three days at the Newman Theater here grossed 106 per cent of an average week's business. Judging on this week-end take it is estimated that "I'm From Missouri" will close its first week with 160 per cent or 60 per cent better than an average week's business. Kraker, District Manager J. A. Kraker has been appointed by Ross Federal Service, Inc., as company's district manager of Washington, Baltimore and Philadelphia territories. Through error in The Film Daily's issue of Thursday, last, Kraker's appointment was mentioned as branch manager. Court Grants Stover Time To File RKO Appeal Record (Continued from Page 1) appeal in the matter of the RKO reorganization. Time of expiration was March 30 but Bondy's order extends period to April 20. The court's order covers an order signed on Jan. 9 in which the court modified a previous order of June 28, 1934, thus permitting claims to be filed. Court's order also extended the time for filing appeal record from the order of approval of the plan which the court signed Jan. 17. Wanger's Para. Suit Off Via Pix Purchase Route (Continued from Page 1) terest in "The Trail of the Lonesome Pine" and other pictures made by Wanger for Paramount release. The product involved was made by Wanger's company under an agreement which gave the producer an interest in the profits derived from distribution of the pictures and from any re-issues. Arrival in New York, virtually simultaneously on the week-end, of Herbert J. Yates, CFI president, and James R. Grainger, Republic's president and general manager in charge of distribution, led to huddles yesterday at which it was decided to advance the dates for Republic's New York regional meet from Apr. 11-12 to Apr. 12-13. Also advanced were date of the Chicago regional from Apr. 18-19 to Apr. 20-21, while the Frisco dates were set back from Apr. 27-28 to Apr. 25-26. Dates of the first regional at Houston on Apr. 7-8 stand. Grainger, on returning from an extended swing of nation's key cities which took him as far as the Coast where he spent several days at the company's newly-purchased studios, declared that organization's resolve to concentrate on numerous big pictures, abetted by a budget boost of some million dollars, will make Republic's 1939-40 program by far the best in its history. Nationwide business conditions and exhibitor responsiveness to this year's line-up warrants expansion of quality-pix in the new season. Lincoln Considers Limiting Film Shows to 214 Hours Taxation Still Muddled In New York Legislature Albany — Entering the twelfth week of the session, New York's 1939 joint session of the Senate and Assembly still has not formulated a definite program for defraying the emergency $64,000,000 taxation plan over and above the ordinarv revenue. Thus far, it appears that the only one of Governor Herbert H. Lehman suggested emergency taxes, the real estate $1 per $1,000 assessed valuation, will be eliminated when the budget is finally approved. Though sales tax proponents have considerable strength among upstate Republicans, New York City, Binghamton and Buffalo lawmakers are decidedly less than enthusiastic 2 bout voting for any levy which will work a hardship on low-bracketed incomes. RKO's "Love Affair" Held "Love Affair" has been held over for second weeks in all its pre-release engagements. Holdovers reported by RKO are in New Haven, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, San Francisco, New Orleans and Omaha. Lincoln — An ordinance was suggested to the City Council yesterday making illegal any film performance in excess of two and a quarter hours, violation subject to $100 fine. This would practically abolish duals except in action houses. Bob Livingston, capital indie exhib., and Howard Federer, general manager of Nebraska Theaters, Inc., (four houses) presented the arguments for the bill along with Mrs. Lawrence Wentz, president of the Better Films Council, and three city physicians who claim excessivelength programs are injurious to a child's eyes and nervous system. Sole dissenter was Bob Huffman, city manager for Lincoln Theaters Corp. (three houses) who said two poor features often times gross better than one good one, so patrons evidently prefer duals. The Council referred it to the city attorney for determination of its constitutionality. Bill will have two more hearings. Sparks Florida Circuit Will Discontinue Screeno Miami. Fla. — E. J. Sparks, president of the Sparks chain of motion picture theaters in Florida, has announced Screeno will be discontinued in his houses. "Since the recent State Supreme Court decision holding Bank Night illegal," Sparks said, "there has been some doubt in our minds whether Screeno is in keeping with the law. We don't know that it is illegal, but simply as good citizens we are discontinuing it."