The Film Daily (1936)

Intimate in Character International in Scope Independent in Thought -IF DAILY The Daily Newspaper Of Motion Pictures Now Seventeen Years Old VOL. 69. NO. 74 NEW YORK, SATURDAY, MARCH 28, 1936 TEN CENTS Dramatists Approve Modified Film Rights Demands SEES BOOKING BILL AS KILLING REJECTION RIGHT Final Neely Bill Hearing Awaits Return of Its Author Dettengill is Expected To Confer With Neely on Measures By PRESCOTT DENNETT FILM DAILY Staff Correspondent Washington — Final block-booking learing before Senate Interstate Commerce sub-committee awaits the •eturn to Washington of Senator ^Teely, author of the companion neasure, the Pettengill bill, it was earned yesterday. His return from Vest Virginia is not expected until ifter next mid-week. Meanwhile chairman Pettengill anlounced his House interstate and foreign commerce sub-committee will lot hold its first executive session mtil next week when full report of he hearings will be published for he study of the members. Pettengill said yesterday he exacted to confer with Senator Neely vhen he returns to Washington next veek. [ONING PLAN STAY IS ARGUED AT K. C. Kansas City — After an all-day tearing Federal Judge Otis yesterlay reserved decision on the appli:ation of 13 independent exhibitors or a temporary injunction against najor distributing companies whom hey charge with illegal zoning >ractices. At the same time Judge )tis took under advisement a petiion for intervention by another {Continued on Page 7) Bank Night* Insurance Co. Out of Business at Dallas Ft. Worth, Texas— The Sterling 31ub, which offered a contract to heater patrons to insure them igainst loss through their absence tt local "Bank Night" drawings, has losed, after District Attorney Will I. Parker pointed out to the origilators that the principle upon which {Continued on Page 7) Republic Lineup 75 P. C. Completed, Levine States Republic has completed 75 per cent of its current program, is now "shooting" three pictures and will complete production of its scheduled 1935-36 output in a few months, it was said yesterday by Nat Levine, Republic production chief, who arrived for conferences on the story lineup for next season. Levine said that Republic plans to increase the budget for its features next season. He expects to return to the Coast tonight with M. J. Siegel, who came with him. RESERVES DECISION ON SUIT DISMISSAL Federal Judge John C. Knox yesterday reserved decision on the motion of Erpi counsel to dismiss the $149,949 suit brought by the Music Publishers Protective Association against Erpi on the ground that the Erpi-MPPA contract did not require Erpi to pay for foreign recordings of the music of MPPA members unless the songs were copyrighted abroad. Francis Gilbert, counsel for the MPPA, maintained that the contract was not conditioned in the way Erpi claimed and that Erpi was obligated to pay for the music. Argues Anti-Trust Angle in "Shorts Forcing" Case What amounts to a test case on the "shorts forcing" issue loomed yesterday when Weisman, Quinn, Allen & Spett, counsel for the Ridgewood Amusement Co., operator of the Star Theater, Brooklyn, replied {Continued on Page 2) FIRE LAW REVISIONS TO BE CONFAB TOPIC Modification of a proposed New York. City ordinance tightening the fire laws as regards transportation of film will be discussed by representatives of Fire Chief McElligott and a committee representing the major companies next week, probably on Thursday. The distributors' committee will hold a meeting Wednesday at the Hays office to formulate its plans. It consists of: Senator J. Henry Walters, RKO; Knox Haddow, Paramount; Harry Messay, Twentieth Century-Fox; J. S. {Continued on Page 2) Believe Miss. Censorship Bill Will Not Be Passed Jackson, Miss — Censorship, which loomed as threat in legislature here, was considered dead in informed circles here last night. Exhibitors pointed out that majority legislators had pledged themselves to in {Continued on Page 7) Modification of Screen Rights Demands Okayed By Dramatists Joe E. Brown is Signed By Dave Loew for 6 Pix West Coast Bureau of THE FILM DAILY Hollywood — David Loew yesterday signed Joe E. Brown to a two-year contract. Brown will make three pictures a year to be released through a major company. Modification of its new basic minimum agreement so as to give the author 60 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of film rights and the legitimate producer 40 per cent, was approved by the general membership of the Dramatists' Guild which {Continued on Page 7) If you have not seen the 1936 Film Daily Year Book you've never seen a Year Book. It's GREAT.— Advt. Nothing in Measure to Safeguard Privilege, Says Kuykendall Enactment of the Pettengill bill outlawing block booking and blind buying would "certainly destroy any hope of our ultimate success in getting the distributors to place a minimum unconditional rejection clause in their contracts," declared Ed Kuykendall, M. P. T. 0. A. leader, yesterday in a statement issued following filing with the House Interstate and Foreign sub-committee of a memorandum covering the 10-point program which his association plans to discuss with major distributors. Kuykendall and David Palfreyman are due to return to New York today from Washington after attending the Pettengill measure hearing. The former is expected to ar{Continued on Page 7) EIGHT SPRINGFIELD HOUSES OPEN DOORS Springfield, Mass. — One week after the electric failure closed the Springfield theaters, the break was repaired yesterday and eight houses reopened. Three houses, the Garden, Capitol and Jefferson, will be closed at least another week while extensive repairs are made. The Majestic theater in West Springfield, also {Continued on Page 7) Republic Still 'Open Shop' Under Strike Settlement Republic retains an "open shop" policy and the privilege of not reinstating all employes under an agreement covering wages and hours which has been signed in settlement of a strike since Jan. 1 by the Film Exchange Employes Union, Local 20,043, against its exchange. Minimum salaries of $15 a week and reduction of hours to 44 in a six-day {Continued on Page 7)