Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

6 Motion Picture Daily Monday, April 15, 1940. Roosevelt Calls For No Monopoly In Television Field Washington, April 14. — Declaring that there must be no monopoly in television. President Roosevelt on Friday declared that he did not feel it desirable to permit one company, further advanced in its research than its competitors, to flood the market with receivers which could accept only its own transmissions and thus make it difficult for stations using other standards to gain a foothold. The President stated that he had discussed the matter with an official of an important radio company but refused to name him. R.C.A. is prepared to build its sets to receive all television programs on whatever standards transmitted, Manton Davis, vice-president and general counsel, told the F.C.C. Friday as the hearings closed. After pointing out that he thought the adoption of such sets would be of no advantage from an engineering, economic or public service standpoint, Manton said the offer was being made with the hope that it "will help the Commission to overcome the present deadlock which is retarding the progress of a new and promising industry." U. S. Opposes Trial Date Postponement (Continued from page 1) ordered previously by Judge Goddard. Attorneys for the majors believe that this supplemental bill may prove a factor which will delay trial. Another recent preparation of the Government for an early trial has been the service of subpoenas upon the major defendants themselves which require them to appear on May 1 with their books and records, it was learned on Friday. Federal Judge Samuel Mandelbaum on Friday granted a Government request to substitute Charles D. Prutzman, Universal director, for Charles R. Rogers as a defendant and to drop Adolph Rarhish from the suit. 'Came True' $6,800 Is Milwaukee High Milwaukee, April 14. — "It All Came True" and "House Across the Bay" gave the Warner $6,800, the week's best gross. Second money went to "The Blue Bird" and "Charlie Chan in Panama," which collected $5,400 at Fox's Palace. Estimated takings for the week ending April 11 : "The Blue Bird" (Zftth-Fox) "Charlie Chan in Panama" (20th-Fox) PALACE — (2,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $5,400. (Average, $4,000) "Thou Shalt Not Kill" (Rep.) RIVERSIDE— (2,700), 25c-30c-35c, 7 days. Stage: Vaudeville. Gross: $6,000. (Average, $6,500) "It's a Date" (Univ.) "City of Chance" (20th-Fox) STRAXD— (1,400), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. Gross: $1,700. (Average, $1,500) "It All Came True" (W. B.) "House Across the Bay" (U. A.) WARNER — (2,400), 25c-3Sc-50c, 7 days. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $4,500) "Strange Cargo" (M-G-M) "And One Was Beautiful" (M-G-M) WISCONSIN— (3,200), 25c-35c-50c, 7 days. "Cargo" 2nd week. Gross: $5,500. (Average, $5,500) I Drops Band Rather Than Pay Standby s Topeka, Kan., April 14.— Annoyed at having to pay a local band to stand by while an out-of-town name band appeared for stage shows, Lawrence Breuninger, Fox Midwest manager here, this week canceled a two-day engagement of Anson Week's orchestra. The musicians' union doesn't enforce the rule in cases where out-oftown bands appear at local clubs and dance halls, Breuninger said. He declined to pay the stand-in local band on the Week's performance. Roosevelt-Bronston Merger Completed Hollywood, April 14. — Merger of James Roosevelt's production organization with Samuel Bronston Prod., first reported in Motion Picture Daily three weeks ago, was concluded here over the weekend. Roosevelt becomes chairman of the board of the Bronston company, which will produce features for United Artists release. His Globe Prod, will confine itself to making 16mm. films for Mills Novelty Co. Bronston remains president of the merged company ; Edward H. Schwab is chairman of the executive committee ; Frank Perry, vice-president ; William O'Connor, secretary and director, and John J. Bergen, director. Henry Henigson will be assistant to Roosevelt and an associate producer for both Globe and Bronston. Hal Hall was named advertising and publicity director. The Bronston organization assumes Globe's production schedule and, with Roosevelt in charge of production, all pictures will be released as James Roosevelt productions. "The Bat," which Alfred Hitchcock may direct, is scheduled to start June 15. "Pot o' Gold," based on the radio program, will follow and a third to be produced by John M. Stahl will be set later. Merger was designed to provide a release for Bronston and greater capital assets for Globe. Cantor Film Opens Here Wednesday A welcome home celebration on the Lower East Side for Eddie Cantor, in conjunction with the world premiere of his M-G-M film, "Forty Little Mothers" at Loew's Canal, will be held on Wednesday. The day's events will include a luncheon at the Broadway Mansion given by the East Side Chamber of Commerce, at which Ida Cantor, the star's wife, will speak, and the placing of a metal tablet adjoining the site of the house in which Cantor was born. Union Party May 16 Philadelphia, April 14. — The Film Exchange Employes Union, Local B-7, has completed arrangements for the third annual dinner-dance held May 16 at the Broadwood Hotel. Louis Johnson, president-b(usiness agent of the New York local, was guest speaker at the local's regular meeting on Friday. Flood of Giveaways On Radio Expected (Continued from page 1) which have been holding off pending the decision, will seize upon the opportunity. Giveaway shows are inexpensive to produce, comparatively, and should be particularly attractive during the Summer months, it was said. The sponsor of "Pot o' Gold" has announced that the format of the show heard over NBC-Red, will be changed on Tuesday, April 30. Although agency circles have reported for weeks that the giveaway idea will be dropped on that date, the agency handling the account insists that the $1,000 award will be continued with a change in the method of granting the prize. Coast Exhibitors Arrange Program Los Angeles, April 14. — Details of the program for the first annual convention of the Pacific Coast Conference of Independent Theatre Owners at the Ambassador Hotel May 8-10 have been disclosed. Trustees will start private sessions May 7, and conclude them May 11, after the general convention ends. Subjects of the addresses and forum talks include : "Organization Production," "Double Bills," "Legislation," "Advertising Accessories," "Distribution," "M. P. T. O. A. Viewpoint," "The Government in Our Business," "Your Relations with the Public" and "Clearance and Zoning." A banquet will be held at Warners May 7, studio tours and a women's fashion show May 9. The convention will conclude with a dinner-dance at the Ambassador May 10. Radio Brevities SETTING at rest many of the ru-jl mors about the format of the 1 radio section of PM, the forthcoming I New York tabloid, John T. Mc l Manus, radio editor, declared over th<l weekend that PM would devote foui J full pages to radio. •Pro?^&' ust I ings, cross indexes, news of fwrgram s I personalities, politics and technical de ' velopments will be covered. "Listener's digest" of the radio pro grams will also be included — for ex-, ample, a summary of the discussioi on "Town Meeting of the Air." PA?; will evaluate advertising methods ant ' will mention the sponsors in the list ings. "It would be absurd," says Mc •, Manus, "to call Uncle Don the bes >' bubble-gum salesman in the world aw then refrain from disclosing what brand he sells." High Fidelity Demand Small In an interesting test to determinewhether listeners want high fidelityreception (and incidentally, F-M) Samuel E. Gill, market research am I alyst, has determined that only 20. ! • per cent of homes visited had then receivers tuned to the treble side, wit) J 47 per cent at bass and 32.5 in be tween. Treble is, of course, the con i trol which is used for highest fidelity) reception. In answer to questions, Gill learnei that 24.2 per cent always keep ther, tone controls at bass, 15.3 at treble 15.7 about half-way, and 44.8 per cen vary the tone control for diffcren broarnms.