Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1941)

MOTION DAILY First In and Impartial VOL. 49. NO. 10 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 15, 1941 TEN CENTS $10 Daily Fee Standard for Arbitrators May Be Waived, Reduced At A. A. A. Discretion The standard fee for arbitrators who will hear and decide complaints submitted for arbitration throughout the industry will be $10 per day, it was decided yesterday by the American Arbitration Association. The fee may be waived or reduced at the discretion of the A.A.A. It will not, however, be increased except in extraordinary cases, it was said, although a maximum daily fee of $50 is permitted under the consent decree arbitration provision. In determining whether the standard $10 fee shall be waived or reduced, the A. A. A. will be guided by its policy of making arbitration available to all. If accumulated fees in cases requiring lengthy hearings appear to be burdensome to an exhibitor, or tend to discourage the filing of (Continued on page 5) "Cheers for Miss Bishop" [Rowland-ILA.] A GAIN that incurable romanticist, Richard A. Rowland, who arose to fortune on the first tide of the screen, only to share in its ebbs and flows ever since, arrives pristine again with a major picture — "Cheers for Miss Bishop." Many, if not most, showmen will be a-remembering when "Dick" brought forth, exclusively on his own enthusiasm and ardent hope, that famed "The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse," so long ago. There is one difference now. Rowland never read the "Four Horsemen," but for the two years since he first read "Miss Bishop," the novel (.Continued on pane 5) "VIRGINIA" is reviewed from Hollywood on Page 5. Hollywood production news will be found on Page 9. Para. Realignment Set for Sales Meet Realignment of Paramount's sales organization to meet changes imposed by the consent decree will be completed in time for announcement at the company's meeting of district and branch managers at Chicago, Jan. 21 to 23, it was stated vesterday. Exhibitors Warned Tickets Must Show Admission Prices Washington, Jan. 14. — Motion picture exhibitors today were warned by the Internal Revenue Bureau that all tickets sold must show the price of admission conspicuously, regardless of whether they are taxable or taxexempt, and ticket printers were urged to discourage orders for tickets on which a blank space is left, to be filled in later by the theatre. There is no penalty attached to the printing of tickets without the price of admission, but such so-called stock tickets may not be used by any theatre without showing the price except under liability to severe penalties, it was pointed out. Since all ticket printers are required to report all orders placed by customers, it is relatively easy task to run down tickets which are sold without having the price imprinted. FILMS ORGANIZED TO PROMOTE U. S. IN LATIN AMERICA Nelson Rockefeller, Coordinator, Discloses Broad Program of Studio Cooperation; Whitney Conferring in Hollywood Washington, Jan. 14. — Nelson A. Rockefeller, Coordinator of Commercial and Cultural relations between the American Republics, announced today a wide scale program for the use of motion pictures as a edium for promotion of closer relations and better understanding among the American republics. Jones Giving Up Oriental Theatre Chicago, Jan. 14.— Jones, Linick & Schaefer, it is reported, will soon relinquish the Oriental Theatre. Notice that the lease on the theatre held by J. L. & S. will be terminated because of arrears in rental amounting to $50,000 is reported to have been served by the owners of the structures. The theatre was recently offered to Balaban & Katz. B. & K. is holding all negotiations in abeyance pending word from the Department of Justice that it may proceed to acquire the house. At a Washington hearing last week. Elias Mayer urged that the theatre not be shut down. Ascap Ponders Labor Union Or Guild for Its Members The possibility that Ascap members will form their own guild or union or affiliate with an existing authors' guild in order to meet changed music licensing conditions resulting from the formation of Broadcast Music, Inc., by the major networks, was broached in responsible music quarters yesterday. Ascap officials admit they see the guild-union plan as an alternative to Federal regulation of both Ascap and the networks-BMI group or a Federal consent decree in the radio-music field. They are not committing themselves to any one plan of possible affiliation, however. Discussion of the subject followed on the action of the Song Writers Protective Association in approving plans Monday night for the formation of an A. F L. union for its membership, for the same reason. It was also reported yesterday that informal discussions have been held by Ascap officials with officers of the Authors League of America on the general advisability of Ascap's membership becoming affiliated with that organization. It was said that representatives of the Authors League also view the ex (Continned on page lo) Rockefeller announced the appointment of Hollywood committee representative of the producers, stars, writers and directors to cooperate in carrying out the program, and detailed initial steps taken to date. "The motion picture industry," said Rockefeller, "was among the first to organize itself for cooperation with the coordinator's office. In conferences over the past few weeks with John Hay Whitney, director of the motion picture division of the coordinator's office, representatives of the industry have formed cooperating committees to make more effective the whole range of its contribution — in feature films, short subjects, and news reels." At the same time, Whitney announced that several features involv (Continued on page 5) Lee Elected Head Of M. P. Associates Joseph J. Lee, sales manager at the 20th Century-Fox exchange, yesterday was elected president of the Motion Picture Associates by a margin of 16 votes. He will succeed Jack Ellis of RKO, who, after serving three terms, retired from office. Lee defeated Nat Beier of United Artists, 48 to 64. Other officers elected are : James Frank, National Theatre Supply, vicepresident ; Matthew Cahan, incumbent, second vice-president ; Saul Trauner, incumbent, treasurer ; Moe Fraum, incumbent, recording secretary ; Louis Kutinsky, sergeant-at-arms ; Ben Abner and Seymour R. Schussel, trustees, and Charles Penser, incumbent, financial secretry. Frank will appoint a board of directors. The officers will be installed at a meeting Jan. 21 at the Hotel Astor