Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

day, September 16, 1938 MOTION PICTURE DAILY L S. Stand on tome's Decree ^o Be Decided (Continued from page 1) '•niation, it is believed, the major T^butors will decide whether to en£ distribution to the newly created hllC, the government controlled moil picture distributing body, or withinfrom the Italian market. \mong those at yesterday's meeting e. in addition to Colonel Herron, re Sam E. Morris, Warners ; l-thur Loew, Loew's ; John W. cks. Paramount ; Arthur Kelly, fiited Artists; J. A. McConville, lumbia, and E. Y. Lombard, 20th ntury-Fox. J. H. Seidelman of niversal, who returned to New York sterday from a five-month Euroan visit, was unable to attend the •eting. Phil Reisman, RKO foreign manner, is in Paris attending the sessions ere on the Italian situation. Fred linge, Paramount continental mailer, and Harold Smith, M.P.P.D.A. oresentative on the continent, also £ sitting in at the meetings there. Hicks and Mr. Loew plan to sail r Europe on the Queen Mary next ednesday. Admit Gravity of Terms 'Foreign managers were quick to mit the gravity of the terms of the w Italian decree, some regarding it a virtual expulsion of the American mpanies from the Italian market NIC will have its headquarters in ome and will control film importa an and distribution in the Italian lonies and possessions, as well as at •me. As published, it became effec e W ednesday. However, one of the tides regarded as being inexplicit, dicates that a period of grace may granted. In any event, the Ameri i companies are given 10 days in hich to declare the contracts which ey now have in effect in Italy. They e given the choice of submitting Hch contracts in terms of performance he designated by ENIC or of sur ndering the contracts to the government body. If they are not inclined do either, the decree states that the re free to cancel the contracts . . ithout indemnity." Only Warners, Loew's, Paramount id 20th Century-Fox have their own anches in Italv. The Newsreel Parade The European crisis, of course, held the attention of the newsreels and the current issue points up the situation pietorially. The victory of Senator Tydings in the Maryland primary also aine in for zcide coverage. The reels and their contents follow. MOVIETONE NEWS— Sudeten crisis. Speed racer in Utah. MacMillan returns from Arctic trip. Governor Allred opens Texas bridge. College girl fashions. Corrigan arrives on coast. Colonel Lindbergh in Moscow. New zeppelin ready to take off. Maryland steeplechase. California grid players in training. Ski champions star in Australia. NEWS OF THE DAY — Crisis in Europe. Lindbergh in trip to Russia. Tydings beats New Deal purge. Unique school trains debutantes. N. Y. U. works out for new football season. Long shot wins Maryland steeplechase. PARAMOUNT NEWS — Corrigan reaches California. Small business has its say in meeting. Colonel Lindbergh in Russia. Incoming liner brings record crowd. King Zog celebrates anniversary. Marathon typists in competition. The Sudeten crisis. Bob Hope plays 10 golf games at once on he coast. RKO PATHE NEWS— Corrigan reaches California. Senator Tydings renominated. Michigan prison model for nation. American skippers take trophy. Spawning salmon aided by man. Congressman Barton turns "sinner." Crews work to save swamped wheat. Jai Alai. new game, hits New York. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL — California celebrates admission day. Czech crisis. Bridge dedication in Texas. Tydings wins in Maryland. Georgia candidates. Hoop skirts are back. Makes auto record try in Utah. Motorcyclists try Washington hill climb. Wrestling match in ice cream is staged. Warners Win Poster Rental Decision Here (Continued from page 1) action against certain practices of the renters which appeared as copyright infringement of posters, stills and other material. The competition from the renters has affected the distributors' accessory revenue considerably, chiefly Paramount and Warners, which have a rental arrangement of their own. The ultimate outcome of the case will affect more than 40 poster renters throughout the country. turns' Pact Is Extended Hollywood, Sept. 15. — Bob Burns' •ntract with Paramount has been exnded for another year. Four films e scheduled for the comedian. Paramount Houses Helped by Drive (Continued from page 1) papers generally being that this unified effort of the industry could bring only good was worthy, therefore, of unreserved praise," campaign headquarters reported. "All papers stressed the excellent effect the success of the drive would have on business in general," it was said. The newspaper summary also showed that the campaign slogan, "Motion Pictures Are Your Best Entertainment," furnished the theme for many of the editorials. Other editorial themes were the patriotic value of the industry to the nation ; Hollywood's pioneering work in a new and typically American art form ; Hollywood's leadership in world film production ; the value of films as entertainment for the masses and the influence of films on American life and world markets. Campaign headquarters was advised by W. S. Caldwell, chairman of the Toledo Theatre Managers' Association, that more than 50,000 "Quiz" booklets have been distributed in that city, indicating that one-sixth of the population has entered the contest. "Following the insertion of the latest national advertisement the requests for booklets have increased noticeably," Mr. Caldwell reported. The managers of 31 Ross Federal Service branch offices and their field representatives were instructed yes terday to offer their services to the chairmen of local campaign committees and to contribute their efforts in every way possible to the success of the drive. "U" 20%-50% Ahead Abroad— Seidelman (Continued from page 1) but said he was to attend a meeting of foreign department heads at which the matter will be discussed. He visited Italy on the survey he just completed. Universal's sales and revenue boost in Europe is due to the Deanna Durbin and Danielle Darrieux pictures, Mr. Seidelman said, and chiefly in France is Miss Darrieux a favorite. She was given a great welcome when she returned to Paris following the completion of "The Rage of Paris," and remained there to make two films. She is due back here soon. Mr. Seidelman visited every Europeon country but Russia. All was quiet in Prague when he was there for several days, he said. He was accompanied by his family. H. C. Miner Named Century President (.Continued from page 1) dent of the company since its inception upwards of 25 years ago. Mr. Miner has been in the theatre business some 50 years. He comes from a family of theatre operators, his father, Henry Clay Miner, Sr., having been identified with Miner's Bowery Theatre and a number of other earlyday houses. it Ten Tons of 'Em Omaha, Sept. 15.— A Nebraska exhibitor heard that 331,000 "Movie Quiz" booklets had been distributed in the Omaha territory and remarked: "That's a lot of booklets." "A lot of booklets? You're telling me," replied D. V. McLucas, who is handling the Omaha campaign work. "It's exactly 10 tons of booklets!" Campaign Increasing Oklahoma City Takes Oklahoma City', Sept. 15. — First run grosses in Oklahoma City houses are showing a definite upturn since the start of the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign. Total first run business in the past week was, successively $18,500, $18,200, $21,900 and $21,000 against a weekly average of $17,200. Circuit operators and independents throughout this territory are taking an active part in the drive, with an estimated $25,000 in ad sales accessories and "Movie Quiz" contest booklets already disposed of through the local Warner exchange. U" Is Negotiating For Feature Cartoon Hollywood, Sept. 15. — Cartoon Films, Ltd., cartoon producers, is negotiating with Universal for the making of a feature length cartoon. Completion of the deal awaits the arrival here of Matthew J. Fox, Universal vice-president, now in New York. The cartoon company plans to start building its own studio shortly for increased production. It already has produced a series of four cartoons for British release. New Deals to Raise Republic's Revenue (.Continued from page 1) and has obtained better representation in important key cities and the larger circuits for 1938-'39 than since its organization, it was said yesterday by James R. Grainger, president, before he left by train for the coast. After conferring with Moe J. Siegel, executive producer, at the studio, Mr. Grainger will make a tour of exchanges in Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Seattle, Denver, Salt Lake City and Minneapolis, returning here about Oct. 15. Omaha Pledges $3,905 Omaha, Sept. 15.— A total of 127 exhibitors in the Omaha district has pledged $3,905 toward the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign. This does not include 45 circuit houses. D. V. McLucas, U. A. exchange manager, expects about 135 exhibitors to sign pledges of over $4,000. A total of 331,000 "Movie Quiz" booklets has been distributed. English Exports Gain London, Sept. 15. — Exports of exposed positive film from England during August totaled 2,016,558 feet, an increase of 342,935 feet over August, 1937. The imports of exposed positive film totaled 13,235,154 feet, a decrease of 473,948 feet from August, 1937. MPPDA Directorate To Meet Here Today {Continued from page 1) executive, to membership on the M.P.P.D.A. board of directors as the representative of that company. He succeeds Harry D. Buckley in the post. Expected at today's meeting are Barney Balaban, Paramount; Jack Cohn, Columbia ; Sidney R. Kent, 20th Century-Fox ; Nate J. Blumberg, Universal ; Albert H. Warner, Warners ; Nicholas' M. Schenck, Loew's ; Mr. Silverstone ; Earle W. Hammons, Educational-Grand National ; Leo Spitz, RKO; Carl E. Milliken, secretary, and Frederick L. Herron, treasurer. Quiz Interest Is High Seattle, Sept. 15. — Keen interest on the part of theatre patrons in the $250,000 "Movie Quiz" contest was reported here from all parts of the territory by exhibitors attending a meeting of the M.P.T.O. of Washington. Most exhibitors reported they are distributing more contest booklets than they had anticipated before the campaign began.