The Film Daily (1939)

7NI> DAILY Thursday, July 20, 1939 SKOURAS DENIES FWG AFTER FRISCO CHAIN (Continued from Page 1) in status quo, what appeared to be "checkerboard movements," reported as probably aimed at effectuating a peace pact, sprang into being on both Coasts. Looming as most important were advices from San Francisco to the effect that Fox West Coast has made an offer to acquire the 17house Blumenfeld circuit, headquartering there. Warners in late June announced the consummation of a product deal with Blumenfeld as one of the "selling away" moves against FWC. Great interest is attached to the reported FWC negotiations to take over the Blumenfeld theaters, since, with this group, plus the Golden State circuit and the T. & D. Junior circuit in each of which FWC is said to have an interest, FWC would gain tremendous power and incidentally hold absolute control in several California spots, — for example Stockton, Berkeley, Sacramento and Oakland, — in addition to dominance in other areas of the State. Charles P. Skouras, FWC president, now in New York, denied the Frisco reports yesterday, but industry observers cited that there may San Francisco — Joe Blumenfeld says there are no grounds to the report that his circuit is in a deal with Fox West Coast and that no negotiations are pending. very well be developments along this line. It was pointed out there is the obvious fact that where WB product is sold away from FWC, it would be virtually a permanent arrangement, since the purchasing indie circuit, under the Trade Practice Code, could retain it, even though FWC agreed to restoration in its houses. However, should FWC be currently serious about the acquisition of the Blumenfeld houses, there is to be considered the agreement between the Government and major companies, including affiliates, that would make it incumbent upon FWC, interlocked as it is with National Theaters and 20th-Fox, to report immediately to the D of J upon the effectuation of a legally binding commitment with Blumenfeld. Lights Out Crews of workmen were busy yesterday dimming the lights of Broadway. Recent enforcement of Building Department violations brought about removal of all temporary electric signs atop marquees. The huge electric letters were a big Inducement in signing up "name" attractions. Now the boys are in a huddle figuring out ways of dressing up the house fronts and still remain within the law.. FILM CODE ANALYZED By LOUIS NIZER EDITOR'S NOTE: THE FILM DAILY today presents the twentieth 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 & Niser, and authority on the law of screen, stage and radio. Preservation of the daily installments, now devoted to the Rules of Arbitration, is recommended. Installment No. 20 VI. JURISDICTION OF PARTIES, CHOICE OF PERMANENT OR SPECIAL BOARDS No Arbitration Board (either Permanent or Special) shall hear a dispute unless each of the parties has done three things: (a) Signed the Trade Practice Code. (b) Complied with the "Agreement to Arbitrate" provision of the Code (see Article XV). (c) Signed the agreement of arbitration annexed to these rules. List of Signatories: The Secretary of each Arbitration Board shall keep a list of the names and addresses of distributors and exhibitors in the Exchange territory who nave agreed to arbitrate. List Available: This list shall be available for inspection during ordinary business hours by any interested party. Choice of Special Arbitration Board: Every dispute under the Code shall be submitted to the Permanent Arbitration Board unless one or more of the parties request a Special Arbitration Board. It is the intention that any party shall feel free to have a dispute submitted to a Special Arbitration Board. Arbitration in the Interim: Until a Permanent Arbitration Board is established .n an Exchange territory, all disputes shall be submitted to Special Arbitration Boards. Powers of Board: An Arbitration Board shall have only the powers conferred by the Trade Practice Code and the Rules of Arbitration and every award shall conform with these documents. (Twenty-first installment will appear in an early issue.) UMPTO to Probe Pix Rentals; Gives Partial Favor to Code (Continued from Page 1) vestigate the high cost of films with an eye toward a national move on the subject, considered the Trade Practice Code and indicated that it favored it although not as a complete solution for problems, announced that its members will be asked to favor the Industry's Golden Jubilee, empowered president Lewen Pizor to hop to Washington today for the Department of Commerce meeting, heard a financial report and voted to hold board sessions every second Tuesday, with all members invited to attend. Saratoga Pix Houses Face Stock Opposition Saratoga — Fred Ellis and Hope Lawder, with their Saratoga Players, are giving the Benton and Reade theater circuits here direct competition in the most profitable six weeks of the year, surrounding the horse racing period. Joan Blondell and Dick Powell are to play "Burlesque" for the stock company the week of Aug. 8, with Edward Everett Horton preceding them by a week and Ethel Barrymore beginning July 25. Guest players are to be brought to the Spa, too, in the personages of Charles Boyer, Hedy Lamarr, Billie Burke, Kitty Carlisle and Alison Skipworth. Minimum of 12 Features for Alliance Next Season Tax Repeal Advanced Quebec — The City Council has given first reading to a bill abolishing the ten per cent tax which caused the 11 theaters of the city to close for five weeks. (Continued from Page 1) land by BIP, will be distributed on a franchise basis, except in New York where Alliance will operate its own exchange, under direction of Arthur Greenblatt, assistant to Rogers. Initial release is "The Warning," which has played the Loew circuit, and which will be sold separately from the announced 12. Second release will be "Black Limelight," starring Raymond Massey. Following will be "Dead Men Tell No Tales," featuring Emlyn Williams and Hugh Williams; "The Housemaster," which stars Otto Kruger, supported by Diana Churchill and Phillips Holmes. Program includes two Edgar Wallace Scotland Yard mellers, "The Terror" and "Mystery of Room 13." Otto Kruger and Gertrude Michael star in "The Hidden Menace," directed by Albert de Courville. "Black Eyes" will have Kruger and Mary Maguire in the leads. Other titles are "Spies of the Air"; "Just Like a Woman," featuring Gertrude Michael and John Lodge with Paul Stein directing; "One Night in Paris," starring John Lodge and Hugh Williams; "Little Miss Molly," featuring Maureen O'Hara, and "Luck of the Navy." Featurette and short titles announced include "Bonnie Scotland Calls You," "Come Back to Erin," "March of the Movies," "Tail Waggers" and "Pathetone Pictorials." GN Pix Set at Rialto GN's "Exile Express" will open at the Rialto on Broadway in early August. GRIFFITH DEMANDS PARTICULARS BILL] (Continued from Page 1) majors, combined with each othei to monopolize first, and second-run exhibition of motion pictures in the towns where the Griffith companies operate theaters. These are /£* $ed principally in Oklahoma, nowSrern and western Texas, Arizona and New Mexico. One motion asking for a bill of particulars was filed by the Griffith Amusement Co.; Consolidated Theaters, Inc.; R. E. Griffith Theaters, Inc.; L. C. Griffith, H. J. Griffith and R. E. Griffith. Separate motions were filed by Paramount, Metro and Loew's, Inc.; RKO Radio; Vitagraph, Universal, Twentieth-Fox and Columbia. Although the distributor defendants filed separate motions, the motions were substantially similar. Defendants' motions, ask among other things, that the Government inform them of (1) The names and location of theaters which the government claims the Griffith interests have been able to take over or keep closed because of their alleged control of the territory; (2) The times when and the circumstances under which each of the distributor defendants are alleged to have combined with the Griffith companies; (3) The manner in which it is claimed that the Griffith companies were enabled to compel the distributor defendants to grant them exclusive privileges, as charged; (4) The manner in which the exclusive privileges which it is claimed the Griffith theaters enjoy have prevented other exhibitors from obtaining enough first class pictures to operate their theaters; (5) The name and location of each theater the government claims was unable to obtain enough first class pictures to operate successfully. In the motion papers, the distributor defendants charge that the government has defined certain trade terms in an artificial way in its petition and ask: "that the plaintiff be required to state the definitions of said words and phrases as they are generally and commonly used in the motion picture industry." UA, Columbia and Universal are represented by separate counsel and their motions differed in some particulars from those of the other distribs. Defendants' motion is returnable July 27. Oh, Yeah? New Orleans — Unintentional humor in a marquee sign: Paul Kelly In "Within the Law" $240 Bank Nite