Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1941)

4 Motion Picture Daily Friday, March 14, 1941 Loew's Settles Its First Case In Arbitration (Continued from page 1) E. F. Vanderveer of Morris, 111., on a "some run" complaint against Loew's. Charles Zane Henkle, vice-president of the Continental Illinois National Bank & Trust Co., is arbitrator. The third hearing is scheduled for Washington, March 25, on the clearance complaint of the Walbrook, Baltimore, against 20th Century-Fox and Warners, and the fourth has been set for March 26 in Cleveland on the clearance complaint of the Ellet Theatre, Akron, against all five consenting companies and the Rialto and Norka, Akron. Daniel B. Cull, former Cleveland municipal court judge, civil service commissioner and Chamber of Commerce arbitrator there, has been selected as arbitrator for the Ellet complaint. The first arbitration case filed with the St. Louis local board this week may not be eligible for a hearing since it requests "first runs" of the five consenting companies and Universal, Columbia, United Artists and Republic. Demands for "first runs" are not qualified for arbitration under the consent decree until new season's contracts are in negotiation. However, the A.A.A. headquarters said that if the case does go to hearing the four non-consenting companies named in the complaint would be advised of the complaint and could participate in it voluntarily if they wished. The St. Louis complaint was brought by Louis M. Sosna, Mexico, Mo., who claims that he had been promised first runs before opening his theatre last June but was unable to obtain them. He names the Liberty and Rex, operated by the Frisina Circuit, and asks 208 first run films annually. Nine New Story Properties Set for Early Production Hollywood, March 13 NINE story properties were purchased last week by various studios for early production. Columbia purchased "Take Back Your Dreams," Lynn Root-Frank Fenton original; "Navy Nurse," by Hilary Lynn, to be made under the title of "Women of the Navy" ; "Just Another Dame," by Robert Hyde, and "The Man Who Came to Life," by Samuel W. Taylor. Sam Marx's original "Side Streets," dealing with a tabloid newspaper editor, and "The Strange Adventure," original with a San Francisco, Honolulu and China background by Clyde Brion Davis, have been bought by M-G-M. Republic acquired "Hurricane Smith," by Charles Booth, and "Pardon My Stripes," by Adrian Johnson. Twentieth Century Fox bought "Private Confusion," play by Hardie Albright and Austin Parker, which was produced in England. 4Rio' and 4Doe' Lead In Slow B 'way Week (Continued from page 1) Strand, "Strawberry Blonde," with a stage show headed by Raymond Scott and his orchestra, completed its third and final week last night with an estimated $19,000. The new show starts today, with "Footsteps in the Dark" on the screen and Ben Bernie and his orchestra on the stage. "So Ends Our Night," plus a stage show, finished its second week Wednesday night at the Music Hall with an estimated $58,000. It was succeeded yesterday by "Cheers for Miss Bishop." At the Globe, "Night Train," continuing, is expected to finish its 10th week tonight with about $4,000. The 11th week starts tomorrow. "Mr. Dynamite" started at the Rialto yesterday, after an estimated $5,000 week with "Ellery Queen's Penthouse Mystery." Sells House in Oakland Oakland, Cal., March 13. — Ty Winkel has sold the Piedmont Theatre to Gerald Hardy, George Bruce has been signed by Paramount to write the script for "War Town" with Sidney Biddell. . . . Stephen Longstreet, author of "The Gay Sisters," has been signed to a term contract by Warners. . . . Columbia has given Richard Wallace, the director, a term deal. • • M-G-M has signed Anita Loos to a term writing contract. . . . Because of his performance in "I Wanted Wings," William Holden has had his contract extended by Paramount. . . . Martha O'Driscoll gets one of the top roles in Paramount's "World Premiere." . . . Robert Preston has been borrowed by RKO from Paramount for "Parachute Battalions," in which Harry Carey also will be featured. . . . Loretta Young will be starred in "Tonight Belongs to Us," formerly titled "Ballerina," which Gregory Ratoff will direct for Columbia. . . . Warners will costar Errol Flynn and Joan Leslie in "The Constant Nymph," which Edmund Goulding will direct. • • Charles Vidor's directorial contract at Columbia has been extended. . . . Larry Darmour's next Ellery Queen story will be "The Devil Pays." . . March 17 has been set as the start for the Marx Brothers next picture at M-G-M. Charles Reisner will direct and Louis K. Sidney produce. . . . Ralph Bellamy goes into Warners' "Dive Bomber." Universal Quarter Profit Is $553,795 Ascap and Officials Fined $35,250 in Wis. (Continued from page 1) animous vote a measure authorizing the state to license Ascap agents in Wisconsin. Although the state's antiAscap law was enacted in 1937, it made no provision for the enforcement of specifications that Ascap representatives be required to pay a $25 annual license fee and assessing a 25 per cent tax on their collections in the state. Senator John E. Cashman, author of the enabling bill, said that if the measure became law it would yield the state $100,000 annually. The bill now goes to the Assembly where its passage is believed certain. (Continued from page 1) other business, the stockholders will vote on proposed seven-year contracts for Cowdin, Blumberg, Prutzman, Cliff Work, W. A. Scully, J. H. Seidelman and Matthew J. Fox. The reported 13-week profit is after all charges and provision of $150,000 as a reserve to cover normal Federal income taxes for the period, but before provision for the Federal excess profits tax, to be computed at the year's end. Making reasonable allowance for this tax, the result still is estimated to be in excess of $500,000 for the period, as estimated in Motion Picture Daily on March 6. Universal's net profit for the quarter before provision for Federal taxes amounted to $703,795, which compares with a profit similarly computed but after provision of $65,000 as a special amortization reserve, of $395,631 in the corresponding quarter a year ago. Based on company experience to date this year, J. Cheever Cowdin, Universal board chairman, said that no reserve for amortization is deemed necessary at this time. Cowdin said that Universal did not accumulate any additional blocked sterling balances in England during the quarter, not yet having transferred its full quota under this year's remittance agreement. Additional accumulations of blocked sterling are to be expected before the year's end, however, he said. All present directors, including Peyton Gibson, who was elected to the board recently to serve the unexpired term of William Freiday, resigned, are scheduled to be reelected at the stockholders' meeting tomorrow. The stockholders will also vote on an amendment to the company's bylaws to indemnify officers and directors on judgments resulting from legitimate exercise of their official authority. Para. Party Screens Greek Relief Film (Continued from page 1) gan, C. J. Scollard, A. J. Richard, Martin Quigley, Louis de Rochemont, W. F. Githens, L. E. Thompson, Gradwell Sears, George Skouras, Mort Blumenstock, Sam Shain, Herman Robbins, Leonard Goldenson, Ai Wilkie, Sam Dembow, Jr., George Dembow, Max Cohen, Walter Futter, Arthur Mayer, P. S. Harrison, Cresson Smith, Milt Kusell, Fred Meyers, Gordon Youngman, J. J. O'Connor, William Zimmerman, Maurice Kann, John C. Flinn, Nicholas Lely, Greek consul general at New York, Herb Berg, Sid Rechetnick, James Cron, Sherwin A. Kane, Charles E. Lewis and Herb Fecke. 6 Comrade X' Hits $17,000, Best in Loop Chicago, March 13. — "Comrade X," plus a variety show, drew $17,000 at the Oriental. The International Casino Revue on the stage with "Night Train" on the screen br<wt\ $17,000 to the State-Lake. "Ik,., Dark and Handsome" and Bert Wheeler and Vanities Unit on the stage grossed $36,000 at the Chicago. Estimated takings for the week ending March 7 : "Fantasia" (Disney) APOLLO — (1,400) (75c-$1.10-$1.65) 7 days. 2nd week. Gross: $16,000. (Average, $6,500) "Tall, Dark and Handsome" (20th-Fox) CHICAGO— (4,000) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Stage: Bert Wheeler and Vanities Unit. Gross: $36,000. (Average, $32,000) "Western Union" (20th-Fox) GARRICK — (1,000) (35c-55c-75c) Gross: $5,000. (Average, $5,000) "Comrade X" (M-G-M) ORIENTAL— (3,2000) (25c-40c) Stage: Variety Show. Gross: (Average, $13,000) "Back Street" (Univ.) "Six Lessons from Madame LaZonga" (Univ.) PALACE — (2,500) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $14,000. (Average, $13,000) "Gone With the Wind" (M-G-M) ROOSEVELT — (1,500) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $15,000. (Average, $11,000) "Night Train," (20th-Fox) STATE-LAKE— (3,700) (25c-40c) Stage: International Casino Revue $17,000. (Average, $15,000) "Come Live with Me" (M-G-M) UNITED ARTISTS— (1,700) (35c-55c-75c) 7 days. Gross: $11,000. (Average, $14,000) day s. ' days. $17,000. 7 days. Gross: 'George* Is Best in Montreal at $4,300 Montreal, March 13. — Montreal receipts continue slow, "Let George Do It" and "The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date" at the Capitol took $4,300, the only house to do better than average. Estimated takings for the week endin? March 6 : "Kit Carson" (U. A.) "Where Did You Get That Girl" (Univ.) ORPHEUM— (1,000) (30c-43c) 7 days, 2nd week. Gross: $2,700. (Average, $4,000) "The Philadelphia Story" (M-G-M) LOEW'S— (2,900) (30c-40c-60c) 7 days, 3rd week. Gross: $5,000. (Average, $7,000) "So You Won't Talk" (Col.) "Ellery Queen, Detective" (Col.) PRINCESS— 2,200) (25c-40c-50c) 7 days. Gross: $1,800. (Average, $2,500) "Come Live With Me" (M-G-M) PALACE— (2,200) (25c-45c-65c) 7 days. Gross: $4,600. (Average, $7,000) "Let George Do It" (Alliance) "The Lone Wolf Keeps a Date" (Col.) CAPITOL— (2,800) (25c-45c-55c) 7 days. Gross: $4,300. (Average, $4,000) Admiral Calls Films Vital to U. S. Navy (Continued from page 1) Motion Picture Service, for which approximately $250,000 will be contributed from the profits of ships' stores, part of which will be used for new equipment permitting the showing of films below decks when ships are operating under wartime blackout. The House committee hearings disclosed that with the increase to four prints per picture it will be possible to keep the equivalent of 2.47 programs in stock at all stations and in all ships, thus avoiding the cancellation of shows in the event of delay in deliveries.