Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1939)

M a r c n 2 5 9 3 9 MOTION PICTURE HERALD 67 Pitman to Issue Books on Films ■•Foremost Films of 1938" is the title of the first volume of a new annual series of hint reference books which the Pitman Publishing Company, New York, is to issue. The first volume is described as condensing into 5,000 words each the ten "best" filrns of the year, surveys events and trends in the industry and summarizes the year's pictures. Frank Vreeland is the editor. Publication date of the first volume has not been determined. Mr. Vreeland has prepared the first volume as a guide to students of the screen especially in high schools, colleges, and club organizations. Air. Vreeland began reviewing picttu'es on the old New York Morning Sun in the days of the silent movie when the late Harriette Underbill was the one film critic with a "byline." Successively he wrote for the Evening Sun, the Herald, Herald-Tribune, and World-telegram. After serving as dramatic critic on the World-Telegram, he ioined Fox Film and subsequently went to "Paramount, where he was a member of the editorial board in Hollywood until a few months ago. He has contributed articles and reviews on stage and screen to Time Magazine, The Nation, Theatre Magazine, and other publications. Milwaukee May Try Singles Milwaukee theatre men on Sunday voted for the elimination of "early bird" admission prices and the return of their houses to a single feature policy. Those attending the meeting were from 63 of Milwaukee county's 73 theatres. They also approved a straight admission price for Sundays. There will be ftarther meetings of the group. Named chairman was E. F. Maertz; secretary, Ray E. Tesch, of the Independent Theatres Protective Association. Set Reorganization Hearing Federal Judge William Bondy has directed a hearing on March 30th on the proposed plan of reorganization submitted by the French Motion Picture Corporation, which tiled a petition for reorganization February 19, 1938. The plan provides for payment of priority claims in full, and 15 per cent to general creditors. Congressman Wesley Disney of the First Oklahoma district is preparing a bill for introduction in Congress authorizing a Will Rogers memorial stamp issue. The bill will propose that the stamp be issued in connection with the world philatelists' convention to be held in Tulsa, Mav 17 to 21. Griffith Amusement Company, Oklahoma City, has renewed its contract with Altec Service Corporation for servicing the sound equipment in more than 200 Griffith theatres in Oklahoma, Texas and New Mexico on a flat contract basis. Jack Zern and Jack •Gregory of Altec closed the deal with circuit officials. Pete Smith Tackles Dragon Duals With Ad Lib Sword When He Tells Women Dottbles Broaden Hips, It s All Over Tri-National Films, Inc., has increased its capitalization from 100 shares to 2,000 shares, no stated par value, according to papers filed with the New A'ork Secretary of State. by Gus McCarthy in Hollywood Seven hundred women and two men attended a St. Patrick's Day meeting in Hollywood of the Federated Women's Clubs at the Fox Wilshire theatre. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's Pete Smith was up on the stage talking. Your correspondent w^as up in the far recesses of the balcony listening. Pete's job was to tear the hide off the double feature. Pete, whom everybody calls as smart a press agent as Hollywood ever had, became aware that all the logical and erudite arguments against the dual had left the beast's pelt unpunctured, whereupon he resorted to that old political trick of badinage and raillery to stab it full of holes. Broadens the Hips, Too "Double features are the eye-strain of a nation," said Peter, and the women sat up in their seats. "No wonder opticians chortle with glee whenever they see two features advertised. You'd chortle, too, for if all the eye glasses sold as a result of this practice were laid end to end, well, it would give a lot of work to the unemployed. "Then, too, the habit of sitting through two features is bound to have its effect on one's, shall I say, anatomy. Yes, I shall say anatomy. Instead of broadening the mind, double features fatigue the mind and broaden the hips." Whereupon a lot of the more buxom delegates gave very good imitations of Claudette Colbert squidging into the easy chair in "Midnight." When the laughter subsided, Pete tried to get serious. He read from his script, "On occasions, two heads are better than one." Then, tossing the paper aside, he reverted to type with, "But two features are usually a headache." He took the audience into typical American homes when the family were making up their minds whether to go to a picture show. Both case histories wound up in brawls, with mother going back to her knitting, the old man trying to reduce his blood pressure and the youngsters sore at the world, sore with each other and sore at the movies. For no program nominated offered anything that would satisfy everyone. On Candy and Tumnnyaclies Pete returned to his prepared script but his audience grew restive, whereupon Mr. Smith burst forth with this : "A child will eat candy until it becomes sick, if you let it. Many movie fans will sit through hours of pictures until they get sick — sick of pictures — if you let them. The movie fan is getting an overdose of pictures." Carrie Nation never sailed into a battle with Demon Rum with more vim and vigor than Pete sallied forth to joust with Demon Duals. "Like a patient, the movie fan doesn't always know what's good for him. He may think he wants double features, but he doesn't realize that subconsciously he is becoming satiated with pictures — because he gets too much at one sitting." While the audience was applauding, we could see that Mr. Smith, a press agent at heart, was getting ready a word for himself. We didn't guess wrong. A sip of water downed, Pete continued, "One of the most vital factors in the movement now evident in many quarters, to bring back single features, is the short subject. They must not be poor shorts. Weak sisters will have no place in the short subject market. They will die on the vine." The speaker did not mention the "Pete Smith Shorts." He recited a long list of able men and women who were devoting themselves to short production but didn't mention himself. By this time, Mr. Smith had his audience in the palm of his hand. "You can become a very important ally in this battle. If you dislike double features, see that the manager of the theatre you patronize is made aware of the fact. If you dislike certain shorts, tell the theatre manager about it. In other words, don't hesitate to register your likes and dislikes with the theatre manager. "In conclusion, I'd like to know just how you ladies stand on the double feature situation. I believe I know, but I'd like to make sure. All those in favor of the double feature practice, clap your hands. (Silence). Okey. Now all those in favor of the single feature and a program of shorts policy, clap your hands." (Terrific applause). The ballot box already having been stuffed to bulging, the vote was no surprise. Projectionist Convicted of Plot to Damage Machines George Roop, projectionist at the Strand theatre, in Red Bank, N. J., was found guilty at Freehold, N. J., by a jury before Judge John C. Giordano in quarter sessions court of a charge of conspiracy to damage machines in the Liberty theatre at Freehold, in an effort to compel Max Snider, the proprietor, to unionize his playhouse. The jurors were out two and a half hours. This was Roop's second trial on the charge ; a jury last June was unable to reach a verdict. Leading witnesses for the state in the second trial were William Howard Mericle, West Orange, and Frank Fleming, Long Branch, both of whom had pleaded guilty of the conspiracy and also of malicious mischief in damaging the projection machines at the Liberty on February 7th, a year ago. Mericle, who was sentenced to 18 months to three years in the state prison, was released December 27. Fleming received a suspended sentence. The pair testified, as they did at the first trial, that Fred Remhurst of New Brunswick, also a motion picture projectionist and then business agent of the New Brunswick local, sent them to Red Bank to see Roop on J"an. 24, 1937. Roop, they said, told them he wanted them to do some slight damage to the Liberty machines. The pair was paid $75, according to the testimony.