The Film Daily (1939)

M I I M V ( ) I J i> I J I b T 2U W A4TH ST Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought ^ FILE COPY DO NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictu res Now Twenty-One Years Old vT^)76, NO. 37 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY. AUGUST 23, 1939 TEN CENTS Prospects for Peace Brighter in Actors 1 JATSE Wrangle COHEN CHARGES ALLIED WED TO WRECKjTY. UNIT Brighter Business Outlook in Michigan is Reported New Theater Construction in Upstate Mich. Nearing All-Time High By H. F. REVES FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Detroit — Local outlook in the film business has been decidedly more optimistic within the past month than it has been in a long time. Michigan's summer resort trade appears to be up to nearly normal, and in any case, so far above winter and spring business that it looks like prosperity, and this is reflected in attitude of other exhibitors generally. Larger city houses outside of Detroit are still not up to normal, (Continued on Page 9) N. J. MEEfff DRAW NAT'L ALLIED HEADS Annual Allied of New Jersey convention next month in Atlantic City is expected to take on the appearance of a national convention, it was reported yesterday. Because of the tense situation over the Governmentrejected trade practice code, the pending trial of the equity suit and other important issues facing the in (Continued on Pane 4) Wall St. Circles Predict Pathe Laboratories Profit A net operating profit for Pathe Laboratories during its first seven months of operation was forecast yesterday in Wall St. circles, and, in an analysis of the company offered by Josephthal & Co., a figure of $95 per share is set as the book value of {Continued on Page 4) Gloria Jean Party Leaves Tomorrow for Scranton With several score newspaper film critics from all parts of the country, trade paper men, fan magazine feature writers, New York news {Continued on Page 4) Editorial For a Press Relations Bureau . . . some concrete examples why By CHESTER B. BAHN ==^= IN pleading the cause of a press relations bureau for the film industry the other day, ' it was suggested that such a bureau, among its other mutual services to press and film biz, properly might call to account those who break into print with destructive and false statements. It should be unnecessary to say that the suggestion by no means cloaks a proposal for press censorship or news suppression. There is, however, an urgent need for the establishment of some agency qualified to curb those who make their columns a sounding (Continued on Page 2) 2 CLAIMS MAY UPSET FILM, TELE PROBLEMS RECORDING COPYRIGHT FACE BRITISH GOV'T Monroe, La. — Two claims which, if they are upheld, may upset copyright privileges in connection with recording, motion pictures, and possibly broadcasting were made in Federal Judge Gaston Porterie's Court here yesterday as C. P. Bulis, at (Continued on Page 8) Canadian Indies Want Voice In Setting Up Ruling Body Toronto — Pointing out that independent exhibitors in Canada "lumped together have the greatest number of theaters in this country," J. 0. Scott, chairman of the central (Continued on Page 7) London (By Cable) — Among the problems to come up in the House of Commons when Parliament resumes on Oct. 3 are several of paramount importance to the film industry, including quota, political censorship of films and the extension (Continued on Page 4) Television Makes its Bow Today in N. Y. Dept. Store Intra-store system of wired television will make its bow as a regular service at Bloomingdale's department store, New York, today, fol ( Continued on Page 9") 4A-IATSE Jurisdictional Settlement Possible by Richman's Surprise Move Wis. Exhibitors Fear Tax Proposal May Hit Theaters Madison, Wis. — Latest proposal in the state tax muddle here is that of Sen. Bernhard Gettelman, Milwaukee, which calls for a plan to raise (Continued on Page 9) Chance for a peaceful settlement of the intra-union jurisdictional dispute that threatens to cripple the film industry and legit, field loomed brighter last night following a surprise move by Harry Richman, AFA vice-prexy, in requesting the Equity Council to postpone Sophie Tucker's (Continued on Page 7) Allied Trying to Create New State Unit, Cohen Tells His Members Charging national Allied with attempts to "wreck" the New York unit and to establish another unit which would bow to the wishes of the "inner circle," Max A. Cohen, president of New York Allied, in a 10-page statement to his members predicted that the continuance of national's tactics would "bring ruin to the cause of the independent exhibitor." Supplementing his recent remarks at a trade press conference, Cohen took exception to Allied's reasons for expelling the New York unit, par (Continued on Page 8) WAR THREAT HURTING ENGLISH BIZ-KANE Stating that 20th-Fox will maintain its production schedule in England, calling for a minimum of eight for this season, with two in Technicolor, barring circumstances that may force a change in its program, Robert T. Kane, U. K. production head for the company, arrived in New York yes (Continued on Page 7) N. S. Exhibs. Buying Pix In Face of Legislation St. John, N. B. — Film contracts being sent out from exchanges here to exhibitors in Nova Scotia are coming back signatured without exception. This, in spite of the protective clause embodied in each contract. By this clause, the exchanges (Continued on Page 9) FBI Detroit Probe May Be Preliminary to Film Suit Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington— Chief G-Man J. Edgar Hoover admitted yesterday that FBI agents are conducting an in (Continued on Page 9)