The Film Daily (1939)

DAILY Thursday, August 17, 1939 Vol. 76, N o. 33 Thurs. Aug. 17 1939 10 Cents JOHN W. ALICOATE • Publisher DONALD CHESTER M. MERSEREAU B. BAHN : : Genera Manager • Editor Published daily except Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays at 1501 Broadway, New York, N. Y., by Wid's Films and Film Folk, Inc. J. W. Alicoate, President and Publisher; Donald M. Mersereau, Secretary-Treasurer; Entered as second class matter, Sept. 8, 1938. at the post-office at New York, N. Y., under the act of March 3, 1879. Terms (Postage free) United States outside of Greater New York $10.00 one year; 6 months, $5.00; 3 months, $3.00. Foreign, $15.00. Subscriber should remit with order. Address all communications to THE FILM DAILY, 1501 Broadway, New York, N. Y. Phone BRyant 9-7117, 9-7118, 9-7119, 9-7120, 9-7121. Cable Address: Filmday, New York. Hollywood, California— Ralph Wilk, 6425 Hollywood Blvd., Phone Granite 6607. London — Ernest W. Fredman, The Film Renter, 127-133 Wardour St., W. I. Paris— P. A. Harle, La Cinematographic Francaise, 29 Rue Marsoulan (12). Mexico City — MarcoAurelio Galindo, Depto. 19, 5A, Dr. Lucio No. 102, Mexico, D.F. Buenos Aires — Chas. de Cru^, Heraldo Del Cinematografista, Corrientes 1309. FinonciflL NEW YORK STOCK MARKET Net High Low Close Chg. 12i/2 12i/2 121/2 _ i/4 Am. Seat Col. Picts. vtc. <2'/2% Columbia Picts. pfd. Con. Fm. Ind Con. Fm. Ind. pfd.. . East. Kodak do pfd Cen. Th. Eq Loew's, Inc do pfd Paramount Paramount 1st pfd.. . Paramount 2nd pfd... Pathe Film RKO 20th Century-Fox . . 20th Century-Fox pfd. Univ. Pict. pfd Warner Bros do pfd 103/4 lO'/s 10 Vs — l'/s 171'/2 171 1/4 1711/4 — 13/4 176V2 1761/2 1761/2 + 1/2 43 421/2 421/2 — 11/2 93/g 83/4 9 — 3/8 953/4 953/4 953/4 — 3/4 103/8 IOI/4 IOI/4 — 3/g 113/4 HI/4 111/2 — 3/g 1V4 1% l3/4 19 185/g 183/4 — 3/g 63i/2 631/2 631/2 — lVi 5 43/4 47/8 — Vs 54 523/4 54 + 13/4 NEW YORK BOND MARKET Keith B. F. ref. 6s46.100'/4 IOOV4 IOO1/4 — 1/4 Loew's deb. 3'/is46 Para. B'way 3s55. . . . 51 V2 51 1/2 51 1/2 Para. Picts. 6s55 Para. Picts. cv.3i/4s47 91 1/4 91 1/4 91 1/4— 1/4 RKO 6s41 7234 721/2 721/2 — 1 1/2 Warner Bros.' cv. 6s39 Warner Bros.' dbs. 6s48 893,4 89% 893/4 — i/4 NEW YORK CURB MARKET Monogram Picts li/2 1 1/2 1 1/2 — i/8 Sonotone Corp 13^ ] 3^ 1 3/s Technicolor Trans-Lux Universal Corp. vtc... 334 3% 334 — i/8 Universal Picts N. Y. OVER-THE-COUNTER SECURITIES Bid Asked 100 103 33/8 43/4 102 103 701/2 72i/2 63i/4 651/4 Pathe Film 7 pfd Fox Thea. Office Bldg. 1st '46 . Loew's Thea. Realty 6s 1st '47. Met. Playhouse, Inc. 2nd deb. '45 Roxy Thea. Bldg. 4s 1st '57 SAFETY LLOYDS FILM STORAGE CORP. Storage by Reel or Vault 729 Seventh Ave. New York City ggAI IHITV BRyant 9-5600 StUUKI I Y On 'fi it Selling pix and industry (Continued from Page 1) the tangible, as manifested by the heavy publicity play the stunt (and, incidentally, of course, "The Star Maker") is receiving in the press in the 18 and other cities. And it is the whole industry, not Paramount alone, to which the benefits accrue. Johnston Says Litigation Is Stifling Showmanship (Continued from Page 1) not letting anything interfere with the appication of showmanship, with the result that Monogram, as well as other companies, is enjoying top grosses in Great Britain. In his first formal interview since returning from England, Johnston said he believed too many exhibitors were sitting back and waiting for a Messiah to bring them relief, whereas, in his opinion, they could be Messiahs, themselves, by applying the adage that "God helps those who help themselves." "A good hypo," he said, "would be a few more 24-sheets, bigger newspaper ads and greater effort in selling the vehicles which the exhibitors have to offer. From all reports, business is not as good as it could be and, if you don't mind the personal plug, despite this condition, it is not going to deter me or Monogram from expending bigger budgets on our forthcoming pictures." Johnston said he believed that no time in the history of the business has there been a better opportunity for those who have the industry at heart to give everything they have to bring back show business with intelligent showmanship. Johnston expects to leave for the Coast shortly after the semi-annual meeting of the board which is scheduled for Aug. 28. Fly Metro Short Subject From Coast to Australia Marking the fastest film shipment on record for so great a distance, and the first time a print has been shipped entirely by air from Los Angreles to Australia, the first print of "From the Ends of the Earth, A New Romance in Celluloid," M-G-M institutional short subject, is scheduled to arrive in Sydney on Aue. 24, 13 days after leaving the Culver City studios, to have its preview at the M-G-M Australian convention. The print arrived in New York via TWA, proceeded to London on the Yankee ClipDer and is now en route by way of the Royal Dutch Air Lines to Sydney. Appronriately enousrh, the flieht dramatically justifies the title "From the Ends of the Earth." Retsama Signs Claire Windsor West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Claire Windsor has been signed by Retsama Film Prods, to plav an important role in "The Trail Blazers," which will be made in Cinechrome. Plan Bomb-proof Basement for New Metro London Bldg. (Continued from Page 1) molition of the present buildings there will start immediately. The new building is scheduled for occupancy in June, 1940. Entirely devoted to M-G-M, the building will cover 50,000 square feet of floor space, and will have three elevators. Six repair, inspection and cleaning rooms, will be provided for the special care of film. Part of the basement will be specially designed to form a bomb-proof shelter. There will be two preview theaters, one seating 100 persons and the other 400, the latter to be used for all M-G-M trade shows. These, together with other parts of the building, will be air-conditioned. The building, which will be carried out in Portland stone facing, is to be erected by Messrs. Harry Neal, Ltd., in accordance with plans prepared by Arthur S. Ash, F.R.I. B.A., well-known architect. Agents for the site were Messrs. Henry Joel, Ltd. Duvivier in Exclusive Pact with Transcontinental Films Paris (By Cable) — Julien Duvivier has been made technical and artistic director general of the Societe Transcontinental Films S. A., which, through its agreement with Columbia Pictures of the U. S. A., assures distribution of product throughout the English-speaking countries. Duvivier, it is reported, will personally direct two productions a year for Transcontinental, and will not direct for any other company after completing his present assignment, "Casque d'Or," for Regina. Relief Fund to Benefit West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Motion Picture Relief Fund will get the gross proceeds of the swank $11 premiere for 20th-Fox's "Hollywood Cavalcade" at the Four Star Theater next month. Company is standing all overhead. Horrific Twin to Debut Double American premiere of the horrific twin bill. "The Return Of The Frog" and "The Demon Barber Of Fleet Street," has been set by Select Attractions, Inc., distributors, for Aug. 26 at theaters in Worcester, Mass., and San Francisco. Botanical Pix to Open Beginning tomorrow, the Rockefeller Center News Reel Theater will include on its program, Stan Barnett's pictorial tour of the New York Botanical Gardens "Waltz of the Flowers," filmed in Kodachrome. CFI to Pay 25c Dividend Board of Directors of Consolidated Film Industries, Inc., has declared a dividend of 25 cents per share on the preferred stock, payable Oct. 2, to stockholders of record Sept. 11. COfflMG MID G0U1G LOUIS B. MAYER is scheduled to return to the Coast this week from Saratoga, probably stopping in New York for at least a day en route. SIDNEY R. KENT leaves New York tod" w0r a vacation in the Thousand Islands. on r IAN C. JAVAL, commercial director of Baird Television, sailed for England yesterday on the Normandie, returning here within six weeks. ROBERT KANE, English production head for 20th-Fox, is expected to arrive in this country next week. NAT STEINBERG, Republic's St. Louis franchise holder, and BOB WITHERS, franchise holder for the company in Kansas City, are in New York to confer on circuit deals with the home office. JAMES R. CRAINGER arrives back in New York today from Detroit. KEN THOMSON and EDWARD ARNOLD plan to leave for the Coast tonight, having delayed their departure by a day. H. M. RICHEY goes to Detroit tomorrow. DOROTHY PARKER and ALAN CAMPBELL arrive from Europe today on the Champlain. JOHN CARFIELD arrives in New York in the near future for a vacation. LUCILLE WATSON has returned to New York after several months on the Coast. PAUL LUKAS and his wife arrive from Europe today on the Manhattan. LEW IRWIN, arrives in New York Monday from the Coast. Eight New Oklahoma Theaters Near Opening Oklahoma City — Month of August finds new theater activity and remodeled openings booming with Louis Groves getting his new 600seat Villa theater here ready for opening by Sept. 1. Other August openings include Lewis Barton's remodeled Ritz theater at Stroud; Glen Thompson's new Thompson, 464 seats, at Tishomingo, to replace the burned Princess theater; a new theater now nearing completion by Thompson at Colbert, and Griffiths' new State theater at Sapulpa. G. M. Deen is also set to open a new negro house, the Pittman at Wewoka. Set to open are also new houses by Walter Martin at Jay, and the New Theater by Norma Rylander at Langley. Mrs. Wm. Murray Dead Detroit — Mrs. William Murray, wife of the manager of the Savoy Theater, Grand Rapids, is dead. Her husband and two children survive. ANNOUNCING THE OPENING OF OUR NEW YORK EXCHANGE 723 Seventh Avenue BRyant 9-8395 SACK Amusement Enterprises, Inc. EXCLUSIVE NATIONAL DISTRIBUTORS FOR Million Dollar Productions H