Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

s Motion Picture Daily Monday, September 11, 1939 Night Network Shows Attain Higher Rating Average rating of all evening network programs during the Winter of 1938-1939 increased from 8.8 per cent to 9.3 per cent, and the number of evening shows rating 10 per cent or higher increased from 39 to 44, as compared with the previous W inter, according to a report just completed by the Cooperative Analysis of Broadcasting, compilers of the "Crosley Reports." The number of daytime programs rating over five per cent was almost twice as great as during the previous Winter, the report states. The report also indicates deviations in program preferences by economic groups. For example, programs such as Goods News, Ford Sunday Evening Hour, Cities Service Concerts, Human Side of the News, The Circle, Chase and Sanborn Hours, Edward G. Robinson's Big Town, Bob Benchley's Melody and Madness, Hour of Charm, Information Please, Saturday Night Serenade, appeal predominantly to higher income levels, whereas the programs of Carson Robinson, Plantation Party, Mary and Bob, Lum 'n' Abner, Major Bowes and National Barn Dance are cited as shows which appeal principally to the lower income levels. The 10 leading programs for the Winter period, according to the report, were Chase & Sanborn, Jack Benny, Lux Radio Theatre, Kraft Music Hall, Major Bowes, Town Hall Tonight, Burns and Allen, Good News and Big Town. Warner Manager's Meet Here Today Sales plans under the new Warner merchandising policy will be discussed today when Warner district managers will meet at the home office with their sales managers, Ben Kalmenson, western and southern manager, and Roy Haines, eastern and Canadian manager. Attending will be W. E. Callaway, West Coast district manager; Fred Jack, southern manager; Rud Lohrenz, Prairie manager ; and Henry Herbel, midwest manager, who will meet with Kalmenson. Meeting with Roy Haines will be Wolfe Cohen, Canadian manager ; Robert Smeltzer, central manager ; and Ed Schnitzer, eastern manager. Gradwell Sears and Carl Leserman will supervise the meetings. "The Rains Came" (20//i Century-Fox) Darryl F. Zanuck has produced a finely emotional, stirring drama in "The Rains Came." What will recommend it to the majority is a love story in which Tyrone Power and Myrna Loy are the Great Lovers, which alone is a guarantee of a box-office boom. The picture's exploitable possibilities are not all theirs, however. The mood is well sustained, under Clarence Brown's direction, against a spectacle of earthquakes, flood and fire in exotic India. Zanuck has retained the spirit and richness of Louis Bromfield's best selling novel. A fiery love story is developed in a clash of loyalties which brings forth "The woman I love" theme, with Power compelled to choose between ruling a dominion and Miss Loy, his heart's desire. No finer romantic acting has been put on celluloid with such admirable restraint. George Brent, as one of Miss Loy's former lovers, has one of the big parts, and is always in complete mastery of his serio-comic role. He is properly concerned for his friend, Major Rami Safti (Tyrone Power), when Lady Edwina Esketh in the person of Miss Loy, having achieved respectability by marriage, arrives and immediately begins a campaign for the dashing young Major. The Major, having w-ork to do as a physician, is in no mood to philander but yet is cognizant of Miss Loy's blandishments. He breaks through his outward frigidity when fate in the form of floods and plague throw them together in acts of mercy. Lady Esketh's redemption and self sacrifice as she realizes the Major's destiny is with his people and not with her are developed with compelling drama culminating in a deathbed scene which will touch every woman's heart. The large cast of competent players boasts well known names. Brenda Joyce, a starlet whose luminosity is bound to increase, Nigel Bruce, Maria Ouspenskaya and Mary Nash contribute handsomely to the events. The special effects scenes, staged by Fred Sersen, are worthy of an award. Philip Dunne and Julien Joscphson did the screen play, and Alfred Newman handled the musical score. Harry Joe Brown was associate producer. Running time, 104 mins. "G."* Alfred Finestoxe Treasurers Join IA's New Division Entire treasurers' group of Theatrical Managers, Agents and Treasurers Union has transferred its allegiance to the new I.A.T.S.E. division of treasurers and ticket sellers, it became apparent over the weekend. Temporary officers elected for the new group are all former officials of the T.M.A.T. An appeal to the American Far 'ution of Labor convention in Oc* ^er is under consideration. A hearing before the State Labor Relations Board is also scheduled for this week, but with all the treasurers out, it is not likely that the T.M.A.T. can prevail before the labor board. An effort, meanwhile, is being made to obtain contracts for press agents and managers but negotiations have been hampered by the dispute. The previous contract expired Sept. 1. Officers elected by the LA. treasurers group are: Walter O'Connor, president; George Ashby, vice-president ; James J. Murphy, secretarytreasurer ; and Morrie Seamon, business agent. *"G" denotes general classification. 'CavelV Previews Washington, Sept. 10. — A series of previews of RKO's "Nurse Edith Cavell" in the East and South was launched Friday night at Keith's. Anna Neagle and Herbert Wilcox, star and producer of the film, addressed the audience personally following the showing. The preview tour continues to Atlanta. Dallas. New Orleans. Chicago and Cleveland. War Makes Venezuela Big Film Market for U. S. Form Bi-Pal Theatres Albany, Sept. 10.— Bi-Pal Theatres, Inc., has been incorporated with capital stock of $10,000 in $100 shares, with Harry Fliashnick, Benjamin Sherman and Charles Steiner, New York, as directors. By ALFRED FINESTONE American distributors have an opportunity to improve their position in Venezuela because of the war, in the opinion of Luis Enrique Perez, distributor in that country, who is in New York on business. Since late last year French films have been replacing American pictures to a great extent, especially in the cities, says Perez, who estimates that 60 per cent of the playing time is given to French films and only 40 per cent to American product. Now that French production is stopped, the American companies have an opportunity to recoup the business lost and consolidate their position for the future, declares Perez. French films came into vogue with the improvement of that product, and lately theatres in the interior have been playing them. French stars are now as well known as the Hollywood players. Perez, who is the Republic distributor at Caracas, two years ago introduced serials in Venezuela. When he found resistance, he rented a theatre for three days and ran five chapters of "Zorro Rides Again" at one time, and nothing else. Today the chapter plays are much in demand, even among first run theatres, he said. Spanish language pictures are not IKipular. Mediocrity of Mexican pro duction has "spoiled" the market for this product, and exhibitors will not book it unless they see it. Argentine films, however, are shown. Venezuela is enjoying a business boom with prices high and theatres prosperous. There are 175 houses in the country, all wired, and 10 are being built. The film market is an exhibitor's paradise because of the relatively few theatres and the competition among the distributors. A dozen distributors vie for representation at the eight first runs in Caracas, capital city with a population of 200,000. The country is free of film restrictions and imports are subject only to a nominal duty. Venezuelan prosperity is maintained by a royalty on oil production, which nets the Government a large sum. More than $100,000,000 annually is spent on national public works. Ticket Price Bill's Passage Assured (Continued from page 1) sold by any ticket broker or other person." "If any ticket broker, employe of such ticket broker or any other person who shall resell such ticket shall exact, accept or receive, directly or indirectly, any greater amount than such regular or established price or charge plus the maximum premium as printed upon the ticket at which the ticket may be resold, together with the amount of any tax imposed by the Government of the United States, such ticket broker, employee of such ticket_ broker or other person, shall be guilty of a violation of this article." Kuykendall in Plea On Trade Practices Every major company favors adoption of some form of trade practice machinery for settlement of industry disputes but will undertake individual action along this line only when convinced that the proposed trade practice code is dead, Ed Kuykendall, M.P. T.O.A. president, reported after conferring with sales executives here last week. Kuykendall left New York for his Columbus, Miss., home on Saturday but plans to return to New York in about two weeks for further discussions of prospects of action on trade practices. Plan High Power Station Cincinnati, Sept. 10.— The Cincinnati Times-Star, which recently purchased WKRC, CBS station for Cincinnati, and will take the station over on Sept. 24, has been granted a permit by the F. C. C. for a new high frequency station on an experimental basis to operate conditionally on a frequency of 25,175 kilocycles with 100 watts power. Epidemic Damages Grosses in Buffalo Buffalo, Sept. 10. — An infantile paralysis epidemic has broken out here with more than 100 victims and several deaths already recorded. Exhibitors pledged full cooperation to the Board of Health but grosses have been badly hit as a result of an order to all ticket takers to refuse admission to children under 14. Low grosses were recorded at all downtown and neighborhood houses with a considerable portion of the adult patronage frightened by Department of Health announcements. School openings have been postponed.