Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

6 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, October 8, 1 Several Under Consideration For U.A. Head {Continued from page 1) ers expect will bring fresh financing into U. A. Arthur W. Kelly, vice-president in charge of distribution, is the present active head. The establishment of a new administrative setup for United Artists depends upon who will be selected for the presidency. Although the stockholders are scheduled to meet tomorrow to discuss this matter, it is held by observers not to be certain that the presidency will be disposed of at that time. David O. Selznick is expected in Chicago from California tomorrow by train. Whether he is coming on for the meeting by plane since that is the only way in which he can arrive on time for the meeting does not seem to be known at the home office. Alexander Korda and Mary Pickford are already here. Actually, the final papers in the Selznick deal have not been signed but all parties are confident that the deal will go through as announced on the Coast, as soon as the administrative setup is decided upon, if not before that. Selznick's ultimate interest of stock, it is stated, will amount to one-sixth of the authorized shares of U. A., or one-fourth of the outstanding stock. Approval Sought for Fox Claim Settlement Leopold Porrino and Kenneth P. Steinrich, trustees of Fox Theatres Corp., asked the N. Y. Supreme Court yesterday for approval of a proposed settlement of claims and counterclaims between the company and William Fox. Under the proposed settlement set forth in the application Fox would pay $25,000 to the company and releases would be exchanged as a final settlement of all disputes. The application pointed out that while the_ company has substantial claims against Fox, he has filed counter-claims in excess of $7,000,000. In addition, the petition said further proceedings against Fox probably would cost in excess of $250,000, with the results of litigation dubious. The trustees stated that approval of the settlement would make available to other creditors the sum of $85,000 now held by the trustees in reserve as Fox's proportionate share of dividends. Porrino and Steinrich were designated by the Federal Court as trustees in a plan which calls for the final liquidation of the assets of Fox Theatres. Storm Damage Light To Theatres in K.C. Kansas City, Oct. 7.— The tornado which yesterday struck the Eastern part of this city and the interurban district damaged the roof of one theatre in Fairmount, suburban community, where street traffic was halted today because of fallen trees. One other outlying theatre was closed last night when electric power failed. Downpours of rain over most of this city yesterday afternoon cut evening theatre attendance. Average U.S. Family Spent $11 for Films in 1935-1936 Washington, Oct. 7. — The average American family spent $11 for motion picture theatre admissions in 1935-'36, but by income levels the expenditure ranged from $2 for families with less than $500 a year to $51 for those with $10,000 or more, it was reported tonight by the National Resources Planning Board. Reporting on the purchasing power of the country, the board showed that city dwellers spent two to three times as much on motion pictures as farm families in the same income bracket. This difference ranged between $2 for farm families and $6 each for rural non-farm families and urban families with income of $500 to $1,000, and $20 for farm families and $34 for rural non-farm families and $44 for city families with income of $5,000 to $10,000 a year. Motion pictures were found to be the most important single source of recreation for families in the lower income brackets but less important to families with substantial incomes. Among families with incomes under $500 a year, one-third of the recreational expenditures were for admissions, but for families with $10,000 or more motion pictures accounted for less than 10 per cent. For the country as a whole, it was estimated that film theatre admissions accounted for approximately 25 per cent of all recreation expenditures. 1939 Deal Decided Valid Under Decree (Continued from page 1) chise entered into in 1939 and that the three-year deal was a valid one. The ruling exempts the deal from the block-of-five provision of the decree for this season. Among those attending the hearing were : Thomas D. Thacher and Louis Phillips, Paramount attorneys ; E. W. Aaron, M-G-M ; Maurice N. Wolf, M-G-M New England district manager, and Benjamin Trustman, Boston attorney. Glenda Farrell Cast Hollywood, Oct. 7. — Glenda Farrell has been signed by Edward Small for "Twin Beds," replacing Binnie Barnes, ivho is ill. Mich. Allied Opens Annual Convention (Continued from page 1) Paramount, at the business session. "All the people I know in the motion picture business are good Americans, and the only 'isms' they love are Americanism and patriotism," Lee told the delegates. "We must continue to believe in and express ourselves in favor of Americanism with the same fervor and energy as does the fanatical propagandist of anti-Americanisms. "Equally with industry leadership, the community exhibitor shares the responsibility of interpreting to the world the motives and conduct of the institution of the motion picture. Together they give to this business its personality and its very good character." Warners Will Abid! By Decree in Minri Situation: Sear; (Continued from page 1) of revenue and more particularly loss of public response to its gr new season's attractions, but the sponsibility is not Vitagraph's but 1 at the door of that exhibitor gro who sponsored this legislation," stated. Indicating, however, that a final decision as to Warners' future course in Minnesota has not been made, Sears said: "Whatever course of action decided upon by this company as to its future course of business in Minnesota will be done independently and without meeting with anyone." The six companies opposing tl Minnesota law have until Oct. 23 take action either on an appeal fro the decision denying them an injun tion against enforcement of the law on an application to Federal Judg Henry W. Goddard here for an e> emption from the decree's sellin method insofar as Minnesota is cor cerned. As company attorneys made ai rangements for conferring on th problem with sales and other com, pany executives yesterday, there ap peared to be no unanimity of view points among them, giving rise t , speculation that several may elect t follow different courses of action. South Eases Sunday Ban For Soldiers 9 Film Shows (Continued from page 1) relaxing the laws for Sunday film shows. In addition, the USO has sound trucks in operation to accompanying the various armies. Frequently, the men find themselves 40 to 50 miles from the nearest town at the end of the day, it was said, and mobile film units are therefore necessary. The trucks play records for about 30 minutes and follow it with shorts and a feature film. There were three trucks in operation in Louisiana and four were planned for the Carolinas. Approximately 3,000 men can watch the film simultaneously, it was said, and efforts are made to conduct more than one show a night. For Maneuvers Only It was explained at USO offices that the effort to obtain relaxation of Sabbath laws extended only to the locations and the periods of maneuvers and there was no effort contemplated to obtain Sunday film shows in such areas near camps where they are now forbidden. Ordinarily, the USO conducts its activities away from camps but makes an exception during ma neuvers, it was said by officials. Meanwhile, the Citizens Committee for the Army and Navy, which provides free entertainment in camps, reported yesterday that it has under discussion with the War Department a plan for indoor stage shows after cold weather forces discontinuance of outdoor programs. Eddie Dowling has been named director of this phase of the committee's program. Up to yesterday, the committee had given 1,037 shows to an estimated total of 3,200,000 in the audiences. Unaffected by Pay Rule An official of the committee stated that it was not affected by the recent Theatre Authority ruling that all performers appearing at Army and Navy camps must be paid. It was pointed out that the committee has always paid talent and production heads. However, at Theatre Authority offices it was said that the committee's program, although extensive, failed to meet all entertainment needs and many individual camp groups had requested talent to appear without payment. Such groups will now be compelled to pay the performers, it was said. F.P. Canadian Buys Imperial in Ottawt Toronto, Oct. 7. — Famous Player Canadian Corp-, has bought for casl the Imperial Theatre in Ottawa, Ont. for a price of $77,500, according t< the official data filed with the Regis try Office for September. The pur chase was made from the estate o: Daniel O'Connor. With the acquisition of the Genevj Theatre, Orillia, Ont, a unit of thr former Hanson circuit, by 20th Century Theatres, a number of changes ir personnel have been made by the affiliate of Famous Players Canadian. Ralph Tiede, manager of the new Centre Theatre, Chatham, has been appointed manager of the Geneva in succession to Grant Garrette, transferred to the Toronto office of Odeon. Harold Horton, former assistant at the Vanity, Windsor, has been named to the Chatham Centre. Harland Rankin has been promoted to super-, visor of the Centre and Park, Chatham. Ohio ITO Scores Senate Film Probe (Continued from page 1) viciously to influence and arouse prejudice — racial, religious and political— and to defame and discredit motion pictures and all those engaged in the business. "The board of directors denounce the entire proceedings as unfair, biased and un-American." Miss Massey on Tour Ilona Massey and her husband, Alan Curtis, have left Hollywood on a transcontinental tour, planning to visit a number of cities on their way East.