Motion Picture Daily (July–Sept 1938)

Alert. Intelligent MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in 44. NO. 63 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 29, 1938 TEN CENTS Giveaways Ban Being Studied In Fox House Division Managers Hope For General Use With S. R. Kent, president of 20th Century-Fox, and Spyros Skouras, operating head of National Theatres, both expressing themselves in favor of abandonment of giveaways of all sorts, division managers of the nationwide circuits are watching results of the "no giveaway" policy in Southern California with a view to its possible extension elsewhere. Mr. Kent, who conferred with Charles P. Skouras, head of Fox West Coast, during his present visit to the studio, says he believes there is a definite trend toward discarding giveaways and chance games and expressed the belief that "the public is becoming fed up." Spyros Skouras is known not to have been very happy with giveaways and his views coincide with those of Mr. Kent. Furthermore, he believes that it is time for exhibitors to go back to showmanship. N.A.B. Discusses Winter Activities Washington, Sept. 28. — Plans for fall and winter activities of the National Association of Broadcasters were discussed today at a meeting of the executive committee, the first such meeting since early last summer. Important to broadcasters among the matters considered were the copyright situation and the several suits against Ascap now in the courts. There was some discussion of the questionnaire recently distributed among member broadcasters, asking for information regarding the extent to which free publicity is given the film industry, directly or indirectly, but in the absence of a definite an (Continued on page 11) FCC Recommends GE Television Stations Washington, Sept. 28. — Granting of applications of the General Electric Co. for authority to construct television stations at Albany, Schenectady and Bridgeport, was recommended today by F. C. C. Examiner R. H. Hyde. More Radio— P. 11 New Selznick Deal Hollywood, Sept. 28.— John Hay Whitney, chairman of the board of Selznick International Pictures, Inc., today disclosed the signing of a new term contract whereby David O. Selznick will continue as president and executive producer of the company. Selznick International has experienced no single change in executive personnel, membership of the board or list of stockholders since its inception. Low Funds Slowing Wage-Hour Rulings Washington, Sept. 28. — With lack of funds making it impossible to set up more than three or four industry committees before Congress meets, activities of Wage-Hour Administrator Elmer F. Andrews are being devoted to the preparation of definitions called for under the new labor standards act. It is the hope of the administrator that most of the definitions, and a rough classification of the industries which will be subject to the act, may be completed before the law becomes effective Oct. 24. Even when Congress appropriates additional funds, it was said by wagehour officials today, it is not intended to set up a large number of industry committees to work out the minimum wages which are to apply until, after seven years, the minimum of 40 cents an hour provided in the act goes into (.Continued on page 3) All Phases of Trust Suit Up At Conference Col. Donovan's Home Is Scene of Gathering Washington, Sept. 28. — Representatives of the major film companies tonight met with Assistant Attorney General Thurman Arnold and other Department of Justice officials around the dinner table at the Georgetown home of Col. William J. Donovan, counsel for RKO and the Irving Trust Co., for a highly secret discussion of the Government's anti-trust suit. The place and time of the meeting were arranged by Colonel Donovan, who secured from Department officials a promise not to talk about the situation for publication, a pledge so thoroughly adhered to that not even the place of meeting was divulged at the (Continued on page 3) Clean Up Theatres After N. E. Storm Boston, Sept. 28. — Theatres in this territory are cleaning up after the flood and hurricane which caused New England theatre damage conservatively estimated at $200,000. A typical example is the small house of Warren Nichols in Peterboro, N. H., which was flooded by water seven feet deep (Continued on page 3) Crisis in Europe Results In Flood of War Pictures Hollywood, Sept. 28. — The European crisis has stirred Hollywood to topical activity, with about 10 pictures of spy intrigue, World War action and similar material in preparation. The most recent is from Edward Small, who has assigned George Bruce to adapt his own idea for "The Maginot Line," which he visited. Martin Mooney and Jonathan Latimer have been assigned by Paramount to Fritz Lang's original idea for "Men Without a Country," spy story set in this country. Paramount also plans "Air Raid," starring Olympe Bradna, which Jeff Lazarus will produce. Twentieth Century-Fox is ready to release "Submarine Patrol," with Richard Greene, Loretta Young and Nancy Kelly. Columbia has "Spy Ring." RKO is preparing "Miss X," story of intrigue in Washington, starring Sally Eilers. Republic is shooting "Storm Over Bengal," story of the rebellion of a northern India tribe from British rule, with Patric Knowles, Richard Cromwell and Rochelle Hudson featured. Warners is doing "Dawn Patrol," with Errol Flynn, whose illness is delaving the completion of the film. Hal Wallis has received British permission to use World War scenes in the picture. M-G-M has placed "Idiot's Delight" back on the schedule. It deals with the effects of the World War on an actor troupe stranded in Italy. Norma Shearer will star. RKO Delays Halt Decision On Personnel Petition for SEC Move To Be Filed Today New delays in the consummation of the RKO reorganization plan appeared inevitable yesterday and had the immediate effect of sidetracking for the present any possible immediate decision by the principal creditors on the personnel of the reorganized company's board of directors and management. As had been anticipated, a minority creditor will invoke the Chandler Act to make the S.E.C. a party to the reorganization, a move which, if approved by the court, will bring about an indefinite delay in the consummation of the plan. The petition will be filed in U. S. District Court here today by John A. Stover, attorney for Ernest W. Stirn of Milwaukee, holder of 1,234 shares of old RKO Class A stock. While the Chandler Act makes it compulsory for the S.E.C. to become a party to reorganizations in which the estate amounts to more than $3,000,000, RKO was in reorganization long before the act became effective so that S.E.C. may become a party (Continued on page 3) Crisis Stops Talks On Decree in Italy The general European crisis has made it impossible for foreign representatives of major distributors to hold any conferences with Government officials in Rome on the recent Italian decree creating a national film distributing monopoly, and no meetings will be possible until the situation is eased, it was learned here yesterday. Not only are the Italian officials too preoccupied with international affairs at this time, but, moreover, the outbreak of war would make the distribution problem a purely academic one, as the restricted market abroad (Continued on page 8) Jewish Holidays Aid Grosses on Broadway The Jewish holidays helped business on Broadway this week. "Carefree" garnered $90,000 at the Music Hall. RKO says the picture merited a holdover but had to give way to the commitment on "Drums," which will open at the Music Hall today. "Boys Town" did $27,000 at the Capitol in a third week, following pre (Continued on page 8)