Variety (Feb 1938)

VARiEfY • : 'Soovv.'; /White ^ ^and V the^'. Seven Ewat^fs' isv in fbr an uriustial s^mbomt of repeat bobkingsj judging ^jy;pres- ent indications already. •. • it. ■' ; ;uiiheard /6f ittia^^^^ accounts shoijld Want options^ for.revival dates on. 'WhiteV bebre it has gpne! on general' velease/ wM^ 4e in: a couple .wceks.^:W^^ bj^ehinig On the RKt) circuit. In various parts of the' ; country a ciaiise providing: for op-: tipiis . I'epeats " -being , made a ijart • of the; dealis.. Contiihtibn of Jules Levy, general sales mahager of RKO,v is . that the. Disney picture should get . ;m.ore repeat 'erigiage- ihents ' thani" any /picture in history- fcejiig .a-.hatural- fot revival oyer hpl-. ■idays; 'Ahbth^jv.poiht in connectipn ..witlt 'reviying ..the; p^ ;for...'years ' to; cpbie^^'. year, -yilt^^b^''■'^aching ,the^ . can see > picture they: had tb miss . ;befbre^ because of ;being . too yqung. '•: !^3,50^O,OOO^- ;Dbinestle ■, ■ :;• ::A guess :on what;the picture 'lyill 'grpks/in. x^eritals for'^RKO,' gb^: ihg on any. repeat, dates later: in thfe year • other, years, very haird to . .estiniiate :'tbt? .this -partic • fiimi -is iiliced- at well bv^r $3,500,000 b«th .iii RKO, as; well -.as in other sales and theatr^. operating quartei's; for: the domestic in arket. albrie. . . ...y Radio City Music Hall's, five .weeks . should see -a $500,000 gross, which iTieans;about $l50i00p re RKO-t' '.:i)\sncy. '\ ^:;■ v.:. \. - , RKO.'s ':. circuit starts :With •Whiter Saturday y {19), tout .dayf .after it closes .its five-week run at the 'Music Halt- in; New York ;i<he Paiace. will get; the P as will the: Alb'ee. Brb^ ::houses to iiuin it" two weeks brf^ ;it gp.es to the neighborhobdsV- Piari is tp/singie-biU- it everywhere, nabes gtirtihg with it March; 3. a . irig rbpm for holdovers, Fedl Sieuthji Guinislipe jo ; Wilt Try vt« P'ease British ' :'.■■ ■'/ :. ;;■,. ''. •; Jjondon, Feb.vS. ~ Represeii ta t lyes of RKO here are iexpected to resubmit 'Snbw White^ to the censbi'S after cuts have been made rather than leaVe the film.orily: '..with: .*A' certificate. Such classi- ftcatiph wptild keep jiiveniles from ' atlciicling and reduce picture's reyr r;-€nlie ill England $iO0,000';^$26o,00b. ; ; By • makiiig jso-cgilled 'horror' eUniinations; ; officials will strive to get .censor hoard okay for 'U': certifi- ; cate. wiiich will . allpwed. it to gp to; all;,types of.audierices. By making these trims;: • RKO. also hopes: to re^ ; nibve any 'horrprific* : stigmia .that may have been attached to. picture: as resuU. of pews bahning, . .Disney Subiect for Genspr: body., here is industry-, . financed.^ arid fnil ianproval. fpr ail • audiences' is expected after requisite^ ■ cuts are.ii'iade: Oklahbrria City, Feb, 8. . ;v: C.riteripiv draws: first city bppking for .'Snpw.;;Whife^ With. ..shpwiW'? scheduled, for . F.bb. 17. / Price -b.pbst of 5c. for kiddies arid .1 Oc.:; rhatjnee .boost- for. adults; .40g, /will remaiii/ the 3^te[^ C6&ss^ Iirtierits v From His GFandniother Syracuse, N, Y., Feb. 8, John Leslie Copgan Of Los Angeles, better known as' Jackie Copgan, is listed as ,one pf the heirs of a .$6 OflO estate left, by 'his .grandmbther,''Mrs.. Mary B.Coogan, who died.'" , this ity last iSTovember, As M failed to draw a Avill, her estate will be divided into four, shares. A 'share passes to' each ; of-, three children, George Cpp.c*an of j Los Angelesr Mys^ ; Marion -Porllcy . of . Deirnar, Albany . Goiinty; ; and .. Mrs^ Urania. Langan, this city. . • • Jackie . and. .his.'./brother, Robert. A.' Coogan. inherit the shaire of their ;f.a'llier;,'Jbl.in G . ail torn obi Ic .accident last year; ■.-• A petit'i . for. letters of adminis-. • tratipn- has b.ec'n filed'with Surrogate Edward Sadler'in Oinbnidaga:;Cour)ty'. rsurrbt'atc's court here; George 'A.- Latvytiii ivpros.cnts the estate. . '■ . Los; Angeles. Feb. 8. Completing their three ^months stint on .the books ^hd cont^ bf/the Metto exchange, here, Depart- ment bf Justice.iiivestigators; work- ing under Albert. J. Law and Har- old. Gollins,'have. nibyed over to the Fox '.West Cbast offices. Sleuthing staff has been increased from three to five in the hope of speeding tip the local probe;, but indications; iare that another four or five months will, iiave elapsed :befpre--any . defi- nite conclusions are: reached.: V pistributing office of \ another major producing companywill be visited when F-WC probing is- ended.' ' T-.."■.'■;' . hr Files 2d Sur Invalidate N; D. Divorcement Bill : .. ■ Minneapolis; Feb, 8. . iri ■ oi-der to ■ hasten action before the law becomes. effective Mai"ch 15'. Paramount : and Other : plaintiffs in the federal ^ coiirt su 11 to "invalidate the North: Dakota theatre divorce-; ment law. have filed a secondi com- plaint.: asking for a. .tern por a ry ■ J unction to restr ai n its .enf orcemerif on the grounds that it'is .unconstitu- tional. The; initial cpmpiaintsinnply soujjht/.ah. adjudication that the law void.. ■ - The ' new state iittprney general of N. D. alohe is. named as defendant |n. the second complaint. It is expected that a hearing will be held p.ri the present: motion im- mediately.; '; -It. would have ; been necessary for three judges to have sat in on the :fii;st pbriiplaint rand the, illness of one of thoise available./Ah.r drew Miller, was ■delaying the. hear- ing.. ; . ' •;■■;■•■ v;/.; ■"•:' ';•. '■ The North : Dakota 'divp'rcernent law, sponsored by' Natibnal/Allied: States, requires Publix to. divest it-; self of its .N. D. theatre holdings. At the Northwest ; Allied States' :/ban- qUeivlas't Week Gov. W.; A. Langer of North Dakoia declared tlie /state's entire .resources behind .the measure. ' SKODRASES END SESH OF PRODUCT PALAVER ;;, •/ ' - Hollywood. Feb. 8. ; '■ . Spyros ;Skdin'\as^ of Na- tiphal Tilet'ares (FoxWest;Goast.)is en route back tp New .York fbllpwin,!? two W.eelcs of cpnfeiciice.s here: with his brothe r . Char 1 es; head of• F-WC. and J. :J. Suliiyan. the circuit's chief film . buyer, ion p.Iaiis, fbr .ihext :■ .sear spn's buys.- FtWC benefited /.suffi- ciently by early buy ing last" y;ear; to warrant a ibiDeat! / purin,^; stay 'here .Njitlonai's prexy prcsided bye r-; sb.ssi pn s .p f .200^ Soli t h- crri ' California and Arizona F-WC district and house .rn^Tnagcr. " .gath- ered tp.'receive award.^; In two re- cently cbmpl.eted business driv.e.sV/.;, .. Top bbin iii F-WG campaigiV wont tp Culien. Espy's No, I Los Ahgeles district. $.2.57i havi.iig beely turned over to him for: :disfrii3iitibn ambnV his. managers and Ijookei s, B. V; SturdivanCs .'iSlo^^'2-Xp3- Aiiigcleis..,djs>^ trict copped second' piacei rGceivihg $892. • • -;;.. ;;■ '•,; Par-WB Swapping Talent ■',. :,;'^v- Hollywood. F^b.; 8. . /Par and Warner.s;/;hayc;ali.f>ill buried .Ihp/iix and:insleaci of:raiding talent will- e.\'change stars. Par wants Bette Davis for 'Hallcr's Casfle^l^A; J; Gi'phitv' iteni,• .wllich it • had !bn;q before' hii 'Citail'el'.'went; tp^.,;]^^^^ and' Warners, looks: fAvbra.bly on the loan,. •■ ■";.■ '■■ ;:>■••.'; ■ It .Wd.<. .Warhe'f.T-..U'h:o-.iju;rncd Par -wlveh- they - w.eaheii; / Bfli .: .ppwcllv R uth : G h a tier ton •' at id- :Kuy; Fra n c'is aiway from.the Zukor lot. • ' ' ^^ !■;:- Exhibs More or Less P^s- / sively Accept 'Haysites' ■ Argument That the Pic- ture :Busih<b$8^^^^:;H^ Gopdv to TThem and Not ;/ to Mm Things /Up-/ Vith A,gitation ^ fot' /; Gbivfern-/ mental Interference \ TAMEST CONVENSH ^ ■'••■:■■': ';'•■ •' ■■ Minneapolis, Feb..'S,, .; ■■ In consequence; of , the pacifistic turn; taken by its conventioh here,/ Nbrthwesi;; Allied States ohe of. the most belligiereht of the in- dependent ;: ;exhibitOrs, >a 'striker' against Paramount and sponsor of theatre .'.■'■ diyorcerhent. and/ theatre' chain tax liegislation last year, ap^' parehtly ..has /'turned .; pver.'' ; new; leaf,-It stands in the position; pf' hav-; ing extended/.an.;bliye'branch t^ pro.ducer-di^tributors,; with even its. firebrand • aiid -■beHicose; .president, W. ;A.'Ste:ffes, in .a conciliatory mood —for. the present at least; . : Steffes agreed with representa- tives of . the;: . prbducers- and .; dis- tributbrs, irivite'd guests at the cbn-' ventibri,- that the indiustry: should at-;, tem-pt to.,. settle its disputes," aciM- monies and. problems at; giyerand-; take round table disciissions without resort: to iitigatibn and legislation. He declared/that if the present, t continues; the iawyers. 'will ;wind up with every body's; dough.' . Following the/convention llie local orgahizatiOri; ,ahd .such:; repre.senta- tives of the 'other side'. C. G. Pet- tijohn. and 'Wiiliam; F.^ Rddgers were hopeful that rhaehinefy 'bad been set- in motibh to bring .'peace'withi : the industry,, ending urrenit^. nipyes for anii-prpduc.er legislation-and ;yarioias ihreaitened litigation. •;.■; \ ; 'This was .the tarnest, convent i on i.n ail: ■Npirth.west Allied history, dliej perhaps, in part to the Pettijohn, Rpdgcrs, ct al.> presence, as well, as tp; Steffes'- idea to try tb bring har- mony into the industry, and to make • cooperation of' all branches - the meeting's keynpte. Instead o.f"-'the usual vigorous nniembers- denoUncenriehts ot produc- ers; and trade practices, everything was' ■ cprripara.tively seirenp. In fact, the 'scplding':,was all on ; the other side, \ tlie conyention . being hi.'th-; lighted by the verbal lamlja.stin'i handed; ejchibitbrs. and :theii/. Q izations by Pettijohn,, whp ripped •into them :\yith hammer and tong.=5 for ^biting.the 'hands that feed them.' --Pettijohn t.old-membei's; hB/;wa3 'so' (disgusted witlj exhibitors atid their orgahizations;.and the ■■■ (Continued on page 2.3 1_ ; V Yarn'; Sues CoL for 50G Hollywood,, Feb. 8; ^ Ralph. Si Wi'llafd has filed $50,000 •TCtion against CplUmbia Pictures/ and .ToriTv.yan Dycke, scenarist, charging nlagiari^m: in connection with the filrriing by Columbia of 'The Man Who Lived Twice.* . / WfllaJrd alleged; Jlie submitted,;his own- yarn, .with, three titljis, 'Paid tp Die,'/-'FroJien , Alive' and /'Man of Mystery,' to the. studio in May, 1934, and. conferred;.with. Van . Dycke; who was iater assigned by studio to;:scripit 'liiah. Who Lived ;Twi,ce,' w alleges, was lift; ;frbm his; own bramchiid. "; .;■';, :' ' - ..Hollywood, Feb. 8. ./ ^;With. Phi 1 Go 1 dstone stahding by as bankroUer, Grand- National,, harr rassed by flharicial wbrries for- sev- eral^ rhphths, i.s set to put three films .ihto/pfpduction tliis months Closing pf .GHQ .' : New York, along -with savings effected elsewhere, along the li ; has . put Ed-ward A.; Alpeirson, ;presidentV arid /other Grah^^^ Natipnal tops in a. more optimistic frarne bf mind. ; / ''■.■',/ :i'■■'-■■.;/'■' . Features scheduled .to; get thb gun withi the .next three . .weeks 'Rolling Plains,' with .E.d. Finney prbi duchi.g: . anpther . 'Renfrew .of / the: Mounted' and 'Don't Le.ad With You" Heart.V which- ;wiU. haye .Anna' Sten in the featured spot. / ' " ■-•■/■;• . ./'\. : / Alperspri, now ;' Manhat'^.an: ' - pervising. the "shifting of the horns. pfflce's;^.kelet6n;;staf|t,:t is exipected ;back eariy;ricx.t week.. : ; with the;- curtaiiment.'of expenses now being ; effectedk -Aipersori ' be.- lieve.s ; his., concern yil 1 be able; to carry, along under its. pwn financial momentum; Ne/gotiatipns are now under: way to bring/ indie producers O.titp; tiic Jpt'bh . a rerilal basis. In or- de'r to:reduce studib overhead. : . Metro Lands Legiter . Hollywood, Feb. 8. Lee Bowman.. sta.ge;:pjayer,: • last .see .• on ■ ;BrGadway in - 'Berkeley S:quai:e,' has bec'n :.by Metrp for a role. ' .;;-Wop.den..Wedding,'.in : W h i.G h Robert' Mo n t .go ine r y - an d ■ Vir- ginia Bruce has'c the featured spots. ; Richard. Thorpe i,s dircctihij,- .' •■ . ■ Philadelphia, Feb. 8. .. Governor, Earie ..asked. the public this; week io' wri.le Jhini^.its o'pinlOiis. on censorship, of .foreign pix, as bat- llc ■ .; recent- bans by' Pcnhsy. Board.;went;, on. 'Spain, in Flatf)e.<;..- cause of much of the fray, opened ,at the Poplar ;Theatre. .uncle a special court order despite tlic censors' nix on it. ..:- ::, ';::.'•. ;;':•■■ ;'Should-' frccd.Qm; .of - the ,pr;css 'be' extended; -to the movies'/' - F,iu-le; a'skcd.,' 'Will you- write me/arid .t>et your friends to write me their op in-' ions. ■ rye •rcceived;..suggc.slions tiiat the.' BoWd ..of Cerisoi;s:-.;recPrd. upQti ,the;' fiIm .'their '■: pronouncettieii.I''th.'aI the film is^propiaigairida ■ or';a. foreigtr hatibn and let it go at that. ' ■ - 'Pictui-es of .' foreign .Utop^s'shbWii in .the mid.sti of an American dcprcs- sipjV. mlght;,be d^h.gcrous;Vr... ;^';' '■, Meantime. Philadelphia -Mptioh Piciurfe Prpyievy Study Group, 'met last Wcdhcsday (j2;>.:.and: .sent .resblu- tion.s to..> the Governor demanding that • the- more than; $200,pOO: profit made .' by / the" Ccri.sbr.- Bo,ar.d'-each; yc'aiv be earrnarked for:.'visual'edu'ca> lion'instq.a.d of g.oin;^■ iiito. the..gciner'ai. Slate treasury fund. Board: chari^'es $2 n. reel;for ccn-pn Sludy groijp made up ;of .-cluljwomcnj. "• '■ :cha:ir-; maimc,d,. by -M-fArthui* G oldsrnith. ..who ■ was - much: disappbihtecl /)n:;rtbt :beijiig'.'natried 'by;/liarIc; ,ta' the-■ CerisO:r :Board,! after she believed she; had the •.irib;.sevyecl up.; - IVi; a blast last week. Mrs,; Goldsmith. ;:said' the ;-G.en;s')r Board; was- unn'eccKS'pi^y^^^ Ameri- can-made.'iilms, anyway., • ' ■ ';\ While - the threatened outside at- tack .on /the Associated Actors and Artistes of America failed to ma- terialize last week, another battle brpk out •Within . the;; ranks of the ..organization. Tiireatened attack..that had apparently evaporated into the ozone was- a move by! the Interna- tional; Alliance of Theatrical : Stage Employees tb kkb oyer jurisdietion of all performers In show biz. .Latest inter-organization ;: scrap was - be- tween the Amijrican Federation. bf Actor's and the Four -A's. board. .George E.: Browne, lATSE .prez,' had :;been rpaking public throats [ Of seeking the pertbrimer; juri.s^dictiOn: for the last six rnonths. , .He, Was bx^ .peeled.. to make the petitibn tb the American Federation Of Labbr ex-: ecutive. ebmmittee during its currient ;fneeting in Miami./; However, it. was stated that ho; svich appealhad been made -. a rid that tlie. sta^ehailf dsV, head had left Miami. Fight between; AFA nd the. Foiir A.-s .boa rd popped in to . the open as result of a wire' from; Ralph White- head,. AfA.. executive secrctaryi. in ; ;Miarn i, to Kerthcth Thbriispn, Screen Actors Guild executive secretary and firist yjce-presiderit'of;^^^^ A's;: Message, received just before :th'e ■ Four A's board meeting last Friday (4), stated that Whitehead 'regretted^ ■ he. was 'unable to support' the;Four A's resblutioh bf censure against the lATSE. ■■■■ ■ ;; .-/;V^-.-';.;. ;; Until:the I'ecelpt of that wire;it had been generally expected that the jurisdibtibn pveir. 'hitei-y, and vaude/ chQruse.s, sought by: bbth AFA-. and; the Chorus Equity Assn., wbuld be granted, to~the la tier. -SAG had filed ; charges against CEA for allegedly failing' to organize the field and Was expected {p press them successfully. : Whitehead, and Browne / ',Whitehead's message, 'however, Was:'taken as evidence;' that he had ■been ricgotiating with Browne. Some question wa.s ra ised : as - to whether the AFA exec Was bluffing or had. actually made a deal with the stage- hands' head. But the Four A's bf-/ ficials declined to go into that puz- zle. Thomson ;mOved for dismissal of his own charges against CEA and .tHb;disputed .jurisdiction wa-s forth-; with graintcd'to.that group, In mov- ing for the dismissal. Thomson -plained: that his opinion that each Four A's group should have full jurr isdiction over all perforrncrs fboth principals and, choruses) iii its JfieM^^ ,wa& unchanged; He stated, however, that Whitehead's telegram Out- weighed ordinary cbhsidoratibns. ;Committee was theiV named toi, co.nSidci*, actipri against Whitehead Or AFA for its alleged 'trcabhery,' Four A's coristitution and the AFA char- ter are being studi'ed; and evidence is being sought to support the con-: tcntion that Whitehead has actually barricd pn riegbtiatioiis With Browne. Whether :a ■ move .w,i 11; be rriade to bust Whitehead or to revoke the AFA charter, or what other a . rhay .be attempted;wilt be decided ait ianpther': Four / A's bbard^^ next .Mbriday (1:4) .. ' Meantime, > cpnsiderabVe specula-; tipn .hrjs.brisch:.pycr;t^ pianiition: .foiV - the ; Whi wire.- He; hid • beets . :accused bf dickering ' with Browne, but /had denied the ;bharge. I t has' alsb been stated si rice the Wire- was / sept tliat ^Whitehead has; had no dealings with Browne and ha-S GOnsideiiipd none.; But why he sent the/wire<at a time when ijt wasvii'tuaily; admitted he . was:;to be given the chprtjs .junsdjctibn con- tinuc.S; to bc./a. puzzie. Whitchead is due back /' New •'York at /the end of this week. ; ■. ■ ... ; . • As fbi' the ,iurisjiciion. itsclf, there w.a.s ;an:d 'i.^. ;' :fairiy;:p::C'valelvl bp.liet that GiiGf . Equi.ty ;di(iii,'t ..: really want .it at'.'aH,.::but:. . . •■,!TLcroly-;op- ppsi.n.q;. the AFA ' claim . a.s./ / tactical move to ,<jhTiba'n:a.^H :'Tiibm.s his SAG ifbrccs.. Thei-c has becin a con- tin'.ued. cfrorI by .'ci;')/tain- Fp11r A's fac- tioiis • to (iiake . it appear- that SAG .seeks t.-.i. dbrtiiiii'tie; the-; br;'.'nni'iatipiv :/(.Cohlinucci on, page '49j