Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1937)

12 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Tuesday, January 26, 1937 Radio Arbitrators End Strike at WBNX {Continued from page 10) started at $30 with an automatic increase to $32.50 at the end of the first six months. 7.— The A. R. T. A. demanded that its members should not be discriminated against because of their membership, which was agreed upon. The agreements are effective for one year beginning Feb. 1. Morgan in N B C Post Clay Morgan, formerly assistant to NBC President Lenox R. Lohr, has been made director of programs, a new post. The new director of programs has been with NBC since Oct. 1, 1936, and formerly was publicity director for the French Line. Lohr on N B C Tour Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president, left New York yesterday on a transcontinental inspection tour of NBC stations. Lohr's stopovers will include Denver, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane, Sacramento, Los Angeles, Hollywood, and San Diego. FCC Asks $350,000 For A. T. & T. Study Washington, Jan. 25.— An additional $350,000 will be required to complete the investigation of A. T. & T. by the Federal Communications Commission, the House Appropriations Committee was told by Commissioner Paul A. Walker during its recent hearings on the first deficiency appropriations bill, it was indicated today with the "introduction of the measure. With the amount mentioned, the commission will be able to complete the investigation after having spent $1,500,000 on the work. Unless the funds are provided, Walker declared, about half the reports will be left unfinished, much field work will be left uncompleted and final inquiries will have to be abandoned. Walker pointed out that one of the reports yet to be completed and introduced at the hearings is that bearing on the investigation of Erpi. Feher Conducts at "Robber Symphony Frederich Feher, author, composer and director last night conducted a symphony orchestra at the Venice, where excerpts from "The Robber Symphony" were rendered as a prelude to the picture. The special showwas held for the benefit of the Social Service Auxiliary of the Cancer Institute. Following the screening, Magda Sonja and Hans Feher, stars of the film, made a personal appearance. The picture will open today to the public. Among those who attended last night's benefit were Nino Martini, Vivienne, Segal, Walter Damrosch and numerous persons identified with the industry. Cobina Wright sponsored the showing. Lord & Thomas Tops Spenders with NBC (.Continued from page 10) Mill Co., $22,760; Clicquot Club Co., $33,570; Ford, $553,766; International Silver Co., $35,988; Kellogg Co., $562,203; Nat'l Dairy Products (Sealtest), $107,800; Harold F. Ritchie and Co. (Eno Salts), $137,123. Wade Advertising: Miles Laboratories. $1,220,132. Erwin Wasey and Co. : for Carnation Co. Albers Brothers Milling, $20,992; Evaporated Milk, $366,068; Crusaders, $952; Republican Nat'l Committee, $160,472; for Wasey Products Co.— Barbasol, $53,745; Bost, $27,790; various drug products, $424,355; Young Business Men's Ass'n of Chicago, $2,912. Stack-Goble: Lady Esther Co., $674,568; Molle Co., $217,139; Packers Mfgr. Co., $41,544. Benton and Bowles, Inc.: for Best Foods, Inc.— Nucoa, $38,192; Colgate-PalmolivePeet Co., $20,800; for General Foods— Diamond Salt, $14,400; Log Cabin, $66,360; Maxwell House Coffee, $717,295. Roche, Williams and Cunnyngham: Good Neighbor League, $2,896; Studebaker Sales Corp., $248,088; Sun Oil Co., $523,882. Campbell-Ewald: for General Motors — Chevrolet, $131,424; institutional, $625,500. McCann-Erickson, Inc.: Langendorf United Bakeries, $50,637; National Biscuit, $121,345; Pacific Coast Borax Co., $248,810; Regional Advertisers, Inc., $80,870; Standard Oil of California, $81,290. Pedlar & Ryan: for Procter & Gamble — Camay Soap, $572,543. Lennen & Mitchell : Andrew Jergens Co. : Lotion, $77,238; Soap, $443,690; Modern Maazines, Inc., $11,700. Federal Advertising Agency, Inc.: Sinclair Refining Co., $517,231. Sweeney and James Co. : Firestone Tire and Rubber Co., $511,506. Biow Co. : Humphries Homeopathic Medicine, $24,560; Krueger Brewing Co., $28,800; Philip Morris & Co., $430,264. Hutchinson Advertising: Pillsbury Flours, $476,130. Witman, Gilman in L. A. Hollywood, Jan. 25. — -Ray Witmer, vice-president in charge of sales for NBC, arrived here from San Francisco today accompanied by Don Gilman. Paley on Coast Hollywood, Jan. 25. — William S. Paley, president of CBS, arrived here today from Idaho. He is said to be vacationing. WPA Spent $143,000 On Films and Radio By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, Jan. 25. — More than $100,000 has been spent by the WPA for films and another $43,000 for radio publicity, it was revealed by Harry Hopkins, Works Progress Administrator, during recent hearings before the House Appropriations Committee made public today with the introduction of a bill appropriating funds to carry the agency through the remainder of the current fiscal year. The figures submitted by Hopkins which, specifically, are: $101,055.56 for films and $43,106.15 for radio, represent the total expenditures for those activities up to the end of last November. Sixteen pictures, ranging in length from 400 to 1,700 feet, depicting various activities of the WPA, have been made and many have been shown in theatres. Information Service Maintained In addition to the expenditure for the production of films, the WPA currently employs four persons in its information service whose duties relate to radio and films and whose annual salaries total $16,600. The Federal theatre project, at the close of last year, had 11,496 actors, directors, scenic and costume designers and others on its payrolls. These employes maintain 100 companies in 28 states and attract an average attendance of 1,214,000 persons per month. A total of 28,191 stage performances were given between Dec. 2, 1935 and Dec. 31, 1936. Sales Tax Appeal Decision Reserved (Continued from page 1) the distributors, with the appellate division ruling that the city sales tax is applicable to rentals derived from theatres located within the city limits but not to rentals originating with theatres located elsewhere. The city contends that the tax is applicable to all revenues of the film exchanges located within the city, and is appealing from the latter part of the lower court's ruling. Small Town Play on Labor Fumbles, Proves No Point (Continued from page 1) circumstance into the pivotal situation, has himself declared sheriff, locks the mills and temporarily has the situation at bay. His son, nevertheless, is killed for his pains and Tamara, the widow, offs it into the night, grief-stricken but apparently determined to champion the cause of labor in a more fruitful clime. The play and its argument prove nothing. It is true Mitchell seemingly ends the fracas, but, while that gives the play by George Brewer, Jr. an excuse on which to conclude, as plain as the nose on your's or anybody else's face is it that here is not even the beginnings of a solution for the social problem presented. Largely much ado about something timidly advanced and then not solved, "Tide Rising" seeks to demonstrate that the rights of the white-collared class, so often ignored, stand ahead of both the vested interests and the labor groups. Seeks to demonstrate this, we said, but does not. Mitchell, returning to the stage after seven years in Hollywood, does a nice enough job within the limitations his part foists upon him. Tamara strives for the fire which you might expect would imbue a loftyplaned labor organizer, but fails. Seeing her again last night revived memories of "Roberta" and suggested that musical comedy, not the drama, might be better geared for her temperament. The others in a long cast were alternately satisfactory and just plain acceptable. Frank McCormack, in a gruff comedy bit, was a highlight in a part which looked as if it had been padded for laugh purposes. The laughs" were there, if the character did appear blown up beyond its proper girth in the construction of the play. Italian Film Gains Achieved During '36 (Continued from page 1) of 350-400 features as against 237 released in 1935-36 and 316 in 1934-35. During the earlier year 285 of the total were foreign and 31 Italian, and in the more recent period 201 were foreign and 31 Italian. American product still dominates the Italian field, and is extremely popular with all types of Italian audiences. The successful conclusion of negotiations for the continued importation of American product, which was in danger for a time as a result of the Government monetary policy on the exportation of funds, has been greeted with enthusiasm by film interests here. The 1936 total imports of American product to Italy were 101, but in the closing three months of the year there were only 18, with only two in December. Indicative of the popularity of American product is the instance where "Mutiny on the Bounty" did extremely well in spite of increased admission prices at the Corso Cinema to a top of 14 lire as against a usual price of eight to 10 lire. Show "Rainbow" Abroad Hollywood, Jan. 25. — Harry Leason, sales manager for RKO in Europe, has arranged special trade showings of "Rainbow on the River," in Paris today, in Vienna on Jan. 27 and in Stockholm on Jan. 29. Kraska Gets French Film Boston, Jan. 25. — The American distribution rights to "Beethoven," French film, have been acquired by George Kraska, manager of the Fine Arts here. London Architect Dies London, Jan. 16. — Bertie Crewe, 74, architect of the Tivoli, Piccadilly, Phoenix and many other famous British entertainment places, is dead here. Wall Street Board Losses Continue Lightly Net High Low Close Change Columbia 38 37^ 3754 — Vs Consolidated 554 5j4 554 — Vt Consolidated, pfd. . 17VS 17J4 1/% — 54 Gen. T. Equip 3354 33 3354 + Vi K.-A.-O., pfd 110 110 110 Loew's, Inc •. 75 7354 — 54 Loew's, Inc., pfd.. 109 109 109 —1 Paramount 2754 26% 2654 — Vi Paramount 1 pfd.. 188 188 188 —23/t Paramount 2 pfd. . 24S/e 24*4 245-6 — 54 Pathe Film 10 95£ %i V% RKO 854 854 854 —Va 20th Century-Fox. 3754 37 37 — 54 20th Century, pfd. 47 47 47 + % Universal, pfd. ...101 101 101 Warner Bros 15^ 1554 15^i Warner, pfd 6854 68 68 —154 Fractional Curb Movement Net High Low Close Change Grand National . . 45| 354 3^—54 Sentry Safety . ... PA VA VA. Sonotone 2lA 2 2% — % Technicolor 22 2154 2154 — 54 Trans-Lux 454 4H 454 + Vt Universal Pict. ... 17 17 17 +1 Little Bond Activity Net High Low Close Change Loew's 354s '46.... 100^ 10O54 100^ — % Paramount B'way 3s '55 7454 74 74 —1 Paramount Pict. 6s '55 10054 10054 1005i Warner Bros. 6s '39 wd 10054 100 lOOJi (Quotations at close of Jan. 25)