Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1939)

MOTION PICTURE DAILY 6 Tax of 5-15 Cents Asked in N. Dakota Bismarck, N. D., Feb. 6. — Seeking new sources of revenue, North Dakota legislators, in session here, discussed at a session of the House Committee on Taxes and Tax Laws a proposal to levy a flat tax on theatre admissions— five cents on tickets selling for 11 to 50 cents ; 10 cents for admissions from 51 cents to $1, and 15 cents over $1. Theatre owners countered with a proposal to double the present sales tax rate of two per cent — in other words, a four per cent levy as compared to the new plan which would run from 10 per cent almost to 50 per cent. The latter tax, according to testimony of John Kennelly, Mandan, secretary of the North Dakota independent theatre organization, would make serious inroads on theatre revenue. When price levels are once established in different communities, he said, any variation, either upward or downward, cuts the gross revenue. Walter W anger Here; Going to Dartmouth Walter Wanger arrived in New York from the coast by train yesterday for conferences with Charles Schwartz, his New York attorney, and will attend the Dartmouth College Ice Carnival at Hanover, N. H., this weekend, where he will make background shots for his own "Winter Carnival," a coming production. Two camera crews left for Hanover yesterday morning. Bert Glennon is in charge of the Wanger crew while Frank Zucker and Ray Binger will shoot some material for Samuel Goldwyn. Bill Kelly, who assisted Hal Mohr on the William K. Howard production, "Back Door to Heaven," at Astoria, leaves tomorrow to join Glennon. Also on the Hanover scene for Wanger next weekend will be Otho Lovering, editorial assistant ; Lowell Farrell, assistant director of "Winter Carnival" ; Dan Keefe, production manager ; Budd Schulberg, on script assignment, and Percy Guth, comptroller. Wanger, who returns to the coast in about a week, said he expects to start work on "Personal History" in the near future. During a train-ramp interview he expressed the belief that, properly regulated, the radio appearances of stars could be turned to the benefit of their films and of theatre attendance. Chaplin Film Will Start by March 15 Hollywood, Feb. 6.— Charlie Chaplin has completed the script for his forthcoming film, "The Dictators," according to Murray Silverstone, head of United Artists operations. Production will start before March 15 and early fall release is planned. "The story is, naturally, concerned with dictators, but its primary purpose is to make people laugh," Chaplin told Silverstone. The film will open the fall season for U. A., Silverstone declared. Quiz Annoucement Postponed to Feb. 27 Because of the large number of entrants being considered by the judges in the $250,000 Movie Quiz contest, the date for the announcement of winners has been postponed for one week, to Monday, Feb. 27. Arrangements for forwarding to each theatre a list of the winners are unchanged. The judges found that they required more time to complete the judging of the entires. The hour for the announcement on the Monday evening scheduled also remains unchanged, any time after 8 :30. National Screen Service has prepared a trailer with the new date, which is available at National Screen exchanges. 20th-Fox Picketed By Operators* Local Operators' Local 306 yesterday posted a picket line in front of the 20th Century-pox; home office and Movietone News '^fter calling out eight operators* The dispute i;S over an alleged dismissal of four-, men. The company claims only two were fired and that the union had agreed to the dismissal, after negotiating), a 10 per cent increase. A The dispute has been in progress for several weeks. The 20th CenturyFox home office closed its projection room last Thursday. Another man was let out at the exchange. The company claims it has been overstaffed. A committee from the local is continuing negotiations i with W. C. Michel, executive vice-president of 20th Century-Fox. Block Booking Bill Hearing Opens Soon Washington, Feb. 6. — Plans for hearings on block booking legislation are expected to be made within the next few days at a meeting of the subcommittee which has been put in charge of the measure by Senator Wheeler of Montana, chairman of the Senate Interstate Commerce Committee. Senator Ellison D. Smith of South Carolina will be chairman of the subcommittee, on which also will serve Senators Alben W. Barkley of Kentucky, Majority Floor Leader, and Matthew M. Neely of West Virginia, author of the bill, with Wallace H. White, Jr., of Maine, and Charles W. Tobey of New Hampshire as Republican members. AAAA Pledges Aid To Musical Guild Full support of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America was pledged at an international board meeting yesterday to the American Guild of Musical Artists in the letter's efforts to secure a contract with Columbia Concerts Corp. and NBC Artists Service, the artist manager subsidiaries of the networks. Representatives of the Screen Actors' Guild, Actors' Equity, Chorus Equity, American Federation of Actors, and American Federation of Radio Artists stated that their branches would take steps to endorse the action of the A.A.A.A. The board also passed a resolution congratulating A.F.R.A. on its success in recent contract negotiations with advertising agencies. The board declared that attention to thte A.G.M.A. negotiations would be the "paramount business for the next month." 'Tail Spin' Airavan Is Due Here Today "Tail Spin" tour of four women and eight studio girls, which started from Los Angeles Jan. 28, winds up this afternoon at Newark Airport. The airavan stopped in 18 cities for receptions and delivery of "Tail Spin" prints to exhibitors. A dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria Thursday night in honor of the Ninety Nine Club, organization of women aviators, will officially conclude the air tour. Settle 20th-Fox Suit Suit brought by Edmund Benguiat against 20th Century-Fox for alleged infringement of his play, "Take the Air," in the film, "Wake Up and Live," has been settled in the N. Y. Supreme Court. Terms of the settlement were not revealed. Zeidman Here for Deal B. F. Zeidman, independent producer, is here from Hollywood to negotiate a state rights releasing deal on 12 films he plans to make. It is understood the Malcom Brown Laboratories are interested in the venture. Invitje 1,600 to Preview Hollywood, Feb. 6. — Sixteen hundred invitations have been issued for the preview of 20th Century-Fox's "The Little Princess," the new Shirley Temple picture in color, Feb. 17, at the Cathay Circle here. Tuesday, February 7, 1939 Quota Amendments Will Be Submitted London, Feb. 6. — Board of Trade this week is expected to present to the Films Council amendments designed to adjust the alleged discrepancies in the multiple quota provisions of the Films Act. A committee of the Cinematograph Exhibitors' Association also this y">ek will consider the report of the ( \ 'mittee named at the last General Council meeting on the quota. It is expected to oppose the producer demand for increased quota percentages. Col. Asks Dismissal Of Milton Spitz Suit Columbia Pictures Corp. has filed a motion in U. S. District Court seeking dismissal of the $500,000 infringement suit brought by Milton Spitz, copyright owner of "U-Spot-It," against Motion Pictures Greatest Year, Inc., the major companies, and several other defendants. Complaint states that the Movie Quiz is an infringement of plaintiff's contest idea, and Columbia contends that it fails to state a cause of action and that plaintiff's game is a lottery. Federal Judge William Bondy will hear argument on the motion on Feb. 17. Brandt Closes Deal With Alexander Film Harry Brandt, president of Brandt Theatres, and president of the I. T. O. A. of New York, has renewed a contract for the third year for commercial films made by Alexander Film Co. NSS Seeks Injunction National Screen Service filed notice in the Federal Court yesterday that it will apply for a temporary injunction against Trailer-Made, Inc., to restrain alleged use of plaintiffs' sound tracks by the defendant. Application is in connection with infringement suit against Trailer-Made, Isidore Schwartz and Pathe Film Corp. Two Trustees Named Milton C. Weisman and Kenneth Stenrich were appointed trustees under the plan for the liquidation of Fox Theatres Corp. in an order of Circuit Judge Martin T. Manton, filed in the U. S. District Court yesterday. Weisman, as receiver, is directed to file a final accounting of the company's financial situation within 60 days. 'Love Some One* To Open Tonight "I Must Love Some One" a play by Jack Kirkland and Leyla Georgie, which traces the careers of the Florodora Sextette, opens tonight at the Longacre. Frank Merlin directed and Kirkland is the producer. Included in the cast are James Rennie, Martha Sleeper, Harry C. Bannister, Jean Casto, Charles Ansley and others.