Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1940)

Alert, tion Picture Industry MOTION PICTURE DAILY NO. 17 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 23, 1940 TEN CENTS Film Salaries Bared by U.S.; Colbert First List Omits Loew's, RKO, 'U' Officials' Earnings Washington, Jan. 22. — Claudette Colbert of Paramount took the top salary in the film industry in 1938, with a total of $301,944, it was disclosed today by the Treasury Department in listing individuals receiving compensation from corporations in excess of $75,000. Publication of the list, required under the revenue act, formerly covered compensation in excess of $15,000, but was changed, by an amendment to the law last year, to the higher figure in order to cut it to reasonable proportions. Warner Baxter of 20th CenturyFox, was second top money maker, with $297,807 out of a total of 86 actors, actresses and executives in the. film industry carried in the 398-name list. As the result of a technicality, un (Continued on page 4) Capra in One-Film Deal with Warner Hollywood, Jan. 22. — A deal is expected to be signed this week whereby Frank Capra and Robert Riskin will produce their first independent picture for Warner release, with Warners to provide the financing. The deal applies to one picture only, "Life and Death of John Doe," an original by Richard Connell and Robert Presnell. William Holman, formerly Columbia studio manager, will be associated with Capra and Riskin as general manager. Start of the picture, probably to be made on the Warner lot, is scheduled for the middle of April. '69th' Stars Arrive, Given Big Welcome A crowd of more than 5,000 persons gave a rousing reception to James Cagney and Pat O'Brien at Grand Central station yesterday morning while the band of the 165th Regiment (the old 69th) blared martial music to which even the red caps marched in step. O'Brien and Jack L. Warner, accompanied by their wives, arrived from the Coast to attend the 69th (Continued on page 7) Not Guilty Bioff Income Tax Plea Los Angeles, Jan. 22. — William Bioff, I.A.T.E. leader, today entered a not guilty plea to two counts of evading income taxes after his attorneys George Breslin and Michael Luddy, reserved the right to interpose a demurrer to the indictments. Federal Judge Ralph Jenny, before whom Bioff appeared, set Feb. 5 as the date on which the trial would be scheduled. Dembow Returns In Executive Post At Para. Theatres First Lady Heads Washington Elite As 'Lincoln' Opens Washington, Jan. 22. — With Mrs. Franklin D. Roosevelt as honor guest, the world premiere of RKO's "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" was held at the RKO Keith here tonight. The benefit performance was sponsored by the Newspaper Women's Club of Washington, with Mrs. Nicholas Longworth as honorary chairman and Helene Livingston Kravadze as active chairman. Celebrities of the screen, political and social worlds of Washington attended the premiere, which was staged with all the trimmings of a Hollywood opening. Two batteries of anti-aircraft searchlights, manned by Coast Artillery units, went the customary arc-lights one better. Attending were the stars of the film, (Continued on page 6) Sam Dembow, Jr., will return to Paramount as a member of the home office theatre executive staff within the next few days. One of the most experienced theatre executives in the industry, Dembow was in charge of Paramount theatre operations following the resignation of Sam Katz, and prior to that was second in command of Publix Theatres Corp., the subsidiary which, prior to the "decentralization of Paramount theatre operations, had as many as 1,800 theatres within its fold at one time. Dembow's theatre experience dates back "to 1923, when he became associated with the old Herbert L. Rothschild chain. He occupied numerous sales posts for William Fox companies from 1913 to 1922, and was Pacific Coast district manager for Samuel Goldwyn in 1922 and 1923. When the Rothschild circuit was acquired by Famous Players-Lasky, the predecessor to Paramount, Dembow was in charge of the booking and buying of all attractions for Famous Players-Lasky theatres. With the organization of Publix Theatres he was made executive vice-president and was an officer and director in many of its subsidiaries. With the decentralization of Paramount theatre operations he became vice-president of Paramount Theatres Service Corp. in 1933, and resigned late in 1934 to become general manager of National Screen Service. He occupied that post until 1937 when he (Continued on page 6) 10,000 Theatres to Observe Help Finland Days Feb. 17-18 Feb. 17 and 18 have been designated as "Help Finland Days" in theatres by the motion picture division of the Finnish Relief Fund, Inc., headed by former President Herbert Hoover. The division's goal is $500,000. L. E. Thompson of RKO, chairman of the film division, has assured Hoover that 10,000 or more theatres, including the large circuits and independents, will cooperate in the campaign. Collections among patrons will be taken in lobbies on the two days, wherever possible by girls representing Scandinavian organizations and dressed in Finnish national costumes. After the collection is completed, the money is to be turned over to theatre manager, who will send a check for the amount to Raymond Sawtell, treasurer of the Fund. Hoover sent wires to the presidents of all exhibitor organizations urging their cooperation, and the response is (Continued on page 7) Eastern N. Y. Allied Votes for Neely Bill Albany, Jan. 22. — Eastern New York Allied members attending today's regional meeting at the Ten Eyck here went on record in favor of the Neely bill. Later, a bloc known to favor the bill, resigned from the organization on the grounds that the effectiveness (Continued on page 7) 'IP Plans 43 Films During New Season Sets Distribution of 3 Frank Lloyd Pictures Universal will schedule 43 pictures for production next season, the same number which the company has scheduled for the current release year, Nate J. Blumberg, president, and William A. Scully, vice-president and distribution head, said yesterday on their return from a two weeks production conference at the studio. The company's decision not to reduce its production schedule next season because of uncertainties in foreign markets and other considerations was reached at the studio conferences. Universal's schedule for the current year consists of 40 productions of its own and three which it was to distribute for Harry Edington. The latter, after delivering one, was released from his Universal commitments to take charge of production of the higher budget pictures for RKO. Uni (Continued on page 7) Paramount Plans Fewer '40 Films Production of fewer pictures for the 1940-'41 season will be considered by Paramount at home office conferences this week, Y. Frank Freeman, studio head, said yesterday on his arrival here from the Coast and New Orleans. Freeman said that no decision to make fewer pictures next season had been made by Paramount yet, but that the matter had been broached and that a decision would be made here this week. The Paramount studio head was accompanied from New Orleans by E. (Continued on page 6) 20th-Fox Executives See 'Wrath' Tonight Darryl F. Zanuck and Joseph M. Schenck will head a group of notables attending the press preview of "The Grapes of Wrath" at the Normandie Theatre at 8:30 o'clock tonight. Also attending will be Nunnally Johnson, who wrote the screenplay and was associate producer on the film ; Gene Markey and Hedy Lamarr, as well as a large group of home bf( Continued on page 4)