Variety (Apr 1939)

Wednesday, April 12. 1939 PICTURES VARIETY TELEVISH'S H. S. TOUCHOFF Zenith Raps Tremature Visio' Another blast at television has been Issued by Zenith Radio of Chi- cago K F. McDonald, the boss, last week told dealers: Zenith's television transmitting station W9XZV Is operatluK dally and is the. only television transmitter licensed by the Federal Conununlcatlons Commission in the whole Chicago area. I.- Today Zenith's television receivers are loaned—not sold. Zenith Is ready—but television is not. Even Government television standards are not yet estab- lished. . The Federal Communications Commis.sion, in its annual re port to Congress In January this, year, stated: "However, it is generally agreed that television is not . ready for standardiza- tion or commercial use by the general public." Zenith believes It Is imlair to the public and Icnows it is un- fair to the dealers to ask them to finance the television indus- try's experiments. Radio dealers have been penalized and punished by. prema- ture television publicity starting last fall. Prospects were led to believe that television would cover the country over night Zenith will not break faith with its dealers. When Zenith believes television is ready for general use in the store and the home^Zenith will supply you with tele- vision receivers and not before. Quebec T^tening Up on Fdms; Bans on Hfutfaerii^,' DevO's Is.' Montreal, ApiH 11. ' 'Wuthering Heights,' scheduled for opening at Ofpheum Friday (7), was .banned by the Quebec Board of Cen- sors from exhibition in this city and province on grounds of the 'Infidel- ity' situation at the close of the pic- ture. Arthur Laramee, chalhnan of the QCB, informed of Samuel Gold- wyn's view that- the film will 'be withdrawn from Quebec prov- ince it the censors insist on dele- tions, stated, 'If the producers won't make the suggested modifications, we won't change our decision.' J. Lighstone, manager of the <.>rpheum, said that excision of the ending would have 'made the pictuire point- less and spoiled the effect for which the producer worked.' Noel Henri, French consul-general In Montreal, lodged energetic pro- tests on behalf of the French gov- ernment against the WB fllm^ 'Devil's Island,' which was to have been shown at the Princess currently. It was removed from the bill at the last minute Friday (7). The Quebec Censor Board refused to deny or confirm reports that they had banned the picture following these protests. Two years ago the Quebec censors banned 'The Life of Emile Zola' and, before that, George Aliss' 'Voltaire.' Reason was obvious since both Vol- taire and Zola are on the Index. There seems also to be fair reason for banning of 'Devil's Island' since this is a preponderantly French province. Scissoring of 'Wuthering' is seen here as indication of much increased tightening up against films, especially those dealing with di- vorce, infidelity, shootings and crime. TouEh on Minors Into Fix Convicted of admitting children under 16 in contravention of the Quebec law banning minors from picture theatres in this province, Arthur Bahen and Cyriac Labelle, managers of theatres in this city, w,ere condemned to pay a fine of $50 each and costs. Judge Manet, who gave the sen- tence, said, 'That is the maximum. 1 wish the maximum, we're higher arid i£ it were I would impose It.' MUSICIANS^HAINS MEET ON AM REEMPLOYMENT Alter several long delays, meet- ing to further consider plans for employment of more "musicians will be held Monday (17) in New York between executive committee —of American Federation' of Musicians and representatives of leading thea- tre chains. Pat Casey, producers' labor representative, got In from the Coast Sunday (9) for resump- tion of meetings wiUi musicians. Postponement until now was taken aljout three months ago, when Casey was last in New York. RKO'S EXPO SERVICE Blchey In Charge of New Exbib Bureau During N. T..Expo As a good will gesture, RKO is setting up a special World's Fair headquarters for visiting exhibitors at the RKO home office, where H. M. Richey, director of exhib relations, will be on hand, along with steno graphic, info and other services. Part of the company's seventh fiOor offices in Radio City is being converted into a ' swank chrome-and-brick-glass clubroom for. the use of exhibs. and their families visiting New York to attend the Fair, or for other pur poses. Guide books to the Fair, a bulle- tin service on industry activities, etc., will also be handy. About 10,000 letters in all are be- ing sent to exhibs throughout the world, with enclosure of ai N. Y. hotel directory, plus a guide to the city and the Whalen expo. RKO is m'ging immediate, hotel reservations. 'CASTLES' SYNC RIGHTS COST RKO $19,000 Synchronization rights to some 40 old tunes in the score of "The Story of Vernon and Irene Castle' (RKO) will bring 18 publishing firms a total of $19,000, tlie largest amount col- lected on a single picture by the mechanical rights bureau of the Mu- sic Publishers Protective Associ- ation. These old tunes, totaling 44, were licensed on an average basis of $300 per use; Tune that got the most uses and drew the highest price from the producer was 'Waiting for the Roljert E. Lee.' Alfred Music Co., current owner of the copyright, garners $1,000 for the four uses. Number which the trade believes has the best chance of undergoing a sheet revival as result of the plug in the film is Too Much Mustard whose copyright is now controlled by Eidward Schuberth & Co., an af filiate of the European Society of Stage Authors and Composers. Leo Feist, Inc., receives $750 for the use otl-of^©ark-^own-StFutter9'-BaU';-E=-B.- Marks, $300 for "The Castle Walk,' and Sliapiro,-Bernstein Be Co., a total of $1,300 for 'By the Beautiful Sea,' 'Way Down Yonder- in New Orleans,' 'Come, Josephine, in My Flying Ma- chine' and 'Where Did You Get That Hat?' Film has only one n^w song in the score. N.y.FMILL SieNALIZE BALLY However, It's AH Still Ex- perimental, Conversational and Promotional MANY DOUBTS Engineering experts envision the beginning of a new industry this spring because several television test programs will start with the open- ing of the New York World's Fair April 30. Within a three-week period, three American companies will start regular schedules of limited experimental telecasts. Simul- taneously, a half dozen manufac- turers will place television receiving sets and equipment on sale. Nobody is kidding anybody into believing that television has arrived even as a slightly commercial pos- sibility, but they do say it is the start of a new business, future of which will depend on the coopera- Qon It receives from the F.C.C. in Washington and from industrial firms. Radio Corp. of America (NBC) starts Its regular schedule April 30, going on the air with one-hour of television twice per week. Program is scheduled to go out, starting at 8 p.m., Wednesdays and Friday. Films, studio shows and mobile imit pick- ing up news items wUl be employed. This schedule will be followed for several months, probably until the New York exposition shutters in October next. RCA-NBC had three test programs on last week but they were not put on the air. About the same time, Dumont Labs (in which Paramount has a stake) will begin a schedule of telecasting, using news and trailers of Par film productions. Plan is to share wave length with NBC; in other words when NBC-RCA Is not operating. Columbia Broadcasting System is scheduled to sfart in about six weeks, transmitter and other equipment be- ing completed. CBS has imported a British Broadcasting Co. engineer to supervise start of regular experi- mental telecasting. He will be as- sistant to Gilbert Seldes, televbion program director. With these experimental television programs imder way this summer, engineers now forecast that telecast- ing will be started in other areas in U. S. by this faU. Theatre Problematical As to the theatre field, the situa- tion is highly problematical. Al- though the Baird System of tele- vision is striving for entree into America, none can predict how atr tempts to put it 6n theatre screens, with admission charged, will fare with the F.C.C. Gaumont-British of- fice in N. Y. claims it will put tele- vision on Broadway theatre screens. G-B controls Balrd. If such is done, with F.C.C. approval, there is no question but that RCA will follow suit. RCA-NBC would do this to- morrow, some experts aver, if they believed the time was ripe or that it could be done on a practical basis. ■ The Newsreel Theatres, Inc. (Em- bassy theatre group), has no inten- tion of permitting television in com- petitive theatres to steal their box- office draught, but they have been told that yisio is not large enough yet for satisfactory use in a house even > as small as the Embassy. Another proposition mulled by thi? Embassy group is installation of sets in lobbies of their larger newsreel houses,, as an added attraction to the usual screen show. This is rated feasible in the lobbies of theatres .such as-the—72nd.-Streel._N£.wsceel and the one in the Associated Press building on West 50th street. Only the usual home television sets would be used for such added lobby attrac- tion, although giving the manage- ments a Chanel to bill 'Television' on its marquee. Whether the F.C.C. would permit even this is something (Continued on page 47) General Electric Curious Schenectady, N. Y., April 11. General Electric is conducting a questionnaire survey among news- papers,, radio stations of more than 100-watt power, motioji picture companies, theatre chains and large department stores, to ascertain the possible market for television transmitters and receivers. A total ft. 1,400 queries were mailed. The first '20 to 30 replies received showed every degree of interest and lack of interest,' according to R. K. Ham- . len of the GE Market Research Division. The questionnaire, directed to executives, asked whether they had made any investigation of television broadcasting as to equipment, cost,' potential audience, site or license. It also asked them to state 'the main obstacles to entering the television-broadcasting business.' Hamlen explained that GE launched the survey because, as far as GE knew, 'no one in the business has any idea about the possible market for either television transmitters or receivers.' Siierwood s Uncob' Would Enjoin 20tli-Fox s Use of 'Abe' Title in Film TELEVISH POOL Gaumont-British and Odeon In Combo Dickering London, April 1. Likelihood of a pool lor theatre television Interests grows with cur- rent dickerings involving at least Gaumont-British and Odeon, with attachment thereto of their, respec- tive interests in Baird and Scophony. Aim is to avoid wasteful competition in developing big screen shows, but so far only preliminary approaches have been made. Trade talk has a likelihood of John Maxwell going into any Joint plan, on account of his Associated British circuit, and possibility 'is also there of E. M I. Marconi being in on any scheme that may come out of it. - Admission that some setup was envisaged was made by Sir Harry Greer, chairman of Baird, at annual stockholders' meeting today, when motions approving issue of $2,000,000 loan stock to pay current Indebted- ness and finance development had the unanimous support of the hold- ers. Shareholders and creditors — presumably meaning Oster Bros.— have already filed applications for $1,250,000 of the issue. AUSSIE DEFERS TELEVISION RIGHT NOW Canberra, March 23. Television for the Antipodes is still several years off, according to authorities here*. For a number of reasons the federal government is not inclined to enter the new field at present and there is little pub- lic interest. Cost involved is the principal prohibiting factor. Government authorities are watch- ing developments in television in England and the United States, but the upped expenses for the defen- sive rearmament since the recent European crisis will apparently pre- vent any attempts to launch a tele- vision boom in Australia. While following television progres.s abroad, film and radio executives likewise minimize the likelihood of entering the fleld within, the next few years. They cla'm, however, that they'll be ready for it when it Mary Mclvor's Plight Los Angeles, April 11. Mary Mclvor, silent screen star -and wife of William Desmond, was found suffering from exposure after disappearing from her home March 30. 'This is the second time this has occurred. Desmonds celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary March 22, They were married when- Miss Mclvor was Desmond's leading woman on the stage In 'If I Were King.' Move by 20th Century-Fox to film a story, 'Young Mr. Lincoln,' which It's had on the shelf for several years, is being legally opposed by Robert E. Sherwood and the Play- wrights Producing Co., Inci, as un- fair trade competition, Suit in N. Y. supreme court has been started against' the film company to enjoin any such filmizatioh, on the ground It infringes on their 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois,' current stage click on. Broadway. Sherwood and the Playwrights set forth at length that Raymond Mas- sey's conception of their 'Abe Lin- coln in Illinois' has become so close- ly identified in the public mind that any other film version would be an infringement; that more than $60,000 has been expended advertising it; that more than . 10,000 copies' of the published play version have, been sold; that advertising, publicity, radio broadcasts by and with Massey have so closely linked their star with 'Lincoln' that 20th-Fox's plana would dp great financial^ damage.. Cohen, Cole, Weiss & 'Wharton,. for Sherwood and Playwrights, de- tail they are making plans for road companies in the U. S. and Canada; that, although Lincoln has been in the public domain for decades, there was no public interest and demand in the subject until their play; that, in fact, those plays and/or films pre- viously produced had ro boxiflice value: that their 'Abe' finally stimulated b. o. interest; that 20th- Fox's story, long held by the studio,' and titled 'The Lawyer of the West,* was, for that very reason, being kept on the shelf, until suddenly deciding to change the tag to 'Young Mr. Lin - coin,' allegedly only to capitalize on the vogue created by the Raymond Massey stage play. Sherwood and Playwrights don't seek to enjoin 20th-Fox's film ver- sion of the Great Emancipator as a subject, but Insist that any title in- fringement be enjoined, and also pray for' a court order that 20th's film carry a caption something as follows: This motion picture Is not based upon Robert E. Sherwood's play, 'Abe Lincoln in Illinois' now being produced by The Playwrights Producing Co.. Inc.' Also want the usual costs, plus any damages sus- tained by reason of the film com- pany's acts. Playwrights recently consummated a deal with RKO for the sale of tlie film rights for approximately $275,- 000. Julian T. Abeles, special copyright counsel for 20th-Fox, will demur on the ground one can't copyright the English language; that the Lincoln- iana saga is in the public domain; that there have been other Lincoln plays produced. Considine Rolls Flicker With Montgomery Top Hollywood, April 11. Next John Considine, Jr., produc- tion at Metro, 'Stronger Than De- sire,' rolls this - week with Leslie Fenton as pilot. Robert Montgomery plays the top role.