The Film Daily (1940)

DAILY Thursday, January 25, 1940 THEATERS OUT OF NEB. PROPOSED CHAIN TAX (Continued from Page 1) to mark which will force the 1941 solons to draw a bill placing graduated tax on chain stores and filling stations. The tax is $10 for each unit up to ten, and moves up to $550 per unit for 500 or more. In the past, the graduated tax measure on chains has been introduced many times, and at some time during the course of amendments and committee recommendations, the circuit theaters have appeared to come under similar provisions. However, by this initiative petition, the course of the legislature is charted, and it cannot go outside the chain stores and the filling stations as stated on the ballot, so theaters are safe. The petition is being circulated by Homer McGrew, a Lincoln attorney, who says no group is backing him. He claims the chains have maintained too strong a lobby for the 43 legislators to get over, but he believes this petition will bring the matter to the people who'll demand its passage. Circuits' only shudder is whether or not the petition might not set a precedent. Public Justified in Making Constructive Criticism of Film Industry, Asserts Hays The public is justified in making constructive criticisms of an industry which is as close to the people as the motion picture business, Will H. Hays, MPPDA president, told the Men's Club of the First Presbyterian Church of New Rochelle Tuesday night. As long as the public maintains an interest in pictures, Hays said, there will be a steady rise in quality. Hollywood producers know their responsibilities, Hays continued, adding that the industry was striving to create better product. The MPPDA president did not touch on block-booking or the Government suit. Mich. Solon Wants FCC to Police Air Giveaway (Continued from Page 1) sponsored program is a lottery was seconded here yesterday by Rep. R. G. Tenerowicz of Michigan who called for "immediate policing" of the program by the FCC. Rep. Tenerowicz, referring to the Co-operative Theaters of Michigan protest to the FCC, said that the efforts thus far had been futile "because of legal loopholes" and that the Commission may be unable to act. The Congressman termed the "Pot o' Gold" program "a palpably unethical intrusion." SLRB Reserves Decision Plea was entered yesterday before the SLRB by the TMAT to have the recent election of employes in the Nelson-Renner-Endicott circuit set aside. The TMAT received a setback in both units of the employes who voted when the election was held. Decision was reserved by the commissioners who held the hearing. Salute to Metro Greenwich, Conn. — Council of Women has passed a resolution commending Metro "for producing more pictures of high character which could be endorsed from a moral and psychological standpoint, than any other company, during the year 1939." Denver Theaters Can Give 3 Autos on Single Night (Continued from Page 1) number drawn each Tuesday night, and if not claimed will be carried over. This will be done until three autos are offered, then one will be given no matter how many numbers have to be drawn, with the remaining two offered only on the first number drawn. A change in the cash giveaway will mean that two $100 awards will be given, also on Tuesday nights, instead of various amounts being offered as in the past. Fox Denver houses are also continuing the double offer of any "Pot O' Gold" radio program offer, with no limit on amounts, providing the person called is a Coloradoan and is '"i a Fox Denver house at the time. Fox houses outside Denver and in 'he Intermountain division are offering to match any "Pot O' Gold" offer, but with a weekly limit of $1,500, providing the person called is in a Fox house. The Orpheum is entering the Tuesday night giveaways with a tieup with radio station KLZ and Seven Up, a drink, with $200 being offered for suitable answers to questions propounded by the announcer. Mexican Producers Ass'n Elects Jesus Grovas Prexy (Continued from Page 1) las (Mexican Association of Motion Picture Producers) to succeed Juan Pezet, who becomes secretary with Ferdinando de Fuentes, producerdirector, as treasurer. Craig In Dietrich Pix West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — James Craig just completed "River of Missing Men" at Universal and has been assigned one of the male leads in the next Marlene Dietrich picture at Universal where he is under contract. Previous to his Hollywood work, Craig was on the New York stage and lately worked in Guthrie McClintic's "Missouri Legend." "Pinocchio" Skating Plug Dorothy Lewis and her troupe of 15 skaters will appear today on the_ Rockefeller rink in costumes depicting leading characters in Walt Disney's production of "Pinocchio." Stunt will be staged between 1-3 p.m. with Pathe News covering the affair. Malco Gets McGehee House McGehee, Ark. — The Ritz Theater has been sold to the Malco Theaters, Inc., it has been announced by Dr. O. W. Clark, owner of the building. Fixtures and equipment were sold by Mrs. B. Baradel, who operated the house. Richmond Ball Feb. 14 Richmond, Va. — The eleventh annual Theatrical Ball, sponsored by Local 87, IATSE, will be held at Tantilla Garden on Feb. 14. Harry Jaivis is general chairman with John Leary, chairman of ticket committee; Tom Jones, chairman of Advertising Committee, and Claude Wilson, chairman of program committee. Members of local who are taking active part are L. C. Ratliff. Tom Murphy, Jim Evans. Earl Claytor, Stewart Atkisson, Charles Colgin. Joe LaPrade, Bill Walsh. Frank Mathews, C. C. Leibs, Kenneth Sickinger, Dan Anderson, Otis Bugs-, Joe Beard, Louis Levin, B. W. McCann and John Claytor. ITALY'S NEW PICTURE SETUP UNFAVORABLE Warners Lease la. House New Hampton, la. — The New Hampton Firemen's theater negotiated a 10-year lease with Warners, represented by Harry Herman of Des Moines, at $300 a month. E. C. Patten, present lessee, has been paying $175 a month. The new lease will begin May 15. White at 20th-Fox Wet Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Robertson White is now at 20th Century-Fox where he is working on the screenplay of "Charlie Chan's Oriental Cruise'" which goes into production the end of this month. Coney Island House Burns The Mardi Gras, 1,000 seat house in Coney Island operated by the G and A Holding Corp., was destroyed yesterday by fire. Two story building which housed the theater was built 50 years ago. Origin of the fire was not determined. Coal Co. Sells to Circuit Pittsburgh — The Nemacolin Theater in Nemacolin, operated by the Buckeye Coal Co. for many years, has been taken over by the Ideal Amusement Co., Johnstown circuit, headed by Vernon F. Scott. Duff Burdge has been appointed manager of the Nemacolin. (Continued from Page 1) more "oppressive" than those which sprang from the Decree of Sept. 4, 1938, which was responsible for the withdrawal of American films £^m the Italian market. *■> "If American companies couldn't do business under the 1938 decree, they even more certainly can't under the new one," it was explained. According to Rome dispatches the new Italian film monopoly group has laid aside a million lire for the purchase of American pictures. This means that a sum in American dollars of only $50,500 has thus been provided for film purchases, figured on yesterday's published foreign exchange quotations. The consensus of company channels here is that the new Italian move is "fantastic." Admittedly, however, full examination of the decree's ramifications is taking place. Affiliated Circuit Houses in Milwaukee Area at 101 (Continued from Page 1) film attorney. Total number of seats in the affiliated circuit houses is 99,926. The independent circuit theaters in Wisconsin total 42 with a seating total of 25 939; while in upper Michigan the respective figures are 13 for a total of 9,431 seats. The independent theaters in Wisconsin number the largest of all, 305, seating 149,563; while in upper Michigan there are 36 independent houses seating 14,204. Forty-seven of the 497 houses in Milwaukee territory are listed as dark. GWTW Clicks In Denver Denver — "Gone With the Wind" played to three packed houses here yesterday at the Orpheum and the street at night was packed for the gala opening. Indications are that the entire first week will see the house jammed. Morros to Star Artie Shaw West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Boris Morros plans to make a feature based on the life of Artie Shaw in which he will star the band leader himself. 79 : 10 : : 501 : 5 Lincoln, Neb. — "Ten Best" poll aftermath: Sometimes a better job of picking pictures can be done by staying away from them. Richard Veach, 15-yearold Grafton, Neb. high school boy, picked all 10 films in the Sunday Journal and Star's annual local poll in conjunction with THE FILM DAILY'S symposium. Barney Oldfield, motion picture editor of the sheet, picked only five. Veach saw 79 films during the year, and Oldfield 501.