Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Friday, September 23, 193 MGM Not to Force Shorts, Rodgers Says (Continued from page 1) said he would write the sales heads of all other major companies to determine "whether they will continue this practice." Mr. Rogers' letter declared that the company prefers to sell to theatres that offer an outlet for the entire program and that it is "a natural desire" on the part of the sales staff to persuade theatres not using shorts to alter their policy in order to buy them, but "in such cases we do not make it conditional that short subjects be leased in order to secure our feature attractions." Expect Short Representation The letter further stated that "in those cases where short subjects are used, we, of course, expect the account with whom we are dealing also to give us representation on our shorts." Mr. Cohen said, in answer to an exhibitor's query, that this policy will "absolutely not" affect the cost of features and was inclined to believe that where exhibitors have already been persuaded to buy shorts they cannot absorb, they can ask M-G-M for adjustments. Whether this is the case could not be determined at M-G-M yesterday because of Mr. Rodgers' absence with Tom Connors, division manager, in Toronto. They are due back this morning. The clarification of M-G-M's policy arose from a luncheon discussion Mr. Cohen and Harry G. Kosch, Allied counsel, had with Mr. Rodgers early this week, after the M-G-M sales department had insisted that he buy the entire shorts schedule in negotiating a deal for his Cinema and Belle Circuits, Mr. Cohen said. Also, this practice was complained of by many exhibitors at a recent Allied meeting in Syracuse, he added. Brandt Pledges Cooperation Harry Brandt, president of the I.T.O.A., pledged the cooperation of his organization in cooperating with the Allied unit on matters affecting all exhibitors. The promise was brought by David Weinstock and was also given in a letter from Air. Brandt which was read by Mr. Cohen. The first instance of cooperation will be resistance to the anti-chance game crusade of the Society for the Prevention of Crime, which last week caused the arrest of the house staff of the Jewel Theatre in Harlem on lottery charges. The case will be heard Oct. 4 in Magistrate's Court. Richardson to Charlotte W. M. Richardson, Atlanta sales man for Universal, has been named branch manager at Charlotte. He replaces J. M. Hobbs who has been made branch manager at Oklahoma City. Equity Will Meet Today The quarterly membership meeting of Actors Equity Association will be held at the Astor this afternoon. New York Reviewers Like Marxes in "Room Service 99 The New York daily newspaper critics liked the Marx Brothers in their latest, "Room Service'" and said so in their reviews, from which excerpts follow . Herald Tribune — . . . Entertaining burlesque. . . . The supporting company is fine. Journal American — Wild-eyed comedy. . . . Kept moving at a lively clip. . . . It's fast, loud and funny. Mirror — For sheer hooligan hilarity the Brothers Marx surpass themselves. The most substantial of their mad vehicles. Netvs — ■ ... A laugh from beginning to end. . . . The farce moves at an amazing speed . . . screamingly funnv lines. Post— ... A riot . . . loaded with laughs. . . . Hilarious entertainment. . . . Funniest among current movies. Sun — ... Is really funny. . . . Good Marx fun. . . . Gallop through it in their own lunatic style. Times — ... A thoroughly daffy show. ... A skylark and a comedy to be laughed at. World Telegram — ... A continuously diverting and at times hilarious entertainment. . . . The Marxes keep one in stitches with their antics. More Pledges in From Independents (.Continued from page 1) as more and more "Movie Quiz" contest pictures become available to subsequent run theatres throughout the country. Fan magazine cooperation with the campaign will be evidenced with the appearance of October issues. Contest banners on covers, tag lines on advertising pages, stories and pictorial material on the campaign, as well as editorial comment, are scheduled to appear in these publications within the next few weeks. In addition, many of these magazines will contribute complimentary campaign advertisements and will distribute thousands of newsstand and delivery truck posters advertising the drive and prize contest. "Paris" Captures Medal Universale "The Rage of Paris" has been awarded a medal for excellence of interpretation by the Sixth International Cinematographic Exhibition, meeting in Venice, according to J. H. Seidelman, vice-president in charge of foreign activities. Barr Shifted by N, S. S. Chicago, Sept. 22. — Percy Barr has been named manager of the local office of National Screen Service. Herbert Washburn has gone from Milwaukee to take Mr. Barr's place in St. Louis. Arnold Conference Will Be Set Today (Continued from page 1) operating companies from enlarging their theatre holdings pending determination of the Federal anti-trust suit. It is expected that the Government's attitude toward the industry's projected trade practice plan and an exchange of views on a consent decree will also figure in the session. John J. Kelly of the U. S. Marshal's office here filed a return in U. S. District court yesterday showing that service in the suit had been completed on 83 of the defendants residing in this Federal judicial district. Hays Board Decides To Meet Next Week (Continued from page 1) ing awaited. Foreign department heads will meet here again as soon as new information has been received. All members of the M. P. P. D. A. board who attended the meeting last week, with the exception of Earle W. Hammons and Sidney R. Kent, who are in Hollywood, were present at yesterday's meeting. Reopen at Watervliet Watervliet, N. Y., Sept. 22. — Sam Milburg reopened the Family Theatre here tonight. It has been renovated both inside and out with new seats, new display signs and a new booth. The Newsreel Parade The continuing European crisis and the American Legion's annual coivvention in Los Angeles were the chief items of interest in the new issues of the nezvsreels, out yesterday. The reels and their contents follozv. MOVIETONE NEWS — Chamberlain flies to meet Hitler. Rains and wind lash the east. Mud racing at Belmont Park. Football team trains on horseback. Skiing in Scandinavia. Hunting dogs compete in Australia. U. S. Army fliers maneuver on coast. Lew Lehr on cockatoos. NEWS OF THE DAY— Chamberlain speaks before trip to Hitler. Nazi party congress a martial display. Legion in Los Angeles. Typhoon and floods sweep Japan. Storm lashes Atlantic seaboard. Women's page. Dog styles. Horses race in Belmont mud. PARAMOUNT NEWS— Legion convenes in Los Angeles. Many killed, injured in coast train wreck. Bitter primary fight in New York. Norwalk police adopt identification machine. Fashions go British. Storm hits eastern seaboard. New season football forecast. RKO PATHE NEWS — European crisis. Dorothy Thompson condemns powers. Nye asks neutrality in Washington. Holland launches her largest liner. Seabiscuit trails in mud. Los Angeles greets Legion. Storm hits Atlantic coast. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL — American Legion in Los Angeles. Senator Pittman in Hollywood. New York primaries. Typhoon hits Japan. Storm lashes Atlantic coast. New wing on French war museum. Horse racing in Chicago. Bike race in Chicago. Basket carrying race in London. Women loggers in Oregon. Matching Wits Paul Gulick will captain a team comprising Bob Gillham of Paramount, Si Seadler of M-G-M, Lynn Farnol of United Artists, Mort Blumenstock of Warners and Rodney Bush of 20th Century-Fox, on Dr. Harry Hagen's "True or False" quiz period over the NBC-Blue tonight at 10 P. M. "True or False" each week pits a male team against a feminine team in a battle wits. The motion picture team will be opposed by, of all things, a team of New York City massage experts. Storm Flooded All Houses in Hartfon Hartford, Sept. 22.— All local the atres are flooded, but the Loew Pol theatres are operating today. Th< Lenox is closed. The local exchangi district was damaged generally. Exchanges report the Palace, Norwich ; Strand, Willimantic ; State Manchester; Capitol, Ansonia, Com-! munity, Fairfield, and a few other theatres closed due to power failure oi; flood damage. Communication is impossible witl Massachusetts points, New London Bristol and Derby. Patronage Loss Heavy Although in the New Jersey short area, Walter Reade theatres sufferelittle damage structurally but reportec loss of patronage, especially in comJ' munities where storm warnings wen issued. Street lights were blown ou in Kingston but the night show wen on. Matinee business was nil at thf Asbury Park boardwalk. Power was, off for a while in various towns Damage included flooded basements demolished marquees, fronts, skylights etc. Troy, Catskill Affected Albany, Sept. 22. — There was; water in cellars at the Troy theatre Troy, which shut off all power. The house was closed today as the water ist still rising six inches an hour. The management reported they don't know* when they will reopen. Business in all theatres was off yesterday. The Community theatre I in Catskill was closed last night. Most Close in New Haven New Haven, Sept. 22.— Lack of power forced the closing of all but two neighborhood theatres, but the downtown area is not affected. Hun-, dred of signs and skylights were blown, away. Power is off and overhead wire, repair is impeded by fallen trees. New Jersey Power Fails In New Jersey, the Rialto, Westfield; Strand, Clifton, and Ritz, Garfield, were unable to open for evening; shows because of power failure. Atlantic City and vicinity reported that no theatres were compelled to close. Westchester Spots Close [ Mt. Vernon, Sept. 22.— The Embassy and Plaza here were compelled^ to close at 8 :4S P. M. yesterday due to the power failure.