Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1940)

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Picture Industry •■iLfc. COPY DO NpT_R r "ftT^N PICTURE M P. PRODUCERS & DISTRIBUTORS OF AM 28 WEST 44TH ST NEW YORK, Li* COP I INC First in and Impartial VOL. 47. NO. 114 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JUNE 11, 1940 Producers Bar Wagelncreases Because of War Committee Tells Writers Of Salary Policy Hollywood, June 10. — Resuming negotiations with the Screen Writers Guild on a collective bargaining agreement, the producers here informed the guild's committee that no contract which would increase costs would be entered into at this time due to the European situation. Company representatives and counsel pointed out that the loss of foreign revenue and decrease of domestic receipts made it impossible to consider increasing production costs. Among producer representatives present were E. J. Mannix, M-G-M ; Jack L. Warner, Warners ; J. R. McDonough, RKO, and Cliff Work, Universal. Counsel present included Mendel Silberberg, George Cohen, Homer Mitchell and Herbert Preston. Appearing for the guild were Sheridan Gibney, Charles Brackett, Dore Senary, Mary McCall, Jr., and Leonard Janofsky, attorney for the guild. Quigley Warns of New 'Public Enemy' Niagara Falls, N. Y., June 10. — A new "Public Enemy No. 1" in the person of professors of a type "which during these troubled years has become legion in educational institutions," was put in nomination in a commencement day address at Niagara University here today by Martin Quigley of New York, publisher and editor-in-chief of Quigley Publications. "When I use the term Public Enemy I am not thinking of some despised criminal, exalted in notoriety by the press. Such a person may take life, but he does not poison minds, corrupt souls. He is not in a position to seize youth and blight careers," Mr.. Quigley said. "I am thinking, rather, of such figures as the California professor who tells us that 'the conditions of 1940 cannot be met by the morals of 1490' — of the professor of sociology, at one of our great Eastern Universities, who told me he did not know what Communism was — a professor of sociology, mind you ; and again, of another college professor, attached to a great university handsomely en (Continued on page 4) Executives Arrive From London; Goetz Optimistic of Future Ben Goetz, head .of M-G-M production in England, will leave for the Coast by plane today to confer with studio officials on the possibilities of future production activity abroad. He arrived from Europe Sunday on the President Roosevelt, which also brought Robert T. Kane, in charge of 20th Century-Fox British production ; Joseph Friedman, Columbia's British sales manager ; Jeffrey Bernerd of Grand National Films of London, and their wives. While pointing out that no long range plans for European operations can be made at this time, Goetz expressed optimism that production in England could be continued, depending, however, upon the future course of the war and the willingness of Hollywood talent and technicians to assist. He intimated that production could (Continued on page 4) 'Orchid' and 'Sons' Get Strong Start "Brother Orchid" with Jimmy Dorsey's band on the stage at the Strand got off to a good start with an estimated $21,000 for the first three days. "Four Sons" and a stage show at the Roxv also did well with an estimated $22,000. Ending its first week tonight at the Paramount, "The Way of All Flesh" with Harry James' orchestra should gross an estimated $30,000 for the week. It will be held over. In the first four days of its second week, "My Favorite Wife" with a stage show at the Music Hall drew an estimated $45,000. "Our Town" will open there on Thursday. A revival of "Confessions of a Nazi Spy" grossed an estimated $5,000 in a week at the Globe, and was followed on Saturday by "Island of Doomed Men." Allied Board Maps Convention Today Washington, June 10. ■ — Allied States board members will meet here tomorrow to make final plans for the association's Chicago convention, June 19-21. In addition to discussing subjects for consideration at the annual convention the board is expected to review the latest developments in he Neely block booking bill and Government suit situations, but there were no indications, that any definite action would be taken. 15 Chicago Houses End Triple Bills Chicago, June 10. — Fourteen Allied of Illinois members and one other independent exhibitor today agreed that effective June 16 all triple and 10-cent admission days will be eliminated. The announcement was made by Jack Kirsch, Allied president, who initiated the move for the agreement. Kuykendall Urges Settlement Terms Myrtle Beach, S. C, June 10. — Cancellation is the most important issue before exhibitors today, and a settlement of the New York antitrust suit will not be effective unless it includes cancellation and arbitration provisions, Ed Kuykendall, M.P.T. O.A. president, told 350 persons at the T.O.A. of North and South Carolina convention here today. Kuykendall spoke at a business session presided over by Henry Berry of Hartsville, S. C. Mayor Ben Graham welcomed the delegates. The afternoon session was a forum on theatre operating problems. Nebraska to Appeal Anti-Ascap Verdict Lincoln, June 10. — Attorney General Walter Johnson of Nebraska has decided to seek a review by the U. S. Supreme Court of the case involving constitutionality of the state's antiAscap law, which was held invalid last December by a three-judge Federal statutory court. A writ of certiorari will be filed with the high court within the next two weeks, it was said. Louis Frohlich of Schwartz & Frohlich, Ascap counsel, said yesterday that Nebraska's time for filing an appeal from the statutory court's decision has expired and that, if an appeal is taken to the U. S. Supreme Court now, Ascap will move to have it dismissed on that ground. F. P. Canadian Will Retire Bond Issue Toronto, June 10. — Famous Players Canadian Corp. has decided to retire $350,000 of its outstanding bonds one year ahead of time, the due date for this bond indebtedness being June 1, 1941. The stock exchanges at Toronto and Montreal have been notified to this effect and the redemption is already under way. The Canadian circuit also has re(Continued on page 4) TEN CENTS Goddard Asks 'Every Effort' To Settle Suit Counsel, U. S. Officials Resume Talks Today It was learned last night that in the event counsel for the defendants and the Government in a conference today agree on a framework for settlement of the Government's New York anti-trust suit, the parties will ask for a postponement of the trial until October to permit the full negotiation of a settlement and to give the Government its desired opportunity to shift men working on this case to necessary national defense activity. Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard, in granting an adjournment yesterday of the Government's N. Y. anti-trust suit until tomorrow, urged both sides to make "every effort" to settle the action out of court. Judge Goddard said: "As I have indicated in informal conferences with both parties, it may not be possible to agree on a decree but every effort should be made to do so nevertheless." The court's statement came after (Continued on page 4) Warner Reiterates 45th Column' Attack Pittsburgh, June 10. — Major Albert Warner, vice-president and treasurer of Warners', today at the opening of the company's Eastern sales convention at the William Penn Hotel, reiterated the statement of Harry M. Warner last week that there is no (Continued on page 4) Pittsburgh Press Lauds Warner Stand Pittsburgh, June 10. — LTnder the title, "The Screen Helps America," the Pittsburgh Press today editorially commends Warners, in convention here, for their work in promoting Americanism and exposing "Fifth Column" groups. The editorial cited films such as "Confessions of a Nazi Spy," "Juarez" and the Warner patriotic short subjects as designed to foster democratic ideals.