The Film Daily (1941)

M I' nutin I J I b T 2 1ST r l Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought K i ILU. LUPY OO NOT REMOVE The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Two Years Old -1FDAILY' #jL 80, NO. 30 NEW YORK, TUESDAY. AUGUST 12, 1941 TEN CENTS WARNER^ABC PEAL IS SIGNED INJ.0ND0N Claim Charges Not Sustained In Crescent Case Defense Attorneys Say They Will "Take Care" Of Gov't's Testimony Nashville — Although Judge Elmer D. Davies failed Friday to grant motions to dismiss charges against Crescent Amusement Co. and two of the "Little Three" distributors, defense attorneys are unanimous in their opinion that Robert L. Wright, chief D of J counsel, failed to sustain charges made in the complaint filed in Aug., 1939, and that when the hearing is resumed Aug. 18, de (Continued on Page 6) Myers Wins Clearance Relief For L. W. Lea With Abram F. Myers, Allied general counsel, acting as his counsel, L. W. Lea, operator of the Schoenfield Theater, Danville, Va., won a reduction in clearance in his arbitration complaint against Loew's, RKO, 20th Century-Fox and Warner Bros. Bolitha Laws, arbitrator, ruled, (Continued on Page 6) Rule 16 mm. Free Shows Subject to Ind. Tax Indianapolis— George N. Beamer, attorney general of Indiana, ruled that 16 mm. "free shows" come under the jurisdiction of the 1937 act, (Continued on Page 7) Rules Clearance OK in Hill Case Philadelphia— W. A. Weidersheim, arbitrator, dismissed the complaint filed by the Hill Theater Co., operator of the Hill and Sedgewick Theaters, on the grounds that the present clearance schedule between the two theaters and the Rialto Theater was not unreasonable. Rialto, the interested party, has seven days clearance over the Hill and 14 days over the Sedgewick. Case was filed against Warner Bros., Paramount and RKO. Costs were assessed against all parties involved. Harry Goetz in New Yorh Says No Deal For His Becoming MJA President Has Been Talked Despite reports linking him with the possible presidency of United Artists, Harry Goetz said yesterday that there had been no negotiations on the issue with the owners of the company. Goetz arrived yesterday from the Coast. A production deal has been talked with UA, however. This was announced several weeks ago by Arthur W. Kelly, distribution chief. Canadian Theaters Feeling 20% Tax Montreal — Motion picture exhibitors across Canada are feeling the effects of the 20 per cent excise tax on box-office receipts in inverse ratio to the size and number of military camps and war industries located in their neighborhood, according to the Financial Post. Hardest hit are the exhibitors in rural areas, mining camps, and other centers where enlistment has been heavy and war enterprises few. British Columbia and the prairie provinces are generally lower than (Continued on Page 7) Nazis Control French Film Prod'n in Occupied Zone Word received in this country via London is to the effect that the Nazi military forces control all production of films in occupied France through regulation and censorship. Under recent regulations all foreigners and Jews will be excluded from important posts in the indus(Continued on Page 7) Two Pictures On Next 20fh-Fox Block Two pictures, "Belle Starr" and "Charlie Chan in Rio," comprise 20th-Fox's next block of which will be sold to exhibitors. "Belle Starr" is the Technicolor production starring Gene Tierney and Randolph Scott and will be tradeshown Aug. 22. Other film will be screened for exhibs. on Aug. 21. Production difficulties has slowed up delivery of "Yank in RAF." It is understood the film will be included as the leader in the next group. Tyrone Power is interrupting his Summer stock engagement in "Lillion" to return to the Coast for a re-take of the end of "RAF." Detroit Theater Workers Strike May be Extended Detroit — Picketing of the Eastown Theater of Wisper & Wetsman, large circuit operators, was started last week. Detroit Theater Service Employes, a group whose member( Continued on Page 6) Postpone Mexican Strike Foreign Managers Hope to Avert Walkout Ecuador Decrees an 8% Tax on Distrib. Income A tax of 8 per cent on receipts of motion picture distributors has been decreed by Ecuador. Foreign department heads said yesterday that they would ask that an allowance be made for overhead, print costs, etc. Tax was ordered by a government decree in Quito. Postponement of date of strike by the Motion Picture Workers Union in Mexico City to Sept. 2 from Aug. 13 is regarded here optimistically by foreign managers who feel there is good chance for walkout being averted. Secretary of Labor Manuel Garcia Tellez is mediating the dispute between the union and American distribs. Government intervention at (Continued on Page 6) Fifty Per Cent Interest In Circuit's 350 Houses To WB; Use Amer. Dollars London (By Cable) — Deal whereby Warner Bros, acquires a 50 per cent interest in Associated British Cinemas circuit was signed yesterday by Warners asd Mrs. John Maxwell, widow of the late head of the circuit. Consummation brings to a close many months of negotiations during which the CEA sought to halt the deal to prevent financing and control of the circuit to pass into American hands. Circuit operates more than 350 theaters. It was stated here, however, that under the terms of the agreement control will remain in British hands (Continued on Page 7) NLRB Certifies SPG As Bargaining Agent Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The National Labor Relations Board yesterday announced certification of the Screen Publicists Guild as the sole collective bargaining agency selected by a majority of the advertising copywriters, press book editors and writers, publicity and feature writers and (Continued on Page 6) Polio Hits in Wis.; Will Affect Attendance Superior, Wis. — City health department officials have taken drastic steps to halt the spread of infantile paralysis here as the result of a number of cases reported. Bathing (Continued on Page 6) "Aunt" Gives Boxy New Summer High "Charley's Aunt" has given the Roxy, Broadway, a new high for Summer business. Attendance for 10 days now stands at 160,356 with receipts totalling $84,539 up to yesterday. Picture starts its third week on Friday.