The Film Daily (1939)

M PRO II ) I S 7 : 10 2t1 W 4 i* Th S T = E M^t -w UP* DAILY Wednesday, August 2, 19: MICH. GO-OP NAMED IN ANTI-TRUST SUIT (.Continued from Page 1) Court here, also names Co-operative officers, directors and individual members. Ray Schreiber, who heads Midwest, claims $200,000 damages. The company operates five theaters in Detroit. Court Reserves Decisions on Folly Case Applications Federal Judge Murray Hulbert reserved decision yesterday on the application of the eight majors, Republic Pictures, Monogram Distributing Corp., and Randforce Amusement Co., for a bill of particulars to the $750,000 damage suit brought against them by the Folly Amusement Co. which had charged violation of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act. Judge Hulbert also reserved decision on an application of United Artists to dismiss the suit on the claim that the licensing of pictures to the Folly Theater was not interstate commerce. The plaintiffs claimed that the defendants conspired to give preference to Randforce houses on product and thereby allegedly forced the Folly Theater to close its doors. Mobeel Enterprises Suing Majors and Century Circuit Anti-trust suit for undisclosed damages was filed yesterday in the New York Supreme Court by Mobeel Enterprises Inc., against Loew's, Inc., United Artists Corp., Paramount Pictures, Inc., RKO Radio Pictures, Inc., Warner Brothers Pictures Corp., First National Productions Inc., and Century Circuit, Inc. The plaintiffs, which operate the Glenwood Theater, in Flatbush, charge that the defendants have given unfair preference in product to the New College Theater, erected recently, and operated by the Century Circuit. No further details of the suit were available. Pelson In FCC Post S. Ernest Pelson, formerly with Grand National, has been appointed general sales manager for the French Cinema Center, it was announced yesterday. He immediately starts work on lining up key city runs on "Harvest," initial release by the organization which is scheduled for a September release. WEDDING BELLS Engagement has been announced locally of Christopher H. Buckley, Jr., of Bennington, Vt. to Miss Elaine McKeon of Albany. Buckley's father operates a small circuit around Bennington and previously owned four theaters in Albany. WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD • • • Introducing Interesting Personalities: No. 213 • • • JACK SKIRBALL. Producer. Born in Homestead, Pa. Attended the University ** of Cincinnati, Hebrew Union College, and Western Reserve University. Filled Synagogue pulpits in Cleveland and Evansville, Indiana. Was with Alco Films, Cincinnati, and Metro. Later was on Advisory Board and Division manager, Educational. Associated with Wm. N. Skirball in Skirball Brothers Ohio Theaters. Joined Educational in capacity of sales manager, 1932. Franchise holder with William N. Skirball for Ohio on Warner, Columbia, Educational pictures. Produced "The Birth of a Baby." Produced all the shorts for Educational for six years. Produced "Miracle of Main Street" and "The Lady Takes a Chance," for which no distribution arrangements have been set yet. Just resigned as vice-president in charge of production for Grand National. Continues as active head of Arcadia Pictures, and next production will be Sinclair Lewis' "Angela Is Twenty-Two" for major release. Warner Theater Site Owner Asks Slash In Assessment Wilmington, Del. — Charging that an excessive assessment had been levied on the Warner Theater and its entrance at 210 W. Tenth St., the Old Time Petroleum Co., owner of the theater site and lessee of the entrance property, has filed a bill in equity in the Court of Chancery here. The theater property was assessed at $270,000 ($60,000 on the land and $210,000 on the building) and the entrance at $48,000 ($25,600 on the land and $22,400 on the improvement), according to the bill. Complainant charges the former should not exceed $135,400 and the latter $15,000. As to the entrance, the bill says that under the company's lease with the Eden Hall Company, the petroleum firm is obligated to pay such amount of city taxes as shall exceed the amount which was payable for the year beginning July 1, 1937, upon the thenexisting structures. The Warner Theater opened Feb. 8, last. Minneapolis Paper Sold; Buffalo Daily Suspends Minneapolis — The Minneapolis Star yesterday purchased the Journal and consolidated the two papers as the Star-Journal. Merle Potter, one of the best known film critics in the MidWest, was on the Journal. Star's critic is Robert E. Murphy. Buffalo— Buffalo Times, evening and Sunday, has folded. Film critic was Ardis W. Smith, rated as one of the ablest reviewers in the East. Hoffberg Going to Coast J. H. Hoffberg leaves New York Tuesday for a three-week stay on the Coast to confer with producers there. He will visit a number of key cities on his return trip where he has affiliates who distribute the pictures he imports into this country. W. Va. ITO Sets Convention For Clarksburg on Sept. 26 Clarksburg, W. Va. — First annual convention of the Independent Theater Owners of West Virginia will be held on Tuesday, Sept. 26, at the Waldo Hotel here. President R. J. Hiehle, who will preside, is being assisted by the following committee: Mrs. C. P. Church of Mannington; Richard D. Marks of Clarksburg; George D. Sallows of Morgantown, and Garland West of Buckhannon. Irving Daniel Davis is chairman of the convention committee, and C. C. Kellenberg, sales manager for 20th Century-Fox in Pittsburgh, has been appointed chairman of the Distributors' Committee. Matters of primary importance to the theater industry will be discussed at this meeting, and the election of new officers for the coming year will also be held. Several national Allied leaders have signified their intention to attend this convention, as well as Home Office representatives of the various film distributing organizations. The business meeting will begin at 1:00 p.m., and will be followed by a banquet and entertainment in the evening. Tele-Films Clash Scouted by Don Lee Network Head West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood ■ — There will be no "war" between tele and films for the public's b. o. attention, asserts Thomas S. Lee, Don Lee network head, back from the East. Lee, owner of W6XAO, says he is confident tele will fit over the film production pattern, that tele will develop its own stars, and that tele's sets will be simpler, less expensive than film's. Lee station, temporarily off the air, is installing higher definition cameras. Additionally, Lee plans to build a new mountain top station in 1940. 11 NEW FEATURES BEFORE CAMERA it( By RALPH WILK West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAIL Hollywood — New productic: scheduled for this week totals 1 features. At Universal, "Thedfewe of London" with Boris KarloffN^or of the Fifteenth Century in Eng: land. Rowland V. Lee producer an" director. "Legion of Lost Flyers with Richard Arlen, Andy Devine an Anne Nagel. The third series o outdoor dramas with Ben Pivar pro ducer, Christy Cabanne directoi "Chip of the Flying U" with Johnnj Mack Brown, Bob Baker and Fuzz' Knight. Ralph Staub director. "Cai a Messenger," Arthur Lubin directoi and Ken Goldsmith associate pro ducer. . At M-G-M, "Remember" with Rob ert Taylor, Greer Garson, Lew Ayre;| and Billie Burke. Milton Bren pro duction, Norman McLeod director. At RKO, "Vigil in the Night" witl Carole Lombard, Brian Ahearne, Anm Shirley. George Stevens directoi and producer. Adapted from th< novel by A. J. Cronin. At Paramount, "Typhoon" starring Dorothy Lamour with Robert Preston playing opposite her. Louis King director. Dramatic adventure story laid against the romantic back ground of the South Seas. At 20th Century-Fox, "High School" starring Jane Withers George Nichols director. Robert Ellis and Helen Logan wrote the: screen story that has a San Antonio Texas, high school as its back ground. At Warners, "Philo Vance Re turns," S. S. Van Dine's original James Stephenson portrays Philo Vance. Margot Stevenson, Henry O'Neill and Edward Brophy in the cast. William Clemens director. Stephens-Lang production, "Meet Dr. Christian" first of series based on the radio character created by Jean Hersholt. Bernard Vorhaus director. At Monogram, "Murder in the Big House," featuring Charles Bickford and Barton MacLane. William Nigh director. STORKS! Wilmington, Del. — It was Fathers' Day at the Warner Theater on Friday. A son was born at 3:30 P. M. in the Wilmington General Hospital to Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Grablis. Mr. Grablis is a member of the service staff. A son was born to Mr. and Mrs. C. Leonard Howard at 10:15 P. M. in the Delaware Hospital. Mr. Howard is assistant manager. It was a first-born in each case. Columbus, O. — Mr. and Mrs. Robert Glick are parents of a son, born July 25. Father is manager of Neth's Eastern theater.