Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

Alert. Intelligent Adoo aiid MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in Film and 43. NO. 36 NEW YORK, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1938 TEN CENTS ^IcNinch and Wheeler Will Address NAB eorganization Report Up in Afternoon '"Washington, Feb. 13. — Addresses Frank R. McNinch, chairman of e Federal Communications Commis>n, and Senator Burton K. Wheeler, airman of the Interstate Commerce immittee, will feature the first ses>n of the 16th annual convention of t National Association of Broadisters, which opens here morrow in a Willard Hotel. The morning meeting has been set ide for formal addresses, with the organization report scheduled to me up for discussion in the afteron. In addition to McNinch and heeler the delegates will hear a welming speech by George E. Allen, (Continued on pane 10) anadians Attack 'Program Brokers" Toronto, Feb. 13. — The elimination "program brokers" or booking ents who collect 15 per cent comission was discussed at the annual meting of the Canadian Association Broadcasters which coincided with ■e hot debate on the Canadian radio uation in the House of Commons at :ta\va. The brokers were declared be an unnecessary evil, particularly ! view of the fact that the advertising encies handling the accounts of nai>nal advertisers using the air collect additional IS per cent commission (Continued on page 10) VOR Ordering New Facsimile Machines W OR has placed an order with -A. for radio facsimile equipment. Iiis additional equipment, to be deered within a few weeks, differs in number of points from the W. G. H. nch facsimile system, now being ed by WOR in experimental broadsts being conducted daily by the gineering staff of the station. The RCA system will be tested al-nately with the Finch system, so at WOR may be able to make comrisons. The order is for one transmitter and proximately 25 receiving machines. More Radio— Pp. 10-11 World's Film Theatres Now Total 89,097 Russia Responsible for Drop from Year Ago Washington, Feb. 13. — There were 89,097 film theatres throughout the world on Jan. 1, 1938, which compares with a world total of 97,379 on Jan. 1, 1937, according to a survey completed by Nathan D. Golden, chief of the Motion Picture Division of the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. The decrease of 8,282 theatres is largely accounted for by a sharp drop in Soviet Russia, according to the study. In that market, traveling theatres, workers' halls and similar places are equipped for sound pictures and are classified as film theatres. On Jan. 1. 1937, Russia claimed 34,990 theatres, of which 2,285 were wired. The following year, a decrease of 8,890 was shown there, with 26,000 operating, of which 6,337 had sound film facilities. Of the 89,097 theatres throughout the world at the beginning of this year, 62,895 were wired for sound, an increase of 7,332 wired houses as compared with the 1937 total, when there were 55,563 wired. Every geographical region with the (Continued on page 11) G. N. Reorganizing Petition Set Aside Los Angeles, Feb. 13. — Federal Judge William P. James on Friday night set aside and cancelled the order allowing a petition to reorganize Grand National Films, Inc., of New York and Grand National Studios, Inc., of California, under 77 B of the bankruptcy act and also set aside the order appointing Loyd Wright temporary trustee at conference between Philip N. Krasne, G. N. vice-president, and attorneys representing the (Continued on page 11) Hy Daab Resigns as Columbia's Ad Head Hy Daab, publicity and advertising director of Columbia Pictures for the past 18 months, resigned the post on Friday. No successor has been selected yet, according to Columbia officials. Daab was formerly advertising 'and publicity director of RKO and, prior to joining Columbia, was in the same department at Warners. His plans for the immediate future are indefinite. If 8 a Bit Rough Montreal, Feb. 13.— Mickey Isman, Warners' branch manager here, coaches an amateur hockey team that is considered one of Canada's top sextets in the "simon pure" field. He gets a great kick out of it, except for the fact that he was recently hit by a hockey stick, and as a result is wearing a broken nose. ITO A Probing Hall, Church Chance Games Members of the I. T. O. A. are gathering information on Bingo games in church and lodge halls which will be submitted to law enforcement officials in Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Richmond boroughs with the request that action be taken to stop them. The I. T. O. A. feels that the games are "unfair" competition to theatres since they draw large crowds and the neighborhood houses suffer as a result. Police officials and the district attorneys in the various counties will be asked to halt the Bingo parties on the ground that they are conducted illegally. An admission charge is made at the door, and under a ruling of the N. Y. Court of Appeals this is a violation of the state lottery laws, it was said. Theatres running Bank Night, Screeno and similar games are within (Continued on page 11) "Hurricane" to Get Fifth Rivoli Week The run of "Hurricane" at the Rivoli has been extended to five weeks, the first film to be held that long at the theatre since "Les Miserables" about three years ago. The fourthweek gross, ending Friday night, was $21,000. "Goldwyn Follies" will start next Saturday. The third week of "Happy Landing" grossed $42,000 at the Roxy. The picture will conclude a four-week run on Thursday, to be followed by "The Baroness and the Butler." "Bad Man of Brimstone" garnered $36,000 in its first week at the Capitol and business is holding up well in the second. "Of Human Hearts" will go into the Capitol on Thursday ; "A Yank at Oxford" Feb. 24, with "Everybody Sing" to follow. "The Kid Comes Back" grossed $20,165 at the Strand for the week ending Friday night. The Criterion did $8,000 with "Scandal Street" and "The River." IATSE Plans Extension of Jurisdiction Executive Board Decides To Press Its Claims San Antonio, Feb. 13. — Pressing of its aim to extend jurisdiction of the I.A.T.S.E. over all branches of the theatre and film industries has been decided upon by the executive committee in session here. George E. Browne, international president, made the announcement, but refused to enlarge on his statement. Asked whether his statement should be understood as an announcement of plans to bring Equity and the Screen Actors' Guild into the union, Browne replied: "Our statement is we will take in all branches of the business. They can make whatever they like of it." The I.A.T.S.E. already includes projection operators, cameramen, sound technicians, scenic artists, carpenters, laboratory workers, makup artists and exchange employes. The I.A.T.S.E. claims approximately 60,000 members. Browne said extension of jurisdiction would increase the membership to approximately 100,000. His union has had no difficulties with the C.I.O. and expects none Browne said. A few "malcontents" among technicians attempted recently to take branches of film workers in California into the C.I.O. , but acted (Continued on page 9) Expect No Sale Tax For Phila. Rentals Philadelphia, Feb. 13. — Although the Philadelphia sales tax still is in a formative state, it is believed film rentals will be exempt. At a session late last week an amendment was written into definitions of "sales" and "service" which stated that charges would be made for any purpose "other than exhibition," and exchangemen are protected from further taxation. In any (Continued on page 11) Commons Action Due On Bill This Week By AUBREY FLANAGAN London, Feb. 13. — The Films Bill, on which the Films Act Committee of the House of Commons has completed consideration, is expected to reach its third reading in the Commons early next week. Representatives of the producers' (Continued on page 11)