Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

September 6, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY n. Bioff, Browne Jide, Quits IATSE (.Continued from page 1) Iged here by Harland Holmden rtarold V. Smith, international lis in cnarge of studio locals, s personal aide to Mr. Browne, Bioff figured prominently in the 0 labor picture. He obtained for bcreen Actors Guild the 10-year 1 shop contract with producers later broke off friendly relations tne actors organization which is an American federation of Labor ate. He entered into last year's erated Motion Picture Crafts ;e, effecting a settlement of the ute after which several of the cing organizations were admitted the I.A.T.S.E. fold, ast Sept. 11, as Mr. Bioff's last or piece of activity for the T.S.E. on the coast, he issued the ■natum of the I.A.T.S.E. for come jurisdiction over all workers motion picture production, inling actors, writers and directors, ch latter crafts have their own irate organizations. The ultium, however, has not been pushed, vhen Mr. Bioff was here he was omplete charge of west coast studio ils as Mr. Browne's right hand No reason was given for his gnation. oxy to Get "Suez" Late in September Suez," 20th Centurv-Fox produci, will have its world premiere at Roxy late in September, before ional release Oct. 28. \s a result of the success of "AlexJer's Ragtime Band" at the Roxy e, 20th Century-Fox will hereafter e all the big Zanuck features a rid premiere at the Roxy. 'o Film Jap Occupation The March of Time has obtained •mission from the Japanese Govmieiit to photograph activities in Japanese occupied war zone in ina. Louis de Rochemont, producer. 'fi Victor Jurr mis, diiector. and Paul >rsey, color photographer for Time, the area. They sailed yesterday on e Tatsuta Maru from San Francisco Yokohoma. Merriam, Shaw Issue Drive Proclamations Hack Gets New House Wilmington. Sept. 5. — L e w i s ack. manager of the first run W'arr AWine, has been appointed maner of the company's new $660,000 'arner under construction downtown ie house will be opened Dec. 26. It ill seat 2,000. No successor to ack at the Aldine has been chosen. ■ J. Vanni, zone manager, said. 1KO Buys 2 for O'Brien Hollywood, Sept. 5.— RKO has jrchased as starring vehicles for eorge O'Brien "No Law in Shadow alley," by W. C. Turtle, and "Stage oach Stops at Pinon Gulch." bv ernard McConville. Los Angeles, Sept. 5. — The State of California and the City of Los Angeles have officially taken cognizance of the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year drive. Gov. Frank F. Merriam and Mayor Frank L. Shaw nave issued separate proclamations urging widespread support. .Meanwhile, organized labor played its part by featuring in today's parades huge banners on floats, the banners reading "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment." The proclamation issued by Governor Merriam stated : "Aggressive action has ever been the tradition in the film industry. It is therefore particularly fitting that the industry assume leadership at this time and display its confidence in general business conditions by presenting this series of unusually fine productions. "For years the motion picture industry has played an important part in American life. In view of these sentiments, now, therefore, I, Frank F. Merriam, Governor of California, do hereby proclaim the period of Sept. 1 to Dec. 31 as Greater Motion Picture Period in California and urge the people of this state to cooperate with the film industry sponsoring various celebrations which will be held throughout the state." Shaw Lauds Film Quality The Shaw statement declared: "Whereas, the motion picture industry in all of its phases occupies the principal position in interest and activities of our city ; and, whereas, the City of Los Angeles, world-renowned as the capital of the motion picture industry, has a special obligation to support and encourage the advancement of motion picture production as a science, as an art, as an industry and as a medium of public entertainment and education ; and, whereas, studios of this metropolitan community are about to release a program of motion pictures that will establish new high standards of quality and appeal ; now, therefore, as Mayor of the City of Los Angeles, I do hereby urge upon you all due observance of and participation in this event." Robert H. Poole, executive secretary, I.T.O. of Southern California and Arizona, has returned from NewMexico and southern Arizona where he went in the interests of the drive. He reported 100 per cent cooperation of independent theatre men. Larson Kanin Re-Signed Hollywood, Sept. 5.— RKO has tken up the option of Garson Kanin ecause of his direction of "A Man t jemember." Kay Sutton and Jane yoodworth, actresses, also have been jiven new contracts. Reports on WeekendShow Good Response Unprecedented nationwide public interest has been stirred in the campaign, it is indicated in returns from theatres in the field over the Labor Day weekend. Reports from nearly ^00 theatres indicate that the early supply of "Movie Quiz" booklets is practically exhausted, with close to 20,000,000 already given away. The wide civic cooperation achieved is indicated in the fact that mayors of 150 cities have already or will shortly issue proclamations designating "film week," or otherwise offered personal cooperation with the local drives. The governors of several states also have issued proclamations. Newspaper coverage likewise has been generous, with free advertisements and other material appearing in a score of newspapers in various parts of the country. Following the endorsement of the drive by George Browne, president of the I.A.T.S.E., unions over the country have cooperated with floats, parades and the like. Charles Skouras, in Los Angeles ; A. M. Bowles, San Francisco ; H. G. Fitzgerald, Milwaukee ; Rick Ricketson, Denver ; Frank L. Newman, Sr., Seattle ; W. R. Lynch, Miami ; Myron N. Blank, Des Moines ; George Zeppos, Wheeling, W. Va. ; Harry L. Nace, Phoenix, Ariz. ; William K. Jenkins, Atlanta, and Vincent R. McFaul, Buffalo, all reported to headquarters by wire that the drive had aroused enthusiastic public response, reflected at the box-office. Warners Issue Three "Daughters" Series Marking a new departure in film exploitation, Warners have planned three distinct types of campaigns on "Four Daughters," each campaign adaptable to the population limitations of the situation in which it is used. The pressbook, just out, describes first, the "all type" campaign for discriminating audiences in cities of 1,000,000 and over ; secondly, exploitation adaptable to cities of medium size and, finally, a campaign for small towns and for houses where straight "movie" copy is most useful. Fannie Hurst, author of "Sister Act," from which the film is adapted, will attend the openings in four of the 35 key cities where the picture is scheduled to play. "Quiz" Booklets Go Fast in Washington Washington, Sept. 5. — There is a heavy demand here for "Movie Quiz" booklets. Ten of the pictures in the contest have been played downtown and five more are now on the screen. A "Go to the Movies" week, with elaborate exploitation, started yesterday. In spite of radio's critical attitude toward the drive Frank La Fake and his publicity committee are trying to get the cooperation of local stations. "Drums" Widely Shown As part of a nationwide campaign U. A. is presenting a series of trade showings of "Drums" at which public officials and club representatives have been present in addition to circuit heads and showmen. The film has been screened to date in Washington, Milwaukee, Norfolk, Boston, Chicago and Baltimore. Additional showings are set for Minneapolis, Kansas City, St. Louis, DPc Moines, Atlanta, New Orleans, Philadelphia and Detroit. Mexican Business Good Mexico City, Sept. 5. — Film theatres in the Federal District, in which is located this city and which has a population of about 1,400,000 took in 12,475,700 pesos (approximately $3,500,000) last year. Some local houses did their best business in half a decade in 1937. Malcolm Closing Deal Chicago, Sept. 5. — Joe Malcolm and John E. Browne of MalcolmBrowne Pictures, will arrive here today to complete final details of their sales program. Grosses Leap On Broadway Over Weekend (.Continued from page 1) ihird week of "Sing You Sinners" and Phil Spitalny better than the second, and "Letter of Introduction" drew $8,JU0 to the Rivoli over the holiday. The Capitol, with "Three Loves Has Nancy," reported 24,000 attendance yesterday. Other reports: Criterion, "10th Ave. Kid," biggest weekend in a long time ; Rialto, "Blockheads," very good ; Globe, "Safety in Numbers" and "The Gladiator," big improvement. The Brooklyn Paramount, which dualled "Four's a Crowd" and "Bulldog Drummond in Africa," said it nearly doubled last year's holiday figure. Loew's State, playing "Love Finds Andy Hardy" second run with a stage show headed by Ed Sullivan, drew more than 50,000 persons over the weekend, expecting better than $40,000 for the week. The Astor, roadshowing "Marie Antoinette," said the third weekend equalled any since the start of the run. "Quiz" Strong in Roxy Broadway first runs reflected scenes which were enacted over the weekend at nearly 9,000 box-offices throughout the United States and Canada which are participating in the drive. The Music Hall had an initial supply of 100,000 contest booklets and reported yesterday that it was preparing estimates for a second order. The Roxy estimated that it had distributed close to 25,000 booklets from the start of the drive up to last night. Irving Lesser, Roxy manager, expressed genuine enthusiasm over the interest displayed by patrons in the contest. The Loew's Broadwav houses, the Capitol, Astor, State and Mayfair, virtually exhausted an initial supply of booklets over the weekend. The same report was made by the RKO Palace. The Paramount, Rivoli, Strand, Criterion and other Broadway houses participating in the drive reported that the number of booklets distributed over the weekend exceeded their advance estimates of booklet requirements by from 15 to 30 per cent. The Broadway committee which is devising plans for a public demonstration to add impetus to drive results in the midtown houses are completing plans for a "Hollywood on Broadway" celebration, involving theatre and street decorations and special promotional activities. Freeman Enthusiastic Y. Frank Freeman, head of Paramount theatres, revealed that early reports from the company's operating associates in all parts of the countrv described keen public interest in the contest and immediately beneficial box nffrp results Hp rp'qtP'-l +>-i->< -all nn erators mentioned the relatively few booklets which were discarded by patrons, even at houses in which they were distributed to all comers rather than only to those who requested them. Interest in the contest, he Domted out, signifies repeat patronage from the contestants.