Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

DO NOT RF MOTION PICTURE DAILY Movr VOL. 46. NO. 47 NEW YORK, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 1939 TEN CENTS Stockholders Of Columbia Elect Sept. 20 Action on Cohn Contracts Also Scheduled Columbia Pictures will hold the annual stockholders' meeting at the home office on Sept. 20 at 2 P. M., preceded by one hour by a special meeting of the voting trust certificate holders, who are Harry Cohn, Jack Cohn and A. H. Giannini. The stockholders' meeting will take action on the election of seven directors for the ensuing year ; approval of the extension of employment contracts for Harry and Jack Cohn for three years from July 1, 1939 ; approval of the issuance to Samuel J. Briskin an additional option for 2,500 shares of common stock ; approval of the absorption into the company of Columbia Pictures Corp. of California, Ltd., and Columbia Pictures Distributing Corp., a Delaware corporation. According to the proxy statement, Harry Cohn, as president, for the fiscal year to July 1, 1939, received a total remuneration of $201,420, including a weekly general expense allowance of $300. Jack Cohn, as vicepresident, for the same fiscal year, received total remuneration of $116,720, including a weekly general expense allowance of $200. Seek Bioff' s Return In Hollywood Post Hollywood, Sept. 6. — A movement to return William Bioff to Hollywood as regional director of I.A.T.S.E. got underway today following the mailing of a letter to the former personal representative of George E. Browne by the executive board of International Photographers Local 659 asking his aid in negotiations with producers. Other locals of the Alliance are expected to take similar action. Bioff has been inactive for about a year following his resignation. Last week he managed to bring about a settlement of the dispute between the IA and 4-A. Officers of the Photographers Local declared they believe that Bioff can be highly instrumental in settling the jurisdictional dispute between it and the American Society of Cinematographers and obtain a satisfactory contract with the studios. N.J. Allied Debates On Single Features And War Situation Atlantic City, Sept. 6. — The possibility of abandoning double features and establishing a policy of single features by agreement of exhibitors in New Jersey will be investigated by the Allied Theatres of New Jersey. Action was taken today as the 20th annual convention of the N. J. Allied unit opened here with approximately 75 delegates present. George Gold, Newark exhibitor, is presiding. The double feature problem was discussed at considerable length with many exhibitors voicing their opinions. Polls at various theatres reveal that the public favors two feature films by a 3 to 1 vote, it was said . Col. H. A. Cole, national Allied president, injected himself into the discussion by saying : "My experience has taught me that the public will always accept a banquet at the price of a ham sandwich when a banquet is offered." Colonel Cole said more important matters than the dual feature problem need to be cleared up first. He added that a single feature policy will be possible only if monopoly in exhibition is broken. Sidney Samuelson, national Allied director and president of the Eastern Pennsylvania Allied unit, concurred with Cole's remarks. Samuelson also summarized the effect of the European war upon the (Continued on page 2) TRADE LOSES WAR JITTERS; OUTLOOK GROWS OPTIMISTIC A generally more optimistic attitude toward the industry's outlook for the immediate future in the face of any protracted European war was apparent in home offices yesterday in direct contrast to the apprehension which prevailed all day Tuesday. More specific information from England, indicating that the closing of theatres there will be neither prolonged nor general, coupled with brighter trade prospects at home and in untroubled world centers, did much to offset the first jittery reaction of the trade to the outbreak of hostilities abroad. Whereas only a handful of industry officials believed on Tuesday that the industry could avoid making drastic reductions in production expenditures and operating personnel to offset what was feared would be a total loss of British and French revenue, amounting to 20 to 30 per cent of total foreign business, yesterday found a majority of company executives sharing their view. Canada Gets War Censor for Films Toronto, Sept. 6. — The Canadian Government has appointed Walter S. Thompson as chief censor at Ottawa, invoking the War Measures Act of 1914, which remained on the statute books. L. Clare Moyer of the Senate staff has been named motion picture censor with jurisdiction over the regular provincial censor boards. Commander C. P. Edwards, as chief of air services, is the radio censor. Under provisions of the act, the chief censor has wide powers, with direct jurisdiction over all forms of (Continued on pane 11) Industry Officials, Stars Rush Home to Escape War mm } American "refugees" stranded in Europe are hurrying home on all available boats. H. J. Yates, president of Consolidated Film Industries, accompanied by Mrs. Yates and relatives, and Mr. and Mrs. Gene Autry arrive today on the Manhattan. Autry was completing a personal appearance tour in the British Isles when the party was ad H. J. Yates vised by the U.S. Embassy in London to leave for home immediately. The balance of Autry's tour was canceled. His two horses arrived here Monday. Concerned about her family in France, Annabella, 20th Century-Fox player, left on the Clipper yesterday to persuade them to come to America. Annabella arrived last Friday on the Clipper with her husband, Tyrone Power, after a honeymoon in Europe. Production requirements made it necessary for Power to leave for the coast yesterday. Due on the Manhattan today are Norma Shearer, Grace Moore and Elsa Maxwell, from a holiday in France. Art Schmidt of Loew's publicity department is worried about his wife, Vella, who is marooned in Paris. She hopes to leave on the Washington, the next American boat from Europe, scheduled to sail Sept. 11. A (Continued on page 2) Film Stocks Recover Action of the New York stock market played its part in the change of attitude. The increased values of industrials and commodities spelled to many industry executives boosted purchasing power for many sections of the country. Where film securities lost ground to the general list on Tuesday, the shares of virtually all leading companies showed healthy recoveries yesterday, reflecting the renewed confidence of the industry itself in its immediate future. Talk of drastically revised production schedules and budgets all but disappeared. Many companies stated definitely that no cuts would be made and that all release schedules would be met. A general belief was that the in (Continued on page 7) Film Stocks, Bonds Rise After Losses Film stocks and bonds showed mixed gains and losses yesterday with the general tendency upward. A number of the securities regained the losses suffered on Tuesday. Warner issues showed a complete recovery with the common regaining the % point loss to close at 4, the preferred regained 3 points to close at 45, and Warner 6's '48 up 1 to close at 83 against a fa point loss on Tuesday. Paramount common regained a Y% point loss to close at 7^4, but 1st pre (Continucd on page 2)