Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1941)

Alert, to the Picture Industry Jtion MOTION PICTURE DAILY VOL. 49. NO. 4 NEW YORK, U.S.A., TUESDAY, JANUARY 7, 1941 TEN CENTS British Ratify New Currency Pact With U.S. Covers Eight Majors, Is Effective at Once London, Jan. 6. — The British Board of Trade formally ratified the new monetary agreement with the eight major American motion picture companies on Saturday, making the agreement effective immediately. Its provisions for transmission to the United States of a maximum of $12,900,000 during the 12-month period ending next Oct. 31, make Z7l/2 per cent of that amount transmittable at once, since 75 per cent of the total {Continued on page 5) 'IP Exercises Right To Buy Preferred Universal yesterday exercised its right to purchase an undisclosed number of shares of its first preferred stock tendered by holders during the past 10 days. The number of shares acquired and the average price paid by the company from the special $1,000,000 appropriation for the purchase was not made public, due to the fact that the retirement program for the first preferred issue still is "incomplete" and (Continued on page 5) Wobber Sets Decree Talks for Sales Staff Hollywood, Jan. 6. — Herman Wobber, 20th Century-Fox general sales manager, will call a meeting of the company's sales force to discuss operations under the consent decree shortly after his return to New York from the studio. Wobber will be here until the end of the month to participate in the executive conferences beginning Jan. 15 on both production and distribution functions under the decree. Participating in the discussions will be Sidney R. Kent, president, who is now vacationing at Palm Springs ; Joseph M. Schenck, chairman of the board ; Darryl F. Zanuck, vice-president and production head, Wobber and ranking studio executives. Plans will be laid for closer working arrangements between production and distribution in line with decree requirements. The company's sales forces will be enlarged for decree operations but the extent of the additions has not been determined yet. Robinson and Lux Get Radio Scrolls Hollywood, Jan. 6. — Edward G. Robinson, who was voted most effective film player on the air in Motion Picture Daily's poll of radio editors, will receive a scroll testifying to his leadership during the "Big Town" program over CBS Wednesday evening at 8. A representative of Motion Picture Daily will make the presentation at the KNX studios here. This evening a similar award was made to "Lux Radio Theatre" over the same network. 'Philadelphia' Sets Fast Pace on B 'way Grossing an estimated $72,000 Thursday through Sunday of the second week "Philadelphia Story" with a stage show at the Music Hall is still Broadway's outstanding attraction. The film is expected to draw about $105,000 for the week and will be held. "Love Thy Neighbor" with Tommy Dorsey and his orchestra in person at the Paramount is also strong, garnering about $20,000 over Saturday and Sunday. It is expected to finish its third week with about $55,000. It holds over for a fourth. "Comrade X" is expected to gross about $42,000 in its third week at the Capitol. At the Strand, "Santa Fe Trail" with Abe Lyman's orchestra on the stage grossed an estimated $18,000 Friday, Saturday and Sunday of its (Continued on page 5) OKLAHOMA ACTION TO BE TRIED FIRST Television Is Seen Facing 'Showdown' After FCC Meeting With television virtually stalemated during the past year, chiefly because the FCC refused to approve standards, the medium is approaching a showdown on its future course. A major development is expected after the Jan. 27 meeting of the FCC and the National Television Systems Committee. It is anticipated that either the FCC will accept the NTSC recommendations, thus giving television its long-delayed "green light," or the commission again will defer the fixing of standards and permission for commercial operation, but will insist on program service or a surrender of licenses. A number of the NTSC panel reports are ready, and it is believed certain that a large body of the industry will be in agreement on standards. However, early hopes for a unanimous agreement on standards have been abandoned. Last February the FCC rejected the almost unanimous opinion of the Radio Manufacturers Association. Two factors have made the industry attitude of watchful waiting pos(Continued on page 8) More Listeners on Radio Since Ascap-Music Fight With Ascap music off the air, the number of radio listeners increased by 4.9 percent on the nights of Jan. 2, 3 and 4, it is revealed by one of the leading radio research organizations, C. E. Hooper, Inc. Meanwhile, there was quiet on the Department of Justice front. The previously reported move to bring its criminal actions against Ascap, BMI, and the networks failed to materilize yesterday. In Washington, when inquiry was made, officials of the Department of Justice refused comment. A report that the criminal action would be filed only against Ascap and BMI, and not NBC and CBS, was discredited by the same officials. Some trade officials, however, are of the opinion that some such amended ac tion by the Department of Justice would not prove a great surprise. As for the Federal Communications Commission's position in the fight, it was indicated in Washington that the FCC has declined to take any action. None of the parties to the dispute, it was stated, had approached the FCC to take any action. It was pointed out further that the Department of Justice is moving in the matter and "there is reason to believe that these proceedings may remove any unreasonable restraint which now exists within the musical copyright field and the radio broadcast industry." Under the circumstances, the FCC communication said, it was felt it (Continued on page 8) Gov't. N. Y. Trust Suit Against 'Little 3' Will Follow The Government plans to try its Oklahoma City anti-trust suit against Universal, Columbia, United Artists and the Griffith Amusement Co. ahead of the New York anti-trust suit against the Little Three, it was learned yesterday. The tentative order of trial of the pending Government anti-trust suits has the New York action in second place, the Nashville suit against the Little Three and Crescent Amusement Co., third, and the Buffalo action involving the Schine Circuit and the three companies, last. The Government's current trial plan was divulged to the Little Three in accordance with instructions from Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard in U. S. District court here last mpnth. Judge Goddard directed the Depart (Continued on page 5) Monogram to Start Sales Drive Feb. 22 Hollywood, Jan. 6. — Monogram has set plans for the annual "March for Monogram" sales drive, which will run seven weeks, from Feb. 22 to April 11, according to W. Ray Johnston, president. Cash prizes will be awarded to winning teams. The branch offices have been divided into zones. Monogram franchise holders will meet in St. Louis on Saturday to complete detailed arrangements for the drive. Johnston will attend, as will Howard Stubbins, West Coast franchise holder. George West, St. Louis and Kansas City franchise holder, will accompany them from the Coast. Samuel Broidy, general sales manager, will attend from New York. Franchise holders in attendance will be John Mangham, Atlanta ; Ben Welansky, Boston and Pittsburgh ; Harry L. Berkson, Buffalo ; Henri Elman, Chicago ; Nate Schultz, Cleveland ; John Franconi and Ed Blumenthal, Dallas ; Lon Fidler, Denver ; F. E. Judd, Des Moines ; William Hurlbut, Detroit ; Charles Trampe, Milwaukee ; B. L. Nathanson, Minneapolis ; Carr Scott, Oklahoma City ; Sol J. Francis, Omaha and William Onie, Cleveland.