Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

Alert, inteJSSgei to the^J cjtion D ■ 4% fig V A picture Industry ZOPY MOTION PICTURE DAILY HQ. 46. NO. 38 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, AUGUST 24, 1939 TEN CENTS U.S. Creates New Group to Aid Business Commerce Dep't Unit Not To Study Films Washington, Aug. 23. — Establishment of a new Commerce Department activity, to be known as the Industrial Economic Division, to undertake to aid industries to solve their problems along the lines already experimentally tried out in the film, oil and fertilizer fields, was announced today by Secretary Harry L. Hopkins. It was indicated, however, that the new group would not take over the motion picture study now in the hands of Dr. Willard L. Thorpe, Ernest A. Tupper and Nathan D. Golden. Funds for the new organization were provided by Congress shortly before adjournment of the session, and a number of men expert in various fields of commerce and industry already have been appointed. The Industrial Economics Division, which will report only to Secretary Hopkins, will be vested with responsibility to bring improvement in those fields where business progress is being retarded. While the division probably will take up the problems of any industries which in the future may ask for departmental aid, it is understood no change will be made with respect to the film negotiations because of the fact that the three men in charge of that work have become fully conversant with conditions in the industry and shortly will begin the development of proposals for dealing with major problems. 4Under-Pup' Train To Scranton Today Approximately 100 film critics and executives will leave New York by special train this morning for Scranton, where, as guests of Universal, I they will attend the premiere tonight of "The Under-Pup," in which Gloria Jean, 11-year-old Scranton girl, is featured. A special two-day program has been arranged for the preview party which is scheduled to be welcomed by a crowd of about 25,000 on arriving in Scranton at 1 :00 P.M. The program includes a parade to city hall, welcome by Mayor Fred J. Huester, and a musical program with the Scranton Philharmonic Orchestra featured. (Continued on page 7) Eve of War London, Aug. 23.— All British film houses are included in the official blackout instructions issued by the British Government this evening. It is compulsory to extinguish all exterior lighting and neon signs from dusk tomorrow. All London theatres undertook a voluntary blackout tonight. Writers Assail Producers at NLRB Hearing Hollywood, Aug. 23. — Screen Writers Guild members today paraded before J. J. Fitzpatrick, trial examiner of the N. L. R. B., and in their testimony linked major producers to the campaign in 1936 to prevent the Guild from affiliating with the Authors League of America. That production heads sent letters opposing Guild affiliation and described the Guild's leadership as "radical and communistic" was the gist of testimony by Charles Brackett, SWG president, Wells Root, Stephen Morehouse Avery, George Seton, Tess Slesinger, Richard Maibaum, Luci Ward, George Bricker, Melville Baker, Julius Epstein, Peter Milne and Abem Finkel. Charles R. Rogers, formerly Universal vice-president, testified. WARNERS SET UP OWN TRADE CODE Tucker, Equity Seek Peace But Hope Is Absent Sophie Tucker, president of American Federation of Actors, proposed to Actors Equity in a formal letter last night that committees from the A.F.A. and Equity meet to discuss peace proposals in the jurisdictional dispute between Associated Actors and Artistes of America and the I.A.T.S.E. Nevertheless there was little indication that the warring factions were any nearer agreement than they have been in the past few months. Miss Tucker's proposal was contained in a letter to Paul Dullzell, Equity executive secretary, in which she reiterated her refusal to appear before the Equity council today to answer charges of "treason" which have been preferred against her. At the same time, Harry Richman, A.F.A. vice-president, stated that he had had "no definite plan to offer" when he asked for an adjournment from the (.Continued on page 3) Brooklyn Wants a Picture Premiere of Its Very Own Brooklyn, that borough of more than 2,000,000 souls, which has long been the butt of Manhattanites' humor, has decided it wants to get itself on the map. They've abandoned hope of ever having the Dodgers do that for them and the Brooklyn Young Men's Chamber of Commerce has decided to turn to the film industry for aid and comfort. Shocked when he learned from his research group that Brooklyn has NEVER had a world's premiere, John L. Hansen, banker president of the Chamber, broached the matter to several major companies. He offered real inducements, too. He promised a parade through Flatbush with a detachment of the U. S. Army from Fort Hamilton participating, and society leaders, political bigwigs and industrial tycoons at hand for the opening. Everything, in short, that Manhattan offers and then some. Only hitch seems to be that there must be some reason for staging a world premiere in Brooklyn. Even Hansen concedes that. He says that the film must have its locale there, or at least a Brooklyn star. It seems that Samuel Goldwyn offices offered to open "The Real Glory" there but Hansen suggested that Manila would be more appropriate. Brooklynites with civic pride are not easy to satisfy, it would appear. From a national publicity standpoint. Hansen points out, cooperation could be obtained from the 150,000 members of Junior Chambers of Commerce throughout the country. It goes without saying that Brooklyn newspapers and radio stations would help. Anyway, until Brooklyn gets its premiere we're here to advise that Brooklyn is that place across the river where they have that funny baseball team. Expect Other Companies To Follow Lead with Similar Policies Gradwell Sears By SAM SHAIN Warner Bros, has decided to go ahead with its 1939-'40 sales plans, setting up its own reforms, regardless of the code situation. It is the first company to set up such a policy. Other companies are expected to follow the W. B. lead, with similar policies. In setting up the new policy, Warner Bros, executives were actuated by the present confusion and divergence of opinion regarding reforms and the code now existing in the trade. This new and clarified Warnier Bros, distribution policy has no tiein with the code although embodied in the new W. B. sales policy are reforms which were to have been included under the code. Under the new merchandising policy, Warner Bros, intends to allow 20 per cent and 10 per cent cancellation privileges and conduct certain test-run showings to determine the price of certain pictures. Recording charges are out. Arbitration is in for whosoever wants it. This new Warner Bros, plan embodies a 12-point policy and it is clearly set forth in a statement which was issued last night by Gradwell Sears, sales chief, and president of (Continued on page 3) Sidney Howard Dies In Farm Accident Sidney Howard, film and stage playwright, was killed at his summer home at Tyringham, Mass., yesterday when a tractor he was cranking started up and crushed him beneath the wheels. He was 48 years old. Howard wrote many Broadway hits, including the 1925 Pulitizer Prize play "They Knew What They Wanted." He was at various times under contract to Samuel Goldwyn, RKO and Universal. He wrote the screen play and dramatization of "Dodsworth." He was a native of Oakland, Calif,