Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

fiednesday, July 6, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Hf. A. Cohen Acquires Share in Belle, Inc. Max A. Cohen, president of Cinema rcuit Corp., yesterday consummated B purchase of a "substantial interc" in Belle Theatres, Inc., and armgements are being completed to erate the two circuits as one exhibitti unit, with combined buying and insmerger makes the combination r. of the important independent cir its in the metropolitan area, with a tal of 19 subsequent run and neigh ^rhood houses. Mr. Cohen said that l expansion program is under way Jjth negotiations in progress for ad tionai units. The Belle circuit, headed by Benmin Sherman, has 11 houses, all in .anhattan, operating the Bijou, osmo, Harlem Grand, Jewel, New elancey, Orpheum, Palace, Palesne, Regun and Ruby. It also has the linton on the lower East Side, which „ leased for Yiddish films. The Cinema Circuit's expansion •cently started with the acquisition the President and Devon in the ronx. This group also includes the [arris, New Amsterdam and West ind in Manhattan; Astor, Brooklyn; irospect, Bronx, and the Ritz, Lyndarst, N. J. Mr. Cohen is negotiating with the .-esent owners of the George M. ohan on Broadway for a new theatre > be built on the site. The theatre, hich Cinema Circuit operated for iars, was closed last weekend preparatory to razing the building to Make way for a new structure. ?ile 13 Copyright Suits Against Long Copyright infringement actions have een filed by seven distributors against .ouis F. Long and the managers of 3 of the houses of the Louis F. Long Circuit in Arizona, the Copyright Pro;ction Bureau reported yesterday. Bills of complaint in the actions .harge that about SO features were ; bicycled" without authorization from "ne distributor complainants, it was taid. The defendants, it is alleged, lave the unlicensed exhibitions in the jpwns of Benson, Willcox, Eloy, Flornce, Sonora, Solomonsville, Pima, K)uncan, Ray, Hayden, Bowie, Superior and Coolidge, all in Arizona. The flaintiffs include 20th Century-Fox, ritagraph, Universal, United Artists, Columbia, Paramount and RKO. The efendants have until July 11 to file nswers to the complaint in the U. S. )istrict Court for Arizona. BThe Copyright Protection Bureau tated that the investigations leading _ o the filing of the action resulted from ~omplaints from exhibitors received by -os Angeles branch managers. Resources Unit Asks Films Contribute to Relaxation Washington, July 5. — A "real contribution to human spontaneity, relaxation and imagination, and a measure of fidelity to the characters and events portrayed" was demanded of the motion picture industry tonight by the National Resources Committee in a report to President Roosevelt on the problems of changing population. Foreseeing that the United States within 50 years will reach its peak population of approximately 158,000,000, the committee, in its report, discussed the sociological, economic, cultural and other problems which must be met within that time to assure the best level of living and culture for the generations to come. The cultural significance of motion pictures and radio at present is obscure, the report stated, but "there appears to be a strong trend toward standardization, more or less at a dead level of artistic production, but there is also clear evidence of important movements in the direction of experimentation and diversity." The major development in the history of the picture has been the perfection of technique, it was said, but "one thing that the commercial cinema has almost never done is to experiment in the realm of ideas. "The path established as successful is the one the industry seeks to fol ow. It is perhaps better that the major emphasis in film-making should continue to be the purveying of entertainment, rather than that a conscious effort should be made to mold public opinion. Nevertheless, experiment with ideas and concepts is possible, and might be financially successful." The cultural significance of the radio is in many ways more complex than that of motion pictures, the committee commented. So far the major cultural force has been for the most part developed and directed as an instrument of sales promotion, but its cultural values have not been wholly neglected, and have been accepted by the industry as "an important, though necessarily secondary, consideration." "The radio has, to be sure, recognized diversity and to some extent furthered it ; but this development is somewhat impeded by the sheer magnitude of the audiences reached," it was pointed out. "The cinema is much more clearly a force tending toward cultural standardization. Both are instruments of mass communication, with primary emphasis on immediate entertainment. They may not crush individual initiative and spontaneous group enterprises, but they cannot be relied upon to bring new perspectives, or to provide for harmonious individual development." Rose Here Today to Discuss Para. Plans (Continued from page 1) for the company's producing plans abroad. It is expected that definite plans will have been set within a week or 10 days. Mr. Rose will sail for London thereafter to complete his organization of Paramount's British production company. Indications at present are that Paramount's production in England will be handled by outside producers this season, with a possibility of the company doing its own production abroad thereafter. To Honor Harrison A committee of 100 is being oranized to commemorate the 20th aniversary of the publication of Harison's Reports by Pete Harrison, "he sponsoring committee, which will onsist of Mr. Harrison's friends repesentative of every branch of the ldustry, has opened offices in the I.KO Building, with George Dembow ;f National Screen as chairman, Carles C. O'Reilly. W. A. Steffes nd Dr. Alfred N. Goldsmith. Lewen 'izor of Philadelphia is also serving. | banquet or similar function is lanned. Billboard Regulation Seen Likely in N. Y. Albany, July 5. — Growing belief that the constitutional convention will adopt an amendment restricting highway billboards was strengthened tonight with publication of a letter directed by Robert Moses, chairman of the highways, parkways, and grade crossings convention committee, to William E. Beehan, counsel to the General Outdoor Advertising Co. Sharply worded, the letter adjudged bill board companies had made a "serious mistake" in their fight against regulatory statutes. Chairman Moses stated to Beehan that "long experience in public work" convinced him "regulation by agreement, and if necessary by law," is advisable. Stating that the industry should exhibit "a little statesmanship," Moses said "if, in the not distant future, there is really drastic regulation of bill boards, you will only have yourselves to blame." Four amendments providing for regulation of advertising along public highways are pending in the convention. Settle Theatre Strike Milwaukee, July 5. — The strike of projectionists at the Grand, local neighborhood house operated by A. C. Gutenberg, has been settled, according to Oscar Olson, secretary of Local 164. The terms were not announced, although they were said to be favorable to both sides. Shirley's Next Titled Hollywood, July 5. — "Just Around the Corner" will be the permanent title of Shirley Temple's next for 20th Century-Fox. Empire Will Release 107 Films in Canada Toronto, July 5. — For the coming season Empire-Universal Films, Ltd., Toronto, will distribute in Canada a total of 107 features, eight serials and shorts, according to W. A. Perry, general manager. The films will be from Universal, Republic, G. B. and Educational. The Canadian distributor has picked 12 from G. B. as suitable for the Dominion, including "To the Victor," "They Came by Night," "Climbing High" and "Asking for Trouble." Frank Fisher, former office manager of the Toronto branch of Empire-Universal Films, has been named eastern district supervisor with headquarters in Montreal. Previously Mr. Fisher had been branch manager at Calgary. Succeeding him at Toronto is Ben Plottel, from the sales staff, while Joseph Palansky, salesman at the Winnipeg branch, has been transferred to Toronto. Robert Simmons, formerly with Paramount Film Service at Winnipeg, is now with Empire-Universal at Winnipeg. Set Convention Dates Toronto, July 5. — The annual convention of eastern managers of Famous Players Canadian Corp., Toronto, will be held in the King Edward Hotel here, Aug. 24-26, while the western district convention is scheduled for Sept. 7-9 at Jasper, Alberta. Both meetings will be attended by N. L. Nathanson, president, who is now in England. Equity Turns Down Request from Pathe (Continued from page 1) of Philip Loeb and E. J. Blunkall. Robert T. Haines, Ruth Richmond and John Lorenz were named to serve on Equity's committee for New York World's Fair participation in the absence of Burgess Meredith, Edith Christiansen and other members of the committee. Union Sponsors Concerts A series of 10 municipal band concerts is being sponsored this summer by Local 802, American Federation of Musicians, and Mayor F. H. LaGuardia, at various recreational centers in the city. The first will be held tonight in Greenpoint. Ware to London Films London, July 5. — John Ware, formerly at the Teddington Studio of Warners, has been named studio publicity manager of London Films. Film Company Formed Dover, Del., July 5. — Film Corporation of America, which plans to make 26 films for Grand National, has been incorporated here with a capital of $100,000. Herman B. Freedman is the principal. The Corporation Fiscal Co., Inc., is agent for the firm. Allied at Asbury Park The first of a series of short meetings Allied of New Jersey will have this summer will be held at 1 o'clock today at the Berkeley Carteret, Asbury Park. Wall Street Short Declines Mark Board Net Open High Low Close Change Col. .. 1454 .. 3354 14% 3354 14 1454 + Vi Col. pfd.. 3354 3354. + 54 Cons .. 154 1% 154 154' + 'A E. K. .. ..17054 17054 169 169 —1 G. T. E. . .. 1454 1454 14 1454 + 54 Loew .. 5254 5254 5054 51 -154. Loew pfd ..106 106 106 106 —154 Para .. nVi 11*6 105/1 11 54 Para. 1 95 95 95 95 —2 Para. 2 12 12 1154 115/6 — Vi Pathe 6 6 5M 554 — Vi RKO .... .. m 2f4 24i 25/s Vi 20th Fox .. 2m 243/6 2354 237/8 — Vi W. B. .. 6?4 654 654 54 Curb In Light Drop Net Open High Low Close Change G. N 7/16 7/16 7/16 7/16 +1/16 Monogram 2% 2% 2Vs 2V» — Vi Sonotone ..154. 1J4 1?4 1M Tech 23% 23Vi 2254 2254 — 54 Trans -Lux 254 254 2% 254 Univ. Corp. 3 3 3 3 Para., RKO Bonds Rise Net High Low Close Change Loew 354s '46. . . . 99% 99% 99% — Vi Para. Pict. '47.... 8054 8054 8054. 4-154 RKO 6s '41 72 71 71 W. B. 6s '39 77 76 77 4-1 (Quotations at close of July 5) I I