Motion Picture Daily (Apr-Jun 1942)

4 Motion Picture Daily Wednesday, April 29, 1942 I Dimout Order Hits Theatres On East Coast (Continued from page 1) these lights remaining on provided that they were shaded from above. However, it was pointed out that this would be extremely difficult generally and impossible in most cases. One of the spokesmen expressed the opinion that all of Times Square would be blacked out except for street and store front lights and illumination under the marquees. The text of Section (d) of General Phillipson's order reads : "All exterior lights used for illumination of streets, roads, highways and parkways will be shaded so as to prevent their direct rays being visible from the sea or shining at any angle above the horizontal. Exterior illumination used for advertising, or purposes other than the foregoing, that cannot be so shaded shall be extinguished." Theatre men yesterday said they would await specific instructions and would comply promptly when the orders came through. The police department is expected to issue full regulations shortly. Meanwhile, the first premiere to be affected here by dimout regulations is that of "Moontide" at the Rivoli this evening. The police asked that no klieg and search lights be used in connection with the premiere. Canada Price Plan 'Splendid': Myers Toronto, April 28.— "I think the price ceiling plan in Canada is splendid," Abram F. Myers, chairman and general counsel of Allied States, declared here tonight, after a day of meetings with officials of the Wartime Prices and Trade Board and officers of the National Council of Motion Picture Exhibitors. Myers expressed satisfaction with what he termed "the elasticity of stabilization" as applied to theatres and said he was pleased to learn first hand that control was maintained over film contracts. After a luncheon session with Henry Falk, Barnett Laver, Tom Walton and other independent theatre leaders, a round table discussion took place regarding the cooperation of independent exhibitors in the two countries under war conditions. Mandel Takes Over 2 Elman Exchanges Chicago, April 28. — Irving Mandel, who recently acquired the Monogram franchises here and in Indianapolis, formerly operated by Henri Elman, on May 3 will take over Elman's exchange quarters in both cities. Mandel also will take over all Monogram product, the new company operating as Monogram Pictures, Inc. Ben Eisenberg, former United Artists branch manager here, has joined Mandel as sales manager. Mandel at one time held the Republic franchise here. Elman has not announced his future plans. Kodak Sales Gain 31% for 12 Weeks Rochester, April 28. — Eastman Kodak had a 31 per cent increase in sales during the first three four-week periods of the current year, ended March 21, last, compared with the same period of 1941, it was revealed at the annual stockholders meeting. Sales for the period this year totaled $40,430,035. Reelected to the board of directors were : Thomas J. Hargrave, president; James Sibley Watson, Paul S. Achilles and Herman C. Sievers, a vice-president. British Films Drop In Last Quota Year London, April 28. — British production suffered a numerical drop in the last quota year for distributors, closed last March 31. Only 46 British features were registered in that period, compared with 65 in the same months of the previous quota year. Of these, five counted as triple quota, 13 as double and 10 as exhibitors quota only. A total of 447 foreign features was registered as compared with 403 the previous year. Despite the boom in documentaries, shorts production also showed a decline. In all, 179 shorts were registered as British, 62 less than in the previous 12 months. Mexican Film Bank Increasing Capital Mexico City, April 28. — Mexico's first bank devoted exclusively to the film industry, the Banco Cinematografica, S. A., shortly will increase its capital from the present $600,000 to $1,000,000, according to Antonio Espinosa de los Moneros, president. The capital is provided by the industry, the Federal Government and private banks. The bank has moved to new offices in the heart of the city's film row. Bank officials have expressed the belief that the increased capitalization should permit greater adaptation of films to audiences in the United States. With improved conditions in Mexico generally, Mexican producers estimate they will far exceed the total of produced films of recent years, some estimating 80 features as the total 1942 Mexican production. Alonso Sanchez Tello, leading producer, plans the first feature in color to be made in this country, "La Panchita," a comedy drama. Board Hears First Oral Appeal Today The first oral argument before the national arbitration appeals board will be heard here today in the appeal of the Fox Kansas City Corp. from the award in a clearance complaint brought by the Dickinson Theatre, Mission, Kan. John Caskey of Dwight, Harris, Koegel & Caskey, 20th Century-Fox counsel, and Stanley Thompson, attorney for Loew's, will make the arguments for the five consenting companies. Hold Preview of 'Sal' A preview of "My Gal Sal" followed by a dance on the stage was given by the Roxy last night for service men. The dance was a "blind date" affair to which hundreds of working girls were invited. Studio Decorators Get $130 Week Minimum Hollywood, April 28. — A five-year agreement calling for upward revision of minimum wage scales and screen credits for set decorators has been signed by producers with the Society of Motion Picture Interior Decorators. The new scale for decorators is $130 weekly minimum instead of the former $110. Assistants were raised from $66 to $75 weekly minimum. The increases are retroactive to April 1. A clause in the new pact calls for reopening of wage discussions in 1944. Frank on USO Group Pittsburgh, April 28. — Morton Frank of the Pittsburgh Pres/s and Motion Picture Daily correspondent, has been appointed chairman of the USO Committee for Serving Service Men stationed in and around Pittsburgh. I. Elmer Ecker of the Variety Club is a member of the committee. Gary Theatre Files Clearance Complaint Chicago, April 28.— The Y & W Management Corp., operator of the first run Palace, Gary, Ind., filed a clearance complaint here today against 20th Century-Fox and RKO. The complaint charges that the clearance granted B & K's Tivoli and Southtown and Warners' Capitol and Avalon over the Palace is unreasonable. Gary is 25 miles from the theatres named as interested parties. Terry Buys Screen Rights to Comic Strip Screen rights to "Nancy," cartoon strip running in the New York Post, has been purchased by Paul Terry, producer of Terrytoons, from United Features, which handles the Ernie Bushmiller cartoons. "School Daze" will be the first release, on Sept. 18, for 20th Century-Fox. U. S. Ceiling On Materials In Industry (Continued from page 1) specifically exempted in the Price Control Act, including motion pictu^ and theatre admissions. Radio bijl casting also is exempt. ™» The Henderson order was the first step taken in Washington to put into effect the seven-point anti-inflation program laid before Congress yesterday by President Roosevelt. Members of the House Ways and Means committee today also questioned Treasury officials regarding the President's recommendations for total taxation of all excess profits and a limitation on individual net income to $25,000, but did not indicate that either suggestion would be incorporated in the tax bill now being written. The price control order will fix maximum prices for everything going into theatres, from the carpets on the floor to the carbons in the projector, and similarly will apply to materials used in production, but each manufacturer, wholesaler and retailer will observe the price he charged in March, thus making it possible to "shop" around as in the past. In supplemental orders designed to bring under the general price control various commodities on which maximum price regulations previously have been imposed, the OPA revoked the temporary regulation on the resale by distributors and retailers of new radio receiving sets and phonographs. WJZ Starts Series On Store Leaders An innovation in sustaining broadcasts will be tested on WJZ beginning Sunday when the station will start a program listing for consumers the 10 leading values offered in department stores the following day. Consumer education, including retail policies, wartime regulations, conservation practices, and merchandise status will also be featured. Called "Department Store News," it will be heard each night except Saturday 11:05-11:15 P.M. The program is designed as a service to the stores and consumers and will not be available for sponsorship, it was said. Gillham Visiting Frisco Hollywood, April 28. — Robert H. Gillham, director of advertising and publicity for Paramount, who arrived here yesterday, left tonight for San Francisco, where he will spend two days before returning to New York. Hays Due Tomorrow Will H. Hays, president of the MPPDA, is due here by train tomorrow from the Coast. While in Hollywood, he presided at a number of meetings, including one with Lowell Mellett, Coordinator of Government Films. Mochrie on Tour Robert Mochrie, RKO Eastern division sales manager, leaves today for Indianapolis to join Nat Levy, captain of the Ned Depinet sales drive, on a tour of Eastern exchanges. The drive continues until June 19. NBC Restricts Music Publishers9 Contacts To eliminate evils in song-plugging, C. L. Menser, NBC program manager, yesterday ordered that all contacts with the network's music library for song clearances will be limited to one officially delegated representative of the Music Publishers Contact Employes Union, Local 22102. The rule will go into effect May 4. On the same date, the time required to elapse between renditions of a song will be reduced from three to two hours. Quits'U' Sales Staff Philadelphia, April 28. — Jack Graham, Universal salesman, covering the Harrisburg, Pa., territory, has resigned from the local exchange.