The Film Daily (1941)

\U) IJ U I b T 1st f l i ntimate in Character nternational in Scope ndependent in Thought The Daily Newspaper Oi Motion Pictures Twenty-Two Years Old « 9. NO. 22— In Two Sections. Section I. NEW YORK, FRIDAY, JANUARY 31. 1941 TEN CENTS 1XHIB. USE OF LIVE TALENT UP 25 P.C. Arbitration Factors to Guide in 20th -Fox Deals •Editorial 1 1 WW Liberty . . . does its bit By CHESTER B. BAHN I IS axiomatic that the hour produces the ■ran. It also produces the picture. Witness, please, "Land of Liberty," now ■the course of finding its way to hundreds theater screens through the instrumentalI of Metro, in this instance functioning I behalf of the whole industry as the disputing agency. l\n excellent Hollywood mosaic, this cavalie of American history originally conlived for presentation at the New York nrld's Fair and San Francisco Exposition 11939 now finds its essential timeliness hanced a thousand-fold as the nation Hiftly moves to make its defenses impregble. o (DEED, had the industry more than two years ago been forewarned of the shape things to come it is exceedingly doubt I whether it could have done a better w in preparing a picture that is at once fundamental and dynamic lesson in Amer mism and absorbing, electrifying enter llnment. Patriotically and properly, "Land of Lib•y" is offered as part of the industry's ntribution to the defense effort. Aside Him the impetus it must give to the genii program, all rental receipts above print d distribution cost are being devoted to |r emergency welfare work. The first 0,00 already has been cabled to gallant litain for relief of air raid victims. o tlRST reports from the field attest to I exhibitor realization of the picture's im Irtance. There has been and is the closest ssible co-operation between theaters, the PPDA represented in the field by four ploiteers, and the advertising, publicity d exploitation departments of Metro and lew's. (Already there are indications that some eater operators will go beyond the rental Irangement in effect for "Land of LibIty." Thus Grace M. Fisher, operating e Maryland Theater, Cumberland, Md., Is advised Metro that she will deduct from e gross of the three days the picture lays there "only the actual cost of the theler operation for that time and the adrtising expense in connection with the ligagement and return to M-G-M the bailee of the gross business." I It is interesting — and significant — that (Continued on Page 2) Handbook for Distribution Forces Calls Attention to Provisions in Section X Factors outlined in Section X of i the New York consent decree, which i concerns arbitration of indie exhib. | claims of refusal to license on a | requested run, are to be considered by all 20th-Fox salesmen in negotiating seasonal deals with indies, the company has instructed in its consent decree handbook. Such consideration is directed to guide the individual salesman "in determining whether or not refusal to sell an independent exhibitor (Continued on Page 4) Stars in Spotlight At Birthday Balls Washington Bur., THE FILM DAILY Washington — Hollywood stars held the spotlight here last night as the annual President Roosevelt birthday balls were held throughout the city. Celebrities from screenland included Deanna Durbin, Sterling Hayden, Lana Turner, Wallace Beery, Wayne Morris, George Raft, Preston Foster, Maureen O'Hara, Charlotte Greenwood, Red Skelton, Al Ritz and others. Six-year-old Carolyn Lee missed out on the festivities, being confined to a hospital with the flu. Blumenslock on Ads For Greek Air Show Selling Via Decree Good "II"— Schenck Mort Blumenstock, Eastern ad. and pub. director for Warners, has been appointed to handle the ad. campaign for the super-air show which will be presented on the NBC red network and units of the Mutual Broadcasting Co. system Saturday night, Feb. 8, for 90 minutes starting at 11:15 E.S.T., to raise funds (Continued on Page 6) Local 702 Board to Meet With IATSE on Action Plan Special meeting of the Executive Board of Local 702, lab. technicians union, has been called for tonight for the purpose of huddling with (Continued on Page 4) Chicago — Provisions outlined in the New York consent decree will be a good way of selling film provided there is cooperation by all companies, Joseph M. Schenck, board chairman of 20th-Fox, declared here yesterday. Schenck, accompanied by John Keller, his secretary, arrived here from the Coast en route to New York. He expects East for about a JOSEPH M. SCHENCK to remain in the (Continued on Page 6) WB to Resume Ptd. Payments Will be First to Stockholders Since 1932 David B. Whalen Resigns As Rep. Ad-Publicity Head David B. Whalen, director of publicity and advertising for Republic since September, 1939, has resigned, effective today. Whalen will announce his future plans next week. Pending selection of his succes (Continued on Page 6) Board of Directors of Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., at a special meeting yesterday voted to resume payment of dividends on the preferred stock with the declaration of the current dividend of 96 ^c per share, payable on March 1, to preferred stockholders of record at the close of business, Feb. 14. Warner preferred has substantial (Continued on Page 4) Ascap-Networks Dispute Gives Added Impetus; Demand for 'Name' Bands Up An increase of approximately 25 per cent in live talent is now being booked into film houses throughout the country as compared with a year ago, checkup disclosed yesterday. Demand is for "name" bands, complete stage shows and vaude acts alike, it was said. Varying explanations are offered for the increased use of "flesh." Fresh impetus reportedly has come from the Ascap-networks controversy, with exhibs. moving to cash in by offering music now off the radio. If the dispute is prolonged, bookers handling "name" bands expect (Continued on Page 6) Argue "Little 3" Dismissal Feb. 17 Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard yesterday set Feb. 17 at 2:15 p.m. as the date for hearing the applications of the "Little Three" to dismiss the Government equity complaint, or in the alternative, to strike out all paragraphs of the complaint referring to the "Fig Five." The postponed date was granted after Judge Goddard was told that (Continued on Page 4) "Take It Or Leave It" Gov't May Tell Ascap Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — Ascap-Department of Justice conferences looking to a settlement of the Government's threatened criminal action, sched(Continued on Page 4) GWTW 33,566 Paid Admissions Ahead GWTW in the first week of its pop engagement at the Capitol here played to 33,566 more paid admissions than was recorded during a similar period in the original showing at the house, M-G-M reported yesterday.