Showmen's Trade Review (Oct-Dec 1939)

Oclobcr 21, 1939 SHOWMEN'S TRADE REVIEW Page 5 Important Dates Oct. 23-24: MI'l'OA Hoard of Direcloif meeting, Green Briar Hotel, White Sulphur Springs, W. Va. Oct. 23-2-t : ATO of Indiana annual convention, Antler.s Hotel, Indianapolis. Oct. 23-24: MPTO of Western Pennsylvania convention, William Penn Hotel, Pittsburgh. Oct. 29: Variety Club foctball game and dinner, Pittsburgh. Nov. 13: National Allied eastern regional convention. Philadelphia Nov. 29 : Motion Picture Associates <linner-dance. Hotel Astor. NO COMPROMISE ASSERTS ARNOLD Washington — Thurnian Arnold, ' Assistant Attorney General and ! chief of the anti-trust division of the Department of Justice, dismissed here this week as without foundation reports current in New York that the Department was pointing towards a compromise settlement of its New York equity suit. He emphasized his stateI ment by stating that "there will be no compromise." Meanwhile, in New York, Paul Williams, special assistant to the ' Attorney General, asserted that there has been no change in the Government's order of legal attack on the film industry. He spiked reports that the Department had revamped its strategy, pointing out that the Government would prosecute the New York equity suit "without delay." Two a Year From Max Gordon Max Gordon, stage producer, who has just completed "Abe Lincoln in Illinois" for RKO release said this week at a press conference that he would make two pictures annually for RKO. On the schedule is "The American Way." Acquires Assets Principal assets of TAD Screen Advertising, Inc., of Dallas have been purchased by the Alexander Film Co. LONDON Observations by Jock MacGregor After four weeks of World War II, West End cinemas still are faced with a 6 p.m. curfew meaning that the last house does not start later than 4 p.m. Some hope for staggered hours, but GB has closed the Tivoli, New Gallery and Astoria as an economy measure . . . General late hours are not likely with the "black-out" ... if the cinemas were only half full the exodus of some 9,000 Iiatrons at 10 o'clock would make traffic conditions impossible . . . Meanwhile the big cinemas are losing fortunes . Further out, business is very nice though renters are experiencing difficulty in getting money in some districts . . . British producers are fearing the repeal of the "quota" . . . happiest feature of the week has been the previewing of two British pictures . . . "10 Days In Paris" is well worth taking a lock at . . . Some of the film boys look mighty fine in their uniforms . . . Can't tell them from the doormen. The hard work seems to be doing them good ! . . . First film cocktail party of the war has been arranged by the British Film Producers Asscciation ... At MGM press shows, cigars, champagne and tea are no longer handed around ... a plentiful supply of other drinks is available . . . As one critic stoically put it ; "We can console ourselves in the knowledge that Nazi critics don't even get that." Cohen Exceeded Authority, Claims N. Y. Indie Group Pass Motion to Ask N. Y. Allied Prexy to Deliver Books of State Unit Syracuse — Meeting here this week, eight members of New York AUiecl, along with Col. H. A. Cole, national president, Sidney Samuelson and E. Thornton Kelly, passed a resolution finding fault with Max A. Cohen, ^ state president, whose action in discharging Kelly as executive secretary, it is said, even exceeded Cohen's authority under the constitution. On record as an official session of Allied Theatres of New York, Inc., the meeting was claimed to have been legally called following consultation of the constitution regarding letters sent out by officers and directors. Upholding and ratifying the legal election of Kelly as executive secretary in December, 1938, the meeting passed a motion directing Kelly to request Cohen to deliver books and records to Kelly so that all members could be furnished with a statement of receipts and expenditures. Although addresses were made by Col. Cole and Samuelson regarding the status of the New York organization with national Allied, it was not disclosed whether the gathering constituted the nucleus of an afftliate. That two New York independent exhibitor organizations will attempt to function in the state is indicated by the fact that several Allied members have signified their intention of remaining with the Cohen group following the recent split within ranks. DETROIT SEES "PASSAGE" OPEN Detroit — Prominent circuit op erators, key city newspapermen and Hollywood stars converged here Thursday evening for the world premiere of Paramount's "Disi)uted Passage" at the Michigan Theatre. John Howard, Robert Preston, J. Carrol Naish, Olympe Bradna, Susan Hayward and Dorothy Lamour headed the Hollywood contingent. Theatre executives included Bill Hollander, B. & K. Theatres, Chicago; Harry Browning, M. & P. Theatres, Boston; Mr. and Mrs. John Balaban, and Walter Immerman of Chicago; Allen Usher, Paramount Chicago Division manager; Charles Winchell, Minnesota Amusement Co., Minneapolis; Joe Feldman of Warner Bros, Pittsburgh office; Ralph Lawlor, Paramount Theatre, Toledo and Charles Kurtzman of Loew's in I'ittsburgh. The Detroit auto show was held at the same time which added to the excitement in the city. The locale of the picture is the medical school of the University of Michigan, many representatives of which attended the premiere. Two Promoted In Jam Handy Organization Two promotions in the Jam Handy organization were announced this week by Jamison Handy, president. Jack C. Coffey, who has been handling assignments in Philadelphia and Wilmington, will head the executive contact staff in New England, with headquarters in Boston. L. D. Ranibeau has been promoted to the executive contact staff, and will work out of the Philadelphia offices of Jam Handy. Union Sues Circuits The RKO, Loew, Warner and Paramount Circuits were sued by Local 306, the New York operators' union, this week, asking for restoration of a 10 per cent wage cut which the Local agreed to during the administration of Sam Kaplan as president. GETS V. C. POST Paul Short Becomes Member of Board of Directors Paul Short, division manager for National Screen Service Corp., recently appointed executive chairman of the entertainment committee for the Variety Club's national convention to he held next April in Dallas, was last week unanimously elected a member of the Board of Directors of Variety Club, Tent No. 17 of Dallas. He will be personally responsible for the program of entertainment at the Dallas convention. One thousand members of Variety Clubs of America are expected to make the trek to Texas.