Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

Alert, tion Picture Industry DO NOT REMQUE MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in F Accurate and Impartial , 47. NO. 13 NEW YORK, U.S.A., THURSDAY, JANUARY 18, 1940 TEN CENTS SCHINE WINS OYER U.S. IN WRIT FIGHT V Allied Fights To Stop Foes Of Neely Bill Attacks Terms for Four Films as 'Excessive' Washington, Jan. 17. — Determined to force the block booking issue to a final decision, the Allied States' directorate, meeting here in annual session, today agreed to bend every effort to the organization of national support for the Neely bill and to assuring a full representation of independent exhibitors at any hearings called by the House Interstate Commerce Committee, in charge of the measure. The Neely bill and the Government suit were the outstanding subjects of discussion at all-day meetings which also touched upon the industry's labor problems, "Gone With the Wind" percentages and the radio situation. Petitions Besiege Congress Myers disclosed that members of Congress are receiving large numbers of letters and petitions in opposition to the Neely bill and that work against the measure is being done among newspapers and the welfare, religious and educational groups supporting it. He urged that Allied exhibitors watch for and, if possible, "correct" such publicity. "It may _ be that the use of these methods will react against those employing them," he said. "In the mean (Continued on page 8) Ready to Negotiate Television Wages An immediate start of negotiations for television wage scales and working conditions loomed yesterday after a meeting of a joint committee composed of representatives from Actors Equity, American Federation of Radio Artists and Screen Actors Guild. The meeting was called principally to iron out differences between Equity and A.F.R.A. on a starting date. Equity has been pressing for immediate negotiations while A.F.R.A. has favored a temporary delay. Radio union officials believe that better terms can be obtained if negotiations are delayed until television is better established. A compromise was said to have been effected yesterday. Negotiations will be started now, while Equity, which has always claimed exclusive jurisdiction over the field, will permit (Continued on page 5) Tommies in France See Films Weekly London, Dec. 28 (By Mail). — Every British soldier in France who is not on outpost duty sees a motion picture every week. The official British Government body in charge of supplying screen entertainment for the troops in France has a staff of 65 operator-drivers covering the Western Front with film shows for the army. Feature, cartoon and newsreel compose each show. Agreement Near On British Withdrawals An agreement on the manner and extent to which individual companies will participate in withdrawals from the $17,500,000 maximum allocated by Great Britain to the American film industry for export is expected to be reached here within the next few days. Heads of major companies have been conferring at M.P.P.D.A. headquarters for some time past on the development of an equitable method of apportioning withdrawal shares among the seven participating companies with all except minor details having been agreed upon. Basis for the withdrawals will be the allocation to individual companies of a percentage of the total exportable amount equivalent to each company's (Continued on page 5) John Golden will be chairman and George Jessel, and Ben Bernie toastmasters of the luncheon Jan. 26 at the Hotel Astor under auspices of the Amusement Division of the New York and Brooklyn Federations of Jewish Philanthropies. James J. Walker, former Mayor of New York, will be guest of honor. David Bernstein and Major Albert Warner are co-chairman of the Amusement Division. More than 250 are expected to attend the luncheon, which is designed as a tribute to Walker's long association with the entertainment world. B. S. Moss is luncheon treasurer. Bernstein and Warner, in their statement on the luncheon, declared : "This is a special event to celebrate the career of a very special person. And lest we overlook an endearing Wanger Selected Head of Academy; Capra is Praised Hollywood, Jan. 17. — Walter Wanger today was elected president of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, succeeding Frank Capra, who declined to seek the office for the third consecutive term. Capra was drafted, however, as first vice-president. Other officers named were Edward Arnold, second vice-president; Robert Riskin, secretary ; John Aalberg, treasurer, and Donald Gledhill, reelected executive secretary. The officers were elected by the Academy's board of governors. Wanger, upon his election, said : "There are 8,500 creative artists in Hollywood and an 85-million-weekly theatre attendance. Both have more in common than mere entertainment. The screen is the greatest social influence, expanding as well as interpreting the American way of living to the whole world. There should be a closer understanding between the creators and their audience. "The Academy is the only institution in which actor, director, writer, (Continued on page 8) side of Jimmy's activities, this luncheon also will pay tribute to his years of effort on behalf of hospitals, childcare institutions and homes for the aged." Barney Balaban, Nate J. Blumberg, Jack Conn, Will Hays, David Sarnoff, George J. Schaefer, Joseph M. Schenck, Nicholas M. Schenck and Maurice Silverstone are serving as vice-chairmen of the luncheon committee. The committee on arrangements includes Phil Baker, Irving Berlin, Eddie Cantor, Eddie Duchin, Benny Goodman, Max Gordon. Hays, William Klein, Abe Lastfogel, Arthur Loew, Sam T. Lyons, Arthur Murray, William Morris, Jr., Charles O'Reilly, Walter Reade. Herman Robbins, Billy Rose, J. Robert Rubin, Marvin Schenck and Lee Shubert. Judge Denies Injunction to Stop Acquisition of More Theatres Buffalo, Jan. 17. — Schine Chain Theatres, Inc., its affiliates and eight major distributor defendants in the Government's anti-trust suit here won an important point today when U. S. District Judge John Knight filed an 18-page decision refusing to grant a preliminary injunction restraining Schine from acquiring more theatres while the action here is pending. Has No Effect on Suit The injunction was asked by the Government during arguments presented last September. "The court has not had an opportunity to hear or see the parties involved," Judge Knight stated in his opinion. "It is in no position to prejudge a result in this suit. No reason is shown why a trial cannot soon be had." "It does not seem to the court," the opinion continued, "that the acquisition of a few additional theatres would further delay or seriously embarrass the Government in the trial of this (Continued on page 5) SEC to Study All RKO Allowances The Securities & Exchange Commission will study and make recommendations on all applications for final allowances in the RKO reorganization proceedings, it was stated yesterday by Marlin Gale, attorney for the S.E.C, at a hearing before Federal Judge Bondy. Gale urged Judge Bondy to postpone applications of the Chemical Bank & Trust Co. for a final allowance of $38,125. plus $4,966 expenses, and for its attorneys, Wright, Gordon, (Continued on page 2) 20 Coast Writers Flying to See (69th' Twenty Hollywood correspondents will fly here as guests of the 69th Regiment at its reunion dinner at the Waldorf-Astoria next Wednesday featured by a screening of Warners' "The Fighting 69th." The writers will leave the Coast Tuesday morning in a chartered plane, arriving Wednesday morning. Among the writers who will come (Continued on page 8) 250 at Federation Drive Lunch to Honor Walker