Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1938)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY Wednesday, October 5, 1938 Book Promotion Is Gaining Favor in Midwest Theatres 2 Australia Has 10-Point Plan For Harmony By LIN ENDEAN Sydney, Sept. 16. (By Air Mail via London) — The New South Wales Board of Trade, representing circuits, independent exhibitors and distributors, has determined to make tangible moves to bring about closer understanding within the trade. It is known that many members considered it a waste of time to attend meetings while internecine strife was common. Sir Victor Wilson, president of the Motion Picture Distributors' Association, has made public a letter from an executive of the Australian Exhibitors' Council to the M.P.D.A., in which there were 10 proposals on which action by the distributors is sought. Among them are suspension of rentals during enforced closing of theatres, such as epidemics ; supplying of extra prints when needed ; percentage pictures ; a standard film contract; regulation of gift nights and other subterfuges for the reduction of admissions ; excessive city protection ; an age limit on minimum admissions ; regulation of county and suburban protection. Points Out Serious Side Sir Victor pointed out that most of the points raised probably can be agreed upon with little discussion, but that two points, excessive city protection and percentage pictures, are more serious. He expressed the belief that a standard contract would solve most of the exhibitor problems, and a committee has been named to draw up a standard form to be presented to exhibitors in the near future. Exhibitors have sought such a contract for years, and since they will ask a rejection privilege, it appears there may be difficulties in framing a contract suitable to both sides. However, it is understood that if a suitable basis for agreement is not reached in a reasonable time, exhibitors will approach the Government for help. It is also planned to increase the scope of the Board of Trade's activity, extending it throughout the Commonwealth. Expect Fleischer Pact Negotiation of a new working agreement between the Fleischer studio and the United American Commercial Artists union may end in an agreement tomorrow. The discussions have been under way for several months and were suspended for a time due to a disagreement. Considerable progress has been made in the past few days, however, indicating a possibility of their being concluded after the Jewish holiday. Union Agreement Near Negotiations by a theatre committee with Local No. 1, Manhattan stagehands, on a new contract for this season have been extended longer than anticipated, but an agreement is expected in a few days. Major L. E. Thompson of RKO held another session with the union committee yesterday. By BILL Chicago, Oct. 4. — The latest theatre promotion plan to gain favor in the midwest is Book Treasures, a plan whereby books of various sorts are given away to patrons on a coupon basis. The book giveaway idea was introduced around this territory late in the summer, according to Lester F. Martin, in charge of the plan for Consolidated Book Publishers, Inc., who has named eight men to handle the branch offices he has set up throughout the country. More than 90 books are available on the plan, which involves no element of chance in the distribution of the books. Classics, encyclopedias, dictionaries, cook books and diaries are offered in the plan. Several Illinois circuits have adopted it. T A battle between local theatres on the showing of newsreels is in sight. Herb Elisbnrg started the fray with his shoiving of five newsreels at the Essaness Woods theatre. Other Loop houses are now giving the newsreel idea more attention and what looks like a battle of the newsreels in the Loop is in sight. T Theatre executives whose houses are affected by the strike called last week by the theatre engineers are not complaining so much about the raise the engineers have asked for, as it amounts to only about $5 per week per man, but they are Start Fox English Film London, Oct. 4. — Robert T. Kane, head of 20th Century-Fox British production chief, has started "So This Is London" at the Pinewood studio. Robertson Hare and Alfred Dayton will star, with George Sanders, Berton Churchill and Lily Cahill featured. Carla Lehmann, Canadian stage actress, has replaced June Lang. Thornton Freeland is directing. Heads Party Publicity Boston, Oct. 4. — Harry Browning, M. & P. director of publicity, has been appointed publicity manager for the forthcoming eighth annual dinnerdance of the film district post of American Legion at the Copley Plaza, Oct. 25. Alvin Kenney is his assistant. Shea Managers Shifted New Philadelphia, O., Oct. 4. — Harold Snyder, assistant manager of the Union, has been named manager of the Bexley at nearby Dover. Charles E. Simpson, now assistant at the Bexley, has been shifted to the Colonial, Akron, replacing D wight Kirk, who has been made assistant at the Strand and Paramount, Fremont. Para. Awards Given Out Washington, Oct. 4. — Paramount's awards for the best campaign on "Her Tungle Love" have been handed out bv Carter Barron, Loew division manager, to Ray Bell, Roscoe Drissel of Norfolk and Allen Sparrow of Richmond. CROUCH irritated by the "ultimatum" handed down by union officials. T Negro theatre operators are still picketing some of the negro theatres that use white operators. Union officials say that the 19 colored operators now being used are sufficient. There are no negro owned theatres in Chicago and this is one reason for the demand for white operators in most of the colored theatres. T Al Simons, operator of the grill in the Exhibitors' Building, was held up last week and $125 taken. Two masked bandits herded the customers into the back of the room and rifled the cash register. It was the most excitement to hit film row in weeks. ▼ Exhibitors are wondering what was wrong with business during the summer months found out when the Chicago Park Board revealed that more than 3,500 000 persons attended the free concerts in Grant Park during: the summer months. The 8,000,000 who attended sports events, many of them free, also didn't help the box-office any. T W. H. Banford, branch manager here for M-G-M, is one of the lucky members of the Metro sales staff to leave Oct. 22 for Europe. Mr. Banford, with the other M-G-M sales contest winners, will land at Nice, visit Paris and London and sail for home on the Queen Mary Nov. 16. Comerford Takes House Pottsville, Oct. 4. — Comerford Theatres have taken over the Hollywood here. This gives the circuit control of all three local houses. The Hollywood is owned by the Brenneman estate and has been operated under lease by the William B. Shugars estate, which had a booking arrangement with Lewen Pizor. Close "Take W Deal Columbia has closed a special deal with National Theatres on "You Can't Take It With You." The circuit consummated a two-year contract with Columbia last year, but the film is being sold as a special. Leonard Picker and Jerry Safron of Columbia worked out the deal with William Powers of National. "U" Board Meet Routine A routine meeting of the Universal board of directors was held yesterday. The meeting, originally scheduled for tomorrow, was advanced because of the Jewish holiday today and the plans of J. Cheever Cowdin, board chairman, for sailing for England tomorrow. Expect Loew Dividend The board of Loew's, Inc., is to declare a regular dividend of $l.62z/2 on the preferred stock at its next meeting Oct. 13. The regular meeting scheduled for today was postponed to that date. Gillmore Issues New Member Rule for 4A Members of any branch of the Association of Actors and Artistes of America who accept engagements in the jurisdiction of any sister branch must immediately make application for membership in such other branch, according to a ruling issued yesterday by Frank Gillmore, president, t ( branches. The decision is expecce'd to assist materially in the current organization drive of the American Federation of Actors in motion picture theatres which have vaudeville or stage shows. Charles C. Moskowitz has been designated as representative of Broadway houses to conduct negotiations with the A. F. A., it was learned at union headquarters yesterday and Harry R. Calkins, chief organizer, will act for the union during the absence of Ralph Whitehead who is at the A.F.L. convention. Jurisdiction of the A.A.A.A. extends over screen actors and radio artists and it is believed here that personal appearances may be blocked in the event that present negotiations fail to lead to an agreement. Drive-In Theatre Is To Close for Winter After a successful summer season, the Drive-In Theatre at Valley Stream plans to close during the latter part of the month and will reopen in April. Burt Kulick is now president and treasurer of the Parkhill Broadway Corp., which operates the Broadway in Yonkers. Closed for the winter are the Garden, Princeton ; Playhouse, Cedarhurst ; Lido, Long Beach, and Boardwalk, Edgemere. MOTION PICTURE DAILY (Registered U. S. Patent Office) MARTIN QUIGLEY, Editor-in-Chief and Publisher: J. M. JERAULD. Managing Editor: JAMES A. CRON. Advertising Manager. EDITORIAL STAFF: Charles S. Aaronson. Jack Banner. Al Finestone, Sherwin A. Kane, Joseph Prlore. 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