Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1940)

84 MOTION PICTURE HERALD March 30, I 94( IN COURTS United Artists Files Goldwyn Suit Answer United Artists in an answer filed this week in federal court in New York in the Samuel Goldwyn action for $54,559 charged that Samuel Goldwyn, Inc., arbitrarily refused to agree to modifications of the "Silverstone Bonus Plan." Although these modifications had been ratified at a United Artists stockholders' meeting in January, 1939, and amended contracts had been signed by all other producers, Mr. Goldwyn refused to give his consent, the answer states. The defendant claims that it offered the sum sued for to Mr. Goldwyn, despite his stand, "in order to avoid controversy" and that it was rejected. An application to dismiss Mr. Goldwyn's action to upset his contract is now pending in federal court. Litigation in Buffalo Over Pearl White Estate The $500,000 estate of the late Pearl White has been tied up in litigation in Buffalo by counsel for Fred White, brother. Mr. White sought to prevent the executor cf the estate in Paris where the actress died from turning any money over to his wife, Mary. A restraining order was granted Saturday by Samuel J. Harris, New York supreme court justice, on request of Mr. White's attorney. The action was prompted by previous legal proceedings against Fred White, whose whereabouts were reported unknown at the time of his sister's death. The proceedings sought to tie up the funds which he might have received from the actress's estate. Injunction Denied Ferdinand Pecora, New York supreme court justice, on Friday denied an injunction sought by the Carbon Corporation, perfume manufacturers, against RKO Radio Pictures in connection with the film "Primrose Path." The perfume company tried to halt distribution of the picture claiming injury because one of its perfume bottles was used in one of the sequences of the picture. The Roxy theatre, New York, where the film is now being shown, also was a defendant in the action. Segal Suit Upheld An application to dismiss the suit of Harry Segal against Standard Pictures Distributing Corporation and George Leganas was denied this week in New York supreme court. The plaintiff asks for $32,400, claiming breach of an employment contract to act as sales manager for three years at five per cent of the company's gross. Discrimination Charged Charged with racial discrimination by four colored men, R. A. Lesarius, manager of the Bulls Head theatre, Scranton, Pa., this week was held under $300 bail for court following a hearing before a local Alderman. Mr. Lesarius was arrested on a charge sworn out by one of the four who claimed that on March 12th the complainant and three friends were advised, when they sought admittance to the theatre, that the admission price was $1 each. The complaint charged that the usual admission price was 20 cents. Stockholders' Suit Trial Trial of a stockholders' suit against Consolidated Film Industries, Columbia Broadcasting System, Cajo Company and Setay Company started this week in New York supreme court. The suit attacks transactions involving the purchase of an interest in Republic by Consolidated and sale of the American Record Company to cp,s. IVilliam Fox Offer Approved A $500,000 settlement of $1,400,000 in claims against the estate of William Fox has been approved by Judge John Boyd Avis in federal district court in Camden, N. J. The settlement had been accepted, subject to court approval, by Allen B. Endicott, Jr., of Atlantic City, federal referee in bankruptcy. It was offered by the All-Continental Corporaiton, a holding company of the Fox family. Judge Avis gave creditors the right to appeal within 30 days. First, however, they must file cash bonds of $50,000 and indemnity bonds of $100,000 to guarantee costs of any further litigation. Vermont Court Denies Interstate Motion At a hearing held in federal court in Montpelier, Vt., this week, Tegu's Palace Theatre, Inc., successfully opposed motions argued by counsel for Interstate Theatre Corporation and Rockingham Operating Company, in an antitrust action. David Stoneman, counsel for Interstate Theatre Corporation, and one of the principal stockholders of Interstate, contended that his company was not transacting business in Vermont, and upon this theory he argued that the complaint should be dismissed as against his client. Interstate. The motion was denied. End Paramount Action A suit instituted by Paramount in federal court in Oklahoma City in April, 1937, against the Leader Press, Inc., of that city, ended this week in an injunction granted to Paramount to restrain the printing company from selling advertising novelties, accessories, posters and other objects using names and caricatures of Paramount stars and titles of Paramount pictures without proper identification. Stage Show Dropped The RKO Shubert theatre in Cincinnati will return to a straight picture policy March 29th with the scale of admission reduced. The stage show, which has been a policy of the theatre since the beginning of the season, will be dropped. Terry-Toon Merchandising Paul Terry of Terry-Toons has signed a contract licensing the Ideal Novelty and Toy Company to make a number of dolls and toys from several of his cartoon characters. Twentieth Century-Fox distribute TerryToons. The first tieup will be on "Lucky Duck." Mrs. Roosevelt on Censorship Mrs. Eleanor Roosevelt, wife of the President, told a Civil Liberties League audience in Chicago this week that she was opposed to censorship of motion pictures. She said that film selection should be left to the intelligence of the people. New French Film French Cinema Center, Inc., this week received the negative of a new French film, "Schpountz," produced by MarreJ Pagnol. The film is a satire on the film industry and the public, and stars Fernandel. OBITUARIES Major Bernard Reinold, Character Actor, Dies Major Bernard Adolph Reinold, a char acter actor on the American stage for man; years and known to audiences as Adolpl Bernard, died at the age of eighty last wee at East Islip, L. I. Major Reinold was born in New York an appeared in the stage productions of "Scho for Scandal," "As You Like It" and othel plays. Later he joined the Charles Froh man productions. He served in the Spanish-American wa as a lieutenant with Roosevelt's Rougl Riders. Upon his return he appeared witl Lawrence Barrett, Clara Morris, Lionel At will and Lenore Ulric under the Davit Belasco managership and was a staff execu tive for William A. Brady. Jesse Abraham Ferguson Jesse Abraham Ferguson, 57, for 25 year; maintenance director for Saenger theatres in th< Jackson, Miss., area, died of a heart attacl March 17th. Surviving are a brother and i niece. Ambrose Manning Ambrose Manning, who was on the stage fo: nearly seventy years and was the last surviving principal of the original "Sign of the Cross,' died in Brixham, South Devon, England, March 23d. News of his death was received by friends in a telegram from his widow. Ramon Ruenes Dies Ramon Ruenes, 59, for many years owner of motion picture houses in San Benito, Mission and Raymondville, Tex., died at San Benito March 18th after a long illness. Mr. Ruenes was born in Posada, Asturias, Spain, and came to this country 33 years ago. He is survived by his wife, a son, Ramon Jr., and three daughters, Mrs. G. N. Canas, Mrs. L. J. Izaguirre and Miss Maria Chrestinaj Ruenes. William Broich William Broich, who made wigs for the casts of hundreds of Broadway plays during the last ; forty years, died March 21 of a cerebral ' hemorrhage at his home in New York. He was seventy-three years old. A. L. Hammond Aubrey Lindsay Hammond, artist and stage j designer, an early leader in the technique of ] modern camouflage and at one time a designer for motion picture sets, died March 19th in j London. Hyman H. Ramdach Funeral services for Hyman H. Ramdach, pioneer theatre builder, were held at the Temple Israel meeting house in Boston. Mr. Ramdach died in Florida on March 17th. Cecil Gwinn Cecil Gwinn, 43, exhibitor in Seattle, Wash., died March 21st, following an operation. He was formerly with Fox West Coast Circuit and was active in the Pacific Northwest exhibitor group, including a period as director of the Washington State Theatre Owners Association. Name Changed Consolidated Theatres, Inc., a Delaware corporation, has changed its name to Griffith Consolidated Theatres, Inc., Oklahoma.:1