Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, February 16, 193 MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) Vol. 43 February 16, 1938 No. 38 MARTIN QUIGLEY Editor-in-Chief and Publisher A-MIKE VOGEL, Editor J. M. JERAULD, Managing Editor JAMES A. CRON, Advertising Manager m Published daily except Sunday and holidays by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc., Martin Quigley, president, Colvin Brown, vice-president and Publication OfBce: 1270 Sixth Avenue at Rockefeller Center, New York. Telephone Circle 7-3100. Cable address: "Quigpubco, New York." All contents copyrighted 1938 by Quigley Publishing Company, Inc. Address all correspondence to the New York Office. Other Quigley publications: MOTION PICTURE HERALD, BETTER THEATRES, TEATRO AL DIA, INTERNATIONAL MOTION PICTURE ALMANAC and FAME. HOLLYWOOD: Postal Union Life Building. "Vine and Yucca Sts. ; Boone Mancall, Manager. CHICAGO: 624 S. Michigan Ave.; C. B. O'Neill, Manager. WASHINGTON: Albee Building; Bertram F. Linz, Representative. AMSTERDAM: 87 Waalstraat; Philip de Schaap, Representative. BERLIN: Steulerstrasse 2, Berlin W. 35; Joachim K. Rutenberg, Representative. BUDAPEST: 3 Kaplar-u, Budapest II; Endre Hevesi, Representative. BUENOS AIRES: Avallaneda 3949; N. Bruski, Representative. COPENHAGEN: Vesterbrogada 20; Kris Winther, Representative. HELSINKI: Fredriksgatan 19C; Charlotte Laszio, Representative. LONDON: 4 Golden Square. W. 1; Cable address. Quigpubco, London; Hope Williams. Manager. MELBOURNE: Regent Theatre Buildings, 191 Collins St.; Cliff Holt, Representative. MEXICO CITY: Apartado 269; James Lockhart, Representative. MONTEVIDEO: P. 0. Box 664; Paul Bodo, Representative. MOSCOW: Petrovski Per 8; Beatrice Stern, Representative. PARIS: 29 Rue Marsoulan; Pierre Autre, Rep PRAGUE: Uhelny trh 2. Prague 1; Harry Knopf, Representative. RIO DE JANEIRO: Caixa Postal 3558; L. S. Marinho, Representative. ROME: 54 Via Delia Mercede; Joseph D. Ravotto, Representative. SANTIAGO de CHILE: Casilla 13300; A. Weissmann. Representative. SHANGHAI: Rooms 38-41; Capital Theatre Building, 142 Museum Road; J. P. Koehler, Representative. STOCKHOLM: Kungsgatan 36; Ragnar Allberg, Representative. TOKYO: 880 Sasazuka. Ichikawa-shi, Chiba-Ken; H. Tominaga, Representative. VIENNA: Neustiftgasse 54 Vienna VII; Hans Lorant, Representative. Entered as second class matter January 4, 1926, at the Post Office at New York, N. Y.. under Act of March 3, 1879. Subscription rates per year $6 in the Americas, and foreign $12. Single copies: 10 cents. Fair Practice Code Proposed by Equity The Actors' Equity Council yesterday proposed that the League of New York Theatres draw up a code of fair practice, after which Equity would consider the league's request to negotiate a basic agreement with Equity for one or two years. The proposal was made at a meeting at which a group of managers asked for a preferential agreement that would give league members certain concessions as a wedge to force outside managers into the league. The proposed fair practice code would cover ticket speculation, among other things, and would seek to increase attendance and runs of plays. Cohn, Montague West Hollywood, Feb. 15. — Jack Cohn, Abe Montague and Abe Schneider of Columbia will arrive here Thursday at the request of Harry Cohn to discuss the 1938-'39 product plans. Whitney Coming East Hollywood, Feb. 15. — John Hay Whitney will leave the end of the week for New York on business connected with Selznick International. F.W.C. Managers In Contest by MGM Hollywood, Feb. 15. — M-G-M is sponsoring a campaign among Fox West Coast circuit managers serviced by the M-G-M exchange for the best grosses and exploitation for "Of Human Hearts." Prizes will go to the manager who garners the best gross for the run of the picture as compared to the best grosses for the last three years, second prize to the manager with the best exploitation campaign, and third prize for the booker in whose division the highest gross award is run. Judges will be Larry Kent of Fox West Coast and Clayton Lynch, manager of the Los Angeles M-G-M exchange, for the grosses ; Frank Whitbeck and Howard Strickling of the studio, for the exploitation. Revamping Ampa Ad Awards to Come Up A plan to revamp the method of making the Ampa advertising awards will be discussed at a closed business meeting of the membership at the International Casino tomorrow. Plans for the organization's annual affair and what it shall consist of will also be discussed. The members will also be asked for their opinion on whether the 'advertising awards, which have been made the past two years, shall be dropped. Some of the members feel that the awards should have greater significance, it was said. Ampa officers have decided to leave the matter entirely to the members and have requested a large attendance at tomorrow's meeting, which will start at 12 :45 o'clock. Managers Union Pickets The first action of the Theatrical Managers', Agents' and Treasurers' Union against a film house was taken yesterday when pickets were posted at the Arena, a Consolidated Circuit house on Eighth Ave. between 41st and 42nd Sts. The union claimed that the manager, Sol Schwartz, was discharged last week after he joined the union. Laurence Bolognino, head of the circuit, said the man was dismissed for other reasons. Honor Mark Twain Today A plaque honoring Mark Twain, author of "Tom Sawyer," today will be dedicated by David O. Selznick at 14 West 10th St., the little red brick house where the novelist lived following the death of his daughter in 1910. Many at Allied Party About 100 New Jersey exhibitors and exchangemen from New York attended the beefsteak dinner and card party sponsored by Allied of New Jersey at the Ritz restaurant in Passaic, N. J., last night. Christie to Start Comedy "Beautiful But Dummies" is the title of a Marcy Klauber-Art Jarrett comedy which will go into production next week at the Eastern Service Studios under the direction of Al Christie. U. S. Court Upholds Copyright Decision The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals, on reargument, has affirmed a decision in favor of Bud Wilkie of Hollywood against Santly Bros., music publishers, and Bernice Petkere, involving copyright infringement of a song. The suit was heard in the U. S. District Court here originally, the decision was upheld by the Circuit Court and the U. S. Supreme Court and then sent back to the Circuit Court for reargument on motion of the plaintiff. Affirmations were given in all instances. Louis Nizer, counsel for the plaintiff, said this was the first instance to his knowledge that a case had been reheard in the Circuit Court after a decision in the U. S. Supreme Court. It was alleged that the melody of "Confessing" was infringed in the song "Starlight." Damages are to be computed by a referee. Commons Group Asks Stronger Film Bill By AUBREY FLANAGAN London, Feb. 15. — The British Government has been petitioned by 128 members of Parliament, headed by Sir Adrian Baillie, asking that the Films Bill, which shortly will go before the House of Commons for a third reading, should be strengthened. It was indicated by the group that the purpose behind the move for added strength in the bill is the protection of the domestic film industry against foreign domination. Seek Negotiations On Mexican Demands All major company home offices yesterday instructed their representatives in Mexico City to endeavor to negotiate an amicable settlement of the Mexican film exchange workers' demands for wage increases of 35 per cent of the maximum salaries now being paid to any exchange worker. The Mexico City exchange employes' union has threatened a walkout unless the demand is met by noon today. Indications are that no major company will withdraw from the Mexican market as a result of the present situation. Harvey on MPTOA Board H. V. Harvey, new president of the I.T.O. of Northern California, has been named to the board of directors of the M.P.T.O.A. as the representative of the former organization. Harvey succeeds Morgan A. Walsh, who represented the California organization on the national board for several years. No other changes on the board of the national organization have been made, according to M.P.T.O.A. headquarters here. To Welcome Ted O'Shea Local exhibitors will tender a welcoming luncheon to Ted O'Shea, new M-G-M district manager who has succeeded William Scully, at the Hotel Astor on March 23. Fined for Sunday Show Portland, Me., Feb. 15. — Charles Kellerman, manager of Keith's here, today was fined $10 by Judge Harry C. Libby in municipal court for having conducted a film show on Sunday. Recent attempts to legalize Sunday shows in Maine have failed. Hold <(Girl Was Young" G. B.'s "The Girl Was Young" has boosted the Criterion gross this week and will be held for a second stanza, beginning Friday. i Purely Personal > y FRANK FREEMAN, Para A • mount theatre head and Austi: C. Keough both remained in Florid after the recent Paramount theatr meeting in Miami. They are expect' back within the next two or th% days. • Tommy Kelly and Ann Gilli; juvenile stars of "The Adventures c Tom Sawyer," have been booked b the Music Hall for a week of per sonal appearances beginning Wed nes day. • Jess Gourlay of the Warner ar department, who recently broke hi leg, is back at the home office. He i managing to navigate with the aid o crutches. • Susan Haywood, New York fash ion model, has been signed by War ners on the coast. Miss Haywoo formerly was known as Edythe Mar riner. • Ernest V. Heyn, executive edito of Macfadden Publications, has gon> to the coast to look for a new wester: editor to act as his assistant. • Sam H. Meinhold, Loew's theatr supervisior in the metropolitan area observed his 70th birthday Sunday He has been with Loew's 34 years. • Spyros Skouras returned by plan, last night about nine hours behinc schedule due to the grounding of thi airliner at El Paso. • Lamar Trotti, 20th Century Fo> writer, is en route to the coast. H< was here to gather material for "Ellis Island." • Leo Spitz, RKO president, anc Sam Dembow, Jr., among the noonday diners at the Mayan yesterday. • W. Ray Johnston, Monograrr president, is due in from the coast today. • Walter and Mrs. Reade left lasl night for Florida. ■ ONE AIRLINE takes you through Southern Sunshine TO CALIFORNIA • Turning South out of New York, American's route takes you quickly into Tennessee's friendly climate. Continues down to Texas and then across the sunny plains and deserts of the Southwest to California . . . OVERNIGHT! Nature designed this all-year, greater comfort route ... and American uses it! For reservations call your travel agent or VAnderbilt 3-2580 AMERICAN AIRLINES