Motion Picture Daily (Oct-Dec 1941)

Motion Picture Daily Thursday, October 23, ]! Majors Plead Not Guilty to Minn. Charge (Continued from page 1) fight the state law through to "the finish." He said that, since the company cannot sell Under the Minnesota law while it is bound by the Federal consent decree, Paramount will apply to Federal Judge Henry W. Goddard in U. S. District court, New York, in the near future, for an exemption from the decree's sales provisions insofar as Minnesota is concerned. This will be done, Findley said, in order to protect the company's theatre accounts in the state during the extended time required to contest the state law's constitutionality in the courts. [In New York, Austin C. Keough, Paramount secretary and general counsel, issued a statement confirming Findley's observations. Keough said that the application to Judge Goddard would be made as soon as Thomas D. Thacher, attorney for Paramount, returns to New York within a few days. [That Paramount would adopt this procedure was reported by Motion Picture Daily on Oct 20.] Findley stated that Paramount is convinced the state law is unconstitutional and intends to defend itself to the limit against the charge it violated the act. He has been instructed, he said, "to take all necessary steps to come to a final decision on that contention." He said he believed the Minnesota legislature was "not well advised in its enactment of the law." Findley said that many Minnesota exhibitors believe that they would be parties to a violation of the state law if they concluded deals under the consent decree method. He said it was for this reason that Paramount planned to go to Judge Goddard for the exemption which would give them some relief. He said Paramount contends that exhibitors would not be guilty of a violation under such circumstances because it believes the law to be unconstitutional. It was pointed out that the theatres cited as entering into deals which Paramount, RKO and 20th CenturyFox now are charged with having made, are not parties to the charges. Allied Starts Machinery For All-Industry Group Col. Western Meet In Frisco Tomorrow (Continued front page 1) Fisher, H. M. Lentz and N. Newman, salesmen. San Francisco: L. E. Tillman, branch manager ; C. Scott, P. Weinstein, E. Roberts, M. M. Klein and L. L. Savage, salesmen. Seattle: Neil Walton, branch manager; R. A. Ackles, W. K. Beckwith and W. Kostenbader, salesmen. Salt Lake City: William G. Seib, branch manager; K. Lloyd, M. Gustaveson, H. Green and A. L. Campbell, salesmen. Denver: Robert C. Hill, branch manager, B. M. Shooker, S. Dare, S. Cramer and T. J. Robinson, salesmen. Portland: James R. Beale, branch manager, C. E. Tillman, W. T. Withers and L. S. Metzelaar, salesmen. (Continued from page 1) vention in Philadelphia last month, was ratified by the board. The committee includes Col. H. A. Cole, president; Roy E, Harrold, Jack Kirsch, Sidney Samuelson and Martin Smith. The directors met here in conjunction with the convention of Allied M.P.T.O. of Western Pennsylvania. The board cited the following as deserving the early consideration of a national joint conference committee: policy and action in reference to taxation; safeguarding "the good name of the industry as a whole"; plans for meeting increased competition from other entertainments ; institutional advertising and other goodwill activities ; protecting priorities ratings ; formulation of "an acceptable distribution system to be adopted when the consent decree lapses." One of the major phases of the plan, it was indicated, would be the "discussion and, if possible, adjustment or modification of the policies or practices of one branch or member thereof which are opposed by another branch." As a party to such a committee, Allied will take no outside action until efforts to adjust grievances within the committee are exhausted, it was stated. In an address to the AMPTO convention, Col. Cole said that the industry under present conditions must make some sacrifices and regulate itself, in order to obviate excessive Government influence. Rosenberg Elected Officers of the regional unit were elected as follows: president, M. A. Rosenberg; vice-president, Harry Walker; treasurer, Joseph Gellman ; secretary, Fred Herrington. Directors elected include Bennett Amdur Charles R. Blatt, Fred Beedle, George Corcoran, C. E. Herman, Guy Ide Frank Panoplis, Carl Poke and Wil ham R Wheat, Jr. Exhibitors must sell the film industry to the American public, as well as motion pictures themselves, Claude F. Lee, director of public relations for Paramount, told the convention today. He declared building goodwill for the industry is not a job of the moment, but a matter of permanent vigilance. He emphasized the need for industry unity. "The job of interpreting the real character and fiber of the motion picture as an institution of society is not one for pretentiousness . . . but a genuine and sincere effort to give the people a chance to know and understand us. We must find a way to make the public aware of the farreaching substance of the business,' Lee said. Canada Music Union Dispute is Settled (Continued from page 1) States or any other organization outside the Dominion." Murray's statement was revealed following disclosure of the settlement of the differences between the Canadian musicians' union and the R. C. A. F. over public appearances of the Air Force central band. Major Murray disclosed that he recently conferred with Petrillo in New York, giving the A. F. M. head to understand that interference in Canadian radio affairs would not be tolerated. He is understood to have told Petrillo "there could be no question of American control of the Canadian musicians' union." The settlement of the R. C. A. F. difficulties followed conferences between Air Minister Power and Walter Murdoch, Canadian board member of the musicians' union. The union is said to have interfered with R. C. A. F. bands and Canadian Broadcasting Corp., not only attempting to keep the Air Force band off the air, but charging CBC for permission to record programs for Canadian troops overseas. Conn. Unit Votes to Follow Allied Course on Unity Plan New Haven, Oct. 22.— Allied Theatre Owners of Connecticut voted at a special meeting to follow whatever course national Allied decides upon with resoect to the unity proposal, but again affirmed its disapproval of the proposal. At a recent meeting the organization voted unanimously against the proposal, but called the special meeting to reconsider. Dr. J. B. Fishman presided at the meeting. Exhibitors also aired their views of the consent decree and the consensus was that thus far great hardships had been worked under the system. National Allied will be urged by the Connecticut group to undertake a poll of exhibitors on the decree. NBC to Continue Backing of BM Niles Trammell, NBC preside yesterday declared that NBC wo I give continued support to Broadcil Music, Inc., despite the proposed c with Ascap. Trammell said NBC would exec license agreements with BMI to ii concurrently with those proposed w Ascap; provide for payments it*' same amounts as those current^1 ing made so long as BMI revSfl and expense budgets remain the sap and provide for an increase or <L crease in such payments dependi II upon and proportionate to any crease or decrease in the BMI r<| enue and expense budget. No discrimination between Blj and any other licensor would be ma on the network if the quality of Bl music does not go lower, Tramm stated. Trammell set Oct. 29 for a me< ing of NBC-Blue station affiliates a Oct. 30 for NBC-Red. The meetin originally had been set for Novei ber. Ascap Awaits Word On Closing of Pact Definite advice as to the date < which NBC and CBS propose formally close the new Ascap licensii agreement is expected by the mus , society's board of directors at i meeting today, it was indicated ye terday. Indications are that if definite woi as to the closing and the return i A.scap music to the major networl1 is not received by the board toda Ascap will set its own deadline. Assets to your business, to the trouble-frce-o peration of your equipment, are the electrical instruments carried by the Altec Service man. These instruments, 30 times more sensitive than the human ear, detect troubles in their early stages, before they cause major breakdowns. ALTEC SERVICE SAVES, THE EQUIPMENT . . . . 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