Showmen's Trade Review (Apr-Jun 1939)

Page 24 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW May 6, 1939 MGM ADDS TO STARROSTER Cantor, Astaire In New Pictures Dallas Variety Club s Delegates The 17 men pictured above were photographed when they presented a portrait of R. J. (Bob) O'Donnell, to the subject himself. Then they all left for Detroit for the National Variety Clubs convention. Left to right in the bottom Tovf are B. C. Gibson, Special Sales Representative, United Artists; Harry Sachs, Chief Booker, Interstate Circuit; Buddy Harris, General Sales Manager, TAD Screen Advertising; Lloyd Rust, Branch Manager, Republic; Burt King, Division Manager, RCA; George O'Rourke, President, O'Rourke Construction Co.; Duke Evans, General Sales Manager, Evans Printing & Poster Co. Second row left to right: Jack Underwood, Branch Manager, Columbia; J. O. Cherry, City Manager in Dallas, Interstate Circuit; Bob O'Donnell, Vice President and General Manager, Interstate Circuit and Chief Barker of the Variety Club of Dallas; Wallace Walthall, Branch Manager, National Screen Service; E. J. Solon, Treasurer, Interstate Circuit; Paul Short, Division Manager, National Screen. Top row left to right: Meyer Rachofsky, Vice President, Mercantile National Bank; Robert L. Jones, Chief of Police of Dallas; Elmer Zrenner, Sound Supervisor, Interstate Circuit; Frank Starrs, Director of Advertising and Publicity, Interstate Circuit. ROBINSON ALSO JOINS MGM announced this week a supplementary list of titles and stars which will augment its program for next season, announced at the convention in March. There will be from 44 to 52 pictures on the new program. New star additions include Eddie Cantor, Fred Astaire and Edv/ard G. Robinson. James Stewart has also been elevated to stardom. Cantor will appear in "Banjo Eyes", a comedy drama with music. Fred Astaire will co-star with Eleanor Powell on "Broadway Melody of 1940". Norma Shearer will star in "Pride and Prejudice" from the novel by Jane Austen, following completion of "The Women" m which she is starred with Joan Crawford and Rosalind Russell. Jeanette MacDonald will appear in a musical version of "Smilin' Thru" which Norma Shearer made several seasons ago. She will be co-starred with Nelson Eddy in "Silent Night" and "Lover Come Back to Me". Nelson Eddy will also be seen in "Balalaika" with Ilona Massey. "Park Avenue Model", to be produced from an original story by John Larkin and Jerry Horwin, has been added to Joan Crawford's starring schedule, which already includes "House of Glass", "A Lady Comes to Town", in addition to "The Women". "American Newlyweds" will introduce a new family series, dealing with a typical young married American couple. Robert Montgomery will go to England to star in two pictures: "Earl of Chicago", an original story by Brock Williams, and "Busman's Holiday", based on a novel by Dorothy Sayres. These will be produced at the Denham Studios on the same large scale as "A Yank at Oxford", "The Citadel" and the recently completed "Goodbye, Mr. Chips". Busby Berkeley and Norman McLeod have been signed to directorial contracts at the Culver City studios. Greer Garson, who appears opposite Robert Donat in "Goodbye. Mr. Chips", will be starred in "Susan and God", the play by Rachel Crothers. Donat will have the leading role in "Ruined City", based on the novel "Kindling" by Nevil Shute. Spencer Tracy will be starred in "Witch in the Wilderness", to be directed by King Vidor from the novel by Desmond Holdridge. Mono. State Salesman Detroit — Formerly office manager for RKO Radio Pictures, Clive Waxman has been appointed state salesman for Monogram. VARIEH CLUBS RE-ELECT HARRIS More Than 600 Delegates, Guests, Attend Meet Detroit — A banquet at the Book Cadillac Hotel attended hy more than 600 delegates and guests climaxed the fifth annual convention of the Variet}^ Clubs of America, which closed here Saturday. Mayor Richard W. Reading, John B. Kennedy, Lloyd Nolan, Malcolm W. Bingay, editorial director of the Free-Press, and Edgar Guest were included among the speakers and guests of honor. George Jessel and Ethel Shutta headed an elaborate floor show. John H. Harris, Pittsburgh, was re-elected chief barker for the fifth time; Duke Clark, Cleveland, first assistant chief barker; John J. Maloney, Pittsburgh, second assistant chief barker; Frank Drew, Cleveland, national property master, and James Palmer, Pittsburgh, national dough guy. The 1940 convention will be held in Dallas, Texas. Anti-Duals Bill Springfield, 111. — A bill to prohibit double features in Illinois has been advanced by the House to its third reading, thus indicating an early vote. CAN.EXHIBSTO DRAFT REFORMS Indicate It Will Call For Sweeping Changes Toronto — A move has been formally launched here by the Independent Theatres Association in behalf of Canadian indie exhibitors who want a trade practice of their own. The Association is canvassing its membership for suggested reforms, with subjects of clearance, priority and revision of the Standard License Agreement getting strongest attention. When the suggested draft is turned over to distributors, indications are that ITA will call for sweeping changes. Actual standardization of the license agreement is wanted by ITA, who would rule out socalled surprise clauses on the schedule side and would have any departures from the standard form printed in bold type as a tip-off to exhibitors. Tax May Close Theatres Quebec — Unless some modification of Quebec City's ten per cent tax on all admissions to theatres and places of amusement, now in effect, does not materialize, it is believed many Quebec theatres will close their doors PLAN EXHIB. VOTEOILCODE Allied to Seek Action At Convention HOPES IT'S CONCLUSIVE Regardless of organization affiliations, all independent exhibitors will be asked to vote on the acceptance or rejection of the trade practice proposals when Allied holds its national convention at the Nicollet Hotel in Minneapolis, June 13-15. In a formal announcement from his Dallas headquarters. Col. H. A. Cole asked for a settlement of the reforms argument "once and for all" and stated that a session would be set aside for discussion of the subject by representatives of exhibitors and distributors. "Each theatre owner will be given an opportunity to hear the other side, and from there on he is on his own," Cole said, then continued: "If the majority of independent theatre owners in the U. S. want to accept the trade practice reforms as submitted by the producers, you may rest assured that the members of the negotiations committee and all officers of Allied will find no fault, and we are positive representatives of the producers-distributors will feel likewise." Nothing up to the present time has been done to settle the controversial statements in regard to exhibitor reaction to the Neely Bill and the trade code. Cole pointed out. While one group contends the Neely Bill would hurt the independents, another takes an opposite view. If representatives of production, distribution and exhibition meet in one session. Cole believes the matter can be settled. FOR FAIR VISITORS Variety Club Will Establish Headquarters in N. Y A headquarters for members of the National Variety Clubs and others associated with the motion picture industry who visit the New York World's Fair will be established by the National Variety Club, probably at the Hotel Astor in the near future, it was announced last week' in Detroit by John H. Harris, national chief barker. If the venture is successful, it is possible a New York tent will also be established. Okla. MPTO Will Convene in June Oklahoma City — Annual convention of the MPTO of Oklahoma will be held here June 19-20 or June 26-27, it has been announced by Morris Loewenstein, president. National legislation, the MPTOA program and the trade pact will be discussed by Ed Kuykendall, MPTOA prexy.