Variety (Aug 1939)

VARIETY PICTURES Wedaeaday, August 2, 1939 FP-Can. Mgrs. Divvy $30,000 Melon At Convention; Pu^ Script Books Niafara Falls, Aug. 1. Largest convention in the history of Famous Players-Canadian saw over 300 managers and executives gathered for a four-day stay at the General Brock here last week. It was the first time that the con- vention had ever been held, at a point other than Toronto and the first time in 13 years that eyery member of the personnel, from the manager of the newest na1>ehbuse to the ace deluxers, were gathered under the same roof. In 1926, they all got together when there were litUe more . than a score of man- agers in FP-Canadian; for the cur- rent-gathering, nearly 200 managers ■ione took advantage of the all- expense-paid jlccommodation. With the exception of two items, the proceedings were mainly rou- tine. Regional conferences, held mornings and afternoons, discussed problems peculiar to their areas and listened to divisional managers and visiting speakers.. Among the latter were Barney Balaban (Par), Tom Connors (M-G), Alec Moss (Par), Herman Wobber (20th), Arthur Lee (GB), Jules Levy (RKO), Monroe Greenthal (UA), Jack Cohn (Col), William C. Gehring (20th), and . Manny Fox (UA). Ping Anglo Films Because of the loss of Inarkets in Germany, Italy and Russia, spokes- nven for American and British pro- ducers told the convention that the Intention now is to concentrate on greater pictures for the English- speaJtiug world. Chief gathering, from the stand- j Busman's Holiday Philadeiphia, Aug. 1. Mrs. Edna R. Carroll, new chairman of the State Board of Censors, takes her job more seriously than most members of the board in the past She tries to view all the films herself, frequently being in the projec- tion riDom; eight hours a day. Last week she revealed that she often attends a film theatre in her neighborhood at night 'for fun.' TARKINGTON'S WB SUIT; ALSO 'ALCATRAZ" Federal Judge William Bondy in N. Y. Thursday (27) denied an ap- plication by Booth Tarkington to dismiss an $18,750 counterclaim against him. In connection with the author's action against Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc. The judge also de- nied Tarkington's requests to strike out the Warners' answer, but did grant him a bill of particulars. . Tarkington seeks an injunction accounting of. profits, and' damages alleging the picture, 'Penrod and point of popularity, was the distri- Tw'" Broth?'- w^^J«».t on bution of profits in the managers' f"y, "'"'y J?'"' '^J'^J^ " ^^^'^d sharing pla^. Total amount passed'.'" » violation of his agreement out for season was over $30,000, with every manager participating on i f, , , .. „ a pro raU seaUng basis. It was "^"^ ««» 1>« works, also announced that an extra bonus with Warners., He had previously allowed WB to make 'Penrod' films, of $5,000 has been posted for com petition over September-October November on the same regional Warners' defense is that the large number of Teniod' films that it has made Identified the company, not Tarkington, with the character in seating quota as exists under the ! the public mind. WB also counter- major annual sharing plan. I claims that it paid the author for the As another revenue-producing' rights to certain works, already in drive, FP-C^anadlan proposes to con- centrate on script-book sales. This was a last-minute thought at the convention and will be worked out In greater detail at headoffice de- liberations, which will get underway immediately. Plan Is prompted by the success during the past three years of the Xmas gift plan where- by donors have been induced to give books of theatre tickets as a Xmas gesture. FP-Canadian executives discussing this and other matters pertinent to exhibitors were N. L. Nathanson, prez; J. J. Fitzgibbon, v.p. in charge of theatre operations; Clarence Rob- son, eastern divisional super; T. J. Bragg,' sec-treas; R. W. Bolstad, comptroller; Jimmie R. Nairn, direc- tor of advertising and exploitation. One enthusiastic gathering wag the banquet tendered to Fitzgibbon by the personnel of FP-Canadian, this marking Fltzgibbon's first public ap- pearance since his six months' bout at the Mayo Clinic. He was presented with a sterling silver dinner set. Nathanson was also on the gift-re ceiving end when the Coast manag ers chipped in to.bring him a totem pole oif carved black slate, the others presenting him with an all-steel model of the Bluenose, Atlantic title- holding schooner. Guest speakers at these banquet*: Included Premier Hepburn, Colonel George Drew, leader of the (^onserva- - tlye party; Major John Bassett, pub- lisher of the'Montreal Gazette, and Mayor Carl Hanniwell, who met all incoming specials. Irr Cobb Stricken Hollywood, Aug. 1. Irvin S. Cobb wat taken 111 In San Francisco following collapse while attending the Bohemian club's shindig. Plans for his appearance In Van Buren, Ark., for the preem of Par- amount's 'Our Leading Citizen' has been called off. However he ia suf- ficiently recovered to bay* gone back to his Santa Monica home. 306 STARTING RENEWAL TALKS WITH N.Y. HOUSES With a two-year contract covering projectionists in. most New York the- atres expiring this Labor Day, Joseph D. Basson, president of Local. 306, Moving Picture Machine Operators, yesterday (Tues.) asked that a meet- ing be held next Monday (7) to dis- cuss a renewal. It is expected that another two-year deal will be sought, together with an increase in wage scales. Theatres concerned are all those operating in Greater New York ex- cepting the Independent Theatre Owners Assn. houses with which ne- gotiations are still in progress for a contract retroactive to last Septem- ber. A renewal was not reached and the operators in ITOA theatres have been going along from week-to-week since then at the 1938 scales. Loew circuit, RKO, Paramount, Warner Bros., Roxy, Music Hall and other theatres are concerned. Committee that will .meet with Basson and his group Monday (7) is expected to include C. C. Moskowitz, of Loew's; Major L. E. Thompson, RKO; Bob Weitman, managing di- rector of the Paramount; Willard C. Patterson,, of Warner Bros., and pos- sibly representatives of the ?'usic Hall, Roxy and Rivoli. the public domain Warners yesterday (Tues.) asked Federal Judge Mtirray, Hulbert to have Katherlne Moog furnish a bill of particulars In connection with her $75,000 action that 'Confessions of a Nazi Spy' libels her through .the character Erika Wolf, played by Lya Lys. ' WB 'Akatrac* Salt Warner Bros. Pictures, Inc., en-, tered a general denial in N..Y. Fed- eral court Monday (31) to the suit of Milton Herbert Gropper, alleg- ing plagiarism of his story, 'Ex- Racketeer' in the defendant's film, 'Alcatraz Island.* An injunction, ac- counting of profits and damages are asked. Warners' d«nlal states that its film is based on an original story by Crane Wilbur, that the plaintiff's story is in the public domain, tliat the plainUil is guilty of laches, and that he ha% no cause of action. WB seeks a disniissaL Seigd Takes On Four $750,000 Rep. fibns Hollywood, Aug. 1. Sol C. Seigel took over $3,000,000 worth of production y e ate r d a y (Mon.) at Republic. Job consists of four $750,000 de luxe features for 1939-40 program. Pictures are 'Hit Parade of 1940,' 'Lady From New Orleans,' 'Seven Million Dollars' and 'Dark Command,' New production setup, outlined by Moe J. Seigel after a huddle with Herbert Yates in New York, con^ signs three $500,000 features each to Armand Schaefer and. Herman Schlom. Schaefer draws 'Wagons Westward,' 'National Barn Dance' and 'Storm Over India.' Schlom gets 'Tillie the Toiler,' 'Doctors Don't Tell' and "The Crooked Road.' Ui. to 0.0. AU Service Pix Hollywood, Aug. 1. Warner Bros, has been notified by Lieut. Commander George. Gelly that he's here from Washington to confer on forthcoming. Coast Guard yarns. All service scripts must be ap- proved by Uncle Sam. WaEXHIB MAYOR OF COLUMBIA, MO St Louis, Aug. 1. Rex P. Barrett owner and op- erator of the Uptown and Boone theatres in Columbia, Mo., and who indulges in politics as a past time, last week was elected mayor of his town defeating O. W. Boutwell, 1,835 to 1,458. Barrett succeeds G. B. Sapp, who defeated him several months ago for the Democratic nomination for mayor, and then re signed because of III health after serving only a few weeks. This necessitated a special elec- tion and Barrett, who had previous ly been mayor, again filed. Bouth' well, a Republican, filed as an in- dependent candidate against Bar' relt. Push Reagan Series Hollywood, Aug. 1. Secret Service, series, starring Ronald Reagan, will be continued at Warners, as a result of a b.o. check- up. . Scrlpters are working on an un- titled yarn to follow 'Smashing the Money Ring,' recently finished. Famine to Feast Hollywood, Aug. 1. Margot, Stevenson, Broadway legit actress who idled around Hollywood for a long time, is busier now than a six-day bike rider. Currently working in 'Phllo Vance Comes Back,' she is oiling up her bicycle for a concurrent job as Burgess Meredith's wife In '20,000 Years in Sing Sing.' Tyronc-Annabella Presented to Pope Rome, July 22. Tyrone Power and Annabella's look-see at Italy's Hollywood, Cine- citta, coupled with a presentation to the Pope, marked the high spots of their Rome sojourn. They arrived in Italy last week, and after a quick look at Naples, came here, where Bruno Fux, head of local 20th-Fbx office, took them under his wing.. _ . Gariand-Rooney s Ciptol (N.Y.) P.A,s May Mean Other M-G Star Personals Refonned Mason Icity, lis., Aug. 1. One of those ^numerous road- side evangelists has opened bis tent show here, with the billing for his Billy Sundaying act as follows: J. ARNOLD LEWIS REFORMED THEATRE MANAGER ATLAS LISTS PIX STOCKS; DIVIDENDS QUICKIE CAVALCADE Atlas Corp. and its subsidiaries showed net income of $569,257 for the six months ending June 30. In- come was represented by $400,606 received in dividends and $119,541 In interest. Total operating expenses were $88,642 for the period. Company's statement to stockhold- ers said that 'prompt completion of the reorganization of Radio-Keilh- Orpheum Corp. is now expected, the U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals on July IB, 1939, having unanimously affirmed the ruling of the district court which approved and confirmed the plan earlier this year.' Opera- tions of Radio-Keith-Orpheum Corp. showed substantial Improvemonl in first six months thiS'year over 1938, the report stated. Securities listed in the company's portfolio included $1,459,224 worth of RKO 8% debentures due in 1941, represented by full-paid certificates. Also about $180,000 worth of addi- tional RKO 6% bonds. Company also showed 4,300 shares of Para- mount first preferred and 5,000 shares of second preferred in its portfolio.: RKO also showed 7,000 shares of General Theatre;:, 17,400 shares of RKO common and 310,412 shares of the same that are repre- sented by full-paid certificates. All of these were included in its port- folio as of June 30 last Radio Corp. of America declared its usual quarterly dividends on two preferred issues outstanding last week, declarations covering the quarter from July 1 to Sept 30. The 87Vic declared on the first preferred maintains the $9.50 annual rate. The diwy of $1.25 on the Preferred B, most of which has been exchanged for the new preference stock, is at the rate payments have been made recently. Both dividends are pay- able Sept 30 to stock on record. Sept 8. Loew's, Inc., directors scheduled to meet today (Wed.) In regular month- ly session if a quorum of members can be obtained. . No action on divi- dends is scheduled at this session. Columbia Broadcasting Co. direc- torate also is slated to meet today. Keith - Alt>ee - Orpheum directors last week declared another $1.75 dividend on the 7% cumulative con- vertible preferred stock, covering the.quarter ended Dec. 31, 1936. Last divvy declared also was for the same amount Dividend is payable Oct 2 to stock on record. Sept 15. Columbia Showing Shots of 38 Early Silent'Stars In Snapshots Hollywood, Aug. 1. Columbia is pulling a quickie cav- alcade to celebrate the 18th birth- day of Screen Snapshots, oldest of shorts. Anniversary reel shows 38 silent stars as they appeared in early Snapshots. ■ Among them are Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks, Francis X. Bush- man, Beverly Bayne, Rudolph Val- entino, Norma and Constance Tal- madge, Mabel Normand, Lew Cody, Clara Kimball Young, Charles Ray, Dorothy and Lillian Gish, William S. Hart and Betty Blythe, with Noah Beery, Sr.,, narrating. ^ Tone Back in Fix Hollywood, Aug. I. Franchot Tone returned to picture work yesterday (Mon.) as co-star with Ann Sothern in 'Fast and Fu- rious' at Metro. Fred StephanI produces and Busby Berkeley directs. G.T.E. Earnings Went 35% for Taxes Alone Washington, Aug. 1. Taxes gobbled 32% of the earn- ings of General Theatres Equipment Corp., according to a .special study of the load on American industry just completed by American Fedcra. tion of Investors. One of several dozen firms report- ing their tax payments, the supply company said its burden was 40c per share of stock, $41 per stockholder and $270 per employee. Tax pay- ments nearly half of dlvldenas, which were $1 a share. With a net after Uxes of $507,267, G.T.E. forked over $239,000 to revenue men. General Theatres Equipment Corp. and subsidiaries showed a net profit of $328,230 for the first six months this year, equal to 55c per share. This compares with $315,184 or 53c a share for the first half in 1938. The net profit for the second quar- ter, ending June 30, amounted to $182,686 or .31c, per- share. This compares with $194,920 or 33c a share for the .June quarter last year. Setting of a joint personal by Judy Garland ""l '""'-^^y Urnflcy at U.» Capitol New York; starting Aug, 17 for a run with 'Hie Wizard of Oz' (M-G), win probably be the fore- runner of a plan to showcase Metro film stars whenever possible on a Broadway stage. That's ai far as the stage show plans at the Capitol go, however, there being no desire within Loew's for a continuous live talent policy for the house. A defal with tha stagehands has not yet been set for the Gariand- Rooney p. a., and upon this hinges whether the house will also employ a band those weeks. If favorabia terms can be reached, the juve stars will probably work In front of a non. name orch set on the stage. Other- wise, they'll just do a walk-pn. Idea of showcasing Metro stars on Broadway was first broached last winter, when Charles C. Moskowitz, general manager of Loew's, was on the Coast Plan has been in a nebulous state since then, taking concrete form only with the Gar- iand-Rooney booking. Kids come in at their studio salaries, arriving in N. Y., Aug. 13, for advance exploita- tion purposes. Talk of a resumption of stage shows at the Capitol has been around for some time, though Loew's theatre operating execs have con- tinued to maintain that such would not be the case unless it became ab- solutely necessary. It was figured for a while within Loew's that the house would relight its stage with the opening of the N. Y. World s Fair to snare the tourist trade, but this failed to eventuate. Theatre's grosses of late have been considerably oIT, the stage show op- posish from the nearby Strand and Roxy theatres having much to do with this as the usual summer slump. Cap has maintained the same admis- sion scale, sans shows as the Strand, with its vaudfilm, and higher than the Roxy's. First UA rie Inte Cap Not on the friendliest of terms of late. United Artists and Radio City Music Hall, N. Y., have reached an open breach, with 'Four Feathers,' which was to have gone into tht Hall, being shifted to the Capitol in- stead. It opens at the Cap tomorrow (Thurs.), the first from UA to havs ever played the house. Deal to cover 'Feathers' was closed by Joe Vogel, for Loew's, and Harry Gold, eastern division mgr. of UA, with the Inference strong that this Inaugurates an Important chang* in the first-run situation for UA on Broadway. It may mean additional UA films will become available to the Cap, although UA has the Rivoli on Broadway as an outlet for its product. That house reopened a week ago with Sam Goldwyn's "They Shall Have Music,' which also was first offered to the . Music HalL Latter had agreed to play 'Feathers,' it is claimed, and had penciled the film for Aug. 10. Hall currently holds 'Winter Carnival' (UA), which followed two weeks of 'Man in Irou Mask,' another UA release. ' Formerly the Rivoli had a long- term franchise on UA pictures. When this deal was up two .years ago, the Hall dropped 20th-Fox, with which it had a selective buy for sev- eral seasons, and began picking th* cream froni the UA program, leaving the rest of the product to the Riv or other houses. Some of it went to the Globe. The Capitol, show-window for the Metro product, has been an in-aod- outer this season with that com- pany's pictui-es. Any deal that might be closed to select a few pictures from the UA program for Loew's might serve as a protection , for th'< Cap against weeks when Metro itself didn't have pictures ready which it wanted to play there. The Loew cir- cuit one of UA's biggest customers, has a franchise on the UA pictures covering all Its metropolitan New York houses. For many years now it has picked up all UA film following the first-run downtown engagement, whether it has been at the Hall, Rivoli or elsewhere. COAST QUABD BUILDUP Hollywood, Aug. 1- History of the U. S. Coast Guard Academy at New London is the basis of 'Menace -of the Sea,' to be pro- duced by Bryan Foy at Warners with Vincent Sherman as pilot Phil Regan, Humphrey Bogart and Lya Lys head the cast ••'■II :. •;