The Film Daily (1940)

M 1'Ui.l IJ I J I S T 2 \\ VN 44TH 5T Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Twenty-One Years Old VC'«k77. NO. 22 S NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 31. 1940 TEN CENTS British Films Council Approves Retention of Quota COL. SEEKS TO AVOID MVTS QUIZ OfOFFICERS Neely Proponents Want Unfair Advantage-Schaefer Abram Myers and RKO President Debate Neely Bill Fefore SWG in Hollywood West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Members of the Screen Writers Guild yesterday were weighing the arguments against the Neely Bill as advanced by George J. Schaefer, RKO president, and Abram F. Myers, Allied president. Both men gave their interpretations of the bill in addresses before the SWG Monday night. Schaefer asserted that Allied members who were supporting the Neely Bill wanted an unfair buying advantage. Myers took the position that there would have been no need for the introduction of the Neely (Continued on Page 3) NSS MAY ME OVER TRAILER-MADE, INC. National Screen Service is reported to be negotiating with E. Schwartz, head of Trailer-Made, Inc., on a deal whereby NSS will^ take over the latter company. It is reported that Trailer-Made franchise holders have been advised of the negotiations. Schwartz founded Trailer-Made in 1938. He formerly headed Ad-Vance Trailer Service which also was bought by National Screen. Mayor and Griffis Confer On Local Pix Production Stanton Griffis, chairman of the board of Paramount Pictures, Inc., conferred recently with Mayor La Guardia and Clendenin Ryan, Jr., on (Continued on Page 4) Hammons Says Write-downs Contributed to GN Losses Continuation of examination of Earle W. Hammons, former head of Grand National Pictures, Inc., was (.Continued on Page 7) IV. Y. Projectionists Condemn Neely Bill Syracuse, N. Y. — State meeting of New York State projectionists association yesterday passed a unanimous motion condemning passage of the Neely Bill and voted to write representatives personally. Clenn Humphreys, Utica, was endorsed to succeed himself as secretary of the Tenth District IATSE at the next election. RCA's Inter-City Tele Development Looms as First Competition to Pix Completion of television to motion pictures loomed as a greater possibility yesterday when RCA announced that the development of the radio relay method of transmitting television signals between cities had been advanced to the point where it was technically ready for the first step of application in a public service. This new development by the RCA Laboratories makes possible the establishment of inter-city television networks similar in effect to the wire networks of sound broadcasting. It is feasible, according to RCA engineers, to set up a radio relay system for television linking New York, for example, with Washingtno, D. C, and with Boston, Mass., and other intermediate cities. Similar radio relay networks could be established in other parts of the country, the engineers say. Even such a limited network (Continued on Page 3) Hollywood Stars Add Color To F.D.R.'s Birthday Ball Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Stars of Hollywood added glamour to the President's birthday ball last night. The stars in attendance here were : (Continued on Page 4) Advertising Accessories Start Operations Tomorrow Advertising Accessories, Inc., National Screen Service subsidiary, tomorrow takes over the special advertising accessories of RKO and Paramount in 32 key cities. Uni (Continued on Page 4) Film Bank Plan Regarded as Unlikely Because of Brit. Gov't's Objections Ohio ITO Members Advised Against Daily Tax Report Columbus, 0. — Members of the ITO are being urged to ignore the request of the Ohio Department of Taxation for a daily listing of receipts in connection with the monthly admission tax reports. P. J. Wood, ITO secretary, has notified (Continued on Page 7) London (By Cable) — Films Council approved here yesterday committee recommendations for retention of the quota and the establishment of a Government film bank, via which British pictures could be financed. The recommendations are now to be considered by the Board of Trade. Coincident with the Film Council's approval of the recommenda (Continued on Page 4) U. S. Moves to Strike Out Col.'s Interrogatories in Equity Suit Renewed activity developed yesterday in the Government's New York equity action against the majors when the Columbia group of defendants asked Federal Judge William Bondy to vacate the notice of examination of Harry and Jack Cohn and A. Montague, and the Government retaliated by filing notice fo motion to strike out Columbia's 59 interrogatories. Government's application will be heard on Feb. 6 at 10:30 a.m. by Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard who is slated to preside at the trial. Some 12 objections were raised by the Government as an excuse for not (Continued on Page 4) KENTUCKYENACTS TAX OF 20 GENTS PER SEAT Frankfort, Ky.— The State Legislature passed a bill reviving an occupational tax on theaters and certain other forms of business throughout the state. The tax calls for an annual assessment of 20 cents a seat in every theater in the state. Similar legislation was passed two years ago, but was shelved later when it was found that the expense of collecting the tax was exceeding the tax collected. Five Springfield, Mass., Theaters to Herman Rifkin Springfield Mass. — Five theaters operated by the Winchester Amusement Co. have been sold to Herman Rifkin former Republic franchise (Continued on Page 4) RKO Closes Final Circuit Deals for 1939-40 Program Seventeen circuits embracing 239 theaters were closed by RKO in its final week of selling, preparatory to (Continued on Page 7)