Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

Monday, January 22, 1940 Motion Picture Daily 9 Tips on Exploitation Seek 'Scarlet O'Hara' For Charlotte Party Charlotte, N. C, Jan. 21. — In cooperation with the Carolina Theatre, the Charlotte Observer is seeking a local "Scarlett O'Hara" for the "Gone T^With the Wind" ball to be held at the '^-lotel Charlotte Jan. 26 and for the opening of the picture here Jan. 29. The winner will be announced the morning of the grand ball. The Charlotte "Scarlett O'Hara" must measure up to as nearly as possible the measurements of Vivien Leigh. Foster Celebration Plugs 'Swanee River' Camden, N. J., Jan. 21. — For the showing of "Swanee River" at the Savar, the house joined with WCAM here to dedicate the week to the memory of Stephen Foster, marking the 76th anniversary of the death of the composer. Mayor George E. Brunner officially proclaimed the observance and all week the station will present daily a series of programs highlighting Foster's melodies. Seek Indian Fighters To Boost 'Geronimo' Kansas City, Jan. 21. — In advance of the showing of "Geronimo," Jerry Zigmond of the Newman here ran a personal advertisement in the Star, asking that any person active in fighting against the famed Indian make himself known. A special showing is planned for them. Repeated Ad Wording Used on 'Mr. Williams' Milwaukee, Jan. 21. — Fox's Palace here used a newspaper ad layout to plug "The Amazing Mr. Williams" and "Blondie Brings Up the Baby," with the same copy shown on either side of the ad's center line. The caption read : "This all-comedy show . . . so good we had to tell you about it twice !" Seeing Film Alone 'Dr. Jekyl' Stunt Kenosha, Wis., Jan. 21. — The Kenosha here exploited "Dr. Jekyl and Mr. Hyde" by offering to pay $5 to the first woman to sit in the theatre all alone with all the lights out at 12 midnight to see the picture. 17 Girls to Attend 'Seventeen' Preview Seventeen of the prettiest and most popular 17-year-old girls from 17 cities of the United States will go to Hollywood Feb. 15 to attend a press preview of Paramount's "Seventeen," from the Booth Tarkington story. The girls will be guests of Paramount for the trip, with Jackie Cooper and Betty Field of the film's cast greeting them in Hollywood. Newspapers and exhibitors in the cities will cooperate in the judging. Buy Remarque Novel "Flotsam," a novel by Erich Maria Remarque, has been acquired from M-G-M by David L. Loew and Albert Lewin, who will begin preparations for production immediately. The picture will be their first for United Artists release. Seal Films to Escape Los Angeles Censor Los Angeles, Jan. 21. — City councilmen, who voted 10 to 4 to order preparation of an ordinance giving the Police Commission censorship authority over films and stage plays, over the week-end indicated that all pictures having the production code administration seal would not be included in the province of the Commission's powers if the measure is passed. Norris J. Nelson, councilman from the Hollywood district who introduced the resolution asking for an ordinance which would authorize the Police Commission to close theatres having "lewd or immoral" film or stage presentations, brought the issue before the Council again Friday. Nelson withdrew the original plan and said he would substitute this week a resolution along the same lines, but excluding all films having the production code seal. Lens Film Boosts Screen Brilliancy Invention of a metallic film, applied to projection lenses and increasing screen brilliance by more than 15 per cent, was announced over the weekend at Rochester by Bausch and Lomb Optical Co. Rochester projectionists who tested this "revolutionary event in optics," reported a "marked improvement in image contrast and increased sharpness of focus," the company said. The metallic coating which covers the projection lenses is four-millionths of an inch thick. Loew's theatres in Rochester have ordered 25 new lenses to increase the screen brilliance for "Gone With the ind" showings, it was announced. Television Wages Showdown Nears {Continued from p-acte 1) immediate negotiations for television wage standards in return for a concession by Equity that A.F.R.A. and S.A.G. could participate in the conferences. However, the A.F.R.A. board refused to accept the agreement and failed to adopt a proposed basis for negotiations. Mrs. Holt refused to disclose the reasons for the board's failure to take action. Thomson has indicated that he will back Equity on the issue of immediate negotiations as against A.F.R.A.'s stand that they should be delayed until next Fall. However, Thomson has also stated that his group would refuse to recognize Equity's television jurisdiction if a vote were taken at the present time. S.A.G. is not interested in acquiring such jurisdiction for itself, according to Thomson. As part of the compromise agreement by the joint committee, Equity yielded to A.F.R.A. on the question of seeking a written contract. Instead, an oral understanding fixing a minimum for salaries at the present time will be sought. After A.F.R.A. obtains a renewal of its present contract, which expires in August, and television has had a chance to expand fuller, a written contract will be sought. 1st Negro Newsreel Company Organized Chicago, Jan. 21. — America's first Negro newsreel company was organized here this week. Dwight L. Jones, president of Pioneer National Newsreel, said this company will service 1,000 theatres catering to Negroes or mixed audiences. A reel will be issued every 30 days. The initial reel has been completed. The new service starts Feb. 1. Testimony at Odds, FCC to See Latest Television Devices Washington, Jan. 21. — F.C.C. officials over the week-end arranged for visits to several television laboratories to see demonstrations of new developments in transmission and reception as discussed during a week of hearings on new television regulations. The demonstrations were requested Friday by Chairman James L. Fly in order that the Commission might estimate the current position of the industry in evaluating the conflicting claims regarding the adequacy of the RMA standards around which most of the testimony and examination revolved. F.C.C. Distributes 1939 Report Forms Washington, Jan. 21. — The Federal Communications Commission has begun the distribution to broadcasters of the forms on which they must make financial reports for 1939 and which must be filed not later than April 15. It was pointed out by commission officials that the schedules are fewer in number than for 1938 and are accompanied by detailed instructions designed to simplify the task of reporting. Canada Broadcast Officials Meet Today Montreal, Jan. 21. — Fifty private radio broadcasting stations in Canada will be represented at the annual convention of the Canadian Association of Broadcasters opening here tomorrow. T. A. Evans, secretary, said many matters, including performing right fees, will be discussed. Sues Over Radio Show Suit for $100,000 damages against the Knickerbocker Broadcasting Co., Inc., operator of WMCA, has been filed in N. Y. Supreme Court by Broadcast Producers of New York. Plaintiff claims to have created a radio series, "Makers of Man," and to have contracted to sell it to Emergency Shelter. Inc. Defendant is charged with stopping the sale and illegally asserting ownership of the program. 'Hawk' Role to Brenda Hollywood, Jan. 21. — Brenda Marshall has been given the lead opposite Errol Flynn in "The Sea Hawk" at Warners. The role was originally assigned to Olivia de Havj.lland, who is now under suspension at the studio. Radio Brevities NOT to be outdone by the British Broadcasting Corp. which regularly broadcasts the chimes of "Big Ben" as a symbol of Britain's unity, WNYC will broadcast the chimes of the City Hall clock at noon each day, starting this noon. Difficulties with other clocks chiming in the same neighborhood has made it necessary to make a special recording of the bells and the transcription will be used for the actual broadcast. Marsh Promoted at CBS Allyn J. Marsh, who has been with the CBS sales department for 11 years, has been named assistant sales manager effective today, William C. Gittinger, vice-president in charge of sales, announced Friday. William H. Ensign, present assistant sales manager, will remain with the network's sales department with other responsibilities, Gittinger said. Personalities in the News Lanny Ross was tendered a birthday party at the Waldorf-Astoria over the tueek-end by friends including Andy Sannella, Dick Liebert, Jack Schaindlin , John Gordon and John (Oscar) Wellington. . . . Maureen O'Hara will appear as Hedda Hopper's guest star today, Wednesday and Friday in a dramatisation of her own life. . . . Ginger Rogers and Joel McCrea will be co-starred in a radio adaptation of "Bachelor Mother" tonight over CBS. . . . William Ray, manager of NBC's Chicago publicity office, returned to Chicago over the weekend. KMPC Dedication Tonight Bing Crosby, Charles Correl, Freeman Gosden and Harold Lloyd will participate in a dedicatory program over KMPC, Los Angeles, tonight when the station becomes an optional CBS outlet. Paul Whiteman, who became a KMPC director with the four above-named last week, will be heard via a recording. S. G. Richards, principal owner of KMPC, as well as of WJR, Detroit, and WGAR, Cleveland, also will speak. "Girl Interne" for 4th Year General Foods has renewed "Joyce Jordan, the Girl Interne" for an additional year. The show has been on CBS for three years. The time will be changed to 2:15 P.M., Mondays through Fridays, and a re-broadcast for the West Coast will be added at 6:30 P.M. Fifty-three stations will be used. One Minute Interview "More than one-third of all radio programs are transcribed. It is reasonable to believe that when television becomes further advanced, whether as a network or as individual stations, a large part of programs will consist of films, which will be to te'evision what records are to radio," sags E. A. Hungerford, Jr., in charge of film programs for NBC television.