Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

friday, July 15, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY Around the Country Hughes Back audit Rained Newsreel Men at Airfield 'i+tsburgh Doyle White, who is "em cee" for ^DKA's "Round-Up" program, is c from Noblesville, Ind., where he rried Mary Ellen Young. . . . The Bernie Armstrongs and the Pat 'rfaleys, all of KDKA, leave soon for i vacation in Denver. They'll do their veekly network broadcast from there. . . The "Night at the Inn" show, ;ponsored by Old Shay Ale, has been lropped from WCAE after 70 ;traight weeks. . . . Charles Steinlauser, son of the Press radio editor, s home for the summer from Wichita Jniversity and is working at Wariers' Ritz Theatre. . . . G. Dare Fleck ia> resumed his weekly book review jrogram on KDKA after a six-week I iuspension. jan Francisco San Francisco, July 14. — Bob Roberts, former KYA manager, is io\v account executive at KJBS. . . . Brown & Williamson Tobacco Corp. las placed "Avalon Party," translibed half-hour variety, on KPO for 52 weeks. ... Ed McCallum, onetime KYA manager, has returned from Hollywood to enter the radio agency business here. . . . Announcer Hal Gibney is subbing for Benny Walker is master of ceremonies on KPO's daily Women's Magazine, during Walker's vacation. . . . KSFO is plugging for sponsorship for Dick Aurandt's organ novelty, "Nickelodeon Nightmare," featuring a radio revival of early film music. . . . Lee Scott's band has been replaced at Sweet's Ballroom by Don Mulford's • crew, with broadcasts over KYA.... ^Cranston Chamberlain, KFRC producer, is passing out cigars. It's a hgirl! Les Malloy, KGGC press chief, has been advanced to assistant production boss. . . . Jack Lyman is back on KPO's production staff, after a month with the radio department of the 1939 exposition, laying groundwork for -pickups from the fair next year. . . . Leon Mojica's band has returned to El Patio Ballroom (KPO), after six months in southern California spots. . . . Martha Demeter of the "Blossom Time" cast is now singing nightly over KSFO with Leighton Noble's orchestra, from the Palace Hotel. . . . Major Burdette Palmer, exwar aviator, is conducting a weekly school on 1 aviation on KYA. (.Continued from page 1) stuff in the can and en route by air express during last night, and it may be accepted as a fact that there was no loss of time between shooting and canning. It happened as fast as science and skill could possibly make it happen. The newsreel editors dared not take a chance on the roads from the field to their laboratories. Paramount sent a last batch of film by motorcycle straight in from the field, but the early material was flown from Bennett to the Newark Airport, then came by motorcycle to the New York laboratory. Universal also flew the stuff to Newark, and from there to the lab at Fort Lee, N. J., by motorcycle. Movietone News, News of the Day and RKO Pathe flew their film from Bennett to Holmes Airport in Jackson Heights, Queens, and rushed it by motorcycle and automobile into town from there. The RKO Pathe material hit the office on 45th St. in town at 3 :55 P.M. Air Express Used All of the reels followed the procedure of rushing the Hughes material out to all accounts by air express last night at the earliest possible moment, in most cases to be included in the regular issue which was shipped as usual on Wednesday night. In some cases, the regular issue went out short in length, to be filled in with the Hughes material to follow. A peculiar situation resulted from the amazing speed maintained by the flyer. The reels received notice of pictures taken at various spots en route, but could use none of them, because before the films could be received in New York, Hughes himself had completed his flight, making way station shots obsolete. Cheerio on for 10 Weeks San Francisco, July 14. — Cheerio, NBC's inspirational philosopher, will broadcast from here for 10 consecutive weekends, starting next Sunday, over KPO and a nationwide red network, at 11 E.D.S.T. During the summer series Constance Cummings, formerly at KGQ, Portland, will be soloist. Renew Gr enter's Contract Ben Grauer has been engaged for an additional 13 weeks as announcer of the Lucky Strike program on the NBC-Red network. McConnell, Solomon Start New Company Record Pictures Corp. has been formed with Fred McConnell, well known film executive, as president and Benjamin W. Solomon, secretary, to handle a limited number of releases. The company will release "about four outstanding independently made productions each year," Mr. McConnell said. Physical distribution will be through Monogram exchanges. Concentration Sought Mr. McConnell said the reason for the limited number is to concentrate on individual films, "thereby assuring the maximum financial return to pro ducer and exhibitor." The com pany's staff will consist of men ex perienced in sales and exploitation, he added. The first release is Walter Futter's "Dark Sands," which will open at the Rialto in August. The second will be "The Gang Show," Herbert Wil cox production, being edited for fall release. Mr. McConnell will handle the sales from his office in the Paramount building. Bruce Gallup has been named advertising and publicity director. Cooperation Attesting the cooperative spirit of Howard Hughes with the newsreel men, it was disclosed yesterday that Hughes last Friday made a special flight around New York for the benefit of the newsreel's foreign accounts. The reels split the taking of the takeoff and short flight, consolidated the material into 1,000 feet, 200 per reel, and Hughes himself took the film to Paris on the first leg of his flight. He handed it to Major E. E. Aldrin in Paris, his agent, who distributed the films to the agent of each newsreel. Dupes were made and the foreign accounts serviced — with a picture account of the Hughes takeoff, delivered by Hughes himself. Denies Trust Probers Seek Prosecutions (Continued from page 1) its information in a much easier manner by the methods it habitually follows. It was made clear, however, that if in the course of the committee's investigation facts are unearthed which can later be used in cases, the department will not hold them inviolate, it being pointed out that under the law the Attorney General is required to use such information as may be laid before him. Sees Great Value; In Kennedy Speech {Continued from page 1) session today discussed the new rules for theatre operation of the London County Council and warned that they would mean fewer inexpensive seats. The session protested the interference with business and declared that a test case will be sought as soon as possible. Mr. Fligelstone, reporting on the dual bill situation, said the problem could best be solved without the assistance of the distributors. Vague hints were given of a lack of unity in the C.E.A. committee negotiating with the K.R.S. group, but Mr. Fligelstone claimed the circuits are backing the independents in the effort to solve exhibitor problems. Thomas Frame, branch chairman, presided. The luncheon meeting was attended by Reginald Stamp of the London County Council. Ezell to Distribute New 'Pay Day Night9 C. C. Ezell yesterday signed a contract for national distribution of "Pay Day Night," owned by Bill Rice Productions of Chicago. The deal starts today. Mr. Ezell said that what makes this business stimulator attractive is that it is "clear of legal entanglements." It involves a tieup with stores. Mr. Ezell, who is an independent film distributor in Dallas and formerly was general sales manager for Bank Night, will handle sales on the new game on a territorial basis. Sales headquarters will be in Dallas. Myers Asks Cut on Short Deliveries (Continued from page 1) ington to assure Government officials, including the President, that the motion picture business is capable of regulating itself. "We suggest the performance would be more impressive if these executives stopped yelling at each other in the trade press and accounted to the exhibitors for the pictures they promised but did not and apparently will not deliver this season. "It would be easier to believe that a new day is at hand if the major distributors, instead of relying on a technical provision of the standard exhibition contract, explained frankly to their customers why these 86 pictures were not made or are being withheld and made an adjustment of film rentals commensurate with the savings effected by the distributors by this juggling of product." One of "Many Situations" Mr. Myers further suggests that the matter be taken up by the distributors' trade practice committee which is formulating an industry program, as one of the causes of friction between exhibitors and distributors. This is "just one of the many situations in the motion picture industry that is crying for correction," the bulletin declares. "It is emphasized now because it is pinching the exhibitors right now. We hope that it will receive the attention of Messrs. Hays, Schenck, Balaban, Warner, Spitz, Schaefer, Blumberg and Cohn." Present 3,000 "Orchids" About 3,000 "Algerian orchids" were distributed to New York women in leading restaurants and night clubs yesterday as an exploitation stunt for the Music Hall opening of "Algiers." A card reporting the picture's opening accompanied each flower. It was one of Monroe Greenthal's stunts. Expect Guild Deal To Be Signed Soon The closing of Screen Actors' Guild contracts with all commercial studios in Chicago and Detroit is expected within the next few weeks, according to Mrs. Florence Marston, eastern head of the guild, who returned to New York yesterday from meetings with producers in both cities. Mrs. Marston said that all theatrical locals in Chicago and Detroit were cooperating with the guild in its effort to obtain recognition. Lee Curley was designated Chicago representative of the guild and 'at the present time is conducting the organizing drive in the city. L