Motion Picture Herald (Mar-Apr 1941)

8 MOTION PICTURE HERALD Marcli 15, 1941 This Week in the News MPPDA vs. Neefy THE motion picture industry was again this week the guinea pig of clinical specimen for the Temporary National Economic Committee with the delivery of another monograph on lobbying and "the relationship between political activity and the concentration of economic power." Last week a TNEC monograph (see Motion Picture Herald of March 8) discussed the whole structure and evolution of the industry as an example of "symptoms which are common to many of our great enterprises." Concurrently TNEC heard a statement from its chairman, Senator Joseph C. O'Mahoney, Wyoming Democrat, arguing for federal licensing and charters for interstate corporations, "to save private enterprise." Wednesday's monograph came from Donald Blaisdell, economist of the committee, giving complete credit for the defeat of the Neely anti-block-booking bill to the Motion Picture Producers and Distributors of America. His subject was economic power and political pressure. Tracing the efforts of the independent exhibitors to secure the legislation, Mr. Blaisdell relates that the bill passed the Senate in 1938 and was referred to the House Interstate Commerce Committee, where Chairman Lea (Democrat, California) said "I just don't see how we can do anything about the bill this session; I should not like to report it out without hearing and I cannot see where we can find time to have any at this late date." "Thus," the monograph commented, "the bill was not acted upon by the House. "The Hays organization brought powerful pressure against the bill. It did not reach the floor of the House in 1938, and in July, 1939, it again passed the Senate, only to be again held up in the House. Hearings were held in the Spring of 1940 by the House Interstate Commerce Committee but no action was taken." Television Hopes COMMERCIAL television appeared more imminent this week than at any time since the Federal Communications Commission rescinded its "limited sponsorship" order a year ago. All interested parties were preparing for a television hearing to be held in Washington March 20th. The following events of the week were considered indicative, according to industry opinion, of impending action: 1. Members of the Federal Communications Commission expressed satisfaction with developments seen on a tour of Philco laboratories in Philadelphia and the Allen STATES RIGHTS issue complicates blocksof-five selling as two state legislatures act on bills to nullify decree provisions Page 12 "ESSENTIAL INDUSTRY" rating with OPM sought for motion picture industry Page 13 ARBITRATION hearings open on first complaints; new cases filed by exhibitors Page 14 FOUR-HOUR SHOWS planned by independents in St. Louis fight with F. & M. over triple features Page 21 CANADIAN EXHIBITORS fear projectionists will be drafted for army and navy service Page 23 EXHIBITORS urged to cooperate under decree, warned to watch product supply this summer Page 24 WELLES TO RKO: "I'll be suing you," as "Citizen Kane" reviews appear Page 27 Asides and Interludes Page 42 Hollywood Scene Page 41 Release Chart Page 73 Reviews Page 36 What the Picture Did for Me Page 60 B. DuMont and Bell Telephone laboratories in New York City. James L. Fly, FCC chairman, said he was "greatly impressed." 2. The National Television Systems Committee reached a compromise agreement on the troublesome question of the number of lines in a television picture and voted to indorse 525 lines instead of 441 previously approved. 3. The National Broadcasting Company continued experiments with what was described as the first transmissions over the air of "live" color television in this country. 4. Telephone Company demonstrations, by optical means, of what various television systems can do under ideal conditions definitely settled a number of problems. The principal points still to be argued at the FCC hearing are flexibility, color and polarization. The principal proponents of flexibility are the Paramount television interests, including DuMont and Television Productions. The Columbia Broadcasting System in recent months has been backing color television. The third controversial issue concerns the design of antennas. RENTAL RECEIPTS at film exchanges increased 10 per cent in 10-year period, census shows Page 32 NEWSREELS reflect increased audience appetite for war and defense topics; special campaigns tried Page 43 NO AUCTION BLOCK selling of mew groups of five in MGM program, Rodgers pledges to exhibitors Page 47 WAGES-HOURS ACT applies to 22,000 film workers, Hollywood is told by Administrator Page 49 U. S. PRESSURE seen settlement factor in stalemated ASCAP dispute with radio broadcasters Page 52 DELAWARE kills 200-year-old blue law; Michigan moves to repeal Sunday show statute Page 54 FIRST 'SUPER' FM station license issued to Major Armstrong for Alpine transmitter Page 56 For the benefit of those inclined to put on a little extra pressure to sell seasonal activities, now that the robins are coming, this week's Round Table devotes sizeable space to tell what the membership has done in previous years and intends repeating to turn spring fever to the advantage of the box office Page 65 U. S. 'Camera Internes 9 PRESSURE of national defense training has increased to 21 the number of men assigned from the four federal armed services to March of Time offices for instruction in still and motion picture camera technique. Picked enlisted men from the Coast Guard, Marines, Army and Navy accompany March of Time crews on assignment to observe operations. In some cases they take their own equipment and shoot film under the tutelage of the professional cameramen but they do no work for March of Time. The "interne" system started about a year ago when the Coast Guard, a pioneer in making service training films, arranged with Louis de Rochemont to have several Guard cameramen observe Time technique. Other services joined in the plan until March of Time today boasts a sizeable "home defense" corps. The students wear mufti, and spend about two months each in the training course. The Coast Guard has 8 men on duty at the New York offices, the Navy 6, Army 4, and Marines 3. SERVICE DEPARTMENTS