The Film Daily (1944)

M. P. Production Dist. 28 W. 44th St. 21st floor New York N. Y. Clearance Injunction St. L. Amusement Aim (Continued from Page 1) the St. Louis Amusement Company, said Friday. Hardy said that although no action has yet been instituted, there is a fair chance that his client will seek to enjoin either the American Arbitration Association from rendering any opinion affecting St. Louis amusement interests, or the distributors from taking any action as a result of arbitration which will alter their current relationship. One of these steps, or both, may be taken —either in St. Louis, New York or both cities. Decree Not "Sacred" The attorney, himself a former official of the anti-trust division, said that there seems to be a feeling in the industry that because the attorney general has signed the consent decree, the decree is therefore sacred. "I'm one of those skeptics," he added, "who believes that nothing sacred comes out of Washington." Although it is generally presumed that the companies are bound to adhere to arbitration recommendations, Hardy said there is nothing in the decree text — nor in that of the new proposals put before the New York court last month by Attorney General Biddle — which holds arbitration awards to be inviolable. "Our contracts," he said, "are legitimate and proper contracts. No violation of the law by either party to these contracts has been shown. Thei*e is no justification for permitting a private agency (AAA) suddenly to order the abrogation — partial or complete — of these contracts. And neither will we ever submit to an order denying us the present clearance arrangements in future contracts." No Record of Award Defiance There is no recorded instance of defiance of the arbitration award under the present decree, Hardy said, although two circuits are believed to have refused to show the films which were subject to disputes leading to arbitration which went against their clearance arrangements. The present flareup is the result of a clearance dispute in St. Louis, on which arbitration is shortly to get under way. Hardy would not say definitely that he will seek injunctions, but that does appear now to be the next step, he averred. Holloway Theater Burns St. John's Station, Mo. — Henry J. Holloway's 700-seat Gem Theater was damaged bv fire with loss estimated at $60,000. IN NEW POSTS HARVEY KELLY, Warner checking mpervisor. Seattle. FRANK DREW. 20th-Fox manager, Seattle. JACK LESLIE, manager, Neptune, Seattle. : CWTEllY Tuesday, September 5, 1 WHO'S WHO IN HOLLYWOOD I eROY PRINZ. Dance director. Born in St. Joseph, Mo., on July 14, 1895, the ™ son of a local dancing master there, he has been, in turn, a foreign legionaire, American aviator in the World War — surviving 14 crashes — air mail pilot, dance instructor in South America, cabaret meastro for night clubs reputedly owned by Al Capone and soldier of fortune for two decades. More recently, however, he has confined his energies largely to Hollywood production. During the past 12 years he has planned and directed many notable dance ensembles for pictures of various companies. Many of his latest creations have been for Warner Bros.' pictures such as "Thank Your Lucky Stars," "In Our Time," "Rhapsody in Blue" and "Shine on Harvest Moon." Current production "Hollywood Canteen." Short and heavy set, he is reputedly a scrapper in private life as he was in war time. He is said to have fought Hollywood's only duel with broadswords some years ago. His background of work with Ziegfeld, Earl Carroll and the Shuberts on the New York stage previous to his Hollywood introduction, makes him filmland's best known and LeROY PRINZ celebrated dance director. Stands 5, 5Vz. Weighs 165. Hair, brown. Eyes, brown Para. Paris Office Reported Functioning (Continued from Page 1) tion of the company's Paris office. Rose said that he understood that the Paris office was functioning to some degree but that all the American prints in the vaults had been destroyed or converted by the Nazis into material for explosives. Only those pictures to be produced by Hal Wallis in England are now on Paramount's British program unless the war's early ending releases sufficient studio space. Rose has been in the U. S. for two months, his 20th trip back here since the war started in 1939. "Seventh Cross" Grosses Forge Ahead in Keys M-G-M's "The Seventh Cross" completed its first record week at the Apollo, Atlantic City, N. J., on Thursdav, leading such pictures as "The White Cliffs of Dover" and 'Bathing Beauty." The opening day's business Thursday at Akron, Syracuse, Canton and Reading exceeded that of "The White Cliffs of Dover" and "Dragon Seed," while in Buffalo, Hartford, Bridgeport, and New Haven, it grossed more than "The White Cliffs of Dover." In Louisville, Dayton, Nashville, Springfield, Charleston and Williamsport, it beat "Dragon Seed." Top business on opening days at Baltimore, Toledo. Providence, Norfolk and Wilmington was also chalked up. Ludwig Satz Rites Held Funeral services were held yesterday for Ludwig Satz, 53, a leading actor of the Yiddish stage, who died Thursday. Survivors include his widow, Mrs. Lillie Satz, and three daughters, Mrs. Celia Werner, Mrs. Miriam Schiff and Frances Satz. Polio Spread Leads to Det. Kid Fend-off Detroit — Detroit theaters have agreed to drop all special inducements for children in an endeavor to discourage juvenile attendance as the polio situation reaches near epidemic proportion here. This applies specifically to children's matinees, special cartoon parties, extra pictures on matinees, special western bookings and serials. Houses are dropping serials even though playing them regularly each week. Bookers are rearranging schedules to accommodate lost program time with exchanges and booking offices, overloaded in handling necessary readjustments, pulling serials, etc., out of shipments. Decision has been reached by leading exhibitor representatives in response to pleas of the board of health which warned of the extreme gravity of the local situation. Youngsters are not banned from attendance, but discouraged by lack of usual special attractions angled to them. Arrangement is expected to last until the epidemic clears away. Television Attracting Wide Dept. Store Interest Schenectady, N. Y. — National interest in television as an advertising medium is being shown by department stores in their acceptances of invitations to attend a program to be staged in the studios of WRGB> on Sept. 29, General Electric reports. Program, arranged in cooperation with the Associated Merchandising Corp., will shj^v-jthe p#sr sibilities of an internaf"*Televisfo* system in showing a single display in store windows and sm television screens throughout a store. Greater Metro Aid For the Small Town! Chicago — Extended aid to the sr town exhibitor will be stressed m and more in the future by M-G William R. Ferguson, exploitai director for the company, infon press representatives following two-day meeting at the Blacks' here. Ferguson met with his m, western exploitation representati and during one of the sessions cal in publicity and advertising he of local independent and major i cuits for an interchange of ides Ferguson pointed out that in dition to sending out men to h theater owners in small towns, ev pressbook the company gets from now on will have a whole p; devoted to meeting the requireme of this type exhibitor. Perio trips to the field by M-G-M expl eers will be made, and a stei contact will be maintained by ] company with its customers. The M-G-M exploitation direci also spoke on post-war plans £ stated the company is prepared go ahead with many new ideas, the war should end tomorrow. 1 company, he added, has been givin. lot of thought to post-war thea operation and there is no intent: on part of M-G-M "to let the sm man down." Rather, the converse true. So well pleased was Ferguson w the results of the meetings here, indicated he may hold others in d ferent parts of the country. The will be along the same lines, fi: meeting with field men in a distr: manager's territory, and then ca ing in exploitation, advertising a publicity directors of independe and affiliated circuits. Columbia to Honor Wilde Columbia is hosting a cockt; party tomorrow at the Pierre Ro for Cornel Wilde, who plays Chop in the company's "A Song to R member." 5 New Pix to Start West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAll Hollywood — Five new pictures into production this week, makir a total of 47 shooting. TO THE COLORS! ' * DECORATED * SCT. DAVE ROSE, USA formerly with B & Chicago, awarded the Bronze Star. LT. MORRIS WILLIAMS, AAF, formerly of B & Howell, Chicago, awarded the ' Disti guished Flying Cross, with three Oak La Clusters, and the DSC. L£E J'CENE" McDERMOTT, formerly of H M-C-M exchange, Atlanta, has be) awarded the Purple Heart in Italy. — • — • COMMISSIONED* OTTO TINZMANN. JR., AAF, formerly of B & Howell, Chicago, commissioned a lie tenant. .