Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1939)

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4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, September 15, 1939 Asks Repeal Of Delaware Sunday Laws Wilmington, Sept. 14. — A special session of the state legislature to revise Delaware's ancient Sunday blue laws was urged here today by Attorney General James R. Morford. In a communication to Senator Paul R. Rinard of Wilmington, father of the Sunday movies bill which was vetoed recently, Morford also asked that the special nine-member commission anoointed to study the statutes decide as soon as possible whether they should or should not be strictly en forced. Strict enforcement of the 144-year old laws, which prohibit any worldly labor on the Sabbath, would cripple the state's commercial and social life on Sunday, he said. The communication listed 2,000 blue law violators in Wilmington and Del aware in two Sunday surveys recently made by city and state police and said it would be "extremely unfortunate" if the question of revision is permitted to wait until the next regular session of the assembly in 1941. Amusement violators in the state totaled 18, none of which were in Wilmington. The survey was made to give the commission facts and figures. He declared that the "demand for revision of these laws is so great, and such revision will so serve the public welfare and answer a real and persistent public demand that the matter of a special session would and should be given very serious consideration by the executive arm of the government." He suggested that the commission recommend to Governor Richard C. McMullen that he call a special session. Harmon Foundation Makes School Films Several films on social, economic and religious themes are being prepared by the Harmon Foundation under the supervision of Mary Brady, director, for release to schools, churches and organizations. Three of the films are on the work at African missions and were shot by Mr. and Mrs. Ray Garner during a 17-t"onth expedition. These are "Bamba," "Ngono and Her People" and "Song After Sorrow." William L. Rogers, film associate of the Harmon Foundation, is making a film record of the cooperative movement in Sweden, Denmark and Finland which "will be released as a series of three-reelers. Hollywood Preview Aubrey Blair Takes AGVA Post in West Hollywood, Sept. 14. — Aubrey Blair, executive secretary of the Junior Division of Screen Actors Guild since its formation in 1933, resigned that post today to become director of organization for the American Guild of Variety Artists for the western states. Blair has been engaged in organizing work for A.G.V.A. in San Francisco for the past few weeks. He will go to Portland, Seattle and Salt Lake City on his first organizing assignments in his new post. "Thunder Afloat'' (M-G-M) Hollywood, Sept. 14. — How sturdy Yankee seafarers fought and con quered the 1918 U-boat menace is graphically illustrated in "Thunder Afloat." Authentic fact and romantic fiction are blended in the stirring story which by reason of current events is of timely topical significance. Personal differences existing between rival tug boat captains, Wallace Beery and Chester Morris, are subjugated but never forgotten in a time of common danger and national emergency. Naturally resentful because Morris has been made his superior officer, thus permitting comedy Beery considers the fight between U. S. and Germany a personal affair because the enemy sunk his tug. Unamenable to discipline, the vengeful skipper commits a rash act that endangers shipping and service safety and so is reduced in rank. Beery's daughter, Virginia Grey, who loves her father greatly, comes to have a warm estimation for Morris. Beery, reduced to the rank of a common seaman, is a major factor in a group of shadow fleet fighters which plays hob with submarines. In exciting sequences, he leads the crew which plays hob with enemy, sinking a submarine. He is restored to his officer rank when the sub chaser fleet is ordered to convoy duty. With a great majority of American theatre goers being war conscious whether walling or not, "Thunder Afloat" naturally is a timely attraction Even with the world at peace, the exciting story authored by Ralph Wheelwright and Harvey Haislip, which Haislip and WTells Root trans cribed to the screen, would have high entertainment value by reason of its exciting quality story and thrilling character production effects. Also the presence of Wallace Beery in the cast of any picture makes it an attraction which many consider it a duty to see. 'in this he is the two fisted Beery, rough and determined, yet whimsical. With Morris and Miss Grey heading the supporting cast, George B. Seitz directed the picture in a manner that should stir patriotism in all who see it. Running time, 90 minutes. "G."* G. McC. *"G" denotes general classification. See War Shifting World Television Center to U. S. By ALFRED FINESTONE With public television suspended in England, probably for the duration of the war, the center of development has shifted to America. Television in Britain is controlled by BBC, which now has come directly in the Government service. The air has been cleared of virtually all radio broadcasts except those in line with national defense. Baird Television Corp. will not be deterred, however, in furthering its plans to install television screens in New York theatres, according to Arthur A. _ Lee, vice-president of Gaumont British. The company moreover is planning to put on programs of its own and probably will seek to tie up major sports events, he said. Lee has received information from London that French planes reconnoitering enemy lines at the western front are experimenting with television sending apparatus. The pictures are received at field headquarters and' photographed as they come in. Meanwhile, Scophony, Ltd., another English manufacturer of television equipment, is attempting to establish itself here. Jack Davis, managing director of the Monseigneur News Theatre Circuit of 16 houses in England and Scotland, is in New York seeking to interest capital in forming an American Scophony company. Davis arrived here three weeks ago primarily on a vacation, accompanied by his wife and two children. They now find themselves stranded, because the British consulate has advised against sailing for the time being, even on an American boat. Davis has pioneered in theatre television. His most unusual experience was when one of his newsreel theatres in London received the Boone-Danahar fight. The theatre seats 500, and although tickets sold for $5, a crowd of 6,000 persons tried to get in. Scophony has developed theatre screens up to 20 by 12 feet, Davis said, and home receivers show clear pictures up to 20 inches in width, with a fourfoot screen available for the home. He has inspected television here and believes American development to be behind England's. He believes great progress has been shown in a short time and will continue to be made. Television in England is surrounded by technicalities, said Davis, such as who owns the air rights and if a theatre, to show a prize fight, must compensate the promoter. The question has also been raised whether a camera crew may work on private property without paying the owner for the privilege. It is expected that there will be clarifying test cases on such points. Newsreel Parade Prominent in the new issues are the raising of the submarine Squalus, revision of the Neutrality Law under dispute, and the survivors of the Athenia arriving in Nova Scotia. The reels and their contents follow : „ MOVIETONE NEWS, No. 2— Nefcm.ity revision discussed by Congress leaders. Athenia survivors tell of attack. Squalus raised, towed to port. Winter coast fashions. Navy and Texas Christian football teams in practice. Boxing in Australia. NEWS OF THE DAY, No. 200— Athenia survivors in Nova Scotia. Shots taken aboard German U-boat. Senators Nye and Thomas discuss neutrality. Pershing celebrates birthday. Squalus raised. Fordham opens football season. PARAMOUNT NEWS, No. 5— Football at Annapolis. Life boat race in New York. Navy tows Squalus. Athenia survivors tell of hardships. Neutrality story: Troops to Canal Zone, destroyers reconditioned, recruiting, and Senator Thomas speaks on situation. RKO PATHE NEWS, No. 17— Athenia survivors return. Pershing is 79 years old. Squalus raised. Nye and Thomas on embargo. Navy football team in training. Polo match. UNIVERSAL NEWSREEL, No. 806Roosevelt calls special session of Congress. Navy recruiting. Red Cross speeds production of supplies. Ship tanks to Fort Knox. Salmon fishing in Oregon. Log rolling in California. Pershing has a birthday. Squalus raised and towed. Athenia survivors reach port. Newsreels Without War Action Shots (.Continued from page 1) contents • apparently have been deleted by censors. Also, irregular schedules of Clippers and ships make reception of material all the more uncertain. Several reels have obtained passports and visas for American cameramen to enter Poland but have delayed starting the men abroad because of inability to obtain assurances that these men would be admitted to France or Germany in the event Poland was conquered by the time of their arrival in Europe. The reels figure it would be impossible now to land a cameraman in Poland before Sept. 28, by which time the situation there might be such that their passports would not be honored and they would be without rights to enter another country at the scene of action. France has not agreed yet to admit news cameramen from America. The new issue of News of the Day includes some shots made aboard a German submarine. This, however, was authorized by Reich officialdom prior to the imposition of rigid censorship at the start of the war. Curiously, despite the inability of reels to obtain war material, some report that they are receiving complaints from exhibitors that the reels are giving over too much footage to material pertaining to the war. WKRC Mutual Outlet Effective Sept. 24, WKRC, Cincinnati, will become the basic outlet for the Mutual network in the Cincinnati area. Operating with 5 000 watts day and 1,000 watts night on 550 kilocycles, WKRC is currently owned and operated by CBS, but it is under contract of sale to the Cincinnati Times-Star, subject Jo approval of license transfer by F C C