The Film Daily (1939)

THE' * DAILY • Monday, September 11, 1939 LEE NEWBERRY NAMED N. Y. ALLIED'S PREXY (Continued from Page 1) Louis Gold, Newark; Irving Dollinger, Linden; Harry K. Hecht, Passaic; Helen B. Hildinger, Trenton; Harry Kridel, Newark; Frank Gravatt, Atlantic City; Jacob Unger, Hillside; Sidney Samuelson, Newton, and George Gold, Newark. Retiring President Gold called the convention successful in that it brought to all exhibitors a realization of the situation being created by the European war. Court Denies All Defense Motions in Contempt Case (Continued from Page 1) tempt proceedings growing out of the 1932 "consent decree." He also denied all motions to dismiss the action on ground of lack of qualified evidence. Adjournment was taken to Sept. 18 when the defense will present its side of the case. Famous Players Canadian Improves Three Houses i Toronto — Famous Players' Canadian Corp. has three of its theaters in the Dominion scheduled for remodelling. These are the Capitol in St. Catherines; Metropolitan, in Regina, Sask., and the Strand, in Calgary, Alta. These theaters will be refurbished as well as remodelled. Traube Joins "Ramparts" Unit of March of Time Shepard Traube, former theatrical producer — director and screen writer, has been appointed dialogue director of "The Ramparts We Watch," March of Time's first full-length feature now in production. Treasurers in IA Fold? Eventual outcome of the dispute between the TMAT and the IATSE over the status of the treasurers division in the former organization was expected at the week-end to be decided in favor of the IA, with all treasurers being represented by the IA as a bargaining agent. Hearing before the SLRB has been postponed until Thursday. Detroit V. C. Tag Day Detroit — Detroit City Council approved Variety Club's Tag Day for Oct. 16, designed to raise $50,000 for serving free luncheons to 4,000 indigent school children. Worcester House Debuts Worcester, Mass. — Worcester's newest theater, the $105,000 Greendale, has opened under the management of Emile Dufault, formerly with the Sturbridge Ride-In Theater. THE WEEK IN REVIEW' War and the Industry — Greater Indian Market =^i^=^ By GEORGE H. MORRIS =^^==i^= DOMESTIC WAR AND FILMLAND: Outbreak of hostilities in Europe found the film industry here calm and resigned to effectuate every step necessary to keep in normal high gear. Hollywood at the week's outset let it be known that the conflict overseas will not stop or even curtail 1939-40 schedules. 20th-Fox and Metro took the lead in announcing that they would stand pat on production plans, and consensus of other companies showed full agreement. The distribution and exhibition fields also took in praiseworthy stride events across the Atlantic. Well-informed executive sources admitted that a curtailment of activities on the Continent was inevitable, but expressed conviction that there would remain, in any case, some substantial portion of the European market open. It was also stated that, with careful planning and in light of the cessation of British and French production, Hollywood films would be in line to fill playing time left open in foreign marts. LABOR: Over the Labor Day week-end, AAAA-IATSE agreement prevented a strike in the threatened labor war. Negotiations brought about a peaceful settlement of the jurisdictional dispute. Keys to the solution were dissolution of AFA; the reinstatement of Miss Sophie Tucker; pact of th unions not to invade one another's provinces. No mention was made in the agreement of Ralph Whitehead, who had been a vortex of the bitter controversy. * * * THE COURTS: Adding to the hectic series of events on the Labor Day week-end was the filing in Federal Court here of a list of 67 questions put to the defendants in the Government's equity action by the D of J. Interrogatories required specific answers, but no date was set for mandatory response by each of the companies queried . . . On Thursday, A. B. Momand in the name of Oklahoma Theaters, Inc., filed new equity action in Oklahoma City against the majors and the Griffith Co. . . . Meanwhile the Schines asked dismissal of the Government suit against that circuit . . . Highlight in the legislative field was declaration by Col. Cole, national prexy of Allied, at Allied of N. J. convention, that the Neely Bill is due to pass when Congress reconvenes. * * * CODE AND BUSINESS: William F. Rodgers and Ed Kuykendall conferred in New York to consider problems growing out of the rebuff of the Trade Practice Code . . . Chicago reported business improving there, and that closed houses were reopening. FOREIGN BRITISH SITUATION: With the first few days of war excitement subsiding, and being supplanted by the spirit to carry on notwithstanding pressure of economic and psychological nature, London checked in with word that the quota there would probably be suspendeed temporarily. Later dispatches asserted that houses would reopen early. Bernard Shaw called for not only general reopening but the erection of additional theaters where needed. Objective, maintenance of morale. * * * INDIA'S NEEDS: That the rapidly expanding exhibition field in India will require an additional 200 pix from the U. S. as result of the European war, was expressed by Baburao Patel, editor of Filmindia, Indian trade journal, who is currently visiting America. Charles Loewenberg Dead Milwaukee, Wis. — Word has been received here by H. J. Fitzgerald, general manager of the Fox-Wisconsin Amusement Co., of the death in Cincinnati of Charles Loewenberg, advertising and publicity manager for the circuit. Loewenberg had been suffering from arthritis for the past year and had gone to Cincinnati about five months ago to regain his health. He had been associated with Fox Wisconsin and Fox Midwesco here for many years and prior to that with Paramount in Cincinnati and Indianapolis. He is survived by his wife and a daughter. Promote Martin Friedman Martin Friedman of the Warner home office playdate department, has been promoted to the booking staff of the Cleveland branch office, under branch manager Herb Ochs, it was announced over the week-end. Shift Premiere Place "A Brivele Der Mamen," Joseph Green's newest Yiddish picture, previously announced to open at the Waldorf Theater, will, instead, have its American premiere at the Belmont Theater next Thursday. The picture, which was made in Poland by the Sphinx Film Co., has English titles. "End of a Day" Opening "The End of a Day," French film, being released by I. E. Lopert of Juno Films, Inc., will have its American premiere tonight at the Filmarte Theater for the benefit of the Actors' Fund of America. "Three Waltzes" In Portland "The Three Waltzes," French musical distributed by Vedis will open at the Esquire Theater, Portland, Ore., the week of Sept. 29 for an indefinite run. QUEMOS TRUST SUIT DISMISSAL REFUSED (Continued from Page 1) memorandum ruling out the motion by 27 defendants to dismiss the complaints. Quemos, seeking treble dam"ges, contends after the company ( led the Mosque, in 1936, it experienced difficulties obtaining continuous supply of first and second-run features. Judge Fake granted a motion dismissing complaints as against a group of producer-defendants but denied such a motion concerning number of distributor-defendants. When the suit was filed by Chester K. Ligham, Quemos counsel, 42 defendants were named. Quemos charged damages of $1,175,000 and instituted suit for triple amount, plus costs and counsel fees. It is expected the suit will be called up for hearing during the Fall term of Federal Court. Warner District Managers Meeting to Discuss Sales (Continued from Page 1) Southern manager, and Roy Haines, Eastern and Canadian manager. Attending the sessions will be W. E. Callaway, West Coast district manager; Fred Jack, Southern district manager; Rud Lohrenz, Prairie district manager; and Henry Herbel, Midwest district manager, who will meet with Kalmenson. Meeting with Roy Haines will be Wolfe Cohen, Canadian district manager; Robert Smeltzer, Central district manager; and Ed Schniter, Eastern district manager. Grad Sears and Carl Leserman will supervise the meets. E. M. Loew Will Erect New Worcester Theater Worcester, Mass. — A neighborhood motion picture theater to seat 800 persons will be erected at Billings Square by E. M. Loew's on land owned by R. Lawson Daniels, manager of E. M. Loew's Olympia Theater. Work will be started at once and plans are to complete the house in 20 weeks. Daniels will manage. "Tugboat Annie" to WB West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Warner Bros, has acquired the picture rights to the "Tugboat Annie" stories from M-G-M. The stories will be produced by Bryan Foy, with Alan Hale playing a leading role. Name Larsen Time Prexy Election of Roy E. Larsen as president of Time, Inc., succeeding Henry R. Luce, was announced at the weekend, following a special board meeting. Larsen had been vice-president. Luce continues as board chairman.