Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1939)

riLS? DOPY s*0 MOT «na-ftnwr>\i MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in (i and Impartial NEW YORK, WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 8, 1939 TEN CENTS Picture Industry V(^45. NO. 27 AAAA Votes To Bar All Non Entertainers No Branch May Accept Outsider as Member Associated Actors and Artists of America voted yesterday that none of its branches may accept into membership persons other than entertainers. The international board ruled that it would refuse per capita payments from branches which extended their jurisdiction to non-entertainers. Although no explanation for the ruling was forthcoming it was reported that it is directed primarily against the American Federation of Actors, which has jurisdiction of night club, vaudeville and circus performers. The A.F.A. has included circus roustabouts and other non-performers in its membership in the past. Whether yesterday's ruling was directed at this alone, or whether branches have been considering similar extensions of jurisdiction could not be learned, but the order bans any further inclusion of any but entertainers in the ranks of the A.A.A.A. Late Flashes Paramount Gets 'Carters' Hollywood, ■ Feb. 7. — Paramount has made another deal with Charles R. Rogers to film "Our Neighbors — The Carters." Rogers is now making "The Star Maker" for Paramount. The former story is an original by Renaud Hoffman. Schenck En Route East Hollywood, Feb. 7.— Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the board of 20th Century-Fox, left the coast today and is due in New York on Friday. Joseph Moskowitz is accompanying him. Knopt Resigns from M-G Hollywood, Feb. 7.— Edwin Knopf, story department head of M-G-M, has resigned. The resignation becomes effective Feb. 28. Knopf had headed the company's story department for last five years. Center Extras Get Raise As a result of action by Actors' Equity, Sam H. Harris and Max Gordon, producers of "The American Way," which is current at the Center, 150 extras in the play get a $3 weekly raise. 20th-Fox, Republic Will Close Monday 20th Century-Fox and Republic will be closed Monday, in celebration of Lincoln's Birthday. Paramount, Loew's and Universal will shut down at 1 P.M. RKO will be open all day and United Artists, Columbia and Monogram are still undecided. Silver stone And Roach Set '39 Program Hollywood, Feb. 7. — Maurice Silverstone, operating head of United Artists, Hal Roach and the Security First National Bank of Los Angeles have completed details of a financing arrangement, believed sufficient to meet the producer's fullest production requirements. This bank financed Roach last year. Roach's program will cost around $5,000,000. Silverstone, following completion of this transaction, is preparing to leave the coast. He departs tomorrow, after winding up product conferences with all of the U. A. producers. The U. A. operating chief is pleased with the Roach roster of six pictures which are scheduled for the 39-40 program of the Silverstone company. Roach is personally directing "Captain Fury." He follows this with the "Water Gypsies ;" Donald Henderson Clarke's "The Housekeeper's Daughter ;" besides "Roadshow" and a film with Margaret Sullavan. Two more Hardy-Langdon pictures are tentatively scheduled with same cast as in "It's Spring Again." Roach's studio will shut down for five or six weeks between completion of "Captain Fury" and start of "Water Gypsies." News Guild Trying to Organize Newsreels Newspaper Guild is conducting a quiet organizational campaign among the newsreels here in an effort to unionize all employes who are not under the jurisdiction oi other unions. Principal efforts are directed toward editors, contact men and clerical employes. Paramount Newsreel has had a unit of the Guild for some time. Efforts to obtain a contract there were unsuccessful several months ago, but some pay raises were secured. Guild leaders feel that if units are organized in all the reels, chances of obtaining contracts may be more successful. NBC Seeks Writers With Experience in Films for Television NBC is going after writers with film experience, for television. The network also is making strong bids for plays and original stories for telecasting. This is being done, of course, in anticipation of the beginning of regular telecasting, this spring in connection with the opening of the World's Fair. The NBC firm will be on television, at least two hours weekly, when that begins. Officially, there is only discreet silence to be gotten from NBC, regarding these new developments. It is understood that several scores of stories have already been purchased, including a full-length play by Susan Gaspal. The price isn't known. NBC additionally is engaging a staff of writers with film experience to adapt stories into shooting form for television. Universal to Start Sales Drive Feb. 26 Universal will inaugurate a charges and playdate drive on Feb. 26, running for eight weeks to April 22. F. J. A. McCarthy, eastern division manager, and William J. Heineman, western division manager, will be the honored sponsors of the drive. Cash prizes will be awarded for the three winning offices in the east and the three in the west. This marks the first time Universal has honored its division members in a sales drive. The campaign was originated by A. J. O'Keefe, west coast district manager, and Harry D. Graham, southern district manager, James J. Jordan has been appointed western captain of the drive and Tom Murray western captain by Nate Blumberg, president. Among the releases during the drive period will be "The Son of Frankenstein," "You Can't Cheat an Honest Man," "Three Smart Girls Grow Up," with Deanna Durbin, and "East Side of Heaven," with Bing Crosby. Ampa to Hear Jane Cowl Jane Cowl, stage star, will head the Ampa's program at its luncheon meeting at the Astor tomorrow. Jean Rodney, production director of "Outward Bound," is also scheduled to appear, in addition to Billy Rose, Molly Picon and Russell Patterson. 1 INominations To RKO Board Slated Today Judge Bondy Due to Get New Directors' Names New board of directors of reorganized RKO will consist of 11 members appointed to serve for two-year terms. Indications are that the names of the new directors will be offered to Federal Judge William Bondy today or tomorrow, in order that the court may have an opportunity to make whatever suggestions it wills at the scheduled hearing on Friday. Regarded as logical selections for the board are the following: Representing management — George J. Schaefer and Ned E. Depinet. Representing RCA — James G. Harbord and Lunsford P. Yandell. Representing Rockefeller Center — W. G. Van Schmus and Dr. Beardsley Ruml. Representing Atlas Corp. and Leh(Contmued on page 12) Disney, M-G-M Lead Award Nominations Hollywood, Feb. 7. — Walt Disney and M-G-M led in the number of representatitions in the nominations for the short subjects awards of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. Because of a tie five nominations were made in the cartoons division intsead of the usual three. Nominees are "The Brave Little Tailor," "Mother Goose Goes Hollywood," "Ferdinand, the Bull," and "Good Scouts," all Disney (RKO), and "Hunky and Spunky," Max Fleischer (Paramount). In the one reel subject division the nominations are "The Great Heart" and "That Mothers Might Live," M-G-M and "Timber Toppers," 20th CenturyFox. Two reel subject, "Declaration of Independence" and "Swingtime in the Movies," Warners, and "They're Always Caught," M-G-M. Giveaway Study Motion Picture Daily in this issue publishes the fifth of a series of articles in a survey of chance games and giveaways throughout the country. Motion Picture Daily invites reader comment on the subject. — Page 6.