Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

RADIO MOTION PICTURE DAILY WLW Insists Higher Power Helps Public Washington, July 21. — WLW representatives today attempted to show the beneficial results to listeners from a boost of the station's power from 50 to 500 kilowatts, testifying before the Federal Communications Commission that experiments showed that reception was materially improved at the higher power. These surveys, it was indicated, were made as part of the station's experimental program under its experimental super-power license. Gerald E. Branch, engineer in charge of the work, testified that studies made last summer indicated that six-tube sets are the most popular and that 36 per cent of the set-owners surveyed owned 1937 receivers. 94% Note Increase Experimental transmissions with 50 and 500 kilowatts in which listeners were asked to participate, Mr. Branch testified, showed that of 1,402 listeners reporting 94 per cent believed that the volume was greater on 500 kilowatts than on 50 kilowatts, while 4.8 per cent reported no difference and 1.2 per cent felt power was better on 50 kilowatts. Eighty-six per cent of the reporters said static, noise and interference was less on the higher power while 12.4 per cent found no difference and 1.6 per cent said it was great er on 500 kilowatts ; 87 per cent re ported increased clarity and quality on 500 kilowatts, 11.7 per cent re ported no difference and 1.3 per cent had better reception on 50 kilowatts. While fading characteristics show litle difference when power is changed, 85 per cent of the listeners reporting felt it was less on 500 kilowatts, one half per cent held it less on 50 kilo watts and 2.5 per cent found it the same on both powers. FTC Violation May Cause Lisence Loss {Continued from page 1) Chicago, based on a preliminary in vestigation made as a result of complaints that the station had carried advertising of certain patent medicines. The investigation, it was explained did not disclose that the advertising was in accord with stipulations entered into by the manufacturers with the Federal Trade Commission and Food and Drug Administration fol lowing action by those agencies. Crosley to Air Facsimile Cincinnati, July 21. — Crosley Radio Corp. today was granted spe cial experimental authority by the Federal Communications Commission to operate a facsimile station from midnight to 6 A. M. with 50 kilowatts from Aug. 1 to Feb. 1. Radio Personals i WALTER WINCHELL will return to the Jergen program on July 31. . . . Spencer Tracy will trade banter with Charlie McCarthy on the Maxwell House program this Sunday. . . . Mary Margaret McBride will resume her broadcasts over CBS on Aug. 1. . . . Cy Newman, WOR-Mutual expert on turf matters, will broadcast the important races at Saratoga beginning July 30. Horton on Canadian Net Montreal, July 21. — English films got a pat on the back from Edward Everett Horton when he went on the air here last night over the national network from CBM of the Canadian Broadcasting. He sails from here today in the Canadian Pacific liner Montclare, accompanied by W. D. Horton, his brother and manager, Mrs. W. D. Horton and the actor's mother, Mrs. Isabella Horton. Denies Plea of Bernie Supreme Court Justice Edward J. McGoldrick yesterday denied the ap plication of Ben Bernie to dismiss the $50,000 damage suit against him brought by George Picker, without prejudice to a later renewal of the application. Justice McGoldrick also denied the application of Picker to add the U. S. Rubber Co. and Columbia Broadcasting System, Inc., also without prejudice. Files Suit on Radio Name The Jewish Court of Arbitration, Inc., filed suit yesterday in the N. Y. Supreme Court against the Jewish Radio Service, Inc., Voice of Brooklyn, Inc., known as WLTH Radio Theatre, and Samuel J. Gellard, and asked the court to restrain the defendants from the alleged wrongful use of the name "Jewish Court," "Jewish Court of Arbitration," and "Jewish Court of Peace" in broadcasts over WLTH. Court ~|» AT j_ • WOR to Air Bolivar Fete WOR tomorrow from 2 to 2:30 P.M. will broadcast from Floyd Bennett Field the demonstration commemorating Simon Bolivar's birthday. The speakers will include Mayor LaGuardia, Carlos Davila, former President of Chile, and the consuls general of Chile, Colombia and Mexico. CBS Broadcasts Flight CBS yesterday reported an exclusive broadcast of the landing of the English pick-a-back plane at Montreal in the course of its Southampton to New York flight. The broadcast was heard locally at 11 :15 A. M., E. D. S. T. Friday, July 22. 19384 Petti john, Breen Back from Europe Start WOR Show Tonight A dramatic series called "Curtain Time" will bow in over the WORMutual network tonight at 10:30 P. M., E. D. S. T. The program originates on WGN in Chicago. Schudt on Canadian Trip Cincinnati, July 21. — William Schudt, Jr., general manager of WKRC, local Columbia owned and operated station, is on a two-week vacation in Canada. to Hear RKO ons on Sept. 8 (.Continued from page 1) company's reorganization proceedings should be concluded before the end of the year. Judge Bondy will begin a month's vacation Monday. He instructed H. C. Rickaby, attorney for Atlas Corp., proponent of the plan, to apply to Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard on July 28 for a show cause order fixing the Sept. 8 hearing and providing for the issuance of notice to stockholders and creditors. The court was advised that Mr. Alger's formal report would be handed down July 27. Meanwhile, it was indicated that Atlas will permit its option to acquire the balance of RCA's holdings of RKO securities to lapse with its expiration July 31. Atlas has until that date to obtain a six-month extension of the option by acquiring one-twelfth of the remaining securities for $500,000 cash. It was reported, however, that negotiations have been discontinued already and will not be resumed. Peter J. Rathvon, an associate and adviser of Floyd B. Odium of Atlas, will leave today on a vacation extending beyond the expiration date of the option. He has been an active figure in the negotiations. Seek RKO Allowance Price, Waterhouse & Co., accountants, yesterday applied to the U. S. District Court for an allowance of $3,500 for services in the RKO reorganization proceedings. The petition asked for the allowance for auditing the books of RKO for the first six months of 1938. Midwest Warner Men To Meet at Chicago (Continued from page 1) and Canadian branches will be represented. The following will attend the Chicago meeting : Chicago — Art Patzlaff, J. Sokley, G. Benson, H. Mandell W. Martin, J. Stinson. Cincinnati — Miss L. Schmidt, J. Brunetti, R. Smith, J. Schmidt, O. Schroeder. Cleveland — S. Kositsky, R. Salyer, H. Bein, T. Felice. Des Moines — J. Ancher, P. J. Walsh, G. C. Folsom. Detroit — F. Jene, F. Jones, J. B. Tracy, G. Rossman, J. Baringhaus. Indianapolis — H. Hays, W. Wallace, J. Sullivan. Milwaukee — B. Schwenke, Miss E. LaDuc, R. Holdom, J. Kaiser. Minneapolis — H. J. Blass, E. J. McErlane, J. Beahen, Miss G. Guimont, W. Anderson. Omaha — Miss A. Neal, S. A. Madsen, H. Martin. St. Louis — Mrs. F. Murphy, D. Edele, R. Stockkglausner. Winnipeg — D. A. Joyal, P. Cohen. "Million" Gets $32,500 "I'll Give a Million" garnered $32,500 at the Roxy, winding up the week last night. "Marriage Forbidden" went to $8,500 at the Criterion and was held for a second week. Two Weeks for "Hardy" "Love Finds Andy Hardy" is set for two weeks at the Capitol, where it opened yesterday. M-G-M reported the first day's gross exceeded the "Three Comrades" opening. (Continued from page 1) news of the Government's anti-trust suit against the industry but refused to be quoted for publication. Mr. Petti john visited Paris, Rome and Cannes. While in the Italian capital he renewed acquaintance with Vittorio Mussolini, son of II Duce. The two were shipmates whrVpMr. Petti john returned from a E\ \, can vacation last year. Mr. Breen reported his observation that American films are still high in popularity abroad despite efforts being made in European countries to improve domestic product. He visited Cinema City near Rome and was impressed. Four films were in work at the time. Mr. Breen conferred at the Hays office yesterday and then left for Philadelphia to see his brother, James J. Breen, an attorney, who is ill in Jefferson Hospital there. Fight Aids Boston Take on "Blockade" Boston, July 21. — The controversy over "Blockade" is credited with tripling normal business when the film opened here today at Loew's State and the Orpheum. Mayor Maurice Tobin, who rejected the demand to ban the film made by Catholic groups, tried to pacify them by suggesting that they see the picture. A special screening was arranged but the groups are still dissatisfied and it is said that the matter will be referred to in the churches on Sunday. Catholic support has been lined up behind Senator Thomas Burke's proposal to ban films with alleged communistic leanings. N. Y. Court Upholds Ban on Dog Racing (Continued from page 1) today held that option methods of sales is in violation of the law. Justice Russell's opinion was handed down when he refused to grant an injunction asked by Nassau and Rensselaer County operators from alleged interference by state troopers. The chances of obtaining Constitutional Convention approval for gambling is in doubt, due to a preliminary 73 to 69 vote by which the Hirshberg amendment was refused advancement last week. Name New Advisory Council in England London, July 21. — Lord Stonehaven today was appointed chairman of a new advisory committee to be formed by the Home Office relative to censorship and similar problems. The official announcement by Sir Samuel Hoare indicates that the Home Office at last is proceeding with the long-threatened advisory council, which probably will act as liaison in the administration of the laws relating to censorship and the like. Approved by U. S. Body Hollywood, July 21. — Warner Bros, have disclosed that "Racket Busters" will have the seal of the Federal Commercial Crime Commission on its main title with a line of the body's approval of the film.