Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

Friday, July I, I9J8 MOTION PICTURE DAILY OperatorsWho Locked Booths Win Jobs Back (.Continued from page 1) n -^jiated with Joseph D. Basson, pT^Jftlent of Local 306, also provides tnSi on Nov. 1 a new agreement will be signed granting another 50 per cent increase, which, according to the union, will bring the theatres' scales up to the level of other similar houses. Though the Appellate Division ordered the circuit to pay the total amount of back salaries, amounting to $4,000, this was compromised at $2,000, to be paid in 40 weekly installments of $10 per projectionist, starting Oct. 1. On June 6 the circuit asked for a stay of the enforcement decree given by Judge S. I. Rosenman. The labor board agreed to a stay provided the circuit would post $10,000 bond. This was refused and the settlement thereupon was negotiated. The case was the first in the local industry to come before the labor board for adjudication and is regarded as setting a precedent. The theatres involved, operated by the Interboro Circuit, are the Island, Mollis ; St. Albans and Linden, St. Albans, the Laurelton and Little Neck. Members of the Empire State union have been employed in the theatres since the Local 306 men struck 10 months ago. The operators to be reinstated are Fred Metzger, John McGrath, Thomas Bennett, Lloyd Ford, Franklin Royal and Edmund Balsdon. Jenkins Back in Seattle Seattle, June 30. — Frank Jenkins has returned to this city as manager of the Montlake, foreign film house in the Herbert Rosener circuit. Wall Street Stocks Have Light Slump Net Open High Low Close Change Col U% 14 1354 1VA + 54 Col. pfd.... 33 33 33 33 Cons 154 154 154 154 + 54 Cons. pfd... 754 754 7 7 — 54 E. K 174 174 169 16954 — 54 E. K. pfd... 166 166 166 166 +1 G. T. E 14J4 1454 135-6 1354 — 54 Loew 5254 52§4 4954 4954 —V/s Para 11 11 1054 1054 — 54 Para. 1 96 96 94 95 — }4 Para. 2 1154 1154 1154 1154 Pathe 5% 554 554 554 — 54 RKO 254 254 254 254—54 20th Fox . . 2454 2454 2254 2354 — 54 W. B 654 654 654 654 — 54 W. B. pfd. 3554 3554 3 5 35 Curb Continues Rise Net Open High Low Close Change G. N Va 7/16 54 7/16 +1/16 Monogram 254 254 2}4 254 4 54 Sonotone .. 154 154 154 154 + 54 Tech 23% 24 2354 2354 — 54. Trans -Lux 254 2J4 254 254 Univ. Corp. 3 3 3 3 + 54 Bonds Close Higher Net High Low Close Change Keith 6s 46 87 87 87 +1 Loew 354s '46. ...100 9954 9954 — 54 Para. B'way 3s '55 61 61 61 — 54 Para. Pict. 6s '55 94 9354 9354 + 54 Para. Pict. '47.... 77 76 77 +2 RKO 6s '41 6754 6654 6654 + 54 W. B. 6s '39 75 74 74 —1 (Quotations at close of June 30) Hollywood Preview "Meridian 7-1212" (20th Century-Fox) Hollywood, June 30. — "Meridian 7-1212" is the initial picture in the "Roving Reporter" series. In theme, it follows an established idea. Melodrama, romance and comedy are the standby ingredients. It is the story of a newspaper man who turns detective to solve a crime. While mystery and suspense have their place in the general scheme, a couple of novel twists have been inserted to give the film a degree of difference. Although there is considerable dialogue and a lot of comic gagging, there is no lack of action and several times the film attained a point of excitement that had the preview crowd sitting on the seat edges. The principal new features introduced are the facts that the title is the number New Yorkers dial when they wish the correct time and in this instance the murderer contrives to have it serve as his alibi. The girl who helps the reporter solve the mystery is a bill collector by avocation. With framed circumstantial evidence putting Robert Kellard on the spot for a murder he did not commit, thus bringing sorrow to his phone operator sweetheart, Jean Rogers, who announces the time, Michael Whelan, accompanied by his cameraman stooge, Chick Chandler, leaps into the case with the idea of righting a wrong, showing up the cops and trapping the real killer. Shortly he has Gloria Stuart on his neck attempting to collect a bill, but he quickly wheedles her into helping him. Chasing a complicated chain of clews, Whelan eliminates Douglas Fowley, gangster, from suspicion, saves Lester Matthews, a banker, who had a motive for killing the girl, and in the climax leads the police to the murderer, Peter Lynn. Thereafter there is time for romance with Miss Stuart. The film is generally well acted. Though some of the gagging is repititious, the melodramatic mystery content has a fresh quality. Jerry Cady adapted from Irving Reis' original story and H. Bruce Humberstone directed. Running time, 60 minutes. "G." (Additional Reviews on Page 7.) Burkhardt Feted by Providence Friends (Continued from page 1) Fay, James T. Fay, Bernard E. Fay, Garrett Byrnes, John Hawkins, Thomas Median, William Spragg, Martin Toohey, William Brown, Sidney Kane, Abe Spitz, Edward Reed, Archibald Wilverman, Antonio Romano, Sam Kaufman, Albert J. Clarke, Morris Druker, Abraham Lipson, Ralph E. Snyder, David Falk, John Carroll, Herbert Allard, Dave Hochreich and Edward McBride, who succeeds Mr. Burkhardt as manager of the State. Shirley Honored at Chicago Chicago, June 30. — Industry members to the number of 125 today paid tribute to Sam Shirley, retiring M-G-M executive, at a testimonial luncheon at the Blackstone Hotel. The speakers included Edward Saunders, Robert Workman and Clyde Eckhardt. Present also were M-G-M branch managers from Milwaukee, Indianapolis and Minneapolis, John Friedl of Minneapolis and Barrett Kiesling of Hollywood. Mr. Workman presented a gift from the M-G-M exchange employes in his territory to Mr. Shirley, and Mr. Eckhardt presented to both Mr. and Mrs. Shirley wrist watches from their Chicago friends. Laudatory telegrams were received from Nicholas M. Schenck, Tom Connors, William Scully and others. Aglietti to Remodel San Francisco, June 301. — Paul Aglietti, who recently purchased the 400-seat Roxie in Sacramento from Louis Frederici, will remodel at a cost of about $20,000. Portland Theatres Told to Stop B. N. (Continued from page 1) other form of game, but the past six months have seen its revival. Hamrick-Evergreen has been practically forced to use Bank Night for its own protection. Mr. Bain is expected to start a test case immediately if giveaways in their various forms do not stop here. Bank Night Licensed Alliance, O., June 30. — The City Council has passed an ordinance imposing a license of $7.50 per week on each theatre using Bank Night and an assessment of 10 per cent on the winner. Three theatres operated by Tri-Theatres, Inc., are affected. Set Canada "Sheik" Deal Columbia Pictures of Canada, Ltd., will distribute "Son of the Sheik" throughout Canada, including Newfoundland, in accordance with a deal signed yesterday with Emil Jensen, president of Artcinema Associates, Inc. Australian distribution rights for the same film have been purchased by Stuart Doyle. ITOA Warns on Tieups The I.T.O.A. has issued a warning to member theatres to be careful in signing for merchant tieup schemes. It is charged that "fast talking salesmen" are operating and that the tieups fail to work out as represented, creating ill feeling among patrons and neighborhood merchants. A number of theatres have recently participated in a bicycle giveaway stunt. Conciliators May Disregard Legal Opinion (Continued from page 1) in view of the accepted fact that the conciliation plans under way are obviously in the interest of betterment of the entire industry, there would be no question of violations of statutes. Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox and chairman of the distributor committee just formed to proceed with conciliation plans, once remarked that if anything constructive were to be done, it would have to be without the services of the attorneys. He referred to their rigidly conservative attitude. Indicative of the reactions of attorneys on the matter is the opinion of Tryree Dillard, who was counsel for the NRA film code administration, and who, since the invalidation of the NRA, has been a member of Loew's legal staff, in charge of adjudicating exhibitor contractual matters. M-G-M Ready, Says Dillard Mr. Dillard pointed out that MG-M executives are ready and willing to adopt a conciliation program, but so far no formula has been found which, in the opinion of attorneys, will protect the company against lawsuits by aggrieved exhibitors. The danger, said Mr. Dillard, arises from the fact that if company representatives serving on a board act concertedly in any matter, the complainant, if he feels the decision has injured him, may go to court with a conspiracy suit. At least, that is the advice of interested counsel and the point which has not yet been answered to their satisfaction. "Since the NRA was held unconstitutional by the Supreme Court three years ago, the industry has been seeking a formula which would solve many of the problems which constantly need adjudication," Mr. Dillard declared. Small Exhibitors Complainants The majority of the complaints come from small exhibitors whose business means little to a major company but who, collectively, may influence the course of legislation through their local Congressmen, Mr. Dillard pointed out. It is this type of grievance which the industry seeks to avoid, he added. He also pointed out that the two major causes of complaints are not within the distributors' power to remedy. These are overbuying and unfair clearance, which, Mr. Dillard said, are both exhibition practices and can be remedied by the exhibitors concerned. With regard to clearance and zoning, it is Mr. Dillard's belief that if a board should set up a plan which in its operation imposes a hardship on any exhibitor, he might attempt to find a solution through a lawsuit with possible conspiracy implications. Vickerey Is Promoted Piittsburgh, June 30. — Chester Vickerey has just been named assistant to Michael J. Cullen, managing director of Loew's Penn.