Motion Picture Daily (Jan-Mar 1942)

Alert, Picture Industry REMOVE MOTION PICTURE DAILY First in and Impartial life: 51. NO. 4 NEW YORK, U.S.A., WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 1942 TEN CENTS Parley Bars Claims of LA. Jurisdiction Regarded as Strictly an Inter-Union Problem Jurisdictional claims of IATSE tudio unions will not be considered •y major company heads at the cur<nt negotiations here on new worklg agreements with eight IA studio •cals, Pat Casey, producers' labor cpresentative, said last night. Casey said that the company oflials regard the jurisdictional disutes of the locals as strictly internion affairs which should be settled .v the unions themselves. In taking ■lis position the meeting excluded the laims of Studio Photographers Local 59 to jurisdiction over the American iociety of Cinematographers and hose of the two studio utility workers' nions to exclusive jurisdiction in ieir field. Both disputes will have i be settled by the locals and the 1A, insofar as the negotiating meetII here is concerned, it was said. Fred Jackman, president of the (Continued on page 6) 13 Vaudeville Units )n Circuit of U.S.O. USO-Camp Shows, Inc., within the text week will open 13 vaudeville reiues in a coast-to-coast circuit of miliary posts and Xaval stations, according to Eddie Dowling, president of "SO-Camp Shows. A total of 156 audeville acts have been employed j provide entertainment during the resent crisis, Dowling said. The revues will play in 141 camps nd Xaval stations. The 13 units will e routed over the so-called Stars nd Stripes Circuit, supplementing the ig circuit of 11 musical comedy and jgitimate stage productions now tour (Continued on page 8) fnduct Associates Officers on Friday Xew officers of the Motion Picture Associates will be inducted into office t a luncheon-meeting Friday at the rvstor, at which James J. Walker. (J-Drmer mayor of Xew York, is exr ected to act as toastmaster. A minister of industry executives also are xpected. The MPA's new officers include Tarry Buxbaum of 20th Century-Fox .'ho will take over as president, and ack Ellis of RKO, vice-president. Senate Group Votes Out Bill for Daylight; Measure in House Washington, Jan. 6. — The Senate Interstate Commerce Committee today favorably reported out the Wheeler bill, authorizing President Roosevelt to change the nation's time to an extent not exceeding two hours. Senator Taft of Ohio blocked an attempt to obtain immediate consideration of the measure by the Senate. Daylight Saving Time legislation was in the forefront today on both sides of the Capitol, as the House Interstate and Foreign Commerce Committee also considered Daylight Saving legislation. However, the House committee adjourned until tomorrow. A bill has been introduced by Rep. Clarence F. Lea of California, chairman of the House committee. 'Night of Dimes' in W.B. Circuit Jan. 23 Plans for a "Night of Dimes" to be celebrated in all Warner theatres on Jan. 23 as part of the industry's "March of Dimes" campaign Jan. 22-28, were outlined by Mort Blumenstock, national director of advertising and publicity for Warners, in a telegram yesterday to Harry Brandt, cochairman of the industry's drive. Carpets will be spread in front of all Warner houses and all passersby will be invited to toss dimes on it. As mayors are usually chairmen of the local Infantile Paralysis Campaign Drive, they will be requested to cooperate, and Warner field exploitation men have been instructed to cooperate with other theatres desiring to participate. In Xew York, a block length car Continued on pane 6) DuMont Television Going Commercial Washington, Jan. 6. — The FCC today granted a construction permit to the Allen B. DuMont Laboratories of New York for a commercial television station to operate on Channel No. 4. DuMont is an affiliate of Paramount, which owns approximately 50 per cent of the stock. A DuMont station has been in experimental operation in New York since July 1, the date the FCC permitted the start of commercial television. When DuMont starts commercial operation, it will be compelled to telecast at least 15 hours weekly. This will give New York City three stations with regular programs. NBC has been operating commercially since July 1. CBS also transmits 15 hours regularly, under a program testing license. Connors Sees New Gross Boom as in England, Canada By ROBERT E. MURPHY Minneapolis, Jan. 6. — Tom J. Connors, personal assistant to Sidney R. Kent, president of 20th CenturyFox, ventured the hope today that theatre business in the United States will follow that in England and in the Dominion of Canada to new heights. Connors based his views upon the fact that following the outbreak of war theatre business in Canade and England boomed as the public sought economical entertainment. Connors expressed the belie: that {Continued on page 6) 'Joan of Paris [R-K-O] HERE is one of the finest dramatic adventures dealing with the current world-wide conflict to come out of Hollywood. It is a story of the war, told in the deep, tragic terms of two lovers, yet it has action enough to keep even a dyed-in-the-wool western fan on the edge of his seat. This is a "prestige" picture, the kind the critics are likely to rave about, and above all, has most of the ingredients to make it popular at the box-office. On the basis of their performances here, Michele Morgan and Paul Henreid, who make their American debut, should be important marquee names before long. Miss Morgan was in France until recently and Henreid, the Austrian actor, was last seen in "Night Train." The story is set in the Paris now occupied by the Nazis, but it tells in moving terms the universal (Continued on page 6) OPM Calls Exhibitors to Priority Meet Session on Materials in Capital on Friday Washington, Jan. 6. — The material requirements of the exhibitors of the country will be discussed at an informal conference between OPM officials and Eastern theatre operators and representatives here on Friday. The meeting was called tonight by the Electrical Appliances and Con Washington, Jan. 6. — Defense officials tonight refused to confirm rumors that the industry had been asked to go on a single feature basis. While it was suggested in some circles that sueh a change might serve to conserve needed materials, there appeared to be no desire at this time to interfere in the internal affairs of any industry. sumers' Durable Goods branch with a view to exploring all the problems confronting exhibitors as a result of (Continued on page 6) Heads Film Unit of Canada Price Board Toronto, Jan. 6. — The Canadian Government has appointed R. G. McMullen to handle problems arising in the film industry as a result of the stabilization of admission prices for the duration of the war. McMullen has been designated as Director of Theatres and the Film Branch of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board, with headquarters in this city. The announcement of the appointment was made today at a meeting of 40 independent exhibitors. McMullen, who addressed the meeting, declared that the Government is considering the regulation of film rentals, as has been indicated previously. The independent exhibitors at the meeting organized the Independent Motion Picture Exhibitors Association, to provide representation in dealing with the Government. Henry Falk of Toronto was appointed to represent the independents on such matters, and Benjamin Axler was elected president of the group.