Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

April cV, 1939 S 1 1 ( ) W M E N • S T R A I ) K R E V I I-: W Parje 11 PAR. READIES NEW PRODUCT Agnew and Gillham Leave For Coast TO STAY THREE WEEKS Neil Agnew, Paramouiit's vicepresident in charge of distrii)ution, and Robert M. Gillham, director of advertising and publicity, left New York Thursday nil their westward trek' to confer with Y. Frank Freeman and studio officials on the 1939-40 product. Messrs. Barney Balaban, Stanton Griffis, Edwin Weisl, Russell Holman and Leon Netter left Friday and will be joined by Agnew and Gillham in Chicago for the rest of the trip. It is expected that the home office group will remain on the Coast about three weeks. "Not Guilty" Majors' Plea in Contempt Case Chicago — A general plea of not guilty was filed by attorneys for major companies and B & K in Federal Court in answer to the Government's bill of particulars in the contempt case before Judge Charles Woodward. This puts in the issue all of the allegations of the information filed by the Government. The 20th Century-Fox sales convention held at the Congress Hotel in Chicago last vi^eek. On the dais are lack Fichelman, assistant to Heman Wobber, general sales manager, (standing centre). William Kupper, Western division sales manager; William Gehring, central division sales manager and William Sussman, Eastern division sales manager. The Convention heard details of the program of 52 pictures which the compa ny will make for the 1939-40 season. ROGERS DRIVE PLANS N. Y. Allied Attacks Print Non-Availability Albany — Highlight of the New York' Allied monthly meeting held this week at the Ten Eyck Hotel was the allegation of spasmodic non-availability of prints at schedule time for many independents on many occasions. There has been no waning of upstate opposition to crews of two men in a booth bill, it was said. A delegation will attend the state convention in New York next month. $25,000 For Refugees In Theatre "Drive" Minneapolis — Sometime next week, W. A. Steffes, Chief Barker of the Twin City Variety Club, is scheduled to present O. J. Arnold local head of the German Refugee drive, with a check for $25,000 the result of a two-month "drive" by Twin City theatremen. Film Daily Year Book Now Being Distributed The 21st annual edition of the Film Daily Year Book was b^ing distributed this week to motion picture distributors, producers, exhibitors, newspapers, and others w^ho rely on the publication for vital information concerning the industry. The book this year has a total of 1216 pages. Details of Observance On April 20th Nearly Ready Plans for this year's observance of Will Rogers National Theatre Week in major circuit and independent theatres throughout the country during the week beginning April 20 are rapidly nearing completion, it was announced this week by Major L. E. Thompson, chairman. Exhibitors have been classified into two categories; to run an all-star short subject, which will be furnished to them gratis, and take audience collections; or to make contributions based on theatre capacities. Thirtv-two branch managers of major film companies have already been designated as zone chairmen. The short subject produced for the annual drive includes in its cast Spencer Tracy. Deanna Durbin. Lowell Thomas, Robert E. Sherwood and Raymond A'lassey. National Screen Service will handle orders for prints which may be placed through the branch managers or salesmen of local National Screen offices. President To Be Telecast President Roosevelt making his speech opening the World's Fair will be the first subject to be telecast, according to Lenox R. Lohr, NBC president. Withdraw Goldwyn Picture in Quebec "Wuthering Heights", Samuel Goldwvn's production for UA release, has been withdrawn from the entire province of Quebec because of deletions reauired by the provincial censor, Goldwyn refused to make the cuts. Goldwyn Is Sulking Says Schwartz of UA April 4 "Since the failure of Mr. Goldwyn's attempt to secure voting control (of UA) by having himself designated as sole voting Trustee under a Voting Trust, demanded by him, he has been sulking," declared Charles Schwartz, UA attorney, this week in answer to statements from Goldwyn that he "would not be left at the post" as to future distribution. "He reminds us of a schoolboy who has been chastised and who avenges himself by making faces," said Schwartz. "This company has lived up to the spirit and letter of its contract and expects Mr. Goldwyn to do likewise for the full balance of its term," the attorney continued. The contract runs until Sept. 2, 1945. HITS AT GIVEWAYS Cleveland Exhibs to Get Plan To Do Away With Ills Cleveland — At a meeting to be held April 14 the Cleveland Motion Picture Exhibitors Association will receive a three-point program designed to do away with exhibitor ills. Elimination of theatre premium advertisements from theatre advertisements is sought in the proposed plan, as well as the seeking of an agreement whereby premiums will be entirely eliminated upon expiration of present premium contracts, and the reducing of duals to certain days of the week. The CMPE also passed a resolution reaffirming its endorsement of the Neely anti-block-booking bill. Mecca Acquires Sole Ownership of "Tralee" Sole and exclusive ownership of "Rose of Tralee" for distribution in the United States have been acquired by Mecca Film Laboratories, Inc., 630 Ninth Ave., New York. The rights cover 35 mm and 16 mm. The film was produced in Ireland with an all-star Iri.s'h cast. Columbia Shifts Branch Managers Denver — Wayne C. Ball, Columbia exchange manager here, has been s'hifted to managership of the company's Los Angeles exchange. Bob Hill, Salt Lake City exchange manager, will move to Denver to make his headquarters as manager of both the Denver and Salt Lake City branches of Columbia. Distributing Independently Boston — Following his resignat-'on as Grand National east'^rn division manag:er. Henrv Asher is distributing independently. 61,877 See "Bell" In Its First Week At the end of the first four days, 61.877 people had seen "The Story of Alexander Graham Bell" at the Roxy, thus assuring a holdover for the film. Turnbull to Manage British Cinema at Fair London — T. G. C. Turnbull, for the past 12 years manager of the New Gallery, Regent Street, has been chosen by the Department of Overseas Trade as manager of the cinema in the British Pavilion at the New York World's Fair. Turnbull was scheduled to leave here April 8 for New York. After about six months with the Fair, he will return to London. Greenblatt Made Assistant to Rogers Arthur Greenblatt, former eastern district manager for Gaumont British, has been appointed assistant to Budd Rogers, vice president and general manager of Alliance Films Corp. Headquarters for the company will be in the RKO Building, Radio City. Favors Passage of Anti-ASCAP Bill Oklahoma City — Passage of the bill to require ASCAP to file a list of their copyrights with the Secretary of State and thus void ASCAP's system of collections has been recommended by the House Judiciary Committee number one.