Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

Alert. Intelligent I to Picture Industry sat c tion MOTION DAILY First in FiJrn Accu and Impartial VOL. NO. 13 NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, JULY 20, 1938 TEN CENTS Independents Curious About IndustryMove An Old Favorite Returns In Impressive Modern Form By IRENE KUHN General Plan Approved for Ad Campaign Say No Invitation Issued To Help Shape Policy I* Speculation is current in the indusry concerning participation of the inlependent companies in the trade pracice program now being evolved by he major companies' committee leaded by S. R. Kent. It is presumed that the trade pracice committee will seek to include he smaller distributors, but so far no nvitation has gone out to them. Edward Golden, vice-president of Monogram, says that his company noes not intend to join the move for m industry program, affirming a relent statement by W. Ray Johnston, president, to the effect that Monogram is not subject to the problems {Continued on page 6) Conciliation May Go to Exhibitors Within Few Days The distributors' committee charged .vith formulating a plan of trade practice regulation completed its preiminary work yesterday, according to "eliable reports, and will begin its nitial meetings with exhibitor representatives in a week or 10 days. Letters asking the exhibitor leaders to :onvene here for round table discussions of the proposals are either in "•reparation now or will be before the ?nd of the week. The reports, while lacking official :onfirmation, were substantiated by he departure from the city yesterday )f A. Montague, a member of the (.Continued on page 6) WHO Files New Plea For Super-Power Use Washington, July 19. — A new ipplication for authority to use superlower has been filed with the Federal Communications Commission by vVHO, Des Moines. The Des Moines station was one of nore than a dozen whose requests for oOO kilowatts were pending before the (Continued on page 10) More Radio— P. 10 Clear skies, after days of deluge and dullness, auguring success for an old favorite, once a song hit, now a de luxe film, welcomed "Alexander's Ragtime Band" to Broadway last night. This is the first of the more pretentious of the 1938-39 big pictures, and 20th Century-Fox previewed it at the Hollywood Theatre with all the swank of a roadshow opening. It was an unusual showing for it was the first time in many years that a picture has been presented so im Hammons May Drop Shorts For Features Earle W. Hammons, president of Educational Pictures, reportedly will withdraw from the short subject production field on the completion of his releasing arrangement with 20th Century-Fox at the end of next week, and will complete arrangements shortly thereafter for entering feature production. The plans of the Educational head, while still in a formative stage, are said to contemplate the production of about 12 features annually and, in addition, may embrace production of a limited number of "featurettes," presumably the type of four-reel feature planned by Hal Roach for United Artists release. Distribution of the pictures will be either through Mr. Hammons' own company or through Grand National, should a merger with that company get court approval, it is said. A deal with Grand National might have been consummated months ago, according to report, except for the (Continued on page 6) Preparing to Merge Educational and G.N. Hollywood, July 19. — Edward L. Alperson, co-trustee of Grand National, today said that a plan for merging Grand National with Educational will be presented to Federal Court for approval under the 77B reorganization process of G.N. within 10 days following approval of the proposal by the Educational group in New York. The final plan for Grand National distribution is to provide 36 features (Continued on page 6) pressively for a single show, although 20th Century-Fox has done it twice previously in Hollywood. Those who were not in last night's gala preview audience will have to wait for the August S opening at the Roxy. Sentiment clustered 'round the opening, for "Alexander's Ragtime Band" has come a long way from a song which made a career for Irving Berlin to one of the big pictures of the year. The home office left nothing undone (Continued on page 6) Michalove to Do Australian Study for Fox Dan Michalove, assistant to S. R. Kent, president of 20th CenturyFox, will sail from San Francisco Aug. 17 on the Mariposa to make an exhaustive study of the company's affiliated theatre interests in Australia, represented by a direct investment of National Theatres in Hoyts circuit and allied groups. On his return he will report to Mr. Kent and Spyros Skouras, and on the basis of his findings an expenditure up to $1,000,000 may be made in expansion, new construction and remodeling of properties, it is understood. Hoyts is the dominant circuit in Australia. Mr. Michalove is a seasoned film and theatre man and company officials feel that his knowledge will be valuable in recommending improvements and expansion. It is planned to maintain a record of the theatre units at the home office. National Theatres' interest in Hoyts includes 87 per cent of the common stock and about 10 per cent of the B preference shares. Lloyd Picture Gets $41,000 First Week Harold Lloyd's "Professor Beware" garnered $41,000 at the Paramount in the week ending last night and is in for a second week. Monday and Tuesday business was on the upgrade. "Cowboy from Brooklyn," with a ballyhoo campaign behind it, netted $16,000 at the Strand. It was only a one-week attraction, however. "Prison Break" did $5,200 at the Rialto. "Sky Giant" opened strong I at the theatre yesterday. Majors Agree on Draft; Details to Follow General plans for the industry's national campaign to stimulate business and bring the new season's pictures to the attention of the public were approved yesterday by heads of the major companies, to whom they were presented at M. P. P. D. A. headquarters with the recommendations of the distributors' and affiliated circuits' campaign committees. The plans were drafted by the working committee consisting of Howard Dietz, chairman ; Robert Gillham and Charles E. McCarthy. Details of the campaign will be worked out by this committee in a series of meetings beginning early next week. Much of the work will be done in conjunction with the distributors' committee, headed by George J. Schaefer, and the circuits' committee, headed by Y. Frank Freeman. Members of the distributors' committee are Neil F. Agnew, Herman Wobber, William A. Scully and Gradwell L. Sears. On the circuits' (Continued on page 10) Set Cooperative Film Advertising Drive for Canada Toronto, July 19. — "Go to the Movies Week" will be held across Canada from Sept. 19 to 24, inclusive, according to N. A. Taylor, chairman of the Motion Picture Branch, Toronto Board of Trade, and a start already has been made with the establishment of a cooperative fund for advertising purposes with an initial appropriation of $1,000 from Famous Players Canadian Corp. Similarly, (Continued on page 2) Cowdin Sails Today After English Talks J. Cheever Cowdin, chairman of the board of Universal, is scheduled to sail for New York from England on the He de France today after five weeks of conferences with the company's affiliates in London. Reports that Mr. Cowdin's mission abroad was concerned with new financing arrangements for Universal are (Continued on page 6)