Motion Picture Daily (Jul-Sep 1940)

8 Motion Picture Daily Friday, July 19, 1940 Quigley Asks Fact, Opinion Cleavage Enabling Law Considered In Peace Pact With 'Big 5' {Continued from page 6) platform. He needs sharply to distinguish between reporting the news and whatever interpretation or analysis he may wish to place upon the news about which the public already has been informed. He may be either an editorial writer or a reporter. With respect to timely developments he cannot be both — without violation of the traditions built by valuable experience in journalism, without endangering the stream of true, factual knowledge which the people of a democracy have vital need of and without, on occasion, becoming a prophet without honor. Martin Quigley Four Stations Ask Power Increases Washington, July 18. — Increases in power have been sought of the Federal Communications Commission by four broadcasting stations. The applications were filed by Stations WSAY, Rochester, N. Y., for change of frequency from 1,210 to 1,340 kilocycles and increase of power from 250 to 1,000 watts; WOKO, Albany, for increase of day power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts; WDSU, New Orleans, for increase of power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts, and KFBB, Great Falls, Mont., for increase of night power from 1,000 to 5,000 watts. The commission announced that by the adoption of directional antenna systems by Stations WCHS, Charleston, W. Va., operating with 500 watts, and WOBO, Orlando, Fla., and WIBW, Topeka, Kan., using 1,000 watts, all on the same frequency, it has been possible to authorize an increase in the night power of the stations to 5,000 watts. Fulton Lewis Scoops 'em Fulton Lewis, Jr., covering the Democratic convention in Chicago for Mutual, scored a beat Wednesday night in revealing a major portion of the Democratic platform two and a half hours before it was announced by Senator Wagner, the network claims. 'Fugitive' to Rialto "The Fugitive," Universal film costarring Ralph Richardson and Diana Wynard, opens at the Rialto next Monday. Joseph Somlo produced and Brian Desmond Hurst directed. Club Outing Monday Cincinnati, July 18. — The Cincinnati Variety Club will hold its annual picnic and outing Monday. Discipline rT HE Red Cross is benefiting by the strict discipline imposed upon his men by Orrin Tucker, band leader, whose group is now at the Paramount. Lateness for shows or rehearsals brings a fine of $5 per minute, and so far the Red Cross, which gets all fines, is exactly $165 to the good. (Continued from page 1) cussions are continuing on the phraseology of the conditions to be stated in an "escape" clause protecting the companies in the event that the consent decree is found to be "unworkable." Government's Position Defined This, according to spokesmen, disposes of any conjecture regarding what the Government's position would be as against the three companies which have not participated in the present negotiations and which have additionally indicated that they will not concur in any consent decree. Although there have been opinions expressed among those participating in the negotiations that the Government might proceed with the trial as against these three companies only, in the event of a peace with the Big 5, it is now felt by such persons that this new legislative angle revealed by the Department of Justice replaces that probability. In discussing this legislation phase of the situation, some of the negotiators express doubts as to its practicability and the desirability. Others are not sure about the constitutionality of such legislation. U. S. Attorneys to Washington Yesterday Government lawyers and lawyers for the Big 5 again discussed matters pertaining to the decree and at the end of the day the Government attorneys returned to Washington. There will be no meeting today. Representatives of the defendants, however, expect to have a meeting of their own on Monday but on Tuesday the defendants will have another session with Government attorneys Frisco Fair's Film Exhibit Is Closed San Francisco, July 18. — Stage 9, the Hollywood exhibit at the Fair here, showing how motion pictures are made, has closed owing to "lack of attendance". Other attractions at Treasure Island, including Billy Rose's Aquacade, Folies Bergere, Cavalcade of America, and Salici's Puppets, are breaking attendance records. Efforts to financially reorganize Stage 9, for a reopening in about two weeks, are under way. The production had been featuring Neil Hamilton and'Dorine McKay, Hollywood players, in the leads of a color production, made before an audience. Para. Signs Pal for Six Animated Shorts Paramount has signed George Pal to produce six one-reel animated character subjects for the company's new season schedule. The series will be known as the "Merry Models". Pal, a Hungarian emigre, employs three-dimensional plastic figures, instead of drawings, for his subjects. 200 Prints on Fight More than 200 prints of the Armstrong-Jenkins fight Wednesday night were sent to accounts by RKO yesterday. The film, made by RKO Pathe, runs 18 minutes. leading towards the compilation of a tentative draft, inclusive of all the subjects discussed. So far no such draft has been formulated and the only drafts which have been made have been of the separate items. See Revisions Necessary Company officials who are presently engaged in studying the maze of proposals in their unfinished form, already have expressed their opinions that much of that which has been so far compiled will have to be rephrased and altered. The wording of the "escape" clause, particularly, they assert, will require great care. Arnold has been supplied with copies of the memorandums which have been distributed among ranking company executives. The memorandums represent only suggested procedure and are in no sense final agreements. They have been given to company executives to obtain their reactions to the practicability of the proposals. Changes may be suggested, as a result, and extended negotiations are still likely. No Arbitration Agreement Government attorneys reported yesterday that preliminary agreements have not yet been reached on arbitration proposals. While it has been agreed that production-distribution, exhibition and the public will be represented on arbitration boards, the number to serve on the boards has not been finally determined. It was stated that the Government is primarily concerned with the designation of arbitrators to represent the public, and is not inclined to dictate the selection of industry representatives on the boards. Syracuse Acclaims 'Boys from Syracuse' (Continued from page 1) wood and New York personalities and local leaders. The opening festivities were concentrated at the RKO Keith. This was said to be the first film premiere this city has had. This afternoon there was a parade through downtown streets, in which citizens sported togas of ancient Greece and drove chariots. Hollywood stars waved from elevated seats on open cars camouflaged to look like floats. Thousands participated in the welcome and celebration. Special planes brought most of the Coast delegation, among them Joe Penner, Eric Blore, Peggy Moran, Constance Moore and Eddie Sutherland, who directed the film. C.E.A. Says British Tax Plan Is Unjust (Continued from page 1) fleers with Treasury Department officials, it is understood Harry P. E. Mears, C.E.A. president requested a personal interview with the Chancellor of Exchequer. The C. E. A. has expressed itself in favor of the formation of a Film Credit Bank, and has asked assurance that its members will not be held for quota defaults in the event of a shortage of product. 'Hardy' Best With $14,000 In Frisco Lull San Francisco, July 18. — "Andy Hardy Meets Debutante" and "A Fugitive From Justice" drew $14,000 at the Fox, best in a poor week, with competition from the fair, baseball and the roller derby. "Cross Country Romance" took $13,000 at the Golden Gate. Estimated takings for the week ending July 9-12 : "Cross Country Romance" (RKO) GOLDEN GATE — (2,850) (39c-44c-55c) 7 days. Stage: vaudeville. Gross: $13,000. (Average, $15,000) "Girls of the RoaoV' (RKO) "The Awful Truth" (Col.) ORPHEUM — (2,440) (15c-33c-39c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $7,200. (Average, $8,000) "A Fugitive From Justice" (W. B.) "Andy Hardy Meets Debutante" (M-G-M) FOX— (5,000) (15c-33c-39c-44c) 7 days. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $16,000) "Safari" (Para.) "I Was an Adventuress/' (20th-Fox) PARAMOUNT— (2,740) (15c-33c-39c-44c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,000. (Average, $11,500) "One Million B.C." (U. A.) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,200) (15c-35c-40c50c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $6,800. (Average, $8,000) "The Ghost Breakers" (Para.) "Lucky Cisco Kid" (ZOth-Fox) ST. FRANCIS— (1,400) (15c-33c-39c-44c) 7 days, 4th week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $6,000) "New Moon" (M-G-M) "Gambling on the High Seas" (W. B.) WARFIELD— (2,680) (15c-33c-39c-44c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $10,500. (Average, $12,000) "The Baker's Wife" (Foreign) CLAY— (400) (15c-39c-44c-55c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $1,200. (Average, $1,000) Denies Select's Plea On Ainley Injunction N. Y. Supreme Court Justice Edward J. McGoldrick has denied an application of Select Theatres Corp. (Shuberts) for a temporary injunction pending trial to restrain Richard Ainley from carrying out an employment contract with Warners on the ground that the suit had been transferred to Federal Court. The Shubert company is seeking $100,000 damages, claiming that it had signed Ainley in July, 1939, and that it had the right to pass on any film contract offered him. Cinecolor Has New Reduction Process Hollywood, July 18. — Cinecolor plans shortly to announce a new process for reducing 35mm. sound track to 16mm. prints by which proportionate reduction is effected both vertically and horizontally. Distortion is entirely eliminated and the method gives 35mm. quality to the smaller film, according to A. L. McCormick, president. The process will be known as Cinecolor dual amplitude reduction. 'Truth' Next for Hope Hollywood, July 18. — "Nothing But the Truth," farce from the recent novel by Frederick Isham and the play by James Montgomery, will be Bob Hope's next film for Paramount. Frederick Hazlitt Brennan will do the script and Arthur Hornblow, Jr., will produce.