Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1937)

Alert, Intelligent the In In All Branches MOTION PICTURE DAILY The Leading Motio Picture Industry VOL. 41. NO. 51 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 3, 1937 TEN CENTS NRA Chiefly Aided Labor Report Finds Unfair Trade Practices Not Suppressed By CLARENCE LINZ Washington, March 2. — Success of the NRA efforts lay largely in the improvement of the condition of labor rather than in the suppression of unfair trade practices, according to a report of the President's Committee on Industrial Analysis appointed 11 months ago to study the accomplishments of the recovery codes. The report was transmitted to Congress by President Roosevelt together with a brief message in which he declared that a study of it will point the way to the solution of many vexing problems with regard to legislation on the subject. Various trade practice measures taken under the NRA accomplished certain specific and useful things, but they usually were of limited scope, the committee found. Chiefly, it was held, the NRA gave business men the experience of working together in an effort to adjust differences and formulate a common policy for the general good of the entire industry. "If industry should again be confronted with a similar problem, it would not attempt to get quite so much in the way of protection against (Continued on page 3) Allan Messer Named To G.B. Directorate London, March 2.— Allan Messer, a director of the Equity and Law Life Assurance Co., has been elected a director of Gaumont British. It is understood here in informed quarters that the election of Messer to the board may result in a voting deadlock between the Ostrer and John Maxwell factions of the board. It was pointed out that when Isidore Ostrer was named chairman of the (Continued on page 8) Week's Pact Ending; Lee Seeks Renewal George W. Weeks' contract as general sales manager of G.B. expires May 1. He admitted this yesterday in commenting upon current reports that he would leave the company, but added he could not announce his future plans at this time. It is understood Arthur A. Lee, however, is negotiating to renew the deal. Quite a Feat The Chicago wire yesterday bristled with this one: "As a result of foot injury yesterday, Gypsy Rose Lee is now doing her 'Follies' strip tease number sitting down." Unionizing Moves on In Boston Exchanges Boston, March 2.— -A. F. of L. representatives will meet at Payne Memorial Hall this week in an effort to organize poster clerks, inspectresses, rewinders, shippers and similar employes into a single union. More than 100 such workers, at a meeting held a few days ago, agreed to request an A. F. of L. charter. John L. Lewis' representatives have been in the district, trying to organize a C. I. O. unit. This action precipitated the opposition attempts, it is said. Exchange heads generally maintain a non-committal attitude. One told Motion Picture Daily that inasmuch as unskilled labor would be involved by the action, there would be 100 ready to step into any job vacated by a member of the proposed union. Approve New Trade Group in England By BRUCE ALLAN London, March 2. — More than 100 British producing executives approved the formation of a new trade organization at a meeting today at the offices of the Federated British Industries. The probable name of the new association will be the Film Producers' Ass'n, and it is expected to include five sections : producers, studio owners, shorts producers, newsreels and laboratories. A committee was appointed, con (Continued on page 8) FILM BUYS MOVE UP BY 2 MONTHS Depositions Ready On Ohio Playdates Cincinnati, March 2. — Paxton & Seasongood, attorneys for RKO Distributing Corp., have completed taking depositions in the fight against the state's anti-preferred playing time law. Defendants have until March IS to complete theirs. Both sides will have two weeks thereafter to file briefs in the Federal statutory court hearing the case. S. & C. -Empire Deal To Date from Jan. 31 Under terms of the 10-year deal signed Monday between Springer & Cocalis and Empire State union, the contract is retroactive to Jan. 31, last, it was learned yesterday. The circuit has the right to cancel the agreement after five years. Slight increases have been granted to operators in a number of the 38 theatres, it was stated at the circuit's headquarters yesterday. The raises, (Continued on page 8) Drop Sherman Bail In Union Fund Case Judge John J. Freschi in General Sessions yesterday discharged the cash bail of $7,500 that had been posted by Harry Sherman, former head of Local 306, after his indictment for grand larceny. The indictment was made on May 18, 1936, charging him with larceny of $150,961.75. money allegedly belonging to the union. The bail was (Continued on page 8) New National Air Network Is Reported in Formation A new national radio network may be launched within the next few months if plans sponsored by prominent radio, civic and financial figures and now reputedly nearing completion, are successfully culminated, it was learned yesterday. Tentative arrangements for an initial station lineup are reported to have been made and discussions with the F. C. C. at Washington have been conducted by the sponsors, it is said. Richard C. Patterson, former executive vice-president of NBC, and Dr. Stanley High, head of the Good Neighbor League, are reported to be the principal factors behind the project. Goldman, Sachs & Co. is said to be financially interested. None of the principals could be reached for comment on the plans (Continued on fage 6) More Radio News — Pages 6-7 FWC-20th-Fox Deals Get Going March 9 with Others to Follow Film buying this season will be moved up two months over last year, according to indications among major circuits. Last year preliminary negotiations between distributor and affiliated theatre representatives started in May. This year the talks between buyer and seller will get under way March 9. First of the important product conferences will be held on the coast between National Theatres and 20th Century-Fox. The negotiations will involve about 400 theatres and are expected to last more than a week. Spyros P. Skouras, William T. Powers, Edward Zabel and Milton Hossfeld, all of National Theatres, will leave tomorrow for Los Angeles where they will meet John D. Clark, general sales manager, and Herman Wobber, western division head for 20th Century-Fox. Clark has left Miami, after a vacation there, for the coast, while Wobber is already in California. Although J. J. Sullivan, Fox West Coast film buyer, has attended previous buying conferences, his illness will prevent him from sitting in on the 20th Century-Fox talks. George Balsdon, assistant to Powers, also will be absent from the meetings. He is recuperating slowly at St. Joseph's Hospital, Stockton, Cal., from injuries suffered in a recent automobile accident. After Skouras finishes setting product deals with all distributors he may take a vacation trip to Europe. May Consider Films Act in This Session London, March 2. — Walter Runciman, president of the Board of Trade, declared in the House of Commons today that it should not be assumed that action to amend the Films Act, which expires in 1938, would not be (Continued on page 8) New Nebraska Taxes Are Aimed at Films Lincoln, Neb., March 2. — Senator A. L. Miller today suggested the raising of additional money for relief by the imposition of a tax on cigarettes, liquor and theatre admissions. This suggestion is in addition to (Continued on page 3)