Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1938)

Alert, intelligent MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in Film and and Impartial 43. NO. 127 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, JUNE 2, 1938 TEN CENTS 1K0 Action by ind of Month, )dlum States "ells Atlas Holders that New Setup Is Near Universal to Try Unit Plan Of Production No Executive Producer If Plan Succeeds The "rehabilitation of RKO's financial structure" is expected to be comlileted before the end of the month," Royd B. Odium, head of Atlas Corp., aid in a statement to Atlas stock'iolders made public yesterday. 1 Atlas is the proponent of the RKO '.•organization plan which is now beLre a special master for creditors' |-earings. The investment company, dsn, is one of the largest individual wners of RKO securities. Mr. Odium's statement was made in connection with his report that the asset ialue of Atlas common stock declined nun $13.36 a share last Oct. 31, to ;9.444 a share currently. No dividends were received by Atlas from \KO during the period because of the ompany's reorganization proceedings, [he report noted. Only one hearing on the amended plan of reorganization for RKO has >ecn held, with the second scheduled or June 8. On the conclusion of learings before the special master the llan will go to Federal Judge William Bondy for further hearings. Super-Power Faces Stoppage by Treaty Washington, June 1. — A Congressional curb on the use of super-power may be imposed through provisions of radio treaties with other American Governments now pending in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, it was disclosed today. Prohibitions upon the use of superpower were hinted at last month by Senator Homer T. Bone, Washington, (.Continued on page 14) Over 100 Stations To Be at Hearings Washington, June 1. — More than 100 broadcasting stations will be represented at the hearings to be held next week by the Federal Communications Commission on proposed new broadcasting rules, it was dis(Coiitinued on pane 14) Universal will not appoint an executive producer to succeed Charles R. Rogers in the event current plans for inaugurating the unit production system materialize and are successful, it was learned yesterday following the arrival in New York from the coast of J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board. Mr. Cowdin spent three days at the studio in conferences with Nate J. Blumberg, Universal president; Cliff Work, vice-president and general manager of the studio, and Matthew J. Fox, vice-president. He stated on his return that the unit production plan was under consideration and left little doubt that it would be given a trial. Under the plan, all Universal producers whose records (Continued on pane 13) Circuits Will Not Start First Move In Dual Bills Row The dual on again. Harry Brandt that the I.T.O.A. to fight against aways and other customers. He bills ArmstrongRoss is reiterates his stand has only just begun double bills, givelures to the payingintimates strongly that if the "big boys" don't do something pretty soon they'll find out what a fight is. His official statement released in The Independent, official organ of the I.T.O.A., puts the responsibility for (Continued on Pane 6) More Radio — P. 14 Peskay Heads G.N. Canadian Company Toronto, June 1. — Edward J. Peskay, vice-president in charge of distribution of Grand National, has been elected president of Grand National Films, Ltd., of Canada, and Harry J. Allen, vice-president, the election of officers completing the reorganization of the subsidiary. Mr. Allen has been general manager of the Canadian company and will continue in that capacity. The com (Contiinued on pane 13) Sales Chief Dies John D. Clark Zanuck Says Film Industry Holding Own in Recession The film industry has weathered the business decline better than others "because it has made an effort to overcome bad conditions and 20th Century-Fox has not been hurt as badly as other companies because the major calibre pictures we released came at the psychological time," Darryl F. Zanuck, 20th Century-Fox production chief, said yesterday before sailing on the Normandie. Asked about the company's earning status in the first five months of this year, Mr. Zanuck said he preferred that the information come from the home office, but added that he was (Contiinued on page 13) John D. Clark Dies; Funeral Rites Friday Sales Chief of 20th-Fox Started as Salesman Schenck May Leave For Europe July 1 Joseph M. Schenck, who had planned to sail yesterday with Darryl F. Zanuck but canceled the trip, now plans to leave for Europe about July 1, he said yesterday. However, this is still indefinite. Joe Moskowitz, his assistant at the home office, will sail on the Queen Mary June 22 on his first trip to Europe^ combining business with a vacation. He will meet Mr. Zanuck abroad and return with him. John D. Clark, general manager of distribution of 20th Century-Fox and an industry veteran, died early yesterday at Mountainside Hospital, Montclair, N. J. He was 47 years old. He had been ill for several months and underwent an operation for a liver and gall bladder disorder about one month ago at the Montclair Hospital. He was thought to have been recovering, when a relapse occurred on Monday. Funeral services will be held at 3 P.M. tomorrow at the funeral parlors of Arthur K. Brown, Park St. and Claremont Ave., Montclair. Out of respect to Mr. Clark's memory the home office and all exchanges of the company will be closed tomorrow afternoon. At the hospital when Mr. Clark died, in addition to members of his immediate family, were Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox; Herman Wobber of San Francisco, who flew east a few hours before; Charles E. McCarthy, director of advertising and publicity, with Mrs. McCarthy ; Felix Jenkins, general counsel of the company ; E. W. Holmberg, Christopher Heidt and John J. McKeon. In March, Mr. Clark attended product conferences on the coast with Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the (Continued on page 2) Hearing Opens on North Dakota Law Fargo, N. D., June 1. — The hearing on the constitutionality of the North Dakota theatre divorcement law opened here today in Federal court before three judges. Presiding is Judge John B. Sanborn of St. Paul, a member of the (Contiinued on page 13) No Saturday Paper In recognition of the widespread observance of Saturdays as holidays in the summer months Motion Picture Daily will not be published on Saturdays from June 4 to September 10, inclusive.