Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

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Wednesday, September 6, 1939 Motion Picture Daily 7 Insider's Outlook — By SAM SHAIN — ASCINATING — moored alongside each other, at their respective piers on the North River, the Nonnandie and the S-S". Queen Mary. D ASSING through the east sixties — a hors d'ouvre shop which brings *■ recollections of a conversation many months ago with Morris Helprin. Helprin had that idea a long time ago. He has lots of interesting ideas. Helprin is press representative for Alexander Korda and London Films, which is a pretty good idea, too. He's the sort of chap somebody with great business sense should incorporate. AT Ralph's, on West 45th Street, following the recent actors' mass meeting which was held at the Hotel Astor — backstage farmerettes and hillbillies, fresh from the strawhat theatres mingling with Broadway theatre debutantes and juveniles and in a single voice, almost, surprised and not quite comprehending the unexpected result of the fight between the 4-A's and the I.A.T.S.E. LUNCH at the Essex House — with Mr. and Mrs. Leo Spitz, who had just returned from a cruise on their yacht, the 6\S\ Caroline — and the best scrambled eggs and sturgeon to be had anywhere. Mrs. Spitz, blonde, charming and magnetic. DINNER at the Waldorf-Astoria — with George J. Schaefer, Mr. and Mrs. Fred Ehrman, W. G. Van Schmus, and some 200 guests of RKO, in honor of Anna Neagle and Herbert Wilcox and the picture, "Nurse Edith Cavell," — Schaefer expressing a hesitancy about releasing the picture too soon. Leon Goldberg passes and expresses a similar viewpoint. The party, a huge success. AT Sardi's, Monday night, with Ben Washer — war talk and Samuel Goldwyn. Washer may finally go to Baltimore to "look over" that boat he's been so set about. ON Sixth Avenue near the R. C. Music Hall — Charles Curran, who recently returned from the coast to join the 20th Century-Fox advertising department — elated. Sherwill productions (Leo Williams) has bought his orginal, "Detective, First Class," for early production. Charles William collaborated with Curran on the yarn. Sherwill releases through Monogram. HERMAN FINKELSTEIN (Schwartz and Frohlich) and Mrs. Finkelstein, back in town after an eventful cruise to Bermuda, before war in Europe had begun. They sailed on the Queen of Bermuda, on Aug. 26, and that night the portholes on the ship were blackened out at 10:30 and iii Bermuda when the ship docked workmen started to give her a new coat of gray. Returning on the SS. Monarch of Bermuda they were taken on a zig-zag course, with practically no news about events abroad all the way back. Revive Policy Of Vaudeville In 2 Big Cities Pittsburgh, Sept. 5. — Two weeks after Warners and the Harris Amusement Co. announced that stage shows OLjld be a possibility only in the disnsJ. future, Harry Kalmine, general manager of the 68 Warner theatres in 'v the Tri-State area, declared that the Stanley would resume a vaudevillepicture policy probably in the middle of September, and the Harris Senator started publicizing a three-day per sonal appearance of Jesse Lasky's "Gateway to Hollywood" auditions on the stage the last week in September. Tentatively slated as an early Stanley attraction is Hal Kemp's band, kick-off on a name-orchestra schedule that proved profitable most weeks until the Stanley dropped stage entertainment in mid-Spring. Under the vaudeville plan, the Stanley takes second choice of first run pictures after Loew's Penn scans the release list, in accordance with a pooled booking arrangement. Since May, the Stanley has been playing top films equally with the Penn, without any stage draw. Cleveland Revives Vaudeville on Friday Cleveland1, Sept. 5. — Vaudeville will come back to the RKO Palace this week with Artie Shaw ushering in the vaudeville season Friday. Division Manager Nat Holt has obtained four Hollywood and radio personalities for the Sept. IS stage show, with Betty Grable heading the list. RKO Stock Offer By Atlas Expires {.Continued, from page 1) surance that this would happen or even that a new offer would be made. Atlas, it was learned, has given no formal notification of its present p*osition in the matter to the Federal court, the company, the RKO reorganization trustee or other interested parties. The investment company, presumably, takes the position that the terms upon which its offer was made speak for themselves. Presumably, the indefinite status of the underwriting will delay completion of the RKO reorganization unless future developments both in Europe and here justify reestablishment of the offer within a reasonable length of time. The Circuit Court of Appeals yesterday denied the request of Ernest W. Stirn, minority RKO stockholder for rehearing of the appeal from the decision of Federal Judge Bondy confirming the RKO plan of reorganization. Stirn's appeal was dismissed by the circuit court in July, with a ruling that he had been guilty of delay in prosecuting appeal. Special Master George W. Alger yesterday declared that hearings would not start this week on the fairness of the Atlas Corp. underwriting agreement on the issuance of RKO common stock. Alger indicated hearings may start next week. L. & /., Paramount Continue Deal Talks Negotiations for a renewal of the deal by which Lucas & Jenkins operate 38 theatres in Georgia and Alabama for Paramount were discontinued last weekend. Negotiations will be resumed either here or in Atlanta, possibly next week. Arthur Lucas, head of the operating company, returned to Atlanta over the weekend. William Jenkins is remaining in New York for a few more days. The operating agreement has been continued in force since its expiration last July, pending the outcome of the renewal negotiations. F. P. Canadian Dividend Toronto, Sept. S. — Reports on business during the second quarter of 1939 received at a directors' meeting of Famous 'Players Canadian Corp., presided over by President N. L. Nathanson, resulted in the declaration of another dividend of 25 cents on each of the common shares, payable Sent. 30 to stockholders of record Sept. 15. Noise Decision Reserved Milford, Conn., Sept. 5. — Judge P. B. O'Sullivau has reserved decision in the case of 12 residents against the Milford Drive-in Theatre, seeking a permanent injunction because of noise. Pianos, Cars, Cash Denver, Sept. 5.— The Fox houses here, already giving away a Ford every Tuesday besides offering a baby grand piano to the first ticket, have added $200 to the offering. If not won it will be built each week. Ten of the 12 Fox houses here participate through phone hookup. To Inspect Theatres Oshkosh, Wis., Sept. 5. — The Common Council has adopted an ordinance which provides for the appointment of an electrical inspector whose duties include the inspection of wiring and electric installations of all film houses at least once every three months. Under the measure, theatres would be required to make necessary repairs or changes as stipulated by the inspector within 15 days after notice. Schlom Quits Republic Hollywood, Sept. 5. — Herman Schlom, associate producer at Republic for the last three years, today asked for and received his release from contract and will leave the lot. Inability to get together on satisfactory terms was given as the reason for Schlom's departure. IA Studio Pact Hinges Upon NLRB Ballot Re-entry of the I.A.T.S.E. into the five-year basic agreement of the international unions with Hollywood studios is expected in the event the LA. wins the Sept. 21 National Labor Relations Board election by beingcertified the Hollywood bargainingagent for studio technicians, it was disclosed here officially yesterday. The I.A.'s application for re-entry probably would be made in time for consideration and action by the next meeting of the internationals' representatives with company heads here, which will be held in October. In this event, the new LA. five-year agreement would date from that time. Five-year agreements with other internationals do not expire until 1941. The LA. withdrew from the basic pact last Spring. The other internationals which are parties to the agreement are the American Federation of Musicians, the Brotherhood of Teamsters and Chauffeurs, the Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and the Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners. Questions By U. S. Delay Trust Trial The Government's demand for answers to 68 questions from all of the corporate defendants in the New York anti-trust suit, which was filed in U.S. District court here last week, may make the start of trial of the suit before the first of next year a physical impossibility, regardless of the pending Federal court action on the Government's application for a preferred place for the case on the trial calendar, industry attorneys indicated yesterday. Some companies, it is believed, will contest the Government's right to some of the information sought and others will question the propriety and relevancy of other parts of the interrogations. Both procedures will be time-consuming and, attorneys assert, a month or more may be required to obtain the information sought by the Govvernment and prepare it for submission. In their opinion, this would definitely prevent start of trial by Nov. 1, now only eight weeks away. The questions cover the history and financial structure of the industry and specific activities of the defendants in production, distribution and exhibition during the past three releasing seasons. Murphy Too Busy; Banquet Postponed Hollywood, Sept. 5. — The Motion Picture Democratic Committee today announced postponement of Thursday's banquet at which U. S. Attorney General Frank Murphy was to have awarded a scroll to the producer of the film "judged to have made the greatest contribution to the ideals of democracy." Word came from Washington that Murphy would be unable to attend at this time. He requested a week's postponement.