The Film Daily (1939)

'Tuesday, August 22, 1939 ^i* DAILY; 15 SOPHIE TUCKER WON'T APPEAR AT AEA TRIAL (Continued from Page 1) 'ollowing message to The Film Daily: "To keep the record straight, I jffej-^ji to appear before the Equity Job. Jl with my attorney. Equity Jenied my request. Having been in :he theater more than 30 years, I :hink I rate this courtesy as my career is at stake. "Sophie Tucker." It is expected that the Equity Council will proceed with the trial myway, hearing the charges against Vliss Tucker on her alleged treasonable actions in accepting an IA charier for the AFA following the AAAA revocation of the actors' union charter. Whether or not the Council will ;onvict Miss Tucker on the charges without her making an appearance could not be learned. The Council can postpone the trial or hold it at will, and in the event the Council goes ahead it can also reserve its decision or announce it immediately. In the monthly issue of the Equity magazine issued yesterday a strong appeal is made to Miss Tucker in an editorial, although her name is not mentioned, to resign from the AFA before the trial takes place. Report AFL Working on Browne Efforts of the A F of L execs, to avert any open hostilities in the theatrical field through an amicable settlement of the dispute were reported yesterday to be directed at George E. Browne, IATSE prexy, in an attempt to get him to surrender his charter to the AFA. It is expected that if Browne did this it would appease the AAAA sufficiently to enable peaceful negotiation of remaining differences, but it is not expected that Browne will do this. Browne, at the Executive Council sessions in Atlantic City, pointed out that the AFA, without a home, would be ripe for encroachment by the CIO, and there is no reason to believe that he will relent in his stand and surrender the charter. Although the opposing camps were comparatively quiet yesterday the AAAA took a further step in preparing for any fight that may arise when President Frank Gillmore announced that "we are making preparations for any eventuality" and disclosed that a steering committee with plenary powers had been appointed. Steering Committee Members Members of the committee include Paul Dulzell, Florence Marston, Leo Fischer, Emily Holt, who will sei've alternately with George Heller, and Maida Reade, with Gillmore, Paul Turner and Henry Jaffe serving as ex-ofhcio members of the committee. A resolution was passed by the committee which directed all AAAA member unions to appoint similar committees with plenary powers to work in conjunction with the steering committee, with a further statement that no action shall be taken by member branches or individual mem Continue Boston Ushers9 Strihe Parleys Boston — M & P and IATSE troubles were aired yesterday before Massachusetts Labor Board. No decision was forthcoming and second meeting was scheduled for today. State authorities may rule that a vote be taken at the eleven striking theaters to decide the Local B4 rights to represent ushers under provisions that 51 per cent or more may bargain for the whole. Scranton Getting Ready To Honor "U's" Young Star (Continued from Page \) been phenomenal. Eight months ago she was an unheard-of girl with only an unfulfilled ambition. An audition in New York last December revealed a reportedly remarkable voice which won her a Universal contract and Joe Pasternak, her producer, decided to give her a royal homecoming by holding the world premiere in Scranton. Scranton is sending Gloria Jean's 26 classmates down to New York to meet the girl when she arrives in Pennsylvania Station — just to be certain, Mayor Huester said, that Gloria Jean's arival isn't passed by in that busy city. Thursday has been declared "Gloria Jean Day" in Scranton. Already banners have been strung across Lackawanna Avenue. The American Legion band and all the other bands in town are holding daily rehearsals for the big parade that will greet Gloria Jean upon her arrival Thursday afternoon. Miners have fashioned a throne of anthracite, and Gloria Jean will be crowned "Queen of Anthracite" on the steps of City Hall. Street car lines have been rerouted for the celebration. There will be confettiflinging, fireworks, more ump-pah music and searchlights sweeping the murky skies over Scranton in typical Hollywood fashion Thursday night, when the premiere of "The UnderPup" is staged at the local Strand Theater. Scranton has developed more glamour in the last week than in the last twenty years of its history. Gloria Jean's success in Hollywood has encouraged everyone here to dream about stardom for themselves, and in the mines, mills, stores, offices and homes of the city there are countless Gables, Boyers, Irene Dunnes and Deanna Durbins going about their prosaic tasks. Finish "Bluebird" Script West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood ■ — Walter Bullock and Ernest Pascal have completed the screenplay of "The Bluebird," which will star Shirley Temple. "Lady Jane," which will be Shirley Temple's following picture, was also screenplayed by Bullock. bers without the consent of the steering committee. A complete report of the whole situation for distribution to all members of the AAAA, probably by the latter part of this week, was also authorized by the committee. Meeting of the SAG was scheduled to take place in Hollywood with Ken Thomson and Edward Arnold returning to the Coast Sunday to attend. Orphans Guests of Para. At "Star Maker" Preview (Continued from Page 1) American cities to Hollywood where they will be entertained lavishly during the week. Among the film notables attending the premiere last night were: Bing Crosby, Louise Campbell, Horace MacMahon, Arthur Hornblow, Jr., Myrna Loy, Robert Taylor, Barbara Stanwyck Linda Ware, Ned Sparks, Laura Hope Crews, Charles Rogers, Edgar Bergen, Joel McCrea, Frances Dee, Fay Bainter, John Garfield, Mischa Auer, Andy Devine, Robert Florey, Mark Sandrich, Dr. A. H. Giannini, Paulette Goddard, Henry Herzbrun, Douglas Fairbanks, Jr., Fred MacMurray, Patricia Morison, Jack Benny, Mary Livingston, Ellen Drew, Evelyn Keyes and Olympe Bradna. Coincident with the Hollywood premiere, film critics of New York newspapers and news syndicates together with reviewers of the industry's trade press witnessed a special preview of "The Star Maker" at the local Paramount Theater. The performance wras preceded by a dinner tendered to the invited guests at the International Casino. A capacity audience gave the picture an enthusiastic reception. Lobby comment indicated that the attraction will grab heavy box office revenue. Vote Within Thirty Days on Studio Bargaining Agent West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Tentative agreement was reached between Attorney Charles J. Katz, representing the United Studio Technicians' Guild, and Attorney Joseph Padway, representing the IATSE, whereby an election will be held within 30 days to decide whether the USTG or the IATSE is to be sole bargaining representative for studio workers. All studio workers employed between Oct. 1, 1938 and June 1, 1939 are eligible to vote. Takes Glastonbury House Glastonbury, Conn. — Mrs. Nathan Lampert has acquired the 550-seat Glastonbury Theater, formerly operated by the Lampert circuit, and will operate it individually, with Maurice Kempner as manager. Fairmont Adds One New Haven — Fairmont Amusement Co., an Al Pickus corporation, has taken over operation of the Annex Theater, which has been closed for reseating and renovation. The house will reopen as the 403-seat Fairmont Theater on September 10. 6FD WILL RELEASE FOR NEW BRIT. FIRM (Continued from Page 1) A. J. Rank, while the directors include C. M. Woolf, Zoltan Korda, Arlington Gain and Harold Boxall. Zoltan Korda and Josef Somlo will be in charge of production at the Denham studios. First Legeran production will be "King's Messenger," starring Ralph Richardson who will again appear as Major Hammond, the secret service agent of "Q Planes." Tim Whelan, who directed "Q Planes" and "The Divorce of Lady X," will direct "King's Messenger." Second picture will bring back to the screen Bruce Bairnsfather's wartime character of Old Bill, which also will be the title of the picture. Bairnsfather has written an original screen story and has given Old Bill a grown up son. Ian Dalrymple, who scenarized "Pygmalion" and "The Citadel," will direct "Old Bill," his first directorial assignment. Michael Powell has been chosen xo direct Legeran's third feature, "The Conjurer," which A. E. W. Mason, author of "Four Feathers," has written directly for the screen. TMAT Petition Before SLRB At Slated Hearing Tomorrow Formal hearing of the petition filed by the Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers' union for recognition as the bargaining agent for the men under its jurisdiction employed by the Liberty Theater, owned by Helgus, Inc., assertedly a Brandt affiliate, will be held tomorrow morning before the New York State Labor Relations Boai'd. Meanwhile, picketing was continued by the union at the 16 houses of the Nelson-Renner-Endicott Circuit in Brooklyn which the union has struck in protest over the discharge of one of the chain's managers. Union asks that the discharged man be re-employed and the union be recognized. Hoffberg Sets West Coast Contract for Distribution West Coast Bureau of THE FILM 'DAILY Hollywood — Deal was closed here at the week-end by J. H. Hoffberg, president of the distributing corporation of the same name, with Sam Nathanson, general sales manager of Coast Pictures Corp., to handle Hoffberg's entire product-lineup in Southern California and Arizona. Coast Pictures was recently organized by Nathanson, formerly with Columbia, Maurice L. Fischer and Irwin E. Meyer. Hoffberg, who goes to San Francisco this week, told The Film Daily that in his opinion there is no profitable market for ordinary foreign pictures in this territory, but unusual pictures can be sold by exhibitors. He predicted a turn for the better in theater business shortly as the new season is just now getting under way.