The Film Daily (1944)

In Today's Issue THE The Equipment News Section Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought (See Pages 16 to 18) The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Twenty-Five Years Old ■WfcllY ii OL. 85, NO. 49 NEW YORK, FRIDAY. MARCH 10, 1944 TEN CENTS MPTOA WILL MULL DECREE MARCH 20-21 Majors Tilt Red Cross Drive Contributions 60% That Figure is Minimum, I Says Robbins, Chairman of » Corporate Gifts Committee Major industry companies will increase their respective Red Cross drive contributions a minimum of 60 per cent this year, it was disclosed yesterday by Herman Robbins, chairman of the C o r p o r ate Gifts Committee for the trade's campaign. Robbins, in making the announcement, e xplained that the companies were requested to do this on the basis that last year the Herman robbins total asked for the Red Cross was $125,000,000, while this year the (.Continued on Page 12) No Gov't Levy on Stale Admish Tax U. K. TRADE HAILS SPYR0S SK0URAS Must Form Own Organization to Meet U. S. Competition, Says 20th-Fox Prexy at London Luncheon Washington Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Washington — The new Federal tax ion admissions will not be imposed (Continued on Page 9) Jackson Park Theater Case Decision Due This Morning Chicago— The $360,000 anti-trust damage suit brought by the Jack (Continued on Page 9) By ERNEST FREDMAN Managing Editor, Daily Film Renter London (By Cable) — British producers must form their own organization to meet American competition in the world market, Spyros P. Skouras, 20th Century Fox president, declared here yesterday in addressing a British industry luncheon tendered in his honor at the Dorchester Hotel. The affair, at which J. Arthur Rank presided, was one of the most representative trade assemblies to SPYROS P. SKOURAS be held here in years. The guest list, actually a British industry "who's who," also included Brendon Bracken, Minister of Information, and A. Agnidis, Greek Minister to the Court of St. James. Bracken Lauds Skouras Bracken paid a glowing tribute to Skouras for his public expression of faith in Great Britain in the country's darkest days. The Minister of Information also strongly urged British producers to (Continued on Page 6) J. ARTHUR RANK Death Takes Aarons, Assf. MPTOA Counsel Philadelphia — Funeral services will be held Sunday for George P. Aarons, 55, assistant general counsel of the MPTOA and secretary and counsel of the UMPTO, who died here Wednesday night at the Pres (Continued on Page 3) IA Studio Locals Offer 26 Proposals A list of 26 general proposals offered by IATSE studio locals for inclusion in new agreements with the producers to take the place of pacts that expired on Jan. 1 was submitted to representatives of the (Continued on Page 9) Executive Committee to Meet in Washington With Clark and Robert Wright MPTOA's reactions to the distributors' proposals for changes in the New York consent decree are expected to be revealed March 20-21 when the organization's executive committee is scheduled to meet in Washington. The committee members will meet among themselves to exchange views on the decree on March 20 and will huddle with Tom C. Clark, Assistant Attorney General, and Robert L. Wright, of the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice, on March 21. Ses (Continucd on Page 3) War Efforts Top Metro Chi. Meeting M-G-M war efforts and the company's future plans for co-ordinating its war activities will be among the highlights of Metro's five-day business conference which gets under way at the Blackstone Hotel in Chicago tomorrow. W. F. Rodgers, vice-president and geneial sales manager and retired (Continued on Page 13) RKO Buys into Mex. Studio 50% Interest Acquired in Churubusco Plant RKO to Make Kenny Pic When Story is in Shape West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — RKO Radio will go ahead with its production of "Elizabeth Kenny," based upon the life story of the originator of the polio treatment which bears her name, (Continued on Page 6) Mexico City — RKO is reported to have acquired a 50 per cent interest in the Churubusco Studios, now in the process of construction. Investment is said to have been 2,500,000 pesos, or about $500,000. Total investment represents 5,000,000 pesos, the other 50 per cent having been taken by Emelio Azcarraga for 1,500,000 pesos and by Grovas Bros., (Continued on Page 13) Mono. Gets $252,113 Loan From Company Personnel A loan of $252,113 to Monogram Pictures by franchise holders, certain company executives and individuals associated with Monogram (Continued on Page 9) H LET YOUR CONSCIENCE BE YOUR GUIDE WREN YOU CONTRIRUTE TO TRE RED CROSS