The Film Daily (1939)

1W DAILY Thursday,Julyl3,1939 EXCHANGES TO ADVISE ACCOUNTS OF JUBILEE (.Continued from Page 1) reads, "you will receive by mail, free of charge, a manual containing suggestions for participation in the Golden Jubilee of motion pictures. "This manual is being prepared for the express purpose of aiding you to utilize the occasion to increase attendance in your theater, and, further, to popularize motion picture entertainment. "Watch for the manual. It will be to your advantage." A committee meeting will probablv be held during the coming week, it was said yesterday by Kenneth Clark, chairman. Fort Worth Theaters Join Summer Season Ballyhoo Ft. Worth, Tex.— Fort Worth theaters for the first time have joined with local business men and civic groups in promotion of the "Greater Summer Show Season" for Fort Worth, in the campaign to make this city the southwest's amusement center. Advertising campaign stresses bigger movies to be seen here, bigger name bands on hand at dance spots, and Casa Manana, the open-air cafe-theater which opens July 21, for the fourth season. The William Morris Agency is producing the revue this year which features such screen names as Russ Morgan's orchestra, Frances Langford, Ray Bolger, and others, as well as Bob Burns, in one-nighter engagement in August. Interstate Circuit is running daily trailers on the Summer Show Season in 40 theaters in surrounding territory. Newspaper, radio and billboard advertising is being used also. P. C. Levy, city manager for Interstate theaters here, is general chairman for the Greater Summer Show season campaign. Cozine to Do Shorts Series Ray Cozine, former Paramount director, will shortly start production on a new series of two-reelers in a "Search for New Talent" idea at the Astoria studios. Cozine has been identified with a great many feature productions as well as having made tests for most of the stars out in Hollywood. Reopening In Slickville Pittsburgh — The theater in Slickville, which has been closed a number of years, has been taken over by Albert Sack of Vandergrift. The house will be remodeled and new equipment installed, and will be ready for reopening about Aug. 5. B. & K Using "Name" Bands Chicago — "Name" bands policy is being pushed for the Balaban & Katz ace Chicago theater. Rudy Vallee is set for week of July 28 and Gene Krupa the week of Aug. 11. FILM CODE ANALYZED By LOUIS NIZER EDITOR'S NOTE: THE FILM DAILY today presents the sixteenth installment of a comprehensive analysis of the proposed Trade Practice Code (Revision of June 10) by Louis Nizer, member of the law firm of Phillips & Nizer, and authority on the law of screen, stage and radio. The analysis is designed to clarify the provisions of the Code in non-legalistic language so as to make them reaaily understandable to all people in the film industry. In view of the fact that the Distributors Negotiating Committee proposes to make the Code effective for the 1939-40 season, THE FILM DAILY deems Mr. Nizer's interpretive presentation an outstanding, timely service of inestimable value to the trade. Preservation of the daily installments, now devoted to the Rules of Arbitration, is recommended. Installment No. 16 III. PERMANENT ARBITRATION BOARD (1) Appointment of Panels: In addition to the panel of neutral arbitrators, there shall be a panel of ten arbitrators appointed by distributors and affiliated exhibitors, and another panel of ten arbitrators appointed by all organized exhibitor groups, in the Exchange territory. In this manner, there will be created three distinct panels in each Exchange territory: (a) Five to ten neutral arbitrators appointed by distributors, affiliated exhibitors and organized exhibitor groups. (b) Ten arbitrators appointed by distributors and affiliated exhibitors. (c) Ten arbitrators appointed by organized exhibitor groups. Who May Appoint Panels: Distributors, affiliated exhibitors and organized exhibitor groups may participate in the appointment of these panels which have signed the Trade Practice Code and which carry on their business at the time of the appointment. An organ.zed exhibitor group may participate if it has members who have signed the Trade Practice Code and who are operating theaters. Unanimous Appointment: The ten arbitrators appointed by the distributors and affiliated exhibitors must be selected by unanimous action of that group. Similarly, the ten arbitrators appointed by the organ.zed exhibitor groups must be selected by unanimous action. No Compensation: The arbitrators on the two panels thus appointed, unlike the neutral arbitrators, snail rece.ve no compensation. Associated With Industry: The arbitrators on these two panels, unlike the neutral arbitrators, will be associated with some branch of the motion picture industry. (Seventeenth installment will appear tomorrow.) N. W. Allied to Pay Steffes Four A's Trial of AFA $15,000 a Year for 3 Years {Continued from Page 1) at $15,000 per year. The board of directors is to decide date of the September meeting within 10 days. President Steffes was instructed to appoint a committee to work on the buying combine plan in preparation for the meeting. The Northwest box office situation was thoroughly discussed and resolutions to close all member theaters in the Twin Cities were defeated, but indications were that about 10 houses would close by August. Other resolutions included: thanking Steffes for his services, condemning film advertising companies for multiple business ads and single screen units, empowering officers to take court action to collect dues, ordering officers to notify members to watch renewal dates on National Screen Service contracts. Steffes ridiculed trade papers which have carried rumors of dissension in Northwest Allied, stating no attempt was made to get out state members to the meeting, and that all was harmony among those present. Para.'s "L'Empire Francais" Paris (By Cable) — Paramount has completed a documentary film entitled "L'Empire Francais," under the direction of Philippe Este, with montage by Fred Orain and sound by Jean Putel. Pix deals with France's colonial empire. Will Resume Tomorrow {Continued from Page 1) at its conclusion, it was said last night. At yesterday's session, Kenneth Thomson, SAG exec, and second vicepresident of the AAAA, and Allen Corelli, executive secretary of the Theater Authority and former member of the AFA Council, were stai witnesses. Thomson charged that since 1937 there had been no co-operation between the AFA and other groups affiliated with the AAAA and that conferences with Ralph Whitehead, AFA exec, secretary, looking to SAG-AFA joint action were futile. Corelli swore that although the AFA Council membership was in excess of 30, meetings during the years he was a councillor were attended only by six others, all either AFA employes or WPA workers who secured such jobs through the union. Meetings were not held in Whitehead's absence, it was said, and Whitehead's wishes generally prevailed. Corelli said that during the period neither Sophie Tucker nor Harry Richman attended meetings and that Fred Keating, a past president, vainly had sought invitations to meetings although a Council member. Discussing relief activities of the AFA, Corelli charged that although it was a "general understanding" moneys derived from benefits were to go directly to the needy with no strings attached, the AFA asked for IOU's and in instances refused aid on various grounds. NEB. AND W. IA. NIPTC DEFER ACTION ON CODE {Continued from Page 1) points, and maybe we can get ric of the bad ones." During a heated three-hour ses sion, exhibs. aired their views oi film companies "which suggest s Code for the betterment of the in dustry and then turn ajv>und and violate the main points C le very Code they propose. However, general features covering arbitration and cancellation received favorable comment. Exhibs were especially vehement over reported attempts by distribs. to increase rentals for the 1939-40 product in order to cover the jump from 10 to 20 per cent in cancellations. Williams pointed out that conditions in Nebraska and western Iowa, about to reap the first good crop in six years, did not warrant any "additional burden on the exhibitor at present." Indie exhibs from this area were well represented at the session M IK iff IB Jack Skirball Resigns His Grand National Post {Continued from Page 1) and E. W. Hammons, president. Skirball plans to devote his entire attention to his independent producing company, Arcadia Pictures. He will remain in New York about a week before resuming production on the Coast. Skirball had been associated with Hammons since the founding of Educational Pictures, having been a franchise holder for the Ohio territory before becoming sales manager seven years ago. Both Hammons and Skirball stressed the point that the latter's retirement from GN was on "an entirely amicable basis and was in no way due to any differences of opinion as to company policies." Skirball said: "For some time past, it has been my desire to devote all my time to my own independent production. My resignation will enable me to put these plans into effect." Hammons said: "I have known for a long time of Mr. Skirball's desire to go into independent production, and I am most appreciative of the fact that he has withheld his resignation until such time as our company's refinancing plans have been definitely arranged for." W Cincy V. C. Sets Events Cincinnati — UA's Harris Dudelson, M-G-M's Bill Devaney, Andy Niedenthal and Irving Sochin are the committee for the Variety Club's annual picnic to be held July 24, at the Summit Hills Country Club. Variety Club's Golf Tournament is set for Auer. 21, at the same place. RKO's Joe Goetz is general chairman. with Andy Niedenthal and Maurice White, assistants.