Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1941)

Alert, InteWgei to the^| gtion Picture Industry MOTION PIGS"** DAI q> 14 York/ ™ ST. Y. ' Impartial 49. NO. 51 NEW YORK, U.S.A., FRIDAY, MARCH 14, 1941 TEN CENTS Loew's Settles Its First Case In Arbitration Four Other Firms to Be Heard in Boston Today Having made a settlement this week with the Park Theatre, Nashua, N. H., on its "some run" arbitration complaint against the five consenting companies, Loew's, Inc., was eliminated yesterday as a respondent in the action, which is scheduled for hearing in Boston today as the first proceeding under the new industry arbitration system. Paramount, Warners, 20th CenturyFox and RKO will be represented at the hearing by Edward F. McClennen, resident attorney at Boston. J. Noble Braden, executive secretary of the American Arbitration Association, will attend the hearing. Arthur L. Brown, Boston University law professor, is the arbitrator. The second arbitration hearing is scheduled for tomorrow in Chicago on the complaint of (Continued on page 4) 4Rio' and 4Doe' Lead In Slow BVay Week A combination of bad weather, poor traffic conditions as the result of the uncleared snow from the severe snowstorm of last weekend, and the slight but continuing effect of the bus strike depressed Broadway grosses generally this week. Lent also had its effect. "John Doe" opened strong at the Hollywood and Rivoli, grossing an estimated $4,500 at the two houses Wednesday night. Another exception was "That Night in Rio," playing at the Roxy with a stage show, which is expected to gross $48,000 in its first week, ending tonight. It will be held. At the (Continued on pane 4) In Today's Issue Four reviews: "That Uncertain Feeling," "A Man Betrayed" — Page 3; "The Round Up," "Back in the Saddle" — Page 8. Hollywood production news — Page 4. N.T.S.C. to urge 375-line standard for color television —Page 10. Ascap and Officials Are Fined $35,250 Ending Wis. Action Milwaukee, March 13. — The Government's criminal information against Ascap was terminated in U. S. District court here today on the levying of fines totalling $35,250 against officers, directors, 19 corporate members and the music society itself. The defendants entered pleas of .role contendere, and on the application of Government attorneys, Federal Judge F. Ryan Duffy levied fines totaling $16,000 against 26 officers and directors, $14,250 against 19 corporate members and $5,000 against Ascap. New Haven, March 13. — The judiciary committees of the Legislature today heard arguments for and against three pending anti-Ascap bills. Connecticut exhibitors attended the hearings. Proponents of the measures urge the state to enact them as valid exercise of its police powers, while opponents pointed out that similar measures have been ruled unconstitutional in three states following enactment. Madison, March 13.— The Wisconsin Senate today adopted by un (Continued on page 4) It Pays to Kick JTZHEN Mutual network rr executives saw Frank Caprris "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" they noted that in the scene where H. V. Kaltenborn makes his broadcast only NBC and CBS microphones were visible. A polite note was sent to Capra pointing out the oversight. Yesterday, Mutual sent another letter to Capra thanking him not only for including an MBS microphone in "Meet John Doe," but also draping a small Mutual banner on it. NBC and CBS have not been heard from yet this time. Universal Quarter Profit Is $553,795 Universal Pictures Co., Inc., yesterday reported consolidated net profit of $553,795 for the 13 weeks ended last Feb. 1, constituting the first quarter of the company's current fiscal year. This is an improvement of approximately $158,000 over the corresponding quarter last year, similarly computed. Nate J. Blumberg, J. Cheever Cowdin, Charles D. Prutzman, Peyton Gibson and other board members will go to Wilmington, Del., tomorrow to attend the annual meeting of the company's stockholders. Among (Continued on page 4) Admiral Calls Films Vital in Maintaining Morale of Navy Para, Party Screens Greek Relief Film Paramount yesterday was host to home office and circuit executives, members of the Greek War Relief organization and the trade press at a cocktail party at Toots Shor's restaurant on the occasion of a screening of "Greece Fights Back." The subject was prepared by March of Time and will be distributed by Paramount, with all proceeds to be donated to the Greek war relief fund. The company has ordered 740 prints for the widest possible simultaneous distribution throughout the country. The first release is tentatively scheduled for late next week. Eastman Kodak contributed stock for the film. Among those attending were : Neil Agnew, Oscar Morgan, Charles Rea (Continued on page 4) Washington, March 13. — Rear Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, Chief of the U. S. Bureau of Navigation, today testified at hearings on the Navy Appropriations bill before the House Appropriations Committee that "motion pictures have become the most important element" contributing to maintenance of naval morale. Following Rear Admiral Nimitz' testimony, the House committee provided an increase from $85,000 to $125,000 in the fund_ for film rentals in the appropriation bill for the coming fiscal year. The increase will permit the Navy's Motion Picture Service to increase the rental of films to four prints of each picture. In addition, $44,000 was provided for the purchase of projection equipment at 11 Navy stations. The funds provided by Congress are only part of the total expense of the (Continued on page 4) Georgia House Group Rejects Block Measure Anti 5-Block Bill Voted Down, 12 to 7 Atlanta, March 13. — The House judiciary committee of the Georgia legislature today voted 12 to 7 against the Edenfield bill to set aside the blocks-of-five provision of the Federal consent decree. The measure was passed by the Senate unanimously a week ago. The House committee returned the bill to the House with the recommendation that "it do not pass." Debate at the committee hearing was heated. A minority committee report was filed, which paves the way for the measure to be brought up on the floor of the House. Observers, however, foresee no favorable action on the bill as adjournment is only a few days off. Circuit theatre operators backing the bill entered into spirited arguments with producers' representatives at the public hearing before the committee. Among speakers for the bill were Nat Williams, circuit operator of Thomasville, and Senator Alpha Fowler, also a circuit operator. Appearing against the measure were John I. Kelly, former candidate for Governor, among others. Williams is a former president of the Southeastern Theatre Owners Association, but is backing the bill as an individual, as are other members of the organization. The Georgia bill is similar to, the one pending in Minnesota. It reportedly "slipped" through the Senate as an administration measure, quietly, without an opportunity for the opponents to fight it at that time. Seven Sue to Gain Admission to Union Seven candidates for admission to New York Operators' Local 306 filed suit yesterday in N. Y. Supreme Court against the union and its officers, seeking an injunction to compel the union to admit them immediately. The plaintiffs claim that they are either brothers or sons of members of the local, and that they made a contract in 1937 with the union under which they were to take priority for admission. Local 306 and its officers are charged with conspiring to violate the contract by admitting other applicants before them.