Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1939)

Page 4 SHOWMEN'S TRAD.E REVIEW October 7, 1939 N. Y. Allied Calls Meeting Oct. 17 To Decide On Future Will Debate Whether To Affiliate With National Group or Stick To Max Cohen A State-wide meeting of the New York Allied organization will be held on Oct. 17 lo decide on whether the grou]) will affiliate with the National Allied organization or whether it will adiicrc to the leadership of Max''S> OF PARTICULARS Crescent Amusement Seeks Amplification of Charges Signing New Pact national group. A meeting was iield at Syracuse this week called by E. Tiiornton Kelly, former executive secretary of New York Allied. Cohen declared that Kelly had no right to call the meting. Kelly on the other hand affirmed that he had called the meeting at the request of three members of the board of directors and several up-state nienibers of the group. Oddly enough the meeting at Syracuse was presided over by another Max Cohen, who comes from Brooklyn. National Allied leaders who attended included Sidney Samuelson, Lee Newbury, Arthur Howard and Frank Lydon. Tiie Max Cohen who protested the meeting said that the Max Cohen who presided is only a regional vice-president of the New York unit and had no right to preside. Rap Merriman, head of the Syracuse group adhering to the old group's policies did not attend the sessions in Syracuse this week. Members who did attend said they expected a showdown and fireworks at the Oct. 17 meeting. No place has been set for this gathering as yet. It is known that several attempts have been made by the national organization to form a group in New York which would he. in sympathy with National Allied's aims. The latter organization in its announcement expelling the New York unit said that the policies of Messrs. Cohen and Harry G. Kosch were such that they would not countenance the retention of their group within theirs. Sentiment in the organization was said to be divided. Upstate exhibitors centering around Albany were believed to be willing to form the nucleus of a new group. Nashville, Tenn. — A motion for a bill of particulars was filed by the Crescent Amusement Co. in the U. S. District Court for the Middle District of Tennessee in the Government's anti-trust case. Wide amplifications were sought from the Government of the charges which embraced conspiracy, monopoly, and restraint of trade with respect to film trade. It was learned from sources close to the defense that hearings in the case, scheduled to get under way this week, will not begin until a later date. Other defendants, besides Crescent Amusement Co., are Lyric Amusement Co., Inc.; Nu Strand Corp.; Cumberland Amusement Co.; Strand Enterprises, Inc.; Cherokee Amusements Co.; Kentucky Amusements, Inc., and .sundry individuals. Pitt V. C. Dinner Will Honor Ira Cohn 1 'itt.sburgh — Chief Barker Ira H. Cohn and asociate officers will be honored at the eleventh annual banquet of the local Variety Club, Tent No. 1, to be held Sunday, Oct. 29 at the William Penn Hotel here. More than 150 have been appointed on committees for the forthcoming banquet by John H. Harris, national chief barker, who is also general chairman. To Maintain Present Prices N. J. Allied Votes Against Boosting Scales In Member-Theatres For the Time Being Deciding, after a thorough decision, that this was no time to either cut or advance price scales, but maintain present levels until the box offices reflect the economic situation one w-ay or another, Allied of New Jersey this^^ week voted against upping admission prices in the member-theatres. There were complaints at the meeting in regard to product buying that majors were not selling in accordance with their announced policies, especially in regard to forcing of shorts and cancellation privileges. Lee Newbury, president, expressed the be lief, however, that perhaps the sales staffs had not been informed of recent changes in selling plans that New Jersey Allied would give them the benefit of the doubt for at least the present. Date for the next meeting of the organization has been set for Oct. 17 at the Cochrane Hotel, Newton. NO DECISION SCHjNECASE Arguments on Suit Will Be Resumed As Ned E. Depinet looks on, George J. Schaefer, president of RKO, affixes his signature to a new long-term contract for Depinet as vice-president in charge of distribution. DEPINET SIGNS RKO RADIO PACT To Remain As Company's Distribution Chief Having been associated with RKO Radio for the past eight years in the capacity of vice-president in charge of production, Ned E. Depinet last week signed a long term contract in that capacity, according to President George J. Schaefer, who made the announcement just before he entrained for Hollywood. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed, although Depinet declared that he was "very happy" that his association with RKO was to continue. Depinet has been in the industry 32 years, and is highly regarded for the part he has played in bringing RKO Radio forward. His first job was as ticket taker at the Dreamland, New Orleans, and later had his first distribution experience in J. E. Pearce's exchange in New Orleans. Before joining RKO Pathe in 1931, he was associated with First National until its merger with Warner Brothers. Exhibitors commemmorated Dejjinet's 30tli anniversary in the film business with a dinner in Dallas, Texas, in March of 1938. Para. Seeks Reduction In Property Assessments In an attemjit to reduce assessments on two properties owned by it in the cxty, its film exchange at 331 W. 44th street and its film laboratory at 554 W. 43rd, Paramount Pictures, Inc., has filed proceedings in the N. Y. Supreme Court against the tax commission of the Citv of New York. \ Grady 111 at Home Cincinnati — Because of illness, J. J. Grady, 20th-iFox branch manager here, is confined to his home. Pniffalo — Federal Judge John Knight reserved decision this week on a motion by the Government seeking a temporary injunction to "prevent expansion" of Schine Chain Theatres, Inc., which operates film houses in five states. Arguments were presented by Frederick H. Wood, New York, representing the Schine group; Jolin Lord O'Brian, counsel for Warner Bros., Vitagraph and Paramount, and Seymour Krieger, Washington, D. C., special attorney for the Department of ,ustice. Judge Knight set Tuesda3^ Oct. 10, as the date for continuance of arguments, at which time all motions for bills of particulars will be heard. Attorney Wood's argument for dismissal of the case was on the grounds that his clients are not engaged in interstate commerce and that exhibition of films is |)urely "local business" and not within the realm of the Sherman Anti-Trust Act nor Federal control. Krieger's argument was that the Schine group purchased films "in mass," thus restraining trade and constituting "anti-trust act violation." New Garden Opens Flint, Mich. — Opening of the new Garden Theatre here, new link in the Butterfield Theatres chain, took place Thursday evening, Oct. 5. SHOWMEN'S MOTION PICTURE Trade Review Vol.31, No. 11 Oct. 7, 1939 l itle and Trade Mark Reg. U. S. Pat. Off. Charles E. "Chick" Lewis Editor and Publisher rOM KENNEDY A-sociate Eriilor JOS H. GALLAGHER. Film Adv. Mgr. ilAROLD KENDALL Equip Adv. M^r. ROBERT WILE Managing Editor WEST COAST OFFICE ANN LEWIS, West Coast Manager Guaranty Bldg., 6331 Hollywood Blvd. Hollywood, Cal. Tel. HOllywood 1390 CHICAGO REPRESENTATIVE MARSHALL REINIG 512 No. Michigan Ave., Chicago, 111. Telephone: Superior 7646 LONDON REPRESENTATIVE lOCK MacGREGOR, 20 Portsea Place Hyde Park, W., London, Eng. AUSTRALIAN REPRESENTATIVE GORDON V. CURIE, 1 Elliott Street Homebush, Sydney, Australia Showmen's '["rade Review is jiublished ^\-eekly by Showmen's 'Crade Review. Inc. publication office, 34 North Crystal St.. East Stioudsburg, Pa. Editorial and advertising offices, 1501 Broadway, New York City. Tel. : Bryant 9-5606. Sub-cription price in the United States and Canada, $2.00 per year. Foreign $5.00 per year. Single copies, ten cents. Subscribers should remit with order. All contents copyrighted 1939.