The Film Daily (1941)

18 "<?!{< DAILY Friday, March 14, 1941 See Uniform Upturn In Film Earnings (.Continued from Page 1) the percentages of film production costs allocated to foreign income, it appears that declines in attendance, restrictions on the conversion of foreign currency receipts into dollars, and depreciation in exchange rates have reduced foreign revenues by upwards of 30 per cent," the F & B bulletin says. Discussing the film securities market, it is added: "Prices for motion picture shares normally sell at a low ratio to earning power, such conservative standards giving weight to the industry's speculative operating characteristics. Current prices, however, give added recognition to adverse foreign developments and the price risk factor is regarded as being relatively small in consequence, the more so in the light of a satisfactory domestic operating outlook." Expect Passage of Wis. Ascap Tax Enabling Act (Continued f-om Page 1) censing agents of Ascap. Senate action was unanimous. The Cashman law was passed in 1937 but Atty. Gen. John E. Martin ruled Secretarv of State Fred R. Zimmerman h^rl no authority to enforce its provisions requiring a $25 annual license for all Ascap agents nor to collect the tax of 25 per cent of the to^al receipts of the society in Wisconsin. Cashman asserted Ascap has "dea-nerated" into a "racket" in the state in its enforcement of the use of copyrighted music. He said Ascap collected $400,000 a year from Wisconsin citizens and if the law were enforced, the State Treasury would benefit by $100,000 a year. Sen. Gustave Buchen (R.) Sheboygan, also called Ascap a "racket" and stated that any law the legislature could pass to put an end to this "racketeering" would be a good one. Mrs. Eaton Retiring Mrs. Minnie B. Eaton, who ha;-' been a secretary to various Paramount executives for the last 15 years, will retire this week. Mrs. Eaton plans to move to her farm in Connecticut. TO TIKI: COLORS! Rochester — Gordon Moll, associated with theaters here, is a corporal in Battery G, 209th Infantry, at Camp Stewart, Ga. West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — Leonard Mark, of Warner Bros, publicity department, has been ordered to report for army duty by his Draft Board and leaves for camp, Monday. Darhens for Church Night Observance Reading, Mich. — Gus Bentley, operator of the Reading Theater is co-operating with the community Church Night, by darkening his house each Thursday evening. CBS Picks Chicago Tele Station Site PRC to Announce Program At Chi. Meet Mar. 22-24 (Continued from Page 1) tower on the top of the building which now rises 429 feet above the sidewalk. Executives, franchise holders and branch managers of Producers Releasing Corp. will be brought together for the first time March 22-24 when the company holds its convention at the Congress Hotel in Chicago. O. Henry Briggs, president, will announce the 1940-41 program at the convention by which time the production and sales policy will have been readjusted to conform to the expanded operations of PRC. William Gell, managing director of Pathe Pictures, Ltd., distributor of PRC pictures in the United Kingd( m, will be the guest of honor. Leon Fromkess will address the convention on finance and foreign distribution and Joseph O'Sullivan, director of advertising and publicity, will speak on sales promotion plans. George Batchellor and Sig Neufeld, production chiefs, and their unit heads also will talk. The 1940-41 lineup is to consist of 63 productions, including 26 westerns. Financing has been completed. B & K Making Substantial Progress With Television Chicago — While B & K is making substantial progress with its television tests and surveys in this territory, reports finding their way into print that two of the circuit's houses, the Loop Chicago and the Uptown, will shortly utilize telecasts are branded, "premature," bv William Eddy, B & K's tele director. B & K tele staff is using a specially equipped sound truck for the survey work and a temporary 40-foot tower of special design, vertically polarized, with an overtype antenna, that has given good reception. Steel has been ordered for the permanent tower, which will be a top of the State Lake theater building. Both films and "flesh" have been televised from the State Lake theater, with reception reported good. The equipment of the State Lake building studio is rapidly being assembled and installed. First B & K house to get Du Mont receivers for lobby use is expected to be the Uptown. "Doc" Bamford Recovering Chicago — A. J. "Doc" Bamford, M-G-M branch manager, is recovering from his long illness at the St. Luke Hospital. Arbitrate Ellet Case Wednesday (Continued from Page 1) be heard next Thursday, it was annouiced yesterday simultaneously with the selection of Attorney Charles P. Megan as arbitrator. Megan, widely known in Illinois legal circles, is a member of the law firm of Tolman & Megan. Ken complaint names Paramount, 20th-Fox, RKO Radio. B. F. Keith Orpheum Corp., RKO Proctor Corp., RKO Midwest Corp. Theaters involved are the Shakespeare and Pix. Named as interested parties are Arthur Schoenstadt and H. Schoenstadt and Sons. Spitz and Adcock will appear for Paramount and RKO and Clyde Eckhardt will represent 20th-Fox at the hearing. Law firm of Rosenberg, Stein & Rosenberg will appear for the Schoenstadt circuit. 14,000 See "Doe" at Rivoli, 10,000 More at Hollywood "Meet John Doe" yesterday played to approximately 14.000 admissions at the Rivoli and 10.000 at the Hollywood, the scenes of its dual Broadway premiere. Warner home office reported last night . The pix's Oklahoma City opening was said to have given the Criterion there its biggest single day's business. "Doe" opens in six more key spots today.