Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

4 MJjr^-M. JU JL Thursday, September 22, 1938 MOTION PICTURE TIAII V Tablet Will Commemorate Start of Film Shows Here Find Over 500 Editorials on Big Ad Drive More than 500 editorials related to the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign and the industry in general have been published by daily newspapers of the United States and Canada since the opening of the drive, Sept. 1, campaign headquarters reported yesterday on the conclusion of a study of newspaper cooperation for the drive. The editorials are characterized by their friendly attitude toward the industry and comprise in the aggregate the greatest volume of favorable publicity to be accorded motion pictures during any comparable space of time, it was said. In addition, thousands of columns of news stories and pictorial material related to the drive have been published during the same period. Afore than 150 special editions featuring the campaign were published by daily newspapers and 120 cooperative advertisements prepared by the campaign directors have been published to date without charge. Campaign headquarters is preparing formal notifications for exhibitors and "Movie Quiz" contestants of title changes in several contest pictures and will create a notification procedure for any further title changes. The first two title changes were in Universal's "The Comet," changed to "Private Secretary," and RKO's "Ranger Code," changed to "Renegade Ranger." Canada Contributes $30,000 to Campaign Toronto, Sept. 21. — The Canadian committee of the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign reported at a meeting here today that $30,000 has been collected in the Dominion to date. Of the total, $17,000 came from the Famous Players Canadian circuit for 200 theatres. A special trailer is being made in Hollywood for Canada, with Deanna Durbin, a native of Winnipeg, featured in a message to Canadians. Notice is being rushed to all theatres in Canada explaining the procedure made necessary by the errors in the "Movie Quiz" booklets. Morris Stein, district manager of Famous Players, has been appointed chairman of the Toronto regional committee for the campaign. Jurors See "Fugitive" Atlanta, Sept. 21. — The Trial of Judge Vivian L. Stanley's $100,000 suit against Warners went into the second day of its latest hearing in Fulton Superior Court here after the jurors, attorneys and judge had viewed the allegedly damaging picture, "I Am a Fugitive From a Chain Gang." During the second day of the hearing, Judge Edgar E. Pomeroy denied two defense motions seeking a mistrial in the case. Fields Takes House Jack Fields, formerly Jersey booker for Paramount, has entered the exhibition field and has taken over the Cameo, Jersey City, from Matty Chrystmos. Leading up to the 50th anniversary of the development of motion pictures, which is planned for celebration by the industry next year, a tablet will shortly be erected on the 34th St. side of Macy's department store at Herald Square, commemorating the first commercial showing of films in this country. The store stands on the site of Koster & Bial's Music Hall where, it is generally conceded on April 23, 1896, films were introduced to a payingaudience. The event is in connection with the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign, and the tentative date for the tablet unveiling is Oct. 4. A ceremony will be held with Will H. Hays, Mrs. Thomas A. Edison, the Edison Foundation and others partici Trade Group Probe To Begin Monday (Continued from page 1) the assistant secretary is a member, is still continuing and no definite results are expected for another month, it was said. Hearings at which representatives of various associations will be invited to appear and at which the questions involved in the trade association study will be more fully explored, will be arranged following the receipt of returns to the questionnaire, Mr. Patterson said. Writer Guild May Ask Aid of NLRB (Continued from page 1 ) that it is improbable that immediate recourse to this method will be taken in view of the continued willingness of the producer committee to discuss a basic agreement. It is also pointed out that going to the board will defer the possibility of an ultimate settlement for a year or more. Local 306 and ITOA To Start Wage Talks (Continued from page 1) tions on wage scale revisions are held every two years and scales are set according to the Department of Labor index of general living conditions. The organization's next meeting, to be held Oct. 5, and it is expected that it will be devoted to a discussion of film buying. Loew Space Is Leased The entire second floor of the Loew's State Bldg., formerly occupied by the Motion Pictures' Greatest Year campaign committee, has been leased to the Mayflower Doughnut Corp., which also has taken the corner and adjoining store for a restaurant, now in the Astor Theatre Bldg. The lease was closed by Harry M. Bernstein of Loew's. pating. Mr. Edison will be honored as the inventor of motion pictures, and the occasion will note the fact that the Koster & Bial showing used Edison films projected over the Vitascope, the first successful projector, invented by Thomas Armat of Washington and built by the Edison plant. This has been established by Terry Ramsaye, editor of Motion Picture Herald. Paul Hollister, Macy's advertising head, who has been working on the plans with Paul Gulick, coordinator of the industry drive, said yesterday there will be a store window display of the 10 placards prepared by the drive committee tracing the history of films from Edison's early experiments to the coming of sound in 1927. There will also be a window exhibit of old cameras. Television to Stand Alone, Says Sarnoff (Continued from page 1) development is so much better known is because there are regular daily broadcasts by BBC in London which receive much publicity. "But that is no indication of their superior television facilities," he added. "The actual commercial use of television in America is much more a financial and artistic problem than it is technical. The cost and working out the means of defraying the cost by means of adequate private sponsorship is the chief deterrent." Mr. Sarnoff said that the London metropolitan area, with a population of about 10,000,000 has about 3,000,000 television receiving sets installed in homes. "This is only a drop in the bucket," he declared, as proof that the British development still has a great distance to go. Companies Resume Shipment to Japan (Continued from page 1) pictures, it was said. Japan was well stocked last September when American companies ceased sending pictures. Together with a number of revivals, the stock was sufficient to supply the market for a year. The major companies refused to give details of the negotiations and termed the situation "delicate." Principal bone of contention is the refusal of the Japanese Government to permit money to be sent out of the country. Agents Attend Meeting A meeting to acquaint agents for members of the A.F.A. with the terms of the new licensing plan was held at the Actors' Church last night. Ralph Whitehead, executive secretary, and a number of agents addressed the meeting. "Comef Is Final Title Hollywood, Sept. 21. — Warners have definitely set "Comet Over Broadway" as the title of Kay Francis' forthcoming film, formerly known as "Curtain Call." RKO Control To Be Fixed In Few Days (Continued from page 1) formidable position as an RKO creditor to an even more strategic lev would entitle it to major creditor r resentation on the new compan board of directors. Tentative agreements on creditor representation on the new board are reported to have been reached, but obviously could be upset by ths acquisition of RCA's holdings by Atlas Corp. According to report, the initial board will be of 11 members, with two representatives each for RCA and Rockefeller Center, three for Atlas Corp. and Lehman Bros., and the remaining four to be apportioned among unsecured creditors and independent debenture holders and stockholders. Consummation by Atlas of an option or purchase agreement on RCA's holdings would bring about a revision of this representation, probably with Atlas obtaining four board members, Rockefeller Center, two, and three places being accorded to unsecured creditors, and independent debenture and stockholders, for a total membership of nine. Option to Affect Management Determination of the management of the new company, it is understood, will also be affected by the completion or not of an option or purchase agreement on the RCA holdings. Creditors' nominees for important posts in the new company would undoubtedly be determined, in this event, by Atlas Corp. in whatever instances that complete unanimity is absent now. Several names have been advanced in the preliminary conferences, but only two have major creditor support, it is said. Any change in financial control of the company could be the key to an ultimate decision between the two. Anticipate Further Italian Concessions (Continued from page 1) bassy and European managers of the distribution companies. Clarification of several phases of the decree which are regarded by home office foreign departments as confusing has not been received from European managers yet. In consequence, no meeting of the heads of home office foreign departments has been scheduled, although one is expected to be called as soon as the required information is received. Indications are that the subject will come up for further discussion at the adjourned meeting of the M.P.P.D.A. board of directors today, however. It was discussed informally at the board meeting last Friday. Gary Suit Is Delayed Chicago, Sept. 21. — Suit of the Gary Theatre Co. against the major film companies, Balaban & Katz and the Warner circuit was delayed again in Federal Court when Judge Holly granted the attorneys for the defendants until Sept. 30th to answer the bill of particulars.