Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

Itursday, July 7, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Dperator Cuts Held Unlikely In This Area (Continued from page 1) gs. Union spokesmen refuse to de3 what this means but the impresprevails that while there is some <mtiment to cooperate with the exJbitors, the stagehands' locals will >t agree to cuts unless the other A.T.S.E. unions here do. Local 4 scheduled to take the matter up bxt Monday. L. E. Thompson of RKO, on behalf ' the major circuits, asked the unions or conferences to discuss means of ;eping theatres in the metropolitan _ea open this summer. No word has pen received from the locals. R Harry Brandt, president of the T.O.A., has asked for concessions br the independents, with no result. Ten Stand-ins Sail I Ten Hollywood stand-ins sailed on he Queen Mary yesterday to appear n a 26-minute revue at the London 'alladium. The star-doubles, under contract to rench American Productions, are the feand-ins of Marlene Dietrich, Loretta 'oung, Mae West, Joan Crawford, ireta Garbo, Zasu Pitts, W. C. ■"ields, Victor McLaglen, Hugh Herbert and Bing Crosby. Majestic Profit High Toronto, July 6. — The annual finanial report of Rogers Majestic Corp., .td., for the year ended March 31, '938, shows the best results in seven ears. The net profit was $139,788, ompared to $129,651 in the previous ears. The net was equal to 65 cents Ler share on the combined A and B tock, compared with 60 cents last 'ear. Wall Street Short Board Gain Holds Net Open High Low Close Change I-oI 14 14-1-6 14 14% — % Uons .. VA 154 VA 154 2ons. pfd. • • 75< m 754 754 + % k. .. ..169 169 169 169 }. T. E.. .. 1454 1434 1454 14% + 'A -oew .. 50% 52 50% 51% + % ,3ara .. 10% 1154 10*6 1154 + 54 .. 9454 9454 94!/2 9454 54 j°ara. 2 ■ • H54 im 11% 11% + 54 Pathe , .. 5% 5% 5% 5% + 54 RKO ■ m 234 254 2% ;:0th Fox .. 2334, 25% 2354 25% +154 jiOth pfd. . 34 34 34 34 + 54 j.V. B. .. .. 654 6% 654 6% + % ■V. B. pfd. 35 35 35 35 Mono, in New Curb High Net Open High Low Close Change j. N 7/16 7/16 7/16 7/16 vlonogram 2% 3Vs 2% 3% + 5-4 gentry 54 54 54 54 — % Sonotone . . 134 1% 1% 1% Tech 2254 2254 2154 21% — % Trans-Lux 2 2 2 2 — 54 JJniv. Corp. 3 3 2% 2% — % Bond Activity Varies Net High Low Close Change r-oew 354s '46 100 9954 9934 — % Para. Pict. 6s '55 95 95 95 +154 -Para. Fict. '47.... 8154 81 8154 +1 N. B. 6s '39 78 7754 77% — % (Quotations at close of July 6) Republic N.L.R.B. Hearing on July 18 (Continued from page 1) complaint alleged, the workers had been notified they must join the I. A. T. S. E. by July 2. The Nylander decision followed a conference between L. C. Helm, signer of the petition ; Harland Holmden, international vice-president of I. A. T. S. E., and Harold Smith, I. A. T. S. E. business representative. Asserting that "the idea of the I. A. T. S. E. trying to take over all studio workers has been greatly exaggerated in press reports," Mr. Holmden said only eight of the 75 studio utility employes employed at Republic had been referred to in the I. A. T. S. E. manifesto and these only because in the course of their work, they had overstepped boundaries occasionally and performed services properly in the province of I. A. T. S. E. men on the lot. Mr. Helm reminded those at the conference that he is a former I. A. T. S. E. member and assured Dr. Nylander of his belief that the existing differences can be adjusted amicably in round table discussion. Dr. Nylander then set July 18 as the date for a hearing on the application or motion for dismissal of the action. Although invited to attend today's session, George Browne, president of the I. A. T. S. E., did not appear. Laboratory Closed Shop Seen by Union The resolution calling for an I. A.T.S.E. label on all films, adopted at the union's convention in Cleveland recently, "will lead to a closed shop situation throughout the laboratory industry in a short time," it is declared by officials of Motion Picture Laboratory Technicians Unions, Local 702. For the first time, the I.A.T.S.E. went on record as declaring that "film bearing the I.A.T.S.E. label be processed only in laboratories under the jurisdiction of the I.A.T.S.E." This provision was added to the "label" resolution at the request of the laboratory union. While officials of the Alliance agreed to invite Local 702 to negotiate contracts with the major companies at the basic agreement conferences which may be held this year, the union is proceeding with negotiations on its own before basic agreement revisions are discussed. Approves Compromise Referee John E. Joyce at a meeting of creditors held yesterday approved the application of Leonard Bronner, Jr., trustee in bankruptcy of the Theatre Trailer Corp., for a compromise of the claim of Mark Block, president of the bankrupt company, allegedly based on a chattel mortgage held by him on the furniture and equipment of the bankrupt. To Move Canada Office Toronto, July 6. — Because of an un: receptive attitude on the part of Toronto citizenry toward foreign films, the head office of Cosmopolitan Films, Ltd., will be moved from Toronto to Winnipeg, Manitoba, where Canadian premieres of new product released through Amkino will be presented. Decision Reserved On "Lynton" Award Federal Judge Vincent Leibell reserved decision yesterday after terminating the hearing to determine whether the report of Special Master Gordon Auchincloss awarding $587,000 damages to Margaret Ayer Barnes and Edward Sheldon against M-G-M Pictures Corp., M-G-M Distributing Corp., Loew's, Inc., and Culver Export Corp. should be confirmed, and ordered briefs to be filed no later than July 15. Judge Leibell indicated that he would not reach a final decision for at least two months and stated that he intended to consider the question during his vacation. The hearing yesterday, which was a continuation of the one held on Tuesday, was devoted to the contentions of the plaintiffs that the award should be increased to over $1,000,000. Judge Leibell indicated that he would uphold the full amount of the award if he found that the plaintiffs were correct in their argument of the law. However, he stated, if he upheld the defendants' contentions he would exercise his own discretion as to the amount which he would allow. The hearing to fix the amount of the award is based on a previous decision of the court which ruled that the defendants had plagiarized the plaintiffs' play, "Dishonored Lady" in "Letty Lynton." Court Stays Suit by Loew's Stockholder N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Peter Schmuck yesterday granted the application of Loew's, Inc., to restrain Edward M. Grossman from prosecuting his stockholder's suit against The Bank of America, the National Trust & Savings Association, Loew's and 32 directors and officers of Loew's, pending the final determination of eight similar consolidated stockholders' suits previously instituted. Justice Schmuck, in granting the application, agreed with the contention of Loew's that the multiplicity of suits was a "great and unnecessary burden and expense" and ruled that "the rights of the plaintiff are adequately protected by actions now pending." Bankrupt Ruling Upheld The Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday unanimously upheld a ruling of Federal Judge Robert P. Patterson, which expunged a claim in bankruptcy of the Electrical Products Corp. of California for $8,015 against the Orpheum Circuit, Inc. The order of fudge Patterson, made on March 30 of this year, reversed a decision of Referee Oscar W. Ehrhorn, which allowed Electrical Products' claim in full, and ruled that any right to a claim had been forfeited by the claimant. Clancy Gets Hearing Federal Judge Murray Hulbert yesterday ordered a hearing July 30 before the U. S. Circuit Court of Apneals on the appeal of Philip T. Clancy from a dismissal of his suit for $250,000 damages and an injunction against M-G-M Pictures Corp. and Robert T. Pirosch. Clancy had brought suit claiming the plagiarism by the defendants of his play, "Nuts to You," in "A Day at the Races." Warner Men to Start N.O. Meet Saturday (Continued from page 1) Charlotte, Kansas City, Dallas, Memphis, Oklahoma City and New Orleans exchanges. Mr. Schwalberg will be assisted by I. F. Dolid, assistant general sales manager for Vitaphone shorts, and Sam Shapin, playdate auditor. The local Warner office will be represented at the meeting by L. S. Connor, manager, and G. O. Briant, booker. Programs, product and selling policies will be discussed. The meeting, which will continue through Sunday, will be followed by sectional conventions at San Francisco, July 16-17; Chicago, Tuly 23-24, and New York, July 30-31. A. W. Schwalberg, Warner supervisor of exchanges ; Stanley Hatch, advertising accessories sales manager, I. F. Dolid and Sam Shapin left last night to attend the company's regional meeting at New Orleans. Dallas Case Appeal Papers Are Signed Dallas, July 6. — The distributors' appeal from the U. S. District Court's findings in the Interstate Circuit case was perfected this morning and will be filed with the U. S. Supreme Court immediately, according to George S. Wright, attorney for the distributors. The high court, which sent the case back to Judge W. H. Atwell for his findings of fact and conclusions at law last spring, is expected to hear the appeal some time in November. Judge Atwell signed the motion to appeal this morning just prior to leaving for a vacation in Europe. The appeal papers are being forwarded to Washington for filing at once. Al Christie Starts West Al Christie and Mrs. Christie, who returned last Friday from a European vacation, left yesterday for a visit with family and friends in California. Before starting West, Mr. Christie announced that he would resume production at Eastern Service studios here in the early Fall. He has produced and directed a long series of two-reel comedies at the Long Island studios in the past. Included in his plans for the fall, in addition to the usual schedule of short comedies, will be several features, all to be done here. Abend Aiding Relatives Refugee relief begins at home, believes Sam Abend of Exhibitor's Film Delivery Service in Kansas City. In the last four years he has brought over three brothers from Poland and has set them up in business in Kansas City. Yesterday he sailed on the Queen Mary to complete the importing process. When he returns he will have with him the rest of his immediate family, his mother, his sister, her husband and three children. Set "Life" Premiere The Film Division of the Theatre Arts Committee will sponsor the world premiere of "Return to Life," a film depicting the medical work and and aid in the plight of refugee Spanish children and wounded soldiers, in the Grand Ballroom of the WaldorfAstoria on July 20. Frontier Films produced.