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Scanned  from  the  collections  of 
The  Library  of  Congress 


Packard  Campus 
for  Audio  Visual  Conservation 
www.loc.gov/avconservation 

Motion  Picture  and  Television  Reading  Room 
www.loc.gov/rr/mopic 


Recorded  Sound  Reference  Center 
www.loc.gov/rr/record 


First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 


fOL.  55.  NO.  65 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  APRIL  3,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Gallup  Figures 


62  Millions 
Pay  Weekly 

Excludes  Millions  of  Cut 
Servicemen's  Tickets 


General  estimates  of  a  weekly 
overall  motion  picture  theatre  at- 
tendance of  85,000,000  to  100,000,- 
000,  and  definitely  known  increases 
in  gross  box  office  receipts,  not- 
withstanding, the  George  H.  Gallup 
Audience  Research  now  estimates 
weekly  paid  theatre  attendance  at 
62,000,000.  Servicemen  were  not 
counted. 

The  Gallup  survey,  Motion 
Picture  Daily  was  told  at  the 
weekend,  did  not  include  the  at- 
tendance of  the  many  believed 
counted  in  the  general  industry 
estimates  from  the  hundreds  of 
institutions  which  show  films 
regularly  without  charge  with 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Legion  of  Decency 
Reviewed  439  Films 


The  New  York  office  of  the  National 
Legion  of  Decency  revealed  in  its  an- 
ual  report  released  at  the  weekend, 
hat  it  had  reviewed  439  feature  pic- 
ures  from  November,  1942,  to  No- 
vember, 1943. 

Of  the  total  number  reviewed  only 
four  were  rated  Class  C,  condemned ; 
while  55  were  found  to  be  in  Class  B, 
objectionable  in  part.  The  rest  of  the 
films  reviewed  were  accorded  passing 
ratings,  229  being  placed  in  Class  A-l, 
unobjectionable  for  general  patronage, 
and  151  were  rated  as  Class  A-2,  un- 
objectionable for  adults. 


Miles  of  Braid  at 
'Wassell'  Preview 


Washington,  April  2. — The  U.  S. 
Navy  League's  1944  Red  Cross  Fund 
was  enriched  $25,000  through  the  pre- 
view of  Cecil  B.  DeMille's  "The  Story 
of  Dr.  Wassell"  before  a  distinguished 
audience  of  approximately  4,000  in 
Constitution  Hall  here  Saturday  night. 
That  amount  represented  the  entire 
proceeds  from  the  preview. 

Paramount,  in  addition,  will  donate 
a  percentage  of  the  distribution  rev- 
(Contmued  on  page  8) 


Neil  Agnew  Is 
Leaving  Para. 
For  Vanguard 

By  WILLIAM  R.  WEAVER 

Hollywood,  April  2. — David  O. 
Selznick  announced  late  yesterday 
that  Neil  Agnew  will  resign  his 
post  as  vice-president  and  general 
manager  of 
Paramount  to 
become  vice- 
president  of 
Vanguard 
Films  in  charge 
of  distribution 
of  all  Vanguard 
pictures,  includ- 
i  n  g  Selznick's 

0  w,  n  produc- 
tions. 

No  date  was 
mentioned  for 
the  shift,  but  it 

1  s  understood 
here  that  the 
change  will  be 

effective  immediately. 

Agnew  first  joined  Paramount  as 
a  booker  with  the  Chicago  office  in 
1920. 

In  May,  1934,  he  was  named 
general  sales  manager  and  in  1935 
he  became  vice-president  in  charge 
of  sales,  which  post  he  has  held 
since. 


Neil  Agnew 


Paramount  Partners 
Move  to  Hold  Down 
Roadshows  Onrush 


Arrowhead  Springs,  Cal.,  April  2. 
— The  Paramount  partners,  meeting 
here,  are  attempting  to  discourage  an 
onrush  of  distributors  who  play  road- 
shows, unless  the  attractions  clearly 
establish  themselves  as  being  of  an 
advanced-price,  two-a-day  calibre. 

While  the  partners  feel  that  a  lim- 
ited number  of  roadshows  present  no 
insurmountable  difficulties  in  big  cities, 
they  are  decidedly  "bearish"  on  such 
possibilities  in  the  smaller  towns,  hold- 
ing that  the  public  in  the  latter  situa- 
tions will  not  pay  increased  tariffs  as  a 
general  rule.  It  is  to  the  distributors' 
long-view  advantage  not  to  force  at- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


High  Note  Struck 
At  End  of  Drive 


The  motion  picture  industry's  1944 
Red  Cross  campaign  came  to  an  offi- 
cial close  last  night  on  a  high  note  of 
optimism  by  drive  officials  that  this 
year's  collections  in  theatres  would  far 
surpass  last  year's  record  $3,000,000. 

Actual  figures  on  the  drive  will  be 
available  in  a  few  days,  as  soon  as  re- 
ports from  all  regional  chairmen  are 
in.  Some  returns  will  be  delayed, 
WAC  headquarters  oointed  out,  due  to 
a  number  of  theatres  continuing  their 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


American,  British  in  No 
Postwar  Struggle:  Gell 


By  MILTON  LIVINGSTON 

The  possibility  of  a  struggle  be- 
tween the  American  and  British  film 
industries  for  control  of  world  film 
markets  in  the  postwar  were  dis"- 
counted  here  at  the  weekend  by  Wil- 
liam J.  Gell,  Pathe's  managing  di- 
rector in  Great  Britain.  Gell  is  here 
from  London  to  explore  possibilities 
of  securing  additional  American  prod- 
uct, and  to  hold  conferences  with  PRC 
and  Monogram  officials ;  he  distributes 
the  films  of  both  in  the  British  mar- 
ket. 

"J.  Arthur  Rank  and  the  British 
film  industry  will  first  have  to  achieve 
the  production  of  films  of  internation- 
al merit  and  then  enter  into  competi- 
tion with  the  American  industry  in 
the  world  markets  on  the  basis  of  co- 
operation," is  the  opinion  of  Gell. 

{Continued  on  page  8) 


1,000  New  Houses, 
Johnston  Predicts 

Hollywood,  April  2.— Exhibitors 
all  over  the  country  will  begin  con- 
struction of  at  least  1,000  new  theatres 
as  soon  as  materials  are  made  avail- 
able after  peace  is  declared,  W.  Ray 
Johnston,  president  of  Monogram, 
stated  here  at  the  weekend. 

He  said  his  statement  was  based  on 
observations  he  has  made  during  a 
seven-weeks'  tour. 

"The  general  opinion  of  hundreds  of 
exhibitors,"  Johnston  added,  "is  that 
the  end  of  the  war  will  cause  no 
diminution  in  the  near-capacity  busi- 
ness now  generally  enjoyed  by  the  in- 
dustry. The  public  has  formed  the 
habit  of  attending  motion  picture  the- 
atres as  never  before  in  our  history." 


Freon  Hopes 
Fading  for 
This  Summer 


WPB  Unable  to  Divide 
100,000  Pounds 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  April  2. — Thou- 
sands of  theatres  depending  upon 
freon  gas  to  operate  cooling  sys- 
tems can  have  little  if  any  hope  of 
obtaining  a  supply  this  summer,  it  was 
indicated  here  at  the  weekend  by  the 
Office  of  Civilian  Requirements. 

Possibilities  of  setting  aside 
a  small  amount  of  the  gas,  ap- 
proximately 100,000  pounds,  for 
relief  of  exhibitors  whose  lack  of 
refrigerant  may  otherwise  cause 
them  to  close  their  houses,  are 
being  explored,  but  grave  diffi- 
culties are  being  encountered  in 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Producers  to  Answer 
Studio  Locals  Today 

Hollywood  studio  representatives 
conducting  negotiations  here  with  the 
11  IATSE  studio  unions  will  start  to- 
day to  specifically  answer  demands  set 
forth  by  the  various  locals  for  incor- 
poration in  new  contracts  to  replace 
those  which  expired  Jan.  1.  Later  to- 
day James  C.  Petrillo,  president  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Musicians, 
will  renew  conferences  with  producers' 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Grosses  Hold  Up 
Despite  Tax  Rise 

Flash  reports  received  here 
last  night  from  scattered 
points  in  the  field  indicated 
that  the  new  Federal  tax  rise 
of  one  cent  on  each  five  cents 
of  admission  had  little,  if  any, 
adverse  affect  on  weekend 
theatre  business.  The  tax  be- 
came effective  Saturday. 

Observers  here  pointed  out 
at  the  weekend  that  no  im- 
mediate drop  in  theatre  busi- 
ness was  expected,  and  that 
if  any  attendance  drop  does 
come  as  a  result  of  the 
doubled  levy  it  will  come 
after  the  family-going  public, 
for  example,  studies  the  re- 
lation of  the  new  taxes  to  its 
pocketbook. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  3,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 

EDWARD  C.  RAFTERY,  United 
Artists  president,  is  scheduled  to 
leave  the  Coast  today  for  New  York. 
• 

Muriel  Babcock,  editorial  director 
of  the  Ideal  Women's  Group  maga- 
zines, will  arrive  in  New  York  this 
week  from  Hollywood. 

Lor  Brown,  advertising  and  pub- 
licity director  for  Loew's  theatres  in 
Xew  England,  was  a  Hartford  visitor 
at  the  weekend. 

• 

William  Brumberg,  Warner  pub- 
licity field  representative  for  the  Cen- 
tral district,  is  in  Xew  York  on  com- 
pany business. 

Ted  Levy.  Warners'  Chicago  ex- 
change booker  and  former  president 
of  exchange  workers'  Local  F-4S,  has 
been  inducted  into  the  Navy. 

• 

Jacob  Wilk.  Warner  Eastern  story 
editor,  was  in  Wilmington  over  the 
weekend. 

Mike  Poller,  assistant  to  Robert 
Mochrie.  RKO  general  sales  mana- 
ger, will  leave  tonight  for  Toronto. 
• 

Xat  Levy,  RKO  Eastern  division 
sales  manager,  will  leave  Wednesday 
for  Montreal  on  company  business. 
• 

Larry  Kent,  assistant  manager  of 
Loew's  Palace.  Hartford,  was  in  Xew 
York  over  the  weekend. 

Jules  Field  of  20th  Century-Fox's 
home  office  exploitation  department, 
left  over  the  weekend  for  Denver. 
• 

Walter  Blake  of  the  Blaine- 
Thompson  advertising  agency,  re- 
turned from  the  Coast  at  the  weekend. 


Mike  Simoxs,  editor  of  M-G-M's 
Distributor,  is  due  back  from  Pitts- 
burgh today. 

Terry  Turner,  RKO  exploitation 
chief,  will  leave  tonight  for  Montreal, 
e 

J.  J.  Milstein  will  return  to  the 
Coast  today. 


125HonorWillingham 
At  St.  Louis  Lunch 

St.  Louis,  April  2. — Approximately 
125  exhibitors  and  M-G-M  executives 
attended  a  recent  luncheon  at  the 
Coronado  Hotel  here  in  honor  of  J.  F. 
Willingham,  who  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  company's  St.  Louis 
branch.  He  succeeds  John  H.  Quinn, 
who  is  now  in  Florida. 

M-G-M  executives  present  included 
Burtis  Bishop,  Jr.,  district  manager  of 
the  Dallas  office;  John  J.  Maloney, 
central  sales  manager,  and  H.  M. 
Richey,  executive  assistant  to  W.  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  general  sales  man- 
ager. Fred  Wehrenberg.  president  of 
the  MPTOA  of  Eastern  Missouri  and 
Southern  Illinois,  was  also  a  guest. 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


*~pHE  recent,  and  continuing, 
flurry  of  publicity  over  tele- 
vision is  based  on  nothing  very 
substantial,  the  supposedly  well- 
informed  will  assure  you.  Tele- 
vision is.  still  in  the  laboratory 
where  the  war  left  it  more  than 
two  years  ago  in  this  country, 
and  over  four  years  ago  in  Eu- 
rope. The  workshop  tinkering 
which  has  been  going  on  since 
has  been  concerned  largely  with 
the  possibility  that  somebody 
might  stumble  onto  something 
that  the  armed  services  might 
make  practical  use  of.  If  anyone 
has,  it's  a  military  secret. 

The  television  observers  of  the 
motion  picture  companies  insist 
that  the  revival  of  speculation 
and  theorizing  concerning  tele- 
vision, particularly  its  applica- 
tion to  postwar  film  production 
and  exhibition  in  theatres,  should 
be  regarded  at  this  time  in  much 
the  same  light  as  should  the 
highly  imaginative  talk  and  illus- 
tration current  concerning  the 
postwar  automobile.  There  are 
numerous  unassailable  reasons 
why  your  postwar  car  will  not  be 
anything  like  those  superstream- 
lined,  colored-plastic  creations 
that  decorate  your  reading  mat- 
ter from  time  to  time.  There 
are  many-  equally  good  reasons 
why  your  first  postwar  car  will 
be  but  little  different  from  the 
1942  models  which  were  coming 
off  the  assembly  lines  up  to  the 
time  those  lines  were  stopped  bv 
the  war.  And  subsequent  mod- 
els, starry-eyed  designers  not- 
withstanding, most  likely  will 
adopt  changes  in  an  evolutionary- 
process  no  hastier  than  in  the 
years  before  the  war.  At  least, 
so  practical  engineers  believe. 


Television  is  in  much  the  same 
position.  Postwar  equipment 
will  parallel  that  which  was 
available  back  in  1942.  There 
will  be  a  flurry  of  buying  of 
home  sets  within  the  limited  re- 
ception areas  and  there  will  be 
an  occasional  television  tryout 
in  a  few  theatres  in  several  of 
the  larger  cities,  exactly  as  there 
was  in  1941  here,  and  in  1939 
in  London — no  more  than  ex- 
perimental ventures,  if  not  strictly 
promotional  "stunts."  That  is 
what  sober-minded  television  en- 
gineers will  tell  you,  however 
much  the  imaginatively  hopeful 
enthusiasts  may  differ. 

That  being  so,  then  why  the 
present  interest  in  commercial 
television?  Interest  in  the  sub- 
ject is  so  widespread  that  when 
amusement  stocks  broke  slightly 


on  the  New  York  Stock  Ex- 
change several  weeks  ago,  some 
Wall  Street  quarters  attributed 
the  weakness  to  "the  threat  of 
television."  To  be  sure,  better 
informed  quarters  in  the  Street 
probably  gauged  it  more  rightly 
when  they-  ascribed  the  break  to 
concern  over  the  effect  on  thea- 
tre attendance  of  the  new  Fed- 
eral admission  tax  and  the  effect 
on  production  of  the  new  draft. 

Be  that  as  it  may,  this  and 
other  apparent  evidences  of  con- 
cern over  television  have  but 
one  explanation — to  the  practi- 
cal-minded television  man  who 
perhaps  best  knows  how  long 
the  road  his  medium  must  travel 
before  it  becomes  a  means  of 
mass  entertainment.  In  the  opin- 
ion of  such  a  man,  the  fascina- 
tion of  television  today  emanates 
from  the  fact  that  it  still  is  in  an 
undeveloped  state.  As  one  of 
them  put  it  recently: 

"Even  the  egg  in  which  it  lies 
in  embryo  defies  identification. 
What  we  will  hatch  we  do  not 
know  ourselves.  Thus  all  who 
observe  ma}-  guess  and  prophesy. 
It  may  be  an  eagle  or  a  vulture, 
a  bird  of  paradise  or  just  an 
ugly  duckling.  None  of  us  will 
know  until  it  breaks  the  shell 
and  emerges." 

In  other  words,  your  guess 
about  television's  tomorrow  is  as 
good  as  the  expert's,  at  this 
staee. 


That  half  interest  in  the  Wil- 
mer  &  A'incent  Circuit  that  went 
to  Si  Fabian  a  week  ago  was 
very  much  sought  after,  accord- 
ing to  the  stories  along  Broad- 
way after  the  deal  was  closed. 
They  would  have  you  believe 
that  Y.  Frank  Freeman  sought 
it  as  a  personal  investment  for  a 
me-mber  of  his  family ;  that  Andy- 
Smith  was  interested  for  a  sim- 
ilar reason ;  that  Trans-Lux  had 
an  eye  on  it;  that  separate 
groups,  one  investigating 
through  Harry  Edington,  an- 
other through  J.  J.  Unger,  were 
in  the  ring,  too,  at  one  stage. 
•  • 

C.  H.  Spearman,  operator  of 
the  Broncho  Theatre,  Edmond, 
»Okla.,  submitted  the  following 
copy  for  a  trailer  for  his  theatre 
to  Filmack,  Chicago : 

"In  order  not  to  detract  from 
the  feature,  the  Broncho  man- 
agement has  agreed  to  donate  the 
stage  for  one  minute  each  eve- 
ning to  those  wishing  to  wise- 
crack or  horse-laugh.  Please 
make  reservations  with  doorman 
for  proper  arrangements." 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  2 
T  OSEPH  M.  SCHENCK,  executive 
J  production  head  of  20th-Fox,  left 
for  Xew  York  at  the  weekend. 


D.  D.  Durr,  former  chairman  of  the 
Los  Angeles  Xewspaper  Publishers 
Association,  assumed  his  new  duties  at 
the  weekend  as  administrative  assistant 
to  Alex  Evelove,  Warners'  studio  pub- 
licity director. 

• 

Spencer  Tracy  has  been  assigned 
the  role  of  General  Doolittle  in  M-G- 
M's  forthcoming  "Thirty  Seconds 
Oyer  Tokyo,"  which  Mervyn  LeRoy 
will  direct. 

• 

Warners  have  scheduled  a  14-the- 
atre  preview  premiere  of  "The  Adven- 
tures of  Mark  Twain"  for  May  5  at 
Fox  West  Coast  situations  in  the 
Southern  California  area. 


Jackie  Coogan  has  been  promoted 
Army  Air  Force  lieutenant. 


id  to 


Boris  Morros  Will 
Make  'Carnegie  Hair 

Boris  Morros,  film  producer  and 
music  director,  disclosed  at  the  week- 
end that  he  will  produce  "Carnegie 
Hall,"  a  story  about  Xew  York's  not- 
ed concert  hall.  The  announcement 
followed  completion  of  negotiations 
with  Milton  Bergerman,  president  of 
Carnegie,  who  was  host  at  a  luncheon 
to  the  press  held  Friday  at  the  Casino 
Russe  here. 

The  story,  being  written  by  John  Ja- 
coby  and  Ladislaus  Foder,  will  in- 
clude highlights  of  the  Hall's  50-year 
history.  Recording  will  start  in  Jan- 
uary and  shooting  will  commence  in 
May,  1945.  United  Artists  will  re- 
lease. 


Pre-Trial  Hearings 
Set  in  Hillside  Case 

Notice  was  filed  in  Federal  Court 
here  at  the  weekend  for  the  examina- 
tion before  trial  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Producers  and  Distributors  of 
America,  Inc.,  on  April  21,  and  of 
Warner  Brothers,  on  April  10,  in  con- 
nection with  the  anti-trust  suit 
brought  against  the  MPPDA  distribu- 
tor members  by  Hillside  Amusement 
Co.,  operators  of  the  Mayfair  Thea- 
tre, Newark. 

The  examinations  will  take  place  at 
the  office  of  Hays,  Podell  and  Schul- 
man,  the  plaintiff's  attorneys. 


$1,000,000  Chicago 
Trust  Suit  Deferred 

Chicago,  April  2. — The  trial  sched- 
uled for  tomorrow  on  the  claims  of 
Thomas  A.  Murray,  former  owner  of 
the  Thalia  Theatre,  for  $1,000,000  dam- 
ages for  alleged  anti-trust  violations 
by  Balaban  and  Katz  and  distributors 
was  postponed  indefinitely  at  the  week- 
end, pending  hearings  by  Judge  Wil- 
liam Campbell  on  a  motion  by  the 
plaintiff  to  amend  the  complaint  and 
a  motion  bv  the  defense  to  strike. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief:  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane  Ex, 
and  holidays  by  Qtugley  Publishing  Company,  Inc..  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,- New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kami.  •  Vite- President;  T.  J.  Sullivan  S. 
Editor:  Merlin  \  .  K-ckc.  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau.  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gne 
/ ^ta-.-'.-r,  Editor:  London  Bureau.  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl.  Hope  Burnup.  Manager;  Ts;ter  Burnup  I 
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natter,  bej.t,._23,  1938.  at  the  post  office  at  Xew  York.  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscripts 


executive  Editor.   Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
:Iephone  Circle  7-3100.   Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
■•  „  '  ••-■l''t>i.itni,  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane    Executive  Editor;  Tames  P.  Cunningham,  News 
raing  Manager;  Chjcago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 

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International    Motion    Picture    Almanac,    Fame.      Entered    as    second  class 
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Monday,  April  3,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Soldier  Audiences 
In  Global  Hookup 


Soldier  audiences  in  Italy,  North 
Africa  and  New  Caledonia  took  time 
out  from  seeing  recent  Hollywood 
films  to  join  Major  General  John  Hub- 
bell,  chief  of  the  Army's  Overseas 
Motion  Picture  Service,  in  a  four-way 
hook-up  on  this  week's  Army  Hour 
over  NBC. 

Introducing  them  as  "some  of  the 
800,000  American  soldiers  around  the 
world  who  see  American  pictures 
every  day,"  the  Army  sent  servicemen 
before  the  microphones  to  tell  the 
American  public  the  story  of  the  en- 
joyment they  get  in  their  improvised 
theatres,  also  to  stress  their  prefer- 
ence for  light  entertainment. 

Like  Two-Hour  Furlough 

Sgt.  Paul  Smith  of  Salt  Lake  City, 
one  of  200  from  a  Motor  Transporta- 
tion Corps  who  had  crowded  into  a 
North  African  basement  for  "The 
Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek,"  said, 
"We  are  seeing  the  same  films  here 
at  the  same  time  they  are  being  shown 
at  home."  "It's  like  a  two-hour  fur- 
lough home,"  chimed  in  Sgt.  Richard 
Jones  of  Albany,  speaking  from  an 
Italian  house  where  500  were  attend- 
ing "The  Song  of  Bernadette."  "The 
other  day,"  he  recalled,  "up  at  Anzio, 
they  were  showing  'The  More  the 
Merrier'  when  a  German  shell  explod- 
ed nearby — just  at  the  point  where 
Jean  Arthur  turns  to  Joel  McCrea  and 
asks,  'What  was  that?'  It  was  good 
for  a  real  belly  laugh."' 

General  Hubbell,  from  NBC  studios 
here,  told  how  the  Army  ships  65 
prints  of  three  different  pictures  week- 
ly to  19  exchanges  throughout  the 
world,  after  which  the  exchanges  send 
them  around  their  own  circuits  to  the 
troops — "by  plane,  boat,  trucks,  jeep 
or  anything  that  moves."  He  added 
that  during  the  past  two  weeks  "Mark 
Twain,"  "Buffalo  Bill"  and  "Meet  the 
People"  had  been  dispatched  to  the 
soldiers. 

Paramount  Heads 
On  'Lady9  Contest 

Barney  Balaban,  president  of  Para- 
mount, and  Y.  Frank  Freeman  and 
Leonard  Goldenson,  vice-presidents, 
have  accepted  invitations  from  G. 
Ralph  Branton,  general  manager  of 
Tri-States  Theatres,  Des  Moines,  to 
serve  as  "captains"  in  a  managers' 
showmanship  contest  on  "Lady  in  the 
Dark."  Winning  district  and  house 
managers  will  be  awarded  $500  in  the 
circuit-wide  contest. 

Plans  for  the  event  were  discussed 
by  Tri-State  managers  at  district 
meetings  in  Des  Moines,  Davenport 
and  Omaha,  at  which  the  film  was 
screened.  Advertising  and  promotion 
plans  were  set  at  the  meetings  by 
Dale  MacFarland,  Tri-States  adver- 
tising manager,  and  M.  D.  Cohn, 
Paramount  advertising  representative. 

For  the  first  time  in  Des  Moines 
theatre  history,  the  circuit  will  open 
the  film  in  its  three  first-runs,  the 
Des  Moines,  Roosevelt  and  Para- 
mount, day-and-date,  on  April  6. 


Todd  Buys  Theatre 

Michael  Todd,  Broadway  producer, 
has  purchased  the  48th  Street  Thea- 
tre, off  Broadway,  New  York,  from 
the  Bank  for  Savings  for  $260,000. 
H.  William  Fitelson  of  Fitelson  and 
Mayers,  represented  the  producer. ' 


Silly  Question  Dep't 

From  the  current  issue  of 
Printers'  Ink: 

"Allis-Chalmers  distribu- 
tors in  New  York  last  week 
used  space  on  theatrical 
pages  boosting  'The  Fighting 
Seabees,'  a  Warner  Bros,  pic- 
ture. Was  A-C  product  fea- 
tured in  the  picture?" 

No,  Printers'  Ink,  Repub- 
lic's was. 


'Cover  Girl'  Wins 
With  Big  $19,000 


Minneapolis,  April  2.  —  "Cover 
Girl"  at  the  Radio  City  Theatre  led 
the  town  with  $19,000.  Unfavorable 
weather  and  competition  held  other 
business  down. 

Estimated    receipts    for    the  week 
ending  April  1  : 
"Jack  London"  (UA) 

GOPHER— (998)    (40c)    7    days.  Gross: 
$3,400.    (Average:  $3,700). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

LYRIC — (1,250)     (44c-60c)     7    days,  3rd 
week.     Gross:  $4,500.     (Average:  $5,600). 
"Lassie   Come   Home"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $7,400). 
"Jane   Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 

STATE—  (2,300)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.     (Average:  $12,400). 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,800)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $9,200.     (Average:  $13,900). 
"Johnny  Come  Lately"  (UA) 

WORLD— (350)  (44c-55c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $2,400.  (Average:  $2,400). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

RADIO   CITY— (4,000)    (44c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $19,C00.    (Average,  3  weeks:  $21,000). 
"Minesweeper"   (Para.)  4  days 
"Moonlight  in  Vermont"  (Univ.)  4  days 

ASTER — (900)  (25c-35c)  7  days,  with  mid- 
week change.  Gross:  $2,300.  (Average: 
$2,600). 

$1,000  Life  Policies 
For  Members  of  MP  A 

Morris  Sanders,  president  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Associates  here,  presented 
a  plan  to  members  at  a  meeting  held 
Friday  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  whereby 
each  member  will  be  insured  for  $1,- 
000  through  Bankers  Life  Insurance 
Co.  It  is  now  before  the  board  of 
directors  for  further  study. 

Also  discussed  were  plans  for  the 
dinner-dance  to  be  held  May  19  at 
the  Hotel  Astor,  observing  the  25th 
year  of  the  organization.  Albert 
Reinlieb,  who  was  the  first  president 
of  the  association,  will  be  honored  at 
the  dinner  and  will  be  presented  with 
a  life  membership. 

Pittsburgh  Decides 
On  Uniform  Prices 

Pittsburgh,  April  2. — Last-minute 
decision  by  theatre  operators  here  es- 
tablishes uniform  prices  at  downtown 
houses  under  the  new  tax.  Charges 
from  10  A.M.  to  12:30  will  be  35c 
(29c  plus  6c  tax)  as  compared  to  the 
former  30c  and  35c  from  12:30  to  6 
P.  M.,  44c  (37c  plus  7  cents  tax)  as 
compared  to  the  former  40c  and  44c ; 
from  6  until  closing,  65c  (54c  plus 
11c)  as  compared  to  the  former  60 
cents.  Other  key  cities  had  set  up  new 
scales  several  days  ago. 


Stewart  to  M-G-M 

Russell  H.  Stewart,  for  the  past 
seven  months  with  Warner  Bros,  pub- 
licity department  here  and  formerly 
film  and  drama  critic  on  the  Washing- 
ton (D.C.)  Daily  News,  today  will 
join  the  M-G-M  home  office  publicitv 
<taff. 


U.S.  Negro  War  Film 
Free  for  the  Asking 

"The  Negro  Soldier,"  40-minute 
War  Department  film  produced  under 
supervision  of  Col.  Frank  Capra,  will 
be  given  theatrical  distribution  by  the 
War  Activities  Committee,  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion. The  film  relates  the  contribution 
of  the  Negro  races  to  American  his- 
tory, from  the  Revolutionary  War  to 
World  War  II. 

Under  arrangements  effected  with 
the  OWI,  the  War  Department  has 
made  available  a  limited  number  of 
prints,  which  will  be  provided  gratis 
in  response  to  exhibitor  requests.  The 
WAC  public  relations  division  is  pre- 
paring a  campaign  book  to  aid  ex- 
hibitors in  their  showings. 

Prints  will  be  available  beginning 
April  10  at  the  following  exchanges  : 
Albany,  Paramount ;  Atlanta,  20th- 
Fox ;  Boston  and  Buffalo,  Para- 
mount ;  Charlotte,  20th-Fox  ;  Chicago, 
M-G-M ;  Cincinnati  and  Cleveland, 
United  Artists ;  Dallas,  Columbia ; 
Denver,  RKO  ;  Des  Moines,  Universal ; 
Detroit,  United  Artists ;  Indianapolis, 
Republic ;  Kansas  City,  Universal ; 
Los  Angeles,  Warners ;  Memphis, 
Columbia ;  Milwaukee  and  Minne- 
apolis, M-G-M ;  New  Haven,  Para- 
mount ;  New  Orleans,  20th-Fox ;  New 
York,  M-G-M;  Oklahoma  City,  Co- 
lumbia ;  Omaha,  Universal ;  Philadel- 
phia and  Pittsburgh,  RKO;  Portland, 
Ore.,  Warners  ;  St.  Louis,  Universal ; 
Salt  Lake  City,  RKO  ;  San  Francisco 
and  Seattle,  Warners ;  Washington, 
RKO. 


'Buffalo  Bill'  Tribute 
Over  217  Stations 

Twentieth  Century-Fox's  "Buffalo 
Bill"  will  be  publicized  over  Mutual's 
Coast-to-Coast  hookup  of  217  stations 
on  the  "Double  or  Nothing"  program 
on  April  7.  Ted  Lloyd,  head  of  the 
company's  radio  department,  set  the 
tieup.  The  program  will  originate 
from  atop  Lookout  Mountain,  Den- 
ver, where  Col.  William  F.  (Buffalo 
Bill)  Cody  is  buried.  The  film  will 
have  its  Western  premiere  in  143  thea- 
tres, beginning  April  11. 

Gov.  John  C.  Vivian  of  Colorado 
and  Benjamin  Stapleton,  mayor  of 
Denver,  will  appear  on  the  program 
with  Princess  Blue  Waters,  daughter 
of  the  original  Indian  princess,  early 
friend  of  Buffalo  Bill.  Program  will 
be  aired  from  9:30  to  10:00  P.M., 
EWT. 

Meeting  on  Grand 
National  Postponed 

Federal  bankruptcy  referee  Peter 
B.  Olney  at  the  weekend  postponed 
until  April  28  a  special  creditors' 
meeting  of  Grand  National  Pictures 
for  consideration  of  an  offer  by 
Screencraft  Pictures  to  pay  Harry  G. 
Fromberg,  trustee  of  Grand  National, 
$5,000  for  his  right  to  collect  and  re- 
ceive the  percentages  and  other  items 
reserved  to  him  under  distribution 
contracts  with  Mohawk  Film  Corp. 

Objection  to  a  consideration  of  the 
offer  was  made  by  Walter  D.  Wyle, 
attorney  for  Douglas  McLean  Produc- 
tions of  Los  Angeles,  on  the  ground 
that  McLean  Productions  had  an  in- 
terest in  at  least  two  of  the  films  men- 
tioned in  the  offer  under  1936  agree- 
ments between  Grand  National  and 
McLean  Productions. 


'Bernadette'  in 
5th  Chi.  Week 
Gets  $46,000 


Chicago,  April  2.— "Lost  Angel" 
was  high  in  the  Loop  this  week,  gross- 
ing $55,000  at  the  Chicago  Theatre, 
with  Tommy  Tucker  and  band  head- 
lining the  stage  show.  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  continued  strongest  of 
single-feature  runs,  capturing  $46,000 
at  the  State-Lake. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing March  31 : 

"Lifeboat"  (2<>th-Fox) 

APOLLO — (1,200)  (50c-65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $12,000.     (Average,  $11,400) 
"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M) 

CHICAGO— (3,850)    (50c-65c-85c)    7  days. 
Stage:  Tommy  Tucker  and  band.  Gross: 
$55,000.    (Average,  $51,500) 
"Return  of  the  Vampire"  (Col.)  and 
"Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case"   (Col.)  3 
days,  3rd  week 

''The  Navy  Way','  (Para.)  and 

"You  Can't  Ration  Love"   (Para.)  4  days. 

GARRICK— (1,000)    (50c-65c-85c)    7  days 
Gross:  $14,000.    (Average,  $9,700) 
"Government  Girl"  (RKO) 
"Escape  to  Danger"  (RKO) 

GRAND— (1,250)  (50c-65c-85c)  7  days,  3rd 
Loop  week.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average,  $9,100) 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (U.  A.) 

ORIENTAL  —  (3,200)  (35c-40c-55c-65c-75c) 
7  days.    Stage:  Frankie  Masters  and  band. 
Gross  $28,000.    (Average,  $24,000) 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

PALACE—  (2,500)  (50c-65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $30,000.    (Average,  $24,000) 
"Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 

ROOSEVELT—  (1,500)  (50c-65c-85c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $25,000.  (Average,  $20,400) 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (2ftth-Fox) 

STATE- LAKE — (2,700)  (5Oc-65c-85c-$1.10) 
7  days,  5th  week.     Gross:  $46,000.  (Aver- 
age, $29,000) 
"Jane  Eyre"  (Z©th-Fox) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (50c-65c-85c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $26,000.  (Aver- 
age, $20,200) 

"Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.)  3  days,  3rd 
week 

"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.)  4  days 

WOODS  —  (1,200)  (55c-6Sc-85c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 

$25,500  for  Show 

And  'Uninvited9 

Buffalo,  April  2. — "The  Uninvit- 
ed" and  the  personal  appearance  of 
Marcy  McGuire,  along  with  Johnny 
Long  and  his  band,  is  giving  the  Buf- 
falo $25,500,  one  of  its  best  weeks. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  1  : 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

BUFFALO  —  (3,489)  (35c-40c-55c-65c)  7 
days.  Marcy  McGuire  on  stage,  plus  John- 
ny Long  and  his  orchestra,  with  Patti  Du- 
gan  and  Gene  Williams.  Gross:  $25,500. 
(Average:  $17,400). 

"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (35c-40c-55c-65c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average:  $16,- 
600). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100)  (35c-40c-55c-65c) 
7  days,  moveover.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Aver- 
age: $9,700). 

"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 
"Career  Girl"  (PRC) 

20TH  CENTURY— (3,000)  (35c-40c-55c-65c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $11,500.    (Average:  $12,200). 
"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 
"Always  a  Bridesmaid"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (35c-40c-5Sc-65c). 
Gross:  $15,500.     (Average:  $12,400). 


Pioneer  Scroll  Given 
By  Variety  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  April  2. — Presentation  of 
parchment  copies  of  a  master  scroll, 
recording  each  of  their  names,  was 
one  of  the  many  honors  conferred  upon 
the  veteran  guests  at  the  banquet  of 
the  Variety  Club  of  Illinois  for  the 
pioneers  of  the  local  motion  picture 
industry  at  the  Blackstone  Hotel  at  the 
weekend.  Over  350  members  attended. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  3,  1944 


Gallup  Figures 
62  Millions 

Pay  Weekly 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

prints  supplied   by  the  major 
companies. 

It  was  pointed  out  that  of  the  136,- 
000,000  persons  in  the  country,  5,- 
000,000  are  below  theatregoing  age, 
another  15,000,000,  are  incapacitated 
or  otherwise  unable  to  attend  thea- 
tres, and  several  millions  are  just  not 
theatregoers.  In  addition,  millions 
now  in  the  services  have  been  lost  to 
films  in  the  years  since  Pearl  Harbor. 
Nor  did  the  survey  include  the  attend- 
tendance  of  millions  on  reduced-rate 
servicemen's  admissions.  Some  8,- 
500,000  are  estimated  to  be  in  all  of 
the  armed  and  related  forces. 

Albert  H.  Sindjinger,  executive 
vice-president  of  Audience  Research, 
also  disclosed  that  surveys  made  by  his 
organization  show  that  an  average  pa- 
tron sees  films  at  least  once  every 
three  weeks. 

Audience  Research  surveys  show, 
according  to  Sindlinger,  that  the  large 
increase  in  box-office  receipts  is  large- 
ly due  to  higher  admission  prices,  to 
the  large  increase  in  "advance-price" 
runs  and  to  people  going  oftener,  mak- 
ing up  for  losses  to  the  services. 

According  to  the  organiza- 
tion's reports,  approximately 
51,000,000  have  seen  "Gone  With 
the  Wind,"  about  5,000,000  have 
seen  it  twice,  and  450,000  saw  it 
three  times,  the  overall  total 
reputedly  being  the  largest  au- 
dience for  a  single  picture. 

The  market  research  facilities  of 
Audience  Research  now  embrace 
a  new  device  which  is  said  to  re- 
cord the  reaction  of  a  motion  picture 
audience  cross-section  while  seeing  a 
picture  in  a  theatre.  Reactions  are 
recorded  on  dials  held  by  patrons  with 
all  reactions  recorded  on  a  graph. 

Audience  Research  samples  of  re- 
action are  taken  in  geographical  areas 
with  the  number  of  samples  and  in- 
terviews being  in  direct  proportion  to 
the  amount  of  money  each  area  con- 
tributes to  the  national  box-office 
gross. 

High  Note  Struck 
At  End  of  Drive 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

collections  for  a  full  two  weeks. 

More  than  15,200  houses  participated 
in  at  least  one  full  week's  collections 
for  the  campaign,  while  over  6,000 
houses  extended  their  drives  through 
a  second  weekend,  ending  yesterday. 

$6,856  Over  1943  Figure 

Albany,  April  2. — Employes  at 
local  film  exchange  offices  contributed 
$8,656  to  the  1944  Red  Cross  campaign 
it  was  reported  here  at  the  weekend. 
This  compares  with  $1,800  in  1943. 

Arthur  Newman,  Republic  branch 
manager,  was  chairman  of  the  ex- 
change campaign. 


Framke,  Jacobi  Quit  'U' 

F.  W.  Framke  and  George  Jacobi, 
traveling  exchange  auditors  for  Uni- 
versal for  many  years,  both  resigned 
their  posts  on  Friday,  Framke  told 
Motion  Picture  Daily. 


Potential  Patrons: 
83,000,000  Adults 

Field  surveys  by  George 
Gallup's  Audience  Research 
Institute  are  said  to  show 
that  the  maximum  potential 
number  of  full-price-paying 
film  patrons  over  12  in  the 
U.  S.  is  approximately  83,000,- 
000.  There  are  an  estimated 
91,000,000  over  eight  years  of 
age. 

Audience  Research,  on  the 
basis  of  census  figures,  also 
reports  that  approximately 
2,875,000  children  reach  the 
theatre-going  age  yearly. 

Miles  of  Braid  at 
'Wasseir  Preview 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
enue    from    the    film    to    the  Navy 
Emergency  Relief  Fund. 

Among  the  guests  at  the  preview 
were :  Commander  Corydon  M.  Was- 
sell,  whose  South  Pacific  war  experi- 
ence was  the  inspiration  for  the  pic- 
ture ;  Admiral  William  D.  Leahy, 
heading  a  delegation  of  several  score 
high  Navy  officers ;  Stephen  Early, 
Presidential  secretary ;  General  Edwin 
M.  Watson  and  a  large  representation 
of  high-ranking  Army  and  Marine 
Corps  officers ;  Judge  Samuel  Rosen- 
man,  Presidential  advisor ;  Miss  Grace 
Tully,  personal  secretary  to  the  Presi- 
dent;  Lowell  Mellett,  Robert  Sher- 
wood, Economic  Administrator  James 
F.  Byrnes  ;  War  Stabilization  Director 
Fred  M.  Vinson ;  Chief  Justice  Stone 
and  Justices  Roberts,  Black,  Reed, 
Frankfurter,  Douglas,  Murphy,  Jack- 
son and  Rutledge ;  William  Hassett, 
White  House  secretary. 

Cabinet  Members  Attend 

Also  members  of  the  Cabinet,  includ- 
ing Secretaries  Hull,  Morgenthau, 
Walker,  Ickes,  Wickard,  Jones,  Per- 
kins and  Attorney  General  Biddle ; 
Senator  David  I.  Walsh,  Rep.  Carl 
Vinson,  and  others. 

DeMille  was  the  guest  of  the  Swed- 
ish legation  here  yesterday  and  on 
Tuesday  will  be  honored  at  a  lunch- 
eon at  the  Chinese  Embassay,  winding 
up  several  days  of  functions  in  the 
Capital,  which  included  a  visit  with 
President  Roosevelt  Friday  afternoon. 
Tuesday  evening  he  will  appear  on  the 
"Report  to  the  Nation"  broadcast  over 
CBS  from  here. 

Paramount  Meeting 
Moves  on  Roadshows 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
tractions  into  roadshow  handling,  the 
partners  point  out. 

Other  discussions  at  the  meeting 
have  concerned  plans  for  theatre  re- 
habilitation, new  construction  and  man- 
power readjustment  in  the  postwar 
era.  The  partners  held  a  dinner  at 
the  Arrowhead  Springs  Hotel  Friday 
night. 


'Boys'  Screenings  Today 

Universal  will  trade  screen  the 
Charles  K.  Feldman  production,  "Fol- 
low the  Boys,"  in  30  key  cities  today. 
The  New  York  trade  screening  was 
held  March  23  at  the  Normandie 
Theatre. 


America,  Britain  in 
No  Postwar  Clash 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
"After  the  war,  the  British  film  in- 
dustry will  not  be  able  to  produce 
films  in  any  large  numbers,"  Gell  stat- 
ed. Considering  production  facilities 
and  studio  space  even  with  allowances 
for  postwar  expansion,  the  British  in- 
dustry is  not  geared  to  produce  more 
than  125  films  annually,  including 
American  quota  films.  "The  125,  as- 
suming that  all  were  quality  pictures, 
could  not  hope  tQ  command  more  than 
20  per  cent  of  the  playing  time  in  the 
some  5,000  theatres  of  Great  Britain, 
for  example,"  said  Gell. 

In  world  markets  any  competition 
that  develops  between  the  American 
and  British  film  industry  will  be  on 
the  basis  of  merit,  as  Gell  sees  it. 

Confident  of  Cooperation 

Regarding  the  possibility  of  Rank 
and  the  British  film  industry  attempt- 
ing to  retaliate  against  the  distribu- 
tion of  American  films  in  the  British 
market  if  the  American  film  industry 
refuses  to  cooperate  with  the  British 
industry  on  plans  to  enter  the  Ameri- 
can market  on  the  basis  of  the  merit 
of  their  films,  Gell  pointed  out  that 
the  only  retaliation  possible,  as  he 
sees  it,  is  the  denial  of  preferred  play- 
ing time  to  American  films  in  the 
British  market.  He  is  confident  that 
American  film  interests  will  grant  the 
cooperation  that  Rank  and  the  British 
industry  seek  in  providing  distribution 
of  British  films  of  merit  in  the  Ameri- 
can market. 

Gell  indicated  that  a  large  portion 
of  the  British  film  industry  is  aware 
of  the  fact  that  with  few  outstanding 
exceptions  like  "In  Which  We  Serve," 
"Pygmalion,"  "Henry  VIII,"  "The 
Ghost  Goes  West,"  and  a  few  others, 
British  product  generally  has  not  been 
of  the  calibre  to  command  wide  Amer- 
ican distribution.  Current  plans  of 
Rank  and  other  British  producers  to 
produce  outstanding  pictures  attuned 
to  the  world  markets  is  now  leading 
British  film  interests  to  seek  world- 
wide distribution,  Gell  explained. 

Producers  to  Answer 
Studio  Locals  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

representatives  at  the  office  of  Pat 
Casey,  producers'  labor  contact. 

On  Friday  IATSE  representatives 
concluded,  with  the  exception  of  studio 
sound  men,  submission  of  their  propo- 
sals. It  is  understood  that  a  basic 
accord  has  been  arrived  at  between 
studio  projectionists,  cameramen,  lab- 
oratory technicians  and  makeup-and- 
hairdressers'  locals  and  the  producers. 

The  props'  and  laborers'  studio 
locals  were  the  final  groups  to  submit 
demands,  on  Friday.  Discussion  on  the 
grips'  demands  were  continued  from 
Thursday. 


Depinet  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  April  2. — Ned  E.  Depinet, 
president  of  RKO,  and  Nate  Blum- 
berg,  president  of  Universal,  and  Mrs. 
Blumberg  attended  the  funeral  of  Mort 
Singer  held  here  yesterday. 


Mannie  Lowy  Dies 

Los  Angeles,  April  2. — Mannie 
Lowy,  business  adviser  to  Rudy  Val- 
lee  for  16  years,  died  here  at  the  week- 
end. Surviving  are  his  widow,  a 
daughter,,  his  father  and  two  sisters. 


Freon  Hopes 
Fading  for 
This  Summer 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

developing  a  workable  system 
for  proper  distribution,  it  was 
said.  * 

At  the  same  time,  officials  of  thv 
War  Production  Board  facilities 
bureau  are  understood  to  be  opposed 
to  the  use  of  freon  for  any  public 
comfort  purposes  because  of  the  fact 
that  the  basic  chemical  from  which 
it  is  produced  also  is  an  important 
component  of  vitally  needed  high-oc- 
tane aviation  gasoline. 

However,  officials  believe  that  next 
year,  when  freon  will  be  produced  at 
three  times  or  better  its  pre-war  rate, 
it  will  be  possible  to  supply  all  essen- 
tial needs  of  theatres,  stores,  offices 
and  other  buildings  which  now  are 
denied  supplies. 

5,000,000  Pounds  in  1945 

Until  this  month,  the  country  was 
dependent  for  its  freon  supply  upon 
one  plant,  the  output  of  which  had 
been  stepped  up  50  per  cent  or  more 
to  about  1,900,000  pounds  a  month. 
This  was  insufficient  to  meet  even  es- 
sential war  needs.  A  second  plant  is 
now  in  operation,  with  a  production 
rate  of  around  1,000,000  pounds  a 
month,  which  it  is  hoped  will  give  a 
supply  adequate  for  all  essential  needs 
and  permit  some  rebuilding  of  inven- 
tories, which  had  been  stripped  to  a 
point  where  they  were  unworkable.  1 

Toward  the  end  of  this  year,  pro- 
duction will  start  at  a  third  plant, 
which  has  a  scheduled  production  rate 
of  2,000,000  pounds  a  month,  indicat- 
ing that  by  1945  the  output  of  freon 
will  run  around  5,000,000  pounds 
monthly. 

The  WPB  officials  concerned  with 
the  control  of'  freon  have  been  con- 
sidering for  some  weeks  the  possibil- 
ity of  releasing  a  small  amount  for 
relief  of  distress  cases,  but  are  under- 
stood to  have  failed  to  develop  a  satis- 
factory plan  for  assuring  that  the  gas 
would  go  to  the  most  deserving  thea- 
tres. 

George  W.  McMurphey,  chief  of  the 
OCR  recreation  section,  now  is  at- 
tempting to  work  out  a  plan  whereby 
around  100,000  pounds  a  month  may  be 
distributed. 

Distribution  Problem 

Suggestions  that  relief  be  afforded 
on  a  geographic  basis  were  rejected 
because  it  was  pointed  out  that  a  thea- 
tre in  Minneapolis  can  get  as  hot  as 
one  in  New  Orleans ;  a  suggestion 
that  relief  be  limited  to  war  centers 
also  was  rejected  because  nearly  every 
city  in  the  country  is  a  war  center, 
and  an  idea  to  provide  gas  only  to 
houses  which  have  entirely  lost  the 
use  of  their  cooling  systems  was  felt 
not  to  be  feasible  because  there  are  too 
many  in  that  situation. 

The  biggest  hurdle  to  be  jumped  in 
securing  the  release  of  freon,  it  is  un- 
derstood, is  in  the  facilities  bureau, 
where  officials  are  opposed  to  any  di- 
version of  materials  from  war  produc- 
tion to  civilian  uses  not  essential  to  the 
conduct  of  the  war.  A  major  argu- 
ment is  that  theatres  operated  before 
air  cooling  was  developed  and,  it  is 
maintained,  they  can  continue  to  op- 
erate without  cooling  during  the  pe- 
riod of  the  supply  emergency. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


J^/OL.  55.  NO. 


66 


NEW  YORK.  U.S.A..  TUESDAY,  APRIL  4,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


11  Companies 
Cut  to  425 
This  Season 


1943-44  Releases  Even 
Lower  Than  Estimates 


Pre-season  1943-44  product  esti- 
mates of  11  motion  picture  com- 
panies which  pointed  to  the  lowest 
number  of  feature  releases  in  many 
years  will  drop  even  lower  than  orig- 
inal commitments. 

The  exclusion  of  13  additional 
top  features  will  send  the  orig- 
inal total  downward  from  a  min- 
imum of  438  and  a  maximum  of 
454  to  a  minimum  of  425  and  a 
maximum  of  435. 
This  year's  total  is  nearly  100  less 
than  the  522  actually  delivered  in  the 
Pearl  Harbor  season  of  1941-42.  be- 
fore   United    States'    entrance  into 
World  War  II  sent  film  total  down- 
ward. 

Extended  playing  time  being  secured 
especially  by  Warner  Bros,  and  Twen- 
tieth  Century-Fox  is  principally  re- 
(Continued  on  page  '  6 ) 


Extend  War  Risk 
Damage  Insurance 


Washington,  April  3. — Members  of 
the  industry  who  have  been  carrying 
the  Government's  war  risk  damage  in- 
surance for  the  past  two  years  will 
automatically  be  carried  for  another 
12  months  without  the  payment  of  ad- 
ditional premiums. 

Announcement  that  the  collection 
of  premiums  would  be  foregone  was 
made  today  by  Secretary  of  Commerce 
Jesse  Jones,  who  said  that  no  action 
will  be  required  on  the  part  of  the 
policyholder  to  make  the  extension  ef- 
fective. Any  additional  insurance 
written  after  April  1,  however,  will 
{Continued  on  page  6) 


IU A  Planning  Foreign 
Publicity  'Outposts' 
Hollywood,  April  3. — United  Art- 
ists intends  establishing  six  to  ten 
foreign  "outposts,"  each  manned  by  an 
American  trained  in  New  York  or 
Hollywood,  for  purpose  of  readapting 
and  refining  advertising  and  publicity 
in  closer  consonance  with  the  needs 
and  requirements  of  overseas  markets, 
foreign  manager  Walter  Gould  stated 
here  today. 
The  plan  aims  to  reduce  the  waste 
(Continued  OH  page  6) 


Report  Wallis 
To  Join  MGM 


Hollywood,  April  3. — In  what 
would  be  one  of  the  most  important 
Hollywood  executive  production  shifts 
in  years,  Hal  B.  Wallis,  Warner  ex- 
ecutive producer,  is  reliably  reported 
to  be  joining  M-G-M.  Although  offi- 
cial confirmation  is  lacking,  it  is  un- 
derstood here  that  Wallis  may  already 
have  signed  an  M-G-M  contract. 

The  impending  change,  is  viewed  in 
studio  circles  as  comparing  in  sig- 
nificance with  Darryl  F.  Zanuck's 
resignation  as  Warner's  chief  produc- 
tion executive  in  1933  to  form  20th 
Century  Productions  in  association 
with  Joseph  M.  Schenck. 

Wallis  entered  the  film  industry  in 
1922  as  a  Los  Angeles  theatre  mana- 
ger and  was  later  placed  in  charge 
of  Warners'  publicity  department. 
After  a  year  he  left  to  join  Principal 
Pictures  but  returned  in  seven  months 
and  was  given  charge  of  First  Xa- 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


State  Dept.  Defers 
Re-education  Plans 


Washington.  April  3. — Re-educa- 
tion of  Axis-controlled  peoples  from 
totalitarianism  will  not  be  undertaken 
at  this  time,  it  was  indicated  here  at 
this  week  in  a  State  Department 
statement  on  its  policy  with  regard 
to  the  forthcoming  London  conference 
of  Allied  educational  leaders.  Motion 
pictures  are  understood  to  have  an  im- 
portant place  in  the  re-indoctrination 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


FEW  OBJECT  TO  TAX, 
BUSINESS  HOLDS  UP 


Weather  and  Palm 
Sunday  Send  N.Y. 
Gr  o  s  se  s  D  own  war  d 


Attributed  to  a  combination  which 
included  Palm  Sunday,  advent  of  Holy 
Week,  generally  unfavorable  weather 
late  last  week  and  over  the  weekend, 
and  in  some  degree  to  the  start  of  the 
new  Federal  tax  imposts,  generally  de- 
pressed grosses  hit  New  York  down- 
town first-run  theatres  this  week,  with 
poor  business  especially  over  the  week- 
end. Theatres  are  expected  to  bene- 
fit by  the  Easter  school  vacation,  set 
by  the  Xew  York  Board  of  Education 
to  run  from  April  7-17 ;  also  six  new 
films  have  been  booked  for  this  week. 

Unaffected,  however,  by  the  general 
falling-off  is  Radio  City  Music  Hall 
which  had  a  big  opening  with  "Cover 
Girl"  and  the  "Glory  of  Easter"  stage 
show  last  Thursday,  despite  rains,  with 
business  continuing  big  over  the  week- 
end to  roll  up  $75,000  on  the  first  four 
days;  $118,000  is  expected  for  the 
week.  At  least  four  weeks  at  the 
Music  Hall  is  expected  for  "Cover 
Girl."  M-G-M's  "The  White  Cliffs" 
is  set  to  follow. 

The  sixth  week  of  "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  and  a  stage  bill  presenting 
Xavier  Cugat  and  band  and  Dean 
Murphy  at  the  Paramount  will  yield 
(Continued  on  page  3) 


War  Films  at  New  Low,  Only  16  of 

182  Now  Showing  Have  War  Theme 

Less  than  nine  per  cent  of  all  of  the  182  different  features  cur- 
rently on  exhibition  in  Manhattan's  218  theatres  are  out-and-out 
war  themes,  the  lowest  number  of  war  films  to  hit  the  boards 
since  both  Pearl  Harbor  and  pre-Pearl  Harbor  threatening  war 
influences  started  war-film  production  mounting  to  the  peak 
reached  about  one  year  ago. 

The  nine  per  cent  represents  only  16  of  the  182  features  playing 
all  runs  here,  by  actual  theatre-by-theatre  count  for  Motion 
Picture  Daily,  for  the  week  beginning  last  Friday  and  ending 
Thursday  evening.  It  is  the  result  of  the  decisions  of  nearly  all 
of  Hollywood's  producers,  made  months  ago,  to  start  turning  away 
from  heavy  war-story  production. 

The  16  war  films  current,  several  of  them  not  being  new  re- 
leases, however,  follow:  "Action  in  Arabia,"  RKO:  "Battle  of 
Russia,"  20th-Fox;  "Destination  Tokyo,"  Warners;  "The  Fighting 
Seabees,"  Republic;  "Gung  Ho!",  Universal;  "Immortal  Sergeant," 
20th-Fox;  "The  Imposter."  Universal;  "Ladies  Courageous,"  Uni- 
versal; "Lifeboat,"  20th-Fox;  "North  Star,"  RKO;  "None  Shall 
Escape,"  Columbia;  "Passage  to  Marseille,"  Warners;  "The  Purple 
Heart,"  20th-Fox;  "See  Here,  Private  Hargrove,"  M-G-M;  "To  the 
Shores  of  Tripoli,"  20thFox. 


Customers  for  the  Most 
Part  Pay  New  Levy 
Without  Grumbling 


American    theatregoers    at  the 
weekend  started  paying  Uncle  Sam 
an  additional  $125,500,000  a  year 
in  taxes  for  motion  picture  enter- 
tainment   with    surprisingly  little 
grumbling,  and  what  there  was  of 
that  was  confined  mostly  to  small 
neighborhood    houses.     The  new 
levy  of  one  cent  on  each  five  raises 
the  public's  annual  amusement  tax 
bill  to  nearly  $300,000,000  annually. 
Business  at  downtown  the- 
atres ran  at  usual  weekend  ca- 
pacity in  most  areas,  and  in  the 
few  places  where  a  drop  was 
felt  it  was  attributed  to  wet 
weather    and    Palm  Sunday. 
Some  suburban  business  tilted 
downward,  but  here  again  the 
tax  was  not  held  responsible. 
There  were  some  neighborhood 
(Continued  on  page  3) 


Agnew  in  Five-Year 
Pact  with  Vanguard 


Xeil  Agnew  has  been  given  a  three- 
year  contract  plus  a  two-year  option 
by  David  O.  Selznick's  Vanguard 
Films,  which  he  is  slated  to  join  in  the 
near  future  as  vice-president  in  charge 
of  distribution,  it  was  learned  on  good 
authority  yesterday.  The  contract, 
which  calls  for  a  first-Year  salary  of 
$104,000,  rising  to  $2,500  weekly  the 
second  year  and  $3,000  weekly  the 
third  year,  also  gives  Agnew  a  par- 
ticipation in  company  earnings,  it  was 
reported. 

Agnew  has  been  on  jury  duty  here 
for  the  past  several  weeks  and  was 
serving  on  a  trial  which  was  con- 
cluded yesterday.    The  jury  of  which 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Nathanson  Group 
Buys  3  Odeon  Houses 

Toronto,  April  3. — Shareholders  of 
Hamilton  United  Theatres,  Ltd.,  rep- 
resenting a  majority  of  the  common 
stock  outstanding,  today  accepted"  an 
offer  of  $711,811  by  Theatre  Proper- 
ties (Hamilton)  Ltd.,  for  the  physical 
assets  of  three  theatres  in  Hamilton, 
Ont.  operated  under  lease  by  Odeon 
Theatres  of  Canada. 

(Continued  on  pJge  6) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Tuesday,  April  4,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


MONROE  GREENTHAL  is  now 
an  Army  major,  a  promotion 
from  captaincy  for  the  former  adver- 
tising-publicity head  of  United  Artists 
here.  He  is  chief  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture branch  of  the  Army  Industrial 
Service  Division. 

Hal  Horne,  20th  Century-Fox  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  chief,  and 
Charles  Schlaifer,  advertising  man- 
ager, are  scheduled  to  leave  for  the 
Coast  on  Friday. 

• 

Irving  A.  Maas,  20th  Century-Fox 
assistant  director  of  foreign  distribu- 
tion, will  leave  over  the  weekend  on  a 
tour  of  the  Latin  American  exchanges. 
• 

James  R.  Grainger,  president  of 
Republic  Pictures,  and  Maxwell  Gil- 
lis,  Eastern  district  sales  manager, 
left  yesterday  for  Washington. 
• 

Sam  Katz,  M-G-M  studio  execu- 
tive, left  here  yesterday  for  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Charles  R.  Rogers  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday  from  the  Coast. 


IA  Electricians 
Work  on  New  Pact 


Kamins  New  Lesser 
Publicity  Director 

Hollywood,  April  3. — Bernie  Ka- 
mins, recently  with  Charles  R.  Rog- 
ers productions,  took  over  his  new  du- 
ties as  publicity  director  for  Sol  Less- 
er productions  today.  His  first  as- 
signment will  be  "Three's  a  Family." 

Kamins  was  associated  with  Russell 
Birdwell,  Terry  De  Lapp,  Paramount, 
and  was  publicity  director  for  Harry 
A.  Sherman  productions  before  join- 
ing Rogers. 


Five  New  Television 
Applications  Filed 

Washington,  April  3. — Five  more 
applications  for  permission  to  erect 
commercial  television  stations  after 
the  war  have  been  received  by  the 
Federal  Communications  Commission 
here,  bringing  the  total  number  of  new 
applications  in  the  past  few  weeks 
to  23. 

Three  of  the  applications  are  from 
We$tinghouse,  for  stations  in  Pitts- 
burgh, Boston  and  Philadelphia.  The 
other  two  are  from  Stromberg-Carl- 
son  and  Station  WWDC,  Washington. 


Rockettes  Get  Raise 

The  ballet  girls  and  82  "Rockettes" 
of  Radio  City  Music  Hall  this  week 
were  awarded  hiring  rate  increases 
of  from  $3  to  $6  a  week  bv  the  Re- 
gional War  Labor  Board,  ruling  on  a 
joint  wage  adjustment  application.  The 
board  approved  an  increase  from  $36 
to  $42  a  week  in  the  hiring  rate  for 
the  ballet  corps  and  from  $42  to  $45 
for  "Rockettes."  Music  Hall,  accord- 
ing to  the  board,  had  asked  for  $45 
for  the  ballet  girls. 


Contract  proposals  of  the  IATSE 
studio  electricians  and  counter  propos- 
als offered  by  the  producer  represen- 
tatives kept  company  heads,  their  stu- 
dio labor  heads  and  IATSE  repre- 
sentatives in  a  meeting  which  lasted 
until  a  late  hour  yesterday  at  the  of- 
fice here  of  Pat  Casey,  producers'  la- 
bor contact.  Points  of  issue  between 
the  producers  and  the  electricians  are 
understood  to  be  those  of  job  classifi- 
cations. The  producers  have  yet  to  ar- 
rive at  tentative  accords  with  the 
IATSE  studio  grips,  props  and  labor- 
ers locals  in  addition  to  the  electri- 
cians. 

The  producers  and  their  representa- 
tives received  the  contract  proposals 
of  the  studio  American  Federation  of 
Musicians'  local  from  James  C.  Petril- 
lo,  musicians'  head,  at  a  luncheon  ses- 
sion yesterday.  Meetings  between 
IATSE  representatives  and  the  pro- 
ducers will  continue  today. 


Fitzgerald  Delayed, 
Geehan  Here  Instead 

.  H.  J.  Fitzgerald,  head  of  Fox-Wis 
co'nsin  Theatres,  who  was  scheduled  to 
arrive  in  New  York  from  headquar- 
ters in  Milwaukee  to  serve  as  -chair- 
man of  the  exhibitors'  committee  for 
the  50th  anniversary  of  motion  pic- 
tures to  be  observed  by  the  industry 
this  month,  has  delayed  his  trip  here. 

William  Geehan,  assistant  to  Fitz- 
gerald, arrived  in  New  York  yester- 
day for  preliminary  conferences,  and 
he  will  remain  here  until  the  end  of 
the  week. 


60  Ushers  Stage 
Walkout  in  Maiden 

Boston,  April  3. — Sixty  ushers  in 
nearby  Maiden  struck  for  higher 
wages  over  the  weekend,  demanding  a 
20-cent  hourly  wage  increase.  The 
present  rate  is  40  cents.  All  high 
school  boys  working  on  a  part-time 
basis,  the  ushers  are  not  unionized  but 
have  formed  a  bargaining  group  among 
themselves  and  are  ready  to  negotiate 
Theatre  managers  affected  have  noti- 
fied the  strikers  that  their  demands 
will  be  heard  this  week. 

House  officials  called  in  former  em- 
ployes and  women  relatives  of  men 
in  service  to  meet  the  emergency  over 
the  weekend. 


Production  Unit  for 
R.  Fellows  at  RKO 

Hollywood,  April  3. — Charles  W. 
Koerner,  RKO  Radio  Studios  vice- 
president,  has  announced  the  forma- 
tion of  Robert  Fellows'  own  produc- 
tion unit  at  RKO,  with  Warren  Duff 
as  associate  producer  and  Howard 
Estabrook  as  writer-director-associate 
producer.  Directors  assigned  to  the 
unit  are  Richard  Wallace,  Edward 
Sutherland,  Ray  Engith,  Harold 
Schuster  and  Edwin  L.  Marin.  Mel- 
ville Burke  will  continue  as  Fellows' 
assistant. 


6-Billion  Quota 

For  Individuals 


Washington,  April  3. — A  goal  of 
$16,000,000,000  with  a  quota  of  $6,000,- 
000,000  for  individual  bond  buyers,  was 
set  at  the  weekend  by  Henry  Morgen- 
thau,  Jr.,  secretary  of  the  Treasury,  in 
his  announcement  of  the  details  of  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  Campaign  scheduled 
to  start  June  12  and  continue  through 
July  8. 

Morgenthau  pointed  out  that 
finances  for  the  War  this  year  will 
amount  to  more  than  twice  as  much 
as  the  tax  revenue  anticipated.  He 
stated  that  the  quota)  of  $6,000,000,000 
for  individuals  will  be  emphasized 
throughout  the  campaign  and  more 
particularly  in  two  weeks  from  June 
12  to  June  26,  which'will  be  followed 
by  a  drive  on  non-banking  investors 
aimed  at  completing  the  total  quota. 


Resume  Prefect  Case 
Without  Jury  Present 

New  Haven,  April  3. — Trial  of  the 
Prefect  anti-trust  suit  against  eight 
distributing  companies,  recessed  here 
for  a  week  because  of  the  illness  of 
several  jury  members,  was  resumed 
today  with  the  offering  of  documents 
included  among  the  depositions  of 
George  Skouras,  president  of  Skouras 
Theatres. 

The  jury  was  absent  from  today's 
session  but  will  reconvene  tomorrow 
morning  when  the  plaintiffs  will  con- 
tinue their  introduction  of  witnesses. 


Says  SAG  Collected 
$350,000  for  Extras 

Hollywood,  April  3. — John  Dales, 
Jr.,  executive  secretary  of  the  Screen 
Actors  Guild,  testified  today  during 
the  National  Labor  Relations  Board 
hearing  on  the  Screen  Players  Union 
petition  for  a  collective  bargaining 
election  for  extras,  that  from  1937  to 
date  the  guild  had  collected  about 
$350,000  in  wage  claims  for  "B"  mem- 
bers aside  from  adjustments  made  on 
sets. 


Loew  Depositions 

In  Griffith  Case 

Earle  Beatty,  member  of  the  home 
office  legal  department  of  Loew's,  gave 
depositions  here  yesterday  as  part  of  the 
pre-trial  work  on  the  Government's 
anti-trust  suit  against  the  Griffith 
Amusement  Co.,  of  Oklahoma  and 
Texas. 


Honor  Morris  Rosenthal 

Bridgeport,  Conn.,  April  3. — More 
than  200  industry  and  civic  leaders 
honored  Morris  Rosenthal,  manager 
of  Loew's  Majestic  here  for  the  past 
20  years,  recently  promoted  to  the 
managership  of  Loew's  Poli  theatre  in 
New  Haven.  The  testimonial  dinner, 
held  in  the  Hotel  Barnum  here  at 
the  weekend,  was  attended  by  Lou 
Brown,  advertising  director  of  Loew's 
Poli  theatres;  Gertrude  Merriam  and 
Chester  Friedman,  Managers'  Round 
Table;  Al  Domain,  manager  of  the 
Globe  Theatre;  Barney  Pitkin,  mana- 
ger of  the  RKO  exchange,  and  others. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  3 

KENNETH  MacGOWAN  joined 
Paramount  today  as  producer. 
He  will  confer  with  executive  produc- 
er B.  G.  DeSylva  during  the  next 
two  weeks  regarding  stories  for  film- 
ing. He  was  formerly  with  20th  Ce; 
tury-Fox. 

• 

H.  J.  Yates  has  arrived  at  the  Re- 
public studios  from  New  York  for 
the  second  quarterly  production  check- 
up. He  will  remain  a  month,  launch- 
ing two  specials,  "Atlantic  City"  and 
"Lake  Placid." 

J.  J.  O'Connor,  Universal  vice- 
president,  will  leave  for  the  home  of^ 
fice  tomorrow  following  studio  confer- 


Arnold  Pressburger  returned  here- 
today  from  New  York  after  United 
Artists  home  office  conferences  setting 
release  for  "It  Happened  Tomorrow." 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


— RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL  — 

50th  Street  &  6th  Avenue 
RITA  HAYWORTH    .    GENE  KELLY 

"COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern  .  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin  \ 

Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600  ■ 


una 

MARCH 
2b-  of  TIME 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


NOW  PLAYING 
Maria  Montez    .    Jon  Hall 
Turhan  Bey 

'Ali  Babaandthe  Forty  Thieves' 


DARRYL  F.  ZANUCK'S 

"The  PURPLE  HEART" 

PLUS  ON  STAGE— COUNT  BASIE  and 
ORCH. — CAROL  BRUCE— ZERO  MOSTEL 
BUY  MORE  B  r\  V  V  7th  Are.  & 
BONDS     I»  V  A   *     50th  St 


ON  SCREEN 

1st  N.  Y.  Showing 

'HER  PRIMITIVE 
MAN' 

starring 
LOUISE  ALLBRITT0N 
ROBT.  PAIGE 


IN  PERSON 
LEO 

CARRILL0 

Earl  'Father'  HINES 

and  ORCHESTRA 
OTHER  BIG  ACTS 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  _ 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Comp; 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  . 

Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Wiiliain 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London.*  All  contents  copyrighted  194': 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  clap 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1933,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  IOc. 


Tuesday,  April  4,  1944 


motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Business  Holds  Up9  with 
Few  Complaints  on  Tax 


Weather  and  Palm 
Sunday  Send  N.Y. 
Grosses  Downward 


104  Films  at  Once 
On  Guadalcanal 

Washington,  April  3. — Major  Gen- 
eral Frederick  Osborn,  director  of  the 
Army's  morale  services  division,  saw 
104  motion  pictures  being  shown  at  the 
same  time  on  Guadalcanal  during  a 
tour  he  recently  completed  through 
^the  Pacific  war  zones,  the  General  re- 
ported in  a  broadcast  from  here  on 
this  week's  "We,  the  People"  program 
over  WABC. 

"Most  of  the  pictures,"  Osborn  said, 
"were  first  runs.  Some  of  the  men 
made  several  trips  around  the  islands 
until  they  had  seen  all  of  the  films.  I 
remember  once  seeing  soldiers  sit  for 
two  hours  watching  a  picture*  shown 
silent,  because  the  sound  track  had 
broken  down.  The  only  sound  was 
wise  cracks  from  the  soldiers,  ad-lib- 
bing the  missing  lines.  But  they  were 
all  back  the  next  night  to  see  it 
through  with  sound.  That's  how  much 
American  films  mean  to  them.  They're 
another  one  of  the  many  close  links 
with  home,"  the  General  added. 

General  Osborn,  who  covered  30,000 
miles  on  his  journey,  announced  also 
that  more  than  700  men  on  Guadalcanal 
were  taking  correspondence  courses 
through  the  Army  Forces  Institute  and 
that  war  information  films  like  the 
I  "Why  We  Fight"  series  were  a  part 
of  this  program. 

120  'Twain'  Openings 
Scheduled  May  3-5 

First  120  premieres  of  more  than 
200  advanced-price  openings  of  "The 
Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  sched- 
uled by  Warners  for  simultaneous 
runs  the  week  of  May  6,  will  take 
place  May  3-5. 

The  initial  group  includes  the 
Broadway  premiere  at  the  Hollywood 
Theatre,  where  the  run  will  continue 
indefinitely.  Other  bookings  are  lim- 
ited to  one  week,  to  be  followed  later 
.  in  the  season  by  the  regular  national 
release. 


Army  Parade  Sunday 
At  London  Premiere 

London,  April  3. — With  a  U.  S. 
Army  band  leading  a  parade  of  U.  S. 
soldiers  into  the  Warner  Theatre  here, 
"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain" 
was  given  its  world  premiere  on  Sun- 
day. Service  men  from  Twain's  home 
town  were  interviewed  as  part  of  the 
Americaa  press  coverage. 


Nashville  Bus  Strike 
Cuts  Receipts  30-50% 

Nashville,  April  3. — A  bus  strike 
that  completely  tied  up  this  city's 
■  transportation  system  on  Friday,  Sat- 
urday and  Sunday  caused  business  at 
all  21  theatres  here  to  slump  30  to  50 
per  cent.  First-run  houses  had  al- 
ready lost  heavily  because  of  the  with- 
drawal of  all  soldiers  from  a  nearby 
maneuvers  area,  according  to  theatre 
operators. 


Army  Gets  'Our  Time' 

Forty  16mm  prints  of  Warners' 
"In  Our  Time,"  starring  Ida  Lupino 
and  Paul  Henreid,  have  been  turned 
over  to  the  Army  through  the  War 
Activities  Committee  for  exhibition 
to  troops  overseas. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tax-rise  complaints,  but  they 
were  comparatively  few.  Wet 
weather  and  Palm  Sunday  took 
their  toll  at  Broadway,  New 
York,  houses  (see  page  1, 
column  3). 

Advance  trailers  frequently  had 
told  the  public  to  expect  a  rise  in 
taxes,  stressing  that  this  did  not  con- 
stitute a  ticket  price  increase,  but, 
rather,  was  an  additional  war  levy.  In 
many  areas  exhibitors  reported  to 
Motion  Picture  Daily  correspond- 
ents that  patrons  were  ready  with 
cash  for  the  higher  tax  payment;  else- 
where it  was  said  that  patrons  ap- 
peared unaware  that  they  had  been 
charged  additionally. 

Several  Days  Needed 

Some  owners  declared  that  several 
days  will  be  needed  to  determine  what 
overall  effect  on  steady  patronage  will 
be  felt  as  a  result  of  the  increase 
which  became  effective  on  Saturday. 

Circuits  in  and  around  New  York 
City  surveyed  by  Motion  Picture 
Daily  declared  that  the  tax  had  not 
affected  business.  Some  said  that  it 
was  too  early  to  weigh  the  effect. 
Metropolitan  circuits  whose  business 
was  off  over  the  weekend  observed 
that  the  rainy  weather  might  have 
been  the  principal  cause.  Several  out- 
lying circuits  attributed  a  slight  in- 
crease in  business  to  the  weather  with 
patrons  "hugging"  home  neighbor- 
hoods. On  the  whole,  however,  most 
seemed  to  feel  that  a  fair  estimate  of 
the  operation  of  the  new  tax  would 
have  to  wait  until  boxoffice  recieipts 
could  be  observed  over  a  longer 
period. 

In  Los  Angeles,  Fox  West  Coast 
Theatres  reported  normal  weekend  re- 
ceipts for  both  first-run  and  neigh- 
borhood houses,  and  a  drop  of  only 
five  per  cent  was  noted  in  the  Chicago 
Loop,  with  the  Balaban  and  Katz  of- 
fice and  the  independents  attributing 
the  slight  slump  to  Palm  Sunday. 
Grosses  were  off  15  per  cent  through- 
out the  Chicago  neighborhoods,  how- 
ever. 

Boston  Up  15  Percent 

First-run  business  in  Boston  was  not 
only  unaffected  by  the  tax  rise,  but 
ran  15  percent  over  the  previous  week. 
Little  or  no  complaint  was  heard  from 
patrons  against  the  increase.  Large 
neighborhood  houses  also  reported  a 
weekend  patronage  rise.  Memphis  the- 
atremen  reported  no  perceptible  dif- 
ference because  of  the  tax,  Herbert 
Kohn,  general  manager  of  the  80-the- 
atre  Malco  circuit,  declaring,  "We 
can't  tell  for  several  days"  what  ef- 
fect, if  any,  will  be  felt  by  the  high- 
er tax.  Weekend  business  was  near 
capacity,  as  usual. 

Downtown  and  neighborhood  houses 
in  Pittsburgh  reported  no  customer 
complaints,  typical  exhibitor  comment 
revolving  around  this  observation: 
"People  will  see  shows  regardless; 
money  doesn't  .matter  these  days." 
Kansas  City  downtown  and  neighbor- 
hood business  was  excellent  over  the 
weekend,  with  no  signs  of  any  effects 
from  the  new  levy,  and  many  houses 
playing  to  "SRO".  Around  the 
Minneapolis  area,  the  new  tax,  how- 


ever, appeared  to  have  affected  busi- 
ness in  suburban  sections,  where  me- 
diocre business  was  reported  for  the 
weekend.  "Loop"  houses  did  not  feel 
any  adverse  reactions,  most  doing  bus- 
iness in  excess  of  a  week  ago. 

The  new  tax  failed  to  affect  Balti- 
more weekend  business.  Some  weak 
spots  were  attributed  to  rainy 
weather.  Neighborhood  managers  re- 
ported unfavorable  tax  reactions  only 
from  youngsters.  Cleveland  patrons 
of  first-runs  paid  the  new  tax  with- 
out comment.  A  check  on  both  affili- 
ated and  independent  subsequents  like- 
wise showed  good  weekend  business. 
Patrons  appeared  scarcely  aware  of 
the  boost,  paying  without  comment. 
Even  children  were  ready  with  the 
extra  pennies.  Advance  trailers  had 
prepared  the  public  for  the  rise. 

Didn't  Know  They  Were  Paying 

"People  acted  as  though  they  didn't 
even  know  they  were  paying  more; 
there  were  no  complaints  at  all,"  was 
the  consensus  of  Hartford  theatremen. 
The  higher  tax  made  little,  if  any, 
impression  in  Albany,  N.  Y.  First 
run  and  neighborhood  houses  had 
usual  weekend  business.  C.  B.  Akers 
of  the  Griffith  Circuit,  Oklahoma  City, 
reported  Sunday  grosses  at  lower 
priced  houses  were  off,  but  were  av- 
erage at  higher-scaled  runs.  In  At- 
lanta, business  was  unchanged  by  the 
new  tax,  but  some  grumbling  was 
heard,  especially  in  neighborhoods 
where  some  patrons  threatened  to  take 
their  patronage  downtown. 

St.  Louis  weekend  receipts  were  nor- 
mal at  first  runs,  with  neighborhoods 
tapering  off  slightly.  Patrons'  accept- 
ance of  the  new  tax  was  with  surpris- 
ingly few  complaints.  Exibitors  in 
some  spots  reported  a  slight  drop  due 
to  Palm  Sunday,  not  taxes.  Provi- 
dence reported  normal  business  over 
the  weekend — with  no  tax  complaints. 
Charlotte  first  runs  and  neighborhoods 
reported  weekend  crowds  as  large  as 
ever.  The  only  kicks  were  from  the- 
atre cashiers  who  did  not  like  the  extra 
tax  handling. 

None  Left  Boxoffice 

The  new  tax  was  said  to  have  had 
little  effect  on  business  in  Rochester, 
N.  Y.,  where  managers  added  that 
there  were  few  complaints.  Only  one 
Des  Moines  house  experienced  any 
drop  in  business,  and  its  operator  felt 
that  an  unpopular  picture  was  the 
cause.  In  Omaha,  William  Miskell, 
Tri-States  district  manager,  and 
"Pinky"  Mcllvaine  of  the  Brandeis 
Theatre  found  receipts  up  to  par.  Mc- 
llvaine did  not  see  a  single  patron 
turn  away  from  the  box  office. 

Not  only  did  Buffalo  feel  no  effect 
of  the  tax,  but  in  several  instances  the 
grosses  were  well  above  average.  Four 
out  of  five  Gammel  community  houses 
did  15  to  20  per  cent  better  than  on 
Palm  Sunday  weekend  last  year,  and 
the  circuit's  Majestic  in  Hornell  had 
50  per  cent  higher  receipts. 

Despite  rain  on  Saturday,  the  Inter- 
state nouses  in  the  Dallas  area  report- 
ed a  normal  weekend.  Five  Robb 
and  Rowley  suburban  theatres  there 
showed  increased  busines,  as  did  P. 
J.  Cameron's  Peak  and  Airway.  And 
managers  in  Milwaukee  agreed  that 
business  was  "wonderful." 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

around  $62,000  and  the  combined  show 
will  hold  over.  The  film  still  has 
two  weeks  to  go  to  equal  the  eight- 
week  high  mark  for  the  theatre  set 
by  "Star  Spangled  Rhythm."  "The 
Heavenly  Body"  and  a  stage  show 
featuring  Jimmy  Durante  and  Bonita 
Granville  is  headed  for  $60,000  on  a 
second  week  at  the  Capitol  and  the  bill 
will  continue.  Fourth  and  final  week 
of  "The  Purple  Heart"  and  a  stage 
bill  at  the  Roxy  will  do  about  $53,000. 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  and  a  stage 
show  featuring  Harry  Richman  and 
the  DeMarcos  will  open  at  the  Roxy 
tomorrow.  "Shine  on  Harvesf  Moon" 
and  a  stage  show  is  expected  to  gross 
around  $34,000  on  the  fourth  and  final 
week  at  the  Strand.  "Uncertain 
Glory,"  featuring  Errol  Flynn  and 
Paul  Lukas,  and  a  Ted  Lewis  stage 
show  will  take  over  at  the  Strand  on 
Friday. 

The  tenth  week  of  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  at  the  Rivoli  will  yield 
approximately  $37,000  and  the  picture 
will  continue.  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove"  is  expected  to  gross  $30,000 
on  its  second  week  at  the  Astor  and 
it  likewise  will  continue.  The  seventh 
week  of  "Passage  to  Marseille"  at  the 
Hollywood  will  do  about  $16,000;  it 
will  also  continue.  "Voice  in  the 
Wind"  will  hold  for  a  fourth  week  at 
the  Victoria  after  chalking  up  approxi- 
mately $12,400  on  the  third.  United 
Artists'  "Knickerbocker  Holiday"  will 
follow. 

Ali  Baba  Will  Hold 

"Ali  Baba  and  the  40  Thieves"  is 
headed  for  a  third  week's  gross  of 
$14,500  at  the  Palace  and  it  will  hold. 
Second  week  of  "The  Imposter"  at  the 
Criterion  is  expected  to  bring  in  about 
$14,000.  M-G-M's  "Lost  Angel"  will 
open  at  the  Criterion  on  Saturday. 
"Weird  Woman"  expects  $8,000  on  its 
first  week  at  the  Rialto.  A  decision 
whether  to  hold  it  over  or  bring  in 
Republic's  "The  Lady  and  the  Mon- 
ster" on  Friday  will  be  made  today. 

Third  and  final  week  of  "The  Fight- 
ing Seabees"  at  the  Globe  is  expected 
to  gross  $11,500.  M-G-M's  "Ration- 
ing" is  set  to  open  at  the  Globe  on 
Saturday.  Second  week  of  "Women 
in  Bondage"  at  the  Gotham  (former- 
ly, the  Central)  is  expected  to  do  ap- 
proximately $12,500  and  the  picture  is 
expected  to  hold.  United  Artists'  "Up 
in  Mabel's  Room"  will  follow. 

An  extended  Broadway  run  for  the 
revival  of  Walt  Disney's  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  will  begin  at 
at  the  Manhattan  Theatre  this  morn- 
ing. The  State  will  open  a  first-run 
presentation  of  Columbia's  "None 
Shall  Escape"  on  Thursday. 


Danziger  Returns  as 
M-G-M  Publicist 

Bill  Danziger,  publicist,  rejoined 
M-G-M's  home  office  advertising-pub- 
licity department  here  yesterday.  He 
will  handle  special  promotion  cam- 
paigns for  the  company.  Danziger 
was  recently  with  the  Institute  of  Pub- 
tic  Relations  and  was  formerly  asso- 
ciated with  M-G-M  for  nine  years. 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  April  4,  1944 


11  Companies  Cut  This 
Season  9s  Program  to  425 


[Advertisement] 

ExMbs  Cheer 
Trade  Showing 
'Follow  Boys9 

By  WEIR  HAPPY 

Follow  the  Boys  Headquarters, 
April  3 — In  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful simultaneous  trade  showings  ever 
held  by  any  company,  Universal's 
FOLLOW  THE  BOYS  was  pre- 
viewed yesterday  in  all  exchange 
centers,  and  record-breaking  at- 
tendances proved  that  this  Charles 
K.  Feldman  production  is  eagerly 
anticipated  by  exhibitors  all  over 
the  country. 

Following  closely  upon  the  heels  of 
the  enthusiastic  reviews  in  all  trade 
papers  voluntary  statements  prais- 
ing the  picture  poured  into  Uni- 
versal's Home  Office  late  last  night, 
another  indication  that  exhibitors 
are  even  more  enthusiastic  about 
Follow  the  Boys  than  the  reviewers. 

Everybody's  Happy 

This  was  in  line  with  the  en- 
thusiasm displayed  by  the  many 
people,  show  wise  and  otherwise, 
who  jammed  the  Palace  Theatre 
midnight,  March  27,  for  the  special 
preview  of  Follow  the  Boys.  It 
was  the  unanimous  opinion  of  the 
several  thousand  present  that  this 
picture  carried  a  terrific  wallop. 

The  atmosphere  of  the  Palace  was 
recreated  March  27  when  Benny 
Roberts,  raised  the  baton  in  the  pit 
and  the  old  Palace  orchestra  broke 
into  the  National  Anthem.  Then 
Joe  Laurie,  Jr.,  stepped  on  the  stage, 
following  a  nation-wide  broadcast 
over  NBC,  and  then  followed  a 
procession  of  greats  and  former 
greats,  acts  which  had  played  the 
Palace  in  its  halcyon  days. 

Tucker,  Lewis  Great 

Sophie  Tucker  sang  "I'm  Alabamy 
Bound,"  Ted  Lewis  gave  out  with 
"When  My  Baby  Smiles  at  Me," 
Fritzi  Scheff  sang,  so  did  Irving 
Fisher,  Fred  Stone  tore  off  a  few 
steps,  and,  to  climax  the  eventful 
evening,  George  Raft  danced  to  the 
tune  of  "Sweet  Georgia  Brown" 
and  finished  with  the  Charleston. 

Raft,  Lewis  and  Miss  Tucker 
were  repeating  some  of  the  scenes 
from  Follow  the  Boys.  The  entire 
evening  blended  with  the  picture, 
inasmuch  as  the  Feldman  produc- 
tion opens  with  the  closing  of  the 
Palace  and  deals  with  show  business 
and  the  part  it  is  playing  in  the 
war  effort. 

The  entertainment  in  the  picture 
is  abundant.  The  Andrews  Sisters, 
Jeannette  MacDonald,  Orson  Welles' 
Mercury  Wonder  Show,  Dinah 
Shore,  W.  C.  Fields,  Marlene 
Dietrich,  Artur  Rubenstein,  Donald 
O'Connor,  Peggy  Ryan,  Carmen 
Amaya,  Freddie  Slack,  Louis  Jordan, 
Charlie  Spivak  and  their  orchestras 
perform  in  their  own  inimitable 
styles. 

No  wonder  the  Associated  Press. 

United    Press    and  International 

News  Service  sent  the  story  all  over 

the  country- 
No  wonder  the  exhibitors  have 

joined  in  singing  the  praises  of  this 

outstanding  picture. 
No  wonder  everybody  is  happy  to 

Follow  the  Boys. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
sponsible  for  current  releases  being  a 
dozen  less  than  was  originally  esti- 
mated when  many  companies  enunci- 
ated a  "flexible"  selling  policy,  de- 
pending upon  market  conditions. 

Whereas  between  24-31  features 
were  originally  expected  from  War- 
ners, the  present  release  pace  indicates 
probably  only  20  this  year  with  the 
trend  expected  to  be  continued  into 
next  year's  releases  if  market  condi- 
tions continue  unchanged. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  is  headed 
for  a  total  of  28  to  30  features  al- 
though from  36  to  40  were  indicated  in 
pre-season  estimates.  No  plans  have 
been  made  as  to  the  total  number  of 
films  to  be  released  during  1944-45, 
according  to  Tom  Connors,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  distribution. 

RKO- Radio  president  Ned  E. 
Depinet  has  indicated  that  his  com- 
pany will  deliver  all  of  the  40  films 
promised  and  a  similar  number  will  be 
released  during  1944-45,  according  to 
present  plans.  Columbia  will  deliver 
the  44  features  it  had  promised  for 

1943-  44,  A.  Montague,  general  sales 
manager  said,  and  is  considering  in- 
creasing the  number  to  48  or  50  during 

1944-  45!  Universal  will  release  the 
55  it  promised  for  1943-44,  William 
A.  Scully,  vice-president  and  general 
sales  manager,  indicated,  and  the  com- 

Nathanson  Group 
Buys  3  Odeon  Houses 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
An  offer  of  $831,000  by  Famous 
Players  was  turned  down.  President  of 
Theatre  Properties  (Hamilton)  Ltd., 
is  Paul  Nathanson,  who  also  heads 
Odeon. 

The  shareholders  defeated  by  vote  a 
proposal  that  the  meeting  be  adjourned 
and  a  later  meeting  be  called.  This  was 
submitted  by  Norman  S.  Robertson, 
representing  Famous  Players.  Presi- 
dent W.  D.  Ross  of  Hamilton  United 
said  he  considered  prospects  with  the 
Nathanson  Company  better  than  the 
offer  by  Famous  Players. 


PRC  Sales  Winner 

Sam  Decker,  PRC  franchise  hold- 
er in  Los  Angeles,  placed  first  in  that 
company's  recent  collection  drive. 


pany  plans  to  release  a  similar  num- 
ber during  1944-45. 

Paramount's  present  rate  of  releases 
indicates  that  the  30  features  promised 
will  be  released  with  the  possibility  of 
the  number  even  reaching  32.  Para- 
mount sees  its  present  pace  of  re- 
leases continued  in  1944-45. 

M-G-M's  recent  announcement  of  a 
third  1943-44  block  of  five  features 
after  the  release  of  two  blocks  of  12 
each  is  not  seen  as  affecting  the  com- 
pany's total  of  36  films  this  year. 
There  is  no  indication  as  yet  of 
M-G-M's  plans  for  1944-45. 

All  of  Republic's  68  pictures  are 
expected  to  be  delivered,  44  being  fea- 
tures and  24  Westerns.  Sixteen  of 
Monogram's  promised  40  will  be 
Westerns,  and  16  of  PRC's  promised 
40  will  be  Westerns.  Columbia  will 
release  eight  Westerns  and  two  special 
Westerns  in  addition  to  the  44  prom- 
ised. Montague  has  indicated  that 
from  10  to  14  Westerns  will  be  re- 
leased by  Columbia  in  1944-45,  with 
from  four  to  six  being  "specials."  Uni- 
versal will  release  seven  Westerns  in 
addition  to  the  company's  55  features. 

United  Artists  will  have  from  24  to 
30  features  for  release  from  affiliated 
producers  for  1943-44  as  indicated  in 
pre-season  estimates  of  25  to  30.  No 
indications  are  available  on  possible 
1944-45  releases  from  the  company. 


Report  Hal  Wallis 
Will  Join  M-G-M 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
tional  studio  management  when  War- 
ners and  First  National  consolidated. 
After  turning  out  such  films  as  "Little 
Caesar,"  "Five  Star  Final"  and  "Dawn 
Patrol,"  he  became  associate  execu- 
tive in  charge  of  production  for  War- 
ners in  1933.  He  was  producer  of 
"Casablanca,"  Academy  award  win- 
ner, as  the  best  picture  of  last  year. 


Denies  Froman  Charge 

Pan  American  Airways,  Inc.,  in 
United  States  District  Court  here 
yesterday  denied  liability  for  the  in- 
juries received  by  Jane  Froman,  act- 
ress and  singer,  in  the  crash  of  the 
Yankee  Clipper  at  Lisbon  on  Feb.  22, 
1942.  Exemption  was  claimed  on 
grounds  of  rules  relating  to  interna- 
tional transportation. 


Agnew  in  Five-Year 
Pact  with  Vanguard 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
he  is  a  member  was  "locked  up"  at 
the  conclusion  of  the  trial,  with  the  re- 
sult that  he  is  expected  to  be  inac- 
cessible until  late  today  or  tomorrow. 
Meanwhile,  the  date  of  his  departure 
from  Paramount,  where  he  has  been 
vice-president  in  charge  of .  sales  and 
a  member  of  the  company's  board  of 
directors,  has  not  been  determine* 
Agnew  did  not  have  a  contract  with 
Paramount. 

Paramount  officials  said  yesterday 
they  expected  Agnew  would  take  up 
his  new  post  within  "a  week  or  two." 
No  decision  has  been  made  yet  on  his 
successor,  it  was  said,  and  a  published 
report  that  a  former  sales  head  of 
Paramount  would  return  to  the  post 
met  with  denials.  Charles  M.  Reagan, 
assistant  general  sales  manager  for 
Paramount,  is  regarded  as  being  in 
line  for  the  appointment. 

Barney  Balaban,  Paramount  presi- 
dent, yesterday  confirmed  the  Selznick 
announcement  of  Agnew's  withdrawal 
from  Paramount  to  join  Vanguard, 
adding  that  "Paramount  wishes  him 
every  success  in  his  new  venture." 

UA  Planning  Foreign 
Publicity  'Outposts' 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
effort  represented  by  prepared  mate- 
rial which  now  has  litle  or  partial  . 
application  in  export  fields.  Gould 
feels  that  background  knowledge  of 
specific  territories  will  permit  "slant- 
ing" basic  material  for  maximum  ef- 
fectiveness and  thus  ultimately  aid 
UA  grosses.  He  said  the  move  is  one 
step  toward  meeting  intensive  current 
and  postwar  production  competition  for 
which  plans,  he  added,  are  actively  un- 
derway in  all  important  nations,  in- 
cluding exile  governments  headquar- 
tering presently  in  London. 

The  first  "outpost"  is  planned  for 
Mexico  City  under  Len  Daily,  now  in 
the  UA  foreign  department  in  New 
York.  Other  likely  spots  include 
Paris,  Cairo,  Manila  and  Buenos 
Aires. 

Gould  will  leave  for  the  East  next 
weekend.  Sydney  Allbright,  managing 
director  of  UA's  Australian  company, 
will  leave  for  Sydney  shortly. 

State  Dept.  Defers 
Re-education  Plans 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
program  both  of  the  Department  and 
branches  of  the  military  services. 

This  task,  said  to  be  difficult,  will 
be  deferred  until  a  more  opportune 
time,  the  Department  said,  but,  it  pro- 
poses to  collaborate  with  the  confer- 
ence of  Allied  ministers  of  education 
and  the  United  Nations  to  form  a 
united  organization  for  education  and 
cultural  restoration  which  will  operate 
as  rapidly  as  war  conditions  permit. 

Extend  War  Risk 
Damage  Insurance 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
have  to  be  paid  for  at  existing  rates. 

The  Water  Damage  Corp.  was  cre- 
ated two  years  ago  to  provide  insur- 
ance of  property  against  bombing  or 
other  war  hazards.  Premiums  col- 
lected have  totaled  $218,000,000  after 
payment  of  all  expenses. 


lOOFewer Releases  This  Year 

1943-44 

Product  1943-44  1942-43  1941-42 

to  Be  Product  Product  Product 

Company                            Delivered  Announced  Delivered  Delivered 

Columbia                                     44  44  49  63 

M-G-M                                     36  36  36  48 

Monogram                                  40  40  44  54 

Paramount                                30-32  30  32  42 

PRC                                           40  40  37  38 

Republic                                   68  68  57  54 

RKO  Radio                                40  40  47  39 

20th  Century-Fox                       28-30  36-40  44  54 

United  Artists                         24-30  25-30  30  28 

Universal                                  55  55  59  63 

Warner  Bros                             20  24-31  24  39 

Totals                              425-435  438-454  459  522 


TWO  QUOTES'  TO  REMEMBER! 


,    ^r.ner  remain 
«Today...onlycopP« 

itl  the  scarcity  g^up 


"And  copper  is... 
°niy  to  steel  in  usageJ» 


*(The  Iron  Age:  Jan.  6,  1944.  p.  74) 


.ODAY,  "usage"  refers  primarily  to  war  usage,  and  "scarcity"  is  a  word 
of  challenge  to  every  American! 

That's  why  we  remind  you  again  to  save  the  copper  that  drops  from 
your  Victory  and  "Orotip"  Carbons  to  the  bottom  of  your  lamp  housings 
. .  .  and  to  strip  off  the  copper  that  is  left  on  the  stubs  you  remove  from 
their  holders. 

Then  turn  it  all  in  to  your  distributor,  or  to  your  local  salvage  head- 
quarters, so  that  it  can  be  put  back  into  war-essential  products. 

For  additional  economy  of  copper,  and  carbons  too,  a  bulletin  describ- 
ing completely  the  operation  of  the  Victory  High  Intensity  Carbons  . .  . 
"National,"  "Suprex,"  and  "Orotip,".  .  .  has  been  in  general  distribu- 
tion. If  you  have  not  received  your  copy,  write  today.  National  Carbon 
Company,  Inc.,  Cleveland  1,  Ohio,  Dept.  9D. 

The  words  "National,"  "Suprex,"  and  "Orotip"  are  registered  trade-marks  of 
National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 

BUY   UNITED   STATES   WAR  BONDS 


NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 


Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation 


CARBON  PRODUCTS  DIVISION,  Cleveland  1,  Ohio 


QH3 


New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  San  Francisco 


WARNER  BROS.'  TRADE  SHOWINGS  OF 

ERROL  FLYNN  •  PAUL  LUKAS 

in 

UNCERTAIN  GLORY 

MONDAY,  APRIL  70,  7944 

n  .L.MI.  in.  ih._.i___i      .  ii.u_.jj.  iLnLim 


PI  ACF  OF  SHOWING 

M__/__/f\__.00 

TlkAF 

Albany 

Warner  Screening  Room 

79  N.  Pearl  St. 

12:30  P.M. 

Atlanta 

RKO  Screening  Room 

191  Walton  St.  N.W. 

2:00  P.M. 

Boston 

RKO  Screening  Room 

122  Arlington  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Buffalo 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

464  Franklin  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Charlotte 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

308  S.  Church  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

Chicago 

Warner  Screening  Room 

1307  So.  Wabash  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Cincinnati 

RKO  Screening  Room 

Palace  Th.  Bldg.  E.  6th 

7:30  P.M. 

Cleveland 

Warner  Screening  Room 

2300  Payne  Ave. 

8:00  P.M. 

Dallas 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1803  Wood  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Denver 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

2100  Stout  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Des  Moines 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1300  High  St. 

12:45  P.M. 

Detroit 

Film  Exchange  Bldg. 

2310  Cass  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Indianapolis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

116  W.  Michigan 

1:00  P.M. 

Kansas  City 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1720  Wyandotte  St. 

1:30  P.M. 

Los  Angeles 

Vitagraph  Sc.  Room 

2025  S.  Vermont  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Memphis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

362  So.  Second  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

Milwaukee 

Warner  Th.  Sc.  Room 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Minneapolis 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1015  Currie  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

New  Haven 

Warner  Th.  Proj.  Room 

70  College  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

New  Orleans 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

200  S.  Liberty  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

New  York 

Home  Office 

321  W.  44th  St. 

2:30  P.M. 

Oklahoma 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

10  North  Lee  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Omaha 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1502  Davenport  St. 

1:00  P.M. 

Philadelphia 

Vine  St.  Sc.  Room 

1220  Vine  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

Pittsburgh 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1715  Blvd.  of  Allies 

2:00  P.M. 

Portland 

Star  Screening  Room 

925  N.W.  19th  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Salt  Lake 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

216  East  1st  South 

2:00  P.M. 

San  Francisco 

Republic  Sc.  Room 

221  Golden  Gate  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Seattle 

Jewel  Box  Sc.  Room 

2318  Second  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

St.  Louis 

S'renco  Sc.  Room 

3143  Olive  St. 

1:00  P.M. 

Washington 

Earle  Th.  Bldg. 

13th  &  E  Sts.  N.W. 

10:30  A.M. 

Memphis  Belle'' — Technicolor  Saga  of  Our  Air  Heroes.  Book  It  Now 


Motion  picture 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


/OL.  55.  NO.  67 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  5,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


WB  Abrogates 
Hal  Wallis's 
Studio  Pact 


'Failure  to  Comply  with 
Terms'  Is  Charged 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Warners 
has  abrogated  Hal  Wallis's  con- 
tract as  a  result  of  what  the  com- 
pany described  in  a  statement  issued 
today  as  the  "failure  to  comply  with 
the  terms  of  the  contract  which  has 
been  in  force  three  years." 

Abrogation  ■  of  the  contract,  the 
statement  said,  took  effect  when  Wal- 
lis  "relinquished  the  post  of  executive 
producer  of  the  Warner  Bros, 
studios." 

"The  fact  that  Wallis  has  been  m 
negotiations  with  other  studios,''  the 
company  statement  continued,  "indi- 
cated a  discontent  with  his  associa- 
tion with  Warners  and  hastened  the 
move  on  the  part  of  the  studio,  since 
mutual  understanding  between  War- 
ner Bros,  and  Wallis  was  apparently 
no  longer  possible." 

"Wallis's  ^departure,"  the  statement 
{Continued  on  page  7) 

Walsh  Sees  IATSE 


Loew  Bond  Sales 
Pass  $109,000,000 

Purchases  of  war  bonds  by 
Loew's,  Inc.,  plus  the  com- 
pany's sales  to  employes  and 
the  public,  have  reached 
$109,497,953,  treasurer  David 
Bernstein  announced  here 
yesterday  at  a  pre-Fifth  War 
Loan  planning  meeting. 

Since  June  1,  1942,  he  said, 
Loew  theatres  and  Loew's 
radio  station  WHN  have  sold 
$70,960,223  in  bonds  and 
stamps;  employes  have  bought 
$12,537,730  worth,  and  the 
company  itself,  $26,840,000. 


Britain  Keeps 
Studios  Until 
End  of  War 


Pact  in  10  Days 


Richard  F.  Walsh,  IATSE  interna- 
tional president,  indicated  here  yester- 
day that  present  contract  negotiations 
being  conducted  between  the  produc- 
ers and  the  IATSE  will  conclude 
within  another  week  or  ten  days.  Yes- 
terday's sessions  between  the  produc- 
ers' labor  representatives,  company 
heads,  and  the  IATSE  studio  local 
representatives  centered  around  nego- 
tiations with  the  studio  "grips"  and 
electricians  with  studio  "props"  and 
laborers'  locals  also  receiving  produc- 
ers' counter  proposals. 

Several    general    IATSE  contract 

{Continued  on  page  7) 


U.  S.,  Schine  to 
Argue  Trustee  Today 

Buffalo,  April  4. — The  Department 
of  Justice  is  scheduled  to  petition  the 
Federal  District  Court  here  tomorrow 
for  the  appointment  of  a  trustee  to 
supervise  nine  Schine  circuit  theatres 
which  the  latter  has  been  unable  to 
dispose  of  under  a  U.  S.  court  order 
of  May  19,  1942. 

Schine  is  also  scheduled  to  make  a 
counter-motion   for   relief   under  -the 
■)rder.     Robert  L.  Wright,  Assistant 
S.  Attorney  General,  has  charged 
be  disputed  houses  are  deteriorating. 


London,  April  4. — Despite  urg- 
ent  representations  of   J.  Arthur 
Rank  and  other  British  producers, 
the  Government  is  determined  to 
retain  requisitioned  studios  until  after 
the  war,  it  was  learned  here  today. 
Requisitioning  of  British  stu- 
dios by  the  Government  for  war 
filming  is  principally  responsi- 
ble for  delaying  British-produc- 
tion plans  of  American  com- 
panies, having  caused  a  severe 
shortage   of   studio   space  for 
non-military  work. 
Also  learned,  unofficially,  but  never- 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


U.S.  Warning 
On  Pay  Jumps 


Washington,  April  4. — Employers 
in  the  film  industry  who  rely  on  their 
established  salary  policy  as  authority 
for  increasing  salaries  without  specific 
approval  of  the  Commissioner  of  Inter- 
nal Revenue  were  warned  today  that 
if  they  have  not  submitted  such  policy 
for  the  Commissioner's  approval  they 
must  be  prepared  to  prove  at  any  time 
that  the  policies  they  follow  were  in 
effect  between  Jan.  1,  1938,  or  there- 
after, and  Oct.  3,  1942. 

The  warning  appears  in  new  rules 
issued  by  Commissioner  Joseph  D. 
Nunan,  Jr.,  for  the  guidance  of  employ- 
ers in  determining  what  types  of  salary 
increases  they  may  grant  without  his 
approval  under  the  present  salary  stab- 
ilization regulations.    The  new  rules 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


10  Areas  No  Longer 
Short  of  War  Labor 

Washington,  April  4. — The  War 
Manpower  Commission  reports  here 
that  six  areas  have  been  dropped  from 
Group  I  or  the  "acute  labor  shortage" 
classification,  including  Trenton,  N.  J., 
Spartanburg,  S.  C,  Biloxi-Gulfport, 
Miss.,  Pine  Bluff,  Ark.,  Stockton,  Cal., 
and  Galveston,  Tex.  The  communities 
named  were  dropped  into  Group  II 
which  includes  cities  where  supply  and 
demand  of  labor  are  about  equal. 

More  evidence  of  the  gradual  eas- 
ing of  manpower  shortages  was  also 
shown  in  the  dropping  of  Atlanta, 
Lakeland  and  Orlando,  Fla.,  and  Tal- 
ladega, Ala.,  into  the  Group  III  divi- 
sion. Santa  Ana,  Cal.,  was  advanced 
to  Group  I. 


Exhibitors  Will  Recruit 
For  Women  'sArmy  Corps 


Atlas  Directors  to 
Be  Elected  Today 

Annual  meeting  of  stockholders  of 
Floyd  B.  Odium's  Atlas  Corp.  will  be 
held  today  at  Wilmington,  Del.,  at 
which  five  directors  will  be  elected 
and  a  vote  taken  for  the  retirement  of 
44,567  shares  of  Atlas  common.  At- 
las controls  approximately  46  per  cent 
of  the  RKO  voting  stock  and  has  other 
large  film  interests. 

Nominees  for  directors,  constituting 
the  present  board,  are :  Odium  and  L. 
Boyd  Hatch  of  Atlas;  Harry  M. 
Burning,  U.  S.  Collector  of  Customs, 
New  York;  Oswald  L.  Johnston,  part- 
ner of  Simpson,  Thacher  &  Bartlett, 
and  Samuel  Zemurray,  president  of 
United  Fruit  Co. 


The  next  national  war  effort  by 
exhibitors  will  be  in  behalf  of  a  cam- 
paign to  help'  boost  enlistments  in  the 
Women's  Army  Corps  and  for  which 
Edward  L.  Alperson,  general  manager 
of  RKO  Theatres,  has  been  appointed 
industry  chairman. 

The  decision  to  inaugurate  the  effort 
came  as  the  result  of  an  address  made 
by  Major  General  J.  A.  Ulio  at  a  re- 
cent joint  meeting  of  the  WAC  Co- 
ordinating Committee  and  the  Thea- 
tres Division  Executive  Committe, 
when  the  General  stressed  the  Army's 
need  for  thousands  of  additional  wom- 
en. 

Alperson  reported  from  California 
yesterday  that  the  campaign  will  be 
built  around  the  second  anniversary  of 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Special  Sales 
Cabinet  Seen 
For  Vanguard 

Consider  Executives  for 
Top  First  Run  Sales 

A  specialized  executive  sales  staff 
which  would  concentrate  on  first 
run  deals  in  approximately  a  half- 
dozen  of  the  largest  cities  in  the 
country  is  under  consideration  for  Da- 
vid O.  Selznick's  Vanguard  Films 
when  Neil  Agnew  takes  over  as  head 
of  distribution  within  the  next  week 
or  two,  it  was  reported  here  yester- 
day. 

Under  the  plan,  to  which  serious 
study  is  being  given,  it  is  said,  sales 
executives  would  be  established  by 
Vanguard  in  New  York,  Chicago,  Los 
Angeles,  Philadelphia,  and  possibly 
other  populous  centers.  Each  would 
specialize  on  Vanguard's  deals  with 
first  run  houses.    All  other  sales  of 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Coast  Appraises 

Selznick  Move 


By  RED  KANN 

Hollywood,  April  4. — David  O. 
Selznick's  signing  of  Neil  Agnew  as 
vice-president  in  charge  of  distribution 
for  Vanguard  Films  followed  two 
months  of  negotiations  impelled  by  the 
producer's  conviction  that  he  needed 
to  have  permanent,  high-powered  sales 
representation  of  his  own  headquar- . 
tered  in  New  York. 

While  qualified  observers  here  in- 
cline toward  injecting  nothing  into  the 
development  beyond  its  surface  mani- 
festations, they  point  out  several  wide- 
ly known  Selznick  characteristics. 
Aside  from  over  three  millions  in 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Red  Cross  Figures 
Double  Last  Year's 

Reports  reaching  New  York 
from  the  field  on  returns  filed 
by  the  first  3,000  theatres 
participating  in  the  recent 
Red  Cross  theatre  collections 
drive  indicate  a  total  return 
of  about  double  last  year's 
$3,670,236,  collected  by  12,031 
theatres.  Some  15,600  houses 
collected  this  year  in  the  in- 
dustry campaign  which  was 
headed  by  Joseph  Bernhard, 
Warners. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


LEONARD  GOLDENSON,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  Paramount 
theatre  operations,  will  return  from 
the  Coast  today. 

• 

Harry  S.  Buxbaum,  son  of  Harry 
H.  Buxbaum  of  20th  Century-Fox's 
New  York  exchange,  and  who  was 
formerly  with  M-G-M  in  Buffalo,  is 
first  pilot  on  a  Navy  bomber  in  the 
South  Pacific  and  has  been  promoted 
to  the  rank  of  Lt.  (jg). 

• 

Elmer  F.  Lux,  RKO  branch  man- 
ager ;  Howard  McPherson,  Mono- 
gram booker ;  and  Harold  Randall, 
PRC  booker  and  salesman,  all  of  Buf- 
falo, have  been  inducted  into  the  Army. 
• 

Jack  M.  Goetz,  2nd  Lt.,  with  the 
398th  Infantry,  Fort  Bragg,  N.  C 
has  been  promoted  to  1st  Lt.    He  is 
the  son  of  Jack  Goetz,  vice-president 
of  Du-Art  Film  Laboratories. 

• 

Frances  Fenton,  former  M-G-M 
home  office  national  magazine  contact, 
has  gone  overseas  for  the  American 
Red  Cross. 

George     A.     Smith,  Paramount 
Western  and  Southern  division  man- 
ager, and  Hugh  Braly,  district  man 
ager,  were  in  Omaha  last  week. 
• 

George  A.  Smith,  Paramount 
Western  division  manager,  has  re- 
turned from  a  two-week  trip  through 
his  territory. 

• 

Michael  Daly,  operator  of  the 
Daly  Theatre  circuit  in  Connecticut 
has  returned  to  Hartford  after  a  visit 
in  Georgia. 

Rafael  G.  -Marti,  president  of 
Tropical  Films,  Monogram  distributor 
in  the  West  Indies,  has  left  here  for 
San  Juan. 

• 

Frank  Lingenfelser,  head  of  War 
ners'  Chicago  exchange  shipping  for 
14  years,  will  enter  the  Army  to 
morrow. 

*  • 

Kathryn  Smith  of  Comerford 
Theatres,  Scranton,  Pa.,  has  become 
engaged  to  Pvt.  Edward  Raffelt  of 
Scranton. 

• 

Doris  Clark,  Paramount  Des 
Moines  contract  clerk,  has  joined  the 
Marines. 

• 

Hope  Hunter  of  Evelyn  Gerstein 
Associates  will  leave  sometime  in  April 
to  join  the  OWI  overseas  branch. 
• 

Leo  Spitz,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  International  Pictures,  has  arrived 
in  New  York  from  the  Coast. 
• 

Harry  Goldberg,  Warner  Theatres 
advertising  and  publicity  director,  was 
in  New  Haven  yesterday. 

Harold  Brooks,  M-G-M  Dallas 
salesman,  has  been  inducted. 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


Hollywood,  April  4 
'THE  Paramount  theatre  part- 
ners  who  wound  up  their 
palavers  at  the  Arrowhead 
Springs  Hotel  today  wound 
them  up  without  adding  to  their 
popularity.  Tough  and  realistic 
— and  exhibitors  above  all — they 
decided  for  the  second  time,  at 
least,  that  roadshows  are  road- 
shows only  when  they  are  some- 
thing emphatically  more  than  a 
producer's  or  a  distributor's  en- 
thusiasm hypoed  into  high  gear 
by  an  investment  in  the  $3,000,- 
000  range. 

If  this  attitude  has  not  been 
directly  conveyed  to  the  camps 
of  the  enthusiasts  thus  far,  it 
will  arrive  at  its  several  destina-  • 
tions  in  due  time. 

Expect  no  cheers. 

While  the  Paramount  group 
was  not  strictly  national  in  ex- 
tent enough  of  the  partners  were 
on  hand  and  enough  of  the  es- 
tablished thinking  of  the  absen- 
tees was  in  backlog  to  stamp  the 
results  as  country-wide  in  im- 
pact and  coverage. 

Their  -  conclusions  were  sev- 
eral : 

At  the  base  line,  the  attraction 
has  to  have  it  from  bow  to  stern 
and  from  port  to-  starboard  with 
plenty  of  canvas  to  spare  before 
it  rates  roadshow  consideration. 
The  mere  fact  an  attraction  is 
very  good  or  very,  very  good  is 
not  enough.  And,  decidedly,  it 
is  not  enough  to  set  up  two-a- 
day  policies  at  advanced  prices 
because  something  went  out-of- 
hand  and  a  picture  ends  up  in 
the  fancy,  even  now,  seven-fig- 
ure division. 

■ 

It  also  goes  like  this,  in  the 
partners'  view : 

These  are  the  kinds  of  times 
when,  as  everyone  knows,  prac- 
tically anything  goes.  There- 
fore, it  is  more  on  the  lead-pipe 
cinch  side  to  get  roadshow 
money  than  it  would  be  in  a 
market  drawing  weight  and  wat- 
er based  on  selectivity. 

Even  so,  roadshows  are  prin- 
cipally big  town  stuff.  .  They 
don't  take  to  them  graciously  in 
the  lesser  situations,  which  is 
most  of  the  situations  including 
a  flock  of  cities  with  handsome 
populations. 

■  * 

Kicking  around  in  this  analy- 
sis, too,  appears- to  be  some  con- 
cern over  inflationary  prices  in 
the  midst  of  a  national  economy 
geared  to  a  draining  off  of  sur- 
plus money.  Looking  beyond 
and  after  the  war,  there  is  ap- 


parently a  bulwark  of  caution 
being  sought  against  any  criti- 
cisms about  business  conduct 
during  the  wartime  period. 

Tied  to  all  of  this,  of  course,  is 
the  normal  operation  of  these 
important  circuits  and  specula- 
tions over  the  drawing  power 
of  roadshow  attractions  after 
regular  distribution  deposits 
them  at  first  runs  and  all  the 
others  which  thereafter  follow. 

■ 

These  are  the  opposing  argu- 
ments. On  the  other  side,  the 
partners  are  not  closing  their 
eyes  to  the  roadshow  which  is 
the  genuine  article.  However, 
they  view  the  possibilities  along 
these  lines  as  extremely  limited, 
but  are  prepared  to  go  in  like 
vein  when  the  occasion  .  war- 
rants. 

■ 

Their  overriding  approach, 
nevertheless,  is  linked  with  out- 
standing merit.  Consequently, 
they  are  urging,  or  will  urge, 
producers  and  distributors  to 
take  it  easy;  to  make  certain  ex- 
citement is  not  throwing  star 
dust  into  the  eyes  of  real  values ; 
to  ponder  well  which  way  they'll 
come  out  better :  Roadshows 
skimming  the  top  and  threaten- 
ing the  bottom,  or  extended  runs 
in  general  release  and  main- 
taining the  breath  of  life  for  the 
vast  numbers  of  houses  beyond 
the  key  engagements. 

■ 

For  our  money,  much  of  this 
makes  a  great  deal  of  sense.  No 
one  can  assert,  and  then  close  it 
out,  that  roadshows  do  not  be- 
long. They  do,  but  they  don't 
happen  very  often  as  any  run- 
ning glance  over  contemporary 
trade  history  will  establish 
quickly  enough. 

■  ■ 

David  O.  Selznick  has  been 
previewing  "Since  You  Went 
Away."  He  slipped  it  into  a 
San  Bernardino  theatre  the 
other  night  for  the  convenience 
of  the  Paramount  theatremen 
convening  on  the  other  side  of 
an  adjacent  "mountain. 

Impartial  viewpoint  {not 
ours)  : 

"A  very  superior  attraction. 
Not  'Gone  With  the  Wind'. 
Overlength  in  its  present  three 
hours,  plus,  of  running  time." 

Another  analysis  of  the  Selz- 
nick film,  likewise  impartial 
(likewise  not  ours)  : 

"A  big  show.  Long,  but  not 
too  long." 

That's  how  horse  races  are 
born. 


Coming 
Events 


Today — Atlas  Corp.  annual  stock- 
holders' meeting,  Wilmington, 
Del. 

April  10 — RKO  testimonial  dinner 
for  Charles  Boasberg,  Hollenden 
Hotel,  Cleveland. 

April  14 — Episcopal  Actors'  Guild's/ 
annual  entertainment,  Hotel  Wal-* 
dorf-Astoria,  New  York. 

April  14 — Film  Industry's  50th  an- 
niversary observance  begins. 

April  14 — Annual  MPPDA  meeting 
resumes,  New  York. 

April  17 — M-G-M  lunch  for  Louis 
C.  Ingram,  new  Memphis  branch 
manager,  Hotel  Peabody,  Mem- 
phis. 

April  30-May  10 — Motion  picture 
division  drive  for  Catholic  Char- 
ities, New  York. 


SPG  and  Companies 
Resume  Arbitration 

Representatives  of  the  Screen  Pub- 
licists Guild  and  advertising-publicity 
heads  of  film  companies  here  have  re- 
sumed arguments  before  a  panel  of 
arbitrators  at  American  Arbitration 
Association  headquarters  to  try  and 
resolve  SPG  job  classifications  and 
wage  scale  demands.  Several  sessions 
are  indicated. 

Among  company  advertising  pub- 
licity heads  attending  are  Mort  Blu- 
menstock,  Warners ;  Hal  Home,  20th 
Century-Fox ;  S.  Barret  McCormick, 
RKO  ;  Maurice  Bergman,  Universal. 


Columbia  Depositions 
In  Griffith  Case 

Max  Rose  of  the  Columbia  legal  de- 
partment here  gave  depositions  this 
week  in  the  pre-trial  hearings  on  the 
Governments'  anti-trust  suit  against 
Griffith  Amusement  Co.  of  Oklahoma 
and  Texas.  In  the  presence  of  Albert 
Boggess,  special  assistant  to  the  U. 
S.  Attorney  General,  Rose  identified 
Columbia  contracts  with  Griffith  the- 
atres and  independent  competitors. 


New  Cummings  Contract 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Columbia  has 
signed  Irving  Cummings  to  a  three- 
year  producer-director  contract  under 
which  he  will  make  six  films  with  his 
own  unit.  He  is  scheduled  to  direct 
two  for  20th-Fox  after  "The  Impa- 
tient Years"  at  Columbia  and  will  be 
permitted  to  do  as  many  others  out- 
side as  he  desires. 


Sig  Marcus  Dies 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Sig  Marcus, 
long  identified  with  the  late  Myron 
Selznick's  talent  agency,  died  last 
night  at  St.  John's  Hospital,  Santa 
Monica. 


Chaplin  Acquitted 

Los  Angeles,  April  4. — Charles 
Chaplin  was  acquitted  tonight  by  a 
Federal  jury  on  both  counts  of  the 
Mann  act  indictment  brought  by  Joan 
Berry. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor;  James_  P.  Cunningham  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications;  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Says  Prefect  Wants 
GreenwichMonopoly 


Review 

"Uncertain  Glory' 


(Warner  Bros.) 

T  N  "Uncertain  Glory,"  Warner  Bros,  has  another  top-notch  topical 
A  melodrama.  The  story  is  set  in  contemporary  France,  centering 
around  the  Nazi  pattern  of  executing  innocent  hostages  in  their  efforts 
to  rout  saboteurs.  It  is  excellently  enacted  by  Errol  Flynn,  Paul  Lukas, 
and  a  fine  supporting  cast.  Producer  Robert  Buckner  has  supplied  a 
first-rate  production  and  Raoul  Walsh's  direction  sustains  suspense  and 
interest  throughout.  It  skillfully  blends  a  minor  appealing  romance  with 
the  grimmer  elements  of  the  plot  which  places  emphasis  on  the  unusual 
relationship  between  Flynn,  as  a  seasoned  criminal,  and  his  nemesis, 
Lukas,  a  veteran  detective  of  the  French  Surete.  Exhibitors  should 
reao  a  bpx-office  harvest  with  "Uncertain  Glory." 

The  long  arm  of  coincidence  plays  an  important  part  in  the  compactly- 
tailored  screenplay,  as  devised  by  Leszlo  Vadnay  and  Max  Brand  from 
an  original  by  Vadnay  and  Joe  May.  Flynn  escapes  execution  on  the 
block  of  the  Paris  guillotine  during  a  British  air  raid  in  the  first  scene, 
but  having  made  a  study  of  Flynn's  habits  for  almost  20  years,  Lukas 
quickly  recaptures  him.  However,  Lukas'  love  of  France  and  his  hatred 
of  the  Nazis  proves  stronger  than  his  devotion  to  his  duties.  With  con- 
siderable reluctance  and  subsequent  misgivings,  he  agrees  to  permit 
Flynn  to  confess  the  sabotaging  of  a  bridge  and  to  face  a  Nazi  firing 
squad  rather  than  the  guillotine,  and  thereby  save  100  Frenchmen 
doomed  to  die  as  hostages  for  the  bridge's  destruction.  Once  Lukas 
makes  his  decision,  there  is  no  turning  back  even  though  Flynn  tries  to 
delay  his  martyrdom  for  a  final  romantic  fling  with  a  young  French  girl.. 
Flynn,  however,  eventually  keeps  his  part  of  the  bargain. 

Flynn  handles  the  difficult  role  of  the  condemned  criminal  who  makes 
the  first  decent  gesture  in  his  otherwise  ignoble  life,  with  surprising  re- 
straint, delivering  a  uniformly  dramatic  performance.  Lukas  projects 
another  grand  performance  in  the  sympathetic  detective  role.  The  film 
marks  the  screen  debut  of  Jean  Sullivan,  who  shows  considerable  promise 
in  the  role  of  the  French  girl.  Lucille  Watson,  Sheldon  Leonard,  Den- 
nis Hoey,  Douglas  Dumbrille  and  Faye  Emerson  are  effective  in  sup- 
porting parts.  Sid  Hickox's  photography  and  Adolph  Deutsch's  music 
are  competently  keyed  to  the  moods  of  the  action. 

Running  time,  102  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  April  22. 

Milton  Livingston 


New  Haven,  April  4. — That  Pre- 
fect Theatres,  Inc.,  retains  possession 
of  the  Greenwich  Theatre,  in  addition 
to  the  Pickwick  in  Greenwich,  for  the 
purpose  of  keeping  competition  out  of 
the  township,  was  admitted  in  Fed- 
eral District  Court  here  today  in  cross- 
examination  by  Clarence  B.  Loewe,  a 
Iplaintiff's  witness  in  the  Prefect  anti- 
trust suit  against  eight  distributing 
companies. 

Loewe,  who  said  he  had  a  22  J/2  per- 
cent interest  in  the  circuit,  testified 
that  in  1936  the  $5,000-a-year  lease  on 
the  Greenwich  was  extended  from  1938 
to  1940  when  it  became  known  that 
other  interests  sought  the  theatre.  He 
added,  also  on  cross  examination,  that 
the  $3,000  loss  shown  by  Prefect  for 
1937  was  after  deduction  of  $13,000 
in  bonuses  from  a  $10,000  profit  made 
that  year.  Loewe  was  placed  on  the 
stand  to  identify  records  of  which  he 
had  charge. 

The  jury,  returning  today  after  a 
week's  recess  because  of  the  illness 
of  several  members,  also  heard  Harold 
E.  Newcomb,  an  RKO  accountant, 
who  identified  records  of  his  company. 

Air  Force  Officers 
At  'Belle'  Opening 

Memphis,  April  4. — Air  Force  offi- 
cers from  Washington  and  the  Dyers- 
burg  Air  Base  will  be  guests  at  the 
premiere  here  tomorrow  night  of 
"Memphis  Belle." 

Expected  are  Brig.  Gen.  H.  S.  Hans- 
well,  Jr.,  acting  assistant  chief  of  staff 
of  Army  Air  Forces ;  Col.  Stanley  P. 
Wray,  who  commanded  the  91st  Bom- 
bardment Group  when  the  "Belle"  was 
raiding  Germany;  Col.  William  S. 
Wyler,  producer  of  the  picture,  all 
from  Washington;  Maj.  William  E. 
Clancy,  pilot  of  the  "Dame  Satan"  and 
commander  of  the  squadron  in  which 
"The  Belle"  flew ;  Capt.  William  E. 
Beasley,  pilot  of  the  plane  from  which 
the  picture  was  made,  and  others  from 
the  91st  Group  who  served  overseas 
and  now  are  instructors  at  Dyersburg. 

Paramount  Pictures  will  be  host  at 
a  luncheon  tomorrow  noon  for  the 
visitors. 


Eaton  Will  Seek  a 
New  Trial  April  20 

Memphis,  April  4.  —  John  W. 
Eaton,  owner-operator  of  the  Peabody 
Theatre  here,  will  seek  to  have  a 
guilty  verdict  of  involuntary  man- 
slaughter and  a  sentence  of  not  more 
than  30  days  set  aside  pending  argu- 
ments on  a  motion  for  a  new  trial  in 
Criminal  Court  here  on  April  20. 

Eaton  was  convicted  as  the  result  of 
an  explosion  which  killed  Elroy 
Curry,  69,  theatre  maintenance  man, 
last  Aug.  17.  He  was  charged  with 
substituting  methyl  chloride  in  his 
cooling  system  for  freon  which  he  no 
longer  could  obtain. 


Fitzpatrick  Promoted 

Edward  J.  Fitzpatrick  has  been  ap- 
pointed branch  manager  of  the  Wash- 
ington office  of  Ross  Federal  Service. 
Fitzpatrick  was  former  city  editor  and 
general  manager  of  the  Sun  newspa- 
pers in  Baltimore.  He  previously 
acted  as  general  supervisor  of  the 
Washington  area,  with  headquarters  in 
Baltimore. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Hochstein  Trial  Is 
Postponed  to  May  2 

The  trial  of  Harry  Hochstein,  for- 
mer morals  inspector  of  Chicago  under 
an  indictment  alleging  he  perjured 
himself  before  a  special  Federal  Grand 
Jury  probing  alleged  racketeering 
within  the  film  industry  was  post- 
poned here  yesterday  until  May  2  by 
Federal  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe. 

Hochstein  was  indicted  for  allegedly 
swearing  falsely  before  the  Grand 
Jury  when  questioned  about  an  alleged 
conference  among  members  of  the  Ca- 
pone  gang  in  his  Riverside,  111.,  home 
in  1934. 

Bergman  to  Ohio 
On  'Ladies'  Campaign 

Maurice  Bergman,  Universal's  East- 
ern advertising-publicity  director,  left 
here  yesterday  for  Cincinnati  to  com- 
plete plans  for  the  70-cities  opening 
of  Walter  Wanger's  "Ladies  Cour- 
ageous." A  radio  campaign  has  al- 
ready begun  over  Station  WLW  and 
will  continue  until  the  opening  date, 
April  23.  A  newspaper  and  billboard 
program  is  also  scheduled. 

In  each  of  the  70  cities,  a  "lady  cour- 
ageous" will  be  chosen  by  women  of 
the  city. 


Pioneer  Actress  Dies 

Fort  Lee,  N.  J.,  April  4. — Mrs. 
Anna  Auer  Baker,  84,  said  to  be  one 
of  the  first  to  appear  in  silent  films, 
died  this  week  at  her  home  here.  A 
daughter,  Mrs.  Olga  Brooks,  Fort  Lee, 
survives. 


'I A'  Bids  to  Upset 
SO  PEG  Jurisdiction 

The  National  Labor  Relations  Board 
has  ordered  a  hearing  on  April  11 
here  on  the  petition  of  the  IATSE, 
Local  F-51,  for  a  new  election  to  de- 
termine a  collective  bargaining  agent 
for  some  30  "white  collar"  workers  in 
the  20th  Century-Fox  New  York  ex- 
change. These  workers  are  presently 
represented  by  the  Screen  Office  and 
Professional  Employes  Guild,  Local 
109,  CIO. 

Local  F-51  lost  an  NLRB  election 
covering  these  employes  in  Feb.,  1943 
but  is  again  claiming  to  represent  a 
majority  of  them'. 

De  Mille  Ends  Visit 
In  Washington  Today 

Washington,  April  4. — Cecil  B. 
De  Mille,  producer  of  Paramount's 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  after 
winding  up  a  series  of  official  functions 
in  connection  with  the  film's  Red 
Cross  premiere  at  Constitution  Hall 
last  Saturday,  is  scheduled  to  leave 
Washington  tomorrow. 

De  Mille  and  his  party,  including 
Commander  Corydon  M.  Wassell 
(MC)  USN,  protagonist  of  the  pic- 
ture, were  guests  today  at  a  luncheon 
given  by  the  Chinese  Ambassador. 


M-G-M  Sets  17  Shorts 

Seventeen  short  subjects,  including 
four  March  of  Time  two-reelers,  still 
untitled,  will  be  released  by  20th-Fox 
from  April  through  July. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  4 

LOUIS  B.  MAYER  will  leave  here 
tomorrow  for  two  weeks  of  home 
office  conferences  with  Joseph  M. 
Schenck. 

e 

Monogram  has  discontinued  the 
Western  series  of  the  "Trail  Blazers" 
after  completing  five  films  in  the 
group  of  eight.  The  group  was  made 
by  Prescott  Pictures.  Hoot  Gibson 
and  Bob  Steele  will  be  co-starred  in 
three  Westerns  remaining  for  Mono- 
gram production. 

• 

Jesse  L.  Lasky  returned  from  the 
East  over  the  weekend.  He  will  re- 
turn to  New  York  at  the  end  of  the 
month  for  the  premiere  there  of  "The 
Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  at  the 
Hollywood  Theatre  on  May  3. 
• 

After  a  two  months'  vacation,  Errol 
Flynn  has  checked  in  at  Warners  to 
begin  work  on  "Objective  Burma,"  his 
next  starrer,  which  -  Jerry  Wald  will 
produce  and  Raoul  Walsh  will  direct. 
• 

Alfred  Hitchcock,  who  has  returned 
here  after  a  visit  to  England,  is  start- 
ing preparation  of  "The  House  of  Dr. 
Edwardes"  for  Vanguard. 

• 

Paramount   plans   special  handling 
for  "Going  My  Way,"  which  probably 
will  open  in  New  York  in  May. 
• 

Producer  Buddy  De  Sylva  will 
leave  on  Friday  for  a  month  in  Mex- 
ico and  the  Caribbean. 


Ryan  Threatens  to 
Halt  SPU  Hearing 

Hollywood,  April  4.  —  Examiner 
Charles  Ryan  today  threatened  to  halt 
the  hearing  on  the  Screen  Players 
Union  petition  for  an  extras'  bargain- 
ing-agency election  and  report  it  as  a 
closed  case  to  the  National  Labor  Re- 
lations Board  in  Washington.  The 
step  was  taken  when  attorney  Alex- 
ander Schullman  attacked  Ryan's  stand 
in  refusing  SPU  demands  to  introduce 
matters  the  examiner  held  irrelevant. 

Aubrey  Blair,  originally  an  SPU 
witness,  testified  under  questioning  by 
William  Berger,  counsel  for  the 
Screen  Actors  Guild,  that  the  guild 
had  done  more  for  extras  in  its  short 
existence  than  had  any  other  union. 

Zagrans,  Shumow  III, 
Forced  to  Leave  WAC 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  distributor  chair- 
man of  the  War  Activities  Committee, 
reported  here  yesterday  that  illness 
had  forced  the  resignation  of  two 
WAC  exchange  area  chairmen. 

In  Philadelphia,  Charles  Zagrans  of 
RKO  Radio  will  be  succeeded  by  Sam 
Gross  of  20th  Century-Fox ;  in  Mil- 
waukee, Harry  J.  Shumow  of  M-G-M 
will  be  replaced  by  Don  Wood,  War- 
ners. 


'Cover  GirV  Party 

The  Society  of  Illustrators  will  be 
host  to  80  Harry  Conover  "Cover 
Girls"  tomorrow  evening  at  Radio 
City  Music  Hall,  where  Columbia's 
"Cover  Girl"  is  currently  showing. 
The  party  will  conclude  with  a  supper- 
dance  later  in  the  evening  at  the  Illus- 
trator's clubhouse. 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1944 


Production  Is 
Off  Four,  44 
Now  in  Work 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Although  fea- 
ture production  dropped  four  notches 
during  the  past  week,  with  only  five 
new  films  started  while  nine  finished 
to  bring  the  total  in  work  down  to  44, 
it  was  six  above  this  time  one  year 
ago.  Then  only  38  features  were  be- 
fore the  cameras.  The  previous  week 
saw  six  finished  and  eight  new  ones 
started  to  bring  a  total  of  48  in  work. 
The  production  scene  follows  : 
Columbia 

Shooting:  "The  Impatient  Years," 
"America's  Children,"  "Louisiana  Hay- 
ride." 

Finished:  "Soldiers  in  Slacks,"  "Mr. 
Winkle  Goes  to  War." 

M-G-M 

Started:  "Lost  in  a  Harem,"  with 
Abbott  and  Costello,  Marilyn  Max- 
well, John  Conte ;  "Maisie  Goes  to 
Reno,"  with  Ann  Sothern,  John  Ho- 
diak,  Marta  Linden,  Tom  Drake,_Ava 
Gardner. 

Shooting :  "Gold  Tow  n,"  "Mrs. 
Parkington,"  "The  Picture  of  Dorian 
Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "Marriage  Is 
a  Private  Affair,"  "Meet  Me  in  St. 
Louis,"  "National  Velvet." 

Monogram 
Shooting:  "Leave  It  to  the  Irish," 
"Call  of  the  Jungle,"  "Range  Law" 
(formerly  "Hangman's  Law"). 
Paramount 
Shooting :   "Practically  Yours,11 
"Bring  On  the  Girls." 

PRC 

Shooting:  "Minstrel  Man." 

Finished:  "Valley  of  Vengeance" 
(formerly  untitled  Buster  Crabbe)  ; 
"Waterfront." 

RKO-Radio 

Started:  "That  Hunter  Girl,"  with 
Laraine  Day,  Alan  Marshal,  Marsha 
Hunt,  Allyn  Joslyn,  Edgar  Buchanan, 
Marc  Cramer,  Nancy  Gates,  John 
Miljan. 

Shooting:  "The  Falcon  in  Mexico," 
"Mademoiselle  Fifi,"  "Cocktails  for 
Two,"  "None  But  the  Lonely  Heart," 
"Heavenly  Days,"  "Manhattan  Ser- 
enade," "Belle  of  the  Yukon"  (Inter- 
national), "Casanova  Brown"  (Inter- 
national ) . 

Republic 

Started:  Untitled  Western,  with  Al- 
lan Lane,  Peggy  Stewart. 

Shooting:  "Song  of  Nevada,"  "Se- 
crets of  Scotland  Yard,"  "The  Girl 
Who  Dared." 

Finished:  "Call  of  the  Rockies." 
20th  Century-Fox 

Started:  "Good  Neighbor,"  with 
Laurel  and  Hardy,  Helene  Reynolds, 
Doris  Merrick. 

Shooting:  "Take  It  or  Leave  It," 
"Irish  Eyes  Are  Smiling,"  "Wing  and 
a  Prayer,"  "The  Keys  of  the  King- 
dom." 

United  Artists 

Shooting:  "GI  Joe,"  formerly  "Here 
Is  Your  War"  (Lester  Cowan)  ; 
"Abroad  With  Two  Yanks"  (Edward 
Small). 

Universal 

Shooting:  "Twilight  on  the  Prairie." 
Finished:  "Dead  Man's  Eyes,"  "The 
Ghost  Catchers,"  "The  Climax." 
Warners 

Shooting:  "The  Very  Thought  of 
You,"  "The  Conspirators,"  "To  Have 
and  Have  Not,"  "The  Doughgirls." 

Finished:  "Cinderella  Jones." 


Ask  More  Details 
In  Percentage  Suit 


Pittsburgh,  April  4. — Federal  Judge 
R.  M.  Gibson  has  ordered  the  Loew's, 
20th  Century-Fox,  Paramount,  RKO, 
Columbia,  Universal,  Warners  and 
United  Artists,  who  are  suing  William 
Finkel  and  the  Carson  Amusement  Co. 
on  breach  of  contract  charges,  to  file 
a  more  definite  bill  of  particulars 
within  20  days. 

Accused  of  making  false  reports  on 
box  office  percentage  receipts,  the  thea- 
tre operator  claims  that  earlier  con- 
tracts authorized  an  audit  of  books 
within  one  year  of  exhibition  dates, 
but  that  this  right  was  eliminated  in 
contracts  entered  into  April,  1942. 

On  motion  of  counsel  for  the  ex- 
hibitor, the  court  ordered  a  new  sched- 
ule to  show  the  contract  percentage 
rate  on  each  of  the  pictures  provided 
for  in  contracts  involved  and  the  con- 
tract provisions  as  to  the  time  limit 
for  an  adult. 

Proceedings  will  be  stayed  on  the 
order  of  the  Court,  and  the  theatre 
operator  will  have  20  days  further 
after  the  filing  of  a  more  definite  state- 
ment to  file  its  responsive  pleading  to 
the  complaint. 

$350,000  from  Loew's 
For  Red  Cross  Fund 

Collections  in  Loew's  Theatres  in 
the  1944  Red  Cross  campaign  will 
amount  to  approximately  $350,000.  To 
date,  checks  have  been  received  for 
$333,937,  with  reports  from  a  number 
of  Loew  houses  incomplete.  Last  year 
Loew's  collections  were  $195,953. 
Loew's  State,  Norfolk,  led  the  circuit 
this  year  with  a  total  of  $11,820,  with 
the  Capitol,  N.  Y.,  second  with 
$10,535.   

$4,647  from  Victory  Shorts 

Washington,  April  4. — A  check  for 
$4,647  has  been  presented  to  the  Amer- 
ican Red  Cross  here  on  behalf  of 
M-G-M,  Paramount  and  20th  Century- 
Fox  exchanges.  The  presentation  was 
made  by  John  J.  Payette,  Warners' 
zone  manager  and  co-chairman  with 
Carter  Barron,  Loew's  division  man- 
ager, of  the  Red  Cross  War  Fund 
theatre  division.  The  amount  repre- 
sents the  profit  from  the  distribution 
and  exhibition  of  Victory  shorts  in  the 
Washington  area  and  is  a  joint  con- 
tribution of  theatre  owners  and  film 
companies. 


Coast  Going  Over  Top 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Response  of 
the  motion  picture  studios  here  in  the 
1944  Red  Cross  drive  will  not  only  ex- 
ceed last  year's  total,  but  will  top  the 
record  War  Chest  total,  Arch  Reeve, 
public  information  committee  secre- 
tary, stated  at  the  weekend. 


$16,062  to  Red  Cross 

Radio  City  Music  Hall  audiences 
here  contributed  $16,062  to  the  Red 
Cross  during  the  theatre  drive. 


Basil's  Colvin  to  Open 

Buffalo,  April  4— Basil's  Colvin 
Theatre  will  open  Easter  Sunday, 
according  to  Constantine  J.  Basil, 
president  of  Basil  Theatres,  Inc. 
Construction  had  been  delayed  two- 
and-a-half  years  due  to  WPB  pro- 
hibitions. Upon  determining  that 
materials  had  been  secured  before 
WPB  orders  went  into  effect,  the 
latter  will  allow  the  project  to  con- 
tinue. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  4 

THE  upswing  in  production  noted 
during  the  past  few  weeks  bids 
fair  to  continue  through  April  with 
several  studios  planning  to  launch 
numerous  new  films  during  the  month. 
Universal  announced  nine  new  ones, 
while  Monogram  set  six  for  April 
starting  dates. 

• 

Those  getting  the~  green  light  at 
Universal  include  "The  Singing 
Sheriff,"  with  Edward  Lilley  direct- 
ing; "Merrily  We  Sing,"  with  Les- 
lie Goodwins  directing,  and  associate 
producer  Bernard  Burton  in  charge  of 
both,  Erie  Kenton  will  put  producer 
Paul  Malvern's  "The  Devil's  Brood" 
on  the  stages  while  co-producers  Mi- 
chael Fessier  and  Ernest  Pagano  pre- 
pare "San  Diego,  I  Love  You,"  for 
an  April  10  camera  launching. 

Others  scheduled  at  that  studio  in- 
clude 'Bowery  to  Broadway,"  with 
Charles  Laonont  directing  for  produc- 
er John  Grant;  "See  My  Lawyer," 
Olsen-J ohnson  starrer,  with  Edward 
Cline  directing  for  Edmund  Hart- 
mann;  "Pearl  of  Death,"  which  Roy 
W.  McNeill  will  direct  and  produce ; 
"Make  Way  for  Love,"  with  Felix 
Feist  producing  and  directing,  and  as- 
sociate producer  Oliver  Drake's 
"Boss  of  Boomtown,"  a  Western 
which  Lewis  Collins  will  direct. 
• 

Monogram  has  scheduled  Scott 
R,  Dunlap's  "The  Girl  Next  Door," 
Biltmore  Production's  "A  Wave,  a 
Wac,  a  Marine,"  Lindsley  Parsons 
"Trail  of  the  Yukon,"  Jeffery  Ber- 
nerd's  "Are  These  Your  Parents?" 
and  two  untitled  Westerns. 
• 

Perry  Como  has  arrived  from  New 
York  to  do  a  stint  in  "Something  for 
the  Boys"  at  Fox.  .  .  .  Evelyn  Ankers 
has  the  romantic  lead  in  "Pearl  of 
Death,"  mystery  story  starting  April 
10  at  Universal.  .  .  .  RKO  has  signed 
Barry  Fitzgerald  for  "None  But  the 
Lonely  Heart"  and  John  Emery  for 
the  romantic  lead  opposite  Simone  Si- 
mon in  Val  Lewton's  "Mademoiselle 
Fifi." 

5  Films  Approved, 
3  Are  Objectionable 

The  Legion  of  Decency  classified 
three  films  in  Class  B,  objectionable 
in  part,  this  week.  They  are:  "Moon 
Over  Las  Vegas,"  Universal,  for 
"light  treatment  of  marriage" ;  "Up 
In  Mabel's  Room,"  Edward  Small- 
United  Artists  for  "suggestive  dia- 
logue and  situations,  light  treatment 
of  marriage" ;  and  "Ave  Sin  Nido," 
(Clasa  Films,  Mexican)  for  "remarks 
disparaging  the  religious  life." 

Five  films  were  passed,  including 
"The  Cowboy  and  the  Senorita,"  Re- 
public ;  "La  Abuelita,"  Grovas  S.  A. 
(Mexican)  ;  "Jam  Session,"  Colum- 
bia ;  "It  Happened  Tomorrow,"  United 
Artists  ;  "Weird  Woman,"  Universal, 
and  "Tampico,"  20th  Century-Fox. 


New  'Some-Run'  Case 

A  new  some  run  complaint  has  been 
filed  at  the  Minneapolis  tribunal  by 
Empress  Amusement  Corp.,  operating 
the  Empress  Theatre,  Minneapolis, 
against  Loew's,  the  American  Ar- 
bitration Association  reported  here 
this  week. 


'Bernadette'  $9,000 
Over  in  2nd  Week 

Washington,  April  4. — "The  Song 
of  Bernadette,"  in  its  second  week  at 
Loew's  Palace,  still  continues- to  be  the 
ace  draw  in  Washington,  with  an  esti- 
mated $28,000.  "Snow  White,"  also  in 
its  second  week,  should  do  an  excep- 
tional $15,000  at  RKO-Keith's. 

Estimated   receipts    for   the  week 
ending  April  6  : 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th- Fox) 

LOEW'S — (3,434)  (35c-43c-55c-72c)  7  days. 
On   stage:    HS1   Sherman.     Gross:  $22,000. 
(Average:  $22,000). 
"A  Guy  Named  Joe" 

LOEW'S    COLUMBIA— (1,234)  (43c-55c- 
65c)  7  days,  4th  week.    Gross:  $8,500.  (Av- 
erage: $8,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

WARNER'S  EARLE — (2,210)  (44c-55c- 
85c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.  On  stage: 
Mary  Healy.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average: 
$19,700). 

"Snow    White    and    the    Seven  D-warfs" 
(RKO) 

RKO-KEITH'S— (1,800)  (35c-44c-65c-74c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average: 
$13,600): 

"Higher  and  Higher"  (RKO) 

WARNER'S  METROPOLITAN— (1,600) 
(35c-55c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,500. 
(Average:  $7,200). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (ZOth-Fox) 

LOEW'S  PALACE— (2,242)  (80c-$l-20)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $28,000.  (Average: 
$19,000). 

Hollywood  'Desert 
Battalion9  on  Stage 

Hollywood,  April  4. — Alex  Yokel, 
stage  producer,  has  completed  ar- 
rangements with  Mrs.  Edward  G. 
Robinson  for  production  of  "Desert 
Battalion,"  a  comedy  with  music  which 
expects  to  reach  New  York  in  August. 
Crane  Wilbur  is  the  ■  playwright, 
drawing  upon  experiences  of  the  Des- 
ert Battalion,  traveling  show  made  up 
of  700  Hollywood  and  Los  Angeles 
working  girls  who  devote  their  week- 
ends to  entertaining  service  men  at  re- 
mote training  centers.  Hollywood  tal- 
ent and  citizens  are  financing,  the 
profits  after  investment  going  to  the 
Desert  Battalion.  A.  L.  Berman,  New 
York  lawyer,  and  Harry  Sokolov,  lo- 
cal attorney,  are  contributing  their 
services  as  are  others  identified  with 
the  project.  Aside  from  augmenting 
activities  of  the  Desert  Battalion,  pro- 
ceeds will  be  used  for  a  special  re- 
habilitation program  worked  out  by 
the  Battalion's  officers. 


$3,573,569  Earned 

By  Philco  in  '43  \ 

Philadelphia,  April  4. — Setting  a 
new  all-time  high  sales  mark  of  $116,- 
395,598  in  1943,  an  increase  of  70  per- 
cent over  1942's  sales  of  $68,505,979,' 
the  Philco  Corp.  netted  $3,573,569,  or 
$2.60  a  share  last  year,  compared  with 
$2,209,992  or  $1.61  per  share  in  1942.1 
The  new  high  was  set  despite  volun-1- 
tary  price  reductions  totaling  $18,803, -i 
929  on  Army  and  Navy  work. 

In  its  annual  report  to  stockholders, 
Philco  cites  increasing  war  produc- 
tion ;  research  in  radar  and  electronics 
and  post-war  planning  in  the  fields  of 
radio,  television,  and  air  conditioning 
and  other  products. 


415  'Victory'  Bookings 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  here  reports 
that  it  already  has  in  hand  415  theatre 
bookings  for  "Tunisian  Victory,"  doc- 
umentary produced  jointly  by  British 
and  American  Army  film  units.  The 
picture  is  scheduled'  for  release  April 
28. 


Wednesday,  April  5,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


U.S.  Warning 
On  Pay  Jumps 


u 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

embody  no  change  in  policy,  Nunan 
said,  but  set  forth  the  policies  which 
have  been  formulated  from  time  to 
time  on  the  basis  of  experience  with 
the  stabilization  program. 

In  particular  the  rules  provide  a 
uide  for  interpretation  of  the  regula- 
tions granting  blanket  approval  for 
promotion,  merit  and  length-of-service 
increases  in  salary  under  plans  in  ef- 
M  feet  on  Oct.  3,  1942,  or  since  approved 
-  by    the    Commissioner,  emphasizing 
that  approval  should  be  secured  for 
I    salary  ranges  for  new  jobs  and  for 
changes  in  salary  policy  when  new 
or  revised  olans  are  submitted  for  ap- 
,  i  'proval  by  an  employer  with  no  estab- 
lished policy  for  granting  increases. 

General  Limitations 

The  rules  provide  general  limitations 
on  such  increases  as  follows :  for  pro- 
motions, the  established  minimum  for 
the  new  position  or  15  per  cent  above 
the  former  salary,  whichever  is  great- 
er ;  for  merit  and  length-of-service  in- 
creases within  a  12-month  period,  IS 
ner  cent  above  the  former  salary.  An- 
other limitation  provides  that  the  av- 
erage of  salaries  paid  for  a  particular 

,1,  position  shall  not  exceed  by  more 
than  three  percent  the  mean  between 

,  i    the  minimum  and  maximum  salary  for 

■  j  that  position  or  the  average  salary 
!    paid  on  Oct.  3,  1942  or  any  other  date 

t)i  approved  by  the  Commissioner. 

In  connection  with  the  granting  of 
-  .  increases  an  employer  is  expected  to 
i  I  keep  a  record  of  the  essential  facts  re- 
-!  garding  his  1942  salary  policy  in  order 
t  '  to  show,  if  required,  that  such  in- 
s  |-creases  are  consistent  with  that  pol- 

■  ■'  icy  or  with  a  schedule  approved  by  the 

■  r  Commissioner. 


Exhibitors  to  Aid 
Recruiting  of  Wacs 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  Women's  Army  Corps,  on  May 
11.  As  projected  by  the  chairman  and 
by  S.  H.  Fabian,  head  of  the  WAC 
theatres  division,  the  drive  will  be 
two-pronged,  utilizing  an  Army  short 
subject,  featuring  General  George  C. 
Marshall,  plus  a  specially  prepared 
trailer.  The  short,  "It's  Your  War, 
!  Too,"  was  produced  by  the  U.  S.  Sig- 
mal  Corps  and  has  been  pencilled  in 
by  WAC  distribution  chairman  Ned 
E.  Depinet  for  release  beginning  the 
week  of  April  20,  in  order  to  appear  in 
a  number  of  first  run  theatres  prior 
to  the  actual  opening  of  the  campaign. 
The  trailer,  with  its  star  expected  to 
be  named  shortly,  will  be  the  peg  on 
which  exhibitors  will  build  stage  cere- 
monies, lobby  booths,  etc. 

Last  December  the  showing  of 
"Chief  Neeley  Reports  to  the  Nation," 
combined  with  showmanship  aids, 
helped  jump  Wac  enlistments  from 
650  a  week  to  more  than  1,000. 

Alperson  is  expected  to  name  his 
staff  within  the  next  few  days. 


Selznick's  Move  Seen  as 
Step  in  Long  Range  Plan 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

"Since  You  Went  Away,"  Selznick 
is  embarking  more  actively  into  sus- 
tained production,  chiefly  through 
Vanguard,  which  yesterday  launched 
"Double  Furlough,"  and  has  a  pro- 
gram of  other  attractions  to  follow. 

Agnew  will  safeguard  Selznick's  in- 
terests in  making  theatre  deals,  work- 
ing, of  course,  with  Gradwell  Sears 
and  Carl  Leserman  and  the  existing 
United  Artists  sales  organization.  But 
it  also  is  being  speculated  here  how 
the  move  fortifies  Selznick's  sales  po- 
sition in  terms  of  long  range  activi- 
ties, whether  in  association  with  Unit- 
ed Artists  or  in  any  direction  which 
the  future  may  bring.  Agnew  has  a 
three-year  contract,  plus  a  two-year 
option.  The  contract  includes  partici- 
pation in  earnings  in  addition  to  a  first 
year  salary  of  $2,000  weekly;  $2,500 
the  second  year,  and  $3,000  the  third. 

It  is  reported  here  that  the  Para- 


mount general  sales  managership  un- 
doubtedly will  be  offered  Charles'  Rea- 
gan, currently  Agnew's  assistant. 
Similarly,  it  is  reported  there  is  under 
consideration  a  move  whereby  George 
J.  Schaefer  may  return  to  Paramount, 
perhaps  as  assistant  to  the  president. 

Meanwhile,  United  Artists'  annual 
meeting  of  owners,  deferred  since  No- 
vember, has  not  been  held  and  there  is 
little  likelihood  that  it  will  be  while 
Edward  C.  Raftery,  president,  and 
Sears  are  here  on  their  current  visit. 
Elections  of  company  officers  are  held 
annually.  Without  an  annual  meeting, 
therefore,  officers  will  continue  in 
their  posts. 


George  Schaefer,  when  questioned 
in  New  York  yesterday  concerning  the 
Coast  report  linking  his  name  with  a 
return  to  an  executive  post  in  Para- 
mount, said :  "The  matter  has  not  been 
discussed  with  me." 


Britain  Will  Keep 
Studios  Until  Peace 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
theless  authoritatively,  was  the  in- 
formation that  the  Board  of  Trade  is 
surprised  that  there  has  been  no  reply 
forthcoming  from  the  British  Film 
Producers  Association  to  BOT's  re- 
quest for  information  regarding  pri- 
orities necessary  to  recondition  studios 
in  the  postwar.  Officials  are  pointing 
out  that  labor  unions  here  have  al- 
ready presented  a  memorandum  outlin- 
ing the  number  of  technicians  neces- 
sary for  release  from  wartime  jobs 
to  get  studios  in  full  time  working 
order. 

70  Features  in  Year 

Hugh  Dalton,  president  of  the 
Board  of  Trade,  disclosed  upon  being 
questioned  today  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons, that  70  feature  films  were  regis- 
tered in  the  year  ending  March,  1944. 
He  assured  the  House  that  the  Gov- 
ernment would  take  all  necessary  steps 
to  develop  the  British  industry,  adding 
that  they  were  satisfied  that  there 
was  no  danger  of  foreign  interests 
dominating  the  industry.  He  added 
that  conditional  film  selling  by  foreign 
interests  alleged  to  be  inimical  to  in- 
dependent exhibitors  is  now  under 
consideration  by  the  Films  Council 
Committee,  whose  report  is  awaited  by 
the  Government. 

Aneurin  Bevan,  a  member  of  the 
House,  alleged  during  the  debate  that 
combines  were  breaking  the  agreement 
not  to  acquire  further  theatres  with- 
out Governmental  consent.  Dalton,  in 
replying,  said  the  Government  was  not 
aware  of  this  and  would  welcome 
proof  of  its  existence. 


'Monster'  Campaign  Set 

The  opening  of  Republic's  "The 
Lady  and  the  Monster,"  set  for  the 
Rialto  here  this  weekend,  will  be 
backed  by  a  publicity  campaign  high- 
lighted also  by  promotions  in  Czecho- 
slovak newspapers,  exploiting  the 
feminine  lead,  Vera  Hruba  Ralston, 
former  Czechoslovakian  skating  cham- 
pion. Steve  Edwards,  Republic's  di- 
rector of  publicity,  is  now  in  Boston 
working  on  the  opening  there  sched- 
uled for  April  12. 


Special  Vanguard 
Sales  Cabinet  Seen 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Vanguard's  product  would  be  handled 
in  the  usual  way  by  the  United  Art- 
ists sales  organization. 

Agnew,  as  vice-president  in  charge 
of  distribution  for  all  Vanguard  prod- 
uct, would  head  up  the  organization 
of  sales  specialists,  at  the  same  time 
working  in  close  association  with 
United  Artists  sales  heads. 

The  new  plan  is  understood  to  have 
been  based  upon  exhaustive  analyses 
of  sales  made  for  Selznick  over  an 
extended  period  of  time.  Results  of 
the  analyses  are  said  to  have  revealed 
that  upwards  of  $3,000,000  can  be 
realized  on  big  pictures  from  approxi- 
mately 4,500  theatres  of  the  12,000  to 
which  big  pictures  ordinarily  are  sold. 
It  is  estimated  further  that  approxi- 
mately 6,000  of  the  12,000  possibili- 
ties gross  less  than  $100  weekly  and 
pay  less  than  $50  in  film  rental.  The 
remaining  1,500  theatres  are  an  in- 
between  group,  lacking  maximum 
gross  possibilities  but  paying  rentals 
well  in  excess  of  the  smaller  theatre 
group  of  6,000  houses. 

The  cream  of  the  4,500-theatre 
group  would  be  the  field  on  which 
Vanguard's  projected  organization  of 
executive  sales  specialists  would  con- 
centrate, it  is  said. 


Walsh  Sees  I  AT  SE 
Pact  in  10  Days 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
proposals  will  still  remain  to  be  settled 
after  the  producers  reach  tentative  ac- 
cords with  all  11  IATSE  locals.  Ques- 
tions of  seniority  rights ;  grievance 
machinery ;  length  of  a  new  contract 
and  allowances  for  time  spent  on  loca- 
tion are  among  the  proposals.  The 
IATSE  has  not  abandoned  its  plan 
to  continue  to  press  for  a  pension- 
retirement  fund.  Questions  of  paid 
vacations  and  sick-leave  with  pay  have 
been  compromised,  it  was  learned. 

Both  the  Conference  of  Studio 
Unions  and  the  AFL  locals  which  are 
signatories  to  the  studio  basic  labor 
agreement  have  reached  tentative  ac- 
cords with  the  producers,  gaining  con- 
cessions. 


WB  Abrogates 
Hal  Wallis's 
Studio  Pact 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
added,  "ends  an  association  begun  21 
years  ago  when  Jack  L.  Warner,  vice- 
president,  adopted  as  a  protege  an  am- 
bitious young  theatre  usher  and  gave 
him  his  first  production  job.  He  had 
been  working  at  a  salary  of  $18  a 
week  and  was  last  reported  as  among 
the  10  top  earners  of  the  industry.  His 
rise  from  usher,  to  press  agent,  to 
producer,  under  Jack  Warner's  guid- 
ance is  one  of  the  real  success  stories 
of  Hollywood." 

"As  a  Warner  producer,"  the  com- 
pany statement  said,  "Wallis  has  had 
many  of  the  studio's  choicest  assign- 
ments, including  numerous  best-sellers 
and  Broadway  hits,  resulting  in  his 
twice  winning  the  Irving  Thalberg 
Award. 

"Warner  Bros,  is  reluctant  to  sever 
its  relations  with  Wallis  but  does  not 
feel  it  wishes  to  hold  him  to  a  contract 
which  has  apparently  become  irk- 
some," the  statement  concluded. 

Various  top  studios  have  been  men- 
tioned in  connection  with  Wallis's  fu- 
ture affiliation,  M-G-M  most  per- 
sistently among  them. 


Legal  Battle  Looms 
On  Wallis  Contract; 
Breach    Is  Denied 


By  RED  KANN 

Hollywood,  April  4. — A  legal  bat- 
tle loomed  tonight  over  the  services 
of  Hal  B.  Wallis  following  Warners' 
statement  that  the  company  had  ab- 
rogated his  contract. 

Acting  for  Wallis  is  attorney  Lloyd 
Wright,  who  in  a  statement  declared 
that  the  Warner  allegation  "comes  as 
a  distinct  surprise  because  extended 
negotiations  toward  mutual  termina- 
tion of  the  contract  have  been  carried 
on  between  the  two  parties  during  the 
last  few  weeks."  Wright  denied  for 
Wallis  any  contract  breach,  adding. 
"These  negotiations  came  to  an  abrupt 
end  last  night  because  Jack  Warner 
took  what  Wallis  considered  an  arbi- 
trary and  unfair  attitude  in  his  pro- 
posal." 

The  studio  claims  to  have  proof  of 
the  contract  breach  but  will  not  di- 
vulge details.  It  is  reliably  understood 
that  the  current  pact  had  one  more 
vear  to  run. 


Lackey  With  Rothacker 

Hollywood  April  4.  —  William  T. 
Lackey,  producer  latterly  identified 
with  Monogram,  on  Monday  joined 
the  Office  of  Censorship  here  under 
direction  of  Watterson  R.  Rothacker. 


MANAGER    AT  LIBERTY 

Competent — Experienced  in  all 
types  of  exhibition — Al  record 
in  Metropolitan,  deluxe  or 
neighborhood  theatres.  Will  go 
anywhere  for  top  offer.  Box 
220,   Motion   Picture  Daily 


I  REVEL  WITH  ROSIt 

...  as  she  welds  her  wt 
to  Victory  in  a  men 
melee  of  wrenches  ai 
wenches! 


THE 


RIVETER 

JANE  FRAZEE 

FRANK  ALBERTSON  •  VERA  VAGUE 


AND 


FRANK  JENKS  •  LLOYD  CORRIHAN 
MAUDE  EBURNE«  CARL  " 
ARTHUR  I 


BASED  ON  THE  SATURDAY  EVENING  POST  STORY 
"ROOM  FOR  TWO"  BY  DOROTHY  CURNOW  HANDLEY 


JOSEPH  SANTLEY 

SCREENPLAY  BY  JACK  TOWNS. 


u 


B 


First  In  qC 


and 

Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  LY 


Alert, 


tiort 


Picture 
Industry 


^VOL.  55.  NO.  68 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  6,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


20th-FoxNets 
$12,900,000 
For  the  Year 


Includes  $2,000,000  from 
National  Theatres 


Estimated  net  profit  of  $12,900,- 
000  for  1943  was  reported  here  yes- 
terday by  20th  Century-Fox  Film 
for  the  corporation  and  all  subsidi- 
aries, including  National  Theatres  and 
Roxy  Theatre,  Inc.  This  equals  $6.50 
per  share  on  1,742,000  shares  of  com- 
mon stock  outstanding,  after  deduct- 
ing dividends  on  prior  preferred  and 
preferred  stock. 

The  estimated  net,  which 
compares  with  a  net  of  $10,609,- 
000  in  1942,  includes  $2,000,000 
profits  earned  by  National  and 
its  subsidiaries  up  to  July  9, 
1943,  on  which  date  National 
became  wholly  owned  by  20th- 
Fox. 

The  1942  figure  does  not  include 
National's  earnings,  but  20th's  income 
of  that  year  included  a  dividend  of 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Studios  in  Accord 
With  IATSE  'Props' 


Film  company  heads  and  their  stu- 
dio labor  representatives  reached  a 
tentative  accord  with  the  IATSE  stu- 
dio "props"  local  on  proposals  for  a 
new  contract  here  yesterday  at  the  of- 
fice of  Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor 
contact.  The  "props"  is  the  ninth 
IATSE  local  to  reach  an  accord  with 
producers.  The  two  remaining  locals 
yet  to  reach  an  agreement  are  the 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


$500,000  Golden 
Financing  for  'Race* 

Edward  Golden  has  formally  signed 
with  RKO  for  the  distribution  of  his 
forthcoming  "The  Master  Race,"  pro- 
duction of  which  will  start  in  Holly- 
wood on  May  8,  for  anticipated  re- 
lease around  Labor  Day. 

The  picture,  to  be  produced  by 
Golden's  son,  Robert,  is  budgeted  at 
$500,000,  which  Golden  will  finance 
entirely  on  his  own,  he  told  Motion 
Picture  Daily  yesterday.  The  deal 
with  RKO  had  been  hanging  fire  for 
some  time  and  was  consummated  this 
week  with  Golden's  arrival  from 
Hollywood  for  that  purpose.  He  will 
return  to  the  Coast  on  Friday. 

Robert  Golden,  33,  will  enter  the 
Army  upon  completion  of  "Master 
Race." 


$l,440,000Reported 

For  Red  Cross  from 
First  3,600  Houses 


First  3,600  theatres  reporting  col- 
lections in  the  industry's  1944  Red 
Cross  drive  took  in  an  average  of  al- 
most $400  each,  it  was  disclosed  at 
campaign  headquarters  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee  here  yesterday. 
Tfiis  would  approximate  a  gross  of 
$1,440,000. 

The  amount  was  said  to  be  a  sub- 
stantial improvement  over  the  first 
batch  of  reports  received  Monday 
from  about  1,700  theatres,  which  in- 
cluded only  those  houses  where  col- 
lections were  confined  to  a  single 
week,  and  with  the  arrival  of  addi- 
tional reports  from  theatres  that  ex- 
tended the  drive  through  a  second 
weekend,  it  is  expected  that  a  further 
improvement  will  be  shown. 

Yesterday's   returns  included  John 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Harry  Mandel  to 
Promote  Wac  Drive 


Harry  Mandel,  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee public  relations  chairman  for 
the  New  York  area,  has  been  named 
publicity  director  of  the  industry's  re- 
cruiting campaign  for  the  Women's 
Army  Corps.  Edward  L.  Alperson 
was  appointed  campaign  chairman  on 
Tuesday.  Mandel  is  advertising-pub- 
licity director  of  RKO  Theatres. 

The  campaign  is  scheduled  for  the 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Heavy  New  Theatre 
Building  Reported 

A  nationwide  survey  of  ex- 
hibitors reveals  that  plans 
have  already  been  completed 
or  are  in  work  for  heavy  new 
theatre  construction  when 
peace  comes,  Walter  E.  Green, 
president  of  National  Theatre 
Supply  reported  here  yester- 
day. "Sites  have  been  selected 
and  purchased,  plans  drawn 
and  showmen  await  only  the 
green  light  to  start  building," 
Green  declared. 

"Theatre  planning  includes 
not  only  streamlined  struc- 
tures, but  also  one  or  more 
outdoor  drive-in  theatres  in 
many  good-sized  cities  and 
towns,"  he  added. 


Financing  Waiting 
For  Wallis— Report 

A  New  York  banking  group  has 
proffered  Hal  Wallis  financing  up  to 
$10,000,000  should  he  decide  to  form 
bis  own  producing  company,  according 
to  reports  in  the  financial  district 
yesterday. 

Wallis,  it  was  said,  will  discuss  the 
proposal  during  his  forthcoming  visit 
in  New  York.  He  is  scheduled  to 
arrive  from  the  Coast  on  April  14. 

Abrogation  by  Warners  of  Wallis's 
contract  as  executive  producer  is  re- 
garded in  industry  legal  circles  here 
as  placing  an  obstacle  in  the  way  of 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


War  Work  Has  First  Call  on  All 
Phila.  Non-Operating  Theatre  Hiring 

Philadelphia,  April  5. — Local  theatres  here  are  being  advised  by 
the  Regional  War  Manpower  Commission  that  motion  picture  the- 
atres come  under  Class  "C"  in  the  hiring  of  full-time  employes 
and  that  having  declared  the  area  a  "critical"  one  the  WMC  re- 
stricts Class  C  establishments  to  the  hiring  of  persons  under  18 
years  of  age  and  to  World  War  II  veterans.  Retail  stores,  restaur- 
ants, hotels,  services,  distribution  agencies  and  non-war  goods 
manufacturers  have  also  been  classified  as  C.  War  plants  have 
a  Class  A  rating  while  essential  industries  have  a  Class  B  priority 
in  hiring. 

However,  a  co-operative  agreement  to  help  solve  the  hiring  prob- 
lem of  ushers,  cashiers,  cleaners,  etc.,  through  the  U.  S.  Employ- 
ment Service  was  worked  out  with  the  WMC  by  film  exchange 
representatives  and  owners  of  theatres.  But  theatres  wishing  to 
hire  non-operating  personnel  must  clear  applicants  through  the 
USES.  Applicants  referred  by  motion  picture  houses  to  the  USES 
for  clearance  under  the  terms  of  the  agreement,  will  be  exposed 
first  to  orders  from  A  and  B  employers  and  an  attempt  made  to 
refer  them  to  essential  or  locally  needed  employment.  Applicants 
who  cannot  be  referred  to  an  essential  or  locally  needed  employer 
will  be  referred  back  to  the  motion  picture  theatre  which  sent 
them  for  clearance. 

The  area  covered  under  this  ruling  includes  Philadelphia,  areas 
in  Eastern  Pennsylvania  and  parts  of  Southern  New  Jersey. 


U.A.  Executive 
Picture  Slated 
To  Be  Clarified 


Agnew   to  Coast  Meet 
With  Company  Heads 

Neil  F.  Agnew,  newly  appointed 
vice-president  and  distribution  head 
of  David  O.  Selznick's  Vanguard 
Films,  is  slated  to  leave  for  the 
Coast  tomorrow  to  participate  in  a 
significant  executive  session  of  Unit- 
ed Artists  heads  which  is  scheduled  to 
be  held  in  Hollywood  on  Monday.  The 
mission  marks  Agnew's  official  start 
in  his  new  post. 

The  executive  session  will  be  attend- 
ed by  Selznick,  Edward  C.  Raftery, 
United  Artists  president;  Gradwell  L. 
Sears,  vice-president ;  Carl  Leserman, 
sales  manager,  and  Daniel  T.  O'Shea, 
president  of  Vanguard,  in  addition  to 
Agnew. 

The  session,  according  to  informa- 
tion available  in  New  York,  is  de- 
signed to  decide  several  appointments 
to  executive  vacancies  within  United 
Artists,  as  well  as  to  clarify  Agnew's 
position  with  relation  to  the  company. 
In  the  latter  connection,  it  was  re- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Blumberg,Cowdinto 
Be  Reelected  Today 


Reelection  of  all  Universal  Pictures 
Co.  officers,  headed  by  Nate  J.  Blum- 
berg,  president,  and  J.  Cheever  Cow- 
din,  chairman  of  the  board,  is  sched- 
uled at  the  annual  board  of  direc- 
tors meeting  at  the  home  office  here 
today. 

Others  scheduled  for  reelection  in- 
clude: Charles  D.  Prutzman,  vice- 
president  and  general  counsel ;  Wil- 
liam Scully,  Joseph  H.  Seidelman  and 
Clifford  Work,  vice-presidents ;  John 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Schwalberg  to  Join 
International  May  1 

A.  W.  Schwalberg,  vice-president 
of  Vitagraph  and  supervisor  of  War- 
ner exchanges,  will  become  Eastern 
representative  for  William  Goetz  and 
Leo  Spitz's  International  Pictures, 
effective  about  May  1,  it  was  learned 
yesterday.  Consummation  of  the  deal 
is  understood  to  have  been  effected 
by  Spitz  following  his  arrival  here 
from  the  Coast  on  Monday. 

Schwalberg  has  been  with  Warners 
•since  1926,  when  he  started  as  a, 
{Continued  on,  page  11), 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  6,  1944 


Boggess  Completes 
Griffith  Depositions 

Depositions  from  representatives  of 
eight  distributing  companies  in  the 
Government's  anti-trust  suit  against 
Griffith  Amusement  Co.  of  Oklahoma 
and  Texas,  were  completed  this  week, 
Albert  Boggess,  special  assistant  to  the 
U.  S.  Attorney  General,  stated  here 
yesterday. 

The  pre-trial  hearings,  begun  on 
March  2,  when  Richard  P.  Morgan 
of  the  Paramount  home  office  legal 
department  gave  testimony,  have  also 
included  evidence  from  Stephen  Mc- 
Grath  of  United  Artists ;  Seymour 
Feig,  RKO ;  Earle  Beatty,  Loew's ; 
Max  Rose,.  Columbia  ;  James  Murphy, 
Universal ;  Miles  H.  Alben,  Warner 
Brothers,  and  Samuel  Weintraub  and 
Norman  B.  Steinberg  of  20th-Fox. 
All  identified  contracts  of  their  com- 
panies with  Griffith  theatres  and  inde- 
pendent houses  in  the  same  territory. 
No  date  for  trial  of  the  suit  has  been 
set. 

Kalmenson  Calls 

District  Meeting 

Ben  Kalmenson,  general  sales  man- 
ager of  Warner  Bros.,  has  called  a 
two-day  meeting  of  district  managers 
for  April  20-21  at  the  home  office  to 
discuss  current  matters  relating  to 
sales  and  distribution.  District  man- 
agers include:  Norman  Ayers,  East; 
Robert  Smeltzer,  Mid  -  Atlantic  ; 
Charles  Rich,  Central ;  Harry  A.  Seed, 
Midwest;  Hall  Walsh,  Prairie;  Ralph 
L.  McCoy,  Southern;  Henry  Herbel, 
West  Coast;  Wolfe  Cohen,  Canada. 

Among  home  office  executives  who 
will  participate  in  the  meetings,  to  be 
presided  over  by  Kalmenson,  are :  Ar- 
thur Sachson,  assistant  general  sales 
manager ;  Roy  Haines,  Southern  and 
Western  division  sales  manager ;  Jules 
Lapidus,  Eastern  Division  sales  man- 
ager ;  Mort  Blumenstock,  in  charge  of 
advertising-publicity  in  the  East ;  A. 
W.  Schwalberg,  supervisor  of  ex- 
changes ;  Norman  H.  Moray,  short 
subject  sales  manager ;  Ed  Hinchy, 
head  of  the  playdate  department ;  I.  F. 
(Mike)  Dolid,  head  of  the  contract 
department,  and  others. 

Storm  Had  Varied 
Effect  on  Grosses 

The  unseasonable  all-day  snowstorm 
that  hit  New  York  yesterday  had  a 
varied  effect  on  downtown  first-run 
theatres.  Some  reported  business  off 
as  much  as  one-third,  while  others 
reported  that  business  was  only  mildly 
affected,  if  affected  at  all.  Some  went 
beyond  capacity. 

Radio  City  Music  Hall,  playing 
"Cover  Girl"  and  its  annual  "Glory  of 
Easter"  stage  show,  reported  capacity 
business  despite  the  weather  with 
business  for  the  week  surpassing  ori- 
ginal estimates  to  give  the  theatre  a 
gross  of  almost  $120,000.  The  Roxy's 
opening  day  of  "Four  Jills  in  a 
Jeep"  was  off  about  IS  percent.  The 
Strand  and  some  other  houses  reported 
business  off  as  much  as  one  third. 


Personal 


HERMAN    ROBBINS,  president 
of  National  Screen,  has  returned 
from  the  Coast. 

• 

George  Schwartz,  Universal  branch 
manager  in  Philadelphia,  has  returned 
from  Florida.  Also  returning  from 
Florida  to  Philadelphia  are  Steve  Ba- 
rutio,  Warner  circuit  district  mana- 
ger ;  Joe  Schaeffer,  Columbia  sales- 
man, and  Ed  Rosenbaum,  Columbia 
exploiteer. 

• 

S.  J.  Gregory,  general  manager  of 
Alliance  Theatres,  Chicago,  has  left  on 
a  tour  of  inspection  of  the  circuit's  20 
theatres,  accompanied  by  Peter  Pa- 
ganos,  Alliance  promotion  manager. 
• 

John  Garfield,  Warner  star,  who 
has  been  on  a  USO  overseas  tour, 
will  leave  New  York  over  the  week- 
end for  Hollywood. 

• 

M.  A.  Lightman,  head  of  the  Mal- 
co  Theatre  Circuit,  Memphis,  Term., 
was  the  winner  of  the  recent  Ten- 
nessee Bridge  Association  series. 
• 

Larry  Stein,  director  of  advertising 
and  publicity  for  Warner  Theatres, 
Chicago,  has  been  inducted  into  the 
Navy. 

• 

Walter  Starck,  formerly  of  the 
Warner  Theatre,  Milwaukee,  has  been 
promoted  to  captain  in  the  Army  Air 
Corps. 

• 

Dell  Lawler  will  be  acting  art  di- 
rector in  Chicago  for  Balaban  and 
Katz  Theatres  during  Art  Thaler's 
extended  leave  of  absence. 

Carroll  Lane,  head  of  the  Lane 
circuit,  Iowa,  has  been  selected  a 
delegate  to  the  Republican  national 
convention. 

Nathan  Cohen  has  resigned  as 
manager  of  the  Fern  Rock,  Philadel- 
phia, to  enter  the  cafe  business  in  At- 
lantic City. 

• 

Richard  Bruce  of  the  Columbia  ex- 
change, Des  Moines,  has  left  for  Camp 
Dodge. 

• 

Arthur  Gottlieb,  head  of  Du-Art 
Film  Laboratories,  has  arrived  in  New 
York  from  Toronto. 

Col.  Hal  Roach  and  Mrs.  Roach 
are  due  from  Washington  today. 


Monogram  6-Month 
Gross  Was  $178,612 

Hollywood,  April  5. — Monogram 
Pictures  Corp.  had  gross  earnings  of 
$178,612  for  the  six  months  ending 
Dec.  4,  1943,  the  company  reported 
here  today.  This  figure,  from  which 
the  provision  for  Federal  taxes  has 
not  been  deducted,  compares  with  $92,- 
050  for  the  same  period  in  1942. 


200  'Lady*  Bookings 

Approximately  200  engagements  of 
Paramount's  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  are 
scheduled  to  open  in  key  cities  over 
the  Easter  holidays. 


Mention 


CECIL  B.  De  MILLE  left  Wash- 
ington last  night  for  Chicago  and 
Hollywood. 

• 

Sgt.  Richard  S.  Raesly,  former 
manager  of  Warners'  Oxford,  Phila- 
delphia, and  Helen  Buote,  former 
circuit  employe,  were  married  at  Lin- 
coln, Neb.,  last  week. 

• 

Ted  Schlanger,  Warner  circuit 
zone  chief  in  Philadelphia,  and  Henry 
Friedman,  exhibitor,  have  been  hon- 
ored with  citations  as  past*  com- 
manders of  the  local  Variety  Club's 
American  Legion  Post. 

• 

Edgar  Moss,  20th  Century-Fox  dis- 
trict manager  in  Philadelphia,  is  en- 
route  to  Florida  to  recuperate  from  a 
recent  operation. 

• 

Francis  Kelly,  head  booker  for 
20th  Century-Fox,  Philadelphia,  was 
presented  with  a  watch  for  25  years 
of  service  at  a  dinner  this  week. 
• 

Vincent  Sherman,  Warner  direc- 
tor, who  has  been  in  the  East  for  the 
past  two  weeks,  plans  to  leave  New 
York  this  weekend  for  the  Coast. 
• 

James  Carey,  manager  of  William 
Goldman's  Hiway,  York,  Pa.,  has  left 
to  enter  the  Army. 

John  A.  Kane,  manager  of  War- 
ners' Ritz,  York,  Pa.,  has  gone  into 
the  armed  forces. 

• 

Roland  Haynes,  manager  of  War- 
ners' Oxford,  Philadelphia,  has  been 
accepted  for  Navy  service. 

Samuel  Rosen,  Monogram  branch 
manager  in  Philadelphia,  is  seriously 
ill  at  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital  in  that  citv. 
• 

Claude  Lee,  Paramount  public  re- 
lations director,  will  leave  today  for 
a  ten-day  visit  in  Florida. 

Alex  L.  Hillman,  fan  magazine 
publisher,  has  returned  to  New  York 
from  four  weeks  on  the  West  Coast. 
• 

Julius  J.  and  Philip  G.  Epstein, 
Warner  producer-playwrights,  expect 
to  return  to  the  Coast  next  week. 
• 

Dennis  Caplin,  Republic  advertis- 
ing production  manager,  will  leave  to- 
morrow for  induction  into  the  Army. 


U.  S.-Schine  Case 

Set  for  April  10 

Buffalo,  April  5. — U.  S.  Govern- 
ment motions  for  appointment  of  a 
trustee  for  nine  Schine  theatres  not 
disposed  of  in  accordance  with  a 
court  order  of  May,  19,  1942,  together 
with  a  counter  motion  by  the  Schine 
Circuit,  for  relief  from  that  order  will 
be  heard  in  U.  S.  District  Court  here 
on  April  10. 

Action  was  deferred  today  until  that 
time  when  a  hearing  on  an  application 
by  the  Schine  interests  to  acquire  the 
Liberty  Theatre  in  Cumberland,  Md., 
also  is  scheduled. 


Film  Witnesses  in 
Butane  Gas  Fraud 


Los  Angeles,  April  5.  —  Gary 
Cooper,  Fox  West  Coast  agency 
officials  and  perhaps  a  dozen  others 
prominent  in  the  film  industry  here 
will  be,  called  as  witnesses  in  a  "war 
fraud"  case  in  Federal  District  Court 
here,  by  James  Harrington,  deputy 
U.  S.  attorney. 

Among  others  expected  to  be  called/ 
are  Louis  B.  Mayer,  William  Goetz?* 
Bob  Hope,  Henry  Hathaway,  Henry 
Spitz  and  Eddie  Cantor. 

Sale  of  Adapters  Charged 

The  information  filed  charges  that 
Lawrence  W.  Zonker,  a  carburetor 
dealer,  sold  Cooper  and  others  butane 
gas  adapter  equipment  for  their  auto- 
mobiles, in  violation  of  War  Produc- 
tion Board  regulations.  Butane  gas, 
a  high  explosive,  is  unrationed.  Cost 
of  the  adapter  equipments  run  as  high 
as  $1,000,  the  information  charged. 

The  investigation  was  prompted  by 
the  recent  trip  to  San  Francisco  of 
petroleum  administrator  Harold  Ickes, 
who  charged,  "California's  allotment 
of  butane,  reserved  for  agricultural 
and  heavy  truck  use,  has  been  exceed- 
ed by  hundreds  of  thousands  of 
gallons." 

Studio  spokesmen  for  Goetz  and 
Spitz  said  today  that  both  had  noti- 
fied the  Office  of  Price  Administration 
of  their  use  of  butane  adaptors  prior 
to  the  Federal  investigation. 

Reelect  Atlas  Board, 
ReduceCapitalization 

Stockholders  of  Floyd  B.  Odium's 
Atlas  Corp.,  meeting  in  Wilmington, 
Del.,  yesterday,  reelected  the  follow- 
ing members  of  the  board  of  directors  : 
Odium  and  L.  Boyd  Hatch  of  Atlas ; 
Harry  M.  Durning,  U.  S.  Collector 
of  Customs,  New  York ;  Oswald  L. 
Johnston,  partner  of  Simpson,  Thac- 
her  &  Bartlett,  and  Samuel  Zemurray, 
president  of  United  Fruit  Co. 

Atlas  stockholders  also  voted  to 
retire  44,567  shares  of  the  company's 
common  stock  held  in  the  treasury  at 
the  end  of  1943,  thereby  reducing  its 
capitalization.  Atlas  controls  approxi- 
mately 46  per  cent  of  the  RKO  voting 
stock  and  has  other  important  film 
interests. 


$1.10  Top  for  'Mark 
Twain*  Roadshow 

The  day-and-date  single-week  run 
of  Warners'  "The  Adventures  of 
Mark  Twain"  in  120  cities  the  week 
beginning  May  4-5  will  have  a  stand- 
ard admission  scale,  with-  $1.10  top. 

The  full  scale  will  be  as  follows : 
afternoons,  adults  75  cents,  service- 
men 40  cents,  children  30  cents ;  even- 
ings, adults  $1.10  (balcony  75  cents), 
servicemen  50  cents,  children  40  cents. 


Zimmerman  Promoted 

Jay  Zimmerman,  former  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  San  Francisco  office 
manager,  has  been  promoted  to  office 
manager  of  the  St.  Louis  branch,  ef- 
fective April  15. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  CIrele  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T  J  Sullivan.  Secretary:  Sherwin  Kane  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham.  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter.  Sept,  23,  1938,  at  the  ppst  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  6.  194-1 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  5 

THE  Society  of  Independent  Mo- 
tion Picture  Producers  has  ex- 
tended a  resolution  of  sympathy  over 
the  death  of  the  late  Myron  Selznick 
to  David  O.  Selznick,  his  brother ;  to 
his  mother,  Mrs.  Florence  Selznick, 
and  to  his  daughter,  Joan  Selznick. 
• 

James  A.  Fitzpatrick  will  complete 
this  season's  commitment  of  12  Trav- 
eltalks  for  M-G-M  with  the  delivery 
of  the  following  five  now  in  the  cut- 
ting room:  "Colorful  Colorado," 
"Monumental  Utah,"  "Roaming 
Through  Arizona,"  "The  King's 
Highway"  and  "City  of  Brigham 
Young." 

• 

James  Mulvey,  vice-president  of 
Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  will  leave  on 
the  Chief  tomorrow  after  three  weeks 
of  conferences  with  Goldwyn,  result- 
ing in  an  increased  radio  exploitation 
budget  for  "Up  in  Arms"  and  an  im- 
mediate advertising  campaign  in  En- 
gland. 

• 

With  the  release  of -the  two-reeler, 
"Main  Street  Today,  John  Nesbitt 
begins  his  seventh  year  as  M-G-M 
commentator  for  the  Passing  Parade 
series.  He  has  made  60  shorts  to 
date,  three  of  them  Academy  winners. 
• 

Jerry  Wald's  production  schedule  at 
Warners  has  been  augmented  by  the 
Rita  Weiman  novel  "One  Man's  Se- 
cret," starring  Ida  Lupino,  Paul 
Lukas  and  Sydney  Greenstreet. 
o 

Ann  Corio,  Monogram  star  now 
working  in  "Call  of  the  Jungle,"  has 
announced  her  forthcoming  marriage 
to  Bob  Williams,  screen  and  night 
club  performer. 

• 

Marc  Lawrence,  former  New  York 
stage  actor,  has  been  signed  by  Sam- 
uel Goldwyn  for  a  role  in  the  Bob 
Hope  Technicolor  comedy,  "Sylvester 
the  Great." 

• 

Edward  Small  has  announced  "Bel- 
ladonna" for  United  Artists  release, 
to  follow  "Abroad  With  Two  Yanks", 
which  is  now  in  production. 

• 

Eugene  O'Xeil,  assistant  to  Jason 
Joy,  20th-Fox  publicist,  has  resigned 
to  join  the  armed  forces. 

• 

Monogram  has  rented  the  Chaplin 
studio  stages  for  the  Katzman-Dietz 
comedy,  "Three  of  a  Kind." 

• 

Charles  Einfeld,  Warners  advertis- 
ing-publicity director,  will  leave  here 
Tuesday  for  the  East. 

• 

Player  Susan  Peters  was  resting 
comfortably  today  following  an  opera- 
tion in  Santa  Monica. 

• 

Universal  has  added  "Gift  of  Gab," 
a  radio  story,  to  Frank  Gross'  sched- 
ule. 

M-G-M  has  announced  "America 
Speaks,"  a  series  of  non-profit  shorts. 


Reviews 


"Meet  the  People" 

{M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  April  5 

C  AVE  in  brilliant  moments  far  apart,  when  specialty  acts  score  per- 
^  sonal  hits  or  production  routines  click  individually,  this  101-minute 
musical  in  black-and-white  reminds  of  M-G-M's  "Thousands  Cheer" 
and  other  recent  Technicolored  song-and-dance  successes  chiefly  by 
contrast.  This  one  sprawls  all  over  the  screen,  as  to  story  and  organiza- 
tion of  material,  utilizing  the  blunderbuss  lather  than  the  rifle  technique 
and  missing  the  target  more  often  than  hitting  it.  It's  a  letdown  for  the 
studio's  recently  high  average  in  this  field  of  entertainment. 

Lucille  Ball,  as  a  stage  star  who  learns  the  lessons  of  democracy  under 
influence  of  a  shipyard  tenor-playwright  she  loves — sung  better  than 
played  by  Dick  Powell — provides  a  performance  sparkling  in  itself  and 
almost  equal  to  the  task  of  carrying  the  picture.  Bert  Lahr  has  some 
funny  moments,  Rags  Ragland  appears  briefly  for  a  sequence  that  takes 
care  of  itself,  and  Virginia  O'Brien  takes  over  for  a  brilliant  solo  stretch 
late  in  the  picture  that  is  worth  more  than  most  else  in  it.  Mata  and 
Hari,  Oriental  dance  team,  and  a  young  woman  who  does  impossible 
acrobatics  with  incredible  ease,  furnish  sequences  that  shine  in  contrast 
with  those  which  precede  and  follow  them. 

The  "common  people"  theme,  which  is  about  all  that's  left  of  the  stage- 
show  on  which  the  film  is  based,  js  retained  in  the  film,  but  time  in  its 
passing  has  deprived  it  of  significance.  At  core,  the  script  tells  of  a  stage 
star  who  learns  that  many  people  are  doing  war  work,  meets  them  and, 
discovering  they  are  human,  finds  she  likes  them  and  joins  their  ranks. 
The  tale  impresses  like  a  reading  of  a  very  old  newspaper. 

Production  is  by  E.  Y.  Harburg,  direction  by  Charles  Riesner,  and  the 
script  is  a  collaboration  by  S.  M.  Herzig  and  Fred  Saidy  based  on  a 
story  by  Sol  and  Ben  Barzman  and  Louis  Lantz.  Harburg  paired  with 
three  lyricists,  Sammy  Fain,  Harold  Arlen  and  Burton  Lane,  to  turn  out 
four  of  the  songs,  Richard  Rodgers  and  Lorenz  Hart  supplying  another, 
Henry  Myers  and  Jay  Gorney  another,  and  Earl  Brent,  singly,  still  an- 
other. The  Fain-Harburg,  "In  Times  Like  These,"  is  the  one  that  stays 
in  memory.  Two  orchestras,  the  Vaughn  Monroe  and  Spike  Jones 
outfits,  deliver  the  musical  merchandise  without  distinction. 

Running  time,  101  mins.-  "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

William  R.  Weaver 


McCabe  Joins  Condon 

Thomas  McCabe,  formerly  assist- 
ant to  David  Bader,  20th  Century- 
Fox  home  office  trade  press  repre- 
sentative, is  now  with  Richard  Con- 
don Associates. 


'Lumberjack" 

(Harry  Shennan-UA) 

Hollywood,  April  5 

THE  53rd  of  the  Hopalong  Cassidy  series  produced  by  Harry  Sher- 
man takes  Hoppy  and  his  Bar-20  pals  away  from  the  cattle  country 
and  into  the  mountainous  timberlands  of  the  Sierra  Nevadas  lying  be- 
tween California  and  Nevada.  There,  in  Western  settings  of  scenic 
grandeur,  Hopalong  and  the  boys  in  "Lumberjack"  frustrate  a  plot  to 
rob  the  recently  widowed  niece  of  the  Bar-20  owner  of  rich  timberlands, 
thereby  also  preventing  dispossession  of  a  group  of  lumberjack  settlers 
to  whom  her  husband  owed  back  wages. 

Bill  Boyd  delivers  his  usual  Hoppy  role  with  strong  support  from 
Andy  Clyde  as  California  and  Jimmy  Rogers  as  Jimmy.  Ellen  Hall 
neatly  fits  the  role  of  the  appealing  young  widow,  while  Douglas  Dum- 
brille  and  Francis  McDonald  are  suave  villians  with  Hal  Taliaferro  as 
their  tough  henchman.  Lesley  Selander  directed  from  a  screenplay  by 
Norman  Houston  and  Barry  Shipman,  with  Russell  Harlan  turning  in 
his  usual  topflight  job  with  the  camera. 

Running  time,  64  mins.    "G."*   Release  date,  not  set. 

Jack  Cartwright 


Chennault  Tribute 
For  Free  Pictures 

Major  General  C.  L.  Chen- 
nault, commander  of  the  14th 
Air  Force,  has  written  from 
China  expressing  "gratitude" 
to  the  industry  for  its  gifts 
of  16-mm  prints  of  current 
films  to  the  Army's  Overseas 
Motion  Picture  Service. 

General  Chennault  wrote : 
"They  are  shown  everywhere, 
from  our  main  bases  in  the 
big  cities  of  Free  China  to 
the  airfields  in  the  little  towns 
on  the  fighting  front.  They  are 
enjoyed  everywhere  and  con- 
stitute a  real  contribution  to 
the  well-being  of  my  men." 


'Memphis  Belle'  Has 
Memphis  Premiere 

Memphis,  April  5. — With  members 
of  the  squadron  crew  of  the  famed 
bomber,  "Memphis  Belle,"  present, 
the  world  premiere  of  "The  Memphis 
Belle,"  U.  S.  8th  Army  Air  Force 
Technicolor  report  describing  the 
ship's  25th  mission  over  Germany, 
was  held  here  tonight  at  the  Malco 
Theatre.  The  film,  released  by  Para- 
mount for  the  Office  of  War  Inform- 
ation through  the  industry's  War 
Activities  Committee,  will  start  regu- 
lar runs  in  the  city's  other  first-run 
houses  immediately. 

Notables  present  earlier  at  a  lunch- 
eon at  the  Peabody  Hotel  included : 
Mayor  Walter  Chandler,  Col.  Stanley 
T.  Wray,  Col.  William  Wyler,  M.  A. 
Lightman,  president  of  Malco  Thea- 
tres ;  Maj .  A.  A.  Schecter  and  Capt. 
Russell  Goring.  High  Army  officers 
attended  the  premiere  in  the  evening. 
Alec  Moss,  Paramount  exploitation 
manager,  Lightman  and  Allan  S. 
Glenn,  Paramount  district  ad  repre- 
sentative here,  handled  the  premiere. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Free  Service  Shows 
Now  Past  25,000  Mark 

Hollywood,  April  5.— The  25,000th 
free  appearance  for  service  men  was 
made  in  March,  according  to  the 
monthly  report  of  the  Hollywood 
Victory  Committee. 

Appearances  during  March  totalled 
1,786  by  366  players  in  194  events, 
including  810  appearances  by  overseas 
units,  583  by  domestic  units  and  130 
additional  for  war  bond  sales,  the 
Red  Cross  and  other  relief  agencies. 
Twenty-two  radio  broadcasts  were 
beamed  overseas,  and  HVC  person- 
alities made  85  transcriptions  for 
foreign  distribution. 


Monogram  Plans  to 
Expand  in  Cuba 

Luis  Sanchez  Amago,  managing  di- 
rector of  Orbe  Films,  Monogram's 
Cuban  distributor,  plans  to  open  sev- 
eral additional  exchanges  throughout 
his  territory. 

Sanchez  Amago  is  now  in  New 
York  conferring  on  new  product. 


N.  Y.  Seeks  Censors 

Examinations  for  placement  as  mo- 
tion picture  inspectors  (censors)  in 
the  New  York  State  education  de- 
partment's film  division  will  be  held 
May  6,  the  state  Civil  Service  office  at 
Albany  has  announced  Deadline  for 
the  filing  of  applications  is  April  18. 


Says  SAG  Limits 
Rolls  to  Aid  Extras 

Hollywood,  April  5.  —  During  the 
past  six  years  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild  has  protected  extras  by  admit- 
ting only  1,128  to  class  "B"  member- 
ship compared  to  8,000  admitted  in 
the  ten  months  prior  to  that  period, 
Pat  Somerset,  SAG  assistant  secre- 
tary, stated  here  today  in  the  National 
Labor  Relations  Board  hearing  on  the 
Screen  Players  Union's  petition  for  a 
collective  bargaining  election. 

Somerset  added  that  24,804  persons 
have  been,  or  are  now,  guild  members, 
with  8,500  at  present  on  active  status. 
The  hearing  will  continue  into  next 
week. 


Mrs.  Winter  Dies; 
Headed  MPPDA  Unit 

Hollywood,  April  5. — Mrs.  Thomas 
G.  Winter,  79,  who  from  1930  until 
1943  was  director  of  studio  and  pub- 
lic service  for  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  Ameri- 
ca, died  today  at  her  home  in  Pasa- 
dena after  a  long  illness. 

Mrs.  Winter  was  president  of  the 
General  Federation  of  Women's  Clubs 
from  1920  to  1924  and  contributing 
editor  of  the  Ladies  Home  Journal 
from  then  until  1928.  She  was  author 
of  several  books  and  made  over  3,000 
speeches  in  all  parts  of  the  country. 


Thursday,  April  6,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


s 


Reviews 


"Weird  Woman" 

(Universal) 

Hollywood,  April  5 

T  N  "Weird  Woman,"  second  of  the  Inner  Sanctum  mysteries,  Univer- 
sal  brings  to  the  screen  a  story  of  violent  conflict  between  fear, 
breeding  ground  of  superstition,  and  reason,  with  jungle  witchcraft 
cunningly  interwoven  to  stress  the  thinness  of  the  veneer  of  culture. 

An  archaeology  professor  weds  a  lovely  island  girl  reared  in  an  atmo- 
sphere of  native  witchcraft  and  returns  with  her  to  his  college  faculty 
circle.  There,  a  modern  woman,  savagely  in  love  with  him,  causes  a 
suicide,  an  accidental  slaying,  and  eventually  falls  prey  to  her  own  fears 
of  the  unknown.  She  strangles  to  death  in  her  efforts  to  escape  when 
witchcraft  of  the  islands  is  employed  to  wring  from  her  a  confession 
of  her  malicious  lies  responsible  for  all  the  trouble. 

Lon  Chaney  delivers  a  thoroughly  creditable  portrayal  of  the  profes- 
sor, ably  supported  by  Anne  Gwynne  as  the  jungle-reared  girl,  and  Eve- 
lyn Ankers  as  the  jealous  woman.  Others  whose  performances  add 
materially  to  the  tense,  well-paced  plot,  are  Elisabeth  Risdon,  Lois  Col- 
lier, Elizabeth  Russell,  Harry  Hayden,  Phil  Brown  and  Kay  Harding. 

Reginald  LeBorg  directed  suspensefully  for  associate  producer  Oliver 
Drake  from  a  screenplay  by  Brenda  Weisberg  based  on  the  Fritz  Leiber, 
Jr.,  novel. 

Running  time,  61  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  April  14. 

Jack  Cartwright 


"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble" 

(M-G-M) 

T  N  "Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble,"  Mickey  Rooney's  life  is  again 
pleasantly  complicated  by  feminine  entanglements,  this  time  a  species 
of  double-trouble  emanating  from  the  persons  of  those  pert,  blonde  twins. 
Lee  and  Lyn  Wilde.  In  the.  story  Rooney  is  a  little  older  but  not  much 
wiser  where  the  fair  sex  is  concerned,  and  makes  his  first  venture  into 
an  adult  world  without  the  wise  counsel  of  Lewis  Stone  to  support  him. 
The  results  consume  107  fleeting  minutes  of  romantic  appeal  and  an 
ado'escent's  honest  bewilderment,  the  whole  heavily  larded  with  many 
laughs. 

On  a  train  bound  for  Wainwright  College,  Mickey  encounters  Bonita 
Granville,  an  attractive  fellow  "freshman"  whose  reserve  to  Mickey's 
amatory  gestures  toward  her  leaves  him  a  bit  disgusted.  Mickey  is 
further  irked  when  "oldish"  Herbert  Marshall,  nearing  fortyish  and  dean 
of  the  college  unbeknownst  to  Mickey,  seems  to  be  more  attractive  to 
Miss  Granville  than  himself.  Mickey's  hurt  is  smoothed  somewhat,  how- 
ever, by  the  balm  administered  by  Lyn  Wilde,  whose  inseparable  twin, 
Lee,  is  also  on  the  train.  Much  of  the  motivation  for  the  screenplay  is 
furnished  by  attempts  of  the  twins  to  pass  themselves  off  as  one  person, 
because  Lyn  is  supposed  to  be  in  Vermont  on  parental  orders.  Mickey's 
romance  with  Miss  Granville  suffers  in  his  attempts  to  help  the  Wilde 
girls  when  their  ruse  is  discovered  by  their  father.  The  complications 
which  result  so  hurt  Mickey's  relations  with  the  dean  that  Mickey  quits 
college  only  to  be  straightened  out  later  upon  the  arrival  of  his  father. 
Rooney  is  his  capable,  cocky  self ;  while  Miss  Granville,  and  the  Wilde 
twins,  whose  appearance  marks  their  first  important  roles,  uphold  the 
standard  set  for  pulchritude  in  Andy  Hardy  films.  Stone,  Fay  Holden 
and  Sara  Haden  continue  their  able  characterizations.  Others  in  the 
cast  are  Jean  Porter,  Keye  Luke  and  Marta  Linden.  Others  in  the 
again  directed  for  M-G-M  with  telling  effect  from  a  screenplay  by  Harry 
Ruskin,  William  Ludwig  and  Agnes  Christine  Johnston. 

Running  time,  107  mins.  "G."*  Release  date,  second  week  in  May, 
in  Block  7.  Charles  Ryweck 


'Harvest  Moon'  Gets 
Shining  $35,400 
To  Top  Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,   April   5. — Business 
this  week  indicates  that  Holy  Week 
and  weekend  rains  are  stronger  com- 
peting factors  than  the  tax.  "Shine 
On,  Harvest  Moon,"  got  off  to  a  big 
.start  at  the  Mastbaum  with  $35,400  in 
ftight,  to  which  is  added  |3,S00  for 
vthe    dual    Sunday    showing    at  the 
Earle.     "The   Miracle   of  Morgan's 
Creek"  continues  big  at  the  Fox,  with 
$25,000  expected  for  its  second  week. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  5-7 : 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

ALDINE — (900)  (85c-$L20)  7  days,  6th 
week.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average:  $14,600). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,650.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 

BOYD— (3,000)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,0C0.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.)  (6  days) 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB)  (1  day) 

EARLE — (3,000)  (50c-6Sc-85c-95c)  6  days  of 
vaudeville,  including  Milt  Britton's  orches- 
tra, Marcy  McGuire,  Arthur  Blake  and 
Allen  &  Kent.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average: 
$27,800). 

"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

FOX— (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $25,000.  (Average: 
$20,500). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

KARLTON — (1,000)      (40c-45c-SOc-65c-75c-  - 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  run.    Gross:  $8,400.  (Av- 
erage: $6,600). 
"Union  Pacific"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days,  reissue.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average: 
$5,800). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

MASTBAUM  —  (4,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c- 
75c-85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $35,400.  (Average: 
$22,500). 

"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fcx) 

STANLEY  —  (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-7Sc- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $14,200.  (Av- 
erage: $20,000). 
"None  Shall  Escape"  (Col.) 

STANTON  —  (1,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Av- 
erage: $9,400). 

RKO  Lost  $91,000 
In  Greenwich,  Claim 

New  Haven,  April  5. —  RKO 
Theatres  lost  $91,000  in  Greenwich 
when  it  operated  the  two  houses 
there  from  Aug.  3,  1930,  to  Feb.  27, 
1933,  according  to  cross-examination 
testimony  by  Harold  E.  Newcomb, 
RKO  assistant  treasurer,  in  the  Pre- 
fect Theatres  anti-trust  trial  in  Fed- 
eral District  Court  here  today. 

The  plaintiffs,  who  placed  New- 
comb  on  the  stand  this  morning  to 
give  records  from  his  company's  books, 
had  charged  that  they  would  show 
RKO  had  made  a  profit,  whereas  the 
later  operation  by  Prefect,  under  al- 
leged unsatisfactory  clearance,  could 
not.  The  RKO  losses,  as  stated  on 
cross-examination,  amounted  to  $56,- 
000  for  the  Pickwick  Theatre  and 
$35,000  for  the  Greenwich  Theatre. 


WB  Honors  Three 

Cleveland,  April  5. — Warner  em- 
ployes here  honored  three  resigning 
theatre  members  at  a  dinner  in  the 
Carter  Hotel  this  week.  Marvin  Sam- 
uelson,  former  manager  of  the  Col- 
ony and  for  the  past  two  years  assist- 
ant to  the  head  booker  in  the  theatre 
department,  will  leave  this  week  for 
the  Marines;  Bud  Friedman,  booking 
office,  reports  next  week  for  Army 
duty,  and  Evelyn  Friedl,  secretary  to 
zone  manager  Nat  Wolf,  will  join  the 
Community  Circuit. 


G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Will  Seek  to  Bring 
Back  Standard  Time 

Washington,  April  5. — Of  interest 
to  hundreds  of  exhibitors  who  have 
long  urged  that  daylight  saving  time 
or  wartime  be  abandoned  in  favor  of 
standard  time  is  Rep.  Clarence  Can- 
non's statement  here  today  that  he 
will  attempt  to  secure  Congressional 
action  in  this  direction  after  the 
Easter  recess. 

Rep.  Cannon  said  that  he  had 
"letters  from  every  State  in  the 
Union  urging  that  daylight  saving 
time  be  abolished." 


Fred  Mitchell,  Loew 
Film  Booker  Dies 

Fred  Mitchell,  71,  a  film  booker  for 
Loew  New  York  Theatres  since 
1914,  died  at  his  home  here  late  Tues- 
day. Mitchell  entered  the  industry 
with  Marcus  Loew  and  David  Bern- 
stein, when  they  formed  the  Huma- 
nova  Company  in  1907. 

Funeral  services  will  be  held  on 
Friday  at  two  p.  m.  at  the  Walter 
Cooke  Funeral  Chapel,  190th  Street 
and  Jerome  Ave.  He  is  survived  by 
his  widow  and  a  son,  Fred  Holland 
Mitchell,  of  the  U.  S.  Navy. 


6  Joe'  Is  $7,800 
Over  As  Chi, 


Hits  Tailspin 


Chicago,  April  5. — "A  Guy  Named 
Joe"  led  here  this  week  by  grossing 
$28,000  at  the  United  Artists  theatre 
in  a  slump  Loop  week,  the  lull  before 
an  expected  Easter  weekend  record. 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  will  switch 
from  the  State-Lake  to  the  Apollo 
Saturday  to  start  the  seventh  week  of 
its  Midwest  roadshow  premiere. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  7 : 

"Lifeboat"  (2ftth-Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,200)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:   $8,0CO.     (Average:  $11,400). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (3,850)    (5Sc-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Stage:  Lou  Breese  and  band.    Gross:  $50,- 
000.     (Average:  $51,500). 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

GARRICK— (1,000)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average:  $9,- 
100). 

"Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 
"Million  Dollar  Kid"  (Mono.) 

GRAND — (1,250)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $9,100). 
"Men  on  Her  Mind"  (PRC) 

ORIENTAL— (3,200)  (44c-55c-60c-8Oc-95c) 
7   days.     Stage:    Louis    Frima   and  band. 
Gross:  $23,000.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"Tender   Comrade"  (RKO) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 
.PALACE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $24,500.    (Average:  $24,- 
000). 

"Purple  Heart"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days.  4th  week.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average: 
$24,000). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

STATE -LAKE— (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c-$1.10) 
7  days,  6th  week.  Gross:  $27,000.  (Aver- 
age: $29,000). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTTSTS—(l,70O)  (55c-65c-95c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $28,000.  (Average:  $20,200). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 

WOODS— (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 


Technicolor  Nets  a 
Record  $1,103,704 


Techniclor,  and  subsidiaries  report 
a  net  profit  of  $1,103,704  for  1943, 
a  new  high  and  equivalent  to  $1.22  a 
share  on  901,205  shares,  compared 
with  $370,355,  or  41  cents  a  share  on 
897,872  shares  in  1942.  Earnings  for 
1943  are  subject  to  renegotiation. 

Net  sales  were  $9,292,927,  highest 
on  record,  comparing  with  $5,797,281 
in  1942.  New  highs  were  also  set  in 
negative  footage  exposed  and  in 
positive  prints  sold.  The  demand  for 
cameras  and  facilities  in  the  latter 
part  of  1943  far  outstripped  capacity, 
according  to  Herbert  T.  Kalmus, 
president  and  general  manager. 

The  company  is  considering  an  ex- 
pansion program  which  would  double 
its  production  capacity  for  the  postwar 
when  priority  and  manpower  restric- 
tions have  been  removed.  This  con- 
templated expansion  would  be  carried 
out  with  the  company's  own  funds. 
The  indirect  investment  in  Technicolor, 
Ltd.,  was  increased  during  1943  to 
$281,458,  consisting  of  51  per  cent  of 
the  capital  stock  of  that  company. 


RKO  Title  Change 

The  title  of  RKO's  "Dangerous 
Age"  has  been  changed  to  "Look  To 
Your  Children."  Ruth  Clifton,  19 
year  old  author  of  the  Moline  Plan 
for  alleviating  juvenile  delinquency, 
was  technical  adviser  on  the  film. 


Maybe  it  was  an  accident  when  Cincinnati  took  in  a 
cool  thousand  MORE  on  opening  day  than  on  the 
record  -  breaking  opening  day  of  the  original  engage- 
ment .  .  .  Perhaps  it  was  coincidence  when  Dayton,  the 
same  week,  blew  the  top  off  the  record,  and  when 
all  those  other  theatres  in  the  great  four  -  state  Pre- 
miere hit  sensational  business  .  .  .  But  when  the  first 
week  at  Keith's,  Washington,  runs  neck  and  neck,  in 
money  and  attendance,  with  the  original  run  there  of 
"Snow  White"  —  and  that  engagement  established  the 
all-time  record  of  the  house,  which  still  stands  —Brother, 
that's  on  purpose!2 


WALT  DISNEY'S 


Full  Length  Feature  Production 


Snow  White 


and  the  SEVEN  DWARFS 


IN  MULTIPLANE  TECHNICOLOR 


Distributed    by    RKO    RADIO    PICTURES,  INC. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  6,  1944 


Reviews 

"Trocadero" 

(Republic) 

<*npROCADERO"  is  Republic's  version  of  the  story  of  the  famous 
Hollywod  night  spot.    It  is  a  veritable  feast  for  swing  addicts, 
although  the  music  clutters  up  the  film  and  makes  for  a  picture  devoid  of 
any  dramatic  value,  with  but  the  bare  suggestion  of  a  story. 

Bob  Chester,  Matty  Malneck,  Gus  Arnheim,  Eddie  LeBaron  and  their 
orchestras  furnish  the  music,  and  in  addition  there  are  Rosemary  Lane, 
Johnny  Downs,  Cliff  Nazarro,  Wingy  Mannone,  The  Stardusters,  Ida 
James,  Patricia  Kay,  Betty  Bradley  and  Jane  Ellison,  who  all  give  out 
with  rhythm  in  one  form  or  another.  Some  of  the  tunes  are  the  currently 
popular,  "Shoo  Shoo  Baby,"  the  fabulous  "Music  Goes  'Round  and 
'Round,"  "In  a  Roundabout  Way"  and  "Can't  Take  the  Place  of  You." 

Rosemary  Lane  and  Johnny  Downs,  adopted  children  of  Charles  Cal- 
vert, the  club's  founder,  who  is  killed  by  an  automobile,  are  left  the  club 
as  a  legacy.  Miss  Lane  and  Ralph  Morgan,  an  old  friend,  struggle  to 
make  the  spot  a  success.  The  Trocadero,  apparently  doomed  to  fold, 
is  salvaged,  however,  when  Sheldon  Leonard,  an  agent,  books  a  swing 
and  rhumba  band.  From  there  on  the  place  becomes  a  byword  in  the 
Coast  entertainment  world.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Dick  Purcell,  Mar- 
jorie  Manners,  Erskine  Johnson,  Dave  Fleischer,  Emmett  Vogan,  Dew- 
ey Robinson,  Ruth  Hilliard,  Eddie  Bartell  and  the  Radio  Rogues.  Wil- 
liam Nigh  directed  from  Allen  Gale's  screenplay  derived  from  an  origi- 
nal story  by  Charles  F.  Chaplin  and  Garret  Holmes.  Walter  Colmes 
was  responsible  for  production. 

Running  time,  74  mins.    'G."*   Release  date,  April  24. 

Charles  Rvweck 


"Hidden  Valley  Outlaws" 

(Republic) 

Hollywood,  April  5 

r>  ILL  ELLIOTT  and  George  (Gabby)  Hayes  display  their  usual  ver- 
satility  as  Western  players  with  punch  as  to  dialogue  and  action, 
whether  in  or  out  of  the  saddle  in  "Hidden  Valley  Outlaws,"  newly  ham- 
mered at  the  forge  of  associate  producer  Louis  Gray.  Howard  Brether- 
ton  directed. 

Injected  as  a  new  type  character  in  this  category,  Earl  Hodgins,  in  the 
role  of  an  out-of-work  Shakespearean  actor  employed  by  the  villians, 
gives  the  plot  an  added  twist  and  provides  the  key  with  which  Elliott  and 
Hayes  unlock  the -mysterious  plottings.  Elliott  and  Gabby  ride  to  the 
rescue  of  a  group  of  ranchers  being  swindled  out  of  their  lands  through 
operations  of  a  band  of  crooked  "head  righters."  They  hang  the  murder 
of  appealing  Anne  Jeffrey's  father  and  brother  on  the  band  and  uncover 
the  mastermind,  a  supposedly  straight  attorney  pretending  to  represent 
the  ranchers.  John  Butler  and  Bob  Williams  scripted  from  an  original 
by  Butler. 

Running  time,  55  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  April  2. 

Jack  Cartwright 

"Arizona  Whirlwind" 

(Monogram) . 

HpHOSE  amiable  stalwarts.  Ken  Maynard,  Hoot  Gibson  and  Bob 
Steele,  are  currently  exhibiting  their  prowess  in  "Arizona  Whirl- 
wind," latest  of  Monogram's  Trail  Blazers.  Producer-director  Robert 
Tansey  has  obviously  not  spared,  the  gunpowder  or  horseflesh  in  this 
one,  which  has  more  than  its  share  of  suspense  and  thrills  for  Western 
devotees.  Tansey  has  directed  at  a  rapid  pace  and  has  even  thrown  in 
some  Indians  in  the  opening  sequences  for  good  measure. 

Ian  Keith,  leader  of  a  band  of  gem  thieves,  has  managed  to  transport 
some  costly  jewels  to  Sonora,  where  they  are  to  be  cut  up  into  smaller 
stones  for  disposal.  The  Trail  Blazers  become  entangled  with  the  gang 
but  do  not  identify  themselves  until  Keith  appears.  Meanwhile,  little 
Donny  Davis  and  Myrna  Dell,  Steele's  heart  throb,  have  penetrated  the 
gang's  machinations.  Donny,  however,  is  trapped  in  the  safe  where 
the  jewels  are  cached,  but  the  Trail  Blazers  return  in  time  to  rescue 
him  before  he  suffocates,  having  first  disposed  of  the  gang  by  some 
fancy  shooting.    Frances  Kavanaugh  did  the  screenplay. 

Running  time,  59  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  March  18. 

Charles  Ryweck 


'Swing  Fever',  Show 
Head  for  $29,000 


Cincinnati,  April  5. — "Swing  Fev- 
er," plus  Martha  Raye,  are  heading 
for  a  healthy  $29,000  at  the  RKO  Al- 
bee.  "Broadway  Rhythm"  should  do 
about  $16,000  at  the  RKO  Palace. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  5-8: 

"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)  (50c-6Oc-85c-95c). 
On  stage:  Martha  Raye,  Condos  Bros., 
The  3  Swifts,  Winter  Sisters  and  Roy 
Smeck.  Gross:  $29,000.  (Average:  $22,000'). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

RKO  CAPITOL — (2,000)  (44c-50c-60c-70c). 
7  days,  2nd  week,  plus  Saturday  midnight 
show.    Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"The  Amazing  Mr.  Forrest"  (PRC) 
"Sundown  Valley"  (Col.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (35c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,350.     (Average:  $1,400). 
"Boss  of  Rawhide"  (PRC) 
"Jive  Junction"  (PRC) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (35c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $800.    (Average:  $800). 
"The  Sullivans"  (ZOth-Fox) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)  (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,   plus    Saturday   midnight   show,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $7,000.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (Goldwyn-RKO) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (44c-50c-70c)  4th  week. 
Gross:  $4,000.    (Average:  $5,000). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

RKO   LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,   plus   Saturday   midnight    show,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $6,000.    (Average:  $4,200). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

RKO    PALACE — (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:  $16,000.  (Average:  $15,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (1,500)  (44c -50c -60c -70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  RKO 
Palace.    Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 


'Desert  Song'  Gets 
$33,000  in  Boston 


Boston,  April  5.  —  Grosses  in  all 
Hub  theatres  remained  high  with  the 
Metropolitan  in  its  second  week  of 
"Desert  Song"  grossing  $33,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6: 

"Desert  Song"  (W.  B.) 

METROPOLITAN-(4,367)  (35c-50c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $33,000.    (Average,  $28,300) 
"Jane  Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Hi,  Good  Lookin'  "  (Univ.) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL  -  (2.900)  (35c-SOc- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average, 
$25,000) 

"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

KEITH  BOSTON— (3,200)  (35c-50c-65c-85c- 
99c)  7  days,  plus  stage  show.    Gross:  $29,- 
700.    (Average,  $30,100) 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

LOEWS  ORPHEUM  —  (2,900)  (35c -50c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $19,200.  (Average. 
$18,300) 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

LOEWS  STATE-(3,200)   (35c-50c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $15,000.    (Average,  $13,200) 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Casanova"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1,700)     (35c-55c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.    (Average,  $13,400) 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Casanova"  (Rep.) 

FENWAY  —  (1,373)  (35c-55c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $8,300) 
"Courageous  Mr.  Penn"  (British) 

MAJESTIC—  (1,400)   (35c-55c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,400.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"The  Million  Dollar  Kid"  (Mono) 
"Trans-Atlantic  Tunnel"  (British) 

TRANS  LUX— (900)  r25c-45c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.    (Average,  $6,500) 


Film  Players  on  Stage 

John  Golden's  ".  .  .  But  Not  Good- 
bye" will  open  next  Tuesday  evening 
at  the  48th  St.  Playhouse,  New  York, 
with  Harry  Carey,  film  player,  in  the 
lead.  The  play  was  written  by  George 
Seaton,  author  of  the  screenplay  for 
"Song  of  Bernadette,"  and  will  be  di- 
rected by  Richard  Whorf,  film  actor, 
director  and  set  designer.  Other  film 
players  who  will  appear  in  the  show 
are  Elizabeth  Patterson,  J.  Pat 
O'Malley  and  Hal  K.  Dawson. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Miller  to  M-G-M 

French  Miller,  office  manager  at  the 
M-G-M  exchange  in  St.  Louis,  has 
been  transferred  to  the  sales  force, 
effective  April  15.  J.  H.  Zimmerman, 
former  office  manager  at  the  M-G-M 
San  Francisco  exchange,  will  succeed 
Miller. 


Roshon  to  New  York 

The  Russell  C.  Roshon  Organiza- 
tion, distributor  of  16mm  sound  films, 
has  transferred  executive  headquar- 
ters from  Pittsburgh  to  the  RKO 
building,  New  York.  The  organiza- 
tion, headed  by  Russell  C  Roshon, 
operates  16  branch  offices. 


Toronto  Business 
In  Sharp  Drop 


Toronto,  April  5. — "Song  of  Rus- 
sia" was  running  to  a  gross  of  $10,700 
during  Holy  Week  at  Loew's  Theatre 
and  "The  Uninvited,"  in  its  second 
week  at  Shea's  Theatre,  was  bidding 
for  $10,300. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6 : 

"Talk  About  Jacqueline"  (British)  i 
"Coastal  Command"  (British)  ( 

EGLINTON  —  (1,086)    (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6^ 
days.    Gross:  $3,500.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"The  North  Star"  (RKO) 

IMPERIAL— (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $11,800.    (Average,  $12,800) 
"Song  of  Russia"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  —  (2,074)    (18c -30c -42c -60c -90c)  6 
days.    Gross;  $10,700.    (Average,  $11,200) 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

SHEA'S  —  (2,480)    (18c -30c -42c -60c -90c)  6' 
days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $10,300.  (Average, 
$12,800) 

"The  Good  Fellows"  (Para.) 
"Old  Acquaintance"  (W.  B.) 

TIVOLI—  (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $3,900.    (Average,  $4,400') 
"Cry  'Havoc'"  (M-G-M) 
"Moonlight  In  Vermont"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN  —  (2,761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $8,800.    (Average,  $9,800) 

'Television  Lacks 
Trained  Writers' 

Radio  writers  can  take  television 
in  their  stride  if  they  can  develop  a 
"picture  sense,"  members  of  the  Radio 
W riters  Guild  were  told  here  this  week 
by  Richard  Hubbell,  television  writer- 
director,  at  a  meeting  of  the  Guild  in 
the  CBS  studio  building. 

"Television  is  technically  ready  to 
go  ahead  but  there  will  be  serious 
bottlenecks  in  trained  directors  and 
writers  because  of  the  lack  of  program 
development  work  by  television  broad- 
casters," Hubbell  declared  in  stressing 
that  film  and  radio  writers  might  form 
the  nucleus  of  necessary  writing  tal- 
ent. Hubbell.  formerly  a  television- 
director-writer  for  CBS,  has  television 
relations  with  N.  W.  Ayer,  Fortune 
and  Life  magazines. 

TEA  Board  Approves 
12  New  Memberships 

Board  of  directors  of  Television 
Broadcasters  Association  has  approved 
12  new  memberships  in  the  recently- 
formed  organization.  Admitted  to  ac- 
t  i  v  e  memberships  are :  National 
Broadcasting,  for  television  stations  in 
New  York,  Washington  and  Chicago ; 
General  Electric,  Schenectady ;  Phil- 
co,  for  Chicago;  Don  Lee  Broadcast- 
ing, Los  Angeles  and  Crosley  Corp., 
Cincinnati. 

Affiliate  memberships  voted  include 
North  American  Philips,  Time,  Inc., 
RCA-Victor,  Capitol  Radio  and  En- 
gineering and  Midland  Broadcasting. 


LaNoce  Back  at  Capitol 

Howard  LaNoce  has  returned  to 
the  New  York  Capitol  as  stage  man- 
ager, replacing  E.  K.  Nadel,  resigned. 
La  Noce  left  the  Capitol  when  stage 
acts  were  taken  out  several  years  ago. 
Producer  Harry  A.  Gourfain,  who  re- 
signed to  become  producer  for  Con- 
stance Bennett,  will  be  replaced  by 
Alan  Zee,  formerly  an  executive  of 
WHN. 


Roxy  Sold  $757,625 

The  Roxy  Theatre  here  reports  that 
7,389  war  bonds,  worth  $757,625,  were 
sold  in  the  period  from  Jan.  1  to  Feb. 
29,  bringing  the  Roxy  grand  total  to 
$1,500,000  for  the  four  war  loan  drives. 


1 


3k  LARGEST  GAIN  IN 
THE  SCREEN  FIELD! 


MOVI ELAND'S  CIRCULATION  STEPS  UP 

(In  the  Last  Six  Months  of  1943) 

To  521,104  Monthly  Average  Net  Paid 

AN  INCREASE  OF  203,158  COPIES,  or 

63.9%  OVER  THE  FIRST  SIX  MONTHS 

OF  1943  (As  Shown  bv  A.B.C  Publishers' Statements) 

MOVI  ELAND  (HILLMAN  WOMEN'S  GROUP) 


HAROLD  HUTCHINS,  ADVERTISING  DIRECTOR 

HILLMAN  PERIODICAL  BUILDING,  1476  B'WAY,  NEW  YORK  I8,N.Y. 

333  N.  MICHIGAN  AVENUE,  CHICAGO  I 

9126  SUNSET  BOULEVARD,  LOS  ANGELES  46 


L 


11) 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  6,  1944 


U.  A.  Executive  Picture 
Slated  to  Be  Clarified 


Hollywood 


ThantomLady1 
$42,500  in  L.A. 
Dual  Strong 


Los  Angeles,  April  5. — Exhibitors 
generally  reported  no  drop  in  patron- 
age because  of  the  new  tax  rates. 
"Phantom  Lady"  and  "The  Impos- 
tor," playing  Fox  West  Coast's 
Egyptian-Los  Angeles-Ritz  three- 
some, displayed  most  strength  among 
the  newcomers,  getting  about  $42,500 
where  $33,100  is  average  : 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  5 : 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,800.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

CHINESE — (2,500)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $15,000.    (Average:  $15,500). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

EGYPTIAN— (1,500)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $12,500.     (Average:  $9,500). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (Zttth-Fox) 

FOUR  STAR— (900)  (85c-$1.10)  7  days, 
8th  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average:  $7,- 
570). 

"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"Cowboy  and  the  Senorita"  (Rep.) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average:  $6,200). 
"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 
"Hi  Good  Lookin'  "  (Univ.)  . 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)  (50c-6Oc-8Oc-$1.0O) 
7  days.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average:  $19,- 
700). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $27,000.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,098)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average: 
$14,900). 

"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 

"Hi  Good  Lookin' "  (Univ.) 

FANTAGES— (2,000)  (50c-6Oc-8Oc-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average:  $16,700). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT   HOLLYWOOD  —  (9,000) 
(50c-60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$10,500.    (Average:  $11,000). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT     DOWNTOWN  —  (3,595) 
(50c-60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$16,500.     (Average:  $20,300). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $8,700). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)     (50c-60c-85c-$l.OO)  7 
days.     Gross:  $10,500.     (Average:  $20,500). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

WARNERS  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days,  4th  week.    Gross:  $11.- 
502.     (Average:  $17,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

WARNERS  DOWNTOWN— (3,400)  (50c- 
6Oc-80c-$1.00)  7  days,  4th  week.    Gross:  $14,- 
228.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

WARNERS  WILTERN— (2,200)  (50c-60c 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $11.- 
462.    (Average:  $15,200). 


New  Baltimore  Theatre 

Baltimore,  April  5. — Morton  Ro- 
sen, owner  of  the  local  Windsor  the- 
atre and  part  owner  of  the  Monroe, 
is  associated  with  Edward  Perotka  in 
the  building  of  a  new  theatre,  the  Vic- 
tory, which  has  been  partly  completed 
at  Brooklyn,  a  war  plant  center  on 
the  outskirts  of  this  city. 


CAPABLE  MANAGER 

Theatre  Executive  —  Buyer  — 
Booker  —  Publicist  —  available 
Apr.  20  for  independent  or  cir- 
cuit operation.  Prefer  percent- 
age deal,  permanency  desired. 
...  Box  219,  Motion  Picture  Daily. 


(.Continued  from  page  1^ 

ported  here  yesterday  that  Agnew  may 
be  offered  a  United  Artists  vice-presi- 
dency and  a  place  on  the  company's 
board  of  directors  as  Selznick's  repre- 
sentative. Efforts  to  obtain  confirma- 
tion of  the  report  were  unsuccessful. 
Sears  is  the  Selznick  board  represen- 
tative now. 

The  session,  according  to  the  New 
York  reports,  also  is  scheduled  to 
name  a  head  of  international  distribu- 
tion for  United  Artists ;  a  director  of 
advertising,  publicity  and  exploitation 
for  the  company,  and  a  managing  di- 
rector for  Great  Britain. 

Gould  on  Coast 

■  Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  for- 
eign manager,  is  now  on  the  Coast. 
He  has  been  in  charge  of  the  interna- 
tional department,  reporting  directly 
to  the  U.  A.  board,  since  the  resigna- 
tion of  Arthur  W.  Kelly,  two  months 
ago.  The  post  occupied  by  Kelly  has 
remained  unfilled.  Paul  Lazarus,  Jr., 
advertising-publicity  director,  will  re- 
port for  military  service  tomorrow. 
No  successor  has  been  named  to  his 
post  yet.  The  post  of  managing  di- 
rector for  the  company  in  Britain  is 
being  filled  on  a  temporary  basis  by 
David  H.  Coplan,  Canadian  United 
Artists  manager. 

Raftery  abandoned  plans  to  return 
to  New  York  to  spend  Easter  with 
his  family  in  order  to  attend  the  Mon- 
day session,  it  was  reported  here. 


George  J.  Schaefer  conferred  yes- 
terday with  Barney  Balaban,  Para- 
mount president.  Neither  of  the  con- 
ferees could  be  reached  for  interroga- 
tion subsequently.  Schaefer's  name 
has  been  linked  with  an  appointment 
to  an  executive  post  in  Paramount 
since  the  withdrawal  of  Neil  Agnew 
as  vice-president  in  charge  of  distribu- 
tion.   When  queried  concerning  the 


'Heart'  Gets  Hearty 
$20,000  in  St  Louis 

St.  Louis,  April  5. — Fears  that  the 
few  Federal  tax  might  discourage 
usiness  faded  this  week  as  attend- 
nce  held  up  here.  "The  Purple 
-feart"  at  the  Fox  is  out  in  front  with 
"<20,000,  and  "Cry  Havoc"  at  Loew's 
:s  a  close  second  with  $19,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  5 : 

"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)     (40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $18,000.     (Average:  $15,700). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Averag'e: 
$18,900). 

"The  Purple  Heart"  (2ttth-Fox) 
"Henry  Aldrich,  B*y  Scout"  (Para.) 

FOX— (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$20,000.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)     (75c-$1.10)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average:  $9,900). 
"Rationing"  (M-G-M) 
"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c)  7  days.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average:  $7,- 
100). 

"Women  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 
"Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

SHUBERT—  (1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Frisco  Kid"  (WB) 
"Lifeboat"  (20th-Fox) 

ST.  LOUIS— (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,200.     (Average:  $5,200). 


reports  recently,  Schaefer  said:  "The 
matter  has  not  been  discussed  with 
me." 


Selznick  Tying  Future 
To  UA,  O'Shea  Declares 

Hollywood,  April  5.  —  David  O. 
Selznick  is  tying  his  future  to  United 
Artists  despite  what  were  described 
as  "rumors"  to  the  contrary  in  a 
statement  issued  here  today  from 
Daniel  T.  O'Shea,  Vanguard  president. 

"It  must  be  apparent  to  everyone 
that  recent  activities  of  the  Selznick 
enterprises  have  indicated  plans  for 
a  greatly  expanded  operation,"  he 
said.  "However,  Vanguard  is  25  per- 
cent owner  of  UA  and  has  a  long 
term  releasing  deal  and  we  have  no 
plans  contemplating  any  change  in 
this  status. 

Indicating  that  Neil  Agnew  will 
join  Vanguard  immediately,  O'Shea 
said  the  former  will  arrive  here  next 
week  to  confer  with'  Edward  C. 
Raftery  and  Gradwell  Sears,  and  to 
look  "towards  ways  and  means  of 
building  still  further  UA's  program 
and  toward  utilizing  our  assets  for 
the  benefit  of  the  program  as  a  whole." 

Comments  on  Wallis 

O'Shea  also  took  cognizance  of 
Hollywood  reports  that  Hal  Wallis 
had  made  a  deal  with  Selznick. 
"Candidly,  we  would  welcome  the 
opportunity  to  have  him  associated 
with  us.  When  we  heard  of  difficul- 
ties between  Wallis  and  Jack  Warner, 
we  advised  Wallis  of  our  interest,  if 
and  when  he  should  become  available 
and  Wallis  advised  us  he  would  be 
glad  to  talk  to  us  at  such  a  time,  but 
that  he  was  still  under  contract," 
O'Shea  said. 

Meanwhile,  Jack  Chertok  was 
placed  in  charge  of  "The  Conspira- 
tors," the  only  Wallis"  film  at  present 
in  production  at  Warners. 

Pollock  Heads  U.A. 
Ad-Publicity  ProTem 

Direction  of  United  Artists'  home 
office  advertising,  publicity  and  ex- 
ploitation department  will  be  taken 
over  temporarily  by  Lou  Pollock  fol- 
lowing the  departure  of  Paul  Lazarus, 
Jr.,  for  Army  service  tomorrow,  un- 
til such  time  as  a  permanent  successor 
to  Lazarus  is  named. 

Pollock,  former  Eastern  advertising, 
publicity  and  exploitation  director  for 
Universal,  joined  United  Artists  sev- 
eral months  ago  as  assistant  to  Laza- 
rus. With  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  U.A. 
vice-president  and  distribution  chief, 
and  Edward  C.  Raftery,  U.A.  presi- 
dent, engaged  for  the  past  several 
weeks  in  company  conferences  on  the 
Coast,  the  naming  of  a  successor  to 
Lazarus  has  been  delayed. 


Lasky  to  Be  Honored 

Hannibal,  Mo.,  April  5. — Jesse 
Lasky,  producer  of  Warners'  "The 
Adventures  of  Mark  Twain,"  will  be 
made  an  honorary  citizen  of  this  town 
and  will  receive  a  scroll  from  the 
Propeller  Club  of  America,  Port  of 
St.  Louis,  at  a  reception  April  18  in 
the  Mark  Twain  Hotel,  St.  Louis. 
Carl  Post,  recently  appointed  publicity 
director  for  Warners  in  St.  Louis,  is 
in  charge  of  the  promotion. 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  5 

UNIVERSAL,  cooperating  with  the 
Marine  Corps  League,  held  a  bene- 
fit preview  of  "Gung  Ho"  at  the 
Hollywood  Pantages  the  other  night 
so  swing-shift  workers  in  war  plants 
could  attend.  .  .  .  Alfred  Hitchcock  \4 
busy  preparing  to  start  production  on* 
"House  of  Dr.  Edwards"  for  Van- 
guard. .  .  .  William  Perlberg  has  re- 
turned from  the  East  and  is  consider- 
ing Maureen  O'Hara  for  the  lead  in 
"State  Fair,"  Technicolor  musical.  .  .  . 
"The  Black  Parachute"  is  the  new 
title  for  Columbia's  "Mission  36."  .  .  . 
Armand  Schafer,  executive  producer 
at  Republic,  plans  to  use  considerable 
radio  talent  in  "Sing,  Neighbor, 
Sing,"  which  Don  Brown  will  pro- 
duce with  Frank  McDonald  directing. 


When  Warners  premiere  "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain"  at  the  Hol- 
lywood Theatre  in  New  York  on  May 
3  they  will  have  presented  17  biogra- 
phical films  to  date.  The  first  of  this 
cycle  was  "My  Four  Years  in  Ger- 
many," story  of  Ambassador  Gerard, 
produced  in  1916.  Biographical  pic- 
tures will  figure  just  as  prominently 
in  the  future  with  nine  more  set  for 
1944-45  release  or  beyond.  One  of 
the  first  out  will  be  "Rhapsody  in 
Blue,"  the  life  of  George  Gershivin, 
scheduled  for  release  late  in  the  Sum- 
mer. 

• 

Nunnally  Johnson,  presently  in 
the  East  while  between  pictures  for 
International,  has  offered  his  serv- 
ices to  the  Navy  Department  as 
civilian  writer.  This  does  not  mean 
he  will  give  up  his  studio  connec- 
tion, however,  according  to  William 
Goetz.  .  .  .  Mack  Gordon  is  at  work 
with  Harry  Warren  on  the  score  for 
"Diamond  Horseshoe,"  Technicolor 
musical  at  20th-Fox.  .  .  .  Stanley 
Davis  has  finished  the  final  script 
of  "See  My  Lawyer,"  next  Olsen 
and  Johnson  comedy  af  Universal, 
which  is  scheduled  to  roll  April  10. 


'Tarzan,'  Show  Net 
$19,500  in  Baltimore 

Baltimore,  April  5.  —  Business  is 
spotty  this  week  with  a  rainy  weekend 
plus  pre-Easter  shopping  and  Holy 
week  regarded  as  influences.  Top  fig- 
ures go  to  "Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery" 
plus  a  strong  stage  show,  which  is 
good  for  $19,500  at  the  Hippodrome. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6: 

"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (U.  A.) 

CENTURY— (3.000)  (35c-43c-55c  and  60c 
weekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,000.  Aver- 
age, $16,000) 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2,406)  (35c-43c-55c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average,  $13,900) 
"Jane  Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)  (30c-40c-60c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
$12,000.    (Average,  $10,300) 
"The  Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep.) 

STANLEY  —  (3,280)  (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average, 
$16,900) 

"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME:  (2,205)  (35c -44c -55c -65c) 
7  days.  Stage  show:  Mitchell  Ayres  and 
Orchestra,  The  Little  Tough  Guys,  Dixie 
Dunbar.  Gross:  $19,500.  (Average,  $17,500) 
"Cowboy  Canteen"  (Col.) 

MAYFAIR  —  (1,000)     (20c-40c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average,  $6,400) 
"South  of  Pago  Pago"  (Small-U.  A.) 

MARYLAND  —  (1,400)  (25c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average,  $7,500) 


Thursday,  April  6,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Pittsburgh  Slumps; 
'Uninvited'  Strong 


Pittsburgh,  April  5. — The  usual 
Holy  Week  slump  was  responsible  for 
slackening  of  attendance  here  this 
week.  Best  comparative  business  was 
done  at  the  Ritz,  where  "The  Un- 
invited," a  holdover,  brought  $5,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  4-7: 

•SfPhimtom  Lady"  (Univ.) 

FULTON  —  (1,700)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  clays. 
"Gross:  $6,000.    (Average:  $8,100). 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

HARRIS — (2,200)     (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average:  $10,100). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

FENN — (3,400)      (35c-44c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $18,500.    (Average:  $19,800). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

RITZ— (1,100)    (35c-44c-65c)    7   days,  2nd 
week,  moveover  from  Perm.    Gross:  $5,000. 
(Average:  $2,700). 
"Swingtime  Johnny"  (Univ.) 
"Nine  Girls"  (Col.) 

SENATOR— (1,750)    (35c-44c-65c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $2,600.     (Average:  $3,400). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY — (3,800)  (35c-44c-6Sc)  7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.  (Average:  $20,900,  with 
stage  show). 


20th-Fox  '43  Net 
Hits  $12,900,000 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

$756,000  on  the  42  per  cent  of  Na- 
tional stock  then  owned  by  20th. 

The  20th-Fox  consolidated  net  profit 
for  1943  exclusive  of  National's  por- 
tion, equals  $5.37  per  share  on  the 
common  stock. 

The  net  profit  figure  for  last  year 
was  arrived  at  after  deducting  a  $23,- 
800,000  provision  for  Federal  income 
and  excess  profits  taxes  and  $1,400,- 
000  net  profit  applicable  to  minority 
interests.  The  deduction  for  taxes  in 
1942  was  $7,460,000.  The  operating 
profit  prior  to  all  deductions  was  $38,- 
100,000  in  1943  and  $18,069,000  in 
1942. 

For  the  fourth  quarter  of  1943,  the 
estimated  consolidated  net  profit  after 
all  charges  was  $3,700,000,  compared 
with  $3,343,849  for  the  third  quarter 
of  that  year  and  $3,353,071  for  the 
fourth  quarter  of  1942. 


Harry  Mandel  to 
Promote  Wac  Drive 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

week  of  May  11-17,  and  will  mark 
the  second  time  that  the  Alperson- 
Mandel  combination  has  functioned  in 
a  national  WAC  war  project,  their 
previous  effort  being  United  Nations 
Week  last  year,  in  which  more  than 
$1,625,000  was  raised  for  the  relief 
of  America's  allies. 

Alperson  and  Mandel  will  negotia- 
ate  with  Col.  Curtis  Mitchell,  chief  of 
the  Army's  bureau  of  public  relations' 
pictorial  branch,  to  secure  the  services 
of  a  former  film  star  now  in  the  ser- 
vice, to  appear  in  a  special  trailer. 
Meanwhile,  Mandel  has  been  meeting 
with  military  officials  connected  with 
recruiting  in  the  Women's  Army 
Corps,  so  that  a  special  campaign 
book  can  be  prepared  for  exhibitors. 


S  hour  as  Radio  Show 

"This  Is  Our  Cause,"  Skouras 
Theatres'  weekly  radio  show  here,  will 
feature  a  special  Easter  -  Passover 
program  on  Sunday  night  over  WINS, 
the  Skouras  war  effort  department 
reported  yesterday. 


$1,440,000 for  Red  Cross 
From  First  3,600  Houses 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

J.  Payette's  report  on  the  District  of 
Columbia  area,  which  took  in  $85,528, 
or  nearly  double  the  1943  figure.  Pay- 
ette, co-chairman  of  the  local  exhibiT 
tor  committee  for  the  drive,  also  point- 
ed out  that  in  personal  solicitations, 
against  a  quota  of  $10,000,  a  total  of 
$17,000  was  collected  from  theatre  and 
exchange  employes,  with  another  $500 
possible. 

C.  J.  Latta,  zone  manager  for  War- 
ner theatres  in  Albany,  reported  $20,- 
788  collected  in  24  houses  under  his 
jurisdiction,  compared  with  approxi- 
mately $10,000  last  year.  Arthur 
Frudenfeld  of  RKO  Theatres,  Cin- 
cinnati, exhibitor  chairman  of  that  ex- 
change area,  reported  $58,850  for  156 
theatres  that  have  sent  in  returns  to 
date.  In  cooperation  with  local  dis- 
tributor chairman  Harris  Dudelson, 
salesmen  from  film  companies  will 
contact  other  exhibitors  who  signed 
pledges,  but  who  have  not  yet  made 
reports  in  an  effort  to  hasten  a  com- 
plete return  from  the  Southern  Ohio 
area. 

Lou  Golding,  exhibitor  chairman  in 
Albany,  reported  for  Si  Fabian's  up- 


state theatres,  in  Cohoes,  Catskill,  Al- 
bany, Troy  and  Schenectady,  which 
collected  $16,475  in  the  1944  campaign, 
against  $8,000  last  year. 

The  Capitol  Theatre  on  Broadway 
here  took  in  $10,585,  approximately 
double  the  amount  of  last  year.  Radio 
City  Music  Hall  reported  $16,062, 
which  is  also  ahead  of  1943.  Fred 
Schwartz  of  the  Century  Circuit  has 
reported  approximately  $35,000, 
against  $18,134  collected  last  year. 
Don  Jacocks  stated  that  his  zone  of 
Warner  houses  in  New  Jersey,  con- 
sisting of  about  50  theatres,  collected 
$35,000  in  1943  and  $67,000  in  1944. 

Harry  Arthur,  exhibitor  chairman 
for  St.  Louis,  reported  a  collection  of 
$92,549  against  last  year's  $34,000. 
This  is  for  112  theatres  and  includes 
Southern  Illinois,  which  turned  in 
$10,917,  and  Eastern  Missouri,  $7,415. 


Roxy  Collects  $21,162 

The  personnel  of  the  Roxy  Theatre 
here,  assisted  by  volunteers  from  Beth 
Israel  Hospital,  collected  $21,162  for 
the  Red  Cross  during  the  19-day  drive 
ending  last  Sunday  night,  the  man- 
agement reported  yesterday. 


Studios  in  Accord 
With  IATSE  'Props' 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

sound  men  and  general  laborers  and 
utility  men. 

Once  the  producers  reach  accords 
with  all  IATSE  locals  they  will  then 
attempt  to  reach  agreement  on  several 
general  proposals  affecting  all  11 
IATSE  studio  locals  which  have  not 
yet  been  settled.  Among  these  are 
the  questions  of  seniority  rights,  sick- 
leave  with  pay,  and  allowance  for  time 
spent  on  location.  The  length  of  the 
new  agreement  is  another  point  which 
remains  to  be  settled. 

General  feeling  among  the  IATSE 
representatives  is  that  the  producers 
are  reluctant  to  grant  concessions  to 
them  which  they  might  ordinarily  have 
granted  in  view  of  the  fact  that  these 
concessions  will  also  have  to  be  grant- 
ed to  locals  which  are  signatories  to 
the  studio  basic  labor  agreement  and 
to  the  Studio  Conference  locals,  both 
groups  having  reached  agreements 
with  the  producers  on  this  basis.  In- 
stead of  granting  concessions  to  the 
14,000  IATSE  studio  workers  they 
would  be  granting  them  to  some  25,- 
000  studio  workers. 


Schwalberg  to  Join 
International  May  1 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

traveling  auditor.  Subsequently  he 
was  contract  manager  for  First  Na- 
tional, and  was  named  supervisor  of 
Vitagraph  exchanges  in  1932.  He  was 
made  vice-president  of  Vitagraph  in 
1942. 

International  had  negotiated  earlier 
with  James  A.  Mulvey,  vice-president 
of  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  but  no 
agreement  was  reached.  International 
concluded  a  deal  recently  by  which 
RKO  Radio  will  handle  distribution 
of  a  minimum  of  four  productions. 
RKO  Radio  also  distributes  for 
Goldwyn. 


Robert  Hussey  Resigns 

Hollywood,  April  5. — Robert  Hus- 
sey, Universal's  director  of  radio  ex- 
ploitation here,  has  resigned.  He  will 
leave  his  post  on  Friday  to  join 
the  Young  and  Rubicam  advertising 
agency  here. 


Financing  Waiting 
For  Wallis— Report 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  producer's  negotiations  for  a  new 
association.  Warners  contended  that 
Wallis  had  failed  to  comply  with  the 
terms  of  his  contract  which,  it  is 
said,  had  one  more  year  to  run.  A 
denial  was  entered  for  Wallis  in 
Hollywood  by  his  attorney,  Loyd 
Wright,  who  said  that  the  contract 
had  been  fully  complied  with  and  that 
Wallis  had  been  negotiating  with 
Warners  for  a  mutually  agreeable 
termination  of  the  pact  when  the  con- 
tract was  abrogated. 

Attorneys  said  that  Wallis  might 
find  it  expedient  now  to  seek  declar- 
atory judgment  of  the  courts  on  the 
status  of  his  contract  before  proceed- 
ing with  future  negotiations. 


Slumber g,  Cowdin  to 
Be  Reelected  Today 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
J.  O'Connor,  vice-president  and  as- 
sistant to  the  president;  Samuel 
Machnovitch,  treasurer  and  assistant 
secretary ;  Adolph  Schimel  and  Ed- 
ward Muhl,  assistant  secretaries ; 
Margaret  M.  Sullivan,  assistant  sec- 
retary -  treasurer,  and  Eugene  F. 
Walsh  and  Harold  S.  Brewster, 
assistant  treasurers. 

O'Connor  is  due  to  arrive  in  New 
York  today  from  the  Coast  in  time 
for  the  board  meeting.  Blumberg  will 
leave  New  York  tomorrow  for  Holly- 
wood. 


HAND 
OF  A 

FRIEND 


Ours  is  an  unusual  business  —  as 
businesses  go.   Our  "stock  in 
trade"  is  service  .  .  .  the  service 
of  skilled  hands,  mechanical  in- 
genuity and   experience.  When 
new  equipment  appears  on  the 
market  we  will  be  prepared  to 
analyze  your  requirements 
based   upon   our   years  of 
research   and  development  in 
this  field.    An  Altec  Service  In- 
spector will   gladly  explain  how 
our  experienced  staff  can  help 
prevent  breakdown  losses. 

jLTEC 

250  WEST  57th  STREET,  NEW  YORK  19,  N.  Y. 
Protecting  the  theatre  —  Our  "first  line  of  morale" 


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COLUMBIA 

HEY  ROOKIE 
Ann  Miller 
Joe  Besser 
Larry  Parks 

C — 77  mins. 

TWO-MAN 
SUBMARINE 

Tom  Neal 
Ann  Savage 
J.  Carroll  Naish 

D — 62  mins. 

SUNDOWN 
VALLEY 
Cliarles  Starrett 
Jeanne  Bates 
Walter  "Dub" 
Taylor 
O — 55  mins. 

THE  WHISTLER 

Richard  Dix 
Gloria  Stuart 

1)  -59  mins. 

COVER  GIRL 

(Technicolor) 
Rita  Hayworth 
Gene  Kelly 
Phil  Silvers 
Jinx  Falkenburg 
M— 107  mins. 
JAM  SESSION 
Ann    Miller  1 
Jess  Barker 
M — 80  mins. 

GIRL  IN  THE 
CASE 
Janue  Carter 
Edmund  Lcwe  l> 
WYOMINU 
HURRICANE  O 
Russell  Hayden 

THE  BLACK 
PARACHUTE 
Larry  Parks 
Jeanne  Bates 
John  Carradine 
Osa  Massen 
D 

ONCE  UPON 
A  TIME 

Cary  Grant 
Janet  Blair 
James  Gleason— D 

DEATH  TO  THE 
INVADER 

(British) 
John  Clements 
Mary  Morris 
D 

RIDIN'  WEST 
Charles  Starrett 
Shirley  Patterson 

O 

-d 

JO 

1 

5- 

1  s  ~ 

1  s  * 

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&  00 

< 

1  ^ 

<J 

1— s 

<  - 

April 
29 

1  » 

I4  0 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


OL.  55.  NO.  69 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  APRIL  7,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


WILLIAM  FOX  BACK 
IN  BUSINESS  AGAIN 


Opens  N.  Y.  Office,  Plans 
25  Features  Yearly;  to 
Operate  from  Coast 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 

William  Fox,  an  aggressive, 
young-old  man,  looking  remark 
able  fit  and  vigorous  for  one  who 
already  was  established  in  the  in- 
dustry at  the  turn  of  the  century, 
is  resuming  where  he  left  off,  14 
years  ago  today. 

Just  returned  from  a  West  Coast 
visit  where,  among  other  things,  he 
took  an  option  on  a  1,500-acre  site 
for  what  he  believes  will  be  the  finest 
and  most  modern  studio  and  home 
office  buildings  in  the  industry,  Fox 
said  of  his  new  project  yesterday: 
"I  have  never  been  more  se- 
rious about  anything  in  my  life. 
Those  who  are  betting  I  won't 
do  it  will  lose." 

It  was  14  years  ago,  on  April  7, 
1930,  that  Fox  disposed  of  his  inter- 
est in  Fox  Film  Corp.,  an  industry 
keystone  without  peer  in  its  heyday 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


See  Need  for 
22  Theatres 


Washington,  April  6.— Need  for 
additional  theatre  facilities  at  a  large 
number  of  war-manufacturing  and 
Army  camp  points  throughout  the 
country  was  indicated  today  by  the 
Federal  Works  Agency,  which  dis- 
closed that  22  of  267  new  war  public 
works  and  service  projects  just  ap- 
proved by  President  Roosevelt  consist 
of  recreational  facilities. 

Most  of  the  projects  are  designed 
for  the  benefit  of  members  of  the 
armed  forces,  in  most  cases  because 
the  recreational  facilities  of  the  area 
are  limited  in  scope  and  capable  of 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Mike  Dolid  to  Head 
Warners'  Exchanges 

Mike  Dolid,  head  of  Warners'  con- 
tract department,  will  succeed  A.  W. 
Schwalberg  as  supervisor  of  ex- 
changes for  the  company  when 
Schwalberg  leaves  on  April  30  to  be- 
come Eastern  representative  for  Inter- 
national Pictures,  it  was  learned  here 
yesterday. 


Pittsburgh  Is 

'Needed 'Area 


The  Regional  War  Manpower  Com- 
mission at  Philadelphia  has  designated 
motion  picture  distribution  in  the 
Pittsburgh  area  as  "locally  needed," 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee distributors'  division  chairman, 
disclosed  here  last  night.  The  classi- 
fication was  approved  yesterday  by 
Frank  L.  McNamee,  WMC  regional 
director  for  Pennsylvania,  New  Jer- 
sey and  Delaware,  and  follows  a 
similar  directive  covering  exchanges 
in  Philadelphia,  as  reported  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily  on  March  14. 

The  Pittsburgh  negotiations  were 
conducted  with  Pat  T.  Fagan,  WMC 
area  director,  by  Leon  J.  Bamberger, 
assistant    to    Depinet,    and  Herbert 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Connors  in  Field 
Rental  Discussions 

Philadelphia,  April  6.— Thomas  J. 
Connors,  20th-Fox  vice-president  in 
charge  of  sales,  and  other  company 
executives  have  launched  a  series  of 
meetings'  with  exhibitors  in  the  field 
to  di  scuss  rentals  and  trade  practices. 
First  of  the  sessions  was  held  here 
yesterday  with  a  committee  of  the 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  Allied,  and  it 
is  understood  that  Connors  will  leave 
New  York  on  Monday  for  a  similar 
visit  to  Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and 
Detroit,  to  be  followed  later  by  other 
cities. 

Other  20th-Fox  representatives  at 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Para.  '43  Net 
Estimated  at 
$16,077,000 


Paramount  Pictures  estimates  its 
earnings  for  the  year  ended  Jan.  1 
1944,  at  $16,077,000,  after  interest 
and  all  charges,  including  reserves 
provided  for  contingencies  and  esti- 
mated provision  for  all  Federal  taxes. 
This  amount  includes  $1,552,000  repre- 
senting Paramount's  direct  and  indi- 
rect net  interest  as  a  stockholder  in 
the  combined  undistributed  earnings 
for  the  year  of  partially  owned  non- 
consolidated  subsidiaries. 

Earnings  for  the  year  ended  Jan. 
2,  1943,  were  $14,631,650,  including 
$1,506,214  share  of  undistributed  earn- 
ings of  partially  owned  non-consolidat- 
ed subsidiaries. 

Earnings  for  the  quarter  ended  Jan. 
1,   1944,  are  -estimated  on  the  same 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Reagan  Heads 
Para's  Sales; 
5 -Year  Pact 


A  Hied  A  ction  on 

Decree  May  17-18 

Washington,  April  6. — Considera- 
tion of  the  status  of  the  consent  de- 
cree and  future  action  in  reference  to 
it  will  be  the  No.  1  item  at  the  an- 
nual Spring  meeting  of  the  board  of 
directors  of  Allied  States  Association, 
scheduled  for  Philadelphia  May  17-18, 
it  was  disclosed  here  today  by  nation- 
al headquarters. 

Allied  directors  have  been  asked  to 
submit  questions  of  general  interest  to 
their  respective  territories  for  inclu- 
sion in  the  agenda.  "The  meetings 
will  be  open  to  a  limited  number  of 
observers  and  consultants,  but  due  to 
an  accumulation  of  purely  organiza- 
tion business  the  directors  will  hold 
one  closed  session,"  Allied's  statement 
reported.  Martin  G.  Smith,  Allied's 
new  national  president,  will  preside 
for  the  first  time. 


Is  Named  Vice-President 
And  Member  of  Board 


The  appointment  of  Charles  M. 
Reagan,  former  assistant  general 
sales  manager  of  Paramount,  to  the 
post  of  general  manager  of  distribu- 
tion for  the 
company  in*  the 
United  States 
and  Canada, 
succeed- 
ing Neil  Ag- 
new,  who  re- 
signed earlier 
this  week,  was 
confirmed  yes- 
terday by  the 
Paramo  unt 
board  of  direc- 
tors. The  board 
also  elected 
Reagan  a  vice- 
president  of  the 
company. 

The  board  approved  a  five-year  con- 
tract for  Reagan.    It  is  one  of  the  first 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Charles  M.  Reagan 


OCR  Offers 
Exhibitors  Aid 


GE  Telecasts 
Theatre 


By  JAMES  CUNNINGHAM 

General  Electric's  postwar  television 
plans  point  principally  to  the  use  of 
the  radio  relay  system,  made  possible 
for  G.E.  by  the  invention  of  a  new 
electronic  disc-seal  type  out  of  which 
there  has  been  developed  "a  large  new 
family  of  ultra-high-frequency  tubes 
vvhich  now  operate  (in  war  applica- 
tions) in  parts  of  the  frequency  spec- 
trum impractical  of  use  before  the 
(Continued  on  page  5) 


by  Relay; 
Sets  Progress 


By  MILTON  LIVINGSTON 

"Two  or  more  types  of  theatre  tele- 
vision projection  equipment  in  addi- 
tion to  the  types  which  have  already 
been  demonstrated  are  under  study  or 
development,  and  some  of  these  seem 
promising,"  Dr.  Alfred  N.  Goldsmith, 
television  engineer,  told  a  luncheon 
meeting  of  the  Radio  Executives  Club 
at  the  Hotel  Shelton  here  yesterday. 
The  new  types  are  Scophony's  "Skia- 
(Continued  on  page  5) 


Washington,  April  6. — Exhibitors 
encountering  manpower,  equipment  or 
supply  difficulties  were  invited  today 
by  George  W.  McMurphey,  chief  of 
the  recreation  section  of  the  Office  of 
Civilian  Requirements  to  take  their 
problems  to  the  OCR  representatives 
who  now  are  stationed  at  all  of  the 
13  regional  offices  of  the  War  Pro- 
duction Board. 

These  representatives,  McMurphey 
explained,  will  in  many  cases  be  able 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Blumberg,  Cowdin, 
Others  Reelected 

Universal  Pictures  reelected  Nate 
J.  Blumberg,  president,  and  J.  Chee- 
ver  Cowdin  chairman  of  the  board  at 
the  annual  board  of  directors  meeting 
held  at  the  home  office  here  yesterday. 
Also  reelected  were  all  other  officers 
of  the  company,  as  listed  in  yester- 
day's Motion  Picture  Daily. 

Those  reelected,  in  addition  to  Blum- 
berg and  Cowdin,  were :  Charles  D. 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  April  7,  1944 


Cowdin  Outlines  His 
Postwar  Tax  Plan 


Philadelphia,  April  6. — A  postwar 
Federal  fiscal  policy  was  outlined  be- 
fore the  Temple  University  Institute 
on  Tax  Policies  here  tonight  by  J. 
Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of  Univer- 
sal and  leader  in  drafting  American 
industry's  tax  recommendations  to 
Congress.  The  broad  outlines  of  Cow- 
din's  recommendations  were: 

Reduction  by  approximately  one 
half  of  the  present  over-all  tax  load, 
with  a  maximum  postwar  load  of 
$31,000,000,000  annually  for  all  pur- 
poses— Federal,  state  and  local. 

Reduction  of  individual  Federal  in- 
come taxes  to  one  third  the  present 
rates  and  a  simplified  levy  on  a  dollar 
amount.  Relief  especially  for  the 
"white  collar"  class. 

Establishment  of  a  single  flat  rate 
of  25  percent  on  corporate  income, 
with  concessions  for  new  and  small 
companies. 

Servicing  and  eventual  retirement 
of  the  war  debt  through  a  special  war- 
debt  tax  which  would  yield  $9,000,000,- 
000  annually  the  first  few  years  and 
would  average  $3,000,000,000  annually 
for  100  years. 

Elimination  of  all  Government  com- 
petition with  private  business. 

Balancing  of  the  Federal  budget 
immediately  at  the  close  of  the  war. 

Avoidance  of  Government  experi- 
mentation as  a  means  of  solving  busi- 
ness dislocations. 

Simplification  of  the  operating  sys- 
tem of  the  Security  Exchange  Com- 
mission as  one  means  of  encouraging 
venture  capital. 

Curbing  of  group  advantages  and 
favoritism  in  all  fiscal  planning. 


Personal  Mention 


Dismissal  of  Cameo 
Damage  Suit  Denied 


Federal  Judge  John  Bright  yester- 
day denied  a  motion  in  Federal  Court 
here  for  dismissal  of  a  treble-damage 
action  alleging  violation  of  the  anti- 
trust laws  which  the  Carmel  Co.,  own- 
er of  the  Cameo,  Jersey  City,  has 
brought  against  the  eight  large  dis- 
tributors. 

Carmel,  according  to  the  complaint, 
charges  that  the  defendants  monopo- 
lized the  distribution  of  films  in  the 
Hudson  County,  N.J.,  area  by  giving 
first  run  films  to  their  theatre  circuit 
affiliates,  while  the  plaintiff's  house 
was  given  fourth  runs. 

Papers  filed  in  Federal  Court  yes- 
terday indicate  that  the  Royal  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  operator  of  the  Cameo, 
served  Skouras  Theatres  Corp.  with 
a  further  bill  of  particulars  in  its  anti- 
trust action  against  a  number  of  ex- 
hibitors and  distributors  in  the  same 
area  of  New  Jersey.  Service  of  the 
additional  particulars  was  directed  by 
the  Court. 


Birnbaum,  Levy  Named 

Bernard  Birnbaum  and  Arthur  Levy 
were  appointed  comptrollers  by  the 
Columbia  board  of  directors  at  a  meet- 
ing held  here  Wednesday. 


LOUIS  B.  MAYER  and  Frank 
Orsatti,  accompanied  by  Jack 
Potter  of  M-G-M's  studio  publicity 
staff,  will  arrive  in  New  York  on 
Sunday. 

• 

W.  C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox's 
Western  sales  manager,  will  return  to 
the  home  office  today  following  a  sales 
trip. 

• 

Leo  Hannon,  Warner  Philadelphia 
booker,  is  recuperating  in  Hahnemann 
Hospital  in  that  city  following  a  seri- 
ous operation. 

e 

Vic    Bernstein,   head  of  Mono- 
gram's Chicago  booking  department, 
has  been  inducted  into  the  Army. 
• 

J.  E.  Flynn,  M-G-M  Western  sales 
head,  is  vacationing  at  Mt.  Clemens, 
Mich.,  for  several  days. 

• 

Fred  E.  Forry,  manager  of  the 
Colonial,  Lancaster,  Pa.,  has  entered 
the  armed  forces. 

• 

John  Nirenberg,  manager  of  War- 
ners' Liberty-Tacony,  Philadelphia,  has 
left  for  the  Navy. 


TOM  CONNORS,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  sales  for  20th  Century- 
Fox,  and  A.  W.  Smith,  Jr.,  Eastern 
sales  manager,  have  returned  to  the 
home  office  from  Philadelphia. 
• 

Mrs.  Hal  Horne,  wife  of  the  20th 
Century-Fox  advertising-publicity  di- 
rector, is  head  of  a  campaign  for  funds 
for  the  National  Jewish  Hospital  at 
Denver. 

• 

Nathan  E.  Goldstein,  president  of 
Western  Massachusetts  Theatres,  left 
for  Boston  yesterday  following  a  New 
York  visit. 

• 

Charles  Zagrans,  RKO  branch 
manager  in  Philadelphia,  is  in  the 
Northern  Liberties  Hospital,  that  city, 
with  a  heart  ailment. 

• 

Roland  Haynes,  manager  of  War- 
ners' Oxford,  Philadelphia,  became  the 
father  of  a  son  born  this  week  to  Mrs. 
Haynes  at  Hahnemann  Hospital. 
• 

Jerry  N.  Lubin  of  the  Warner  con- 
tract department  will  leave  for  the 
Army  today. 


Studio  6IA'  Locals 
Reach  Agreements 

Negotiations  on  individual  contract 
demands  of  the  11  IATSE  studio 
locals  for  new  pacts  to  replace  agree- 
ments which  expired  on  Jan.  1  will 
be  concluded  when  the  company  heads 
and  their  studio  labor  representatives 
resume  sessions  here  this  morning 
with  IATSE  officials  at  the  office  of 
Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  represen- 
tative. 

The  producer  representatives  and 
the  IATSE  officials  are  expected  to 
take  up  the  controversial  questions  of 
seniority  rights  and  allowances  for 
time  spent  on  location  as  they  apply 
to  all  IATSE  studio  locals. 

The  producers  reached  accord  with 
IATSE  studio  laborers  and  utility  men 
locals  early  yesterday  and  at  a  late 
hour  were  winding  up  final  points  with 
the  studio  sound  technicians'  local. 


Form  Syndicate  to 
Buy  Color  Process 

Stanley  Neal,  Leon  Leventhal  and 
W.  E.  MacKee  have  organized  a  syn- 
dicate to  buy  the  overseas  production 
rights  of  Brewster  Color  Process. 
Cameras  now  in  London  will  be 
brought  to  New  York,  for  remodeling, 
and  additional  cameras  will  be  built 
for  color-television  and  regular  pro- 
ductions. The  syndicate  obtained 
rights  to  the  United  Kingdom  and  all 
British  possessions  with  the  exception 
of  Canada,  and  also  South  America. 

The  syndicate  has  arranged  with 
Associated  Filmakers,  London,  to  pro- 
duce color-television  and  other  pro- 
ductions for  distribution  in  the  United 
Kingdom.  Neal,  president  of  Associ- 
ated, was  formerly  managing  director 
of  Revelation  Film  Co.,  London, 
which  formerly  controlled  the  rights. 


Charges  Americans 
Escape  British  Tax 


London,  April  6. — Valentine  Mc- 
Entee,  Socialist  Member  of  Parli- 
ament who  has  lately  been  a  persist- 
ent questioner  of  the  government  on 
film  affairs,  returned  to  charge  at 
question-time  in  the  House  of  Com- 
mons today  that  whereas  revenue  of 
British  films  shown  in  America  was 
subject  to  heavy  taxation,  American 
distributors  here,  evade  "proper" 
British  taxation. 

Replying  for  the  government,  Chan- 
cellor of  the  Exchequer  Sir  John 
Anderson  maintained  that  the  bulk  of 
the  large  sum  of  money  annually  re- 
mitted from  here  to  America  for  film 
rentals  represents  production  costs, 
which  being  a  capital  charge,  is  not 
subject  to  a  British  tax,  but  that  a 
tax  is  strictly  levied  on  distribution 
and  exhibition  profits. 

Other  members  suggested  that 
American  companies  evade  the  tax 
here  by  exaggerating  film  costs  but 
the  Chancellor,  declining  to  be  drawn 
into  a  discussion,  replied  that  a  formal 
question  would  have  to  be  preferred. 


A  IpersonDueMonday 
To  Set  Wac  Campaign 

Edward  L.  Alperson,  general  man- 
ager of  RKO  theatres,  will  arrive 
here  from  the  West  Coast  Monday  to 
start  planning  a  Women's  Army 
Corps  recruiting  campaign  in  16,000 
theatres  throughout  the  country. 

Alperson  is  chairman  of  the  indus- 
try's drive,  which  will  start  May  11 
and  continue  through  May  17. 


W.  H.  Barnes  Dies 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  April  6. — W.  H. 
Barnes,  a  film  actor  from  1914  to  1924, 
died  here  today. 


Seek  New  Trial  in 
Jackson  Park  Suit 

Chicago,  April  6.  —  Absence  of 
proof  of  conspiracy  and  damages  was 
claimed  in  a  motion  for  a  new  trial 
filed  today  in  Federal  District  Court 
by  defense  attorneys  in  the  Jackson 
Park  anti-trust  case.  Judge  Michael 
Igoe  set  April  21  for  the  hearing  of 
arguments. 

Thomas    C.    McConnell,  plaintiff's 
counsel,  is  expected  to  insist  that  a 
new  trial  be  denied  and  that  the  de- 
fendant exhibitors  and  distributors  pa.  , 
within  ten  days  the  $360,000  damages  » 
awarded  to  the  Jackson  Park  recently, 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


— RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL  — 

50th  Street  &  6th  Avenue 
RITA  HAYWORTH    .    GENE  KELLY 

"COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern  .  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  •  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seals  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


Held  Over  2nd  Week 

-LATBt 

MARCH 
*.j)fTIME 

RAD     CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


NOW  PLAYING 
Maria  Montez    .    Jon  Hall 
Turhan  Bey 

'All  Babaandthe  Forty  Thieves' 


PARAMOUNT^ 

"LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 

In  Technicolor 

IN  PERSON 

XAVIER  CUe AT  And  BAND 

DEAN  MURPHY 

PARAMOUNT  SQUARE 


ON  SCREEN 

1st  N.  Y.  Showing 

*NONE 
SHALL 
ESCAPE' 


IN  PERSON 
ALLAN 

JONES 

Happy  FEtTON 
Dick  BUCKLEY 

Added  Attraction 


Kay  Carole       Martha  Mitzi 

Francis  -  Landis  -  Raye  -  Mayfair 

"FOUR  JILLS  IN  A  JEEP" 

—PLUS  ON  STAGE— 

Harry  Richman  -  The  De  Marcos 

BUY  MORE    D  rt  V  V    7TH  AVE-  & 

""Bonds      ■»  w  JK.  I      5oth  st. 


THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE 


2Q 


ciktubmoi 

CONTINUOUS  k  "«™  v 
Doors  Open  9:30  A.  M.    B' WAY  &  49th  ST. 


rivoli 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq..  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


1429  CONTRACTS 
IN  FIRST  7  DAYS! 


HOTTEST  THING  IN  FILMS  TODAY! 

SENSATIONAL 


TUNISIAN 
VICTORY" 


READY!  SET!  FIRE! 
BROADSIDES  OF 
SHOWMANSHIP! 

Invasion  Fleet  in  action! 
Storming  the  Beaches! 

Fall  of  Casablanca,  Oran, 
Hill  609! 

Blasting  the  Mareth  Line! 
Americans'  Surprise 
Move!  More! 

ASK  M-Q-M  NOW.'  ^ 

The  Governments  of  the  United  States  and  Great  Britain  present  "TUNISIAN 
VICTORY"  •  The  Invasion  and  Liberation  of  North  Africa  •  An  Official 
Record  Produced  by  British  and  American  Service  Film  Units  •  Distributed 
by  the  British  Ministry  of  Information    •    A  Metro -Goldwyn- Mayer  Release. 

"The  Industry's  Proudest  Offering — 'The  Memphis  Belle' 
— Technicolor  saga  of  Our  Air  Heroes.  Book  It  Now!" 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  7,  1944 


Short  Subject  Reviews 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  6 

THREE  hundred  and  sixty-six 
theatres  in  Los  Angeles  County 
are  cooperating  with  the  Citizens' 
Manpower  Committee  in  the  showing 
of  a  series  of  manpower  films  issued 
by  the  U.  S.  Army  in  cooperation  with 
the  committee.  No  charge  for  pro- 
jection is  made  by  the  theatres,  Vic- 
tor Adams,  Los  Angeles  coordinator 
of  the  WAC  Theatres  division,  said. 
• 

Jesse  L.  Lasky,  producer  of  War- 
ners' "The  Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain"  will  leave  here  Saturday  for 
Denver  and  Chicago  appearances  with 
the  film.  He  will  also  attend  cere- 
monies in  St.  Louis  commemorating 
Twain,  and  then  "go  to  New  York 
for  the  premiere. 

The  studio  Red  Cross  drive  has 
equalled  the  "War  Chest"  record  of 
22,570  contributions.  In  hope  of  adding 
$40,000,  campaign  leaders  will  seek  in- 
creased amounts  from  top-bracket  sal- 
aried people  during  the  remaining 
week. 

• 

Norman  Krasna  and  James  S. 
Burkett  have  purchased  the  "Tug- 
boat Annie"  stories  as  a  starring  ve- 
hicle for  Marjorie  Rambeau.  No  re- 
lease date  has  been  set. 

• 

Carmen  Miranda  will  star  in  the 
20th  Century-Fox  Technicolor  musi- 
cal, "Rio,"  for  which  Ary  Barrosa, 
Brazilian  composer,  will  write  the  mu- 
sic. 

• 

Bing  Crosby  has  bought  a  10,000 
acre  stock  ranch  near  Tuscarora, 
Nev. 

Columbia    has    signed    the  Three 
Stooges  to  a  new  three-year  pact  for 
eight  shorts  and  one  feature  a  year. 
• 

William  Bacher  will  produce  "Gay 
Illiterate,"  Louella  Parsons'  auto- 
biography, for  20th-Fox. 

• 

Edward  L.  Alperson  will  leave  to- 
morrow on  the  Superchief  for  New 
York. 

• 

Columbia  has  signed  Henry  Levin 
to  a  directing  contract. 


'Memphis  Belle'  Set 
For  14  B'way  Houses 

"The  Memphis  Belle,"  the  U.  S.  8th 
Army  Air  Force  four-reel  Technicolor 
combat  report,  distributed  by  Para- 
mount for  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion, will  open  in  14  Broadway  thea- 
tres on  Thursday,  April  13,  the  com- 
pany announced  yesterday. 

Theatres  that  will  run  the  film  for 
a  week  are :  Paramount,  Roxy,  As- 
tor,  Strand,  Hollywood,  Criterion, 
Globe,  Manhattan,  Gotham,  Palace, 
Rialto,  Loew's  State,  Embassy  News- 
reel  and  Trans-Lux  Newsreel.  The 
picture  will  open  the  same  day  at  the 
Metropolitan,  Strand  and  Fox  theatres 
in  Brooklyn.  On  May  4  it  will  start 
on  the  RKO  metropolitan  circuit,  and 
a  week  later  in  Loew  subsequent 
houses  in  the  Metropolitan  area.  It 
will  open  elsewhere  on  April  14,  when 
the  film  will  be  released  nationally. 


"Aircraft  Carrier" 

( This,  Is  America) 
(RKO-Pathe) 

RKO  Pathe  has  an  authentic  story 
of  the  Navy's  queen  of  the  sea,  the 
aircraft  carrier.  Little  known  facts 
about  the  operation  and  construction 
of  these  giant  ships,  hitherto  confined 
to  the  official  files  of  the  Navy,  are 
brought  to  light  in  this  revealing  and 
exciting  "This  Is  America"  subject. 
Shots  of  the  planes  massed  on  deck 
for  the  take-off,  wings  folded  and 
wheels  down,  the  actual  flight  and 
the  return  of  the  ships  to  the  floating 
runway,  along  with  sequences  showing 
life  on  board,  from  the  recreation 
room  several  decks  below  sea  level  to 
the  "ready"  room  where  the  pilots 
await  last-minute  instructions,  com- 
bine to  make  an  interesting  and  en- 
lightening film.  Director  and  camera- 
man Harry  W.  Smith  has  done  a  fine 
job  throughout.  Narration  by  D wight 
Weist  is  excellent.  Running  time, 
18^2  mins. 


"Bachelor  Daze" 

(Columbia) 

Followers  of  Slim  Summerville  will 
especially  like  this  one.  Slim  and  his 
pal,  Emmet  Lynn,  toss  a  coin  to  see 
who  will  woo  the  local  widow,  who, 
though  credited  with  having  poisoned 
several  of  her  previous  spouses,  con- 
stitutes a  fatal  allure  for  the  two 
bachelors.  Slim  wins  but  subsequent 
sequences  prove  he  was  "roped."  Run- 
ning time,  18  mins. 


Deny  Conspiracy  in 
Prefect   Suit  Trial 


New  Haven,  April  6.  —  Joseph 
Berry,  chief  defense  counsel  for  eight 
distributors  in  the  Prefect  Theatres 
anti-trust  suit,  today  in  U.  S.  District 
Court  here  read  denials  of  an  alleged 
conspiracy  agreement  between  Skouras 
Theatres  and  the  Century  Circuit 
against  the  Pickwick  Theatre,  Green- 
wich. Berry  contended  that  the  only 
purpose  of  the  pooling  arrangement 
of  the  two  circuits  was  to  obtain  bet- 
ter film  rental  rates. 

Arguments  claiming  the  conspiracy 
were  presented  by  Saul  Rogers,  plain- 
tiffs' attorney,  following  the  comple- 
tion of  reading  of  depositions  from 
George  Skouras,  which  has  taken  place 
intermittently  during  the  past  few 
weeks.  Judge  Carroll  C.  Hincks  en- 
tered into  the  discussion,  with  a  num- 
ber of  pointed  comments  and  questions. 
Testimony  was  finally  resumed  with 
the  reading  of  depositions  from  John 
J.  O'Connor,  Universal  vice-president. 

This  morning  David  Palfreyman, 
head  of  the  theatre,  service  department 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Producers  and 
Distributors  of  America,  gave  testi- 
mony as  to  the  authenticity  of  certain 
receipt  estimates.  Following  this  te- 
timony,  Judge  Hincks  excluded  the 
Film  Daily  Year  Book  from  admission 
as  evidence. 


Gilson  Services  Today 

Funeral  services  for  Mrs.  Marion 
J.  Gilson,  wife  of  Charles  E.  Gilson, 
veteran  March  of  Time  cameramar 
will  be  held  this  morning  at  10  o'clock 
at  the  Church  of  St.  Thomas  the 
Apostle  in  Yonkers.  Mrs.  Gilson  died 
Monday. 


"Community  Sing" 

(Columbia) 

Number  10  of  the  current  series  in- 
dues some  singable  numbers,  includ- 
ing the  ever-popular  ballad,  "I'm 
Thinking  Tonight  of  My  Blue  Eyes" 
and  the  resurrected  hit,  "Paper  Doll." 
Others  include  "Nevada,"  "My  Baby 
Just  Cares  for  Me"  and,  of  course, 
"Mairzy  Doats."  Don  Baker  is  at 
the  organ  and  the  Song  Spinners 
handle  the  vocals  nicely.  Running  time, 
10  mins. 


"Dancing  Romeo" 

(M-G-M) 

"Dancing  Romeo"  features  some 
clever  dancing  by  some  newcomers  as 
well  as  an  entertaining  story.  "Frog- 
gy," the  youngster,  loses  his  girl  be- 
cause he  can't  dance.  Determined  to 
learn  the  art,  he  launches  a  campaign 
to  get  his  girl  back.  The  windup  is  a 
hilarious  modern  dance  recital  by 
Froggy.  The  subject  was  handled 
very  well  by  Cyril  Enfield,  director 
Running  time,  10  mins. 


"His  Tale  Is  Told" 

(Columbia) 

Andy  Clyde  turns  inventor  in  this 
subject.  He  goes  through  a  comedy 
routine  which  isn't  even  good  slap- 
stick. His  invention  of  an  all-purpose 
tea  kettle  brings  him  to  the  city  where 
he  becomes  involved  in  some  stereo- 
typed "corn-fed  kid  in  the  city"  situa- 
tions.   Running  time,  17j4  mins. 


WLB  Gets  St.  Louis 
Stagehands  Dispute 


St.  Louis,  April  6. — The  wage  dis- 
pute between  the  St.  Louis  IATSE 
Stagehands  Local  No.  6,  AFL,  and 
exhibitors  here  has  gone  to  a  War 
Labor  Board  panel  titer  a  heated  ses- 
sion earlier  in  the  week.  The  stage- 
hands are  seeking  a  15  per  cent  wage 
increase,  two  weeks  vacation  with  pay 
and  other  concessions.  The  hearing 
opened  Monday  with  the  union  an- 
nouncement that  five  of  its  officials 
had  asked  for  police  protection. 

Leroy  Upton,  president  of  the  union, 
told  police  he  had  Received  threaten- 
ing telephone  calls  warning  him  to 
stay  away  from  the  hearings  and  he 
asked  for  protection  for  himself  and 
four  other  union  officers :  William 
Kosted,  vice-president ;  C.  O.  Newlin, 
financial  secretary ;  W.  W.  Spear,  re- 
cording secretary,  and  Elmer  Moran, 
business  agent. 

'Pressure'  Methods  Charged 

Moran  has  been  charged  by  exhibi- 
tor witnesses  with  continuing  the 
"pressure"  method's  of  John  P.  Nick, 
his  predecessor,  now  serving  a  five- 
year  Federal  prison  sentence  for  vio- 
lating the  anti-racketeering  law. 

Two  members  of  the  AFL  St.  Louis 
Theatrical  Employes  Union,  Local  28, 
were  the  first  witnesses  called.  They 
testified  that  although  they  were  mem- 
bers in  good  standing  of  Local  2B 
they  were  forced  to  pay  15  per  cent 
of  their  wages  to  Local  No.  6  in  order 
to  get  employment.  Since  last  August, 
when  they  sought  to  get  the  payments 
reduced  to  five  per  cent,  the  amount 
charged  members  of  Local  2B,  they 
have  been  unable  to  obtain  work  as 
stagehands,  they  said. 


Red  Cross  Receipts 
Continue  Doubled 


Eight  hundred  more  theatres  report- 
ing on  their  1944  industry  Red  Cross 
collections  yesterday  to  campaign 
headquarters  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee  continued  to  show  results 
at  least  double  their  1943  collections. 

John  Rugar,  exhibitor  chairman  in 
Salt  Lake  City,  said  that  $45,000  haH 
been  collected  by  112  theatres,  tl 
showing  for  this  group,  according  to' 
Rugar,  being  two-and-a-half  times 
more  than  1943.  Newsreel  Theatres, 
a  circuit  of  five  houses  here,  took  in 
$8 J 58,  against  $4,554  last  year,  ac- 
cording to  S.  R.  Martin,  treasurer. 
J.  Meyer  Schine,  head  of  the  Schine 
Circuit,  reported  that  135  of  his  the- 
atres collected  $65,000,  compared  with 
last  year's  $15,000. 

Connecticut  Doubles  '43  Figure 

I.  J.  Hoffman,  Connecticut  exhibitor 
chairman,  advised  that  up  to  Wednes- 
day his  territory  had  taken  in  $49,- 
826,  against  $25,290  last  year.  A.  Jo- 
seph DeFiore,  chairman  of  Delaware, 
reported  $15,000,  with  several  more 
houses  to  be  heard  from.  Zeb  Epstein 
of  the  Broadway  Strand  reported  $10,- 
875  collected  against  $5,419  last  year. 
Fabian  Theatres  reported  that  the  Fox 
and  Paramount  in  Brooklyn  collected 
$7,185  and  the  Fabian  Theatres  on 
Staten  Island  $3,443.  This  represents 
an  approximate  100  per  cent  increase. 
Harry  Arthur  of  the  St.  Louis  area 
with  two  more  days  to  go,  said  $132,- 
660  was  taken  in  compared  to  last 
year's  $60,000.  There  are  approxi- 
mately 100  houses  to  be  heard  from 
in  Eastern  Missouri. 

Less  than  one-fourth  of  all  houses 
have  thus  far  reported.  Total  reported 
is  nearing  $2,000,000. 

'Honored  Hundred* 
Winners  Next  Week 

Awards  for  the  "Honored  Hun- 
dred" contest  are  expected  to  be  made 
next  week,  Robert  W.  Selig,  as- 
sistant campaign  director  in  charge  of 
the  competition,  announced  here  last 
night.  The  100  theatre  managers 
from  the  U.  S.,  Alaska  and  Hawaii 
who  sold  the  greatest  number  of  "E" 
bonds  during  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
will  go  to  Washington  early  in  May 
as  guests  of  the  Treasury  to  serve  on 
a  special  advisory  committee  for  the 
Fifth  War  Loan,  June  12-July  8. 

Official  audit  of  the  results  of  "Hon- 
ored Hundred"  nominees,  as  submit- 
ted to  Selig  by  state  chairmen  is  un- 
der way  now  in  New  York.  Upon 
its  completion,  the  contest  judges  will 
make  their  decisions.  Selected  by  Ted 
R.  Gamble,  national  director  of  the 
Treasury's  War  Finance  Division, 
they  are  Walter  D.  Fuller,  president 
of  the  Curtis  Publishing  Co. ;  Palmer 
Hoyt,  publisher  of  the  Portland  Ore- 
gonian,  and  Dr.  P.  N.  Odegard,  pro- 
fessor at  Amherst  College. 

Depinet  Drive  Will 
Have  Mochrie  Weeks 

Two  weeks  of  RKO's  "Ned  Depi- 
net Drive"  have  been  designated  as 
"Robert  Mochrie  weeks"  as  a  tribute 
to  general  sales  manager  Mochrie, 
during  April  21  through  May  4,  ac- 
cording to  drive  captain  Charles  Boas- 
berg. 

The  Depinet  campaign  enters  its 
tenth  week  today  and  is  scheduled  to 
close  May  18. 


Friday,  April  7,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


5 


GPE  Holds  Third 
Of  Scophony  Stock 

General  Precision  Equip- 
ment has  the  larger  interest 
of  the  two  American  film  in- 
terests which  have  holdings  in 
Scophony  Corp.  of  America, 
according  to  Arthur  Levey, 
Scophony  president.  GPE's 
interest,  as  arranged  by  Her- 
mann ,G.  Place,  former  chair- 
=CTian  of  the  executive  com- 
P^ittee  of  20th  Century-Fox,  is 
J  one-third  of  the  Scophony 
stock.  Paramount,  the  other 
American  film  interest  with 
holdings  in  Scophony,  holds 
less  than  one-third,  with 
Levey  retaining  a  controlling 
interest. 

Levey  is  understood  to  be. 
seeking  to  interest  other  film 
companies  with  theatre  hold- 
ings in  buying  into  Scophony. 


GE  Telecasts  by  Relay; 

Theatre  Sets  Progress 


Subpoenas  Issued 
For  Schine  Hearing 


Buffalo,  April  6. — Federal  Judge 
John  Knight  today  granted  the  Gov- 
ernment permission  to  subpoena  four 
persons  from  Cumberland,  Md.,  to 
appear  in  U.  S.  District  Court  here 
at  11  A.  M.  on  Monday,  when  an  offer 
of  Schine  Chain  Theatres  Inc.  to  pur- 
chase the  Liberty  Theatre  in  Cumber- 
land will  be  aired  and  Schine  counsel 
will  move  for  invalidation  of  sections 
of  a  temporary  court  order  of  two 
years  ago,  which  called  for  the  circuit 
to  dispose  of  a  number  of  houses.  The 
Cumberland  witnesses  are  Richard 
Schuette  and  Grace  M.  Fisher,  both 
of  the  Maryland  Theatre,  Edward  K. 
Magruder  of  the  Garden  Theatre'  and 
Frank  R.  Blaul. 

Subpoena  Correspondence 

Subpoenas  duces  tecum  also  were 
directed  at  Schine  Chain  Theatres, 
Gloversville,  requiring  its  executives 
j  to  produce  all  correspondence  relating 
to  a  sale  of  Schine  interests  in  the 
following  theatres :  Strand,  Cumber- 
land ;  Memorial,  Mt.  Vernon,  O. ; 
Opera  House,  and  Ado  Meade,  Lex- 
ington, Ky. ;  Viv,  Corbin,  Ky. ;  State 
and  Appalachian,  Appalachia,  Va. ; 
Margie  Grand,  Harlan,  Ky. ;  Liberty, 
Pikeville,  Kv.,  and  Plaza,  Malone, 
N.  Y. 

Also  to  be  acted  upon  on  Monday 
will  be  a  proposal  for  appointment  of 
trustees  to  operate  and  maintain  the 
several  Schine  houses  which  the  cir- 
muit  has  thus  far  failed  to  dispose  of 
under  the  court's  divestiture  order. 

In  the  meantime,  attorney  Maurice 
Feldman  of  New  York  is  in  Buffalo 
going  through  the  voluminous  Federal 

;  Court  file  on  theatre   litigations  as 
they  affect  the  Schine  interests.  His 

I  connection   with   the    case   was  not 

j  made  clear. 


M-G-M  Films  Overseas 

Four  new  M-G-M  films  have  been 
;  shipped  overseas  on  16mm  prints  by 
i  the  Army  Pictorial  Service.  The  pic- 
tures are :  "Rationing,"  "Meet  the 
People,"  "Andy  Hardy's  Blonde 
Trouble"  and  "Broadway  Rhythm." 
"Rationing"  is  scheduled  to  open  at 
the  Globe  here  tomorrow  and  "Broad- 
way Rhythm"  will  have  its  premiere 
at  the  Capitol  on  April  13. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

war."  This,  basically,  is  G.E.'s  plan 
for  postwar  television,  as  disclosed 
by  company  executives  at  a  press 
luncheon  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria  Ho- 
tel here  yesterday. 

American  Telephone  and  Telegraph 
Co.  recently  invited  applications  .for 
the  use  of  its  postwar  television  co- 
axial facilities.  In  addition,  for  ex- 
perimentation, A.  T.  &  T.  will  build  a 
relay  system  between  New  York  and 
Boston,  with  the  expectation-  that  at- 
mospheric and  geographic  conditions 
through  the  U.  S.  will  require  the  use 
of  the  relay  system  where  coaxial  is 
not  practical,  while  in  other  sections 
the  opposite  will  be  necessary. 

In  this  dual  application  A.T. 
&  T.  is  supported  by  Dr.  W. 
R.  G.  Baker,  vice-president  in 
charge    of    General  Electric's 
electronics     department.  Dr. 
Baker  told  the  press  gathering 
yesterday  that  "all  the  words 
written  to  date  by  copywriters 
and  all  of  the  pretty  advertise- 
ments about  television  are  just 
so  much  fluff.    They  will  come 
true  someday,"  he  added,  "but 
we  do  not  know  when." 
GE  officials  yesterday  disclosed  also 
that   the    company    has    instituted  a 
reservation  plan  for  the  purchase  of 
postwar  television  broadcasting  equip- 
ment and  that  GE  is  planning  to  in- 
stall an  experimental  "two-way"  tele- 
vision  relay  network  between  New 
York  and  Schenectady.    This  will  in- 
volve four  ultra-high  frequency  radio 
relay  stations,  and  will  allow  a  com- 
plete interchange  of  programs  between 
Schenectady  and  New  York.    GE  has 
been   relaying   New  York  television 
programs  to   Schenectady  for  years. 

General  Electric  plans  to  make  new- 
type  television  receivers  available  to 
markets  where  television  broadcast 
services  now  exist,  as  soon  as  Govern- 
ment authorization  allows.  G.E.'s  tele- 
vision receiver  line  will  consist  of  both 
direct  and  projection  view  models,  the 
company  announced. 


Bankers  Trust  to 

Finance  Votion 

Arrangements  have  been  completed 
by  Jack  W.  Votion,  Inc.,  for  the 
financing  of  all  future  productions  of 
the  Lum  and  Abner  series  through 
Bankers  Trust.  Previous  financing  was 
from  outside  sources  or  by  Bankers 
Trust  on  individual  pictures.  With 
Votion  now  serving  in  the  Armed 
Forces,  the  series  is  to  be  produced 
under  the  supervision  of  Erank  Mel- 
ford.  RKO  distributes. 

"Two  Weeks  to  Live"  and  "So  This 
Is  Washington,"  two  of  the  Lum  and 
Abner  features,  are  being  sold  away 
from  RKO  in  England,  it  was  learned 
here  yesterday.  Arrangements  are 
now  being  made  for  the  distribution 
of  these  by  another  company  there. 

SPG  and  Companies 
Resume  Arbitration 

Arbitration  hearings  on  the  job 
classification  and  salary  dispute  be- 
tween the  Screen  Publicists  Guild  and 
film  company  home  offices  will  resume 
at  the  headquarters  of  the  American 
Arbitration  Association  here  today  af- 
ter a  recess  since  Tuesday. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tron"  and  RCA's  "Langmuir-Donald" 
method. 

Dr.  Goldsmith  said  that  "television 
pictures  may  be  projected  in  the  thea- 
tre either  from  a  point  in  the  middle  of 
the  orchestra,  or  on  the  stage  from 
back  of  a  translucent  screen,  or 
preferably  from  the  projection  room 
from  which  film  performances  are  pro- 
jected." In  his  opinion,  television  is 
ready  now  with  a  wide-angle  theatre- 
size  screen. 

5*  .     Won't  Wait  for  Color 

Dr.  Goldsmith  said  that  both  films 
and  "live"  talent  will  be  used  in  the 
production  of  television  shows,  either 
alone  or  in  combination,  with  each 
having  its  own  sphere  of  application. 
He  further  stated  that  postwar  tele- 
vision development  will  not  await  the 
perfection  of  color  and  third-dimen- 
sional television,  but  will  proceed  on 
the  basis  of  the  types  of  television 
broadcasting  available  before  the  war. 

The  Society  of  Motion  Picture  En- 
gineers is  considering  the  idea  of 
training  personnel  in  theatre  television 
projection,  Dr.  Goldsmith  said. 

Among  the  REC  guests  at  yester- 
day's luncheon  were  Allen  B.  Du 
Mont,  DuMont  Television ;  Arthur 
Levev,  Scophony ;  Keith  S.  McHugh, 
A.T.  &  T.;  Ralph  Austrian,  RKQ 
television  consultant ;  Orrin  E.  Dun- 
lap,  RCA,  and  Worthington  Miner, 
CBS.  Murray  E.  Grabhorn,  REC 
president,  presided. 

Announce  Lecture  Series 

Announcement  was  made  at  the 
meeting  of  an  REC  series  of  15  tele- 
vision lectures  to  run  from  May  to 
October  with  35  television  experts  in- 
cluding O.  B.  Hanson  and  John  T. 
Williams  of  NBC,  and  Austrian  and 
Levey  conducting  sessions.  All  will 
be  open  to  all  REC  members.  The 
sixth  lecture  in .  the  series  will  deal 
with  motion  pictures  and  radio  and 
with  television. 


SAG  Names  Postwar 
Membership  Body 

Hollywood.  April  6. — Determined 
to  arrive  at  a  fair  basis  for  handling 
applications  of  returning  servicemen 
seeking  to  join  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild,  while  at  the  same  time  protect- 
ing the  postwar  jobs  of  approximately 
2,000  SAG  members  now  in  service, 
the  guild  has  appointed  a  committee 
to  confer  on  this  problem  with  similar 
committees  to  be  appointed  by  other 
studio  unions. 

The  committee  includes  Franchot 
Tone,  Paul  Harvey,  Dick  Powell, 
Morgan  Wallace,  Lucille  Gleason  and 
Pat  Somerset,  assistant  SAG  secre- 
tary. A  special  office  is  expected  to 
be  set  up  under  a  joint  committee,  rep- 
resenting all  unions,  through  which  ap- 
plications may  be  channelled. 

The  plan  was  revealed  after  an  at- 
tack before  the  local  National  Labor 
Relations  Board  hearing  on  the  Screen 
Players  Union's  petition  for  a  bargain- 
ing election  for  extras,  in  which  the 
guild  was  accused  of  granting  special 
work  permits  to  hundreds  in  an  effort 
to  flood  the  extra  ranks  with  members. 
This  accusation  was  denied  on  the 
•stand  by  Somerset. 


3,000,000  Stock 
Shares  Transferred 
By  Film  Executives 

Mainly  because  of  the  "stripping 
down'  of  their  film-stock  portfolios, 
transactions  of  officers  and  directors 
and  principal  stockholders  in  the  se- 
curities of  film  companies  totalled  near- 
ly 3,000,000  shares  in  1943,  Motion 
Picture  Herald  will  say  today,  bas- 
ing its  report  on  the  records  of  the 
Securities  and  Exchange  Commission 
in  Philadelphia.  Only  500,000  shares 
were  traded  in  1942. 

The  largest  volumes  of  the  year 
were  involved  in  the  disposition  by 
Chase  Bank  of  152,913  shares  of  com- 
mon stock  of  General  Precision  Equip- 
ment Corp.,  formerly  General  The- 
tres  Equipment  Corp.,  and  197,858 
shares  of  common  and  671,916  shares 
of  preferred  stock  in  20th  Century- 
Fox ;  316,328  shares  of  common  stock, 
555,254  warrants  for  common  and  44,- 
757  shares  of  preferred  stock  in  RKO 
by  RCA  and  203,829  shares  of  the, 
same  company's  common  stock  held  by 
Rockefeller  Center;  and  154,173 
shares  of  common  and  31,250  shares 
of  part  preferred  stock  in  Consolidated 
Film  Industries  held  by  Setay  Co., 
Inc. 

Individual  Operations  Limited 

Operations  of  individual  officers  and 
directors,  generally,  were  limited,  some 
of  the  larger  transactions  being  the 
purchase  and  subsequent  resale  of  9,- 
500  shares  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  common 
by  Nicholas  M.  Schenck ;  the  sale 
of  3,277  shares  of  Monogram  com- 
mon by  Alton  A.  Brody,  1,000  shares 
by  Norton  V.  Richey,  3,200  shares  by 
Samuel  Broidy  and  3,300  shares  by 
W.  Ray  Johnston. 

In  20th  Century-Fox,  William  Goetz 
sold  40,000  shares  of  common  and 
13,500  shares  of  preferred  held  direct, 
and  21,100  shares  of  common  and  6,- 
500  of  preferred  held  through  his  wife. 
The  most  important  transactions  in 
Universal  Pictures  stock  were  the  sale 
by  Charles  R.  Rogers  of  12,500  shares 
of  common  and  10,100  common  voting 
trust  certificates,  and  the  disposition 
by  gift  of  10,500  common  voting  trust 
certificate  warrants  by  Nathan  J. 
Blumberg. 

Of  interest  currently  because  of  the 
efforts  of  J.  Arthur  Rank  to  enter  the 
American  market  was  a  report  to  the 
SEC  last  July  showing  that  his  Gen- 
eral Cinema  Financial  Corp.  had  re- 
deemed $1,000,000  worth  of  Universal 
debenture  bonds  which  it  held,  but  still 
had  134,375  of  the  company's  common 
voting  trust  certificates  which  at  the 
present  time  have  a  value  of  approxi- 
mately $3,000,000,  as  previously  re- 
ported. 

Cassidy  Inc.  Formed; 
'Green  Mansions'  Set 

Hollywood,  April  6. — Formation  of 
a  new  producing  company,  James  B. 
Cassidy,  Inc.,  was  announced  here  to- 
day. The  company  plans  to  make  two 
films  annually,  the  first  of  which  will 
be  an  adaptation  of  W.  H.  Hudson's 
novel  "Green  Mansions." 

This  picture  is  to  be  undertaken 
with  the  purported  encouragement  of 
the  U.  S.  and  South  American  gov- 
ernments. It  will  be  in  Technicolor, 
and  preliminary  estimates  call  for  a 
budget  of  $2,000,000. 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  April  7 


,  1944 


Two  New  Cases  and 
An  Appeal  Filed 


Two  new  clearances  cases  have  been 
filed  at  the  Buffalo  and  Boston  tribu- 
nal and  an  appeal  of  a  clearance  com- 
plaint has  been  dismissed  at  the  New 
York  tribunal  and  an  appeal  of  a 
clearance  award  filed  at  the  Los 
Angeles  tribunal,  the  American  Ar- 
bitration Association  reported  here 
yesterday. 

At  the  Buffalo  tribunal,  Basil  Bros. 
Theatres,  operating  the  Colvin  Thea- 
tre, Kenmore,  N.  Y.  filed  a  clearance 
complaint  against  RKO.  Plaintiff 
stated  that  all  contracts  provide  for 
the  exhibition  of  RKO's  product  ten 
days  after  Shea's  Kenmore,  Kenmore, 
and  less  than  17  days  after  the  fea- 
tures are  exhibited  at  Shea's  North 
Park,  Buffalo.  Basil  Bros.,  demand 
the  right  to  exhibit  such  pictures  30 
days  after  first-runs  in  Buffalo. 

At  Boston  Tribunal 

Ayer  Playhouse  Company,  Inc., 
operators  of  the  Playhouse  Theatre, 
Ayer,  Mass.,  filed  a  clearance  com- 
plaint at '  the  Boston  tribunal  against 
the  five  decree  consenting  companies. 
The  operators  charge  unreasonable- 
ness of  present  clearance  and  seek  an 
award  eliminating  all  clearance  over 
Ayer  and  directing  the  consenting  de- 
fendants to  make  available  features 
on  national  release  date  or  reasonable 
time  thereafter.  Named  as  intervenors 
were :  Metropolitan  and  Plymouth 
Theatres,  Leominster ;  Fitchburg  and 
Shea,  Fitchburg,  and  M  and  P  Thea- 
tres, Lowell,  all  in  Massachusetts. 

Joseph  R.  Kelley,  arbitrator  at  the 
New  York  tribunal,  dismissed  the 
clearance  complaint  filed  by  the 
Schuyler  Theatre,  Inc.,  operating  the 
Schuyler,  Manhattan,  against  Loew's, 
RKO  and  20th-Fox. 

At  Los  Angeles,  L.  W.  Allen,  oper- 
ator of  the  Southgate  Theatre,  South- 
gate,  Cal.,  has  filed  an  appeal  from  an 
award  entered  in  favor  of  the  com- 
plainant by  James  L.  Patten,  arbitra- 
tor, against  the  five  decree  companies. 
The  arbitrator  had  reduced  the  49- 
day  clearance  held  by  the  Vogue  over 
the  Southgate  to  42  days,  provided 
that  the  Southgate  charge  an  adult 
evening  admission  price  of  at  least 
25  cents,  exclusive  of  tax. 


Cleveland  Grosses 
Take  Sharp  Dip 

Cleveland,  April  6. — Cab  Calloway 
and  "The  Falcon  and  the  Co-Ed"  at 
the  RKO  Palace  drew  an  estimated 
$24,000.  Business  this  week  was  gen- 
erally lower  than  previous  weeks. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  5 : 

"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 

ALLEN — (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $6,500.    (Average:  $8,500). 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'    HIPPODROME   —  (3,500) 
(44c-55c-65c)  7  days.    Gross:  $18,500.  (Av- 
erage: $22,100). 
"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,100.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"The  Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep.) 

LOEW'S  OHIO— (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Falcon  and  the  Co-Eds"  (RKO) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7 
days.    Stage:  Cab  Calloway  and  vaudeville. 
Gross:    $24,000.     (Average:  $25,400). 
"Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 

LOEW'S     STATE— (3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1.900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average: 
$10,000). 


Carter's  Stratagem 
Forestalls  Panic 

Boston,  April  6.  —  G.  L. 
Carter  of  the  Strand,  in  Wo- 
burn,  a  Boston  suburb,  has 
been  commended  by  the  local 
Safety  Council  for  a  strata- 
gem that  saved  an  audience 
of  1,000,  mostly  children,  from 
possible  panic  when  his  house 
was  destroyed  by  a  $20,000 
fire. 

When  the  blaze,  unseen  by 
the  customers,  was  discov- 
ered, Carter  walked  to  the 
stage  and  announced  that  he 
wished  to  have  a  fire  drill  to 
test  the  theatre's  escape  sys- 
tem. The  people  marched  into 
the  street  without  disorder, 
and  seconds  later  the  entire 
building  was  ablaze. 


'Hostages'  on  Dual 
Hits  Record  $12,500 


Kansas  City,  April  6. — Good  prod- 
uct and  fine  weather  brought  out 
weekend  crowds ;  business  all  over 
town  has  been  good.  The  Uptown 
with  "Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  netted 
$8,500.  The  Orpheum  broke  records 
with  "Hostages"  and  "Around  the 
World,"  taking  $12,500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  5-8: 

"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,500.    (Average:  $5,500). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 
"Sailor's  Holiday"  (Col.) 

MIDLAND— (3,600)     (40c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.    (Average:  $14,000). 
"The  Desert  Song"  (WB) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)   (46c  to  65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $11,000). 
"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 
"Hostages"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (1,900)    (45c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $12,500.    (Average:  $10,000).  . 
"Tumbling  Tumbleweed"  (Rep.) 
"Cowboy  Canteen"  (Col.) 

TOWER — (2,200)  (40c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.    (Average:  $9,400). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN  —  (2,000)  .  (45c -65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $8,500.    (Average:  $5,000). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,000.    (Average:  $1,450). 


'Corvette'  Dual  Is 
Best  in  Providence 

Providence,  April  6.  —  The  RKO- 
Albee  Theatre's  strong  dual  bill, 
"Phantom  Lady"  and  "Corvette  K- 
225"  proved  the  biggest  money-maker 
of  the  week,  grossing  $14,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  6 : 

"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 
"Corvette  K-225"  (Univ.) 

RKO- ALBEE  —  (2,239)  (35c-44c-55c-60c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $14,000.    (Average,  $12,800) 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

STRAND— (2,200)    (44c-55c)    7    days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $11,500.     (Average,  $10,500) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 
"Return  of  the  Vampire"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,232)   (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,000.    (Average,  $17,700) 
"In  Our  Time"  (W.  B.) 
"Find  the  Blackmailer"  (WB) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)   (35c-44c-55c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $12,100) 
"The  Sullivans"  (2€th-Fox) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days, 
3rd  week,  moveover  after  two  weeks  at  the 
Majestic.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average:  $4,000). 
"Laramie  Trail"  (Rep.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days.  On 
stage:  Norvell,  Freddie  Stritt,  Maxine  & 
Ketron,  Bernice  Foley,  George  Ross,  Alston 
&  Young.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average:  $6,500). 
"Sweethearts  of  the  U.S.A."  (Mono.) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c)  3 
days.  On  stage:  Charlie  Spivak  and  or- 
chestra.    Gross:  $8,500.     (Average:  $7,90d). 


4In  Our  Time'  Is 
Over  by  $7,800 


Denver,  April  6. — "In  Our  Time," 
on  a  dual  at  the  Denver,  was  expected 
to  gross  $20,800  for  top  honors  this 
week,  while  the  Paramount  was  in 
second  place  with  "Leopard  Man"  on 
a  twin  "scare"  bill.  The  Denham, 
showing  "Standing  Room  Only"  for 
the  third  and  final  week,  pointed  to 
$8,200. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  3-6 : 

"Jane  Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Hi  Good  Lookin'  "  (Univ.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)      (30c-40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.     Moveover.     Gross:  .$8,750.  (Aver 
age:  $5,000). 

"This  Is  the  Army"  (WB) 

BROADWAY— (1,040)    (30c-40c-50c-60c)  7 
days,    return   engagement.     Gross:  $5,000. 
(Average:  $2,500). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)      (3Oc-40c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.    Gross:  $8,200.  (Average 
$7,000). 

"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 

"Two  Man  Submarine"  (Col.) 

DENVER — (2,600)       (40c-50c-60c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $20,800.    (Average:  $13,000). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 
"Two  Man  Submarine"  (Col.) 

ESQUIRE— (740)  (40c-50c-60c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,950.     (Average:  $3,000). 
"The  Leopard  Man"  (RKO) 
"The  Return  of  the  Vampire"  (Col.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)  (30c -40c -50c -60c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $14,850.     (Average:  $9,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

RIALTCK-(90O)  (40c-50c-60c-65c)  7  days. 
Moveover.  Gross:  $6,900.  (Average:  $4,- 
600). 


Dorsey,  'Racket  Man^ 
Get  Record  $35,000 


Milwaukee,  April  6.  —  Tommy 
Dorsey  and  his  orchestra  with  Gene 
Krupa  and  Bob  Allen  are  breaking 
house  records  at  the  Riverside  this 
week.  Together  with  "The  Racket 
Man"  on  the  screen  it  looks  like 
$35,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  7: 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
2nd  weelc.  Gross:  $13,500.  (Average:  $13,- 
000). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (2ttth-Fo«) 

PALACE— (2,400)    (76c-$1.10)    (road  show 
engagement)    7    days,    3rd    week.  Gross: 
$10,000.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"Jane  Eyre"  (20th-Fox) 
"Nine  Girls"  (Col.) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days.  2nd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $3,750.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 

WARNER— (2,400)  (50c-72c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$17,500.    (Average:  $14,000). 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,900)  (50c-72c)  7  days, 
2nd  week  downtown.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Aver- 
age: $9,000). 

"The  Racket  Man"  (Col.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)  (65c-85c)  7  days. 
On  stage:  Tommy  Dorsey  and  his  orches- 
tra. Gene  Krupa  and  Bob  Allen.  Gross: 
$35,000.    (Average:  $14,000). 


Approve  Anti-Axis  Films 

RKO's.  home  office  reported  here 
yesterday -that  the  Argentine  censor  at 
Buenos  Aires  has  licensed  RKO's 
"Hitler's  Children"  and  "Behind  the 
Rising  Sun,"  both  of  which  were  pre- 
viously banned  for  anti-Axis  senti- 
ments. 


Columbia  Dividend  • 

The  board  of  directors  of  Columbia 
Pictures  has  declared  a  quarterly  divi- 
dend of  68}i  cents  per  share  on  the 
company's  $2.75  convertible  preferred 
stock,  payable  May  15,  to  stockhold- 
ers of  record  May  1,  1944. 


Pittsburgh  Is 
'Needed Area 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

Greenblatt,  Pittsburgh  WAC  distri- 
bution chairman,  Bamberger  has  pre- 
pared, or  is  preparing,  similar  appli- 
cations for  Buffalo,  Cleveland,  Detroit, 
Los  Angeles,  Portland,  San  Francisco, 
Washington,  Albany,  Atlanta,  Be  1 
Chicago,  Dallas,  Indianapolis,  Mil  B  - 
kee,  New  Haven,  New  Orleans,  OkTa-* 
homa  City,  Omaha,  Salt  Lake  City 
and  Charlotte.  They  will  be  filed  with 
the  WMC  area  directors  after  meet- 
ings with  all  exchanges. 

Such  meetings  were  held  in  Pitts- 
burgh, and  the  application  there  was 
sighed  by  the  branch  managers  of  all 
distributing  organizations  and  execu- 
tives of  independent  exchanges,  in 
eluding:  Arthur  Levy,  Columbia 
Bryan  D.  Stoner,  Loew's ;  Perry 
Nathan,  National  Screen ;  David 
Kimmelman,  Paramount ;  Sam  Sep- 
lowin,  Republic ;  Clay  Hake,  20th- 
Fox;  Mort  Magill,  United  Artists; 
Peter  Dana,  Universal ;  Forrest 
Moore,  Vitagraph;  Max  Schulgold, 
Crown  Film;  Louis  Kreiger,  Filrd 
Classics  ;  Mark  Goldman,  Monogram 
Louis  Lefton,  PRC,  and  Herber 
Greenblatt,  RKO. 

397  Workers  Represented 

These  14  exchanges  represent  397 
workers  of  which  63.22  percent  are 
women.  Under  the  budget  manpower 
plan,  new  system  of  labor  priorities 
advocated  by  the  WMC  in  Washing- 
ton and  already  in  effect  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, motion  picture  distribution  was 
placed  in  the  group  of  industries 
permitted  to  hire  only  males  or  fe 
males  18  years  of  age  or  under 
honorably  discharged  veterans  oi 
World  War  II  or  part  time  workers 
It  is  expected  that  the  exchanges  will 
be  grouped  with  the  more  essentia! 
industries  which  have  been  allocated 
a  "hiring  quota"  of  mature  workers, 
based  on  their  labor  turnover  plus 
military  withdrawals. 


Connors  in  Field 
Rental  Discussions 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  session  here  were  A.  W.  Smith, 
Jr.,  Clarence  Hill,  Sam  Gross  and 
A.  J.  Davis.  The  Allied  committee, 
which  included  Sidney  A.  Samuelson 
Morris  Wax,  Milt  Rogasner,  Charles 
Moyer  and  Sam  Resnick,  will  reporl 
on  the  conference  at  Allied's  general 
membership  meeting  April  12. 


Mexico's  Studios  Set 
70  Films  for  Year 

Mexico  City,  April  6. — Current  es 
timates  of  Mexican  production  indi- 
cate that  four  producers :  Clasa  Films 
Film  Mundiales,  Filmex  and  Produc 
ciones  Grovas  are  expected  to  delivet 
about  50  films  for  1944-45.  Contin- 
gent upon  raw  stock  and  equipment 
these  companies  may  boost  their  conv 
bined  total  to  about  60. 

Smaller  producers  may  yield  an  ad 
ditional  20  pictures  to  bring  Mexico's 
estimated  total  to  about  70  to  80  pic- 
tures. This  will  more  than  permil 
Mexico  to  hold  the  lead  as  top  pro- 
ducer of  Spanish-language  films  and 
to  continue  as  a  strong  competitor  of 
Hollywood  product. 


OP 


THE  1944-45  INTERNATIONAL  MOTION 
PICTURE  ALMANAC  IS  NOW  IN  PREP- 
ARATION. THIS  WILL  BE  THE  FIFTEENTH 
ANNUAL  EDITION  OF  THE  INDUSTRY'S 
WORLDWIDE  FACTUAL  AUTHORITY 
AND  WILL  PROVIDE  THE  MOST  UP-TO- 
THE-MINUTE     SCREEN  REFERENCE 

EDITED  BY  TERRY  RAMSAYE 

QUICLEY  PUBLICATIONS 

ROCKEFELLER   CENTER  NEW   YORK  (20) 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  7,  1944 


Wm.  Fox  Finds  Operations 
'Obsolete, 9  Has  New  Ideas 


Reagan  Is  Named  to 
Agnew's  Para.  Post 
With  Five-Year  Pact 


Para.  '43  Net 
Estimated  at 
$16,077,000 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

basis  at  $4,422,000.  These  earnings 
do  not  include  $354,000  representing 
the  amount  of  dividends  received  by 
the  company  and  its  consolidated  sub- 
sidiaries from  non-consolidated  sub- 
sidiaries in  excess  of  Paramount's  di- 
rect and  indirect  net  interest  as  a 
stockholder  in  the  combined  earnings 
of  such  subsidiaries  for  the  quarter, 
such  excess  representing  a  partial  dis- 
tribution of  share  of  earnings  of  pre- 
vious quarters. 

$5,353,000  Last  Year 

Earnings  for  the  corresponding 
quarter  ended  Jan.  2,  1943,  were  $5,- 
353,000,  not  including  $447,000  repre- 
senting the  amount  of  dividends  re- 
ceived by  the  company  and  its  consoli- 
dated subsidiaries  from  non-consoli- 
dated subsidiaries  in  excess  of  Para- 
mount's direct  and  indirect  net  inter- 
est in  the  combined  earnings  of  such 
subsidiaries  for  the  quarter. 

Fourth  quarter  1942  earnings  in- 
cluded the  company's  share  of  film 
rentals  and  earnings  of  subsidiaries 
operating  in  England,  Australia,  New 
Zealand  and  India  applicable  to  the 
first  nine  months  of  1942  to  the  ex- 
tent not  previously  reflected  in  earn- 
ings during  that  period  due  to  restric- 
tions on  remittances  then  in  effect. 

The  $16,077,000  of  estimated  com- 
bined consolidated  and  share  of  un- 
distributed earnings  for  1943  represent 
$4.28  per  share  on  the  3,752,136  shares 
of  common  stock  outstanding  on  Jan. 
1,  1944,  which  compares  with  $4.74  per 
share  for  the  year  ended  Jan.  2,  1943, 
on  the  2,933,717  common  shares  then 
outstanding,  after  providing  $728,706 
for  dividends  on  the  then  outstanding 
first  preferred  shares. 

Common  $1.18  Per  Share 

Estimated  combined  consolidated 
and  share  of  undistributed  earnings  of 
$4,422,000  for  the  quarter  ended  Jan. 
1,  1944,  represent  $1.18  per  share  on 
the  3,752,136  shares  of  common  stock 
outstanding,  which  compares  with 
$1.76  per  share  for  the  quarter  end- 
ed Jan.  2,  1943,  on  the  2,933,717  com- 
mon shares  then  outstanding,  after 
providing  $182,177  for  accrued  divi- 
dends on  the  then  outstanding  first 
preferred  shares,  but  including  the  ad- 
ditional film  rentals  and  earnings  from 
England,  Australia,  New  Zealand  and 
India. 

See  Necessity  for 

22  New  Theatres 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

caring  only  for  the  population  prior 
to  the  war  impact. 

The  22  projects,  at  an  estimated 
cost  of  $1,042,870,  are  wanted  in  Coro- 
nado  and  San  Diego,  Cal. ;  Miami  and 
Pensacola,  Fla. ;  Providence ;  Ocean 
View  and  Newport  News,  Va. ;  Wa- 
hiawa  and  Haleiwa,  Hawaii;  Contra 
Costa  County,  Bencia  and  Tracy, 
Cal. ;  Pueblo,  Colo. ;  Lake  City,  Lake 
Wales,  and  Panama  City,  Fla.;  Glen 
Burnie,  Md. ;  Westerly,  R.  I.;  El 
Paso,  Tex. ;  Ogden,  Utah  ;  Williams- 
burg, Va.,  and  Seattle,  Wash. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

and,  perhaps,  unrivaled  since.  When 
he  withdrew  he  agreed  not  to  reenter 
the  industry  or  make  use  of  his  name 
within  it  for  a  period  of  five  years, 
which  expired  in  1935.  In  the  nine 
years  since,  he  said,  he  never  once  has 
abandoned  the  determination  to  re- 
sume where  he  left  off,  and  of  going 
on  from  there. 

The  start  has  been  made.  Fox  has 
opened  business  offices  in  the  Lefcourt 
Building,  Fifth  Avenue  and  Forty- 
third  Street.  His  new  company  will 
be  named  Fox  Pictures  Corp.  Incor- 
poration papers  will  be  drawn  by  his 
attorneys,  Becker,  Ross  &  Stone,  and 
will  be  filed  in  the  near  future.  It 
will  be  a  cooperative  producing  com- 
pany, an  international  distributing 
company,  which  will  offer  a  year's 
output  of  25  or  26  top-grade  features 
at  one  time,  Fox  said. 

In  the  near  future  he  plans  to  start 
on  a  tour  of  key  cities  to  acquire  real 
estate  as  sites  for  new  exchanges.  Lat- 
er he  will  go  to  Latin  America  for 
the  same  purpose,  he  said.  His  world- 
wide distribution  organization  will  be 
administered  in  Hollywood,  where  his 
modern  home  office  will  be  located  ad- 
jacent to  his  studios. 

"There  is  no  good  reason  why 
distribution  and  administration 
headquarters  should  be  located 
in  New  York,"  he  said.  "There 
are  many  good  reasons  why 
they  should  be  on  the  West 
Coast." 

He  is  not  ready  yet  to  speak  for 
publication  concerning  plans  for  financ- 
ing the  new  company.  He  did  say 
that  it  will  be  a  "cooperative  in  the 
fullest  sense  of  the  word"  and  that  he 
hoped  its  stockholders  would  be  com- 
prised entirely  of  industry  people — 
directors,  writers,  performers,  exhib- 
itors and  cameramen.  It  will  be  a 
cooperative  of  and  for  the  creative 
and  essential  industry  factors,  Fox 
said. 

May  Function  by  Year's  End 

He  proposes  to  begin  functioning  as 
soon  as  materials  for  the  new  studio 
and  for  exchanges  in  every  key  city 
are  available.  He  believes  that  there 
is  a  good  chance  that  this  may  be  be- 
fore the  end  of  this  year.  If  not,  then 
whenever  it  is  physically  possible  to 
go  ahead.  Establishment  of  his  dis- 
tribution organization  will  be  limited 
only  by  the  same  restrictions  which 
apply  to  the  domestic  scene — as  soon 
as  possible. 

It  is  his  conviction  that  present-day 
production  and  distribution  facilities 
are  "obsolete."  He  plans  studio  and 
exchange  plants  built  new  from  the 
ground  up,  and  which  he  says  will 
embody  innovations  which  he  regards 
as  his  constructive  contribution  to  the 
industry  in  general,  his  passport, 
should  one  be  needed,  for  re-admis- 
sion. 

"My  plans,"  he  said,  "are  entirely 
constructive.  I  do  not  feel  that  there 
is  any  antipathy  that  would  put  ob- 
stacles in  my  way.  There  was.  of 
course  a  time  when,  because  I  would 
not  sell  out  to  the  old  Motion  Picture 
Patents  Co.,  I  was  denied  access  to 
film.  It  became  necessary  for  me  to 
go  to  President  Taft  and  Attorney  I 


General  Wickersham,  with  the  result 
that  the  Motion  Picture  Patents  Co. 
was  dissolved.  It  was  by  that  action 
that  the  industry  was  opened  to  the 
men  who  are  at  the  head  of  it  today." 

Fox  is  convinced  that  the  industry 
needs,  and  has  needed,  a  genuinely 
cooperative  unit  within  it.  Only  two 
attempts  have  been  made  in  that  di- 
rection, he  claims.  The  first  was  the 
old  First  National  company,  a  co- 
operative insofar  as  exhibitors  were 
concerned ;  the  second,  United  Artists, 
a  cooperative  for  producers.  There 
never  has  been  exactly  what  he  now 
proposes,  a  cooperative  for  creative 
workers  in  association  with  exhibitors, 
he  contends'. 

He  objected  mildly  to  the  use  of 
the  word  "manpower"  when  ques- 
tioned concerning  his  ideas  of  available 
personnel  for  a  large,  new  enterprise. 

"Let's  call  it  the  'staffing'  problem," 
he  said.  "If  manpower  is  not  avail- 
able when  we  are  ready  we'll  use  wo- 
men. Lots  of  businesses  are  getting 
along  all  right  with  them  today." 

As  for  executive  associates, 
he  admitted  he  has  talked  to 
a  number  of  prospects  but  "it 
would  not  be  fair  to  mention 
names  at  this  stage." 

Questioned  about  his  age,  Fox  re- 
plied :  "I  feel  better  now  than  when 
I  was  40." 

This  writer  saw  Fox  not  at  40  but 
at  50.  It  is  possible  to  say  unequivo- 
cally that  Fox  looks  better  today  than 
he  did  in  1929. 

"Have  you  ever  stopped  to  think," 
he  asked,  "that  most  of  the  men  who 
head  the  industry  are  about  my  age. 
and  some  are  older?  Marcus  Loew 
would  be  about  my  age  and  Carl 
Laemmle,  Sr.,  was  older  than  I.  The} 
were  my  contemporaries  in  pioneering 
the  industry.  Nicholas  Schenck  and 
Louis  B.  Mayer  are  about  my  age. 
Harry  Warner,  Joe  Schenck,  Sam 
Goldwyn,  Adolph  Zukor  and  others  are 
older  than  I." 

Listening,  you  are  reminded  of  the 
saying:  "A  man  is  no  older  than  he 
feels." 

Sees  Nothing  New 

Fox  said :  "I  have  been  looking 
around  recently  to  discover  what  in- 
novations, new  methods,  procedures, 
have  been  introduced  into  or  adopted 
by  the  industry  since  my  withdrawal 
from  it.  I  have  found  nothing  new. 
Yet  I  can  think  of  no  other  industry 
that  has -not  added  something  vital  to 
itself  in  the  past  15  years.  I  do  not 
say  that  disparagingly,  nor  critically, 
but  simply  as  a  factual  report  on  my 
recent  observations.  If  I  am  wrong, 
correct  me.  I  know  there  are  plenty 
of  things,  new  things,  the  industry 
ought  to  have  and  could  have.  Per- 
haps I  can  contribute  some  of  them. 

"I  never  was  referred  to  as  'Fox,' 
in  the  old  days.  I  was  known  through- 
out the  industry  as  'The  Lone  Wolf.' 
My  new  company  will  be  run  inde- 
pendently, too.  I  am  sure  the  exhib- 
itors will  welcome  me  back.  There 
always  is  room  for  a  good  company 
and  always  a  market  for  good  pic- 
tures." 

Fox  paused  reflectively. 

"I  hope  to  develop  the  greatest  of 
all  motion  picture  companies,"  he  said. 

Workmen    still    are    busy  getting 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

contracts  given  by  Paramount  to  dis- 
tribution executives  since  the  com- 
pany's reorganization  in  1935.  The 
appointment  is  regarded  in  the  trade 
as  a  popular  one  with  the  compar  i 
sales  organization  and  advertis(  At 
publicity  department,  and  is  viewed  if' 
completely  averting  upheavals  that 
ordinarily  follow  upon  the  withdrawal 
of  a  department  head  within  the  in- 
dustry. 

In  making  the  announcement  of 
Reagan's  appointment,  Barney  Bala- 
ban,  president,  said :  "The  executives 
of  this  organization  are  proud  to  an- 
nounce the  promotion  of  Charles  M. 
Reagan  and  we  are  proud  of  the  com-  | 
pany  that  can  produce  men  of  his 
calibre." 

Started  in  1920 

"He  has  been  with  Paramount  since 
1920  and  I  have  known  and  admired 
him  ever  since  he  became  affiliated 
with  the  organization. 

"I  know  the  entire  industry  will 
join  with  us  in  wishing  him  success  in 
his  new  duties." 

Reagan  joined  Paramount  in  1920 
as  a  salesman  in  the  Cincinnati  office. 
In  1922  he  was  promoted  to  branch 
manager  of  the  Indianapolis  exchange 
and  in  1925  to  district  manager  with 
supervision  of  the  Cincinnati,  Indi- 
anapolis and  Louisville  exchanges.  In 
1932  he  was  transferred  to  Chicago  as 
district  manager  supervising  Chicago, 
Detroit,  Milwaukee  and  Indianapolis. 

Reagan  succeeded  to  the  position  of 
Western  division  sales  manager  in 
1934  and  in  1941  was  promoted  to 
assistant  general  sales  manager. 


Blumberg,  Cowdin, 
Others  Reelected 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Prutzman,  vice-president  and  general 
counsel ;  William  A.  Scully,  Joseph 
H.  Seidelman  and  Clifford  Work, 
vice-presidents ;  John  J.  O'Connor, 
vice-president  and  assistant  to  the 
president ;  Samuel  Machnovitch,  treas- 
urer and  assistant  secretary ;  Adolph 
Schimel  and  Edward  Muhl,  assistant 
secretaries ;  Margaret  M.  Sullivan, 
assistant  secretary-treasurer,  and  Eu- 
gene F.  Walsh  and  Harold  S.  Brew- 
ster, assistant  treasurers. 


OCR  Offers  Aid  of 
Staff  to  Exhibitors 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

to  give  effective  assistance  in  provid- 
ing adequate  labor,  equipment  and 
supplies  and  in  solving  problems  of 
construction  of  new  facilities.  At  the 
same  time  the  services  of  the  Wash- 
ington staff  will  be  made  available  to 
aid  in  solving  other  problems  common 
to  many  areas,  he  said. 


Fox's  new  offices  on  Fifth  Avenue  in 
readiness.  Furnishings  have  not  been 
delivered  yet.  The  room  in  which  Fox 
was"  interviewed  was  bare,  except  for 
the  two  chairs  on  which  we  sat.  There 
was  not  a  letter,  a  desk,  a  typewriter 
nor  a  telephone  in  that  room,  but  in 
it  was  the  makings  of  a  new  major 
company. 


J 

First  Ifl  rV, 

./Radio  )l 

Accural 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert. 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


OL.  55.  NO.  70 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  APRIL  10,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Kodak  Gets  Aid 
For  Plans  On 
Television 


Designs  for  Equipment 
From  Talks  Here 


Exploratory  conferences  between 
executives  of  Eastman  Kodak  and 
film,  radio  and  television  interests, 
held  here  during  the  past  several 
days,  have  developed  material  which 
Kodak  engineers  at  Kodak  Park, 
Rochester,  are  expected  to  use  in 
moulding  blueprints  for  the  postwar 
manufacture  of  television  projectors, 
cameras,  parts  and  new  types  of  raw- 
film,  if  the  latter  is  needed. 

Eastman  officials  first  con- 
ferred, last  week,  with  Para- 
mount executives,  as  reported 
in   Motion  Picture  Daily  on 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Goldenson  Named  to 
Paramount  Board 


Leonard  Goldenson,  vice-president 
of  Paramount  in  charge  of  theatre 
operations,  has  been  elected  to  the 
Paramount  board  of  directors,  filling 
the  vacancy 
created  by  the 
resignation  o  f 
Neil  Agnew. 
Indications  are 
that  the  next 
ensuing  vacancy 
to  occur  on  the 
company 's 
board  will  be 
fi  1  1  e  d  by 
Charles  M. 
Reagan,  who 
was  named 
vice  -  president 
and  general 
manager  of  do- 
mestic distribu- 
tion last  week,  and  was  voted  a  five- 
year  contract. 

Goldenson  became  associated  with 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Leonard  Goldenson 


RKO  Heads  Honor 
Boasberg,  Kranze 

Robert  Mochrie,  RKO  general  sales 
manager ;  Nat  Levy,  Eastern  district 
manager,  and  Harold  Mirisch,  chief 
buyer  and  booker  of  the  RKO  theatre 
circuit,  left  New  York  over  the  week- 
end for  Cleveland  to  attend  the  testi- 
monial dinner  being  given  in  that  city 
tonight  to  Charles  Boasberg,  captain 
of  the  1944  Ned  E.  Depinet  Drive, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


WAC  Calls  for  Aid 
For  the  Wacs 

Promotional  suggestions  for 
the  industry's  forthcoming 
national  recruiting  drive  in 
behalf  of  the  Women's  Army 
Corps  from  May  11  to  17  are 
requested  of  all  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  public  rela- 
tions chairmen  in  the  field. 
Oscar  Doob  of  Loew's,  WAC 
public  relations  chairman,  has 
sent  word  to  the  field  chair- 
men to  rush  ideas  for  an  in- 
dustry pressbook  to  Harry 
Mandel  at  WAC  New  York 
,  headquarters. 


McMurphey  West  on 
New  House  Survey 


Washington,  April  9. — George  W. 
McMurphey,  chief  of  the  Office  of 
Civilian  Requirements  recreation  sec- 
tion, left  Washington  tonight  for  a 
two-week  trip  to  the  West  Coast.  He 
will  make  a  swing  down  the  Coast 
from  Seattle  to  San  Diego,  conferring 
with  OCR,  War  Production  Board, 
Federal  Security  Agency  and  other 
regional  officials,  members  of  the  area 
production  urgency  committees  and 
the  committees  for  congested  areas. 

The  purpose  of  the  trip  will  be  to 
see  that  the  major  policies  of  the  vari- 
ous Federal  agencies  are  fairly  stand- 
ardized, to  insure  the  finding  of  all 
communities  where  new  theatres  are 
needed  and  to  avoid  undue  delay  in  the 
handling  of  exhibitors'  applications  in 
areas  where  houses  are  reallv  needed. 


US  CRACKS  DOWN  ON 
TICKET  SWITCHING 


New  (U'  Pact 
For  O  'Connor 


John  J.  O'Connor,  Universal  vice- 
president  and  assistant  to  Nate  J. 
Blumberg,  president,  has  been  voted  a 
new  four-year  contract  by  the  com- 
pany's board  of 
directors 
it  was  learned 
at  the  weekend. 

Term  of  the 
contract,  it  is 
understood,  was 
designed 
to  parallel  those 
of  other  Uni- 
versal execu- 
tives, who  were 
voted  new  sev- 
en -  year  con- 
tracts early  in 
1941.  The  con- 
tracts  were 
voted  at  that 
time  to  J.  Cheeyer  Cowdin,  chairman 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


John  J.  O'Connor 


General  'I A'  Demands 
To  Be  Heard  Today 

Producer  representatives  and 
IATSE  officials  will  meet  today  to 
discuss  general  union  proposals,  com- 
monly demanded  by  all  11  studio  lo- 
cals, which  will  replace  agreements 
which  expired  on  Jan.  1.    On  Friday 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


U.S.  Names  13  Agents 
To  Aid  Exhibitors 


Berne  Elected  Head 
Of  Singer  Circuit 

Joseph  M.  Berne  of  Cleveland  was 
elected  president  of  the  Mort  Singer 
Theatres  Corp.  at  a  board  of  directors 
meeting  held  here  at  the  weekend  to 
fill  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  death 
of  Mort  Singer  on  March  29.  The 
circuit  operates  28  .theatres  in  the 
Midwest,  with  offices  in  Chicago. 
RKO  has  an  interest  in  the  circuit. 

Berne  was  associated  with  the  late 
Singer  in  the  formation  of  the  Singer 
circuit  in  1933  and  has  been  active  in 
exhibition  for  some  20  years.  He 
announced  here  Friday  that  no 
changes  are  contemplated  in  the  opera- 
tion of  the  circuit. 


Washington,  April  9. — Following 
last  Thursday's  invitation  by  George 
W.  McMurphey,  chief  of  the  recrea- 
tion section  of  the  Office  of  Civilian 
Requirements,  extended  to  exhibitors, 
and  others  in  amusements,  to  take 
manpower,  equipment  or  supply  dif- 
ficulties to  OCR  field  representatives 
in  13  areas,  the  OCR  has  published 
the  names  of  the  13  representatives 
and  the  regions  to  which  they  have 
been  assigned. 

The  basic  intention  is  in  line 
with  the  OCR  to  assist  in  main- 
taining essential  consumer 
goods  and  services  at  a  level 
sufficient  to  keep  the  civilian 
economy  functioning  in  such  a 
manner  that  it  will  best  serve 
the  war  program. 
The  13  regional  representatives,  all 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Treasury  Will  Insist 
On  Uninterrupted 
Serial  Numbers 


U.  S.  Treasury  officials  here  told 
JVIotion  Picture  Daily  that  the 
Government  intends  to  "enforce  rig- 
orously" the  provisions  of  the  Rev- 
enue Act  forbidding  the  widely 
prevalent  practice  of  switching 
ticket  rolls  in  the  box  office  to  pre- 
clude consistency  of  serial  numbers 
of  tickets  issued  to  the  public. 

"The  rule  laid  down  by  a  re- 
cent Treasury  Department  de- 
cision is  mandatory  and  viola- 
tors are  liable  to  the  punish- 
ment features  attached,"  a 
spokesman  said  last  week  when 
asked  for  an  interpretation  of 
the  intent  of  the  order. 

According  to  the  ruling,  "serially 
numbered  tickets  must  be  issued  con- 
secutively in  the  order  of  the  serial 
numbers  of  that  particular  series,  and 
also  consecutively  in  the  order  of  the 
letters  of  the  alphabet  if  any." 

This  ruling,  while  not  intended  to, 
is  seen  as  enabling  distributors  to  fur- 
ther check  on  theatres  to  determine 
gross  admissions  for  percentage  rental 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Warners  Reassigns 
Wallis  Schedule 


Hollywood,  April  9. — Jack  War- 
ner, vice-president  in  charge  of  pro- 
duction has  reassigned  all  Warner 
productions  which  were  on  Hal  Wal- 
lis's  schedule,  following  the  Wallis- 
Warner  split  which  occurred  last  week. 

Henry  Blanke  will  take  over  Vicki 
Baum's  "Grand  Hotel— 1943" ;  Her- 
man Shumlin,  whose  last  picture  was 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


U.  S.,  Schine  Argue 
Motions  Today 

Buffalo,  April  9.— The  U.  S.  Dis- 
trict Court  here  tomorrow  will  con- 
sider motions  by  the  U.  S.  Govern- 
ment for  appointment  of  a  trustee  for 
nine  Schine  theatres  not  disposed  of  in 
conformity  with  a  court  order  of  May 
19,  1942.  The  court  will  also  hear 
a  counter  motion  by  the  Schine  Cir- 
cuit for  relief  from  that  order. 

Action  was  deferred  last  week  un- 
til tomorrow  when  a  hearing  on  an 
application  by  the  Schine  interests  to 
acquire  the  Liberty  Theatre  in  Cum- 
berland, Md.,  is  also  scheduled  to  be 
heard. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Dahly 


Monday,  April  10,  1944 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


Coast 
Flashes 


Personal 
Mention 


ATE  J.  BLUMBERG,  Universal 
president,  left  for  the  Coast  on 


Friday. 

G.  B.  J.  Frawley,  Paramount  home 
office  executive,  has  become  a  dele- 
gate-at-large  and  member  of  the  board 
of  governors  of  the  Amateur  Athletic 
Union  of  the  United  States. 

• 

Hal  Horne,  20th  Century-Fox  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director,  and 
Jack  Goldstein,  Eastern  publicity 
manager,  left  over  the  weekend  for 
Hollywood. 

• 

Lf.  Robert  Wood  Gottlieb,  son  of 
Harry  Gottlieb,  20th-Fox  salesman 
in  Iowa,  was  married  to  Florence 
Rubin  at  Miami  Beach. 

• 

E.  H.  Mayer)  Quigley  Publications 
correspondent  in  Cincinnati,  is  a  pneu- 
monia patient  in  the  Jewish  Hospkal 
there. 

© 

Lou  Lepovitz,  Des  Moines  theatre 
operator,  has  been  accepted  for  mili- 
tary service  in  the  Navy. 

• 

Robert  Leonard,  manager  of  the 
Paramount,  Des  Moines,  has  been  in- 
ducted into  the  Navy. 

• 

Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  for- 
eign manager,  is  expected  back  from 
the  Coast  today. 

e 

Johnny  Bourke,  Republic  unit 
manager,  returned  to  the  Coast  over 
the  weekend. 

• 

Irving  Golder  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  press  book  department,  has 
joined  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

• 

Sam  Spring,  industry  attorney,  left 
New  York  for  the-  Coast  on  Friday. 

$847,000  in  Loew, 
Warner  Collections 

Red  Cross  collections  totalling 
$847,000  have  been  reported  to  the 
War  Activities  Committee  by  Loew's 
and  Warners'  circuits,  it  was  disclosed 
at  campaign  headquarters  here  at  the 
weekend.  The  driye  in  over  400  War- 
ner houses  netted  approximately  $500,- 
000,  which  is  the  largest  circuit  figure 
to  date  and  compares  with  $250,000 
taken  in  last  year.  Loew's  theatres, 
according  to  Oscar  Doob;  have  real- 
ized $347,000. 

The  Philadelphia  area  is  expected  to 
triple  its  1943  collection,  exhibitor 
chairman  Earl  Sweigert  has  notified 
national  industry  chairman  Joseph 
Bcrnliard.  Up  •  to  the  weekend,  re- 
ceipts in  five  counties  comprising  that 
territory  were  estimated  at  $250,000, 
compared  with  $80,000  for  the  same 
group  last  year. 

The  New  York  Paramount  Thea- 
tre collected  $13,408  in  13  days,  more 
than  dorble  la-t  year's  figure,  accord- 
te  R'  b'jrt  M.  Weitman,  manag- 
ing director. 


T  N  the  ten  days  since  word  came 
*-  from  Hollywood  that  William 
Fox  was  ready  to  start  in  busi- 
ness again,  the  most  common  re- 
action encountered  in  and  about 
home  offices  was  one  of  undis- 
guised skepticism.  "He'll  never 
do  it."  "It's  impossible  to  launch 
a  new  major  company  at  this 
time."  "He's-  too  old  to  make  a 
comeback."  "He's  dreaming." 
Those  and  other  comments  in  a 
similar  vein  are  typical  of  what 
was  to  be  heard.  Fox  heard  those 
comments,  too.  His  reply  was : 
"I  was  never  more  determined 
about  anything  in  my  life.  Those 
who  are  betting  against  me  will 
lose." 

Fox  says  it  convincinly.  It  is 
easy  to  get  the  impression  that, 
his  physical  condition  permitting 
(and  there  is  no  flaw  in  his  physi- 
cal condition  apparent  to  the 
casual  observer),  Fox  will  go 
ahead  with  his  plan  just  as  rapid- 
ly as  current  conditions  permit. 
How  soon  that  will  be,  he  him- 
self does  not  profess  to  know.  He 
has  set  up  shop  here  in  town. 
He  is  hopeful  that  building  ma- 
terials will  be  made  available  be- 
fore the  end  of  this  year.  .  If  so, 
construction  on  his  studios  and 
home  office  building  on  the 
West  Coast  will  be  started,  he 
says.  Meanwhile,  he  will  visit 
key  cities  in  this  country  and 
Canada  to  purchase  or  option 
sites  for  his  exchanges,  and 
plans  to  visit  Latin  America  lat- 
er for  the  same  purpose. 

Fox  believes  present  day  film 
exchanges  are  outmoded.  He 
plans  to  construct  modern  build- 
ings incorporating  new  princi- 
ples from  cellar  to  roof.  He  is 
particularly  interested  in  the 
postwar  foreign  market.  He  be- 
lieves that  the  international  dis- 
tribution organization  created 
during  the  1920s  by  Fox  Film 
Corp.  was  the  most  extensive 
and  smoothl}'  functioning  in  the 
industry  and  blazed  the  trail  for 
others.  He  regards  Movietone 
City  at  Westwood,  which  was 
started  during  his  regime,  as  the 
best  of  all  studios  today.  He 
hopes  to  surpass  the  280-acre  de- 
velopment there  when  his  new 
studios  and  home  office  adorn 
the  1,500-acre  tract  which  he  has 
under  option  on  the  West  Coast. 

Fox's  sole  misgivings  about 
his  reentry  into  the  industry  ap- 
pear to  be  concerned  with  the 
kind  of  reception  that  will  be 
given  him.  He  inquires  about 
industry  opinion  of  himself  to- 
day. He  gives  the  impression 
that  lie  is  uncertain  whether  he 


will  meet  with  a  friendly,  a  live- 
and-let-live  or  an  openly  hostile 
attitude  from  the  organized  in- 
dustry on  his  return.  This  con- 
cern sets  him  to  thinking  of  the 
important  part  he  played  in  the 
break-up  of  the  old  Motion  Pic- 
ture Patents  Co.  He  retells  that 
chapter  of  industry  history  with 
enthusiasm  and  a  remarkable 
exposition  of  interesting  detail. 

Listening,  you  do  not  doubt 
the  man's  fighting  qualities  and 
ability  to  contend  for  "elbow 
room"  in  the  arena  of  his 
choice.  He  was  a  giant  once 
and,  make  no  mistake  about  it, 
the  characteristics  have  not  been 
shed  or  misplaced  in  his  14 
years  of  inactivity. 

The  appointment  of  Charles 
Reagan  to  head  Paramount's  do- 
mestic sales  and  distribution, 
succeeding  Neil  Agnew,  was  a 
popular  one  throughout  the  in- 
dustry. It  was  particularly  wel- 
come news  to  the  Paramount 
sales  organization  and  to  its  ad- 
vertising publicity  department. 
It  means  that  none  of  the 
changes  within  -the  organization 
which  many  regarded  with  ap- 
prehension, and  which  already 
were  seeping  into  the  stages  of 
broadcast  rumor,  are  likely  to 
occur.  '  The  Paramount  sales 
organization  likewise  was  en- 
thused over  news  of  the  five-year 
contract  voted  to  Reagan.  It  was 
the  first  contract  given  a  home 
office  executive  since  1935.  To 
the  distribution  department  it 
spells  stability  within  the  organi- 
zation, instead  of  uncertainty  and 
change. 

The  appointment  was  a  sound 
move  and  a  smart  one. 

•  • 

Lots  of  interest  around  the  big 
city  on  incompleted  film  deals 
among  several,  metropolitan  cir- 
cuits. Universal  is  selling  away 
from  Skouras  Theatres  in  some 
spots,  for  an  example  of  what 
the  interest  .is  all  about.  The 
shortage  of  product  resulting 
from  some  of  the  incompleted 
deals  has  made  it  necessary  for 
many  houses  to  go  to  two 
changes  a  week  instead  of  their 
former  three. 

George  J.  Schaefer  has  effected 
a  settlement  of  certain  claims 
based  on  promises  of  participa- 
tion in  improved  earnings  of 
RKO  during  his  latter  tenure  as 
president  of  the  company.  The 
settlement,  engineered  by  Floyd 
B.  Odium,  RKO  chairman,  is  re- 
ported to  have  averted  a  trip  to 
the  courts. 


Hollywood,  April  9 

HJ.  YATES  has  set  a  record  ad- 
•  vertising  budget  for  "The  Man 
from  Frisco,"  which  will  premiere  in 
San  Francisco,  Oakland  and  Rich- 
mond, Cal.,  in  early  May. 

•  L 

Twentieth-Fox  has  purchased  iW 
rights  to  "Boomerang,"  a  story  of  a 
naval  exploit  in  the  South  Pacific, 
written  by  Commander  William 
Chamblis,  who  was  20th-Fox's  home 
office  exploiteer  prior  to  a  call  by  the 
Navy  as  a  reserve  officer  before  Pearl 
Harbor. 

• 

The  Screen  Actors  Guild  and  the 
IATSE  unions  have  approved  Darryl 
Zanuck's  use  of  the  Army  Air  Corps 
stage  cast  in  the  film  version  of 
"Winged  Victory." 

• 

Republic  has  contracted  to  distribute 
Sydney  M.  Williams'  independently 
produced  "Next  Comes  Love,"  star- 
ring Lupe  Velez.  Lazslo  Vadney  will 
direct  the  film  from  his  own  script. 
• 

Twentieth-Fox  has  signed  Joan 
Blondell  to  a  term  contract.  Her  first 
assignment  will  be  "A  Tree  Grows  in 
Brooklyn,"  to  be  produced  by  Louis 
D.  Lighten . 

• 

Johnny  Long,  orchestra  leader,  has 
been  signed  as  an  associate  producer 
by  M-G-M. 

• 

RKO  has  signed  Dudley  Nichols  to 
write  the  script  of  "Elizabeth  Kenny" 
and  produce  the  film. 

• 

Red  Skelton  and  Muriel  Morris, 
screen  actress,  have  applied  here  for  a 
marriage  license. 

M-G-M  Executives  at 
Ingram  Luncheon 

E.  K.  (Ted)  O'Shea,  Metro-Gold- 
wyn-Mayer  Eastern  sales  manager ; 
Henderson  M.  Richey,  exhibitor-re- 
lations head,  and  M.  L.  Simons,  editor 
of  M-G-M's  The  Distributor,  will  at- 
tend an  exhibitor  luncheon  in  Mem- 
phis April  17  at  the  Peabody  Hotel, 
honoring  Louis  C.  Ingram,  newly  ap- 
pointed manager.  Charles  E.  Kesse- 
nich,  M-G-M's  Southern  district  man- 
ager, is  also  expected  to  attend. 

Insrram  was  sales  manager  at  the 
Atlanta  office  for  20  years.  He  suc- 
ceeds J.  F.  Willingham. 


Boston  Industry  Dinner 

Boston,  April  9. — The  Cinema  Club 
here  has  set  April  23  for  the  Spring 
dinner.  It  will  be  held -at  the  Mayfair 
Club.  Organization  headquarters  also 
reports  that  a  new  club  magazine  will 
be  sent  to  members  in  the  armed 
forces. 


Soviet  Lauds  Korda 

London,  April  9.  —  Following  the 
Russian  success  of  his  "Lady  Hamil- 
ton," Sir  Alexander  Korda  received 
today  cabled  congratulations  from  the 
Soviet  Government  on  "The  Thief  of 
Pasdidad's"  Russian  showing. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY.  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Ouigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York." 
Martin  Quisley,  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T  .1  Sullivan.  Secretary:  Sherwin  Kane  Executive  Editor;  James_  P.  Cunningham.  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
bv  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies.  10c. 


M-G-M  STARTS 
THE  BALL 
ROLLING! 


Mewspaper  headlines  reach  every  corner 
}f  the  nation!  N.  B.  C.  Radio  hook-up 
blankets  America.  From  Main  Street  in 
Meriden,  Conn.,  the  World  Premigre  of 
'MAIN  STREET  TODAY'1  is  br 


your  public.  Never  such 
100!  A  Big  Show  to 


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—  \ti\\tve?>a  ^C^tA^S-   


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•Otv 


McNutt  Pays  National  Honor 
in  Radio  Broadcast— Movie 
Prernj&re  Aids  Red  Cross 


sum 


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.is. 


BE  NEW  SOP.K  TIMES. 

Conn.,  March  20 — j 

_;brated    tonight  its!' 

by  the  War  Manpower, 

^ja^^^^^i lion's  idcai 
Commission  sam  ^p^w 

P^the  presence, 

.  McNutt.  A 
program  car-j 
'  ;e  to  the  city, 
the  observance  was 
showing  off  he  Metro- 
-  Ufin  Street 
.  pffsons  con- 
,000  to  the  R 
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and  the  mo 
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•           »uuS  Company  t 

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^we~yjof  war  plant  experien^ 
.ussocia- 


Meridan,  Conn.,  chosen  as 
ideal  war  city  for  premiere  on  "Main 
Street  Today." 


Q  I  talk  at  pre-premiere  dinner 

"  *  attended  by  400  war  work- 
ers; (/.  to  r.)  Jimmy  Durante,  Mayor 
Danaher,  Senator  Maloney,  Paul  V. 
McNutt,  Luise  Rainer,  Sen.  Danaher. 


er. 
I 


BIG 


news  when  AP,  UP,  INS, 
—~  -  — -  photo  services,  newsreels, 
newspapers  and  magazine  feature 
writers  covered  premiere  event. 


OI    Wai  jJiatii.   

I  Lynette  Broan  Bra y 


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for  iunioj 


D  I  broadcast  over  NBC  net- 
"  work  of  premiere  ceremo- 
nies featuring  (above)  Mr.  McNutt, 
Gov.  Baldwin,  Capt.  Glenn  Miller's 
A.  A.  F.  Band. 

THE  BIG  SHORT 

A  Story  of  the  People  for  the  People 
on  the  Main  Streets  of  America 

An  M'G-M  2-REEL  SPECIAL 

Narrated  by 

TOHN  NESBITT 


4 


1 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  10,  1944 


Review 


"Blazing  Frontier" 

(PRC) 

A  L  ST.  JOHN'S  comedy  relief  is  the  saving  feature  of  "Blazing  Fron- 
tier,"  a  sub-par  Western  that  features  Buster  Crabbe  in  another 
Billy  the  Kid  portrayal.  The  film  has  not  been  over  generous  with 
such  action  requisites  as  shooting  and  hard  riding,  although  Crabbe 
does  become  embroiled  in  some  mild  fisticuffs.  Main  stumbling  block 
is  a  story  that  demands  too  much  explanation. 

Crabbe  and  St.  John  are  called  upon  to  secure  evidence  against  the 
Western  Railroad's  land  agent  and  chief  detective,  whom  the  settlers  of 
Red  Rock  Valley  suspect  of  having  defrauded  them  of  their  land.  With 
money  raised  from  some  neat  cattle  rustling  the  pair  buy  a  ranch  from 
the  railroad's  agent  and  in  so  doing,  discover  that  the  deed  has  been 
altered.  The  settlers  are  subsequently  restored  to  the  land  by  the  rail- 
road. Sam  Newfield  directed  from  Patricia  Harper's  screenplay.  Sig- 
mund  Newfeld  produced. 

Running  time,  59  mins.    "G."*   Release  date,  Sept.  1,  1943. 

Charles  Ryweck 


'Jane  Eyre'  on  Dual 
Rolls  Up  a  Big 
$27,500  in  'Frisco 

San  Francisco,  April  9.  —  "Jane 
Eyre"  and  "Ghost  That  Walks 
Alone"  hit  a  terrific  $27,500  in  the 
opening  week  at  the  Paramount, 
topped  only  by  the  Golden  Gate's 
"Curse  of  the  Cat  People,"  backed  by 
Charlie  Barnett's  band  and  Benny 
Youngman  on  stage,  which  got  $28,- 
500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  March  31-April  5 : 

"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 
"Klondike  Kate"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)     (20c-35c-60c-75c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,500.    (Average:  $14,800). 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 
"Men  On  Her  Mind"  (PRC) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (20c-35c-60c- 
75c)  7  days,  3rd  week.    Gross:  $9,500.  (Av- 
erage: $11,000). 
"Johnny  Apollo"  (20th-Fox) 

WARFIELD—(2,680)  •  (20c-35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.     Stage:    Vaudeville.     Gross:  $21,000. 
(Average:  $21,800). 
"Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO)  . 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,850)    (35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.     Stage:    vaudeville.     Gross:  $28,500. 
(Average:  $25,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Coastal  Command"  (RKO) 

STATE— (2,306)  (20c-35c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
4th  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average:  $12,- 
100). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

ST.  FRANCIS—  (1,400)  (20c-35c-55c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  Fox.  Gross: 
$13,800.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"Jans  Eyre"  (20th-Fox) 
"Ghost  That  Walks  Alone"  (Col.) 

PARAMOUNT—  (2,740)  (20c-35c-55c-75c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $27,500.     (Average:  $19,600). 
"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M)  - 
"Rationing"  (M-G-M) 

FOX-(5,000)  (20c-35c-55c-75c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $22,500.     (Average:  $24,000). 


Television  Preview 
For  M-G-M  Short 

The  first  television  "preview"  of  a 
motion  picture  has  been  set  from 
Coast  to  Coast  at  eight  o'clock  to- 
night, when  M-G-M's  two-reel  spe- 
cial, "Patrolling  the  Ether,"  will  be 
televised  over  WNBT,  New  York ; 
WRGB,  Schenectady;  WPTZ,  Phila- 
delphia; W9XZV,  Chicago,  and 
W6XAO,  Los  Angeles. 

James  Lawrence  Fly,  chairman  of 
the  Federal  Communications  Commis- 
sion, will  appear  before  the  NBC 
cameras  here  to  introduce  the  film, 
which  is  the  latest  in  the  "Crime  Doec 
Not  Pay"  series  and  dramatizes  the 
war  activities  of  FCC's  radio  intelli- 
gence division.  The  broadcast,  re- 
viewed in  the  NBC  press  department 
office,  will  be  followed  by  a  dinner  in 
the  Ritz  Carlton  Hotel,  for  Fly,  G.  E. 
Sterling,  chief  of  the  division,  and 
New  York  newspaper  and  tradepress 
critics.  Similar  critics'  gatherings  are 
being  arranged  in  Chicago,  Philadel- 
phia and  Los  Angeles. 

N.  Y.  Strand  Books 
'Tars  and  Spars* 

Warners'  New  York  Strand  has 
booked  "Tars  and  Spars,"  the  Coast 
Guard  all-service  musical  show  with  a 
cast  headed  by  Victor  Mature,  film 
star  now  in  the  Coast  Guard,  and  with 
lyrics  and  skits  written  by  Howard 
Dietz,  as  the  stage  attraction  with 
"Between  Two  Worlds,"  opening 
May  5. 

The  show,  which  opened  last  week 
in  Miami,  was  directed  by  Max  Lieb- 
man  of  M-G-M.     It  will  play  the 

country. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

200  Air  Shows  for 
200  'Twain'  Shows 

Warners'  will  launch  a  new-type 
radio  campaign  for  "The  Adventures 
of  Mark  Twain"  with  the  inaugura- 
tion of  a  schedule  of  five  15-minute 
programs  over  200  CBS,  NBC  and 
Mutual  network  stations.  The  radio 
show,  being  written  by  radio  writer- 
director  Arch  Oboler,  is  part  of  the 
advance  campaign  being  carried  out 
under  the  direction  of  Mort  Blumen- 
stock  for  the  200-theatre  day-and-date 
premieres  of  the  picture  set  for  the 
week  of  May  6. 

More  than  90,000,000  listeners  will 
be  reached  by  the  radio  series,  which 
will  be  augmented  by  spot  announce- 
ments and  other  features  representing 
approximately  $250,000  in  radio  time, 
Warners  said  here  at  the  weekend. 
Exhibitors  will  be  supplied  with  a 
radio  coverage  map  and  publicity  kits 
in  connection  with  the  broadcasts.  Ori- 
ginal material  will  be  used  in  the  air 
shows,  rather  than  adaptations  of  the 
film  itself. 

Warners  will  distribute  this  week 
a  special  folio  of  promotional  material 
to  operators  of  the  200  theatres  which 
will  play  "The  Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain"  for  limited  advance-price  en- 
gagements the  week  of  May  6. 

Among  material  in  the  folder  is  a 
pictorial  map  of  the  life  of  Twain ; 
Mark  Twain  war  bond  poster ;  a  copy 
of  the  scroll  presented  to  Jack  War- 
ner and  producer  Jesse  Lasky  by  the 
Mark  Twain  Commission  of  Hanni- 
bal, Mo.;  book  jacket  of  Grosset  & 
Dunlap's  special  film  edition  of 
"Mark  Twain" ;  folder  of  publicity 
material  for  newspapers,  magazines 
and  radio;  set  of  12  stills,  size  11  x  14, 
and  a  set  of  material  sent  by  publish- 
ers to  booksellers  in  connection  with 
window  display  contests  for  which 
winners  will  receive  war  bonds. 


New  Butterfield  House 

Detroit,  April  9—  W.  S.  Butter- 
field  Theatres  has  announced  the  open- 
ing in  60  days  of  a  new  theatre,  unr 
named  as  yet,  at  nearby  Willow  Run. 
The  new  house,  constructed  as  a  Gov- 
ernment project  to  furnish  entertain- 
ment for  defense  workers  in  the  area, 
will  seat  1,200  and  will  operate  as  a 
first-run. 


982  British  Quota 
Defaults  in  Year 

London,  April  9. — Nine  hundred 
and  eighty-two  British  exhibitors  de- 
faulted in  the  quota  year  ending  last 
September,  against  1,814  defaults  for 
the  previous  year,  it  was  learned  at 
the  Board  of  Trade  here  today.  Offi- 
cials, however,  point  out  that  this  ap- 
parent improvement  is  only  moderate 
when  the  fact  that  the  statutory  quota 
percentage  was  reduced  for  the  year 
reviewed,  and  the  fact  that  62  British 
features  were  registered  last  year 
compared  with  46  in  the  previous  year. 

The  Film  Council  will,  in  due  course, 
review  details  of  the  offenses  in  order 
to  consider  prosecution  for  the  de- 
faults. These  are,  however,  unlikely 
to  be  many  since  it  is  BOT's  policy  to 
prosecute  only  willful  and  determined 
offenders.  Only  four  exhibitors  were 
prosecuted  during  the  previous  year, 
with  the  BOT  losing  one  case.  The 
present  quota  percentage  is  in  effect 
until  September,  1945,  but  the  BOT 
is  now  considering  ultimate  revision 
upon  the  war's  end. 


'Rationing',  Dual  Get 
$17,600  in  Buffalo 

BtTFFALO,  April  9. — Grosses  gener- 
ally will  be  lighter  this  week,  although 
"Rationing,"  coupled  with  "Passport 
to  Suez,"  will  bring  the  Buffalo 
$17,600.  "Knickerbocker  Holiday" 
and  "Jeannie"  will  take  $10,000  at  the 
Hippodrome. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  8 : 

"Rationing"  (M-G-M) 
"Passport  to  Suez"  (Col.) 

BUFFALO  —  (3,489)     (40c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $17,600.    (Average,  $17,400) 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

GREAT  LAKES—  (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $13,200.  (Average, 
$16,600) 

"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (U.  A.) 
"Jeannie"  (British) 

HIPPODROME  —  (2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $9,700) 
"The  Rains  Came"  (20th- Fox) 
"Under  Two  Flags"  (20th-pox) 

20TH  CENTURY— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average,  $12,200) 
"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 

"You're  a  Lucky  Fellow,  Mr.  Smith"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE—  (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
ways,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average: 
$12,400). 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  9 

(">OLOR,  which  has  splashed  across 
J  screens  of  the  country  in  increas- 
ing amounts  of  late,  is  destined  for 
even  more  prominence.  At  present 
there  are  14  Technicolor  pictures  ready 
for  release,  nine  on  the  stages,  and  \{\ 
others  in  preparation.  The  nine  iir 
work  include :  Paramount's  "Bring  on 
the  Girls,"  "Columbia's  "At  Night  We 
Dream,"  "The  Climax"  at  Universal, 
20th-Fox's  "Irish  Eyes  Are  Smiling," 
"Kismet,"  "Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis," 
and  "National  Velvet"  at  M-G-M, 
"Wilson,"  at  20th-Fox  and  Interna- 
tional's "Belle  of  the  Yukon,"  for 
RKO. 

• 

The  past  week  saw  the  launching  of 
the  new  Vanguard  trademark  at  RKO- 
Pathe  studios  in  Culver  City  when 
Dore  Schary  started  production  on  his 
"Double  Furlough,"  co-starring  Joseph 
Cotten  and  Ginger  Rogers.  The  trade- 
mark is  separate  and  distinct  from 
David  0.  Selznick's  own  film  label. 
Following  "Double  Furlough"  on  the 
Vanguard  program  will  be  Alfred 
"Hitchcock's  "The  House  of  Dr.  Ed- 
wwrdes." 

• 

The  Masquers  Servicemen's  Morale 
Corps  has  been  doing  a  great  job  of 
entertaining  servicemen  with  spe- 
cial shows,  dinners  and  general  fun 
at  the  Masquers'  club  house  in 
Hollywood.  Last  week  the  Morale 
Corps  marked  its  first  anniversary 
of  such  activities  with  returned 
overseas  veterans  from  the  Santa 
Ana  Air  Base  Hospital  and  officers 
and  men  from  the  U.  S.  S.  Kalinen 
Bay,  an  escort  aircraft  carrier,  as 
guests  of  honor.  Ronald  Colman 
was  host  with  Edward  Arnold,  pres- 
ident of  the  club.  Director  Edward 
Earle  presided. 

• 

Arnold  Pressburger's  Bougainville 
beach-head  world  premiere  of  "It  Hap- 
pened Tomorrow"  was  helped  along 
to  nationwide  publicity  by  Army  press 
releases.  It  was  these  releases  that 
prompted  CBS  to  network  excerpts  of 
the  picture  on  the  Lockheed  program. 
.  .  .  Ariel  Health,  blonde  glamour  girl 
seen  in  a  number  of  RKO  pictures,  is 
being  tested  for  additional  dramatic 
roles  in  which  she  will  be  de-glamour- 
ized again  as  she  was  in  PRC's  "Ca- 
reer Girl." 

AFM  Urges  WLB  to 
Require  Contracts 

Washington,  April  9. — Members 
of  the  American  Federation  of  Musi- 
cians "don't  care"  if  they  never  work 
again  for  the'  Columbia  Recording 
Corp.  and  RCA- Victor,  who  have  re- 
fused to  sign  the  contract  accepted  by 
Decca  and  other  record  manufacturers, 
Joseph  A.  Padway,  counsel  for  the 
union,  told  the  War  Labor  Board  at 
the  weekend. 

Padway  appeared  before  the  board 
in  argument  against  the  recent  panel 
report,  which  recommended  that  the 
AFM  be  required  to  resume  working 
relations  with  the  two  companies.  He 
urged  that  the  board  disregard  the 
arguments  of  the  two  companies  and 
issue  an  order  requiring  them  to  sign 
the  contract  which  the  AFM  has  said 
contains  the  only  conditions  under 
which  it  will  permit  the  resumption  of 
record  production. 


You've  heard  of  persons  who  are  always  getting  in  somebody's  hair. 
Well— er— we're  kind  of  that  way  too— except  that  we  get  in  their  eyes 
and  ears.  The  smartest  theatre  brains  of  this  country  sign  up  a  paper 
with  us,  that  says  practically:  "We  contract  with  you  to  go  out  and 
explore  every  eye  and  ear  in  this  town;  tell  them  what's  on  our  screen, 
and  do  it  effectively  and  completely."  Sure  enough,  that's  just  what  we 
do.  P.S.  We  don't  apologize  for  being  in  your  own  eyes  right  now  as 
you  read  this  ad.  It's— er— a  habit. 


nfiTionftL  Q&iem  service 

y^ypMZE  BRBY  OF  THE  MDU5TRY 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  10,  1944 


U.  S.  Names  13  Agents 
To  Aid  Exhibitors 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

located  in  regional  offices  of  the  War 
Production  Board,  will  be  available 
for  consultation  with  any  operator  of 
a  theatre  or  other  recreational  estab- 
lishment to  help  solve  any  local  prob- 
lems that  actually  or  threaten  to  in- 
terfere with  the  availability  of  the 
theatre  or  other  recreational  service. 
Following  are  the  area  directors  and 
the  regions  assigned  to  them  : 

Region  No.  1,  Edward  V.  Hickey, 
17  Court  St.,  Boston,  covering  Con- 
necticut, Maine,  Massachusetts,  New 
Hampshire,  Rhode  Island  and  Ver- 
mont ;  No.  2,  L.  H.  Luce,  Empire 
State  Building,  New  York,  for  North- 
ern New  Jersey  and  New  York ;  No. 
3,  Virgil  J.  Reder,  1617  Pennsylvania 
Blvd.,  Philadelphia,  for  Delaware, 
Maryland,  Southern  New  Jersey, 
Pennsylvania  (except  Pittsburgh 
area),  Virginia  and  the  District  of 
Columbia. 

Region  No.  4,  Sam  I.  Subose, 
Candler  Building,  Atlanta,  for  Ala- 
bama, Florida,  Georgia,  Mississippi, 
North  and  South  Carolina  and  Ten- 


nessee ;  No.  5,  Carl  H.  Becker,  Union 
Commerce  Building,  Cleveland,  for 
Kentucky,  Ohio  (except  Toledo  area), 
Pittsburgh  area  of  Pennsylvania  and 
West  Virginia ;  No.  6,  Howard  H. 
Richardson,  226  West  Jackson  Blvd., 
Chicago,  for  Illinois,  Indiana,  Iowa 
and  Wisconsin. 

Region  No.  7,  N.  S.  Riley,  Mutual 
Interstate  Bldg.,  Kansas  City,  Mo., 
for  Arkansas,  Kansas,  Missouri  and 
Nebraska ;  No.  8,  Frank  Mason,  Mer- 
cantile Bank  Building,  Dallas,  for 
Louisiana,  Oklahoma  and  Texas ;  No. 
9,  M.  S.  Coursen,  Continental  Oil 
Building,  Denver,  for  Colorado,  New 
Mexico,  Utah  and  Wyoming ;  No.  10, 
Russell  Longstreetch,  1355  Market 
St.,  San  Francisco,  for  Arizona,  Cali- 
fornia, Idaho  and  Nevada. 

Region  No.  11,  Carleton  Havens, 
1310  Woodward  Ave.,  Detroit,  for 
Michigan  and  the  Toledo  area  of 
Ohio ;  No.  12,  W.  G.  Duryee,  Midland 
Bank  Building,  Minneapolis,  for  Min- 
nesota, Montana  and  North  and  South 
Dakota;  No.  13,  Allan  L.  Willard, 
White-Henry-Stuart  Building,  Seattle, 
for  Oregon  and  Washington. 


Rogers  WAC  Chairman 

Memphis,  April  9. — J.  J.  Rogers, 
Columbia  branch  manager  here,  has 
been  named  chairman  of  the  distribu- 
tors' division  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee  for  this  area,  replacing  J. 
Frank  Willingham,  who  has  been 
transferred  to  St.  Louis  by  M-G-M. 


WB  Houses  Collected 
$421,806  for  'Dimes' 

A  total  of  $421,806  was  collected 
by  Warner  Theatres  in  the  March  of 
Dimes  campaign,  it  was  reported  here 
by  Joseph  Bernhard,  circuit  manager, 
at  the  weekend. 

The  check  for  the  entire  amount, 
minus  deductions  paid  local  chairmen, 
has  been  turned  over  to  Walter  Vin- 
cent, national  industry  treasurer  for 
the  drive. 


Goldenson  Named  to 
Paramount  Board 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
Paramount  in  1933,  when,  as  an  at- 
torney, he  handled  the  reorganization 
of  the  company's  New  England  thea- 
tres. In  1937  he  was  named  assistant 
to  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  then  in  charge 
of  Paramount  theatre  operations,  and 
succeeded  to  Freeman's  post  in  1941, 
when  the  latter  was  appointed  to  head 
the  Paramount  studio.  Goldenson  was 
elected  a  vice-president  of  Paramount 
in  1942. 


RKO  Heads  Honor 
Boasberg,  Kranze 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
recently  promoted  from  the  post  of 
East  Central  district  manager  to 
Metropolitan  New  York  district  man- 
ager, and  B.  G.  Kranze,  successor  to 
Boasberg  in  Cleveland. 

Mochrie,  Levy  and  Mirisch  are  ex- 
pected to  return  to  N^w  York  on 
Wednesday  to  attend  the  final  meeting 
on  the  "Ned  Depinet  Drive"  in  the 
RKO  exchange  here. 


Mrs.  Braunagel  Resigns 

Logan,  Utah,  April  9. — Mrs.  DeLon 
Braunagel  has  resigned  as  city  man- 
ager of  Intermountain  Theatres'  three 
houses  here,  the  Capitol,  Roxy  and 
Lyric,  to  join  her  husband,  Lt.  Jack 
Braunagel,'  who  was  Logan  city  man- 
ager for  Intermountain  until  his  in- 
duction into  the  Army. 


Nickelodeon  Grinds 
Again  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  April  9. — As  in  the 
days  of  1910,  a  Nickelodeon  is 
nourishing  here,  some  1,800 
persons  paying  five  cents  each 
at  every  performance  to  see 
such  shows  as  William  S.  Hart 
in  "Revenge  on  the  Range," 
while  a  pianist  improvises  the 
accompaniment. 

It's  the  most  popular  at- 
traction at  the  Chicago  Mu- 
seum of  Industry  and  Science, 
with  authenticity  confirmed 
from  photographs  in  "A  Mil- 
lion and  One  Nights,"  by  Ter- 
ry A.  Ramsaye,  editor  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Herald.  Outside 
the  'flicker  store'  a  Keystone 
cop  patrols  "Yesterday's  Main 
Street,"  where  electric  and 
gas  automobiles  of  the  early 
20th  Century  are  parked. 


Urges  Cooperation 
For  Television 

Cooperation  between  television 
broadcasters,  film  companies,  unions 
and  advertising  agencies  was  urged 
at  the  weekend  by  Richard  Hubbell, 
television  director-writer,  in  the  open- 
ing lecture  of  a  New  School  for  Social 
Research  television  course. 

"Television  broadcasters  must  take 
the  lead  in  program  development  in 
most  cases  by  setting  up  well-equipped 
studios  and  training  production  units," 
Hubbell  stated.  Film  companies  and 
networks  will  be  able  to  set  up  their 
own  studios,  and  therefore  will  be  able 
to  train  their  own  production  units 
more  easily  than  advertising  agencies, 
which  will  have  to  buy  network-pack- 
aged shows  or  special  film  productions 
for  the  next  few  years,  according  to 
Hubbell: 


General  'I A'  Demands 
To  Be  Heard  Today 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

company  heads  and  studio  labor  repre- 
sentatives, meeting  at  the  offices  of 
Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  contact, 
reached  virtual  accord  on  proposals  of 
the  11  locals,  with  completion  of  dis- 
cussion on  soundmen's  proposals.  This 
agreement  is  contingent,  however, 
upon  the  controversial  questions  of 
seniority  rights,  allowances  for  time 
spent  on  location,  paid  sick  leave,  a 
five  per  cent  payment  by  producers  on 
gross  salaries  ;to  benefit  IATSE  mem- 
bers, and  other  demands. 


'Pep'  Club  Elects 

Paramount's  Pittsburgh  Pep  Club 
has  elected  the  following  officers :  Wil- 
liam Brooks,  president ;  Harry  Pas- 
sarell,  vice-president ;  Roseanne  Fein- 
berg,  secretary ;  Lenore  Goldstein,, 
treasurer.  The  home  office  here  also 
reported  the  formation  of  a  Pep  Club 
in  Detroit  with  Edward  Stuckey,  pres- 
ident ;  Lillian  Neff ,  vice-president ; 
Betty  Fussner,  secretary,  and  John 
Gentile,  treasurer. 


Fick  Is  Injured 

Omaha,  April  9. — While  en  route 
to  Seattle  on  a  new  assignment  with 
Ross  Federal  Service,  H.  V.  Fick  was 
injured  when  his  automobile  crashed 
near  York,  Neb.  Mrs.  Fick  was  also 
hurt.  L.  A.  Rassler  has  succeeded 
Fick  here. 


Monday,  April  10,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


New  Univ.  Contract 
For  J.  J.  O'Connor 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

of  the  board;  Blumberg;  W.  A.  Scul- 
ly, Charles  D.  Prutzman,  Joseph  Sei- 
delman,    Cliff    Work    and  Matthew 
Fox,  vice-presidents.    Fox  currently 
is  on  leave  of  absence  with  the  armed 
i_forces.     O'Connor  entered  the  com- 
pany later  that  year  with  a  three-year 
'  contract  which  has  just  expired.  His 
new  contract,  it  is  reported,  will  ex- 
pire simultaneously  with  those  of  the 
other  executives. 

The  management  contracts  range 
from  $75,400  to  $117,000,  currently, 
it  is  understood.  They  include  par- 
ticipation in  earnings  above  a  specific 
level  of  operating  income  and  provide 
for  stock  purchase  warrants. 


Warners  Reassigns 
Wallis  Schedule 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

|  "Watch  on  the  Rhine,"  will  direct  and 
will  arrive  here  May  1-  to  start  pre- 
parations.    Robert  Buckner  will  do 

',  "God  Is  My  Co-Pilot,"  screen  version 
of  Col.  Robert  L.  Scott's  novel,  with 
Robert  Florey  directing. 

Arthur  Schwartz  will  produce  the 
Cole  Porter  biography,  "Night  and 
Day."  Jack  Chertok  has  been  as- 
signed to  "The  Conspirators,"  now 
shooting,  and  will  follow  this  with 
"The  Corn  Is  Green,"  Bette  Davis's 
next,  with  Irving  "Rapper  directing. 


U.  S.  to  Enforce  Ruling  to 
Prevent  Ticket  Switching 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

payments.  The  ruling  specifically  pro- 
vides that  a  theatre  cashier  must  sell 
tickets  from  one  ticket  roll  of  a  par- 
ticular price  designation  until  all 
tickets  in  that  roll  have  been  ex- 
hausted, and  must  then  follow  with  the 
next  numbered  ticket  roll  rather  than 
arbitrarily  select  a  different  ticket  roll 
with  the  same  price  designation. 

Ruling  on  the  use  of  letters  after  the 
first  series  of  numerals  from  1  to 
500,000  has  been  exhausted,  the  In- 
ternal Revenue  Bureau  directs  that 
the  next  1  to  500,000  series  must  be 
preceded  or  followed  by  a  letter  be- 
ginning with  A  and  working  through 
the  alphabet  as  each  series  is  ex- 
hausted. Also,  if  two  or  more  rolls 
of  a  series  of  tickets  of  the  same  es- 
tablished price  bearing  identical  serial 
numbers  are  on  sale  at  the  same  time, 
they  must  be  distinguished  by  different 
letters.  This  is  designed  to  cover 
cases  where  tickets  are  being  sold  by 
more  than  one  ticket  window  at  the 
same  time. 

The  general  intent  of  the  Treasury 


rulings  is  to  simplify  tax  collections 
and  check-ups  and  has  nothing  to  do 
with  helping  distributors  "police"  thea- 
tre owners  to  see  that  they  provide 
accurate  box  office  statements  for  pic- 
ture percentage  purposes,  Treasury 
officials  here  indicated. 

Exhibitors  who  furnish  distributors 
with  percentage-paying  box  office 
statements  are  affected  by  a  Treasury 
Department  regulation  which  states 
that,  'Whenever  in  the  course  of 
business  a  report  is  prepared  by  a  treas- 
urer or  manager  for  the  benefit  of  the 
proprietor,  or  by  the  proprietor,  treas- 
urer, or  manager  for  the  benefit  of 
some  other  interested  party  (distribu- 
tor), whether  the  report  be  made  daily 
or  at  regular  intervals,  or  at  any  time, 
a  sworn  copy  of  the  report  must  be 
attached  to  and  made  a  part  of  the 
(revenue  return)  records  for  the 
period  covered  thereby." 

Some  distributors  are  understood  to 
have  sought  a  general  Federal  licens- 
ing system  on  tickets,  last  year,  but 
nothing  came  of  the  project. 


Guaranteed-Lesser  Deal 

Guaranteed  Pictures  here  has  ac- 
quired worldwide  reissue  rights,  ex- 
cept for  United  Kingdom,  to  "That 
Uncertain  Feeling,"  a  Sol  Lesser  pro- 
duction, originally  distributed  by  Unit- 
ed Artists.  The  producer  was  repre- 
sented in  the  negotiations  by  Seymour 
Poe,  Eastern  sales  representative. 


Maria  Bard  Dies 

Londo-n,  April  9. — Maria  Bard,  43, 
who  appeared  in  German  films  under 
the  name  of  Migo  Bard,  died  in  Berlin, 
according  to  a  radio  report  picked  up 
here  from  that  city.  She  was  the  wife 
of  Werner  Krauss,  actor  in  Germany 
and  Austria,  and  appeared  in  "The 
Emperor  of  America"  and  "The  Man 
Without  a  Name,"  among  other  films. 


Kodak  Gets  Aid 
For  Plans  On 
Television 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

March  30,  and  later  met  with 
representatives  of  RCA,  Na- 
tional and  Columbia  broadcast- 
ing systems  and  Paramount- 
DuMont  Television,  Don  Hynd- 
man,  Kodak  executive,  disclosed 
here  yesterday. 

The  conferences  were  undertaken  to 
determine  television  'equipment  and 
raw-film  needs  of  both  the  film  and 
radio-television  fields  before  Kodak 
engineers  started  designing  the  tools 
for  television  manufacture.  "Actual 
manufacture  must  await  lifting  of  the 
war  ban  on  new  equipment  for  in- 
dustry. 

Hyndman  emphasized  that  Eastman 
has  no  intention  of  entering  the  field 
of  television  electronic  manufacture 
on  such  items  as  transmitters  or  re- 
ceivers, leaving  those  to  existing  elec- 
tronic makers.  The  company,  he  said, 
will  not  compete,  for  example,  with  the 
electronics  "  of  RCA,  DuMont  and 
similar  manufacturers; 

Emphasis  has  been  placed  on  Para- 
mount's  television  activities  and  post- 
war plans  because  of  the  company's  in- 
terests in  theatre  television,  Hyndman 
disclosed.  He  also  revealed  that  he 
has  had  discussions  with  Ralph  Aus- 
trian of  RKO  in  view  of  RKO's  ap- 
parent desire  to  keep  posted  on  the  de- 
velopment of  television  for  theatres. 


^JMETBLMR  james  gleason-ted 

Screen  play  by  Lewis  Meltzer  and  Oscar  Saul 
Directed  by  ALEXANDER  HALL  •  A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE 


and 

Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


Picture 
Industry 


OL.  55.   NO.  71 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A..  TUESDAY,  APRIL  11,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Leo  to  Roar  in 
AH  Theatres 
June  22  to  28 


Seek  Full  U.  S.  Coverage 
On  MGM  Anniversary 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  will  en- 
deavor to  have  all  theatre  owners, 
whether  regular  M-G-M  customers 
or  not,  play  either  a  feature, 
short  subject 
or  news- 
reel  bearing  the 
company's  Leo- 
the-Lion  trade- 
mark at  least 
once  between 
June  22  and 
June  28,  M- 
G-M  20th  an- 
niversary week. 
Many  circuits 
throughout  the 
country,  it 
is  under- 
stood, have 
agreed  to  co- 
operate. 

Although  a  1 1 
plans   for  the   celebration   have  not 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Leo-the-Lion 


M.  &  R.  Units 
Win  $301,361 


Boston,  April  10. — George  S.  Ryan, 
attorney  for  Aetna  Amusement  Enter- 
prises and  various  other  circuit  organ- 
izations controlled  by  Morse  and  Roth- 
enberg  which  circuit  other  theatres 
and  various  distributors  on  anti-trust 
charges,  has  announced  that  Philip  A. 
Hendrick,  Federal  master,  in  a  report 
filed  in  United  States  District  Court 
here,  has  recommended  that  damages 
be  awarded  in  the  following  amounts  : 

Aetna  Amusement  Enterprises  vs. 
(Continued  on  payc  8) 


$l,350,000Goldman 
Suit  Is  Dismissed 


Philadelphia,  April  10. — The  anti- 
trust suit,  seeking  triple  damages  of 
$1,350,000,  brought  by  William  Gold- 
man, head  of  William  Goldman  Thea- 
tres, against  Warner  Bros.,  three 
Warner  affiliates  and  eight  distribu- 
tors, was  dismissed  in  U.  S.  District 
Court  here  in  a  decision  handed  down 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Consent  Decree  'Corrupt 
Schine  Counsel  Claims 


Buffalo,  April  10. — Attacking  the 
consent  decree  as  a  "corrupt  bargain" 
in  that  it  "permits  the  big  five  to 
acquire  theatres  anywhere  in  the 
world  without  going  into  court  to  ask 
permission,"  while  the  Schine  Chain 
Theatres  Inc.  "must  come  in  and 
show  that  the  acquisitions  we  wish 
to  make  are  not  contrary  to  the  public 
interest,"  attorney  Clarence  N.  Good- 
man, in  U.  S.  District  Court  here 
today,  made  clear  that  the  Schine 
circuit  does  not  seek  an  extension,  of 
time  for  disposing  of  10  houses  which 
were  to  have  been  sold  under  a  1942 
divestiture  order  but  seeks,  rather,  a 
modification  of  the  order  so  that  some 
or  all  of  the  theatres  may  be  retained. 

Climaxing  the  first  day's  session  of 
a  Government  anti-trust  suit  which 
had  been  held  in  abeyance  since  the 
temporary  court  order  of  May  19, 
1942,  Goodman's  attack  on  the  decree 
was  prompted  by  the  testimony  of 
Leon  Bernard  Scott,  holder  of  a  50 
percent  interest  in  the  Margie  Grand 
Theatre,  Harlan,  Ky.,  who  said  he 
will  leave  for  Navy  service  on  April 
25  and  has  arranged  with  the  Schine 
interests  to  operate  the  house  in  his 
absence,  so  as  "to  provide  for  my 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


UA  Trend:  'Fewer, 
Better'  Films 


Hollywood,  April  10. — United  Art- 
ists was  seen  here  today  as  returning 
to  a  closer  adherence  to  its  founders' 
original  policy  of  "fewer  and  better 
productions,"  with  David  O.  Selznick 
and  his  Vanguard  Films  heading  the 
movement. 

It  is  reported  that  "Song  of  the 
Open  Road"  will  be  Charles  R.  Rog- 
ers' last  production  for  United  Art- 
ists ;  "It  Happened.  Tomorrow,"  the 
last  from  Arnold  Pressburger ;  and 
"Jack  London,"  Samuel  Bronston's 
last. 

Neil  F.  Agnew,  newly-appointed 
Vanguard  distribution  vice-president, 
arrived  here  today  from  the  East  and 
immediately  started  meetings  with  the 
company's  executives  and  partners,  in- 
cluding Selznick ;  Edward  Raftery, 
UA  president ;  Gradwell  Sears,  vice- 
president  ;  Carl  Leserman,  sales  man- 
ager;  and  Daniel  T.  O'Shea,  Van- 
guard president.  The  conferences 
will  continue  through  tomorrow  and 
Wednesday,  perhaps  resulting  in  a 
formal  announcement  of  the  conclu- 
sions reached.  Agnew  expects  to  re- 
turn to  New  York  at  the  weekend. 


Business  at  1st  Run 
Broadway  Houses 
Is  Above  Last  Year 


Easter  business  at  downtown  New 
York  first-run  theatres  is  running  as 
much  as  ten  per  cent  higher  than  last 
year.  Weather  conditions,  though  not 
ideal,  helped  theatres  attain  record  or 
near-record  grosses  on  Easter  Sun- 
day, attributable  in  some  degree  to  a 
three-hour  light  rain  which  sent  cus- 
tomers into  theatres  to  avoid  wilting 
Easter  finery. 

Registering  $77,000  on  the  first  four 
days  of  the  second  week  of  "Cover 
Girl"  and  the  combined  "Glory  of 
Easter"  and  "Spring  Rhythm"  stage 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Draft  Easing  Gives 
Industry  Relief 


Washington,  April  10. — Many 
branches  of  this  and  allied  industries 
which  were  facing  new  losses  of  man- 
power to  Selective  Service  will  bene- 
fit from  the  policy  adopted  over  the 
weekend  by  Major  General  Lewis  B. 
Hershey,  Selective  Service  director, 
whereby  induction  of  all  men  26  years 
of  age  and  over  will  be  delayed  from 
60  to  90  days,  if  they  are  engaged  in 
"war  supporting  activities."  Raw 
stock  and  equipment  manufacturing, 
service  film  production,  newsreels, 
film  laboratories  and  other  branches  of 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Would  Bar  Truants 
From  Theatres 


Washington,  April  10. — Motion 
pictures  in  themselves  are  not  con- 
tributing to  juvenile  delinquency,  but 
attendance  of  young  boys  and  girls  at 
places  of  commercial  amusement 
where  constructive  supervision  is  lack 
ing  is  one  of  the  factors  contributing 
to  delinquency,  it  was  declared  by  the 
House  District  Committee  in  a  report 
on  its  investigation  of  the  problem. 

The   committee   recommended  that 
action  be  taken  by  school  authorities, 
and  other  city  officials,  if  necessary 
to  bring  about  the  full  cooperation  of 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Adjustments  if 
Needed,  Says 
Tom  Connors 


Sales  Head  Gives  Pledge 
Of  Percentage  Relief 

Philadelphia,  April  10. — "If 
an  exhibitor  does  not  have  a  profit 
on  a  35  or  40  per  cent  picture  and 
his  overhead  can  be  agreed  upon, 
that  man  is  en- 
t  t  1  e  d  to  a 
price  adjust- 
ment," said 
Tom  Connors, 
vice  -  president 
in  charge  of 
sales  for  20th- 
Fox,  in  clarify- 
ing the  com- 
pany's policies 
on  percentage 
pictures,  it  was 
learned  here  to- 
day. He  spoke 
to  Lewen  Pizor, 
president  of  the 
United  MPTO' 
of  Eastern 
Pennsylvania,  Southern  New  Jersey 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Tom  Connors 


Four  Millions 
In  for  Drive 


Another  $1,000,000  in  theatre  collec- 
tions for  the  Red  Cross,  placing  the 
total  to  date  well  over  $4,000,000,  was 
reported  by  exhibitors  over  the  week- 
end to  Joseph  Bernhard,  national 
chairman  of  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try's 1944  drive.  Returns  from  sev- 
eral  thousand   theatres   are   still  to 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Affiliation  of  Wallis 
With  Rank  Looms 

Hollywood,  April  10.— Hal  B. 
Wallis,  whose  contract  as 
Warners'  executive  producer 
was  abrogated  last  week, 
acknowledged  here  today  that 
he  had  spoken  to  Arthur  W. 
Kelly  of  Eagle-Lion  Films  re- 
garding an  affiliation  with  the 
interests  of  J.  Arthur  Rank. 

When  asked  about  a  report 
that  a  New  York  banking 
group  had  offered  him  $10,- 
000,000  to  finance  his  own  pro- 
ducing unit,  Wallis  said, 
"There's  something  to  it." 


r 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Tuesday,  April  11,  1944 


250  at  Dinner  for 
Boasberg,  Kranze 


Cleveland,  April  10.— With  more 
than  250  exhibitors,  branch  managers 
and  salesmen  present,  Charles  Boas- 
berg and  Bernard  G.  Kranze,  RKO 
sales  executives,  were  honored  here 
tonight  at  a  testimonial  dinner  in  the 
Hollenden  Hotel,  held  under  the  aus- 
pices of  the  local  Variety  Club. 

The  affair,  commemorating  their 
recent  promotions,  Boasberg  from 
Eastern  Central  district  manager  to 
Metropolitan  New  York  district  man- 
ager, and  Kranze  from  Cleveland 
branch  manager  to  succeed  Boasberg, 
was  presided  over  by  Lester  Zucker 
of  Columbia.  Arrangements  were 
handled  by  Meyer  Fine  and  Moe 
Horowitz.  Following  the  dinner, 
Boasberg  left  for  New  York  to  as- 
sume his  new  post  and  to  hold  the 
final  meeting  of  the  Ned  Depinet 
Drive,  of  which  he  is  the  1944  cap- 
tain. 

Among  Those  Present 

Attending  the  dinner  were  Robert 
Mochrie,  RKO  general  sales  manager ; 
Nat  Levy,  Eastern  division  sales  man- 
ager ;  Harold  Mirisch,  chief  buyer  and 
booker  of  the  RKO  circuit ;  Al  Kolitz 
and  the  sales  staff  of  the  Cleveland 
branch ;  Stanley  Jacques  and  the  sales 
staff  of  the  Cincinnati  branch;  M.  E. 
Cohen  and  the  Detroit  sales  staff; 
and  M.  Lefko  and  the  Indianapolis 
sales  staff. 

Other  guests  were  Tom  Baker  and 
Marc  Wolff,  Indianapolis;  Manny 
Marcus,  Maury  White,  George  Fetick, 
Jack  Goldhar  and  Moe  Duddleson, 
Cincinnati;  Harry  Davis  of  Publix; 
Harris  Duddleson,  Jim  Sharkey  and 
Ollie  Brooks,  Detroit;  A.  G.  Con- 
stant and  George  Delis,  Steubenville ; 
George  Otte,  Wheeling;  Martin 
Smith,  Toledo ;  Jay  Golden,  Roches- 
'  ter,  and  Elmer  Lux,  Bob  Murphy  and 
Max  Yallen,  Buffalo. 


$100,000,000  u.  s. 
4Lab'  Business 


The  United  States  Army  is  operat- 
ing the  largest  photographing,  proces- 
sing and  film  printing  plant  in  the 
world  in  Italy,  estimated  to  represent, 
in  terms  of  personnel  and  equipment, 
what  would  be  a  $100,000,000  business 
in  civilian  life,  according  to  press  dis- 
patches from  an  American  air  base  in 
Italy.    Col.  Karl  Polifka  is  in  charge. 

Consuming  85  per  cent  of  all  photo- 
graphic supplies  in  the  Mediterranean 
theatre,  last  January  alone  it  turned 
out  1,250,000  prints. 

Main  function  of  the  unit  is  to  aid 
the  ground  forces  in  preparations  to 
attack  enemy  defenses.  Production  and 
distribution  of  aerial  photography  stu- 
dios, analyses  of  maps  and  verbal  re- 
ports based  on  swift  European  sorties 
by  fast  planes  equipped  with  cameras 
are  made.  Films  are  developed  and 
then  interpreted  by  experts,  sometimes 
from  the  negatives.  The  unit  prepares 
detailed  photographic  maps  and  charts 
for  navigators,  bombardiers  and  ground 
force  officers. 


Personal  Mention 


JAMES  MULVEY,  vice-president 
of  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc.,  re- 
turned to  New  York  from  the  Coast 
yesterday. 

Joe  Shea,  Eastern  publicity  director 
for  William  Cagney  Productions,  re- 
cuperating at  the  Polyclinic  Hospital, 
is  expected  to  be  dismissed  in  about 
ten  days. 

Marvin  Samuelson  of  the  Warner 
Theatre  booking  department  here,  in- 
ducted into  the  Marines  last  week,  is 
enroute  to  the  Marine  base  at  San 
Diego,  Cal. 

Sam  Burger,  M-G-M  international 
department  special  representative,  has 
returned  from  an  extended  tour  of 
the  company's  offices  and  theatres  in 
Latin  America. 

Frank  X.  P.  Gravatt,  operating 
theatres  in  Atlantic  City,  celebrated 
his  25th  wedding  anniversary  last 
week. 

• 

Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  for- 
eign manager,  returned  to  New  York 
yesterday  "after  two  weeks  in  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Harvey  Burch,  manager  of  War- 
ner's New  York  Strand,  was  married 
on  Easter  Sunday  to  Encarnacion 
Diaz. 

• 

J.  K.  McGuiness,  M-G-M  studio 
executive,  is  due  here  from  the  Coast 
April  22. 

• 

Jack  Cummings,  M-G-M  producer, 
will  leave  Hollywood  on  Sunday  for 
New  York. 

.  •   

Max  Finn,  general  manager  of  the 
E. "  M.  Loew  circuit,  Boston,  was  in 
Hartford  last  week. 


HM.  RICHEY,  M-G-M  exhibitor 
•  relations  head,  returned  to  New 
York  yesterday  from  a  ten-day  tour 
of  exchanges. 

• 

Tom  Connors,  20th  Century-Fox 
vice-president  in  charge  of  distribu- 
tion, accompanied  by  L.  J.  Schlaifer, 
Central  sales  manager,  left  yesterday 
on  a  tour  of  exchanges. 

• 

Claude  Morris,  United  Artists  Chi- 
cago district  publicity  director,  re- 
turned last  week  from  El  Reno,  Okla., 
where  he  visited  with  his  80-year  old 
father,  who  is  ill. 

• 

John  J.  Maloney,  M-G-M  Central 
sales  manager,  arrived  yesterday  from 
Pittsburgh  to  attend  home  office  ex- 
ecutive meetings. 

• 

E.  K.  O'Shea,  M-G-M  Eastern  and 
Southern  sales  manager,  is  home  ill. 
He  expects  to  return  to  his  desk  in  a 
few  days. 

• 

I.  J.  Hoffman  and  Dan  Finn  of 
Warner's  New  England  office,  were  in 
Hartford  last  week  on  an  inspection. 
• 

Nat  Fellman  and  Louis  Kauf- 
man, Warner  theatre  executives,  are 
in  Cleveland  for  a  few  days. 

• 

Rud  Lohrenz,  United  Artists  Chi- 
cago district  manager,  returned  from 
Hollywood  over  the  weekend. 

• 

Lucien  Perrigo  of  Warner's  Chi- 
cago publicity  staff,  is  visiting  in  New 
York. 

• 

Irving  Golder  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  press-book  department  here,  left 
yesterday  to  join  the  Navy. 

• 

Rodney  Bush,  20th  Century-Fox 
exploitation  chief,  left  for  Boston  yes- 
terday. 


Exchange  Workers 
Delay  Walkout 

Seattle,  April  10.— IATSE  film 
exchange  service  employes  here  in- 
cluding shippers,  inspectors  and  post- 
er clerks,  at  a  meeting  over  the  week- 
end, decided  to  delay  for  30  days  their 
plan  to  resign  "en  masse"  to  force  a 
ten  per  cent  wage  increase.  Approval 
of  the  increase,  which  the  distributors 
are  willing  to  grant,  has  been  pend- 
ing before  the  War  Labor  Board. 

IATSE  exchange  service  employes 
in  the  exchange  centers  of  the  coun- 
try were  recently  provided  an  interim 
opportunity  for  increased  earnings  by 
working  overtime,  but  several  locals 
are  understood  to  have  turned  down 
the  opportunity. 


Laemmle  Mustered  Out 

Carl  Laemmle,  Jr.,  former  inde- 
pendent producer,  after  26  months  in 
the  U.  S.  Army  Signal  -  Corps,  has 
been  given  a  medical  discharge. 


Wilkie  Stays  with  Para. 

Al  Wilkie,  publicity  manager  for 
Paramount,  has  withdrawn  his  resig- 
nation. 


LaGuardia,  Farley 
In  Film  for  Fund 

Mayor  La  Guardia  and  former 
Postmaster  General  James  A.  Farley 
will  appear  with  three  screen  actors 
in  a  motion  picture  that  will  be  used 
in  the  1944  campaign  of  The  Greater 
New  York  Fund,  which  will  start  on 
April  18.  With  the  Mayor  and  Farley 
in  the  filmed  appeal  on  behalf  of  the 
403  voluntary  hospitals,  health  and 
welfare  agencies  which  participate  in 
the  fund,  will  be  Paul  Muni,  Paul 
Robeson  and  Humphrey  Bogart.  All 
three  actors  are  New  Yorkers. 

The  film,  titled  "New  York  Cares 
for  Its  Own,"  will  be  distributed  to 
500  houses  throughout  Greater  New 
York,  the  release  to  first-run  houses 
being  scheduled  for  April  17,  the  day 
before  the  campaign  opens.  The  film 
was  written  and  produced  under  direc- 
tion of  Richard  de  Rochemont,  pro- 
ducer of  March  of  Time  and  member 
of  the  fund's  publicity  committee,  with 
the  cooperation  of. Jack  L.  Warner  of 
Warner  Brothers  studios,  who  pro- 
duced two  of  the  sequences  in  Cali- 
fornia. 


Lazarus  Almost 
Not  in  Army 

Paul  Lazarus,  Jr.,  33,  on 
Friday  left  his  post  as  adver- 
tising-publicity director  of 
United  Artists,  and  his  family, 
including  three  babes,  for  the 
Army.  On  arriving  at  the  in- 
duction center  at  Grand  Cen- 
tral Palace  he  was  given  the 
opportunity,  with  others,  6f- 
returning  home  for  the  Easter 
holidays  weekend  and  report- 
ing back  yesterday.  He  re- 
jected the  offer  and  went  on 
to  Camp  Upton. 

Saturday  morning  Selective 
Service  ordered  the  immedi- 
ate cancellation  of  all  calls 
for  men  over  26. 


Colbert  Christens  Ship 

Wilmington,  Cal.,  April  10. — Clau- 
dette  Colbert  christened  the  U.  S.  S. 
Appling,  13,000-ton  naval  transport 
ship,  at  ceremonies  held  in  the  Con- 
solidated Shipbuilding-  Yards  here 
Saturday.  Judith  Goetz,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  Goetz,  was 
Miss  Colbert's  maid  of  honor. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


-RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL — 

t  50th  Street  &  Gth  Avenue 

RITA  HAYWORTH    .    GENE  KELLY 

"COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern  .  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Keserved.  Circle  6-4600 


Held  Over  2nd  Week 

*  UTEST 

MARCH 
20.^ of  TIME 

:      CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


NOW  PLAYING 
Maria  Montez    .    Jon  Hall 
Turhan  Bey 

'  Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves' 


PARAMOUNT'S 

"LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 

In  Technicolor 

IN  PERSON 

XAVIER  CUGAT  And  BAND 

DEAN  MURPHY 

PARAMOUNT  SV&% 


ON  SCREEN 

1st  N.  Y.  Showing 

*NONE 
SHALL 
ESCAPE' 

with  MARSHA  HUNT 


IN  PERSON 
ALLAN 

JONES 

Happy  FELTON 
Dick  BUCKLEY 

Added  Attraction 

CANADA  LEE 


Editor-  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter  Sept.  23   1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies.  10c. 


Tuesday,  April  11,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Review 


"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas" 

( Universal) 

**M  00N  0VER  LAS  VEGAS"  is  a  cozy  little  musical  patterned 
after  the  style  of  what  appears  to  be  a  Universal  musical  tradi- 
tion. There  is  action  which  sustains  interest,  and  musical  numbers, 
some  pleasantly  reminiscent,  others  so  freshly  minted  that  they  haven't 
had  time  to  tarnish,  are  logically  interspersed  in  appropriate  spots  and 
not  plucked  from  mid-air  as  so  often  happens. 

Anne  Gwynne  and  David  Bruce,  a  young  couple  whose  marriage  has 
leached  the  point  where  she  files  suit  for  separate  maintenance,  never- 
theless remain  secretly  devoted.  They  individually  attempt  to  inspire 
jealousy,  one  with  the  other,  and  thus  become  reunited.  In  Las  Vegas, 
where  Anne  has  gone  with  Vera  Vague,  her  aunt,  to  awaken  the  green- 
eyed  emotion  in  Bruce's  heart,  she  inconveniently  runs  out  of  money 
and  has  to  turn  to  Alan  Dinehart,  a  gambling  proprietor,  for  a  job. 
Bruce  meanwhile  arrives  there,  too,  with  Vivian  Austin,  an  attractive 
brunette  fleeing  from  a  jealous  husband,  firmly  attached  to  him.  Finally, 
when  they  are  going  to  become  divorced,  a  pet  gorilla,  of  all  things, 
frightens  them  into  each  other's  arms. 

Musical  interpolations  are  supplied,  and  nicely  so,  by  Connie  Haines, 
Lillian  Cornell,  Ann  Triola,  Jimmy  Dodd  and  his  "Sportsmen,"  and 
Gene  Austin  and  the  Sherrell  Sisters.  Cappella  and  Patricia  do  a  neat 
dance  turn.  Lee  Patrick,  Joe  Sawyer  and  Milburn  Stone  are  others  in 
a  cast  that  is  uniformly  adequate.  Jean  Yarborough  produced  and  di- 
rected from  a  screenplay  by  George  Jeske  and  Clyde  Bruckman,  from 
Jeske's  story. 

Running  time,  69  mins.  "G"*  Release  date,  April  28. 

Charles  Ryweck 


G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Pennsylvania  Hits 
Film  Standards 


Philadelphia,  April  10.  —  The 
Pennsylvania  board  of  -motion  picture 
censors,  in  its  annual  report  to  the 
State  Department  of  Public  Instruc- 
tion, charges  that  the  film  industry, 
while  50  years  old  now,  commercially, 
still  fails  almost  daily  to  satisfy  the 
requirements  of  the  censors.  Point- 
ing out  in  its  report  for  the  past  year 
on  the  need  of  censorship  despite  vigi- 
lance within  the  industry,  the  board 
said  the  following  matters  are  cause 
for  elimination  daily  from  films  re- 
viewed :  Sabotage,  propaganda,  sex, 
cruelty  to  children  and  animals,  bru- 
tality, sacrilege,  indecent  exposure  and 
new  methods  of  crime. 

Although  Governor  Martin  said  re- 
cently that  motion  picture  censorship 
is  unnecessary  because  a  "filthy"  pic- 
ture would  not  be  patronized,  the  cen- 
sor board's  statistical  report  showed 
seven  films  were  rejected  in  the  1,850 
reviewed  and  that  an  average  of  164 
films  undergo  approximately  388  dele- 
ions  a  year. 

While  the  budget  for  the  board  is 
only  $62,500  a  year,  the  report  showed 
that  gross  receipts  from  reviewing  fees 
paid  by  distributors  amount  to  ap- 
proximately $165,000  a  year.  The 
censor  board,  originally  created  29 
years  ago,  is  headed  by  Mrs.  Edna  R. 
i  Carroll  and  includes  John  Clyde  Fish- 
er and  Mrs.  Lucy  H.  Love. 


Studios,  4IA'  Agree 
On  Location  Pay 


Film  company  heads  and  studio  la- 
bor representatives  reached  accord 
here  yesterday  with  the  IATSE  at 
;  the  office  of  Pat  Casey,  producers'  la- 
bor contact,  on  the  demands  of  the  11 
IATSE  studio  craft  locals  for  more 
money  for  time  spent  on  location. 

General  contract  proposals  of  .the 
IATSE  for  new  agreements  to  re- 
place those  which  expired  on  Jan.  1 
for  the  studio  craft  locals  which  re- 
main to  be  settled  are  those  involving 
the  question  of  seniority  rights,  set- 
ting up  of  grievance  machinery  and 
several  minor  points.  Length  of  the 
new  agreements  also   remain  to  be 
settled.  Practically  all  details  affecting 
individual   studio   unions   have  been 
.  settled  and  several  of  the  union  repre- 
I  sentatives  are  understood  to  be  pre- 
I  paring  to  return  to  the  Coast. 

Meetings  will  resume  this  morning 
at  Casey's  office. 

Seek  Single  Drive  to 
Help  All  Charities 

_  Hollywood,  April  10. — A  resolu- 
tion calling  for  the  industry  to  set  up 
a  permanent  charities  committee  to 
conduct  one  annual  charity  drive  cov- 
ering all  causes  was  passed  here  today 
by  representatives  of  the  producers 
and  the  studio  unions,  meeting  to  re- 
port results  in  the  1944  Red  Cross 
'   War  Fund  campaign. 

The  report  showed  an  all-time  re- 
cord for  donations,  with  the  labor 
group  accounting  for  19,847. 


RKO  Party  Tomorrow 

RKO  will  be  host  to  the  press  at  a 
reception  in  honor  of  Joan  Davis,  in 
the  Hampshire  House,  150  Central 
Park  South,  tomorrow  afternoon. 


WFC  Bond  Luncheon 
Set  for  April  18 

Hollywood,  April  10. — In  recogni- 
tion of  the  outstanding  sustained  re- 
cord of  war  bond  sales  over  past  two 
years,  Chairman  Henry  Ginsberg  and 
members  of  the  industry  War  Finance 
Committee,  will  be  luncheon  guests 
on  April  18  at  the  Beverly  Hills  Ho- 
tel. Robert  H.  Moulton,  WFC 
Southern  California  chairman,  will 
preside.  Speakers  include  Howard 
D.  Mills,  regional  war  finance  direc- 
tor ;  Charles  E.  Drivers,  executive 
vice-chairman ;  vice-chairman  Elwood 
Robinson,  and  M.  Penn  Phillips,  and 
George  Harshbarger,  promotion  di- 
rector. 

Paramount  Lists 
5  in  Next  Block 

Paramount's  fifth  block  will  con- 
tain five  pictures,  which  were  an- 
nounced here  yesterday  as  follows : 

"And  the  Angels  Sing"  and  "Henry 
Aldrich  Plays  Cupid,"  which  will  be 
nationally  tradeshown  on  Thursday, 
April  20 ;  "Double  Indemnity,"  trade- 
shown  Friday,  April  21  ;  "The  Hitler 
Gang"  and  "Gambler's  Choice,"  trade- 
shown  Monday,  April  24,  with  the 
exception  of  Albany,  where  they  will 
be  screened  Tuesday,  April  25. 

RKO  Trade  Showing 
Schedule  Altered 

RKO's  "Show  Business,"  starring 
Eddie  Cantor,  will  be  tradeshown 
April  18,  instead  of  April  19  as  pre- 
viously announced,  and  "Seven  Days 
Ashore"  will  replace  "Look  to  Your 
Children"  in  the  group  of  five  films 
which  RKO  will  tradeshow  in  April. 

Screenings  of  "Seven  Days  Ashore" 
will  take  place  Wednesday,  April  19, 
except  Boston  and  St.  Louis,  when  it 
will  be  shown  Thursday,  April  20. 


Film  Stars  Appear 
At  Service  Hospitals 

Gale  Sondergaard  and  Martha 
O'Driscoll  will  spend  this  week  mak- 
ing personal  appearances  in  seven 
Army  hospitals  in  Tennessee,  Arkan- 
sas and  Texas,  USO  Camp  Shows 
reports.  Others  in  roadshow  service 
tours  include  Lynn  Bari  and  Ray 
Mayer  who  are  scheduled  to  arrive 
in  El  Paso  April  14  for  a  two-weeks 
tour  of  hospitals  in  that  state  and  in 
Oklahoma,  Missouri,  Kansas,  Colora- 
do, Utah,  Washington  and  Oregon. 

Maria  Montez  and  Lois  Collier  will 
do  one-day  stands  at  hospitals  in 
California,  starting  April  23,  while 
Lynn  Merrick  and  Betty  Alexander 
will  end  a  nine-day  tour  of  Texas 
hospitals  tomorrow. 


Laff makers'  Showing 
Of  'Mabel's  Room' 

Comedians  from  the  stage,  screen, 
circus,  radio,  etc.,  will  attend  a  mid- 
night preview  of  the  Edward  Small- 
United  Artists  comedy,  "Up  In 
Mabel's  Room,"  at  the  Gotham  Thea- 
tre here  Thursday,  at  the  invitation 
of  the  Laffmakers  of  America. 

Invitations  have  gone  to  Una  Mer- 
kel,  Melville  Cooper,  George  Givot, 
Henny  Youngman,  Oscar  Levant, 
Fred  Keating,  Harry  Gribbon,  Teddy 
Hart,  Kenny  Baker,  Jimmy  Durante, 
Milton  Berle,  Joan  Davis,  Eric  Blore, 
Billie  Burke,  Zasu  Pitts,  Charles  But- 
terworth,  Lulu  McConnell,  Harry 
Hirshfield,  Tom  Howard,  Joe  Laurie 
Jr.,  Senator  Ford,  Patsy  Kelly,  How- 
ward  and  Dorothy  Stickney,  Walter 
O'Keefe,  Virginia  Field  and  Arlene 
Francis. 


Assistant  Comptrollers 

Bernard  Birnbaum  and  Arthur  Levy, 
previously  reported  as  having  been 
appointed  comptrollers  by  the  Colum- 
bia board  of  directors,  have,  instead, 
been  named  assistant  comptrollers. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  10 

BRIGADIER  GENERAL  Benja- 
min O.  Davis,  highest  ranking 
Negro  officer  in  the  Army,  was  honor 
guest  at  a  reception  held  this  after- 
noon at  Ira  Gershwin's  home  as  a 
prelude  to  Thursday's  showing  of 
"The  Negro  Soldier."  The  hosts  in- 
cluded Samuel  Goldwyn,  Harry  Cohn, 
Mark  Rex  Sandrich,  Y.  Frank  Free- 
man, Walter  Wanger,  Ulrich  Bell, 
Robert  Rossen,  Kenneth  Thomson  and 
Marc  Connelly. 

• 

Cecil  B.  DeMille  has  arrived  here 
from  Washington,  where  his  Para- 
mount picture,  "The  Story  of  Dr. 
Wassell,"  had  a  preview.  He  was  ac- 
companied by  Sidney  Biddell,  execu- 
tive assistant ;  Ken  Whitmore  of  Par- 
amount's  publicity  staff,  and  his  secre- 
tary,  Gladys  Rosson. 

• 

Prints  of  "The  Hairy  Ape,"  which 
Al  Santell  directed  from  the  Eugene 
O'Neill  play,  have  been  sent  to  the 
United  Artists  home  office.  Santell 
plans  to  go  East  for  the  New  York 
premiere  when  he  will  announce  plans 
for  several  productions. 

• 

The  War  Manpower  Commission 
has  ordered  Lincoln  Quarberg,  RKO 
publicist  dismissed  while  in  Washing- 
ton, D.  C.,. publicizing  a  picture,  re- 
instated on  the  basis  of  an  appeal  by 
Ted  Tayelor,  the  Screen  Publicists 
Guild  business  manager. 

• 

RKO  has  bought  "The  Greatest 
Gift,"  an  original  by  Philip  Van 
Doren  Stern,  which  David  Hemp- 
stead will  produce,  with  Cary  Grant 
starred. 

• 

Marlene  Dietrich  has  arrived  in 
Algiers  for  a  three-month  tour  of 
Army  camps  in  the  Mediterranean 
war  theatre. 

• 

Pat  O'Brien  has  signed  with  RKO 
for  two  pictures  following  "Having 
Wonderful  Crime." 

• 

Danny  Kaye  has  started  rehearsals 
for  his  next  vehicle,  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn's  "The  Wonder  Man." 

• 

Edward  Golden,  producer,  will  ar- 
rive here  Wednesday  from  New 
York. 

Prefect  to  Rest  Case 
In  a  Day  or  Two 

New  Haven,  April  10. — Presenta- 
tion of  testimony  by  plaintiffs  in  the 
Prefect  Theatre  anti-trust  suit  against 
eight  distributing  companies  is  expect- 
ed to  be  completed  in  Federal  Dis- 
trict Court  here  on  Wednesday  or 
Thursday,  with  the  defense  then  con- 
suming from  three  to  five  weeks.  The 
trial  began  on  March  7  but  had  a  one- 
week  layoff  because  of  the  illness  of 
jurors. 

Following  a  recess  since  last  Thurs- 
day afternoon,  the  hearing  will  be  re- 
sumed this  morning  with  reading  of 
depositions  from  John  J.  O'Connor, 
Universal  vice-president.  When  that 
has  been  completed  the  plaintiffs  are 
expected  to  offer  additional  proof  of 
damage  before  resting  their  case. 


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get  it  at  good  old  United  Artists! 


Arnold  Pressburger  presents  DICK  POWELL- LINDA  DARNELL- JACK  OAKIE  in  RENE  CLAIR'S  "IT  HAPPENED  TOMORROW" 

with  Edgar  Kennedy  ■  John  Philliber  •  Sig  Ruman  •  Directed  by  RENE  CLAIR  •  Screenplay  adapted  by  Dudley.  Nichols  and  Rene  Clair 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday.  April  11,  1944 


Showmanship 
Flashes  .  .  . 

$10,000  for  Duplication  of 
'Morgan's  Creek'  Miracle 

Cleveland,  April  10. — Loew's  State 
here  offered  $10,000  to  the  couple  able 
to  duplicate  Betty  Hutton's  "miracle" 
in  the  "Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek." 
Howard  Buckhardt,  State  manager, 
promoted  the  award  through  1,000 
cards  and  newspaper  publicity.  Ex- 
tensive word-of-mouth  publicity  re- 
sulted. J.  Maxwell  Joice,  Paramount 
district  ad  representative,  sent  a  card 
with  two  "hard-to-get"  buttons  to 
newspaper  film  editors  and  radio  com- 
mentators. The  card  read :  "You'll 
laugh  so  hard  at  'The  Miracle'  the 
buttons  may  pop  off  your  vest.  So 
here  are  a  couple  of  genuine  bone  pre- 
war 'spares.'  " 


Jennifer  Jones  at  Tulsa 
'Bernadette'  Debut 

Tulsa,  Okla.,  April  10. — Personal 
appearance  of  Jennifer  Jones  featured 
promotion  of  20th-Fox's  "Song  of 
Bernadette"  at  the  twin-theatre  South- 
western premiere  at  the  Ritz  and 
Orpheum  here.  Tulsa  newspapers 
gave  1,200  inches  of  space  to  the  film. 
This  was  in  addition  to  an  advertising 
campaign  launched  before  the  opening. 
The  Tulsa  World  issued  a  special  edi- 
tion for  Miss  Jones'  appearance,  with 
a  three-column  art  spread  on  the  front 
page,  the  story  also  giving  full  credits 
to  the  star,  picture  and  premiere. 
Ralph  Talbot,  operator  of  the  two 
theatres,  supervised  the  campaign. 


'Henry  Aldrich'  Enlists 
Aid  of  Boy  Scouts 

Glover s  ville,  April  10. — S  chine 
Theatres  enlisted  the  cooperation  of 
Boy  Scouts  and  other  local  civic  or- 
ganizations to  promote  Paramount' s 
"Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout."  Rich- 
ard Felman  of  RKO  Schine  Keith's 
in  Syracuse,  tied  up  with  National 
Boy  Scout  Week  and  both  the  Syra- 
cuse Herald-Journal  and  Post-Stand- 
ard ran  editorial  comment  on  the  pic- 
ture. Walter  Powers,  manager  of  the 
Oswego  Theatre,  Oswego,  N.  Y.,  se- 
cured attendance  of  uniformed  scouts. 
In  Perry,  N.  Y.,  Robert  Emory  got 
the  Scouts  to  sell  tickets. 


NBC  Resumes  'Live' 
Television  Shows 

National  Broadcasting  presented  the 
first  film  premiere  ever  to  be  presented 
by  television  last  night  when  the  new 
M-G-M  short  subject,  "Patrolling  the 
Ether,"  was  telecast  over  NBC  sta- 
tion WNBT  here  last  night,  and  was 
picked  up  and  re-telecast  by  WRGB 
in  Schenectady  and  WPTZ  in  Phila- 
delphia. James  Lawrence  Fly,  chair- 
man of  the  Federal  Communications 
Commission,  appeared  before  the  NBC 
cameras  and  introduced  the  film 
which  was  televised  from  NBC, 
marking  NBC's  resumption  of  pre- 
senting "live"  television  shows. 

Prior  to  the  telecast,  M-G-M  was 
host  at  a  reception  for  the  news- 
paper and  trade  press"  at  the  French 
Cafe  at  Radio  City  with  NBC  follow- 
ing the  telecast  with  a  dinner  at  the 
Ritz  Carlton  Hotel. 

"Patrolling  the  Ether"  is  the  latest 
in  M-G-M's  "Crime  Does  Not  Pay" 
series,  and  dramatizes  the  war  activi- 
ties of  FCC's  radio  intelligence  divi- 
sion. NBC's  television  station  in  Los 
Angeles  also  participated  in  the  pre- 
miere, transmitting  the  film  last  eve- 
ning. A  showing  scheduled  in  Chi- 
cago last  night  was  called  off  as  an 
air  express  delivery  of  a  16mm  print 
authorized  by  a  Government  priority 
was  mysteriously  intercepted  between 
Los  Angeles  and  Kansas  City. 

Bert  Silver,  83,  Dies; 
Veteran  Exhibitor 

Greenville,  Mich.,  April  10. — Bert 
C.  E.  Silver,  83,  one  of  Michigan's 
oldest  exhibitors,  died  here  recently. 
He  operated  the  Silver  Theatre  here 
for  many  years,  opening  it  in  1909 
when  he  ran  three-reel  shows  and 
paid  a  dollar  a  reel  for  them.  He  re- 
tired from  operation  of  the  Silver  in 
1937  and  Butterfield  Theatres  took 
over. 

Silver,  who  was  in  show  business 
for  73  years,  organized  Silver  Con- 
solidated Wagon  Shows  in  1904.  He 
was  mayor  of  Greenville  in  1923-27, 
and  was  supervisor  for  seven  terms, 
having  been  reelected  prior  to  his 
death. 


Jap  Atrocity  Angle 
Exploited  by  'London' 

Chicago,  April  10.  —  Manager  Ed- 
ward Dlouhy  exploited  the  national 
publicity  given  to  Jap  atrocities  in  pro- 
moting United  Artists'  "Jack  London" 
at  the  Apollo  here.  Local  dailies  used 
features  and  art  on  the  film's  players, 
backed  by  an  advertising  campaign. 
Tie-ups  included  one  with  Adam=  Hat 
and  the  Marshall  Field  book  depart- 
ment. Daily  spot  announcements  were 
used  on  stations  WJJD  and  WIND. 
A  trailer  promoting  "Jack  London" 
was  shown  two  weeks  prior  to  its 
opening. 


'Lady  in  Dark'  Wedding 
Staged  for  Boston  Pair 

Bo:ton,  April  10. — Harry  Browning, 
publicity  man  for  M.  and  P.  Thea- 
tres, seized  upon  the  "Cinderella  wed- 
ding" of  Maybritt  Irene  Johnson  and 
Michael  F.  Brugliera  and  staged  the 
most  elaborate  wedding  here  in  years. 
The  star  of  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  Gin- 
ger Rogers,  whose  fantasy  wedding 
was  used  as  a  model,  had  her  $4,000 
wedding  gown  sent  here.  The  wed- 
ding cake  weighed  85  pounds. 


WAC  Warns  Workers 
On  Job  Switching 

Philadelphia,  April  10.  —  Notices 
posted  in  local  exchanges  here  by  the 
War  Manpower  Commission  warn  em- 
ployes that  they  can  not  change  their 
jobs  except  for  certain  specified  rea- 
sons, without  WMC  approval  as  a  re- 
sult of  the  industry  obtaining  an  offi- 
cial "locally  needed"  classification. 

The  WMC  posters  also  proclaim 
that  the  industry's  distribution  branch 
has  been  declared  "locally  needed,"  as 
previously  reported  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily.  Pittsburgh  also  received 
a  similar  rating. 


Negro  Feature  Completed 

Hollywood,  April  10.  —  The  com- 
pleted negative  on  "Go  Down,  Death  !", 
all-Negro  religious  feature,  produced 
by  Spencer  Williams  for  distribution 
through  Sack  Amusement  Enterprises, 
Dallas,  has  been  shipped  to  New  York 
for  release  printing,  which  will  be 
done  by  H.  E.  R.  Laboratories.  Shoot- 
ing will  begin  immediately  on  an  all- 
Negro  Western,  "The  Chocolate  Kid," 
to  be  released  in  the  Summer. 


Mother  Gets  Son's 
Flowers,  He  Dies 

Mrs.  Lillian  Murphy,  moth- 
er of  seven,  including  John 
Murphy,  assistant  to  Joseph 
R.  Vogel,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  Loew's  out-of-town 
theatres,  received  flowers 
from  another  son,  Bill,  at  11 
Easter  Sunday  morning.  At 
11:10  a  War  Department  tele- 
gram informed  her  that  Bill, 
holder  of  the  Distinguished 
Flying  Cross  and  the  Air  Medal 
with  four  Oak  Leaf  Clusters, 
had  been  killed  Saturday 
night  when  his  fighter  plane 
crashed  into  the  Napa  River, 
Napa,  Cal.  Another  brother, 
Paul,  is  manager  of  Loew's 
Prospect,  Flushing. 


Exhibitors  Agree  to 
Tax  Compromise 

Mexico  City,  April  10. — Exhibitors 
of  the  Mexican  states  of  Guanajuato 
and  Nayarit  who  temporarily  shut 
down  their  theatres  because  of  what 
they  termed  an  excessive  tax  levied 
on  them,  have  resolved  their  conflict 
with  those  state  governments,  the 
National  Cinematographic  Industry 
Chamber  reports.  The  taxes  will  be 
assessed  on  a  more  equitable  basis,  it 
is  understood,  by  scaling  the  amount 
of  taxation  down  from  the  important 
theatres,  which  will  pay  most,  to  the 
smaller  ones.  The  exhibitors  ac- 
cepted the  government's  proposal  to 
present  free  shows  weekly  to  children 
attending  the  states'  schools. 

The  Chamber,  at  its  annual  meeting 
here,  reported  progress  during  the 
past  year.  Jesus  A.  Grovas,  promi- 
nent producer  and  the  Chamber's 
president,  presided.  The  following 
new  members  were  elected  to  the 
board  of  directors :  Oscar  Dancigers 
and  Aurelio  G.  Yevenes,  representing 
producers ;  Juan  Pezet  and  Valentin 
Gascon,  distributors ;  Antonio  G.  Osio 
and  Guillermo  Carter,  exhibitors ; 
Leonardo  Ocamp  and  Manuel  Espi- 
nosa,  provincial  exhibitors,  and  Er- 
nesto Santos  Galindo  and  Francisco 
Castillo  Para,  studios  and  laboratories. 


Delinquency  Solution 

Baltimore,  April  10. — Local  Variety 
Club,  through  its  welfare  committee 
headed  by  Frank  H.  Durkee,  is  spon- 
soring the  first  unit  of  the  Baltimore 
Police  Boys'  Club  here.  V ariety  will 
finance  a  clubroom  for  the  boys  at  a 
local  police  station  and  will  provide 
equipment.  The  project  is  part  of  a 
plan  to  curb  juvenile  delinquency; 
the  groups  will  be  referred  to  as  Boys 
Protective  Clubs.  Members  of  the 
committee  in  charge  include  Rodney 
Collier,  chief  barker ;  Owen  D. 
Weems,  Lauritz  C.  Garman,  J.  Louis 
Rome,  C.  William  Hicks,  Bernard 
Seaman  and  I.  M.  Rappaport. 


Jesse  Lasky  in  Denver 

Denver,  April  10. — Jesse  L.  Lasky, 
producer  of  Warners'  "The  Adven- 
tures of  Mark  Twain,"  arrived  here 
yesterday  from  Hollywood  to  take 
part  in  the  promotion  here  of  that 
film.  From  here  Lasky  will  go  to  St. 
Louis,  Chicago  and  several  other  cities 
before  proceeding  to  New  York  for 
the  Broadway  premiere  at  the  Hol- 
lywood Theatre  on  May  3. 


'Harvest  Moon'  Tops 
Baltimore  Take 


Baltimore,  April  10. — The  holiday 
weekend,  nice  weather  and  strong 
product,  brought  heavy  business.  Ace 
grosser  appears  to  be  "Shine  On,  Har- 
vest Moon,"  safe  for  820,000  at  the 
Stanley,  while  "Broadway  Rhythm" 
looks  like  an  easy  $17,000  at  the  Cen- 
tury. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end* 
ing  April  13  : 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (35c-43c-55c  and  60c 
weekends)  7  davs.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average, 

$17,500) 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S — (2,406)  (35c-43c-55c-65c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average,  $15,000) 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (Zflth-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)  (30c-40c-60c)  6  days.  Gross: 
$12,000.    (Average,  $11,000) 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

STANLEY — (3,280)      (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days.  '  Gross:  $20,000.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"Beautiful  But  Broke"  (CoL) 

HIPPODROME— (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c) 
7  days.     Stage  show:  Charlie  Spivak  and 
Orchestra,  Grace  &  Mickey  Carroll,  Wally 
West    Gross:  $18,000.    (Average:  $18,500). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 

MAYFAIR— (1,000)     (25c-45c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $7,500.     (Average:  $7,000). 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

MARYLAND— (1,400)    (30c-55c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $8,200). 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

VALENCIA— (1,200)  (35c-45c-55c  and  60c 
weekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Aver- 
age: $5,500). 

Allied  Pictures  Will 
Supplant  Germans* 

American  and  British  films  will  re- 
place Nazi  propaganda  and  other  pic- 
tures now  shown  in  Holland  theatres 
as  soon  as  the  Germans  are  driven 
from  Holland,  declared  Charles  J.  M. 
Welter,  chairman  of  the  temporary 
committee  of  film  examiners  for  the 
Netherlands,  in  London,  according  to 
a  dispatch  received  here  by  the  Neth- 
erlands Information  Bureau.  Welter, 
former  Dutch  minister  of  colonies, 
was  appointed  to  his  new  post  in  Lon- 
don, this  week,  it  was  said. 

Welter  told  British  and  American 
film  men,  present  at  his  London  instal- 
lation, that  their  product  would  be 
welcomed  by  the  Netherlands  commit- 
tee. Prior  to  the  Nazi  invasion,  the 
American  industry  was  the  principal 
supplier  of  pictures  for  the  Dutch 
market,  closely  followed  by  French 
product. 

Legion  Finds  S  Films 
To  Be  Acceptable 

The  Legion  of  Decency  approved  all 
six  films  reviewed  this  week.  Rated 
Class  A-l,  unobjectionable  for  general 
patronage,  were :  "Hidden  Valley  Out- 
laws," Republic ;  "The  Laramie  Trail," 
Republic  ;  "Riding  West,"  Columbia  ; 
"Trocadero,"  Republic,  and  the  Brit- 
ish film,  "Yellow  Canary,"  Wilcox- 
RKO.  In  class  A-2,  unobjectionable 
for  adults,  was  "Sweethearts  of  the 
U.  S.  A.,"  Monogram. 


Edward  Place  to  RCA 

Edward  R.  Place,  former  assistant 
to  the  director  general  of  the  War 
Production  Board,  has  joined  the 
Radio  Corp.  of  America's  department 
of  information  here.  He  has  served 
as  radio  editor  of  the  Providence 
Journal,  managing  editor  of  Labor 
Management  News,  editor  and  pub- 
lisher of  Playtime  magazine,  columnist 
on  the  old  Boston  Transcript  and 
New  England  publicity  director  for 
X.  W.  Aver. 


Tuesday,  April  11,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Four  Millions 
In  for  Drive 


Easing  of  Draft  Rulings 
Gives  Industry  Relief 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
■  come,  and  the  work  of  compiling  a 
complete  report  of  the  15,000  or  more 
theatres  that  participated  in  the  cam- 
paign will  take  another  two  weeks. 
Among  the  larger  sums  reported  in 
^yesterday's  mail  was  $134,000  from 
'iNat   Wolf,    exhibitor    chairman  for 
"Cleveland.    This  amount  was  taken  in 
by  244  theatres,  making  an  average  of 
about  $550  per  theatre.     There  are 
about  240  houses  still  to  be  heard  from 
in  that  area.  A.  H.  Blank,  Des  Moines 
exhibitor  chairman,  advised  Bernhard 
that  two-thirds  of  the  exhibitors  in  his 
territory  had  checked  in  a  total  of 
$65,000.    Col.  Arthur  Frudenfeld,  ex- 
hibitor  chairman   in   Cincinnati,  re- 
ported $115,248  for  327  theatres,  with 
about  270  houses  yet  to  come. 
$61,780  from  Dallas 
From    Dallas,     chairman    R.  J. 
O'Donnell  advised  that  $61,780  had 
been  collected  in  that  city,  including 
$26,817  from  theatre  collections  and 
$34,963  subscriptions  by  theatre  firms 
and  employees.  James  O.  Cherry,  Lou 
Bissinger,  Paul  Thompson  and  J.  J. 
Rodriguez    comprised    the  collection 
committee.    E.  V.  Richards,  New  Or- 
leans   exhibitor    chairman,  reported 
!  $46,292  for  that  city,  including  $35,- 
'  045  from  theatre  collections. 


MOT  Sets  'IrishQuestion' 

"The  Irish  Question"  is  the  title  of 
'  the  next  March  of  Time  film  sched- 
uled for  national  release  April  21. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  business  are  considered  war-sup- 
porting. 

A  Selective  Service  memorandum  to 
all  local  boards  ordered  deferment  of 
men  who  had  passed  their  26th  birth- 
days even  if  they  had  taken  their  pre- 
induction  physical  examinations  and 
been  approved  for  service.  Such 
"drastic  action,"  General  Hershey 
said,  was  imperative  in  view  of  the 
Army's  and  Navy's  urgent  need  for 
young  men.  The  directive  also  distin- 
guished between  men  in  the  26-29 
class  and  'those  over  30,  stating  that 
the  yardstick  of  whether  or  not  a  man 
is  necessary  in  a  war-supporting  ac- 
tivity will  be  less  strictly  applied  in 
the  latter  group  than  in  the  former. 

McNutt,  Hershey  Check 

At  the  same  time,  General  Hershey 
and  Paul  V.  McNutt,  chairman  of 
the  War  Manpower  Commission, 
called  upon  men  classified  4-F  to 
check  with  local  offices  of  the  United 
States  Employment  Service  on 
whether  their  work  is  war-supporting. 
The  country's  1,000,000  4-F's  not  in 
activities  listed  as  nationally  essential 
or  listed  in  their  communities  as  lo- 
cally needed  were  told  to  enter  such 
work.  The  WMC  has  classed  motion 
picture  distribution  in  Philadelphia 
and  Pittsburgh  as  locally  needed,  and 
the  industry's  War  Activties  Com- 
mittee is  preparing  petitions  to  have 
other  exchanges  so  designated. 


Meanwhile,  representatives  of  the 
raw  stock  manufacturers  will  confer 
with  Lincoln  V.  Burrows,  chief  of  the 
motion  picture  section,  and  other 
WPB  officials  to  explore  the  possi- 
bilities of  securing  definite  action  by 
the  commission  whereby "  key  em- 
ployes subject  to  induction  may  be 
given  deferments. 

The  meeting  was  described  by  Bur- 
rows as  designed  to  erect  safeguards 
against  future  possible  extension  by 
Selective  Service  of  the  "draft-all" 
policy  now  being  applied  to  men  in 
the  22-26  year  age  group. 

Raw  Stock  Relief  Seen 

The  present  policy  of  deferring  the 
induction  of  men  above  26,  he  said, 
will  relieve  the  raw  stock  industry  to 
a  very  considerable  extent  and  it  will 
be  necessary  to  seek  the  deferment  of 
only  a  very  small  number  of  key 
workers.  Even  if  the  policy  is  extend- 
ed to  men  up  to  30,  the  industry  will 
be  in  comparatively  good  shape.  Since 
the  inception  of  the  current  drastic 
induction  policy,  raw  stock  manufac- 
turers have  been  working  out  their 
problems  with  the  local  urgency  com- 
mittees, composed  of  representatives 
of  the  WMC,  Selective  Service,  WPB 
ancj  Army  and  Navy,  and  with  state 
Selective  Service  authorities,  who 
have  recognized  the  importance  of 
films  in  the  war  and  have  been  highly 
cooperative. 


Leo  to  Roar  in 
All  Theatres 
June  22  to  28 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

yet  been  completed,  it  is  repoited  that 
practically  every  medium  of  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  available  will  be 
utilized.  Over  10,000  billboards  have 
been  reserved ;  the  radio  will  carry 
scores  of  spot  announcements,  plus 
M-G-M  stars  on  nearly  every  impor- 
tant air  show ;  and  newsworthy  events 
will  take  place  at  the  studio,  home  of- 
fice and  branch  offices,  as  well  as  in 
Hollywood  Bowl,  where  a  special 
celebration  is  scheduled.  Anniversary 
press  books  for  exhibitors  and  manu- 
als for  exchanges  are  being  prepared. 

The  company  will  refrain  from 
seeking  "All  M-G-M  Weeks"  in  thea- 
tres ;  any  exhibitor,  however,  who 
wishes  to  book  a  solid  week  of 
M-G-M  product  can  do  so,  if  enough 
prints  are  available.  The  campaign's 
momentum  is  designed  to  carry  on 
beyond  June  28,  with  particular  stress 
being  placed  on  films  set  for  release 
during  the  late  Summer  and  Fall. 

The  specific  event  to  be  celebrated 
is  the  birth  of  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
in  1924,  when  Metro  Pictures  Corp., 
which  had  been  acquired  by  Marcus 
Loew,  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  four  years 
earlier,  was  merged  with  Goldwyn 
Pictures  Corp.  At  about  the  same 
time  certain  assets  of  Louis  B.  Mayer 
Pictures,  Inc.,  were  turned  over  to 
Metro-Goldwyn. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  April  11,  1944  |j 


Business  at  1st  Run 
Broadway  Houses 
Is  Above  Last  Year 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

show,  Radio  City  Music  Hall  is 
headed  for  a  near  record  week  of 
$127,000.  The  length  of  the  combined 
show  held  down  the  gross.  The  show 
will  go  into  a  third  week  Thursday. 

With  a  record  Sunday's  gross  of 
$23,250  claimed  for  "Four  Jills  in  a 
Jeep"  and  a  stage  show  featuring  the 
DeMarcos  and  Harry  Richman  at 
the  Roxy,  the  theatre  expects  to  wind 
up  with  $98,000  on  its  first  week  with 
this  bill  which  will  hold  over.  "Buf- 
falo Bill"  will  follow.  The  Para- 
mount will  finish  its  seventh  week  of 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  and  Xavier 
Cugat  featured  on  the  stage  with 
about  $64,000.  The  picture  will  go 
into  its  eighth  week  tomorrow  to 
equal  the  record  run  of  "Star  Span- 
gled Rythm". 

Strand  Does  Capacity 

The  Strand  had  capacity  Easter 
business  with  "Uncertain  Glory"  and 
a  Ted  Lewis  stage  show.  The  theatre 
expects  to  do  $55,000  on  its  first  week 
and  will  hold  over  the  combined  bill. 
Third  and  final  week  of  "The  Heaven- 
ly Body"  and  a  stage  show  featuring 
Jimmy  Durante  at  the  Capitol  is 
expected  to  yield  around  $40,000. 
M-G-M's  "Broadway  Rhythm"  and  a 
show  with  Ginny  Simms,  Mitzi  May- 
fair  and  Frankie  Carlo's  orchestra  will 
open  at  the  Capitol  on  Thursday. 

Returning  to  Broadway  after  six 
years,  Walt  Disney's  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  finished  its 
first  week  at  the  Manhattan  Theatre 
with  close  to  $32,000  and  capacity 
business  for  the  1,200  seat  house. 
Several  weeks  are  expected  for  this 
revival  at  the  Manhattan  before  RKO 
generally  releases  the  film  in  the  New 
York  area.  The  11th  week  of  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette"  at  the  Rivoli  is 
expected  to  yield  upwards  of  $27,000 
and  the  film  will  continue. 

"Lost  Angel"  Will  Hold  Over 

"Lost  Angel"  will '  finish  its  first 
week  at  the  Criterion  with  about 
$30,000  and  will  hold.  Universal's 
"Follow  the  Boys"  is  set  to  follow. 
The  third  week  of  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove"  at  the  Astor  will  realize 
$28,000  and  the  picture  will  hold. 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  at  the  Holly- 
wood will  yield  $17,000  on  its  eighth 
week  and  will  continue.  Fourth  and 
final  week  of  "Ali  Baba  and  the  4C 
Thieves"  at  the  Palace  is  expected  to 
bring  about  $17,500.  RKO's  "Yellow 
Canary"  will  open  at  the  Palace  on 
Thursday. 

The  Rialto  is  headed  for  $12,000  on 
its  first  week  of  "The  Lady  and  the 
Monster"  and  will  hold  over.  "Ration- 
ing" is  not  expected  to  better  $11,000 
on  its  initial  week  at  the  Globe  but 
indications  are  that  it  will  be  held 
over.  "Voice  in  the  Wind"  will  wind 
up  its  fourth  week  at  the  Victoria 
with  about  $10,000  and  will  remain 
for  a  fifth.  Final  six  days  of  the 
third  week  of  "Women  in  Bondage' 
at  the  Gotham  will  bring  about 
$9,500.  Although  United  Artists'  "Up 
In  Mabel's  Room"  has  been  announced 
to  open  at  the  Gotham  on  Friday 
there  is  still  a  possibility  that  the 
current  film  might  continue. 


Consent  Decree  'Corrupt  \ 
Sehine  Counsel  Claims 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

wife  and  three  sons."  He  added,  "If 
Schine  were  compelled  to  sell  its 
interest  in  the  Margie  Grand,  every- 
thing I've  arranged  for  would  be  torn 
down."  Scott  said  he  had  borrowed 
money  to  purchase  the  house  from 
his  father  in  1940  and  had  persuaded 
the  circuit  to  buy  in  after  he  had 
gotten  into  trouble  through  absorbing 
the  new  Federal  tax  rather  than  add- 
ing it  on. 

Goodwin  vigorously  condemned  "any 
order  that  unjustly  would  force  a  new 
partner  upon  this  young  man"  and 
declared  he  saw  no  reason  why  "Para- 
mount, for  example,  should  be  per- 
mitted to  continue  expansion  while 
Schine,  with  165  theatres,  most  of 
them  in  one-horse  towns,"  is  denied 
the  same  privilege. 

Quotes  Magruder  Letter 

Concerning  Schine's  proposed  pur- 
chase of  the  Liberty  Theatre,  Cumber- 
land, Md.,  attorney  Robert  L.  Wright 
of  the  U..  S.  Department  of  Justice 
quoted  a  letter  of  objection  to  the 
deal  from  Edward  K.  Magruder  of 
the  Garden  Theatre  in  that  city. 
Magruder,  he  said,  was  unable  to  ap- 
pear in  court  because  of  illness. 

Mrs.  Grace  M.  Fisher,  owner,  of 
the  Maryland  and  Embassy  Theatres 
in     Cumberland,     testified    that  on 


March  2  she  made  an  offer  of  $140,000 
for  the  Liberty  Theatre— $130,000  to 
go  to  Thomas  Burke_,  the  owner,  and 
$10,000  to  a  real  estate  agent.  She 
said  she  took  the  step  in  an  effort  to 
keep  Warner  Brothers  from  getting 
the  house  and  that  her  $5,000  deposit 
was  accepted  and  has  been  retained, 
despite  her  later  attempt  to  withdraw 
from  the  deal  after  she  learned  that 
Schine,  not  Warners,  was  the  com- 
peting bidder.  "Warner  Brothers  hurt 
me  once  or  twice,"  Mrs.  Fisher  ex- 
plained, adding  that  neither  the  Lib- 
erty nor  the  Strand,  the  latter  a 
Schine  house,  had  ever  affected  the 
operation  of  her  business. 

Exhibit  "A" 

Attorney  Wright  offered  as  Ex- 
hibit "A"  a  letter  about  the  $5,000 
down  payment,  written  to  the  Assis- 
tant Attorney  General  on  March  15 
by  Richard  Schutte,  Mrs.  Fisher's 
advertising  agent,  while  his  employer 
was  in  Florida.  She  testified  that  he 
had  done  this  without  her  approval. 

Judge  John  Knight  is  presiding  at 
the  trial,  and  considerable  time  this 
morning  was  spent  refreshing  his 
memory  on  details  of  the  case.  Un- 
approached  as  yet  is  the  question  of 
the  appointment  of  trustees  to  operate 
the  theatres  which  the  Schine  circuit 
retains. 


M.  &  R.  Theatres  Win 
$301,361  Awards 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

Maine  and  New  Hampshire  Theaters, 
for  alleged  monopoly,  $51,670 ;  Aetna 
vs.  Maine  and  New  Hampshire  Thea- 
ters and  seven  distributors  (not  includ- 
ing Columbia),  for  alleged  conspiracy, 
$51,670;  Commonwealth  Amusement 
Enterprises  vs.  Colonial  Theaters  Co., 
Inc.,  and  distributors  (except  War- 
ners), alleged  conspiracy,  $21,714; 
Nashua  Theaters  vs.  Colonial  Thea- 
ters Co.  and  (except  Warner)  dis- 
tributors, alleged  conspiracy,  $56,193. 

Also :  Fidel  Amusement  Enterprises 
vs.  Paramount  and  other  distributors 
(except  Metro,  Warners,  U.  A.),  al- 
leged conspiracy,  $44,792 ;  Elite 
Amusement  Enterprises  vs.  Paramount 
and  other  distributors  (except  Metro, 
M-G-M  and  U.  A.),  alleged  conspir- 
acy, $30,796,  and  Standard  Amuse- 
ment Enterprises  vs.  Paramount  and 
ither  distributors  (except  Metro, 
M-G-M,  Fox,  Columbia),  alleged  con- 
spiracy, $4,526. 


Would  Bar  Truants 
From  Theatres 

{Continued  from  page  l) 

exhibitors  to  bar  children  of  school 
age  from  theatres  during  school  hours, 
unless  accompanied  by  parents  or 
guardians. 

"Juvenile  delinquency  is  not  some- 
thing that  occurs  over  night,"  the  re- 
port declared,  in  discussing  the  under- 
lying factors.  "It  starts  in  the  home 
and  is  progressive." 

The  committee  specified  certain 
amusements  at  which  unhealthy  con- 
ditions existed,  but  did  not  include  mo- 
tion picture  theatres  in  that  category. 


Adjustments  Need 
Seen  by  Connors 


{Continued  from  page  l) 

and  Delaware,  and  a  committee  which 
met  with  20th-Fox  officials  in  New 
York  over  the  weekend.  Present  for 
20th,  in  addition  to  Connors',  were 
Andy  Smith,  Jr.,  William  Gehring, 
Clarence  Hill,  W.  T.  Tubber,  and 
Graham  Gross,  local  branch  manager. 

Connors  also  explained  that  com- 
plete local  autonomy  has  been  given 
branch  managers  in  respect  to  adjust- 
ments on  contracts  and  prices  to  be 
made  where  necessary.  On  the  ques- 
tion of  adjustments,  repeats  and  condi- 
tions of  buying,  Connors  said  it  rest- 
ed entirely  with  the  local  branch 
manager. 

He  also  advised  that  if  an  exhibitor 
plays  a  current  film  he  can  repeat  the 
show  at  flat  rentals  if  agreed  upor 
except  for  such  pictures  that  are  re- 
leased each  season  carrying  a  specia' 
percentage  tag,  of  which  there  has 
been  a  minimum  of  two  thus  far  this 
season. 

Philadelphia  No  Higher. 

Connors  assured  the  committee  that 
allocations  for  the  Philadelphia  area 
will  be  no  higher  than  any  other  part 
of  the  country.  He  also  pointed  ou4 
that  the  company  was  spending  ap- 
proximately $27,000,000  for  28  or  30 
pictures  as  compared  to  previous  year? 
when  $18,000,000  went  for  52  pictures. 
Connors  emphatically  requested  ex- 
hibitors to  insist  upon  salesmen  put- 
ting all  their  promises  in  writing. 

Last  Wednesday  Connors  and  other 
20th-Fox  officials  held  a  similar  trade- 
practices  meeting  here  with  represen- 
tatives of  the  Eastern  Pennsylvania 
Allied  and  indicated  that  in  the  near 


$l,350,000Goldman 
Suit  Is  Dismissed 
By  Federal  Court 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

over  the  weekend  by  Judge  William 
H.  Kirkpatrick. 

Goldman,  operator  of  a  circuit  here 
and  in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  brought 
action  Dec.  8,  1942,  charging  that  the 
distributors  refused  to  supply  him  wit 
first-run  pictures  for  his  Erlanger,  in 
competition  with  first-run  Warner 
theatres.  This  was  the  result,  he 
claimed,  of  a  conspiracy  among  the  12 
defendants  from  which  he  said  he  suf- 
fered a  loss  of  $450,000.  He  asked 
triple  damages  and  an  injunction  re- 
quiring the  defendants  to  put  him  on 
an  equal  basis  with  Warner  theatres. 

Federal  Judge  Kirkpatrick,  in  a  17- 
page  decision,  held  that  Goldman 
"failed  to  show  any  restraint  of  inter- 
state commerce."  He  added  that 
Warner  Bros,  holds  "a  commanding 
position"  in  the  exhibition  of  first- 
run  pictures  in  this  area. 

Goldman  failed  to  show,  Judge 
Kirkpatrick  held,  that  the  12  defend- 
ants conspired  to  drive  him  out  of 
business  in  Philadelphia.  The  judge 
agreed,  however,  that  the  Erlanger 
could  not  be  operated  in  competition 
with  Warner  theatres  unless  it  had 
equal  access  to  first-run  pictures.  If 
Warners  have  a  monopoly,  he  added, 
it  is  only  local  and  has  no  effect  on 
interstate  commerce. 

Rejects  Block-booking  Claim 

Judge  Kirkpatrick  also  rejected 
Goldman's  claim  that  block-booking 
results  in  "overbuying  and  dissipation 
of  film  products."  Other  findings  by 
Judge  Kirkpatrick  in  favor  of  the  de- 
fendants were :  # 

It  does  not  appear  there  is  "any 
great  need  for  another  first-run  in 
Philadelphia  or  that  the  Warner  thea- 
tres do  not  adequately  serve  the  needs 
of  the  public ;  it  has  not  been  shown 
that  admission  prices  at  Warner  thea- 
tres are  exorbitant  or  unreasonably 
high ;  it  has  not  been  shown  to  my 
satisfaction  .that  the  exclusive  control 
which  its  contracts  with  exhibitors 
have  given  Warners  has  been  injuri- 
ous to  the  public ;  also,  "There  is  no 
evidence  of  a  purpose  to  injure  the 
plaintiff  or  drive  him  out  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  business  in  Philadelphia." 

Defendants  were :  Warner  Bros, 
and  affiliates,  Loew's,  Paramount, 
RKO,  20th  Century-Fox,  Columbia, 
Universal  and  United  Artists. 


future  he  would  visit  more  exchange 
areas  for  the  same  purpose. 


Cleveland  Exhibitors 
Meet  Connors  Today 

Cleveland,  April  10. — Tom  Con- 
nors, 20th  Century-Fox  vice-president 
in  charge  of  sales,  and  Jack  Schlaifer, 
Central  sales  manager,  will  hold  the 
second  in  a  series  of  regional  field 
meetings  to  discuss  rentals  and  trade 
practices  with  exhibitors  at  a  lunch- 
eon here  tomorrow  at  the  Statler 
Hotel.  The  first  meeting  was  held  in 
Philadelphia  last  week  with  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  Allied. 

Leading  exhibitors  in  and  around 
Cleveland  have  been  invited.  District 
manager  James  J.  Grady ;  branch 
manager,  I.  J.  Schmertz,  and  the 
local  20th  Centurv-Fox  sales  force, 
including  Edwin  R.  Bergman,  Sam 
Lichter,  Tom  Alley  and  Ray  Sch- 
mertz, will  also  attend. 


First  In 

*k  ( 

IllUtUIW  In 

Accurate 

> 

and 

Impartial 

oMOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


i 


iOL.  55.  NO.  72 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A..  WEDNESDAY.  APRIL  12,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Rentals  from 
Italy  Held  in 
U.S.  Escrow 


Hollywood  Product  Now 
Shown  in  300  Houses 

By  MILT  LIVINGSTON 

The  U.  S.  Army  is  now  super- 
vising the  showing  of  Hollywood 
films  to  natives  in  300  "theatres" 
in  Southern  Italy  and  Sicily,  to 
bolster  morale  and  advance  the  Amer- 
ican way  of  life.  Whatever  surplus 
monies  are  received  therefrom  is  being 
held  in  escrow  over  there  for  Ameri- 
can film  companies,  it  was  disclosed 
here  yesterday  by  Robert  Riskin,  chief 
of  the  overseas  film  division  of  the 
Office  of  War  Information,  in  an  in- 
terview on  his  return  from  four-and- 
a-half  months  in  United  Nations' 
camps  of  the  European  war  theatre. 
Riskin  revealed  that  the  original  in- 
tention was  to  turn  over  commercial 
distribution  to  American  companies 
"when  our  troops  reach  Rome." 
"The  motion  picture  is  the 

most  potent  medium  in  psycho- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


$283,816  Estate  Left 
By  Late  Joseph  Rank 

London,  April  11. — A  probate  grant- 
ed for  the  late  Joseph  Rank's  will  re- 
veals an  estate  amounting  to  only 
$283,816.  Joseph  Rank,  father  of  J. 
Arthur  Rank,  established  the  family 
flour  milling  fortune  from  practically 
nothing,  becoming  head  of  a  $32,000,- 
000  concern. 

During  his  lifetime,  however,  he 
gave  virtually  the  whole  of  his  private 
estate  to  charity,  including  $8,000,000 
to  the  Methodist  Church  and  nearly 
$2,000,000  to  the  poor  of  his  native 
town  of  Hull.  In  addition,  other  be- 
quests are  understood  to  have  been 
made  privately.  The  estate  was  left  in 
thirds  to  J.  Arthur  Rank,  his  brother, 
J.  V.  Rank,  noted  racehorse  owner, 
and  Sidney  Askew,  Rank's  partner. 


Studios,  'I  A'  Argue 
Seniority  Rights 

The  question  of  seniority  rights  of 
IATSE  studio  craft  workers  to  be 
provided  for  under  new  contracts  be- 
ing negotiated  by  film  company  heads, 
their  studio  labor  representatives  and 
IATSE  officials  here  at  the  office  of 
Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  contact, 
formed  the  basis  of  discussions  at  yes- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


MP  TO  A  for 
No  Lawsuit 


Joseph  Bernhard,  vice-president  of 
Warner  Brothers  and  general  man- 
ager of  Warner  Theatres,  resigned 
yesterday  as  a  director  and  trustee  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Owners 
of  America,  wiring  Ed  Kuykendall, 
MPTOA,  at  the  latter's  headquarters 
at  Columbus,  Miss.,  that  he  objected 
to  "certain  resolutions"  which  Bern- 
hard  claimed  were  passed  at  an 
MPTOA  meeting  unattended  by  him. 

Bernhard  was  unavailable  yesterday, 
but  it  is  understood  he  objected  to  a 
reported  recommendation  by  the 
MPTOA's  executive  committee  to 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General 
Tom  C.  Clark  in  February  that  the 
consent  decree  be  "junked"  and  that 
the  Government  reopen  the  prosecution 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Red  Cross  Reports 
Still  Doubling  '43 

Reports  on  the  industry's  1944  Red 
Cross  drive  show  the  highest  average 
collection  to  date  for  a  large  circuit 
is  $138,482  for  106  Warner  houses  in 
Philadelphia,  receipts  averaging  over 
$1,300  per  theatre. 

Brandt  Theaters,  representing  over 
40  houses  in  Xew  York  City,  took  in 
approximately  $40,000.  Collections  av- 
eraged close  to  $800  per  theatre. 

Other  highlights  from  late  reports 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


MPTOA  Hits  Allied 
Tax  Action  Delay 

The  delay  of  Allied  in  nam- 
ing representatives  to  the  na- 
tional exhibitors'  coordinating 
committee  on  taxation  appar- 
ently is  the  subject  of  criti- 
cism in  a  bulletin  sent  from 
MPTOA  headquarters  here 
yesterday  over  the  signature 
of  Ed  Kuykendall,  president. 

"The  delay  in  establishing  j 
the  plan  is  unfair  to  those 
associations  which  take  their 
responsibilities  against  sud- 
dent  threats  of  heavy  special 
taxation  seriously,"  the  state- 
ment declared  in  part. 


N.Y.  Business 
Is  Soaring 


Estimates  of  high  Easter  week 
grosses  made  Monday  by  downtown 
Xew  York  first-runs  were  revised 
even  higher  yesterday  as  a  result  of 
capacity  business  and  the  long  over- 
flow lines  which  are  giving  several 
theatres  their  best  Easter  business  in 
Jieir  histories.  An  important  factor 
contributing  to  better  Easter  business 
this  year  than  last  is  the  Xew  York 
Board  of  Education's  ordering  of  a 
school  holiday  this  year  whereas  last 
year  the  Easter  week  holiday  was 
dispensed  with  as  a  result  of  a  week 
granted  in  February  as  a  fuel  con- 
servation measure.    Light  rains  both 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Program  Offered  for  5th 
War  Loan  Participation 


WPB  Expects  Larger 
16mm  Stock  Output 

Washington,  April  11. — War  Pro- 
duction Board  officials  are  hopeful  that 
the  16mm  situation  may  clear  up  in 
the  near  future  as  a  result  of  new  al- 
location provisions  which  prevent  the 
Army  and  Navy  from  drawing  on  the 
film  allocated  for  civilian  use. 

They  said,  however,  that  it  is  doubt- 
ful whether  any  great  amount  of  16mm 
raw  stock  will  be  available  for  general 
distribution,  because  of  the  heavy  de- 
mands of  the  Office  of  Education  and 
other  Government  agencies,  which  are 
taken  out  of  the  23,000,000_  feet  quar- 
terly set  aside  for  non-military  use. 

Recent  reports  to  Washington  com- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Industry  leaders  in  New  York  and 
Hollywood  and  workers  in  the  field 
who  will  be  asked  by  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  and  the  U.  S.  Treas- 
ury Department  to  conduct  the  par- 
ticipation of  the  film  business  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  campaign,  June  12 
through  July  8,  are  offered  a  detailed 
program  for  promoting  the  fifth  drive, 
in  the  industry's  Fourth  War  Loan 
campaign  committee  report  issued  here 
vesterday.  Charles  P.  Skouras,  Na- 
tional Theatres  president,  was  chair- 
man of  the  last  film  bond  drive. 

The  report  states  that  some  exhib- 
itor leaders  have  been  critical  of  the 
"Free  Movie  Day"  idea.  The  com- 
plaints, held  to  be  "not  without  foun- 
dation," claimed  that  theatres  should 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


See  Raw  Film 
Covered  in 
Draft  Ruling 

Workers  Expected  to  Be 
In  Deferred  Category 

By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  April  11. — Selec- 
tive Service  today  issued  a  list  of 
critical  activities  under  12  war 
agencies  in  which  men  in  the  18- 
to-26  age  group  may  be  considered 
as  eligible  for  occupational  defer- 
ment, which,  while  not  specifying  it 
by  name,  is  expected  to  cover  the 
manufacture  of  raw  stock.  Neither 
the  film  industry  or  any  of  its  related 
fields  were  specifically  mentioned  in 
the  new  order. 

The  list  was  issued  as  representa- 
tives of  raw  film  manufacturers  met 
with  War  Production  Board,  Selective 
Service  and  Army  and  Navy  repre- 
sentatives to  discuss  the  situation 
threatened  by  the  current  "take-all" 
policy  of  induction  applied  to  regis- 
trants between  18  and  26  years  of  age. 

Following  the  meeting,  Lincoln  V. 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Connors'TradeAims 
Told  in  Cleveland 


Cleveland,  April  11. — Authority  to 
make  equitable  price  and  overselling 
adjustments  on  20th-Fox  product  was 
given  local  exhibitors  today  by  Tom 
Connors,  sales  vice-president,  and  Jack 
Schlaifer,  Central  sales  manager,  who 
addressed  a  luncheon  attended  by  more 
than  50  showmen  in  the  Statler  Hotel. 

The  talks,  emphasizing  that  20th- 
Fox  aims  at  fairness  in  distribution 
contracts,  were  largely  a  reiteration 
of  promises  made  by  Conners  at  the 
weekend  in  New  York,  where  he  met 
with  MPTO  representatives  from 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Southern  New 
Jersey  and  Delaware.  The  two  sales 
executives  will  leave  here  tomorrow 
for  Cincinnati,  where  a  similar  ses- 
sion is  to  be  held. 


Allied  Ratifies  N.  E, 
Unit  as  a  Member 

Washington,  April  11.  —  Allied 
States  headquarters  here  reports  that 
the  application  of  New  England  Inde- 
pendent Exhibitors.  Inc.  —  of  which 
Arthur  Howard  is  business  manager 
— to  become  a  member  of  National 
Allied  has  been  approved  by  unani- 
mous vote  of  the  board  of  directors, 
with  all  directors  voting. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  12,  194-» 


Personal 
Mention 

P  ARL  HUDSON  and  Jack  Kee- 
'  GAN  of  United  Detroit  Theatres 
have  arrived  in  New  York. 

• 

First  Lt.  Lou  Melamed,  formerly 
assistant  to  Maurice  Grad,  Columbia 
sales  promotion  manager,  is  now  in 
New  York  on  furlough  and  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Marilyn  Marcus  last 
week. 

• 

Ted  Rodis,  manager  of  Skouras' 
Broadway  Theatre,  Astoria,  L.  I., 
who  was  to  have  reported  for  service 
in  the  Army  today,  has  been  excused 
and  will  return  to  Skouras. 

• 

Charles  Schlaifer,  20th  Century- 
For  advertising  manager,  accompa- 
nied by  Louis  Shanfield,  art  direc- 
tor, left  yesterday  for  the  Coast. 
• 

J.  Francis  White,  Film  Classics 
Charlotte  franchise  holder,  returned 
to  that  city  last  night  after  a  visit  at 
the  home  office. 

George  A.  Hirliman,  president  of 
Film  Classics,  will  return  today  from 
a  Southern  exchange  tour. 

• 

Fred   Meyers,   Universal  Eastern 
division   sales   manager,   will   be  in 
Washington  tomorrow  and  Friday. 
• 

Charles    Boasberg,   RKO  Radio 
metropolitan  district  manager,  is  due 
in  from  Cleveland  this  morning. 
• 

R.  J.  O'Donnell  of  Interstate  Cir- 
cuit is  expected  in  New  York  from 
Dallas  today. 

• 

Joe  Lutz,  20th  Century-Fox  Phil- 
adelphia projectionist,  celebrated  his 
20th  wedding  anniversary  last  week. 

George  Furness,  60, 
Was  Radio  Pioneer 

George  C.  Furness,  60,  an  executive 
of  National  Carbon  Co.,  who  pioneered 
in  commercial  radio  broadcasting,  died 
this  week  in  Harkness  Pavilion  of  the 
Columbia  Presbyterian  Medical  Cen- 
ter here  after  a  short  illness. 

Furness  supervised  the  Eveready 
Hour  radio  show  which  first  was 
heard  on  July  26,  1923.  This  is  said 
to  have  been  the  first  sponsored  broad- 
cast to  use  a  network.  Furness  par- 
ticipated in  meetings  of  broadcasters 
and  Government  officials  to  clarify 
confusion  that  existed  during  the  in- 
dustry's beginnings.  He  leaves  a 
widow,  the  former  Margaret  Rogers, 
and  a  daughter,  Betty  Furness,  screen- 
radio  actress. 


Pat  West  Dead  at  55 

Hollywood,  April  11. — Arthur  Pat 
West,  55,  an  actor  for  30  years,  died 
yesterday  at  his  home  in  Van  Nuys, 
Col..  He  came  here  17  years  ago 
and  appeared  in  films  until  a  few 
weeks  ago  when  he  was  forced  out  of 
Warners'  "To  Have  and  Have  Not" 
by  illness.  He  is  survived  by  his 
widow  and  two  daughters. 


Qualified  Veterans 
Eligible  for  IMPOU 

Discharged  service- 
men qualified  to  hold  projec- 
tionists' licenses  are  eligible 
for  immediate  admittance  to 
the  Independent  M.  P.  Opera- 
tors Union  here,  according  to 
a  resolution  adopted  by  the 
executive  board  and  submit- 
ted to  the  American  Legion. 
'  Charles  Axelrod  is  president 
of  IMPOU. 


Washington  Officials 
At  'Tunisian'  Preview 

Washington,  April  11. — High  rank- 
ing United  Nations,  military,  Govern- 
ment and  diplomatic  officials,  press 
writers  and  radio  commentators  were 
on  hand  tonight  at  the  National  Press 
Club  auditorium  here  for  the  premiere 
of  M-G-M's  "Tunisian  Victory." 
Speakers  included  Col.  Frank  Capra ; 
Lt.  Col.  Geoffery  Keating,  who  was 
in  charge  of  filming ;  Sgt.  Donald 
Dexter,  cameraman,  and  Undersecre- 
tary of  War  Robert  Patterson. 

"Tunisian  Victory"  will  open  its 
regular  Washington  run  at  Loew's 
Columbia  Theatre  on  Thursday. 
Handling  arrangements  for  both  show- 
ings are  Jack  Winocour  of  the 
British  information  service ;  Jesse 
Pulcipher  of  Loew's  and  Tom  Bald- 
ridge  of  M-G-M. 

Writers  Hit  Alliance; 
Seek  Probe  of  Aims 

Hollywood,  April  11. — Branding  as 
"untrue"  the  charges  made  by  the 
Motion  Picture  Alliance  to  the  effect 
that  the  industry  is  dominated  by 
"Communist  radicals,"  the  Screen 
Writers  Guild  last  night  adopted  a 
resolution  calling  for  an  "industry- 
wide meeting,  on  the  MPA's  aims." 

This  action  was  taken  after  the 
writers  had  voted  down  a  resolution, 
offered  by  James  McQuinness,  which 
provided  for  the  appointment  of  an 
SWG  committee  to  meet  with  MPA 
representatives  and  cooperate  on  the 
Alliance  program. 

Dick  Purcell  Dies  of 
Heart  Attack  at  36 

Hollywood,  April  11.  —  Stricken 
with  a  heart  attack  following  a  golf 
match,  Dick  Pur-cell,  actor,  36,  drop- 
ped dead  today  at  the  Riviera  Country 
Club. 

A  native  of  Greenwich,  Conn., 
Purcell  attended  Fordham  University 
and  appeared  on  the  stage  in  "Sailor 
Beware,"  "Men  in  White"  and  other 
plays  before  starting  his  film  career 
in  1935.  Since  then  he  has  taken  part 
in  more  than  50  films. 

Funeral  services  will  be  held  on 
Thursday  at  St.  Mary  of  Magdalena 
Church. 


Miriam  Quirk  Will  Wed 

Miriam  Quirk,  secretary  to  Maurice 
Bergman,  Universale  Eastern  adver- 
tising-publicity '  manager,  will  leave 
Friday  for  Alliance,  Neb.,  to  marry 
Lt.  Charles  N.  Lockwood,  Jr.,  of  the 
Army  Air  Forces. 


SMPE  55th  Annual 
Meeting  Monday 


A  symposium  on  television  and  a 
special  "Army-Navy  Day"  will  high- 
light the  55th  semi-annual  technical 
conference  of  the  Society  of  Motion 
Picture  Engineers  to  be  held  in  the 
Hotel  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  April 
17-19,  according  to  the  complete  con- 
ference program  announced  yesterday 
by  W.  C.  Kunzmann,  convention  vice- 
president. 

The  television  forum  will  mark  the 
opening  session,  with  Thomas  T. 
Goldsmith,  Jr.,  director  of  research  of 
Allen  Dumont  Laboratories,  discussing 
"Recent  Technical  Advances  in  Tele- 
vision," and  Sherman  Price  of  Fil- 
media  Corp,.  New  York,  speaking  on 
"The  Scientific  Approach  to  Tele- 
vision Program  Production."  These 
papers  replace  two  which  had  been 
previously  scheduled.  The  conference 
will  also  be  highlighted  by  the  presen- 
tation of  the  Society's  "Journal 
Award." 

Army-Navy  Day  will  be  observed 
April  18  when  officers  of  the  armed 
forces  will  lead  discussions  on  training 
films  and  photographic  science  as  ap- 
plied to  war  needs. 

O'Connor  Says  Runs 
Same  as  in  1920's 

New  Haven,  April  11. — The  pres- 
ent general  system  of  clearances  in 
the  New  York  area  has  been  in  effect 
since  the  early  1920's,  John  J.  O'Con- 
nor, Universal  vice-president,  stated  in 
a  deposition  read  in  Federal  District 
Court  here  today  during  the  trial  of 
the  Prefect  Theatres'  anti-trust  suit 
against  eight  distributing  companies. 
New  York  City  has  always  had  clear- 
ance over  Westchester  County,  and 
four  towns  there  have  always  had  it 
over  Portchester,  O'Connor  explained. 

His  deposition  took  up  the  morning 
and  early  afternoon,  after  which  the 
plaintiffs  introduced  a  deposition  from 
William  Whitman,  RKO  assistant-sec- 
retary, who  testified  to  the  circum- 
stances of  his  company's  acquisition 
of  the  Embassy  Theatre,  Portchester, 
in  1934. 

Boasberg  Holds  Final 
'Drive'  Meet  Today 

Charles  Boasberg,  new  RKO  Metro- 
politan district  manager  here,  serving 
as  captain  of  the  1944  Ned  Depinet 
Drive,  will  hold  the  final  drive  meet- 
ing at  the  New  York  exchange  this 
morning,  assuming  his  new  duties 
immediately. 

The  meeting,  which  will  be  attended 
by  branch  manager  Phil  Hodes  and 
the  local  sales  staff,  will  also  be 
joined  by  Robert  Mochrie,  general 
sales  manager,  and  Nat  Levy,  Eastern 
division  sales  head.  The  drive,  now 
in  its  tenth  week,  will  end  on  May  18. 


Bomber  Named  'Barker' 

An  American  bomber,  believed  to  be 
based  in  England,  has  been  christened 
"The  Barker,"  in  honor  of  the  Variety 
Clubs  of  America,  and  will  soon  bear 
on  its  fuselage  a  reproduction  of  the 
Variety  symbol — the  showman  with 
the  high  silk  hat. 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  11 
LJAL  B.  WALLIS  left  here  todaj 
*■  on  the  Superchief  for  a  two-weel 
trip  to  Washington  and  New  York 
where  he  will  confer  with  his  attor 
ney,  Loyd  Wright,  and  possibly  comi 
plete  arrangements  for  his  future  pro' 
duction  activities. 

• 

Perc  Westmore,  head  of  the  Wsf 
ner  studio  makeup  department,.  I 
completing  the  final  draft  of  a  boof 
on  the  art  of  makeup. 

• 

Paramount  has  signed  Hal  Walkei 
to  a  new  directorial  contract.  His 
first  assignment  will  be  "Out  of  This 
World." 

• 

Jack  Chertok's  production  schedule 
at  Warners  has  been  augmented  b) 
"The  Land  I  Have  Chosen." 


Chicago  Local  Names 
8  for  IATSE  Meet 

Chicago,  April  11. — Eight  delegates 
were  elected  at  the  week-end  by  50C 
members  of  the  projectionists'  unior 
Local  No.  110  to  represent  them  at 
the  convention  of  the  IATSE  at  St 
Louis,  opening  May  25. 

The  eight  are :  Eugene  Atkinson 
business  manager;  James  Gorman 
president ;  Frank  Galluzzo,  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Clarence  Jalas,  assistant  busi- 
ness manager ;  Charles  McNeil  and 
Sam  Klugman,  executive  board  mem- 
bers ;  Larry  Strong  and  Joseph  Ross- 
berger  of  the  membership  at  large. 

Burt  Balaban,  22,  is 
In  South  Pacific 

Burt  B.  Balaban,  22  years  old,  son 
of  Barney  Balaban,  president  of  Para- 
mount Pictures,  is  a  combat  photo- 
grapher with  the  Marines  in  the 
South  Pacific. 

He  joined  the  Marines  in  the  Fall 
of  1942  and  after  training  at  Quantico 
was  assigned  to  further  studies  in 
photography  at  20th  Century-Fox 
and  Paramount  studios  in  Hollywood. 

Grainger  to  Conduct 
Coast  Sales  Meet 

James  R.  Grainger,  president  of' 
Republic  Pictures,  will  conduct  a 
sales  meeting  at  the  company's  Holly- 
wood studio  during  the  week  of  April 
21-28.  He  left  New  York  yesterday 
for  the  Coast,  stopping  over  in  Min- 
neapolis, Seattle  and  San  Francisco. 

Grainger  will  arrive  in  Hollywood 
April  21  and  is  not  expected  to  return 
here  until  May  1. 

Morrison  Named  to 
Selznick  Agency 

Hollywood,  April  11.  —  David  O. 
Selznick,  brother  of  the  late  Myron 
Selznick,  as  a  trustee  of  the  estate, 
today  appointed  Charles  Morrison  to 
represent  him  in  the  continuation  of 
the  Myron  Selznick  Agency. 

Morrison  will  assume  charge  of 
the  talent  agency  immediately. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary:  Sherwin  Kane  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager:  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Otner  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies.  10c. 


Lewis  Stone,  Mickey  Rooney, 
Herbert  Marshall,  Bonita  Granville 


~  Cash  I  ^(C 


Charles  Boyer,  Ingrid  Bergman, 
Joseph  Cotten 


Lucille  Ball,  Dick  Powell 


MEN  IN  / 


Lionel  Barrymore,  Van  Johnson, 
Marilyn  Maxwell 


Van   Johnson,  June   Allyson,  Gloria 
De Haven,  Jose  Iturbi,  Jimmy  Durante, 
Harry  James,  Xavier  Cugat,  Gracie  Allen, 
Lena  Home  and  many  more 


c 

^lave  to  a  secret  sh 
has  sworn  to  keep., 
her  very  charm  an 
beauty  are  a  curse  thai 
tempt  her  to  drear 
of  and  do  things  thcj 
are  forbidden! 


Ml  CUTOENT  BEST  THRILLER! 


ANNA  NEAGLE  RICHARD  GREENE 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  12,  1944 


Rentals  from  Italy  Are 
Held  in  U.  S.  Escrow 


MPT  OA  for 
No  Lawsuit 


See  Raw  Film 
Covered  in 
Draft  Ruling 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

Burrows,  chief  of  the  WPB  motion 
picture  section,  explained  that  relief 
for  raw  stock  manufacturers  was 
seen  in  that  section  of  the  Selective 
Service  list  giving  WPB  authority 
over  component  parts  of  approved 
critical  programs  when  such  produc- 
tion is  not  under  the  direct  supervi- 
sion of  the  Army,  Navy  or  other 
claimant  agencies. 

While  "component  parts"  generally 
are  defined  as  electronic  and  similar 
equipment,  Burrows  expressed  the 
belief  that  raw  stock  actually  could 
be  considered  in  that  category  since 
without  film,  cameras,  X-ray  ma- 
chines and  other  apparatus  would  be 
useless. 

Agree  with  Burrows 

Selective  Service  representatives  at 
the  conference  agreed  with  Burrows 
that  the  definition  should  be  so  ex- 
tended, and  it  is  believed  appropriate 
action  to  insure  uninterrupted  con- 
tinuance of  film  manufacture  will  be 
taken  immediately.  Issuance  of  the 
Selective  Service  list  has  made  the 
set-up  much  clearer,  Burrows  said, 
and  Army  and  Navy  representatives 
and  WPB  local  divisional  managers 
will  be  able  to  step  in  and  endorse  or 
countersign  special  requests  for  defer- 
ment to  be  submitted  by  raw  stock 
manufacturers  to  State  Selective 
Service  directors,  who  will  be  em- 
powered by  today's  orders  to  approve 
them. 

While  the  new  critical  list  was  seen 
as  protecting  the  supply  of  raw  stock, 
there  were  no  provisions  for  defer- 
ment of  men  engaged  in  any  other  of 
the  categories  of  motion  picture  and 
broadcasting  operations  carried  in  the 
former  lists  of  essential  occupations, 
but  Burrows  expressed  the  belief  that 
the  motion  picture  industry,  as  such, 
would  not  be  unduly  handicapped. 


Wage  Controls  Block 
Operators'  Raises 

Washington,  April  11. — Exhibitors 
in  many  sections  today  were  disclosed 
to  have  a  new  labor  problem  for  which 
they  are  attempting  to  work  out  a 
solution.  Reports  to  the  Wage  Stabil- 
ization Board  show  that  in  many 
areas,  projectionists  are  asking  for 
increased  pay  and  the  exhibitors, 
experiencing  capacity  business,  are 
anxious  to  give  it  to  them  but  find 
themselves  up  against  the  15  percent 
limitation  of  President  Roosevelt's 
wage  control  program. 

Quite  generally,  it  was  said,  oper- 
ators' wages  have  already  been  in- 
creased ten  percent,  leaving  only  a 
five  percent  leeway  under  control 
rulings,  necessitating  an  application  to 
the  Government  for  approval  of 
greater  increases. 

A  similar  situation  is  said  to  pre- 
vail in  other  industries. 


N.  Y.  Stops  All  Over  26 

Col.  Arthur  V.  McDermott,  New 
York  City  Selective  Service  chief, 
yesterday  stopped  inducting  all  men 
over  26  until  Washington  can  define 
to  his  satisfaction  the  meaning  of  "war 
supporting  activities." 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

logical  warfare  now  being  used 
to  rehabilitate  the  Italian  peo- 
ple," Riskin  declared,  adding  that 
the  OWI  plans  to  ask  the  Amer- 
ican industry  for  additional 
films,  stressing  dubbed  versions 
this  time  rather  than  foreign 
sub-titling. 

Physical  distribution  of  the  films, 
which  the  OWI  selected  from  both  the 
American  and  British  industries,  is 
handled  by  the  Army's  Psychological 
Warfare  Branch.  Besides  the  300 
theatres  now  in  operation,  seven  mo- 
bile units  are  employed  to  show  films 
close  to  the  front  lines  in  Italy,  Ris- 
kin said. 

Questioned  about  the  possibility  of 
PWB  turning  distribution  back  to 
American  film  companies  in  Southern 
Italy  and  Sicily,  Riskin  said  that  the 
intent  is  to  do  this  as  soon  as  possible. 
"The  OWI  is  hopeful,  in  fact,  it  feels 
that  it  is  most  desirable  that  commer- 
cial interests  assume  control  of  distri- 
bution. Revenue  being  derived  from 
the  showing  of  these  films  is  being 
deposited  in  special  accounts  for  all 
companies  since  the  OWI  is  merely 
acting  as  a  trustee  for  the  com- 
panies," Riskin  said.  Admission 
prices,  which  are  regulated  by  the 
OWI,  range  from  35  to  70  lire. 

Shown  on  Priority  Basis 

Riskin  revealed  that  the  40  Ameri- 
can films  and  12  British  films  select- 
ed so  far  by  the  OWI  for  distribu- 
tion in  Italy  and  Sicily  are  being 
shown  on  a  priority  basis  with  special 
attention  being  given  to  their  inherent 

CBS  Resuming  'Live' 
Telecasts  May  5 

Columbia  Broadcasting's  New  York 
television  station,  WCBW,  will  re- 
sume limited  production  of  'live' 
television  programs  beginning  May  5, 
it  was  announced  here  yesterday. 
Temporarily,  the  productions  will  be 
limited  to  two  hours  a  week,  replacing 
the  Friday  evening  transmission  of 
motion  picture  film. 

The  CBS  move  follows  a  similar 
one  by  NBC  which  resumed  produc- 
tion of  'live'  shows  on  Monday  from 
WNBT  in  New  York  with  an  address 
by  James  L.  Fly,  chairman  of  the 
Federal  Communications  Commission 
and  the  television  premiere  of 
M-G-M's  "Patrolling  the  Ethgr," 
short  subject. 

Studios,  'I A'  Argue 
Seniority  Rights 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
terday's  sessions  and  will  also  occupy 
the  key  point  in  today's  negotiations. 
Different  demands  of  each  of  the  11 
IATSE  studio  craft  locals  on  the  ques- 
tion of  seniority  provisions  is  under- 
stood to  be  leading  to  protracted  ne- 
gotiations on  the  question  with  each 
local  presenting  its  demands  individ- 
ually. 

Once  the  seniority  provisions  of  the 
new  contract  are  agreed  upon  discus-' 
sions  will  turn  to  final  points  remain- 
ing to  be  cleared  up  which  include 
provisions  for  grievance  machinery 
and  the  length  of  the  new  agreement. 


propaganda  value.  "Eventually  all 
films  will  be  exhibited,"  he  said. 

Musicals  and  comedies,  according 
to  Riskin,  are  the  most  popular  with 
the  Italians.  Only  five  or  six  of  the 
40  films  selected  were  war  films.  "In 
the  early  stages,"  he  added,  "the  peo- 
ple of  Italy  were  not  favorably  in- 
clined toward  propaganda  in  films. 
Shorts  and  newsreels  are  doing  the 
propaganda  job  for  OWI,"  Riskin 
explained. 

PWB's  structure  for  follow- 
ing the  invasion  with  films  will 
probably  be  supervised  by  Ma- 
jor Arthur  Loew  from  London, 
as  OWI  representative  there, 
Riskin  disclosed.  It  will  be  a 
joint  undertaking  to  open  mar- 
kets for  films  of  both  Ameri- 
.  can  and  British  industries. 

Possibilities  of  American  companies 
realizing  any  substantial  revenue  at 
present  or  in  the  immediate  post-war 
period  from  any  of  the  conquered 
European  .territories  were  discounted 
by  Riskin.  However,  early  unfreez- 
ing of  whatever  accumulated  revenue 
is  in  North  Africa  from  the  showing 
of  American  films  over  which  OWI 
controls  policy  is  viewed  as  a  pos- 
sibility, according  to  Riskin. 

Riskin  disclosed  that  the  PWB  in 
Italy  confiscated  large  supplies  of 
Italian  and  German  films  when  it 
took  over  exhibition  for  civilians. 
"Theatres  were  getting  a  good  sup- 
ply of  both  Italian  and  German 
films,"  he  added.  "American  films 
are  doing  excellent  business  in  Italy," 
he  said,  adding  that  Italian  civilians 
comprise  most  of  the  audiences. 

Radio  Men  Will  Aid 
'Belle'  Promotion 

Radio  commentators  and  news  an- 
alysts attended  a  screening  here 
yesterday  of  "The  Memphis  Belle," 
U.  S.  8th  Army  Air  Force  combat 
report,  in  the  Paramount  home  office, 
followed  by  luncheon  at  Sardi's,  at 
which  they  pledged  support  in  pro- 
motion of  the  film  which  will  open  in 
500  key  theatres  throughout  the 
country  Friday,  preceded  by  openings 
here  tomorrow  in  14  Broadway 
houses. 

Attending  the  screening  and  lunch- 
eon were :  John  W.  Vandercook  of 
NBC,  president  of  the  Association  of 
Radio  News  Analysts;  Major  George 
Fielding  Elliot,  CBSi  W.  W.  Chap- 
lin, NBC  ;  Caesar  Searchinger,  NBC  ; 
Major  A.  A.  Schechter,  War  Depart- 
ment bureau  of  public  relations ;  Alec 
Moss,  Paramount  exploitation  man- 
ager, and  Burt  Champion,  Paramount 
publicity  department's  radio  contact. 

WPB  Expects  Larger 
16mm  Stock  Output 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
plain  that  for  some  weeks  it  has  been 
virtually  impossible  to  find  any  film  on 
the  market,  officials  explaining  this 
situation  as  due  to  the  heavy  demands 
for  military  purposes.  Since  the  be- 
ginning of  this  month,  however,  the 
military  have  been  barred  from  "raids" 
on  the  civilian  allocation  and  it  is  ex- 
pected that  film  will  begin  to  flow  to 
the  general  market  soon. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
of  its  anti-trust  suit  against  the  five 
decree  signers  and  move  to  divorce 
exhibition    from  production-distribu- 
tion. 

Apparently  anticipating  obj  ections 
in  some  industry  quarters  to  reports 
of  such  a  stand,  the  MPTOA,  in  a 
bulletin  issued  from  its  New  York 
headquarters  yesterday  over  the  sig- 
nature of  Kuykendall  stated  that  the 
organization  has  "never  subscribed" 
to  the  theory  that  "we  must  either 
have  a  new  consent  decree  or  trial 
of  the  lawsuit." 

Warners  explained  yesterday  that 
Bernhard's  withdrawal  as  MPTOA 
director  and  trustee  does  not  affect 
membership  of  over  400  Warner 
theatres  in  that  organization.  The 
four  other  film  companies  with  thea- 
tre affiliates  which  have  representa- 
tives on  MPTOA's  board  are  under- 
stood not  to  be  considering  similar 
moves. 

'Suit  Should  Be  Discarded' 

Yesterday's  bulletin  from  the  MP- 
TOA emphasized  that  the  organization 
is  not  in  favor  of  the  lawsuit  as  a 
trade  practice  solution,  as  reported. 
"We  do  not  urge  that  the  lawsuit  be 
tried,  as  we  most  certainly  don't  be- 
lieve any  court  decision  in  this  suit 
will  help  anybody.  Such  a  decision 
could  be  no  better  than  a  consent 
decree  at  its  best,  and  could  be  even 
more  destructive.  MPTOA  doesn't 
believe  that  our  serious  economic  and 
commercial  problems  can  ever  be  re- 
solved by  litigation,  court  decrees  or 
court  decisions.  The  best  that  a  law- 
suit can  ever  do  is  to  redress  a  speci- 
fic wrong  to  an  individual.  We  think 
the  suit  should  be  discarded  al- 
together," the  bulletin  states. 

"If  we  must  have  a  new  decree," 
the  bulletin  further  states,  MPTOA 
proposes  basic  features.  These  are  the . 
seven  recommendations  submitted  by 
MPTOA's  executive  committee  to 
Clark  in  February  and  include  a 
simplified  standard  contract,  selling 
six  months'  releases  at  one  time  with 
a  20  per  cent  cancellation  and  with 
all  prices  designated,  no  designated 
playdates,  no  further  circuit  expansion, 
a  three-year  decree,  expanded  arbi- 
tration without  lawyers,  and  decree 
changes  recommended  by  either  party. 


WE  Directors  and 
Officers  Reelected 

At  the  annual  stockholders  meeting 
of  Western  Electric  -held  here  yester- 
day all  members  of  the  board  of  di- 
rectors were  reelected.  They  are : 
Clarance  G.  Stoll,  William  F.  Hos- 
ford,  T.  Kennedy  Stevenson,  Walter 
L.  Brown,  Stanley  Bracken,  Frederick 
W.  Bierwirth,  David  Levinger,  S. 
Wallace  Murkland,  Edgar  S.  Bloom, 
Harvey  D.  Gibson,  William  B.  Joyce, 
Guy  W.  Vaughan  and  Charles  J. 
Whipple. 

At  a  directors'  meeting  following, 
all  officers  were  reelected:  Stoll, 
president ;  Hosford,  Stevenson,  Brown, 
Bracken,  Bierwirth,  Levinger  and 
Frederick  R.  Lack,  vice-presidents ; 
Norman  R.  Frame,  secretary ;  George 
B.  Proud,  treasurer,  and  Murkland, 
comptroller. 


Wednesday,  April  12,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Red  Cross  Reports 
Still  Doubling  '43 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

include  the  following:  Robb  &  Row- 
ley circuit,  95  houses  in  Texas, 
Oklahoma  and  Arkansas,  $30,000; 
Wometco  Theatres,  21  houses  in 
Miami  territory,  $20,623,  plus  $1,500 
donated  by  the  circuit,  making  an 
average  of  more  than  $1,000  per 
theaters,  which  also  kept  up  with  the 
houses,  $14,138;  Salt  Lake  City,  John 
Rugar,  exhibitor  chairman,  reported 
$45,195  for  112  theatres,  an  average 
of  more  than  $400  per  theater.  Re- 
turns are  still  to  come  from  145 
houses  in  that  region. 

In  Buffalo,  Max  Yellen  reported 
$29,960  from  71  theaters,  also  aver- 
aging over  $400,  with  210  houses  yet 
to  report.  Albany's  total  up  to  yester- 
day, according  to  Lou  Golding,  ex- 
hibitor chairman,  was  $51,548  for  128 
theatres,  which  also  kept  up  with  the 
$400  average.  Another  88  houses  from 
the  Albany  territory  are  still  to  re- 
port. 


'WasselV  Trade  Show 
Set  for  April  21 

Special  trade  showings  of  Para- 
mount's  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell," 
produced  by  Cecil  B.  DeMille,  will 
be  held  in  all  exchange  cities  April 
21,  with  the  exception  of  Chicago 
where  it  will  be  screened  April  20. 

The  picture  will  be  sold  on  separate 
contract,  Charles  M.  Reagan,  distri- 
bution manager,  said  here  yesterday. 


Program  Offered  for  5th 
War  Loan  Participation 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
not  be  asked  to  give  away  admissions 
with  bond  sales  when  merchants,  for 
example,  do  not  give  away  merchan- 
dise. 

It  was  found,  moreover,  that  the 
4,000  "free  days"  in  the  last  drive  did 
not  move  bonds  as  effectively  as  did 
the  3,300  bond  premieres.  The  latter 
plan,  recommended  for  the  future, 
could  have  been  used  exclusively  in 
the  Fourth  War  Loan  if  exhibitors 
had  not  been  "shortsighted  in  refus- 
ing to  break  clearances  to  make  pic- 
tures available  for  premieres,"  the  re- 
port adds. 

Stars'  Time  Wasted 

Appearances  of  Hollywood  stars, 
who  sold  69,900,000  "E"  bonds  during 
the  last  drive,  is  regarded  by  the  com- 
mittee as  a  valuable  function,  but  the 
report  calls  for  giving  "experienced 
bond-campaigners"  a  voice  in  planning 
future  tours  because  "the  stars'  time 
in  some  communities  has  been  wasted." 

The  committee  recommends  that  in 
the  i  future,  local  chairmen  "devise 
w  ays  and  means  to  raise  money  to  de- 
velop and  conduct  an  effective  cam- 
paign." Many  regional  leaders,  the 
report  claims,  "avoid  the  chairman's 
responsibility  because  they  know  the 
only  way  they  can  complete  the  job 
is  by  using  their  personal  funds." 


In  order  that  an  improved  press 
book  may  be  prepared  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan,  the  WAC  is  called  upon 
td  ask  local  chairmen  to  send  to  head- 
quarters a  description  of  all  new  or 
unique  bond-selling  ideas.  Securing 
accurate  reports  from  state  chairmen, 
it  is  pointed  out,  has  been  difficult  in 
all  campaigns.  Suggested  for  study 
are  the  plans  used  by  John  J.  Friedl 
of  Minnesota  and  Robert  J.  Garland 
of  Colorado. 

"Repeatedly  unsuccessful,"  says  the 
report,  has  been  the  practice  of  stop- 
ping shows  for  two  or  three-minute 
bond  "plugs."  Trailers,  clips  and 
newsreels  are  regarded  as  most  effec- 
tive. The  committee  believes  that 
every  theatre  should  be  either  a  bond- 
issuing  agent  or  a  sub-agent.  This 
status  was  held  by  6,000  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive. 

Streamline  Organization 

The  report  suggests  that  the  organ- 
ization set-up  for  future  drives  be 
streamlined.  "Many  chairmen  have 
become  inactive  as  a  result  of  sick- 
ness, other  business  or  patriotic  duties 
or  have  been  dulled  and  worn  by 
previous  campaigns,"  it  explains. 

The  committee  said  that  the  trade 
press  was  a  helpful  medium  for  keep- 
ing exhibitors  informed  of  all  cam- 
paign developments. 


N.Y.  Business 
Is  Soaring 


•  (.Continued  from  page  1) 

yesterday  and  Monday  failed  to  affect 
business. 

Radio  City  Music  Hall  bettered 
Monday's  mark  of  over  $17,000  yester- 
day when  customers  arrived  even  ear- 
lier to  quickly  fill  the  theatre,  which 
is  opening  this  week  at  eight  A.M. 
Second  week's  gross  of  $127,000  rep- 
resents about  all  the  house  can  do  in 
view  of  the  length  of  the  show  which 
runs  about  two  hours  and  40  minutes. 
Business  at  the  Roxy  yesterday  and 
Monday  was  close  to  that  of  the  Music 
Hall  with  the  theatre  winding  up  its 
first  week  of  "Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep" 
with  about  $103,000  instead  of  $98,000 
as  indicated  previously. 

§5,100  for  'Snow  White' 

More  than  $5,100  was  taken  in  yes- 
terday at  the  Manhattan  Theatre 
where  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs"  started  its  second  week  of 
a  revival  after  an  absence  of  six  years 
from  Broadway.  Price  scale  here 
ranges  from  60  cents  at  opening  time 
of  9  A.M.  to  $1.20  for  late  afternoon 
and  evening  with  the  house  remaining 
open  until  2  A.M.  There  are  no  spe- 
cial prices  for  children.  First  week's 
gross  was  $32,000. 

The  Paramount  also  is  grossing  bet- 
ter than  originally  estimated,  with 
$66,000  recorded  on  the  seventh  week 
of  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  to  better  the 
sixth  week's  mark. 


The  Welding  Belles  Ring  Out 
A  Riot  Of  Rhythm  And  Revelry 
In  The  Gayest  Musical  Laugh-Hit 
Of  The  Season ! 


RIVET 


with 


i    JANE  F RAZEE 

|    FRANK  ALBERTSON 
VERA  VAGUE 

FRANK  JENKS  •  LLOYD  CORRIGAM 
MAUDE  EBURNE  •  CARL  "ALFALFA' 
SWITZER  •  ARTHUR  LOFT 

Joseph  Santley  -  Director  •  Screenplay  by  Jack 
Townley  —  Aleen  Leslie 
Based  on  the  Saturday  Evening  Post  Story 
"Room  For  Two"by  Dorothy  Curnow  Handley 

EPUBLIC  PICTURE 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


\VOL.  55.  NO.  73 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  13,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Theatres  May 
Not  Absorb 
New  U.S.  Tax 


Reduction  of  Admissions 
Only  Course,  Says  U.  S. 

By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

•  Washington,  April  10. — Motion 
picture  exibitors  desiring  to  absorb 
part  of  the  comparatively  new  one- 
cent-on-five  admission  tax  can  do 
so  only  by  cutting,  back  their  estab- 
lished admission  price,  although 
operators  of  cabarets  can  absorb  all 
or  any  part  of  the  tax  on  their  sales, 
U.  S.  Internal  Revenue  Bureau  offi- 
cials declared  here  recently. 

A  spokesman  for  the  bureau 
pointed  out  that  this  circum- 
stance is  due  to  the  require- 
ment that  the  tax  be  based  on 
the  price  of  admission  and 
shown  separately  at  the  box 
office  and  on  tickets,  and  the 
only  way  in  which  any  part  of 
the  tax  can  "be  absorbed"  is  by 
reducing  the  admission  price. 
The  bureau  spokesman  explained 
that  the  cabaret  tax  is  levied  on  the 

(Continued   on    page  10) 


Raw  Film  Aid 
Seen  Certain 


Washington,  April  12.  —  Assur- 
ance of  relief  to  raw  stock  manufac- 
turers on  problems  of  manpower  was 
seen  here  today  as  closest  since  the 
beginning  of  the  war. 

War   Production   Board  offi- 
cials today  expressed  the  opin- 
ion  that   three-fourths   of  all 
plants   manufacturing  raw 
stock  will  be  eligible  for  assist- 
ance in  retaining  workers. 
Plants  in  which  deferments  are  to 
be  granted  because  of  their  participa- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Men  Past  26  Still 
Liable  for  Draft 

Men  26  and  over  are  not  being  per- 
manently deferred  from  military  ser- 
vice, but  are  simply  having  their  in- 
duction "postponed,"  Col.  Arthur  V. 
McDermott,  New  York  City  Selective 
Service  director,  warned  yesterday. 

For  the  time  being,  he  said,  they 
will  remain  as  they  are  on  draft  board 
rolls,  but  they  may  still  be  inducted. 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Sol  Lesser  Planning 
$5,000,000  Program 

Hollywood,  April  12.  —  Sol 
Lesser,  independent  producer 
at  present  releasing  through 
United  Artists  and  RKO,  to- 
day announced  a  $5,000,000 
production  program  spanning 
a.  two-season  period.  His 
first,  "Three's  a  Family," 
slated  for  UA  release,  will 
start  shooting  in  June.  Others 
on  the  schedule  include  "Mis- 
sion 51,"  "Girl  Shy  GI"  and 
"The  Underdog." 


IATSE  Talks 
Nearing  End 


The  studios  expect  to  wind  up  con- 
tract negotiations  with  the  11  IATSE 
studio  craft  locals  here  either  today 
or  tomorrow,  it  was  learned  at  the 
close  of  yesterday's  sessions  in  the  of- 
fice of  Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  con- 
tact. Meetings  between  company 
heads,  their  studio  labor  representa- 
tives and  IATSE  representatives 
started  March  6  and  are  now  in  their 
sixth  week. 

Agreement  was  reached  yesterday 
between  the  studios  and  the  IATSE 
locals  on  the  question  of  seniority 
rights,  and  the  IATSE  representa- 
tives submitted  their  demand  for  a 
new  five-year  pact  with  provisions  for 
reopening  the  contract  every  year  for 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Says  Schine  Wants 
Same  Treatment 
As  Decree  Signers 

Buffalo,  April  12. — Having  in- 
structed counsel  for  the  defendant  cor- 
porations to  file  briefs,  Federal  Judge 
John  Knight  today  adjourned  until 
April  24  pre-trial  proceedings  of  the 
Governments'  anti-trust  suit  against 
Schine  Chain  Theatres. 

Trial  date,  postponed  from  1942,  is 
May  19,  1944.  Judge  Knight  indicated 
the  case  will  be  called  on  that  date. 

Milton  Friedman,  one  of  the  three 
Schine  attorneys,  introduced  among 
the  defendants'  exhibits  a  copy  of 
Motion  Picture  Daily,  dated  Jan. 
19,  1944,  which  contains  an  interview 
with  Tom  Clark  in  Washington.  The 
story  referred  to  quoted  Clark  as  say- 
ing that  the  "status  quo"  of  the 
Schine  case  would  be  continued  until 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Harry  Arthur  Here  to 
Promote  New  Unit 

Harry  Arthur,  Jr.,  general  manager 
of  Fanchon  and  Marco  and  organizer 
of  the  new  Exhibitors  Distributing 
and  Producing  Corp.,  has  arrived 
here  from  St.  Louis  for  a  series  of 
conferences  relating  to  the  enterprise. 
He  expects  to  be  in  the  East  for 
about  two  weeks. 

Upon  leaving  St.  Louis,  Arthur 
said  he  is  now  devoting  a  large  part 
of  his  time  to  EDP  affairs  but  that 
there  are  no  developments  which 
could  be  revealed  at  present. 


Suggestions  on  Television 
Allocations  Nearly  Set 


Television  observers  here  are  under- 
stood to  hold  that  Radio  Technical 
Planning  Board  panel  recommenda- 
tions for  allocation  of  channels  for  tele- 
vision and  frequency-modulation 
broadcasting  are  about  ready.  These 
conclusions  were  reached  from  the  si- 
multaneous revelation,  last  week,  of 
General  Electric's  postwar  television 
plans  by  Dr.  Walter  R.  G.  Baker, 
vice-president  in  charge  of  electronics 
and  other  G.  E.  representatives,  and 
the  observations  on  postwar  television 
made  by  Dr.  Alfred  N.  Goldsmith, 
television  engineer,  at  luncheon  meet- 
ings here  last  Thursday.  Dr.  Baker 
is  chairman  of  RTPB  and  Dr.  Gold- 
smith is  vice-chairman  and  chairman 
of  .  an  RTPB  panel  on  spectrum  utili- 
zation. 

RTPB's   television   committee  will 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


No  Vanguard  Sales 
Cabinet  Seen  Now 

Hollywood,  April  12. — While  the 
occasion  may  arise  for  Vanguard  to 
make  limited  use  of  one  or  more  men 
for  the  handling  of  the  David  O.  Selz- 
nick  company's  product,  Neil  Agnew, 
Vanguard  vice-president  and  sales 
chief,  sees  no  necessity  now  for  su- 
perimposing a  highly  geared  selling 
crew  on  the  existing  United  Artists' 
structure,  it  was  learned  today. 

It  had  been  reported  earlier  that  a 
special  sales  cabinet  to  handle  Van- 
guard product  in  a  limited  number  of 
key  cities  was  under  consideration  by 
the  company. 

It  was  learned  that  present  opera- 
tions will  continue  without  basic  al- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Loew's,  20th, 
Rank  Deal 
Hits  Impasse 

M  &  B  Agreement  Lacks 
Loew's  Confirmation 


By  PETER  BURNUP 

London,  April  12. — Ratification 
of  a  three-way  agreement  by  Spy- 
ros  Skouras,  president  of  20th 
Century  -  Fox;  Sam  Eckman, 
Loew's  managing  director  here,  and 
J.  Arthur  Rank,  for  the  transfer  to 
Rank  of  Ostrer  Brothers'  Metropolis 
&  Bradford  Trust  Co.  stock,  control- 
ling Gaumont-British,  has  been  de- 
layed, it  became  known  here  today. 

Sidney  Wright,  Loew's  attorney 
here,  stated  that  the  negotiations  had 
proceeded  as  far  as  the  M-G-M  repre- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Hazen  Leaves 
WB  Saturday 


Joseph    H.    Hazen,  vice-president 
and  member  of  the  board  of  directors 
of  Warner  Bros.,  yesterday  confirmed 
reports   that   he  had   submitted  his 
resigna- 
tion    from  the 
company, 
to    take  effect 
on  Saturday. 

Hazen  de- 
clined to  dis- 
cuss his  future 
plans,  other 
than  to  say 
that  he  would 
first  take  a 
vacation  and 
then  would  an- 
nounce a  new 
association.  It 
was  reported 
that  Hazen  has 
several  offers  under  consideration,  all 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Joseph  Hazen 


McDonald  Heads 
Wac  Field  Drive 

Charles  B.  McDonald,  RKO  home 
office  executive,  has  been  appointed 
field  director  for  the  industry's  Wom- 
en's Army  Corps  recruiting  drive  by 
chairman  Edward  L.  Alperson.  Mc- 
Donald, who  will  be  in  contact  with 
WAC  state  and  area  chairmen, 
through  whom  the  national  drive  will 
be  conducted,  has  set  up  headquarters 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  13,  1944 


Insider's  Outlook 

^— —  By  RED  KANN  — — — 


Personal 
Mention 

HARRY  M.  WARNER,  president 
of  Warner  Brothers,  has  arrived 
in  New  York  from  Hollywood. 
• 

Edward  Raftery,  United  Artists 
president;  Gradwell  Sears,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  distribution, 
and  Carl  Leserman,  general  sales 
manager,  are  expected  back  in  New 
York  from  the  Coast  on  Monday. 
• 

W.  C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox 
Western  sales  manager,  left  yesterday 
for  a  visit  to  Des  Moines,  Salt  Lake 
City  and  Los  Angeles. 

• 

John  Turner  and  Lester  Krieger, 
Warner  theatre  Philadelphia  film  buy- 
ers and  bookers,  are  in  New  York  for 
a  few  days. 

John  J.  Byrne,  M-G-M  Detroit 
district  manager,  and  Frank  Down- 
ey, Detroit  branch  manager,  arrived 
yesterday  for  home  office  conferences. 
• 

Charles  Niles,  former  theatre  edi- 
tor of  the  Hartford  Times,  is  now  sta- 
tioned at  the  U.  S.  Naval  Training 
Base  at  Sampson,  N.  Y.  ■ 
• 

Leo  Hannan,  Warner  Philadelphia 
booker,  has  left  a  local  hospital  and 
is  recovering  at  home  from  a  serious 
illness. 

A.  L.  Pratchett,  Paramount  general 
manager  for  Central  America,  has  re- 
turned to  Mexico  following  home  of- 
fice confeVences. 

Nellie  Whitting,  Monogram  for- 
eign department  executive  here,  has 
left  for  a  Southern  vacation. 

• 

Edward  Schreiber,  War  Activities 
Committee  publicity  director,  will  re- 
turn today  from  Washington. 
• 

Bob  Kaufman  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  exploitation  department  left 
yesterday  for  Norfolk. 

m 

C.  C.  Moskowitz,  Loew's  vice- 
president,  is  due  back  April  24  from 
a  Florida  vacation. 

• 

I.  J.  Hoffman,  Warner  circuit 
Connecticut  zone  manager,  is  in  New 
York  from  New  Haven. 

• 

Don  Jacocks,  Warner  circuit  New- 
ark zone  manager,  has  returned  to  his 
desk  after  a  brief  vacation. 

• 

Charles  Francis  Coe  will  arrive 
in  New  York  Saturday  from  Florida. 


Rites  Tomorrow  for 
Mrs.  Julia  Weaver 

Hollywood,  April  12.— Funeral  ser- 
vices for  Mrs.  Julia  A.  Weaver  will  be 
held  on  Friday  morning  in  the  Church 
of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  here.  Mrs. 
Weaver  was  the  mother  of  William  R. 
Weaver,  Hollywood  editor  of  Quigley 
Publications.  She  died  of  pneumonia 
on  Tuesday  evening  at  the  age  of  79. 


Hollywood,  April  12 

COLLAR  your  own  man  in 
any  one  of  the  choice  loca- 
tions around  this  town  and  whis- 
per into  his  normally  receptive 
ear.  With  super  speed,  Holly- 
wood communication  lines  click 
into  action,  and  the  whisper 
roars  on  its  way.  This  is  the 
place  de  luxe  for  rumors,  exag- 
gerations and  distortions.  And 
angles,  of  course. 

If  this  can  happen  with  side- 
walk, or  across-the-table  conver- 
sation, figure  for  yourself  what 
goes  on  when  facts  distinguish 
the  scenery. 

■ 

Because  Hollywood  means 
production  and  production  is  al- 
ways synonymous  with  Holly- 
wood, the  big  conversation  of  the 
moment  is  the  impasse  between 
the  Warners  and  Hal  B.  Wallis. 
Second  is  the  dramatic  swing  of 
the  popular,  widely-known  and 
capable  Neil  F.  Agnew,  for  25 
years  with  Paramount,  to  David 
O.  Selznick  and  Vanguard.  But 
second,  only  in  Hollywood's  eyes. 

Agnew  sells  films.  This  is  an 
admitted  essential  as  the  colony 
views  it,  the  chief  noise  going  to 
production.  Distribution  is  ever 
more  a  pretty  vague  affair  and 
exhibition  even  less  distinct  to 
the  majority  of  the  local  gentry. 
But  a  producer,  and  one  of  Wal- 
lis' stature — that's  something  else 
again. 

■ 

The  Wallis  break  has  been 
cooking  for  some  time.  In  fact, 
in  some  directions  its  actual  de- 
velopment already  had  been  dis- 
counted. This  is  predicated  on 
the  assumption  the  split,  with 
considerable  background  behind 
it,  needed  time,  and  only  that,  to 
crystallize.  The  incident  of  Jack 
Warner  accepting  the  Academy 
"Oscar"  for  "Casablanca"  when 
Wallis,  its  producer,  was  in  the 
audience  has  been  built  up  to  dis- 
proportionate size  and  has  had 
attributed  to  it  more  weight  than 
circumstance  actually  rated. 
■ 

Wallis  and  Jack  Warner  had 
not  been  getting  along  too  cozily 
for  quite  a  spell. ,  Rumblings  of 
disaffection  over  their  arrange- 
ment have  been  a  recurring 
standby  here  for  months.  On 
the  Warner  side  have  been  re- 
puted grumblings  over  how  ex- 
pensive a  producer  Wallis  is, 
how  his  pictures  have  gone  over 
budget,  how  the  management 
wants  to  function  like  a  football 
team  and  how  this  has  been  dif- 
ficult because  Wallis  presumably 
preferred  to  play  it  solo. 


Over  on  his  side  of  the  fence, 
the  story  goes  Wallis  has  had  no 
serious  complaints ;  that  he  made 
a  deal  and  has  delivered  eminent- 
ly well  under  it;  that  whatever 
may  be  said  now  is  being  said  in 
the  light  of  the  break  and  ought 
to  be  appraised  with  this  in  view. 
■ 

His  deal  is  interesting  and 
without  counterpart  since  Irving 
Thalberg  functioned  at  M-G-M, 
in  all  probability.  When  Wallis 
stepped  down  as  Warner  execu- 
tive producer  several  years  ago 
to  produce  on  his  own  under 
company  management  and 
finances,  he  was  given  first  call 
on  properties,  players  and  direc- 
tors. The  outcome  has  been  a 
long  series  of  high-calibred  at- 
tractions. 

According  to  Motion  Picture 
Herald-Fame  tabulations  of 
champion  producers,  he  led  the 
pack  with  seven  monthly  box-of- 
fice champions  in  1942-43.  It's 
a  record  untouched,  before  or 
since  by  any  other  producer 
throughout  Hollywood's  breadth 
and  length. 

■ 

The  understanding  is  studio 
and  producer  were  agreed  to  dis- 
agree, but  that  negotiations  to 
cover  an  approximate  year  to 
go,  contract-wise,  hit  rock-bot- 
tom on  a  method  of  fixing  the 
participations  Wallis  enjoys. 
The  studio  asserts  he  breached 
his  contract  and  thus  it  has  been 
abrogated.  The  producer,  of 
course,  recognizes  no  such  cir- 
cumstance. 

This  is  the  probable  outcome: 
Warner  is  no  longer  interested 
in  having  Wallis  remain.  In 
turn,  Wallis  wants  to  get  out  and 
can  write  his  own  ticket  whether 
with  Selznick  or  M-G-M  or  any 
other  individual  or  studio  here. 
All  that  bars  complete  divorce 
between  them,  therefore,  is  a  so- 
lution drawn  out  of  an  amicable 
settlement. 

This  sounds  like  a  matter  for 
negotiations,  not  necessarily  a 
lawsuit. 

■ 

Meanwhile,  Agnew  arrived 
from  New  York  this  week,  went 
into  immediate  huddles  with  his 
new  associates.  Selznick's  final 
objective,  widely  discussed  here 
and  subject  to  considerable  spec- 
ulation, is  •  not  clear.  Officially, 
he  stresses  intention  of  remain- 
ing with,  and  building  up,  United 
Artists,  of  which  he  is  one-quar- 
ter owner  today. 

The  big  and  solitary  question 
is :  Will  one-quarter  keep  him 
content  ? 


Coming 
Events 

April  14 — Film  industry's  50th  an- 
niversary observance  begins. 

April  14 — Episcopal  Actor's  Guild 
annual  entertainment,  Hotel  Wal- 
dorf-Astoria, New  York. 

April  14 — Annual  MPPDA  meeting 
resumes,  New  York. 

April  17 — M-G-M  lunch  for  Louis 
C.  Ingram,  new  Memphis  branch 
manager,  Hotel  Peabody,  Mem- 
phis. 

April  20-21 — Warner  district  mana- 
gers' sales  meeting,  New  York. 

April  30-May  10 — Motion  picture  di- 
vision drive  for  Catholic  Chari- 
ities,  New  York. 

May  8 — PRC  sales  meeting,  Holly- 
wood. 

May  9-10 — Annual  meeting,  Ohio 
ITO,  Deshler-Wallick  Hotel,  Col- 
umbus. 

May  11-17  —  Theatres'  recruiting 
campaign  for  Women's  Army 
Corps. 

Screen  Reels9  Tribute 
To  50th  Anniversary 

Representatives  of  the  trade  press, 
newspapers  and  press  associations 
yesterday  attended  a  showing  of  the 
five  newsreels'  tributes  to  the  50th 
anniversary  of  commercial  motion 
pictures  at  Universal's  home  office 
projection  room.  All  reels  have  in- 
serted in  their  current  issues  special 
sequences  culled  from  some  of  the 
industry's  historical  moments  to  mark 
the  anniversary,  which  will  be  to- 
morrow. 

A  special  Columbia  short,  part  of 
the  Screen  Snapshots  series,  which 
has  been  devoted  to  the  anniversary, 
was  also  screened.  Glenn  Allvine, 
secretary  of  the  industry's  Public 
Information  Committee,  showed  foot- 
age reclaimed  from  the  archives  of 
the  Library  of  Congress,  some  of 
which  has  -been  used  by  the  reels. 

Arthur  S.  White,  said  to  be  the 
oldest  living  motion  picture  actor,  and 
Mrs.  White,  were  also  oresent.  White 
appeared  in  Thomas  Edison's  "The 
Life  of  an  American  Fireman,"  made 
in  1903,  and  said  to  be  the  first  mo- 
tion picture  story. 


Reviving  Demand  for 
Two  Men  per  Booth 

Chicago,  April  12. — Projectionists 
Local  Union  110  is  believed  to  be  re- 
viving the  demand  for  two  men  in  a 
booth,  it  was  learned  here  today.  The 
issue  is  expected  to  affect  172  theatres 
unless  "adequate  sanitary  facilities" 
are  installed  immediately. 

A  full  statement  on  the  demand  is 
promised  at  the  weekend  by  Gene 
Atkinson,  new  business  manager  of 
the  union. 


W.  C.  Alexander  Dies 

Birmingham,  Ala.,  April  12. — Wal- 
ter C.  Alexander  of  this  city,  repre- 
sentative of  National  Theatre  Supply, 
died  recently  in  Clinton,  Tenn. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert' V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley' Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


~~^ofHollyu°od  in 


'One  or  f,0ttie 
Worth  <* 


f?'*  kfe  citv  t     "  " 


fro. 


**\„v  &  45th  St. 


War 


BROADWAY 


GLAD  AO 


-^7roaowayi 


"The  industry's  proudest  offering  'The  Memphis  Belle' 


J. 


i 

ft.. 


©  W.D.P. 


t.  1 

WALT  DISNEY'S 

f7/*//  Length  Feature  Production 

SnowWhite 

and  the  SEVEN  DWARFS 

IN  MULTIPLANE  TECHNICOLOR 

Distributed    by    RKO   RADIO    PICTURES,  INC. 
k   _  

It's  the  same  old  sensational  success  story  everywhere!  . 
In  NEW  YORK  the  Manhattan  Theatre  draws  milling 
crowds  amazing  even  for  crowded  Broadway.  First  week's 
business  positively  FABULOUS  (Ask  us  for  the  almost 
unbelievable  figures!)  ...  In  OMAHA  the  Brandeis  cracks 
all  opening  records  to  spearhead  the  success  of  a  great  area 
premiere  . . .  Likewise  in  the  ROCHESTER  area  showing. 
Two  theatres  were  needed  in  Rochester  for  the  opening 
(and  they  could  have  filled  a  third).  Century  Theatre  run 
phenomenal ...  In  SYRACUSE,  the  Paramount  hits  a  new 
opening  record,  and  the  other  theatres  in  the  area  hit  a  dizzy 
pace  ...  In  the  BUFFALO  area  premiere,  the  Twentieth 
Century  Theatre  opening  hangs  up  a  new  record  for  paid 
admissions,  with  business  everywhere  else  outstanding  . . . 
In  PROVIDENCE,  with  a  Good  Friday  near-record  open- 
ing, week  end  and  subsequent  business  is  soaring  to  the 
box-office  stratosphere  . . .  Guess  we'll  be  hearing  the  same 
from  all  the  openings  and  holdovers  this  week  and  next  from 
everywhere.  ^ 

Ho,  hum,  isn't  it  great  to  give  everybody  such  a  treat? 


6 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAIL1 


Thursday,  April  13,  1944 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  12 

LEON  FROMKESS  has  announced 
PRC's  purchase  of  "Crime,  Inc.," 
Martin  Mooney's  1934  expose  which 
resulted  in  Thomas  E.  Dewey's  ap- 
pointment as  special  prosecutor  in  New 
York.  Fromkess  will  produce  the  film 
with  Mooney  as  technical  adviser  and 
J.  Carrol  Naish  as  star. 

• 

Director  Mitchell  Leisen  will  leave 
here  for  New  York  Saturday  after 
winding  up  "Practically  Yours"  for 
Paramount.  He  will  return  here  on 
April  28  to  begin  preparation  for 
"Kitty,"  which  will  be  done  in  Tech- 
nicolor. 

• 

Nathaniel  Finston,  M-G-M  music 
head,  has  been  named  to  the  U.  S. 
State  Department's  music  advisory 
committee  functioning  in  conjunction 
with  musical  interchange  among  the 
American  republics. 

• 

John  Garfield  will  star  in  Warners 
"This  Love  of  Ours,"  the  story  of 
Al  Schmid,  Marine  blinded  on  Guad- 
alcanal. Jerry  Wald  will  produce. 
Garfield,  returned  from  an  overseas 
tour,  has  been  reclassified  1-A. 
• 

Lance  Heath,  who  for  the  past  18 
months  has  been  assistant  to  Arch 
Reeve,  Western  division  secretary  of 
the  industry's  Public  Relations  Com- 
mittee^ has  resigned  to  enter  the 
merchandising  business. 

• 

Jack  L.  Warner  is  now  a  member 
of  the  industrial  advisory  Victory 
Garden  Committee  of  Greater  Los 
Angeles,  whose  purpose  is  to  encour- 
age victory  gardening. 

• 

Barbara  Stanwyck  will  star  in  War- 
ners' "Christmas  in  Connecticut," 
which  has  been  added  to  William 
Jacobs'  schedule. 

• 

M-G-M  has  purchased  "Cabbages 
and  Kings,"  featuring  Alec  Temple- 
ton's  music  carnival  background,  star- 
ring Judy  Garland  and  Gene  Kelly. 
• 

Y.  Frank  Freeman  will  leave  here 
Friday  on  the  Superchief  for  two 
weeks  of  conferences  at  the  Para- 
mount home  office. 

RKO  Reception  for 
Davis  and  Haley 

A  reception  for  Joan  Davis  and  Jack 
Haley  was  given  here  yesterday  by 
RKO  at  the  Hampshire  House. 
Among  those  who  attended  were:  N. 
Peter  Rathvon,  Ned  Depinet,  Edward 
L.  Alperson,  Malcolm  Kingsberg, 
Robert  Mochrie,  Charles  Boasberg, 
Walter  Branston,  William  H.  Clarke, 
Walter  Derham,  Frank  Drumm,  John 
Farmer,  Harry  Gittleson,  Robert 
Kawkinson,  Harry  J.  Michalson,  Har- 
old Mirisch,  Mike  Poller,  Vincent  C. 
Patterson,  Jr.,  A.  A.  Schubart,  Sol 
Schwartz,  Garret  Van  Wagner,  Arthur 
Willi,  Major  L.  E.  Thompson,  Gor- 
don Youngman  and  Cy  Wills. 

Also:  Ralph  B.  Austrian,  Arthur 
Brilant,  Leon  Bamberger,  James 
Dunn,  Harold  Hendee,  Michael  Hof- 
fay,  S.  Barret  McCormick,  Rutgers 
Neilson,  Fred  Norman,  Irving  Shiff- 
rin,  Terry  Turner,  Kenneth  B.  Um- 
breit,  and  representatives  of  the  press. 


Prefect  Sets  Forth 
Damages  Estimate 


New  Haven,  April  12. — An  estimate 
of  alleged  damages  suffered  by  the 
Pickwick  Theatre,  Greenwich,  through 
alleged  clearance  discrimination,  was 
presented  in  Federal  District  Court 
here  today  in  the  Prefect  Theatres' 
anti-trust  suit  against  eight  distri- 
buting companies. 

William  Cutler,  assistant  to  E.  J. 
Peskay,  operator  of  the  Pickwick, 
quoted  figures  to  show  that  the  house 
made  a  profit  in  1935-37  and  suffered 
a  loss  in  1938-40.  He  then  referred 
to  the  year  ending  Aug.  3,  1931  when 
RKO  ran  the  Pickwick  at  a  profit  of 
about  $200,000  and  presented  an  esti- 
mate of  the  profit  Prefect  would  have 
made  in  1938-40  with  the  same  amount 
of  attendance,  whereas  the  alleged 
loss  totaled  from  $13,000  to  $14,000 
during  each  of  those  years. 

On  cross-examination,  Joseph  Berry, 
defense  counsel,  sought  to  establish 
that  Cutler's  1935  figures  left  out 
$12,000  paid  to  Peskay,  Edward  L. 
Alperson  and  others. 

It  is  believed  that  tomorrow  the 
plaintiffs  will  rest,  after  which  the 
defense  will  make  several  motions. 
First  defense  witness  will  probably  be 
heard  tomorrow  afternoon  or  on 
Friday. 

$350,000  Promotion 
Is  Set  for  'Frisco' 

Republic  has  allocated  $350,000  to 
field  campaigns  on  "Man  from  Fris- 
co," of  which  $250,000  will  be  spent 
in  newspapers,  advertising  on  bill- 
boards, radio  and  special  exploitation 
in  the  company's  32  branch  cities, 
the  remaining  $100,000  having  been 
set  aside  for  similar  promotion  in  sub- 
ordinate cities. 

The  film  will  have  a  tri-city  pre- 
miere on  May  18  at  the  Paramount, 
San  Francisco ;  Paramount,  Oakland, 
and  Costa,  Richmond,  Cal.  Other  pre- 
releases are  set  for  May  24  at  the 
Paramount  and  Downtown  theatres, 
in  Hollywood  and  Los  Angeles,  re- 
spectively, and  for  May  25  at  the 
Fox,  St.  Louis. 

Boasberg  Installed 
As  District  Manager 

Charles  Boasberg,  captain  of  RKO's 
1944  'Ned  Depinet  Drive',  was  in- 
ducted into  his  new  post  as  metro- 
politan district  manager,  succeeding 
Robert  S.  Wolff,  at  the  final  drive 
meeting  held  here  yesterday,  upon  his 
arrival  from  a  tour  on  behalf  of  the 
Depinet  campaign. 

Among  those  at  the  meeting  were 
branch  manager  Phil  Hodes,  Herman 
Silverman,  John  Dacey,  Lou  Kutin- 
sky,  Ed  Carroll,  Charles  Penser  and 
Harry  Zeitels,  all  from  the  New  York 
branch,  and  Harry  Michalson,  A.  A. 
Schubart,  Mike  Poller,  Harry  Gittle- 
son, Frank  Drumm  and  Arthur  Bril- 
lant  from  the  home  office. 


Preview  Radio  Show 

Tonight's  Laffmakers'  preview  of 
United  Artists'  "Up  in  Mabel's 
Room,"  to  be  held  at  the  New  Goth- 
am Theatre,  will  be  preceded  by  a 
lobby  radio  broadcast  over  WNEW, 
featuring  Jimmy  Durante,  Milton 
Berle,  Billie  Burke,  Zasu  Pitts,  Una 
Merkel,  Patsy  Kelly  and  Ted  Lewis 
among  others.  Martin  Starr  will  con- 
duct the  air  show. 


Chicago  'U'  Gets 
Eastman  Library 

Donation  of  Eastman  Ko- 
dak's 16-mm.  library  of  300 
classroom  films  to  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago  for  distri- 
bution through  that  institu- 
tion's affiliate,  Encyclopedia 
Britannica  Films,  Inc.,  was 
announced  here  yesterday. 
The  U.  of  C.  recently  ac- 
quired the  large  school-film 
library  of  Erpi  Classroom 
Films,  which,  with  the  Kodak 
product  makes  it  probably  No. 
1  source  of  such  films  in  this 
country.  The  investment  is 
said  to  represent  millions. 

Kodak's  action  was  said  to 
have  brought  to  completion 
an  educational  project  under- 
taken over  15  years  ago. 


Refuses  to  Increase 
Navy's  Film  Fund 


Washington,  April  12. — The  House 
Appropriations  Committee  today  re- 
jected a  request  by  the  Navy  Depart- 
ment for  a  $2,231,000  increase  in  its 
fund  for  welfare  and  recreation,  in- 
cluding film  servicing,  recommending 
that  the  current  appropriation  of 
$9,246,000  be  duplicated  for  the  fiscal 
year  which  begins  July  1. 

The  Navy's  estimates  for  welfare 
and  recreation  included  $1,950,000  for 
motion  picture  service  to  Naval  ves- 
sels and  activities  outside  the  Con- 
tinental United  States.  A  year  ago 
the  Navy  asked  for  $1,650,000  for  its 
film  service,  but  now  has  pending  a 
supplemental  estimate  of  $450,000.  The 
allotment  is  presumably  for  projection 
service  and  maintenance,  film  coming 
from  the  industry. 

While  the  Committee  refused  to  in- 
crease the  appropriation,  it  was 
brought  out  that  the  ships'  stores 
profits  which  are  contributed  to  mo- 
tion picture  and  other  welfare  and 
recreational  activities  will  be  close  to 
double  what  the  department  estimated 
and  will  tend  to  increase  the  avail- 
able funds  by  some  $700,000. 

Submit  Briefs  Today 
In  Century  Action 

Briefs  requested  by  Judge  William 
R.  Wilson  in  Kings  County  Supreme 
Court  in  the  injunction  action  brought 
by  the  Century  Circuit,  Brooklyn,  to 
prevent  the  dissolution  of  Empire 
State  projectionists  union,  will  be  sub- 
mitted by  opposing  counsels  today. 

Century  obtained  an  injunction  to 
prevent  the  dissolution  of  Empire  last 
year  shortly  before  the  union  merged 
with  IATSE  Local  306.  Judge  Wil- 
son reserved  decision  upon  the  con- 
clusion of  the  trial  several  weeks  ago. 

'Parade*  Screening  Today 

"Parade  of  .the  Past,"  compiled  by 
the  Fun'Film  Library  for  the  50th  an- 
niversary of  the  film  industry,  will  be 
screened  here  today  at  three  o'clock 
at  the  Preview  Theatre,  1600  Broad- 
way. 

— *  

Kaplan  a  Delegate 

Samuel  Kaplan,  former  president  of 
Local  306,  M.  P.  Machine  Operators' 
Union,  was  one  of  12  union  members 
elected  at  a  meeting  last  night  as  dele- 
gates to  the  IATSE  international  con- 
vention to  be  held  in  May. 


St.  Louis  Red  Cross 
Total  Is  $161,595 

An  estimated  increase  of  251  per 
cent  in  Red  Cross  theatre  collections 
this  year  for  the  St.  Louis  exchange 
area  was  reported  yesterday  by  Harry- 
Arthur,  area  exhibitor  chairman,  to 
Joseph  Bernhard,  national  chairman  of 
the  industry's  1944  campaign. 

In  a  preliminary  report,  covering 
Greater  St.  Louis,  Eastern  Missouri 
and  Southern  Illinois,  collections  to-: 
tailed  $161,595,  compared  to  $45,164 
last  year.  The  pledged  theatres  in  this 
area  total  440. 

Fox  West  Coast  Theatres  reported 
collections  of  $280,000  in  the  circuit's 
California  and  Arizona  houses,  an  in- 
crease of  20  per  cent  over  1943. 

From  Cleveland,  Nat  Wolf,  War- 
ners' zone  manager  and  theatre  chair- 
man for  the  drive,  reports  close  to 
$140,000  collected  in  216  theatres  of 
northern  Ohio.  Of  this  amount,  $66,- 
864  was  contributed  by  Greater 
Cleveland  patrons.  This  is  better  than 
double  last  year's  figures. 

In  Chicago,  totals  were  reported  as 
follows:  Balaban  &  Katz,  $51,000; 
Great  States,  $38,000;  Warner  Bros., 
$20,228;  Essaness,  $15,000;  Oriental 
Theatre,  $4,122;  RKO  Palace,  $3,816 
and  RKO  Grand,  $1,426. 

Collections  in  houses  of  the  Inter- 
boro  Circuit,  operating  theatres  on 
Long  Island  and  Brooklyn,  amounted 
to  $10,242,  two  and  a  half  times  last 
year's  figures,  Stanley  Kolbert,  gen- 
eral manager  of  the  circuit,  reported. 


SPG  Meeting  to  Hear 
Arbitration  Report 

Members  of  the  Screen  Publicists 
Guild  at  a  meeting  at  the  Hotel  Pic- 
cadilly here  tonight  will  receive  a  full 
report  of  the  current  arbitration  pro- 
ceedings being  conducted  under  the 
auspices  of  the  American  Arbitration 
Association  on  their  wage  and  job 
classifications  dispute  with  film  home 
offices.  Another  highlight  of  the  meet- 
ing will  be  the  election  of  a  new 
vice-president  to  succeed  Carl  Rigrod 
who  resigned  when  he  left  RKO  to 
join  Donahue  and  Coe. 

Sessions  before  the  AAA  continued 
yesterday  with  Pat  Scollard  of  Para- 
mount acting  as  the  film  companies' 
arbitrator,  having  replaced  Major  L. 
E.  Thompson  of  RKO  who  is  engaged 
in  the  IATSE  studio  union  negotia- 
tions. 


'Stage  Door  Canteen' 
Yields  $1,522,625 

Hollywood,  April  12. — Sol  Lesser, 
producer  of  "Stage  Door  Canteen,"  has 
turned  over  $1,522,625  profits  from 
the  film  to  the  American  Theatre 
Wing,  which  will  apply  the  money  on 
war  charities,  it  was  disclosed  today. 

Lesser  estimates  that  "Canteen"  will 
yield  an  additional  $1,000,000  for 
ATW  before  the  end  of  1944.  Scores 
of  stars  of  screen,  stage  and  radio 
contributed  their  services  in  making 
the  picture,  which  was  released  through 
United  Artists. 


Claim  'Hargrove*  Record 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove," 
Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer  production 
now  at  the  Astor  Theatre  here,  estab- 
lished a  record  high  in  its  first  week 
for  any  M-G-M  picture  shown  there 
since  1931,  the  home  office  reports. 


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Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  13,  1944 


4  Lady'  Aiming  for 
Record  $19,300 


Toronto,  April  12.— "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  was  the  shining  mark  for 
Easter  week  at  Shea's  Theatre,  point- 
ing to  a  record  $19,300.  "Standing 
Room  Only"  figured  to  take  $15,800 
at  the  Imperial. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  13  : 

"The  Adventures  of  Tom  Sawyer"  (Alli- 
ance) 

EGLINTO'N  —  (1,086)    (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $5,500.     (Average:  $4,000).' 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

IMPERIAL— (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-9Oe) 
6  days.  Gross:  $15,800.  (Average:  $12,- 
800). 

"Song  of  Russia"  (M-G-M) 

;LOEW'SM2,074)  (18c-30c-42c-6Qc-78c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,700.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

SHEA'S — (2,480)      (18c-3Oc-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $19,300.    (Average:  $12,800). 
"Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout"  (Para.) 
"The  Gang's  All  Here"  (20th-Fox) 

TIVOLI— (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $5,400.    (Average:  $4,400). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $14,300.     (Average:  $9,800). 


Sharpe  to  NBC  from 
Columbia  Pictures 

C.  W.  Sharpe,  former  Columbia 
Pictures  controller,  has  been  named 
assistant  to  John  H.  MacDonald, 
NBC  vice-president  in  charge  of  fi- 
nance. He  resigned  his  Columbia  post 
last  week. 

Sharpe  joined  Columbia  in  1934  as 
chief  accountant,  coming  from  Price, 
Waterhouse  &  Co.  He  became  assist- 
ant controller  of  the  company  in  1936 
and  controller  in  1943. 


Off  the  Antenna 

tt/^OMMUNITY  theatres  for  stage  plays  are  coming  eventually  and  radio 
^*  theatres  can  develop  audiences  never  dreamed  of  for  these  peoples' 
theatres,"  Arthur  Hopkins,  veteran  Broadway  producer,  stated  during  an  inter- 
view at  National  Broadcasting  headquarters  here  this  week  in  discussing  his 
forthcoming  NBC  program  "Arthur  Hopkins  Presents."  The  full-hour 
dramatic  program  designed  to  present  top  plays  of  the  past  as  a  more  or  less 
permanent  weekly  feature  will  have  its  premiere  on  April  19  with  the  presenta- 
tion of  "Our  Town."  Broadcast  time  of  11:30  p.m.  will  take  advantage  of 
the  increasing  late  evening  audiences  which  have  been  developed  with  the 
lengthened  broadcast  day,  Clarence  L.  Menser,  NBC  vice-president  in  charge 
of  programs  explained  during  the  interview.  Theatre  stars  who  are  film  stars 
as  well  will  participate,  including  Barbara  Stanwyck,  Katharine  Hepburn, 
Edward  G.  Robinson,  Raymond  Massey,  Frank  Craven,  Philip  Merivale  and 
Louis  Calhern.  "Eventually,  an  attempt  might  be  made  to  develop  new  talent 
on  a  nation-wide  basis,"  Menser  declared  in  outlining  NBC's  purpose  in  pre- 
senting the  program.  Unproduced  plays  might  also  be  used  eventually. 

James  C.  Petrillo,  American  Federation  of  Musician's  head  has  called  upon 
the  War  Labor  Board  in  Washington  to  disaffirm  the  recommendation  of  its 
special  panel  that  the  AFM  be  ordered  to  call  off  its  strike  against  three 
recording  companies  which  are  still  holding  out  against  the  union's  attempt 
to  force  recording  and  transcription  companies  to  contribute  to  the  AFM's 
unemployment  fund.  The  three  holdouts  are  National  Broadcasting,  RCA- 
Victor  and  Columbia  Recording. 

•      •  • 

Purely  Personal: — Mrs.  Georgia  Fuller,  formerly  of  the  traffic  depart- 
ment of  NBC's  international  division,  has  been  placed  in  charge  of  auditions 
and  casting  in  the  network's  production  department.  .  .  .  Julian  Boone  is  head 
of  the  new  promotion  division  of  the  Blue's  spot  sales.  .  .  .  Donald  Withycomb 
is  manager  of  the  new  Blue  Web  international  division.  .  .  .  Howard  St.  John 
is  a  new  addition  to  the  sales  promotion  staff  of  WJZ,  New  York.  .  .  . 
Edward  Booth  and  Newman  Burnett  are  recent  additions  to  the  CBS  opera- 
tions department  as  assistant  directors.  .  .  . 


Program  Notes: — Zero  Mostel  is  preparing  a  television  program  based 
on  "Gulliver's  Travels"  to  experiment  in  combining  television  and  motion 
picture  techniques.  .  .  .  CBS  "Lux  Radio  Theatre"  will  present  a  radio 
version  of  20th  Century-Fox's  "Coney  Island"  starring  Dorothy  Lamour, 
Alan  Ladd  and  Chester  Morris  next  Monday.  .  .  .  Photographer  Margaret 
Bourke-White  will  be  next  Sunday's  guest  on  Mutual's  "Wide  Horizons" 
program.  .  .  . 


t 


Joe*  Setting  Buffalo 
Pace  with  $20,000 

Buffalo,  April  12. — "A  Guy 
Named  Joe"  is  bidding  for  the  lead 
here  with  $20,000  at  the  Buffalo. 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  will  be  good  for 
$17,800  at  the  Great  Lakes. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  15: 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)      (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.   Gross:   $20,000.   (Average:  $17,400). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $17,800.    (Average:  $16,600). 
"Rationing"  (M-G-M) 
"Passport  toi  Suez"  (Col.) 

HIPPODROME.— (2, 100)  (40c  -  50c  -  60c  -  70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,200.  (Aver- 
age: $9,700). 

"Snow    White  and    the    Severn  Dwarfs" 
(RICO) 

TWENTIETH   CENTURY— (3,000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.     Gross:  $18,000.  (Av- 
erage: $12,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"The  Racket  Man"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $12,400). 


U.  S.,  CBS  Sign  for 
$450,000  Station 

Washington,  April  12. — Secretary 
of  Commerce  Jesse  Jones  disclosed 
here  yesterday  that  Defense  Plant 
Corp.  has  executed  a  contract  with 
the  Columbia  Broadcasting  for  the 
construction  of  broadcasting  facilities 
at  Delano,  Cal.,  at  a' cost  of  approxi- 
mately $450,000. 

The  contract  is  one  of  several  which 
have  been  made  with  broadcasters 
for  use  of  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion, Coordinator  of  Inter-American 
Affairs  and  other  Federal  agencies. 
The  Delano  plant  will  be  operated  for 
the  Government  by  CBS,  with  title 
remaining  in  the  Defense  Plant  Corp. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  12 

HERBERT  J.  YATES,  Republic's 
top  man,  is  starting  off  "Man 
From  Frisco,"  super-budget  film  star- 
ring Michael  O'Shea,  Anne  Shirley 
and  Gene  Lockhart,  with  sufficient 
momentum  to  get  it  well  along  witt 
the  public.  In  addition  to  a  record 
promotional  budget  for  the  picture's 
premiere  in  San  Francisco,  Oakland 
and  Richmond,  Cal.,  he  plans  exten 
sive  promotion  in  conjunction  with 
other  pre-release  showings.  The  day 
following  the  premiere,  tentatively  set 
for  early  May,  it  will  open  at  Holly- 
wood and  Los  Angeles  Paramount 
theatres,  and  in  Seattle,  Tacoma  and 
Portland,  Ore.,  day-and-date.  East- 
ern premieres  will  be  set  for  cities 
where  big  shipyards  are  located  with 
the  Broadway  opening  shortly  after 
June  1.  John  LeRoy  Johnston,  Re 
public's  new  director  of  public  rela 
tions,  is  now  laying  plans  for  the 
nationwide  splurge. 

• 

Charles  Koerner's  decision  to  put 
Dudley  Nichols  on  the  script  of 
"Elisabeth  Kenny"  reputedly  was 
based  on  the  feeling  that  the  original 
screenplay  failed  to  jell.  Nichols  will 
do  a  final  screenplay  based  on  the 
original  which  entailed  considerable 
research  into  Sister  Kenny's  work 
among  infantile  paralysis  victims.  He 
will  also  produce.  .  .  .  Scott  R.  Dun- 
lap  has  a  topnotch  cast  at  work  in  his 
new  Monogram  production,  "The  Girl 
Next  Door,"  now  before  the  cameras 
ivith  William  Beaudine  directing.  Cast 
includes  Edmund  Lowe,  Jean  Parker, 
Marjorie  Rambeau  and  Alan  Dine- 
hart. 

• 

Regis  Toomey  has  replaced  Ches- 
ter Morris  as  the  heavy-lead  of  the 
Pine-Thomas  production,  "Dark 
Mountain,"  for  Paramount.  Chester 
will  play  the  lead  in  "Dragnet"  for 
P-T.  .  .  .  Ben  Stoloff  directs  "Rip 
Goes  to  War"  upon  completion  of 
"Take  It  or  Leave  It"  at  20th.  .  .  . 
Helene  Stanley,  red-headed  Gary, 
Ind.,  girl,  has  been  signed  by 
M-G-M  at  the  insistence  of  Joe  Pas- 
ternak, who  saw  her  in  several 
stage  productions. 

• 

"Memphis  Belle,"  Paramount's 
Technicolor  documentary  of  the 
Eighth  Air  Force,  will  open  at  11 
first-run  theatres,  day  and  date,  April 
13  and  14.  .  .  .  Universal  will  make 
a  picture  from  an  original,  titled 
"Girl  of  the  Jungle."  .  .  .  Edward 
Small  is  preparing  65  prints  in  16 
mm.  of  his  "Up  in  Mabel's  Room," 
now  awaiting  UA  release.  The  prints 
are  for  Army  Motion  Picture  Over- 
seas Service.  .  .  .  Will  Cowan,  Uni- 
versal producer,  will  supervise  that 
studio's  musical  shorts,  as  well  as  pro- 
duce features. 

• 

Kathryn  Grayson,  seen  in  "Thou- 
sands Cheer,"  has  another  singing  role 
in  that  studio's  "Anchors  Azveigh." 
She  has  the  singing  lead  opposite  Gene 
Kelly.  Frank  (The  Voice)  Sinatra 
is  also  in  this  one,  being  produced  by 
Joe  Pasternak.  .  .  .  In  reply  to  the  call 
for  screen  personalities  to  visit  con- 
valescent servicemen  back  from  the 
fighting  fronts,  the  Hollywood  Vic- 
tory Committee  has  gone  all-out. 
HVC  has  set  a  new  hospital  circuit 
with  15  players  to  play  it. 


'*  H  Thursday,  April  13,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Kansas  City  Yields 
'Lady'  Big  $18,000 


Kansas  City,  April  12. — Easter 
showers  kept  long  lines  at  theatre 
boxoffices.  This  week  the  Newman, 
with  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  rolled  up 
one  of  its  greatest  scores  with  about 
§18,000.  The  Orpheum,  with  "Up  in 
Arms,"  broke  records,  too,  soaring  to 
$16,500. 

*\   Estimated    receipts    for  the 
/ending  April  12-15 : 

>"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (2<Mh-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average:  $6,000). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND — (3,600)  (40c -60c)  7 
Gross:  $15,500.  (Average:  $14,000) 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)      (46c-6Sc)  7 
Gross:  $18,000.    (Average:  $11,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
*   The  Falcon,  Out  West"  (RKO) 


week 


days. 


days. 


)    Gross :    $16,500.      CA  verage:  $10,000). 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 
TOWER— (2,200)    (40c-60c)    7  days. 
1    stage:  Earl  Carroll  Vanities.  Gross: 
ten:    000.    (Average:  $9,400). 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (ZOth-Fox) 
UPTOWN— (2,000)      (45c -65c)  7 
Gross:  $5,400.     (Average:  $5,600). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 

FAIRWAY— (700)      (45c-65c)  7 
Gross:   $1,600.     (Average:  $1,600). 


ORPHEUM— (1,900)     (45c-65c)     7  days. 


On 
$12,- 

days. 

days. 


Cesana  Plagiarism  Suit 

Los  Angeles,  April  12.  —  Renza 
Cesana  filed  suit  in  Federal  District 
Court  here  this  week  against  Blue 
Network,  Philco  Corp.,  Variety  Corp. 
and  William  Morris  Agency,  asking 
$500,000  because  of  the  alleged  theft 
and  use  of'1  his  idea  "Air-Academy 
Awards"  in  the  program  broadcast  as 
"Radio  Hall  of  Fame." 


Review 


"Ukraine  In  Flames" 

(Artkino) 

ITH  the  heroic  Red  Armies  daily  pressing  onward  along  the 
Eastern  Front  and  liberating  vast  new  Ukranian  areas  from  the 
Nazi  yoke,  the  official  Soviet  documentary  "Ukraine  in  Flames"  emerges 
as  a  timely,  dramatic  and  stirring  tribute  to  their  accomplishments.  Pro- 
duced under  the  general  supervision  of  Alexander  Dovzhenko  at  the 
Central  and  Ukranian  newsreel  studios  in  the  USSR,  and  photographed 
by  24  cameramen  who  advanced  with  shock  troops  in  the  great  offensive 
which  began  last  Summer,  the  film  has  encompassed  all  the  grim  horror 
which  the  Nazis  have  wrought  upon  the  defenseless  civilians  of  the 
Ukraine,  their  vast  wanton  destruction,  and  the  subsequent  relentless 
pursuit  of  the  Germans  by  the  Red  Armies. 

The  interesting  commentary  supplied  by  Dovzhenko  and  translated 
into  English  by  Alexander  Werth,  is  ably  narrated  by  Bill  Downs, 
CBS  correspondent  who  recently  arrived  from  Moscow.  In  editing 
the  film,  J.  Solntseva  and  J.  Andeyenko  traced  the  impact  of  the  Nazi 
invasion  upon  the  Ukraine  in  1941,  familiar  scenes  to  American  audi- 
ences now,  through  their  fictional  treatment  in  "North  Star."  The  re- 
capture of  Kharhov  and  Kiev  and  the  attendant  uncovering  of  Nazi 
attrocities  are  featured  in  the  footage  along  with  the  display  of  the 
Red  Army's  striking  power.  A  number  of  shots  from  captured  German 
newsreels  have  also  been  used  to  good  advantage  in  the  film. 

Running  time,  55  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date  not  set. 

Milton  Livingston 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Address'  to  Play  Globe 

Columbia's  "Address  Unknown," 
from  Kressman  Taylor's  book,  will 
open  at  the  New  York  Globe  Satur- 
day. The  film  was  produced  and  "di- 
rected by  William  Cameron  Menzies. 


RKO  Will  Show  'Love' 

Nicholas  Napoli,  president  of  Art- 
kino Pictures,  has  concluded  a  deal 
for  the  showing  of  "No  Greater  Love" 
on  the  RKO  circuit  in  the  New  York 
territory. 


Exhibitors  Silent 
On  Local  Laws 


Washington,  April  12. — Announce- 
ment of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Require- 
ments several  months  ago  that  it  was 
prepared  to  go  to  the  assistance  of  any 
exhibitors  suffering  under  burdensome 
local  ordinances  has  resulted  in  not  a 
single  complaint,  it  was  disclosed  here 
by  George  W.  McMurphey,  chief  of 
the  OCR  recreation  section.  The 
OCR's  original  intention  was  to  ease 
any  such  burdensome  operations  for 
the  duration. 

McMurphey  pointed  out  that  the  fail- 
ure of  exhibitors  to  come  forward  with 
complaints  might  be  due  to  the  fact 
that  no  difficulties  had  arisen  in  war- 
manufacturing  areas  in  which  theatre 
construction  had  been  put  under  way 
or  to  the  cooperation  of  municipal  au- 
thorities in  relaxing  some  of  their 
regulations  for  the  war  period.  How- 
ever, he  said,  the  OCR  still  is  prepared 
to  take  up  such  complaints  with  mu- 
nicipal authorities  if  exhibitors  find 
themselves  up  against  any  local  laws 
which  hamper  operations. 


Browning  on  Civic  Group 

Boston,  April  12. — Harry  Brown- 
ing, head  of  publicity  for  M  &  P  Thea- 
tres here,  has  been  named  chairman  of 
Boston's  "clean  up  campaign"  by 
Mayor  Maurice  J.  Tobin.  Local  thea- 
tre managers  and  owners  were  ap- 
pointed to  the  group  with  Browning. 
Among  those  working  with  him  were 
Jack  Saef,  Joe  Longo,  Paul  Levi,  Red 
King,  Ben  Rosenbert  and  Bob  Stern- 
berg, district  manager  for  M  &  P. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  13,  194 


- 


'Cover  Girl'  Is  Good 
For  $7,400  Over 
Par  in  Philadelphia 

Philadelphia,  April  12. — Holiday 
crowds  this  week  were  heavy  at  down- 
town houses,  with  "Cover  Girl"  at  the 
Boyd  leading  with  an  expected  $25,400 
plus  $6,000  for  a  dual  Sunday  showing 
at  the  Earle.  Sharing  the  lead  is 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  at  the  Stanley 
with  a  $26,700  expectation. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  12-14: 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (Zftth-Fox) 

ALDINE— (900)    (85c-$1.20)    7    days,  7th 
week.    Gross:  $14,800.    (Average:  $14,600). 
"Song  of  Russia"  (MrG-M) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $7,400.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

BOYD— (3,000)    (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $25,400.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.)  (6  days) 
$23,500 

"The  Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  (1  day)  $6,000 

EARLE— (3,000)  (50c-65c-8oc-?5c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including  Henry  Busse's  or- 
chestra, Borrah  Minnevitch's  Harmonica 
Rascals,  Barbara  Blaine,  Betty  Brownell, 
Wyatt  Howard  and  Red  Wright.  Gross: 
$23,500  (6  days).  (Average:  $27,800). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

FOX—  (3,000)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $16,200.  (Average: 
$20,500). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)   7  days,   2nd  run,   2nd  week.  Gross: 
$7,300.     (Average:  $6,600). 
"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (40c-45c-5Oc-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average: 
$5,800). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

MASTBAUM  —  (4,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c- 
75c-85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $24,400. 
(Average:  $22,500). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY— (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $26,700.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"Rationing"  (MG-M) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  da  vs.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average:  $9,- 
400). 


Greene  Now  Head  of 
Central  Allied  Unit 

Minneapolis,  April  12.  —  Henry 
Greene,  Jr.,  has  been  elected  president 
of  the  unaffiliated  Central  Allied, 
succeeding'  Donald  Guttman.  The 
unit  comprises  exhibitors  here  and  in 
St.  Paul.  Greene  is  the  son  of  Henry 
Greene,  pioneer  exhibitor  in  this  area. 

Named  with  the  new  president  were 
A.  A.  Kaplan,  first  vice-president ; 
Lyle  Carisch,  second  vice-president ; 
Harold  Kaplan,  treasurer,  and  Martin 
Lebedoff,  secretary. 


No  Vanguard  Sales 
Cabinet  Seen  Now 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

terations  as  long  as  Gradwell  L.  Sears 
and  Carl  Leserman  remain  with 
United  Artists.  It  is  also  believed  that 
they  will  insist  on  controlling  selling 
management  and  operations  while  their 
identification  with  the  company  con- 
tinues. 


WANTED 


Trustworthy  secretary  to  Publicity  Man- 
ager. Must  be  competent  in  telephone 
conversations;  capable  for  all-around 
secretarial  work.  Good  opportunity  for 
advancement — salary  $35.00.  In  reply- 
ing, please  state  present  position  and 
past  experience.  Box  228,  Motion 
Picture  Daily. 


Loew's,  20th-Fox,  Rank 
Deal  Hits  an  Impasse 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

sentatives  had  been  authorized  to  go 
by  J.  Robert  Rubin,  Loew's  vice- 
president  and  general  counsel,  in  New 
York,  without  confirmation  having 
been  obtained.  The  current  proposals, 
however,  have  been  forwarded  to  the 
Loew's  home  office  for  confirmation 
or  further  suggestions,  either  of 
which  may  be  further  delayed  by  the 
reported  illness  of  Rubin  in  New 
York,  it  was  said. 

Loew's  and  20th  Century-Fox,  it  is 
learned,  have  been  insisting  upon  in- 
creased efficiency  in  G-B  Theatre 
management,  an  aim  in  which  Rank 
is  said  to  be  in  complete  agreement. 
Rank  is  insisting  upon  retaining  ulti- 
mate control  of  G-B,  which  he  now 
has  by  virtue  of  his  stockholdings. 

Various  proposals  to  implement 
this  plan  have  been  made  in  the  course 
of  the  negotiations  here  and  ultimate- 
ly reached  the  stage  of  complete 
agreement  between  Rank  arid  Skouras. 
Eckman  is  said  to  have  agreed  in 
principle  but  cannot  consummate 
Loew's  end  of  the  agreement  without 
ratification  by  the  home  office. 

.  Skouras  arrived  at  an  agreement 
first,    presumably    because  20th-Fox 


sells  to  the  G-B  circuit  and,  therefore, 
is  interested  in  the  best  possible  man- 
agement operations  for  the  circuit 
which  plays  its  product.  Loew's,  how- 
ever, sell  to  Associated  British  Cine- 
mas as  well  as  G-B,  so  is  less  con- 
cerned with  G-B  management  than 
with  retention  of  its  bridgehead  into 
that  lucrative  circuit,  it  is  believed. 

Skouras  and  Rank  both  are  hoping 
that  the  present  impasse  may  be  over- 
come as  the  present  draft  of  their 
agreement  is  the  basis  for  future  pro- 
duction arrangements  here.  They  are 
proceeding  with  their  talks  for  the 
production  of  films  here  on  a  50-50 
basis,  as  reported  by  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  on  March  28.  In  this 
regard,  Skouras  is  described  as  being 
determined  not  to  return  to  the  States 
empty-handed.  He  has  made  an  out- 
right purchase  of  United  States  rights 
to  Michael  Balcon's  "San  Demetrio," 
and  says  he  regards  the  deal  as  a  po- 
tentially useful  investment. 


David  Bernstein,  Loew's  vice-presi- 
dent and  treasurer,  said  yesterday 
Loew's  has  taken  no  formal  action  on 
the  negotiations  with  Rank  yet  and 
that  it  was  uncertain  when  such  ac- 
tion might  be  taken. 


Raw  Film  Aid 
Seen  Certain 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
tion  in  vital  programs  are  to  be  desig- 
nated by  the  war  agencies  in  charge 
of  the  production  programs  (in  the 
case  of  raw  stock,  the  WPB),  and 
Lincoln  V.  Burrows,  chief  of  the  mo- 
tion picture  section,  is  now  compiling 
reports  on  the  number  of  men  in  key 
positions  in  each  film-manufacturing 
plant. 

There  are  eight  plants  engaged  in 
the  production  of  raw  stock,  possibly 
six  of  which  are  producing  film  for 
war  purposes,  Burrows  said  today. 
Whether  all  six  will  be  eligible  for 
deferments  is  yet  to  be  determined  by 
a  study  of  the  extent  of  their  war- 
production  operations,  but  at  least 
four  are  devoting  a  very  considerable 
proportion  of  their  operations  to  mili- 
tary motion  picture,  still  and  X-ray 
and  other  special  film. 
Situation  Canvassed 

The  whole  situation  was  canvassed 
yesterday  at  a  meeting  between  raw 
stock  manufacturers,  Burrows,  man- 
power officials  of  WPB,  and  Selec- 
tive Service  and  other  interested  of- 
ficials, and  arrangements  were  made 
to  secure  deferments  under  that  sec- 
tion of  the  new  Selective  Service 
orders  giving  the  WPB  jurisdiction 
in  the  case  of  registrants  in  plants 
producing  component  parts  for  ap- 
proved critical  programs  not  under  the 
direct  supervision  of  other  agencies. 

As  the  manufacturers'  representa- 
tives left  Washington  last  night  they 
expressed  confidence  that  the  prob- 
lem would  be  worked  out. 


Cite  'Bernadette'  Record 

Some  3,976,164  persons  have  paid 
to  see  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  in 
67  cities  throughout  the  United  States, 
according  to  20th-Fox's  home  office. 


'Lady'  Passes  Par  by 
,000  in  Cleveland 


Cleveland,  April  12. — "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  was  a  walk-away,  with  a  tre- 
mendous opening  and  a  big  weekend, 
hitting  $27,000.  Other  business  opened 
slow  and  built  up  to  an  average  at- 
tendance. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  IS: 

"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Average:  $8,- 
500). 

"Desert  Song"  (WB) 

WARNERS'    HIPPODROME   —  (3,500) 
(44c-55c-65c)  7  days.     Gross:  $21,00.  (Av- 
erage: $22,100). 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 

WARNERS'  LAKE — (714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,800.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  OHIO— (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average:  $5,- 
000). 

"The  Spider  Woman"  (Univ.) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-.60c-85c-95c) 
7  days.    Stage:  George  White's  Scandals  of 
1944.     Gross:   $25,000.     (Average:  $25,400). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S     STATE— (3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $27,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $10,000). 


Men  Past  26  Still 
Liable  for  Draft 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Col.  McDermott  announced,  at  the 
same  time,  that  local  draft  boards'  per- 
centage quotas  have  been  cut  and  each 
board  will  be  called  upon  to  yield  its 
full  limit  of  the  18-26-year-old  group. 

Employers  were  warned  by  the  local 
Selective  Service  chief  that  men  in  the 
18-26  category  whom  they  want  to 
retain  as  essential  will  have  to  have  a 
42-A  special  form  filed  for  them  by 
Saturday,  regardless  of  past  classifica- 
tions. 


Says  Schine  Want* 
Same  Treatment 
As  Decree  Signers 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
disposition  of  the  case  of  the  five  de 
cree  signers,  or  until  a  new  consen 
decree  is  effected. 

Friedman,  having  quoted  from  tb| 
story  to  great  length,  declared  his  ^ 
ents  demand  the  same  treatment  ac 
corded  the  consenting  companies. 

With  regard  to  insistence  on  the  par 
of  the  Government  that  Schine  live  hi 
to  the  divestiture  clause  of  the  court'? 
temporary  order  postponing  tria) 
Friedman  earlier  declared  theatre 
cannot  be  purchased  anywhere  in  th' 
United  States  today  because  they  ar) 
all  making  money. 

"Drop  Divestiture  Order" 

He  declared  Schine  should  be  abl 
solved  of  the  divestiture  section  bel 
cause  "due  diligence"  was  used  in  all 
tempting  to  dispose  of  the  theatre^ 
named  in  the  court  order. 

"Prices  on  the  theatres  Schine  wa| 
required  to  sell  were  fixed  two  yearl 
ago,"  he  said.  "All  a  purchaser  hai 
to  do  then  was  to  come  in,  put  dowf 
a  certified  check  and  walk  out  the  nevj 
owner  of  the  theatre." 

Friedman  said  only  six  of  the  11 
theatres,  which  he  described  as  "thj 
best  of  the  bunch,"  were  snapped  uj 
quickly,  mostly  by  former  operator! 
and  that  the  ten  "not  so  good  ones| 
were  left  to  Schine. 

Attack  Murphy  "Reneg" 

Schine  counsel  particularly  hit -It 
K.  Murphy,  who  made  a  down  paymer 
on  Appalachia,  Va.,  theatres  sever; 
months  ago,  but  then  withdrew  hi 
offer.  They  said  Murphy,  who  wa 
in  court  h^re  Monday,  apparently  i 
reconsidering. 

Friedman  said  theatre  business  wa 
not  so  good  a  year  ago  but  now  tha 
conditions  have  improved,  several  ar 
thinking  twice  about  prospective  deab 

"We  made  every  effort  we  could  t 
sell  those  theatres  in  that  first  year 
now  when  times  are  good,"  Friedma? 
said,  "I  say  these  people  should  not  b 
permitted  to  gamble  with  our  money. 


Theatres  May  Not 
Absorb  New  Taxes  I 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

proprietor  and  he  is  not  required  t>| 
pass  it  along  to  the  customer,  but  the? 
atres  must  show,  separately,  the  prici 
of  admission  and  the  tax.  The  onh 
way  exhibitors  can  "absorb"  the  tax 
it  was  said,  would  be  to  reduce  ad 
mission  prices,  as  for  instance,  if  for 
merly  they  had  a  price  of  40  cents  am 
four  cents  tax  they  could  make 
charge  of  37  cents  and  seven  cents  ta> 
to  achieve  the  same  44-cent  total. 

It  appears  that  the  ruling  against  ai 
exhibitor's  absorbtion  of  any  part  o 
the  ticket  tax  hits  the  action  of  som< 
exhibitors  who  have  been  absorbin; 
an  odd  penny  or  two  since  the  nev 
levy  went  into  effect  on  April  1,  ii 
order  to  operate  under  a  "round 
figure"  of  five  or  ten  cents  to  avoi 
the  use  of  pennies  in  box  office  trans 
actions. 


fhursday,  April  13,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


tlATSE  Talks 
bearing  End 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

vage  discussions  and  other  adjust- 
ments. The  producer  representatives 
vill  give  their  answers  on  this  demand 
his  morning.  Remaining  points  to  be 
i^ared  up  are  those  providing  for 
1  pvance  machinery  and  group  insur 
'^ce  for  the  IATSE  studio  workers. 

Several  studio  IATSE  local  repre- 
entatives  have  already  returned  to 
California  and  others  plan  to  return 
i  oday  and  tomorrow,  leaving  the  final 
ju-rawing  of  the  new  agreements  to  re- 
place those  which  expired  on  Jan.  1 
i,  nd  submission  to  the  War  Labor 
,^oard  for  approval,  to  the  IATSE 
■fficials  headed  by  Richard  F.  Walsh, 
nternational  president.   Producer  rep- 
esentatives  have  been  successful  in 
voiding  commitments  on  granting  ju- 
risdiction   over    television    to  those 
ATSE  locals  which  presented  de- 
viands  in  this  direction  including  the 
electricians,  property  men  and  sound 
ien,  insisting  that  such  awards  are 
latters  for  the  American  Federation 
f  Labor  to  decide. 

Iusicians  Only  Left 

Only  remaining  group  with  whom 
he  producers  will  have  to  reach  agree- 
ment once  they  have  settled  with  the 
'I  ATSE    are    the    studio  musicians, 
| vhose  negotiations  are  being  handled 
f.y  James  C.  Petrillo,  American  Fed- 
ration  of  Musicians'  head.  Musicians 
re  reported  to  be  demanding  studio 
taff  orchestras  ranging  from  25  men 
n  the  smaller  studios  to  35  for  the 
our  largest  studios,  although  Casey 
las  denied  these  reports. 


SAG  to  Force  Wage 
Demand  Arbitration 

Hollywood,  April  12. — The  Screen 
Actors  Guild  will  exhaust  every  legal 
aeans  in  an  effort  to  force  immediate 
.rbitratioo  with  producers  of  SAG 
lemands  for  general  wage  increases 
or  extras,  day  players  and  free-lance 
.layers,  according  to  John  Dales,  Jr., 
xecutive  secretary. 

j  "The  guild  will  make  this  move," 
dales  added,  "during  the  30  to  60  day 
djournment  of  the  National  Labor 
delations  Board  hearing  on  the 
screen  Players  Union's  petition  for  a 
>argaining  agency  election  for  extras." 
Arbitration   set  -for   last  November 

;vas  delayed  when  the  producers  re- 
used to  negotiate  while  the  SPU 
ttacks  in  an  effort  to  split  SAG 
hreatened  to  establish  a  dual  actors' 
inion  in  the  industry. 

;  Following  testimony  from  Carole 
-andis,  an  SAG  witness,  the  NLRB 
tearing  adjourned  today  to  allow  time 

/Or  the  Central  Casting  Corp.  and  the 

[  tudios  to  prepare  payrolls  disclosing 
iow  many  extras  actually  do  bit 
vork.  In  earlier  sessions,  SPU  had 
ried  to  lay  claim  to  all  bit  and  stunt 
■layers  as  well  as  extras. 


WAC  to  Use  Army  Song 

The  War  Activities  Committee  has 
eceived  the  permission  of  the  War 
department  to  use  the  song,  "The 
/dice  of  the  Army,"  newly  adopted 
<y  the  U.  S.  Army  Recruiting  Serv- 
:e,  in  motion  picture  houses  during 
he  week  of  May  11  when  theatres 
"11  campaign  for  enlistment  in  the 
Vdmen's  Army  Corps. 


Suggestions  on  Television 
Allocations  Nearly  Set 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

make  its  recommendations  for  televi- 
sion channel  allocations  to  a  RTPB 
panel  in  about  two  weeks.  Once  the 
panel  decides  on  its  recommendations 
for  television  channels  in  conjunction 
with  a  panel  dealing  with  high  fre- 
quencies, the  recommendations  will 
be  referred  to  a  third  panel  on  which 
Dr.  Goldsmith  is  chairman. 

FCC  to  Get  Final  Results 

Considerations  of  panel  one  will  be 
from  the  viewpoints  of  engineering 
and  economic  practices  involved  with 
final  recommendations  to  the  FCC  to 
be  made  by  panel  two,  dealing  with 
actual  frequency  allocations.  Recom- 
mendations which  will  finally  emerge 
are  expected  to  be  in  the  form  of  a 
compromise  with  full  consideration 
given  to  the  political  and  engineering 


problems  involved  as  well  as  the  na- 
ture of  existing  equipment.  Army  and 
Navy  channel  needs  as  well  as  the 
channel  requests  of  other  electronic 
interests  are  not  expected  to  create 
many  stumbling  blocks. 

FM  presently  holds  the  channels  from 
42  to  50  megacycles  and  proposes  that 
it  be  allocated  channels  from  42  to  56 
megacycles  without  a  break.  The  tele- 
vision channel  is  from  50  to  56  mega- 
cycles and  television  interests  are  re- 
portedly seeking  some  of  the  lower 
channels  allotted  to  FM  broadcast- 
ing. RTPB  recommendations  to  the 
FCC  will  attempt  to  resolve  this  over- 
lapping of  channels  being  sought.  In 
view  of  both  Dr.  Baker's  and  Dr. 
Goldsmith's  positions  in  the  RTPB 
set-up,  informed  quarters  see  televi- 
sion and  FM  interests  reaching  an 
early  accord  in  channel  allocation  re- 
quests to  the  FCC. 


McDonald  Heads 
Wac  Field  Drive 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
at  the  War  Activities  Committee  of- 
fice here. 

Eddie  Dowd'en  of  Loew's  publicity 
department  will  be  public  relations  di- 
rector in  New  York  for  the  drive, 
scheduled  for  May  11-17,  when  the 
Women's  Army  Corps  will  observe  its 
second  anniversary. 

Yesterday,  in  Washington,  Alper- 
son  met  with  Col.  Oveta  Culp  Hob- 
by, director  of  the  Women's  Army 
Corps,  and  worked  out  the  details 
for  the  drive.  Others  attending  this 
meeting  were  Col.  Curtis  Mitchell, 
Col.  Jay  Noel  Macy,  Harry  Brandt, 
WAC  executive,  and  Harry  Mandel 
of  RKO,  who  will  direct  the  nation- 
al publicity  campaign  for  theatres 
participating. 


12  Installed  in  Two 
Exchange  Unions 

Buffalo,  April  12. — Harold  Randall 
was  installed  as  president  of  Local  B  9 
and  Arnold  Febrey  as  president  of 
F  9,  film  exchange  employes  unions, 
at  joint  installation  ceremonies  held 
here  at  the  Hotel  Markeen  last  night. 
Other  B  9  officers  are :  Mary  Giolella, 
vice-president ;  John  Rubach,  business 
representative ;  Hyman  Mentor,  finan- 
cial secretary ;  Irma  Vincent,  record- 
ing secretary,  and  Edward  Smith, 
sergeant-at-arms. 

F  9  officers  include :  Barbara  Hart- 
man,  vice-president  Josephine  Genco, 
business  representative ;  Mary  Stroh- 
man,  financial  secretary ;  Bertha 
Kamp,  recording  secretary,  and 
Richard  Carroll,  sergeant-at-arms. 
Daniel  Gill,  business  representative  of 
the  stagehands  union  here  was  in 
charge  of  the  installation. 


MP  A  Board  to  Meet 

The  board  of  directors  of  Motion 
Picture  Associates  here  will  hold  a 
luncheon  meeting  tomorrow  at  the 
Hotel  Dixie.  The  agenda  includes 
planning  of  the  group's  silver  anniver- 
sary dinner-dance  and  discussion  of 
insurance  and  postwar  problems. 


Hazen  Will  Leave 
Warners  April  15 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
involving  important  posts  within  the 
industry. 

No  reasons  were  advanced  for 'his 
leaving  the  company  he  has  been 
with  for  the  past  20  years.  Hazen 
has  been  one  of  the  top-ranking  ex- 
ecutives at  the  Warner  home  office 
for  many  years  and  his  duties  were  in- 
creased importantly  after  Harry  M. 
Warner  established  headquarters  on 
the  Coast  several  years  ago.  Hazen 
was  one  of  the  principal  figures  in  the 
negotiation  of  the  original  industry 
consent  decree  and  played  a  leading 
role  again  last  Fall  and  Winter  in 
the  negotiations  for  an  amended  de- 
cree, which  still  is  pending. 

Was  Liaison  in  1939 

He  was  industry  liaison  in  1939  in 
the  study  and  discussions  with  De- 
partment of  Commerce  officials  on 
cooperative  activities.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  industry  lawyers' 
"committee  of  six,"  appointed  several 
years  ago  to  study  and  reorganize  in- 
dustry activities.  Hazen  has  been 
the  Warner  representative  at  virtual- 
ly all  meetings  of  the  MPPDA 
board  of  directors  here,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee. He  is  an  attorney  and  formerly 
was  associated  with  the  law  firm  of 
Thomas  &  Friedman. 


'Negro  Soldier*  is  Ready 

A  special  press  book  on  the  45-min- 
ute  Army  film,  "The  Negro  Soldier," 
produced  for  the  War  Department 
under  supervision  of  Col.  Frank 
Capra,  has  been  prepared  by  the  War 
Activities  Committee  with  cooperation 
of  the  Screen  Publicists  Guild.  The 
film  and  accessories  are  available 
gratis  to  exhibitors. 


Lehman  With  Republic 

James  R.  Grainger,  president  of  Re- 
public, reports  the  appointment  of 
Sidney  Lehman  as  Pittsburgh  branch 
manager.  Lehman  was  branch  man- 
ager of  United  Artists'  Buffalo  ex- 
change for  seven  years. 


[Advertisement] 

IPs  Little  Man 
Has  Busy  Days 


By  WEIR  HAPPY 

One  of  these  days  you  are  apt  to 
pick  up  your  newspaper  and  read  in 
the  Winchell,  Walker,  Lyons,  Sullivan 
or  Wilson  column  something  like : 

"Universal  is  carrying  the  torch  for 
vaudeville." 

Universal  and  vaudeville  are  not 
going  steady,  to  borrow  a  phrase  from 
the  above  mentioned  gentlemen,  but 
there  does  exist  a  pungent  aroma  of 
romance  between  them.  This  does  not 
come  from  the  usual  gossip  pillars,  but 
can  be  found  in  two  pictures  which 
come  from  Universal  City. 

"Follow  the  Boys,"  the  Charles  K. 
Feldman  production,  glorifies  the 
variety  entertainment,  at  the  same 
time  giving  a  pat  on  the  back  to  the 
Hollywood  Victory  Committee  and 
the  USO.  Many  stars  of  vaudeville 
days,  including  Sophie  Tucker,  Ted 
Lewis,  George  Raft,  W.  C.  Fields, 
Charley  Grapewin  and  youthful  Gracie 
McDonald  are  in  this  entertaining 
film,  to  say  nothing  of  40  others. 

Recently,  Universal  completed  "The 
Merry  Monahans,"  which  stars  Donald 
O'Connor  (now  starring  for  Uncle 
Sam  G.  I.  Productions,  Inc.),  Peggy 
Ryan  and  the  surrey  with  the  fringe 
around  the  middle,  Jovial  Jack  Oakie. 
This  picture  highlights  the  peregrina- 
tions of  a  vaudeville  family  between 
1900  and  America's  entrance  into 
World  War  I  in  1917. 

Because  of  this  period,  clothes  had 
to  be  consistent  with  the  times,  which 
gave  the  okay  Oakie  more  than  enough 
exercise  to  shed  a  few  superfluous 
pounds  from  his  curvical  torso.  Two 
more  pictures  like  this  one  and  Oakie 
will  be  eligible  to  supplant  the  fellow 
in  the  red  coat  who  is  always  shout- 
ing, "Call  for  Phillip  Morris." 
Do  Mairzedoats? 

Universal  is  making  a  Crosby  pic- 
ture with  a  bing,  only  this  one  stars 
Bob,  Bing's  brother,  and  it's  called 
the  "Singing  Sheriff,"  but  where  you 
find  a  sheriff  you  are  sure  to  find  a 
bing.  Yes,  even  bing,  bing.  What's 
more,  a  kiddle  eativytoo. 

"Spring  Will  Be  a  Little  Late  This 
Year,"  is  a  song  title  and  not  a  pre- 
diction. Frank  Loesser  wrote  it  for 
Deanna  Durbin  and  Miss  Durbin  sang 
it  for  Universal,  and  Universal  is  re- 
leasing it  in  "Christmas  Holiday." 
Christmas  will  be  a  little  early,  this 
year. 

This  tune  soon  will  be  floating 
through  the  air  waves  with  the  great- 
est of  ease  on  the  listeners'  ears. 
Andre  Kostelanetz  will  play  it  dur- 
ing his  Coca  Cola  program  over  the 
Columbia  Broadcasting  System,  April 
16  at  4:30  P.M.  E.W.T. 

"Ladies  Courageous,"  the  Walter 
Wanger  production  is  being  highly 
publicized  through  the  facilities  of 
Station  WLW  and  a  tremendous  ex- 
ploitation campaign  in  Middle  Western 
States  by  Milton  Crandall  and  Charley 
Simonelli,  of  the  Home  Office.  Cran-' 
dall  and  Simonelli  are  bachelors. 

"Open  Sesame,"  the  magic  words 
uttered  by  Ali  Baba,  opened  and  shut 
a  heavy  door.  "Ali  Baba"  also  carries 
magic  .  These  words  open  the  box 
office  and  soon  the  doors  are  closed 
because  there's  isn't  enough  space  for 
the  SRO  sign. 

Yes,_  Universal's  little  man  certainly 
is  having  busy  days. 


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COLUMBIA 

TWO-MAN 
SUBMARINE 
Tom  Ncal 
Ann  Savage 
J.  Carroll  Naish 
D — 62  mins. 

SUNDOWN 
VALLEV 
Charles  Starrett 
Joanne  Bates 
Walter  "Dub" 
Taylor 
O — 55  mins 

THE  WHISTLER 
Richard  Dix 
Gloria  Stuart 

D — 59  mins. 

COVER  GIRL 

(Technicolor) 
Rita  Hayworth  1 
Gene  Kelly 
Phil  Silvers 
Jinx  Falkenburg 
M— 107  mins. 
JAM  SESSION 
Ann  Miller 
Jess  Barker 
M — 80  mins. 

GIRL   IN  THE 
CASE 
Janice  Carter 
Edmund  Lowe — I) 
WYOM  1  NG 
HURRICANE-  O 
Russell  Haydcn 

THE  BLACK 
PARACHUTE 
Larry  Parks 
Jeanne  Bates 
John  Carradine 
Osa  Massen 
D 

ONCE   UPON  , 
A  TIME 

Cary  Grant 
Janet  Blair 
James  Gleason— D 

DEATH  TO  THE 
INVADER 
(British) 
John  Clements 
Mary  Morris 

RIDIN'  WEST 
Charles  Starrett 
Shfrley  Patterson 

O  1 

STARS  ON 

PARADE 
Lynn  Merrick 
Larry  Parks 
Judy  Clark 
M 

BY  SECRET 
COMMAND 
Pat  O'Brien 
Carole  Landis 
Chester  Morris 
D 

WO 

1 

1 

■Ml 
•Mi 

&  00 

< 

April 
15 

i " 

< 

April 

I- 

&  O 

First  in 


and 

Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'VOL.  55.  NO.  74 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  APRIL  14,  1944 


TEN  GENTS 


O'Donnell  Will 
Head  Films' 
5th  War  Loan 


Friedl,  Kennedy  Named 
To  Work  with  Him 


Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  Texas  cir- 
cuit owner  and  national  chief  bark- 
er of  all  Variety  Clubs,  has  accept- 
ed the  post  of  general  chairman  for 
the  motion  pic- 
ture industry's 
p  a  r  t  i  c  i  - 
pation  in  the 
forthcom- 
ing  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive,  S. 
H.  Fabian, 
chairman 
of  the  theatres 
division  of  the 
War  Activities 
Commit- 
tee,  announced 
here  yesterday. 

A  s  s  o  c  i  - 
ated  with  him 
in     the  cam- 
paign, which  is 
scheduled  to  take  place  June  12  to 
(.Continued  on  page  10) 


Bobert  J.  O'Donnell 


Korda  Stock  Bought 
By  U.A.  Over 
Chaplin's  Objection 

By  RED  KANN 

Hollywood,  April  13. — Balance  of 
power  within  United  Artists  remains 
unchanged  despite  the  company's  de- 
cision to  purchase  Sir  Alexander 
Korda's  one-fourth  stock  interest  and 
retire  the  shares  in  the  name  of  Unit- 
ed Artists  Prod.,  which  is  the  cor- 
porate entity  now  holding  title  and 
possession  of  Korda's  stock. 

The  deal,  giving  Korda  $1,000,000, 
which  represents  an  extraordinary 
profit,  now  vests  ownership  of  Unit- 
ed Artists  Corp.  with  David  O.  Selz- 
nick,  Mary  Pickford  and  Charles 
(.Continued  on  page  10) 


50th  Anniversary 
Of  Industry  Opens 


Today  the  industry  observes  its 
50th  birthday.  On  the  night  of  April 
14,  1894,  the  first  public  exhibition  of 
pictures  that  moved  took  place  in  a 
store  at  1155  Broadway,  New  York. 
Alfred  O.  Tate,  Thomas  A.  Edison's 
secretary,  and  his  companions  decided 
(Continued  on  page  3) 


WALLIS,  HAZEN  MAY 
JOIN  SPITZ,  GOETZ 

Conferences  Slated  to  Start  Here  Monday 
For  Possible  Association  for  a  Largely 
•Expanded  Independent  Producing  Unit 

By  JAMES  CUNNINGHAM 

Conferences  are  scheduled  to  start  in  New  York  on  Monday  pointing 
to  the  possible  association  of  Hal  B.  Wallis  and  Joseph  H.  Hazen  with 
William  Goetz  and  Leo  Spitz  in  Spitz-Goetz  International  Pictures,  it 
was  learned  here  last  night  from  reliable  sources. 

Crystallization  of  the  conver- 


Harry  Arthur 
Unit  Delayed 


Exhibitors  Distributing  and  Produc- 
ing Corp.,  new  company  being  organ- 
ized by  Harry  C.  Arthur  and  associ- 
ates now  has  exhibitors  and  potential 
franchise  holders  signed  up  in  60  per- 
cent of  the  31  distribution  centers  of 
the  country,  Arthur  said  in  an  inter- 
view with  Motion  Picture  Daily 
here  yesterday.  However,  Arthur  dis- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


sations  possesses  potentialities 
for  one  of  the  most  important 
independent    organizations  in 
many    years.     Actual  ac- 
complishment, it  is  understood, 
would  be  first  by  the  establish- 
ment of  a  Hazen-Wallis  setup 
and  its  subsequent  association 
with  International. 
Extensive  additional  financial  sup- 
port is  understood  to  be  in  mind  for 
the  project,  with  Hazen  said  to  be 
considering  a  participation  either  per- 
sonally   or    through    other  sources. 
Mrs.  Lita  Hazen  is  a  member  of  the 
wealthy  Annenberg  family.  She  is  the 
daughter  of  the  late  Moe  Annenberg, 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Where  the  Industry  Was  Born  50  Years  Ago  Today 


THE  KINETOSCOPE  PARLOR  at  115  5  Broadway,  New  York,  where,  on  April  14,  1894,  motion  pictures  were  presented  for  the  first  time 
commercially  to  the  public  of  the  world.  The  first  night's  gross,  from  the  ten  machines  is  reported  to  have  been  $120,  at  2  5  cents  a  "peep". 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  14,  1944  I 


Release  Projectors 
Made  for  Gov't 


The  theatre  projector  situation  has 
been  materially  eased  by  the  release 
of  what  is  said  in  industry  circles  to 
have  been  a  "considerable  number" 
of  machines  above  the  War  Produc- 
tion Board's  regular  allocation  of  100 
quarterly,  it  was  learned  here  yester- 
day.. 

The  equipment,  produced  in  antici- 
pation of  Government  orders  which 
did  not  materialize,  was  released  to 
the  industry  after  the  review  of  its 
requirements  by  the  Federal  Agency 
involved  showed  it  could  be  spared 
without  impeding  the  war  program. 
All  of  the  machines  were  distributed 
during  the  last  quarter,  it  was  said. 

Seen  as  First  Step 

.The  release  of  these  projectors  may 
•  be-  the  first  step  toward  expanding 
supplies  for  the  industry,  but  develop- 
ments along  that  line  will  now  depend 
primarily  on  the  manpower  situation. 
A  program  for  increasing  the  quar- 
terly allocation  has  been  pending  be- 
fore WPB  officials  for  some  weeks 
and  may  be  decided  in  the  near  future. 

Meanwhile,  advices  reaching  the  in- 
dustry today  indicated  that  while 
equipment  manufacturers  holding  war 
contracts  will  be  eligible  for  defer- 
ment of  key  men  in  the  18-25  age 
group  employed  in  the  production  of 
radar  and  electronic  equipment  no 
such  protection  will  be  accorded  men 
engaged  in  production  for  civilian 
distribution. 

No  Figures  on  Manpower 

No  estimate  is  available  on  how 
badly  the  present  Selective  Service 
policy  will  affect  the  projector  man- 
ufacturers, but  it  is  said  that  a  large 
proportion  of  the  workers  in  the  elec- 
tronics industry  are  young  men.  The 
manpower  situation  is  seen  in  indus- 
try circles  as  probably  one  of  the  im- 
portant factors  involved  in  any  exten- 
sion of  projector  production  in  the 
near  future.  Even  if  Government  de- 
mand slackens  off,  as  it  is  expected  to 
as  European  military  operations  move 
into  their  final  stage,  the  major  Gov- 
ernment demand,  it  is  said,  is  for  the 
Army,  Navy  and  Lend-Lease  Admin- 
istration. 


Asks  for  $300,000 
'O'Rourke'  Profits 

Helen  Grace  Carlisle,  author  of 
"Mother's  Cry"  and  other  novels,  has 
filed  an  action  against  Warners,  Nor- 
man Krasna,  Vitagraph,  First  Na- 
tional and  Vitaphone  in  U.  S.  District 
Court  at  New  Haven,  asking  for  all 
profits  of  "Princess  O'Rourke,"  set- 
ting a  minimum  of  $300,000. 

Plaintiff  charges  that  the  defend- 
ants plagiarized  her.  original  scenario, 
"Rich  Is  the  Heart,"  in  the  production 
of  Warners'  "Princess  O'Rourke." 


Cohen  Back  at  M-G-M 

Charles  Cohen,  former  M-G-M 
trade  press  contact,  and  recently  with 
Hal  Home's  publicity-advertising  de- 
partment at  20th  Century-Fox,  has  re- 
turned to  M-G-M  to  handle  press 
books. 


Personal  Mention 


G-  HARLES   EINFELD,  Warners' 
advertising-publicity   director,  is 
due  here  today  from  Hollywood. 
• 

Constance   Bennett   will   be  -  in 

Washington  today,  to  attend  a  special 

meeting  headed  by  Mrs.  Franklin 

D.  Roosevelt  and  Secretary  of  the 

Treasury  Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr., 

which  Is  a  prelude"  to  ~the  opening  of 

the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive. 
_  ^- 

J.  J.  O'Leary,  president  of  Comer- 
ford  Theatres,  and  M.  J.  O'Toole, 
public  relations  counsel,  have  been 
named  to  Scranton's  Post  War  Plan- 
ning Commission  by  Mayor  Howard 
J.  Snowden. 

• 

Herb  Berg,  United  Artists  trade 
representative,  is  due  back  in  New 
York  after  a  two  weeks'  vacation  in 
Florida. 

• 

Charles  Smakwitz,  Warner  The- 
atres assistant  zone  manager  in  Al- 
bany, is  in  town. 

• 

Ralph  Banghart  of  the  RKO  Chi- 
cago exchange,  will  be  inducted  into 
the  Army  April  19. 

• 

Henry  W.  Kahn,  M-G-M  Chicago 
sales  manager,  has  returned  from  a 
two-week  vacation. 

• 

Nat  Wolf,  Warner  Theatre  Cleve- 
land zone  manager,  has  arrived  in 
New  York  for  a  few  days'  visit. 


GL.  CARRINGTON,  Altec  Ser- 
•  vice  president,  has  arrived  in 
New  York  from  Hollywood. 

• 

Charles  Snyder,  formerly  Inter- 
state Theatres  city  manager  in  Deni- 
son,  Tex.,  has  been  inducted  into  the 
Navy.  Pat  Hudgins,  manager  of  the 
circuit's  Majestic,  Wichita  Falls,  Tex., 
succeeds  Snyder. 

• 

Tommy  Luce,  Paramount  Dallas  ex- 
change booking  manager,  has  been 
inducted  into  the  Army.  Sebe  Miller, 
booking  manager  at  the  company's 
Memphis  exchange,  has  been  trans- 
ferred to  Dallas. 

• 

Ross  Doyle,  M-G-M  publicist  at 
the  home  office,  reports  to  the  Office 
of  War  Information  April  17,  for 
overseas  service. 

• 

Cpl.  Bob  Brannick,  former  mana- 
ger of  Warner's  Rialto,  Hartford,  is' 
now  stationed  in  England. 

Douglas  Phillips,  assistant  mana- 
ger of  the  Phillips,  Springfield,  has 
joined  the  armed  forces. 

• 

Joe  Miklos,  manager  of  the  Pal- 
ace, Norwich,  Conn.,  is  the  father  of 
a  baby  girl  born  to  Mrs.  Miklos. 
• 

E.  Z.  Walters,  Altec  Service  comp- 
troller, has  returned  from  the  Coast. 


AttackCutlerFigures 
In  Prefect  Hearing 


New  Haven,  April  13. — Subjected 
to  an  attack  designed  to  show  that 
his  figures  on  profits  and  losses  of  the 
Pickwick  Theatre,  Greenwich,  were  in- 
correct, William  Cutler,  assistant  to 
E.  J.  Peskay,  operator  of  the  house, 
remained  on  the  stand  all  day  today  in 
Federal  District  Court  here  in  the  trial 
of  the  Prefect  Theatres  anti-trust  suit 
against  eight  distributing  companies. 

Joseph  Berry,  defense  counsel,  at- 
tempted to  prove  that  Cutler  had  in- 
cluded in  his  direct  testimony  only 
figures  favorable  to  the  plaintiffs'  case 
and  had  left  out  unfavorable  ones. 

On  account  of  the  unexpectedly  pro- 
longed questioning  of  Cutler,  the  plain- 
tiffs did  not  rest  today,  as  had  been 
anticipated,  but  it  is  believed  that  this 
will  occur  sometime  tomorrow.  The 
defense  was  lining  up  witnesses  last 
night  and  will  present  them  for  at 
least  three  weeks. 


Kelly  Flying  East; 
Deal  Not  Complete 

Hollywood,  April  13. — Arthur  W. 
Kelly,  head  of  J.  Arthur  Rank's 
Eagle-Lion  Films  in  the  United 
States,  left  by  plane  tonight  for  the 
East,  where  he  will  remain  about  10 
days  before  returning  here. 

Kelly's  anticipated  deal  by  which 
Eagle-Lion  would  obtain  a  producer- 
partner  here  is  not  yet  completed  but 
is  understood  to  be  well  advanced. 


5-Yr.  Studio  Pacts 
Reopened  After  2 


New  pacts  being  negotiated  by  the 
studios  with  11  IATSE  studio  craft 
locals,  all  five-year  agreements,  will 
probably  have  a  provision  for  reopen- 
ing the  contracts  at  the  end  of  two 
years  for  Wage  and  other  adjust- 
ments, it  was  learned  at  the  close  of 
yesterday's  sessions  at  the  office  here 
of  Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  con- 
tact. An  additional  provision  will  be 
made  to  reopen  the  contracts  at  the 
end  of  a  year  on  the  wage  issue  if 
there  is  any  liberalization  of  the  "Lit- 
tle Steel"  formula. 

IATSE  studio  locals  had  asked  for 
reopening  at  the  end  of  each  year  in 
a  five-year  pact  and  the  matter  is  ex- 
pected to  be  settled  this  morning  when 
company  heads,  their  studio  labor 
representatives  and  IATSE  repre- 
sentatives resume  sessions.  Final 
point  on  provision  for  grievance  ma- 
chinery is  also  to  be  settled  this  morn- 
ing, winding  up  negotiations.  Group 
and  compensation  insurance  issues 
will  be  settled  on  the  Coast. 

Yesterday's  sessions  were  devoted 
to  final  rendering  of  agreements  into 
written  form  with  each  local  being 
provided  with  an  opportunity  to  scru- 
tinize the  wording  of  the  contract  that 
it  has  negotiated.  Everything  is  ex- 
pected to  be  settled  with  the  IATSE 
by  2 :30  P.M.  today  when  the  produc- 
ers will  hold  a  scheduled  meeting  with 
James  C.  Petrillo,  American  Federa- 
tion of  Musicians'  head,  on  the  de- 
mands of  studio  musicians. 


6,147  Contracts  for 
'Belle' in  2  Weeks 

"The  Memphis  Belle," 
Eighth  Army  Air  Force  com- 
bat report,  distributed  by 
Paramount,  with  6^147  con- 
tracts rolled  up  in  two  weeks, 
is  setting  a  record,  Charles  M. 
Reagan,  general  distribution 
manager,  said  yesterday. 

The  four-reel  Technicolor 
subject  will  have  openings  in 
500  premiere  key-city  theatres 
today.  It  is  being  offered  to 
all  exhibitors,  and  War  Activi- 
ties Committees  in  all  terri- 
tories are  urging  its  showing. 

The  film  is  being  distributed 
by  Paramount  for  the  Office 
of  War  Information  on  a  non- 
profit basis.  All  clearance  has 
been  waived  to  allow  the  wid- 
est possible  circulation  in  the 
shortest  time  possible. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


—RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

50th  Street  &  6th  Avenue 
RITA   HAYWORTH    .    GENE  KELLY 


COVER  GIRL 


in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern  •  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 

1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Keserved.  Circle  6-4600 


PALACE 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


Anna  N EAGLE  •  Richard  GREENE 


"YELLOW  CANARY" 


PARAMOUNT'? 

"LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 

In  Technicolor 

IN  PERSON 

XAVIER  CUGAT  And  BAND 

DEAN  MURPHY 

PARAMOUNT  SQUARE 


ON  SCREEN 

Held  Over  2nd  Week 

xNONE 
SHALL 
ESCAPE' 

with  MARSHA  HUNT 


IN  PERSON 
ALLAN 

JONES 

Happy  f ELTON 
Dick  BUCKLEY 

Added  Attraction 

CANADA  LEE 


Kay  •  Carole  Martha 
Francis  -  Landis  -  Raye 


Mitzi 
May  fair 


"FOUR  JILLS  IN  A  JEEP" 

—PLUS  ON  STAGE— 

Harry  Richman  -  The  De  Marcos 

BUY  MORE  POYV  7TH  AVE.  A, 
"BONDS        ■*  W  JK.   I        50TH  ST. 


THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE 


2a 


CONTINUOUS  .  «>™ 
DoorsOpen9:30AM.    B'WAY  &  49th  ST. 


P 

mvoLi 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center.  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;,  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y„  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c 


i  Friday,  April  14,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


3 


Industry  Will  Mark  50th 
Film  Anniversary  Today 


Hays  on  50  Years; 
Committee  Named 


A  report  by  MPPDA  president  Will 
H.  Hays  on  the  50th  anniversary  of 
commercial  motion  pictures  will  almost 
exclusively  occupy  an  adjourned  meet- 
ing of  the  board  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture  Producers  and  Distributors  of 

America,  scheduled  to  be  held  here 

^oday. 

j    Held  over  for  further  consideration 

!  from  the  annual  meeting  of  March  27 

(is  the  matter  of  MPPDA  members' 
interest  in  "a  free  and  unhampered 
exchange  of  film  products  between  the 
nations  of  the  world." 

I'  Meanwhile,  IS  exhibitors  have  ac- 
cepted  territorial   chairmanships  on 

I  the  50th  anniversary  committee,  ac- 
cording to  a  telegram  received  at  the 
MPPDA  office  here  late  yesterday 

(  from  Harold  J.  Fitzgerald,  national 
exhibitor    chairman,    in  Milwaukee. 

'_  Additional   acceptances  are  expected 

S  in  the  near  future. 

(  Chairmen  Named 

M  Those  lined  up  so  far  are:  M.  S. 
L  McCord,  Little  Rock ;  Harry  F.  Shaw, 
{■  New  Haven ;  F.  H.  Ricketson,  Den- 
L  ver ;  J.  L.  Cartwright,  Tampa,  Fla. ; 
;  Frank  Larson,  Idaho  Falls,  Ida. ;  J. 
|  J.  Rubens,  Chicago ;  H.  E.  Jameyson, 
I  Wichita  ;  John  Friedl,  Minneapolis  ;  E. 
|  L.  Kuykendall,  Columbus,  Miss. ; 
'l  Elmer  Rhodes,  Kansas  City  ;  Ben  Ara- 
|  sterdam,  Camden  ;  George  Tucker,  Al- 
|  buquerque,  N.  M. ;  Edward  M.  Fay, 
if  Providence  ;  Fred  Larkin,  South  Falls, 
S.  D.,  and  John  Danz,  Seattle. 

The  committeemen  will  organize 
their  territories  to  promote  local  dem- 
onstrations paying  tribute  to  Thomas 
A.  Edison,  George  Eastman  and  other 
founders  of  the  industry,  also  stressing 
the  importance  of  the  motion  picture 
theatres  to  the  communities  they  serve. 

U.A.Christmas  Bonus 
Finally  Approved 

The  War  Labor  Board  has  finally 
I  approved  United  Artists'  petition  per- 
mitting the  company  to  present  a  be- 
lated Christmas  bonus  of  one  week's 
salary  to  employes  who  were  with 
the  organization  six  months  or  more 
on  Dec.  23,  1943,  in  both  home  office 
and  exchanges,  excluding  officers  and 
directors. 

Consent  by  the  WLB  was  given  to 
UA  upon  the  filing  of  an  appeal,  which 
followed  the  rejection  by  that  agency 
to  the  company's  original  •  request. 
When  the  WLB  rejected,  it  permitted 
a  five-dollar  bonus,  causing  U.  A.  to 
appeal. 

A  schedule  by  classification,  the 
number  of  employes  affected  and  the 
total  group  payments  follows :  sales- 
men, 75,  $5,500;  accounting,  office, 
clerical  and  secretarial  at  exchanges, 
112,  $3,506;  poster  clerks,  shipping 
clerks,  and  inspectresses  at  exchanges, 
114,  $3,095;  office  managers,  secre- 
taries and  porters  at  exchanges,  72, 
$2,781 ;  accounting,  office,  clerical  and 
secreterial  workers  at  the  home  office, 
177,  $6,647. 

Century  Gets  Delay 
For  Filing  Briefs 

Century  Circuit,  Brooklyn,  yesterday 
obtained  a  week's  extension  to  file 
briefs  requested  by  Judge  William  R. 
Wilson  in  Kings  County  Supreme 
Court  at  the  close  of  the  trial  of  the 
injunction  action  brought  by  Century 
to  prevent  the  dissolution  of  the  Em- 
pire State  projectionists  union. 


{Continued  from  page»\) 

to  open  the  Kinetoscope  Parlor  to  the 
public  that  Saturday  night  to  take  in 
enough  money  to  pay  for  their  dinner. 
The  opening  had  been  scheduled  for 
Monday,  April  16,  but  the .  whim  of 
the  amateur  exhibitors  set  the  pictures 
in  motion  at  what  is  now  known  as  a 
"preview."  They  took  in  $120,  the 
crowds  coming  until  3  A.  M.  They 
got  no  dinner. 

The  millions  who  go  to  theatres  to- 
day will  see  in  the  newsreels  nostal- 
gic subjects  which  take  cognizance  of 
the  birth  of  the  industry.  The  era 
in  which  Americans  were  singing 
"There'll  Be  a  Hot  Time  in  the  Old 
Town  Tonight,"  and  worrying  about 
the  impending  Chinese-Japanese  War 
have  been  brought  back  to  the  screen 
in  clips  which  all  newsreels  have  in- 
cluded 

Bunny  and  Finch  Starred 

"The  Life  of  an  American  Fire- 
man" and  "The  Great  Train  Rob- 
bery," produced  by  Edwin  S.  Porter, 
had  made  Fred  Ott's  "Sneeze," 
which  was  a  sensation  of  early  "peep- 
hole" machines,  seem  trivial.  John 
Bunny  and  Flora  Finch  were  stellar 
performers  and  Maurice  Costello  had 
set  the  vogue  for  handsome  leading 
men.  Hale's  Tours  were  bumping 
people  along  in  their  seats  in  the 
Nickelodeons  that  had  sprung  .  up  all 
over  the  country.  John  Harris  with 
his  partner,  Harry  Davis,  set  the  style 
for  these  theatres  when  they  opened 
the  first  one  in  Pittsburgh  in  1905  to 
be  followed  in  the  same  year  by  the 
Brothers  Warner  with  their  theatre  in 
Castle,  Pa.  These  had  been  preceded 
three  years  before  by  Thomas  L.  Tal- 
ley  of  Los  Angeles,  who  inaugurated 
his  electric  theatre  devoted  exclusive- 
ly to  the  showing  of  motion  pictures. 

The  motion  picture  Patents  Com- 
pany with  its  members,  Edison,  Vita- 
graph,  Lubin,  Selig,  Essanay,  Pathe, 
Kalem  and  Melies,  flourished  in  com- 
bine until  dissolved  by  the  Supreme 
Court  in  1917.  In  the  meantime,  D. 
W.  Griffith  had  revolutionized  the  in- 
fant industry  with  his  production  of 
"The  Clansman"  ("The  Birth  of  a 
Nation"),  in  1915.  This  was  the  be- 
ginning of  films'  Jush  silent  era 
which  brought  in  such  leaders  as 
Adolph  Zukor,  Marcus  Loew,  Jesse 
Lasky,  the  Schencks,  Carl  Laemmle, 
Cecil  B.  DeMille  and  others. 

Huge  Studios  Appear 

Edison's  "Black  Maria,"  a  crude 
tar-papered  studio  which  revolved  on 
a  track  to  take  advantage  of  sunlight, 
had  been  supplanted  by  vast  studios 
covering  many  acres  in  the  then  boom- 
ing Hollywood.  The  procession  of 
producers  to  the  Coast  was  led  by 
Biograph  in  1906,  and  Selig  in  1907. 

The  industry  was  emerging  from 
its  infancy  with  such  super  produc- 
tions as  "Tillie's  Punctured  Ro- 
mance" ;  D.  W.  Griffith's  "Intoler- 
ance" ;  "The  Serpent,"  starring  Theda 
Bara  ;  "The  Miracle  Man"  ;  "Orphans 
of  the  Storm" ;  "The  Covered 
Wagon" ;  "Ben  Hur" ;  "Prisoner  of 
Zenda"  and  "The  Hunchback  of  Notre 
Dame.'' 

William  S.  Hart,  Mary  Pickford, 
Douglas  Fairbanks,  Wallace  Reid, 
Thomas  Meighan,  Charlie  Chaplin, 
Rudolph  Valentino,  Mae  Murray, 
Florence  Vidor,  Dorothy  and  Lillian 


Gish,  Lon  Chaney,  George  Arliss, 
Lionel  Barrymore  and  others  were 
getting  top  billing. 

Exhibitors  saw  the  necessity  for 
deluxe  theatres  in  which  to  display 
these  stars  and  pictures,  so  in  1914  the 
first  film  "palace,"  the  Strand  Thea- 
tre in  New  York,  opened  with  Mack 
Sennett's  first  full-length  comedy, 
"Tillie's  Punctured  Romance,"  with 
Chaplin  and  Marie  Dressier  featured. 

The  building  of  new  theatres  kept 
pace  with  the  progress  of  the  produc- 
ers until  today  thousands  of  deluxe 
houses  are  in  operation  throughout'  the 
nation,  led,  of  course,  by  the  Radio 
City  Music  Hall. 

In  1924,  the  first  Technicolor  pic- 
ture, "Toll  of  the  Sea,"  was  shown 
but  it  had  not  yet  found  voice.  Two 
years  later,  Warner  Brothers  and 
Western  Electric  had  developed  Vita- 
phone  talking  pictures  sufficiently  to 
present  "Don  Juan,"  using  sound  on 
discs,  at  the  Warner  Theatre  in  New 
York.  This  was  followed  by  the 
"Jazz  Singer"  in  1927  and  reached 
maturity.  Today  some  90,000,000  peo- 
ple attend  films  weekly. 


Preview  Held  for 
'Parade  of  Past' 

Representatives  of  the  press,  broad- 
casting and  television  companies  and 
distributors  witnessed  a  preview  yes- 
terday at  the  Preview  Theatre  here, 
of  the  first  of  a  series  of  shorts,  com- 
piled by  Fun  Film  Library,  from  films 
exhibited  since  the  earliest  days  of  the 
industry,  for  the  50th  anniversary  of 
commercialized  motion  pictures.  The 
series  will  be  released  under  the  title 
"Parade  of  the  Past." 

Yesterday's  subject,  which  ran  eight 
minutes,  covered  events  of  the  period 
starting  with  Edison's  Kinetoscope  and 
including  the  inauguration  of  Presi- 
dent William  McKinley  and  his  sub- 
sequent assassination,  followed  by 
Theodore  Roosevelt  in  the  White 
House.  Other  sequences  depicted  the 
character  of  the  "peep  show"  motion 
picture. 


Wide  Coverage  Accorded 
Anniversary  Today 

Richard  Condon,  Inc.,  agency  han- 
dling the  industry  50th  anniversary's 
promotion,  has  prepared  a  20-page 
pressbook  containing  feature  stories, 
art  layouts,  exploitation  and  advertis- 
ing ideas,  ad  sales  and  accessories  to 
be  distributed  through  National 
Screen. 

In  its  publicity  campaign,  coverage 
for  the  event  has  included  to  date 
over  20  national  magazines,  all  fan 
magazines,  wire  service  and  photo 
syndicates,  as  well  as  local  newspa- 
pers. The  five  newsreels  have  inserted 
special  footage. 


Columbia  Short  for 
50th  Anniversary 

Columbia's  Screen  Snapshots',  No. 
9,  commemorating  the  50th  anniver- 
sary of  the  industry,  will  open  at  first 
run  houses  starting  today; ' ' 

Directed  by  Ralph  Staub,  the  reel 
includes  footage  of  "The:  Kiss,"  early 
Kinetescope  subject,  newsreel  shots  of 
Teddy  Roosevelt  and  the  Rough  Rid- 
ers, the  1895  Easter  Parade,  and  first 
shots  of  Mary  Pickford,  Harry  Carey 
and  others, 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  13 

WILLIAM  JACOBS  will  produce 
"Fog  Over  London"  for  War- 
ners, with  Graham  Baker  scripting. 

Ned  Washington,  song  lyric  writer, 
has  filed  suit  in  Los  Angeles  Superior 
Court  against  Producers  Corp.  of 
America  for  $8,500  allegedly  due  him 
for  lyrics  for  "Knickerbocker  Holi- 
day." 

• 

Heather  Angel,  British  film  actress, 
and  Capt.  Robert  Sinclair  of  the  Army 
Air  Forces  have  announced  they  will 
be  married  Saturday  in  Beverly  Hills. 

Walter  Szurovy,  Hungarian  stage 
and  screen  player,  has  been  cast  in 
Warners'  "To  Have  and  Have  Not," 
starring  Humphrey  Bogart. 

• 

W.  P.  Burnett's  adaptation  of  his 
novel,  "Nobody  Lives  Forever,"  has 
been  announced  by  Warners.  Hum- 
phrey Bogart  will  star  in  the  film. 

Oppose  Building  of 
'White  Elephants' 

Los  Angeles,  April  13. — The  Inde- 
pendent Theatre  Owners  of  Southern 
California  and  Arizona  have  launched 
a  survey  of  war  industry  areas  where 
the  War  Production  Board  is  pre- 
pared to  grant  priorities  for  additional 
theatres.  The  WPB  has  been  advised 
by  ITO  and  the  Pacific  Coast  Confer- 
ence of  Independent  Theatre  Owners 
that  in  21  listed  areas  under  considera- 
tion patronage  of  existing  theatres 
does  not  constitute  more  than  40  per- 
cent capacity,  with  practically  all 
houses  running  no  matinees  except  on 
Saturdays  and  Sundays. 

The  WPB  has  also  been  advised, 
said  R.  H.  Poole,  PCCITO  execu- 
tive, that  independent  exhibitors  of 
Southern  California  feel  they  should 
have  first  right  to  provide  any  neces- 
sary new  seating  capacity  the  WPB 
may  decide  upon  and  that  ITO  does 
not  want  "white  elephant"  theatres  ex- 
isting after  the  war.  ITO  will  present 
the  results  of  the  survey  and  its  side 
of  the  case  to  the  WPB  in  Washington 
early  next  month. 


8  Speaking  Dates  Set 
For  Charles  F.  Coe 

Eight  dates  have  been  set  for  in- 
dustry-public addresses  by  Charles 
Francis  Coe  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  Amer- 
ica. Coe  will  return  tomorrow  from 
Florida  for  the  new  series  of  institu- 
tional good-will  talks. 

The  new  dates  are  as  follows :  April 

19,  Baltimore  Advertising  Club ;  April 

20,  National  Congress  of  the  Daugh- 
ters of  the  American  Revolution  ;  April 
25,  Minneapolis  Executive  Civic  and 
Commerce  Association ;  April  26, 
Kansas  -City  Chamber  of  Commerce  ; 
May  4,  Salesmen's  Club,  Dallas ;  May 
5,  Chamber  of  Commerce,  Oklahoma 
City ;  May  10,  Kiwanis  Club,  Denver, 
and  the  St.  Louis  Chamber  of  Com- 
merce, May  16, 


BUFFALO  BILL 


World  Premiere  in  140  theatres  this  week  has  started  it  off  with 
record  after  record!  Watch  that  Technicolorful  box-office  action! 


FOUR  JILLS  IN  A  JEEP 


Now  setting  Easter  Week  highs  as  this  year's  most  joyful  holiday 
hit  at  the  Roxy,  New  York-and  in  more  than  40  other  openings! 


THE  PURPLE  HEART 

The  timeliness  of  this  great  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  Production  has  put 
it  in  the  top-grosser  class  —  in  big  cities,  in  small  cities! 

THE  SONG  of  BERNADETTE 

Over  4,000,000  people  have  already  paid  advanced  admission  prices 
to  see  it  in  67  cities!  Engagements  extended  in  key  spots  everywhere! 


i 


THE  INDUSTRY'S  PROUDEST  OFFERING 
"THE  MEMPHIS  BELLE"  TECHNICOLOR  SAGA 
OF  OUR  AIR  HEROES.  BOOK  IT  NOWI 


FOUR 


mm 


FOREMOST 


from  the  company  that's 
running  4  to  1  ahead  of  its 
nearest  competitor  in  hits  — 


 in  the  fore  also  with 

"THE  SULLIVANS"— "JANE  EYRE" 
"LIFEBOAT"— "THE  LODGER' 


CENTURY-FOX 


SHAME  ON 
YOU,  LEO!" 


"  Sorry  folks, 
I  knew  it 
was  terrific, 
but  now  I  see 
that  it's 

COLOSSAL,  too!" 


"TWO  GIRLS  AND  A  SAILOR"  with  Van  Johnson,  June  Allyson,  Gloria  De.Haven,  Jose  lturbi,  Jimmy  Durante, 
Gracie  Allen,  Lena  Home,  Harry  James  and  His  Music  Makers  with  Helen  Forrest,  Xavier  Cugat  and  His  Orchestra 
with  Lina  Romay,  Tom  Drake,  Henry  Stephenson,  Henry  O'Neill,  Ben  Blue,  Carlos  Ramirez,  Frank  Sully,  Albert  Coates, 
Donald  Meek,  Amparo  Novarro,  Virginia  O'Brien,  Wilde  Twins  •  Original  Screen  Play  by  Richard  Connell  and  Gladys 
Lehman   .  A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture   •   Directed  by  RICHARD  THORPE   •   Produced  by  JOE  PASTERNAK 


"TWO  GIRLS  AND 

A  SAILOR" 

Last  week  we  advertised  it  for 
trade-show  screenings  in  Projection  Rooms 
in  all  Exchange  centers  on  April  24th. 

THEN  CAME  THE  PRINT  FROM  THE  COAST  J 

It's  the  Greatest  Musical  of  years! 

IT'S  TOO  BIG  FOR  A  PROJECTION  ROOM! 

(So  We've  Cancelled  the  Projection  Room  Screenings) 

IT  WILL  BE  TRADE-SHOWN  IN  THEATRES! 

SAME  DATE,  APRIL  24th,  BUT  AT  NIGHT! 

WATCH  FOR  FURTHER  DETAILS  IN  LETTER 

FROM  YOUR  M-G-M  EXCHANGE! 


Motion  Picture  Daili 


Friday,  April  14,  1944 


Nine  Pictures 
Finished;  43 
Are  on  Stages 


Hollywood,  April  13. — Nine  pic- 
tures were  finished  last  week  while 
only  eight  new  ones  started,  to  bring 
the  number  on  the  stages  down  to  43. 
The  previous  week  saw  nine  finished, 
five  started,  leaving  44  in  work.  The 
production  scene  follows : 

Columbia 

Started:  "U-Boat  Prisoner,"  with 
Bruce  Bennett,  Erik  Rolf,  Eric  Fel- 
dary,  George  Eldredge,  Fred  Gierman, 
Kenneth  MacDonald.  "Untitled  Kay 
Kyser,"  with  Kay  Kyser,  Ann  Miller, 
Victor  Moore,  Georgia  Carroll,  (Miss) 
Jeff  Donnell.  "Rough  Ridin'  Jus- 
tice," with  Charles  Starrett,  Jimmy 
Wakely,  B.  J.  Graham. 

Finished:  "America's  Children." 

Shooting :  "The  Impatient  Years," 
"Louisiana  Hayride." 

M-G-M 

Shooting :  "Lost  in  a  Harem," 
"Maisie  Goes  to  Reno,"  "Gold  Town," 
"M/s.  Parkington,"  "The  Picture  of 
Dorian  Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over 
Tokyo,"  "Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "Mar- 
riage Is  a  Private  Affair,"  "Meet  Me 
in  St.  Louis,"  "National  Velvet." 
Monogram 

Started:  "The  Girl  Next  Door," 
with  Edmund  Lowe,  Marjorie  Ram- 
beau,  Jean  Parker,  Alan  Dinehart. 

Shooting:  "Leave  It  to  the  Irish," 
"Call  of  the  Jungle." 

Fnished :  "Range  Law." 

Paramount 

Shooting :  "Practically  Yours." 

Finished:  "Bring  on  the  Girls." 
PRC 

Started:  "Riders  of  Mystery  Moun- 
tain," with  Dave  O'Brien,  James  New- 
ill,  Guy  Wilkerson,  Mady  Lawrence. 

Finished:  "Minstrel  Man." 
RKO-Radio 

Shooting  :  "That  Hunter  Girl,"  "The 
Falcon  in  Mexico,"  "Mademoiselle 
Fifi,"  "Cocktails  for  Two,"  "None  But 
the  Lonely  Heart,"  "Heavenly  Days," 
"Manhattan  Serenade,"  "Belle  of  the 
Yukon,"  (International)  ;  "Casanova 
Brown,"  ( International ) . 

Republic 

Started:  "Sing,  Neighbor,  Sing," 
with  Ruth  Terry,  Lulu  Belle  and 
"Scotty,"  Stanley  Brown,  "Pappy" 
Cheshire. 

Finished:  "Red  Gulch  Renegades," 
"Song  of  Nevada,"  "Secrets  of  Scot 
land  Yard,"  "The  Girl  Who  Dared." 
20th  Century-Fox 

Shooting :  "The  Big  Noise"  (for- 
merly "Good  Neighbors"),  "Take  It 
or  Leave  It,"  "Irish  Eyes  Are  Smil- 
ing," "Wing  and  a  Prayer,"  "The 
Keys  of  the  Kingdom." 

United  Artists 

Shooting:  "The  Story  of  G.  I.  Joe," 
(Lester  Cowan)  ;  "Abroad  With  Two 
Yanks,"  (Edward  Small). 

Universal 

Started:  "The  Singing  Sheriff,"  with 
Edward  Norris,  Fay  McKenzie,  Fuzzy 
Knight,  Samuel  S.  Hinds,  Bob  Crosby, 
Andrew  Tombes.  "The  Devil's  Brood," 
with  Lon  Chaney,  Boris  Karloff,  Anne 
Gwynne,  Peter  Coe,  George  Zucco. 

Finished:  "Twilight  on  the  Prairie." 
Warners 

Shooting :  "The  Very  Thought  of 
You,"  "The  Conspirators,"  "To  Have 
and  Have  Not,"  "The  Doughgirls." 


Wallis,  Hazen  May  Join  in 
Deal  with  Spitz,  Goetz 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
publisher,  and  the  sister  of  Walter 
Annenberg,  publisher  of  the  Philadel- 
phia Inquirer. 

Louis  B.  Mayer,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  production  at  Metro-Gold- 
wyn-Mayer,  also  might  figure  in  the 
picture,  possibly  as  guiding  or  finan- 
cial mentor  to  Goetz,  who  is  Mayer's 
son-in-law.  Mayer  is  now  in  New 
York.  So  is  Spitz.  Wallis  is  due 
here  this  morning.  Arriving  with 
Wallis  will  be  Loyd  Wright,  his  at- 
torney, who  will  also  sit  in  at  the  con- 
ferences. 

Selznick  Tie-up  Predicted 

Interests  close  to  the  picture  make 
the  long-range  prediction  of  an  even- 
tual joining  of  International  forces 
with  those  of  David  Selznick's  Van- 
guard Pictures,  either  with  Selznick 
in  United  Artists,  or,  if  this  cannot 
be  accomplished,  with  Selznick  in  a 
new  "major"  producing-distributing 
organization,  Selznick  having  had  am- 
bitions in  mind  for  his  own  company 
for  some  time.  Spitz-Goetz  are  pres- 
ently committed  to  deliver  four  pic- 
tures to  RKO.  "Casanova  Brown," 
with  Gary  Cooper,  the  first,  is  nearly 
complete.  The  second,  "Belle  of  the 
Yukon,"  with  Gypsy  Rose  Lee,  is  now 
in  production.  Sonja  Henie  will  star 
in  "It's  a  Pleasure,"  and  Edward  G. 
Robinson,  in  "Once  Off  Guard." 

Three  from  Warners 

The  association  of  Wallis  and 
Hazen  would  place  three  Warnerites 
fresh  in  top  spots  at  International,  A. 
W.  Schwalberg,  vice-president  of 
Warners'  Vitagraph  and  supervisor  of 
Vitagraph  exchanges,  having  recently 
resigned  to  become  Eastern  sales 
representative  of  International,  on 
May  1.  Hazen's  resignation  as  vice- 
president,  counsel  and  board  member 
of  Warners  becomes  effective  tomor- 
row. Wallis's  executive  producer 
contract  was  abrogated  by  Warners 


last  week  for  alleged  breach,  which 
Wallis  has  denied. 

Wallis  has  been  widely  reported  as 
joining  one  or  another  of  half-a-dozen 
companies,  with  M-G-M  and  Selz- 
nick's Vanguard  mentioned  the  most 
frequently. 

Those  close  to  the  picture  describe 
Hazen  as  having  determined  some 
time  ago  to  enter  business  for  him- 
self, adding  that  he  was  dissatisfied 
with  being  "just  on  the  payroll,"  al- 
beit in  the  high  brackets. 

Association  of  Hazen  with  Inter- 
national would  be,  of  course,  in  man- 
agement and  finance,  with  Spitz,  who 
is  presently  chairman  of  the  board 
and  the  business  half  of  the  partner- 
ship with  Goetz.  And,  similarly, 
Wallis  would  associate  with  Goetz  in 
production.  The  latter  is  president 
of  International. 

Motion  Picture  Daily  reported  on 
April  6  that  New  York  bankers  stand 
ready  to  finance  an  independent  com- 
pany headed  by  Wallis  up  to  $10,000,- 
000. 


Robinson,  Toumanova, 
And  Peck  Are  Signed 

Hollywood,  April  13. — International 
Pictures  has  signed  Casey  Robinson 
to  an  exclusive  producer-writer  con- 
tract, which  will  become  effective  on 
completion  of  his  present  commitment 
at  M-G-M.  He  will  take  with  him 
to  International  Gregory  Peck  and 
Toumanova,  both  under  long-term  con- 
tracts. 


Selznick  $250,000  Campaign 
For  "You  Went  Away" 

Hollywood,  April  13. — David  O. 
Selznick  will  launch  a  $250,000  ad- 
vertising campaign  for  "Since  You 
Went  Away,"  which  United  Artists 
will  release  in  late  May,  with  a  full 
page  in  the  May  1  issue  of  Life.  Foote, 
Cone  and  Belding  is  handling  the  ad- 
vertising. 


Local  306  Elects  12 
For  IATSE  Meet 

Twelve  delegates  were  elected  to 
represent  the  2,400  members  of  New 
York  IATSE  projectionists'  Local  306 
at  the  IATSE  convention  in  St.  Louis 
starting  May  29,  at  an  election  held  at 
Palm  Gardens  here  this  week. 

Herman  Gelber,  Local  306  president, 
was  first  among  the  47  candidates,  with 
764  votes.  Samuel  Kaplan  was  seventh 
with  515  votes.  Other  delegates  elect- 
ed include  Benjamin  Scher,  Morris 
Kravitz,  Harry  Stbrin,  Nathaniel 
Doragoff,  Charles  Beckman,  Herman 
Boritz,  Joseph  D.  Basson,  James  Arn- 
brosio,  Edward  Stewart  and  Frank 
Inciardi. 


'Main  Streef  in  Capital 

Washington,  April  13. — M-G-M's 
short  subject  "Main  Street"  opened 
here  at  Loew's  Palace  last  night. 
Among  those  who  attended  were :  Paul 
V.  McNutt,  WMC  director;  Robert 
P.  Patterson,  Under  Secretary  of 
War ;  James  V.  Forestal,  Under  Sec- 
retary of  the  Navy. 


20th-Family  Club  Dance 

The  20th-Fox  Family  Club  will 
hold  a  dinner  and  dance  April  28  at 
the  Hotel  Astor. 


Bill  Barring  Children 
From  Films  Vetoed 

Albany,  April  13. — Gov.  Dewey 
yesterday  vetoed  the  Ehrlich  bill  which 
would  have  barred  children  from  ap- 
pearing in  motion  pictures  or  theatrical 
and  radio  programs, in  this  state  unless 
they  had  the  prior  approval  of  local 
boards  of  education,  which  would  de- 
cide whether  such  employment  was 
harmful. 

The  Governor  observed:  "I  recom- 
mend the  reconsideration  of  the  entire 
problem  and  the  preparation  of  a  much 
more  modest  bill." 


NSS  Aids  WAC  Drive 

National  Screen  Service  has  placed 
its  facilities  at  the  disposal  of  the  film 
industry  for  the  theatres'  recruiting 
campaign  for  the  Women's  Army 
Corps.  Accessories,  trailers,  posters 
and  other  material  will  be  made  avail- 
able through  NSS  exchanges  for  the 
drive,  set  for  May  11  through  May  17. 


Lynn  Now  Staff  Officer 

Jeffrey  Lynn,  former  player,  is  now 
a  staff  officer  of  a  Mitchell  air  squad- 
ron based  in  Italy,  according  to  press 
dispatches  from  Naples.  He  is  listed 
by  the  Army  under  his  real  name,  2nd 
Lieut.  Ragner  Lind. 


Cincinnati  Is  Aided 
By  Holiday  Crowds 


Cincinnati,  April  13. — Turnstiles 
clicked  steadily  this  week,  with 
"Moonlight  in  Vermont"  plus  Cab 
Calloway  and  orchestra  pacing  the 
field  with  an  estimated  $32,000  at  the 
RKO  Albee. 

Estimated    receipts   for   the  week 
ending  April  15  :  | 
"Moonlight  in  Vermont"  (Univ.) 

RKO    ALBEE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-70c-85c- 
95c)  7  days.    Stage:  Cab  Calloway  and  or- 
chestra.    Gross:   $32,000.     (Average:   $22,-  ' 
000). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:   $11,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Two-Man  Submarine"  (Col.) 
"Arizona  Trail''  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY — (1,000)   (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,500.    (Average:  $1,600). 
"My  Best  Girl"  (Rep.) 
"Frontier  Outlaw"  (PRC) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $800.    (Average:  $800). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$10,500.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"Standing   Room  Only"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S  —  (1,500)      (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  3rd  week,  following  initial  week  at  the 
Palace  and  moveover  week  at  the  Shubert 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th.-Fox) 

RK©   LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$8,000.    (Average:  $5,500). 
"Song  of  Russia"  (M-G-M) 

RKO    FALACE-(2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  shdw. 
Gross:  $17,500.    (Average:  $15,000). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  SHUBERT  —  (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c- 
70c)  7  days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  the 
Palace.    Gross:  $6,500.    (Average:  $5,000). 


'Bernadette'  Is  Big 
$20,000  in  Providence 

Providence,  April  13.— Theatre 
business  was  -booming  in  Providence 
this  week,  with  all  houses  reporting 
relatively  high  grosses.  "Broadway 
Rhythm"  at  Loew's  State  and  "Song 
of  Bernadette,"  launching  Fay's  all- 
film  policy,  led  with  about  $20,000 
each. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  13  :■ 

"Snow    White    and    the    Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO) 

"Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE—  (2,239)  (35c-44c-55c-60c)  7 
days.  Gross :  $17,000.  (Average:  $12,800). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  I 

STRAND— (2,200)    (44c-55c)    7   days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $7,200.    (Average:  $10,500). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,232)  (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average:  $17,700). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (M-G-M) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $16,000.    (Average:  $12,100). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 
"Find  the  Blackmailer"  (WB) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)   7  days, 
2nd   week,   moveover   from   the  Majestic. 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average:  $4,000). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

FAY'S— (1,800)     (76c-80c-$U0)     7  days. 
Gross:   $20,000.     (Average:   under  30c-40c- 
50c  scale,  $6,500). 
"Dr.  Sym"  (Gaumont-British) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c) 

2  days.  On  stage:  Shep  Fields  Orchestra, 
Jerry   Wayne.     Gross:   $9,300.  (Average: 

3  days,  $7,900). 


Murphy  Rites  Tuesday 

Funeral  services  for  the  late  1st 
Lieut.  William  Murphy,  brother  of 
John  Murphy  of  Loew's,  who  was 
killed  when  his  fighter  plane  crashed 
at  Napa,  Cal.,  recently,  will  be  held 
Tuesday  morning  from  the  home  of 
his  mother,  Mrs.  Lillian  Murphy,  85- 
30  165th  St.,  Jamaica,  L.  I.  A  solemn 
requiem  mass  at  10  A.M.  in  the  R.  C. 
Church  of  the  Immaculate  Conception, 
Jamaica,  will  follow.  Interment  will 
be  in  St.  John's  Cemetery,  Queens. 


You  press  the  button .  .  .  it  does  the  rest 


Kodak's  K-24  Aircraft  Camera  is  completely 
automatic.  In  reconnaissance,  you  push  a  switch 
button  on  your  "stick"  and  the  camera,  in  the 
nose  or  tail,  clicks  away.  In  a  bomber,  it  is 
in  the  plane's  belly,  connected,  through  com- 
plex electrical  controls,  with  the  bombsight  it- 
self. Its  focal  plane  shutter,  power  operated,  has 
speeds  of  1/50,  1/450,  1/900,  and  "time."  It  is 


fitted,  as  are  most  other  aerial  cameras,  with 
Kodak  aerial  lenses,  including  Kodak  Aero 
Ektars  incorporating  elements  of  Kodak's  revo- 
lutionary new  optical  glass  .  .  .  interchangeable 
in  a  range  of  focal  lengths  and  speeds  for  dif- 
ferent missions.  Uses  Kodak  Aero  Films  in  pre- 
threaded  interchangeable  magazines  holding  56 
feet,  enough  for  125  pictures,  5  inches  square. 


K-24  Aircraft  Camera, 
kiiltbvCMla&, 


Bombardier,  at  left,  is  hunched  over  his  bombsight  which  is  electrically 
coupled  with  the  camera,  automatically  taking  pictures  every  time  bombs 
are  released.  At  right  is  a  gunner  covering  the  nose  with  his  "fifty." 


TANGLING  with  fighters  and 
flak  while  making  a  bombing 
run  ...  or  scurrying  over  enemy 
.country  at  low  altitude  on  a  re- 
connaissance job  . .  .  the  last  thing 
you  have  time  for  is  "keeping  a 
snapshot  record  of  vour  trip." 

Yet  in  reconnaissance,  that's 
really  what  you're  out  for — and  in 
bombing,  you  want  to  bring  back 
"picture  information"  on  the  rela- 
tion of  your  falling  bombs  to  the 
target .  .  .  for  the  camera  makes  a 
record  of  details  you  couldn't  pos- 
sibly see  and  remember. 


Pretty  hopeless,  without  a  cam- 
era that  "runs  its  own  show"  .  .  . 
Kodak's  K-24  does  just  that. 

On  a  reconnaissance  flight — 
with  no  bombs  to  "unload — vou 
press  a  button  for  each  picture, 
operating  the  fixed-position  cam- 
era by  remote  control.  Or,  if  you 
want  a  series,  simply  hold  the 
button  down,  and  the  camera 
takes  3  pictures  a  second. 

"Chalking  up  the  score"  in  the 
training  of  bombardier  and  pilot  is 
another  vital  phase  of  the  K-24's 
activity — to  know  how  good 


you're  getting  to  be,  you  consult 
the  photographic  evidence. 

The  K-24  is  no  hero — the  pilot 
and  crew  play  that  role.  But  it 
does  take  a  lot  off  a  hero's  mind. 

EASTMAN  KODAK  COMPANY 

ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 


REMEMBER  THE  PLOESTI  RAID?— how 
at  the  cost  of  more  than  500  trained  fliers,  our 
Liberators  fought  through  one  of  the  most 
heavily  fortified  areas  in  the  world,  to  drop  the 
bombs  that  knocked  out  one-third  of  Germany's 
oil  supply? — how  some  of  the  pilots  who 
missed  the  target  on  their  first  run  turned  back 
and  flew  through  solid  sheets  of  flame  to  try 
again?  A  stern  example  for  us  at  home. 

BUY  MORE  WAR  BONDS 


Serving  human  progress  through  photography 


10 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  April  14,  1944 


Korda  Stock  Bought 
By  U.A.  Over 
Chaplin's  Objection 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

Chaplin  and,  in  effect,  makes  each  a 
one-third  owner  despite  the  fact  that 
the  Korda  block  is  on  the  retirement 
list.  This  develops  through  the  fact 
that  the  remaining  three  partners 
jointly  own  United  Artists  Corp.,  the 
parent  company,  which,  in  turn,  is  100 
per  cent  owner  of  U.  A.  Prod.,  and 
despite  the  fact  that  Korda's  stock 
remains  undistributed  over  the  three. 

Confirmation  of  the  deal,  which 
awaits  the  signature  of  Korda,  now 
in  London,  is  expected  tomorrow  or 
shortly  thereafter. 

The  probability  is  that  U.  A.  Prod, 
will  name  a  director  to  U.  A.  Corp., 
although  this  evidently  remains  unde- 
termined. Through  what  processes 
such  new  director  would  be  designat- 
ed is  not  clear  currently,  although  it 
appears  logical  that  such  an  individu- 
al must  be  mutually  determined  by 
and  acceptable  to  the  remaining  three 
owner-members. 

Closed  Over  Chaplin's  Head 

The  Korda  deal,  in  and  out  for 
months,  was  closed  over  Chaplin's 
head.  His  position  was  that  the  par- 
ent company  was  not  justified  in  put- 
ting up  money  to  buy  its  own  shares 
and  that  money  thus  spent  would  be 
better  employed  in  further  building  up 
cash  reserves  and  assets. 

The  defiance  of  the  company's 
unanimous  rule  procedure,  which 
Miss  Pickford  has  been  trying  to 
break  through  a  friendly  suit  for 
which  George  Wharton  Pepper,  Phil- 
adelphia attorney,  has  been  engaged, 
is  seen  here  as  prefacing  further 
moves  and  possibly  internal  conflicts 
within  U.  A.  in  the  future. 

Selznick,  Pickford  Tie  Rumored 

An  unconfirmed  but  persistent  re- 
port is  that  Selznick  and  Miss  Pick- 
ford are  inclining  to  function  as  a  co- 
alition within  U.  A.  in  opposition,  not 
necessarily  too  open  at  this  time,  to 
Chaplin.  Korda's  withdrawal  now 
means  his  full  concentration  on 
M-G-M's  British  production  setup, 
under  which  he  has  a  participation 
interest  through  a  10-year  deal  re- 
cently consummated. 

The  stock  purchase  by  U.  A.  Prod, 
also  continues  the  ownership  of  U.  A. 
Corp.  by  the  current  stockholders  and 
emphasizes  the  well  known  antipathy 
toward  opening  the  door  to  new  in- 
terests which,  many  times,  have 
sought  to  gain  a  foothold.  At  various 
times,  these  reputedly  have  included 
J.  Arthur  Rank,  Leo  Spitz  and  Wil- 
liam Goetz. 


John  J.  Friedl 


K.  M.  Kennedy 


O  'Donnell  to  Head  Films 
Fifth  War  Loan  Drive 


Loeb  to  Filmakers 

Leon  Loeb,  former  publicist,  recent- 
ly honorably  discharged  from  the 
Army,  has  been  named  director  of 
sales  promotion  and  public  relations 
for  Associated  Filmakers,  Inc. 


WANTED 


Trustworthy  secretary  to  Publicity  Man- 
ager. Must  be  competent  in  telephone 
conversations;  capable  for  all-around 
secretarial  work.  Good  opportunity  for 
advancement — salary  $35.00.  In  reply- 
ing, please  state  present  position  and 
past  experience.  Box  228,  Motion 
Pictube  Daily. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

July  8,  will  be  John  J.  Freidl  and 
Richard  M.  Kennedy.  All  three  have 
served  as  WAC  chairman  in  their 
areas. 

Friedl,  president  and  general  man- 
ager of  the  Minnesota  Amusement 
Co.,  is  a  veteran  exhibitor  in  the 
Middle  West,  and  headed  the  recent 
Red  Cross  drive  for  the  industry  in 
Minneapolis. 

Kennedy  is  associated  with  R.  •  B. 
Wilby  of  the  Wilby-Kincey  circuit 
operating  theatres  in  Alabama  and 
Tennessee  and  with  interests  in  82 
theatres  in  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina. He,  too,  has  been  active  in 
various  industry  war  drives  and 
served  as  state  exhibitor  chairman  for 
Alabama  during  the  Fourth  War 
Loan. 

O'Donnell,  general  manager  of  the 
Interstate  Circuit  and  Texas  Consoli- 
date Theatres,  has  been  active  in  past 


War  Loan  drives  and  Red  Cross 
campaigns.  During  the  national  cop- 
per salvage  campaign  last  June  he 
toured  the  country  as  industry  chair- 
man for  the  WAC,  organizing  ex- 
hibitor drives  to  aid  the  War  Plan- 
ning Board. 

O'Donnell  arrived  in  New  York 
yesterday  from  Dallas  to  confer  with 
WAC  officials  Leonard  Goldenson, 
Francis  S.  Harmon,  Oscar  A.  Doob, 
and  John  Flinn,  WAC  Hollywood 
division  coordinator.  Within  the  next 
few  days  he  and  Friedl  and  Kennedy 
expect  to  meet  with  Theodore  H. 
Gamble,  head  of  the  War  Finance 
Committee  of  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment, in  a  series  of  conferences  to 
discuss  plans  for  the  forthcoming 
drive,  with  an  aim  to  equalling,  if  not 
bettering  past  performances. 

The  goal  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive  set  by  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr.,  is 
$16,000,000,000. 


Boston  Gives  High 
$33,000  to  'Higher' 


Boston,  April  13. — Business  up- 
surged in  all  downtown  theatres,  al- 
though not  quite  reaching  levels  of 
former  weeks.  "Higher  and  Higher" 
with  Blue  Barron's  orchestra,  set  the 
pace  with  $33,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  13 : 

"Higher  and  Higher"  (RKO) 

RKO  BOSTON— (3,200)  (50c-6Sc-8Sc-$1.10) 
7   days.    Stage    Show   with    Blue  Barron 
Orchestra.  Gross:  $33,000.  (Average:  $28,300). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Casanova  in  Burlesque"  (Rep.) 

FENWAY — (1,373)    (40c-55c-75c).  Gross: 
$6,000.     (Average:  $8,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Casanova  in  Burlesque"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (1,700)  (40c-55c-75c) 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average:  $14,300). 
"Cover  Girl"  (CoL) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,200)  (45c-55c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average: 
$15,000). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

LOEWS    ORPHEUM — (2,900)  (45c-55c- 
75c)    7   days,    2nd   week.     Gross:  $19,000. 
(Average:  $23,700). 
"Jane  Eyre"  (20th-Fox) 
"Hi  Good  Lcokin'  "  (Univ.) 

KEITH    MEMORIAL—  (2,900)  (40c-55c- 
65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $15,500. 
(Average:  $17,800). 
"Desert  Song"  (WB) 
"Rosie  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4.367)  (40c-55c-65c- 
85c)    7    days,    2nd    week.     Gross:  $22,000. 
(Average:  $23,800). 
"Nabonga"  (PRC) 
"Vcodoo  Man"  (Mono.) 

TRANSLUX— (987)  (40c-55c-75c).  Gross: 
$6,500.     (Average:  $7,200). 


Harry  Arthur  Unit 
Temporarily  Delayed 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

closed,  several  of  the  franchise  holders 
lined  up  by  EDP  do  not  have  first-run 
"showcases"  in  their  territories  and  it 
will  be  necessary  for  them  to  build 
these  houses.  This  will  be  done  as 
soon  as  restrictions  are  lifted  which 
might  be  during  the  war  or  might  have 
to  wait  until  the  post-war  period.  Ar- 
thur further  indicated  that  several  pro- 
ducers and  actors  who  have  been  ap- 
proached to  make  pictures  for  EDP 
distribution  have  prior  commitments, 
necessitating  a  delay  in  the  production 
end  as  well. 

Arthur  said  that  he  does  not  antici- 
pate any  difficulty  in  securing  the  nec- 
essary raw  film  stock  for  producers 
who  will  make  films  for  EDP.  Pic- 
tures will  be  made  at  existing  Holly- 
wood studios  with  the  company  paying 
a  flat  rental  for  use  of  the  studio 
space  as  do  other  independent  produc- 
ers. 

Arthur  will  be  here  for  a  week  and 
then  will  return  to  Los  Angeles. 


'Yellow  Canary*  Review 

Herbert  Wilcox's  production  "Yel- 
low Canary,"  starring  Anna  Neagle 
and  Richard  Greene,  which  is  being 
released  in  this  country  by  RKO  and 
which  opened  at  the  New  York  Pal- 
ace Theatre  yesterday,  was  reviewed 
in  Motion  Picture  Daily  last  Nov.  16 
by  Peter  Burnup  from  London. 


SPG,CompaniesWind 
Up  Arbitration 

Arbitration  hearings  in  the  wages 
and  job-classification  dispute  between 
the  Screen  Publicists  Guild  and  film 
companies  here  wound  up  at  the  offices 
of  the  American  Arbitration  Associa- 
tion late  Wednesday  night,  with  both 
sides  asked  to  submit  briefs. 

A  three-man  arbitration  panel,  con- 
sisting of  Pat  Scollard,  Paramount, 
representing  the  companies ;  Aaron 
Schneider,  representing  SPG  and 
Aaron  Horvitz,  selected  by  both  sides, 
will  consider  the  case  when  briefs  are 
available.  When  a  final  award  is 
agreed  upon  it  will  go  to  the  War 
Labor  Board  for  approval. 


Matinees  Boost  'Chip' 
To  High  $17,250 

Milwaukee,  April  13. — Because  of 
Spring  vacation  for  school  children 
this  week,  "Chip  Off  the  Old  Block" 
at  the  Riverside  got  $17,250.  "Ali 
Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves,"  with 
$13,000,  at  the  Alhambra,  is  also  pack- 
ing them  in  at  the  matinees. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  14 : 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 

WISCONSIN  —  (3,200)  (40c-50c-80c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average:  $14,500). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

PALACE—  (2,400)     (40c-60c-80c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days. 
2nd  week  downtown.  Gross:  $4,250.  (Av- 
erage: $4,500). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNER— (2,400)      (50c-72c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $15,500). 
"Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,900)  (50c-72c)  7  days. 
2nd  week  downtown.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Av- 
erage: $10,000). 

"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE  DR— (2.700)  (65c-85c)  7 
days.  On  stage:  Ray  Eberle.  Gross:  $17,- 
250.    (Average:  $15,500). 


FP-C  Operating  Profit 
$4,808,302  in  1943 

Toronto,  April  13. — The  1943  finan- 
cial statement  of  Famous  Players-Ca- 
nadian Corp.,  made  public  here  today, 
showed  a  record  high  operating  profit 
of  $4,808,302,  compared  with  $3,675,- 
488  in  1942. 

After  deduction  of  all  charges,  the 
net  profit  stood  at  $1,348,450,  of  $80,- 
000  more  than  in  1942,  or  $3.13  per 
share  of  common  stock.  Taxes  to- 
talled $2,434,124.  Net  working  cap- 
ital amounted  to  $2,276,021,  compared 
with  $2,105,179  at  the  end  of  the  pre- 
vious year..  Holdings  of  Canadian  war 
bonds  are  listed  at  $534,200  and  total 
assets  at  approximately  $17,000,000. 


'Cantinflas9  Rejects 
Offer  of  $100,000 

Mexico  City,  April  13. — "Cantin- 
flas," film  comedian,  has  reportedly 
refused  an  offer  of  $100,000  by  Para- 
mount to  play  in  "A  Medal  for  Ben- 
ny," opposite  Dorothy  Lamour,  in 
Hollywood.  This  is  said  to  be  the 
largest  ever  made  to  a  Mexican  play- 
er by  a  Hollywood  producer. 

In  private  life,  "Cantinflas"  is  Ma- 
rio Moreno,  vice-president  of  Posa 
Films. 


No  'Bernadette'  Change 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette,"  20th-Fox 
production,  will  not  be  shown  at  any 
theatre  at  less  than  present  advanced- 
admissions  before  Jan.  1,  1945,  Tom 
Connors,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
distribution,  announced  here  this  week. 


Friday,  April  14,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Pittsburgh  Theatres 
Experience  Boom 

Pittsburgh,  April  13. — The  Easter 
boom  here  exceeded  all  expectations, 
with  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  play- 
ing at  the  Harris  to  the  tune  of  $29,- 
000,  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  promising 
$26,000  at  the  Penn,  and  "The  Sulli- 
vans"  raising  the  Fulton's  gross  to 
$14,000,  all  far  above  house  averages, 
i  Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
'ending  April  14: 


"The  Sullivarts"  (20th-Fox) 

S  FULTON— (1,700)    (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $8,500). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (2»th-Fox) 

HARRIS—  (2,200)      (80c-$UO)      7  days. 
Gross:   $29,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

PENN— (3,400)      (35c-44c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $26,0CO.     (Average:  $21,700). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

RITZ— (1,100)    (35c-44c-6Sc)    7    days,  2nd 
week,  moveover  from  Stanley.    Gross:  $3,- 
800.    (Average:  $3,000). 
"Hey  Rookie"  (Col.) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

SENATOR— (1,750)    (35c-44c-65c)   7  days. 
Gross:    $3,600.     (Average:  $3,400). 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RICO) 

STANLEY— (3,800)  (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage:  6  days  of  vaudeville,  including  Lio- 
nel Hampton's  band.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Av- 
erage: $22,000). 

"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week,  moveover  from  Fenn.  Gross: 
$14,000.     (Average:  $9,350). 


Fields  with  'Minstrel' 

Hollywood,  April  13.  —  PRC's 
"Minstrel  Man,"  starring  Benny 
Fields,  will  be  booked  to  coincide 
with  personal  appearances  of  Fields. 
The  film  will  have  its  world  premiere 
in  Milwaukee,  Fields'  home  town,  in 
June. 


French  to  Hear  Story 
Of  Films  at  War 

The  story  of  the  American 
film  industry's  part  in  the  war 
effort  will  soon  he  broad- 
cast over  shortwave  to 
France  by  Harold  L.  Smith  of 
the  MPPDA'S  international 
department.  The  broadcast, 
sponsored  by  the  OWI,  on 
behalf  of  the  United  Nations, 
will  be  one  of  a  series  fea- 
turing American  Legionaires 
who  formerly  lived  in  France. 

In  the  French-language  re- 
cording Smith  has  made,  he 
greets  the  friends  he  knew 
while  Paris  representative  of 
the  U.  S.  film  industry.  He 
describes  the  functions  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee, 
the  overseas  tours  of  stars 
and  the  supplying  of  16mm 
films  for  the  armed  forces. 


MGM  Switches  Dates 
Of  2  Trade  Showings 

Trade  showings  of  M-G-M's  "Three 
Men  in  White,"  originally  scheduled  to 
be  held  at  exchanges  on  April  24,  have 
been  postponed  to  April  28,  in  the  same 
places.  Trade  showings  of  "Gaslight," 
originally  scheduled  for  April  28,  in 
exchanges,  are  now  set  for  May  5. 

"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor,"  which 
was  slated  for  trade  showings  in  ex- 
changes on  April  24,  instead  will  be 
previewed  in  theatres  the  same  night. 
Theatres  for  these  showings  are  now 
being  lined  up. 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


'Cilly  Goose" 


{Paramount) 

This  is  a  cartoon  with  a  moral.  It's 
about  a  goose  who  is  jealous  of  other 
barnyard  animals.  She  paints  an  egg 
gold  to  get  some  attention  and  the 
results  are  amusing  to  all.  Cilly  is 
exploited  as  the  "Goose  Who  Laid 
the  Golden  Egg"  and  mercenary 
"well-wishers"  make  her  life  miserable 
until  she  wakes  up  to  find  it's  all  a 
dream.  She  reforms,  determined  to 
be  content  with  her  lot.  This  will 
have  a  special  appeal  for  children. 
Music  score  is  good.  Running  time, 
8  mins. 


"Speaking  of  Animals 
In  the  Newsreels" 

(Paramount) 

Here  is  hilarious  entertainment 
with  animals  again  stealing  the  show. 
A  brilliant  take-off  on  Paramount's 
newsreels,  producers  Fairbanks  and 
Carlisle  have  burlesqued  political 
speeches,  society  events,  sweater  girls, 
and  beauty  contests.  Music  score  is 
excellent.    Running  time,  9J/2  mins. 


4  New  Salvage  Stations 

Four  more  New  York  theatres 
will  be  added  on  April  17  to  the  22 
houses  already  participating  '  in  the 
waste-paper  salvage  plan  organized  by 
the  American  Women's  Voluntary  Ser- 
vices, it  was  announced  yesterday. 


'BVay  Rhythm9  Gets 
Healthy  $20,000 


St.  Louis,  April  13. — Easter  and  a 
rainy  weekend  cut  the  take  at  St. 
Louis  first  runs  this  week.  "Broad- 
way Rhythm"  at  Loew's  State,  how- 
ever, looks  like  $20,000,  with  "Four 
Jills  in  a  Jeep"  at  the  Fox  expected 
to  gross  $16,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  12: 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Rosie  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)   (40c-50c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $9,900). 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)  (40c-50c-60c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $13,500.  (Average: 
$15,700). 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average: 
$18,900). 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th- Fox) 
"Escape  to  Dang*"  (RKO) 

FOX — (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$16,000.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM^(1.900)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,400.  (Average: 
$7,100). 

"Million  Dollar  Kid"  (Mono.) 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

SHUBERT — (1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Higher  and  Higher"  (RKO) 
"Where  Are  Your  Children"  (Mono.) 

ST.  LOUIS— (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $5,200). 


Actors'  Benefit  Today 

The  Episcopal  Actors'  Guild  will 
hold  its  fifth  annual  bridge  party  and 
entertainment  at  the  Hotel  Waldorf- 
Astoria  here  today.  Proceeds  will  go 
to  the  guild's  war  activities  fund. 


SURE,  WE  CAN  TAKE  IT ! 

Our  country  needs  our  help  — 

It  is  vital  to  the  war  effort 

America  must  recruit  immediately 

Hundreds  of  thousands  of  Wacs! 

Our  industry  with  its  vast  audience  contacts 

Is  called  upon  to  spear-head  the  drive. 

Invasion  is  in  the  air  — crucial  times  are  upon  us! 

The  call  is  urgent  — we  can,  we  will 

Help  our  country  in  its  critical  moment 

By  running  the  exciting  trailer  (a  TOP  Star  is  in  it!) 

By  using  the  posters  and  press  book 

By  cooperating  patriotically  with  the  Army  ! 

WAC  RECRUITING  WEEK 

IN  MOTION  PICTURE  THEATRES  — MAY  11th- 17th 

Sponsored  by  War  Activities  Committee  of  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  New  York  City 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


OL.  55.  NO.  75 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  APRIL  17,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Producers,  6IA' 
Reach  New 
Five-Year  Pact 


Five  Percent  Rise,  Paid 
Vacations  Are  Granted 


Final  agreement  was  reached  here 
Friday  between  film  company  heads 
and  their  studio  labor  representa- 
tives on  one  side,  and  11  IATSE 
studio  craft  locals  on  the  other,  pro- 
viding for  five-year  contracts  replac- 
ing the  agreements  which  expired  on 
Jan.  1. 

The  contracts  will  be  formal- 
ized today  when  they  are  signed 
at  the  office  of  Pat  Casey,  pro- 
ducers' labor  contact. 

The  new  agreement,  which  will  be 
subject  to  reopening  after  two  years 
for  wage  and  other  adjustments,  was 
concluded  after  seven  weeks  of  nego- 
tiations,  ft  provides  for  a  five  percent 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


'Greatest  Strides  in 
Next  Decade':  Hays 


With  motion  picture  audiences  after 
the  war  coming  "from  every  corner  of 
the  world  •  in  numbers  never  before 
dreamed  of,"  Will  H.  Hays,  president 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Producers  and 
Distributors  of  America,  envisions  an 
even  greater  advance  in  the  next 
decade  than  that  which  occurred  in 
the  period  between  "The  Great  Train 
Robbery"  and  "The  Birth  of  a  Na- 
tion." 

Reviewing  the  first  half-century  of 
commercial  pictures,  Hays  told  the 
MPPDA  board  of  directors  at  an  ad- 
journed session  of  their  annual  meet- 
ing here  at  the  weekend  that  story 

(.Continued  on  page  3) 


Chicago,  New  Haven 
'Locally  Needed9 

Two  more  applications  to  have  film 
distribution  in  Chicago  and  New 
Haven  designated  as  "locally  needed" 
have  been  filed  with  the  War  Man- 
power Commission,  Leon  Bamberger 
of  RKO,  who  has  been  handling  fil- 
ing for  Ned  E.  Depinet,  WAC  dis- 
tribution chairman,  said  at  the  week- 
end. Applications  for  filing  in  several 
more  cities  are  in  preparation,  Bam- 
berger added. 

Applications  were  filed  earlier  last 
week  in.  Los  Angeles  and  Washington. 
Designations  as  "locally  needed"  have 
already  been  secured  by  the  industry 
in  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburgh. 


Loew  Pension  Plan 
Awaits  Approval 

Loew's-M-G-M  will  adopt 
an  "all-embracing"  pension 
and  retirement  plan  for  all  of 
its  employes,  talent  and  pro- 
duction workers  included,  as 
soon  as  company  stockholders 
approve  the  plan,  Nicholas  M. 
Schenck,  Loew  president,  dis- 
closed at  closing  sessions  of 
the  contract  negotiations  here 
between  the  studios  and  the 
IATSE  at  the  weekend,  at  the 
office  of  Pat  Casey,  producers' 
labor  contact. 


Chaplin  Seen  Ready 
For  Court  Contest 
Over  Korda's  Stock 


Hollywood,  April  16. — Legal  action 
may  be  started  by  Charles  Chaplin  to 
have  set  aside  the  purchase  by  United 
Artists  Prod,  of  Sir  Alexander  Korda's 
one -fourth  stock  interest  for  $1,000,000, 
it  is  learned. 

Cabled  confirmation  having  reached 
here  from  London,  U.  A.  at  the  week- 
end officially  declared  that  the  deal  has 
been  consummated. 

Edward  C.  Raftery,  U.  A.  presi- 
dent, reiterated  that  U.  A.  is  not  for 
sale  and  an  official  company  statement 
emphasized  that  the  stock  change 
"will  have  no  bearing  on  a  change  in 
policy  or  management." 

Other  United  Artists'  owners,  Mary 
Pickford  and  David  Selznick,  and  com- 
pany officials  would  not  be  surprised 
should  a  legal  contest  be  initiated  by 

(.Continued  on  page  3) 


Industry  to 
Allies'  Meet 


Washington,  April  16.  —  The 
State  Department  this  week  is  ex- 
pected to  set  the  pattern  for  the  dis- 
cussions on  international  films  which 
will  take  place  this  Summer  with 
representatives  of  the  Allied  Nations. 

Tomorrow  or  Tuesday,  depending 
upon  when  the  British  delegation  gets 
here,  conversations  will  open  on 
world  petroleum  questions  betwreen  an 
inter-departmental  committee  and  a 
delegation  of  seven  English  officials. 

Of  particular  interest  to  the  film 
industry  is  the  department's  inclusion 
of  oil  industry  representatives  in  an 
advisory  and  consulting  capacity,  set- 
ting a  precedent  which  is  expected  to 
be  followed  in  the  arranging  of  the 
talks  which  the  Department  plans  on 
several  other  subjects. 

Members  of  the  film  industry  un- 
(Ccmtimted  on  page  8) 


Hal  Wallis  tp  Study 
'Several'  Plans 


Hal  Wrallis,  former  executive  pro- 
ducer for  Warners,  arrived  in  New 
York  from  the  Coast  on  Friday  and 
will  study  several  specific  proposals 
here  during  the  next  10  days  involv- 
ing his  future  activities,  he  said. 

Loyd  Wright,  attorney  for  Wallis, 
is  expected  here  from  the  Coast  toda\ 
and  will  participate  in  the  conferences. 
Wallis  declined,  to  discuss  the  pend- 
ing proposals  specifically.  Ques- 
tioned about  the  report  that  he  would 
be  aligned  with  Joseph  Hazen,  whose 
resignation  as  a  vice-president  and  di- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Chicago  Operators  Ask  Two  Vacations, 
New  Wage,  Hour  Scale,  Back  Pay 

Chicago,  April  16. — Managers  of  365  theatres  here  will  shortly 
receive  demands  from  the  reorganized  IATSE  projectionists'  Local 
110  for  a  two-week's  vacation  with  pay  each  Winter  and  another 
each  Summer,  full  back  wages  from  houses  that  have  been  paying 
below  scale,  a  new  graduating  scale  equitable  to  small  theatres 
with  low  admissions  and  big  theatres  with  top  prices,  relief  for 
operators  working  seven  days  a  week,  written  contracts  from  each 
theatre  and  two  operators  for  each  booth — plus  adequate  sanitary 
facilities. 

Gene  Atkinson,  new  business  manager  of  the  local,  describing  the 
demands  here  at  the  weekend,  declared  that  the  local  is  "an  au- 
tonomy for  the  first  time  in  its  history."  Atkinson  claimed  172  pro- 
jection booths  in  the  city  were  without  sanitary  facilities  and 
threatened  legal  action  on  that  score.  He  pointed  to  the  fact  that 
his  members  have  bought  $100,000  worth  of  war  bonds  and  donated 
$10,000  to  the  Red  Cross. 

The  IATSE  local  was  'purged'  of  its  old  officers  several  weeks 
ago  by  national  president  Richard  Walsh,  who  supervised  a  new 
election. 


5,452,575 
Pickwick  Suit 
Is  Dismissed 


Court  Orders  A  Directed 
Verdict  for  Defense 


New  Haven,  April  16. — In  a  di- 
rected verdict  in  favor  of  Loew's 
and  RKO  Theatres  and  all  distrib- 
utor defendants,  Judge  Carroll  C. 
Hincks   dismissed  the   Prefect  The- 
atres' anti-trust  suit  in  Federal  Court 
here  at  the  weekend.    The  court  held 
plaintiffs  failed  to  establish  a.  case. 
The  decision,  which  came  af- 
ter a  recess  of  an  hour  and  20 
minutes  of  deliberation,  follow- 
ed a  motion  for  dismissal  made 
by  Joseph  Berry,  chief  counsel 
for  the  defense. 

The  motion  was  made  when  the 
plaintiffs'  counsel,  Saul  Rogers,  rested 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Einfeld  Proposes 
Postwar  Planning 


An  industry-wide  conference  to 
make  plans  for  postwar  operations 
was  suggested  by  Charles  Einfeld, 
Warner  Bros,  advertising  and  public- 
ity director,  on 
his  ar  r  i  v  a  1 
from  the  Coast 
Friday.  He 
cited  the  fact 
that  most  other 
industries  are 
already  laying 
plans  for  post- 
war operations 
and  that  it  is 
vital  that  the 
motion  picture 
industry 
do  likewise. 

"T  h  e  pro- 
ducers," E  i  n- 
feld  suggested, 


Charles  Einfeld 


"should  take  the  initiative  in  institut 
(Continued  on  page  3) 


KAO  Preferred  Stock 
Called  at  $111. 46 

The  board  of  directors  of  Keith-  Al- 
bee-Orpheum  has  authorized  redemp- 
tion of  the  13,600  outstanding  shares 
of  KAO  seven  percent  cumulative  con- 
vertible preferred  stock  on  June  15, 
1944  at  the  redemption  price  of  $110 
per  share  plus  accrued  dividends  to 
the  date  of  redemption,  making  a  total 
payment  of  $1,515,856  at  $111.46  per 
share. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday.  April  17.  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


ROBERT  S.  WOLFF  left  for 
London  late  last  week  to  take 
over  his  new  post  as  RKO  managing 
director  in  Great  Britain. 


Charles  Davidson,  Balaban  & 
Katz  short  subject  booking  head,  will 
be  married  to  Joanne  Abrahms,  sec- 
retary to  Jack  Abrahms,  manager  of 
the  Balaban  and  Katz  maintenance 
department,  May  2. 

• 

Homer  Snook,  RCA  Theatre 
Equipment  Section  sales  manager;  H. 
J.  Benham,  commercial  engineer,  and 
R.  H.  Holley  of  the  styling  depart- 
ment, have  returned  to  Camden,  N.  J., 
after  a  mid-west  trip. 

• 

Norman  H.  Moray,  Warner  short 
subject  sales  manager,  has  returned 
to  New  York  from  a  month's  tour  of 
Western  and  Southern  exchanges. 
• 

W.  C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox 
Western  sales  manager,  and  M.  A. 
Levy,   Minneapolis  district  manager, 
visited  Des  Moines  last  week. 
• 

M.  E.  Morey,  Monogram  home  of- 
fice executive,  has  returned  from 
Philadelphia  and  will  leave  for  Bos- 
ton today. 

• 

Maurice  Grad,  Columbia  sales  pro- 
motion director,  will  leave  today  for 
a  tour  of  the  West  coast  exchanges. 
• 

John  Balaban,  Balaban  and  Katz 
secretary-treasurer,  is  due  in  Chicago 
today  from  the  Coast. 

• 

Harry  Thomas,  Monogram  East- 
ern division  sales  manager,  has  ar- 
rived in  Chicago  from  Cleveland. 
• 

A.  A.  W  ard,  Altec  Lansing  Cor- 
poration  vice-president   and  general 
manager,  has  arrived  in  New  York. 
• 

Leo  Spitz  left  for  the  Coast  on  Fri- 
day. 


Rev.  Larnen  Named 
To  Decency  Legion 

Rev.  Brendan  Larnen,  O.  P.,  has 
been  appointed  assistant  executive  sec- 
retary to  Rev.  John  J.  McClafferty  of 
the  National  Legion  of  Decency,  re- 
placing Rev.  Patrick  J.  Masterson,  on 
leave  of  absence  for  the  duration  as 
a  Navy  chaplain. 

The  appointment  was  made  by  Bish- 
op Keough,  chairman  of  the  Episcopal 
Committee  on  Motion  Pictures,  and 
was  announced  at  the  weekend  by  the 
Legion  here.  Rev.  Masterson  will  re- 
sume his  post  upon  his  return  from 
the  Navy. 


Cantor  to  Launch  Drive 

Eddie  Cantor  will  launch  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  in  the  middle  of 
June  with  a  24-hour  broadcast  from 
here,  where  he  will  be  attending  the 
world  premiere  of  "Show  Business." 
In  a  similar  program  he  sold  $40,- 
000,000  in  bonds  for  the  Fourth  loan  ; 
his  goal  this  time  will  be  $200,000,000 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


"TTHE  industry  is  approach- 
*•  ing  the  end  of  an  era  and, 
within  a  matter  of  months,  and 
surely  no  later  than  the  war's 
end,  it  will  be  ready  to  embark 
upon  its  greatest  period  of 
change  and  progress." 

It  was  one  of  the  industry's 
seasoned  veterans  speaking,  a 
name  you  all  know  and  respect, 
a  name  that  cannot  be  used  here 
because  he  was  chatting  inform- 
ally with  the  understanding  that 
he  was  hot  being  interviewed. 

"Many  things  will  contribute 
to  the  changes  that  are  to  come, 
that  are  in  work  even  now," 
said  our  oracle.  "Important 
among  those  things  is  the 
changing  economic  structure 
within  the  nation,  and  the  rela- 
tion to  it  of  tax  policy.  Observe 
the  new  companies  that  are  be- 
ing talked  of  and  planned — the 
young  men,  the  new  blood,  the 
new  financing  behind  them  and 
that  will  be  attracted  to  them. 

"Consider  the  ambitions  or  the 
plans  of  men  like  David  Selz- 
nick,  Hal  Wallis,  William 
Goetz,  Arthur  Rank,  Joe  Hazen, 
Harry  Arthur.  And  never  count 
out  men  like  William  Fox.  They 
and  others  like  them  have  the 
fullest  chance  to  realize  their 
fondest  hopes  in  the  not  too  dis- 
tant future.  It  is  not  only  that 
the  established  companies  no 
longer  offer  opportunities  to 
such  men  for  development  and 
individual  expression  beyond  a 
certain  point,  but  it  is  as  well 
that  the  limitations  of  the  or- 
ganized industry  today  tend 
toward  a  bottling  up  of  even 
exceptional  creative  and  execu- 
tive talent.  The  exceptional 
men  reach  the  peaks  of  advance- 
ment that  are  possible  in  the  in- 
dustry as  it  is  constituted  today 
long  before  they  have  realized 
anywhere  near  their  full  poten- 
tialities." 


"What  I  mean,"  the  speaker 
explained,  "is  that  today  there 
are  only  so  many  companies 
with  so  many  opportunities 
wtihin  them,  and  the  sum  total 
of  those  is  the  number  of  op- 
portunities within  the  industry 
as  it  is  now  constituted.  That 
setup  denies  the  fullest  develop- 
ment to  many  promising  minds 
and  talents.  When  the  cup  is 
full  nothing  can  be  added  with- 
out an  overflow  resulting.  That 
is  what  is  happening  in  the  in- 
dustry today.  There  will  be 
more  of  it  from  month  to 
month." 

"This  process,"  he  continued, 


"will  be  speeded  by  the  Victory, 
which  will  release  men  of  great 
value  to  the  industry;  and  by 
the  new  economic  forces,  and 
by  the  natural  workings  of 
growth  and  evolution.  With 
the  war's  end,  both  established 
and  potential  talent  wall  be  on 
the  open  market  as  free  agents. 
As  a  result  of  the  Warner- 
de  Havilland  contract  decision, 
probably  every  actor,  director, 
producer,  executive  now  in 
service  will,  on  his  return,  dis- 
cover that  his  contract  has  ex- 
pired. Many  of  them  will  throw 
in  their  lot  with  the  adventur- 
some,  but  highly  capable,  men 
who  are  organizing  or  will  or- 
ganize the  new  companies. 
There  will  be  a  need  for  new 
talent,  too,  and  much  of  it  that 
is  good  will  find  its  way  to  the 
new  organizations." 

"Hastening  the  flow  in  that 
direction,"  he  continued,  "will 
be  the  opportunities  which  the 
newer  companies  will  afford  for 
development,  independence  and 
earnings  for  many  types  of  in- 
dividual ability.  I  believe  that 
from  it  will  come  great  ad- 
vances in  production,  and  from 
that  will  come  new  exhibition 
and  distribution  refinements.  I 
am  not  predicting  the  eclipse 
nor  the  decline  of  any  of  the 
present  companies.  Each  and 
every  one  of  them  has  the  brains 
and  the  foresight  to  adapt  itself 
and  to  keep  abreast  of  the  times. 
They,  in  fact,  have  the  advant- 
age in  organization,  resources 
and  stability.  What  I  am  pre- 
dicting is  a  bigger,  a  newer  and 
a  better  industrv." 


Well-founded  reports  are 
about  that  Paramount,  too,  is 
discussing  an  arrangement  with 
J.  Arthur  Rank  for  production 
in  Britain,  seemingly  along  the 
lines  of  the  agreement  which  has 
been  reached  for  Spyros  Skou- 
ras  for  20th  Century-Fox  with 
Rank  on  joint  production  opera- 
tions there.  The  plan  seems  to 
be  a  50-50  contribution  of  pro- 
duction essentials — talent,  direc- 
tors, story  properties,  techni- 
cians, finances,  stages,  equip- 
ment. What  one  is  unable  to 
supply,  the  other  will.  Distribu- 
tion would  be  worldwide,  pre- 
sumably by  20th-Fox,  and,  also 
presumably,  by  Paramount, 
should  it  conclude  its  deal  with 
Rank.  Distribution  receipts, 
after  distribution  charges,  would 
be  apportioned  on  a  basis  equiva- 
lent to  contributions  to  pro- 
duction. 


32  Will  Aid  Wacs' 
Recruiting  Drive 


An  industry  advisory  council  has 
been  created  by  chairman  Edward  L. 
Alperson  for  the  industry's  Women's 
Army  Corps  recruiting  week,  May  11- 
17,  with  the  following  invited  to  serve: 

Joseph  Bernhard,  Barney  Balaban. 
Nate  Blumberg,  Jack  Cohn,  Tom  Con- 
nors, Oscar  Doob,  Gus  Eyssell,  Si  Fy  I 
bian,  Leonard  Goldenson,  Ben  Kali 
menson,  Harry  Kalmine,  Carl  Leser- 
man,  Abe  Montague,  Rodney  Pantages.. 
N.  Peter  Rathvon,  Charles  Reagan. 
William  Rodgers,  Eddie  Rubin,  George 
Schaefer,  Joseph  Schenck,  Nicholas 
Schenck,  Edward  Schreiber,  William 
Scully,  Si  Seadler,  Gradwell  Sears. 
Spyros  Skouras,  Edwin  Silverman. 
Kenneth  Thomson,  Joseph  Vogel. 
Harry  Warner,  Richard  Walsh  and 
Pete  Wood. 


Connors  Meets  With 
Detroit  Showmen 

Detroit,  April  16. — Tom  Connors, 
20th  Century  vice-president  in  charge 
of  sales,  here  at  the  weekend  continued 
his  series  of  exhibitor  conferences  for 
the  purpose  of  describing  ■  policy  on 
possible  adjustments  on  percentage 
pictures.  He  was  accompanied  by  L. 
J.  Schlaifer,  Central  sales  manager. 

Connors  will  remain  here  through 
tomorrow  when  he  is  scheduled  to 
leave  for  Chicago  where  he  plans  to 
confer  with  exhibitors  there  on  Tues- 
day and  Wednesday.  On  Thursday  he 
and  Schlaifer  will  be  in  Milwaukee. 


Goldsmith  Presides 
At  SMPE  Today 

The  55th  semi-annual  conference  of 
the  Society  of  Motion  Picture  Engi- 
neers will  feature  a  television  sym- 
posium at  its  opening  session  at  the 
Hotel  Pennsylvania  here  today. 
Thomas  T.  Goldsmith,  Jr.,  director  of 
research  of  Allen  B.  DuMont  Labora- 
tories, will  discuss  "Recent  Technical 
Advances  in  Television"  and  Sherman 
Price  of  Filmedia  Corp.,  will  talk  on 
"The  Scientific  Approach  to  Television 
Program  Production."  Dr.  Alfred  N. 
Goldsmith  will  preside. 


New  Applications 
For  Pay  Raises 

Washington,  April  16. — The  U.  S. 
Internal  Revenue  Bureau  is  about  to 
issue  new  forms  of  application  for 
approval  of  wage  and  salary  increases 
by  employers  in  the  motion  picture  and 
other  industries. 

While  the  new  forms  will  be  long- 
er and  more  detailed  than  those  now 
in  use,  it  was  said,  they  will  make 
the  handling  of  applications  easier. 


MP  A  Meet  on  Banquet 

Motion  Picture  Associates'  board  of 
directors  held  a  special  meeting  at  the 
Hotel  Dixie  Friday  to  discuss  plans 
for  an  annual  dinner-dance  to  be  held 
May  19  at  the  Hotel  Astor.  Further 
exploration  of  an  insurance  plan  was 
tabled  for  the  next  meeting  to  be  held 
in  two  weeks. 


R.  Weaver,  Editor;  Cn^Z^  GoHeT^"^  Bureau,  Postal  .Union  Life  Bldg,,  WilHan, 


944 
ass 
0c 


'vlonday,  April  17,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Einfeld  Proposes 
Postwar  Planning 
For  the  Industry 


[i 
J 


$5,452,57$  Pickwick  Suit 
Is  Won  by  Distributors 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

ng  postwar  planning.  They  are  gen- 
erally making  an  entirely  different 
ype  of  product  than  they  did  before 
he  war  and  the  industry  has  gained 
w  legions  of  patrons. 
Einfeld  feels  that  all  branches  of  the 
ndustry  should  be  represented  and 
should  participate  in  the  postwar 
banning  conference  he  suggests,  in- 
cluding production,  distribution,  ex- 
libition,  the  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee, MPPDA  and  public  information 
Dranches  of  the  industry.  "The  bick- 
ering and  inter-industry  squabbles 
that  have  been  going  on  for  almost 
20  years  should  come  to  an  end,"  he 
said. 

'Industry  Must  Decide  Now' 

"The  industry  must  decide  now 
whether  it  intends  to  continue  the  pub- 
lic service  work  of  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  in  the  postwar,"  Ein- 
feld said.  "A  postwar  conference 
now  will  give  the  entire  industry  an 
opportunity  to  sit  down  and  look 
ahead.  Although  theatre  attendance 
has  reached  one  of  the  highest  points 
in  the  history  of  the  industry,  there 
still  remains  a  potential  audience  of 
almost  10,000,000  more  customers,  he 
explained. 

Einfeld  pointed  to  the  failure  of  the 
industry  to  lay  plans  for  future  opera- 
tions after  the  last  war  and  stressed 
the  slump  that  ensued.  Stressing  the 
current  type  of  product  being  made 
by  Warner  Bros,  and  the  other  com- 
panies, he  predicted  that  the  day  of 
the  "B"  picture  is  gone. 

Einfeld  will  be  here  for  several 
weeks  to  set  advertising  and  publicity 
campaigns  on  forthcoming  Warner 
releases,  among  them  being  "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain"  and  "Sara- 
toga Trunk."  He  will  participate  in 
the  company's  sales  meeting  of  dis- 
trict managers  here  starting  Thursday. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
his  case  after  20  days  of  testimony 
and  depositions  from  a  large  number 
of  industry  witnesses.  William  Cutler, 
assistant  to  E.  J.  Peskay,  operator  of 
the  Pickwick  Theatre,  Greenwich,  was 
the  last  to  take  the  stand. 

The  suit,  filed  on  April  9,  1941,  by 
Prefect,  Fairfield  Holding  Corp.  and 
Greenfield,  Inc.,  charged  Loew's,  20th- 
Fox,  RKO,  Paramount,  Universal, 
United  Artists  and  others  with  con- 
spiracy to  keep  product  from  the  Pick- 
wick and  claimed  triple  damages  of 
$5,452,575.  The  trial  began  on  March  7. 

Peskay,  the  first  witness,  contended 
that  the  seven-day  clearance  of  Port- 
chester,  N.  Y.,  over  Greenwich,  Conn., 
and  the  14-day  clearance  of  Stamford 
had  resulted  in  box  office  losses  be- 
tween 1938  and  1941.  He  told  of  un- 
successful efforts  to  buy  films  for 
quicker  showing  and  also  indicated  that 
a  proposed  deal  whereby  Loew's  would 
take  over  the  Pickwick  was  blocked. 
Later,  especially  in  the  testimony  of 
Cutler,  an  effort  was  made  to  show 
that  RKO  had  made  a  substantial 
profit  running  the  house  in  1931-32. 


The  defense,  in  its  cross-examination 
of  Cutler,  attacked  has  figures  as  tell- 
ing only  part  of  the  story  and  alleged 
that  bonuses  paid  to  Peskay  and  others 
did  not  appear  in  the  Prefect  financial 
statements.  John  J.  O'Connor,  Uni- 
versal vice-president,  said  in  a  deposi- 
tion that  the  runs  in  the  Greater  New 
York  area  had  not  been  changed  since 
the  1920's.  And  Fred  WheTan,  who 
as  a  former  assistant  U.  S.  Attorney 
General,  had  handled  complaints  made 
by  Peskay,  testified  that  Loew  coun 
sel  J.  Robert  Rubin  had  advised 
against  Loew's  taking  over  the  Pick 
wick  when  the  Department  of  Justice 
held  that  approval  or  disapproval  of 
the  deal  did  not  come  under  its  juris- 
dition  according  to  the  terms  of  the 
consent  decree. 

Defense  attorneys  assisting  Berry- 
were  C.  Stanley  Thompson,  John  Cas- 
key,  Harry  Pimstein  and  Robert  Nick- 
erson.  Willard  McKay  was  associated 
with  Rogers  for  the  plaintiffs.  The 
hearing  was  interrupted  by  a  week's 
recess  when  several  of  the  jurors  were 
taken  ill. 


Chaplin  Seen  Ready 
For  Court  Contest 
Over  Korda' s  Stock 


Kalmenson  Reports 
Five  Appointments 

Ben  Kalmenson,  general  sales  man- 
ager for  Warner  Bros.,  announces  five 
new  appointments  in  the  sales  depart- 
ment. 

Ray  Smith,  former  salesman,  has 
been  promoted  to  branch  manager  in 
Albany,  succeeding  Paul  S.  Krumen- 
acker,  who  becomes  city  sales  manager 
in  Pittsburgh  under  B.  F.  (Dinty) 
Moore ;  Jerry  Wechsler,  who  has  been 
city  sales  manager  in  Pittsburgh,  goes 
to  Boston  in  the  same  capacity  under 
Bill  Horan ;  in  the  home  office,  I.  F. 
(Mike)  Dolid  has  been  promoted  to 
succeed  A.  W.  Schwalberg  as  super- 
visor of  exchanges,  (as  previously  re- 
ported by  Motion  Picture  Daily) 
and  Ralph  Clark  takes  over  the  spe- 
cial sales  and  contract  duties  formerly 
handled  by  Dolid.  Bernard  Goodman, 
formerly  advertising  accessories  sales 
manager,  has  been  appointed  assistant 
supervisor  of  exchanges. 


'Greatest  Strides  in 
Next  Decade9:  Hays 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
material  world-wide  in  appeal  is  al- 
ready being  explored  to  meet  the  de- 
mands of  the  wider  audience  antici- 
pated. "Studios  are  developing  new 
story-telling  methods  which  will  be  as 
revolutionary  as  the  'flash-back'  and 
the  'lap-dissolve'  of  the  early  days," 
he  added. 

Hays  noted  that  significant  technical 
advances  in  photography  and  the  use 
of  color  and  sound  have  been  made 
during  the  war  and  will  be  reflected 
in  postwar  pictures. 

Hays  paid  tribute  to  the  achieve- 
ments of  Thomas  A.  Edison  and 
George  Eastman  on  the  occasion  of  the 
industry's  50th  anniversary. 

The  entire  MPPDA  meeting  was 
devoted  to  the  50th  anniversary,  and 
it  was  announced  afterwards  that  a 
second  adjourned  session  would  be 
held  on  a  date  not  set.  The  holdover 
agenda  includes  a  discussion  of 
MPPDA's  interest  in  "a  free  and  un- 
hampered exchange  of  film  products 
between  the  nations  of  the  world." 


Edington,  Lyons  Part 

Hollywood,  April  16.  —  Arthur 
Lyons,  president  of  A.  &  S.  Lyons, 
and  Harry  Edington  have  mutualL 
agreed  to  cancellation  of  the  latter's 
contract  with  the  agency,  it  was  an- 
nounced here  at  the  weekend.  Eding- 
ton will  announce  a  new  connection 
in  two  weeks. 


Flynn  Trip  to  Stress 
U.  S  Cooperation 

Chicago,  April  16.  —  Cooperation 
with  the  U.  S.  Government  in  war 
and  servicemen  films  will  be  stressed 
by  John  E.  Flynn,  M-G-M  Western 
division  general  sales  manager,  on  a 
tour  of  all  branch  offices  in  the  West 
this  week. 

Flynn  left  here  today  accompanied 
by  W.  G.  Bishop,  Western  publicity 
supervisor,  and  they  will  be  joined  at 
Portland  on  Tuesday  by  George  A. 
Hickey,  Los  Angeles  district  manager. 


UA  Signs  to  Release 
Crosby's  'John  V 

Hollywood,  April  16. — Bing  Crosby 
Productions  has  divulged  the  signing 
of  a  one-picture  deal  with  United 
Artists  for  release  of  "The  Great  John 
L.,"  life  story  of  John  L.  Sullivan. 
Crosby,  as  president  of  the  producing 
unit,  will  supervise  the  production  in 
association  with  Frank  Mastroly  and 
James  Edward  Grant.  Frank  Tuttle 
will  direct. 

The  picture  will  start  June  1  at 
General  Service  Studios,  it  was  stated, 
confirming  long  persistent  reports 
that  Crosby  intended  branching  out  as 
a  producer  in  addition  to  continuing 
his  appearance  in  Paramount  films. 
He  will  not  appear  in  "The  Great 
John  L." 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Chaplin  with  the  Korda  stock  pur- 
chase at  issue,  it  was  said. 

Legal  quarters  lean  to  the  view  that 
the  most  likely  action  by  Chaplin,  who 
opposed  the  stock  purchase,  would  be 
to  attempt  to  obtain  declaratory 
judgment  to  the  effect  that  the  pur- 
chase was  invalid  because  it  was  un- 
dertaken over  his  dissent  and  counter 
to  the  United  Artists'  by-laws  which 
require  the  unanimous  consent  of  own- 
ers on  actions  of  the  kind. 

Would  Involve  By-Law  Test 

The  latter  procedure  would  open  up 
interesting  possibilities  in  that  it  would 
most  certainly,  in  the  opinion  of  legal 
quarters,  involve  a  court  test  of  the 
validity  of  the  company's  unanimous 
consent  by-law.  This  is  exactly  what 
was  attempted  recently  by  Miss  Pick- 
ford,  who  retained  George  Wharton 
Pepper,  Philadelphia  attorney,  to  ap- 
praise the  validity  of  the  by-law.  Her 
action  was  undertaken,  it  is  reported, 
partially  because  of  earlier  opposition 
within  the  United  Artists  ownership 
which  blocked  the  purchase  of  the 
Korda  stock  holdings  several  months 
back. 

In  this  connection,  it  is  suggested  in 
some  legal  circles,  that  Miss  Pickford 
may  have  obtained  adequate  legal  opin- 
ion that  the  unanimous  consent  by-law 
could  not  be  made  to  hold  water  in  a 
court  contest. 

The  Chaplin  action  would  put  its 
author  in  the  position  of  seeking  the 
same  answer  sought  by  Miss  Pickford 
with  respect  to  the  by-law  and  pre- 
sumably would  put  the  unanimous  con- 
sent rule  to  the  ultimate  test. 


'Ether'  on  Air  Tuesday 

Chicago,  April  16. — Televising  of 
M-G-M's  short  subject,  "Patroling  the 
Ether,"  from  Station  W9XZV,  is  set 
for  Tuesday,  at  eight  p.m. 


Goldman  Appeals 
Suit  Dismissal 

Philadelphia,  April  16. — William 
Goldman,  head  of  William  Goldman 
Theatres,  independent  circuit  here  and 
in  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  filed  an  ap- 
peal Friday  from  the  decision  of  the 
U.  S.  District  Court  dismissing  his 
anti-trust  suit  of  $1,350,000,  against 
Warner  Theatres  and  eight  distribu- 
tors. The  appeal  was  filed  by  his 
attorney,  William  A.  Gray,  with  the 
Federal  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals  here. 
Briefs  will  be  filed  at  a  later  date  and 
arguments  will  not  be  heard  until 
probabl}'  late  in  the  year. 

The  suit  originally  filed  Dec.  8, 
charged  that  the  distributors  refused 
to  sell  him  first  run  product  for  his 
Erlanger  here  in  competition  with  first 
run  Warner  houses.  Judge  William 
H.  Kirkpatrick  in  dismissing  the  ac- 
tion held  that  Goldman  failed  to  show 
any  restraint  of  interstate  commerce. 


B-51  Is  Campaigning 

The  Film  Exchange  Employes  union, 
Local  B-51,  IATSE-AFL,  has 
launched  its  second  annual  ten-week 
fund-raising  campaign  for  the  benefit 
of  the  New  York  Labor  War  Chest 
of  the  Labor  League  for  Human 
Rights. 


Frank's  'Goebbels' 
Will  Open  April  20 

Minneapolis,  April  16. — Plans  have 
been  completed  for  the  twin  world 
premiere  of  "The  Private  Life  of  Dr. 
Paul  Joseph  Goebbels,"  W.  R.  Frank 
production,  at  the  Century  here  and 
the  Orpheum,  St.  Paul,  April  20.  The 
producer  operates  17  theatres  in  the 
Minneapolis-St.  Paul  area. 

Paul  Andor  and  Claudia  Drake,  who 
star  in  "Goebbels,"  will  attend  the 
openings,  arriving  here  Wednesday 
from  Hollywood.  Frank,  Alfred  Zeis- 
ler,  who  directed,  and  Herbert  O. 
Phillips,  who  wrote  the  story  with 
Zeisler,  are  already  in  Minneapolis. 
Proceeds  from  the  twin  events  go  to 
the  local  Red  Cross,  the  premieres  be- 
ing sponsored  by  the  War  Activities 
Committee  and  the  Optimist  Clubs  of 
both  cities. 


Promote  Roy  Rogers 

Pittsburgh,  April  16. — More  than 
125  theatres  in  this  area  are  participat- 
ing in  promotional  plans  for  Republic 
star  Roy  Rogers'  appearance  at  Du- 
quesne  Gardens  beginning  tomorrow. 


WANTED 


Trustworthy  secretary  to  Publicity  Man- 
ager. Must  be  competent  in  telephone 
conversations;  capable  for  all-around 
secretarial  work.  Good  opportunity  for 
advancement — salary  $35.00  In  reply- 
ing, please  state  present  position  and 
past  experience.  Box  228,  Motion 
Picture  Daily. 


THRILLER  I 


ANNA  NEAGLE   RICHARD  GREENE 


by 


1 


hated  the  lie  she  lived  .  .  .  and 
hate  followed  her!  Scorn  and 
scandal  made  her  loveliness  a 
curse  .  .  .  because  of  a  secret  she 
dared  not  whisper! 


. . .  probat 


time... it  s< 


...in  book  foil 
to  the  screen... i 
Academy  Awa 
new  personality,  Ml 
and  directed 


t  most  widely-read  story  of  our 

W 

rill  through  millions  of  hearts 

ipeared  in  "Reader's  Digest". ..  in  "Story" 

1 

and  on  the  air.  Now  it  is  coming 
exciting  production  starring 
inner  Paul  Lukas... introducing  a  lovely 
T.  Stevens . . .  and  produced 
illiam  Cameron  Menzies. 


s 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  17,  1944 


Industry  to 
Allies '  Meet 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
doubtedly  will  be  asked  to  participate 
in  this  Summer's  meetings  as  interna- 
tional picture  trade  problems  will  be 
discussed,  Francis  C.  De  Wolfe,  chief 
of  the  telecommunications  divisions, 
said  at  the  weekend. 

Such  a  policy  has  been  followed  by 
the  Department  for  many  years  in  all 
of  its  international  discussions  on  com- 
munications, and  has  proven  to  be  a 
satisfactory  method  of  assuring  that 
any  agreements  entered  into  dealt 
realistically  with  the  problems  of  the 
industry. 

De  Wolfe  pointed  out  that  competi- 
tion after  the  war  will  be  far  keener 
than  ever  before  and  American  film 
companies  will  face  difficult  problems 
in  the  revival  of  world  markets.  The 
Department  is  keeping  in  close  con- 
tact with  developments  in  the  industry 
at  home  and  abroad  through  bi-week- 
ly conferences  between  De  Wolfe  and 
Fay  Allport  of  the  MPPDA  office 
and  already  has  a  general  idea  of  the 
situation  which  may  be  expected  to 
develop  at  ■  the  close  of  the  war. 

The  participation  of  the  film  indus- 
try in  the  conferences  will  be  on  an 
informal  basis,  at  the  suggestion  of  the 
Department  of  Justice,  which  pointed 
out  that  inclusion  of  industrialists  on 
an  official  basis  might  not  be  compati- 
ble with  the  anti-trust  laws.  The  De- 
partment, however,  raised  no  barrier 
to  the  attendance  of  industry  repre- 
sentatives in  a  consultative  capacity. 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  16 

THE  1944  Red  Cross  War  Fund 
drive  in  the  industry7  has  surpassed 
all  previous  campaigns  with  22,715  sub- 
scriptions totalling  $644,557,  to  top  the 
1943  record  by  more  than  §171,000, 
Chairman  Frank  Carothers  announced. 
Studio  American  Federation  of  Labor 
unions,  including  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild,  accounted  for  S27 1,824.  The 
results  were  broadcast  at  the  weekend 
on  a  Los  Angeles  Red  Cross  drive 
program  here. 

• 

Darryl  Zanuck  will  leave  on  the 
Superchiet  Friday  for  conferences  with 
Wendell  Willkie  regarding  his  forth- 
coming production  of  "One  World." 
• 

Abe  Montague  and  Nate  Spingold, 
Columbia  executives,  left  on  the  Sup- 
erchief at  the  weekend  for  New  York. 


'Committee  of  100'  to 
See  'Buffalo  Bill' 

Special  showing  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  "Buffalo  Bill"  will  be  held  to- 
night for  the  committee  of  100  for  the 
Buffalo  Bill  centennial  at  20th-Fox's 
home  office. 

Prominent  personalities  from  all 
fields  are  expected  to  attend,  including 
Will  Hays,  Horace  M.  Albright,  for- 
mer National  Park  Service  director ; 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  James  L.  Clark.  F.  Tru- 
bee  Davidson  and  A.  Perry  Osborne, 
Museum  of  Natural  History;  John  D. 
Rockefeller,  Jr.,  Ralph  Budd,  president, 
Burlington  Railroad,  and  others. 


Hal  Wallis  to  Study 
'Several'  Plans 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

rector  of  Warners  became  effective 
Saturday,  Wallis  said :  "The  story  is 
news  to  me.  I  will  meet  with  Hazen 
while  I'm  here  because  we  are  old 
friends." 

Wallis  added  that  he  also  would  see 
Louis  B.  Mayer,  among  others,  during 
his  New  York  stay  but  declined  to 
amplify  that  statement.  Mayer  was 
mentioned  in  reports  as  having  a  pos- 
sible interest  in  a  Wallis  association 
with  International  Pictures,  which  is 
headed  by  his  son-in-law,  William 
Goetz,  in  association  with  Leo  Spitz. 
The  latter  left  for  the  Coast  Friday, 
ostensibly  without  having  conferred 
with  Wallis.  The  latter,  however,  de- 
nied that  such  an  association  figured 
in  his  plans.  He  said  he  had 
"nothing  to  add"  to  what  has  been 
published  already  concerning  an  al- 
liance between  David  Selznick's  Van- 
guard Films  and  -himself. 

"I  may  be  in  a  position  to  say  more 
about  my  plans  next  week,"  Wallis 
said. 

Of  the  status  of  his  contract  with 
Warners,  which  the  company  said  had 
been  abrogated  and  which  Wallis  has 
denied  breaching,  the  producer  said 
that  was  a  matter  for  his  lawyer  to 
speak  of. 


$100,000  for  'Four  Jills' 

Twentieth  Century-Fox's  home  of- 
fice reports  a  $100,000  estimated  second 
week's  gross  for  "Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep," 
at  the  Roxy. 


Producers,  'IA' 
Reach  New 
Five-Year  Pact 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

wage  rise,  retroactive  to  Jan.  1,  for  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  11  locals,  which 
cover  about  12,000  studio  workers,!, 
bringing  these  employes  up  to  the  max- 
imum increase  possible  under  the. 
"Little  Steel"  formula  which  permits 
of  a  15  percent  wage  rise  to  cover 
the  increased  cost  of  living ;  two  weeks 
vacation  with  pay ;  reclassification  or 
up-grading  of  certain  job  brackets;  a 
standard  seniority  clause,  and  guaran- 
tees for  servicemen  upon  return  to 
jobs  now  occupied  by  replacements. 
The  present  formula  for  time  going  to 
and  from  location  remains  the  same. 

It  is  understood  that  the  contract 
will  be  reopened  after  one  year  if  the 
War  Labor  Board  should  liberalize 
the  "Little  Steel"  formula  in  the 
meantime.  A  group-insurance  provi- 
sion to  cover,  an  employe  who  might 
go  from  one  company  to  another  re- 
mains to  be  worked  out  on  the  Coast. 

The  basic  studio  agreement  group 
and  the  Conference  of  Studio  Unions 
are  being  granted  the  same  terms  as 
the  IATSE  locals,  and  reciprocally, 
benefits  embodied  in  the  contracts  of 
those  groups  which  the  "IA"  contract 
does  not  have,  will  be  granted  to  the 
"IA"  studio  locals. 

Casey,  who  has  been  coordinating 
the  discussions,  will  return  to  the 
Coast  at  the  end  of  the  week. 


g   Stands  f0/. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


to  the  iyro|tion 
Picture 
Industry 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  APRIL  18,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


First  in 


^OL.  55.  NO.  76 


20th's  Foreign 
Income  Now 
40%  of  Total 

$3,354,000  Is  Net  From 
Abroad,  Says  Connors 

i  Cincinnati,  April  17. — Forty 
percent  of  20th  Century-Fox's  in- 
come from  film  rentals  now  comes 

1  from  abroad,  despite  territory  lost 

'  by  the  war,  Tom  Connors  of  New 
York,  vice-president  in  charge  of  dis- 

:  tribution  for  20th  disclosed  here  on 
his  departure  for  Detroit  and  Chicago, 

'  in  his  series  of  field  conferences  with 
exhibitors.  He  will  meet  with  Chicago 
owners  on  mutual  trade  problems  to- 

1  morrow  and  Wednesday. 

Thirty-five  percent,  representing  $4,- 
515,000,  of  the  company's  $12,900,000 
net  profit  last  year  came  from  the  com- 
pany's   National    Theatres.  (Com- 

(Continned  on  page  8) 

Walter  Brown  Will 
Work  with  Harmon 

Walter  T.  Brown,  former  executive 
secretary  to  ex-Governor  Herbert  H. 
Lehman,  has  been  appointed  as  full- 
time  associate  to  Francis  S.  Harmon, 
executive  vice-chairman  and  coordina- 
tor of  the  industry's  War  Activities 
Committee. 

Brown  arrived  yesterday  at  WAC 
headquarters  and  is  functioning  in  the 
absence  of  Harmon  who  is  in  Wash- 
ington. 

Brown,  a  newspaperman,  university 
professor  and  veteran  of  both  world 
wars,  comes  to  the  WAC  after  receiv- 
ing a  medical  discharge  from  the 
Army. 


AMPP  Considering 
Salaried  President 

Hollywood,  April  17. — Mem- 
bers of  the  Association  of 
Motion  Picture  Producers  are 
considering  employing  a  sal- 
aried president,  probably 
drawn  from  outside  the  in- 
dustry, in  a  move  designed 
to  relieve  the  studio  execu- 
tives from  "doubling  in  brass," 
it  was  learned  here  today. 
While  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  cur- 
rent AMPP  president,  has 
gone  East  primarily  on  an- 
other matter,  this  move  may 
be  on  his  program  for  dis- 
cussion with  company  heads. 


Skouras  Group  Sees 
Tom  Clark  on  New 
Theatre  Building 


Washington,  April  17. — Fox  West 
Coast  officials  today  conferred  with 
War  Production  Board  officials  and 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom 
C.  Clark  regarding  the  construction  of 
new  theatres  in  California. 

Headed  by  Charles  P.  Skouras,  a 
group  of  company  officials  including 
John  F.  Caskey,  counsel  for  20th-Fox, 
Andy  Krappmann  and  W.  H.  Lollier, 
talked  with  WPB  men  regarding  the 
program  developed  by  George  W.  Mc- 
Murphey,  chief  of  the  recreation  sec- 
tion of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Require- 
ments, for  the  construction  of  new 
houses  in  war  centers  where  additional 
facilities  are  needed,  and  later  went  to 

(Continued  on  page  7) 

IATSE  Pacts 
Start  May  15 

With  the  War  Labor  Board  not  ex- 
pected to  make  a  decision  for  many 
weeks  on  wage  increases  through  re- 
classifications for  12,000  workers  of  11 
IATSE  Hollywood  locals,  a  retro- 
active date  of  May  15  next  has  been 
set  for  the  increases  and  other  pro- 
visions of  the  new  contracts  negotiated 
here  by  the  film  companies  and  the 
locals.  General  five  percent  increases 
granted  the  12,000  workers  are  retro- 
active to  Jan.  1,  date  of  the  expiration 
of  previous  agreements. 

Contracts  were  formalized  yesterday 
at  the  office  of  Pat  Casey,  producers' 
labor  contact  but  actual  signing  of  in- 

(Continucd  on  page  8) 


Washington,  April  17.  —  Theatre 
grosses  in  the  United  Kingdom  are 
running  approximately  $400,000,000 
annually,  despite  the  war,  it  "has  been 
learned  here  by  the  films  section 
of  the  U.  S.  Bureau  of  Foreign 
and  Domestic  Commerce,  presumably 
through  the  bureau's  commercial  at- 
taches in  London. 

British  receipts  are  averag- 
ing about  $80,000  per  theatre  an- 
nually, for  the  Kingdom's  5,000- 
odd  theatres,  which  is,  strangely, 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Resume  Talks  with 
Rank  on  GB  Deal 

London,  April  17. — In  a  spirit 
of  greater  optimism  than  pre- 
vailed when  negotiations  broke 
down  last  week,  talks  have 
been  resumed  here  on  ratifica- 
tion of  a  three-way  agreement 
between  S  p  y  r  o  s  Skouras, 
president  of  20th  Century- 
Fox;  Sam  Eckman,  Loew's 
British  managing  director,  and 
J.  Arthur  Rank,  for  the  trans- 
fer to  Rank  of  Ostrer  Broth- 
ers' Metropolis  &  Bradford 
Trust  Co.  stock,  controlling 
Gaumont-British. 

Although  it  was  stated  last 
week  by  Sidney  Wright,  Loew's 
•  attorney  here;,  that  M-G-M 
representatives  had  proceded 
as  far  in  the  negotiations  as 
they  were  authorized  to  go, 
they  are  understood  now  to 
be  taking  a  more  conciliatory 
attitude. 

NLRB  Curbs 
Wage  Boosts 

Washington,  April  17. — A  new 
National  Labor  Relations  Board  rul- 
ing, taking  the  unprecedented  position 
that  an  employer  who  discharged  union 
employes  who  struck  because  the  em- 
ployer would  not  pay  wage  demands 
exceeding  the  level  fixed  by  the  Wage 
Stabilization  Act,  had  not  violated  the 
National  Labor  Relations  Act,  is  seen 
as  a  curb  on  certain  union  progress 
in  the  film  industry  and  elsewhere. 

Most  unions  in  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry have  already  received  the  15 
percent  increase  in  wages  allowable 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Projectionists'  3% 
Raise  Approved 

Chicago,  April  17. — Edgar  L.  War- 
ren, chairman  for  the  sixth  area  of  the 
War  Labor  Board,  today  announced 
approval  of  a  three  percent  wage  in- 
crease for  Milwaukee  motion  picture 
projectionists. 

At  the  same  time,  the  Balaban  and 
Katz  circuit  was  said  to  have  ap- 
proved increases  of  from  $.3  to  $5.50 
per  week  for  cashiers,  effective  imme- 
diately. 


M-G-M,  Korda 
Buy  British 
Elstree  Plant 


Is  First  Studio  Property 
Owned  by  U.  S.  Company 

By  PETER  BURNUP 

London,  April  17. — M-G-M  and 
Sir  Alexander  Korda,  head  of 
Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer  London 
Films,  Ltd.,  today  completed  the 
purchase  of  the  large  Elstree  Studios 
from  the  debenture  holders  of  Pru- 
dential Assurance  Co.,  as  reportedly 
expected  in  a  story  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  last  Dec.  17. 

In  effect,  the  deal  gives 
M-G-M  and  Korda  a  strong  po- 
sition in  postwar  American- 
company  production  here,  the 
Government  refusing  to  sanc- 
tion the  release  of  the  studio 
for  private  usage  until  the  war- 
requisitioned  plant  is  made 
available  with  the  end  of  hos- 
tilities. 

Amalgamated   Studios,   at  Elstree, 
have  eight  large  stages,  all  of  which 
(Continued  on  page  8) 

Theatre  Television 
Interests  SMPE 

Recent  technical  improvements,  cut- 
ting in  half  the  size  and  weight  of  port- 
able television  equipment,  will  greatly 
increase  the  variety  of  spot  news 
events  which  can  be  brought  into  the- 
atres and  the  home  by  television,  ac- 
cording to  a  report  made  yesterday  at 
the  opening  sessions  of  the  three-day 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Public  Still  Taking 
Tax  in  Its  Stride 

Both  circuit  and  indepen- 
dent exhibitors  agree  that 
there  has  been  no  appreciable 
letdown  in  attendance  since 
April  1  because  of  the  10  per- 
cent increase  in  Federal  ad- 
mission taxes,  according  to 
reports  from  Motion  Picture 
Daily  field  correspondents. 
There  is  a  unanimity  of 
opinion  that  patrons,  if  heed- 
ing the  increase  at  all,  are 
taking  it  in  their  stride,  ac- 
customed as  they  are  to  being 
confronted  with  frequent  ad- 
vance in  war  prices  in  prac- 
tically every  line. 


British  Theatres  Grossing 
$400,000,000  Annually 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  April  18,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


ARTHUR  W.  KELLY,  president 
of  Eagle-Lion  Films,  has  return- 
ed to  New  York  from  Hollywood. 

Harry  B.  Allixsmith,  assistant 
export  manager  of  Western  Electric 
Export  Corporation,  has  been  granted 
a  three  months'  leave  of  absence  for 
an  assignment  with  the  Office  of 
Strategic  Services  in  Washington. 
• 

Arthur    Greexblatt.  Monogram 
special  home  office  representative,  is 
substituting  for  Sam   Rosen,  Phila- 
delphia branch  manager,  who  is  ill. 
• 

J.  Robert  Rubin,  M-G-M  vice-pres- 
ident and  general  counsel,  is  recover- 
ing from  his  recent  illness  and  plans 
to  leave  the  city  soon  for  a  rest. 
• 

Capt.  Robert  S.  Benjamin,  for- 
merly of  Phillips,  Nizer,  Benjamin  and 
Krim,  is  on  a  mission  overseas  for 
the  Army  Pictorial  Service. 

• 

Lou  Goldberg  of  20th  Century-Fox's 
exploitation  department,  returned  yes- 
terday from  Denver. 

• 

I.  M.  Rappaport,  owner  of  the  Hip- 
podrome, Baltimore,  is  in  New  York 
for  several  days. 

• 

Maukice  Bergman,  Universal  East- 
ern advertising  and  publicity  manager, 
left  for  Chicago  yesterday. 

c 

Jill  Warren,  associate  editor  'of 
Hillman's  Movieland  magazine,  left 
New  York  yesterday  for  the  Coast. 


Zevin  Sentencing 
Off  to  May  17 

Federal  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe  yes- 
terday postponed  until  May  17  the 
sentencing  of  Isadore  Zevin,  former 
secretary  to  George  E.  Browne,  con- 
victed former  president  of  the 
IATSE,  under  a  nine-count  perjury 
indictment  to  which  Zevin  has  pleaded 
guilty. 

Meanwhile,  special,  assistant  U.  S. 
Attorney  General  Boris  Kostelanetz, 
who  prosecuted  the  recently  convicted 
members  of  thd  Capone  gang  on  ex- 
tortion charges,  proceeded  with  plans 
to  bring  the  gangsters  to  trial  on  mail 
fraud  charges  arising  out  of  the  two 
per  cent  wage  assessment  against 
members  of  the  IATSE  which,  it  is 
alleged,  netted  Browne,  William  Bi- 
off  and  the  gangsters  at  least  $1,- 
500.000. 


T.  Hayes  Hunter  Dies 

T.  Hayes  Hunter,  62,  director  and 
theatrical  agent,  died  at  the  weekend 
of  heart  disease  in  a  London  hospital, 
it  has  been  learned  here. 

Hayes  was  owner  and  managing  di- 
rector of  the  agency,  Film  Rights, 
Ltd.  In  1937  he  opened  a  branch  in 
Hollywood  and  later  had  an  office 
here  at  1270  Sixth  Ave.  In  the  direc- 
torial field,  one  of  his  best-remem- 
bered films  will  be  "The  Scarlet 
Pimpernel". 


Ingram  Welcomed  as 
Memphis  Manager 


Memphis,  April  17. — Approximately 
100  exhibitors  and  business  men  of  the 
Memphis  area  attended  a  luncheon  to- 
day at  the  Peabody  Hotel,  given  to 
welcome  Louis  C.  Ingram,  M-G-M 
branch  manager  to  Memphis. 

An  address  of  welcome  was  given 
by  Mayor  Walter  Chandler,  who  in- 
troduced Charles  E.  Kessnick,  dis- 
trict manager  from  Atlanta  and  E.  K. 
(Ted)  O'Shea,  Eastern  Canadian  and 
Southern  sales  manager.  The  latter 
presented  service  buttons  to  five  local 
employes  as  follows :  Ingram,  more 
than  21  years  service ;  Lillie  B.  Curd, 

11  years;  Thomas  B.  Kirk,  12  years; 
Elizabeth  Mitchell,  16  years ;  Ola  Mae 
Purvis,  15  years,  and  Rebecca  Scott, 

12  years  and  10  months. 

Four  employes  in  the  armed  services 
who  will  receive  buttons  when  they 
return  are :  Maurice  L.  Basse,  16 
years ;  P.  Frank  Hollis,  14  years ;  J. 
Frank  Heard,  10  years,  and  W.  Bar- 
ton Mallory,  10  years. 

M.  A.  Lightman,  president  of  Malco 
Theatres,  presided  as  toastmaster. 


Dismissal  Motion  Is 
Withdrawn  By  'U' 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Charles  B. 
McLaughlin  yesterday  permitted  at- 
torneys for  Universal  Pictures  Corp. 
to  withdraw  a  motion  for  dismissal  of 
a  suit  by  Gem  Pictures  Productions, 
Inc.,  for  damages  of  $4,500  and  an  ac- 
counting, when  Gem  filed  an  amended 
complaint. 

The  damages  are  demanded  for  al- 
leged breach  of  contract  under  an 
agreement  by  which  Gem  produced 
"Goofytone  News  Reels,"  which  were 
distributed  by  Universal,  at  a  cost  of 
$4,500.  On  May  18,  1942,  the  amend- 
ed complaint  states,  Gem  discovered 
for  the  first  time  that  Universal  made 
an  extra  newsreel  from  one  of  Gem's 
prints  in  its  possession  and  retained  it 
without  the  knowledge  or  consent  of 
Gem,  and  failed  to  pay  the  plaintiff 
for  its  use.  Gem  seeks  an  accounting 
of  profits  from  the  extra  newsreel. 


'My  Way'  Will  Have 
Service  Premiere 

Paramount's  "Going  My  Way,"  co- 
starring  Bing  Crosby  and  Rise  Stev- 
ens, will  have  its  world  premiere 
April  27  in  every  combat  area  where 
American  troops  are  fighting.  Sixty- 
five  16mm  prints  of  the  film  are  now 
on  their  way  to  20  overseas  Army 
exchanges  for  distribution.  The  film 
will  have  its  American  premiere  in 
New  York  May  3  at  the  Paramount 
Theatre. 


International  Bids 
For  Wallis,  Too 

Hollywood,  April  17. — Internation- 
al Pictures  through  William  Goetz,  its 
production  chief,  has  discussed  a  tie- 
up  with  Hal  B.  Wallis,  former  War- 
ner Bros,  production  head,  it  was  dis- 
closed by  Leo  Spitz,  chairman  of  In- 
ternational's board,  upon  his  arrival 
here  from  New  York  today. 


Intelligence  Post 
Is  Given  to  White 


Fort  Monmouth,  N.  J.,  April  17. 
— Maj.  Lyman  G.  White,  formerly  of 
Jackson  Heights,  N.  Y.,  who  was  in 
the  foreign  production  department  of 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's  New  York 
offices,  has  been  named  director  of  the 
security  intelligence  division  for  this 
fort  and  all  of  its  sub-posts. 

Maj.  White  was  with  M-G-M  from 
1935  until  Oct.,  1940,  when  he  was 
called  to  active  duty  from  the  reserve. 
Previously  he  did  talent  scouting  for 
Paramount. 


Bamberger  to  Boston 
On  'Locally  Needed' 

Leon  J.  Bamberger,  RKO  sales  pro- 
motion manager,  will  leave  for  Boston 
today  to  confer  with  William  Erb, 
War  Activities  Committee  distribution 
chairman  for  New  England,  and  Al 
Kane,  Boston  WAC  distribution  chair- 
man. Bamberger  is  handling  the  fil- 
ing of  applications  to  have  film  dis- 
tribution declared  "locally  needed"  un- 
der Ned  E.  Depinet,  WAC  distribution 
chairman. 

While  in  Boston,  Bamberger  will 
meet  with  local  War  Manpower  Com- 
mission officials  on  having  film  dis- 
tribution in  the  Boston  area  declared 
"locally  needed."  No  formal  applica- 
tion has  been  filed  for  that  city  yet. 


Brandt  Is  Co-Director 
Of  WAC  Campaign 

Harry  Brandt  has  been  named  co- 
field  director  with  Charles  B.  Mc- 
Donald in  the  Women's  Army  Corns 
recruiting  drive  to  be  conducted  by 
motion  picture  theatres  throughout 
the  nation  the  week  of  May  11-17. 

In  conjunction  with  the  drive  a  new 
short  subject,  produced  by  the  Army 
Signal  Corps,  under-  the  supervision 
of  Capt.  Jack  L.  Warner,  Jr.,  and 
distributed  by  United  Artists,  entitled 
"It's  Your  War,  Too,"  will  be  pre- 
sented in  over  700  first-run  houses  be- 
ginning Thursday. 


Zanuck  to  Come  East 
On  Roadshow  Policy 

Hollywood,  April  17. — Darryl  F. 
Zanuck,  20th  Century-Fox  production 
head,  will  leave  on  the  Superchief 
Friday  to  confer  at  the  home  office  on 
the  roadshow  policy  for  "Wilson".  He 
will  also  hold  talks  with  Moss  Hart 
on  "Winged  Victory",  with  Wendell 
Wilkie  on  "One  World"  and  with 
Captain  Eddie  Rickenbacker  on  "Rick- 
enbacker". 


Robert  Wolff  in  London 

London,  April  17.— Robert  S.  Wolff 
has  arrived  here  from  New  York  to 
take  over  his  new  post  as  RKO  man- 
aging director  in  Great  Britain. 


Allied  Meet  Postponed 

Washington,  April  17. — The  Spring 
board  meeting  of  National  Allied  has 
been  postponed  from  May  17-18  to 
May  24-25,  at  Philadelphia. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  17 
T  OSEPH  SCHENCK  left  here  to- 
«J  day  for  New  York. 

• 

Mabel  Paige  has  been  added  to  the 
cast  of  Paramount's  "Murder,  He 
Says,"  co-starring  Fred  MacMurray 
and  Susan  Hayward.  E.  D.  Lashin  is 
producing  and  George  Marshall  di- 
rects. 

• 

Producer  Andrew  Stone  has  closed 
a  deal  with  United  Artists  for  re- 
lease of  a  "Sensations  of  1946"  next 
year.  He  is  negotiating  with  Eleanor 
Powell  for  the  lead. 

• 

George  Bilson,  assistant  to  Sid  Ro- 
gell,  RKO  executive  producer,  has 
been  named  producer  for  six  Leon 
Errol  shorts  and  six  Edgar  Kennedy 
shorts  on  next  season's  schedule. 
• 

Patricia  Munsell,  recent  winner  of 
Aletropolitan  Opera  Auditions-of-the- 
Air,  has  been  signed  by  Warner 
Bros. 

• 

Anna  Frenke,  daughter  of  Eugene 
Frenke,  producer,  has  joined  Sol 
Lesser  Productions. 

• 

Nate  J.  Blumberg,  Universal  presi- 
dent, arrived  here  today  on  the  Super- 
chief. 

• 

Lewis  Milestone  has  started  direc- 
tion of  Hunt  Stromberg's  forthcoming 
United  Artists  release. 

e 

Richard  Blumenthal,  formerly  with 
Paramount,  has  signed  a  producing 
contract  with  Columbia. 

• 

Robert  Rossen,  writer-director,  has 
resigned  from  Warner  Bros. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


_  RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL  — 

50th  Street  &  6th  Avenue 
RITA   HAYWORTH    .    GENE  KELLY 

COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern  •  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  •  Symphony  Orchestra 

1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


PALACE 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


Anna  NEAG'LE  •  Richard  GREENE 


"YELLOW  CANARY" 


ON  SCREEN 

Held  Over  2nd  Week 

*NONE 
SHALL 
ESCAPE' 

with  MARSHA  HUNT 


IN  PERSON 
ALLAN 

JONES 

Happy  FEITOH 
Dick  BUCKLEY 

Added  Attraction 

CANADA  LEE 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY.  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter.  Sept,  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


The  Gay  Anniversary  Week  Starts  June  22nd 


With  fanfare  on  the  air 
And  capers  m  all  the  papers— 
Witk  special  events 
And  fitting  ceremonies— 
Witk  advertising  campaigns 
And  wide  magazine  tie-ups- 
Leo  of  M-G-M  starts  tke  tall  rollin; 
On  J  une  22nd 

To  celekrate  witk  all  tke  industry 
Twenty  Friendly  Years  of  M-G-M! 


BEGINNING  JUNE  22nd 


192,4  -  1944 


TWENTY  YEARS  OP  LEADERSHIP 
WITH  GOOD  WILL  TOWARDS  ALL 
AND  THE  BRIGHTEST  YEARS  AHEAD 

Celebration  Starts  June  22nd 


Tuesday.  April  18,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Production  On 
Coast  Is  Up 
To  48  Filming 

Hollywood,  April  17. — As  the  mer- 
cury rose  in  the  weatherman's  ther- 
mometer so  rose  production  during 
the  week.  RKO  led  the  majors  with 
nine  pictures  in  work,-  counting  three 
independently  produced,  while  M-G-M 
■'  was  second  with  eight  and  Warners 
and  Monogram  were  third  with  five 
each  on  the  stages.  Fourteen  new  pic- 
tures were  put  in  work,  nine  finished, 
to  bring  the  total  before  the  cameras 
to  48.  The  previous  week  saw  eight 
started,  nine  finished,  to  total  43  in 
work.  The  production  scene  follows : 
Columbia 

Shooting:  "U-Boat  Prisoner,"  Kay 
Kyser  Musical,  "Rough  Ridin'  Jus- 
tice," "The  Impatient  Years." 

Finished:  "Louisiana  Havride." 
M-G-M 

Shooting:  "Lost  in  a  Harem," 
"Maisie  Goes  to  Reno,"  "Mrs.  Park- 
ington,"  "The  Picture  of  Dorian 
Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "Marriage  Is  a 
Private  Affair,"  "National  Velvet." 

Finished:  "Gold  Town,"  "Meet  Me 
in  St.  Louis." 

Monogram 

Started:  "Are  These  Your  Par- 
ents," with  Helen  Vinson,  Lyle  Tal- 
bot, Noel  Neill,  Richard  Byron,  Ad- 
dison Richards,  Ivan  Lebedeff,  Robin 
Raymond.  "A  Wave,  a  Wac,.  and  a 
Marine,"  with  Sally  Eilers,  Elyse 
Knox,  Henny  Youngman,  Ann  Gillis, 
Richard  Lane,  Ramsay  Ames.  "Alas- 
ka," with  Margaret  Lindsay.  Dean 
Tagger,  John  Carradine,  Kent  Taylor, 
John  Maxwell.  "Three  of  a  Kind," 
with  Billy  Gilbert,  Shemp  Howard, 
June  Lang,  Helen  Gilbert,  Maxie 
Rosenbloom. 

Shooting:  "The  Girl  Next  Door." 

Finished:  "Leave  It  to  the  Irish," 
"Call  of  the  Jungle." 

Paramount 

Shooting:  "Practicallv  Yours." 
PRC 

Started:  "Mexican  Fiesta,"  with 
Armida,  Wallace  Ford,  El  Brendel, 
Louis  Albrini,  Jack  LaRue.  "The 
Devil's  Brand,"  with  Dave  O'Brien, 
Tames  Newill,  Guy  Wilkerson,  Ellen 
Hall. 

RKO-Radio 

Started:  "Once  Off  Guard"  (Inter- 
national), with  Edward  G.  Robinson, 
Joan  Bennett,  Raymond  Massey,  Ed- 
mond  Breon,  Dan  Duryea,  Arthur 
Loft.  "Sylvester  the  Great"  (Gold- 
wyn),  with  Bob  Hope,  Virginia 
Mayo,  Walter  Brennan,  Walter  Sle- 
zak. 

Shooting:  "That  Hunter  Girl," 
"Mademoiselle  Fifi,"  "Cocktails  for 
Two,"  "None  But  the-Lonely  Heart," 
"Heavenly  Days,"  "Manhattan  Sere- 
nade," "Belle  of  the  Yukon"  (Interna- 
tional ) . 

Finished:  "Casanova  Brown"  (In- 
ternational).  "The  Falcon  in  Mexico." 
Republic 

Started:  "Port  of  40  Thieves,"  with 
Richard  Powers,  Stephanie  Bachelor, 
Lynn  Roberts,  Olive  Blakeney,  Ellen 
f.owe,  George  Meeker,  Patricia  Knox, 
Russell  Hicks.  "Marshal  of  Monte- 
rey," with  Allan  Lane,  Peggy  Stewart, 
Wally  Vernon,  LeRoy  Mason. 
"Haunted  Harbor,"  with  Kay  Ald- 
ridge,  Kane  Richmond,  Roy  Barcroft. 

Shnntinn-  "Sing.  Neighbor,  Sing." 
20th  Century-Fox 

Shooting:  "The  Big  Noise."  "Irish 


NLRB  Curbs 
Wage  Boosts 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
under  the  "Little  Steel"  formula,  but 
IATSE  film  exchange  service  em- 
ployes who  have  received  about  13  per- 
cent, have  been  pressing  for  an  addi- 
tional ten  percent  increase.  The  Wage 
Stabilization  Board  has  turned  down 
this  request  but  an  appeal  has  been 
taken  to  the  War  Labor  Board  and 
this  appeal  is  still  pending. 

Recently,  >film  exchange  service  em- 
ployes in  Seattle  were  understood  to 
be  considering  mass  resignations  to 
force  the  issue  on  the  pending  wage 
increase  but  they  have  delayed  action. 
Workers  in  the  31  exchange  centers 
were  provided  with  increased  earning 
opportunities  through  overtime  work  in 
an  interim  settlement  effected  by 
IATSE  officials  with  the  film  compa- 
nies after  several  locals,  including  New 
York  Local  B-51,  threatened  to  strike. 


'The  Negro  Soldier"  in 
4-Theatre  Start 

The  Broadway  world  premiere  of 
"The  Negro  Soldier,"  produced  for 
the  Special  Services  Division  of  the 
Army  under  the  supervision  of  Col. 
Frank  Capra,  will  be  held  simultane- 
ously at  the  Rialto,  Victoria,  Gotham 
and  Broadway  Trans-Lux  theatres 
Friday/  Prints  have  been  made  avail- 
able, free  of  charge,  to  all  theatres, 
under  special  arrangements  with  the 
War  Activities  Committee. 

A  special  screening  of  th  film  will 
take  place  at  the  Normandie  Theatre 
Thursday  at  midnight,  under  the  joint 
auspices  of  the  War  Department  and 
the  Entertainment  Industry  Emergen- 
cy Committee. 


Franklin  Honored  Today 

Sidney  Franklin  will  be  presented 
today  with  a  silver  plaque  by  Gus 
Eyssell,  director  of  Radio  City  Music 
Hall,  in  recognition  of  the  record 
achieved  at  that  theatre  by  three  of 
Franklin's  pictures,  "Random  Har- 
vest," "Mrs.  Miniver"  and  "Madame 
Curie,"  which  played  the  houses  a  total 
of  28  weeks.  The  plaque  is  the  first 
of  its  kind  ever  awarded  by  the  Music 
Hall  and  will  be  held  by  Franklin 
until  his  record  is  surpassed.  Frank- 
lin's most  recent  picture,  "The  White 
Cliffs  of  Dover,"  has  been  booked  by 
that  theatre  for  next  month. 


Eyes  Are  Smiling,"  "Wing  and  a 
Prayer,"  "The  Keys  of  the  Kingdom." 

Finished:  "Take  It  or  Leave  It." 
United  Artists 

Started:  "Double  Furlough"  (Van- 
guard), with  Ginger  Rogers,  Joseph 
Cotten,  Shirley  Temple,  Dare  Harris. 

Shooting:  "Story  of  G.  I.  "  Joe" 
(Cowan),  "Abroad  With  Two  Yanks" 
(Small). 

Universal 

Started:  "Pearl  of  Death,"  with 
Evelyn  Ankers,  Basil  Rathbone,  Nigel 
Bruce.  "Make  Way  for  Love,"  with 
Gloria  Jean,  Judy  Clark,  Henry 
Stephenson,  Franklin  Panghorn. 

Shooting:  "The  Singing  Sheriff," 
"The  Devil's  Brood." 

Warners 

Shooting:  "The  Very  Thought  of 
You,"  "To  Have  and  Have  Not." 
"The  Doughgirls,"  "Give  Me  This 
Woman"  (formerly  "The  Conspira- 
tors"). 


Theatre  Television 
Interests  SMPE 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 
semi-annual  conference  ot  the  Society 
of  Motion  Picture  Engineers  at  the 
Hotel  Pennsylvania  here. 

Refinements  in  both  camera  equip- 
ment and  in  television  receiving  and 
projection  sets  to  make  this  possible 
were  outlined  by  William  H.  Sayer, 
development  engineer  of  the  Allen  B. 
DuMont  Laboratories.  Sayer  also  told 
the  engineers  that  the  Radio  Techni- 
cal Planning  Board  contemplates  the 
use  of  unattended  booster  relay  stations 
to  transmit  programs  to  theatres  and 
other  receiving  points  within  a  metro- 
politan center,  as  well  as  for  Jong 
range  transmission. 

Captain  E.  M.  Watson  of  the  Army 
Air  Forces,  told  of  the  achievements 
of  the  Army's  gun  sight  aiming-point 
camera,  which  films  what  is  hit  by 
shells. 

See  Films  in  Majority 

Sherman  Price,  president  of  Film- 
edia  Corp.,  said  that  motion  pictures 
are  likely  to  make  up  the  bulk  of  tele- 
vision programs,  but  means  must  be 
found  for  greatly  speeding  up  the  pres- 
ent rate  and  volume  of  production,  and 
at  much  lower  costs.  For  a  15-minute 
television  show  five  times  a  week,  he 
pointed  out,  the  week's  production 
would  be  equal  to  that  required  for  a 
seven  and  one-half  reel  motion  picture 
on  which  Hollywood  now  spends 
weeks  or  even  months. 

The  motion  picture  engineers  will 
observe  Army-Navy  Day  at  today's 
sessions  with  armed  forces  personnel 
discussing  special  uses  of  motion  pic- 
tures in  combat  and  training. 


Skouras  Group  Sees 
Tom  Clark  on  New 
Theatre  Building 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

the  department  of  justice  to  explain 
the  situation  to  Clark. 

McMurphey  has  been  trying  to  in- 
terest Fox  West  Coast  in  the  building 
of  theatres  in  California,  where  recent 
surveys  showed  the  possible  need  of  a 
considerable  number  of  houses.  On 
the  whole,  it  was  learned,  the  circuits 
have  not  been  interested  in  this  con- 
struction, in  part  because  of  the  lack 
of  adequate  information  regarding  the 
postwar  future  of  such  houses  and  in 
part  because  of  the  uncertainty  as  to 
how  the  Department  of  Justice  would 
view  such  circuit  expansions. 

Following  his  meeting  with  the 
group,  Clark  explained  that  the  matter 
had  not  been  put  up  to  him  officially. 
He  did  not  say  what  position  the  de- 
partment would  take  on  such  expan- 
sions but  there  were  indications  that  if 
the  war  program  necessitates  the  pro- 
vision of  additional  recreational  facili- 
ties which  independent  interests  will 
not  or  cannot  handle,  no  serious  ob- 
stacles would  be  placed  in  the  way  of 
major  circuits  approached  by  the  War 
Production  Board. 


20th  Backs  Air  Show 

A  one  year  contract  has  been  signed 
by  20th-Fox,  the  Roxy  Theatre  and 
radio  station  WMCA,  in  which  20th- 
Fox  and  the  Roxy  will  jointly  spon- 
sor in  the  metropolitan  area  the  6.30 
to  6 :45  program,  "World  Front 
Page." 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  April  18,  1944 


British  Houses  Get 
$400,000,000 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

comparatively  close  to  the  $81,- 
800  average  of  the  16,500-odd 
theatres  grossing  around  $1,- 
350,000,000  in  the  U.  S.,  as  com- 
puted by  Motion  Picture  Daily 
sources. 

The  report  from  the  bureau's  film 
section  further  discloses  that,  "Despite 
wartime  restrictions  affecting  the  con- 
struction and  remodeling  of  theatres, 
facilities*  for  the  exhibition  of  motion 
pictures  are  said  to  be  adequate  in 
the  United  Kingdom.  Official  statistics 
regarding  the  number  of  regular  thea- 
tres are  not  available,  but  trade 
sources  estimate  the  total  to  be  be- 
tween 5,000  and  5,300.  Total  attend- 
ance is  reported  to  be  in  excess  of 
25,000,000  weekly,  or  1,300,000,000  an- 
nually. 

"More  than  80  percent  of  the  films 
registered  in  the  1943  film  year  were 
of  foreign — predominantly  United 
States — origin,  and  more  than  75  per 
cent  of  the  aggregate  footage  exhibit- 
ed was  from  the  United  States,"  the 
report  concluded. 


Roadshow  Selznick  Film 

Hollywood,  April  17. — David  O. 
Selznick's  "Since  You  Went  Away" 
will  be  exhibited  on  a"  roadshow  basis 
it  was  announced  here  today  by  Grad- 
well  Sears  and  Neil  Agnew,  sales  ex- 
ecutives, following  a  sales  conference 
on  forthcoming  United  Artists  pro- 
ductions. 


201  h -Fox  Foreign  Income 
Is  Now  40%  of  Total 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

pany's  recent  annual  financial  state- 
ment reported  an  estimated  income  of 
$2,000,000  from  National).  Of  "the 
remaining  $8,385,000,  all  accruing  from 
film  rentals,  60  percent,  or  $5,031,000 
was  earned  from  domestic  rentals  and 
40  percent,  or  $3,354,000,  was  foreign 
film  income.  "Our  foreign  trade  has 
hit  an  all-time  peak,"  Connors  said. 

"Motion  pictures  are  enjoying  their 
greatest  boom  in  history  throughout 
Great  Britain,  despite  the  early  curfew, 
constant  threat  of  air  raids  and  war- 
like conditions,"  he  disclosed. 

"When  Hitler  first  started  his  in- 
vasion of  Europe  and  all  of  the  Amer- 
ican film  companies  had  to  close 
branches,  fears  that  the  once  profitable 
foreign  distribution  was  gone  for  many 
years  seemed  justified,"  Connors  con- 
tinued. "But  after  the  first  serious 
effects  of  the  blitz  had  worn  off  and 
the  English  sought  respite  from  their 
troubles,  they  turned  to  motion  pic- 
tures for  their  only  relaxation.  The 
South  American  film  market  is  also 
greater  than  ever  before,"  he  said. 

"But  this  success  presents  a  definite 
threat  to  American  films   after  the 


war,"  Connors  warned.  "England  has 
seen  what  a  tremendous  influence 
American  films  are  exerting  upon  the 
lives  and  habits  of  their  people  and 
many  will  seriously  compete  for  this 
world-wide  business,  which  has  been 
mostly  reserved  to  this  country,  after 
peace  has  been  restored. 

Connors  explained  why  it  is  more 
expensive  to  make  pictures  today  than 
it  was  before  the  war.  "In  the  first 
place,"  he  said,  "our  studios  have  lost 
over  2,000  skilled  technicians  to  the 
armed  services.  Those  who  replace 
them  lack  experience  and  training.  In 
the  past  it  was  possible  to  complete 
camera  work  on  most  nictures  in  from 
35  to  40  days.  Now  on  the  same  type 
of  picture  it  often  requires  100  days, 
which  ties  up  stages  and  brings  added 
production  costs." 

He  declared  that  his  company's 
sales  policy  is  a  fair  one ;  that  it  does 
not  want  more  than  the  picture  is 
worth  after  it  has  had  trial  runs  in 
about  300  key  spots.  By  the  same 
hand,  he  said,  when  a  picture  shows 
justifiable  drawing  power,  the  company 
feels  it  has  the  right  to  ask  a  fair 
price  for  the  product. 


B  &K  Stockholders  Meet 

Chicago,  April  17. — Reports  on 
wartime  earnings,  improvements  and 
investments  will  highlight  the  annual 
meeting  Wednesday  of  the  stockholders 
of  Balaban  and  Katz  Theatres  here. 


Halor,  Actor,  Killed 

Palm  Springs,  April  17. — Ray 
Halor,  42,  star  of  silent  films,  was 
killed  yesterday  in  an  automobile  col- 
lision between  Palm  Springs  and  Ca- 
thedral City. 


IATSE  Pacts 
Start  May  15 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 
dividual  agreements  is  expected  to  go 
on  all  this  week.  Remaining  repre- 
sentatives of  the  studio  IATSE  locals 
left  for  California  last  night  leaving 
power  of  attorney  for  the  actual  sign- 
ing with  IATSE  officials. 

Actual  submission  of  the  new  five- 
year  agreements  to  the  War  Labor 
Board  for  approval  is  expected  to  take 
place  early  in  May. 

Meanwhile,  film  company  heads  met 
at  the  office  of  Pat  Casey  again  yes- 
terday to  work  on  demands  of  Ameri- 
can Federation  of  Musicians'  studio 
local  for  staff  orchestras  for  the  vari- 
ous studios  and  other  AFM  demands. 


Amalgamated  Sold  to 
MGM  and  Korda 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

are  now  being  used  for  war  produc- 
tion. British  producing  units  of  sev- 
eral American  companies  have  been 
stymied  for  months  in  England  be- 
cause of  the  non-availability  of  studio 
space,  the  comparatively  little  space 
left  by  authorities  producing  war  films 
being  occupied  by  native  producers. 
So  far  as  is  known,  no  other  Ameri- 
can company  has  any  actual  property 
ownership  of  a  British  studio.  Elstree 
is  the  site  of  the  building  of  the  first 
commercial  motion  picture  studio, 
built  many  years  ago  by  the  late  J.  D. 
Williams. 


First  in 

Film-am 

(Radio \n 

Accural 

1 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


'OL.  55.  NO.  77 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  19,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Average  Per 
Theatre  Is 

Up  by  $2,232 

(   

143  Key  Houses  Gross 
$2,506,800  in  Week 


Reports  from  Motion  Picture 
'Daily  field  correspondents  disclose 
(that  last  week's  average  box-office 
Receipts  at  key  downtown  film 
houses  jumped  to  $17,530  per  theatre, 
from  $15,298  in  the  preceding  week, 
.to  hit  the  third  highest  average  for 
the  year,  being  topped  only  by  $18,- 
761  in  the  week  ending  March  17- 
48,  and  $20,664  in  the  week  ending 
Jan.  7-8,  which  included  New  Year's 
[holiday  influences.  Last  week  em- 
braced school  holiday  flows. 

Current  averages,  generally, 
are  running  several  thousand 
dollars  weekly  ahead  of  cor- 
responding periods  last  year. 
Some  typical  comparisons  follow : 
Week  ending  April  15,  19*44,  $17,530 
and  $12,711  in  the  same  week  last 
year;  April  8,  1944,  $15,298,  and  $13,- 
803  one  year  ago,  etc. 
Films  that  stand  out  as  box-office 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Film  Comedy 
Aids  Training 


The  influence  of  slapstick  comedy 
in  motion  pictures  to  impress  vital 
training  and  instructions  on  fighting 
men  at  times  when  they  may  be  too 
tense  to  learn  from  books  and  charts 
was  described  in  a  paper  presented 
yesterday  at  the  55th  semi-annual 
technical  conference  of  the  Society  of 
Motion  Picture  Engineers  at  the 
Hotel  Pennsylvania  here.  Prepared 
by  Lt.  (j.g. )  J.  E.  Bauernschmidt  of 
the  Training  Film  Branch  of  the 
Navy's  Bureau  of  Aeronautics,  the 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


1944  UJA  Campaign 
Launched  Friday 

The  Amusement  industry's  partici- 
pation in  the  1944  war  campaign  oi 
the  United  Jewish  Appeal  will  be  dis- 
cussed at  the  first  luncheon-meeting 
for  the  drive  on  Friday,  April  21,  in 
the  Hotel  Astor  here.  The  inaugural 
function  has  been  called  by  David 
Bernstein,  Barney  Balaban,  and  Albert 
Warner.  A  large  representation  of 
leaders  in  the  motion  picture  and 
(Continued  on  page  1 1 ) 


British  Exhibitors 
Taking  No  Chances 

London,  April  18. — On  the 
day  of  the  coming  victory, 
theatre  audiences  throughout 
Great  Britain  will  not  be  able 
to  celebrate  by  smashing 
seats,  breaking  bulbs  and 
ruining  screens,  as  they  did 
on  Nov.  .11,  1918,  Armistice 
Day  of  World  War  I.  Remem- 
bering that  experience,  the 
Cinema  Exhibitors  Associa- 
tion of  Great  Britain  has  de- 
cided to  close  houses  in  Great 
Britain  on  Armistice  Day  of 
World  War  II. 


'Cover  Girl'  Helps 
Music  Hall  to  Big 
3rd  Week  $123,000 


Business  at  downtown  New  York 
first-runs  is  continuing  considerably 
above  average  with  weekend  rain- 
storms which  hit  Saturday's  business 
only  mildly  affecting  the  week's  take. 
The  reopening  of  schools  Monday,  af- 
ter a  ten-day  holiday,  did  not  see  any 
appreciable  falling  off  of  business  at 
Radio  City  Music  Hall  with  "Cover 
Girl"  and  the  Hall's  Easter  show  ex- 
pected to  do  about  $123,000  on  their 
third  week  after  counting  $79,500  on 
the  first  four  days,  ending  Sunday. 
The  combined  show  will  hold  for  a 
fourth  and  if  the  blistering  pace  con- 
tinues, even  longer  before  making  way 
for  M-G-M's  "The  White  Cliffs  of 
Dover." 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Broader  Film  Fields 
To  Open  from  War 
Experience:  Harmon 


Washington,  April  18. — Important 
fields  for  the  motion  picture  will  wid- 
en broadly  after  the  war  when  the 
industry  puts  into  practice  the  devel- 
opments it  has  made  in  the  production 
of  informational,  educational  and  tech- 
nical pictures  for  the  war  program, 
it  was  predicted  here  today  by  Fran- 
cis Harmon,  executive  vice-chairman 
of  the  War  Activities  Committee. 

Harmon  was  the  principal  speaker 
at  a  luncheon  given  to  more  than  100 
Army,  Navy  and  Government  officials 
and  visual  war  workers  by  the  motion 
picture  bureau  of  the  Office  of  War  In- 
formation in  commemoration  of  the 
50th  anniversary  of  commercial  films. 

Stanton  Griffis,  chief  of  the  bureau, 
introduced  Harmon,  who  stressed  the 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Film  Balances  from 
Brazil  Withheld 


All  remittances  to  U.  S.  distribu- 
tion companies  from  Brazil  have  been 
held  up  since  late  last  year  but  a  re- 
lease of  company  balances  there  is 
expected  to  be  effected  in  the  near 
future,  heads  of  major  company  for- 
eign departments  were  told  at  a  meet- 
ing here  yesterday. 

Publication  recently  of  Brazil's  new 
tax  decree,  together  with  the  expect- 
ancy that  a  new  exchange  rate  will  be 
agreed  upon  soon  by  Brazil  and  the 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


42  Area  Chairmen  Named 
For  Wae  Recruiting  Drive 


Balaban  &  Katz  Net 
$1,883,060  in  1943 

Chicago,  April  18. — A  net  income 
of  $1,883,060  for  the  fiscal  year  end- 
ed Jan.  1,  1944,  equal  to  $7.16  a  share 
after  deductions  of  $52,000  for  con- 
tingencies, as  compared  with  $1,818,- 
913  in  1942,  or  $6.91  a  share  after  de- 
ductions of  $41,109,  was  reported 
here  today  at  the  annual  meeting  of 
stockholders  of  the  Balaban  and  Katz 
Corp. 

Current  assets  as  of  Jan.  1,  1944, 
were  $2,816,105,  against  liabilities  of 
$2,796,330,  and  assets  as  of  Jan.  1, 
1943,  were  $2,004,269  and  liabilities 
$3,045,764.  During' 1943  the  corpora- 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


The  complete  national  committee  for 
the  industry's  Women's  Army  Corps 
recruiting  week,  May  11-17,  has  been 
set  up  by  chairman  Edward  L.  Alper- 
son  here. 

In  addition  to  the  executive  commit- 
tee, consisting  of  Ned  E.  Depinet,  dis- 
tributor's division  chairman ;  Harry 
Mandel,  national  publicity  direc- 
tor, and  Harry  Brandt  and  Charles 
B.  McDonald,  co-field  directors,  the 
following  will  serve  as  exhibitor  area 
chairmen : 

Lou  R.  Golding,  Albany;  W.  K. 
Jenkins,  Atlanta;  Frank  A.  Hornig, 
Baltimore ;  Sam  Pinanski,  Boston ; 
Charles  Moskowitz,  Metropolitan  New 
York ;  Sam  Rinzler,  Brooklyn;  Fred 
(Continued  on  page  9) 


Drift  from  War 
Areas  Seen 
AffectingFilms 

Population  Shifts  Held  to 
Pose  Serious  Problems 

Washington,  April  18. — Posing 
potential  problems  for  Government 
and  industry  alike,  including  motion 
pictures,  new  shifts  in  population 
have  made  their  appearance  and  are 
gaining  momentum,  it  was  disclosed 
today  in  reports  from  War  Man- 
power Commission  field  offices. 
Reversing  a  flow  of  migration 
which  began  in  1940  with  the 
inception  of  the  defense  pro- 
gram, populations  now  are  be- 
ginning to  leave  some  of  the 
war  centers. 

So "  far,  the  outflow  has  been  most 
marked  in  areas  where  war  produc- 
tion cut-backs  have  occurred  and 
among  people  who,  on  the  premature 
assumption  that  the  war  will  soon  be 
over,  seek  to  line  up  permanent  jobs 
before  the  war  ends.    But  officials  are 

(Continued  on  page  9) 

Press  British 
Trade  Probe 


London,  April  18. — Taking  of  evi- 
dence has  been  completed  here  by  the 
special  committee  which  the  British 
Board  of  Trade's  Film  Council  ap- 
pointed in  January  "to  investigate 
measures  necessary  to  counteract  the 
danger  of  a  film  trade  monopoly,"  it 
was  learned  here  today.  BOT  presi- 
dent Hugh  Dalton,  who  originally 
urged  the  group  to  act  with  all  pos- 
sible speed,  is  now  pressing  for  an 
early  recommendation  on  any  needed 
legislation  or  administrative  orders. 

J.  Arthur  Rank,  whose  spreading 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


H.  J.  Griffith  Denies 
Monopoly  Suit 

Oklahoma  City,  April  18. — H.  J. 
Griffith  of  Griffith  Amusement  Co.  to- 
day filed  an  answer  in  the  monopoly 
suit  of  three  independents,  denying 
that  his  company  had  conspired  with 
distributors  to  monopolize  first  and 
second  run  features. 

Griffith  denies  in  his  Federal  court 
-statement  that  the  Odeon,  Shawnee, 
Okla.;  Mystic,  Picher,  Okla.,  of  the 
State,  Vinita,  Okla«,  are  comparable 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  April  19,  1944 


Insider's  Outlook 


Personal 
Mention 

IRVING  MAAS,  assistant  director 
of  20th  Century-Fox's  international 
department,  is  en  route  to  Latin 
America  on  a  five  weeks  business 
trip. 

Earl  R.  Morin,  motion  picture 
inspector  of  the  Connecticut  State 
Police,  and  his  bride,  the  former  Mrs. 
Harriet  Foster,  are  spending  their 
honeymoon  here.  He  is  attending  the 
semi-annual  SMPE  convention. 
• 

F.  E.  Osborne,  independent  theatre 
operator  in  Batavia  and  Hammonds- 
port,  N.  Y.,  this  week  celebrated  his 
77th  birthday  visiting  Buffalo  ex- 
changes. 

• 

Justin  Herman,  Paramount  short 
subject  script  writer,  is  the  father  of 
a  baby  daughter,  born  to  Mrs.  Her- 
man, at  the  New  York  Hospital. 
• 

Charles  Ramb,  manager  of  War- 
ner's Capitol,  Philadelphia,  has  recov- 
ered from  an  operation  and  has  re- 
turned to  his  post. 

• 

Bob  Finkel,  Universal  salesman  in 
New  York,  and  Mrs.  Finkel  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  a  boy,  Alan 
Barry. 

• 

Mario  Luporini  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  international  department,  left 
New  York  yesterday  for  a  two  months 
stay  in  Mexico  City. 

• 

Nick  Lamantia,  former  Universal 
New  Orleans  branch  manager,  is  in 
the  Army  at  Camp  Beauregard,  La. 
• 

Alex  Halperin,  Warner  Theatres 
Chicago  film  buyer,  is  vacationing  in 
Hollywood,  Florida. 

• 

Jesse  Gaw,  assistant  manager  at 
Loew's  Poli,  Hartford,  is  visiting  in 
Boston. 

• 

James  C.  Petrillo,  American  Fed- 
eration of  Musicians  head,  is  in  Chi- 
cago. 

• 

Kay  Kamen,  Walt  Disney  mer- 
chandise head,  is  visiting  in  Mexico 
City. 

• 

Harold  Hutchins,  Hilman  period- 
icals national  advertising  manager, 
left  yesterday  for  Chicago. 

• 

Jesse  L.  Lasky  is  scheduled  to  ar- 
rive in  New  York  tomorrow  from  St. 
Louis. 

• 

Bill  Prager,  RKO  Buffalo  ex- 
ploiteer,  has  returned  to  that  city  from 
Boston. 

• 

Robert  Goodfried,  United  Artists 
cxploiteer,  left  last  night  for  Atlanta. 
• 

Dave  Epstein,  Coast  publicist,  re- 
turned last  night  to  Hollywood. 
• 

Arthur  De  Bra  of  the  MPPDA 
was  in  Baltimore  last  night. 


Hollywood,  April  18 
HT  HE  big  and  solitary  ques- 
■*•  tion  is :  Will  one-quarter 
keep  him  content? 

That  was  how  the  column 
closed  itself  last  Thursday — on 
the  question  of  David  O.  Selz- 
nick  and  his  large-sized  expan- 
sion in  relation  to  his  association 
with,  and  ownership  interest  in, 
United  Artists. 

Today,  the  exploration  probes 
deeper. 

The  situation  at  UA  is  chang- 
ing, and  with  speed.  After 
fiddling  around  for  about  eight 
months  while  Korda  made  up 
his  mind  and  changed  it — also 
terms — Sir  Alex  now  withdraws 
from  the  company.  At  an  im- 
pressive profit,  he  withdraws  as 
a  25  per  cent  stockholder  with 
one  million  U.  S.  dollars  for  his 
end. 

Purchased  out  of  assets  and 
reserves  of  UA  Productions, 
that  wholly-owned  subsidiary  of 
UA  Corp.,  of  which  Arthur  W. 
Kelly  was  president  and  which 
was  to  help  finance  producers, 
the  acquired  stock  goes  into  the 
treasury. 

■ 

Thus,  technically  at  any  rate, 
it  is  no  person's  stock,  but  cor- 
poration stock.  It  leaves  Selz- 
nick,  Mary  Pickford  and  Charlie 
Chaplin  the  remaining  owners  at 
one-quarter  each  on  the  books. 
But,  since  they  jointly  own  UA 
Corp.  and  this  overall  entity 
owns  UA  Productions,  in  point 
of  influence  and  operations  each 
partner  is  now  a  one-third  par- 
ticipant. 

Thus,  too,  there  would  seem 
to  be  supplied  a  partial  answer, 
at  least,  to  last  week's  question 
repeated  today. 

At  best,  it  is  a  part-way  an- 
swer. Part-way  because  the 
competent  Selznick  is  also  a 
very  ambitious  Selznick.  An 
accepted  analysis  of  him  here 
encompasses  these  motivations 
and  objectives,  but  it  must  be 
pointed  out  it  is  others  than 
David  himself  who  supply  the 
ingredients : 

1.  — He  wants  to  be  top-kick 
in  any  setup  of  which  he  is  a 
part.  This  suggests  manage- 
ment or  control  or  both. 

2.  — He  seeks  a  broadly-flung 
company  bearing  his  family 
name  and  has  had  this  on  his  re- 
puted list  of  futures  for  some 
time. 

■ 

No  one  professes  to  know  in 
definite  terms  how  these  objec- 
tives will  be  attained.    But  it  is 


—  By  RED  KANN  — 

assumed  in  quarters  which  break 
down  situations  into  reasonably 
well-integrated  parts  that  they 
will  be.  Selznick,  through 
Danny  O'Shea  as  direct  spokes- 
man for  Vanguard,  is  on  record 
with  the  statement  the  future 
ties  to  UA  through  the  stock 
ownership  held  in  the  Vanguard 
name. 

This  being  the  state  of  affairs, 
it  would  seem  to  follow  in  un- 
complicated vein  that  Selznick 
will  do  his  concentrating  on  his 
present  alliance.  Therefore,  the 
elimination  of  Korda  is  constru- 
able  as  only  one  step  of  others 
yet  to  take  form  and  shape. 
■ 

Within  UA,  Selznick  and 
Miss  Pickford  are  far"  closer  al- 
lies than  Selznick  and  Chaplin 
or  Miss  Pickford  and  Chaplin. 
Variously  at  odds  on  other  mat- 
ters, the  Korda  deal  widens  the 
breach,  serves  to  bring  David 
and  Miss  Pickford  into  even 
closer  business  harmony  and 
sets  Charlie  further  along  on  a 
road  of  his  own. 

The  finish?  That  would  be 
asking  much  too  much  when 
there  is  no  substantial  reason  to 
believe  the  principals  themselves 
know. 

■ 

Meanwhile,  there  is  continued 
buzzing  about  Neil  F.  Agnew 
and  what  he  is  doing  in  the  pic- 
ture.   He  is  doing  this: 

After  two  decades  plus  with 
Paramount,  he  broke  away  for 
a  better  deal  financially  and  for 
a  journey  of  excitement  and  new 
routines  in  a  different  segment 
of  the  same  field — selling.  On 
the  dollar  side  and  in  the  sort 
of  tax  days  these  are,  Agnew 
probably  won't  fare  sharply  bet- 
ter with  Vanguard  than  he  did 
with  Paramount.  He  does  ex- 
pect, however,  to  find  exhilira- 
tion  browsing  along  new  path- 
ways in  his  own  end  of  the 
business.  He  thinks  those  new 
pathways  are  waiting  for  him. 
■ 

On  the  Selznick  side,  what 
about  Agnew?  As  reported, 
David  wants  to  have  in  New 
York  a  selling  factor  on  whom 
he  can  place  complete  dependa- 
bility. Structurally,  Selznick  is 
the  kind  of  person  who  will 
never  "include  himself  com- 
pletely out"  of  any  of  his  activi- 
ties. Therefore,  he  will  be  hav- 
ing his  say  in  sales,  too,  but  the 
dominant  say  will  be  Agnew's. 

This  will  relieve  the  produc- 
er for  production,  but  it  also 
sets  up  a  valuable  asset  if  and 
when  Selznick  ever  contemplates 


the  need  for  a  national  sales 
manager  of  his  own. 

■ 

What  about  Agnew  in  rela- 
tion to  Grad  Sears  and  Carl 
Leserman  ? 

Harmony,  and  nothing  but 
harmony,  exudes  on  all  sides,  f 
Earlier  reports  that  Agnew  had 
in  mind  a  super  sales  cabinet  to 
represent  Vanguard  in  half  doz- 
en key  cities — a  sales  organiza- 
tion functioning  within  the  reg- 
ularly constituted  UA  setup — 
have  passed  out  of  the  picture, 
if  ever  the  proposal  seriously 
existed. 

The  common  view  is  there  is  - 
no  such  need;  that  such  an  ar- 
rangement would  throw  confu- 
sion, uncertainty  and  resent- 
ment into  the  existing  ma- 
chinery; that  it  would  fabricate 
obstacles  in  the  way  of  the 
Sears  -  Leserman  management 
and,  for  the  long  pull,  retard 
rather  than  help.  Finally,  the 
view  is  that  the  regular  sales 
force  at  UA  is  the  one  which 
must  assume  the  selling  re- 
sponsibility all  the  way  down  the 
line  and  regardless  of  what 
steam  may  be  generated  in  the 
boilers  at  the  outset. 

■ 

Highly  significant  in  this 
evaluation  of  the  tangibles  and 
the  intangibles  is  the  in- 
flexibility of  Sears  where  the 
boundaries  of  his  authority  are 
concerned.  His  boundaries  are 
also  Leserman's  and  both  will 
not  brook  invasion. 

•  They  were  engaged  to  run 
UA  sales  and  that's  what  they 
intend  doing.  While  their  con- 
tractual situation  remains  in  its 
current  status,  it  is  an  entirely 
safe  bet  to  make  that  Sears  and 
Leserman  will  continue  to  con- 
trol and  operate  the  jobs  they 
were  hired  to  perform. 


M-G-M  Auditors  Meet 

M-G-M  will  hold  an  auditors'  meet- 
ing April  25-26  at  the  Hotel  Astor 
here.  Among  the  field  auditors  who 
will  attend  are  Arthur  Sterling,  Ar- 
thur Sklar,  Thomas  Grady,  John  Ash, 
Parke  Agnew.  Edward  Urschell,  W. 
Gillilan,  Charles  Bell,  Carl  Gentzel, 
Oliver  Broughton,  F.  W.  N.  Beckitt, 
Miss  G.  Hawkins,  and  a  number  of 
home  office  executives. 


Dowden  Heads  Drive 

Edward  C.  Dowden  of  Loew's  has 
been  named  chairman  of  the  motion 
picture  special  gifts  committee  for  the 
Brooklyn  Diocesan  Catholic  Charities 
drive,  by1  Bishop  Thomas  E.  Molloy. 
The  diocese  includes  Brooklyn,  Queens, 
Nassau  and  Suffolk. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York.  ' 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager:  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23.  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.  Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


.Vednesday,  April  19,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


3 


Review 


"Show  Business" 

(RKO-Radio) 

THE  good  news  is  that  RKO  has  a  swell  film  in  "Show  Business," 
produced  by  Eddie  Cantor.  Without  resorting  to  over-lavish  produc- 
tion sequences  or  the  usual  beautiful  girls  and  specialty  numbers,  it 
emerges  as  one  of  the  better  film  musicals  of  the  year,  providing  grand, 
appealing  entertainment  with  a  plentiful  helping  of  comedy,  supplied  by 
Cantor  and  Joan  Davis,  and  a  tasteful  romance  between  George  Murphy 
and  Constance  Moore.  It  certainly  should  prove  to  be  one  of  RKO's  big 
box-office  pictures  of  the  year. 

Essentially  this  is  the  story  of  four  hard-working  troupers.  Murphy  is 
a  popular  song-and-dance  man  of  burlesque  in  1914  when  he  helps  Cantor 
get  a  break  during  an  appearance  as  an  amateur  at  Miner's  old  Bowery 
Theatre.  Murphy  is  something  of  a  lothario  but  Nancy  Kelly  has  defi- 
nite designs  upon  him.  With  Cantor  as  his  partner,  Murphy  decides  to 
break  into  vaudeville.  His  engaging  personality  attracts  Miss  Moore 
who,  with  Miss  Davis,  are  a  "sister  act"  handled  by  Don  Douglas  who 
is  in  love  with  Miss  Moore.  All  four  team  as  an  act  and  their  struggles 
provide  many  of  the  hilarious  sequences.  Murphy  and  Miss  Moore  even- 
tually get  married  but  Miss  Kelly  succeeds  in  breaking  up  the  marriage 
on  the  night  that  Miss  Moore  gives  birth  to  a  daughter  who  dies.  They 
are  eventually  remarried  on  the  night  that  Murphy,  Cantor  and  Miss 
Davis  score  in  Ziegfeld's  "Whoopie"  on  Broadway. 

Full  credit  for  making  this  film  .what  it  is  go  to  the  ingratiating  per- 
formances of  Cantor,  Murphy  and  the  Misses  Davis  and  Moore.  Cantor 
is  cast  in  the  type  of  role  that  made  him  a  favorite  with  the  American 
public  for  many  years.  Miss  Davis  is  finally  provided  with  an  ample 
opportunity  to  display  her  type  of  comedy  and  she  registers  throughout. 
Murphy  is  a  likeable  and  capable  song-and-dance  man  and  Miss  Moore 
is  quite  pleasant.  Miss  Kelly  is  effective  as  Murphy's  "pack  of  trouble" 
who  can  handle  a  song  as  well  as  the  rest  of  them.  Under  Edwin  L. 
Marin's  deft  direction  they  provide  the  simple  story  with  the  proper 
warmth  and  render  a  dozen  old  tunes  in  a  manner  which  spells  enjoyment. 

The  old  standby,  "It  Had  to  Be  You,"  is  destined  for  a  revival  as  a 
result  of  the  play  it  receives  here.  Cantor  is  tops  in  delivering  "Making 
Whoopie."  The  old  favorites,  "Dinah,"  "I'm  Alabamv  Bound,"  "I  Don't 
Want  To  Get  Well,"  and  "I  Want  a  Girl  Just  Like  the  Girl  That  Mar- 
ried Dear  Old  Dad,"  are  also  spotted  to  good  advantage.  The  screen 
olay  by  Joseph  Quillan  and  Dorothy  Bennett,  from  a  story  by  Bert 
Granet,  makes  a  generous  use  of  Cantor's  background,  but  it  admirably 
avoids  making  this  either  a  panorama  of  show  business  or  a  personal 
narrative.  C.  Bakaleinikoff  acted  as  musical  director  and  musical  num- 
bers were  created  and  staged  by  Nick  Castle.  Robert  DeGrasse  was 
director  of  photography. 
Running  time,  92  minutes.  "G."*  Released  in  block  No.  10. 

Milton  Livingston 


Republic's  '44-45 
|  Lineup  April  25 

Republic's  1944-45  program  will  be 
'  announced  at  a  two-day  regional  sales 
:  conference  to  be  held  Tuesday  and 
I  Wednesday,  April  25-26,  at  the  com- 
Ipany's  Hollywood  studios,  the  home 
Loffice  reported  here  yesterday.    H.  J. 
I  Yates,  Sr.,  is  now  at  the  Coast,  and 
will  remain  for  the  meeting.  James  R. 
Grainger,  President  of  Republic  Pic- 
tures,   will    arrive    there    April  2T. 
Western  district  sales  manager  Francis 
j  Bateman  will  head  a  contingent  of 
j  men  from  that  area. 

Republic  is  committed  to  32  features 
and  32  Westerns  for  the  current  sea- 
son, and  there  is  not  expected  to  be 
any  change  in  1944-45. 

Will  Discuss  Releases 

In  addition  to  the  announcement, 
there  will  be  discussions  on  the  pro- 
motion of  forthcoming  releases  :  "Man 
From  Frisco,"  which  co-stars  Michael 
O'Shea  and  Anne  Shirley;  "Storm 
Over  Lisbon,"  starring  'Vera  Hruba 
Ralston,  Richard  Arlen,  and  Erich 
Von  Stroheim ;  two  Roy  Rogers' 
specials,  "Yellow  Rose  of  Texas"  and 
"Song  of  Nevada,"  and  the  series  of 
Red  Ryder  Westerns  based  on  the  car- 
toon strip. 

Republic  will  continue  to  back  its 
top  production  with  heavy  campaigns 
in  key  cities  and  has  allocated  $250,000 
for  "Man  From  Frisco"  in  the  32  key 
cities  and  an  additional  $100,000  for 
subordinate  spots. 

Among  those  who  will  also  attend 
the  Coast  sessions  are  branch  man- 
agers John  Frey,  Los  Angeles,  and 
Sid  Weisbaum,  San  Francisco ;  J.  T. 
Sheffield,  franchise  holder  of  the 
Northwest,  and  branch  managers  F. 
M.  Higgins,  Seattle;  J.  H.  Sheffield. 
Portland ;  Gene  Gerbase,  Denver ;  and 
H.  C.  Fuller,  Salt  Lake  City. 

Para.,  Univ.  Handle 
Specials  Abroad 

Paramount  will  handle  international 
distribution  of  "Memphis  Belle,"  as 
well  as  domestic,  with  the  exception 
of  Great  Britain  where  the  Army  Air 
Force  documentary  will  be  handled  by 
the  British  Ministry  of  Information 
by  agreement  with  the  Office  of  War 
Information. 

Foreign  distribution  of  "With  the 
Marines  at  Tarawa"  will  be  handled 
by  Universal,  which  also  is  handling 
domestic  distribution  of  the  picture. 
Both  distribution  assignments  were 
made  at  a  meeting  of  major  company 
foreign  department  heads  here  yester- 
day. 

Dinner  on  Monday 
For  Schwalberg 

A.  W.  Schwalberg,  who  will  leave 
Warners  at  the  end  of  next  week  to 
become  Eastern  representative  of  the 
Spitz-Goetz  International  Pictures  on 
May  1,  will  be  given  a  testimonial 
dinner  Monday  night  at  the  Waldorf 
Astoria  by  associates  and  friends  at 
Warners. 


Lazarus  on  Duty  Here 

Private  Paul  Lazarus,  Jr.,  former 
United  Artists  advertising  publicity 
director,  has  been  assigned  from  the 
Camp  Upton,  L.  I.,  reception  center 
to  publicity  duties  for  Wac  recruiting 
at  Manhattan  headquarters  in  White- 
hall Street. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Montana  ITO  Annual 
Meeting  Is  May  11 

Billings,  Mont.:  April  18.  —  The 
annual  meeting  of  the  Independent 
Theatre  Owners  of  Montana  will  be 
held  on  Mav  11  at  the  Northern  Ho- 
tel here  with  election  of  officers  and 
a  forum  on  trade  problems  scheduled 
to  take  place.  Sam  Gillette,  president 
of  the  Inter-Mountain  Theatre  Own- 
ers of  Idaho,  Utah  and  Nevada,  will 
speak. 

Officers  of  the  ITO  of  Montana 
are :  Stewart  North,  president ;  I 
H.  Moran,  vice-president ;  J.  M 
Suckstorff,  secretary-treasurer,  and 
Arthur  F.  Lamey,  general  counsel. 


HVC  Will  Open  New 
Hospital  Circuit 

Hollywood,  April  18. — The  Holly- 
wood Victory  Committee  has  issued 
a  "call  to  service"  to  500  top  players 
in  launching  a  campaign  to  send  stars 
and  featured  performers  on  the  USO- 
Camp  Shows  new  Army  and  Navy 
hospital  circuit  for  the  entertainment 
of  service  men  and  women  returned 
from  overseas  to  recover  from  wounds. 
The  committee  has  given  service  hos- 
pitals first  priority  on  entertainment. 


SOPEG,Para.Dispute 
Settlement  Attempt 

Arbitration  proceedings  to  resolve 
the  job  classification  and  salary  sched- 
ule adjustment  controversy  between 
Screen  Office  and  Professional  Em- 
ployes Guild,  Local  109,  CIO  and 
Paramount,  involving  some  400  Para- 
mount home  office  "white,  collarites" 
have  been  adjourned  for  two  weeks  to 
give  both  sides  a  chance  to  meet  and 
again  attempt  to  reach  an  agreement. 

Arbitration  hearings  were  held  in 
the  Paramount  board  room  here  on 
Monday  with  both  sides  presenting 
their  cases.  At  the  close  of  all-dav 
sessions,  an  arbitration  panel  consist- 
ing of  Thomas  Murphy  of  the  New 
York  Newspaper  Guild,  who  was  ap- 
pointed in  the  place  of  Richard  Seller, 
also  of  the  Guild;  Albert  G.  Whaley. 
lawyer  appointed  by  Paramount,  and 
Aaron  Horvitz,  impartial  arbitrator 
agreed  "upon  by.  both  sides,  directed 
the  two-week  adjournment. 


Lipton  at  Astoria  • 

Private  David  Lipton,  former  adver- 
tising publicity  director  for  Columbia, 
is  now  stationed  at  Astoria.  L.  I.,  with 
the  Army  Signal  Corps  Photographic 
Section,  but  with  an  unassigned  status 
for  the  time  being. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  18 

WARNERS  and  Busby  Berkeley 
have  agreed  to  cancellation  of  his 
director's  contract.    Settlement  of  the 
contract  was  pending  when  Berkeley 
joined  M-G-M  some  time  ago. 
• 

A  Hollywood  chapter  of  the  Laugh- 
makers  Club  of  America  will  be 
formed  here  next  Friday  night  at  the 
Egyptian  Theatre  preview  of  "Up  in 
Mabel's  Room."  The  club  has  one 
rule :  "Every  comedian  a  president." 
The  members,  as  well  as  trade  and 
daily  press  representatives,  will  be 
guests  of  the  "Mabel"  cast. 

• 

Cagney  Productions  has  purchased 
"Blood  on  the  Sun,"  Garrett  Fort's 
story  of  an  American  newspaperman 
in  Tokyo  during  the  period  when  the 
Japs  were  planning  world  conquest. 
James  Cagney,  who  will  return  from 
an  overseas  USO  tour  next  month, 
will  star. 

• 

Kenneth  MacGowan's  first  produc- 
tion for  Paramount  will  be  "Rainbow's 
End,"  a  Harold  Shumate  original  melo- 
drama with  music,  laid  in  the  Ameri- 
can West  of  1875.  The  film  will  be 
in  Technicolor,  with  a  special  budget. 
• 

Last  of  the  86  short  subjects  on 
Warners  1943-44  schedule  will  go  into 
production  tomorrow  under  Gordon 
Hollingshead's  supervision.  Final 
short  is  "Musical  Movieland"  in  Tech- 
nicolor. 

• 

RKO-Radio  has  purchased  the 
rights  to  the  comic  strip,  "Dick 
Tracy,"  by  Chester  Gould.  They  will 
produce  it  with  all  the  major  charac- 
ters retained. 

• 

Hal  Home,  20th-Fox  advertising- 
publicity  director,  and  Charles  Sch- 
laifer,  advertising  manager,  will  leave 
Friday  for  the  East  on  the  Superchief. 
• 

Universal  announced  today  they  will 
make  "The  Return  of  the  Sheik,"  with 
Maria  Montez  starred,  in  Technicolor. 
Paul  Malvern  will  produce. 


Chicago  Lauded  as 
20th  Sales  Leader 

Chicago,  April  18. — Tribute  was 
paid  today  by  Tom  Connors,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox  distribution  vice-president, 
to  50  local  exhibitors  at  a  luncheon 
at  the  Hotel  Blackstone  for  their  co- 
operation in  sustaining  the  Chicago 
exchange  of  the  company  as  the  coun- 
try's leader  in  volume  of  sales. 

Among  those  present  today,  repre- 
senting Chicago  and  Midwest  inter- 
ests were :  John  Balaban,  Walter  Im- 
merman,  William  K.  Hollander  and 
Harry  Lustgarten  of  Balaban  and 
Katz ;  James  Coston  of  Warner  Bros. 
Theatres ;  Jack  Kirsch,  leading  the 
Allied  Independent  Theatre  operators  ; 
Tom  Gorman  of  RKO  Theatres ;  Sam 
Traynor  ■  of  Bailey  Enterprises,  and 
Jack  Rosen  of  Indiana-Illinois  Thea- 
tres. 


/.  Irving  White  Dies 

Los  Angeles,  April  18. — J.  Irving 
White,  79,  veteran  of  more  than  50 
years  on  stage  and  screen,  died  yes- 
terday in  Cedars  of  Lebanon  Hospital. 


;-  : 


'TWO  GIRLS  AND  A  SAILOR"  with  Van  Johnson,  June 
Mlyson,  Gloria  DeHaven,  Jose  Iturbi,  Jimmy  Durante,  Gracie 
Mien,  Lena  Home  •  Harry  James  and  His  Music  Makers 
Wth  Helen  Forrest  •  Xavier  Cugat  and  His  Orchestra  with 
-ina  Romay  •  Tom  Drake,  Henry  Stephenson,  Henry 
)'NeilI,  Ben  Blue,  Carlos  Ramirez,  Frank  Sully,  Albert 
-oates,  Donald  Meek,  Amparo  Novarro,  Virginia  O'Brien, 
Vilde  Twins  •  Original  Screen  Play  by  Richard  Connell 
ind  Gladys  Lehman  •  Directed  by  Richard  Thorpe 
Produced  by  Joe  Pasternak 


"ANDY  HARDY'S  BLONDE 
TROUBLE"  with  Lewis 
Stone,  Mickey  Rooney,  Fay 
Holden,  Sara  Haden,  Bonita 
Granville,  Jean  Porter,  Keye 
Luke  and  Herbert  Marshall 
Screen  Play  by  Harry  Ruskin, 
William  Ludwig  and  Agnes 
Christine  Johnson  •  Directed 
by  George  B.  Seitz 


"MEET  THE  PEOPLE"  Starring 
Lucille  Ball,  Dick  Powell  with 
Virginia  O'Brien,  B^rt  Lahr, 
"Rags"  Ragland,  June  Allyson 
and  Vaughn  Monroe  and  His 
Orchestra  «  Spike  Jones  and  His 
City  Slickers  •  Screen  Play  by 
S.  M.  Herzig  and  Fred  Saidy 
Directed  by  Charles  Riesner 
Produced  by  E.  Y.  Harburg 


"THREE  MEN  IN 
WHITE"  with  Lionel 
Barrymore,  Van  Johnson, 
Marilyn  Maxwell,  Keye 
Luke,  Ava  Gardner,  Alma 
Kruger,  "Rags"  Ragland 
Original  Screen  Play  by 
Martin  Berkeley  and 
Harry  Ruskin  •  Directed  by 
Willis  Goldbeck 


■A 


6 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  April  19,  1944 


Review 

"Pin-Up  Girl" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

<*P  IN-UP  GIRL"  is  another  lavish  20th  Century-Fox  Technicolor  mu- 

*  sical  starring  Betty  Grable  which  is  rich  in  popular  entertainment 
value  and  geared  for  top  box-office  returns.  However,  unlike  its  recent 
predecessors,  "Coney  Island"  and  "Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady,"  the  emphasis 
in  this  stunning  William  LeBaron  production  is  on  the  timely  red,  white 
and  blue  of  these  days.  Featured  are  Martha  Raye,  Joe  E.  Brown,  Eu- 
gene Pallette  and  Charlie  Spivak  and  his  band.  • 

Miss  Grable,  packing  her  customary  appeal  in  all  departments  which 
saw  her  voted  the  top  money-making  star  of  1943  in  Motion  Picture  Her- 
ald's last  annual  poll,  is  presented  here  as  the  darling  of  the  USO  canteen 
in  her  home  town  in  the  Midwest,  who  goes  to  Washington  to  become 
a  stenographer  and  emerges  as  a  popular  night  club  entertainer.  Though 
she  is  "engaged"  to  some  500  service  boys,  she  finally  settles  upon  a 
"heart-throb"  in  the  person  of  John  Harvey,  a  returned  sailor  hero  of 
Guadalcanal.  Comedy  is  supplied  by  Brown  as  a  night  club  show  pro- 
ducer and  Miss  Raye,  his  featured  nemesis.  Spivak  and  his  orchestra, 
aided  by  Miss  Grable  and  Miss  Ray,  are  provided  with  plenty  of  musical 
opportunities  in  the  eight  tunes  of  the  Mack  Gordon-James  Monaco 
score,  with  "You're  My  Little  Pin-Up  Girl,"  "Don't  Carry  Tales  Out  of 
School"  and  "Time  Alone  Will  Tell"  seemingly  destined  for  "Hit  Parade" 
attention.  "The  Story  of  the  Very  Merry  Widow"  and  "Red  Robins, 
Bob  Whites  and  Blue  Birds"  supply  the  musical  background  for  two  top 
production  numbers. 

LeBaron  has  wisely  prevented  the  "usual  complications"  in  the  Rob- 
ert Ellis-Helen  Logan-Earl  Baldwin  screenplay — from  a  Libbie  Block 
story — from  interfering  with  the  film's  tasteful  production,  including  a 
grand  dance  spectacle  on  roller  skates  and  a  rousing  uniformed  military 
drill  finale.  Bruce  Humberstone's  direction  keeps  the  slim  story  paced 
with  the  opulence  of  the  entertainment. 

The  Condos  Brothers  are  featured  in  two  dance  specialties ;  Pallette 
is  convincing  as  the  blustering  old  Navy  sea  horse  chained  to  a  Washing- 
ton desk ;  Dorothea  Kent  has  her  moments  in  trying  vainly  to  lasso  Miss 
Grable's  flair  for  adventure  as  her  home  town  chum,  and  Dave  Willock 
is  Harvey's  sailor  buddy.  Ernest  Palmer  handled  photography  and 
Hermes  Pan  staged  the  dances  with  a  good  assist  from  Gae  Foster  in  the 
roller  skating  sequence. 

Running  time,  83  minutes.  "G."*  Released  in  May  in  Block  No.  5. 

Milton  Livingston 


Hollywood  Is  Cited 
For  Bond  Sales 


Hollywood,  April  18.— Official 
recognition  of  Hollywood's  effort  in 
war  bond  sales  was  extended  at  a 
Beverly  Hills  Hotel  luncheon  today 
when  a  distinguished  service  citation 
from  the  Treasury  Department  was 
presented  to  Henry  Ginsberg  as  chair- 
man of  the  Hollywood  M.  P.  War 
Finance  Committee.  Signed  by  Sec- 
retary Morgenthau,  it  was  presented 
by  Robert  H.  Moulton,  War  Finance 
Committee  state  chairman  for  South- 
ern California. 

"We  wonder  just  how  the  rest  of 
the  country  gets  along  without  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry,"  he  said. 

In  addition  to  members  of  the  Hol- 
lywood committee,  special  guests  in- 
cluded Rear  Admiral  I.  C.  Johnson, 
Major  General  Walter  P.  Story, 
Howard  D.  Mills,  regional  director 
of  the  War  Finance  Committee  for 
11  Western  states,  and  Dorothy  La- 
mour. 

The  occasion  was  the  second  anni- 
versary of  the  Hollywood  committee 
which  has  sold  $56,000,000  in  war 
bonds,  aside  from  the  purchases  made 
by  film  corporations  here.  Attend- 
ance at  the  luncheon  was  a  complete 
cross-section  of  the  production  com- 
munity, including  representatives  of 
independent  and  major  companies, 
guilds,  unions,  publicists  and  agents. 

Fitzgibbons  Names 
6th  Loan  Chairmen  . 

Toronto,  April  18.  —  Provincial 
chairmen  for  the  motion  picture  sec- 
tion of  the  Canadian  National  War 
Finance  Committee  have  been  an- 
nounced by  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons,  chair- 
man of  the  executive  committee  of 
the  industry's  War  Services  Commit- 
tee, who  will  head  the  industry's 
Sixth  Victory  Loan. 

They  are:  K.  M.  Leach,  Strand 
Theatre,  Calgary,  Alberta;  D.  Gries- 
dorf,  Odeon  Theatres,  Vancouver, 
British  Columbia;  J.  Pearson,  Corona 
Theatre,  Winnipeg,  Manitoba;  Reg. 
March,  20th-Fox,  St.  John,  N.  B. ; 
R.  S.  Roddick,  Capitol  Theatre, 
Halifax,  and  W.  H.  Cuzner,  Strand 
Theatre,  Sydney  Mines,  both  Nova 
Scotia;  N.  A.  Taylor,  20th  Century 
Theatres,  Toronto,  and  Herb  Allen, 
Toronto,  Ontario;  Eugene  Beaulac, 
Quebec  Allied  Theatrical  Industries, 
Montreal,  Quebec;  W.  Winterton, 
Capitol  Theatre,  Saskatoon,  Saslc.,  and 
Kay  Lewis,  Canadian  M.  P.  War 
Services  Committee,  Toronto,  On- 
tario, secretary.  . 

Exhibitors  Liable  for 
Violating  Curfew 

Milwaukee,  April  18— Exhibitors 
here  would  be  held  liable  under  an 
amended  curfew  ordinance  as  recom- 
mended by  the  judiciary  committee  of 
Milwaukee's  council.  If  adopted,  seri- 
ous complication's  to  showmen  and 
their  employes  would  result. 

Agents  of  companies,  corporations 
and  individuals  operating  amusement 
places,  hotels  and  rooming  houses 
would  be  held  liable  for  violations. 
The  ordinance  forbids  the  presence  of 
minors  under  16  in  public  places  after 
midnight.  Under  the  amendment, 
amusement  place  operators  would  be 
liable  to  a  fine  ranging  from  $10  to 
$100  and  up  to  30  days  in  jail.  . 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

End  'Canteen'  Fight; 
To  Resume  Shooting 

Hollywood,  April  18. — Warners  and 
the  Screen  Actors  Guild  reached  an 
agreement  on  the  application  of  the 
Guild's  rule  33  to  "Hollywood  Can- 
teen," and  the  studio  has  announced 
immediate  resumption  of  production. 
For  purposes  of  this  picture,  the  Guild 
will  consider  a  minimum  week's  salary 
as  normal  compensation  for  actors 
wishing  to  appear  in  brief  roles. 

In  a  joint  statement  the  Guild  de- 
clared it  had  received  assurances  from 
Warners  that  no  pressure  would  be 
exerted  to  force  actors  into  the  pic- 
ture and  that  none  was  contemplated. 
Warners  will  dismiss  its  suit  against 
SAG  and  further  conferences  on 
"pressure  pictures"  will  be  conducted 
on  an  industry-wide  basis. 

Rafael  Cobian  Gets 
31  Goldwyn  Reissues 

Rafael  Ramos  Cobian,  Puerto  Rican 
distributor,  has  acquired  reissue  rights 
in  that  counttry  to  31  Samuel  Goldwyn 
productions,  ranging  from  "Bulldog 
Drummond"  to  "The  Westerner,"  the 
Goldwyn  office  announced  here  this 
week.  George  Callahan  represented 
Cobian. 

This  is  the  third  South  American 
reissue  deal  for  this  series  of  pictures. 
Henry  R.  Arias  represented  the  pro- 
ducer in  the  negotiations. 


SWG  Calls  Industry 
'Vigilante'  Meeting 

Hollywood,  April  18. — The  execu- 
tive board  of  the  Screen  Writers 
Guild  has  dispatched  a  telegraphic 
invitation  to  40  talent,  labor  and  pro- 
ducer groups  to  "join  representatives 
of  all  branches  of  the  industry  in  a 
meeting  on  May  2  at  the  Hollywood 
Roosevelt  Hotel,  to  the  end  that  pic- 
ture making  and  picture  makers  will' 
no  longer  be  convenient  scapegoats  for 
pressure  groups." 

The  telegrams  also  stated:  "This 
conference  is  called  to  plan  an  indus- 
try-wide meeting  dedicated  to  effect 
a  vigilante  program  of  public  relations 
to  protect  the  industry's  patriotic 
efforts  and  the  freedom  of  the  screen 
from  unprincipled  attacks.  This  will 
ensure  that  only  the  industry  as  a 
whole  speaks  for  industry." 

SWG  spokesman  said  the  action 
followed  closely  on  heels  of  censorious 
action  taken  by  its  membership  against 
the  Motion  Picture  Alliance  for  the 
Preservation  of  American  Ideals, 
which  had  charged  that  the  industry 
was  rife  with  "Communism-Fascism" 
and  had  sought  in  vain  to  get  co- 
operative action  from  the  guild. 

William  Green  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  April  18.— William  Green, 
M-G-M  publicist  with  the  Des  Moines 
office,  is  temporarily  in  charge  of  pub- 
licity at  the  local  branch  during  the 
absence  of  W.  G.  Bishop,  on  tour  of 
the  Western  division  with  John  E. 
Flynn,  general  sales  manager. 


$538,794  More  for 
Red  Cross  Drive 

Additional  reports  from  80  theatres 
of  the  RKO  Circuit,  160  theatres  in 
Florida,  360  in  Louisiana,  180  in  Colo- 
rado, and  from  60  theatres  in  the 
Martin  circuit  in  the  South  to  Joseph 
Bernhard,  national  chairman  of  the 
motion  picture  industry's  1944  Red 
Cross  campaign  show  collections  to- 
taling $538,794  for  those  houses. 

First  80  houses  of  the  RKO  circuit 
to  report  1944  Red  Cross  collections 
to  Edward  L.  Alperson,  general  man- 
ager, showed  a  total  of  $184,834,  an 
average  of  more  than  $2,300  per  thea- 
tre. 

E.  V.  Richards,  Louisiana  WAC 
exhibitor  chairman,  reported  from 
New  Orleans  that  360  of  the  540  thea- 
tres in  that  territory  had  taken  in 
$152,612,  averaging  $425  each.  Rick 
Ricketson,  state  chairman  for  Colora- 
do, reports  $50,511  from  180  theatres 
with  100  houses  still  to  report  The 
Martin  circuit  collected  $23,000  in  60 
theatres,  a  substantial  average  for 
small  community  theatres.  J.  L.  Cart- 
wright,  Florida  exhibitor  chairman, 
reports  collections  of  $127,837  from 
160  theatres,  an  average  of  $800  per 
theatre,  with  returns  to  come  from 
140  more  Florida  houses. 

Memphis  Withholds 
Report  on  Booths 

Memphis,  April  18. — C.  J.  Verret 
has  been  appointed  chairman  and  Hill- 
man  O.  McKenzie,  X-ray  official,  and 
J.  Nolan  Cullen,  projectionist  at  the 
Warner  theatre  here,  have  been  ap- 
pointed members  of  the  Memphis 
Board  of  Examiners  of  M.  P.  Opera- 
tors. McKenzie  and  Cullen  were 
named  to  succeed  former  chairman 
Fred  S.  Bauer,  Sr.,  and  A.  G.  Shelton 
who  recently  resigned  after  filing  a 
report  on  theatre  booths. 

The  report  has  been  withheld  ex- 
cept for  the  information  on  29  of  the 
city's  34  booths.  Thirteen  booths  were 
held  to  be  satisfactory,  12  passable  and 
four  lacking  in  sanitary  or  safety  facil- 
ities. Names  of  the  theatres  were  not 
disclosed.  . 

Simultaneously  the  city  commission 
amended  the  ordinance  lowering  the 
age  of  the  operators'  helpers  from  18 
to  17. 


SAG  Would  Protect 
Television  Players 

Hollywood,  April  18. — The  direc- 
tors of  the  Screen  Actors  Guild  have 
appointed  a  committee  to  confer  with 
the  Associated  Actors  and  Artistes  of 
America  unions  on  the  best  procedure 
for  protecting  television  players  from 
"merciless  advertising  agency  treat- 
ment." 

Named  on  the  committee  were  Mur- 
ray Kinnell,  Walter  Abel  and  Flor- 
ence Marston,  who  are  all  now  in  New 
York,  where  conferences  on  "televi- 
sion players'  affiliation  with  AAAA" 
will  be  started  immediately. 


Johnson  to  IATSE  Meet 

Lou  Johnson,  president  of  Local  B- 
51,  Film  Exchange  Employes  Union. 
New  York,  has  been  named  delegate 
to  the  IATSE  convention,  to  be  held 
in  St.  Louis  May  28.  Johnson  will 
represent  all  department  B  and  F  lo- 
cals in  this  10th  district. 


HUD  OVER  at  ESQUIRE  t 


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MONOGRAM  PICTURES  ^.hu 


A  SCOTT  R.  DUNLAP 
Production 


BELITA 

The  Most  Versatile  Girl  on  the  Screen 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  19,  1944 


Baseball  Fans  Swell 
'Cover  Girl'  Gross 


Cincinnati,  April  18.  —  Weekend 
returns,  plus  accelerated  attendance 
irom  baseball  fans  here  this  week,  will 
give  "Cover  Girl"  at  the  RKO  Palace 
an  estimated  $17,500,  while  "Swing- 
time  Johnny,"  with  George  White's 
Scandals  on  the  RKO  Albee  stage,  is 
heading  for  around  $22,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  18-22: 

'Swingtime  Johnny"  (Univ.) 

RKO  ALBEE—  (3,300)  (50c-60c-70c-85c-96c) 
7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Stage: 
George    White's    Scandals.    Gross:  $22,000. 
(Average:  $22,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"-' (Para.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,700)    (44c -50c -60c -70c) 
7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average:  $10,000). 
'•Casanova  in  Burlesque"  (Rep.) 
"Law  Men"  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,700.  (Average,  $1,600). 
"Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scour"  (Para.) 
"Empty  Holsters"   (WB  reissue) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $850.   (Average:  $800). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)   (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,   plus    Saturday   midnight   show,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average:  $9,500). 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

KEITH'S—  (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.  (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO   LYRIC—  (1,400)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,    plus   Saturday    midnight    show,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $5,800.  (Average:  $5,500). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

RKO    PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$17,500.   (Average:  $15,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

RKO  SHUBERT — (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  3rd  week,  after  two  weeks  at  the 
Palace.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average:  $5,000). 


'Marseille'  Nets  Neat 
$20,000  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland,  April  18. — "Passage  to 
Marseille"  at  Warners  Hippodrome 
with  $24,000,  and  "Action  in  Arabia" 
with  a  vaudeville  show  headed  by 
Martha  Raye  at  the  RKO  Palace, 
grossing  $26,500,  were  the  only  cur- 
rent shows  to  go  over  par. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19 : 

"Desert  Song"  (WB) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $8,200.  (Average:  $8,500). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 
WARNERS'  HIPPODROME>-(3,500)  (44c- 

55c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $24,000.  (Average: 

$22,100). 

"Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days.  3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,300.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  OHIO— (1.268)  (43c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,000.  (Average:  $5,000). 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

RKO  PALACE—  (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Martha  Raye  and  vaudeville. 
Gross:  $26,500.  (Average:  $25,400). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  STATE — (3,300)  (43c -65c),  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average: 
$19,000). 

"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average:  $10,000). 


Film  Classics  Sets 
2  More  Franchises 

Consummation  of  two  additional 
Film  Classics  franchises  was  an- 
nounced by  George  A.  Hirliman,  pres- 
ident, upon  his  return  here  from  re- 
gional conferences  in  the  South. 

John  W.  Mangham,  head  of  Films 
Classics  of  Atlanta,  will  also  operate 
the  two  new  companies,  which  will 
cover  the  Memphis  and  New  Orleans 
territory  and  will  be  named  Films 
Classics  of  Tennessee  and  Film  Class- 
ics of  Louisiana. 


Reviews 


'Days  of  Glory' 


(RKO) 

ttl^VAVS  OF  GLORY"  has  a  fresh  array  of  talent,  headed  by  Tamara 
Toumanova,  internationally-known  ballerina,  in  her  first  cinematic 
role.  Others  include  Gregory  Peck,  former  Broadway  stage  star,  Alan 
Reed,  Maria  Palmer  and  Lowell  Gilmore,  all  handling  their  first  feature 
film  assignments  with  refreshing  sincerity  and  an  apparent  genuine  ap- 
preciation of  their  characterizations.  Jacques  Tourneur  directed  the 
newcomers  with  sensitive  skill,  and  the  result  is  an  appealing  picture 
which  should  pull.  As  an  expression  of  propaganda  for  the  Russian 
cause,  parts  of  the  story  are  lost  for  those  who  have  seen  other  film  ver- 
sions of  Russia's  heroic  defense  of  the  homeland. 

Essentially  this  is  the  story  of  a  band  of  guerillas,  commanded  by 
Peck,  operating  from  a  deserted  monastery  outside  the  gates  of  a  Nazi- 
held  town.  The  principal  theme  is  parallelled  by  the  delicately  handled 
story  of  love  between  Miss  Toumanova  and  Peck  and  ofttimes  this  secon- 
dary tale  rises  above  the  main  story  thread.  Eventually  all  members  of 
the  little  group  are  killed,  including  the  16-year-old  partisan  hero,  Glenn 
Vernon,  who  turns  in  an  inspired  performance.  Last  defenders  of  the 
town  are  Peck  and  Miss  Toumanova  who  see  the  town  re-won  by  the 
Soviets  as  a  result  of  their  courageous  action,  before  they,  too,  are  killed. 
The  music  score,  which  clings  throughout  to  a  note  of  hope  and  a  prom- 
ise of  better  days  to  come,  was  written  by  Daniele  Amfitheatrof  and 
directed  by  C.  Bakaleinikoff.  It  adds  much  to  the  production. 

Producer  Casey  Robinson  wrote  the  screen  adaptation  from  an  original 
by  Melchior  Lengyel. 

Running  time,  86  mins.   "G."*   Released  in  Block  5. 

Helen  McXamara 


'Slightly  Terrific" 


(Unk'ersal) 

Hollywood,  April  18 

C  LIGHTLY  is  hardly  the  word  to  use  in  describing  how  "Slightly 
^  Terrific"  falls  behind  the  title  implications  with  only  rare  bits  of 
comedy  by  Leon  Errol  and  the  zestful  efforts  of  youthful  song-and- 
dance  artists  worthy  of  note. 

The  well-worn  plot  is  really  two-in-one,  providing  little  creditable  con- 
tinuity between  the  struggling  comedy  bits  of  Errol  and  the  youthfully 
exuberant  dancing  and  singing  of  Anne  Rooney,  Eddie  Quillan,  Betty 
Kean,  Jayne  Forrest  and  Lillian  Cornell,  together  with  specialty  groups 
of  dancers. 

A  group  of  juvenile  stage  aspirants  mistakes  Errol  for  the  wealthy 
member  of  twins  and  thinks  it  has  found  an  angel.  Learning  their  mis- 
take they  win  a  break  when  Anne's  appealing  youth  wins  over  the  hard- 
hearted twin.  Eddie  Cline  directed  for  associate  producer  Alexis  Thurn- 
Taxis  from  a  screenplay  by  Stanley  Davis  and  Edward  Dein  based  on  an 
original  by  Edith  Watkins  and  Florence  McEnany. 

Running  time,  62  minutes.  "G."*  Release  date  May  5. 

Jack  Cartwright 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Arms'  Looks  Like 
$8,600  Over  Par 

Buffalo,  April  18.  —  An  enormous 
week  is  anticipated  here  on  the  basis 
of  weekend  grosses.  "Up  In  Arms" 
opened  to  capacity  and  looks  good  for 
$20,800.  "A  Guy  Named  Joe"  at  the 
Buffalo  and  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  at  the 
Great  Lakes,  both  in  second  weeks, 
kept  up  their  pace. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  22 : 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average: 
$17,400). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (40c -50c -60c -70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $22,500.  (Average: 
$16,600). 

"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 
"Hot  Rhythm"  (Mono.) 

HIPPODROME—  (2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Average:  $9,700). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY— (3,000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.  Gross:  $20,800.  (Aver- 
age: $12,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"Calling  Dr.  Death"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,  "Cover  Girl"  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,400. 
(Average:  $12,400). 


'Marseille'  Sets  Pace 
In  Indianapolis  Run 

Indianapolis,  April  18.  —  "Passage 
to  Marseille"  and  "Memphis  Bell"  will 
gross  $14,000  at  the  Indiana  this  week 
to  take  the  lead  here. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  18-20: 

"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

CIRCLE— (2.800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Cross: 
$ll,0CO.  (Average:  $11,800). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,000.  (Average:  $11,600). 
"Song  of  Russia"  M-G-M) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

LOEW'S — (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,000.  (Average:  $11,500). 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (32c-55c)  7  days,  move 
over  from  Indiana.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average: 
$4,900). 


SPG  Names  Moses 

Vivian  Moses  of  RKO's  home  office 
publicity  department,  has  been  elected 
second  vice-president  of  the  Screen 
Publicists  Guild  here  succeeding  Carl 
Rigrod,  who  recently  joined  Donahue 
and  Coe,  advertising  agency. 


'Buffalo  Bill'  Pulls 
Big  in  Kansas  City 


Kansas  City,  April  18. — "Buffalo 
Bill"  at  the  Esquire,  Uptown  and  Fair- 
way theatres  is  a  film  the  town  is  wild 
over  and  all  three  chalked  up  $16,700 
for  the  week's  run. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19-22 : 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fcx) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  i 
$7,500.  (Average:  $6,000). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"Nine  Girls"  (CoL) 

MIDLAND — (3.600)     (40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $17,500.  (Average:  $14,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
NEWMAN— (1,900)  (46c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,000.  (Average:  $11,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM—  (1,900)     (45c-65c)     7  davs. 
Gross:  $16,500.  (Average:  $10,000). 
"Where  Are  Your  Children?"  (Mono.) 
"Weekend  Pass"  (Univ.)  and  Stage 

TOWER— (2,200)  (40c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
S12.000.  (Average  $9,400). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2.000)      (45c-6Sc)      7  davs. 
Gross:  $7,500.  (Average:  $5,600). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c-65c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
$1,700.  (Average:  $1,600). 


12 

Ft 


Toronto  Giving  'Joe' 
Healthy  $16,200 

Toronto,  April  18. — -"A  Guy  Named 
Joe"  was  heading  for  $16,200  at 
Loew's  Theatre  with  crowds  in  line 
despite  wintry  weather,  while  "Lady  in 
the  Dark"  appeared  to  be  holding  up 
to  $15,300  in  its  second  week  at  Shea's 
Theatre. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  20 : 

"The  Adventures  of  Tom  Sawyer" 
(Alliance) 

EGLINTON  —  (1,086)  (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

IMPERIAL— (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 
6  days,  second  week.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Aver- 
age: $12,800). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,074)    (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c)  6 
days.  Gross:  $16,200.  (Average:  $11,200). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

SHEA'S  —  (2,480)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,300.  (Average: 
$12,800). 

"Swing  Out  the  Blues"  (Col.) 
"What  a  Woman!"  (CoL) 

TIVOLI  —  (1,434)  (18c-30c-48c)  6  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $3,900.  (Average:  $4,400). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,300.  (Average: 
$9,800). 


Lasky,  March  Invited 
To  Twain  Ceremony 

Jesse  L.  Lasky  and  Fredric  March, 
producer  and  star  of  Warners'  "The 
Adventures  of  Mark  Twain,"  have 
been  invited  to  ceremonies  commem- 
orating the  34th  anniversary  of 
Twain's  death,  to  be  held  Friday  in 
New  York  University's  Hall  of  Fame. 

On  May  2  a  benefit  preview  of  the 
film  will  be  held  at  the  Hollywood 
Theatre  here  under  the  auspices  of 
the  Madison  Square  Boys  Club ;  and 
on  the  next  day,  simultaneous  with 
the  regular  opening  at  the  Hollywood, 
station  WABC  will  conclude  a  special 
series  of  advertising  broadcasts  which 
Warner  Brothers  launched  over  the 
Columbia  network  yesterday. 


RKO  Plans  Tournament 

RKO  will  hold  its  1944  "War  Bond 
Golf  Tournament"  May  16  at  the 
Westchester  Country  Club.  The  ticket 
committee  is  headed  by  J.  A.  Farmer 
and  Dick  Gavin. 


Wednesday,  April  19,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


42  Chairmen  Named 
For  Wac  Campaign 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

■  J.  Schwartz,  Queens  ;  Andrew  Gibson, 
Buffalo;  H.  F.  Kinsey,  Charlotte; 
John  Balaban,  Chicago ;  Col.  Arthur 
Frudenfeld,  Cincinnati ;  Nat  Wolf, 
Cleveland;  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  Dallas; 
"Rick"  Ricketson,  Denver;  A.  H. 
Blank,  Des  Moines. 

Also,  Earl  Hudson,  Detroit;  Marc 
Wolf,  Indianapolis ;  Elmer  Rhoden, 
Kansas  City;  Charles  Skcmras,  Los 
Angeles';  M.  A.  Rosenberg,  McKees 
Rock,  Pa.;  M.  A.  Silver,  Pittsburgh; 
M.  A.  Lightman,  Memphis ;  Harold 
Fitzgerald,  Milwaukee ;  John  Friedl, 
Minneapolis';  Don  Jacocks,  Newark; 
Harry  Lowenstein,  Newark ;  I.  J. 
Hoffman,  New  Haven ;  E.  V.  .Rich- 
ards, New  Orleans  ;  Maurice  F.  Barr, 
New  Orleans;  L.  C.  Griffith.  Okla- 
homa City  ;  William  Miskell,  Omaha  ; 
John  Rugar,  Park  City,  Utah. 

Also,  Earle  W.  Sweigert,  Philadel- 
phia ;  Albert  Finke,  Portland,  Ore. ; 
Ed  Fay,  Providence;  Harry  Arthur, 
St.  Louis ;  B.  V.  Sturdivant,  San 
Francisco ;  Frank  Newman,  Sr.,  Se- 
attle ;  W.  J.  Crockett,  Virginia  Beach, 
Va. ;  Carter  Barron,  Washington ; 
|John  J.  Payette,  Washington,  and  A. 
Joseph  de  Fiore,  Wilmington,  Del. 


Century  Entertains 

Century  Circuit  executives  will  be 
hosts  to  their  employes  tomorrow  in 
recognition  of  their  cooperation  in  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  Drive.  A  dinner 
will  be  held  at  Town  and  Country 
Restaurant,  following  which  the 
?roup  will  attend  "Follow  the  Girls." 


Average  Gross  in  143  Key 
Houses  Is  Up  by  $2,232 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

leaders  for  the  past  month  in  the  list 
of  wide-scattered  communities  report- 
ing indicate  a  continuing  preference 
for  light  entertainment,  especially  mu- 
sicals, although  some  serious  war 
films  also  held  the  attention  of  the 
public. 

A  compilation  of  the  leading  pic- 
tures follows  :  20th-Fox  :  "The  Song 
of  Bernadette,"  "Four  Jills  in  a 
Teep,"  "Jane  Eyre,"  "The  Purple 
Heart" ;  Paramount :  "Lady  in  the 
Dark,"  "Standing  Room  Only,"  "The 
Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek,"  "The 
Uninvited" :  RKO :  "Higher  and 
Higher,"  "Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery," 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs" 
("reissue),  "Up  in  Arms"  (Goldwyn), 


"Tender  Comrade"  ;  M-G-M  :  "Broad- 
way Rhythm,"  "Rationing,"  "A  Guy 
Named  Joe,"  "Swing  Fever" ;  War- 
ners :  "Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon," 
"In  Our  Time,"  "The  Frisco  Kid," 
"Passage  to  Marseille" ;  Columbia : 
"Cover  Girl,"  "None  Shall  Escape," 
"Beautiful  but  Broke,"  "What  a 
Woman,"  "The  Ghost  That  Walks," 
"Nine  Girls" ;  Universal :  "Chip  Off 
the  Old  Block,"  "Moonlight  in  Ver- 
mont." "Phantom  Lady."  "The  Im- 
postor" ;  Republic :  "The  Fighting 
Seabees,"  "My  Best  Gal" ;  Mono- 
gram :   "Women  in  Bondage." 

Composite  records  for  each  week  of 
the  year  to  date,  compared  with  the 
same  weeks  last  year,  follow : 


1944 

Week 
Ending 

Dec.  31 -J;! 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Jan. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 
Feb. 


14-15  ... 
21-22  .. 
28-29  .. 
4-5  .... 
11-12  . 
18-19  .. 
25-26  .. 
March  3-4   . . 
March  10-11 
March  17-18 
March  24-25 
Mar."  31 -Apr. 
April   7-8  ... 
April   14-15  .. 


Average 

1944 

Average 

No.  at 

Total 

Per 

Week 

No.  of 

Total 

Per 

Theatres  Gross 

Theatre 

Ending 

Theatres  Gross 

Theatre 

135 

$2,213,500 

$16,396 

Tan.  1-2 

151 

$2,813,506 

$18,632 

117 

2.417.70O 

20,664 

Jan.  8-9 

154 

2.424,300 

15,742 

134 

2.040.7CO 

15,229 

Jan.    15-16  .. 

.  149 

1.830,500 

12,285 

149 

2,311,400 

15,513 

Tan.    22-21    . . 

.  127 

1.648.600 

12,981 

147 

2,365,200 

16,090 

Jan.   29-30  .. 

127 

1.789,500 

14,091 

153 

2,512,200 

16,419 

Feb.  5-6 

126 

1,743,000 

13,040 

137 

2.220.9C0 

16.211 

Feb.    12-13  .. 

.  132 

1,919.000 

14,538 

155 

2,459.800 

15,870 

Feb.    19-20  .. 

.  139 

1.885.9CO 

13,568 

161 

2.760,100 

17,144 

Feb.   26-27  .. 

149 

2.005,200 

13,458 

147 

2.397.100 

16,307 

March   5-6  .. 

142 

1,933,400 

13,615 

147 

2.463,400 

16,758 

March  12-13 

.  151 

1.944.600 

12.878 

153 

2.661.100 

18.761 

March  19-20 

.  143 

1,968,300 

13,764 

150 

2.487.700 

16.585 

March  26-27 

.  147 

1,938,200 

13.185 

152 

3,025  X00 

13.329 

April  2-3  ... 

123 

1.785,800 

14.519 

153 

2,340.600 

15.298 

April  9-10  .. 

.  147 

2,029.100 

13.803 

143 

2,506,800 

17,530 

April    16-17  . 

147 

1.868,500 

12.711 

(Copy 

right. 

1944.    Ouigley  Publish 

ing  Co.) 

Drift  from  War 
Areas  Seen 
A  f  f  ecting  Films 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

fearful  that  it  will  spread  to  other 
war  centers  and  develop  into  a  new 
migration  "back  home." 

The  most  seriously  affected  area  so 
far  reported  is  Richmond,  Cal.,  which 
is  losing  population  at  the  rate  of 
10,000  workers  a  month,  plus  their 
families.  Buffalo  is  reported  to  be 
losing  1,500  workers  a  month  and  Bal- 
timore, where  several  thousand  work- 
ers are  urgently  needed,  has  lost  be- 
tween 15,000  and  20,000  during  the 
Winter,  barely  balanced  by  the  num- 
ber of  new  workers  coming  in.  Evi-^ 
deuces  of  a  startling  out-migration  also 
are  reported  from  Detroit  and  several 
other  centers  of  war  production. 

So  far,  the  new  trend  in  migration 
has  not  progressed  to  a  point  where 
its  effqet  upon  exhibitors  or  other  bus- 
iness men  can  be  even  roughly  evalu- 
ated, but  it  is  a  portent  of  what  will 
happen  when  the  end  of  the  war  closes 
the  war-production  plants. 


4F  Labor  Draft  Out 

Washington,  April  18. — The  House 
military  affairs  committee  today  killed 
legislation  which  would  have  forced 
4F  draft  registrants  .  in  non-essential 
industries  into  labor  groups  for  war 
job  assignments. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  19,  1944 


Short  Subject  Reviews 


Holdovers  in 


Philadelphia 
Grossing  Big 


Philadelphia,  April  18. — The  week 
got  off  to  a  big  start  in  spite  of  hold- 
overs and  second-runs  predominating 
here.  The  "Uninvited,"  at  the  Aldine, 
sole  major  opening,  expects  to  gross 
$15,200  for  the  week  in  addition  to 
$4,500  already  in  from  a  Sunday  dual 
showing  at  the  Earle.  Among  the 
holdovers,  "Cover  Girl"  at  the  Boyd 
still  holds  big,  pointing  to  $20,300  for 
its  second  week. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19-21 : 

"The  Uninvited*'  (Para.) 

ALDINE — (900)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-7Sc-85c)  7 
/days.    Gross:  $15,200.    (Average,  $14,600) 
"For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls"  (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600)    (75c-$1.10)  7  days,  2nd 
run.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average,  $4,000) 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

BOYD  —  (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $20,300.  (Average, 
$18,000) 

"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (U.  A.)  (6  days) 
$21  200 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.)  (1  day)  $4,500 

EARLE— (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville  including  Les  Brown's  orches- 
tra, Carol  Bruce,  Chris  Cross,  The  Albins, 
Doris  Day,  Gordon  Drake,  Butch  Stone, 
Randy  Brooks  &  Dick  Shanahan.  Gross: 
$21,200.  (Average,  $27,800) 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

FOX  — (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $18,900.  (Average, 
$20,500) 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)   7  days,  2nd  run,   3rd   week.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average,  $6,600) 
"The  Lodiger"  (20th-Fox) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-8Sc) 
7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average, 
$5,800) 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (W.  B.) 

MASTBAUM—  (4,700)  (40c-45c-S0c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $17,900.  (Av- 
erage, $22,500) 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY  —  (3,000)  (40c-45c  50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $17,200.  (Av- 
erage, $20,000) 

"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (U.  A.) 

STANTON  —  ( 1,700)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c 
S5c)  7  days.  Gross :  $14,700.  (Average,  $9,400) 

4  More  USO  Hospital 
Shows  Get  Underway 

USO-Camp  Shows  has  anounced 
four  new  units  are  touring  service 
hospitals. 

Eddie  Cantor  is  making  personal 
appearances  at  recuperation  centers  in 
Iowa,  Kansas,  Illinois  and  Michigan, 
concluding  in  Utica  April  22.  Ann 
Dvorak  and  Jean  Brooks  will  do  shows 
in  Texas  and  Tennessee,  while  Mar- 
guerite Chapman  and  Tina  Thayer 
will  begin  a  tour  in  Tennessee,  Indi- 
ana, Kentucky,  Ohio  and  Pennsylvania 
this  week.  Janine  Crispin,  instead  of 
Lois  Collier  as  previously  scheduled, 
will  accompany  Maria  Montez  on  a 
tour  of  seven  hospitals  in  California. 


Schools  Enlist  Aid 
Of  Theatremen 

Birmingham,  Ala.,  April  18.  — 
Theatre  managers  here  have  been 
asked  by  school  superintendents  of 
the  five  school  systems  in  Jefferson 
County  to  refuse  admission  to  children 
under  16  unless  accompanied  by  par- 
ents, until  after  3  :30  P.  M.  on  school 
days. 

This  action  was  taken  following  the 
report  that  truancy  is  on  the  rise  as 
a  result  of  school  children  cutting 
classes    to    go    to    motion  picture 

theatres. 


"The  Irish  Question" 

(March  of  Time) 

The  March  of  Time,  with  a  pre- 
science that  is  to  be  admired,  is 
Johnny  -  on  -  the  -  spot  with  a  well- 
rounded  discussion  in  "The  Irish 
Question"  of  what  is  at  present  a  'hot 
Irish  potato,'  i.e.  Eire's  neutrality. 
When  the  U.  S.  request  for  the  re- 
moval of  Axis  diplomats  who  were 
in  a  position  to  spy  on  Allied  troops 
stationed  in  Northern  Ireland  was  re- 
jected, Ireland's  neutrality  was  brought 
sharply  into  focus. 

The  background  of  the  Irish  peoples' 
steadfast  grip  on  neutrality,  which 
they  have  clutched  as  tightly  as  their 
independence,  is  herewith  presented  in 
a  comprehensive  survey  of  the  country  ; 
its  life,  which  is  sustained  principally 
from  the  soil ;  the  religious  faith  as 
exemplified  by  the  parish  priest  and 
the  spiritual  life  ;  the  beautiful  country- 
side, and  many  other  aspects  of  Gaelic 
life.  To  the  average  Irishman,  who 
yearns  for  that  part  of  Ireland  still 
under  British  rule,  President  de  Valera 
has  gained  in  stature  by  his  grim  stand 
for  the  land's  continued  neutrality. 
Running  time,  18->4  mins. 


"Unusual  Occupations" 

(Paramount) 

A  variety  of  interesting  subjects 
comprise  this  short,  which  is  both  col- 
orful and  entertaining.  Included  are 
sequences  showing  a  girl  parachute 
tester  and  a  whittler  who  adorns  his 
cafe  with  carved  heads  of  presidents. 
There  are  shots  of  San  Francisco's 
Chinatown  telephone  operators  who 
are  American-born  girls  of  Chinese 
parentage  and  who  are  bi-linguists. 
The  final  sequence,  devoted  to  the 
Navy's  fire-fighting  schools,  is  excit- 
ing and  enlightening.  This  is  a  well 
balanced  subject  of  interesting  side- 
lights, both  serious  and  light.  Run- 
ning time,  10  mins. 


"Mackinac  Island" 

(M-G-M) 

James  Fitzpatrick  tours  the  island 
haven  of  Lake  Michigan  for  his  cur- 
rent Traveltalk.  His  pictures  and  ac- 
companying comments  of  this  colorful 
community  on  Mackinac  Island  make 
for  interesting  and  absorbing  material. 
Running  time  9  mins. 


"Along  the  Cactus  Trail" 

(M-G-M) 

The  Cactus  Trail,  which  wends  its 
twisted  way  from  Riverside,  Gal.,  into 
Arizona,  provides  the  background  for 
another  Fitzpatrick  Traveltalk.  The 
camera  has  caught  some  lovely  scenes 
and  unique  shots  of  desert  plant  life 
which  are  delightful.  Pausing  at  Mis- 
sion Inn,  famous  old  Western  hostelry, 
the  commentator  obtained  some  of 
the  last  shots  of  the  late  beloved 
American  composer,  Carrie  Jacobs 
Bond.  Music  score  is  excellent.  Run- 
ning time  9  mins. 


"Donald  Duck 
and  the  Gorilla" 

(RKO)  _ 

The  kids  will  especially  love  Donald 
Duck's  latest.  Donald,  with  Huey, 
Dewey  and  Looey,  is  visited  by  an  es- 
caped gorilla.  A  riotous  chase  follows 
in  which  Donald  triumphs  over  the 
beast  with  a  surprisingly  effective  de- 
vice.   Running  time  7  mins. 


"Patrolling  the  Ether" 

(M-G-M) 

The  radio  intelligence  division  of  the 
Federal  Communications  Commission 
is  the  subject  of  this  M-G-M  minia- 
ture. It's  an  interesting  treatment  of 
a  vital  group  of  men  and  women 
working  with  radio  to  uncover  espion- 
age rings  in  this  country.  Radio 
"hams"  achieve  a  share  of  deserved 
credit  in  this  exciting  two-reeler. 
Running  time  20  mins. 


"Heroes  on  the  Mend" 

( Paramount) 

The  Sportlight  series  takes  time  out 
from  the  usual  type  of  sports  reel 
to  show  how  America  is  taking  care 
of  her  wounded  service  men  returned 
from  overseas.  The  subject  is  timely, 
interesting  and  handled  well.  There 
are  shots  of  the  service  hospital  in 
Palm  Springs,  Col.,  and  a  Santa  Bar- 
bara resort  converted  into  a  conval- 
escent home.  The  film  winds  up  with 
a  jive  session  which  tears  not  a  lit- 
tle at  the  heartstrings  as  the  camera 
catches  badly  maimed  boys,  minus  a 
leg  or  an  arm,  jitterbugging — and 
smiling.    Running  time,  9  mins. 


"Important  Business" 

(M-G-M) 

Robert  Benchley  is  writing  his 
scripts  again.  In  this  one  Benchley, 
as  a  small-town  business  man,  barges 
into  Washington,  expecting  to  conquer 
the  town  in  one  day.  He  gets  as  far 
as  a  telephone  booth  in  the  railroad 
station.  This  is  Benchley  comedy  at 
its  best.  It's  a  good  tonic.  Running 
time  10  mins. 


"Radio  Rampage" 

(RKO.) 

Edgar  Kennedy  is  at  his  blustering 
best  in  his  current  effort.  He  attempts 
to  repair  his  radio  aerial  and  after 
tearing  several  walls  down  in  an  at- 
tempt to  locate  the  built-in  aerial,  he 
calls  a  repair  man  who  informs  him 
the  "built-in"  aerial  is  built  into  the 
radio  cabinet.  Kennedy  fans  will  es- 
pecially like  "Radio  Rampage."  It's 
good  slapstick.  Running  time  16  mins. 

"Poppa  Knows  Worst" 

(RKO) 

Leon  Errol  is  in  the  same  kettle  of 
hot  water  he's  always  in.  Mrs.  Errol 
catches  him  making  dates  with  a 
blonde  and  determines  to  teach  him  a 
lesson.  Hier  method  is  unique  but  not 
too  interesting.  Running  time  17  mins. 


"Groovie  Movie" 

(M-G-M)  _ 

Pete  Smith  goes  deep  into  the  his- 
tory of  the  modern  jitterbug  routine 
and  literally  fights  his  way  back  to 
the  "civilized"  hep  cat.  The  jive  ad- 
dicts will  enjoy  this  reel  tremendously. 
Featured  jive  "artists" — and  they  are. 
too — are  strictly  "in  the  groove." 
Running  time  10  mins. 


"Busy  Buddies" 

(Columbia) 

The  Three  Stooges  operate  a  res- 
taurant. The  methods  of  modern 
"cookery"  demonstrated  by  "Curly" 
are  unique  but  all  in  all  this  comedy 
falls  short  of  previous  "Stooge"  ve- 
hicles. The  comedy  routine  is 
monotonous.  Running  time,  I6J/2  mins. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  18 

PRC  producer  Jack  Schwartz  is  put- 
ting final  preparation  touches  on 
"Mexican  Fiesta,"   which  will  start 
shortly  with  Harold  Young  directing 
Armida  in  the  star  role.  .  .  .  Pro- 
ducer  Paul   Malvern  has   set  Anne  | 
Gwynne,,  who  played  a  very  meaty 
part  in  "Weird  Woman,"  for.the  femi- 1 
nine  lead  in  "The  Devil's  Brood."  .  .  . 
Nunnally  Johnson  is  back  in  town  for 
production'  of  his  own  script,  "Once 
Off  Guard"  at  International.    It  stars; 
Edward  G.  Robinson  and  Joan  Ben- 
nett with  Raymond  Massey,  for  RKO  j 
release. 


Ever  since  he  came  here  to  start 
production  on  "The  Private  Life  of 
Dr.  Paul  Joseph  Goebbels,"  W. 
R.  Frank,  producer-exhibitor,  has 
been  handing  this  hard-to-surprise 
town  something  to  be  surprised 
about.  First,  it  was  when  he  set  a 
starting  date  and  adhered  to  it. 
Now  it's  the  staging  of  a  twin  world 
premiere  of  the  picture  at  the  Cen- 
tury, Minneapolis,  and  the  Orphe- 
um,  St.  Paul,  April  20,  without  wait- 
ing to  obtain  a  release  deal  through 
any  distributor.  Frank  hopes,  and 
probably  with  reason,  to  obtain 
either  a  United  Artist  or  RKO  re- 
lease. He  believes  he  now  has  a 
much  better,  tighter  and  faster  pic- 
ture after  cutting  from  two-hour 
and  40-minute  running  time  to  one 
hour  and  38  minutes. 

• 

Herman  Millakowsky,  now  prepar- 
ing to  produce  "Where  Are  Your 
Parents?"  at  Republic,  did  not  pro- 
duce "Where  Are'  Your  Children?" 
at  Monogram,  as  inadvertently  stated. 
Millakowsky  produced  "Women  in 
Bondage."  Producer  Jeffery  Bernerd 
made  "Where  Are  Your  Children?" 
and  is  now  preparing  "Are  These 
Your  Parents?"  for  Monogram.  .  .  . 
Ed  Gardner,  producer  and  star  of  ra- 
dio's "Duffy's  Tavern"  is  in  town  con- 
ferring with  B.  G.  De  Sylva  on  the 
script  for  Paramount' s  production  un- 
der the  same  title. 


When  Producer-director  John  Au- 
er  finishes  work  on  his  current  un- 
titled musical  at  RKO-Radio  he  will 
face  Uncle  Sam.   He  has  just  been  i 
reclassified  1-A.    Dennis  Day,  one 
of  the  leads,  will  go  into  the  Navy  [ 
and  bandleader  Charlie  Barnet,  who  I 
plays  a  prominent  part,  has  already 
left  for  New  York  to  report  for  his 
physical.  .  .  .  Producer  Jack  Skir- 1 
ball  has  announced  he  will  produce 
"Fickle  Fortune,"  for  UA  release. 
Fred  Allen  stars. 

• 

Walter  Lantz,  "Cartune"  producer', 
for  Universal,  now  has  a  "live  action" 
feature  in  work  for  the  U.  S.  Bureau 
of  Aeronautics.    It's   titled  "Enemy  j 
Bacteria"  and  combines  "live  action" 
zvith  animated  cartoons.  .  .  .  Because 
the  impending  invasion  front  in  Eu- 
rope constitutes  a  problem  in  "Story 
of  G.I.  Joe,"  Lester  Cowan  says  he  is 
prepared  to  shoot  sequences  to  fit  any  j 
invasion  front  immediately  when  the 
United  Nations  effect  another  Euro- 
pean landing. 


Wednesday,  April  19,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Film  Comedy  Aids 
Service  Training 


'Cover  Girl'  Helps 
Music  Hall  to  Big 
3rd  Week  $123,000 


Broader  Film  Fields  Seen 
By  Harmon  as  War  Result 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
The  booking  of  Paul  Whiteman  and 

I  his  orchestra  into  the  Roxy  some  time 
ago  to  start  today  will  prevent  the 
Roxy  from  holding  over  "Four  Jills  in 
a  Jeep."  The  second  week's  gross 
was    reported    as    about  $100,000. 

.j  "Buffalo  Bill"  and  a  stage  bill  headed 
\y  Whiteman,  Victor  Borge  and  Joan 

i  Edwards  will  take  over  today  with 
20th  Century-Fox's  "Pin-Up  Girl" 
starring  Betty  Grable  set  to  follow.  A 
first  week's  gross  of  $70,000  is  ex- 

:  peered  for  "Broadway  Rhythm"  and  a 
stage  show  featuring  Ginny  Simms, 
Mitzie  Mayfair  and  Frankie  Carle  and 
his  orchestra  at  the  Capitol  with  $53,- 
000  claimed  for  the  first  four  days. 
The  show  will  hold. 

'Lady'  in  Record  Run 

'     "Lady  in  the  Dark"  with  Xavier  Cu- 
I  gat  and  Dean  'Murphy  holding  up  the 
|£  stage   end,   started   its   ninth  week 
b  yesterday  at  the  Paramount  to  be- 
|   come  the  first  film  in  the  theatre's  18- 
[  year  history  to  make  such  a  stand; 
p  eighth  week's  gross  was  about  $67,000, 
]  with  875,000  persons  said  to  have  seen 
,  the  show,  topping  the  previous  eight- 
'  week  figure  of  830,500,  set  by  "Star 
n  Spangled  Rhythm."   A  tenth  week  for 
the  combined  show  will  end  May  2 
J  with  "Going  My  Way"  set  to  follow. 
,     The  Strand,  presenting  "Uncertain 
,  Glory"  and  a  Ted  Lewis  stage  show,  is 
headed  for  $54,000  on  its  second  week 
on  the  basis  of  the  first  three  days' 
business  of  $24,360  and  will  hold  the 
combined  show,     Initial  week's,  take 
.  surpassed   early    estimates   to  reach 
,  $60,000. 

Second  week's  receipts  of  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs,"  at  the 
I  Manhattan  were  higher  than  those  of 
the  record-breaking  initial  week,  reach- 
ing almost  $35,000.  The  third  week 
for  this  revival  on  Broadway  began 
yesterday.  "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove" reached  the  end  of  its  fourth 
week  at  the  Astor  with  a  gross 
in  excess  of  $30,000  and  it  will  start 
a  fifth  today.  "The  Song  of  Ber- 
nadette"  will  draw  about  $42,500  on 
its  12th  week  at  the  Rivoli  and  will 
continue.  From  last  Wednesday 
through  Sunday  the  film  grossed  $35,- 
000.  Ninth  week  of  "Passage  to  Mar- 
seille" at  the  Hollywood  is  expected 
to  yield  $19,000  and  it  will  hold  until 
it  makes  way  for  "The  Adventures  of 
Mark  Twain"  on  May  6. 

'Lost  Angel'  Holds  Over 

"Lost  Angel"  expects  a  second  week 
of  $22,000  at  the  Criterion  on  the  basis 
of  weekend  business.  It  is  expected  to 
hold  for  a  third  before  making  way  for 
Universal's  "Follow  the  Boys."  The 
Palace  is  expected  to  wind  up  its 
week  of  "Yellow  Canary"  with  about 
$16,000.  RKO's  "Seven  Days  Ashore" 
will  follow  with  the  company's  "Show 
Business"  set  for  May  8.  "Address 
Unknown"  will  do  approximately 
$15,000  on  its  first  week  at  the  Globe 
on  the  basis  of  business  Saturday  and 
Sunday  and  it  will  hold  over. 

Final  week  of  "Voice  in  the  Wind" 
at  the  Victoria  wound  up  its  run  at 
about  $9,500.  United  Artists'  "Knick- 
erbocker Holiday"  will  open  today 
and  Paramount's  "Hour  Before  the 
Dawn"  is  set  to  follow.  Final  six 
days  of  the  fourth  week  of  "Women  in 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

increased  importance  of  documentary 
and  instructional  films  as  aids  to  win- 
ning the  war  and  said  that  even  great- 
er opportunities  will  be  afforded  the 
industry  to  aid  in  wininng  the  peace 
to  follow. 

Among  those  attending  the  luncheon 
were  Thomas  Armat,  inventor  of  the 
vitascope  and  contemporary  of  Thomas 
A.  Edison ;  Elmer  Davis,  director  of 
the  Office  of  War  Information  and 
George  Healy,  Jr.,  chief  of  the  OWI's 
domestic  branch ;  Major  General  A.  D. 
Surles,  director  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment's Bureau  of  Public  Relations ; 
Rear  Admiral  C.  H.  Woodward,  Navy 
Department ;  Theodore  Gamble,  na- 
tional director  of  the  War  Finance 
Division,  Treasury  Department ;  Col. 
Hal  Roach,  Lieut.  Col.  Frank  Capra, 
Thomas  Baird,  chief  of  the  film  divi- 
sion, British  Information  Services,  and 
Sergeant  Norman  T.  Hatch,  one  of  the 
eight  Marine  Corps  "fighting  camera- 
men" who  filmed  the  landing  on  Ta- 
rawa. 


Coe  Predicts  'News 
Rooms'  in  Theatres 

Baltimore,  April  18. — In  the  post- 
war television  era,  theatres  are  envi- 
sioned as  containing  special  rooms 
where  patrons  may  see  telecasts  of 
spot  news  events,  according  to  a  pre- 

H.  J.  Griffith  Denies 
Monopoly  Suit 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
to  theatres  of  Griffith  houses.  Opera- 
tors of  the  three  theatres  are  demand- 
ing $606,000  damages  from  Griffith. 

Griffith  also  stated  that  the  claim 
for  damages  is  nullified  by  the  statute 
of  limitations.  He  says  the  suit  was 
filed  more  than  three  years  after  the 
alleged  offenses.  Griffith  is  secretary 
and  director  of  Griffith  Amusement 
and  Griffith  Southwestern  Theatres. 
The  plaintiff  operators  are  M.  L. 
Riggs,  Vinita;  A.  B.  Momand,  Shaw- 
nee, and  J.  D.  Wineland,  Picher. 

May  1  has  been  set  for  hearing  on 
their  request  for  a  preliminary  in- 
junction. 


Cantor  on  Camp  Tour 

Eddie  Cantor,  film,  radio  and  stage 
star  and  producer  and  star  of  RKO's 
"Show  Business"  will  broadcast  his 
weekly  "Time  to  Smile"  program 
from  service  posts  for  the  remainder 
of  the  season.  His  radio  show,  heard 
Wednesdays  from  9  P.  M.  to  9:30 
over  NBC,  will  originate  from  the 
Great  Lakes  Naval  Training  Station 
tonight. 


Bondage"  at  the  Gotham  is  expected 
to  yield  about  $8,500,  after  a  third 
week's  take  of  $10,500.  United  Artists' 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  will  open  on 
Friday  at  the  Gotham.  Second  week 
of  "Lady  and  the  Monster"  at  the 
Rialto  is  estimated  to  do  $9,000  on  the 
basis  of  weekend  business  and  the 
picture  will  hold  for  a  third  week.  Col- 
umbia's "The  Whistler"  is  set  to  fol- 
low. 


diction  by  Charles  Francis  Coe  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Distri- 
butors of  America,  in  a  speech  pre- 
pared for  delivery  here  tomorrow  at 
the  weekly  luncheon  of  the  Advertis- 
ing Club  of  Baltimore. 

Coe  regards  the  newsroom  as  one 
of  the  many  improvements  that  can 
be  made  when,  as  he  foresees,  existing 
houses,  originally  built  for  silent  films, 
are  rebuilt  into  "veritable  temples 
which  a  great  and  growing  art  de- 
mands." 

Foresees  Dimension  Films 

The  theatre  of  the  future,  Coe  fur- 
ther believes,  will  demand  a  much 
larger  screen,  for  dimension  pictures. 
"Films  artistically,"  he  adds,  "will 
grow  with  the  needs  of  entertainment 
and  higher  standards  of  acceptance.  I 
can  see  no  art  form  for  the  people  as 
a  whole  which  will  ever  surpass  the 
films,  whose  product  is  the  synthesis 
of  all  the  arts." 

Coe's  appearance  here  tomorrow  will 
be  part  of  the  celebration  of  the  50th 
anniversary  of  commercial  motion  pic- 
tures, for  which  William  K.  Saxton, 
city  manager  for  Loew  theatres  in 
Baltimore,  and  Frank  Lawton  are  co- 
chairmen.  The  MP  PDA  executive 
will  review  the  progress  of  films  since 
the  first  "peep-show"  in  New  York 
on  April  14,  1894. 


Press  British  Probe 
Of  Film  Monopoly 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

activities  are  understood  to  have  in- 
spired the  committee's  appointment, 
was  one  of  those  who  testified,  as  were 
officials  of  the  Cinematograph  Exhibi- 
tors Association,  the  British  Film 
Producers  Association  and  the  Kine- 
matograph  Renters  Society,  plus  a 
number  of  persons  outside  the  in- 
dustry.    The  sessions  were  private. 

Albert  Palache,  London  banker,  is 
chairman  of  the  committee,  which  also 
includes  Sir  Walter  Citrine,  general 
secretary  of  the  Trades  Union  Con- 
gress ;  Philip  Guadella,  author  and  his- 
torian, who  is  honorary  director  of  the 
Iberto-American  Institute  of  Great 
Britain,  and  Professor  Albert  Arnold 
Plant  of  the  London  University  School 
of  Economics.  All  four  are  described 
as  "independent"  members  of  the 
BOT's  film  council. 


Film  Balances  from 
Brazil  Withheld 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

United  States,  are  expected  to  make 
possible  the  resumption  of  remittanceSj 
it  was  said. 

The  foreign  managers  offered  no 
objection  to  the  shipment  of  projector 
carbons  to  Argentina  when  the  sub- 
ject _  was  broached  at  yesterday's 
meeting.  Some  company  representa- 
tives reported  that  they  will  send 
selected  films  to  Spain's  International 
Sample  Fair  to  be  held  at  Barcelona 
in  June.  Others  indicated  their  prod- 
uct would  not  be  represented  there. 

Robert  Riskin,  head  of  the  OWI's 
Overseas  Films  Division,  addressed 
the  meeting. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

paper  was  presented  by  Lt.  H.  B.  Rob- 
erts of  the  same  unit. 

"Reports  from  the  fleet,"  Lt.  Roberts 
said,  "reveal  that  men  as  they  near 
combat  area,  forsake  classrooms,  man- 
uals, charts,  and  all  other  aids  to 
learning,  but  they  will  look  at  films. 
We  must  capitalize  on  this  preference 
for  films  as  a  teaching  medium  by 
making  them  entertaining  as  well  as 
authoritative,  for  a  relaxed  audience 
is  one  that  will  learn  more." 

Other  Features 

Other  features  of  the  Army-Navy 
Day  sessions  yesterday  of  the  three- 
day  conference  included  a  paper  on 
the  objectives  and  effects  of  training 
films  as  a  means  of  controlling  human 
behavior,  and  a  slide  film  with  sound 
designed  to  instruct  armed  forces  per- 
sonnel in  the  Pacific  on  the  best  be- 
havior for  their  own  preservation  in 
event  of  capture  by  the  Japanese. 

Other  papers  at  the  afternoon  ses- 
sion included  "Training  Film  Formu- 
la" by  Lt.  Orville  Goldner ;  "The 
Screen's  the  Limit"  by  Lt.  R.  B.  T. 
Schmuck;  "Getting  the  Most  for  the 
Navy  Training  Film  Dollar"  by  En- 
sign L.  R.  Goldfarb;  and  "The 
Camera  Versus  the  Microphone  in 
Training  Film  Production,"  by  Lt. 
H.  R.  Jensen. 

The  presentation  of  the  society's 
annual  Journal  Award  will  be  a  fea- 
ture of  the  final  day's  sessions  of  the 
conference  today. 


1944  UJA  Campaign 
Launched  Friday 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

theatrical  fields  has  already  been  indi- 
cated by  UJA  headquarters. 

"The  program  of  the  United  Jewish 
Appeal  means  that  thousands  of  lives 
will  be  saved  in  the  coming  months, 
lives  that  would  otherwise  be  need- 
lessly lost,"  declared  Bernstein.  "With 
that  in  mind,  the  amusement  industry 
intends  to  go  all  out  for  this  drive — 
as  it  does  for  every  humanitarian 
cause." 

Monroe  Goldwater,'  chairman  of  the 
UJA  of  Greater  New  York  for  1944 
will  be  the  principal  speaker  at 
Friday's  luncheon. 


Balaban  &  Katz  Net 
$1,883,060  in  1943 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
tion    reduced    its    fixed  obligations 
$737,057. 

John  Balaban,  secretary  and  treas- 
urer, reported  that,  attendance  this 
year  has  been  running  seven  and  one- 
half  to  eight  percent  above  a  year 
ago  and  that  the  net  for  the  first 
quarter  was  a  trifle  above  that  of  last 
year.  In  answer  to  a  question  from 
a  stockholder,  he  said  that  the  in- 
creased Federal  tax  beginning  April 
1  had  not  as  yet  affected  attendance. 
All  directors  were  reelected. 


B&K  Plan  for  Television 

Chicago,  April  18.  —  Television 
equipment  specifications  have  been  in- 
cluded in  the  postwar  construction  plan 
for  the  new  Balaban  and  Katz  the- 
atre to  be  erected  at  State  and  Lake 
Streets  here. 


THIS  NEEDS 
THE 

SIGNATURE 
OF  A 

PATRIOT - 
YOU! 

6i  In  recognition  of  the  meri- 
torious services  rendered  to 
our  Armed  Forces  by  the 
WOMEN'S  ARMY  CORPS 
I  wish  to  pledge  the  whole- 
hearted cooperation  of  my- 
self and  entire  theatre  per- 
sonnel in  promoting  National 
WAC  Recruiting  Week. 

I  will  exhibit  the  special 
trailer  at  every  'perform- 
ance/ as  well  as  display  the 
advertising  material,  all  of 
which  will  be  made  avail- 
able to  me  without  charge. 

I  will  publicize  this  cam- 
paign as  widely  as  possible 
during  this  week  and  co- 
operate fully  with  other 
exhibitors  in  my  vicinity  in 
any  and  all  activities  to  fur- 
ther promote  its  success." 


Sponsored  by  War  Activities  Committee  of  Motion  Picture  Industry,  150 1  Broadway,  New  York  City 


"Shoulder  to  shoulder  with  the 
troops  in  the  war  effort — " 


MOTION  PICTURE  THEATRE 
WOMEN'S  ARMY  CORPS 
RECRUITING  CAMPAIGN 

Week  of  May  11th  thru  17* 


Your  Pledge  Card  is  in  the 
mails.  Sign  it  and  return  at 
once  to  your  local  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  Chairman. 


First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


)L.  55.   NO.  78 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  20,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


U.S.  Claim  for 
4xis  'Grab' 
[s  Prepared 

Bill  for  $3,500,000,000 
For  American  Losses 


Washington,  April  19. — An 
itemized  bill  for  over  $3,500,000,- 
J00  has  been  prepared  in  the  U.  S. 
Treasury  for  presentation  to  Axis 
countries  at  the  close  of  the  war, 
representing  the  holdings  of  American 
.notion  picture  and  all  other  companies 
ind  individuals  in  those  countries, 
probably  all  of  which  have  been  seized 
by  the  enemy.  . 

In  a  report  on  the  census  of  Ameri- 
:an  property  abroad  undertaken  last 
year,  Secretary  Morgenthau  disclosed 
tonight  that  investments  of  United 
States  industries  and  individuals  in 
foreign  countries  runs  to  more  than 
i$l  3,300,000,000.  No  specific  informa- 
tion was  revealed  as  to  the  foreign 
holdings  of  the  motion  picture  or  other 
industries. 

Approximately  220,000  reports  were 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


CEA  Scores  'Bell's' 
Advanced  Prices 


London,   April    19. — Highlight  of 
the  Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Asso- 
ciation general  council  meeting  here 
Itoday  was  an  attack  on  Paramount  for 
I  its  sales  policies  on  "For  Whom  the 
Bell   Tolls."     Council   delegates  al- 
leged that  distributors  were  endeav- 
oring again  to  establish  what  they 
characterized  as  the  objectionable  and 
unnecessary    principles    of  extended 
playing  time  and  increased  prices. 

The  council  was  informed  that  ten 
provincial  pre-release  "Bell"  bookings 
had  already  been  arranged  at  increased 
prices. 

John  Davis,  Odeon's  managing  di- 
rector, who  negotiated  the  general 
booking  of  "Bell  Tolls,"  declared  that 
on  no  account  would  Odeon  counte- 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Davis  Again  Head  of 
Hollywood  Canteen 

Hollywood,  April  19. — Bette  Davis 
has  been  reelected  president  of  the 
Hollywood  Canteen,  which,  under  the 
auspices  of  42  crafts,  unions  and 
guilds,  is  beginning  its  third  year  with 
a  record  of  having  entertained  1,580,- 
000  service  men  and  women  to  date. 

The  board  of  governors,  also  re- 
elected, includes :  J.  K,  Wallace,  John 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Off  to  War,  He  Wants 
No  New  Partner 

Buffalo,  April  19. — Leon 
Bernard  Scott,  -owner  w'th 
Schine  Theatres  of  the  M?'-- 
gie  Grand  Theatrt,  Harlan, 
Ky.,  who  testified  last  week  in 
U.  S.  District  Court  here  in 
the  Government  proceedings 
against  Schine,  will  leave  for 
the  Navy  on  April  25  and  has 
petitioned  Federal  Judge  John 
Knight  for  removal  of  his 
theatre  from  the  divestiture 
section  of  the  court's  tempo- 
rary order  which  has  delayed 
the  Schine  anti-trust  trial 
two  years.  Schine  owns  a  half 
interest  in  the  theatre  and 
Scott  contends  it  is  not  fair 
that  a  new  partner  be  forced 
upon  him  when  he  must  leave 
for  military  service. 


Wallis-Hazen  Tieup 
Talks  Progress 


There  is  a  distinct  possibility  of 
Joseph  Hazen,  former  vice-president 
and  a  director  of  Warner  Bros.,  be- 
coming associated  with  Hal  Wallis, 
former  Warner  producer,  in  activities 
soon  to  be  undertaken  by  the  latter, 
Wallis  said  yesterday. 

"I  have  met  with  Hazen  and  it  ap- 
pears possible  now  that  we  may  be 
able  to  work  out  some  agreement," 
Wallis  said. 

Replying  to  a  question,  Wallis  said 
that  it  would  not  be  correct  to  infer 
from  this  that  he  plans  to  organize 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


M-G-MSet  for 
20th  Birthday 


"While  it  is  an  acknowledged  fact 
that  no  company  can  expect  to  have 
all  of  the  17,000  theatres  in  the  United 
States  as  consistent  customers,  we  of 
M-G-M  feel  that  the  best  tribute  that 
could  be  extended  to  Leo  the  Lion 
would  be  to  have  him  roar  on  every 
screen  in  the  country,  whether  that 
screen  has  displayed  the  M-G-M 
trademark  or  not,"  William  F.  Rod- 
gers,  M-G-M  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  said  yesterday  in 
announcing  that  M-G-M  has  set  aside 
the  week  of  June  22-28  to  celebrate 
its  20th  birthday. 

In  discussing  the  forthcoming  cele- 
bration, Rodgers  stated  that  a  num- 
ber of  important  plans  are  now  being 
promulgated  by  the  sales,  advertising, 
exploitation  and  publicity  departments 
which   will   mark   Leo's  anniversary 

(Continued  on  page  13) 


Jersey  Allied  Meet 
Will  Be  June  20-22 


Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  New  Jer- 
sey will  commemorate  its  silver  jubi- 
lee and  the  industry's  golden  anniver- 
sary at  its  convention  at  the  Hotel 
Chelsea,  Atlantic  City,  June  20-22. 
Representatives  of  independent  theatre 
owners,  circuit  heads  and  distributors 
have  been  invited  to  attend,  including 
the  industry's  anniversary  committee. 

At  a  recent  meeting,  president  Har- 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


WAC  Names  31  Assistant 
Chairmen  in  Field  Areas 


Bergman  Sets  Aside 
$50,000  for  Chicago 

Chicago,  April  19.— More  than  $50,- 
000  was  appropriated  today  for  news- 
paper and  regional  radio  advertising 
to  re-establish  Chicago  as  the  Mid- 
west premiere  key  for  Universal  pic- 
tures in  the  ensuing  90  days,  it  was 
disclosed  here  by  Maurice  Bergman, 
Eastern  publicity  director,  after  con- 
ferences with  district  manager  M.  M. 
Gottlieb  and  Midwest  publicity  director 
Harry  Keller. 

Reversing  the  general  Chicago  trade 
custom  of  scattering  prior  playdates 
throughout  the  territory,  Universal 
will  give  first  Midwest  runs  to  the 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


The  War  Activities  Committee  here 
yesterday  named  31  distributor  repre- 
sentatives throughout  the  country  to 
serve  as  assistants  to  distributor  chair- 
men in  exchange  areas  on  all  WAC 
projects  and  to  take  over  the  chair- 
manship in  the  absence  of  chairmen. 

Leon  J.  Bamberger,  assistant  to  na- 
tional distributor  chairman  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  said  yesterday  in  announcing 
the  list  that  the  new  executives  are 
being  appointed,  also,  in  order  to  fa- 
cilitate and  speed  up  the  distributors 
of  War  Information  shorts  and  bul- 
letins and  special  documentaries. 

The  list  of  assistants  follows :  Har- 
ry Alexander,  20th-Fox,  Albany ; 
Hubert  Lyons,  RKO,  Atlanta;  Moe 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


WPB  Quota  on 
Projectors 
Fixed  at  350 


But  Production  Depends 
On  Labor  Clearance 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  April  19. — A  pro- 
gram for  the  manufacture  of  ap- 
proximately 350  projector  units  for 
civilian  use  in  the  third  quarter  this 
year  has  been  approved  by  the  War 
Production  Board,  but  actual  con- 
struction of  the  equipment  was  dis- 
closed today  to  be  dependent  upon  the 
ability  of  manufacturers  to  secure 
important  parts  and  to  use  their  labor 
for  civilian  manufacturing. 

While  the  production  of  this 
equipment  would  be  the  first 
real  "break"  exhibitors  have  so 
far  received  on  projectors,  it  is 
not  expected  that  they  would 
begin  to  reach  the  market  be- 
fore the  end  of  this  year  or 
early  1945. 

The  approximately   350  projectors 
which  have  been  approved  represent 
(Continued  on  page  13) 


US  Reconditioning 
Control  Altered 


Washington,  April  19. — The  pro- 
cedure under  which  motion  picture 
sound  and  certain  other  repairmen 
purchase  controlled  materials  and 
other  materials,  parts,  and  sub-assem- 
blies, has  been  amended  by  the  War 
Production  Board  to  indicate  that  they 
may  use  the  amendment  to  obtain  ma- 
terials with  which  to  recondition  or 
rebuild  damaged  or  used  items  for 
resale. 

The  changed  procedure,  which  is 
contained  in  CMP  Regulation  No.  9A, 
as  amended,  redefines  the  term  "re- 

(Coutinucd  on  page  13) 


Academy  of  Music 
Hearing  on  May  5 

An  order  was  signed  yesterday  by 
Judge  John  Knox  in  Federal  District 
Court  here  giving  notice  to  all  cred- 
itors, stockholders  and  others  con- 
nected with  the  bankrupt  Fox  Theatres 
Corp.,  that  a  hearing  will  be  held  May 
5  on  a  proposed  settlement  under 
which  the  Academy  of  Music  and  other 
assets  would  be  turned  over  to  Fox 
Theatres  trustees. 

The  property  was  transferred  to 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  20,  1944 


Equipment  Meeting 
High  US  Standards 

High  standards  for  16mm  equipment 
being  set  by  the  armed  forces  and  met 
by  manufacturers,  the  results  of  the 
demand  that  "the  show  must  go  on" 
despite  every  possible  adverse  condi- 
tion to  be  found  on  the  battlefronts 
of  the  world,  were  described  yesterday 
at  the  morning  session  of  the  last  day 
of  the  conference  here  of  the  Society 
of  Motion  Picture  Engineers,  held  in 
the  Hotel  Pennsylvania. 

Papers  presented  by  Capt.  Lloyd  T. 
Goldsmith  of  the  Army  Signal  Corps 
photographic  center;  J.  V.  McNair, 
secretary  of  the  war  committee  on 
photography  and  cinematography,  and 
S.  L.  Chertok  of  the  American  Stand- 
ards Association  described  functions 
and  progress  of  the  war  committee  set 
up  by  the  ASA  to  study  needs  and  to 
establish  standards.  The  project  was 
undertaken  by  the  War  Production 
Board  for  the  armed  forces. 

Films  Highlighted  Meeting 

The  three-day  meeting,  SMPE's 
55th  semi-annual  conference,  has  been 
highlighted  by  discussions  of  the  im- 
portance of  films  in  the  armed  services 
and  a  symposium  on  the  advances  in 
television  technique  and  production. 

The  society  brought  the  conference 
to  a  close  yesterday  afternoon  with 
the  presentation  of  its  annual  Journal 
award  to  William  L.  Bell  -and  Ray 
R.  Scoville,  sound  engineers  employed 
in  development  work  at  Bell  Tele- 
phone Laboratories,  for  their  article 
describing  equipment  for  reducing 
background  noise  in  film  sound  re- 
cording systems. 

The  presentation  was  made  by  Her- 
bert Griffin  of  New  York,  SMPE 
president,  and  the  citation  was  read 
by  Sylvan  Harris,  chairman  of  the 
award  committee. 

Warner  Directors  to 
Meet  Here  Today 

With  the  exception  of  vice-president 
Jack  L.  Warner,  who  is  on  the  Coast, 
all  directors  of  Warner  Brothers  Pic- 
tures, Inc.,  are  to  attend  a  board  meet- 
ing scheduled  to  be  held  here  today. 
Business  on  the  agenda  includes  last 
week's  resignation  of  vice-president 
Joseph  H.  Hazen. 

Those  who  will  attend  are :  presi- 
dent Harry  M.  Warner,  vice-presidents 
Albert  Warner  and  Stanleigh  P. 
Friedman,  and  R.  W.  Perkins,  Sam- 
uel Carlisle,  Charles  S.  Guggenheim, 
Morris  Wolf  and  Waddill  Cafchings. 

It  is  possible  that  a  successor  to 
Hazen  on  the  board  of  directors  may 
be  named  today  and  that  his  duties  in 
handling  consent  decree  matters  for 
the  company  may  be  assigned  to  an- 
other member  of  the  legal  department. 

$11, 050000  in  Bonds 
Are  Sold  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  April  19.— Sixty  bond 
premieres  and  104  "Free  Movie"  days 
(luring  the  Fourth  War  Loan  drive 
netted  $11,050,000  in  bond  sales  for 
the  campaign,  Frank  Hannon,  WAC 
chairman  for  this  area,  reports.  This 
represents  an  increase  of  $4,050,000 
over  the  local  Third  War  Loan  total. 


Personal 


HA..  ROSS,  president  of  Ross  Fed- 
.eral  Service,  left  New  York  yes- 
terday on  tour  of  the  company's  South- 
ern branches. 

• 

Capt.  M.  J.  Cullen,  former  Loew 
Theatres'  division  manager  in  Kansas 
City,  and  Sergt.  I.  M.  (Bill)  Stein, 
ex-stage  manager  of  the  K.  C.  Tow- 
er, are  currently  handling  the  Algiers 
Opera  House,  North  Africa,  for  sol- 
diers. 

• 

I.  J.  Schmertz,  20th  Century-Fox 
Chicago  branch  manager,  is  the  grand- 
father of  a  daughter  born  to  his  daugh- 
ter-in-law, Mrs.  Schmertz,  whose 
husband,  Ray,  is  a  salesman  at  the  ex- 
change. 

• 

C.  G.  Keeney,  manager  of  the  Park 
and  Rajah  Theatres,  Reading,  Pa.,  be- 
came a  grandfather  recently  when  a 
son  was  born  to  Lt.  and  Mrs.  Ber- 
nard B.  Keeney. 

e 

Harry  Gruber,  owner  of  the  Glen 
and  New  Glen  Theatres,  Glenburnie, 
Md.,  is  confined  to  the  Bon  Secours 
Hospital,  Baltimore,  from  a  heart  at- 
tack. 

• 

Jack  Parver,  manager  of  the  East- 
wood Theatre,  East  Hartford,  Conn., 
left  yesterday  for  a  week's  visit  in 
Rochester,  Minn. 

• 

Ben  Lorber,  Universal  home  office 
insurance  man,  is  South  on  a  10-day 
trip. 

DeMille  to  Arkansas 
'WasselV  Opening 

Cecil  B.  DeMille  will  leave  Holly- 
wood tomorrow  for  Little  Rock,  Ark., 
for  the  two-theatre  premiere  there  of 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell."  The 
openings  are  scheduled  for  April  26 
at  the  Robb  and  Rowley  Capitol  and 
Arkansas  theatres.  Two  days  prior 
to  that  DeMille,  Cmdr.  Corydon  M. 
Wassell,  Signo  Hasso,  Carol  Thurs- 
ton and  other  members  of  the  cast  will 
appear  on  several  national  broadcasts 
from  CBS's  KLRA.  A  program  of 
luncheons,  receptions,  a  dinner  and 
visits  to  Camp  Robinson  is  planned. 


National  Houses  Got 
$439,000  for  Drive 

A  total  of  $439,000  was  collected  for 
the  recent  Red  Cross  drive  by '  Na- 
tional Theatres,  Charles  P.  Skouras, 
company  president,  disclosed  here  to- 
day. 

Southern  California  theatres  col- 
lected $176,000;  Northern  California, 
$104,000:  Midwest,  $40,000;  Wiscon- 
sin, $31,000;  Northwest,  $60,000,  and 
Mountain  area  houses,  $28,000. 


Block  Numbers  Switched 

A  typographical  transposition  yes- 
terday resulted  in  RKO-Radio's  "Show 
Business"  being  designated  in  block 
No.  10  when  it  should  have  been  block 
No.  5,  in  a  review  of  that  film,  and 
20th  Century-Fox's  "Pin-Up  Girl" 
being  designated  in  block  No.  5  when 
it  should  have  been  in  block  10. 


Mention 


U^DDIE  CANTOR  will  arrive  in 
^— '  New  York  from  the  Coast  April 
23. 

• 

James  B.  Hickey,  23,  son  of  Duke 
Hickey,  MPPDA  publicist,  has  been 
graduated  from  the  Twin  Engine 
Army  Flying  School,  Pecos,  Texas, 
with  a  second  lieutenant's  commission 
in  the  U.  S.  Army  Air  Corps. 
• 

M.  B.  Horowitz,  Washington  Cir- 
cuit general  manager  in  Cleveland,  is 
a  one-man  committee  collecting  used 
golf  clubs  and  funds  to  buy  new  clubs 
for  the  convalescent  servicemen  at 
Crile  General  Hospital. 

• 

Mrs.  Bessie  K.  Moore,  owner  and 
manager  of  Moore's  Theatre,  Grimsby, 
Ont.,  is  the  recipient  of  the  local  Lions 
Club's  "Outstanding  Citizenship 
Award"  for  1944. 

• 

J.  A.  Ballantyne,  Sr.,  father  of 
Robert  Ballantyne,  owner  of  the 
Scott-Ballantyne    Company,  Omaha, 
celebrated  his  91st  birthday  recently. 
• 

Bernie  Levy,  Proven  Pictures' 
Hartford  supervisor,  is  in  Boston  on 
company  business. 

• 

Leonard  Willinger,  M-G-M  Ko- 
dachrome  photo  expert,  is  enroute  to 
Hollywood  from  Chicago. 

• 

Frank  N.  Phelps,  Warner  Thea- 
tres labor  relations  contact,  left  last 
night  for  Chicago  and  Milwaukee. 

SLRB  Hears'IA'  on 
RKO  Union  Claims 

A  hearing  was  held  here  yesterday 
before  the  State  Labor  Relations 
Board  on  the  attempt  of  the  IATSE 
to  separate  cashiers  from  the  jurisdic- 
tion of  the  newly-formed  Motion  Pic- 
ture Theatre  Operating  Managers, 
Assistants  and  Cashiers  Guild  embrac- 
ing help  in  RKO  theatres  in  Greater 
New  York.  A  further  hearing  has  been 
set  for  next  week. 

IATSE  had  previously  claimed  ju- 
risdiction over  doormen,  ushers  and 
matrons  in  RKO  and  other  theatres. 
When  the  new  RKO  union  sought  to 
be  designated  "  collective  bargaining 
agent  for  RKO  circuit  cashiers  along 
with  managers  and  assistants  at  an 
SLRB  hearing  several  weeks  ago,  the 
IATSE  entered  the  picture. 

Jack  Pegler  Joins  the 
Biow  Ad  Agency  Here 

Jack  Pegler,  advertising  account  ex- 
ecutive recently  with  Foote,  Cone  and 
Belding  where  he  handled  the  RKO 
account,  among  others,  has  been  ap- 
pointed an  account  executive  for  Biow 
here. 

Pegler  will  make  his  headquarters 
in  the  New  York  office  of  the  agency. 


'306'  Gives  Ambulance 

New  York  IATSE  projectionists' 
Local  306  voted  an  ambulance,  fully 
equipped,  to  U.  S.  Armed  Forces,  out 
of  union  funds  at  a  meeting  held  at 
the  Manhattan  Center  here  yesterday. 


Coming 
Events 

Today  and  tomorrow — Warner  dis- 
trict managers'  meeting,  New 
York. 

April  21 — Amusement  industry  com- 
mittee luncheon  for  United  Jew- 
ish Appeal,  Hotel  Astor,  Neva 
York.  \ 

April  21-28 — Republic  sales  meet^ 
ing,  Hollywood. 

April  24 — Testimonial  dinner  for: 
A.  W.  Schwalberg,  Hotel  Wal- 
dorf-Astoria, New  York. 

April  25-26 — M-G-M  auditors'  meet- J 
ing,  Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 

April  30-May  10 — Motion  picture 
division  drive  for  Catholic  Chari- 
ties, New  York. 

May  2 — Industry  labor  leaders  "Vig- 
ilante" meeting,  Hotel  Roosevelt, 
Hollywood. 

May  8 — PRC  sales  meeting,  Hol- 
lywood. 

May  9-10 — Annual  meeting,  Na- 
tional Film  Carriers,  New  York. 

May  11-17  —  Theatres'  recruiting 
campaign  for  Women's  Army 
Corps. 

May  11 — Montana  ITO  annual 
meeting,  Hotel  Northern,  Bill- 
ings, Mont. 


No  'Blazoning'  of 
War  Effort:  Coe 


Charles  Francis  Coe,  of  the 
MPPDA,  is  scheduled  today  to  com- 
mend theatre  owners  of  the  country 
for  not  using  "vast  advertising  cam- 
paigns" to  "blazon"  their  achievements 
in  the  war  effort,  in  an  address  pre- 
pared for  delivery  before  the  national 
congress  of  the  Daughters  of  the 
American  Revolution  at  the  Hotel 
Commodore  here. 

"The  talking  patriot  is  rarely  the 
fighting  one,  and  it  is  by  action,  not 
by  words,  that  true  Americanism  can 
best  be  expressed,"  Coe  will  say. 
"Only  patriotism  in  action  can  win  for 
us.  Those  who  are  fighting  and  dying 
to  keep  this  nation  free  are  not  making 
their  sacrifices  for  the  'isms'  by  which 
others  would  dilute  our  common  ef- 
fort." 

Coe  will  stress  that  the  industry  is 
making  its  contributions  "humbly  to 
all  the  fighting  fronts  and  the  work- 
ing fronts  behind  the  line.  Those 
who  have  given  free  10,000  motion 
picture  programs  to  our  armed  forces 
in  the  combat  areas  are  not  asking 
for  gratitude  from  their  Government. 
The  artists  who  comprise  the  Holly- 
wood army  of  more  than  1,500  actors 
and  actresses  who  have  made  over  12,-i 
000  free  appearances  in  approximately 
2.200  events  are  not  seeking  the  lime- 
light," he  concludes. 


Wm.  Wehrenberg  Dies 

St.     Louis,     April  19.— William 
Wehrenberg,  brother  of  Fred  Wehren- 
berg, president  of  the  Eastern  Mis- 
souri and  Southern  Illinois  MPTOA, 
I  died  here  this  week. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President:  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.  j  Sullivan.  Secretary:  Sherwin  Kane  Executive  Editor;  Tames  P.  Cunningham.  News 
Editor:  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave..  Leonard  Gneier.  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg..  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor:  cable  address.  "Quigpubco.  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame-  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23.  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies.  1"« 


$r«t  month  already  at  the  v.  y.  houvvvo  00 

STRICTLY  FROM 


Jack  L.  Warner,  Executive  Producer 

CLAUDE  RAIIV- 

GREENSTREET  •  HELMUT  DANTINE  •  PETER  LORRE  •  GEO.  TOBIAS 


HUMPHREY  BOGART .'PASSAGE  TO  MARSEILLE'  • CLAUDE  RAINS  -^m^smim 


Again  New  York's 
Main  Stem  is  very 
M-G-M,  and  it's  the 
same  throughout 
the  nation ! 


(Oh,  Mr.  Winchell, 
watch  for  — ^ 
M-G-M's  "White 
Cliffs  of  Dover" 
next  attraction 
at  Radio  City 
Music  Hall) 


LIONIZED 


BY 


WINCHELL! 


Read  what  WALTER 
WINCHELL  said  in 
his  column! 

'THE  MAGIC  LANTERNS: 
'Rationing'  with  Wallace 
Beery  came  to  the  Globe 
Theatre  and  convulsed  the 
patrons.  It  is  an  M-G-M 
hit . .  .'Lost  Angel'  which 
arrived  yesterday  at  the 
Criterion  is  one  of  those 
delights  with  Margaret 
O'Brien,  a  show  in  herself. 
Roy  Rowland  directed  with 
skill.  Another  M-G-M  click 
. .  .'See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove'  (a  third  M-G-M 
socko)  is  the  biggest  laff 
show  in  the  cinema  cathe- 
drals. Robert  Walker  (of  the 
Mme.  Curie  picture)  is  the 
person  in  it  to  yip  about ..." 


(Above)  New  York  newspaper  ad 


TECHNICOLORIOT! 

BROADWAY 
RHYTHM 

Biggest  for  M-G-M 
at  Capitol,  N*  Y. 
since  new  policy , 
began ! 


\ 


TUNISIAN 
VICTORY 

Biggest  Ballyhoo 
of  modern  times  at 
Wash.,  D.  C.  Premiere. 
Watch  for  detailed 
campaign!  Copy  it 
and  cash  in! 


HEY'RE  GIVING  THIS  LITTLE 
GIRL  A  GREAT  BIG  HAND! 


M-G-M's  Happy  Easter  Hit  is  the  Talk  of  the  Town ! 


"Margaret  O'Brien  is  a  new  child  wonder!  She 
firmly  establishes  herself  as  the  marvel  of  the, cur- 
rent cinema!  Sheer  delight!  "—News 

"A  new  Hollywood  star  of  the  first  magnitude!  A  joy- 
ous event!  A  treat  to  be  enjoyed!"- Herald  Tribune 

"Margaret  O'Brien  is  terrific!  Fine  comedy  for  the 
entire  family."— Mirror 

"A  completely  captivating  child !  Tugs  at  your  heart- 
strings... A  heart- warming  actress  of  amazing  abil- 
ity. 'Lost  Angel'  is  a  film  find!  "—Journal- American 

"A  deft  mixture  of  comedy,  melodrama  and  senti- 
ment. Hits  the  bull's-eye  of  popular  appeal.  Mar- 
garet O'Brien  passes  with  flying  colors!"  —Post 

"Margaret  O'Brien  an  entrancing  youngster  with  a 
gift  for  acting  and  a  fine  sense  of  comedy !  "—Sun 

"'Lost  Angel'  will  be  filling  Loew's  Criterion  for 
weeks  with  the  enchanting  glow  of  a  little  girl's 
charm. ..Margaret  O'Brien,  an  actress  with  emotional 
depth . . .  simply  astonishing ! "    —  World-Telegram 

"One  of  Hollywood's  most  gifted  actresses!" 

—Life  Magazine 


Starring 


with  JAMES  CRAIG 
MARSHA  HUNT  •  Philip  Merivale 
Henry  O'Neill  •  Donald  Meek 


NOW  AT  LOEW'S 


BROADWAY  &  45th  ST. 
C^^^GIVE  TO  THE  RED  CROSS 


(Above)  New  York  newspaper  ad 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  20,  194 


[Advertisement] 


Spring  Will 
Be  a  Little 
Late  This  Year 


By  WEIR  HAPPY 

A  Mid-Western  Port,  April  20, 
10:00  A.M.,  Cincinnati  Time — (Cen- 
sored) —  A  communique  from  the 
battle  front  to  Field  Marshall  Milton 
Crandall's  headquarters  disclosed  that 
exhibitors  in  the  Mid-West  are  sing- 
ing the  praises  of  Universal  for  a 
grand  job  in  promoting  good  will  be- 
tween the  exhibs  and  civic  authorities. 

The  communique  further  revealed 
that  civic  minded  citizens  and  groups 
have  taken  the  offensive  and  are  firing 
their  best  shots  in  the  Ladies  Cour- 
ageous campaign  which  has  completely 
encircled  this  territory. 

Allies  Are  Helpful 

Field  Marshall  Crandall,  grizzly 
veteran  of  many  campaigns,  arrived  in 
the  field  to  personally  assume  com- 
mand of  the  Universal  Army  and 
found  helpful  and  willing  allies  in  the 
70  cities  where  simultaneous  openings 
of  Walter  W anger's  production  are 
now  in  progress. 

A  plane,  christened  Ladies  Cour- 
ageous at  the  Aeronca  Plant  in  Mid- 
dletown,  Ohio,  took  off  after  the 
launching  to  visit  each  of  these  70 
cities  and  deliver  ballots  for  the  pur- 
pose of  nominating  the  lady  courage- 
ous of  these  communities.  The  quest 
for  this  lady  is  now  in  full  sway. 
Mayors  of  these  towns  are  cooperating 
fully.  The  first  pages  of  newspapers 
are  telling  the  story  as  well  as  Sta- 
tion WLW. 

This  campaign  offers  conclusive 
evidence  that  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry can  gain  added  good  will  from 
civic  tie-ups.  The  exhibitors  who  have 
benefited  from  the  Ladies  Courageous 
campaign  urge  other  exhibits  to  follow 
the  boys,  pardon,  follow  suit. 

And  speaking  of  Follow  the  Boys, 
the  Charles  K.  Feldman  production 
which  hits  Broadway  at  the  Criterion 
Theatre  next  week,  the  Home  Office 
staff  is  very  busy  following  the  pro- 
gram outlined  for  the  promotion  of 
this  entertaining  picture  which  tips  its 
hat  to  the  Hollywood  Victory  Com- 
mittee and  the  USO. 

Bergman  in  Chicago 

Follow  the  Boys  is  receiving  ter- 
rific treatment.  Whether  one  listens 
to  the  radio,  reads  the  newspapers  or 
travels  in  the  subway  he  gets  the  im- 
pression he  is  being  followed  by  Fol- 
low the  Boys.  Where  one  turns  he  is 
reminded  that  Follow  the  Boys  is  not 
advice  to  the  bobby-sock  generation — 
but  the  title  of  a  picture. 

Not  only  in  New  York,  but  every- 
where, is  the  campaign  hectic.  As  a 
matter  of  fact,  Maurice  Bergman, 
Eastern  Director  of  Advertising  and 
Publicity,  is  at  this  moment  in  Chi- 
cago setting  up  a  tremendous  program. 
Mr.  Bergman  is  traveling  light  — 
which  means  he'll  be  home  very  soon. 

Follow  the  Boys  made  its  debut  in 
Toronto  not  so  very  many  days  ago. 
The  turnstiles  clicked  at  such  a  merry 
pace  it  sounded  as  though  the  Canadi- 
an Royal  Air  Force  was  taking  target 
practice  in  the  lobby.  Not  only  was 
the  first  week's  business  overwhelm- 
ing ;  the  second  week  was  even  bigger. 
In  other  words,  Follow  the  Boys  is 
like  a  beard — it  grows  on  you. 


Review 

"Address  Unknown" 

(Columbia) 

If1  ROM  Kressmann  Taylor's  celebrated  story  Columbia,  in  "Address 
"  Unknown,"  has  fashioned  a  tense  and  poweEiul  film  that  mounts 
steadily  toward  a  compelling  climax.  Paul  Lukas,  Academy  Award 
winner,  further  enhances  his  stature  by  adding  another  superb  portrayal 
to  his  gallery  of  full-bodied  characterizations.  Further,  he  is  imme- 
diately projected  into  the  forefront  for  consideration  of  yet  another 
Award  by  his  magnificent  performance.  William  Cameron  Menzies, 
famed  as  a  production-designer,  produced  and  directed,  heightening  the 
drama  by  deliberate  somber  lighting. 

Lukas,  in  the  story,  has  returned  to  his  native  Germany  with  Mady 
Christians,  his  wife,  and  his  family.  Behind  in  America  he  leaves  his 
son,  Peter  Van  Eyck,  and  Morris  Carnovsky,  his  Jewish  partner,  to 
carry  on  their  art  business.  He  falls  under  the  influence  of  a  German 
baron,  Carl  Esmond,  and  is  converted  to  Nazism.  His  letters  to  Car- 
novsky become  cool  and  distant  and  finally  Lukas  asks  that  they  cease 
their  correspondence.  Meanwhile,  K.  T.  Stevens,  Carnovsky's  daughter 
and  beloved  of  Van  Eyck,  makes  her  debut  in  Berlin  and  is  hooted  off 
the  stage  by  Nazi  ruffians.  Pursued  by  her  tormentors,  she  is  denied 
sanctuary  by  Lukas  and  is  killed.  From  America  begins  the  deadly 
chain  of  coded  cables  and  letters  that  leads  to  Lukas'  doom.  Thus  is 
depicted  the  slow  disintegration  of  a  man  who  turned  from  the  warm 
light  of  America  to  the  murky  darkness  of  the  Nazi  dungeon. 

Herbert  Dalmas'  screen  play  has  faithfully  adhered  to  the  spirit  of 
the  original  with  the  exception  of  a  new  twist  to  the  ending;  he  has 
Lukas'  son  revealed  as  the  letter  writer.  This  is  a  difficult  picture  in 
which  to  gauge  financial  rewards,  for  the  story,  although  amazingly 
received  in  its  original  form,  has  become  somewhat  dated.  Then,  too, 
Menzies'  handling  is  somewhat  "arty"  with  its  emphasis  on  low  lighting. 
But  here  is  a  picture  that  can  be  exploited  by  smart  showmanship, 
capitalizing  on  the  fine  acting  of  Lukas,  Carnovsky,  Van  Eyck,  Miss 
Christians,  Esmond,  and  Miss  Stevens,  that  can  boost  grosses  into  top 
brackets.  The  camera  work  of  Rudolph  Mate  is  to  be  commended,  and 
so  is  the  musical  score  and  arrangement  of  Ernst  Toch. 

Running  time,  72  mins.    "G"*    Release  date  not  set. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification. 


New  Troubles  Over 
Kaimann  Theatres 

St.  Louis,  April  19. — The  family 
quarrel  between  members  of  the  Kai- 
mann family,  theatre  operators  here, 
which  resulted  in  the  wounding  of  one 
brother  and  the  death  of  another  last 
January,  has  flared  anew.  Mrs.  Mar- 
guerite Kaimann,  widow  of  William 
Kaimann,  who  shot  himself  after 
wounding  his  brother  Clarence,  has 
applied  for  a  restraining  order  in  Cir- 
cuit Court  here  against  the  Balka 
Corp.,  one  of  the  companies  owned 
by  the  Kaimann  family. 

Mrs.  Kaimann,  who  was  named 
vice-president  of  Kaimann  Brothers 
Amusement  Co.  and  Hyde  Park 
Amusement  Co.  after  the  death  of  her 
husband,  charges  that  other  members 
of  the  family  are  attempting  to  ex- 
clude her  from  participation  in  the 
operation  of  the  companies,  which  own 
eight  neighborhood  theatres  and  op- 
erate several  others  under  lease.  The 
restraining  order  directs  Balka  to 
show  cause  on  April  27  why  its  pro- 
hibition to  the  electing  of  a  vice-presi- 
dent and  director  to  succeed  William 
Kaimann  should  not  be  made  perma- 
nent. Balka  corporation  operates  two 
theatres,  the  Janet  and  the  Bridge, 
both  in  North  St.  Louis. 


RCA  Plant  Gets  <E' 

Lancaster,  Pa.,  April  19. — The 
RCA  division  plant  here  has  been 
awarded  an  Army-Navy  "E"  for  ac- 
complishments in  the  production  of 
war  equipment.  Presentation  cere- 
monies will  be  held  April  24  at  the 
plant,  which  has  been  operating  16 
months,  manufacturing  electron  tubes. 


Warner  Bros.  District 
Managers  Meeting 

Two-day  meetings  of  Warner  dis- 
trict managers,  called  by  Ben  Kalmen- 
son,  general  sales  manager,  will  get 
under  way  this  morning  at  the  home 
office,  with  Kalmenson  presiding. 

In  addition  to  discussing  the 
handing  of  forthcoming  product,  par- 
ticuarly  "The  Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain,"  which  is  to  be  placed  in  gen- 
eral release  later  in  the  season  follow- 
ing its  200  special  advanced-price  pre- 
mieres, the  session  will  take  up  cur- 
rent sales  matters. 

Field  executives  at  the  meeting  will 
include  Henry  Herbel,  Wolfe  Cohen, 
Ralph  L.  McCoy,  Hall  Walsh,  Harry 
A.  Seed,  Charles  Rich,  Robert  Smelt- 
zer,  Norman  Ayers.  Charles  Einfeld, 
who  arrived  in  New  York  last  week 
from  the  studio  also  will  participate. 
Among  home  office  executives  taking 
part,  besides  Kalmenson,  will  be  Ar- 
thur Sachson,  Roy  Haines,  Jules  Lapi- 
dus,  Mort  Blumenstock,  Norman  H. 
Moray,  A.  W.  Schwalberg,  Howard 
Levinson,  Ed  Hinchy,  I.  F.  Dolid, 
Bernard  R.  Goodman,  Ralph  Clark,  A. 
C.  Brauninger  and  Charles  Baily. 


Eaton  Appeal  Today 

Memphis,  April  19. — Counsel  for 
John  W.  Eaton,  owner-operator  of 
the  Peabody  Theatre  here,  who  was 
recently  sentenced  to  30  days  on  an 
involuntary  manslaughter  count,  is 
scheduled  to  make  a  motion  in  Crimi- 
nal Court  here  tomorrow  for  a  new 
trial.  Eaton  was  convicted  as  the  re- 
sult of  an  explosion  which  killed  El- 
roy  Curry,  theatre  maintenance  man. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  1! 
UARRY  COHN,  president  of  Co 
*■  -■■  lumbia,  and  Mrs.  Cohn,  are  thi 
parents  of  a  boy.  Mrs.  Cohn  is  thij 
former  Joan  Perry. 

• 

Joe  E.  Brown  will  be  honored 
the  Independent  Motion  Picture  Dis 
tributors  at  a  dinner  next  Tuesda: 
in  the  Ambassador  Hotel.  W.  Raj 
Johnston,  Leon  Fromkess,  A.  W 
Hackel  and  Edward  Finney  comprisi 
the  committee  on  arrangements. 
• 

Edmund  C.  Grainger  and  H.  J 
Yates  will  preside,  beginning  Tues- 
day, at  a  two-day  Republic  sales  con 
ference  in  the  studio,  with  Westerr 
exchange  managers  attending.  Similai 
sessions  will  follow  at  Chicago  anc 
New  York. 

• 

Lester  Cowan  today  named  Jacl< 
Diamond,  New  York  publicist,  as  pub 
licity  director  for  "The  Story  of  GJ 
Joe."  Cowan  will  appoint  separate 
publicity  heads  for  "Tomorrow  the 
W orld"  and  the  new  Garbo  picture. 
• 

Sam  Wood's  next  production  foi 
Columbia  will  be  "Jubal  Troop,"  i 
Western  novel,  which  is  tentativel} 
scheduled  to  go  into  production  Ma) 
IS.  Gary  Cooper,  it  is  understood 
will  be  starred. 

• 

Fred  MacMurray's  first  at  20tl 
Century-Fox  will  be  "Nob  Hill"  ir 
Technicolor.  Andre  Daven  will  pro 
duce. 

• 

Lawrence  Weingarten,  M-G-M 
studio  executive,  is  reported  recover- 
ing from  an  appendectomy  at  Cedar 
of  Lebanon  Hospital. 


Radio  Donates  Time 
Worth  $202,000,000 

Washington,  April  19. — Time  anc 
facilities  donated  to  the  Governmen 
and  the  war  effort  by  the  .broadcasting 
industry  last  year  are  estimated  by  th< 
National  Association  of  Broadcaster 
to  have  had  a  value  in  excess  o 
$202,000,000. 

A  compilation  by  the  NAB  dividec 
the  total  between  the  networks  witl 
$105,644,000  and  individual  station 
with  $96,500,000. 

The  largest  beneficiary  of  networl 
and  station  contributions  was  th 
Treasury  Department,  which  was  es- 
timated to  have  received  $49,698,00( 
in  time  for  its  war  bond  and  othe 
drives. 


Performance  Record 
For  Camp  Shows 

Hollywood,  April  19. — Setting  a 
new  record,  62  players  have  given 
457  performances  on  USO-Camp 
Shows  tours  so  far  in  April,  the  Hol- 
lywood Victory  Committee  reported 
yesterday.  Appearances  at  52  Army 
and  Navy  general  hospitals  have  been 
made  by  19  performers. 

In  addition  to  Gene  Kelly,  the 
pioneer  of  the  new  hospital  circuit,! 
those  touring  have  included  Eddie; 
Cantor,  Brian  Donlevy,  Akim  Tamir-; 
off,  Leonid  Kinsky,  Martha  0'DrisJ 
coll,  Gale  Sondergaard,  Sheila  Ryan., 
K.  T.  Stevens,  Gloria  Stuart  and 
Hillary  Brook. 


Thursday,  April  20,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


'Lost  Angel'  Finds 
$25,000  in  Boston 

Boston,  April  19.  —  Business  was 
good  but  not  exceptional,  with  the  two 
iLoew   theatres,  the   State   and  Or- 
jpheum,  doing   excellent  business  on 
!  "Lost  Angel,"  although  both  were  off 
on   opening.    Loew's    Orpheum  got 
$25,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
fling  April  20: 

"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 

s  RKO  BOSTON — (3,200)  (50c-65c-85c-$1.10) 
(Gross:  $31,000.    (Average:  $29,300.)  Stage: 

>how  with  Bill  Robinson. 

"The  Sullivans  (20th-Fox) 
•l  "Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

FENWAY  —  (1,373)  (40c-65c-75c)  Gross: 

$6,500.   (Average:  $7,300). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 
'    KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2,900)  (40c-50c-65c- 

85c)    Gross:   $13,000.    (Average:  $15,300). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
1  "The  Navy  Way"  (Para.)  7  days,  2nd  week 
£    METROPOLITAN  —  (4,367)  (40c-55c-65c- 
.85c)  Gross:  $26,000.   (Average:  $28,300). 

"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M) 

"Hey  Rookie"  (Col.) 
LOEW'S  ORPHEUM  —  (2,900)  (40c-55c- 

65c-85c)  Gross:  $25,000.   (Average:  $23,800). 

"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M) 
'-  "Hey  Rookie"  (Col.) 

i  LOEW'S  STATE  —  (3,200)  (40c-55c-65c- 
1  85c)  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $13,200). 

"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 
'  "Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (1,700)  (40c-55c-65c-85c) 
Gross:  $12,000.  (Average:  $11,500). 

t   

Academy  of  Music 
Hearing  on  May  5 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Skouras  Theatres  Corp.  as  a  result  of 
!i  negotiations  between  that  company, 
iithe  Fox  Theaters  trustees,  the  First 

0  National  Bank  of  Atlanta,  the  stock- 
holders protective  committee,  and  the 
Ktima  Corp.,  a  Skouras  subsidiary. 

'Authority  to  make  the  sale  was  given 
the  receiver  for  Fox  Theatres  by  for- 

imer  Judge  Martin  Manton  of  the  Cir- 
cuit Court  of  Appeals. 

Fox  Theatres'  trustees  applied  in 

1  October,  1943,  for  an  order  setting 
aside  the  sale,  subject  to  an  agreement 
of  all  interested  parties  to  restore  the 

,  status  quo.    The  settlement,  it  is  un- 
derstood, is  to  be  made  without  preju- 
dice. 

,  Involved  in  the  settlement  are  the 
.  common  capital  stock  of  the  Fox 
.Realty  Co.,  certain  realty  transfers  re- 
lating to  the  Academy  of  Music,  and 
f  a  claim  in  favor  of  Fox  Theatres 
.  against  the  William  Fox  Realtv  Co. 
in  the  sum  of  over  $300,000. 

If  the  proposed  settlement  is  ap- 
|.  proved  by  the  court,  the  transfer  would 
be  effective  as  of  Mar.  1,  1944,  and 
,  Skouras  Theatres  and  Ktima  would 
I  be  released  of  all  obligations  to  all 
parties  concerned.     The  petition  was 
signed  by  attorney  Robert  Aronstein, 
representing  the  Atlanta  bank,  and  by 
the  Fox  Theatres'  trustees,  Kenneth 
P.  Steinreich  and  Leopold  Porrino. 


*U'  Contributes  $16,000 

Some  $16,000,  representing  film  ren- 
tals in  excess  of  production  costs  of 
Victory  shorts,  has  been  turned  over 
i  to  the  Red  Cross  by  Universal.  This 
contribution  is  over  and  above  the 
$20,000  turned  in  during  the  drive. 


Postpone  Chicago  * Shows* 

Chicago,  April  19. — The  "Show  of 
Shows"  Chicago  performance  for  the 
Emergency  Committee  to  Save  the 
Jewish  People  of  Europe  has  been 
postponed  from  June  1  to  early 
October. 


Training  Audience 
Set  at  23,000,000 

Washington,  April  19. — War 
Department  training  films 
and  film  bulletins  are  now  be- 
ing shown  about  200,000 
times  a  month  to  soldier  au- 
diences estimated  at  23,000,- 
000  in  the  United  States  and 
approximately  100,000  times  a 
month  to  a  smaller  audience 
overseas,  it  is  reported  by  the 
Army  Pictorial  Service. 


'Lady  in  Dark*  Hits 
Bright  $16,000 

Providence,  April  19. — "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  did  the  best  business  of  the 
week  at  the  Strand,  where  the  gross 
was  just  barely  under  $16,000. 

Estimated  receipts  fgr  the  week  end- 
ing April  20 : 

"Snow    White    and    the    Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO) 

"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALB  EE— (2,239)  (35c-44c-55c-60c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average: 
$12,800). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

"The  Memphis  Belle"  (Para.-WAC) 

STRAND— (21,200)      (44c-5Sc)      7  davs. 
Gross:  $16,000.     (Average :'  $10,500). 
"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (Para.-WAC) 

LOEW'S  STATE — (3,232)    (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $17,700). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (Para.-WAC.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,500.  (Average:  $12,- 
100). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

FAY'S— (1,800)  (76c-80c-$1.10)  7-  days,  2nd 
week.      Gross:   $16,000.      (Average:  under 
regular  scale  and  old  policy,  $6,500). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)    7  days, 
2nd   week,    moveover   from    Loew's  State. 
Gross:  $4,000.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"The  Underdog"  (PRC) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (SOc-60c-70c)  3 
days.  On  stage:  Henry  Busse's  Orches- 
tra.   Gross:  $7,500.    (Average:  $7,900). 

WB  Releases  3  More 
French  Versions 

Toronto,  April  19.  —  Three  more 
Warner  Hollywood  films,  dubbed  in 
French,  have  been  set  for  Canadian 
release,  it  was  disclosed  here  yester- 
day by  Wolfe  Cohen,  Warners'  do- 
minion manager.  "The  Sea  Wolf" 
("Ecumeur  Des  Mers")  will  be  re- 
leased May  6 ;  "Always  in  My  Heart" 
("Tu  Es  Toujours  Dans  Mon 
Coeur"),  May  27,  and  "Virginia  City" 
("La  Oaravane  Heroique"),  June  24. 

Of  the  five  French  versions  already 
released,  "All  This  and  Heaven,  Too" 
("Le  Ciel  et  Toi")  appears  to  be  set 
for  a  record  run  at  the  Montreal  Or- 
pheum, Cohen  reported. 

Legion  Passes  Four 
New  Productions 

The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
reviewed  four  pictures,  all  of  which 
were  found  acceptable.  In  Class  A-l, 
unobjectionable  for  general  patronage, 
were  "Adventure  in  Music,"  Crystal ; 
"Lumberjack,"  United  Artists,  and 
"Bermuda  Mystery,"  20th  Century- 
Fox.  "Follow  the  Boys,"  a  Universal 
release,  was  put  in  Class  A-2,  unob- 
jectionable for  adults. 


New  Columbia  Series 

Columbia  will  make  a  series  of 
features  based  upon  the  radio  show 
"The  Whistler,"  following  the  single 
feature  adapted  from  that  program. 
The  first  is  scheduled  to  go  into  pro- 
duction in  June.  Rudolph  Flothow 
will  produce. 


'Marseille'  $18,000 
To  Lead  St.  Louis 


St.  Louis,  April  19. — A  cold,  rainy 
weekend  caused  a  slump  in  boxoffice 
receipts  here  this  week.  "Passage  to 
Marseille"  at  the  Fox  is  high  for  the 
week  with  an  estimated  $18,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19 : 

'  Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"Action  in.  Arabia"  (RKO) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)     (40c-50c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $16,500.     (Average:  $15,700). 
"No  Greater  Love"  (Artkino) 
"Nine  Girls"  (Col.) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
Gross:    $14,500.      (Average:  $9,900). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,162)  (4Oc-50c-60c-65c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Aver- 
age: $18,900). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 
"Hi,  Good  Lookin' "  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$18,000.      (Average:  $18,700). 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 
"Fcior  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 

SHUBERT— (1,500)    (40c-50c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 
"The  Ghost  That  Walks  Alone"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S    ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)   7   days.      Gross:   $6,000.  (Aver- 
age: $7, ICO). 
"Chest  Ship"  (RKO) 
"The  Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep.) 

ST.  LOUIS—  (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $5,200). 


'Arms',  Show  Score 
Excellent  $20,000 

Baltimore,  April  19. — Business  that 
made  an  excellent  start  on  openings 
suffered  somewhat  over  a  rainy  week- 
end. The  Hippodrome,  with  "Up  In 
Arms,"  plus  a  stage  show,  is  scoring 
$20,000  and  "Heavenly  Body"  is  due 
for  $18,500  at  the  Century. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  13 : 

"The  Imposter"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,406)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  6  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.   (Average:  $15,000). 
"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (3.000)  (35c-43c-55c-  and  60c 
weekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Average: 
$17,500). 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (2(rth-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)    (30c-40c-60c)    7   days.  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average:  $11,000). 
"Shine  on,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

STANLEY  —  (3,280)  (35c-44c-55c-66c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c) 
7  days.  Stage  show:  Wally  Boag.  Stubby 
Kaye,  Arren  &  Broderick,  Lynn  &  Larry, 
Frank  Victor  Ouartette.  Gross:  $20,000. 
(Average:  .$18,500.) 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 

MAYFAIR—  (1,000)   (25c-45c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $6,500.    (Average:  $7,000). 
"Kings  of  the  Ring"  (Lewis-Lesser) 

MARYLAND—  (1.400)  (30c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.   (Average;  $8,200). 


'Lady'  Still  Leading 
Omaha  in  2nd  Week 

Omaha,  April  19. — Outstanding 
here  was  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  in  its 
second  week  at  the  Paramount,  a 
house  that  rarely  holds  over  a  picture. 
And  "Corvette  K-225,"  in  another 
single  billing  at  the  Omaha  Theatre 
was  close  behind  with  $10,100. 

Estimated  receipts  for  week  ending 
April  19-20: 

"Up  in  Arm<="  (RKO-Goldw-m) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 

BR  ANDETS— (1.200)      (44-60c)      7  days. 
Gross:   $7,600.      (Average:  $6,500). 
"Corvette  K-22S  (Univ.) 

OMAHA— (2,000)  (44c -60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,100.     (Average:  $8,400). 
"Crv  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)     (55c-70c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $15,200). 
"LadV  in  th«  Dark"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days, 
^nrl  week.  Gross:  $11,100.  (Average: 
$11,700). 


Cream  of  L.A. 


Money  Goes 
To  'Cover  Girl' 


Los  Angeles,  April  19. — "Cover 
Girl"  took  the  cream  of  amusement 
spending-money  here  in  a  climatically 
perfect  week.  It  got  $50,000  in  the 
Pantages-Hillstreet  duo,  which  aver- 
ages $36,400: 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  19 : 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

CHINESE— (2,500)      (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.     Gross:  $18,000.     (Average:  $15,500). 
"None  Shall  Escape"  (Col.) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

EGYPTIAN— (1,500)    (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"Trocadero"  (Rep.) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average:  $6,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)      (5Cc-60c-80c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $24,000.     (Average:  $19,700). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (2flth-Fox) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"None   Shall    Escape"  (Col.) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,098)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $25,500.  (Average: 
$14,9000. 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (2,000)    (50c-60c-80c-$1.00)  7 
days.     Gross:  $26,000.     (Average:  $16,700). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD^(50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average: 
$11,000). 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN  —  (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00).  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average:  $20,- 
300). 

"None  Shall  Escape"  (Col.) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (5Cc-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.     (Average:  $8,700). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (2flth-Fox) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,500.    (Average:  $20,500). 
"Shine  On,   Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
6Oc-80c-$l.O0)    7    days,    2nd    week.  Gross: 
$18,046.     (Average:  $17,000). 
"Shfne  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS  DOWNTOWN— (3,400)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)    7   days,   2nd   week.  Gross: 
$19,057.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS  W1LTERN— (2,200)  (50c-60c- 
80c-$l.CO)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $16.- 
804.     (Average:  $15,200). 


Kelly,  Reynolds,  Hall 
Touring  Hospitals 

Nancy,  Kelly  began  a  USO-Camp 
Shows  hospital  tour  this  week  in  Chi- 
cago. Her  itinerary  calls  for  appear- 
ances throughout  Illinois,  Iowa,  Kan- 
sas, Colorado  and  Utah. 

Another  tour  for  the  entertainment 
of  service  men  convalescing  from  bat- 
tle injuries  will  be  made  starting  to- 
day by  Marjorie  Reynolds  and 
Marian  Hall.  Their  joint  itinerary 
begins  at  El  Paso,  Tex.,  and  will  take 
them  through  Texas,  Missouri,  Kan- 
sas, Colorado,  Utah,  Oregon,  Washing- 
ton and  California. 


Mrs.  A.  Wills  Dies 

Mrs.  Anna  K.  Wills,  85,  widow  of 
actor  George  Browning  Wills,  and 
mother  of  the  late  Mrs.  Charles  Co- 
burn,  wife  of  the  film  actor,  died  re- 
cently in  a  hospital  here. 


"Birthday, 


Adolf 


Hitler  ! 


PARAMOUNT'S 


The  Httfer  Can? 

B.  G.  DeSYLVA,  Executive  Producer 
Directed  by  JOHN  FARROW 

Written  by  Frances  Goodrich  and  Albert  Hacketl 


Today  in  New  York,  on  Adolf  Hitler's  55th  birth- 
lay,  there  is  a  package  especially  for  Der  Fuehrer— a  tin 
ontainer  enclosing  eleven  reels  of  a  motion  picture  which 
r^picts  the  true  and  unvarnished  story  of  Hitler  and 
lis  mob  from  the  Armistice  of  1918  through  the  blood 
)urge  of  1934— a  motion  picture  called  ThctttfferCdtty* 
)roduced  in  Hollywood  by  Paramount. 

It  is  too  bad  that  Hitler  cannot  see  this  film  today, 
or  it  would  be  sure  to  add  to  the  many  unhappinesses 
)f  his  already  unhappy  birthday. 

But  soon  the  whole  world  will  see  it,  and  will  know 
Hitler  at  last  for  what  he  really  is  and  was— a  degraded 
;tool-pigeon,  a  cowardly  weakling,  and  the  cold- 
blooded murderer  of  his  16 -year- old  niece! 

They  will  know  too  why  Goering  took  sojourns  in  a 
straight-jacket— what  Hess  was  to  Hitler— and  how  the 
German  people  themselves  were  taken  over  by  a  gang 
}f  the  most  vicious  criminals  the  world  has  ever  known. 

Tll6  Httfcr  Cdtty  will  have  its  world  premiere  in 
New  York  May  6th  at  the  Globe  Theatre. 


From  ?^ram«unt 


THE  WAR  DEPARTMENT  PRE  SEN  I 


►«7^*\ heiltbr, 
^vJ^^SLfltf^WCT  on»-U.e  bo; 


^  C/# 


PARAMOUNT  DISTRIBUTES 

MS 


War  Dept.'s  Terrific  Technicolor  Thriller 
Invades  Front  Pages,  Editorial  Pages, 
Publicity  Targets  Never  Touched  Before 


PRAISE  AS  HIGH  AS  THE  SKIES  THEY  CONQUERED 
GREETS  SOO-THEATRE  NATION-WIDE  PREMIERE 


It 


PHOTOGRAPHED  BY  U.  S.  8th  AIR  FORCE  PHOTOGRAPHERS 
AND  COMBAT  CREW  MEMBERS. 

PRODUCED  BY  U.S.  8th  AIR  FORCE  PHOTOGRAPHIC  SEC- 
TION IN  COOPERATION  WITH  ARMY  AIR  FORCES  FIRST 
MOTION  PICTURE  UNIT. 

DISTRIBUTED  BY  PARAMOUNT  PICTURES,  INC.  FOR  OFFICE 
OF  WAR  INFORMATION  THROUGH  WAR  ACTIVITIES  COM- 
MITTEE-MOTION PICTURE  INDUSTRY. 


BOOK  THE  WAR'S  GREATEST  ACTION  FILM 
NOW  WHILE  THIS  ARMADA  OF  ACCLAIM  IS 
SWEEPING  THE  PUBLICITY  FRONT! 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  20,  1944 


U.S.  Claim  for 

Axis  'Grab' 
Is  Prepared 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
filed  by  motion  picture  and  all  other 
companies,  showing  that  American 
holdings  in  Germany  amount  to  $1,- 
290,000,000,  in  Italy  to  $265,000,000 
and  in  Japan  $90,000,000  or  more  than 
three  times  the  known  Axis  holdings 
in  this  country,  estimated  at  $450,- 
000,000.  In  addition,  Americans  own 
more  than  $2,000,000,000  of  property 
in  enemy-occupied  areas,  most  of 
which  is  believed  to  have  been  seized 
by  the  Axis. 

"The  information,  detailed  in  the 
reports  which  have  been  filed,  will  be 
of  value  after  the  war  in  unscrambling 
the  problems  of  confiscated  properties 
in  enemy  and  enemy-occupied  terri- 
tory," Morgenthau  pointed  out. 

The  census  was  not  confined  to  the 
Axis  countries  but  was  world-wide, 
disclosing  that  American  assets  in 
United  Nations  territory  aggregate 
$8,000,000,000,  including  areas  now  un- 
der domination,  and  in  Latin  America 
amount  to  $3,250,000,000.  The  great- 
est American  investment  in  any  single 
country  is  $4,375,000,000,  in  Canada. 


Friedberg,  Proctor  Join 

James  D.  Proctor  and  William 
Friedberg  have  formed  a  partnership 
in  general  publicity  and  have  leased 
offices  at  545  Fifth  Ave.  Frank  Good- 
man will  be  associated  with  them. 


WAC  Names  31  Assistant 
Chairmen  in  Field  Areas 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
Grassgreen,  20th-Fox,  Boston;  Ralph 
Maw,  Loew's,  Buffalo ;  George  Ros- 
coe,  Columbia  and  Charlotte ;  Sam 
Gorlick,  RKO,  Chicago;  Allan  S. 
M oritz,  Columbia,  Cincinnati ;  Lester 
Zucker,  Columbia,  Cleveland;  Lloyd 
Rust,  Republic,  Dallas ;  Henry  Fried- 
el,  Loew's,  Denver ;  Lou  Elman, 
RKO,  Des  Moines ;  Milton  Cohen, 
RKO,  Detroit ;  Claude  McKean,  War- 
ners, Indianapolis ;  Frank  Hensler, 
Loew's,  Kansas  City ;  Harry  Cohen, 
RKO,  Los  Angeles ;  Al  Avery, 
RKO,  Memphis  ;  J.  H.  Lorentz,  20th- 
Fox,  Milwaukee ;  Ben  Blotcky,  Para- 
mount, Minneapolis ;  Morey  Gold- 
stein, Loew's,  New  Haven;  Moe 
Kurtz,  20th-Fox,  New  Jersey ;  Roger 
Lamantia,  RKO,  New  Orleans;  Rob- 
ert J.  Fannon,  Republic,  New  York ; 
Marion  W.  Osbourne,  20th-Fox,  Okla- 
homa City ;  J.  T.  McBride,  Para- 
mount, Omaha ;  Wm.  Mansell,  War- 
ners, Philadelphia ;  Arthur  H.  Levy, 
Columbia,  Pittsburgh ;  Charles  Pow- 
ers, 20th-Fox,  Portland;  C.  D.  Hill, 
Columbia,  St.  Louis ;  W.  G.  Seib,  Co- 
lumbia, Salt  Lake  City ;  Newt  Jacobs, 
RKO,  San  Francisco ;  Neal  Walton, 
Columbia,  Seattle,  and  John  S.  Allan, 
Loew's,  Washington. 


Seadler  Advertising  Head 
For  Recruiting  of  Wacs 

Silas  F.  Seadler,  M-G-M,  has  been 
named  advertising  counsellor  for  the 


JEKYLL 


OR 


HYDE.... 


On  the  screen,  the  same  man  can  be  a  Dr.  Jekyll  or  a 
Mr.  Hyde.  In  your  projection  booth  as  well,  equipment 
can  be  hero  or  villain!  It's  up  to  you  whether  your 
equipment  acts -or  just  acts  up.  For  better  all  around 
help,  get  Altec  . . .  it's  the  service  of  specialists. 


Milt 


250  West  57th  Street,  New  York  19,  N.  Y. 


THE  SERVICE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


WAC,  Women's  Army  Corps  "Re- 
cruiting Week"  in  theatres,  May  11- 
17,  Harry  Mandel,  general  publicity 
director  of  the  campaign,  announced 
here  yesterday. 

At  the  same  time,  Seadler  made 
known  the  drive's  area  public  rela- 
tions chairmen,  as  follows : 

R.  M.  Kennedy,  Birmingham ;  A.  G. 
Pickett,  Phoenix ;  Sam  B.  Kirby,  Lit- 
tle Rock;  Mort  Goodman,  Holly- 
wood ;  Fay  S'.  Reeder,  San  Francisco ; 
Harold  Rice,  Denver;  Lou  Brown, 
New  Haven;  Benjamin  Schindler, 
Wilmington;  J.  L.  Cartwright,  Tam- 
pa ;  William  Brady,  Atlanta ;  Nevin 
McCord,  Boise ;  William  Hollander, 
Chicago ;  William  Elder,  Indianapo- 
lis ;  Dale  McFarland,  Des  Moines ; 
Mel  Miller,  Topeka ;  Cliff  Beuchel, 
Louisville ;  Maurice  Barr,  New  Or- 
leans. 

Others  Named 

Also :  Connie  Russell,  Bangor ; 
Frank  Hornig,  Baltimore ;  Harry 
Browning,  Boston;  Alice  Gorham, 
Detroit ;  Charles  Winchell,  Minneapo- 
lis ;  Elizabeth  Moody,  Jackson ;  Les 
Kaufman,  St.  Louis ;  J.  A.  English, 
Montana  ;  Ted  Emerson,  Omaha  ;  Ed- 
ward Fahey,  Manchester ;  Eli  Oro- 
witz,  Camden ;  Robert  Paskow,  New- 
ark ;  George  Tucker,  Albuquerque ; 
Art  Brick,  Las  Vegas ;  Edward  Dow- 
den,  New  York ;  Seymour  Morris, 
Gloversville ;  Roy  Smart,  Charlotte ; 
Mike  Cooper,  Grand  Forks ;  E.  V. 
Dinerman,  Cincinnati ;  Harry  Schrei- 
ber,  Columbus ;  Robert  Busch,  Okla- 
homa City;  M.  M.  Mesher,  Portland; 
James  Ashcraft,  Philadelphia ;  James 
Totman,  Pittsburgh ;  John  Carroll, 
Providence ;  Sam  Suggs,  Columbia ; 
Fred  Larkin,  Sioux  Falls ;  Charles 
Amos,  Nashville ;  Ray  Beall,  Dallas ; 
Helen  Garrity,  Salt  Lake  City ; 
Frank  A.  Vennett,  Rutland;  George 
Peters,  Richmond ;  Frank  LaFalce, 
Washington,  D.  C. ;  Vic  Gauntlett, 
Seattle ;  Sol  Hyman,  Huntington,  W. 
Va. ;  Ed  Hickey,  Milwaukee,  and  Jack 
McGee,  Cheyenne. 


Bergman  Sets  Aside 
$50,000  for  Chicago 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Chicago  RKO  Palace  so  that  exhib- 
itors in  Minnesota,  Wisconsin,  In- 
diana, Iowa,  Missouri,  Kansas,  and 
Nebraska  will  benefit  from  the  cam- 
paigns which  will  cover  the  entire 
area.  Heretofore,  heavy  advertising 
appropriations  for  runs  in  Chicago 
subsequent  to  the  field  were  wasted  as 
far  as  value  to  the  public  and  exhib- 
itors was  concerned  in  these  seven 
states,  it  was  said. 


Davis  Again  Head  of 
Hollywood  Canteen 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Garfield,  Mervyn  LeRoy,  Carroll  Hol- 
lister,  and  Mrs.  John  Ford,  all  vice- 
presidents  ;  Jean  Lewin,  secretary ;  Al- 
fred Ybarra,  Jules  C.  Stein,  Paul 
Jaffe,  Chef  Milani,  Kay  Kyser,  Ann 
Warner,  Georgia  Fifield,  Florine  Bale, 
Doris  Stein,  Florence  Cadrez,  Harry 
Crocker,  Dudley  Furse,  John  Te- 
groen,  Baron  Moorehead,  Bob  Hope, 
Mrs.  Ernest  Hare,  Carey  Wilson, 
and  Mack  Miller,  members  of  the  ex- 
ecutive board. 


W.  S.  Gilford  Reports 
On  Television  Web 

American  Telephone  and 
Telegraph  Co.  is  planning  an 
intercity  television  network, 
designed  to  become  nation- 
wide ultimately,  W.  S.  Giff  ord, 
A.  T.  &  T.  president,  told 
stockholders  of  the  company 
at  their  annual  meeting  here 
yesterday.  Gifford  also  stated 
that  the  company's  postwar 
plans  include  shortwave  radio 
developments  for  use  with 
television  as  well  as  long  dis- 
tance telephone. 


Wallis-Hazen  Tieup 
Talks  Progress 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

his  own  company.  He  declined  to 
specify  in  what  capacity  Hazen  might 
be  associated  with  him,  explaining  that 
the  discussions  had  not  progressed  far 
enough  to  permit  him  to  make  a  state- 
ment of  that  kind. 

Wallis  reiterated  that  he  has  "sev- 
eral" proposals  tinder  consideration 
and  that  all  will  be  given  further  study 
with  the  arrival  here  of  his  attorney, 
Loyd  Wright,  who  was  delayed  in  his 
departure  from  the  Coast.  Wallis 
expects  to  be  in  New  York  until  the 
end  of  next  week. 

Motion  Picture  Daily  first  re- 
ported the  possible  association  of  Wal- 
lis and  Hazen  on  April  14. 


CEA  Scores  'Bell's' 
Advanced  Prices 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

nance  increased  prices.  The  council, 
nevertheless,  ,  passed  a  resolution 
pledging  members  to  refuse  bookings 
of  the  film  if  it  were  conditional  upon 
increased  rentals. 

The  council  was  informed  that  the 
Kinematograph  Renters  Society  had 
refused  to  agree  to  district  pools 
wherein  provincial  exhibitors  would 
exchange  pictures  among  themselves 
in  the  event  of  a  transport  break- 
down consequent  to  a  Second  Front 
invasion.  The  KRS  stated  it  had  re- 
ceived governmental  assurance  that 
appropriate  transport  would  be  main- 
tained. However,  distributors  are 
having  standby  programs  ready  for 
exhibitors  in  remote  areas. 


Jersey  Allied  Meet 
Will  Be  June  20-22 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ry  H.  Lowenstein  appointed  the  fol- 
lowing convention  committee :  North 
Jersey,  Irving  Dollinger,  chairman ; 
Lee  Newbury,  George  Gold,  Helen 
Hildinger,  David  Snaper,  Harry 
Hecht,  Edward  Lachman,  David  Mate, 
Henry  Brown. 

South  Jersey:  Ralph  Wilkins,  D. 
Roscoe  Faunce,  Simon  Myers,  Basil 
Ziegler. 

Thornton  Kelly,  executive  secre- 
tary, is  convention  manager. 


Loew's  Books  ' Hargrove" 

M-G-M's  "See  Here  Private  Har- 
grove" has  been  booked  for  a  week's 
run  at  35  Loew  houses  around  the 
country  during  the  next  several  weeks. 


Thursday,  April  20,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


13 


US  Reconditioning 
Control  Altered 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

paii'tnen"  to  include  persons  who  re- 
condition or  rebuild  damaged  or  used 
items  for  resale.  The  amendment  also 
indicates  that  sound  and  certain  other 
repairmen  may  use  materials  and  parts 
which  they  purchase  under  the  pro- 
cedure to  carry  on  such  recondition- 
ing or  rebuilding  but,  however,  they 
may  not  use  such  materials  or  parts 
to  replace  material  or  parts  which  are 
still  usable  nor  to  replace  material  or 
fiarts  solely  to  improve  the  original 
design  of '  the  article  being  recondi- 
tioned or  rebuilt.  . 

The  amended  regulation  also  pro- 
hibits repairmen  from  using  the  AA- 
3  preference  rating  which  it  assigns 
to  obtain  the  following  items :  capaci- 
tors, microphones,  loudspeakers,  re- 
sistors, transformers,  •  tubes  and  paint. 
These  items  are  made  available  to 
repairmen  and  retailers  on  a  pro-rata 
basis  without  the  use  of  ratings. 

The  amendment  also  modifies  the 
forms  of  Controlled  materials  which 
may  be  purchased  by  repairmen  under 
the  procdure  to  conform  them  to  the 
recent  revision  in  controlled  materials 
designations  under  schedule  I  to  CMP 
regulation  No.  1. 


150  M-G-M  Air  Spots 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  has  made  ar- 
rangements for  150  radio  spot  an- 
nouncements:  on  all  major  stations  in 
Los  Angeles  for  their  product  in  the 
week  prior  to  the  run  and  the  first 
week  of  an  engagement. 


WPB  Projector  Quota  Set 
At  350  for  3rd  Quarter 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

an  increase  of  some  250  over  the  pres- 
ent program  of  Allen  G.  Smith,  chief 
of  the  theatre  equipment  division, 
calling  for  100  machines  a  quarter. 

If  the  350-projector  program  actu- 
ally can  be  put  under  way  in  the  third 
quarter,  it  is  expected  that  efforts  will 
be  made  to  have  the  WPB  approve 
comparable  production  for  the  follow- 
ing three  months,  but  the  fourth-quar- 
ter schedule  has  not  yet  been  put 
before  the  WPB  facilities  bureau. 

Several  Barriers 

Facing  the  expanded  projection  pro- 
gram are  several  barriers,  including 
the  tight  supply  of  component .  parts, 
particularly  ball  bearings  and  elec- 
tronic equipment ;  the  shortage  of 
lumber  for  shipping  purposes,  and  the 
serious  labor  situation  in  some  of  the 
areas  where  various  projector  parts 
would  have  to  be  produced. 

The  War  Manpower  Commission 
has  listed  Chicago  and  Detroit,  both 
with  projection  manufacturers  and  the 
former  also  with  arc  lamp  and  recti- 
fier producers,  as  Class  I  areas  where 
the  labor  situation  is  most  critical. 
Indianapolis,  where  sound  equipment 
is  manufactured,  and  Toledo,  where 
arc  lamps  and  rectifiers  are  made,  are 
in  Class  II.  Easier  conditions  prevail 
in  New  York,  St.  Louis  and  some 
other  sections. 


Classification  as  a  tight  labor  area 
automatically  precludes  any  increase  in 
civilian  production  without  WMC  ap- 
proval, even  though  such  increase 
would  not  require  any  additional  work- 
ers. It  will,  accordingly,  be  necessary 
for  the  projector  program  to  go  be- 
fore the  labor  production  division  of 
WPB  with  a  view  to  securing  an  au- 
thorization for  the  manufacturers  in 
Indianapolis,  Chicago,  Toledo,  De- 
troit and  other  cities  which  may  be 
in  the  shortage  lists  to  increase  their 
output. 

Would  Relieve  Exhibitors 

Actual  construction  of  the  additional 
machines  contemplated  in  the  third- 
quarter  program  would  go  far  toward 
relieving  projector  troubles  of  many 
exhibitors,  which  recently  were  some- 
what alleviated  by  the  release  of  a 
considerable  number  of  projectors 
manufactured  in  anticipation  of  Gov- 
ernment orders  which  did  not  material- 
ize. Several  hundred  projectors  are 
understood  to  have  been  released  dur- 
ing the  first  quarter  with  the  consent 
of  the  Government  agency. 

An  application  for  expansion  of 
projector  production  was  laid  before 
the  WPB  facilities  bureau  several 
months  ago  by  Smith,  in  anticipation 
of  increased  needs  of  theatres  due  to 
the  wearing  out  of  equipment  which 
has  not  been  manufactured  in  quan- 
tity for  two  years.  The  program  was 
developed  as  the  materials  situation, 


M-G-M  Set  for 
20th  Birthday 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

with  the  prestige  that  befits  the  com- 
pany. 

In  revealing  that  M-G-M  intends  to 
contact  every  theatre  owner  and  ask 
him  to  join  the  company  in  its  cele- 
bration by  showing  Leo  the  Lion  on 
his  screen,  or  screens,  during  the 
week  of  June  22-28,  Rodgers  said: 

'We  are  not  looking  for  a  solid 
M-G-M  week,  but  we  would  appreci- 
ate the  cooperation  of  all  exhibitors 
to  help  make  our  anniversary  one  of 
the  outstanding  events  of  the  year." 

Rodgers  predicts  that  before  June 
22,  every  reader  of  newspaper  or  peri- 
odical, every  radio  listener  and  every 
motion  picture  fan  will  know  that 
M-G-M  is  celebrating  an  important 
milestone  in  its  history. 


originally  extremely  tight,  eased  up. 

The  projector  situation  also  has 
been  closely  followed  by  George  W. 
McMurphey,  chief  of  the  recreation 
division  of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements, who  found  that  a  lack  of 
available  used  projectors  threatened  to 
slow  down  his  campaign  to  have  new 
theatres  built  in  war  centers  where 
additional  recreation  facilities  are  re- 
quired. 

The  successful  prosecution  of  the 
projector  program  is  expected  to  be 
followed  up  by  McMurphey  with  ef- 
forts to  secure  a  limited  resumption  of 
seat  manufacture,  the  other  major 
bottleneck  in  his  theatre  program. 


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FIREBRAND 
Wild  Bill  Elliott 
G.  "Gabby"  Hayes 
55   mins— (377) 

MY  BEST  GAL 
Jane  Withers 
Jimmy  Lydon 
Frank  Craven 
C-67  mins. 

THUNDERING 
GUN  SLINGERS 

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THE  AMAZING 
MR.  FORREST 
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COLUMBIA 

SUNDOWN 
VALLE\ 
Charles  Starrett 
Jeanne  Bates 
Walter  "Dub" 
Taylor 
0 — 55  mins 

THE  WHISTLER 

Richard  Dix 
Gloria  Stuart 

D — 59  mins. 

COVER  GIRL 

(Technicolor) 
Rita  Hayworth 
Gene  Kelly 
Phil  Silvers 
Jinx  Falkenburg 
M — 107  mins. 
JAM  SESSION 
Ann  Miller 
Jess  Barker 
M — 80  mins. 

GIRL  IN  THE 
CASE 
Janice  Carter 
Edmund  Lowe— O 
WYOMING 
HURRICANE  O 
Russel)  Hayden 

THE  BLACK 
PARACHUTE 
Larry  Parks 
Jeanne  Bates 
John  Carradine 
Osa  Massen 
D 

ONCE  UPON 
A  TIME 

Cary  Grant 
Janet  Blair 
James  Gleason—  D 

UNDERGROUND 
GUERILLAS 

(British) 
John  Clements 
Mary  Morris — D 
RIDIN'  WEST 
Charles  Starrett 
Shirley  Patterson 
O 

STARS  ON 

PARADE 
Lynn  Merrick 
Larry  Parks 
Judy  Clark 
M 

BY  SECRET 
COMMAND 
Pat  O'Brien 
Carole  Landis 
Chester  Morris 
D 

AMERICA'S 
CHILDREN 
Pat  Parrish 
Otto  Kruger 

D 

wo 

1 

° 

•»* 

00 

< 

April 
15 

22 

April 
29 

2 

&  O 

1-4 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


i 


OL.  55.  NO.  79 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  APRIL  21,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


U.  A.  Situation 
Seen  Clarified 
Within  10  Days 

Mary  Pickford  Holds 
'Balance  of  Power' 


By  RED  KANN 

Hollywood,  April  20. — The  Unit- 
ed Artists  situation  is  expected  to 
approach,,  perhaps  reach,  its  climax 
in  the  next  10  days  when  internal 
bickerings,  involving  Mary  Pickford, 
Charles  Chaplin  and  David  Selznick 
are  seen  proceeding  toward  a  definite 
pattern. 

While  Miss  Pickford  and  Selznick 
have  been  functioning  as  an  unofficial 
coalition,  as  earlier  reported,  the  cur- 
rent crux  of  the  situation  appears  to 
center  around  Miss  Pickford  and  how 
she  determines  her  ownership  interest 
may  best  be  safeguarded. 

She  is  described  as  being  "in  the 
middle"  because  of  open  dissension  be- 
tween Selznick  and  Chaplin.  The  lat- 
ter two  already  are  at  legal  odds,  wit- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


M-G-M  Anniversary 
Host  to  Owners 


Luncheons  for  exhibitor  groups  in 
every  key  city,  a  studio  ceremony 
honoring  all  who  have  served  M-G-M 
for  20  years,  and  a  Coast-to-Coast 
broadcast  featuring  all  available  stars 
under  contract  to  the  company  were 
announced  here  yesterday  by  M-G-M 
as'  additional  special  events  to  be  held 
during  its  20th  anniversary  week  start- 
ing June  22. 

The  broadcast,  coinciding  with  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  will  present,  in 
(Continued  on  page  3) 


Exhibitors  on  Board 
Of  Wm.  Fox  Studio 

Exhibitors  who  buy  stock 
in  William  Fox's  proposed 
producing  -  distributor  com- 
pany and  who  will,  thereby, 
be  given  a  territorial  product 
franchise  and  first  choice  lo- 
cally on  all  product,  will  also 
have  representation  at  the 
company's  studio,  Motion 
Picture  Herald  will  say  to- 
day. Exhibitor  groups  will 
choose  representatives  who 
will  join  the  other  stock- 
holders in  mapping  plans. 


Used  Tires  Only  Allowed 
By  OP  A  for  Film  Trucks 


Exclusive  Runs  in 
Owners'  Complaint 

Formal  complaints  against 
exclusive-run  exhibition  poli- 
cies will  be  lodged  immedi- 
ately with  sales  heads  at 
distributors'  home  offices  by 
the  Independent  Theatre 
Owners  Association  of  New 
York.  The  protest  was  voted 
yesterday  by  the  ITOA  board 
meeting  at  the  Hotel  Astor. 


Resume  Induction  of 
Men  26-38  Here 


Col.  Arthur  V.  McDermott,  New 
York  City  director  of  Selective  Serv- 
ice, instructed  local  boards  yesterday 
to  resume  induction  of  registrants  over 
26  years  of  age  who  are  not  engaged 
in  "war  supporting  activities"  but  said 
he  expected  comparatively  few  induc- 
tions between  now  and  July  1. 

Inductions  in  the  26-38  age  groups 
were  suspended  by  McDermott  nine 
days  ago  pending  clarification  of  new 
Federal  regulations  for  this  group. 

Army-Navy  Urge  Labor  Draft 

Washington,  April  20. — Warning 
the  nation  that  it  faces  a  manpower 
crisis,  Secretaries  Knox  and  Stimson 
and  Admiral  Emory  S.  Land,  in  a 
joint  statement,  today  renewed  their 
demand  for  labor  draft  legislation 
This  action  followed  closely  on  the 
recommendation  by  the  House  mili- 
tary affairs  committee  that  4F's  re- 
fusing war  essential  jobs  be  drafted 
for  non-combat  duty. 


Hanson  to  Distribute 
British,  Soviet  Films 

Toronto,  April  20. — Effective  May 
1,  Oscar  R.  Hanson  is  acquiring 
Canadian  distribution,  of  the  British 
product  of  Esquire  Films  Lt,  Toronto, 
together  with  Soviet  films  of  the  newly 
formed  Artkino  Pictures  (Canada), 
Ltd.,  with  both  of  these  franchise  com- 
panies retaining  their  identities. 

Distribution  will  be  through  a  chain 
of  six  branches  across  the  Dominion 
but  will  be  separate  from  other  Han- 
son exchanges.  British  and  Soviet 
pictures  have  been  physically  distrib- 
uted here  through  Empire  Universal 
Films  for  a  number  of  years. 


Washington,  April  20.  —  Small 
film-delivery  trucks  using  passenger- 
size  tires  only  will  be  eligible  for 
used-tire  replacements  now  on  pri- 
orities, but  cannot  obtain  new  tires 
now  made  available  to  trucks  in  es- 
sential services  under  the  order  is- 
sued this  week  by  the  Office  of  Price 
Administration,  it  was  learned  here 
today. 

OPA  officials  explained  that,  be- 
cause of  the  short  supply,  new  tires 
will  be  provided  only  for  trucks  mov- 
ing "necessities  of  life"  and  other  es- 
sentials, while  other  trucks  which 
heretofore  have  been  ineligible  for  any 
tires  whatever,  will  be  permitted  to 
acquire  used  casings  for  replacement. 

There  is  an  ample  supply  of  used 
tires,  it  was  said,  which  will  enable  all 
trucks  to  carry  on  until  the  tire-pro- 
duction program  of  the  Office  of  Rub- 
ber Director  gets  well  under  way  and 
the  supply  of  new  tires  is  increased. 


UIE  Seeks  Easing 
Of  Smoking  Law 


Repeal  or  amendment  of  the  New 
York  law  forbidding  smoking  in  thea- 
tres having  no  balconies  will  be  sought 
by  the  Unaffiliated  Independent  Ex- 
hibitors of  New  York,  it  was  learned 
here  yesterday. 

The  UIE  will  hold  a  special  meet- 
ing next  week  to  present  for  approval 
by  its  members  a  resolution  to  intro- 
duce a  proposal  in  the  City  Council 
to  repeal  or  amend  the  law.  Indepen- 
dent exhibitors,  not  members  of  UIE, 
have  indicated  they  will  attend  and 
favor  the  action,  it  was  also  learned. 

In  recent  weeks,  squads  of  the  Bu- 
reau of  Fire  Prevention  have  been  in- 
specting theatres  affected  by  the  ordi- 
nance and  in  some  instances  have  is- 
sued summonses  to  patrons  breaking 
the  regulation.  They  now  are  threat- 
ening to  issue  summonses  to  exhibi- 
tors if  the  law  is  not  obeyed.  Exhibi- 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Goetz  En  Route  Here 
On  British  Problem 

London,  April  20. — Ben  Goetz, 
managing  director  of  M-G-M  British 
Studios,  Ltd.,  is  en  route  to  New 
York,  where,  it  is  understood,  he  will 
consult  home  office  executives  en  Bri- 
tish production  problems. 

Meanwhile,  Sir  Alexander  Korda  is 
now  promising  that  he  will  begin  on 
Monday  to  shoot  his  first  picture  here 
for  M-G-M,  a  production  that  has 
been  long  delayed. 


OPA  Refuses 
Trucks  for 
Film  Delivery 


Service  to  1,200  Houses 
Here  Is  Jeopardized 


The  Office  of  Price  Adminis- 
tration's local  rationing  board  here 
has  turned  down  the  petition  of 
the  New  York  film  truckers  for 
necessary  priorities  to  purchase  new 
delivery  -trucks  to  replace  those  which 
have  deteriorated,  thereby  jeopardizing 
film  deliveries  to  some  1,200  theatres 
served  in  the  New  York  exchange 
area.  The  carriers  are  understood  to 
be  contemplating  an  appeal  to  the  OPA 
in  Washington. 

OPA  officials  here  are  understood 
to  have  taken  the  position  that  despite 
elaborate  truck  breakdown  records 
supplied  to  it  by  the  carriers,  the 
truckers  had  not  proven  that  they 
could  not  pool  their  trucks  to  handle 
deliveries.  The  OPA  suggested  the 
hiring  of  outside  trucking  facilities. 
The  truckers  contend  that  there  is 
very  little  overlapping  of  truck  routes 
between  the  various  companies  which 
would  make  pooling  effective. 

Considerable  interest  is  said  to  be 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


'Hardship  Rations'  to 
Oil-Heated  Houses 

Washington,  April  20. — Exhibitors 
heating  their  theatres  with  oil  and 
who  have  run  out  of  fuel  are  now  elig- 
ible for  "hardship  rations"  under  new 
regulations  issued  by  the  Office  of 
Price  Administration. 

The  extension  of  this  assistance  to 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Little  Hope  of  Tax 
Relief  for  Films 

Film  industry  tax  authori- 
ties sees  little  hope  of  having 
the  20  percent  tax  on  theatre 
tickets  included  in  the  cur- 
rent Congressional  proposal, 
sponsored  by  Rep.  Harold 
Knutson  (Rep.-Minn.),  to 
legislate  relief  for  cabarets 
from  the  30  percent  levied  on 
them  at  the  same  time  as  the 
theatre  tax  was  enacted. 

Industry  tax  experts  hold 
that  there  is  little  likelihood 
of  reopening  the  tax  bill  for 
either  field  at  this  time. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  21,  1944 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  20 

NEIL  AGNEW,  Vanguard  distrib 
ution  vice-president,  will  leave  for 
the  East  today. 

• 

Steve  Broidy,  Monogram  genera 
sales  manager,  will  leave  Monday  on 
a  four-week  trip  to  New  York  and 
Eastern  exchange  areas,  where  he  will 
confer  on  key-city  runs  of  "Lady,  Let's 
Dance"  and  "Johnny  Doesn't  Live 
Here  Anymore." 

• 

Monogram  has  bought  the  late  Gus 
Edwards'  song  "Sunbonnet  Sue"  and 
plans  to  feature  it  in  a  film  along  with 
other  Edwards'  numbers  to  which  the 
rights  are  being  sought.  Scott  R 
Dunlap  .  will  handle  the  production. 
• 

Otto  Preminger  will  be  associated 
with  Ernst  Lubitsch  as  director  of, 
"The  Czarina,"  starring  Tallulah 
Bankhead,  20th-Fox  announced  today. 
This  is  Lubitsch's  first  since  his  recent 
illness. 

• 

Frank  Nugent,  who  has  been  on  the 
20th-Fox  story  board  for  the  past  five 
years,  plans  to  remain  on  the  Coast 
and  establish  a  new  studio  connection 
when  his  contract  expires  soon. 
• 

Bill  Pierce,  Jr.,  formerly  with  Uni- 
versal, has  been  named  publicity  direc 
tor  for  Bing  Crosby  Productions  and 
witl  start  a  campaign  Monday  on  "The 
Great  John  L." 

• 

Robert  Bassler  has  been  given  a  new 
term  contract  by  20th-Fox.  His  next 
production  will  be  "Thunderhead,  Son 
of  Flicka." 

Arthur  Freed's  schedule  at  M-G-M 
lias  been  augmented  by  "The  Clock," 
which  will  co-star  Judy  Garland  and 
Robert  Walker. 


Survey  Hollywood 
Films  for  Schools 


Providence  Midway 
Clearance  Award 

An  arbitration  clearance  award  in 
favor  of  Joseph  L.  Carrolo,  operating 
the  Midway,  Oakland  Beach,  R.  I., 
has  been  entered  at  the  Boston  tribu- 
nal, the  American  Arbitration  Asso- 
ciation reported  here  yesterday. 

C.  Keefe  Hurley,  arbitrator,  held 
that  the  clearance  of  45  days  grant- 
ed by  the  five  decree  companies  to 
Providence  first  run  theatres  over  the 
Midway  is  unreasonable,  and  re- 
duced the  clearance  to  30  days  as 
requested  by  the  plaintiff. 


Eaton  Begins  Serving 
30-Day  Sentence 

Memphis,  April  20. — John  W. 
Eaton,  61,  Memphis  theatre  operator, 
today  withdrew  his  motion  for  a  new 
trial  and  began  serving  a  sentence  of 
not  more  than  30  days  for  involuntary 
manslaughter  growing  out  of  a  fatal 
accident  in  his  theatre  when  Elroy 
Curry  was  killed  in  an  explosion 
caused  last  summer  by  the  substitu- 
tion of  another  gas  for  freon  in  the 
theatre's  cooling  system. 


A  survey  of  the  postwar  application 
of  Hollywood  films  to  the  schoolroom 
will  be  launched  here  tomorrow  at  a 
meeting  of  the  Commission  on  Mo- 
tion Pictures  in  Education,  which 
plans  an  analysis  of  the  use  of  mate- 
rial furnished  through  Teaching  Film 
Custodians,  Inc.,  affiliate  of  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Producers  and  Distribu- 
tors of  America,  which  makes  educa- 
tional short  subjects  and  excerpts 
from  feature  pictures. 

It  has  been  pointed  out  to  the 
CMPE  by  industry  executives  who 
have  made  a  special  study  of  the  sub- 
ject that  such  entertainment  films  as 
"Madame  Curie,"  "Western  Union" 
and  others  of  historical  interest  can 
be  as  valuable  in  teaching  as  can 
specially  produced  classroom  pictures, 
Motion  Picture  Herald  says  today. 

The  commission,  formed  in  Janu 
ary  by  the  American  Council  on  Edu- 
cation, is  reportedly  supported  by  a 
grant  of  $100,000,  from  the  MPPDA, 
says  the.  Herald.  Mark  A.  May,  direc- 
tor of  the  Institute  of  Human  Rela- 
tions at  Yale,  is  chairman.  Other 
members  are  Dr.  George  F.  Zook, 
ACE  president;  George  S.  Counts, 
director  of  the  division  of  founda- 
tions of  education,  Teachers  College, 
Columbia  University ;  Edmund  E. 
Day,  president  of  Cornell ;  Willard  E. 
Givens,  executive  secretary  of  the  Na- 
tional Education  Association,  and 
Monsignor  George  Johnson,  general 
secretary  of  the  National  Catholic 
Educational  Association. 


Cooper  Opens  Office 
For  16mm  Group 

Toronto,  April  20. — Colonel  John 
A.  Cooper,  former  chairman  of  the 
Canadian  Motion  Picture  Distributors 
Association,  is  opening  a  new  office 
here  as  president  of  the  Canadian 
16mm  Distributors  Associatiqn  and  as 
secretary  of  the  Canadian  Musical 
Protective  Association.  The  latter  is 
concerned  with  musical  copyright  de- 
velopments in  behalf  of  theatres,  hotels, 
fairs  and  other  users  of  musical  com- 
positions controlled  by  the  Canadian 
and  American  Performing  Rights  So- 
cieties and  Broadcast  Music,  Inc. 


ShortwavePromotion 
For  'Going  My  Way' 

The  Office  of  War  Information  will 
shortwave  a  special  broadcast  by  Bing 
Crosby  to  war  theatres  throughout 
the  world  next  Thursday  night,  in 
conjunction  with  the  "fighting  front" 
premiere  of  Paramount's  "Going  My 
Way."  Some  134  NBC  stations  will 
carry  the  program  here. 

Sixty-five  16mm  prints  of  the  film 
have  been  shipped  to  the  Army's  20 
film  exchanges  overseas.  The  Ameri- 
can premiere  of  "Going  My  Way" 
has  been  set  for  May  3  at  the  Para- 
mount theatre  here. 


'Sneak'  M-G-M 's  'Sailor' 

Theatre  "sneak  preview"  showings 
of  M-G-M's  "Two  Girls  and  Sailor" 
will  take  place  in  key  cities  through- 
out the  country  Monday  night. 


Personal  Mention 


JOHN  J.  FRIEDL,  head  of  Minne- 
sota Amusement  Co.,  is  in  New 
York  in  connection  with  the  forthcom- 
ing Fifth  War  Loan. 

• 

George  A.  Smith,  Paramount  West- 
ern division  manager,  and  Oscar 
Morgan,  short  subjects  sales  head, 
were  in  Dallas  this  week. 

• 

Ruth  Weinberg  Newman  of  Para- 
mount, has  resigned  to  join  her  hus- 
band, Corp.  Eugene  Newman,  who  is 
stationed  at  Camp  Crowder,  Mo. 
• 

Claude  Lee,  Paramount  public  re- 
lations director,  has  returned  from 
Florida. 

Irving  Rapper,  Warner  director,  left 
New  York  yesterday  for  the  Coast. 
• 

A.  J.  O'Keefe  of  Universal  is  in 
Chicago  on  a  brief  business  visit. 

Maurice  Bergman  returned  from 
Chicago  yesterday. 


Astra-Selznick  Suit 
To  Federal  Court 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Aaron  J. 
Levy  yesterday  signed  an  order  trans- 
ferring to  Federal  court  here  the 
$250,000  damage  action  filed  by  Astra 
Pictures  against  David  O.  Selznick, 
Daniel  T.  O'Shea,  Ernest  L.  Scanlon 
and  Raymond  A.  Klune. 

The  complaint  claims  that  the  de- 
fendants failed  to  sell,  as  allegedly 
agreed,  exclusive  distribution  and  ex- 
hibition rights  to  "The  Prisoner  of 
Zenda,"  "The  Adventures  of  Tom 
Sawyer"  and  "Garden  of  Allah" ;  the 
16mm  rights  for  four  years  and  the 
35mm  rights  for  three  years.  Also 
agreed,  the  complaint  states,  was  de- 
livery of  102  Technicolor  prints  of 
the  "Sawyer"  film,  29  prints  of  "Al- 
lah," 35  prints  of  "Sawyer"  and  one 
16mm  black  and  white  negative  of 
"Zenda."  Astra  charged  that  it  had 
also  agreed  to  purchase  177  used  posi- 
tives for  $76,000,  payable  $25,000  in 
cash  and  the  balance  in  notes. 


Sistrom  To  London 
For  OWI  Film  Unit 

Joseph  Sistrom,  producer,  is  sched- 
uled to  go  to  London  shortly  for  the 
Office  of  War  Information's  overseas 
bureau  of  the  motion  picture  division, 
where  he  will  head  a  unit  to  produce 
documentary  films  for  distribution  in 
liberated  Europe.  Sistrom  was  ap- 
pointed by  Robert  Riskin,  chief  of 
the  bureau,  to  supervise  the  new  unit. 


CBS  Shows  $1,165,347 
First  Quarter  Net 

Net  income  of  Columbia  Broadcast- 
ing for  the  first  13  weeks  of  1944,  end- 
ing April  1,  was  $1,165,347,  or  68 
cents  a  share,  compared  to  $1,031,671, 
or  60  cents  a  share  for  the  same  period 
last  year. 

In  the  two  periods,  Federal  income 
and  excess  profits  taxes  were,  respec- 
tively, $2,280,000  and  $1,240,000. 


Briefs  Filed  Here 
In  Century  Suit 


Briefs  were  filed  here  yesterday  by 
attorneys  representing  Century  Circuit 
of  Brooklyn  and  Empire  State  Opera- 
tors Union,  with  Judge  William  E. 
Wilson  in  Kings  County  Supreme 
Court,  as  requested  by  Judge  Wilson 
at  the  close  of  the  trial  several  weeks 
ago  of  the  injunction  action  broughL 
by  Century  to  prevent  the  dissolution 
of  Empire  as  a  corporation. 

Century  secured  the  injunction  sev- 
eral weeks  before  the  Empire  merged 
with  IATSE  Local  306,  last  Summer. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


— RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL — 

50th  Street  &  6th  Avenue 
RITA  HAYWORTH    .    GENE  KELLY 

"COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern .  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershw  In 
Gala  Stage  Show  ■  Symphony  Orchestra 

1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


LATEST 


PALACE 


B  WAY  & 

47th  St. 


Anna  N EAGLE  •  Richard  GREENE 

"YELLOW  CANARY" 


Q^^^g^iMnimiiiTimtunmaiMuminiimnHiiKmmtmiminnininMnnnniiiiiiimiiiing 
ON  SCREEN        IN  PERSON  1 


William  POWELL 
Hedy  LAMARR 

in  M-G-M's 

'The  HEAVENLY 
BODY' 


JERRY  | 
WAYNE  I 
NAN  RAE  &  1 
Mrs.  WATERFALL! 


Producers  Corporation  of  America  presents 

"  KNICKERBOCKER 
HOLIDAY" 

Released  thru  UNITED  ARTISTS 

VICTORIA  %5?£ 


Joel  McCrea  -  Maureen  O'Hara  -  Linda  Darnell 

BUFFALO  BILL" 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 
Plus  on  Stage — PAUL  WHITEMAN  and  ch. 

VICTOR   BORGE  -  JOAN  EDWARDS 
Bt  Y   MOKE         Q  J£  y    "th    AVC'  & 


BONDS 


50th  St. 


THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE 


•i 


«3SSS20 

Cl.TuBl  101 

CONTINUOUS  «'»« 
Doors  Open  9:30  A.M.     B  WAY  &  49th  ST. 


'J 


LI 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan.  Secretary:  Sherwin  Kane  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter.  Sept.  23.  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10» 


riday,  April  21,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


I-G-M  Anniversary 
lost  to  Owners 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
idition  to  the  players  now  making 
[ollywood  films,  Capt.  Clark  Gable, 
ieut.  (j.g.)  Robert  Taylor,  Major 
ames  Stewart,  Lieut.  Van  Heflin  and 
ieut.  Comdr.  Robert  Montgomery, 
rovided  they  are  in  this  country  at 
le  time  and  can  get  permission  from 
le  armed  forces.  The  program,  at- 

\ded  by  4,750  studio  employes  rep- 
ienting  170  arts  and  crafts,  will  be 
gortwaved  overseas.  More  than  1,000 
t-G-M  employes  are  now  in  the 
^.rmed  services. 

With  Lionel  Barrymore  or  Lewis 
Stone  as  master  of  ceremonies,  the 
toadcast  will  pay  tribute  to  the  late 
Vill  Rogers,  who  presided  over  the 
ompany's  "merger-day"  party  in 
924,  and  also  to  Marie  Dressier,  Lon 
:haney,  Jean  Harlow  and  Irving 
rhalberg.  At  the  same  time,  the  stu- 
lio  gate  will  be  opened  to  the  newest 
tf-G-M  star,  Margaret  O'Brien. 

"The  White  Cliffs"  has  been  desig- 
lated  as  the  anniversary  feature,  and 
;pecial  emphasis  will  likewise  be 
)laced  upon  King  Vidor's  "America" 
ind  the  adaptation  of  Pearl  Bucks 
'Dragon  Seed." 


One  Theatre  Loses 
124  to  Military 

A-  numerical  record  in  the 
United  States  for  theatre 
staff  losses  to  the  Armed 
Forces  is  claimed  here  for  the 
Roxy  Theatre,  which  to  date 
has  124  of  its  former  workers 
in  various  military  branches. 

Pr  e  s  s  dispatches  from 
Naples  recently  told  how 
one  Roxy-ite,  Staff  Sgt.  Wil- 
liam (Zeke)  Miller,  former 
captain  of  ushers,  a  tail  gun- 
ner on  a  Maurauder  engaging 
a  Nazi  Focke-Wulf  190,  was 
heard  on  the  Marauder's  in- 
ter-communication system  to 
repeat  the  invitation  to  the 
Focke-Wulf,  "This  way, 
please,"  as  if  leading  Roxy 
patrons  to  their  seats.  The 
Nazi  followed  to  within  100 
yards  and  exploded. 


'Bernadette'  Gets  a 
Good  $17,000 


VIE  to  Seek  Easing  of 
Local  Smoking  Law 

(Continued  from  Page  1) 
:ors  say  they  have  used  every  effort 
to  enforce  the  law.  Grosses  at  such 
tiouses  have  been  affected,  particularly 
when  they  are  near  houses  having  bal- 
;onies  in  which  smoking  is  permitted, 
it  was  said. 

Mayor  LaGuardia,  when  signing  the 
bill  in  1939,  recommended  to  the  City 
Council  an  amendment  to  the  proposed 
law  in  the  form  of  a  further  sub- 
division which  would  permit  smoking 
in  a  specified  section  of  the  orchestra 
floor  of  any  theatre  having  no  bal- 
cony, subject  to  the  approval  of  the 
fire  commissioner. 


'Hardship  Rations'  to 
Oil-Heated  Houses 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
non-residential  fuel  oil  users  has  been 
made  possible  by  an  improved  supply 
situation  developing  as  the  winter  de- 
mand eases  off. 

"Hardship  rations"  will  be  issued  by 
local  war  price  and  rationing  boards 
and  only  upon  proof  that  the  applicant 
has  taken  all  precautionary  measures 
to  save  oil  and  only  after  the  OP  A 
district  director  determines  that  there 
is  sufficient  oil  in  the  area  to  care  for 
the  larger  demand.  OPA  officials 
warned  that  the  supply  situation  in  the 
Pacific  Northwest  is  particularly  tight 
and  it  may  not  be  possible  to  provide 
additional  oil  for  theatres  in  that  area. 


Pittsburgh,  April  20. — Holdovers 
ruled  here  this  week,  with  "The  Song 
of  Bernadette"  tinkling  a  $17,000  tune 
at  the  Harris  at  advanced  admissions 
and  "The  Sullivans"  maintaining  a 
healthy  above-par  $9,500  at  the  Fulton. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  18-21 : 

"The  Sullivans"  (20th- Fax) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $9,500.    (Average:  $8,500). 
'The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

HARRIS — (2,200)  (80c-$UO)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $10,100) 

Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

PENN—  (3,400)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $15,000.    (Average:  $21,700). 

Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

RITZ— (1,100)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days,  3rd 
week,  moveover  after  one  week  at  Stanley 
Gross:  $3,000.      (Average:  $3,000). 

Beautiful  But  Broke"  (Col.) 

SENATOR— (1,750)    (35c-44c-65c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $3,600.    (Average:  $3,400) 
"Higher  and  Higher"  (RKO) 

STANLEY — (3,800)  (44c -68c -85c).  On 
stage:  6  days  of  vaudeville  including  Char- 
lie Spivak's  band.  Gross:  $22,CCO.  (Aver- 
age: $22,000). 

"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

WARNER-(2,000)  (35c -44c -65c)  7  days, 
jrd  week,  moveover  after  one  week  at  Penn 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $9,350). 


'Miracle',  Show 
Lead  in  Chi. 
With  $54,000 


Screen  Directors  Will 
Publicize  Selves 

Hollywood,  April  20.— Feeling  that 
the  work  of  directors  is  often  passed 
over  in  national  publicity,  with  pro 
ducers,  cameramen  and  stars  receiving 
the  most  credit,  the  Screen  Directors 
Guild  has  appointed  a  committee  to  de 
vise  a  publicity  program.  On  it  are 
King  Vidor,  Raoul  Walsh,  Victor 
Fleming,  and  Mabel  Walker  Willie- 
brandt,  counsel.  J.  P.  MacGowan 
SDG  executive  secretary,  says  the  plan 
is  for  emphasis  on  directors'  contribu- 
tions to  the  industry  as  a  group, 
as  individuals. 


not 


Sylvia  Chock  Feted 

Sylvia  Chock,  secretary  for  10  year 
to  Neil  Agnew  and  who  will  continue 
as  his  secretary  in  his  new  post  as  vice 
president   of   Vanguard   Films,  wa: 
given  a  luncheon  yesterday  by  Para- 
mount associates  at  the  Hotel  Edison. 


DeWitt  Sues  Ripley 
On  'Voice  in  Wind' 

Los  Angeles,  April  20. — Arthur 
Ripley  of  Ripley-Monter  Productions, 
producer  of  "Voice  in  the  Wind,"  was 
sued  in  Superior  Court  here  today,  for 
an  accounting  and  10  percent  of  the 
profits  of  the  picture,  by  Jack  De 
Witt,  who  alleges  that  he  is  the 
author  of  "Murder  Boat,"  that  his 
story  was  submitted  to  Ripley  on  a 
10  percent  profit  basis  and  that 
"Voice  in  the  Wind"  was  based  upon 
it. 


'Buffalo  BilVSmashes 
Opening  Day  Record 

Denver,  April  20.— The  world  pre- 
miere of  "Buffalo  Bill"  scored  double 
duty  at  the  box  office  of  the  Denver  and 
Esquire  theatres  this  week  netting,  re- 
spectively, $30,000  and  $9,000.  All 
opening  day  records  at  the  Denver  fell 
on  Tuesday. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  16-19 : 

"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Whistler"  (CoL) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)      (46c-74c)      7  days 
moveover.  Gross,  $10,080.  (Average:  $5,600). 
"Rationing"  (M-G-M) 
"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M) 

BROADWAY-(1,040)    (46c-74c)    7  days, 
moveover.    Gross:  $6,240.    (Average:  $3,900) 
Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
DENHAM-(1,750)  (40c-70c)  7  days,  second 
week.     Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $9,000). 
Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
DENVER-(2,600)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$30,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (740)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,000.     (Average:  $4,900). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 
'Million  Dollar  Kid"  (Mono.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)    (46c-74c)  7 
Gross:  $16,275.     (Average:  $9,300). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 
"Two-Man  Submarine"  (Col.) 

RIALTO — (900)   (46c-74c)   7  days,  mov 
over.     Gross:  $8,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 


Plane  Named  for  'Ladies' 

An  airplane,  recently  christened 
"Ladies  Courageous"  at  the  Aeronca 
Plant,  Middletown,  O.,  is  now  visiting 
mid- western  cities  in  conjunction  with 
the  70-city  simultaneous  opening  of 
Universal's  "Ladies  Courageous." 
Milton  Crandall  is  in  charge  of  the 
campaign. 


Fire  Destroys  Theatre 

Fort  Cobb,  Okla.,  April  20.— Fort 
Cobb's  only  theatre,  the  Rialto,  was 
completely  destroyed  by  fire  today 
Earl  Rains,  owner  and  manager,  said 
the  building  was  valued  at  $15,000 
Origin  of  the  blaze  was  not  known. 


Chicago,  April  20. — "The  Miracle 
of  Morgan's  Creek"  proved  to  be  the 
strongest  film  in  the  Loop,  grossing 
$54,000  at  the  Chicago  Theatre  with- 
Lou  Breese  and  band  on  the  stage. 
Ideal  weather  contributed  to  a  heavy 
post-Easter  boom. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  21  : 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

APOLLOM1,2CO)  (80c-$1.20)  7  days,  8th 
Loop  week.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average: 
$11,400). 

"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO — (3,850)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Stage:  Lou  Breese  and  band.    Gross:  $54,- 
000.    (Average:  $51,500). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

GARRICK— (1,000)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average:  $9,- 
100). 

"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

GRAND— (1,250)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
5th  Loop  week.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average: 
$9,100). 

"Trocadero"  (Rep.) 

ORIENTAL-(3,200)  (44c-55c-6Oc-80c-95c)  7 
days.      Stage:    Harry    Howard's  Revue. 
Gross:  $30,000.     (Average:  $24,000). 
"Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 
"Hi,  Good  Looking"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Average: 
$24,000). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $30,000.  (Average: 
$24,000). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

STATE-LAKE— (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $33,000.  (Average: 
$29,000). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED    ARTISTS— (1,700)  (55c-55-65c- 
95c)  7  days,  3rd  week.    Gross:  $23,000.  (Av- 
erage: $20,200). 
"Voodoo  Mam"  (Mono.) 
"Ghost  That  Walks  Alone" 

WOODS— (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 


days 


Smith,  Owen  Conduct 
Para.  Sales  Meets 

George  A.  Smith,  Paramount  West- 
ern division  manager,  and  Hugh  Owen, 
Eastern  division  manager,  are  holding 
sales  meetings  in  the  field  this  week 
Smith  is  meeting  with  Dallas,  Okla- 
home  City  and  Memphis  on  "The 
Hour  Before  the  Dawn,"  "The  Unin- 
vited," "You  Can't  Ration  Love," 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  and  "The  Story 
of  Dr.  Wassell." 

Owen  held  a  sales  meeting  at  the 
Washington,  D.  C,  exchange  yester- 
day. 


Tars*  in  Philadelphia 

Philadelphia,  April  20— Warners' 
Earle  here  will  present  the  Eastern 
premiere  of  "Tars  and  Spars,"  U.  S. 
Coast  Guard  show,  as  its  regular  stage 
feature  next  week.  Victor  Mature 
heads  the  cast. 


Barnett  on  Lecture  Tour 

Chicago,  April  20. — Jack  Barnett, 
recently  honorably  discharged  from  the 
Army  with  the  award  of  the  Purple 
Heart,  now  back  with  20th-Fox 
Movietone  News  here  as  cameraman, 
is  delivering  lectures  in  key  cities  of 
the  Midwest  relating  highlights  of  his 
26  months  on  European  battlefronts. 


Hall  Sues  on  Title 

Los  Angeles,  April  20. — Archie 
W.  Hall,  writer,  producer  and  actor, 
"Cousin  Archie"  of  the  "What's  Buz- 
zin'  Cuzzin"  radio  show,  has  filed  suit 
for  $75,000-  damages  in  Superior 
Court  here  against  Columbia  and 
Duncan  Cassell,  Columbia  producer, 
for  unauthorized  appropriation  of  the 
Cousin  Archie  title  and  character. 


'Escape  to  Danger/ 
Show  Get  $16,500 

Milwaukee,  April  20. — Business  in 
Milwaukee  is  about  average.  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  is  draw- 
ing large  matinee  crowds  at  the  Al- 
hambra  to  gross  $14,000.  Lawrence 
Welk  with  Johnny  (Scat)  Davis  on 
the  stage  of  the  Riverside,  coupled 
with  "Escape  to  Danger"  on  the  screen 
took  top  honors  at  $16,500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  week  ending 
April  21 : 

"Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Parai.) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days. 
Gross:    $14,300.      (Average:  $14,500). 
"Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average:  $10,500). 
"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days,  3rd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $5,000.  -  (Average: 
$4,500). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"Rosie  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 

WARNER— (2,400)  (50c-72c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $16,250.  (Average:  $15,500). 
"Snow    White    andl    the    Seven  Dwarfs" 

(RKO-Disney) 

ALHAM'BRA— (1,900)    (50c-72c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Escape  to  Danger"  (RKO) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)  (65c-85c)  7  days.  On 
stage:  Lawrence  Welk  and  his  orchestra 
and  Johnny  (Scat)  Davis.  Gross:  $16,500. 
(Average:  $15,500). 


Columbia  Signs  Two 

Irving  Sherman  and  Sidney  Singer- 
man  have  been  named  assistant  mana- 
gers of  Columbia  exchange  operations 
under  the  supervision  of  Hank  Kauf- 
man at  the  home  office. 


JOEL  McCREA  •  MAUREEN  O'HARA  •  LINDA  DARNELL  in  "BUFFALO  BILL"  with  Thomas  Mitche 
Frank  Orth  ♦  Directed  by  WILLIAM  A.  WELLMAN  -  Produced  by  HARRY  A.SHERMAN  •  Photograp 


Great  shorts  will  round  out  a  great  show!    With  "Buffalo  Bill/'  play  "The  Mailmanl 


CENTURY-FOX 


jpjar  Buchanan  •  Anthony  Quinn  •  Moroni  Olsen  •  Frank  Fenton  •  Matt  Briggs  •  George  Lessey 

ITECHNICOLOR  -   Screen  Play  by  AEneas  MacKenzie,  Clements  Ripley  and  Cecile  Kramer  •  Based  on  a  Story  by  Frank  Winch 


ike  River/'  a  Movietone  Adventure,  and  "My  Boy  Johnny/'  a  Terrytoon  in  Technicolor  I 


COOPERATE  WITH  UNCLE  SAM. 
WAC  RECRUITING  WEEK 
MAY  11th  THRU  17th. 


Blmdes 


THE  DEEP-SEA  WOLVES 
HAVE  LANDED !. . 


in  RKO  RADIO'S  rollicking 
riot  of  rousing  revelry— al 
set  to  the  hottest  and  th* 
sweetest  music  that  evei 
wrapped  itself  around  i 
comedy  plot  jammed  wit! 
gags  and  laughs  and  lust] 
with  glamourous  dames! 


8 


NAMES  THAT  MEAN  LAUGHS 
AND  SONG  AND  GLAMOUR... 

WALLY  BROWN  *  ALAN  G 

MARCY  McGUIRE  *  GORDON  OLIVER 
VIRGINIA  MAYO  *  AMELJTA  WARD 

pi  «ivp  cupdadh  ^ nnni  w  wit oftN 


Produced  and  Directed  by  John  H.  Auer 


A  V«rAi«r    Irvind  Phillinft  &  I 


SOLID  SENDING 
NAME  BANDS... 

FREDDIE  SLACK 

and  his  Orchestra 

FREDDIE  FISHER  (Col.  Corn) 
and his  RanJ 


7 SONGS- 
SWEET  and  HOT 

including : 

"Ready,  Aim,  Kiss" 

"Hail  and  Farewell" 

"Sioux  City  Sue" 

"Apple  Blossoms  in  the  Rain' 


HO 
RADIO 

PICTURES 

V 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  21,  1944 


OPA  Refuses 
Trucks  for 
Film  Delivery 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

evidenced  in  the  OPA's  decision  here 
since  it  is  seen  as  possibly  affecting 
contract  film  carriers  in  other  ex- 
change centers  whose  trucks  are  fac- 
ing breakdowns  and  menacing  film  de- 
liveries. Only  members  of  National 
Film  Carriers,  who  also  carry  war  ma- 
terials in  interstate  commerce  in  addi- 
tion to  films  have  priorities  to  replace 
trucks  and  tires. 

Film  carriers  have  attempted  for 
eight  months  to  obtain  priorities  to 
purchase  new  trucks,  aided  by  a  com- 
mittee headed  by  Henderson  M. 
Richey  as  designated  by  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee  to  work  with  the 
carriers.  The  WAC  committee  headed 
by  Richey  includes  Fred  Schwartz, 
Century  Circuit ;  Irving  Dollinger, 
New  Jersey  Allied  ;  and  Ralph  Pielow, 
representing  the  New  York  exchanges. 

Breakdowns  Mounting  Daily 

Since  the  war  started  difficulties 
with  breakdowns  have  been  mounting 
daily  with  reports  prepared  by  Harry 
Grayson,  attorney  representing  the  car- 
riers here  showing  that  some  of  the 
trucks  had  already  run  over  400,000 
miles,  with  several  thousand  miles 
added  weekly.  Carriers  require  about 
15-  new  trucks  at  this  time  and  will 
require  many  more  shortly. 


UA  Affairs  Seen  Clarified 
Within  Next  Ten  Days 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

nessed  by  the  impending  Chaplin  ac- 
tion against  Selznick  on  the  latter' s 
deal  with  20th  Century-Fox  for  "Keys 
of  the  Kingdom"  and  "Jane  .Eyre." 
Fire  has  been  added  to  the  flame  by 
the  Sir  Alexander  Korda  stock  pur- 
chase over  Chaplin's  objections. 

Miss  Pickford  is  seen  in  the  posi- 
tion of  holding  the  balance  of  power 
and,  according  to  inside  accounts,  is 
perfectly  well  aware  of  it.  She  is  re- 
ported reliably  to  feel  wranglings  have 
hurt  UA  internally  and  externally  and 
thereby  posed  a  potential,  if  not  an  ac- 
tual, damage  to  her  stock  interest. 

Seeks  Operational  Management 

This  position  is  behind  her  appar- 
ent determination  to  break  the  unani- 
mous rule  procedure  now  dominating 
UA  policy  and  operation  and  to  aban- 
don ownership  management  in  favor 
of  operational  management  which  is 
what  Gradwell  Sears  has  been  seeking 
since  he  entered  the  company. 

It  is  reported  that  the  "best  legal 
advice"  believes  the  unanimous  rule  is 
in  violation  of  the  UA  charter,  the 
authority  for  this,  in  all  probability, 
being  George  Wharton  Pepper,  whom 
Miss  Pickford  engaged  to  determine 
if  the  unanimous  rule  could  be  dis- 
lodged through  friendly  court  inter- 
vention. In  fact,  one  source  here  to- 
day declared  Miss  Pickford  quietly 
had  filed  such  an  action  against  Chap- 
lin in  the  East  about  90  days  ago. 


Chaplin  is  described  as  being 
"violent"  in  his  views  toward  Selz- 
nick. He  is  declared  to  be  convinced 
that  Selznick  has  violated  his  agree- 
ment with  UA,  as  witness  the  latter's 
20th-Fox  deal,  and  thereby  has  im- 
periled, if  not  sacrificed,  his  whole 
UA  position.  Eight  months  ago,  it 
is  learned,  the  Selznick  arrangement 
on  his  final  UA  stock  ownership  was 
amended  to  provide  that  he  deliver 
five  pictures  and  then  determine  if  he 
intends  continuing.  If  so,  he  must  de- 
liver five  more,  after  which  UA  stock, 
held  in  escrow  in  his  name  passes  to 
his  ownership.  Meanwhile,  Selznick 
is  silent.  Likewise  are  Miss  Pickford 
and  UA  officials.  Chaplin  is  reported 
"out." 

Depends  on  Miss  Pickford 

Chaplin  is  credited  with  having  re- 
marked he  will  seek  a  receiver  for 
UA  if  circumstances  warrant  such 
extreme  action.  A  factor  of  decisive 
importance  is  which  way  Miss  Pick- 
ford will  throw  her  weight.  Inside 
opinion  maintains'  this  is  currently  un- 
certain. Other  opinion  holds  her  long 
friendship  and  association  with  Chap- 
lin, covering  about  30  years,  may  es- 
tablish sufficient  sentimental  and  busi- 
ness values  to  decide  her  on  Chaplin's 
side.  If  this  eventuates,  the  balance 
of  power  will  outvote  Selznick  who, 
presumably,  then,  could  exercise  his 
escape  clause  after  delivering  five  pic- 
tures. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  20 

SONGWRITERS  Johnny  Burke 
and  Jimmy  Van  Heusen  will  pub- 
lish their  score  for  "Belle  of  the  Yu- 
kon." Gypsy  Rose  Lee  sings  their 
"Ev'ry  Girl  Is  Dif'rent"  and  "The 
Ballad  of  Millicent  Devere"  in  the 
picture,  and  Dinah  Shore  sings 
"Sleighride  in  July"  and  "Like  Some- 
one in  Love."  In  addition,  the  tune- 
smiths  will  publish  "Going  My  Way," 
"The  Day  After  Forever"  and 
"Swinging  on  a  Star,"  which  Bing 
Crosby  sings  in  "Going  My  Way," 
now  awaiting  release  at  Paramount. 


Success  of  his  "Barber  of  Seville," 
"cartune,"  has  prompted  Walter 
Lantz  to  plan  production  of  three 
more  animated  subjects  satirizing  not- 
ed operas.  .  .  .  Florence  Bates,  char- 
acter actress  in  "Belle  of  the  Yukon" 
started  in  pictures  at  50  years  of  age 
after  having  been  the  first  woman 
laxvyer  admitted  to  the  bar  in  Texas. 
She's  now  56  and  going  strong.  Her 
only,  stage  experience  was  two  years 
at  the  Pasadena,  Cal.,  Playhouse.  .  .  . 
Hunt  Stromberg  has  signed  Margaret 
Hamilton  for  one  of  the  key  charac- 
ter roles  in  "Guest  in  the  House," 
which  Lewis  Milestone  directs.  .  .  . 
Edward  Everett  Horton  has  a  comedy 
role  as  Susanna  Foster's  father  in 
"San  Diego,  I  Love  You,"  at  Univer- 
sal.   He's  a  life-raft  inventor. 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 

InteUigei 

ih^so«y 

>a^je 

to  the^l 

cjtion 

Picture 

Industry 

VOL.  55.  NO.  80 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  APRIL  24,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Clark  to  Hold 
Decree  Talks 
Here  Thursday 

Exhibitor  Proposals  May 
Be  Subject  of  Meet 

Washington,  April  23. — Plans 
for  the  resumption  of  negotiations 
with  distributors  looking  toward  the 
development  of  the  revised  consent 
decree  will  be  discussed  with  the  com- 
panies when  Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney 
General  Tom  C.  Clark  goes  to  New 
York  Thursday  to  attend  the  annual 
regional  conference  of  U.  S.  Attorneys, 
which  he  is  to  address  the  next  day. 
The  companies  have  had  for 
some  time  the  correlated  rec- 
ommendations of  the  various 
exhibitor     organizations,  but 
have  taken  no  steps  to  discuss 
them  with  Clark  because  of  the 
recent   resignation   of  Joseph 
Hazen  from  Warner  Bros,  and 
Clark  is  expected  to  contact  the 
companies  while  in  New  York. 

All  of  the  most  frequently  reiter- 
ated recommendations  of  the  exhibitors 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Meet  Here  on 
Appeals  Drive 


Plans  for  the  industry's  participa- 
tion in  the  United  Jewish  Appeal's 
1944  fund  campaign  to  raise  $32,000,- 
000  to  provide  relief  and  rescue  facili- 
ties for  Jewish  victims  abroad  were 
discussed  at  a  luncheon-meeting  held  at 
the  Hotel  Astor  here  at  the  weekend, 
called  by  David  Bernstein,  vice-presi- 
dent and  treasurer  of  Loew's,  who  pre- 
sided at  the  meeting  attended  by  over 
30  industry  leaders. 

Stressing  the  industry's  quota  short- 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Rose  Denies  Demand 
For  'Bell'  Price  Boost 

London,  April  23. — David  Rose, 
Paramount  managing  director  for 
Great  Britain,  denies  that  the  company 
had  asked  exhibitors  to  increase  their 
admission  prices  for  "For  Whom  the 
Bell  Tolls."  Exhibitors  maintain, 
nevertheless,  that  Paramount's  sales- 
men requested  such  conditions,  and 
they  appear  determined  to  observe  the 
Cinematograph  Exhibitors'  Associa- 
tion resolution,  reported  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily  of  April  20,  scoring 
Paramounts'  alleged  sales  policies  for 
"Bell  Tolls,"  which  would  also  require 
extended  playing  time. 


Hugh  Owen  Joining 
Neil  Agnew  at 
Vanguard  Pictures 


Hollywood,    April    23.  —  Hugh 
Owen,  Paramount's  Eastern  divisional 
sales  manager,  will  join  Neil  Agnew 
at   Vanguard   Pictures,   probably  as 
general  sales 
manager  of  the 
David  Selznick 
company,  it  was 
learned  here  au- 
thoritatively' at 
the  weekend. 
Agnew  is  vice- 
president  in 
charge    of  dis- 
t  r  i  b  u  t  i  o  n 
of  Vanguard, 
which  releases 
through  United 
Artists. 
Hugh  Owen 

Owen's  with- 
drawal from  Paramount  is  expected 

(.Continued  on  page  12) 


10  Million  More  May 
See  'Snow  White9 

Audience  Research  Institute,  George 
Gallup  survey  organization,  estimates 
that  there  are  10,000,000  possibilities 
over  12  years  of  age  in  the  United 
States  to  see  the  revival  of  Walt 
Disney's  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs." 

Of  the  estimated  10,000,000,  Audi- 
ence Research  says,  7,000,000  have 
never  seen  the  film  while  an  estimated 
3,000,000  possibilities  have  seen  it  and 
will  repeat.  Audience  Research  esti- 
mates that  27,500,000  over  12  years  of 
age  saw  "Snow  White"  when  it  was 
first  released  over  five  years  ago. 


Claude  Rains  Flies 
Ocean  in  8x/i  Hours 

London,  April  23. — Producer 
Gabriel  Pascal  for  days  had 
been  looking  for  the  arrival 
from  Hollywood  of  actor 
Claude  Rains,  in  order  to 
start  preparations  for  the 
filming  of  George  Bernard 
Shaw's  "Caesar  and  Cleopat- 
ra," to  star  Rains  and  Vivien 
Leigh.  Rains  dropped  in  on 
Pascal  over  the  weekend,  after 
flying  the  Atlantic  in  8'/2 
hours,  nearly  an  all-time  rec- 
ord. 


Charles  Moskowitz 
Names  Drive  Aides 


Charles  C.  Moskowitz  of  Loew's, 
Metropolitan  New  York's  exhibitor 
chairman  for  the  industry's  WAC 
Women's  Army  Corps  recruiting  week, 
May  11-17,  reported  over  the  weekend 
his  co-chairmen  for  this  area. 

The  following  will  serve  under 
Moskowitz :  Gene  Meyers,  Loew's, 
Manhattan ;  Russ  Emde,  RKO,  Bronx 
and  Westchester ;  Irving  Liner,  Fa- 
bian Theatres,  Staten  Island;  Fred 
Schwartz,  Century  Circuit,  Queens, 
and  Louis  Goldberg,  RKO,  and  Sam 
Rinzler,  Randforce  Theatres,  Brook- 
lyn. 

Edward  C.  Dowden  of  Loew's,  local 
publicity  chairman  for  the 1  drive,  has 
called  a  meeting  of  his  committee  for 
this  afternoon  at  2 :30  in  the  Para- 
mount board  room,  Paramount  Build- 
ing. Harry  Mandel,  publicity  chair- 
man for  the  entire  campaign,  and  Os- 
car Doob,  WAC  publicity  chairman, 
will  attend. 


The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell r 


[Paramount] 

CECIL  B.  DeMILLE  turns  his  accomplished  production  hand  herein 
to  an  impressive  cinematic  account  of  the  real-life  saga  of  Com- 
mander Corydon  Wassell,  USN,  thereby  contributing  one  of  the 
first,  if  not  the  first  screen  tribute  to  a  Navy  doctor  of  this  war.  It  is  a 
story  that  moved  President  Roosevelt  to  cite  Commander  Wassell  as 
typical  of  the  service  men  who  are  deserving  of  the  nation's  pride  and 
confidence.  It  is  a  screenplay  that  has  been  described  by  no  less  an 
authority  than  Dr.  Wassell  himself  as  "98  percent  documentary." 

Much  may*  be  said  in  its  favor  as  an  exceptional  production  and  a 
sound  investment  for  the  industry,  but  to  this  observer,  at  least,  the  most 
that  can  be  said  of  it  adversely  is  that  a  98  percent  documentary  content 
leaves  too  little  room  for  the  play  and  exercise  of  Hollywood  ingenuity. 
However,  it  is  just  possible  that  Commander  Wassell  may  have  been  a 
bit  over-enthusiastic  in  his  estimate  in  this  respect. 

"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  is  a,  superior  motion  picture  of  a  dramatic 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Approval  Seen 
For  Schine 
Theatre  Deal 


Clark  'Not  Opposed'  If 
Court  Approves  It 


Buffalo,  April  23.  —  Assistant 
U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom  C. 
Clark  has  given  his  approval  of  the 
proposed  acquisition  of  the  Liberty 
Theatre,  Cumberland,  Md.,  by  the 
Schine  Chain  Theatres  Inc.,  accord- 
ing to  a  brief  which  was  scheduled  to 
be  submitted  to  Judge  John  Knight  in 
Federal  District  Court  here  over  the 
weekend. 

The  brief,  one  of  four  prepared  by 
Schine  attorneys  in  the  pre-trial  pro- 
ceedings of  the  Government's  anti- 
trust suit  against  the  circuit,  stressed 
particularly  a  letter  written  by  Clark 
on  March  2  to  Thomas  Burke,  owner 
of  the  Liberty,  in  which  the  Assistant 
Attorney  General  is  reported  to  have 
said  he  does  not  object  to  the  acquisi- 
tion provided  it  meets  with  court  ap- 
proval. Also  cited  is  the  lack  of  op- 
position on  the  part  of  other  theatre 
operators  in  Cumberland. 

Reiterating  a  stand  taken  on  April 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Ticket  Taxes 
Up$2,800,000 


Washington,  April  23. — Federal 
admission  tax  collections  in  March 
jumped  nearly  $2,800,000  over  the  pre- 
vious month,  totaling  $14,893,007 
against  $12,094,185,  the  U.  S.  Internal 
Revenue  Bureau  reported  here  tonight. 
Collections  in  the  corresponding  month 
last  year  were  $11,874,676. 

Bureau  records  disclosed  that  for  the 
first  quarter,  collections  of  $43,732,128 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Cantor  Tribute  by 
Guilds  on  May  7 

Nine  theatrical  guilds  and  organi- 
zations will  pay  tribute  to  Eddie  Can- 
tor with  a  testimonial  dinner  on  Sun- 
day, May  7,  at  the  Astor  Hotel  on  the 
occasion  of  his  35th  anniversary  in 
entertainment. 

Sponsoring  the  affair  are:  Actors 
Equity,  American  Federation  of  Ra- 
dio Artists,  Screen  Actors'  Guild,  As- 
cap,  Catholic  Actors'  Guild,  Episco- 
pal Actors'  Guild,  Negro  Actors' 
Guild,  Jewish  Theatrical  Guild  and 
the  American  Guild  of  Variety  Art- 
ists. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  24,  19' 


Personal 
Mention 


NEIL  AGNEW  arrived  in  New 
York  from  the  Coast  by  plane 
over  the  weekend.  After  cleaning  up 
his  affairs  at  Paramount  during  the 
next  few  days,  he  will  move  to  his 
new  headquarters  at  Vanguard  Films, 
and  plans  to  return  to  the  Coast  in 
about  four  weeks. 

• 

Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  production  for  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, will  arrive  in  New  York 
today  from  the  Coast  to  hold  a  num- 
ber of  conferences  on  coming  pro- 
ductions. 

• 

Edwin  W.  Aaron,  M-G-M  circuit 
sales  manager,  has  returned  from 
Nashville,  N.  C,  after  a  three  weeks' 
vacation. 

• 

J.  J.  Unger,  United  Artists  West- 
ern division  manager,  is  expected  back 
at  the'  home  office  today  after  several 
weeks'  tour  of  exchanges. 

• 

Ralph  Doyle,  RKO  managing  di- 
rector for  Australia,  is  scheduled  to 
arrive  in  New  York  within  the  next 
.two  weeks. 

• 

Arnold  Van  Leer,  Paramount 
New  England  district  advertising 
representative,  was  in  New  York  Fri- 
day. 

• 

Norman  Elson,  Trans-Lux  vice- 
president,  is  scheduled  to  leave  for 
Boston  tomorrow. 

•  ■ 

Mike_  Simons,  editor  of  M-G-M's 
The  Distributor,  is  due  back  from 
Oklahoma  City  today. 

• 

Steve  Edwards,  Republic  publicity 
director,  is  expected  back  from  Wash- 
ington today. 

Rosenberger  Named 
Para.  Cuba  Head 

Appointment  of  Americo  Rosen- 
berger as  Paramount  manager  in 
Cuba  was  announced  Friday  by  John 
W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  foreign  operations.  Rosen- 
berger for  the  past  several  years  has 
been  a  Paramount  district  manager  in 
Argentina. 

Lazarus  Constantine,  who  has  been 
manager  in  Cuba  for  almost  two  years, 
has  returned  to  Panama  to  assume 
temporary  managership  in  Central 
America  during  the  absence  in  Vene- 
zuela of  Henry  Gordon.  Constan- 
tine's  new  assignment  will  be  an- 
nounced shortly. 

Arthur  L.  Pratchett,  general  man- 
ager for  Paramount  in  Central  Amer- 
ica, including  Mexico  and  several  of 
the  Northern  republics  of  South 
America,  has  left  Mexico  City  for 
Cuba. 


Tradewise 


U,  A.  Meeting  Set 

Hollywood,  April  23.— A  meeting 
of  United  Artists'  board  of  directors 
will  be  held  here  tomorrow.  A  meet- 
ing of  company  owners  is  scheduled 
to  be  held  next  Friday. 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


A  SSUMING  you  all  know  of 
that  eminent  authority  on 
subjects  cinematic,  one  Bernard 
Sobel,  we  spare  ourselves  the 
task  of  looking  up  his  creden- 
tials and  will  begin  by  taking  his 
words,  published  in  Theatre 
Arts  for  March,  at  their  face 
value,  and  will  toss  a  few  back 
his  way. 

"Everyone  who  goes  to  see  a 
motion  picture,"  Mr.  Sobel's  es- 
say starts  off,  "leaves  part  of  his 
intelligence  at  the  box  office." 
Only  Mr.  Sobel  didn't  put  the 
quotation  marks  around  that 
little  gem  of  myopia,  despite  the 
fact  that,  even  if  it  was  original 
with  him,  which  it  isn't,  there 
would  be  no  good  reason  for  him 
to  be  proud  of  any  such  sweep- 
ing misstatement. 

Then  he  follows  up  with  this : 
"For  in  spite  of  its  extraordinary 
growth,  the  cinema  is  still  short 
on  realism,  innovation  and 
aesthetic  principle."  (Can't  you 
just  see  Mr.  Sobel  on  the  hunt 
for  "aesthetic  principle"  in  the 
lairs  of  the  legitimate  theatre 
this  season?)  "The  basic  causes 
for  these  weaknesses,"  he  pro- 
claims, "are  censorship  and  the 
box  office.  .  .  ."  And  Mr.  Sobel 
proceeds  to  prescribe  for  the 
cinema's  "ills"  his  own  concep- 
tion of  what  is  proper  plot  and 
story  material  for  the  screen. 

"Widening  the  scope  of  the 
films  to  include  universal  litera- 
ture, with  fidelity  to  its  basic 
spirit,  characters,  speech,  locale 
and  story,  might  do  much  to 
ease  routine  censorship  and  to 
batter  down  that  organization 
which  is  a  law  unto  itself,  the 
League  of  Decency,"  Mr.  Sobel 
concludes.  (It  is  assumed  that 
this  authority  on  the  motion  pic- 
ture world  has  reference  to  the 
Legion  of  Decency  which,  of 
course,  has  nothing  to  do  with 
the  production  of  films  but  ad- 
dresses its  interest  solely  to  the 
patronage  of  completed  and  re- 
leased productions  and  that  solely 
through  the  voluntary  action  of 
its  adherents.) 

Thus,  Mr.  Sobel,  who  bewails 
what  he  views  as  the  lack  of 
"realism,  innovation  and  aes- 
thetic principle,"  in  motion  pic- 
tures, can  bring  none  of  those 
things  to  his  own  discussion  of 
the  cinema.  Is  there  an  iota  of 
realism  in  the  flat  statement 
(without  quotation  marks)  that 
"everyone  who  goes  to  see  a  mo- 
tion picture  leaves  part  of  his 
intelligence  at  the  box  office"? 
Is  there  "innovation"  in  any  part 
of  -his    particular    analysis  of 


"what's  wrong  with  the  movies" 
and  his  idea  of  how  to  set  it 
right?  No.  It  adds  up  to  the 
same  hoary  attack  that  the 
double-domes  have  been  making 
on  the  motion  picture  for  longer 
than  most  of  us  can  remember. 
Is  there  "aesthetic  principle"  in 
Mr.  Sobel's  damnation  of  the 
screen  as  a  victim  of  "censor- 
ship and  the  box  office,"  or  in 
his  remedy — that  production  de- 
vote itself  to  the  literary  works 
beloved  by  Mr.  Sobel  rather  than 
to  story  material  which  the  en- 
tire experience  of  the  industry, 
not  excluding  production  experi- 
mentation in  the  very  fields  of 
literature  Mr.  Sobel  enumerates, 
has  proved  to  be  best  for  it  as  an 
international  medium  for  all 
ages  ?  The  answer  is  no.  All 
Mr.  Sobel  suggests  doing  about 
it  is  what  he'  decries,  we  may 
■assume,  in  the  censorship  he  de- 
plores. He  says  in  effect  what 
the  censor  says :  Stop  making 
what  you  want,  and  make  what  I 
want  instead.  If  that  is  aesthetic 
principle,  the  screen  should  be 
able  to  do  without  it. 


It  would  be  interesting  to 
know,  while  on  the  subject  of 
censorship,  whether  Mr.  Sobel 
ever  has  read  the  Production 
Code  and,  if  so,  just  what  there 
is  about  it  that  he  objects  to. 
Also,  whether  Mr.  Sobel  knows 
how  many  official  censorship 
boards  there  are  in  this  country, 
and  if  he  can  name  them. 

He  does  touch  upon  one 
truism:  the  relation  of  the  box 
office  and  its  universal  patron- 
age to  production.  His  sug- 
gestion for  beating  that  is  ex- 
perimental production,  to  be 
undertaken  by  the  industry  on  a 
modest  scale  for  limited  audi- 
ences. Mr.  Sobel,  like  so  many 
of  those  who  perch  on  the  self- 
elevated  barber  chairs  of  the  lit- 
erary clique  and  drop  bricks 
onto  the  motion  picture  from  the 
dizzy  heights  of  their  mechanical 
parnassus,  unwittingly  reveals  in 
that  suggestion  that  he  doesn't 
get  around  to  seeing  motion  pic- 
tures very  often  and,  therefore, 
like  the  others,  is  something  less 
than  well-informed  on  his  sub- 
ject. 

If  the  industry's  own  experi- 
mentation is  insufficient  for  the 
likes  of  Mr.  Sobel,  just  what  is 
there  to  stop  them  from  opening 
up  this  supposedy  fertile  field, 
for  the  development  of  which 
they  profess  to  see  "millions" 
waiting  ? 


WB  District  Head 
End  Meetings  Here 

Meetings  here  of  Warner  distri 
managers,  which  were  concluded 
the  weekend,  and  held  under  Ben  Kj 
menson,  general  sales  manager,  we 
highlighted  by  an  outline  and  discu 
sion  of  sales  and  promotion  plans  fJ 
"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain 
covering  the  special  premiere  and  tl 
regular  release  of  the  film  later  in  tl 
year. 

In  addition,  Kalmenson  determin< 
the  handling  of  four  other  picturi 
slated  for  release  within  the  next  fe 
months.  They  are:  "Between  Tu 
Worlds,"  "Mask  for.  Dimitrios 
"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  and  "Arsen 
and  Old  Lace,"  the  latter  being  U 
for  release  this  Summer.  Nation 
campaigns  and  merchandising  plans  fo 
the  films  were  also  discussed  b 
Charles  Einfeld,  advertising-publicij 
director,  and  Mort  Blumenstock,  Eas 
ern  advertising-publicity  chief. 


Lasky  and  March 
In  Twain  Tribute 

Jesse  L.  Lasky,  producer  of  Wai 
ners'  "The  Adventures  of  Mar 
Twain" ;  Fredric  March,  star  of  th 
film,  and  Newbold  Morris,  presider 
of  the  New  York  City  Council,  wei 
guest  speakers  Friday  at  ceremonie 
commemorating  the  34th  anniversar 
of  the  death  of  Mark  Twain,  held  i 
the  Hall  of  Fame,  New  York  Uni 
versity. 

Lasky  paid  tribute  to  the  authoi 
mentioning  several  films  which  he  ha 
made  from  Twain's  works.  He  als> 
recounted  his  meeting  with  the  au 
thor  in  the  Players  Club  here  man; 
years  ago. 


Film  Classics  Buys 
50%  Of  Circle  Film 

Film  Classics,  Inc.,  has  purchaset 
50  per  cent  of  the  stock  of  Circli 
Film  Laboratories,  33  West  60tl 
Street. 

New  president  of  Circle,  which  re- 
cently expanded  to  almost  double  it; 
former  size,  is  Film  Classics'  Georgt 
Hirliman.  Eric  Schoder  has  beer 
named  general  manager. 

Balance  of  the  stock  is  owned  bj 
Stillman  and  Stillman,  attorneys,  and 
Tremont  Products  Corp. 


Walter  Mendenhall, 
Para.  Partner,  Dies 

Walter  Mendenhall,  Paramount 
theatre  operating  partner  in  Boise 
Ida.,  died  suddenly  late  last  week,  ac^ 
cording  to  word  received  at  the  Para- 
mount home  office  at  the  weekend. 


Rialto  Case  Pending 

■  Decision  on  the  New  York  Rialto 
Theatre  Ticket  Service's  suit  against 
city  license  commissioner  Paul  Moss! 
is  pending  following  a  hearing  before 
Judge  Isidor  Wasservogel  at  the 
weekend.  Moss  revoked  Rialto's 
brokerage  license  March  20  when  the 
organization  was  convicted  of  charg- 
ing higher  than  the  lawful  75-cent 
ticket  fee. 


™9X£aL^  u  rt*  ,  D4I£iY'u-Mar£n  Qu,Kley.  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  yuigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Uuigley,  president;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.     Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham  News 


•  .r,  c       Vi  imo  —•>"•—  vsuig.cjr  luuutauuua;  motion  ncture  neraia,  Better  ineatres,  international    motion    ricture    Almanac,    J"ame.     Entered    as   second  cJass 

matter,  sept.  ii.  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10» 


LETTER  TO  THE  MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


•  „  «asbitis  »w  VeS  i0  .  _„  to  e'e"    m0  eve"  0f 


f,irve«  " 


Jo*  ,  ^  00-***£»^ 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  24,  1944 


Coast 
Flashes 


The  Story  of  Dr.  WasselV 


Hollywood,  April  23 

WALTER  ABEL  and  Kay  Francis 
will  appear  in  Ottawa  tomorrow 
for  the  official  opening  of  the  Sixth 
Canadian  Victory  Loan,  after  which 
they  will  tour  the  provinces.  Others 
aiding  the  drive  include :  Katherine 
Hepburn,  Montreal,  May  3-4;  Joan 
Fontaine,  Toronto,  May  10-11,  and 
Gail  Patrick,  who  will  tour  the  West 
ern  provinces.  Adolphe  Menjou  and 
Charles  Boyer  recently  broadcast  ad- 
vance appeals  over  Canadian  networks, 
e 

M-G-M  has  announced  "The  Kissing 
Bandit,"  produced  by  Joe  Pasternak 
from  an  original  musical  saga  of  old 
California. 

Jules  Levey  left  Friday  on  the 
Superchief  to  set  distribution  and  ad- 
vertising with  United  Artists  for  "The 
Hairy  Ape." 

• 

Bruce  Manning  will  leave  Univer- 
sal at  the  end  of  the  month  upon  com- 
pletion of  his  seven-year  writer  con- 
tract. - 

• 

Shirley  Temple  will  be  16  today. 
Miss  Temple,  under  contract  to  David 
O.  Selznick,  will  be  feted  by  the 
studio. 

• 

Warners  has  assigned  "Happiness" 
to  co-producers  Julius  and  Philip 
Epstein. 


State  Theatre  Settles 
Legal  Fees  Case 

Buffalo,  April  -  23— After  a  Su- 
preme Court  jury  before  Justice  Frank 
A.  James  began  hearing  testimony  in 
a  civil  action  begun  by  Attorney 
Elijah  W.  Holt  to  collect  legal  fees 
of  $3,550  from  the  State  Theatre  of 
Dunkirk,  Inc.,  and  six  individual  de- 
fendants, it  was  announced  late  this 
afternoon  that  the  case  has  been  set- 
tled out  of  court  with  Holt  accept- 
ing $1,500. 

Holt  represented  the  defendants 
from  1939  to  1941  in  litigation  by 
Mrs.  Grace  M.  Lally  involving  stock 
of  the  theatre  corporation.  He  went 
to  great  length  before  the  jury  in 
describing  the  legal  work  he  did  which 
entitled  him  to  the  $3,550  fee. 

In  the  aforementioned  litigation,  the 
defendants  lost  the  suit  and  an  out- 
of-court  settlement  later  was  reached. 
The  State  Theatre,  Dunkirk  Inc.,  con- 
tended it  was  not  liable  and  that 
Holt's  payments  of  about  $950  were 
adequate  compensation. 

Two  of  the  six  defendants  filed  a 
counter  claim  seeking  $30,000  from 
Attorney  Holt,  alleging  he  handled 
the  litigation  in  an  incompetent  man- 
ner.   Holt  denied  this. 


Industrials  for  Army 

Production  of  films  for  the  Army 
industrial  film  service  at  the  Astoria 
Studios  under  the  supervision  of  Lt. 
Col.  Emanuel  Cohen  and  Capt.  Ken- 
neth McKenna  is  proceeding  at  the 
rate  of  one  film  communique  and  one 
other  subject  a  month.  Distribution 
to  war  plants  is  headed  by  Arthur  L. 
Mayer,  industrial  film  adviser  to  the 
War  Department. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

war  episode,  to  which  Gary  Cooper,  as  Dr.  Wassell,  has  contributed  one 
of  his  finest  performances,  and  on  which  DeMille,  who  both  produced 
and  directed,  has  expended  much  of  the  know-how  that  endows  his 
cinema  with  distinction  and  showmanship.  With  its  setting  in  the  tropi 
cal  background  of  Java  and  the  South  Pacific,  luxuriant,  picturesque 
locales  have  been  chosen  which,  beautifully  photographed  in  Technicolor, 
rank  high  among  the  production's  assets.  . 

HP  HE  Allen  LeMay  and  Charles  Bennett  screen  play  is  based  upon 
*-  the  story  related  to  them  by  Dr.  Wassell  and  15  of  the  wounded 
American  sailors  who  shared  the  experience  with  him.  It  is  the  story 
of  the  Navy  doctor's  successful  efforts,  despite  great  odds,  in  bringing  a 
group  of  wounded  from  two  American  warships,  which  'engaged  the 
Japs  shortly  after  Pearl  Harbor,  to  safety  in  Australia  from  hospitals  in 
Java  after  the  fall  of  Singapore  and  the  invasion  of  the  Dutch  East  Indies 
by  the  Japs.    It  is  a  saga  of  courage,  hardship,  suffering  and  devotion. 

Intermingled  with  the  realistic,  almost  straight  narrative  account, 
are  touches  of  humor  evolved  from  individual  characterizations  and 
romantic  skeins,  little  more  than  a  by-product  of  the  main  adventure  story 
One  of  the  romances  involves  Dr.  Wassell  and  an  American  nurse,  played 
by  Laraine  Day.  Another  revolves  about  an  American  sailor,  loved  by  a 
native  girl,  in  love  himself  with  a  Dutch  nurse,  and  she,  in  turn,  affianced 
to  a  Dutch  naval  officer. 

Warfare  sequences,  while  by  no  means  comprising  any  major  part  of 
the  production,  are  impressively  staged,  and  are,  perhaps,  among  the 
most  realistic  outside  of  an  actual  war  documentary.  This  is  particularly 
true  of  sequences  depicting  Jap  bombings  of  the  Java  hospital  in  which 
the  American  wounded  are  being  treated.  In  addition,  there  are  bombing 
sequences  as  the  badly  wounded  Americans  are  being  evacuated  across 
Java  with  a  British  mechanized  unit,  a  skirmish  with  a  Jap  patrol  and 
strafing  of  the  ship  on  which  the  evacuees  are  removed  from  Java  to 
Australia. 

OIGNE  HASSO,  as  a  Dutch  nurse;  Carol  Thurston,  as  a  Javanese 
^  nurse,  and  Dennis  O'Keefe,  as  a  wounded  sailor,  are  principals  in  the 
secondary  romantic  triangle.  The  story  is  leavened  by  comic  by-play 
and  human  interest  incident  in  the  characterizations  of  individual  sailors 
depicted  by  Oliver  Thorndyke,  Paul  Kelly,  Elliott  Reid,  Renny  McEvoy 
and  others. 

Backed  by  the  thorough  promotional  campaign  being  accorded  the  pro- 
duction by  Paramount,  "Dr.  Wassell"  should  rank  as  a  top-grosser. 

Running  time,  140  minutes.   "G."*   Release,  early  in  July. 

Sherwin  Kane 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Powell,  Pressburger 
Due  Here  in  May 

London,  April  23. — Michael  Powell 
and  Emeric  Pressburger,  makers  of 
The  Life  and  Death  of  Col.  Blimp," 
will  leave  here  for  New  York  early 
in  May  with  a  print  of  their  newly- 
completed  "Canterbury  Tales."  They 
are  planning  to  be  present  at  the 
American  premieres  of  both  films  and 
will  also  negotiate,  with  J.  Arthur 
Rank's  "blessing,"  for  American  play- 
ers for  Powell's  next  production  here. 

Both  "Blimp"  and  "Canterbury" 
will  be  released  by  Eagle-Lion,  Rank's 
American  distribution  setup,  which 
Arthur  Kelly  heads  in  New  York. 


Miller,  Kilgore  Are 
Promoted  by  Para. 

Sebe  Miller,  office  manager  at  the 
Paramount  exchange  in  Memphis,  has 
been  promoted  to  booking  manager  at 
the  Dallas  exchange,  the  home  office 
has  announced.  He  formerly  was  in 
Dallas. 

Succeeding  Miller  in  Memphis  is 
Robert  Kilgore,  who  moves  up  from 
booker  in  Dallas.  Kilgore  was  re- 
cently transferred  to  Dallas  from 
Memphis.  R.  M.  Hammond,  sales- 
man attached  to  the  Memphis  ex- 
change, has  been  inducted  into  the 
Army. 


Sues  to  Prevent  Run 
Of  'Negro  Soldier' 

Negro  Marches  On,  Inc.,  an  or- 
ganization which  stated  it  had  been 
engaged  for  the  past  year  in  produc- 
tion and  exploitation  of  a  film  en- 
titled "We've  Come  a  Long,  Long 
Way,"  filed  suit  in  Federal  Court  here 
Friday  to  restrain  the  War  Depart- 
ment and  the  industry's  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  from  distributing  the 
film  "The  Negro  Soldier." 

The  action  was  brought  by  Jack 
Goldberg,  president  of  the  plaintiff 
company,  and  alleged  that  distribution 
of  the  film  would  put  the  Government 
into  unfair  competition  with  private 
enterprise. 

The  complaint  also  alleged  that 
some  footage  belonging  to  the  plaintiff 
company  had  been  used  in  the  Gov- 
ernment sponsored  film. 


Coleman's  Son  Missing 

Lester  Coleman,  traveling  exchange 
auditor  for  Paramount,  has  been  noti- 
fied by  the  War  Department  that  his 
son,  Lieut.  Edward  Coleman,  bomber 
pilot  operating  out  of  England,  has 
been  reported  missing  in  action. 


Two  Drive-Ins  Open 

Detroit,  April  23. — The  Easteide 
and  the  Westside,  drive-in  theatres  lo- 
cated in  the  suburbs,  opened  their 
seventh  season  recently. 


776  Theatres  Pledge 
M-G-M  Support 

Ten  circuits,  representing 
776  theatres,  have  sent  pledges 
to  M-G-M  to  show  at  least 
one  subject  with  Leo  the  Lion 
during  the  company's  20-year 
birthday  observance  week, 
June  22-28,  the  company  re- 
ported Saturday.  In  some  in- 
stances, it  was  stated,  the 
occasion  will  be  the  first  that 
the  theatres  have  shown  the 
M-G-M  trade  mark. 

Pledges  came  from  Schine 
Circuit,  Wilby-Kincey,  Ever- 
green Theatres,  Griffith  Thea- 
tres, Associated  Playhouses, 
Mullin  &  Pinanski,  Common- 
wealth Amusement  Corp.,  War- 
ner Cleveland  zone,  Crescent 
Amusement  Co.  and  Essaness 
Theatres. 


Sees  Television  As 
An  Industrial  Aid 


Detroit,  April  23. — Potentialities  of 
television  as  an  aid  to  industry  in  the 
postwar  were  outlined  by  Ralph  R. 
Beal,  executive  of  RCA  Laboratories, 
in  an  address  here  Friday  night  before 
the  Detroit  Engineering  Society.  He 
envisaged  television  as  the  coming 
"eyes"  of  factories,  the  "means  of  co- 
ordinating activities  in  giant  manufac- 
turing plants  and  of  peering  into  places 
and  situations  inaccessible  or  hazard- 
ous to  man." 

Beal  further  said  that  television 
cameras  may  be  used  in  connection 
with  chemical  reaction  chambers,  en- 
abling an  operator  to  observe  the  chain 
of  events  occurring  in  complicated 
chemical  production  units.  In  addition, 
he  declared,  television  equipment  might 
facilitate  port  movements  of  ships  as 
well  as  traffic  control  in  metropolitan 
areas  and  along  congested  motor  lanes. 
He  also  disclosed  that  many  years  of 
research  have  already  been  devoted  to 
color  television  and  it  is  believed  to 
be  a  definite  prospect. 


$18,300  More  from 
RKO  to  Red  Cross 

RKO  Radio  will  send  a  check  for 
$18,300  to  the  American  Red  Cross, 
representing  the  profit  the  company 
derived  from  the  distribution  last  sea- 
son of  three  one-reel  "Victory"  short 
subjects  concerned  with  the  war  ef- 
fort. The  three  one-reelers,  produced 
on  a  non-profit  basis  by  RKO  under 
supervision  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, were  "Conquer  by  the  Clock," 
"City  of  Courage,"  and  "North 
African  Album." 

In  announcing  the  contribution, 
RKO's  Ned  Depinet  revealed  that 
RKO  and  its  subsidiaries  had  previ- 
ously contributed  $37,500. 


Cleveland  Unionized 

Cleveland,  April  23.- — The  comple 
tion  of  negotiations  with  the  Universal 
exchange  here  marks  the  over-al 
unionization  of  major  companies  along 
ocal  film  row,  Dan  Cowhig,  local  F-5 
business  manager  reports.  Cowhig 
stated  that  the  union  will  next  attempt 
to  organize  independent  exchange: 
here. 


JOY  TONIGHT! 


"m-m-m  GEE!  m-m-m" 


mm,. 


Tomorrow  its  fame  will  be  nationwide 

TWO  GIRLS  AND  A  SAILOR' 

(Another  Gem  from  M*G*Ml) 

In  31  cities  from  Coast- toCoast!  ( 
Trade  Shows  tonight!   In  theatres  with  audiences! 
Tonight  you'll  get  the  lilt  of  it,  the  lift  of  it, 
'   The  glories  of  its  pace,  its  fun,  its  romance. 
A  super-great  musical,  packed  with  gold!  > 
One  of  our  new  group.  The  Springtime  Five! 
A  wonderful  group! 


IN  NEW  YORK,  TONIGHT  AT  LOEWS  ZIEGFELD,  9  O'CLOCK! 


Louella  O.  Parson*—  the  incredible 
"Boswell"  of  the  cinema,  whose 
features  in  Pholoplay  are  always 
crowded  with  hews  no  other  writers 
can  get. 


Dorothy  Kilgallen — syndicated 
columnist  and  top  flight  maga- 
zine feature  writer  keeps  Photo- 
play's smarter  set  up  to  the  minute 
on  Hollywood  affairs. 


Adela  Rogers  St.  Johns— America's 
great  woman  journalist,  the  friendly 
"psychiatrist"  of  Hollywood,  who 
understands  better  than  all  others 
the  heart  of  a  star. 


Elsa  Maxwell— Lady-about-Hc 
wood  whose  stories  about  stars  ■ 
them  the  distinction  her  nation 
syndicated  column  gives  social 
of  international  note. 


reasons  wh 


Adele  Whltely  Fletcher  _  whose 
faculty  for  getting  unusual  slants 
on  Hollywood's  news  enlivens 
Photoplay's  pages. 


Joseph  Henry  Steele— "etcher"  of 
the  famous  "Steele  portraits,"  a 
past  master  of  the  revealing  trifle 
that  delineates  his  Photoplay 
profiles. 


Thornton  Delehonty  —Movie  cor- 
respondent for  one  of  the  nation's 
big  newspapers  —  for  Photoplay,  a 
top  biographer  of  the  stars. 


Sara  Hamllton-whoselighthearted 

pen  starts  the  great  box-office  trek 
of  Photoplay's  million  with  her 
perceptive  reviews. 


Elea  nor  Harris — successful  scenario 
writer  knows  her  Hollywood  on 
both  sides  of  the  kliegs. 


Sidney  Skolsky—  whose  Photopl 
contributions  delightfully  pro 
hisslogan"HollywoodIsMyBe; 


Pauline  Swanson—  whose  person- 
ality-and-news  stories  for  Photo- 
play are  "eye-witness"  experiences 
to  the  ahove-a-million  readers  of 
Photoplay. 


Ruth  Waterbury— Photoplav* 
gifted  reporter  «f  Hollywood  ne 
before  it  happens,  and  of  stars 
fore  they  happen. 


Is  favorite  of  America's  | 

!  • 

first  million*  moviegoers 

0 
,1 

No  other  magazine  in  America  has  gathered 

-A 

together  a  more  brilliant  group  of 
biographers  and  reporters  of  the  Hollywood 
,  scene.  All  of  them — great  by-lines  of  our 

time — keep  up  the  tradition  of  Photoplay  as 
America's  undisputed  leader  in  its  field. 


1,046,896  Publishers  statement  of  average  net  paid  for  1st  3  mos.,  1944  (under  U.  S.  Gov't  paper  rationing) 

.MERICA'S    FIRST  •  AMERICA'S    OLDEST  •  AMERICA'S  BEST 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  24,  1944 


Review 


"Double  Indemnity** 

(Paramount) 

DARAMOUNT'S  "Double  Indemnity"  rings  the  bell  as  a  top-notch 
*■  splendidly  acted  and  brilliantly  directed  hard-bitten  melodrama  which 
packs  unusual  moments  of  gripping  suspense.  It  is  grade  A  film  fare  for 
the  devotees  of  murder  melodrama,  with  exhibitors  provided  with  the 
box-office  draw  of  Fred  MacMurray,  Barbara  Stanwyck  and  Edward  G. 
Robinson  in  selling  it  to  other  customers.  Without  question  it  is  one  of 
the  best  films  of  this  class,  and  full  credit  for  making  it  so  goes  to 
director  Billy  Wilder. 

The  tempo  which  Wilder  has  set  for  the  grim  action  of  the  unsavory 
story  of  premeditated  murder-for-profit  maintains  throughout  even 
though  it  is  told  by  flashbacks  with  MacMurray  fusing  the  scenes  to- 
gether as  narrator.  The  starting  point  in  Joseph  M.  Cain's  novel  as 
adapted  by  Wilder  and  Raymond  Chandler,  is  MacMurray's  confession 
after  his  perfect  crime  has  been  uncovered  by  the  relentless  investiga- 
tions of  Robinson,  wily  claim  adjuster  of  the  insurance  company  for 
whom  MacMurray  sells  insurance.  How  MacMurray  was  enmeshed  in 
Miss  Stanwyck's  plan  to  murder  her  husband,  whom  she  despised,  and 
collect  the  proceeds  of  a  substantial  insurance  policy,  arranged  for  by 
MacMurray,  provides  the  basic  action.  The  "perfect"  crime  conceived 
by  MacMurray  to  do  away  with  Miss  Stanwyck's  husband  defies  official 
detection,  but  Robinson,  though  fooled  in  the  beginning,  soon  brings  all 
his  experience  in  crime  detection  into  play.  Before  MacMurray  and 
Miss  Stanwyck  can  cash  in  on  the  proceeds  of  their  nefarious  crime,  he 
cracks  down  upon  Miss  Stanwyck.  In  an  effort  to  break  away  from  the 
hold  she  has  upon  him,  MacMurray  finally  kills  his  partner  in  crime 
after  she  shoots  him  with  the  same  idea  in  mind.  The  confession  is  indi- 
cated to  prevent  the  innocent  fiance  of  Miss  Stanwyck's  step-daughter 
from  being  accused  as  Miss  Stanwyck's  suspected  partner. 

MacMurray  and  Miss  Stanwyck  are  tops  in  their  dramatic  but  un- 
sympathetic roles.  Robinson's  realistic  performance  as  the  claim  adjuster 
of  the  insurance  company  can  be  taken  as  an  indication  that  crime-for- 
profit  when  an  insurance  company  is  involved  is  exceedingly  risky.  Jean 
Heather  and  Byron  Barr  hold  up  a  slim  romantic  thread  as  the  step- 
daughter and  fiance,  respectively.  Tom  Powers  is  the  murdered  hus- 
band. Porter  Hall,  Richard  Gaines,  Fortunio  Bonanova  and  John  Philli- 
ber  are  also  in  the  cast.  Joseph  Sistrom  produced.  Miklos  Rozsa  has  pro- 
vided a  neat  musical  background  and  John  Seitz's  camera  work  is  ex- 
cellent. 

Running  time  106  minutes.   "G."*   Released  in  Block  No.  5. 

Milton  Livingston 


Production  Is 
Slightly  Off; 
45  in  Work 


Hollywood,  April  23. — Ten  pictures 
finished  shooting,  seven  new  ones  were 
placed  before  the  cameras  to  bring  the 
total  in  work  to  45  during  the  past 
week.  The  previous  week  saw  nine 
finished,  14  started,  with  48  shooting. 
The  production  scene : 

Columbia 

Started:  "The  Crime  Doctor's  Ren- 
dezvous," with  Warner  Baxter,  Nina 
Foch,  Jeanne  Bates,  Lester  Matthews. 

Shooting :  "The  Impatient  Years," 
untitled  Kay  Kyser. 

Finished:  "U-Boat  Prisoner,"  "Rough 
Ridin'  Justice." 

M-G-M 

Shooting :  "Lost  in  a  Harem," 
"Maisie  Goes  to  Reno,"  "Mrs.  Park- 
ington,"  "The  Picture  of  Dorian 
Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "National  Vel- 
vet." 

Finished :  "Marriage  Is'  a  Private 
Affair." 

Monogram 

Started:  "One  Man  Law,",  with 
Johnny  Mack  Brown,  Raymond  Hat- 
ton,  Christine  Mclntyre. 

Shooting:  "Are  These  Your  Par- 
ents?", "A  Wac,  a  Wave,  and  a 
Marine,"  "Alaska,"  "Three  of  a  Kind," 
"The  Girl  Next  Door." 

Paramount 

Started:  "Dark  Mountain"  (Pine- 
Thomas),  with  Robert  Lowery,  Ellen 
Drew,  Regis  Toomey,  Eddie  Quillan, 
Elisha  Cook,-  Jr.,  Virginia  Sale. 

Finished:  "Practically  Yours." 

P.  R.  C. 

Finished:  "Mexican  Fiesta,"  "Brand 
of  the  Devil,"  formerly  "The  Devil's 
Brand." 

RKO-Radio 

Started:  "Tall  in  the  Saddle,"  with 
John  Wayne,  Ella  Raines,  Ward  Bond, 
Audrey  Long,  George  (Gabby)  Hayes, 
Russell  Wade,  Clem  Bevans,  Raymond 
Hatton,  Don  Douglas,  Elisabeth  Ris- 
don. 

.Shooting :  "That  Hunter  Girl," 
"Mademoiselle  Fifi,"  "Cocktails  for 
Two,"  "None  But  the  Lonely  Heart," 
"Heavenly  Days,"  "Belle  of  the  Yu- 
kon" (International)  ;  "Once  Off 
Guard"  (International)  ;  "Sylvester 
the  Great"  (Goldwyn). 

Finished :  "Manhattan  Serenade." 

Republic 

Shooting :  "Port  of  40  Thieves," 
"Haunted  Harbor,"  "Sing,  Neighbor, 
Sing." 

Finished:  "Marshal  of  Monterey." 

20th  Century-Fox 

Started :  "Something  for  the  Boys," 
with  Carmen  Miranda,  Perry  Como, 
Michael  O'Shea,  Sheila  Ryan,  Vivian 
Blaine. 

Shooting  ;  "Irish  Eyes  Are  Smiling," 
"Keys  of  the  Kingdom,"  "Queen  of 
the  Flat  Tops,"  formerly  "Wing  and 
a  Prayer." 

Finished:  "The  Big  Noise." 

United  Artists 

Shooting:  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe"  (Les- 
ter Cowan)  ;  "Abroad  With  Two 
Yanks"  (Edward  Small)  ;  "Double 
Furlough"  (Vanguard). 

Universal 

Started:  "Boss  of  Boomtown,"  with 
Rod  Cameron,  Vivian  Austin,  Fuzzy 


G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Artkino  Pictures,  Ltd, 
Formed  in  Canada 

Toronto,  April  23. — The  franchise 
for  distributing  Russian  motion  pic- 
tures in  Canada,  held  until  recently 
by  Cosmopolitan  Films,  has  been  taken 
over  by  a  new  company,  Artkino  Pic- 
tures (Canada),  Ltd.  Permission  to 
use  the  name  "Artkino"  was  granted 
by  Artkino  Pictures,  Inc.,  New  York, 
whose  trademark  appears  on  all  Rus- 
sian pictures  distributed  in  North 
America. 


Werfel  Aids  'Song' 

Franz  Werfel,  author  of  "The  Song 
of  Bernadette,"  will  speak  by  tele- 
phone from  Hollywood  Wednesday  to 
gatherings  of  motion  picture  editors, 
columnists  and  book  reviewers  in  New 
York  and  Boston,  in  connection  with 
the  promotion  of  20th-Fox's  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette."  Leonard  Gay- 
nor  is  in  charge  of  arrangements. 


Knight,  Tom  Tyler.  "See  My  Law- 
yer," with  Olsen  and  Johnson,  Grace 
MacDonald,  Noah  Beery,  Jr.,  Alan 
Curtis,  Carmen  Amaya  and  troupe. 

Shooting :  "Pearl  of  Death,"  "Make 
Way  for  Love,"  "The  Devil's  Brood." 

Finished :  "The  Singing  Sheriff." 

Warners 

Shooting :  "The  Very  Thought  of 
You,"  "To  Have  and  Have  Not," 
"The  Doughgirls,"  "Give  Me  This 
Woman." 


Two  Quebec  Operator 
Groups  Talk  Merger 

Montreal,  April  23.  —  Proposed 
merger  of  the  two  Quebec  projection- 
ist organizations,  the  IATSE  and  the 
Quebec  M.  P.  Projectionists  Associa- 
tion, are  being  discussed  by  officials 
of  both  groups. 

The  QMPPA  has  60  members  and 
the  IATSE  has  three  locals,  largest 
of  which  is  the  one  here  with  100  mem- 
bers. The  QMPPA  has  no  labor 
charter  but  has  a  permit  from  the  Pro- 
vincial Government.  It  has  been  in 
existence  for  12  years. 


'Bernadette'  Opening 

Cleveland,  April  23.  —  "Song  of 
Bernadette,"  20th-Fox  production,  will 
open  here  April  27  in  road  show  en- 
gagements at  three  first-run  theatres : 
Warners'  Hippodrome,  Variety  and 
Keith's  East  105th  St.  Prices  have 
been  fixed  at  75  cents  and  $1.10.  The 
openings  mark  the  first  day-and-date 
engagements  of  a  road  show  in  this 
area. 


Will  Release  'Naples' 

The  British  Ministry  of  Information 
here  reports  that  "Naples  Is  a  Battle- 
field" will  soon  be  available  for  re- 
lease in  this  country. 

Subject  matter  concerns  the  Allies' 
capture  of  Naples  and  its  reconversion 
to  semi-normalcy  following  the  defeat 
of  the  Axis  there. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  23 

ONE  of  the  most  unusual  animated 
cartoon  training  films  in  Holly- 
wood is  now  shooting  at  Walt  Lantz's 
studio.  It  is  "Enemy  Bacteria,"  com- 
bining live  action  and  animated  film 
for  the  Naval  Medical  Corps.  It  is  be- 
ing filmed  in  the  new  Technicolor 
Monopack.  Lantz  has  given  the 
germs,  found  in  a  wound  infected' 
through  carelessness,  the  roles  of  car- 
toon "heavies."  He  says  it  will  take 
about  six  months  to  complete  the  ani- 
mation which  runs  about  three  times, 
the  average  in  footage. 

• 

Producer  Sam  Marx  has  assigned 
Jimmy  Gleason  and  Tom  Drake  to  top 
roles  in  "Airship  Squadron  Four,"  on 
which  William  Wellman  will  start  di- 
rection May  10  at  M-G-M.  Wallace 
Beery  is  starred.  .  .  .  Lloyd  Bacon  will 
direct  "Sunday  Dinner  for  a  Soldier" 
at  20th  Century-Fox.  .  .  .  Paramount 
has  signed  Richard  Lyon,  nine-year- 
old  son  of  Ben  Lyon  and  Bebe  Dan- 
iels. His  first  role  will  be  in  "Fear'' 
with  Joel  McCrea  and  Gail  Russell. 
• 

Carmel  Meyers,  lead  of  the  silent 
screen,  will  return  to  pictures  after 
10  years,  in  "Give  Me  This  Woman," 
Hedy  Lamarr-Paul  Henreid  starrer 
at  Warners.  .  .  .  "Chili"  Williams, 
polka-dot  scanty  girl  of  Life  maga- 
zine fame,  has  been  signed  by  RKO, 
where  she  has  been  labeled  the  J 
"gam-orous  girl"  and  given  a  role ' 
in  "Having  Wonderful  Crime,"  with 
Pat  O'Brien  and  Carole  Landis.  .  .  . 
Jack  Skirball  has  signed  Alma  Re- 
ville  (Mrs.  Alfred  Hitchcock)  to 
work  on  the  screenplay  of  his 
"Fickle  Fortune."  It  will  star  Fred 
Allen  for  UA  release. 

• 

Allan  Lane  has  begun  a  second 
series  of  Westerns  for  Republic  with 
Les  Selander  directing  for  associate 
producer  Stephen  Auer.  Peggy  Stew- 
art, wife  of  Don  (Red)  Barry,  will  I 
play  the  feminine  lead.  .  .  .  Irving 
Briskin,  back  from  New  York, '  has 
started  preparation  on  three  new  pro- 
ductions and  at  the  same  time  is  su- 
pervising three  in  work  at  Columbia. 
.  .  .  Nunnally  Johnson  has  put  "Once 
Off  Guard,"  starring  Edward  G.  Rob- 
Robinson  and  Joan  Bennett,  before  the 
cameras  for  International. 

• 

Norman  Taurog  is  directing  M-G-l 
M's  "Seattle,"  colorful  story  of  the 
"Queen  City"  of  the  Pacific  Northwest : 
for  producer  John  W.  Considine,  Jri 
It  deals  with  the  effect  of  the  Alaskan 
gold-rush.  .  .  .  Universal  has  renewed 
contracts  of  Robert  Paige,  producer- 
director  Roy  William  Neill,  and  asso-\ 
date  producer-director  Ray  Taylor. 
.  .  .  Martin  Eisenberg  has'  been  named 
executive  assistant  to  producer  Frank) 
Melford  on  "What's  the  Rush,"  »r7t 
Lum  V  Abner  at  RKO. 


Gets  Posthumous  Award 

Scranton,  Pa.,  April  23.  —  Tie 
Silver  Star  for  gallantry  was  post- 
humously awarded  Pvt.  Frank  J. 
McLoughlin,  formerly  of  the  Strand 
here  and  a  brother-in-law  of  Georgci 
Beattie,  Paramount  exchange  man-; 
ager  in  Philadelphia.  Pvt.  McLough 
lin  died  while  rescuing  a  woundedl 
comrade  in  the  Sicilian  invasion. 


Monday,  April  24,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wac  Trailer  Available 
For  Theatre  Drive 

"To  the  Ladies,"  special 
trailer  for  the  Wac's  recruit- 
ing week  in  theatres,  has  been 
produced  by  Frank  Whitbeck 
of  the  M-G-M  studio  from  a 
script  by  Edward  Schreiber, 
publicity  director  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee  here. 

The  trailer,  which  features 
Lionel  Barrymore,  runs  250 
feet  and  will  be  made  avail- 
able free  by  National  Screen 
Service  to  participating  thea- 
tres in  time  for  the  campaign, 
set  for  May  11-17. 


Films  Stamping  Out 
Illiteracy:  Deer 

Chicago,  April  23. — How  films  are 
alleviating  illiteracy  throughout  the 
world  was  explained  by  Irvin  E.  Deer 
of  the  Motion  Picture  Producers  and 
Distributors  of  America,  and  how  the 
Balaban  and  Katz  circuit  of  126 
theatres  grew  from  the  humble  begin- 
ning of  a  small  store  show  in  1908 
was  reviewed  by  John  Balaban  in 
principal  addresses  at  a  weekend 
meeting  of  the  Better  Films  Council 
of  Chicagoland,  commemorating  the 
golden  anniversary  of  motion  pictures. 

Honored  guests  included  Miss  Eliz- 
abeth Wetter,  secretary  to  district 
manager  Edward  Heiber  of  Universal, 
who  has  been  with  that  company  for 
38  years,  William  K.  Hollander,  BK 
publicity  director,  and  William  Green, 
M-G-M  publicist. 


85  Matinees  Staged 
For  Hospital 

Omaha,  April  23. — Eighty-five  mat- 
inees, sponsored  by  the  local  Variety 
club,  were  held  in  Western  Iowa  and 
Nebraska  recently  for  the  benefit  of 
Children's  Memorial  Hospital.  Drive 
chairman  M.  G.  Rogers  announced  that 
Variety  will  again  provide  free  film 
and  tickets  to  exhibitors  unable  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  campaign. 

A  screening  of  "Lifeboat"  was  held 
in  the  20th-Fox  projection  room  last 
week.  Admission  was  by  purchase 
of  a  $100  membership  in  the  Chil- 
dren's Memorial  Hospital  fund.  Tri- 
States  Theatres,  under  direction  of 
district  manager  William  Miskell  and 
Ted  Emerson,  will  also  stage  a  pre- 
miere at  the  Orpheum. 


B'nai  B'rith  in  Boston 

Boston,  April  23. — Plans  are  un- 
der way  here  for  the  organization  of 
a  branch  of  B'nai  B'rith  for  local 
motion  picture,  radio,  stage  and  news- 
paper fields.  Maurice  Wolf,  New 
England  district  manager  for  Loew's, 
is  in  charge  of  arrangements. 


Void  10%  Tax  on  Gross 

Mexico  City,  April  23.— The*  Federal 
Supreme  Court  here  has  granted  an 
injunction  to  film  and  stage  theatre- 
men  of  Nuevo  Leon  state  against  a  10 
percent  levy  on  gross  theatre  receipts. 
The  state  law  was  enacted  last  year. 


Classics  Seeks  'Captain' 

Film  Classics  is  reported  negotiat- 
ing for  world-wide  distribution  rights 
of  "The  Captain  of  Koepenich,"  pro- 
duced by  John  Hall  several  years  ago. 
Film  has  never  been  released. 


Review 


'Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid' 


(Paramount) 

T^HE  adolescent  agonizing  of  the  Henry  Aldrich  character,  played 
to  perfection  by  Jimmy  Lydon,  is  again  the  subject  of  "Henry 
Aldrich  Plays  Cupid,"  latest  in  the  Paramount  series,  Lydon  portraying 
the  irrepressible  dreamer,  and  Charles  Smith,  his  more  realistic  chum, 
are  principally  responsible  for  an  utterly  delightful  little  picture  that 
ideally  accomplishes  what  it  set  out  to  do :  entertain  the  entire  family. 

Perilously  close  to  suspension  from  school  because  of  the  demerits 
which  Vaughn  Glaser,  a  teacher,  has  generously  handed  him  out  of  a 
spirit  of  sheer  meanness,  Jimmy  stands  to  lose  his  chance  of  going 
to  Princeton.  If  this  happens,  he  also  loses  some  money  left  to  him 
by  his  uncle.  He  sets  out  to  soften  Glaser  by  getting  him  married  off, 
using  as  bait  a  picture  of  Paul  Harvey,  a  politician  engaged  in  a  bitter 
fight  with  his  father,  John  Litel.  His  ingenious  schemes  almost  bring 
disaster  to  his  father  and  himself,  but  eventually  things  are  straightened 
out  to  everybody's  satisfaction. 

Much  credit  for  the  pleasant  results  should  also  go  to  Muriel  Roy 
Bolton  and  Val  Burton,  who  wrote  the  screenplay  from  Aleen  Leslie's 
story.  They  have  provided  some  human  situations  and  amusing  lines 
which  director  Hugh  Bennett  has  set  off  to  good  advantage.  Michel 
Kraike  was  associate  producer.  Glaser,  as  the  teacher,  has  many  tart 
lines  which  keep  him  close  behind  Lydon  for  top  acting  honors.  Olive 
Blakeney  is  the  understanding  mother,  while  Vera  Vague  lends  her 
bubbling  charm  and  comedy  talents  to  the  proceedings. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.    "G."   Released  in  Block  No.  5. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*"G"  denotes  genera!  classification. 


'One  Inch9  Opens  at 
Stanley  April  26 

"One  Inch  from  Victory!"  (Hitler's 
Russian  Surprise),  a  documentary  as- 
sembled from  captured  German  films, 
will  open  at  the  Stanley  Theatre  on 
Wednesday,  April  26,  following 
"Ukraine  in  Flames." 

The  Nazi  newsreels  will  be  exhibit- 
ed for  the  first  time  in  any  United 
Nations  theatre,  although  Axis  coun- 
tries have  seen  them.  Quentin  Rey- 
nolds, Collier's  war  correspondent, 
wrote  the  commentary  and  delivered 
the  narration.  Robert  Velaise  is  pre- 
senting "One  Inch,"  which  was  made 
at  Pathe  for  distribution  by  Scoop 
Productions.  Noel  Meadow  was  in 
charge  of  production,  assisted  by  Mau- 
rice Levy. 


Ross  Promotes  Fick, 
Ressler,  Fitzpatrick 

Ross  Federal  Service  last  week  re- 
ported the  appointments  of  three  new 
branch  managers  for  Omaha,  Seattle 
and  Washington. 

H.  V.  Fick,  who  joined  Ross  in 
1936  and  has  served  in  Minneapolis, 
Cincinnati  and  Omaha,  has  been 
named  manager  at  Seattle.  Succeed- 
ing him  in  Omaha  is  L.  L.  Ressler, 
who  was  national  service  supervisor. 
E.  A.  Fitzpatrick  has  succeeded  Paul 
La  Roche,  resigned,  in  the  Washing- 
ton branch. 


Associated  Gets  Altec 

A.  Maclntyre  of  Altec's  Southeast 
district,  has. closed  with  W.  A.  Pre- 
xitt  of  Associated  Theatres,  for  Altec's 
service  and  maintenance  for  theatres 
in  Meridian,  Greenwood  and  Gulf- 
port,  Miss. 


Malco  and  Altec  in  Deal 

H.  B.  Moog,  Altec  Service  district 
manager  for  the  Southeast,  reports  the 
signing  of  contracts  for  continuing 
service  and  supplying  of  parts  for  the 
70  theatres  of  the  Malco  Circuit.  D. 
S.  Edenfield  negotiated  for  Altec. 


Wellston  Theatre  Burns 

St.  Louis,  April  23.— The  Wellston 
Theatre  here  was  recently  destroyed 
by  a  fire,  believed  to  have  started  in 
the  projection  booth.  Damage  is  es- 
timated at  $115,000  by  John  Caporal, 
president  of  Wellston  Amusement  Co. 


s 
I 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  24,  1944 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


Reviews 


"Seven  Days  Ashore" 

(RKO-Radio) 

"THE  romantic  cavorting  of  three  Merchant  Marine  seamen  of  a 
battle-scarred  freighter  during  a  week's  shore  leave  in  San  Francisco 
is  the  basic  theme  of  RKO's  "Seven  Days  Ashore,"  served  in  an  attrac- 
tive, modestly-budgeted  production  with  snappy  musical  and  dancing 
accompaniments.  Produced  and  directed  by  John  H.  Auer,  the  produc- 
tion should  provide  the  customers  with  a  mildly  amusing  74  minutes  of 
light  entertainment.  Gordon  Oliver,  Wally  Brown  and  Alan  Carney  are 
the  three  seamen,  and  Amelita'  Ward,  Elaine  Shepard  and  Virginia  Mayo 
•are  the  girls.  Marcy  McGuire  appealingly  delivers  the  major  portion 
of  the  vocals  and  dancing  to  the  strains  of  Freddie  Slack's  band,  and 
Dooley  Wilson  has  a  go  at  a  sentimental  little  tune. 

The  screen  play,  by  Edward  Verdier,  Irving  Phillips  and  Lawrence 
Kimble  from  an  original  by  Jacques  Deval,  serves  conveniently  to  sober 
Oliver,  scion  of  a  wealthy  family,  who  is  engaged  to  Miss  Shepard  but 
who  becomes  involved  with  Miss  Ward  and  Miss  Mayo,  two  girl  violin- 
ists in  an  all-girl  orchestra.  Finding  the  going  rather  difficult  with  all 
three  on  the  scene,  Oliver  is  happy  to  relinquish  Miss  Ward  and  Miss 
Mayo  to  Brown  and  Carney.  After  the  usual  complications  there  are 
three  weddings. 

Auer  has  done  a  fairly  good  job  with  the  material  at  hand  and  his 
direction  is  keyed  for  laughs.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Alan  Dinehart, 
Marjorie  Gateson  and  Margaret  Dumont.  Mort  Greene  and  Lou  Pol- 
lock have  provided  most  of  the  tunes  with  Freddie  Fisher  supplying  two 
numbers  and  a  specialty  with  his  novelty  band. 

Sunning  time,  74  minutes.  "G"  *  Released  in  block  No.  5. 

Milton  Livingston 


"Bermuda  Mystery" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 
'TWENTIETH  Century-Fox  has  gone  in  for  mass  murder  in  "Ber- 
±  muda  Mystery,"  with  a  goodly  proportion  of  the  cast  in  a  prone 
position  at  the  end.  Ann  Rutherford,  with  an  ingratiating  performance 
as  the  beleaguered  girl ;  Preston  Foster,  whose  persistent  attempts  to 
achieve  a  marital  status  are  thwarted,  and  Charles  Butterworth,  deliver- 
ing an  effective  straight  performance,  materially  enhance  the  film.  Mix- 
ing suspenseful  moments  with  some  amusing  lines,  director  Benjamin 
Stoloff  manages  to  strike  a  balance  between  mystery  and  comedy  that 
satisfies  the  formula. 

Motivation  for  the  action  is  a  pact  which  six  friends  signed  to  con- 
tribute $10,000  each  to  a  fund  which  the  survivors  are  to  share  at  the 
close  of  a  decade.  When  Miss  Rutherford's  robust  uncle,  Kane  Rich- 
mond, dies  in  Bermuda  of  an  alleged  heart  attack,  her  suspicions  are 
aroused.  Attending  the  next  meeting  of  the  survivors,  she  discovers 
another  member  of  the  band  has  died.  She  enlists  Preston  Foster,"  a 
private  detective,  in  her  quest  for  what  she  is  sure  is  a  murderer.  The 
chase  becomes  a  double  one,  when  the  police  pick  up  their  trail,  too. 
After  five  of  the  original  group  have  been  'picked  off,'  the  mystery  is 
unraveled,  the  murderer  proving  to  be  Butterworth's  money-hungry 
wife,  Jean  Howard.  Miss  Rutherford  makes  a  big  haul,  simultaneously 
getting  the  murderer,  and  also  Foster. 

Producer  William  Girard  has  assembled  such  well-known  character 
actors  as  Richard  Lane,  Roland  Drew,  John  Eldredge,  Theodore  Von 
Eltz,  and  many  others  in  bit  parts,  for  the  proceedings. 

Running  time,  65  mins.    "G"*  Release  in  May,  block  No.  10. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*  "G"  denotes  general  classification. 


WLB  Upholds  Operators 

Boston,  April  23. — Operators  at  the 
Majestic  Theatre  here  were  upheld  in 
a  decision  of  the  National  War  La- 
bor Board  confirming  the  findings  of 
a  regional  board  which  found  Allied 
Amusements,  Inc.,  had  reduced  the 
salary  of  the  operators  from  $83  to  $55 
per  week.  The  board  specified  that 
they  shall  receive  the  original  weekly 
remuneration. 


Columbia  Films  Abroad 

Four  new  Columbia  films  have  been 
delivered  to  the  Army  Overseas  Mo- 
tion Picture  Service.  The  pictures,  on 
16  mm  prints,  are :  "Cover  Girl," 
"Once  Upon  a  Time,"  "Jam  Session" 
and  "Nine  Girls." 


Mulvey  Sets  'Arms* 

Chicago,  April  23. — James  Mulvey, 
general  manager  for  Samuel  Goldwyn, 
and  L.  E.  Goldhammer,  Chicago  dis- 
trict manager  for  RKO  Radio,  have 
today  completed  negotiations  with  Emil 
Stern,  vice-president  of  Essaness  The- 
atres, for  the  Midwest  premiere  of 
"Up  in  Arms"  at  the  Essaness  Woods 
theatre  late  in  April  or  early  in  May. 


M-G-M  Wins  Award 

M-G-M  has  won  the  annual  Reyer 
Memorial  Award,  presented  by  the 
film  safety  awards  committee  of  the 
National  Safety  Council,  for  the  Pete 
Smith  short,  "Seventh  Column."  This 
marks  the  third  time  an  M-G-M  short 
has  won  the  award. 


"The  Frog  and  the 
Princess" 

(20th-Fox) 

Paul  Terry  has  taken  a  fairy  tale, 
beloved  by  generations  of  children, 
and  deftly  animated  the  story,  giving 
it  the  best  in  color  and  music,  for  re- 
lease in  the  Terrytoon  series.  It  is 
the  story  of  an  enchanted  prince,  be- 
witched into  a  frog,  who  goes  to  live 
in  the  Princess'  castle.  He  falls  in 
love  with  her  but  she  ignores  the  little 
frog  until  the  enchantment  is  broken. 
The  prince  emerges  in  shining  white 
armor.  The  princess  falls  in  love 
with  him  and  they  live  "happily  ever 
after."    Running  time,  7  mins. 


"Champion  of  Justice" 

(20th-Fox) 

Mighty  Mouse  undertakes  to  save  a 
family  of  little  mice  from  being 
evicted  from  their  home.  Especially 
for  the  children,  this  is  a  delightful 
fairy  story  with  appropriate  musical 
background.  Mighty  Mouse  is  fash- 
ioned after  the  character  of  a  "Super- 
man" adapted  to  the  mouse  world. 
The  kids  will  love  this  one.  Running 
time,  7  mins. 


"Mighty  Mouse  Meets 
Jekyl  Hyde  Caf 

(20th-Fox) 

"Superman"  Mouse  is  on  the  loose 
again.  His  little  friends,  the  field 
mice,  are  seen  playing  in  a  deserted 
mansion,  which  once  belonged  to  Dr. 
Jekyl.  The  doctor's  cat  attacks  the 
mice  and  "gasses"  them  with  a  con- 
coction made  by  his  former  master. 
But  Mighty  Mouse  swoops  down  from 
the  skies  and  saves  the  day  spectacu- 
larly. The  Mighty  Mouse  series  has 
much  appeal  for  children.  Running 
time  7  mins. 


"How  to  Play  Golf" 

(RKO) 

Goofy,  one  of  Disney's  most  amus- 
ing creations,  holds  forth  on  a  golf 
course  in  this  short.  The  Goof  be- 
comes involved  in  some  highly  amus- 
ing situations,  and  nearly  strangles 
himself  in  a  drive  which  sends  him 
and  the  ball  sailing  down  the  fairway. 
This  is  hilarious  from  beginning  to 
end.  It's  a  real  treat.  Running  time 
8  mins. 


"The  Zoot  CaF 

(M-G-M) 

Tom  and  Jerry  cartoons  continue  to 
rate  among  the  best  in  entertainment 
value.  In  this  one  Tom  Cat  is  relent- 
lessly wooing  Miss  Jerry  Mouse  who 
doesn't  seem  to  care  at  all  until  Tom 
bedecks  himself  in  a  Zoot  suit,  made 
from  Miss  Mouse's  hammock  cover. 
Some  real  fun  follows  with  some  wild 
jive  sequences  thrown  in  for  more 
good  laughs.    Running  time  8  mins. 


"Butcher  of  Seville" 

(20th-Fox) 

The  timely  story  of  the  butcher 
who  has  no  meat  is  told  here  in  oper- 
atic arias,  resembliner  nothing  like 
Verdi.  Puccini  or  Massenet  could 
have  dreamed  of  even  in  their  highest 
moments.  The  cast  is  backed  by  a 
loud  chorus.  It's  hilarious  pandemo- 
nium.   Running  time,  7  mins. 


Monday,  April  24,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Postwar  Television 
Web  Set  for  Canada 

Toronto,  April  23. — Canada 
will  have  television  networks 
in  operation  two  years  after 
the  war  ends,  Dr.  Augustin 
Frigon,  acting  general  man- 
ager of  the  Canadian  Broad- 
casting Corp.,  discloses  here. 

Network  plans,  according  to 
Dr.  Frigon,  have  already  been 
drawn  and  await  only  the  end 
of  the  war  to  be  set  into 
action. 


May  25  Release  for 
Nurse  Corps  Film 

"Reward  Unlimited,"  one-reeler  fea- 
turing the  U.  S.  Cadet  Nurse  Corps, 
will  be  released  May  25  for  distribu- 
tion through  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, according  to  Dr.  Thomas  Par- 
ran,  surgeon  general  of  the  U.  S.  Pub- 
lic Health  Service.  The  picture  was 
produced  on  a  non-profit  basis,  at  the 
request  of  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion, by  David  O.  Selznick.  Dorothy 
McGuire  and  James  Brown  head  the 
cast. 

Meanwhile,  WAC  headquarters  here 
has  announced  May  11  for  release  of 
"Skirmish  on  the  Home  Front,"  war 
information  film  dealing  with  the  im- 
portance of  conservative  buying.  It 
was  produced  by  Paramount  and  stars 
Alan  Ladd,  Betty  Hutton,  Susan 
Hayward  and  William  Bendix. 

The  forthcoming  WAC  film  bulle- 
tins have  also  been  set  for  release : 
May  4,  "Conserve  Paper"  (No.  16)  ; 
and  May  18',  "Victory  Garden"  (No 
17). 


Watson  Heads  Regina 
Exhibitors'  Group 

Regina,  Sask.,  April  23.  —  J.  D. 
Watson  of  the  Rex  Theatre  has  been 
elected  chairman  of  the  new  Regina 
M.  P.  Exhibitors'  Association.  Charles 
Horning,  assistant-manager  of  the 
Roxy  Theatre,  is  in  charge  of  public 
welfare,  and  Charles  Bahrynowski, 
manager  of  the  Metropolitan,  handle 
publicity. 

Other  members  include  :  F.  L.  Willis, 
and  Lenore  Williams,  Capitol;  Chris- 
tine Graham  and  Len  Joyce,  Grand ; 
H.  Bercovitch  and  M.  Bloom;  Broad- 
way. 


Krellberg  Acquires  6 
Original  'Cassidys' 

S.  S.  Krellberg,  independent  dis- 
tributor, has  acquired  worldwide  re- 
issue rights,  both  35  and  16  mm,  to 
the  original  "Hopalong  Cassidy"  series 
of  six  from  Paramount.  Produced  by 
Harry  Sherman  and  released  during 
1935-6  season,  they  are :  "Hopalong 
Cassidy,"  "The  Eagle's  Brood,"  "Bar 
20  Rides  Again,"  "Call  of  the  Prairie," 
"Three  on  the  Trail"  and  "Heart  of 
the  West." 


Grierson  Paid  $10,000 

Toronto,  April  23. — John  Grierson, 
chairman  of  the  National  Film  Board, 
was  paid  $10,000  for  the  year  for  his 
services,  in  addition  to  receiving 
$2,515  in  traveling  expenses  for  the 
Wartime  Information  Board  and  $517 
for  a  similiar  item  for  the  National 
Film  Board,  it  was  disclosed  by 
Secretary  of  State  McLarty  in  the 
House  of  Commons  here. 


Reviews 


"And  the  Angels  Sing 

(Paramount) 

Hollyzvood,  April  23 

«  A  ND  THE  ANGELS  SING"  furrows  the  well-worn  ground  of  its 
many  predecessors.  It  is  one  more  oldie  about  a  "hot"  orchestra 
leader  struggling  toward  the  big  time,  only  on  this  occasion  four  girls 
are  tied  into  the  plot  and  its  romantic  overtones  in  place  of  the  usual  one. 

The  Angels  of  Glenby  Falls  are  Dorothy  Lamour,  Betty  Hutton,  Diana 
Lynn  and  Mimi  Chandler.  The  orchestra  man  is  Fred  MacMurray,  a 
good  guy  underneath  but  an  unscrupulous  one  on  the  outside  until  un- 
alloyed and  true  love  comes  his  way.  When  it  does,  he  plays  straight 
and  wins  Miss  Lamour. 

The  story  line,  which  is  musical-comedy  and  farce  and  as  inane  as 
both  usually  are,  has  him  borrowing  $190  from  Miss  Hutton  so  that  he 
and  his  crew  can  get  a  night  club  date  in  Brooklyn.  To  get  the  money, 
he  makes  love  to  Betty  when  it  is  Dorothy  he  actually  cares  about.  There 
are  mixups  which  are  fantastic,  overplayed  and  a  mixture  of  the  funny 
and  not  so  funny.  Eventually,  the  girls  abandon  their  ideas  about  col- 
lecting the  $190  and  about  pursuing  their  individual  careers  for  the 
thing  they  can  do  best,  which  is  crooning.  The  measure  of  their  success 
is  marked  by  a  cafe  set  about  as  cozy  as  Grand  Central  Station. 

If  it's  credulity  they  want,  they  won't  find  it  in  "And  the  Angels  Sing". 
If  it's  gags,  smatterings  of  funny  lines  and  business,  plus  Miss  Hutton 
at  her  atom-destroying  best,  and  Miss  Lamour  at  her  usual  crooning 
level,  they  will  get  it. 

The  film's  excessive  in  length.  It  is  drawn  from  a  story  by  Claude 
Binyon  and  a  script  by  Melvin  Frank  and  Norman  Panama.  George 
Marshall  directed  under  producer  guidance  of  E.  D.  Leshin. 

Running  time,  100  minutes.    "G."*    Released  in  Block  No.  5. 

Red  Kann 


"The  Negro  Soldier" 


(War  Activities  Committee) 

AUDIENCE  reaction  to  the  first  showing  of  "The  Negro  Soldier," 
gives  indication  of  a  fittingly  successful  climax  to  the  War"  Depart- 
ment's commendable  endeavor  to  show  the  American  public  the  Negro 
at  war.  Widely  heralded  by  civic  and  Government  agencies,  the  film  is 
a  fine  graphic  presentation.  Exhibitors  will  find  many  means  of  ex- 
ploitation, using  names  of  contemporary  artists,  scientists  and  athletes, 
like  the  late  George  Washington  Carver,  Marian  Anderson,  Joe  Louis 
and  Jesse  Owen,  who  appear  in  flashback  sequences,  along  with  other 
well-known  Negro  personalities. 

The  story,  as  it  is  told  by  a  colored  minister  to  his  congregation,  traces 
the  role  of  the  Negro  in  war  from  the  time  of  the  Revolution.  Narrated 
easily  and  simply,  accompanied  by  flashbacks,  are  tales  of  courage  in 
battle,  born  of  the  colored  man's  love  of  freedom  which  "has  taken  root 
deep  in  American  soil."  Choral  numbers,  reflecting  the  hope  and  spirit  of 
the  people,  are  beautifully  executed.  Col.  Frank  Capra's  direction  is  ex- 
cellent. Photographic  effects  represent  one  of  the  Army  Signal  Corp's 
outstanding  achievements.  "The  Negro  Soldier"  is  a  fine  documentary  film. 
Running  time,  41  mins.   Release  date,  April  10.  "G."* 

Helen  McNamara 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Building  in  Dallas 

Dallas,  April  23. — Construction  is 
under  way  on  a  new  $75,000  film 
theatre  for  Oak  Cliff,  Dallas  suburb, 
according  to  an  announcement  by  J. 
R.  Euler,  Dallas  manager  of  Tri- 
State  Theatres.  The  War  Production 
Board  approved  the  project  after  rec- 
ommending additional  theatre  facili- 
ties in  Oak  Cliff  to  serve  both  the 
temporary  war  housing  as  well  as 
contemplated  private  housing. 


Finishes  Mexican  Film 

Mexico  City,  April  23. — June  Mar- 
lowe, second  Hollywood  player  to 
appear  in  a  Mexican  film,  has  com- 
pleted work  in  "El  Corsairo  Negro," 
("The  Black  Corsair").  Sally  Blane, 
wife  of  Norman  Foster,  now  directing 
here,  has  also  appeared  in  Mexican 
pictures. 


Variety  Expects  $11,000 

Chicago,  April  23. — An  estimated 
$11,000  is  anticipated  in  proceeds  from 
the  stage  show  it  be  given  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Variety  Club  of  Illi- 
nois at  the  Civic  Opera  house  here 
Sunday  afternoon,  April  30,  for  the 
benefit  of  the  La  Rabida-Jackson 
Park  Sanitarium.  The  committee  in 
charge  includes  Edwin  Silverman, 
chairman ;  James  Coston,  Jack  Kirsch, 
W.  E.  Banford,  Arthur  Schoenstadt, 
Johnny  Jones,  Nate  Piatt,  Tom  Flan- 
ner,  Irving  Mack  and  Hal  Halperin. 


20th's  Woman  Exploiteer 

Virginia  Seguin  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  Chicago  office  has  been  pro- 
moted to  exploiteer  by  Rodney  Bush, 
home  office  exploitation  manager.  Miss 
Seguin,  20th's  first  woman  field  ex- 
ploiteer, replaces  Mike  Weiss,  recently 
transferred  to  the  company's  Philadel- 
phia exchange. 


'Fighting  Seabees'  Tie-up 
With  Allis-Chalmers  Co. 

Republic  arranged  a  national  tie-up 
with  Allis-Chalmers,  producers  of 
tractors  with  bulldozer  attachment, 
shown  in  action  in  "The  Fighting  Sea- 
.bees."  Details  of  the  initial  promotion 
at  the  Riverside  Theatre,  Milwaukee, 
were  passed  on  to  Monogram  branch 
managers,  who  were  requested  to  co- 
operate with  exhibitors  in  arranging 
similar  promotions.  Mats  of  the  four- 
column  advertisements  which  ap- 
peared in  the  Milwaukee  Sentinel  and 
Journal  were  also  sent  with  photo- 
graphs of  the  tractor-bulldozer  dis- 
play. 


Showmanship 
Flashes  .  .  . 


Ship's  Interior  Features 
'Toyko'  Boston  Display 

Boston,  April  23.— Paul  A.  Levi,  M. 
&  P.  Metropolitan  Theatre  publicist, 
succeeded  in  having  Bethlehem  Steel's 
Hingham-Fore  River  Shipyards  fix  up 
a  layout  costing  $1,000  for  the  window 
of  the  War  Manpower  Building  here 
to  promote  Warners'  "Destination 
Tokyo."  Display  featured  life-size 
standee  cuts  of  Cary  Grant  and  John 
Garfield,  plus  reproduction  of  the  in- 
terior of  fighting  ships  built  at  the 
yards,  with  the  title,  "Destination 
Tokyo"  featured.  R.  H.  White's  de- 
partment store  displayed  20  stills,  a 
lithographic  display  of  United  Nations 
flags  and  an  official  cross-section  of 
a  submarine,  all  against  a  background 
map  of  Tokyo  as  the  target. 


Window  Displays  Aid 
'Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey' 

Nashville,  April  23.— Tom  Del- 
bridge,  manager  of  Loew's  Vendome 
here,  secured  several  window  displays 
for  the  opening  of  United  Artists  "The 
Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey."  Radio  pro- 
motions by  stations  WSM,  WLAC  and 
WSIX  also  aided  the  film.  Feature 
stories  on  the  players  with  art  were 
used  in  all  local  newspapers  as  well  as 
college  publications. 


False  Front  at  Shea's 
For  'The  Desert  Song' 

Toronto,  April  23— Fred  Trebilcock, 
manager  of  Shea's  Theatre  here,  re- 
vealed that  his  house,  for  the  first  time 
in  its  history,  constructed  a  false  front 
to  promote  Warners'  "The  Desert 
Song."  A  silk  banner,  100  x  15, 
masked  the  marquee  and  box  office, 
and  two  giant  cutouts  of  Dennis  Mor- 
gan and  Irene  Manning  served  as  col- 
umns. 


'Women  in  Bondage'  Tied 
In  with  4th  War  Loan 

Cleveland,  April  23. — Gertrude 
Tracy,  Loew's  Ohio  Theatre  here,  tied 
up  Monogram's  "Women  in  Bondage" 
with  the  War  Loan  drive.  She  had  a 
man  garbed  as  a  Nazi  soldier  in  the 
lobby  and  every  bond  purchaser  was 
permitted  to  break  a  display  board 
over  his  head. 


No  Louisville  Curfew 

Louisville,  April  23. — The  city 
council  here  has  decreed  that  no  cur- 
few will  be  ordered  despite  requests  of 
several  civic  organizations.  A  council 
spokesman  declared  that  a  curfew, 
though  it  would  take  children  off  the 
streets  earlier,  would  not  solve  the 
delinquency  problem  because  they 
would  seek  unwholesome  recreation 
in  places  unfit  for  them  rather  than 
return  to  their  homes  at  curfew  hour. 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  April  24,  1944 


Review 


"Cobra  Woman" 

(Universal) 

Hollywood,- April  23 

'TpHIS  item  in  Universale  collection  of  fantasies  in  Technicolor,  star- 
-*■  ring-  Maria  Montez,  Jon  Hall  and  Sabu,  is  beneficiary  of  expertness 
in  the  writing  department  which  combines  with  the  always  opulent 
production  and  proficient  direction  to  lift  the  number  above  the  average 
of  its  predecessors.  The  story  is  no  less  a  fantasy  but,  by  reason  of 
better  telling,  a  deal  more  entertaining. 

The  script  by  Gene  Lewis  and  Richard  Brooks,  from  a  story  by 
W.  Scott  Darling,  opens  on  an  undefined  tropical  island  and  moves  forth- 
with to  another  called  Cobra  Island,  where  live  gorgeously  garbed  people 
who  worship  the  cobra  and  a  volcano.  Miss  Montez  plays  twin  sisters, 
a  good  girl  engaged  to  Jon  Hall,  and  a  bad  girl  who  governs  the  cobra 
people  malevolently  until  Hall,  Sabu,  a  kindly  queen  and  many  circum- 
stances place  the  good  girl  in  chaTge  of  the  place.  There  are  bathing- 
pool,  snake  dance,  romantic  and  battle  sequences. 

George  Waggner,  who  produced  "Phantom  of  the  Opera,"  produced 
this  number  in  the  Montez-Hall-Sabu  series,  with  Robert  Siodmak, 
responsible  for  films  as  widely  varied  as  "My  Heart  Belongs  to  Daddy" 
and  "Son  of  Dracula,"  directing. 

Edgar  Barrier,  Mary  Nash,  Lois  Collier,  Lon  Chaney,  Samuel  S. 
Hinds  and  Moroni  Olsen  top  a  supporting  cast  numbering  hundreds. 

Running  time,  70  minutes.    Release  date,  May  12.  "G."* 

William  R.  Weaver 


Clark  to  Hold 
Decree  Talks 
Here  Thursday 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

were  included  in  the  summary  which 
was  prepared  by  Robert  L.  Wright, 
Assistant  to  the  Attorney  General  in 
charge  of  the  motion  picture  unit,  in- 
cluding the  demand  for  a  flat  20  per- 
cent cancellation,  the  freezing  of  cir- 
cuits at  their  present  strength,  liberali- 
zation of  arbitration  provisions,  etc. 
Several  other  suggestions  also  were 
forwarded  because  they  appeared  to 
carry  some  interest,  including  one  for 
the  appointment  of  a.  lawyer  by  the 
Arbitration  Association  to  represent 
exhibitors  bringing  arbitration  cases, 
his  salary  to  be  paid  out  of  the  funds 
assigned  to  motion  picture  arbitration. 

So  far,  it  was  learned,  Clark  has 
made  no  demands  whatever  upon  the 
distributors  on  behalf  of  the  Depart- 
ment, and  is  not  expected  to  offer  any 
suggestions  for  changes  in  decree  pro- 
visions until  some  agreement  has  been 
reached  as  to  the  treatment  to  be  ac- 
corded the  exhibitors'  demands. 


Approval  Seen  for 
S chine  Purchase 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

10  by  Clarence  N.  Goodman,  Schine 
counsel,  the  brief  dwells  upon  the  al- 
leged unfairness  of  the  consent  de- 
cree, which,  it  has  been  charged,  "per- 
mits the  big  five  to  acquire  theatres 
anywhere  in  the  world  without  go- 
ing into  court  to  ask  permission," 
while  Schine  must  "come  in  and  show 
that  the  acquisitions  we  wish  to  make 
are  not  contrary  to  the  public  good." 
The  current  brief  again  mentions 
Paramount  as  benefitting  under  this 
arrangement  and  adds,  "The  inequity 
of  the  situation  is  shocking." 

Court  Order  in  1942 

The  present  proceedings  are  the 
outgrowth  of  a  temporary  court  order 
issued  on  May  19,  1942,  in  which 
Schine  was  required  to  dispose  of  10 
houses  within  two  years.  Goodman 
seeks  a  modification  whereby  some  or 
all  of  these  theatres  could  be  retained 
and  also  seeks  sanction  for  the  Liberty 
purchase. 

The  hearing  was  adjourned  on 
April  12  to  allow  time  for  the  prep- 
aration of  briefs  and  is  scheduled  to 
be  resumed  tomorrow.  Early  testi- 
mony in  the  case  was  given  by  Mrs. 
Grace  M.  Fisher,  owner  of  the  Mary- 
land and  Embassy  in  Cumberland,  who 
said  she  had  planned  to  buy  the  Lib- 
erty to  keep  Warner  Brothers  from 
getting  it  but  had  withdrawn  her 
offer  when  she  learned  Schine  was  the 
bidder. 


Omaha  Office  Changes 

Omaha,  April  23. — Staff  changes 
along  local  film  row  include  the  pro- 
motion of  Esther  Granville,  former 
Monogram  cashier,  to  booker  for  that 
company ;  appointment  of  M  arie 
Baert  to  replace  Dill  Boyden  as  RKO 
assistant  booker,  and  the  additions  of 
Ralph  Morgan  and  Nova  Galbreath  to 
the  RKO  and  Republic  sales  staffs, 
respectively. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Defer  Arguments  in 
Jackson  Park  Case 

Chicago,  April  23. — Federal  Judge 
Michael  Igoe  postponed  from  Friday 
to  May  19  the  hearing  of  arguments 
for  a  new  trial  in  the  Jackson  Park 
Theatre  anti-trust  case,  which,  if 
granted,  would  set  aside  a  pending 
judgment  of  $360,000  as  damages 
awarded  recently  to  the  plaintiff  by 
a  jury  verdict  which  also  cited  the 
defendants,  Balaban  and  Katz  and  the 
major  distributors,  as  guilty  of  price 
fixing  in  violation  of  the  Sherman 
Act. 

If  Judge  Igoe  denies  a  new  trial, 
defense  lawyers  plan  to  appeal  to  a 
higher  court.  Thomas  C.  McCon- 
nell,  counsel  for  the  plaintiffs,  will 
file  new  trial  objections  on  April  29. 


Wife  of  Manager  in 
Buffalo  Assaulted 

Buffalo,  April  23. — Mrs.  D.  Purdy 
Monroe,  wife  of  the  manager  of  a 
Dunkirk  theatre  and  a  stockholder 
in  the  motion  picture  house,  was  as- 
saulted in  her  home  there  by  an  in- 
truder late  last  week. 

Mrs.  Monroe's  screams  attracted 
the  attention  of  her  mother,  Mrs.  H. 
P.  Lally,  who  resides  in  the  upper 
apartment  at  the  same  address.  Ap- 
parently frightened  by  the  appear- 
ance1 of  Mrs.  Lally,  the  attacker  fled 
as  she  entered  the  room.  Mrs.  Mon- 
roe told  police  that  during  the  en- 
tire episode,  the  man  failed  to  utter 
a  word. 


Ferguson  to  Atlanta 

Memphis,  April  23. — Todd  Fergu- 
son, M-G-M  exploiteer  here  and  chair- 
man of  public  relations  for  the  Mem- 
phis WAC,  has  been  transferred  to 
Atlanta,  as  of  last  Tuesday.  He  has  re- 
placed Emory  Austin,  who  will  report 
for  duty  with  the  Army.  Ken  Prick- 
ett,  manager  of  the  M-G-M  "movie 
builder  unit,"  working  out  of  New 
York,  will  replace  Ferguson  here. 


V,  S.  Ticket  Taxes 
Are  Up  $2,800,000 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

showed  an  increase  of  nearly  $9,000,- 
000  over  the  $34,920,266  secured  in  the 
corresponding  period  of  1943,  while 
for  the  nine  months  of  the  Govern- 
ment's fiscal  year,  ticket  tax  receipts 
were  $135,523,833,  against  $115,432,- 
516  a  vear  ago. 

Over  $1,000,000  of  the  March  in- 
crease was  recorded  in  the  third  New 
York  (Broadway)  district  where  the 
revenue  more  than  doubled  over  Feb- 
ruary but,  for  the  fifth  out  of  the  past 
seven  months,  remained  under  that  of 
the  corresponding  period  a  year  ago. 
The  third  district  collections  were  $2,- 
233,512  against  $1,113,539  in  February 
and  $2,368,546  in  March,  1943. 

The  bulk  of  the  increase  in  New 
York  was  recorded  in  box  office  col- 
lections, which  jumped  from  $906,493 
in  February  to  $2,074,806  last  month. 


Odeon  Increases  to  27 

Toronto,  April  23. — Odeon  Theatres 
of  Canada  now  operates  27  houses  in 
the  province  of  British  Columbia  with 
the  new  acquisition  of  the  Abbottsford 
at  Abbottsford  and  the  Gem  at 
Haney,  it  was  revealed  by  Haskell 
Masters,  general  manager  for  Odeon, 
here. 


Jenkins  Builds  First-Run 

Mexico  City,  April  23. — William 
Oscar  Jenkins,  the  American  who 
amassed  a  fortune  in  the  Mexican  su- 
gar industry,  has  built  a  new  first-run, 
the  Reforma,  at  Tampico.  Jenkins  is 
active  as  an  exhibitor  here  and  in  the 
provinces. 


Orr  Is  WAC  Chairman 

Cleveland,  April  23.  —  Morrison 
Orr,  United  Artists  branch  manager 
here,  has  been  named  co-chairman, 
with  William  N._  Skirball,  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee  in  this  territory. 
He  succeeds  I.  J.  Schmertz,  20th-Fox 
branch  manager. 


Meet  Here  on 
A ppea  Is  Drive 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

age  in  last  year's  drive,  when  $140,000 
was  raised  by  the  film  industry  in  New 
York,  Monroe  Goldwater,  attorney  and 
chairman  of  the  UJA's  campaign  here 
to  raise  $12,000,000,  called  upon  in- 
dustry leaders  to  seek  new  methods  of 
supporting  this  year's  drive.  He  sug- 
gested a  "special  gifts"  luncheon  or 
dinner  with  the  industry  getting 
pledges  in  advance,  and  urged  that  an 
intensive  effort  be  made  within  the  in- 
dustry to  support  the  campaign. 

Urge  Direct  Approach 

Answering  Goldwater's  plea,  Harry 
Brandt,  Joseph  H.  Seidelman  and  Sam 
Rinzler  urged  the  direct  approach  in 
fund-raising  suggested  by  Goldwater. 
A  committee  was  finally  appointed  to 
study  details  of  the  industry's  direct 
participation  in  the  campaign.  The 
committee,  which  will  meet  at  a  Hotel 
Astor  luncheon  on  Thursday,  consists 
of  Barney  Balaban,  Bernstein,  Jack 
Cohn,  Albert  Warner,  George  Schaef- 
er,  Louis  Nizer,  Seidelman,  Rinzler 
and  Brandt. 

This  year's  campaign  goal  of  $32,- 
000,000  compares  with  last  year's  goal 
of  $18,000,000,  which  was  attained  and 
was  almost  equal  to  the  needs  of  the 
three  organizations  supported  by  UJA, 
the  Joint  Distribution  Committee,  the 
United  Palestine  Appeal  and  the  Na- 
tional Refugee  Service. 

Others  Present 

Present  at  the  luncheon  in  addition 
to  those  already  mentioned  were  Mal- 
colm Kingsberg,  Samuel  Schneider, 
Harold  Rodner,  Harry  Mandel,  Leo 
Brecher,  Arthur  Israel,  Irving  Caesar, 
Samuel  Cohn,  Emil  Friedlander,  Leo- 
pold Friedman,  Emanuel  and  Louis 
Frisch,  Irving  Greenfield,  Samuel 
Machnovitch,  John  Mannheimer,  Harry 
Nadel,  Abe  Olman,  Hyman  Rachmil, 
Harold  Rinzler,  Samuel  Rosen,  Ru- 
dolph Sanders,  Max  Seligman,  Sam 
Shain  and  Max  Wolff  as  representa- 
tives of  the  amusement  division  of  the 
campaign. 

Hugh  Owen  Joining 
Agnew  at  Vanguard 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

to  take  place  within  the  next  month, 
it  was  learned  in  New  York.  Owen 
was  not  available  for  comment  on  his 
plans  but  it  was  reported  that  he  has 
volunteered  to  continue  in  his  post  until 
Charles  M.  Reagan,  newly  named 
Paramount  vice-president  and  distribu- 
tion chief,  completes  his  plans,  which 
are  now  in  work,  for  filling  the  several 
executive  vacancies  which  result  from 
his  own  advancement  from  general 
sales  manager  and  from  Owen's  with- 
drawal. 

The  association  of  Owen  with  Nei! 
Agnew  at  Vanguard  is  interpreted  in 
the  trade  as  strengthening  the  general 
belief  here  that  Agnew's  plans  call  for 
specialized  sales  attention  to  key  cir- 
cuit deals  in  a  limited  number  of  the 
most  important  exchange  centers,  as 
reported  in  Motion  Picture  Daily 
on  April  5. 

Prior  to  being  named  Eastern  divi- 
sion manager  for  Paramount  in  1942, 
Owen  was  district  manager  for  the 
company  at  Dallas. 


First  In 

Film-ar* 

!lKcl 

t  rjL 

jwja 

ii 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


VOL.  55.  NO.  81 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  APRIL  25,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


UA  Majority 
Hits  Control 
By  Partners 

Six  Resolutions  Passed 
At  Board  Meeting 

By  RED  KANN 

Hollywood,  April  24. — A  major- 
'  ity  of  the  United  Artists  directorate 
.  today   struck  for   management  of 
the  company  as  against  manage- 
ment controlled  operationally  by  part- 
[|  ners  via  a  series  of  six  resolutions 
l  which  the  stockholders  will  be  asked 
.  to  approve  at  their  annual  meeting 
called  for  Wilmington,  Del.,  on  May 
"  5.   U.A.  is  a  Delaware  company. 

The  resolutions,  passed  by  Edward 
C.  Raftery,  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  and 
George  L.  Bagnall,  represent  the  ma- 
jority opinion  of  the  directorate  which 
is  composed  of  four  men.  Only  Arthur 
W.  Kelly,  representing  Charles  Chap- 
plin,  is  missing. 

Interestingly  enough  and  des- 
pite their  vote  for  the  recent 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


British  Technicians 
I  Fear  Rank's  Power 


British  film  studio  technicians  at 
their  annual  meeting  in  London  over 
the  weekend  are  reported  in  press  dis- 
patches reaching  New  York  from  the 
British  capital  as  having  expressed 
alarm  at  the  industry  power  of  J. 
Arthur  Rank. 

Some  speakers  at  the  session  de- 
clared Rank  could  close  down  all  stu- 
dios in  the  country  for  six  months  or 
more  in  order  to  get  his  way  on  any 
disputed    point.     American  pictures 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


AM  PA  Holds  Annual 
Election  Thursday 

Associated  Motion  Picture  Adver- 
tisers will  hold  its  annual  meeting 
Thursday  at  the  Piccadilly  Hotel,  for 
the  election  of  officers,  directors  and  a 
trustee  for  the  next  administrative 
year,  it  was  reported  here  yesterday 
by  Vincent  Trotta,  president. 

Nominations  are  as  follows :  for 
president,  Martin  Starr ;  vice-pres- 
ident, James  Zabin ;  secretary,  David 
Bader  ;  treasurer,  Jacques  Kopfstein  ; 
additions  to  the  board  of  directors : 
Blanche  Livingston,  Hal  Home,  Wil- 
liam Ferguson,  David  O'Malley  and 
Vincent  Trotta;  trustee  for  three 
years,  Rutgers  Neilson. 


Schine  Claims  Suit 
Cannot  Proceed 
With  'Big  5'  Out 


.  Buffalo,  April  24. — Final  briefs 
filed  in  Federal  District  Court  here 
today  by  counsel  for  Schine  Chain 
Theatres,  Inc.,  ask  dismissal  of  the 
Government's  anti-trust  suit  against 
the  circuit  because  of  the  lack  of 
necessary  and  indispensable  parties 
(claimed  to  be  distributors,  earlier  di- 
vorced from  the  action),  or  that  the 
court  enter  an  order  that  Schine  "be 
not  required  to  proceed  further  in  at- 
tempting to  dispose  of  more  of  its 
theatre  interests." 

The  brief  charges  that  there  is  a 
"travesty  on  justice"  in  "the  elimina- 
tion of  the  'Big  5|'  who  are,  accord- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Ex-Union  Officials 
Under  Fire  on  Tax 

Chicago,  April  24. — Summonses  are 
understood  to  have  been  issued  to  400 
members  of  motion  picture  projection- 
ists' Local  110  for  questioning  by  the 
intelligence  unit  of  the  Bureau  of  In- 
ternal Revenue  to  determine  whether 
former  officials  of  the  union  paid  in- 
come taxes  on  thousands  of  dollars 
allegedly  collected  as  tribute  or  loans 
from  projectionists,  it  has  been  reveal- 
ed here.  The  members  have  been  ques- 
tioned at  the  rate  of  three  daily. 


Nine  More  Pleas  for 
'Locally  Needed' 

War  .  Activities  Committee 
chairmen  in  nine  cities  have 
.  filed  applications  with  re- 
gional War  Manpower  Com- 
missions for  '"locally  needed" 
designations  for  exchange 
personnel  in  those  cities,  ac- 
cording to  Leon  Bamberger, 
assistant  to  WAC  distributor 
chairman,  Ned  E.  Depinet. 

The  nine  cities  are  Albany, 
Charlotte,  Dallas,  Milwaukee, 
New  Orleans,  Omaha,  Okla- 
homa City,  San  Francisco  and 
Seattle. 


'Cover  GirF  Will 
Hit  $112,000  in 
4th  at  Music  Hall 


Business  at  downtown  New  York 
first-runs  continues  well  on  the  profit 
side  this  week  with  rain  failing  to  have 
any  appreciable  effect  on  most  grosses. 

The  near-record  pace  set  by  "Cover 
Girl"  and  a  stage  show  continued,  with 
$72,000  recorded  on  the  first  four  days 
of  the  fourth  week  and  $112,000  ex- 
pected for  the  full  week ;  the  combined 
show  will  hold  for  a  fifth. 

Combination  of  "Buffalo  Bill"  and  a 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


IndustryLacks  Washington 
Representation:  Cantor 


Unions  to  Aid  Wac 
Recruiting  Drive 


Support  of  theatrical  labor  organi- 
zations in  Greater  New  York  to  aid 
Women's  Army  Corps  recruiting 
week,  May  11-17,  has  been  pledged 
by  William  Feinberg  of  Local  802, 
American  Federation  of  Musicians ; 
Sol  Pernick  and  Vincent  Jacobi  of 
IATSE,  Local  1;  Thomas  Murtha, 
of  IATSE  Local  4,  and  Morris  Kra- 
vitz  of  Projectionists'  Local  306. 
These  representatives,  at  a  meeting 
with  Major  L.  E.  Thompson  and 
Charles  B.  McDonald,  promised  co- 
operation in  all  rallies,  showings  of 
trailers  and  other  activities  during  the 
drive. 

Charles  Smakwitz,  Albany ;  Charles 
Taylor,  Buffalo ;  E.  J.  Fisher,  Cleve- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


By  CHARLES  RYWECK 

The  motion  picture  industry,  alone  of 
major  American  industries,  lacks  ade- 
quate representation  in  -Washington, 
Eddie  Cantor,  film  and  radio  comedian 
and  producer, 
said  here  yester- 
day in  an  inter- 
view at  the 
Waldorf  -  As- 
toria. He  de- 
plored the  fact 
that  there  "was 
no  one  power- 
ful enough  to 
command  the  re- 
spect  of  the 
peopledown 
there.  The  in- 
dustry has  no 
one  big  public- 
relations  man 
in  Washington 
Lee,"  Cantor  said, 

on  page  6) 


Eddie  Cantor 

like  the  late  Ivy 

(Continued 


Zanuck  Sees 
20  Features 
From20th-Fox 


Warns  Against  Advanced 
Admission  Policy 

By  SHERWIN  KANE 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  will  re- 
lease about  20  features,  exclusive 
of  specials,  in  the  next  year,  Darryl 
F.  Zanuck  said  yesterday  following 
his  arrival 
from  the 
Coast. 

Zanuck  said 
the  company 
has  "complete- 
ly dismantled" 
.its  "B"  picture 
production  or- 
g  a  n  i  z  a  tion, 
which  at  one 
time  was  turn- 
ing out  26  fea- 
tures per  sea- 
son. The  com- 
pany will  make 
no  more  "B's", 
he  said,  adding 
that  he  "can  see  no  sense"  in  con- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 

Argentinians  Want 
Quota  Enacted 

Buenos  Aires,  April  24.  —  Forced 
competition  to  Hollywood  and  other 
film  imports  by  Argentine  threatens 
as  a  result  of  a  petition  by  Argentine 
producers  to  the  Government  to  im- 
pose quota  requirements  on  theatres 
in  this  country. 

The  Argentine  Cinematographic  De- 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Darryl   F.  Zanuck 


Spingold,  Robbins 
On  UJA  Committee 

Nate  Spingold  of  Columbia  and  Her- 
man Robbins,  president  of  National 
Screen  Service  have  been  added  to  the 
film  commitee  for  the  participation  of 
the  industry  in  the  United  Jewish 
Appeal's  1944  fund  campaign  to  raise 
$32,000,000  to  provide  relief  and  fes- 
cue facilities  for  the  Jewish  victims 
abroad.  The  committee  will  meet  at 
the  Hotel  Astor  here  on  Thursday. 

Other  members  of  the  committee 
are :  Barney  Balaban,  David  Bern- 
stein, Jack  Cohn,  Albert  Warner, 
George  Schaefer,  Joseph  Seidelman, 
Sam  Rinzler,  Louis  Nizer  and  Harry 
Brandt. 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Tuesday,  April  25,  1944  i 


414  More  Houses 
To  Support  MGM 

Twelve  more  circuits,  totaling  ap- 
proximately 414  theatres,  have  sent 
pledges  to  M-G-M  sales  executives  of 
support  for  the  company  on  its  20-year 
birthday  celebration  during  the  week 
of  June  22-28.  With  circuits  repre- 
senting 776  houses  previously  respond- 
ing, the  total  of  theatres  now  lined  up 
to  show  Leo-the-Lion  on  their  screens 
that  week  is  now  1,190. 

Among  additional  circuit  executives 
responding  are :  E.  C.  Beatty,  W.  S. 
Butterfield  Theatres,  with  114  theatres 
in  Michigan;  M.  A.  Lightman,  Malco 
Theatres,  with  79  houses  in  Arkansas, 
Kentucky,  Mississippi  and  Tennessee ; 
Hugh  G.  Martin,  Martin  Theatres, 
operating  65  theatres  in  Georgia,  Ala- 
bama and  Florida,  and  John  J.  Pay- 
ette, zone  manager  for  Warner  Bros., 
with  19  outlets  in  the  District  of 
Columbia. 

Also:  Max  A.  Cohen,  Cinema  Cir- 
cuit, with  13  -theatres  in  New  York ; 
Lewen  Pizor,  16  theatres  in  Pennsyl- 
vania; Benjamin  T.  Pitts,  23  theatres 
in  Virginia  and  West  Virginia ;  Phil 
Chakeres,  23  houses  in  Ohio ;  Frank 
H.  Durkee,  24  theatres  in  Maryland; 
O.  C.  Lem,  16  theatres  in  Georgia  and 
Alabama ;  William  E.  Benton,  eight 
houses  in  New  York  state  and  Irving 
Dollinger,  president  of  Associated 
Theatres,  New  Jersey,  booking  14 
theatres. 


Cowdin's 9  43  Earnings 
At  (W  Were  $239,226 

Philadelphia,  April  24. — J.  Cheev- 
er  Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board  of 
Universal  Pictures,  was  paid  a  salary 
of  $112,672  and  $126,554  as  a  share  in 
earnings  during  the  past  fiscal  year, 
it  was  revealed  here  today  in  a  com- 
pany report  to  the  Securities  and  Ex- 
change Commission. 

The  income  is  subject  to  the  88  per 
cent  Federal  tax  on  incomes  above 
$200,000,  indicating  a  normal  and  sur- 
tax in  excess  of  $100,000  after  allow- 
ing for  ordinary  deductions. 

The  report  also  showed  that  $52,000 
was  paid  during  the  past  fiscal  year 
to  Charles  R.  Rodgers,  one-time  pro- 
duction head  of  the  company. 


Funeral  Services  for 
Charles  J.  Sonin 

Funeral  services  for  Charles  J. 
Sonin,  55,  veteran  Loew's  Theatres 
purchasing  agent  who  died  at  the 
weekend  after  an  operation,  were  held 
yesterday  at  Park  West  Chapel.  In- 
terment was  in  Mt.  Carmel  cemetery, 
Queens. 

Sonin  was  associated  with  Loew's 
for  27  years. 

He  is  survived  by  his  widow,  two 
daughters  and  one  grandchild. 


Truckers  Meet  May  15-16 

National  Film  Carriers  will  delve 
heavily  into  war  and  transportation 
problems  at  its  annual  convention  here 
on  May  15  and  16  at  the  Hotel  Astor. 
The  organization,  with  headquarters  in 
Philadelphia,  represents  a  majority  of 
film  truckers. 


Personal  Mention 


TOM  J.  CONNORS,  20th  Century- 
Fox  vice-president  in  charge  of 
distribution,  and  L.  J.  Schlaifer,  Cen- 
tral sales  manager,  returned  yesterday 
after  a  tour  of  Midwest  exchanges. 
• 

Louis  Feisch,  treasurer  of  the 
Randforce  Amusement  Corp.,  became 
a  grandfather  for  a  fourth  time,  when 
his  daughter,  Sylvia  Barnett,  wife  of 
Capt.  Theodore  Barnett,  gave  birth 
to  a  baby  girl. 

• 

Joe  Cullina  of  Warner  Theatres 
accounting  department,  is  a  father  for 
the  seventh  time.  The  newcomer  has 
been  named  Joseph,  Jr. 

• 

Edward  Kerr  of  the  William  Gold- 
man Circuit,  Philadelphia,  became  the 
father  of  a  daughter,  Patricia  Eixen, 
born  last  week. 

• 

Phil  Williams,  March  of  Time 
advertising  and  publicity  director,  has 
returned  to  New  York  after  visiting 
Cleveland  and  Columbus. 

• 

Carl  Leserman,  United  Artists 
general  sales  manager,  is  expected  back 
from  the  Coast  on  Friday. 

• 

Irvin  Shapiro,  Film  Classics  sales 
manager,  will  return  to  his  desk  today 
after  a  10-day  illness. 

• 

Jules  Levy,  United  Artists  produc- 
er, is  due  here  today  from  the  Coast. 


A A.  WARD,  Altec  Lansing  Corp. 
•  vice-president  and  general  man- 
ager, has  returned  to  the  Coast  after 
two  weeks  in  New  York. 

• 

J.  M.  Franklin,  president  of  the 
Franklin  and  Herschorn  Theatres,  St. 
John,  N.  B.,  is  convalescing  from  a 
major  operation  in  Miami,  and  plans 
to  return  to  his  headquarters  about 
June  1. 

• 

Lt.  Harry  Braun,  formerly  sound 
engineer  at  the  Radio  City  Music  Hall, 
and  now  stationed  at  the  Bureau  of 
Aeronautics,  Navy  Dept.,  Washington, 
is  in  New  York  for  a  few  days. 
• 

Mort  Margolius,  Famous  Players 
booker  in  the  Toronto  home  office,  is 
the  father  of  a  baby  boy,  born  to  Mrs. 
Margolius  at  the  Mt.  Sinai  Hospital, 
Toronto. 

• 

James  E.  Coston,  Chicago  zone 
general  manager  of  Warner  Brothers 
Theatres,  arrived  here  yesterday  for 
several  days  of  home  office  confer- 
ences. 

• 

Charles  Schlaifer,  20th  Century- 
Fox  advertising  manager,  and  Louis 
Shanfield,  art  director,  arrived  from 
the  Coast  yesterday. 

• 

E.  L.  Walton,  Republic  Midwest- 
ern district  manager,  visited  Milwau- 
kee last  week. 


Republic  to  Expand 
Next  Year's  Program 

"Announcement  of  what  is  reported 
to  be  the  company's  most  ambitious 
production  schedule  in  its  history,  as 
well  as  of  its  largest  appropriation 
for  advertising  and  publicity,"  said 
Republic  here  yesterday,  will  be  made 
during  the  two-day  sales  conference 
opening  today  at  the  company's  North 
Hollywood  studio.  J.  R.  Grainger, 
president,  went  West  for  the  meeting, 
and  Western  district  sales  manager 
Francis  Bateman  will  head  a  group 
from  that  area. 

Herbert  J.  Yates  will  address  the 
conferences,  at  which  there  will  also 
be  discussions  of  forthcoming  releases 
and  details  of  campaigns  which  will 
back  top-budget  productions. 


Boston  Industry  in 
O'Connell  Tribute 

Boston,  April  24.  —  Led  by  Sam 
Pinanski,  head  of  Mullin  and  Pinan- 
ski,  New  Ergland  circuit,  the  film  in- 
dustry here  this  week  is  paying  tribute 
to  the  late  William  Cardinal  O'Con- 
nell, dean  of  American  Catholic  Hier- 
archy, whose  state  funeral  will  be  held 
Friday. 

Cardinal  O'Connell  was  considered  a 
friend  of  better  pictures  and  often 
publicly  approved  those  pictures  which 
he  considered  uplifting  or  fit  for  all 
to  view,  just  as  he  often  condemned 
emphatically  pictures  which  he  be- 
lieved unclean  or  suggestive.  "In 
Cardinal  O'Connell,  many  .of  us  had 
a  warm  personal  friend,"  said  Pinan- 
ski. 


Linet  of  Universal 
On  Tour  for  'Boys' 

Hank  Linet,  executive  assistant  to 
Maurice  Bergman,  Universal's  East- 
ern advertising-publicity  director,  left 
yesterday  on  a  tour  in  connection  with 
openings  of  Charles  K.  Feldman's 
"Follow  the  Boys." 

Linet  heads  a  special  field  force 
organized  for  the  purpose.  In  New 
England  they  will  visit  New  Haven, 
Bridgeport  and  Boston ;  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  Har- 
risburg  and  Reading  and  in  Ohio, 
Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and  Columbus. 

Total  advertising  budget  for  "Boys" 
is  $250,000.  For  the  first  20  engage- 
ments, Universal  budgeted  $100,000  for 
full  page  ads,  in  addition  to  billboards 
and  radio. 


Managers  Lose  to 
Brandt  Circuit 

Harry  Brandt  circuit  headquarters 
here  said  yesterday  that  the  New 
York  State  Labor  Board  has  dismissed 
the  petition  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Theatre  Managers  and  Employes  Guild 
to  have  the  board  investigate  the 
Brandt  circuit,  the  petition  and  its  re- 
sultant dismissal  growing  out  of  an 
attempt  to  force  the  Brandt  group  to 
employ  members  of  the  guild  only. 


L.  A.  Fiegehen  Dies 

Toronto,  April  24. — Louis  A.  Fiege- 
hen, owner  of  the  Eclipse  Theatre 
here  for  the  past  25  years,  died  at  his 
home.  Surviving  are  his  widow  and 
two  daughters. 


FPC  Tries  to  Stop 
Sale  of  Theatres 


Toronto,  April  24. — Mr.  Justic 
Hogg  today  reserved  judgment  at  Os- 
goode  Hall  on  the  application  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.  for 
an  injunction  restraining  Hamilton 
United  Theatres,  Ltd.,  from  selling 
its  physical  assets  to  Theatre  Prop- 
erties (Hamilton),  Ltd.,  which  is 
Paul  Nathanson's  company. 

Shareholders  of  Hamilton  United 
recently  voted  to  accept  Nathanson'st 
offer  of  purchase  of  the  Capitol  am  \ 
Palace  theatres  in  Hamilton  in  pref- 
erence  to  a  bid  by  Famous  Players 
for  these  houses,  which  are  under 
lease  to  Odeon  Theatres  of  Canada, 
Ltd.  The  price  for  the  theatre  build- 
ings offered  by  Famous  Players  was 
higher  than  Nathanson's,  but  the  lat- 
ter had  already  been  accepted. 


Fred  Flom  Dies  at  77 

Madison,  Wis.,  April  24.  —  Fred 
Flom,  77,  veteran  showman,  died  re- 
cently. Ht  built  and  operated  the 
Flom  Theatre  here. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


—  RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

50th  Street  &  6th  Avenue 
RITA   HAYWORTH    .    GENE  KELLY 

"COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern  .  Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershw  I  n 
Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Beserved.  Circle  6-4600 


IA«ST 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


B  WAY  & 

47th  St. 


PALACE 


"7  DAYS  ASHORE" 

Wally  Brown  -  Alan  Carney 
Marcy  McGuire-Dooley  Wilson 


PARAMOUNT'S 

"LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 

In  Technicolor 

IN  PERSON 

XAVIER  CUGAT  And  BAND 

DEAN  MURPHY 

PARAMOUNT  S 


umiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiiii 


ON  SCREEN 

William  POWELL 
Hedy  LAMARR 

in  M-G-M's 

•The  HEAVENLY 
BODY' 


IN  PERSON 
JERRY 

WAYNE 

NAN  RAE 
and  Mrs. 
WATERFALL 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription   rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  April  25,  1944  j 


Review 


"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor" 

(M-G-M) 

Hollywood,  April  24 

"HP  WO  GIRLS  AND  A  SAILOR"  is  a  crackerjack  of  a  musical.  It 
is  loaded  with  talent,  ingratiating  pleasantries  and  comedy  and 
the  remainder  of  the  necessary  ingredients  to  make  it  resound  with  loud 
and  emphatic  smacks  at  the  box-office.    This  one  is  in. 

Stripping  this  to  its  essentials,  "Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  is  nothing 
more  or  less  than  a  parade  of  personalities,  each  one  of  them  doing  his 
allotted  and  accepted  entertainment  chore.  It  has  the  usual  Cinderella- 
type  story,  no  different  and  no  better  than  the  story  trappings  in  which 
musicals  are  almost  invariably  encased.  But,  this  time,  there  are  pleas- 
ant twists,  nicely  grafted,  which  lift  the  results  considerably  beyond  the 
routine.  While  the  story  side  is  not  made  any  more  believable  as  a  re- 
sult, it  is  made  vastly  more  entertaining  and  much  easier  on  the  diges- 
tion. 

The  dramatic  principals  are  June  Allyson  and  Gloria  De  Haven,  born 
to  the  theatre  and  well-nigh  in  the  dressing  room.  They  progress  until 
they  reach  the  tops  in  night  clubs  and  run  into  cross-fire  romance.  The 
romantic  wave  is  provided  by  Van  Johnson  for  Miss  Allyson,  via  Miss 
De  Haven,  by  that  meaning  Miss  Allyson  gets  him  in  the  end  while 
Miss  De  Haven  terminates  happily  enough  with  Tom  Drake. 

The  springboard .  for  various  performers  and  performances  is  ( 1 ) 
the  nightclub,  and  (2)  a  theatrical  warehouse  converted  magically  into 
a  canteen  by  Johnson,  who  is  heir  to  a  mere  $60,000,000  and  who  does 
all  of  this  for  the  girl  of  his  heart.  However,  it's  done  on  the  quiet  until 
the  proper  time  for  the  telling  is  concerned.  And  it's  done  on  the  quiet 
because  Johnson  wants  to  win  her  heart  for  what  he  is,  not  for  what  he 
has  in  stocks  and  bonds. 

Jimmy  Durante,  the  likes  of  whom  is  not  duplicated,  is  the  comedy 
source.  He  digs  back  into  his  stage  days  for  songs  and  gags  and  regis- 
ters strongly.  So,  too,  do  the  feminine  leads  on  all  counts.  So,  too, 
with  the  refreshing  Johnson.  In  fact,  the  whole  treatment  beyond  the 
canteen  angle  of  the  wisp-like  story  is  cleverly  developed  and  progres- 
sively^maintained.  Between  that  and  the  night  club,  there  is  full  oppor- 
tunity to  hear  Harry  James  and  his  orchestra,  Xavier  Cugat  and  his, 
and  Lena  Home  doing  a  specialty  and  doing  it  in  her  accustomed,  fine 
style. 

Jose  Iturbi,  noted  pianist-conductor,  contributes  a  splendid  De  Falla 
piece  for  those  who  want  their  good  music  straight.  One  of  the  easy 
highlights  is  Gracie  Allen  performing  her  "Concerto  for  Index  Finger" 
with  the  aid  of  the  noted  conductor,  Albert  Coates,  and  a  small-sized 
symphony  orchestra,  which  shuttles  back  and  forth  between  readapta- 
tions  of  standard  music  and  the  jive  kind.  Helen  Forrest  does  a  vocal 
number  and  Lina  Romay  does  several  with  Cugat.  One  of  the  many 
other  easy  highlights  is  "Take  It  Easy,"  a  comedy-musical  number  per- 
formed in  her  inimitable  style  by  Virginia  O'Brien.-  Carlos  Ramirez  is 
superb  in  his  rendition  of  "Granada,"  abetted  by  the  irresistible  Cugat 
music. 

That's  how  it  goes,  and  it  goes  very  well  indeed.  "Two  Girls  and  a 
Sailor"  is  fabricated  expertly  and  always  entertainingly  from  the  time 
Richard  Connell  and  Gladys  Lehman  put  their  original  script  together 
and  thereafter  through  Richard  Thorpe's  direction,  Sammy  Lee's  dance 
direction,  Georgie  Stall's  musical  direction  and  the  overall  production 
guidance  furnished  with  great  competence  by  Joe  Pasternak.  Support- 
ing roles,  delivered  praiseworthy,  are  contributed  by  Henry  Stephenson, 
Henry  O'Neill  and  Donald  Meek, 

Running  time,  126  minutes.    "G."*    No  release  date  set. 

Red  Kann 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  24 

LOUIS    WEINBERG,  Columbia 
sales  executive,  will  leave  here 
tomorrow  for  the  East  on  the  Super- 
chief  with  his  wife  and  daughter. 
• 

Jose  Iturbi  is  here  for  tests  for  a 
role  in  M-G-M's  forthcoming  musical, 
"Music  for  Millions,"  which  Joseph 
Pasternak  will  produce  and  Henry 
Koster  direct.  Margaret  O'Brien  and 
Jimmy  Durante  are  to  be  featured  in 
the  film. 

• 

RKO  has  purchased  "Well,  Forget 
It,"  a  William  Porter  short  story. 
• 

Samuel  Goldwyn  has  bought  "Si- 
mone,"  a  novel  by  Lion  Feuchtwang- 
er.  Teresa  Wright  will  be  starred 
following  "Casanova  Brown"  which  is 
now  finishing  at  International. 

Examine  Keough  in 
Para.-Cooper  Suit 

Austin  C.  Keough,  vice-president  of 
Paramount  Pictures,  will  be  examined 
tomorrow  in  the  offices  of  O'Brien, 
Driscoll  and  Raftery,  in  connection 
with  Paramount's  suit  for  an  adjudi- 
cation of  its  rights  to  stock  of  the 
J.  H.Cooper  Enterprises  of  Colorado; 
Rialto,  .Inc.  and  Interstate  Theatres, 
according  to  papers  filed  in  Federal 
court  here  yesterday.  The  examination 
is  pursuant  to  an  order  issued  by  Fed- 
eral Judge  Murray  Hulbert  on  Oct.  14 
last. 

In  the  suit,  which  names  Joseph 
H.  Cooper  and  the  corporations  as 
defendants,  Paramount  seeks  to  have 
its  rights  determined  with  respect  to 
the  'B'  stock  of  Cooper  Enterprises 
and  Rialto,  and  to  half  the  'A'  stock 
of  Interstate,  and  to  compel  Cooper  to 
transfer  Paramount  certificates  indi- 
cating Paramount's  ownership.  The 
action  is  based  upon  an  alleged  agree- 
ment under  which  Cooper  acquired 
certain  theatre  properties  in  his  own 
name,  although  actual  ownership  was 
to  be  one-half  Cooper's  and  one-half 
Paramount's. 

Cooper's  attorney  recently  com- 
pleted the  examination  of  Y.  Frank 
Freeman,  Paramount  vice-president  in 
charge  of  studios. 

Microfilm  Company 
Formed  by  Hanson 

Toronto,  April  24. — Oscar  R. 
Hanson  has  announced  the  further 
expansion  of  his  business  activities  in 
the  formation  of  a  company  for 
handling  Canadian  rights  of  film  re- 
cording enterprises.  It  will  be  known 
as  Microfilm-Microstat,  Ltd. 

George  Oullahan  has  been  appoint- 
ed Canadian  manager  of  the  new 
company,  formation  of  which  follows 
Hanson's  recent  acquisition  of  Es- 
quire Films,  Ltd.,  handling  Canadian 
distribution  of  British  and  Soviet  pic- 
tures previously  distributed  through 
Empire-Universal  Films.  It  has  also 
been  announced  that  the  Canadian 
head  office  of  Hanson  16mm  Movies, 
Ltd.,  will  be  established  in  the  same 
office  under  the  management  of  H.  T. 
Long,  previously  general  manager  of 
Associated  Theatres,  Ltd. 


G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Betty  Morrissey  Dies 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Murray,  36,  who 
under  her  maiden  name  of  Betty  Mor- 
issey  had  the  feminine  lead  in  the 
original  "The  Leather  Pushers"  series 
and  also  appeared  between  1920  and 
1928  in  many  pictures,  died  late  last 
week  at  St.  Clare's  Hospital  here. 
Surviving  are  her  husband,  Lieut. 
James  A.  Murray ;  her  mother,  Mrs. 
Anna  Morrissey,  and  a  son,  Hugh 
Edward  Murray  II. 


Bennett  Opens  Offices 

Constance  Bennett  Enterprises  has 
opened  offices  in  the  General  Motors 
Building  here,  Jules  Alberti,  personal 
manager  for  Miss  Bennett  disclosed 
yesterday. 


New  Exchanges  Are 
Planned  in  Toronto 

Toronto,  April  24.  ■ —  Warner 
Brothers  have  acquired  a  site  at 
Church  and  Carlton  Sts.  here  on 
which  a  new  film  exchange  building 
will  be  erected  to  permit  removal 
from  the  Hermant  Building. 

Columbia  Pictures  of  Canada,  Ltd., 
also  is  understood  to  be  taking  over 
a  property  in  the  same  vicinity  for  a 
Canadian  head  office,  removal  from  the 
Hermant  Building  being  necessary 
because'  of  new  Ontario  government 
regulations.  Odeon  theatres  and  Em- 
pire-Universal will  construct  a  new 
building  on  Carlton  street  nearby  for 
a  Canadian  headquarters  and  Toronto 
branch. 


'Canary'  Flies  High 
In  'Frisco  Run, 
Grossing  $28,500 


San  Francisco,  April  24. — "Yel- 
low Canary,"  with  Freddie  Slack's 
orchestra  on  the  stage,  leads  the  pace- 
makers here,  getting  $28,500  at  the 
Golden  Gate.  Coasting  into  second 
spot  is  the  Fox  bill  of  "Standing 
Room  Only"  and  "You  Can't  Ration 
Love,"  headed  for  $24,600.  "Cover, 
Girl"  is  sure  of  $13,800  in  its  third' 
week  at  the  Orpheum.  Weather  good. 
Total  first  run  business  was  $168,500. 
Average  is  $158,400. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  25-27 : 

"Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 

WAR  FIELD — (2,680)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days. 
Stage:  vaudeville.  Gross:  $23,500.  (Average: 
$21,800). 

"Yellow  Canary"  (Wilcox-RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,850)    (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.    Stage:    vaudeville.    Gross:  $28,500. 
(Average:  $25,000). 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 
"The  Racket  Man"  (Col.) 

ESQUIRE— (1,008)    (45c-55c-75c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $9,000). 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 
"The  Racket  Man"  (Col.) 

TIVOLI— (1,488)     (45c-55c-75c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,500.  (Average:  $9,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

FOX — (5,000)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$24,600.  (Average:  $24,000). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (BMOI-M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT — (2,740)      (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $19,500.  (Average:  $19,600). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 

STATE—(2,306)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     (Moved     over    from  Paramount). 
Gross:  $14,500.  (Average:  $12,100). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

ST.    FRANCIS— (1,400)     (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.    (Moved  over  from  Fox). 
Gross:  $13,200.  (Average:  $11,600). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM—  (2,440)   (45c-65c-85c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $13,800:  (Average:  $14,800). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (45c-65c-85c) 
7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average: 
$11,000). 

15  Are  Nominated 
For  Equity  Council 

The  nominating  committee  of  Act- 
ors Equity  has  selected  15  candidates 
for  election  to  Equity's  Council  of  ten 
to  be  held  at  Equity's  annual  meeting 
at  the  Hotel  Astor  on  June  6. 

Designated  as  the  "regular  ticket" 
and  announced  by  Augusta  Duncan, 
chairman  of  the  nominating  commit- 
tee, the  15  candidates  are:  Donald 
Cameron,  Alexander  Clark,  Mont- 
gomery Clift,  Patricia  Collinge,  Jose 
Ferrer,  Kathryn  Givney,  Celeste 
Holm,  E.  John  Kennedy,  Philip  Loeb, 
John  Lorenz,  Philip  Merivale,  Bev- 
erly Roberts,  Harvey  Stephens,  Fred- 
eric Tozere  and  Frank  Wilson. 


Marion  Harris  Killed 

Marion  Harris,  38,  former  Broad- 
way star  who  also  appeared  in  one 
film,  M-G-M's  "Devil  May  Care," 
opposite  Ramon  Navarro,  burned  to 
death  yesterday  when  a  cigarette  she 
was  smoking  ignited  her  bed  in 
the  Hotel  Le  Marquis  here.  She  had 
recently  been  discharged  from  the  lo- 
c^.1  Medical  Center  after  treatment  for 
shock  suffered  when  Nazi  bombs  de- 
molished her  home  in  England. 


'Address'  in  43  Cities 

Columbia's  "Address  Unknown"  has 
been  set  for  43,  pre-release  engage- 
ments in  New  England  starting 
May  3. 


STEADILY 
IMPROVED 


THE  PREFERENCE  of  cameramen  and 
directors  of  photography  for  Eastman  Films 
has  a  sound  basis.  In  the  face  of  wartime 
pressures,  the  exceptional  quality  of 
these  films  has  been  not  merely  main- 
tained but  steadily  improved.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

J.  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 

Fort  Lee  Chicago  Hollywood  • 


EASTMAN  FILMS 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  April  25,  1944 


UA  Majority 
Hits  Control 
By  Partners 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

purchase  of  Sir  Alexander  Kor- 
da's  stock  in  the  face  of  the 
unanimous  rule  procedure  long 
prevailing  at  UA,  the  resolu- 
tions do  not  seek  to  break  this 
method  and,  in  fact,  specifical- 
ly stress  the  directors'  desire  to 
maintain  it.  Late  tonight  this 
was  viewed  as  one  effort  in  the 
direction  of  re-establishing  har- 
mony within  the  company  and 
perhaps,  a  placation  of  Chaplin 
in  relation  to  his  attitude  to- 
ward David  O.  Selznick,  which 
has  been  described  authorita- 
tively as  "violent." 

In  a  statement,  Raftery  said  the  di- 
rectors' meeting  was  specially  held.  It 
was  necessary  and  desirable  that  the 
certificate  of  incorporation  of  the  com- 
pany be  amended  so  as  to  make  the 
company  more  efficient  and  more  able 
to  operate  with  present-day  competitive 
conditions,  his  statement  read.  He 
said,  "The  consensus  of  the  directors 
was  that  six  resolutions  which  they 
passed  and  which  now  go  to  the  stock- 
holders for  approval  or  rejection,  in 
part  or  in  toto,  will  be  a  great  step 
toward  U.A.'s  being  set  up  corporate- 
wise  and  in  a  business-like  way." 

The  Resolutions 

The  resolutions,  substantially,  fol- 
low : 

1.  That  the  board  be  increased  from 
four  to  nine  and  that  a  representative 
board  be  elected  by  the  stockholders 
at  their  adjourned  annual  meeting. 

2.  That  cumulative  voting,  existent 
in  the  company  since  its  formation,  be 
retained,  the  effect  of  which  would  give 
the  present  stockholders  the  right  for 
each  to  elect  three  directors.  He  re- 
ferred to  the  Mary  Pickford  Corpora- 
tion, Chaplin,  and  Vanguard  Produc- 
tions, Inc. 

3.  That  present  restrictions  on 
transfer  and  sale  of  stock  be  retained 
so  that  unanimous  consent  of  the  own- 
ers would  be  required  to  sell  any  new 
units  and  that  any  shareholders  desir- 
ing to  sell  must  first  offer  their  stock 
to  company  and  other  owners  in  the 
same  manner  as  has  been  required  in 
the  past. 

4.  That  by-laws  may  be  amended 
from  time  to  time  by  a  majority  of  the 
stockholders. 

Eligibility  Rules 

5.  That  certain  eligibility  rules  be 
inserted  in  the  charter  for  qualifica- 
tions of  a  director  so  as  to  guarantee 
that  no  competitive  interest  will  ever 
sit  on  the  board.  This  is  held  to  be  a 
proposed  safeguard  thrown  up  in  view 
of  the  recent  Korda  situation  under 
which  he  was  one-quarter  owner  of 
M-G-M's  British  company  and  also  of 
UA,  yet  retained  the  right  to  block 
any  UA  deals  under  the  unanimous 
rule  procedure. 

6.  That  the  board  by  majority  vote 
shall  elect  officers,  department  heads 
and  generally  run  the  company,  making 
it  possible  to  carry  on  the  affairs  of 
UA  in  quite  the  same  manner  as  all 
big  business  is  operated,  eliminating 


Review 


The  Hitler  Gang 

(Paramount) 

"HTHE  HITLER  GANG,"  from  Paramount,  tells  the  purportedly 
1  documented  history  of  the  Nazi  Party's  rise  to  power  in  Ger- 
many. It  is  a  powerful,  informative  film  that  skillfully  avoids  the 
fanatical  excesses  of  the  Nazi  movement  and  unfolds  as  interestingly  as 
a  well-written  history  text  book. 

Producer  B.  G.  DeSylva  presents  the  lurid  history  of  the  Nazi  party 
from  Corporal  Adolf  Hitler's  presence  in  a  German  military  hospital  at 
the  time  of  the  Armistice  in  ,1918,  when  attending  doctors  first  diag- 
nosed his  supposed  blindness  as  a  manifestation  of  paranoiacal  tenden- 
cies to  the  beginnings  of  the  collaboration  of  the  German  High  Com- 
mand with  Hitler's  grandiose  plans  for  world  domination  which  result- 
ed in  the  Purge  of  June,  1934.  John  Farrow  has  directed  a  competent 
cast  with  proper  restraint,  lending  added  realism  to  this  potent  instru- 
ment of  anti-Nazi  propaganda  without  highlighting  it  as  such.  It  is  dif- 
ficult to  predict  the  public's  response  to  this  production  or  evaluate  the 
authenticity  of  its  details,  although  scriptwriters  Frances  Goodrich  and 
Albert  Hackett  have  apparently  drawn  heavily  on  available  documents 
in  their  well-constructed  screenplay.  Exhibitors  will  have  to  sell  it  to 
their  customers  on  the  basis  of  the  story  it  tells  without  resorting  to 
sensationalism  or  big  box-office  names,  of  which  this  film  has  none. 

Among  the  highlights 'in  the  Nazis'  rise  to  power  with  which  this  film 
deals  dramatically  and  effectively  are  the  unsuccessful  Munich  beer-hall 
putsch  in  1923,  the  burning  of  the  Reichstag,  and  the  1934  Purge  of 
the  Nazi  party  as  dictated  by  the  German  High  Command.  The  early 
beginnings  of  the  party  are  attributed  to  the  army's  attempt  to  over- 
throw the  Republic,  with  German  officers  like  General  von  Ludendorff 
as  sponsors  behind  the  scenes.  Subsequent  history  after  Hitler's  ap- 
pointment as  commander  in  chief  of  the  Germany  Army  is  treated  in  a 
brief  series  of  montage  shots. 

The  entire  cast,  headed  by  Robert  Watson  as  Hitler,  gives  a  splendid 
account  of  itself  with  casting  and  makeup  attaining  near-perfection. 
Featured  are  Roman  Bohnen,  Victor  Varconi,  Alexander  Pope,  Tonio 
Selwart,  Martin  Kosleck,  Fritz  Kortner  and  Luis  Van  Rooten.  Ernest 
Laszlo's  photography  is  excellent.  Joseph  Sistrom  was  associate  pro- 
ducer. 

Running  time,  101  minutes.  *'G."*    Released  in  Block  No.  5. 

Milton  Livingston 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Argentinians  Want 
Quota  Enacted 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

partment,  official  agency,  has  presented 
to  exhibitors  the  producers'  petition 
that  first-run  theatres  should  exhibit 
native  products  to  a  minimum  of  33 
percent  of  all  screen  time,  and  that  all 
other  houses  exhibit  a  smaller  ration, 
plus  devoting  two  Saturdays  and  two 
Sundays  monthly  to  native  films.  The 
petition  also  requests  that  rentals  of  a 
minimum  of  40  percent  be  imposed  for 
Argentine  pictures. 

The  producers  contend  that  their 
situation  is  critical  and  that  native 
production  needs  protection.  It  is  un- 
derstood that  exhibitors  are  preparing 
to  prove  that  the  contrary  is  true. 


the  power  of  veto  by  any  one  stock- 
holder. 

Raftery's  statement  terminated  by 
observing  that  if  these  resolutions  are 
adopted,  UA  will  take  a  great  step 
iorward. 

Having  delayed  their  departure  for 
the  East  for  the  directors'  meeting, 
Raftery  and  Sears  expect  to  leave  on 
the  Superchief  tomorrow. 

It  is  not  essential  for  the  stockhold- 
ers to  attend  the  Wilmington  meeting. 
The  probability  is  that  each  will  be 
represented  by  legal  advisers,  of  course 
vested  with  proper  voting  authority. 
Isaac  Pennypacker,  Philadelphia  attor- 
ney representing  Miss  Pickford,  will 
also  return  East  tomorrow  if  transpor- 
tation is  available. 


Unions  to  Aid  Wac 
Recruiting  Drive 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

land ;  Jerry  Zigmond,  Kansas  City ; 
Seymour  Peiser,  Los  Angeles,  and 
Cecil  Vogel,  Memphis,  were  added 
yesterday  as  field  public  relations 
chairmen  for  the  recruiting  week. 
They  will  take  charge  of  publicizing 
the  drive  in  their  respective  terri- 
tories. 

At  a  joint  meeting  of  Metropolitan 
New  York  exhibitor  chairmen  and 
local  publicity  committee  for  the  in- 
dustry's Women's  Army  Corps  re- 
cruiting week,  May  11-17,  held  at  War 
Activities  Committee  headquarters 
here  yesterday  afternoon,  chairman 
Edward  L.  Alperson  gave  an  over-all 
picture  of  pre-drive  efforts  to  date. 
Charles  C.  Moskowitz  was  represent- 
ed by  Mike  Rosen,  while  Edward 
Dowden  presided  over  publicity  as- 
pects, after  an  introduction  by  Harry 
Mandel,  national  publicity  director. 

Among  those  present  were  Oscar 
Doob,  Gene  Meyers,  Irving  Liner, 
Louis  Goldberg,  Fred  Schwartz,  John 
Hearns,  Michael  Edelstein,  Sigurd 
Wexo,  Ernest  Emerling,  John  Cas- 
sidy,  Blanche  Livingston,  Paula 
Gould,  Janice  Rentchler,  Al  Naroff, 
Mike  Siegel,  Peggy  Foldes,  Edgar 
Goth,  Irving  Ludwig,  Ray  Malone, 
William  Slater,  Al  Zimbalist,  Sol 
Handwerger,  Sid  Kain,  Ira  Morais, 
Norman  Greenberg  and  Paul  Sher- 
man. 


Film  Industry  Lacks 
Representation  in 
Capital:  Cantor 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

who  could  place  the  industry's  story 
of  its  war  and  public  contributions  be- 
fore proper  parties  and  so  secure  some 
solutions  for  its  own  problems. 

Cantor  made  this  assertion  prompted 
by  the  problem  of  summer  cooling 
which  is  facing  theatres.  Lack  of 
freon  gas  for  use  in  cooling  plants  was 
cited  as  a  case  in  point  by  the  comed- 
ian. "It  is  a  pity  that  because  of  a 
lack  of  cooling,  millions  of  people  will 
stay  out  of  theatres  and  will  turn  to 
other  pleasures,"  he  declared. 

"There  are  three  or  four  men  now 
in  Washington  who  can  do  the  job  of 
presenting  a  legitimate  case  for  the  in- 
dustry, someone  who  will  be  re- 
spected," Cantor  said.  He  declined  to 
name  specifically  the  men  he  had  in 
mind.  Cantor  ascribed  the  industry's 
lack  of  representation  to  the  fact  that 
"there  isn't  complete  unity  in  the  in- 
dustry. If  the  men  in  it  were  big 
enough  to  sit  down  and  bury  their  own 
differences,  they  might  agree  on  some 
kind  of  effective  representative  for  an 
industry  point  of  view,"  he  declared. 

Current  Attempts  Insufficient 

Current  industry  attempts  at  unity 
between  exhibitors  and  distributors  are 
not  enough,  he  said,  referring,  for  one, 
to  the  program  advocated  by  William 
F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice-president  in 
charge  of  sales.  "This  is  the  only  in- 
dustry that's  not  making  money  ac- 
tually otit  of  the  war ;  the  only  indus- 
try that  gives  things  away  for  the  war, 
yet  the  last  industry  that  Washington 
thinks  of,"  he  said.  "Of  course  theatre 
business  is  good,  but  where  do  you 
find  an  industry  that  gives  a  part  of 
its  output  to  the  Government  for  noth- 
ing. The  steel  industry  and  the  auto- 
mobile industry  certainly  are  not  do- 
ing this,"  he  asserted. 

Turning  to  plans  for  his  next  pro- 
duction Cantor,  who  recently  pro- 
duced "Show  Business"  for  RKO- 
Radio  as  well  as  appearing  in  it,  said 
he  was  reading  stories.  "If  I  find 
something  for  me  in  it,  I'll  do  it, 
otherwise  I  will  just  produce  it." 

Remains  Here  Two  Months 

Cantor,  who  arrived  in  New  York 
Sunday  from  the  Coast,  expects  to  re- 
main in  the  East  for  two  months.  En- 
route  back  he  will  make  personal  ap- 
pearances at  camps  and  hospitals. 

Upon  his  return  to  the  studio  he 
hopes  to  produce  his  next  picture  with 
his  own  self-contained  unit  within 
RKO,  consisting  of  his  own  director 
and  writer.  He  is  also  desirous  of  aid- 
ing in  the  exploitation  of  the  picture 
and  of  participating  in  the  profits. 

Cantor  will  be  honored  at  a  testi- 
monial dinner  at  the  Hotel  Astor  on 
May  6  on  the  occasion  of  his  35th 
year  in  entertainment,  to  be  given  by 
nine  theatrical  guilds  and  organiza- 
tions. 


Cline  Heads  'Movieland' 

Dorris  Cline,  formerly  chief  assist- 
ant to  Ruth  Waterbury,  motion  pic- 
ture fan-paper  editor,  has  been  ap- 
pointed editor  of  Movieland,  the 
Hillman  publication  from  which  Miss 
Waterbury  resigned  last  week  to  join 
Photoplay.  Miss  Cline  will  make  her 
headquarters  in  Hollywood. 


Tuesday,  April  25,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


'Cover  Girl'  Will 
Hit  $112,000  in 
4th  at  Music  Hall 


Zanuck  Predicts  20th-Fox 
To  Have  About  20  Releases 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

.  stage  show  headed  by  Paul  Whiteman 
and  his  orchestra,  and  Joan  Edwards 
!  and  Victor  Borge,  at  the  Roxy,  has 
.  counted  $75,000  for  the  first  five  days 
:  and  close  to  $100,000  is  expected  for 
the  first  week.    The  Capitol  expects  a 
>second  week  of  $56,000  with  "Broad- 
way Rhythm"  and  a  stage  bill  featur- 
ing Ginny  Simms  and  Frankie  Carle's 
band  getting  $41,500  on  the  first  four 
days.  The  bill  will  hold  for  a  third 
with  M-G-M's  "Gaslight"  set  to  fol- 
low. 

Tenth  Week  for  'Lady' 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  and  the  Xavier 
Cugat-Dean  Murphy  stage  show  will 
start  a  10th  week  at  the  Paramount 
this  morning  after  rolling  up  $55,000 
on  the  ninth.  More  than  900,000  per- 
sons have  already  seen  the  film  here 
with  more  than  1,000,000  expected  to 
see  the  picture  here  in  its  run  of  10 
weeks,  ending  next  Tuesday-.  Tire  Bing 
Crosby  starrer,  "Going  My  Way,"  will 
follow  on  May  3.  "Uncertain  Glory" 
and  a  Ted  Lewis  stage  show  at  the 
Strand  are  expected  to  have  a  third 
week's  take  of  $38,000  on  the  basis  of 
a  three-day  weekend  of  $21,378.  The 
combination  will  hold  for  a  fourth 
week. 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  will  prob- 
ably hit  $35,000  in  its  13th  week  at 
the  Rivoli  'on  the  basis  of  $25,000 
grossed  on  the  first  five  days ;  it  will 
hold.  "See  Here,  Private  Hargrove" 
is  expected  to  get  $24,000  in  its  fifth 
week  at  the  Astor  and  will  hold.  Third 
week  for  the  revival  of  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  at  the  Man- 
hattan brought  $23,700  and  the  picture 
will  start  a  fourth  this  morning.  Tenth 
week  of  "Passage  to  Marseille"  at  the 
Hollywood  will  yield  about  $14,000; 
it  will  continue  until  it  makes  way  for 
"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  on 
May  3.  ' 

'Boys'  Opens  Today 

Universal's  "Follow  the  Boys"  will 
open  at  the  Criterion  this  morning, 
following  "Lost  Angel"  which  wound 
up  its  second  week  below  early  esti- 
mates to  record  about  $20,000  on  its 
final  ten  days  ending  last  night.  "Up 
in  Mabel's  Room"  is  expected  to  have 
a  first  week's  gross  of  $15,000  at  the 
Gotham  on  the  basis  of  the  three-day 
weekend  business  of  $8,300.  It  will  hold 
over.  So  will  "Knickerbocker  Holi- 
day," at  the  Victoria,  where  $13,000 
is  expected  for  the  first  week,  ending 
tonight.  Second  week  of  "Address 
Unknown"  at  the  Globe  is  expected  to 
gross  $13,500  on  the  basis  of  Satur- 
day and  Sunday's  $6,300.  The  picture 
is  expected  to  hold  over  for  a  third 
week  with  Paramount's  "The  Hitler 
Gang"  set  to  open  there  on  May  6. 
"Lady  and  the  Monster"  is  expected 
to  hold  for  a  fourth  week  at  the  Rialto 
with  the  third  week  expected  to  gross 
$7,000  on  the  basis  of  a  three-day 
weekend  business  of  $5,400.  "Yellow 
Canary"  will  wind  up  its  final  five  days 
at  the  Palace  with  $12,000.  RKO's 
"Seven  Days  Ashore"  will  open  there 
this  morning  and  Universal's  "This  Is 
the  Life"  will  start  a  first-run  at  the 
State  on  Thursday. 


(Continued  from  page  1)  . 

tinuing  such  production  under  current 
market  conditions. 

"With  the  millions  of  new  patrons 
who  are  attending  theatres  today," 
Zanuck  said,  "the  industry  has  a  great 
opportunity  at  hand.  Good  pictures 
only  should  be  made  and  the  new 
theatregoers  should  be  educated  with 
the  best  the  screen  can  offer.  Such 
a  policy  will  pay  terrific  dividends 
later  on.  Motion  pictures  can  live 
for  the  next  10  years  on  the  reputa- 
tion they  make  for  themselves  now. 

Sees  Chance  for  Better  Product 

"We  should  scrupulously  avoid  any 
effort  to  take  advantage  of  the  public 
in  these  times.  All  of  the  companies 
are  making  big  profits  now.  After  a 
certain  point  the  bulk  of  earnings  is 
consumed  by  taxes.  Therefore,  a 
large  portion  of  the  high,  current 
earnings  should  be  invested  in  better 
product.  To  do  anything  else  would 
be  stupid.  It  is  the  industry's  oppor- 
tunity to  explore  new  production  ave- 
nues, to  serve  its  old  customers  well 
and  to  keep  for  the  future  the  new 
customers  of  today,"  Zanuck  said. 

The  20th  Century-Fox  production 
chief  warned  against  exhibition  of  too 
many  pictures  at  advanced  admission 
scales,  asserting  that  the  practice, 
when  applied  to  any  production  not 
of  the  highest  quality,  endangers  thea- 
tre patronage  everywhere.  Produc- 
tion cost  should  not  determine  an  ad- 
vanced admission  policy,  Zanuck  said. 

Condemns  'Stinging'  Public 

"We  cannot  afford  to  'sting"  the 
public,"  he  said.  "Many  pictures  are 
shown  at  advanced  admissions  that 
are  not  entitled  to  that  treatment  and 
the  people  doing  it  know  that  some 
of  the  pictures  are  lacking  in  qual- 
ity." 

He  said  that  the  policy  is  the  re- 
sponsibility of  the  distributor,  not  the 
producer. 

Zanuck,  who  will  be  in  New  York 
for  the  rest  of  the  week,  said  he  came 
here  to  discuss  distribution  plans  for 

One  Objectionable,  9 
Passed  by  Legion 

Columbia's  "Address  LTnknown"  has 
been  rated  Class  B,  objectionable  in 
part,  because  of  "sympathetic  treat- 
ment of  revenge  element  in  the  story." 
Nine  others  were  approved  by  the 
Legion. 

Rated  Class  A-l,  unobjectionable 
for  general  patronage,  were :  "Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain,"  Warners ; 
"The  Girl  in  the  Case,"  Columbia ; 
"Shake  Hands  with  Murder,"  PRC 
Pictures ;  "Slightly  Terrific,"  Uni- 
versal, and  "Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor," 
M-G-M. 

Rated  Class  A-2,  unobjectionable 
for  adults,  were :  "Pin  Up  Girl," 
20th  Century-Fox ;  "Resurrection," 
Clasa.  (Spanish)  ;  "Show  Business," 
RKO,  and  "The  Whistler,"  Columbia. 


Union  Elects  'Cantinflas' 

Mexico  City,  April  -24. — "Cantin- 
flas," Mexican  screen  comedian,  who 
is  Mario  Moreno,  vice-president  of 
Posa  Films  in  private  life,  has  been 
elected  secretary  general  of  Mexico's 
new  union,  "The  clown  bull-fighters." 


"Wilson"  with  Tom  Connors,  20th 
Century-Fox  vice-president  and  dis- 
tribution head,  and  the  latter's  staff ; 
to  confer  with  Moss  Hart  on  plans 
for  "Winged  Victory,"  and  with  Wen- 
dell Willkie  on  production  of  the 
latter's  "One  World." 

He  said  that  Willkie,  prior  to 
withdrawing  as  a  candidate  for  the 
Republican  Presidential  nomination, 
had  requested  that  "One  World"  not 
be  made  or,  if  it  was  made,  that  it  not 
be  released  until  after  the  election 
next  November.  While  here,  Zanuck 
will  ascertain  Willkie's  present  views 
on  the  production.  He  said  he  would 
like  to  go  ahead  with  "One  World." 

'A  Great  Script' 

"We  have  a  great  script,"  he  said. 
"And  it  must  be  remembered,  2,000,- 
000  copies  of  that  book  were  sold." 

Zanuck  spoke  of  "Wilson"  at  con- 
siderable length  and  with  great  enthu- 
siasm. The  production  will  repre- 
sent an  investment  of  84,000,000,  with 
prints,  he  said,  and  its  running  time  is 
two  hours  and  43  minutes.  He  said 
it  was  his  most  difficult  production 
to  shoot,  and  his  easiest  to  put  togeth- 
er. The  major  part  of  the  editing 
was  accomplished  in  three  hours  and 
it  was  turned  over  to  Technicolor 
within  three  weeks  of  its  completion. 
It  will  be  given  a  New  York  pre- 
miere, Zanuck  said,  -some  time  be- 
tween mid- July  and  Aug.  1,  probably 
in  two  Broadway  theatres,  one  on  a 
two-a-day  policy,  the  other  continu- 
ous. 

'Wilson'  a  New  Realm 

"  'Wilson'  explores  a  production 
realm  that  films  never  before  have 
entered,"  Zanuck  said.  "I  am  sure 
most  people  will  find  it  a  new  enter- 
tainment experience." 

Asked  if  there  was  any  possibilitv 
of  Hal  Wallis  joining  20th- Fox  Zan- 
uck replied  that  "it  is  difficult  nowa- 
days for  any  company  to  make  an  at- 
tractive proposal  to  anyone  of  Wallis's 
capabilities.  My  guess  is  that  he  will 
go  into  independent  production." 

British  Technicians 
Fear  Rank's  Power 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

could  be  used  for  that  time  in  all 
Rank  controlled  houses,  they  pointed 
out 

"Twenty  million  pounds  go  every 
year  to  Hollywood  from  our  cinemas," 
said  Ralph  Bond  of  the  general 
council  of  the  Association  of  Cine- 
Technicians.  "More  of  that  money 
should  go  into  the  British  industry, 
and  one  of  the  best  measures  is  to 
raise  the  quota." 

Bond  further  suggested  public  owner- 
ship of  the  film  industry  and  the  es- 
tablishment of  a  film  credit  bank  from 
which  independent  producers  could  get 
"reasonable  assistance"  to  start  mak- 
ing pictures. 


Coe  in  Minneapolis  Today 

Minneapolis,  April  24.  —  Charles 
Francis  Coe  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  Amer- 
ica is  scheduled  to  speak  here  tomor- 
row before  the  Minneapolis  Executive 
Civic  and  Commerce  Association. 


Schine  Claims 
Suit  Void  If 
'Big  5'  Out 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ing  to  the  terms  of  the  complaint  the 
principal  malefactors,  in  accordance 
with  a  commitment  made  to  them  by 
the  Government  so  as  to  free  them 
from  the  jurisdiction  of  this  court, 
while  continuing  to  make  the  same 
accusation  against  them  and  seeking 
the  same  relief  against  these  defend- 
ants on  account  of  the  alleged  unlaw- 
ful actions  of  the  very  defendants  dis- 
missed, who  were  retained  as  non- 
defendant  distributors." 

Schine  declares  it  is  in  a  better 
position  to  operate  the  remaining  un- 
sold 10  theatres  ordered  divested 
"without  loss  and  to  maintain  them 
in  a  proper  condition  than  would  be 
the  case  with  any  trustee.  The  brief 
queries,  "If  trustees  are  appointed,  for 
whom  are  they  to  be  trustees  ?",  point- 
ing out  the  houses  are  still  owned  by 
the  defendants.  "The  appointment  of 
a  trustee  would  cause  ruinous  ex- 
penses and  further  deterioration  to  the 
theatres,"  it  adds. 

The  brief  described  an  "indispen- 
sable party"  as  one  without  whorh  a 
suit  cannot  proceed.  "The  action 
mustbe  dismissed  because  the  'Big  5' 
are  indispensable  parties  and  having 
been  dismissed  on  application  and  con- 
sent of  the  plaintiff,  they  cannot  be 
brought  into  the  action,"  it  concludes. 


Wright,  Prosecutor,  Is 
Charged  with  Bias 

Buffalo,  April  24.— Robert  L. 
Wright,  special  attorney  for  the  De- 
partment of  Justice,  is  charged  with 
"personal  antipathy"  to  the  Schine 
Circuit  Theatres'  acquisition  of  the 
Liberty  Theatre,  Cumberland,  Md., 
in  a  brief  filed  in  Federal  District 
Court  here  over  the  weekend  in  the 
pre-trial  proceedings  of  the  Govern- 
ment's anti-trust  suit  against  Schine. 

The  brief,  as  reported  yesterday  in 
Motion  Picture  Daily,  cites  a  let- 
ter to  Thomas  Burke,  owner  of  the 
Liberty,  in  which  Assistant  U.  S.  At- 
torney General  Tom  C.  Clark  alleged- 
ly sanctions  Schine's  taking  over  the 
house  provided  the  court  gives  its  ap- 
proval also.  The  latter  is  described 
as  accentuating  "the  consistent  posi- 
tion" of  Clark  in  that  "he  desired  no 
discrimination  against  the  Schines 
and  that,  to  the  contrary,  he  felt 
they  should  receive  the  same  treat- 
ment the  'Big  Five'  had  been  accord- 
ed." Paramount,  competitor  of  the 
circuit,  it  is  pointed  out,  has  been  per- 
mitted to  acquire  additional  theatres 
since  the  entry  of  the  consent  decree. 

Claiming  that  the  purchase  by 
Schine  would  be  definitely  in  the  pub- 
lic interest  because  the  circuit  has 
been  able  to  obtain  and  show  good 
product  in  good  and  bad  times,  the 
brief  calls  Judge  John  Knight's  atten- 
tion to  Wright's  statement  that  "the 
Schines  were  the  last  ones  he  wanted 
to  buy  this  theatre." 


'Guerillas'  to  Columbia 

Columbia  will  release  "Under- 
ground Guerillas"  May  18.  The  pic- 
ture, starring  Mary  Morris.  Godfrey 
Tearle,  John  Clements  and  Tom 
Walls,  was  directed  by  Sergei  Nol- 
bandov  and  produced  by  Michael  Bal- 
con  in  England. 


AT  THE  HEAD 
OF  THE  PROCESSION! 


w 


E  didn't  get  into  first  position  by  step- 

1. 

ping  in  there  self-invited  %  We  got 


there  because  we  were  put  there  W  and 
by  the  best  brains  of  this  business  ^  By 
Exhibitors  who  want  action,  lots  of  it,  and 
fast  W  Exhibitors  who  haven't  time  to  mon- 
key with  media  that  isn't  fool-proof  ft 
Exhibitors  who  want  the  straightest  line  be- 
tween the  ad  and  the  box  office  ^?  and  want 
that  line  full  of  feet  all  going  the  same  direc- 
tion Quite  naturally,  a  quicker,  surer, 
cheaper  way  to  sell  shows  If  has  put  us  at 
the  head  of  the  procession. 


nnTtonniGftem  service 

PRIZE  BRBY  OF  THE  INDUSTRY 


■  m         r  n  c 


c  n  r      i  a  I 


A/-/™cccr\Dicc 


First  in 


JrfOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VVOL.  55.  NO.  82 


NEW  YORK,  U.  S.  A.,  WEDNESDAY,  APRIL  26.  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Calls  for  Move 
For  Theatre 
Tele.  Channels 


Austrian  Seeks  Meetings 
To  Evolve  Film  Policies 

Moving  to  evolve  a  film  indus- 
try policy  and  crystallize  industry 
thought  on  post-war  television  pos- 
sibilities for  theatres,  Ralph  Aus- 
trian, RKO's  television  consultant, 
is  understood  to  have  written  to 
heads  of  the  other,  four  film  com- 
panies with  theatre  affiliations  sug- 
gesting   a    conference    to  include 
their  television  representatives. 
The  purpose  of  such  a  confer- 
ence would  be  to  give  consider- 
ation to  action  that  should  be 
taken  now  to  guarantee  avail- 
ability   of   suitable  television 
channels  for  theatre  telecasting. 
Xecessity  for  such  a  conference  now, 
it  is  held,  is  that  the  film  industry 
does  not  have  any  representation  on 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Gov't  Eases  Lumber,  16mm\WPB  Speeds 
Raw  Stock  for  Studios         |  Projector 


Probe  Acting 
In  Television 


A  joint  television  committee  from 
Actors'  Equity,  Screen  Actors  Guild 
and  the  American  Federation  of  Ra- 
dio Artists  is  undertaking  an  inves- 
tigation of  existing  conditions  and 
practices  in  the  television  appearances 
of  their  members  to  correct  abuses, 
the  joint  committee  announced  here 
yesterday. 

Among  the  conditions  and  practices 
(.Continued  on  page  4) 


Argentina  Threatens 
Film  Import  Ban 

Buenos  Aires,  April  25. — Argen- 
tina will  curtail  or  prohibit  importing 
of  American  films,  unless  the  United 
States  supplies  Argentine  motion  pic- 
ture companies  with  raw  film  needed 
for  production,  the  United  States  was 
warned  today  by*  Dr.  Mario  Molina 
Pico,  film  section  director  of  the  gov- 
ernment press  and  information  office. 

As  a  result  of  severe  censoring  of 
Hollywood  product  in  Argentina,  the 
United  States  recently  suspended  raw 
film  shipments.  An  understanding  was 
later  reached,  whereby  the  shipments 
would  be  resumed  on  condition  that 
the  Argentine  government  withdraw 
from  raw  stock  distribution,  and  ban- 
ning of  American  films  be  stopped. 


Washington,  April  25. — Slightly 
augmented  supplies  of  16mm  positive 
film  for  civilian  use  as  the  result  of 
a  military  cut-back,  also  enough  lum- 
ber to  meet  the  needs  of  the  studios 
during  the  remainder  of  this  year, 
w  ill  be  made  available  soon  by  the  War 
Production  Board,  it  was  indicated 
here  today,  although  the  situation 
with  regard  to  both  commodities  still 
is  described  as  "tight."  Officials 
promise  no  substantial  relief  in  the 
16mm  field  for  many  months. 

Reports  of  studios  using  more  than 
50,000  feet  of  lumber  quarterly,  show 
ing  their  requirements  for  the  rest 
of  the  year,  are  now  being  filed  with 
the  films  section  of  the  War  Produc- 
tion Board,  which  will  make  alloca 
tions  to  individual  studios  out  of  its 
over-all  allotment. 

Officials  of  the  WPB  section  said 

(Continued  on  page  4) 


Col.  Adds,  Changes 
Eight  in  Publicity 


Further  expansion  of  Columbia's 
national  exploitation-publicity  activi- 
ties, has  been  effected  through  eight 
promotions  and  additions  to  the  home 
office  and  field  staffs,  as  disclosed 
here  yesterday  by  Frank  P.  Rosen- 
berg, national  director  of  advertising- 
publicity. 

Ted  Baldwin,  who  joined  Columbia 
from  the  hotel  publicity  field  in  1942. 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


Variety  Clubs  Eying 
N.  Y.  for  Fall  Meet 

National  Variety  Clubs  will  hold 
their  1944  convention  early  in  the 
Fall,  with  New  York  a  possibility  as 
the  convention  city.  Previous  plans 
to  meet  in  the  Spring  have  been  aban- 
doned because  of  the  appointment  of 
Robert  O'Donnell,  chief  barker,  as 
chairman  of  the  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive. 

_  Final  arrangements  for  the  conven- 
tion will  be  completed  after  Aug.  L 
when  O'Donnell  will  have  finished  his 
bond  drive  duties.  The  convention  is 
scheduled  to  run  three  days. 

Since  only  a  limited  number  of 
local  barkers  are  expected  to  attend, 
several  tents  have  put  forth  proposals 
that  their  cities  be  the  scene  of  the 
convention.  If  none  of  three  cities 
under  consideration  is  approved,  the 
meeting  will  be  held  in  New  York  un- 
der the  auspices  of  the  national  or- 
ganization, such  as  was  the  Atlantic 
City  convention  some  years  back. 

The  last  convention  was  held  in 
Chicago  in   February,  1943. 


British  Ticket  Tax 
Remains  at  33-1/3% 

London,  April  25.  —  The 
Chancellor  of  the  Exchequer 
presented  the  new  budget  to 
the  House  of  Commons  today. 
As  previously  forecast  in 
Motion  Picture  Daily,  the  the- 
atre ticket  tax  will  remain 
unchanged.  At  present  it  is 
scaled  from  32  to  33-1/3  per 
cent. 


Ball  Charges  Para. 
Restrains  Trade 


Pittsburgh,  April  25.  —  Harry 
Xorman  Ball,  Philadelphia  owner  of 
the  Penn  Theatre  in  Ambridge,  has 
filed  suit  in  U.  S.  District  Court  here 
against  Paramount  Pictures,  operator 
and  stock-owner  in  Pennmore  Theatre 
Corp.,  of  which  A.  X.  Xolopoulos  is 
president,  and  which  owns  the  Penn. 

He  asks  that  the  defendant  be  re- 
strained from  removing  equipment, 
seats  and  furniture  from  the  Penn, 
claiming  that  defendant  has  conspired 
to  destroy  the  value  and  production 
possibilities  of  his  theatre  by  erecting 
another  building  nearby.  Also,  the 
plaintiff  states  that  acquisition  of 
stock  in  Pennmore  lessens  competi- 
tion and  is  in  restraint  of  trade,  in 
violation  of  the  Sherman  and  Clayton 
acts. 

The  Penn,  he  says,  is  in  his  pos- 
session under  a  lease  of  -May  22,  1937, 
with  terms  expiring  April  30,  1944. 

Attorneys  Roy  G.  Bostwick  and 
Jos.  W.  Henderson,  of  Thorp,  Bost- 
wick, Reed  and  Armstrong,  and  Raw- 
ley  and  Henderson,  filed  the  action. 


Manufacture 


Expands  Production  in 
Tight  Labor  Areas 


Washington,  April  25. — The 
manufacture  of  340  recently  au- 
thorized projector  units  may  be  ex- 
pedited by  the  revocation  of  a  War 
Production  Board  prohibition  against 
expanding  civilian  production  in  tight 
labor  areas,  it  was  learned  here  today. 
Permission  to  release  the  projectors, 
if  and  when  they  could  be  built,  was 
given  last  week  to  Allen  G.  Smith, 
chief  of  WPB's  theatre  equipment  sec- 
tion. 

The    relaxation    on  civilian 
production,  expected  to  be  de- 
fined within  the  next  day  or 
two,  will  solve  a  major  problem 
of  the  projector  program,  that 
of  producing  the  machines  with- 
out   imperilling    the  relative 
competitive  situation  of  the  sev- 
eral manufacturers. 
Looking  ahead  to  postwar  conversion 
and  recognizing  the  necessity  for  start- 
(Continued  on  page  4) 


Public  Tired  of  War 
Films,  Says  O'Shea 

Memphis,  April  25.— "Motion  pic- 
ture fans  want  escapist  films ;  they  are 
anxious  to  get  away  from  the  war 
and  are  demanding  more  musicals  and 
dramas  from  well  known  books,"  de- 
clared E.  K.  (Ted)  O'Shea,  M-G-M 
Eastern,  Southern  and  Canadian  sales 
manager,  in  a  press  interview  here. 
He  was  in  town  to  attend  the  induc- 
tion of  J.  F.  Willingham  as  manager 
of  the  company's  local  branch  office, 
replacing  Louis  C.  Ingram. 

O'Shea  left  here  today  to  continue 
a  tour  of  exchanges,  visiting  New 
Orleans,  Atlanta,  Charlotte  and 
Washington,  before  returning  to  the 
home  office  next  week. 


Stage  Shows 
Hit  by  Code 


Proposed  revisions  in  the  state  build- 
ing code  will  make  it  virtually  im- 
possible at  this  time  to  use  stage 
shows  because  of  extensive  building 
alterations  that  would  be  required, 
most  of  which  would  be  impossible  be- 
cause of  WPB  priorities.  New  York 
State  exhibitors,  who  have  been  study- 
ing proposed  revisions  for  the  state 
building  code  for  places  of  public  as- 

(Continued  on  page  4) 

Cancels  $600,000 
Extortionists'  Bail 

Federal  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe  yes- 

^onaLn^SCha^ed  baiI  a^regating 
$600,000  in  cash  posted,,  by  the  six  Ca- 
pone  gang  members  who  were  sen- 
tenced to  ten  years'  imprisonment  for 
extorting  more  than  $1,000,000  from 
the  film  industry. 

Half  of  the  amount  posted  by  the  six 
was  bail  for  the  extortion  case,  the 
other  half  being  bail  for  a  companion 
case,  soon  to  be  tried,  accusing  them 
of  mail  fraud  in  connection  with  the 
disposition  of  a  $1,500,000  fund  col- 
lected from  members  of  the  IATSE 
by  means  of  a  two  percent  wage  tax. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  26,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


BEN  GOETZ,  M-G-M  studio  man- 
aging   director,    has    armed  hi 
New  York  from  London. 

• 

Philip  Keen  an,  general  manager 
and  vice-president  of  Hillman  Publi- 
cations, left  yesterday  for  a  week's 
stay  in  Lakewood,  N.  J.  Harold 
Hutchins,  advertising  director,  has 
returned  to  the  Hillman  home  office 
from  Chicago. 

• 

W.  C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox 
Western  sales  manager,  and  Hal 
Horne,  advertising  and  publicity  di- 
rector, arrived  in  New  York  yester- 
day from  the  Coast  one  day  late,  due 
to  flood  delays  in  the  Midwest. 
• 

James  Coston,  Warner  Circuit 
Chicago  zone  manager ;  Moe  Silver, 
Pittsburgh  zone  manager,  and  Har- 
ry Fein  stein,  his  assistant,  will  re- 
turn to  their  respective  headquarters 
today  from  New  York. 

• 

John  Balaban,  Balaban  and  Katz 
Theatre  executive,  and  Nate  Platt, 
head  of  the  circuit's  stage  booking 
department,  left  for  Chicago  last  night 
after  a  New  York  visit. 

• 

Octavus  Roy  Cohen,  Jr.,  of  the 
Office  of  the  Co-ordinator  of  Jnter- 
American    Affairs,    was   married  to 
Katherine  Van  Ellen  Monday. 
• 

William  N.  Skirball,  head  of 
Skirball  Brothers  Circuit,  Cleveland, 
has  returned  to  that  city  after  two 
months  in  California. 

• 

John    Jenkins    of    Jenkins  and 
Bourgeois,   Dallas,   film  distributors, 
will  arrive  in  New  York  today. 
• 

Morris  L.  Ernst,  attorney,  is  in 
London  on  a  business  trip. 


Wallis  Prolonging 
His  Stay  in  N.  Y, 

Hal  Wallis  will  extend  his  New 
York  visit  into  next  week  in  order  to 
complete  conferences  on  several  pro- 
posals for  future  associations  which 
he  has  been  studying  since  his  arrival 
here  10  days  ago,  the  producer  said 
yesterday. 

Wallis  originally  planned  to  leave 
for  the  Coast  on  Eriday,  but  said 
yesterday  his  current  discussions  can 
not  be  completed  by  then.  He  said 
he  has  made  no  decision  as  to  his 
future  activity  yet. 


Coe  in  K.C.  Today, 
In  Dallas,  May  4 

Charles  Francis  Coe  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Producers  and  Distributors  of 
America  is  scheduled  to  address  the 
Kansas  City  Chamber  of  Commerce  at 
the  ■Muhlebach  Hotel  today.  He  will 
speak  in  Dallas  on  May  4  before  the 
Salesmanship  Club  of  Dallas  at  the 
Dallas  Athletic  Club.  Yesterday  he 
appeared  before  the  Minneapolis  Ex- 
ecutive and  Commerce  Association. 
All  are  part  of  the  industry's  goodwill 
promotional  series. 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


Hollywood,  April  25 
TTOLLYWOOD'S  most  excit- 
*  *■  ing  drama  these  days,  by 
any  and  all  odds,  continues  to  be 
the  unresolved  situation  at  Unit- 
ed Artists. 

It  is  more  than  an  intra-com- 
pany  squabble.  Its  weavings  and 
its  inter-weavings,  of  uncertain 
pattern  of  the  moment,  are  in- 
tricate enough  to  leave  impress 
on  producers,  their  product  and 
their  releasing  alliances.  That's 
where  the  theatreman  comes  in. 
■ 

Whether  Charlie  Chaplin  will 
go  down  the  line  sufficiently  to 
seek  an  injunction  for  receiver- 
ship is  viewed  in  several  lights. 
To  begin  with,  he  is  known  to 
have  made  such  a  statement. 

Some  analysts  incline  toward 
the  belief  this  is  a  "scare"  tactic 
on  his  part  and  that  he  won't  go 
through  because  he  is  a  one-third 
owner  of  the  company  which  he 
thereby  would  place  under  man- 
date of  the  courts. 

Other  analysts  incline  toward 
crediting  the  intention  as  a  pre- 
lude to  the  deed  itself  because 
Chaplin  is  as  actively  anti-David 
O.  Selznick  as  perhaps  he  can  be 
and  because  events  appear  to  be 
shaping  into  an  outline  which 
may  not  be  large  enough  to  hold 
both  of  them  in  the  same  com- 
pany. 

■ 

The  situation  has  one  amusing 
angle,  at  least.  It  was  Chaplin 
who  kept  Selznick  up  until  4:30 
one  morning  some  time  ago,  per- 
suasively arguing  with  him  to  ac- 
cept a  partnership  in  UA.  Either 
Selznick  did  not  want  it,  or  was 
playing  hard  to  get.  That  angle 
is  not  clear,  but  the  4:30  A.M. 
and  the  Chaplin  business  are. 

Now  that  David  O.  is  in,  and 
has  been  for  time,  Chaplin  ap- 
pears to  have  lost  interest  in  his 
original  enthusiasm  to  the  extent 
of  turning  away  from  Selznick 
and  of  allegedly  having  observed 
he  will  use  every  resource  and 
every  device  in  his  arsenal  to 
vitiate  the  deal. 

In  fact,  the  understanding  is 
Chaplin  recently  tried  to  per- 
suade Selznick  out  of  the  com- 
pany by  dangling  a  release  from 
the  latter's  arrangement  under 
which  he  is  committed  to  deliver 
five  pictures. 

■ 

Originally  on  the  signed  line 
to  deliver  ten  before  the  stock 
interest  held  in  escrow  actually 
became  his,  the  Selznick  deal 
subsequently  was  amended  to 
permit  him  to  deliver  five,  then 
make  up  his  mind  about  another 


five  after  which  the  stock  enters 
his  possession. 

It  is  not  believed,  however, 
that  David  has  any  escape  from 
the  commitments  on  the  first  five. 
Further,  it  is  not  believed  he 
seeks  any  escape,  but  intends  go- 
ing through.  This,  in  another 
form,  is  a  re-substantiation  of 
the  statement  made  by  him 
through  Danny  O'Shea,  presi- 
dent of  Vanguard,  that  Van- 
guard (another  name  for  Selz- 
nick) is  tying  the  future  to  UA. 
■ 

The  move  toward  operation 
by  management  through  manage- 
ment's designated  directors  as 
against  management  by  owner- 
ship undoubtedly  has  Selznick's 
sympathy  as  well  as  Mary  Pick- 
ford's.  He  reputedly  has  made 
this  observation : 

"Of  the  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  corporations  in  the  United 
State,  all  of  them  function  in 
their  management  through  direc- 
tors appointed  for  such  a  pur- 
pose. Only  with  United  Artists  is 
it  different. 

"Either    all    the    others  are 
wrong,    or    United    Artists  is 
right.  I  don't  think  UA  is." 
■ 

Not  widely  known  is  the  fact 
Selznick  held  an  option  on  the 
Korda  stock  about  four  months 
ago  at  $660,000.  It  was  his  in- 
tention to  buy  it  in,  not  on  his 
own  behalf  but  as  well  on  behalf 
of  the  other  partners,  meaning 
Miss  Pickford  and  Chaplin,  of 
course.  It  is  told  Chaplin  op- 
posed this  as  "premature."  Four 
months  later,  the  stock  was  ac- 
quired for  one  million,  the  mathe- 
matics demonstrating  pretty 
quickly  a  cost  of  $340,000  more 
than  it  need  have  been. 

It  is  told,  also,  that  Selznick 
was  urged  by  his  own  associates 
to  make  the  buy  on  his  own  and 
perhaps  re-sell  to  UA  at  some 
later  time.  This  was  turned 
down,  reportedly,  because  David 
did  not  want  to  become  a  half- 
owner  and,  presumably,  add  to 
the  internal  fires  which  have 
been  blazing  within  the  company. 

If  this  is  so,  on  the  other  hand, 
it  fails  to  jibe  with  the  impres- 
sion Selznick  ultimately  intends 
dominating  UA  as  he  would  ulti- 
mately endeavor  to  dominate  any 
setup  of  which  he  is  a  part. 
■ 

Insofar  as  Neil  Agnew  is  con- 
cerned, he  is  expected  to  be 
completely  autonomous.  Hugh 
Owen,  who  leaves  Paramount  to 
continue  an  old  association  with 
Agnew  at  Vanguard,  probably 
will  be  augmented  by  several 


DuMontNetDoubles, 
Reaches  $253,260 


Net  earnings  of  DuMont  Television 
Laboratories,  in  which  Paramount  has 
a  substantial  interest,  were  $253,260 
for  1943,  after  provision  for  Federal 
taxes  and  depreciation  but  before  U. 
S.  contract  renegotiation,  as  compared 
to  a  net  of  $130,164  in  1942  after  tax 
and  renegotiation  payments,  Allen 
DuMont,  president,  has  informed  t 
stockholders. 

Sales  for  1943  totaled  $4,648,345, 
compared  to  $2,172,824  in  1942.  Profit 
before  Federal  taxes  and  renegotia- 
tion were  $756,050,  compared  to  $190,- 
164  in  1942. 

DuMont  stockholders  will  hold  their 
annual  meeting  in  Passaic  next  Mon- 
day. On  the  agenda  is  a  proposal  to 
eliminate  reference  to  all  preferred 
stack  in  the  company's  certificate  of 
incorporation,  and  the  election  of  of- 
ficers and  directors. 

"During  the  year  we  disposed  of 
our  interest  in  Majestic  Radio  and 
Television  for  $137,000,  which  result- 
ed in  a  profit  of  $112,848  before  taxes," 
DuMont  reported,  disclosing  further 
that  DuMont  entered  1944  "with  the 
largest  backlog  of  unfilled  orders  on 
hand  it  has  ever  had,  over  $6,300,000 
of  signed  contracts  and  letters  of  in- 
tent which  it  is  expected  will  result 
in  additional  sales  amounting  to  $3,- 
600,000,  a  total  of  $9,900,000." 

"Net  current  assets  have  increased 
$273,618  during  the  year  to  $595,640 
as  of  January  2,  1944,"  according  to 
DuMont. 


others.  How  many  is  believed 
to  be  up  to  Agnew  through  de- 
cisions dictated  by  the  needs  of 
the  situation  as  he  alone  sees 
them. 

This  does  not  mean  setting  up 
sales  within  sales  and  it  does  not 
mean  the  authority  of  Grad 
Sears  and  Carl  Leserman  will  be 
threatened.  Agnew's  special  men 
may  pave  the  way  for  the  regu- 
lar UA  selling  crew.  They  may, 
probably  will,  sit  in  on  sales 
policy  governing  Selznick  and 
Vanguard  attractions. 

■ 

In  the  final  tally,  and  as  al- 
ready reported,  the  selling  will 
be  done  by  UA's  direct  force. 
And,  as  also  reported,  Selznick 
seeks  to  separate  himself  from 
the  worries  and  concerns  of  dis- 
tribution although  he  will  want 
to  be  kept  informed  on  what 
gives.  He  is  a  producer  and 
Agnew  is  a  distributor.  The 
definitions,  in  this  instance,  tell 
the  story. 

Selznick  appears  to  be  cog- 
nizant of  the  dangers  of  super- 
imposing sales  upon  sales  and, 
evidently,  sees  no  need  for  it. 
One  final  point  to  remember  in 
moving  these  jig-saw  pieces 
around  is  this : 

He  is  a  part  owner  of  UA. 
Why  would  he  want  to  endanger 
his  own  business  ? 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


-  eviEW!  M'G-M's 
PR GIRLS  AND  A 


two 


MUSICAL 
A I  LOR 


WERE  YOU  THERE 
MONDAY  NIGHT? 


Tke  rafters  rang! 
We  lielcl  Trade  Dcreenmgs 
In  tkeatres  so  you  could 
Hear  for  yourself 
Tlie  tkunder  of  a  HIT 
Tkat  soon  will 
Skake  a  nation! 
Joy  comes  to  America  — 
Pun  for  tke  millions 
Music,  romance,  talent  galore, 
Sigkts  to  see  witk  glee!  • 
"Two  Girls  and  A  Sailor" 
Is  one  of  M-G-M's  new  group 
Tke  Springtime  Five! 


won 


derful 


Jroup 


"TWO  GIRLS  AND  A  SAILOR" 

with  Van  Johnson,  June  Allyson,  Gloria  De  Haven, 
Jose  Iturhi,  Jimmy  Durante,  Gracie  Allen,  Lena 
Home,  Harry  James  and  His  Music  Makers  with 
Helen  Forrest,  Xavier  Cugat  and  His  Orchestra 
with  Lina  Romay,  Tom  Drake,  Henry  Stephenson, 
Henry  O'Neill,  Ben  Blue,  Carlos  Ramirez,  Frank 
Sully,  -  Albert  Coates,  Donald  Meek,  Amparo 
Novarro,  Virginia  O'Brien,  Wilde  Twins  •  Original 
Screen  Play  by  Richard  Connell  and  Gladys 
Lehman  •  An  M  -  G  -  M  Picture  •  Directed  by 
Richard  Thorpe     •     Produced  by  Joe  Pasternak 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  April  26,  1944 


Austrian  Seeks  Meetings 
To  Evolve  Tele.  Policies 


Probe  Pay,  Working 
Conditions  of 
Television  Actors 

(Continued  from  page  1) 


which  will  be  investigated,  it  is 
learned,  are  those  which  apply  to  un- 
reasonable hours  of  rehearsals ;  the 
working  of  the  actors  and  actresses 
for  small  remunerations  and  even  in 
some  cases  without  remuneration ;  and 
poor  lighting  and  ventilation  condi- 
tions which  are  considered  hazardous 
to  health. 

"The  committee  will  determine 
working  conditions  and  minimum  pay 
scales  for  television  during  this  ex- 
perimental period,"  the  statement  said, 
"and  will  decide  when  and  where  and 
to  what  extent  these  will  be  put  into 
practice."  In  further  setting  forth 
future  policy  the  committee  directs 
that  all  members  who  may  be  work- 
ing in  television  or  who  may  be  ap-v 
proached  for  work  in  television  must 
understand  that  no  outside  organiza- 
tion may  speak  for  them  in  the  field, 
or  negotiate  for  conditions  of  work 
or  pay  in  television. 

The  committee  stated  that  "all 
members  are  further  instructed  that 
when  they  work  in  television  they 
must  report  to  their  own  union  the 
conditions  under  which  they  work,  the 
hours  of  rehearsal  and  the  pay  they 
receive." 

The  joint  committee  consists  of 
Walter  Abel,  Murray  Kinnell  and 
Florence  Marston,  representing  SAG ; 
Paul  Dullzell,  Walter  N.  Greaza,  Paul 
N.  Turner,  Rebecca  Brownstein  and 
Alfred  Harding,  representing  Equity, 
and  Emily  Holt  and  George  Heller, 
representing  AFRA. 


Col.  Adds,  Changes 
Eight  in  Publicity 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

will  take  care  of  special  promotion 
from  the  home  office;  Henry  Spiegel, 
who  has  been  with  Columbia  for  four 
years,  has  been  moved  up  to  assistant 
exploitation  manager  under  Harry  K. 
McWilliams,  exploitation  head; 
George  Ettinger,  with  the  company 
since  1938,  will  handle  radio  publicity. 

Merlin  Lewis  joins  the  home  office 
exploitation  staff  after  16  years  with 
the  New  York  Times,  Paramount, 
Loew's,  and  Warners ;  Donald  C. 
Spaulding  is  resigning  as  assistant 
drama  editor  of  the  New  York  Daily 
Mirror  to  join  Columbia's  exploitation 
department  on  May  8 ;  Ronnie  Ames, 
formerly  with  RKO,  has  been  engaged 
as  Columbia  field  representative  in 
the  Southwest  with  headquarters  in 
Dallas ;  Samuel  Siegel  becomes 
Northwest  field  representative  with 
headquarters  in  Seattle,  also  assisting 
Mike  Newman  in  the  Western  Divi- 
sion ;  Jay  Burton  and  Dick  Richman 
are  other  newcomers  to  the  home 
office  exploitation  staff. 


Schuyler  Clearance 
Dismissal  Appealed 

Schuyler  Theatres,  Inc.,  operating 
the  Schuyler  Theatre,  New  York,  has 
filed  an  appeal  from  a  dismissal  of  its 
clearance  complaint  against  RKO, 
Loew's  and  20th  Century-Fox  at  the 
New  York  arbitration  tribunal,  the 
American  Arbitration  Association  re- 
ported here  yesterday. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  Radio  Technical  Planning  Board 
which  is  now  giving  consideration  to 
the  problems  of  channels  for  telecast- 
ing. RTPB  will  eventually  make  rec- 
ommendations to  the  Federal  Com- 
munications Commission  on  the 
allocations  of  channels  and  it  is  felt 
that  the  film  industry  without  rep- 
resentation on  RTPB  might  be  de- 
prived of  channels  it  would  need  to 
make  the  piping  of  television  programs 
into  theatres  possible. 

The  Society  of  Motion  Picture  En- 
gineers is  understood  to  have  a  rep- 
resentative on  RTPB  but  it  is  felt 
that  the  industry  itself  should  have 
more  direct  representation.  Besides 
Paramount  and  20th  Century-Fox, 
which  have  definite  direct  television 
interests,  RKO,  Loew's  M-G-M  and 
Warner  Bros,  are  known  to  be  close- 
ly watching  television  developments 
with  the  idea  of  possible  eventual  ap- 
plication of  the  medium  to  their  the- 
atres. 

The  application  of  television  to 
theatres  as  presently  being  discussed 

WPB  May  Expedite 
Projector  Supply 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
ing  all  manufacturers  evenly  in  the 
race  for  the  civilian  market,  Smith 
has  been  anxious  that  his  projector 
programs  at  all  times  be  so  allocated 
as  to  maintain  the  1941  position  of 
all  factors  in  the  industry.  Since  a 
number  of  manufacturers  of  equip- 
ment and  components  for  projectors 
are  located  in  the  tight  labor  areas, 
this  has  been  a  problem  of  no  small 
magnitude. 

At  the  same  time,  Smith  sees  in  the 
relaxation  of  the  prohibition  an  oppor- 
tunity to  make  maximum  use  of  man 
and  machine  hours  of  manufactures  en- 
gaged in  war  work.  He  pointed  out 
that  in  some  instances  war  contracts 
do  not  occupy  all  of  the  time  of  a 
plant  and  in  others  programs  are  cut 
back  and  contracts  cancelled,  often  to 
be  reinstalled,  sometimes  on  an  ex- 
panded basis,  in  a  short  time,  while  the 
civilian  work  heretofore  permissible 
has  not  always  taken  up  all  the  slack. 

In  the  case  of  plants  losing  war  con- 
tracts, the  ability  to  go  into  civilian 
production  will  enable  the  manufactur- 
ers to  keep  their  forces  intact. 

86th  St.  Grande  Sued 
By  'U'  and  Loew's 

Big  "U"  Film  Exchange,  Inc.,  and 
Universal  have  filed  suit  in  Federal 
Court  here  against  Sanfrebob  TJaea- 
tre  Corp  and  Nathan  Steinberg,  oper- 
ators of  the  86th  St.  Grande  Theatre, 
for  allegedly  unlawfully  exhibiting 
"You're  a  Sweetheart"  on  Aug.  25, 
1943.  Plaintiffs  seek  an  injunction 
from  further  infringements,  damages 
of  $250  for  each  alleged  infringement 
and  an  accounting. 

Loew's  similarly  charge  exhibition 
of  "Tortilla  Flat"  and  "San  Fran- 
cisco" on  Aug.  25  and  26,  1943.  Phil- 
lips, Nizer,  Benjamin  and  Krim, 
attorneys,  filed  both  actions. 


involves  principally  the  telecasting  of 
spot-news  programs  and  even  stage 
shows  to  theatres  in  a  city  through 
special  channels  allocated  for  the  pur- 
pose or  by  direct  telephone  lines.  Pro- 
vision for  the  channels  must  be  made 
when  the  FCC  finally  decides  upon  a 
reallocation  of  channels  for  both  tele- 
vision and  frequency-modulation  broad- 
casting. When  television  networks 
become  available  through  the  contem- 
plated coaxial  cable  and  other 
constructions  of  the  American  Tele- 
phone and  Telegraph  Company  and 
General  Electric  theatres  would  be  able 
to  pick  up  telecasts  from  other  cities 
either  directly  or  through  specially 
allocated  channels. 

In  view  of  these  considerations  it  is 
felt  that  the  film  industry  must  pre- 
sent a  united  front  in  seeking  the  tele- 
casting channels  it  would  require.  The 
conference  suggested  by  Austrian  has 
not  been  set  as  yet.  Austrian  was 
designated  by  RKO  to  make  a  study 
of  the  company's  possible  participation 
in  television.  His  report  is  now  be- 
fore the  RKO  board  of  directors. 


Stage  Shows  Hit  by 
New  Building  Code 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

sembly,  prepared  by  the  Department 
of  Labor  to  apply  to  all  places  outside 
of  Metropolitan  New  York,  have  so 
told  Senator  J.  Henry  Walters,  RKO 
attorney,  who  has  been  acting  as  con- 
tact with  State  authorities. 

The  proposals  are  said  to  require 
changes  to  tighten  up  fire  laws,  es- 
pecially as  they  relate  to  exits,  dra- 
peries, curtains,  combustible  materials, 
and  other  items. 

Exhibitors  were  first  apprised  of  the 
proposed  revisions  at  a  meeting  called 
here  by  Senator  Walters  on  April  6. 
A  committee  will  be  selected  at  a 
meeting  to  be  held  at  Senator  Walters' 
office  on  Friday  to  represent  exhib- 
itors in  discussions  with  the  State 
Labor  Department. 

Circuit  representatives  who  are 
scheduled  to  meet  in  Senator  Walters' 
office  on  Friday  include  Al  Naroff, 
Brandt  Theatres ;  Martin  J.  Tracey, 
Century  ;  Jonas  B.  Zab,  Cinema  ;  John 
NolanH  Comerford  ;  Philip  F.  Harling, 
Fabian  ;  Harry  Moskowitz ;  Loew's  ; 
Charles  Brouda,  Paramount  legal  de- 
partment; J.  Guy  Selmser,  Schine ; 
Walter  F.  J.  Higgins,  Seider ;  Jules 
W.  Catsiff,  Skouras;  H.  R.  Maier, 
Warners.  • 


NBC  Party  for  Cantor 

National  Broadcasting  will  fete 
Eddie  Cantor  at  a  reception  and  sup- 
per at  the  Hotel  Ambassador  here 
tonight  following  his  broadcast  from 
the  Hunter  College  Waves  Training 
School.  Members  of  the  press  have 
been  invited. 


Martin  Leaves  MPPDA 

Ray  W.  Martin,  recently  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Dis- 
tributors of  America  office  here,  has 
joined  the  advertising  staff  of  Guide 
Magazines. 


Coast  Flashes 


JACK  L.  WARNER,  who  had 
planned  to  leave  for  the  East  late 
this  week,  may  again  postpone  his 
trip  due  to  pressure  of  activity  at  the 
studio. 

• 

Edward  C.  Raftery,  Gradwell  L. 
Sears  and  Carl  Leserman  left  for  the 
East  today  on  the  Superchief  followir- 
the  United  Artists  special  board  of 
rectors'  meeting  yesterday.  Accorh 
panying  them  was  Isaac  Pennypacker, 
Philadelphia  attorney  representing 
Mary  Pickford. 

• 

Walter  Lantz  will  produce  13  car- 
toons for  Universal  next  season,  all 
in  Technicolor. 


Gov't  Easing  Raw 
Stock  for  Studios 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

today  that  the  supply  situation  is  any- 
thing but  easy,  but  it  is  believed  that 
essential  needs  of  producers  can  be 
met,  at  least  for  the  third  quarter  and, 
probably,"  also  the  final  quarter  of  this 
year. 

It  was  also  stated  that  manufactur- 
ers of  16mm  film  are  running  their 
perforators  on  three  shifts,  evidence 
that  there  is  no  possibility  of  expand- 
ing production,  which  already  is  some 
seven  times  as  great  as  in  the  pre- 
war periods  and,  so  far  this  year,  is 
showing  an  increase  of  50  per  cent 
over  1943. 

The  continuing  expansion  of  the 
training  programs  of  the  services  is 
requiring  a  tremendous  supply  of  the 
film,  it  was  said.  The  training  pic- 
tures are  shown  to  men  who  are  en- 
gaged in  operations  as  well  as  to  those 
undergoing  basic  training,  keeping 
them  instructed  in  new  developments. 
The  narrow  film  also  is  used  in  gun 
cameras  of  planes,  and  for  other  pur- 
poses where  the  use  of  35mm  equip- 
ment is  impracticable. 

The  cut  back  of  military  require- 
ments will  free  probably  only  a  few 
million  feet,  it  was  said,  but  will  af- 
ford some  slight  relief  from  almost 
total  lack  of  supplies  in  some  sec- 
tions which  has  prevailed  over  a  num- 
ber of  weeks. 


Robert  Velaise  Forms 
Scoop  Productions 

Scoop  Productions  has  been  formed 
here  by  Robert  W.  Velaise,  former 
Loew  executive  in  Europe,  to  produce 
and  distribute  feature-length  docu- 
mentaries. Velaise,  who  is  president 
of  Scoop  Louisville,  Inc.,  and  Scoop 
14th  Street  Corp.,  owners  of  theatres 
in  New  York  and  Louisville,  will  have 
offices  at  363  Lexington  Ave.  Morris 
Lev  has  been  named  general  manager. 

First  Scoop  production,  "One  Inch 
from  Victory"  (Hitler's  Russian  Sur- 
prise) opens  at  the  Stanley  here  to- 
morrow. It  was  produced  by  Noel 
Meadow  and  Lev.  Quentin  Reynolds 
wrote  and  narrated  the  commentary. 

Negotiations  are  under  way  for 
domestic  distribution  of  "One  Inch" 
with  a  view  to  securing  a  major  dis- 
tributor. If  unsuccessful,  Scoop  will 
sell  the  film  to  independent  distribu- 
tors. Scoop  is  also  negotiating  for 
the  picture's  sale  in  foreign  countries. 


First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


to  the 
Picture 
Industry 


tion 


VOL.  55.  NO.  83 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  APRIL  27,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


68  Features 
For  Republic 
In  1944-45 


Program  Increased  by  2 
Over  Current  Year 


Hollywood,  April  26.  —  Repub- 
lic's 1944-45  product  commitment 
has  been  set  at  68"  features  and 
Westerns  and  four  serials,  an  in- 
crease of  two 
over  the  current 
year,  Herbert  J 
Yates,  board 
chairman,  has 
disclosed  here. 
There  will  be  32 
straight  fea- 
tures, compared 
with  30  this 
year ;  eight  Roy 
Rogers'  produc- 
tions, same  as 
this  season  ; 
eight  Red  Ryder 
features  starring 
"Wild  Bill"  El- 
liot, who  this 
year  is  appearing  in  the  same  number 
of  non-Ryder  pictures ;  eight  "Smiley" 

(.Continued  on  page  13) 


S  hour  as  Will  Return 
To  N.  Y.  Next  Week 

London,  April  26. — Spyros 
Skouras,  president  of  20th 
Century-Fox,  is  expected  to 
leave  here  for  New  York  next 
week  after  completion  of  a 
deal  with  J.  Arthur  Rank  and 
Loew's  for  the  transfer  to 
Rank  of  Ostrer  Brothers' 
Metropolis  &  Bradford  Trust 
Co.  stock,  controlling  Gau- 
mount-British. 

Larry  Kent,  Skouras'  execu- 
tive assistant,  is  reported  to 
be  en  route  to  New  York. 


Herbert  J.  Yates 


'Cantinflas'  to  RKO 
For  $200,000 


Mexico  City,  April  26. — "Cantin- 
flas,"  comedian,  and  considered  Mex- 
ico's leading  money-making  player, 
has  been  signed  by  RKO  Radio  for 
one  picture,  at  $200,000.  Contract 
specifies  that  the  film  be  made  in  Mex- 
ico, but  that  it  be  in  English.  Deal 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


Bank  Loans  $835,000 
To  Mexican  Industry 

Mexico  City,  April  26.— Ban- 
co Cinematografico,  S.  A.,  the 
Mexican  film  industry's  own 
bank,  made  loans  and  credits 
in  the  amount  of  $835,000  in 
the  first  quarter  of  this  year 
to  various  interests  of  the 
industry  here,  Carlos  Gar- 
riedo  Galvan,  the  bank's  pres- 
ident, reports. 

Producers,  studios  and  ex- 
hibitors were  the  principal 
beneficiaries.  The  bank  was 
inaugurated  in  1938  by  the 
Mexican  industry  and  the 
Federal  Government. 


10,000  Give 
Wac  Pledges 


Over  10,000  film  theatres  have  al- 
ready been  pledged  to  active  partici- 
pation in  the  industry's  "Women's 
Army  Corps  Recruiting  Week"  May 
11-17,  according  to  reports  sent  by 
WAC  area  chairmen  to  Edward  L 
Alperson,  drive  chairman,  at  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee  headquarters  here. 

Field  chairmen  and  the  number  of 
theatres  pledged  in  their  respective 
areas  are:  Lou  R.  Golding,  Albany. 
216  ;  William  K.  Jenkins,  Atlanta,  677  ; 
Charles  Hayman,  Buffalo,  286:  Sam 
Pinanski,  Boston,  757;  H.  F.  Kincey, 
Charlotte,  551 ;  John  Balaban,  Chi- 
cago, 676;  Arthur  Frudenfeld,  Cin- 
cinnati, 665;  Robert  Kelly  for  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  Dallas,  986;  'Rick'  Ricket- 
son,  Denver,  292 ;  H.  J.  Fitzgerald, 
Milwaukee,  371. 

Also,  Harry  Lowenstein  and  Don 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


Hazen  Will  Act  for 
Decree  Companies 
At  Clark  Meeting 

Washington,  April  26. — Joseph  H. 
Hazen,  who  resigned  as  Warner  Bros 
vice-president  and  counsel  two  "weeks 
ago,  has  agreed  to  continue  to  act 
as    liaison  for 
consent  decree 
companies 
in  their  negotia- 
tions   with  the 
Department  of 
Justice  for  revi- 
sions of  the  de- 
cree, it  became 
known  here  to- 
day. 

In  that  capac- 
ity, Hazen  will 
meet  with  As- 
sistant U.  S.  At- 
torney General 
Tom  C.  Clark 
in  New  York 
tomorrow  to  agree  upon  time,  place 
and  topics  for  a  meeting  with  all  com- 
pany attorneys  on  Friday,  when  they 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


Joseph  H.  Hazen 


O'Donnell  Outlines 
Fifth  Loan  Drive 


Ways  and  means  of  marshalling  and 
focusing  the  showmanship  of  the  in- 
dustry on  the  Fifth  War  Loan,  Jun<j 
12-July  8,  were  discussed  at  a  meet- 
ing this  week  of  publicity,  advertising 
and  exploitation  heads  of  the  indus- 
try, here,  and  others.     The  meeting 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


Sound  Men  to  Get  Raise; 
Gains  for  Local  52  Also 


Up  to  $200,000  in 
MGM  Book  Award 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  set  $175,000 
as  a  possible  high  in  its  first  annual 
novel  award,  with  a  minimum  of  $125,- 
000;  whether  the  winning  book  is 
filmed  or  not.  Also,  the  publisher  of 
the  winning  novel  will  receive  $25,- 
000,  making  a  possible  maximum  total 
award  of  $200,000. 

Judges  of  the  first  contest  were  also 
announced  as  follows :  Harry  Hanson, 
literary  critic  of  the  New  York  World- 
Te!  eg  rani';  Amy  Loveman,  associate 
editor  of  The  Saturday  Reviciv  of 
Literature,  and  Sidney  Franklin,  M- 

(Covtinucd  on  page  13) 


Contracts  are  expected  to  be  signed 
early  next  week  between  IATSE  and 
Altec  Service,  RCA  and  the  large 
circuits  who  have  their  own  sound 
servicing  departments,  covering  some 
500  sound  engineers  who  service  pro- 
jection and  sound  equipment  of  thea- 
tre^. 

The  new  contracts  being  drawn 
provide  for  a  ten  per  cent  increase  for 
these  workers,  bringing  the  present 
minimum  scale  of  $84  to  $92  weekly ; 
recognition  of  the  official  IATSE  roll 
call  in  assigning  workers ;  seniority 
provisions ;  payment  for  overtime 
work;  adjustments  of  hours  in  Metro- 
politan districts,  and  other  provisions. 
Louis  Krouse,  IATSE  general  sec- 
(.Continued  on  page  14) 


4  New  Board 
Members  Set 
For  20th-Fox 


Ballot  May  16  Also  on 
Stock  for  Officials 


Four  new  directors  will  be 
elected  by  20th  Century-Fox  at  its 
annual  stockholders  meeting  on 
May  16.  In  addition  the  stock- 
holders will  be  requested  to  act  upon 
a  proposal  for  the  sale  of  stock  to 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  Elmer  C.  Rho- 
den,  Harold  J.  Fitzgerald  and  F.  H. 
Ricketson,  Jr.,  in  the  respective  20th- 
Fox  theatre  operating  subsidiaries 
which  they  head. 

The  stockholders  will  also  be 
asked  to  approve  granting  of 
common  stock  options  to  cer- 
tain officers  of  the  company. 
The  officers  qualified  to  receive 
the  options  have  not  yet  been 
designated  by  the  board;  but 
the  company's  proxy  statement, 

(Continued  on  page  14) 


1,125  More  Houses 
Pledge  to  M-G-M 

Four  more  circuits,  representing  1,- 
125  theatres,  have  sent  pledges  of  sup- 
port to  play  at  least  one  M-G-M 
subject  during  the  latter's  20-year 
anniversary  observation,  June  22-28. 
They  make  a  total  of  2,315  pledges  tc 
date. 

Charles  P.  Skouras,  president  of  Na- 
tional Theatres,  with  525  houses,  has 
pledged.  Also :  Harry  Kalmine,  War- 
ner Bros.  Circuit,  450  theatres ;  Ed- 
ward L.  Alperson,  RKO,  105  thea- 
tres, and  Jack  Shea,  Jamestown 
Amusement  Corp.,  55  theatres. 


May  Limit  Rail  Use 
To  Essential  Trips 

Washington,  April  26.  — 
Suggestions  that  buyers  of 
railroad  tickets  be  asked  to 
sign  slips  attesting  their  trips 
are  necessary  are  being  con- 
sidered by  Office  of  Defense 
Transportation  officials,  but 
solely  as  a  means  of  curbing 
the  summer  vacation  traffic 
and  not  as  a  limitation  on 
business  travel,  it  was  learn- 
ed today.  The  film  industry 
is  a  large-scale  user  of  rail 
transportation. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  27.  1944 


Personal 
Mention 

CHARLES  P.  SKOURAS;  presi- 
dent of  National  Theatres,  accom- 
panied by  A.  J.  Krappman,  his  execu- 
tive assistant,  left  yesterday  for  St. 
Louis,  and  will  leave  from  there  for 
.Los  Angeles. 

• 

Cpl.  Aloysius  Cannon,  formerly 
of  the  Capitol,  Hazleton,  Pa.,  has  been 
cited  by  President  Roosevelt  for  meri- 
torious service  in  India  where  he  has 
been  stationed  with  the  India-China- 
Burma  Wing  of  the  American  Air 
Transport  Command. 

• 

Ensign  Ray  Essick,  associated 
with  his  father,  P.  E.  Essick,  in  op- 
eration of  the  Scoville,  Essick  and 
Reif  circuit,  Cleveland,  home  on  leave, 
has  been  assigned  to  Harvard  Uni- 
versity for  training. 

• 

T.  Scott  Goebel,  manager  of  the 
Cameo  Theatre,  Bristol,  Tenn.,  is  at 
Kings  Mountain  Memorial  Hospital, 
in  that  city,  following  a  paralytic 
stroke. 

• 

Harry  Thomas,  Monogram  East^ 
ern  division  manager,  left  New  York 
yesterday  on  a  visit  to  Philadelphia 
and  Washington. 

• 

Thomas  Carey",  Comerford  The- 
atres, Waverly,  N.  Y.,  district  mana- 
ger, has  been  accepted  for  service  in 
the  Navy. 

• 

Gertrude  L.  Tracy,  manager  of 
Loew's  Ohio,  Cleveland,  is  vacation- 
ing at  Hot  Springs,  Ark. 

Loyu  Wright,  Hollywood  film  at- 
torney, is  scheduled  to  arrive  in  New 
York  today. 

• 

Harry  Seed,  Warner  Midwest  dis- 
trict manager,  has  returned  to  Chicagc 
from  New  York. 

• 

Seymour    Borde,    RKO  Chicago 
salesman,  has  returned  from  a  vaca- 
■  tion  in  Florida. 


Reiner  Addresses  AMP  A 

Manny  Reiner,  film  publicist,  recent- 
ly returned  from  an  Office  of  War  In- 
formation assignment  in  Iceland,  will 
be  a  speaker  at  today's  annual  AM  PA 
meeting  at  the  Hotel  Piccadilly  here. 
Reiner  and  Robert  Weitman,  manag- 
ing director  of  the  Paramount  The- 
atre, will  be  guests  of  honor.  The 
agenda  includes  election  of  officers  and 
the  presentation  of  an  honorary 
AM  PA  membership  to  Weitman. 

Krouskup  Succeeds 
Weinberg  at  Ken 

Chicago,  April  26.— Mrs.  Marian 
Krouskup,  formerly  with  the  Mar  The- 
atre, Wilmington,  111.,  and  Universal 
theatres  in  the  WTest,  succeeds  W.  A. 
Weinberg,  who  resigned  at  the  week- 
end, as  manager  of  the  Ken  Theatre, 
it  was  announced  here  by  the  Mar's 
managing  director.  Benjamin  Bano- 
witz. 


World  Premiere  at 
Home  of  Wassell 


Little  Rock,  Ark.,  April  26. — Lit- 
tle Rock  citizens  paid  tribute  today 
to  a  heroic  son  of  Arkansas,  Com- 
mander Corydon  M.  Wassell,  in  a 
series  of  events  climaxed  by  the  pre- 
miere showing  of  Cecil  B.  De  Mille's 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  at  Robb 
and  Rowley's  Capitol  and  Arkansas 
theatres. 

The  events  included  a  Chamber  of 
Commerce  luncheon  for  400,  a  parade, 
dinner  and  supper  party  following  the 
premiere.  Hollywood  visitors  were 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cecil  B.  De  Mille  and 
Signe  Hasso  and  Carol  Thurston, 
who  appear  in  the  picture.  De  Mille, 
who  spoke  at  both  the  luncheon  and 
stage  ceremonies  was  made  an  honor- 
ary* "Arkansas  Traveler"  and  good 
will  ambassador  for  the  state.  Dr. 
Wassell  also  spoke  at  both  functions. 

Melvin  Francis  Welcomed 

Getting  a  large  hand  at  all  events 
was  Melvin  Francis,  one  of  the  sail- 
ors saved  by  the  doctor  and  the  only 
one  of  the  group  to  play  himself  in 
the  picture.  Also  attending  the  pre- 
miere were  Maj.  General  H.  E.  White; 
commanding  officer  at  Camp  Robin- 
son; Rear  Admiral  Percy  W.  Foote, 
of  Houston,  Tex.,  and  Rear  Admiral 
E.  C.  White,  representing  Vice-Ad- 
miral Ross  T.  Mclntire,  surgeon  gen- 
eral of  the  U.  S.  Navy. 

Three  days  of  functions  honored 
Commander  Wassell,  a  native  of  Little 
Rock  and  former  city  health  officer. 
Opening  event  was  the  nationwide 
"Vox  Pop"  broadcast,  which  originat- 
ed from  station  KLRA  here  on  Mon- 
day night.  Yesterday  De  Mille,  Miss 
Hasso,  Miss  Thurston,  Governor  Ad- 
kins  of  Arkansas,  Admiral  White  and 
others  entertained  the  troops  at  Camp 
Robinson. 

HartmanAsks  $65,000 
For  Contract  Breach 

Los  Angeles,  April  26. — Don  Hart- 
man  has  filed  suit  in  Superior  Court 
here  against  Samuel  Goldwyn,  asking 
$65,000,  which  he  claims  he  would 
have  received  during  the  remainder  of 
an  associate  producer  contract  that  he 
asserted  Goldwyn  terminated  on 
March  30  by  discharging  him.  The 
complaint  charges  that  Goldwyn  ridi- 
culed Hartman  and  did  not  accord 
him  due  respect. 


GPE  3-Month  Net 
Up  to  $318,946 

General  Precision  Equipment  Corp. 
and  subsidiaries  report  for  the  three 
months  ended  March  31,  consolidated 
net  profit  of  $318,946  after  provision 
for  depreciation,  taxes,  U.  S.  contract 
renegotiation  and  contingencies.  These 
earnings,  which  are  subject  to  year- 
end  adjustments,  compare  with  net 
profit  of  $293,082  for  the  correspond- 
ing period  of  1943. 


MGM  Auditors  End  Meet 

M-G-M  auditors  concluded  a  two- 
day  meeting  here  yesterday  at  the 
Hotel  Astor.  Fifteen  from  the  field 
and  several  home  office  executives,  at- 
tended. 


Bostonians  Send 
Relics  of  Japs 

Boston,  April  26.— The  in- 
dustry here  is  building  a 
unique  display  of  war  souve- 
nirs, through  the  Macaulay 
(Theatrical)  American  Post, 
which  has  contacted  members 
of  the  local  industry  sta- 
tioned all  over  the  Globe. 

Mayor  Tobin  donated  a 
building  on  Boston  Common 
for  the  display,  which  already 
includes  such  items  as  cap- 
tured Jap  flags,  money  from 
Guadalcanal,  souvenirs  from 
Bizerte,  machine  guns,  grass 
(hula  hula)  skirts,  snipers' 
tree-climbing  spikes,  Jap  pis- 
tols (made  in  Belgium),  Ger- 
man battle  flags  from  Italy, 
captured  plane  parts,  etc.  One 
captured  Jap  flag  was  auto- 
graphed by  21  Boston-area 
film  boys. 

Player  Dispute  Ends, 
Mexico  Resumes 

Mexico  City,  April  26. — Produc- 
tion here  has  resumed  after  a  halt  of 
several  weeks  caused  by  a  dispute  be- 
tween tne  National  Cinematographic 
Industry  Workers  Union  and  film 
players  over  the  latter's  formation  of 
their  own  guild.  Peace  resulted  after 
the  Federal  board  of  Conciliation  and 
Arbitration  ruled  that  producers  might 
engage  any  players  they  wished, 
whether  they  were  members  of  the 
union  or  the  NCIWU. 

Players  appealed  to  President  Man- 
uel Avila  Camacho  to  act  in  the  dis- 
pute which  seriously  affected  Mexi- 
can production.  The  National  Mexi- 
can Actors  Union  has  been  putting  on 
benefits  to  aid  players  pinched  by  the 
production  halt. 


Eddie  Cantor  Feted 
At  NBC  Party  Here 

New  York  trade  and  newspaper 
radio  representatives  and  columnists, 
Young  and  Rubicam  advertising 
agency  executives  and  National  Broad- 
casting officials  were  among  the  100 
guests  at  a  reception  party  and  buffet 
supper  given  to  Eddie  Cantor  at  the 
Hotel  Ambassador  here  last  night. 

The  party  followed  Cantor's  first 
broadcast  from  New  York  on  his  cur- 
rent trip.  The  program  originated 
from  Hunter  College  Waves  Training 
School  with  the  actor  and  his  troupe 
providing  an  additional  half-hour  show 
for  the  Waves  following  the  broad- 
cast. Newspaper  representatives  also 
attended  the  broadcast  and  show. 


UA  Workers  Receive 
Christmas  Bonuses 

United  Artists  employees  in  the 
home  office  and  in  all  exchanges,  re- 
ceived their  belated  one  week's  Christ- 
mas bonus  yesterday,  following  the 
approval  given  by  the  War  Labor 
Board,  upon  U.A.'s  filing  an  appeal 
from  the  previous  rejection  by  the 
WLB  agency  to  the  company's  original 
request  last  December. 


Coming 
Events 

Today — AMPA  annual  meeting  and 
election,  Hotel  Piccadilly,  New- 
York. 

Today — Film  committee  of  United 
Jewish  Appeal  drive  meeting, 
Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 

May  7 — Theatrical  organizations' 
testimonial  dinner  for  Eddie  Can- 
tor, Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 

May  15 — Deadline  for  filing  new 
U.  S.  Revenue  Bureau  reports  by 
all  unions  and  guilds. 

May  16 — RKO  "war  bond"  golf 
tournament,  Westchester  Coun- 
try Club,  New  York. 

May  24-25 — Spring  directors'  meet- 
ing, National  Allied,  Philadelphia. 

May  29 — National  convention,  IAT- 
SE,  St.  Louis. 

June  12-July  8 — Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign. 

June  20 — Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
New  Jersey  observance  of  silver 
jubilee,  Hotel  Chelsea,  Atlantic 
City. 

'306'-  Honors  Kravitz, 
Business  Agent 

Morris  Kravitz,  business  agent  of 
New  York  IATSE  projectionist's 
Local  306  was  given  a  testimonial  din- 
ner by  some  300  members  of  the  union 
and  friends  elsewhere  in  the  industry 
at  the  Hotel  Sharon  here  last  night. 
Kravitz  was  presented  with  an  oil 
painting  of  his  son,  T/Sgt.  Milton 
Kravitz. 

Among  those  invited  from  the  indus- 
try were:  Major  L.  E.  Thompson, 
RKO;  C.  C.  Moskowitz,  Joseph  R. 
Vogel  and  Lester  Isaac,  Loew's  ;  Wil- 
liam White,  Skouras ;  Bert  Sanford. 
Altec;  William  Hartman,  RCA,  and 
Richard  F.  Walsh  and  Louis  Krouse. 
IATSE. 

To  Examine  Schenck 
In  Grafton  Suit 

Examination  before  trial  of  Nicholas 
M.  Schenck,  president  of  Loew's,  will 
begin  tomorrow,  in  the  $1,000,000  dam- 
age suit  pending  in  Federal  Court 
here  against  Loew's  as  filed  by  Graf- 
ton Films.  Further  examination  of 
William  F.  Rodgers,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution,  and  'Howard 
Dietz,  advertising-publicity  director, 
will  be  resumed  following  Schenck's 
examination. 

The  suit  alleges  improper  distribu- 
tion of  Grafton's  "The  Stars  Look 
Down." 

Odeon  Expansion  Is 
On,  Gets  2  More 

Toronto,  April  26. — Describing  its 
operations  as  "steadily  growing," 
Odeon  Theatres,  nearest  competitor  to 
Famous  Players  Canadian,  has  added 
two  more  key  theatres.  The  pur- 
chase of  the  Capitol  at  St.  John,  and 
the  Sturgeon  Falls  at  Sturgeon  Falls, 
Out.  has  been  disclosed  by  Haskell 
Masters,  general  manager  of  Odeon. 
Both  houses  were  purchased  from  the 
Oscar  Hanson  interests. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief:  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York.'' 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.-  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham  News 
I'-ditor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Bumup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International.  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


THE  TRANSCONTINENl 


IN  200 
CHOSEN  THEATRES 


ADVANCE  ENGAGEMENTS 
AT  ADVANCED  ADMISSIONS 


LIMITED  TO 
ONE  WEEK  ONLY 


NEVER,  NEVER  ANYTHING  LIKE  WARNERS'  NATI 


EMy| 

iiHll'itl'l 

ijlTHJlj 

HG9  SH 


HERE'S  HISTORY!  For  the  first  time! 
-A  series  of  five  15-minute  radio  shows,  Warner 
created  and  Warner  sponsored,  will  be  featured 
ahead  of  every  engagement  of  this  attraction! 
Every  program  carries  specific  theatre -and -date 
announcements!  In  addition,  there  will  be  a  con- 
tinued series  of  unusual  station -break  messages, 
and  other  big  localized  radio  promotions  such 
as  have  never  before  been  accomplished!  Listen  in 
for  Warners'  big  New  in  theatre -radio  ballyhoo! 


WIDE  LOCALIZED  5-SHOW  RADIO  BROADSIDES! 


THE  SCALE  OH  WHICH  WARNERS 
PROOUCED  IT  WILL  BE  MATCHED 


BY  THE  WAY 


IN  WHICH 
WARNERS 


JACK  L.  WARNER 

Kxpciitiup  Producer 


Thursday,  April  27,  194-1 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


Review 

"Once  Upon  a  Time" 

(Columbia) 

A  LEXANDER  HALL'S  "Once  Upon  a  Time"  is  a  delightful  and 
charming  adult  fantasy  telling  a  most  unusual  story,  from  Norman 
Corwin's  radio  script,  "My  Friend  Curly,"  based  on  an  idea  by  Lucille 
Fletcher  Hermann.  Despite  some  alterations,  Columbia  has  preserved 
the  essence  of  the  theme  that  the  strong  cannot  get  away  with  pushing 
the  weak  around.  With  the  names  of  Cary  Grant  and  Janet  Blair,  .and 
a  grand  production,  this  film  is  headed  for  big  box  office  returns. 

The  unique  story  centers  around  a  dancing  caterpillar,  Curly,  who 
stands  on  its  tail  and  dances  to  the  harmonica  strains  of  "Yes  Sir,  That's 
My  Baby."  Curly  is  the  property  of  little  Pinky  Thompson,  played 
with  simple  and  adorable  forthrightness  by  Ted  Donaldson.  In  the  swell 
screen  play  by  Lewis  Meltzer  and  Oscar  Saul,  from  an  adaptation  by 
Irving  Fineman,  Grant,  a  brilliant  young  theatrical  producer  who  is  pen- 
niless and  about  to  lose  his  theatre  to  the  bank  after  three  successive 
failures,  sees  a  chance  to  exploit  Curly  and  raise  $100,000  to  pay  off 
the  mortgage.  Through  Gabriel  Heatter's  human  interest  broadcast  of 
Pinky  and  his  pet,  Grant's  project  receives  a  sensational  launching. 
Walt  Disney  is  finally  willing  to  pay  the  asking  price  of  $100,000  to 
bring  Curly  to  the  animated  screen,  but  that  is  where  Pinky  and  his 
partner,  Grant,  finally  come  to  grips.  Pinky  is  not  anxious  to  part  with 
his  pet  and  Grant's  attempt  to  take  Curly  by  force  goes  to  naught,  lead- 
ing to  an  estrangement.    Meanwhile  Curly  disappears. 

Miss  Blair,  Pinky's  sister,  a  chorine,  who  at  first  opposes  Grant's  ef- 
forts to  promote  Curly  and  then  strings  along  to  pacify  Pinky,  finally 
manages  to  effect  a  reconciliation  between  Pinky  and  Grant  with  the 
help  of  James  Gleason,  Grant's  aide,  and  Pinky's  pals.  In  the  meantime, 
Curly  emerges  from  his  cocoon  as  a  beautiful  butterfly. 

Grant  delivers  another  first-rate  performance  with  Miss  Blair  handling 
her  role  in  fine  style.  Good  performances  are  also  contributed  by  Glea- 
son, William  Demarest  as  a  scoffing  newspaper  editor,  Art  Baker  as 
Gabriel  Heatter  and  Micky  McGuire  as  Pinky's  pal,  but  the  real  star 
of  the  film  is  young  Donaldson  and  his  pet. 

Hall's  direction  is  tops.  It  strikes  a  happy  balance.  The  suggested 
romantic  thread  between  Grant  and  Miss  Blair  strikes  a  pleasant  note. 
Louis  F.  Edelman,  who  produced,  has  achieved  an  attractive  production 
and  Franz  F.  Planer's  camera  work  rates  plaudits.  Frederick  Hollan- 
der supplied  the  musical  score. 

Running  time,  89  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  May  11. 

Milton  Livingston 


Coast 
Flashes 


To  Study  Materials 
For  School  Films 
In  the  Postwar  Era 


The  Commission  on  Motion  Pic- 
tures in  Education,  recently  organ- 
ized under  a  reputed  grant  of  $100,- 
000  from  the  industry  to  develop  a 
program  for  the  more  effective  use  of 
Hollywood  films  in  visual  education, 
has  determined  that  its  first  task  is  to 
study  relevant  curriculum  materials 
and  to  organize  and  present  them  in  a 
form  from  which  motion  picture 
scripts  can  be  prepared,  the  MPPDA 
said  here  yesterday. 

This  was  the  decision  reached  by 
the  commission  at  a  meeting  here  this 
week  to  fix  matters  of  policy  and  pro- 
cedure, according  to  a  statement  re- 
leased by  the  chairman,  Dr.  Mark  A. 
May  of  Yale  University. 

Army  Provides  Experience 

The  experience  of  the  Army  and 
Navy  in  film  war  training  programs 
is  seen  as  having  an  influence  on  the 
work  of  schools  in  the  years  imme- 
diately ahead,  and  the  commission  said 
it  recognizes  that  much  of  this  ex- 
perience will  be  available  to  educa- 
tion not  only  in  the  form  of  finished 
films  but  in  the  services  of  a  large 
number  of  workers  trained  in  the  use 
of  films  in  education  and  training. 

The  commission  intends  to  study 
and  collect  materials  relevant  to  the 
new  educational  objectives  toward 
which  they  feel  a  shift  is  already  ap- 
parent. Among  these  new  interests 
they  include  a  greater  emphasis  on 
global  geography,  on  science,  inven- 
tion and  modern  technology  and  their 
influence  on  the  peoples  of  the  earth, 
and  on  new  problems  of  democracy. 

Will  Start  Development 

A  start  toward  developing  materials 
for  a  series  of  films  will  be  made  in 
these  subjects,  Dr.  May  said.  Other 
series  will  be  added  later.  The  pro- 
cedure of  the  commission  in  preparing 
educational  materials  for  scripting 
will  be  similar  in  some  respect  to  the 
methods  of  the  armed  forces.  As  these 
materials  are  developed,  they  will  be 
made  available  to  the  public  and  to  all 
film  production  companies  in  the  hope 
that  many  of  them  will  be  filmed,  he 
continued.  The  commission  itself  will 
not  attempt  any  production,  he  pointed 
out. 

Other  members  of  the  commission, 
all  of  whom  attended  the  meeting, 
are :  Dr.  Edmund  E.  Day,  president 
of  Cornell  University ;  Dr.  George 
Counts  of  Teachers  College,  Colum- 
bia University ;  Dr.  George  Zook, 
president  of  the  American  Council  on 
Education ;  Monsignor  George  John- 
son, general  secretary  of  the  Nation- 
al Catholic  Educational  Association, 
and  Dr.  Willard  E.  Givens,  execu- 
tive secretary  of  the  National  Educa- 
tion Association. 


LeachimCorp.Formed 
Here  to  Produce 

Leachim  Corp.  has  filed  a  certificate 
of  incorporation  at  Albany  for  the  pur- 
pose of  producing  and  distributing  fea- 
ture pictures,  it  was  learned  here  yes- 
terday. Offices  are  located  at  250 
West  52nd  St.,  New  York. 

Incorporators  were  Harry  Bloom- 
field,  B.  Postal  and  James  Colligan. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Selznick  Appeal  Will 
Be  Heard  Tomorrow 

David  O.  Selznick's  'appeal  from  a 
decision  rendered  by  Justice  Ferdinand 
Pecora  in  New  York  Supreme  Court 
recently,  in  Charles  Chaplin's  suit,  will 
be  heard  before  the  Appellate  Division 
tomorrow. 

Pecora  had  held  that  both  Vanguard 
Films  and  David  O.  Selznick,  Inc., 
are  doing  business  in  New  York  and 
are  not  foreign  to  the  state,  as  claimed 
by  Selznick  in  his  attempt  to  prevent 
Charles  Chaplin  from  joining  his  two 
corporations  in  the  accounting  action 
filed  also  against  20th  Century-Fox 
and  United  Artists  following  Selz- 
nick's sale  of  certain  production  assets 
to  20th-Fox. 

Arnold  Cites  Balaban 
For  'Memphis  Belle' 

Barney  Balaban,  president  of  Para- 
mount, has  received  word  from  Gen- 
eral H.  H.  Arnold,  Commanding 
General  of  U.  S.  Army  Air  Forces, 
expressing  appreciation  of  Paramount' s 
efforts  to  achieve  wide  distribution  for 
the  Eighth  Air  Force  film,  "The 
Memphis  Belle,"  which  has  already 
played  9,000  theatres  in  the  United 
States. 

The  film,  a  four-reel  Technicolor 
documentary,  is  being  distributed  by 
Paramount  on  a  non-profit  basis  fur 
the  Air  Force  through  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee. 


Saugus  House  Files 
Clearance  Complaint 

Richard  B.  Rubin  of  the  btate  The- 
atre, Saugus,  Mass.,  has  filed  a  clear- 
ance complaint  at  the  Boston  tribunal 
against  the  five  decree  companies,  the 
American  Arbitration  Association  re- 
ported here  yesterday. 

Plaintiff  states  that  he  exhibits  first- 
run  pictures  at  Saugus  which  are 
subject  to  the  following  clearance:  30 
and  45  days  after  the  Paramount  The- 
atre, and  21  and  30  days  after  the 
Warner  Theatre,  both  in  Lynn,  .Mass. 
Films  are  generally  available,  how- 
ever, at  the  end  of  21  days  after  such 
prior  run  showings.  Complainant  is 
further  subject  to  clearance  of  21  days 
after  the  Strand,  Granada  and  Mystic 
Theatres,  all  in  Maiden,  Mass.  Rubin 
seeks  a  reduction  to  a  minimum  of 
one  day  after  the  Paramount  and  \\  ar- 
ner  Theatres,  and  complete  elimina- 
tion or  a  reduction  to  one  day  after 
the  Maiden  theatres. 


New  Connecticut 
Booking  Office 

New  Haven,  April  26. — Flora  Colin 
has  opened  film  buying  and  booking 
quarters  on  South  Orange  St.  here, 
under  the  name  of  Theatre  Buying 
and  Booking  Office,  to  service  Connec- 
ticut independents. 

Miss  Colin  was  formerly  office  man- 
ager and  booker  for  RKO  here. 


Hollywood,  April  20. 
[   EON  SCHLESINGER  will  make 
13    "Merrie    Melodies"   and  13 
"Looney  Tunes"  cartoons  next  season, 
all  Technicolor. 

e 

Jules  Levey,  producer  of  United  Art- 
ists' forthcoming  "The  Hairy  Ape," 
has  been  awarded  a  certificate  of  hon- 
or for  meritorious  service  to  the 
Masquer's  servicemen's  morale  corps. 
Levey  also  was  recently  made  an  hon- 
orary citizen  of  Boy's  Town  (Ne- 
braska) for  services  to  Father  Flan- 
agan's foundation. 

• 

Director  Rene  Clair  has  re- 
turned from  a  New  York  visit  in  con- 
nection with  the  opening  of  his  new 
picture,  "It  Happened  Tomorrow,"  to 
be  released  through  United  Artists. 
He  plans  to  finish  work  on  his  latest 
book,  a  mystery  novel. 

• 

Lester  Cowan  has  purchased  "This 
Is  the  Life,"  a  Fred  Othman  original 
about  a  modern  Rip  Van  Winkle  re- 
turning from  overseas  to  find  life  dif- 
ferent. It  will  be  produced  as  a  mu- 
sical. 

• 

A  dual  feature  on  juvenile  delin- 
quency and  its  possible  solutions  will 
be  made  by  Columbia  and  sold  as  a 
double  bill.  The  titles :  "Our  Wan- 
dering Daughters"  and  "What  Price 
Innocence." 

• 

Monogram   has   completed   90  per 
cent  of  its  1943-44  feature  program, 
exclusive  of  Westerns,  according  to 
Trem  Carr,  executive  director. 
• 

Orson  Welles  has  bought  "Don't 
Catch  Me,"  from  which  he  will  write, 
produce  and  direct  a  picture.  Release 
has  not  been  set. 

• 

"Girl  of  the  Limberlost,"  previously 
filmed  by  Monogram  and  RKO,  has 
been  bought  by  Columbia  for  an  Irv- 
ing Briskin  production. 

• 

Joris  Ivens,,  documentary  producer, 
has  been  signed  by  Lester  Cowan  to 
collaborate  with  writers  and  directors 
on  background  material. 

• 

George  Jessel  will  leave  on  the 
Chief  tomorrow  to  confer  with  Darryl 
Zanuck  in  the  East. 

• 

Universal  has  announced  "Wolfman 
versus  Frankenstein,"  with  Ford  Beebe 
producing  and  directing. 

• 

PRC   has   set   May  29-31   as  the 
dates  for  its  fifth  annual  sales  con- 
vention, to  be  held  at  the  studio. 
• 

Columbia  has  announced  a  new  "G. 
I."  musical,  "Gertie  from  Bizerte." 
• 

Universal  has  added  "We  Want  to 
Sing"  to  Frank  Gross'  schedule. 


Jessel  M.C.  at  Dinner 

George  Jessel,  film  producer  and 
stage  star  will  be  a  master  of  cere- 
monies, together  with  James  J.  Walk- 
er at  the  testimonial  banquet  for  Eddie 
Cantor  to  be  held  May  7  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  here. 


HERE  IS  A  MILEST4I 


9<o 


****** 


I' 


0o* 


**°V  *o**ed  Le^  ,ve 


IT'S    TH£   ENTERTAINMENT  M 


IE  PICTURE"... Boxoff ice 

*  BELITA. .  .  most  talented  beauty  you  have  ever  seen  ...  in 
a  romance  that  sweeps  from  dance  world  to  glittering  ice  show ! 


'SILVER  SHADOWS  and  GOLDEN 


UKt  AJVlo 


MONOGRAM 
PICTURES 

presents 


BELITA 


in  the 

SCOTT    R  . 
D  U  N  L  A  P 

Produ  ction 


Produced  by  SCOTT  R.  DUNLAP 
Directed   by  FRANK  WOODRUFF 
Associate  Producer:  WILLIAM  D.  SHAPIRO 
Original  Story  by 
Bradbury  Foote  and  Scott  R.  Dunlap 
Screen  Play  by 
•ter   Milne   and    Paul    Gerard  Smith 


on 


AM"  ELLISON 

FRICK  and  FRACK  *  Walter  CATLETT 
Lucien  LITTLEFIELD  *  Maurice  ST.  CLAIR 


HiNir 


MITCH 


EDDIE 


LOU 


BUSSE    AY  RES    LE  BARON  BRING 


ACLE    OF   1944  FROM    MONOGRAM  ! 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  April  27,  1944 


Review 


"Man  from  'Frisco" 

(Republic) 

Q  WINGING  into  something  of  a  new  and  novel  wartime  story,  Re- 
^  public  presents  one  of  the  finest  productions  on  its  current  schedule. 
"Man  from  'Frisco"  is  an  excellent  production  and  it  can  be  expected 
to  bring  gratifying  grosses  wherever  it  plays. 

Robert  Florey  again  shows  his  ability  as  a  director  in  the  handling 
of  this  story  of  a  dynamic  construction  engineer,  Michael  O'Shea,  who 
sets  out  to  make  new  records  in  shipbuilding,  a  la  Henry  Kaiser.  A 
headstrong  character,  apparently  oblivious  of  seemingly  insurmountable 
obstacles  and  impervious  to  the  ridicule  heaped  upon  his  radical  meth- 
ods, O'Shea  almost  miraculously  converts  a  small-town  shipyard  into 
a  beehive  of  wartime  industrial  activity.  Gene  Lockhart,  old-time  ship- 
builder and  civic  stalwart  of  the  reactionary  town,  steeped  in  tradition, 
is  his  chief  opponent,  while  Tommy  Bond,  Lockhart's  progressive- 
niinded  16-year  old  son,  is  the  "dynamo's"  champion.  Tommy  loses  his 
life  in  the  yards  just  prior  to  the  launching  of  O'Shea's  first  "pre- 
fabricated" ship.  Anne  Shirley,  Lockhart's  daughter,  carries  the  love 
interest,  at  first  nursing  a  silent  affection  for  O'Shea,  while  she  op- 
poses his  ideas.  When  Lockhart  relents  on  his  attitude  towards  O'Shea, 
Miss  Shirley  does  likewise  and  goes  immediately  to  the  fore  for  O'Shea 
and  the  romantic  "partnership"  blossoms  into  love. 

Effective  "asides"  to  the  main  theme  play  up  the  courage  of  migra- 
tory defense  workers  who,  with  their  families,  go  where  there  are  home- 
front  wartime  tasks  to  be  done.  Stephanie  Bachelor  deserves  high  act- 
ing honors  for  her  role  of  a  young  Navy  widow  and  mother  of  charm- 
ing little  Michael  Barnitz.  The  original  story  and  adaption  by  George 
Worthing  Yates  and  George  C.  Brown  were  done  in  admirable  fashion 
by  script-writers  Ethel  Hill  and  Arnold  Manoff.  Also  deserving  of  com- 
mendation is  Otto  Siegel  whose  impressive  sets  add  much  to  the  gen- 
eral production  value.  O'Shea,  Lockhart,  young  Bond  and  Miss  Shirley 
contribute  fine  performances,  as  does  the  supporting  cast,  headed  by 
Dan  Duryea,  Ray  Walker  and  Miss  Bachelor.  Albert  J.  Cohen  pro- 
duced. Helen  McNamara 

Running  time  91  mins.  "G"*  Release  date  not  set. 


'Ladies'  Pulls 


$48,200  at 
3  L.  A.  Houses 


Los  Angeles,  April  26. —  "Ladies 
Courageous,"  coupled  with  "Her 
Primitive  Man,"  was  top  scorer  here 
during  a  normal  week.  It  got  $48,200 
in  Fox  West  Coast's  Egyptian-Los 
Angeles-Ritz  threesome  where  $33,100 
is  aggregate  average.  "Around  the 
World,"  linked  with  "Tarzan's  Desert 
Mystery,"  was  under  par  in  the  cir- 
cuit's Chinese-Loew's  State-Uptown 
setup.  "Shine  On  Harvest  Moon" 
turned  in  a  third  week  that  prompted 
a  holdover  for  a  fourth. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26 : 

"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 
"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $7,200.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 
"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 

CHINESE — (2,500)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.   Gross:   $12,500.    (Average:  -  $15,500). 
"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

EGYPTIAN— (1,500)    (5Oc-60c-95c-$1.0O)  7 
days.  Gross:  $10,400.   (Average:  $9,500). 
"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"Trocadero"  (Rep.) 

HAWAII—  (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average:  $6,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  2nd  week 
"Two-Man  Submarine"  (Col.) 

HILLSTREET—  (2,700)     (50c-60c-80c)  7 
days.   Gross:   $20,000.    (Average:  $19,700). 
"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 
"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $30,000.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,098)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average: 
$14,900). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  2nd  week 
"Two-Man  Submarine"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (2,000)    (50c -60c -80c -$1.00)  7 
days.   Gross:   $23,000.    (Average:  $16,700). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD— (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,500. 
(Average:  $20,300). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.)  2nd  week 
"Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN— (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,090.  (Average: 
$8,700). 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:   $10,300.    (Average:  $8,700). 
"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 
"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $9,500.   (Average:  $10,500). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)    7    days,    3rd    week.  Gross: 
$13,880.    (Average:  $17,000). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS  DOWNTOWN—  (3,400)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days.  3rd  week.  Gross:  $16,- 
595.  (Average:  $18,700). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS  WILTERN— (2,200)  (50c-60c- 
8Oc-$1.00)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $12,520. 
(Average:  $15,200). 


Committees  for  RKO 
Tournament  Named 

Committees  for  RKO's  golf  tourna- 
ment, to  be  held  May  16  at  West- 
chester Country  Club,  were  an- 
nounced yesterday  as  follows  :  Tourn- 
ament, N.  Peter  Rathvon,  Ned  Depi- 
net,  Malcolm  Kingsberg,  Robert 
Mochrie,  Edward  Alperson,  Garret 
Van  Wagner,  J.  Henry  Walters,  Ma- 
jor Leslie  Thompson;  Publicity,  S.. 
Barret  McCormick,  Harry  Mandel, 
Rutgers  Neilson,  Arthur  Brilant,  Jack 
Level,  John  Cassidy ;  Prizes,  Depi- 
net,  J.  Henry  Walter,  John  Farmer 
and  Dick  Gavin. . 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

W.  E.  Sells  Sound  to 
Mexican  Studios 

With  the  production  of  pictures  in 
Mexico  City  continuing  to  mount,  E. 
S.  Gregg,  vice-president  of  Western 
Electric  Export  Corp.,  here  reports 
the  closing  of  recording  agreements 
with  two  Mexican  companies,  Servicio 
Cinematografico  S.  A.  and  the  Jenkins 
interests,  for  the  immediate  installa- 
tion of  six  channels  of  W.  E.  Electric 
recording  equipment.  Servicio  pro- 
vides a  recording  service  for  the  Clasa 
and  Azteca  Studios. 

R.  O.  Strock,  formerly  with  Eastern 
Service  Studios  and  Audio  Produc- 
tions, Astoria,  L.  I.,  and  subsequently 
with  W.  E.  Export  as  recording  en- 
gineer, has  left  for  Mexico  City  to 
supervise  installation. 


Drama  Critics  Fail 
On  'Best  Play9 

The  New  York  Drama  Critics  Cir- 
cle has  bypassed  its  annual  award  for 
the  best  American  play  of  the  season 
because  the  members  failed  to  arrive 
at  a  majority  vote  for  any  play.  Near- 
est contender  to  winning  the  award 
was  Lillian  Hellman's  "The  Searching 
Wind,"  which  failed  of  a  majority  by 
only  one  vote,  receiving  seven. 

"Jacobowsky  and  the  Colonel"  re- 
ceived a  citation  as  the  best  foreign 
play/>f  the  year. 


Pep  Club  Elects 

St.  Louis,  April  26.  ■ —  The  Para- 
mount Pep  Club  here  has  elected  the 
following :  Louis  Kuttnauer,  presi- 
dent ;  Bert  Sauerwein,  vice-president ; 
Ruth  Shurnas,  secretary,  and  John 
Koenig,  treasurer. 


'Hargrove'  Is  High 
On  $26,000  Take 

Baltimore,  April  26. — Strong  at- 
tractions, drawing  ample  crowds  for 
openings,  and  continuing  with  big 
business  over  the  weekend,  are  keep- 
ing first-run  box-offices  busy.  Figures 
are  in  the  upper  brackets.  "See 
Here,  Private  Hargrove"  is  safe  for 
$26,000  at  the  Century. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  27  : 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY—  (3,000)  (35c-43c-55c  and  60c 
weekends.  Gross:  526,000.  (Average:  $17.- 
500). 

"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2.406)       (35c-40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $15,500.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (2Mh-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)  (30c-4Oc-6Oc)  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,000.     (Average:  $11,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

STANLEY— (3,280)      (35c-44c-S5c-66c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $20,000.    (Average:  $18,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

HIPFO  DROME— (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Stage  show:  Wally 
Boag,  Stubby  Kaye.  Arren  &  Broderick, 
Sally,  Jack  &  Mascot,  Frank  Victor  Quar- 
tet. Gross:  $18,500.  (Average:  $18,500). 
"Lady  in  the  Death  House"  (PRC) 

MAYFAIR— (1,000)  (35c-54c)  7  days. 
Gross:    $7,000.     (Average:  $7,000). 


Loew's  Book  'Seabees' 

Republic's  "The  Fighting  Seabees" 
has  been  booked  by  the  Loew  Metro- 
politan Circuit  beginning  May  4  at 
the  Ziegfeld,  Lexington,  and  175th  St. 
Theatres  in  Manhattan,  and  the  Valen- 
cia, Jamaica,  L.  I. 


Stokowski  to  Produce 

Leopold  Stokowski  is  quoted  by 
press  dispatches  reaching  here  from 
Mexico  City  as  saying  he  is  now 
at  work  on  a  film  there.  He  will  con- 
tinue to  Peru  and  Chile  later  on  his 
current  concert  tour. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  26 

SOL  LESSER  is  working  on  the 
script  of  his  new-  production, 
"Three's  a  Family,"  with  Riam 
James.  Every  time  they  get  a  new  idea 
to  make  it  funnier  Sol  ups  the  budget 
to  cover  the  added  cost.  He  says  he's 
preparing  a  comedy  just  as  hilarious 
as  "You  Can't  Take  It  with  You," 
with  touches  of  the  "Abie's  Irish 
Rose"  type  of  humor.  '  He  just  an- 
nounced the  first  casting :  Charlotte 
Greenwood,  for  whom  the  maiden- 
aunt  role  in  the  stage  play  was  ex- 
pressly written  and  then  she  found  she 
couldn't  play  it  because  of  film  com- 
mitments. Now  she  has  the  part  in 
Lesser's  picture.  One  of  the  feature 
roles,  that  of  a  six  months'  old  baby 
whose  part  carries  through  the  entire 
story,  will  be  given  to  the  child  of 
some  service  "man,  Lesser  said. 
• 

The  Olscn  and  Johnson  comedy, 
"See  My  Lawyer,"  began  to  roll  at 
Universal  almost  before  the  lights 
flicked  off  on  "The  Ghost  Catchers." 
Eddie  Cline  is  directing  with  Edmund 
Hartmann  producing.  Alan  Curtis, 
Gus  Schilling,  and  Xoah  Beery,  Jr., 
have  supporting  roles.  .  .  .  Abbott  and 
Costello  will  head  the  entertainment 
at  the  IMPPA  dinner  honoring  Joe 
E.  Brown  for  his  services  entertaining 
fighters  overseas.  It  will  be  held  at 
the  Ambassador  Hotel  here  May  3. 
.  .  .  "Men  of  the  Deep,"  a  story  of 
deep  sea  divers,  is  being  made  ready 
at  Columbia  by  producer  Sam  White. 
• 

Greer  Garson  has  more  than  28 
changes  of  makeup  as  she  pro- 
gresses from  age  18  to  83  in  "Mrs. 
Parkington,"  which  Leon  Gordon  is 
producing  at  M-G-M. 

• 

Walter  Lantz  has  received  more 
than  5,000  entries  in  his  contest  for  a 
name  for  his  glamour  girl  'cartune' 
character  known  tentatively  as  "Miss 
X."  Most  of  them  are  from  exhibi- 
tors, Lantz  said.  The  new  'cartune' 
character  bowed  in  "The  Greatest 
Man  in  Siam".  .  .  .  Cameras  are  roll- 
ing on  Hunt  Stromberg's  "Guest  in 
the  House,"  starring  Anne  Baxter, 
with  Ralph  Bellamy,  Ruth  Warrick, 
Aline  MacA'Iahon  and  others.  Lewis 
Milestone  is  directing. 

• 

Ray  Taylor  is  directing  "Boss  of 
Boonitozcn,"  starring  Rod  Cameron 
and  Vivian  Austin  at  Universal.  .  .  . 
Irving  Cummings,  producer-director, 
is  still  seeking  an  unknown,  male  or 
female,  bctzvecn  18  and  25  to  build  for 
stardom.  .  .  .  Stephanie  Bachelor 
completed  the  feminine  lead  in  Re- 
public's spy  story,  "Secrets  of  Scot- 
land Yard"  and  stepped  right  into  the 
lead  in  "Port  of  40  Thieves"  at  that 
studio.  .  .  .  Sol  Lesser,  zvho  starred 
tzvo  unknowns,  Cheryl  IValkcr  and 
Lon  McCailister  in  "Stage  Door  Can- 
teen", will  'glamorise'  grandpa  in  his 
"Three's  A  Family".  .  .  .  Freddie 
Rich  and  his  band  and  Connie  Haines, 
all  from  the  Abbott  and  Costello  radio 
shozv,  have  been  signed  for  Mono- 
gram's "A  Wac,  a  IVavc  and  a 
Marine". 


'Whistler'  to  Rialto 

Columbia's  "The  Whistler,"  star- 
ring Richard  Dix,  will  open  at  the 
Rialto  here  Friday. 


Thursday,  Apfil  27,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


13 


Up  to  $200,000  in 
MGM  Book  Award 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

G-M  producer.  John  Scott  Mabon 
is  in  charge  of  the  contest  for  M-G-M. 

It  was  previously  unofficially  re- 
ported that  the  winning  author  would 
receive  $100,000  if  his  novel  were 
filmed  and  $25,000  if  not. 

Only  novels  for  which  a  publica- 
tion contract  has  been  signed  will  be 
eligible  for  consideration.  Closing 
'date  for  the  submission  of  entries  is 
July  7  and  the  opening  date  is  June 
15.  In  return  for  the  award,  M-G-M 
will  acquire  film  rights  to  the  winning 
novel.  The  term  "novel"  in  the  con- 
test refers  to  fiction  stories  of  40,000 
words  or  more  and  neither  non-fiction 
nor  collections  of  clearly  unrelated 
short  stories  will  be  considered. 

Besides  the  minimum  award  of  $125,- 
000,  M-G-M  will  pay  to  the  author  of 
the  wininng  book  20  cents  for  each 
copy  over  50,000  and  up  to  300,000 
sold  within  18  months  after  publica- 
tion, making  a  possible  additional 
$50,000,  or  a  possible  total  award  of 
$175,000. 


68  Features  Announced  by 
Republic  for  1944-45 


Seek  New  Programs 
For  Television  Shows 

"The  best  style  of  program  produc- 
tion for  television  has  yet  to  be 
found,"  Gilbert  Seldes,  CBS  director 
of  television,  told  members  of  the 
Television  Press  Club  at  a  luncheon 
meeting  here  this  week.  Seldes 
stressed  the  entertainment  appeal  of 
impromptu  programs,  citing  the  fact 
that  spot  events  have  to  date  proved 
to  be  the  best  type  of  television  pro- 
gram, with  unfinished  programs  like 
prize  fights  rating  next.  CBS  will 
resume  "live"  television  shows  next 
week. 

Murray  Grabhorn,  president  of  the 
Radio  Executives  Club,  another  speak- 
er, revealed  further  details  of  REC's 
television  seminar;  15  weekly  lectures 
for  REC  members  will  start  on  May 
18  with  James  L.  Fly,  FCC  chairman ; 
Niles  Trammell,  NBC  president,  and 
Dr.  Alfred  N.  Goldsmith,  television 
engineer,  participating  in  the  opening 
lecture. 


'I  Am  An  American9 
To  Be  Made  by  WB 

Hollywood,  April  26. — Production 
of  a  two-reel  patriotic  short,  entitled 
"I  Am  an  American"  will  get  under- 
way at  Warner  Bros,  following  the 
celebration  of  "I  Am  an  American 
day  next  month  with  the  film  set  for 
August  release. 

A  camera  crew  will  be  sent  to  the 
celebration  at  Soldiers'  Field  in  Chi- 
cago for  background  material.  Gor 
don  Hollingshead  will  produce  with 
Crane  Wilbur  writing  and  directing. 
Marjorie  Riordan,  Jean  Sullivan,  Rob- 
ert Shayne,  Craig  Stevens  and  others 
have  already  been  cast. 


Bell  Named  on  Kodak  Bd. 

Flemixgton,  N.  J.,  April  26. — 
lames  F.  Bell,  chairman  of  tbe  board 
of  General  Mills,  Inc.,  was  named  a 
director  of  the  Eastman  Kodak  at  the 
;mnual  stockholders'  meeting  held  here 
yesterday.  Bell  succeeds  Daniel  E. 
Evar.ts,  Jersey  City  banker  who  de- 
clined reelection  because  of  ill  health. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Burnette  Westerns,  replacing  the  same 
number  of  Don  (Red)  Barry  pictures, 
ith  Barry  appearing  in  straight  fea- 
tures, and  a  new  series  of  Allan  Lane 
Westerns,  which  series  this  year  fea- 
tures various  personalities. 

Also  announced  by  Yates  at  the  com- 
pany's sales  conference  at  the  studio 
here  today  was  a  1944-45  production 
budget  of  $17,750,000,  an  increase  of 
$1,750,000  over  the  all-time  record 
budget  of  this  season.  The  chairman 
also  declared  that  the  advertising-pro- 
motional budget  had  been  increased 
$1,200,000  to  $2,700,000.  The  two-day 
session  was  the  first  of  three  regionals 
called  by  James  R.  Grainger,  Republic 
president. 

Others  Attending 

Attending  the  conference,  besides 
Yates  and  Grainger,  are :  Francis  A. 
Bateman,  J.  T.  Sheffield  and  F.  M. 
Higgins,  Seattle;  J.  H.  Sheffield, 
Portland ;  Gene  Gerbase,  Denver ;  H. 
C.  Fuller,  Salt  Lake  City ;  Sid  Weis- 
baum,  San  Francisco,  and  John  Frey, 
of  Los  Angeles.  Subsequent  confer- 
ences are  scheduled  for  the  Hotel 
Drake,  Chicago,  May  1-2-3,  and  later, 
at  an  unset  date,  in  New  York. 

Grainger  told  the  Western  ex- 
change representatives  that  Republic 
will  give  thea- 
tremen  unpre- 
cedented pre- 
selling  coopera- 
tive selling  in 
the  new  season. 

"Every  effort 
will  be  made  to 
cast  top-rank- 
ing stars  and 
featured  play- 
ers in  future 
Republic  films 
and  to  develop 
new  talent  in  a 
stock  company 
already  the 
largest  ever 
contracted  by  the  studios." 

In  addition  to  having  acquired  suf- 
ficient story  properties  for  production 
3ne  year  ahead,  Republic  now  has  nine 
features  in  the  cutting  room  and  eight 
awaiting  release.  The  studios  will 
reach  peak  production  during  June, 
July  and  August. 

Features  Ready  for  Release 

Now  ready  for  release  are  "Man 
From  Frisco,"  starring  Michael 
and  Anne  Shirley,  and 
Over  Lisbon,"  starring  Vera 
Ralston,  Richard  Arlen  and 
Erich  Von  Stroheim.  This  week  di- 
rector Ray  McCarey  will  start  "At- 
lantic City,"  starring  Constance  Moore 
and  Bradford  Taylor.  Director  Al 
Rogell  will  shortly  start  on  "Brazil," 
musical.  Six  other  "deluxe"  features, 
titles  for  which  are  yet  to  be  an- 
nounced, will  follow. 

Both  Yates  and  Grainger  stressed 
that  the  1944-45  program  will  embrace 
a  wide  range  of  story  material,  with 
musicals  predominating.  "Motion  pic- 
tures can  best  serve  public  morale 
during  the  most  critical  and  violent 
days  of  the  war  by  providing  escapist 
film-fare,  entertainment  with  action, 
music,  romance  and  down-to-earthy 
human  drama,"  Yates  asserted. 

Forthcoming  features  are  to  be  pro- 
duced by  Albert  J.  Cohen,  Robert 
North,     associate  producer-directors 


Albert  Rogell,  George  Sherman, 
Joseph  Kane  and  Ray  McCarey.  Ex- 
ecutive producer  Armand  Schaefer 
will  have  under  his  direction  as  asso- 
ciate producers  Don  H.  Brown,  Wal- 
ter Goetz,  Rudy  Abel,  Harry  Grey, 
Herman  Millakowsky,  Sidney  Picker, 
Leonard  Sillman,  Lester  Sharpe  and 
Eddy  White;  William  J.  O' Sullivan, 
executive  producer  of  action  films, 
will  be  assisted  by  associate  producers 
Louis  Gray,  Ron  Davidson  and  Ste- 
phen Auer.  Forty-eight  stars  and 
featured  players  are  at  present  under 
contract  at  Republic,  including  the 
largest  group  of  singing  actors  and 
actresses  at  any  Hollywood  studio. 

During  April,  49  scenarists  have 
been  at  work  on  stories  for  the  new 
program,  and  dance  directors  Seymour 
Felix  and  Larry  Ceballos  have  had  the 
largest  group  of  dancers  ever  brought 
to  the  studio  in  rehearsals. 


'Rationing',  Show 
Good  for  $22,000 


James  K.  Grainger 


86  in  Loew's  Equal 
Leo's  20  Years 

Celebrating  with  Leo  on  his  20th 
anniversary,  the  week  of  June  22,  will 
be  86  Loew  employes  in  the  field  who 
have  been  with  the  company  20  years 
or  more.  Of  these,  17  have  served  at 
least  25  years,  and  69  have  been  with 
the  company  between  20  and  25.  Ad- 
ditionally, 163  have  put  in  between  15 
and  20  years  and  172  others  have  been 
employed  from  10  to  15  years. 


Cincinnati,  April  26.— Despite  un- 
usually warm  weather,  attendance  is 
up  with  "Rationing"  at  RKO's  Albee 
and  Tommy  Tucker's  orchestra,  plus 
acts  on  the  stage,  getting  approxi- 
mately $22,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  25-29 : 

"Rationing"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-70c-85c- 
95c)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Stage:  Tommy  Tucker  and  orchestra, 
Marion  Hutton,  Hal  LeRoy,  Cy  Reeves. 
Gross:  $22,000.  (Average:  $22,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (44c-S0c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average: 
$10,000). 

"The  Monster  Maker"  (PRC) 
"Frontier  Law"  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,750.   (Average:  $1,600). 
"Bombs  Over  Burma"  (PRC) 
"Prisoner  of  Japan"  (PRC) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)   (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $900.  (Average:  $800). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

RKO'  GRAND— (1,500)   (44c -50c -60c -70c)  5 
days,    plus    Saturday   midnight    show,  3rd 
week  for  "Morgan's  Creek."  Gross:  $4,800. 
(Average:  7  days,  $9,500). 
"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7  days, 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross:  $6,- 
300.  (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)-  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$6,000.  (Average:  $5,500). 
"Ladies  Courageous"  Univ.) 

RKO    PALACE-(2,700)  (44c-50c-6Cc-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday     midnight  show. 
Gross:  $10,000.  (Average:  $15,000). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  davs,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  the  Pal- 
ace. Gross:  $7,300.  (Average:  $5,000). 


O'Shea 
"Storm 
Hruba 


Join  Us  at  AMP  AS 

Annual  Open  Meeting 

TODAY,  THURSDAY,  at  the 
HOTEL  PICCADILLY 
at  12:45  P.M. 

BESIDES  THE  ELECTION  OF  OFFICERS, 
ANOTHER  IMPORTANT  EVENT* 
WILL  TAKE  PLACE. 

This  year's  slate  includes  for  president,  Martin  Starr; 
vice-president,  James  Zabin;  secretary,  David  Bader; 
treasurer,  Jacques  Kopfstein;  additions  to  the  board 
of  directors:  Blanche  Livingston,  Hal  Home,  William 
Ferguson,  David  O'Malley  and  Vincent  Trotta;  trus- 
tee for  three  years,  Rutgers  Neilson. 


*A  scroll  parchment  will  be  presented  to  Robert  M. 
Whiteman,  newly  elected  Honorary  Member,  for 
his  "unusual  co-operation"  extended  AMPA  during 
the  past -year. 


14 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday.  April  27.  19-M 


Sound  Men  to  Get 
Raise;  Local  52 
Also  Makes  Gains 


4  New  Board  Members  Set 
For  20th  Century-Fox 


(Continued- from  page  1) 

retary-treasurer.  is  handling  negotia- 
tions for  the  workers. 

IATSE  sound  engineers  are  mem- 
bers of  individual  IATSE  projection- 
ists' locals  in  the  areas  where  they 
work  but  hours  and  conditions  of  em- 
ployment differ  from  those  of  the  pro- 
jectionists in  that  they  work  an  aver- 
age of  48  hours  weekly  in  Metropoli- 
tan areas  and  54  hours  on  a  four- 
week  basis  with  allowances  for  time 
off  in  other  areas. 
Concessions  Similar 
To  Hollywood  Locals 

Pat  Casey,  film  company  labor  con- 
tact, set  details  here  yesterday  with 
C.  J.  Scoppa.  business  manager  of 
Motion  Picture  Studio  Mechanics  Lo- 
cal 52,  IATSE,  granting  some  300 
members  of  the  union,  including  grips, 
props  and  soundmen  employed  by  the 
film  companies,  newsreels  and  others 
here,  concessions  similar  to  those 
granted  recently  to  IATSE  studio  lo- 
cals of  Hollywood. 

Local  52  had  reached  agreements 
with  the  companies  last  January  for  a 
15  per  cent  increase  for  some  250  of 
the  production  workers  employed  by 
the  companies  and  a  five  per  cent  in- 
crease for  some  50  workers  employed 
by  the  frve  newsreels.  These  agree- 
ments are  now  before  the  War  Labor 
Board  for  approval  and  the  under- 
standing was  that  these  workers  were 
to  benefit  by  the  same  general  con- 
cessions granted  to  IATSE  Holly- 
wood studio  locals.  Scoppa  is  also 
representing  similar  workers  of  the 
IATSE  Chicago  Local  476.  Increases 
are  retroactive  to  Jan.  1  for  the  pro- 
duction workers  and  to  Dec.  19  for 
the  newsreel  workers. 

No  Newsreel  Agreement 

Casey  also  presided  at  sessions  yes- 
terday between  representatives  of  the 
five  newsreels  and  IATSE  newsreel 
cameramen  Locals  644  of  New  York 
and  659  of  Chicago  on  contract  nego- 
tiations for  35  newsreel  cameramen 
and  others  in  that  city.  Cameramen 
are  understood  to  be  seeking  a  ten  per 
cent  wage  increase  and  severance  pay 
provisions  in  addition  to  the  general 
concessions  granted  to  the  IATSE 
Coast  studio  cameramen.  Meetings 
broke  up  at  a  late  hour  without  any 
agreement  being  reached.  W.  A. 
Lang  is  handling  negotiations  for  the 
New  York  local  and  W.  E.  Strafford 
for  the  Chicago  group. 

Meanwhile  it  was  learned  yesterday 
that  the  IATSE  had  finally  signed 
new  contracts  covering  the  11  IATSE 
studio  locals  which  concluded  negotia- 
tions with  the  studio  representatives 
at  Casey's  office  here  two  weeks  ago. 
The  contracts  are  now  going  to  Cali- 
fornia for  signing  by  the  locals  and 
producers.  Their  submission  to  the 
War  Labor  Board  for  approval  is  not 
expected  to  take  place  for  several 
weeks. 

Rites  for  Jack  Gelman 

Cincinnati,  April  26.  —  Funeral 
services  were  held  here  recently  for 
Jack  N.  Gelman,  48.  who  died  follow- 
ing a  heart  attack.  Gelman,  with  Jack 
Stallings,  founded  Midwest  Theatre 
Supply  Co.    Surviving  is  his  widow. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

issued  yesterday  by  secretary 
Felix  A.  Jenkins,  lists  the  fol- 
lowing as  having  been  dis- 
cussed in  this  connection: 
president  Spyros  P.  Skouras, 
executive  vice-president  Wil- 
liam C.  Michel,  distribution 
vice-president  Thomas  J.  Con- 
nors, vice-president  and  treas- 
urer Sydney  Towell,  and  comp- 
troller Wilfred  J.  Eadie.  Also 
listed  as  eligible  are  secretary 
Jenkins  and  foreign  distribu- 
tion vice-president  Murray 
Silverstone. 

Silverstone  is  one  of  the  four  new 
nominees  for  board  membership,  as 
are  L.  Sherman  Adams,  vice-presi- 
dent of  Massachusetts  Investors 
Trust ;  Robert  L.  Clarkson,  chairman 
of  the  board  of  the  American  Ex- 
press Co..  and  Robert  Lehman,  presi- 
dent of  Lehman  Brothers.  In  addi- 
tion, the  following  11  are  scheduled  for 
reelection :  Skouras.  Wendell  L.  Will- 
kie,  Connors,  Eadie,  Michel,  Towell. 
John  R.  Dillon,  Daniel  O.  Hastings. 
William  P.  Phillips,  Seton  Porter  and 
production  vice-president  Darryl  F. 
Zanuck. 

Follows   National  Purchase 

The  proposal  for  the  stock  sale  to 
the  managers  of  the  theatre  operating 
companies  follows  upon  20th-Fox's 
purchase,  last  July  6,  of  the  58  per 
cent  interest  in  "National  Theatres  pre- 
viously held  by  Chase  National  Bank. 
The  plan  calls  for  reclassifying  Na- 
tional's capital  stock  so  that  the  total 
authorized  number  of  shares  will  be 
2.040.  Of  these,  2,000  shares  shall  be 
designated  as  Class  "A"  stock  and  40 
as  Class  "B."  Of  the  Class  "A" 
stock,  1,600  shares  shall  be  issued  in 
exchange  for  the  1,800  now  outstand- 
ing, all  of  which  are  owned  by  20th- 
Fox.  The  40 -Class  "B"  shares  shall 
be  sold  at  S14.125  each — 25  of  them 
to  Charles  P.  Skouras.  six  to  Rhoden. 
six  to  Fitzgerald  and  three  to  Ricket- 
son.    Thev  shall  be  convertible  into 


Class  "A"  stock  on  the  basis  of  one 
share  of  "B"  for  10  of  "A"  upon  pay- 
ment of  a  premium  of  $127,125  for 
each  share  so  surrendered.  The  two 
classes  shall  share  equally  in  divi- 
dends, but  voting  rights  shall  be  vest- 
ed in  Class  "A". 

The  proposal  for  granting  options 
in  20th-Fox  stock  to  its  executives 
calls  for  reserving  140,000  authorized 
and  unissued  shares  for  this  purpose. 
No  one  person  would  be  allowed  to 
buy  more  than  half  of  these.  Presi- 
dent Skouras  is  expected  to  receive 
the  limit.  70.000  shares.  The  division 
scheme  for  the  remainder  has"  not  yet 
been  determined.  Based  upon  the 
closing  price  on  the  New  York  Stock 
Exchange  as  of  April  21.  the  option 
price  would  be  $23^  per  share,  or  an 
aggregate  of  S3.272.500  for  the  140.000 
shares. 

$12,920,455  Profit  Announced 

Along  with  the  proxy  statement  in 
which  the  stockholders  received  the 
board  nominations  and  stock  plans 
went  also  the  company's  annual  re- 
port for  the  fiscal  year  ended  Dec.  25. 
1943.  in  which  president  Skouras 
formally  confirmed  the  previously  es- 
timated net  profit  of  S12.920.455  (as 
reported  in  Motion  Picture  Daily 
on  April  6)  and  announced  that  the 
gross  income  of  SI  59.809.944  was  the 
highest  ever  reached  in  the  historv 
of  20th-Fox. 

It  was  also  stated  that  of  the  S23.- 
800.000  Federal  income  taxes  estimat- 
ed for  the  past  year,  $20,250,000  was 
excess  profits  tax  minus  postwar 
credit.  The  taxes  amounted  to  $13.66 
per  share  for  each  share  of  common 
stock  outstanding. 

The  report  shows  current  assets  of 
S79.570.088.  including  cash  of  $26,897,- 
669  and  U.  S.  Government  securities 
of  Sll.021,647.  Current  liabilities  on 
Dec.  25  were  S42.589.274.  of  which  the 
reserve  for  Federal  taxes  was  S28.- 
277,668.  The  total  assets  of  the  cor- 
poration and  its  subsidiaries  now 
amount  to  $132,423,427. 


'Cantinflas'  to  RKO, 
For  $200,000 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

was  set  by  Santiago  Reachi,  president 
of  Posa  Films,  S.A.,  for  "Cantinflas." 
and  for  RKO  by  Phil  Reisman,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  dis- 
tribution. 

"Cantinflas,"  who  is  Mario  Moreno 
in  private  life  and  vice-president  of 
Posa.  has  received  several  offers  from 
American  companies.  Paramount  is 
said  to  have  previously  made  him  an 
offer  of  $100,000  for  a  single  picture. 

Reachi  stated  the  film  for  RKO 
should  gross  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Sl.000.000  in  the  U.  S.  and  Latin 
America,  where  "Cantinflas"  is  con- 
sidered a  favorite. 


Nine  Named  to  IATSE 

Chicago,  April  26. — Sam  Lamansky. 
business  agent  for  Local  B-45  here ; 
Edward  Daniels  of  the  chapter  in  Mil- 
waukee, and  Roy  Wiliowsby  of  the 
ushers'  union  in  St.  Louis,  were  elected 
at  the  ninth  district  meeting  at  Dav- 
enport. Ia..  recently  to  serve  as  dele- 
gates to  the  IATSE  convention  in 
St.  Louis  in  May. 


O'Donnell  MapsDrive 
At  Meeting  Here 

•  (Continued  from  page  1) 

was  called  by  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  chair- 
man of  the  campaign,  at  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee  office,  with  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  staff  of  John  Friedl. 
R.  M.  Kennedy  and  Ray  Beall  also 
attending. 

Others  present  were :  S.  Barret  Mc- 
Cormick.  Al  Adams,  Harry  Mandel 
RKO;  Charles  Einfeld.  Harry  Gold- 
berg, Mort  Blumenstock,  Warner 
Bros. ;  Martin  Starr,  United  Artists : 
Lawrence  Lipskin.  Frank  P.  Rosen- 
berg. Columbia ;  Bob  Gillham.  Claude 
Lee,  Paramount:  Si  Seadler,  William 
R.  Ferguson.  M-G-M ;  Oscar  Doob. 
Ernest  Emerling,  Loew's :  Maurice 
Bergman,  Universal ;  Charles  Schlaif- 
er.  20th  Century-Fox ;  John  Hertz, 
Jr.,  Buchanan  and  Co. ;  John  Har- 
kins.  Selznick  Productions;  Glenn  All- 
vine,  MPPDA;  Walter  T.  Brown, 
John  C.  Flinn,  Francis  S.  Harmon. 
Si  Fabian  and  Ed.  Schreiber  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee. 


$125,000  and  Share 
For  'One  World' 

A  sum  of  S75,0O0  was  paid 
to  the  trustee  of  the  Wendell 
Willkie  charity  fund  by  20th- 
Fox  for  film  rights  to  Will- 
kie's  "One  World;"  Simon  and 
Schuster,  publishers  of  the 
book,  received  $50,000,  accord- 
ing to  the  20th-Fox  stockhold- 
ers' proxy  statement  issued 
yesterday. 

In  addition,  the  trustee  and 
the  publishers  are  given  par- 
ticipation in  the  profits  of  the 
picture,  based  upon  costs  of 
production  and  gross  receipts 
in  excess  of  83,000,000. 


; 


Hazen  Is  iNamed  to 
Meet  with  Clark 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

will  resume  the  decree  revision  dis 
cussions  that  were  suspended  earlv  i 
February  after  the  consenting  cornpa 
nies  had  submitted  their  "final"  drafl 
incorporating  decree  changes. 

While  it  was  said  that  Hazen  wil, 
represent  Loew's,  Paramount.  RKC 
and  20th  Century-Fox  at  the  meeting 
with  Clark,  it  was  not  clear  whether 
he  also  would  represent  Warners  01 
whether  that  company  would  desig 
nate  its  own  representative  for  th< 
conference. 

Clark  left  here  for  New  York  to 
night  after  being  advised  by  tele 
phone  that  Hazen  had  been  author 
lzed  to  represent  the  companies  ii 
the  forthcoming  discussions.  Clark  i 
scheduled  to  attend  a  regional  confer 
ence  of  U.  S.  Attorneys  in  New  York 
at  which  he  will  be  a  speaker  on  Fri 
day. 


10,000  Pledges  for 
Wac  Theatre  Drive 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Jacocks.  Newark,  243 ;  I.  J.  Hoffman 
New  Haven.  200;  Charles  Moskowitz 
New  York.  700;  Jay  Emanuel,  Phila 
delphia.  795:  J.  Rosenberg  and  Mo- 
Silver,  Pittsburgh,  604:  O.  J.  Mille- 
Portland,  Ore.,  227;  Ed  Fay.  Provi 
dence,  63;  John  Rugar.  Salt  Lake 
City.  354;  Harry  Arthur  and  Fre 
Wehrenberg.  St  Louis,  514;  John  T 
Payette,  Washington,  63  ;  W.  J.  Crock- 
ett, Virginia  Beach.  Va.,  310;  A.  H 
Blank,  Des  Moines,  300  and  Charle 
P.  Skouras,  Los  Angeles.  609. 


First  Proclamations 
Given  on  Wac  Week 

First  official  proclamations  on  th 
industry's  Women's  Army  Corps  re 
cruiting  week,  to  be  observed  in  thea- 
tres May  11  to  17.  have  been  receive  i 
from  Governor  John  W.  Bricker  ct 
Ohio,  Mayor  Joseph  J.  Kelly  of  Bui 
falo  and  James  A.  Burke  and  Joh 
Cashmore.  borough  presidents  o. 
Queens  and  Brooklyn,  respectively. 
V\  ar  Activities  Committee  headquar- 
ters reported  here  yesterday. 

All  four  urge  the  public  to  coopj 
erate  with  theatres  in  the  vital  task  ot 
recruiting  women  for  the  Wac. 

McGough  Joins  M-G-M 

Chicago,  April  26.  —  Austin  Mc- 
Gough has  been  appointed  M-G-M 
publicist  in  Des  Moines,  it  was  dis- 
closed at  M-G-M's  branch  here. 


first  in 

Si 

Accural 

and 

Impartial 

Motion  picture 

DAILY 


lOL.  55.  NO.  84 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  APRIL  28,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Greatest  Need 
For  Theatres 
On  West  Coast 


McMurphey  Reports  on 
Theatre  Requirements 

Washington,  April  27. — "South- 
f  ern  California  war  centers,  particu- 
larly those  around  Los  x\ngeles  and 
:  San  Diego,  are  the  most  critical 
[  areas  in  the  country  so  far  as  the  need 
.  for  new  theatres  is  concerned,  it  was  de- 
clared today  by  George  W.  McMur- 
,  phey,  chief  of  the  amusement  section 
'  of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Requirements, 
just  returned  from  a  two-week  inves- 
tigation of  West  Coast  theatre  condi- 
'  tions  in  war  sections. 
L    McMurphey  said  that  there  was  not 
anywhere  near  the  decree  of  urgency 
for  new  houses  in  Oregon,  Washing- 
1  ton  or  Northern  California  originally 
I  anticipated  but  that  in  some  sections 
L  of  Southern  California  the  situation 
was  much  worse  than  had  been  indi- 
cated by  surveys  previously  made. 

"Several  defense  areas  were  found 
where  the  nearest  theatres  for  a  war 

(Continued  on  page  7) 

PCCITO,  Gov't  Set 
New  Building  Talks 

Washington,  April  27. — Proposals 
of  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres  to  build 
eight  houses  in  California  war-produc- 
s  tion  areas,  currently  before  the  War 
Production  Board  and  Department  of 
Justice,  will  be  discussed  with  officials 
h  of  those  agencies  May  24  by  Hugh 
I  Bruen  and  Robert  Poole  of  the  Pa- 
cific Coast  Conference  of  Independent 
Theatre  Owners. 

Independent  operators  on  the  Coast 
are  described  here  as  being  opposed 
to  construction  of  new  houses  in  many 
areas  where  additional  facilities  are 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


CBS  Hits  Delays  On 
Television  Research 

Moving  to  bring  before  the  public 
the  issue  of  new  television  channel  al- 
locations by  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission,  Columbia  Broad- 
casting yesterday  announced  it  would 
support  postwar  improvements  even 
at  the  cost  of  scrapping  prewar  invest- 
ments. This  policy  will  keep  at  a 
minimum  the  possible  obsolescence  of 
television  receiver  sets,  provided  pro- 
vision can  be  made  now  for  postwar 
operations.  Paul  W.  Kesten,  CBS  ex- 
ecutive vice-president  indicated. 

Speaking  before  some  200  members 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Even  Junk  Film  Is 
Hit  by  the  War 

War  Production  Board  re- 
strictions on  the  use  of  sol- 
vents needed  to  reduce  junk- 
film  to  solutions  used  in  the 
manufacture  of  plastics  and 
other  synthetic  products  has 
severly  limited  the  junk-film 
market.  Junk-film  buyers  are 
understood  to  have  large 
stocks  on  hand  and  are  hav- 
ing difficulty  disposing  of 
them.  Warner  Bros.'  Cellulose 
Products,  large  purchaser  of 
discarded  film,  has,  as  a  re- 
sult, cut  prices  to  7%  cents 
per  pound.  Previous  price  set 
by  the  OP  A  was  9'/2  cents. 


Average  Sales 
For  'A'  Films 
Is  Now  14,000 


M-G-M,  Paramount,  RKO,  20th 
Century-Fox  and  Warner  Bros, 
estimate  that  top  "A"  pictures  this 
season  are  averaging  about  14,000 
contracts,  against  9,000-10,000  in  1941- 
42 ;  secondary  features  which  received 
an  average  circulation  of  approximate- 
ly 6,000  in  1941,  have  spread  to  as 
high  as  9,000-11,000  billings,  Motion- 
Picture  Herald  discloses  in  a  survey 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


U.S.  APPROVES  FILMS 
IN  POSTWAR  TALKS 


Seek  U.S.  Policy  on 
Venereal  Disease 
Films  in  Theatres 


Washington,  April  27. — Members 
of  the  Surgeon  General's  advisory 
committee  tonight  had  before  them  a 
considerable  volume  of  opinion  as  to 
the  desirability  of  general  showing  of 
social  disease  films,  following  a  two- 
day  meeting  at  which  representatives 
of  a  number  of  leading  religious,  civ- 
ilian and  labor  organizations  were 
heard. 

Specifically,  the  representa- 
tives of  the  organizations  were 
asked  whether  promiscuity  was 
a  proper  subject  of  discussion 
in  films  and  over  the  radio  and 
whether  theatres   and  broad- 
casting stations  should  be  used 
for  sex  hygiene  education. 
The  committee,  which  is  to  make  a 
report  and   recommendations   to  the 
Surgeon  General,  may  hold  sessions  in 
other  cities  to  hear  persons  who  could 
not  come  to  Washington. 

The  two-day  conference  was  held 
as  a  result  of  protests   last  month 
against    the    nation-wide  circulation, 
planned  by  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Wac  Drive  to  Follow  the 
Pattern  of  Bond  Drives 


New  York's  "Wac  Recruiting 
Drive"  film  committee  yesterday  de- 
cided to  handle  the  Women's  Army 
Corps  recruiting  campaign  in  theatres, 
May  11-17,  in  a  manner  similar  to 
their  operations  in  behalf  of  the  4th 
War  Loan,  and  industry  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  officials  predicted  the 
same  pattern  will  be  adopted  else- 
where. 

Basically,  the  approach  is  the  split- 
ting-up  of  local  territories  of  co- 
chairmen  into  districts  with  district 
captains  appointed  to  organize  and 
supervise  aid  for  recruiting  women 
for  the  Army  Corps. 

Following  the  Army's  request  to 
16.000  theatres  to  aid  it  in  enlisting 
Wac  recruits,  the  industry  has  pre- 
pared, under  the  national  chairman- 
ship of  Edward  L.  Alperson,  a  full 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Decree  Talk  Date 
Is  Expected  Today 

Preliminary  conferences  were  held 
here  yesterday  between  Assistant  U. 
S.  Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark 
and  Joseph  H.  Hazen,  representing 
consent  decree  signatories  Loew's, 
Paramount,  RKO  and  20th  Century- 
Fox,  to  set  an  appointment  for  a  meet- 
ing of  Clark  and  the  companies  with 
a  view  to  the  reopening  of  discussions 
on  a  new  decree.  Because  of  a  heavy 
schedule,  however,  Clark  was  unable 
to  set  a  definite  date  for  a  meeting 
with  company  attorneys  and  another 
attempt  will  be  made  today.  He  is 
here  for  a  three-day  regional  confer- 
ence of  U.  S.  attorneys. 

Hazen,  acting  as  "liaison  for  the 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Advisory  Group  Can  Be 
Formed  But  Cannot 
Set  National  Policies 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  D.  C,  April  27. 
— The  Department  of  Justice  will 
have  no  objection  to  the  setting 
up  of  a  committee  of  members  of 
the  film  industry  to  assist  Ameri- 
can officials  in  projected  negotia- 
tions with  foreign  governments  this 
Summer  on  the  international  treat- 
ment of  motion  pictures  in  the 
postwar,  it  was  learned  today. 

Members  of  the  industry, 
however,  should  not  be  given 
authority  to  determine  nation- 
al policy  or  carry  out  a  pro- 
gram, which  are  responsibilities 
of  the  State  Department,  it  was 
said. 

The  subject  of  industry  participa- 
tion in  international  conferences  was 
dealt  with  last  night  by  U.  S.  Attor- 
ney General  Francis  Biddle  in  an  ex- 
planation of  his  position  with  respect 
to  such  representation  in  the  oil  con- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Smith  Due  Monday 
On  Projector  Plan 


Washington,  April  27. — Allen  G. 
Smith,  chief  of  the  theatre  equipment 
section  of  the  War  Production  Board, 
will  go  to  New  York  over  the  week- 
end for  Monday  conferences  with  in- 
dustry representatives  on  production 
matters,  including  the  WPB  approved 
plan  for  the  manufacture  of  240  pro- 
jectors in  the  third  quarter  of  this 
year. 

Meanwhile,  it  was  learned  here  to- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Newsreels  Called  to 
Help  5th  Loan 

Participation  of  the  five  newsreels 
in  the  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  slated  for  June  12-July  8,  will 
be  discussed  today  at  a  meeting  called 
by  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  chairman 
of  the  industry  campaign.  The  meet- 
ing will  take  place  at  War  Activities 
Committee  headquarters  in  the  Para- 
mount Building  here. 

Members  of  the  WAC  newsreel  divi- 
sion, of  which  Walton  Ament  is  chair- 
,  (Continued  on  page  7) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  28,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


TREM  CARR,  executive  director 
of  Monogram  Pictures,  is  due 
here  from  Hollywood  for  a  visit  of 
several  weeks. 

• 

Harry  Buxbaum  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  New  York  exchange  reports 
the  arrival  here  of  Lt.  (j.g.)  Harry 
Buxbaum,  Jr.,  from  the  Solomons  af- 
ter 33  missions  in  the  Pacific,  where 
he  received  four  silver  stars  and  three 
citations. 

• 

Hyman  Rachmil,  retired  Brook- 
lyn exhibitor,  and  his  family  will 
leave  Tuesday  for  the  West  Coast, 
where  they  will  visit  their  son  Lewis 
J.  Rachmil,  producer  for  Harry  Sher- 
man Productions. 

• 

B.  G.  Rranze,  RKO  Eastern  Cen- 
tral district  manager,  is  in  New  York 
from  Cleveland  for  conferences  with 
Robert  Mochrie  and  Nat  Levey. 
• 

I.  J.  Hoffman,  Warner  Theatre 
New  England  zone  manager,  is  in 
Hartford,  Conn.,  on  company  busi- 
ness. 

• 

Bert  Stearn,  head  of  the  Co-op- 
erative Theatre  Service  Co.,  Pitts- 
burgh, has  arrived  in  New  York. 


Film  Group  Sets 
Jewish  Appeal 

Plans  for  the  industry's  participation 
in  the  United  Jewish  Appeal's  1944 
fund  campaign  to  raise  $32,000,000  to 
provide  relief  and  rescue  facilities  for 
Jewish  victims  abroad  were  advanced 
yesterday  at  a  luncheon  meeting  of  a 
committee  of  film  leaders  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  here. 

The  committee  includes  Barney  Bal- 
aban,  David  Bernstein,  Jack  Cohn, 
Albert  Warner,  George  Schaefer, 
Joseph  Seidelman,  Sam  Rinzler,  Louis 
Nizer,  Harry  Brandt,  Nate  Spingold 
and  Herman  Robbins. 

Last  year  the  industry  in  New  York 
raised  $140,000,  falling  short  of  its 
quota,  so  a  special  effort  is  being  made 
to  establish  a  good  record  this  year. 
Attorney  Monroe  Goldwater  is  general 
chairman  for  the  city,  where  the  over- 
all quota  is  $12,000,000. 


WUXTRA!  Brandt  Is 
Nominated  by  ITOA 

Harry  Brandt,  president  of  the  In- 
dependent Theatre  Owners  Association 
of  New  York,  was  nominated  for  re- 
election at  yesterday's  luncheon  at  the 
Hotel  Astor.  Others  nominated  for 
re-election  were:  David  Weinstock, 
first  vice-president;  Max  A.  Cohen, 
(new  candidate),  second  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Leon  Rosenblatt,  treasurer ; 
Abraham  Leff,  secretary  and  John  C. 
Bolte,  sergeant-at-arms. 

Nominated  for  the  directorate,  in 
addition  to  the  aforementioned,  were 
Hyman  Rachmil,  Abraham  Shenk,  A 
H.  Eisenstadt,  J.  J.  Goldberg,  Gilbert 
Josephson,  Jack  Hatten,  Rudolph 
Saunders,  Emanuel  Hertzig,  Samuel 
Freedman,  Leo  Brecher,  Samuel 
Seelen,  Ray  Rhonheim,  A.  Erickson, 
Charles  Steiner  and  Isadore  Gottlieb. 


Ampa  Elects  Officers 
At  Annual  Meeting 

Associated  Motion  Picture  Adver- 
tisers' officers  elected  without  opposi- 
tion yesterday  at  the  annual  luncheon 
at  the  Hotel  Piccadilly  were  Martin 
Starr,  president,  succeeding  Vincent 
Trotta ;  James  Zabin,  re-elected  vice- 
president;  David  Bader,  secretary, 
succeeding  Blanche  Livingston ;  Jacques 
Kopfstein,  treasurer,  replacing  "Hap" 
Hadley.  Additions  to  the  board  of 
directors  are :  Blanche  Livingston,  Hal 
Home,  William  Ferguson,  David 
O'Malley  and  Vincent  Trotta.  Rut- 
gers Neilson  was  named  trustee  for 
three  years. 

Trotta  was  presented  with  a  cocktail 
shaker  on  retiring,  while  the  organi- 
zation presented  Robert  M.  Weitman, 
managing  director  of  the  New  York 
Paramount,  with  a  scroll  in  apprecia- 
tion of  his  cooperation  with  Ampa. 
Trotta  presided  at  the  meeting. 

The  influence  of  commercial  radio 
shows  from  America,  rebroadcast 
through  transcriptions  to  the  people  of 
Iceland  by  the  Office  of  War  Infor- 
mation, has  served  to  change  the 
standing  of  motion  picture  stars  in 
that  country,  Manny  Reiner,  home  on 
a  mission  for  the  OWI  overseas 
branch,  said  at  the  meeting. 


Zanuck,  Connors  At 
'Family  Club'  Dinner 

Tonight's  20th-Fox  Family  Club  din- 
ner-dance is  expected  to  have  as 
guests  Joseph  M.  Schenck,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  Tom  Connors, 
W.  C.  Gehring,  W.  C.  Michel  and 
other  corporation  executives.  Members 
of  .the  club  will  be  eligible  for  prizes 
of  14  war  bonds,  donated  by  Terry- 
toons,  March  of  Time  and  National 
Theatres. 


Prass  to  Denver  M-G-M 

William  Prass  has  been  named  by 
M-G-M  to  succeed  R.  W.  Huffman  as 
exploitation  representative  in  the  Den- 
ver territory. 


Yates,  Grainger  to 
Chicago  for  Meet 

Hollywood,  April  27. — Following 
the  completion  of  the  first  of  three  Re- 
public conferences  here,  H.  J.  Yates 
Sr.  and  James  R.  Grainger  left  today 
for  Chicago,  where  the  second  meeting 
will  be  held  Monday  and  Tuesday  at 
the  Drake  Hotel.  Midwestern  district 
sales  manager  Edward  Walton  and 
Southern  district  sales  manager  Mer- 
ritt  Davis  will  head  a  contingent  from 
their  territories.  Republic's  nationa 
director  of  public  relations,  John  Le- 
Roy  Johnston  also  will  be  present. 

The  final  session  will  take  place  in 
New  York  May  10-11,  when  Yates 
and  Grainger  will  be  joined  by  Central 
district  sales  manager  Sam  Seplowin 
and  Eastern  district  sales  manager 
Maxwell  Gillis,  heading  a  group  from 
their  areas. 


Cameras  Also  Shot 
Behind  Enemy  Lines 

"People's  Avengers,"  de- 
scribed as  the  first  film  for 
theatres  to  be'  completely 
photographed  by  any  United 
Nations  cameramen  behind 
Nazi  lines  will  be  released  in 
this  country  by  Artkino  Pic- 
tures, Soviet  film  agency.  It 
was  made  by  17  men  and  a 
woman  who  parachuted  into 
the  forest  hideouts  of  Rus- 
sia's guerrilla  brigades  and 
fought  beside  them  for 
months. 

Two  of  the  lensmen  were 
killed  while  making  their  way 
back  to  the  Russian  lines. 
Among  those  who  partici- 
pated in  the  numerous  visits 
to  the  guerrilla  regions  were 
Vasili  Byelaev,  Stalin  prize- 
winner and  Dmitri  Astradant- 
sev,  composer  who  prepared 
the  musical  score. 


Ball  Withdraws  His 
Para.  Injunction 

Pittsburgh,  April  27. — Harry  Nor- 
man Ball,  whose  lease  on  the  Penn 
Theatre,  Ambridge,  expires  Sunday, 
has  withdrawn  "without  prejudice"  his 
preliminary  injunction  against  Para- 
mount to  prevent  removal  of  equip- 
ment from  the  theatre.  Paramount  is 
part  owner  of  the  Pennmore  Theatre 
Corp.,  which  owns  the  Penn. 

The  motion,  in  U.  S.  District  court 
here,  had  been  filed  by  Ball  in  connec- 
tion with  an  anti-trust  suit  that  claims 
Paramount  conspired  to  destroy  the 
value  and  production  possibilities  of 
the  house  by  erecting  another  building 
nearby;  also,  that  Paramount's  acqui- 
sition of  stock  in  Pennmore  lessens 
competition  and  is  in  restraint  of  trade. 


Hirliman  Reports 
20  Franchises 

Film  Classics,  observing  its  first 
anniversary  this  week,  has  established 
20  franchise  agreements  with  states 
right  distributors  in  the  field.  One 
year  ago  the  company  had  only  one 
distribution  outlet,  in  New  York, 
George  Hirliman,  Film  Classics  presi- 
dent, pointed  out  here  yesterday. 

Twenty  features  have  been  released 
and  34  more  are  scheduled  for  the 
next  year,   principally  reissues,  ply- 
some  400  Hal  Roach  short  subject 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


—  RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL- 

50th  St.  &  6th  Ave. 
RITA  HAYWORTH  .  GENE  KELLY \ 

"COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern 
Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


Held  Over  2nd  Week 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


M.  Conery,  Upstate 
Exhibitor,  Dead 

Mitchell  Conery,  up-state  theatre 
operator,  died  at  his  home  in  Ravena, 
N.  Y.,  following  a  heart  attack 
Wednesday  night.  He  was  38  years 
old.  Funeral  services  will  be  held  at 
2 :00  p.m.  tomorrow  at  the  home  of 
the  deceased.  Conery  is  survived  by 
a  wife  and  two  children.  He  was  an 
associate  member  of  Allied  of  New 
Jersey  and  that  organization .  will  be 
represented-  at  the  services  by  E. 
Thornton  Kelly. 


Form  New  Law  Firm 

Samuel  Spring,  film  attorney,  and 
Lee  V.  Eastman  yesterday  announced 
the  formation  of  Spring  &  Eastman, 
their  new  partnership  for  general  law 
practice.  Spring,  now  on  the  Coast, 
is  expected  back  on  Monday. 


PALACE 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


"7  DAYS  ASHORE" 

Wally  Brown  -  Alan  Carney 
Marcy  McGuire-Dooley  Wilson 


PARAMOUNT'S 

"LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 

In  Technicolor 

IN  PERSON 

XAVIER  CUGAT  And  BAND 

DEAN  MURPHY 

PARAMOUNT  SQUARE 


If 


F( 

ii 

Dili 
IS 


■: 

;■: 

: 

Hi 

Hi 

: 
i 
i 

: 

V 
k 


ON  SCREEN 

First  N.Y.  Showing 

Donald  O'Connor 

SUSANNA  FOSTER 

'THIS  IS 
THE  LIFE' 


IN  PERSON 

Mitch  AY  RES' 

ORCHESTRA 

under  ttie  direction  of 

STELLJLAVIM 
Extra!  BUS  VAN 


Li 


Benefit  Fund  Swells 

Omaha,  April  27.  — Nearly  100 
theatres  in  this  area  are  cooperating 
in  the  local  Variety  Club's  campaign 
to  aid  the  Children's  Memorial  hos- 
pital, to  be  built  here.  Variety  has 
raised  over  $10,000  to  date;  $5,000 
was  realized  at  a  special  screening  of 
"Lifeboat"  at  the  20th-Fox  projection 
room. 


Joel  McCrea  -  Maureen  O'Hara  -  Linda  Darnel 

BUFFALO  BILL" 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 
Plus  on  Stage— PAUL  WH  ITEM  AN  and  ch 

VICTOR  BORGE  -  JOAN  EDWARDS 
BUY  MOKE  p  ^  W  7th    Ave.  & 

BONDS       K  W  Jk.  I         50th  St 


- - 


CONTINUOUS  "™« 
Doors'0pen9:30A.M.    B'WAY  &  49th  ST. 


Ml 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief:  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundj 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20.  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  Nev 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union 'Life  Bldg.,  Willia 
R  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  19' 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  cla 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  1Q 


friday,  April  28,  1944 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


3 


5t.  Louis  Grosses 
It  a  Record  Low 


;  St.  Louis,  April  27. — Torrents  of 
ain,  the  threat  of  floods,  plus  the  an- 
mal  Police  Circus,  sent  receipts  to  a 
|iew  low  for  the  year.  "The  Heaven- 
y  Body,"  at  Loew's  State,  looks  like 
he  best  of  a  bad  week  with  $14,500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
•nding  April  26: 

Buffalo  Bill"  (2©th-Fox) 
Tu-zan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 

--fOX— (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
'il3,S0O.     (Average:  $18,700). 
The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
3'The  Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c- 
J§!c)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average: 
'-18,900). 

'Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
'Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

AMBASSADOR    —    (3,154)  (40c-50c-60c) 
•>  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $10,000.  (Aver- 
age: $15,700). 
i  I  'The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 
°  'Her  Primitive  Man,"  (Univ.) 
£  MISSOURI— (3,514)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
p3ross:  $9,500.     (Average:  $9,900). 
I  'Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
i0c-65c)  7  days.    Gross:  $5,000.  (Average: 

Kioo). 

_  'Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 
if'Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 

SHUBERT— (1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days, 
And  week.    Gross:  $4,500.  (Average:  $6,100). 
*  "Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

'  ST.  LOUIS—  (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,400-     (Average:  $5,200). 


MGM  in  Exclusive 
For  RE  A  Displays 

M-G-M,  beginning  May  1  and  con- 
:inuing  indefinitely,  will  have  exclus- 
.ve  use  in  the  film  industry  of  adver- 
tising space  on  4,200  side  display 
wards  of  4,200  express  trucks  in  73 
arge  cities,  under  an  arrangement 
:ompleted  with  the  Railway  Express 
\gency  and  the  Douglas  Leigh  poster 
organization.  It  is  estimated  by  M- 
j-M  that  the  ads  will  be  looked  at 
750,000,000  times  each  month  by  per- 
;ons  along  the  2,100,000  miles  that  the 
..rucks  cover. 

First  film  to  be  so  exploited  will  be 
'The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover,"  followed 
>y  other  pictures  featured  in  connec- 
tion with  the  company's  20th  anniver- 
iary  celebration. 


Keough  Testimony  in 
Cooper  Suit  Held  Up 

Pre-trial  examination  of  Austin  C. 
Ceough,  Paramount  vice-president,  in 
hat  company's  suit  for  adjudication  of 
H ts.  rights  to  stock  of  J.  H.  Cooper 
enterprises  of  Colorado,  has  been  in- 
definitely postponed  because  of  illness 
M  a  son  of  J.  Lee  Rankin,  Cooper's 
'  ttorney,  who  has  returned  to  his  home 
i  Lincoln,  Neb.  The  examination  was 
J. 3  have  been  held  this  week  in  the  of- 
ces  of  O'Brien,  Driscoll  and  Raftery. 


Taylor  Is  Reelected 
^resident  of  Ascap 

Deems  Taylor  yesterday  was  re- 
jected president  of  Ascap  by  the  board 
f  directors,  which  also  chose  Gustav 
chirmer  and  Oscar  Hammerstein  II 
5  vice-presidents ;  George  W.  Meyer, 
:cretary ;  Max  Dreyfus,  treasurer ; 
.  J.  Bregen,  assistant  secretary,  and 
"ving  Caesar,  assistant  treasurer. 


'ohnson  Is  Supervisor 

San  Francisco,  April  27. — Arthur 
I  Johnson  has  been  named  field  su- 
:rvisor  of  the  Warner  film  checking 
:rvice  in  Northern  California,  suc- 
:eding  Edward  Resnick. 


Review 


"This  Happy  Breed" 

{Twin  Cities-Eagle-Lion) 

London,  April  27 

J ARTHUR  RANK'S  Eagle-Lion  Films  is  off  to  a  flying  start  with 
•  the  trade  showing  here  today  by  Two  Cities  Films  of  Noel  Cow- 
ard's "This  Happy  Breed."  Produced  in  Technicolor,  it  is  a  simple,  yet 
consummately  cunning  depiction  of  ordinary  London  folk  and  the  years 
of  uneasy  peace  from  1919  to  1939.  A  dozen  little  entrancing  stories  are 
slyly  interwoven  in  the  pattern  of  two  faithful  and  loyal  households  whose 
husbands  were  fighting  as  private  soldiers  in  the  last  war. 

Demobilized,  they  are  fondly  imagining  they  now  have  reached  the  mil- 
lennium of  never  again  having  wars  or  anxiety.  Growing  older  and 
never  consciously  appreciating  the  shape  of  terrors  to  come,  they  rear 
their  children,  cherishing  them  tenderly  and  clumsily;  their  wives  suf- 
fering bereavement  and  disappointment  in  the  children.  They  grow  cyni- 
cal about  politicians'  mishandling  of  home  affairs.  Inarticulately  and 
instinctively  they  protest  against  the  inevitable  march  of  events  prelud- 
ing the  present  gigantic,  global  catastrophe.  In  other  words,  it  is  the 
picture  of  everyman  and  his  wife. 

It  is  a  familiar  design  and  an  episodic  portrayal  of  those  years  but  so 
accomplished  is  the  Coward  instinct  in  unveiling  the  essential  greatness 
of  little  people,  so  exquisitely  expressed  is  his  now  familiar  philosophy 
of  the  loyalty  of  those  who  are  not  only  the  tragic  victims  of  outside 
circumstances  but  are  inherently  the  salt  of  the  earth,  that  the  picture 
takes  on  a  tremendous  grandeur.  There  is  the  counterpoint  of  tears 
and  laughter  throughout.  Today's  hardboiled  exhibitor  audience  loudly 
applauded  the  picture's  merit  at  its  conclusion.  Eagle-Lion's  newly  ap- 
pointed salesmen  have  a  "natural." 

Producer  Havelock  Allan,  director  David  Lean  and  cameraman  Ron- 
ald Neame  merit  credit  but  primarily  honors  go  to  Robert  Newton  and 
Celia  Johnson  in  the  principal  roles.  Both  are  noted  and  accomplished 
British  players,  neither  of  whom  hitherto  had  achieved  in  their  respective 
spheres  such  exquisite  and  moving  tenderness.  "Happy  Breed"  will  in- 
evitably cram  every  British  theatre.  It  is  Rank's  justification  of  faith 
in  native  production.  In  addition,  it  serves  to  elevate  Newton  and  Miss 
Johnson  to  the  foremost  ranks  of  British  artists. 

Critical  New  York  people  present  readily  admitted  that  the  cockney 
dialect  was  no  bar  to  an  American  appreciation,  saying  that  anyone  will 
get  the  language.  "This  Happy  Breed"  is  a  great,  ennobling  and  stimu- 
lating picture,  lending  dignity  to  the  entire  British  industry. 

Release  date  not  set.   "G."*  Peter  Burnup 


"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Lady*,  'Dwarfs'  Tops 
In  Average  Week 

Milwaukee,  April  27.  —  "Lady  in 
the  Dark"  at  the  Wisconsin  and  Pal- 
ace theatres  looks  like  10  percent  over 
par  for  both  places,  with  $14,500  and 
$11,000,  respectively.  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs,"  held  over  at 
the  Alhambra,  is  aiming  at  $11,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  28 : 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

WISCONSIN — (3,200)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.    (Average,  $13,000) 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

PALACE  —  (2,400)    (40c-60c-80c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  $10,000) 
"Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

STRAND  —  (1,400)    (40c-60c-80c)  7 
3rd  week  downtown.    Gross:  $4,250. 
erage,  $4,000) 
"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (U.  A.) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

WARNER  —  (2,400)     (50c-72c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $16,000.     (Average,  $15.500>. 
"Snow    White    and    the    Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO-Disney) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,900)  (50c-72c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average,  $10,000) 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE  —  (2,700)  (65c-85c)  7.  days, 
plus  Sammy  Kaye  and  his  orchestra  on 
stage.    Gross:  $15,000.    (Average,  $15,500) 


days, 
(Av- 


Cleve.  Drive-Ins  Reopen 

Cleveland,  April  27. — The  Drive- 
In  season  has  started  here  with  the 
reopening  of  the  Toledo,  Dayton,  Lima 
and  East  Side  theatres.  The  West 
Side  will  reopen  in  May  along  with 
the  Strassburg. 


$17,000  for  'Arms' 
In  Providence 

Providence,  April  27— RKO-Albee 
took  in  $17,000  with  Danny  Kaye's 
"Up  in  Arms"  and  the  film  will  be 
held  over.  "See  Here,  Private  Har 
grove"  took  in  about  $19,000  at  Loew's 
State. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end 
ing  April  27 : 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE — (2,239)    (35c-44c-55c-60c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,200)    (44c-55c)    7   days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $9,700.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Whistler"  (CoL) 

LOEW'S  STATE—  (3,232)   (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $19,000.     (Average:  $17,700). 
"The  Lodger"  (20th-Fox) 
"So's  Your  Uncle"  (Univ.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)    (35c-44c-55c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average:  $12,100). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

FAY'S — (1,800)  (76c-80c-$1.10)  7  days,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $15,300.  (Average,  under  old 
scale:  $6,500). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (Para.-WAC) 

CARLTON— (1,526)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days, 
3rd  week,  (2nd  week  after  being  moved 
from  Majestic).  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"First  a  Girl"  (G-B) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c)  3 
days.  On  stage:  Johnny  Long's  Orchestra. 
Gross:  $9,000.    ^Average:  $7,900). 


Herb  Lyon  Promoted 

Chicago,  April  27. — Herb  Lyon,  ad- 
vertising man  for  Balaban  and  Katz, 
has  been  promoted  to  director  of  ex- 
ploitation. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  April  27. 

WALTER  J.  KLINGER,  M-G-M 
short  subjects  executive  for  the 
past  10  years,  has  resigned  to  join  the 
Princeton  Film  Center.  He  will  leave 
for  the  East  on  Saturday. 

• 

Buster  Keaton,  after  an  absence 
from  the  screen  of  three  years,  will  be 
seen  in  Universal's  "San  Diego,  T 
Love  You,"  starring  Louise  Allbritton 
and  Jon  Hall.  Reginald  Le  Borg  is 
directing. 

• 

Paul  Harrison,  NEA  feature  editor, 
has  been  appointed,  effective  May  8,  to 
an  executive  post  on  the  information 
committee  of  the  Association  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Producers,  according  to 
an  announcement  by  Arch  Reeve. 
• 

J.  Edmund  Grainger,  producer  at 
Republic  prior  to  his  entering  the  ser- 
vice, has  been  promoted  to  the  rank 
of  captain  in  the  U.  S.  Army  Signal 
Corps. 

• 

B.  G.  De  Sylva  will  return  on  May 
8  from  Mexico  City,  where  he  con- 
tracted Esther  Fernandez  for  Para- 
mount leads. 


Bing  Crosby  Productions  has  bor- 
rowed Linda  Darnell  from  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox for  the  feminine  lead  in  "The 
Great  John  L." 


All  Drop,  Except 
'Morgan's  Creek 


Pittsburgh,  April  27. — Business 
fell  off  in  many  houses  here  this  week, 
chief  bright  spot  being  "Miracle  of 
Morgan's  Creek,"  which  continued 
above  average  in  its  fourth  week, 
promising  $4,500  at  the  Ritz. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  25-28: 

"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average:  $8,- 
500). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th- Fox) 

HARRIS— (2,200)   (80c-$1.10)   7  days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $10,100). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

PENN  —  (3,400)     (35c-44c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $18,000.     (Average:  $21,700). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

RITZ— (1,100)    (35c-44c-65c)    7    days,  4th 
week,    moveover    after   one    week    at  the 
Penn,  two  at  the  Warner.     Gross:  $4,500. 
(Average:  $3,000). 
"Sing  a  Jingle"  (Univ.) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

SENATOR— (1,750)    (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,800.    (Average:  $3,400). 
"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 

STANLEY—  (3,800)      (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage:    Six   days    of    vaudeville,  including 
Bill   Robinson   and   Teddy   Powell's  band. 
Gross:   $21,000.     (Average:  $22,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
3rd  week,  moveover  after  two  weeks  at 
the  Penn.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average:  $9,- 
350). 


William  Green  to  Chicago 

.  William  Green,  M-G-M  exploita- 
tion representative  in  Des  Moines,  has 
been  transferred  to  Chicago,  succeed- 
ing Ted  Galanter  as  assistant  to  Wil- 
liam G.  Bishop.  Austin  John  Mc- 
Gough  succeeds  Green  in  Des  Moines. 


NOW  IN  THIRD  BIG  WEEK 


RIALTO,  NEW  YORK 


"A  macabre  horror  tale  that  will  tempt  the  cinematic 
appetites  of  even  the  most  jaded  thrill-film-followers. 
Here  is  a  bizarre  theme  with  a  dual  appeal:  its  attrac- 
tion for  those  who  glory  in  eerie  lighting  and  impend- 
ing violence,  and  the  more  subtle,  intellectual  fasci- 
nation of  the  pseudo-scientific  premise  that  a  man's 
brain,  once  the  body  has  ceased  to  function,  can  go 
6n  living  in  a  disembodied  state.  George  Sherman, 
director  and  associate  producer,  has  made  this  one 
of  Republic's  more  ambitious  current  efforts." 

—  Motion  Picture  Daily 

"An  interesting  mystery  melodrama.  It  should  prove 
satisfying  to  most  audiences;  the  story,  though  fan- 
tastic and  morbid,  is  different  and  holds'  one  in  sus- 
pense. The  production  tone  is  very  good,  and  the 
spectator  will  be  gripped  by  its  mysterious  atmos- 
phere."* '  —Harrison's  Reports 


"A  gripping,  absorbing  horror  tale  of  the  Class  A 

variety.  This  picture  will  profit  at  the  box  office 

through  word-of-mouth  comment." 

—  Showmen's  Trade  Review 

"Weird  and  tense,  the  picture  is  quite  a  compound 
of  fear-producing  elements.  Suspense  is  worked  for 
all  it  is  worth.  Miss  Ralston  performs  appealingly  in 
her  first  straight  role."  "  -The  Film  Daily 

"Cleverly  conceived  and  well  cast.  Suspense  is  ex- 
cellently maintained  to  the  climax.  A  generally  supe- 
rior presentation.  Vera  Hruba  Ralston  proves  herself 
a  capable  actress."  -Motion  Picture  Herald 

"Will  hold  the  interest  of  audiences,  asserting  a 

special  appeal  to  those  who  relish  screen  fare  of 

scientifically  macabre  variety.  Well  produced." 

—  Box  office 


OW  IN  THIRD  SMASH  WEEK 


TRANS-LUX,  BOSTON 


VERA  HRUBA  RALSTON  •  RICHARD  ARLEN  •  ERICH  VON  STROHEIM 


HELEN  VINSON 
SIDNEY  BLACKMER 

GEORGE  SHERMAN -Director 

Screenplay  by  Dane  Lussfer  —  Frederick  Kohner 
Based  on  the  Novel  "Donovan's  Brain"  by  Curt  Siodmak 

A  REPUBLIC  PICTURE 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  28,  1944 


'Snow  White' 
At  $35,000  Is 
No  Chi.  Dwarf 


Chicago,  April  27. — First  Illinois 
showing  at  the  RKO  Palace  theatre 
of  the  reissued  "Snow  White  and  the 
Seven  Dwarfs"  won  top  receipts  of 
$35,000  in  the  Loop  parade  of  out- 
standing features.  Afternoon  attend- 
ance soared  to  new  highs  with  child- 
ren on  Spring  school  vacation  swarm- 
ing to  theatres  with  parents. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  28 : 

"The  Song   of   Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

APOLLO— (1,200)  (80c-$1.20)  7  days,  9th 
Loop  week.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average: 
$11,400). 

"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (3,850)    (S5c-65c-95c)    7  days, 
2nd  week.     Stage:   Lou  Breese  and  band. 
Gross:    $43,000.     (Average:  $51,500). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

GARJRICK— (1,000)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $9,- 
100). 

"Ali  Baba  and  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 
"Hi,  Good  Looking"  (Univ.) 

GRAND— (1,250)  (50c-60c-85c-9Sc)  7  days, 
3rd  Loop  week.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average: 
$9,100). 

"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,200)  (44c-55c-60c-80c-95c) 
7  days.  Stage:  Borrah  Minevitch  and 
Harmonica  Band.  Gross:  $33,000.  (Aver- 
age: $24,000). 

"Snow    White    and    the    Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO) 

"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

PALACE  —  (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $35,000.  (Average:  $24,000). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $26,000.  (Average: 
$24,000). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

STATE-LAKE^(2,70O)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $29,000.  (Average: 
$29,000). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (55c-65c-95c) 
7  days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $20,CO0.  (Aver- 
age: $20,200). 

"Vocdoo  Man"  (Mono.)  and 
"Ghost  That  Walks  Alone"  (Col.)  4 

3rd  week 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO)  3  days 

WOODS— (1,200)     (55c-65c-95c)  7 
Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 


days, 


days. 


Boston  Grosses  Dip, 
'Gung  Ho9  High 

Boston,  April  27. — Business  in  Bos- 
ton took  a  sharp  drop  this  week,  fol- 
lowing the  death  of  Cardinal  O'Con- 
nell.  However,  "Gung  Ho,"  at  the 
Boston,  with  $30,500,  did  better  than 
average  business. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  26 : 

"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 

RKO  BOSTON— (3,200)  (50c-65c-85c-$1.10) 
7  days.  Gross:  $30,500.   (Average:  $28,300). 
"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

FENWAY— (1,373)    (40c-55c-74c)    7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,400.   (Average:  $7,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2,900)  (40c-65c-80c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $25,000.   (Average:  $27,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN—  (4,367)  (40c  -  65c  -  74c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $23,000.  (Average: 
$27,300). 

"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M) 
"Hey  Rookie"  (CoL) 

LOEWS    ORPHEUM— (2,900)  (35c-55c- 
74c)     7   days,    2nd    week.     Gross:  $23,000. 
(Average:  $23,700). 
"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (1,700)  (35c-55c-74c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average: 
$12,800). 

"Lady  and  The  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

TRANS  LUX— (900)  (30c-40c-74c)  7  days, 
second  week.  Gross:  $7,800.  (Average: 
$6,200). 


Reviews 


"Song  of  the  Open  Road 

(Charles  R.  Rogers-United  Artists) 

T  T  TILIZING  the  refreshingly  new  background  material  of  the  Ameri- 
^  can  Youth  Hostels,  Charles  R.  Rogers  presents  a  semi-musical  that 
throbs  with  the  exuberance  of  youth,  contains  a  catchy  score,  and  serves 
to  introduce  an  engaging  youngster,  Jane  Powell,  who,  in  her  first  ef- 
fort, displays  a  singing  and  acting  ability  that  would  do  credit  to  a  sea- 
soned player.  She  travels  in  fast  company,  being  aligned  with  Charlie 
McCarthy  and  Edgar  Bergen,  W.  C.  Fields,  Bonita  Granville  and  Sam- 
my Kaye  and  his  orchestra.  All  of  these  elements  combine,  in  "Song  of 
the  Open  Road,"  to  evoke  a  merry  melody  for  theatre  cash  registers. 

Miss  Powell,  as  a  young  Hollywood  star  who  has  grown  weary  of  her 
exacting  confinement  on  studio  lots,  flees  her  bondage  for  the  compan 
ionship  of  people  of  her  own  years.  She  joins  a  group  of  youths  who 
are  bicycling  from  locality  to  locality,  aiding  farmers  harvest  their  crops 
There  are  two  charming  romances  involving  the  foursome  of  Jackie 
Moran  and  Bonita  Granville  and  Bill  Christy  and  Peggy  O'Neill,  and 
there  is  a  message  for  America's  young  people,  and  their  elders,  too,  to 
get  out  and  pitch  for  Uncle  Sam  with  the  crops  that  need  harvesting 
This  appeal  is  injected  so  ingenuously  that  it  goes  down  very  easily. 

The  film  provides  a  field  day  for  the  youngsters,  with  the  oldsters 
simply  hovering  in  the  background.  Miss  Powell  proves  an  appealing 
youngster,  with  a  lovely  voice,  who  will  have  no  difficulty  winning  her 
self  an  immense  public.  All  the  juveniles  deliver  natural  and  disarming 
performances.  Also  in  the  cast  are  Reginald  Denny,  Regis  Toomey, 
Rose  Hobart  and  Sig  Arno.  Specialties  are  performed  by  the  Condos 
Brothers,  the  Liphan  Four,  Chuck  Faulkner  and  his  band,  and  Catron 
&  Popp. 

S.  Sylvan  Simon  directed  from  a  screen  play  by  Albert  Mannheimer, 
based  on  a  story  by  Irving  Phillips  and  Edward  Verdier.  Walter  Kent 
and.  Kim  Gannon  supplied  the  score,  of  which  "Too  Much  in  Love"  and 
"Here  It  Is  Monday"  are  extremely  listenable. 

Running  time,  93  mins;    "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

Charles  Ryweck 


K.  C.  Gives  Week's 
Best  to  Chillers 


"Gambler's  Choice" 

(Pine-Thomas-Paramount) 
\I7~LLLIAM  PINE  and  William  Thomas  go  back  to  New  York's 
"Tenderloin"  district  for  "Gambler's  Choice."  It  has  many  mo 
ments  of  fast  action,  but  it  is  handicapped  -by  an  oft-told  story  that 
weaves  a  too  familiar  pattern.  Chester  Morris,  one  of  three  kids  from 
the  sidewalks  of  New  York,  who  go  their  separate  ways  only  to  be  re- 
united when  they  reach  maturity,  effectively  essays  the  role  of  a  gambler 
with  familiar  ease ;  Nancy  Kelly  is  the  girl,  and  Russell  Hayden  com- 
pletes the  triangle  with  a  forthright  performance  as  an  honest  cop. 

When  a  police  officer  is  killed  by  some  thugs  imported  by  Sheldon 
Leonard,  a  rival  gambler,  to  do  away  with  Morris,  Hayden  raids  the 
Tenderloin,  smashing  gambling  establishments.  He  is  "broken"  for 
this,  but  is  reinstated  as  a  special  investigator  for  the  governor's  office. 
An  attempt  to  frame  him  is  foiled  by  Morris,"*  who  loses  his  life,  how- 
ever, in  doing  so.    Hayden  and  Miss  Kelly  are  romantically  united. 

Director  Frank  McDonald  managed  to  extract  a  fair  share  of  excite- 
ment from  a  screenplay  by  Maxwell  Shane  and  Irving  Reis,  derived 
from  an  original  by  Howard  Emmett  Rogers  and"  James  Edward  Grant. 
Others  in  the  cast  are  Les  Patrick,  Lloyd  Corrigan  and  Lyle  Talbot. 

Running  time,  66  mins.   "G."*    Released  in  Block  No.  5. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Censorship  of  Films 
Adopted  in  Knoxville 

Knoxville,  Tenn.,  April  27. — An 
"emergency  censorship  committee" 
has  been  appointed  here  and  empow- 
ered by  the  city  council  to  "either 
endorse  or  prohibit"  any  film  or  stage 
show  "about  which  a  question  is 
raised." 

The  drastic  shakeup  in  Knoxville's 
turbulent  motion  picture  affairs  has 
been  accompanied  by  a  move  on  the 
part  of  city  safety  director  P.  Virgil 
Graves  to  enforce  a  midnight  curfew. 
As  a  result,  Saturday  midnight  shows 
have  been  cancelled.  Although  Knox- 
ville has  a  population  of  100,000,  Sun- 
day films  were  decisively  defeated 
last  year. 


Mayor  and  Military 
At  Brown  Banquet 

Los  Angeles,  April  27.  —  Mayor 
Fletcher  Bowron  and  others  promi- 
nent in  civic,  military  and  film  circles 
will  attend  the  Independent  Motion 
Picture  Producers  Association's  testi- 
monial dinner  at  the  Ambassador 
Hotel  May  3  honoring  Joe  E.  Brown 
for  entertaining  service  forces  abroad. 

The  military  will  be  represented  by 
Major  Gen.  Clayton  B.  Vogel,  Major 
E.  J.  Hart ;  the  Navy  by  Comm.  A.  J. 
Bolton,  and  the  Marines  by  Ralph  E. 
Davis,  State  commandant,  and  Ray 
George,  commandant  of  the  Marine 
Corps  League.  W.  Ray  Johnston, 
Monogram  presideat,  is  chairman  of 
arrangements. 


Kansas  City,  April  27.— The  Tower 
Theatre  with  two  thrillers,  "Weird 
Woman"  and  "Charlie  Chan  in  the 
Secret  Service"  wound  up  a  good  week 
with  $10,000.  The  Newman  kept 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  a  fourth  week 
and  "Up  in  Arms"  at  the  Orpheum 
finished  a  three  weeks'  run  with 
$45,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26-29: 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.    (Average,  $5,000) 
"Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

MIDLAND— (3,500)     (40c-60c)  7 
Gross:  $14,500.    (Average:  $14,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)     (46c-65c)  7 
Gross:   $12,500.     (Average:  $11,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RXO) 
"Murder  on  the  Waterfront"  (WB) 

ORPHEUM — £1,900)     (45c-65c)  7 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Charlie    Chan    in    the    Secret  Service" 
(Mono.) 

TOWER—  (2,200)  (40c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,000.    (Average:  $9,400). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)  (45c-65c) 
Gross:  $5,600.    (Average:  $5,600). 
'Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c-65c) 
Gross:  $1,400.    (Average:  $1,600). 


days. 


days. 


days. 


days. 


days. 


'Heavenly  Body9  on 
Dual  Nets  $19,400 

Buffalo,  April  27.  —  "Heavenly 
Body"  and  "Tunisian  Victory"  are  the 
prize  package  here,  pulling  for  $19,400 
at  the  Hippodrome.  "The  Sullivans" 
and  "Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  will 
be  above  average  at  the  Buffalo  and 
Lakes,  respectively. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  April  29 :  ' 

"The  Sullivans"  (ZOth-Fox) 
'You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)      (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $18,500.    (Average:  $17,400). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (40c -50c -60c -70c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $17,800.  (Average:  $16,- 
600). 

"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $19,400.  (Average:  $9,700). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

TWENTIETH    CENTURY— (3,000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)    7    days,    2nd    week.  Gross: 
$11,000.      (Average:  $12,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"Klondike  Kate"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.  "Cover  Girl"  3rd  week.  Gross: 
$9,100.    (Average:  $12,400). 


'Joe9  Leads  in  Omaha 
With  Good  $12,100 

Omaha,  April  27.— Grosses  here 
held  up  well  despite  a  week  of  almost 
continuous  rain.  "A  Guy  Named  Joe'-' 
set  the  pace  at  the  Paramount  with 
$12,100,  while  "The  Uninvited"  and 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  registered  $10,- 
600  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing April  26-27 : 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO1) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $6,400.    (Average:  $6,500). 
"Lost  Angel"  (M-G-M) 

OMAHA-(2,000)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,400.    (Average:  $8,400). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (Para.-WAC) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,600.     (Average:  $9,800). 
"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $12,100.    (Average:  $11,700). 


Friday,  April  28,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Wac  Drive  to 
Follow  Style 
Of  Bond  Drive 


Charles  B.  McDonald 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

campaign  to  induce  women  to  become 
Wacs.  Others  on  the  general  com- 
mittee are :  Ned  E.  Depinet,  distribu- 
tor chairman ;  Harry  Mandel,  in 
charge  of  publicity,  and  Harry  Brandt 
and  Charles  B.  McDonald,  field  co- 
directors. 

The  drive  committee  reported  here 
yesterday  that  "every  advertising  aid 
known  to  the  industry  has  been  en- 
listed to  aid  in  the  campaign."  Trail- 
ers, heralds,  posters,  radio,  newspa- 
pers and  other  media  will  be  employed 
by  theatres  to  bring  the  Women's 
Army  Corps  to  public  attention  during 
May  11-17. 

A  250  -  foot 
trailer  stars 
Lionel  Barry- 
more  in  an  ap- 
peal  to  the 
women  of 
America.  1 1 
was  produced 
by  Frank 
W  h  i  tbeck  of 
M-G-M  studios 
and  will  be  dis- 
tributed free  to 
theatres 
through  Na- 
tional Screea. 
There  will  be 
20,000,000  heralds  available,  applica- 
iton  blanks  number  1,250,000,  there 
are  16,000  new  Wac  Army  Corps 
posters  and  16,000  accessory  kits  each 
containing  the  following:  a  25-by-38- 
inch  lithograph,  a  red-and-black  pic- 
torial of  the  same  size  both  specially 
imprinted,  two  midget  posters,  a  page 
of  .99  stamps  with  copy  about  the 
Women's  Corps  for  putting  on  out- 
going mail,  etc.,  and  four  streamers 
5-by-25  inches  for  lobby  display.  Most 
of  the  material  can  also  be  utilized 
for  decorating  recruiting  booths  in 
lobbies  and  for  lobby  displays. 

As  a  prologue  to  the  campaign  Ed- 
die Cantor  will  broadcast,  a  special 
salute  to  the  Wacs  on  his  regular  air 
show  on  Wednesday  night,  May  10, 
the  night  before  the  drive  opens.  A 
special  12-page  press  book  has  been 
prepared  under  the  direction  of  Man- 
del  for  distribution  to  theatres. 

The  Army  will  issue  special 
citations  to  every  theatre  man- 
ager who  secures  applications 
for  at  least  a  squad  of  12  Wacs. 

To  implement  the  theatres'  "Wac 
Recruiting  Week,"  chairman  Alper- 
son  created  an  industry  advisory 
council  consisting  of  the  following : 
Joseph  Bernhard,  Barney  Balaban, 
Nate  Blumberg,  Jack  Cohn,  Tom 
Connors,  Oscar  Doob,  Gus  Eyssell,  Si 
Fabian,  Leonard  Goldenson,  Ben 
Kalmenson,  Harry  Kalmine,  Carl 
Leserman,  Abe  Montague,  Rodney 
Pantages,  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  Charles 
Reagan,  Herman  Robbins,  William  F. 
Rodgers,  Eddie  Rubin,  George 
Schaefer,  Joseph  M.  Schenck,  Nich- 
olas M.  Schenck,  Edward  Schreiber, 
William  Scully,  Si  Seadler,  Gradwell 
Sears,  Spyros  Skouras,  Edwin  Silver- 
man, Kenneth  Thomson,  Joseph  Vo- 
gel,  Harry  Warner,  Richard  Walsh 
and  Pete  Wood. 

This  committee  will  function  in  ad- 
dition to  special  field  committees  on 
distribution,  exhibition  and  publicity. 


Col.  Oveta  Culp  Hobby,  director  of  the  U.  S.  Women's  Army  Corps, 
approves  plans  for  the  motion  picture  industry's  War  Activities 
Committee  sponsorship  of  'Wac  Recruiting  Week1  in  16,000  theatres, 
May  11-17.  Presenting  the  plans  to  Col.  Hobby  are  (I.  to  r.)  Edward 
L.  Alperson,  national  chairman  of  the  industry  drive;  Harry  Mandel, 
national  publicity  director,  and  Harry  Brandt,  co-field  director. 


PCCITO,  Gov't  Set 
New  Building  Talks 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

under  consideration,  on  the  ground 
that  surveys  show  that  many  theatres 
are  operating  far  below  capacity  and 
there  is  no  real  need  for  additional 
seats. 

Meanwhile,  it  has  developed, 
charges  also  have  been  made  that  con- 
sent decree  companies  are  using  the 
war  need  for  new  theatres  as  a  means 
of  overcoming  opposition  of  the  De- 
partment of  Justice  to  further  circuit 
expansion,  although  WPB  officials 
said  that  FWC  is  the  only  large  cir- 
cuit to  come  forward  with  any  pro- 
gram for  new  construction  and  that 
the  decree  companies  have  lagged  far 
behind  independents  in  cooperating 
with  the  Office  of  Civilian  Require- 
ments program  to  meet  war-center 
recreation  needs. 

At  the  Department  of  Justice  it  was 
indicated  that  in  the  consideration  of 
circuit  expansions  in  war  centers  the 
report  by  OCR  officials  on  the  need 
for  houses  would  carry  considerable 
weight. 


Trade  Press  Aid  to 
Loan  Drive  Pledged 

Editors  and  publishers  of 
motion  picture  trade  publica- 
tions have  pledged  full  sup- 
port in  the  industry's  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  to  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  national  chairman. 

All  trade  papers  will  report 
on  special  war  bond  promo- 
tions well  in  advance  of  the 
drive's  start  and  during  the 
drive.  O'Donnell,  who  pre- 
sided at  a  trade  press  meet- 
ing here,  praised  the  coopera- 
tion of  the  press  in  all  four 
previous  bond  campaigns. 


Smith  Due  Monday 
On  Projector  Plan 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

day  that  the  additional  projector  units 
contemplated  under  the  expanded  pro- 
gram will  be  made  chiefly  in  plants 
in  areas  where  no  stringency  of  labor 
prevails.  There  is  little  likelihood  of 
any  additional  production  in  the  so- 
called  No.  1  areas,  including  Detroit 
and  Chicago,  where  the  most  severe 
conditions  exist.  The  expanded  pro- 
gram will  be  handled  chiefly  in  the 
No.  2  areas,  including  Indianapolis, 
Toledo,  Newark,  and  other  sections 
where  labor  conditions  are  good. 

Smith  explained  that  the  inability 
to  expand  their  civilian  production  will 
have  little  effect  on  the  plants  in  the 
most  congested  areas,  which  are  run- 
ning on  a  large  backlog  of  military 
orders. 


to 


Newsreels  Called 
Help  5th  Loan 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
man,  will  attend  the  session  at  which 
plans  will  be  developed  for  the  news- 
reels'  support  in  bringing  the  war  loan 
message  to  theatre  audiences. 

Members  of  the  Metropolitan  New 
York  WAC  theatres  division,  of  which 
Sam  Rinzler  and  Fred  Schwartz  are 
co-chairmen,  held  their  organization 
meeting  on  the  drive  yesterday  at 
WAC  headquarters.  Various  show- 
manship promotions  were  discussed 
with  the  aim  of  surpassing  previous 
bond  drive  showings. 


Salesmen  Get  $4,700 

Washington,  April  27. — Joseph 
Walsh,  president  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Salesmen's  Club  here,  reports  that 
the  organization's  welfare  fund  cam- 
paign has  hit  $4,700. 


Greatest  Need 
For  Theatres 
On  West  Coast 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

population  of  as  much  as  50,000  were 
from  two  -  to  ten  miles  distant,"  he 
said. 

Two  major  factors  are  now  guid- 
ing the  OCR  in  carrying  forward  its 
program  for  the  construction  of  addi- 
tional facilities  in  congested  areas,  he 
disclosed.  One  is  whether  a  location 
for  which  a  new  theatre  is  proposed 
will  continue  to  be  as  important  after 
the  situation  in  Europe  is  cleared  up 
and  the  war  shifts  from  that  area  to 
the  Pacific  with  consequent  change  in 
the  type  of  material  which  will  be  re- 
quired. When  that  shift  occurs,  it  was 
explained,  there  will  be  less  emphasis 
upon  supplying  the  tremendous  Army 
and  more  upon  the  requirements  of  the 
greatly  expanded  Navy. 

The  other  factor  is  the  shortage  of 
manpower  and  construction  materials, 
and  where  the  situation  is  critical  new 
houses  will  be  authorized  only  in  cases 
where  the  distance  to  operating  the- 
atres is  definitely  unreasonable  or  the 
existing  houses  are  playing  SRO 
nightly. 

While  on  the  coast,  McMurphey 
talked  with  Government  officials  and 
with  theatre  interests,  securing  the 
views  of  both  as  to  the  recreation 
needs  of  the  area.  "Similar  trips  will 
be  taken  to  other  defense  sections  as 
opportunity  arises,"  he  said. 


NTS  Has  Service  Club 

Women  employes  of  National  The- 
atre Supply  here  have  formed  a  "Ser- 
vicemen's Letter  Club,"  under  the 
sponsorship  of  W.  E.  Greene,  president 
of  the  company.  Each  member  has 
pledged  herself  to  write  at  least  one 
letter  a  week  to  a  man  in  service,  other 
than  relatives.  Membership  is  open 
to  all  girls  in  National's  28  branches. 


A  MAN  WHO  KNOWS! 

How  nice  it  is  to  do  business 
with  a  man  who,  by  experi- 
ence, knows  and  understands 
your  problems  ...  a  man 
who  has  faced  those  same 
problems  himself. 


MY  BACKGROUND:. 

Screen:  7  years  Exploitation 
Director,  Columbia  Pictures. 
Stage:  10  years  Theatrical 
(legit.)  managing  and  publi- 
cizing, from  coast  to  coast, 
famous  dramatic  and  musical 
shows,  and  representing  cele- 
brated stars,  including  Ethel 
Barrymore,  Jeanette  MacDon- 
ald,  Mme.  Jeritza,  Cary  Grant, 
others. 

Radio:  2  years  Radio  writer, 
director,  producer. 
Advg.:  6  years  national  adver- 
tising and  public  relations.  2 
years  newspaper  reporting  and 
editorial  work,  Times  and  Post. 

*  *  * 

Let  me  assist  in  solving  your 
personnel  problems  .  .  .  none 
is  too  large  or  too  difficult. 

*  *  * 
FRANK  McGRANN 

POSITION  SECURING  BUREAU,  Inc. 

(Agency) 

331  Madison  Ave.,  N.Y.C.  MU. 2-6494 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  April  28,  1944 


Average  Sales  for 
'A'  Pictures  Is 
14,000  This  Year 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
of  current   season's   sales,  published 
today.     Contracts  and  bookings  for 
1943-44  pictures  are  the  highest  of  any 
period  in  the  last  10  years,  it  is  said. 
Reduction  in  the  number  of 
pictures   released  and   in  the 
prints  available  is  the  reason 
cited  by  the  sales  executives  for 
the  record  contracts. 

The  product  shortage  has  resulted 
in  greater  circulation,  in  some  in- 
stances as  high  as  200  per  cent  over 
1941-42  billings,  for  Republic,  Mono- 
gram and  PRC  Pictures.  Columbia, 
United  Artists  and  Universal  also 
show  a  higher  average  of  bookings 
this  season  for  both  top  "A"  and 
program  product. 

Hugh  Owen,  Eastern  division  sales 
manager  for  Paramount,  reported  that 
the  highest  number  of  billings  for  any 
company  picture  this  season  was  15,- 
094,  compared  to  14,016  in  1941,  and 
the  lowest  circulation  for  any  film  in 
1943-44  was  7,801,  compared  to  the 
low  of  5,020  two  years  ago.  Owen 
estimated  that  the  average  number  of 
billings  for  10  of  Paramount's  top  "A" 
features  this  season  was  14,594. 

M-G-M  Reports  on  Booking 

H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor 
relations  for  M-G-M,  reported  the 
company  has  had  more  big-budget  pic- 
tures hitting  the  14,000  booking  mark 
this  season  than  in  previous  years. 
Secondary  product,  as  a  result,  re- 
ceived wider  circulation,  reaching  an 
average  of  approximately  9,000.  Richey 
pointed  out  that  with  15,000  theatre 
accounts  representing  the  peak  in  pos- 
sibilities, M-G-M  has  come  closest  in 
many  years  to  hitting  that  mark. 

Robert  Mochrie,  general  sales  man- 
ager of  RKO  Radio,  said  that  14,000 
bookings  was  the  high  figure  this  sea- 
son, compared  to  about  9,000  two 
years  ago.  At  20th  Century-Fox, 
bookings  are  in  excess  of  13,000  for 
important  pictures,  and  at  Warners,  it 
was  said  that  14,000  is  an  average 
estimate  of  bookings  for  top  "A"  pic- 
tures this  season,  with  some  going 
as  high  as  15,500,  including  repeat 
bookings. 

Special  Handling  for  67 

At  least  67  pictures  thus  far  this 
season  received  special  handling  and 
were  sold  at  higher  terms,  with  most 
of  them  given  pre-release  exhibition. 
There  are  approximately  20  more  to 
come  before  the  end  of  the  season 
which  will  be-  sold  in  the  higher 
brackets.  According  to  sales  execu- 
tives, reissues  and  second  grade  prod- 
uct have  alleviated  the  product  short- 
age fbr  many  subsequent  run  theatre 
operators.  It  is  estimated  that  there 
are  more  theatres  playing  first  run 
product  now  than  ever  before,  includ- 
ing the  moveovers  which  were  con- 
verted into  first  run  outlets  and  closed 
houses  which  reopened  as  first  runs. 
Since  the  war,  approximately  2,000 
theatres  in  the  country  have  closed, 
because  of  population  shifts,  gasoline 
restrictions,  manpower  and  product 
shortages.  It  is  understood  that  of 
the  2,000  closed  houses,  at  least  200 
have  reopened. 

The  bottleneck  of  product  in  key 
city  first  runs  which  caused  alarm 
last  season  among  distributors,  circuit 
and  independent  exhibitors  alike,  has 
been  eased  a  little  this  season,  sales 
executives  report 


Review 


"This  Is  the  Life" 

(  Universal) 

T  7  NIVERSAL  in  "This  Is  the  Life"  offers  a  wide  assortment  of  en- 
tertainment  which,  in  an  effort  to  be  all  things  to  all  men,  becomes 
somewhat  diffuse  in  effect,  but  retains  those  ingredients  peculiar  to  box 
office  prosperity,  nevertheless. 

There  are  the  special  talents  of  Donald  O'Connor  at  singing  and  danc- 
ing and  being  just  Donald  O'Connor;  there  is  Susanna  Foster  to  sing; 
there  is  the  suave  support  of  Patric  Knowles  and  Louise  Allbritton; 
there  are  Ray  Eberle  and  his  orchestra;  there  is  explosive  Peggy  Ryan, 
and  also  a  host  of  lesser  players  who  deliver  solid  performances. 

Miss  Foster,  on  the  verge  of  departing  her  teens,  is  romantically  in- 
clined to  Patric  Knowles,  an  invalided  veteran  of  Guadalcanal,  who  is 
many  years  her  senior.  This  creates  a  problem  for  Donald,  who  has 
already  staked  out  a  claim  on  Miss  Foster's  affections.  Knowles  flees 
the  brazen  Miss  Foster  who  has,  in  no  uncertain  terms,  made  known 
her  feelings.  She  pursues  him  to  New  York,  where  he  agrees  to  be- 
come engaged  to  her  in  an  effort  to  make  her  follow  a  singing  career. 
Her  girlish  infatuation  is  eventually  dissipated  when  Miss  Allbritton 
reappears  to  kindle  an  old  spark  in  Knowles'  heart.  It  seems  that  they 
have  been  divorced  through  a  misunderstanding.  Donald  goes  on  to 
the  Army  and  in  a  final  camp  show  sequence  is  reunited  with  Susanna. 

Director  Felix  Feist  has  turned  out  a  craftsman-like  job;  while  Wan- 
da Tuchock,  who  has  derived  inspiration  for  her  screenplay,  in  some 
small  way,  from  the  play  by  Sinclair  Lewis  and  Fay  Wray,  has  given 
the  players  many  amusing  lines.  Her  script  is  also  sufficiently  knowing 
where  necessary  in  the  language  of  the  "hepcats"  to  pass  muster.  A 
bit  of  business  with  a  cherry  in  a  glass  makes  for  some  really  hilarious 
moments. 

Others  who  contribute  their  talents  are  Dorothy  Peterson,  Jonathan 
Hale,  Frank  Puglia,  Eddie  Quillan,  Frank  Jenks,  Virginia  Brissac,  the 
Bobby  Brooks  Quartette  and  Smoky,  an  educated  Scotty.  Bernard  Bur- 
ton was  associate  producer. 

Running  time,  87  mins.    "G."*   Release  date,  June  2. 

Charles  Ryweck 

*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Hollywood 


Films  Can  Advise 
On  Foreign  Talks 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
ferences  now  going  on  between  the 
U.  S.  and  British  governments. 

Quoting  from  a  letter  he  sent  to 
Secretary  of  State  Cordell  Hull  on 
the  subject,  Biddle  said:  "Consulta- 
tion by  the  State  Department  with 
technical  experts  does  not  constitute 
any  violation  of  the  Federal  anti-trust 
laws." 

"Consultation,"  he  explained,  "does 
not  involve,  of  course,"  the  determina- 
tion of  policies  nor  the  formulation  of 
problems  which  should  be  the  respon- 
sibility of  the  State  Department.  If 
technical  experts  operating  as  mem- 
bers of  a  panel  should  themselves 
agree  on  any  private  plan  or  program, 
or  should  take  part  in  any  such  pri- 
vate plan  or  program  such  a  plan  or 
program  would  be  subject  to  the  anti- 
trust laws. 

"Advisory  committees  representing 
private  interests  are  one  valuable 
source  of  information  and  advice,  but 
provision  should  be  made  so  that  any 
group  which  feels  that  its  interests 
are  being  neglected  may  present  its 
grievances  or  suggestions  to  the  Gov- 
ernment. Moreover,  no  advisory  com- 
mittee or  other  private  group,  repre- 
sentative of  special  interests,  should 
have  authority  to  determine  national 
policy  or  to  carry  out  a  program," 
it  was  said. 


U.A.  to  Release  'Europe' 

"The  Battle  of  Europe,"  distributed 
by  United  Artists  here  in  the  World- 
in-Action  series,  will  be  released  na- 
tionally May  5. 


CBS  Hits  Delays 
On  Television 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
of  the  press  at  a  luncheon  at  the 
Hotel  Waldorf-Astoria  here,  Kesten 
acknowledged  that  the  stand  taken  by 
CBS  will  create  problems  which  Gov- 
ernment, manufacturer,  broadcaster 
and  the  public  must  face.  "But,"  he 
stated,  "delay  in  improving  television 
standards  may  in  itself  be  fatal,  doom- 
ing better  television  pictures." 

To  facilitate  an  early  FCC  decision 
in  favor  of  higher  frequencies  re- 
quired for  improved  television,  the 
CBS  policy  urges  immediate  concen- 
tration of  effort  by  all  laboratories  to 
complete  experiments  onj  which  "CBS 
knows  that  80  percent,  perhaps  90 
percent,  has  been  done  and  has  been 
tested  in  the  crucible  of  war." 

Channels  16  megacycles  in  width 
rather  than  the  present  six  megacycles 
would  be  employed  by  CBS  to  turn 
coarse-screen  television  into  fine  screen 
television,  increasing  from  250,000  to 
585,000  the  number  of  picture  elements. 
Color  picture  elements  would  be  in- 
creased from  250,000  to  900,000  under 
the  16  megacycle  channel. 


Decree  Talk  Date 
Is  Expected  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
aforementioned  four  companies,  will 
participate  in  the  discussions  as  ad- 
visor to  their  representatives,  it  is  un- 
derstood. Warner  Bros,  will  be  repre- 
sented by  either  Robert  Perkins  or 
Howard  Levinson,  company  counsel. 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  April  27 

PARAMOUNT  will  reach  produc- 
tion peak  for  the  year  during  May 
with  eight  pictures'  set  for  the  cam- 
eras. "Murder,  He  Says,"  directed  by 
George  Marshall,  and  "Two  Years 
Before  the  Mast,"  directed  by  John. 
Farrow,  are  underway.  Mark  San->| 
drich  will  start  "Here  Come  the 
Waves"  this  week;  Lewis  Allen  will 
give  the  green  light  to  "Fear"  on 
May  8.  The  following  week  will  see 
three  started:  "Out  of  This  World," 
directed  by  Hal  Walker ;  "Kitty," 
with  Mitchell  Leissen  directing,  and 
"A  Medal  for  Benny,"  with  Irving 
Pichel  calling  the  signals.  Pine  and 
Thomas  will  put  "Double  Exposure" 
in  work  in  mid-May.  Chester  Morris 
is  starred  and  it  will  probably  be  his 
last  for  P-T,  at  least  under  their  pres- 
ent agreement. 

• 

Sam  Wood  has  finished  direction 
of  "Casanova  Brown,"  starring  Gary 
Cooper  and  Teresa  Wright,  at  Gold- 
wyn  Studios  and  has  moved  back  to 
his  production  headquarters  at 
Columbia  where  he  is  already  deep 
in  preparations  on  "Jubal  Troop" 
for  Columbia  release.  He  also  plans 
to  make  "This  Land  Is  Bright,"  and 
"Tatiana"  following  "Jubal  Troop." 
He  is  negotiating  for  the  loan  of 
Ingrid  Bergman  from  David  O. 
Selznick  for  "Tatiana." 

• 

Gypsy  Rose  Lee  probably  will  do 
one  or  two  more  pictures  when  she 
finishes  work  in  "Belle  of  the  Yukon," 
which  William  Seiter  is  directing  for 
International.  .  .  .  John  Farrow  has 
started  direction  on  "Two  Years  Be- 
fore the  Mast,"  one  of  Paramount's 
top  budget  pictures  for  the  year.  .  .  . 
Columbia  has  changed  the  title  on  two 
stories  in  preparation.  "Forever"  Art" 
is  now  "The  Sealed  Tomb"  while 
"Once  Upon  a  Mountain"  has  been 
retitled  "Eve  Knew  Her  Apples". 


Seek  U.S.  Policy  on 
Disease-Film  Shows 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
tion  and  the  industry  War  Activities 
Committee,  of  the  Walter  Wanger 
film,  "To  the  American  People." 
While  the  withdrawal  of  Public  Health 
Service  sponsorship  of  the  picture  was 
based  on  a  protest  from  the  Legion 
of  Decency,  it  was  learned  that  other 
organizations   had  voiced  objections. 

This  was  the  first  picture  produced 
for  the  PHS  for  which  nationwide 
showing  was  planned,  such  films  here- 
tofore having  been  made  available  to 
state  health  authorities  who  arranged 
for  showings  within  the  state. 

The  views  of  the  OWI  were  pre- 
sented in  a  letter  from  Stanton  Grif- 
fis,  chief  of  the  motion  picture  bureau, 
but  neither  Griffis  or  Francis  Har- 
mon, executive  chairman  of  the  WAC, 
who  also  had  been  invited,  were  able 
to  attend  the  meeting  here. 

Public  Health  Service  officials  said 
they  were  anxious  that  a  policy  be  de- 
veloped which  would  meet  with  public 
approval  and  support.  To  that  end, 
the  Surgeon  General's  advisory  com- 
mittee will  make  a  thorough  study  of 
the  matter  before  it  submits  its  re- 
port. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


■1 


L.  55.   NO.  85 


NEW  YORK.  U.S.A..  MONDAY.  MAY  1.  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Industry  5th 
Loan  Drive 
Heads  Named 


Kennedy  Co-chairman, 
Friedl  Is  Director 


The  remainder  of  the  top  person- 
nel of  the  national  committee  for 
the  industry's  participation  in  the 
forthcoming  Fifth  War  Loan  drive. 
June  12- July  8,  was  announced  at 
the  weekend  by  R.  J.  O'Donnell, 
national  chairman. 

Richard  M.  Kennedy  and  John 
J.  Friedl,  previously  reported  as 
having   been   named    to  work 
with    O'Donnell,    will    act  as 
co-chairman  and  campaign  di- 
rector, respectively. 
Kennedy  is  associated  with  the  R. 
B.  Wilby  circuit  in  Alabama  and  Ten- 
nessee and  is  exhibitor  chairman  of 
the   War   Activities    Committee  for 
Alabama.    Friedl  is  president  of  Min- 
nesota Amusement  Co.  and  is  WAC 
chairman    of    the    Minneapolis  ex- 
change area. 
Ray    Beall.    associate  advertising- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


To  Argue  Momand 
Findings  May  12 


A  hearing  will  be  held  on  or  about 
May  12  in  Federal  District  court  at 
Oklahoma  City  on  the  findings  of  fact 
and  conclusions  of  law  of  Judge  E.  S. 
Broaddus  in  the  Momand  anti-trust 
suit  against  major  companies  and  sev- 
eral circuit  defendants. 

The  findings  and  conclusions  exon- 
erate the  defendants  in  all  major  par- 
ticulars involving  conspiracy  against 
Momand.  In  a  minor  case,  the  court 
found  that  overbuying  at  Wewoka, 
Okla.,  involved  Paramount  and  re- 
sulted in  restraint  of  interstate  com- 
merce and  unlawful  and  unfair  com- 
(Contimted  on  page  6) 


$250,000  Down  for 
Goldwyn  Reissues 

Terms  of  the  long-pending  deal 
whereby  George  Hirliman's  Film 
Classics  has  secured  outright  reissue 
rights  to  31  Samuel  Goldwyn  produc- 
tions provide  for  a  $250,000  down  pay- 
ment and  an  eventual  total  pavment  of 
81.000,000.  The  acquisition  is  for  the 
United  States  and  Canada  only ;  the 
group  was  previously  sold  to  others 
for  Argentine,  Chile  and  Puerto  Rico, 
with  deals  for  other  countries  to  fol- 


Rank,  Skouras  Mull 
Acquisition  of 
Loew's  G-B  Shares 


London,  April  30. — Consideration  is 
being  given  a  plan  by  which  J.  Arthur 
Rank  and  Spyros  Skouras,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox president,  wsuld  purchase 
jointly  Loew's  holdings  in  the  Me- 
tropolis and  Bradford  Co.,  holding  com- 
pany for  Gaumont-British,  it  was 
learned  from  an  informed  source  here 
at  the  weekend. 

The  three-way  negotiations  between 
Rank,  Skouras  and  Sam  Eckman.  man- 
aging director  for  Loew's  here,  veer  in 
this  direction  after  reaching  an  impasse 
two  weeks  ago,  as  reported  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily,  when  Loew's  repre- 
sentatives here,  meeting  in  London, 
reached  the  limit  of  their  negotiating 
ability  without  an  agreement  being 
concluded. 

Up  to  that  point  the  negotiations  in- 
volved the  purchase  by  Rank  of  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Chicago  Salesmen 
Seek  AFL  Charter 

Chicago,  April  30. — Union  organiz- 
ers here  today  disclosed  that  a  major- 
ity of  Chicago  film  salesmen  have  sig- 
nalized their  desire  to  have  the 
IATSE,  at  its -May  convention  in  St. 
Louis,  arrange  for  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Labor  to  grant  a  charter 
for  Midwest  organization  purposes  in 
keeping  with  efforts  launched  by 
Oscar  E.  Olson,  business  agent  of  the 
Milwaukee  projectionists'  L^nion  Local 
164. 


Claude  Lee  Is  Again 
War  Bond  Liaison 

Claude  F.  Lee,  director  of 
public  relations  for  Para- 
mount, has  been  appointed 
film  industry  consultant  to 
the  War  Finance  Division  of 
the  Treasury  in  the  Fifth 
War  Loan,  it  was  announced 
here  at  the  weekend  by  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  chairman  of  the 
Industry's  war  loan  commit- 
tee. The  appointment  was 
made  upon  the  invitation  of 
Ted  Gamble,  national  director 
of  War  Finance.  Lee  served 
similarly  during  the  Fourth 
War  Loan. 

Lee  also  has  been  appointed 
special  consultant  to  the  War 
Finance  Division  for  the  dura- 
tion of  the  war. 


E.L.Alperson 
Leaves  RKO 


Edward  L.  Alperson,  general  mana- 
ger of  RKO  Theatres  for  the  past  two 
years,  has  resigned  from  the  company, 
effective  immediately,  it  was  announced 
on  Saturday.  Alperson  said  his  future 
plans  will  be  decided  shortly. 

No  successor  to  Alperson  has  been 
named.  It  is  assumed  that  RKO  the- 
atre operations  for  the  time  being  will 
be  handled  by  Malcolm  Kingsberg,  ex- 
ecutive vice-president  of  the  two  prin- 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Release  New  Tires  for 
Film  Delivery  Trucks 


low 


6,000  Lagging  on 
Red  Cross  Reports 

Six  thousand  theatres,  "dilatory  in 
reporting  their  Red  Cross  collections, 
are  spoiling  the  industry's  united  ef- 
fort in  the  recent  Red  Cross  drive," 
according  to  Joseph  Bernhard,  indus- 
try chairman,  who  made  an  urgent 
request  at  the  weekend  that  these  ex- 
hibitors immediately  forward  the 
amount  of  their  collections  to  head- 
quarters. WAC  headquarters  has  re- 
ported here. 

"The  9,000  already  reported  indi- 
cate that  we  will  double  last  vear  s 
collection,"  said  Bernhard.  "This  is 
a  better  record  than  the  Red  Cross  it- 
self has  been  able  to  achieve  because 
its  1944  goal  was  onlv  40  percent 
ahead  of  1943. 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Washington,  April  30. — Operators 
of  film  delivery  trucks,  beginning  to- 
morrow, will  be  permitted  to  pur- 
chase new  tires  for  replacement  pur- 
poses, as  a  result  of  larger  allocations 
of  new  passenger  car  tires  for  civilian 
use. 

Reversing  a  previous  ruling  re- 
stricting light  trucks  to  used  tires,  as 
reported  in  Motion  Picture  Daily. 
April  21,  the  War  Production  Board 
at  the  weekend  announced  that  oper- 
ators of  commercial  vehicles,  as  well 
as  film  salesmen  and  others  traveling 
on  "B"  and  "C"  gasoline  rations, 
would  be  eligible  for  new  synthetic 
casings. 

_  For  May.  a  total  of  1,300,000  new 
tires  has  beeu  allocated  by  the  Office 
of  Price  Administration,  double  the 
number  available  as  recently  as  last 
January'. 


RKO,  MGM  to 
Extend  Air 
Pro  motions 


Inaugurating  New  Shows 
On  Blue  and  Mutual 


Continuing  the  trend  of  film 
companies  to  extend  the  use  of  ra- 
dio promotions  to  make  up  for  pro- 
motional losses  through  reduced 
space  in  newspapers  and  magazines, 
RKO  will  inaugurate  a  new  coast-to- 
coast  radio  show  on  the  Blue  Net- 
work of  177  stations,  starting  May  29, 
and  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  will  in- 
augurate a  new  network  series  on  71 
stations  of  the  Mutual  web  on  June 
12. 

The  RKO  program  is  an  extension 
of  the  original  15-minute,  five-day 
test  program,  "Hollywood  Star 
Time,"  inaugurated  Feb.  28  on  20 
Coast  stations  of  the  Blue  web.  The 
M-G-M  program,  "Screen  Tests," 
will  replace  the  company's  present  15- 
minute  five-day  show  featuring  Ful- 
ton Oursler  on  60  Mutual  stations, 
which  will  be  heard  for  the  last  time 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Clark,  Presidents 
Meet  Next  Week 


Tom  C.  Clark,  Assistant  U.  S.  At- 
torney General  met  briefly  here  late 
Friday  with  company  counsel  during 
an  intermission  in  his  conferences  at 
the  annual  regional  meeting  of  U.  S. 
Attorneys  in  the  U.  S.  Court  House, 
Foley  Square.  No  major  issues  were 
discussed,  Clark  said,  actual  confer- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


WMC  Orders  48-Hour 
Week  in  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  April  30. — The  regional 
War  Manpower  Commission  here  has 
ordered  a  48-hour  work  week  for  Cin- 
cinnati and  some  adjacent  counties  in 
Ohio  and  Northern  Kentucky,  effec- 
tive June  1.  The  ruling  applies  to  film 
distribution  and  to  theatres  as  well  as 
to  other  industries.  All  may  file  prior 
to  May  18  for  exemption. 

"Certain  types  of  amusements  will 
be  exempt  because  it  would  be  foolish 
to  compel  them  to  operate  48  hours 
a  week."  John  M.  Baker.  WMC  chair- 
man here  declared,  -but  he  did  not 
define  the  "certain  types." 

Following  previous  practice,  dis- 
tributors are  expected  to  file  for  ex- 
emption from  the  order  for  their  ex- 
changes. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  1,  1944 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


1,664  Houses  Pledge 
For  MGM  Birthday 


Personal 
Mention 

nOSTMASTER  GENERAL 
r  FRANK  C.  WALKER  became  a 
grandfather  the  other  day  with  the 
birth  of  a  daughter  to  his  son,  Lt. 
(jg)  Thomas  J.  Walker  and  Mrs. 
Walker. 

• 

Capt.  Julian  F.  Gold,  U.  S.  Marine 
Corps,  son  of  Erwin  Gold,  general 
manager  of  Randforce,  is  home  on 
leave  after  two  years  in  the  South 
Pacific. 

• 

Cecil  B.  DeMille  has  made  reser- 
vations at  the  Blackstone  Hotel,  Chi- 
cago, for  June  26,  reportedly  to  attend 
the  Republican  Convention. 

• 

George  Jessel,  20th  Century-Fox 
producer,  arrived  in  New  York  over 
the  weekend  for  home  office  confer- 
ences. 

• 

Edward  K.  (Ted)  O'Shea,  M-G-M 
Eastern  sales  manager,  is  expected 
back  tomorrow  from  a  three-week  tour 
of  Southern  exchanges. 

• 

Edward  C.  Raftery,  Gradwell  L. 
Sears  and  Carl  Leserman  returned 
to  New  York  on  Friday  from  the 
Coast. 

• 

Larry  Kent  of  the  Loew's  Palace, 
Hartford,  was  a  New  York  visitor 
at  the  weekend. 

• 

A.  J.  O'Keefe,  Universal  Western 
sales  manager,  will  leave  today  for 
Chicago  and  Milwaukee. 

• 

Joseph  M.  Schenck  left  New  York 
for  the  Coast  at  the  weekend. 


Newsreels  in  Final 
Talks  with  Unions 


Representatives  of  the  five  news- 
reels  here  met  with  IATSE  officials 
in  the  office  of  Pat  Casey,  film  com- 
pany labor  contact,  over  the  weekend 
to  wind  up  negotiations  for  a  new 
contract  for  newsreel  cameramen  in 
New  York  and  Chicago  who  are  mem- 
bers of  "IA"  Locals  644  and  659. 

Stumbling  block  in  the  negotiations 
was  the  demands  of  cameramen  for 
severance  pay  of  two  weeks  for  each 
year  worked,  without  any  limit. 
Newsreel  companies  sought  to  incor- 
porate provisions  permitting  20  per- 
cent of  their  staffs  to  be  apprentices, 
looking  toward  post-war  conditions 
when  apprentices  are  available.  Com- 
panies have  agreed  to  grant  five  per- 
cent increases  to  the  cameramen, 
which  would  bring  them  up  to  the 
15  percent  allowance  under. the  "Lit- 
tle Steel"  formula.  New  pacts  will 
run  for  two  years. 

W.  A.  Lang  has  been  handling  ne- 
gotiations for  the  New  York  local 
and  W.  E.  Strafford  for  the  Chicago 
group,  with  Walter  C.  Ament,  Pathe 
News  general  manager,  and  other 
newsreels  executives  representing  the 
five  newsreels. 


A GOOD  many  exhibitor  or- 
ganizations are  on  record 
with  the  expression  that  they 
would  prefer  no  consent  decree 
at  all  to  the  revised  decree 
which  has  been  proposed  by  the 
consenting  companies.  There  is 
in  that  attitude  something  that 
continually  suggests  a  current 
domestic  phenomenon  to  me  and, 
if  you  will  pardon  my  dragging 
the  family  into  this,  perhaps  we 
might  discover  whether  any  real 
similarity  exists  between  .  the 
two  and,  if  so,  can  the  same 
poultice  be  applied  to  both. 

Well,  there  is  this  five-year- 
old  of  ours  who,  for  all  of  his 
simulated  machine-gunning  of 
imaginary  Japs  that  lurk  in 
ever)'  nook  and  cranny  of  the 
domicile,  either  is  one  of  those 
who  "don't  know  there's  a  war 
on"  or  is  unwilling  to  make  that 
supreme  sacrifice  which  the  con- 
flict would  ask  of  him,  for  every 
time  he  is  offered  ice  cream  that 
is  50  per  cent  sherbet  he  as- 
sumes an  unnatural  disdain  and 
refuses  the  diluted  offering  in 
tdto.  He  is  the  100  per  "cent-or- 
nothing  kind. 

So  supposing  exhibition  re- 
jects a  revised  decree  that  is 
half  cream  and  half  ice,  just  as 
organized  exhibition  has  said  it 
would  prefer  to  do.  Out  the 
window  then  will  go  ("assuming, 
for  the  sake  of  argument,  that 
the  Department  of  Justice 
would  be  influenced  to  act  ac- 
cordingly) such  creamy  items  as 
restraints  on  theatre  expansion, 
the  granting  of  cancellations,  de- 
centralized film  selling,  and  any 
and  all  benefits  inherent  in  ar- 
bitration. Simply  because  the 
remainder  of  the  decree  propos- 
als, in  the  opinion  of  some  ex- 
hibitor organizations,  is  "sher- 
bet." 

'  And  what  is  the  alternative? 
A  chance  (and  many  legal  minds 
regard  it  as  a  long-shot)  that 
the  Department  could  win  its 
pending  anti-trust  suit  or  a  new 
one  and  thereby  possibly  achieve 
a  divorcement  of  affiliated  thea- 
tres. And  of  just  what  benefit 
would  that  be  to  the  average  ex- 
hibitor ?  Your  guess  is  as  good 
as  the  next  man's,  but  if  anyone 
has  given  an  acceptable  answer 
to  that  one,  he  hasn't  released  it 
for  publication.  This  corner's 
guess  is  that  ownership  of  cir- 
cuit entities  would  be  trans- 
ferred to  new  independent  com- 
panies headed  by  the  present  ac- 
tive operators  or  their  associ- 
ates, in  much  the  manner  of  the 


dismemberment  of  Standard  Oil. 
Which  means,  as  we  see  it,  that 
if  you  reject  the  cream  because 
you  don't  care  for  sherbet, 
you're  likely  to  end  up  by  not 
eating. 

The  moral  of  this  little  tale 
of  domesticity  is :  Seek  a  decree 
that  both  sides  can  live  under ; 
work  over  it  and  shape  it  into 
the  best  possible  form.  "A  half  a 
loaf  is  better  than  .  .  .  ,"  and  all 
that  sort  of  thing. 

•  • 

Silver  Lining  Note :  "Wrig- 
ley's  entire  output  of  chewing 
gum  will  go  to  armed  forces 
abroad."  (News  item) 

There  is  one*  wartime  casual- 
ty that  is  all  to  the  good,  insofar 
as  most  theatre  operators  are 
concerned. 

Wendell  Willkie  says  "No 
foundation!"  to  those  reports 
that  he  would  not  consent  to 
continue  as  chairman  of  the 
board  of  20th  Century-Fox. 

•  • 

There  is  the  odd  story  going 
the  Broadway  rounds  about  the 
high-placed  Hollywood  execu- 
tive who  checked  out  of  a  Chi- 
cago hotel,  where  he  paused  be- 
tween trains,  and  whose  suite 
was  immediately  assigned  to 
another  member  of  the  industry, 
just  arrived  from  New  York. 
The  newcomer  was  startled 
shortly  after  taking  possession 
of  the  suite  to  discover  that  sev- 
eral workmen  whom  he  had  ad- 
mitted were  removing  dicta- 
phone equipment  from  con- 
cealed locations  all  over  the 
suite. 

•  • 

That  United  Artists  purchase 
of  Alex  Korda's  stock  interest 
over  the  objections  of  Charlie 
Chaplin  was  made  possible  by  a 
discerning  legal  eye  which  per- 
ceived that  the  company's  by- 
laws specified  that  the  unani- 
mous consent  rule  was  applica- 
ble to  sales  of  the  company's 
stock,  and  that  purchases  were 
not  mentioned. 

•  • 

Altec's  service  charges  are  to 
be  increased  in  the  near  future, 
due  to  increasing  costs  all  along 
the  line,  particularly  for  labor. 

•  • 

Universal  "is  selling  away 
from  the  Schine  and  Saenger 
circuits  and  a  good  part  of  the 
Skouras  circuit.  The  evidence 
would  tend  to  show  that  Bill 
Scully  has  the  courage  of  his 
convictions. 


Thirteen  Paramount  theatre  affili- 
ates with  a  total  of  796  theatres  and 
31  independent  operators  representing 
868  theatres  have  pledged  to  run  at 
least  one  M-G-M  picture  during  the 
company's  20th  year  anniversary  cele- 
bration, June  22-28.  This  makes  a 
total  of  3,979  houses  pledged. 

The  Paramount  partners  are:  Lu- 
cas and  Jenkins,  54  theatres ;  Famous 
Players  Canadian,  186  theatres ;  Inter- 
state, 159 ;  Balaban  &  Katz,  47 ;  Min- 
nesota Amusement,  100 ;  Jefferson 
Amusement,  74;  Florida  State  Thea- 
tres, 100  ;  Intermountain,  28 ;  Northio, 
17 ;  Western  Massachusetts,  18 ;  Pub- 
lix  Bamford,  five ;  Publix-Richards- 
Nace,  eight. 

The  31  other  independents  are: 
Affiliated,  77 ;  Amusement  Enter- 
prises, nine ;  Atlantic,  14 ;  Brandt, 
106;  Associated,  24;  Bijou,  41;  Com- 
monwealth, 56 ;  Cornell,  four  ;  Dixie, 
six ;  Dominion,  15 ;  Durwood  Dubin- 
sky,  12 ;  General,  17 ;  Gibraltar,  40 ; 
Gregory,  25 ;  A.  B.  Hyman,  three ; 
Latchis,  14 ;  Harris,  18 ;  Interboro, 
35;  Kallet,  34 ;  Maine  &  New  Hamp- 
shire, 30 ;  Muscle  Shoals,  seven ;  Pal 
Amusement,  nine  ;  Redwood,  27  ;  Pre- 
mier, 36;  Rockwood,  44;  Skirball, 
15 ;  Skouras,  74 ;  Ralph  Talbot,  four ; 
T  &  D,  40;  Waters,  15;  Maurice 
White,  13,  and  Wilmer  &  Vincent,  20. 

Coe's  Autobiography 
Sketches  Film  Men 

Advance  copies  of  Charles  Francis 
Coe's  autobiography,  "Never  a  Dull 
Moment,"  which  will  be  published 
May  23  by  Hastings  House,  were  dis- 
tributed at  the  weekend. 

The  final  25  pages  of  the  326-page 
volume  are  devoted  to  Coe's  impres- 
sions of  the  industry  and  some  of  its 
executives,  gained  since  his  association 
with  MPPDA  in  late  1941.  He  pens 
brief  word  sketches  of  Louis  B.  Mayer, 
Harry  Cohn,  Joseph  I.  Breen,  Nicho- 
las M.  Schenck,  H.  M.  Warner,  Spy- 
ros  Skouras  and  Barney  Balaban. 

Zanuck  to  Film  Life 
Of  Hero  Rem  \ 

Darrylt  F.  Zanuck  has  completed  ne- 
gotiations for  20th  Centurjr-Foxlto  film 
the  story  of  the  life  of  "ComnVando" 
Charles  E.  Kelly,  hero  of  the  Italian 
front  who  won  the  Congressional 
Medal  of  Honor  for  his'  exploits^ 

Zanuck  also  effected  arrangements 
whereby  the  Saturday  Evening  \Post 
will  serialize  Kelly's  story,  folloWing 
which  it  will  be  published_  in  book 
form.  ,  >. 


British  Honor  Keating 

Chicago,  April  30. — Lt.  Col.  Geof- 
fery  Keating,  co-producer  with.  Lt.  Col. 
Frank  Capra  of  "Tunisian  Victory," 
will  be  the  guest  tomorrow  evening  in 
the  Blackstone  Hotel  here  at  a  press 
reception  arranged  by  the  British  In- 
formation Services. 


Daff  En  Route  Here 

London,  April  30.- — Al  Daff,  for- 
eign supervisor  for  Universal,  is  en 
route  to  New  York. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "QuigT^feeS,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  <fteningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  ^Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  AlLcontents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Ei^tfied  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  forergrK  single  copies,  10c. 


Monday,  May  1,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


3 


Selznick  Appeal  on 
Chaplin  Heard 


The  Appellate  Division  of  the  New 
York  Supreme  Court  here  heard  argu- 
ments Friday  on  David  Selznick's  ap- 
peal from  a  decision  rendered  by  Su- 
preme Court  Justice  Ferdinand  Pecora 
recently  in  Charles  Chaplin's  suit.  Pre- 
siding Justice  Francis  Martin  and  as- 
sociates Judge  Irwin  Untermeyer, 
AJudge  Alfred  H.  Townley,  Judge  Ed- 
/ward  J.  Glennan  and  Judge  Edward  S. 
Dore  are  expected  to  render  a  decision 
in  a  week  or  two. 

Judge  Pecora  had  held  that  both 
Vanguard  Films  and  David  O.  Selz- 
nick, Inc.,  are  doing  business  in  New 
York  and  are  not  foreign  to  the  state 
as  claimed  by  Selznick  in  his  attempt 
to  prevent  Chaplin  from  joining  his 
two  corporations  in  the  accounting  ac- 
tion filed  also  against  20th  Century- 
Fox,  United  Artists  and  Selznick  fol- 
lowing Selznick's  sale  of  certain  pro- 
duction assets  to  20th-Fox.  Louis  D. 
Frohlich  of  the  law  firm  of  Schwartz 
and  Frohlich  is  representing  Chaplin, 
plaintiff,  in  his  own  behalf  and  in  be- 
half of  other  UA  stockholders. 

Young  Reorganizing 
Film  Enterprises 

Reorganization  of  Robert  R.  Young's 
various  film  interests  will  be  com- 
pleted within  two  weeks,  it  was  learned 
here  at  the  weekend. 

A  new  company,  Pathe  Industries, 
will  be  established  as  the  top  holding 
company,  with  Pathe  Laboratories  of 
New  Jersey  and  Pathe  Laboratories  of 
California  as  subsidiaries.  PRC  Pic- 
tures will  be  another  subsidiary,  which 
in  turn  will  be  the  top  holding  com- 
pany for  PRC  Productions,  PRC  Stu- 
dio and  PRC  Real  Estate  Co. 

A  PRC  directors'  meeting  will  be 
held  here  shortly,  at  which  time  di- 
rectors and  officers  of  all  PRC  com- 
panies will  be  elected. 

WB  Receives  Teacher 
Award  for  Education 

Warner  Brothers  was  presented  with 
the  New  York  Teachers  Union  award 
for  "outstanding  service  in  the  cause 
of  education"  on  Saturday  at  the  or- 
ganization's 10th  annual  conference  in 
the  Hotel  Commodore  here. 

Jesse  Lasky,  producer  of  "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain,"  accepting 
the  award  for  the  company,  said  "The 
way  to  greater  achievement  in  educa- 
tion and  greater  understanding  of 
Democracy  is  through  the  medium  of 
the  motion  picture." 

Republic  Sales  Meet 
At  Chicago  Today 

Chicago,  April  30. — Herbert  J. 
Yates,  Sr.,  chairman  of  the  board  of 
Republic  Pictures,  and  James  R. 
Grainger,  president,  manager,  will  meet 
tomorrow  at  the  Drake  Hotel  here 
with  Edward  Walton  and  Merritt 
Davis,  Midwestern  and  Southern  dis- 
trict sales  managers,  respectively,  and 
managers  and  salesmen  from  these  ter- 
ritories. The  session  will  continue 
through  Tuesday. 


5,131  'Victory'  Contracts 

M-G-M  has  set  5,131  bookings  of 
"Tunisian  Victory,"  British-American 
jrodticed  documentary. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  April  30 

OVER  3,000  players  have  entertained 
servicemen  and  women  in  more 
than  26,000  appearances  involving  some 
3,000,000  miles  of  travel,  during  the 
28-months  existence  of  the  Hollywood 
Victory  Committee,  it  was  reported  at 
the  weekend.  In  addition,  HVC  spon- 
sored players  have  sold  over  $3,000,- 
000,000  in  war  bonds,  taking  part  in 
every  national  relief  and  charity  drive 
since  Pearl  Harbor.  Performers  in- 
cluded members  of  SAG,  AGVA, 
AFRA,  AGMA,  Ascap  and  Actors' 
Equity. 

• 

Jack  Conway  will  mark  his  35th  an- 
niversary in  films  by  directing  "The 
Clock,"  in  which  Judy  Garland  and 
Robert  Walker  are  to  be  starred.  The 
story  is  by  Paul  and  Pauline  Gallico 
and  deals  with  a  soldier's  last  48  hours 
in  New  York  before  going  overseas. 
• 

Sam  Spring,  film  attorney,  Super- 
chiefed  for  New  York  at  the  weekend. 


WLB  Will  Look  for 
Petrillo  Today 

Washington,  April  30. — James  C. 
Petrillo,  American  Federation  of  Mu- 
sicians' head  and  officials  of  AFM 
locals  in  Chicago  and  Milwaukee  are 
supposed  to  appear  before  the  War 
Labor  Board  in  Washington  tomorrow 
to  show  cause  why  penalties  should 
not  be  levied  against  them  for  refusing 
to  call  off  strikes  of  musicians  of  radio 
stations  WJJD,  Chicago,  and  KSTP, 
Milwaukee.  William  H.  Davis,  WLB 
chairman,  issued  the  order  last  week. 

Telegrams  originally  sent  to  Chi- 
cago Local  10  on  April  21  and  Minne- 
apolis Local  73  on  April  24,  and  to 
Petrillo,  to  call  off  the  strikes  were 
ignored,  with  the  locals  continuing 
their  strike  to  force  the  two  stations  to 
use  additional  union  musicians. 


6,000  Lagging  on 
Red  Cross  Reports 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

"In  order  to  have  this  fact  recorded 
properly  in  the  Red  Cross  report,  we 
must  be  able  tb  present  our  national 
totals  to  the  Red  Cross  within  the 
near  future. 

"We  have  done  a  great  job  of  col- 
lecting. Please  fill  out  the  form,  or 
a  postal  card,  or  simply  write  on  your 
theatre  letterhead  'Red  Cross  Collec- 
tion' and  the  total  figure,"  Bernhard 
advised  exhibitors. 


Schwalberg,  Dolid  in 
New  Posts  Today 

A.  W.  Schwalberg,  formerly  vice- 
president  of  Vitagraph  and  supervisor 
of  Warner  exchanges,  today  assumes 
the  post  of  Eastern  representative  of 
William  Goetz  and  Leo  Spitz's  Inter- 
national Pictures.  Schwalberg  was' 
with  Warners  18  years. 

Mike  Dolid,  formerly  head  of  War- 
ners' contract  department,  succeeds 
Schwalberg  as  supervisor  of  Warner 
exchanges. 


State  Keeps  Hands 
Off  Local  Codes 


Revisions  proposed  in  the  state 
building  code  for  theatres  and  other 
places  of  public  assembly  are  not  in- 
tended by  the  New  York  State  De- 
partment of  Labor  to  supersede  ordi- 
nances of  towns  and  cities  that  have 
building  bureaus,  as  had  been  feared  by 
some  theatre  operators,  it  was  learned 
here  at  the  weekend,  when  New  York 
circuit  representatives  met  with  Sen- 
ator J.  Henry  Walters,  RKO  attorney, 
who  has  been  acting  as  exhibitor  con- 
tact with  state  authorities  and  who  first- 
apprised  the  industry  of  the  anticipated 
revisions. 

The  new  proposals,  said  to  require 
changes  to  tighten  up  the  fire  laws, 
especially  as  they  relate  to  exits,  dra- 
peries, combustible  materials  and  other 
items,  will  be  discussed  further  on 
Tuesday  at  a  meeting  in  the  office  of 
the  Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Dis- 
tributors of  America,  with  each  rep- 
resentative submitting  an  analysis  of 
suggested  provisions  in  the  code.  At 
the  same  time,  a  committee  of  three 
will  be  appointed  to  cooperate  with  the 
industrial  code  referee  of  the  Com- 
missioner of  Labor's  office  in  bringing 
about  a  code  satisfactory  to  all  con- 
cerned. 


Charge  Communism 
Among  Film  Writers 


Hollywood,  April  ;30. — The  Screen 
Writers'  Guild  invitation  to  industry 
representatives  to  meet  Tuesday  for  the 
purpose  of  investigating  the  Motion 
Picture  Alliance  for  the  Preservation 
of  American-Ideals  was  labeled  part  of 
a  smear  campaign  of  a  Communist 
group  within  SWG  and  the  Hollywood 
Writers  Mobilization  at  a  membership 
meeting  of  MPA  on  Friday. 

Captain  Clark  Gable  told  America 
through  MPA  members :  "The  boys 
talk  a  great  deal-  of  home  and  what 
they  want  to  find  when  they  get  back 
and  it's  not  Communism." 

Captain  John  Lee  Mahin  praised  the 
organization  of  MPA  for  its  ideals  and 
principles,  as  did  leading  members  of 
industry  unions.  Gary  Cooper  declared 
its  objectives  are  fine  in  principle. 

Frank  McGuinness,  chairman  of  the 
MPA  executive  committee,  charged 
that  Communist-inspired  smear  cam- 
paigns were  directed  at  MPA  under 
cover  of  the  Hollywood  Writers 
Mobilization,  while  Fred  Niblo,  Jr., 
flatly  said :  "The  Screen  Writers'  Guild 
is  definitely  in  the  hands  of  Reds." 


Powers  Plans  Exhibit 

Pat  Powers,  recently  special  ex- 
ploiteer  for  20th  Century-Fox's  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette,"  and  prior  to  that 
producer  of  the  "Red  Cross  at  War" 
pageant  at  Madison  Square  Garden 
and  also  aide  to  Major  Leslie  Thomp- 
son of  RKO  on  the  creation  of  the 
"War  Center"  for  the  Third  War 
Loan  drive,  has  formed  Post  War  Ex- 
positions, with  himself  as  president. 
He  will  present  an  exhibit,  to  be 
known  as  "Post  War  America," 
which  will  give  a  preview  of  the  plans 
of  American  industry  in  the  postwar. 
First  showing  is  planned  for  Madison 
Square  Garden  in  late  Summer  or 
early  Fall,  with  subsequent  showings 
in  20  other  cities. 


Schenck,  Prutzman, 
Scully,  Bernhard 
Report  Stock  Deals 


Philadelphia,  April  30. — Trading 
by  officers  and  directors  of  motion  pic- 
ture companies  in  the  securities  of 
their  corporations  last  month  was 
light,  it  was  reported  here  yesterday 
by  the  Securities  and  Exchange  Com- 
mission in  its  monthly  summary  of 
transactions. 

The  largest  transaction  reported 
was  the  purchase  by  Nicholas  M. 
Schenck  of  9,896  shares  of  Loew's 
Boston  Theatres  common,  giving  him 
a  total  of  10,913  shares.  Loew's,  Inc., 
continued  its  Boston  buying,  securing 
345  shares  to  give  it  a  total  of  120,982. 

Large  transactions  were  reported 
in  Universal  Pictures,  with  Charles 
D.  Prutzman  exercising  rights  to  se- 
cure 1,000  common  voting  trust  cer- 
tificates, to  give  him  a  total  of  6,000, 
through  the  exchange  of  1,000  war- 
rants ;  Prutzman  also  disposed  of  500 
warrants  by  gift,  leaving  him  with 
13,400.  William  A.  Scully  also  re- 
ported a  gift  of  6,000  warrants,  leav- 
ing him  with  12,000,  and  Preston  Da- 
vie, director,  sold  200  voting  trust  cer- 
tificates, leaving  him  with  3,500. 

Shaw  Sells  Out 

The  sale  of  500  shares  of  Warner 
common  was  reported  by  Joseph 
Bernhard,  leaving  him  with  6,000 
shares.  The  purchase  of  500  shares 
of  Radio-Keith- Orpheum  common 
was  reported  by  George  H.  Shaw,  di- 
rector, representing  his  entire  RKO 
holdings.  A  purchase  of  100  shares 
of  Paramount  common  was  recorded 
for  Stephen  Callaghan,  director,  in- 
creasing his  interest  to  200  shares. 

A  long  series  of  belated  reports 
was  filed  on  the  holdings  of  Setay 
Co.,  Inc.,  in  Consolidated  Film  In- 
dustries, showing  that  between  March, 
1941,  and  May,  1943,  it  built  up  its 
holdings  of  part  preferred  stock  from 
nothing  to  31,250  shares. 

In  radio,  a  report  on  Columbia 
Broadcasting  showed  that  Paul  W. 
Kesten  bought  134  and  sold  600  shares 
of  Class  A  common,  leaving  him  with 
743  shares. 


De  Mille,  Wm.  Morris 
Now  TEA  Members 

Cecil  B.  de  Mille  Productions  and 
the  William  Morris  Agency  have  been 
accepted  as  affiliate  members  of  the 
Television  Broadcasters  Association, 
Inc.,  it  was  announced  at  the  weekend. 
They  are,  respectively,  the  first  produc- 
tion company  and  talent  agency  to  be- 
come affiliated  with  TBA.  Affiliate 
members  have  the  power  to  make  rec- 
ommendations through  the  committees 
set  up  by  TBA  for  various  fields  of 
activity.  The  Bamberger  Broadcasting 
Service,  operator  of  station  WOR,  has 
been  accepted  as  an  active  member. 

The  board  of  directors  of  TBA  also 
announced  its  opposition  to  the  stand  of 
the  Columbia  Broadcasting  System  on 
television  as  voiced  by  CBS  last  week. 
Columbia  had  announced  that  it  was 
ready  to  scrap  its  pre-war  or  current 
investment  in  order  to  proceed  with 
postwar  improvements.  The  CBS  state- 
ment was  characterized  by  TBA  "as 
not  based  on  experience  or  sound  tech- 
nical principles." 


Theatre  W AC  Recruiting,  May  11-17.  Cooperate! 


Jack  L.  Warner,  Exemtw  Produce*- 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  1,  1944 


RKO,  MGM  to 
Extend  Air 
Pro  motions 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

on  May  12.  It  is  understood  that  M- 
G-M  plans  to  extend  its  new  program 
to  the  whole  221  stations  of  the  Mu- 
tual web  in  September  if  the  initial 
trial  period  proves  satisfactory.  Mean- 
while M-G-M  will  also  inaugurate  a 
seven-week  five-minute  program  three 
tinies  weekly  on  Mutual  starting  June 
5,  and  it  also  plans  additional  spot 
coverage. 

The  feature  of  both  progranls,  of 
course,  will  be  specific  current  prod- 
uct promotions  for  the  benefit  of  lo- 
cal exhibitors. 

Special  RKO  'Plugs' 

Under  the  RKO  setup  exhibitors 
playing  RKO  pictures  will  get  special 
air  "plugs"  over  local  radio  stations. 
The  "plugs,"  which  will  run  one  min- 
ute, will  come  at  the  end  of  each 
broadcast,  mentioning  the  name  of  the 
picture,  theatre,  and  playdate,  and 
will  be  delivered  by  the  local  station 
announcer.  The  show  will  be  aired 
from  the  M-G-M  Coast  studio  dining 
room  in  Hollywood  daily  from  Mon- 
day through  Friday  from  12:15  p.m., 
Pacific  War  Time,  making  -it  one 
hour  later  in  each  of  the  successive 
time  zones  going  east. 

The  theme  of  RKO's  "Hollywood 
Star  Time"  will  be  "what's  going  on 
at  RKO,"  with  brief  interviews  by 
masters  of  ceremonies  with  stars  at 
the  studio.  Also,  highlights  of  forth- 
coming product  and'  vocal  and  instru- 
mental music  will  be  aired. 

S.  Barret  McCormick,  RKO  ad- 
vertising-publicity director,  is  prepar- 
ing a  series  of  ads  which  will  be 
placed  in  newspapers  in  all  of  the  177 
stations'  cities,  announcing  the  new 
show,  which,  as  announced  by  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  RKO-Radio  president,  will 
cost  an  estimated  $1,000,000  annually. 

Screen  Tests  on  Air 

The  new  M-G-M  program  originat- 
ing from  Mutual  Playhouse  No.  1  in 
New  York  will  be  broadcast  five  times 
a  week,  Monday  through  Friday  at 
9:15  p.m.  The  program  will  consist 
of  actual  screen  tests  over  the  air, 
M-G-M  selecting  a  singer,  an  embry- 
onic dramatic  actress  or  actor,  or  a 
young  comedian. 

A  number  of  Loew  Theatres  cities 
are  included  in  M-G-M's  radio  pro- 
motion plans  with  provisions  being 
made  to  tie  in  local  advertising  with 
the  programs. 


Clark,  Presidents 
Meet  Next  Week 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
ences  on  negotiation  of  decree  changes 
being  deferred  until  next  week  when 
Clark  will  meet  with  company  presi- 
dents. 

Clark  indicated  that  there  were  still 
a  number  of  important  points  to  be 
adjusted  before  the  Department  of 
Justice  and  distributors  could  be  in 
agreement  on  any  new  decree. 

The  -meetings-  next  week"  will  prob- 
ably be  held  in  New  York.  Clark 
said  that  he  would  set  a  date  Monday 
or  Tuesday  after  returning  to  Wash- 
ington. 


Industry  5th  Drive 
Executives  Named 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
publicity  manager  of  Interstate  Cir- 
cuit, Dallas,  will  be  publicity  direc- 
tor for  the  bond  drive.  He  served 
in  a  similar  capacity  during  the  Third 
War  Loan  campaign. 

Joseph  Kinsky  of  Paramount's  thea- 
tre department  has  been  named  cam- 
paign coordinator.  Ned  E.  Depinet, 
president  of  RKO-Radio,  will  again 
head  the  distribution  division. 

Kenneth  Thomson,  president  of  the 
Hollywood  Victory  Committee,  and 
Charles  Feldman,  HVC  executive, 
will  direct  participation  of  all  of  Hol- 
lywood in  the  campaign. 

Claude  F.  Lee,  Paramount  director 
of  public  relations,  has  the  post  of 
motion  picture  industry  consultant  to 
the  Treasury  Department. 

Leonard  Goldenson,  Paramount  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  theatre  opera- 
tions, and  Henry  Ginsberg,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  the  Para- 
mount Hollywood  studios,  will  head 
industry  bond  sales. 


Five  Newsreels  Pledge 
Aid  to  Campaign 

Newsreel  heads  pledged  full  cooper- 
ation during  the  forthcoming  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive,  June  12-July  8,  at 
a  meeting  of  the  newsreel  division  of 
the  War  Activities  Committee  with 
R.  J.  O'Donnell,  general  chairman  of 
the  industry's  campaign,  at  WAC 
headquarters  at  the  weekend. 

The  five  newsreels  will  maintain  a 
steady  flow  of  coverage  of  national 
events  in  connection  with  the  indus- 
try's campaign  and  will  present  the 
War  Loan  -message  to  theatre  audi- 
ences throughout  the  country,  it  was 
said. 

Attending  the  meeting  were :  Wal- 
ton Ament,  Pathe  News,  chairman  of 
the  division ;  A.  J.  Richard,  Para- 
mount; Edmund  Reek,  Movietone;  M. 
D.  Clofine,  M-G-M,  and  Thomas 
Mead,  Universal.  The  campaign  staff 
was  represented,  in  addition  to  O'Don- 
nell, by  R.  M.  Kennedy,  John  J.  Friedl 
and  Ray  Beall. 


O'Donnell,  Lee  to  Coast; 
Will  Meet  with  HVC 

R.  J.  O'Donnell,  general  chairman 
of  the  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  left  yesterday  for  Hollywood 
by  plane,  accompanied  by  Claude  Lee, 
motion  picture  industry  consultant  to 
the  War  Finance  Division. 

They  will  spend  four  days  on  the 
Coast.  Tomorrow  they  will  meet  with 
the  Public  Information  Committee  to 
discuss  plans  for  the  forthcoming  cam- 
paign, June  12-July  8. 

Ted  R.  Gamble,  national  director  of 
the  War  Finance  Division,  will  join 
O'Donnell  and  Lee  at  meetings  with 
the  Hollywood  Victory  Committee 
Wednesday  night  and  Thursday  at 
which*  participation  of  the  HVC  in  the 
campaign  will  be  discussed. 


Arthur  C.  Brady  Dies 

Peliiam,  N.  Y.— April  30.— Arthur 
C.  Brady,  78.  sales  executive  with  a 
New' York  real  estate  film,  died  at  the 
weekend  of  a  heart  attack  on  a  sub:: 
urban  train  bound  for  New  York. 
Brady  was  formerly  managing  director 
of  the  Paramount  Theatre  Building  in 
New  York.  He  leaves  a  widow,  Mrs. 
Bertha  Brady,  and  four  daughters. 


To  Argue  Momand 
Findings  May  12 
In  Oklahoma  City 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

petition.  The  resultant  damages,  the 
court  held,  are  recoverable  if  ascer- 
tainable and  held  that  a  comparison 
of  a  standard  of  profits  before  and 
after  occurrence  ,  of  the  illegal  act 
would  be  a  sufficient  basis  for  deter- 
mining damages. 

Griffith  Amusement  Co.  was  cleared 
of  overbuying,  unlawful  expansion 
and  conspiracy  charges  in  most '  in- 
stances but  was  held  liable  for  dam- 
ages totaling  $2,300  in  three  instances 
of  overbuying. 

The  court  held  that  "from  what 
has  been  determined  it  is  apparent 
(hat  where  recovery  of  damages  is  in- 
dicated, it  is  for  acts  not  a  part  of 
the  generic  conspiracy.  It  follows 
that  there  is  a  misjoinder  of  parties 
and  causes  of  action.  The  misjoinder, 
however,  is  not  fatal  to  recovery.  The 
court  may  permit  a  separation  of  the 
several  actions  and  will  do  so  at  an 
appropriate  time  and  before  entry  of 
judgment." 

Individual  Instances  Found 

The  court  found  a  number  of  indi- 
vidual instances  of  unlawful  combina- 
tion in  restraint  of  trade  resulting 
from  practices  which  have  since  been 
eliminated  from  the  industry,  such  as 
operations  of  Film  Board  credit  com- 
mittees, minimum  admissions  require- 
ments, the  old  arbitration  clause  of 
the  standard  license  agreefnent  and 
adoption  of  local  uniform  clearance 
and  zoning.  It  held  in  virtually  every 
instance,  however,  that  no  damage  to 
plaintiffs  resulted  from  the  practices. 

The  Momand  action  sought  triple 
damages  of  more  than  $5,500,000.  It 
has  been  pending  for  several  years 
and  trial  was  held  more  than  a  year 
ago.  Since  then,  Momand  and  other 
independent  exhibitors  in  Oklahoma 
City  have  filed  a  new  action  against 
major  distributors. 


Griffith  Defendants 
Seek  Jury  Trial 

Oklahoma  .City,  April  30. — Re- 
quest for  a  jury  trial  was  filed  at  the 
weekend  in  Federal  District  Court 
by  Griffith  Amusement  Co.,  Griffith 
Southwestern  Theatres  and  H.  J. 
Griffith,  defendants  in  a  $606,000  triple- 
damage  suit  brought  in  February  by  a 
group  of  independent  theatres. 

Hearing  on  the  case  is  scheduled  for 
tomorrow  before  Judge  Bower  Broad- 
dus.  Oklahoma  Theatres,  Mystic  The- 
atres and  M.  L.  Riggs,  Vinita,  are 
listed  as  plaintiffs.  Other  parties  in- 
volved are  A.  B.  Momand  of  Shaw- 
nee, Okla.,  president  of  Oklahoma 
Theatres,  and  J.  D.  Wineland  of  the 
Mystic,  Picher,  Okla. 

The  plaintiffs  allege  in  their  original 
complaint  against  the  distributors  that 
the  independent  theatres  were  de- 
prived of  first-run  pictures,  thus  alleg- 
edly creating  a  monopoly  on  the  part 
of  the  distributors. 


Therese  Stone  Honored 

Therese  Stone,  assistant  to  H.  M. 
Richey,  M-G-M  exhibitor  relations 
head,  will  be  honor  guest  at  the  an- 
nual convention  of  the  New  York  City 
Federation  of  Women's  Clubs,  to  be 
held  May  5  at  the  Hotel  Astor. 


E.L.Alperson 
Leaves  RKO 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

cipal  RKO  theatre  companies,  Keith- 
Albee-Orpheum  and  B.  F.  Keith  Corp. 

Alperson  joined  RKO  in  1941  as 
head  film  buyer  for  the  theatres,  and 
was  made  general  manager  the  follow- 
ing year.    In  the  late  1930's  he  was 
head  of  the  now  defunct  Grand  Na-  J 
tional  Films.  Prior  to  that  he  was  film/  [ 
buyer  for  Skouras  Theatres  and  earlier  «/ 
served  in  numerous  distribution  posts. 


Tax  Cuts  KAO  Net 
To  $1,656,778 

Keith-Albee-Orpheum  Corp.  had  a 
net  profit  of  $1,656,778  for  1943,  after 
a  $1,333,600  provision  for  Federal 
taxes,  according  to  the  company's  16th 
annual  report  to  stockholders,  re- 
leased at  the  weekend.  In  1942  the 
net  was  $2,017,433  after  a  tax  provi- 
sion of  $426,837.  The  increase  of  last 
year's  tax  over  the  year  before  was 
$906,763. 

Theatre  admissions  rose  from  $15,- 
847,304  in  1942  to  $17,629,688  in  1943. 
Preferred  stock  'dividends  paid  last 
year  amount  to  $98,058,  compared  with 
$102,550  the  year  before ;  common 
stock  dividends  were  $1,206,381,  com- 
pared with  $603,190. 

$1,806,826  Advance 

KAO's  current  assets  at  the  end  of 
1943  stood  at  $4,706,882,  an  increase 
over  the  $2,900,056  of  1942;  current 
liabilities  were  likewise  higher ;  $2,- 
193,999  over  $942,853.  Capital  sur- 
plus on  the  past  two  annual  balance 
sheets  stood  at  practically  identical 
figures:  $9,648,608  last  year  and  $9,- 
655,884  the  preceding  year.  Operating 
surplus  was  $3,254,967  in  1943  and 
$2,814,824  in  1942. 

Other  items  on  the  1943  balance 
sheet  show  capital  assets  of  $18,255,- 
241 ;  investments  in  affiliated  and 
other  companies,  $2,749,360 ;  funded 
debt,  $8,763,640;  preferred  stork.  $1,- 
357,200,  and  common  stock,  $1,357,200. 
The  preferred  seven  per  cent  cumula- 
tive stock  has  been  called  for  redemp- 
tion on  June  15  at  $110  per  share  plus 
accrued  dividends  to  that  date  of  $1.46 
per  share. 

Rank,  Skouras  Weigh 
Buying  G-B  Shares 

(Continued:  from  p.age  1) 

combined  interests  of  20th-Fox  and 
Loew's  in  M.  &  B.  Rank,  however, 
would  not  agree  to  this  and  the  draft- 
ing of  the"  present  new  agreement 
ensued. 

It  is  understood  that  on  the  outcome 
of  these  negotiations  depends  the  entire 
British-American  production  and  dis- 
tribution arrangement  between  Rank 
and  20th-Fox. 

The  new  proposal  for  the  joint  pur- 
chase would  require  the  sanction  of  the 
British  Treasury.  It  is  unknown  at 
present  whether  its  approval  would  be 
granted  or  not. 


RCA  Stockholders  Meet 

Annual  meeting  of  Radio  Corpora- 
tion of  America  stockholders  will  be 
held  tomorrow  morning  at  National 
Broadcasting  studio  6B  here  with  Lt. 
Gen.  J.  G.  Harboard,  board  chair- 
man, presiding  in  the  place  of  RCA 
president  Col.  David  Sarnoff,  who  is 
now  on  active  duty  with  the  Army. 


WARNER  BROS.'  TRADE  SHOWINGS  OF 

JOHN  GARFIELD  •  PAUL  HENREID 
SYDNEY  GREENSTREET-  ELEANOR  PARKER 

in 

"BETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS" 

with 

Edmund  Gwenn  •  George  Tobias  •  George  Coulouris  •  Fay  Emerson 

MONDAY,  MAY  8th,  1944 


CITY 

PLACE  OF  SHOWING 

ADDRESS 

TIME 

Albany 

Warner  Screening  Room 

79  N.  Pearl  St. 

Time 

12:30  P.M. 

Atlanta 

RKO  Screening  Room 

191  Walton  St.  N.W. 

10:00  A.M. 

Boston 

RKO  Screening  Room 

122  Arlington  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Buffalo 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

464  Franklin  St. 

1:00  P.M. 

Charlotte 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

308  S.  Church  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

Chicago 

Warner  Screening  Room 

1307  So.  Wabash  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Cincinnati 

RKO  Screening  Room 

Palace  Th.  Bldg.  E.  6th 

7:30  P.M. 

Cleveland 

Warner  Screening  Room 

2300  Payne  Ave. 

8:00  P.M. 

Dallas 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

412  S.  Harwood 

2:00  P.M. 

Denver 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

2100  Stout  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Des  Moines 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1300  High  St. 

12:45  P.M. 

Detroit 

T""f       v      1               r»t  1 

rum  exchange  Bldg. 

2310  Cass  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Indianapolis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

116  W.  Michigan 

10:00  A.M. 

Kansas  City 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1720  Wyandotte  St. 

1:30  P.M. 

Los  Angeles 

Vitagraph  Sc.  Room 

2025  S.  Vermont  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Memphis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

362  S.  Second  St. 

1:30  P.M. 

Milwaukee 

Warner  In.  Sc.  Rm. 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Minneapolis 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1015  Currie  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

New  Haven 

Warner  Th.  Proj.  Room 

70  College  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

New  Orleans 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

200  S.  Liberty  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

New  York 

Home  Office 

321  W.  44th  St. 

2:30  P.M. 

Oklahoma 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

10  North  Lee  Ave. 

10:00  A.M. 

Omaha 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1502  Davenport  St. 

1:00  P.M. 

Philadelphia 

Vine  St.  Sc.  Room 

1220  Vine  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

Pittsburgh 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1715  Blvd.  of  Allies 

2:00  P.M. 

Portland 

Star  Screening  Room 

925  N.  W.  19th  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Salt  Lake 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

216  East  1st  South 

2:00  P.M. 

San  Francisco 

Republic  Sc.  Room 

221  Golden  Gate  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Seattle 

Jewel  Box  Sc.  Rm. 

2318  Second  Ave. 

1:00  P.M. 

St.  Louis 

S'renco  Sc.  Room 

3143  Olive  St. 

1:00  P.M. 

Washington 

Earle  Th.  Bldg. 

13th  &  E  Sts.  N.W. 

9:30  A.M. 

Theatre 


WAC  Recruiting  May  11-17.  Cooperate} 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  LY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  86 


NEW  YORK,  U.  S.  A.,  TUESDAY,  MAY  2,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Schwartz  and 
Brennan  in 
Alperson  Post 

RKO  Divides  Theatre 
Circuit  Management 

General  managership  of  RKO 
Theatres  has  been  divided  and  given 
James  M.  Brennan,  as  general  man- 
ager of  Metropolitan  New  York  the- 
atres, and  Sol  A.  Schwartz,  promoted 
to  general  manager  of  RKO's  out-of- 
town  theatres,  following  the  resigna- 
tion last  Saturday  of  Edward  L.  Al- 
person as  circuit  general  manager. 

Both  Brennan  and  Schwartz  have 
been  with  RKO  for  many  years,  Bren- 
nan moving  up  from  the  post  of  East- 
ern zone  manager,  over  both  New 
York  and  New  Jersey,  and  Schwartz 
from  the  post  of  Western  zone  mana- 
ger. They  will  have  headquarters  in 
the  New  York  home  office. 

N.  Peter  Rathvon,  RKO  president, 
in  disclosing  the  division  of  the  cir- 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Projector  Making 
May  Move  to  N.Y. 


Possibilities  of  placing  the  manu- 
facture of  lamphouses  for  projection 
equipment  in  the  New  York  area  were 
discussed  at  meetings  here  yesterday 
between  Allen  G.  Smith,  chief  of  the 
theatre  equipment  section  of  the  War 
Production  Board,  and  executives  of 
International  Proj  ector. 

Most  of  this  equipment  is  now  be- 
ing manufactured  in  Chicago  and 
Toledo,  but  both  cities  are  in  critical 
labor  areas  making  it  difficult  to  se- 
cure necessary  workers.    The  labor 

(.Continued  on  page  10) 


See  No  Changes  in 
Raw  Stock  Quota 


Washington,  May  1. — War  Pro- 
duction Board  officials  and  Army  and 
Navy  representatives  today  began  dis- 
cussion of  military  needs  for  raw  stock 
for  the  third  quarter,  with  indications 
that  allocations  for  the  industry  will 
neither  be  expanded  nor  reduced. 

Preliminary  surveys  of  the  raw 
stock  situation,  it  is  understood,  have 
developed  that  there  will  be  no  diffi- 
culty in  meeting  military  requirements 
and  there  is  no  fear  that  industry  al- 
lowances will  have  to  be  cut.  On  the 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Effect  of  British  Ban 
On  Travel  Uncertain 

British  authorities  in  New 
York  and  Washington  were 
uncertain  at  the  weekend  as 
to  what  effect  the  new  travel 
ban  from  the  British  Isles 
will  have  on  the  departure  for 
home  of  American  film  execu- 
tives now  in  London,  among 
whom  is  Spyros  Skouras, 
president  of  20th  Century- 
Fox.  The  ban  is  in  effect  un- 
til after  the  start  of  the  in- 
vasion. 

All  military  and  war-officers 
are  exempt  from  the  order,  it 
was  said.  High-ranking  Brit- 
ish officials  in  New  York  said 
that  "there  is  bound  to  be 
some  latitude  with  regard  to 
civilians  whose  work  can  be 
construed  to  be  in  connection 
with  the  war  effort." 


'Cover  Girl'  Stays 
For  Sixth  Week; 
N.  Y.  Grosses  Hold 


Business  at  downtown  New  York 
first-run  theatres  continues  satisfac- 
tory this  week  in  the  face  of  warm 
weather.  Generally,  returns  are  above 
average. 

Radio  City  Music  Hall  is  headed 
for  $106,000  for  its  fifth  week  of 
"Cover  Girl"  and  a  stage  show,  regis- 
tering $68,500  on  the  first  four  days. 
The  bill  will  hold  for  a  sixth  week 
and  possibly  longer  before  making 
way  for  M-G-M's  "The  White  Cliffs 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


John  Scully  New  4U' 
District  Head; 
Others  Promoted 


John  J.  Scully,  former  Universal 
Boston  branch  manager,  has  been  pro- 
moted, effective  May  8,  to  district 
manager  for  Albany,  Boston.  Buffalo 
and  New  Haven.  He  will  be  suc- 
ceeded by  Meyer  Feltman,  former 
Boston  salesman. 

Other  "U"  sales  promotions  also 
announced  here  yesterday  by  W.  A. 
Scully,  vice-president  and  general 
sales  manager,  include  that  of  H.  J. 
Martin,  former  Boston  salesman,  to 
sales  manager  there,  and  of  J.  V. 
Frew,  former  Cincinnati  and  Indian- 
apolis salesman,  to  Charlotte  branch 
manager. 

At  the  same  time  the  following 
transfers  were  effected :  Barney  Rose, 
former  New  England  district  super- 
visor, to  San  Francisco  branch  man- 
ager ;  Lon  Hoss,  former  San  Fran- 
cisco branch  manager,  to  Los  Angeles 
sales  manager ;  L.  Brauer,  former 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Quash  Indicated  in 
Suit  of  Momand 


Oklahoma  City,  May  1. — Federal 
Judge  Bower  Broaddus  indicated  here 
today  that  he  would  sustain  motions 
to  quash  made  by  five  distributing 
companies,  defendants  in  the  new  Mo- 
mand et  al  $606,000  anti-trust  suit. 
At  the  same  time,  the  case  filed  by 
M.  L.  Riggs  of  Vinita,  one  of  the 
plaintiffs  in  the  action,  was  dismissed. 

J.  D.  Wineland  and  A.  B.  Momand 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Film  Companies  Silent  on 
A  T&  T  Television  Offer 


American  Telephone  and  Tele- 
graph, which  last  month  invited  film 
companies,  through  a  letter  to  Will 
H.  Hays,  to  discuss  availabilities  of 
A.  T.  &  T.  coaxial  cables  for  postwar 
television,  and  suggested  exchanging 
television  information  with  the  film 
industry,  has  received  "a  good  many 
expressions  of  general  interest" 
from,  but  no  signs  of  action  by  mo- 
tion picture  interests,  according  to 
Prescott  Mabon,  assistant  vice-presi- 
dent. 

However,    representatives    of  the 
four  other  film  companies  with  thea- 
tre affiliations  are  understood  to  have 
responded  to  an  invitation  of  Ralph  B. 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Silverstone  Heads 
United  Newsreel 

Murray  Silverstone,  vice  president 
in  charge  of  foreign  distribution  for 
20th  Century-Fox,  was  yesterday 
elected  president  of  the  United  News- 
reel  Corp.,  succeeding  Joseph  Seidel- 
man  of  Universal. 

United  Newsreel  consolidates  news- 
reel  material  from  M-G-M's  "News  of 
the  Day,"  20th  Century-Fox's  "Movie- 
tone News"  and  Paramount,  Pathe  and 
Universal  newsreels  for  distribution  in 
foreign  countries  and  among  the  armed 
forces. 


Houses  to  Be 
Cool  Despite 
A  Freon  Crisis 


U.  S.  Control  Extended 
To  New  F-12  Gas 


Despite  the  fact  that  Government 
war  needs  leave  little,  if  any,  freon 
gas  available  for  theatre  cooling 
systems  this  summer,  indications 
are  that  patrons  will  get  relief  from 
the  heat  within  theatres,  although  they 
may  not  be  kept  quite  as  cool  as  dur- 
ing previous  seasons,  according  to  first 
reports  from  Motion  Picture  Daily 
field  correspondents. 

Meanwhile,  in  Washington,  it 
is  learned,  the  War  Produc- 
tion Board  erected  "safeguards" 
against  the  substitution  by  ex- 
hibitors of  one  type  of  freon 
for  another,  placing  the  gas 
known  as  "F-22,"  a  comparative- 
ly new  kind  used  so  far  princi- 
pally for  experiments,  under  the 
same  controls  as  have  applied 
to  F-12,  the  kind  used  in  the- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


43  Houses  in  New 
Pittsburgh  Combine 


Pittsburgh,  May  1. — Co-operative 
Theatre  Service  Co.,  the  new  buying 
and  booking  combine  headed  by  Bert 
M.  Stearn,  former  United  Artists  Mid- 
west district  manager,  started  opera- 
tions here  today  with  43  theatres 
signed  and  at  least  seven  more  ex- 
pected during  the  next  two  weeks. 

Members  to  date  include:  Beedle 
Brothers,  Associated  Theatres,  Cha- 
teau Amusement,  M.  and  W.  Finkel,  F. 
Panoplos,  William  Walker,  A.  A. 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Justice  Dissolves 
FPC  Injunction 


Toronto,  May  1. — In  a  judgment 
at  his  weekly  court  session  here,  Mr. 
Justice  Hogg  has  offered  dissolution 
of  the  interim  injunction  secured  by 
Famous  Players  Canadian  Corp.  re- 
straining Hamilton  United  Theatres, 
Ltd.,  from  proceeding  with  the  sale  of 
its  physical  assets,  consisting  of  the 
Capitol  and  Palace  Theatres  in  Ham- 
ilton, to  Theatre  Properties  (Hamil- 
ton), Ltd.  The  judgment  dismissed 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


2- 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  2,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


Y FRANK  FREEMAN  is  sched- 
.  uled  to  leave  for  the  Coast  on 
Thursday. 

• 

Postmaster  General  Frank  C. 
Walker  and  Mrs.  Walker,  have  an- 
nounced the  engagement  of  their 
daughter,  Laura  Hallie,  to  Capt. 
Robert  Louis  Ameno  of  the  Army 
tank  corps. 

• 

Lt.  Norman  Retchin,  son  of  Les- 
ter Retchin,  formerly  owner  of  the 
Howard  Theatre,  Chicago,  is  reported 
to  be  a  prisoner  of  war.  in  Germany. 
• 

Jack  Parver,  manager  of  the  Quitt- 
ner and  Perakos  Eastwood  Theatre, 
East  Hartford,  Conn.,  has  returned 
from  Rochester,  Minn. 

• 

Arthur  Phillips,  Chicago  sales- 
man for  Paramount,  has  returned  to 
his  desk  after  hospitalization. 

• 

Ben  Goetz,  M-G-M  studio  manag- 
ing director  in  London,  is  scheduled 
to  return  there  next  week,  following 
a  home  office  visit. 

• 

John  D.  Kalafat,  president  of  As- 
sociated Theatres,  Cleveland,  has  been 
appointed  chairman  of  the  Greek  Re- 
lief theatre  drive  in  that  city. 
• 

James  R.  Grainger,  president  of 
Republic  Pictures,  will  return  to  New 
York  tomorrow  from  Chicago  and 
Hollywood. 

• 

Jack  L.  Warner,  Warner's  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  production,  has 
arrived  in  New  York  from  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Lew  Rosen,  vice-president  and  sec- 
retary of  Royal  Amusements,  Hawaii, 
was  a  Chicago  visitor  recently. 
• 

Abe  Platt,  B.  &  K.  Chicago  dis- 
trict manager,  has  returned  from  a  va- 
cation in  Hollywood,  Fla. 

• 

Max  Fellerman,  sales  representa- 
tive for  Banner  Productions,  has  re- 
turned from  Hollywood. 

• 

Jules  Alberti,  manager  for  Con- 
stance Bennett,  left  yesterday  for 
the  Coast. 

• 

Edward  L.  Hyman,  Paramount 
Theatres  Service  Corp.  executive,  left 
for  the  Coast  yesterday. 

• 

Hal  Wallis  plans  to  leave  New 
York  for  the  Coast  on  Friday. 


Kane  Replacing  Erbb, 
Is  Boston  Report 

Boston,  May  1. — Al  Kane,  now 
Paramount  branch  manager  here,  will 
succeed  William  S.  Erbb  as  district 
manager  here,  contingent  upon  Erbb's 
appointment  as  the  company's  Eastern 
sales  manager,  it  is  reported.  In  this 
event,  John  Moore  will  be  elevated 
from  office  to  branch  manager,  suc- 
ceeding Kane. 


Republic's  '44  Gain 
Largest  in  History 


Chicago,  May  1.  —  Republic's  dis- 
tribution during  the  first  16  weeks  of 
1944  has  shown  a  general  increase 
greater  than  at  any  other  period  in  its 
history,  board  chairman  H.  J.  Yates, 
Sr.,  reported  today  at  the  first  session 
of  the  company's  two-day  Midwest 
sales  conference  at  which  he  is  pre- 
siding in  the  Drake  Hotel  here. 

Emphasizing  prestige  gained  for  Roy 
Rogers  productions,  Yates  said  the 
prospects  for  continued  distribution  in- 
creases were  borne  out  by  reports  of 
the  branch  managers  present.  He 
added  that  Republic  planned  to  con- 
centrate on  improved  product  and  on 
building  the  roster  of  talent  person- 
nel. 

Rogers  is  scheduled  to  return  to  the 
studio  May  25  to  begin  work  on  "San 
Fernando  Valley,"  followed  by  "Lights 
of  Old  Monterey." 

John  Leroy  Johnson,  director  of 
public  relations,  outlined  plans  for 
publicizing  a  galaxy  of  new  Republic 
players. 

J.  R.  Grainger,  president  and  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  will  preside  at  to- 
morrow's meeting.  Among  those  pres- 
ent are  Edward  Walton,  Midwestern 
district  sales  manager,  Merritt  Davis, 
Southern  district  sales  manager,  and 
branch  managers  Winfield  Snelson, 
Atlanta ;  Harold  Laird,  Tampa ;  J.  H. 
Dillon,  Charlotte;  L.  V.  Seicshnaydre, 
New  Orleans ;  N.  J.  Colquhoun,  Mem- 
phis ;  Lloyd  Rust,  Dallas ;  Glen  Alt, 
Oklahoma  City ;  William  Baker,  Chi- 
cago ;  William  Feld,  Des  Moines ;  J. 
G.  Frackman,  Milwaukee ;  W.  M. 
Grant,  Minneapolis ;  Harry  Lefholtz, 
Omaha ;  Nat  E.  Steinberg,  St.  Louis : 
and  franchise  holder  R.  F.  Withers, 
Kansas  City. 


N.Y.  Cinema  Lodge  to 
Elect  New  Officers 

New  officers  of  New  York  Cinema 
Lodge  No.  1366,  B'nai  B'rith  will  be 
elected  at  a  meeting  of  the  lodges  at 
the  Hotel  Piccadilly  here  Thursday 
night.  Other  business  scheduled  to 
be  transacted  includes  the  election  of 
delegates  to  the  annual  B'nai  B'rith 
convention  at  Buffalo. 

Adolph  Schimel,  Universal  attor- 
ney, who  is  the  outgoing  president 
will  deliver  his  annual  report  as  will 
treasurer  Max  D.  .Blackman  and  sec- 
retary Julius  M.  Collins. 


Rawson  Joins  M-G-M 
Publicity  Staff 

Mitchell  Rawson  has  joined  the 
M-G-M  home  office  publicity  staff  to 
handle  special  assignments,  Howard 
Dietz,  vice-president  in  charge  of  ad- 
vertising and  promotion  announced 
yesterday.  Rawson  was  formerly  di- 
rector of  publicity  for  David  O.  Selz- 
nick  and  previously  was  Eastern  pub- 
licity manager  for  Warners. 

Betty  Moisson,  formerly  of  Life 
magazine,  has  joined  the  M-G-M  pub- 
licity department  as  national  maga- 
zine publicity  contact. 


Mercury  Up;  Grosses 
Down  in  Boston 

Boston,  May  1. — Business 
took  a  terrific  drop  in  all 
downtown  theatres  here  over 
the  weekend,  when  the  ther- 
mometer soared  to  70  and 
sent  hundreds  of  thousands 
to  the  beaches.  This,  coupled 
with  the  drop  which  came 
during  the  week  due  to  the 
death  of  Cardinal  O'Connell, 
hit  theatres  here  the  hardest 
blow  in  many  weeks. 

Business  was  off  as  much 
as  50  per  cent  in  all  of  the 
larger  downtown  theatres 
and  in  the  majority  of  the 
large  neighborhood  theatres, 
although  today  it  showed  de- 
cided evidence  of  picking  up, 
with  an  East  wind  bringing 
cooling  breezes. 


E.  K.  O'Shea  Host 
At  Lunch  Today 

Washington,  May  1. — Edward  K. 
O'Shea,  M-G-M  Eastern  and  South- 
ern division  manager,  tomorrow  will 
be  host  at  an  informal  luncheon  in  the 
Statler  Hotel  here,  entertaining  all 
Washington  M-G-M  exchange  em- 
ployes, the  Loew's  Theatres  manage- 
ment and  publicity  executives  and  lo- 
cal "News  of  the  Day"  officials. 

M-G-M's  district  sales  manager 
Rudolph  Berger,  branch  sales  manager 
John  S.  Allen,  and  Loew's  Eastern 
division  manager,  Carter  Barron,  will 
be  among  those  also  attending,  as  will 
District  of  Columbia  commissioner 
chairman  J.  Russell  Young  and  Sena- 
tor James  Meade. 


$10,000,000  Cagney 
Program  Is  Set 

Hollywood,  May  1. — William  Cag- 
ney Productions  today  announced  a 
$10,000,000  program  of  six  films  for 
United  Artists  release,  with  James 
Cagney  to  be  starred  in  five  of  them : 
"Blood  on  the  Sun,"  "Only  the  Val- 
iant," "Port  Royal,"  an  untitled  ro- 
mantic murder  mystery  with  a  mili- 
tary background,  and  "Bugles  in  the 
Afternoon,"  Ernest  Haycox  novel 
which  was  purchased  yesterday.  The 
sixth  production,  Thorne  Smith's  "The 
Stray  Lamb,"  will  star  an  unnamed 
comedian. 

"Blood  on  the  Sun"  is  scheduled  to 
start  shortly  after  Cagney's  return 
sometime  this  month  from  the  Euro- 
pean war  theatre,  where  he  has  been 
touring  Army  camps. 


ITOA  Is  Opposed  to 
Televising  Films 

The  Independent  Theatre  Owners 
Association  of  New  York  "unalter- 
ably" opposes  television  reproduction 
of  any  Hollywood  product,  according 
to  a  resolution  sent  to  producers  and 
distributors. 

The  ITOA,  in  a  weekend  statement, 
said  that  television,  for  which  no  ad- 
mission is  charged,  is  in  direct  opposi- 
tion to  theatres  and  may,  if  given  ac- 
cess to  films,  cause  the  closing  of 
theatres. 


Beall  Announces  His 
Loan  Drive  Staff 


Ray  Beall,  publicity  director  for  the 
industry's  participation  in  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive,  announced  yesterday 
a  staff  of  volunteer  workers,  who  will 
assist  him  during  the  campaign,  June 
12- July  8,  as  follows : 

Silas  E.  Seadler,  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer  advertising  manager  and  chair- 
man of  the  Eastern  division  of 
the  industry's  Public  Information  Com- 
mittee, will  serve  as  advertising  con- 
sultant and  will  be  in  charge  of  trade 
press  advertising.  Gil  Golden,  Warner 
Bros'  national  advertising  manager, 
will  handle  sponsored  newspaper  ad- 
vertising and  will  work  with  Seadler 
on  trade  press  advertising. 

Alfred  Finestone  of  Paramount  will 
handle  trade  press  publicity  and  con- 
tacts ;  Martin  Starr,  United  Artists' 
radio  director,  will  be  in  charge  of 
radio  tie-ups  during  the  drive  and 
John  Harkins,  Vanguard's  Eastern 
publicity  representative,  will  handle 
syndicates. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


-RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALl- 

30th  St.  &  6th  Ave. 
IRITA  HAYWORTH  •  GENE  KELLY! 


COVER  GIRL" 


in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern 
Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


Held  Over  2nd  Week 


Mt»  it  20>*  ciNrvtr.rox j 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


A  Jive  Jamboree  of  Stars 
and  6  Great  Bands! 

"JAM  SESSION" 


PARAMOUNT'S 

"LADY  IN  THE  DARK" 

In  Techn/co/or 

IN  PERSON 

XAVIER  CUGAT  And  BAND 

DEAN  MURPHY 

PARAMOUNT  SQUIRM- 


ON  SCREEN 

Flrtt  N.Y.  Showing 

Donald  O'Connor 

SUSANNA  FOSTER 

'THIS  IS 
THE  LIFE' 


IN  PERSON 

Mitch  AYRES' 

ORCHESTRA 

under  the  Direction  of 

STELLSLAVIN 
Extra!  BUS  VAN 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  j.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq..,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


me  PREMIERE 

...of a  mw4 t imfaUeml 


Portland,  Me. 

Portsmouth,  N.  H. 

Lawrence,  Mass. 

Bellows  Falls,  Vt. 

Providence 

Hyannis,  Mass. 

Sacramento 

Harwichport,  Mass. 

San  Francisco 

Chatham,  Mass. 

MOCKTOn 

MilTord,  mass. 

Detroit 

Plymouth,  N.  H. 

Boston 

White  River  Jet.,  Vt. 

Springfield,  Mass. 

Lebanon,  N.  H. 

Gloucester,  Mass. 

Hanover,  N.  H. 

Waterville,  Me. 

Dover,  N.  H. 

Greenfield,  Mass. 

Lowell 

Brattleboro,  Vt. 

Burlington,  Vt. 

Fall  River 

Presque  Isle,  Me. 

Buffalo 

Concord,  N.  H. 

Lewiston,  Me. 

Sanford,  Me. 

Augusta,  Me. 

Fitchburg,  Mass. 

Hartford 

Haverhill,  Mass. 

New  Haven 

Manchester,  N.  H. 

Eureka,  Cal. 

Nashua,  N.  H. 

Modesto,  Cal. 

Claremont,  N.  H. 

Maysville,  Cal. 

Keene,  N.  H. 

Klamath  Falls,  Ore. 

St.  Albans,  Vt. 

Fresno 

Rochester,  N.  H. 

Berkeley 

New  Bedford,  Mass. 

Oakland 

TO  AMERICA 


fatmpto  AMERICA 


wet 


and 

VIGEST 


over 


*J*f>  in  REAPERS 


A, 


UNKNOWN 

by 

KRESSMANN  TAYIOR 


.cademy 
Award  Winner 

PAUL  LUKAS 


CARL  ESMOND  •  PETER  VAN  EYCK 
MADY  CHRISTIANS  .  MORRIS  CARNOVSKY 

and  introducing 

K.T.  STEVENS 

Screen  Play  by  Herbert  Dalmas  •  From  the  best-selling 
book  and  Reader's  Digest  story  by  Kressmann  Taylor 

Produced  and  Directed  by 
WILLIAM  CAMERON  MENZIES 


reafa  to  qitfe  your  audiences 

the  lift  of  a  lifetime  I 


id***""""" 

'4 

Tuesday,  May  2,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Review 


"Three  Men  in  White" 

(M-G-M) 

'THE  good-natured  rivalry  between  Lionel  Barrymore's  two  doctor 
assistants,  Van  Johnson  and  Keye  Luke,  each  provided  with  an 
unusual  medical  case  as  a  test  of  ability  in  the  race  to  gain  the  coveted 
distinction  of  being  selected  by  Dr.  Gillespie  as  his  sole  assistant,  pro- 
vides the  material  for  "Three  Men  in  White,"  newest  in  the  M-G-M 
"Dr.  Gillespie"  series.  This  entry  is  keyed  to  the  formula  of  its  predeces- 
sors and  should  give  the  customers  85  minutes  of  satisfactory  screen 
entertainment.  Marilyn  Maxwell  and  Ava  Gardner  are  featured  along 
with  "Rags"  Ragland  as  the  hospital  ambulance  driver,  Walter  Kings- 
ford  as  Dr.  Carew,  Nell  Craig  as  Nurse  Parker  and  Alma  Kruger  as 
Dr.  Gillespie's  nurse  aide. 

The  two  cases  in  the  original  screen  play  by  Martin  Berkeley  and 
Harry  Ruskin,  based  on  the  Max  Brand  characters,  deal  with  a  hope- 
lessly invalided  arthritis  victim  who  is  enabled  to  walk  again  when  it  is 
discovered  that  the  excruciating  pain  which  has  kept  her  motionless  in 
a  harness  for  years,  is  caused  by  the  uneven  length  of  her  legs,  caused 
by  the  arthritis  ;  and  a  child  victim  of  a  serious  allergic  condition  caused 
by  a  dietary  deficiency.  Luke  really  masters  both  cases  and  is  headed 
for  the  coveted  post  when  Dr.  Gillespie  worms  out  of  his  dilemma  of 
having  to  make  a  decision  by  having  Luke  appointed  a  lieutenant  in  the 
Chinese  Army,  as  the  young  doctor  desires,  but  he  is  assigned  to  Dr. 
Gillespie.  Johnson,  holding  up  the  less  spectacular  end,  evades  the  ad- 
vances of  Miss  Maxwell  as  the  wealthy  and  attractive  young  social  work- 
er who  has  set  her  cap  for  him  and  frees  Miss  Gardner  from  having 
to  minister  constantly  to  her  mother,  the  arthritis  victim. 

Performances  of  the  principals  under  Willis  Goldbeck's  competent 
direction  are  appealing  despite  the  familiarity  of  the  material. 

Running  time,  85  minutes.    "G."*    Released  in  Block  7.. 

Milton  Livingston 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Theatre  Reports  for 
Tax  Records  Only 


A  story  on  new  admission  tax  regu- 
lations which  appeared  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily  on  April  10  inadver- 
tently stated  in  quoting  the  text  of 
section  101.32  of  Regulation  43  that 
a  sworn  copy  of  theatre  business  re- 
ports should  be  attached  to  the  thea- 
tre's "revenue  return."  This  is  incor- 
rect. The  sworn  copy  is  to  be  at- 
tached to  the  theatre's  records  for  the 
period  and  should  be  kept  with  them, 
for  inspection  by  internal  revenue  of- 
ficers, for  the  prescribed  four-year 
period  after  the  due  date  of'  the  tax. 

This  inadvertent  error  was  brought 
to  the  attention  of  Motion  Picture 
Daily  following  the  issuance  of  a  bul- 
letin by  Allied  States  late  last  week 
which  cited  misleading  statements 
concerning  the  new  tax  regulations  in 
unnamed  trade  papers.  Although  the 
Allied  bulletin  covered  other  alleged 
misleading  reports  concerning  the 
regulations  in  the  trade  press,  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily's  account  was 
in  error  in  this  particular  only. 

This  explanation  is  printed  in  the 
interest  of  accuracy. 

Alperson  to  Attend 
Wac  Meeting  Today 

Edward  L.  Alperson,  general  chair- 
man for  the  Women's  Army  Corps  re- 
cruiting week,  May  11-17,  will  attend 
a  Wac  meeting  with  the  Manhattan 
exhibitor  committee  today  at  Skouras 
Riverside  Theatre,  96th  Street  and 
Broadway.  Also  attending  will  be 
Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  Greater  New 
York  chairman  for  the  drive,  Harry 
Mandel,  national  publicity  director, 
and  Edward  C.  Dowden,  New  York 
City  public  relations  chairman. 

Alperson,  whose  resignation  from 
the  general  managership  of  RKO  The- 
atres was  made  known  over  the  week- 
end, announced  yesterday  from  his 
War  Activities  Committee  headquar- 
ters that  henceforth  he  will  devote 
more  of  his  time  to  aiding  the  indus- 
try's war  efforts. 

Griffis  to  Europe  on 
A  Secret  Mission 

Washington,  May  1. — Stanton 
Griffis,  chief  of  the  Office  of  War  In- 
formation,, motion  picture  bureau,  is 
'absent  from  his  post  here  on  an  in- 
determinate leave,  having  gone  to  Eu- 
rope on  a  highly  confidential  mission. 
He  has  been  away  for  some  days,  but 
full  secrecy  was  maintained  regarding 
his  activities  up  to  the  end  of  last 
week. 

OWI  officials  said  they  could  not 
discuss  Griffis'  assignment  but  dis- 
closed his  trip  was  not  on  OWI  busi- 
ness. George  W.  Healy,  Jr.,  director 
of  domestic  operations,  expressed  the 
hope  that  he  would  soon  return. 


Sam  Forrest  Dies  at  74 

Sam  Forrest,  74,  playwright  and 
stage  director  once  associated  with 
George  M.  Cohan  and  Sam  Harris, 
died  at  his  home  here  at  the  weekend, 
following  a  month's  illness. 


Bezahler  Loses  Daughter 

Vicki  Mae  Bezahler,  infant  daugh- 
ter of  Joel  Bezahler,  assistant  to  Jack 
Flynn,  M-G-M  Western  division  man- 
ager, died  recently.  She  was  ten 
months  old. 


Col.  Seeks  Schine 
Trial  Delay 

Buffalo,  May  1. — A  motion  to 
postpone  trial  of  the  Government's 
anti-trust  suit  against  the  Schine  Cir- 
cuit and  Columbia,  United  Artists  and 
Universal  from  May  19  until  next 
Fall,  has  been  filed  in  Federal  Dis- 
trict court  here  by  Louis  D.  Frohlich 
of  Schwartz  &  Frohlich,  New  York 
counsel  for  Columbia.  The  motion  is 
returnable  next  Monday. 

Expiration  on  May  19  of  the  two- 
year  standstill  agreement  between  the 
Schine  Circuit  and  the  Government 
will  permit  the  latter  to  press  for 
trial  of  the  action.  The  Columbia 
motion,  it  is  understood,  would  en- 
deavor to  have  trial  set  for  the  Fall 
at  the  earliest. 

G.  W.  Bitzer,  73,  Dies; 
Veteran  Cornerman 

Los  Angeles,  May  1. — G.  W. 
(Billy)  Bitzer,  73,  one  of  the  indus- 
try's pioneer  camermen,  died  Satur- 
day of  a  heart  attack  at  St.  Vincent's 
Hospital  here,  following  an  illness  at 
the  Motion  Picture  Country  Home, 
where  he  had  been  in  retirement. 

Bitzer  photographed  Mary  Pickford 
in  an  early  feature,  "Mender  of  the 
Nets."  He  was  chief  cameraman  on 
such  D.  W.  Griffith  productions  'as 
"Birth  of  a  Nation,"  "Intolerance," 
"Broken  Blossoms,"  "Hearts  of  the 
World,"  "Way  Down  East"  and 
"America." 

Funeral  arrangements  await  word 
from  his  widow  in  New  York. 


Carr  Host  to  Trade  Press 

Trem  Carr,  Monogram's  executive 
vice-president  in  charge  of  production, 
Hollywood,  will  be  host  to  the  trade 
press  at  luncheon  today  in  the  War- 
wick Hotel. 


NLRB  Curbs  Iatse's 
Sopeg  Challenge 

The  National  Labor  Relations 
Board's  regional  office  here  has  refused 
to  order  a  hearing  on  the  petition  of 
New  .York  IATSE  film  exchange 
workers'  Local  F-51  which  seeks  a  col- 
lective bargaining  election  of  some  30 
"white  collarites"  in  the  20th  Century- 
Fox  New  York  exchange  over  whom 
Screen  Office  and  Professional  Em- 
ployes Guild,  Local  109,  CIO,  claims 
jurisdiction. 

Only  recourse  now  left  to  Local 
F-Sl  is  an  appeal  to  the  NLRB  in 
Washington  but  it  is  not  considered 
likely  that  such  action  will  be  taken  in 
view  of  the  fact  that  SOPEG  now  has 
a  case  pending  before  the  board  in 
Washington  involving  these  workers 
and  others  in  New  York  exchanges 
on  appeal  by  the  companies  from  a  re- 
cent War  Labor  Board  ruling. 


Hearing  This  Week  on 
New  Pickwick  Trial 

New  Haven,  May  1. — Judge  Car- 
roll Hincks  is  scheduled  to  hear  ar- 
guments in  Federal  District  Court  here 
this  week  on  a  new  trial  motion  made 
by  Prefect  Theatres,  Inc.,  operator  of 
the  Pickwick  Theatre,  Greenwich,  in 
its  unsuccessful  anti-trust  suit  against 
eight"  distributing  companies. 

Saul  Rogers,  attorney  for  the  plain- 
tiffs, seeks  to  set  aside  the  decision 
handed  down  to  Judge  Hincks  on  April 
14,  when  he  dismissed  the  $5,452,575 
suit  for  triple  damages  over  an  alleged 
conspiracy  to  withhold  product  from 
the  Pickwick.  The  case  was  taken 
from  the  jury  at  the  completion  of  the 
plaintiffs'  testimony.  Rogers'  motion 
has  been  made  to  lay  the  foundation 
for  an  appeal. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollyzvood,  May  ■  1 

BOB  C.  DONNELL  and  Claude 
F.  Lee  have  arrived  to  conduct  a 
series  of  campaign  meetings  for  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive.  They  will 
leave  on  Friday. 

• 

The  University  Religious  Confer- 
ence has  announced  the  appointment 
of  an  honorary  public  relations  coun- 
cil comprising  Whitney  Bolton,  Harry 
Brand,  Walter  Compton  and  Bernie 
Kamine,  all  publicity  directors.  The 
conference  seeks  to  foster  democratic 
inter-faith  education,  a  spokesman 
declared. 

'• 

Hugo  Haas,  Czechoslovakia!!  actor, 
has  signed  for  a  feature  role  in  the 
Bob  Hope  starrer,  "Sylvester  the 
Great,"  produced  by  Samuel  Goldwyn, 
to  whom  Haas  will  report  upon  com- 
pleting his  work  in  M-G-M's  "Mrs. 
Parkington." 

• 

M-G-M  has  added  "Brighton 
Beach"  to  Joe  Pasternak's  schedule. 
Kathryn  Grayson  and  June  Allyson 
will  be  starred.  The  story  is  set  at 
the  turn  of  the  century  and  follows 
Pasternak's  "Music  for  Millions." 
• 

Kent  Taylor,  featured  in  Mono- 
gram's "Alaska,"  has  been  granted  a 
temporary  stay  of  induction  by  his 
draft  board.  Taylor  is  now  scheduled 
to  report  on  June  1. 

• 

The  Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Sciences  added  68  members 
in  the  first  quarter  of  1944,  bringing 
its  enrollment  to  over  700.  Academy 
memberships  are  by  invitation  only. 

Pine-Thomas  will  produce  "Home- 
sick Angel,"  an  aviation  story  co- 
starring  Johnny  Weismuller  and  Rob- 
ert Lowery. 

• 

Columbia  has  added  "The  Fighting 
Guardsman"  to  its  production  sched- 
ule. It  is  based  on  Alexander  Dumas' 
"Companions  of  Jehu." 

• 

Buddy  De  Sylva  has  returned  from 
his  vacation  in  Mexico  City. 

Joseph  M.  Schenck  has  returned 
from  New  York. 


Argentine  Exhibitors 
Reject  Quota  Demand 

The  Argentine  Film  Distributors' 
Association  has  informed  the  Argen- 
the  government  that  it  is  rejecting 
a  demand  made  by  native  producers 
that  quotas  be  established  to  aid  the 
exhibition  of  Argentine  against  for- 
eign films,  according  to  press  dis- 
patches received  here  from  Monte- 
video. 

The  producers  had  petitioned  the 
government  to  have  first-runs  exhibit 
native  products  to  a  minimum  of  33 
per  cent  of  all  screen  time,  and  other 
houses  to  exhibit  a  smaller  propor- 
tion, plus  two  Saturdays  and  Sundays 
monthly  devoted  to  native  films.  The 
petition  also  asked  that  rentals  of  a 
minimum  of  40  per  cent  be  imposed 
for  native  films. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  2,  1944 


"Pardon  My  Rhythm" 

{Universal) 

CO  long  as  Gloria  Jean  and  Marjorie  Weaver  are  singing,  and  Bob 
V*  Crosby  and  his  orchestra  are  playing,  Universal's  "Pardon  My 
Rhythm"  is  a  moderately  engaging  musical.  But  the  screenplay  by  Val 
Burton  and  Eugene  Conrad,  derived  from  a  short  story  by  Hurd  Bar- 
rett, is  of  such  fragility  that  interest  is  not  always  sustained. 

The  story  is  about  a  kid  drummer,  Mel  Torme,  who  becomes  the  cen- 
ter of  intrigue  as  band  leader  Bob  Crosby  tries  to  sign  him  up,  while 
Gloria  Jean,  his  erstwhile  girl  friend,  attempts  to  save  his  talents  for  a 
young  band  that  is  competing  in  a  national  jazz  contest.  Mel  has  been 
charmed  by  Marjorie  Weaver,  Crosby's  vocalist,  into  deserting  the  ag- 
gregation. Gloria  employs  her  father,  Patric  Knowles,  a  playwright,  to 
woo  Miss  Weaver,  who  is  stage-struck,  despite  the  fact  that  he  has  a 
fiancee,  Evelyn  Ankers,  hovering  in  the  background.  The  antidote  works 
and  Mel  'snaps  out  of  it  long  enough  to  literally  "beat"  the  band  to  vic- 
tory. 

Knowles  and  Miss  Ankers  are  pleasant  enough  in  their  roles.  Walter 
Catlett,  Patsy  O'Connor,  Ethel  Griffies  and  Jack  Slattery  complete  the 
cast.  "Do  You  Believe  in  Dreams"  and  "Shame  on  Me"  are  two  engag- 
ing melodies  sung,  respectively,  by  Miss  Weaver  and  Gloria  Jean.  Felix 
E.  Feist  directed,  while  Bernard  W.  Burton  was  associate  producer. 

Running  time,  61  mins.  "G".*  Release  date,  May  19. 

Charles  Ryweck 


"Two-Man  Submarine" 

{Columbia) 

THE  plot  of  this  picture  is  woven  around  two  American  scientists  who 
are  engaged  in  the  production  of  penicillin,  which  is  being  sought 
by  Axis  agents.  Its  possibilities  as  a  topical  subject  of  widespread  in- 
terest are  not  fully  realized,  due,  principally,  it  would  appear,  to  weak- 
nesses in  the  script.  In  the  cast  are  Tom  Neal,  Ann  Savage  and  J. 
Carrol  Naish.  Jack  Fier  produced  and  Lew  Landers  directed.  It  shapes 
up  as  average  program  material,  of  interest  primarily  to  action  fans. 

Neal,  and  his  scientist  pal,  Robert  Williams,  with  the  aid  of  Miss 
Savage,  who'  parachutes  from  a  circling  plane  to  relieve  Neal,  attempt 
to  outwit  the  Nazis  and  Japs  bent  on  stealing  the  penicillin  formula. 
Williams  is  killed,  Neal  suspects  the  girl  of  being  a  traitor,  and  J.  Car- 
rol Naish,  as  the  island's  derelict  doctor,  struggles  vainly  to  pull  his  role 
and  the  entire  plot  into  line.  In  the  end  Neal  and  the  girl  triumph,  with 
Naish's  aid,  when  the  latter  goes  to  his  death  as  a  patriot  who  destroys 
the  Nazi  U-boat. 

Running  time,  62  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date,  March  16. 


49  in  Work  on 
Coast;  High 
For  This  Year 


Hollywood,  May  1. — Production 
stepped  up  to  a  1944  high  during  the 
week  with  12  new  pictures  placed  in 
work  and  eight  finished,  to  bring  the 
total  to  49.  The  previous  week  saw 
seven  started  and  ten  finished,  total- 
ling 45  in  work.  The  production  scene 
follows : 

Columbia 

Started:  "Kansas  City  Kitty,"  with 
Joan  Davis,  Jane  Frazee,  Bob  Crosby. 

Shooting :  "The  Impatient  Years," 
"Battleship  Blues,"  "The  Crime  Doc- 
tor's Rendezvous."* 

M-G-M 

Started:  "Ziegfeld  Follies,"  with 
25  M-G-M  contract  stars  headed  by 
Fred  Astaire. 

Shooting :  "Lost  in  a  Harem," 
"Maisie  Goes  to  Reno,"  "Mrs.  Park- 
ington,"  "The  Picture  of  Dorian 
Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "National 
Velvet." 

Monogram 

Shooting:  "West  of  the  Rio 
Grande,"  "Are  These  Our  Parents?" 
"A  Wave,  a  Wac  and  a  Marine," 
"Alaska." 

Finished:  "Three  of  a  Kind,"  "The 
Girl  Next  Door." 

Paramount 

Started:  "Murder,  He  Says,"  with 
Fred  MacMurray,  Helen  Walker, 
Jean  Heather,  Marjorie  Main,  Mabel 
Paige.  "Two  Years  Before  the 
Mast,"  with  Alan  Ladd,  Brian  Don- 
levy,  William  Bendix,  Esther  Fer- 
nandez, Darryl  Hickman. 

Shooting:  "Dark  Mountain"  (Pine- 
Thomas  ) . 

PRC 

Started :  "Delinquent  Daughters," 
with  June  Carlson,  Judy  Gibson, 
Johnny  Duncan,  Fifi  Dorsay,  Frank 
McGinn,  Jr. 

RKO-Radio 

Shooting :  "Tall  in  the  Saddle," 
"That  Hunter  Girl,"  "None  But  the 
Lonely  Heart,"  "Heavenly  Days," 
"Belle  of  the  Yukon"  (International), 
"The  Woman  in  the  Window"  (In- 
ternational), "Sylvester  the  Great" 
(Goldwyn). 

Finished :  "Mademoiselle  F  i  ft," 
"Cocktails  for  Two." 

Republic 

Started:  "Atlantic  City,"  with  Con- 
stance Moore,  Bradford  Taylor,  So- 
phie Tucker,  Belle  Baker,  Charles 
Grapewin,  Jerry  Colonna.  "Border- 
town  Trails,"  with  "Smiley"  Burn- 
ette,  Sunset  Carson.  "Three  Little 
Sisters,"  with  Mary  Lee,  Ruth  Terry, 
Cheryl  Walker,  William  Terry. 

Shooting :  "Haunted  Harbor." 

Finished:  "Port  of  Forty  Thieves," 
"Sing,  Neighbor,  Sing." 

20th  Century-Fox 

Started:  "Laura,"  with  Gene  Tier- 
ney,  Dana  Andrews,  Vincent  Price, 
Clifton  Webb. 

Shooting :  "Something  for  the 
Boys,"  "Keys  of  the  Kingdom," 
"Queen  of  the  Flat-Tops"  (formerly 
"Wing  and  a  Prayer.") 

Finished:   "Irish  Eyes  Are  Smil- 
ing." 

United  Artists 

Shooting :  "Story  of  G.I.  Joe" 
(Cowan),  "Abroad  with  Two  Yanks" 
(Small),  "Double  Furlough"  (Van- 
guard ) . 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Twain'  Preview  Tonight 

Among  those  who  are  scheduled  to 
attend  the  Madison  Square  Boys  Club 
press  preview  of  Warners'  "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain"  tonight  at 
the  Hollywood  Theatre  here  are  Jesse 
L.  Lasky,  producer  of  the  film;  Mrs. 
and  Mrs.  Fredric  March,  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  A.  Edison.  The  first  public 
showing  of  the  picture  will  be  tomor- 
row, when  it  opens  at  the  Hollywood. 


Universal 

Started:  "San  Diego,  I  Love,"  with 
Louise  Allbritton,  Jon  Hall,  Edward 
Everett  Horton,  Eric  Blore,  Florence 
Lake. 

Shooting :  "Pearl  of  Death,"  "See 
My  Lawyer,"  "The  Devil's  Brood," 
"Reckless    Age"     (formerly  "Make 
Way  for  Love"). 
Finished :  "Boss  of  Boomtown." 
Warners 

Started :  "Roughly  Speaking,"  with 
Rosalind  Russell,  Jack  Carson,  Don 
Woods,  William  Prince,  John  Alvin, 
Barbara  Brown.  "Objective  Bur- 
ma," with  Errol  Flynn,  James  Brown, 
George  Tobias,  Henry  Hull,  John 
Ridgeley,  William  Prince,  John  Alvin. 

Shooting :  "The  Very  Thought  of 
You,"  "To  Have  and  Have  Not," 
"The  Doughgirls,"  "Give  Me  This 
Woman." 


Variety  Gives  $12,000 
To  Aid  Sanitorium 

Chicago,  May  1.— A  net  of  $12,000 
was  turned  over  to  the  La  Rabida- 
Jackson  Park  Sanitarium  from  the 
stage  show  Sunday  given  by  the  local 
Variety  Club  at  the  Civic  Opera 
House. 

John  J.  Jones,  Variety  Club  barker, 
was  general  chairman ;  John  Balaban, 
executive  chairman ;  Edwin  Silver- 
man, ticket  chairman,  and  Nate  Piatt, 
show  chairman.  Norman  Kassel  was 
publicity  director;  Lester  Stepner, 
program  director,  and  Elmer  Upton, 
treasurer. 

Legion  Rates  Eight, 
Ml  Acceptable 

The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
passed  on  eight  films,  finding  all  ac- 
ceptable. In  Class  A-l,  unobjection- 
able for  general  patronage,  were : 
"The  Man  from  Frisco"  and  "Silent 
Partner,"  Republic,  and  "Three  Men 
in  White,"  M-G-M. 

Five  films  rated  Class  A-2,  unobjec- 
tionable for  adults,  were :  "Cobra 
Woman,"  Universal ;  "Hot  Rhythm," 
Monogram ;  "Seven  Days  Ashore" 
and  "Show  Business,"  RKO,  and 
"This  Is  the  Life,"  Universal. 


'Four  Jills',  Pastor 
Good  for  $22,500 


Cincinnati,  May  1.— "Four  Jills 
in  a  Jeep"  and  a  stage  show  featuring 
Tony  Pastor's  orchestra  looks  good 
for  a  $22,500  gross  at  the  RKO  Al- 
bee  in  a  week  in  which  other  local 
houses  are  showing  a  considerable 
drop  in  receipts. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  1-6: 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th -Fox) 

RKO  ALB  EE — (3,300)  (50c-60e-70c-8Sc- 
95c)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Stage:  Tony  Pastor's  orchestra,  Helen 
Forrest,  Hal  Sherman,  the  Three  Hearts. 
Gross:  $22,500.  (Average:  $22,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para,) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  C44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  4th  week.    Gross:  $5,500.  (Aver- 
age: $10,000). 
"Cowboy  Canteen"  (Col.) 
"Follow  the  Leader"  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:   $1,500.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Yanks  Ahoy!"  (UA) 
"Jeannie"  (British) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $800.    (Average:  $800). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.    (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 

RKO   LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)  5 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$4,500.    (Average,  7  days:  $5,500). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

RKO    PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
5    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average,  7  days:  $15,000). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  3rd  week  following  initial  week  at 
the  Palace.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average:  $5,- 
000). 


'Cover  Girl',  Show  Do 
Substantial  $20,000 

Baltimore,  May  1. — Biggest  busi- 
ness of  the  week  went  to  "Cover  Girl," 
bolstered  by  a  stage  show  at  the  Hip- 
podrome, where  the  gross  looks  like 
$20,000.  Substantial  openings  and  ca- 
pacity weekend  crowds  provided  an 
excellent  start  for  better  than  average 
returns. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  4 : 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (3,000)   (35c-43c-55c  and  60c) 
weekend)  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $18,500.  ! 
(Average:  $17,500). 
"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,406)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  I 
Gross:  $16,500.    (Average:  $15,000). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)  (30c-40c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,500.  (Average:  $13,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

STANLEY  —  (3,280)     (3Sc-44c-55c-66c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $17,000.    (Average:  ! 
$18,000). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Cod.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,205)     (35c-44c-55c-65c)  j 
7    days.     Stage    show:    Terry    and    Ralph  ! 
Rio,   Ilene   Woods,   Danny  *  Drayson,   The  j 
Herzogs,    Byrne    Sisters.     Gross:  $20,000. 
(Average:  $18,500). 
"Two-Man  Submarine"  (Col.) 

MA  YF  AIR  —  (1,000)     (35c-54c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.    (Average:  $7,000). 
"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 

VALENCIA— (1,466)  (35c-43c-55c  and  60c 
weekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Aver- 
age: $6,000). 


Howard  Left  $251,000 

Leslie  Howard,  British  film  player 
missing  since  June  1,  1943,  when  the 
transport  plane  on  which  he  was  trav- 
eling was  attacked  by  enemy  planes 
between  Lisbon  and  England,  left  an 
estate  of  $251,000,  according  to  press 
dispatches  from  London  at  the  week- 
end. The  bulk  of  the  estate  will  be 
held  in  trust  for  his  widow,  son  and 
daughter. 


Tuesday,  May  2,  1944 


Motion  picture  daily 


9 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  May  1 

TOPPED  by  "Ziegfeld  Follies,"  ac- 
claimed as  the  greatest  musical  ex- 
travaganza in  the  studio's  history  by 
the  M-G-M  publicists,  the  studio  is 
well  launched  on  its  biggest  year  of 
musical  productions  to  date.  It's  go- 
ing to  be  pretty  heavily  song-dance- 
and-sight  entertainment  on  the  stages 
at  Culver  City  for  a  large  part  of 
1944.  "Follies''  has  something  of  a 
cast  when  one  considers  that  25  of  the 
studio's  name  players  will  be  on  the 
roster,  beginning  with  Fred  Astaire. 
Additionally  it  will  boast  23  huge  pro- 
duction numbers. 

• 

Other  big  musicals  under  way  or  in 
preparation  at  M-G-M  include  "An- 
chors Aweigh,"  with  Gene  Kelly, 
Kathryn  Grayson  and  Frank  Sinatra; 
'Holiday  in  Mexico,"  with  Ray  Bol- 
ger  and  a  number  of  stars;  "W eekend 
at  the  Waldorf,"  with  Judy  Garland 
and  others;  "Music  for  Millions," 
which  has  Jose  Iturbi,  Margaret 
O'Brien  and  Jimmy  Durante  cast ;  and 
almost  an  even  dozen  other  musicals 
comedies  with  music.  Presently 
awaiting  release  are  "Tico  Girls  ana\ 
a  Sailor,"  "Bathing  Beauty,"  and 
'Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis." 

• 

After  seeing  early  rushes  of  her 
work  in  "Guest  in  the  House,"  Hunt 
Stromberg  signed  Ruth  Warrick  to 
a  five-year  deal  at  one  picture  an- 
nually. . . .  Producer  Albert  J.  Cohen 
put  "Atlantic  City"  before  the  cam- 
eras at  Republic  with  Herbert  J. 
Yates  supervising  the  start.  .  .  . 
Chili  Williams,  polka-dot  scanty  girl 
who  won  the  title  of  "World's  No.  1 
Pin-up  Girl"  because  of  40,000  re- 
quests for  her  picture  after  it  ap- 
peared in  Life,  had  her  heart  beats 
broadcast  on  the  Homemakers'  Club 
program  over  the  Don  Lee  Mutual 

et.  She's  now  in  "Having  Wonder- 

ul  Crime." 

• 

When  Pine-Thomas  complete  "Dark 
Mountain,"  currently  in  work,  they 
will  have  finished  five  of  the  six  on 
their  1943-44  program  for  Paramount. 
They  still  have  "Double  Exposure"  to 
produce  and  a  special  entitled  "Storm." 
Their  1944-45  program  also  calls  for 
six.  .  .  .  Universal  is  bringing  the  Car- 
men Amaya  troupe,  recently  seen  in 
"Follow  the  Boys,"  back  for  a  specialty 
number  in  "See  My  Lawyer,"  Olsen 
and  Johnson  comedy  presently  before 
the  cameras. 

• 

Walter  Thompson,  executive  assis- 
tant to  William  Goetz,  is  directing  the 
" Bambuco"  dance  sequences  for  "Belle 
of  the  Yukon."  Dan  Loper  is  staging 
the  dances.  William  Seiter  has  the 
Principals  at  work  on  outdoor  sequen- 
es  for  the  musical.  .  .  .  Charles  Co- 
irn  plays  one  of  the  top  roles  in 
'Czarina,"  which  Ernest  Lubitsch  is 
producing  and  Otto  Preniinger  direct- 
ing at  20th  Century-Fox.  .  .  .  Jack  L. 
Warner  has  set  Sydney  Greenstreet 
and  S.  Z.  Sakall  in  leads  with  Bar- 
bara Stanwyck  in  "Christmas  in  Con- 
necticut." .  .  .  20th-Fox  has  changed 
the  title  of  "A  Wing  and  a  Prayer"  to 
'Queen  of  the  Flat  Tops."  .  .  .  Bob 
H ope  and  Danny  Kaye  will  have  time 
off  from  their  acting  chores  to  appear 
on  "I  Am  an  American"  programs 
May  21  in  San  Francisco  and  Chicago, 
respectively. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


IN  THIS  MORNING'S  MAIL: — 
"DEAR  BlNG:   I  THINK   GOING  MY  WAY 
IS  THE  GREATEST  THING  YOU  HAVE 
EVER  DONE- -CONGR AT ULAT IONS! 
..•AND  WHAT  A  PERFORMANCE 
BARRY  FITZGERALD  GIVES." 
SIGNED--'1  KATE  SMITH"! 
THANKS, KATE,   YOU  NEVER  SAID  A 
TRUER  WORD. ..AND  WE'VE  NEVER 
MADE  A  GREATER  PICTURE! 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 

'The  Great  Alaskan 
Mystery' 

( Universal-Serial ) 

In  "The  Great  Alaskan  Mystery," 
Universal  has  a  serial  which  starts 
out  with  more  than  the  usual  care 
and  has  staffed  it  with  some  well- 
known  players,  including  Marjorie 
Weaver,  Milburn  Stone,  Ralph  Mor- 
gan, Edgar  Kennedy,  Fuzzy  Knight 
and  Samuel  Hinds.  It  looks  like  su- 
perior work  for  this  type. 

The  plot  concerns  a  scientist's  ex- 
periments to  find  a  mineral  necessary 
for  the  working  of  a  ray-machine  he 
is  perfecting.  His  assistant  is  an 
enemy  agent  who  seeks  to  obtain  the 
secret  of  the  machine.  A  young  en- 
gineer, in  love  with  the  scientist's 
daughter,  has  apprised  him  of  a  mys- 
terious substance  in  Alaska  which 
mightbe  the  solution  to  his  problem. 
A  series  of  adventures  follows  includ- 
ing a  shipwreck,  several  encounters 
with  polar  bears,  the  breaking  up  of 
ice  floes,  etc.  Running  time,  20  mins. 
per  chapter. 


'Jungle  Jive' 

( Universal) 

A  brand  of  music  which  has  won 
much  favor  with  the  initiated  "boo- 
gie-woogie" predominates  in  this 
\\  alt  _  Lantz  Swing  Symphony  in 
Technicolor.  Some  jungle  natives 
who  have  salvaged  some  band  instru- 
ments washed  ashore,  promptly  swing 
into  a  jam  session  until  a  crab 
"crabs"  the  works  when  he  takes  over 
the  piano  keyboard  for  a  solo.  Run- 
ning time,  7  mins. 


'Foster's  Canary  College' 

(Universal) 

Here  is  an  interesting  short  depict- 
ing such  phenomena  as  a  Canary  Col- 
lege with  highly-trained  birds,  a  103- 
year-old  who  has  turned  to  flying,  a 
unique  ring  collection  from  all  over 
the  world,  and  a  hand-operated  puppet 
opera.  This  is  up  to  Universale 
standard  for  the  "Person-Oddity"  se- 
ries.   Running  time,  9  mins. 

Industry  Seen  as  Aid 
To  Postwar  Planning 

Los  Angeles,  May  1.  — Business 
leaders  can  look  to  the  motion  picture 
industry  as  a  "permanent  structure  en- 
gaged in  foreign  as  well  as  domestic 
trade"  in  postwar  employment  plan- 
ning, W.  F.  Bettis,  chairman  of  Los 
Angeles  National  Foreign  Trade 
Week,  May  21-27,  declared  here  at  the 
weekend. 

Bettis  paid  tribute  to  the  industry 
for  popularizing  Hollywood  styles, 
local  products  and  scenery  in  foreign 
countries,  and  also  as  a  major  source 
of  revenue  to  this  area. 


'Tale',  'Seabees'  Shown 

London,  May  1. — At  the  express 
invitation  of  Prime  Minister  Churchill, 
Michael  Powell's  "Canterbury  Tale" 
was  privately  shown  to  Dominion  Pre- 
miers here  for  a  British  Empire  con- 
ference and  earned  lavish  praise.  "The 
Fighting  Seebees"  was  shown  at  a 
premiere  at  the  Regal  to  an  audience 
composed  exclusively  of  men  from  the 
American  forces,  likewise  meeting 
with  an  enthusiastic  reception. 


10 


Motion  picture  daily 


Tuesday,  May  2,  1944 


Films  Silent 
On  ATT  Bid 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Austrian,  RKO  television  consultant, 
for  a  meeting  to  discuss  industry  pol- 
icy on  television.  It  is  expected  that 
some  action  will  be  mapped  out  at  the 
meeting  on  the  film  industry's  possible 
participation  on  the  Radio  Technical 
Planning  Board  which  is  studying  fre- 
quency allocation  recommendations  for 
telecasting  to  be  made  to  the  Federal 
Communcations  Commission. 

As  yet,  however,  A.  T.  &  T.  has  not 
been  approached  with  any  definite 
plans  for  an  information  exchange, 
Mabon  added.  It  is  understood  that 
the  letter  on  the  proposal,  written  by 
vice-president  Keith  S.  McHugh  to 
Hays,  suggested  the  formation  of  a 
film-A.  T.  &  T.  committee. 

Delicate  Question 

The  McHugh  offer,  according  to 
an  MPPDA  spokesman,  has  been  laid 
before  distributor  members,  but  no 
definite  action  has  been  taken  as  yet, 
it  is  understood.  In  some  film  circles 
the  question  of  exchanging  technical 
knowledge  with  A.  T.  &  T.  is  said 
to  be  a  delicate  one,  inasmuch  as  some 
motion  picture  companies  .  have  cer- 
tain existing  commitments  for  tele- 
vision in  the  postwar  and  it  is  not  yet 
clear  whether  cable  service  for  piping 
programs  to  theatres,  which  the  tele- 
phone company  can  provide,  will  be 
needed.  Also,  General  Electric  con- 
tends that  satisfactory  transmission 
by  air  can  be  accomplished  through 
the  use  of  relay  stations  located  at 
16-mile  intervals. 

MPPDA  officials  are  understood  to 
hold  that  the  matter  concerns  the  film 
companies  individually  and,  therefore, 
should  not  be  a  function  of  that  of- 
fice. The  proposal  was  first  present- 
ed to  members  at  the  last  board  meet- 
ing, it  is  understood. 


See  No  Changes  in 
Raw  Stock  Quota 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

other  hand,  there  is  at  the  moment  no 
indication  that  the  studios  will  be  able 
to  get  more  film,  although  WPB  of- 
ficials have  received  no  complaints  that 
producers  were  under  any  hardship  in 
getting  along  on  what  they  now  re- 
ceive. 

The  studios'  reports  on  lumber  re- 
quirements for  the  next  two  quarters 
also  are  being  studied,  and  while  they 
have  not  been  analyzed  completely  it  is 
believed  it  will  be  possible  to  fill  them 
fully  despite  the  lumber  shortage 
which  is  requiring  cuts  in  consumption 
for  shipping  containers  and  many  other 
purposes. 


Honor  Taylor  of  Ascap 

Deems  Taylor,  composer,  radio 
commentator  and  president  of 
Ascap,  will  receive  an  honorary  de- 
gree of  Doctor  of  Music  at  the  74th 
annual  commencement  of  Syracuse 
University  today. 


WB  Tradeshow  Change 

Warners'  "Make  Your  Own  Bed," 
originally  scheduled  for  national  trade 
showing  on  May  8,  will  be  screened 
May  15.  "Between  Two  Worlds"  will 
be  shown  May  8,  as  previously  an- 
nounced. 


Houses  to  Be  Cool  Despite 
U.S.  Ban  on  Freon  Gas 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
atre  cooling  systems.  Distribu- 
tion of  F-22  heretofore  has  been 
uncontrolled,  and  there  were 
indications  that  the  available 
reserves  would  be  exhausted  by 
its  use  as  a  substitute  in  stores 
and  theatres.  The  new  type 
normally  operates  at  lower 
pressures  but  can  be  used  with 
some  success  in  F-12  systems,  it 
was  said. 

The  field  reports  show  that  most 
houses  have  not  adopted  the  ultra-mod- 
ern freon  cooling  method  and  that  a 
good  many  of  those  who  did  adopt  it 
changed  back  to  the  "washed  air"  and 
other  earlier  systems  sometime  ago. 
Moreover,  those  theatres  depending  on 
freon  are  "nursing"  a  supply  left  over 
from  last  year  and  expect  it  to  see 
them  through  the  summer ;  theatre  op- 
erators are  checking  to  prevent  pos- 
sible leaks  in  machinery  and  are  plan- 
ning, if  necessary,  to  shut  it  off  for  a 
few  hours  from  time  to  time. 

A  minority  of  exhibitors,  however, 
cite  the  fact  that  they  have  "put  in 
orders"  for  a  usual  supply  of  freon 
and  say  they  will  be  faced  with  an 
emergency  if  the  orders  are  not  filled. 
The  Warner  circuit  in  Pittsburgh 
hints  that  Some  of  its  neighborhood 
houses  may  be  closed  "if  air  condition- 
ing is  out." 

Some  Have  Wells 

A  number  of  small  town  theatres  are 
more  fortunate  than  those  of  the  large 
cities,  in  that  they  have  deep  wells  to 
cool  the  water  for  washing  the  air. 
Generally,  though,  the  water  has  to  be 
cooled  by  dry  ice,  which  is  expensive. 
Incidentally,  several  chemicals  other 
than  freon  are  in  use. 

Harry  Moskowitz,  in  charge  of 
maintenance  for  the  Loew  circuit,  says 
most  of  their  theatres  use  carbon-di- 
oxide, and  the  same  report  comes  from 
three  first-run  houses  in  Providence, 
and  all  those  in  downtown  Detroit  and 
elsewhere.  Carrene  is  employed  by  the 
only  gas-cooled  house  of  Leo  Brecher 
Theatrical  Enterprises,  New  York,  and 
by  others  including  the  M.  &  P.  Al- 
lyn  Theatre,  Hartford,  Conn.,  in  which 
city  Warners  downtown  Regal  has  a 
typhene  system.  There  is  said  to  be 
no  shortage  of  any  of  these  alternate 
gases. 


The  freezing  of  F-22  gas  was  a  blow 
to  N.  S.  Barger,  the  Rialto,  Chicago, 
who  had  just  completed  converting  his 
plant  for  the  use  of  that  gas  when  the 
Government's  order  banned  it.  In  that 
city  four  Balaban  and  Katz  first-run 
Loop  houses,  the  State  Lake,  Garrick, 
Apollo  and  Chicago,  are  still  depend- 
ing on  freon  and  are  without  reserve 
supplies.  Five  other  downtown  thea- 
tres, B.  &  K.'s  Roosevelt  and  United 
Artists,  the  RKO  Palace  and  Grand 
and  the  Oriental,  have  carbon  dioxide 
equipment. 

The  New  York  check-up  further 
disclosed  that  Al  Naroff,  maintenance 
head  of  Brandt  Theatres,  said,  "We 
stored  our  freon  from  last  year  and 
we  will  definitely  be  able  to  start,  but 
later  we  will  have  to  shut  our  systems 
off  if  there  is  no  relief  from  the  Gov- 
ernment. Philip  Harling  of  Fabian 
Theatres  has  not  completed  a  survey 
of  his  situation.  J.  J.  Thompson  said 
his  Cocalis  Enterprises  houses,  mainly 
in  New  Jersey,  "will  just  use  fans. 
We  are  not  even  interested  in  the 
freon  situation,"  he  added.  Not  inter- 
ested for  another  reason  was  William 
Applegate,  head  of  maintenance  for 
Century  Circuit.  He  said,  "We  have 
enough  for  the  Summer  and  even  be- 
yond. I'm  past  that  stage.  Do  you 
know  where  I  can  get  some  coal  and 
oil?" 

Providence  "in  the  Clear" 

Providence  claims  to  be  "in  the 
clear."  In  addition  to  the  Strand, 
Loew's  State  and  RKO-Albee,  the 
city's  carbon-dioxide  houses,  there  is 
the  Majestic,  which  manager  Albert 
Clarke  says  has  "the  most  modern 
freon  system  and  therefore  does  not 
suffer  from  the  usual  leakage" ;  the 
Metropolitan  and  Playhouse  of  Asso- 
ciated Theatres ;  and  the  Carlton  and 
Fay's  theatres,  none  of  which  use 
freon ;  and  the  Empire,  Park,  Palace 
and  Bijou,  which,  according  to  mana- 
ger Herbert  Copellman,  have  enough 
to  start  and  will  get  through  if  not 
crippled  by  leakage. 

(This  is  the  first  of  tzvo  round-ups 
of  reports  from  Motion  Picture 
Daily  field  correspondents  on  the  the- 
atre cooling  situation  throughout  the 
country.  The  second  round-up  zvill 
appear  in  an  early  issue.) 


Projector  Making 
May  Move  to  N.  Y. 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

situation  in  the  New  York  area  is 
viewed  as  being  sufficiently  favorable 
to  the  manufacture  of  lamphouses  re- 
quired by  theatres  and  possibly  even 
to  meeting  the  WPB  approved  plan 
for  the  manufacture  of  340  "civilian" 
projectors  in  the  third  quarter  of  this 
year.  The  contemplation  is  to  turn 
the  manufacture  of  lamphouses  over 
to  plants  making  lamps  in  less  criti- 
cal labor  areas  with  most  of  the  manu- 
facture of  projection  equipment  also 
centralized  in  New  York. 

Smith  returned  to  Washington  last 
night  after  initial  investigations. 


WE  Promotes  Collins 

D.  C.  Collins  has  been  advanced 
from  the  post  of  Eastern  manager  to 
manager  of  Western  Electric's  Elec- 
trical Research  Products  Division. 


John  Scully  New 
<Uf  District  Head 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Charlotte  office  manager,  to  Atlanta 
branch  manager ;  W.  M.  Richardson, 
former  Atlanta  branch  manager,  to 
New  Orleans  branch  manager  in  place 
of  N.  Lamantia,  who  has  been  called 
by  the  Army ;  Eugene  Vogel,  former 
special  representative,  to  Albany 
branch  manager ;  Abe  Weiner,  former 
Buffalo  branch  manager,  to  Boston 
special  representative,  and  Jerry  Span- 
dau,  former  Albany  branch  manager, 
to  Buffalo  office  manager. 


Richards  DuMont  Officer 

Albert  J.  Richards,  Paramount 
News  editor  was  elected  assistant  sec- 
retary of  DuMont  Television  Labora- 
tories at  the  company's  annual  stock- 
holders meeting  held  in  Passaic  yes- 
terday. All  other  officers  and  the 
board  of  directors  were  elected. 


'Cover  Girl'  Stays 
For  Sixth  Week; 
N.  Y.  Grosses  Hold 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

of  Dover."  "Buffalo  Bill"  and  a  stage 
show  with  Paul  Whiteman  and  his  or- 
chestra, and  Victor  Borge  and  Joan 
Edwards  will  wind  up  a  second  week 
at  the  Roxy  with  $78,000.  The  com- 
bination will  hold  for  a  third  and  final 
week  with  the  20th  Century-Fox-Bet- 
ty Grable  "Pin-Up  Girl"  set  for  May 
10. 

Third  and  final  week  of  "Broadway 
Rhythm"  and  a  stage  show  at  the 
Capitol  is  expected  to  yield  about 
$52,000  on  the  basis  of  the  first  four 
days'  $40,000.  M-G-M's  "Gaslight" 
and  a  stage  show  featuring  Phil  Spi- 
talny  and  his  all-girl  orchestra  will 
open  there  on  Thursday.  Fourth  and 
final  week  of  "Uncertain  Glory"  and  a 
Ted  Lewis  stage  show  at  the  Strand 
is  expected  to  gross  $31,000;  weekend 
business  hit  $18,000.  Warners'  "Be- 
tween Two  Worlds"  and  the  Coast 
Guard's  "Tars  and  Spars"  show  fea- 
turing Victor  Mature  will  open  at  the 
Strand  Friday. 

'Lady'  Run  Ending 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  will  wind  up  its 
tenth  week  at  the  Paramount  today 
with  a  gross  of  $50,000,  giving  the 
theatre  almost  $800,000  on  the  ten- 
week  run  of  the  film,  teamed  with 
a  stage  show  headed  by  Xavier  Cu- 
gat.  Paramount's  "Going  My  Way," 
starring  Bing  Crosby,  will  open  there 
tomorrow,  with  Charlie  Spivak's  or- 
chestra heading  the  stage  show.  Uni- 
versale "Follow  the  Boys"  is  regis- 
tering substantially  at  the  Criterion 
with  a  gross  in  excess  of  $40,000  for 
the  first  week,  ending  last  night. 

The  14th  week  of  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  at  the  Rivoli  is  expected 
to  bring  about  $31,000;  the  first  five 
days'  gross  was  $23,500.  "See  Here, 
Private  Hargrove"  will  have  a  sixth 
week's  gross  of  $23,500  at  the  Astor, 
and  the  film  will  continue.  The  fourth 
week  of  the  revival  of  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  at  the  Man- 
hattan brought  almost  $22,000  and  the 
film  will  start  a  fifth  week  this  morn- 
ing. Gross  for  the  final  six  days  of 
the  11th  week  of  "Passage  to  Mar- 
seille" at  the  Hollywood  was  $10,000. 
Warner's  "The  Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain"  will  open  at  the  theatre  to- 
morrow after  a  special  benefit  pre- 
view tonight. 

$12,000  at  the  Palace 

A  single  week  for  "Seven  Days 
Ashore'.'  at  the  Palace  is  expected  to 
bring  about  $12,000.  Columbia's  "Jam 
Session"  will  open  at  the  Palace  to- 
morrow with  RKO's  "Show  Business" 
set  for  May  10.  Second  week  of 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  is  expected  to 
give  the  Gotham  $11,700,  and  the  pic- 
ture will  hold.  "The  Whistler"  is 
expected  to  do  about  $10,000  on  its 
initial  week  at  the  Rialto  and  it  will 
hold.  Third  and  final  week  of  "Ad- 
dress Unknown"  will  give  the  Globe 
about  $8,500;  Paramount's  "The  Hit- 
ler Gang"  will  open  Saturday. 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  will  hold  for 
a  third  and  final  week  at  the  Victoria, 
after  ending  a  second  week  today 
with  more  than  $8,000.  Paramount's 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  will 
open  at  the  theatre  on  May  10. 


Perretz  Quits  Filmack 

Chicago,  May  1. — Al  Perretz  has 
resigned  from  Filmack  Trailer. 


Tuesday,  May  2,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


11 


Review 


"The  Scarlet  Claw" 

{Universal) 

Hollywood,  May  1 

T  N  "The  Scarlet  Claw,"  Sherlock  Holmes,  played  by  Basil  Rathbone, 
*-  and  Dr.  Watson,  portrayed  by  Nigel  Bruce,  carry  on  the  famous  Sir 
Arthur  Conan  Doyle  characters  with  the  deft  touch.  Aided  by  chilling 
fog  on  the  marshlands,  a  well-planted  fear  of  the  mysterious  "mon- 
sters" among  the  villagers,  the  mystery  builds  suspense,  capped  by  ac- 
tion, and  touches  of  Dr.  Watson's  stuffy,  whimsical  humor  in  just  the 
right  dosages. 

At  Le  Morte  Rouge  Holmes  discovers  that  the  murder  of  Lady  Pen- 
rose, former  actress,  could  not  have  been  done  by  a  monster  in  whom  her 
husband,  a  student  of  the  occult,  believes,  as  do  the  natives.  He  and 
Watson  track  down  the  murderer,  who  proves  to  be  an 'escaped  actor- 
murderer,  who  had  created  several  characters .  for  himself  among  the 
villagers.  Roy  William  Neill  produced  and  directed  from  a  screenplay 
written  in  collaboration  with  Edmund  L.  Hartmann  from  an  original  by 
Paul  Gangelin  and  Brenda  Weisberg.  Gerald  Hamer  provides  excellent 
menace  as  the  slayer,  while  Paul  Cavanaugh  delivers  well,  and  Kay 
Harding  shows  promise  as  the  winsome  daughter  of  the  village  inn- 
keeper. 

Running  time,  74  minutes.   "G."  *  Release  date,  not  set. 

Jack  Cartwright 


Mayer  Honored  for 
Los  Angeles  Aid 


Hollywood,  May  1. — Louis  B. 
Mayer,  in  absentia,  was  presented 
with  a  testimonial,  acknowledging  his 
work  on  behalf  of  the  Los  Angeles 
community,  last  night  at  a  dinner  in 
the  Ambassador  Hotel  given  by  the 
industry  division  of  the  United  Jewish 
Welfare  Fund.  Mayer  had  not  re- 
turned from  New  York  in  time  to  be 
present. 

Under  the  chairmanship  of  Walter 
s  Wanger,  the  motion  picture  division 
is  seeking  to  raise  one-third  of  a  mini- 
-  mum  $2,000,000  quota  this  year,  having 
contributed  one-third  of  the  $1,200,000 
collected  last  year.  The  charity  is 
concerned  with  overseas  relief  and 
rehabilitation,  and  also  supports  local 
and  national  activities. 

About  450  at  the  dinner  heard  Rev. 
Barnett  R.  V.  Birckner  of  Cleveland 
discuss  his  observations  based  on  a 
35,000  mile  trip  through  Europe, 
North  Africa,  Palestine  and  China. 
.  He  is  a  member  of  the  three-man 
commission  named  by  President 
Roosevelt  to  observe  the  morale  of 
troops.  A  second  speaker  was  Mrs. 
Waistill  Hastings  Sharp,  who  con- 
ducted Unitarian  church  services 
abroad  with  her  husband. 

Quash  Indicated  in 
Suit  of  Momand 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

were  given  until  June  15  to  furnish  a 
bill  of  particulars  sought  by  the 
defendant  distributors,  Warner  Bro- 
thers, Paramount,  Universal  and  Vita- 
phone,  which  had  made  the  motions 
to  dismiss  and  to  quash. 

Judge  Broaddus  said  he  would  give 
the  defendants'  counsel  five  days  to 
read  authorities  before  finally  sustain- 
ing the  quash  motion.  At  the  same 
time,  he  accepted,  as  routine,  a  request 
for  a  jury  trial  made  by  the  Griffith 
Amusement  Co.,  local  circuit  distribu- 
tor in  the  case. 

Justice  Dissolves 
FPC  Injunction 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  action  with  costs  to  be  paid-  by 
the  plaintiff. 

President  of  Theatre  Properties  is 
Paul  L.  Nathanson,.head  of  the  Odeon 
Circuit,  which  operates  the  two  thea- 
tres under  a  lease.  The  injunction 
action  developed  after  Hamilton  Unit- 
ed shareholders  voted  against  a  high- 
er cash  offer  from  Famous  Players 
for  possession  of  the  theatres.  Repre- 
sentative of  Famous  Players  contend- 
ed a  two-thirds  majority  of  all  Ham- 
ilton United  shareholders  had  not 
been  registered  in  voting  on  the  sale, 
as  required  under  the  Ontario  Com- 
panies Act. 


RKO  Union  Before  SLRB 

A  further  hearing  on  the  attempt 
of  the  IATSE  to  separate  cashiers 
and  others  from  the  jurisdiction  of  the 
newly-formed  Motion  Picture  Theatre 
Operating  Managers,  Assistants  and 
Cashiers  Guild,  embracing  help  in 
RKO  New  York  theatres,  was  held 
at  the  office  of  the  State  Labor  Rela- 
tions Board  here  yesterday. 

WB  to  Reissue  'Army' 

Warners'  "This  Is  the  Army"  will 
be  reissued  nationally  on  June  24.  The 
film  was  first  released  last  August. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Negotiations  Slated 
With  Studio  Guilds 

Producer  negotiations  with  studio 
guilds  on  new  talent  and  other  con- 
tract provisions  covering  wages,  hours 
and  working  conditions  are  scheduled 
to  be  opened  in  Hollywood  following 
the  return  there  of  Pat  Casey,  studio 
labor  representative.  Casey  left  New 
York  for  the  Coast  yesterday. 

Initial  negotiations  probably  will  be 
with  readers,  cutters  and  editors,  with 
directors  and  other  guilds  following. 


1944  Catholic  Charity 
Drive  Is  Under  Way 

The  1944  Appeal  of  New  York 
Catholic  Charities  is  under  way  and 
will  continue  through  May  10.  Al- 
fred E.  Smith  is  general  chairman  of 
the  Archbishop's  Committee  of  the 
Laity ;  John  A.  Coleman  is  executive 
chairman,  Frank  C.  Walker  is  treas- 
urer and  George  Schaefer  is  assistant 
treasurer.  Co-chairman  of  the  film  in- 
dustry's committee  ace  John  O'Con- 
nor and  Bert  Sanford. 


43  Houses  in  New 
Pitsburgh  Combine 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Weiland,  A.  G.  Neyland,  Stephen 
Santa,  Norman  C.  Huhn,  J.  W.  Mer- 
cer, Harry  Hendel,  William  Wheat, 
Bennett  Amdur,  Carl  Poke,  M.  Wino- 
grad,  H.  Rachiele,  Rachiele  and  Walk- 
er, Mervis  and  Barnholtz,  Fineman  and 
Shapiro,  and  R.  Navarii. 


M-G-M  Service  Awards 

Cleveland,  May  1. — M-G-M  held 
a  dinner  at  the  Statler  Hotel  here 
at  the  weekend  when  service  awards 
were  presented  to  11  employes  by 
John  J.  Maloney,  Central  States  sales 
manager,  and  J.  P.  Byrne,  district 
manager.  Receiving  20-year  service 
buttons  were  Steve  Andrews,  Effie 
Baxter,  Charles  C  Deardourff  and 
Sara  Sallew.  Ten-year  M-G-M  em- 
ployes honored  were  Jack  Sogg,  Jack 
Mundstuck,  Ann  Vickers,  Native  Rob- 
erts, Louise  Jade,  Gladys  Nelson  and 
Elsie  Wilson. 


Bob  Hope,  Winner  of 
PeabodyRadioA  ward 

Bob  Hope,  six  network  programs,  a 
regional  program  and  a  local  station 
program  are  the  1943  winners  of  the 
George  Foster  Peabody  radio  awards 
administered  by  the  National  Associa- 
tion of  Broadcasters  with  the  cooper- 
ation of  the  University  of  Georgia. 

Representing  the  majority  opinion  of 
"screening"  groups  besides  Hope's 
award  for  camp  tours,  included  Ed- 
ward R.  Murrow,  CBS ;  Lux  Radio 
Theatre,  CBS ;  "Open  Letter  to  the 
American  People,"  CBS ;  Salt  Lake 
Tabernacle  Choir,  CBS;  "America's 
Town  Meeting  of  the  Air,"  Blue  Net- 
work, and  "Let's  Pretend,"  CBS. 

RKO  Sponsors  NBC 
Sunday  News  Spot 

Further  expanding  its  use  of  radio 
as  a  promotion  medium  for  new  pic- 
tures, RKO  has  contracted  to  sponsor 
National  Broadcasting's  Sunday  after- 
noon Ed  Herlihy  five-minute  news 
program  for  the  next  13  weeks.  Con- 
tract with  NBC  carries  options  for 
renewal  beyond  the  original  13  weeks. 

The  company  has  been  sponsoring 
the  15-minute  11  p.m.  news  period  on 
WEAF,  New  York  NBC  outlet  on 
Saturdays  for  the  past  year  and  an- 
nounced over  the  weekend  that  it  will 
sponsor  its  "Hollywood  Star  Time" 
program  on  177  stations  of  the  Blue 
Network  starting  May  29  after  an 
initial  experiment  on  20  Coast  stations 
of  the  Blue  since  February  28. 

See  Hochstein  Trial 
Postponed  Today 

The  trial  of  Harry  Hochstein,  for- 
mer Chicago  morals  inspector,  sched- 
ued  to  start  today  before  Federal 
Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe,  is  expected  to 
be  postponed.  Hochstein  is  under  in- 
dictment for  allegedly  perjuring  him- 
self before  a  special  Federal  Grand 
Jury  probing  alleged  racketeering; 
within  the  film  industry. 

Hochstein  is  specifically  charged 
with  swearing  falsely  before  the 
Grand  Jury  when  asked  about  an  al- 
leged conference  among  members  of 
the  Capone  gang  in  his  Riverside,  111., 
home  in  1934. 


Theatre 
Changes 


Widespread  Shifts  in 
RKO  Circuit  Personnel 

Numerous  shifts  of  RKO  circuit 
personnel  have  been  made  in  recent 
weeks  to  meet  resignations  and  the 
drafting  of  managers  and  assistants. 
These  changes  include  the  shift  of 
Irving  Gold  from  the  RKO  Chester 
to  the  8th  Street  Theatre  as  manager 
to  replace  Lee  Koken,  inducted ; 
Charles  Lyon,  relief  manager,  has 
been  assigned  to  the  Chester  ;  Ray- 
mond Gibbs  and  Maurice  McGowan, 
assistant  managers  of  the  RKO  Palace 
and  Capitol,  Cincinnati,  respectively, 
have  switched  posts ;  John  J.  Thomp- 
son and  Sam  Rydell,  managers  of  the 
RKO  Franklin  and  Hamilton,  New 
York,  respectively,  have  also  switched. 

William  L.  Heiss  has  been  appointed 
manager  of  the  RKO-105th  Street, 
Cleveland ;  Marvin  Johnston,  manager 
of  the  Orpheum,  Champaign,  111.,  has 
switched  to  the  Orpheum,  Kansas 
City,  as  assistant,  replacing  J.  G. 
Thorp  who  has  entered  the  Army ; 
Frederick  Stephans,  assistant  of  the 
Virginia,  Champaign,  has  been  pro- 
moted to  manage  the  Orpheum. 

Also,  Henry  Laskowski,  treasurer 
of  the  RKO  Albee,  Brooklyn,  has 
been  appointed  to  manager  of  the 
Greenpoint,  replacing  James  Mc- 
Carthy, resigned;  John  Thomas,  as- 
sistant of  the  RKO  Prospect,  has 
taken  over  Laskowski's  post  at  the 
Albee;  Thomas  Raab,  relief  assistant 
of  the  Prospect,  was  promoted  to  as- 
sistant manager;  Arthur  Koch  has 
been  promoted  to  acting  manager  of 
RKO  Proctor's,  Mt.  Vernon,  with 
Ethel  Moore,  secretary  at  RKO 
Keith's  White  Plains,  taking  over 
Koch's  duties  as  assistant  manager. 


Brennan,  Schwartz 
Head  RKO  Theatres 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

cuit's  management,  yesterday,  declared 
that  the  move  is  the  result  of  a  study 
which  has  been  under  way  for  some 
time  and  that  the  new  alignment  of 
RKO  theatres  into  two  groups  recog- 
nizes the  difference  in  operating  prob- 
lems. The  New  York-New  Jersey 
houses  are  in  a  compact  group,  while 
the  remaining  theatres  are  widely  scat- 
tered, he  said. 

Film  buying  for  both  divisions  will 
remain  with  the  home  office  buying 
staff  under  the  direction  of  Harold 
Mirisch.  Malcolm  Kingsberg  is  ex- 
ecutive vice-president  of  the  two  RKO 
theatre  companies,  Keith-Albee-Or- 
pheum  and  B.  F.  Keith  Corp. 


MITCHELL  MAY,  jr. 

CO.,  INC. 

INSURANCE 


Specializing 
in  requirements  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Industry 

75  Maiden  Lane,  New  York 
510  W.  6th  St.,  Los  Angeles 


Otill  a  brilliant  film,  audiences  and 
critics  agree,  is  Columbia's  "Lost  Horizon." 
Still  brilliant,  too,  is  the  screen  lighting 
from  "National"  Projector  Carbons,  whether 
the  picture  be  the  most  recent  release  or  a 
second  or  third  run.  Audiences  enjoy  virtu- 
ally the  same  screen  light  today  as  when  "Lost 
Horizon"  was  first  shown. 

This  has  been  accomplished  because  Na- 
tional Carbon  Company's  background  of  re- 
search and  manufacturing  experience  enabled 
it  to  redesign  pre-war  carbons  promptly  to 
war-time  needs  .  .  .  and  also  because  of  the 
close  technical  cooperation  of  exhibitor,  pro- 
jectionist and  lamp  manufacturer. 

Most  important  of  all,  however,  is  that 
enormous  quantities  of  copper  have  been 
saved  for  the  war  effort,  through  re- 
covery of  copper  drippings  and  strip- 
ping of  copper  from  carbon  stubs. 

• 

The  best  evidence  that  these  efforts  are  suc- 
cessful is  that  motion  picture  patrons  in  ever 
increasing  numbers  are  overflowing  theatres 
everywhere  for  needed  relaxation  and  worth- 
while entertainment. 

*  BUY  UNITED  STATES  WAR  BONDS  ★ 


1937 


1944 


The  trade-mark  "National"  distinguishes  products  of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 

NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation 
Carbon  Products  Division,  Cleveland  I,  Ohio  HIM  New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  San  Francisco 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


Picture 
Industry 


J 


VOL.  55.  NO.  87 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  3,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


WPB  Releases 
675  New 
Projectors 

Total  to  Be  Produced 
In  2nd  Half  of  Year 

Washington,  May  2.— Author- 
izations for  the  manufacture  of  340 
projectors  in  the  third  quarter  and 
335  in  the  fourth  quarter  of  this 
year  for  commercial  usage  have  gone 
to  manufacturers  from  the  War  Pro- 
duction Board,  it  was  learned  here 
today. 

All  of  the  projectors  above  the 
regular  program  of  100  per  quarter 
will  be  produced  in  No.  2,  3  and  4 
labor  areas,  and  none  will  be  made  in 
No.  1  areas,  where  there  is  a  severe 
labor  shortage,  but  manufacturers  in 
No.  2  areas  have  been  warned  that 
they  can  produce  the  machines  for 
commercial  use  only  if  it  does  not 
{Continued  on  page  12) 


5  Regional 
*ond  Rallies 

The  industry  will  be  rallied  for  "its 
mightiest  war  effort,"  the  Fifth  War 
Loan,  at  a  series  of  15  regional  meet- 
ings, the  first  to  be  held  at  the  Hotel 
Statler,  Washington,  on  May  10,  na- 
tional chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell  dis- 
closed here  yesterday  through  War 
Activities  Committee  headquarters. 
O'Donnell  is  now  in  Hollywood  or- 
ganizing production  for  the  drive. 

Other  meetings  are  scheduled  for 
Boston,  May  11 ;  New  York,  May  15; 

— ™2> 
Managers,  Salesmen 

Seek  Unionization 


Chicago,  May  2.  —  The  hub  of  a 
Midwest  movement  for  the  creation  of 
a  national  theatre  managers'  union, 
under  the  wing  of  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Labor,  is  developing  here. 
Officials  of  circuits  hereabouts,  and 
Jack  Kirsch,  president  of  Allied  Thea- 
tres of  Illinois,  learned  this  week  that 
Gene  Atkinson,  business  manager  of 
projectionists  local  No.  110,  IATSE- 
AFL,  will  make  a  formal  plea  for  an 
AFL  charter  for  a  managers  union  at 
the  convention  of  the  "IA,"  opening 
in  St.  Louis,  on  May  29. 

Organizers  of  the  CIO  have  been 
{Continued  on  page  11) 


Coast-to-New  York 
Telecasts  First 

Hollywood,  May  2.  — Tele- 
vision will  add  to  Hollywood's 
prestige  as  a  fountainhead  of 
entertainment  origin,  in  the 
opinion  of  Frank  E.  Mullen, 
vice  -  president  and  general 
manager  of  NBC.  The  other 
focal  point,  he  says,  will  be 
New  York.  "We  may  have 
television  programs  transmit- 
ted from  Hollywood  to  New 
York  long  before  the  rest  of 
the  country  has  television," 
he  said. 


Monogram  Will  Not 
Cash-in  Now:  Carr 


"Monogram  is  re-investing  every 
possible  dollar  gained  from  the  present 
period  of  box-office  prosperity,  to  gain 
a  stronger  name  and  place  for  the 
company  when 
this  high  pros- 
perity subsides," 
Trem  Carr,  head 
of  Monogram 
production,  dis- 
closed yesterday 
at  a  luncheon  to 
35  representa- 
tives of  the  trade 
press,  at  the 
Hotel  Warwick 
here.  Carr  is  in 
New  York  from 
Hollywood. 

Carr  declared 
that  the  com- 
pany had  set  a  policy  of  "avoiding  the 
temptation  of  cashing-in  on  these 
times,"  and  with  the  intention  of  spend- 

XContinued  on  page  11) 


Trem  Carr 


House  Action 
Today  on 
Films  Abroad 


Washington,  May  2.  —  The 
House  Foreign  Affairs  Committee 
is  expected  to  report  favorably  to- 
morrow on  legislation  authorizing 
the  State  Department  to  undertake  in 
other  parts  of  the  world  programs  to 
promote  mutual  understanding  and  co- 
operation such  as  have  been  applied 
in  Latin  America  by  the  Coordinator 
of  Inter-American  Affairs,  including 
the  substantial  use  of  American  mo- 
tion pictures. 

The  legislation  was  asked  by  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  in  a  message  to  Con- 
gress Feb.  29  and  the  bill  was  intro- 
duced by  Representative  Sol  Bloom  of 
New  York,  chairman  of  the  commit- 
tee. Later,  in  an  outline  of  the  De- 
partment's program  submitted  to  the 
President  by  Acting  Secretary  of 
State  E.  R.  Stettinius,  Jr.,  considerable 

{Continued  on  page  11) 


3  Presidents  West 
To  Meet  Petrillo 


Hollywood,  May  2. — Presidents 
Barney  Balaban  of  Paramount,  Nich- 
olas M.  Schenck  of  M-G-M  and  N. 
Peter  Rathvon  of  RKO  are  expected 
here  the  middle  of  next  week  to  dis- 
cuss a  new  contract  with  James  Caesar 
Petrillo  and  his  American  Federation 
of  Musicians.  Petrillo  is  scheduled  to 
arrive  a  few  days  earlier  to  make  a 

{Continued  on  page  12) 


'Adventures  of  Mark  Twain 9 

[Warner  Bros.] 

Hollyzvood,  May  2 

\  GREAT  deal  has  been  heard  in  these  parts  about  "The  Adventures 
r\  of  Mark  Twain."  This  is  a  prediction  a  great  deal  will  be  heard 
in  other  parts  of  America  and  elsewhere  now  that  Warners,  with 
care  and  fanfare,  has  taken  this  attraction  out  of  the  vaults  for  the  public 
to  see  and  to  enjoy. 

Here  is  a  big-scale  effort  and  a  big-time  show,  executing  with  fidelity 
and  conviction  of  accuracy  the  homespun  characteristics  of  one  of  the 
most  homespun  of  native  sons — Samuel  B.  Clemens,  or  Mark  Twain,  as 
he  was  better  known  throughout  the  engirdled  globe. 

He  was  born  when  Halley's  Comet  streaked  the  sky  and  he  died  75 
years  later  when  the  comet,  on  celestial  schedule,  reappeared.  Between 
boyhood  days  along  the  Mississippi,  the  then  raw  stretches  of  the  un- 
peopled West  and  Twain's  rise  to  domestic  and  international  fame  was 
a  story  of  drama.  This  meant,  of  course,  that  Mark  Twain  passed 
through  those  variable  experiences  which  make  for  happiness  and  sor- 
row.  With  him,  however,  there  was  the  good  fortune  which  a  sense  of 

{Continued  on  page  .6) 


U.A.  Problems 
Seen  Near 
To  a  Solution 


Raftery,  Sears  Confident 
Of  Operating  Changes 

"United    Artists    will    have  its 
house  in  order  and  will  face  its 
greatest  opportunity  in  years  if  the 
meeting  of  its  stockholders  on  Fri- 
day approves 
the  resolu- 
tions covering 
amendments  to 
the  company's 
bylaws,"  Grad- 
well    L.  Sears, 
vice-  presi- 
dent,  said  yes- 
terday. 

Sears  ex- 
plained that  the 
recent  purchase 
by  the  com- 
pany of  Sir 
A  1  e  x  a  n  d  er 
Korda's  United 
Gradwell  L.  Sears  Artists  stock 
and  the  proposed  changes  in  bylaws 

{Continued  on  page  12) 


Protests  FWC 
War  Building 


Los  Angeles,"  May  2. — Independent 
Theatre  Owners  of  Northern  Califor- 
nia has  protested  to  R.  W.  Longstreth 
of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Requirements, 
and  to  Tom  Clark,  Assistant  U.  S. 
Attorney  General,  over  "reported 
plans"  of  a  major  circuit,  unnamed 
but  believed  to  be  Fox  West  Coast, 
to  erect  eight  new  theatres  in  the  San 
Francisco  Bay  area  under  the  OCR. 
The  independents  charge  "it  appears 

{Continued  on  page  12) 


Next  Decree  Meet 
In  Washington 

Washington,  May  2. — Negotiations 
on  revision  of  the  consent  decree  are 
expected  to  resume  in  Washington 
rather  than  in  New  York  but  no  date 
has  yet  been  set  for  a  meeting  between 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom 
C.  Clark  and  decree  company  officials, 
it  was  learned  today  at  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice. 

Following  a  brief  discussion  of  the 
{Continued  on  page  12) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  3,  1944 


Personal  I  Insider's  Outlook  \  Coast 


Mention 

LOUIS  B.  MAYER',  M-G-M  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  pioduction, 
accompanied  by  Jack  Potter,  studio 
publicist,  is  scheduled  to  leave  for 
the  Coast  on  Monday. 


Earle  W.  Sweigert,  Paramount 
Philadelphia  district  manager,  was 
presented  with  a  citation  of  merit  for 
his  accomplishments  as  chairman  for 
the  recent  Red  Cross  drive. 

• 

Joe  Shea,  William  Cagney  Produc- 
tions Eastern  publicity  representative, 
will  leave  Polyclinic  Hospital  here 
Friday  after  an  eight  weeks'  illness. 
• 

Al  Rendelman,  former  treasurer  of 
Warner's  Earle,  Philadelphia,  has  been 
discharged  from  the  Army  after  being 
wounded  in  the  South  Pacific. 
• 

William  Keegan,  general  manager 
of  William  C.  Bunt  Theatres,  South- 
ern New  Jersey,  is  back  at  his  desk 
after  recovering  from  illness. 

• 

H.  S.  Morris,  Altec  Service  mer- 
chandise manager,  has  left  New  York 
on  a  tour  of  the  Southeast  and  Middle 
West  offices. 

• 

G.  L.  Carrington,  president  of  Al- 
tec Service  Corp.,  has  returned  to 
Hollywood  after  three  weeks  in  New 
York. 

• 

Phil     Fox,     Columbia  Buffalo 
branch  manager,  is  in  Detroit  to  meet 
with  Carl  Shalit,  district  manager. 
• 

Lloyd  Rust,  Republic  Pictures 
Dallas  branch  manager,  is  visiting  in 
Chicago. 

• 

J.  J.  Grady,  20th  Century-Fox  Cin- 
cinnati district  manager,  was  in  Buff- 
alo this  week. 

• 

Edward  K.  (Ted)  O'Shea,  M-G-M 
Eastern  sales  manager,  will  return  to 
New  York  today. 


Eagle  -  Lion  Sales 
Drive  on  in  England 

J.  Arthur  Rank's  Eagle-Lion  Dis- 
tributors, Ltd.,  which  recently  con- 
cluded a  three-day  sales  meeting  in 
London,  will  launch  immediately  a 
sales  drive  in  England  on  Noel  Cow- 
ard's "This  Happy  Breed"  and  the 
Powell-Pressburger  film,  "Canterbury 
Tales,"  the  company  announced  here 
yesterday. 

The  American  branch  of  Eagle-Lion, 
headed  by  Arthur  Kelly,  will  shortly 
release  in  the  U.  S.  "The  Life  and 
Death  of  Colonel  Blimp,"  also  pro- 
duced by  Powell-Pressburger. 


By  RED  KANN 


Dembow  Sales  Meeting 

Hollywood,  May  2. — George  Dem- 
bow, vice  president  in  charge  of  sales 
for  National  Screen  Service,  is  pre- 
siding at  the  Western  sales  meeting 
of  that  company  at  the  Ambassador 
Hotel  here. 


Hollywood,  May  2 

""PHE  nebulous  and  the  indefi- 
*■  nite  are  on  the  loose  again. 
Once  more,  they  leave  marks  of 
injury. 

Comes  to  light  now  an  edi- 
torial published  in  the  San 
Bernardino  (Cal.)  Sun.  Ex- 
cerpts : 

"Hollywood  complains : 

"Highly  indoctrinated  shock 
units  of  the  totalitarian  wrecking 
crew  have  shrewdly  led  the 
people  of  the  United  States  to 
believe  that  Hollywood  is  a  hot- 
bed of  sedition  and  subversion 
and  that  our  industry  is  a  battle- 
ground over  which  Communism 
is  locked  in  death  grips  with 
Fascism.  We  intend  to  correct 
that  erroneous  impression  im- 
mediately. .  .  . 

"So  at  last  Hollywood  has  dis- 
covered that  chickens  come  home 
to  roost. 

"The  only  way  Hollywood  can 
convince  a  large  number  of 
people  is  for  it  to  take  the  propa- 
ganda out  of  motion  pictures  and 
keep  it  out.  Theatregoers  pay 
for  entertainment;  in  too  many 
cases  they  have  been  handed 
propaganda.  We  suspect  that, 
were  not  the  people  of  the  United 
States  too  deeply  occupied  with 
other  matters  of  more  import- 
ance at  the  moment,  Hollywood 
would  be  hearing  a  lot  of  things. 

"Amusement  is  not  politics — 
either  domestic  or  international 
— and  Hollywood  has  manufac- 
tured a  lot  of  other  things  than 
amusement." 

■ 

Questions : 

1.  — Who  in  Hollywood  is  do- 
ing the  complaining  complained 
of?  Who,  when,  where  and 
under  what  circumstances? 

2.  — What  propaganda  and,  in 
the  most  specific  terms,  in  what 
pictures?  If  they  exist,  they 
have  titles.  If  they  have  titles, 
they  have  producers,  writers  and 
actors.  Circuitous  approaches 
and  generalities  are  never  substi- 
tutes for  facts. 

3.  — ".  .  .  Hollywood  would  be 
hearing  a  lot  of  things."  A  lot 
of  things  about  what  and  about 
whom? 

■ 

These  attacks  continue  to  be 
snide  because  their  sponsorship 
dodges  or  consciously  avoids  the 
precisions  of  the  issues  them- 
selves, if  there  are  issues. 

These  attacks  are  damaging, 
dangerous  and  unfair  because, 
in  the  irresponsible  sweep  of 
their  embrace,  they  are  damag- 
ing, dangerous  and  unfair  to  a 
whole  industry. 


If  there  is  something  to  prove, 
let  the  evidence  so  demonstrate. 
Typewriters  sniping  away  in  in- 
conclusive shadows  are  not 
enough. 

■  ■ 

The  M-G-M  boys  have  been 
passing  through  a  hectic  time. 
It  was  on  a  very  recent  day 
when  the  town  fairly  blazed 
with  reports  that  Louis  B.  Mayer 
(1)  had  resigned,  (2)  would 
resign.  Here  are  the  facts,  avail- 
able to  anyone  able  to  pick  up 
a  telephone : 

Mayer  made  his  second  trip 
to  New  York  in  the  short  shrift 
of  about  four  weeks  because  ill- 
ness interrupted  the  first.  He 
returned  here,  then  returned 
there  to  complete  his  business 
with  Nicholas  M.  Schenck.  Chief 
reason  for  the  second  journey 
was  to  review  and  to  ponder  the 
British  situation  involving 
Loew's  half  ownership,  along 
with  20th  Century-Fox,  in  the 
Metropolitan  and  Bradford  Trust 
which,  in  turn,  owns  49  per  cent 
of  Gaumont-British.  Spyros 
Skouras  was  in  London,  repre- 
senting both  partners. 

Chief  fact,  however,  was  this 
one  incontrovertible: 

Mayer  signed  a  new,  four- 
year  deal  with  M-G-M  last  fall. 

■  ■ 

What  happens  now  with  "One 
World"  remains  to  be  seen.  Nat- 
ural queries  went  Fox-ward  the 
day  after  Wisconsin  collided 
with  Wendell  Willkie.  Joe 
Schenck  merely  said,  "It  is  still 
on  our  schedule,"  and  rested. 
Harry  Brand  went  beyond  with : 

"We  don't  kick  people  around 
the  way  they  do  in  Wisconsin." 
■     ■  ■ 

One  of  those  periodic  Repub- 
lic sales  meetings  was  the  on- 
surface  reason  for  Jimmy  Grain- 
ger's second  visit  here  in  three 
weeks.  "The  real  reason  was 
something  else.  It  cannot  be 
told  now  beyond  the  approaches. 
The  approaches,  however,  con- 
cern themselves  with  two,  and 
maybe  three,  big  production  - 
deals  with  extremely  important 
directors. 

These  picture-makers  would 
be  on  their  own.  Herb  Yates 
would  finance.  Republic,  of 
course,  would  release. 

■  ■ 

They  are  remarking  the  UA 
situation  is  so  complex  it  re- 
quired a  Philadelphia  lawyer  to 
■figure  it  out.  Therefore,  Mary 
Pickford  retained  two — George 
Wharton  Pepper  and  his  part- 
ner, Isaac  Pennypacker. 


Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  2 
LJA.ROLD  WILSON,  assistant  to 
B.  G.  De  Sylva,  Paramount  stu- 
dio executive  producer,  has  been  sign- 
ed for  two  more  years. 

• 

John  Joseph,  Universal  director  of  ^ 
advertising  and  publicity,  left  on  the 
Superchief  today  for  home  office  con- 
ferences with  Maurice  A.  Bergman, 
Eastern  advertising  and  publicity 
manager,  with  regard  to  Spring  and 
Summer  releases. 

• 

Jack  Lait,  editor  of  the  New  York 
Daily  Mirror,  is  here  to'  confer  with 
Arthur  Schwartz,  producer  of  War- 
ners' "Mr.  Broadway,"  the  Sime  Sil- 
verman biographical  story,  which  Lait 
is  writing  with  Abel  Green,  editor  of 
Variety. 

George  West,  Monogram  franchise 
holder  for  the  St.  Louis  and  Cincin- 
nati territories,  will  visit  the  studio 
at  the  end  of  this  month. 

• 

RKO  today  signed  Jean  Renoir  to 
direct   "Elizabeth   Kenny."  Dudley 
Nichols  is  producing.  v 
• 

Fred  S.  Meyer,  director  of  indus- 
trial relations  for  20th-Fox  studios, 
has  returned  from  New  York. 
• 

William     Perlberg    will  produce 
"White  Collar  Girl,"  starring  Dorothy 
McGuire,  20th-Fox  announced  today. 
• 

Charles  Skouras,  president  of  Na- 
tional Theatres  Corp.,  is  due  from  the 
East  at  the  weekend. 


Paramount  has  assigned  the  pro- 
duction of  "Our  Hearts  Were  Grow- 
ing Up"  to  Kenneth  MacGowan. 


Circuit  Heads  Meet 
On  Building  Code 

First  general  reactions  of  exhibitors 
to  proposed  revisions  in  the  New 
York  State  building  code  for  theatres 
and  other  places  of  public  assem- 
bly were  discussed  by  representa- 
tives of  New  York  circuits,  yesterday, 
in  the  offices  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  Amer- 
ica. At  the  next  meeting,  scheduled 
for  next  Wednesday  at  the  MPPDA, 
theatre  representatives  will  present  a 
written  analysis  of  the  proposed  new 
code. 

At  yesterday's  meeting  Louis  Lazar 
of  Schine  Theatres  was  elected  chair- 
man of  the  group.  Others  who  at- 
tended were:  Harry  Moskowitz,  F. 
Jung,  Loew's ;  Henry  Anderson, 
Charles  Brouda,  Paramount ;  John  A. 
May,  J.  M.  Sanford,  Schine;  James 
B.  Zabin,  Cinema  Circuit ;  M.  J.  Fes- 
sler,  Warners ;  Martin  J.  Tracey, 
William  H.  Applegate,  Century  Cir- 
cuit ;  D.  P.  Canavan,  E.  Wandelman, 
RKO  Theatres:  Al  Reid,  Fabian 
Theatres  and  Al  Maroff,  Brandt 
Theatres. 


9T  9¥  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chiefi  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.   Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundav 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.   Telephone  Circle  7-3100.   Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York." 
*"fin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,    Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham.  News 
r;  He- 


Martin 
Edito 


matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c 


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HOT  AS  A 
FIRECRACKER! 

The  news  gets  around- 
Sensational  reception  by 
Press  and  public! 
So  the  contracts  pile  in! 
Don't  miss  this  unique  attraction! 
The  real  thing— filmed  under  fire! 
The  whole  pulse-pounding  story! 
Invasion  Fleet  in  action! 
Storming  the  beaches ! 
Fall  of  Casablanca,  Oran,  Hill  609! 
Blasting  the  Mareth  Line! 
The  surprise  move  by  the  Yanks ! 
It's  a  show  they  cheer— a  natural  for 
Ticket-selling  showmanship ! 

ASK  M-G-M  TODAY! 

"Patriots!  Help  Recruit  W ACS!  May  11th  thru  May  nth!" 


The  Governments  of  the  United 
States  and  Great  Britain  present 
"TUNISIAN  VICTORY"  •  The  In- 
vasion and  Liberation  of  North 
Africa  •  An  Official  Record  Pro- 
duced by  British  and  American 
Service  Film  Units  •  Distributed  by 
the  British  Ministry  of  Information 
AMetro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Rel 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  3,  1944 


'Adventures  of  Mark  Twain 9 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

humor  imparts.  Clemens,  or  Twain,  had  it  as  all  and  sundry  are  aware. 
The  filmed  story  of  his  life  has  it  and  audiences  are  about  to  get  it  for 
their  enjoyment  and  vast  satisfaction. 

HP  HIS  biography,  drawn  almost  entirely  from  the  factual,  starts  with 
■*  Clemens'  birth,  carries  him  through  happy  childhood  times  on  and 
along  the  Mississippi,  but  mostly  on.  It  tells  of  the  despair  of  his  mother 
over  his  future,  of  his  ambition  to  become  a  river  pilot,  which  he  achieves ; 
of  how  he  falls  in  love  with  a  miniature  of  Alexis  Smith  whom  he  ulti- 
mately marries.  It  continues  with  his  gold-seeking  adventures  in  new 
country  where  he  had  repaired  to  roughen  his  honest  edges  with  money 
he  felt  necessary  before  seeking  the  girl's  hand  and  of  how  both  of  them 
travel  down  the  pathways  of  renown  to  his  finally  established  position 
in  the  world  of  American  and  world-wide  letters. 

The  picture  is  long — 132  minutes.  Its  earlier  footage  suggests  brevity 
would  have  helped  in  the  direction  of  a  tighter  unfoldment.  But  Jesse 
L.  Lasky,  producer,  and  Irving  Rapper,  director,  had  a  long  and 
crammed-full  life  to  get  across.  They  have  done  this  exceedingly  well, 
and  with  distinction.  They  have  managed  it  always  in  absorbing  manner 
from  those  first  to  the  final  days  when  Mark  Twain,  having  published 
President  Grant's  memoirs  and  having  gone  broke  in  the  doing,  takes 
himself  around  the  world  on  a  lecture  tour  in  order  to  recoup  sufficiently 
to  meet  his  debts.  He  does,  and  at  an  age  when  most  men  would  have 
been  retired  or  dead. 

Fredric  March  is  Twain.  He  bears  a  startling  resemblance  to  popular 
portraits  of  .the  original  and  acts  as  Twain  probably  did.  This  is  one 
of  March's  best  performances  and  one  that  gyrates  nicely  and  without 
effort  into  the  area  of  the  memorable.  Supporting  performances,  all  of 
competence,  include  Miss  Smith,  Donald  Crisp,  C.  Aubrey  Smith,  Alan 
Hale,  John  Carradine,  Bill  Henry,  Robert  Barratt  and  Walter  Hamp- 
den. 

Out  of  a  welter  of  source  material,  Alan  Le  May  and  Harold  M.  Sher- 
man prepared  the  adaptation,  later  whipped  into  screenplay  form  by 
Le  May  acting  in  solo.  Harry  Chandlee  wrote  additional  dialogue. 

Running  time,  132  minutes.   "G."*.   No  release  date. 

Red  Kann 


Many  Absent  from 
SWG  Unity  Meet 

Hollywood,  May  2. — Although  38 
industry  guilds,  unions  and'  other 
groups  had  joined  the  Screen  Writ- 
ers' Guild  in  its  invitation  to  confer 
on  an  industry-wide  program  to  in- 
vestigate aims  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Alliance  for  the  Preservation  of 
American  Ideals  and  to  plan  a  pro- 
gram of  industry-wide  public  relations 
at  the  Hollywood  Roosevelt  Hotel  to- 
night, a  survey  disclosed  that  groups 
claiming  to  represent  some  15,000  in- 
dustry workers  had  not  been  invited 
or  had  refused  to  acknowledge  invita- 
tions and  attend  the  session. 

Representatives  of  all  unions  and 
guilds  which  had  previously  an- 
nounced endorsement  of  MPA's  pro- 
gram of  "preservation  of  American 
ideals  and  the  American  way  of  life" 
said  they  had  not  received  invitations 
to  attend. 

Mary  McCall,  Jr.,  SWG  president, 
presided  at  the  meeting,  held  at  a 
late  hour ;  and  it  is  understood  that 
speakers  included  Robert  Rossen, 
chairman  of  the  Hollywood  Writers' 
Mobilization,  and  others  of  that  group, 
originally  organized  to  provide  writ- 
ers from  Hollywood  in  the  war  effort. 

MPA,  which  met  last  Friday,  point- 
edly referred  to  the  SWG  move  as  a 
"smear  attempt"  on  the  part  of  a 
Communist  clique  in  the  two  writers' 
organizations. 

Judge  Away;  Prefect 
Arguments  Deferred 

Arguments  on  the  motion  for  a  new 
trial  of  the  Prefect  Theatres'  Connec- 
ticut anti-trust  suit  against  eight  dis- 
tributing companies  have  been  post- 
poned temporarily  because  of  the  ab- 
sence from  New  Haven  of  Judge  Car- 
roll Hincks  of  the  U.  S.  District 
Court  there.  It  is  understood  that 
Judge  Hincks  has  gone  to  Arizona, 
where  his  mother  is  ill. 

Distributors'  lawyers  here,  who  do 
not  expect  the  arguments  to  be  heard 
until  next  week,  said  yesterday  that 
the  new  trial  motion  holds  that  the 
judge  "usurped  the  function  of  the 
jury  and  committed  an  error"  in  di- 
recting a  verdict  for  fhe  defendants 
in  the  $5,452,575  suit  for  triple  dam- 
ages over  the  alleged  conspiracy  to 
withhold  product  from  the  Pickwick 
Theatre,  Greenwich. 

'Twain*  Has  Benefit 
Premiere  Here 

Warners'  "The  Adventures  of  Mark- 
Twain"  had  a  benefit  and  press  pre- 
view-premiere under  the  auspices  of 
the  Madison  Square  Boys  Club  at  the 
Hollywood  Theatre  here  last  night, 
climaxing  an  extensive  advance  promo- 
tion including  airtime  worth  an  esti- 
mated $250,000.  The  campaign  was 
under  the  direction  of  Charles  Einfeld 
and  Mort  Blumenstock. 

The  picture  will  run  indefinitely  at 
the  Hollywood  and  also  will  open  this 
week  in  200  other  situations,  for  one- 
week,  advanced  price  engagements,  re- 
turning later  in  the  season  for  regular 
national  release. 


$29,000  for  'Arms* 

Chicago,  May  2. — An  all-time  rec- 
ord of  $29,000  for  the  Woods  Thea- 
tre was  reported  today  as  the  gross  of 
the  first  week  of  the  Midwest  premiere 
of  Goldwyn-RKO's  "Up  In  Arms." 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Drop  Charge  Against 
Butane  Gas  Buyers 

Los  Angeles,  May  2. — Deputy  U.  S. 
Attorney  James  Harrington  today  said, 
"purchasers  of  butane  gas-tank  equip- 
ment for  private  cars,  as  named  by 
Walter  Zonker  in  his  confession  that 
he  sold  such  equipment,  will  not  be 
prosecuted  because  the  U.  S.  War 
Frauds  division  here  does,  not  believe 
it  has  evidence  which  would  prove 
they  did  so  with  full  knowledge  of 
the  War  Production  Board  regulation 
pertaining  to  such  equipment." 

A  number  of  industry  personalities 
had  been  named  by  Zonker,  who  plead- 
ed guilty,  but  Federal  Judge  Pierson 
Hall  had  refused  to  sentence  him  de- 
manding prosecution  of  the  individual 
purchasers.  • 

Will  Report  on  UJA 
Campaign  on  May  11 

The  film  executive's  committee  as- 
signed to  study  plans  for  participation 
of  the  industry  in  the  United  Jewish 
Appeal's  1944  fund-raising  campaign 
will  report  to  the  full  amusement  in- 
dustry committee  at  a  luncheon  at  the 
Hotel  Astor  here  on  Thursday, 
May  11. 

The  special  committee  met  yester- 
day at  the  Hotel  Astor  after  similar 
meetings  last  Sunday  and  a  week  ago 
Thursday.  Present  at  yesterday's 
meeting  were  David  Bernstein,  George 
T.  Schaefer,  Nate  Spingold,  Joseph  H. 
Seidelman,  Herman  Robbins,  Leopold 
Friedman,  Louis  Nizer,  Arthur  Israel 
Jr.  and  Sam  Rinzler. 


Grainger  BudgetTalk 
Ends  Sales  Meeting 

Chicago,  May  2. — A  discussion  by 
president  J.  R.  Grainger  of  Republic's 
1944-45  record  $17,750,000  production 
budget,  plus  consideration  of  forth- 
coming pictures,  wound  up  the  com- 
pany's two-day  Midwestern  sales 
meeting  at  the  Drake  Hotel  here  to- 
day. 

Among  those  present  were  H.  J. 
Yates,  Sr.,  chairman  of  the  board ; 
Edward  Walton,  Midwestern  sales 
manager ;  Merritt  Davis,  Southern 
sales  manager ;  John  LeRoy  Johnston, 
public  relations  director ;  Walter  L. 
Titus,  Jr.,  secretary,  and  several 
branch  managers. 

Yates  and  Grainger  left  for  New 
York  earl}'  this  afternoon.  Johnston 
will  leave  on  Thursday  for  Holly- 
wood. 

The  final  sales  meeting  in  the  series 
is  scheduled  for  New  York  May  10 
and  11,  when  Yates  and  Grainger  will 
meet  with  Central  district  sales  mana- 
ger Sam  Seplowin  and  Eastern  district 
sales  manager  Maxwell  Gillis,  heading 
a  group  of  men  from  these  areas. 


Goldberg's  Father  Dies 

Herman  Goldberg,  Warner  sales 
representative  here,  left  yesterday  for 
Chicago  to  attend  the  funeral  of  his 
father,  Max  Goldberg,  who  died  there 
this  week. 


Halaby  Killed  in  Action 

Lt.  George  Halaby.  Jr.,  former  chief 
of  staff  at  Warner's  New  York 
Strand,  was  killed  in  action  in  New 
Guinea  April  16,  according  to  word 
received  here. 


'Hargrove'Nets 
Big  $34,000 
In  Philadelphia 


Philadelphia,  May  2. — "See  Here, 
Private  Hargrove"  is  expected  to 
bring  the  Stanley  S34.200  in  addition 
to  the  $4,500  already  in  for  the  dual 
showing  at  the  Earle. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  3-5 : 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

ALDLN B —  ( 900)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days, '3rd  week.  Gross:  $15,400.  (Average: 
S14.600). 

"The  Purple  Heart"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,750.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

BOYD — (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
davs,  4th  week.  Gross:  $15,900.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"Her    Primitive    Man"    (Univ.)    (6  days) 
$29,800 

"See   Here,   Private   Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
(1  day)  $4,500 

EARLE — (3,000)  (50c-65c-85-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including.  Lionel  Hampton's 
orchestra,  The  Two  Zephyrs  and  Billy  & 
Evelyn  Nightingale.  Gross:  $29,800.  (Av- 
erage: $27,800). 
"The  Sullivans"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FOX— (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average: 
$20,500). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON  —  (1,000)    (75c-$1.10)    7  days, 
2nd  week,  2nd  run.    Gross:  $8,500.  (Aver- 
age: $6,600). 
"Rationing"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S  —   (2,200)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  run.    Gross:  $5,000.  (Av- 
erage: $5,800). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

JiASTBAUM  —  (4,700).  (40c-45c-50c-65c- 
75c-85c)  7  davs,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $18,900. 
(Average:  $22,500). 

"See   Here,   Private   Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY— (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $34,200.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"Frisco  Kid"  (WB) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  reissue.  Gross:  $15,700.  (Av- 
erage: $9,400). 


Jennifer  Jones  May 
Face  Contract  Suit 

Hollywood,  May  2. — Officials  of 
20th  Century-Fox  today  confirmed  re- 
ports that  they  "may  take  legal  action" 
against  Jennifer  Jones,  Academy  act- 
ing award  winner,  charging  her  with 
failure  to  report  for  work  on  April 
24  under  a  loanout  agreement  with 
Vanguard. 

At  the  same  time,  Vanguard  issued 
a  statement  to  the  effect  that,  under 
the  agreement  with  20th-Fox,  they 
were  to  have  approval  of  the  roles 
offered  the  star.  Neither  Miss  Jones, 
David  O.  Selznick,  Vanguard  presi- 
dent, nor  Daniel  T.  O'Shea,  executive 
director  of  the  studio,  were  given  a 
chance  to  read  the  script  of  "Laura," 
it  was  charged.  O'Shea  said,  "20th- 
Fox  has  lost  one  picture  with  Jenni- 
fer Jones,  and  we  cannot  be  certain 
whether  it  has  lost  the  remaining  pic- 
tures on  the  schedule  until  we  exam- 
ine our  legal  position." 


Solomon  Marks  Dies 

Solomon  B.  Marks,  68,  once  associ- 
ated with  his  brother,  Edward  B. 
Marks,  in  the  music  publishing  busi- 
ness and  father-in-law  of  Bosley  Crow- 
the,  New  York  Times'  film  critic,  died 
here  recently  after  a  long  illness.  Ser- 
vices will  be  held  this  morning  in  the 
Universal  Chapel,  Lexington  Ave.  and 
52nd  St.  Besides  Mrs.  Crowther, 
Marks'  survivors  include  a  son  and 
three  brothers. 


you'll 
learn 
about 

SHOW 

BUSINESS 

from 

RKO  RADIO 


******  *** 

THE  MUSICAL-  SHOW  OF  3 


IOWS  AND  SHOW  FOLK! 


Directed  by 

WIN  L.  MARIS 

Produced  by 

EDDIE  GAMTOR 


EDDIE 

GEORGE  MURPHY 
'    JOAN  DAV/S 
NANCY  KELLY 
CONSTANCE  MOORF 

mi  DON  DOUGLAS 


sobm  May  *v 


r  r 


The  stardusted  story  of 
American  entertainment., 
told  through  the  laughs, 
loves  and  adventures 
of  the  famous  people 
in  the  world's  maddest, 
funniest  profession 

m 


8  K  O 
RADIO 


And  the  One  Appropriate  Spot  in  all 
the  EWorld  for  the  Gala  Opening 

THE  PALACE  ^ 


WORLD  PREMIERE  ENGAGEMENT  BEGINS 

WEDNESDAY,  MAY  10. 
TliynCPAYj  MAY  11,  at  New  York's  most 

famous  theatre... storied  mecca  of  show  folk  for 

generations ...  where  an  appearance  was  the 

zenith  of  success  for  more  headline  stars 

than  any  one  person  can  remember! 


Wednesday,  May  3,  1944 


Motion  picture  daily 


11 


RCA  Three  Months 
Net  Is  $2,401,000 


Review 


RCA's  net  profit  for  the  first  three 
months  of  1944,  after  taxes,  was 
$2,401,000,  a  decrease  of  $194,000  from 
the  same  period  last  year  despite  a 
large  gain  in  production  volume,  Lt. 
General  J.  G.  Harbord,  chairman  of 
the  board  told  the  company's  stock- 
holders at  their  25th  annual  meeting 

|  here  yesterday. 

RCA  has  developed  for  the  armed 
forces  more  than   ISO  new  electron 

s  tubes  and  approximately  300  types  of 
apparatus  not  manufactured  before  the 
war,  Harbord  disclosed. 

Gain  on  Sale  of  Blue 

Responding  to  questions  of  stock- 
holders, Niles  Trammell,  president  of 
NBC,  an  RCA  subsidiary,  revealed 
the  substantial  gain  made  by  RCA  in 
selling  the  NBC  Blue  Network  to 
Edward  J.  Noble  for  $8,000,000  last 
year  when  the  Blue  properties  had  an 
original  book  value  of  $1,980,000. 
RCA's  payments  through  NBC  to 
Broadcast  Music  Inc.  and  the  com- 
pany's contemplated  pension  plan  for 
executives  and  others  were  also  ques- 
tioned by  individual  stockholders. 
Suggestions  were  also  advanced  for 
retiring  some  of  the  outstanding  com- 
mon stock  of  RCA. 

Earnings  per  share  of  common  stock 
before  estimated  Federal  taxes  for 
the  first  quarter  of  1944  were  69.3 
cents  while  earnings  after  tax  deduc- 
tions were  11.6  cents  a  share  as  com- 
pared to  58.6  cents  per  share  before 
taxes  and  12.9  per  share  after  taxes  for 
the  same  period  in  1943.  RCA's  gross 
income  for  the  first  three  months  of 
1944  was  $78,809,000,  compared  with 
$67,284,000  for  a  similar  period  last 
vear.  Net  profit  before  taxes  amounted 
to  $10,413,000  or  16.5  per  cent  above 
the  same  period  in  1943. 


Monogram  Will  Not 
Cash-in  Now:  Carr 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

ing  "a  great  deal  more  than  ever  be 
fore,"  without  any  set  budget  for  next 
year,  it  will  explore  the  market  to  de- 
termine how  far  the  company  can  go 
"And  we  will  go  that  distance,"  he 
added. 

Carr  was  introduced  by  Steve 
Broidy,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
Monogram  distribution,  who,  pointing 
to  product  quality  gains,  revealed  that 
"any  number  of  persons  would  like  to 
buy  the  company,  including  some  ex- 
hibitors." In  this  connection  Carr  said 
that  Monogram's  improvement  sent  the 
company's  ledger  "into  the  black"  even 
before  "war  prosperity"  had  set  in  at 
boxoffices. 

Monogram's  plans  for  advancing  its 
position  include  the  greater  use  of  "new 
blood"  in  production  and  the  grooming 
of  younger  personnel  throughout  other 
branches  of  the  company,  principally  in 
sales. 

Carr  said  that  the  company  is  adher- 
ing to  a  policy  of  obtaining  the  ap- 
proval of  its  sales  heads  before  under- 
taking the  production  of  any  story,  and 
that  the  studio  likewise  first  consults 
with  the  distribution  branch  on  kev  tal- 
ent for  pictures  contemplated.  "Too 
many  producers  in  Hollywood  are 
prone  to  give  their  salesmen  heavy  un- 
derwear to  sell  in  August,"  observed 
Carr. 


"Allergic  to  Love 

(Universal) 

HP  HE  exaggerated  effect  which  a  romance  between  Noah  Beery,  Jr., 
*■  and  Martha  O'Driscoll  has  upon  the  stock  market  fluctuations  of 
the  securities  of  the  companies  controlled  by  their  respective  parents,  as 
well  as  Miss  O'Driscoll's  complicated  allergy  to  Beery's  shaving  cream, 
is  the  basis  for  the  action  of  "Allergic  to  Love,"  a  mildly  amusing  ef- 
fort. Associate-producer  Warren  Wilson  and  director  Edward  Lilley 
set  the  light  entertainment  in  attractive  settings,  with  a  capable  support- 
ing cast  including  Franklin  Pangborn,  David  Bruce,  Fuzzy  Knight  and 
"Slapsie  Maxie"  Rosenbloom. 

The  screenplay,  credited  to  Wilson  from  an  original  story  upon  which 
he  collaborated  with  Jack  Townley  and  John  Larkin,  has  Beery  and 
Miss  O'Driscoll  elope  on  the.  day  before  their  scheduled  wedding.  Shav- 
ing cream  supplied  by  Bruce,  Beery's  fraternity  brother,  during  a  honey- 
moon cruise  to  South  America,  hands  the  young  couple  a  matrimonial 
headache,  with  Miss  O'Driscoll  plagued  with  hay  fever  symptoms  until 
the  cause  of  the  allergy  is  finally  isolated.  Complications  are  caused  by 
Bruce's  innocent  friendship  with  the  bride  as  her  physician  and  Pang- 
born's  hectic  attempts  to  stabilize  the  erratic  movements  of  the  securities 
by  preventing  an  estrangement  between  the  young  couple. 

Performances  by  the  principals  under  Lilley's  direction  are  appealing,, 
providing  the  customers  with  an  hour's  satisfactory  entertainment. 

Running  time,  66  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

Milton  Livingston 

*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Managers,  Salesmen 
Seek  Unionization 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

here  from  New  York  and  have  also 
contacted  theatre  managers  with  a 
view  to  arranging  for  CIO  unioniza- 
tion, but  it  appears  that  the  managers 
lean  toward  an  AFL  affiliation. 

Also  under  way  is  a  Midwest 
movement  for  a  national  union  of  film 
salesmen,  started  recently  in  Milwau- 
kee, as  previously  reported.  Oscar 
E.  Olson,  business  manager  of  pro- 
jectionists' Local  No.  164,  Milwaukee, 
who  is  understood  to  have  been  ap- 
proached by  film  salesmen  requesting 
unionization,  has  disclosed  that  sales- 
men from  other  cities  in  the  Midwest 
have  since  evidenced  interest,  and  the 
IATSE  St.  Louis  convention  will  also 
be  petitioned  to  issue  a  charter  in  be- 
half of  salesmen. 

Olson  said  there  is  "every  possibil- 
ity" that  the  film  salesmen's  labor 
movement  will  likewise  become  na- 
tional in  scope. 


1,000  Expected  at 
IATSE  Convention 

St.  Louis,  May  2. — Approximately 
1,000  delegates  are  expected  to  attend 
the  national  IATSE  convention  which 
will  open  on  May  29  at  the  Hotel  Jef- 
ferson here.  Two  local  committees, 
one  from  projectionists'  Local  No.  143, 
headed  by  William  Lee,  Jr.,  and  the 
other  from  stagehands'  Local  No.  6, 
headed  by  Elmer  Moran,  are  now  plan- 
ning a  program.  Richard  F.  Walsh, 
IATSE  president,  will  arrive  here  Fri- 
day to  confer  on  arrangements. 


Todd  Incorporates 

Michael  Todd,  theatrical  producer, 
has  filed  a  certificate  of  incorporation 
at  Albany  for  a  new  company  whose 
purpose  is  listed  as  producing  feature 
pictures.  The  new  company  will  be 
known  as  Michael  Todd  Film  Pro- 
ductions, with  offices  located  at  250 
West  52nd  St.,  New  York. 


'Seven  Days',  Show, 
$29,000  in  'Frisco 


San  Francisco,  May  2. — "Seven 
Days  Ashore,"  with  Willie  Howard 
•and  the  King  Sisters  on  the  stage, 
led  the  way  here  with  $29,500  at  the 
Golden  Gate.  Also  big  was  "Buffalo 
Bill"  at  the  Fox,  with  a  gross  of 
$26,500  for  its  opening  week.  Weath- 
er was  excellent. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  1-4: 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (45c-65c-85c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average:  $11,000). 
"Devil  and  Miss  Jones"  (RKO) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)        (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.     Stage:    vaudeville.     Gross:  $22,500. 
(Average:  $21,800). 
"Seven   Days   Ashore"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN   GATE— (2,850)    (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.     Stage:    vaudeville.     Gross:  $29,500. 
(Average:  $25,000). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX — (5,000)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$26,500.     (Average:  $24,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

STATE— (2,306)   (45c-65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd 
week,   moveover   from    Fox.     Gross:  $13,- 
900.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 
"Tunisian:  Victory"  (M-G-M-BMI) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)  (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $17,800.  (Average: 
$19,600). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

ST.  FRANCIS— (1,400)  (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average: 
$11,600). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average:  $14,- 
800). 


House  Action 
Today  on 
Films  Abroad 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

emphasis  was  laid  on  the  importance 
of  motion  pictures  in  developing  close- 
ly-knit relations  between  countries.  It 
was  disclosed  that  films  were  sent  to 
China  last  year  under  a  program 
financed  by  a  grant  from  the  Presi- 
dent's emergency  fund  to  provide  edu- 
cational leaders  and  material. 

"Motion  pictures  are  the  world  lan- 
guage of  today  and  serve  to  reach  all 
classes  of,  people  in  foreign  countries 
with  the  story  of  the  U.  S.",  Stettinius 
said.  "During  recent  months  docu- 
mentary films  procured  in  coopera-  • 
tion  with  the  Office  of  the  Coordina- 
tor of  Inter-American  Affairs  have 
reached  audiences  totaling  more  than 
2,000,000  persons  monthly.  Showings 
have  been  made  through  schools,  uni- 
versities, hospitals,  Army  and  Navy 
officials,  labor  groups,  Government  of- 
ficials, political  clubs,  professional 
men  and  other  groups  of  adults  and 
children." 

Radio  also  is  "an  indispensable  in- 
strument for  creating  an  understanding 
of  the  U.  S.,"  he  said. 

While  great  stress  was  laid  upon 
the  value  of  films,  there  is  nothing  in 
the  bill  or  Stettinius'  explanation  to 
indicate  that  Department  officials  have 
any  plans  for  Governmental  produc- 
tion of  films. 

The  committee,  which  today  began 
hearings  on  Several  State  Department 
measures,  is  expected  to  reach  the  bill 
tomorrow,  and  will  receive  the  De- 
partment's explanation  of  its  plans 
from  Assistant  Secretary  G.  Howland 
Shaw. 


McManus  Heads  Guild 

Boston,  May  2. — Francis  W.  Mc- 
Manus, M.  &  P.  Theatres  district 
manager,  has  been  named  president 
of  the  Catholic  Motion  Picture  Guild 
here,  succeeding  William  J.  Doyle. 


Riskin  Seeks  Talent 

Robert  Riskin,  head  of  the  overseas 
film  division  of  the  OWI,  .will  leave 
for  the  Coast  Friday  to  line  up  talent 
and  technical  aides  for  his  production 
organization  here  and  in  London. 


'Song  of  Bernadette' 
Grosses  Big  $25,000 

Cleveland,  May  2. — Box  offices 
fell  victim  to  the  first  real  sunshine. 
However,  "Bernadette"  at  road  show 
prices  hit  $25,000  at  the  Hippodrome, 
and  "Cover  Girl"  in  its  second  week 
got  $10,500  at  the  Allen. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ended  May  3 : 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $10,500.     (Average:  $8,500). 
"The  Song-  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'    HIPPODROME.   -  (3,500) 
(75c-$1.10)    7  days.    Gross:   $25,000.  (Aver- 
age, $22,100  at  regular  scale). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,200.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

LOEWS  OHIO — (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average:  $5,- 
C0O). 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c) 
7  days.    Stage:  Tommy  Tucker  band  with 
Mitzi  Green  and  Hal  Le  Roy.    Gross:  $20,- 
000.     (Average:  $25,400). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

LOEWS     STATE— (3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $19,000) 
"Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STTLLMAN— (1,900)  (43c-65c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Aver- 
age: $10,000). 


Connors  to  Resume  Tour 

Tom  Connors,  20th  Century-Fox 
vice-president  in  charge  of  distribu- 
tion, will  meet  the  trade  press  at 
luncheon  today  at  the  Hotel  Astor 
prior  to  resuming  his  tour  of  company 
offices. 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  3,  1944 


WPB  Releases 
675  New 
Projectors 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

necessitate  the  employment  of  addi- 
tional labor  or  delay  or  hold  up  their 
military  projector  orders. 

Under  the  program,  developed  and 
pushed  through  the  WPB  by  Allen  G. 
Smith,  chief  of  the  theatre  equipment 
section,  manufacturers  will  be  able  to 
produce  the  machines  as  they  pick  up 
ball  bearings,  fractional  horse-power 
motors  and  electronic  '  components 
available  after  military  requirements 
have  been  met.  These  items  are  ex- 
tremely short,  and  projectors  author- 
ized five  and  six  months  ago  have 
been  held  up  in  production  because 
of  that  situation. 

It  was  explained,  however,  that  the 
problem  could  best  be  met  by  secur- 
ing authorization  for  production  now, 
with  manufacturers  picking  up  the 
necessary  components  as  they  became 
available,  rather  than  to  wait  until 
bearings,  motors,  etc.,  were  in  good 
supply  and  then  starting  a  program 
through  WPB,  from  scratch,  with  its 
attendant  delays. 

Production  May  Shift 

While  manufacturers  have  been  ad- 
vised regarding  their  part  in  the  pro- 
gram they  have  been  notified  that  the 
specific  allocations  of  machines  to 
be  produced  may  be  modified  in  the 
future  if  labor  conditions  change. 
Thus,  if  a  now-easy  area  runs  into  a 
labor  shortage,  production  may  be 
shifted  to  some  other  area,  and  if  a 
No.  1  area  improves  and  is  re-classi- 
fied manufacturers  in  that  section  may 
be  given  an  allocation,  all  in  conform- 
ity with  Smith's  established  policy  of 
atempting  to  maintain  normal  competi- 
tive industrial  relationship. 

Because  of  the  uncertainty  regard- 
ing the  procurement  of  component 
parts,  no  effort  has  been  made  to  esti- 
mate when  the  expanded  projector 
supply  will  reach  the  market,  but  it 
is  not  expected  that  the  first  of  the 
machines  will  be  available,  under  any 
circumstances,  before  close  to  the  end 
of  this  year. 


United  Artists'  Problems 
Seen  Near  to  Solution 


Industry  Meeting  on 
Theatre  Television 

Film  company  television  representa- 
tives met  in  the  office  of  Ralph  B. 
Austrian,  RKO  television  consultant, 
yesterday  to  discuss  film  industry  pol- 
icy on  seeking  frequency  allocations 
through  the  Radio  Technical  Planning 
Board  for  theatre  telecasting. 

The  meeting  marked  the  first  formal 
get-together  of  representatives  of  the 
film  companies  to  discuss  the  possible 
application  of  post-war  television  de- 
velopments to  theatres. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

which,  among  other  things,  will  dis- 
pense with  the  need  for  unanimous 
consent  on  all  matters  except  the  sale 
of  company  stock,  are  part  of  the 
design  for  bringing  into  being  more 
efficient  management  and  operating 
procedure. 

For  the  past  two  months,  Sears 
said,  the  company  has  held  in  abey- 
ance action  on  all  matters  which  re- 
quire unanimous  consent.  Among 
such  matters,  he  said,  are  the  appoint- 
ment of  a  new  advertising-publicity 
director,  a  foreign  manager,  a  man- 
aging director  for  Great  Britain  and 
action  on  certain  deals  with  produc- 
ers. 

Mary  Pickford  has  been  advised  by 
Isaac  Pennypacker  of  Philadelphia, 
her  attorney,  that  the  six  resolutions 
for  amendment  of  the  company's  by- 
laws which  will  be  acted  upon  at  the 
meeting  of  United  Artists  stockhold- 
ers in  Wilmington  on  Friday  can, 
under  Delaware  law,  be  adopted  by  a 
majority  rather  than  a  unanimous 
vote.  It  is  generally  assumed  that 
Miss  Pickford's  and  David  O.  Selz- 
nick's  stock  will  be  voted  for  the 
amendments,  thereby  providing  a  two- 
thirds  majority  which  insures  their 
adoption. 

Action  May  Be  Challenged 

The  possibility  that  the  action  will 
be  challenged,  or  that  some  other  le- 
gal maneuver  may  be  undertaken  By 
Charles  Chaplin  is  admitted  by  Unit- 
ed Artists  officials.  On  the  basis  of 
legal  advice  in  their  possession,  how- 
ever, they  appear  confident  that 
amendment  of  the  bylaws  of  a  major- 
ity will'  be  sustained  in  court. 

With  the  bylaws  amended,  a  meet- 
ing of  stockholders  can  be  called  on 
three  days  notice  to  elect  the  proposed 
nine  directors  of  United  Artists.  The 
new  directors  then  can  proceed,  by 
majority  vote,  to  fill  the  several  va- 
cancies now  existing  in  the  company. 
The  post  of  advertising-publicity  di- 
rector was  left  vacant  when  Paul 
Lazarus,  Jr.,  entered  the  Army  re- 
cently. That  of  head  of  foreign  opera- 
tions    and    managing    director  in 


Britain,  by  the  resignations  of  Arthur 
W.  Kelly  and  Teddy  Carr,  respec- 
tively. 

Questioned  concerning  published  re- 
ports of  successors  in  these  posts, 
Sears  said:  'We  have  considered  a 
number  of  people  but  have  approached 
no  one  yet." 

Edward  C.  Raftery,  United  Artists 
president,  said  that  the  current  activi- 
ties "look  to  unity,  not  disunity,  with- 
in the  company.  If  the  unanimous 
rule  is  maintained,  we  might  go  40 
years  without  an  advertising-publicity 
head." 

Raftery  emphasized  that  there  "are 
no  differences"  between  Selznick  and 
the  company. 

Quells  Rumors  on  Selznick 

Endeavoring  to  set  at  rest  reports 
that  Selznick,  through  Neil  Agnew, 
Hugh  Owen  and  possibly  others  to  be 
added'  to  the  Vanguard  Films'  sales 
cabinet,  is  setting  up  a  "sales  organi- 
zation within  a  sales  organization," 
Sears  said  that  Selznick's  distribu- 
tion contract  with  United  Artists  is 
the  same  as  any  other  producer's,  that 
his  sales  representative  can  approve 
or  reject  contracts  but  "cannot  initi- 
ate sales"  in  the  United  States  and 
Canada,  Great  Britain  and  Austral- 
asia. In  reply  to  a  question,  Sears 
said  that  there  can  be  no  collabora- 
tion between  the  producer  represen- 
tatives and  the  United  Artists  sales 
organization. 

Sears  referre'd  to  Selznick's  "Since 
You  Went  Away"  as  "the  biggest 
picture  of  the  year."  Its  final  length 
will  be  determined  by  public  reaction, 
he  said,  predicting  that  it  probably 
will  run  between  two  and  one-half 
and  two  and  three-quarter  hours 
when  released. 

Describing  other  forthcoming  prod- 
uct of  note  on  the  company's  sched- 
ule, Sears  mentioned  Jules  Levey's 
"The  Hairy  Ape,"  Andrew  Stone's 
"Sensations  of  1945,"  Charles  R. 
Roger's  "Song  of  the  Open  Road" 
and  Seymour  Nebenzahl's  "Summer 
Storm."  Of  the  latter,  he  said  the 
direction  by  Douglas  Sirk  was  the 
"best  in  years"  from  Hollywood. 


15  Regional 
Bond  Rallies 


3  Presidents  West 
To  Meet  Petrillo 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

study  of  the  studios  and  their  operat- 
ing methods. 

The  inability  of  the  film  companies 
to  close  a  deal  with  the  musicians  up 
to  now  is  believed  to  stem  from  Pe- 
trillo's  unfamiliarity  with  studio  op- 
erations. As  a  result  of  his  visit, 
negotiations  are  expected  to  proceed 
toward  a  new  agreement. 


Next  Decree  Meet 
In  Washington 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

decree  situation  with  company  counsel 
in  New  York  on  April  27,  Clark  in- 
dicated that  conferences  with  com- 
pany officials  might  be  held  in  New 
York  this  week.  At  his  office  today, 
however,  it  was  said  that  Clark  was 
awaiting  advice  from  the  companies 
as  to  when  they  would  be  ready  for 
a  meeting,  and  at  this  time  explained 
that  he  has  no  immediate  plans  to  re- 
turn to  New  York.  No  indication  has 
been  given  as  to  when  the  company 
representatives  might  come  to  Wash- 
ington, but  it  is  possible  that  they 
might  "drop  in"  on  the  Department 
any  time  with  only  a  few  hours  ad- 
vance notice. 


MP  A  Will  Meet  Friday 

New  York  Motion  Picture  Asso- 
ciates will  hold  a  luncheon-meeting 
Friday   at   the   Hotel  Astor. 


Independents  Protest 
FWC  War  Building 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

obvious  it  (the  major  circuit)  hopes 
through  the  OCR  to  be  able  to  circum- 
vent the  anti-expansion  policy  of  the 
Department  of  Justice,  as  expressed  in 
the  Consent  Decree." 

ITO  further  stated  that,  "while  we 
do  not  believe  eight  new  theatres  are 
needed  here,  if  in  the  opinion  of  the 
OCR,  any  new  theatres  are  necessary 
in  this  area,  independent  theatre 
owners  already  operating  in  this  lo- 
cality and  not  in  violation  of  the  anti- 
trust laws,  are  themselves  ready,  will- 
ing and  financially  able  to  provide  ad- 
ditional facilities  at  any  point  or  points 
requiring  them." 

The  letter,  signed  by  H.  V.  Harvey, 
president  of  ITO  of  Northern  Cali- 
fornia, further  asked  cooperation  of 
the  OCR  in  making  it  possible  for 
ITO  members  to  file  for  any  such 
new  theatre  construction  permits. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Cleveland,  May  16;  Indianapolis, 
May  17;  St.  Louis,  May  18;  Chicago, 
May  19 ;  Minneapolis,  May  20 ;  Des 
Moines,  May  22  (morning)  ;  Omaha, 
May  23  (afternoon)  ;  Denver,  May 
23 ;  San  Francisco,  May  25  ;  Los  An- > 
geles,  May  26;  Dallas,  May  29,  and| 
Atlanta,  May  31. 

O'Donriell  disclosed  at  the  same 
time  that  Sam  Pinanski,  Boston  cir- 
cuit head,  has  accepted  the  chairman- 
ship of  the  drive  for  New  England 
and  will  preside  at  the  Boston  meet- 
ing in  the  Statler  Hotel,  assisted  by 
A.  M.  Kane,  New  England  distributor 
chairman. 

The  session  in  Washington  will  be 
presided  over  by  Sidney  Lust,  District 
of  Columbia  chairman,  and  J.  B. 
Brecheen,  local  area  distributor  chair- 
man. Leading  delegations  to  the 
capital  from  other  areas  will  be  chair- 
men Louis  Rome,  Baltimore ;  W.  F. 
Crockett  and  Morton  G.  Thalmeier, 
Virginia;  Lewis  S.  Black,  Delaware; 
Milton  Levine,  West  Virginia;  Louis 
Finske,  Philadelphia,  and  Ben  Amster- 
dam, New  Jersey. 

Depinet  Will  Speak 

Addresses  at  the  opening  rally  will 
be  delivered  by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  na- 
tional chairman  of  the  WAC  distribu- 
tors' division  and  also  national  dis- 
tributor leader  for  the  drive;  Richard 
M.  Kennedy,  campaign  vice-chairman; 
John  J.  Friedl,  campaign  director,  and 
Ray  Beall,  publicity  director.  Na- 
tional chairman  O'Donnell  will  dis- 
close the  pattern  of  the  nationwide 
effort  at  the  Washington  gathering. 

Others  scheduled  to  participate  in 
the  Washington  session  are  Leon  J. 
Bamberger,  assistant  distribution 
chairrhan;  Si  Fabian,  WAC  theatres 
division  chairman ;  Joseph  Kinsky, 
campaign  coordinator ;  Francis  Har- 
mon, WAC  executive  vice-chairman ; 
Walter  Brown,  -his  associate,  and 
Claude  F.  Lee,  industry  consultant  to 
the  U.  S.  Treasury  Department. 

O'Donnell  Relies  Upon 
Veteran  Organization 

Hollywood,  May  2. — Conferring 
with  the  industry's  Public  Information 
Committee  here  today,  Robert  J. 
O'Donnell,  chairman  of  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  committee,  voiced  confi- 
dence that  the  "veteran  organization" 
set  up  in  previous  campaigns  will 
meet  its  larger  obligation  successfully 
this  time.  He  said  the  coming  cam- 
paign will  largely  dispense  with  the 
report  forms  that  have  previously 
proven  irksome  to  exhibitors. 

Claude  F.  Lee,  industry  consultant 
to  the  U.  S.  Treasury  Department, 
suggested  that  studio  publicity  heads 
link  bond  sales  message  with  star 
publicity. 

C.  C.  Moskowitz  to 
Head  N.  Y.  Drive 

C.  C.  Moskowitz,  vice-president  of 
Loew's  in  charge  of  the  New  York 
circuit,  yesterday  accepted  the  indus- 
try general  chairmanship  of  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  for  the  New  York  area. 
Moskowitz  will  announce  his  aides 
and  set  up  campaign  offices  at  War 
Activities  Committee  headquarters 
next  week. 


VOL.  55.  NO.  88 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

NEW  YORK,  U.  S.  A..  THURSDAY.  MAY  4,  1944 


TEN  CENTS- 


Set  Procedure 
For  Building 
New  Theatres 


Justice  Dept.  to  Pass 
On  OCR  Applications 

Washington,  May  3. — The  De- 
partment of  Justice  and  the  Office 
of  Civilian  Requirements  have 
reached  a  working  agreement  on 
the  passing  by  the  former  of  appli- 
cations for  new  theatre  construc- 
tion in  war  centers,  it  was  learned 
today. 

The  pattern  for  the  Depart- 
ment's procedure  was  set  per- 
sonally by  U.  S.  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Francis  Biddle,  who  re- 
quested Assistant  Attorney 
General  Tom  C.  Clark  to  pass 
on  the  applications  submitted 
by  the  OCR,  consulting  with 
and  securing  the  concurrence  of 
Assistant  Attorney  General 
Wendell  Berge,  head  of  the 
anti-trust  division. 
It  was  disclosed  at  the  Department 
th#  several  conversations  have  taken 

(.Continued  on  page  12) 

Form  Unit  to  Meet 
Radicalism  Charge 

Hollywood,  May  3.  —  The  meet- 
ing called  by  the  Screen  Writers' 
Guild  last  night  to  set  up  an  "in- 
dustry -  wide"  public  relations  pro- 
gram to  counter  "unwarranted  attacks 
upon  the  industry"  resulted  in  the  ap- 
pointment of  a  provisional  committee 
headed  by  Mary  McCall,  Jr.,  presi- 
dent of  the  SWG,  to  formulate  a  con- 
(Continued  on  page  9) 


Programs  for  Allied 
Meetings  Are  Set 

Philadelphia,  May  3. — The  pro- 
grams of  the  Allied  Caravan  and  the 
National  Allied  board  meetings  to  be 
held  here  at  the  Hotel  Warwick,  May 
23rd  to  the  26th,  have  been  set  as  fol- 
lows:  The  Caravan  will  meet  on  the 
23rd  and  26th;  the  board  sessions  are 
scheduled  for  the  24th  and  25th.  On 
the  evening  of  the  24th,  there  will  be 
a  local  industry  dinner,  which  will  be 
preceded  by  a  reception  to  be  held  by 
M-G-M.  Allied  of  Eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania will  be  host  at  the  dinner.  Be- 
tween 25  and  30  Allied  directors  and 
others  from  other  territories  and  sev- 
eral hundred  local  industry  members 
at  the  dinner  will  observe  the  fifth  an- 
niversary of  the  local  Allied  unit. 


t  77*  c t**  •  *  »•  j  I  Justice  Dept* 
Less  Efficient  Cooling  Is  r 

o       £    r™*    o  Will  Press 
been  for  ltiis  Summer 


Many  theatres  throughout  the  coun- 
try, because  of  the  War  Production 
Board's  ban  on  commercial  use  of 
freon  gas,  will  not  be  as  well  cooled 
this  summer  as  in  former  years,  and 
some  will  not  be  cooled  at  all,  accord- 
ing to  additional  reports  from  Motion 
Picture  Daily  field  correspondents, 
who  have  been  investigating  the  pres- 
ent and  potential  effect  of  the  theatre 
refrigeration  situation.  In  some  iso- 
lated instances  a  return  to  the,  old  prac- 
tice of  summer  seasonal  closings  is 
forecast. 

Houses  having  some  freon  left  over 
from  last  year  plan  to  slow  down  their 
systems  during  off  hours.  Those  that 
have  reconverted  their  systems  to  car- 

(Continued.  on  page  12) 


Steffes  Heads  5th 
Loan  in  Minnesota 


W.  A.  (Al)  Steffes,  veteran  inde- 
pendent exhibitor  leader  of  the  North- 
west, has  come  out  of  retirement  to 
lead  the  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign 
in  Minnesota, 
according  to  an 
announc-e- 
ment  vesterdav 
by  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell.  national 
chairman  of  the 
industry's  cam- 
paign commit- 
tee, issued 
through  commit- 
tee headquarters 
here ;  O'Donnell 
is  now  in  Holly- 
wood. 

For  many 
years  a  leading 

independent  exhibitor,  Steffes  is  a  for- 

(.Continued  on  page  9) 


Television  Does  Not 
Threaten  Films 
Now,  Connors  Says 


The  belief  that  television  still  is 
"very  much  in  its  infancy  and  will 
have  to  grow  a  great  deal  before  mo- 
tion picture  companies  will  go  into  it 
in  any  very 
important  fash- 
ion" was  ex- 
pressed yester- 
day by  Tom  J. 
Connors,  20th 
Century  -  Fox 
vice  -  president 
and  distribu- 
tion head,  dur- 
ing a  luncheon 
discussion  with 
trade  press 
represen- 
tatives  at  the 
Hotel  Astor. 

Connors, 
who    has  held 

informal  meetings  with  exhibitors  in 
six  exchange  centers  recently,  and 
who  will  visit  all  remaining  key  cities 
in  the  near  future,  said  that  the  sub- 
ject of  television  and  its  possible  ef- 
fect on  theatres  was  broached  by  ex- 
hibitors at  the  meetings  more  often 
than  any  other  subject.  His  state- 
ments of  yesterday  were  in  the  nature 
of  a  summary  of  the  replies  he  had 
made  to  the  exhibitors'  queries  at  the 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Tom  J.  Connors 


W.  A.  Steffes 


Sales,  Not  Reports, 
Is  O'Donnell  Aim 


Hollywood.  May  3. — Elimination 
of  practically  all  the  reports  which 
exhibitors  found  burdensome  during 
previous  bond  campaigns  were  prom- 
ised here  today  by  R.  J.  O'Donnell. 
national  industry  chairman  of  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive.  Stressing  the 
move  as  a  means  to  facilitate  greater 
selling  effort,  O'Donnell  said.  "We 
must  appreciate  the  intense  pace  at 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Cooper  to  Produce, 
Star  for  Spitz-Goetz 


Hollywood,  May  3. — Gary  Cooper 
is  forming  his  own  company  to  pro- 
duce and  star  in  a  minimum  of  three 
pictures  yearly  for  International  Pic- 
tures, it  was  learned  here  today,  when 
the  Leo  Spitz-William  Goetz  organiza- 
tion announced  the  star  had  been 
signed  to  a  long-term  exclusive  pro- 
ducer-actor contract. 

Cooper,  who  has  just  completed 
"Casanova  Brown"  for  International, 
under  Sam  Wood's  direction,  is  the 
fourth  producer  to  join  International, 
the  others  being  Xunnally  Johnson, 
Casey  Robinson  and  David  Lewis. 
Cooper's  company,  now  in  the  forma- 
tive stage,  will  start  production  before 
the  end  of  Summer. 


S  chine  Suit 


Anti-Trust  Prosecution 
Planned  for  May  19 

By  JAMES  F.  SCHRADER 

Buffalo,  May  3.  —  Federal 
Judge  John  Knight  has  been  noti- 
fied by  the  U.  S.  Department  of 
Justice  that  the  Government  is 
planning  to  proceed  with  its  anti- 
trust action  against  Schine  Chain 
Theatres,  Inc.,  on  the  adjourned  trial 
date,  May  19,  it  has  been  learned 
here  by  Motion  Picture  Daily. 

Schwartz  and  Frohlich,  represent- 
ing Columbia,  have  filed  a  motion 
with  court  clerk  May  C.  Sickmon  for 
a  postponement  of  the  trial  to  next 
Fall.  The  motion  will  be  argued  be- 
fore Judge  Knight  next  Monday  by 
Louis  D.  Frohlich,  Columbia  counsel. 

In  the  meantime,  the  briefs  filed  by 
the  Schine  counsel  remain  in  Judge 
Knight's  possession,  and  he  has  not 
filed  any  opinion.  The  briefs  ask  for 
dismissal  of  the  suit  or,  as  an  alterna- 
tive, a  modified  order  which  would 
permit  the  theatre  circuit  to  retain 
(Continued  on  page  9) 


Wallis-Hazen  Near 
Release  Decision 


Hal  Wallis  and  Joseph  Hazen,  who 
have  all  but  completed  the  formation 
of  their  own  producing  unit,  are  in 
the  final  stages  of  conferences  here 
with  Arthur  Kelly,  American  repre- 
sentative of  Eagle-Lion  Films,  Ltd., 
on  a  proposed  releasing  deal  with  the 
J.  Arthur  Rank  company. 

Eagle-Lion  is  understood  to  have 
made  Wallis  the  most  attractive  offer 
to  date,   among  several  from  large 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Dividend  Action  on 
'U'  Common  Likely 

Action  to  place  Universal  Pictures 
common  stock  on  a  regular  dividend 
basis  may  be  taken  by  the  company's 
board  of  directors  at  its  regular  meet- 
ing scheduled  for  today,  it  was  re- 
ported in  downtown  financial  circles 
yesterday. 

Reports  are  that  an  interim  dividend 
following  the  close  of  the  first  half  of 
the  company's  current  fiscal  year,  May 
1.  in  the  amount  of  $1  per  share  may 
be  authorized.  This  would  suggest  a 
$2  annual  rate  in  the  event  the  stock 
is  placed  on  a  regular  dividend  basis. 


2 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


Thursday,  May  4,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount 
president,  is  scheduled  to  leave  for 
the  Coast  tomorrow.  He  plans  to  meet 
Y.  Frank  Freeman,  who  will  leave 
New  York  today,  in  Chicago  on  Sat- 
urday and  the  two  will  continue  to 
the  Coast  from  there. 

• 

Phil  Reisman,  RKO  Radio  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  distribu- 
tion, and  Ralph  Doyle,  Australasian 
manager,  are  expected  here  from  the 
Coast  tomorrow. 

• 

Alfred  W.  Schwalberg,  Interna- 
tional Pictures  Eastern  representative, 
and  Robert  Goldstein,  New  York 
manager,  will  leave  for  the  Coast  May 
12. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO  Radio  presi- 
dent, and  S.  Barrett  McCormick,  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director,  will 
leave  for  Hollywood  May  12. 

• 

Michael  Hoffay,  RKO  Radio  for- 
eign publicity  manager,  will  leave  for 
Hollywood  Monday  to  confer  with 
Walt  Disney  studio  officials. 

• 

John  Hertz,  Jr.,  chairman  of  the 
board  of  Buchanan  and  Co.,  will  leave 
for  the  Coast  May  12. 

• 

William  Levy,  Walt  Disney  execu- 
tive, will  leave  New  York  Tuesday  for 
a  month's  stay  in  Hollywood. 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  of 
Loew's,  is  scheduled  to  leave  for  the 
Coast  next  Tuesday. 

• 

Constance  Bennett,  PRC  produc 
er,  left  yesterday  for  Washington  on 
business. 


Coe  Talks  to  Dallas 
Salesmen  Today 

Dallas,  May  3. — Charles  Francis 
Coe  of  the  Motion  Picture  Produc- 
ers and  Distributors  will  address  the 
Dallas  Salesmen's  Club  here  tomor 
row  on  "Midway  in  a  Century  of  the 
Screen."  Coe  appeared  on  the  radio 
here  yesterday  in  a  round-table  dis 
cussion  on  50  years  of  motion  pictures. 

On  Friday  Coe  will  address  the 
Oklahoma  City  Chamber  of  Commerce 
on  "A  New  Vision  for  a  50- Year  Old 
Screen."  On  May  10  he  will  speak 
before  the  Kiwanis  Club  in  Denver  and 
on  May  16  he  will  talk  to  the  St.  Louis 
Chamber  of  Commerce. 


Correction 

A  typographical  error  in  a  story  on 
United  Artists  developments  which 
appeared  on  page  12  of  Motion  Pic 
ture  Daily  yesterday  made  it  appear 
that  Gradwell  L.  Sears  had  said,  in 
reply  to  a  question,  that  there  can  be 
"no"  collaboration  between  United 
Artists  producers'  representatives  and 
the  company's  sales  organization. 
Sears'  reply  to  the  question  was  that 
there  could  be  collaboration  between 
the  two. 


FP-C  Will  Resume 
Annual  Meetings 

Toronto,  May  3— Famous  Players- 
Canadian  Corp.  has  decided  on  resump- 
tion this  year  of  its  managers'  conven- 
tion for  Eastern  Canada,  to  be  held 
early  in  June  at  Niagara  Falls,  Ont, 
where  the  last  yearly  meeting  of  the 
circuit  was  stagede  in  July,  1939. 

The  forthcoming  gathering  of  the 
circuit  managers,  field  representatives 
and  hbme  office  executives  will  adhere 
closely  to  a  program  of  key  business 
items  including  plans  for  the  postwar. 
FP-C's  last  convention  was  directed 
by  the  late  N.  L.  Nathanson ;  the  meet- 
ing this  year  will  be  directed  by  J. 
Fitzgibbons,  FP-C  president. 

Depinet  Sales  Drive 
N earing  an  End 

RKO's  1944  Ned  Depinet  Drive, 
closing  May  18,  last  week  scored  its 
biggest  week  in  dollars,  according  to 
drive  captain  Charles  Boasberg.  This 
was  the  first  of  two  weeks  designated 
in  honor  of  Bob  Mochrie,  general 
sales  manager. 

Walter  Branson's  Western  division 
is  the  first  to  go  over  its  quota  cumu- 
latively for  the  period,  with  San  Fran- 
cisco, N.  P.  Jacobs,  manager,  jumping 
into  first  place,  followed  by  Dallas,  S. 
M.  Sachs,  manager;  Los  Angeles,  H. 
C.  Cohen,  manager,  and  Charlotte,  R. 
F>  Branon,  manager.  Of  the  com- 
pany's 11  districts,  J.  H.  Maclntyre's 
Western  district  is  currently  in  the 
lead,  with  Ben  Y.  Cammack's  South- 
western district  second. 


Crown  Becomes  Aide 
To  Geo.  Hirliman 

Alfred  Crown  has  arrived  in  New 
York  from  the  Coast  to  join  Film 
Classics  as  assistant  to  president 
George  A.  Hirliman. 

Crown  was  formerly  special  repre- 
sentative of  the  film  division  for  the 
Coordinator  of  Inter-American  Af- 
fairs, sales  representative  for  M-G-M 
in  South  America  and  more  recently 
was  with  the  Charles  K.  Feldman 
Agency  handling  both  talent  and  .pro- 
duction. 


Services  for  Bitzer 
On  the  Coast  Today 

Hollywood,  May  3. — Funeral  ser- 
vices for  G.  W.  (Billy)  Bitzer,  pioneer 
film  cameraman  who  died  last  Satur- 
day, will  be  held  this  morning  at  the- 
Church  of  the  Blessed  Sacrament  here. 
Additional  services  will  be  held  next 
Tuesday  morning  in  the  undertaking 
parlor  of  Edward  Gordon  &  Son,  7 
Columbus  Ave.,  New  York,  followed 
by  interment  in  Cedar  Grove  Ceme- 
tery, Flushing. 

Lowell  Thomas,  an  old  friend  of 
Bitzer,  devoted  a  major  portion  of  his 
Tuesday  night  broadcast  over  NBC 
to  a  eulogy  of  the  cameraman. 


Hospitals  Get  First 
Call  on  Star  Time 

Hollywood,  May  3. — Acting 
on  a  request  of  the  U.  S.  War 
Department,  the  Hollywood 
Victory  Committee  today  gave 
first  call  on  the  services  of 
screen  personalities  to  enter- 
taining war  wounded  in  59 
Army  and  29  Navy  hospitals 
in  this  country.  The  decision 
shifting  the  emphasis  from 
overseas  to  hospital  tours  was 
underscored  by  the  adoption 
of  the  slogan,  "No  wounded 
man  shall  be  forgotten." 


Coming 
Events 


Saltonstall,  Tobin 
Open  'Bernadette' 

Boston,  May  3. — Governor  Everett 
Saltonstall  and  Boston's  Mayor  Daniel 
Tobin  were  among  the  guests  here 
at  the  premiere  of  20th  Century-Fox's 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  tonight  at 
the  Majestic  Theatre.  Also  in  attend 
ance  were  125  New  England  exhibit- 
ors, guests  of  20th-Fox's  district  mana 
ger  E.  X.  Callahan  and  branch  mana 
ger  M.  Grassgreen. 

The  pre-opening  campaign  featured 
a  luncheon  for  newspapermen  high 
lighted  by  a  telephone  call  to  author 
Franz  Werfel  in  Beverly  Hills,  dur 
ing  which  Werfel  answered  questions 
on  the  novel.  Al  Fowler  of  the  com- 
pany's field  exploitation  staff,  assisted 
by  Joe  Ehrlich  of  the  home  office  pub- 
licity department,  conducted  the  cam- 
paign. 


First  French  Filming 
In  Canada  Planned 

Work  on  what  is  said  to  be  the  first 
French  feature  film  produced  in  Can- 
ada is  expected  to  start  about  June 
15  in  Montreal,  according  to  Charles 
Phillipp,  general  manager  of  the  new 
ly-formed  Renaissance  Films,  Inc., 
press  dispatches  from  that  city  re 
norted  here  yesterday. 

Phillipp  said  the  first  would  be  "Le 
Pere  Chopin"  (Father  Chopin)  and 
that  Victor  Francen  and  Annabella 
probably  would  be  co-starred. 

The  actress  is  currently  appearing 
here  in  the  Theatre  Guild's  "Jacobow 
kv  and  the  Colonel." 


Stills  via  Microfilm 

Warners  is  now  sending  stills  to 
Europe  via  microfilm  to  speed  pictorial 
material  to  foreign  publications. 


Scully  Plans  Coast 
Sales  Meeting 

W.  A.  Scully,  Universal  vice-presi 
dent  and  general  sales  manager,  plans 
to  leave  for  the  Coast  toward  the  end 
of  the  month  to  meet  there  with  field 
sales  executives.  The  group  will  dis 
cuss  new  season  sales  plans  and  view 
new  product.  Under  the  arrangements 
which  are  still  tentative,  plans  will  be 
discussed  for  subsequent  new  season's 
sales  meetings  in  the  field. 


Olmstead  Dies  in  Crash 

Ottawa,  May  3. — Flight  Officer 
Charles  R.  Olmstead,  featured  in  War 
ners'  "Captains  of  the  Clouds,"  and 
a  former  stage  player,  a  veteran  of 
many  air  missions  over  Europe,  died 
Tuesday  in  a  plane  accident  at  Bagot- 
ville,  Que. 


Tonight  —  B'nai  B'rith  Cinema 
Lodge  election.  Hotel  Piccadilly, 
New  York.  ; 

May  5 — Motion  picture  Ass6fe!a"f£s 
meeting,  Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 

May  7 — Theatrical  organizations' 
testimonial  dinner  for  Eddie  Can- 
tor, Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 

May  10 — New  York  circuit  repre- 
sentatives to  meet  on  new  build- 
ing code,  MPPDA  headquarters, 
New  York. 

May  10 — Film  industry  Fifth  War 
Loan  Regional  meeting,  Hotel 
Statler,  Washington. 

May  11-17 — Film  industry's  recruit- 
ing campaign  for  Women's  Army 
Corps. 

May  11-31  —  Film  industry  '  Fifth 
War  Loan  Regional  meetings  in 
key  cities. 

May  16— RKO  "War  Bond"  golf 
tournament,  Westchester  Country 
Club,  New  York. 

May  23-26 — National  Allied  Cara- 
van meeting,  Warwick  Hotel, 
Philadelphia. 

May  24-25 — National  Allied  board 
meeting,  Warwick  Hotel,  Phila- 
delphia. 

May  29 — IATSE  National  conven- 
tion, St.  Louis. 

May  29 — PRC  annual  sales  conven- 
tion, Hollywood. 

June  12-July  8— -Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign. 

June  20 — Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
New  Jersey's  silver  jubilee  meet- 
ing, Hotel  Chelsea,  Atlantic  City. 


RKO  and  Posa  Films 
Will  Co-Produce 

Hollywood,  May  3. — Charles  W. 
Koerner,  RKO-Radio  vice-president, 
announced  today  that  his  company  and 
Posa  Films  of  Mexico  have  signed* 
co-production  deal  to  make  one  En- 
glish-speaking picture  starring  "Can- 
tinflas,"  Mexican  comedian.  The  joint 
enterprise  is  scheduled  to  start  at 
RKO's  Hollywood  studio  within  three 
months. 

Motion  Picture  Daily  reported  in 
a  dispatch  from  Mexico  City,  on  April 
27,  that  the  comedian,  who  in  private 
life  is  Mario  Moreno,  vice-president 
of  Posa,  had  been  signed  at  $200,000, 
the  deal  being  set  for  RKO  by  Phil 
Reisman,  foreign  distribution  vice- 
president,  and  for  Posa  by  Santiago 
Reachi,  president.  It  was  said  at  that 
time  that  the  film  would  be  made  in 
Mexico. 

Reisman  is  expected  to  reach  New 
York  Friday,  having  left  here  follow- 
ing conferences  with  Koerner. 


Larry  Kent  Detained 

Larry  Kent,  executive  assistant  to 
Spyros  Skouras,  president  of  20th 
Century-Fox,  who  was  previously  re- 
ported to  have  left  London  enroute  to 
New  York,  has  been  detained  in  Ire- 
land, it  was  learned  here  yesterday. 
Ban  on  the  departure  of  civilians  from 
the  British  Isles  until  after  the  inva- 
sion starts  is  understood  to  have  fore- 
stalled his  return  home. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-31p0.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco_,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  -News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,'  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  AH  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Review 


"The  Whistler" 

(Columbia') 

\Jf  UCH  of  a  highly  salable  nature  presents  itself  to  exhibitors  in  Co- 
lumbia's  adaptation  of  the  CBS  air  mystery,  "The  Whistler."  As 
a  psychological  drama,  the  film  does  not  quite  reach  the  mark,  but  as  a 
real  thriller,  it  is  successful.  The  ponderous  atmosphere  achieved 
through  settings  and  general  background,  rather  than  the  actual  story, 
sustains  necessary  suspense.  Eric  Taylor's  screenplay,  from  J.  Donald 
Wilson's  story,  is  laden  with  seemingly  unrelated  events,  but  William 
Castle's  deft  direction  weaves  the  many  "ends"  into  a  better-than-aver- 
age  mystery  'film. 

Richard  Dix,  "a  successful  manufacturer  haunted  with  the  belief  that 
his  wife  had  died  at  sea,  hires  Don  Costello,  professional  murderer  to 
kill  him  (Dix).  When  Dix  hires  Costello  he  does  not  disclose  that  he 
is  the  intended  victim.  Later,  upon  discovering  that  his  wife  is  alive, 
Dix  seeks  to  call  off  his  "deal"  with  Costello,  but  learns  that  Costello  has 
delegated  his  disposal  to  J.  Carroll  Naish,  a  student  of  necrophobia,  de- 
fined here  as  an  exaggerated  fear  of  death.  Naish  pursues  his  victim  re- 
lentlessly, seeking  to  literally  scare  him  to  death.  When  the  killer's  psy- 
chological methods  seem  unsuccessful,  he  decides  to  revert  to  the  gun, 
just  as  Gloria  Stuart,  Dix's  secretary,  arrives,  to  prevent  the  murder. 
Naish  is  shot  instead. 

Dix,  Miss  Stuart,  Naish  and  a  supporting  cast,  headed  by  Alan  Dine- 
hart,  Costello  and  Joan  Woodbury,  contribute  fine  performances.  Ru- 
dolph Flothow  produced. 

Running  time,  59  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  March  20. 

Helen  McNamara 


Thursday,  May  4,  1944 


Says  Films  Helping 
Allies  to  Know  U.S. 

American  motion  pictures  are  fur- 
nishing a  common  meeting  ground 
for  a  better  understanding  between 
our  soldiers  and  the  troops  of  the 
Chinese  and  British  armies,  according 
to  Paulette  Goddard,  Paramount  fea- 
tured player,  who  has  just  returned 
^  from  a  38,000-mile  tour  of  combat 
■  zones  in  China,  India  and  Burma. 
^  Miss  Goddard,  in  an  interview  with 
representatives  of  the  press  yesterday 
at  USO  headquarters,  8  West  40th 
St.,  reported  that  films  are  the  only 
source  of  entertainment,  excepting 
USO  unit  performances,  in  those 
areas.  In  explaining  how  much  mo- 
tion pictures  mean  to  Army  morale, 
Miss  Goddard  said,  "The  boys  begin 
pouring  into  the  outdoor  film  thea- 
tres two  hours  before  shows  start 
in  order  to  get  as  close  to  the/ 16  mm 
screen  as  they  can.  Though  the 
screens  are  weatherbeaten  aind  pro- 
jection is  difficult,  the  bi-wfiekly  film 
shows  draw  capacity  audiences." 

First  Actress  in  Area 

Miss  Goddard,  who  left  Feb.  11 
with  Keenan  Wynn  and  William 
Gargan,  film  players,  and  Andy  Ar- 
cari,  accordionist,  was  the  first  female 
entertainer  to  tour  the  China-India- 
Burma  circuit,  having  volunteered 
through  the  Hollywood  Victory  Com- 
mittee. Her  unit  staged  130  regular 
camp  shows,  in  addition  to  numerous 
■  hospital  appearances.  .  At  one  point 
she  was  within  five  miles  of  the  Jap 
front  lines. 

The  star  will  leave  tomorrow  for 
Hollywood  to  begin  work  in  "Kitty," 
a  new  Paramount  film,  following 
which  she  intends  to  go  on  tour  again. 

SOPEG,  Para.  Near 
Accord  in  Dispute 

Paramount  is  understood  to  have 
reached  agreement  with  the  Screen 
Office  and  Professional  Employes 
Guild,  Local  109,  CIO  on  75  per  cent 
of  the  job  descriptions  in  the  union's 
job  classifications  plan  for  some  400 
home  office  "white  collarites."  A  meet- 
ing between  representatives  of  both 
sides  will  be  held  here  today  to  re- 
solve the  controversy  on  remaining 
classifications. 

Arbitration   proceedings   were  ad- 
journed two  weeks  ago  to  give  both 
sides  a  chance  to  again  attempt  to 
\   reach  an  agreement. 

\  :  

II  ''%Ted  O'Shea  Awarded 
4$  Service  Pins 

tn  his  return  from  a  tour  of  South- 
M-G-M  exchanges,  E.  K.  (Ted) 
O'Shea,  Eastern  sales  manager,  dis- 
close^ he  distributed  48  pins  to  fiefs}, 
employes  who  have  been  with  the  corrfe/. 
s      pany  ten  years  or  more.     Five  em:' 
i  r    ployes  received  two-star  pins  for  20 
t"      years  or  more  of  service  and  43  re- 
I"      ceived  one-star  pins  representing  ten 
f-      years  or  more.    The  pins  were  given 
!'•      out  at  luncheons  held  in  New  Orleans, 
'  |     Washington,  Charlotte,  Memphis  and 
i- 1  Atlanta. 


G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Campus  Theatre  Files 
Clearance  Complaint 

George  Bromley  and  Alec  Mounce, 
operators  of  the  Campus  Theatre,  Los 
Angeles,  have  filed  a  clearance  com- 
plaint at  the  Los  Angeles  tribunal 
against  the  five  decree  companies,  the 
American  Arbitration  Association  re- 
ported here  yesterday. 

Plaintiffs  state  that  the  seven  days' 
clearance  held  by  the  Hunleys  Theatre 
over  the  Campus  is  unreasonable  and 
they  seek  complete  elimination  of  clear- 
ance. Complainant  further  requests 
that  the  Campus  be  permitted  to  ex- 
hibit pictures  49  days  after  Los  An- 
geles' first-run  closings  at  an  admis- 
sion price  of  30  cents. 

Enlistment  Reports 
Daily  in  Wac  Drive 

Local  industry  chairmen  at  all  New 
York  City  and  Westchester  "Women's 
Army  Corps  Recruiting  Week"  meet- 
ings have  instructed  theatre  managers 
to  call  their  individual  captains  night- 
ly during  the  drive  and  report  the  total 
number  of  applicants  for  the  day.  Local 
chairmen  will  report  to  the  county 
chairman,  who,  in  turn,  will  convey  the 
totals  to  Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  Met- 
ropolitan area  chairman.  Meetings  to 
be  held  by  local  chairmen  will  be  ad- 
dressed by  Wac  officers. 


To  Vote  on  Coast  SOEG 

Hollywood,  May  3. — The  National 
Labor  Relations  Board  has  ordered  a 
Screen  Office  Employes  Guild  collec- 
tive bargaining  election  at  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox studio.  The  local  NLRB 
will  confer  with  SOEG  and  20th-Fox 
representatives  later  this  week  to  set 
a  date. 

Pearce,  Adler  Appointed 

Hunter  Publications,  publishers  of 
Screenland,  SMver  Screen  and  Movie 
Shoiv,  lias  nafned  Ray  Pearce  Eastern 
advertising  manager  and  Beatrice  Ad- 
ler promotion  manager. 


Honor  Joe  E.  Brown 
For  Overseas  Tour 

_  Hollywood,  May  3.  —  Industry, 
civic  and  military  leaders  were  guests 
at  a  testimonial  dinner  given  for  Joe 
E.  Brown  tonight  at  the  Ambassador 
Hotel  here  by  the  Independent  Mo- 
tion Picture  Producers  Association  in 
recognition  of  the  actor's  services  en- 
tertaining troops  overseas. 

The  ceremonies,  broadcast  over  23 
Coast  stations  of  the  Blue  Network, 
included  presentation  of  a  scroll 
signed  by  I.  E.  Chadwick,  IMMPA 
president,  and  the  following  officers : 
W.  Ray  Johnston,  Leon  Fromkess, 
Edward  F.  Finney,  A.  M.  Hacke, 
Lindsley  Parsons  and  Ray  Young. 

Walter  Pidgeon  was  master  of 
ceremonies,  and  an  entertainment 
program  featured  Abbott  and  Costello 
and  others.  The  guests  included 
Mayor  Fletcher  Bowron,  Charles  W. 
Koerner,  Walter  Wanger  and  Henry 
Ginsberg. 


Jouvet  in  Mexican  Film 

Mexico  City,  May  3— Louis  Jou- 
vet, French  film  player  who  drew 
heavily  in  a  season  of  stage  drama  at 
the  government-owned  National  The- 
atre here,  has  signed  with  Film  Mun- 
diales  for  one  production,  to  be  in 
French.  The  producer  has  signed 
four  scenarists  to  do  story  for  Jouvet's 
film,  which  would  be  the  first  to  be 
made  here  in  French. 


Theatremen  Protest  Tax 

Reading,  Pa.,  May  3.— Local  the- 
atre owners,  moving  with  other  realty 
owners,  were  successful  in  their  pro- 
test to  the;  city  real  estate  board 
against  raising  existing  tax  rates  from 
15  to  17  mills  here. 


Margolies  a  Producer 

Albert  MarR°bes,  motion  picture 
publicist,  will  produce  Whitfield  Cook's 
"Violet."  on  Broadway  this  Fall. 
Patricia  Hitchcock,  daughter  of  Al- 
fred Hitchcock,  film  producer-director, 
will  play  the  title  role. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  3 

BOB    HOPE    today   underwent  a 
minor  operation  for  an  eye  infec- 
tion sustained  on  his  overseas  tour.  He 
is  expected  to  return  to  work  on  "Syl- 
vester the  Great"  in  three  or  four  days. 
• 

Universal  has  scheduled  seven  pic- 
tures to  start  duririg  the  next  month 
which,  added  to  the  four  now  shooting, 
will  make  11  in, work  for  May.  The 
seven  are :  "Bowery  to  Broadway," 
"Merrily  We  Sing,"  "Trigger  Trail," 
"House  of  Fear,"  "Riders  of  Ghost 
City,"  "Rodeo  Cyclone"  and  "Can't 
Help  Singing." 

• 

Sol  Lesser,  United  Artists  producer, 
will  form  a  new  stock  company,  mem- 
bers of  which  will  be  used  in  his 
forthcoming  UA  production,  "Three's 
a  Family."  Bill  Stephens,  Lesser's 
casting  director,  recently  returned  from 
New  York  to  look  over  potential  tal- 
ent. 

• 

Walter  Wanger  is  now  a  trustee  of 
the  Los  Angeles  Philharmonic  Orches- 
tra. Others  include  George  Cukor, 
Mrs.  Ida  Koverman,  Mrs.  Sol  Lesser, 
Mrs.  Edward  G.  Robinson,  D.  W. 
Thornburgh  and  Jack  Warner. 
• 

Lou  Weiner,  former  exploitation 
manager  for  United  Artists  in  New 
England,  has  joined  Warners'  studio 
publicity  staff  in  Burbank.  He  was 
recently  honorably  discharged  from  the 
Army  Air  Forces. 

• 

Humphrey  Bogart  has  been  selected 
to  headline  the  "I  Am  an  American 
Day"  program  at  the  Los  Angeles 
Coliseum  on  May  21.  Irene  Manning 
will  sing  the  national  anthem  at  the 
ceremonies. 

• 

International  Pictures  has  announced 
that  "The  Woman  in  the  Window"  is 
the  new  title  of  the  Joan  Bennett-Ed- 
ward G.  Robinson  film,  formerly 
called  "Once  Off  Guard." 

• 

Johnnie  Johnston,  Paramount  sing- 
ing star  who  appears  with  Betty 
Rhodes  in  "You  Can't  Ration  Love," 
leaves  for  a  personal  appearance  tour 
of  the  East  in  a  few  weeks. 

• 

John  Garfield  has  passed  his  pre-in- 
duction  physical  examination. 


Carr  Hosts  Theatremen 

Trem  Carr,  chief  of  Monogram  pro- 
*  duction,  was  host  yesterday  to  50  the- 
2  atre  owners  and^film  buyers  at  a  re- 
!„,  ception  held  at  the  Warwick  Hotef. 
I*  Carr  will  return  to  Hollywood  tomor- 
row. /.*.'  ' 

£ 


U.  S.  Delays  Union 
Filing  to  July  15 

Unions  and  guilds  in  the 
film  and  other  industries  who 
are  now  required  to  file  an- 
nual statements  with  the 
Treasury  Department  under 
the  Smith-Connally  law  have 
had  the  time  for  the  first  fil- 
ing postponed  from  May  15  to 
July  15  and  possibly  later. 

Reason  for  the  granting  of 
additional  time  is  understood 
to  be  that  the  Treasury  is 
planning  to  issue  new  regula- 
tions and  revise  the  present 
form  No.  990  under  which  the 
unions  are  required  to  file. 


™«  mm  FOR  THE  20 

<*  WARNER  BROS' 


MARK 


1 


STARRING 

FREDRIC 


ALEXIS 


With 

DONALD  CRISP -alan  hale 

C.  AUBREY  SMITH  •  JOHN  CARRADINE  •  BILL  HENRY 
ROBERT  BARRAT- WALTER  HAMPDEN  ■  JOYCE  REYNOLDS 

Proceed  by  JESSE  L.  LASKY  •  Directed  by  IRVING  RAPPER 
Screen  Play  by  Alan  LeMay  •  Adaptation  by  Alan  LeMay  and 
Harold  H.  Sherman  •  Additional  Dialogue  by  Harry  Chandlee. 
All  biographical  material  based  on  works  owned  or  controlled 
by  the  Mark  Twain  Company,  and  the  play  "Mark  Twain"  by; 
Harold  M.  Sherman  •  Music  by  Max  Steiner 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May4. 


6Jane  Eyre'  Looking 
To  Good  $14,800 


Toronto,  May  3.— "Jane  Eyre"  was 
leading  here  this  week  with  an  ex- 
pected $14,800  at  Shea's,  while  "A 
Guy  Named  Joe"  continued  a  third 
week  at  Loew's  with  $9,700  in  sight. 
"Memphis  Belle"  was  added  to  the 
program  at  the  Imperial  Theatre  for 
the  second  week  of  "The  Lodger"  and 
contributed  toward  an  $11,800  gross. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  4: 

"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 
"Happy  Land"  (20th-Fox) 

EGLINTON — (1,086)  (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average: 
$4,0CO). 

"The  Lodger"  (20th-Fox) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (Para.) 

IMPERIAL— (2,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 
6  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Av- 
erage: $12,800). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,074)  (18c-30c-42c-60c,-90c)  6 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $9,700.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Jane  Eyre"  (20th-Fox) 

SHEA'S— (2,480)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $14,800.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"AH  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 

Moveover 
"Hi  Ya,  Sailor"  (Univ.) 

TIVOLI— (1,434)     ()8c-30c-48c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $4,900.    (Average:  $4,400). 
"The  Fighting  Seabees"  (Rep.) 
"Rosie  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 

UPTOWN— (2,761)  (18c-3Oc-42c-6Oc-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:   $9,800.     (Average:  $9,800). 


'Buffalo'  Dual  Brings 
$35,000  in  Boston 

Boston,  May  3.  —  Business  was 
generally  off  here  this  week,  but 
"Buffalo  Bill,"  teamed  with  "You 
Can't  Ration  Love,"  got  a  very  ro- 
bust $35,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  3 : 

"Gung  Ho"  (Univ.) 

RKO    BOSTON— (3,200)  (44c-55c-65c-85c- 
$1.10).     Plus   stage   show.     Gross:  $23,000. 
(Average:  $25,800). 
"In   Our  Time"  (WB) 
"Tornado"  (Para.) 

FENWAY— (1,373)    (40c-55c-70c).  Gross: 
$7,900.    (Average:  $8,800). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL— (2,900)  (40c-55c- 
65c-80c).  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average:  $24,- 
800). 

"Buffalo   Bill"  (2ftth-Fox) 

"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,367)  (40c-55c-65c- 
85c).    Gross:  $35,000.     (Average:  $26,800). 
"Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Swing    Fever"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (2,900)  (40c-55c- 
65c-74c).  "  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average:  $23,- 
800). 

"Bridge  bf  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE — (3,200)  (44c-55c-65c- 
74c).     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $14,500). 
"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

TRANSLUX  —  (908)  (30c-40c-55c-74c). 
Gross:  $6,700.    (Average:  $7,400). 


Flynn  In  on  Profits 

Warners  Bros,'  current  "Uncertain 
Glory,"  starring  Errol  Flynn,  is  the 
company's  first  release  of  a  Thomp- 
son Corp.  production ;  the  unit  was 
set  up  some  time  ago  by  Errol  Flynn 
to  permit  him  to  participate  in  the 
grosses  of  films  in  which  he  is  fea- 
tured, and  possibly  others. 


Jenkins  to  Memphis 

Mark  Jenkins,  who  recently  suc- 
ceeded Ken  Prickett,  now  M-G-M  ex- 
ploitation representative  in  New  Or- 
leans, as  head  of  the  M-G-M  "Show 
B".i!der"  unit,  will  leave  shortly  for 
Memphis,  where  he  will  visit  small 
town  theatres  in  connection  with  pro- 
motion of  M-G-M  product. 


Reviews 


ft 


Arizona  Trail 

(Universal) 

T  TNIVERSAL'S  "Arizona  Trail"  is  a  fast  little  Western  with  all  of 
^  the  proper  trimmings.  Tex  Ritter  engages  in  somei; hard-hitting, 
hard-riding  action  in  this  neat  and  well-handled  story ;  Johnny  Bond  and 
the  Red  River  Valley  Boys  provide  the  music  with  frequent  and  well- 
timed  renditions  of  prairie  ballads,  and  Fuzzy  Knight  holds  up  the  come- 
dy end  nicely.   It  is  made  to  order  for  Western  fans. 

Tex  Ritter,  for  many  years  af  odds  with  his  father,  Erville  Alderson, 
leturns  to  the  latter's  ranch  at  the  request  of  Alderson's  doctor,  Joseph 
Greene.  Ritter  finds  his  father  seriously  ill  and  the  ranch  run  down  as 
a  result  of  periodic  rustlers'  raids.  Greene,  appearing  innocent  and 
anxious  over  the  physical  condition  of  Alderson,  is  actually  conniving 
to  hasten  the  old  man's  death  so  he  can  acquire  the  ranch.  Tex,  with 
Fuzzy  and  Dennis  Moore,  Alderson's  foster-son,  uncovers  the  plot  in 
time. 

Ritter,  Knight,  Alderson  and  Greene  carry  their  roles  with  real  en- 
thusiasm, while  satisfactory  support  is  given  by  Moore,  Janet  Shaw  and 
Jack  Ingram.  Vernon  Keays  directed  from  William  Lively's  original 
screenplay.    Oliver  Drake  produced. 

Running  time,  57  mins,    "G."*  Helen  McNamara 


"One  Inch  from  Victory" 

(Scoop  Productions)?' 

'TTHE  documentary,  "One  Inch  from  Victory,"  compiled  by  Scoop  Pro- 
■  ductions,  a  new  distributing  company,  from  captured  Nazi  films,  is  a 
moderately  interesting  picture,  interesting  principally  for  its  birdseye 
view  of  the  Eastern  Front  as  seen  through  enemy  lenses.  Inevitable  du- 
plication and  sameness  of  material,  despite  the  freshness  of  some  of  it, 
prevents  this  one  from  achieving  the  excitement  of  previous  documen- 
taries. 

Quentin  Reynolds,  who  wrote  and  delivered  the  commentary,  makes 
clear  that  although  the  Nazis  spilled  across  the  boundless  areas  of  Rus- 
sia, they  never  won  their  three  main  objectives :  Moscow,  Leningrad 
and  Stalingrad,  having  been  beaten  back  when  they  were  figuratively 
"One  Inch  from  Victory."  Maurice  Lev  supervised  the  film,  Noel 
Meadgw  was  in  charge  of  production,  and  David  Fine  acted  as  technical 
adviser. 

Running  time,  67  mins.    "G."*   Release  date,  May  26. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Anniversary's  First 
Field  Salute  May  22 

The  first  exhibitor  group  in  the  field 
to  set  a  date  for  local  observance  of 
the  50th  anniversary  of  commercial 
films  is  Mid-State  Theatres,  Clearfield, 
Pa.  The  circuit's  houses,  in  nine 
Pennsylvania  towns,  have  chosen  the 
week  of  May  22,  according  to  word 
received  from  Charles  W.  Williams  of 
the  Mid-State  by  MPPDA. 


Coston  Buys  Building 

Chicago,  May  3.  —  James  E. 
Coston,  Chicago  zone  general  manager 
of  Warner  Theatres,  has  personally 
purchased  the  three-story  building  at 
the  southeast  corner  of  79th  St.  and 
Ashland  Ave.  for  $200,000  from  the 
Chicago  Title  and  Trust  Company. 

Warners'  Highland  Theatre  is  on 
the  Northeast  corner  of  the  same  in- 
tersection. The  newly  acquired  build- 
ing contains  eight  stores,  offices  and 
apartments. 


Arthur  Back  in  St.  Louis 

St.  Louis,  May  3. — Harry  C.  Ar- 
thur, Jr.,  general  manager  of  Fanchon 
&  Marco,  has  returned  from  New 
York  where  he  discussed  his  new  Ex- 
hibitors Distributing  and  Producing 
Corp.  He  will  leave  here  for  Holly- 
wood shortly.  Arthur's  brother, 
David,  is  awaiting  induction  into  the 
Marine  Corps. 


'Standing  Room  Only9 
$18,200  in  Buffalo 

Buffalo,  May  3. — Spring  weather 
kept  thousands  outdoors  and  grosses 
declined  somewhat.  "Standing  Room 
Only"  will  probably  lead'  with  about 
$18,200  at  the  Buffalo.  "Ali  Baba  and 
the  Forty  Thieves"  is  expected  to  hit 
f  15,700  in  a  dual  at  the  Lafayette. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  6: 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

BUFFALO  —  (3,489)     (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $18,200.    (Average:  $17,400). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

GREAT  LAKES — (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,200.  (Aver- 
age: $16,600). 

"The  SulUvans"  (20th-Fox) 
"You  Can't  .Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

HIPPODROMEr-C2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  2nd  week,  moveover.  Gross:  $10,000. 
(Average:  $9,700). 

"The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 
"Rookies  in  Burma"  (RKO) 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY  —  (3,000)  (40c-, 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Aver.* 
age:  $12,200). 

Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.> 
"So's  Your  Uncle"  (Univ.)  *t 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70$y  7 
days.    Gross:  $15,700.    (Average:  $12,400}: 


'Show Business'  Premiere 

RKO's  "Show  Business,"  produced 
by  Eddie  Cantor  who  also  stars  in  the 
film,  will  have  its  world  premiere  at 
the  RKO  Palace  here  ne^ 'Tuesday 
evening,  before  an  invitajjgp  preview 
audience. ' 


Floods  Faijpto  Stop 
'Private  Hargrove 

St.  Louis,  May  3. — Rain  and  floods 
have  cut  into  theatre  grosses  this 
week,  but  "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove" at  Loew's  State  looks  like 
a  big  $23,000.  Runner-up  is  "The 
Cobra  Woman"  at  the  Fox  Theatre 
with  $15,000  in  sight. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  Mav  3 : 

"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Slightly   Terrific"  (Univ.) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)  (40c-50c-60c) 
days.     Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $15,7J 
"Snow    White    and    the    Seven  ~ 
(RKO-Disney) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)  (40c-50c-60c) 
Gross:  $13,000.  (Average:  $9,900).j 
"See  Here,   Private   Hargrove"  7 

LOEW'S     STATE— (3,162) 
65c)    7   days.     Gross:    $23,000.  j 
$18,900). 

"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Is  Everybody  Happy?"  (C 

FOX — (5,038)   (40c-50c-60cjaP>'davs.  Gross: 
$14,000.     (Average:  $18,70«<r 
"The  Heavenly  Body"  (MTG-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average: 
$7,100). 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (2<tth-Fox) 
"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 

SHUBERT-(1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 
"North  Star"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 

ST.  LOUIS — (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average:  $5,200). 


'Uncertain  Glory's' 
$29,250  High  at  2 

Denver,  May  3. — "Uncertain  Glory" 
on  a  dual  at  the  Denver  and  Esquire 
theatres  led  the  money  makers,  tak- 
ing, respectively,  $22,500  and  $6,750, 
while  "Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  on 
a  twin  bill  at  the  Paramount  scored 
$16,275.  The  Aladdin  doubled  its  av- 
erage playing  "Cover  Girl." 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  1-3 : 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"Memphis   Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)    (46c-74c).  Moveover. 
Gross:    $11,200.     (Average;  $5,600). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

BROADWAY— (1,040)  (46c-74c)  7  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $5,850.  (Average:  $3.- 
900).  ^si". 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

"Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid"  (Para.) 

DENHAM  -   (1,750)     (35c-45c-70c)  4th 
week.    Gross:  $7,500.    (Average:  $9,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

DENVER— (2,600)      (46c-74c)  7 
Gross:  $22,500.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (740)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,750.     (Average:  $4,500). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 
"Weird  WonuW'  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)   (46c-74c)  7 
Gross:  $16,275.  KAverage:  $9,300). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  nth-Fox) 
RIALTO— (900)P46c-74c)    7  days, 


days. 


days. 


(Average:  $5,000). 


Mexican  '1 


ivies'  Union 

.  Mexico  City,  'May  3.  —  Mexican 
players  who  portray,;  "heavies"  have 
organized  their  own  union,  said  to  be 
the  only  one  of  its  Ktfi|i  in  the  world, 
with  Gen.  Miguel  Inqfei,  Army  offi- 
cer often  in  the  filmlAas  secretary 
general.  The  union  his- not  yet  de- 
clared itself  in  the  preselglconflict  be- 
IweeipothqUa.film  players  Md  laborites. 


'Heavenly'  Gets  $W,000 

Buffalo.  May  3.— M-G-M's  "The! 
Heavenly  Body"  grossed  $10,000  for 
the  week  ending  April  29  at  the  Hip-j 
podrome  here ;  a  gross  of  $19,400  was  j 
previously  reported. 


CHARLES 

Boyer 
Bergman 

JOSEPH 

Gotten 


El 


CHARLES  BOYER  •  INGRID  BERGMAN  •  JOSEPH  COTTEN  in  "GASLIGHT" 

witb  Dame  May  Wbitty  •  Angela  Lansbury  •  Barbara  Everest  •  Screen  Play  ky  Jokn  Van  Druten,  Walter  Reisck  and 
Jokn  L.  Balderston  .  Based  Upon  tKe  Play  ky  Patrick  Hamilton  •  Directed  ky  GEORGE  CUKOR  •  Produced  ky  ARTHUR  HORNBLOW,  JR. 

A  GREAT  ATTRACTION  IN  M-GM's  "SPRINGTIME  5" 


Thursday,  May  4,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


Off  the  Antenna 


A  NY  move  to  'freeze'  television  standards  at  present  levels  will  meet 
with  his  opposition,  James  L.  Fly,  chairman  of  the  Federal  Com- 
munications Commission  reports  in  the  New  York  Times.  Fly  excoriated 
manufacturers  of  television  sets  for  hoping  "to  sell  a  lot  of  stuff"  that 
would  not  give  the  best  possible  service.  In  doing  so,  he  has  all  but 
supported  the  stand  on  television  taken  by  Columbia  Broadcasting,  last 
week,  saying  that  he  thought  the  CBS  announcement  of  policy  "a  useful 
statement."  Asked  by  the  press  if  he  endorsed  the  CBS  policy,  he  said 
that  he  might  disagree  only  on  the  network's  estimates  of  the  time 
period  involved  in  various  phases  of  television  development.  Fly  said 
he  believed  the  commercial  exploitation  of  television  should  be  made 
on  "a  most  optimum  basis"  with  "the  best  we  can  get  for  the  industry 
and  for  the  public."  .  .  . 

With  motion-  picture  advertising  in  radio  hitting  new  highs,  WOR, 
Mutual's  New  York  outlet,  has  already  equaled  its  total  1943  film  busi- 
ness. The  1943  total  marked  an  all-time  high  for  the  station  with  32 
films  advertised.  In  equalling  the  1943  figure  in  the  first  quarter  of  this 
year,  WOR  has  quadrupled  the  former  high  with  every  major  film 
company  using  the  station.  .  .  .  Paramount's  purchase  of  $8,000  worth 
of  radio  time  on  WJZ  to  promote  "The  Hitler  Gang"  in  the  New  York 
area  for  one  week  is  claimed  to  be  a  record  for  the  station.  .  .  . 

•  •  • 

Purely  Personal:  Thomas  C.  McCray  has  been  named  Eastern  program 
manager  of  NBC,  succeeding  Wynn  Wright  who  was  recently  promoted  to 
the  post  of  national  production  manager.  .  .  .  Harry  G.  Ommerle  has  been 
appointed  head  of  the  radio  department  of  A.  &  S.  Lyons  agency.  .  .  .  F.  A. 
{Ted)  Long  ivill  head  television  activities  of  Batten,  Barton,  Durstine  and 
Osborn.  .  .  .  Harold  Rosenberg,  formerly  assistant  chief  of  the  special  assign- 
ment division  of  the  OWI  radio  section  has  been  named  chief  of  that  division 
and  Mrs.  Betty  W .  Carter,  formerly  in  charge  of  the  division's  Washington 
office  has  been  advanced  to  assistant  chief.  .  .  .  Slocum  Chapin  has  transferred 
from  the  sales  staff  of  WJZ,  New  York  to  that  of  the  Blue  Network.  .  .  . 
Herbert  Sanford  has  been  appointed  television  director  of  N.  W.  Ayer.  .  .  . 

•  •  • 

Program  Notes :  Eddie  Cantor  will  launch  the  motion  picture  industry's 
drive  for  the  Women's  Army  Corps  on  his  NBC  broadcast  next  Wednes- 
day, devoting  part  of  his  hour  to  a  salute  to  the  Wac.  .  .  .  Katharine 
Hepburn  in  "The  Philadelphia  Story"  will  be  presented  on  the  NBC 
"Arthur  Hopkins  Presents"  program  next  Wednesday.  .  .  .  Irene  Dunne 
and  Joseph  Cotton  will  be  featured  in  the  CBS  "Lux  Radio  Theatre" 
adaptation  of  "Penny  Serenade"  and  Ronald  Colman  and  Merle  Oberon 
will  appear  in  the  CBS  "Screen  Guild  Players"  adaptation  of  "Dark 
Angel,"  both  set  for  next  Monday.  .  .  .  Warners'  "The  Adventures  of 
Mark  Twain"  will  receive  air  promotions  on  250  stations  through  the 
medium  of  "The  Parents'  Forum"  broadcast. 


Form  Unit  to  Meet 
Radicalism  Charge 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

crete  plan  and  report  back  to  the  par- 
ent group  within  two  weeks. 

Although  spokesmen  for  the  SWG's 
meeting  stated  that  representatives  of 
38  industry  groups  attending  the  ses- 
sion were  included  on  the  provisional 
committee,  they  refused  to  divulge 
their  names  on  the  grounds  that  many 
must  report  back  to  the  membership 
of  their  respective  groups  before  they 
could  be  identified  with  the  movement. 

The  session  adopted  a  resolution 
renouncing  the  "irresponsible  and  un- 
warranted attacks  on  the  industry" 
and  resolved:  "We  are  determined  to 
defend  the  motion  picture  industry 
against  such  attacks  and,  be  it  finally 
resolved,  we  seek  to  organize  the 
widest  possible  industry  unity  to  pub- 
licize constructive  achievements*  of 
the  industry." 

Miss  McCall  delivered  the  major 
talk  of  •  the  session  and  outlined  the 
history  of  alleged  attacks  on  the  in- 
dustry. 

Although  38  industry  guilds,  unions 
and  other  groups  answered  the  SWG 
call,  other  groups,  representing  some 
15,000  industry  workers,  had  not  been 
invited  or  had  refused  to  attend,  it 
was  learned.  Groups  which  had  pre- 
viously endorsed  the  program  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Alliance  for  the  Pre- 
servation of  American  Ideals  were 
not  invited.  SWG  is  pressing  for  an 
investigation  of  the  motives  behind 
the  MPA. 

Radio  to  Expand  with 
Rockefeller  Center 

Applications  for  more  space  for 
radio  operations  in  Rockefeller  Center 
here,  which  houses  the  studios  and 
offices  of  NBC  and  the  Blue  Network, 
have  had  a  bearing  on  plans  for  post- 
war expansion  of  the  vast  midtown 
commercial  and  amusement  establish- 
ment, resulting  in  the  acquisition  of 
several  strategic  neighboring  corners, 
it  became  known  yesterday. 

The  projected  sites  are  at  the  south- 
east and  northwest  corners  of  Sixth 
Ave.  and  48th  St.,  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  Sixth  Ave.  and  51st  St. 
and  in  the  middle  of  the  block  between 
Fifth  and  Sixth  Avenues  running 
through  from  51st  to  52nd  St.  at  the 
head  of  Rockefeller  Plaza. 

More  Women  Bookers 

Chicago,  May  3.— Women  book- 
ers in  this  area  now  include  Eleanor 
Turner,  Affiliated  Theatres,  Indianapo- 
lis ;  Loretta  Byrnes,  Ritz  Theatre. 
Lowell,  Ind. ;  Mrs.  F.  Kaiser,  Virginia 
Theatre,  Chatsworth ;  Mrs.  E.  O. 
Schmidt,  Palace,  Gilman,  and  Ann 
Remijas,  Acadia  and  Gaelic  Theatres, 
Chicago. 

Peoria  Papers  Cut  Ads 

Peoria,  111.,  May  3.— Motion  pic- 
ture and  other  display  advertising  will 
be  excluded  from  Monday  and  Satur- 
day editions  of  the  Peoria  Star  and  the 
Journal-Transcript.  The  nearby  Elgin 
Daily  Courier-News  will  continue  to 
run  all  film  advertising,  despite  a 
aper  shortage. 

Kelley  to  Cincinnati 

Cincinnati,  May  3.— J.  H.  Kelley 
of  Albany.  N.  Y.,  has  succeeded  Her- 
man Hunt  as  manager  of  the  National 
Theatre  Supply  branch  here.  Hunt  re- 
signed due  to  ill  health. 


DeForest  Plans  Tele. 
Station  in  Mexico 

Mexico  City,  May  3. — A  Mexi- 
can government  franchise  to  establish 
a  commercial  television  station  here, 
as  well  as  a  laboratory  for  electronic 
investigations,  is  being  sought  by 
Joseph  Mitchell,  representative  of  Dr. 
Lee  de  Forest,  who  arrived  in  Mexico 
recently. 

The  station,  according  to  Mitchell, 
will  represent  an  estimated  initial  in- 
vestment of  $100,000  and  will  be 
opened  in  the  near  future.  Mitchell 
also  revealed  that  both  he  and  de 
Forest  intend  to  become  permanent 
residents  of  Mexico. 

Steffes  Heads  Fifth 
Loan  in  Minnesota 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

mer  president  of  National  Allied  and 
of  Allied  of  the  Northwest.  In  re- 
cent years  he  has  been  inactive  be- 
cause of  ill  health.  He  is  Chief  Bark- 
er of  the  Variety  Club  of  Minneapo- 
lis. 

In  announcing  Steffes'  acceptance, 
O'Donnell  said,  "His  emergence  from 
retirement  enforced  by  reasons  of 
health  to  lead  the  drive  in  Minnesota 
exemplifies  the  solidarity  of  all 
elements  in  the  industry  in  the  effort 
everyone  will  have  to  put  forth  to  meet 
the  industry's  obligation  in  the  Fifth 
War  Loan." 


Three  New  Theatres 
Get  WPB  Approval 

Washington,  May  3. — The  War 
Production  Board  has  given  its  ap- 
proval to  the  construction  of  three 
new  theatres  in  crowded  war  plant 
areas. 

The  Bancroft  Theatre  Building 
Corp.  will  erect  a  house  in  Omaha. 
It  will  be  equipped  by  the  Scott-Bal- 
lantyne  Co.  and  leased  to  W.  W. 
Troxell. 

A  Market  Street  building  in  San 
Francisco,  once  the  site  of  the  Por- 
tola  Theatre,  will  be  converted  into  a 
film  house  by  the  newly  formed  Pre- 
miere Theatre  Co.,  of  which  the  of- 
ficials are  Ellis  W.  Levy  and  Ben  and 
Jesse  Levin,  Northern  California 
Theatre  operators. 

In  Dallas,  P.  G.  Cameron,  owner 
of  the  former  Urban  Theatre,  recent- 
ly destroyed  by  fire,  will  begin  re- 
construction in  the  fall. 


CBS  Dividend 

The  board  of  directors  of  Columbia 
Broadcasting  yesterday  declared  a 
dividend  of  40  cents  per  share  on  the 
Class  A  and  B  stock  of  $2.50  par 
value.  The  dividend  is  payable  on 
June  2  to  stockholders  of  record  on 
May  19. 


World  Closed  by  Fire 

The  World  Theatre  on  W.  49th  St. 
here,  damaged  by  fire  early  this  week, 
will  remain  closed  for  at  least  10 
days  for  repairs.  Scheduled  to  open 
there  this  week  was  "We've  Come  a 
Long,  Long  Way,"  Negro  feature. 


Television  Does  Not 
Threaten  Films 
Now,  Connors  Says 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

several  meetings  and  were  furnished 
the  trade  press  representatives  as  a 
result  of  questions  put  to  him. 

"My  answer  to  exhibitors,"  Con- 
nors said,  "was  that  insofar  as  I  have 
been  able  to  determine  no  television 
sets  are  being  made  now  and  rela- 
tively few  are  in  use  in  homes.  More- 
over, it  is  my  impression  that  only 
four  television  stations  are  in  opera- 
tion in  the  entire  country,  with  an  ef- 
fective radius  of  25  miles  each." 

Connors  intimated  that  for  these 
reasons  and  because  he  foresees  little 
possibility  of  practical  commercial 
television  being  developed  sooner 
than  several  years  after  the  war,  the 
matter  of  television's  effect  on*  thea- 
tres and  the  use  of  films  for  televi- 
sion remains  an  academic  question 
today. 

Should  Keep  Way  Clear 

Connors  added,  however,  that  the 
way  to  utilization  of  television  within 
the  industry  should  be  kept  clear  so 
that,  if  and  when  it  offers  something 
of  value,  no  promises  made  today  will 
deprive  the  industry  of  its  later  values. 
He  likened  the  situation  to  the  de- 
velopment of  sound  pictures  and  left 
no  doubt  that  the  industry  is  watching 
television  developments  constantly. 

The  20th-Fox  distribution  head 
said  that  the  company  would  very 
likely  increase  its  use  of  radio  for 
picture  exploitation  and  advertising 
and  that  consideration  is  being  given 
to  sponsorship  of  its  own  program. 

Connors  said  that  the  company's 
production  budget  for  the  new  season 
would  very  likely  be  at  least  as  large 
as  this  year's  $36,000,000  budget.  He 
said  that  travel  and  hotel  accommo- 
dations probably  will  make  it  neces- 
sary for  the  company  to  hold  regional, 
instead  of  a  national,  sales  meeting. 


Justice  Dept.  Will 
Press  Schine  Suit 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

10  of  16  theatres  it  had  been  ordered 
by  the  U.  S.  to  sell  but  failed  to  dis- 
pose of,  and  to  expand  its  circuit  fur- 
ther without  requiring  the  court's  ap- 
proval. 

Schine  asked  the  court  if  it  might 
purchase  the  Liberty  Theatre,  Cum- 
berland, Md.,  for  $140,000.  The  deal 
has  '  not  been  approved  by  Judge 
Knight,  and  neither  has  he  acted  on  a 
Government  request  for  appointment 
of  trustees  to  operate  and  maintain 
the  theatres  named  in  the  divestiture 
order,  which  are  still  in  the  posses- 
sion of  Schine. 

The  distributors  seem  destined  to 
return  to  court,  either  on  the  trial 
date  or  immediately  before.  On  May 
19,  1942,  Columbia  stood  ready  to  go 
to  trial  by  itself,  declaring  that  the 
court's  two-year  order  deprived  them 
of  valuable  contracts  with  Schine. 
The  reference  was  to  a  section  re- 
garding continuance  and  making  of 
new  franchises. 

Columbia,  however,  is  the  only  dis- 
tributor so  far  to  come  forward  in  ad- 
vance of  the  adjourned  trial  date.  The 
Government's  two-year  standstill 
agreement  with  Schine  expires  May 
19,  leaving  the  Government  free  to 
proceed  with  trial. 


...A  SLEEPER, 


IF  EVER  THERE  WAS  ONE! 


N.  Y.DAH-Y  NEWS!—-_  mvsterious  note  and  moves 

-  »  .  ,u,;ll«ri  It  beg  ns  on  a  mysienw- 

phereol  suspense...  Enthralling  suspense. 

N.  Y.  DAILY  W1RRORJ--— =~  f.  .lUsl  Absolutely  top-drawer  in  the 
"WHISTLER  tops  in  suspense,   thrills.  Ads 

suspense  department!" 


N.Y.  HERALD  TRIBUNE:^^_  entertainment 

"™E  TTk     I  ridw:  le  Cub  shuddering  for  wee, 
list.  It  should  keep  the  Broaaw  y  top 
to  cornel  The  new  Columbia  mystery  ,s  ngh.  ou 

drawer!' 

n.Y.J0URNAL.A«ER.CAN:  ^  ^  ^  q  nefve. 

»A„  intriguing  dramat.c  p.o  fea, 
stroining  film.  It  hits/Tnew  h.gh   m  h.gh 


WAC  RECRUITING  WEEK  IN 


i^rsMSs^-^'-"- nea,,y  ,orned  s,udy  °f  ,eor 


N  Y  WORLD-TELEGRAM:  

'/^■^  h-  - of  *;  year's  most  eom 

>^-^— i^aTrated  man-hunt  stones 

SHOWMEN'S  TRADE  REVIEW: 

"Has  the  edae-ol-chai,  suspense*,  cua.ity  that  mast  adu.t  «A 

listening  ta  this  shaw  1[n  the  radta^  the  aud.ence 

•ii  »rlrl  ud  to  a  substantial 
psychalagical  and  harror  picture  w.ll  add  up 

payoff." 


EXHIBITOR: 


Suspenses  well-made  ...  has  a  radia  audience 


RICHARD 


DIX 


with  J.  CARROL  NAISH  ■  GLORIA  STUART 
ALAN  DINEH ART  JOAN  WOODBURY 

Suggested  by  the  CBS  Radio  Program  entitled  "The  Whistler" 
Screen  Play  by  Eric  Taylor  •  Directed  by  WILLIAM  CASTLE 
Produced  by  RUDOLPH  C.  FLOTHOW 

A  COLUMBIA  PICTURE  / 


[D0|ITRES  MAY  11th  THRU  17th  •  HELP  WIN 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  4,  1944 


Less  Efficient  Cooling  Is 
Seen  for  This  Summer 


Set  Procedure 
For  Building 

New  Theatres 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

place  between  Clark,  Berge  and 
George  W.  McMurphey,  chief  of  the 
OCR  recreation  section,  leading  to 
the  making  of  'arrangements  for 
handling  all  cases  which  may  arise. 

Under  the  arrangements  worked 
out,  the  OCR  will  submit  full  informa- 
tion regarding  the  need  for  a  theatre 
in  the  particular  locality  in  question 
and  pertinent  facts  regarding  the  ap- 
plicant, including  whether  the_  appli- 
cant is  a  circuit,  and  information  re- 
garding the  interest,  or  lack  of  it,  dis- 
played by  the  independents,  who 
might  also  be  in  a  position  to  build. 
Where  it  is  shown  that  no  competing 
applicants  have  appeared,  particularly 
independents,  no  objection  will  be 
raised  by  the  Department  of  Justice. 

Consider  FWC  First 

The  first  major  project  to  come  up 
for  consideration  under  this  plan  will 
be  the  eight-house  program  of  Fox- 
West  Coast  Theatres,  which,  it  is 
understood,  has  asked  that  some  as- 
surance be  given  by  the  Department 
that,  if  the  applications  are  approved 
by  the  OCR  and  the  War  Production 
Board,  no  threat  of  anti-trust  prose- 
cutions shall  hang  over  it. 

The  possibility  that  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  might  have  an  inter- 
est in  some  of  the  construction  activi- 
ties instigated  by  the  OCR  under  its 
program  to  provide  additional  theatre 
facilities  in  war  centers  where  present 
facilities  were  inadequate  or  entirely 
lacking  was  raised  last  month  when 
representatives  of  Fox  West  Coast 
came  to  Washington  to  discuss  their 
proposals  for  the  construction  of  eight 
new  houses. 

After  conferring  with  WPB  and 
OCR  officials,  the  theatre  men  went  to 
the  Department,  where  they  discussed 
the  matter  with  Clark  with  a  view  to 
getting  his  reaction  to  circuit  expan- 
sions. 

Clark,  Berge  to  Work  Jointly 

For  a  short  time  there  was  some 
confusion  as  to  who  in  the  Depart- 
ment would  handle  the  matter,  Clark 
taking  the  position  that  since  the  war 
construction  had  no  relation  to  the 
pending  decree  negotiations  it  was  a 
subject  for  Berge.  The  latter,  in  turn, 
although  interested,  felt  that  it  should 
be  handled  in  conjunction  with  other 
motion  picture  matters.  This,  how- 
ever, was  straightened  out  by  the  At- 
torney General's  request  that  the  two 
assistant  Attorneys  General  deal  with 
the  matter  jointly. 

Conversations  between  Department 
officials  and  McMurphey  were  said  to- 
day to  have  developed  a  "meeting-of- 
minds"  on  the  question  of  changes  in 
the  competitive  situation  which  might 
result  from  additional  building,  with 
the  need  of  the  war  communities  for 
additional  recreational  facilities  ac- 
cepted as  paramount.  The  Depart- 
ment officials,  however,  are  concerned 
that  the  war-time  construction  pro- 
gram not  be  used  as  a  vehicle  for  fur- 
thering monopoly,  and  to  that  end  will 
scrutinize  all  applications  which  might 
have  a  bearing  on  that  angle. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

bon  dioxide,  washed  air  and  other 
cooling  substances  are,  of  course,  freed 
from  the  necessity  to  conserve  but  are 
not  expecting  the  high  cooling  results 
that  are  claimed  for  freon. 

Motion  Picture  Daily  on  May  2 
reported  on  the  situation  in  several 
territories ;  the  nationwide  checkup  is 
concluded  with  the  following  field  re- 
ports : 

Charlotte's  city  theatres  that  offer 
"cool  inside"  to  patrons  are  for  the 
most  part  all  set  for  the  summer,  but 
at  least  two  air-conditioned  houses  are 
somewhat  dubious  about  the  chances 
of  seeing  the  whole  hot  season  through 
on  present  supplies  of  freon.  In  good 
shape  are  the  Imperial  and  the  Dil- 
worth.  But  A.  B.  Craver,  operator 
of  local  houses,  is  exploring  the  possi- 
bility of  converting  from  freon  to 
some  other  refrigerant.  The  Carolina, 
Charlotte's  largest,  uses  carrene. 

Cincinnati  Has  Supply 

In  Cincinnati,  most  theatres  using 
freon  have  enough  to  carry  through 
the  Summer,  with  care,  and  will  avoid 
using  substitutes  because  of  their  al- 
leged tendency  to  damage  '  cooling 
systems.  Some  circuit  houses  in  that 
city  still  have  carbon  dioxide  sys- 
tems. 

Des  Moines  theatres  and  Tri-States 
and  Central  States  circuits  outside 
that  city  expect  present  supplies  of 
freon  to  run  through  the  Summer. 
They  have  not  considered  possible  sub- 
stitutes. Operators  checked  cooling 
plants  periodically  throughout  the 
Winter  for  leaks,  in  a  freon  conserva- 
tion program. 

Machinery  Adaptable 

In  Atlanta,  the  majority  of  thea- 
tres are  equipped  with  air-condition- 
ing machinery  which  is  adaptable  to 
fluids  which  are  available.  Only  in  a 
few  isolated  situations  will  theatres 
be  forced  to  blow  fans,  or  what  ever 
else  is  available  to  keep  their  houses 
cool  this  Summer. 

Most  theatres  in  Denver  have  water- 
cooling  systems,  and  the  operators  of 
the  three  or  four  that  depend  on  freon 
are  reluctant  to  discuss  their  supply. 
Executives  of  local  Fox  Intermoun- 
tain  Theatres,  which  has  two  or  three 
freon  houses,  are  among  the  reticent. 

St.  Louis  exhibitors  using  freon  are 
concerned  over  its  restriction.  Al  Stet- 
son, maintenance  manager  for  Fanchon 
and  Marco  and  St.  Louis  Amusement 
Co.,   is   surveying   for   leaks.  Rex 


HiSks  House  Quits  Films 

Baltimore,  May  3. — The  Mary- 
land Theatre,  one  of  the  Hicks'  houses 
here,  has  been  closed  and  will  be  con- 
verted into  a  burlesque  house.  During 
the  past  season  the  Maryland  has 
housed  vaudeville  and  pictures ;  legiti- 
mate road  shows ;  a  stock  company 
and,  finally,  pictures  alone. 


Lima  Here  from  Brazil 

Ary  Lima,  general  manager  for 
Warners  in  Brazil,  has  arrived  here 
from  Rio  de  Janeiro  for  conferences 
with  Robert  Schless,  foreign  manager, 
Joseph  S.  Hummell  and  other  home 
office  foreign  executives.  He  will  re- 
main here  10  days. 


Detroit  Theatres  4 
Degrees  Warmer 

Detroit,  May  3.— Exhibit- 
ors here,  faced  with  meeting 
the  Government's  ban  on  fre- 
on gas  for  theatres  this  sum- 
mer, have  agreed  to  postpone 
turning  on  their  cooling  sys- 
tems until  June  1.  Thereafter 
they  will  keep  their  houses 
eight  degrees  below  the  out- 
side temperature,  instead  of 
12  degrees  as  in  the  past. 


Williams,  manager  of  Loew's  State 
and  Orpheum,  has  succeeded  in  ob- 
taining replacement  parts  for  his  sys- 
tems, which  do  not  need  freon. 

In  Omaha,  William  Miskell,  Tri- 
States  Theatres  district  manager,  re- 
ported enough  freon  available  for  the 
Orpheum,  Paramount  and  Omaha, 
which,  however,  he  said  would  not  be 
quite  as  cool  as  in  former  years. 
'Pinky"  Mcllvaine  of  the  Brandeis  be- 
gan conserving  his  supply  last  Sum- 
mer and  now  plans  to  "baby  the 
machine"  by  turning  it  on  and  off  fre- 
quently. 

Blowers  in  Hartford 

Straight  blower  systems,  in  Hart- 
ford, are  used  by  the  Lenox,  Lyric, 
Central,  Rialto  and  Princess,  neigh- 
borhood houses,  and  by  Loew's  Poli 
and  Palace,  Warners'  Strand  and 
Lieberman's  Proven  Pictures,  down- 
town theatres.  All  these  who  formerly 
depended  on  freon  have  abandoned  it. 
The  same  is  true  in  Kansas  City, 
where  no  trouble  is  anticipated  as  a 
result.  Nor  is  there  a  single  freon 
house  in  the  state  of  Washington,  ac- 
cording to  a  Seattle  report ;  the  larger 
theatres  there  are  water  cooled,  and 
the  smaller  ones  employ  fans  and  ice. 
Likewise,  freon  is  needed  for  only  a 
few  houses  in  the  Greater  Cleveland 
area,  where  the  announced  lack  of  the 
gas  is  said  to  be  causing  "not  even  a 
ripple  of  concern." 

The  Southwest  is  similarly  unwor- 
ried,  according  to  a  Dallas  report.  In- 
terstate Theatres  there  are  expecting 
to  get  by  on  their  normal  allotment ; 
the  air  is  washed  in  all  Robb  and  Row- 
ley 1  ouses  and  also  in  a  majority  of 
the  R.  E.  Griffith  circuit,  R.  I.  Payne, 
Griffith  executive,  reported.  P.  'G. 
Cameron,  who  owns  the  Peak.  Air- 
way, Grove  and  Urban,  Dallas  neigh- 
borhood houses,  changed  over  from 
freon  a  year  ago. 


WFA  Cites  WAC  Short 

Marvin  Jones,  administrator  of  the 
War  Food  Administration,  in  a  letter 
to  John  C.  Flinn,  coordinator  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee  Hollywood 
Division,  states  that  WFA  officials  ex- 
pect the  WAC  short,  "America's  Hid- 
den Weapon,"  to  help  obtain  civilian 
cooperation  necessary  for  an  adequate 
food  supply  this  year. 


'Tank  Patrol'  to  Classics 

Film  Classics  will  distribute  "Tank- 
Patrol,"  short  subject  produced  for 
British  Information  Services.  "Tar- 
get for  Tonight"  will  be  re-released, 
also  through  Film  Classics. 


Sales,  Not  Reports, 
Is  O'Donnell  Aim 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

which  theatre  men  have  worked 
throughout  the  war  and  must  give 
them  every  possible  help,  never  adding 
to  their  burden,  as  they  set  out  to 
top  their  own  remarkable  efforts," 
he  added. 

O'Donnell  initiated  four  days  of  stu- 
dio and  talent  meetings  here  by  em- 
phasizing the  U.  S.  Treasury  Depart- 
ment's new  record  goal  of  $6,000,000,- 
000  in  "E"  bonds  to  be  sold  between 
June  12  and  July  8.  "A  tremendous 
job  was  done  by  the  industry  under 
Charles  P.  Skouras  in  the  Fourth 
War  Loan,  with  the  objective  of  a 
bond  for  each  of  the  nation's  11,500,- 
000  theatre  seats  surpassed  by  500,- 
000,"  he  observed.  "But  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  must  set  a  far  better 
record.  Fortunately  we  have  an  or- 
ganization perfected  by  experience, 
and  with  this  organization  the  indus- 
try can  do  the  job." 

Cites  Response  of  Press 

O'Donnell  told  leaders  of  Holly- 
wood groups  that  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
committee  had  received  "magnificent 
response"  in  its  first  meetings  with 
the  trade  press,  newsreels  and  adver- 
tising managers  in  New  York.  "Dis- 
tribution," he  said,  "is  perfectly  or- 
ganized, with  every  film  salesman 
mobilized,  and  we  have  the  unfailing 
backing  of  the  16,000  theatre  opera- 
tors." 

Accompanied  by  Claude  F.  Lee,  in- 
dustry war  bond  consultant  to  the 
Treasury  Department,  O'Donnell  to- 
day discussed  plans  with  executives 
of  the  Hollywood  Victory  Committee. 
Tomorrow,  T.  R.  Gamble,  national 
director  of  the  War  Finance  Division 
of  the  Treasury,  will  join  the  group 
for  a  final  meeting  to  set  Hollywood's 
participation  in  the  campaign. 


Wallis-Hazen  Near 
Release  Decision 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

companies.  Regardless  of  their  ac- 
cepted affiliation,  Wallis  and  Hazen 
will  be  together,  as  reported  exclus- 
ively in  Motion  Picture  Daily  on 
April  14.  A  final  decision  on  their 
distribution  affiliation  is  expected  with- 
in the  next  few  days  and  prior  to 
Wallis's  scheduled  departure  for  the 
Coast.  Wallis  is  extending  his  stay 
here  into  next  week. 

Meanwhile,  current  Broadway  re- 
ports are  that  Wallis  is  also  discussing 
a  possible  deal  with  the  Theatre  Guild 
and  Herman  Shumlin  under  which  he 
would  be  associated  with  these  play 
producers  in  a  film  unit.  First  pro- 
duction of  the  partnership  might  be 
Lillian  Hellman's  "The  Searching 
Wind,"  which  Shumlin  staged.  Indica- 
tions are  that  the  Guild  and  Shumlin 
might  prefer  a  deal  of  this  kind  to  the 
outright  sale  of  their  properties  to 
Hollywood. 


Another  for  Seligman 

Leo  Seligman  has  acquired  distribu- 
tion rights  in  the  United  States  to  the 
French  and  Italian  versions  of  "The 
Men  in  Her  Life,"  retitled  "La  Rose 
Blanche,"  and  "Gli  Uomini  Nella  Sua 
Vita,"  respectively,  from  Columbia 
Pictures. 


Thursday,  May  4,  1944 


Motion  picture  Daily 


13 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  May  3 

j  |  N  Hollywood,  where  story  purchases 
'1  and  the  methods  of  signing  up  orig 
inals  mean  a  lot  to  scriveners,  both  in 
and  out  of  the  Screen  Writers'  Guild, 
ihe  new  deal  which  Darryl  Zanuck 
nst  signed  with  Commando  Kelly  in 
Conjunction  with  the  Saturday  Evening 
Post  has  created  interest. 

Zanuck  and  the  Post  jointly  signed 
the  war  hero  for  his  story.  It's  to 
be  published  as  a  serial  and  Zanuck 
plans  to  make  it  into  a  picture  while 
both  will  cooperate  in  finding  a  pub- 
lishing house  to  bring  it  into  book 
form.  It  may  presage  a  new  trend  in 
picture  rights,  combined  with  serializa 
tion  and  book  publication,  to  achieve 
the  utmost  in  promotional  benefits 
through  reader  interest  aroused  prior 
tot  production. 

• 

Associate-Producer  Joan  Harrison 
has  signed  Franchot  Tone  for  the  lead 
in  "Dark  Waters,"  which  she  will  pro- 
duce with  Benedict  Bogeaus  for  UA 
The  picture  will  start  May  10  at  Gen- 
eral Service.  .  .  .  William  Goetz  has 
changed  the  title  of  International's 
"Once  Off  Guard,"  starring  Edward 
G.  Robinson  and  Joan  Bennett,  to  "The 
Woman  in  the  Window."  Nunnally 
Johnson  is  producing  from  his  own 
script.  .  .  .  Frank  Seltzer  has  succeeded 
Len  Simpson,  resigned,  as  publicity  di 
rector  for  Edward  Small.  This  makes 
five  in  a  row  for  Small  in  almost  as 
many  months. 

• 

RKO-Radio  has  six  slated  to  get 
underway  during  the  month  which, 
with  four  others  still  on  the  stages 
will  bring  to  ten  the  number  in 
work  at  RKO.  New  ones  include 
"Having  Wonderful  Crime,"  "Fare- 
well My  Lovely,"  directed  by  Ed 
ward  Dmytryk,  and  "The  Pumpkin 
Shell,"  directed  by  Alfred  Werner 
which  Adrian  Scott  produces  under 
supervision  of  Sid  Rogell;  Frank 
Strayer's  initial  RKO  production, 
"Girl  Rush,"  a  musical;  "Betrayal 
from  the  East,"  with  Herman 
Schlom  producing,  and  Edward 
Golden's  "The  Master  Race." 


Cheryl  Walker,  blonde  starlet  who 
registered  in  "Stage  Door  Canteen' 
and  was  later  under  contract  to  War 
ners,  has  obtained  her  release  and  is 
co-starred  in  Republic's  "Three  Little 
Sisters."  .  .  .  M-G-M  hopes  to  do  a 
great  deal  with  Kathryn  Grayson  and 
June  Allyson  in  Joe  Pasternak's  new 
production,  "Brighton  Beach."  Miss 
Grayson  will  portray  the  part  of  an 
opera  singer  while  Miss  Allyson  will 
portray  a  singer  of  popular  songs  with 
Henry  Koster  directing. 


Jack  Conway  ivill  mark  his  35th 
year  in  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try by  directing  "The  Clock"  for 
Producer  Arthur  Freed  at  M-G-M.  In 
ifhis  one  Judy  Garland  will  have  her 
first  real  dramatic  role. . .  Sponsored  by 
he  American  Women's  Voluntary  Ser 
vices,  "Show  Business"  will  have  a 
benefit  ii'orld  premiere  at  Grauman's 
Chinese  May  10.  Proceeds  will  go  to 
'he  wounded  soldiers'  fund  of  the  new 
Birmingham  General  Hospital  at  Van 
Wuys,  Cal. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


THIS  WEEK'S  "TIME"  MAGAZINE  SAYS 
THAT  LEO  MCCAREY'S    GOING  MY  WAY 
WITH  BING  CROSBY   IS  "ONE  OF  THE 
YEAR'S  TOP  SURPRISES...    IT  POINTS 
THE  WAY  TO  THE  GREAT  FILMS  WHICH 
WILL  BE  POSSIBLE  WHEN  HOLLYWOOD 
BECOMES  AWARE  OF  THE  RICHNESS 
AND  DELIGHT  OF  HUMAN  CHARACTER 
OBSERVED  FOR   ITS  OWN  SAKE. ..BARRY 
F I TZGERALD  OFFERS  THE  F I  NEST , 
FUNNIEST  AND  MOST  TOUCHING 
PORTRAYAL  OF  OLD  AGE  THAT  HAS  YET 
REACHED  THE  SCREEN  I " 


'Standing  Room'  Is 
$13,200  Over  at 
Two  in  Los  Angeles 

Los  Angeles,  May  3.— Under  kindly 
minstrations  of  the  weather  man,  local 
grosses  in  general  upped  appreciably. 
"Standing  Room  Only"  collected  $44,- 
500  at  the  two  Paramounts,  which 
average  $31,300.  "The  Bridge  of  San 
Luis  Rey"  did  $41,200  in  the  Egyptian- 
Los  Angeles-Ritz  triad  where  $33,300 
is  par. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  3 : 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"The  Woman  of  the  Town"  (UA) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLEr-(l,516)  (50<-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,800.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"The  Woman  of  the  Town"  (UA) 

CHINESE —  (2,500)    (S0c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,700.    (Average:  $15,500). 
'The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 

EGYPTIAN  —  (1,500)  (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $11,200.    (Average:  $9,500). 
'Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 
"The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7  days 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $6,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  3rd  week 
"Weekend  Pass"  (Univ.) 

HILLSTREET  -  (2,700)      (50c  -  60c  -  80c). 
Gross:  $17,000.    (Average:  $19,700). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"The  Woman  of  the  Town"  (UA) 

LOEWS  STATE  —  (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $28,500.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 

LOS  ANGELES  —  (2,098)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average: 
$14,900). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  3rd  week 
"Weekend  Pass"  (Univ.) 

PANTAGES  —  (2,000)  (50c-60c-80c-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average:  $16,700). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD— (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Aver- 
age: $11,000). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"Yon  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN— (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $29,000.  (Aver- 
age: $20,300). 

"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 

RITZ— (1.376)   (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)   7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $8,700). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
The  Woman  of  the  Town"  (UA) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)  (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
davs.  Gross:  $12,200.  (Average:  $10,500). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c. 
60c-80c-$1.00)    4th    week.      Gross:  $10,545. 
CAverage:  $17,000) 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  DOWNTOWN— (3,400)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  4th  week.  Gross:  $13,175.  (Av- 
erage: $18,700). 
Shine  Oru,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  WTLTERN — (2,200)  (50e-60c- 
f!0c-$1.00)  4th  week.  Gross:  $10,528.  (Av- 
erage: $15,200). 

Mexicans  Open  South 
American  Exchanges 

Mexico  City,  May  3. — Clasa  and 
Films  Mundiales,  two  of  Mexico's 
largest  producers,  are  branching  out 
in  South  America.  Together  they 
have  established  exchanges  in  Brazil, 
Peru,  Colombia  and  Chile. 

Striving  to  get  Brazilian  business, 
Mexican  producers  have  just  finished 
14  films  in  Portuguese,  Brazil's  official 
language. 


Mexicans  Lose  $200,000 

Mexico  City,  May  3. — Mexican  ex- 
hibitors lost  an  estimated  $200,000  as 
a  result  of  Mexico's  May  1  Labor 
Day,  most  strictly  observed  holiday 
here,  which  closed  the  republic's  1,025 
theatres.  This  was  a  higher  loss  than 
heretofore  due  to  the  increased  popu- 
larity of  films  and  higher  admissions. 


1  WARNERS 

SHINE  ON, 
HARVEST 

MOON 
Ann  Sheridan 
Dennis  Morgan 
Irene  Manning 
M — 1  iz  mins. 
(313) 

UNCERTAIN 
GLORY 
Errol  Flynn 
Paul  Lukas 

D — 102  mins.  (314) 

THE 
AD VENTURES 
OF  MARK 
TWAIN 
Fredric  March 
Alexis  Smith 
Donald  Crisp 
D — 130  mins.  (315) 

BETWEEN 
TWO  WORLDS 
John  Garfield 
Paul  Henreid 

D— (316) 

MAKE  YOUR 
OWN  BED 
Jack  Carson 
Jane  Wyman 

Irene  Manning 
C— (317) 

UNIVERSAL 

WEIRD  WOMAN 
Lon  Chancy 
Anne  Gwynne 
Evelyn  Ankers 

D — 64  mins.  (8027) 

HER 
PRIMITIVE 
MAN 
Louise  Albritton. 
Robert  Paige 
D — 79  mins.  (8016) 

MOON  OVER 
LAS  VEGAS 
Ann  Gwynne 
David  Bruce 

D— 69  mins.  (8037) 

SLIGHTLY 
TERRIFIC 
Leon  Errol 
Anne  Rooney 
Evelyn  Ankers 
C — 58  mins.  (8036) 

COBRA 
WOMAN 

(Technicolor) 
Maria  Montez 
Jon  Hall 
Sabu 

PARDON  MY 
RHYTHM 
Gloria  Jean 

Patric  Knowles 
M 

THE  SCARLET 
CLAW 
Basil  Rathbone 
Nigel  Bruce 

D — 74   mins.  (8019) 

THIS  IS  THE 

LIFE 
Donald  O'Connor 
Susanna  Foster 

C— 87    mins.  (8012) 

THE  INVISIBLE 
MAN'S  REVENGE 
Jon  Hall 
Evelyn  Ankers 
Alan  Curtis 
D 

1 

< 

IT  HAPPENED 
TOMORROW 
Linda  Darnell 
Dick  PoweU 
C — 84  mins. 

VOICE    IN  THE 
WIND 
Francis  Lederer 
Sigrid  Ourie 
D — 85  mins. 

LUMBER  JACK 
(Harry  Sherman 
Production) 
William  Boyd 

O — 64  mins. 

20TH-FOX 

(May  Releases.  No 
definite  date  set) 
PIN-UP  GIRL 
Betty  Qrable 
John  Harvey 
Martha  Raye 
Joe  E.  Brown 
M — (427) 
(Color) 

BERMUDA 
MYSTERY 
Preston  Foster 
Ann  Rutherford 

D — (428) 

Q 
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First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


OL.  55.  NO.  89 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  MAY  5,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


'Honored  100' 
Tribute  by 
U.S.  on  May  9 

Secretary  Morgenthau  to 
Make  the  Awards 


mppda  Approves  ELIMINATE  'LITTLE  3' 

Plan  for  Film 

FROM  SCHINE  CASE 


Emissaries  Abroad 


(The  Honor  Roll  of  the  Hon- 
ored Hundred  theatre  owners 
and  managers  who  led  in  com- 
parative sales  in  the  industry's 
Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  appears 
on  Pages  10  and  11.) 

The  United  States  Government  on 
Tuesday,  May  9,  will  formally  pay 
tribute  to  the  "Honored  Hundred" 
motion  picture  theatre  owners  and 
managers  who  distinguished  them- 
selves by  the  high  sales  of  "E"  bonds 
in  the  industry's  Fourth  War  Loan 
drive  last  Winter.  On  that  date,  in 
Washington,  Secretary  of  the  Treas- 
ury Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr.,  will  be- 
stow upon  them  the  recognition  of 
"America's  great  showmen  and  pa- 
triots." 

The  winners,  in  a  contest  which 
was  participated  in  by  10,000  theatre 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Mass  Induction  Will 
Open  'Wac  Week' 


Times  Square  will  be  the  scene  of 
a  public  induction  of  100  young  wom- 
en into  the  Women's  Army  Corps 
next  Wednesday  at  12  :30  P.M.  The 
ceremony  will  mark  the  opening  of 
"Wac  Recruiting  Week,"  May  11- 
17,  in  the  16,000  motion  picture  thea- 
tres of  the  country,  and  will  be  con- 
ducted by  a  high-ranking  officer,  who 
will  administer  the  oath  from  a  spe- 
cially constructed  grandstand. 

Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  Metropolitan 
area   chairman    for   the   Wac  cam 
paign,  will  introduce  Edward  L.  Al 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Universal  Declares 
Dollar  Dividend 

Universal's  board  of  directors  has 
declared  a  dividend  of  $1  per  share  on 
the  company's  common  stock  payable 
May  31,  to  stockholders  of  record  of 
May  17,  J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chair 
man  of  the  board,  disclosed  here  yes 
terday. 

Cowdin  stated  that  "the  board  ex 
pressed  its  intention  of  declaring  any 
dividends  in  the  future  on  a  quarterly 
basis,"  adding  that  "the  dividend  just 
declared  should  be  considered  as  rep- 
resenting dividends  for  the  first  two 
quarters  of  the  current  year." 


The  plan  of  the  indstry's  foreign 
managers  for  the  appointment  of  mo- 
tion picture  "ambassadors"  in  the 
important  world  capitals  has  been 
given  the  green  light'  by  the  MPPDA 
board  of  directors  at  a  meeting  held 
"•.ere  this  week,  it  was  learned  yester- 
day. 

The  plan  proposes  the  immediate 
appointment  of  industry  representa- 
tives in  five  or  six  important  world 
capitals  and  the  appointment  of  others 
either  after  the  war  or  as  rapidly  as 
practicable,  and  as  world  conditions 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


George  Arthur  Made 
Cagney  Assistant 

Hollywood,  May  4. — George  Ar- 
thur, former  Paramount  producer,  has 
been  named  general  assistant  to  Wil- 
liam Cagney,  president  of  William 
Cagney  Productions,  it  was  disclosed 
here  today. 

Arthur,  recently  film  editor  ,  for  the 
company,  will  work  with  writers  and 
production  assistants  on  preparation  of 
scripts  and  will  be  chief  contact  with 
talent  and  story  agents. 


Name  Proxies  for 
UA  Meet  at 
Wilmington  Today 


United  Artists  owners,  Mary  Pick- 
ford,  David  O.  Selznick  and  Charles 
Chaplin,  all  will  be  represented  by 
proxy  at  the  meeting  of  stockholders 
scheduled  for  this  afternoon  in  Wilm- 
ington, Del. 

Miss  Pickford  will  be  represented 
by  Isaac  Pennypacker,  Philadelphia 
attorney ;  Selznick,  by  the  New  York 
law  firm  of  White  &  Case,  and  Chap- 
lin by  Arthur  W.  Kelly.  Chaplin's 
New  York  attorney,  Charles 
Schwartz,  is  not  scheduled  to  attend 
the  meeting.  Edward  C.  Raftery, 
United  Artists  president,  and  Harry 
J.  Miller,  treasurer,  will  also  at- 
tend. 

The  meeting  is  regarded  as  of  un- 
usual importance  in  that  proposed 
amendments  to  the  company's  bylaws 
designed  to  give  greater  freedom  to 
operating  management  and  to  elimi- 
nate ownership  intervention  in  rou- 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Marshal  Forces  for  Fifth 
War  Loan  This  Weekend 


One  of  the  most  important  phases 
of  the  industry's  nationwide  partici- 
pation in  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive, 
June    12    through    July    8,    will  be 
launched  this 
weekend  when 
the  distributors 
marshal    t  h  eir 
forces  at  meet- 
i  n  g  s    of    a  11 
branch  man- 
agers and 
salesmen  in  all 
exchange  terri- 
tories. 

The  meet- 
ings, called  by 
the  distribution 
chair  men  of 
territorial  War 
A  c  t  i  v  i  t  i  es 
Committees,  at 
the  request  of  Ned  E.  Depinet,  na- 
tional chairman  of  the  distribution  di- 
vision, will  be  held  on  Saturday  or  as 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Ned   E.  Depinet 


Service  Raise  May 
Follow  Pay  Raises 

Increased  charges  for  servicing  the- 
atre reproducers  are  expected  to  follow 
the  granting  of  pay-raises  to  sound 
servicemen  provided  for  in  the 
new  contract  drawn  by  the  service 
companies  and  IATSE  representatives 
of  the  soundmen,  according  to  au- 
thorities in  that  field.  The  contract 
has  been  drawn  and  will  be  signed  by 
both  parties  within  two  weeks. 

The  contract  provides  for  increases 
of  approximately  ten  percent  for  the 
workers,  raising  the  present  minimum 
of  $84  a  week  to  $92 ;  payment  for 
overtime  work;  adjustments  of  hours 
in  Metropolitan  districts  and  other  pro- 
visions. Sound  men  work  an  average 
of  48  hours  weekly  in  Metropolitan 
areas  and  54  hours  on  a  four-week 
basis  with  allowances  for  time  off  in 
other  areas. 


Circuit  Gets  6  Months  to 
Dispose  of  10  Houses; 
Liberty  Purchase  Granted 


Columbia,  United  Artists  and 
Universal  yesterday  were  unexpect- 
edly and  unreservedly  eliminated 
by  the  Government  as  defendants 


Judge  John  Knight  yesterday 
gave  Schine  six  months  longer 
in  which  to  dispose  of  10  re- 
maining houses  under  a  divesti- 
ture order  and  also  granted  the 
circuit  permission  to  purchase 
the  Liberty  Theatre,  Cumber- 
land, Md.   See  story  on  Page  8. 


in  the  Schine  Theatres  anti-trust 
suit,  pending  in  Federal  court  at 
Buffalo. 

Dismissal  stipulations  were  handed 
to  counsel  for  the  three  companies 
here  yesterday  morning  by  U.  S.  As- 
sistant Attorney  General  Albert  Bog- 
gess. 

Counsel  for  the  distributors,  Louis 
Frohlich,  representing  Columbia ;  Ed- 
ward Raftery,  for  United  Artists,  and 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


'Gag'  Rule  Imposed 
On  WPB  Officials 


Washingtoni,  May  4. — An  iron- 
clad "gag"  rule  has  been  imposed  on 
all  War  Production  Board  officials 
having  to  do  with  motion  pictures 
and  theatres,  it  was  learned  today. 

Assertedly  distorted  news  stories 
regarding  WPB  activities  are  under- 
stood to  have  created  a  minor  tempest 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Gov't  Curbs  Political 
Films  for  Overseas 

Washington,  May  4. — Rules  de- 
signed to  enforce  strict  impartiality 
in  the  dissemination  of  political  in- 
formation to  servicemen  overseas  and 
involving  films  and  radio  broadcasts 
were  today  transmitted  to  all  Army 
commanders  throughout  the  world  by 
the  War  Department. 

The  policies  were  laid  down  under 
the  new  Federal  voting  law,  which 
is  an  amendment  to  the  Hatch  Act 
prohibiting  the  use  of  Federal  funds 
or  sponsorship  to  influence  the  armed 
forces  in  voting  in  Federal  elections. 

The  instructions,  laid  down  with 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  May  5,  1944 


17  Films  Selected 
For  Spanish  Fair 

Seventeen  films  have  been  offered 
to  the  Spanish  government  by  RKO, 
Warners,  Paramount  and  Universal 
for  showing  at  the  International  Fair 
to  be  held  in  Barcelona,  Spain,  be- 
tween June  10  and  30. 

Paramount  will  exhibit  "Lady  in 
the  Dark"  and  "Going  My  Way,"  both 
in  English;  Universal  has  forwarded 
to  its  representative  five  films  from 
which  two  will  be  selected;  they  are: 
"Phantom  of  the  Opera,"  "Ali  Baba 
and  the  40  Thieves,"  "His  Butler's 
Sister,"  "Phantom  Lady"  and  "Flesh 
and  Fantasy." 

RKO  has  forwarded  "Tom,  Dick 
and  Harry,"  with  the  second  feature 
to  be  selected  from  prints  now  in 
Spain.  Warners  has  shipped  nine  fea- 
tures, all  superimposed  Spanish  ver- 
sions, including  :  "All  This  and  Heaven 
Too,"  "Now  Voyager,"  "They  Drive 
by  Night,"  "Dark  Victory,''  "Till  We 
Meet  Again,"  ^'Virginia  City,"  "City 
for  Conquest,"  "Million  Dollar  Baby" 
and  "Sea  Wolf."  From  these,  two 
will  be  chosen. 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  and  Repub- 
lic, it  is  understood,  are  giving  further 
consideration  before  deciding  to  par- 
ticipate. Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  and 
United  Artists  will  not  be  represented 
at  the  fair,  it  is  reported. 

Columbia  has  shipped  one  feature, 
"You  Were  Never  Lovelier." 


Columbia  Heads  Fete 
Capt.  McCullough 

Captain  Harry  McCullough,  former- 
ly of  Columbia,  a  war  hero  and  veteran 
of  more  than  200  air  battles  in  the 
South  Pacific,  was  guest  of  honor  at  a 
luncheon  given  by  the  company  at  Gal- 
lagher's Steak  House  here  yesterday. 

Company  executives  and  department 
heads  were  among  the  guests  who  at- 
tended including:  Jack  Cohn,  Abe 
Schneider,  A.  Montague,  Nate  Spin- 
gold,  Joseph  McConville,  L.  J.  Bar- 
bano,  Samuel  Briskin,  Rube  Jackter, 
Leo  Jaffe,  Mortimer  Wormser,  Lou 
Weinberg,  Louis  Astor,  Max  Weis- 
feldt,  Frank  Rosenberg,  and  others. 


Leslie,  'M.  P.  Herald' 
Correspondent,  Dies 

Tampa,  Fla.,  May  4. — Scott  Leslie, 
65,  local  correspondent  for  the  Motion 
Picture  Herald,  died  here  recently.  He 
was  in  the  theatre  supply  business. 

From  1912  to  1914,  Leslie  and  his 
wife  covered  Florida  making  motion 
pictures  of  its  beauty  spots,  animal  life, 
jungles  and  Everglades.  They  shot 
over  100,000  feet  of  negative  in  the  two 
years,  said  to  be  the  first  films  to  be 
taken  in  the  state. 

Leslie  is  survived  by  his  widow. 


Beddington  Due  Here 

Jack  L.  Beddington,  director  of  the 
film  division  of  the  British  Ministry 
of  Information  in  London,  is  due  here 
today  or  tomorrow.  He  will  meet  the 
trade  press  at  the  21  Club  here  on 
Monday.  He  is  expected  to  visit  in 
Chicago  on  May  18  and  will  be  in  the 
United  States  for  about  a  month. 


Personal  Mention 


N PETER     RATHVON,  RKO 
•  president,  is  scheduled  to  leave 
for  the  Coast  today. 

William  C.  Gehrixg,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox Western  sales  manager,  re- 
turned yesterday  to  New  York  from 
Milwaukee. 

W.   A.   Smith,  president  of  the 
Akron  Independent  Theatre  Owners,  is 
at  St.  Thomas'  Hospital  there  recuper- 
ating from  a  recent  heart  attack. 
• 

Earl  Rockabrand,  Paramount  Chi- 
cago salesman,  has  returned  to  work 
following  minor  injuries  sustained  in 
an  automobile  accident. 

• 

Howard  Worden,  formerly  of 
Young  and  Rubicam,  has  joined  the 
executive  staff  of  Foote,  Cone  and 
Belding,  New  York. 

• 

Pvt.  Richard  Rogers,  son  of  Budd 
Rogers,  Ea'stern  sales  representative, 
has  been  assigned  to  the  field  artillery 
at  Ft.  Bragg,  N.  C. 

• 

Harold  Bucquet,  M-G-M  director, 
has  returned  to  Hollywood  from  Chi- 


JOHX  JOSEPH,  Universal  adver- 
tising-publicity director,  will  arrive 
from  the  Coast  today. 

• 

Air  Cadet  Gerald  Schnitzer,  son 
of  Edward  Schxitzer,  United  Art- 
ists' sales  executive,  has  been  trans- 
ferred from  Courtlandt,  Ala.,  to  Santa 
Ana,  Cal. 

• 

George  B.  West,  Monogram  St. 
Louis  and  Cincinnati  franchise  holder, 
will  visit  the  company's  studio  late  this 
month. 

• 

Harold  Schwarz  of  Tower  Pic- 
tures, Dallas,  Tex.,  has  arrived  in  New 
York  on  a  business  visit. 

• 

Irvixg  Cohen  of  Paramount's  legal 
department,  will  return  to  New  York 
from  Buffalo  Monday. 

• 

T.  R.  Thompson,  United  Artists 
Kansas  City  district  manager,  is  visit- 
ing the  home  office. 

• 

Dick  Wright  of  the  Warner  The- 
atres Cleveland  office,  arrived  in  New 
York  yesterday. 

• 

Harold  Wirthwein,  Paramount 
Milwaukee  branch  manager,  was  vis- 
iting in  Chicago  this  week. 


'Locally  Needed'  for 
Cleveland  Sought 

Cleveland,  May  4. — Efforts  to  give 
film  exchanges  here  a  "locally  needed" 
rating  are  under  way  and  a  favorable 
answer  from  Washington  is  expected. 
Morrison  Orr,  United  Artists  branch 
manager  and  distributor  chairman  of 
the  local  War  Activities  Committee 
here,  who  is  handling  the  petition, 
states  that  indications  point  to  a  ruling 
similar  to  the  one  in  effect  in  Pitts- 
burgh and  Philadelphia. 

Distributors  have  filed  for  "locally 
needed"  ratings  in  13  additional  ex- 
change centers ;  they  are :  Chicago, 
New  Haven,  Los  Angeles,  Washing- 
ton, Albany,  Charlotte,  Dallas,  Mil- 
waukee, New  Orleans,  Omaha,  Okla- 
homa City,  San  Francisco  and  Seattle. 


Reisman  to  Report 
On  Mexican  Sales 

Film  company  foreign  distribution 
heads  are  expected  to  meet  at  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Producers  and  Distribu- 
tors of  America  office  here  next 
Thursday  or  Friday  to  hear  a  report 
by  Phil  Reisman,  RKO-Radio  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  distribu- 
tion, on  the  distribution  of  American 
films  in  Mexico. 

Reisman  is  due  in  New  York  today 
from  the  Coast  where  he  stopped  en 
route  from  Mexico. 


Goldberg  on  Council 

Philadelphia,  May  4. —  Harry 
Goldberg,  national  director  of  adver- 
tising for  Warner  Theatres,  was  re- 
elected to  the  board  of  directors  of  the 
Jewish  Community  Relations  Council 
here  at  the  council's  annual  meeting 
held  at  the  Warwick  Hotel  yesterday. 


Elect  Senft  Head  of 
N.  Y.  Cinema  Lodge 

Albert  Senft  of  Sterling  Sign  Co., 
was  elected  president  of  the  New  York 
Cinema  Lodge  No.  1366,  B'nai  B'rith, 
at  a  meeting  at  the  Hotel  Piccadilly 
here  last  night.  Senft  succeeds  Adolph 
Schimel,  Universal  attorney,  and  will 
serve  for  the  coming  year. 

Four  new  vice-presidents  were  elect- 
ed and  seven  other  vice-presidents 
were  reelected.  Others  reelected  were  : 
treasurer,  Max  D.  Blackman;  record- 
ing'secretary,  Julius  Collins;  corre- 
sponding secretary,  Herman  Levine, 
and  monitor,  Dr.  Charles  Goodman. 
The  four  new  vice-presidents  are  Rob- 
ert Wile,  Universal ;  William  Zimmer- 
man, RKO ;  Bernard  Goodman,  War- 
ners, and  Louis  Weber,  Skouras. 

Vice-presidents  reelected  were :  S. 
Arthur  Glixon,  Leo  Jaffee,  Sam  Lef- 
kowitz,  William  Melnicker,  Alvin  T. 
Sapinsley,  Norman  Steinberg,  and 
Robert  Weitman.  The  officers  will 
be  installed  on  June  1.  Delegates  were 
also  selected  at  the  meeting  to  attend 
the  annual  district  convention  of 
B'nai  B'rith  at  Buffalo  from  May 
20-22. 


Joseph,  Bergman  to 
Set  'U'  Ad  Drives 

John  Joseph,  Universal  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity,  is  expected 
to  arrive  here  today  from  Hollywood 
to  confer  with  Maurice  Bergman, 
Eastern  head  of  advertising  and  pub- 
licity, and  complete  details  for  the 
company's  Spring  and  Summer  ex- 
ploitation campaign. 

Extensive  drives  for  "Christmas 
Holiday,"  "Ghost  Catchers"  and  "The 
Invisible  Man's  Revenge"  will  be 
planned  by  Joseph  and  Bergman. 


Brennan  Promotes 
Hearns  at  RKO 

James  M.  Brennan,  general  mana- 
ger of  RKO  New  York  Metropolitan 
theatres,  has  promoted  John  C.  Hearns 
to  division  manager  in  charge  of  RKO 
theatres  in  Trenton  and  New  Bruns- 
wick. Hearns  has  been  with  RKO  for 
many  years,  and  until  the  new  assign- 
ment was  a  division  manager  under 
Louis  Goldberg  in  Brooklyn  and 
Queens.  He  will  assume  his  new  post 
immediately. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


-RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL- 

50th  St.  &  6th  Ave. 
!  RITA  HAYWORTH  •  GENE  KELLY' 

"COVER  GIRL" 

in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kern 
Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


Held  Over  3rd  Week 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


B' WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


A  Jive  Jamboree  of  Stars 
and  6  Great  Bands! 

"JAM  SESSION" 


Paramount  presents 

"GOING   MY  WAY" 

with  BING  CROSBY  and  RISE  STEVENS 


CHARLES  SPIVAK  T« 

WESSON  BROS. 


Person 

PARAMOUNT    Times  Square 


ON  SCREEN 

First  N.Y.  Showing 

'ANDY  HARDY'S 
BLONDE  TROUBLE' 

MICKEY  ROONEY 
B0N1TA  GRANVILLE 


IN  PERSON 

MILT 

BRITT0N 

andJJAND 
BENAY 

VENUTA 


Joel  McCrea  -  Maureen  O'Hara  -  Linda  Darnell 

BUFFALO  BILL" 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 
Plus  on  Stage — PAUL  WHITEMAN  and  .ch. 

VICTOR  BORGE  -  JOAN  EDWAADS 
BUY  MORE   |^  Q         Y  ' 


BONDS 


50th  St. 


THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE 


•si 


!2q 


is 


CONTINUOUS 

Doors 0penS:30 A.M.    B'WAY  &  49th 


sr.  IITIt 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Lite  Jjldg^  wmiam 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London.  All  contents  copyngntea  i«w 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as ;  second  ciass 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  luc. 


Friday,  May  5,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


3 


War  Films  Bad  For 
Public  Morale:  ITO 

Los  Angeles,  May  4.— The- 
atre attendance  is  declining  in 
Southern  California  and  Ari- 
zona due  to  "ever  increasing 
numbers  of  war  pictures,"  of- 
ficials of  Southern  California 
Independent  Theatre  Opera- 
tors Association  disclosed 
here  today,  following  a  surrey 
of  several  weeks. 

The  ITO  expressed  the  view 
that  "a  certain  number  of  war 
films  must  be  produced  be- 
cause they  are  timely,  but 
public  disapproval  is  definite- 
ly made  known  by  the  decline 
in  attendance."  The  organiza- 
tion urges  the  making  of 
"more  pictures  to  sustain  the 
morale  and  relax  and  enter- 
tain the  public." 


'John  Doe'  Appeal 
To  Be  Heard  Today 

Argument  on  the  appeal  by  Robert 
Shurr  and  Pat  A.  Leonard,  authors  of 
the  play,  "The  Stuffed  Shirt,"  will  be 
heard  today  in  connection  with  dis- 
missal of  their  plagiarism  suit  against 
Warners',  Vitagraph,  Jacob  Wilk,  Col- 
onel Frank  Capra  and  Robert  Riskin, 
which  was  handed  down  by  Federal 
Judge  Vincent  L.  Leibell  in  New  York 
last  May. 

The  complainant  had  alleged  that  the 
play,  which  they  submitted  to  Wilk, 
Warners'  New  York  story  editor,  was 
copied  and  rewritten  and  then  pro- 
duced as  a  motion  picture  under  the 
title,  "Meet  John  Doe." 


Enjoin  Bookings  of 
'Negro  Soldier* 

A  temporary  restraining  order  sus- 
pending further  bookings  of  the  War 
Department  film,  "The  Negro  Sol- 
dier," has  been  issued  by  Federal  Judge 
Henry  W.  Goddard,  effective  as  of 
April  28,  in  the  suit  of  Negro  Marches 
On,  Inc.,  against  the  War  Activities 
Committee  and  others. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  WAC  distributor 
chairman,  in  a  wire  to  the  exchanges 
handling  the  Army  four-reeler,  ex- 
plained that  the  restraining  order  did 
not  affect  showings  in  progress,  or 
bookings  already  taken. 


SLRB  Hears  '306' 
On  Century  Move 

Testimony  was  heard  yesterday  by 
the  State  Labor  Relations  Board  here 
on  the  IATSE  -N.  Y.  Projectionists' 
Local  306  petition  asking  to  be  named 
collective  bargaining  agent  for  some 
100  projectionists  employed  in  the  35 
theatres  of  the  Century  Circuit  in 
Brooklyn  and  Queens. 

The  meeting  was  adjourned  until 
next  Tuesday  for  a  further  hearing. 


Harry  Anger  Honored 

Washington,  May  4. — Harry  An- 
ger, managing  director  of  Warners' 
Earle  Theatre  here  has  been  awarded 
the  Catholic  University  "Americana" 
prize  for  1944,  as  the  showman  who 
has  contributed  most  to  the  advance- 
ment of  the  American  theatre.  Offi- 
cial presentation  will  be  made  May  28 
before  screen,  stage  and  radio  person- 
alities. Previous  winners  of  the  award 
include  George  M.  Cohan  and  Eddie 
Dowling. 


Review 


ft 


"Between  Two  Worlds 

(Warners) 

«<r>  ETWEEN  TWO  WORLDS"  is  a  modernized  production  of  "Out- 
ward  Bound,"  the  successful  stage  play  first  produced  in  London 
in  1923,  and  some  eight  years  later  as  a  motion  picture.  The  story  has 
not  been  tampered  with  in  any  vital  respect.  The  time  has  been  moved 
forward  to  the  present,  or  at  least  to  the  time  of  World  War  II.  Advances 
in  production  technique  and  improvements  in  production  facilities  over 
those  which  were  at  hand  for  the  original  filming  of  "Outward  Bound" 
are  apparent.  They  give  a  polish  to  the  new  version  but  they  do  little 
to  enhance  the  dramatic  properties  at  hand  over  the  original.  Those  who 
enjoyed  the  latter  production  are  sure  to  enjoy  this  one  somewhat  more. 
Others  are  likely  to  find  it  a  unique,  if  somber,  theatre  experience. 

Paul  Henreid  and  Eleanor  Parker  are  the  lovers  whose  attempted 
suicides  project  the  dramatic  exploration  of  the  hereafter,  albeit  in 
dreamlike  fashion.  Henreid,  a  former  musician  whose  hands  have  been 
injured  in  the  war,  decides  to  take  his  life  when  unable  to  obtain 
passage  from  England  to  America  aboard  ship.  Miss  Parker,  as  his  wife, 
refuses  to  live  without  him  and  remains  with  him  as  their  small  room 
fills  with  gas.  In  spirit,  they  find  themselves  aboard  ship.  Their  fellow 
passengers  they  soon  recognize  as  members  of  a  group  whom  the  girl 
had  seen  killed  in  a  London  air  raid  shortly  before.  They  include 
John  Garfield,  as  an  American  newspaper  correspondent  with  a  weakness 
for  drink,  provocative  and  long-winded  speeches  and  obnoxious  but 
juvenile  mannerisms;  Faye  Emerson,  as  Garfield's  actress-girl  friend; 
George  Coulouris,  as  a  money-mad  industrialist;  Sara  Allgood,  as  a 
simple  charwoman ;  Dennis  King  as  a  minister ;  Gilbert  Emery  and 
Isobel  Elsom,  as  an  elderly  society  couple,  the  masculine  half  of  which 
has  shown  greater  fidelity  to  the  marriage  vows  than  the  feminine  half, 
and  George  Tobias  as  a  merchant  sailor. 

Edmund  Gwenn  is  the  ship's  steward  who  pilots  the  vessel  to  the 
nebulous  shores,  and  Sydney  Greenstreet  is  the  admirable  "examiner" 
who,  with  wisdom  and  justice  that  has  the  familiar  qualities  of  the 
human  for  all  of  its  striving  for  the  divine,  metes  out  to  all  his  (and  her) 
just  deserts.  That  is,  all  but  the  lovers  who  took  their  own  lives.  They 
are  left  aboard  the  ship  that  plies  eternally  between  two  worlds.  Then 
the  dreamlike  journey  is  completed.  A  bomb  fragment  has  crashed  into 
their  flat  in  the  air  raid  and  admitted  the  air  that  brings  the  couple 
back  to  consciousness,  presumably  to  begin  life  again  with  new  courage. 

Mark  Hellinger  produced  and  Edward  A.  Blatt  directed  from  a 
screen  play  by  Daniel  Fuchs,  based  on  the  Sutton  Vane  play. 

Running  time,  112  minutes.  Classification,  "G."*  Release  date,  May  20. 

Sherwin  Kane 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Screen  'Hitler  Gang* 
For  Diplomatic  Corps 

Washington,  May  4. — "The  Hit- 
ler Gang,"  Paramount's  story  of  the 
rise  of  the  Nazis  to  power,  was 
screened  at  the  Statler  Hotel  here  this 
afternoon  for  the  members  of  the 
diplomatic  corps. 

The  showing  was  sponsored  by  the 
State  Department  correspondents'  as- 
sociation. Guests  included  the  ambas- 
sadors and  ministers  of  42  nations,  the 
press  attaches  of  27  embassies  and  le- 
gations and  44  officials  of  the  depart- 
ment. The  film  industry  was  repre- 
sented by  Joseph  Sistrom  who  pro- 
duced "The  Hitler  Gang." 


Canadian  Loan  Films 

Toronto,  May  4. — Wolfe  Cohen, 
Warners  Canadian  managing  director, 
announced  today  that  "The  Shining 
Hour"  and  "The  Fifth  Christmas," 
Canadian  Motion  Pictures  War,  Ser- 
vices Committee  film  contributions  to 
the  Sixth  Victory  Loan,  have  had  902 
playoffs  and  316  bookings,  respectively, 
during  a  three-week  period  ending  yes- 
terday. 


'Life'  Plugs  'Twain* 

Warners'  "The  Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain"  will  have  an  11-page  section  in 
the  current  issue  of  Life,  out  May  8. 


Congressmen  to  See 
'Twain'  in  Capitol 

Washington,  May  4. — Members  of 
the  Missouri  delegation  from  the  U. 
S.  Senate  and  House  of  Representa- 
tives will  attend  the  opening  of  War- 
ers'  "The  Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain"  at  the  Earle  Theatre  here  to- 
night as  a  tribute  to  noted  native  sons 
of  their  state. 

Vice-President  Henry  A.  Wallace, 
Speaker  Sam  Rayburn  of  the  House, 
WPB  chairman  Donald  M.  Nelson  and 
Breckenridge  Long  of  the  State  De- 
partment have  been  invited. 


Stewart  Wins  D.  F.  C. 

Major  James  Stewart,  former  film 
star,  has  been  awarded  the  Distin- 
guished Flying  Cross  for  leading  an 
American  raid  on  a  Nazi  aircraft  plant 
near  Brunswick,  Germany,  enabling  the 
successful  completion  of  the  mission  in 
the  face  of  heavy  anti-aircraft  fire,  ac- 
cording to  a  report  from  a  U.  S.  Lib- 
erator base  in  England.  Major  Stew- 
art already  has  the  Air  Medal  with 
Oak  Leaf  clusters. 


Harry  Rogers  to  Omaha 

Omaha,  May  4. — Harry  Rogers 
of  Charlotte  has  been  named  manager 
of  the  PRC  office  here,  succeeding 
Bernard  Mariner,  who  is  now  in  the 
Marine  Corps. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  4 

DR.    HERBERT    T.  KALMUS, 
Technicolor   president,   left  for 
New  York  on  the  Chief  today. 
• 

Andrew  Stone  is  planning  to  pro- 
duce "Miss  America,"  a  Technicolor 
musical  based  on  a  nationwide  exploi- 
tation contest.  A  beauty  pageant  win- 
ner from  each  state  will  have  a  part 
in  the  film,  according  to  Stone,  who 
will  go  East  shortly  to  acquire  new 
properties. 

• 

Mikhail  Rasumny,  who  played  the 
Spanish  gypsy  in  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls,"  has  been  cast  by  Paramount  in 
a  somewhat  similar  role  in  "A  Medal 
for  Benny,"  original  screen  story  by 
John  Steinbeck  and  Jack  Wagner,  with 
Paul  Jones  producing,  Irvin  Pichel 
directing  and  Dorothy  Lamour  starred. 
• 

Columbia  has  assigned  Ted  Rich- 
mond to  produce  "Hello  Mom,"  film 
based  on  the  "beds  for  buddies"  can- 
teens which  provide  over-night  accom- 
modations for  servicemen. 

• 

Producer  Lester  Cowan  has  been 
given  permission  to  depict  Dan  De 
Luce,  Pulitzer  prize-winning  Associ- 
ated Press  correspondent,  in  United 
Artists'  forthcoming  "G.  I.  Joe." 
• 

M-G-M  has  taken  an  option  to  buy 
the  film  rights,  before  publication,  to 
a  novel  by  Booth  Tarkington,  now  be- 
ing written  and  as  yet  untitled,  it  was 
learned  yesterday. 

• 

Al  Jolson  has  left  for  the  East  to 
seek  talent  for  his  first  production  at 
Columbia,  "Burlesque." 


CBS  Resumes  'Live' 
Television  Shows 

CBS  will  resume  telecasting  "live" 
shows  from  its  New  York  television 
station  WCBW  tonight  with  a  two- 
hour  program  starting  at  8  P.  M.  Ini- 
tial program  tonight  will  include  a 
15-minute  illustrated  news  show;  15 
minutes  of  variety ;  30  minutes  of  war 
interviews  with  Navy  men,  and  an 
hour  visual  quiz. 

Present  plans  call  for  the  telecasting 
of  "live"  shows  for  two  hours  every 
Friday  night. 


'U'  to  Ask  Dismissal 
Of  Gem  Complaint 

Universal  will  argue  a  motion  on 
May  11  to  dismiss  the  amended  com- 
plaint filed  by  Gem  Pictures,  Inc.,  pro- 
ducers of  "Goofytone  Newsreels,"  and 
distributed  by  Universal. 

Complainant  seeks  $4,500  damages, 
alleging  that  Universal  breached  the 
contract  in  making  an  extra  print  of 
a  picture  left  with  it,  which  it  alleged- 
ly retained  without  knowledge  or  ap- 
proval and  without  payment. 


Para.  Pays  Dividend 

A  regular  quarterly  dividend  of  40 
cents  per  share,  payable  July  1  to 
stockholders  of  record  June  12,  was 
announced  yesterday  following  a  meet- 
ing of  the  board  of  directors  of  Para- 
mount Pictures,  Inc. 


ONE  OF  THE  GREATEST  BOX-OFFICE  PICTURES  OF 


.  •  .  5,000,000  people  have  seen  it  in  120  openings ! 

.  .  .  from  coast  to  coast  it  has  broken  record  after 
record! 

.  .  .  more  than  600,000  admissions  have  already 
been  paid  at  the  Rivoli,  New  York  — 
all-time  attendance  record! 

...  it  has  won  five  Academy  Awards ! 

.  .  .  currently  in  Detroit,  it  has  more  than  doubled 
biggest  previous  20th  gross! 

EMADETTE 


27  weeks  playing  time  in  Los  Angeles! 
15  weeks  in  New  York  — and  still  going! 
7  weeks  in  Baltimore,  Philadelphia,  Chicago! 

> 

4  weeks  in  St.  Louis! 

3  weeks  in  Denver,  San  Francisco,  Milwaukee,  Washington 
...and  many  current  engagements  will  set  new  long  runs! 


I M  E  , 


CENTURY-FOX 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  May  5,  1944 


Review 


"Gaslight" 

(Metro-Goldywn-Mayer) 

PRESUMABLY  restrictions  will  prevent  exhibitors  from  telling  their 
*■  customers  that  the  long-run  current  Broadway  play  "Angel  Street" 
and  "Gaslight,"  M-G-M's  top-notch,  splendidly-acted  psychological  melo- 
drama of  London  in  1870  are  both  based  on  the  same  Patrick  Hamilton 
play.  But  even  this  fact  should  not  work  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  ex- 
cellent box-office  potentialities  of  this  fine  production  turned  out  by 
producer  Arthur  Hornblow,  Jr.,  starring  Charles  Boyer  and  Ingrid 
Bergman  and  featuring  Joseph  Cotten,  Dame  May  Whitty  and  a  capable 
supporting  cast. 

Fundamentally,  "Gaslight"  traces  the  diabolical  attempt  of  Boyer, 
a  nondescript  pianist,  to  instill  a  feeling  of  insecurity  and  eventually  in- 
sanity in  the  mind  of  Miss  Bergman,  his  bride  of  a  few  months.  It  is 
all  part  of  the  pattern  of  an  unsolved  murder  of  ten  years  before,  com- 
mitted by  Boyer  to  gain  possession  of  the  priceless  jewels  of  Miss  Berg- 
man's aunt,  a  famous  singer.  In  the  screenplay  by  John  Van  Druten, 
Walter  Reisch  and  John  I.  Balderson,  considerable  footage  is  expended 
in  tracing  Boyer's  courtship  of  Miss  Bergman  in  Italy,  lessening  some 
of  the  compactness  and  suspense  of  the  story  but  highlighting  the  roman- 
tic nuances  of  their  dramatic  performances  and  handing  director  George 
Cukor  the  difficult  task  of  maintaining  gripping  interest  throughout  the 
almost  two  hours  which  this  film  runs. 

Cukor  achieves  a  tense  finale  when  Miss  Bergman,  apprised  by  Cot- 
ten,  wily  Scotland  Yard  detective,  of  her  husband's  machinations,  de- 
nounces him  but  at  the  same  time  must  have  assurance  that  all  the  tor- 
ment she  has  endured  at  his  hands  was  all  deliberate.  So  realistic  are 
the  performances  of  Miss  Bergman  and  Boyer  under  Cukor's  direction, 
especially  in  the  latter  sequences  of  the  film,  that  an  early  morning  audi- 
ence at  the  Capitol  Theatre  in  New  York  applauded  when  Boyer's  suc- 
cessful campaign  to  undermine  his  wife's  sanity  received  brief  setbacks. 

Dame  May  Whitty  turns  in  a  warm  and  appealing  performance  as  the 
busybody  neighbor  of  the  newly-wedded  couple;  Angela  Lansbury  is 
properly  sinister  as  their  haughty  Cockney  maid;  and  Barbara  Everest 
registers  well  as  their  sympathetic  cook  and  housekeeper.  Hornblow  has 
encased  the  sombre  action  in  a  properly  resplendent  production  faithful 
to  the  period,  and  Joseph  Ruttenberg's  swell  photography  lends  added 
effectiveness  to  the  proceedings.  But  the  spotting  of  Bronislau  Kaper's 
musical  score  to  emphasize  suspense  is  a  little  too  obvious. 

Running  time,  114  minutes.    "G."*    Released  in  Block  No.  7. 

Milton  Livingston 


'Arms'  $28,500 


Sets  Chicago 
House  Record 

Chicago,  May  4.  —  Third  week  of 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  and 
Lou  Breese  and  band  on  the  stage 
brought  a  gross  of  $40,000  to  the  Chi- 
cago Theatre.  "Up  in  Arms"  (estab- 
lished an  all-time  record  at  the  Woods, 
capturing  $28,500,  practically  tripling 
average  receipts. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  5 : 

"The  Bride  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M-BMI) 

APOLLO  —  (1,200)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $19,000.    (Average:  $11,400). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO  —  (3,850)   (55c-6Sc-95c)  7  days, 
3rd  .week.     Stage:   Lou  Breese  and  band. 
Gross:  $40,000.    (Average:  $51,500). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

GARRICK— (1,000)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average:  $9,100). 
"Ali  Baba  and  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 
"Hi,  Good  Looking"  (Univ.) 

GRAND  —  (1,250)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
4th  Loop  week.  Gross:  $10,000..  (Average: 
$9,100). 

"Rosie  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 

ORIENTAL  —  (3,200)  (44c-55c-60c-80c-95c) 
7  days.    Stage:  Lawrence  Welk  and  orches- 
tra.   Gross:  $26,000.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  (RKO) 
"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

PALACE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $29,000.  (Average,  $24,- 
000). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

ROOSEVELT — (1,500)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $24,000.  (Average:  $24,- 
000). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

STATE-LAKE  —  (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $29,000.  (Average: 
$29,000). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS—  (1,700)  (55c-65c-95c) 
7  days,  5th  week.    Gross:  $19,000.  (Aver- 
age: $20,200). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WOODS— (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $28,500.     (Average:  $1 0,000). 


Associated  British 
Has  Pension  Plan 

London,  May  4. — A  pension  fund 
for  the  employes  of  Associated  Brit- 
ish Pictures  Corp.  has  been  announced 
here  by  Eric  Lightfoot  of  the  board  of 
directors.  Male  employes  will  be  elig- 
ible at  65  years  of  age;  women  at  60. 
Pensions  for  men  will  range  up  to  50 
percent  of  their  retiring  salary,  ac- 
cording to  length  of  service;  for  wo- 
men, up  to  37yi  percent.  The  entire 
cost  of  the  fund  will  be  met  by  the 
company. 

A  provisional  committee  has  been 
named  to  administer  the  fund,  includ- 
ing Sir  Philip  Warter,  a  company  di- 
rector ;  J.  H.  McDonald,  secretary,  and 
Roland  Lea,  theatre  department  head. 


Control  of  French 
Morocco  Films  Set 

Washington,  May  4. — A  govern- 
ment-owned film  service,  with  a  view 
to  strict  control  of  the  industry  in 
French  Morocco,  has  been  established 
there,  it  is  reported  by  the  U.  S. 
Department  of  Commerce. 

The  new  organization,  Center  Cine- 
matographique  Marocain,  replaces  the 
Groupement  de  l'lndustrie  Qnemato- 
graphique  in  French  Morocco.  Accord- 
ing to  the  report,  American  major 
companies  apparently  will  not  be  af- 
fected by  the  new  legislation. 


*"G"  de>wtes  general  classification. 


'Broadway  Rhythm' 
Hits  Good  $14,000 

Indianapolis,  May  4. — "Broadway 
Rhythm"  will  do  $14,000  at  Loew's 
this  week  to  top  box  office  receipts. 
The  Circle,  with  "Shine  On,  Harvest 
Moon,"  and  the  Indiana,  with  "Up  in 
Arms,"  are  both  expected  to  do  $11,000. 

Estimated 'receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  2-4 : 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.     (Average:  $11,800). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 

INDIANA  —  (3,200) .    (32c-55c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $11,600). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,000.     (Average?  $11,500). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (32c-55c)  7  days,  move- 
over  from  Indiana.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Aver- 
age: $4,900). 


5,580  from  'I  A'  in  Services 

IATSE  members  in  the  armed  forces 
now  number  5,580,  including  projec- 
tionists, studio  craft  workers',  stage 
hands,  film  exchange  service  workers 
and  "white-collarites."  IATSE's  nor- 
mal roster  of  44,000  has  been  depleted 
by  about  13  percent  by  the  war. 


Harold  Wise  to  Mono. 

Chicago,  May  4. — Harold  Wise, 
booker  here  for  Universal,  has  re- 
signed to  become  head  of  Monogram's 
local  booking  staff,  succeeding  Vic 
Bei  nstein,  now  in  service. 


'Uncertain  Glory'  Is 
Milwaukee  Leader 

Milwaukee,  May  4.  —  "Uncertain 
Glory"  and  "Trocadero"  at  the  War- 
ner Theatre  are  shooting  at  $14,000. 
The  rest  of  the  situations  here  dipped 
below  average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  5 : 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,900.     (Average:  $14,500). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.     Gross:   $7,000.     (Average:  $11,000). 
"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 

STRAND— (1,400).  (40c-60c -80c)  7  days,  2nd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average: 
$5,500). 

"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Trocadero"  (Univ.) 

WARNER— (2,400)  (50c-72c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,000.    (Average:  $14,000). 
"The  Gorilla  Man"  (WB) 
"The  Return  of  the  Vampire"  (Univ.) 

ALHAMBRA  —  (1,900)   (50c-72c).  Gross: 
$9,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow" 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)  (65c-85c)  7  days.  On 
stage:  "Gay  Nighties."  Gross:  $14,000.  (Av- 
erage: $15,500). 


Sylvania  Buying  Colonial 

Sylvania  Electric  Products,  Inc.,  is 
negotiating  to  purchase  the  capital 
stock  of  Colonial  Radio  Corp.  of  Buf- 
falo, a  joint  announcement  by  the  pres- 
idents of  both  companies  reveals. 
Colonial's  1943  sales  volume  of  $56,- 
000,000  was  made  up  entirely  of  radio 
equipment  for  the  armed  forces  as  com- 
pared to  a  1942  volume  of  $14,000,000. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  May  4 

LUSH  boxoffice  days  of  the  present 
era  haven't  meant  proportionate 
gains  for  producers  of  short  subjects, 
particularly  the  producers  of  cartoon 
shorts,  and  they  are  giving  this  situa- 
tion some  careful  study. 

Speaking  of  the  boxoffice  boom 
Walter  Lantz  says,  "The  theatre  at- 
tendance boom  hasn't  helped  us  a  bit. 
Our  costs  have  gone  up  just  as  have 
the  costs  of  feature  productions  and 
yet  we  are  still  receiving  approximate- 
ly the  same  rentals  for  our  product 
that  we  received  when  the  box-office 
take  wasn't  nearly  so  high." 

When  asked  what  could  be  done 
about  it,  he  said,  "Well,  an  increase 
in  flat  rentals  for  short  subjects  would 
be  one  answer.  We  cannot  sell  our 
product  on  a  percentage  basis  as  is 
done  with  many  features." 

• 

B.  G.  DeSylva  has  signed  Harold 
Wilson,  his  assistant,  to  a  new  two- 
year  deal.  Wilson  has  been  with  Para- 
mount three-and-a-half  years  during 
which  he  produced  the  Technicolor 
musicals,  "Louisiana  Purchase"  and 
"Happy-Go-Lucky,"  in  addition  to  his 
executive  duties.  .  .  .  King  Brothers 
have  borrowed  William  Castle  from 
Columbia  to  direct  "I  Married  a 
Stranger"  for  Monogram  release.  .  .  . 
"The  Love  of  Madame  Sand"  is  the 
new  title  for  Columbia's  Technicolor 
production,  "The  Song  That  Lived 
Forever,"  co-starring  Paul  Muni  and 
Merle  Oberon. 

• 

Dee  Lowrance,  Vanguard  Films' 
magazine  contact  under  publicity 
director  Don  King,  has  resigned  to 
join  her  husband,  Herbert  Drake, 
at  his  East  Coast  Naval  station  .  .  . 
Walter  Wanger  has  signed  Emmett 
Lavery,  of  "Hitler's  Children"  and 
"Behind  the  Rising  Sun",  to  a  per- 
sonal writing  contract  .  .  .  George 
Brown  has  planned  a  special  pub- 
licity and  exploitation  campaign  for 
"I  Love  a  Soldier",  Mark  Sandrich's 
Paramount  production  starring 
Paulette  Goddard  and  Sonny  Tufts. 
• 

Jack  L.  Warner  has  signed  Eve  Ar- 
den  to  a  term  contract.  She's  presently 
working  in  "The  Doughgirls."  .  .  . 
Jeffery  Bernerd  is  rushing  production 
of  his  "They  Shall  Have  Faith,"  story 
of  infantile  paralysis  treatment,  at 
Monogram  in  order  to  beat  RKO- 
Radio  to  the  punch  with  its  "Sister 
Kenny."  .  .  .  Henny  Toungman,  cur- 
rently in  "A  Wave,  a  Wac  and  a 
Marine,"  at  Monogram,  will  open  May 
14  at  Florentine  Gardens  with  Belle 
Baker.  .  .  .  Walter  Lantz  is  adding 
considerable  studio  space  to  his  quar-. 
ters  at  Universal  to  take  care  of  ex- 
panded production  due  to  Navy  train- 
ing films  which  he  is  producing  in 
addition  to  his  regular  Universal  re- 
leases. 

• 

Anne  Baxter  will  play  the  part  of 
Tessa  in  "Sunday  Dinner  for  a  Sol- 
dier" at  her  home  studio,  20th  Century- 
Fox,  after  she  finishes  in  "Guest  in 
the  House."  She  will  be  reunited  with 
William  Eyeth,  whom  she  played  op- 
posite in  "The  Eve  of  St.  Mark,"  noiv 
azvaiting  release.  .  .  .  RKO  has  signed 
June  Duprez  for  one  of  the  two  femi- 
nine leads  opposite  Cary  Grant  in 
"None  But  the  Lonely  Heart." 


Short 


AND  TO  THE  POINT 


Are  you  cashing  in  on  M-G-M's 
"PATROLLING  THE  ETHER" 

Launched  with  front  page  news!  This  timely 
2-reel  Special  was  selected  as  the  first  motion 
picture  to  have  its  World  Premiere  on  Televi- 
sion from  coast  to  coast.  Book  it  while  it's  HOT! 


Did  you  see  M-G-M's  rating  in 
BESA  SHORT'S  10-YEAR  SURVEY 

The  famed  Chief  of  Interstate  Circuit's  Short 
Subject  Department  gives  M-G-M  top  ranking 
over  all  companies  for  past  10  years. 

Have  you  heard  about  this  one: 
PETE  SMITH'S  "GROOVIE  MOVIE" 


Here's  real  fun  for  the  fans!  They'll  buy  tickets 
when  you  book  this  fast-paced  demonstration 
of  the  Jitterbug  Joy  Wave  that's  sweeping  the 
country.  Tops  in  the  Pete  Smith  style. 

M  •  G  *  M . . .  THE  LONG  AND  SHORT  OF  IT! 


'  "Patriots.'  Help  Recruit  WACS!  May  llth  thru  May  17th!'* 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  May  5,  194. 


Review 


"The  Mummy's  Ghost" 

{Universal) 

Hollywood,  May  4 

\\T  ITH  the  names-  of  Lon  Chaney,  John  Carradine,  Robert  Lowery, 
*  '  Barton  MacLane  and  George  Zucco  to  suggest  to  the  customers 
what's  in  store  for  them,  this  second  in  Universal's  series  of  mummy 
pictures  ("The  Mummy's  Tomb"  was  the  first)  fits  requirements  snug- 
ly. Produced  by  Ben  Pivar  with  adequate  trappings  and  directed  in  a 
steady  pace  by  Reginald  LeBorg,  the  film  is  grooved  to  the  wants  of 
murder-mystery  addicts. 

Griffin  Jay,  Henry  Sucher  and  Brenda  Weisberg  wrote  the  script  from 
a  story  by  Jay  and  Sucher  which  lays  its  incredible  basis  frankly  before 
the  audience  in  the  first  sequence  and  goes  on  from  there  to  develop  in- 
cidents of  fright,  furore  and  murder  which  follow  readily  enough  after 
acceptance  of  the  preliminary  statement  that  Egypt's  gods  control  mum- 
mies 3,000  years  after  mummification. 

Lon  Chaney,  as  the  mummy,  killed  by  fire  in  the  first  of  the  series  and 
again  by  drowning  in  this,  makes  much  of  his  role  without  resort  to 
words.  The  supporting  cast,  in  addition  to  those  already  named,  in- 
ludes  Ramsay  Ames,  Frank  Reicher,  Harry  Shannon,  Emmett  Vogan, 
Lester  Sharpe,  Claire  Whitney  and  Oscar  O'Shea. 

Running  time,  61  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

William  R.  Weaver 


'Little  3'  Are 
Eliminated  in 
US-SchineCase 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Adolph  Schimel,  for  Universal,  had 
requested  a  conference  with  Boggess 
to  discuss  an  adjournment  of  the 
Schine  suit  trial  until  next  Fall,  and 
it  was  for  that  purpose  that  they  met 
with  the  Government  attorney  here 
yesterday.  They  were  notified  of  their 
dismissal  in  the  course  of  the  meeting. 

No  reasons  were  given  in  the  stipu- 
lation for  the  dismissal,  but  a  spokes- 
man for  the  film  lawyers  said  that 
"the  Government  probably  felt  there 
was  nothing  to  be  gained  by  the  prose- 
cution of  the  'Little  Three'." 

To  Prosecute  'Vigorously' 

The  distributors'  counsel  are  un- 
derstood to  have  been  told  by  the 
Government  yesterday  that  the  De- 
partment of  Justice  intends  to  prose- 
cute its  Schine  action  "vigorously," 
disclosing  that  the  Government  is 
ready  to  start  trial  on  May  19  before 
Federal  Judge  John  Knight  in  Buf- 
falo. It  was  further  revealed  that  the 
Government  is  prepared  to  take  three 
or  four  months,  even  longer,  with  its 
prosecution.  Judge  Knight  has 
been  notified  by  the  Justice  Depart- 
ment that  it  is  ready  to  proceed  on  the 
adjourned  May  19  trial  date,  as  re- 
ported yesterday  in  Motion  Picturk 
Daily.  Date  for  start  of  the  trial 
will  be  determined  by  Judge  Knight 
in  a  few  days. 

Schwartz  and  Frohlich,  counsel  for 
Columbia,  had  previously  filed  a  mo- 
tion with  court  clerk  May  C.  Sickmon 
in  Buffalo  for  a  postponement  of  the 
trial.  The  motion  was  to  be  argued 
on  Monday  before  Judge  Knight,  by 
Frohlich. 

Dismissed  in  Crescent  Suit 

Previously,  Columbia  and  Universal 
had  been  dismissed  as  defendants  in 
the  Government  suit  against  Crescent 
Amusement  at  Nashville,  with  United 
Artists  having  been  held  on  a  single 
point,  which  has  been  appealed.  Five 
months  ago,  all  three  were  dismissed 
from  the  Griffith-Oklahoma  City  case. 
The  other  distributors  involved  in  the 
actions,  Loew's,  Paramount,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, RKO  and  Warners,  were 
released  as  defendants  when  the  con- 
sent decree  in  the  New  York  action 
was  entered  here.  The  Little  Three 
remain  as  defendants  in  the  New 
York  suit  and,  should  no  new  decree 
be  agreed  upon,  the  Government  would 
be  free  to  reinstate  the  other  five 
companies  as  defendants  in  any  of  the 
suits  still  pending,  or  could  name  them 
defendants  if  new  suits  are  filed. 

Gov't  Curbs  Political 
Films  for  Overseas 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

regard  to  the  distribution  or  presen- 
tation of  material  through  the  media 
of  motion  pictures  or  radio  broad- 
casts both  inside  and  outside  the 
United  States,  provide  that  material 
which  is  entertainment  must  not  con- 
tain political  argument  or  political 
propaganda,  and  material  which  is 
coverage  as  news  or  information  of 
public  events  and  persons  in  public 
life  must  be  impartial. 


"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Schine  Offered  Six 
Month's  Extension 


Buffalo,  May  4.  —  Judge  John 
Knight  in  U.  S.  District  Court  here, 
late  this  afternoon,  offered  Schine 
Chain  Theatres,  Inc.  an  extension  of 
six  months  in  which  to  dispose  of  10 
remaining  theatres  under  the  divesti- 
ture section  of  the  court's  temporary 
order  of  May  19,  1942. 

Judge  Knight,  in  an  opinion  on  briefs 
submitted  by  the  Schine  counsel,  de- 
clared that  if  the  circuit  does  not  wish 
to  take  advantage  of  the  extension,  he 
will  authorize  appointment  of  trustees 
to  operate  and  maintain  the  theatre 
properties  affected  until  they  are  dis- 
posed of. 

The  extension  of  time,  if  accepted  by 
Schine,  will  run  from  May  15,  1944. 
Pending  the  circuit's  decision  on  what 
action  it  will  take,  Judge  Knight  de- 
nied a  Government  motion  for  the 
naming  of  trustees.  He  also  denied  a 
motion  by  Schine  counsel  that  certain 
sections  of  the  temporary  order  be 
voided. 

Schine  succeeded  in  one  objective, 
however,  when  Judge  Knight  granted 
the  circuit  permission  to  purchase  the 
Liberty  Theatre  in  Cumberland,  Md., 
declaring  in  his  opinion  that  the  .trans- 
action would  not  be  contrary  to  the 
public  interest. 


'Gag9  Rule  Imposed 
On  WPB  Officials 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

in  the  WPB  hierarchy  with  the  matter 
reportedly  reaching  Chairman  Donald 
M.  Nelson  who,  however,  threw  it 
back  into  the  laps  of  subordinate  of- 
ficials. 

Under  the  rules  in  effect  in  WPB 
all  officials  are  marooned  in  their 
ivory  towers  insulated  against  the 
press  and  all  inquiries  regarding  mat- 
ters coming  under  the  several  units 
having  to  deal  with  films  and  theatres 
must  be  submitted  through  the  press 
relations  staff. 


'Cover  Girl'  Grosses 
Record  $19,000 

Pittsburgh,  May  .4. — "Cover  Girl" 
rolled  toward  a  record  at  the  Harris 
Theatre  here,  with  a  $19,000  gross  in 
,iew  to  break  the  previous  record, 
nade  by  "Rosie  O'Grady."  Grosses 
continued  correspondingly  high  at 
other  downtown  houses. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
;nding  May  2-5 : 

The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (3Sc-44c-65c)  7  days, 
4th   week.     Gross:   $6,100.     (Average:  $8,- 

jOO). 

'Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

HARRIS — (2,200)     (35c-44c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $19,000.     (Average:  $10,100). 
'Snow    White    and    the    Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO) 

PENN— (3,400)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days,  re- 
issue. Gross:  $18,500.  (Average:  $21,700). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

RITZ— (1,100)  (35c-44c-6Sc)  7  days,  4th 
week,  moveover  after  2  weeks  at  Perm,  1 
at  Warner.  Gross:  $3,100.  (Average:  $3,- 
000). 

"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY — (3,800)  (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage:  6  days  of  vaudeville  with  "Tars  and 
Spars"  revue.  Gross:  $26,000.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNER— (2,  COO)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week,  moveover  from  Penn.  Gross: 
$10,000.     (Average:  $9,350). 


John  Farrow  Decorated 

Hollywood,  May  4. — John  Farrow, 
director  of  "The  Hitler  Gang"  and 
now  at  work  on  Paramount's  "Two 
Years  Before  the  Mast,"  has  just  re- 
ceived the  Atlantic  Battle  Star  and  the 
Canadian  Volunteer  Medal  for  his  ser- 
vices as  a  commander  in  the  Royal 
Janadian  Navy.  He  was  second  in 
command  of  a  large  anti-submarine 
vessel  before  contracting  typhus  and 
being  invalided  home  to  Hollywood 
in  1943. 


To  Build  in  New  York 

The  James  Feigen-Leo  Silver  syn- 
dicate has  purchased  a  four-story 
building  at  the  Southwest  corner  of 
Sixth  Ave.  at  55th  St.,  New  York, 
where  a  600-seat  film  theatre  will  be 
erected. 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


"Varga  and  His 
Beauties" 

{Universal) 

This  "Popular  Personoddities"  re 
lease  features  Joaquin  Vargas,  crea 
tor  of  the  Esquire  Varga  girls.  Ot^j 
shown  are  Fred  Treeselt,  goldl^, 
farmer,  and  Bill  Zmerzel,  blind  golt! 
er.  Interesting  film  fare  but  not  .lid 
to  standards  previously  set  for  this| 
series.    Running  time,  9  mins. 


"Fraud  by  Mail 

{ Universal) 

Here  is  an  interesting  treatment  ol 
frauds  perpetrated  through  the  mails., 
The  American  public  is  robbed  of 
about  $15,000,000  annually  by  rack- 
eteers, who  work  this  channel  and 
some  of  the  most  outstanding  hoaxes 
are  depicted.  Handled  in  an  interest- 
ing fashion,  this  unusual  subject  is 
enlightening  as  well  as  entertaining. 
Running  time,  9  mins. 

"Aviation  Expert, 
Donald  Douglas" 

{ Universal) 

Donald  Douglas,  president  of  Doug- 
las Aircraft,  is  featured  in  this  "Pop- 
ular Personoddity."  Douglas  builds 
boats  in  his  spare  time.  Latest  in 
this  series  is  no  better  than  routine, 
because  of  a  lack  of  really  interesting 
material.    Running  time,  9  mins. 


"Stars  and  Violins" 

{U  nk'ersal) 

Jack  Teagarden's  orchestra  and  the 
Pied  Pipers  in  Universal's  new  musi- 
cal subject  will  delight  the  swing  fans 
and  prove  satisfactory  to  all.  Vocal- 
ists featured  are  Jimmy  Cash  and  Lil- 
lian Cornell.  Some  of  the  songs  in- 
clude "Stars  and  Violins,"  "Let's 
Love  Again"  and  "A  Dream  Ago." 
Running  time,  15  mins. 


'Arms,'  'Lady'  Lead 
Kansas  City  Pace 


Kansas  City,  May  4.- — In  spite  of 
two  fourth-week  runs,  "Up  in  Arms" 
at  the  Orpheum  and  "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  at  the  Newman,  maintained 
their  respective  pace  with  $14,000  and 
$12,500.  The  Tower  with  "Women  in 
Bondage"  and  "Mine  Sweeper"  to- 
taled about  $11,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  3-May  6 : 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,00(1.    (Average:  $6,000). 
"None  Shall  Escape"  (Col.) 
"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 

MIDLAND  —  (3,600)     (40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

NEWMAN — (1,900)   (46c-65c)  7  days,  4th 
week.     Gross:  $12,500.     (Average:  $11,0(0). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
"Murder  on  the  Waterfront"  (WB) 

ORPHEUM' — (1,900)  (45c-65c)  7  days,  4th 
week.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"Women  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 
"Muxi  Sweeper"  (Para.) 

TOWER— (2,200)  (40c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.    (Average  :$9.400).  _ 
"Lad'esi  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,003.     (Average:  $5,600). 
"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c -65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average:  $1,600). 


Friday,  May  5,  1944 


Motion  picture  daily 


9 


Morgenthau  Will  Pay  U.S. 
Tribute  to  'Honored  100' 


Marshal  Forces  for 
Fifth  War  Loan 
At  Weekend  Meets 


MPPDA  Approves 
Plan  for  Film 
Emissaries  Abroad 


(Continued  from   page  1) 

permit.  The  representatives  of  the 
industry  would  collaborate  with  U.  S. 
State  Department  officials  in  their  re- 
-"ective  localities  on  all  matters  per- 
ning  to  motion  pictures.  Action  on 
e  plan  followed  discussions  over  a 
""long  period  of  time  between  industry 
officials  and  members  of  the  State 
Department's  division  of  telecommuni- 
cations in  charge  of  film  affairs. 

The  action  is  regarded  as  a  step  in 
the  direction  of  perfecting  State  De- 
partment assistance  for  the  industry 
in  its  far-flung  foreign  operations,  and 
is  designed  to  give  the  American  in- 

0  dustry  the  same  interested  aid,  or  a 
■i  reasonable  facsimile  of  it,  that  is  ac- 
ii  corded  by  other  governments  to  their 

film  industries. 
One  or  more  representatives  may  be 

1  sent  to  Latin  American  posts.  Mos- 
»  cow  and  Italy  or  North  Africa  are 

other  likely  assignments  to  be  made 
and  there  is  a  possibility  that  industry 
emmissaries  may  be  stationed  in  China 
and  Australia,  it  is  reported.  Other 
appointments  would  be  made  later. 
Fayette  W.  Allport  of  the  MPPDA 

.,  would  remain  the  industry  represen- 

.j  tative  in  London,  it  is  said. 

,|     The  plan  developed  by  the  foreign 

,  managers  has  been  in  progress  for 
several  months.    It  was  referred  to 

„  flie  annual  meeting  of  the  MPPDA 
board  in  March,  but  action  on  it  was 
held  up  until  this  week. 


Mass  Induction  Will 
Open  6Wac  Week' 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

person,  general  chairman,  who,  after 
i  a  brief  address,  will  present  the  Wac 
officers. 

Many  important  Army,  civic  and  in- 
dustry leaders  will  attend,  in  addition 
I  to  screen,  stage  and  radio  personali- 
ties headed  by  Frank  Sinatra,  who, 
accompanied  by  Pvt.  Frank  Loesser 
at  the  piano,  will  introduce  the  lat- 
ter's  new  song,   "One  Little  Wac." 
j,  Miss  Jane  Powell,  14-year-old  singing 
starlet  of  the  Charlie  McCarthy  radio 
,  show,  will  sing  "The  Star  Spangled 
Banner,"   accompanied   by   the  Wac 
Band. 

i  The  induction  ceremonies  will  be 
preceded  by  a  breakfast  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  at  which  Moskowitz  will  be 
host  to  a  group  of  Wac  officers  and 
stars  of  screen,  stage  and  radio. 

Following  breakfast,  the  Wac  of- 
ficers will  be  escorted  to  31st  Street 
and  Seventh  Ave.,  from  which  point, 
at  noon,  they  will  lead  a  parade  con- 
sisting of  the  women  recruits  to  be 
inducted,  the  Wac  band,  a  battalion  of 
soldiers  equipped  for  overseas  duty,  a 
regular  Army  band,  and  an  American 
Women's  Voluntary  Service  group.  A 
rordon  of  mounted  police  will  escort 
the  marchers,  who  will  proceed  up 
Seventh  Ave.  to  the  grandstand  at 
13rd  Street  and  Broadway. 


Agustin  Fink  Dies 

Mexico  City,  May  4. — Agustin  J. 
Fink,  44,  president  of  Films  Mundiales, 
lied  here  Wednesday. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

managers  of  every  state,  Alaska  and 
Hawaii,  and  served  to  stimulate  "E" 
bond  sales  to  an  unprecedented  total 
will  assemble  at  the  Hotel  Statler 
to  serve  on  a  special  advisory  com- 
mittee for  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive, 
June  12-July  8.  All  will  be  Govern- 
ment guests.  At  the  Statler  the 
"Honored  Hundred"  will  receive  a 
letter  of  commendation  from  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Treasury ;  an  illuminated 
scroll  of  tribute  signed  by  Morgen- 
thau, Ted  R.  Gamble,  national  direc- 
tor of  the  Treasury's  War  Finance 
Committee ;  Charles  Skouras,  national 
industry  chairman  of  the  drive ;  F.  H. 
Ricketson,  Jr.,  national  vice-chair- 
man ;  B.  V.  Sturdivant,  campaign  di- 
rector, and  S.  H.  Fabian,  chairman 
of  the  War  Activities  Committee 
theatre  division. 

Additional  Awards 

The  scroll  will  bear  the  legend : 
"More  Than  a  Bond  for  Every  Seat." 
In  addition,  each  of  the  "Honored 
Hundred"  showmen  will  receive  a  ci- 
tation signed  by  Morgenthau  and 
Skouras,  an  honorary  medallion,  a 
special  page  in  the  official  report  of 
the  industry's  activities  ;  and  a  Treas- 
ury Minute-Man  button  for  each  mem- 
ber of  the  staffs  of  the  winning  thea- 
tres. 

Winners  of  the  bond-selling  contest 
were  determined  by  the  following  pro- 
cedure :  All  "E"  bonds  sold  from  Jan. 
1  through  Feb.  29  were  counted, 
which  sales  had  to  be  substantiated 
by  Treasury  bond-application  blanks. 
Each  state's  nominees  to  the  "Hon- 
ored Hundred"  were  made  by  the 
State  War  Activities  chairman  and 
the  War  Finance  Committee  chair- 
man. These  nominees  included  the 
state  winner  as  well  as  the  ten  state 
winners  in  each  of  the  five  classifica- 
tions of  population.  Official  contest 
judges,  Walter  D.  Fuller,  president, 
Curtis  Publishing  Co.,  Philadelphia ; 
Palmer  Hoyt,  publisher,  Portland 
Orcgonian,  Portland,  Ore.,  and  Dr. 
Peter  Odegard,  professor  of  science 
and  government,  Amherst  College, 
Amherst,  Mass.,  and  the  accounting 
firm  of  Lybrand,  Ross  Bros.,  Mont- 
gomery, New  York,  determined  the 
winners  on  the  basis  of  the  percentage 
ratio  of  "E"  bonds  sold  to  the  num- 
ber of  seats  in  the  theatre. 

Others  Invited 

Industry  members  who  have  been 
invited  to  the  Capital  ceremonies,  in 
addition  to  Morgenthau,  Gamble  and 
Skouras,  are :  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  Rick- 
etson, Sturdivant,  John  J.  Friedl,  Fa- 
bian, F.  S.  Harmon,  R.  M.  Kennedy, 
Rav  Beall,  Ned  Depinet,  Leon  Bam- 
berger, Claude  Lee,  Walter  Brown, 
Arthur  Mayer,  Herman  Gluckman 
and  Sam  Shain. 

The  following  will  be  in  charge  of 
arrangements :  Carter  Barron,  John 
Payette,  Frank  La  Fake  and  Anthony 
Muto. 

In  his  notification  to  each  winner, 
Skouras  said :  "Our  Fourth  War 
Loan  campaign  was  an  outstanding 
success  due  largely  to  the  splendid  ef- 
fort and  cooperation  of  men  like  you, 
who  have  dedicated  themselves  to  pa- 
triotic toil  and  endeavor  here  at  home, 
with  the  realization  that  whatever  we 
do   is   insignificant   to  the  sacrifices 


Bearded  Bondsman 
Averages  13  Sales 

Ralph  Batschelet  of  the 
Bluebird  Theatre,  Denver,  be- 
lieves in  doing  a  job,  the  WAC 
reports.  He  achieved  one  of 
the  high  standings  among  the 
"Honored  Hundred"  by  set- 
ting a  goal,  difficult,  but  at- 
tainable. Batschelet  vowed 
not  to  shave  until  he  had  sold 
an  "E"  bond  for  every  seat  in 
his  theatre.  Two  days  after 
the  inception  of  the  Fourth 
War  Loan,  he  attained  this 
objective.  But  Batschelet  had 
only  stubble  on  his  face.  So 
he  set  himself  the  task  of 
selling  a  bond  for  every  whis- 
ker and  had  the  backing  of 
the  East  Denver  Board  of 
Trade,  of  which  he  is  presi- 
dent. His  final  total  averaged 
13  bonds  per  seat. 


of  our  heroic  fighting  men,  suffering 
and  dying  for  our  country  on  the  far- 
flung  battlefronts  of  the  worfd. 

"May  the  experience,  enthusiasm 
and  results  of  your  efforts  during  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  be  carried  whole- 
heartedly into  the  Fifth." 


'Harvest  Moon'  Tops 
Slow  Minneapolis 

Minneapolis,  May  4. — A  week  of 
sporadic  but  heavy  rains  played  tricks 
with  grosses  here.  Despite  the  weath- 
er, however,  "Shine  On,  Harvest 
Moon"  at  the  Radio  City  took  $17,- 
000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  4 : 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

RADIO   CITY— (4.000)    (44c-60c).  Gross: 
$17,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

STATE-M2,30O)    (44c-60c).      Gross:  $10,- 
000.     (Average:  $12,400). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ORPHEUM— (2,800)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $9X00.     (Average:  $13,900). 
"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

•LYRIC— (1,250)     (44c-60c)     7    davs,  4th 
week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $5,600). 
"See   Here,   Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (1,600)      (44c-60c)     7  days 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $7,400). 
"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 
"Memphis  Belle"  (Para.-WAC) 

GOPHER— (998)     (40c).      Gross:  $3,900. 
(Average:  $3,700). 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 

WORLD— (350)    (44c-55c-60c.8Oc).  Gross: 
$2,300.     (Average:  $2,400). 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 
"Bea-itiful  but  Broke"  (Col.) 

ASTER— (900)  (25c-35c)  6  days.  Gross: 
$2,800.    (Average:  $2,600). 


'Dwarfs'  Equals  1st  Run 

RKO's  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs"  has  started  its  fifth  week  at 
the  Manhattan  theatre  here  equalling 
its  original  run  at  Radio  City  Music 
Hall,  it  was  announced  here  yester- 
day. 


T.L.Baldwin  Is  Promoted 

T.  L.  Baldwin,  Columbia  Kansas 
City  salesman,  has  been  promoted  to 
branch  manager  of  that  office,  suc- 
ceeding B.  C.  Marcus,  recently  named 
Midwest  division  manager.  Baldwin 
has  been  with  Columbia  for  13  years. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

near  that  date  as  possible.  At  these 
sessions,  the  chairmen  and  their  com- 
mittees of  exchange  managers  will  al- 
locate the  territories  for  individual 
managers  and  salesmen. 

Suggestions  for  setting  up  of  the 
machinery  are  contained  in  the  first 
instructions  on  the  campaign  sent  by 
Depinet  to  all  distributor  chairmen. 
In  his  letter,  he  said :  "The  motion 
picture  industry  is  about  ready  to  em- 
bark upon  its  greatest  effort — par- 
ticipation in  the  raising  of  our  Gov- 
ernment's Fifth  War  Loan  of  $16,000,- 
000,000.  You  will  be  called  upon  to 
personalb'  play  a  vital  role  in  this 
all-out  endeavor  as  well  as  to  bring 
into  action  the  enthusiastic  support  of 
every  manager  and  salesman  in  your 
territory." 

Depinet  disclosed  that  John  J. 
Friedl  of  Minneapolis,  national  cam- 
paign director,  "who  has  been  a  very 
successful  exhibitor  chairman  in  his 
territory  for  many  drives,"  has  sug- 
gested a  territorial  break-up  plan 
which  has  worked  out  most  advan- 
tageously in  the  Northwest.  The 
Friedl  plan  breaks  down  the  terri- 
tories by  zones,  with  a  designated 
branch  manager  and  salesmen  respon- 
sible for  each.  Depinet  suggested  that 
this  plan  be  put  into  effect  unless  a 
plan  is  already  in  use  which  the  ter- 
ritorial committees  feel  is  better. 
Bamberger  Assisting 

Depinet  is  being  assisted  by  Leon 
J.  Bamberger,  who  is  his  assistant 
also  as  national  chairman  of  the  dis- 
tributors' division  of  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee. 

All  distribution  heads  have  been 
asked  by  Depinet  to  instruct  all  man- 
agers .and  salesmen  to  attend  one  of 
the  IS  all-industry  regional  meetings. 
In  event  the  meeting  is  held  outside 
the  city,  the  territorial  distribution 
chairmen  and  district  distribution 
chairmen  have  been  asked  to  attend. 

The  first  regional  meeting,  to  be 
held  at  the  Statler  Hotel  in  Wash- 
ington next  Wednesday,  will  be  at- 
tended by  all  district  and  branch  man- 
agers from  Washington  and  Phila- 
delphia, as  well  as  salesmen  of  the 
Washington  exchanges. 


Mass  Loan  Drive  Meet 
Planned  in  Boston 

Boston,  May  4. — Samuel  Pinanski, 
Massachusetts  chairman  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee,  today  announced 
in  the  absence  of  Harry  Browning, 
public  relations  head,  who  is  currently 
in  New  York  on  business,  a  mass 
meeting  of  all  local  motion  picture  of- 
ficials, employes  and  associates  to  be 
held  in  the  Hotel  Statler  here,  May 
11,  to  outline  plans  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive. 

Proxies  Set  for  UA 
Meeting  Today 

(Continued  from   page  1) 

tine  company  affairs  are  expected  to 
be  adopted.  The  amendments,  among 
other  things,  provide  for  elimination 
of  the  requirement  for  unanimous  con- 
sent on  all  corporate  action  except  the 
sale  of  United  Artists  stock,  and  for 
the  election  of  a  board  of  directors  of 
nine  members,  instead  of  the  present 
four. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday 


ALABAMA 

Foreman  A.  Rogers*,  Macon  Theatre,  Tuskegee 
ALASKA 

B.  E.  Abegglen*,  Revilla  Theatre,  Ketchikan 
ARIZONA 

Ewald  Stein*,  Wickenbifrg  Theatre,  Wickenburg 
ARKANSAS 

James  J.  Sharum*,  Sharum,  Walnut  Ridge 
CALIFORNIA 

W.  G.  Allen,  Sunset,  Riverdale 

Homer  Gill,  Fox,  BakersReld 

Frank  Hayward,  Delmar,  San  Leandro 

Harry  E.  Creasey,  Golden  State,  Riverside 

Bert  Kennerson*,  State,  San  Jose 

Irving  Levin,  Coliseum,  San  Francisco 

Allan  R.  Marten*,  Golden  Gate,  Los  Angeles 

J.  D.  Richardson,  Ritz,  South  Pasadena 

Dale  Smiley,  Grand,  North  Sacramento 

Harvey  W.  Smith,  Roseville,  Roseville 

T.  F.  Woods,  Telenews,  San  Francisco 

COLORADO 

Ralph  J.  Batschelet* ,  Bluebird,  Denver 
Wilbur  Williams,  Isis,  Boulder 
Robert  Wilson,  Fox,  Walsenburg 

CONNECTICUT 

Albert  M.  Pickus*,  Stratford,  Stratford 
Joseph  B.  Samartano,  Palace,  Meriden 

DELAWARE 

Edgar  J.  Doob*,  Aldine,  Wilmington 

DISTRICT  OF  COLUMBIA 

Jack  L.  Foxe*,  Columbia,  Washington 

FLORIDA 

Malcolm  H.  Millar*,  Prince,  Pahokee 
GEORGIA 

Cecil  D.  Crummey* ,  Rochelle,  Rochelle 
HAWAII 

Adam  Gomez*,  Queen,  Honolulu 


*  Denotes  state  winners. 


IDAHO 

Walter  Lee  Casey,  Jr.*,  Rex,  Bonners  Ferry 
ILLINOIS 

Louis  St.  Pierre*,  Coronado,  Rockford 
INDIANA 

Harlan  Croy,  Roxy,  Frankfort 
Harry  Rubin,  Tivoli,  Michigan  City 
Leonard  Sowar*,  Rivoli,  Muncie 

IOWA 

R.  J.  Baker*,  Majestic,  Centerville 
KANSAS 

Violet  Cadle,  Chief,  Hiawatha 

J.  E.  DeLong,  Ute,  Mankato 

Ted  Irwin*,  Dreamland,  Herington 

Roy  Dunnick,  Madrid,  Atchison 

Barnes  Perdue,  Uptown  and  Katy,  Parsons 

L.  B.  Sponsler,  Liberty,  Fort  Scott 

KENTUCKY 

W.  B.  Aspley*,  Plaza,  Glasgow 
LOUISIANA 

Miss  Rosa  Hart*,  Paramount,  Lake  Charles 
MAINE 

Fred  M.  Eugley*,  Star,  Westbrook 
MARYLAND 

R.  P.  Ashcroft*,  Broadway,  Baltimore 

MASSACHUSETTS 

H.  W.  Beats,  Brockton,  Brockton 

W.  S.  Canning*,  Empire,  Fall  River 

Arthur  J.  Keenan,  Merrimac,  Lowell 

MICHIGAN 

J.  R.  Denniston,  Monroe,  Monroe 
Thomas  H.  Ealand*,  Ferndale,  Ferndale 

MINNESOTA 

Charles  A.  Zinn*,  Century,  Minneapolis 
MISSISSIPPI 

W.  J.  Ilsley*,  Marion,  Columbia 
MISSOURI 

Norris  B.  Cresswell,  Lee,  Clinton 
P.  A.  Delahunty*,  Valencia,  Macon 


************** 


Friday,  May  5,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


UA  <9fo*  (£c<m  Q'iw 


MONTANA 

E.  M.  Jackson*,  Orpheum,  Plentywood 
NEBRASKA 

A.  G.  Miller*;  Lyric,  Atkinson 
James  L.  Redmond,  Rivoli,  Falls  City 

NEVADA 

Kenneth  E.  Wright*,  American,  Winnemucca 

NEW  HAMPSHIRE 

Melvin  Morrison*,  Strand,  Dover 

NEW  JERSEY 

Fred  Cross,  Teaneck,  Teaneck 

Dan  C.  Neagley*,  Criterion,  Bridgeton 

NEW  MEXICO 

Russell  Hardwick*,  State,  Clovis 
NEW  YORK 

Harold  deGraiv*,  Oneonta,  Oneonta 
Louise  Leonard,  Astor,  New  York 
Betty  Margarido*,  Forest  Hills,  Forest  Hills 
Paul  Raisler,  Utopia,  Queens 

NORTH  CAROLINA 

James  Blackwell,  State,  Newton 

George  D.  Carpenter*,  Colonial,  Valdese 

NORTH  DAKOTA 

A.  E.  Ablesvn*,  Hollywood,  Devils  Lake 
O.  K.  Engen,  Lyric,  Rugby 

OHIO 

Wm.  M.  Tollman*,  Ceramic,  East  Liverpool 
OKLAHOMA 

Robert  Browning*,  Poncan,  Ponca  City 
OREGON 

Eino  Hemmila,  Criterion,  Medford 
Jack  Matlack,  Broadway,  Portland 
Edward  C.  Niemann*,  30th  Avenue,  Portland 
Zollie  M.  Volchok,  Paramount,  Portland 

PENNSYLVANIA 

Charles  BitterHeld,  New  Colonial,  Philadelphia 

Clifford  S.  Brown,  Temple,  Kane 

Mrs.  Dorothy  M.  Brown,  Orpheum,  Franklin 


Denotes  state  winners. 


Henry  Eytinge,  Vernon,  Philadelphia 
F.  R.  Jackson.  St.  Mary's,  St.  Mary 
Reuben  Porit*,  Temple,  Philadelphia 
Roy  Robbins,  Aldine,  Philadelphia 
Larry  Woodin,  Arcadia,  Wellsboro 

RHODE  ISLAND 

P.  J.  Crawley*,  Bellevue,  Central  Falls 

SOUTH  CAROLINA 

J.  B.  Harvey*,  Carolina,  Clover 

SOUTH  DAKOTA 

Ken  Peters,  State,  Pierre 

Leo  Peterson*,  State,  Rapid  City 

TENNESSEE 

Abe  H.  Borisky*,  Capitol,  Chattanooga 
TEXAS 

James  Allard*,  Vernon,  Vernon 

A.  L.  Clary,  Ritz,  Killeen 

H.  A.  Daniels,  Palace,  Sequin 

John  D.  Jones,  Texas,  San  Angelo 

J.  Y.  Robb,  Ritz,  Bib  Spring 

W.  M.  Shieldes,  Tyler,  Tyler 

F.  W.  Zimmerman,  Palace,  San  Marcos 

UTAH 

Ross  Glasmann*,  Orpheum,  Ogden 
VERMONT 

Eugene  C.  Keenan*,  Burns,  Newport 
VIRGINIA 

C.  C.  Helms*,  Liberty,  Hot  Springs 
WASHINGTON 

L.  Parmentier*,  Liberty,  Walla  Walla 
WEST  VIRGINIA 

Emmett  M.  Barnes*,  Virginia,  Wheeling 
WISCONSIN 

C.  L.  Baldwin,  New  Gem,  Gillett 

T.  M.  Ellis.  Jr.*  Rex  and  State.  Beloit 

M.  A.  Neuman,  Fox,  Stevens  Point 

WYOMING 
Wilford  Williams' 


Victory,  Kemmerer 


*************  * 


We  can't 
all  wear 
these ! 


We  can  all  proudly 

wear  this   * 

in  our  lobby  for 
folks  to  see! 


AMMUNITION!  THE 
CAMPAIGN  BOOK! 


It's  so  important  that  its  success  rates  a  special 
citation  from  the  War  Department!  You  must  help 
arouse  America  to  this  crucial  need.  You  must 
reach  every  woman  in  your  audience  with  the 
nation's  call  for  aid!  Posters!  Press-book!  Trailer! 
(Lionel  Barrymore's  appeal  is  heart-stirring  in  it!)  Help 
win  the  war?  Here's  where  you  come  in,  Mister! 

Sponsored  by  War  Activities  Committee  of  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  N.  Y.  C. 


First  In 

Fifing 

nauiu  r 

Accural 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


OL.  55.  NO.  90 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  MAY  8,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


'IT  Key  Meet  at 
Studio  Instead 
Of  Nationally 

Scully  Calls  Sessions 
For  Coast  June  5 


Universal  Pictures  for  the  first 
time  will  conduct  a  seasonal  sales 
meeting  of  its  key  executives  at  the 
studio  at  Universal  City,  it  was  dis- 
closed here  at 
the  weekend  by 
William  A. 
Scully,  vice- 
president  and 
general  sales 
manager,  who 
said  that  the 
business  meet- 
ings will  be 
held  at  the  Am- 
bassador Hotel, 
starting  Mon- 
day, June  5,  and 
will  be  held  in 
place  of  the  us- 
ual sales  con- 
vention, which  was  heretofore  held  in 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


William  A.  Scully 


Paramount' s  Debt 
Cut  $13,000,000 


Interest-bearing  indebtedness  of  Par- 
amount Pictures  and  consolidated  sub- 
sidiaries was  reduced  during  1943  by 
approximately  $13,000,000,  the  com- 
pany's annual  report,  released  at  the 
weekend  by  president  Barney  Balaban, 
disclosed.  After  giving  effect  to  this 
reduction,  on  Jan.  1,  1944,  the  total 
funded  debt  amounted  to  $18,037,362. 

The  financial  report  showed  actual 
1943  earnings  of  $16,140,821,  compared 
with  $16,077,000  shown  on  a  statement 

(Continued  on  page  6) 

20th  Asks  $613,600 
Of  Jennifer  Jones 


Los  Angeles,  May  7. — Suit  was 
filed  against  Jennifer  Jones  by  20th 
Century-Fox  in  Superior  Court  here 
at  the  weekend,  alleging  breach  of 
contract  and  asking  damages  totaling 
$613,600  and  costs.  The  complaint 
charges  the  studio  starred  her  in  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette"  with  the  agree- 
ment that  she  would  make  four  other 
pictures. 

The  action  alleges  that  "on  three 
occasions  the  actress  refused  to  report 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Selig  to  Capital 
For  'Honored  100' 

Washington,  May  7. — Rob- 
ert W.  Selig,  assistant  nation- 
al campaign  director  of  the 
industry's  Fourth  War  Loan 
Drive,  who  managed  the 
"Honored  100"  contest  and 
who  guided  state  chairmen  in 
the  direction  of  the  compila- 
tion of  the  "Honored  100" 
winners,  has  arrived  here 
from  Denver  to  supervise  the 
industry's  activities  in  con- 
nection with  the  presentation 
of  the  "Honored  100"  winners 
to  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr.,  on 
Tuesday. 


700'  to  Lead 
5th  Campaign 


The  "Honored  100"  showmen  who 
led  the  industry  as  "E"  bond  salesmen 
in  the  Fourth  War  Loan  will  become 
spearheads  of  the  industry's  campaign 
in  the  Fifth  War  Loan  in  a  ceremony 
in  Washington,  Wednesday  morning. 
The  event  will  open  the  first  all-in- 
dustry regional  mass  meeting  called  by 
R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  chairman  of 
the  campaign,  to  present  the  industry's 
over-all  plans  for  the  drive. 

Before  assembled  exhibitors,  distrib- 
utors, Fifth  War  Loan  chairmen  and 
national  leaders,  other  industry  mem- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


U.  S.  Delays 
FWC  Action 


Washington,  May  7. — Determin- 
ation of  the  Department  of  Justice's 
position  with  respect  to  the  proposed 
eight-house  new-theatre  expansion  by 
Fox  West  Coast  in  the  San  Francisco 
Bay  war  area  is  expected  to  be  de- 
layed until  at  least  the  end  of  this 
month  in  order  that  independent  ex- 
hibitors who  are  opposing  the  con- 
struction may  have  an  opportunity  to 
present  their  arguments  against  it. 

Slated  for  meetings  with  officials  of 
the  Department  and  the  Office  of 
Civilian  Requirements  on  May  24, 
Robert  Poole  and  Hugh  Bruen  of  the 
Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  Indepen- 
dent Theatre  Owners  are  expected  to 
protest  the  building  of  new  circuit 
nouses  on  the  Coast. 

Such  a  protest  already  has  been 
filed  by  the  ITO  of  Northern  Cali- 
fornia, which  challenged  the  conten- 
tion that  there  is  need  for  new  thea- 
tres and  asserted  that,  if  there  were 
any  need,  independent  exhibitors  are 
ready  and  able  to  meet  the  demand. 


Skouras-Rank 
Deal  for  M&B 
Nears  Closing 

Approval  by  British 
Treasury  is  Needed 


Sol  Schwartz  Names 
Howard  as  Aide 

Sol  Schwartz,  general  manager  for 
RKO's  out-of-town  theatres  has  ap- 
pointed William  W.  Howard  to  be  his 
assistant. 

Howard  who  has  long  headed  the 
stage  show  department  for  RKO  The- 
atres will  retain  that  post  in  addition 
to  his  new  duties. 


Will  Call  International  Film 
Talks  Before  End  of  War 


Washington,  May  7. — International 
conferences  on  the  postwar  treatment 
of  motion  pictures  will  not  be  called 
for  some  months  but  are  planned  to 
get  under  way  before  the  end  of  the 
war,  it  was  learned  from  the  State 
Department  at  the  weekend.  Much 
groundwork  must  be  done  before  the 
first  of  these  meetings  can  be  called, 
and  it  probably  will  be  Fall  before 
arrangements  are  perfected. 

Currently,  the  Telecommunications 
Division,  under  Francis  C.  De  Wolfe, 
is  securing  reports  on  current  indus- 
try conditions  in  such  countries  as 
can  be  reached.  Several  have  been 
secured  from  Latin  America  showing 
a  highly  satisfactory  situation  with 
respect  to  U.  S.  films.  A  compre- 
hensive survey  of  the  English  situa- 
tion also  has  been  received  from  Lon- 
don, and  another  came  in  from  Saudi 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Clark,  Hazen  Meet 
Today  on  Decree 

Washington,  May  7. — Joseph 
H.  Hazen,  legal  liaison  for 
Loew's,  Paramount,  RKO  Ra- 
dio and  20th  Century-Fox  in 
current  consent  decree  dis- 
cussions with  the  Department 
of  Justice,  is  scheduled  to 
meet  here  tomorrow  with  As- 
sistant U.  S.  Attorney  General 
Tom  C.  Clark,  as  a  result  of 
a  weekend  telephone  confer- 
ence between  the  two. 

The  meeting  of  Clark  and 
Hazen  will  be  a  preliminary 
to  the  proposed  conference  to 
be  held  later  this  week  with 
officials  of  the  five  decree 
companies  and  their  attorneys. 


London,  May  7. — Formal  closing 
of  the  agreement  by  which  J.  Arthur 
Rank  and  Spyros  Skouras,  the  lat- 
ter representing  20th  Century-Fox, 
would  purchase  jointly  Loew's  stock 
in  Metropolis  and  Bradford  Trust  Co., 
holding  company  for  Gaumont-British, 
now  awaits  only  the  sanction  of  the 
British  Treasury  Department,  which 
must  first  be  obtained.  Treasury  ap- 
proval is  expected  momentarily. 

The  Rank-Skouras  agreement  gives 
the  sanction  of  20th-Fox  to  the  pur- 
chase by  Rank,  in  October,  1941,  of 
the  51  per  cent  M.  &  B.  interest  of 
the  Ostrer  Brothers.  This  transaction 
theoretically  demanded  such  approval ; 
but  Rank,  having  dictatorial  control 
of  G-B,  had  not  previously  asked  for 
it. 

A  subsidiary  agreement  provides  for 
the  creation  of  a  management  commit- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Zanuck  to  Proceed 
With  'One  World' 


Wendell  L.  Willkie  has  withdrawn 
all  objections  to  the  filming  of  his 
book  "One  World,"  and  20th  Century- 
Fox  will  make  the  picture  starting  in 
September,  with  Darryl  F.  Zanuck, 
producing,  as  scheduled,  Zanuck  told 
Motion  Picture  Daily  at  the  week- 
end, just  prior  to  leaving  for  the  Coast. 

The  decision  to  proceed  with  the 
production  grew  out  of  a  series  of 
conferences  late  last  week  between 
Zanuck  and  Willkie,  who  was  previ- 
ously reported  to  have  rejected  sev- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


UA  Defers  Control 
Action  to  May  15 


Wilmington,  May  7. — The  annual 
meeting  of  United  Artists  stockholders 
lasted  only  three  minutes  here  Friday 
and  was  adjourned  until  May  15  on 
the  motion  of  Charles  Chaplin's  at- 
torney, Herbert  Jacoby. 

Present  at  the  session  were  Edward 
C.  Raftery,  president  and  counsel  for 
the  corporation  ;  Isaac  A.  Pennypacker 
of  Philadelphia,  representing  Mary 
Pickford :  Gradwell  Sears,  U.A.  vice- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  8,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


Y FRANK  FREEMAN  delayed 
.  his  scheduled  departure  for  the 
Coast  from  Thursday  to  yesterday 
and  expects  to  make  a  stopover  in 
the  West  before  returning  to  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO  Radio 
president,  scheduled  to  leave  for  Cali- 
foria  May  12,  will  delay  his  depar- 
ture until  after  the  company's  annual 
golf  tournament,  May  16. 

• 

Mrs.  Eleanor  King,  head  booker 
at  the  M-G-M  branch  in  Denver,  has 
been  promoted  to  office  manager  there. 
She  is  the  company's  seventh  woman 
office  manager. 

• 

Monique  De  T.  Schless,  daugh- 
ter of  Robert  Schless,  Warner  gen- 
eral foreign  manager,  has  become  en- 
gaged to  Boatswain's  Mate  First  Class 
Richard  H.  Sprayregen. 

• 

William  Levy,  of  Walt  Disney 
Productions,  will  leave  tomorrow  for 
a  three-weeks  stay  at  the  West  coast 
studios. 

Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew  Theatres 
New  England  division  manager,  left 
for  Florida  at  the  weekend  with  Mrs. 
Shaw. 

• 

M.  J.  Weisfeldt,  Columbia  sales 
executive,  left  yesterday  for  a  tour 
of  the  company's  Mid-east  exchanges. 


Appeal  Board  Finds 
For  III.  Exhibitor 

The  arbitration  appeal  board  in  a 
decision  made  public  Friday  com- 
pletely reversed  the  award  rendered 
by  John  S.  Lord,  arbitrator  at  the 
Chicago  tribunal,  who  dismissed  the 
clearance  complaint  filed  by  Marchesi 
Bros.,  operating  the  Geneseo  The- 
atre, Geneseo,  111.,  against  Loew's, 
Paramount,  20th  Century-Fox  and 
RKO  Radio. 

The  board  stated  that  no  clearance, 
in  the  form  of  priority  of  run  or 
otherwise,  shall  be  granted  in  deals 
hereafter  entered  into  by  Loew's,  20th 
Century-Fox  and  RKO  Radio  to  the 
Peerless  in  Kewanee,  111.,  over  the 
Geneseo.  The  complaint  against  Par- 
amount was  dismissed. 


Seek  U.  S.  Guidance 
On  HVC  Allotment 

Hollywood,  May  7.  —  Faced  with 
an  unprecedented  talent  shortage  re- 
sulting from  the  heaviest  production 
schedules  in  years,  plus  the  loss  of 
talent  to  the  armed  services  and  com- 
mitments of  personalities  to  overseas 
entertainment  tours  and  newly  estab- 
lished hospital  tour  routes  already  set 
up  by  the  War  Department,  the  Hol- 
lywood Victory  Committee  has  turned 
to  high  military  and  Government  offi- 
cials in  Washington  for  instructions 
on  what  allotment  of  available  person- 
alities should  be  made  to  give  the 
greatest  service  to  the  nation  in  the 
next  several  weeks. 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


p  HARLES  FRANCIS  COE, 
^  associate  counsel  for  the 
MPPDA  and  former  vice- 
president  and  general  counsel  of 
that  organization,  in  his  auto- 
biography, "Never  a  Dull  Mo- 
ment," which  will  be  published 
May  23  by  Hastings  House,  de- 
votes the  final  25  pages  of  the 
326-page  volume  to  his  experi- 
ences in  the  industry  and  varied 
impressions  gained  of  some  of 
its  leading  figures.  The  follow- 
ing" are  excerpts  from  that  por- 
tion of  his  book. 

On  hoiv  he  became  associated 
with  the  industry  : 

"New  York  is  calling.  Mr. 
John  H.  Perry  to  speak  to  Mr. 
Charles  Francis  Coe."  It  was 
in  October,  1941.  (Coe  did  not 
join  the  MPPDA  until  the  fol- 
lowing April.  Perry  is  the  own- 
er of  the  Western  Newspaper 
Union,  a  mutual  friend  of 
Coe,  Will  H.  Hayes  and  other 
leading  industry  figures.  Perry 
asked  Coe  to  talk  to  Hays  about 
doing  an  industry  public  rela- 
tions job.) 

Of  the  MPPDA  board  of.  direc- 
tors : 

"As  a  board  of  directors,  I 
can  say  without  hesitation  that 
the  aforementioned  men  are  the 
most  difficult  I  have  ever  en- 
countered. The  reason  is  plain. 
As  between  themselves  they  are 
the  most  keenly  and  active  com- 
petitive interests  I  know.  When 
they  meet  as  our  board,  agree- 
ment can  flow  only  from  a  sort 
of  eliminative  process  which 
treats  first  on  possible  advan- 
tages accruing  to  one  or  more 
companies  as  against  the  entire 
group.  I  say  without  hesitation 
that  usually  'the  sparks  fly!'" 

•  • 

Of  the  Production  Code  Admin- 
istration : 

"Most  important  of  the  As- 
sociation activities,  in  my  judg- 
ment, is  what  is  called  the  Pro- 
duction Code  Administration.  It 
is  under  the  direction  of  an  af- 
fable, amazing  Irishman  named 
Joseph  I.  Breen.  With  certi- 
tude immense,  I  state  here  that 
just  two  things  make  the  Code 
work.  The  first  is  Joe  Breen. 
The  second  is  the  unshakeable 
determination  of  producers  to 
enforce  the  Code — on  the  other 
fellow's  pictures." 

•  • 

"Louis  B.  Mayer  is  a  rotund 
man,  perfectly  barbered,  sleek  of 
appearance  as  a  butter-ball, 
emotional  as  any  star  he  ever 
developed,  and  as  shrewd  as  a 
David  Harum.  'All  I  ever  want 
to  know',  he  said  to  me  once, 


'is  where  I  am  wrong.  The 
success  of  this  studio  depends 
upon  knowing  when  I'm  wrong. 
I'd  fire  any  man  I  knew  was 
'yessing'  me.  Some  of  the  boys 
fight  with  me  like  hell.  They 
are  the  good  ones.  They  are 
the  one's  that  stay  here  year  af- 
ter year.  Tell  me  now :  Where 
am  I  wrong  ?'  " 

•  • 

Harry  M.  Warner.  "That 
evening  as  I  left,  Warner  said 
with  complete  naivete,  T  know 
what  some  people  in  the  busi- 
ness say  about  me.  Well,  let 
them.  I've  made  a  lot  of  mis- 
takes but  I've  also  been  right 
many  a  time  when  they  were 
wrong.  If  this  business  ever 
gets  into  real  trouble  it  will  be 
because  certain  individuals 
place  themselves  and  their  per- 
sonal interests  above  those  of 
all  others'." 

"One  of  Harry  Warner's  ex- 
ecutives once  said  to  me :  'Har- 
ry is  an  amazing  man.  He's  al- 
ways right  for  the  wrong 
reasons'." 

•  • 

"Frank  Freeman  ...  a  form- 
er exhibitor,  he  represents,  in 
my  opinion,  the  new  generation 
which  soon  must  take  over  the 
baton.  Men  like  Charlie  Koer- 
ner  of  RKO,  Cliff  Work  and 
Nate  Blumberg  of  Universal, 
and  Freeman  are  all  in  -posi- 
tions of  extreme  importance  and 
they  come  from  the  exhibition 
field.    I  think  that  is  a  healthy 


"Harry  Colin  ...  I  enter  a 
conference  with  him.  This  is 
something  like  stepping  from  a 
doorway  into  a  sudden  gale. 
'That  Hays  Office  is  a  joke. 
Breen  is  a  damfool.  And  this 
advertising  censorship  you  guys 
run.  That's  the  silliest  I  ever 
met.  If  a  big  company  sends 
in  some  art  work,  you  pass  it. 
If  we  send  in  the  same  identi- 
cal blue-headed  goddam  thing 
you  turn  it  down.  Know  what 
I'm  going  to  do,  Coe?  I'm 
packing  up  some  art  work  and 
I'm  going  East.  I'm  going  over 
to  that  lousy  dump  you  racketeer 
in  and  I'm  going  to  resign.' 

"Under  that  rough  exterior  is 
a  swell  guy.  Harry  uses  a 
superficial,  hardboiled  shell  as 
defense  against  a  sentimental 
man  inside." 

•  • 

"I  saw  Nicholas  Schenck  in 
the  raw  and  found  nothing  but 
things  to  admire.  He  would  be 
a  vital  force   in  any  business. 


Brazil  Grosses  Up 
40-50%:  Lima  [ 

"Grosses  in  Brazil  are  running  40 
to  50  per  cent  ahead  of  last  year,'' 
Ary  Lima,  Warner's  Brazilian  general 
manager,  said  in  an  interview  here  at 
the  weekend  at  the  company's  home 
office.  Lima  ascribed  the  "boom"  to 
war  prosperity. 

Lima  predicted  that  the  country's 
1,300  theatres  would  prove  insufficieMj 
to  satisfy  postwar  demands.  He  eW 
pects  a  jump  to  1,600  after  the  war. 
More  than  50  per  cent  of  ^existing 
theatres  have  over  1,000  seats.  "Thej 
market  for  American  pictures  will  ex- 
pand further  after  the  war,"  he  stated. 

"Although  there  has  been  a  small 
increase  in  admissions,  they  are  still 
very  low.  They  have  not  kept  pacej 
with  rising  costs  of  living,  and  ex 
hibitors  will  be  forced  to  raise  prices 
soon,"  said  Lima. 

"The  native  film  industry  will  ex 
pand  production  after  the  war,  bud 
will  not  offer  any  serious  competition 
to  American  films,  which  are  wel| 
liked,"  he  said. 

The  Warner  manager  in  Brazil  de 
clared  that  "no  foreign  money  has! 
been  frozen  lately"  and  when  ex 
change  and  income  taxes,  which  arej 
in  the  process  of  renegotiation  wit! 
the  government,  are  cleared  up,  there] 
will  be  no  difficulty  in  transferring 
film  company  balances  to  the  U.  S.J 
he  said. 


To  Present  $268459 
From  Dimes  Drive 

Fred  Schwartz,  New  York  circuit 
operator  and  chairman  of  the  indus 
try's  last  March  of  Dimes  Drive  i 
Metropolitan  .New  York,  on  'Tuesda 
will  present  a  check  for  $268,459  to 
Basil  O'Connor  of  the  National  In- 
fantile  Paralysis   Foundation,  repre 
senting  50  per  cent  of  the  $536,918 
collected  in  this  area. 

The  presentation  ceremonies  will  be 
held  at  11  A.  M.,  Tuesday,  in  the 
New  York  offices  of  Harry  Brandt. 


Calm,  judicial,  logical,  soft- 
spoken  as  a  usual  thing,  he  can 
turn  to  steel  when  the  occasion 
seems  to  demand.  But  he  is  not 
obdurate.  If  wrong,  he  is  quick 
to  see  it,  and  quicker  to  admit  it. 
New  faces  in  high  industry  po- 
sitions are  warmly  welcomed  by 
Schenck.-  He  extends  to  them 
considerate  treatment  and  is 
ever  ready  to  assist." 

•  • 

"Men  like  Peter  Rathvon  of 
RKO  and  Cheever  Cowdin  of 
Universal  bring  new  force  and 
capacity.  Barney  Balaban  is 
dynamic,  energetic,  agreeable 
and  available  for  any  call.  Spy- 
ros  Skouras  .  .  .  knows  his  way 
around.  Men  like  Joe  Hazen, 
Bob  Rubin,  Austin  Keough, 
Charlie  Prutzman,  John  O'Con- 
nor, Ned  Depinet,  Major 
Thompson  and  others  will  see 
the  broad  aspect  and  fill  with 
capacity  whatever  •  future  places 
present." 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief-  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundayl 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York."! 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News! 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William! 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Bumup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Ouigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  19441 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class, 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


■ 


■ 


I 


■ 


■ 


J  ITL_ 

TAKES 
DARING 

t(?  Sttfp  Off 

thtf  beaten  path ! 


not  only 
blazes  a  new  trait ** 

IT  tS  A  PICTURE 

that  is 


mar. 


HELEN  VINSON  *  SIDNEY  BLACKMER 

GEORGE  SHERMAN,  Director 
Screenplay  by  Dane  Lussier   •   Frederick  Kohner  Based  on  the  novel  "Donovan's  Brain,"  by  Curt  Siodmak 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  8,  1944 


International  Talks 
Before  War's  End 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Arabia,  where  the  Washington  Gov- 
ernment plans  to  finance  a  $150,000,000 
petroleum  pipe  line.  This  showed  no 
film  problems  in  that  country  since 
there  are  no  theatres. 

Department  officials  are  anxious  that 
the  international  talks — the  first  with 
British  representatives  —  shall  get 
under  way  before  the  end  of  the  war, 
so  that  definite  policies  for  the  treat- 
ment of  motion  pictures  can  be  devel- 
oped for  consideration  and  adoption 
at  the  industrial,  economic  and  finan- 
cial meetings  which  will  coincide  with 
the  peace  conference.  If  policies  in- 
suring the  fair  and  equitable  treatment 
of  all  films  in  all  countries  can  be  de- 
veloped at  or  before  the  end  of  the 
war,  it  was  pointed  •  out,  it  will  be 
much  easier  to  put  them  into  effect 
than  if  they  are  not  brought  forth 
until  the  European  nations  have  been 
reconstituted  and  their  governmental 
policies  established  and  in  operation. 

In  view  of  legislation  now  pending 
in  Congress  authorizing  the  State  De- 
partment to  undertake  in  other  parts 
of  the  world  the  same  type  of  motion 
picture,  radio  and  other  cultural  pro- 
grams instituted  in  Latin  America  by 
the  Coordinator  of  Inter-American 
Affairs,  the  development  of  a  generally 
accepted  international  policy  for  mo- 
tion pictures  is  considered  a  matter 
of  major  importance  in  the  Depart- 
ment. 


Skouras-Rank  M  &  B 
Deal  Nears  Closing 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tee  for  Gaumont-British  Theatres,  in- 
cluding 20th-Fox  representation  with 
a  view  to  improvement  of  G-B  The- 
atres' management,  but  with  Rank  re- 
taining absolute  ultimate  control.  It 
is  reported  that  Larry  Kent  and  Dan 
Michalove,  both  of  20th-Fox,  will  be 
board  members  of  G-B. 

The  negotiations  have  resulted  in  a 
sharp  reaction  on  the  stock  market, 
Gaumont-British  ordinary  shares  ris- 
ing in  two  days  from  17  shillings,  three 
halfpence,  to  19  shillings,  fourpence. 

The  deal  by  which  Skouras  and 
Rank  sought  to  avert  an  impasse  in 
their  negotiations  by  joint  purchase 
of  Loew's  M  &  B  shares  was  reported 
in  Motion  Picture  Daily  on  May  1. 


'Honored  Hundred9  to  Lead 
Fifth  War  Loan  Drive 


Zanuck  to  Proceed 
With  'One  World' 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
eral  versions  of  the  proposed  script. 
"We  are  definitely  going  ahead,".  Zan- 
uck stated.  "Mr.  Willkie  has  given 
his  approval,  along  with  several  sug- 
gestions." • 

Zanuck  said  his  immediate  concern 
is  to  launch  "Wilson"  with  a  series  of 
West  Coast  previews  and  then,  on 
June  5,  to  go  into  production  on  Moss 
Hart's  "Winged  Victory."  While 
here,  the  20th-Fox  executive  also  held 
conferences  with  Hart. 


Approve  'Five  Graves' 

"Five  Graves  to  Cairo,"  a  Para- 
mount production,  which  was  banned 
by  the  Argentine  government  last 
Fall,  has  been  approved  for  exhibition 
in  that  country,  it  was  learned  here 
late  last  week. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

bers,  the  "Honored  100"  will  be  intro- 
duced to  O'Donnell  by  Charles  P. 
Skouras,  national  chairman  of  the  in- 
dustry's Fourth  War  Loan  drive. 
O'Donnell,  on  behalf  of  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  committee,  will  accept  the  ser- 
vices of  the.  100  showmen  as  a  special 
advisory  committee. 

The  rally  will  be  held  in  the  Con- 
gressional Room  of  the  Hotel  Statler 
at  10:30  A.  M. 


Depinet  Asks  Aid  of 
Exploitation  Men 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  chairman 
of  the  Fifth  War  Loan  committee's 
distribution  division,  over  the  week- 
end suggested  to  heads  of  all  distrib- 
uting companies  that  they  request  their 
exploitation  men  in  the  field  to  offer 
their  services  to  local  exhibitor  cam- 
paign chairman. 

The  exploitation  men's  efforts  will 
be  in  addition  to  those  of  all  branch 
managers  and  salesmen  who  will  con- 
tact exhibitors  to  enlist  active  partici- 
pation in  the  campaign. 

Depinet  pointed  out  that  exploitation 
men  can  do  much  to  help  influence  ex- 
hibitor Fifth  War  Loan  activity,  es- 


pecially in  suggesting  and  helping  to 
put  on  special  events. 


O'Donnell  in  Capital 
From  Hollywood 

R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  chairman 
of  the  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
committee,  is  expected  to  arrive  in 
Washington  today  from  Hollywood 
where  he  has  been  conferring  with  in- 
dustry groups  on  their  participation 
in  the  forthcoming  campaign.  On 
Friday  he  held  a  meeting  with  Ken- 
neth Thomson,  chairman  of  the  Holly- 
wood Victory  Committee ;  Franchot 
Tone,  representing  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild,  and  representatives  of  other 
groups. 

Claude  F.  Lee,  industry  consultant 
to  the  Treasury  Department,  who  ac- 
companied O'Donnell  to  the  Coast,  ar- 
rived in  New  York  at  the  weekend. 
T.  R.  Gamble,  national  director  of  the 
War  Finance  Division,  and  Robert 
Coyne,  WFD  field  director  accompan- 
ied him.  Lee  and  Gamble  participated 
with  O'Donnell  in  the  Hollywood 
conferences,  Gamble  deciding  on  a 
conference  in  Washington  tomorrow 
to  set  up  a  program  on  which  the 
HVC  will  serve. 


Chaplin  Service  on 
Selznick  Affirmed 


1  The  Appellate  Division  of  the  N.  Y. 
Supreme  Court  on  Friday  affirmed  a 
decision  by  Justice  Ferdinand  Pecora 
sustaining  service  on  ^Vanguard  Films 
and  David  O.  Selznick  Prod,  in  a  suit 
by  Charles  Chaplin  arising  from  sales 
of  production  assets  by  the  Selznick 
companies  to  20th  Century-Fox. 

The  Appellate  Division  affirmed 
the  earlier  findings,  which  had  been 
appealed  by  Selznick,  that  the  latter's 
companies  are  doing  business  in  New 
York  and  that  the  service  accomplished 
on  them  here  is  binding.  The  Selz- 
nick companies  endeavored  to  show 
that  they  operate  in  California  and 
should  be  served  there  and  the  action 
tried  in  a  California  court. 

Indications  are  that  an  attempt  may 
be  made  by  Selznick's  attorneys,  White 
&  Case,  to  carry  the  appeal  to  the 
Court  of  Appeals  at  Albany.  Louis  D. 
Frohlich  of  Schwartz  &  Frohlich, 
counsel  for  Chaplin,  argued  for  the 
plaintiff. 


UA  Defers  Control 
Action  to  May  15 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

president,  and  Jacoby.  There  were  no 
actual  stockholders  present. 

At  the  meeting  to  be  held  here  on 
the  15th,  it  is  expected  that  the  stock- 
holders will  act  on  the  six  resolutions 
aimed  to  shift  the  management  from 
partnership  control  to  operational  con- 
trol which  were  adopted  by  the  board 
of  directors  in  Hollywood  recently. 

RKO  Buys  Theatre 

RKO  has  purchased  the  RKO- 
Keith  Theatre,  White  Plains.  N.  Y., 
for  a  reported  price  of  almost  $1,- 
000,000,  after  operating  the  3,200-seat 
theatre  under  lease  from  the  sellers, 
H.  &  S,  Sonn,  Inc.,  since  1926. 


20th  Asks  $613,600 
Of  Jennifer  Jones 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

for  work  in  'Laura',"  forcing  the  stu- 
dio to  delay  and  change  plans  for  the 
production  and  causing  its  facilities  to 
lie  idle  at  great  monetary  loss. 

The  20th-Fox  complaint  further  al- 
leges that  the  studio  took  Miss  Jones, 
virtually  unknown,  and  cast  her  in 
"Bernadette,"  which  won  the  last 
Academy  acting  award,  thereby  creat- 
ing for  the  actress  a  popularity  which 
has  made  her  worth  $500,000  more  to 
the  studio  in  any  picture  they  might 
produce  during  the  present  year,  "than 
any  other  player  in  the  same  role.  This 
is  the  first  time  that  anyone  has  at- 
tempted to  set  a  cash  value  on  an 
Academy  award. 

Meanwhile,  Daniel  T.  O'Shea  issued 
a  statement  declaring  that  Miss  Jones 
was  under  a  long-term  exclusive  con- 
tract to  the  Selznick  studio,  of  which 
he  is  executive  director,  and  adding 
that  Frank  Belcher  of  the  law  firm  of 
Jennings  and  Belcher  is  handling  the 
suit  for  her. 

Belcher  said,  "I  have  accepted  this 
service  for  Miss  Jones.  The  20th-Fox 
complaint  definitely  reveals  her  under 
contract  to  Selznick.  This  is  primarily 
a  fight  between  the  two  studios  over 
the  services  of  the  actress.  It  is  the 
outgrowth  of  a  situation  for  which 
she  is  not  to  blame.  We  will  file  an 
answer  in  due  time." 


Paramount's  Debt 
Cut  $13,000,000 


MP  A  Dinner  Discussed 

Further  discussion  on  plans  for  the 
Motion  Picture  Associates  annual  din- 
ner-dance, to  be  held  May  19,  at  the 
Hotel  Astor,  headed  the  agenda  at  a 
luncheon  meeting  held  Friday  at  the 
Hotel  Astor.  Discussion  on  present 
group  insurance,  limited  to  $250  per 
person,  was  conducted  with  a  view  to 
increasing  it  to  $1,000. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

of  estimated  earnings,  issued  April  6. 
The  earnings  were  after  deducting  all 
charges  including  interest,  taxes,  de- 
preciation and  $2,000,000  additional  re- 
serve for  contingencies.  Earnings  in 
1942  were  $14,631,650. 

The  1943  earnings  amounted  to  $4.30 
per  share  on  3,752,136  shares  of  com-  , 
mon  stock  outstanding  on  Jan.  1,  1944.  [ 
The  estimate  last  month  was  $4.28. 
The  company  earned  $4.74  per  share 
on  2,933,717  shares  in  1942. 

The  consolidated  balance  sheet 
showed  $22,656,222  cash  as  of  last  Jan. 
1,  of  which  $857,376  was  in  foreign 
countries  other  than  Canada,  principal- 
ly in  Great  Britain.  Total  current  as- 
sets were  $66,137,600  and  current  lia- 
bilities $23,831,997,  leaving  a  net  work- 
ing capital  of  $42,305,603. 

Debentures  Retired 

On  Jan.  2,  1943,  Paramount  had 
outstanding  $20,332,700  of  four  per 
cent  debentures  due  1956.  Prior  to 
July  14,  1943,  these  debentures  were 
retired  in  full,  $698,000  by  purchase 
and  $19,634,700  by  redemption  at  103 
per  cent  and  accrued  interest.  Funds 
for  this  purpose  were  provided  by  a 
$15,000,000  new  borrowing  at  interest 
rates  ranging  from  one  and  one-half 
per  cent  to  three  per  cent  annually, 
the  balance  being  provided  out  of  cur- 
rent funds.  Through  prepayments  out 
of  current  funds  the  new  borrowing 
was  reduced  to  $10,000,000  on  Jan.  1, 
1944.  This  amount  is  payable  $1,000,- 
000  annually  during  the  years  1949 
through  1958,  and  in  addition  by  an- 
nual sinking  fund  payments  commenc- 
ing on  May  15,  1944.  This  debt  has 
been  presently  reduced  to  $8,000,000 
by  additional  prepayments  since  Jan. 
1,  1944. 


Seeks  Hollywood  Aid 
On  Films  for  Europe 

Robert  Riskin,  head  of  the  overseas 
films  division  of  the  OWI,  who  left 
for  Hollywood  on  Friday  will  confer 
on  his'  arrival  there  with  studio  and 
production  officials  on  the  making  of 
special  psychological  films  for  OWI 
use  in  liberated,  countries  and  Germany 
following  the  invasion.  A  number  of 
the  films  will  be  made  by  Hollywood 
studios  while  others  will  be  made  by 
OWI  here  and  abroad. 


Local  2  Officers  Continue 

Chicago,  May  7. — Continuing  in 
the  offices  that  they  have  held  for 
more  than  20  years  in  the  IATSE, 
Local  2,  are  Larry  Cassidy,  president ; 
William  L.  Schraut,  vice-president, 
and  Frank  C.  Olsen,  secretary,  after 
results  were  tabulated  in  the  biennial 
election  Wednesday. 


Lt.  Bernhard  Marries 

Lt.  Jack  Bernhard,  son  of  Joseph 
Bernhard,  Warner  vice-president,  was 
married  to  Jean  Gillie,  British  stage 
and  motion  picture  actress  in  London 
at  the  weekend,  according  to  press 
dispatches  received  here.  Lt.  Bern- 
hard  is  a  former  producer  and  as- 
sistant director  for  Universal. 


Fennell  Succeeds  Bloom 

Seattle,  May  7. — Warren  L.  Fen- 
nell has  been  appointed  field  super- 
visor of  Warners'  film  checking  ser- 
vice for  the  Seattle  and  Portland  areas, 
succeeding  Alfred  Bloom. 


Monday,  May  8,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


'IT  Key  Studio  Meet 
Instead  of  National 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

New  York  or  Chicago.  Product  con- 
ferences will  be  held  at  the  studio. 

Among  those  who  will  attend  will 
be,  in  addition  to  Scully,  E.  T.  Gom- 
ersall,  his  assistant,  and  divisional 
sales  managers  F.  J.  A.  McCarthy, 
Fred  Meyers  and  A.  J.  O'Keefe. 
n  "In  eliminating  a  general  sales  con- 
"fvention  and  having  this  meeting  at  the 
studio,  though  the  attendance  is  lim- 
ited to  our  key  executives,  we  believe 
that  we  are  not  only  cooperating  with 
the  Government  in  the  matter  of  trans- 
portation  so  vital  to  the  war  effort, 
but  at  the  same  time  we  believe  we 
are  doing  something  most  constructive 
for  our  entire  sales  organization,"  said 
Scully. 

"Visit  the  'Factory'" 

"Inasmuch  as  all  other  businesses 
appreciate  the  value  of  having  sales 
executives  visit  the  'factory'  to  view 
the  merchandise,  we  believe  it  is  most 
important  for  our  key  sales  executives 
to  attend  a  meeting  at  our  manufac- 
turing center  where  they  may  see  first 
hand  what  is  going  on. 

"Furthermore,"  continued  Scully, 
"it  is  part  of  our  tradition  to  have  a 
close  coordination  between  sales  and 
studio.  In  the  past  seven  years  our 
studio  has  welcomed  the  sales  depart- 
ment's point  of  view  on  any  problem. 
The  approaching  meeting  exemplifies 
our  belief  in  bringing  to  our  studio 
officials  first  hand  the  ideas  our  sales 
people  have  assimilated  from  exhibi- 
tors and  audiences."  Scully  will  leave 
May  22  for  California  and  upon  his 
arrival  at  the  studio  will  make  known 
further  details  of  the  meeting. 

"U"  will  announce  plans  for  the 
coming  year  in  a  few  days. 


$1,500  Pay  Tribute  to 
Eddie  Cantor  Here 

Show  business  honored  Eddie  Can- 
tor last  night  for  his  contributions  over 
35  years  to  entertainment  and  chari- 
table welfare,  at  a  testimonial  dinner 
at  the  Hotel  Astor  here.  Fifteen  hun- 
dred attended  the  dinner,  which  was 
sponsored  by.  Actors  Equity,  Ameri- 
can Federation  Radio  Artists,  Screen 
Actors  Guild,  American  Guild  of 
Variety  Artists,  AS  CAP,  Catholic 
Actors  Guild,  Episcopal  Actors  Guild, 
Negro  Actors  Guild  and  the  Jewish 
Theatrical  Guild. 


Clark  D.  Brown  Dies, 
Supervised  Houses 

Ashtabula,  O. — Clark  D.  Brown, 
66,  supervisory  manager  of  five  the- 
atres of  the  Jamestown  Amusement 
Co.,  in  the  three  Ohio  cities  of  Ash- 
tabula, Geneva  and  Conneaut,  died 
here  at  the  weekend. 

Brown  is  survived  by  a  wife  and 
two  daughters. 


$69,160  Paid  to  Yates 

Philadelphia,  May  7.  —  Consoli- 
dated Film  Industries,  Inc.,  paid  Her- 
bert J.  Yates,  president,  $69,160  dur- 
ing the  past  fiscal  year,  its  annual 
report,  filed  with  the  Securities  and 
Exchange  Commission,  disclosed  at 
the  weekend.  Republic  Productions. 
Inc.,  wholly  owned  subsidiary,  paid 
M.  J.  Siegel,  president,  $65,060. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


HERE'S  BLACK-AND-WHITE  PHOTO 
OF  GORGEOUS  FULL-COLOR  PAINTING 
DELIVERED  TODAY  BY  FAMED 
ARTIST  JOHN  FALTER  FOR  SPECIAL 
NATION-WIDE  PROMOTION  OF 
CECIL  B.   DE  MILLE'S 

THE  STORY  OF  DR.  WASSELL     IT'LL  BE 
USED   IN  DISPLAYS   IN  DRUG  STORES 
AND  ALLIED  OUTLETS  COAST  TO 
COAST.    IS* NT  THAT  A  SWELL 
LIKENESS  OF  "COOP"?  BLOND  BEAUTY 

IS  SJGNE  HASS0-  AND  YOU  SHOULD 
SEE  HER   IN  TECHNICOLOR. 


Hollywood,  May  7. 

NICHOLAS    M.  SCHENCK, 
M-G-M  president,  is  expected  to 
arrive  here  on  Friday. 

• 

Roy  Disney,  general  manager  of 
Walt  Disney  Prod.,  planes  to  Mexico 
City  today  to  arrange  the  Inter-Amer- 
ican premiere  and  exploitation  of  "Gay 
Caballeros,"  next  Disney  feature 
which  is  being  made  ready  for  Fall 
release.  William  Levy,  Walt  Disney 
executive,  is  due  here  next  week  to 
discuss  sales  plans. 

• 

Seymour  Nebenzal,  independent  pro- 
ducer, Superchiefed  at  the  weekend 
for  New  York  with  a  print  of  "Sum- 
mer Storm."  He  will  confer  with 
United  Artists  home  office  execu- 
tives. 

• 

E.  D.  Leshon  will  produce  "Torch 
Song,"  a  Betty  Hutton  starrer,  an- 
nounced by  Paramount  at  the  week- 
end. 

• 

Ann  Harris  has  been  named  Selz- 
nick- Vanguard  research  department 
head. 

Robert  Riskin,  overseas  chief  of  the 
Office  of  War  Information,  will  arrive 
on  Monday. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Decision  Reserved  on 
Academy  Settlement 

Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox  on 
Friday  reserved  decision  on  a  proposed 
settlement  asking  restoration  to  re- 
ceivers of  Fox  Theatres  Corp.  of  cer- 
tain assets,  including  the  lease  of  the 
Academy  of  Music  Theatre  here  held 
by  Skouras  theatres  and  Kiima  Corp. 

The  settlement  would  set  aside  an 
order  by  Federal  Judge  Martin  Man- 
ton  of  the  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Ap- 
peals thus  voiding  transfer  of  assets 
to  the  two  corporations.  The  order 
on  Jan.  12,  1937  approved  the  sale  of 
the  Academy  of  Music  lease  to 
Skouras  for  $155,000.  At  the  time, 
Skouras,  under  the  lease  which  ex- 
pires in  1956,  was  paying  Fox  thea- 
tres an  annual  rental  of  $175,000  plus 
taxes  and  other  costs. 


WB  Names  Bekeris 
Central- Amer.  Chief 

Sam  Bekeris,  for  the  past  two  years 
in  the  Argentine  film  field,  has  been 
appointed  by  Warner  Bros,  to  the  post 
of  district  supervisor  for  Central 
America  and  the  West  Coast  of  South 
America,  including  Peru,  Bolivia, 
Ecuador,  Colombia  and  Panama. 

Bekeris,  in  addition  to  activities  in 
South  America,  has  been  in  the  film 
business  in  Spain,  Yugoslavia,  Czech- 
oslovakia and  the  Baltic  States.  He 
left  over  the  weekend  for  Lima,  Peru, 
where  he  will  have  headquarters. 


Mrs.  Sarah  Finey  Dead 

Mrs.  Sarah  Finey,  mother  of  James 
Finey,  contract  manager  for  the  Walt 
Disney  New  York  office,  died  at  her 
Manhattan  residence  late  last  week. 
Funeral  services  will  be  held  at  St. 
Francis  Xavier  Church,  West  16th 
Street,  at  10:00  A.  M.  today. 


Sock  that  old  apple  for  a  Texas-league 
—in  receipts . . .  Clean  those  bases— and  brin 
in  the  ticket-buyers  . . .  Hits  are  what  count— i 
show  business  too  . . .  This  game  is  just  as  excitin 
as  baseball  .  .  .  Only  there's  more  chance  to  foul  ou 
—with  cockeyed  showmanship  ...  Or  get  caught  off  bas 
—by  careless  promotion  ...  Or  get  beaned— by  a  bum  ac 
...  So  pile  up  a  champ  batting  average— with  fool-proo 
Advertising  .  .  .  Bust  that  old  house  record  over  the  fence  .  . 
Knock  the  cover  off  .  .  .  Win  your  game  .  .  .  Win  it  the  way  al 
smart  players  in  this  business  win— with  good  Advertising. 


Ir 


nATionnL 


Cfcieen  service 

{J PRIZE  BUSY  OF  THE  MDUSTRY 


First  in 

r  us*  hi 

Film-am 

l~^l* i  ,  v 

(Radio  )N 

■"Q$y<  1 
Accurate 

> 

CIIIU 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.   NO.  91 


"63  State  Bond 
Chairmen  Set 
By  O'Donnell 

Theatre  Field  Chairmen 
Named  for  5th  Drive 


R.  J.  O'Donnell,  chairman  of  the 
national  motion  picture  industry 
|  Fifth  War  Loan  committee,  yester- 
[  day  completed  the  roster  of  exhib- 
itor state  chairmen  who  have  been  ap- 
pointed to  serve  in  the  drive  June  12- 
July  8.  The  63  chairmen  follow : 

Alabama,  Mack  Jackson,  Alexander 
City  ;  Arizona,  Harry  Nace,  Phoenix  ; 
Arkansas,  co-chairmen,  M.  S.  McCord 
and  Claude  Mundo,  Little  Rock ; 
Southern  California,  Dave  Bershon, 
Los  Angeles ;  Northern  California, 
Charles  M.  Thall,  San  Francisco ; 
Colorado,  Rick  Ricketson,  Denver ; 
Connecticut,  Harry  F.  Shaw,  New 
Haven ;  Delaware,  Lewis  S.  Black, 
Wilmington ;  Florida,  J.  L.  Cart- 
wright,  Tampa ;  Georgia,  Nat  Wil- 
liams, Thomasville;  Idaho,  Nevin  Mc- 
Cord, Boise ;  Illinois,  J.  J.  Rubens, 
Chicago. 

Also :   Indiana,   Don  Rossiter,  In- 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  MAY  9,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


80  of  'Honored  100' 
Are  Independents 


,     Washington,  May  8. — More  than 

|  80  of  the  'Honored  100'  theatre  owners 
are  'independent  operators,  it  was  dis- 
closed today  by  War  Activities  Com- 

l|  mittee  spokesmen  here  to  greet  the 
top  'E'-bond  sellers  of  the  Fourth 
War  Loan  campaign  who  are  arriving 

U  as  guests  of  the  industry  and  the 
Treasury  Department  for  their  bond- 
selling  performances. 

I<  The  100  will  set  up  their  advisory 
committee  tomorrow  to  work  with  the 

,  Fifth  War  Loan  industry  group.  Rob- 

"ert  W.  Selig,  assistant  industry  cam- 
paign director  for  the  Fourth  War 

j j  {Continued  on  page  11) 

16,000  Theatres  Set 
To  Open'Wac  Week' 

|    The  16,000  theatres  of  the  theatres 
I  division  of  the  War  Activities  Commit- 
'  tee,  "are  prepared  as  a  single  unit"  to 
begin  the  Women's  Army  Corps  re- 
cruiting drive  on  Thursday,  Edward 
L.  Alperson,  general  chairman  for  tine 
campaign,  said  here  yesterday, 
jjrbe  mass  induction  of  100  young 
ljjWomen  into  the  Wacs  in  Times  Square 
Mr  noon  tomorrow  will  set  the  keynote 

(.Continued  on  page  12) 


86  Shorts  Again 
From  WB  in  '44-45 

Warner  Bros.'  short  subject 
program  for  the  1944-45  sea- 
son will  consist  of  86,  the 
same  as  this  season,  accord- 
ing to  present  company  plans. 

Schedule  will  consist  of  18 
two-reelers  and  68  one-reel- 
ers,  with  approximately  70  per 
cent  of  the  subjects  filmed  in 
Technicolor. 


Salkay-UA  Contract 
To  E.  L.  Alperson 


Edward  L.  Alperson,  who  recently 
resigned  as  general  manager  of  RKO 
Theatres,  has  bought  into  Salkay 
Corp.,  formed  six  months  ago  by  Ed- 
ward J.  Peskay  and  others,  and  has 
taken  over  its  contract  to  produce  six 
films  this  year  for  United  Artists,  it 
was  learned  here  yesterday. 

Production,  it  is  understood,  will 
start  on  the  West  Coast  this  Summer 
in  fulfillment  of  the  contract  entered 
into  with  UA  six  months  ago.  The 
contract  called  for  "exploitation"  fea- 
tures, one  hour  in  length,  to  be  de- 
livered by  November,  1944. 

Peskay  was  reluctant  to  talk  yester- 
day about  the  deal  but  did  not  deny 
that  it  had  been  consummated. 

Alperson   and    Peskay   have  been 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Weather  Drives  N.Y. 
Grosses  Downward; 
'Way'  Gets  $102,000 

Unseasonable  warm  weather_  coupled 
with  heavy  Sunday  showers  are  af- 
fecting current  week's  grosses  at 
downtpwn  New  York  first-run  thea- 
tres. But  while  off  the  highly  profitable 
pace  of  recent  weeks  receipts  are  gen- 
erally above  average. 

Unaffected,  however,  is  the  Para- 
mount Theatre  where  the  first  week 
of  "Going  My  Way"  and  a  stage 
show  headed  by  Charlie  Spivak  and 
his  band  will  bring  about  $102,000. 
This  is  considerably  below  the  record 
set  by  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  but  is  well 
on  the  profitable  side.    The  combined 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


BMI  Adding  to  200 
Films  Made  Yearly 


The  British  Ministry  of  Informa- 
tion's film  division  plans  to  continue  its 
present  production  rate  of  some  200 
subjects  yearly  but  with  a  footage  in- 
crease this  year,  J.  L.  Beddington, 
director  of  the  film  division  said  here 
yesterday.  Beddington  arrived  here 
from  London  over  the  weekend  for  a 
month  to  six  weeks'  visit,  which  will 
take  him  to  Washington,  Chicago  and 
Hollywood. 

Beddington  explained  that  British 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Increased  U.  S.  Tax  Felt 
Mostly  in  Small  Places 


More  than  a  month  having  passed 
since  the  increased  one-cent-on-five 
Federal  theatre  admission  tax  went 
into  effect,  exhibitors  in  the  larger 
cities  report  little  or  no  decline  in 
business  resulting  directly  from  the 
new  levy,  a  checkup  by  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  field  correspondents  re- 
veals. 

However,  in  smaller  non-war 
area  communities,  where  more 
conservative    spending  habits 
prevail,  some  slight  decreases 
have  been  noted  at  boxoffices. 
The  industry's  experience  contrasts 
with  that  of  the  night  clubs  and  the 
like,  which,  hit  by  a  30  per  cent  tax 
have  been  closing  in  large  numbers 
right  and  left,  eliminating  floor  shows 
in  scores  of  instances  and  petitioning 
Washington  for  relief. 

Several  explanations  are  given  for 
the  failure  of  the  tax  to  affect. mo- 

(Continned  on  page  12) 


Free  Films  Again 
For  Bond  Shows 

The  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  committee  here  will 
shortly  announce  the  agree- 
ment of  distributors  to  again 
furnish  current  productions, 
free,  to  exhibitors  for  their 
specific  use  with  individual 
theatre  "Bond  Premieres" 
during  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  as  they  did  in  previous 
campaigns. 

Exhibitors  may  select  a 
feature  from  pictures  made 
available  by  any  of  the  par- 
ticipating distributors,  re- 
gardless of  whether  the  ex- 
hibitor is  a  customer  of  the 
company  whose  picture  he 
selects. 


Clark  Calling 
For  Showdown 
On  the  Decree 


Will  Report  to  Biddle  on 
Hazen-Distributor  Talks 


Washington,  May  8. — Arrange- 
ments for  what  may  be  the  final 
meeting  between  Department  of  Jus- 
tice officials  and  representatives  of 
the  distributors  on  revision  of  the  con- 
sent decree  are  expected  to  be  made  to- 
morrow or  the  next  day,  and  before 
the  end  of  the  week  a  decision  may 
have  been  made  as  to  whether  the 
negotiations  are  to  be  prolonged  any 
further. 

At  an  informal  meeting  in  a  local 
hotel  yesterday,  Assistant  U.  S.  At- 
torney General  Tom  C.  Clark  and 
Joseph  Hazen,  liaison  for  the  decree 
distributors,  in  Washington  on  other 
business,  discussed  the  situation  brief- 
ly and  it  was  agreed  that  Hazen, 
upon  his  return  to  New  York  and  af- 
ter conferring  with  company  officials, 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


13  More  Areas  Need 
Theatres,  Says  OCR 

Washington,  May  8. — Thirteen  lo- 
cations in  California  where  there  "is 
an  appearance  of  a  need  for  theatres" 
have  been  added  to  the  scores  previ- 
ously reported  by  the  Office  of  Civil- 
ian Requirements,  and  the  War  Pro- 
duction Board  has  announced  that  if 
more  thorough  investigation  shows 
there  is  actually  a  need  for  additional 
facilities  construction  permits  will'  be 
issued  to  applicants  who  have  the  nec- 
essary seats  on  hand,  and  preferably 
also  the  required  projection  equip- 
ment. 

The  locations  reported  by  the  OCR 
are  in  the  North-Glendale-Burbank 
area,  Englewood,  Long  Beach-North 
Long  Beach,  Ventura  County,  San 
Diego  and  certain  areas  of  Los  An- 
geles. 


Riskin  Asks  12  Films 
For  Freed  Nations 

Hollywood,  May  8. — Robert  Riskin, 
Office  of  War  Information  overseas 
motion  picture  chief,  arrived  here  to- 
day seeking  technical  talent  for  OWI 
production  of  documentaries  in  New 
York  and  London  for  use  immediately 
behind  the  invasion  forces  in  liberated 
countries. 

Riskin  said  he  had  a  number  of  sug- 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  9,  1944 


Australia  Booming, 
Stuart  Reports 

Los  Angeles,  May  8— Australian 
theatre  attendance  is  at  a  peak,  the 
personnel  problem  is  acute,  and  taxa- 
tion is  up  in  step  with  patronage  to  a 
point  that  leaves  exhibitors  about  the 
same  part  of  the  dollar  as  remains  with 
American  exhibitors,  according  to 
Herschel  Stuart,  here  to  confer  with 
Charles  P.  Skouras  after  three  years 
in  Australia  as  National  Theatres  ex- 
ecutive in  charge  of  its  Hoyt  circuit 
interests. 

Newsprint  shortage  has  reduced  the- 
atre display  advertising  to  virtually 
directory  dimensions,  according  to 
Stuart,  but  a  public  hungry  for  enter- 
tainment has  learned  how  to  look  for 
the  small  ads  which  are  the  biggest 
that  can  be  used. 

Manpower  shortage;1  accountable  for 
assignment  of  32  of  the  Hoyt  circuit's 
160  theatres  to  women  for  manage- 
ment, has  a  direct  effect  upon  public 
entertainment  habits  as  well.  One  re- 
sult of  the  manpower  draft,  which  in- 
cludes men  and  women  up  to  45,  is 
extremely  light  matinee  business,  al- 
though an  increase  in  the  evening  off- 
sets this. 

Stuart  will  remain  here  two  or  three 
weeks,  going  then  to  New  York  for 
continuing  conferences  before  return- 
ing to  Australia. 


Personal  Mention 


Defer  Newsreel  Pact 
Until  Casey  Returns 

Negotiations  between  newsreel  com- 
pany heads  and  representatives  of  New 
York  and  Chicago  newsreel  camera- 
men IATSE  locals  for  a  new  contract 
are  not  expected  to  be  resumed  here 
until  Pat  Casey,  film  company  labor 
contact,  returns  from  California  in 
about  10  days.  Film  company  presi- 
dents Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  Barney 
Balaban  and  N.  Peter  Rathvon  have 
gone  to  the  Coast  for  negotiations 
under  Casey's  direction  with  American 
Federation  of  Musicians'  studio  local 
which  is  asking  for  studio  staff  or- 
chestras ranging  from  25  men  in  the 
smaller  studios  to  35  in  the  larger 
studios,  and  other  conditions.  James 
C.  Petrillo,  AFM  head,  is  handling 
the  local's  demands. 

Stumbling  block  in  the  newsreel 
cameramen  negotiations  here  is  the 
demand  of  the  cameramen  for  sever- 
ance pay  based  on  length  of  service. 


L\RRY  KENT,  executive  assistant 
to  Spyros  Skouras,  president  of 
20th  Century-Fox,  has  returned  to 
New  York  from  London. 

• 

Max    Milder,    Warners'  Eastern 
managing  director  in  Great  Britain, 
arrived  in  New  York  yesterday  from 
London  for  a  stay  of  several  weeks. 
• 

J.  H.  Bustin,  owner-manager  of 
the  Imperial,  Windsor,  Nova  Scotia, 
has  resumed  direction  of  his  theatre 
after  an  eight  months'  illness. 

• 

Irving  A.  Maas,  20th  Century-Fox 
assistant  director  of  foreign  distribu- 
tion, is  due  back  in  New  York  from 
Mexico  City  on  May  20. 

• 

Lt.  "  Robert  Ripps,  son  of  Ralph 
Ripps  of  M-G-M's  Albany  exchange, 
has  been  reported  as  missing  in  action 
in  Germany. 

• 

Dr.  Herman  Lissauer,  Warner 
studio  research  department  head,  will 
arrive  in  New  York  today  from 
Hollywood. 

• 

Murray  Howard,  manager  of  the 
Palace,  South  Norwalk,  Conn.,  has  be- 
come engaged  to  Lillian  Krantz, 
Hartford. 

• 

Robert  Robinson,  manager  of  the 
Plymouth,  Worcester,  Mass.,  is  on  a 
four  months'  leave  of  absence  due  to 
illness. 

• 

Jules  Lapidus,  Warners'  Eastern 
sales  division  manager,  left  last  night 
for  Pittsburgh  and  Philadelphia. 
• 

Norman  Elson,  Trans-Lux  vice- 
president,  will  return  to  New  York 
today  from  Philadelphia. 

• 

Harry  Goldberg,  Warner  Theatres' 
director  of  advertising-publicity,  was 
in  Philadelphia  yesterday. 

• 

Frank  Sinatra  is  in  Mt.  Sinai 
Hospital  here  recovering  from  a  throat 
infection. 

• 

Jesse  L.  Lasky,  Warner  producer, 
has  returned  to  the  Coast. 


Griffis  Heads  Allied 
Mission  to  Sweden 

Stanton  Griffis,  Paramount  execu- 
tive committee  chairman,  who  was 
granted  leave  to  head  the  motion  pic- 
ture section  of  the  Office  of  War  In- 
formation in  Washington,  is  expected 
shortly  in  Stockholm  as  a  representa- 
tive of  the  U.  S.  Foreign  Economic 
Administration,  according  to  Associ- 
ated Press  dispatches  reaching  here 
yesterday  from  Sweden. 

Griffis  is  expected  to  implement  Al- 
lied pressure  on  Sweden  to  stop  its 
ball-bearing  trade  with  Germany  by 
confidential  talks  with  leading  Swed- 
ish exporters,  it  was  learned.  He 
probably  will  be  accompanied  by  Brit- 
ish experts,  it  was  indicated. 


ALFRED  E.  DAFF,  Universal  for- 
eign supervisor,  returned  to  New 
York  from  London  over  the  weekend. 
• 

Robert  Mochrie,  RKO  general 
sales  manager,  and  Nat  Levy,  Eastern 
division  sales  manager,  left  yesterday 
for  a  tour  of  the  company's  Southern 
branches. 

• 

Louis  B.  Mayer,  accompanied  by 
Jack  Potter,  MGM  studio  publicist, 
will  leave  for  the  Coast  today,  follow- 
ing a  visit  of  several  weeks  here. 
• 

J.  R.  Miller  of  the  Lorimor,  Lori- 
mor,  La.,  is  recovering  in  Iowa  Meth- 
odist Hospital,  Des  Moines,  from  in- 
juries suffered  in  a  recent  fire. 
• 

A.  M.  Ellis,  Philadelphia  independ- 
ent circuit  head,  became  a  grandfather 
recently ;  when  a  son  was  born  to  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Sidney  H.  Ellis. 

• 

J.  O.  Scott,  owner  of  the  Weston, 
Toronto,  is  a  grandfather,  a  son  hav- 
ing been  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F.  O. 
Prescott,  Prescott,  Ont. 

• 

Harry  E.  Weiner,  Columbia  Phila- 
delphia branch  manager,  has  returned 
to  that  city  after  a  three  weeks'  vaca- 
tion in  Mississippi. 

• 

Ben  Goetz,  M-G-M  British  studio 
managing  director,  left  New  York 
yesterday  for  two  weeks  in  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Shirley  Sogg,  daughter  of  Jack 
Sogg,  M-G-M's  Cleveland  manager, 
was  married  Sunday  to  Dr.  Fred  Sol- 
do w. 

• 

Morris  L.  Ernst,  film  attorney,  re- 
turned to  New  York  from  London 
over  the  weekend. 

• 

William  N.  Skirball  of  the  Skir- 
ball  Circuit.  Cleveland,  is  visiting  in 
New  York. 

• 

Sam  Galanty.  Columbia  district 
manager,  was  a  recent  visitor  in 
Cleveland. 

• 

Frank  Orsatti.  agent,  will  leave 
here  for  Hollvwood  today. 


Controversy  Delays 
Ky.  Tax  Proposal 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  May  8. — Governor 
Simeon  Willis,  who  failed  to  call  the 
Kentucky  legislature  into  special  ses- 
sion today  as  scheduled  because  of  a 
budget  deadlock  between  himself  and 
opposition  party  leaders  in  both 
branches  since  adjournment  of  the 
regular  session  last  March  15,  de- 
clared that  he  would  not  issue  the 
call  unless  the  opposing  factions  indi- 
cated a  willingness  to  enact  a  school- 
financing  program,  to  which  the  ses- 
sion would  be  exclusively  devoted. 

Majority'  of  the  legislators  frown 
upon  the  edict,  and  contend  that  they 
will  concur  only  if  a  general  budget 
is  considered.  The  general  budget, 
which  includes  an  increase  of  10  per 
cent  to  the  state  admission  tax,  pre- 
viously passed  the  Senate,  but  was  de- 
feated by  the  House  on  the  day  of  ad- 
j  ournment. 


20th  Renews  JesseVs 
Pact  as  Producer 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  has  re- 
newed George  Jessel's  producer  con- 
tract, Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  production,  an- 
nounced here  prior  to  his  return  to  the 
Coast  at  the  weekend. 

Jessel,  currently  in  New  York  on 
company  business,  is  working  on  three 
films,  "Kitten  on  the  Keys,"  "Dolly 
Sisters"  and  "O.  Henry." 


ArneRockvam  Rites  Held 

Funeral  services  were  held  at  the 
weekend  in  the  Funeral  Church  here 
for  Arne  Olav  Rockvam,  sound  engi- 
neer for  Warner  Theatres,  who  died 
last  week  at  his  home  following  a  heart 
attack. 


Louis  Goldberg  to 
RKO  Home  Office 

J.  M.  Brennan,  general  manager  of 
RKO's  Metropolitan  Theatres,  dis- 
closed yesterday  that  Louis  Goldberg, 
New  York  zone  manager,  has  been 
appointed  a  home  office  executive. 

Charles  B.  McDonald,  who  has  been 
in  the  home  office  for  several  months, 
wil!  supervise  RKO  theatres  in  Brook- 
lyn, Queens  and  the  lower  Manhattan 
area.  ~  . 


Columbia  Drops  Motion 

Buffalo,  May  8. — Columbia,  follow- 
ing its  elimination,  along  with  United 
Artists  and  Universal,  from  the  Gov- 
ernment's anti-trust  suit  against  the 
Schine  Chain  Theatres,  Inc.,  has  with- 
drawn its  motion  for  postponement  of 
the  trial  in  Federal  District  Court 
here  from  May  19  until  next  fall. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


-RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL — 

50th  St.  &  6th  Ave. 
IRITA  HAYWORTH  •  GENE  KELLY 


COVER  GIRL" 


in  TECHNICOLOR  .  A  Columbia  Picture 

Music  by  Jerome  Kem 
Lyrics  by  Ira  Gershwin 
Gala  Stage  Show  .  Symphony  Orchestra 
1st  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


Held  Over  3rd  Week 


s*ar 


i u i i if t  it  20*  ctMTVr-ioaj 

RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


PALACE 

B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 

STARTS  TOMORROW 

1  "SHOW  BUSINI 

ESS" 

•[    Eddie  Cantor  —  George 

Murphy 

Joan  Davis  —  Nancy 

Kelly 

Paramount  presents 


GOING   MY  WAY 

with  BING  CROSBY  and  RISE  STEVENS 

Person   CHARLES  SPIVAK  T& 

WESSON  BROS. 
PARAMOUNT    Times  Square 


Tip  tap 
Toe 


ON  SCREEN 

First  N.  Y.  Showing 

'ANDY  HARDY'S 
BLONDE  TROUBLE' 

MICKEY  ROONEY 
BONITA  GRANVILLE 


IN  PERSON 

MILT 

BRITT0N 

and  j?  AND 
BEN  AY 

VENUTA 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Curininjham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Lite  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau.  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  po8t  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


SHOW 
BUSINESS 

is  great, 

thank  you! 


Where  Else  For  1  he  Spectacular  World 
Premiere  Than  The  Shrine  of  All  Shotvdom. . . 


v 


THE  PALACE 


WEDNESDAY,  MAY  10, 

GALA  OPENINGWWRSWW^lWHHl,  at  the  house  where  show 
businej^eached  its  zenith  .  .  .  the  most  famous  theatre  in 
New  York,  whose  walls  have  echg^jjjjK/  talents  of,  more 
great  stars  than  any  or 


Si 


9  \ 


3 


Come  on  backstage  when  famous 
show-folk  mix  music,  dancing,  songs, 
laughs,  girls  and  glamour ...  to  tell 
the  real  story  of  make-believe... 
from  Main  St.  to  Broadway!  JKO 


\ 


Tuesday,  May  9,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily  • 


7 


Review 


"The  Contender" 

(PRC  Pictures) 

Hollywood,  May  8 

C  TRUNG  on  a  straight  story  line  held  taut  by  tight  direction,  this 
^  melodrama  of  the  prizefight  field  delivers  a  plentitude  of  entertain- 
ment in  its  63  minutes.  Buster  Crabbe  as  the  principal  fighter  and 
Arline  Judge  as  the  girl  reporter  in  love  with  him  top  a  cast  of  capable 
players  who  do  right  by  their  lines  and  the  audience.  It's. one  of  the  best 
pictures  to  come  from  PRC  to  date. 

The  screenplay  by  George  Sayre,  Jay  Doten  and  Raymond  Schrock 
casts  Crabbe  as  a  truck  driver  who  enters  the  boxing  ring  to  earn  money 
to  keep  his  small,  motherless  son  in  military  academy.  Success  goes  to 
his  head,  and  a  golddigger,  played  by  Julie  Gibson,  shows  him  more 
bright  lights  than  are  good  for  his  boxing  or  bankroll,  but  faithful  folks 
who  knew  him  when  life  was  simpler  stand  by  and  pick  him  up  when 
he  gets  all  the  way  down.  The  tale  is  familiar  in  outline,  but  different 
in  detail. 

Bert  Sternbach  produced,  getting  utmost  values  from  his  budget,  and 
Sam  Newfield  directed  tellingly.  Donald  Mayo,  Glenn  Strange,  Milton 
Kibbee,  Roland  Drew,  Sam  Flint,  Duke  York  and  George  Turner  are 
seen  in  support. 

Running  time,  63  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date,  May  10. 

William  R.  Weaver 


'Buffalo  Bill'  Sets 
Pace  in  Cincinnati 


Cincinnati,  May  8.  —  "Buffalo 
Bill"  is  grossing  an  approximate  $16,- 
000  on  a  nine-day  run  at  the  RKO 
Palace,  with  weekend  returns  at  most 
of  other  houses  pointing  downward. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  10-13  : 

"Tampico"   (20th- Fox) 

RKO  ALB  EE — (3,300)  (50c-60c-70c-85c- 
95c)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Stage:  Shep  Field's  orchestra,  Mary  Beth 
Hughes,  Johnny  Burke,  Berry  Brothers. 
Gross:  $21,500.  (Average:  $22,000). 
"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (30c-40c-50c-76c- 
$1.10)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Gross:    $12,500.     (Average,    at  44c-50c-60c- 
70c:  '$10,000). 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 
"Beneath  Western  Skies"  (Rep.) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)  (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,500.    (Average:  $1,600). 
"That  Natzi  Nuisance"  (UA) 
"Sweethearts  of  the  U.S.A.  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $700.    (Average:  $800). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)   (44c-S0c-60c-70c)  7 
days,     plus      Saturday     midnight  show. 
Gross:  $8,000.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

KEITH'S — (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  9 
days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  the  Pal- 
ace. Gross:  $5,500.  (Average,  7  days:  $5,- 
000). 

"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M-BMI) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

RKO   LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average:  $5,500). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
9  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Gross:  $16,000.  (Average,  7  days:  $15,000). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (44c-50c-60c- 
70c)  7  days,  4th  week,  3rd  at  this  house, 
following  initial  week  at  the  Palace.  Gross: 
$4,500.    (Average:  $5,000). 


Heads  of  Posa  Here 
To  Talk  to  RKO 

Samtiago  Reachi,  president,  and 
Jacques  Gelman,  general  manager  of 
Posa  Films,  Mexico  City,  arrived  in 
New  York  yesterday  from  Mexico  and 
Hollywood  for  conferences  with  RKO 
home  office  officials  concerning  the  re- 
cently announced  deal  between  the 
two  companies  for  the  production  of 
a  picture  starring  Cantinflas,  Mexican 
comedy  star,  which  will  be  made  at 
RKO  Radio  studios  in  Hollywood. 
The  picture,  which  will  be  Cantinflas' 
first  in  an  English  language  produc- 
tion, will  utilize  both  American  and 
Mexican  talent  and  will  probably  get 
under  way  within  the  next  four 
months. 

'The  deal,  which  has  been  under  con- 
sideration for  a  year,  was  concluded 
last  week  in  Hollywood  with  Reachi 
and  Gelman  representing  Posa  and 
Charles  Koerner  and  Phil  Reisman 
representing  RKO. 


Screen  Stars  Flee 
Country  Club  Fire 

Hollywood,  May  8. — A  number  of 
film  stars  were  among  300  guests 
driven  from  dinner  when  fire  broke 
out  in  the  Hillcrest  Country  Club  here 
last  night. 

The  blaze,  which  destroyed  the 
clubhouse,  resulted  in  damages  esti- 
mated at  $140,000. 

Al  Jolson,  Danny  Kaye,  George 
Burns,  the  Marx  Brothers,  Mervyn 
LeRoy  and  the  Ritz  brothers  were 
among  the  celebrities  dining  when 
the  fire  started. 


"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Show  Business'  Bows 
Tonight  at  Palace 

Screen,  stage  and  radio  stars  and 
executives  will  attend  an  invitation 
Broadway  premiere  tonight  at  the  Pal- 
ace of  RKO  Radio's  "Show  Business," 
Eddie  Cantor's  initial  effort  as  a  pro- 
ducer. 

Film,  radio  and  advertising  execu- 
tives invited  include  Neil  Agnew, 
Walton  C.  Ament,  Jules  Brulatour, 
Ned  Depinet,  Jack  Cohn,  Leopold 
Friedman,  John  Hertz,  Jr.,  Ben  Kal- 
menson,  Harry  Kalmine,  Walter  Bran- 
son, Jules  Levey,  James  Mulvey,  Carl 
Milliken,  S.  Barret  McCormick,  Wal- 
ter Reade,  Charles  Reagan,  Robert 
Mochrie,  Edward  C.  Raftery,  Nat 
Levy,  Edgar  Kobak,  Harry  Brandt, 
Alfred  J.  McCosker,  Frederic  Ullman, 
Jr.,  among  others. 


SLRB  Ends  Hearing 
On  RKO  Union  Plea 

Hearings  were  concluded  here  at  the 
weekend  before  the  State  Labor  Re- 
lations Board  on  the  petition  of  the 
new  Motion  Picture  Theatre  Oper- 
ating Managers,  Assistants  and  Cash- 
iers, to  be  declared  the  collective  bar- 
gaining agent  for  those  workers  in 
RKO  New  York  theatres.  Also  in- 
volved in  the  hearings  was  the  attempt 
of  the  IATSE  to  separate  cashiers  and 
others  from  the  bargaining  unit  claim- 
ed by  the  new  union. 

A  decision  by  the  SLRB  is  not  ex- 
pected for  several  weeks  with  the 
board  expected  to  order  an  election 
after  deciding  upon  the  IATSE's  jur- 
isdictional claims. 


Lardner  Sees  Winners 

Ring  Lardner,  Jr.,  who  has  written 
the  screenplay  for  Lester  Cowan's 
production  of  "Tomorrow  the  World," 
United  Artists'  release,  is  here  confer- 
ring on  filming  plans  with  James  Gow 
and  Arnaud  D'Usseau,  authors  of  the 
drama.  Gow  and  D'Usseau  will  receive 
a  medal  on  Friday  from  the  Theatre 
Club  of  New  York,  which  selected 
"Tomorrow  the  World"  as  the  sea- 
son's best  play. 


Bruno  Here  to  Buy 
Theatre  Equipment 

Julio  R.  Bruno,  Puerto  Ritan  ex- 
hibitor, now  visiting  in  New  York, 
disclosed  here  yesterday  that  he  and 
his  associates  are  planning  the  forma- 
tion of  a  large  circuit,  both  first-run 
and  subsequent-run  houses  on  that 
island.  Bruno  is  here  to  purchase  new 
or  used  theatre  equipment,  principally 
sound  and  projector  equipment,  seats, 
replacement  parts,  curtains  and  other 
materials. 

Bruno,  who  now  operates  three  the- 
atres there,  revealed  that  he  is  con- 
cluding negotiations  for  the-  leasing  of 
three  1,000  seat  houses  and,  further, 
that  he  has  acquired  two  large  plots, 
one  in  San  Juan  and  the  other  at 
Cayey,  where  he  will  build  a  1,600  and 
a  1,000  seat  theatre,  respectively. 
While  here  he  will  endeavor  to  obtain 
approval  from  the  Office  of  Civilian 
Requirements,  for  the  immediate  con- 
struction for  the  theatre  in  Cayey.  A 
warehouse  at  the  Roosevelt  housing 
project  in  Puerto  Rico,  where  thou- 
sands of  the  country's  citizens  reside, 
will  be  converted  into  an  800  seat 
house,  he  added. 


$72,583  for  Red  Cross 

Los  Angeles,  May  8. — Independent 
theatres  in  this  area  have  turned  in 
$72,583  to  date  to  the  industry's  Red 
Cross  drive,  including  $1,075  derived 
from  RKO  Victory  shorts.  It  is  indi- 
cated that  the  $90,000  quota  will  be 
met. 


Illinois  Gives  $257,289 

Chicago,  May  8. — Red  Cross  col- 
lections reported  for  Illinois  to  date 
total  $257,289,  for  the  recent  industry 
drive.  Local  contributions  amounted 
to  $161,301,  the  remaining  sum  hav- 
ing been  collected  in  the  other  600 
theatres  throughout  the  state  and 
among  members  of  the  industry  here. 


Anderson,  Booker,  Dies 

Omaha,  May  8. — Gustaf  Anderson, 
booker  at  the  Paramount  exchange 
here,  died  recently  from  a  heart  ail- 
ment. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  8. 

DARRYL   F.    ZANUCK  arrived 
here  today  from  the  East. 
• 

M-G-M  has  bought  "Twice  Blessed," 
an  original  screenplay  which  Arthur 
Field  will  produce  with  the  Wilde 
twins  starred;  also  "A  Likely  Story," 
an  original  comedy  by  Jay  Dratler  and 
Earl  Felton.  Robert  Young  will  star 
in  the  latter. 

• 

RKO  has  purchased  "Power  of 
Darkness,"  a  Marion  Parsonett  orig- 
inal, which  Niven  Busch  will  produce 
under  executive  producer  Jack  Gross. 
Paul  Henreid  and  Maureen  O'Hara 
will  be  co-starred  in  the  film. 

• 

Donna  Reed  will  play  the  feminine 
lead  in  M-G-M's  "Music  for  Millions." 
Marsha  Hunt  and  Madeleine  LeBeau 
have  also  been  added  to  the  cast. 
• 

Monogram  has  picked  up  the  option 
on  Raymond  Hatton,  featured  in  the 
Western  series  starring  Johnny  Mack 
Brown. 

• 

Edward  Golden  returned  here  from 
the  East  today.  "The  Master  Race," 
a  proposed  Golden  production,  is  now 
ready  to  proceed. 

• 

Trem  Carr,  head  of  Monogram  pro- 
duction, arrived  here  today  from  New 
York. 

• 

Columbia  has  added  "A  Guy,  a  Gal 
and  a  Pal"  to  Wallace  MacDonald's 
schedule. 

'  • 

Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor  contact, 
returned  here  today  from  New  York. 


Sauter  Chairman  of 
Entertainment  Group 

The  appointment  of  James  Sauter 
as  chairman  of  the  newly  formed  en- 
tertainment industry  section  of  the 
Treasury's  War  Finance  Committee 
for  New  York,  has  been  announced  by 
Nevil  Ford,  state  chairman. 

The  providing  of  talent,  production 
of  special  shows,  preparation  of  scripts 
and  other  forms  of  Fifth  War  Loan 
participation  by  stars  of  screen,  stage 
and  radio,  will  be  the  function  of  this 
committee,  Ford  explained. 

Sauter  has  participated  in  all  war 
bond  drives  to  date  as  a  representative 
of  entertainment.  He  has  also  served 
as  executive  director  of  the  United 
Theatrical  War  Activities  Committee, 
■is  Eastern  representative  of  the  Holly- 
wood Victory  Committee  and  chairman 
of  the  entertainment  committee  of  the 
American  Theatre  Wing's  Stage  Door 
Canteens. 

Plans  of  the  entertainment  industry 
division  and  appointments  of  commit- 
tee chairmen  will  be  announced  by 
Sauter  at  a  luncheon  at  Toots  Shor's 
on  Monday,  May  15. 


Wittman  Services  Held 

Funeral  services  for  Sigbert  Witt- 
man,  formerly  of  Universale  sales  de- 
partment here,  were  held  Sunday  at 
Campbell's  Funeral  Home.  Wittman 
died  Thursday. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  9,  1944 


Off  the  Antenna 


Hp  HE  television  picture  delivered  by  present-day  equipment  is  not  good 
A  enough  for  complete  entertainment  service,  Gilbert  Seldes,  CBS 
director  of  television  programs  declared  in  an  address  before  the  15th 
Annual  Institute  for  Education  by  Radio  in  Columbus  over  the  weekend. 
Citing  CBS  telecasting  experiences  in  1941-42,  before  the  network  dis- 
continued the  telecasting  of  "live"  shows,  Seldes  said,  "We  were  never 
able  to  create  a  dramatic  program  worth  transmitting  to  the  public 
because  no  technical  skill  could  overcome  the  limitations  of  camera, 
transmitter  and  receiver." 

Edgar  Kobak,  executive  vice-president  of  the  Blue  Network,  who  also 
spoke  at  the  Columbus  meeting,  said  that  freedom-of-the-air,  which 
American  broadcasting  has  taken  for  granted,  is  a  subject  bound  with 
wishful  thinking.  .  .  .  Officials  of  Balaban  and  Katz  television  station 
WBKB  in  Chicago  are  reported  to  be  enthusiastic  over  the  success  of 
the  station's  first  commercial  program  presented  at  the  weekend.  Marshall 
Field  sponsored  a  style  parade  with  Don  McNeill  as  master  of  cere- 
monies. .  .  .  Next  meeting  of  the  American  Television  Society  will  be 
held  at  the  Hotel  Capitol  here  Thursday  evening.  .  .  .  Members  of  Mu- 
tual's  board  of  directors,  shareholders  and  executive  committee  opened 
a  three-day  session  at  the  Hotel  Drake  in  Chicago  yesterday.  .  .  .  Most 
recent  Hooper  ratings  place  Bob  Hope,  Fibber  McGee  and  Molly, 
Charlie  McCarthy,  Red  Skelton  and  the  Lux  Radio  Theatre  as  the  most 
popular  five  network  shows.  Sponsored  programs  on  networks  of  100 
or  more  stations,  according  to  the  Hooper  organization,  have  practically 
the  same  ratings  in  the  89  cities  used  by  Hooper  as  a  cross-section  of  all 
American  cities  of  25,000  or  more  as  they  do  in  the  32  cities  with  local 
service  from  all  four  national  networks  regularly  measured. 

•  • 

Purely  Personal:  Hartley  L.  Samuels,  former  director  of  promotion  and 
advertising  for  station  WHN  in  New  York,  has  joined-  NBC  to  be  in  charge 
of  network  program  promotion ,  including  the  year-round  promotion  of  NBC's 
Parade  of  Stars.  .  .  .  James  H,  Nelson,  assistant  sales  promotion  manager  of 
NBC's  spot  sales  department,  has  been  appointed  manager  of  network  sales 
promotion  and  will  assume  that  post  on  May  IS.  .".  .  Earle  McGill  of  CBS 
has  been  elected  to  the  board  of  directors  of  the  American  Theatre  Wing 
Service.  .  .  . 

•      •  • 

Program  Notes:  Warner's  "Action  in  the  North  Atlantic,"  with 
George  Raft  and  Raymond  Massey  in  the  leads,  will  be  presented  on  the 
CBS  "Lux  Radio  Theatre"  show  next  Monday.  .  .  .  "Donovan's  Brain," 
the  mystery  novel  which  provided  the  basis  for  Republic's  "The  Lady 
and  the  Monster,"  will  be  dramatized  on  the  CBS  "Suspense"  program 
May  18,  with  Orson  Welles  featured.  .  .  .  William  Gargan  will  be  the 
May  21  guest  on  the  Mutual  "Green  Valley,  USA"  program.  .  . 


'Mark  Twain'  Soars 


To  Fine  $32,500 
In  San  Francisco 


San  Francisco,  May  8. — "Adven- 
tures of  Mark  Twain"  headed  toward 
an  excellent  $32,500  at  the  Paramount. 
Next  best,  on  averages,  was  Orphe- 
um's  $19,800  for  the  opening  week  of 
"Follow  the  Boys."  "Jam  Session" 
and  a  stage  show  was  good  for  $25,- 
500  at  the  Golden  Gate. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  8-10: 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

UNITED  ART1STS-(1,200)  (45c-65c-8Sc) 
7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $12,500.  (Aver- 
age: $11,000). 
"Dark  Command" 

WARFIELD—  (2,680)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days. 
Stage:  vaudeville.     Gross:  $23,400.  (Aver- 
age: $21,800). 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

GOLDEN  GATE — (2,850)   (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.     Stagef   vaudeville.     Gross:  $25,500. 
(Average:  $25,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Jamboree"  (Rep.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$22,600.     (Average:  $24,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

STATE— (2,306)   (45c-65c-85c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $12,100). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ST.     FRANCIS— (1,400)     (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days,    2nd    week,     moveover    from  Fox. 
Gross:  $14,800.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)  (80c-$1.10)  7  days. 
Gross:  $32,500.    (Average:  $19,600)., 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $19,800.    (Average:  $14,800). 


Capital  Pays  'Twain', 
Show  a  Big  $27,500 


Washington,  May  8. — "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain"  is  doing 
land-office  business  at  Warners'  Earle 
this  week,  heading  toward  an  extraor- 
dinary $27,500.  Hal  LeRoy  heads  the 
stageshow. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  11  : 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  CAPITOL— (3,434)  (35c-43c-55c- 
72c)   7  days.     On   stage:    Marjorie   Gains  - 
worth;    Blair    and    Dean.     Gross:  $23,000. 
(Average:  $22,000). 
"The  Woman  of  the  Town"  (UA) 

LOEWS  COLUMBIA  — (1,234)  (43c-55c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$8,2Q0). 

"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  EARLE  (2,210)  (44c-55c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  On  stage:  Hal  LeRoy.  Gross: 
$27,500.     (Average:  $19,700). 
"Up  In  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 

RKO-KEITH'S  (1,800)   (35c-44c-65c-74c)  7 
days,  3rd  downtown  week.    Gross:  $10,000. 
(Average:  $15,000). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 

WARNERS'  METROPOLITAN  —  (1,600) 
(35c-55c)  7  davs.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Average: 
$7,200). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  PALACE — (2,242)  (43c-55c-65c) 
7  days,  2nd  downtown  week.  Gross:  $16,000. 
(Average:  $19,000). 


Four  Join  Paramount 

Memphis,  May  8. — Robert  Rhodes 
of  this  city  and  W.  T.  Clark 
of  Dallas  have  joined  Paramount'? 
local  sales  department.  Other  addi- 
tions include  Larry  Smith  and  Wil- 
liam Morrell,  shipping  department. 


Altec  Contracts  Schine 

The  Schine  Circuit,  Gloversville. 
N.  Y.  has  signed  a  new  contract  with 
Altec  Service  Corp.,  for  service  and 
parts.  The  contract  was  negotiated 
bv  J.  G.  Selmser  of  Schine,  and  Bert 
Sanford  of  Altec.  « 


Legion  Rejects  One, 
Six  Are  Acceptable 

"Teen  Age,"  J.  D.  Kendis  Con- 
tinental production,  has  been  placed  by 
the  Legion  of  Decency  in  Class  B, 
objectionable  in  part,  because  of  an 
"atmosphere  of  suggestiveness."  Six 
other  films  were  approved  by  the 
Legion. 

In  Class  A-l,  for  general  patronage, 
are :  "Pardon  My  Rhythm,"  Univer- 
sal ;  "Men  of  the  Sea,"  PRC,  and 
"Song  of  the  Open  Road,"  United 
Artists;  and  in  Class  A-2,  unobjec- 
tionable for  adults,  are :  "Gambler's 
Choice,"  Paramount  ;  "Gaslight," 
M-G-M,  and  "Ladies  in  Washington," 
20th  Century-Fox. 


Warners  Receives  Award 

The  New  York  City  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs,  at  its  annual  con- 
ference at  the  Hotel  '  Astor  recently, 
presented  to  Warner  Brothers  its  an- 
nual award  to  "Watch  on  the  Rhine" 
as  the  best  war  picture  of  the  year. 
Albert  S.  Howson,  in  charge  of  cen- 
sorship for  Warners  accepted  the 
award. 


Mexicans  Pick  'Fantasy* 

Mexico  City,  May  8. — Universale 
"Flesh  and  Fantasy"  has  been  named 
the  best  foreign  film  to  be  shown  in 
Mexico  during  the  first  quarter  by  the 
National  Cinematographic  Journalists' 
Association.  At  the  same  time,  "Maria 
Candelaria,"  starring  Dolores  del  Rio, 
was  named  the  best  Mexican  film  for 
the  same  period. 


Todd  to  Film  His 
Own  Properties 

Michael  Todd,  theatrical  producer, 
who  recently  formed  his  own  film  pro- 
ducing company,  Michael  Todd  Film 
Productions,  will  spend  seven  months 
in  Hollywood  and  the  balance  of  each 
year  here. 

Todd  plans  one  or  two  productions 
yearly,  and  will  film  his  own  theatri- 
cal properties,  film  rights  to  four  of 
which  he  still  retains.  No  distribution 
arrangements  have  as  yet  been  set. 
Todd  is  represented  by  H.  William 
Fitelson,  New  York  film  attorney. 


Midelburg  MGM  Guest 

Charles  Arnold  Midelburg  of  the 
Capitol  Theatre,  Charleston,  W.  Va., 
has  been  selected  by  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer  as  the  "Twenty- Year  M-G-M 
Showman,"  having  bought,  booked  and 
played  every  M-G-M  subject  for  the 
past  20  years. 

The  selection  is  part  of  the  plans 
being  developed  by  M-G-M  to  com- 
memorate its  20-year  Anniversary. 
Midelburg  will  be  the  guest  of  M-G-M 
at  its  Culver  City  studios.  Accom- 
panied by  Mrs.  Midelburg,  the  exhib- 
itor will  arrive  in  New  York  from 
Charleston  on  May  11.  They  will 
leave  on  May  12  for  California. 


O'Leary  Heads  Drive 

Scranton,  Pa.,  May  8.  —  J.  J. 
O'Leary,  president  of  Comerford 
Theatres,  has  been  reappointed  to  the 
chairmanship  of  the  Lackawanna 
County  drive  for  the  National  Founda- 
tion for  Infantile  Paralysis. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  May  8 

MG-M  has  a  full  schedule  this 
month.  With  seven  now  in  work, 
five  new  ones  will  be  put  before  the 
cameras  within  the  next  three  weeks. 
New  starters  are  "The  Thin  Man  Goes 
Home,"  "Women  in  Uniform,"  "Air- 
ship Squadron  4,"  "Music  for  Mil- 
lions," and  "Son  of  Lassie."  .  .'.  Re- 
public's "Man  from  Frisco"  will  follow 
"Standing  Room  Only"  into  the  Holly- 
wood and  Downtown  Paramount  the- 
atres after  its  tri-city  world  premiere 
in  San  Francisco,  Oakland  and  Rich- 
mond, Cal.  on  May  18.  .  .  .  Columbia's 
Technicolor  musical,  "Tonight,  and 
Every  Night,"  starring  Rita  Hayworth 
and  Janet  Blair,  has  a  79-day  shooting 
schedule. 

• 

Sam  Wood  and  his  staff  have 
moved  back  to  Columbia  after  fin- 
ishing "Casanova  Brown"  for  Wil- 
liam Goetz  and  Leo  Spitz  at  Inter- 
national pictures  Columbia's  "By 

Secret  Command"  is  now  titled  "Se- 
cret Command."  That  studio's  un- 
titled Kay  Kyser  musical  now  has  a 
handle.  It  is  "Battleship  Blues."  . . . 
Elena  Verdugo,  presently  in  Univer- 
sale "The  Devil's  Brood,"  is  sought 
by  William  Howard  for  his  PRC 
production,  "When  the  Lights  Go 
On  Again." 

• 

Comedian  Keenan  Wynn,  son  of 
the  noted  Ed  Wynn,  has  returned  from 
a  USO-Camp  tour  in  the  China- 
Burma-India  area  to  report  the  boys 
there  need  entertainment  badly.  He 
says  they  get  the  latest  pictures  as 
early  as  possible  but  projection  equip- 
ment, which  must  be  flown  in,  fre- 
quently breaks  dozmi  and  replacements 
are  sloit>  arriving.  Wynn  paid  high 
tribute  to  Paillette  Goddard,  first 
woman  performer  to  go  to  many  of 
the  jungle  fronts.  She  is  back  in  the 
U.  S. 

• 

Producer  Jack  Gross  has  been 
assigned  "Mr.  Angel  Comes 
Aboard,"  a  story  of  spies  and  mu- 
tiny aboard  a  ship  bound  from 
Dakar  to  Havana,  which  RKO  pur- 
chased. It  ran  as  a  magazine  serial 
and  will  shortly  be  published  in 
book  form.  .  .  .  Monogram  has  pur- 
chased "When  Zombies  Walked," 
which  Lindsley  Parsons  will  pro- 
duce. .  .  .  Republic  has  renewed 
Richard  Arlen's  contract  and  will 
star  him  in  a  new  picture,  as  yet 
not  decided  upon.  .  .  . 


Ballantine,  Radio  Eng'r 

Stuart  Ballantine,  46,  president  of 
Ballantine  Laboratories,  Inc.,  who  is 
accredited  with  many  contributions  to 
radio  engineering,  died  yesterday  at 
All  Souls  Hospital,  Morristown,  N. 
J.  after  a  brief  illness.  Ballantine  in- 
vented the  "throat  microphone"  in 
1938,  among  other  items.  He  began 
in  1913  as  a  radio  operator  with  Mar- 
coni. He  held  patents  on  30  inven- 
tions. 


Stop  Theatre  Truants 

Philadelphia,  May  8. — Theatre  of- 
ficials are  cooperating  in  the  juvenile 
delinquency  problem  here  by  assist- 
ing police  and  truant  officers  in  appre- 
hending school  truants  at  box-offices. 


IS  PUTTING  THE 


'cc&ttxM,  ENTERTAINMENT 


CAREER  GIRL 


$  tarn  no 


?ia*ee*  LANGFORD 


/;     r  ;v  c ;  LOEW  *  RKO  *  FOX     ;  WARNER  G 


MEN  ON  HER  MIND  „  n  THaty  'SM  HUGHES 

?!  ^  r       ;  LOEW  *  RKO  *  FOX  :^ :  WARNER  G:.r:u::< 


SHAKE  HANDS  WITH  MURDER 

V.;::,rv/..;       HATIOWS  «W  LAUGH  TtAM  *  IRIS  ADRIAN  *  FRANK  JINKS 


NABONGA 


l;r:'fCz  ALL  RECORDS  -  TEXAS  I  INTERNATIONAL  CIRCUIT 


S^ut  CRABBE 


HARVEST  MELODY"  a ^  downs  IamT 

3000  ^uzis'icu  exhibitors ...  and  rniure  waiting  im  line! 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  9,  1944 


Reviews 


"Hey,  Rookie" 

{Columbia) 

Hollywood,  May  8 

C  PICED  with  a  liberal  dash  of  feminine  appeal  in  the  dancing,  singing 
^  and  eye-twitching  costuming  of  Ann  Miller,  "Hey  Rookie,"  based  on 
the  spare-time  play  put  together  by  soldier  talent  at  Fort  MacArthur, 
Cal.,  proves  an  all-around  entertainment  with  plenty  of  merriment. 

The  story  is  the  evolution  of  the  show,  touched  up  with  the  romance 
of  the  soldier-producer,  Larry  Parks,  and  Miss  Miller.  It  clings  closely 
enough  to  the  facts  and  is  set  at  Fort  MacArthur  induction  center  with 
VAC  canteen  lovelies  providing  a  logical  method  to  introduce  the  danc- 
ing star  into  the  story.  Dance  and  song  numbers  by  Parks  and  Miller, 
and  comedy  routines  of  Jimmy  Little  and  Joe  Besser,  are  put  over  as 
entertainingly  on  the  screen  as  were  the  best  numbers  in  the  stage  pro- 
duction. 

Irving  Briskin  produced  with  Charles  Barton  directing  from  a  screen- 
play by  Henry  Myers,  Edward  Eliscu  and  Jay  Gorney,  based  on  the 
musical  by  E.  B.  and  Doris  Colvan. 

Running  time,  77  minutes.    "G."*   Release  date  March  9. 


"Shake  Hands  With  Murder" 

(PRC  Pictures) 

A MYSTERY  thriller  that  emerges  rather  indifferently  due  to  a  sag- 
ging screenplay  and  failure  of  direction  to  obtain  the  utmost  in 
suspense  and  comedy  situations,  in  spite  of  the  apparently  novel  original 
plot  offered  as  a  basis. 

Iris  Adrian  and  Frank  Jenks  are  bail-bond  partners.  Jenks  posts 
huge  bail  for  Douglas  Fowley,  accused  of  embezzlement,  and  his  girl 
partner  is  frantic  over  prospects  of  losing  it  all.  They  shadow  Fowley, 
almost  become  involved  in  the  murder  of  his  benefactor,  head  of  the 
investment  firm,  but  finally  help  him  find  the  stolen  securities  when  he 
convinces  £hem  of  his  innocence.  Through  a  ruse  they  bring  the  remain- 
ing directors  of  the  company  to  a  mountain  lodge  where  they  trap  one 
into  revealing  himself  as  the  embezzler  and  murderer. 

Donald  C.  McKean  and  Albert  Herman  produced  with  Herman  also 
directing.  John  T.  Neville  wrote  the  script  from  an  original  story  by 
Martin  Mooney. 

Running  time,  62  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date  April  22. 

Jack  Cartwright 


Coast  Filming 
Holds  Strong; 
46  Shooting 


Hollywood,  May'  8.  —  Eleven  pic- 
tures were  finished  and  seven  new  ones 
started  during  the  past  week  to  bring 
the  total  before  the  cameras  to  46. 
The  previous  week  saw  eight  finished 
and  12  started,  to  chalk  up  49  in  work. 
The  production  scene  follows : 
Columbia 

Shooting:  "Kansas  City  Kitty," 
"Battleship  Blues,"  "The  Crime  Doc- 
tor's Rendezvous." 

Finished:  "The  Impatient  Years." 
M-G-M 

Shooting:  "Ziegfeld  Follies,"  "Lost 
in  a  Harem,"  "Maisie  Goes  to  Reno," 
"Mrs.  Parkington,"  "The  Picture  of 
Dorian  Gray,"  "Thirtyr  Seconds  Over 
Tokyo,"  "Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "Na- 
tional Velvet." 

Monogram 

Started:  "Charlie  Chan  in  the  Mur- 
der Chamber,"  with  Sidney  Toler, 
Claudia  Dell,  Mantan  Moreland,  Ralph 
Peters. 

Shooting:  "A  Wave,  a  Wac  and  a 
Marine,"  "Alaska." 

Finished:    "West    of    the  Rio 
Grande,"  "Are  These  Our  Parents?" 
Paramount 
Shooting:  "Murder,  He  Says,"  "Two 
Years  Before  the  Mast,"  "Dark  Moun- 
tain" ( Pine-Thomas). 

PRC 

Finished:   "Delinquent  Daughters." 
RKO-Radio 

Started:  "Having  Wonderful 
Crime,"  with  Pat  O'Brien,  Carole 
Landis,  Leonare  Aubert,  Chili  Wil- 
liams, Gloria  Holden,  Richard  Martin. 

Shooting:  "Tall  in  the  Saddle," 
"That  Hunter  Girl,"  "Xone  But  the 
Lonely  Heart,"  "Heavenly  Days," 
"Belle  of  the  Yukon"  (International)  ; 
"Woman  in  the  Window"  (formerly 
"Once  Off  Guard")  International. 
"Princess  and  the  Pirates."  "Sylvester 
the  Great"  (Goldwyn). 

Republic 

Shooting:  "Atlantic  City,"  "Three 
Little  Sisters." 

Finished:  "Bordertown  Trails," 
"Haunted  Harbor." 

20th  Century-Fox 

Started:  "A  Tree  Grows  in  Brook- 
lyn," with  Dorothy  McGuire,  Joan 
Blondell,  James  Dunn,  Lloyd  Xolan, 
Peggy  Ann  Garner,  James  Gleason. 
Ruth  Xelson,  Ted  Donaldson. 

Shooting:  "Laura,"  "Something  for 
the  Boys,"  "Keys  of  the  Kingdom." 

Finished:  "Queen  of  the  Flat-Tops." 
United  Artists 

Shooting:  "Guest  in  the  House" 
(Hunt  Stromberg),  with  Anne  Bax- 
ter, Ralph  Bellamy,  Aline  MacMahon, 
Scott  McKay,  Ruth  Warrick,  Percv 
Kilbride.  "With  All  My  Heart"  (for- 
merly "Double  Furlough")  Van- 
guard. 

Finished:  "Abroad  With  Two 
Yanks,"  Edward  Small. 

Universal 

Started:  "Bowery'  to  Broadway," 
with  Maria  Montez,  Jack  Oakie, 
Susanna  Foster,  Turhan  Bey,  Louise 
Allbritton,  Donald  Cook,  Donald 
O'Connor,  Peggy  Ryan,  Leo  Carillo. 
Andy  Devine,  Frank  McHugh. 
^irfeabes  on  Swing  Street,"  with  Leon 
Errol,  June  Vincent,  Peggy  Ryan. 
Ann  Blyth,  June  Preisser,  Kirby 
Grant.  "Trigger  Trail,"  with  Rod 
Cameron,  Fuzzy  Knight,  Vivian  Aus- 
tin, Ray  Whitley,  Eddie  Dew. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Brown  Filming  'Aircrew' 

Montreal,  May  8. — S.  H.  Brown, 
former  associate  producer  for  Ortus 
Films  which  produced  "49  Parallel," 
now  a  flight  lieutenant  in  the  RAF, 
is  directing  "Aircrew,"  at  the  Asso- 
ciated Screen  Studios  here.  The  film, 
which  is  about  the  British  Common- 
wealth Air  Training  Plan,  is  being 
produced  by  the  British  Ministry  of 
Information  and  the  Air  Ministry.  In- 
terior will  be  completed  in  London 
studios. 


Rialto  Loses  Appeal 

The  petition  of  the  Rialto  Theatre 
Ticket  Service,  New  York,  to  force 
License  Commissioner  Paul  Moss  to 
restore  its  ticket  broker's  license,  sus- 
pended March  20  for  alleged  violation 
of  ceiling  prices,  was  denied  yesterday 
by  Supreme  Court  Justice  Isidor  Was- 
servogel. 


Shooting:  "San  Diego,  I  Love 
You,"  "See  My  Lawyer,"  "The 
Devil's  Brood." 

Finished:  "Pearl  of  Death."  "Reck- 
less Age." 

Warners 

Started:  "Strangers  in  Our  Midst." 
with  Jean  Sullivan,  Zachary  Scott, 
Irene  Manning,  Alan  Hale,  Helmut 
Dantine,  Samuel  S.  Hinds. 

Shooting:  ''Roughly  Speaking," 
"Objective  Burma,"  "To  Have  and 
Have  Not,"  "The  Doughgirls,"  "Give 
Me  This  Woman." 

Finished:  "The  Very  Thought  of 
You." 


'Twain'  Is  Baltimore 
Leader  with  $22,000 

Baltimore,  May  8.  —  The  season's 
first  hot  weather  reflected  unfavorably 
at  boxoffices  during  openings  and 
over  the  weekend.  "The  Adventures 
of  Mark  Twain,"  however,  is  "doing 
$22,000  at  advanced  prices  at  the 
Stanley,  while  "Standing  Room  Only" 
is  taking  in  $17,500  at  Keith's. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  1 1 : 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (35c-45c-55c  and  60c 
weekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Aver- 
age: $17,500). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S — (2,405)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:    $17,500.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Buffalo   Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)    (30c-40c-60c)    7   days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $11,500.    (Average:  $13,000). 
"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

STANLEY— (3,280)     (30c-40c-80c-$1.10)  7 
days.    Gross:  $22,000.    (Average  at  regular 
prices:  $18,000). 
"Cover  Girl"  (CoL) 

HIPPODROME— (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Stage  show,  Terry.  & 
Ralph  Rio,  Dene  Woods,  Danny  Drayson, 
The  Herzoghs.  Byrne  Sisters.  Gross:  $17,- 
000.  (Average:  $16,500). 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

MAYFAIR— (1,000)  (35c-44c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average:  $7,000). 


Fineberg  to  Monogram 

Pittsburgh,  May  8. — Sam  Fine- 
berg, formerly  with  Republic's  ex- 
change here,  has  been  named  manager 
of  the  local  Monogram  exchange. 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 

"Wells  Fargo  Days" 

( Warners) 

Another  story  of  the  exciting  Wells 
Fargo  era  of  the  old  West  is  giv«n 
fine  treatment  in  Warners'  latest  two- 
reel  Western.  It's  the  story  of  a  man, 
wanted  by  the  Law  for  a  crime  which 
he  did  not  commit  and  his  ultimate  re- 
demption when  he  saves  the  Wells 
Fargo  gold  shipment.  The  color  treat- 
ment is  excellent.  Dennis  Moore,  Louis 
Stanley  and  Karl  Hackett  handle  the 
lead  roles  well.  Mack  V.  Wright  di- 
rected. Running  time,  20  mins. 


"Bugs  Bunny  Nips 
the  Nips" 

( Warners) 

Bugs  retains  his  laurels  as  a  favorite 
cartoon  character  in  Leon  Schlesing- 
er's  current  release.  The  precocious 
rabbit  pits  his  wiles  against  the  Japs 
on  a  South  Pacific  isle,  knocks  them 
off  single  handed  and  wins  a  hula- 
dancer  in  the  bargain.  Done  in  the 
usual  Bugs  Bunny  fashion,  "Nips  the 
Nips"  is  good  entertainment.  Running 
time,  7  mins. 


"United  States  Coast 
Guard  Band" 

(Warners) 

Lt.  Rudy  Vallee  of  the  U.  S.  Coast 
Guard  leads  a  naval  band  in  some 
sailors'  songs  while  the  camera  roves 
around  various  training  centers,  giving 
an  inside  look  at  Navy  life.  Numbers 
selected,  including  "Men  Down  Under 
the  Sea,"  "Wings  of  Gold,"  "The 
Marine  Hymn"  and  "Semper  Paratus," 
are  well  handled  by  the  band  and 
a  chorus.  Running  time,  10  mins. 


"Backyard  Golf" 

( Warners) 

Ralph  Guldahl,  champion  golfer, 
gives  pointers  on  how  to  "enj  oy  the 
game  in  your  own  back  yard.  Golf 
enthusiasts,  especially,  will  find  this  in- 
teresting and  entertaining.  Backyard 
golf  presents  a  means  of  enjoying  the 
internationally  famous  sport,  despite 
gasoline  rationing  and  travel  bans. 
Subject  is  well  handled.  Running  time, 
10  mins. 


"Jungle  Thrills" 

( Warners) 

Michael  and  Helen  Lerner  bring  the 
stories  of  their  most  recent  African  sa- 
fari to  the  screen  in  a  thrilling  and 
enlightening  short  which  should  fill  out 
any  program  nicely.  Their  exploits  in 
the  big-game  territory  make  exciting 
film  fare.  Photography  is  excellent, 
particularly  shots  of  an  elephant  chase 
and  the  final  capture  of  the  beast.  Run- 
ning time,  10  mins. 


"Hobo  News" 

(Universal) 

For  followers  of  the  monthly  sheet, 
"Hobo  News,"  this  is  an  especially 
interesting  and  novel  subject  which 
delves  into  its  making.  Shots  of  the 
New  York  office  and  the  staff  are  very 
entertaining.  Direction  is  good.  Run- 
ning time,  9  mins. 


Boston  Variety  Party 

Boston,  May  8. — Local  Variety  will 
hold  its  annual  get-together  on  June 
11.  with  a  theatre  party  and  dance. 


Tuesday,  May  9,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


BMI  Adding  to  200 
Films  Made  Yearly 


(Continued  from  page 

exhibitors  now  play  one  IS  minute 
subject  made  by  the  government  film 
division  monthly  which  they  receive 
rental  free.  The  BMOI  film  division 
has  also  averaged  about  four  or  five 
documentaries  yearly,  running  one 
hour  or  longer,  which  have  been  sold 
to  exhibitors  in  Great  Britain  on  a 
competitive  basis  as  well  as  some  15 
to  20  one  and  two-reelers.  The  bulk 
of  BMOI  production,  however,  ac- 
cording to  Beddington,  is  for  non- 
theatrical  circulation.  He  disclosed 
that  future  BMOI  production  plans  do 
not  call  for  making  many  more  docu- 
mentaries longer  than  two  reels. 

Speaking  about  BMOI's  production 
of  brief  film  messages  related  to  the 
war  effort,  which  are  incorporated  in 
the  newsreels,  Beddington  said  that 
"they  are  usually  humorous  and  they 
neither  preach  nor  exhort,  but  give 
information." 

Set  to  Film  Invasion 

Questioned  about  BMOI's  plans  for 
film  coverage  of  the  impending  inva- 
sion, Beddington  said  that  all  plans 
for  film  coverage  have  been  set.  He 
indicated  that  few  American  or  Brit- 
ish newsreel  cameramen  will  accom- 
pany the  invasion  forces  at  the  outset 
but  that  newsreels  will  have  access  to 
film  shot  by  several  hundred  official 
cameramen  of  the  Armed  Forces  after 
it  has  been  censored  by  military  au- 
thorities. He  estimates  that  Ameri 
can  audiences  should  be  seeing  initial 
shots  of  invasion  military  activities 
within  ten  days  after  the  invasion 
starts.  BMOI  and  the  American 
newsreel  pool  in  London  have  dis- 
cussed the  type  of  film  material  de- 
sired with  military  authorities,  ac- 
cording to  Beddington. 

BMOI  has  selected  12  films  from 
those  produced  by  British  producers 
which  are  being  shown  in  liberated 
portions  of  Italy  under  supervision  of 
the  Army's  Psychological  Warfare 
Branch  in  much  the  same  manner  as 
this  unit  is  handling  the  40  American 
films  selected  by  the  U.  S.  Office  of 
War  Information.  Beddington  also 
said  that  BMOI  has  produced  six 
two-reel  films  explaining  what  has 
happened  since  Dunkirk  and  which 
will  be  shown  in  European  areas  upon 
liberation. 


63  State  Bond  Chairmen 
Are  Named  by  O'Donnell 


80  of  'Honored  100' 
Are  Independents 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Loan,  reiterated  today  that  the  com- 
mittee will  work  with  Robert  O'Don- 
nell,  national  industry  chairman  for 
the  Fifth  War  Loan. 

Two  days  of  festivities  planned  for 
the  visiting  exhibitors  whose  "E" 
bond-selling  exploits  made  them  top 
salesmen  for  the  film  industry,  will 
also  start  tomorrow.  Charles  P. 
Skouras  will  preside  over  tomorrow's 
program  which  will  get  under  way  at 
the  Hotel  Statler  with  the  presentation 
of  scrolls  and  medallions  to  each  ex- 
hibitor. There  will  be  a  luncheon 
with  Skouras,  Rick  Ricketson  and  B. 
V.  Sturdivant  on  hand  after  which 
there  will  be  a  visit  to  the  capitol  and 
a  trip  t®  Mt.  Vernon  and  other  his- 
toric soots.  On  Wednesday  the  'Hon- 
ored 100'  will  meet  O'Donnell  to  dis- 
cuss plans  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

dianapolis;  Iowa,  A.  H.  Blank,  Des 
Moines;  Kansas,  H.  E.  Jameyson, 
Wichita ;  Kentucky,  Ned  Greene,  May- 
field  ;  Louisiana,  E.  V.  Richards,  New 
Orleans ;  Maine,  Connie  Russell,  Ban- 
gor; Maryland,  Louis  A.  Rome,  Bal- 
timore; Massachusetts,  Sam  Pinanski, 
Boston;  Michigan,  co-chairmen,  Mar- 
tin Thomas,  Iron  Mountain  (Penin- 
sula), Earl  Hudson,  Detroit  and  Lew 
Wisper,  Detroit;  Minnesota,  Al 
Steffes,  Minneapolis ;  Mississippi,  co- 
chairmen,  Burgess  Waltman,  Colum- 
bus and  Arthur  Lehmann,  Jackson. ; 
East  Missouri,  Harry  Arthur,  St. 
Louis ;  West  Missouri,  Elmer  Rhoden, 
Kansas  City. 

Also:  Montana,  J.  A.  English,  Ana- 
conda ;  Nebraska,  William  Miskell, 
Omaha ;  Nevada,  N.  Dow  Thompson, 
Reno ;  New  Hampshire,  Edward  J. 
Fahey,  Manchester ;  Southern  New 
Jersey,  Ben  Amsterdam,  Philadelphia, 
Pa. ;  Northern  New  Jersey,  co-chair- 
men, H.  H.  Lowenstein,  Newark,  and 
Don  Jacocks,  Newark ;  New  Mexico, 
George  Tucker,  Albuquerque ;  Metro- 
politan New  York,  Charles  Mos- 
kowitz,  New  York  City ;  Upstate  New 
York,  Lou  Golding,  Albany ;  North 
Carolina,  H.  F.  Kincey,  Charlotte ; 
West  North  Dakota,  Mike  Cooper, 
Grand  Forks ;  East  North  Dakota,  Ed 
Kraus,  Fargo. 

Others  Named 

Also :  Ohio,  Martin  G.  Smith,  To- 
ledo; Oklahoma,  C.  B.  Akers,  Okla- 
homa City ;  Oregon,  co-chairmen,  Al 
Finke,  Portland,  and  Bob  White, 
Portland ;  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  Lou 
Finske,  Scranton ;  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania, Moe  Silver,  Pittsburgh  ;  Rhode 
Island,  Ed  Fay,  Providence ;  South 
Carolina,  Warren  Irwin,  Columbia; 
South  Dakota,  Fred  Larkin,  Sioux 
Falls ;  Eastern  Tennessee,  E.  W. 
Street,  Knoxville  ;  Western  Tennessee, 
M.  A.  Lightman,  Memphis ;  Texas, 
John  Q.  Adams,  Dallas ;  Utah,  Sam- 


uel Gillette,  Tooele ;  Vermont,  Frank 
Vennett,  Rutland;  Virginia,  co-chair- 
men, William  Crockett,  Virginia 
Beach,  and  Morton  G.  Thalheimer, 
Richmond;  Washington,  D.  C,  Sid- 
ney Lust ;  Washington,  Frank  New- 
man, Sr.,  Seattle ;  West  Virginia,  Mil- 
ton Levine,  Williamson;  Wisconsin, 
Harold  Fitzgerald,  Milwaukee ;  Wyo- 
ming, co-chairmen,  E.  J.  Schulte,  Cas- 
per, and  Tom  Berta,  Rock  Springs. 


1  WAC  5th  Loan  Short 
Ready,  4  Preparing 

Hollywood,  May  8. — With  one  War 
Activities  Committee  short  completed 
and  four  scripts  ready,  final  prepara- 
tions started  today  on  Fifth  War  Loan 
promotional  screen  material. 

"Road  to  Victory,"  a  one-reeler, 
which  is  completed,  will  be  released 
nationally  on  May  18.  The  cast  in- 
cludes Bing  Crosby,  Cary  Grant, 
Frank  Sinatra,  Charles  Ruggles,  Den- 
nis Morgan,  Irene  Manning,  Jack  Car- 
son, Jimmy  Lydon  and  Olive  Blake- 
ney.  It  was  produced  by  Jack  L. 
Warner. 


Clark  Calls  for  a 
Decree  Showdown 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

would  set  a  date  for  the  disclosure  by 
the  latter  of  the  extent  to  which  they 
will  meet  recommendations  for  broad- 
ening the  decree  which  have  been  in 
their  hands  for  several  weeks.  . 

On  the  basis  of  that  meeting,  Clark 
said  today,  he  will  make  a  report  to 
U.  S.  Attorney  General  Francis  Bid- 
die  as  to  whether  a  revised  decree  can 
be  secured. 

Clark  expressed  a  desire  to  bring 
the  matter  to  a  head,  pointing  out  that 
the  companies  have  had  a  long  time  in 
which  to  study  exhibitor  recommenda- 
tions for  improvement  of  the  proposals 
they  submitted  last  Jan.  25,  and  indi- 
cated a  growing  impatience  over  the 
numerous  delays  which  have  slowed 
down  the  negotiations. 

At  the  next  meeting,  Clark  said,  the 
distributors  should  be  able  to  tell  defi- 
nitely what  they  will  do.  It  is  planned 
to  go  over  the  whole  decree  in  one 
last  audit  of  what  the  distributors 
offer  or  refuse,  and  make  a  decision 
as  to  the  acceptability  of  their  pro- 
posals, to  be  submitted  to  Attorney 
General  Biddle  for  approval. 


1,000  to  Attend  5th  Drive 
Opening  in  Boston  May  11 

Boston,  May  8. — The  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  of  the  motion  picture 
industry  will  open  the  industry's  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  here  with  a  meeting 
at  the  Hotel  Statler  on  Thursday, 
which  will  be  attended  by  exhibitors 
and  distributor  executives. 

Scheduled  to  appear  are  national 
drive  chairman  Bob  O'Donnell ;  co- 
chairmen  John  J.~Friedl  and  Richard 
M.  Kennedy ;  Ray  Beall,  publicity ; 
Francis  S.  Harmon,  WAC  Coordina- 
tor ;  Ned  E.  Depinet,  Leon  Bamberg- 
er, Leonard  Goldenson,  and  Si  Fabian. 

Martin  J.  Mullin,  chairman  of  the 
New  England  WAC,  and  Sam  Pinan- 
ski, chairman  of  the  Massachusetts 
WAC,  will  be  hosts.  Harry  Browning 
is  in  charge  of  public  relations. 


'Bernadette'  Gets  Award 

The  New  York  City  Federation  of 
Women's  Clubs  has  recently  pre- 
sented 20th-Fox  with  its  annual  award 
for  the  "most  outstanding  film  of 
1943-1944,"  given  for  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette."  Tom  Connors,  in  charge 
of  20th-Fox  distribution,  accepted  the 
award  at  ceremonies  in  the  Hotel  As- 
tor. 


Wm.  Clark  Leaves  ODT 

Philadelphia,  May  8.  —  William 
Clark  will  return  to  Hiway  Express 
Lines,  local  film  delivery  service,  as 
secretary-treasurer  upon  his  resigna- 
tion as  regional  director  of  the  division 
of  motor  transportation  for  the  ODT 
in  New  York,  effective  tomorrow. 


Riskin  Asks  12  Films 
For  Freed  Nations 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

gestions  for  the  studios  on  the  types 
of  documentaries  the  OWI  desires.  If 
these  can  be  made  by  the  studios  in 
such  a  manner  as  to  be  usable  in  do- 
mestic distribution,  he  will  ask  them 
to  sponsor  the  productions.  If  not, 
the  OWI  will  have  to  produce  the 
films  or  have  the  studios  do  so  for  the 
Government.  .  "There  are  12  such  pic- 
tures we  have  in  mind,"  Riskin  said. 

He  revealed  that  the  OWI  now  is 
sponsoring  the  dubbing  of  selected 
American  pictures  in  22  languages, 
with  almost  all  of  the  40  so  far  chosen 
for  distribution  in  liberated  countries 
already  dubbed  in  18  languages.  "Even 
Japan  is  coming  in  for  attention,"  he 
said,  adding,  "we  are  now  dubbing 
some  American  product  in  Japanese 
and  will  shortly  be  doing  some  in 
Burmese  and  other  Oriental  lan- 
guages." 

Riskin  will  remain  here  10  days  or 
two  weeks. 


Meadow  Quits  Stanley 

Noel  Meadow,  president  and  direc- 
tor of  Medano  Corp.,  operator  of  the 
Stanley  here,  local  show  case  for  Rus- 
sian" films,  has  resigned. 


RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  Inc. 

TRADE  SHOWINGS 


of 


COYESCA 


NEW  YORK     -  - 

RKO  Projection  Room 
630  Ninth  Avenue, 
New  York,  N.  Y. 

LOS  ANGELES  - 

RKO  Projection  Room 
1980  So.  Vermont  Ave., 
Los  Angeles,  Calif. 

SAN  FRANCISCO 

RKO  Projection  Room 
25 1  Hyde  Street, 

San  Francisco,  Calif. 


Monday,  May  15 
11.00  AM-2.30PM 

Monday,  May  15 
2.30  PM 

Monday,  May  15 
2.30  PM 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  9,  1944 


Increased  U.  S.  Tax  Felt 
Mostly  in  Small  Places 


16,000  Theatres  Set 
To  Open '  Wac  Week' 


Weather  Drives  N.Y. 
Grosses  Downward; 
'Way'  Gets  $102,000 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

show  will  start  a  second  week  tomor- 
row. 

Radio  City  Music  Hall  will  count 
about  $95,000  on  its  sixth  and  final 
week  of  "Cover  Girl"  on  the  basis  of 
the  $60,000  recorded  up  to  Sunday 
night.  The  six  weeks'  run  of  "Cover 
Girl"  at  the  Music  Hall  marks  the 
first  time  in  the  theatre's  history  that 
a  musical  film  has  played  for  that 
length  of  time,  and  a  highly  profitable 
take  of  almost  $685,000  is  being  re- 
corded. The  world  premiere  of  M- 
G-M's  "The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover" 
is  set  for  Thursday. 

$75,000  for  'Gaslight' 

The  receipts  of  the  first  week  of  "Gas- 
light" and  a  stage  show  featuring  Phil 
Spitalny's  "All  Girl"  orchestra  at  the 
Capitol  are  expected  to  reach  a  profi- 
table $75,000  on  the  basis  of  $50,000 
taken  in  up  to  Sunday  night.  The 
show  will  hold  for  a  second  week  or 
longer,  with  RKO's  "Tender  Com- 
rade" set  to  follow.  "Buffalo  Bill" 
and  a  stage  show  featuring  Paul 
Whiteman  and  his  band  at  the  Roxy 
will  wind  up  a  third  and  final  week 
with  $60,000  which  is  considerably 
below  the  recent  pace  set  by  films  at 
this  house,  although  it  is  still  prof- 
itable ;  five  days'  receipts  up  to  Sunday 
night  were  below  $50,000.  "Pin-Up 
Girl,"  with  Betty  Grable,  and  a  stage 
bill  featuring  Connee  Boswell,  Wil- 
lie Howard  and  Raymond  Scott  and 
his  CBS  orchestra  will  take  over  at 
the  Roxy  tomorrow  morning.  The 
Strand,  presenting  "Between  Two 
Worlds"  and  "Tars  and  Spars,"  Coast 
Guard  show  on  the  stage,  is  headed 
for  a  modest  $53,600  in  the  first  week 
on  the  basis  of  weekend  business  of 
$26,500  which  still  spells  plenty  of 
profit ;  the  combination  will  hold. 

The  second  week  of  "Follow  the 
Boys"  will  bring  the  Criterion  about 
$32,000  which  is  well  up  near  the  pace 
of  recent  record-setting  films  at  this 
house.  The  film  will  hold  for  a  third 
week  and  possibly  longer  with  Uni- 
versal's  "Cobra  Woman"  to  follow. 

'Mark  Twain'  Off 

The  initial  week  of  "The  Adventures 
of  Mark  Twain"  at  the  Hollywood 
will  be  a  modest  $26,500,  which  is  be- 
low expectations.  "The  Hitler  Gang" 
is  expected  to  give  the  Globe  an  ini- 
tial week's  gross  of  $27,500  on  the 
basis  of  weekend  business  which  was 
about  $13,500.  This  is  highly  satis- 
factory, and  the  film  will  hold.  There 
is  little  slackening  of  pace  at  the  As- 
tor  where  "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove" is  expected  to  wind  up  a  sev- 
enth week  with  $20,000.  "The  Song 
of  Bernadette"  will  get  about  $26,000 
on  its  15th  week  at  the  Rivoli  which 
is  a  continuing  show  of  its  stamina. 

The  fifth  week  of  "Snow  White  and 
the  Seven  Dwarfs"  at  the  Manhattan 
is  yielding  an  excellent  $15,000. 

The  third  week  of  "Up  In  Mabel's 
Room"  at  the  Central  is  expected  to 
bring  $12,500  on  the  basis  of  weekend 
business  of  $7,500.  The  second  week 
surpassed  original  estimates  by  bring- 
ing in  about  $14,000.  The  picture  will 
hold.  A  single  week  of  "Jam  Session" 
is  expected  to  give  the  Palace  a  mod- 
erate $12,000  and  RKO's  "Show  Busi- 
ness" will  open  tomorrow,  after  a  spe- 
cial preview  tonight.    The  third  and 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

tion  picture  attendance  substantially. 
Large  cities  and  congested  war  areas 
have  been  turning  away  crowds  for  so 
long  that  only  a  tremendous  reaction 
to  the  tax  could  have  resulted  in  less 
than  capacity  business. 

Some  localities  send  word  that  a 
normally  low  admission  scale  has  en- 
abled patrons  to  meet  the  boost  with- 
out any  complaints.  Others  point  to 
advance  advertising  of  the  tax  as  a 
war-time  factor  preventing  an  awk- 
ward adjustment  period.  And  almost 
all  give  the  impression  that  the  public, 
having  come  to  depend  on  films  for 
their  main  entertainment,  besides  be- 
ing generally  solvent  these  days,  has 
taken  the  increase  in  its  stride. 

Detroit  Booming 

In  the  war-boom  city  of  Detroit, 
for  example,  where  attendance  is  hold- 
ing at  a  peak  unprecedented  for  more 
than  27  years,  a  spot  check  showed 
long  waiting  lines  before  houses  de- 
spite "SRO"  announcements,  and  ex- 
hibitors said  a  decline  would  have  to 
reach  sizeable  proportions  before  be- 
ing noted.  An  interesting  sidelight 
on  the  situation  there  was  revealed 
through  a  theatre  lobby  poll  in  which 
a  majority  of  the  patrons  pointed  out 
that  the  new  admission  tax  was  an  al- 
lowable deduction  on  income  taxes. 

A  second  prosperity  tale  comes 
from  Hartford,  where  one  manager 
said,  "This  area,  with  all  its  defense 
plants  and  people  earning  more  than 
ever  before,  has  not  been  affected. 
Theatre  patrons  still  act  as  though 
they  don't  realize  they're  paying  more. 
They  like  the  films  and  they  keep  com- 
ing. Money  is  no  object."  Both 
downtown  and  neighborhood  boxoffice 
lines  are  as  long,  and  at  some  thea- 
tres longer,  than  in  the  pre-tax  period. 

Operators  of  Boston  houses  were 
surprised  over  the  fact  that  business 
has  declined  very  little  if  at  all. 
Downtowners  all  report  full  houses. 
In  the  Back  Bay  section,  also,  thea- 
tres have  not  felt  any  impact  from  the 
higher  taxes,  nor  have  the  larger 
neighborhood  houses. 

New  York  Doing  Capacity 

In  New  York,  where  Broadway  is 
still  a  mecca  for  war-prosperous  visi- 
tors from  far  and  near,  business  in  the 
first-run  houses  continues  at  capacity, 
and  the  overflow  crowds  for  the  big- 
gest hit  shows  are  constant.  A  sur- 
vey of  the  New  York  neighborhoods, 
however,  found  some  circuit  spokes- 
men less  jubilant.  Charles  Moskow- 
itz  of  Loew's  pointed  to  the  recent 
combination  of  rain  and  warm  weath- 
er and  said  that  it  was,  therefore, 
impossible  to  estimate  the  effect  of  the 
tax.  Harry  Goldberg  reported  that 
business  for  the  Warner  circuit  had 
veered  up  and  down  with  the  weather, 
adding,  "There  haven't  been  any  com- 
plaints. People  know  they  have  to 
pay  taxes."  Century  Circuit  man- 
agers have  received  a  few  complaints 


final  week  of  "Knickerbocker  Holi- 
day" at  the  Victoria  is  expected  to 
yield  over  $8,000  and  Paramount's 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  will 
open  tomorrow.  "The  Whistler"  is 
expected  to  get  about  $7,000  on  its 
second  week  at  the  Rialto  and  20th 
Century-Fox's  "Bermuda  Mystery" 
will  take  over  on  Friday. 


but  say  they  have  not  been  harmed  by 
the  tax. 

First-run  houses  in  Omaha, 
according  to  William  Miskell, 
district  manager  for  Tri-States 
Theatres,  have  suffered  a  slight 
dent    in    midweek  business, 
which  may  be  attributable  to 
the  tax,  but  the  crowds  have 
been  holding  up  well  over  week- 
ends. Managers  there  expressed 
the  view  that  most  people  were 
adequately  warned  and  are  not 
watching  pennies  these  days. 
Theatres  in  Pittsburgh  also  report 
no  declining  grosses.    Cleveland  op- 
erators unanimously  declare  that  the 
public  is  indifferent  to  the  higher  ad- 
mission prices  and  that  attendance  is 
holding  up  to  its  pre-tax  status.  Prac- 
holding  up  to  its  pre-tax  status. 

From  Providence  comes  word  that 
there  has  been  no  marked  falling  off 
in  business.  In  Philadelphia,  too, 
normal  attendance  levels  have  been 
maintained,  and  complaints  have  been 
confined  to  stage  theatres,  where  the 
higher  established  prices  mean  a  more 
marked  increase  in  taxes.  The  Seat- 
tle report  shows  that  grosses  there 
have  not  suffered,  patrons  generally 
accepting  the  idea  that  the  tax  is  a 
part  of  the  war  effort. 

St.  Louis  ran  into  a  spell  of  bad 
weather.  As  a  result,  it  was  difficult 
to  calculate  the  effect  of  the  tax  on 
receipts.  Inclement  weather  took  a 
toll  in  Atlanta  also,  but  the  impres- 
sion is  that  the  tax  has  not ;  since  the 
normal  top  admission  price  there 
stands  at  only  50  cents,  the  public 
has  shown  little  disfavor  toward  pay- 
ing the  additional  tax.  In  Des  Moines 
business  has  been  off  since  April  1, 
but  there  again  heavy  downpours  re- 
ceived the  major  share  of  the  blame. 

Senate  Bill  Would  Cut 
Cabaret  Tax  to  10% 

Washington,  May  8. — Senator 
Sheridan  Downey  of  California  has 
introduced  a  bill  to  drop  the  cabaret 
tax  from  its  new  level  of  30  per  cent 
to  10  per  cent,  a  rate  which  he 
holds  would  probably  yield  the  same 
amount  of  revenue.  Since  the  jump, 
on  April  1,  from  the  former  five  per 
cent  tax,  more  than  8,000  night  club 
entertainers  have  been  thrown  out  of 
work,  according  to  Matt  Shelvey,  na- 
tional administrative  director  of  the 
American  Guild  of  Variety  Artists. 

Reports  from  all  over  the  country 
show  many  night  clubs  and  cocktail 
lounges  closing  down.  In  New  York, 
86  of  386  failed  to  renew  licenses. 
Hundred's  of  places  in  Florida  are 
said  to  have  been  forced  out  of  busi- 
ness. San  Francisco  has  lost  at  least 
31  and  Los  Angeles  35. 


Stage  Attendance  Down 

Attendance  at  New  York  legitimate 
theatres  has  been  on  the  decline  since 
the  20  per  cent  Federal  admission  tax 
went  into  effect  on  April  1,  according 
to  Lee  Shubert,  producer  and  theatre 
operator.  All  but  smash  hits  have  felt 
the  slump,  .  he  said.  Meyer  Davis, 
band  leader  and  investor  in  legitimate 
shows,  predicted  that  the  increased 
levy  would  force  the  closing  of  at 
least  10  plays  within  the  next  few 
weeks.  Only  seven  Summer  theatres 
have  notified  Actors  Equity  Associa- 
tion that  they  plan  to  operate  this 
year;  last  year  there  were  24.  • 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

for  similar  demonstrations  through- 
out the  country.  Tomorrow's  cere- 
mony will  be  attended  by  Newbold 
Morris,  president  of  the  City  Coun- 
cil, representing  Mayor  LaGuardia. 
Screen,  stage  and  radio  personalities 
will  also  take  part. 

Tomorrow  morning  at  10,  Charles 
C.  Moskowitz,  Metropolitan  area 
chairman  for  the  drive,  will  be  host 
at  a  breakfast  in  the  Hotel  Astor  to 
a  group  of  Wac  officers,  Col.  Oveta 
Culp  Hobby  and  other  military  offi- 
cers. 

Other  boroughs  will  follow  the 
Times  Square  rally  with  their  own 
demonstrations.  In  Staten  Island  to- 
morrow night,  at  the  request  of  Ir- 
ving L.  Liner,  Wac  drive  chairman, 
Edgar  Goth,  public  relations  director, 
and  George  Kemp,  manager  of  Fa- 
bian's Paramount,  borough  president 
Joseph  A.  Palma  will  read  a  proclam- 
ation for  "Wac  Week"  from  the  stage 
of  the  St.  George  Theatre. 

Demonstrations  are  scheduled  to 
take  place  in  Brooklyn  and  Queens 
on  Thursday  and  Saturday  respective- 
ly, and  in  scores  of  cities  in  the  field. 


Jane  Powell  Is  Appearing 
For  N.  E.  Wac  Campaign 

Boston,  May  8. — New  England's 
participation  in  the  industry  drive 
spurring  Wac  recruiting  will  be  inau- 
gurated here  today  with  Phil  Engel, 
United  Artists'  publicist  for  New  En- 
gland, staging  a  round  of  appearances 
for  Jane  Powell,  star  of  Charles  Rog- 
ers' "Song  of  the  Open  Road." 

Tomorrow,  Miss  Powell,  with  Rog- 
ers, will  be  guests  at  a  breakfast  in 
the  Ritz-Carlton.  In  the  afternoon 
they  will  be  honored  at  a  luncheon 
and  reception  in  the  Hotel  Statler  by 
more  than,  200  exhibitors.  Among 
those  attending  will  be  James  Winn 
and  John  Dervin,  respectively,  United 
Artists'  district  and  branch  mana- 
gers ;  Martin  J.  Mullin  and  Sam 
Pinanski  of  M  &  P  Theatres ;  Engel, 
Abe  Rogers,  brother  of  Charles,  and 
David  Stoneman. 


Salkay-UA  Contract 
To  E.  L.  Alperson 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

associated  in  joint  distributor  and 
theatre  activities  in  the  past. 

Persistent  current  reports  also  have 
it  that  Alperson  will  be  associated  in 
production  activities  with  Jacques 
Grinieff,  French  producer. 

Alperson  himself  claimed  he  had 
four  of  the  six  story  properties  already 
lined  up  and  expected  to  complete  deals 
for  the  other  two  in  the  near  future. 
Pending  this  complettion.  he  would 
make  no  statement  about  the  purchase 
of  any  corporation.  "I  haven't  as  yet 
chosen  a  corporate  name,"  he  said.  "I 
made  the  deal  to  do  six  for  United 
Artists.  I'm  going  to  do  my  own  pro- 
ducing independently,  as  an  individ- 
ual," he  added. 


O'Brien  to  Harrisburg 

Scraxton,  Pa.,  May  8.  —  Bill 
O'Brien,  formerly  of  this  city,  and 
later  attached  to  the  Newport  News. 
Va.,  office  of  Altec  Service,  has  been 
transferred  by  Altec  to  Harrisburg. 


Theatres' 
Women's 
Army  Corps 
Recruiting 

Week 
May  11-17. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Theatres' 
Women's 
Army  Corps 
Recruiting 

Week 
May  11-17 


fOL.  55.  NO.  92 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  10,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Agnew  Cites 

Vanguard-UA 

Collaboration 


Hopes  to  Have  Three 
Field  Aides  Soon 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 

The  streamlining  of  the-  func- 
tions of  Vanguard's  producer 
representatives  in  order  to  facili- 
tate the  work  of  the  United  Artists 

  _      sales    force  in 

connection  with 
David  0.  Selz- 
n  i  c  k  product 
and  to  provide 
Selznick  with 
supervision  of 
its  distribution, 
is  the  funda- 
mental aim  of 
Neil  F.  Ag- 
new's  office,  the 
Vanguard  vice- 
president  and 
interna- 
tional  distribu- 
Neil  Agnew  tion   head  told 

Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  yesterday. 
Agnew  said  that  Vanguard's  aims, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Republic's  Final 
Sales  Meet  Today 


The  opening  session  of  the  third 
and  last  in  Republic's  current  series 
of  regional  sales  conferences  will  be- 
gin today  at  the  New  York  Athletic 
Club,  where  Herbert  J.  Yates,  Sr., 
chairman  of  the  board,  and  James  R. 
!  Grainger,  president  and  general  sales 
i  manager,  will  meet  with  Central  dis- 
j  trict  sales   manager   Sam  Seplowin, 
Eastern    district    manager  Maxwell 
I  Gillis,  and  groups  from  each  of  those 
territories.     The    meeting   will  run 
through  Thursday. 

Highlights   of   discussions   will  be 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


'Wac  Week'  Under 
Way  Here  Today 

The  induction  of  100  young  women 
into  the  Women's  Army  Corps  today 
at  12:30  P.  M.  in  Times  Square  will 
launch  "Wac  Recruiting  Week,"  May 
11-17,  in  the  16,000  motion  picture  the- 
atres of  the  country.  Charles  C.  Mos- 
kowitz,  Metropolitan  area  industry 
chairman  for  the  Wac  drive,  will  in- 
troduce Edward  L.  Alperson,  general 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Briskin  to  Rejoin 
Columbia  July  1 

Lieut.  Col.  Samuel  J.  Bris- 
kin, former  Columbia  studio 
chief  and  production  head, 
has  received  a  medical  dis- 
charge from  the  Army  and 
will  resume  production  activi- 
ties with  the  company  on 
July  1. 

Temporarily  located  in  New 
York,  Briskin  said  yesterday 
that  he  will  leave  for  the 
West  Coast  toward  the  end  of 
this  month  or  early  in  June. 


Pension  Plan  Still 
Studied  by  Warners 


Warner  Bros,  still  is  seriously  con- 
sidering a  pension  plan  for  employes 
with  several  types  presently  being 
studied  by  home  office  executives  and 
lawyers.  No  decision  has  been  made 
as  to  whether  such  a  plan  will  apply 
to  actors  and  production  executives. 
Special  attention  is  being  given  to  the 
aspects  of  permanency  of  any  plan  in 
case  of  any  reverses  and  to  the  secur- 
ing of  necessary  Treasury  Department 
approval. 

RKO  has  already  instituted  a  pen- 
sion plan  for  employes  but  stars  and 
production  heads  are  not  included. 
The  plan  has  not  yet  received  approval 
by  the  Treasury.  A  M-G-M  pension 
plan  covering  workers  and  actors  and 
production  talent  as  well,  will  shortly 
be  submitted  to  company  stockholders 
for  their  approval. 


Warns  on  Gas 
Refrigerants 


Chicago,  May  9. — Federal  law-en- 
forcement officials  here  indicate  they 
will  take  immediate  action  against  ex- 
hibitors who  employ  dangerous  gas- 
eous, chemical  or  other  substitutes  for 
freon  in  theatre  cooling  systems,  it 
was  learned  here  today.  At  the  same 
time  it  was  also  learned  that  state 
and  city  officials  here  contemplate  tak 
ing  similar  action. 

Formal  warning  will  be  issued  to 
theatre  operators  tomorrow  by  Gerald 
Gearon,  head  of  Chicago's  Department 
of  Inspection  of  Refrigeration  plants 
particularly  against  the  illegal  use  of 
methyl  chloride  in  cooling  equipment 
this  Summer  as  a  substitute  for  freon 
No.  12,  prohibited  for  public  systems 
under  War  Production  Board  order 
No.  M-28. 

Cooling  plants  in  all  Chicago  the- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


AFL  Delays  Drive 
To  Sign  Managers 


Chicago,  May  9. — An  American 
Federation  of  Labor  membership  drive 
to  launch  a  national  theatre  managers' 
union  will  not  be  made  until  after  the 
IATSE  convention  scheduled  to  open 
in  St.  Louis  on  May  29,  union  organ- 
izers stated  here  today. 

Gene  Atkinson,  business  manager  of 
Chicago  projectionists'  Local  110,  who 
will  preside  at  the  convention,  will 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Government,  Industry  in 
Tribute  to  'Honored  100' 


Washington,  May  9. — Two  hun- 
dred showmen  from  every  part  of 
the  country  and  Alaska  gathered  here 
today  in  company  with  Government, 
civic  and  military  officials  for  a  special 
three-day  observance  to  pay  tribute  to 
the  "Honored  100"  of  the  industry's 
Fourth  War  Loan  drive,  who  distin- 
guished themselves  in  open  competi- 
tion as  winners  of  the  "Bond  for 
Every  Seat"  drive,  and  to  mark  the 
official  opening  of  the  industry's  Fifth 
War  Loan  campaign. 

The  200  showmen  were  headed  by 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  national  chair- 
man of  the  industry's  Fourth  Loan 
drive,  and  included  leaders  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee,  theatre  and 
distribution  officials.  Also  attending 
were  Lt.  General  A.  A.  Vandergrift. 
Commandant,  U.  S.  Marines ;  Sena- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


16,892  Film  Houses 
In  U.  S. :  Harmon 

Washington,  May  9— There 
are  now  16,892  film  houses  in 
active  operation  in  the  U.  S., 
Francis  Harmon,  national 
WAC  executive,  disclosed  in 
an  interview  here  today.  This 
number  does  not  include  Army 
camp  theatres,  college  thea- 
tres and  various  other  exhibi- 
tion halls  where  motion  pic- 
tures may,  from  time  to  time, 
be  screened. 

"This  represents  a  drop 
from  the  more  than  17,000  in 
operation,"  stated  Harmon  re- 
ferring, presumably,  to  the 
pre-Pearl  Harbor  total. 


Larry  Kent  to 
Head  G-B 
Theatre  Setup 

Treasury  Approval  Seen 
For  Loew's  Stock  Buy 


London,  May  9. — Larry  Kent, 
executive  assistant  to  Spyros 
Skouras,  20th  Century-Fox  presi- 
dent, is  slated  to  be  named  manag- 
ing director  of  Gaumont-British  Thea- 
tres if  proposals  heretofore  advanced 
by  J.  Arthur  Rank  and  Skouras  are 
consummated,  it  was  learned  on  good 
authority  today. 

Whether  or  not  Kent  also  will 
be  named  to  the  G-B  board  of 
directors  as  the  representative 
of  20th-Fox  is  not  certain  at 
this  time,  but  it  is  certain  that 
the  American  company  will  have 
representation  on  either  the 
G-B  or  the  Metropolis  &  Brad- 
ford Trust  Co.  directorates,  re- 
gardless. 

Kent's  appointment  as  managing  di- 
rector of  G-B  would  be  a  part  of, 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Grosses  Off  40%  in 
London  West  End 


Theatre  business  in  London's  West 
End  film  houses  has  fallen  off  about 
40  percent  in  the  past  two  weeks,  Al- 
fred E.  Daff,  Universal  foreign  sales 
supervisor  reported  here  yesterday. 
Daff  returned  over  the  weekend  from 
a  six  weeks'  trip  to  London  on  com- 
pany business. 

London's  theatres  have  been  heavily 
patronized  by  members  of  the  Ameri- 
can Armed  Forces  in  Great  Britain 
and  the  cancelling  of  leaves  for  inva- 
sion preparations  is  believed  to  be  re- 
sponsible for  the  present  slump  in  at- 
tendance. 

Daff  emphasized  that  no  changes 
are  contemplated  in  Universal's  Brit- 
ish distribution  set-up  whereby  J.  Ar- 
thur Rank's  General  Film  Distributors 
handles  Universal  films  in  Great  Brit- 


Browne,  Bioff  Begin 
Serving  Sentences 

Sandstone,  Minn.,  May  9. — Willie 
Bioff  and  George  E.  Browne,  convicted 
in  New  York  Federal  Court  in  No- 
vember, 1941,  of  extorting  $1,000,000 
from  film  companies,  arrived  at  Fed- 
eral prison  here  today  to  begin  serving 
their  sentences.    Bioff  faces  ten  years 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  May  10,  1944 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


KRS  Agrees  to  Sell 
To  Granada  Again 


Personal 
Mention 

SPYROS  SKOURAS,  president  of 
20th  Century-Fox,  .is  expected  to 
return  to  New  York  from  London 
within  two  weeks. 

• 

Phil  Williams,  March  of  Time  ad- 
vertising director,  and  Mrs.  Williams 
have  become  the  parents  of  a  second 
girl,  born  yesterday  at  Lawrence  Hos- 
pital, Bronxville. 

• 

David  Ornstein  of  20th  Century- 
Fox's  home  office  sales  department,  re- 
cently became  the  father  of  a  son,  born 
to  Mrs.  Ornstein  at  the  Jewish  Hos- 
pital. 

• 

Henry  Linet,  Universal  assistant 
advertising  manager,  has  returned 
from  a  three  weeks'  business  trip  to 
eight  key  cities. 

• 

George  B.  West,  Indiana  and  Mis- 
souri Monogram  franchise  holder,  was 
in  Chicago  this  week  en  route  to 
Hollywood. 

• 

A.  J.  O'Keefe,  Universal  Western 
sales  manager,  has  returned  from  a 
trip  through  the  Midwest  territory. 

Ted  Meyers,  Universal  Chicago 
salesman,  is  vacationing  for  two  weeks 
at  Martinsville,  Ind. 

Carl  E.  Mhxiken,  MPPDA  execu- 
tive, returned  to  New  York  last  night 
from  W ashington. 

• 

Max  Brodsky,  Universal-  Chicago 
salesman,  is  vacationing  for  two  weeks 
at  Hot  Springs. 

• 

Budd  Rogers  and  Charles  R.  Rog- 
ers will  return  to  New  York  today 
from  Boston. 

• 

George  Hirliman,  president  of  Film 
Classics,  is  due  back  today  from  At- 
lanta. 

• 

Al  Kent,  Universal  Chicago  sales- 
man, has  returned  from  a  Miami  vaca- 
tion. 

• 

Edward  Finney,  producer,   is  en 
route  to  New  York  from  Hollywood. 
• 

James  Cagney  is  scheduled  to  ar- 
rive in  Hollywood  today. 


Bernhard  Will  Meet 
Norman  Davis  Today 

Joseph  Bernhard,  general  manager 
of  Warner  Theatres.,  will  go  to  Phila- 
delphia today  for  a  meeting  with  local 
zone  executives  of  the  circuit,  and 
also  to  meet  with  Norman  Davis,  na- 
tional chairman  of  the  American  Red 
Cross,  for  conferences  in  connection 
with  the  recent  Red  Cross  Drive,  for 
which  Bernhard  was  national  film  in- 
dustry chairman. 

Harry  Goldberg,  director  of  adver- 
tising and  publicity  for  Warner  The- 
atres and  campaign  manager  in  the 
Red  Cross  Drive,  will  accompany 
Bernhard. 


Hollywood,  May  9 
'TpHE  Motion  Picture  Alliance 
for  the  Preservation  of 
American  Ideals  is  taking  off 
on  a  platform  designed  to  meet 
what  it  describes  as  "the  grow- 
ing impression  that  this  indus- 
try is  made  up,  and  dominated 
by,  Communists,  radicals  and 
crackpots."  It  has  never  brok- 
en this  down  in  terms  of  where 
the  impression  originated  and 
how  it  has  grown. 

The  Screen  Writers  Guild  is 
taking  off,  too.  Its  board  met 
subsequently  to  discuss  plans 
for  an  industry-wide  meeting 
to  consider  aims  and  intents  of 
the  Alliance  as  well  as  to  sug- 
gest a  program  for  an  industry- 
wide public  relations  setup. 
Earlier,  it  is  in  the  record, 
SWG  membership  refused  to 
adopt  a  resolution  calling  for  a 
meeting  with  the  Alliance  to  dis- 
cuss the  latter's  agenda. 

Thus,  two  steps. 

■ 

Third  was  a  trailing  Alliance 
meeting  at  which  SWG's  inter- 
est in  the  former's  purposes  was 
labeled  part  of  a  "smear"  cam- 
paign of  Communist  elements 
within  SWG  and  the  Holly- - 
wood  Writers  Mobilization. 

Fourth,  and  latest,  was  an 
SWG  meeting  which  touched 
on  the  Alliance  but  concentrated 
largely  on  formulation  of  a  plan 
to  defend  the  whole  industry 
against  "unwarranted,  unprin- 
cipled and  vicious  attacks  with- 
out support  of  evidence  of 
facts."  The  background  was 
sufficiently  embracing  to  include 
Martin  Dies  and  his  Liberty 
magazine  articles  of  1940  to  the 
Senatorial  investigation  in 
Washington  and  now  the  Alli- 
ance. 

The  specific  upshot  was  pas- 
sage of  a  resolution  by  represen- 
tatives of  38  guilds,  unions  and 
organizations,  each  of  which 
sent  a  two-man  delegation  to 
learn  what  gives.  Lacking  was 
representation  from  the  Motion 
Picture  Producers'  Association 
and  the  Society  of  Independent 
Motion  Picture  Producers. 
Crux  of  the  resolution  falls 
within  these  quotes :  "Be  it 
finally  resolved  that  we  seek  to 
organize  the  widest  possible  in- 
dustry unity  to  publicize  the 
constructive  achievements  of 
the  motion  picture  industry." 

Committees  have  matters  in 
hand  and  will  report  back  in 
due  order. 

■ 

Self-evident,  and  early,  in  all 


of  this  is  the  opposition  motif  al- 
ready established  between  the 
SWG  and  the  Alliance.  Some 
groups  are  officially  lined  with 
the  one  side.  Other  groups,  no 
doubt,  will  ally  themselves  with 
the  other.  The  unions,  as  a  case 
in  point,  already  are  in  a  split 
formation.  Each  camp  is  very 
evidently  scornful,  disdainful 
and  suspicious  of  its  opponent. 
Now. 

By  its  own  lights,  each  side 
is  dedicating  its  energies  toward 
taking  the  industry  "off  the 
spot"  and  depositing-  it  in  quiet- 
er waters.  How  much  battering 
from  each  of  its  champions  the 
business  itself  will  have  to  en- 
dure in  the  processes  is  not  yet 
in  sight,  but  the  prospect  is  not 
too  happy.  Therein,  precisely, 
is  the  danger  point.  Therein, 
precisely,  is  the  point  both  sides 
should  keep  well  in  mind. 

It  is  not  enough  for  the  doc- 
tors to  survive  and  the  patient 
to  succumb. 


Opposition  for  the  Academy 
awards. 

It  developed  at  the  Indepen- 
dent Motion  Picture  Producers 
Association  dinner  for  Joe  E. 
Brown.  Opposition,  but  not 
competition,  according  to  I.  E. 
Chadwick,  who  explains  the  new 
accolade  develops  because  the 
Academy  has  never  awarded  an 
"Oscar"  for  public  service. 

Brown,  therefore,  was  No.  1. 
His  "Oscar"  was  in  the  form  of 
a  plaque  setting  him  forth  as 
the  individual  who  has  done 
most  in  emphasizing  the  com- 
monweal aspects  of  Hollywood 
— ■  and  industry  —  activi- 
ties through  his  overseas  enter- 
tainment of  the  troops.  Next 
year,  someone  else.  And  so  on 
thereafter. 


Chadwick  says  the  plan  has 
been  simmering  for  quite  a 
time.  It  discovered  its  boiling 
point  when  he  learned  the  city 
of  Los  Angeles  aimed  increased 
license  fees  at  businesses  "lack- 
ing in  utter  respectability." 
Motion  pictures,  he  declares  he 
found,  were  grouped  generally 
with  pawn  shops  and  slot  ma- 
chines. To  dissipate  impres- 
sions of  this  character,  and  in 
Los  Angeles  of  all  the  nation's 
cities,  the  IMPPA  galvanized 
its  award  plan,  gave  it  to  Brown 
and  arranged  for  the  mayor  to 
be  present. 

Hopefully,  he  was  impressed. 
He  said  he  was. 


London,  May  9. — Acceding  to 
strong  pleadings  by  Cinematograph 
.Exhibitors'  Association  members,  the 
Kinematograph  Renters  Society  an- 
nounced at  a  joint  exhibitor-distribu- 
tor conciliation  committee  meeting ' 
here  today  that  in  behalf  of  industry 
amity,  Sidney  L.  Bernstein's  Granada 
theatres  would  be  removed  from  it^ 
"protective"  list  of  exhibitors.  ( 

The  Granada  has  up  till  now  beeY'; 
a  chief  stumbling  block  to  a  distribu- 
tor-exhibitor agreement,  with  seven 
distributors  flatly  refusing  to  do  busi- 
ness with  the  circuit  because  of  what 
they  allege  to  be  unfair  practices.  The 
agreement  does  not  necessarily  imply 
that  all  distributors  will  from  now  on 
offer  product  to  Granada,  but  the  en- 
tire trade  here  is  relieved  at  the  re- 
moval of  the  chief  obstacle  to  amicable 
relations.  It  is  felt  that  the  way  is 
now  paved  for  discussion  of  even  more 
gravely-contended  trade  subjects  such 
as  barring  clauses  and  conditional 
bookings. 

The  KRS  also  stated  that  it  is  now 
prepared  to  discuss  alternative  machin- 
ery to  the  "protective"  list  provided 
where  necessary,  the  protection  of  film 
rentals  is  insured. 


Coe  Pledges  Pictures 
'Free  of  Propaganda* 

Fidelity  in  postwar  film  production 
with  pictures  "free  of  propaganda  ex- 
cept as  they  inevitably  portray  a  suc- 
cessful form  of  democracy'  as  exempli-  / 
fied  in  the  United  States,"  is  being  d 
pledged  by  Charles  Francis  Coe  of  the  V 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Dis- 
tributors of  America  on  his  current 
public-industry  goodwill  tour,  which 
will  be  continued  with  an  appearance 
before  the  Kiwanis  Club  in  Denver 
today. 

Coe  has  been  stressing  the  achieve- 
ments of  the  industry  in  the  SO  years 
of  its  commercial  existence  and  de- 
scribing the  non-profit  contributions 
of  producers,  distributors  and  exhib- 
itors to  the  war  effort.  "We  have 
learned,"  he  points  out,  "the  extent  to 
which  this  visual-oral  medium  can 
condition  public  thinking,  and  so  wc 
believe  that  motion  pictures  can  give 
hope  and  encouragement  to  the 
peoples  of  occupied  lands." 

Some  500  luncheon  guests  heard  Coe 
in  Minneapolis,  600  in  Kansas  City, 
450  in  Dallas,  and  800  in  Oklahoma 
City.  The  tour  will  end  May  16  iii 
St.  Louis, .  where  the  Chamber  ot 
Commerce  and  Better  Films  Council 
will  sponsor  a  luncheon  at  the  Jeffer- 
son Hotel. 


Postpone  SLRB  Hearing 

Hearings  scheduled  to  be  held  yes- 
terday before  the  State  Labor  Rela- 
tions Board  on  the  petition  of  IATSF 
New  York  projectionists'  Local  Wp 
306  to  be  designated  collective  bar- 
gaining agent  for  100  projectionists 
in  the  35  Brooklyn  and  Queens  houses 
of  the  Century  Circuit  were  adjourne 
until  May  18  at  the  request  of  botV 
sides. 


 —  :  —  • 

MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundai 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York.' 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  j.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  New! 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Willian 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c; 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  10,  1944 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  9 

EDWARD  SMALL,  producer  of 
United  Artists'  "Up  in  Mabel's 
Room,"  has  jumped  the  film's  advertis- 
ing budget  from  $100,000  to  $200,000 
to  be  spent  in  newspapers,  as  the  result 
of  test  campaigns  throughout  the  coun- 
try. 

• 

David  O.  Selznick  announced  today 
that  Max  Steiner,  on  loan  from  War- 
ners, will  do  the  musical  score  for 
United  Artists'  "Since  You  Went 
Away."  , 

• 

Judith  Gibson  has  changed  her  name 
to  Teala  Loring,  to  avoid  confusion 
with  Julie  Gibson.  Both  are  Para- 
mount players. 

• 

RKO  has  purchased  "Who  Could 
Ask  for  More,"  an  original  musical, 
which  Jack  Gross  will  produce. 
• 

Republic  has  bought  "Down  Dixie 
Way,"  original  by  Charles  V.  Wil- 
liams. 


Court  Grants  Release 
Of 'Negro  Soldier' 

Federal  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe,  on 
application  of  Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney 
William  Lynch,  yesterday  vacated  a 
stay  granted  on  April  25  by  Federal 
Judge  Henry  W.  Goddard,  thus  per- 
mitting the  War  Activities  Committee 
to  release  immediately  the  War  De- 
partment film,  "The  Negro  Soldier." 

The  stay  had  been  granted  on  the 
petition  of  Negro  Marches  On,  Inc., 
which  claimed  that  the  War  Depart- 
ment film  was  based  on  a  theme  simi- 
lar to  one  the  company  used  in  pro- 
ducing "We've  Come  a  Long,  Long 
Way"  and  that  its  free  distribution 
would  constitute  an  act  of  unfair  com- 
petition by  the  Government  with  pri- 
vate industry. 

Both  films,  it  was  brought  out  at 
today's  hearing,  were  produced  with 
the  idea  of  increasing  the  morale  of  the 
Negro  race.  Affidavits  by  officials  of 
the  War  Department,  submitted  by 
Lynch,  stated  that  any  interference 
■  with  the  Department's  plan  to  dis- 
tribute its  film  would  seriously  inter- 
fere with  the  progress  of  the  war. 

A.  Allen  Saunders,  counsel  for  the 
plaintiff  company,  stated  that  if  the 
court  dismisses  his  complaint  he  will 
file  a  similar  action  against  the  War 
Department  in  the  Washington,  D.  C, 
Federal  Court. 


Review 


"A  Canterbury  Tale" 

{Eagle-Lion) 

London,  May  9 

T  ARTHUR  RANK'S  Eagle-Lion  emerged  with  another  strong  film 
•  here  today  in  Michael  Powell's  "A  Canterbury  Tale."  It  is  a  rend- 
ering into  the  modern  idiom  of  Chaucer's  classic  recital  of  pilgrims 
doing  penance  and  wandering  over  England's  oldest  road,  which  still 
stands  on  the  ridges  between  Winchester  and  Canterbury. 

Powell's  wartime  pilgrims  are  four  in  number.  They  are  Thomas 
Colpeper,  a  kindly,  middle-aged  Englishman,  a  lover  of  rural  things, 
yet  guilty  of  a  grievous  offense;  Peter  Gibbs,  a  sergeant  in  Britain's 
wartime  army,  in  peacetime  an  accomplished  musician  turned  theatre  or- 
ganist and  aspiring  to  nothing  else;  Bob  Johnson,  an  Oregon-born 
American  Army  sergeant,  making  an  unwilling  pilgrimage  to  Canter- 
bury because  his  grandmother  was  born  there,  and  Alison  Smith,  a  typi- 
cal London  shop  girl,  whose  fiance  has  been  killed  in  a  bombing  raid 
over  Germany. 

Each  in  his  individual  way  does  penance  and  receives  a  blessing  at 
England's  noblest  shrine..  There  is  a  warm  quality  throughout  the  pic- 
ture, plus  much  entertaining  laughter  and  at  times  it  becomes  earnest 
with  an  ennobling  sentiment  which  ranks  it  with  Britain's  best  to  date. 

Eric  Portman  as  Colpeper  must  inevitably  become  England's  top- 
ranking  star  by  virtue  of  his  fine  portrayal,  but  the  film's  greatest  per- 
formance is  reserved  for  John  Sweet,  an  American  Army  sergeant,  who 
in  civilian  life  is  a  Midwestern  teacher.  He  was  chosen  for  the  role 
by  chance  and  contributes  a  moving  and  enchanting  depiction  of  an  ordi- 
nary American  facing  for  the  first  time  the  loveliness  of  the  English 
countryside  and  proceeding  slowly  and  imperceptibly  to  an  understand- 
ing of  hitherto  inexplicable  facets  of  the  English  character  and  life. 
Sheila  Sim,  as  the  girl,  also  previously  unknown  to  filmgoers  here, 
delivers  another  fine  performance. 

Woven  through  the  film  is  a  slight  and  mystical  story  holding  the 
picture  together  but  the  main  effect  depends  principally  on  Powell's 
subtle  and  sly  unfolding  of  the  difficulties  inherent  in  an  understanding 
between  two  diverse  branches  of  the  English-speaking  peoples.  It  cul- 
minates in  a  superb  climax  with  troops  about  to  depart  for  abroad  at- 
tending a  service  in  Canterbury  Cathedral  where  the  ex-theatre  musi- 
cian finds  his  soul  and  thunders  out  Bach  on  the  organ. 

"Canterbury  Tale"  is  a  disturbing,  but  nevertheless  magnificent  film, 
which  will  have  an  inevitable  success  wherever  it  is  played.  Michael 
Powell  and  Emeric  Pressburger  were  responsible  for  production,  direc- 
tion and  script. 

Classification,  "G."    Release  date  not  set.  Peter  Burnup 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Fitzgerald's  Show  on 
Depression  Lauded 

Harold  J.  Fitzgerald,  president  of 
Fox  Wisconsin,  will  be  saluted  by 
Look  magazine  in  its  May  16  issue  for 
his  activities  on  behalf  of  the  recent 
"Don't  Buy  Another  Depression 
Week"  observed  in  Milwaukee.  He 
headed  a  local  committee  of  23  busi- 
ness, civic  and  organizational  leaders 
to  make  Milwaukeeans  inflation- 
fearful. 

Fitzgerald,  who  is  at  present  na- 
tional exhibitor  chairman  of  the  50th 
anniversary  of  commercial  motion  pic- 
tures, based  his  anti-depression  plan 
upon  the  tenets  of  showmanship  long 
practised  by  exhibitors. 


NLRB  Sets  May  18 
For  20th  Election 

Hollywood,  May  9.— The  National 
Labor  Relations  Board  has  ordered 
a  20th  Century-Fox  bargaining  elec 
tion  for  studio  office  employes  on  May 
18.  The  balloting,  affecting  500  work- 
ers, will  be  between  the  Screen  Of- 
fice Employes  Guild  of  the  AFL  and 
the  20th  Century-Fox  Office  Employes 
Guild  which,  the  former  claims,  has 
already  voted  affiliation  with  SOEG. 


Isaac  C.  Mishler  Dies; 
Was  Pioneer  Owner 

Altoona,  Pa.,  May  9. — Isaac  C. 
Mishler,  82,  leading  theatre  owner  and 
manager  here  from  1893  until  a  few 
years  ago,  died  yesterday  at  his  home 
in  the  Penn-Alto  Hotel.  A  native  of 
Lancaster,  Mishler  was  the  first  clerk 
employed  by  Frank  Woolworth  for 
his  five-and-ten-cent  store  there.  Com- 
ing to  Altoona  in  1891,  he  worked  for 
the  Pennsylvania  Railroad  before  be- 
gininng  his  theatrical  career. 


Rudolph  Miller  Dies 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  May  9. — Rudolph 
Miller,  head  of  the  Bausch  and  Lomb 
Optical  Co.'s  scientific  instrument  ad- 
vertising department  and  editor  of 
Educational  Focus,  trade  publication, 
died  here  last  night  at  the  age  of  58. 


Says  RTPB  Supports 
CBS  on  Television 

Refuting  the  idea  that  Columbia 
Broadcasting's  recent  proposal  for 
higher  television  standards  lacked  sup- 
port from  industry  engineers,  Paul  W. 
Kesten,  CBS  executive  vice  president, 
claimed  in  a  statement  released  here 
yesterday  that  one  of  the  few  motions 
passed  unanimously  by  television  com- 
mittee three  of  the  Radio  Technical 
Planning  Board  contained  recommen- 
dations almost  identical  with  his  com- 
pany's proposals. 

The  companies  represented  in  this 
unanimous  vote,  according  to  Kesten, 
included  RCA,  Philco,  General  Elec- 
tric, DuMont,  Zenith,  Farnsworth, 
Stromberg-Carlson  as  well  as  such 
television  broadcasters  as  NBC  and 
Howard  Hughes  Productions. 


Blimp  to  Be  Shown 

Arthur  W.  Kelly  of  Eagle-Lion 
Films,  will  sponsor  a  press  preview  of 
"The  Life  and  Death  of  Colonel 
Blimp"  tomorrow  at  3  P.  M.  at  Lloyds 
Projection  Room  here. 


Another  $536,918 
For  Paralysis 


A  check  for  $536,918,  representing 
the  industry's  last  March  of  Dimes' 
collections  in  theatres  in  New  York 
was  presented  yesterday  to  Basil 
O'Connor,  president  of  the  National 
Foundation  for  Infantile  Paralysis,  by 
Fred  Schwartz,  New  York  circuit  op- 
erator and  chairman  of  the  local  drive. 
The  presentation  was  made  in  the  of- 
fices here  of  Harry  Brandt,  nationa( 
industry  co-chairman  of  the  drive. 

Among  those  present  for  the  cere- 
monies, in  addition  to  those  mentioned 
above  were:  Charles  Moskowitz,  na- 
tional industry  co-chairman;  Oscar 
Doob,  national  publicity  chairman, 
and  the  New  York  exhibitor  commit- 
tee consisting  of  Sam  Rinzler,  Dave 
Weinstock,  Leo  Brecher,  Max  A. 
Cohen  and  Commissioner  D.  Walker 
Wear,  director  of  organization  for 
the  National  Foundation. 


RKO  to  Air  'Glory' 
Opening  on  22  Outlets 

Philadelphia,  May  9. — Arrange- 
ments were  completed  today  between 
Terry  Turner,  RKO  Radio  exploita- 
tion chief,  and  station  WCAU  here 
for  the  promotion  of  the  premiere  of 
the  company's  "Days  of  Glory"  over 
22  stations  in  Pennsylvania.  The  pic- 
ture, which  will  have  a  day-and-date 
premiere  in  50  cities  in  the  state  on 
June  8,  will  be  accorded  promotion 
similar  to  that  given  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  by  WLW, 
Cincinnati. 

WCAU  will  originate  four  half- 
hour  Sunday  broadcasts  starting  May 
14  and  continuing  to  June  4.  It  will 
also  carry  a  half-hour  dramatization 
of  the  film  on.  June  7.  WCAU  will 
also  produce  and  broadcast  a  series  of 
one-minute  spot  announcements  with 
five  and  15-minute  programs  of  music 
and  drama,  all  of  which  will  be  tran- 
scribed for  use  nationally. 


Ohio  ITO  Screens 
'Show  Business' 

Columbus,  May  9. — Following  the 
cust®m  of  selecting  one  picture  to  be 
screened  at  their  annual  banquet,  the 
Independent  Theatre  Owners  of  Ohio, 
assembled  here  in  convention,  chose 
RKO  Radio's  "Show  Business"  this 
year  and  adjourned  after  a  dinner  to- 
night to  the  RKO  Grand  to  see  the 
film,  simultaneous  with  its  world  pre- 
miere before  an  invitation  audience  at 
the  RKO  Palace  in  New  York. 


'Show  Business'  Opens 

Wacs,  Waves,  Spars,  Marines  and 
Army  and  Navy  nurses  were  guests 
of  Eddie  Cantor  at  the  invitation 
world  premiere  of  RKO's  "Show  Busi- 
ness" at  the  RKO  Palace,  last  night, 
with  stars  of  screen,  stage  and  radio 
and  film  executives  also  attending. 


Ed  Fisher  Reappointed 

Cleveland,  May  9. — Ed  Fisher, 
publicity  director  for  Loew  Theatres 
here,  has  been  re-appointed  public  re- 
lations chairman  for  the  local  War 
Activities  Committee. 


Youngstein  With  20th 

M.  E.  Youngstein  has  joined  the 
20th  Century-Fox  home  office  publicity 
staff  to  handle  special  assignments. 
Youngstein  was  recently  business  man- 
ager for  Richard  Condon,  Inc.,  pub- 
licists. 


Kodak  Gives  $225,000 

Rochester,  May  9.  —  Eastman 
Kodak  today  contributed  $225,000  to 
the  Rochester  community  and  war 
chest  funds. 


yourXivilian  Miniature"*;*/*^!  in  Uniform 


WHEN  production  of  cameras  for 
you  stopped  short,  Kodak  35 
— owned  by  numbers  of  America's 
miniature  camera  enthusiasts — won 
a  preferred  rating.  Production  of  the 
35  ctin  uniform"  sped  ahead,  on 
Government  order. 

The  reason  being  that  the  Army 
.  .  .  Navy  .  .  .  Air  Forces  .  .  .  and 
Marines  . . .  needed  a  camera  which 
does  precisely  what  you,  in  civilian 
life,  want  your  camera  to  do. 

From  trim  black  and  silver  finish 
into  non-reflecting  black  and  olive 
drab— that  was  the  only  change  in 
the  35. 


Kodak  35,  making  pictures  in 
either  black-and-white  or  Koda- 
chrome,  offers  more  "picture  ca- 
pacity" than  the  average  person 
usually  needs.  Yet  it's  simple  to 
operate — not  too  much  of  a  hand- 
ful for  a  man  who's  excited  .  .  . 
under  fire.  And  it  is  dependable — 
can  take  some  banging  around,  and 
still  get  the  pictures. 

Kodak  35  is  the  heart  of  the  Pho- 
tographic Field  Kit  designed  and 
made  by  Kodak  for  the  U.S.  Signal 
Corps,  which  is  responsible  for 
Army  photography  in  ground  oper- 


ations. A  complete  photographic 

laboratory  in  a  "suitcase." 

If  you  are  not  one  of  those  who 

own  this  smart  little  Miniature,  you 

can  look  forward  to  that  as  an  "after 

the  war"  experience. 

EASTMAN  KODAK  COMPANY 
ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 


REMEMBER  LIEUTENANT  ALEXANDER 
R.  NININGER,  JR.  .  .  .  first  man  awarded  the 
Congressional  Medal  in  this  war?— how  on 
Bataan.he  was  three  times  wounded— but  fought 
his  way  into  the  enemy  positions  again  and 
again,  wiping  out  whole  groups  single-handed? 
—  how  after  the  battle  they  found  him  dead  .  . . 
surrounded  by  dead  Japs?  A  stern  example  for 
the  rest  of  us.  BUY  MORE  WAR  BONDS. 


Serving  human  progress  through  photography 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  10,  1944 


Agnew  Cites 

Vanguard-UA 

Collaboration 


{Continued  from  page   1 ) 

widespread  conjecture  in  the  industry 
notwithstanding,  do  not  and  will  not 
conflict  in  any  way  with  the  United 
Artists  sales  and  distribution  organi- 
zation. The  most  it  can  do,  he  said, 
is  augment  that  organization's  work. 

Expressing  his  concern  over  the 
possible  effects  of  rumors  that  have 
gained  circulation  within  the  indus- 
try since  his  association  with  Van- 
guard, Agnew  reminded  that  Selznick 
is  a  one-third  owner  of  United  Art- 
ists and  "certainly  is  not  going  to 
work  against  himself."  He  added  that 
he  and  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  United 
Artists  vice-president  and  distribution 
chief,  "are  old  friends  and  intend  to 
work  together  as  such." 

Agnew  explained  his  aim  of 
"streamlining"  his  functions  as  pro- 
ducer's representative  in  referring  to 
shortcomings  which  he  observed  in 
the  system  when  such  representatives 
were  associated  with  Paramount  in 
the  past.  He  believes  it  to  be  es- 
sential to  have  producer's  represen- 
tatives in  a  position  to  collaborate 
with  a  sales  organization  in  the  field. 
Some  one  in  authority,  he  said,  will 
be  on  hand  to  make  decisions  as  oc- 
casions arise,  thus  eliminating  the 
necessity  of  waiting  for  contracts  to 
be  received  in  New  York. 

Will  Require  Assistance 

In  this  connection,  Agnew  said  that 
he  would  require  assistance  and  felt 
that  his  ideal  setup  would  be  to  have 
a  qualified  aide  in  charge  of  the  East, 
another  for  the  Midwest,  and  a  third 
for  the  Far  West.  Hugh  Owen  of 
Paramount  will  join  Agnew  in  such 
a  capacity  about  June  1.  Agnew  said 
he  has  done  nothing  yet  about  filling 
in  the  remainder  of  his  staff,  but 
probably  will  in  the  near  future.  He 
said  that  in  supervising  Selznick's  in- 
ternational distribution,  he  will  be  un- 
able to  devote  all  of  his  time  to  the 
domestic  scene,  and  thus  it  would  be 
more  important  that  he  have  the  as- 
sistance described. 

"The  whole  idea,"  he  said,  "is  to 
facilitate  United  Artists'  work  on 
Selznick's  pictures,  not  to  interfere 
with  that  work  or  to  disturb  the  or- 
ganization or  its  functions  in  any 
way.  My  men  and  I,"  he  added, 
"will  work  closely  with  United  Art- 
ists." 

Agnew  paid  a  tribute  to  the  United 
Artists  sales  force,  observing  that 
"they  do  a  mighty  fine  job  when 
there  is  one  to  be  done." 


Variety  to  Honor  Anger 

Washington,  May  9.  —  The  local 
Variety  Club  will  hold  a  reception  in 
honor  of  Harry  Anger,  managing  di- 
rector of  Warners'  Earle  here  follow- 
ing the  presentation  of  the  Catholic 
University  "Americana"  Award  which 
Anger  will  receive  May  29. 


Tradeshow  'Goyescas' 

"Goyescas,"  Spanish-made  musical 
which  will  be  distributed  in  the  West- 
ern hemisphere  by  RKO-Radio,  will 
be  trade  screened  in  New  York,  Los 
Angeles,  and  San  Francisco  on  Mon- 
day, May  15. 


Proposes  Peacetime 
Entertainment  Units 


With  a  view  to  the  immediate  post- 
war period,  when  large  numbers  of  the 
armed  forces  are  expected  to  be  re- 
turned to  hospitals  and  convalescent 
institutions  here,  Ginny  Simms,  M- 
G-M  star  and  radio  entertainer,  pro- 
poses a  program  to  keep  entertainment 
units  circulating  in  military  hospitals 
throughout  the  country  after  the  con- 
flict has  ended. 

At  a  press  interview  yesterday  at 
the  Waldorf-Astoria,  Miss  Simms  ex- 
plained that  the  project  would  not  be 
affiliated  with  the  USO  or  the  Holly- 
wood Victory  Committee  but  would 
be  carried  out  as  a  civic  enterprise  in 
each  city  having  a  veterans'  hospital. 
Miss  Simms,  said  to  be  backed  by  Mrs. 
Roosevelt,  with  the  anticipated  sup- 
port of  Brig.  Gen.  Frank  Hines,  head 
of  the  Veterans'  Administration,  plans 
to  enlist  the  aid  of  mayors  and  civic 
groups  throughout  the  country.  The 
plan  calls  for  the  using  of  "local"  tal- 
ent, including  school  and  civic  groups, 
as  well  as  professional  'entertainers 
playing  local  theatre  engagements  or 
night  clubs. 

Miss  Simms  will  leave  for  Holly- 
wood on  May  19. 

Graham  Says  U.  S. 
Films  High  in  Spain 

Because  of  "difficulty  in  passing  cen- 
sors," war  pictures  are  practically  non- 
existent in  Spain,  according  to  Rob- 
ert Graham,  manager  for  Paramount 
in  Mexico  City,  who  arrived  here  yes- 
terday aboard  a  Pan-American  Air- 
ways clipper. 

Graham,  who  has  been  in  Spain  for 
two  months,  said  the  picture  business 
there  was  very  good  and  that  Ameri- 
can films  were  particularly  popular. 


'Wac  Week'  Under 
Way  Here  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
chairman,  who  will  present  the  Wac 
candidates.  The  ceremonies  will  be 
preceded  by  a  breakfast  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  at  which  Moskowitz  will  be 
host  to  Wac  officers  and  stars  of 
screen,  stage  and  radio. 

Leo  Brecher,  New  York  exhibitor 
long  affiliated  with  War  Activities 
Committee  projects  in  the  Metropoli- 
tan area,  has  joined  the  WAC  execu- 
tive staff  on  a  full-time  volunteer  basis, 
according  to  S.  H.  Fabian,  theatres' 
division  chairman.  Brecher's  duties 
will  be  in  connection  with  exhibitor 
Wac  activities. 


Reade  Ends  Partnerships 

Walter  Reade  Theatres,  which  op- 
erates, in  partnership  with  local  ex- 
hibitors, 26  houses  in  New  York  and 
New  Jersey,  will  assume  sole  manage- 
ment on  June  1  of  partnership  theatres 
in  Kingston,  N.  Y.,  and  in  Plainfield, 
Freehold  and  Perth-  Amboy,  N.  J., 
Walter  Reade  president,  stated  here 
yesterday. 


Call  in  'Targef  Prints 

All  prints  of  "Target  for  Tonight," 
British  Ministry  of  Information  48- 
minute  documentary  released  in  this 
country  through  Warner  Bros.,  in  Oc- 
tober, 1941,  have  been  called  in  by  the 
distributor. 


Vanguard,  Too,  Is 
House-Hunting 

Threatening  to  outgrow  its 
present  Madison  Avenue  quar- 
ters in  the  near  future,  David 
O.  Selznick's  Vanguard  Films 
is  toying  with  the  idea  of  pur- 
chasing one  or  another  of  the 
nearby  private  residences  in 
the  East  Fifties  which  are  on 
the  market,  remodel  it  to  its 
own  taste  and  name  it  "Van- 
guard House." 

If  the  idea  fails  to  jell,  Van- 
guard probably  will  locate  in 
Radio  City. 


WAC  Adds  to  List  of 
May  Film  Releases 

An  additional  war  information  film 
and  bulletin  has  been  added  to  the  May 
release  schedule  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee,  Herman  Gluckman,  assist- 
ant distributor  chairman  of  the  WAC, 
has  announced. 

The  revised  schedule  of  WAC  films 
now  reads  as  follows : 

On  Thursday,  Paramount  will  re- 
lease "Skirmish  On  the  Home  Front," 
the  economic  stabilization  film  starring 
Alan  Ladd,  Betty  Hutton,  Susan  Hay- 
ward,  and  William  Bendix. 

On  May  25th,  Vanguard's,  U.  S. 
Cadet  Nurse  Corps'  film,  "Reward 
Unlimited,"  will  be  released  at  the  re- 
quest of  the  U.  S.  Public  Health  Ser- 
vice. The  short,  starring  Dorothy 
McGuire,  Aline  MacMahon,  and  James 
Brown,  will  be  distributed  by  M-G-M 
in  all  cities  except  Albany,  Des 
Moines,  Memphis,  Oklahoma  City,  and 
Portland,  where  it  will  be  released 
through  United  Artist  exchanges. 

Three  "film  bulletins"  will  also  be 
issued  during  the  coming  month :  on 
the  18th,  a  short  stressing  the  impor- 
tance of  Victory  Gardens  ;  and  on  May 
25  and  June  1,  two  Treasury  Depart- 
ment bulletins  pertaining  to  the  com- 
ing Fifth  War  Loan. 

Thus  far,  the  only  War  Information 
film  for  June  is  the  War  Department's 
"Movies  at  War,"  pencilled  in  for 
June  8. 

AFL  Delays  Drive 
To  Sign  Managers 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

endeavor  to  secure  an  AFL  charter 
for  the  theatre  managers,  it  was  said. 

A  meeting  of  Balaban  and  Katz 
managers  has  been  scheduled  for  this 
Thursday  at  the  Drake  Hotel  here  by 
executives  of  the  circuit,  and  union 
officials  believe  that  the  organization 
of  theatre  managers  will  be  dis- 
cussed at  that  time.  No  B.  &  K. 
managers  have  been  approached  offi- 
cially by  the  organizers  as  yet,  accord- 
ing to  an  AFL  spokesman. 


Ackerman  to  Build 

San  Francisco,  May  9.  —  Irving 
C.  Ackerman,  veteran  Western  theatre 
operator,  has  leased  the  Southwest 
corner  of  the  Fairmont  Hotel  here 
where  he  will  establish  a  300-seat 
theatre  to  operate  on  a  single-feature 
policy.  The  house  will  be  called  Nob 
Hill. 


'Teen  Age'  at  Victoria 

"Teen  Age,"  released  by  Film  Clas- 
sics, will  have  its  premiere  at  the 
Victoria  Theatre,  Broadway,  following 
the  current  run  of  Paramount's  "The 
Break  of  the  Dawn." 


Republic's  Final 
Sales  Meet  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

new  records  set  by  the  company  in 
distribution,  production  and  promo- 
tion. As  announced  at  the  recent 
Chicago  meeting,  the  company's  sales 
increases  for  the  first  16  weeks  of 
1944  is  greater  than  for  any  period 
in  its  history ;  and  company  policies 
for  future  production  have  been  in^ 
fluenced  by  this  increase,  with  $17,^ 
750,000  allocated  to  the  1944-45  pro- 
duction program,  and  $2,700,000 
budgeted  for  advertising  and  publicity. 

Promotion  plans  for  "Man  From 
Frisco,"  which  will  have  a  tri-city 
world  premiere  in  San  Francisco, 
Oakland  and  Richmond,  Cal.,  on  May 
"18,  will  be  outlined,  likewise  details 
of  the  campaigns  for  "Storm  Over 
Lisbon"  and  "The  Yellow  Rose  of 
Texas,"  next  Roy  Rogers  Premiere 
production.  Coming  releases  to  be 
discussed  include  "Atlantic  City." 

Branch  Managers  Attending 

Branch  managers  who  will  be  pres- 
ent include :  Jack  Bellman,  Buffalo  ; 
Sam  Gorrel,  Cleveland ;  George  Kir- 
by,  Cincinnati ;  I.  M.  Pollard,  De- 
troit ;  L.  W.  Marriott,  Indianapolis ; 
Sidney  Lehman,  Pittsburgh ;  Arthur 
Newman,  Albany ;  Jack  Davis,  Bos- 
ton ;  Jerome  Lewis,  New  Haven ; 
Sam  Seletsky,  New  York ;  Joseph 
Engel,  Philadelphia,  and  franchise 
holder  Jake  Flax,  Washington.  The 
home  office  will  be  represented  by 
Walter  L.  Titus,  Jr.,  William  Saal, 
Morris  Goodman,  Seymour  Borus, 
Edward  Seifert,  G.  C.  Schaefer,  Al- 
bert Schiller,  Charles  Reed  Jones  and 
Steve  Edwards. 

Name  Committees  for 
Golf  Tournament 

The  complete  alignment  of  commit- 
tees for  RKO's  annual  golf  tourna- 
ment next  Tuesday  at  the  Westches- 
ter Country  Club  was  announced  yes- 
terday, as  follows : 

Tournament  committee :  N.  Peter 
Rathvon,  Ned  E.  Depinet,  Malcolm 
Kingsberg,  Major  L.  E.  Thompson, 
Robert  Mochrie,  Garret  Van  Wagner, 
Sen.  J.  Henry  Walters,  Phil  Reisman ; 
prize  award  committee :  Depinet,  Wal- 
ters, John  A.  Farmer,  Harry  Pimstein, 
R.  S.  Gavin ;  publicity  committee :  S. 
Barret  McCormick,  Harry  Mandel, 
Rutgers  Neilson,  Arthur  M.  Brilant, 
Jack  Level,  John  Cassidy;  working 
committee :  Arthur  White,  Herbert 
Mayes,  Frank  Angotti,  Al  Tuchman, 
Charles  Fetz,  John  Jones,  Jack  Car- 
ney, Sol  Spiller,  Wally  Stickerling ; 
ticket  committee :  Farmer,  Dick  Gavin. 


Billy  Bitzer  Buried 

Numerous  industry  co-workers  of 
the  late  G.  W.  (Billy)  Bitzer,  pioneer 
film  cameraman  who  died  in  Holly- 
wood April  29,  attended  funeral  ser- 
vices held  yesterday  in  Columbus 
Circle  Chapel  here.  Interment  fol- 
lowed in  Cedar  Grove  Cemetery.  A 
service  was  also  held  last  Thursday 
in  Hollywood. 


Releasing  British  Film 

"They  Met  in  the  Dark,"  British 
film  produced  by  Marcel  Hellman  and 
starring  James  Mason,  Joyce  Howard 
and  Tom  Walls,  has  been  acquired  for 
distribution  in  the  United  States  by 
English  Films,  Inc. 


Wednesday,  May  10,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


7 


'HargroveV$23,000 
Leads  in  Cleveland 


Cleveland,  May  9. — "See  Here, 
Private  Hargrove,"  with  $23,000,  led 
here  this  week.  The  second  week  of 
"Bernadette,"  at  advanced  prices,  took 
$13,000  at  the  Allen.  All  downtown 
business,  played  to  good  weekend  at- 
tendance. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  10 : 

.  '!  hi    Song  of  Bernadette"  (28th-Fox) 

V    ALLEN — (3,000)    (76c-$1.10)    7   days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $13,000.    (Average:  $8,500). 
"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

WARNERS'    HIPPODROME   —  (3,500) 
(76c-$1.10)  7  days.   Gross:  $20,000.  (Aver- 
age: $22,100). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 

LOEWS  OHIO— (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,500.     (Average:  $5,000). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7 
days.      Stage:    Sonny    Dunham  orchestra 
with  Rufe  Davis,  Anne  Rooney  &  vaude- 
ville.    Gross:  $23,500.     (Average:  $25,400). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S     STAT&-(3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $23,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  S  TILLMAN — (1,900)  (43c-6Sc) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Av- 
erage: $10,000). 


'Harvest  Moon'  Gets 
A  Heavy  $26,000 


St.  Louis,  May  9. — "Shine  On, 
Harvest  Moon"  at  the  Fox  Theatre  is 
headed  for  $26,000  to  lead  here.  "The 
Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  at  roac 
show  prices  at  the  Ambassador  looks 
like  $24,000.    Business  generally  is  up 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  10  : 

"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)      (75c-$1.10)  7 
days.    Gross:  $24,000.    (Average:  $15,700). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE — (3,162)  (40c-5Oc-60c- 
65c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Av- 
erage: $18,900). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

FOX— (5,038)       (40c-50c-60c)       8  days. 
Gross:    $26,000.      (Average:  $18,700). 
"The  Heat's  On"  (Col.) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M-BMI) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$7,100). 

"Snow     White    and    the    Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO-Disney) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $9,500.  (Average:  $9,900). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (2<tth-Fox) 

SHUBERT— (1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 
"The    Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 

ST.  LOUIS— (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $5,200). 


Mexico,  Soviet  to  Trade 

Mexico  City,  May  9. — Arrange- 
ments for  an  interchange  of  Mexican 
and  Russian  pictures  are  seen  as  a  re- 
sult of  the  visit  here  by  Andrey  Bol- 
tiansky,  Soviet  film  representative.  He 
is  visiting  studios  and  conferring  with 
producers,  distributors  and  govern- 
ment officials. 


Greenville  Shows  Curbed 

Greenville,  Miss.,  May  9. — The 
City  Council  here  has  invoked  an  or- 
dinance prohibiting  film  shows,  along 
with  other  types  of  amusement,  be- 
tween midnight  and  six  A.M.  The 
action  was  taken  to  help  curb  juvenile 
delinquency. 


'Twain'  Heads 
For  $24,000 
In  Phila.  Run 


Philadelphia,  May  9. — The  week 
got  off  to  a  big  start  in  downtown 
houses  with  an  advanced  showing  of 
"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  at  in- 
creased prices  for  one  week  at  the 
Boyd  Theatre  expecting  to  gross 
$24,000.  "Follow  the  Boys,"  open- 
ing at  the  Mastbaom  Theatre,  points 
to  a  neat  $33,000.' 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  10-12: 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

ALDINE— (900)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $11,500.  (Aver- 
age: $14,600). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

ARCADIA — (600)  (40e-45c-50c-65te-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,800.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"The   Adventures  of   Mark   Twain"  (WB) 

BOYD—  (3,000)     (35c-40c-50c-85c-$1.10)  7 
days.     Gross:  $24,000.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO)   (S  days)  $17,- 
5TO 

"Four  Jills  im  a  Jeep"  (ZOth-Fox)  (1  day) 
$3  2fl0 

EARLE— (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including  Mai  Hallett's  or- 
chestra, Dorea  Vincent,  Dick  Taylor,  Phil 
Regan,  Canada  Lee,  Jean  Carroll  and  Ben 
Rochelle  &  Jane  Beebe.  Gross:  $17,500. 
(Average:  $27,800). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (2flth-Fox) 

FOX— (3,000)     (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $21,000.    (Average:  $20,500). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Av- 
erage: $6,600). 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $5,700.  (Average: 
$5,800). 

"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

MASTBAUM  —  (4,700)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c- 
75c-85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $33,000.  (Average: 
$22,500). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY—  (3,000)  (4Oc-45c-50c-'65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $24,500.  (Av- 
erage: $20,000). 
"Frisco  Kid"  (WB) 

STANTON— (1,700)  (40c-45c-5Oc-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  week,  reissue.  Gross:  $9,- 
800.     (Average:  $9,400). 

'Jane  Eyre'  Bids  for 
$18400  in  Buffalo 

Buffalo,  May  9. — "Jane  Eyre"  is 
bidding  for  the  lead  here  at  the  Great 
Lakes  Theatre  with  an  expected  $18,- 
400.  Summerlike  weather  held  grosses 
down  elsewhere.  "The  Adventures 
of  Mark  Twain"  was  disappointing  at 
the  Century,  even  at  advanced  prices, 
getting  only  $12,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  13 : 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)      (40c -50c- 60c -70c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $17,000.     (Average:  $17,400). 
"Jane   Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

GREAT  LAKES—  (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $18,400.  (Average:  $16,600). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

HIPPODROM  E—  (2, 1 00)  (40c  -  50c  -  60c  -  70c ) 
7  days,  2nd  week  moveover.  Gross:  $10,300. 
(Average:  $9,700). 

"The  Adventures  of   Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

TWENTIETH    CENTURY— (3,000)  (76c- 
$1.10)   7   days.     Gross:   $12,000.  (Average, 
at  40c-50c-60c-70c:  $12,200'). 
"AH  Babr>,  and'  the  Forty  Thieves"  (Univ.) 
"She's  For  Me"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $12,400). 


Osio  Heads  Exhibitors 

Mexico  City,  May  9.  —  Antonio 
de  G.  Osio  has  succeeded  Emilio  Az- 
carraga,  one  of  Mexico's  leading  ex- 
hibitors and  radio  station  operators,  as 
president  of  the  Association  of  Mexi- 
can Motion  Picture  Theatre  Opera- 
tors. Azcarraga  resigned  to  turn  full 
attention  to  his  own  affairs. 


AFTER  SCORING  SENSATIONALLY  AS 
ONE  OF  FOUR  SINGING  SI.STERS 

I  N    AND  THE  ANGELS  SING, 

BETTY  HUTT0N  WILL  BE  TWI NS 
I N  "HERE  COME  THE  WAVES"! 
SHE'LL  -BE  BOTH  A  BLOND  AND  A 
REDHEAD   IN  DUAL  SISTER  ROLE  IN 
THIS  MARK  SANDRICH  MUSICAL, 
WHICH  GOES  BEFORE  CAMERAS  JUST 
AS  "ANGELS"   IS  ABOUT  TO  COME  TO 
THE  SCREEN  WITH  D0TTIE  LAM0UR 
AND  FRED  MAC  MURRAY  AS  CO-STARS. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  10,  1944 


Larry  Kent  to 
Head  G-B 
Theatre  Setup 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

and  would  follow,  the  broad  produc- 
tion, distribution  and  M  &  B  financial 
negotiations  of  Rank  and  Skouras, 
which  are  now  nearing  consummation. 
The  post  would  involve  Kent's  pres- 
ence here  on  a  permanent  basis, 
probably  beginning  some  time  next 
Fall.  It  is  in  line  with  the  mutual 
desire  of  Rank  and  Skouras  to  pro- 
vide improved  management  for  G-B, 
which,  despite  vastly  increased  theatre 
attendance  under  wartime  conditions, 
has  not  shown  earnings  commensur- 
ate with  its  full  possibilities  for  some 
time,  with  the  result  that  dividends 
payable  to  the  parent  company,  M  & 
B,  have  been  disappointing,  accord- 
ing to  observers. 

Two-Thirds  to  Rank 

It  is  this  fact,  it  is  believed  here, 
which  influenced  Loew's  to  agree  to 
the  sale  of  its  24j4  per  cent  interest  in 
M  &  B  to  Rank  and  20th-Fox.  Two- 
thirds  of  Loew's  holdings  will  go  to 
Rank  and  the  other  third  to  20th- 
Fox,  which  also  holds  a  24 1/2  per 
cent  M  &  B  interest  now.  This,  ob- 
viously, will  increase  the  British  own- 
ership of  G-B  beyond  its  status  here- 
tofore, and  that  fact  is  recognized 
here  as  ample  reason  for  expecting 
approval  of  the  deal  by  the  British 
Treasury,  which  has  been  interested 
primarily  in  seeing  to  it  that  "for- 
eign" influence  in  the  British  theatre 
company  is  not  expanded. 

Skouras  is  expected  to  obtain  his 
exit  visa  in  the  near  future  and  re- 
turn to  New  York. 


Larry  Kent,  who  returned  to  New 
York  from  London-  last  weekend,  de- 
clined to  comment  yesterday  on  the 
London  report  that  he  would  become 
managing  director  of  Gaumont-British 
Theatres. 

"Mr.  Skouras  will  have  a  complete 
statement  to  make  on  his  return  from 
London,"  Kent  said.  "I  cannot  com- 
ment on  any  phase  of  the  negotiations 
while  they  are  still  in  progress." 


Warns  on  Use  of 
Dangerous  Gas 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

atres  will  be  checked  by  inspectors 
and  samples  of  contents  of  pipes  or 
reserve  chemicals  will  be  subjected  to 
laboratory  analysis,  if  deemed  neces- 
sary as  a  safeguard  against  patrons' 
injuries  or  deaths  to  patrons  or  em- 
ployes from  toxic,  explosive  or  inflam- 
mable refrigerants. 


Browne,  Bioff  Begin 
Serving  Sentences 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

and  Browne  eight  years  for  the  ex- 
tortions committed  while  IATSE  of- 
ficers. 

The  two  men  were  under  heavy 
guard  all  the  way  from  Hoboken,  N. 
J.,  where  they  were  removed  from  a 
Federal  detention  "pen"  last  Sunday. 
Elaborate  precautions  were  taken  en 
route  to  protect  them  from  possible 
reprisals  from  gangsters  against  whom 
they  testified  in  investigations  since 
their  conviction. 


A  CME  Telephoto  from  Washington 


Washington,  May  9.— Lt.  Gen.  A.  A.  Vandergrift,  Commandant, 
U.  S.  Marine  Corps,  addressing  the  industry's  "Honored  100"  of 
the  Fourth  War  Loan  at  a  luncheon  in  their  honor  in  the  Hotel 
Statler  here  today.  Seated  at  the  speakers'  table,  left  to  right,  are 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  national  industry  chairman  for  the  drive;  Ted 
R.  Gamble,  chairman  of  the  War  Finance  Division  of  the  U.  S. 
Treasury,  and  F.  H.  Ricketson,  Jr.,  national  drive  vice-chairman. 


Government,  Industry  in 
Tribute  to  'Honored  100' 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tors  Walter  George  of  Georgia,  Rob- 
ert LaFollette  of  Wisconsin  and  Mac- 
Farland  of  Arizona,  and  Ted  R.  Gam- 
ble, national  director,  War  Finance 
Division,  U.-  S.  Treasury. 

About  80  per  cent  of  the  winners  of 
the  "Honored  100"  hail  from  smaller 
towns  and  cities  of  the  country.  Due 
to  war  exigencies  in  travel,  Adam 
James  Gomez  of  the  Queen  Theatre, 
Honolulu,  the  winner  in  Hawaii,  was 
not  present,  but  the  campaign  com- 
mittee is  planning  to  present  him  with 
a  special  award  in  lieu  of  the  trip 

Skouras  Welcomes  "100" 

Today's  sessions  opened  at  10  A.M. 
in  the  Hotel  Statler,  where  Skouras 
welcomed  the  "Honored  100"  and 
other  members  of  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  campaign  committee,  and  Gam- 
ble paid  tribute  to  the  winners.  As- 
sociated with  Skouras  and  Gamble  in 
this  phase  of  the  observance  were  F. 
H.  Ricketson,  Jr.,  who  presided,  and 
who  was  national  campaign  director 
of  the  drive ;  B.  V.  Sturdivant,  nation- 
al campaign  director ;  Robert  J. 
O'Donnell,  chairman  of  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  industry  campaign ;  Ned  E.  De- 
pinet,  national  distributor  chairman ; 
Si  Fabian,  chairman  of  the  WAC 
theatres  division,  and  Major  Alan 
Martini,  American  air  hero. 

On  the  dais  at  the  morning  session 
were,  in  addition  to  the  above :  John 
Friedl,  R.  M.  Kennedy,  Leon  Bam- 
berger, Jay  Emanuel,  Ray  Beall, 
Claude  Lee,  Fred  Stein  and  Sam 
Shain. 

The  ceremonies  were  opened  with 
an  invocation  by  Army  Chaplain  Lt. 
Col.  Daniel  J.  Wylie.  Immediately 
following,  B.  E.  Abegglin  of  the  Re- 
villa  Theatre,  Ketchikan,  Alaska,  was 


introduced,  he  being  the  winner  who 
came  the  longest  distance. 

The  first  winner  to  be  presented 
with  an  illuminated  parchment  scroll 
and  medallion  in  recognition  of  his 
services  in  the  drive  was  Jack  L. 
Foxe  of  Loew's  Columbia,  Washing- 
Ion,  D.  C. 

As  each  winner's  name  was  called 
by  Robert  Selig,  assistant  national 
campaign  director,  who  was  in  charge 
of  the  "Honored  100"  contest,  he  was 
presented  to  Skouras  and  the  dais 
guests  and  received  from  them  the 
various  honoraria.  Altogether,  100 
of  the  101  winners  are  present  in 
Washington  for  the  two-and-a-half 
days  of  festivities. 

Following  the  presentation,  the 
"Honored  100"  were  guests  of  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  committee  and  the 
industry's  WAC  committee  at  a 
luncheon  in  the  Hotel  Statler,  where 
tribute  was  paid  them  by  Lt.  Gen. 
Vandegrift  and  other  officials. 

Variety  Club  Is  Host 

Tonight  the  winners  and  guests 
were  given  a  testimonial  supper  by 
the  local  Variety  Club  and  the  cere- 
monies will  close  tomorrow  when, 
headed  by  Skouras,  the  "Honored 
100"  will  be  officially  inducted  as  a 
special  advisory  committee  to  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  campaign  committee  and 
the  Treasury  War  Finance  Division. 

The  committee  of  arrangements  in 
Washington  included  Carter  Barron, 
Anthony  Muto,  John  Payette  and 
Frank  LaFalce. 

The  Fifth  War  Loan  pre-drive  cam- 
paign will  be  launched  here  at  the 
Statler  tomorrow  with  an  all-industry 
mass  meeting  as  the  first  of  a  series 
of  similar  regional  rallies  covering 
all  sections  of  the  country.  Getting 
under  way  at  10  :30  A.M.,  the  meeting 


Distributors'  Bond 
Efforts  Stepped  Up 

Declaring  that  "distributors 
are  full  partners  with  exhibi- 
tors in  this  campaign,"  John 
J.  Friedl,  industry  campaign 
director  for  the  Fifth  War 
L6an,  predicted  here  yester- 
day that  "the  WAC  distribu- 
tion division  will  play  a  great- 
er role  in  this  campaign  than 
in  any  previous  war  effort. 
Much  of  the  success  of  the 
campaign  depends  on  distri- 
bution chairmen,  branch  man- 
agers and  salesmen  in  the 
field,"  he  added.  "The  fact 
that  they  are  to  contact  every 
exhibitor  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  will  mean  a  great  deal 
toward  assuring  the  greatest 
possible  theatre  participa- 
tion ;  cooperation  between  dis- 
tribution and  the  16,000  thea- 
tres is  vital  for  maximum  re- 
sults," Friedl  declared. 


] 


will  continue  through  a  luncheon  ses- 
sion, climaxed  with  an  address  by 
chairman  O'Donnell,  introduced  by 
Fabian.  All  branches  of  the  industry, 
including  exhibitors,  distributors  and 
allied  interests,  will  be  represented. 

Sidney  Lust,  District  of  Columbia 
exhibitor  leader  and  chairman  for  this 
area,  is  scheduled  to  call  the  meeting 
to  order.  A  highlight  will  be  the 
presentation  of  the  "Honored  100" 
to  O'Donnell  by  Skouras,  for  service 
in  the  forthcoming  campaign. 

Among  scheduled  speakers  will  be 
Fabian,  Gamble,  Kennedy,  campaign 
vice-chairman ;  Friedl,  campaign  di- 
rector; Beall,  publicity  director,  and 
Lee,  industry  consultant  to  the 
Treasury. 

Exhibitor  state  chairmen  who  will 
attend  with  delegations  include  Louis 
Rome,  Baltimore ;  W.  F.  Crockett 
and  M.  G.  Thalheimer,  Virginia ; 
Lewis  S.  Black,  Delaware;  Milton 
Levine,  West  Virginia;  Louis  Finske, 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  Ben  Am- 
sterdam, New  Jersey. 


June  12  Is  'E  Day' 
In  New  York  Drive 

June  12,  opening  date  of  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive,  will  be  publicized  as 
"E  Day"  here,  according  to  plans  be- 
ing formulated  by  C.  C.  Moskowitz, 
general  chairman  for  the  industry  in 
New  York,  and  representatives  of  the 
New  York  War  Finance  Committee 
and  Neville  Ford,  the  U.  S.  Treas- 
ury's chief  for  this  state. 


Bershon  Is  Renamed 
California  Chairman 

Los  Angeles,  May  9. — Dave  Ber- 
shon was  reelected  state  chairman  of 
the  Exhibitors  War  Finance  Commit- 
tee for  California  at  that  group's  first 
session  on  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive, 
held  at  the  Variety  Club  here  today. 
O.  N.  Siere  and  Henry  Pine  were 
selected  vice-chairmen,  and  six  com- 
mittees to  handle  drive  details  were 
named. 


Bond  Trailer  Scripts  Ready 

Hollywood,  May  9. — Fifth  War 
Loan  material  prepared  by  the  Hol- 
lywood Writers  Mobilization  include 
scripts  for  a  newsreel  bulletin  by  Iso- 
bel  Lennart  and  for  three  trailers,  as 
follows:  "What  Did  You  Do  Today?" 
by  Leonard  Newbauer,  "Dawn  of  D- 
Day"  by  Bob  Faber,  and  "Our  Ene- 
mies Speak"  by  Earl  Baldwin. 


Fi 

5 

Bel 

> 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Theatres' 
Women's 
Army  Corps 
Recruiting 

Week 
May  11-17 


VOL.  55.  NO.  93 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  MAY  11,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Penn.  Paves 
The  Way  for 
Deferments 


Those  Over  26  Held  Back 
As  'Locally  Needed' 


Pennsylvania  State  Selective  Ser- 
vice headquarters  has  directed  local 
draft  boards  in  that  state  to  defer 
all  eligible  key  men  in  film  distri- 
bution over  26  years  of  age,  in 
keeping  with  the  designation  of  film 
exchanges  in  Philadelphia  and 
Pittsburgh  as  "locally  needed,"  by 
the  War  Manpower  Commission. 


Washington,  May  10—  Indefi- 
nite draft  deferment  for  all 
men  over  29  in  essential  occu- 
pations, regardless  of  whether 
they  are  considered  necessary 
by  present  standards,  was  un- 
derstood today  to  be  one  of  the 
provisions  of  a  new  Selective 
Service  policy  to  be  made  pub- 
lic tomorrow  night. 


Distributors  have  filed  for  "locally 
needed"  designations  in  14  other  key 
{Continued  on  page  11) 


Launch  'WacWeek' 
Here  and  in  Field 


Theatres  throughout  the  country 
yesterday  opened  the  industry's  "Wo- 
men's Army  Corps  Recruiting  Week," 
May  11-17,  with  a  series  of  parades, 
rallies  and  demonstrations,  sponsored 
)y  the  War  Activities  Committee. 

In  the  New  York  Metropolitan  area, 
:he  public  Wac  induction  of  100  young 
{Continued  on  page  11) 


UJA  to  Set  Plans 
For  Campaign  Today 

Film  company  and  amusement  lead- 
ers will  meet  at  a  Hotel  Astor 
uncheon  today  to  discuss  a  film  and 
imusement  industry  luncheon  to  raise 
unds  in  the  United  Jewish  Appeal's 
.944  campaign  to  raise  $32,000,000.  A 
•ub-committee  designated  by  the 
jroup  will  report  on  a  list  of  pros- 
>ects  and  other  plans  for  raising 
noney  in  the  film  industry. 

In  addition  to  laying  plans  for  the 
ndustry's  fund-raising,  the  sub-com- 
nittee  is  expected  to  assign  donor 
irospects.  Members,  of  the '  sub-com- 
nittee  include  David  Bernstein, 
ieorge  J.  Schaefer,  Nate  Spingold, 
oseph  H.  Seidelman,  Herman  Rob- 
>ins,  Leopold  Friedman,  Louis  Nizer, 
Arthur  Israel,  Jr.,  and  Sam  Rinzler. 


Salesmen 
Organize 


Atlanta.,  May  10. — Film  salesmen 
of  the  Southeast  have  organized  the 
Motion  Picture  Colosseum  "to  handle 
film  salesmen's  problems,"  present  and 
future.  The  first  chapter,  Atlanta  Col- 
umn No.  1,  will  take  immediate  steps 
to  contact  salesmen  in  neighboring  ex- 
change centers  with  the  aim  of  estab- 
lishing other  "columns"  in  those  cities 
as  the  nucleus  of  a  national  organiza- 
tion. 

In  its  first  statement,  issued  through 
Frank  W.  Salley,  vice-president,  the 
Atlanta  sponsors  declared  that,  "havi- 
ing  found  the  film  men  of  Atlanta  so 
receptive  to  the  principle  of  a  film 
salesmen's  organization,  run  by  film 
salesmen  for  film  salesmen,  the  com- 
mittee feels  that  film  salesmen  through- 
out the  country  must  have  similar  de- 
sires and  invites  them  to  contact  this 
Colosseum  group." 

The  principal  industry  organization 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


50%  Republic  Gain 
From  Big  Films 


Fifty  per  cent  of  Republic's  distribu- 
tion increase  so  far  this  year  has 
come  from  high  budget  pictures,  H. 
J.  Yates,  Sr.,  chairman  of  the  board, 
reported  at  yesterday's  opening  ses- 
sion of  a  two-day  sales  conference  at 
the  New  York  Athletic  Club,  third 
and  l^st  in  the  current  series  of  meet- 
ings called  by  James  R.  Grainger, 
president  and  general  sales  manager. 
The  session  will  continue  today. 

Yates   declared  that  the  company 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Five  'Big  Guns'  for 
Bond  Promotions 

Washington, ,  May  10.— The 
following  five  "big  guns"  of 
promotion  for  the  industry's 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive  were 
disclosed  here  today  by  Ray 
B  e  a  1 1 ,  publicity  director : 
"Bond  Premieres,"  coopera- 
tion of  the  "Honored  100,"  sol- 
dier heroes'  honor  rolls  spon- 
sored by  theatre  patrons  and 
posted  in  lobbies,  "Free  Movie 
Days"  and  children's  special 
bond  premieres. 


Church  Heads 
Hear  Warner 


"Motion  pictures,  like  any  institu- 
tion which  touches  the  lives  of 
millions  of  people,  must  walk  hand  in 
hand  with  religion  and  those  who 
teach  it,"  and 
Hollywood  not 
only  recognizes 
but  is  practic- 
ing this  princi- 
p  1  e ,  declared 
Jack  L.  War- 
ner, executive 
producer  for 
Warner  Bros., 
in  an  address 
before  some 
700  churchmen 
at  a  testimoni- 
al dinner  to 
Dr.  Norman 
Vincent  Peale, 
pastor  of  the 
Marble  Collegiate  Church,  in  the  Ho- 
tel Roosevelt  here  yesterday. 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Jack  Li.  Warner 


New  Treasury  Division  to 
Dispose  of  Film  Surplus 


Decree  Companies 
Ready  for  Clark 

Washington,  May  10. — As- 
sistant U.  S.  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Tom  C.  Clark  has  been 
informed  by  the  five  consent 
decree  companies  that  they 
are  ready  to  confer  with  him 
to  disclose  the  extent  to 
which  they  will  meet  recom- 
mendations for  broadening 
the  decree.  The  date  of  the 
meeting  will  be  decided  upon. 


Washington,  May  10. — Motion  pic- 
ture and  photographic  equipment  and 
supplies  which  may  become  surplus 
in  the  hands  of  the  Army,  Navy  or 
other  Government  agencies  will  be  dis- 
posed of  by  a  Surplus  Consumer  Goods 
Disposal  Division  just  set  up  in  the 
U.  S.  Treasury  Department,  it  was 
learned  here  today. 

The  new  division  will  be  under  Er- 
nest L.  Olrich,  executive  of  Munsing- 
wear,  who  has  taken  on  the  task  of 
disposing  of  billions  of  dollar*'  worth 
of  materials  which  will  become  surplus 
from  now  on  and  after  the  war. 

It  could  not  be  learned  today  wheth- 
(Continued  on   page  10) 


U.S.  Asks  Films 
For  20%  More 
In  Fifth  Drive 


$5,000,000  Pledge  from 
Skouras  Opens  Campaign 

Washington,  May  10. — The 
motion  picture  industry  was  called 
upon  today  to  do  20  per  cent  better 
in  the  "Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan 
drive  than  it  did  in  the  last  campaign. 

Paying  high  praise  to  the  "Hon- 
ored 100"  exhibitors  and  the  industry 
as  a  whole,  Theodore  R.  Gamble,  na- 
tional director  of  the  Treasury's  War 
Finance  Division,  told  the  first  of  a 
number  of  regional  meetings  of  film 
leaders  here  that  20  per  cent  of  the 
people  with  income  had  not  been 
reached  in  previous  drives  and  must 
be  brought  in  in  the  fifth  —  "the 
greatest  campaign." 

Sixty  billion  dollars  is  to  be  raised 
by  bond  sales  this  year,  Gamble  re- 
vealed, pointing  out  that  the  war  ex- 
penditures of  the  nation  now  are  at 
their  peak  and  persons  not  induced 
to  purchase  bonds  this  time  may  have 
less  available  money  in  future  drives, 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Century  Winner  in 
Empire  State  Suit 


Century  Circuit,  operating  35  thea- 
tres in  Brooklyn  and  Queens,  has 
been  awarded  judgment  in  its  legal 
action  brought  to  prevent  the  dissolu- 
tion of  Empire  State  Projectionists' 
Union  which  merged  with  IATSE 
New  York  projectionists'  Local  No. 
306  last  year.  The  decision,  rendered 
by  Judge  William  R.  Wilson  in  Kings 
County  Supreme  Court,  prevents  the 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Wm.  Bennett  Seeking 
IATSE  Presidency 

William  Bennett  of  the  Washington, 
D.  C,  IATSE  stagehands  Local  No. 
22  is  expected  to  run  against  Richard 
F.  Walsh,  president  of  the  IATSE 
in  the  election  of  a  new  president  at 
the  IATSE  Convention  in  St.  Louis 
starting  May  29. 

At  present  there  are  no  indications 
that  Bennett  will  head  an  entire  new 
ticket  to  oppose  the  re-election  of 
other  IATSE  officers.  He  polled  al- 
most 300  of  the  approximately  900 
votes  cast  by  delegates  at  the  lATSE 
convention  two  years  ago  at  which 
Walsh  was  elected. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  11,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 

JACK    L.    WARNER    and  Mrs. 
Warner  left  New  York  last  night 
for  the  Coast. 

Al  Swerdloye,  New  England  fran- 
chise holder  for  Film  Classics,  re- 
turned to  Boston  yesterday  from  New 
York. 

• 

Al  Finestone,  WAC  Fifth  War- 
Loan  committee  trade  press  publicity 
director,  arrived  in  New  York  late 
last  night  from  Washington. 

Ralph  Doyle,  RKO  Radio  manag- 
ing director  for  Australasia,  is  ex- 
pected here  from  the  Coast  at  the 

weekend. 

• 

Mrs.  Estelle  O'Toole  of  Warners' 
Hartford,  Conn.,  district  office,  has  re- 
turned to  her  desk  after  a  three  weeks' 
illness. 

• 

George  Rosenbaum,  Universal 
Cleveland  exchange  salesman,  has  been 
granted  a  leave  of  absence  because  of 
illness. 

• 

Louis  Michelson  of  the  Columbia 
exchange  in  St.  Johns,  N.  B.,  was 
married  recently  to  Jennie  Kashet- 
sky  of  the  company's  branch  there. 
• 

Ralph  B.  Austrian,  RKO  televi- 
sion  consultant,   will   leave   for  the 
Coast  tomorrow  on  a  two-week  trip. 
• 

Louis  Phillips,  Paramount  attor- 
ney, will  leave  for  Chicago  on  Tues- 
day. 

• 

S.  Barret  McCormick,  RKO  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  director,  will 
leave  for  the  Coast  tomorrow. 

• 

Mbsi:  Gumble  of  Warners'  Music 
Publishers  Holding  Co.,  will  leave 
here  Monday  for  the  Coast. 

• 

George  Hirliman,  president  of  Film 
Classics,  has  left  for  the  Southeast  on 
business. 

• 

William    J.    Heineman,  general 
sales  manager  for   Samuel  Goldwyn 
Prod.,  left  yesterday  for  Boston. 
• 

Richard  Etkin,  Paramount  Buffalo 
booker,  and  Geraldine  Chertofe,  will 
be;married  on  June  4. 


New  Camp  Show  Units 

Six  new  units  of  Hollywood  players 
have  been  formed  by  USO-Camp 
Shows  for  hospital  entertainment  of 
servicemen.  Included  are  Don  Arae- 
che.  Ellen  Drew,  Gale  Sondergaard. 
Sidney  Toler,  Jennifer  Holt,  Ernest 
Cossart.  Rhonda  Fleming  and  Doro- 
thy Garner.   .  * 


Gets  Astor  Franchise 

Dorothy  Thirion  of  the  Star  Film 
Exchange,  Portland,  Ore.,  has  been 
added  to  the  list  of  Astor  Pictures 
franchise  distributors,  handling  distrib- 
ution in  Portland  and  Seattle,  Astor 
reports  here. 


Trailer,  Title 
Faking  Hit 
By  Censors 

Toronto,  May  10. — The  reissue  of 
old  films  under  new  titles  and  the  use 
in  trailers  of  scenes  that  do  not  ap- 
pear in  the  picture  advertised,  are 
two  practices  condemned  in  a  15-page 
annual  report  made  public  today  by 
chairman  O.  J.  Silverthorne  of  the 
Ontario  Censorship  and  Inspection 
Board. 

The  report  showed  no  pictures  con- 
demned among  47S  features  and  1,400 
shorts  and  newsreels  during  year 
ending  March  31,  while  66  features 
were  altered  in  one  or  more  respects. 
Of  80  British  features,  revisions  were 
ordered  in  17,  while  one  of  15  Soviet 
features  was  revised.  This  meant  48 
revised  Hollywood  features  in  375  ex- 
amined. Silverthorne  reported  that 
licenses  were  issued  to  412  theatres, 
which  was  a  reduction  of  six  for  the 
year,  due  to  war  conditions  in  some 
areas. 

Many  Films  Reissued 

With  respect  to  reissues,  Silver- 
thorne said,  "Because  of  a  reduction 
in  the  number  of  films  produced,  a 
considerable  number  of  old  films  have 
been  reissued,  some  under  new  titles. 
The  board  does  not  consider  this  a 
good  practice  and  has  ruled  that  all 
such  films  must  be  presented  with 
their  original  titles." 

With  respect  to  trailers,  he  ruled 
that  scenes  which  appear  as  advertis- 
ing for  a  coming  attraction  must  also 
appear  in  the  attraction  or  be  elimi- 
nated from  the  trailer. 

Referring  to  juvenile  delinquency, 
the  chairman  said  that  prohibitory 
legislation  "might  fall  short  of  its  pur- 
pose," adding  that  the  problem  could 
be  aggravated  by  creating  resentment 
and  disrespect  for  law  in  the  juvenile 
mind. 

He  praised  film  industry  for  its  pa- 
triotic work  and  predicted  an  expan- 
sion in  visual  education  through  films 
and  also  increased  prominence  for 
British  films. 

Raives  Named  Zone 
Head  for  Schine 

Cleveland,  May  10. — Harold  Raives 
has  been  promoted  to  zone  manager  of 
the  Schine  Circuit  here,  supervising 
30  houses  in  this  territory. 

Raives,  with  Schine  for  the  'past 
six  years,  was  Cleveland  and  Cincin- 
nati booker  prior  to  his  promotion.  He 
will  continue  to  have  headquarters 
here. 

Vanguard  to  Reissue 
Selznick  Films 

Vanguard  Films  will  reissue  David 
O.  Selznick's  "Intermezzo,"  originally 
released  in  1939,  and  "Rebecca,"  a 
1940  release,  in  August,  following 
openings  of  Selznick's  new  production. 
"Since  You  Went  Away."  United 
Artists  will  distribute. 


Circuits  Complete 
Building  Survey 


A  complete  survey  "of  the  proposed 
revisions  for  the  New  York  State 
building  code  for  theatres  and  other 
places  of  public  assembly  by  circuit 
representatives  was  presented  at  a 
meeting  held  yesterdav  in  the  offices 
of  the  MPPDA  here. 

They  approved  in  principle  the  pro- 
visions of  a  revised  section  relating  to 
new  theatre  construction.  A  clarifi- 
cation and  possible  modification  of 
requirements  relating  to  stages  and 
exits  as  applied  to  existing  theatres 
will  be  sought. 

A  three-man  committee  to  represent 
theatres  was  selected.  It  includes : 
Henry  Anderson,  Paramount ;  Harry 
Moskowitz,  Loew's.  and  Louis  Lazar, 
Schine  Theatres.  Martin  J.  Tracey, 
Century  Circuit,  was  named  an  alter- 
nate. They  were  appointed  as  an  ad- 
vistory  committee  '  by  New  York 
State  Commissioner  of  Labor  Edward- 
Corsi,  and  are  scheduled  to  meet  with- 
in 'ten  days. 


To  Ask  Abandonment 
Of  War  Time  Today 

Washington.  May  10. — Represen- 
tatives of  the  film  industry,  and  others, 
will  urge  abandonment  of  war  time  at 
hearings  opening  tomorrow  before  the 
House  Interstate  and  Foreign  Com- 
merce Committee  on  legislation  to  that 
end  introduced  by  Rep.  Clarence  Can- 
non of  Missouri. 

Introduced  only  a  short  time  ago, 
the  measure  to  return  the  country  to 
standard  time  has  received  wide- 
spread support,  it  was  declared  by 
Cannon.  Hundreds  of  communica- 
tions endorsing  the  move  have  been 
received,  he  said. 

War  time  was  introduced  shortly 
after  the  U.  S.  entered  the  war,  by 
Congressional  action  authorizing  the 
President  to  fix  the  time. 

WLB  Approves  Raise 
For  N.  Y.  Musicians 

The  War  Labor  Board  has  approved 
a  five  per  cent  wage  increase,  retro- 
active to  Sept.  6,  1943,  for  musicians 
of  Radio  City  Music  Hall,  Roxf  and 
Loew's  State  who  are  members  of  the 
American  Federation  of  Musicians' 
New  York  Local  No.  802.  The  in- 
crease of  five  per  cent  brings  the  mu- 
sicians up  to  the  15  per  cent  allow- 
able under  the  "Little  Steel"  formula. 

The  increase  does  not  apply  to  mu- 
sicians of  the  Capitol,  Strand  or 
Paramount,  since  they  are  members  of 
"standby  orchestras,"  the  three  houses 
using  "name"  bands  for  their  stage 
shows. 


Burton  King  Funeral 

Hollywood,  May  10.  —  Funeral 
services  were  held  here  this  week  for 
Burton  L.  King,  veteran  screen  ac- 
tor, director  and  producer.  King,  a 
native  of  Cincinnati,  began  his  film 
career  with  Equitable  and  later  was 
employed  by  Metro,  Pathe,  Selznick, 
Gotham  and  Associated  Exhibitors, 
among  others. 


Coming 
Events 

May  11-17  —  Theatres'  recruiting 
campaign  for  Women's  Army 
Corps. 

May  11-31 — Film  industry  Fifth 
War  Loan  Regional  meetings  in 
key  cities. 

May  12 — Charles  Francis  Coe  of 
MPPDA  addresses  Oklahoma 
City  Chamber  of  Commerce. 

May  15-16 — Annual  meeting,  Na- 
tional Film  Carriers,  Hotel  Astor, 
New  York. 

May  16 — Charles  Francis  Coe  of 
MPPDA  addresses  St.  Louis 
Chamber  of  Commerce. 

May  16— RKO  "War  Bond"  golf 
tournament,  Westchester  Country 
Club,  New  York. 

May  19 — MPA  dinner,  Hotel  Astor, 
New  York. 

May  23-26— National  Allied  Cara- 
van meeting,  Warwick  Hotel, 
Philadelphia. 

May  24-25 — National  Allied  board 
meeting,  Warwick  Hotel,  Phila- 
delphia. 

May  29 — IATSE  national  conven- 
tion, St.  Louis. 

May  29-30— PRC  annual  sales  con- 
vention, Hollywood. 

June  12- July  8 — Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign. 

June  20 — Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
New  Jersey,  silver  jubilee  meet- 
ing, Hotel  Chelsea,  Atlantic  City. 

July  15 — Unions  and  guilds  file  an- 
nual statements  with  Treasury 
Department. 

Will  Resume  Talks  on 
Projector  Making 

Allen  G.  Smith,  chief  of  the  thea- 
tre equipment  section  of  the  War  Pro- 
duction Board  will  arrive  here  to- 
morrow for  further  conferences  with 
representatives  of  International  Pro- 
jector looking  toward  the  possibility 
of  locating  manufacture  of  projection 
machines  and  parts  in  New  York, 
away  from  war  areas  having  manpow- 
er shortages. 

Lester  Isaac,  Loew's  sound  and  pro- 
jection head,  who  is  consultant  to  the 
WPB  on  projection  and  sound  mat- 
ters, is  expected  to  sit  in  on  the  con- 
ferences. 


Permanent  Status  for 
RKO  Theatres'  Setup 

Chicago,  May  10. — No  further 
changes  in  the  RKO  Theatres  man- 
agement are  contemplated  and  the 
present  setup  with  James  Brennan  in 
charge  of  Metropolitan  theatres,  Sol 
Schwartz  in  charge  of  out-of-town 
operations,  and  Harold  Mirisch  in 
charge  of  film  buying,  is  designed  to 
be  permanent,  it  was  learned  here  to- 
day, following  the  arrival  of  N. 
Peter  Rathvon,  RKO  president,  who 
is  en  route  to  the  Coast. 

The  management  as  now  constituted 
is  functioning  satisfactorily,  it  was 
stated. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief-  Colvin'  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York" 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President:  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager:  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter.  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Ja 


IACK  L.  WARNER 


ERROL  FLYNN  «  'uncertain  glory' 

IFANI  s  XMK|  ■ PA  m  ■  mm^mu  •  mm pAni" WAISH  •  •■ 


After  4  Top  Weeks  at 
Radio  City  Music  Hall... 


BACK  TO 


NEW  YORI 


TO  SET 


RECORDS 
FOR  RKO 


8 1  st  Street 
86th  Street 
23  rd  Street 
58th  Street 
125th  Street 


Alden,  Jamaica 
Kenmore,  Brooklyn 
Prospect,  Brooklyn 


100,000  SEATS  IN  GREATER  NEW  YORK 


Regent 

Alhambra 

Hamilton 

Coliseum 

Fordham 


Franklin 
Royal 
Chester 
Pelham 
Castle  Hil 


Marble  Hill 
Proctor's,  Yonkers 
Proctor's,  Mt.  Vernon 
Proctor's,  New  Rochelle 
Keith's  White  Plains 


OPENING  SOON  AT  THE  FOLLOWING: 

Greenpoint  Madison  Midway 

Bushwick  Keith's,  Richmond  Hill  Dyker 

Tilyou  Keith's,  Flushing  Orpheum 


Academy 
Crotona 
Park  Plaza 
Nemo 
Riverside 


Republic 

Strand,  Far  Rockaway 
Colonial,  Manhattan 


For  the  first  time  in  its  history/ 
KEITH'S  ALBEE,  BROOKLYN, 
HOLDS  A  PICTURE  FOR  THREE 
FULL  WEEKS . . .  RECORD  CROWDS! 

. . .  SENSATIONAL  BUSINESS  IN 
EVERY  ONE  OF  25*RKO  METRO- 
POLITAN CIRCUIT  THEATRES 
TO  PLAY  IT  THUS  FAR! . . . 

TERRIFIC  EVERYWHERE! 


Songs  by  Harold  Arlen  &  Ted  Koehler  —  Sylvia  Fine  & 
Max  Liebman  •  Released  thru  RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  INC. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  11,  1944 


'Twain'  Takes 
$54,132  at 
3  in  L.  A.  Run 


Los  Angeles,  May  10. — Hot  weath- 
er was  reflected  in  grosses  here. 
".Mark  Twain"  displayed  strength,  get- 
ting $54,132  in  the  Warner  Downtown- 
Hollvwood-Wiltern  setup  which  aver- 
ages $50,900.  "Four  Jills  and  a  Jeep," 
linked  with  "Tampico,"  had  the  FWC 
Carthay  Circle-Chinese-Loew's  State- 
Uptown  foursome  on  the  $66,200"  mark 
against  a  $61,350  par.  "Cover  Girl" 
wound  up  its  four-week  run  at  the 
Pantages  and  Hillstreet  with  a  note- 
worthy $23,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  10 : 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"lampico"  (20th-Fox) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $8,700.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"  Four  Juls  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (2flth-Fox) 

LHiNESE— (2,500)      (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.    Gross:  $14,500.    (Average:  $15,500). 
"r.ey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 
'  Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

EGYPTIAN— (1.500)    (50c-60c-85c-$l.GO)  7 
days.     Gross:  $8,500.     (Average:  $9,500). 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 
"The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $8,000.    (Average:  $6,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  4th  week 
"Slightly  Terrific"  (Univ.)  7  days 

HILLSTREET  —   (2,700)  (50c-60c-80c). 
Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $19,700). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tampico"   (20th -Fox) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 

"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

LOS  ANGELES — (2.096)  (50c-60c-85c-$1.00) 
7  days.    Gross:  $16,000.    (Average:  $14,900). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.)  4th  week 
"Slightly  Terrific"  (Univ.)  7  days 

PANTAGES— (2,000)    (5Oc-60c-8Oc-$l.OO)  7 
days.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $17,700). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD — ( 50c  -  60c  - 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.     Gross:  $11,- 
500.     (Average:  $11,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN  —  (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $18,100. 
(Average:  $20,300). 
"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 
"Lady,    Let's   Dance"  (Mono.) 

R1TZ— (1,376)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:   $7,500.      (Average:  $8,700). 
"Four  Jills  and  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)      (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  HOLLYWOOD— (3.000)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,923.  (Av- 
erage: $17,000). 

"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  DOWNTOWN— (3.400)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $19,690.  (Av- 
erage: $18,700). 

"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  WILTERN— (2.200)  (50c-66c- 
80c-S1.001  7  davs.  Gross:  $16,519.  (Average: 
$15,200). 


Review 


'Jacobowsky'  in  Fall 

Columbia's  film  production  of  the 
Theater  Guild's  "Jacobowsky  and  the 
Colonel"  has  been  set  for  September, 
1944.  release,  it  was  learned  here  yes- 
terdav.  Purchase  price  for  the  film 
rights  was  $350,000.  The  Theatre 
Guild  was  represented  by  H.  William 
Fitelson,  New  York  film  attorney. 


40  Buy  Monogram  Films 

Chicago,  May  10.  —  Contracts  to 
play  Monogram's  1943-44  product 
have  been  received  from  Illinois  Al- 
lied's  booking  department  for  more 
than  40  theatres,  it  was  reported  by 
Irving  Mandel,  Chicago  Monogram 
franchise  holder. 


"Jam  Session" 

(Columbia') 

''"pHE  story  of  "Jam  Session"  is  eclipsed  by  the  performances  of  six 
*-  name  bands,  including  those  of  Charlie  Barnet,  Louis  Armstrong, 
Alvino  Rey,  Jan  Garber,  Teddy  Powell  and  Glen  Gray,  developing  into 
solid  jive  which  should  delight  the  jitterbugs  and  also  prove  satisfactory 
entertainment  for  average  audiences. 

Ann  Miller  arrives  in  Hollywood  determined  to  become  a  screen  star. 
She  first  takes  a  secretarial  job  with  Jess  Barker,  a  struggling  young 
screen  writer.  Barker  discovers  Miss  Miller  is  not  a  secretary,  but  only 
after  she  has  completely  mutilated  his  story  in  her  "transcription"  of 
his  script  dictation.  Unfortunately,  she  had  submitted  the  transcription 
to  the  producer,  who  fired  Barker  upon  reading  it.  The  situation  is 
eventually  straightened  out  with  Barker  being  given  another  chance. 
His  story  is  finally  accepted,  Miss  Miller  wins  the  star  role  in  the  film 
and  Barker  wins  Miss  Miller. 

The  supporting  cast  includes  Eddie  Kane,  George  Eldredge,  Renie 
Riano  and  Charles  La  Torre.  Irving  Briskin  produced  and  Charles 
Barton  directed  from  Manny  Serf's  screenplay. 

Running  time,  78  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  April  13. 

Helen  McNamara 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


MGM  to  Fete  Charles 
Midelburg  Tomorrow 

M-G-M  will  give  Charles  Midel- 
burg, its  "20-year  showman,"  a 
luncheon  tomorrow  in  the  Astor  Ho- 
tel here.  It  will  be  attended  by 
M-G-M  home  office  executives  and 
the  trade  press.  Accompanied  by 
Mrs.  Midelburg,  the  exhibitor  will  ar- 
rive today  from"  Charleston,  W.  Va., 
where  he  operates  the  Capitol  Thea- 
tre. They  will  leave  for  Hollywood 
tomorrow. 

Among  company  executives  who  are 
scheduled  to  attend  the  luncheon  are 
William  F.  Rodgers,  David  Bernstein, 
J.  Robert  Rubin,  Howard  Dietz,  Leo- 
pold Friedman,  Charles  C.  Moskow- 
itz,  Joseph  R.  Vogel,  Si  Seadler,  Ed- 
ward M.  Saunders,  E.  K.  O'Shea, 
Edwin  W.  Aaron,  William  R.  Fergu- 
son, Herbert  Crooker,  Tom  Gerety, 
H.  M.  Richey  and  Harold  Postman. 
Gus  S.  Eyssell,  managing  director  of 
the  Music  Hall,  also  will  attend. 


Buffalo  House  Gets 
Clearance  Reduction 

A  clearance  award  has  been  entered 
at  the  Buffalo  tribunal  and  a  clear- 
ance complaint  withdrawn  at  Wash- 
ington, the  American  Arbitration  As- 
sociation reported  here  yesterday. 

At  Buffalo,  Roland  H.  Tills,  arbi- 
trator, in  the  clearance  complaint  filed 
by  Basil  Bros.,  operators  of  the 
Apollo,  Buffalo,  against  the  five  de- 
cree companies,  declared  that  the  ex- 
isting clearance  of  14  days  between  the 
Elmwood  and  the  plaintiff's  theatre 
was  unreasonable,  and  reduced  it  to 
not  more  than  10  days. 

The  clearance  complaint  of  Ike 
Weiner,  operator  of  the  Waldorf, 
Leonardtown,  Md.,  against  Warners' 
has  been  withdrawn  at  the  Washing- 
ton tribunal.  The  withdrawal  fol- 
lowed an  agreement,  the  terms  of 
which  were  not  disclosed. 


Arthur  in  Marines 

St.  Louis,  May  10. —  Dave  Arthur, 
assistant  general  manager  of  Fanchon 
and  Marco,  has  received  a  commission 
as  a  second  lieutenant  in  the  Marine 
Corps.  He  will  report  for  duty  at 
Quantico,  Va.,  May  25.  Harry  Arthur. 
Jr.,  general  manager,  has  not  named 
a  successor. 


Para.  Air  Promotions 
Planned  for  'Gang9 

Paramount's  radio  promotion  for 
"The  Hitler  Gang"  will  start  in  New 
England  today,  prior  to  the  film's 
opening  at  Boston's  Paramount  and 
Fenway  on  May  25.  WNAC  and  the 
rest  of  the  Yankee  network  of  21  sta- 
tions will  deliver  broadcasts  tieing  in 
with  more  than  60-day-and-date  en- 
gagements in  New  England. 

Robert  Watson,  Alexander  Pope  and 
Martin  Kosleck  who  appear  in  the  film 
will  make  personal  and  radio  appear- 
ances in  that  territory.  Detroit  will 
be  given  similar  radio  promotion  as 
will  the  Southwest  and  the  West 
Coast.  In  cities  not  covered  by  the 
regional  plan,  Paramount  has  pur- 
chased time  on  individual  stations. 


Reelect  Brandt  ITOA 
Head  Again  Today 

Harry  Brandt,  president  of  the  In- 
dependent Theatre  Owners  Associa- 
tion of  New  York,  is  scheduled  to  be 
reelected  for  another  year  at  an 
ITOA  luncheon-meeting  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  today.  Max  A.  Cohen  is  sched- 
uled to  be  elected  second  vice-presi- 
dent. 

Other  officers  scheduled  for  reelec- 
tion include  David  Weinstock,  first 
vice-president ;  Leon  Rosenblatt, 
treasurer ;  Abraham  Leff,  secretary, 
and  John  C.  Bolte,  sergeant-at-arms. 
Expected  to  be  elected  to  the  direc- 
torate, in  addition  to  the  aforemen- 
tioned, are :  Hyman  Rachmil,  Abra- 
ham Shenk,  A.  H.  Eisenstadt,  J.  J. 
Goldberg,  Gilbert  Josephson,  Jack 
Hatten,  Rudolph  Saunders,  Emanuel 
Hertzig,  Samuel  Seelen,  Ray  Rhon- 
heim,  A.  Erickson,  Charles  Steiner 
and  Isadore  Gottlieb. 


10,515  Screens  Set 
For  MGM  Birthday 

A  total  of  10,515  theatres  have 
to  date  agreed  to  play  an  M-G-M  fea- 
ture or  short  during  "Leo's  20th-Year 
Anniversary  Week,"  June  22-28,  ac- 
cording to  the  home  office.  ■ 

The  Charlotte  exchange  was  the 
first  to  report  bookings  for  every 
theatre  in  its  territory.  Albany  was 
second,  and,  from  indications  yester- 
day, Kansas  City  will  be  the  third. 


Hollywood 


Krellberg  Buys  Belasco 

Sherman  S.  Krellberg,  president  of 
Goodwill  Pictures,  New  York,  and 
John  J.  Wildberg,  attorney,  have 
bought  the  Belasco  Theatre  here  from 
the  estate  of  the  late  David  Belasco. 
They  will  take  possession  on  Sept.  1. 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  May  10 

ALLEN  WILSON,  Republic  studio 
•  chief,  has  signed  Joseph  Kane, 
who  directed  most  of  that  studio's 
Roy  Rogers  specials,  to  a  new  pro- 
ducer-director contract.  His  first  I 
under  the  new  deal  will  be  an  unti- 
tled John  Wayne  starrer,  Wilson  said. 
Almost  simultaneously  Republic  exer- 
cised its  option  on  Vera  Hruba  Ral- 
ston whose  next  starring  assignment 
is  scheduled  for  June.  She  recently 
played  dramatic  roles  in  "The  Lady 
and  the  Monster"  and  "Storm  Over 
Lisbon." 

• 

Sale  of  "A  Likely  Story,"  original 
comedy  by  Jay  Dratler  and  Earl  Fel- 
ton,  to  M-G-M  reveals  an  unusual  bit 
of  screenplay  dickering.  Not  a  word 
of  the  story  was  down  on  paper,  but 
Dratler  and  Felton  made  the  deal,  re- 
portedly for  $50,000,  with  Dratler 
telling  the  yarn  in  40-minute  versions 
15  different  times  over  a  period  of  six 
days,  insiders  to  the  transactions  re- 
vealed in  "A  Likely  Story"!  It  was 
Robert  Young' s  liking  for  the  story 
which  finally  clinched  the  dial.  He 
will  be  starred  in  it. 

• 

Columbia  renewed  Anita  Louise's 
contract  and  assigned  her  to  a  fea- 
tured role  in  "Stalk  the  Hunter," 
comedy  starring  Brian  Aherne  and 
Evelyn  Keyes.  .  .  .  Keenan  Wynn's 
first  role  since  returning  from  an 
oversea  tour  of  China,  Burma  and 
India  will  be  an  added  comedy  se- 
quence in  M-G-M's  "Marriage  Is  a 
Private  Affair."  . . .  Jan  Gather,  who 
is  currently  at  the  Hollywood  Palla- 
dium with  his  hand,  will  make  a 
picture  for  Columbia  following  the 
Palladium  engagement. 

• 

Walter  Brennan  reported  to  Samuel 
Goldwyn  studio  for  his  role  of  Feath- 
erhead  in  "The  Princess  and  the 
Pirate"  the  very  day  27  stuntmen  were 
staging  rough  and  tumble  fight  scenes 
of  pirates  raiding  a  merchantman  in 

the  Bob  Hope  starrer  RKO 

signed  Douglas  Walton,  who  has 
spent  the  past  two  years  in  the  Army, 
for  a  featured  role  in  "Farewell  My 
Lovely."  .  .  .  Edward  Golden  has 
signed  Herbert  Biberman  to  direct 
"The  Master  Race,"  which  soon  Rob- 
ert Golden  will  produce  for  RKO  re- 
lease. 

• 

Cab  Calloway's  "Hepsters'  Diction- 
ary," which  unscrambles  five  talk  for 
the  person  "not  hep,"  is  being  dis- 
tributed to  newspaper  editors,  column- 
ists and  others  by  George  Glass  as  a 
publicity  adjunct  to  the  campaign  for 
Andrew  Stone's  "Sensations  of  1944." 
Are  you  a  "lvincty  square,"  or  an  "icky 
iefff"  are  samples.  .  .  .  Warners  has 
renewed  Dolores  Moron's  contract. 
She  recently  shared  feminine  honors 
with  Alexis  Smith  in  "The  Horn 
Blows  at  Midnight,"  Jack  Benny 
starrer. 


Thursday,  May  11,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Century  Winner  in 
Empire  State  Suit 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

dissolution  of  Empire  as  a  corpora- 
tion for  the  duration  of  its  contract 
between  Century  and  Empire,  which 
still  has  about  seven  years  to  run,  ac- 
cording to  a  Century  spokesman.  At- 
torneys for  Local  306  plan  to  appeal. 

Spokesman  for  Century  pointed  out 
that  the  decision  will  have  the  effect 
of  preventing  Empire  and  Local  306 
■*  from  carrying  out  the  provisions  of 
their  merger.  Local  306  officials 
point  out  that  except  for  those  mem- 
bers of  Empire  who  are  now  in  the 
Armed  Forces,  most  of  Empire  mem- 
bers now  hold  membership  in  Local 
306.  They  hold  that  they  merely  have 
to  maintain  Empire  as  a  corporate 
entity,  with  former  Empire  members 
holding  membership  in  both  unions. 

To  further  complicate  the  situation, 
the  State  Labor  Relations  Board  is 
now  holding  hearings  on  the  petition 
of  Local  306  to  be  designated  collec- 
tive bargaining  agent  for  approxi- 
mately 100  projectionists  employed  by 
Century.  What  effect  SLRB's  order- 
ing -an  election  and  Local  306's  win- 
ning it  would  have  upon  the  decision 
won  by  Century  is  something  about 
which  union  spokesmen  yesterday  re- 
fused to  comment. 


50%  Republic  Gain 
From  Big  Films 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

will  continue  to  market  high  budget 
productions  through  concentrated  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  campaigns  on 
key  openings,  with  $250,000  allocated 
to  branch  cities  and  $100,000  to  sub- 
ordinate key  runs. 

Eastern  district  sales  manager 
Maxwell  Gillis  and  Central  district 
sales  manager  Sam  Seplowin  are  at- 
tending the  conference  with  groups 
from  their  territories,  including 
branch  managers  Jack  Bellman,  Sam 
P.  Gorrel,  George  H.  Kirby,  I.  M. 
Pollard,  L.  W.  Marriott,  Sidney  Leh- 
man, Arthur  Newman,  Jack  Davis, 
Jerome  Lewis,  Sam  Seletsky  and 
Joseph  Engel. 

A.  W.  Perry  and  A.  J.  Laurie  of 
Empire  Universal  Films,  Ltd.,  Repub- 
lic's Canadian  distributors,  are  here 
from  Toronto.  The  home  office  is 
represented  by  Walter  L.  Titus,  Jr., 
William  Saal,  Morris  Goodman, 
Charles  Reed  Jones,  Steve  Edwards, 
G.  C.  Schaefer,  Seymour  Borus,  Ed- 
ward Seifert,  Albert  Schiller,  E.  I. 
Becker  and  Al  Fox. 


Murphy  to  Seek  'Viv' 
House  Lease  Again 

Buffalo,  May  10. — M.  K.  Murphy, 
prior  operator  of  the  Viv  Theatre, 
Corbin,  Ky.,  before  its  acquisition  by 
Schine,  has  notified  the  U.  S.  District 
Court  here  that  he  will  move  May 
22  for  reconsideration  of  the  capital 
investment  in  the  house. 

The  reconsideration,  he  stated, 
would  be  with  a  view  to  determining 
his  right  to  be  reinstated  as  a  lessor 
of  the  property,  his  previous  status. 
The  temporary  court  order  set  the  fig- 
ure at  $7,554.  Murphy  said  he  would 
undertake  to  prove  to  the  court  that 
the  investment  in  the  leasehold,  by  ac- 
quisition from  him  was,  instead, 
$5,127. 


Review 


"Range  Law 

{Monogram) 

Hollywood,  May  10 

«<"n  ANGE  LAW"  holds  to  the  old  West's  judgment  that  cattle  rustling 

rv  is  punishable  with  a  noose.  But  Johnny  Mack  Brown  and  Ray- 
mond Hatton,  again  as  undercover  lawmen,  ride  to  the  rescue  of  "Pop" 
McGee,  a  rancher  unjustly  found  guilty  and  condemned  to  die.  It  proves 
satisfactory  Western  fare  in  all  departments. 

Aided  by  Sarah  Padden  as  "Boots"  Annie,  the  frontier  woman  who 
sent  for  them,  and  appealing  Ellen  Hall,  the  U.  S.  Marshals  uncover  the 
plot  of  Phil  Randall,  an  unscrupulous  rancher,  to  put  McGee  out  of  the 
way  so  he  can  buy  in  his  ranch  at  a  sheriff's  sale.  Unknown  to  McGee 
or  other  townsfolk,  Randall  had  discovered  silver  ore  on  the  ranch. 
When  his  crooked  sheriff  double-crosses  a  gunman  hired  to  kill  Brown 
the  pair  of  lawmen  wring  a  confession  from  the  dying  outlaw,  discover 
the  fake  branding  irons  used  to  frame  McGee  and  bring  Randall  to  trial 
for  cattle  rustling. 

Lambert  Hillyer  directed  from  an  original  screenplay  by  Frank 
Young.    Charles  J.  Bigelow  supervised  production. 

Running  time,  57  minutes.    "G."*  Release  date,  June  24. 

Jack  Cartwright 


*"G''  denotes  general  classification. 


'Standing  Room  Only* 
Hangs  Out  SRO  Sign 

Kansas  City,  May  10.— It's  the 
S.R.O.  sign  for  "Standing  Room 
Only"  at  the  Newman  where  it  got 
around  $14,000.  "Rosie,  the  Riveter" 
and  "Career  Girl"  paired  at  the  Tower 
to  take  an  above-average  $9,500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  10-13 : 

"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-6Sc)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,300.     (Average:  $6,C00). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  ((UA) 
"Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 

MIDLAND — (3,600)     (40c-60e)     7  days. 
Gross:  $14,500.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN  —  (1,900)     (45c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $11,000). 
"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

ORPHEUM— (1,900)     (40c-$1.10)     5  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.  (Average:  $7,500). 
"Rosie,  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 
"Career  Girt"  (PRC) 

TOWER— (2,200)  (40c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,500.     (Average:  $9,400). 
"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN — (2,200)      (45c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $4,200.     (Average:  $5,600). 
"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 

FAIRWAY — (700)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$1,500.    (Average:  $1,600). 

'Las  Vegas',  Show 
Take  Big  $17,000 

Indianapolis,  May  10.  —  "Moon 
Over  Las  Vegas,"  with  Vaughn  Mon- 
roe on  the  stage,  will  gross  $17,000  at 
the  Circle  this  week.  "Hey,  Rookie" 
and  "The  Heavenly  Body"  will  do 
$13,000  at  Loew's. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  9-11 : 

"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (55c-70c)  7  days.  Stage 
show:  Vaughn  Monroe.  Gross:  $17,000. 
(Average:  $11,800). 

"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

INDIANA— (3,200)      (32c-55c)      7  days. 
Gross:   $9,000.      (Average:  $11,600). 
"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 
"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S — (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$13,000.     (Average:  $11,500). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (32c-55c)  7  days,  move- 
over  from  Circle.  Gross :  $5,000.  (Average : 
$4,900). 


Cosey  Joins  Republic 

Cleveland,  May  10.  —  Joe  Cosey, 
20th-Fox  booker  here  for  15  years,  has 
resigned  to  head  the  local  Republic 
booking  office.  Bill  McKinstry,  Jr., 
former  shipper,  succeeds  Cosey  at 
20th-Fox. 


Providence  Grosses 
Are  in  Bad  Slump 

Providence,  May  10.  —  Spring 
weather  kept  people  from  theatres  in 
droves  and  grosses  were  the  lowest 
in  months.  "Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain,"  at  Fay's  only  took  $5,000. 
"Standing  Room  Only"  scored  $12,200 
at  the  Strand. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  11 : 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE— (2,239)  (35c-44c-55c-60c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average: 
$12,800). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"Tornado"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,200)  (44c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,200.    (Average:  $10,500). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Voice  in,  the  Wind"  (UA) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,232)    (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $17,700). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (ZOth-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)   (35c-44c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $12,100). 
"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

FAY'S — (1,800)  (76c-80c-$1.10)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.  (Average,  under  old  scale: 
$6,500). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)    7  days, 
2nd  week,  moveover  from  Majestic.  Gross : 
$3,900.     (Average:  $4,000).  ' 
"Hitler:  Dead  or  Alive"  (Ben  Judell) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c)  3 
days.  On  stage:  Peters  Sisters,  Georgie 
Kaye,  Wally  Ward,  Campbell  &  Lloyd,  Lou 
Fitzgibbons,  Nino  Ghezzi,  Bob  Hopkins, 
Four  Creedons,  Ed  Drew's  Orchestra.  Gross: 
$4,000.     (Average:  $7,900). 


Milwaukee  Houses  Cut 

Milwaukee,  May  10. — Admissions 
for  children  between  the  ages  of  12 
and  16,  at  all  Fox-Wisconsin  theatres 
here,  with  the  exception  of  two  third- 
run  houses,  have  been  lowered  40  per- 
cent for  Friday  night  shows.  This 
reduces  children's  prices  from  80  to  45 
cents  in  first-runs,  with  scales  in 
second-runs  lowered  proportionately. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Miss  Lieber  Promoted 

Philadelphia,  May  10. — Ruth  Lie- 
ber of  the  local  United  Artists  book- 
ing department,  has  been  promoted  to 
assistant  to  E.  V.  McCaffrey,  head 
booker  and  office  manager,  succeeding 
Janet  Hallard,  resigned.  Also  at  that 
exchange,  Bernard  Gates  has  succeed- 
ed William  Moses  in  the  sales  depart- 
ment. 


Hollywood,  May  10 

LEON  FROMKESS  has  signed 
Tex  Ritter  to  a  term  contract,  an- 
nouncing plans  for  a  series  of  higher- 
than-usual  budget  Westerns  on  the 
1944-45  PRC  program. 

• 

Captain  Clark  Gable  today  entrain- 
ed for  Washington  with  a  print  of  an 
Army  Air  Force  picture  on  which  he 
supervised  the  photography.  It  will  be 
shown  for  the  approval  of  the  War 
Department  and  then  possibly  released 
through  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee. 

• 

Described  as  "one  of  the  most  im- 
portant" of  the  current  season, 
M-G-M  will  follow  "Ziegfeld  Follies" 
with  "Yolanda  and  the  Thief,"  star- 
ring Fred  Astaire  and  Lucille  Ball, 
with  Arthur  Freed  producing. 
• 

Jack  Flynn,  M-G-M  Western  sales 
manager,  is  visiting  exchanges  here 
en  route  to  his  headquarters  in  Chi- 
cago. George  Hickey,  Western  su- 
pervisor, and  W.  G.  Bishop,  divisional 
exploiteer,  are  accompanying  him. 
c 

Jack  L.  Warner,  executive  produc- 
er for  Warner  Bros.,  has  extended 
Peter  Lorre's  contract.  The  actor  will 
next  be  seen  in  "Mask  of  Dimitrios." 
• 

Faye  Emerson,  Warner  player,  was 
recently  united  with  her  19-year  old 
sister,  Virginia,  after  a  14-year  sepa- 
ration. 

• 

Sol  Lesser  has  bought  Thompson 
Buchanan's  play,  "Civilian  Clothes," 
from  Paramount,  as  a  vehicle  for 
Lon  McCallister. 

• 

"The  Corn  Is  Green,"  with  Bette 
Davis,  will  begin  shooting  May  22, 
with  Irving  Rapper  directing. 
• 

William  Fadiman,  M-G-M  scenario 
head,  will  leave  here  for  the  East  on 
Fridav. 


'Twain*  Leads  Slow 
Pittsburgh  Week 

Pittsburgh,  May  10. — Uncertain 
weather  slowed  business  here,  with  the 
best  comparative  gross  rolling  up  at 
the  Warner  Theatre,  where  "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain"  promises 
$12,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  9-12: 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)     (35c-44c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $8,500). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

HARRIS — (-2,200)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $10,100). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

PENN— (3.400)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$22,000.     (Average:  $21,700). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

RITZ— (1,100)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days,  3rd 
week,  moveover  after  one  week  at  Penn,  one 
at  Warner.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average: 
$3,000) 

"Week-End  Pass"  (Univ.) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

SENATOR— (1,750)    (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,500.     (Average:  $3,400). 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

STANLEY— (3,800)  (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage:  6  days  of  vaudeville,  includinR 
Johnnie  (Scat)  Davis  and  Lawrence  Welk's 
orchestra.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average: 
$22,000). 

"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $9,350). 


first  peek  at  7 


►EL"  across  \\ 


Presents 


UP  IN  MABELS  ROOM 

starring 

Marjorie  REYNOLDS  *  Dennis  O'KEEFE  *  Gail  PATRICK 
Mischa  ADER  *  Charlotte  GREENWOOD 

».h  LEE  BOWMAN*  JOHN  HUBBARD  *  JANET  LAMBERT 

and  Dinnie  DARNES 


10 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Thursday,  May  11,  1944 


U.S.  Asks  Films 
For  20%  More 
In  Fifth  Drive 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

when  Government  spending  may  be  on 
the  down-grade. 

Gamble  stressed  that  the  industry's 
job  will  be  to  again  sell  bonds  to  in- 
dividuals, that  the  national  income  this 
year  will  be  at  an  all-time  record  peak 
of  $153,000,000,000  and  that  5  or  6 
million  persons  capable  of  buying 
bonds  have  not  as  yet  been  reached. 
Fifty-four  million  persons  will  have 
an  income  this  year,  and  it  is  the  job 
of  the  groups  working  with  the  War 
Finance  Committee  to  reach  all  of 
them. 

He  said,  "All  official  Washing- 
ton recognizes  the  accomplish- 
ment of  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry and  all  the  people  who 
worked  in  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
drive.  You  motion  picture  men 
and  the  others  did  a  job  that 
has  no  precedent.  You  have  set 
the  pattern  by  which  the  money 
is  to  be  raised,  and  in  doing 
that  you  have  assumed  a  great 
responsibility." 

Si  Fabian,  chairman  of  the  theatres 
division  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, in  response  to  Gamble,  pledged 
"every  possible  cooperation." 

Charles  P.  Skouras,  industry  na- 
tional chairman  of  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  drive,  accepted  a  scroll  from  the 
"Honored  100"  in  appreciation  of  his 
work  in  that  campaign,  and  Skouras 
started  the  fifth  drive  off  with  a  pledge 
of  $5,000,000  in  bond  purchases  for 
National  Theatres,  of  which  he  is 
president,  and  a  personal  purchase  of 
a  bond  for  every  house  in  the  Na- 
tional Circuit. 

R.  M.  Kennedy,  vice-chairman, 
said  the  committee  is  attemptfhg  to 
ease  the  task  of  theatre  managers  by 
offering  a  simplified  plan  under  which 
this  campaign  will  require  no  special 
pledges  to  supplement  ■  the  general 
pledges  already  given  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee. 

Aggressive  Campaign  Planned 

Ray  Beall,  national  publicity  chair- 
man, promised  an  aggressive  advertis- 
ing campaign,  with  kits  now  being 
prepared  and  a  press  book  scheduled 
to  go  in  the  mail  by  May  22.  The 
latter  will  be  practical  in  content  and 
format  and  will  contain  a  number  of 
innovations,  he  said.  Beall  paid  trib- 
ute to  Martin  Quigley,  chairman  of 
the  WAC  trade  press  division,  to  his 
full  committee  and  all  trade  paper 
•publishers  and  editors,  as  well  as  to 
Si  Seadler  and  Al  Finestone,  who  are 
handling  the  advertising  and  trade 
press  in  the  drive. 

Skouras,  delivering  the  "Honored 
Hundred"  to  O'Donnell,  said,  "It  is 
the  happiest  moment  in  my  life  to 
present  to  you  this  magnificent  body 
of  men  and  women.  In  accepting  them, 
O'Donnell  said,  "However  much  we 
may  pay  tribute  to  you  for  your 
achievements  for  being  the  'Honored 
Hundred,'  I  cannot  help  but  consider 
that  you  represent  the  other  thousands 
of  exhibitors  who  also  worked  tire- 
lessly in  the  Fourth  War  Loan  cam- 
paign and  upon  whom,  with  you,  we 
must  rely  for  success  in  the  'Fighting 
Fifth'."  The  scroll,  signed  by  the 
100,  was  presented  to  Skouras ;  and 


'Fighting  Fifth 9  Drive  Is  On 


Telephoto  by  International  News  Pictures 


Washington,  May  10. — Officials  of  the  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive  meeting  at  the  Hotel  Statler  here  today  in  the  first  of  a  series 
of  regional  rallies  launching  the  industry's  campaign.  Left  to  right 
are:  Richard  Kennedy,  campaign  vice-chairman;  Sidney  Lust,  District 
of  Columbia  chairman;  Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  distributor  chair- 
man; Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  national  campaign  chairman;  John  J. 
FriecH,  campaign  director,  and  Si  Fabian,  chairman  of  the  theatres 
division  of  the  War  Activities  Committee. 


Ralph  Batschelet  of  Denver,  outstand- 
ing member  of  the  group,  transmitted 
to  O'Donnell  its  ideas  as  formulated 
for  the  coming  campaign. 

The  meeting  was  opened  by  Sidney 
Lust,  Washington  circuit  operator, 
chairman  of  the  campaign  for  the  Dis- 
trict of  Columbia  area,  who  turned 
the  gavel  over  to  Robert  J.  O'Don- 
nell of  Dallas,  national  industry  chair- 
man for  the  fifth  campaign. 

Film  Leaders  Present 

Many  film  leaders  were  present  to 
hear  O'Donnell's  outline  of  plans 
for  the  industry's  participation  in 
the  drive,  including  Joseph  Kinsky, 
campaign  coordinator ;  Francis  S. 
Harmon,  WAC  executive  vice-chair- 
man ;  Walter  Brown,  his  associate ; 
Claude  F.  Lee,  film  industry  consult- 
ant to  the  Treasury,  and  Leon  J.  Bam- 
berger, assistant  to  the  distributors' 
chairman. 

Others  attending  were :  Bert  Ken- 
nerson,  Ray  Beall,  John  Friedl,  R.  M. 
Kennedy,  Ned  E.  Depinet,  Major  Al- 
lan V.  Martini,  B.  V.  Sturdivant,  F. 
H.  Ricketson,  Jr.,  Walter  Brown,  Ned 
Shugrue,  John  Reilly,  John  Flinn, 
Jay  Emanuel,  Carter  Barron,  John 
Payette,  Joseph  Brecheen,  J.  Louis 
Rome,  William  Crockett,  Lewis 
Black,  Milton  Levine,  Lou  Finske, 
Morton  Thalheimer,  Robert  Selig, 
Sam  Gross,  Robert  Folliard,  Julian 
Brylawski  and  Frank  Hornig. 

Moskowitz  Announces 
New  York  Key  Men 

A  staff  of  leaders  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive  in  New  York  was  an- 
nounced at  a  meeting  here  yesterday 
by  C.  C.  Moskowitz,  industry  general 
chairman  for  the  city.  The  line-up  is 
is  follows : 

Campaign  director,  Oscar  A.  Doob ; 
general  co-chairmen,  Samuel  Rinzler, 
Si  Fabian  and  Harry  Brandt ;  liaison 


with  War  Finance  Committee,  Harry 
Mandel  -for  the  industry,  and  Fred 
W.  Gehle  of  the  Treasury ;  chairmen 
of  public  relations,  Ernest  Emerling ; 
chairman  of  special  events,  Edward 
C.  Dowden;  chairman  for  Broadway, 
Irving  Lesser ;  chairman  of  distribu- 
tors, Ralph  Pielow ;  chairman  of  home 
offices,  Eugene  Picker;  chairman  of 
accounting,  Prof.  John  Madden; 
chairman  of  corporate  investments, 
Leonard  Goldenson ;  chairman  of  labor 
relations,  Mike  Rosen  and  Major  Les- 
lie Thompson. 

Borough  and  county  chairmen  are: 
Brooklyn,  Erwin  Gold ;  Bronx,  Rus- 
sell Emde  and  J.  Joelson ;  Man- 
hattan, Eugene  Myers  and  Max  Coh- 
en ;  Queens,  Jack  Harris ;  Westches- 
ter, James  Grady;  Richmond,  Irving 
Liner  ;  Nassau,  Fred  Schwartz  ;  Suf- 
folk, Leonard  Edwards ;  Putnam, 
Dutchess  and  lower  Orange  coun- 
ties, Harry  Royster. 


Fifth  Loan  Officials 
In  Boston  Today 

Washington,  May  10. — Following 
the  regional  meeting  here,  Fifth  War 
Loan  directors  and  members  of  the 
national  War  Activities  Committee 
left  by  plane  today  for  Boston'  for 
the  New  England  regional  meeting  to- 
morrow. 

Sam  Pinanski,  of  Mullin  &  Pinan- 
ski  circuit,  who  is  theatres  division 
chairman  of  the  Massachusetts  WAC, 
and  chairman  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
for  this  area,  will  preside. 

A.  M.  Kane  is  expected  to  partici- 
pate in  this  session  and  Harry  Brown- 
ing will  be  area  public  relations  di- 
rector for  the  drive. 

R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  chairman 
of  the  industry  Fifth  War  Loan,  will 
make  the  key  speech  outlining  pro- 
posed plans  for  the  "Fighting  Fifth" 
campaign.  Of  his  staff,  John  J.  Friedl, 
Richard  M.  Kennedy  and  Ray  Beall 
will  accompany  O'Donnell  to  Boston ; 


War  Bond  Premieres 
Raised  $360,671,683 

Washington,  May  10. — Re- 
sults of  the  industry's  Fourth 
War  Loan  "Bond  Premieres" 
were  announced  at  today's 
first  regional  meeting  here  in 
connection  with  the  indus- 
try's Fifth  Loan  drive.  At 
3,034  "Bond  Premieres,"  2,- 
149,314  bonds  were  sold,  worth 
$360,671,683.  There  still  are 
135  reports  to  be  received. 


[ 


also  Claude  F.  Lee,  motion  picture 
consultant  to  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment. 

This  will  be  the  second  of  15  meet- 
ings to  be  held  all  over  the  country. 
Each  regional  area  will  follow  with 
local  meetings  set  by  state  chairmen. 


ion 


Coast  Theatre  Heads 
Discuss  Drive  Plans 

Los  Angeles,  May  10. — The  first 
organizational  meeting  of  Southern 
California  theatre  men  for  Fifth  War 
Loan  committee  activities  was  held 
in  the  Variety  clubrooms  of  the  Am- 
bassador Hotel  here  today.  Dave 
Bershon,  Southern  California  state 
chairman,  officiated,  at  the  session, 
which  covered  tentative  plans  for  the 
drive,  June  12-July  8.  The  meeting 
was  attended  by  some  60  key  circuit 
and  independent  exhibitors  and  repre- 
sentatives of  film  exchanges.  


Bershon  appointed  the  following: 
special  assistants  to  the  chairman:  O. 
N.  Srere,  Henry  Pines;  executive 
committee :  Bershon,  Srere,  Pines, 
Sherrill  Corwin,  Ben  Wallerstein, 
Harry  Wallen,  Jack  Berman,  George 
Bowser,  Gus  Metzger,  Fred  Green- 
berg  ;  finance  committee  chairman, 
Metzger ;  statistical  committee  co- 
chairmen,  John  Lavery  and  Mrs.  Ida 
Schreiber;  special  events  and  bond 
shows  chairman,  Wallerstein;  .film 
distributor  contact  chairmen,  Fred 
Greenberg,  Cohen;  mobile  unit  chair- 
man, Spencer  Leve;  and  publicity  and 
advertising  chairman,  Seymour  Pei- 
ser. 


Governor  Is  Invited 
To  St.  Louis  Meet 

St.  Louis,  May  10. — Governor  For- 
rest C.  Donnell  of  Missouri  has  been 
invited  to  speak  at  the  industry's  re- 
gional Fifth  War  Loan  conference  at 
the  Hotel  Chase  here  on  May  18, 
Harry  C.  Arthur,  Jr.,  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  chairman  for  this  area, 
reports.  Exhibitors  from  Eastern 
Missouri  and  Southern  Illinois  will 
attend. 

Also  on  the  program  will  be  Wal- 
ter Head,  state  chairman  for  the  drive, 
and  Mayor  Kaufmann  of  St.  Louis. 
Arthur  will  preside. 


Treasury  Division  to 
Handle  Film  Surplus 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

er  any  photographic  equipment,  sup- 
plies or  chemicals  had  yet  been  turned 
over  in  the  $35,000,000  to  $40,000,000 
worth  of  goods  which  Olrich  said  al- 
ready had  been  declared  surplus  but 
not  inventoried.  Before  anything  can 
be  declared  surplus-for-sale,  he  ex- 
plained, 21  days  must  be  given  Gov- 
ernment agencies  in  which  to  acquire 
it.  Thereafter,  it  may  be  sold  by  ne- 
gotiation, bid  or  auction,  as  deemed 
most  advisable. 


Thursday,  May  11,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Penn.  Paves 
The  Way  for 
Deferments 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

cities  and  will  follow  similarly  in 
other  places.  Action  by  the  Pennsyl- 
vania Selective  Service  Board  is  ex- 
pected to  pave  the  way  for  state  board 
^action  in  deferring  those  over  26  in 
their  areas. 

Distribution  heads  have  been  in- 
formed of  the  action  taken  by  Pennsyl- 
vania Selective  Service  headquarters 
by  the  War  Activities  Committee's 
distributors'  division  which  helped  se- 
cure the  "locally  needed"  designations 
in  Philadelphia  and  Pittsburgh  and 
which  has  directed  filing  for  "locally 
needed"  in  other  exchange  cities. 

That  such  action  by  states'  Selective 
Service  headquarters  would  seem  to 
be  limited  to  cities  in  WMC-desig- 
nated  "critical"  or  "imminently  criti- 
cal" labor  areas  is  emphasized  by  the 
policy  being  pursued  by  Selective  Ser- 
vice in  New  York  City  which  is  not 
'  in  a  "critical"  or  "imminently  critical" 
5  labor  area  designation.    Blanket  Se- 
lective Service  deferments  can  not  be 
'  expected  for  film  industry  workers 
\  in  the  New  York  area  on  the  basis  of 
1  their  engagement  in  a  "war  supporting 
'  activity,"  Col.  Arthur  V.  McDermott's 
,  Selective    Service   headquarters  told 
:  Motion  Picture  Daily. 
,■•>: 

Same  as  "Essential" 

,i  The  distributors'  division  of  WAC 
s  explains  that  an  activity  designated  as 
•  "locally  needed"  has  the  same  status 
,i  as  an  "essential"  activity  under  em- 
■  ployment  stabilization  plans  and  other 
i  WMC  recruitment  and  placement  rul- 
b  ings.    The  action  taken  by  Pennsyl- 

0  vania  Selective  Service  in  ordering 
t  local  draft  boards  to  defer  key  distri- 
!  bution  personnel  is  viewed  as  an  im- 
t  portant  departure  from  previously  es- 
tablished practice  of  draft  boards  re- 
fusing film  personnel  deferments. 

Deferments  remain  in  effect  in  New 
York,  Hollywood  and  elsewhere  for 
certain  film  talent  and  technical  work- 
ers in  newsreels  or  who  are  engaged 
j  in  the  production  or  processing  of  mo- 
tion pictures  for  technical  or  voca- 
'  tional  training  for  the  Army,  Navy  or 
:  war  production  industries.    The  latest 
'  list  in  these  classes  includes  animators, 
production  set  builders,  cameramen, 

1  cutters,  film  editors,  equipment-main- 
I  tenance,     illuminating,  process-and- 

effect  and  production  set  technicians, 
production  supervisors,  sound  engi- 
neers and  technical  writers.  Local 
boards  in  New  York  as  in  other  non- 
locally-needed  places  will  make  their 
own  decisions  about  deferring  film 
industry  workers  over  26  in  distribu- 
tion and  exhibition. 

I 


'Basic  English'  an  Aid 

Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  for- 
eign head,  yesterday  proposed  that 
stories  of  films,  particularly  those 
adapted  from  famous  books,  be  pub- 
lished in  Basic  English  for  non-En- 
glish speaking  territories,  to  promote 
pictures  in  the  world  market.  Gould 
believes  that  the  distribution  of  such 
books,  simultaneously  with  the  show- 
ing of  the  films,  would  aid  both  the 
sale  of  the  books  and  the  box  office 
value  of  the  pictures. 


ChurchHeads 
Hear  Warner 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

"Hollywood  is  still  a  very  youthful 
community,"  said  Warner.  "We  are 
now  in  our  third  generation  of  crea- 
tive work,  and  even  the  fourth  genera- 
tion in  some  cases.  With  its  record 
of  achievement  in  so  short  a  time,  no 
apology  is  necessary  for  Hollywood. 

"The  industry  is  only  SO  years  old," 
he  continued."  "Just  50  years  ago 
Thomas  A.  Edison  created  the  motion 
picture,  and  less  than  20  years  ago 
my  brothers  and  I  made'  it  possible  to 
bring  talking  pictures  into  their  suc- 
cessful era.  We  saw  through  this 
great  medium  that  the  voice  could 
reach  the  world  and  aid  in  the  teach- 
ing of  better  faith  and  tolerance 
among  men.  This  is  beginning  to 
bear  fruit,  and  the  enthusiastic  world- 
wide acceptance  of  'One  Foot  in 
Heaven'  proves  it  conclusively.  I  am 
positive  that  talking  pictures,  from 
here  on,  will  play  a  greater  part  in 
creating  a  better  understanding  of  all 
mankind. 

Widespread  Influence 

"In  fact,  most  people  do  not  appre- 
ciate the  extent  of  the  influence  that 
religion  bears  upon  motion  pictures 
and  motion  picture  making.  I  do  not 
need  to  enumerate  the  many  pictures 
that  have  been  made  on  religious, 
church  or  spiritual  subjects.  But  I 
do  want  to  emphasize  that  motion 
pictures,  like  any  institution  which 
touches  the  lives  of  millions  of  peo- 
ple, must  walk  hand  in  hand  with  re- 
ligion and  those  who  teach  it. 

"Speaking  for  my  brothers  and  my- 
self, we  recognize  and  accept  this  re- 
sponsibility. Our  pictures,  to  be  sure, 
are  designed  first  to  provide  sound  en- 
tertainment. But  there  is  something 
more  than  that.  We  aspire  to  make 
pictures  which  will  help  preserve  our 
traditional  freedom  of  religion,  which 
teach  tolerance,  which  build  sound 
morals  and  which  foster  faith  in  God 
and  respect  for  our  religious  institu- 
tions. 

"Remembering  with  pleasure  and 
pride  the  lessons  we  learned  from  you. 
Dr.  Peale,  we  pledge  ourselves  to 
the  spiritual  leaders  of  America.  We 
look  to  you  for  help  and  guidance  in 
the  future,"  Warner  concluded. 


Sylvania  Purchase  of 
Colonial  Stock  Set 

Sylvania  Electric  Products,  Inc., 
has  virtually  completed  negotiations 
for  the  purchase  of  all  the  common 
stock  of  the  Colonial  Radio  Corpora- 
tion for  about  $3,250,000,  payable  60 
per  cent  in  cash  and  the  balance  in  its 
own  common  stock,  it  became  known 
yesterday  when  a  special  meeting  of 
stockholders  was  called  for  May  18  to 
approve  an  increase  in  authorized 
common  stock  from  905,000  to  1,200,- 
000  shares. 


Olson  to  Arbitration 

Minneapolis,  May  10. — C.  E.  pi- 
son  has  been  named  secretary  of  the 
motion  picture  arbitration  board  here, 
succeeding  Sheldon  M.  Ostroot,  re- 
cently commissioned  a  lieutenant  (j-. 
g.)  in  the  Navy.  Olson  was  former- 
ly with  the  U.  S.  Employment  Ser- 
vice. 


Launch  'Wac  Week' 
Here  and  in  Field 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

women  in  Times  Square  highlighted 
ceremonies  which  started  with  a  parade 
made  up  of  Army  officers,  Army 
bands,  women,  soldiers,  and  others. 

In  Times  Square,  Edward  Dowden, 
publicity  chairman  for  New  York,  in- 
troduced Edward  L.  Alperson,  national 
campaign  chairman,  who  led  the  rally. 
Newbold  .Morris,  president  of  the 
city  council,  representing  Mayor  La- 
Guardia,  greeted  the  assemblage.  In 
an  entertainment  program  that  fol- 
lowed, Jane  Powell  sang  "The  Star 
Spangled  Banner."  Additional  num- 
bers were  supplied  by  the  Wac  band 
and  the  Fort  Jay  army  band. 

Present  on  the  grandstand  were  of- 
ficials of  the  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee, including  Charles  C.  Moskowitz, 
Harry  Mandel,  Harry  Brandt,  also 
Samuel  Rinzler,  Oscar  Doob,  Gene 
Meyers,  Edward  Schreiber  and  John 
A.  Cassidy. 

Preceding  the  parade  and  rally,  Mos- 
kowitz tendered  a  breakfast  in  the 
Hotel  Astor,  where  both  the  officials 
of  the  Army  and  the  War  Activities 
Committee  were  guests. 

Brooklyn  will  herald  Wac  recruit- 
ing week  today  with  a  noontime  double 
salute,  rally  and  parade  at  Borough 
Hall  and  Albee  Square  with  Milton 
Berle  as  master  of  ceremonies ;  while 
Queens  will  stage  a  demonstration  and 
parade  on  Saturday,  featuring  Lucy 
Monroe,  Louis  Prima,  Gloria  Wood 
and  Jerry  Mahoney  at  the  Court 
House  in  Jamaica. 


Salesmen 
Organize 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

participation  of  film  salesmen  to  date 
is  in  local  Variety  Clubs.  There  are 
a  few  other  territorial  organizations 
numbering  salesmen  among  their  mem- 
berships, along  with  others,  such  as 
Motion  Picture  Associates  in  New 
York.  The  national  unionization  of 
film  sellers  has  been  recently  discussed 
in  and  around  the  Midwest  and  an 
AFL  charter  will  be  requested  through 
the  IATSE  when  the  latter  meets  in 
convention  in  St.  Louis  at  the  end  of 
this  month.  It  is  .not  known  whether 
the  new  Motion  Picture  Colosseum 
has  unionization  of  film  salesmen  in 
mind. 

The  Atlanta  Column  is  described  as 
having  in  its  membership  90  percent 
of  the  salesmen  in  the  Southeast.  Some 
75  were  present  at  a  recent  banquet 
at  the  Henry  Grady  Hotel  here,  at 
which  the  following  officers  were  in- 
stalled :  W.  G.  Carmichael,  Universal, 
president;  Frank  W.  Salley,  RKO, 
vice-president ;  Francis  H.  Rudolph, 
Warners,  chairman  of  the  board;  E. 
H.  Hays,  United  Artists,  treasurer ; 
Bill  Talley,  Republic,  recording  secre- 
tary ;  E.  B.  Foster,  financial  secretary. 
A  committee  on  publicity  and  promo- 
tion consists  of  George  M.  Jones,  Col- 
umbia ;  Michael  Hogan,  United  Art- 
ists, and  Riley  P.  Davis,  Universal. 
The  organization  can  be  reached 
through  Postoffice  Box  No.  958,  At- 
lanta. 


FRIDAY,  MAY  19th— THE  NIGHT  OF  NIGHTS 

Charity  Dinner-Dance 

MOTION  PICTURE  ASSOCIATES 

HOTEL  ASTOR 

25th  Silver  Anniversary 

Mammoth  Stage  Show  .  .  .  Two  Bands 
Informal  —  Starts  at  8:30  p.  m. 
Tickets  $7.50  each 
TICKET  COMMITTEE: 

JACK  ELLIS— Chairman 

HARRY  BRANDT  JACK  BOWEN 

DAVID  A.  LEVY  ED  ALPERSON 

SAM  RINZLER  JACK  HATTEM 

BERT  SANFORD  WM.  WHITE 
W.  E.  MacKEE 

Proceeds  to  help  the  needy  -in  our  industry. 
MPA  Has  been  in  the  forefront  for  25  years,  help- 
ing the  deserving.  Endorsed  by  the  industry  — 
supported  by  the  industry.  Help  us  to  help  others, 

MOTION  PICTURE  ASSOCIATES,  Inc. 

MORRIS  SANDERS,  President 


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DETECTIVE 
KITTY  O'DAY 

Jean  Parker 
D — 61  mins.  (322) 

THE  CHINESE 
CAT 
Sidney  Toler 
D— 64  mins.  (320) 

JOHNNY 
DOESN'T  LIVE 
HERE  ANYMORE 
Simone  Simon 
James  Ellison 

FOLLOW  THE 
LEADER 
East  Side 
Kids 
D 

SONORA  STAGE 
COACH 

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O— (365) 

BROADWAY 

RHYTHM 
Ginny  Simms 
George  Murphy 
M— 114  mins.  (419) 
(Color) 

TUNISIAN 
VICTORY 

(Special  Release) 
(466) — 80  mins. 
(Documentary) 

(Seventh  Block) 

ANDY  HARDY'S 
BLONDE 
TROUBLE 
Mickey  Rooney 
Lewis  Stone 
C— 107  mins.  (424) 

GASLIGHT 
Ingrid  Bergman 
Charles  Boyer 
D— (425) 

MEET  THE 
PEOPLE 
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Lucille  Ball 

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Janet  Blair 
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UNDERGROUND 
GUERILLAS 

(British) 
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MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Theatres' 
Women's 
Army  Corps 
Recruiting 

Week 
May  11-17 


VOL.  55.  NO.  94 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  MAY  12,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


fcurbs  on  Film 
Promotions 
In  Key  Cities 

Bill  Poster  Advertising 
Latest  Media  Affected 


Several  film  companies  are  en- 
countering mounting  difficulties  in 
securing  adequate  advertising  and 
promotional  coverage  on  key  city 
openings  of  top  budget  films,  Motion 
Picture  Daily  learned  yesterday 
from  home  office  advertising  spokes- 
men. The  securing  of  adequate  bill- 
posting  coverage  is  the  newest  prob- 
lem confronting  film  advertising  -and 
promotion  heads,  with  difficulties  in 
securing  necessary  advertising  space 
to  promote  film  openings  increasing 
daily. 

As  a  result  of  the  tight  situa- 
tion and  space  limitations  in 
customarily  used  advertising 
media,  advertising  heads  have 

{Continued  on  page  6) 


Joint  Group  Sets 
Invasion  Filming 


All  preparations  to  film  the  invasion 
of  Europe  have  been  completed  for 
some  time  by  a  joint  Anglo-American 
Planning  Committee,  according  to  J. 
L.  Beddington,  director  of  the  film 
division  of  the  British  Ministry  of  In- 
formation, who  is  in  New  York  on  a 
»isit.  "When  I  left  London,"  Bedding- 
ton  said,  "the  city  was  tense  about 
the  invasion ;  everybody  was  speculat- 
ing on  when  it  may  come." 

The  BMOI   division  director  and 

{Continued  on  page  7) 


Capra  New  Assistant 
Chief  of  Army  Films 

Washington,  May  11. — Col- 
onel Frank  Capra  has  been 
appointed  to  serve  as  assist- 
ant chief  of  the  Army  Pic- 
torial Service,  it  was  an- 
nounced here  today  by  the 
War  Department. 

Capra  was  associate  in 
charge  of  production  on  the 
documentary,  "Tunisian  Vic- 
tory" and  also  worked  on  the 
more  recent  film,  "The  Negro 
Soldier."  He  is  presently 
working  on  war  film  matters 
at  the  Signal  Corps  Photo- 
graphic Center  in  Astoria,  L. 
I.,  and  in  Washington. 


New  MGM  Contracts 
Ready  for  '44-45 

Metro  -  Goldwyn  -  Mayer's 
new  'streamlined'  sales  con- 
tract, now  being  drafted,  is 
expected  to  be  ready  in  time 
for  the  new  sales  season.  Ba- 
sically, the  present  contract 
is  being  simplified,  by  Sid- 
ney Bromberg  of  the  com- 
pany's home  office  legal  staff. 

The  objective  is  a  direct 
and  easily  readable  sales 
agreement,  it  was  said. 


2  More  From  Levey 
For  United  Artists 


Jules  Levey,  independent  producer 
releasing  through  United  Artists,  plans 
two  more  productions  this  year  for 
release  in  1944-45  through  that  com- 
pany, he  dis- 
closed to  Mo- 
tion Picture 
Daily  yester- 
day in  an  inter- 
view. 

One  of  the 
two  will  star 
William  Bendix, 
in  an  original 
comedy,  now  be*- 
ing  written  on  a 
post-war  theme. 
The  second  will 
be  selected  from 
five  story  prop- 
erties now  under 
consider-  Jules 
ation.  Levey  is 

considering  a  legitimate  stage  pro- 
duction starring  Bendix  in  the  "Hairy 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Hazen  to  Head  N.Y. 
Office  for  Wallis; 
Para.  Deal  Is  'Hot' 


An  agreement  by  which  Joseph  H. 
Hazen,  former  Warner  vice-president 
and  general  counsel,  will  be  associat- 
ed with  Hal  Wallis  as  head  of  the 
latter's  New  York  office  has  been 
reached,  the  producer  said  here  yes- 
terday. 

Simultaneously,  it  was  reported  that 
Wallis  will  head  his  own  producing 
company  which  will  release  through 
Paramount  and  will  work  at  that  com- 
pany's studio.  The  reports  are  that 
an  agreement  in  principle  was  reached 
prior  to  the  departure  of  Barney  Bala- 
ban,  Paramount  president,  and  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  vice-president  and 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


40  Named  for 
Anniversary 


Forty  exhibitor  leaders  have  ac- 
cepted state  chairmanships  on  the  na- 
tional committee  for  the  industry's 
50th  aniversary  of  commercial  motion 
pictures.  Harold  J.  Fitzgerald,  presi- 
dent of  Fox  Wisconsin  Theatres  and 
national  director  for  the  observance, 
yesterday  announced  the  acceptances, 
as  follows : 

Elmer  Rhoden,  Missouri ;  Ed  Kuy- 
kendall,  Mississippi ;  Howard  E. 
Jameyson,  Kansas ;  John  Danz,  Wash- 
ington ;  Fred  Larkin,  South  Dakota ; 
John  J.  Friedl,  Minnesota ;  George 
Tucker  ;  New  Mexico  ;  Frank  Larson, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


500  Spur  Fifth  War  Loan 
Drive  at  Boston  Rally 


Boston,  May  11. — More  than  500 
exhibitors  from  every  corner  of  New 
England  came  to  Boston  today  at  the 
call  of  Samuel  E.  Pinanski,  of  M.  and 
P.  Theatres,  chairman  of  the  indus- 
try's Massachusetts  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  to  launch  the  New  England 
campaign  at  a  rally  in  the  Hotel  Stat- 
ler.  Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  industry 
national  chairman,  attended  with  his 
lieutenants,  R.  M.  Kennedy,  Ray 
Beall  and  Ned  Depinet. 

Governor  Leverett  Saltonstall 
opened  the  meeting  with  a  tribute  to 
the  work  done  by  the  industry  during 
the  war.  F.  Winchester  Denio,  chair- 
man of  the  War  Finance  Committee 


of  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  and  Maurice 
Tobin,  Mayor  of  Boston,  also  spoke, 
and  so  did  Connie  Russell,  state  chair- 
man for  Maine ;  Ed  Vahey,  state 
chairman  for  New  Hampshire ;  Frank 
Vennett,  state  chairman  for  V ermont ; 
Lou  Brown,  representing  Harry 
Shaw  of  Connecticut ;  I.  J.  Hoffman 
of  Connecticut,  and  Ed  Fay,  chairman 
for  Rhode  Island.  John  J.  Friedl  of 
Minneapolis  offered  the  slogan  "In- 
vest in  Invasion"  as  the  keynote  of  the 
drive.  Still  other  speakers  were 
Leonard  Goldenson,  vice-president  of 
Paramount  in  charge  of  theatre  opera- 
tions and  head  of  the  industry  bond 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


'IndefiniteStay' 
Prospect  for 
Men  Over  29 


U.  S.  Sets  New  Policy 
On  Essential  Workers 


Washington,  May  11.— Ironing 
out  uncertainties  about  the  induc- 
tion of  workers  in  essential  posi- 
tions in  the  motion  picture  and 
other  industries,  Selective  Service  Di- 
rector Lewis  B.  Hershey  announced 
tonight  that  while  there  will  be  no 
change  in  the  limitations  on  the  de- 
ferment of  registrants  in  the  18-25 
year  category,  those  in  the  26-29  year 
class  may  expect  to  remain  in  civilian 
life  "for  the  time  being,"  and  men 
over  29  have  the  prospect  of  an  in- 
definite stay. 

Production  of  motion  pictures 
and  the  development  of  film  are 
listed  as  "essential  activities"  by 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Rank  Urges  Council 
Plan  on  British 


London,  May  11. — J.  Arthur  Rank 
called  a  meeting  here  today  of  repre- 
sentatives of  the  British  Film  Produc- 
ers Association,  Cinematograph  Ex- 
hibitors' Association  and  the  Kine- 
matograph  Renters'  Society,  relative 
to  his  projected  plan  for  the  establish- 
ment of  a  grand  industry  council  for 
the  two-fold  purpose  of  resisting  at- 
tempts at  government  control,  and  of 
cultivating  an  awareness  in  the  nation 
of  the  industry's  ideals  and  sense  of 
responsibility. 

A  prolonged  discussion  ensued  as 
to  whether  the  CEA  or  the  KRS 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Union  Filing  Is  Now 
Off  Until  Aug.  15 

Washington,  May  11. — Un- 
ions and  Guilds  in  the  Motion 
Picture  and  other  industries 
have  been  given  until  August 
15  to  file  their  1943  income 
and  expenditure  information 
returns,  it  was  announced  by 
the  Internal  Revenue  Bureau 
here  today. 

Announcement  of  the  Au- 
gust 15  deadline  follows  a 
postponement  of  the  final 
date  of  May  15  authorized 
last  month,  to  July  15. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


V 


Friday,  May  12,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


COL.     NATHAN  LEVINSON, 
head  of  the  sound  department  at 
the  Warner  Bros,  studios,  will  leave 
New  York  for  the  Coast  on  Monday. 
• 

Alfred  W.  Schwalberg,  Interna- 
tional Pictures  Eastern  representative, 
and  Robert  Goldstein,  New  York 
manager,  have  delayed  their  departure 
to  the  Coast  until  May  19. 

• 

Jules  Field,  20th  Century-Fox  as- 
sistant exploitation  manager,  left  for 
Indianapolis  and  Cincinnati  yesterday 
for  conferences  with  branch  managers 
George  Landis  and  Leavitt  Bugie. 
• 

Dave  Palfreyman  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Producers  and  Distributors  of 
America  is  expected  back  from  Col- 
umbus, 0.,  on  Monday. 

• 

Miriam  Quirk,  secretary  to  Mau- 
rice  Bergman,   Universal's  Eastern 
advertising-publicity  director,  has  re- 
turned to  her  desk  after  a  honeymoon. 
• 

Theodore  A.  Shaw,  assistant  to  W. 
C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox  West- 
ern sales  manager,  celebrated  his  25th 
year  with  the  company  yesterday. 
• 

Lillian  Bliss,  secretary  to  Larry 
Kent  at  20th  Century-Fox,  was  mar- 
ried yesterday  to  'David  Moore,  New 
York  businessman. 

• 

Stanley  Hand,  Altec  Service  staff 
representative,  has  returned  to  New 
York  from  a  swing  around  the  coun- 
try. 

• 

Fred  Meyers,  Universal's  Eastern 
sales  manager,  is  on  vacation.  He  is 
expected  back  May  22. 

• 

Edward  Finney,  independent  pro- 
ducer, in  New  York  for  a  short  visit, 
will  return  to  Hollywood  on  Tuesday 


Engel  Clan  Will 
Gather  on  May  28 


Schaefer,  20th-Fox 
In  Release  Deal 

A  releasing  deal  for  Mr.  and  Mrs 
Armand  Denis'  "Outposts  Unknown,' 
made  in  Africa,  India  and  Burma,  and 
financed  by  George  J.  Schaefer,  was 
closed  yesterday  with  20th  Century 
Fox.  The  same  couple  made  "Goona 
Goona,"  "Dark  Rapture"  and  "Wheels 
Across  India." 


Dave  Bader  to  Omaha 

Omaha,  May  11.— Dave  Bader  of 
St.  Louis  has  been  named  to  succeed 
Elmer  Dunas  on  the  sales  staff  of  the 
Columbia  exchange  here.  Dunas  is 
on  an  extended  leave  of  absence  due  to 
illness. 


'Jacobowskif  for  1945 

Columbia's  film  production  of  •  the 
Theater  Guild's  "Jacobowsky  and  the 
Colonel"  will  be  released  next  year  and 
not  this  year. 


Sam  Dembow 


Boston,  May  11. — Members  of  the 
industry's  Engel  Family — of  which  the 
industry's  Dembows  and  Greenbergs 
are  a  branch — will  hold  a  reunion  here 
on  May  28.  Plans 
for  the  affair  are 
in  the  hands  of 
Phil  Engel,  film 
publicist.  The  En- 
gels  -  interrelated 
branches  claim 
that  no  other  sin- 
gle family  tree  in 
the  country  can 
claim  a  100  per 
cent  record  of  be- 
ing so  numerous- 
ly engaged  in  mo- 
tion pictures. 

Members  of  the 
clan  will  come 
from  Massachu- 
setts, Pennsylvania  (where  the  clan 
first  settled  scores  of  years  ago),  New 
York,  New  Jersey,  Washington,  D.  G, 
and  Rhode  Island. 

Every  man  in  the  gathering  was  in 
some  respects  a  pioneer  in  the  indus- 
try. Sam  Dembow,  vice-president  of 
Paramount,  and  George  Dembow, 
vice-president  and  general  sales  man- 
ager of  National  Screen,  will  be 
among  the  honored  members  of  the 
clan.  Joseph  Engel  holds  an  execu- 
tive position  with  Republic ;  Jack  En- 
gel is  Republic's  district  manager  in 
Philadelphia ;  Jack  Greenberg  operates 
20  theatres ;  Ben  Greenberg  is  a  thea- 
tre operator  in  Rhode  Island ;  Harold 
Greenberg  is  film  buyer  in  the  Pough- 
keepsie  district  for  Netco;  Samuel 
Dembow  was  one  of  the  first  officials 
of  the  old  Famous  Players ;  Harry 
Dembow  operates  a  circuit  in  New 
Jersey  and  Pennsylvania ;  Phil  Engel 
is  New  England  publicist  for  United 
Artists.  These  and  many  others  of 
the  family  will  be  on  hand. 


Industry  Tribute 
For  UJA  Drive 


Plans  for  a  film-amusement  industry 
luncheon  to  honor  an  outstanding 
member  of  the  industry  as  part  of  the 
United  Jewish  Appeal's  1944  campaign 
to  raise  $32,000,000  took  shape  here 
yesterday  at  a  luncheon  and  meeting 
of  representatives  of  the  amusement 
division  at  the  Hotel  Astor.  The  in- 
dustry tribute  will  be  held  at  the  Astor 
with  a  tentative  date  of  June  6  set. 
David  Bernstein,  Loew's  vice-president 
and  treasurer,  presided  at  yesterday's 
meeting. 

The  tribute  was  recommended  by  a 
special  committee  designated  to  study 
the  best  method  of  the  film  and  amuse- 
ment industries'  participation  in  the 
drive. 

Present  at  yesterday's  meeting  were 
Malcolm  Kingsberg,  Samuel  Schneid- 
er, Abe  Schneider,  George  J.  Schaefer, 
Louis  Phillips,  Arthur  Israel,  Jr., 
Harry  Brandt,  Sam  Rinzler,  Harry 
Mandel,  Sol  Schwartz,  Samuel  Cohen, 
Emil  Friedlander,  Leopold  Friedman, 
Ida  Garretson,  Irving  H.  Greenfield, 
Marcus  Heiman,  William  Klein,  Sam- 
uel Machnovitch,  Arthur  Mayer, 
Harry  A.  Nadel,  Abe  Olman,  Ralph 
I.  Poucher,  J.  J.  Robbins,  Morris  San- 
ders, R.  Sanders,  Max  -Seligman,  Sam 
Shain  and  Max  Wolff. 


U.  S.  Asks  Dismissal 
Of  'Little  Three' 

Buffalo,  May  11. — The  Department 
of  Justice  has  filed  a  motion  in  Fed 
eral  District  court  here,  returnable 
May  19,  for  the  dismissal  of  Columbia, 
United  Artists  and  Universal  from  the 
Governments'  anti-trust  suit  against 
the  Schine  Circuit. 

The  action  follows  agreement  by  the 
Government  and  the  three  companies 
in  New  York  last  week  to  enter  into 
stipulations  eliminating  the  three  as 
defendants  in  the  action.  Trial  of  the 
suit  against  Schine  is  scheduled  to 
get  under  way  here  May  19  but  court 
observers, believe  that  a  postponement 
is  likely. 


Sam  Moscow  Dies 
After  Long  Illness 


Atlanta,  May  11. — Sam  Moscow, 
59,  Columbia  division  manager  here, 
died  this  morning  at  his  home  after 
an  illness  of  several  years,  during 
most  of  which  he  directed  the  opera- 
tion of  his  office  by  telephone. 

Moscow,  a  native  of  London,  began 
a  theatrical  career  by  singing  the 
accompaniment  for  illustrated  slides 
and  later,  in  1911,  formed  Moscow 
Film  Co.  He  was  with  Warner  Fea- 
tures, Boston  Photoplay  Co.  and  In- 
dependent Films,  prior  to  joining  Col- 
umbia when  it  was  organized,  in  1924. 
He  traveled  New  England  for  that 
company  until  1931,  when  he  was 
appointed  division  manager. 

Moscow  is  survived  by  his  wife, 
a  daughter,  Mrs.  A.  S.  Daniels,  New- 
ton, Mass.,  and  a  son,  Pfc.  Bob  Mos- 
cow, Camp  Edison,  Ft.  Monmouth, 
N.  J.   

Columbia  executives  Jack  Cohn,  A. 
Montague,  Joseph  A.  McConville,  Rube 
Jackter,  Louis  Weinberg,  Louis  Astor 
and  Hank  Kaufman  will  leave  tomor- 
row for  Boston,  where  funeral  serv- 
ices will  be  held  Sunday  for  Sam 
Moscow  at  Solomon's  Funeral  Parlor, 
Brookline. 


William  Klehr  Dies 

William  Klehr,  68,  who  designed 
electric  fixtures  for  theatres  and  hotels, 
including  Radio  City  Music  Hall  and 
the  Waldorf-Astoria,  died  Wednesday 
at  his  home  in  Forest  Hills,  Queens, 
L.  I. 


UA-Powell  Reception 

United  Artists  will  sponsor  a  recep- 
tion and  musicale  in  honor  of  14-year- 
old  Jane  Powell,  star  of  "Song  of  the 
Open  Road,"  at  the  Hampshire  House 
Monday  afternoon.  Miss  Powell  is  on 
a  tour  of  Army  camps,  hospitals  and 
canteens. 


Regional  Meetings 
For  PRC  This  Year 

The  PRC  national  convention 
scheduled  for  May  29-31  in  Holly- 
wood has  been  cancelled  for  three  re- 
gional, it  was  learned  here  yesterday. 
Lack  of  traveling  and  hotel  accommo- 
dations are  the  reasons  for  the  change 
The  Coast  meeting  will  be  held  in 
Hollywood  on  the  original  dates 
scheduled,  with  Leon  Fromkess,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  production,  and 
Leo  J.  McCarthy,  general  sales  man- 
ager, as  chairmen.  Meetings  at  Chi- 
cago and  New  York  will  be  held  di- 
rectly after  the  Coast  session,  also 
attended  by  Fromkess  and  McCarthy. 

Modified  distributor  contracts  will 
be  presented  to  each  franchise  holder 
at  the  meetings,  it  is  understood. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's  production 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
A  Clarence  Brown  Production 
Gala  Stage  Revue       Symphony  Orchestra 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.   Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 
MGM'S 

BROADWAY 


RHYTHM 


GEORGE 
MURPHY 
GINNY  SIMMS 


IN  PERSON 

ADRIAN 
ROLLINI 
TRIO 

SUNNY 
SKYLAR 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


Paramount  presents 

"GOING  MY  WAY" 

with  BING  CROSBY  and  RISE  STEVENS 

pe'rL  CHARLES  SPIVAK  T« 

WESSON  BROS. 
PARAMOUNT    Times  Square 


Betty  GRABLE  .  Charlie  SPIVAK  &  Orch. 

4 PIN-UP  GIRL' 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 

Plus  on  Stage — Connee  Boswell 
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The  Inside  Story  of  the  World's  Worst  Gangsters 

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"The  Hitler  Gang" 

BRANDT'S  GLOBE 


B'way  &  46  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief ;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  '  Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  j.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Eane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  BIdg.,  WUliari 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  claw 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


f  Friday,  May  12,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Ohio  ITO  to  Spur- 
Action  on  Decree 

Columbus,  May  11.— The  In- 
dependent  Theatre  Owners  of 
Ohio  passed  a  resolution  yes- 
.(       terday  at  its  closing  session 
3       asking  members  to  contact 
i      their    Congressmen    with  a 
view  to  obtaining  more  vig- 
orous action  on  the  consent 
-M  decree. 

All  officers  were  reelected, 
.j  likewise  all  directors,  except 
|  two. 

'!■ 

Delay  Foreign  Film 
=  'Cultural'  Program 


'     Washington,  May  11.- — Legislation 
/  authorizing  the  State  Department  to 
undertake  on  a  world-wide  basis  the 
■  cultural   programs   applied   in  Latin 
.  America  by  the  Coordinator  of  Inter- 
American  Affairs,  including  a  sizeable 
use  of  motion  pictures,  is  likely  to 
be  pigeonholed  by  the  House  Foreign 
Affairs  Committee. 

Chairman  Sol  Bloom  of  New  York 
and  some  other  members  of  the  com- 
mittee indicated  doubt  about  the  wis- 
dom of  such  programs,  which,  it  is 
u  felt,  might  lead  abroad  to  distrust 
i  and  dislike.  The  legislation  provided 
for  the  exchange  of  motion  pictures, 
radio  programs,  etc. 

Hearings  which  had  been  scheduled 
to  open  here  this  week  have  been 
postponed  and  there  is  some  question 
whether  they  will  be  called  before  the 
Summer  recess  of  Congress. 

m 


Opposition  to  Bill 
To  End  War  Time 

Washington,  May  11. — Legislation 
.to  return  the  country  to  Standard 
Time  ran  into  its  first  hurdle  today 
when  Representative  Clarence  Can- 
non of  Missouri  told  a  House  Inter- 
;   state   Commerce   sub-committee  that 
.  the  War  Production  Board  estimated 
that  abandonment  of  War  Time  would 
necessitate  the  consumption  of  an  ad- 
ditional  1,500,000  kilowatts  of  elec- 
tricity and  1,000,000  tons  of  coal. 
Cannon  appeared  as  the  first  witness 
!  before  the  sub-committee  to  tell  of  the 
j  large    volume    of    approving  letters 
I  which  he  has  received  on  the  bill. 
r  The  legislation  is  expected  to  receive 
r  the  support  of  theatre  owners,  par- 
I   ticularly    those    operating  open-air 
projects,   and  of  farmers'  organiza- 
tions. 


Permanent  Record  of 
Theatres'  (Wac  Week' 

The  names  of  those  theatres  which 
'  participate  in  the  current  Women's 
Army  Corps  Recruiting  Week  drive 
will  be  recorded,  with  the  number  of 
i  recruits,  in  a  special  booklet  which  is 
1  to  be  sent  to  the  War  Department  as 
representative  of  the  role  of  the  in- 
!  dustry  in  the  war  effort,  the  War  Ac- 
i  tivities  Committee  reported  here  yes- 
terday. 

Meanwhile,  Walter  J.  Kessler  of 
Loew's  Theatre  in  Canton,  O.,  in- 
formed WAC  headquarters  here  that 
he  had  enlisted  a  full  squad  of  recruits 
:  for  the  Wac  two  hours  after  the  drive 
opened. 


Yates,  Grainger  End 
Republic  Meet  Here 


Herbert  J.  Yates,  chairman  of  the 
board  of  Republic  Pictures,  and  James 
R.  Grainger,  president  and  general 
sales  manager,  concluded  the  1944-45 
series  of  regional  sales  meetings  with 
yesterday's  closing  session  of  a  two- 
day  conference  at  New  York  Athletic 
Club  here.  Meetings  had  previously 
been  held  in  Hollywood  and  Chicago. 

Grainger  repeated  that  eight  high 
budget  productions  are  slated  for  the 
coming  year  as  the  first  step  toward 
added  concentration  on  such  product. 
Breaking  down  the  balance  of  the  32 
features  on  next  season's  schedule, 
Grainger  said  that  eight  "Victory" 
productions  head  the  list,  which  also 
includes  eight  "Anniversary,"  eight 
"Jubilee"  productions  and  eight  Roy 
Rogers'  pictures.  He  reported  that 
business  on  Rogers'  films  has  doubled 
during  the  last  year.  The  company's 
straight  Western  program  lists  eight 
Red  Ryder  subjects,  starring  "Wild 
Bill"  Elliott,  eight  Smiley  Burnette 
films  and  eight  with  Allan  Lane.  Four 
serials  complete  the  list.  In  addition, 
Republic  will  reissue  eight  Gene  Autry 
pictures  during  the  year. 

WB  Circuit  Meeting 
Called  by  Bernhard 

A  meeting  of  Warner  circuit  Eastern 
and  Midwestern  zone  managers  and 
film  buyers  and  home  office  executives 
has  been  called  by  Joseph  Bernhard 
for  Monday  at  the  home  office  here. 

Bernhard,  general  manager,  and 
Harry  M.  Kalmine,  assistant  general 
manager,  will  preside.  Other  home  of- 
fice executives  participating  will  be: 
Clayton  Bond,  Harry  Goldberg,  Frank 
Phelps,  Sam  E.  Morris,  Abel  Vigard, 
W.  Stewart  McDonald,  Harry  Rosen- 
quest,  Louis  Kaufman,  Frank  Mar- 
shall, Nat  Fellman,  Herman  Maier, 
Rudolph  Weiss,  Martin  F.  Bennett. 

Zone  managers  will  include :  James 
Coston,  Chicago;  Nat  Wolf,  Cleve- 
land ;  I.  J.  Hoffman,  New  Haven ;  Don 
Jacocks,  Newark;  C.  J.  Latta,  Al- 
bany ;  Ted  Schlanger,  Philadelphia ; 
M.  A.  Silver,  Pittsburgh,  and  John 
J.  Payette,  Washington.  Film  buyers 
will  be :  Bert  Jacocks  and  Max  Hoff- 
man, New  Haven ;  Frank  Damis,  New- 
ark ;  Max  Friedman,  Albany ;  John 
Turner,  Philadelphia ;  George  Crouch, 
Washington ;  Harry  Feinstein,  Pitts- 
burgh; Alex  Halperin,  Chicago,  and 
Tony  Stern,  Cleveland. 

British  Get  Postwar 
Demands  of  CEA 

London,  .May  11. — Following  sub- 
mission of  data  previously  presented  to 
the  Board  of  Trade  on  behalf  of 
film  producers,  trade  unions  and  labo- 
ratories, detailing  their  post-war 
requirements,  a  Cinematograph  Exhibi- 
tors' Association  delegation,  includ- 
ing president  Sidney  Clift,  vice-presi- 
dent G.  W.  Scarborough,  and  secretary 
W.  R.  Fuller,  saw  BOT  officials  to- 
day, including  Hugh  Gaitskill,  assist- 
ant secretary,  for  the  purpose  of 
outlining  demands  for  post-war  priori- 
ties on  labor  release,  theatre  material, 
rebuilding  of  blitzed  theatres,  and  the- 
atre reconditioning. 


Hurst  To  Review  Films 

Novelist  Fannie  Hurst  will  review 
one  film  a  month  for  Modern  Screen 
magazine. 


OP  A  Cracks  Down 
On  Black  Market 
On  Theatre  Popcorn 


Chicago,  May  11. — A  proposal  that 
theatre  owners  declare  a  moratorium 
on  the  sale  of  popcorn  to  patrons  to 
eradicate  the  widespread  Southern 
and  Midwestern  'Black  Market'  on 
this  product  has  been  made  by  the 
Office  of  Price  Administration  and 
Federal  law  enforcement  agencies 
here. 

While  invoices  to  independent  the- 
atres record  the  ceiling  prices  of  $11.50 
to  $12.50  per  100  pounds  purchased 
from  wholesale  sources,  actual  off- 
the-record  payments  range  from  $16 
to  $20  in  Chicago,  it  was  learned  here. 
And  theatres  in  Southern  states,  par- 
ticularly in  Florida,  are  reported  to 
be  paying  as  high  as  $25. 

It  was  indicated  here  that  if  cor- 
rective steps  are  not  taken  voluntarily 
by  theatre  operators,  Federal  investi- 
gations will  be  instituted.  While  the- 
atre operators  may  be  looked  upon  as 
innocent  victims  of  war-time  circum- 
stances they  are  as  guilty  as  the  black 
market  bootleggers,  it  was  stressed 
by  OPA  officials.  The  investigations, 
it  was  promised,  might  lead  to  actions 
similar  to  that  which  resulted  in  a 
$15,000  fine  imposed  upon  an  offender 
in  Omaha,  rated  as  "the  pop  corn  pit" 
of  the  nation. 

Ban  Lobby  Machines 

Major  circuits  in  Chicago  have  ban- 
ned popcorn  machines  in  lobbies.  Only 
independent  theatres  are  featuring  the 
stands  and  managers  of  some  small 
circuits  say  they  are  helpless  to  com- 
bat the  growing  evil  because  the  con- 
cessions are  leased  to  private  confec- 
tion concerns. 

It  is  well  known  to  theatre  oper- 
ators here  that  a  black  market  has 
been  flourishing  in  the  heart  of  Chi- 
cago's film  row  for  weeks.  One  stand- 
ard theatre  supply  house  is  known  to 
have  "muscled"  into  the  popcorn  mar- 
ket in  flagrant  competition  to  the  es- 
tablished, nationally  recognized  deal- 
ers. 

First  to  agree  to  the  proposed  mora- 
torium on  popcorn  is  Maurice  Saul- 
kins,  proprietor  of  "The  Popcorn 
Trading  Post"  on  film  row.  He  has 
closed  his  place. 


KAO,  Keith  Annual 
Meets  Next  Week 

Annual  stockholders'  meeting  of 
Keith-Albee-Orpheurh,  RKO  theatre 
subsidiary,  will  be  held  here  next 
Tuesday.  Stockholders  of  B.  F.  Keith 
Corp.,  another  RKO  circuit  subsidiary, 
will  meet  on  the  following  day. 

Stockholders  of  both  corporations 
will  be  asked  to  reelect  the  -present 
boards  of  directors  with  the  possibil- 
ity of  one  or  two  exceptions,  to  serve 
for  another  yean  Present  directors 
of  both  corporations  are  N.  Peter 
Rathvon,  Ned  E,  Depinet,  Malcolm 
Kingsberg,  Monroe  Goldwater,  J. 
Miller  Walker,  William  E.  Whitman 
and  Gordon  E.  Youngman. 


Henningsen  Is  Manager 

Des  Moines,  May  11.— Cliff  Hen- 
ningsen has  been  named  booker  and 
office  manager  for  Monogram's  local 
branch.  He  succeeds  Iola  Lehman, 
who  was  recently  married. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  11 

BARNEY  BALABAN,  Para- 
mount president,  and  Y.  Frank 
Freeman,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
production,  arrived  here  today  from 
the  East. 

• 

Margaret  Buell  Wilder  has  been 
signed  by  Warners  to  collaborate  with 
Albert  Maltz  on  the  screenplay  of 
"This  Love  of  Ours,"  the  story  of 
Sgt.  Al  Schmid,  Marine  hero,  in  which 
John  Garfield  will  star.  Vincent  Sher^ 
man  will  direct  for  producer  Jerry 
Wald. 

• 

N.  Peter  Rathvon,  RKO  president; 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  of 
Loew's,  Inc.,  and  Ben  Goetz,  M-G-M 
British  studio  managing  director,  ar- 
rived from  New  York  today.  Louis 
B.  Mayer,  M-G-M  production  vice- 
president,  is  due  tomorrow. 

Paramount  has  announced  "Masque- 
rade in  Mexico,"  a  comedy  with  mu- 
sic, starring  Paulette  Goddard  and 
Arturo  De  Cordova.  Karl  Tunberg 
and  Darrell  Ware  will  write  and  pro- 
duce the  film. 

Production  will  be  started  July  5  by 
20th-Fox  on  "Jean  Valjean,"  a  remake 
of  "Les  Miserables,"  with  William 
Perlberg  producing  and  John  Brahm 
directing. 

• 

George  Borthwick,  treasurer  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Producers  and  Dis- 
tributors of  America,  arrived  today 
for  two  weeks  of  conferences  here. 

Lou  Edelman,  Warner  producer,  has 
returned  to  the  studio  from  South 
America. 


Bruen,  Poole  East 
On  OCR  Theatres 

Hollywood,  May  11. — H.  W. 
Bruen  and  Robert  Poole  of  the  Paci- 
fic Coast  Conference  of  Independent 
Theatre  Owners  will  leave  early  next 
week  for  New  York,  Philadelphia  and 
Washington,  to  confer  in  the  latter 
city  with  Tom  Clark,  U.  S.  Assistant 
Attorney  General,  and  George  W.  Mc- 
Murphey,  chief  of  the  Office  of  Civil- 
ian Requirements'  recreation  section, 
concerning  OCR's  plans  for  the  erec- 
tion of  new  theatres  in  congested  war 
industry  areas. 

The  PCCITO  contends  that  there 
is  no  need  for  additional  theatres  on 
the  West  Coast,  and  where  such  need 
exists,  independents  are  capable  of  un- 
dertaking this  construction. 

The  PCCITO  officials  will  attend 
National  Allied  meetings  in  Phila- 
delphia, May  23-26. 


Reserves  Gem  Decision 

Supreme  Court  Justice  Julius  Miller 
here  yesterday  reserved  decision  on  the 
motion  by  Universal  Pictures  to  dis- 
miss the  complaint  filed  by  Gem  Pic- 
tures alleging  breach  of  contract  and 
demanding  damages  of  $4,500. 


Lundy,  Exnloiteer,  Dies 

James  Felix  Lundy,  39,  Paramount 
West  Coast  advertising  representa- 
tive, died  yesterday  of  a  heart  ailment 
at  the  Gramercy  Hotel  here. 


QtiP 


HO 


ptay 


WORLD  PREMIERES 

DAY  AND  DATE  MAY  18 

PARAMOUNT  •  SAN  FRANCISCO 
PARAMOUNT  •  OAKLAND 
COSTA      •  RICHMOND 


DAY  AND  DATE  MAY  19 

PARAMOUNT,  LOS  ANGELES  •  PARAMOUNT,  HOLLYWOOD 


6 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


Friday,  May  12,  1944 


Curbs  on  Film 
Promotions 
In  Key  Cities 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

begun  to  scout  around  for  new 
media;  radio  is  a  partial  solu- 
tion in  some  instances. 

Manpower  shortages  in  many  key 
cities,  coupled  with  limitations  placed 
on  the  number  of  available  billboards 
due  to  their  utilization  for  war  mes- 
sages, is  making  it  almost  impossible 
to  secure  billboard  coverage  on  key 
city  film  openings  unless  a  campaign 
is  set  up  three  months  in  advance,  it 
was  said.  Advertising  (heads  here 
frankly  admit  that  they  can  not  hope 
to  secure  any  widespread  billposter 
coverage  otherwise.  In  many  cities 
the  supply  of  men  available  for  post- 
ing is  exceedingly  limited  with  dis- 
tribution of  posters  and  store  cards 
also  facing  increasing  curtailment  for 
similar  reasons. 

Cut  News  Space  Further 

Newspapers  in  most  key  cities  are 
further  limiting  film  advertising  with 
the  overall  curtailment  reaching  50 
per  cent  in  the  amount  of  space  avail- 
able in  some  places.  Theatres  are 
limited  to  400  line  newspaper  ads  in 
Philadelphia  and  Cleveland  with 
Pittsburgh  papers  holding  theatres  to 
300  line  maximums,  as  typical  of  con- 
ditions. Other  cities  have  set  month- 
ly quotas  for  theatres  but  this  does 
not  guarantee  the  availability  of 
space  when  it  is  required  for  film 
openings.  There  has  also  been  con- 
siderable space  curtailment  in  maga- 
zines. 

Further  space  difficulties  are  ex- 
pected once  the  invasion  of  Fortress 
Europe  gets  underway  since  newspa- 
pers will  probably  double  space  alot- 
ted  to  news  coverage,  and  further  re- 
ductions in  newsprint  are  in  the 
offing. 

In  an  effort  to  meet  newspaper  space 
'imitations  on  amusement  pages,  sev- 
eral film  companies  have  recently 
managed  to  place  advertising  copy  in 
sections  other  than  amusements,  pay- 
ing increased  lineage. 


500  Spur  Fifth  War  Loan 
Drive  at  Boston  Rally 


'Indefinite  Stay'  for 
Men  Over  29  Seen 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  War  Manpower  Commission, 
under  the  heading  of  "com- 
munications services,"  as  are 
radio  and  television  also.  All 
men  30  and  over  in  these  fields 
are  eligible  for  deferment; 
those  between  26  and  29  are 
eligible  if  they  are  "necessary" 
men. 

Because  the  Army  already  has 
reached  its  authorized  strength  and 
the  Navy  is  near  that  point,  General 
Hershey  explained,  fewer  men  will 
be  needed  for  service  and  emphasis 
will  be  placed  on  the  vigorous  and 
physically  fit  men  between  18  and  26 
years.  It  was  emphasized,  however, 
that  registrants  up  to  the  age  of  38 
who  do  not  qualify  for  occupational 
deferment  may  be  called  by  draft 
boards  where  necessary  to  supplement 
the  supply  of  younger  men. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
sales  during  the  campaign ;  Major  Al- 
len V.   Martini,   U.   S.   Army  Air 
Forces,  known  for  his  many  exploits 
during  World  War  II. 

A  highlight  was  the  introduction 
of  New  England's  "Honored  Hun- 
dred" winners,  who  had  just  returned 
from  the  industry's  war  loan  meetings 
in  Washington.  They  were :  Fred 
M.  Hugley,  Westbrook,  Me. ;  Melvin 
Morrison,  Dover,  N.  H. ;  Eugene  C. 
Keenan,  Newport,  Vt. ;  H.  W.  Beals, 
Brockton,  Mass. ;  W.  S.  Canning, 
Fall  River,  Mass. ;  Arthur  J.  Keenan, 
Lowell,  Mass. ;  P.  J.  Crawley,  Cen- 
tral Falls,  R.  I.;  Albert  M.  Pickus, 
Stratford,  Conn. ;  Joseph  G.  Samar- 
tino,  Meriden,  Conn. 

Pinanski  introduced  others  at  the 
head  table,  who  did  not  speak.  They 
included:  M.  J.  Mullin,  member, 
WAC  advisory  committee ;  A.  M. 
Kane,  area  distributor  chairman;  I. 
J.  Hofftfian,  New  Haven  campaign 
and  WAC  leader;  Joseph  Brennan, 
executive  secretary,  WAC,  Boston 
area,  and  secretary  of  Allied  of  Mas- 
sachusetts, and  Ed  W.  Ruff,  Con- 
necticut distributor  chairman. 

Pinanski  thanked  the  arrangement 
committee  of  Harry  Browning,  Paul 
Levi,  Joseph  Yongo,  Jack  Saef,  Arn- 
old Van  Leer,  Don  Prince  and  Red 
King.  He  also  thanked  the  U.  S. 
Coast  Guard  Band  for  appearing. 

State  chairmen  and  WAC  directors 
met  with  O'Donnell  after  the  meeting 


to  discuss  last  minute  instructions  in 
further  detail. 

The  meeting  opened  with  a  parade 
of  the  colors  and  the  formation  of 
a  color  guard  of  Wacs  and  Marine 
auxiliaries  on  the  stage. 


16  Rallies  Are  Set; 
Buffalo  on  Monday 

The  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
area  rallies  will  be  resumed  on  Mon- 
day with  a  luncheon  in  the  Hotel 
Statler  in  Boston.  Lou  Golding,  up- 
state New  York  exhibitor  chairman 
and  M.  A.  Brown,  Buffalo  area  dis- 
tributor chairman,  are  scheduled  to 
participate,  along  with  delegations 
from  Albany,  Rochester,  Syracuse, 
Gloversville,  Utica  and  Oneida. 

Union  crafts  are  being  contacted  to 
attend  all  regional  rallies.  Chairmen 
have  also  been  asked  to  invite  the  at- 
tendance of  representatives  of  equip- 
ment companies,  trucking  services  and 
other  lines  allied  with  films. 

Following  Buffalo,  other  regional 
meetings,  as  now  definitely  set  by  the 
national  committee  in  consultation 
with  state  and  regional  chairmen,  will 
be  as  follows :  Cleveland,  May  16 ; 
Indianapolis,  May  17;  St.  Louis,  May 
18 ;  Chicago,  May  19 ;  Minneapolis, 
May  20 ;  Des  Moines,  May  22 ;  Oma- 
ha, May  22 ;  Denver,  May  23 ;  San 
Francisco,  May  25 ;  Los  Angeles,  May 
26 ;  Dallas,  May  29 ;  Atlanta,  May  31, 
and  New  York,  June  2. 


Wallis,  Hazen  Set; 
Maybe  Para.  Next 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
studio  head,  for  the  Coast  last  week- 
end and  that  final  details  will  be 
worked  out  during  the  next  few  days 
by  Wallis  and  Hazen,  with  Austin 
Keough,  Paramount  vice-president 
and  general  counsel.  It  was  further 
predicted  that  an  announcement  of 
the  closing  of  a  deal  would  be  made 
early  next  week. 

When  questioned  yesterday  Wallis 
would  not  confirm  the  report.  He 
said  he  still  is  considering  several  of- 
fers and  has  made  no  irrevocable  de- 
cision yet. 

"My  talks  with  Paramount,"  he 
said,  "are  no  different  than  those 
which  still  are  continuing  with  sev- 
eral others.  Anything  still  is  pos- 
sible." 

Loyd  Wright,  Wallis's  West  Coast 
attorney,  who  has  been  here  for  the 
past  several  weeks,  plans  to  leave  for 
Hollywood  today  or  tomorrow. 

Specifying  that  Hazen  would  head 
his  organization  in  the  East,  Wallis 
said:  "We  have  reached  an  under- 
standing and  all  that  remains  is  to  put 
it  in  writing." 

Discards  Para.  Claims 

Federal  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe  here 
yesterday  signed  an  order  removing 
from  the  reorganization  record  of 
Paramount-Publix  Corp.,  now.  Para- 
mount Pictures,  Inc.,  two  claims  filed 
by  New  York  State  for  franchise 
taxes  amounting  to  $61,814.  Bank- 
ruptcy Referee  John  E.  Joyce,  who 
heard  testimony  in  the  case,  recom- 
mended that  the  claims  be  stricken 
from .  the  record,  pointing  out  that 
state  authorities  had  offered  no  ob- 
jection to  the  procedure. 


RKO  Files  Denial 
In  Film  Lawsuit 

RKO-Radio  yesterday  filed  a  denial 
in  Federal  Court  here  of  allegations 
contained  in  the  $506,702  breach  of 
contract  suit  filed  against  it  by  Ste- 
phens-Lang Productions,  Inc.,  produc- 
ers of  a  series  of  six  "Dr.  Christian" 
films. 

The  company  pointed  out  that  the 
plaintiff  was  required  to  spend  a  mini- 
mum of  $100,000  for  the  production 
of  each  of  the  films  but  stated  that 
prior  to  the  execution  of  the  agree- 
ment, the  plaintiff  advised  RKO  that 
it  lacked  sufficient  funds  to  enable  it 
to  meet  production  costs  unless  it  bor- 
rowed the  money.  RKO  offered  to  re- 
fund $12,430  in  charges  billed  against 
the  six  films,  stating  that  the  charges 
were  billed  in  error.  No  date  has  been 
set  for  the  trial. 


Denies  Injunction  to 
Stop  'Negro  Soldier9 

Following  his  action  on  Tuesday  va- 
cating a  stay  granted  by  Federal  Judge 
Henry  W.  Goddard  here  on  April  25, 
Federal  Judge  Alfred  C.  Coxe  has 
dismissed  a  petition  for  an  injunction 
to  prevent  the  run  of  "The  Negro  Sol- 
dier," produced  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment and  scheduled  for  War  Activities 
Committee  distribution. 

The  petition  was  sought  by  Negro 
Marches  On,  Inc.,  producers  of  "We've 
Come  a  Long,  Long  Way,"  which,  it 
was  alleged,  would  suffer  unfair  com- 
petition from  the  Government  film. 

A.  Allen  Saunders,  counsel  for  the 
plaintiff,  has  stated  that  he  will  now 
seek  a  similar  injunction  against  the 
War  Department  in  Federal  Court  in 
Washington. 


40  Named  for 
Anniversary 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Idaho;  J.  L.  Cartwright,  Florida;  F. 
H.  Ricketson,  Colorado;  J.  J.  Rubens, 
Illinois ;  Ed  Fay,  Rhode  Island ;  Harry 
F.  Shaw,  Connecticut;  M.  S.  McCord, 
Arkansas;  William  Miskell,  Ne- 
braska; Tony  Sudekum,  Tennessee; 
L.  C.  Griffith,  Oklahoma;  John  Har- 
ris, Pennsylvania;  Fred  Dolle,  Ken- 
tucky, Tom  Berta,  Wyoming;  Lewis 
Black,  Delaware ;  Don  Sheedy,  Mon- 
tana; Fenton  Scribner,  New  Hamp- 
shire. 

Also,  Nikitas  Dipson,  West  Vir- 
ginia; Bob  White,  Oregon;  Ben  Am- 
sterdam, New  Jersey;  Frank  Vennett, 
Vermont;  E.  C.  Grainger,  New  York; 
Lou  Christ,  Arizona ;  Harold  Chessler, 
Utah;  A.  D.  Kvoll  and  T.  M.  Ellis, 
Wisconsin;  Earl  Hudson  and  Martin 
Thomas,  Michigan;  M.  C.  Cooper  and 
Ed  Kraus,  North  Dakota;  Marc 
Woolf,  Don  Rossiter  and  Ken  Col- 
lins, Indiana ;  Robert  Poole,  Cali- 
fornia. 


SMPE  Will  Celebrate 
Industry's  50  Years 

A  50th  aniversary  program  covering 
the  past,  present  and  future  of  the 
industry  has  been  scheduled  for  the 
Hotel  Pennsylvania  here  on  the  eve- 
ning of  May  24  by  the  Atlantic  Coast 
section  of  the  Society  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Engineers. 

James  Frank,  Jr.,  who  arranged  the 
program,  has  obtained  from  the  Mu- 
seum of  Modern  Art  a  16mm  historical 
sound  film  produced  several  years  ago 
by  the  March  of  Time.  Lieut.  Robert 
Longini,  who  served  18  months  in 
North  Africa  and  Italy,  will  report  on 
the  technical  problems  of  newsreel 
cameramen  overseas  and  will  show 
several  reels  of  16mm  sound  film  taken 
at  the  front.  Also  on  the  agenda  are 
a  General  Electric  picture  showing 
how  television  will  work  in  the  future 
and  an  International  Projector  exhibi- 
tion of  historic  projector  mechanisms. 


SOPEG  To  Meet  on 
Contract  for  3,000 

Progress  of  negotiations  for  new 
contracts  with  film  companies  here  for 
some  3,000  "white  collar"  workers, 
and  other  important  phases  of  the 
work  of  the  Screen  Office  and  Pro- 
fessional Employes  Guild,  Local  109, 
CIO,  will  be  discussed  at  an  all-day 
conference  to  be  held  at  the  Fraternal 
Clubhouse  here  tomorrow.  Peter  K. 
Hawley,  CIO  member  of  the  War 
Labor  Board  Region  II  and  member 
of  the  general  executive  board  of  the 
United  Office  and  Professional  Work- 
ers of  America,  and  H.  Richard  Sel- 
ler of  the  New  York  Newspaper 
Guild,  will  be  guest  speakers. 


2  More  from  Levey 
For  United  Artists 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Ape"  or  in  another  property,  opening 
on  Broadway  or  the  Coast  this  Fall, 
he  said. 

Levey  will  leave  New  York  next 
week  on  a  five-week  tour  of  key  cities 
to  explore  publicity  media  available  for 
his  recently  completed  "Hairy  Ape," 
soon  to  be  released  by  UA,  and  also  to 
meet  with  exhibitors. 


Friday,  May  12,  1944 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


7 


Selznick  to  Appeal 
In  Chaplin  Action 


Raising  a  Constitutional  issue  which 
could  pave  the  way  for  taking  David 
O.  Selznick's  Vanguard  Films'  de- 
fense in  the  Charles  Chaplin  action  for 
accounting  and  recovery  of  produc- 
tion assets  to  the  U.  S.  Supreme  Court, 
Selznick's  attorneys  yesterday  sought 
leave  of  the  Appellate  Division  here 
to  file  an  appeal  with  the  state  Court 
of  Appeals  at  Albany. 
J  Selznick's  attorneys  are  contesting 
the  validity  of  service  performed  on  the 
defendant  corporations  in  New  York, 
contending  that  the  defendants  are 
California  corporations  and  that  Chap- 
lin's suit  should  be  tried  there.  Jus- 
tice Ferdinand  Pecora  ruled  in  state 
supreme  court  that  the  Selznick  com- 
panies were  engaged  in  business  here 
and  that  the  service  was  proper.  The 
ruling  was  upheld  by  the  Appellate 
Division  on  appeal  by  the  defendants, 
who  now  seek  to  carry  the  appeal  to 
the  state's  highest  court  at  Albany  and 
from  there,  if  necessary,  to  the  U.  S. 
Supreme  Court. 

The  Constitutional  issue  raised  in 
the  new  appeal  move  is  in  the  conten- 
tion that  defendants  could  be  deprived 
of  their  property  without  due  process 
of  law.  It  establishes  grounds  on 
which,  if  recognized  by  the  court,  the 
case  could  be  taken  to  the  U.  S.  Su- 
preme Court. 

Chaplin's  action  charges  that  Selz- 
nick's sale  of  certain  production  assets 
to  20th  Century-Fox  violated  Selz- 
nick's production  agreement  with 
United  Artists  and  seeks  a  recovery 
for  the  latter. 


Texas  House  Files 
Combined  Complaint 

W.  V.  Adwell,  operator  of  the  Roxy, 
Sangelo,  Tex.,  has  filed  a  combined 
some-run  and  clearance  complaint  at 
the  Dallas  tribunal  against  the  five 
decree  companies,  the  American  Ar- 
bitration Association  reported  here 
yesterday. 

The  complainant  states  that  on 
March  23,  1942,  he  filed  a  some-run 
complaint  against  the  companies,  ex- 
cepting RKO.  This  was  dismissed, 
but  the  appeal  board,  in  a  decision  later 
on  an  appeal  by  the  plaintiff,  held  that 
the  distributors  had  violated  section  six 
of  the  decree  in  failing  to  offer  Adwell 
some-run  of  "current"  product  except 
with  what  the  board  held  was  unrea 
sonable  clearance. 

The  plaintiff  now  states  that  despite 
the  directive  by  the  appeal  board,  the 
distributors  have  failed  to  adhere  to 
the  decision,  and  asks  an  award  for 
pictures  available  to  him,  otherwise 
for  clearance  upon  expiration  of  30 
days  after  the  first  run  and  at  a  time 
less  than  90  days  after  the  tradeshow- 
ing  of  pictures. 


Rank  Urges  Council 
Plan  on  British 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
might  have  to  surrender  powers  in- 
herent and  explicit  in  their  respective 
constitutions,  but  with  Rank  pressing 
the  necessity  of  the  council,  the  meet- 
ing today  agreed  to  the  principle  of 
such  an  industry  setup  and  the  sec- 
retaries of  the  three  associations  were 
directed  to  prepare  preliminary  stand- 
ing orders  for  discussion  at  the  next 
meeting  on  June  1. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


HERE'S  A  SAMPLE  OF  NEW 
ALAN  L ADD  SITTING  THAT  JUST 
CAME   I N  FROM  THE  COAST.  THE 
LADD  LOOKS  EVEN  HANDSOMER  THAN 
EVER,   DOES , NT  HE,   AFTER  H I S 
ARMY  SERVI CE?  HE'S  JUST 
FINISHED  AND  NOW  TOMORROW 
WITH  LORETTA  YOUNG,   BY  THE 
"ALL  THIS  AND  HEAVEN, TOO" 
AUTHOR,   AND   I S  WORK  I NG  NOW 
IN  "TWO  YEARS  BEFORE  THE  MAST." 


Joint  Group  Sets 
Invasion  Filming 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

Robert  Riskin,  director  of  the  overseas 
film  division  of  the  U.  S.  Office  of 
War  Information,  now  here,  met  in 
London  with  the  planning  committee, 
which  is  comprised  of  three  represen- 
tatives of  the  British  War  Ministries, 
one  of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  one  of  the 
Canadian  Expeditionary  Force ;  Jock 
Lawrence,  former  executive  of  the  As- 
sociation of  Motion  Picture  Producers, 
representing  the  European  theatre  of 
operations,  U.  S.  Army;  Col.  DuPuis, 
representing  supreme  headquarters  of 
the  Allied  Expeditionary  Force,  and 
Matthew  Fox,  former  Universal  execu- 
tive, representing  the  U.  S.  War  De- 
partment. 

During  his  six-week  stay  in  this 
country,  Beddington  plans  to  visit 
Hollywood  "to  study  American  motion 
picture  production  methods."  He  will 
also  confer  with  British  and  American 
officials  in  Washington. 

Met  with  Sales  Executives 

Beddington  and  Thomas  Baird,  chief 
of  BMOI's  film  division  here,  have 
been  meeting  with  the  general  sales 
managers  and  foreign  sales  managers 
of  several  film  companies  who  have 
distributed  BMOI  documentary  films 
in  the  United  States. 
,  Beddington  and  Baird  are  scheduled 
to  lunch  with  William  F.  Rodgers, 
M-G-M  vice-president  in  charge  of 
distribution.  M-G-M  released  "Tu- 
nisian Victory"  here.  They  have  al- 
ready met  with  Tom  Connors  and 
Maurice  Silverstone  of  20th  Century- 
Fox  and  plan  to  see  Joseph  H.  Seidel- 
man  of  Universal.  Twentieth  Century- 
Fox  released  "Desert  Victory"  and 
Universal,  "Next  of  Kin."  Other 
meetings  will  follow. 


ITOA  Theatre  Poll 
On  Film  Telecasts 


The  Independent  Theatre  Owners 
Association  of  New  York  is  under- 
stood to  be  planning  to  poll  theatre 
owners  throughout  the  country  either 
directly  or  through  an  organization 
like  Gallup  Surveys  on  individual  ex- 
hibitor sentiments  on  the  use  of  Holly- 
wood motion  pictures  for  reproduction 
by  television.  ITOA  has  gone  on 
record  as  being  "unalterably"  opposed 
to  any  move  by  the  companies  to  al- 
low their  pictures  to  be  telecast  on 
the  grounds  that  such  practice  would 
be  in  direct  opposition  to  theatres. 

Harry  Brandt  was  re-elected  presi- 
dent of  the  ITOA  at  a  luncheon  meet- 
ing at  the  Hotel  Astor  here  yesterday. 
Max  A.  Cohen  was  elected  second 
vice-president  and  all  other  officers 
and  directors,  listed  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  yesterday,  were  re-elected 
for  another  year. 

Elected  to  ITOA  committees  were  : 
Abraham  Shenk,  chairman,  Charles 
Steiner  and  Gilbert  Josephson,  finance ; 
Herman  Rachmil,  chairman  and  Ray 
Rhonheimer,  auditing ;  J.  J.  Goldberg, 
chairman,  Samuel  Seelen,  Rhonheimer, 
Abraham  Schenk,  Cohen  and  Irving 
Rentier,  membership ;  and  Rudolph 
Sanders,  Goldberg  and  John  C.  Bolte, 
legislative.  Installation  of  officers  will 
be  held  at  the  Hotel  Astor  June  8. 


Again  the  loyal,  untiring  theatre  men  of  America  win  the  praise  and 
gratitude  of  their  beloved  country.  The  response  to  the  Army's  desperate 
call  is  answered  magnificently  with  showmanship  throughout  the  land. 

 Sponsored  by  War  Activities  Committee  of  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  N.  Y.  C. 


First  in  ^ 


and 
Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


jVOL.  55.  NO.  95 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  MAY  15,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Fear  Ban  on 
Joint  Foreign 
Trade  Action 


State  Dept.  Shift  Snubs 
Exporter  Agreements 


Washington,  May  14. — Indus- 
try executives  interested  in  the  pos- 
sibilities of  postwar  foreign  trade 
are  highly  disturbed,  after  three 
weeks  of  study,  over  the  order  issued 
by  the  State  Department  last  month 
setting  up  an  industry  branch  in  the 
Office  of  Economic  Affairs,  which  is 
to  be  responsible  for  "initiation,  for- 
mulation and  coordination  of  policy 
and  action  on  all  cartel  and  related 
international  arrangements." 

Possibilities  that  the  Depart- 
ment, which  has  promised  to 
give  full  support  to  U.  S.  na- 
tionals operating  abroad,  is 
leaning  toward  a  policy  of  en- 
couraging international  agree- 
ments while  barring  joint  action 
of  exporters  in  foreign  fields, 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Name  6  Film 
Envoys  Soon 


Approximately  six  industry  envoys 
may  be  selected  in  the  near  future  for 
assignment  to  foreign  capitals  as  of- 
ficial industry  representatives,  it  was 
learned  at  the  weekend. 

Assignments  which  are  regarded  as 
likely  to  be  filled  without  undue  de- 
lay are  those  at  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Buenos 
Aires,  Mexico  City,  Barcelona  and, 
possibly,  at  Moscow  and  Bombay. 
The  posts  are  expected  to  be  filled  as 
soon  as  qualified  men  are  available. 
Assignments  to  other,  world  capitals 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


$249,628  Quarter 
Net  for  CFI 

Consolidated  Film  Industries,  Inc., 
on  Saturday,  reported  a  net  profit  of 
$430,394  before  Federal  taxes.  Esti- 
mated  Federal  taxes  amount  to  $180,- 
765,  leaving  a  net  of  $249,628,  which 
compares  with  a  net  for  the  same 
period  for  1943  of  $248,153.  Per  share 
earnings  for  the  first  quarter  of  1944 
are  equivalent  to  50  cents  per  share  on 
the  400,000  shares  of  preferred  stock 
outstanding  and  nine  cents  on  the 
524,973  shares  of  common,  which  com- 
pares similarly  with  the  preferred  and 
common  share  earnings  in  the  same 
quarter  of  1943. 


3  Music  Fees 
For  Canada 


Toronto,  May  14. — Canadian  thea- 
tre owners  are  now  compelled  to  pay 
for  the  use  of  musical  compositions 
virtually  three  times  through  a  judg- 
ment handed  down  by  the  Copyright 
Appeal  Board  granting  authority  for 
the  American  Performing  Rights  So- 
ciety of  New  York  to  impose  an  an- 
nual license  fee.  Exhibitors  already 
contribute  an  annual  seat  tax  to 
the  Canadian  Performing  Rights  So- 
ciety of  Toronto  as  well  as  a  score 
charge  included  in  film  rentals. 

The  board's  decision  permits  the 
American  Society  of  Composers  to 
impose  an  annual  tax  of  a  half  cent 
per  seat  for  theatres  of  1,600  seats  or 
more ;  one  quarter  of  a  cent  per  seat 
when  the  capacity  is  less  than  1,600 
seats  and  one-eighth  of  a  cent  for 
theatres  open  less  than  four  days 
weekly.  The  American  Society  is  also 
authorized  to  collect  an  annual  fee 
from  broadcasting  stations.  The  Cana- 
dian Performing  Rights  Society  sched- 
ule of  seat  fees  up  to  75  cents  was  not 
reduced  to  compensate  for  the  new 
impost  as  asked  by  theatre  owners. 


See  Adoption  of  UA 
Amendments  Today 

Amendments  designed  to  transfer 
wider  operating  authority  in  United 
Artists  from  owners  to  management 
through  changes  in  the  company's  cer- 
tificate of  incorporation  are  scheduled 
to  be  acted  upon  at  the  adjourned  an- 
nual meeting  of  stockholders  at  Wilm- 
ington, Del.,  today.  Adoption  of  the 
amendments  by  a  majority  vote  is  ex- 
pected within  the  company. 

The  proposed  amendments  would  in- 
crease the  United   Artists  board  of 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


'Free  Movie  Day'  Is 
Set  for  July  6 

Thursday,  July  6,  has  been 
set  as  "Free  Movie  Day"  in 
the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  R. 
J.  O'Donnell,  national  indus- 
try chairman,  announced  at 
the  weekend.  Objective  is  a 
"Free  Movie  Day"  in  every 
theatre  in  the  U.  S.  on  that 
day. 

The  event  will  take  place 
toward  the  campaign's  close, 
July  8,  to  stimulate  sales  in 
the  waning  days. 


Final  5  Gives  20th 
33,  Kupper  Reports 


Five  features  to  be  released  dur- 
ing June  and  July  will  complete  20th 
Century-Fox's    1943-44    schedule,  it 
was  disclosed  at  the  weekend  by  gen- 
eral sales  man- 
ager William 
J.  Kupper.  The 
f  \         five,  making  up 

block    No.  11, 
J  mm       include :  "Rog- 

f  -m&fr  f^iffjpt  cr  T  o  u  h  y  , 
G  a  n-g  s  t  er," 
"Candle- 
light in  Al- 
geria," Brit- 
ish  ;  "Eve  of 
St.  M  a  r  k," 
"L  a  d  i  e  s  of 
Washing- 
t  o  n"  and 
"Home  in  Indi- 
ana," all  slated 
for  release  in  June  and  July. 

Kupper  said  that  the  1943-44  sched- 
ule totaled  33.  Trade  showings  of  the 
June- July  releases  will  be  handled  in- 
dividually by  exchanges  in  the  field  be- 
tween now  and  June  11. 


William   J.  Kupper 


'Honored  100 9  to  Function 
For  Duration  of  War 


Washington,  May  14. — The  "Hon- 
ored 100"  of  the  industry's  Fourth 
War  Loan  drive,  who  became  a  spe- 
cial advisory  committee  to  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  industry  committee  at  cere- 
monies here  last  week,  have  resolved 
to  continue  functioning  for  the  dura- 
tion of  the  war  in  all  officially  spon- 
sored campaigns  of  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee,  Ralph  J.  Batschelet 
of  Denver,  chairman  of  the  group,  an- 
nounced at  the  weekend.  The  decision 
was  reached  at  a  final  meeting  here 
before  the  100  left  for  their  homes. 

First  official  act  of  the  "Honored 
100"  will  be  unified  participation  in 


the  Fifth  War  Loan.  On  behalf  of 
the  assembled  group,  Batschelet 
pledged  to  Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  in- 
dustry national  chairman  of  the  drive, 
the  full  support  of  his  committee. 

"The  'Honored  100'  does  not  feel  its 
job  is  done,"  Batschelet  said.  "The 
men  and  women  who  were  brought  to 
Washington  unanimously  agreed  to 
carry  on  in  an  official  capacity  as  an 
active  and  cooperative  arm  of  the 
WAC." 

The  "Honored  100"  will  have  its 
own  publication,  campaign  books, 
idea-exchange  and  plans  for  each  of 
the  WAC-endorsed  activities,  Batsche- 
let said. 


Films  for  Bond 
Premieres  in 
Small  Towns 


Distributors  Move  to  Help 
Sales  in  Fifth  Drive 


Distributors  in  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  campaign  will,  for  the  first 
time,  make  it  possible  for  exhibitors 
in  small  towns  to  stage  "Bond  Pre- 
mieres," children's  "School's  Out" 
premieres  and  similar  bond-selling 
special  events,  by  permitting  theatres 
in  towns  of  not  over  7,500  population 
to  book  pictures  for  these  purposes 
without  regard  to  whether  or  not  they 
are  customers  of  the  distributor. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  chairman 
of  the  WAC  distributors'  division, 
made  public  the  bond  premiere  agree- 
ment of  the  national  distributors  at  the 
weekend.  The  agreement  has  been 
turned  over  to  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  na- 
tional industry  campaign  chairman, 
and  members  of  the  national  Fifth 
War  Loan  committee. 

The  section  of  the  agreement  relat- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


See  Cost  Rise 
In  Film  Music 


Hollywood,  May  14. — An  estimated 
rise  of  from  20  to  40  percent  in  studio 
music  costs  would  be  necessary  in 
maintaining  30-  to  35-piece  standby 
orchestras  and  meeting  other  conditions 
affording  musicians  more  work  and 
higher  pay,  sought  by  James  C.  Pe- 
trillo,  head  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Musicians,  it  was  said  following  a 
discussion  by  company  heads  held  here 
at  the  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  studio, 
prior  to  meetings  at  the  weekend  with 
Petrillo  to  discuss  a  union  contract. 

Conferences  between  film  executives, 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


ScullyNames'U'  Sales 
Meeting  Personnel 

W.  A.  Scully,  Universal  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  sales  manager,  an- 
nounced at  the  weekend  the  complete 
list  of  sales  and  home  office  executives 
who  will  attend  the  company's  sales 
meeting  at  the  Ambassador  Hotel  in 
Los  Angeles,  beginning  June  5. 

In  addition  to  E.  T.  Gomersall, 
assistant  general  sales  manager,  and 
divisional  sales  heads  Fred  Meyers, 
A.  J.  O'Keefe  and  J.  A.  McCarthy, 
the  following  executives  will  attend : 

(.Continued  on  page  '/) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  15,  1944 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


Coast 
Flashes 


Personal 
Mention 

GEORGE  DEMBOW,  vice-presi- 
dent of  National  Screen  Service, 
returned  to  New  York  over  the  week- 
end from  Hollywood. 

• 

Phillip  Spiegel,  son  of  Harry 
Spiegel,  Comerford  Theatres  city  su- 
pervisor in  Scranton,  Pa.,  has  been 
commissioned  a  Second  Lieutenant  in 
the  U.  S.  Army  Air  Force. 

• 

Johnny  Jones,  head  of  World 
Wide  Pictures,  Chicago,  plans  to  leave 
that  city  May  27  for  a  two-month  va- 
cation in  Los  Angeles. 

• 

Ruth  Stone,  secretary  to  Fred  A. 
Leroy,  Paramount  home  office  sales 
executive,  is  leaving  the  company  to 
.be  married  to  Murray  Backer. 
• 

Erma  Miller  of  Paramount's  home 
office  publicity  department,  was  mar- 
ried yesterday  to  T/Sgt.  Charles 
Rosenfeld. 

• 

Jules  Alberti  and  Harry  Gour- 
fain.  representatives  for  Constance 
Bennett,  have  returned  to  New  York 
from  the  Coast. 

Kenneth  C.  Adams,  former  head 
booker  in  Universal's  Minneapolis  ex- 
change, has  been  promoted  to  salesman 
covering  North  Dakota. 

• 

Walter  Branson,  RKO  Western 
>ale>  manager,  returned  to  the  home 
office  at  the  weekend,  after  a  trip  of 
several  weeks  in  his  territory. 
• 

Si  Fabian,  head  of  Fabian  Theatres, 
will  return  to  New '  York  tomorrow 
from  Spartanburg,  S.  C- 
• 

A.  J.  Jeffrey,  general  manager  of 
United  Artists  in  Canada,  Toronto, 
will  tour  the  Canadian  West. 

o 

Loyd  Wright,  Hollywood  attorney, 
left  for  the  Coast  on  Friday  after  sev- 
eral weeks  in  New  York. 

• 

Kenneth  R.  Bishard  has  joined 
Universal  in  Des  Moines  as  salesman. 

Columbia  Executives 
At  Moscow  Rites 

Boston,  May  14. — Funeral  services 
were  held  yesterday  for  Sam  Moscow, 
former  Columbia  Atlanta  division 
manager"  who  died  Thursday  in  that 
city,  at  Solomon's  Funeral  Parlor, 
Brookline. 

Columbia  home  office  executives  at- 
tending the  services  included  Jack 
Cohn,  A.  Montague,  Joseph  A.  McCon- 
ville.  Rube  Jackter,  Louis  Weinberg, 
Louis  Astor  and  'Hank'  Kaufman. 


Hazen's  Mother  Dies 

Funeral  services  were  held  here  Fri- 
day at  Park  West  Memorial  Chapel 
for  Airs.  Fanny  Hazen,  mother  of  Jo- 
seph Hazen,  and  Mrs.  Abel  Vigard, 
wife  of  the  Warner  Bros.  Circuit  ex- 
ecutive. 

Mrs.  Hazen  died  here  Thursday. 
Burial  was  at  Kingston,  N.  Y. 


'TPHE  potency  of  the  publicity 
and  promotional  efforts 
which  have  been  put  behind  tele- 
vision in  recent  months  is  force- 
fully demonstrated  by  the  report 
recently  brought  back  by  Tom 
J.  Connors  of  20th  Century-Fox 
that  television  was  the  No.  1 
subject  of  interest  among  ex- 
hibitors with  whom  he  met  in 
visits  to  six  key  cities. 

Professionally  considered,  it 
has  been  a  good  campaign  by 
the  television  interests.  As 
pointed  out  in  this  space  once 
before,  they  have  the  advantage 
of  a  subject  that  is  highly  tech- 
nical, that  appeals  to  the  public 
imagination,  that  has  undeniable 
potentialities  for  the  future,  and 
now  is  in  a  stage  of  development 
at  which  almost  anyone  can 
make  almost  any  prediction  for 
it  without  fear  of  being  conclu- 
sively refuted.  That  all  adds  up 
to  a  golden  opportunity  for  the 
sincere  enthusiasts,  the  hopeful 
dreamers  and  the  inevitable  pro- 
moters, all  of  whom,  it  would 
seem  in  the  case  of  television, 
have  their  capable'  press  agents. 

Only  one  serious  flaw  in  the 
publicity  campaign  has  come  to 
light  to  date.  That  is  in  the 
recent  exchange  of  viewpoints 
on  postwar  television  standards 
which  narrowed  down,  in  the 
public  prints,  to  NBC's  declara- 
tion for.  preparations  to  market 
television,  as  soon  as  possible 
after  the  war,  on  standards  as 
they  exist  today  and  then  go  on 
from  there,  and  to  the  CBS  re- 
joinder that  to  do  so  might 
make  obsolete  television  equip- 
ment in  the  hands  of  the  public 
at  such  time  as  refinements  and 
further  development  of  the  me- 
dium emerge  from  the  postwar 
laboratories. 

The  Radio  Technical  Plan- 
ning Board's  subcommittee  on 
television  standards,  in  its  re- 
cent report,  gave  no  clear  vin- 
dication to  either  viewpoint  but, 
if  it  could  be  said  to  lean  in 
either  direction,  it  would  appear 
to  be  in  that  of  CBS's. 

Replying  to  CBS,  Niles  Tram- 
mell,  NBC  president,  said: 
"Television  is  a  precise  and 
highly  complicated  technical 
system  and  should  be  discussed 
and  evaluated  at  this  time  only 
by  engineers.  .  .  ."  With  that 
we  are  in  complete  agreement, 
and  if  Mr.  Trammell  would  take 
the  first  step  by  calling  off  his 
press  department  and  leave  the 
subject  to  his  engineers  we  think 
it  would  be  a  splendid  move  in 
the  right  direction,  and  an  ex-. 


ample  which  other  radio-televi- 
sion interests  would  do  well  to 
emulate. 

Mr.  Trammell's  statement, 
arguing  the  justification  for 
prompt  launching  of  commercial 
television,  says  that  radio  and 
motion  pictures,  among  other 
things,  were  not  held  back  from 
the  public  until  they  achieved 
high  practical  perfection.  So 
why,  he  asks  in  effect,  should 
television  be?  Well,  it  is  just 
possible  that  the  fact  that  no 
previous  standards  of  auditory 
and  visual  mechanical  entertain- 
ment existed  prior  to  the  intro- 
duction of  radio  and  films  had 
something  to  do  with  that.  Both 
now  have  established  standards 
of  public  entertainment,  and 
television,  invading  the  fields  of 
both,  inevitably  will  be  judged 
by  radio  and  motion  picture 
standards,  for  television  has  no 
original  standard.  Its  prema- 
ture launching  could  do  the  new 
medium  a  grave  disservice. 

But  the  thing  that  impresses 
most  about  all  the  statements  be- 
ing issued  on  television  is  that 
what  the  reader  really  ends  up 
with  is  nothing-  more  substan- 
tial than  one  man's  opinion. 


That  was  a  swell  contribution 
to  public  understanding  of  the 
problems  involved  i  n  getting 
new  films  to  American  service 
men  around  the  world  which 
Paul  Hunter,  publisher  of  Lib- 
erty magazine,  penned  for  the 
May  20  issue.  And  the  picture 
which  headed  it  was  eloquent 
testimony  of  what  motion  pic- 
tures mean  to  service  men. 
Hunter  explains  why  old  films 
showed  up  on  the  battle  fronts ; 
tells  how  new  films  are  rapidly 
replacing  them  everywhere. 

Addenda :  Industry  travelers 
returning  from  London  are  tell- 
ing about  the  night  Warrant 
Officer  Matty  Fox  "took"  Spyros 
Skouras,  Bob  Riskin  and  others 
for  plenty  at  gin  rummy.  .  .  . 
Henry  Koop,  dignified,  white- 
haired  receptionist  at  the  Para- 
mount ninth  floor  desk  for  many 
years,  recently  retired  to  his  New 
Jersey  seashore  home.  Once  he 
was  a  portrait  artist  of  note, 
lived  at  the  summer  palace  of  the 
King  and  Queen  of  Rumania, 
where  he  did  portraits  of  the 
Queen  and  members  of  the  royal 
family.  Illness  sent  him  to  the 
merchant  marine  in  search  of 
renewed  health.  He  went  to 
Paramount  about  20  years  ago. 


Hollywood,  May  14 

BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount 
president,  will  leave  here  today 
for  the  East. 

• 

The  premiere  of  "Little  Devils," 
which  is  described  as  one  of  Mono- 
gram's more  ambitious  undertakings,  is 
planned  for  Washington.  Story  con- 
cerns activities  of  Chinese  guerrilla 
children  against  the  Japs,  and  is  be- 
ing filmed  with  the  cooperation  of  the 
Chinese  government.  It  will  include 
a  foreword  by  Madame  Chiang  Kai- 
shek.  Grant  Withers  is  'producing. 
Sam  Ornitz  did  the  screenplay. 
• 

Arnold  Albert,  assistant  to  Gordon 
Hollingshead,  Warners'  short  subject 
production  supervisor,  will  leave  here 
tomorrow  for  Chicago  to  photograph 
the  "I  Am  an  Arnerican  Day"  activi- 
ties there  on  May  21.  Crane  Wilbur 
who  will  direct  the  subject,  will  film 
similar  activities  in  the  Los  Angeles 
Coliseum. 

• 

A.  W.  Hackel,  under  a  new  contract 
to  Monogram,  will  resume  producing, 
after  a  year's  absence  from  the  studio. 
His  first  will  be  "Baby  Shoes,"  a  mys- 
tery based  on  a  notorious  diamond  rob- 
bery. 

• 

Boris  Karloff  has  signed  for  two 
horror  pictures  with  RKO,  Yal  Lew- 
ton  producing.  The  first  will  be  "Car- 
milla,"  a  vampire  story. 

• 

John  Grant  and  Edumund  Hart- 
mann  will  co-produce  the  next  Abbott 
and  Costello  comedy,  "In  Society,"  for 
Universal. 

• 

M-G-M   has   signed   for   the  film 
rights,  before  publication,  of  a  novel 
by  Charles  Nordhoff  and  James  Hall, 
now  being  written  and  as  yet  untitled. 
• 

Columbia  player  Marguerite  Chap- 
man is  due  here  from  a  vacation  in 
New  York.    She  recently  completed  a 
four-week  tour  of  Army  hospitals. 
• 

Paramount  has  signed  Barry  Fitz- 
gerald to_  a  five-year  contract,  calling 
for  two  pictures  a  year. 

Benefits  for  B.  &  K. 
Managers,  Aides 

Chicago,  May  14. — Reduction  in 
working  hours  for  managers  and  as- 
sistants was  promised  at  the  weekend 
by  Walter  R.  Immerman,  general  man- 
ager of  Balaban  and  Katz,  and  John 
Balaban,  secretary  and  treasurer,  re- 
vealed plans  for  a  pension  and  retire- 
ment fund  for  employees  at  a  break- 
fast meeting  at  the  Hotel  Drake  here. 
More  than  125  executives,  managers 
and  assistants  were  present. 

Edward  O'Donnell,  manager  of  the 
Marbo  theatre,  and  Miles  Concannon, 
co-manager  of  the  Chicago,  were  each 
presented  with  diamond-studded  wrist 
watches  in  recognition  of  more  than 
20-years  of  service  with  Balaban  and 
Katz.  Leonard  Schill  was  awarded  a 
$100  War  Bond  for  record  bond  sales 
in  the  Fourth  War  Loan. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief-,  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Eann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Stept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Monday,  May  15,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


) 


26  6 A*  Films  for 
Summer  Release 

Encouraged  by  sharply 
climbing  summer  grosses  dur- 
ing the  past  three  years,  eight 
distributors  have  scheduled 
26  'big-budget'  films  for  re- 
lease during  June,  July  and 
August,  according  to  Motion 
Picture  Herald.  At  least  two 
of  the  pictures,  David  Selz- 
nick's  "Since  You  Went  Away" 
and  20th-Fox's  "Wilson,"  will 
be  launched  in  Mid-summer 
on  a  roadshow  basis  prior  to 
general  release. 

Heavy  advertising-publicity 
campaigns  via  radio,  newspa- 
pers and  magazines  will  ac- 
company each  of  the  26. 


Palmerton  Assistant 
WE  Radio  Manager 

P.  L.  Palmerton  has  been  promoted 
by  Western  Electric  from  radio  mer- 
chandise manager  to  assistant  man- 
ager of  the  company's  radio  division, 
F.  L.  Lack,  vice  president  in  charge 
of  the  division,  announced  at  the  week- 
end. 

At  the  same  time,  it  was  announced, 
D.  C.  Hickson,  manager  of  the  divi- 
sion's Washington  office,  is  being  trans- 
ferred to  New  York  as  staff  assistant. 
J.  W.  Sprague,  former  comptroller  of 
the  specialty  products  division,  be- 
comes radio  division  comptroller ;  and 
H.  N.  Willets,  former  manager  of 
commercial  sales,  becomes  contract 
service  manager. 


Technicolor  Reelects 
4  Directors  Today 

Four  directors  of  Technicolor,  Inc., 
nominated  without  opposition  for  re- 
election, are  to  be  returned  to  their 
posts  by  the  company's  stockholders  in 
annual  meeting  here  today.  They  are 
Dr.  Herbert  T.  Kalmus,  president  and 
general  manager,  who  will  preside,  J. 
L.  Anderson,  L.  G.  Clarke  and  Evers- 
ley  Childs.  Terms  are  for  three  years 
each. 

Holdover  directors  of  Technicolor 
are  Robert  Cushman,  James  H.  Hayes, 
George  F.  Lewis,  H.  K.  McCann,  John 
McHugh,  Albert  W.  Hawkes  and 
Murray  D.  Welch. 


Truckers  Meet  Today 

National  Film  Carriers  will  hold  its 
annual  convention  here  today  and  to- 
morrow, at  the  Hotel  Astor.  The 
organization,  with  headquarters  in 
Philadelphia,  represents  a  majority  of 
film  truckers.  Problems  stemming 
from  the  war,  with  particular  empha- 
sis on  transportation,  will  be  taken 
up. 


'Key'  to  Wac  Enlistees 

Borough  president  John  Cashmore 
of  Brooklyn  has  announced  that  he 
will  offer  the  "Key  to  the  Borough  of 
Brooklyn"  to  all  joining  the  Women's 
Army  Corps  during  the  current  re- 
cruiting campaign  at  all  theatres 
throughout  Brooklyn,  which  is  spon- 
sored by  the  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee. 


Capt.  Gable  to  Denver 

Capt.  Clark  Gable  will  be  assigned 
as  an  instructor  in  the  aerial  gunnery 
school  of  the  AAF  in  Denver,  accord- 
ing to  press  dispatches  from  Washing- 
ton. 


Review 


"Johnny  Doesn't  Live  Here  Any  More 

{Monogram) 

Hollywood,  May  14 

IVING  Simone  Simon  the  kind  of  thing  to  do  that  she  does  best, 
and  surrounding  her  with  sailors,  marines,  a  gremlin  and  a  judge, 
all  as  comedians  contributing  to  the  merriment  of  her  experiences,  the 
King  brothers,  producer  Maurice  and  associate  producer  Franklin,  supply 
showmen  .with  a  comedy  rich  in  laughs  and  like  none  they  have  offered 
their  customers.  On  account  of  the  gremlin,  which  figures  in  "Johnny 
Doesn't  Live  Here  Any  More,"  as  genuine  and  as  able  to  influence  the 
heroine's  life  for  seven  weeks,  the  picture  classifies  technically  as  fantasy, 
but  it's  fantasy  with  both  feet  on  the  ground  and  strictly  for  purposes 
of  fun. 

James  Ellison,  William  Terry,  "Chick"  Chandler  and  Alan  Dinehart 
are  the  four  players  principally  concerned  in  Miss  Simon's  romance,  but 
important  laughs  are  supplied  by  Minna  Gombell,  Chester  Clute  and 
others  in  the  cast,  which  includes  Gladys  Blake,  Robert  Mitchum, 
Dorothy  Grainger,  Grady  Sutton,  Fern  Emmett,  Jerry  Maren  and  Janet 
Shaw.    Joe  May's  direction  keeps  events  moving  and  sparkling. 

Philip  Yordan  and  John  Kafka  wrote  the  script,  from  a  story  by  Alice 
Means  Reeve,  and  it  boils  down  to  the  tale  of  what  happens  when  a  girl 
rents  an  apartment  from  a  young  man  about  to  enter  armed  service  who 
forgets  to  tell  her  he's  given  keys  to  the  place  to  a  circle  of  friends  who, 
as  the  picture  rolls  along,  arrive  in  succession  to  take  advantage  of  the 
young  man's  absentee  hospitality.  Consequences  are  amusing,  plausible 
and  skillfully  presented. 

Running  time,  79  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date  May  12. 

William  R.  Weaver 

*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Arguments  on  Prefect 
Motion  AgainDelayed 

Selection  of  a  date  for  arguments 
on  Prefect  Theatres'  motion  for  a  new 
trial  of  its  unsuccessful  Connecticut 
anti-trust  suit  against  eight  distribut- 
ing companies,  has  again  been  delayed. 
Federal  Judge  Caroll  Hincks,  before 
whom  the  arguments  will  be  held  in 
New  Haven,  was  scheduled  to  return 
there  late  last  week  from  Arizona, 
where  he  was  called,  by  the  illness  of 
his  mother,  but  his  arrival  is  not  now 
expected  before  the  end  of  this  week. 

On  April  14,  following  20  days  of 
testimony  by  plaintiff's  witnesses, 
Judge  Hincks  handed  down  a  verdict 
in  favor  of  the  defendants  on  Prefect's 
charge  of  conspiracy  to  deny  product 
to  their  Pickwick  Theatre  in  Green- 
wich. The  new  trial  motion  holds  that 
the  verdict  was  not  justified  by  the 
evidence  and  that  the  function  of  the 
jury  was  usurped. 


Zeeman  Heads  Col. 
Branch  Operations 

Bernard  E.  Zeeman,  former  assistant 
manager  of  domestic  branch  opera- 
tions, has  been  named  manager  of  for- 
eign branch  operations  by  Joseph  A. 
McConville,  Columbia's  vice-president 
in  charge  of  foreign  distribution. 

McConville  also  disclosed  at  the 
weekend  that  Arnold  Picker,  his  as- 
sistant in  the  supervision  of  foreign 
sales,  has  been  granted  a  temporary 
leave  to  accept  a  Government  assign- 
ment as  a  representative  of  the  Office 
of  War  Information. 


Herbie  Kay  Dies 

Dallas,  May  14. — Herbie  Kay,  40, 
orchestra  leader  who  had  played  in 
theatres  and  night  clubs  throughout  the 
country,  as  well  as  over  radio  net- 
works, died  at  the  weekend  in  a  hos- 
pital here.  He  is  survived  by  his  widow 
and  his  mother. 


Chicago  House  Files 
Combined  Complaint 

R.  J.  Miller,  operator  of  the  Colony, 
McHenry,  111.,  has  filed  a  combined 
some-run  and  clearance  complaint  at 
the  Chicago  tribunal  against  the  five 
consenting  companies,  the  American 
Arbitration  Association  reported  here 
yesterday. 

PaintifT  states  that  clearances  grant- 
ed by  the  defendants  to  the  Crocker, 
Rialto  arid  Grove,  at  Elgin ;  Miller, 
Woodstock ;  El  Tovar,  Crystal  Lake ; 
Grove,  Fox  River  Grove ;  Catlow, 
Barrington  and  Dundee,  at  Dundee ; 
Chicago,  Roosevelt,  Apollo,  United 
Artists,  Garrick,  Woods,  Grand,  Pal- 
ace and  State-Lake,  Chicago,  over 
Miller's  Colony,  are  unreasonable, 
and,  further,  that  the  decree  distribu- 
tors have  refused  to  grant  some-run 
to  the  Colony. 


Montana  ITO  Elects 
Anderson  President 

Billings,  Mont.,  May  14. — Carl  An- 
derson of  Kalispell,  was  elected  presi- 
dent of  the  Montana  Independent  The- 
atre Owners  at  its  annual  meeting  here 
late  last  week.  Jack  Suckstorf  of  Sid- 
ney was  reelected  secretary-treasurer. 

Stuart  North,  retiring  president,  told 
Motion  Picture  Daily  :  "It  was  the 
best  meeting  we  have  ever  held,"  de- 
voting, as  it  did,  most  of  the  organiza- 
tion's attention  to  the  industry's  par- 
ticipation in  the  Fifth  War  Loan. 


CWV  to  Honor  Cantor 

Eddie  Cantor  will  be  awarded  the 
10th  annual  Catholic  War  Veterans' 
citation  for  "outstanding  loyalty  to 
American  ideas  and  principles,"  in 
recognition  of  his  establishment  of  the 
"Purple  Heart"  circuit  to  entertain 
wounded  veterans  of  World  War  II. 
The  presentation  will  be  made  May 
21  at  the  CWV  annual  pageant  at  the 
Waldorf-Astoria. 


C  harles  A.  Midelburg 


'Don't  Pull  Good 
Ones',  Midelburg 
Tells  Exhibitors 


Exhibitors  playing  a  good  picture 
beyond  the  point  where  it  is  profitable, 
rather  than  replacing  it  with  a  poor, 
but  new  production,  stand  to  bene- 
fit in  the  long 
run  because 
poor  features 
make  dissatis- 
fied customers, 
"and  dissatis- 
fied customers 
stop  going  to 
theatres."  This 
was  the  advice 
given  to  exhib- 
itor colleagues 
by  Charles  Ar- 
nold Midelburg, 
owner  of  the 
Capitol  Thea- 
tre, Charleston, 
W.  Va.,  in  New 

York  Friday  as  the  guest  of  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer.  The  occasion  was  a 
luncheon  at  the  Astor  Hotel  to  pre- 
sent Midelburg  to  the  trade  press  as 
"Typical  M-G-M  Showman,"  having 
played  every  M-G-M  feature,  short 
and  trailer  for  the  past  20  years. 

Pays  Tribute  to  M-G-M 

Midelburg  paid  tribute  to  the  com- 
pany and  to  William  F.  Rodgers,  its 
general  sales  manager,  for  "the  loyalty 
of  both"  to  him  as  an  exhibitor. 

Introducing  Midelburg  to  some 
two-dozen  representatives  of  the  trade 
press,  Rodgers  disclosed  that  while  the 
exhibitor  had  not  missed  a  single 
M-G-M  release  of  any  kind  in  20 
years,  he  has  never  had  a  Metro 
franchise.  Typifying  the  company's 
relations  with  the  theatre  operator, 
Rodgers  told  how,  at  the  peak  of  the 
depression  in  the  late  1920's,  Midel- 
burg disclosed  to  Rodgers  how  he, 
like  many  others,  had  incurred  threat- 
ening personal  losses,  his  theatre  was 
losing  heavily  and  he  felt  he  could  not 
continue.  Rodgers  assured  him,  he 
said,  "that  as  long  as  he  remained  a 
customer  of  the  company  I  had  nothing 
to  fear." 

Left  for  Coast  Friday 

Midelburg  and  Mrs.  Midelburg 
were  brought  here  by  Rodgers  to  meet 
the  company's  executives,  and  on  Fri- 
day'  they  left  New  York  for  Holly- 
wood to  meet  studio  officials  as  repre- 
sentative of  "thousands  of  M-G-M 
customers  who  have. played  the  com- 
pany's product  since  the  merger  of 
Metro,  Goldwyn  and  Mayer,  in  1924," 
on  the  occasion  of  the  approaching 
20th  anniversary  of  M-G-M  next 
month. 

On  the  dais  at  Friday's  luncheon, 
beside  Midelburg  and  Rodgers,  were 
Harry  Rapf,  visiting  here  from  Hol- 
lywood ;  David  Bernstein,  Charles  C. 
Moskowitz.  E.  K.  (Ted)  O'Shea,  Ed 
Saunders  and  Si  Seadler.  Others  on 
hand  from  the  home  office  were : 
Howard  Dietz,  Henderson  Richey, 
Herbert  Crooker,  E.  W.  Aaron,  Wil- 
liam R.  Ferguson,  Herman  Rippe, 
Harold  Postman,  Mike  Simons,  Rus- 
sell Stewart,  Bill  Danziger  and  Wil- 
liam Ornstein.  From  the  trade  press 
were :  Pete  Harrison,  James  Cunning- 
ham, R.  W.  Baremore,  Al  Steen,  Herb 
Miller,  Mel  Konecoff,  Floyd  Stone, 
William  Formby,  Abel  Green,  James 
Cron,  Tom  Kennedy  and  lien  Shylen. 


HELEN  VINSON 
LYLE  TALBOT 


IVAN  LEBEDEFF  •  NOEL  NEILL 
>DISON  RICHARDS  •  RICHARD  BYRON 
ANTHONY  WARDE 


Produced  by  JEFFREY  BERMERD 

Directed  by  WILLIAM  NIGH 
Screenplay  by  MICHEL  JACOBY 
Original  Stary  by  HILARY  LYHH 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  15,  1944 


'Heavenly'  and 
Show  Do  a 
Heavy  $52,000 


Chicago,  May  14. — "The  Heavenly 
Body"  attracted  $52,000  to  the  Chi- 
cago theatre  here  where  Lou  Breese 
and  his  band  continues  on  the  stage 
for  the  seventh  week  of  a  return  en- 
gagement. The  Oriental's  receipts 
soared  to  $42,000  with  the  Andrew- 
Sisters  on  the  stage,  plus  a  dual  film, 
"Around  the  World." 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  Mav  12 : 

"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Tunisian   Victory"  (M-G-M-MOI) 

APOLLO — (1.200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $11,000.   (Average:  $11,400). 
"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

CHICAGO — (3,850)    (55c-65c-95c)   7  days. 
Stage:  Lou  Breese  and  band.  Gross:  $52,000. 
(Average:  $51,500). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M)  and 
"Memphis  Belle"   (WAC-Para.)  4  days,  _ 

5th  week. 
"Women  in  Bondage"    (Mono.)  and 
"The  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.)  3  days. 

GARRICK— (1,000)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:   $10,000.    (Average:  $9,100). 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO) 

"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

GRAND — (1,250)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
3rd  loop  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average: 
$9,100). 

"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 

ORIENTAL —  (3,200)  (44c-55c-60c-80c-95c) 
7  days.  Stage:  Andrew  Sisters.  Gross:  $42,- 
000.  (Average:  $24,000). 
"The  Imposter"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.  (Average:  $24,000). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 

ROOSEVELT  —  (1.500)    (55c-65c-9Sc)  7 
days.  Gross:  $26,000.  (Average:  $24,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

STATE-LAKE— (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  5th  week.  Gross:  $29,500.  (Average: 
$29,000). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M)  6  days, 
6th  week. 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M)  1  day. 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1.700)  (55c-65c-95c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average:  $20,200). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WOODS— (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  davs,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $19,000.   (Average:  $10,000). 


'Harvest  Moon'  Dual 
Nets  $6,000  Over 


Denver,  May  14. — "Shine  On,  Har- 
vest Moon"  on  a  dual  at  the  Denver 
and  Esquire  theatres  proved  to  be  the 
bright  spot  here  for  the  week  with  the 
former  house  high  with  $21,000. 
"Cover  Girl"  was  next  at  the  Para- 
mount with  $14,800. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  8-10 : 

"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

ALADDIN— (1.400)  (46c-74c)  7  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average:  $5,- 
600). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

"The   Falcon   Out   West"  (RKO) 

BROADWAY— (1,040)  (46c-74c)  7  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $4,875.  (Average:  $3,- 
900). 

"Shine  On,  .Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (CoL) 

DENVER—  (2,600)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$21,000.      (Average:  $15,000). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

ESQUIRE— (740)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,730.     (Average:  $4,500). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    (35c-45c-70c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $9,000). 
"Woman  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 
"Rosie   the   Riveter"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2.200)    (46c-74c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $14,800.     (Average:  $9,300). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

RIALTO— C900)  (46c-74c)  7  days,  move- 
over.     Gross:  $8,750.     (Average:  $5,000). 


Reviews 

"The  Yellow  Rose  of  Texas" 

(Republic) 

HP  HE  established  Roy  Rogers  appeal  will  draw  children  and  oldsters 
*■  in  the  usual  droves  to  see  the  "King  of  the  Cowboys"  in  Republic's 
latest  Rogers  Western  with  lavishly  staged  production  numbers.  "Yel- 
low Rose  of  Texas"  also  has  Trigger,  the  Sons  of  the  Pioneers,  Dale 
Evans,  Harry  Shannon  and  George  Cleveland,  who,  with  Rogers,  all 
rise  nobly  to  overcome  story  difficulties. 

Rogers,  representing  an  insurance  company,  joins  a  showboat  to  in- 
vestigate the  leading  lady,  Miss  Evans,  whose  father,  convicted  of  an  old 
express  company  holdup,  has  escaped  from  jail.  Miss  Evans  convinces 
Rogers  that  her  father,  Harry  Shannon,  is  innocent.  Shannon  is  given 
a  chance  to  prove  his  integrity  but  is  foiled  when  the  law  interferes. 
Meantime.  Rogers  does  some  further  investigating  and  discovers  that 
Grant  Withers,  express  agent,  is  the  real  culprit. 

Jack  Townley's  screenplay  loses  much  of  its  punch  in  his  endeavor  to 
gear  the  story  to  the  musical  aspects  of  the  production,  but  Jack  Kane's 
direction  keeps  the  film  rolling  rapidly  to  maintain  a  degree  of  interest 
throughout.    Harry  Grey  produced. 

Running  time,  69  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  June  24. 


"Beneath  Western  Skies" 

(Republic) 

AN"  abundance  of  gun  duels  and  street  brawls  puts  "Beneath  Western 
Skies"  right  up  with  the  best  in  action  for  small-scale  Westerns, 
augmented  considerably  by  the  refreshing  comedy  of  Smiley  Burnette. 
Also,  the  story  has  some  new  angles. 

Bob  Livingston  comes  to  Stokesville  at  the  request  of  Effie  Laird,  his 
old  school  teacher,  who  has  undertaken  to  rid  the  town  of  lawlessness 
and  its  chief  renegade,  Leroy  Mason.  Livingston  suffers  a  head  injury 
in  a  scrape  with  Mason's  gang  and  loses  his  memory.  Mason  then  uses 
Livingston  for  his  own  ends  until  the  latter  gets  another  jolt  which 
cures  his  amnesia.  After  considerable  excitement  and  the  customary 
shooting,  Livingston  gets  his  man  and  Miss  Laird  gets  just  recognition 
for  her  clean-up  efforts. 

Director  Spencer  Bennet  moves  the  picture  along  at  a  rapid  pace. 
Albert  DeMond  and  Bob  Williams  wrote  the  screenplay.  Louis  Gray 
produced.    The  supporting  cast  is  adequate. 

Running  time,  56  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  March  3. 

Helen  McXamara 


■-"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


4A  Board  Endorses 
Interim  Election 

The  international  board  of  the  Four- 
A  actor  unions  met  here  at  the  week- 
end and  endorsed  the  interim  election 
of  Florence  Marston  of  the  Screen 
Actors  Guild  as  executive  secretary", 
and  Emily  Holt  of  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Radio  Artists  as  executive 
vice-president  of  the  organization. 

Paul  Dullzell,  Four-A  international 
president,  reported  that  the  organiza- 
tion's financial  position  was  stronger 
than  it  has  been  in  many  years. 


Mrs.  Emerich  Honored 

The  Eastern  Motion  Picture  Pre- 
viewers  will  sponsor  a  luncheon  today 
for  Mrs.  Jeannette  Emerich,  represen- 
tative on  that  group  of  the'  Motion 
Picture  Producers  and  Distributors  of 
America,  at  Town  Hall,  West  44th  St. 
Film  companies  will  be  represented 
and  Carl  Milliken,  MPPDA  execu- 
tive will  speak. 


NAACC  Cites  Newman 

The  National  Association  for 
American  Composers  and  Conductors 
presented  Alfred  Newman,  musical  di- 
rector for  20th-Fox,  a  special  citation 
for  his  score  in  "The  Song  of  Ber- 
nadette,"  at  the  group's  annual  recep- 
tion held  Friday  night  at  the  Waldorf- 
Astoria  Hotel.  Dr.  Sigmund  Spaeth, 
president  of  NAACC,  made  the  pres- 
entation. 


'Buffalo'  Dual  Hits 
Healthy  $18,200 

Milwaukee,  May  14. — "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain"  at  ad- 
vanced prices  grossed  about  $16,750  at 
the  Warner  here.  "Buffalo  Bill," 
coupled  with  "Jam  Session"  at  the 
Wisconsin,  took  $18,200. 

Estimated   receipts    for   the  week 
ending  May  13  :  • 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $18,200.    (Average:  $14,500). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

PALACE— (2,400)     (40c-60c-80c)  7 
Gross:  $11,500.    (Average:  $11,500). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
2nd  week  downtown.  Gross:  $4,950.  (Av- 
erage :  $5,500). 

"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

WARNER— (2,400)   (40c-76c-$1.10)  7  days. 
Gross:  $15,750.    (Average:  $14,000). 
"Uncertain  Glcry"  (WB) 
"Trocadero"  (Rep.) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,900)  (50c-72c)  7  days, 
2nd  week  downtown.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Aver- 
age: $10,000). 

"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,703)  (65c-85c)  7  days. 
On  stage:  Woodj-  Herman  and  orchestra. 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average:  $15,000). 


days. 


RKO  Realigns  District 

Philadelphia,  May  14. — John  Phe- 
lan  has  been  assigned  to  independent 
city  accounts  for  RKO  in  the  realign- 
ment of  booking  territories  at  the  local 
exchange.  Marty  Clark  will  handle 
Warners  and  several  other  circuit 
bookings. 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 

"The  Battle  of  Europe" 

(United  Artists) 

With  the  tempo  of  the  air  assault 
of  the  combined  aerial  might  of  the 
Allied  forces  mounting  daily,  this 
documentary,  produced  by  the  Na- 
tional Film  Board  of  Canada,  and  de( 
picting  the  fusing  of  operations,  is  an 
interesting  and  timely  film.  Incor- 
porated in  the  well-assembled  footage 
are  some  highly  exciting  shots  of  aerial 
warfare. 

Editing  by  Stuart  Legg  and  the 
commentary  written  by  Legg  and 
spoken  by  Lome  Green  sustains  in- 
terest throughout.  Several  scenes  em- 
phasize the  widespread  nature  of  the 
operations  over  Germany,  scenes  famil- 
iar to  American  audiences  by  now,  but 
nevertheless,  fascinating.  Format  of 
the  film  resembles  that  of  "March  of 
Time"  subjects.  It  is  one  of  the 
World-In-Action  series  distributed  in 
this  country  by  United  Artists.  Run- 
ning time  is  17  minutes. 


"Underground  Report* 

March  of  Time  (20th-Fox) 

March  of  Time,  in  "Underground 
Report,"  presents  a  vivid  picture  of 
Xazi-occupied  lands  in  Europe  today 
as  organized  resistance  movements 
among  the  subjugated  peoples  continue 
to  harass  Axis  armies.  Impressive 
scenes  from  captured  Nazi  films  also 
show  the  enemy's  preparations  for  the 
defense  of  Hitler's  European  fortress, 
now  being  battered  by  Allied  air  ar- 
madas, and  the  attempts  of  German 
militarists  to  force  resisters  into  sub- 
mission. 

"Underground  Report"  is  a  graphic 
portrayal  of  Hitler's  gradual  defeat, 
facilitated  in  great  part  by  the  courage 
of  people  who  will  not  stay  conquered. 
Excellent  photographs  by  news  camera- 
men on  the  spot  and  deeply  moving 
commentary  combine  to  make  this  one 
of  the  finest  war  shorts  produced  to 
date.    Running  time,  20  mins. 


Omaha  Yields  'Hour* 
Dual  Neat  $10,600 

Omaha,  May  14. — "The  Adventures 
of  Mark  Twain,"  showing  at  increased 
prices  at  the  Brandeis  Theatre, 
slumped  here  this  week  netting  only 
$4,500  at  a  house  that  averages  $6,500. 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  and 
"Navy  Way"  at  the  Orpheum  grossed 
$10,600.    Rainy  weather  continued. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  10-11 : 

"Mark  Twain"  (WB) 

BRANDEIS— (1.200)    (76c-$1.10)    7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"She's  for  Me"  (Univ.) 

OMAHA— (2,000)    (44c-60c)    6    days.  2nd 
week,    moveover   from   Paramount.  Gross: 
$8,900.     (Average:  $8,400). 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM— (3.000)     (44c -60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,600.    (Average:  $9,800). 
"Jane  Eyre"  (20th-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT—  (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,600.     (Average:  $11,700). 


Corcoran  for  Senator 

Boston,  May  14. — John  H.  Cor- 
coran, mayor  of  Cambridge  and  owner 
of  a  Cambridge  theatre,  will  compete 
for  the  U.  S.  Senatorial  nomination 
on  the  Democratic  ticket  here  in  the 
July  11  primaries. 


Monday,  May  15,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


M.  Blumenstock  Does 
'Victory'  Pressbook 

Mort  Blumenstock  and  his 
publicity  staff  at  Warner's 
home  office  have  completed  a 
press  book  for  "Road  to  Vic- 
tory," Fifth  War  Loan  short 
subject  which  will  be  released 
-May  18. 

The  film  was  produced  by 
Jack  L.  Warner  and  will  be 
distributed  by  Warners  for 
the  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee. 


Films  Available  to  Small 
Towns  for  Bond  Shows 


Upstate  N.  Y.  Hears 
O'Donnell  Today 


Buffalo,  May  14. — Upstate  New 
York  exhibitors  and  distributors  will 
gather  at  the  Statler  Hotel  here  for  a 
luncheon  meeting  tomorrow  to  hear 
R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  industry 
chairman  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign,  and  other  national  and 
area  leaders  detail  plans  for  the  drive. 
In  addition  to  O'Donnell,  national 
drive  leaders  attending  will  be  R.  M. 
Kennedy,  John  J.  Friedl,  Ray  Beall 
and  Claude  F.  Lee. 

H.  M.  Richey,  director  of  exhibitor 
relations  for  M-G-M,  will  represent 
the  national  distributor  committee  at 
the  Buffalo  meeting.  Lou  Golding  of 
Albany,  upstate  New  York  chairman, 
has  delegated  Vincent  McFaul  of 
Buffalo  to  act  for  him  as  regional 
chairman  for  the  meeting. 

Exhibitor  representatives  who  will 
lead  delegations  include  Myer  Schine, 
Gloversville ;  C.  J.  Latta  and  Charles 
Smakwitz,  Albany ;  Jay  Golden,  Les- 
ter Pollock  and  William  Selman, 
Rochester  ;  Vaughn  O'Neill,  Jake  Flex 
and  Sid  Grossman,  Syracuse ;  Andy 
Roy,  Utica,  and  Mike  Kallett, 
Oneida. 

C.  G.  Eastman  and  M.  A.  Brown, 
district  distributor  chairmen  for  the 
Albany  and  Buffalo  areas,  respective- 
ly, will  lead  the  state  distributor  con- 
tingent at  the  meeting. 

Vanities  Ups  'Action' 
To  a  Good  $18,000 

Minneapolis,  May  14. — The  Earl 
Carroll  Vanities  on  the  stage  and 
"Action  in  Arabia,"  at  the  Orpheum 
grossed  $18,000  to  lead  here.  Most 
situations  were  below  average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  11  : 

"Action  in  Arabia"  (RICO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,800)  (50c -65c)  7  days.  On 
stage:  Earl  Carroll  Vanities.    Gross:  $18,000. 
(Average:  $15,000). 
"The   Sullivans"  (2Gth-Fox) 

RADIO   CITY— (4,000)    (44c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 

STATE— (2,300)   (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.    (Average:  $12,400). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average: 
$7,400). 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

LYRIC— (1,250)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average: 
$5,600). 

"Swingtime  Johnny"  (Univ.) 

GOPHER— (998)— (40c)    5    days.  Gross: 
$2,400.     (Average,  7  days:  $3,700). 
"The  Cross  of  Lorraine"  (M-G-M) 

WORLD— (350)    (44c-55c-60c-80c).  Gross: 
$2,500.    (Average:  $2,400). 
"Escape  to  Danger"  (RKO) 
"Rosie  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 

ASTER-r900)  (2Sc-35c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$2,400.    ( Average:  $2,600). 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

ing  to  towns  of  not  over  7,500  popu- 
lation, makes  the  provision  that  "the 
picture  booked  for  the  premiere  shall 
have  been  generally  released  prior  to 
Dec.  1,  1943." 

In  making  a  picture  available  to  the 
exhibitor  for  these  shows,  under  terms 
of  the  agreement,  the  distributor  com- 
mittee, Depinet  stated,  wants  to  obvi- 
ate a  situation  in  which  the  exhibitor 
may  object  to  running  a  bond  pre- 
miere on  the  ground  that  it  might  re- 
duce the  gross  when  the  picture  is 
played  at  a  regular  engagement. 

The  distributor  chairman  in  each 
territory  will  make  available  to  the 
small-town  exhibitors  a  list  of  all  pic- 
tures released  prior  to  Dec.  1,  1943,, 
for  which  prints  are  available. 

Other  Points  in  Agreement 

The  agreement  further  states  that 
for  all  theatres  in  places  of  more  than 
7,500  population,  the  distributors  will 
furnish,  for  one  bond  premiere  per- 
formance only,  any  picture  the  exhibi- 
tor has  under  contract,  but  not  earlier 
than  30  days  prior  to  its  availability 
for  booking  at  his  theatre,  providing 
the  exhibitors  having  clearance  do  not 
object.  Re-issues  will  be  considered 
the  same  as  new  films. 

They  also  agree  to  furnish  a  pic- 
ture for  a  children's  morning  pre- 
miere, under  the  same  conditions. 

They  endorse  the  plan  of  the  cam- 
paign   committee    for    "Free  Movie 


See  Big  Cost  Rise 
In  Studio  Music 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Petrillo  and  Pat  Casey,  producers'  labor 
contact,  continued  over  the  weekend. 

In  a  press  interview  Petrillo  reiter- 
ated the  old  AFM  complaint  that  the 
advent  of  sound  had  cut  the  number  of 
AFM  members  in  theatres  from  22,000 
to  about  4,000.  Prior  to  talking  pic- 
tures, he  said,  musicians  were  earning 
$48,000,000  a  year  in  American  thea- 
tres. 

He  also  said  that  the  new  Govern- 
ment cabaret  tax  "must  be  repealed  or 
half  our  musicians  now  employed  will 
lose  their  jobs."  He  said  that  7,000 
have  already  lost  out  since  the.  tax  was 
put  into  effect,  indicating  that  he  looks 
to  the  film  studios  to  increase  musi- 
cians' employment. 

Studio  heads  present  at  the  confer- 
ences include  Barney  Balaban  of  Para- 
mount, Nicholas  M.  Schenck  of  M-G-M 
and  N.  Peter  Rathvon  of  RKO.  Com- 
pany spokesmen  declined  to  make  any 
prediction  as  to  the  outcome  of  nego- 
tiations. 

ScullyNames'U'  S  ales 
Meeting  Personnel 

(Continued  from  pane   1  ) 

Maurice  A.  Bergman,  Adolph  Schimel, 
F.  T.  Murray,  J.  J.  Jordan,  E.  L. 
McEvoy,  B.  B.  Kreisler  and  A.  J. 
Sharick.  District  managers  who  will 
be  present  are  M.  M.  Gottlieb,  D.  A- 
Levy,  J.  E.  Garrison,  John  J.  Scully, 
P.  F.  Rosian,  S.  E.  Applegate,  Dave 
Miller,  C.  J.  Feldman  and  H.  D. 
Graham. 


Day"  on  July  6  and  agree  that  free 
admission  may  be  accorded  bond  pur- 
chasers on  that  day.  They  also  agree 
to  provide  pictures  for  repeat  show- 
ings at  bond  premieres  wherever  ex- 
hibitors so  desire.  The  agreement 
excludes  such  features  as  may  be 
handled  at  advanced  admission  prices. 


June  2  Set  for  Fifth 
Bond  Meeting  Here 

Friday,  June  2,  has  been  set  for  a 
mass  mobilization  meeting  of  the  New 
York  area  in  advance  of  "E"  day,  the 
opening  of  the  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  campaign  here,  Charles  C.  Mos- 
kowitz,  general  chairman,  announced 
at  the  weekend. 

"The  Fifth  War  Loan  will  be  the 
the  toughest  job  of  all  drives  so  far," 
Moskowitz  said.  "Our  'E'  day  will  be 
the  day  we  'start  a  theatre-by-theatre 
attack  to  reach  the  E-bond  quota  of 
the  New  York  area." 


John  Balaban,  Others 
Due  at  Chicago  Meet 

Chicago,  May  14. — Leading  exhib- 
itors of  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Michi- 
gan who  will  be  present  to  formulate 
plans  at  a  meeting  May  19  at  the 
Blackstone  Hotel  here  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  campaign  include:  John 
Balaban,  Jules  J.  Rubens,  Jack  Kirsch, 
of  Chicago ;  Earl  Hudson  and  L. 
Whisper,  Detroit,  and  Harold  J.  Fitz- 
gerald, Milwaukee. 


See  Adoption  of  UA 
Amendments  Today 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

directors  from  four  to  nine  members 
and  would  permit  a  majority  of  the 
board  to  perform  all  usual  manage- 
ment functions,  eliminating  the  power 
of  veto  by  any  one  stockholder  which 
has  prevailed  heretofore  under  the 
company's  unanimous  consent  proce- 
dure. Unanimous  consent  would  be 
retained  only  in  the  case  of  proposed 
sales  of  company  stock. 

Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice-president  of 
David  O.  Selznick's  Vanguard  Films, 
is  expected  to  be  elected  to  the  new 
directorate,  along  with  Edward  C. 
Raftery,  United  Artists  president ; 
Gradwell  L.  Sears,  vice-president ; 
Charles  Schwartz,  Arthur  W.  Kelly, 
George  Bagnall  and  Daniel  T.  O'Shea. 
Each  owner,  Mary  Pickford,  Selznick 
and  Charles  Chaplin,  will  be  entitled 
to  elect  three  directors  under  the  pro- 
posed amendments. 

Bagnall  was  expected  from  the 
Coast  at  the  weekend  to  attend  the 
meeting  and  to  insure  a  quorum  being 
present.  Raftery,  Sears,  Schwartz 
and  Isaac  Pennypacker,  Philadelphia 
attorney  for  Miss  Pickford,  also  are 
expected  to  be  at  the  meeting,  which 
was  adjourned  from  May  5  because 
of  technicalities  involving  phraseolo- 
gy  of  the  proposed  amendments. 


Kirsch  to  Philadelphia 

Chicago,  May  14.  —  Jack  Kirsch, 
president  of  Allied  Theatres  of  Illi- 
nois, will  represent  his  organization  at 
the  Allied  Caravan  and  National  Al- 
lied board  meetings  in  Philadelphia, 
May  23-26. 


Fear  Ban  on 
Joint  Foreign 
Trade  Action 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

are  seen  by  the  U.  S.  Chamber 
of  Commerce  in  the  failure  of 
the  order  to  list  the  Federal 
Trade  Commission  among  the 
Federal  agencies  with  which  the 
industry  branch  is  to  collab- 
orate. • 

The  Commission,  it  is  pointed  out, 
has  for  years  supervised  the  Webb 
Pomerene  Associations,  organized  by 
competing  units  of  industries  for  ef- 
fective exploration  of  foreign  markets. 

Chamber  officials  also  saw  a  hostile 
attitude  toward  joint  private  actions 
in  the  authority  given  the  branch  in 
the  "development  of  policies  and  pro- 
grams for  controlling  cartels,  com- 
bines, restrictive  patent  agreements 
and  other  restrictive  international 
business  arrangements,"  which,  it  is 
charged,  is  in  sharp  contrast  with  its 
instructions  for  the  "determination 
and  promotion  of  standards  for  inter- 
governmental industrial  agreements 
and  also  of  the  form  of  international 
organization  required  to  implement 
such  standards  and  general  pro- 
grams." Since  the  United  States  al- 
ready has  engaged  in  conversations 
with  Britain  regarding  postwar  poli- 
cies and  principles  to  be  applied  to 
world  aviation  and  development  of 
world  petroleum  reserves,  which  are 
to  be  followed  by  conferences  regard- 
ing postwar  film  distribution  and 
other  industrial  subjects,  there  is  con- 
siderable uncertainty  as  to  the  support 
which  will  be  given  American  com- 
panies in  foreign  operations  which 
depend  upon  joint  action  to  preserve 
their  competitive  position  against 
other  countries. 


May  Name  6  Film 
Envoys  Soon 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

will  be  made  in  the  early  postwar 
period  or  as  soon  as  international  con- 
ditions permit. 

Industry  representatives  already  are 
assigned  to  London  and  Australia. 

The  foreign  representatives  to  be. 
appointed  will  collaborate  with  U.  S. 
State  Department  officials  in  their  re- 
spective territories  on  all  matters  per- 
taining to  the  industry,  and  will  be 
its  official  spokesmen  where  its  inter- 
ests are  concerned.  Their  status  will 
correspond  with  that  of  film  indus- 
try representatives  of  other  leading 
nations  in  the  various  world  capitals. 
Approval  for  their  appointment  was 
given  to  major  company  foreign  man- 
agers by  the  MPPDA  board  of  di- 
rectors recently. 


Cecil  B.  DeMille  on  Air 

Cecil  B.  DeMille  will  make  personal 
appearances  on  three  networks  as  part 
of  the  radio  exploitation  of  his  new 
Paramount  production,  "The  Story  of 
Dr.  Wassell."  He  will  be  on  the 
Amos  and  Andy  program,  May  19, 
the  Bing  Crosby  show,  June  8,  and  a 
special  Union  Pacific  broadcast,  July  8. 


SPARKLING. . .  CAPTIVATING. CAPRICIOUS. . . 

A  REVEALING  STORY  OF  WHAT  GOES  ON  BEHIND  THE  GAYETY  AND 
GLAMOR,  THE  CLOWNING  AND  CAREFREE  SCENES 
IN  THE  WORLD'S  MOST  TALKED  OF  NIGHT  SPOT  .  .  . 
SET  TO  THE  MUSIC  OF  THE  WORLD'S  MOST  FAMOUS 
DANCE  BANDS. 


with 

ROSEMARY  LANE 

and 

JOHNNY  DOWNS 

RALPH  MORGAN 
DICK  PURCELL 
CLIFF  NAZARRO 

and  Featuring 
BOB  CHESTER  and  his  Orchestra 
MATTY  MALNECK  and  his  Orchestra 
GUS  ARNHEIM  and  his  Orchestra 
EDDIE  LeBARON  and  his  Orchestra 
WILLIAM    NIGH  —  Director 
SCREENPLAY   BY   ALIEN  GALE 
ORIGINAL  STORY  6/ 
CHARLES  F.  CHAPLIN  ond  GARRET  HOLMES 
Produced  by  WALTER  COLMES 


REPUBLIC 
PICTURE 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  96 

NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  MAY  16,  1944 

TEN  CENTS 

Regionals 
For  Columbia 


1944-45  Sales  Meetings 
Will  Start  June  2 


Columbia  Pictures  will  hold  its 
1944-45  sales  convention  in  three 
sessions,  it  was  revealed  here  yes 
terday  by  A.   Montague,  general 
sales  manager. 
The  meetings 
have    been  set 
for  Chicago, 
June  2-5 ;  New 
York,  June  13- 
15,     and  San 
Francisco,  July 
11-13. 

Jack  C  o  h  n 
and  home  office 
executives  will 
be  present  at 
the  Chicago  and 
New  York 
■meetings.  Sales 

executives  pres-  A.  Montague 

ent  at  the  latter 

gatherings    will    be    Rube  Jackter, 
(.Continued  on  page  11) 


20th  Stockholders 
Meeting  Today 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  will  hold 
its  annual  stockholders  .meeting  here 
today.  Four  have  been  nominated 
for  election  to  the  board:  Murray 
Silverstone,  vice-president  in  charge 
of  foreign  distribution ;  L.  Sherman 
Adams,  vice-president  of  Massachu- 
setts   Investors    Trust ;    Robert  L. 

{Continued  on  page  10) 


3,000  Vandalism  Acts 
In  Carolina  Houses 

Charlotte,  N.  C,  May  15.— 
More  than  3,000  acts  of  van- 
dalism have  been  reported  in 
500  theatres  in  North  and 
South  Carolina  within  the 
last  six  months,  according  to 
Mrs.  Walter  Griffith,  secre- 
tary of  the  Theatre  Owners 
of 'North  and  South  Carolina. 

Mrs.  Griffith  disclosed  that 
the  acts  ranged  from  ripping 
upholstery  to  tearing  up  whole 
rows  of  seats  with  costs  vary- 
ing from  a  few  dollars  to  sev- 
eral thousands. 


UA  Votes  Change 
In  By-Laws,  2-1, 
Chaplin  Dissenting 


Wilmington,  May  15.  —  Amend- 
ments to  United  Artists'  certificate  of 
incorporation  which  are  designed  to 
increase  the  operating  authority  of 
management  and  restrict  that  of  own- 
ership were  adopted  at  the  adjourned 
annual  meeting  of  company  stockhold- 
ers by  a  vote  of  two  to  one  here  to- 
day. The  Charles  Chaplin  stock,  for 
which  the  proxy  was  held  by  Harold 
Jacoby  of  the  New  York  law  firm  of 
Schwartz  &  Frohlich,  was  voted 
against  adoption  of  the  amendments. 

Voting  for  the  amendments  were 
Mary  Pickford  and  David  O.  Selz- 
nick,  whose  proxies  were  voted  by 
Isaac  Pennypacker  of  Philadelphia  and 
Joseph  Bennett  of  the  New  York  law 
firm  of  White  &  Case,  respectively. 

Indications  are  that  Chaplin  may 
contest   the    stockholders'    action  in 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Moss  Calls  for  Aid 
For  N.  Y.  Fund 


B.  S.  Moss,  theatre  operator  here 
and  co-chairman  of  the  motion  picture 
division  of  the  Greater  New  York 
Fund,  yesterday  announced  that  the 
drive  for  funds  within  the  film  in- 
dustry is  now  under  way.  J.  Robert 
Rubin  of  Loew's,  honorary  chairman, 
expressed  appreciation  for  the  sup- 
port given  the  fund  by  the  industry 
last  year. 

Co-chairman  Moss  said  that  even 
larger   contributions   will   be  sought 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Drive  for  Wacs  Is 
Extended  a  Week 

Col.  John  Johns,*  national 
head  of  the  Women's  Army 
Corps  recruiting,  has  re- 
quested the  motion  picture 
industry  to  continue  its  Wac 
recruiting  drive  a  second 
week.  Edward  L.  Alperson, 
general  chairman  for  the 
campaign,  after  consulting  Si 
Fabian  and  other  theatre  ex- 
ecutives, 'felt  certain  that 
exhibitors  throughout  the 
country  would  want  to  go 
along  with  Col.  John's  wishes,' 
declared  a  statement  from 
War  Activities  Committee 
headquarters  here  yesterday. 

Wac  recruiting  in  theatres 
will  continue  through  May 
25,  instead  of  the  17th. 


'White  Cliffs'  Heads 
For  $120,000  on 
First  at  Music  Hall 


Premature  warm  weather  is  con- 
siderably affecting  matinee  busi- 
ness at  downtown  New  York  first- 
run  theatres.  Grosses  are  considerably 
oft  the  profitable  pace  of  recent 
months.  Unaffected,  however,  is 
Radio  City  Music  Hall  which  is  hav- 
ing a  big  opening  week  with  "The 
White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  and  a  stage 
show.  First  four  davs  business  up  to 
Sunday  night  was  $75,000;  $120,000 
is  expected  for  the  week. 

"Pin-Up  Girl"  and  a  stage  show 
with  Connee  Boswell,  Willie  Howard 
and  Raymond  Scott  and  his  CBS  or- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Cancellation  and  Expansion 
Remain  Decree  Problems 


Washington,  May  15. — Further 
delay  in  the  projected  meeting  between 
Assistant  Attorney  General  Tom  C. 
Clark  and  the  distributors  was  in  sight 
tonight  as  Clark  prepared  to  leave 
Washington  tomorrow  to  attend  a  re- 
gional meeting  of  United  States  At- 
torneys in  St.  Louis.  In  addition, 
Robert  L.  Wright,  special  assistant  to 
the  Attorney  General  in  charge  of  the 
film  unit,  is  attending  a  trial  in  Pitts- 
burgh, and  in  view  of  the  importance 
of  the  next,  and  possibly  the  last, 
meeting  on  the  decree  it  is  considered 
imperative  that  he  attend. 

There  are  several  points  on 

which  the  distributors  and  the 


Government  have  not  reached 
an  agreement,  Clark  said,  among 
them   cancellation   and  circuit 
expansion,  which  he  considers 
as  probably  the  most  important 
of  all  the  changes  sought  by  the 
independent  exhibitors. 
Clark  said  there  might  be  some  re- 
lation between  the  expansion  provision 
and  the  recent  Oklahoma  City  findings 
in  the  Momand  case  that  major  com- 
pany expansion  as  a  normal  business 
growth  is  not  unlawful,  but  that  he 
has  not  studied  the  latter  and  could 
not  comment. 

Although  the  next  meeting  with  the 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


'Local  Need' 

Filed  for 

In  20  Cities 


No  Other  Applications  to 
Be  Made  at  Present 


The  distributors'  division  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee  dis- 
closed yesterday  that  applications 
have  now  been  filed  with  the  War 
Manpower  Commission  in  20  ex- 
change centers  asking  that  motion 
picture  distribution  in  each  be  classi- 
fied as  "locally  needed." 

This  completes  the  list  of  cities 
where  it  is  intended  to  file  such  ap- 
plications for  the  present,  and  includes 
the  following:  Albany,  Boston,  Buf- 
falo, Cljarlotte,  Chicago,  Cleveland, 
Dallas,  Detroit,  Indianapolis,  Los  An- 
geles, Milwaukee,  New  Haven,  New 
Orleans,  Oklahoma  City,  Omaha, 
Portland,  Ore. ;  Salt  Lake  City,  San 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Technicolor's  1945 
Volume  Sold  Out 


"Technicolor  Motion  Picture  Corp. 
has  sold  out  its  entire  volume  for  1945, 
as  permitted  under  wartime  conditions, 
and  has  been  forced  to  give  all  studios 
less  color  films  than  requested,"  Dr. 
Herbert  T.  Kalmus,  president  and 
general  manager,  told  the  stockholders 
of  Technicolor,  Inc.,  at  their  annual 
meeting  here  yesterday.  The  restric- 
tion of  volume,  Dr.  Kalmus  said,  has 
prevented  the  company  from  putting 
into  effect  its  policy  of  gradually  low- 
ering prices. 

Dr.  Kalmus,  along  with  J.  L.  An- 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Kelly  Denies  Rank, 
Wallis  Deal  'Dead' 

"While  the  chances  of  our 
closing  a  deal  with  Hal  Wal- 
lis are  not  promising  at  the 
moment  the  negotiations  have 
not  been  abandoned  entirely," 
Arthur  W.  Kelly,  head  of  J. 
Arthur  Rank's  Eagle-Lion 
Films  here,  said  yesterday 
when  asked  about  current 
Broadway  reports  that  a 
Wallis  -  Rank  deal,  which 
looked  promising  for  a  time, 
has  been  called  off. 

Wallis  has  extended  his  stay 
again  and  plans  to  remain 
here  through  the  week. 


• 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  16,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


JOHN  HERTZ,  JR.,  board  chair- 
man of  Buchanan  &  Co.,  New 
York  agency,  will  leave  here  today 
for  Hollywood. 

• 

Charles  Alicoate  became  a  grand- 
father here  Sunday  and  Jack  Ali- 
coate, both  of  Film  Daily,  became  a 
grand-uncle,  with  the  birth  of  a  son,- 
William  Charles,  to  Air  Corps 
Lieut,  and  Mrs.  William  E.  Wild. 

Harriett  Flagg,  David  Selznick's 
New  York  office  manager,  has  arrived 
at  Trinidad  on  a  four  months'  leave  of 
absence;  Marcella  Napp,  Hollywood 
manager,  temporarily  replaces  Miss 
Flagg  here. 

• 

Jack  Mills  of  .Mills  Music  Co., 
and  AIrs.  Mills,  announce  the  en- 
gagement of  their  daughter,  Helen, 
to  2nd  Lt.  William  Alpert,  AAF, 
of  Newton,  Mass. 

• 

Arthur  Brilant  of  RKO's  home 
office  publicity  department,  has  re- 
turned to  his  desk  after  a  week's  ill- 
ness at  home. 

• 

Henderson  M.  Richey,  head  of  ex- 
hibitor relations  for  M-G-M,  is  visit- 
ing Buffalo,  Cleveland  and  Indianapo- 
lis on  behalf  of  war  bond  rallies. 
• 

William  K.  Saxton,  Loew  The- 
atre's Baltimore  manager,  visited  his 
family  in  Long  Island  over  the  week- 
end. 

• 

Leo  Israel,  assistant  to  Abe  Good- 
man of  20th  Century-Fox's  advertis- 
ing production  department,  left  yester- 
day for  a  two-week  vacation  in  Florida. 
• 

Edwin  Sherwood-,  Ascap  Cleveland 
district  supervisor,  has  been  in  Balti- 
more for  several  days. 

Howard  Burkhardt,  Loew  State 
manager  in  Cleveland,  is  vacationing 
in  New  York  and  Baltimore. 

• 

Tom  Fizdale,  bead  of  Tom  Fizdale, 
Inc.,  will  leave  for  the  Coast  Friday. 
• 

Edward  Finney,  Hollywood  pro- 
ducer, will  leave  New  York  today  for 
Hollvwood. 


Korda  Takes  Over 
Ruggles  Production 

London,  May  IS. — Wesley  Ruggles 
has  relinquished  direction  of  "Per- 
fect Strangers"  for  Sir  Alexander 
Korda  for  M-G-M  at  the  Denham 
studios,  with  Korda  taking  over  pro- 
duction-direction himself,  according  to 
an  M-G-M  disclosure  here  today.  The 
shift  has  been  made  "owing  to  differ- 
ences of  opinion  arising  regarding 
treatment"  of  the  story,  it  was  said. 

Production  of  the  film,  scheduled  to 
start  several  months  ago,  has  been 
held  up  by  a  series  of  difficulties,  in- 
cluding the  obtaining  of  studio  space 
and  also  disagreement  over  several 
script  versions. 


Urges  Economy  in 
Film  Truck  Routes 


Elimination  of  duplicate  routes  cov- 
ered by  trucks  carrying  motion  picture 
film  was  recommended  by  William 
J.  Clarke,  former  New  York  and  New 
England  director  of  the  Office  of  De- 
fense Transportation,  speaking  at  the 
annual  convention  of  the  National  Film 
Carriers  in  the  Hotel  Astor  here  yes- 
terday. Clarke  also  called  for  strict 
economy  of  gasoline,  tires  and  other 
equipment. 

First  general  session  of  the  two-day 
convention  opened  yesterday  afternoon, 
with  Harold  Shertz,  attorney  for  the 
organization,  presiding,  following  a 
routine  executive  committee  meeting  in 
the  morning. 

Feature  of  the  closing  sessions  today 
will  be  a  luncheon  at  12:30,  with  the 
following  film  company  branch  super- 
visors scheduled  to  speak :  J.  S.  Mc- 
McLeod,  .M-G-M ;  Jack  Sichelman, 
20th-Fox ;  J.  Knox  Haddow,  Para- 
mount, and  I.  F.  Dolid,  Warners.  Ar- 
thur Dickinson  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  Amer- 
ica will  also  speak. 

The  NFC  will  also  elect  officers  to- 
day. James  P.  Clark  is  the  incumbent 
president ;  Thomas  W.  Gilboy,  vice- 
president,  and  Clint  Weyer,  secretary. 


Gross  Again  Head  of 
Ohio  Association 

Columbus,  May  15. — The  Ohio 
Film  Carriers  Association  in  a  two-day 
session  at  the  Neil  House,  re-elected 
as  president  Louis  C.  Gross  of  Cen- 
tral Shipping  Terminal,  Cleveland,  and 
as  secretary-treasurer,  Jack  Kava- 
naugh  of  the  Columbia-Cincinnati 
Trucking  Company.  The  members  met 
with  officials  of  the  public  utilities  to 
discuss  transportation  problems. 


Projector  Making 
Survey  Continued 

Allen  G.  Smith,  chief  of  the  theatre 
equipment  section  of  the  War  Pro- 
duction Board  held  further  conferences 
with  representatives  of  International 
Projector  here  over  the  weekend  on 
the  possibility  of  locating  the  manu- 
facture of  projection  equipment  and 
parts  in  New  York. 

No  definite  decisions  have  been  made 
but  it  is  understood  that  a  study  of 
facilities  will  be  made  with  a  view 
to  locating  this  type  of  manufacture 
away  from  war  areas  having  man- 
power shortages. 


Kinsky  Temporarily 
In  Charge  of  Drive 

While  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  Fifth  War 
Loan  film  campaign  chairman,  and 
members  of  the  national  committee 
are  making  a  tour  of  the  country  to 
address  all-industry  regional  meetings, 
Joseph  Kinsky,  coordinator-,  will  re- 
main at  campaign  headquarters  in 
New  York  to  supervise  national  op- 
erations. Kinsky  is  preparing  cam- 
paign plans  in  preparation  for  O'Don- 
nell's  return  and  the  June  12th  drive 
kickoff . 


Record  Turnout  at 
Buffalo  Fifth  War 
Loan  Drive  Meet 


Buffalo,  May  15. — The  largest  in- 
dustry turnout  for  a  War  Loan  meet- 
ing in  the  history  of  Buffalo  greeted 
film  industry  national  leaders  of  the 
Fifth  War  .  Loan  drive  here  today. 
More  than  200  exhibitors  and  distribu- 
tors attending  pledged  to  go  'over  the 
top'  in  the  drive,  to  be  held  June  12- 
July  8. 

With  exhibitor  delegations  from  Al- 
bany, Rochester,  Syracuse,  Glovers- 
ville,  Utica  and  Oneida,  and  all  dis- 
tribution companies  represented,  the 
rally  heard  an  outline  of  plans  by  R. 
M.  Kennedy,  campaign  vice  chairman  ; 
John  J.  Friedl,  campaign  director ;  H. 
M.  Richey,  representing  the  distribu- 
tors' committee ;  Ray  Beall,  publicity- 
director,  and  Claude  F.  Lee,  industry 
consultant  to  the  Treasury.  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  national  committee  chair- 
man, was  unable  to  attend.  He  will 
join  the  rest  of  the  committee  in  Cleve- 
land for  a  meeting  there  tomorrow  and 
continue  on  for  the  rest  of  the  Coast- 
to-Coast  tour. 

Local  speakers  included  Lou  Gold- 
ing,  state  drive  chairman ;  Charles  A. 
Smakwitz,  Albany  public  relations 
chairman ;  Mannie  Brown,  Buffalo 
chairman  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee ;  Vincent  R.  McFaul,  co-chair- 
man of  the  Buffalo  drive  committee ; 
Charles  B.  Taylor,  Buffalo  public  re- 
lations chairman,  and  A.  Charles 
Hayman,  Buffalo  exhibitor  chairman. 


Moskowitz  Sets  Meet 
Of  N.  Y.  Committee 

Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  Fifth  War 
Loan  industry  chairman  in  Metropoli- 
tan New  York,  has  called  a  meeting  of 
his  headquarters  staff  and  borough 
chairmen  for  tomorrow  in  the  Loew 
Building. 

On  the  agenda  is  the  erection  of  a 
large  cash  register  indicator  of  war 
bond  sales  in  Times  Square,  the  "In- 
vasion Convoys"  which  will  invade  the 
boroughs  after  a  big  rally  on  Broad- 
way, "The  Bond  Battle  of  the  Bor- 
oughs" ...  a  no-prize  competition 
among  theatres,  setting  dates  for 
'Bond  Premieres,'  the  appointment  of 
zone  captains,  and  the  tabulation  of 
war  bond  sales  throughout  the  area. 
Chas.  McDonald  has  been  appointed 
borough  chairman  for  Brooklyn,  re- 
placing Lou  Goldberg,  who  has  re- 
cently assumed  new  duties  in  the  RKO 
home  office. 


Cleveland  Meeting  To 
Be  Held  Today 

Cleveland,  May  15. — A  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive  luncheon-meeting  will  be 
held  here  tomorrow  at  the  Hotel  Stat- 
ler  with  Martin  G.  Smith,  exhibitor 
state  chairman  presiding. 

Col.  Arthur  Frudenfeld  will  head 
the  exhibitor  delegates  from  Cincin- 
nati and  M.  A.  Silver  will  lead  the 
contingent  from  Pittsburgh.  Also  at- 
tending will  be  Harry  Dudelson,  Cin- 
cinnati ;  H.  H.  Greenblatt,  Pittsburgh, 
and  Maury  Orr,  Cleveland,  distributor 
chairmen  of  their  respective  cities. 


Aaron  Jones,  67,Was 
Pioneer  Operator 

Chicago,  May  15. — Funeral  sei 
vices  were  held  here  today  for  Aaron 
J.  Jones,  67,  president  of  the  Jones, 
Linick  and  Schaefer  circuit  here,  who 
died  of  a  heart  attack  at  the  weekend 
at  his  home  in  Flossmoor,  111. 

Jones,  who  is  accredited  with  having 
operated  the  first  motion  picture  thea- 
tre in  the  Loop,  controlled  the  Vickers 
and  La  Salle  theatres  and  one  in 
Homewood,  a  Chicago  suburb.  His 
sons,  Aaron,  Jr.,  and  John,  were  as- 
sociated with  him.  At  one  time  he 
operated  52  theatres  in  and  around 
Chicago.  Besides  his  sons,  he  leaves 
his  widow,  a  brother,  and  three  grand- 
children. 


Skouras  Leaving  London 

London,  May  15. — Spyros  Skouras, 
20th  Century-Fox  president,  is  sched- 
uled to  leave  here  for  New  York  this 
week  following  a  business  visit  of 
more  than  two  months. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's  production 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
A  Clarence  Brown  Production 
SPECTACULAR   STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezranine  Seats  Reserved.   Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 
MOM'S 

BROADWAY 


RHYTHM 


IN  PERSON 

ADRIAN 
ROLLINI 
TRIO 

SUNNY 
SKYLAR 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

Id  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


The  Inside  Story  of  the  World's  Worst  Gangsters 

PARAMOUNT'S 

"The  Hitler  Gang" 


BRANDTS  GLOBE 


B'way  &  46  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter.Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Stept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign:  single  copies.  10c. 


SAMUEL  GOLDWYN, 

you  ve  DONE  it 

AGAIN ! . . 


I  .LID... 


Mr.  Goldwyn, 


you've  done  it  a^ain  . .  youVe  ^iven  the 
screen  not  only  the  most  brilliant 
new  comedy  star  in  years,  tut 
you've  also  ^iven  the  theatres  of 
the  world  one  of  the  most 
fabulous  box-office  pictures  of 


this  fabulous  show  year! 


DANNY  KAYE,/T/p  in  Arms 


WITH 


DINAH  SHORE  •  DANA  ANDREWS 
CONSTANCE  DOWLING 


and  the 


WW:*' 


Associate  Producer  DON  HARTMAN 
Directed  by  ELLIOTT  NUGENT 

Original  Screen  Play  by  Don  Hartman, 
Allen  Borefz  and  Robert  Pirosh 

Songs  by 
Harold  Arlen  &  Ted  Koehler— 
Sylvia  Fine  &  Max  Liebman 

Released  through  RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  INC. 


Gorgeous  Goldwyn  Girls 


DANNY  KAYE 


(to  quote  just  a  few  of  hundreds: 


"The  fans  nearly  tore  the  theatre 
down  applauding  Danny  Kaye." 

— Louella  Parsons 

"Danny  Kaye  is  what  I  call  sen- 


sational. 


— Hedda  Hopper 


"Danny  Kaye  belongs  in  the  ranks 
of  the  great  comic  specialists  of 

OUr  day."  —Kate  Cameron 

N.  Y.  Daily  News 

"Danny  Kaye  is  terrific." 

— Frank  Quinn, 
N.  Y.  Daily  Mirror 

"Danny  Kaye  starts  off  on  the 
top  rung  of  the  ladder." 

— Liberty  Magazine 

"Danny  Kaye  is  perfect." 

—Hortense  Morton, 
S.  F.  Examiner 

"Danny  Kaye  is  a  sensation." 

— Harrison  Carroll, 
L  A.  Herald-Express 


FIGHTING  SHOWMEN,  JOIN  THE  FIGHTING 
FIFTH  WAR  LOAN,  STARTING  JUNE  12. 


Tuesday,  May  16,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


McDonald  Opposes 
'Dated'  Television 


Chicago,  May  15. — Voicing  ap- 
proval of  Columbia  Broadcasting's  an- 
nounced policy  of  giving  wartime  im- 
provements in  television  to  the  public 
as  soon  as  possible,  E.  F.  McDonald 
Jr.,  president  of  Zenith  Radio,  today 
issued  a  statement  calling  for  "the 
public  and  the  dealers  to  be  told  now 
if  we  are  not  coming  out  with  im- 
proved television  after  the  war." 

"We  are  on  the  eve  of  writing  a 
prescription  that  should  serve  for  a 
long  time  to  come,"  McDonald  said. 
"The  stake  in  television  is  great.  But 
I  am  sure  neither  stockholders  nor  I 
would  want  quick  profits  from  televi- 
sion receivers  foreknowingly  built  to 
die  in  their  first  few  years,"  he  added. 

Speaks  of  RTPB 

Speaking  of  the  Radio  Technical 
Planning  Board,  "which  has  the  re- 
sponsibility of  securing  the  opinions  of 
television  scientists  and  technicians 
and  of  consolidating  them  for  the  con- 
sideration of  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission,"  McDonald  said, 
"We  don't  know  for  a  moment  whe- 
ther this  board  will  recommend  the 
standards  which  the  FCC  adopted 
for  pre-war  television  or  whether  it 
will  take  due  cognizance  of  the  CBS 
proposal.  There  is  reason  to  believe 
it  may  not.  The  statement  issued  by 
the  Television  Broadcasters  Associa- 
tion says  that  'Columbia's  suggestions 
are  contrary  to  the  carefully  consid- 
ered recommendations  of  engineers  of 
the  industry  comprising  the  television 
panel  of  the  board',"  he  pointed  out. 

McDonald  agreed  with  FCC  chair- 
man James  Lewis  Fry,  who  was  re- 
ported on  May  3  as  being  "opposed  to 
any  move  to  freeze  television  standards 
at  the  present  level." 

Dual  Receivers  Wasteful 

Regarding  the  suggestion  that  "re- 
ceivers could  be  built  to  receive  both 
systems,"  McDonald  declared,  "It's 
going  to  be  a  big  enough  problem  to 
build  a  moderate  priced  receiver  to 
operate  on  the  better  system.  Dual 
operation  receivers  would  be  costly 
and  wasteful." 

The  CBS  policy,  announced  by  Paul 
W.  Keston,  executive  vice-president, 
was  reported  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily  on  April  28. 

U.  A.  Entertains  for 
Jane  Powell  Here 

Jane  Powell,  14-year-old  singing  star 
of  Charles  R.  Rogers'  "Song  of  the 
Open  Road,"  was  guest  of  honor  at 
a  reception  given  by  United  Artists, 
distributor  of  the  film,  at  the  Hamp- 
shire House  yesterday.  She  is  now  on 
a  tour  of  camps,  hospitals  and  can- 
teens, entertaining  service  men. 

Representatives  of  newspapers,  trade 
papers  and  "fan"  magazines  attended 
the  reception  in  addition  to  company 
officials  and  other  guests. 


Will  Visit  Chicago  Sunday 

Chicago,  May  15. — United  Artists' 
juvenile  star,  Jane  Powell,  featured  in 
"Song  of  the  Open  Road,"  will  appear 
here  Sunday  in  conjunction  with  the 
Herald- American's  "I  Am  an  Ameri- 
can" day.  The  remainder  of  her  Mid- 
west itinerary  includes  appearances  in 
Battle  Creek,  Cincinnati  and  Milwau- 
kee, from  where  she  will  go  to  Port- 
land, Ore.,  to  participate  in  the  world 
premiere  of  her  picture. 


2,000  War  Films 
To  Canada  Plants 

The  industrial  division  of 
the  National  Film  Board  of 
Canada  has  made  available 
2,000  16mm.  war  films  month- 
ly to  workers  in  this  country. 
The  board  has  37  projection- 
ists functioning  in  the  field 
with  extras  on  hand  for  spe- 
cial screenings,  according  to 
Gordon  Adamson,  chairman. 

In  plants  where  there  are 
projection  machines,  the  board 
supplies  the  film  to  the 
plants,  free  of  charge, 
through  the  NFB's  five  ex- 
changes. The  circuit  also  dis- 
tributes pictures  from  the 
U.  S.,  England  and  Canada  to 
the  factories,  Adamson  said. 


Mutual  Makes  Plans, 
Re-elects  Officers 

Expansion  of  the  already  enlarged 
program  structure  of  the  Mutual  net- 
work in  the  immediate  future  was  de- 
termined upon  by  members  of  the 
board  of  directors,  shareholders  and 
executive  committee  of  the  organiza- 
tion at  meetings  in  Chicago  last  week. 

Re-elected  at  the  meeting  were :  Al- 
fred J.  McCosker,  chairman  of  the 
board ;  W.  E.  McFarlane,  chairman 
of  the  executive  committee ;  Miller 
McClintock,  president ;  Theodore 
Streibert  and  Lewis  Allen  Weiss, 
executive  vice-presidents;  J.  E.  Cam- 
peau,  vice-president ;  and  E.  M.  An- 
trim, executive  secretary  and  treasur- 
er. J.  E.  Wallen  was  elected  con- 
troller, succeeding  Miles  E.  Lamphi- 
ear.  The  board  of  directors  reelected 
includes :  Antrim,  Hope  Barroll,  Jr., 
Willett  H.  Brown,  H.  K.  Carpenter, 
Leonard  Kapner,  MacFarlane,  Mc- 
Clintock, McCosker,  John  Shepard 
III,  Streibert  and  Weiss.  The  ex- 
ecutive committee  reelected  by  the 
board  of  directors  includes  Carpenter, 
MacFarlane,  McClintock,  Shepard, 
Streibert  and  Weiss. 


Policy,  Product  Are 
Topics  at  WB  Meet 

Seasonal  operating  policy,  manpow- 
er problems  and  forthcoming  product 
were  among  subjects  discussed  yester- 
day at  a  meeting  of  Warner  circuit 
Eastern  and  Midwestern  zone  man- 
agers, film  buyers  and  home  office 
executives  at  the  home  office  here. 
Joseph  Bernhard,  general  manager, 
and  Harry  Kalmine,  assistant  general 
manager,  were  the  principal  speakers. 

Other  home  office  executives  at- 
tending were :  Clayton  Bond,  Harry 
Goldberg,  Frank  Phelps,  Sam  E.  Mor- 
ris, Abel  Vigard,  W.  Stewart  Mc- 
Donald, Harry  Rosenquest,  Louis 
Kaufman,  Frank  Marshall,  Nat  Fell- 
man,  Herman  Maier,  Rudolph  Weiss 
and  Martin  F.  Bennett.  Zone  man- 
agers and  film  buyers  returned  last 
night  to  their  territories  except  Lou 
Halper,  West  Coast  zone  manager, 
who  will  remain  here  for  two  weeks. 


Brennan  Dies  Abroad 

Chicago,  May  15. — George  Bren- 
nan, 38,  former  executive  of  Ideal  Pic- 
tures here,  who  volunteered  as  an  am- 
bulance driver  with  the  American 
Field  Service  abroad,  died  of  wounds 
received  in  India,  it  was  reported  by 
the  War  Department  here  at  the 
weekend.  Brennan  is  survived  by  his 
widow. 


New  WE  Contracts 
Offer  Royalties  Cuts 


Hollywood,  May  15. — New  license 
contracts  for  producers  using  Western 
Electric  sound-recording  systems  pro- 
vide substantial  reductions  in  royal- 
ties, D.  C.  Collins,  manager  of  the 
company's  research  products  division, 
told  Motion  Picture  Daily  on  his 
arrival  here  from  New  York. 

"The  industry  is  evidencing  consid- 
erable interest  in  the  proposed  new  re- 
cording license  agreement  which  we 
have  offered  our  licensees,  to  become 
effective  Jan.  1,  1945,"  he  said.  "The 
agreement  provides  a  substantial  re- 
duction in  royalties  at  the  same  time 
that  it  continues  patent  indemnity  on 
a  basis  which  will  prove  satisfactory 
to  licensees,"  he  added. 


100  Film  Previewers 
Honor  Mrs.  Emerich 

Over  100  representatives  of  motion 
picture  previewer  groups  attended  a 
testimonial  luncheon  yesterday  for 
Mrs.  Jeannette  Emerich  of  the  MP- 
PDA  in  recognition  of  her  work  in 
instructing  previewers.  The  luncheon 
was  held  at  Town  Hall  here. 

Among  those  on  the  dais  were: 
Mrs.  Dean  Gray  Edwards  of  the  Gen- 
eral Federation  of  Women's  Clubs ; 
Hal  Hode,  Columbia ;  Harold  Hende, 
RKO;  Madeleine  White,  Monogram  ; 
Beatrice  Ross  and  Evelyn  Coleman, 
Republic;  Hetty  Gray  Baker,  20th- 
Fox;  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Blankenhorn, 
British  Information  Services  and  Dr. 
Sigmund  Spaeth,  president  of  the  Na- 
tional Society  of  Composers  and  Con- 
ductors. 

RKO  Golf  Tourney 
Being  Held  Today 

Some  400  RKO  executives,  home 
office  employes  and  guests  will  attend 
the  RKO  annual  golf  tournament  at 
Westchester  Country  Club  at  Rye, 
New  York,  today.  The  tournament 
will  culminate  in  the  evening  with  a 
dinner  at  which  Ned  E.  Depinet  will 
act  as  toastmaster  and  present  prizes 
of  $25  war  bonds  to  winners. 

Thirteen  main  prizes,  as  well  as 
prizes  to  the  winner  of  each  foursome, 
will  be  awarded  by  the  committee 
headed  by  Depinet  and  including  Sen. 
J.  Henry  Walters,  John  A.  Farmer, 
Harry  Pimstein  and  R.  S.  Gavin. 


Directs  Companies  to 
Pay  Wage  Boost 

The  National  War  Labor  Board 
has  directed  20th  Century-Fox, 
M-G-M  and  United  Artists  to  put  into 
effect  the  15  per  cent  retroactive  wage 
increase  for  some  office  workers  em- 
ployed in  their  New  York  exchanges 
and  approved  by  the  WLB  here  on 
Feb.  22. 

The  three  companies  have  appealed 
to  the  NWLB  on  other  provisions  of 
the  regional  board's  directive  but  no 
decision  has  been  rendered  yet. 


Dwyer  Again  Heads  TPU 

Joseph  Dwyer  was  re-elected  presi- 
dent of  IATSE  Theatrical  Protective 
Union,  Local  1,  New  York,  in  an 
election  held  over  the  weekend.  Solly 
Pernick  and  Vincent  Jacobi  were  un- 
opposed for  re-election  as  business 
agents. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  15 

CHARLES  ARNOLD  MIDEL- 
BURG,  M-G-M's  20th  anniver- 
sary exhibitor,  will  be  honored  Wed- 
nesday at  an  exhibitor  luncheon  to  be 
given  by  the  company  at  the  Ambas- 
sador Hotel  here. 

• 

The  Hollywood  premiere  of  RKO 
Radio's  "Show  Business,"  produced  by 
Eddie  Cantor,  at  Grauman's  Chinese 
here,  netted  $10,000  for  local  hospital 
funds.  The  event  was  sponsored  by 
the  AWVS  and  was  attended  by  Bob 
Hope,  Lana  Turner,  Edgar  Bergen, 
Ray  Milland,  Toumanova,  Lucille  Ball, 
Merle  Oberon,  Claire  Trevor,  Edward 
G.  Robinson  and  Joan  Davis. 

• 

Hugh  King,  former  head  of  the 
Myron  Selznick  agency  story  depart- 
ment, joined  Republic  Pictures  today 
in  a  similar  post,  succeeding  Fran- 
ces Manson,  resigned.  Mabel  Search, 
personal  representative  for  David  O. 
Selznick,  handling  writer-publisher 
contacts,  succeeds  King. 

• 

Armand  Schaefer,  Republic  execu- 
tive producer,  has  announced  "Girl's 
Town,"  based  on  a  story  of  juvenile 
delinquency  by  Clara  Mae  Walker,  as 
one  of  the  first  films  on  the  1944-45 
schedule. 

• 

Paramount  has  announced  plans  to 
produce  "Red,  Hot  and  Blue,"  starring 
Betty  Hutton,  based  on  the  1937  Vinton 
Freedley  musical  with  score  by  Cole 
Porter. 

• 

William  Bacher,  now  preparing 
"Bon  Voyage"  and  "The  Gay  Illiter- 
ate," has  been  signed  to  a  new  produc- 
er contract  by  20th-Fox. 

• 

Sol  Lesser  has  signed  Charles  Rug- 
gles  for  a  role  in  United  Artists'  pro- 
duction of  "Three's  a  Family"  which 
Edward  Ludwig  is  directing. 

• 

Universal  has  added  "Miss  I.  Q."  to 
Felix  Feist's  producing-directing  sched- 
ule. The  film  will  star  Gloria  Jean. 
• 

S.  Barret  McCormick,  RKO-Radio 
advertising  and  publicity  director,  ar- 
rived here  today  from  the  East. 
• 

Paramount  has  added  a  new,  untitled 
ghost  mystery,  starring  Betty  Field, 
to  Kenneth  MacGowan's  schedule. 
• 

Joseph  J.  White,  65,  father  of  Ed- 
ward White,  Republic  producer,  died 
here  recently. 

• 

The  King  brothers  will  produce 
"Matrimony  Preferred"  for  Mono- 
gram for  1944-45. 

• 

Republic  has  purchased  "Chicago 
Kid,"  by  Alfred  Justin  Edwards,  as  a 
vehicle  for  Don  Barry. 

• 

Andre  Daven,  20th-Fox  producer- 
director,  has  been  signed  to  a  new  con- 
tract. 


Fire  Alarm  at  Astor 

Firemen  responded  to  an  alarm 
from  the  Astor  Theatre  here  at  4  :30 
p.m.  yesterday  when  a  cigarette  ash 
caused  a  fireproofed  curtain  in  the 
gentlemen's  lounge  to  smolder  slightly. 


PINNING  UP'  THE  MO! 


The  most  important  event  in  the  50  years  of  motion  pictul 


BEAUTIFUL  FIGURE 


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tertainment . . .  DARRYL  F.  ZANUCK'S 


IN 


TECHNICOLOR 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  16,  1944 


•White  Cliffs'  Heads 
For  §120,000  on 
First  at  Music  Hall 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

cbestra  at  the  Roxy  are  registering 
nicely  with  $92,000  expected  on  the 
first  week  on  the  basis  of  $72,000  re- 
corded on  the  first  five  days  ending 
Sunday.  Business  is  below  the  recent 
pace  set  by  Betty  Grable  films  at  the 
Roxy  but  is  spells  plenty  of  profit  and 
it  will  hold  over.  The  second  week 
of  "Going  M>'  Way"  and  a  stage 
show  headed  by  Charlie  Spivak  at 
the  Paramount  will  yield  a  profitable 
$90,000,  although  below  the  pace  set 
by  "Lady  in  the  Dark."  The  third 
week  for  this  combined  bill  will  start 
tomorrow. 

'Gaslight'  S65.000 

"Gaslight"  and  Phil  Spitalny's 
"Hour  of  Charm"  all-girl  orchestra 
on  the  stage  are  scoring  handsomely 
at  the  Capitol  with  565,000  expected 
on  the  second  week  on  the  basis  of 
$40,000  grossed  on  the  first  four  days. 
The  combination  is  expected  to  re- 
main for  several  weeks.  The  second 
week  of  "Between  Two  Worlds"  and 
the  Coast  Guard  show,  "Tars  and 
Spars"  are  expected  to  bring  the 
Strand  a  modest  $35,000  on  the  basis 
of  the  three-day  gross  of  §18,500  end- 
ing Sunday  night.  The  combined 
show  will  hold. 

"Show  Business"  is  doing  satisfac- 
torily at  the  Palace  on  an  expected 
$28,000  on  its  first  week  ending  to- 
night. This  is  well  above  the  pace 
of  recent  films  at  this  house  and  a  run 
of  several  weeks  is  expected.  Busi- 
ness has  been  building  for  "The  Hit- 
ler Gang"  at  the  Globe.  The  first 
week's  gross  was  a  near-record  $30.- 
000  and  the  second  week  is  expected  to 
bring  $25,000.    It  will  continue. 

■Bernadette'  in  16th  Week 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  will  bring 
in  $21,000  on  its  16th  week  at  the 
Rivoli  and  will  continue  since  this 
still  represents  plenty  of  profit.  "See 
Here,  Private  Hargrove"  will  get 
$16,000  on  its  eighth  week  at  the  Astor 
and  will  continue.  "Follow  the  Boys" 
will  bring  in  a  modest  S18,000  on  the 
final  eight  days  of  the  third  week  at 
the  Criterion  and  Universal's  "Cobra 
Woman"  will  open  there  tomorrow. 
The  second  week  of  "The  Adventures 
of  Mark  Twain"  at  the  Hollywood 
will  bring  a  disappointing  $15,000. 
"Mr.  Skeffington"  is  expected  to  take 
over  there  at  the  end  of  the  month. 
Business  continues  good  at  the  Man- 
hattan with  "Snow  White  and  the 
Seven  Dwarfs"  bringing  in  a  profitable 
S11.000  on  its  sixth  week;  it  will  con- 
tinue. "Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  is  ex- 
pected to  get  about  $8,500  on  its  fourth 
week  at  the  Gotham,  which  is  satis- 
factory, and  it  is  expected  to  hold  for 
a  fifth  week  before  making  way  for 
United  Artists'  "It  Happened  Tomor- 
row." "Bermuda  Mystery"  will 
bring  the  Rialto  a  moderate  $7,000  on 
a  single  week.  Universal's  "The 
Scarlet  Claw"  will  open  there  on  Fri 
daj*. 


Martin-Harvey  Dies 

Loxdox.  May  15. — Sir  John  Mar- 
tin-Harvey, 80,  British  actor-producer 
who  appeared  in  several  British  films 
■n  the  1930's,  died  here  last  night. 


ii 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


CHAMP  SIGNS  FIVE-YEAR  PARA.  PACT:- 

PAR AMOUNT  SEALS  10-FILM 
CONTRACT  WITH  BARRY  FITZGERALD, 
CO-SENSATION  OF  LEO  MC  CAREY'S 
"GOING  MY  WAY",  AS  THIS  BING 
CROSBY  HIT  TOPS  ALL  PREVIOUS 
PARAMOUNT  STARTERS   IN  19,000- 
P0PULATI0N  GLENS  FALLS  AFTER 
SETTING  NEW  BROADWAY  RECORD. 


20th  Stockholders 
Meeting  Today 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Clarkson,  chairman  of  the  board  of 
American  Express  Co.,  and  Robert 
Lehman,  president  of  Lehman  Bros. 

In  addition  stockholders  will  act 
upon  a  proposal  for  the  sale  of  stock 
to  Charles  P.  Skouras,  Elmer  C.  Rho- 
den,  Harold  J.  Fitzgerald  and  F.  H. 
Ricketson,  Jr.,  in  the  respective  20th- 
Fox  theatre  operating  subsidiaries 
which  they  head. 

The  stockholders  will  also  be  asked 
to  approve  granting  of  common  stock 
options  to  certain  officers  of  the  com- 
pany. The  company's  proxy  state- 
ment listed  the  following  as  having 
been  discussed  in  this  connection : 
Spyros  Skouras,  president;  William 
C.  Michel,  executive  vice-president ; 
Tom  Connors,  distribution  vice-presi- 
dent ;  Sidney  Towell,  treasurer ;  Mur- 
ray Silverstone,  foreign  distribution 
vice-president ;  Wilfred  J.  Eadie, 
comptroller,  and  Felix  Jenkins,  sec- 
retary- 


Pull  'Youth',  'Wives' 
After  Ad  Objections 

Chicago,  May  15. — Herb  Elisburg, 
managing  director  of  the  Studio  The- 
atre here,  is  terminating  tonight  a 
showing  of  two  Dezell  productions, 
"Eternal  Youth"  and  "School  for 
Wives,"  after  a  two-day  run  which 
was  said  to  have  aroused  the  indigna- 
tion of  civic  and  church  leaders 
throughout  Chicago  over  the  weekend. 

Only  the  Chicago  Sun  published  an 
uncensored  advertisement  Saturday  and 
Sunday,  billing  'Eternal  Youth"  as 
"the  story  of  an  unexpected  baby"  and 
"School  for  Wives"  as  "the  answer  to 
a  maiden's  prayer  and  the  solution  to 
the  manpower  shortage." 

While  Elisburg  stated  that  the  can- 
cellation was  due  to  poor  business,  re- 
ligious leaders  were  making  prepara- 
tions to  unite  with  city  officials  to 
enforce  legal  action  to  ban  such  ad- 
vertising and  prohibit  exhibiting  these 
attractions. 


Hobart  House  Files 
Clearance  Complaint 

The  Hobart  Theatre  Corp.,  oper- 
ating the  Hobart,  Woodside,  L.  I., 
has  filed  a  clearance  complaint  at  the 
New  York  tribunal  against  the  five 
decree  companies,  the  American  Ar- 
bitration Association  reported  here 
yesterday. 

The  plaintiff  states  that  the  Cres- 
cent, Astoria,  operated  by  the  Skouras 
Theatres,  and  the  Granada,  Corona, 
are  two  and  three  miles  distant,  re- 
spectively, from  the  Hobart.  Fur- 
ther, that  the  defendants  grant  these 
theatres  several  days  clearance.  The 
plaintiff  claims  that  any  clearance  to 
the  Crescent  and  Granada  is  unreason- 
able and  seeks  complete  elimination  of 
clearance. 


Ogden  Theatre  Asks 
2nd  Week  Release 

Chicago,  May  15. — Ben  Cooney,  op- 
erator of  the  Ogden  Theatre  here,  filed 
a  demand  today  with  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Arbitration  Tribunal  for  the  sec- 
ond week  of  general  release  from 
Loew's,  Warners  Brothers,  20th-Fox, 
Paramount  and  RKO,  Charging  as  un- 
fair five  weeks  of  prior  release  to  the 
Marshall  Square  Theatre. 


Tuesday,  May  16,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Technicolor's  1945 
Volume  Sold  Out 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

derson,  L.-  G.  Clarke  and  Eversley 
Childs,  were  reelected  to  the  board 
of  directors  for  three  years  each.  No 
date  was  set  for  the  meeting  of  the 
board,  but  Kalmus  said  after  the  ses- 
sion that  it  would  take  place  before 
his  departure  for  the  West  Coast  three 
weeks  from  now.  The  incumbent  offi- 
cers, Dr.  Kalmus ;  George  F.  Lewis, 
vice-president,  general  counsel  and 
secretary;  and  Clarke,  treasurer,  are 
expected  to  be  reelected. 

The  stockholders  were  also  told  yes- 
terday that  the  company  is  putting 
in  a  unit  for  making  16mm  films  by 
the  regular  Technicolor  process  in- 
stead of  by  Kodachrome.  Also  an- 
nounced was  the  fact  that  Monopack 
film,  used  for  exteriors  last  year  on 
M-G-M's  "Lassie  Come  Home,"  is 
now  being  used  experimentally  for  in- 
teriors on  M-G-M's  "Son  of  Lassie" 
and   20th-Fox's  "Thunderhead." 

Regarding  the  sellout  of  the  1945 
volume,  Dr.  Kalmus  explained  that 
cancellations  and  postponements  of 
some  films  may  make  it  possible  for 
others  to  be  added. 

Cancellation  a 
Decree  Problem 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

distributors  may  wind  up  the  negotia- 
tions for  revision  of  the  decree,  the 
Assistant  Attorney  General  said  his 
decision  to  call  for  a  show-down  had 
no  relation  to  the  impending  summer 
court  recesses,  since  it  would  be  pos- 
sible to  find  a  judge  to  enter  a  decree 
at  any  time,  even  if  the  courts  were 
not  sitting. 

On  the  other  hand,  he  said,  the  ne- 
gotiations now  have  dragged  put  over 
a  number  of  months,  and  the  com- 
panies have  had  full  opportunity  to 
study  the  Department's  recommenda- 
tions, and  there  is  no  reason  to  carry 
the  meetings  further  unless  the  distrib* 
utors  are  prepared  to  offer  terms 
acceptable  to  the  Government. 

The  decision  whether  to  accept  a 
decree  will  probably  rest  on  the  action 
of  the  companies  on  the  important 
recommendations  of  the  exhibitors,  and 
the  Department  was  represented  as 
unlikely  to  make  any  counter-offers. 
If  the  Pittsburgh  steel  case  is  conclud- 
ed this  week  and  Wright  returns  to 
Washington,  it  is  probable  the  motion 
picture  problem  will  be  settled,  one 
way  or  the  other,  sometime  next  week, 
Clark  said. 


Moss  Calls  for  Aid 
For  N.  Y.  Fund 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

this  year  because  of  the  increased 
cost  of  maintaining  the  403  health  and 
welfare  agencies  supported  by  the  fund 
and  the  steadily  increasing  needs  of 
the  institutions.  These  agencies, 
which  lend  aid  to  2,000,000  needy 
New  Yorkers,  this  year  are  seeking 
$4,500,000.  With  the  nation  at  war 
and  extraordinary  conditions  prevail- 
ing, emphasis  is  being  placed  on  the 
fact  that  "the  children  of  the  com- 
munity must  not  be  neglected  and 
that  the  welfare  program  to  keep  alive 
the  spirit  of  individual  initiative  must 
be  maintained." 

Moss  said  that  committees  repre- 
senting the  major  companies  and  other 
groups  allied  with  the  film  industry 
are  being  formed. 


UA  Votes  Change 
In  By-Laws,  2-1, 
Chaplin  Dissenting 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

court,  although  no  disclosure  was 
made  here  as  to  the  grounds  on  which 
the  test  might  be  attempted.  It  was 
stated  that  stockholders  will  be  asked 
in  the  near  future  to  nominate  direc- 
tors for  the  new  board  of  nine,  three 
to  represent  each  owner,  as  provided 
for  in  the  newly  adopted  amendments. 
When  the  new  board  has  been  named 
it  will  be  empowered  to  transact  all 
company  business  by  majority  vote, 
rather  than  by  unanimous  consent 
which  has  been  required  heretofore 
and  which,  according  to  management 
statements,  has  restricted  the  operating 
efficiency  of  the  company. 

No  Competing  Activity 

One  of  the  new  bylaws  prohibits  a 
director  from  serving  with  a  competi- 
tive company.  Ostensibly  drawn  to 
prevent  the  recurrence  of  a  situation 
which  permitted  Sir  Alexander  Korda, 
one  of  the  former  United  Artists  own- 
ers, from  being  in  a  position  to  veto 
actions  of  the  board  while  actively  as- 
sociated with  M-G-M's  London  pro- 
duction organization,  the  new  amend- 
ment also  would  disqualify  Arthur  W. 
Kelly,  former  Chaplin  representative 
on  the  board,  from  serving  on  the  new 
directorate.  Kelly  is  American  head 
of  J.  Arthur  Rank's  Eagle-Lion  Films. 


Los  Angeles,  May  15. — Charles 
Chaplin,  reported  visiting  Palm 
Springs,  could  not  be  reached  for  com- 
ment concerning  his  future  intentions 
to  further  challenge  today's  U.A.  stock- 
holders' action  at  Wilmington  in  vot- 
ing to  increase  the  operating  authority 
of  management  and  restricting  that  of 
ownership. 

O'Shea  Gives  M-G-M 
Service  Pins  to  41 

Edward  K.  O'Shea,  Eastern  sales 
manager  of  M-G-M,  last  night  distrib- 
uted 41  loyalty  pins  to  employes  at  the 
New  York  exchange-  who  have  been 
with  the  company  ten  years  or  more. 
Distribution  took  place  at  a  dinner  held 
in  the  Hotel  New  Yorker  which  was 
also  attended  by  William  F.  Rodgers, 
vice-president  and  general  sales  mana- 
ger ;  John  J.  Bowen,  district  manager 
for  the  Metropolitan  area,  as  toast- 
master ;  Benjamin  Abner,  manager  for 
New  Jersey,  and  Ralph  Pielow,  man- 
ager for  the  New  York  area. 

Loyalty  pins  were  given  to :  John 
Cuniff,  Abraham  Negrin,  Robert  J. 
Ellsworth,  Louis  Johnson,  Estelle  Shea, 
Gerard  M.  Lee,  Gertrude  Lalima, 
Charles  C.  Wittner,  Louis  Allerhand, 
Irving  N.  Margolin,  Max  Starke,  Rhea 
Rodofsky,  Carmen  George,  James 
Blades,  George  Attilo  Magliano,  Har- 
old Margolis,  Carmen  Trink,  Sam 
Wachter,  Virginia  E.  Aaron,  Edward 
Richter,  Catherine  Connaughton,  Sid- 
ney Stockton,  Morris  D.  Rose,  Kath- 
ryn  Schwartz,  Selma  Harris,  Dorothy 
Richter,  August  Kubart,  Thomas 
Scotti,  Laura  Tobin,  Josephine  Radice. 
Sadie  McGowan,  Frank  Dick,  Thomas 
Farrell,  Faye  J.  Reiss,  Matthew  Men- 
dicino,  Suzanne  Armand,  David  Klein 
Howard  Levy,  Harriet  Allen,  Ann 
Henrich  and  Mae  Pannese. 


'Local  Need'  Filed 
For  in  20  Cities 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Francisco,  Seattle  and  Washington, 
D.  C.  Ned  E.  Depinet  is  chairman 
of  the  distributors'  division.  The  fil- 
ing of  the  applications  was  made 
through  Leon  J.  Bamberger,  his  as- 
sistant. 

It  was  stated  that  application  can- 
not be  filed  in  the  following  exchange 
centers,  for  the  time  being,  at  least, 
because  there  the  labor  situation  is 
neither  critical  nor  imminently  criti- 
cal :  Atlanta,  Cincinnati,  Denver,  Des 
Moines,  Kansas  City,  Mo. ;  Memphis, 
Minneapolis,  New  York  and  St.  Louis. 

The  designation  of  "locally  needed" 
has  so  far  only  been  accorded  to  dis- 
tribution in  Pittsburgh  and  Phila- 
delphia. 

In  all  cities  where  applications  are 
now  on  file,  the  matter  is  still  under 
consideration  by  the  local  area  direc- 
tors of  the  WMC,  with  the  exception 
of  Cleveland  and  Washington,  where 
the  applications  were  denied,  but  in 
these  situations  appeal  has  been  made 
to  the  regional  directors  of  the  WMC. 

In  all  exchange  cities,  applications 
were  filed  by  the  WAC  distributor 
chairmen,  after  meetings  with  all  ex- 
change managers  who  signed  the  ap- 
plications. 


WB  Sales  Drive  Ends 

Warners'  "1944  Round-Up"  sales 
drive,  which  ran  for  24  weeks,  closed 
at  the  weekend  \yith  an  over-quota 
business  for  the  entire  21  weeks  re- 
ported by  Ben  Kalmenson,  sales  man- 
ager. 


Montague  Sets 
Regionals 
For  Columbia 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Louis  Astor,  Louis  Weinberg  and  M. 
J.  Weisfeldt.  Central  division  man- 
ager Carl  Shalit  and  Midwest  divi- 
sion manager  Ben  Marcus  will  head 
the  delegations  to  Chicago ;  New  York 
division  manager  Nat  Cohn  and  Mid- 
east division  manager  Sam  Galanty 
will  head  the  delegation  to  New  York, 
and  Western  division  manager  Jerome 
Safron  to  San  Francisco. 

In  addition  to  those  mentioned, 
home  office  executives,  branch  man- 
agers and  the  entire  sales  forces  in 
the  respective  territories  will  be  pres- 
ent at  the  sessions.  The  groupings  of 
branches  to  attend  each  meeting  fol- 
low :  In  Chicago :  Atlanta,  Charlotte, 
Chicago,  Dallas,  Des  Moines,  Detroit, 
Indianapolis,  Kansas  City,  Memphis, 
Milwaukee,  Minneapolis,  New  Or- 
leans, Oklahoma  City,  Omaha  and  St. 
Louis.  In  New  York :  Albany,  Bos- 
ton, Buffalo,  Cincinnati,  Cleveland, 
New  Haven,  New  York,  Philadelphia, 
Pittsburgh  and  Washington ;  in  San 
Francisco,  Denver,  Los  Angeles, 
Portland,  Salt  Lake  City,  San  •  Fran- 
cisco and  Seattle. 


New  Mexican  Colony 

Mexico  City,  May  15. —  The  Na- 
tional Cinematographic  Industry  Work- 
ers Union  has  purchased  land  for  the 
founding  of  a  home  colony  for  all 
branches  of  the  industry. 


KORDA 

THB,LUMC 


Combined  by 

■  •  _ 


ship  to 


Showno"51"*' 

.  the  pet*6** 
moke  the  «" 

pROGRAKl  •  •  " 


[NTURE  PROGRAM 


r 


N  TECHNICOLO 

II  FEATHERS 


RUDVBRD  KiPUIIG '  S 


/# 


RALPH  RICHARDSON 


BOY 


C.  AUBREY  SMITH  •  JUNE  DUPREZ 


Booked  by  the  following  New  York  Metropolitan  Circuits:  RKO  •  SKOURAS  •  CENTURY  •  RANDFORCE  •  INTERBORO 
PRUDENTIAL  .  FABIAN  .  BRANDT  .  ENDICOTT  .   RUCOFF  &  BECKER  •  RAPF  &  RUDEN  and  KAYBERN 


DISTRIBUTED    NATIONALLY  BY 


PALLAS  FILMS,  INC 


1501   BROADWAY,  Paramount  Bldg.,  New  York  18.  N. 


VOL.  55.  NO.  97 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  17,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Ruggles  May 
Head  Rank 
Production 


But  Treasury  Objection 
Presents  Problem 


By  PETER  BURNUP 

London,  May  16. — Negotiations 
have  been  progressing  quietly  here 
for  some  weeks  between  J.  Arthur 

IRank  .and  Wesley  Ruggles  with  a 
view  to  the  latter's  taking  "supreme 
Command"  of  Rank's  set-up  of  fav- 
i  ored  independent  producers,  including 
Gabriel  Pascal,  Paul  Soskin,  Archers 
Film  Productions,  and  others. 
Present  arrangements  call  for  Rug- 
!  gles  to  take  over  in  September,  ac- 
-  cording  to  an  agreement  reached  at 
I  the   weekend,   when   Ruggles  relin- 
j  quished  the  direction  of  Sir  Alexander 
j  Korda's  "Perfect  Strangers,"  as  re- 
ported yesterday  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily.    This  film,  with  Korda  now 
I  in  complete  charge,  is  expected  to  be 
{Continued  on  page  8) 


KAO  Stockholders 
Elect  Directors 


Stockholders  of  '  Keith-Albee-Or- 
pheum  in  annual  meeting  here  yester- 
day re-elected  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  Ned 
E.  Depinet,  Malcolm  Kingsberg,  Mon- 
roe Goldwater,  Gordon  E.  Youngman 
and  J.  Miller  Walker  to  the  board  of 
directors  for  another  year  and  elected 
A.  W.  Dawson,  to  succeed  William 
E.  Whitman.  Stockholders  of  B.  F. 
Keith  Corp.,  who  will  meet  here  this 
morning,  are  expected  to  elect  the 
same  board. 

The  boards  of  directors  of  both  cor- 
porations will  meet  in  about  a  week 
to  elect  officers  of  both  corporations 
with  no  changes  expected  in  either 
set-up,  which  include  Rathvon  as 
president  and  Kingsberg  as  executive 
vice-president  and  vice-chairman  of 
the  hoard,  and  others. 


Petrillo  Demands 
New  Hirings 

Hollywood,  May  16. — Interchange- 
ability  of  musician  manpower  stands 
out  as  one  of  the  more  important 
points  at  issue  in  the  labor  negotia- 
tions now  under  way  here  between 
studio  and  company  heads  and  James 
<C.  Petrillo,  president  of  the  American 
federation  of  Musicians. 
Meetings  between  Petrillo  and  the 

(Continued  on  pat/e  8) 


See  Hal  Wallis  Deal 
For  'Wind'  Today 

Hal  Wallis  will  meet  here 
today  with  Herman  Shumlin, 
producer  of  Lillian  Hellman's 
"The  Searching  Wind,"  for 
what  may  be  final  negotia- 
tions for  acquisition  by  Wal- 
lis of  screen  rights  to  the  out- 
standing Broadway  play  prop- 
erty. 

Wallis  said  yesterday  that 
negotiations  for  his  distribu- 
tion affiliation  are  nearing 
their  closing  stages  and  may 
be  concluded  by  the  end  of 
the  week.  Paramount  contin- 
ues to  be  reported  as  his  most 
likely  association. 


Unrest  Among  G-B 
Heads  as  Rank 
Silent  on  Odeon  Deal 


London,  May  16. — A  considerable 
undercurrent  of  unrest  is  manifesting 
itself  among  Gaumont-British  theatre 
executives  and  managers  here  in  the 
absence  of  any  authoritative  statement 
as  to  J.  Arthur  Rank's  intentions  with 
regard  to  the  impending  merger  of 
G-B  with  Odeon  Theatres. 

The  merger  depends  upon  the 
agreement  between  Rank  and  Spyros 
Skouras  of  20th  Century-Fox,  by 
which  they  would  purchase  jointly 
Loew's  stock  in  the  Metropolis  and 
Bradford  Trust  Co.,  holding  company 
for  G-B.  This  agreement  has  now 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


To  Name  U.A. 
Board  June  16 


United  Artists'  stockholders  are 
scheduled  to  meet  June  16  at  Wilm- 
ington, Del.,  to  elect  nine  new  direc- 
tors, authorized  under  the  amendments 
to  the  company's  charter  which  were 
adopted  on  Monday,  Edward  C.  Raf- 
tery,  United  Artists  president,  an- 
nounced yesterday. 

The  company's  amended  charter 
was  filed  yesterday  at  the  office  of  the 
Secretary  of  State  at  Dover,  Del. 

The  amended  charter,  Raftery's 
statement  said,  vests  in  the  directors 
"the  following  powers :  to  elect  of- 
ficers ;  fill  vacancies  on  the  board ;  to 
manage  the  company  and,  in  particu- 
lar, to  engage  all  executives  and  em- 
ployes, and  to  make  all  contracts  for 
the  acquisition  of  product."  The 
amended  charter  also  provided  that 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Services  Tomorrow 
For  Newton  Steers 


White  Plains,  N.  Y.,  May  16. — 
Funeral  services  for  Newton  I.  Steers, 
68,  former  president  of  DuPont  Film 
Manufacturing  Co.,  who  died  yester- 
day afternoon,  will  be  held  tomorrow 
at  3  :30  P.M.  from  his  late  home,  21 
Seymour  Place,  here.  Interment  will 
be  in  the  White  Plains  Rural  Ceme- 
tery. 

Steers  was  a  DuPont  employe  for 
38  years  prior  to  his  retirement  in 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


M-G-M  In  Big  Spot  Air 
Buy  on  52-Week  Tie-Up 


M-G-M  will  use  a  nationwide  radio 
film-sales  program,  having  newly  pur- 
chased a  widespread  schedule  of 
broadcast  time,  on  a  52-week  basis. 
Howard  Dietz,  M-G-M  vice-president 
in  charge  of  advertising  and  promo- 
tion, declared  yesterday  that  this  sets 
a  precedent  in  motion  picture  radio 
advertising. 

Covering  some  40  cities  with  over 
55  stations  participating,  the  program, 
which  will  include  leading  stations  in 
virtually  every  kev  city  in  the  United 
States,  is  the  first  in  the  film  industry, 
it  is  claimed,  that  will  operate  on  a 
fixed  annual  schedule  rather  than  on 
a  picture-to-picture  arrangement. 

The  program  will  provide  a  series 
of  spot  announcement  periods  and 
(Continued  on  page  RV 


5  Millions  So  Far 
For  Red  Cross 

With  reports  now  in  from 
100  percent  of  the  theatres  in 
five  areas,  a  total  of  nearly 
$5,000,000  in  collections  by 
11,000  theatres  has  been  re- 
ported to  date  in  the  1944  Red 
Cross  Drive,  it  was  disclosed 
here  yesterday  by  Joseph 
Bernhard,  industry  chairman 
for  the  campaign. 

Hundred  percent  areas  re- 
porting to  date  include  : 
Washington,  Philadelphia, 
Delaware,  Northern  New  Jer- 
sey and  New  Haven. 


Skouras  and 
Willkie  Again 
Head  20th-Fox 


Stockholders  Approve 
Stock  for  Officers 


Spyros  Skouras  and  Wendell 
Willkie  were  elected  president  and 
chairman  of  the  board,  respective- 
ly, of  20th  Century-Fox  at  a  board 
of  d  ir  e  c  t  o  r  s' 
meeting  held 
yesterday  in  the 
home  office  im- 
mediately fol- 
lowing the  an- 
nual stockhold- 
ers' meeting.  All 
other  officers  of 
the  company 
were  also  re- 
elected. 

At  the  stock- 
holders' meeting 
all  15  directors 
named  in  the 
company's  proxy 
statement  were 
elected  and  all  resolutions  listed  in  the 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Spyros  Skouras 


20th-Fox  Quarter 
Net  $3,186,302 


Net  profit  of  20th  Century-Fox  Film 
Corp.  for  the  quarter  ending  March 
25  amounted  to  $3,186,302,  an  increase 
from  $2,672,773  for  the  same  period 
last  year,  the  company  reported  here 
yesterday.  The  1944  figure,  after  de- 
ducting dividends  on  preferred  and 
prior  preferred  stock,  amounts  to  $1.57 
per1  share  on  1,742,004  shares  of  com- 
mon stock  outstanding — in  comparison 
with  $1.34  per  share  for  the  first  quar- 
ter of  1943. 

The  comparisons  have  been  made 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


WPB  Order  Ends 
Truckers'  Worries 

Encouraged  by  the  War  Production 
Board's  order  for  the  manufacture  of 
80,000  trucks  for  essential  transporta- 
tion this  year  and  also  by  the  WPB's 
earmarking  of  replacement  parts  for 
the  same  purpose,  as  well  as  by  the  in- 
creased manufacture  of  synthetic  tires, 
the  National  Film  Carriers,  in  annual 
convention  at  the  Hotel  Astor  here, 
yesterday  reported  to  Arthur  Dickin- 
son of  the  distributor  committee  of 
the  MPPDA  that  delivery  of  films  will 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  May  17,  1944 


Insider's  Outlook 

By  RED  KANN  — — 


Personal 
Mention 

NT  ED  E.  DEPINET,  RKO  Radio 
<  president,  is  scheduled  to  leave 
fur  Hollywood  today. 

• 

William  Finney,  Loew's  Theatre 
Atlanta  division  manager,  and  Allen 
Sparkow,  Columbus  division  manag- 
er, are  in  New  York  to  confer  with 
J.  R.  Vogel,  vice-president  in  charge 
of  out-of-town  theatres. 

• 

Wolfe  Cohen,  Warners'  Canadian 
district  manager,  returned  yesterday 
to  Toronto  following  a  two-day  con- 
ference with  Ben  Kalmenson,  gen- 
eral  sales  manager. 

• 

Mrs.  Helen  B.  Hildinger,  direc- 
tor of  the  Hildinger  circuit,  Trenton, 
N.  J.,  was  reelected  regional  director 
of  the  Zonta.  International. 

.  • 

Arthur  Gottlieb,  head  of  Du-Art 
Film   Laboratories,   arrived   in  New 
York  yesterday  from  Toronto. 
• 

Alex  L.  Hillman,  "fan"  magazine 
publisher,  returned  to  New  York  yes- 
terday from  Chicago. 

• 

Norman  .  Elson,  general  manager 
of  Translux  Theatres,  will  leave  for 
Washington  today. 

• 

Charles  M.  Reagan,  Paramount 
general  sales  manager,  left  New  York 
yesterday  for  Boston. 


WB  Acquires  4  More 
Foreign  Outlets 

Warner  Brothers'  plans  to  build 
worldwide  theatre  .  representation, 
through  theatre  acquisitions,  building 
or  leasing,  or  through  long-term  prod- 
uct deals,  have  been  extended  to  em- 
brace Australia  and  Palestine,  the 
home  office  disclosed  here  yesterday. 
The  company  reports  exclusive  prod- 
uct deals  for  long  terms  with  three 
theatres  in  Australia  and  one  in  Pal- 
estine. Houses  are  the  York,  Ade- 
laide ;  Tatler,  Sydney ;  Rex,  Bris- 
bane, and  Orion,  Tel-Aviv. 

Latest  houses  thus  brought  under 
Warner  control  follow  earlier  deals 
with  other  foreign  houses,  among  them 
the  Park,  Stockholm ;  Civic,  Auck- 
land ;  Opera,  Cairo ;  Central,  Lima, 
and  Warner,  London.  In  addition, 
theatre  properties  already  acquired  in 
Mexico  City,  Sydney  and  Alexandria 
w  ill  be  developed  after  the  war. 

Lamont,  RKO  Chief 
Booker,  Resigns 

Jack  Lamont,  chief  booker  and  as- 
sistant buyer  for  RKO  Theatres,  with 
headquarters  at  the  home  office  here, 
lias  resigned,  effective  June  2.  it  wa^ 
reported  yesterday  by  Harold  Mirisch, 
head  film  buyer. 


Hollywood,  May  16. 
IT  is  given  as  Buddy  De 
A  Sylva's  appraisal  of  "The 
Hitler  Gang"  that  this  is  a  film 
which  is  "going  to  war."  After 
a  long  and  successful  cycle  of 
musicals,  comedies,  et  al — Para- 
mount earned  $16,140,821  as 
producer,  distributor  and  exhibi- 
tor in  1943  after  deducting  all 
charges,  including  taxes  and  set- 
ting aside  $2,000,000  in  addi- 
tional reserve  for  contingencies 
— there  is  attributed  to  him  a  de- 
sire and  the  intention  of  making 
one  standout  effort  geared  to  the 
battle.  i 

You  may  accept  this  or  you 
may  not.  What  Paramount  has 
done  with  "Tire  Hitler  Gang," 
however,  cannot  be  denied.  It 
is  a  film  of  the  socking  and 
rocking  kind — the  kind  that  hits 
between  the  eyes,  numbs  the 
senses  with  its  horrible  and  hor- 
rifying realities  and  brings  the 
appalling  Hitler  chapter  in 
world  history  into  grim  and  un- 
relenting focus. 

■ 

Hitler  and  his  evildoers  long- 
have  been  described  as  interna- 
tional garigsters  and  hoodlums. 
This  picture,  founded  on  that 
acknowledgement,  tells  the  story 
of  how  they  rode  to  powder  on 
the  uncertainties  and  the  frail- 
ties of  the  Weimar  Republic  and, 
with  the  aid  of  the  German 
High  Command.  Like  gangsters, 
they  maraud,  plunder,  kill  and 
wrest  from  the  individual  his 
inalienable  freedoms.  Like 
gangsters,  there  is  mistrust  of  " 
one  for  the  other  and  jo.ckey- 
ings  into  position  through  re- 
volver, machine  gun  and  .  mass 
slaughter. 

The  film  starts  with  the  beer 
hall  putsch  and  ends  with  the 
consolidation  of  Hitler's  position 
as  head  of  the  Third  Reich.  War 
is  inevitable  and  around  the 
turn  yet  it  is  not  shown,  for  this 
is  not  a  narration  of  conflict  out- 
side Germany  but  a  recording  of 
what  went  on  inside  Germany  as 
National  Socialism  came  to  mal- 
odorous flower. 

■ 

The  result  is  one  of  total  and 
tremendpus  impact — a  biting, 
scathing,  brutal  and  staggering- 
account  rendered  on  celluloid. 
That  was  the  evident  purpose; 
that  is  the  outcome  with  no  com- 
promise on  the  way. 

Paramount  and  all  identified 
with  the  making  therefore,  ar- 
rive beyond  the  limitations  of 
their  professional  calling  and 
their  professional  obligation. 
They   deliver    in    "The  Hitler 


Gang"  a  public  service  which  in 
these  times  is  a  war  service  of 
importance  and  value. 

It  is  fervently  to  be  wished 
that  the  public  measures  up  to 
the  significance  of  the  event 
which  this  film  symbolizes  and 
that  the  reflection  of  its  own 
awareness  mirrors  itself  unqual- 
ifiedly at  the  box-office. 

"The  Hitler  Gang"  deserves 
that. 

■  ■ 

Growing  PRC  and  its  off- 
shoots comprise  five  of  the  nine 
units  making  up  the  newly- 
formed  Pathe  Industries,  Inc., 
Ohio  corporation  with  aggre- 
gate assets  of  about  $15,000,000. 
This  is  the  top  company  tying 
together  various  interests,  chief- 
ly theatrical,  of  Robert  R.,  Ken- 
neth and  John  Young. 

Kenneth  is  board  chairman  of 
Pathe  Laboratories  of  New 
York  and  California,  two  sep- 
arate companies,  and  president 
of  PRC  Pictures,  Inc.  John  is 
president  of  the  lab  corporations 
and  of  Pathe  Manufacturing 
Company,  which  makes  photo- 
static equipment  using  film. 
■ 

Leon  Fromkess  is  president 
of  PRC  Productions,  Inc.,  PRC 
Ilistributing,  Inc.,  a  new  cor- 
poration quietly  organized;  and 
PRC  Studio,  Inc.  He  is  also 
g-eneral  manager  of  other  PRC 
units,  including  PRC  Pictures, 
Inc.,  and  PRC  Realty  Corp.,  the 
latter  a  holding  company  for  the 
studio.  Ninth  segment  in  the 
overall  picture  is  the  Terminal 
Shaker  Heights  Corp.,  Cleve- 
land realty  enterprises,  which 
embraces  theatre  interests.  In- 
teresting, too,  is  it  that  Pathe 
Laboratories  of  New  York  con- 
trols a  theatre  in  Denver. 

President  of  Pathe  Industries 
will  be  determined  next  month 
when  formal  divulgement  of  the 
alignments  sketched  here  will  be 
made.  Whether  Robert  Young- 
assumes  presidency  of  the  over- 
riding company  probably  won't 
matter  much  since  he  is  the 
dominant  individual  in  this 
whole  setup,  anyway.  Interest- 
ed and  ambitious  eyes  are  be- 
ing turned  toward  the  future. 

■  ■ 

Because  his  experience  points 
up*  the  formidable  advantages  of 
major  studio  operation,  Hal 
Wallis  may  be  expected  to  make 
his  deal  with  one  of  them.  At 
Warners,  he  had  first  call  on 
talent,  properties  and  resources 
which  was  an  exceedingly  handy 
call  to  have.  Independent  pro- 
ducers will  so  attest. 


RKO  Holds  Annual 
Golf  Tournament 

RKO's  annual  golf  tournament,  held 
yesterday  at  the  Westchester  Country 
Club,  Rye,  was  climaxed  by  a  dinner 
at  which  president  Ned  E.  Depinet 
awarded  prizes  in  war  bonds  and 
stamps  to  49  winners.  Some  400  com- 
pany executives,  home  office  employes 
and  industry  guests  were  in  attend- 
ance. The  winners  in  the  variouul 
classes  follow : 

Kickers'  handicap.  $25  bond.  Em- 
ployes :  Fred  Norman,  gross  102,  net 
75.  Guests :  J.  J.  Felder,  gross  105, 
net  70. 

Low  gross.  $25  bond.  Employes : 
south  course,  Harry  Moseley,  93 ;  west ' 
course,  Herb  Walker,  95 ;  Guests : 
south,  Abe  Kroenberg,  77 ;  west,  J.  i 
Murphy,  83. 

Low  gross  runners-up.  $10  inj 
stamps.  Employes :  south,  Harry  Zei- 
tels,  97 ;  west,  Lou  Miller  and  Charles 
Horstman  (tie),  96.  Guests:  south, 
Harold  Rinzler,  79;  west,  William 
Scully,  85. 

Putting.   $25  bond.   H.  D.  Cole,  37. 

Nearest  approach  to  center  pin.  $25 
bond.  South,  Harry  Weiss,  11  feet, 
10  inches ;  west,  Dave  Fish,  14  feet, 
five  inches. 

Winners  in  Foursomes 

Foursomes.  $5  in  stamps  to  winning 
member.  Max  A.  Cohen,  E.  Waxberg, 
Tom  Gibson,  Nat  Levy,  A.  W.  Daw- 
son, Harry  Michalson,  Walter  Seaton, 
D.  W.  Aaron,  M.  Lane,  Abe  Schneider, 
John  Farmer,  Walter  Derham,  M. 
Mink,  G.  Turner,  Walter  Hoffman, 
Charles  Levy,  Sam  Rinzler,  Don 
Velde,  Moe  Sanders,  F.  W.  Wallen, 
W.  Masscee,  Ted  Lauder,  N.  Ayres. 
R.  Stutzman,  A.  F.  Apfel,  W.  Dolan, 
Clayton  Bond,  George  Ronan,  H. 
Crown,  L.  J.  Kaufman "  and  Milt 
Maier. 

Among  others  present  at  the  tour- 
nament and  dinner  were  Robert  Moch- 
rie,  Nat  Levy,  Walter  E.  Branson, 
Malcolm  Kingsberg,  Alfred  W. 
Schwalberg,  M.  H.  Aylesworth,  Major 
Lester  Thomas,  Senator  Henry  Wal- 
ters, Gradwell  L.  Sears,  Jules  Levey, 
Harry  M.  Kalmirfe,  Sam  Dembow,  Jr., 
Leonard  H.  Goldenson,  Herman  Rob- 
bins,  Harry  Brandt,  Arthur  Brilant, 
Rutgers  Neil  son,  Martin  Quigley, 
Colvin  Brown,  Herbert  Fecke  and 
Ray  Gallagher. 


RKO  Will  Distribute 
'Attack!' for  WAC 

"Attack!  The  Battle  of  New  Brit- 
ain" is  the  title  of  the  latest  combat 
report  produced  by  the  War  Depart- 
ment and  scheduled  for  distribution  by ! 
RKO  for  the  War  Activities  Commit- 1 
tee.  Release  date  is  June  12,  as  a 
spur  to  war  bond  sales  during  the 
Fifth  War  Loan. 

The  film,  a  six-reeler,  will  be  free  j 
to  exhibitors ;  450  prints  have  been  j  I 
turned  over  to  the  WAC  by  the  War 
Department  to  insure  rapid  coverage,  i  | 
RKO  will  handle  distribution  without  I 
cost  and  will  prepare  a  special  press 
book,  trailer  and  advertising  acces- ,  , 
sories.  i  ' 


'9T  9¥  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief ;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily -except  Saturday,  Sunday  L 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 

Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,    Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News  t 

Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  life  Bldg.,  William  J 

R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  I  | 

by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International    Motion    Picture    Almanac,    Fame.     Entered    as   second    class  : 

matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y„  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c.  !tl 


Wednesday.  May  17,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Coast  Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  16 

GX.  BLATCHFORD,  formerly 
.  vice-president  of  Fox  Wisconsin 
Theatres,  joined  Monogram  today  as 
comptroller  under  George  D.  Burrows, 
vice-president  and  treasurer. 

• 

David  L.  Loew  and  Robert  Hakim 
announced  that  they  will  co-produce 
»'Hold  Autumn  in  Your  Hand"  for 
United  Artists'  release.  The  film,  co- 
>tarring  Joel  McCrea  and  Frances 
Dee,  will  have  a  budget  of  over 
$1,000,000. 

• 

Red  Skelton  will  report  to  Fort 
MacArthur  for  induction  on  May  25. 
His  last  starring  vehicle  was  M-G-M's 
"Bathing  Beautv." 


T.  W.  Case  Dies;  Put 
Sound  on  Film 


Auburn,  X.  Y.,  May  16. — Theodore 
W.  Case,  55,  president  of  Case  Re- 
search Laboratory'  and  who  is  credit- 
ed with  developing  a  process  which 
synchronized  sound  and  pictures  on 
film,  died  recently  at  his  home  here 
after  an  'illness  of  several  months. 
The  process,  which  was  first  known 
as  Phono  Films,  and  later  Movietone 
when  Fox-Case  Movietone  Corp.  was 
organized,  was  considered  to  be  a 
milestone  in  the  development  of  talk- 
ing pictures. 

Case  is  survived  by  his  wife.  Mrs. 
Eldred  Case :  two  sons,  Theodore. 
Jr..  and  John  P.  Case;  two  daughters. 
Mrs.  W.  Thorn  Kissel,  Jr.,  and  Miss 
Jane  F.  Case ;  his  mother,  Mrs.  W.  E. 
Case,  and  a  sister,  Mrs.  Dorothy 
Whitehouse. 


'WasselV  Two-Coast 
Premiere  June  7-8 

Paramount's  "The  Story"  of  Dr. 
Wassell"  will  have  its  Xew  York  pre- 
miere at  the  Rivoli  Theatre  on  June  6. 
The  picture  will  play  continuously 
with  no  advance  in  admissions. 

The  Hollywood  premiere  will  be 
on  the  evening  of  June  7  at  the  Para- 
mount Theatre  there.  Opening  night 
tickets  will  sell  at  $5.50  and  proceeds 
will  go  to  the  Xaval  Aid  Auxiliary. 
The  film  will  open  extended  engage- 
ments at  both  the  Hollywood  and  Los 
Angeles  Paramount  theatres  on  June  8. 


Max  BrandyAuthor  of 
'Kildare,'  Killed 

Max  Brand,  author  of  the  "Dr.  Kil- 
dare" stories,  produced  by  M-G-M. 
and  of  many  other  stories,  was  killed 
in  action  last  week  on  the  lower  Garig- 
liano  sector  in  Italy,  it  was  disclosed 
yesterday  by  press  dispatches  reaching 
Xew  York  from  Xaples. 

Brand,  whose  real  name  was  Fred- 
erick Faust,  was  working  as  a  war 
correspondent  for  Harper's  Magazine. 


Pinson  Gets  '10  Nights' 

Charlotte,  May  16. — Tom  Pinson, 
independent  distributor  here,  has  ac- 
quired re-issue  rights  to  "Ten  Xight? 
in  a  Barroom"  for  Xorth  and  South 
Carolina  from  Sack  Amusement  En- 
terprises. 


Review 


"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

T^ROM  Maxwell  Anderson's  eloquent  testament  of  faith  of  an  inductee 
who  endured  trial  by  fire.  20th  Century-Fox  has  wrought  a  moving 
film  that  contains  the  mute  appeal  of  young-  love,  the  roaring  humor  of 
the  "G.  I."  and  the  gallant  stand  of  an  isolated  artillery  post  that  re- 
affirms the  American  Way.  George  Seaton's  screen  play  offered  abun- 
dant opportunity  for  many  fine  performances,  among  them  those  of  Anne 
Baxter.  William  Eythe.  Michael  O'Shea.  Vincent  Price.  Ruth  Xelson. 
Ray  Collins,  Stanley  Prager.  Henry  Morgan.  George  Mathews,  and 
others.  John  M.  Stahl's  capable  direction  has  sustained  the  mood,  while 
William  Perlberg's  production  is  all  that  can  be  desired. 

The  story,  warm  with  the  simplicity  of  life,  concerns  Eythe,  a  young 
pre-war  draftee  whose  life  has  been  endowed  with  new  meaning  by  his 
leve  for  Anne  Baxter,  coming  home  to  his  folks,  Ray  Collins  and  Ruth 
Xelson.  He  tells  them  of  his  new-found  emotion,  which  serves  to  sus- 
tain him  through  the  trying  days  at  camp.  Theirs  is  the  appeal  of  two 
young  people  wrenched  apart  by  the  harsh  realities  of  impending  war. 
In  camp,  there  is  the  cheery  camaraderie  of  his  buddies  as  he  learns  the 
grim  business  of  fighting.  Eythe's  unit  moves  across  the  Pacific  and. 
with  the  outbreak  of  war.  is  hit  by  the  full  fury  of  the  Japanese  attack. 
There,  wracked  by  malaria  and  decimated  by  bombing,  it  resolves  to 
.-^tand  yet  another  day  despite  an  opportunity  to  evacuate  to  an  American- 
held  island. 

The  film  is  studded  with  the  rich  characterizations  of  Eythe  and  Mir-> 
Baxter.  whose  lyrical  love  is  so  touching;  that  of  Michael  0'Shea">  as  a 
rugged  G.  I.  from  Brooklyn :  the  humanness  of  Ruth  Xelson  and  Collins, 
and  the  others.  It  remains,  however,  for  Vincent  Price  as  a  cynical, 
poetry-spouting  Southern  aristocrat  to  deliver  a  performance  that  is 
perhaps  the  most  spectacular. 

Where  the  rollicking  humor  and  tender  romance  hold  sway  the  film  is 
completely  captivating,  but  -suffers  inevitably  in  the  latter  portions  by 
similarity  to  previous  war  scenes. 

Running  time,  96  mins.    "G."*    Release  in  June,  block  Xo.  11. 

Ch.vrles  Rvweck. 


Northern  Ohio  Is  Set 
For  Fifth  Loan  Drive 


Cleveland,  May  16.  —  Xorthern 
Ohio  is  completely  organized  for  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  distributor 
chairman  Morry  Orry  and  exhibitor 
chairman  Meyer  Fine  reported  at  an 
industry  rally  luncheon  in  the  Statk-r 
Hotel  here  today.  Fine  has  succeeded 
W  illiam  X.  Skirball  in  his  post. 

All  branch  managers  of  the  Cleve- 
land and  Cincinnati  territories  were 
present  among  the  250  who  attended. 
Speakers  included  Robert  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  national  industry  chairman;  John 
Friedl,  campaign  director;  H.  M. 
Richey.  representing  the  national  dis- 
tributors' division:  Major  Allen' V. 
Martini.  Army  Air  Force  veteran ; 
Pete  Wood  of  Columbus,  Percy  Brown 
of  the  Cleveland  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee ;  and  Charles  Raymond.  George 
Erdmann.  Charles-  Deardourff.  J.  E. 
Watson.  Phil  J.  Thornstein.  Tohn  J. 
Staltz.  H.  H.  Bredlow  and  William 
Allman,  "Honored  100"  exhibitors  of 
Ohio.  Martin  Smith,  Ohio  exhibitor 
chairman,  presided. 


'Victory'  Sheet  Ready 

A  free  one-sheet  for  the  "Road  to 
\  ictory"  short  has  been  prepared  and 
is  available  to  all  exhibitors  playing 
the  film  from  Warner  exchanges  as  an 
advance  on  the  Fifth  War  Loan  Drive. 
May  18  has  been  set  for  free  release 
of  the  picture. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Distributors  Ask  for 
Cameo  Dismissal 

Dismissal  of  a  triple-damage  anti- 
trust suit  by  Carmel  Co.,  landlord  of 
the  Cameo  Theatre,  Jersey  City,  was 
demanded  in  answers  filed  in  Federal 
Court  vesterdav  bv  Paramount.  War- 
ner Bros..  M-G-M,  RKO.  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, Universal,  Columbia  and 
United  Artists. 

The  answers  deny  allegations  in  the 
complaint  that  they  conspired  since 
1938  to  monopolize  distribution  and 
restrain  trade  in  the  Jersey  City  area, 
to  the  detriment  of  the  plaintiff's  the- 
atre investment  by  causing  losses  to 
Rosyl  Amusement  Corp..  operator  of 
the  Cameo. 


Government  Opposes 
Cut  in  30%  Club  Tax 

Washington",  May  16. — The  Treas- 
ury Departmenet  today  expressed  op- 
position to  any  cut  in  the  30  percent 
night  club  tax. 

In  a  letter  to  Chairman  Robert  L. 
Doughton  of  the  House  Ways  and 
Means  Committee,  the  department 
voiced  objections  to  legislation  intro- 
duced bv  Representative  Knutson  of 
Minnesota  to  cut  the  levy  to  ten  per 
cent. 


Examination  Ordered 
Before  Astra  Trial 

Federal  Judge  John  Bright  here  yes- 
terday ordered  the  examination  before  j 
trial,  at  a  date  to  be  fixed,  of  three  ! 
executives     of    Astra     Pictures,  in 
Astra's  $250,000  damage  action  against ! 
David  O.  Selznick.  Ernest  L.  Scan- 
Ion,  Raymond  A.  Klune  and  Daniel  T. 
O'Shea.  for  alleged  breach  of  contract.  | 

At  the  same  time.  Judge  Bright  or-  ; 
dered  that  the  pre-trial  examination  of 
Scanlon.  sought  by  the  plaintiffs,  start 
on  five  days'  notice  after  completion 
of  the  examination  of  Astra  execu- 
tives Martin  Licht,  Gustave  I.  Jahr. 
attorney  for  the  company,  and  Oliver 
Unger. 

The  suit  involves  alleged  breach  of 
contract  in  the  distribution  of  three 
films,  "Garden  of  Allah."  "Prisoner 
of  Zenda."  and  "Adventures  of  Tom 
Sawver." 


'Closed  Shop'  No.  1 
SOPEG  Issue 


Sellers  WB  Supervisor 

Cin-ctn-n-att.  May  16.  — H.  B.  Sel- 
lers has  been  named  field  supervisor 
of  the  Warner  film  checking  service 
for  Cincinnati  and  Indianapolis  terri- 
tories, replacing  C.  R.  Hedger.  He 
will  make  his  headquarters  at  the  local 
exchange. 


Kentucky  Tax  Bill 
Further  Delayed 

Frankfort,  Ky..  May  16. — Gover- 
nor Simeon  Willis  late  yesterday 
called  a  special  session  of  the  Ken- 
tucky Legislature  starting  Friday  to 
consider  only  a  school  financing  pro- 
gram instead  of  a  complete  budget  in- 
cluding an  additional  10  per  cent  state 
theatre  admission  tax.  Arguments  over 
the  latter  had  delayed  an  earlier  call. 
The  governor  declared  he  may  call 
a  complete  budget  session  later  should 
an  emergency  arise. 


The  Screen  Office  and  Professional 
Employes  Guild,  Local  109.  CIO,  in- 
tends to  make  the  "closed  shop"  a 
major  issue  when  it  opens  negotia- 
tions for  a  new  contract  with  film 
companies  here  covering  3.000  home 
office  workers  in  the  home  offices  of 
Paramount.  20th  Centurv  -  Fox. 
M-G-M.  RKO  and  Columbia.  Pres- 
ent contracts  expire  on  July  28  next. 
The  five  companies  are  now  negotiat- 
ing with  SOPEG  on  job  classifica- 
tions for  the  3.000  workers. 

SOPEG  has  started  a  campaign  to 
organize  office  workers. of  the  William 
Morris  talent  agency  here,  in  an  at- 
tempt to  organize  the  agency  field  al- 
lied with  the  film  industry.  A  union 
spokesman  claims  that  some  35  of  the 
agency's  workers  attended  an  organi- 
zation meeting  on  Monday  night  ,  and 
that  plans  are  being  made  to  bring 
agent  employees  into  the  union  as  well 
as  office  workers. 


MGM  Tradeshowings  Set 

M-G-M's  "The  Canterville  Gho*t" 
and  "Bathing  Beauty"  will  be  trade- 
shown  in  all  exchanges  on  Mav  29. 


U.  A.  Opens  Office  in 
Monterey,  Mexico 

United  Artists'  plans  for  expansion 
in  Central  and  South  America  nave 
taken  another  step  with  the  opening 
of  its  own  office  in  Monterey,  Mex- 
ico, it  was  announced  here  yesterday 
by  Walter  Gould,  foreign  manager. 
Distribution  in  that  territory  was  for- 
merly handled  by.  an  agent. 

Rafael  Xieto.  chief  booker  at  the 
UA  office  in  Mexico  City,  will  be  in 
charge  of  the  new  branch,  which  will 
"unction  under  the  supervision  of  joe 
Goltz,  manaser  in  Mexico. 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 


Showplace  of  the  Nation 


Rockefeller  Center 


blowing  motion  fuctiwe  fwoduclion 


"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS  OF  DOVER" 

Starring 

IRENE  DUNNE 

A  CLARENCE  BROWN  PRODUCTION 
and  with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
RODDY  McDOWALL  •  FRANK  MORGAN 
VAN  JOHNSON    •    C.  AUBREY  SMITH 
DAME  MAY  WHITTY       •       GLADYS  COOPER 
Directed  by  Produced  by 

CLARENCE  BROWN  •  SIDNEY  FRANKLIN 

Screen  Play  by  Claudine  West,  fan  Lustig  and  George  Froeschel 
Based  on  the  Poem  "The  While  Cliffs"  by  Alice  Duer  Miller 


"Random 
Harvest 
11  Weeks!" 


"Madame 
Curie 
7  Weeks!" 


"Mrs.  Miniver 
10  Weeks!" 


"HERE  WE 


FIGHTING  SHOWMEN!  JOIN  THE 
FIGHTING  5th  WAR  LOAN! 


They  ALL  Love  It! 

THt  N.  Y.  DAILIES: 

"Make  it  vour  business  to  see  'Show  Business/     "A  solid  package  of  musical  Him  fare. 

I  ,      „  -Irene  Thirer,  N.  Y.  Post 

It's  a  swell  snow. 

-Jim  O'Connor,  N.  Y.  Journal-American       „A  pjeasant  Qn(j  diverting  screen  offering." 

.......  -Howard  Barnes,  N.  Y.  Herald-Tribune 

A  lively,  amusing  and  nostalgic  divertise- 

ment."      —Kate  Cameron,  N.  Y.  Daily  News      "Comedy  and  old  songs  .  .  .  light,  amiable 


"Cantor  sparkles.. . establishes  himself  as  top- 
drawer  producer." 

—Lee  Mortimer,  N.  Y.  Daily  Mirror 


amusing. 


—  Eileen  Creel  man,  N.  Y.  Sun 


Gay,  rough  and  ready. 

—Alton  Cook,  N.  Y.  World-Telegram 


it   "  H  VS 


AMD  THl  TMDiS: 


"Speedy  piece  of  diverting  entertainment  geared  "Top -flight  musical  comedy  from  Broadway  to 
for  profitable  biz."  -Variety      Main  Street." 


"Generously  endowed  with  everything  that  a 
musical  requires  to  be  a  box-office  sock." 

—Film  Daily 

"Should  prove  to  be  one  of  RKO's  big  box- 
office  pictures  of  the  year."       -M.  P.  Daily 


"Contains  plenty  of  entertainment .  .  .  should 
do  the  business. "  -  The  Exhibitor 

"Terrific  fun;  a  top  laughmaker .  .  .  Tops  for 
any  situation."       -Showmen  s  Trade  Re 

"Should  pay  off  handsomely  at  the  box-office. 

—Hollywood  Variety 


-M.  P.  Herald 


AVIS  *  NANCY  KELLY  *  CONSTANCE  MOORE 

EDWIN  L.  MARIN  *  Screen  Play  by  Joseph  Quillan  and  Dorothy  Bennett  •  Story  by  Bert  Granet 


SHOWMEN:  DO  MORE  THAN  BEFORE  FOR  C 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  17,  1944 


WPB  Order  Ends 
Truckers'  Worries 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
be  maintained  on  schedule  all  this  year. 

The  two-day  convention  closed  yes- 
terday afternoon  with  the  reelection  of 
all  officers :  James  P.  Clark,  Philadel- 
phia, president  and  treasurer  ;  Thomas 
W.  Gilboy,  San  Francisco,  vice-presi- 
dent, and  Clint  Weyer,  Philadelphia, 
secretary.  Renamed  to  the  executive 
committee,  along  with  Clark,  were 
George  F.  Callahan,  Pittsburgh ;  E. 
E.  Jameson,  Kansas  City;  C.  W. 
Trampe,  Milwaukee,  and  John  Vickers, 
Charlotte  and  to  the  board  of  mana- 
gers, A.  C.  Amsler,  Columbus ;  L.  D. 
Y.  Benton,  Atlanta;  M.  H.  Brandon, 
Memphis ;  Eugene  E.  Fisher,  New- 
Orleans  ;  S.  J.  Marshall,  Boston ;  H. 
E.  McKinney,  Des  Moines ;  L.  M. 
Miller,  Xew  Orleans ;  Harold  C.  Rob- 
inson, Chicago ;  M.  G.  Rogers,  Omaha  ; 
W.  A.  Slater,  Seattle,  and  F.  E. 
Smith,  Syracuse.  William  Larson,  De- 
troit, was  added  to  the  latter  group. 

At  a  luncheon  yesterday  a  number 
of  minor  problems  were  cleared  up  by 
William  Brenner  of  National  Theatre 
Supply  and  the  supervisors  of  several 
film  companies  who  were  present. 

Secretary  Weyer  reported  following 
the  session  that  trade  press  publicity 
had  been  helpful  during  the  past  year 
in  overcoming  the  theft  of  films  which 
used  to  be  left,  habitually,  in  theatre 
lobbies  after  late  shows — for  truckers 
to  pick  up  the  next  morning. 


20th-Fox  1st  Quarter 
Net  Is  $3,186,302 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
possible  by  combining  the  1943  earn- 
ings of  20th-Fox  and  the  National 
Theatres  Corp.,  which  did  not  become 
a  wholly-owned  20th  subsidiary  until 
July  9,  1943.  Excluding  National  and 
also  Roxy  Theatre,  Inc.,  both  of  which 
are  included  in  the  1944  report.  20th- 
Fox's  net  for  the  first  quarter  of  1943 
was  $1,751,739,  -or  81  cents  per  share 
on  1,742,000  shares  of  common  stock 
then  outstanding. 

Federal  income  and  excess  profits 
taxes  for  the  first  quarter  of  1944 
amounted  to  $3,616,821.  Gross  income 
for  the  period  was  $43,450,329:  ex- 
penses, $31,572,239,  and  interest  and 
depreciation,  $681,268.  Net  profit  be- 
fore the  tax  deduction  was  $11,196,821. 


MGM  in  Big  Spot  Air 
Buy  on  Year  Tie-Up 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

other  programs  at  preferred  broad- 
casting times.  A  wide  time  range  is 
covered  by  the  schedule,  much  of 
which  is  already  in  operation  with 
additional  time  to  be  added  wherever 
it  is  considered  necessary  to  round 
out  the  program.  Range  runs  from 
station  breaks  and  one-minute  spots 
to  specialized  five  and  15-minute 
news,  sports  and  variety  shows. 

The  purchase  of  the  radio  time  is 
in  addition  to  the  Mutual  network 
program  called  "Screen  Tests,"  which 
will  be  launched  by  M-G-M  June  12. 


Folsom  on  Gov't  Staff 

Washington*.  May  16.  —  Marion 
B.  Folsom,  treasurer  of  Eastman 
Kodak,  Rochester,  has  been  appointed 
by  the  House  Committee  on  Post- 
War  Planning  as  director  of  its  study 
and  planning  staff. 


Skouras  and  Willkie  Again 
Head  20th  Century-Fox 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

notice  of  the  annual  meeting  were 
adopted,  including  the  sale  of  stock  to 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  Elmer  C.  Rhoden, 
Harold  J.  Fitzgerald  and  F.  H.  Rick- 
etson,  Jr.,  in  the  respective  20th-Fox 
theatre  operating  subsidiaries  which 
they  head. 

Another  proposal  adopted  by  stock- 
holders was  that  which  grants  com- 
mon stock  options  to  certain  company 
officers,  not  3'et  named,  but  who  can 
be  named  within  six  months  by  the 
board.  Officers  mentioned  in  this  con- 
nection in  the  company's  proxy  state- 
ment were  Spyros  Skouras ;  executive 
vice-president  William  C.  Michel ;  dis- 
tribution vice-president  Thomas  J. 
Connors ;  vice-president-treasurer  Syd- 
ney Towell,  and  comptroller  Wilfred 
J.  Eadie.  Also  eligible  are  secretary 
Felix  A.  Jenkins  and  foreign  distribu- 
tion vice-president  Murray  Silverstone. 

Officers  who  were  reelected,  besides 
Skouras  and  Willkie  were :  Michel, 
Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  production,  Connors,  Silver- 
stone,  Towell,  Eadie,  Jenkins,  Read  B. 


Simonson,  Fred  L.  Metzler  and  El- 
wood  C.  McCartney,  assistant  treasur- 
ers, and  J.  Harold  Lang  and  George 
F.  Wasson,  Jr..  assistant  secretaries. 

New  directors  elected :  Robert  Leh- 
man, Lehman  Bros,  partner ;  Robert 
L.  Clarkson,  chairman  of  the  board 
of  American  Express  Co. ;  L.  Sher- 
man Adams,  director  and  vice-presi- 
dent of  Massachusetts  Investors  Sec- 
ond Fund.  Inc.,  and  Silverstone. 

The  following  directors  were  re- 
elected :  Willkie,  Skouras,  Connors, 
John  R.  Dillon  of  Hayden,  Stone  & 
Co. ;  Daniel  O.  Hastings  of  the  law 
firm  of  Hastings,  Stockley  &  Layton, 
Wilmington,  Del. ;  Eadie,  Michel, 
William  P.  Philips,  legal  adviser, 
Seton  Porter,  president  of  National 
Distillers,  Towell  and  Zanuck. 

The  proposal  for  the  stock  sale  to 
heads  of  the  theatre  operating  compa- 
nies would  have  Charles  P.  Skouras 
obtaining  25  Class  "B"  shares  of  Na- 
tional Theatres  outstanding  at  $14,125 
each,  with  six  to  Rhoden,  six  to  Fitz- 
gerald and  three  to  Ricketson.  The 
proposal  for  granting  options  to  20th- 
Fox  stock  to  its  executives  calls  for  re- 
serving 140,000  authorized  and  unis- 
sued shares  for  this  purpose. 


Ruggles  May  Head 
Rank  Production 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

completed  bv  the  end  of  August  for 
M-G-M. 

The  British  government,  however, 
has  so  far  refused  to  sanction  the 
Ruggles-Rank  arrangement  on  the 
ground,  it  is  understood,  that  Ruggles' 
British  salary  would  leave  this  coun- 
try, in  violation  of  lately-tightened 
currency  regulations.  Ruggles'  sud- 
den break  with  Korda  is  cited  as  one 
possible  way  out  of  this  difficulty. 

Rank's  associates  are  said  to  be 
anxious  to  get  Ruggles  as  part  of  their 
campaign  to  clean  up  redundancies  and 
inefficiencies  in  the  present  producing 
organization,  declaring  that  he  would 
be  "the  Darryl  Zanuck  of  the  Rank 
set-up." 

Incidental  evidence  of  the  Treas- 
ury's tightened  money-export  attitude 
is  the  circumstance  that  three  weeks 
of  earnest  pleading  and  negotiations 
were  necessary  to  secure  a  permit  to 
send  sufficient  currency  to  get  Rank- 
producer  Paul  Soskin  home  from 
New  York. 

Ruggles  directed  and  produced  film's 
in  the  United  States  for  a  number  of 
years  before  coming  to  this  country. 


Jamaica  House  Files 
Clearance  Complaint 

Estates  Theatres,  Inc.,  operating  the 
Utopia,  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  has  filed  a 
clearance  complaint  at  the  New  York 
tribunal  against  the  five  consenting 
companies,  the  American  Arbitration 
Association  reported  here  yesterday. 

The  plaintiff  states  that  the  seven- 
day  clearance  granted  by  the  distribu- 
tors to  the  Mayfair,  Flushing,  over 
the  Utopia,  is  unreasonable  as  to  area 
and  seeks  complete  elimination  or  a 
reduction  to  one  day. 


Petrillo  Demands 
New  Hirings 

(Continued  from-  page  1) 
producers,  scheduled  for  today,  were 
postponed  until  tomorrow  on  request 
of  the  AFM  president,  who  was  busy 
with  other  matters. 

Petrillo  demands  a  basic  "standby" 
orchestra  of  35  men  for  M-G-M,  Para- 
mount, 20th  Century-Fox  and  Warner 
Bros,  studios,  a  standby  of  30  men  for 
RKO,  and  25  each  for  Columbia,  Re- 
public and  Universal.  Where  addi- 
tional musicians  are  required,  Petrillo 
demands  that  the  studios  hire  from  the 
local  musicians  union,  thereby  reducing 
unemployment,  as  against  the  current 
studio  practice  of  borrowing  addition- 
al from  each  other. 

Petrillo  further  demands  that  news- 
reel  and  trailer  producers  hereafter 
record  music  freshly  and  discontinue 
the  practice  of  adapting  material  from 
music  libraries.  Studio  heads  insist 
that  this  would  compel  newsreels  to 
release  without  music,  because  of  a 
lack  of  time  to  prepare  scores  and  do 
recordings  and  at  the  same  time  main- 
tain the  speed  necessary  for  current 
distribution. 


Rank's  Silence  Gives 
Rise  to  G-B  Unrest 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

been  sanctioned  by  the  government, 
subject  to  some  detail  amendments 
demanded  by  the  British  Treasury 
Department,  but  has  not  yet  been 
signed  by  the  contracting  parties. 

Meanwhile,  those  in  authority  con- 
tinue to  maintain  complete  silence 
regarding  the  future  of  the  G-B  and 
Odeon  staffs. 

An  informed  source  told  this  cor- 
respondent today  that  although  the 
Rank-Skouras  agreement  is  as  yet  un- 
signed, "it  won't  be  long  now." 


Revenue  Bureau  Has 
Ticket  Salvage  Plan 

A  ruling  has  been  obtained 
from  the  War  Production 
Board  in  Washington  by  the 
Independent  Theatre  Owners 
of  New  York  permitting  the 
salvaging  of  theatre  tickets 
made  obsolete  by  the  20  per- 
cent admission  tax. 

Local  Internal  Revenue  Col- 
lectors will  explain  to  exhib- 
itors the  method  and  manner 
in  which  they  will  be  salvaged. 


Services  Tomorrow 
For  Newton  Steers 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

1942,  at  which  time  DuPont  Film 
Manufacturing  Co.  became  the  Photo- 
products  Department  of  E.  I.  Du 
Pont  De  Nemours.  He  started  at  the 
age  of  16  for  James  Macbeth  and 
Co.,  Jamaica,  L.  I.,  of  which  he  was 
vice-president  and  general  manager 
when  Du  Pont  absorbed  that  organi- 
zation in  1904. 

In  Februar3r,  1925,  Steers  was  made 
vice-president  of  Du  Pont  Pathe 
Film  Corp.,  a  month  after  its  forma- 
tion, and  was  made  president  in  1926. 
The  name  was  changed  to  Du  Pont 
Film  Manufacturing  Co.  in  1931. 
Under  his  guidance  the  company  grew 
from  a  relatively  small  manufacturer 
of  photographic  film  to  a  large  sup- 
plier of  raw  stock  to  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry. 

Cited  by  Army 

Steers  originated  and  developed  spe- 
cial blasting  apparatus  used  in  the 
construction  of  the  Panama  Canal  and 
during  World  War  I  he  received 
recognition  from  the  Army  Ordnance 
Dept.  for  his  work  in  connection  with 
the  assembly  and  loading  of  films. 

He  is  survived  by  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Claire  L.  Steers ;  four  daughters. 
Mrs.  George  Burgess  and  Mrs.  Paul 
Van  Winkle,  Scarsdale ;  Mrs.  W.  B. 
De  Riemer,  Bridgeport,  and  Miss 
Margaret  Steers,  with  the  Red  Cross 
overseas ;  a  son,  Lieut.  Newton  I. 
Steers,  Jr.,  with  the  Army  Air  Force 
overseas ;  a  brother,  Dr.  William 
Steers,  and  a  sister,  Mrs.  Henry  Hot- 
tinger,  both  of  Brooklyn. 


Name  United  Artists 
Board  on  June  16 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  stockholders,  by  a  majority  vote, 
could  amend  the  bylaws. 

Many  of  the  powers  now  given  to 
the  directors  heretofore  have  been  re- 
served by  the  company  owners  or, 
when  exercised  by  the  directors,  were 
subject  to  veto  by  owners. 

The  principal  charter  amendments 
provide  for  the  increase  of  the  board 
from  five  directors  to  nine,  three  to 
be  elected,  cumulatively,  by  each  of 
the  three  owners,  Mary  Pickford. 
David  O.  Selznick  and  Charles  Chap- 
lin. However,  the  three  owners  could 
appear  on  all  nine  and  elect  a  board 
without  exercising  cumulative  rights, 
according  to  Raftery's  statement.  The 
amendments  also  establish  qualifica- 
tions for  directors  which,  among  other 
things,  would  prevent  them  from  serv- 
ing competitive  interests. 


First  in 

FUm-ani 

(Radio  yfi< 

Accurate 

i 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


IVOL.  55.   NO.  98 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  MAY  18,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Rank-Skouras 
Collaboration 
Pact  Is  Signed 

20th-Fox  Head  Reaches 
London  Objective 

By  PETER  BURNUP 

London,  May  17. — The  far- 
reaching  collaborative  production- 
distribution  agreement  between 
20th  Century-Fox  and  J.  Arthur 
Rank  was  signed  here  today  by  Rank 
and  Spyros  Skouras,  20th-Fox  presi- 
dent, after  two-and-a-half  months  of 
negotiations. 

The  collaboration,  agreed  upon  in 
principle  as  long  ago  as  March  20, 
had  been  held  up  pending  settlement 
of  the  future  management  of  Gau- 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


RKO  1943  Profit 
Is  $6,965,005 

Consolidated  new  profit  of  Radio- 
Keith-Orpheum  Corp.,  and  subsidiary 
companies  for  the  year  ended  Dec.  31, 
1943,  after  tax  provisions,  was  $6,965,- 
after  tax  provisions,  was  $6,965,005, 
005,  compared 
with  a  profit  of 
$736,241  for  the 
preceding  year, 
it  was  announced 
here  yesterday 
by  N.  Peter 
Rathvon,  RKO 
president, 
through  the 
home  office. 
Rathvon  is  now 
in  Hollywood. 

Income  for 
1943  before  pro- 
vision for  in- 
come and  excess 
profits  tax  was 
$12,965,005,'  compared  to  $1,570,241  in 
the  previous  year.  Provision  for  in- 
come and  excess  profits  taxes  in  1943 
was  $6,000,000,  against  $734,000  in 
1942. 


N.  Peter  Rathvon 


Odium  Selling  57,337 
Shares  of  RKO 

Floyd  B.  Odium's  Atlas  Corp.  will 
dispose  of  57,337  shares  of  RKO  six 
per  cent  cumulative  preferred  stock, 
$100  par  value,  convertible  on  or  be- 
fore April  11,  1947,  and  which  had  a 
market  value  of  $5,217,667,  based  on 
the  closing  price  on  the  New  York 
Stock  Exchange  yesterday. 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


5  Majors  Will  Not  Yield 
Any  Further  on  Decree 


Silverstone  Named 
20th-Fox  Executive 
Committee  Member 


Murray  Silverstone,  20th  Century- 
Fox  vice-president  in  charge  of  for- 
eign distribution  and  a  company  di- 
rector, has  been  elected  to  20th's 
executive  com- 
mittee replac- 
ing Hermann  G. 
Place,  who  re- 
signed several 
months  ago  to 
rejoin  Chase 
National  Bank 
here. 

The  board  of 
directors, 
following 
the  company's 
annual  stock- 
holders' meet- 
ing held  here 
on  Tuesday  re- 
elected the  fol- 
lowing to  the  executive  committee : 
Spyros  Skouras,  president ;  Tom  J. 
Connors,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
distribution ;  William  C.  Michel,  ex- 
ecutive vice-president,  and  John  R. 
Dillon  of  Hayden,  Stone  and  Com- 
pany. 


Murray  Silverstone 


Determined  Not  to  Go  Beyond  Proposals  of 
Jan.  25  Says  Spokesman;  Further  Jumps  in 
Cancellation  Called' Economically  Unsound* 


'Locally  Needed'  Is  Out  for 
Industry  Under  New  Order 


By  MILTON  LIVINGSTON 

The  five  consent  decree  companies  will  make  no  further  concessions 
on  cancellations,  restrictions  on  theatre  expansion,  or  on  their  other 
standing  proposals  for  a  new  decree,  even  though  that  should  mean 
prosecution  by  the  Department  of  Justice  of  the  Government's  New 
York  anti-trust  suit,  a  high-placed  spokesman  for  a  decree-company  told 

Motion  Picture  Daily  yesterday. 

The  five  companies  are  under- 
stood to  feel  that  "any  further  con- 
cessions, especially  on  cancellation 
and  theatre-expansion  would  be 
economically  unsound  and  would 
lead  to  eventual  financial  repercus- 
sions," the  spokesman  declared. 
They  feel  that  they  "literally 
leaned  over  backward  in  making 
the  concessions  contained  in  their 
proposals  of  Jan.  25,"  it  was  said. 

The  companies  informed  Assist- 
ant U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom 
C.  Clark  two  weeks  ago  that  they 
are  ready  to  confer  with  him  to 
disclose  the  extent  to  which  they 
will  meet  recommendations  for 
broadening  the  decree,  but  no  date 
has  been  set  for  a  meeting.  It  is 
understood  that  Clark  is  waiting  to 
discuss  the  situation  with  other 
Department  of  Justice  officials,  in- 
cluding U.  S.  Attorney  General 
Francis  Biddle,  but  top  Department 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Hope  for  Wage  Rises 
In  Exchanges  Fades 


Washington,  May  17.— Prospects 
of  any  increase  in  wages  of  exchange 
shippers  and  inspectors  throughout 
the  country  were  seen  today  as 
dimmed  by  the  action  of  the  Regional 
War  Labor  Board  yesterday  in  dis- 
missing an  appeal  from  a  previous  rul- 
ing denying  a  10  per  cent  increase  in 
Loew's,   Inc.,   Washington  office. 

It  was  explained  that  although  the 
Loew  exchange  involved  operates  only 
in  Washington,  the  case  was  of  na- 
tional import  since  other  film  com- 
panies throughout  the  country  had  an- 
ticipated similar  adjustments. 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  May  17. — No  branch 
of  the  motion  picture  industry  quali- 
fies for  designation  as  a  "locally  need- 
ed" activity,  it  was  disclosed  here  to 
night  with  the  announcement  by  the 
War  Manpower  Commission  of  a  new 
formula  which  provides  that  only  15 
trades  and  services  are  to  be  so  desig- 
nated. 

Only  activities  necessary  for  the 
"health,  welfare  and  safety  of  an  area, 
and  services  necessary  to  the- continu- 
ance of  essential  activities"  are  eligi- 
ble for  such  designation,  the  WMC 
explained. 

The  industry  has  already  secured 
"locally  needed"  designation  for  dis- 
tribution of  films  in  Philadelphia  and 


Pittsburgh.  Whether  the  new  order 
will  nullify  these  designations  could 
not  be  determined  last  night.  Also, 
applications  were  recently  filed  with 
the  WMC  for  the  "locally  needed" 
listing  in  20  other  exchange  centers, 
as  follows :  Albany,  Boston,  Buffalo, 
Charlotte,  Chicago,  Cleveland,  Dallas, 
Detroit,  Indianapolis,  Los  Angeles, 
Milwaukee,  New  Haven,  New  Or- 
leans, Oklahoma  City,  Omaha,  Port- 
land, Ore. ;  Salt  Lake  City,  San 
Francisco,  Seattle  and  Washington. 

The  effect  of  the  new  manner  of 
designating  an  activity  as  "locally 
needed"  is  to  afford  employers  the 
same  opportunity  to  get  their  workers 
through  the  U.  S.  Employment  Serv- 
ice as  employers  in  essential  activi- 
ties enjoy. 


Petrillo,  Producers 
In  2 -Year  Pact 


Hollywood,  May  17. — Producers 
and  the  American  Federation  of  Mu- 
sicians today  closed  a  two-year  agree- 
ment retroactive  to  April  1  under 
which  James  C.  Petrillo,  AFM  presi- 
dent, won  all  major  points.. 

A  joint  statement  embraced  some 
phases  of  the  agreement  and  ignored 
others.  It  was  divulged  that  so-called 
double  sessions  have  been  eliminated 
and  wages  set  at  $10  straight  per  hour 
while  each  of  the  signatory  studios 
guarantee  each  employed  musician 
$5,200  over  a  period  of  a  year,  there- 
by setting  a  guaranteed  minimum  of 
$100  for  each  minimum  working  week. 

Not  announced  was  the  constituency 

(Continued  on  pagf  10) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daiijy 


Thursday,  May  18,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


BARNEY  BALABAN,  Paramount 
president,  has  returned  to  New 
York  from  Hollywood. 

• 

Mildred  Rose'nzweig,  secretary  to 
Paul  Benjamin,  National  Screen 
Service  production  manager,  will 
leave  June  2  for  a  four-week  vaca- 
tion on  the  West  Coast. 

• 

Ben  Kalmenson,  Warner  Bros, 
general  sales  manager,  left  last  night 
for  Chicago  as  his  first  stop  in  a  tour 
of  key  city  exchanges. 

• 

W.  J.  German,  vice-president  of  Jules 
E.  Brulatour,  Inc.,  left  yesterday  for 
Hollywood  for  a  three  weeks'  survey 
of  production  activities. 

e 

Harold  F.  Webster  of  Warners' 
home  office  personnel  department,  is 
back  on  the  job  after  a  year's  ab- 
sence due  to  illness. 

• 

Sherril  Corwin,  Los  Angeles  cir- 
cuit operator,  now  visiting  in  Balti- 
more, will  leave  this  week  for  New 
York. 

Albert    Cadiff,   art   director  for 
American  Display  Company,  subsidi- 
ary of  National  Screen  Service,  has 
entered  the  Polyclinic  Hospital. 
• 

Robert  M.  Gillham,  Paramount 
advertising-publicity  director,  will  re- 
turn this  weekend  from  a  week's  vaca- 
tion. 

• 

Rube  Jackter,  Columbia  assistant 
general  sales  manager,  will  leave  for 
Philadelphia  tomorrow. 

• 

Morris  Mechanic,  owner  of  the 
New  Theatre,  Baltimore,  is  visiting  in 
New  York. 


38  Groups  WillRefute 
Radicalism  Charge 

Hollywood,  May  17. — A  committee 
reportedly  representing  38  film  groups 
has  been  formulated  here  to  repudiate 
charges  of  un-American  influences  at 
work  within  the  industry  and  has  de- 
cided to  hold  a  mass  meeting  in  the 
near  future  to  publicise  such  attacks  as 
unwarranted. 

The  committee  has  been  formulated 
through  a  smaller  organizational  com- 
mittee recently  set  up  for  the  same 
purpose  and  headed  by  Mary  McCall, 
Jr.,  president  of  the  Screen  Writers 
Guild.  A  SWG  spokesman,  however, 
refused  today  to  name  its  members. 


WB  Has  3,553  in  Service 

Approximately  200  Warner  em- 
ployes were  inducted  into  the  armed 
forces  during  the  past  eight  weeks, 
bringing  the  total  in  service  to  3,553. 
Casualties  to  date  include  26  killed 
or  missing  in  action. 


May  Settle  Lawsuits 
Against  E.  M.  Loew 

Boston,  May  17. — Discussions  have 
been  held  looking  to  the  settlement  of 
suits  brought  against  E.  M.  Loew  the- 
atres here  for  alleged  falsification  of 
reports  on  percentage  pictures,  it  was 
learned  here  today. 

Earlier  reports  that  the  suits  would 
be  dismissed  because  of  an  unfavorable 
report  by  the  special  master  assigned 
to  take  testimony  in  the  cases  were 
denied  by  Jacob  J.  Kaplan,  of  counsel 
for  the  distributors. 

"These  eight  suits  brought  by  the 
various  distributing  companies  against 
the  E.  M.  Loew  theatres  are  still 
pending,"  he  said.  "There  has  been 
no  non-suit  or  even  report  by  the 
master,  and  the  cases  will  be  tried  un- 
less satisfactorily  settled." 

Loew  recently  withdrew  all  but  two 
of  seven  actions  which  he  had  insti- 
tuted against  distribution  companies 
charging  conspiracy  to  deprive  him  of 
product  for  his  drive-in  theatres.  The 
withdrawals  followed  dismissal  of  his 
action  involving  his  Miami,  Fla., 
Drive-in  Theatre  recently. 


Wallis-Shumlin  Deal 
For  'Wind*  Advanced 

An  agreement  in  principle  for  the 
acquisition  by  Hal  Wallis  of  screen 
rights  to  Lillian  Hellman's  "The 
Searching  Wind"  was  reached  by  the 
producer  yesterday  in  negotiations 
with  Herman  Shumlin,  producer  of 
the  Broadway  hit.  The  deal  has  been 
turned  over  to  attorneys  who  are  ex- 
pected to  have  it  ready  for  signing 
by  the  end  of  the  week. 

Wallis  now  plans  to  leave  for  the 
Coast  on  Sunday  or  Monday  and  ex- 
pects to  conclude  his  new  distribution 
arrangements  before  then.  A  tie-up 
between  Wallis  and  Paramount  still 
is  regarded  as  the  most  likely  associa- 
tion. 


Eastman  Reelects, 
Declares  Dividends 

Rochester,  May  17.  —  Eastman 
Kodak  officers,  headed  by  Frank  W. 
Lovejoy,  chairman  of  the  board,  and 
Thomas  J.  Hargrave,  president,  were 
reelected  by  the  board  of  directors  at 
its  annual  organization  meeting  here 
yesterday. 

The  directors  also  declared  the  reg- 
ular quarterly  dividend  of  $1.25  per 
share  on  common  stock  and  $1.50  on 
the  six  per  cent  preferred. 


/.  Cohen  Heads  NSS 
'Dembow*  Sales  Drive 

Jack  Cohen,  Eastern  division  sales 
manager  for  National  Screen  Service, 
has  been  named  captain  of  the  "George 
Dembow  Tribute"  drive  scheduled  to 
start  June  5. 

Cohen,  senior  divison  manager,  is 
now  on  tour  of  the  31  NSS  exchanges 
in  connection  with  the  campaign. 


MP  A  Dinner  Tomorrow 

Motion  Picture  Associates  will  hold 
its  25th  anniversary  dinner  and  dance 
tomorrow  evening  at  the  Hotel  Astor. 


Seattle  Gets  First 
Arbitration  Case 

The  first  arbitration  case 
to  be  filed  in  Seattle  since  the 
inception  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture arbitration  system,  more 
than  three  years  ago  has  been 
entered  at  that  city's  tribunal 
by  Willard  Gamble,  partner  in 
the  Orchard  Heights  Theatre, 
Port  Orchard,  Wash.,  in  a 
clearance  complaint  against 
the  five  consenting  companies, 
the  American  Arbitration  As- 
sociation reported  here  yes- 
terday. 

Plaintiff  seeks  to  have  clear- 
ance changed  from  45,  60  and 
90  days,  to  day-and-date  with 
the  D.  R.  Theatre  Co. 


Equity  Councils  to 
Elect  June  6-9 

Actors  Equity  will  meet  June  6  at 
the  Hotel  Astor  here  to  elect  council 
members  for  five-year  terms.  Nom- 
inees include  Donald  Cameron,  Alex 
ander  Clark,  Montgomery  Clift,  Pa- 
tricia Collinge,  Jose  Ferrer,  Kathryn 
Givney,  Celeste  Holm,  E.  John  Ken 
nedy,  Philip  Loeb,  John  Lorenz, 
Philip  Merivale,  Beverly  Roberts. 
Harvey  Stephens,  Frederic  Tozere 
and  Frank  Wilson. 

Chorus  Equity  will  meet  June  9  to 
elect  officers  and  a  representative  to 
Equity  Council,  as  well  as  replace- 
ments for  the  executive  committee. 
Nominations  include  Paul  Dulzell, 
executive  committee  chairman;  Gerald 
Moore,  recording  secretary;  Xenia 
Bank,  five-year  council  term ;  Miss 
Bank,  Jean  Cumming,  Charles  Dubin, 
Roggr  Gerry,  Philip  Gordon,  Juanita 
Hall  and  Jean  Woods,  three-year  ex- 
ecutive committee  terms,  and  Faye 
Elizabeth  Smith,  one-year  executive 
committee  term. 


Services  Today  for 
William  Thalberg 

Hollywood,  May  17. — William 
Thalberg,  75,  father  of  the  late  Irving 
Thalberg,  former  M-G-M  production 
executive,  died  here  last  night  in 
Cedars  of  Lebanon  Hospital  after  a 
short  illness.  Private  services  will  be 
held  here  tomorrow. 

Surviving  are  his  widow,  Henrietta, 
and  Sylvia,  a  daughter. 


$100,000  for  Novel 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  is  under- 
stood to  be  concluding  negotiations  for 
the  purchase  of  film  rights  to  "Leave 
Her  to  Heaven,"  novel  by  Ben  Ames 
Williams,  as  yet  unpublished.  Pur- 
chase price  is  understood  to  be  $100,- 
000.  The  company  plans  to  co-star 
Tallulah  Bankhead  and  Ida  Lupino, 
it  was  learned  here. 


Ettinger  to  WAC 

George  Ettinger  of  Columbia's  pub- 
licity staff,  has  temporarily  moved 
over  to  the  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee to  assist  with  the  industry's  Fifth 
War  Loan  campaign  publicity. 


Coming 
Events 


Through  May  31  —  Film  industry 
Fifth  War  Loan  regional  meet- 
ings in  key  cities. 

May  19 — Motion  Picture  Associates 
dinner,  Hotel  Astor,  New  York,  j; 

May  23-26 — National  Allied  Cara-  K 
van  meeting,  Warwick  Hotel,  1 
Philadelphia. 

May  24-25 — National  Allied  board 
meeting,  Warwick  Hotel,  Phila- 
delphia. 

May  29- June  3  — IATSE  national 
convention,  Jefferson  Hotel,  St. 
Louis.- 

June  2 — 'Mobilization  Meeting'  for 
New  York  exhibitors  for  Fifth 
War  Loan. 

June  2-5 — Columbia  regional  sales 
convention,  Chicago. 

June  6 — Start  of  motion  picture  in- 
dustry campaign  for  United  Jew- 
ish Appeal. 

June  12-July  8— Fifth  War  Loan 
drive. 

June  13-15 — Columbia  regional  sales 
convention,  New  York. 

June  16 — United  Artists'  board 
meeting,  Wilmington,  Del. 

June  20 — Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
New  Jersey  silver  jubilee  conven- 
tion, Hotel  Chelsea,  Atlantic 
City. 

July  6 — "Free    Movie    Day"  for 

Fifth  War  Loan  campaign. 
July  11-13 — Columbia  regional  sales 

convention,  San  Francisco. 
August  15 — Unions  and  guilds  file 

annual  financial  statements  with 

Treasury  Department. 


13,378  Anniversary 
M-G-M  Bookings 

To  date,  13,378  theatres  have  booked 
M-G-M  features  or  short  subjects  for 
the  week  of  June  22,  the  company's 
20th  anniversary  week.  The  San  Fran- 
cisco exchange  is  the  eighth  to  report 
a  booking  from  every  theatre  in  its 
territory. 

Additional  circuits  which  have 
booked  for  the  week  include :  F  &  M, 
Smalley,  F.  G.  Spencer,  Ansell  Bros., 
Newbold,  C.  &  P  Amusement  Co., 
Combined  Bronx  Amusements,  Stiefel 
Booking  Office,  Community  Theatres, 
Sperling  &  Lowe,  Jack  F.  Goldman, 
Lane  Enterprises,  Harford  &  Hilton, 
J.  J.  Theatres  and  Southeastern  The- 
atre Owners. 


Philco  Earnings  $946,326 

Philco  Corp.  in  the  first  quarter  of 
1944  earned  $946,326,  or  69  cents  per 
share,  after  jestimated  Federal  and 
State  income  and  excess  profits  taxes 
and  after  provision  for  adjustment  and 
renegotiation  of  war  contracts.  In  the 
same  period  last  year,  adjusted  earn- 
ings totaled  $708,702,  or  51  cents  per 
share. 


Phyllis  Blum  to  Goldwyn 

Phyllis  Blum,  former  play  reviewer  uh 
for  M-G-M  and  RKO,  has  joined  It 
Samuel  Goldwyn  as  assistant  to  Kay 
Brown,  Eastern  story  editor. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class 
matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.   Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  America*  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Thursday,  May  18,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Legion  Objects  to  3; 
Eight  Acceptable 


The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
rates  three  films  in  Class  B,  objec- 
tionable in  part,  and  at  the  same  time 
has  approved  eight  others.   The  three 
are :  "Black  Parachute,"  Columbia,  be- 
cause of  "excessive  brutality" ;  "The 
Hitler    Gang,"    Paramount,  because 
of  "suggestions  of  and  .allusions  to  un- 
wholesome abnormalities  which  should 
'  ^iot  be  presented  on  the  entertainment 
'    Jcreen,"  and  "Make  Your  Own  Bed," 
'  Warners,   which  was   said  to  have 

■  "suggestive  scenes  and  implications." 

The  approved  films  are:  "The  Last 
Horseman"  and  "Once  Upon  a  Time," 

'  Columbia,  and  "Tucson  Raiders,"  Re- 
public, all  Class  A-l,  unobjectionable 
for  general  patronage.    In  Class  A-2, 

1  unobjectionable  for  adults  are:  "Be- 
tween Two  Worlds,"  Warners ; 
"Double  Indemnity"  and  "Henry  Ald- 

'  rich  Plays  Cupid,"  Paramount ;  "Rog- 
er Touhy,  Gangster,"  20th  Century- 
Fox,  and  "The  Scarlet  Claw,"  Uni- 

'  versal.  "Between  Two  Worlds"  was 
the  subject  of  a  special  Legion  no- 

!  tation  which  observed  that  "this  fan- 

.  tasy  should  not  be  accepted  as  a  pre- 

■  sentation  of  the  theological  teachings 
concerning   life   after  death." 


Capital  Film  Men  on 
Advisory  Committee 

Washington,  May  17.— Washing- 
ton showmen  are  well  represented  on 
the  advisory  committee  of  the  newly 

;  proposed  Washington  Municipal  Thea- 
tre, which  is  being  spearheaded  by 

:  District   Commissioner   John  Russel 

i  Young  as  honorary  chairman.  Among 
local  persons  on  the  committee  are 
John  J.  Payette,  general  zone  manager 
of  Warner  Theatres ;  Carter  Barron, 
division  manager,  Loew's  Theatres ; 
Harry  Anger,  managing  director, 
Earle  Theatre;  Floyd  Akers,  theatre 

I  owner  and  chairman  of  the  War  Hos- 
pitality Committee;  Paul  Schwartz, 
president,  Musician's  Union;  John 
Eberson,    WPB    theatre  equipment 

!  chief  and  theatre  architect;  Gene 
Ford,  managing  director,  Loew's  Cap- 
itol Theatre;  Joseph  B.  Brecheen, 
film  exchange  chairman  of  the  War 
Activities  Committee  in  the  Washing- 

!  ton  area. 

A  sponsoring  committee  to  aid  the 

i  Municipal  Theatre  in  raising  $100,000 
has  been  organized  with  Akers  a 
member. 


Universal  Transfers 
4  Branch  Managers 

Charlotte,  May  17.  —  James  V. 
Frew,  former  New  Orleans  branch 
manager  for  Universal  and  recently 
that  company's  special  representative 
in  Cleveland,  has  been  named  branch 
manager  of  the  Universal  exchange 
here.  Frew  succeeds  Leroy  Brauer, 
recently  transferred  to  Atlanta,  to  re- 
place William  Richardson  who  is  now 
at  the  New  Orleans  office,  which  was 
managed  by  Nicholas  Lamantia  prior 
to  his  induction  into  the  armed  forces. 


Zevin  Sentencing  June  7 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  yes- 
terday postponed  until  June  7  the 
sentencing  of  Isadore  Zevin,  former 
secretary  to  George  E.  Browne,  con- 
victed ex-president  of  the  IATSE, 
now  serving  a  prison  term,  under  a 
nine-count  perjury  indictment  to 
which  Zevin  pleaded  guilty. 


Reviews 


The  Hairy  Ape 

{Jules  Levey-United  Artists) 

JULES  LEVEY'S  version  of  Eugene  O'Neill's  "The  Hairy  Ape"  is  a 
^  strangely  moving  and  unusual  melodramatic  picture,  highlighted  by 
the  grimly  realistic  and  tensely  dramatic  performance  of  William  Bendix 
as  the  almost  savage  but  sensitive  chief  stoker  of  a  coal-burning 
freighter,  given  added  import  by  its  stark  contrast  with  the  sheer  loveli- 
ness of  Susan  Hayward  in  her  projection  of  a  wealthy,  perverse  and 
selfish  debutante,  his  nemesis.  It  is  bound  to  evoke  varied  reactions  from 
audiences  thus  providing  exhibitors  with  a  strong  selling  point  in  addi- 
tion to  the  box  office  draw  of  Bendix  and  Miss  Hayward;  a  well-chosen 
supporting  cast  including  John  Loder,  Dorothy  Comingore,  Roman  Boh- 
nen,  Tom  Fadden  and  Alan  Napier ;  and  the  appeal  of  the  author's  name. 
In  the  unfolding  of  the  well-paced  action,  under  Alfred  Santell's  intelli- 
gent and  deft  direction,  emphasis  is  on  the  intense  emotional  conflict 
wrought  in  Bendix  by  Miss  Hayward's  sudden  denouncement  of  him  as 
a  beast.  Levey's  excellent  production,  from  the  screen  play  by  Robert  D. 
Andrews  and  Decla  Dunning,  cannot  be  construed  on  the  surface  as  car- 
rying any  message  that  O'Neill  might  have  had  in  mind  when  he  wrote 
his  play  many  years  ago.  There  is  an  elaborate  and  tense  build-up  with 
ever-mounting  suspense  to  the  dramatic  climax  of  what  would  appear  to 
be  Bendix's  murder  of  Miss  Hayward  to  rid  himself  of  the  obsession 
which  her  characterization  of  him  as  a  "hairy  ape"  has  created.  There 
is  no  suggested  romantic  attachment  between  the  two  but  merely  a  psy- 
chological one. 

Bendix  delivers  a  memorable  performance  as  the  uncouth  stoker,  one 
of  the  best  in  his  career.  Miss  Hayward  is  excellent  in  the  unsympa- 
thetic role  of  the  self-centered  debutante  whose  external  appearance  is 
no  mirror  of  the  inward  meanness  of  her  soul.  Loder  is  appealing  as 
the  young  second  engineer  of  the  freighter  who  is  a  victim  of  Miss  Hay- 
ward's  capriciousness  when  he  becomes  enamoured  of  her.  Miss  Com- 
ingore is  another  victim  of  this  perversity.  Joseph  H.  Nadel  acted  as 
associate  producer  for  Levey  and  Lucien  Andriot  directed  the  vivid  cam- 
era work  which  lends  added  interest  to  the  action. 

Though  reactions  to -this  film  might  be  varied,  it  should  be  emphasized 
for  the  benefit  of  exhibitors  that  there  is  nothing  controversial  about  the 
film.  There  is  no  intent  to  expose  the  sordid  working  conditions  in  the 
hold  of  the  freighter,  nor  is  there  any  suggestion  of  conflict  between 
Bendix  and  Miss  Hayward  because  of  the  different  levels  of  society  they 
represent.  Levey  has  wisely  chosen  the  course  of  straight  melodrama. 

Running  time,  91  minutes.   "G."*   No  release  date  set. 


"Summer  Storm" 

(Angelus  Pictures-United  Artists) 

C  EYMOUR  NEBENZAL  has  achieved  an  excellent  film  of  exception- 
^  al  dramatic  proportions  in  "Summer  Storm"  as  suggested  by  .  Anton 
Chekhov's  penetrating  and  absorbing  story,  "The  Shooting  Party."  It 
is  splendidly  enacted  by  a  cast  headed  by  George  Sanders,  Linda  Darnell, 
Anna  Lee  and  Edward  Everett  Horton.  Despite  the  inherent  morbid- 
ness of  the  tragic  theme,  director  Douglas  Sirk  sustains  compelling  in- 
terest throughout  in  unfolding  the  engrossing  screen  play  upon  which 
he  collaborated  with  Rowland  Leigh,  heightening  the  appeal  of  this  well- 
assembled  production  under  the  Angelus  Pictures  banner  for  United  Art- 
ists release. 

The  story  derives  from  a  contrast  between  the  lives  of  the  uneducated 
peasantry  and  the  decadent  aristocracy  in  Russia  before  the  Revolution. 
It  centers  around  the  tragedy  visited  upon  the  life  of  Sanders,  a  magis- 
trate in  a  small  Russian  village,  by  the  willful  ambition  of  Miss  Darnell. 
An  attractive  peasant  girl,  she  attempts  to  rise  above  her  sordid  sur- 
roundings by  capitalizing  on  her  attraction.  She  marries  the  repulsive 
overseer  of  the  estate  owned  by  Horton,  an  ineffectual  nobleman;  ruth- 
lessly ensnares  Sanders  and  breaks  up  his  engagement  with  Miss  Lee, 
the  daughter  of  a  publisher ;  and  then  proceeds  to  -insinuate  herself  upon 
Horton  himself,  aspiring  to  the  position  of  his  countess.  Sanders  kills 
her  in  a  fit  of  jealous  rage  when  she  refuses  to  run  away  with  him,  but 
he  permits  the  overseer  to  take  the  punishment  for  his  crime.  After 
seven  years  of  spiritual  torment,  and  additionally  deprived  of  Miss  Lee's 
love,  which  might  have  brought  him  happiness,  he  finally  meets  a  tragic 
death,  his  secret  crime  being  discovered  through  Horton's  well-inten- 
tioned blundering. 

Karl  Hajos'  musical  direction  and  Archie  M.  Stout's  photography 
work  are  distinct  assets  in  the  attractive  production.  Rudolph  Joseph 
was  associate  producer.  Exhibitors  will  find  this  an  unusual  attraction 
and  a  distinct  departure  from  the  general  run. 

Running  time,  107  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

Milton  Livingston 


Coast 
Flashes 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Hollywood,  May  17 

BEN  GOETZ,  M-G-M  British  stu- 
dio managing  director,  will  leave 
here  tomorrow  for  New  York,  from 
where  he  will  go  to  England. 

• 

With  the  scheduling  of  "Baby 
Shoes,"  to  be  produced  by  A.  W. 
Hackel,  Monogram's  1943-44  produc- 
tion program  is  complete.  'Except  for 
Westerns,  the  season's  quota  of  26 
features  is  expected  to  be  completed 
by  July  1. 

.'  Charles  A.  Midelburg,  M-G-M's 
"typical  showman,"  was  honored  today 
by  the  company's  studio  executives  and 
a  cross  section  of  Southern  California 
exhibitors  at  a  luncheon  in  the  Am- 
bassador Hotel  here.  George  Hickey, 
M-G-M  district  manager,  was  host. 
• 

Paramount  announced  "The  Sword 
of  Gascony,"  an  18th  Century  ro- 
mance based  on  the  Emile  Gauthier 
novel  "Captain  Fracasse."  Kenneth 
MacGowan  will  produce  the  film,  with 
Artur  de  Cordova  starred. 

• 

Rhys  Williams,  Broadway  actor,  has 
been  signed  by  Warners  for  "The  Corn 
Is  Green"  and  to  coach  other  players 
in  Welsh  accents. 


Cobian  to  Build  Four; 
Gets  New  Product 

Raefel  Ramos  Cobian,  head  of  Co- 
bian Theatres,  Puerto  Rico,  now  vis- 
iting in  New  York,  disclosed  here  re- 
cently that  he  has  obtained  approval 
from  the  War  Production  Board  to 
construct  a  theatre  in  Rio  Piedros. 
Cobian  operates  21  houses  and  has 
acquired  two  plots  in  San  Juan  and 
another  in  Santurce,  upon  which  he 
will  build  after  the  war. 

.  Cobian  further  disclosed  that  he  has 
signed  with  Warners  for  exclusive 
first-run  of  its  product,  also  that  he 
has  renewed  with  20th-Fox  on  a  sim- 
ilar basis,  and  has  concluded  a  deal 
with  Columbia  for  exclusive  first-run 
on  a  picture-to-picture  basis. 

Cobian  will  also  purchase  theatre 
equipment. 


IATSE  Board  to  Meet 
Monday  in  St.  Louis 

The  executive  board  of  the  IATSE 
will  convene  at  the  Jefferson  Hotel  in 
St.  Louis  on  Monday  to  hear  com- 
plaints and  study  problems  of  indi- 
vidual locals  in  advance  of  the  open- 
ing of  the  IATSE  convention  on  May 
29. 

Among  those  who  are  scheduled  to 
leave  for  St.  Louis  from  New  York 
tomorrow  are  Richard  F.  Walsh,  in- 
ternational president ;  Louis  Krouse, 
general  secretary-treasurer ;  James  F. 
Brennan,  fourth  vice-president,  and 
other  executive  board  members  here. 


$1 -a- Year  for  Welles 

The  Treasury  Department  has  put 
Orson  Welles  on  its  payroll  as  a  $1- 
a-year  consulting  expert,  according  to 
dispatches  from  Washington.  He  is 
now  working  in  Hollywood  on  the 
script  for  a  one-hour  radio  network 
show  to  touch  off  the  $16,000,000,000 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive. 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  18,  1944 


Coast  Filming 
On  Increase; 
Shooting  49 


Hollywood,  Alay  17.  —  Production 
took  another  step  upward  last  week 
with  nine  new  pictures  starting  work 
and  six  finishing  to  bring  the  total  on 
stages  to  49.  Chief  among  the  start- 
ers were  Columbia's  "Tonight  and 
Every  Night,"  starring  Rita  Hay- 
worth  and  Janet  Blair;  Paramount's 
"Here  Come  the  Waves,"  starring 
Bing  Crosby,  Betty  Hutton  and  Son- 
ny Tufts;  M-G-M's  "Thin  Man  Goes 
Home,"  with  William  Powell  and 
Myrna  Loy.  The  previous  week  saw 
46  pictures  in  work,  11  finished  and 
only  seven  started.  The  production 
scene  follows : 

Columbia 

Started:  "Tonight  and  Every 
Night,"  with  Rita  Hayworth,  Janet 
Blair,  Lee  Bowman,  Marc  Piatt,  Les- 
lie Brooks.  "Bride  of  the  Vampire," 
with  Stephen  Crane,  Osa  Massen, 
Xina  Foch.  "Under  Western  Skies," 
with  "Red  River"  Dave,  Jane  Frazee, 
"Slim"  Summerville. 

Shooting :  "Kansas  City  Kitty," 
"Battleship  Blues." 

Finished :  "Crime  Doctor's  Ren- 
dezvous." 

M-G-M 

Started :  "Thin  Man  Goes  Home," 
with  William  Powell,  Myrna  Loy, 
Gloria  DeHaven,  Lucile  Watson, 
Harry  Davenport,  Eddie  Brophy,  Ani- 
ta Bolster. 

Shooting :  "Ziegfeld  Follies,"  "Lost 
in  a  Harem,"  "Maisie  Goes  to  Reno," 
"Mrs.  Parkington,"  "Picture  of  Dori- 
an Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over 
Toyko,"  "Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "Na- 
tional Velvet." 

Monogram 

Shooting :  "Murder  Chamber," 
"Alaska." 

Finished :  "A  Wave,  a  Wac  and  a 
Afarine." 

Paramount 

Started:  "Here  Come  the  Waves," 
with  Bing  Crosby,  Betty  Hutton,  Son- 
'  ny  Tufts,  Mae  Clarke,  Ann  Doran, 
Carol  Hughes.  "Fear,"  with  Joel  Mc- 
Crea,  Gail  Russell,  Herbert  Marshall, 
Phyllis  Brooks,  Isabel  Islom. 

Finished:  "Dark  Mountain"  (Pine- 
Thomas). 

RKO-Radio 

Started:  "Farewell  My  Lovely," 
with  Dick  Powell,  Anne  Shirley, 
Claire  Trevor,  Mike  Mazurki,  Doug- 
las Walton. 

Shooting :  "Having  Wonderful 
Crime,"  "Tall  in  the  Saddle,"  "That 
Hunter  Girl,"  "None  but  the  Lonely 
Heart,"  "Heavenly  Days,"  "Belle  of 
the  Yukon"  (International),  "Woman 
in  the  Window"  (International), 
"Princess  and  the  Pirate"  (Goldwyn). 
Republic 

Started:  "San  Antonio  Kid,"  with 
"Wild  Bill"  Elliott,  Bobby  Blake, 
Alice  Fleming,  Linda  Stirling,  Earl 
Hodgins. 

Shooting:  "Atlantic  City,"  "Three 
Little  Sisters." 

United  Artists 

Shooting :  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe" 
(Cowan),  "Guest  in  the  House" 
(Stromberg)  ;  "With  All  My  Heart" 
(Vanguard). 

Universal 

Started :  "The  House  of  Fear,"  with 
Basil   Rathbone,  Nigel   Bruce,  Sally 


Reviews 


"Make  Your  Own  Bed" 

(Warner  Bros.) 

\\7  ARNERS  further  contributes  to  a  theatrical  discussion  of  the 
'  '  servant  shortage  in  "Make  Your  Own  Bed,"  with  a  farce  comedy 
which,  although  hitting  peaks  in  comedy  and  containing  many  mirth- 
provoking  situations,  never  quite  succeeds  in  sustained  and  continuous 
movement.  Although  there  is  a  profusion  of  comedy  talents  in  the  per- 
sons of  Jack  Carson,  Jane  Wyman,  Irene  Manning,  Alan  Hale  and 
George  Tobias,  a  faulty  screenplay  handicaps  Peter  Godfrey's  direction 
from  completely  realizing  that  crisp  and  crackling  action  and  laughter 
that  are  the  hallmarks  of  top  comedy. 

Carson,  as  a  private  detective  out  of  work,  is  tricked  into  the  employ 
of  Hale,  rich  cosmetic  manufacturer  in  need  of  servants,  by  the  promise 
that  his  job  as  butler  is  merely  a  ruse  to  mask  his  detecting  proclivities, 
for  which  Hale  invents  an  alleged  affair  between  his  wife,  Irene  Man- 
ning, and  George  Tobias,  a  neighbor,  and  an  imagined  plot  by  some 
Teutonic-looking  radio  actors,  whom  he  has  hired  to  masquerade  as  his 
house  guests.  Jane  Wyman,  Carson's  girl  friend,  goes  along,  too,  as 
the  cook,  in  the  hope  that  successful  conclusion  of  the  "case"  will  permit 
them  to  proceed  with  their  oft-postponed  marriage.  The  actors  turn 
out  to  be  genuine  Nazi  spies,  who  are  trapped  by  Ricardo  Cortez,  an 
FBI  man.   Robert  Shayne  and  Tala  Birell  are  also  in  the  cast. 

Production  was  handled  by  Alex  Gottlieb  and  Francis  Swann.  Ed- 
mund Joseph  did  the  screen  play  from  the  adaptation  by  Richard  Weil 
of  a  play  by  Harvey  J.  O'Higgins  and  Harriet  Ford. 

Running  time,  82  mins.    "G."*   Release  date,  June  10. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Ladies  of  Washington 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollywood,  May  17 

T  ACKING  namepower  for  better  than  utility  purposes,  this  melodrama 
'  of  contemporary  Washington  suffers  by  a  story  that  predicates  a  re- 
venge plot  on  a  tawdry  episode  at  the  expense  of  plausibility.  Trudy 
Marshall,  Anthony  Quinn,  Sheila  Ryan,  Ronald  Graham  and  Robin 
Raymond  have  little  chance  to  overcome  a  script  which  ends  weakly 
in  an  evident  attempt  to  circumvent  the  Production  Code  rule  against 
revenge  themes. 

Miss  Ryan  is  the  main  character,  a  young  woman  discarded  by  an 
executive  important  in  the  war  effort.  She  fakes  a  suicide  note  intended 
to  discredit  him.  Failing,  she  collaborates  with  an  enemy  agent  who 
commits  murder,  then  involves  a  doctor  friend  in  the  murderer's  subse- 
quent death.  When  the  FBI  solves  the  case  the  doctor  says  she  is  men- 
tally ill.    She  is  then  sent  to  a  sanitarium. 

William  Girard  produced  from  a  screenplay  by  Wanda  Tuchock,  with 
Louis  King  directing. 

Running  time,  62  mins.    "A."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

William  R.  Weaver 


*"A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


H  off  berg  Acquires 
21  Pizor  Films 

J.  H.  Hoffberg  of  Hoffberg  Pro- 
ductions has  acquired  21  features  for 
reissue  from  William  Pizor. 

Among  the  films,  to  be  re-released, 
two  a  month,  beginning  June  1,  are: 
"Sing,  Sinner,  Sing,"  with  Paul  Lukas, 
"Unknown  Blond,"  with  Edward  Ar- 
nold, and  "World  Gone  Mad,"  with 
Pat  O'Brien. 


Shepherd,  Paul  Cavanagh,  Dennis 
Hoey,  Aubrey  Mather,  Gavin  Muir. 

Shooting :  "Bowery  to  Broadway," 
"San  Diego,  I  Love  You,"  "See  My 
Lawyer,"  "Babes  on  Swing  Street." 

Finished:  "Trigger  Trail,"  "The 
Devil's  Brood." 

Warners 

Shooting :  "Strangers  in  Our 
Midst,"  "Roughly  Speaking,"  "Ob- 
jective Burma,"  "The  Doughgirls," 
"The  Conspirators." 

Finished:  "To  Have  and  Have 
Not." 


Only  14  of  75  Summer 
Theatres  Reopening 

Hartford,  May  17.  — Of  the  75 
Summer  theatres  usually  operating  in 
New  England,  only  14  have  filed  ap- 
plications for  this  season,  due  to  gaso- 
line restrictions. 

Among  those  scheduled  to  reopen 
are  Valley  Players,  Holyoke,  Mass. ; 
Cambridge  Summer  Theatre,  .  Cam- 
bridge ;  Guy  Palmerton  Theatres  in 
Fitchburg  and  Worcester,  Mass. ; 
Repertory  Players,  Straight  Wharf, 
Nantucket ;  Greenwood,  Peak's  Island, 
Me. ;  and  the  Palmer  in  New  London. 


Kelly  to  Aid  'Boys' 

Pittsburgh,  May  17. — Sgt.  "Com- 
mando" Kelly  will  participate  in  a  ra- 
dio show  in  connection  with  Uni- 
versale "Follow  the  Boys"  this 
evening  here  over  station  WCAE, 
from  10:30  to  11  P.M.  Kelly  will 
speak  on  the  contribution  of  enter- 
tainers to  the  morale  of  the  fighting 
men  on  the  Anzio  beachhead. 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  May  17 

THE  producer's  place  in  the  over- 
all entertainment  picture  today  is 
not  to  try  to  formulate  the  public's 
appetite  as  to  film  menu  but  rather 
to  try  and  estimate  what  type  of  en- 
tertainment the  audiences  will  savory 
That  is  what  William  Goetz,  presH 
dent  of  International  Pictures  main- 
tains in  speaking  of  his  production 
program  which  he  said  "will  offer 
solid  entertainment  pictures  diversi- 
fied as  to  plot  and  type,  to  provide  a 
balanced  screen  fare."  He  scotched 
pictures  with  a  mission  in  pointing 
out  that  documentaries,  newsreels 
and  Government  sponsored  films  of 
various  sorts  provide  such  pictures, 
saying,  "The  producer  of  commercial 
films,  at  least  this  company  feels, 
should  provide  the  balance  to  such 
screen  offerings  to  provide  the  audi- 
ences with  a  well-rounded  program." 
• 

Sol  Lesser  has  signed  Charles  Rug- 
gles  for  the  role  of  "Grandpa"  in  his 
"Three's  a  F[amily,"  scheduled  for 
UA  release.  Ruggles  and  Charlotte 
Greenwood  will  toss  the  better  come- 
dy lines  and  situations  around  be- 
tween themselves  and  others  to  be  cast 
later,  Lesser  said.  .  .  .  Tito  Guisar 
will  play  the  male  lead  in  "Brazil," 
labeled  an  international  musical.  Di-. 
rector  Al  Rogell  will  put  it  before  the 
cameras  June  1  for  producer  Robert 
North  at  Republic. 

• 

Val  Lewton,  RKO's  producer  of 
horror  pictures,  now  has  a  top-flight 
horror  actor  to  star  in  his  next  two 
with  the  signing  of  Boris  Karloff. 
First  will  be  "Carmilla,"  which  Jo- 
sef Mischel  is  scripting.  Jack 
Gross  will  supervise.  .  .  .  Joan  (I 
Love  thaaat  Boy)  Davis,  and  Jack 
Haley  are  preparing  to  frolick  and 
rollick  through  "Albany  Night 
Boat,"  an  original  musical  comedy 
which  Bert  Granet  will  produce  at, 
RKO-Radio. 


Alexander-Stern  Prod,  has  signed 
Chick  Chandler  and  June  Clyde  for 
romantic  comedy  leads  in  PRC's 
"Seven  Doors  to  Death."  Elmer 
Clifton  will,  direct  from  his  own 
screenplay,  based  on  an  original  by 
his  wife,  Helen.  ...  Anthony  Mann  is 
directing  "House  of  Terror,"  Repub- 
lic mystery-drama  for  associate  pro- 
ducer Rudy  Abel. 


Twentieth  Century-Fox  states  ti 
the  final  title  for  "Queen  of  the  Ft 
Tops,"  which  started  as  "Wing  and  a 
Prayer,"  is  now  "Wing  and  a  Pray 
er."  .  .  .  George  Sidney  has  completed 
his  direction  stint  on  scenes  of 
M-G-M's  "Ziegfeld  Follies,"  and  now 
Vincent  e  Minnelli  takes  over  direc- 
tion of  the  "super-musical."  Sidney 
has  started  on  his  original  assignment. 
"Anchors  Aweigh,"  starring  Kathryii 
Grayson,  Frank  Sinatra  and  Gene 
Kelly. 

John  Grant  and  Edmund  Hart- 
mann  have  been  assigned  as  co- 
producers  of  Universal's  next  Ab- 
bott and  Costello  picture,  "In  So- 
ciety." Grant  is  currently  produc- 
ing "Bowery  to  Broadway,"  a  musi- 
cal, and  Hartmann  is  handling  the 
Olsen  and  Johnson  picture,  'See  My 
Lawyer." 


Western  Electric 


Export  Corporation 


nnounces 


WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  (ANDEAN) — Chile,  Peru, 
Bolivia,  Ecuador 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  CO.  INC.  OF  ARGENTINA— Argentina, 
Uruguay 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  OF  ASIA— China, 
Philippines,  Thailand,  Malaya,  East  Indies' 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  CO.  (AUSTRALIA)  PTY.  LTD.  . 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  CO.  OF  BRAZIL 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  CO.  (CARIBBEAN)— Cuba,  Trinidad, 
Venezuela,  Panama,  Guianas,  Puerto  Rico,  West  Indies 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  A/S— Denmark 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  (FRANCE)— France,  Belgium, 
Luxembourg,  North  Africa 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  OF  ITALY 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  LTD.— British  Isles,  India, 
CeyW 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  OF  MEXICO 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  (NEAR  EAST) — Egypt, 
Greece,  Turkey,  Palestine,  Syria,  South  Africa 

NEDERLANDSCHE  WESTERN  ELECTRIC  N/V— Netherlands 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  (NEW  ZEALAND)  LTD. 

WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  OF  SPAIN-Spain,  Gibraltar, 
Portugal 

SWEDISH  WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY  A/B-Sweden, 
Norway,  Finland 

ALPINE  WESTERN  ELECTRIC  COMPANY-SwiJzerland 


completion  of  entirely  new  designs  of  sound 
reproducing  systems  for  its  foreign  customers 
—  powerful  equipments  for  larger  theatres 
and  excellent  small  ones  for  smaller  houses. 

Superior  to  any  pre-war  models,  these  new 
systems  will  be  more  economical  to  install 
and  operate  — will  be  priced  favorably  for 
all  users. 

They  are  designed  to  take  newdevelopments 
which  Hollywood  may  adopt  such  as  automatic 
volume  control,  multi-track  or  stereophonic 
sound  —  without  extensive  and  expensive 
factory  or  field  modifications. 

When  Peace  comes  — releasing  materials 
and  labor  for  such  uses  —  these  post-war  sound 
equipments,  together  with  newly  designed 
projectors,  lamps  and  accessories  will  be 
available  abroad  through  the  world-wide 
distribution  organization  of  the  — 

Western  Electric  Export  Corporation 

111  EIGHTH  AVENUE,  NEW  YORK  11,  N.  Y. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday.  May  18,  1944 


'Jam  Session'  Only 
Holds  Against  Heat 


Cincinnati,  May  17. — With  near- 
Summer  weather  prevailing,  the  week- 
end box  office  curve  sagged  appreci- 
ably, indicating  below  average  returns 
on  practically  all  fronts,  except  "Jam 
Session,"  which,  with  a  stage  show, 
should  give  RKO's  Albee  approxi- 
mately $22,000,  which  is  average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17-20 : 

"Jam  Session"  (Cel.) 

RKO  ALBEE — (3.300)  (50c-60c-70c-85c-95c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Stage:    "Gav    Nighties."       Gross:  $22,000. 
(Average:  S22.000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)    (44c -50c -60c -70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:  $9,500.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"White  Zombie"  (UA) 
"Crime  and  Punishment"  (Col.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1.000)   (30c-40c)  4  davs. 
Gross:  $1,400.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Calaboose"  (UA) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1.000)   (30c-40c)  3  davs. 
Gross:  S700.     (Average:  $800). 
"Shine  On.  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)   (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,   plus    Saturday   midnight    show;  3rd 
week.  Gross:  S6.500.     (Average:  $9,500). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

KEITH'S— (1.500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7  days, 
5th  week,  following  three  weeks  at  the  Shu- 
bert  and  one  week  at  the  Palace.  Gross: 
$3,500.    (Average:  S5.000). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

RKO   LYRIC— (1.400)    (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average:  $5,500). 
"Uncertain  Glcry"  (WB) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$14,000.  (Average:  $15,000). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
_  RKO  SHUBERT— (2.150)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.  2nd  week  on  a  moveover  from  the 
Falace.    Gross:  $4,500.    (Average:  $5,000). 


50,000  Projectionists  Will 
Aid  Fifth  Loan  Drive 


Some  50,000  projectionists,  stage 
hands  and  other  members  of  the  800 
IATSE  locals  will  "intensify  efforts 
to  help  the  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  June  12  to  July  8,  by  purchas- 
ing more  bonds  than  ever  before,  by 
helping  to  sell  more  than  they  have 
sold  before  and  by  cooperating  with 
exhibitors  throughout  the  country'," 
W  illiam  P.  Raoul,  assistant  interna- 
tional president  of  the  organization, 
declared  yesterday  following  a  meeting 
with  R.  H.  Kenned}',  national  indus- 
try vice-chairman  for  the  campaign. 
The  cooperation,  he  said,  will  extend 
to  the  Hollywood  studios. 

On  Convention  Agenda 

IATSE  will  place  its  resources  and 
manpower  solidly  behind  the  drive,-  and 
it  is  expected  that  Richard  Walsh, 
"IA"  president,  will  devote  a  part  of 
the  agenda  of  the  forthcoming  biennial 
convention  in  St.  Louis,  starting  May 
29.  to  preparations  for  members'  par- 
ticipation. 

Meanwhile,  WAC  headquarters  here 
reported  that  at  yesterday's  all-indus- 
try rally  at  the  Athletic  Club  in  In- 
dianapolis, with  more  than  200  pres- 
ent. Marc  J.  Wolff,  Indiana  state 
chairman,  pledged  that  the  state  would 
be  an  important  spearhead  in  the  cam- 
paign. 

Don  R.  Rossiter,  state  Fifth  War 
Loan  coordinator,  reported  on  the  Red 
Cross  drive  and  the  Indiana  industrv's 


.ALTEC 


There's  one  born  every  minute!  It's  the  old 
shell  game:  now  you  see  it,  now  you  don't! 
A  yokel  crowds  close,  loses  and  hears:  "Sorry, 
mister,  better  luck  next  time." 
When  you  gamble  on  cheap  booth  service 
you  play  a  losing  game,  for  there  are  no  short 
cuts  to  good  service.  That's  why  we  have 
only  one  standard  of  quality  — the  best— the 
same  to  everyone. 


250  W.  57th  St..  New  York  19.N.Y. 


THE  SERVICE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


Fourth  War  Loan  record,  and  ex- 
pressed confidence  that  the  state  would 
do  still  better  in  the  Fifth  \\  ar  Loan. 

L.  T.  Dorsey,  of  the  state  War 
Finance  Committee,  in  paying  tribute 
to  the  industry  k  said  that  the  glamour 
and  ballyhoo  it  has  provided  have  im- 
parted a  "real  wallop  '  to  all  drives. 

Among  other  guests  were  Louis 
Young,  publisher  of  the  Indianapolis 
Times;  Corbin  Patrick,  Indianapolis 
Star;  Louis  Crowe  of  the  state  War 
Finance  Committee,  and  D.  E.  Deaton, 
Fayette  County  War  Finance  commit- 
teeman. Also  present  were  the  state's 
three  "Honored  Hundred"  winners : 
Leonard  S.  Sowar,  Muncie ;  Harlan 
Croy.  Frankfort,  and  Harry  Rubin, 
Michigan  City,  as  well  as  William 
Marriott,  distributor  chairman  for  the 
Indiana-Kentucky  district,  and  Ken 
Collins,  state  publicity  chairman. 

National  committee  representatives 
at  the  meeting,  in  addition  to  O'Don- 
nell,  were  vice-chairman  R.  M.  Ken- 
nedy, campaign  director  John  J. 
Friedl.  publicity  director  Ray  Beall. 
H.  M.  Richey.  representing  the  dis- 
tributors' committee,  and  Claude  Lee, 
consultant  to  the  Treasury.  Major 
Allen  V.  Martini  received  an  ovation. 


Plan  for  Times  Square 
Kick-Off  on  June  9 

Plans  were  discussed  for  a  "kick- 
off"  stunt  on  June  9  to  open  the  in- 
dustry's Fifth  War  Loan  drive  in 
New  York — an  "invasion"  of  Times 
Square  by  armed  troops  and  equip- 
ment— at  a  meeting  held  yesterday  in 
the  Loew  Building  by  Charles  C.  Mos- 
kowitz.  general  chairman  of  the  Metro- 
politan Xew  York  area,  and  Oscar  A. 
Doob,  campaign  director. 

Deputy  administrators  of  the  Treas- 
ury's War  Finance  Committee  from 
all  boroughs  and  counties  joined  the 
committee  at  the  meeting.  Among 
other  plans  discussed  for  the  drive  is 
the  erection  on  Times  Square  of  a 
large  cash  register  which  will  record 
daily  bond  sales  for  this  area. 

Joseph  Kinsky,  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee coordinator  for  the  campaign, 
outlined  the  accessories  which  will  be 
available,  and  other  plans,  and  Prof. 
John  Madden,  accounting  chairman, 
explained  the  accounting  method  to  be 
used  by  theatres,  district  captains  and 
borough  chairmen. 

It  was  announced  also  that  borough 
chairmen  throughout  this  territory 
have  completed  appointments  of  dis- 
trict captains.  A  similar  organization 
has  been  set  up  by  distributors  through 
Ralph  Pielow,  distributor  chairman. 


Capital  Showmen  Cited 
For  Fourth  War  Loan 

Washington-,  May  17. — Citations 
for  outstanding  performances  in  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  drive  were  pre- 
sented to  Washington  showmen  this 
week  by  John  Reilly,  chairman  of  the 
War  Finance  Committee,  during  a 
meeting  at  which  plans  for  local  par- 
ticipation in  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive 
were  set. 

Citations  were  presented  to  Jack 
Foxe,  Fred  Thomas.  Charles  Demma, 
Gene  Forde,  Angelo  Ratto,  Hardie 
Meakin,  Abe  Tolkins.  Citations  to 
zone  area  chairmen  went  to  Frank 
Storty.  Harry  Bachman,  Graham  Bar- 
bee,  Walter  Cersley,  Sidney  Hoffman, 
Fred  Kogod,  Sidney  Lust.  A.  Julian 
Brylawski     and     Lloyd  Wineland. 


'Private  Hargrove' 
Leads  the  Parade 
On  $27,500  Gross 


Sam  Francisco,  May  17.  —  "See 
Here,  Private  Hargrove"  headed  for 
$27,500  at  the  Fox  Theatre  to  lead 
local  grosses.  "Address  Unknown" 
and  "Black  Parachute,"  playing  two 
small  houses,  the  Esquire  and  Tivoli, 
appear  good  for  a  dual  take  of  823,000. 
Also  off  to  an  excellent  start  was 
"The  Lodger"  and  "Charlie  Chan  and 
the  Chinese  Cat,'1  aiming  at  $22,700  at 
the  Paramount.  Weather  and  busi- 
ness were  generally  good. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  15-18: 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS — ( 1 ,200)  (45c-65c-85c) 
/  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $10,300.  (Aver- 
age: $11,000). 

"Bermuda  Mystery"  (2Cth-Fox) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  davs. 
Stage:  vaudeville.    Gross:  $22,600.  (Aver- 
age: $21,800). 
"Scarlet    Claw"  (Univ.) 

GOLDEX  GATE — (2,850)  .  (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.  Stage:  vaudeville.  Gross:  $25  400 
(Average:  S25.0O0). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

FOX—  (5.000)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  davs.  Gross" 
$27,500.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"The  Lodger"  ~(20th-Fox) 

"Charlie  Chan  and  the  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono  ) 

PARAMGTXT-(2,740)      (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.     Gross:  S22.70O.     (Average:  $19,600). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM — (2,440)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  dars. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average:  $14.- 
800). 

"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Jamboree"  (Rep.) 

STATE — (2.306)   (45c-65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd 
week,  moveover  from  the  Fox.  Gross:  $14.- 
003.    (Average:  $12,100). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZCth-Fox) 

ST.  FRAXCIS-(1,400)  (45c-65e-85c)  7 
days.  3rd  week.  Gross:  $11,900.  (Average: 
$11,600). 

"Address  Unkncwr"  (Cel.) 
"Black  Parachrte"  (Co'.) 

ESQUIRE — (1.008)    (45c-55c-75c)    7  davs. 
Gross:  $12,103.     (Average:  S9,000). 
"Address  Ur.krown"  (Col.) 
"Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

TIVOLI— (1,488)  (45c-55c-75c) 
Gross:  $10,900.    (Average:  S9.000). 


dav?. 


Fourth  War  Loan  heads  who  also 
received  citations  were  Carter  T.  Bar- 
ron, John  J.  Payette.  Frank  La  Fake, 
Robert  Smeltzer  and  Xat  Browne. 

Lust,  chosen  as  chairman  for  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive  here,  will  be 
assisted  by  Barron  and  Payette  as  co- 
chairman  ;  LaFalce,  as  publicity  chair- 
man ;  and  Joseph  B.  Brecheen,  as  film 
exchange  chairman.  He  appointed  a 
planning  committee  comprised  of  Bry- 
lawski. Bachman.  Barbee,  Cersley, 
Meakin,  Lawrence  Snoots,  with  John 
Allen.  M-G-M  branch  manager  and 
Variety  Club  chief  barker  as  distribu- 
tor chairman. 


Stetson  Named  F.  &  M. 
War  Activities  Head 

St.  Louis,  May  17. — Albert  Stetson 
has  been  named  war  activities  director 
for  Fanchon  &  Marco  theatres  and 
St.  Louis  Amusement  Co.,  it  has  been 
announced  by  Harry  C.  Arthur,  Jr., 
general  manager  and  chairman  of  the 
Missouri  War  Activities  Committee. 

Stetson,  formerly  district  manager 
for  the  St.  Louis  Amusement  Co. 
neighborhood  theatres,  will  co-ordinate 
the  company's  theatre  war  activities 
beginning  with  the  launching  of  the 
Fifth  War  Loan,  June  12-July  8,  said 
Arthur. 

The  theatres'  activity  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  campaign  will  get  under 
way  tomorrow,  when  a  special  re- 
gional luncheon  meeting  will  be  held 
on  the  Hotel  Chase  Roof. 


Thursday,  May  18,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


Films  in  Australia 
Get  Double  Time 


Australian  cities  are  enjoying  such 
an  unprecedented  boom  that  first-run 
theatres  are  according  product  an 
average  playing  time  of  two-and-a-half 
times  longer  than  in  pre-war  days, 
Ralph  Doyle,  RKO  managing  director 
for  Australasia,  told  Motion  Picture 
Daily  this  week  in  an  interview  at 
the  home  office.  Business  in  the  more 
*\sparsely-settled  country  areas  "has 
ysuffered,"  he  said,  "because  they  have 
been  denuded  of  manpower." 

"Musicals  and  romantic  comedies 
are  proving  the  best  draw"  both  with 
the  Australian  public  and  the  troops, 
Doyle  asserted.  "No  war  pictures  are 
being  sent  into  combat  areas.  The 
troops  want  bright,  escapist  entertain- 
ment." Theatre  business  is  .expected 
to  remain  good  for  two  years  after 
the  war. 

Film  rentals  have  remained  fairly 
static  because  of  a  ceiling,  Doyle  de- 
clared. In  order  to  raise  them  per- 
mission from  authorities  must  be  ob- 
tained. "Admissions  have  been  abso- 
lutely fixed,"  he  said. 

Consequently,  roadshows  as  such 
have  ceased  to  exist  as  the  government 
will  not  permit  an  advance  in  prices. 

New  Film  Each  Week 

Distributing  companies  in  Australia 
are  servicing  troops  in  combat  areas 
with  a  new  film  a  week  which  travels 
a  circuit  for  20  weeks,  the  RKO  man- 
aging director  for  Australasia  revealed. 
Five  mobile  units,  outfitted  by  industry 
funds,  tour  combat  areas.  Other  camps 
are  serviced  by  the  Australian  Army 
which  has  its  own  exchange  system  for 
the  exhibition  of  35  mm.  prints. 

Doyle  disclosed  that 'the  first  Aus- 
tralian film  in  four  years,  a  coopera- 
tive venture,  was  being  produced  by 
Hoyt's  Theatres,  circuit,  RKO,  Com 
monwealth  Laboratories  and  Charles 
E.  Munro,  former  managing  director 
for  Hoyt's.  Titled  "Rats  of  Tobruk," 
it  is  being  produced  by  Charles  Chau- 
vel,  who  made  "40,000  Horsemen."  It 
concerns  the  exploits  of  the  9th  Aus 
tralian  Division.  RKO  will  distribute 
in  Australia  and  New  Zealand. 

Doyle,  who  is  making  his  first  visit 
in  five  years,  plans  to  stay  for  two 
months.  « 


'Cover  Girl'  Grosses 
$15,300  in  Toronto 

Toronto,  May  17. — "Cover  Girl" 
was  high  at  Shea's  Theatre  with 
$15,300,  and  "Up  in  Arms"  was  head- 
ing for  $14,300  at  the  Imperial 
Loew's  presented  a  dual  with  "The 
Heavenly  Body"  and  "Swing  Fever," 
which  looked  like  $12,700. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  18 : 

"The  Man  in  Grey"  (British) 

EGLINTON— (1,086)     (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $4,000.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

IM'PERIAL— (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-9Oe) 
6  days.  Gross:  $14,300.  (Averag:  $12,- 
800). 

"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
"Swing;    Fever"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS— (2,074)     (18e-30c-42lc-60c-78c)  6 
lays.    Gross:  $12,700.    (Average:  $11,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

SHEA'S— (2,480)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $15,300.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Tender   Comrade"    (RKO)  (moveover) 
"Ghoet  Ship"  (RKO) 

TIVOLI— (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  days 
Gross:  $3,900.    (Average':  $4,400). 
"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"-  (UA) 
"The   Woman  of   the   Town"  (UA) 

UPTOWN— (2.761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $9,800.     (Average:  $9,800). 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


CURRENTLY  CLICKING  IN 

SOMERSET  MAUGHAM  9 S 

"THE  HOUR  BEFORE  THE  DAWN"   VER0N I CA 

WILL  PLAY  A  CIGARETTE  GIRL 

I N  "BR  I NG  ON  THE  G  I  RLS" 

WITH  BRACKEN  AND  TUFTS.  FIRST 

STILLS  OF  THIS  SMART  OUTFIT 

SHOW  RICH  CHANCES  FOR  T.IE-UPS, 

EXPLOITATION  DISPLAYS  ON 

THIS  TECHNICOLOR  MUSICAL. 


'Buffalo  Biir 
Rides  High, 
Gets  $24,700 


Philadelphia,  May  17. — Business 
was  well  distributed  among  the  down- 
town theatres  this  week  due  to  the 
large  number  of  new  openings.  Among 
die  major  openings,  "Buffalo  Bill"  at 
the  Fox  expects  to  gross  $24,700  for 
the  week,  and  "Standing  Room 
Only"  at  the  Boyd  points  to  $22,300, 
with  $3,400  for  a  dual  Sunday  show- 
ing. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ended  May  17-19: 

"The  Bridge   of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 

ALDINE^(900)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $11,700.  (Average:  $14,600). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

ARCADIA — (600)     (40c-45c-50c-65c-7Sc)  7 
days,   2nd   run,   2nd  week.     Gross:  $4,300. 
(Average:  $4,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

BOYD— (3,000)    (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $22,300.    (Average:  $18,000). 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.)  (6  days) 
$16,500 

"Standing   Room   Only"    (Para.)    (1  day) 
$3,400 

EARLE — (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including  Jerry  Wald's  or- 
chestra, Beatrice  Kay,  Ginnie  Powell,  Dick 
Merrick  and  Ben  Beri.  Gross:  $16,500. 
(Average:  $27,600). 
"Buffalo   Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FOX — (3,000)     (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $24,700.     (Average:  $20,500). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)   6  days,  2nd  run,  2nd  week.  Gross: 
$5,500.    (Average:  $6,600). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

KEITH'S — (2,200)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,300.  (Average: 
$5,800). 

"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

MASTBAUM— (4,700)  (40c-45c-S0c-65c- 
75c-85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $15,600. 
(Average:  $22,500). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY— (3,000)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-7Sc- 
85c)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $17,800.  (Av- 
erage: $20,000). 

"Women  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 

STANTON—  (1,700)  (40c-45c-  50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,600.  (Average: 
$9,400). 


Top  Balto.  Honors 
To  'Snow  White' 

Baltimore,  May  17.  —  The  new 
week's  features  gained  fairly  substan- 
tial openings  but  weekend  business 
failed  to  hold.  Managers  attributed 
the  let-down  to  the  Preakness  races 
on  Saturday  and  to  the  warm  weather, 
keeping  pleasure-seekers  out-of-doors 
on  Sunday.  Top  honors  go  to  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs,"  plus  a 
stage  show,  taking  $19,000  at  the  Hip- 
podrome. "Andy  Harry's  Blonde 
Trouble"  is  scoring  $16,000  at  the 
Century.  Most  of  the  week's  figures 
are  below  average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  18: 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY — (3,000)  (35c-45c-55c  and  60fc 
weekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,000.  Average: 
f.l  7,500). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2,405)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average: 
$15,000). 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)    (30c-40c-60c)    7    days,  3rd 
week.     Gross:  $9,000.      (Average:  $13,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

STANLEY  —  (3,280)     (35c-44c-55c-66c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"Snow  White  and  Seven  Dwarfs"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME — (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days.     Stage  show:   Flying  Berrys,  Renald 
&  Rudy,  The  Albins,  Arnaut  Bros.  Gross: 
$19,000.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"The  Navy  Wav"  (Para.) 

MAYFATR— (1.000)  (35c-54c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $6,500.      (Average:  $7,000). 


10 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Thursday,  May  18,  1944 


5  Majors  Will  Not  Yield 
Any  Further  on  Decree 


Petrillo,  Producers 
In  2-Year  Pact 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

of  permanent  orchestras  which  the 
studios  agreed  to  employ.  Petrillo 
originally  insisted  on  a  basic  group  of 
35  men  lor  Paramount,  M-G-M,  20th 
Century-Fox  and  Warners,  but  con- 
ceded on  Paramount's  reducing  to  30. 
The  other  three  studios  remain  at  35. 
Petrillo  originally  insisted  on  30  for 
RKO,  but  this  was  cut  to  25,  while 
Columbia,  Universal  and  Republic 
agreed  to  25,  which  was  the  original 
demand. 

M-G-M,  20th-Fox  and  Warners, 
therefore,  face  minimum  musical  costs 
of  $182,000  apiece  for  each  year  of 
the  agreement,  barring  overtime.  Para- 
mount's cost  will  be  $156,000  and  the 
other  four  studios  $130,000  apiece. 
-  The  basic  deal  also  provides  that 
whatever  sound  track  is  employed  in 
prints  and  trailers  would  be  used  only 
for  the  specific  picture  for  which  it  is 
recorded.  Thus,  for  example,  20th- 
Fox  could  not  use  any  of  its  "The 
Purple  Heart"  music  in  connection 
with  any  portions  of  "Wilson,"  and 
musical  resources  and  investment  of 
sizeable  portions  now  represented  by 
musical  libraries  in  all  studios  are 
doomed. 

To  See  Independents  Later 

The  deal  thus  far  does  not  embrace 
independents  like  David  Selznick,  Sam- 
uel Goldwyn,  United  Artists  producers 
and  smaller  companies  like  Monogram 
and  PRC.  Petrillo  will  leave  for  the 
East  Friday  but  expects  to  close  a 
deal  along  similar  lines  with  those  not 
now  covered  before  his  departure.  • 

The  much-debated  issue  of  freshly 
recorded  music  for  newsreels  was  set 
back  for  future  discussions  in  New 
York  with  newsreel  organizations. 

AFM  was  represented  additionally 
by  J.  W.  Gillette,  Petrillo's  local  rep- 
resentative; J.  K.  ("Spike")  Wallace, 
president  of  Local  47,  and  C.  L.  Bag- 
ley,  attorney.  Present  at  today's  ses- 
sion, the  last  of  five,  were  Nicholas 
Schenck,  Nate  Blumberg,  N.  Peter 
Rathvon  and  Pat  Casey,  producers' 
labor  contact. 

A  formal  statement  by  both  groups 
stressed  that  "negotiations  were  the 
most  friendly  and  constructive  of  any 
throughout  their  experience."  How- 
ever, it  was  also  characterized  by  un- 
relenting firmness  on  the  part  of 
Petrillo.  One  negotiator  summed  up 
by  observing,  "I  don't  know  why  we 
had  to  resume  in  California.  Petrillo 
got  what  he  asked  for  in  New  York, 
anyway." 

Schenck  and  Rathvon  expect  to  de- 
part for  New  York  at  the  weekend. 


$699,831  To  Hart 

William  S.  Hart,  silent  film  star, 
is  the  sole  beneficiary  of  the  estate  of 
his  sister,  Mary  Ellen  Hart,  who  died 
in  California,  Oct.  1,  1943.  leaving  an 
estate  of  $728,778  and  $699,831  net, 
according  to  a  tax  appraisal  filed  here 
this  week. 


MANAGER    AT  LIBERTY 

Competent — Experienced  in  all 
types  of  exhibition — Al  record 
in  Metropolitan,  deluxe  or 
neighborhood  theatres.  Will  go 
anywhere  for  top  offer.  Box 
229,  Motion  Picture  Daily. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

officials  have  been  occupied  fully  re- 
cently with  the  Montgomery  Ward 
case,  the  Pullman  divestment  case, 
and  other  matters. 

The  most  recent  contact  between 
the  companies  and  Clark  was  on  May 
7,  when  Joseph  Hazen,  liaison  for  the 
distributors,  met  Clark  in  Washing- 
ton. At  that  time,  it  was  reported 
that  Clark  expressed  a  desire  to  bring 
the  matter  to  a  head,  pointing  out 
that  the  companies  have  had  a  long 
time  in  which  to  study  exhibitor 
recommendations  for  improvement  of 
the  distributor  proposals  of  Jan.  25, 
and  indicated  a  growing  impatience 
over  the  numerous  delays  which  have 
slowed  down,  if  not  stalemated,  ne- 
gotiations. 

When  representatives  of  the 
companies  meet  with  Clark  it  is 
planned  to  go  over  the  whole 
decree  in  one  last  audit  of  what 
the  distributors  offer  or  reject. 
Clark  then  will  make  a  decision 
as  to  the  acceptability  of  their 
proposals,  subject  to  Attorney 
General  Biddle's  approval. 
Should  he  demand  any  further 
concessions  from  the  distribu- 
tors, especially  on  cancellation 
and  theatre  expansion,  it  is  be- 
lieved the  distributors  will  face 
a  showdown. 

Proposals  by  the  distributors  on 
cancellations,  reported  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily  on  Feb.  2,  provide 
that  theatres  paying  $100  or  less  per 
picture  are  to  be  given  a  20  per  cent 
cancellation,  those  paying  from  $101 
to  $200,  10  per  cent ;  and  those  over 
$200,  five  per  cent.  In  the  case  of 
the  20  per  cent  classification,  estimat- 
ed to  include  80  per  cent  of  all  thea- 
tres, one  of  the  first  three  pictures 
could  be  cancelled,  thereafter  one  of 
five. 

On  the  question  of  theatre  expan- 
sion, the  five  companies  agreed  to  se- 
cure Federal  Court  approval  prior  to 
consummating  any  acquisition  except 
for  purpose  of  replacement,  to  secure 
a  "show  case"  or  where  a  local  prod- 
uct lock-out  prevents  the  showing  of 
pictures  for  one  year  or  longer. 

MPTOA  Proposals 

Exhibitor  organizations  made  other 
proposals  to  Clark,  not  having  been 
satisfied  with  the  distributor  conces- 
sions. As  reported  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  on  March  22,  the  Mo- 
tion Picture  Theatre  Owners  of 
America  urged  a  provision  requiring 
the  distributors  to  license  at  one  time 
all  features  to  be  released  in  each  six 
months,  but  permitting  an  exhibitor  to 
license  any  lesser  number,  with  ex- 
hibitors having  the  unrestricted  privi- 
lege of  20  per  cent  cancellation.  On 
the  question  of  theatre  expansion  by 
distributors,  MPTOA  asked  that  all 
such  expansion  be  completely  prohibit- 
ed or,  if  that  is  not  possible,  then 
the  "show  case"  and  "lockout"  pro- 
visions should  be  eliminated. 


Carroll  to  South  Pacific 

Hollywood,  May  17. — Sidney  Car-, 
roll,  Hollywood  studio  Coronet  and 
Esquire  editor,  stationed  here  for  the 
past  five  years,  has  been  assigned  as 
a  war  correspondent  by  those  publica- 
tions to  the  South  Pacific  area. 


Proposals  made  by  Allied  States  and 
collaborating  independents,  as  report- 
ed in  Motion  Picture  Daily  on  Feb. 
11,  also  asked  for  20  per  cent  unre- 
stricted cancellation,  with  distributors 
required  to  submit  one-quarter  of  their 
yearly  output  at  one  time.  On  the 
question  of  circuit  expansion,  the  Al- 
lied brief  submitted  to  Clark  declared 
that  "this  provision  is  wholly  emas- 
culated and  will  have  no  effect  under 
the  exceptions  set  forth."  Allied 
recommended  that  provision  for  any 
circuit  expansion  be  eliminated  en- 
tirely and  that  where  the  distributor 
may  make  application  for  theatre  ac- 
quisition and  an  independent  exhibi- 
tor is  affected,  the  application  should 
be  made  in  the  district  court  where 
the  theatre  or  theatres  are  located, 
and  the  interested  exhibitor  notified. 

The  distributors  are  said  to 
feel  that  the  cancellation  con- 
cessions to  which  they  have 
agreed  are  more  liberal  under 
the  decree  method  whereby  the 
exhibitor  can  see  films  before 
buying  than  they  were  under 
"blind"  and  full  season  selling 
methods. 

Regarding  circuit  expansion,  the 
distributors  are  understood  to  feel  that 
the  post-war  period  might  bring  the 
need  for  adjustments  in  their  methods 
of  operation  and  they  must  have  a 
free  hand  to  make  changes  in  much 
the  same  manner  as  any  other  busi- 
ness, in  their  case  the  changes  to  be 
made  with  Department  of  Justice  ap- 
proval. 

Among  other  items,  the  distributor 
spokesman  pointed  out  that  in  liberal- 
izing the  "show  case"  provisions  of 
section  ten,  "the  distributors  have 
made  it  possible  for  any  person  to  go 
into  business  in  competition  with 
them."  The  distributors  also  feel  that 
arbitration  provisions  made  it  possible 
for  any  exhibitor  to  secure  adequate 
relief  in  view  of  past  experiences,  it 
was  said. 

Officials  of  the  consent  decree  com- 
panies met  here  yesterday. 


U.  S.  Seeks  to  Push 
Schine  Trust  Suit 

Buffalo,  May  17. — A  pre-trial  con- 
ference has  been  scheduled  for  Fri- 
day on  the  Government's  anti-trust 
suit  against  Schine  Theatres.  It  will 
be  held  in  Judge  John  C.  Knight's 
chambers.  Counsel  for  Schine  and  the 
Government  will  be  present  to  endeav- 
or to  simplify  procedure  with  a  view 
to  shortening  the  trial  as  much  as 
possible. 

John  F.  Clagett,  special  assistant  to 
the  U.  S.  Attorney-General,  indicated 
that  Schine  will  seek  ai  postponement. 
Clagett  is  here  with  several  other 
Government  attorneys  preparing  for 
trial  and  issuing  about  100  subpoenas. 
The  conference,  Clagett  says,  may  last 
a  few  days.  The  Government,  how- 
ever, is  ready  to  proceed  with  the  trial 
on  Friday  and  has  arranged  for  the 
presence  of  numerous  Government  wit- 
nesses. 


Wirth  Joins  Warners 

Philadelphia,  May  17.  —  Ben 
Wirth,  formerly  of  New  York  City, 
has  been  named  head  of  the  real 
estate  department  of  the  Warner  cir- 
cuit here,  succeeding  Samuel  D. 
Schwartz,  resigned. 


US  Films  Get  75% 
Of  Spanish  Time 


American  films  are  now  getting  75 
percent  of  the  playing  time  in  Spain's 
theatres,  according  to  Robert  L.  Gra- 
ham, Paramount's  manager  in  Mexico, 
who  returned  to  New  York  last  week 
from  a  two-month  trip  to  Spain  on  a 
special  assignment  for  that  company. 

"American  films  today  are  more 
popular  in  Spain  than  those  of  any 
other  country,"  Graham  said.  "All 
American  films  being  shown  in  Spain 
have  been  dubbed  into  Spanish  and 
not  sub-titled,"  he  revealed. 

"Hollywood  product  now  playing  in 
Spain  is  from  two  to  three  years  old. 
Import  permits  are  needed  to  bring 
American  films  into  the  Spanish  mar- 
ket. This  makes  it  difficult  for  Ameri- 
can companies  to  distribute  directly," 
Graham  revealed. 

"About  100  American  films  have 
been  prepared  for  Spanish  distribution 
in  the  past  year  but  they  have  not  all 
been  released,  according  to  Graham. 

"Spain  has  been  an  open  market  for 
films  of  all  countries  since  1941,"  Gra- 
ham said  in  disclosing  that  the  2,600 
motion  picture  exhibition  outlets  which 
includes  theatres  and  tents,  played  ten 
German  pictures,  five  Mexican-made 
pictures  and  other  foreign  films  during 
the  past  12  months. 

Equipment  Run  Down 

Graham  revealed  that  theatre  pro- 
jection equipment  is  considerably  run 
down  in  Spain  since  there  is  no  way 
of  replacing  equipment.  He  disclosed 
that  any  picture  whether  made  by 
Hollywood  or  Germany  that  is  con- 
trary to  Spain's  policy  of  neutrality 
cannot  be  shown.  "Large  theatres  in 
Madrid  are  playing  100  percent  Ameri- 
can product  and  business  is  good," 
Graham  reported.  He  added  that 
there  is  only  one  newsreel  in  Spain 
and  that  is  the  government's.  It  con- 
tains 25  percent  American  footage,  25 
percent  German  footage,  and  50  per- 
cent Spanish  footage. 

Questioned  about  the  Spanish  gov- 
ernment's blacklist  of  some  American 
film  actors  and  other  personalities, 
Graham  disclosed  the  list  had  been  re- 
scinded three  months  ago. 

Paramount  has  released,  about  25 
films  in  Spain  in  the  past  two  years 
but  the  cofhpany  has  no  plans  of  en- 
tering into  distribution  on  any  larger 
scale  in  the  immediate  future.  Robert 
Alexander  of  the  Paramount  sales  or- 
ganization in  London  is  acting  as  spe- 
cial representative  for  the  company  in 
Spain  and  Portugal. 


Rhoden  Mobilizing 
30,000  Workers 

Kansas  City,  May  17.— A 
"Citizens'  War  Manpower 
Committee"  has  been  set  up 
for  Greater  Kansas  City  for 
recruiting  30,000  workers  to 
assure  war  plant  production 
in  this  community,  and  head- 
ed by  Elmer  C.  Rhoden,  Fox 
Midwest  executive. 

Rhoden  and  Senn  Lawler, 
also  of  Fox  Midwest,  have 
formulated  a  program  for  the 
committee,  with  which  civic 
agencies  are  cooperating. 
Among  initial  steps  is  a  "Mob- 
ilization for  Victory  Cam- 
paign" calling  for  workers  for 
war  jobs. 


Thursday,  May  18,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


RKO  Theatre  Units 
Elect  Directors 


Stockholders  of  B.  F.  Keith  Corp., 
RKO-Proctors  Corp.  and  RKO  Mid- 
west Theatres,  held  annual  meetings 
here  yesterday  and  reelected  directors 
of  all  three  companies. 

The  board  reelected  by  B.  F.  Keith 
is  the  same  as  that  re-elected  Tuesday 
by  Keith-Albee-Orpheum  stockholders, 
s  reported  in  Motion  Picture  Daily 
yesterday.  It  includes  N.  Peter  Rath- 
von,  Ned  E.  Depinet,  Malcolm  Kings- 
berg,  Monroe  Goldwater,  Gordon  E. 
Youngman  and  J.  Miller  Walker.  A. 
W.  Dawson  was  elected  by  both  B.  F. 
Keith  Corp.,  and  KAO  to  succeed 
William  E.  Whitman. 

Reelected  to  RKO-Proctors  and 
Midwest  directorates  were :  Rathvon, 
Depinet,  Kingsberg,  Youngman,  Ben 
L.  Heidingsfeld  and  Major  L.  E. 
Thompson.  John  E.  Harris,  previously 
a  board  member  of  both  corporations, 
was  not  reelected. 

The  boards  of  all  four  corporations 
will  meet  in  about  a  week  to  reelect 
officers  with  no  changes  expected  in 
the  present  set-ups  of  Rathvon  as 
president  and  Kingsberg  as  executive 
vice-president  and  vice-chairman  of 
the  board,  among  others. 


Odium  Selling  57,337 
Shares  of  RKO 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

The  stock  will  be  underwritten  by 
a  syndicate  headed  by  Lehman  Broth- 
ers and  Goldman,  Sachs  &  Co.  RKO 
announced  yesterday  that  it  has  filed  a 
registration  statement  with  the  Se- 
curities and  Exchange  Commission, 
adding  that  no  proceeds  from  the  sale 
of  the  stock  are  to  go  to  RKO. 

While  it  is  understood  that  Atlas 
plans  to  reduce  its  holdings  in  RKO 
common  stock,  now  estimated  at  46 
per  cent  of  the  total  amount  outstand- 
ing, sale  of  the  common  is  reported 
not  to  be  linked  with  that  of  the  pre- 
ferred. Odium,  it  is  said,  intends  to 
retain  approximately  900,000  shares 
of  the  RKO  common. 


Rank  and  Skouras  Sign 
Collaborative  Agreement 


'Bernadette'  Emerges 
With  Good  $11,900 

Omaha,  May  17. — "Song  of  Ber- 
nadette"  at  the  ■  Omaha  Theatre 
grossed  $11,900,  slightly  higher  than 
'Cover  Girl's"  $10,100  at  the  Bran- 
deis  for  box  office  laurels.  Warm 
weather  prevailed. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  17-18: 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,100.    (Average:  $6,500). 
"Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

OMAHA— (2,000)      (80c-$1.10)     6  days. 
Gross:    $11,900.     (Average:  $8,400). 
"Lifeboat"  (2ttth-Fox) 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,100.     (Average:  $9,800). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:    $8,500.     (Average:  $11,700). 


Blumenfeld  to  Build 

Oakland,  Cal.,  May  17.  —  Joseph 
Blumenfeld,  operator  of  six  theatres  in 
this  area,  including  the  Orpheum  and 
United  Artists  in  San  Francisco,  has 
purchased  a  corner  at  Broadway  and 
Hobart  St.,  this  city,  where  he  plans 
to  build  a  theatre  when  plans  are  ap- 
Droved. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
mont-British   Theatres,   which  were 
controlled  jointly  by  Rank,  20th-Fox 
and  Loew's,  Inc.,  but  from  which  the 
latter  has  now  been  eliminated. 

As  previously  reported  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily  from  time  to  time,  the 
agreement  is  understood,  on  reliable 
authority,  to  include :  Showing  of 
Rank's  product  in  20th-Fox's  Nation- 
al Theatres  in  the  U.  S. ;  availability 
of  Rank's  production  facilities  for  the 
making  of  20th-Fox  pictures  here ; 
production  by  Rank,  in  the  near  fu- 
ture, of  two  or  three  features  for 
20th-Fox  in  London,  to  meet  the  lat- 
ter's  quota  requirements,  with  more 
joint  productions  to  follow;  loan  of 
Hollywood  stars,  directors  and  scen- 
arists to  Rank's  production  interests 
here,  with  possible  assignment  also 
of  British  talent  to  Hollywood. 

The  deal  also  provides  distribution 
by  20th-Fox  in  the  United  States  and 
throughout  the  world  of  all  produc- 
tions made  jointly  by  the  two'  com- 
panies in  England — with  other  joint 
productions  distributed  in  America  by 
Rank's  Eagle  Lion  films.     (In  the 
early   stages   of  the  negotiations,  it 
was  indicated  that  20th-Fox  eventual- 
ly would  assist  Eagle-Lion  with  dis- 
tribution and  in  the  matter  of  other- 
wise unobtainable  manpower  for  ex- 
changes here  and  in  America ;  also 
that   Arthur   W.   Kelly,  Eagle-Lion 
U.  S.  agent,  would  be  absorbed  by  the 
American  company  as  Rank's  agent 
in  the  United  States.    It  was  indicat- 
ed, later,  -  however,  in  New  York  by 
Larry   Kent,   executive   assistant  to 
Skouras,  that  nothing  in  the  agree- 
ment  provides    for    Eagle-Lion  and 
20th-Fox  collaborative  distribution). 
Purchase,  partly  by  Rank  and 
partly  by  20th-Fox,  of  the  24«/2 
per   cent   interest   of  Loew's, 
Inc.,    in    the    Metropolis  and 
Bradford  Trust  Co.,  which  con- 
trols Gaumont-British,  is  also 
in  the  new  Rank-Skouras  pact. 
Although  the  proportion  of  this 
stock  going  to  each  of  the  two 
purchasers  has  not  been  offi- 
cially revealed,  recent  indica- 
tions were  that  Rank  would  get 
two-thirds  and  20th-Fox  one- 
third.    Up  to  now  the  former 
has  owned  49  per  cent  of  M.  & 
B.,  the  latter,  24'/i  per  cent. 
The  sale  agreement,  subject  to  cer- 
tain amendments,  has  been  sanctioned 
by  the  British  Treasury.     It  is  un- 
derstood that  Loew's  will  invest  the 
proceeds   in   Sir   Alexander  Korda- 
M-G-M    production    unit,  London, 
thereby  complying  with  the  British 
government's  policy  of  keeping  foreign 
monies  in  this  country. 

A  subsidiary  agreement  is  said  to 
provide  for  the  creation  of  a  man- 
agement committee  for  (?aumont- 
British  Theatres,  with  20th-Fox 
representation,  looking  to  improved 
management,  but  with  Rank  retaining 
ultimate  control.  Kent  is  slated  to 
be  named  managing  director  of  the 
G-B  circuit.;  and  he  and  Dan  Micha- 
love  of  20th-Fox  may  become  mem- 
bers of  this  company's  board  of  di- 
rectors. G-B  shares  rose  sharply  on 
the  London  stock  exchange  follow- 
ing announcement  of  the  agreement. 

The  20th-Fox  president  arrived 
here  on  Feb.  21  and  is  scheduled  to 
return  to.  the  U.  S.  sometime  within 
the  next  week. 


Blind  Girl  Asks  to 
'See'  'Bernadette* 

A  girl  who  identified  herself 
as  Josephine  Lettiere,  Man- 
hattan, and  said  she  was  a 
blind  college  graduate,  phoned 
the  Rivoli  on  Broadway  yes- 
terday and  inquired  whether 
arrangements  could  be  made 
for  her  to  "see"  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  today.  Assured 
that  she  would  be  accommo- 
dated, the  caller  explained 
that  she  was  sufficiently  fa- 
miliar with  the  story  to  be 
able  to  enjoy  the  picture  by 
listening  to  the  dialogue.  Ac- 
commodations also  will  be  af- 
forded for  her  Seeing-Eye 
dog,  which  she  said  would  ac- 
company her. 


Felix  Basch  Dies  at  55 

Hollywood,  May  17. — Felix  Basch, 
55,  who  appeared  in  "Chetniks,"  "Des- 
tination Unknown,"  "Cross  of  Lor- 
raine" and  many  other  war  films  dur- 
ing the  past  few  years,  died  in  Cedars 
of  Lebanon  Hospital  here  today. 
Basch  formerly  won  distinction  as  a 
producer  and  director  in  Berlin.  He 
leaves  a  widow,  the  former  Grete 
Freund,  Viennese  actress,  and  a  son, 
Peter,  who  is  in  the  U.  S.  Army. 


'Twain'  Draws  a  Big 
$22,500  in  Denver 


Denver,  May  17. — "The  Adven- 
tures of  Mark  Twain"  led  here  this 
week  with  a  gross  of  $22,500.  Re- 
ceipts elsewhere  were  somewhat  light 
this  week  due  to  the  opening  of 
amusement  parks  for  the  season. 

Estimated   receipts    for    the  week 
ending  May  15-17: 
•Shine  On,   Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)  (46c-75c)  7  days, 
moreover.  Gross:  $5,600.  (Average:  $5,- 
600). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

"The  Memphis  Belle"  (WAC-Para.) 

BROADWAY— (1,040)  (46c-74c)  7  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $5,850.  (Average:  $3,- 
900). 

•"Adventures  of  Mark  Twain,"  (WB) 

DENVER— (2,600)  (80c-$1.10)  (advanced 
prices).  Gross:  $22,500.  (Average:  $15,000). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

DEN  HAM — (1,750)  (35c-4Sc-70c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average:  $9,- 
000). 

"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE — (740)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,750.     (Average:  $4,500). 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

PARAMOUNT—  (2,200)    (46c-74c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $11,625.     (Average:  $9,300). 
"Women  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 
"Rosie  the  Riveter"  (Rep.) 

RIALTO— (900)  (46c-74c)  7  days,  move- 
over.     Gross:   $8,750.     (Average:  $5,000). 


Burnette  Ends  Tour 

Smiley  Burnette,  Republic  star,  ar- 
rived in  New  York  yesterday  follow- 
ing completion  of  a  personal  appear- 
ance tour  which  ended  in  Providence. 
He  will  leave  for  Hollywood  tomor- 
row. 


WARNERS 

UNCERTAIN 
GLORY 
Errol  Flynn 
Paul  Lukas 

D— 102  mins.  (314) 

THE 
ADVENTURES 
OF  MARK 
TWAIN 
Fredric  March 
Alexis  Smith 
Donald  Crisp  ' 
D — 130  mins.  (315) 

BETWEEN 
TWO  WORLDS 
John  Garfield 
Paul  Henreid 

D— 112  mins.  (316) 

MAKE  YOUR 
OWN  BED 
Jack  Carson 
Jane  Wyman 
Irene  Manning 
C— 82  mins.  (317) 

THIS  IS  THE 
ARMY 
( Re-issue) 
George  Murphy 
John  Leslie 
M— (224) 
115  mins. 

THE  MASK 
OF 

DIMITRIOS 
Sidney  Greenstreet 
Zachary  Scott 
D 

UNIVERSAL 

HER 
PRIMITIVE 
MAN 
Louise  Albritton 
Robert  Paige 
D — 79  mins.  (8016) 

MOON  OVER 
LAS  VEGAS 
Ann  Gwynne 
David  Bruce 

D — 69  mins.  (8037) 

SLIGHTLY 
TERRIFIC 
Leon  Errol 
Anne  Rooney 
Evelyn  Ankers 
C — 58  mins.  (8036) 

COBRA 
WOMAN 

(Technicolor) 
Maria  Montez 
Jon  Hall 
Sabu 
(8006)— 70  mins. 

PARDON  MY 
RHYTHM 
Gloria  Jean 

Patric  Knowles 
M 

(8032)— 62  mins. 

THE  SCARLET 
CLAW 
Basil  Rathbone 
Nigel  Bruce 
D — 74  mins.  (8019) 

THIS  IS  THE 

LIFE 
Donald  O'Connor 
Susanna  Foster 

C— 87    mins.  (8012) 

THE  INVISIBLE 
MAN'S  REVENGE 
Jon  Hall  „ 
Evelyn  Ankers 
Alan  Curtis 
D 

CATCHERS 
Olsen  and  Johnson 
C 

SOUTH  OF 

DIXIE 
Anne  Gwynne 
David  Bruce 
D 

CHRISTMAS 
HOLIDAY 

Deanna  Durbin 
Gene  Kelly 
M 

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First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.   NO.  99 


)_ 

Public  Resists 
Roadshow 
Price  Boosts 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  MAY  19,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Admission  Ceiling  Seen 
In  Exhibitor  Survey 

Reports  on  grosses  in  19  areas 
scattered  throughout  the  country 
indicate  that  the  .  public  is  con- 
cerned by  advanced  admission 
prices  for  special  pictures,  with  ex- 
hibitors in  at  least  12  cities  declaring 
that  business  is  falling  off  because  of 
roadshow  prices,  Motion  Picture 
Herald  will  say  today.  In  three  other 
cities  a  downward  trend  at  the  box- 
office  is  blamed  on  the  weather,  while 
in  only  three  others — war  boom  areas 
— the  roaring  business  of  the  winter 
months   is   being  maintained. 

In  the  farm  belt  section  surround- 
ing  Chicago's    Loop,    in  "  cities  and 

{Continued  on  page  8) 


$3,814,000  Para. 
1st  Quarter  Net 


Paramount  Pictures  estimates  its 
earnings  for  the  first  quarter  ended 
April  1,  at  $3,814,000  after  interest 
and  all  charges  including  estimated 
provision  for  all  Federal  taxes.  This 
includes  $843,000  representing  Para- 
mount's  direct  and  indirect  net  inter- 
est as  a  stockholder  in  the  combined 
undistributed  earnings  for  the  quarter 
of  partially  owned  non-consolidated 
subsidiaries.  Earnings  for  the  quarter 
ended  April  3,  1943  were  estimated 
at  $3,560,000  including  a  $701,000 
share  of  undistributed  earnings  of  par- 
tially owned  non-consolidated  subsid- 
iaries. 

The  $3,814,000  of  estimated  com- 
bined consolidated  and  share  of  un- 
distributed earnings  for  the  first  1944 
quarter  represent  $1.02  per  share  on 
the  3,752,136  shares  of  common  stock 
outstanding  on  April  1,  which  com- 
pares with  95  cents  per  share  for  the 
quarter  ended  April  3,  1943. 


Expect  Postponement 
Of  Schine  Trial 

Buffalo,  May  18. — A  postpone- 
ment of  the  start  of  trial  of  the  Gov- 
ernment's anti-trust  suit  against  the 
Schine  Circuit,  now  scheduled  for  to- 
morrow, is  anticipated  in  Federal 
court  circles  here. 

A  pre-trial  conference  will  be  held 
today  in  Judge  John  Knight's  cham- 
bers and  may  be  resumed  next  week. 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


20th  Will  Handle  All  of 
Rank's  Films  in  the  U.S. 


Theatres  May  Post 
State  Tax  Fractions 
Under  New  Rulings 


Washington,  May  18. — The  Inter- 
nal Revenue  Bureau  tonight  instructed 
collectors  throughout  the  country  to 
permit  exhibitors  to  show  their  estab- 
lished price  of  admission  in  fractions 
of  a  cent,  where  a  fractional  state  tax 
is  passed  on  to  the  public,  but  ruled 
that  a  fractional  price  could  not  be 
posted  for  purposes  of  the  federal  ad- 
mission tax. 

Officials  explained  that  if,  for  in- 
stance, a  state  tax  of  one-half  cent  is 
levied,  an  exhibitor  may  post  an  ad- 
mission price  of  22y2  cents,  show  the 
state  tax  separately,  and  collect  Fed- 
eral tax  of  four  instead  of  five  cents. 
On  the  other  hand,  if  the  state  tax  is 
in  the  form  of  a  percentage,  say  45/100 
of  one  per  cent,  the  exhibitor  would 
gain  no  benefit  by  posting  an  admis- 
sion of  22  55/100  cents,  since  the 
"major  fraction"  provision  of  the  tax 
law  would  still  call  for  a  tax  of  five 
cents. 

An  exhibitor  also  is  precluded  from 
posting  a  price  of  22^  cents  for  the 
purpose  of  cutting  the  Federal  tax 
from  five  to  four  cents,  since  he  could 
not  collect  the  odd  half-cent  from  the 

{Continued  on  page  8) 


Selling  Through  Eagle-Lion;  Joint  British 
Production  Under  New  Deal,  Producing 
Later  in  U.  S.;  Skouras,  Kent  on  GB  Board 

By  PETER  BURNUP 

London,  May  18. — The  facilities  of  20th  Century-Fox  will  be  made 
available  for  the  physical  distribution  in  the  United  States  of  all  films 
produced  by  J.  Arthur  Rank  and  his  associates,  according  to  a  joint 
statement  issued  here  today  by  Rank  and  Spyros  Skouras,  20th  Century- 
Fox  president,  following  the  signing  yesterday  of  their  far-reaching 

collaborative  agreement.  South  Afri- 
can and  Australian  distribution  will 
likewise  be  handled  by  20th-Fox. 

Eagle-Lion  Films,  previously  estab- 
lished by  Rank,  will  be  retained  in 
America  only  as  a  selling  organization, 
it  was  learned  at  the  same  time  by 
Motion  Picture  Daily  from  a  source 
close  to  the  British  executive. 

The  statement  said  also  that  Rank 
and  20th- Fox  are  arranging  to  produce 
jointly  a  number  of  important  pictures 
in  England  and  that  these  will  be  dis- 
tributed alternately  by  20th-Fox  and 
Eagle-Lion.  Moreover,  Rank  and 
Skouras  hope  to  extend  the  making  of 
cooperative  films  to  Hollywood  in  the 
near  future,  it  was  learned. 

The  non-voting  shares  of  the  Metrop- 
olis and  Bradford  Trust  Co.,  which 
controls  Gaumont-British,  will  be  held 
equally  in  the  future  by  20th-Fox  and 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Highlights  of  the 
GB-20th-FoxDeal 


Folloii'iny  are  the  highlights  of  the 
agreement  signed  this  zveek  by  J.  Ar- 
thur Rank  and  Spyros  Skouras,  presi- 
dent of  20th  Century-Fox,  as  made 
public  in  a  joint  statement  issued  by 
the  two  in  London  yesterday : 

Distribution  of  Rank  films  in 
U.  S.,  South  Africa  and  Aus- 
tralia will  be  handled  by  20th. 

The  two  companies  will  soon 
produce  jointly  a  number  of 
pictures  in  England. 

Skouras  and  Larry  Kent  of 
20th-Fox  will  be  on  the  board  of 
Gaumont-British,  with  the  non- 
voting shares  of  Metropolis  & 
Bradford,  G-B  holding  company, 
held  equally  by  Rank  and  20th. 


Still  a  Chance  to  Obtain 
'Locally  Needed9  Status 


Wednesday's  new  War  Manpower 
Commission  ruling  on  the  types  of  in- 
dustries and  activities  qualified  for 
"locally  needed"  status,  which  did  not 
include  the  film  business,  does  not 
necessarily  preclude  the  possibility  of 
film  exchanges  in  cities  classified  as 
"critical"  or  "imminently  critical" 
labor  shortage  areas  from  securing  the 
"locally  needed"  rating,  according  to 
Leon  Bamberger,  assistant  to  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  chairman  of  the  distributors' 
division  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee. Bamberger  has  been  directing 
the  filing  of  applications  for  "locally 
needed"  by  key-city  distribution  heads 
of  WAC. 

It  was  pointed  out  that  the  -new 


WMC  regulations,  which  provide  that 
only  15  trades  or  services  are  to  be 
designated  "locally  needed"  will  ac- 
tually have  the  effect  of  tightening  up 
the  procedure  which  the  film  industry 
will  have  to  follow  in  the  future,  but 
will  no*  close  the  door  to  eventual 
designation. 

Under  the  new  set-up,  it  was  said, 
final  approval  of  a  "locally  needed" 
designation  for  any  exchange  center 
will  have  to  come  from  WMC  head- 
quarters in  Washington  rather  than 
from  the  WMC  regional  director  in  the 
area  where  the  designation  is  sought. 
Henceforth,  if  a  local  WMC  head  rec- 
ommends a  "locally  needed"  designa- 
(Continued  on  pape  8) 


WPB  Approves  New 
House  for  FWC 

Washington,  May  18.  —  Fox 
West  Coast  Theatres  has  se- 
cured WPB  approval  for  and 
is  going  ahead  with  construc- 
tion of  a  new  house  at  Point 
Loma,  Cal.,  according  to  re- 
ports received  here  today. 

The  house  is  one  of  six  for 
which  Fox  had  filed  applica- 
tions, two  of  them  being  in 
the  San  Francisco  area  —  and 
not  eight  as  previously  re- 
ported— and  three  in  the  Los 
Angeles  district. 

The  only  other  new  house 
approved  for  an  affiliated  cir- 
cuit by  WPB  is  a  Paramount 
theatre  at  Phoenix,  Ariz.,  also 
reported  to  have  been  started, 
and  out  of  a  total  of  60  appli- 
cations, including  22  for  re- 
placement of  fire  losses,  only 
five  have  been  for  major  com- 
pany affiliates. 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  May  19,  1944 


New  WE  Equipment 
For  Theatres  Set 


Completion  of  designs  for  new  the- 
atre sound  reproducing  systems  which 
embody  technical  advances  evolved 
during  the  war,  were  announced  yes- 
terday by  E.  S.  Gregg,  vice-presi- 
dent of  Western  Electric  Export  Corp. 
The  new  equipment  will  become  avail- 
able to  exhibitors  in  foreign  countries 
when  materials  and  labor  are  released 
by  the  Government,  he  said. 

"'Exhibitors  will  not  have  to  de- 
pend on  hastily  manufactured  pre-war 
models  or  reconditioned  equipment 
after  the  war,"  he  declared. 

Gregg  reported  the  discovery  of  a 
method  eliminating  flutter  which  "en- 
ables designers  to  simplify  the  equip- 
ment, to  side  step  intricate  anti-flut- 
ter gadgets  formerly  employed  and 
to  avoid  many  precision  gears,  shafts, 
bearings  and  difficult  alignment  oper- 
ations required  by  pre-war  systems," 
he  added. 

According  to  Gregg,  the  new  sys- 
tems will  be  adaptable  to  any  new 
developments  which  may  be  intro- 
duced after  the  war,  such  as  auto- 
matic volume  control  track,  multi- 
track  or  stereophonic  sound. 


Set  3  NSS  Meets 
For  September 

National  Screen  Service  will  hold 
three  regional  meetings  in  the  Fall, 
it  was  disclosed  yesterday  by  George 
Dembow,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
sales,  who  returned  recently  from  Los 
Angeles  where  he  attended  the  last  of 
the  company's  thre?  regional  Spring 
meetings.  The  three  sessions  will  be 
held  in  New  York,  Sept.  10 ;  Chicago, 
Sept.  15,  and  in  Los  Angeles,  Sept.  21. 

Dembow  revealed  that  it  will  be 
necessary  for  the  company  to  increase 
its  prices  because  of  increased  costs 
resulting  from  wartime  labor  and  ma- 
terials. Dembow  "said  500  additional 
employes,  mainly  women,  are  required 
now  to  handle  work  formerly  done  by 
a  lesser  number  of  men.  National 
Screen  Service  has  maintained  rates 
that  were  in  force  in  1938,  Dembow 
said.  The  company  is  now  installing 
new  equipment,  obtained  under  a  pri- 
ority, in  its  Hollywood  studios,  he 
added. 

The  "George  Dembow  Tribute" 
drive,  which  will  be  held  June  5 
through  Dec.  31,  will  make  a  special 
effort  to  increase  the  accounts  ser- 
viced by  the  company. 


Personal  Mention 


JOHN  JOSEPH,  Universal  adver- 
tising-publicity director,  will  leave 
for  Washington  today  and  will  return 
to  the  Coast  from  there. 

• 

J.  E.  Flynn,  M-G-M  Western 
sales  manager,  and  W.  G.  Bishop, 
■Western  publicity  director,  have  re- 
turned to  their  Chicago  headquarters 
after  a  tour  of  the  Midwest  and  West 
exchanges. 

• 

John  A.  Schwalm,  manager  of 
the  Northio  Rialto,  Hamilton,  O.,  has 
been  reelected  chairman  of  the  Butler 
County  Democratic  executive  commit- 
tee for  the  fourth  time. 

• 

W.  E.  Banford,  M-G-M  Chicago 
branch  manager,  will  return  to  that 
city  from  a  vacation  June  1. 

• 

Nick  Bickos,  theatre  operator  in 
Gary,  Ind,  is  recovering  from  fin  ap- 
pendectomy. 

• 

Louis  Cochovety,  Mishawaka  and 
South  Bend,  Ind.,  exhibitor,  has  re- 
turned from  a  vacation  in  Florida. 
• 

J  ok  Fieldman,  M-G-M  Chicago 
salesman,  has  returned  from  a  vaca- 
tion. 

Harry  H.  Thomas,  Monogram 
Eastern  division  manager,  left  yes- 
terday for  a  10-day  trip  to  the  Mid- 
west. 


Joseph  Returns  Today 

John  Joseph  will  return  today  to 
Universal  Studios  after  two  weeks  of 
home  office  conferences.  Yesterday, 
Joseph  conducted  a  luncheon  meeting 
at  the  Astor  Hotel  with  the  home  of- 
fice and  field  publicity  staff,  in  connec 
tion  with  the  new  Deanna  Durbin 
Gene  Kelly  production,  "Christmas 
Holiday,"  by  Somerset  Maugham. 


RCA's  Maag  in  Mexico 

Mexico  City,  May  18. — Harold  R 
Maag  has  assumed  duties  as  manager 
of  the  Mexican  branch  of  RCA  here. 


CHARLES  FRANCIS  COE  of  the 
MPPDA  returned  yesterday  from 
a  speaking  tour  of  the  South  and  Mid- 
west. Arthur  De  Bra,  who  accom- 
panied him,  will  return  Monday. 
• 

Robert  H.  Poole,  executive  secre- 
tary of  the  Pacific  Coast  Conference 
of  Independent  Theatre  Owners,  and 
W.  Hugh  Bruen,  treasurer,  are  due 
here  Monday  from  Los  Angeles. 
• 

Mark  Larkin,  on  loan  to  the  War 
Activities  Committee  from  MPPDA, 
has  returned  from  a  three-week  trip  in 
connection  with  WAC  gift  of  industry 
films  to  the  Armed  Services. 

• 

Thomas  Cronin  of  the  Comerford 
Circuit,  became  the  father  of  a  baby 
daughter  born  to  Mrs.  Cronin  at  the 
Woman's  Hospital,  Scranton,  Pa. 
• 

A.  J.  O'Keefe,  Universal  Western 
sales  manager,  left  yesterday  on  a 
tour  of  exchanges 

• 

Martin  Starr,  United  Artists  ra- 
dio director,  left  yesterday  for  Chi- 
cago. 

E.  B.  Raiklikfe,  theatre  editor  of 
the  Cincinnati  Enquirer,  is  in  New 
York. 

• 

Abel  Davis,  Denver  exhibitor,  is  a 
New  York  visitor. 


File  For  Exemption 
From  48-Hour  Week 

Distributors  have  filed  for  exemp- 
tion for  their  Cincinnati  exchanges 
from  the  48-hour  work  week  ordered 
by  the  Regional  War  Manpower 
Commission  for  that  area, "which  be- 
comes effective  on  June  1. 

Film  companies  have  secured  ex- 
emptions from  WMC  48-hour  work 
week  rulings  in  14  exchange  centers 
and  have  applications  for  exemptions 
pending  in  Milwaukee  and  Seattle. 
Under  WMC  regulations,  film  ex- 
changes .in  Cincinnati  can  continue 
to  operate  under  their  present  work 
week  schedule  until  a  ruling  is  made 
on  their  applications. 


MP  A  Marks  25  Years 
At  Astor  Tonight 

Motion  Picture  Associates,  industry 
New  York  charity  organization,  will 
mark  its  25th  anniversary  tonight  at 
8:30  at  the  Hotel  Astor  with  a  din- 
ner-dance. Proceeds  will  go  to  aid 
the  industry's  needy. 

The  ticket  committee  is  headed  by 
Jack  Ellis.  Morris  Sanders  is  MPA 
president. 


Stars  in  'American'  Day 

Chicago,  May  18. — Joan  Fontaine 
and  Danny  Kaye,  film  stars,  will  par- 
ticipate in  Chicago's  observance  of 
"1  Am  an  American"  day  here  Sun- 
day. Bernard  M.  Kamber,  director 
of  special  events  for  United  Artists, 
is  due  here  from  New  York  on  Sat- 
urday to  arrange  Miss  Fontaine's 
schedule. 


CompleteDenialFiled 
In  20th-Jones  Suit 

Los  Angeles,  May  18. — Frank  B 
Belcher,  counsel  for  Jennifer  Jones, 
in  Superior  Court  here  today,  filed  a 
complete  denial  of  the  breach  of  con- 
tract charge  brought  against  the  ac- 
tress by  20th  Century-Fox,  which 
seeks  over  $600,000  damages  on  the 
claim  that  Miss  Jones  failed  to  report 
for  work  in  the  company's  production 
of  "Laura." 

The  answer  denies  that  she  "evei 
had  any  contract  with  20th-Fox"  and 
alleges"  her  "only  contract  was  with 
David  O.  Selznick"  and  that  she  "had 
never  been  directed  by  him  to  report 
to  20th- Fox  for  'Laura'  or  any  other 
20th-Fox  picture  with  the  exception  of 
'The  Song  of  Bernadette'  in  which  she 
appeared,  winning  the  Academy  act 
ing  award  for  1943." 


Wants  Jackson  Park 
Damages  Paid  Now 

Chicago,  May  18. — Immediate  pay- 
ment of  $360,000  damages  awarded  by 
the  jury  which  found  Balaban  &  Katz, 
Warner  Brothers  Theatres  and  leading 
distributors  guilty  in  the  Jackson  Park 
Theater  anti-trust  suit,  will  be  de- 
manded in  Federal  Judge  Michael 
Igoe's  court  here  tomorrow  afternoon 
by  Thomas  C  McConnell,  plaintiff's 
counsel,  in  opposing  defense  lawyers' 
arguments  for  a  new  trial. 


Tip  from  New  Guinea 
On  GI  Film  Taste 

From  the  mud  and  jungles 
of  New  Guinea,  where  soldiers 
see  pictures  as  well  as  fight, 
comes  a  tip  on  film  preference 
from  Corp.  Berel  Finestone, 
young  nephew  of  Al  Fire- 
stone of  Paramount, 

"Stop  sending  gooey  love 
films  overseas,"  he  writes. 
"We  don't  want  them.  The 
most  appreciated  subjects  are 
Mickey  Mouse,  Donald  Duck 
(when  we  get  them),  Army 
Screen  Magazine,  good  war 
films,  and  funny,  not  ludic- 
rous, comedies. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-  Mayer's  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 

Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
A  Clarence  Brown  Production 
SPECTACULAR   STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

'LADY  IN 
THE  DARK' 

In  Technicolor! 
GINGER  ROGERS 
RAY  MILLAND 


IN  PERSON 

Jack  PEPPER 
Peggy  FEARS 
BLOCK  & 
SULLY 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


David  Carter  Resigns 

David  Carter  has  resigned  from  the 
Universal  home  office  radio  depart- 
ment, effective  today. 


The  Inside  Story  of  the  World's  Worst  Gangsters 

PARAMOUNT'S 

"The  Hitler  Gang" 

RANDT'S  T      O    "R  "F 

ay  &  46  St.     Vj    Li    VS    D  Cm 


B 

B'way 


Betty  GRABLE  •  Charlie  SPIVAK  &  Orch. 

fc  PIN-UP  GIRL' 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 

Plus  on  Stage — Connee  Boswell 
Raymond  Scott  &  Orch.    •    Willie  Howard 
BUY  MORE  O  £%V  V  7*h  Ave  & 
BONDS       KU  A   I      50th  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE- DAILY.- Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quiglev.  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  Wews 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke.  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau.  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  Ixmdon  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable!  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1«4 
by  Ouigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quiglev  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter. 
Sept.  23.  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign:  single  copies.  10c. 


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Friday,  May  19,  1944 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


7 


Missouri  Governor 
At  3-State  Meet 


St.  Louis,  May  18. — A  tri-state  re- 
gional meeting  of  the  "Fighting  Fifth" 
War  Loan  drive,  comprising  exhibitor 
and  distributor  representatives  from 
Kansas,  Missouri  and  Southern  Illi- 
nois, heard  Governor  Forrest  C.  Don- 
nell  of  Missouri  commend  the  indus- 
try here  today  for  ''the  miraculous" 

\  job"  it  has  done  in  War  Loan  drives 

*  and  the  entire  war  effort. 

The   meeting,   held   in   the  Chase 

|  Hote.1  and  attended  by  more  than  250, 
was  presided  over  by  Harry  Arthur, 
Jr..  exhibitor  chairman  for  Eastern 
Missouri. 

Governor  Dounell  said  he  remem- 
bered the  outstanding  service  rendered 
the  Government  by  the  industry  dur- 
ing World  War  I  and  that  it  was  giv- 
ing the  same,  if  not  a  better  account 
of  itself  in  the  present  war. 

R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  industry 
chairman,  stressed  the  importance  of 
even  greater  exhibitor-distributor  ac- 
tivity than  in  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
drive.  Arthur  pledged  to  O'Donnell 
that  the  tri-state  industry  would  com- 
ply with  his  request. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  distribu- 
tor chairman,  who  rejoined  the  na- 
tional committee  in  St.  Louis,  paid 
tribute  to  the  gathering  for  patriot- 
ism. 

National  committee  representatives 
who  spoke,  in  addition  to  O'Donnell 
and  Depinet,  were  vice-chairman  R.  M. 
Kennedy,  campaign  director  John  J. 
Friedl,  publicity  director  Ray  Beall, 
and  Claude  Lee,  consultant  to  the 
Treasury.  Major  Allen  V.  Martini 
appealed  to  the  audience  to  "back  up 
the  boys  at  the  front." 


SLRB  Hears  '306' 
On  Century  Plea 

The  State  Labor  Relations  Board 
heard  further  arguments  here  yester- 
day on  the  petition  of  IATSE  New 
York  projectionists'  local  No.  306  to 
be  designated  collective  bargaining 
agent  for  100  projectionists  in  the  35 
theatres  of  Century  Circuit  in  Brook- 
lyn and  Queens.  A  further  hearing 
lias  been  set  for  June.  8. 

Century  Circuit  contends  that  the 
SLRB  has  no.  right  to  certify  Local 
306  since  the  circuit  has  a  contract 
with  Empire  State  Projectionists 
Union.  Empire  has  merged  with  Lo- 
cal 306  but  Century  was  recently 
upheld  in  an  action  to  prevent  the 
dissolution  of  Empire  for  the  dura- 
tion of  its  contract,  which  has  seven 
years  to  run. 


Salvage  Drive  Gets 
25  Tons  of  Tickets 

Nearly  25  tons  of  unused 
theatre  tickets  made  obsolete 
by  the  new  Federal  amuse- 
ment tax  will  be  contributed 
in  the  waste  paper  salvage 
drive  by  New  York  exhibitors, 
following  the  Treasury  De- 
partment's waiving  its  rule 
for  burning  the  pasteboards, 
F.  J.  Schwartz  of  the  Century 
Circuit,  co-chairman  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee', 
said  yesterday.  The  tickets 
will  be  fed  into  a  New  Jersey 
pulp  mill  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  a  Treasury  agent. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  18 

HAL  WALLIS  is  due  here  from 
New  York  next  week,  and  an 
announcement  of  his  new  affiliation  is 
expected  then. 

• 

Studio  office  employes  of  20th-Fox 
voted  today  on  affiliation  with  the 
Screen  Office  Employes  Guild  in  a 
National  Labor  Relations  Board  bar- 
gaining agency  election.  Some  500 
employes  are  affected. 

• 

Harry  Simeone,  formerly  chief  ar- 
ranger for  Fred  Waring's  orchestra, 
has  been  signed  by  Paramount  as  vo- 
cal arranger,  composer  and  orches- 
trator.  starting  June  1. 

• 

Pine  and  Thomas  will  produce  "Hill 
Billy  Symphony,"  starring  Roy  Acuff 
and  the  Smoky  Mountain  Boys,  ac- 
cording to  a  Paramount  announcement. 
• 

Lou   Schreiber,   executive  aide  to 
Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  left  here  today  for 
New  York  to  examine  possible  prop- 
erties.   He  will  remain  two  weeks. 
• 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  accompanied 
by  Mrs.  Schenck,  will  leave  for  New 
York  on  the  Superchief  tomorrow. 


Indianapolis  Grosses 
Wilting  in  Heat 

Indianapolis,  May  18.  —  Business 
here  this  week  is  in  a  slump,  due  to 
warm  weather.  Top  gross  is  being 
taken  at  Loew's  where  "Voice  in  the 
Wind"  and  "Up  in  Mabel's  Room" 
will  do  $11,000  against  an  $11,500 
average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  16-18: 

"Action  in  Arabia"  (RICO) 
"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 

CIRCLE — (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,000.   (Average:  $11,800). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (Mth-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (2fith-Fox) 

INDIANA— (3.200)  (32c-55cl  7  rtavs.  Gross: 
$10,500.    (Average:  $11,600). 
"Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 

LOEW'S — (2,800)  (32c-5Sc)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.  (Average:  $11,500). 
"Spider  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Calling  Dr.  Death"  (Univ.) 

LYRIC — (2.000)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,000.    (Average:  $4,900). 


'Man  From  Frisco*  in 
Tri-City  Premiere 

Republic's  "Man  from  Frisco"  had 
its  world  premiere  last  night  simul- 
taneously at  the  Paramount,  San 
Francisco;  the  Fox  and  Costa,  Rich- 
mond, and  the  Paramount,  Oakland, 
Gal:,  and  will  open  today  at  the  Para- 
mount Hollywood  and  Downtown 
Theatres  in  Hollywood  and  Los  An- 
geles, respectively,  the  home  office  re- 
ported here  yesterday. 

Cooperation  of  the  shipbuilding  in- 
dustry and  the  Maritime  Commission 
was  a  highlight  of  the  promotion  in 
connection  with  the  openings  last 
night. 


Todd  Signs  Hargrove 

Roy  Hargrave,  director  of  the 
plays  "Pick  Up  Girl"  and  Mae  West's 
"Catherine  Was  Great,"  has  been 
signed  to  a  three-picture  deal  by  the 
new  Michael  Todd  Productions,  Inc. 


Big  Gross  Increase 
For  Mexican  Films, 
Says  Phil  Reisman 

"Mexican  pictures  are  rolling  up 
unbelievable  grosses,"  Phil  Reisman, 
RKO-Radio  vice-president  in  charge 
of  foreign  distribution,  who  recently 
returned  from  Mexico  and  Cuba,  de- 
clared in  an  interview  yesterday  at 
RKO's  home  office.  But,  although 
Mexican  films  have  enlarged  their  au- 
diences, he  said,  it  has  not  been  at 
the  expense  of  American  product. 
Playdates  for  Mexican  films  are  up 
several  hundred  per  cent,  while  those 
of  American  films  have  remained  al- 
most stationary. 

Reisman  observed  that  this  expan- 
sion would  eventually  help  American 
distributors,  as  some  part  of  this  new 
audience  would  in  turn  eventually  be- 
come fans  of  American  films,  too. 
Last  year  Mexican  production 
consisted  of  from  50  to  56  features, 
which  all  did  good  business.  Produc- 
ers employed  all-native  talent  ex- 
cept for  some  who  previously  worked 
in  England  and  France.  Mexican 
films  have  also  found  a  market 
throughout  Latin- America,  he  said, 
and  a  few  have  been  sent  to  Spain. 

Construction  Boom 

There  is  considerable  theatre  con- 
struction going  on  in  Mexico,  the 
RKO  foreign  head  revealed.  Warners 
has  started  a  first-run  in  Mexico  City. 
RKO,  in  affiliation  with  Mexican  in- 
terests, is  constructing  a  service  and 
rental  studio  in  that  city  for  the  na- 
tive industry.  RKO  will  not  pro- 
duce there,  however. 

"Stiff  competition  from  other  coun- 
tries after  the  war,"  he  said,  "will 
compel  American  companies  to  pay 
more  attention  to  foreign  markets." 
Regarding  plans  for  exhibition  to  lib- 
erated countries,  Reisman  revealed 
that  RKO  has  pictures  already 
dubbed  in  French  for  that  country. 
Others  have  been  prepared  with  su- 
per-imposed titles  for  Germany  and 
other  countries  like  Switzerland, 
where  German  is  spoken.  "The  pic- 
tures preparing  now  will  be  shown 
by  the  Office  of  War  Information  as 
morale-builders.  Other  films  which 
RKO  is  preparing  in  Danish,  Flemish 
and  Dutch  will  move  in  right  behind 
the  Army. 


$465,303  to  Red  Cross 

Fred  Schwartz,  Century  Circuit 
executive,  on  Tuesday  will  turn  over 
a  check  for  $465,303  to  the  American 
Red  Cross,  in  ceremonies  at  the  lat- 
ter's  New  York  headquarters.  The 
sum  represents  theatre  collections  in 
the  New  York  area  during  the  last 
Red  Cross  drive. 


'Business'  Hits 
Fine  $63,200 
At  4  in  L.  A. 


Los  Angeles,  May  18.  —  "Show 
Business"  took  command  of  show 
business  here  to  get  $63,200  in  four 
Fox  West  Coast  first-runs  that  aver- 
age $59,300  collectively.  "It  Hap- 
pened Tomorrow"  was  similarly 
strong  in  three  FWC  first-runs,  get- 
ting an  aggregate  $39,700  where 
$33,100  is  par.  "Uncertain  Glory,"  re- 
viewed to  its  disadvantage  by  news- 
papers, dipped  below  average  in  the 
three  Warner  first-runs,  getting 
$49,256  against  a  $50,900  average. 

Estimated    receipts    for    the  week 
ending  May  17 : 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE — (1,516)  (S0c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,400.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

CHINESE  -  (2.500)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $13,500). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 
"Weird  Woman."  (Uitiv.) 

EGYPTIAN— (1,500)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average:  $9,500).  . 
"Action,  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 
"The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 

HAWAII-(l.OOO)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average:  $6,200). 
"Fellow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

HILLSTREET  -  (2,700)    (50c'- 60c -80c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $20,000.   (Average:  $19,700). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

LOEW'S  STATE  —  (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $29,800.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES — (2,096)  (50c-60c-8Sc-$1.00) 
7  days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average:  $14,900). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

PAXTAGES— (2.000)    (50c-60c-80c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $19,000.    (Average:  $17,700). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD-(50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  3rd  week.    Gross:  $8,500. 
Average:  $11,000). 
"Stending  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN  (50c-60c-80c 
$1.00)    8   days,    3rd   week.    Gross:  $16,000. 
(Average:  $20,300). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,600.     (Average:  $8,700). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"Tie  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

UPTOWN— (1.716)     (50c-60c-8Sc-$1.00)  7 
Gross:  $10,000.  (Average:  $10,500). 
"Uncertain-  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,246.  Aver- 
age: $17,000). 

"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS'     DOWNTOWN    —  (3,400) 
(50c-60c-80c-$l.CO)     Gross:    $17,797.  (Aver- 
age: $18,700)  7  days. 
"Uncertain,  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  WILTERN— (2,200)  (50c-60c- 
80c-$l.G0)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,213.  (Average: 
$15,200). 


RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  INC. 

SAN  FRANCISCO  TRADE  SHOWING 

OF 

"GILDERSLEEVE'S  GHOST" 

TUESDAY,  MAY  23  ...  .  10.30  A.M. 
RKO  Projection  Room,  251  Hyde  St.  San  Francisco 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  May  19,  1944 


Public  Resists 
Roadshow 
Price  Boosts 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

towns  of  the  Midwest  and  throughout 
Michigan,  Wisconsin,  Iowa,  Nebras- 
ka, Kansas,  Missouri,  Indiana  and 
Ohio,  receipts  for- the  first  quarter  of 
this  year  are  about  15  per  cent  below 
last  year.  A  director  of  one  of  the 
large  circuits  of  that  section  said  the 
public  "is  not  as  susceptible  to  the 
drums  of  publicity  as  on  Broadway 
and  Chicago's  Loop." 

A  depressive  movement  is  not  indi- 
cated, generally,  but  observant  show- 
men see  once  again  a  process  of  ad- 
justment. In  industrial  cities  of  New 
England,  in  the  farming  and  manu- 
facturing centers  of  the  Midwest  and 
even  on  the  booming  Pacific  Coast, 
exhibitors  report  the  opinion  that  the 
customers  have  declared  a  price  ceil- 
ing. 

N.  Y.,  Chicago  Hold  Up 

The  areas  holding  up  to  par  are  the 
Metropolitan  New  York  area,  Chi- 
cago and  Milwaukee.  In  the  latter 
city,  grosses  sagged  during  the  last 
three  weeks  for  the  first  time  this 
year,  but  the  blame  is  not  placed  on 
higher  admissions.  In  Chicago  the 
neighborhood  patrons  are  again  pro- 
testing a  current  double  feature  policy 
of  combining  a  "B"  picture  with  a 
reissue,  saying  they  want  their  enter- 
tainment to  be  of  the  best  and  to  con- 
sume only  two  hours,  many  of  them 
being  war  workers — long  on  cash  and 
short  on  time. 

One  Eastern  official,  commenting  on 
the  roadshow  policy,  said,  "Advanced 
prices  cut  your  number  of  patrons 
pretty  close  to  half  of  average,  and 
even  if  you  equal  your  average  gross, 
your  net  may  still  be  lower,  and, 
worse  yet,  you  lose  friends,"  the  Her- 
ald will  say. 


Expect  Postponement 
Of  Schine  Trial 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
The  Department  of  Justice  will  move 
to  have  Columbia,  United  Artists  and 
Universal  dismissed  from  the  suit  in 
line  with  stipulations  entered  into  in 
New  York  recently  with  the  three.  It 
was  reported  that  Schine  counsel  will 
oppose  the  motion  for  dismissal  of  the 
three  companies.  In  this  connection, 
Louis  D.  Frohlich,  New  York  counsel 
for  Columbia,  is  expected  here  to- 
morrow to  attend  the  hearing.  In  ad- 
dition, the  conference  will  endeavor  to 
canvass  numerous  possibilities  of 
shortening  the  trial  of  the  suit. 

While  a  postponement  of  the  trial 
for  at  least  several  weeks  is  expected 
here,  Federal  attorneys  insist  that 
they  are  ready  for  trial  and  will  op- 
pose any  move  for  delay.  Some  court 
observers  believe  the  case  may  go  over 
for  several  months. 


'Snow  White*  in  Canada 

Antoinette  Spitzer,  Eastern  publicity 
director  for  Walt  Disney,  left  New 
York  recently  for  a  two-week  trip 
to  Canada  in  connection  with  RKO's 
re-release  of  "Snow  White  and  the 
Seven  Dwarfs"  in  16  cities  of  the 
Dominion. 


20th  Will  Handle  All  of 
Rank's  Films  in  U.S. 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

Rank,  following  their  joint  purchase  of 
Loew's  interest  in  M.  &  B.  The  re- 
arrangement makes  no  change  in  the 
Gaumont- 
British  control 
but  enables 
Rank's  General 
Cinema  Finance 
Corp.  to  exer- 
cise the  voting 
rights  directly 
instead  o  f 
through  nomi- 
nees. Skouras 
and  his  execu- 
t  i  v  e  assistant, 
Larry  Kent,  will 
j  oin  the  G-B 
board  of  direc- 
tors, with  Kent  serving  full  time 
in  this  country  as  a  member  of  the 
Gaumont-British  Theatre  Operations 
and  Postwar  Planning  Committee. 
Rank  will  soon  ask  the  G-B  share- 
holders to  remove  from  their  articles 
of  association  the  provision  restricting 
the  voting  on  ordinary  shares  to  Brit- 
ish holders,  which  would  give  20th- 
Fox  voting  rights  it  has  not  had  here- 
tofore, but  would  not  disturb  British 
control    of   the   company.  Continued 


J.  Arthur  Rank 


control  of  the  circuit  by  British  in- 
terests has  been  fully  approved  by 
20th-Fox,  the  statement  added. 

Meanwhile,  it  has  been  learned,  the 
proposed  mer- 
ger of  the  Gau- 
mont  -  British 
and  Odeon 
Theatres  has 
been  abandoned 
because  of  phy- 
sical difficulties 
that  would  be 
encountered  i  n 
attempting  t  o 
operate  them 
jointly. 

The  statement 
announced  that 
the  purpose  of 
the  agreement 
operation  between  the  American  and 
British  interests  and  ended  by  declar- 
ing that  Rank  and  Skouras  are  "fully 
satisfied  that  such  mutual  confidence 
has  been  created  that  our  organiza- 
tions can  work  together  for  the  growth 
and  increasing  prosperity  of  the  enter- 
prises in  which  both  are  interested — 
and  thus  provide  practical  evidence  of 
what  can  be  achieved  by  Anglo-Ameri- 
can cooperation." 


Spyros  Skouras 

was     closer  co- 


' Standing  Room  Only9 
$12,500  in  2nd  Week 

Kansas  City,  May  18. — The  Tow- 
er, with  "The  Lady  and  the  Mon- 
ster," plus  "The  Monster  Maker," 
got  $9,500  here,  while  "Standing 
Room  Only"  continued  to  jam  the 
Newman  with  a  fine  second  week's 
score  of  $12,500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  Wit  week 
ending  May  17-20: 

"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.     (Average:  $6,000). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

MIDLAND— (3,500)     (40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $15,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Standing   Room   Only"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)   (46c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $12,500.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"Tarzan's  Desert  Mystery"  (RKO) 
"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM— (1,900)     (45c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $12,500.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"The  Monster  Maker"  (PRC) 

TOWER— (1,200)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,500.    (Average:  $9,400). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)      (45c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $4,500.  '  (Average:  $5,600). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $1,000.    (Average:  $1,600). 


Stars  At  AGVA  Benefit 

Screen,  radio  and  stage  stars  will 
participate  in  the  American  Guild  of 
Variety  Artists'  benefit  show  to  be 
held  Sunday  evening  at  Shubert's  46th 
St.  Theatre  here.  Milton  Berle  will 
be  master  of  ceremonies.  Proceeds 
will  go  to  AGVA's  fund  for  members 
in  service. 


Prinzmetal  Resigns 

Hollywood,  May  18. — I.  H.  Prinz- 
metal has  resigned  from  the  M-G-M 
legal  department,  with  which  he  has 
been  associated  for  the  past  10  years, 
and  will  enter  private  practice  June  1. 


'Cover  Girl\  'Arms' 
Both  Take  $19,000 

St.  Louis,  May  18.— St.  Louis  is 
enjoying  its  first  warm  weather  after 
a  cool,  rainy  Spring.  "Cover  Girl" 
at  the  Ambassador,  and  "Up  in  Arms" 
at  the  Fax  are  this  week's  leaders, 
both  with  an  estimated  $19,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  17  : 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average: 
$18,900). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)     (40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $19,000.     (Average:  $15,700). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.)  • 

FOX — (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$19,000.    (Average:  $18,700). 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Racket  Man,"  (Col.) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $9,900). 
"See   Here,   Private   Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$7,100). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

SHUBERT— (1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $6,100). 
"The  Desert  Song"  (WB) 

ST.  LOUIS— (4,000)  (45c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:    $5,000.-    (Average:  $5,200). 


See  Chance  Still  for 
'Locally  Needed' 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tion  it  will  be  forwarded  to  the  Re- 
gional director  for  approval  as  here- 
tofore but  under  the  new  rulings,  it 
will  also  have  to  be  approved  by 
Washington  headquarters  before  it  will 
be  granted. 

It  is  expected  that  the  "locally 
needed"  designations  already  granted 
to  film  distribution  in  Philadelphia  and 
Pittsburgh  will  be  reviewed  shortly. 
Applications  for  "locally  needed"  are 
pending  in  20  other  distribution  cen- 
ters. 


' Cover  Girl'  Is 
Chi.  Leader 
With  $32,000 


Chicago,  May  18. — "Cover  Girl" 
led  the  single-feature  parade  here  this 
week,  grossing  top  Loop  receipts  of 
$32,000  at  the  State-Lake  Theatre. 
Business  dipped  at  a  majority  of 
houses  as  the  mercury  ascended. 

Estimated    receipts   for   the  week 
ending  May  19 : 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

APOLLO— (1.200)  (55c-6Sc-95c)  7  days,  6th 
week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average:  $11,400). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

CHICAGO— (3,850)    (55c-65c-95c)   7  days. 
Stage:     Vaughn    Monroe    and  Orchestra. 
Gross:  $40,000.    (Average:  $51,500). 
"Wcmen  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 
"The  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

GARK1CK — (1.000)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days, 
2nd  week.   Gross:  $8,000.    (Average:  $9,100). 
"Snow  White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs" 
(RKO) 

"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

GRAND — (1,250)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
4th  loop  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average: 
$9,100). 

"Hey,  Rookie"  (Col.) 

_  ORIENTAL  —  (3.200)  (44c-55c-60c-80c-95c) 
7  days.   Stage:  Woody  Herman  and  orches- 
tra. Gross:  $25.00.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

PALACE— (2,500)  (50c-6Oc-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $18,000.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB)  4  days,  2nd  week. 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox)  3  days. 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $24,500.   (Average:  $24,000). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

STATE- LAKE  —  (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Average:  $29,000). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (50c-65c-95c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $25,500.  (Average: 
$20,200). 

"Up  In  Arms"  (RKO) 

WOODS— (1.200)  (55c-6Sc-95c)  7  davs.  4th 
week.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 


Theatres  May  Post 
State  Tax  Fractions 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
patron,  who  would  have  to  pay  23 
cents.  The  order  also  bars  the  use  of 
fractional  cent  prices  for  two  or  more 
tickets  by  providing  that  the  tax  shall 
apply  to  the  price  of  a  single  ticket. 

The  question  of  relief  for  exhibitors 
paying  state  taxes  has  been  before  the 
bureau  ever  since  the  -last  tax  bill  went 
into  effect. 


Censors  Object  to  Nine 

Columbus,  O.,  May  18. — Elimina- 
tions were  ordered  in  nine  out  of  123 
films  reviewed  by  Ohio  censors  in 
April,  with  orie  picture  rejected. 


20th-Fox  Declares 
Three  Dividends 

The  board  of  20th  Century- 
Fox  yesterday  declared  a 
quarterly  dividend  of  $1.12'/z 
per  share  on  prior-preferred 
stock,  payable  June  15  to 
stockholders  of  record  on 
June  1.  A  dividend  of  37  Vz 
cents  per  share  for  the  second 
quarter  on  the  convertible 
preferred  stock  was  also  de- 
clared, payable  June  30  to 
stockholders  of  record  on 
June  15. 

Also,  a  quarterly  dividend 
of  50  cents  per  share  on  com- 
mon stock  was  declared,  pay- 
able June  30  to  stockholders 
of  record  on  June  15. 


!  mm 

First  in 

FUm-am 

[RadiojN 

•*Qf*[f* y 

Accural 

1 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  100 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  MAY  22,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


FP-C  to  Use 
Television 
In  Its  Houses 


Fitzgibbons  Says  Spot 
News  Is  Chief  Asset 


Toronto,  May  21. — Theatres  op- 
erated by  Famous  Players-Canadian 
Corp.  will  add  television  to  their 
regular   motion   picture  programs 
when  it  becomes 
available,  presi- 
.dent  J.  J.  Fitz- 
gibbons prom- 
ises in  a  round- 
up report  on  the 
activities  of  the 
company. 

"The  speed 
television  may 
have  in  deliver- 
ing news  events 
will  be  its  great- 
est asset  to  the- 
atres," he  said, 
adding  that 
films,  however, 
"with  their  sound  and  color  photog- 

(Continued  on  page  S) 


J  3.  Fitzgibbons 


Further  Fuel  Cuts 
Seen  Necessary 

Washington,  May  21. — An  intensi- 
fied drive  to  secure  voluntary  reduc- 
tion of  electricity  consumption  by 
theatres  and  by  other  industries  is 
planned  for  next  Fall,  it  was  disclosed 
here  by  Ed  Falck,  director  of  the  War 
Production  Board's  Office  of  War 
Utilities. 

Falck  emphasized  the  need  for  con- 
servation of  Electricity  in  an  appear- 
ance before  the  House  Interstate  Com- 
merce subcommittee  to  oppose  the 
Cannon  bill  to  restore  Standard  Time. 
He  told  the  subcommittee  that  the  coal 
situation  next  year  will  be  more  criti- 
cal than  ever  and  that  there  will  be 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Vanguard  Appeal  in 
Chaplin  Suit  Won 

The  Appellate  Division  on  Friday 
granted  Vanguard  Films  leave  to  ap- 
peal to  the  Court  of  Appeals  at  Al- 
bany from  its  recent  decision  finding 
the  David  O.  Selznick  company  to  be 
a  New  York  enterprise  and  subject 
to  service  for  trial  in  state  courts 
on  the  action  brought  by  Charles 
Chaplin  for  recovery  of  production 
assets  sold  to  20th  Century-Fox. 

The  Vanguard  appeal  introduces  a 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Defers  S chine  Trial 
To  May  31  O  ver 
Counsel's  Objection 


Buffalo,  May  21. — Actual  taking 
of  testimony  in  the  Schine  trial  has 
been  delayed  by  Federal  Judge  John 
Knight  until  Wednesday,  May  31,  but 
pre-trial  proceedings  which  began  at 
the  weekend  will  continue  up  until 
that  time. 

This  was  ordered  by  the  court  over 
the  objection  of  Seth  Richardson  of 
Washington,  new  Schine  counsel,  who 
sought  a  postponement  until  Fall. 
Richardson,  replacing  Judge  Good- 
win, who  is  physically  unable  to  con- 
tinue as  counsel,  gained  considerable 
prominence  recently  because  of  his 
work  in  the  anti-trust  actions  involv- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Films  Warned 
U.S.  of  War 


Chicago,  May  21. — "The  men  and 
women  of  the  motion  picture  industry 
are  the  Paul  Reveres  of  America, 
arousing  the  public  to  the  threat  of 
aggression  long  before  most  of  us 
realized  what  was  happening,"  Mayor 
Edward  J.  Kelly  of  Chicago  declared 
Friday,  in  an  address  at  the  all-indus- 
try regional  Fifth  War  Loan  meeting 
at  the  Blackstone  Hotel  here. 

"I  came  to  this  meeting  especially 
to  thank  the  industry  for  what  it  has 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Pension  Plan  Still 
Studied  by  20th 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  still 
is  considering  a  pension  plan 
for  employes;  it  is  being 
studied  by  company  attorneys, 
working  in  association  with 
insurance  companies.  No  de- 
cision has  been  made  as  to 
whether  the  plan  will  apply  to 
actors  and  production  execu- 
tives. 

RKO  has  a  pension  plan 
awaiting  approval  by  the  In- 
ternal Revenue  Bureau,  a 
Loew-M-G-M  plan  will  shortly 
be  submitted  to  company 
stockholders;  Warner  Bros, 
also  is  contemplating  a  pen- 
sion. 


No  Prosecution  for 
OCR  Construction 


Washington,  May  21.— While  the 
Department  of  Justice  will  not  give 
circuits  advance  formal  clearance  on 
houses  deemed  necessary  in  war  areas 
under  the  Office  of  Civilian  Require- 
ments program,  a  consent  decree  dis- 
tributor will  not  be  prosecuted  for  such 
construction  unless,  to  do  so,  he  "froze 
out"  an  independent  applicant  for  the 
same  location,  it  was  indicated  here. 

The  OCR  is  transmitting  reports. on 
applications  submitted  by  the  WPB, 
explaining  the  necessity  for  the  new 
theatre  and  telling  whether  the  ap- 
proved application  was  the  only  one 
received. 


$10,000,000  Net  Profit  to 
Army  Relief  from  'Army9 


Soviet  Is  Buying 
Hollywood  Films 

Forty  feature  Hollywood 
films  from  eight  companies 
have  been  shipped  to  Moscow 
in  the  past  few  months  to  be 
screened  with  a  view  to  pur- 
chasing those  which  the  So- 
viet authorities  deem  suitable 
for  home  consumption. 

Among  the  40  purchased  to 
date  are:  M-G-M's  "Edison, 
the  Man";  Warners'  "Mission 
to  Moscow";  20th-Fox's  "Sun 
Valley  Serenade";  RKO-Gold- 
wyn's  "The  Little  Foxes"  and 
"North  Star";  RKO-Disney's 
"Bambi"  and  two  shorts,  and 
United  Artists  -  Goldwyn's 
"Hurricane." 


Washington,  May  21. — In  one  of 
the  speediest  first-run  play-offs,  as 
well  as  one  of  the  biggest  grossers 
within  a  space  of  nine  months,  Irving 
Berlin's  "This  Is  the  Army"  already 
has  netted  approximately  $9,000,000  to 
Army  Emergency  Relief,  and  at  least 
another  $1,000,000  is  expected  to  be 
realized  for  the  organization  from  the 
forthcoming  re-release  of  the  Warner 
picture,  it  was  learned  here. 

When  the  production  made  its  bow 
last  August,  estimates  of  its  possible 
profits,  all  to  be  turned  over  to  Army 
Relief,  started  at  $5,000,000.  Jack  L. 
Warner,  executive  producer,  raised 
the  estimate  to  $10,000,000.  Principal 
factor  behind  the  quick  and  large 
gross  was  the  series  of  advanced  price 
premieres,  as  well  as  the  promotions 
stemming  from  these  performances, 
of  which  there  were  more  than  5,000. 


Washington 
Sees  Decree 
Compromise 

Distributor  Meet  With 
Clark  Is  Imminent 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  May  21. — Possi- 
bility that  a  new  consent  decree 
still  may  be  developed  is  seen  by 
many  observers  here  despite  the 
stand  against  further  concessions 
which  the  distributing  companies  have 
taken,  as  reported  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  last  Thursday.  Although 
much  local  speculation  surrounds  ru- 
mors of  a  finish  fight  in  the  courts, 
there  are  those  who  believe  this  may 
be  prevented  by  each  side's  yielding- 
just  a  little  more  than  it  has  been 
willing  to  do  thus  far. 

Some  action  is  expected  here 
in  the  next  few  days  when  As- 
sistant Attorney  General  Tom 
C.  Clark  and  Robert  L.  Wright, 
head  of  the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice film  unit,  meet  with  com- 
pany representatives. 
Last  week,  as  Clark  prepared  to 
leave  for  St.  Louis,  he  declared  that  if 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


4U'  Regionals  Will 
Follow  Coast  Meet 


Universal  will  hold  a  series  of  re- 
gional sales  meetings  upon  completion 
of  the  meeting  of  key  sales  executives 
and  some  home  office  officials  which 
will  open  at  the  Ambassador  Hotel, 
Los  Angeles,  on  June  5,  W.  A.  Scully, 
vice-president  and  general  sales  man- 
ager, announced  here  at  the  weekend 
prior  to  his  departure  for  Hollywood. 
He  was  accompanied  by  E.  T.  Gom- 
ersall,  his  assistant. 

The  Coast  meeting  is  being  substi- 
tuted, because  of  wartime  travel  con- 
ditions, for  the  annual  sales  conven- 
tion. The  regional  sessions  will,  be 
conducted  by  divisional  and  district 
sales'  managers. 


$3,500,000  to  Loew's 
For  M&B  Shares 

Loew's  will  receive  the  equivalent 
of  its  original  investment  in  Metropo- 
lis &  Bradford  Trust,  Ltd.,  about 
$3,500,000,  under  the  deal  by  which 
it  disposes  of  its  24^  per  cent  inter- 
est in  the  Gaumont-British  holding 
company  to  J.  Arthur  Rank  and  20th 
Century-Fox,  the  Wall  Street  Jour- 
(Continued  on  page-  8) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


Tradewise  .  .  . 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


Says  Jackson  Park 
Award  Illegal 


SPYROS    SKOURAS,    20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox president,  and  Francis 
Harley,   British   managing  director, 
were  scheduled  to  arrive  in  New  York 
from  London  over  the  past  weekend. 
• 

J.  J.  O'Leary,  president  of  the 
Comerford  Circuit,  has  been  appoint- 
ed a  captain  in  the  Sustaining  Fund 
Team  of  the  Scranton  Chamber  of 
Commerce-Greater  .Scranton  Founda- 
tion Fund  Campaign. 

• 

Alfred  W.  Schwalberg,  Interna- 
tional Pictures  Eastern  sales  represen- 
tative, and  Robert  Goldstein,  New 
York  manager,  left  over  the  weekend 
for  the  Coast. 

• 

L.  G.  Bissinger,  owner  of  the  Queen 
Theatre,  Dallas,  recently  celebrated 
his  31st  year  of  operation  of  the  the- 
atre. 

Sol  Schnaer  of  20th-Fox's  art  de- 
partment and  Mrs.  Schnaer  have  be- 
come the  parents  of  a  son,  Mitchell, 
born  in  the  Jewish  Hospital  here. 
• 

Lt.  (jg)  J.  Frank  Heard,  former- 
ly M-G-M  Memphis  exchange  office 
manager,  has  been  promoted  to  a  sen- 
ior lieutenant. 

• 

Paul  Soskin,  British  independent 
producer,  has  arrived  in  New  York 
from  Hollywood. 

• 

Fred  Meyers,  Universale  Eastern 
sales  manager,  returned  to  New  York 
from  Boston  at  the  weekend. 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president 
of  Loew's,  will  arrive  in  New  York 
"  from  Hollywood  today. 

• 

Ben  Goetz,  M-G-M's  British  stu- 
dio managing  director,  is  due  in  New 
York  from  the  Coast  today. 

William  Fadiman,  M-G-M  story 
editor,  will  arrive  in  New  York  today 
from  Hollywood. 

J.  Robert  Rubin,  Loew's  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  counsel,  will  begin  a 
two-month  vacation  starting  June  10. 
• 

Gregor  Rabinovitch,  independent 
producer,  lias  arrived  in  New  York 
from  the  Coast. 

e 

Frank  Rosenberg,  Columbia  direc- 
tor of  advertising-publicity,  left  Fri- 
day for  a  brief  vacation. 


Rites  for  Mrs.  Rivers 

Funeral  services  were  held  yester- 
day afternoon  at  Riverside  Memorial 
Chapel  here  for  Mrs.  Jeannette  E. 
Rivers,  mother-in-law  of  Arthur 
Brilant  of  the  RKO  Radio's  publicity 
staff.  Interment  will  be  in  Spring- 
field Gardens,  L.  L,  N.  Y. 


' Dimitrios'  Showing 

"The  Mask  of  Dimitrios"  will  be 
nationally  tradeshown  by  Warners  on 
Monday,  June  5. 


'  1  11  HERE  is  good  reason  to 
*-  agree  with  the  United  Art- 
ists management  that  the  recent 
adoption  of  amendments  to  the 
company's  charter  which  have 
the  effect  of  endowing  manage- 
ment with  essential  operating 
authority,  such  as  that  com- 
monly exercised  by  management 
in  other  companies  but  which,  in 
United  Artists  has  been  reserved 
heretofore  to  owners,  opens  up 
to  the  company  its  greatest  op- 
portunity in  years. 

It  would  seem  to  be  axiomatic 
that  authority  should  go  hand- 
in  -  hand  with  responsibility. 
United  Artists  management  has 
been  held  responsible  for  the 
success  or  failure  of  the  com- 
pany's operations.  Yet  many 
operating  powers  shared  by 
management  everywhere  else, 
have  been  withheld  from  United 
Artists  management.  This,  by 
virtue  of  the  company's  by-laws, 
■now  amended,  which  provided 
for  unanimous  consent  on  even 
such  routine  matters  as  the  ap- 
pointment of  department  heads 
and  the  acquisition  of  product  to 
sustain  the  distribution  company. 
A  single  veto  by  an  owner, 
whether  for  a  cogent  or  for  a 
frivolous  reason,  could,  as  Ed- 
ward C.  Raftery  put  it  recently : 
"prevent  us  from  appointing  an 
advertising-publicity  director  for 
the  next  40  years." 

•  • 

In  the  past,  United  Artists 
owners  in  effect  have  constituted 
a  super-management,  much  like 
.  the  jokesters'  single  -  staffed 
street  car  whose  motorman  sim- 
ply turned  his  cap  about  to  the 
side  marked  "Conductor"  when 
it  came  time  to  collect  the  fares. 
Owners,  exercising  the  functions 
of  management,  have  sat  on  one 
side  of  the  meeting  table  and 
presented  management  reports, 
then  took  seats  on  the  other  side 
of  the  table  and  received  and 
acted  upon  their  own  reports. 
The  process  is  reminiscent  of 
that  picture,  passed  about  the  in- 
dustry 15  years  ago,  captioned: 
"The  Universal  board  of  direc- 
tors convenes."  The  picture 
showed  the  late  Carl  Laemmle 
seated  at  a  table,  his  image  re- 
flected eight  times  in  conve- 
niently placed  mirrors. 

United  Artists  in  its  25  years' 
existence  has  attracted  some  of 
the  best  industry  brains  and  tal- 
ent. But  it  has  not  held  them. 
To  mention  just  a  few,  there 
were  Joe  Schenck,  the  late  "Doc" 
Giannini,  Hiram  Abrams,  Dar- 
ryl    Zanuck,    George  Schaefer, 


Samuel  Goldwyn,  Murray  Sil- 
verstone,  Al  Lichtman. 

The  frustrations  resulting  from 
reservation    by    ownership  of 
managements'  authority  explains 
the  departure  of  many  of  them. 
•  • 

There  are  brains  and  ability 
in  United  Artists  management 
today.  If  it  is  accorded  the  nec- 
essary powers  of  management, 
without  strings,  perhaps  they 
can  *be  held,  where  others  could 
not — and  held  to  the  advantage 
of  the  company. 

The  owners'  way  has  had  not 
one  trial,  but  a  dozen.  Presum- 
ably, it  has  failed  every  time.  It 
would  seem  wise,  at  long  last,  to 
try  the  alternative,  which  is  to 
permit  United  Artists  to  be  op- 
erated as  all- other  successful  en- 
terprises are  operated  —  by  an 
authoritative  as  well  as  respon- 
sible management. 

Worrying  the  other  day  about 
what  will  happen  to  Radio  City 
Music  Hall,  come  television,  we 
endeavored  to  find  out  whether 
Gus  Eyssell,  too,  is  sharing  our 
concern  and  marking  the  calen- 
dar on  its  relentless  march 
toward  T-Day. 

"Like  everyone  else,  I  sup- 
pose, we're  watching  television 
closely,"  Gus  said.  "We  have  a 
complete  file  of  practically 
everything  that's  been  printed 
about  it.  At  the  moment,  the 
reports  impress  me  as  being  con- 
siderably more  theory  than  sub- 
stance. Some  fundamental  ques- 
tions remain  unanswered.  For 
example,  who  is  going  to  bear 
the  production  cost  of  quality 
programs?  Televising  of  spot 
news  events  should  be  impor- 
tant to  some  theatres,  particu- 
larly newsreel  theatres,  but  they 
will  be  seen  by  only  the  single 
audience  in  the  house  at  the 
time.  Two  days  later  the  news- 
reels  will  be  in  to  service  all 
performances." 

"Will  the  Music  Hall  install 
television  after  the  war  ?" 

"Why,  yes.  We  had  it  before 
the  war.  Didn't  you  see  our  set 
in  the  lounge?" 

Eyssell,  managing  director  of 
what  has  been  described  as  the 
world's  "largest  and  finest  thea- 
tre," recently  observed  his  25th 
anniversary  in  the  industry,  and 
hasn't  a  gray  hair  or  a  forehead 
furrow  yet  in  evidence.  While 
Still  in  high  school,  he  started 
working  for  the  Isis  Theatre, 
Kansas  City. 


Chicago,  May  21. — Interpreting  the 
recent  court  award  of  $360,000  dam-i' 
ages  to  the  Jackson  Park  Theatre  as 
having  been  computed  on  volume 
standards  and  values  governed  by  the! 
Chicago  clearance  system,  itself  ad-l 
judged  by  a  jury  as  being  in  violation 
of  the  Sherman  anti-trust  act  stipula- 
tion that  any  price  fixing  agreement  '( 
illegal,  was  the  highlight  on  Frida} 
of  a  plea  by  defense  attorney  Mile*, 
Seeley  in  opening  arguments  before 
Federal  Judge  Michael  Igoe,  seeking! 
a  new  trial. 

"Therefore,  the  verdict  was  preju: 
diced,  wrong,  unreasonable  and  un-j 
just,"  contended  Seeley,  adding:  "The 
clearance  system  is  the  heart  of  motion 
picture  business,  and  the  plaintiff  -has  ! 
mistaken  it  for  a  conspiracy.  There  * 
has  been  complete  absence  of  proof  o\ 
conspiracy,"  he  stressed. 

Further  arguments  for  a  new  trial 
were  made  by  attorneys  Edmund 
Adcock  and  Vincent  O'Brien  on  be- 
half of  the  defendants,  Balaban  and 
Katz,  Warner  Brothers  theatres  and 
leading  distributors. 

Thomas  C.  McConnell,  counsel  for 
the  plaintiffs,  asked  that  a  new  trial 
be  denied  and  that  judgment  be  paid 
immediately. 

Wallis  Here  Another 
Week  on  Deals 

New    considerations    have  entered 
Hal  Wallis's  negotiations  for  -  a  new 
distribution  affiliation,  as  a  result  oi 
which  the  producer  has  again  extended  . 
his  New  York  stay  and  will  remaii: 
here   throughout   the   week,   it  was 
learned  on  Saturday.  Previously,  Wal- 
lis had  planned  to  leave  for  the  Coast  s 
yesterday  or  today  with  the  expecta- 
tion that  his  new  distribution  arrange-  ( 
ments  would  have  been  completed. 

Wallis  declined  to  say  whether  he 
was  entertaining  a  new  offer  from  an 
as  yet  unnamed  quarter,  or  whether 
complications  had  arisen  in  his  nego- 
tiations with  Paramount.  He  stated 
only  that  because  of  new  considers  ^  * 
tions  he  would  be  unable  to  make  a 
final  decision  before  the  end  of  this  P 
week. 

Rubicam  Will  Retire 
From  Agency  July  1 

Raymond  Rubicam,  co-founder  and  ( 
chairman  of  the  board  of  the  Young  \ 
&  Rubicam  advertising  agency,  will  ' 
retire  from  business  July  1  and  will 
dispose  of  his  holdings  to  the  com- 
pany which  will  make  them  available 
to  members  of  the  organization  over 
a  period  of  time,  he  announced  at  the 
weekend.    For  the  time  being  Rubi- 
cam will  continue  as  a  director  and 
consultant  to  the  management. 

No  other  changes  in  officers  or  direc- 
tors will  be  made  now,  it  was  said, 
and  S.  S.  Larmon,  president,  will 
continue  as  chief  executive  officer. 


Graham  Joins  Para. 

Walter  Hayden  Graham,  previously 
with  Lord  and  Thomas  and  other  ad- 
vertising agencies,  has  joined  the 
Paramount  home  office  advertising  de- 
partment. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY.  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday; 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley.  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President:  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke.  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau.  624  South  Michigan  Ave..  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau.  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres.  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter, 
Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


THE  REAL  STORY  BEHIND  HOLLYWOOD'S  NIGHT  LIFE! 


MATTY  M ALNECK  and  HIS  ORCHESTRA 
GUS  ARNHEIM  and  HIS  ORCHESTRA 
EDDIE    LeBARON    and    HIS  ORCHESTRA 

WILLIAM   NIGH — DIRECTOR 

Screenplay  by  Allen  Gale 
Original  Story  by  Charles  F.  Chaplin  and  Garret  Holmes 
Produced  by  WALTER  COLMES 

REPUBLIC  PICTURE 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  194 


Reviews 


"South  of  Dixie" 

(Universal) 

Hollywood,  May  21 

T  T  NDER  Jean  Yarbrough's  capable  direction,  Anne  Gwynne  and  Da- 
^  vid  Bruce,  ably  supported  by  Jerome  Cowan,  Ella  Mae  Morse  and 
several  specialty  groups  clown  and  sing  their  way  along  a  flimsy  story 
thread  for  some  60  minutes  of  light  musical  entertainment.  Yarbrough 
also  produced. 

While  the  story  doesn't  provide  much  in  the  way  of  material  to  work 
with,  it  does  take  Miss  Gwynne,  Bruce  and  Cowan  into  the  deep  South 
in  an  attempt  to  furnish  Bruce  with  a  false  Southern  background  so 
Cowan's  deal  with  a  film  company  to  make  his  life  story  will  be  closed. 
When  Cowan's  antics  nearly  get  him  married  off  to  a  Southern  belle, 
Miss  Gwynne,  who  was  to  coach  Bruce  on  Southern  accent,  gives  the 
game  away  because  she's  fallen  in  love  with  him.  However,  the  film 
company  buys  the  story  and  signs  Bruce  for  the  lead  because  of  the 
nationwide  publicity  resulting. 

Songs  offered  by  Gwynne  and  Bruce,  including  "Cross  My  Heart" 
and  numbers  by  Bobby  Brooks  and  Quartette,  Lester  Cole  and  the  Debu- 
tantes, The  Charmers,  and  Ella  Mae  Morse  uphold  the  musical  side 
of  the  offering.  Screenplay  is  by  Clyde  Bruckman  based  on  Sam  Cos- 
low's  original  story. 

Running  time,  61  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  June  23. 


"Waterfront" 

(PRC) 

TOP-NOTCH  spy-thriller  casting  coupled  with  capable  direction, 
obtaining  the  most  from  the  players  in  tense  situations,  help 
"Waterfront"  which,  nevertheless,  does  not  emerge  as  much  more  than  a 
series  of  dramatic  sequences,  rather  than  the  intended  correlated  plot 
woven  around  machinations  of  a  Nazi  spy  ring  on  San  Francisco's 
waterfront. 

The  story  deals  with  the  theft  of  a  Nazi  spy-ring  code  book  con- 
taining names  of  agents.  A  crooked  waterfront  saloon  operator  at- 
tempts to  sell  it  back  to  the  Nazis  rather  than  turn  it  over  to  one  of 
their  victims,  who  has  been  forced  to  act  by  threats  of  Gestapo  action 
against  his  loved  ones  in  Germany. 

J.  Carrol  Naish,  as  the  smooth  Nazi  spy  chief,  sets  about  recovering 
the  book  but  his  aide,  John  Carradine,  a  newly  arrived  Gestapo  agent, 
resorts  to  murder  to  achieve  the  same  ends.  He  finally  murders  Naish 
to  assume  control  of  the  spy  ring  but  his  doodling  traps  him  when 
Maris  Wrixon  links  up  one  such  careless  drawing  with  others  found 
by  police,  thereby  saving  her  sweetheart  from  the  murder  charges. 
The  support  includes  Edwin  Maxwell,  Marten  Lamont,  John  Bleifer, 
Olga  Fabian  and  others.  Steve  Sekely  directed.  Arthur  Alexander 
produced.  Original  screenplay  was  by  Martin  Mooney  and  Irwin  R. 
Franklyn.. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.  "G."*    Release  date  May  24. 

Jack  Cartwright. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  21 

ERNST  LUBITSCH,  now  prepar- 
ing "Dragonwyck,"  "Typhoon" 
and  "Czarina"  for  production,  has 
signed  a  new  term  producer-director 
contract  with  20th-Fox. 

• 

William  Pine,  and  William  Thomas 
have  signed  William  Berke  to  direct 
"Double  Exposure"  for  Paramount 
release.  It  is  also  announced  that 
their  "Hillbilly  Symphony"  will  have 
the  highest  budget  of  any  Pine- 
Thomas  picture  since  their  association 
with  Paramount. 

• 

From  David  O.  Selznick  RKO  has 
borrowed  John  Cromwell  to  direct 
"Enchanted  Cottage,"  and  Alan  Mar- 
shal and  Dorothy  McGuire  to  co-star 
in  the  film.  Harriet  Parsons  will 
handle  the  production,  starting  early 
in  June. 

• 

William  Wright,  who  entered  the 
Army  over  a  year  ago,  has  received  a 
medical  discharge,  and  will  soon  re- 
turn to  the  Columbia  studio,  where  he 
is  under  contract,  to  resume  his  act- 
ing career. 

Bryan  Foy's  schedule  at  20th-Fox 
has  been  augmented  by  "Commando 
Kelly,"    the    story    of    Sgt.  Charles 
Kelly's  one-man  raid  in  Italy. 
• 

Don  Ameche  and  20th-Fox  will  end 
an  eight-year  association  amicably 
next  month,  according  to  a  spokesman 
for  the  actor. 

• 

Otto  Preminger  has  taken  over  di- 
rection of  20th  Century-Fox's  "Lau- 
ra" from  Rouben  Mamoulian.  Gene 
Tierney  plays  the  title  role. 

• 

Constance  Collier  will.be  tested  for 
a  role  in  Paramount's  "Kitty,"  based 
on  the  Rosamund  Marshall  novel. 
Mitchell  Leisen  will  direct. 

• 

Col.  Nathan  Levinson,  Warners 
sound  engineer,  arrived  here  at  the 
weekend. 

• 

Producer  Andrew  Stone  left  on 
the  Chief  for  New  York  at  the  week- 
end. 

• 

Paulette  Goddard  married  Capt. 
Burgess  Meredith  today  in  a  private 
ceremony  in  Beverly  Hills. 

• 

Mona  Maris,  Latin-American  ac- 
tress, has  been  signed  by  Paramount 
for  "A  Medal  for  Benny." 

Monogram  SalesMeet 
On  Coast  June  12 

Hollywood,  May  21.  —  Monogram 
franchise  holders  will  open  a  four-day 
discussion  of  the  company's  1944-45 
sales  program  in  the  Ambassador 
Hotel  here  on  June  12.  President  W. 
Ray  Johnston  will  preside  at  the  ses- 
sions, which  will  be  attended  by  Trem 
Carr,  executive  producer ;  Steve 
Broidy,  vice-president  and  general 
sales  manager  ;  George  Burrows,  treas- 
urer, and  Ed  Morey,  Harry  Thomas, 
Arthur  Greenblatt,  Sol  Francis  and 
other  home  office  and  district  execu- 
tives. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Carter  Blake  Heads 
UJA  Radio  Division 

Carter  Blake  of  Columbia  Pictures 
will  head  the  radio  artists'  division  of 
the  United  Jewish  Appeal  drive  here. 
Others  who  will  serve  on  the  execu- 
tive committee  are  Allan  Reed,  Nor- 
man Winter,  Philip  Loeb,  Richard 
Sanders,  Milton  Herman,  George 
Touller,  Marilyn  Cantor,  Jonathan 
Edwards,  Juliette  Lewis,  Harold  J. 
Stone,  Leo  Mishkin,  Nedra  Mahoney 
and  Lawson  Zerbe. 

WB  Shorts  Drive 
Starts  June  1 

Warners'  annual  short  subject  sales 
drive  will  start  June  1  and  continue 
through  August  31,  it  was  reported  at 
the  weekend  by  Norman  H.  Moray, 
short  subject  sales  manager. 

The  release  schedule  for  the  final 
quarter  of  1943-1944  has  been  set, 
running  from  June  3  to  August  26, 
the  end  of  the  current  season. 


SOEG  Wins  20th-Fox 
NLRB  Election 

Hollywood,  May  21. — The  Screen 
Office  Employes  Guild  won  its 
NLRB  election  for  representation  as 
bargaining  agent  for  20th  Century- 
Fox  studio  employes  with  228  votes 
for  SOEG  and  182  for  a  company 
guild,  NLRB  examiner  M.  Zimering 
disclosed  at  the  weekend. 

Only  412  of  the  525  eligible  to  vote 
cast  ballots  but  a  majority  of  ballots 
cast  are  sufficient  for  the  NLRB  to 
order  20th-Fox  to  recognize  SOEG 
as  bargaining  agent.  Zimering  said 
the  union  is  demanding  an  immediate 
seven  per  cent  increase  for  all  com- 
pany studio  office  workers. 


H.  G.  Mayer  Opens  Office 

Hollywood,  May  21. — Howard  G. 
Mayer,  former  studio  publicity  direc- 
tor at  Columbia  here,  has  opened  a 
public  relations  office  which  will  op- 
erate in  conjunction  with  his  pub- 
licity bureau  in  Chicago. 


CIAA  Money  Goes 
To  Mexican  Films 


Washington,  May  21. — The  U.  S 
Office  of  the  Coordinator  of  Inter- 
American  Affairs  has  made  available 
to  two  Mexican  companies  loans  ou 
of  $200,000  supplied  for  the  purpose 
for  technical  and  equipment  needs,  r 
was  charged  at  the  weekend  by  Sena- 
tor Hugh  Butler  of  Nebraska,  wbj 
demanded  a  Congressional  investiga- 
tion of  "Prencinradio,"  a  corporation" 
of  the  CIAA,  terming  it  a  "mysteri-j 
ous"    organization    incorporated  iri 
Delaware  but  tied  to  film,  radio  ancj 
press  interests  in  Latin-America. 

The  Senator  based  his  demand  on  al 
magazine  article  on  the  corporation 
in  which  it  was  said  that  Prencinradi<  i 
has  authority  to  buy  and  sell  stocks 
bonds,  patents  and  real  estate. 

At  the  CIAA  here  it  was  explained] 
that  the  corporation   was  chartere< 
about  two  years  ago  to  permit  the 
agency  to  do  things  which  a  Gov-: 
ernment  office  like  the  CIAA  couldj 
not  do,  such  as  enter  into  contracts.! 
While  the  corporation  appears  to  have 
broad  authority  it  was  explained  that 
the  charter  merely  covers  the  same 
ground  as   usual  for  incorporations, 
and  no  dealing  in  securities,  patents, 
etc.,  has  ever  occurred. 

Wm.  FinkeVs  Trial 
Off  Until  September 

Pittsburgh,  May  21.  —  Trial  of 
the  distributors'  rental -percentage  suit 
against  William  Finkel  and  his  Car- 
son Amusement  Co.,  filed  March  15 
in  Federal  District  Court  here,  has 
been  put  off  until  September;  the 
court  has  recessed. 

Finkel,  asking  a  jury  trial,  filed 
an  answer  to  the  suit  denying  indebt- 
edness to  the  plaintiffs  in  any  sum. 
He  said  the  distributors  are  generally, 
entitled  to  audit  books  and  records 
relating  to  percentages  on  pictures  ex- 
hibited by  him  but  not  on  films  for 
which  the  contracts  set  a  time  limit 
for  such  audits. 

The  suits,  filed  by  Loew's,  Para- 
mount, Warners,  20th-Fox,  RKO, 
Columbia  and  Universal,  charge  that 
reports  for  the  Arcade  and  Colonial 
Theatres  here  contained  "intentionally  j 
false  and  incorrect  statements  of  gross 
receipts."  Each  of  the  distributors 
claim  damages  of  many  thousands  of 
dollars. 

Weitman  Handling 
Pythias  Benefit 

Robert  Weitman,  managing  director 
of  the  New  York  Paramount,  will 
handle  the  annual  benefit  show  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias  at  Madison  Square 
Garden  Wednesday  night.  Stars  of 
screen,  radio  and  stage  will  appear  for 
the  purpose  of  raising  funds  to  sup- 
port a  summer  camp  which  takes  care 
of  underprivileged  children. 

Serving  on  the  committee  with 
chairman  Weitman  are  the  following : 
Ed  Sullivan,  Harry  Levine,  Bob 
Shapiro,  Milton  Berger,  Nat  Kal- 
cheim,  Phil  Bloom,  Harry  Romm, 
Sam  Rauch,  Larry  Puck,  Arthur 
Knorr,  Al  Wilson,  Bert  Lytell,  James 
Sauter,  Vince  Jacobi,  Sol  Pernick. 
Jesse  Kaye,  Harry  Mayer,  Alan  Cor- 
elli,  Ed  Wiener,  Johnny  Dugan,  Leon- 
ard Romm,"  Ben  Boyar,  Leon  Leoni- 
doff  and  Henry  Frankel. 


Monday,  May  22,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


5 


'BlondeTrouble'Hits 
A  Brisk  $20,000 


Cleveland,  May  21.  —  "Andy 
Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  was  tops 
here,  hitting  an  approximate  $20,000 
at  Loew's  Theatre.  The  second  week 
of  "See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  is 
on  the  way  to  a  big  $12,000  at  Loew's 
Stillman.  "Bernadette,"  growing 
stronger,  looks  like  $11,000  in  its  third 
Veek  at  the  Allen. 
Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
.„  ending  May  17: 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (2ttth-Fox) 

ALLEN— (3,000)    (76c-$1.10)    7   days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $8,500). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WARNERS'     HIPPODROME  —  (3,500) 
•  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days.    Gross:  $20,000.  (Av- 
erage: $22,100). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S  OHIO-(l,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average:  $5,000) 
"None  Shall  Escape"  (Col.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7 
days.  Stage:  Shep  Fields  orchestra,  Edgar 
Kennedy.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Average:  $25,- 
400). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE—  (3,300)  (43c-65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average:  $19,000). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average: 
$10,000). 


Milwaukee  Receipts 
Drop  Below  Par 

Milwaukee,  May  21.  —  "Cover 
Girl,"  coupled  with  "The  Whistler," 
in  its  second  week  at  the  Palace,  took 
$8,625,  about  25  per  cent  under  par, 
while  "Lady  in  the  Dark,"  in  its  third 
at  the  Strand,  tied  up  with  "Miracle 
of  Morgan's  Creek"  also  dipped. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  20 : 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

'    WISCONSIN  —  (3,200)      (40c-60c-80c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Cover   Girl"  (Col.) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

PALACE— (2,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,625.  (Average:  $11,- 
5C0). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (1,400)    (40c-60c-80c)    7  days 
3rd  week  downtown.    Gross:  $3,850. 
age:  $5,500). 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Sailors  Holiday"  (Col.) 

WARNER— (2,400)      (50c-72c)  7 
Gross:    $12,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 
"Klondike  Kate"  (Col.) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,900)    (50c-72c)  7 
Gross:   $9,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
'"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

RIVERSIDE — (2,700)  (65 -85c)  7 
George  White's  Scandals  on  the 
Gross:    $13,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 


(Aver 


days 


days. 


days, 
stage. 


Sylvania  Purchase 
Of  Colonial  Near 

Boston,  May  21. — Stockholders  of 
Sylvania  Electric  Products,  Inc.,  were 
told  at  the  weekend  that  the  purchase 
of  all  shares  of  Colonial  Radio  Corp. 
of  Buffalo  is  expected  to  be  completed 
this  week.  The  stockholders  of  Syl- 
vania voted  a  295,000-share  increase  in 
capital  stock,  raising  the  total  author- 
ized to  1,200,000  shares. 

Sylvania  operations  for  the  first 
quarter  of  1944  showed  sales  of  $18,- 
829,198,  a  rise  of  49  percent  over  the 
first  three  months  of  1943,  and  earn- 
ings of  $441,184,  equal  to  52  cents  on 
shares  outstanding  on  March  31.  This 
compares  with  $341,122  for  the  first 
quarter  of  1943.  Colonial's  sales  and 
net  earnings  for  the '  first  quarter  of 
1944  were  $14,811,623  and  $197,172, 
respectively. 


11 

EWS 

AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


PARAMOUNT  SETS  JUNE  6TH  AND 
7TH  FOR  DE  LUXE  NEW  YORK 
AND  LOS  ANGELES  PREMIERES 
OF  CECIL  B.  DE  MILLE'S 
'THE  STORY  OF  DR.  WASSELL" 
GARY  COOPER  TECHNICOLOR 
STARRER  WILL  BOW  IN  AT 
BROADWAY'  Rl  VOLI.,  SCENE  OF 
GARY'S  BELL  TOLLS  TRIUMPH, 
AND  AT  HOLLYWOOD  AND 
LOS  ANGELES  PARAMOUNTS. 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


"Road  to  Victory" 

{Warners) 

Hollywood,  May  21 
Offering  a  glimpse  into  the  future 
life  we  are  fighting  to  assure  our 
children,  "Road  to  Victory"  carries  a 
punchy  message  throughout  its  eight 
minutes  that  should  do  much  to  stimu- 
late the  sale  of  war  bonds  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive. 

Credited  as  having  been  personally- 
produced  by  Jack  L.  Warner,  the 
short,  which  is  being  distributed  by 
the  WAC,  makes  a  stirring  plea  to 
Americans  through  the  medium  of 
songs  by  Bing  Crosby  and  Frank 
Sinatra,  the  reading  of  a  letter  from 
a  dying  soldier  to  his  son  by  Cary 
Grant,  the  singing  of  Dennis  Morgan 
and  Irene  Manning,  a  skit  of  the  fu- 
ture ten  years  with  Olive  Blakeney, 
Charles  Ruggles  and  Jimmy  Lydon 
and  Jack  Carson  as  masters-of-cere- 
monies.  Screenplay  is  by  James  Blood- 
worth  from  an  original  story  by  E. 
Manheim.  LeRoy  Prinz  directed. 
Running  time,  8  minutes. 


"Viva  Mexico" 

(RKO-Pathe) 

"Viva  Mexico"  is  an  over-all  view 
of  modern  Mexico,  working  beside  the 
Allies  in  World  War  II.  Little  known 
facts  about  our  nearest  Latin  Amer- 
cian  neighbor's  part  in  the  war  effort 
are  graphically  and  interestingly  pre- 
sented, with  shots  of  Mexican  soldiers 
and  sailors  patrolling  the  South  Amer- 
ican coast  and  with  pictures  of  Mex- 
ico's military  and  naval  training 
schools,  patterned  after  our  West 
Point  and  Annapolis. 

Picturesque  scenes  of  the  simple  life 
of  most  Mexicans  are  featured,  to- 
gether with  her  progressive  schools 
and  new  farming  developments.  Time- 
ly, because  of  Mexico's  potentially  im- 
portant position  in  the  post  war  world, 
"Viva  Mexico"  has  been  well  handled 
under  the  supervision  of  Jay  Bona- 
field.  Music,  composed  by  Miguel 
Sandoval  and  supervised  by  Herman 
Fuchs,  adds  much  to  the  production. 
Frederic  Ullman,  Jr.,  produced  as  part 
of  the  "This  Is  America"  series.  Run- 
ning time,  17  mins. 


"Popular  Science" 

(Paramount) 

More  interesting  glimpses  into  the 
future  are  presented  in  Paramount's 
latest  "Popular  Science"  release.  Fea- 
tured are  the  centralized  traffic  con- 
trol device,  designed  to  facilitate  rail- 
road track  switches  by  remote  control, 
the  "dream  bed"  of  tomorrow  which 
is  constructed  to  accommodate  a  built- 
in  radio  and  reading  lamp  as  well 
as  control  buttons  which  allow  for 
proper  reclining  reading  positions, 
etc.  "Popular  Science"  subjects  are 
interesting,  educational  and  amusing. 
Running  time,  10  mins. 


Harry  Goldstein  Returns 

Cleveland,  May  21. — Harry  Gold- 
stein has  resumed  the  district  sales 
managership  for  Paramount  in  this 
area,  following  a  six-months'  leave  of 
absence  while  Duke  Clark,  who  tem- 
porarily replaced  Goldstein,  has  been 
transferred  to  a  Western  territorial 
office.  John  Himmelein,  recently  with 
Paramount  in  St.  Louis,  has  returned 
as  special  district  representative  here 
under  Goldstein. 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  1944 


Reviews 


"Goyescas" 

(RKO) 

D  RODUCED  in  Spain  by  Universal  Ibero  Americana  de  Cinemato- 
*  grafia  and  starring  Imperio  Argentina,  described  as  one  of  Spain's 
outstanding  musical  comediennes,  "Goyescas"  will  undoubtedly  find  play- 
ing time  in  the  comparatively  few  Spanish-speaking  areas  here.  On  the 
other  hand,  interested  non-Spanish  patrons  will  not  find  it  difficult  to 
grasp  the  main  theme  through  English  sub-titles,  although  in  many  in- 
stances the  translation  bears  only  slight  resemblance  to  actual  dialogue. 

Miss  Argentina  handles  a  difficult  dual  role  well  in  Fernando  Peri- 
quet's  story  of  a  Countess  and  an  entertainer  who  resemble  one  another 
and  who  compete  for  one  man's  love.  The  Countess,  however,  transfers 
her  love  for  Armando  Calvo  to  a  handsome  Captain  of  the  Guard,  Ra- 
fael Rivelles,  but,  to  spite  the  street-singer,  she  also  keeps  Calvo  in  tow. 
Nearly  two  hours  is  devoted  to  the  bitter  fight  between  the  ladies  when 
it  might  well  have  been  done  in  60  minutes.  However,  in  the  end,  after 
both  women  land  in  jail,  they  put  aside  their  differences  and  part  friends, 
each  with  her  own  lover. 

The  action  takes  place  in  the  early  18th  century,  that  period  which 
inspired  the  late  Enrique  Granados'  opera,  "Goyescas,"  music  of  which  is 
the  only  outstanding  feature  of  the  film.  It  contains  some  suggestive  and 
intimate  sequences,  making  it  "adult"  material.    Benito  Perojo  directed. 

Running  time,  110  mins.   "A."*   Release  date,  May  22. 

Helen  McNamara 


'A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


"Tucson  Raiders" 

(Republic) 

Hollywood,  May  21 

"-'"TUCSON  RAIDERS"  is  the  first  of  Republic's  Red  Ryder  series 
*■  based  on  the  comic  strip  character,  with  Wild  Bill  Elliott,  always 
the  two-fisted  Western  hero,  playing  "Red,"  Bobby  Blake  as  "Little 
Beaver,"  Alice  Fleming  as  "The  Duchess,"  two-fisted  ranchwoman,  and 
George  (Gabby)  Hayes  as  himself. 

Efforts  of  Painted  Valley  citizens  to  vote  the  territory  into  the  Union 
are  frustrated  by  a  crooked  sheriff  and  his  cut-throat  deputies  acting  un- 
der orders  of  a  crooked  banker  and  a  rascally  governor.  "The  Duchess" 
sends  for  nephew  Red  Ryder  and  Federal  Judge  Wayne  from  Washing- 
ton. The  band  mistakenly  murders  a  preacher,  pins  the  crime  on  Ryder, 
but  Little  Beaver  helps  him  escape  in  time  to  save  the  real  Judge 
Wayne  from  the  murderous  band  and  trap  it  along  with  its  banker- 
leader! 

Spencer  Bennet  directed  from  a  screenplay  by  Anthony  Coldewey 
based  on  Jack  O'Donnell's  original  with  due  attention  to  Western  formu- 
la resulting  in  an  action-packed  two-gunned  drama. 

Running  time,  55  minutes.    "G."*   Release  date  May  24. 

Jack  Cartwright 


'Gaslight'  Is  Week's 
Best,  Gets  $23,000 


Washington,  D.  C,  May  21. — 
"Gaslight"  is  the  surprise  top  grosser 
of  a  week  that  is  headed  for  generally 
disappointingly  low  grosses.  The  Boy- 
er-Bergman-Cotton  film  should  do  an 
estimated  $23,000,  $4,000  above  the 
average.  "Up  in  Arms,"  in  its  fourth 
week  at  RKO-Keith's,  should  gross 
about  $9,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  18 : 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 

LOEWS  CAPITOL— (3,434)  (35c-43c-55c- 
72c)    7   days.      On   stage:    Mitzi  Mayfair. 
Gross:  $21,000.     (Average:  $22,000). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  COLUMBIA— (1,234)  (43c-S5c- 
65c)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Av- 
erage: $8,200). 

"Passage  to  Marseilles"  (WB) 

WARNER'S  EARLE— (2,210)  (44c-55c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  da  vs.  On  stage:  LVArtega  and 
orchestra.  Gross:  $22,500.  (Average:  $19,- 
700). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (Goldwyn-RKO) 

RKO-KEITH'S— (1,800)  (35c-44c-65c-74c)  7 
days.  4th  week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average: 
$13,600). 

"No  Time  for  Love"  (Para.) 

WARNER'S  METROPOLITAN  —  (1,600) 
(35c-55c)  7  davs,  3rd  week.     Gross:  $5,000. 
(Average:  $7,200). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  PALACE — (2,242)  (43c-55c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $23,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 


'Primitive  Man',  Show 
Head  for  $18,000 

Minneapolis,  May  21. — Return  of 
the  Andrews  Sisters  to  their  home 
town,  along  with  Mitch  Ayres'  orches- 
tra, aided  "Her  Primitive  Man"  to 
$18,000  at  the  Orpheum.  Spring 
weather  was  responsible  for  all  other 
situations  dipping  below  average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  18: 

"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

ORFHEUM— (2,000)  (50c-65c)  7  "days.  On 
stage:  Andrews  Sisters  and  Mitch  Ayres' 
orchestra,  directed  by  "Stell"  Slavin.  Gross: 
$18,000.    (Average:  $15,000). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

RADIO   CITY— (4,000)    (44c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $15,000). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 

STATE— (2,300)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average:  $12,400). 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 

GOPHER— (998)    (40c)   7  days.  Gross: 
$3,200.    (Average:  $3,700). 
"The  Sullivans"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CENTURY— (1,600)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Average: 
$7,400). 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

LYRIC— (1,250)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd  week 
downtown.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average:  $5,600). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WORLD— (350)  (44c-55c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
3rd  week  downtown.  Gross:  $2,000.  (Aver- 
age: $2,400). 

"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 
"Teen  Age"  (Continental) 

ASTER  (900)  (25c -35c)  6  days.  Gross: 
$2,400.     (Average:  $2,600). 


Para.  Promotes  Lamed 

Dallas,  May  21. — Changes  in 
Paramount's  exchanges  here  include 
the  promotion  of  Fred  Larned,  form- 
er film  salesman,  to  the  post  of  branch 
manager,  effective  June  12,  and  the 
appointment  of  Haywood  Simmons  to 
sales  manager.  Larned  replaces 
Charles  Dees,  transferred  to  the  South 
Texas  area,  succeeding  Simmons. 


Hilgers  to  Exhibition 

Dallas,  May  21. — Clair  Hilgers, 
former  branch  manager  of  the  20th- 
Fox  exchange  here,  has  purchased  a 
half  interest,  with  H.  S.  Leon,  in  the 
Crawford  Theatre  at  El  Paso.  Phil 
Langdon,  district  manager  for  20th- 
Fox  here,  will  handle  Hilger's  duties 
at  the  exchange  until  a  successor  is 
named. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

National  Managers' 
Union  Seen  Soon 

Chicago,  May  21. — A  national  thea- 
tre managers'  union  will  be  a  reality 
soon  it  was  emphasized  by  Gene  At- 
kinson, business  manager  of  projec- 
tionists' Local  110  here,  as  he  pre- 
pared to  leave  for  St.  Louis  for  the 
IATSE  convention  starting  May  29. 
There  he  will  be  joined  by  delegates 
from  other  locals  who  will  assist  him 
in  launching  plans  for  the  new  unit. 

Meanwhile,  Balaban  and  Katz  is  en- 
deavoring to  get  under  way  new 
schedules  of  reduced  working  hours 
for  managers  and  assistants. 


Rogers'  Body  to  Crypt 

Claremore,  Okla.,  May  21.— The 
body  of  Will  Rogers,  removed  on 
Friday  from  a  vault  in  the  Glendale, 
Cal.,  Cemetery,  is  to  be  interred  today 
in  a  stone  crypt  at  the  Will  Rogers 
Memorial  here,  it  is  understood.  Ar- 
rangements for  the  burial  were  made 
by  the  humorist's  widow  following  her 
recovery  from  six  weeks  of  illness  in 
Washington.  Rogers,  who  was  killed 
in  an  Alaskan  plane  crash  in  1935, 
was  a  native  of  Claremore. 


Predicts  25  Million 
Radios  for  Post-War 

Philadelphia,  May  21. — A  demand 
for  between  20,000,000  and  25,000,000 
radio  receiving  sets  will  exist  by  the 
end  of  1944  as  compared  with  the  in- 
dustry's all-time  high  production  of 
13,000,000  units  in  1941,  it  was  esti- 
mated at  the  weekend  by  Larry  E. 
Gubb,  chairman  of  the  board  of  Philco 
Corp.,  in  an  address  on  "Electronics 
and  Television  in  the  Post-War"  be- 
fore the  Bond  Club. 

"The  radio-electronics  industry  is 
turning  out  specialized  types .  of  war 
equipment  at  the  rate  of  approximate- 
ly $3,200,000,000  a  year,  a  greater 
volume  output  than  that  of  the  entire 
automobile  industry  in  1939,"  Gubb 
said. 


Harry  Goldberg  to  Speak 

Philadelphia,  May  21.  —  Harry 
Goldberg,  director  of  advertising-pub- 
licity for  Warner  Theatres,  will  ad- 
dress a  luncheon-meeting  of  the  local 
Motion  Picture  Forum  here  today  at 
the  Hotel  Bellevue-Stratford.  He 
will  discuss  "Motion  Pictures  and  the 
War." 


RMA  Conference  in 
Chicago,  June  6-7 


The  radio  industry  and  Government 
officials  will  discuss  the  war  radio- 
radar  program  and  future  industry 
problems  at  the  third  Radio  Manufac- 
turers Association  war  production 
conference  to  be  held  at  the  Stevens 
Hotel  in  Chicago  on  June  6-7.  The 
20th  anniversary  meeting  of  RMA 
membership  and  committees  will  be. 
held  in  conjunction  with  the  confer-| 
ence. 

Wartime  accomplishments  of  the  in- 
dustry will  be  told  by  RMA  to  the 
public  within  the  limits  of  "national 
security"  in  a  national  publicity  cam- 
paign to  be  initiated  soon.  Major  ob- 
jectives of  the  RMA  promotion  proj- 
ect include  the  following :  presenta- 
tion of  wartime  accomplishments  of 
industry  including  its  scientific  con- 
tributions to  the  war ;  correction  of 
erroneous  impressions  that  new  devel- 
opments will  be  available  on  "V"  day ; 
attracting  manpower  to  the  industry 
and  help  retain  essential  workers  by 
discouraging  raiding  of  technical  per- 
sonnel ;  inform  wholesale  and  retail 
radio  distributing  agencies  for  a  bet- 
ter concept  of  current  and  postwar 
plans  of  the  industry ;  make  the  pub- 
lic more  conscious  of  benefits  from 
radio  and  thereby  stimulate  develop- 
ment of  possibilities  in  new  fields ; 
and  encourage  the  use  of  radio  as  an 
educational   necessity  in  schools. 

TEA  Supports  Fly's 
Television  Stand 

Allen  B.  Dumont,  acting  as  head  of 
Television  Broadcasters  Association, 
commended  the  remarks  on  post-war 
television  made  by  James  C.  Fly, 
chairman  of  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission,  before  the  opening 
session  of  the  Radio  Executives  Club 
television  seminar  here  last  week,  in 
a  statement  released  at  the  weekend. 

Fly  had  declared  that  there  was 
no  question  of  the  FCC  maintaining 
"a  steady  green  light"  for  commercial 
television  which  was  already  author- 
ized and  at  the  same  time  indicated 
the  need  for  more  experimentation. 

"Progressiveness  and  not  stagnation 
is  and  will  always  be  the  aim  of  the 
nation's  television  broadcasters,"  Du- 
Mont  said,  adding  that  "when  hostili- 
ties cease  and  the  doors  to  a  national 
television  service  are  open,  television 
images  of  quality  will  be  ready  "for 
a  nation  anxious  to  see  and  accept 
this  new  and  wonderful  medium." 


'Castawaif  for  Navy 

The  United  States  Navy  has  re- 
ceived from  Willard  Pictures,  here,  a 
six-reel  production  entitled  "The  Cast- 
away," which  tells  what  happens  to 
a  Naval  flier  who  "bails  out"  of  the 
plane  "somewhere  in  the  Pacific."  The 
assignment  was  basically  intended  for 
training  purposes  but  there  is  under 
consideration  a  short  film  for  theatre 
use.  Edward  Seward  directed  and 
Norman  Dyhrenfurth  was  the  camera- 
man. Production  was  on  Miami 
beaches. 


'Norway*  in  Four  Reels 

Washington.  May  21. — Hoffberg 
Productions  will  distribute  a  four- 
reel  version  of  "Norway  Replies," 
compiled  originally  as  a  long  feature 
by  F.  Herrick  Harrick  for  the  Royal 
Norwegian  Information  Service.  Hoff- 
berg is  also  handling  the  feature. 


mmmmm 


Monday,  May  22,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Hollywood 


By  JACK  CARTWRIGHT 

Hollywood,  May  21 

A TREND  toward  production  of 
higher  bracket  horror  pictures 
than  has  been  the  general  rule  at  most 
studios  is  seen  in  Paramount's  plans 
for  Kenneth  Macgowan  to  produce  a 
j\erious  ghost  mystery  somewhat  simi- 
lar to  that  studio's  "The  Uninvited," 
which  was  an  out-and-out  ghost  mys- 
'tery  dealing  with  the  supernatural. 
Close  on  the  heels  of  the  reception 
accorded  "The  Uninvited,"  B.  G. 
DeSylva  cast  Gail  Russell,  who  played 
the  young  girl  driven  almost  to  self- 
destruction  by  two  spirits  battling  to 
control  her,  was  cast  with  Joel  Mc- 
Crea  in  "Fear."  This  mystery  story, 
presently  in  production  under  the  guid- 
ance of  John  Houseman,  deals  more 
with  explainable,  human-created  mys- 
tery, however. 

• 

William  Goetz  has  signed  Bill 
Ihnen  as  production  designer  and  art 
director  for  International  Pictures. 
His  first  two  will  be  "It's  a  Pleasure/' 
starring  Sonja  Henie,  and  "Tomor- 
row Is  Forever."  .  .  .  hen  Simpson, 
formerly  publicity  director  for  Edward 
Small  Productions,  has  taken  over  the 
publicity  directorship  for  Producing 
Corp.  of  America.  .  .  .  Universal  has 
signed  Vera  Zorina  for  another  pic- 
ture. .  .  .  William  Wellman  has 
started  direction  of  "Airship  Squadron 
4,"  at  M-G-M.  Sam  Marx  is  pro- 
ducing. 

• 

Marsha  Hunt  has  finished  work  in 
RKO-Radio's  "That  Hunter  Girl" 
and  reported  back  to  her  home 
studio,  M-G-M,  for  her  lead  in  "Mu- 
sic for  Millions,"  which  Henry  Ros- 
ter is  directing.  .  .  .  Columbia  has 
signed  Allyn  Joslyn  for  the  male 
lead  opposite  Evelyn  Keyes  in 
"Stalk  the  Hunter."  .  .  .  Monogram 
has  borrowed  Kim  Hunter  and  Neil 
Hamilton  from  Vanguard  for  leads 
in  "I  Married  a  Stranger."  .  .  . 
Ernest  and  Maria  Matray,  chore- 
ographers signed  by  RKO-Radio, 
plan  a  dance  group  of  from  20  to 
30  as  a  permanent  nucleus  for  RKO 
production  numbers. 


'Bernadette'  Heavy 
At  $32,500  Gross 


Boston,  May  21. — Business  was  still 
below  normal  this  week  mainly  due  to 
excellent  weather  which  drove  thou- 
sands again  to  the  shores.  Despite  this, 
however,  "Song  of  Bernadette"  at  the 
Majestic  turned  in  $32,500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  17 : 

"Lifeboat"  (20th-Fox) 

KEITH  BOSTON— (3,200)  (44c-55c-65c-85c, 
$1.10).  Plus  stage  show  with  Virginia 
Weidler.  Gross:  $25,600.  (Average:  $28,- 
300). 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

FENWAY — (1,373)   (44c-55c-65c).  Gross: 
$7,000.     (Average:  $8,300). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (1,400)  (6Sc-85c-$1.10)  7  days. 
Gross:  $32,500.    (Average:  $14,000). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 
"No  Greater  Love"  (Artkino) 

KEITH     MEMORIAL— (2,900)  (44c-55c- 
65c-85c).    Gross:  $20,000.    (Average:  $22,300). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 
"Henry  Aldrich  as  Cupid"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,367)  (44c-55c-65c- 
85c).  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average:  $27,300). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  ORFHEUM— (2,900)  (44c-55c-65c- 
85c).  Gross:  $23,700.  (Average:  $23,800). 
"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,200)  (44c- 55c -65c -85c). 
Gross:  $9,800.     (Average:  $11,000). 
"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 

TRANSLUX  —  (990)  (34c-44c-55c-74c). 
Gross:  $8,000.     (Average:  $9,000). 


'Address'  Dual  Gets 
$5,800  Over  Par 

Buffalo,  May  21. — "Address  Un- 
known" and  "Footlight  Glamour"  were 
bidding  for  the  lead  here  with  $18,200 
at  the  Lafayette.  "Four  Jills  in  a 
Jeep,"  dualed  at  the  Buffalo,  seemed 
headed  for  $18,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  20: 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th- Fox) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (20th-Fox) 

BUFFALO  —  (3,489)   (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $18,000.     (Average:  $17,400). 
"Jane  Eyre"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

GREAT  LAKES — (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,300.  (Aver- 
age: $16,600). 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

HIPPODROME  —  (2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
days,   2nd  week  moveover.    Gross:  $9,400. 
(Average:  $9,700). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 
"Hands  Across  the  Border"  (Rep.) 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY— (3,000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,600.  (Aver- 
age: $12,200). 

"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 
"Footlight  Glamour"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days.   Gross:  $18,200.    (Average:  $12,400). 


'Gaslight'  Glows  in 
Providence  Run 

Providence,  May  21. — "Gaslight," 
at  Loew's  State,  put  that  theatre  back 
into  the  high-grossing  class  it  was 
enjoying  before  the  warm  weather, 
with  $20,000  for  the  week.  Warm 
weather  and  horse-racing  kept  other 
grosses  down. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  18: 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

RKO  ALBEE^(2,239)   (35c-44c-55c-60c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"Tornado"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,200)  (44c -55c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $8,100.  (Average:  $10,500). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,232)   (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $20,000.     (Average:  $17,700). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (ZOth-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average:  $12,- 
100). 

"Woman  of  the  Town"  (UA) 

"Dudes  Are  Pretty  People"  (Roach-UA) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $3,900.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"Detective  Kitty  O'Day"  (Mono.) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c) 
3  days.  On  stage:  Lou  Brown  &  Co., 
Three  Hearts,  Sasha  Leonoff,  Ben  McAtee, 
Three  Little  Sisters,  Son  &  Sonny,  McFar- 
land  &  Brown,  Judy  Talbot,  Ed  Drew's 
Orchestra.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average:  $7,900). 
"The  Purple  Heart"  (20th-Fox) 
"Pardon   My   Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)      (35c-44c-55c)  7 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $6,500). 


days, 


M-G-M  Films  to  Army 

M-G-M's  "Marriage  Is  a  Private 
Affair,"  starring  Lana  Turner,  and 
"Gold  Town,"  with  Wallace  Beery 
have  been  requested  for  overseas  show- 
ings by  the  Army's  motion  picture 
service.  Other  M-G-M  films  recent 
ly  shipped  abroad  include  "Dragon 
Seed,"  "The  Canterville  Ghost"  and 
"Three  Men  in  White." 


St.  Louis  'I A'  Delegates 

St.  Louis,  May  21. — Harry  Barco 
Joseph  Schuller  and '  Harvard 
O'Laughlin  have  been  selected  dele 
gates  to  the  IATSE  national  conven 
tion  by  the  projectionists'  Local  143 
here.  The  convention  will  open  at 
the  Jefferson  Hotel  here  May  29. 


All  Branches  of  The  Industry 
Have  Been  Invited  to  The 

SILVER  JUBILEE 
ANNIVERSARY 

of  the 

ALLIED  THEATRE  OWNERS 
OF  NEW  JERSEY,  INC. 

and 

GOLDEN 
ANNIVERSARY 

of  the 

MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


CONVENTION  HALL 
HOTEL  CHELSEA 

ATLANTIC  CITY,  N.  J. 


JUNE  20, 21, 22, 1944 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  22,  1944 


Spot-News  Is  Television 's 
Chief  Asset:  Fitzgibbons 


Films  Warned 
U.S.  of  War 


Washington 
Sees  Decree 
Compromise 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  distributors  refused  to  make 
changes  on  cancellations  and  theatre 
expansion  which  he  deems  important, 
negotiations  would  be  halted  and  the 
matter  referred  to  the  Attorney  Gen- 
eral with  a  recommendation  that  it  be 
worked  out  in  the  courts.  A  few 
days  later  a  distributor  told  Motion 
Picture  Daily  that  no  further  con- 
cessions would  be  made  on  those 
points.  Conversations  between  the  De- 
partment and  the  companies  have  been 
steadily  drifting  toward  an  impasse. 

Tomorrow,  Abram  F.  Myers,  gen- 
eral counsel  of  Allied,  is  scheduled 
to  see  Clark,  to  get  an  up-to-the- 
minute  report  on  the  decree  situation 
which  he  can  take  to  the  Allied  board 
meeting  in  Philadelphia  Wednesday. 
Hugh  Bruen  and  Robert  Poole  of 
the  Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  In- 
dependent Theatre  Owners,  who  will 
attend  the  Allied  meeting  and  have 
business  in  New  York,  will  also  be  in 
Washington  during  the  week,  and 
while  they  are  expected  to  discuss 
major-company  expansion  in  their 
area  under  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements theatre  construction  pro- 
gram, they  no  doubt  will  get  into  the 
decree  situation  when  they  see  Clark. 

Exhibitors  Against  N.  Y.  Trial 

Just  how  the  Department  will  han- 
dle the  situation  if  it  turns  out  there 
is  no  chance  of  a  decree  has  not  yet 
been  definitely  determined.  Indepen- 
dent exhibitors  are  opposed  to  a  re- 
vival of  the  New  York  trust  trial  and 
are  urging  that  if  court  proceedings 
are  initiated,  a  new  case  be  filed  in 
some  other  jurisdiction,  where  Wall 
Street  and  "big  business"  are  viewed 
with  more  suspicion. 

Clark  is  believed  also  to  incline  to 
the  idea  of  a  new  suit,  which  would 
permit  the  injection  of  new  issues 
arising  during  the  three-year  period 
in  which  the  decree  was  under  trial. 

While  a  decision  as  to  the  course  to 
be  pursued  may  be  reached  within  the 
next  week  or  two,  no  court  case  could 
be  brought  to  trial  before  next  Fall, 
because  of  the  summer  vacations  of 
the  Federal  Courts,  which  will  start 
within  the  next  few  weeks. 

Further  Fuel  Cuts 
Seen  Necessary 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
urgent  need  for  the  conservation  of 
electric  power.  Earlier  last  week  the 
WPB  reported  that  abandonment  of 
war  time  would  involve  the  consump- 
tion of  an  additional  1,500,000  kilo- 
watts of  power  and  1,000,000  tons  of 
coal. 

In  many  quarters  the  WPB  warn- 
ings of  increased  power  and  coal  .con- 
sumption, plus  the  knowledge  that  the 
invasion  of  Europe  may  place  new 
strains  upon  our  material  resources 
were  seen  as  presaging  defeat  of  the 
move  to  outlaw  Daylight  Saving. 


E.  M.  Loew  Buys  Hotel 

Boston,  May  21. — E.  M.  Loew  has 
purchased  Gray's  Inn  in  New  Hamp- 
shire. E.  M.  Loew  interests  also  own 
shares  in  the  "Latin  Quarter"  night 
clubs  in  New  York,  Miami  and  Bos- 
ton. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

raphy  and  their  ability  to  eliminate 
everything  but  the  best  and  most  in- 
teresting portion  of  any  event,"  have 
a  great  advantage  over  television  for 
general  entertainment  purposes. 

FP-C  is  acquiring  new  theatres  and 
sites  for  theatres  at  the  rate  of  one 
per  month,  the  Fitzgibbons  report 
shows.  During  the  past  14  months, 
the  company  has  taken  over  as  many 
properties,  including  eight  houses  in 
London,  Port  Arthur,  Gait  and  Ham- 
ilton, Ont. ;  Vancouver,  B.  C. ;  St. 
John's,  Newfoundland,  and  Montreal ; 
and  six  sites  in  Peterborough,  Ont. ; 
Prince  Rupert,  B.  C. ;  Saint  John 
and  Moncton,  N.  B. ;  Edmonton,  Alb., 
and  St.  John's,  Newfoundland.  The 
new  house  in  the  latter  city  is  already 
under  construction. 

Fitzgibbons  cited  the  value  of 
FP-C's  partnerships  in  enabling  the 
company  to  provide  entertainment  for 
well  over  2,000,000  Canadians  weekly 
in  313  theatres.  These  houses,  he 
said,  had  a  payroll  of  $5,902,357  last 
vear  and  paid  out  $10,343,158  in  taxes. 
He  cited  the  fact  that  900  former 

Defers  Schine  Trial 
Until  Next  Week 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ing  the  American  Medical  Associa- 
tion and  the  Pullman  Company. 

There  was  another  reason  why 
Richardson  was  not  ready  for  trial. 
He  left  his  glasses  in  Washington. 

Further,  he  said  that  Schine's  sub- 
poena duces  tecum  was  received  only 
last  Tuesday  and  it  requires  presen- 
tation of  "four  or  five  truckloads  of 
records."  Also  despite  Richardson's 
objection,  the  court  formally  dis- 
missed the  "Little  3"  from  the  Schine 
suit,  but  on  condition  they  supply  vari- 
ous records  needed  in  the  case,  after 
hearing  Louis  Frohlich,  attorney  for 
Columbia,  defend  the  dismissal. 

Judge  Knight  said  he  couldn't  see 
the  wisdom  of  a  postponement  until 
Fall,  declaring  he  is  anxious  for  the 
case  to  "at  least  start."  Richardson's 
prior  commitments  in  Washington  will 
make  necessary  an  adjournment  of  the 
trial  on  June  9  until  later  in  the 
month,  at  which  time  he  will  be  able 
to  return.  This  presupposes  that  the 
trial  actually  will  get  under  way  on 
May  31,  as  now  scheduled. 

$3,500,000  to  Loew's 
For  M  &  B  Shares 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

nal  reported  from  London  at  the  week- 
end. 

The  Journal  said  that  $3,500,000 
was  the  price  paid  by  Loew's  to  the 
old  Fox  Film  Corp.  for  half  of  the 
latter's  49  per  cent  interest  in  M.  & 
B.  about  14  years  ago,  and  that  in 
the  present  sale  of  that  interest, 
Loew's  "will  receive  back  its  original 
investment."  It  was  stated  that  M.  & 
B.  owns  a  57  per  cent  interest  in 
Gaumont-British. 

The  Journal  added  that  Loew's 
major  British  interest,  as  a  result  of 
the  M.  &  B.  stock  sale,  would  be  in 
the  new  production  organization 
headed  by  Sir  Alexander  Korda. 


employes  are  now  in  the  armed  serv- 
ices and  that  22  either  have  been  killed 
in  action  or  are  missing,  while  11  are 
known  prisoners  of  war. 

FP-C  has  found  newspapers  to  be 
the  best  advertising  medium  for  thea- 
tres, according  to  Fitzgibbons,  who 
said  the  company  spent  approximately 
$1,000,000  for  advertising  of  this  type 
last  year. 

He  finds  the  public  these  days  in- 
terested in  "a  wide  range  of  enter- 
tainment from  the  serious  drama  to 
lavish  musical  comedies,"  with  "a 
very  definite  leaning  toward  pictures 
with  a  religious  theme."  Fitzgibbons 
also  pointed  out  that  Technicolor  is 
being  used  in  more  films  than  ever 
before.  "While  it  increases  the  cost, 
there  is  no  doubt  that  it  enhances  the 
entertainment  value  of  productions," 
he  said. 

Fitzgibbons'  remark  on  religious 
films  runs  parallel  to  a  viewpoint  ex- 
pressed by  Jack  L.  Warner,  executive 
producer  for  Warner  Brothers,  whose 
address  to  some  700  churchmen  in 
New  York  recently  was  reported  on 
May  11  in  Motion  Picture  Daily. 


Seek  More  Issuing 
Agents  for  N.Y. 


Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  Loew  execu- 
tive, and  chairman  of  the  Metropolitan 
New  York  area  for  the  industry's 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  June  12-July 
8,  is  making  a  special  effort  to  add  50 
to  100  local  theatres  to  the  list  of 
official  bond  issuing  agents,  acting  on 
information  from  Neville  Ford,  head 
of  the  New  York  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee, that  there  is  a  need  for  more 
agents  in  some  sections  of  this  area. 

Ralph  Pielow,  distributor  chairman 
here,  has  named  a  sub-committee, 
headed  by  Julius  Joelson,  to  make  a 
theatre-by-theatre  check,  aided  by 
zone  captains,  to  line  up  strategically 
located  houses.  The  Treasury's  WFC 
will  furnish  information  as  to  where 
issuing  agents  are  needed. 

Plans  for  the  "mystery  meeting"  of 
1,000  New  York  theatre  men,  to  be 
held  here  June  2,  are  nearing  comple- 
tion, Moskowitz  announced  at  the 
weekend. 

Vanguard  Appeal  in 
Chaplin  Suit  Won 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Constitutional  defense  in  that  it  con- 
tends that  the  Chaplin  suit  could  de- 
prive it  of  its  property  without  due 
process  of  law.  This  would  pave  the 
way  for  a  Vanguard  appeal  to  the  U. 
S.  Supreme  Court  in  the  action  should 
the  Court  of  Appeals  sustain  the  lower 
courts  on  the  issue  of  a  trial  of  the 
action  in  New  York,  rather  than  Cali- 
fornia courts,  where  Vanguard  attor- 
neys contend  the  suit  should  be  tried. 


$49,928  to  Red  Cross 

Charlotte,  May  21. — The  sum  of 
$49,928  has  been  turned  over  to  the 
Red  Cross  by  98  Wilby-Kincey  thea- 
tres in  North  and  South  Carolina, 
with  several  houses  yet  to  report,  it 
was  reported  here  at  the  weekend 
by  Roy  A.  Smart,  district  manager. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

done  to  save  the  world  and,  particu- 
larly, our  United  States,"  Mayor  Kel- 
ly declared.  "To  the  motion  picture 
industry  more  than  any  other  group 
we  owe  a  debt  of  gratitude  for  taking 
the  lead  in  preparing  America  for  the 
present  conflict.  For  that  the  peopli 
of  the  industry  were  called  war  monk 
gers  by  the  defeatists  and  isolation- > 
ists,  but  the  country  has  come  to  real- 
ize  that  they  were  its  real  patriots." 

More  than  350  exhibitors  and  dis- 
tributors from  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and 
Michigan  gathered  here  to  greet  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  national  chairman,  and 
other  Fifth  War  Loan  campaign  lead- 
ers. Jules  Rubens,  exhibitor  chairman 
for  Illinois,  presided. 

Calls  for  Greater  Effort 

O'Donnell  expressed  his  apprecia-  j 
tion  for  the  cooperation  in  this  area  ;  , 
on  previous  drives  and  stressed  the ;  J 
necessity  for  still  greater  effort. 
Campaign  director  John  J.  Friedl 
said  that  the  entire  country  was  tak-  L 
ing  the  Fifth  War  Loan  very  seri-  L 
ously  and  that  was  the  way  he  expect-  r 
ed  every  exhibitor  and  distributor  to  . 
take  it. 

Among  others  who  spoke  were :  R.  [ 
M.    Kennedy,    campaign    vice-chair-  Cl 
man ;    Ned    E.    Depinet,    distributor  !'' 
chairman ;  Claude  Lee,  consultant  to 
the  Treasury,  and  Ray  Beall,  cam- 
paign publicity  director.    Among  the 
guests  were :  Sam  Shirley,  distributor  ;t 
district     chairman ;     M.     Dudelson,  ^ 
Michigan  distributor  chairman ;  Don  \ 
Woods,  Wisconsin  distributor  chair-  f 
man ;  Earl  Hudson,  president  of  Unit-  w 
ed  Detroit  Theatres  and  exhibitor  co- 
chairman  for   Michigan;   Lew  Wis-.' 
per,  president  of  Wisper  and  Wets- 
man  Theatres  and  co-chairman  with 
Hudson ;  Harold  Fitzgerald,  general 
manager  for  Fox  Wisconsin  Theatres 
and    Wisconsin    exhibitor  chairman, 
and  Martin  Thomas,  Michigan  exhibi- 
tor co-chairman. 

Others  Present 

Others  who  attended  were :  John  f. 
Balaban,  advisor  to  the  Illinois  War  01 
Activities     Committee;     Kalmenson,  j: 
Warner  Brothers  general  sales  man-,  P 
ager;    Renslow    Sherer,    state   War;  jj 
Finance  Committee  chairman  for  II- 1  jj- 
linois;  Major  L.  Lohr,  Cook  County!  jj 
chairman,  War  Finance  Committee ;  01 
Jack    Kirsch,    Chicago    co-chairman,1  P 
WAC ;  Jack  Coston,  member  of  the 
advisory     committee     for      Illinois  f 
WAC ;    Edwin    Silverman,    also    a  ™ 
member  of  the  advisory  committee  ; ,  - 1 
Bill  Bishop,  state  publicity  chairman 
for  the  Fifth  War  Loan,  and  Dave. 
Wallerstein  and  Henry  Sticklemeier| 
of  Balaban  and  Katz.    The  latter  was; 
in  charge   of  arrangements  for  thei  p 
meeting.  I  L 

Jackson  Alabama.  Chairman 

Mack  Jackson  of  the  Strand  The- 
atre, Alexander  City,  Ala.,  has  been 
named  state  chairman  for  the  indus-  i 

try's  Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  R.  M.  t5r 

Kennedy,  national  vice-chairman,  dis-  |01) 

closed  here  at  the  weekend  from  cam-  ^ 

paign  headquarters.  _  _  tia 

Jackson  has  been  an  active  partici-  tK 
pant  in  previous  drives.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  legislature  and  through  sen 
his  efforts,  Alabama's  Governor  ^ 
Sparks  was  obtained  to  address  both  : 
Third  and  Fourth  War  Loan  meet-  fi, 
ings.  w 


First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  101 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  MAY  23,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Revised  OCR 
Set-up  Seen 
In  Washington 

Interests  Outside  Films 
May  Force  Changes 

Washington,  May  22. — Con- 
troversy over  activities  of  the 
recreation  section  of  the  Office  of 
Civilian  Requirements,  marked  by 
the  resignation  of  John  Eberson,  con- 
sultant, last  Friday,  is  expected  to 
culminate  in  other  personnel  changes 
within  the  next  day  or  two,  it  was 
learned  tonight. 

Although  OCR  officials  said  that 
Eberson  had  proffered  his'  resignation 
several  times  because  of  the  strain  of 
commuting  between  New  York  and 
Washington,  it  was  learned  that  he 
decided  to  quit  the  office  because  of  the 
unsatisfactory  situation. 

Basis  of  the  recreation  section's  dif- 

{Continued  on  page  10) 


RKO's  Gross  Is  Up 
But  Net  Is  Down 


Estimated  net  profits  of  Radio- 
Keith-Orpheum  for  the  first  quarter 
of  1944  will  be  about  $1,500,000  after 
estimated  provision  of  $3,000,000  for 
Federal  taxes  and  some  other  charges, 
it  was  learned  here  at  the  weekend. 
RKO's  net  for  the  first  13  weeks  of 
1943  was  $1,925,819  after  provision 
of  $1,406,454  for  taxes  and  other 
charges. 

Gross  operating  profit  for  the  first 
quarter  of  1944  will  run  about  $4,- 
500,000,  it  was  said,  compared  to 
$3,300,000  for  the  similar  period  in 
1943. 

Estimated  gross  profit  for  the  first 

{Continued  on  page  10)  . 


Expect  Big  Turnout 
At  Allied  Meeting 


Philadelphia,  May  22. — A  record 
turnout  is  expected  at  the  combined 
four-day  meeting  of  the  national  board 
and  caravan  of  Allied  States  Associa- 
tion scheduled  for  the  Hotel  War- 
wick here,  beginning  tomorrow. 

Allied  of  Eastern  Pennsylvania,  ob- 
serving its  fifth  anniversary,  will  be 
host  at  a  dinner  Wednesday  night, 
following  a  party  given  by  W.  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager.    Several  hun- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


'White  Cliffs'  Heads 
For  $120,000  to 
Equal  Big  1st  Week 

Business  at  New  York  first-run 
theatres  this  week  is  generally  on  a 
par  with  last  week.  Spotty  business 
at  several  houses  is  attributed  to  a 
decline  in  morning  and  afternoon 
attendance.  "The  White  Cliffs  of 
Dover"  and  a  stage  show  at  the  Radio 
City  Music  Hall  are  drawing  bigger 
in  its  second  week  than  the  first  on 
the  basis  of  the  receipts  of  the  first 
four  days  ending  Sunday  night,  which 
reached  $75,300,  and  $120,000  is  ex- 
pected. The  combination  will  enter 
a  third  week  on  Thursday. 

"Going  My  Way"  and  a  stage  show 
headed  by  Charlie  Spivak  and  band 
will  give  the  Paramount  a  highly 
profitable  third  week  of  $90,000,  equal 
to  the  second  week.    The  combined 

{Continued  on  page  6) 


28  States  Now  Levy 
Admission  Taxes 

Washington,  May  22. —  In- 
ternal Revenue  Bureau  offici- 
als here  report  that  taxes  on 
admissions  are  now  levied  by 
28  states  in  a  variety  of  ways. 
This  was  learned  during  the 
formulation  of  a  recent  or- 
der permitting  exhibitors  to 
show  their  established  price 
of  admissions  in  fractions  of 
a  cent,  where  a  state  tax  of 
this  denomination  is  passed 
on  to  the  public. 


'Honour'  to  Be  First 
'44-'45  Soskin  Film 


The  best  film  material  will  be  found 
in  Europe  after  the  war,  Paul  Soskin, 
British  independent  producer,  who 
just  returned  from  Hollywood  to  New 
York  en  route  to  London,  declared'  at 
the  weekend. 

Soskin,  while  in  Hollywood,  con- 
cluded a  deal  with  Arthur  Koestler, 
author  of  "Arrival  and  Departure," 
to  do  the  screen  adaptation  of  "Fame 
Is  the  Spur."  Negotiations  have 
started  for  Dudley  Nichols  and  Jean 

{Continued  on  page  10) 


April  Taxes 
$14,907,919 


Washington,  May  23.  —  Final 
month  of  the  one-cent-on-ten  Federal 
admission  tax  returned  a  revenue  of 
$14,907,919,  a  slight  increase  over  the 
March  total  of  $14,893,007,  it  was  re- 
ported today  by  the  Internal  Revenue 
Bureau. 

April  receipts,  more  than  $1,600,000 
above  the  $13,283,115  recorded  in  the 
same  month  last  year,  brought  the  to- 
tal for  the  first  four  months  of  the  year 
to  $58,640,047,  against  $48,203,382  in 
1943.  For  the  ten  months  of  the 
Government's  fiscal  year,  total  col- 
lections topped  $150,000,000  and  were 
$21,716,120  above  those  for  the  corre- 
sponding period  a  year  ago,  the  Bureau 
announced.  There  was  a  slight  down- 
ward trend  in  collections  in  the  third 
New  York  (Broadway)  district  which 
amounted   to   $2,228,332    last  month 

(^Continued  on  page  10) 


Big  Bond  Rallies  in  Phila. 
Minneapolis,  Des  Moines 


Nearly  1,000  exhibitors  and  distribu- 
tors pledged  their  efforts  to  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  in  rallies  held  over 
the  weekend  and  yesterday  in  Philadel- 
phia, Minneapolis  and  Des  Moines, 
according  to  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee headquarters  here. 

In  Des  Moines,  where  more  than 
200  gathered  yesterday  at  the  Ft.  Des 
Moines  Hotel,  a  goal  of  $9,000,000 
worth  of  sales  for  Iowa  theatres,  on 
a  basis  of  $5,000  for  each  of  1,800 
Iowans  killed  in  action  in  the  war, 
was  announced  by  the  state's  regional 
committee. 

With  A.  H.  Blank,  exhibitor  state 
chairman,  playing  an  important  role 
at  the  meeting,  and  G.  Ralph  Bran- 
ton,  general  manager  of  Tri-States 
Theatres  and  chairman  of  the  area 


WAC  special  events  committee,  pre- 
siding, R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  in- 
dustry chairman,  outlined  the  drive's 
objectives,  as  did  campaign  director 
John  J.  Friedl,  vice-chairman  R.  M. 
Kennedy,  publicity  director  Ray  Beall 
and  Claude  F.  Lee,  industry  consultant 
to  the  Treasury.  John  E.  Flynn, 
Western  sales  manager  for  M-G-M, 
represented  the  distributors  committee. 
Major  Allen  V.  Martini,  war  hero, 
also  addressed  the  gathering. 

Among  the  distinguished  guests  on 
the  dais  were  Lieut.  Governor  Robert 
Blue  of  Iowa  ;  Major  General  C.  H. 
Danielson,  commanding  officer  of  the 
Seventh  Service  Command ;  Bishop 
Gerald  Bergan  of  the  Des  Moines 
Roman  Catholic  Diocese ;  C.  R.  Dud- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


$2,000,000  in 
Para.  Notes 
To  Balaban 

Will  Ask  Stockholders  to 
Approve  Sale  June  20 

Stockholders  of  Paramount  Pic- 
tures will  be  asked  to  approve  is- 
suance and  sale  to  Barney  Balaban, 
company  president,  of  $2,000,000  in 
convertible  notes  of  the  corporation 
with  certain  surviving  stock  purchase 
rights  in  event  of  prepayment,  it  was 
disclosed  yesterday  with  the  issuance 
of  the  company's  proxy  statement.  The 
annual  stockholders  meeting  will  be 
held  at  the  Paramount  home  offices  on 
June  20. 

Paramount  is  also  asking  sharehold- 
ers to  approve  the  elimination  of  144,- 
672  shares  of  $100  par  first  preferred 
stock  and  555,101  shares  of  $10  par 
second  preferred  from  the  authorized 
capitalization  of  the  corporation.  These 
shares  are  authorized  but  are  not  now 
(Continued  on  pay  ■  10) 


Bruen,  Poole 
Talk  to  OCR 


Washington,  May  22. — Hugh 
Bruen  and  Robert  Poole  of  the 
PCCfTO  conferred  with  officials  of 
the  Office  of  Civilian  Requirements  to- 
day regarding  new  theatre  construction 
on  the  West  Coast  but  due  to  the  fail- 
ure of  Assistant  Attorney  General 
Tom  C.  Clark  to  return  from  St. 
Louis  as  scheduled,  "were  forced  to 
postpone  until  tomorrow  their  discus- 
sion of  the  situation  with  Department 
of  Justice  officials. 

The  two  West  Coast  exhibitor  rep- 

{Continued   on   page  10) 


Theatre  Equipment 
Outlook  Brightens 

Camden,  N.  J.,  May  22. — Reports 
of  definite  improvement  in  theatre 
equipment  delivery  prospects  and  dis- 
cussion of  the  effects  of  the  new 
IATSE  wage  agreement,  providing 
for  an  increase  in  wage  rates  of  sound 
service  men,  were  major  topics  at  a 
series  of  meetings  just  concluded  by 
district  managers  and  home  office  ex- 
ecutives of  the  RAC  Service  Co.  here. 

The  situation  on  parts  and  tubes 
was  discussed  and,  due  to  easing  of 
{Continued  on  pq/'f  10) 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  19' 


Seek  Way  to  Raise 
Exchange  Wages 

,  Film  exchange-operation  heads  and 
IATSE  officials  are  understood  to  be 
studying  possible  courses  of  action  that 
can  be  taken  to  secure  approval  of  a 
ten  percent  increase  for  thousands  of 
film  exchange  shippers,  inspectors  and 
poster  clerks  in  all  exchange  centers. 

As  reported  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily  recently,  the  Regional  War 
Labor  Board  in  Philadelphia  dismissed 
an  appeal  from  a  previous  ruling  by 
the  Wage  Stabilization  Director  deny- 
ing the  ten  percent  increase  for  ex- 
change service  workers  in  M-G-M's 
Washington  office. 

The  RWLB  ruling  on  the  M-G-M 
application  had  been  awaited  by 
IATSE  film  exchange  service  workers' 
locals  throughout  the  country  as  a  test 
for  all. 


Butterfield  on  Siegel 
Staff  at  MGM  Studio 

Hollywood,  May  22. — Allyn  But- 
terfield, who  recently  completed  his 
duties  as  a  liaison  between  the  indus- 
try and  the  War  Department,  has 
joined  M-G-M  and  been  assigned  to 
the  staff  of  M.  J.  Siegel,  production 
executive. 

Butterfield  had  eight  years  of  pro- 
duction editing  experience  before  en- 
tering the  newsreel  field  in  1923.  He 
resigned  as  managing  editor  of  Pathe 
News  in  1939  and  became  a  Republic 
producer  the  next  year,  later  serving 
as  director  of  photographic  relations 
for  Wendell  Willkie  during  the  1940 
presidential  campaign.  In  1941,  after 
the  screen  preparation  of  "Cavalcade 
of  Faith"  for  Jeffrey  Pictures,  he 
joined  the  War  Department's  bureau 
of  public  relations  as  motion  picture 
editor  and  .then  became  director  of 
motion  picture  activities  for  the  public 
relations  division  of  the  Army  Air 
Forces. 


Sherman  Promoted  to 
RKO  Film  Buyer 

Robert  K.  Sherman  of  the  RKO 
Theatres  film  booking  department  has 
been  promoted  to  film  buyer,  it  was 
announced  here  yesterday  by  Harold 
J.  Mirisch,  head  RKO  booker. 

As  Matthew  Polen  was  advanced  to 
head  booker  for  out-of-town  theatres, 
Joseph  Becker  moves  up  to  become 
his  assistant.  New  York  .  circuit 
bookings  will  continue  to  be  handled 
by  Ruth  Lowenthal,  under  Mirisch's 
direct  supervision. 


15,108  Theatres  Will 
Observe  M-G-M  Week 

An  additional  1,730  theatres  have 
agreed  to  play  an  M-G-M  feature  or 
short  subject  during  the  20th  anniver- 
sary observance,  set  for  June  22-28, 
bringing  the  total  cooperating  to  15,- 
108,  it  was  announced. 


Skinner  Gets  16mm.  Film 

San  Francisco,  May  22. — C.  R. 
Skinner  Manufacturing  Co.  here  dis- 
tributing photographic  and  film  equip- 
ment, has  acquired  a  $24,000  16mm. 
film  library. 


Personal  Mention 


STEVE  BROIDY,  Monogram  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  mana- 
ger, has  left  for  Hollywood. 

• 

Joe  Markowitz,  ■  former  M-G-M 
Chicago  office  manager,  and  recently 
discharged  from  the  Army,  has  re- 
joined the  company  as  Los  Angeles 
exchange  office  manager. 

• 

Miss  Marjorie  McCord,  secretary 
to  Richard  Wright,  Warner  Thea- 
tres Cleveland  assistant  zone  manag- 
er, will  be  married  to  John  Streib 
July  16. 

• 

Maurice  White,  associated  with 
RKO  theatre  enterprises  in  Cincin- 
nati, is  visiting  in  New  York. 
• 

F.    J.    A.    McCarthy,  Universal 
Southern  and  Canadian  sales  manager, 
will  leave  for  Charlotte  today. 
• 

Phil  Keenan,  general  manager  of 
Hillman  Magazines,  left  yesterday  for 
Kansas  City. 

• 

W.   E.   Weinshenker,  Universal 
Chicago  manager,  is  vacationing  in 
Ft.  Worth,  Tex.,  until  June  6. 
• 

Rudy  Norton,  PRC  Cleveland 
salesman,  has  resigned  to  join  the  lo- 
cal Paramount  exchange. 

• 

Miss  Ruth  Blostein,  United  Art- 
ists Cleveland  assistant  booker,  was 
married  last  week  to  Pvt.  Sid  Tait. 


I  EON  J.  BAMBERGER,  RKO 
Radio  sales  promotion  manager, 
is  a  grandfather.  A  son  was  born  to  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  Sheldon  Kaplan,  yes- 
terday at  the  New  Rochelle  Hospital. 
• 

Graham  Wahn  of  Warners'  home 
office  publicity  department,  became  the 
father  of  a  baby  girl,  Judith,  born  to 
Mrs.  Wahn  at  the  New  York  Hos- 
pital. 

• 

Charles  Zagrans,  RKO  Radio 
Philadelphia  branch  manager,  has  an- 
nounced the  engagement  of  his  daugh- 
ter, Evelyn  Mae,  to  Pfc.  Leonard 
Melnick. 

• 

Charles  Einfeld,  Warners'  adver- 
tising-publicity director,  returned  yes- 
terday to  the  Coast  after  a  six  weeks' 
visit  at  the  home  office. 

• 

Dave  Starkman,  former  theatre 
manager  in  Philadelphia,  has  joined 
the  local  Film  Classics  exchange  as 
salesman. 

Mort  Blumen  stock,  Warners' 
Eastern  advertising-publicity  head, 
left  last  night  for  Atlanta. 

• 

Melvin  Fox,  Philadelphia  exhibi- 
tor, recently  became  the  father  of  a 
son,  Roger,  born  to  Mrs.  Fox. 
• 

Max  Weisfeldt,  Columbia  short 
subject  sales  manager,  is  visiting  in 
Cleveland. 


Para.  Shorts  Meeting 
Opens  Tomorrow 

Oscar  Morgan,  general  sales  man- 
ager for  Paramount  short  subjects 
and  Paramount  News,  will  launch  the 
new  selling  season  at  a  sales  meeting 
at  the  Hotel  Pierre  here  tomorrow. 
This  is  the  first  of  a  series  of  meet- 
ings to  be  devoted  to  Paramount 
shorts,  which  will  take  Morgan  to  all 
key  exchange  centers.  Sales  person- 
nel from  New  York,  Boston,  New 
Haven,  Buffalo  and  Albany  will  attend 
the  New  York  meeting!  Subsequent 
meetings  will  be  held  as  follows :  May 
26,  Philadelphia;  May  31,  Dallas; 
June  2,  Kansas  City ;  June  3,  Denver ; 
June  5,  San  Francisco ;  June  12,  Chi- 
cago; June  13,  Cleveland. 


M-G-M  Backing  50% 
Of  'Bloomer  GirV 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  has  arranged 
to  finance  up  to  one-half  the  production 
cost  of  the  stage  musical,  "The  Bloom- 
er Girl."  The  show,  which  is  sched- 
uled to  open  in  September  is,  being 
produced  by  John  C.  Wilson  and  Nat 
C.  Goldstone. 


Extend  S chine  Standstill 

Buffalo,  May  22. — Federal  Judge 
John  Knight  today  signed  a  stipula- 
tion extending  the  terms  of  the 
Schine-Department  of  Justice  two-year 
standstill  agreement  of  May  19,  1942, 
until  May  31,  1944,  the  date  on  which 
trial  of  the  Government  suit  against 
Schine  is  scheduled  to  start. 


Roy  Haines  West  for 
WB  Sales  Meetings 

Roy  Haines,  Western  and  Southern 
division  sales  manager  for  Warners, 
will  leave  today  for  the  Western  ter- 
ritory, where  he  will  hold  a  series  of 
meetings  with  sales  personnel  of  the 
Denver,  Salt  Lake  City,  Portland, 
Seattle,  San  Francisco  and  Los  An- 
geles branches.  Haines  will  be  joined 
in  the  West  by  Henry  Herbel,  dis- 
trict manager  for  the  Coast  territory, 
who  will  accompany  him  on  the  tour. 

Monogram  Sets  Top 
Four  for  1944-45 

Hollywood,  May  22. — Monogram 
has  set  its  four  top  productions  to 
head  the  1944-45  program,  Trem  Carr, 
company  production  head,  announces 
here.  They  are*:  "Wonderland,"  star- 
ring Belita,  Scott  R.  Dunlap  produc- 
ing ;  "Alaska,"  with  Margaret  Lind- 
say and  Kent  Taylor,  produced  by 
Lindsay  Parsons ;  "Little  Devils,"  to 
be  produced  by  Grant  Withers,  and 
"Sunbonnet  Sue,"  another  Dunlap 
production,  with  Gus  Edwards'  music. 
"Alaska"  has  already  been  completed. 


Engels'  Reunion  May  28 

Philadelphia,  May  22. — Joe  En- 
gel,  Republic  branch  manager,  and 
Jack  Engel  of  Film  Classics  will  join 
about  45  other  members  of  the  Engel 
family  at  a  reunion  in  the  Adelphia 
Hotel  here  May  28.  Most  members 
are  in  distribution  and  exhibition  in 
the  industry. 


Major  Martini,  the 
'Dry  MartinV 

Major  Allen  V.  Martini,  who 
is  appearing  with  the  Fifth 
War  Bond  film  campaign  com- 
mitteemen on  their  16-city 
tour  to  report  drive  details  to 
exhibitors  and  distributors, 
flew  that  Flying  Fortress 
which  has  become  famous  as 
the  'Dry  Martini';  while  the 
members  of  the  crew  are 
known  as  'The  Cocktail  Kids.' 

The  23-year-old  Texan  holds 
the  Silver  Star,  Distinguished  \ 
Flying  Cross,  Air  Medal  with 
three  Oak  Leaf  Clusters  and 
the  DFC  of  Britain.  His 
'Cocktail  Kids'  set  a  record 
for  all  wars  when  they  shot 
down  23  German  planes  in 
15  minutes. 


Urias,  New  Producer 

Mexico  City,  May  22.  —  Feder 
Senator  Antonio  Franco  Urias  h:i 
organized  Filmos,  S.  A.,  to  produ 
films.  He  has  also  purchased  stoc 
in  Azteca  studio  here,  second  large 
in  the  country. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRE 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation  Rockefeller  Center 

A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'i  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

'LADY  IN 
THE  DARK' 

In  Technicolor  I 
GINGER  ROGERS 
JUY  MILLAND 


IN  PERSON 

lack  PEPPER 
Peggy  FEARS 
BLOCK  & 
SULLY 


B'WAY  i 
47th  St 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


The  Inside  Story  of  the  World's  Worst  Gangsters 
PARAMOUNT'S 

"The  Hitler  Gang" 

BRANDT'S  T      (~\    1>  P 

B'way  &  46  St.     VJ    U    U    D  J& 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda, 
and  holidays  by  Qufgley  Publishing  Company! 'inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100..  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York.l 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.   J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  Jam 


James  P.  Cunningham,  New 

Editor";  Hertert  V."Fecke7 Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,   Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  ^aI^,^}^A^^.^er^^^^% 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London      All  contents  copyrighted  lyf 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.    Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  lame. 
Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year, 


......   Entered  as  second  class  mattei 

in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c 


Tuesday,  May  23,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Brazil  Business  Is 

Up  30%:  Szekler 

— ■ — 

i  Theatre  business  in  Brazil  has  in- 
creased 30  per  cent  over  the  previous 
year,  it  was  disclosed  yesterday  by 
'Al  Szekler,  Universal's  general  mana- 
ger in  Brazil,  who  arrived  in  New 
York  over  the  weekend  from  his  head- 
quarters in  Rio  de  Janeiro. 

Business  there  is  expected  to  in- 
crease in  the  post-war  unlike  previous 
periods.  At  least  eight  new  houses 
|  were  built  last  year  throughout  the 
country,  and  another  theatre,  seating 
,j  2,000,  is  now  under  construction  in 
Sao  Paulo,  Szekler  added. 

In  the  six  month  period  from  Oct. 
1943  to  March,   1944,  the  Brazilian 
government  has  censored  41  American, 
12  Argentine,  4  Brazilian,  4  French 
and  British  films,  he  continued.  The 
government  has  been  very  cooperative 
with  the  American  companies,  as  evi- 
denced by  a  lack  of  adverse  legisla- 
:  tion  passed  or  contemplated.    A  rep- 
resentative of  the  American  Embassy 
'attends     all     conferences  involving 
American  companies  and  the  local  film 
'  interests  and  the  government,  in  pro- 
moting     inter-American  goodwill, 
j  Szekler  stated. 

•        'Phantom'  Is  Top  Grosser 

I    Universal's  "The  Phantom  of  the 
-  Opera,"  which  opened  in  nine  houses 
"day  and  date  in  Rio  de  Janeiro,  is  the 
"top   grossing   film    in   that  country 
breaking  all  records,  he  added.  At 
'  present  most  of  the  theatres  in  Brazil 
are  not  air  conditioned,  but  plans  have 
been  formulated  to  install  such  equip- 
ment for  a  large  percentage  of  the 
1,003  houses  after  the  war. 
'     Szekler,  who  has  been  with  Univer- 
.  sal  30  years,  25  of  which  he  has  spent 
in  Brazil,  is  here  on  his  first  visit  in 
i  four  years.   He  plans  a  trip  to  Holly- 
wood to  confer  with  studio  officials. 

!  MPOE,  Universal  to 
Talk  Classifications 

Negotiations  are  in  progress  be- 
tween Motion  Picture  Office  Em- 
1  ployes  Union,  Local  23169,  AFL,  and 
representatives  of  the  Universal  home 
office  headed  by  John  J.  O'Connor, 
vice-president,  looking-  toward  the  es- 
tablishment of  job  classifications  and 
minimum  and  maximum  salaries  for 
over  225  "white  collar"  workers  in 
the  Universal  home  office,  newsreel 
unit  and  non-theatrical  departments. 

MPOE,  which  previously  had  con- 
fined its  activities  to  Warners'  home 
office  and  subsidiaries,  took  over 
representation  of  the  Universal  office 
workers  through  the  AFL  in  April. 
The  present  contract  which  Universal 
has  with  the  union  will  expire  in  Sep- 
tember and  the  current  negotiations 
are  to  set  up  job  classifications  similar 
to  those  set  by  the  union  with  War- 
ners. 

Newsreel  Cameramen 
Pact  Faces  Delay 

IATSE  newsreel  cameramen's  lo- 
cals 644,  New  York,  and  666,  Chicago, 
are  not  expected  to  set  new  contracts 
with  the  newsreel  companies  here  un- 
til Pat  Casey,  film  labor  contact,  re- 
turns from  California.  Casey  is  not 
expected  to  return  for  several  weeks. 

Stumbling  block  in  the  negotiations 
is  the  unions'  demands  for  severance 
pay  and  the  desire  of  the  newsreels 
to  make  provision  for  apprentices  on 
their  cameramen's  staffs. 


400  School  Boys 
'Police'  Theatres 

Kansas  City,  May  22.— O.  F. 
Hitchler,  manager  of  the 
Summit,  community  theatre 
here,  has  introduced  to  thea- 
tres the  newly  formed  "Junior 
Officers,"  a  group  of  school 
boys  who  will  "police"  local 
film  houses  and  other  places, 
in  an  effort  to  prevent  van- 
dalism and  to  keep  down 
juvenile  delinquency. 

The  organization,  now  num- 
bering about  400  members, 
was  formed  by  the  community 
division  of  the  city's  welfare 
department  and  could  serve 
as  a  model  for  exhibitors 
troubled  elsewhere. 


Arrest  4  Stagehands 
In  F.  &  M.  Dispute 

St.  'Louis,  May  22. — The  contro- 
versy between  the  stagehands'  union 
and  the  managers  here  flared  up  again 
recently,  when  James  Arthur,  one  of 
the  managers  of  Fanchon  &  Marco's 
first-run  Shubert  Theatre,  caused  the 
arrest  of  four  members  of  the  union 
on  a  charge  of  trespassing. 

The  Shubert  employs  two  stage- 
hands who,  according  to  Arthur,  re- 
cently insisted  on  turning  on  the  house 
lights  momentarily  and  closing  and 
opening  the  stage  curtain,  in  defiance 
of  his  order. 

Arthur  said  he  discharged  them  and 
they  insisted  their  boss  was  Elmer 
Moran,  business  agent  of  the  union, 
and  not  Fanchon  &  Marco.  At  that 
ultimatum,  Arthur  called  the  police 
and  asked  for  the  arrest  of  the  two 
stagehands  and  of  two  other  union 
members  who  were  backstage  to  lend 
moral  support.  The  case  -  will  be 
heard  in  police  court. 

The  War  Labor  Board  has  under 
advisement  the  union's  wage  dispute. 

4  New  Navy  Films 
For  War  Plants 

Washington,  May  22. — Four  new 
short  subjects,  produced  by  the  In- 
dustrial Incentive  Division  of  the 
Navy,  are  now  available  to  war 
plants,  it  was  reported  here  yesterday. 

The  films  are  "Behind  Nazi  Guns," 
"The  Battle  Against  Shop,"  "For 
Distinguished  Service,"  available  in 
16  or  35  mm  prints,  and  "Your  Ship 
in  Action,"  available  in  16  mm.  only. 


400  Theatres  Book 
UA  'Open  Road' 

Both  the  Fox  West  Coast  and  Dent 
Circuits  have  booked  United  Artists' 
"Song  of  the  Open  Road"  for  early 
June,  Carl  Leserman,  general  sales 
manager,  disclosed  here  yesterday. 

The  film  will  have  its  world  pre- 
miere in  Portland,  Ore.,  June  1,  fol- 
lowing which  it  will  be  featured  in 
more  than  400  theatres  in  the  Fox 
and  Dent  circuits. 


Lefton  Gets  'Cassidrf 

Cleveland,  May  22. — Nat  L.  Lef- 
ton, PRC  franchise  holder  here,  has 
acquired  the  first  series  of  Harry 
Sherman's  Hopalong  Cassidy  films 
produced,  for  distribution  through  the 
Cleveland,  Cincinnati  and  Pittsburgh 
PRC  exchanges. 


$324,000  Windfall 
For  Fox  St.  Louis 

St.  Louis,  May  22. — Stockholders 
of  Fox  St.  Louis  Properties,  Inc., 
owner  of  the  Fox  Theatre  here,  will 
receive  a  windfall  of  a  $324,000  inter- 
est in  the  Academy  of  Music  in  New 
York,  which  has  an  annual  rental  of 
$175,000,  it  was  revealed  in  Federal 
Court  here  this  week  in  announcing 
an  offer  of  compromise  made  by  the 
bankrupt  Fox  Theatres  Corp.  of  New 
York. 

Claims  of  the  St.  Louis  company 
amount  to  $1,500,000  of  a  total  of 
$8,100,000  against  the  Fox  Theatres 
Corp.  The  offer  of  settlement,  which 
Federal  Judge  George  Moore  indi- 
cated would  be  accepted,  amounts  to 
an  18  per  cent  interest  in  the  Acade- 
my for  the  St.  Louis  stockholders. 
John  S.  Leahy,  attorney  for  the  trus- 
tees of  the  Theatre  Realty  Co.,  pre- 
decessor of  the  Fox  St.  Louis^  Prop- 
erties, Inc.,  told  the  court  the  compro- 
mise has  been  recommended  by  Fed- 
eral Judge  John  C.  Knox  of  New 
York  in  settlement  of  litigation. 

Blank  Gives  $225,000 
To  Iowa  Hospital 

Des  Moines,  May  22.— A.  H. 
Blank,  president  of  Tri-States  and 
Central  States  circuits  in  this  terri- 
tory, has  increased  a  bequest  to  the 
Children's  Memorial  Hospital  from 
$125,000  to  $225,000,  according  to  of- 
ficials of  the  Iowa  Methodist  Hospi- 
tal. 

The  hospital,  to  be  constructed  as 
a  memorial  to  Blank's  son,  Raymond, 
will  be  operated  by  the  Methodist 
Hospital.  The  cornerstone  was  laid 
a  week  ago. 

Stephens-Lang  Asks 
Jury  in  RKO  Suit 

Counsel  for  Stephens-Lang  Produc- 
tions, Inc.,  producers  of  a  series  of  six 
"Dr.  Christian"  films,  filed  a  demand 
for  a  trial  by  jury  in  Federal  Court 
here  yesterday  in  connection  with  the 
corporation's  $506,702  damage  suit 
against  RKO  for  alleged  breach  of 
contract. 

No  date  has  been  set  for  the  trial 
but  it  is  not  expected  that  the  case 
will  be  tried  before  next  Fall.' 

Legion  Rejects  One, 
Five  Acceptable 

The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
rates  "Delinquent  Parents,"  Judell- 
Progressive,  in  Class  B,  objectionable 
in  part,  because  of  "misplaced  em- 
phasis on  moral  values."  Five  others 
are  rated  acceptable. 

Approved  are :  "The  Canterville 
Ghost,"  M-G-M,  Class  A-l ;  "Call  of 
the  South  Seas,"  Republic;  "Detective 
Kitty  O'Day,"  Monogram ;  "Good- 
night Sweetheart,"  Republic,  and 
"Goyescas"  (Spanish),  RKO,  all 
Class  A-2,  unobjectionable  for  adults. 


San  Jose  Will  Build 

San  Jose,  Cal.,  May  22.  —  Direc- 
tors of  San  Jose  Amusement  Co.,  op- 
erating the  Jose,  Liberty  and  Victory 
theatres  in  this  area,  have  announced 
intentions  to  build  a  $200,000  house  in 
the  Bradley  Manor  district  here.  Com- 
pany executives  include  Ben,  James 
and  H.  S.  Levin  and  Walter  G. 
Preddy. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  22 
T  L.  BEDDINGTON,  head  of  the 
«J  •  films  division  of  the  British  Min- 
istry of  Information,  arrived  here 
from  the  East  today.  He  will  be 
the  guest  of  the  Academy  of  Motion 
Picture  Arts  and  Sciences  at  a  dinner 
Friday  night. 

• 

Universal  today  signed  Dick  Irving 
Hyland  to  produce  "Be  It  Ever  So 
Humble,"  starring  Martha  O'Dris- 
coll  and  Noah  Beery,  Jr. 

A.  W.  Schwalberg  and  Robert  Gold- 
stein of  International  have  arrived 
here  from  New  York  for  a  week  of 
studio  conferences  and  product  inspec- 
tions. ♦ 

M-G-M  has  purchased  "The  Ro- 
mance of  Henry  Menafee"  by  Paul 
Gallico,  and  assigned  Casey  Robin- 
son to  prepare  the  script.  Cliff  Reid 
will  produce. 

Lorraine  McLean,  formerly  with 
M-G-M,  has  joined  Monogram  as 
Trem  Carr's  technical  liaison  repre- 
sentative. 

M-G-M  announced  "Boys  Ranch", 
a  juvenile  delinquency  subject  based  on 
the  Amarillo  Institution.  Robert  Sisk 
will  produce  the  film. 

• 

Dale  Eunson's  novel  "Our  Moment 
Is  Swift"  has  been  bought  by  20th- 
Fox  for  an  Andre  Daven  production 
starring  Jeanne  Crain. 

• 

Frederick  Stephani  has  rejoined 
M-G-M  as  a  producer  after  an  ab- 
sence of  two  years. 

• 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO  Radio  presi- 
dent, arrived  here  from  New  York 
over  the  weekend. 

• 

N.  Peter  Rathvon,  RKO  president, 
will  leave  for  New  York  tomorrow  on 
the  Superchief. 


Goldberg  Cites  Films' 
War  Work  Modesty 

Philadelphia,  May  22.- — Con- 
trasted with  other  industries  engaged 
in  war  work,  the  film  industry  has 
done  practically  nothing  to  publicize  its 
vast  contributions  to  the  war  effort, 
declared  Harry  Goldberg,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity  for  Warner 
Theatres,  before  the  Philadelphia  Mo- 
tion Picture  Forum  in  the  Bellevue- 
Stratford  Hotel  here  yesterday. 

Goldherg  cited  a  long  list  of  big 
industrial  companies  which  use  na- 
tional magazine  space,  newspapers  and 
radio  to  advertise  war  production. 

He  also  cited  a  message  of  Harry 
M.  Warner,  Warners'  president,  to 
his  studio  staff  at  the  start  of  the 
war,  stating  that  the  company's  pol- 
icy would  be  to  concentrate  on  victory 
as  its  first  objective. 

Statements  of  military  leaders,  point- 
ing out  both  the  great  value  of  motion 
pictures  to  the  morale  of  the  soldiers 
at  the  front  and  the  all-out  cooperation 
by  the  industry  in  getting  films  to 
every  part  of  the  globe  where  our  sol- 
diers are  located,  were  quoted  by 
I  Goldberg. 


Coast  over  177  stations  of  the  Blue  Network  . . . 

...AND  EVERY  DAY  A  LOCAL  PLUG  FOR 
THEATRES  PLAYING  RKO  RADIO  PICTURES! 

:  \  '  '  |  •  ....... 

It's  "Hollywood  Star  Time".  1 .  the  biggest  daytime  attraction  on  the  air, 
because  it  presents,  in  a  "live"  show,  such  stars  as  Cary  Grant,  Ginger 
Rogers,  Rosalind  Russell,  Frank  Sinatra,  Joan  Davis,  Gary  Cooper,  Ethel 
Barrymore,  Eddie  Cantor,  Jean  Arthur,  Teresa  Wright,  Fibber  McGee  and  Molly, 
and  scores  of  others . .  .  plus  orchestras,  vocalists  and  other  entertainers. 

With  the  general  theme  of  "what's  going  on  at  RKO,"  the  program  is 
broadcast  direct  from  the  dining  room  of  the  RKO  Studios  from  12:15  to 


COAST  TO  COAST  Over  177  Stations  of  the  Blue  Network, 
12:15  to  12:30  P.M.,  Pacific  Coast  Time;  1:15  to  1:30  P.M.,  Mountain 
Time;  2:15  to  2:30  P.M.,  Central  Time,  and  3:15  to  3:30  P.M.,  Eastern 
Time-- Every  Day,  Monday  Through  Friday. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  1944 


Production  Is 
Heavy,  55 
Are  Shooting 


Hollywood,  May  22— One  of  the 
heaviest  production  periods  of  the  year 
registered  this  past  week  with  ten  new 
pictures  before  the  cameras  and  five 
nnishing  to  bring  the  total  in  work  to 
55.  The  previous  week  saw  nine 
started,  six  finished  to  total  49.  The 
production  scene : 

Columbia 

Started:  "Ever  Since  Venus,"  with 
Ina  Ray  Hutton  and  band,  Ann  Sav- 
age, Ross  Hunter,  Hugh  Herbert,  Billy 
Gilbert,  Glenda  Farrell,  Marjorie 
Gateson. 

Shooting:  "Bride  of  the  Vampire," 
"Tonight  and  Every  Night,"  "Under 
Western  Skies,"  "Kansas  City  Kitty," 
"Battleship  Blues." 

MGM 

Started :  "Son  of  Lassie,"  with  Peter 
Lawford,  Elsa  Lanchester,  Nigel 
Bruce,  Donald  Crisp,  Lassie. 

Finished:  "Maisie  Goes  to  Reno." 

Shooting:  "The  Thin  Man  Goes 
Home,"  "Ziegfeld  Follies,"  "Lost  in  a 
Harem,"  "Mrs.  Parkington,"  "The 
Picture  of  Dorian  Gray,"  "Thirty  Sec- 
onds Over  Toyko,"  "Secrets  in  the 
Dark,"  "National  Velvet." 

Monogram 

Shooting :    "Charlie   Chan   in  the 
Murder  Chamber,"  "Alaska." 
PRC 

Started:  "Seven  Doors  to  Death," 
with  Chick  Chandler,  June  Clyde, 
George  Meeker,  Michael  Raffeto, 
Gregory  Gaye,  Rebel  Randall.  "Rust- 
lers' Hideout,"  with  Buster  Crabbe,  Al 
St.  John,  Patti  McCarthy. 

Paramount 

Shooting :  "Fear,"  "Here  Come  the 
Waves,"  "Murder,  He  Says,"  "Two 
Years  Before  the  Mast." 

RKO-Radio 

Started:  "The  Pumpkin  Shell,"  with 
Sharyn  Moffett,  Jill  Esmond,  Una 
O'Connor,  Bruce  Edwards,  Clare 
Carleton,  Charles  Arnt,  Leona  Mari 
cle.  "The  Master  Race,"  with  Carl 
Esmond,  Osa  Massen,  George  Cou 
louris,  Nancy  Gates,  Stanley  Ridges,_ 
Helene  Thimig. 

Shooting:  "Farewell  My  Lovely," 
"Having  Wonderful  Crime,"  "Tall  in 
the  Saddle,"  "None  but  the  Lonely 
Heart,"  "Henvenly  Days,"  "Belle  of 
the  Yukon,"  (International)  ;  "Woman 
in  the  Window,"  (International)  ; 
"Princess  and  the  Pirate,"  (Goldwyn). 
Republic 

Started :  "House  of  Terror,"  with 
William  Terry,  Virginia  Grey,  Edith 
Barrett,  Helene  Thimig.  "Cheyenne 
Wildcat,"  with  Bill  Elliott,  Bobby 
Blake,  George  "Gabby"  Hayes.  "Any 
thing  for  a  Laugh,"  with  Richard  Ar 
len,  Ellen  Drew,  Charles  Butterworth, 
Richard  Bailey. 

Finished :  "San  Antonio  Kid," 
"Three  Little  Sisters." 

Shooting :  "Atlantic  City." 
20th  Century-Fox 

Shooting :    "A    Tree    Grows  in 
Brooklyn,"  "Laura,"  "Something  for 
the  Boys,"  "Keys  of  the  Kingdom." 
United  Artists 

Started :  "Dark  Waters,"  (Benedict 
Bogeaus)  ;  with  Merle  Oberon,  Fran- 
chot  Tone,  Thomas  Mitchell,  Fay 
Bainter,  Alan  Napier,  Rita  Gilman 
Beery. 


Big  Bond  Rallies  in  Phila.9 
Minneapolis,  Des  Moines 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

ley,  deputy  administrator  of  the  Iowa 
War  finance  Committee. 

Also  yesterday  in  Philadelphia,  an- 
other 2U0  gathered  at  the  Broadway 
notel  under  the  direction  of  chairman 
L.  J.  Finske,  who  obtained  23  pledges 
of  bond  premieres  from  independent 
exhibitors,  compared  with  95  lined  up 
at  an  area  meeting  in  Wilkes  Barre 
last  week. 

Largest  of  the  gatherings  took  place 
on  Saturday  in  Minneapolis,  where 
dUO  overflowed  the  Nicollet  Hotel.  W. 
A.  (Al)  Steffes,  veteran  independent 
exhibitor  leader,  who  came  out  of  re- 
tirement to  serve  as  state  exhibitor 
chairman  for  Minnesota  presided,  and 
led  the  gathering  in  a  rousing  welcome 
for  national  chairman  O'Donnell  and 
his  lieutenants. 

Praise  from  Governor 

Governor  Edward  J.  Thyre  of 
Minnesota,  welcoming  the  guests,  told 
the  gathering  that  Minnesota  was 
proud  of  its  accomplishment  as  "the 
leading  state  in  the  Union  in  the 
Fourth  War  Loan,  having  been  the 
first  to  exceed  its  quota." 

Among  other  guests  at  the  luncheon 
dais  were:  O.  J.  Arnold,  State  War 
Finance  Committee  chairman;  Leif 
Gilstad,  executive  manager,  state 
WFC;  W.  H.  Workman,  Minneapolis 
area  distributor,  chairman;  Clarence 
Chaney,  War  Activities  Committee, 
Minneapolis;  E.  J.  Ruben  and  John 
J.  McDonough  of  St.  Paul,  Charles 
Zinn  of  Minneapolis,  'Honored  100' 
winner ;  Norman  Pyle,  state  publicity 
chairman,  and  Ben  Friedman. 


Newark  Bond  Buyers 
Get  'Full  Interest' 

Newark  theatre  and  radio  men  en- 
listed by  the  Treasury  Department  for 
promotion  work  in  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive  will  meet  at  the  Warner  Broth- 
ers district  office  here  tomorrow 
to  dedicate  themselves  to  giving  the 
public  "full  interest  for  its  money," 
according  to  Adam  A.  Adams,  chair- 
man of  the  special  events  committee 
of  Essex  County's  amusement  indus- 
try, who  will  preside  over  the  session. 

Last  week,  Adams  and  the  members 
of  his  committee  lined  up  a  program 
of  five  major  events  planned  for  suc- 
cessive Monday  nights  throughout  the 


campaign.  There  will  be  a  voting 
contest  for  a  "Bond  Belle,"  who  will 
be  crowned  queen  of  a  ball  and  show 
at  the  Adams  Theatre  on  July  8. 

Two  film  premieres,  one  scheduled 
to  open  the  drive  and  another  for  the 
week  of  June  26,  are  tentatively  listed 
and  a  "Parade  of  Bands,"  with  20  or 
more  "name"  orchestras,  will  be  held 
at  Schools  Stadium  on  June  18.  A 
music  or  cultural  enterprise  will  be 
presented  by  the  Griffith  Music  Foun- 
dation on  July  3. 


Iowa  Triples  Fourth  Loan 
'Bond  Premiere'  Total 

Des  Moines,  May  22. — Nearly  three 
times  the  number  of  "bond  premieres" 
held  during  the  last  campaign  have 
already  been  lined  up  in  this  territory 
for  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  Dale 
McFarland,  state  publicity  chairman, 
has  announced.  A  total  of  134  are 
already  set,  as  compared  to  48  in  the 
Fourth  War  Loan. 

A.  H.  Blank,  exhibitor  chairman, 
and  Lou  Levy,  distributor  chairman, 
predict  that  the  grand  total  of  pre- 
mieres will  reach  200,  he  said.  When 
this  figure  is  reached,  it  will  mean  a 
premiere  in  virtually  every  town  in 
this  area. 

Exhibitors  in  Field  Set 
For  Fifth  Loan:  Richey 

Exhibitors  in  the  field  are  rapidly 
organizing  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign,  H  M.  Richey  of  M-G-M, 
representing  the  WAC  distributors' 
division,  said  at  the  weekend  follow- 
ing his  return  from  Buffalo,  Cleve- 
land and  Indianapolis.  He  accom- 
panied members  of  the  national  in- 
dustry committee  to  those  cities, 
where  he  addressed  regional  campaign 
meetings. 

"Every  state  so  far  visited  by  the 
national  committee  has  an  organiza- 
tion functioning,"  Richey  said. 


Kansas  City  WAC  Meets 
On  Fifth  Loan  May  29 

Kansas  City,  May  22.  —  The  War 
Activities  Committee  of  the  exchange 
area  here  will  meet  on  May  29  with 
representatives  from  distributors  and 
exhibitors  to  formulate  plans  for  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive.  E.  C.  Rhoden 
will  be  chairman  of  the  meeting.  Sev- 
eral representatives  from  this  area  at- 
tended the  regional  meeting  called  by 
national  industry  chairman  R.  J. 
O'Donnell  in  St.  Louis  last  week. 


TBA  Board  to  Meet 

The  board  of  directors  of  the  Tele- 
vision Broadcasters'  Association  will 
meet  here  next  Friday  afternoon  at 
TBA  headquarters,  500  Fifth  Ave. 


Shooting :  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe," 
(Cowan)  ;  "Guest  in  the  House," 
(Stromberg)  ;  "With  All  My  Heart" 
(Vanguard). 

Universal 

Started:  "Trail  to  Gunsight,"  with 
Eddie  Drew,  Maris  Wrixon,  Lyle  Tal- 
bot, Buzz  Henry,  Marie  Austin. 

Shooting:  "The  House  of  Fear," 
"Bowery  to  Broadway,"  "San  Diego, 
I  Love  You,"  "See  My  Lawyer," 
"Babes  on  Swing  Street." 

Warners 

Finished:  "The  Doughgirls." 

Shooting  :  "Strangers  in  Our  Midst," 
"Roughly  Speaking,"  "Objective 
Burma,"  "The  Conspirators." 


Rainy  'American  Day* 

Chicago,  May  22. — Loop  boxoffice 
receipts  rose  yesterday  afternoon  when 
a  sudden  rain  storm  drenched  the  "I 
Am  An  American"  celebration  at  Sol- 
diers' Field.  Film  stars  who  appeared 
included  Don  Ameche,  master  of  cere- 
monies ;  Joan  Fontaine,  Danny  Kaye, 
Joan  Leslie  and  Jane  Powell.  Warners 
filmed  scenes  of  the  observance  for  in- 
corporation into  the  short  subject,  "I 
Am  An  American." 


Egypt  Bans  'Spain' 

"Inside  Fascist  Spain,"  March  of 
Time  release,  has  been  banned  in 
Egypt,  it  was  learned  here  at  the 
weekend  at  the  20th-Fox  home  office. 
The  film  opened  in  Cairo  but  was 
withdrawn  at  the  request  of  the  Egyp- 
tian Censor  Board.  No  reason  for 
the  withdrawal  was  made  available. 


'White  Cliffs'  Heads 
For  $120,000  to 
Equal  Big  1st  Week 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
bill  will  start  a  fourth  week  tomor- 
row. Roxy  business  is  below  expecta- 
tions with  "Pin-Up  Girl"  and  a  stage 
bill  featuring  Connee  Boswell,  Wil- 
lie Howard  and  Raymond  Scott  and 
his  CBS  orchestra  headed  for  $75,-  ■ 
000  on  the  basis  of  the  $64,000  record- 
ed for  the  first  five  days  ending  Sun- 
day night.  The  combined  show  will 
hold  for  a  final  six  days  of  the  third 
week  with  20th  Century-Fox's  "The 
Eve  of  St.  Mark"  set  to  take  over  on 
Decoration  Day.  The  Capitol  ex- 
pects $53,000  on  its  third  week  with 
"Gaslight"  and  a  stage  show  featuring 
Phil  Spitalny's  "Hour  of  Charm"  all- 
girl  orchestra.  The  first  five  days 
ending  Sunday  night  brought  a  satis- 
factory $40,000  and  the  combined  bill 
will  hold.  Receipts  on  the  third  and 
final  week  of  "Between  Two  Worlds" 
and  the  Coast  Guard  show,  "Tars  and 
Spars,"  at  the  Strand  are  expected  to 
reach  a  modest  $35,000  on  the  basis  of 
weekend  business  of  $18,000.  War- 
ners' "Make  Your  Own  Bed"  and  a 
stage  show  headed  by  Cab  Calloway 
and  his  band  will  open  at  the  Strand 
on  Friday. 

$35,000  for  'Cobra  Woman' 

Universal's  "Cobra  Woman"  is 
headed  for  a  happy  $35,000  on  its  first 
week  at  the  Criterion,  which  ends  to- 
night, and  will  hold  with  M-G-M's 
"Meet  the  People"  set  as  the  next 
film.  Business  is  holding  up  at  the 
Palace  with  "Show  Business"  expect- 
ed to  get  $26,000  in  its  second  week 
on  the  basis  of  a  profitable  $20,000 
recorded  on  the  first  five  days  ending 
Sunday  nighjt.  The  17th  week  of 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  will  give 
the  Rivoli  about  $21,000  with  the  run 
ending  June  4.  Paramount's  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  is  set  to  open 
at  the  Rivoli  on  June  6.  "See  Here, 
Private  Hargrove,"  will  bring  the  As- 
tor  $16,000  on  its  ninth  week  and  will 
continue.  The  Globe  expects  to  get 
about  $15,500  on  its  third  week  of 
"The  Hitler  Gang"  on  the  basis  of 
satisfactory  weekend  business  of  $7,- 
500  and  will  hold  it  for  a  fourth  with 
20th  Century-Fox's  '  'Roger  Touhy, 
Gangster,"  set  to  follow.  The  second 
week  of  "The  Hour  Before  Dawn" 
will  give  the  Victoria  $13,000,  which 
will  be  but  slightly  under  the  first 
week's  receipts  of  $13,500.  This  is 
excellent  for  this  small  house  and  the 
film  is  expected  to  remain  for  two 
more  weeks. 

'Twain'  Ends  Run 

The  final  eight  days,  ending  the 
third  week  of  "The  Adventures  of 
Mark  Twain,"  will  give  the  Holly- 
wood about  $16,000,  which  is  far  from 
satisfactory.  Warners'  "Mr.  Skeffing- 
ton"  will  open  on  Thursday.  Business 
has  begun  to  fall  off  at  the  Manhat- 
tan, with  "Snow  White  and  the 
Seven  Dwarfs"  getting  $8,500  on  its 
seventh  week,  but  it  will  continue. 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  is  expected 
to  bring  the  Gotham  a  profitable  $8,- 
000  on  its  fifth  and  final  week.  Unit- 
ed Artists'  "It  Happened  Tomorrow" 
will  open  on  Friday.  The  Rialto  will 
do  a  comfortable  $9,000  on  its  first 
week  of  "The  Scarlet  Claw"  and  it 
will  hold  the  film. 


<  Tuesday,  May  23,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


'Hargrove'  Captures 
Smash  $16,000 


.  Cincinnati,  May  22.  — The  RKO 
Grand,  with  "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove" in  a  record  opening,  is  follow- 
ing through  to  a  terrific  $16,000,  esti- 
mated for  its  eight-day  initial  week, 
despite  unprecedented  hot  weather. 
Other  grosses  sagged. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  24-27 : 

"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)  (44c-50c-55c-65c- 
^5c)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Stage:  Sammy  Kaye's  orchestra,  Jack  Du- 
rant.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average:  $22,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

RKO   CAPITOL—  (2,000)    (44c -50c -60c- 70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week,  plus  Saturday  midnight 
show.    Gross:  $8,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"The  Cowboy  and  the  Senorita"  (Rep.) 
"Return  of  the  Ape  Man"  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY — (1,000)   (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,500.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Gums  of  the  Pecos"  (WB  Reissue) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $800.    (Average:  $800). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross 
$16,000.    (Average,  7  days:  $9,500). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

KEITH'S  —  (1,500)  (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days.  4th  week,  moveover  from  three  weeks 
at  the  RKO  Grand.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Aver- 
age: $5,000). 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"The  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

RKO    LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,   2nd   week,   plus   Saturday  midnight 
show.     Gross:  $5,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 
"Show   Business"  (RKO) 

RKO   PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:    $13,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB)  (2  days) 
"Penny  Serenade"  (Col.)   (5  days) 
"Too  Many  Husbands"  (Col.)  (S  days) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (44c-50c-60c- 
70c)  7  days,  2nd  week  on  moveover  from 
the  RKO  Palace.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Aver- 
age: $5,000). 


Reviews 


Propose  Memorial  for 
Second  Film  Studio 

Waukegan,  111.,  May  21. — As  an 
outgrowth  of  the  local  celebration  of 
the  industry's  50th  anniversary,  a 
movement  has  been  started  here  to  es- 
tablish a  memorial  at  421  North  Ave., 
where  the  S.  &  A.  Film  Co.  is  said 
tp  have  established  the  second  motion 
picture  studio  in  the  United  States — 
in  August,  1894,  a  few  months  after 
Thomas  A.  Edison  established  the 
first. 

The  proposal  has  been  made  by  Mrs. 
Bess  Dunn,  former  actress  at  the  stu- 
dio and  former  historian  of  the  Wau- 
kegan County  Historical  Society,  who 
was  introduced  at  a  recent  meeting 
of  the  local  Chamber  of  Commerce  by 
John  Mitchell,  manager  of  the  Gene- 
see Theatre.  At  about  the  same  time, 
the  Waukegan  News-Sun  carried  an 
interview  with  George  K.  Spoor,  who, 
with  E.  H.  Amet,  now  of  Redondo 
Beach,  Cal.,  founded  the  studio.  It 
is  claimed  that  they  developed  a  num- 
ber of  devices  which  later  became 
standard  in  cameras  and  projectors. 


Electronics  Output  to 
Be  Ruled  by  WPB 

The  radio  and  radar  division  of  the 
War  Production  Board  has  assumed 
responsibility  for  assuring  that  pro- 
duction of  electronics  equipment  con- 
forms as  far  as  possible  with  thd 
electronics  precedence  list  with  the 
dissolution  of  the  Army-Navy  Elec- 
tronics Production  Agency,  according 
to  Ralph  A.  Parker,  deputy  regional 
director  of  the  WPB  board  in  charge 
of  production  service. 


"Jungle  Woman" 

{Universal) 

Hollywood,  May  22 

A  BEAUTIFUL  girl,  primitive  to  the  extreme  in  her  desires,  is  the 
keystone  character  portrayed  by  Acquanetta  with  the  feline  charac- 
teristics of  a  jungle  cat  stalking  her  prey  when  mad  jealousy  goads  her 
on  because  of  thwarted  love  in  "Jungle  Woman."  Acquanetta  is  a  fe- 
male ape  changed  to  human  form  by  science.  Her  desire  fastens  on  a 
young  man,  the  fiancee  of  Lois  Collier,  daughter  of  scientist  J.  Carrol 
Naish,  who  is  seeking  to  determine  what  makes  the  reconversion  job 
tick.  She  slays  a  sanitarium  handyman  who  bothers  her.  After  one  at- 
tempt on  the  other  girl's  life  the  jungle  woman  stalks  her  to  crush  her 
to  death  in  an  ape-like  grip,  but  Naish  saves  his  daughter,  inadvertently 
slaying  the  jungle  woman  he  was  trying  to  render  harmless  with  a  drug. 

The  story  is  told  with  force  by  Naish,  Collier,  Milburn  Stone  and 
Evelyn  Ankers,  as  witnesses  before  a  coroner's  jury  with  flashbacks  re- 
vealing the  events.  A  look  at  the  dead  girl  in  the  morgue  reveals  she 
has  reverted  to  jungle  form,  and  the  scientist  is  cleared.  4 

Reginald  LeBorg  directed  smoothly  from  a  screenplay  by  Bernard 
Schubert,  Henry  Sucher  and  Edward  Dein,  with  Associate  Producer 
Will  Cowan  at  the  helm. 

Running  time,  60  minutes.    "A."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

Jack  Cartwright 

*"A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


'Jills'  on  Dual  Gets 
$28,500  to  Lead 
Brisk  San  Francisco 


"The  Drifter" 

(PRC) 

t*'TvHE  DRIFTER,"  Buster  Crabbe's  latest  for  PRC,  is  average,  plac- 

*■  ing  stress  on  drama  of  the  outdoor  variety.  Once  again  Al  (Fuzzy) 
St.  John  backs  Crabbe  on  the  comedy  end.  Patricia  Harper,  who  is 
credited  with  the  original  story  and  screenplay,  has  furnished  Crabbe 
with  a  dual  character  role.  As  "Drifter"  Davis,  he  is  a  sharpshooter  in 
a  medicine  show  engaged  in  looting  banks,  which  activity  is  ascribed  to 
Billy  Carson,  his  double,  a  genial  Robin  Hood  of  the  range. 

When  Davis  is  jailed  as  Carson,  the  real  Carson  is  afforded  an  oppor- 
tunity, by  working  in  the  show,  to  delve  into  the  ramifications  of  the 
plot.  He  discovers  that  Davis  has  been  working  with  Jack  Ingram,  the 
show's  publicity  man,  and  Ray  Bennett,  territorial  bank  examiner.  Fuzzy 
stumbles  on  the  situation  and  helps  Davis  break  jail,  mistaking  him  for 
Carson.  The  gang  is  eventually  apprehended,  following  a  series  of  mix- 
ups  between  Davis- and  Carson,  but  not  before  Ingram  has  killed  Davis. 
There  are  several  nocturnal  chases  with  shooting  in  the  dark,  but  in  the 
main  not  too  much  gunpowder  is  expended  for  this  type  of  film.  Several 
brawls  are  also  injected. 

Carol  Parker  is  the  film's  lone  female  and  has  very  little  to  do.  Jimmy 
Aubrey,  Slim  Whitaker,  Kermit  Maynard,  and  George  Chesebro  also 
appear.  Production  was  by  Sigmund  Neufeld,  while  Sam  Newfield 
directed. 

Running  time,  62  mins.  "G."* 

Charles  Ryweck 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


MPPDA  Meet  Awaits 
Borthwick  Return 

The  second  adjourned  session  of  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  Amer- 
ica is  expected  to  be  held  following 
the  return  to  New  York  of  George 
Borthwick,  treasurer  of  the  organiza- 
tion, who  is  now  on  the  Coast  making 
a  periodic  inspection.  Borthwick  is 
due  back  late  this  week. 

The  first  session  of  the  annual  meet- 
ing, on  March,  27,  was  devoted  to  re- 
election of  officers  and  to  president 
Will  H.  Hays'  report  on  motion  pic- 
tures in  wartime.  The  second  session, 
April  14,  was  given  over  to  commem- 
oration of  the  industry's  50th  anni- 
versary. 


'Heaven'  at  Stanley 

"Taxi  to  Heaven,"  an  Artkino  re- 
lease, will  have  its  American  pre- 
miere at  the  Stanley  Theatre  here  to- 
morrow. Herman  Rappaport  directed 
from  a  script  by  the  late  Eugene 
Petrov. 


Mexican  Producers 
Face  Cost  Rise 

Mexico  City,  May  22.  —  Now  that 
film  players  have  won  their  dispute 
with  the  National  Cinematographic 
Industry  Workers  Union  and  have 
their  own  independent  organization, 
they  are  demanding  of  producers  that 
all  player  contracts  hereafter  be  made 
on  the  basis  of  employment  by  the 
week  instead  of  by  the  production — 
more  pay  for  the  players  and  more 
costs  for  producers — and  that  the  pro- 
ducers put  up  $30,000  against  future 
salaries. 


GWTW  in  5th  Year 

M-G-M's  "Gone  With  the  Wind," 
continuing  its  record-breaking  run  in 
London,  recently  entered  its  fifth  con- 
secutive year  at  the  Ritz  Theatre,  Lei- 
cester Square,  according  to  the  home 
office.  The  second  longest  run  in 
British  film  history  was  established 
by  M-G-M's  "Ben  Hur,"  which  ran 
49  weeks  at  the  Tivoli  in  London  in 
1926. 


San  Francisco,  May  22.— Business 
hit  a  high  peak  for  the  Spring  here 
topped  by  "Four  Jills  and  a  Jeep"  and 
"Tampico"  at  the  Fox,  where  the 
gross  neared  $28,500.  The  Golden 
Gate  took  $28,200  with  "Passport  to 
Destiny"  and  Diosa  Costello  on  the 
stage.  "Man  From  Frisco"  opened 
big  with  $24,500  at  the  Paramount. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  22-25: 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Vniv.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200)  (45c-65c-85c) 
7  days,  4th  week.     Gross:  $9,500.  (Aver- 
age: $11,000). 
"Maltese  Falcon"  (WB) 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days. 
Stage:  vaudeville.  Gross:  $23,500.  (Aver- 
age: $21,800). 

"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN  GATE— (2,850)   (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.     Stage:    vaudeville.     Gross:  $28,200 
(Average:  $25,000). 
"Four  Jills  and  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (20th- Fox) 

FOX— (5,000)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$28,500.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"Man  from  'Frisco"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,740)      (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $24,500.    (Average:  $19,600). 
"See   Here,    Private   Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (2,306)   (45c-65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd 
week,  moveover  from  Fox.    Gross:  $13,200. 
(Average:  $12,100). 
"The  Lodger"  (20th-Fox) 
"Charlie  Chan  in  the  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

ST.     FRANCIS— (1,400)     (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  Paramount. 
Gross:  $14,500.    (Average:  $11,600). 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Swing  Out  the  Blues"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)   (45c-65c-85c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $16,900.    (Average:  $14,800). 
"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 
"Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

ESQUIRE— (1,008)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,400.  (Average:  $9,- 
000). 

"Address  Unknown"  (CoL) 
"Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

TIVOLI— (1,488)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:   $9,500.     (Average:  $9,000). 


'Gaslight*  Nets  $5,000 
Over  Par  in  Balto. 

Baltimore,  May  22.  —  "Gaslight" 
which  started  off  big  here  at  the  Cen- 
tury, had  a  splendid  weekend  and 
looks  like  an  easy  $22,500  this  week. 
"Address  Unknown,  aided  by  a  stage 
show,  is  in  line  for  $18,500  at  the  Hip- 
podrome. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  25 : 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (3,000)  (35c-45c-55c  and  60c 
weekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $22,500.  (Aver- 
age: $17,500). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2,405)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  4 
days.  3rd  week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average: 
$15,000). 

"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)      (30c-40c-60c)      7  days. 
Gross:   $13,500.     (Average:  $13,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

STANLEY— (3,280)  (35c-44c-55c-66c)  7 
Jays,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 

HIPPODROME — (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c) 
7  days.  Stage  show:  Marjorie  Gains  - 
worth,  Cy  Reeves,  Gautier's  Steeplechase, 
Three  Edward  Bros.,  Jerry  &  Jane  Bran- 
row.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Average:  $18,000). 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (20th-Fox) 

MAYFAIR— (1,000)  (35c-54c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average:  $7,000). 


Nichols  to  'Ideal'  Group 

Maurice  W.  Nichols  has  been  named 
Eastern  advertising  manager  of  the 
Ideal  Women's  Group,  publishers  of 
the  magazines  Movie  Life.  Movies  and 
Movie  Stars  Parade,  it  was  an- 
nounced here  yesterday  by  S.  F.  Nel- 
son, advertising  director. 


A  DE  LUXE  ATTRACTION 


FOX  THEATRE  ST.  LOUIS  MAY  25 

Fanchon  &  Marco  Theatre  Circuit— De  Luxe  house 


METROPOLITAN 


THEATRE 


WASHINGTON 


MAY  26 


Warner  Bros.  Circuit  — De  Luxe  house 


FULTON 


THEATRE 


PITTSBURGH 


MAY  27 


Shea  Theatrical  Circuit  — De  Luxe  house 


WOODS 


THEATRE 


CHICAGO 


JUNE  7 


Essaness  Theatre  Circuit  — De  Luxe  house 


RIVERSIDE 


THEATRE 


MILWAUKEE 


JUNE  2 


Warner  Bros.  Circuit  — De  Luxe  house 


PALACE 


THEATRE 


JACKSONVILLE 


JUNE  9 


Paramount  Florida  Circuit  — De  Luxe  house 


:OR  DE  LUXE  THEATRES 


10 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Tuesday,  May  23,  1944 


Revised  OCR  Set-up  Is 
Foreseen  in  Washington 


Theatre  Equipment 
Outlook  Brighter, 
RCA  Announces 


$2,000,000  in 
Para.  Notes 
To  Balaban 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

outstanding.  According  to  the  proxy 
statement  $15,926,452  will  be  added  to 
the  capital  surplus  of  the  corporation 
which  may  be  made  available  for  any 
authorized  purpose  "for  which  such 
surplus  may  be  used." 

An  agreement  was  entered  into  with 
Balaban  on  May  9,  the  statement  dis- 
closed, subject  to  approval  by  the 
stockholders,  to  sell  to  him  $2,000,000 
of  convertible  promissory  notes,  carry- 
ing interest  of  2^4  percent.  The  notes, 
according  to  the  terms  of  the  agree- 
ment, will  be  convertible  into  common 
stock  of  the  corporation  at  $25  a  share, 
the  closing  price  of  the  stock  on  the 
New  York  Stock  Exchange  on  the 
date  of  the  agreement. 

Plan  Three  Resolutions 

Three  resolutions  relating  to  addi- 
tional outside  directors,  selection  of 
auditors  and  sending  stockholders  a 
comprehensive  summary  of  annual 
meeting  proceedings  will  be  submitted 
to  the  meeting  by  stockholders,  the 
company  has  been  advised.  All  three 
are  opposed  by  management. 

The  present  board  of  directors  of 
16  has  been  renominated  for  reelection. 
Members  of  the  board  are :  Balaban, 
Stephen  Callaghan,  Y.  Frank  Free- 
man, Harry  D.  Gibson,  Leonard  H. 
Goldenson,  A.  Conger  Goodyear,  Stan- 
ton Griffis,  Duncan  G.  Harris,  John 
D.  Hertz,  John  W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  Austin 
C.  Keough,  Earl  I.  McClirftock,  Mau- 
rice Newton,  E.  V.  Richards,  Edwin 
L.  Weisl  and  Adolph  Zukor. 

'Best  Interests  of  Corporation' 

In  commenting  on  the  proposed  sale 
of  securities  to  Balaban,  the  proxy 
statement  declared,  "In  the  judgment 
of  the  board  of  directors,  it  is  in  the 
best  interests  of  the  corporation  that 
Balaban  should  have  an  opportunity 
to  acquire,  at  a  fair  and  reasonable 
price,  a  substantially  increased  inter- 
est in  the  common  stock  of  the  corpo- 
rtion,  and  that  this  can  best  be  ac- 
complished by  the  proposed  sale  to  him 
of  the  notes.  It  is  intended  that  the 
proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  notes  shall 
be  made  available  for  any  proper  cor- 
porate purpose  and,  among  other 
things,  may  be  used,  if  and  to  the  ex- 
tent the  board  shall  determine  that 
such  use  is  in  the  best  interests  of  the 
corporation,  for  the  payment  of  obli- 
gations and  purchase  of  stock  or  other 
securities  of  the  corporation." 


April  Admission  Tax 
Totaled  $14,907,919 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

aarainst  $2,283,512  in  March,  but  the 
district  ran  $440,000  above  the  $1,- 
786.818  reported  for  April,  1943. 

Box  office  collections  in  the  New 
York  sector  dronned  from  $2,074,806 
in  March  to  $1,964,280  last  month,  it 
was  shown,  but  tickets  sold  bv  brokers 
increased  from  $25,730  to  $42,588: 
tickets  sold  bv  nronrietors  in  excess 
of  the  established  rjrice  increased  from 
nothing  to  $17,379.  and  admissions  to 
roof  gardens  and  cabarets  jumped  from 
$182,975  to  $204,085. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Acuities  is  said  to  be  the  pressure  ex- 
erted by  baseball,  bowling  alley  and 
other  interests,  not  including  the 
theatre  industry,  for  new  facilities 
which  the  War  Production  Board  re- 
fused to  grant,  following  purported  as- 
surances by  section  officials  that  their 
activities  were  essential  to  the  war 
effort  and  should  be  cared  for  in  the 
same  way  as  the  motion  picture  needs 
of  war  areas  were  being  provided 
through  the  construction  of  new  thea- 
tres. 

So  serious  did  the  controversy  be- 
come that  it  reached  top  officials  of 
WPB,  including  Chairman  Donald 
Nelson,  who  is  understood  to  have 
ordered  a  reorganization  of  the  recre- 
ational section's  activities. 

While  neither  George  W.  McMur- 
phey,  chief  of  the  section,  or  other  of- 
ficials of  the  service  trades  division, 
would  confirm  the  rumor,  it  was  said 
that  McMurphey  also  might  step  out, 
clearing  the  way  for  a  new  organiza- 
tional setup  by  Donald  R.  Longman, 
chief  of  the  division. 

Longman  tonight  refused  '  to  verify 
reports  of  the  impending  reorganiza- 
tion and  said  that  there  were  no 
changes  contemplated  in  the  program 

'Honour'  to  Be  First 
'44-'45  Soskin  Film 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Renoir,  to  write  and  direct,  respec- 
tively, the  "Precious  Bane,"  by  Mary 
Webb,  he  said. 

As  previously  announced,  Ben 
Hecht  will  write  and  direct  "The  Life 
of  Shakespeare,"  in  Technicolor,  with 
Laurence  Olivier  sought  for  the  name 
role,  he  said. 

Soskin's  first  production  for  the 
new  season's  release  through  J.  Ar- 
thur Rank's  Eagle-Lion  Distributors, 
will  be  "Signed  with  Their  Honour", 
adapted  for  the  screen  by  Maxwell 
Anderson.  Arrangements  have  been 
made  with  Samuel  Goldwyn  to  star 
David  Niven  in  the  production  at  the 
Denham  studios,  and  negotiations  are 
being  completed  for  Elia  Kazan  to  di- 
rect. He  added,  however,  that  if  his 
return  to  London  is  prevented  by  the 
pending  Allied  invasion,  the  film  will 
be  produced  at  the  Samuel  Goldwyn 
Coast  studios,  starring  Jennifer  Jones, 
with  direction  by  Frank  Borzage. 

Production  costs  will  range  from 
$1,000,000  to  $2,000,000,  he  said. 

Soskin  disclosed  plans  to  produce 
both  in  Hollywood  and  London,  add- 
ing that  it  is  important  to  learn  Hol- 
lywood production  technique,  if  world- 
wide distribution  similar  to  American 
companies  is  to  be  obtained. 

British  independent  producers  dis- 
tributing through  Eagle-Lion  have 
discussed  with  Rank  post-war  plans 
for  a  dramatic  school  for  the  groom- 
ing of  British  players  for  stardom, 
Soskin  concluded. 


Levey-Levins  to  Build 

Vallejo,  Cal.,  May  22. — Ellis  Levey 
and  Ben  and  Jesse  Levin,  operators 
of  the  Rio  in  Richmond,  have  obtained 
building  priorities  for  construction  of 
a  400-seat  theatre  here. 


to  provide  recreational  facilities  in 
war  centers.  He  said,  however,  that 
a  statement  would  be  issued  in  the 
next  day  or  two,  clarifying  the  situa- 
tion. 

The  difficulties  of  the  recreation 
section  have  been  piling  up  over  a  pe- 
riod of  some  weeks  and  brought  an 
order  recently  that  officials  were  not 
to  talk  directly  to  newspaper  men  but 
were  to  release  information  through 
the  WPB  information  division. 

Several  items  contributed  to  the 
situation,  one  a  newspaper  story  that  a 
Western  baseball  entrepreneur  had 
been  offered  financial  assistance, 
which  is  not  within  the  power  of 
WPB  to  grant,  and  another  that  a 
Mid- Western  city  was  to  get  a  num- 
ber of  bowling  alleys.  Following 
publication  of  the  latter,  a  number  of 
applications  for  the  alleys  were  re- 
ceived in  WPB,  where  they  were 
turned  down. 

Officials  said,  however,  there  had  been 
no  friction  with  respect  to  the  thea- 
tre program,  in  which  a  respectable 
record  has  been  achieved,  with  some 
60  construction  and  rebuilding  jobs 
sponsored  by  OCR  given  WPB  ap- 
proval. All  of  the  criticism  and  pres- 
sure, it  was  said,  has  come  from  other 
amusements. 

Expect  Big  Turnout 
At  Allied  Meeting 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

dred  local  industry  members  will  be 
present. 

Caravan  sessions  will  be  held  to- 
morrow and  Thursday,  while  the 
board  will  gather  on  Wednesday  and 
Friday.  Between  25  and  30  Allied 
directors  and  caravan  leaders  from 
other  territories  are  slated  to  attend. 

Sidney  E.  Samuelson,  Eastern 
Pennsylvania  Allied  business  manag- 
er, announced  today  that  the  following 
officials  are  expected :  chairman  Ab- 
ram  F.  Myers,  Washington ;  president 
Martin  G.  Smith,  Ohio ;  and  execu- 
tive committeemen  Jack  Kirsch,  Illi- 
nois ;  Col.  H.  Cole,  Texas ;  William 
L.  Ainsworth,  Wisconsin ;  Roy  L. 
Harold,  Indiana ;  Meyer  Leventhal, 
Maryland;  P.  J.  Wood,  Ohio;  Hugh 
Bruen  and  Robert  H.  Poole,  Southern 
California ;  Jack  Fishman,  M.  A.  Al- 
derman, N.  Bailey  and  Dan  Pouzzner, 
Connecticut ;  Morris  Wax  and  Harry 
Chertcoff ,  Eastern  Pennsylvania ;  Ray 
Branch  and  Fred  Pennell,  Michigan ; 
Nathan  Yamins,  Arthur  K.  Howard 
and  Walter  B.  Littlefield,  New  En- 
gland ;  Harry  Lowenstein,  Irving 
Dollinger  and  E.  J.  Kelly,  New  Jer- 
sey, and  Fred  J.  Herrington,  Western 
Pennsylvania.  M.  A.  Rosenberg  of 
Pittsburgh  will  be  absent  because  of 
illness. 


RKO's  Gross  Is  Up, 
But  Net  Is  Down 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

13  weeks  of  1944  is  almost  25  per  cent 
higher  than  for  the  similar  period  in 
1943,  but  tax  provisions  are  being 
computed  on  a  basis  of  almost  66% 
per  cent  as  compared  to  42  per  cent 
for  the  first  13  weeks  of  1943. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

some  restrictions  by  WPB,  improve- 
ment is  expected  in  the  immediate  fu- 
ture. However,  a  few  types  of  tubes 
will  remain  critically  short  because  of 
military  needs.  Substitutions  have 
been  made  wherever  possible  in  such 
cases. 

With  reference  to  the  IATSE  pact, 
W.  L.  Jones,  vice  president  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  RCA  Service,  pointed 
out  that  service  rates  have  remained 
unchanged  for  more  than  six  years,  in 
spite  of  general  price  and  wage  rises. 
Previous  cost  rises;  such  as  the  wage 
rise  in  1941,  increased  travel  and  liv- 
ing expenses  of  field  service  represen- 
tatives, and  heavier  taxes  on  such 
items  as  telephone  and  telegraph  serv- 
ice, were  all  absorbed  by  RCA,  Jones 
said. 


RCA  Plans  Postwar 
Drive-in  Equipment 

Camden,  N.  J.,  May  22. — Plans  for 
distribution  of  sound  and  projection 
equipment  for  postwar  drive-in  thea- 
tres and  for  large-screen  theatre  tele- 
vision are  under  discussion  at  meet- 
ings being  held  this  week  by  salesmen 
and  executives  of  RCA's  theatre 
equipment  section  here. 

New  products  in  the  theatre  equip- 
ment, soon  to  be  announced,  were  dis- 
cussed. Homer  B.  Snook,  sales  man- 
ager of  the  equipment  section,  outlined 
prospects  for  manufacture  of  sound 
and  projection  equipment  for  the  re- 
mainder of  the  year,  and  declared  that 
delivery  prospects  are  definitely 
brighter  for  the  second  half  of  1944. 
Projection  equipment  deliveries  prob- 
ably will  show  some  improvement,  he 
said,  but  to  lesser  degree  than  that 
foreseen  for  sound  equipment. 

Home  office  participants  in  the  con- 
ferences are  Edward  C.  Cahill,  man- 
ager of  the  industrial  and  sound  de- 
partment ;  David  J.  Finn,  sales  man- 
ager of  that  department ;  Barton 
Kreuzer,  manager  of  the  theatre 
equipment  section;  Snook,  and  John 
F.  O'Brien,  assistant  sales  manager ; 
Charles  Underhill  and  William  V. 
Courtney. 


Bruen  and  Poole  in 
Talks  with  OCR 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
resentatives  are  understood  to  have 
protested  the  construction  program 
sponsored  by  Fox  West  Coast  The- 
atres, which  has  secured  a  permit  to 
build  one  theatre  and  has  pending  ap- 
plications for  five  more,  and  were 
said  to  be  prepared  to  ask  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  to  halt  circuit  expan- 
sions arising  under  the  OCR  pro- 
gram. 

OCR  officials  refused  to  comment 
on  today's  meeting,  but  it  is  under- 
stood that  the  Californians  discussed 
the  matter  with  George  W.  McMur- 
phey, chief  of  the  OCR  recreation  sec- 
tion, informing  him  that  independent 
exhibitors  on  the  Coast  were  able 
and  prepared  to  meet  all  needs  for 
additional  facilities.  The  session  was 
said  to  have  been  inconclusive  and 
Bruen  and  Poole  are  expected  to 
return  for  further  conversations  after 
talking  with  Clark,  probably  some  time 
time  next  week. 


The  Anzio  Beach-head  was  tough  going! 

BE  GLAD  YOU'RE  ALIVE 
TO  BACK  NUMBER  FIVE! 

Sure  it  will  be 
tough  going!  Let's  go! 

5*  WAR  LOAN 

The  Industry's  New  Job! 

Sponsored  by  War  Activities  Committee  of  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  N.  Y.  C. 


First  in 


and 

Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  102 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  24,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


f  British  Weekly 
|  Attendance 
I  Is  30,000,000 

Jumps  from  24,000,000 
In  10-Year  Period 


London,  May  23. — Attendance 
at  motion  pictures  in  England  has 
now  reached  a  weekly  average  of 
30,000,000,  a  jump  of  6,000,000 
from  what  was  considered  an  unsur- 
passable top  ten  years  ago,  according 
to  estimates  compiled  here  by  the 
British  Board  of  Trade's  films'  coun- 
cil. 

BOT  announced  at  the  same  time 
that  the  gross  footage  shown  in  Brit- 
ish theatres  during  the  year  ended 
Sept.  30,  1943,  was  44,768,000,000, 
compared  with  44,278,000,000  the 
previous  year.  Of  this  amount,  9,- 
013,000,000  feet,  or  20.13  per  cent, 
comprised  British  films,  which  the 
year  before  had  contributed  21.12  per 
cent  of  the  total.    The  non-British 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Bonds  Delay 
Anniversary 


Exhibitors'  field  celebrations  of  the 
50th  anniversary  of  commercial  motion 
pictures,  now  being  arranged  by  40 
state  exhibitor  chairmen  recently  ap- 
pointed by  Harold  J.  Fitzgerald,  na- 
tional director  of  the  observance,  will 
not  take  place,  in  most  instances,  until 
after  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive  ends 
on  July  8.  A  few  circuits  and  asso- 
ciations, however,  have  scheduled  their 
celebrations  for  next  month. 

Mid-State  Theatres,  Pennsylvania 
circuit,  has  chosen  the  week  of  June 
22;  Allied  Theatres  of  New  Jersey 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


SEC  Orders  Hearing 
On  RKO  Stock  Sale 

Philadelphia,  May  23. — The  Se- 
curities and  Exchange  Commission 
has  ordered  a  hearing  to  be  held  here 
May  29  on  the  application  filed  by 
Lehman  Brothers  of  New  York  for 
an  order  exempting  from  the  provi- 
sions of  Section  17  (A)  of  the  in- 
vestment company's  contemplated  pur- 
chase, with  Goldman  Sachs,  of  57,- 
337  shares  of  RKO  six  per  cent  pre- 
ferred stock  from  the  Atlas  Corp. 

The  requested  exemption  for  the 
transaction  is  necessary,  it  was  point- 
ed out,  because  Frederick  I.  Ehrman, 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Carmen  Trust  Suit 
Dismissal  Asked 
By  Special  Master 


Detroit,  May  23. — A  recommenda- 
tion of  dismissal  of  the  anti-trust  suit 
brought  in  1941  by  Greater  Detroit 
Theatres,  Inc. ,  against  Cooperative 
Theatres  of  Michigan,  Inc.,  and  seven 
distributing  companies,  has  been  made 
to  Judge  Arthur  J.  Tuttle  in  Federal 
District  Court  here  by  Donald  L. 
Quaife,  special  master,  to  whom  the 
case  was  referred.  Quaife  also 
recommends  dismissal  of  a  cross-bill 
filed  by  Cooperative. 

The  complaint  charged  booking  con- 
spiracy and  price  discrimination  on 
first  suburban-run  films  against  the 
Carmen  Theatre,  Dearborn,  and  in 
favor  of  the  Warren  Theatre,  op- 
( Continued  on  page  12) 


Bowl  Rally  to 
Launch  Drive 


Hollywood,  May  23. — The  indus- 
try's Fifth  War  Loan  drive  in  South- 
ern California  will  be  launched  on 
Wednesday,  June  14,  with  a  rally  in 
Hollywood  Bowl,  where  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury  Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr., 
will  address  an  assembly  of  25,000 
studio  campaign  workers  and  other 
film  representatives. 

Entertainment  will  be  furnished  by 
stars  supplied  through  the  Hollywood 
Victory  Committee,  and  the  Secre- 
tary's speech,  as  well  as  other  portions 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


'Free  Movie  Day* 
Every  Day  Urged 

Newark,  May  23. — Adam  A. 
Adams,  chairman  of  the  spe- 
cial events  committee  for  the 
industry's  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive  in  this  area,  has  pro- 
posed a  month-long  motion 
picture  theatre  program  dif- 
ferent from  any  tried  before, 
with  "a  seat  for  every  bond," 
by  which  patrons  would  be 
admitted  free  by  purchase  of 
a  bond  at  any  theatre  at  any 
time,  instead  of  on  a  specific 
"Bond  Premiere"  night. 


DecreeBefore 
Allied  Today 


Philadelphia,  May  23. — The  four- 
day  meeting  of  officials  of  Allied  States 
Association  opened  here  today,  with 
the  Allied  caravan  meeting  at  the 
Hotel  Warwick,  and  will  continue  to- 
morrow, when  the  board  goes  into 
two  days  -of  executive  session. 

Uppermost  on  the  board's  agenda  is 
a  summary  report  by  Abram  F.  My- 
ers, Allied  counsel,  on  the  status  of 
consent  decree  negotiations,  and  con- 
sideration of  the  Ohio  resolution  for 
a  Congressional  investigation  of  lack 
of  diligence  in  prosecuting  pending 
cases  under  the  Sherman  Act.  Other 
subjects  to  be  considered  are:  "high 
film  rentals  and  forced  percentage 
playing,  contract  provisions  relative  to 
checking  and  audits,  the  Ross  Federal 
Service  and  Copyright  Protection  Bu- 
(Contimted  on  page  10) 


CBS  Orders  Experimental 
Television  Transmitter 


Columbia  Broadcasting  has  placed 
an  order  with  General  Electric  for 
an  ultra-high  frequency  television 
transmitter  which  will  operate  on  ra- 
dio frequencies  nearly  ten  times  as 
high,  above  400  megacycles,  than  the 
present  CBS  television  station 
WCBW,  CBS  disclosed  here  yesterday. 
The  new  transmitter  will  be  installed 
in  the  spire  of  the  Chrysler  Tower 
in  New  York  from  which  CBS  now 
transmits  television  pictures  on  pre- 
war standards. 

The  order  is  claimed  to  be  the  first 
of  its  kind  in  electronic  development 
and  is  intended  to  back  CBS1  belief  in 
higher  television  standards  for  post- 
war broadcasting.  CBS  said  yester- 
day :  "We  know  that  General  Electric 
is  technically  far  advanced  in  work 


on  the  higher  frequencies.  The  order 
is,  of  course,  subject  to  obtaining  an 
experimental  license  from  the  FCC 
for  operation  on  this  frequency,  and 
is  also  subject  to  mutual  agreement 
on  specifications  and  cost.  The  pri- 
mary concern  is  to  make  practical 
field  tests,  at  the  earliest  possible 
time,  of  a  television  broadcasting 
service  on  higher  frequencies." 

Dr.  W.  R.  G.  Baker,  vice-president 
of  General  Electric,  added  that  his 
company  is  presently  "engaged  100 
per  cent  in  war  work  and  that  pres- 
ent restrictions  on  materials  and  man- 
power precluded  immediate  work  on 
the  transmitter.  He  added  that  de- 
velopment work  would  necessarily 
have  to  wait  "until  such  time  as  cer- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Republic's  68 
Titles  for 
'44-45  Season 


Yates  and  Grainger  Say 
Budget  is  $17,750,000 

Republic  yesterday  announced 
all  titles  for  the  68  pictures  prom- 
ised for  next  season.  The  company 
is  the  first  to  disclose  a  full  title 
schedule  for  1944- '45.  The  announce- 
ment, made  jointly  by  H.  J.  Yates, 
chairman  of  the  board,  and  J.  R. 
Grainger,  president  and  general  sales 
manager,  said  $17,750,000  has  been  al- 
located to  production. 

Eight  features  predominantly  musi- 
cal and  dramatic  and  slated  for  top- 
budgets  include  "Brazil,"  "Flame  of 
Barbary  Coast,"  "Lake  Placid  Sere- 
nade," "Storm  Over  the  Philippines," 
"Hit  Parade,"  "A  Fabulous  Texan," 
"Earl  Carroll's  Vanities,"  and  "Let 
the  Hurricane  Roar."    "Brazil"  con- 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Poole,  Bruen  Confer 
With  Tom  Clark 


Washington,  May  23.— Robert 
Poole  and  Hugh  Bruen  of  the  Pacific 
Coast,  Conference  of  Independent 
Theatre  Owners  after  conferring  yes- 
terday with  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements, carried  their  opposition  to 
broad  circuit  theatre  expansions  to  the 
Department  of  Justice  today,  meeting 
with  Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  General 
Tom  C.  Clark  before  leaving  to  at- 
tend the  Allied  board  meeting  at  Phil- 
adelphia tomorrow. 

The  mounting  opposition  to  the 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


Theatre  Guild  Enters 
Television  Field 

The  Theatre  Guild  will  produce  a 
series  of  television  programs  for  a 
manufacturer  of  a  nationally  known 
product,  it  was  learned  here  yesterday. 
The  sponsor  is  now  negotiating  for 
radio  time. 

Entry  into  television  was  previously 
indicated  in  Motion  Picture  Daily. 
The  Guild  is  also  understood  to  be 
negotiating  with  film  interests  for  pic- 
turization  of  many  of  its  valuable 
stage  properties,  with  Hal  Wallis 
figuring  most  prominently  in  the  dis- 
cussions. The  Guild  is  also  reported 
interested  in  the  establishment  of  a 
ballet  theatre  in  addition  to  continua- 
tion of  its  present  stage'  production 
activities. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1944 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


Cinema  Lodge  Will 
Install  Officers 


Personal 
Mention 

ANDREW  STONE,  United  Art- 
ists producer,  has  arrived  in 
New  York  from  Hollywood  for  a  two- 
week  stay. 

• 

Arthur  -  Sachson,  Warners'  as- 
sistant general  sales  manager,  and 
Jules  Lapidus,  Eastern  division  sales 
manager,  will  leave  today  for  Philadel- 
phia and  Washington. 

• 

Maurice  Bergman,  Universal  East- 
ern advertising  and  publicity  head, 
will  leave  for  the  Coast  at  the  weekend 
with  stopovers  at  Cincinnati  and  Chi- 
cago. 

• 

Bernard  Goodman,  Warners'  as- 
sistant exchange  operations  head, 
and  Max  D.  Black  of  the  real  es- 
tate department,  are  due  back  in  New 
York  from  Buffalo  today. 

• 

Lew  Schreiber,  executive  assistant 
to  Darryl  Zanuck,  has  arrived  in 
New  York  from  Hollywood  for  a 
week's  stay. 

• 

Sydney    Samson,    20th  Century- 
Fox  Canadian  district  manager,  was 
visiting  in  Buffalo  this  week. 
• 

Norman  Ayers,  Warners'  Eastern 
district  manager,  left  last  night  for 
Buffalo. 

• 

Louis  Phillips,  Paramount  attor- 
ney, has  returned  from  Chicago. 


Milestone  Gravely  III; 
Cromwell  Takes  Over 

Hollywood,  May  23. — Director 
Lewis  Milestone  was  reported  in  grave 
condition  at  the  Hollywood  Hospital 
late  today  following  an  emergency  op- 
eration for  a  ruptured  appendix.  First 
stricken  yesterday  while  directing 
"Guest  in  the  House"  for  Hunt  Strom- 
berg,  he  collapsed  at  his  home  this 
morning  while  attempting  to  leave  for 
the  studio.  Dr.  William  Branch, 'who 
performed  the  operation,  views  Mile- 
stone's chances  for  recovery  as  "fair." 

Meanwhile,  work  on  "Guest  in  the 
House"  has  been  suspended  for  a  few 
days  until  John  Cromwell,  borrowed 
from  David  O.  Selznick,  can  take  over 
the  direction. 


McConville  to  England 

Joseph  A.  McConville,  Columbia 
vice-president  in  charge  of  foreign 
distribution,  left  yesterday  for  En- 
gland, where  he  will  confer  with 
Joseph  Friedman,  managing  director, 
and  other  executives  in  the  British 
organization. 


S chine  Case  Subpoena 

Buffalo,  May  23. — Federal  Judge 
Knight  today  signed  an  order  to  sub- 
poena Frederich  Lorrey  of  Mount 
Vernon,  Ohio,  as  a  Government  wit- 
ness in  the  pending  anti-trust  suit 
against  Schine  Chain  Theatres,  Inc. 


Hollywood,  May  23 
/"\N  this  page  and  this  very 
space  February  2  was  a 
bevy  of  observations  about  "The 
Song  of  Bernadette."  Some  of 
them,    telescoped    in  brevity's 

causer   -—  — 

"It  is  not  the  calibre  of  ef- 
fort which  necessarily  will  dis- 
play staggering  returns  imme- 
diately, for  this  is  a  film  quiet  in 
mood  and  even  in  tempo.  It  is 
not  apt  to.  be  'sensational'  with- 
in the  meaning  of  the  term  as 
the.  trade  generally  accepts  it. 
More  likely  will  it  be  that 
grosses  will  build  steadily  and 
sustain  themselves  over  the  pe- 
riod of  the  run.  Moreover,  it 
is  entirely  possible  receipts  will 
scale  high  peaks  and  approach 
some  valleys.  But  it  is  also  very 
possible  the  averaging  off  proc- 
ess will  establish  this  attraction 
in  highly  formidable  brackets 
over  extended  periods  of  time." 

■ 

The  weeks  and  the  months 
have  rolled  by  since  this  film 
went  into  its  initial  playdate  in 
Los  Angeles.  Therefore,  what 
about  it?  Did  your  Nostrada- 
mus tiit  it  on  the  commercial 
side  or  did  he  not?  The  record 
of  early  first  run  dates  in  key 
cities  usually  sets  the  pace.  The 
Picture  Grosses  Department  of 
Motion  Picture  Herald  offers  as 
good  an  answer  as  any  extant. 

When  finally  reported  in  the 
Herald,  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette" tallied  a  gross  of  $1,914,- 
000  against  a  comparative  aver- 
age of  $1,280,000.  Percentage- 
wise, the  over  all  performance 
turned  out  a  handsome  149.5. 
At  that  juncture  the  picture 
had  played  23  theatres  in  16 
cities,  ranging  from  Baltimore 
to  Washington,  and  its  total 
playing  time  in  that  highly  lim- 
ited total  of  situations  and  thea- 
tres was  78  weeks.  In  all  cases, 
advanced  admissions  represented 
exhibition  policy. 

A  rapid  roaming  over  per- 
formance by  percentages  is  in- 
teresting by  a  wide  assortment 
of  diagnoses.  Here  are  a  hand- 
ful: 

First  week  in  Baltimore  194.1 
per  cent  with  a  slough-off  to  only 
97  per  cent  in  the  fifth.  First 
week  in  Chicago  217.2  and  184.2 
in  the  first  moveover  week 
which  was  the  sixth  of  the  run 
in  that  city.  First  week  in  Cin- 
cinnati 214.2,  in  Denver  131.1, 
in  Indianapolis  152.5,  in  Kan- 
sas City  83.3,  obviously  a  bad 
spot.    First  week  in  Hollywood 


183.1  and  171.6  in  a  downtown 
house  on  a  day-and-date  setup. 

Opening  stanza  in  Milwaukee 
showed  amazing  strength  at 
207.3.  The  sustaining  power  of 
the  long  run  at  the  New  York 
Rivoli  must  be  widely  known 
by  now.  But,  at  any  rate,  the 
first  week  there  showed  213.8 
per  cent  and  the  eleventh  131.5. 
■ 

Best  of  all,  not  in  money  be- 
cause of  size  of  theatre  but  rela- 
tively, was  the  initial  week  at 
the  Harris,  Pittsburgh,  where 
business  soared  to  287.1  per 
cent  of  average. 

On  the  crystal  ball  side,  if  this 
demonstrates  anything,  it  shows 
once  more  how  precarious  is  the 
business  of  trying  to  square  the 
future  with  the  predictions  so 
frequently  made  for  it. 

■  ■ 

Evaluation  of  the  musicians' 
deal  between  major  studios  and 
James  C.  Petrillo  will  bear  little 
resemblance  to  its  ultimate  pros- 
pective until  negotiations  for  a 
renewal  of  the  contract  just 
signed  get  going.  Retroactive 
to  April  1,  the  pact  runs  out 
March  31,  1946. 

Insofar  as  the  big  lots  are  con- 
cerned, the  terms  reached  after 
five  days  of  back-and-forth  are 
not  onerous,  but  the  case  of  the 
smaller  studios  and  several  doz- 
ens of  independent  producers,  is 
something  different.  It  is,  how- 
ever, in  the  precedental  phases 
of  the  arrangement  that  the 
speculation  and  the  rumination 
are  lodged. 

■ 

Standby  orchestras  are  now 
the  prevailing  order.  MGM, 
Warners  and  20th-Fox  each  will 
keep  35  men  employed  on  a  reg- 
ular basis,  Paramount  30,  and 
RKO,  Universal,  Columbia  and 
Republic  25.  Studios,  like  Metro 
and  TFC,  which  make  many 
musicals  face  no  problem  dollar- 
wise  or  employment-wise  be- 
cause they  reach  considerably 
beyond  the  minimums  set  up.  As 
it  goes  on  the  other  side  of  the 
ledger,  Paramount  made  far 
fewer  musicals  and  obviously 
found  its  requirements,  musical- 
ly, less  persistent. 

■ 

The  significant  point  is  that 
the  standbys  remain  exactly  as 
fixed  without  relationship  to  the 
ups  and  downs  of  the  musical 
requirements  of  the  employing 
studios.  Thus,  there  has  been  es- 
tablished a  manpower  base  not 
necessarily  dictated  by  needs. 
The  creation  of  this  is  regard- 
ed in  some  quarters  as  a  foun- 


Si  Fabian  and  Arthur  L.  Mayer, 
exhibitors,  and  Col.  A.  Ralph  Stein- 
berg have  been  elected  to  the  advisory 
board  of  Cinema  Lodge  No.  1366, 
B'nai  B'rith,  and  will  be  installed 
with  other  officers  at  the  lodge's  an- 
nual inaugural  meeting  to  be  held  at 
the  Hotel  Edison  here  on  Wednesday 
evening,  May  31.  William  S.  Gail- 
mor,  news  analyst  on  station  WHN, 
New  York,  will  be  guest  speaker. 

The  new  officers  who  will  be  in- 
stalled by  Harry  B.  Epstein,  past 
president  of  B'nai  B'rith  Grand 
Lodge,  District  No.  1,  include  Albert 
A.  Senft  of  Sterling  Sign  Co.,  presi- 
dent ;  S.  Arthur  Glixon,  Bernard 
Goodman,  Leo  Jaffe,  Samuel  Lefkow- 
itz,  William  Melnicker,  Alvin  T.  Sa- 
pinsley,  Norman  Steinberg,  Louis 
Weber,  Robert  M.  Weitman,  Robert 
Wile  and  William  Zimmerman,  vice- 
presidents  ;  Max  B.  Blackman,  treas- 
urer ;  Herman  Levine,  corresponding 
secretary ;  Julius  M.  Collins,  record- 
ing secretary,  and  Dr.  Charles  Good- 
man, monitor. 

Others  on  Board 

In  addition  to  Fabian,  Mayer  and 
Col.  Steinberg,  Cinema  Lodge's  ad- 
visory board  includes  Barney  Balaban, 
Joseph  Bernhard,  Nate  J.  Blumberg, 
Harry  Brandt,  Jack  Cohn,  Leopold 
Friedman,  Malcolm  Kingsberg,  Wil- 
liam Klein,  Abe  Montague,  Charles 
C.  Moskowitz,  Dr.  David"  De  Sola 
Poole,  Abe  Schneider,  Samuel  Schnei- 
der, Joseph  H.  Seidelman,  Murray 
Silverstone,  Nate  Spingold,  Herman 
Starr,  Major  Albert  Warner,  Harry 
M.  Warner,  Abraham  S.  Weber  and 
Adolph  Zukor. 

Griffith  Casualty  Suit 

Tulsa,  Okla.,  May  23.— Alleging 
that  Henry  C.  Sowders  died  on  March 
25  from  injuries  received  when  he  fell 
last  Oct.  20  at  the  Tulsa  Theatre, 
where  he  was  employed,  the  executrix 
of  Sowders'  estate  filed  suit  for  $20,- 
000  damages  against  Griffith  South- 
western Theatres  in  state  court  here 
today. 

dation — the  cement  and  steel 
kind — which  will  defy  dislodge- 
ment  in  the  future. 

This  is  why  the  ultimate  per- 
spective is  not  on  the  current 
horizon  and  why  it  cannot  be 
fathomed  on  the  basis  of  the  two 
year  deal  and  its  hardly  dry  sig- 
natures. 

■  ■ 

Here  is  one  of  the  best  stories 
Joe  E.  Brown  tells  about  his 
overseas  entertainment  trip. 

Enemy  planes  interrupted  an 
open  air  show  in  the  South  Pa- 
cific. The  boys  had  to  run  to 
cover. 

Commented  the  commanding 
officer:  "Those  Japs  made  a  lot 
of  enemies  tonight." 

■  ■ 

Thumbnailer  on  "A  Guy 
Named  Joe":  Here  comes  Mr. 
Jordan  in  a  P-38. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York.' 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke.  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter, 
Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Motion  Picture  Daily  Wednesday,  May  24, 1944 


i 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1944 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


7 


Atkinson  Challenges 
Discharge  of  Moore 


Chicago,  May  23. — Disapproval  of 
Mayor  Edward  Kelly's  appointment 
of  Samuel  Todd,  veteran  city  electri- 
cal inspector,  as  successor  to  Edward 
J.  Moore,  as  city  examiner  of  pro- 
jectionists, was  voiced  today  by  Gene 
Atkinson,  business  manager  of  Chi- 
cago projectionists'  Local  110. 

"As  Todd  is  a  non-member  of  our 
union,  we  will  not  recognize  him  and 
are  demanding  that  the  Mayor  give  us 
details  which  might  justify  his  ac- 
tion," declared  Atkinson.  The  Mayor's 
explanation  that  Moore  was  dis- 
charged "for  the  good  of  the  service" 
fell  far  short  of  satisfying  the  union, 
he  added. 

Moore  continues  as  projectionist  at 
the  United  Artists  Theatre,  which 
job  he  performed  in  addition  to  serv- 
ing as  city  examiner  since  1935.  In 
view  of  the  examiner's  office  being 
self-sustaining,  with  more  than  $15,- 
000  revenue  annually  from  the  pro- 
jectionists for  their  licenses,  the  union 
always  has  considered  it  as  its  own 
property,  and  Kelly's  discharge  of  a 
member  is  considered  as  unjust  re- 
buke. 


Reviews 


Grafton  Nears  End  of 
Loew's  Examination 

Examination  before  trial  of  Nicholas 
Schenk,  president  of  Loew's,  William 
F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution,  and  Howard 
Dietz,  M-G-M  advertising-publicity 
director,  in  the  $1,000,000  damage  suit 
pending  in  Federal  Court  here  against 
Loew's  filed  by  Grafton  Films,  is  ex- 
pected to  be  completed  soon,  it  was 
learned  yesterday. 

The  suit  alleges  that  after  a  dis- 
tribution deal  was  entered  into  with 
M-G-M  Pictures  of  England,  Ltd., 
Loew's  subsidiary,  for  the  complain- 
ant's film,  "The  Stars  Look  Down," 
the  company  here  delayed  release 
after  learning  that  20th  Century-Fox 
had  in  production  "How  Green  Was 
My  Valley,"  a  similar  film. 

Loew's  is  preparing  to  take  deposi- 
tions from  exhibitors.  Plaintiff,  it  is 
understood,  also  contemplates  calling  in 
key  city  exhibitors  to  the  trial,  which 
may  begin  in  June. 


Exhibitors  to  Receive 
Promotion  Plaques 

M-G-M  will  award  20  plaques  to  ex- 
hibitors for  the  best  campaigns  in  con- 
nection with  the  company's  20th 
anniversary  observance,  set  for  June 
22-28,  William  R.  Ferguson,  company 
exploitation  manager,  announced  here 
yesterday. 

Accessories,  including  pennants,  one- 
heets,  stickers,  valances,  plastic  pins 
V  ahd  badges,  bumper  strips  and  other 
items  have  been  shipped  to  exchanges, 
ill  addition  to  National  Screen  Service 
materials  also  to  be  used  in  conjunction 
With  the  observance. 


Clyde  Eager  Dies 


Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May  23.— Clyde 
Hager,  57,  veteran  vaudeville  artist, 
who  played  theatre  circuits  through- 
•  out  the  country,  died  here  yesterday 
following  a  heart  attack,  Hager  was 
on  a  tour  of  service"  camps  when 
stricken.  He  is  survived  by  two  sons 
and  a,  granddaughter. 


Home  in  Indiana 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

Hollyzuood,  May-  23 

'TP  HIS  attraction  runs  to  106  minutes.  It  runs  too  long  for  the  story 
it  tells.  "Home  in  Indiana"  is  chiefly  a  quiet,  idyllic-type  of  yarn 
concerning  itself  with  harness  racing.  Its  tenuous  story  thread  is  en- 
tirely about  horses,  Walter  Brennan,  who  once  bred  them  successfully 
and  fell  upon  hard  times,,  and  the  means  and  methods  by  which  he  re- 
gains his  one-time  self-esteem  and  reputation.  Means  and  method  are 
supplied  by  Lon  McAllister,  a  nephew,  who  arranges  a  mating  job  be- 
tween Brennan's  former  champion  and  a  prize  member  of  the  string 
maintained  by  Charles  Dingle,  his  neighbor  and  also  his  enemy. 

It's  done  in  the  dead  of  night  and  the  results  are  a  horse  which  wins 
the  $10,000  sweepstakes  in  due  time.  Everything  stems  from  and  to 
that  end  result,  backgrounded  charmingly  and  nostalgically  in  eye-ar- 
resting Technicolor.  The  parallel  narrative  vein  is  the  stumbling, 
bumbling  and,  finally  successfully,  romantic  strain  involving  McAllister 
and  Jeanne  Crain. 

"Home  in  Indiana"  is  escapist  in  the  purest  sense  of  the  word.  It 
bears  on  a  day  when  there  was  no  rationing,  no  war,  no  apparent  con- 
flicts to  mar  the  pleasantries  of  what  purports  to  be  the  placid  Indiana 
countryside.  Its  appeal,  pretty  apparently  dictated  by  "My  Friend 
Flicka,"  a  predecessor  picure  from  the  same  company,  seems  geared 
preponderantly  to  those  who  know  horses  and  hold  affection  for  them. 
The  conclusion  pretty  apparently,  too,  is  that  where  "Flicka"  did  busi- 
ness this  probably  will.  Miss  Crain,  fantastically  called  Char,  and  June 
Haver,  fantastically  called  Cri-Cri,  are  newcofners  who  don't  get  much 
opportunity  to  give  out  with  histrionics,  but  who  are  attractive  young- 
sters for  whom  the  future  could  be  much  worse.  Best  marquee  name  is 
Walter  Brennan.  The  supporting  cast  includes  Charlotte  Greenwood 
and  Ward  Bond. 

Henry  Hathaway  directed  and  Andre  Daven  produced. 

Running  time,  106  mins.   No  release  date  set.   "G."*         Red  Kann. 


Roger  Touhy,  Gangster" 

(20th  Century-Fox) 

CLOSE  adherence  to  the  facts  of  the  life  of  one  of  gangland's  "Greats" 
marks  "Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  as  unique  for  its  presentation  Jof 
the  unembellished  truth,  which,  by  the  excessive  use  of  detail  tends,  how- 
ever to  slow  the  action,  thus  making  for  a  picture  almost  too  documen- 
tary for  the  average  audience.  Beginning  in  a  blaze  of  gunfire  the  story 
gradually  cools  and  peters  out  completely — as  did  Touhy. .  ^ 

As  representative  of  the  typical  American  gangster  of  the'  1930's, 
Touhy's  character  has  been  drawn  carefully  by  Preston  Foster's  deft 
handling.  A  fine  supporting  cast  includes  Victor  McLaglen,  Frank 
Jenks,  Anthony  Quinn  and  Kent  Taylor. 

The  film  opens  with  the  "Terrible  Touhys"  chalking  up  another  vic- 
tory over  the  forces  of  law  and  order.  The  subsequent  kidnaping  of  a 
Wall  St.  broker,  William  Post,  Jr.,  who  owes  Touhy  money,  proves  the 
gang's  undoing  when  Henry  Morgan,  a  former  associate  of  the  gang, 
"squeals."  Touhy  passes  eight  years  in  Joliet  (111.)  State  Prison,  plot- 
ting a  "legal"  release,  which  fails  to  materialize.  He,  with  his  cohorts, 
stages  a  daring  escape.  State  and  federal  dragnets  close  in  and,  in  the 
dramatic  but  not  climactic  finish,  Foster,'  McLaglen  and  Jenks 
surrender.  , 

Robert  Florey  directed  from  a  screenplay  by  Crane  Wilbur  and  jerry 
Cady.   Lee  Marcus  produced. 
Running  time,  65  mins.    Released  in  the  July  block.    "G."*  . 

Helen  McNamara 


Coast 
Flashes 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Additional  Holiday  Shows 

Toronto,  May  23.  —  Theatres 
throughout  Canada  have  arranged 
pre-holiday  midnight  shows  and  spe- 
cial matinees  for  "Victoria  Day,"  to 
be  celebrated  tomorrow,  despite  the 
Dominion  order  that  the  holiday  be 
removed  from  the  statutory  list  for 
the  duration. 


$106,618  to  Red  Cross 

Charlotte,  May  23.  —  The  Red 
Cross  drive  netted  a  total  of  $106,618 
from  444  theatres  in  North  and  South 
Carolina,  it  was  reported  at  the  week- 
end by  Roy  A.  Smart,  WAC  coordi- 
nator here. 


WLB  Approves  Pay  Rise 

The  War  Labor  Board  has  ap- 
proved wage' increases,  retroactive  to 
Dec.  1,  1943,  for  employes  of  the 
S.  O.  S.  Cinema  Supply  Corp.,  under 
a  new  contract  negotiated  by  the  In- 
ternational Association  of  Machinists, 
AFL  with  whom  the  company  has  a 
closed  shop. 


GPE  Declares  Dividend 

The  board  of  directors  of  General 
Precision  Equipment  Corp.  here  yes- 
terday declared  a  dividend  of  25  cents 
per  share  on  the  company's  capital 
stock,  payable  June  15  to  stockholders 
of  record  June  3.  The  same  amount 
was  paid  on  March  15. 


Hollyzvood,  May  23 

NED  E.  DEPINET,  national  dis- 
tributor chairman  of  the  indus- 
try's Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  left  today 
for  San  Francisco,  where  he  will  meet 
with  distributor  groups  regarding  the 
campaign.  He  will  return  here  for  a 
similar  meeting  Friday,  attend  another 
in  Dallas  Monday,  and  then  go  to 
New  York. 
.  .  • 

Minor  Watson  will  have  a  featured 
role  in  Pararhount's  "A  Medal  for 
Benny,"  John  Steinbeck-Jack  Wagner 
original,  starring  Dorothy  Lamour 
and  Arturo  de  Cordova.  Shooting 
of  the  film,  to  be  directed  by  Irving 
Pichel,  has  been  postponed  until  next 
month. 

• 

Proceeds  from  the  premiere  June  7 
of  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  at  the 
Hollywood  Paramount  will  go  to  the 
Naval  Aid  Auxiliary  and  will  be  used 
to  open  a  new  service  canteen  and 
furnish  a  200-bed  unit  in  San  Diego's 
U.  S.  Naval  Hospital. 

•> 

William  Wright,  recently  returned 
to  Columbia  following  his  honorable 
discharge  from  the  Army,  will  have 
the  male  lead  in  a  murder  mystery 
tentatively  titled  "Death  Walks 
Alone,"  as  his  first  assignment.  Will 
'Jason  will  direct. 

• 

>  "Out  of  This  World,"  Sam  Cos- 
low's  musical  for  Paramount,  is  slated 
to  start  in  two  weeks  under  Hal 
Walker's  direction.  Eddie  Bracken, 
Diana  Lynn  and  Veronica  Lake  will 
star. 

• 

Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paramount 
vice-president,  left  here  by  plane  for 
Atlanta  to  attend  the  wedding  today 
®f  his  son,  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Jr., 
to  Miss  Jean  Perkins  of  Winston- 
Salem,  N.  C. 

f  • 
Leonard  Warren  and  Blanche  The- 
bonj  Metropolitan  opera  stars,  will  be 
feaf&red  in  20th-Fox's  "Irish  Eyes 
Are1* smiling,"  which  Damon  Runyan 
is  producing  and  Gregory  Ratoff  di- 
recting. 

• 

Hillary  Brooke  has  been  given  a 
featured  role  in  "Kitty,"  which  Mit- 
chell Leisen  will  direct  for  Para- 
mount. Paulette  Goddard  and  Ray 
Milland  will  co-star. 

• 

"Boomerang,"  by  Comm.  William 
C.  Chambliss,  former  member  of  20th- 
Fox's  publicity  department,  will  appear 
serially  in  the  Saturday  Evening  Post, 
prji'ir  to  its  production  by  20th-Fox. 

K..-J?:  i&tevens,  daughter  of  Sam 
oo$'  has^5een  signed  for  the  femi- 
nize lead  in  his  production  of  "The 
Kincaids,/' his  second  for  Columbia. 
./  ■''  • 

Dore  Schary,  producer  of  "With 
All  My  Heart,"  returned  to  Vanguard 
today  after  a  week's  hospitalization 
for  an  arm  infection. 

• 

John  Joseph,  Universale  advertis- 
ing-publicity director,  is  expected  to 
arrive  here  from  the  East  tomorrow. 
• 

Red  Skelton  will  report  for  induc- 
tion into  the  Army  at  Fort  MacArthur 
tomorrow. 


ems 


fOR  THC  RAVt  RIVICWS! 


"Ifs  a  bexeffice  cinch!"  -Hollywood  Reporter 

"Will  evoke  a  merry  melody  for  theatre  cash  registers!"  —M.  P.  Daily 
"A  wide  range  of  entertainment  all  expertly  geared  to  popular  taste!"—  Film  Daily 
"Has  lilt  and  sparkle,  an  attractively  presented  piece  of  entertainment!"-D*7y  Variety 


.  FOR  THC  STARS! 


Edgar  Bergen  and  Charlie  McCarthy,  Bonita  Granville,  W.  C.  Fields 
and  Sammy  Kaye  and  his  Orchestra  plus  the  screen  debut  of  a  bright 
new  star,  Jane  Powell,  direct  from  weekly  guest  star  appearances 
on  the  Bergen-McCarthy  radio  show  and  now  making  a  sensational, 
front-page  grabbing  personal  appearance  tour  of  14  key  cities! 


.  FOR  Wi  MUSIC! 


The  songs  America  will  be  singing  and  hearing, 
including  the  new  smash  hit  "Too  Much  In  Love",  introduced  by 
Frank  Sinatra  to  his  millions  of  air  fans! 


m\aimihu  ti  ir  a  rnr   nnnn  a  iin    nnrr>Aii  lllkir 


INTRODUCING 

Jane  Poweil 


"It  is  a  pleasure  to  state  Miss  Powell's 
wares  are  all  good.  She  is  lovely  to 
look  at,  has  an  enchanting 
personality,  sings  beautifully, 
acts  most  creditably  and  has  a 
radiant  vitality  which  is  captivating. 
She  is  a  natural  star  as  the  public 
will  attest  quickly,  for  her  initial 
picture  is  a  boxoffice  cinch." 

—Hollywood  Reporter 

"Jane  is  sure  to  carve  a  niche  for 
herself  in  filmdom's  Hall  of  Fame!" 

— Boxoffice 

"She  has  a  voice  and  personality 
equal  if  not  superior  to  any  player 
of  her  years  yet  presented 
on  the  screen!"    .     -Af.  P.  Herald 


CHARLES  R.  ROGERS  presents 


EDGAR 


CHARLIE 


BERGEN  and  MCCARTHY  *  GRANVILLE  FIELD 

Peggy  O'NEILL  •  Jackie  MORAN  •  Bill  CHRISTY  •  Reginald  Oenny  •  Regis  Toomey  •  Rose  Hob 


SAMMY  KAYE  ORCHESTRA  *  INTRODUCING  JANE  POWELL 

Specioltiet  by  CONDOS  BROS.  •  HOLLYWOOD  CANTEEN  KIDS  •  LIPHAM  FOUR  ■  CATRON  &  POPP  •  OU »ct»d  by  S.  SYLVAN  SIMOK 
Produced  by  CHARLES  8  ROGERS  •  Scr««nploy  by  ALBERT  MANNHEIMER*  Baud  on  a  ttory  by  Irvine  Phillipi  and  Ed, 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1944 


Anti-Alliance  Rally 
Set  for  June  18 


Hollywood,  May  23. — Sparked  by 
the  Screen  Writers  Guild,  a  planning 
committee  of  eight,  claiming  to  repre- 
sent 20,000  union  and  guild  members, 
today  issued  a  call  for  an  industry- 
wide mass  meeting  June  18  to  establish 
a  public  relations  front  and  repudiate 
the  Motion  Picture  Alliance  for  the 
Preservation  of  American  Ideals. 

Foremost  purpose  of  the  group  will 
be  to  seek  "a  simple  plan  for  continued 
guild  and  inter-union  activity  to  fur- 
ther the  war  effort  and  to  preserve  the 
basic  unity  of  our  industry  and  protect 
its  good  name."  Other  objectives  in- 
clude developing  the  industry's  post- 
war position  "as  a  dominant  world  in- 
fluence" and  preventing  curtailment  of 
the  freedom  of  the  screen. 

Methods  of  preserving  "the  eco- 
nomic and  general  welfare  and  consid- 
eration of  how  these  are  threatened  by 
systematic  campaigns  of  abuse"  are  on 
the  committee's  formal  agenda.  A  way 
to  establish  "a  truly  representative  and 
authoritative  voice  to  speak  for  the 
people  of  our  industry  through  con- 
structive public  relations"  will  be 
sought. 

Evidently  designed  to  emphasize  that 
the  program  is  non-political,  the 
agenda  stipulates  that  participating 
guilds  and  unions  are  to  be  limited  to 
the  declared  purposes. 

Say  MPA  Caused  Disunity 

It  was  charged  that  the  Alliance 
"has  spread  disunity  among  guilds  and 
unions  by  apparently  seeking  to  draw 
into  its  membership  only  a  few  mem- 
bers of  these  organizations  and  then 
attempting  to  turn  them  against  their 
fellow  members."  Also  that  the  Alliance 
is  disseminating  "irresponsible  charges" 
without  evidence  of  proof,  with  the 
result  that  they  "impugn  the  patriot- 
ism of  our  industry  and  hold  it  up  to 
public  contempt." 

The  planning  committee  is  composed 
of  Herb  Aller,  International  Photog- 
raphers Local  659;  Bill  Blowitz, 
Screen  Publicists  Guild  ;  George  Brad- 
ley, international  vice-president  of 
Building  Service  Employes,  Local  99; 
Sig  Nesselroth,  Studio  Painters  Local 
644 ;  William  Pomerance,  Conference 
of  Studio  Unions  and  Screen  Cartoon- 
ists Guild,  Local  852;  Mary  McCall, 
Jr.,  SWG  president ;  and  Howard  Es- 
tabrook  and  Emmet  Lavery,  the  latter, 
also,  representing  SWG. 


Hollywood  Bowl  Rally  Will 
Launch  West  Coast  Drive 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
of  the  program,  will  be  broadcast  na- 
tionally and  shortwaved  to  members 
of  the  armed  forces  overseas. 


Caravan  Given  Warm 
Reception  in  Denver 

Denver,  May  23. — Triumphing  over 
transportation  difficulties,  national  in- 
dustry chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell  and 
his  committeemen  came  here  today  for 
a  rally  of  five  states  in  the  Cosmopoli- 
tan_  Hotel,  where  they  addressed  a 
gathering  of  500  after  receiving  a 
gift  of  spurs  and  other  cowboy  accou- 
trements from  F.  H.  Ricketson,  Jr., 
Colorado  exhibitor  chairman. 

Robert  W.  Selig  of  Denver  pledged 
the  support  of  the  "Honored  100," 
selected  in  the  contest  he  headed  na- 
tionally during  the  last  drive.  Len 
Gruenberg,  district  distributor  chair- 
man, represented  national  distributor 
chairman  Ned  E.  Depinet.  Theatre 
men  from  Wyoming,  Montana,  Idaho, 
Utah  and  Colorado  were  in  attendance. 

Governor  John  C.  Vivian  of  Colo- 
rado headed  a  list  of  guests,  which 
included  Mayor  Benjamin  F.  Staple- 
ton,  Brigadier  General  Arthur  East- 
erbrook,  Paramount  vice-president 
Leonard  Goldenson,  and  Paramount 
executive  Sam  Dembow. 

The  national  committee  will  leave 
tomorrow  for  San  Francisco  for  a 
meeting  there  on  Thursday. 


Brooklyn  Officials  Will 
Move  Barometer  Hands 

Some  30  theatre  managers,  select- 
ed as  leaders  in  16  sections  of  Brook- 
lyn, attended  a  special  meeting  yester- 


day at  the  RKO  Albee  Theatre  to 
formulate  a  campaign  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive. 

Under  the  direction  of  chairman 
Charles  MacDonald  and  co-chairman 
Erwin  Gold,  the  managers  decided  to 
build  a  war  bond  sales  barometer,  ar- 
ranged in  clock-fashion,  on  Albee 
Square.  It  will  be  the  focal  point  of 
weekly  war  rallies,  with  all  downtown 
theatres  participating.  Local  public 
officials  will  be  invited  to  move  the 
hand  of  the  barometer  each  week. 

Present  at  the  meeting  were: 
Charles  MacDonald,  Erwin  Gold, 
John  L.  Fitzgerald,  Sydney  MacKean, 
Al  Zimbalist,  Sol  Handwerger,  Peg- 
gy O'Reilly,  Miriam  Brookman,  Har- 
ry Nestler,  James  Bergen,  Lou  Liss, 
Ed.  Sachs,  Murray  Scharf,  Joe  Beck, 
Sig.  Schwartz,  Al  Shor,  Al  Weiss, 
Jim  Bruno,  Larry  Grieb,  Lou  Levy, 
Paul  Binstock,  Murray  Alper,  Harry 
Mogelofsky,  Murray  Reisner,  Sig 
Wexo,  Lou  Goidel,  Monroe  Schram 
and  Murray  Greene. 


Whirlwind  Trip  Made 
To  Omaha  Meeting 

Omaha,  May  23. — Some  200  Ne- 
braskans  attended  a  Fifth  War  Loan 
industry  rally  in  the  Fontenelle  Hotel 
here  last  night,  addressed  by  national 
chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell  and  his  com- 
mittee caravan,  who  are  making  a 
whirlwind  tour  of  the  Midwest. 

Area  distributor  chairman  H.  B. 
Johnson  presided,  after  arrangements 
had  been  made  by  William  Miskell, 
state  exhibitor  chairman.  Among  the 
speakers  was  W.  Dale  Clark,  state 
War  Finance  Committee  chairman. 


Salesmen  May  Affiliate 

Des  Moines,.  May  23. — The  Iowa 
Film  Salesmen's  Club,  now  in  its  sec- 
ond year,  has  voted  to  communicate 
with  the  recently  organized  Motion 
Picture  Colosseum  chapter  at  Atlanta 
to  study  the  possibility  of  affiliation. 
The  Colosseum  was  organized  by 
salesmen  in  the  Southeast  "to  handle 
film  salesmen's  problems"  with  a  view 
to  becoming  a  national  group.  Pearl 
Robbins  of  the  Paramount  sales  staff 
here  is  president  of  the  local  organi- 
zation. 


RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  INC. 

TRADE  SHOWINGS 


OF 


"A  NIGHT  OF  ADVENTURE" 

NEW  YORK,  Wed.,  May  31,  II  A.M. 

RKO  Projection  Room,  630  Ninth  Ave.,  New  York,  N.  Y. 

LOS  ANGELES,  Wed.,  May  31,  I  I  A.M. 

RKO  Projection  Room,  1980  So.  Vermont  Ave.,  Los  Angeles 


DecreeBefore 
Allied  Today 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

reau,  serial  numbering  of  admission 
tickets,  Columbia's  policy  on  "Cover 
GGirl,"  and  the  forced  increase  of  ad- 
mission prices  for  particular  pictures." 

On  Friday,  Sidney  Samuelson, 
chairman  of  the  caravan  committee, 
will  report  to  the  board,  followed  by 
a  talk  on  theatre  maintenance  by  Vir- 
gil J.  Rader,  regional  representative 
of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Requirements. 
There  will  then  be  a  discussion  of  the 
experience  of  regional  leaders  in  se- 
curing the  "locally  needed"  status  for 
theatres.  Postwar  planning  will  also 
be  considered,  especially  the  disposition 
by  the  Government  of  motion  picture 
equipment,  participation  in  a  proposed 
all-industry  planning  conference,  tele- 
vision, and  a  "Don't  buy  another  de- 
pression" campaign.  H.  H.  Lowen- 
stein  of  the  War  Activities  Committee 
will  report  on  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive.  Under  the  head  of  unfinished 
business  from  last  Winter's  meeting  in 
Chicago,  the  board  will  hear  a  com- 
mittee report  on  enlarged  bulletin 
service  and  will  discuss  the  "Allied 
Bomber"  campaign. 

President  Martin  G.  -Smith  and  re- 
cording secretary  P.  J.  Wood  will  offi- 
ciate at  the  meetings.  The  caravan  is 
scheduled  to  hold  a  concluding  session 
on  Friday. 


Bonds  Delay 
Anniversary 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

has  announced  that  its  convention  in 
Atlantic  City,  June  20-22,  will  be  de- 
voted to  the  silver  jubilee  of  the  or- 
ganization and  the  golden  anniversary 
of  the  industry.  Others  have  also  set 
observation  dates. 

Meanwhile,  the  50th  birthday  has 
already  been  signalized  in  many  cities 
by  newspaper  editorials  and  large  dis- 
play advertisements.  Typical  are  the 
Staunton,  Va.,  Evening  Ledger, 
which  recently  carried  a  four-page 
section,  and  theatres  in  Easton  and 
Phillipsburg,  Pa.,  joined  in  a  full  page 
in  the  Easton  Express,  with  the 
movement  spearheaded  by  J.  F.  Os 
terstock  of  the  State  Theatre  in 
Easton. 

Editors  Dig  Back 

Also,  editors  of  scores  of  papers 
throughout  the  country  have  been  dig 
ging  back  into  files  and  interviewing 
old  residents  on  the  subject  of  the 
earliest  films  in  their  localities.  The 
Mansfield,  Ohio,  Journal  traced  the 
beginning  in  that  city  to  the  "Dream- 
land" in  the  Brunswick  Hotel  building 
in  1906.    The  Richmond,  Va.,  Times- 
Dispatch  found  the  first  nickelodeon 
there  to  have  been  opened  in  a  tent 
near  what  is  now  the  Colonial  Thea 
tre.    The  Erie,  Pa.,  Times  recalled 
nothing  earlier  than  the  Nelson-Britt 
fight  pictures  at  the  Majestic  Thea- 
tre in  1906.     The  Allentown,  Pa., 
Call-Chronicle  credited  the  late  Ly 
man  H.  Howe  with  bringing  the  first 
"bona  fide"  films  to  town — after  giv 
ing  up  his  local  coal  mining  operations 
the  moment  he  heard  of  motion  pic 
tures  in  New  York,  organizing  his 
own  company  and  going  to  London 
where  he  put  on  an  early  film  pro- 
gram at  Buckingham  Palace. 


CBS  to  Experiment 
On  New  Equipment 


{Continued  from  page  1)  -  '; 

tain  tools  and  techniques  now  re- 
stricted for  military  services  are  de- 
classified"— lifted  of  military  secrecy. 

The  new  transmitter,  according  to 
CBS,  is  intended  to  broadcast  "high 
fidelity  television  pictures"  containing 
twice  as  many  picture  elements  as 
present  standards,  and  should  also 
make  possible  the  transmission  of 
high-fidelity  pictures  in  color,  it  was 
said.  It  will  operate  on  a  power  of 
one-kilowatt.  This  contrasts  with  40 
kilowatts  contemplated  by  CBS  for 
broadcasting  the  lower  standards  on 
its  present  frequency  of  56  megacy- 
cles ;  it  was  pointed  out  by  CBS  that 
far  less  power  is  required  on  very 
high  frequencies.  CBS  has  placed 
an  order,  also  with  GE,  for  a  40 
kilowatt  transmitter.  Paul  W.  Kes- 
ten,  CBS  executive  vice-president, 
pointed  out  that  as  a  result  of  both 
orders,  CBS  will  be  able  to  telecast 
on  both  standards  after  the  war.  The 
company  is  applying  to  the  War  Pro- 
duction Board  for  the  release  of  the 
necessary  materials  to  permit  the 
earliest  possible  work  on  the  new  ex- 
perimental transmitter. 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


ii 


'My  Way'  Pulls  Big 
$34,000  in  Boston 


Boston,  May  23. — Business  here  is 
still  affected  somewhat  by  the  new 
taxes  but  not  to  the  extent  of  the  past 
weeks.  "Going  My  Way"  has  taken 
the  town  by  storm  pulling  $34,000  into 
the  Metropolitan.  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove"  has  been  a  hit  at  the  State 
and  the  Orpheum  taking  a  combined 
$46,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
^ending  May  24 : 

^"Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

BOSTON— (3,200)    (44c-55c-65c-85c-$1.10)  7 
days.      Stage    show    with    Xavier  Cugat. 
Gross:  $28,000.    (Average:  $28,300). 
"The  Man  Down  Under"  (M-G-M) 
"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 
FENWAY — (1,373)    (40c-55c-75c)    7  days, 
i  Gross:  $5,800.    (Average:  $7,000). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 
:     MAJESTIC  —  (1,400)    (65c-$1.10)    7  days. 
Gross:  $34,000.    (Average:  $16,000). 
"Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"Going  My  Way"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,367)  (44c-55c-65c- 
85c)  Gross:  $34,000.    (Average:  $23,000). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 
MEMORIAL  —  (2,900)    (44c-55c-65c-74c)  7 
i  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $31,000.  (Average: 
$23,000). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM  —  (2,900)    (44c-55c-65c-74c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $30,000.     (Average.  $24,000). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

STATE— (3,200)   (44c-55c-65c-74c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"The  Man  Down  Under"  (M-G-M) 
"Ladv.  Let's  Dance"  (Mon.) 

PARAMOUNT  —  (1.700)  (44c-55c-65c-74c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $15,000.  -  (Average:  $16,700). 


'Boys'  on  Dual  Tops 
Providence  Take 

Providence,  May  23. — Business  con- 
tinued slightlv  off  here  the  past  week. 
RKO-Albee  grossed  a  nice  $15,000. 
however,  with  "Follow  the  Boys" 
and  "Three  Russian  Girls."  "Gaslight" 
was  good  for  $12,000  in  its  second 
week  at  Loew's  State. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  25 : 

"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 

RKO-ALREEr-(2.239)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average:  $12,800). 
"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 
"Sailor's  Holiday"  (Col.) 

STRAND— (2,200)  (44c -55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,600.    (Average:  $10,500). 
"Ga^lieht"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3.232)  (35c-44c-55c)  7 
davs.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average: 
$17,700). 

"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

MAJESTIC— (2.250)    (35c-44c-55c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average:  $12,100). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Monster  Maker"  (PRO 

FAY'S  —  (1. 800)     (35c-44c-55c)     7  days 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"The  Purnle  Heart"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Pardon  Mv  Rhvthm"  (Univ.) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)    7  days. 
2nd   week,   moveover  from   Fay's.  Gross- 
S4.000.    (Average:  *4.000). 
"TT>»  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

METROPOLITAN— (3.0501  (50c-60r-70c)  ? 
days.  On  stace;  CaT>  Callowav's  Orches- 
tra.   Gross:  $7,500.    (Average:  $7,900). 


Cincinnati  Theatre 
Lowers  Admissions 

Cincinnati,  May  23.  — The  RKO 
Albee  here,  currently  playing  stage 
shows  with  films,  has  lowered  week- 
day prices  to  44  cents  until  1  P.M. : 
55  cents  for  the  matinee,  and  85  cents 
for  evening  performances. 

The  new  Saturday  scale  has  admis- 
sions set  at  55  cents  to  1  P.M.,  and 
85  cents  until  closing  time.  Previous 
scale  started  at  50  cents  and  ranged  to 
95  cents  top  admission. 


'AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


OF   10  LEADING  NEW  FILMS  RE- 
COMMENDED BY  THIS  WEEK'S "TIME" 
AS  "CURRENT  AND  CHOICE,"  5  ARE 
PARAMOUNT  HITS  -  5  TIMES  MORE 
THAN  ANY  OTHER  SINGLE  COMPANY. 
LIST  IS  HEADED  BY  THE  HITLER  GANG 
AND   INCLUDES  "GOING  MY  WAY," 
"MEMPHIS  BELLE, ""THE  UNINVITED" 
AND  "THE  MIRACLE  OF  MORGAN'S 
CREEK."  . 


'Two  Worlds'  Heads 

For  $24,500 

In  Philadelphia  Run 


Philadelphia,  May  23. — "Between 
Two  Worlds"  at  the  Mastbaum  started 
big  with  $Z4,500  indicated  for  the 
week.  The  only  other  new  major 
opening  this  week,  "The  Heavenly 
Body"  at  the  Aldine,  pointed  to  $13,200 
with  $2,500  already  in  for  the  dual 
Sunday  showing  at  the  Earle. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  24-26 : 

"The  Heavenly  Bcdy"  (M-G-M) 

ALDINE— (900)   (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $13,500.    (Average:  $14,600). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

ARCADIA  —  (600)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,300.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

BOYD— (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $16,500.  (Average: 
$18,000). . 

"Lady    Let's    Dance"    (Mono.)     (6  days) 
$17,600 

"The   Heavenly   Body"    (M-G-M)    (1  day) 
$2,500 

EARLE  —  (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville  including  Teddy  Powell's  or- 
chestra,   Virginia    Weidler,    Hibbert,  Byrd 

6  La  Rue,  Frank  Paris,  Peggy  Mann,  Skip 
Nelson,  Charles  Venturo  and  Fete  Condoli. 
Gross:  $17,600.    (Average:  $27,600). 
"Buffalo  Bi'l"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX  —  (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $14,800.  (Average: 
$20,500). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

KARLTON  — (1,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  run.    Gross:  $8,000.  (Av- 
erage: $6,600). 
"The  Sullivans"  (20th-Fox) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 

7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average: 
$5,800). 

"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

MASTBAUM— (4,700)  (40c-4Sc-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $24,500.  (Average: 
$22,500). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY  —  (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $15,200.  (Av- 
erage: $20,000). 

"Women  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 

STANTON  —  (1,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,500."  (Av- 
erage: $9,400). 


'Broadway  Rhythm9 
Fetches  $12,700 

Toronto,  May  23.  —  "Broadway 
Rhythm"  was  pointing  to  $12,700  at 
Loew's  Theatre.  "Cover  Girl"  prom- 
ised $11,800  for  the  second  week  at 
Shea's  and  "Up  in  Arms"  is  expected 
to  gross  $11,300  in  its  second  week  at 
the  Imperial  Theatre. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  25 : 

"The  Man  in  Grey"  (British) 

EGLINTON  —  (1,086)  (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 

IMPERIAL— (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 
6  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,300.  (Aver- 
age: $12,800). 

"Broadway  Rhythm"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S — (2,074)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $12,700.     (Average:  $11,200). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

SHEA'S — (2,480)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Average: 
$12,800). 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"Doughboys  in  Ireland"  (Col.) 

TTVOLI— (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  davs. 
Gross:  $3,900.     (Average:  $4,400). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

UFTOWN— (2,761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:   $10,800.     (Average:  $9,800). 


'Goyescas'  to  Open 

"Goyescas,"  produced  in  Spain  by 
Universal  Ibero  Americana  de  Cine- 
matografia  studios  and  distributed  in 
this  country  by  RKO,  will  have  its 
New  York  premiere  Saturday  at  the 
World  Theatre  here. 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  24,  1944 


Carmen  Trust  Suit 
Dismissal  Asked 
By  Special  Master 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

erated  by  Lou  Wisper  and  Frank 
Wetsman ;  and  the  Midway  and  Circle, 
all  Michigan,  operated  by  Joseph 
Stoia.  The  plaintiffs  alleged  that  Co- 
operative had  "ohftained  a  strangle 
hold  on  exhibition  in  Detroit  and  en- 
virons" and  that,  within  the  circuit's 
ranks,  Wisper  and  Wetsman  had  ac- 
quitted "de  facto  control  of  the  or- 
ganization," to  the  detriment  of  less 
influential  members.  Dissolution  of 
all  the  defendants  and  rearrangement 
of  their  properties  into  smaller  units 
was  sought. 

Cross-Bill  Charge 

The  defendants  charged  in  the 
cross-bill  that  Raymond  Moon  and  his 
Mutual  Theatres,  Inc.,  a  rival  buying 
and  booking  agency,  had  conspired 
with  the  plaintiff  to  break  up  Co- 
operative through  "unfounded  litiga- 
tion" and  other  methods. 

Special  master  Quaife,  in  his  opin- 
ion filed  a  week  ago  and  made  public 
today,  held  that  there  "'is  no  clear 
evidence  of  violation  of  the  Sherman 
Act,  that  in  determining  the  runs  in 
Dearborn  the  various  distributors 
were  acting  individually  and  not  as  a 
result  of  agreements  among  them- 
selves, that  the  legality  of.  Coopera- 
tive as  a  whole  should  be  sustained, 
and  that  the  plaintiff  did  not  estab- 
lish any  actual  or  threatened  injury 
resulting  from  admission  price  re- 
strictions in  film  rental  contracts.  In 
recommending  dismissal  of  the  cross- 
bill, Quaife  said  it  was  not  fairly  es- 
tablished that  Moon  instigated  the 
present  suit  and  that  there  was  no 
substantial  evidence  of  his  contribut- 
ing, to  the  expense  of  this  or  previous 
cases. 

Regarding  the  plaintiffs'  special 
charge  that  Cooperative  had  violated 
the  Robinson-Patman  Fair  Price  Act, 
Quaife  stated  that  "a  licensee  of  mo- 
tion pictures  is  not  the  purchaser  of 
a  commodity,  and,  accordingly,  there 
is  precedent  to  show  that  this  act  can- 
not be  applied." 

Patman  Act  Out 

There  were  ultimately  six  distribu- 
tor defendants  in  the  case  when  the 
charges  against  Loew's  were  dropped 
when  they  began  serving  the  Carmen 
with  product  to  the  satisfaction  of  the 
management.  Paramount  was  never 
involved.  In  the  trial  early  last  year 
the  plaintiffs  were  represented  by  at- 
torney Ralph  E.  Routier  and  the  de- 
fendants by  Rockwell  T.  Gust  of  De- 
troit and  John  Caskey  and  Willis 
Newcomb  of  New  York.  The  defend- 
ants will  soon  make  a  motion  asking 
that  the  court  confirm  the  report  of 
the  special  master. 


SEC  Orders  Hearing 
On  RKO  Stock  Sale 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

a  partner  of  Lehman  Brothers,  is  a 
director  of  RKO. 

Lehman  Brothers,  Goldman  Sachs 
and  affiliated  underwriters  plan  to  pur- 
chase the  stock  at  a  price  related  to 
the  market  at  the  time  it  is  offered 
to  the  public  less  a  gross  underwrit- 
ing commission  of  $4.50  a  share  maxi- 
mum or  $3  a  share  minimum. 


Republic  Lists  68  Titles 
For  1944-45  Season 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tains  a  score  by  the  Brazilian  compos- 
er, Ary  Barroso.  "Flame  of  Barbary 
Coast"  is  a  melodrama ;  "Lake  Placid 
Serenade,"  an  ice  spectacle ;  "Storm 
Over  the  Philippines,"  a  drama; 
"Hit  Parade"  is  a  musical ;  "A  Fabu- 
lous Texan,"  a  drama;  "Earl  Car- 
roll's Vanities,"  a  musical ;  and  "Let 
the  Hurricane  Roar,"  a  drama  adapted 
from  Rose  Wilder  Lane's  best-selling 
pioneer  novel. 

Eight  Roy  Rogers  productions  are 
titled :  "Song  of  Arizona,"  "Utah," 
"Man  from  Oklahoma,"  "Sunset  on 
the  Colorado,"  "Rainbow  Over 
Texas,"  "Under  Dakota  Stars,"  "The 
Gay  Ranchero,"  and  "Bells  of  Rosa- 
rita." 

Third  Group 

A  third  group  of  features  includes : 
"M.oon  Over  Tahiti,"  a  comedy;  "Af- 
fairs of  Geraldine,"  a  college  musical ; 
"Faces  in  the  Fog,"  a  melodrama ;  "A 
Guy  Could  Change,"  an  aviation  ro- 
mance ;  "My  Buddy,"  a  melodrama 
inspired  by  one  of  the  most  famous 
songs  of  World  War  I ;  "Gay 
Blades,"  a  melodrama ;  "New  Faces 
of  1945,"  screen  revue  based  on  the 
Leonard  Sillman  stage  presentations ; 
"The  Phantom  Speaks,"  mystery  melo- 
drama ;  "Night  Train  to  Memphis," 
featuring  radio  and  stage  players ; 
"Melody  and  Mystery,"  a  murder  mys- 
tery ;  "Sing,  Neighbor,  Sing,"  com- 
bining screen  and  radio  talent  in  melo- 
drama with  music ;  "Queen  of  the 
Tungle,"  a  romantic  drama  with  South 
Seas  background ;  "Moonlight  and 
Roses,"  a  musical ;  "Grizzly's  Mil- 
lions," a  murder  mystery;  "Fun  Val- 
ley," musical;  "Tell  It  to  a  Star," 
comedy  romance ;  "The  Chicago  Kid," 
a  racketeer  drama  about  the  black 
market ;  "Under  Cover  Girl,"  a  melo- 
drama ;  "Three's  a  Crowd,"  a  drama- 
tization from  the  novel,  "Hasty  Wed- 


ding," by  Mignon  Eberhart ;  "Mysteri- 
ous Mr.  Valentine,"  a  mystery  drama  ; 
"The  Fatal  Witness,"  a  drama  based 
on  the  John  Collier  New  Yorker 
story  "Back  for  Christmas" ;  "Vam- 
pire's Ghost,"  a  horror  story;  "Road 
to  Alcatraz,"  from  Alva  Johnston's 
biographical  story  by  Raymond 
Schindler,  and  "Gangs  of  the  Water- 
front," a  melodrama. 

Eight  Red  Ryder  Westerns  featur- 
ing Wild  Bill  Elliott,  are  titled :  "Tuc- 
son Raiders,"  "Marshal  of  Reno," 
"Cheyenne  Wildcat,"  "Vigilantes  of 
Dodge  City,"  "Sheriff  of  Las  Vegas," 
"Lone  Texas  Ranger,"  "San  Antonio 
Kid,"  and  "Great  Stagecoach  Rob- 
bery." 

Eight  Smiley  Burnett  Westerns  are : 
"Bordertown  Trail,"  "Firebrands  of 
Arizona,"  "Code  of  the  Prairie,"  "Saga 
of  Sioux  City,"  "Santa  Fe  Saddle- 
Mates,"  "Sheriff  of  Cimarron,"  "Union 
Pacific  Scouts,"  and  "Buffalo  Fron- 
tiers." 

Eight  to  Star  Lane 

Also  eig*ht  Westerns  to  star  Allan 
Lane,  are  titled:  "Jesse  James'  Last 
Ride,"  "Code  of  Billy  the  Kid,"  "Sher- 
iff of  Sundown,"  "The  Topeka  Ter- 
ror," "Trail  of  Kit  Carson,"  "Corpus 
Christi  Bandits,"  "Stagecoach  to  Den- 
ver," and  "Silver  City  Kid." 

Republic  is  also  re-releasing  eight 
Gene  Autry  productions  during  1944, 
including  "Rootin'  Tootin'  Rhythm," 
"The  Big  Show,"  "Melody  Trail," 
"Comin'  Round  the  Mountain,"  "Ride, 
Ranger,  Ride,"  "Git  Along,  Little 
Dogie,"  "Red  River  Valley,"  and  "Oh, 
Susanna."  "Manhunt  of  Mystery 
Island"  and  "The  Purple  Shadow 
Strikes"  are  the  two  15-chapter  se- 
rials ;  and  "Zorro's  Black  Whip"  and 
"Federal  Operator  99"  are  12-chapter 
serials  which  complete  the  1944-45 
program. 


'Hargrove'  Draws  in 
Pittsburgh  Slump 


Pittsburgh,  May  23.  —  Thunder- 
storms prolonged  a  box-office  slump 
here  this  week,  with  "See  Here,  Pri- 
vate Hargrove,"  moving  over  from 
the  Penn  to  the  Warner  for  its  second 
week,  the  only"  show  to  top  house  aver- 
age at  all,  making  a  gross  of  $10,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
May  19: 

"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

FULTON —  (1,700)    (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Averag-e:  $8,500). 
"Over  Girl"  (CoL) 

HARRIS— (2,200)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $6,100.    (Average:  $10,100). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

PENN— (3,400)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,500.     (Average:  $21,700). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

RITZ  —  (1,100)    (35c-44c-65c)    7  days,  4th 
week  (moveover  after  1  week  at  Penn,  1  at 
Warner).    Gross:  $2,000.    (Average:  $3,000). 
"Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout"  (Para.) 
"Uncensored"  (Para.) 

SENATOR— (1,750)  (35c-44c-65c)  5  days. 
Gross:  $1,100.  (Average  for  full  week: 
S3.400). 

"It  Hj>"w=ned!  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

STANLEY— (3.800)  (44c-68c-85c)  On  stage, 
1  days  of  vaudeville,  including  Tommy 
Tucker's  orchestra.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Av- 
-rage;  $22.0001. 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

WARNER  —  (2.000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week,  moveover  from  Penn.  Gross: 
$10,000.    (Average:  $9,350). 


Ask  Fair  Treatment 
Of  Negro  Problem 

The  entertainment  industry  has  been 
called  upon  to  initiate  a  program  "of 
treating  the  Negro  problem  in  full 
truth  with  full  seriousness,"  as  a  con- 
tribution to  "national  unity,  in  a  declar- 
ation of  principles  adopted  by  500 
stage,  radio  and  film  performers  and 
artists  at  a  meeting  of  the  Entertain- 
ment Industry  Emergency  Committee 
last  weekend. 

The  declaration,  written  by  Maxwell 
Anderson,  Lillian  Hellman  and  Peter 
Lyon,  was  read  at  the  meeting  by 
Herman  Shumlin. 


Rogers  Goes  'Home* 

Claremore,  Okla.,  May  23. — The 
remains  of  Will  Rogers,  film,  stage 
and  radio  star,  were  returned  to  his 
home  town  last  night  for  permanent 
interment  in  a  stone  croyt  near  the 
Rogers  memorial.  The  return  of  the 
humorist's  body  to  Oklahoma  was 
financed  by  his  friends. 


Waves  to  See  'Ape' 

United  Artists'  "The  Hairy  Ape" 
will  be  screened  tonight  for  the 
Wave  detachment  at  Hunter  Col- 
lege, it  was  reported  yesterday  by 
the  home  office. 


Poole,  Bruen  Confer 
With  Tom  Clark 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

theatre-construction  program  of  the 
OCR  recreation  division,  of  which  the 
PCCITO  resistance  to  the  six-house 
project  planned  by  Fox  West  Coast 
is  a  part,  also  was  disclosed  today  to 
be  one  of  the  points  of  difficulty  of 
the  s'ection,  which  may  this  week  be 
thoroughly  reorganized. 

OCR  officials  this  afternoon  had  a 
long  discussion  of  the  recreation  sec 
tions'  troubles,  which  it  was  indicated 
will  result  in  other  members  of  the 
section  following  John  Eberson,  who 
resigned  as  consultant  last  Friday,  and 
in  a  sharp  contraction  of  the  section's 
program  to  provide  recreation  facili- 
ties for  population-swollen  war  cen- 
ters. Much  of  the  pressure  which  has 
been  exerted  for  a  change  in  the  OCR 
was  learned  to  have  emanated  from 
other  sections  of  the  War  Production 
Board  which  have  complained  that 
OCR,  while  actually  a  part  of  WPB, 
has  in  some  instances  operated  as  if  it 
were  a  separate  agency  set  up  to  pull 
things  out  of  the  Board  over  the  lat- 
ter's  resistance.  It  was  pointed  out 
that  the  Board's  first  concern  is  to 
see  that  military  requirements  are  met 
and  it  has  been  charged  that  OCR 
has  at  times  come  in  with  ambitious 
programs  which  simply  could  not  be 
approved. 

Comment  Withheld 

Pending  a  clarification  of  the  situ- 
ation, promised  within  the  next  few 
days,  OCR  officials  are  withholding 
all  comment  on  the  reports  of  an 
impending  reorganization  although  in 
other  quarters  an  impression  prevails 
that  George  W.  McMurphey,  chief 
of  the  recreation  section,  may  be  plan- 
ning to  leave  the  agency. 

While  Clark  could  not  be  reached 
tonight  at  the  Department  of  Justice, 
it  was  understood  that  Poole  and 
Bruen  devoted  their  visit  to  a  discus- 
tion  of  the  West  Coast  Theatre  situa- 
tion and  the  contention  of  independent 
exhibitors  that  they  can  meet  all  the 
theatre  needs  of  the  war  centers  in 
their  area  and  no  circuit  expansions 
should  be  permitted. 


i 


British  Attendance  at 
30,000,000  Weekly 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

footage  is  largely  composed  of  Amer- 
ican product. 

The  gross  footage  of  feature*  dur- 
ing the  year  was  41,084,000,000,  with 
7,712,000,000  of  it,  or  18.77  per  cent. 
British-made,  as  against  18.8  per  cent 
during  the  previoils  year.  The  statu- 
tory quota  calls  for  15  per  cent  of  the 
features  and  12.5  per  cent  of  the 
shorts  to  be  British. 

The  film  council  is  still  considering 
recommendations  of  prosecutions  for 
quota  defaults. 


Pythias  Benefit  Tonight 

The  annual  benefit  show  of  the 
Knights  of  Pythias,  arrangements  foi 
which  are  being  handled  by  Robert 
Weitman,  managing  director  of  the 
New  York  Paramount,  will  take  place 
tonight  at  Madison  Square  Garden 

'Three  Men*  N.  Y.  Premiere 

M-G-M's  "Three  Men  in  White' 
will  have  its  New  York  premiere  hen 
tomorrow  night  at  Loew's  State 
Theatre. 


First  in 

Fttm-am 

/B-J!a\  ill 

[Radio  vi* 

Accural 

i 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


to  the 
Picture 
Industry 


kVOL.  55.   NO.  103 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  MAY  25,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Seek  Approval 
Of  Increase 
iln  RKO  Board 


Stockholders  Will  Act  on 
Move  at  Annual  Meet 


Stockholders  of  Radio-Keith- 
Orpheum,  it  is  understood,  will  be 
0  asked  at  their  annual  meeting,  an- 
'  nounced  for  June  7  in  Dover,  Del., 
'to  vote  an  amendment  to  the  com- 
'pany's  by-laws  providing  for  an  in- 
'  crease  in  the  number  of  members  of 
the  board  of  directors. 

At  present  there  are  nine  members 
of  the  board.    It  is  believed  that  this 
number  will  be  augmented  to  give 
representation  to  the  underwriters  of 
;the  scheduled  purchase  from  Floyd  B. 
Odium's  Atlas  Corp.  of  57,337  shares 
of  RKO  six  per  cent  preferred  stock. 
The  purchase  will  be  underwritten  by 
a  syndicate  headed  by  Lehman  Broth- 
ers and  Goldman,  Sachs  &  Co.,  as 
!  reported  in  Motion  Picture  Daily 
on  May  18.    Robert  Lehman  was  re- 
j  cently  added  to  the  board  of  directors 
of  20th  Century-Fox  Corp.  - 
,    A  hearing  is  scheduled  to  be  held 
(Continued  on  page  10) 

RKO  Radio  Show  to 
Be  Aired  Monday 

The  RKO  radio  show  "Hollywood 
Star  Time"  will  begin  its  eight-week 
trial  period  over  the  Blue  Network 
Monday,  it  was  disclosed  yesterday  by 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  president.  The  15- 
minute  program,  originally  set  for  a 
20-station  hook-up,  will  be  broadcast 
every  day,  direct  from  the  studio  din- 
ing room  on  the  RKO  lot,  from  12:15 
to  12:30  P.M.,  reaching  WJZ,  the 
Blue's  New  York  outlet,  at  3 :15  P.M. 

Stars  who  will  participate  in  the 
show  will  include  Cary  Grant,  Ginger 
Rogers,  Rosalind  Russell,  Frank  Sina- 
tra, Joan  Davis,  Gary  Cooper,  Ethel 
Barrymore,  Eddie  Cantor,  Jean  Ar- 
thur, Teresa  Wright,  Edward  G.  Rob- 
inson, Sonja  Henie,  Joan  Bennett, 
Raymond  Massey,  Frank  Morgan, 
Fibber  McGee  and  Molly,  Dennis  Day, 
Margo,  Constance  Moore,  Pat  O'Brien, 
George  Murphy  and  Toumanova. 


'Cover  GirV  Set  for 
Long  London  Run 

London,  May  24. — The  Prince  of 
Wales  Theatre,  an  old  established 
Leicester  Square  house  devoted  to 
legitimate  shows,  has  been  leased  by 
Columbia  for  an  extended  run  of 
"Cover  Girl"  starting  early  in  June. 


Closing  of  Wallis 
Deal  with  Para. 
Is  Expected  Today 

Official  announcement  of  the  closing 
of  Hal  Wallis's  producing  and  distrib- 
ution deal  with  Paramount  is  expected 
to  be  made  by  Wallis  and  his  execu- 
tive associate,  Joseph  H.  Hazen,  at  a 
cocktail  party  at  21  Club  here  this 
afternoon.  The  deal  was  set  for  sign- 
ing yesterday  and  is  expected  to  be 
closed  this  morning. 

Negotiations  between  Wallis  and  J. 
Arthur  Rank's  Eagle-Lion  Films  were 
broken  off  late  Tuesday  and,  it  is  re- 
ported, Wallis  earlier  had  abandoned 
negotiations  with  Loew's  and  United 
Artists.  Under  the  Paramount  deal, 
it  is  said,  Wallis  will  have  his  own 
producing  organization  working  at  that 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Resigns  as  Business 
Agent  of  'I A'  Local 

Chicago,  May  24. — George  Benson, 
head  Chicago  booker  for  Warner 
Brothers,  has  resigned  as  business 
agent  of  IATSE  film  exchange  front 
office  employees  union  Local  F-45 
here.  > 

Candidates  nominated  for  a  special 
election  to  be  held  June  20  to  fill  his 
post  and  other  vacancies  caused  by  the 
draft  or  new  jobs  in  other  cities,  in- 
clude :  for  president,  Herman  Couston, 
Columbia ;  vice-president,  Oscar  Bern- 
stein, United  Artists,  Gerald  Weiss, 
Paramount,  Inez  Raysson,  Universal ; 
business  manager,  Jack  Eckhardt, 
20th-Fox,  Harold  Weiss,  Monogram ; 
treasurer,  Melba  McCauley,  RKO, 
Helen  Sherer,  Paramount,  Jack  Fried- 
man, Warners,  Marion  Shannon,  Unit- 
ed Artists ;  executive  board,  George 
Benson. 


Lady  Yule  Becomes 
British  Nat'l  Head 

London,  May  24.— G.  W. 
Parish,  chairman  and  man- 
aging director  of  British 
National  Films,  Ltd.,  today 
resigned  the  chairmanship, 
retaining  the  managing  direc- 
torship. Lady  Yule,  a  director 
and  wealthy  financial  backer 
of  the  company,  will  replace 
him  as  chairman. 


See  Further  Delay 
In  Decree  Meeting 

Washington,  May  24. — A  further 
delay  in  the  long-pending  "final" 
meeting  between  the  distributors  and 
the  Department  of  Justice  officials  on 
the  revised  consent  decree  appeared 
probable  tonight,  when  it  was  learned 
that  other  matters  will  prevent  the 
negotiators  getting  together  before 
sometime  well  into  next  week. 

Several  telephone  conversations  be- 
tween Joseph  Hazen  and  Assistant  At- 
torney General  Tom  C.  Clark  have 
taken  place  during  the  past  two  weeks, 
in  which  the  meeting  was  tentatively 
discussed,  but  both  parties  have  had 
commitments  which  made  it  impossible 
to  set  a  definite  date. 


A  high  decree  company  spokesman 
said  here  yesterday  that  while  several 
changes  had  been  discussed  in  the  can- 
cellation, circuit  expansion  and  "show 
case"  provisions  on  their  proposals  for 
a  new  decree,  no  changes  have  been 
made  in  their  "final"  proposals  for  a 
new  decree  submitted  to  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  on  Jan.  20.  As  re- 
ported in  Motion  Picture  Daily  May 
18,  the  distributors  are  determined  not 
to  yield  any  further. 


Chances  of  Tours  by  Stars 
In  5th  Drive  Seen  Slim 


Los  Angeles,  May  24. — Represen- 
tatives of  all  studios,  at  a  meeting  to- 
day with  Francis  Harmon,  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee  coordinator,  and 
Ken  Thomson,  Hollywood  Victory 
Committee  chairman,  and  other  HVC 
executives,  submitted  detailed  lists  of 
all  talent  commitments  through  the 
period  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan  cam- 
paign, to  determine  talent  availability 
prospects  for  a  report  to  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  industry  chairman  for  the  drive, 
on  his  arrival  here  tomorrow  night 
from  San  Francisco. 

A  decision  is  expected  to  be  made 
at  tomorrow  night's  meeting  as  to 


whether  the  personalities  available 
will  be  sufficient  to  warrant  the  un- 
dertaking of  stars'  war  bond  tours  as 
in  previous  drives.  Although  the  prin- 
cipals of  today's  meeting  declined  to 
divulge  any  details,  the  indication  was 
that  prospects  for  securing  an  ade- 
quate supply  of  top  flight  personalities 
are  slim,  if  present  studio  production 
plans  remain  unchanged. 

The  Treasury  Department  is  under- 
stood to  be  agreeable  to  shorter  tours 
for  film  stars  which  would  be  spotted 
later  in  the  campaign  than  in  the 
past.  The  possibility  that  some  films 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Allied  Will  Not 
Join  National 
TaxCommittee 


Board  Passes  Resolution 
On  Tax  Matters  Policy 

Philadelphia,  May  24. — Allied 
States  Association  will  not  join  the 
exhibitors  national  tax  coordinating 
committee,  it  was  decided  at  the 
opening  executive  session  of  the 
national  board  meeting  at  the  Hotel 
Warwick  here,  but  the  following 
resolution  was  passed: 

"It  is  the  policy  of  Allied 
States  Association  to  protect 
its  members  in  tax  matters 
and  in  that  connection  to  con- 
fer and  cooperate  with  other 
groups  so  far  as  is  consistent 
with  the  interests  of  its  mem- 
bers whenever,  in  the  opinion 
of  the  general  counsel,  an 
emergency  has  arisen  that  jus- 
tifies such  action.  Upon  prop- 
er certification  by  the  general 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Selznick  Sues  Over 
Jennifer  Jones 


Los  Angeles,  May  24. — The  battle 
over  Jennifer  Jones'  services  to  20th- 
Fox  following  "The  Song  of  Berna- 
dette"  has  resolved  itself  into  a  studio 
legal  battle,  with  the  SeTznick  studio 
suing  20th-Fox  in  Superior  Court  to- 
day, seeking  declaratory  relief  on 
grounds  that  20th-Fox  had  abrogated 
an  agreement. 

Selznick  charged  that  20th-Fox 
failed  to  keep  the  terms  of  an  agree- 
ment which  provided  for  Selznick's  ap- 
proval of  roles  offered  the  star  and 
asked  termination  of  her  contract. 


Skouras  Talks  on 
British  Visit 

Spyros  Skouras,  president  of  20th 
Century-Fox,  was  host  at  a  reception 
and  dinner  at  the  Sky  Garden  of  the 
St.  Moritz  Hotel  last  night  which  was 
attended  by  company  officials  and 
trade  press  representatives. 

Skouras  discussed  informally  his  re- 
cent three  months  visit  in  England. 
Many  of  his  observations  were  of  an 
off-the-record  nature  and  a  release  of 
the  essentials  of  his  talk  is  scheduled 
to  be  made  by  the  company  today. 

Among  those  present  at  the  dinner 
were :  Tom  J.  Connors,  Francis  L. 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  25,  1944 


Olivier  Unveils 
Howard  Memorial 

London,  May  24. — Laurence 
Olivier  today  unveiled  a 
placque  and  an  endowed  bed 
at  the  London  Hospital  in 
memory  of  Leslie  Howard, 
who  lost  his  life  when  a 
transport  plane  was  lost  be- 
tween Lisbon  and  here  early 
in  the  war.  The  London  Hos- 
pital cooperated  with  tech- 
nical advice  on  Howard's  last 
film,  "The  Lamp  Still  Burns," 
which  grossed  more  than  2,500 
pounds  at  its  opening  per- 
formance. 


Schlesinger  Funeral 
In  Newark  Friday 

Newark,  May  24. — Funeral  services 
for  Morris  S.  Schlesinger,  65,  mana- 
ger of  the  Hollywood  Theatre  in  New 
York  until  a  year  ago,  will  be  held 
Friday  at  1  P.M.  at  the  Goldsticker 
Funeral  Home  here.  He  died  Tuesday 
at  his  home  in  Orange  after  an  illness 
of  three  months. 

A  brother  of  Leon  Schlesinger,  pro- 
ducer of  cartoon  shorts  for  Warners, 
"M.  S.,"  as  he  was  known  in  show 
business,  operated  the'  Schubert  and 
Broad  street  Theatres  here  when  those 
houses  offered  legitimate  attractions. 
He  was  an  occasional  partner  in  stage 
productions,  including  "The  Locked 
Door,"  1933,  and  "Strangers  at 
Work,"  1934.  Later,  he  made  a  two- 
year  visit  to  Hollywood,  ending  in 
1938.  The  Newark  Public  Library 
now  has  Schlesinger's  collection  of 
autographed  photographs  of  many  the- 
trical  celebrities. 

Schlesinger  is  survived  also,  by  two 
other  brothers,  Gus  and  Mayer  B. 
Schlesinger,  and  two  sisters,  the 
Misses  Matilda  and  Florence  Schles- 
inger, all  of  Orange. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  24 

WILLIAM  A.  SCULLY,  vice- 
president  and  general  sales 
manager  of  Universal,  is  due  here 
tomorrow. 

• 


Personal 
Mention 

Y FRANK  FREEMAN,  Para- 
•  mount  vice-president  and  stu- 
dio head,  is  expected  here  from  At- 
lanta today. 

Sgt.  and  Mrs.  Jerry  Briskin  be- 
came the  parents  of  a  baby  boy  Tues- 
day at  Doctors  Hospital  here.  Sgt. 
Briskin  is  the  son  of  Lt.  Col.  Sam 
Briskin  and  was  an  associate  pro- 
ducer at  Columbia. 

• 

Irving  Maas,  20th  Century-Fox  as- 
sistant director  of  foreign  distribution, 
is  due  back  in  New  York  today  after 
a  tour  of  the  Latin  American  coun- 
tries. 

Phil  Keenan,  general  manager  of 
Hillman  Periodicals,  returned  to  New 
York  yesterday  after  a  week's  stay  in 
Kansas  City. 

• 

Leo  Lefcourt  of  M-G-M's  studio 
international  department,  will  leave 
for  the  Coast  Friday  following  a  home 
office  visit.  * 

M.  Edward  Morey,  Monogram 
home  office  executive,  left  yesterday 
for  the  Coast,  with  several  stops  en 
route. 

• 

H.  M.  Bes  sey,  Altec  Service  vice- 
president,  has  returned  to  New  York 
from  Virginia. 

• 

Howard  Watjgh,  Warner  Theatre 
Memphis  zone  manager,  is  in  New 
York  for  a  week's  visit. 

• 

Paul  Graetz,  president  of  A.F.E. 
Corp.,  left  yesterday  for  Hollywood. 


AMP  A  Officers  Hold 
Meeting  Today 

Associated  Motion  Picture  Advertis- 
ers will  hold  a  closed  meeting  today 
at  12 :30  A.M.  at  the  Famous  Kitchen, 
at  which  time  the  new  administration 
will  discuss  plans  for  the  coming  year. 

AM  PA  plans  to  meet  every  other 
Thursday  this  year  reverting  to  proce- 
dure established  at  the  inception  of  the 
organization. 


Schuyler  Heads  Delft 
In  No,  Michigan 

Milwaukee,  May  24. — John  B. 
Schuyler,  manager  of  the  local  branch 
of  National  Theatre  Supply,  has  been 
named  general  manager  of  Delft  The- 
atres in  Northern  Michigan. 

A.  J.  Larson,  former  assistant 
branch  manager  for  NTS  here,  suc- 
ceeds Schuyler. 


Bernard  Spiegel  Dies 

Scranton,  May  24. — Bernard  Spie- 
gel, 80,  father  of  Harry  Spiegel,  city 
supervisor  of  Comerford  Theatres 
here,  died  recently  at  his  home.  Inter- 
ment was  in  Dalton  Jewish  Cemetery. 


Film  Classics'  Sales 
Meet  Opens  Today 


Chicago,  May  24. — George  A.  Hir- 
liman,  president  of  Film  Classics,  will 
preside  at  the  first  regional  sales  meet- 
ing of  the  company's  franchise  holders 
at  the  Hotel  Blackstone  here  tomorow. 
His  assistant,  Alfred  Crown,  accompa- 
nied him  here. 


Film  Classics  to  Make 
8  Eddie  Dean  Westerns 

Film  Classics'  first  production  ven- 
ture will  be  a  series  of  eight  Westerns 
starring  Eddie  Dean  of  the  Judy  Ca- 
nova  radio  show,  according  to  Robert 
Tansey,  who  will  produce.  First  of  the 
series  will  be  ready  for  August  1  re- 
lease. 


Rodgers  Gives  Pins 
At  Phila.  Luncheon 

Philaldelphia,  May  24. — William 
F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager,  and  E.  K. 
(Ted)  O'Shea,  Eastern  sales  mana- 
ger, today  played  host  to  all  employes 
of  the  local  exchange  at  a  luncheon  at 
the  Ritz  Carlton  Hotel  here. 

With  Robert  Lynch,  district  mana- 
ger ;  Lou  Formate,  branch  manager, 
and  H.  M.  Richey,  exhibitor  rela- 
tions, assisting,  Rodgers  and  O'Shea 
distributed  20-Year  loyalty  pins  to 
William  Hopkins,  William  Gabriel 
and  Mattie  Stewart,  and  22  one-star 
pins,  denoting  from  10  to  20  years 
of  service,  to  Joseph  Morrow,  Ben- 
jamin Glatz,  Harry  Bache,  Winifred 
Haines,  Joseph  E.  Farrow,  Charles 
Baines,  Emma  Roat,  Betty  Surman, 
Mary  Banfe,  James  Dowling,  Paul 
Farrow,  Frank  Sculli,  Margaret 
Brickley,  Ada  Norvick,  Clarence  C. 
Pippin,  Vincent  Comforti,  Charlotte 
Knapp,  Benjamin  Hayney,  Frank 
Jelenke,  Dorothy  Burrison,  Santo 
Sciulli,  and  Rose  DeMee. 


Coe  in  Talk  Before 
Overseas  Press  Club 

Charles  Francis  Coe,  assistant  coun- 
sel of  the  MPPDA,  was  guest  speak- 
er yesterday  at  a  luncheon  meeting  of 
the  Overseas  Press  Club  held  at  the 
Lotos  Club  here. 

In  addition  to  club  members,  the 
following  were  among  those  present: 
Will  H.  Hays,  Arthur  De  Bra,  Wal- 
ter Trumbull,  Wyeth  Williams,  Fred 
Croft  and  Austin  Keough. 

Coe's  subject  was  "Postwar  Prob- 
lems in  America,"  in  which,  he  de- 
clared, motion  pictures  will  play  an 
important  part. 


Gruenberg  to  Navy 

Denver,  May  24. — Leonard  S. 
Gruenberg,  district  manager  for  RKO 
here,  has  been  commissioned  a  lieu- 
tenant in  the  Navy  and  will  leave  June 
15  for  the  University  of  Arizona  at 
Tucson  to  begin  training.  Gruenberg 
was  chairman  of  the  local  exchange 
territory's  Fourth  War  Loan  campaign 
and  was  recently  named  district  chair- 
man of  the  War  Activities  Committee. 


Postpone  Hochstein 
Trial  to  June  26 

Federal  Judge  William  Bondy  yes- 
terday further  postponed,  until  June 
26,  the  trial  of  Harry  Hochstein,  for- 
mer morals  inspector  in  Chicago,  who 
is  accused  of  having  committed  per- 
jury before  the  special  Federal 
Grand  Jury  which  indicted  the  Ca- 
pone  gangsters,  recently  convicted  of 
extorting  more  than  $1,000,000  from 
motion  picture  industry  executives. 

Hochstein.  according  to  the  indict- 
ment, falsely  swore  that  he  knew  that 
certain  members  of  the  ring  were  not 
present  at  his  Riverside,  111.,  home, 
in  1934,  when  the  Capone  mob  planned 
the  elevation  of  George  E.  Browne 
to  the  presidency  of  the  IATSE.  That 
the  sangsters  were,  present  was  proven 
at  the  recent  trial  of  the  gangsters. 


The  release  date  for  Columbia's  new 
serial,  "The  Desert  Hawk,"  set  for 
June  2,  has  been  postponed  indefinitely, 
due  to  injuries  suffered  by  James  Elli- 
son, star  of  the  production.  Ellison, 
while  on  the  set,  was  thrown  from  his 
horse  Tuesday  and  suffered  a  frac- 
tured back  which  will  delay  comple- 
tion of  the  film  at  least  four  months. 


Honor  Jones'  Memory 

Chicago,  May  24. — The  sum  of  $2,- 
500  will  be  turned  over  to  La  Rabida 
sanitarium,  in  the  name  of  the  late 
Aaron  J.  Jones,  former  president  of 
the  Jones,  Linick  and  Schaefer  circuit 
here,  by  the  Variety  Club  of  Illinois. 
The  sanitarium  was  one  of  Jones'  fa- 
vorite charities. 


Producers  William  Pine  and  Wil- 
liam Thomas  of  Paramount  and  di- 
rector Frank  McDonald  will  leave 
here  for  Chicago  and  Nashville  to 
audition  musical  talent  for  the  forth- 
coming musical,  "Hillbilly  Symphony." 
• 

A  top  film  on  M-G-M's  1944  sched- 
ule will  be  "Secret  Heart,"  based  on 
an  original  story  by  Rose  Franken.' 
Whitfield  Cook  is  preparing  the  script 
and  Edwin  Knopf  will  produce  early 
this  Fall. 

• 

B.  G.  DeSylva  has  offered  Brian 
Donlevy  the  role  of  Trampas  in 
Paramount's  Technicolor  production 
of  "The  Virginian,"  which  Paul  Jones 
will  produce. 

• 

Anne  Gwynne  has  been  given  a  fea- 
tured role  in  Universal's  "Babes  on 
Swing  Street,"  by  Bernard  Brown, 
associate  producer.  Edward  Lilley  is 
directing  the  film. 

• 

H.  J.  Yates,  Republic  board  chair- 
man, and  James  R.  Grainger,  presi- 
dent and  general  sales  manager,  are 
expected  to  return  here  from  the  East 
next  week. 

Steve  Broidy,  Monogram  general 
sales  manager,  is  due  to  arrive  here 
from  New  York  tomorrow  aboard  the 
Superchief. 

• 

Lou  J.  Halper,  Warner  Theatres 
West  Coast  zone  manager,  has  re- 
turned to  his  headquarters  here  from 
New  York. 

• 

Mona  Freeman  has  been  assigned 
to  a  role  in  Paramount's  "Here 
Come  the  Waves,"  Mark  Sandrich 
musical. 

• 

Columbia  has  signed  Robert  Ros- 
son  as  writer  and  director  on  a  one- 
picture  contract. 

• 

Red  Skelton's  draft  board  has  grant- 
ed him  a  two-week  deferment,  M-G-M 
announced  here  yesterday. 


Milestone  Doing  Well 

Los  Angeles,  May  24. — The  condi- 
tion of  director  Lewis  Milestone,  who 
was  operated  on  for  a  ruptured  appen- 
dix in  Hollywood  Hospital  here  yes- 
terday, was  reported  by  his  physician 
as  satisfactory  today. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20.  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
CI  rv^arer'-c>  u  •or-'  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  eopyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter, 
Sept.  23,  1968,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879,    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Amerieas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


THIS  SAYS 


/£ru?/  On  The  Air 
The  fastest-rising  comedy-headliner  in  Radio! 

Over  1 1 9  CBS  Stations  every  week 
on  his  own  show! 


iU  GET  FROM 


i 


0 


ROBERT  SHAYNE 

Directed  by 

PETER  GODFREY 

Screen  Play  by  Francis  Swartn  & 
Edmund  Joseph  •  Adapted  by 
Richard  Weil  •  From  a  Play  by 
Harvey  J.  O'Higgins  and 
Harriet  Ford 
Produced  by 

ALEX  GOTTLIEB 


FOR  YOU  ITS  A  BBO  OF  ROSBSi 

U^  'cam**-  w^ta^tes     &  i 


Jack  L.  Warner 

Executive  Producer 


PRINTED    IN    U.  S. 


Thursday,  May  25,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Review 


"Frontier  Outlaws" 

(PRC) 

Hollywood,  May  24 

HP  HIS  PRC  Western  sparkles  in  the  showcase  as  a  sample  of  action- 
packed,  well-plotted,  screen  fare  to  offer-  the  patrons  of  theatres 
playing  the  good  old  six-gun  standbys.  Buster  Crabbe,  Al  "Fuzzy"  St. 
John,  Frances  Gladwin,  Marin  Sais,  Charlie  King  and  Jack  Ingram  are 
smoothly  directed  through  a  typical  Western  story  by  Sam  Newfield. 
Sig  Neufeld's  production  makes  it  a  topnotch  example  of  this  studio's 
offerings  in  the  category. 

Off  to  a  fast  start,  the  story  deals  with  Crabbe  and  his  pal,  "Fuzzy," 
hot  on  the  trail  of  killers  determined  to  gun  down  Crabbe  and  grab  con- 
trol of  all  the  ranch  lands  in  Wolf  Valley  on  the  Mexican  border.  Crab- 
be is  framed  for  murder,  but  wins  release  with  aid  of  his  friends,  sets  a 
trap  for  the  outlaws,  who  have  rustled  most  of  the  ranchers'  cattle,  and 
neatly  springs  it.  In  a  blazing  finish  he  outdraws  King  and  one  of  that 
villain's  henchmen  to  bring  peace  to  the  valley.  Original  story  and 
screenplay  are  by  Joe  O'Donnell. 

Running  time,  58  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  March  4,  1944. 

Jack  Cartwright 


To  Dub  'Bernadette' 
In  Many  Languages 


"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  is  pres- 
ently being  dubbed  in  Spanish  for  dis- 
tribution in  the  Latin  American  coun- 
tries, it  was  disclosed  yesterday  by 
Murray  Silverstone,  20th  Century-Fox 
vice-president  in  charge  of  foreign  dis- 
tribution. The  dubbing  is  being  done 
in  Mexico  City  by  Hollywood  techni- 
cians with  top  Spanish  artists. 

There  will  also  be  a  Spanish  super- 
imposed version,  which  will  be  used 
for  roadshowing  in  the  key  cities,  he 
added.  The  dubbed  version  will  be  the 
primary  medium  for  general  release  in 
the  territory. 

The  decision  for  releasing  this  film 
in  the  dubbed  version  was  prompted  by 
the  belief  of  Spyros  Skouras.  president, 
that  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  had 
such  a  tremendous-  message  to  the 
people  and  desired  to  give  every  person 
an  opportunity  to  view  this  film.  The 
company  plans  to  dub  the  feature  in 
French,  German.  Italian  and  other  lan- 
guages for  post-war  distribution  in  Eu- 
rope, Silverstone  concluded. 


Isaac  and  Phelps  to 
St  Louis  for  I  AT SE 

Lester  Isaac,  Loew's  sound  and  pro- 
jection head,  and  Frank  X.  Phelps, 
Warner  Bros.  Theatres  labor  relations 
contact,  will  leave  today  for  St.  Louis 
to  be  on  hand  for  the  IATSE  con- 
vention, which  opens  at  the  Hotel  Jef- 
ferson there  Monday.  Hary  Rubin, 
Paramount  sound  and  projection  head, 
is  already  in  St.  Louis,  and  other  cir- 
cuit representatives  are  also  expected 
to  be  present. 


Local  110  Selects 
Eight  Delegates 

Chicago,  May  24. — Delegates  who 
will  represent  Projectionists'  Local  110 
here  at  the  IATSE  convention  are 
Gene  Atkinson,  business  manager ; 
Clarence  Jalis,  assistant  business  man- 
ager ;  James  Gordon,  president ;  Frank 
Galluzzo,  vice-president ;  Charles  Mc- 
Neill and  Sam  Klugman,  executive 
board  members ;  and  Joseph  Ross- 
berger  and  Larry  Strong. 


Proposes  Slash  in 
30%  Cabaret  Tax 

Washington,  May  24. — Proposing 
a  cut  in  the  new  30  percent  cabaret 
tax.  Senator  McCarran  of  Nevada 
yesterday  introduced  a  bill  in  the  Sen- 
ate which,  if  approved,  will  reduce 
the  present  levy  to  10  percent.  Night 
clubs  were  formerly  assessed  five  per- 
cent. 

Despite  this  action,  however,  film  in- 
dustry observers  hold  little  hope  for 
a  reduction  in  the  recently  levied  20 
percent  tax  on  theatre  admissions. 


'Hot  Moneif  for  'America? 

The  latest  release  in  the  RKO-Pathe 
"This  Is  America  Series,"  produced 
by  Frederic  Ullman.  Jr.,  will  be  titled 
"Hot  Money."  This  film  will  be  based 
upon  the  fallacy  of  uncontrolled  buy- 
ing as  it  leads  to  hunger,  unemploy- 
ment and  ghost  towns. 


'Adventure'  Screening 

RKO's  "A  Night  of  Adventure" 
will  be  tradeshown  in  New  York  and 
Los  Angeles  next  Wednesday  at  11 
A.M.  The  New  York  screening  will 
be  at  the  RKO  projection  room. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


60-City  Premiere  for 
'Days  of  Glory" 

Philadelphia,  May  24. — A  60-city 
premiere  of  RKO's  "Days  of  Glory" 
will  get  underway  June  8  with  open- 
ings in  Pennsylvania.  West  Virginia, 
New  Jersey  and  Delaware  under  the 
direction  of  exploitation  chief  Terry 
Turner,  assisted  by  Harry  Reiners, 
Bob  Pryor,  Ed  Rowland,  Lew  Car- 
roll, Gene  Gaudette  and  Pete  Bathory. 
Appearing  in  conjunction  with  the  ex- 
ploitation campaign  will  be  the  Don 
Cossack  Chorus,  Marusia  Sava  and 
other  Russian  artists. 

Extensive  radio  tie-ups  have  been 
effected,  including  four  half-hour  ra- 
dio shows  and  several  15-minute  pro- 
grams for  the  duration  of  the  cam- 
paign. Toumanova,  star  of  the  film, 
and  producer  Casey  Robinson  will  ar- 
rive in  Philadelphia  June  3  to  be 
guests  at  a  series  of  press  parties  here 
and  in  Pittsburgh,  Harrisburg  and 
Wilmington. 

Reserve  Decision  on 
'Voice9  Injunction 

Federal  Judge  John  Bright  reserved 
decision  here  yesterday  on  the  motion 
of  counsel  for  May  Davis  Martenet 
seeking  a  restraining  order  to  prevent 
United  Artists  from  distributing  and 
exhibiting  "Voice  of  the  Wind." 

The  plaintiff  had  recently  instituted 
a  suit  in  the  New  York  State  Supreme 
Court,  and  counsel  for  the  defendant 
moved  to  have  the  case  transferred  to 
Federal  Court  on  the  ground  of  di- 
versity of  citizenship.  However,  the 
case  was  not  removed  and,  through  a 
technicality,  cannot  be  removed  until 
UA's  attorneys  decide  to  remove  it. 
The  court  agreed  to  reserve  decision, 
pending  a  determination  by  him  as  to 
whether  he  has  jurisdiction. 


Museum  to  Screen  3 

The  Museum  of  Modern  Art  will 
preview  three  new  documentary'  films 
on  Monday  at  5  P.M.  in  its  projection 
room.  Pictures  are:  "Fellow  Ameri- 
cans," produced  bv  the  OWT :  "The 
Life  and  Death  of  U.  S.  S.  Hornet," 
a  Navy  film,  and  "High  Plain."  pro- 
duced by  the  Office  of  Coordinator  of 
Inter-American  Affairs, 


Screen  Cartoonists 
Call  in  Conciliator 

•Los  Angeles,  May  24. — Acting  on 
a  request  from  the  Screen  Cartoonists' 
Guild,  the  U.  S.  Conciliation  Service 
has  appointed  Commissioner  Lou  Liv- 
ingston as  conciliator  in  the  SCG  ne- 
gotiations with  cartoon  producers. 

Discussions  on  a  proposed  new  con- 
tract went  into  a  deadlock  when  the 
producers  turned  down  the  contract 
sought  by  the  guild  and  offered  in  its 
stead  proposals  which  the  SCG  termed 
"decidedly  less  advantageous  than  the 
present  agreement." 

Livingston  is  expected  to  call  the 
first  session  next  week. 


Sponsored  News  Ban 
Would  Hit  Films 

Washington,  May  24. — Film  com- 
panies and  exhibitors  who  sponsor 
news  programs  on  radio  stations  as 
part  of  their  promotion  campaigns, 
would  be  prevented  from  continuing 
to  do  so  under  the  proposed  revision 
of  the  1934  Communications  Act  as 
presented  yesterday  to  the  Senate  In- 
terstate Commerce  Committee  by 
Chairman  Burton  K.  Wheeler,  Mon- 
tana Democrat. 

Commercial  sponsorship  of  news 
broadcasts  and  radio  commentators 
would  be  forbidden  and  such  pro- 
grams would  be  put  on  a  "sustaining" 
basis.  Hearings  on  the  bill  will  be 
held  on  Friday  and  next  Wednesday. 


Fire  and  Rain  Hit 
Nebraska,  Iowa 

Omaha,  May  24. — Fires,  which 
completely  demolished  John  Van  Gro- 
niger's  Palace  Theatre  at  nearby  Alton 
and  seriously  damaged  the  Rose  at 
Audubon,  operated  by  F.  R.  Thomp- 
son, followed  upon  severe  rain  storms 
which  caused  an  estimated  $1,000,000 
damage  in  the  state. 

The  storm  also  seriously  hampered 
distribution  operations  in  adjacent 
Iowa  when  film  trucks  were  unable  to 
pass  through  flooded  areas.  Exhibitors 
were  forced  to  borrow  prints  from  ex- 
change cities  which  escaped  the  full 
impact  of  the  downpour. 


London  Sees  3rd 
Rank  Winner 
In  'Way  Ahead' 


London,  May  24. — J.  Arthur  Rank's 
Eagle-Lion-Two  Cities'  third  offering 
"The  Way  Ahead,"  was  sneak  pre- 
viewed tonight  at  the  Majestic  Theatre 
in  Staines,  a  remote  London  suburb. 
The  film,  made  at  the  direct  behest 
of  the  British  War  Office  with  un- 
precedented military  cooperation,  is 
supposed  to  be  the  British  Army  coun- 
terpart of  Noel  Coward's  "In  Which 
We  Serve."  It  accomplishes  its  mis- 
sion magnificently.  It  is  further  a  fit 
follower  of  Eagle-Lion's  previous  ef- 
forts, "A  Canterbury  Tale"  and  "This 
Happy  Breed." 

The  film  tells,  under  Carol  Reed's 
direction,  the  straightforward  story  of 
the  experiences  of  a  mixed  body  of 
young  men  brought  into  the  army, 
some  resentful,  all  fearful  of  what  is 
in  store.  They  become  hardened 
under  intensive  training  and  suffer  the 
ardours  of  rigorous  discipline,  gradu- 
ally unconsciously  moulding  each 
other  in  the  glorious  company  of 
proven  soldiers. 

David  Niven,  in  real  life  a  colonel 
in  the  British  Army,  is  superb  as  a 
young  officer.  He  and  the  British 
Army  are  the  joint  stars  of  the  pic- 
ture. An  average  suburban  audience 
attending  the  theatre  was  unaware  that 
the  film  was  to  be  shown  and  burst, 
at  its  conclusion,  into  loud  and  sus- 
tained applause. 

Eagle-Lion  Films  undoubtedly  have 
yet  another  winner. 

Peter  Burnup 


Goldwyn  May  Get 
New  Rank  Film 

"The  Way  Ahead,"  the  J.  Arthur 
Rank  Eagle-Lion  production  previewed 
in  London  this  week,  is  under  option 
to  Samuel  Goldwyn  for  distribution 
here,  it  was  learned  yesterday. 

Goldwyn  acquired  an  option  on  the 
production  under  a  compensation 
entered  into  with  Two  Cities  Films 
several  years  ago  to  aid  in  realizing 
on  Goldwyn's  blocked  sterling  bal- 
ances in  Britain  when  currency  exports 
were  regulated  by  the  British  Treas- 
ury. A  portion  of  Goldwyn's  blocked 
sterling  was  made  available  to  Two 
Cities  in  return  for  the  option  on 
American  distribution  rights  to  sev- 
eral Two  Cities'  productions,  of  which 
"The  Way  Ahead"  was  one. 

Should  Goldwyn  exercise  his  op- 
tion, it  is  assumed  the  picture  would 
be  distributed  here  bv  RKO  Radio, 
which  distributes  for  Goldwyn,  rather 
than  by  20th  Century-Fox,  which  is 
to  distribute  Rank's  Eagle-Lion  re- 
leases here. 


Miss  Lillie  Gets  Fortune 

London,  May  24. — Beatrice  Lillie. 
star  of  screen,  radio  and  stage  here 
and  abroad,  will  receive  the  entire 
$600,000  fortune  of  her  son,  Sir  Robert 
Peel,  22,  killed  in  April  while  serving 
with  the  Royal  Navy. 


'Comrade'  N.Y.  Premiere 

RKO's  "Tender  Comrade,"  starring 
Ginger  Rogers,  will  have  its  New 
York  premiere  at  the  Capitol  Theatre 
on  June  1. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  25,  1944 


'Uninvited'  Leads  in 
Indifferent  St.  Louis 


Review 


St.  Louis,  May  24. — Business  is 
only  "so-so"  here  this  week,  with 
managers  unable  to  explain  the  de 
cline.  "The  Uninvited"  at  the  Fox 
looks  like  the  leader  with  an  esti- 
mated $15,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  24: 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 

LOEWS  STATE — (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c-65c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $18,900). 
"The  Lady  and  the  Monster"  (Rep.) 
"Follow  the  Leader"  (Mono.) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)   (40c-50c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $9,900). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 

FOX— (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$15,000.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)  (40c-50c-60c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,500.  (Average: 
$15,700). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Knickerbocker   Holiday"  (UA) 

LOEWS  ORFHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$7,100). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

SHUBERT— (1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
.Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Jane  Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 

ST.  LOUIS— (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $5,200). 


'Gaslight's'  $21,000 
Tops  Wet  Cleveland 


Cleveland,  May  24. — "Gaslight" 
was  the  only  picture  that  survived  a 
rainy  weekend.  It  started  big  and 
looks  like  $21,000  at  Loew's  State 
Theatre.  "Bernadette"  held  strong  in 
its  fourth  week,  shooting  at  $4,000  at 
Warners'  Lake  at  advanced  prices. 
Other  takes  were  under  par. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing May  18 : 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $7,000.    (Average:  $8,500). 
"Jane  Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME  —  (3,500) 
(44c-55c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Av- 
erage: $22,100). 

"Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (75c-$1.10)  7 
days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  OHIO— (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average:  $5,- 
000). 

"Tampico"  (20th- Fox) 

RKO  PALACE—  (3,300)  (5Oc-60c-85c-95c) 
7  days.  Stage:  Henry  Busse  Band,  Johnny 
Johnson.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average:  $25,- 
400). 

"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S     STATE— (3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $21,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STILLM AN— (1,900)  (43c -65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average: 
$10,000). 


FCC  Queries  Webs 
On  FM  Policies 

Washington,  May  24. — The  Fed- 
eral Communications  Commission  has 
decided  to  ask  all  national  and  re- 
gional networks  for  a  full  statement 
of  their  policies  and  methods  of  op- 
eration relative  to  FM  broadcasting 
in  order  to  determine  whether  FM 
broadcasting  is  developing  according 
to  FCC  policy. 

The  FCC  also  will  ask  for  an  out- 
line of  the  networks'  future  plans  in 
the  FM  field.  The  Commission's 
stand  has  been  that  FM  stations  should 
not  merely  duplicate  programs  heard 
over  standard  stations. 


The  Battle  of  China 

{War  Department) 

Hollywood,  May  24 

HP  HIS  documentary  from  the  hand  of  Col.  Frank  Capra,  sixth  in  the 
War  Department's  "Why  We  Fight"  series  of  orientation  films 
produced  primarily  for  enlisted  troops,  compares  most  directly  to  "The 
Battle  of  Russia,"  which  preceded  it.  Public  exhibition  potentialities 
may  be  estimated  on  the  basis  of  that  film's  showings. 

Like  "The  Battle  of  Russia,"  this  subject  tells  with  power,  precision 
and  impressive  detail  the  story  of  Japan's  attacks  upon  China,  beginning 
in  1931,  and  China's  resistance.  Graphic  footage  shot  under  many  kinds 
of  circumstances  by  many  photographers  is  combined  with  utmost  skill 
to  present  a  tightly  chronological  story.  Resort  to  maps  and  diagrams 
is  infrequent,  brief  and  immensely  effective. 

The  story  of  China  starts  4,000  years  back  and  emphasizes  the  na- 
tion's policy  of  peace.  The  story  of  Japan's  plans  for  conquering  the 
world,  after  dominating  China  first,  starts  in  the  latter  part  of  the  last 
century  with  the  mapping  of  the  Tanaka  Plan.  Shots  of  several  attacks 
on  China's  cities  include  close-ups  of  death  and  destruction  which  are 
more  graphic  than  often  used  for  public  exhibition. 

Running  time,  65  minutes.    "A."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

William  R.  Weaver 


*"A"  denotes  adult  classification. 


12,500  to  'Boys' 
In  Slow  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh,  May  24. — Business 
continued  below  par  here  for  the  third 
consecutive  week,  attributed  to  a  sea- 
sonal slump.  "Follow  the  Boys"  made 
$12,500  in  nine  days  at  the  Harris. 

Estimated   receipts   for   the  week 
ending  May  23-26: 
"The   Lady   and    the    Monster"  (Rep.) 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)    (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average:  $8,500). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

HARRIS— (2,200)  (35c-44c-65c)  9  days. 
Gross:  $12,500.  (Average,  for  7  days:  $10,- 
000). 

'Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

PENN— (3,400)      (35c-44c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $18,500.     (Average:  $21,700). 
'Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

RITZ— (1,100)    (35c-44c-65c)    7  days,  2nd 
week,  moveover  from  Penn.    Gross:  $3,000. 
(Average:  $3,000). 
"Cover  Girl"  (CoL) 

SENATOR— (1,750)  (35c-44c-65c)  9  days, 
into  5th  week,  moveover  after  3  weeks  at 
Harris.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average  for  7 
days:  $3,400). 

'The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 

STANLEY— (3,800)  (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage:  6  days  of  vaudeville,  including  Bob 
Chester's  orchestra.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Av- 
erage: $22,000). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
3rd  week,  moveover  after  1  week  at  Penn. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $9,350). 


Aims  for  Planning 
On  Tele.  Standards 

"Post-war  television  need  not  be 
handicapped  by  'freezing'  the  pres- 
ent standards,  nor  need  it  be  delayed 
by  the  search  for  the  theoretical 
ultimate  in  equipment,"  according  to 
Paul  L.  Chamberlain,  manager  of 
sales  of  General  Electric's  transmit- 
ter devision. 

"If  the  Radio  Technical  Planning 
Board  will  adopt  the  same  step-by- 
step  method  that  many  business  con- 
cerns are  now  using  in  their  post-war 
planning,"  Chamberlain  said  in  com- 
menting upon  the  present  controversy 
in  the  television  industry,  "broadcast- 
ers and  the  public  will  have  the  finest 
television  that  the  industry  can  pro- 
vide when  conditions  again  make  it 
possible  to  manufacture  television 
receivers  and  transmitters." 


'Jills'  $24,000  Is 
Denver  Leader 


Denver,  May  24. — "Four  Jills  in  a 
Jeep"  was  riding  in  first  place  here 
this  week,  grossing  $24,000  at  the 
Denver.  The  Paramount,  with  a 
gross  of  $15,345,  featuring  "Bridge  of 
San  Luis  Rey,"  pulled  in  second. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  22-24; 

"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

"A  Yank  in  the  RAF"  (20th-Fox) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)  (46c-74c)  7  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $8,400.  (Average:  $5,- 
600). 

"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

BROADWAY— (1,040)    (46c-74c)    7  days, 
moveover.    Gross:  $6,490.  (Average:  $3,900). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

DENHAM — (1,750)    (35c-45c-70c)    7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $9,000). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (ZOth-Fox) 

DENVER — (2,600)      (46c-74c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $24,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (20th- Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (740)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,200.    (Average:  $4,500). 
"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 
"Cow  Boy  Canteen"  (Col.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)    (46c-74c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $15,345.     (Average:  $9,300). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
'Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

RIALTO— (900)  (46c-74c)  7  days,  move- 
over.     Gross:   $8,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 


'Navy  Way;  Show  Off 
To  Indianapolis  Lead 

Indianapolis,  May  24.  —  "The 
Navy  Way,"  supplemented  by  a  stage 
show,  will  do  $14,000  at  the  Circle 
this  week  to  top  grosses  here.  "Ladies 
in  the  Dark"  will  take  $13,000  at  the 
Indiana. 

Estimated    receipts    for   the  week 
ending  May  23-25  : 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)   (55c-70c)  7  days.  Stage 
show:  Gay  Nineties.    Gross:  $14,000.  (Av- 
erage: $11,800). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)      (32c-55c  )  7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"See   Here,   Private   Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
LOEWS— (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.     (Average:  $11,500). 
"Women  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 
"Sultan's  Daughter"  (Mono.) 

LYRIC — (2,000)  (32c -55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,000.     (Average:  $4,900).  | 


Decision  Near  In 
SPG  Controversy 

A  decision  is  due  on  five  points  at 
issue  between  the  Screen  Publicists 
Guild  here  and  the  film  companies  on 
the  guild's  classification  and  automa- 
tic-progression plan  after  over  11 
months  of  negotiations.  Hearings 
were  concluded  before  arbitrators  at 
the  American  Arbitration  Associa- 
tion on  April  12. 

Issues  which  the  arbitrators  have 
been  called  upon  to  decide  include  the 
amount  still  due  SPG  under  the  "Lit- 
tle Steel  Formula" ;  whether,  under 
the  wage  re-opening  clause  of  the 
contract,  SPG's  classification  and 
progression  plan  may  be  considered ; 
what  the  the  tested  "going  rates"  for 
publicity  workers  in  New  York  home 
offices  are ;  SPG's  proposals  for  auto- 
matic progression  within  classifica- 
tions and  between  classifications  per- 
missible under  the  wage  re-opening 
clause ;  and  are  the  rates  paid  to  mem- 
bers of  the  Hollywood  SPG  and  New 
York  theatrical  press  agents  perti- 
nent to  the  Eastern  SPG's  wage  de- 
mands. 

Meanwhile,  SPG  has  asked  all  com- 
panies to  open  negotiations  for  new 
agreements  to  replace  the  two-year 
contracts  which  expired  May  4.  SPG 
has  requested  that  present  pacts  be 
extended  pending  the  outcome  of  new 
talks  with  the  understanding  that  new 
contracts  be  retroactive  to  May  4. 

SPG  has  established  a  new  over  all 
grievance  committee  comprising  chair- 
men of.  all  unit  grievance  groups  to 
consider  any  complaints  of  the  pub- 
licists in  film  companies. 


'Jills'  on  Dual  Get 
Bouncing  $10,600 

Omaha,  May  24.  —  "Four  Jills  in 
a  Jeep"  billed  with  "Three  Russian 
Girls"  grossed  $10,600  at  the  Orphe- 
um  theatre  to  lead  here  this  week. 
"Cover  Girl"  with  "Two-Man  Sub- 
marine" added  was  good  for  $7,100  in 
its  second  week  at  the  Brandeis. 
Showers  were  frequent. 

Estimated   receipts   for   the  week 
ending  May  24-25: 
"Cover  Girl"  (CoL) 
"Two-man  Submarine"  (Col.) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)  (44c-60c)  6  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross: .  $7,100.  (Average:  $6,- 
500). 

Flesh  and  Fantasy"  (Univ.) 

OMAHA— (2,000)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
3,400.    (Average:  $8,400). 
Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (ZOth-Fox) 
Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 
ORPHEUM— (3,000)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,600.     (Average:  $9,800). 
"Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,200.    (Average:  $11,700). 


Intervenors  Named 

Chicago,  May  24. — In  the  some-run 
and  clearance  complaint  of  R.  J. 
Miller,  operator  of  the  Coloiry,  Mc- 
Henry,  111.,  pending  in  the  Chicago 
Tribunal  here,  Balaban  arid  Katz, 
Great  States  Theatres,  the  Woodstock 
Amusement  Co..  of  Woodstock,  111., 
and  the  Eltover  Theatre,  Crystal 
Lake,  111.,  were  named  as  intervenors 
today. 


Iturbi  Quits  Rochester 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  May  24. — Jose 
Iturbi,  under  contract  to  M-G-M,  yes- 
terday resigned  his  position  as  conduc- 
tor and  musical  director  of  the  Roches- 
ter Philharmonic  Orchestra. 


CASEY  ROBINSON 
'Production 


new  career  for  the  greatest 
dancing  star... a  new  thril 
le  screen.  Premiere 
Ballet  Russe  de  Monte  Carlo 
.  .  .  exotic,  hauntingly  lovely, 
actress  to  her  fingertips! 


Glory 


Introducing  a  New  Screen 
Cast  of  Brilliant  Broadway 
Stage  Personalities . . . 


An  RKO-Radio  Picture 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  May  25,  1944 


Seek  Approval 
Of  Increase 


Chances  of  Tours  by  Stars 
In  5th  Drive  Seen  Slim 


In  RKO  Board 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

May  29  before  the  Securities  and  Ex- 
change Commission  on  an  application 
filed  by  Lehman  Brothers  for  an  or- 
der exempting  the  purchase  from  the 
provisions  of  Section  17  (A),  neces- 
sitated by  the  fact  that  Frederick  L. 
Ehrman,  a  partner  in  the  Lehman 
firm,  is  an  RKO  director,  as  reported 
in  yesterday's  Daily. 

The  RKO  annual  report  shows  a 
consolidated  net  profit  of  RKO  Radio 
Pictures  for  1943  of  $7,595,835,  be- 
fore inter-company  interest  and  taxes, 
as  compared  to  a  net  loss  for  1942  of 
§2,340,617.  This  accounted  for  the 
bulk  of  the  increase  in  the  corpora- 
tion's earnings.  Domestic  film  rentals 
were  up  45  per  cent  and  foreign 
rentals  showed  a  marked  increase  in 
the  last  six  months  of  the  year. 

Subsidiaries  Earnings 

Theatre  operating  subsidiaries 
showed  combined  net  earnings  for  the 
year  of  $5,441,821,  before  interest  and 
taxes,  as  against  $3,943,377  in  1942. 
During  1943  the  combined  funded  debt 
of  the  corporation  was  reduced  by 
approximately  $5,300,000,  leaving  at 
the  year's  end  an  aggregate  amount 
of  such  debt  of  $19,000,000,  including 
$1,200,000  of  a  parent  company  debt 
which  was  fully  paid  on  Jan.  3,  1944. 

Assets  of  the  corporation  are  listed 
at  $33,307,122  and  liabilities  at  $13,- 
892,080.  Operating  income  for  the 
year  was  $78,795,320  and  operating 
expenses  $62,218,116,  leaving  a  net  in- 
come from  operations  of  $16,577,203. 

After  deductions  for  interest,  losses, 
etc.,  and  provision  for  income  and  ex- 
cess profits  taxes  of  $6,000,000,  net 
profit  for  1943  was  $6,964,004,  as  re- 
ported in  the  Daily  for  May  18. 

Skouras  Talks  on 
British  Visit 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

Harley,  Martin  Quigley,  Hal  Home, 
Maurice  Silverstone,  William  J.  Kup- 
per,  Larry  Kent,  Richard  Dwight,  W. 
C.  Michel,  John  Caskey,  Jack  Alicoate, 
Otto  Koegle,  Bosley  Crowther*  Joseph 
Moskowitz,  W.  C.  Gehring,  A.  W. 
Smith,  Jr.,  Richard  Rowland,  Sher- 
win  Kane,  Jack  Schlaifer,  Dan  Mich- 
alove,  Sam  Shain,  Tony  Muto,  Tom 
Pryor,  Sidney  Self,  John  Mersereau, 
Lew  Schreiber,  Chick  Lewis,  Mori 
Krushen,  James  Ivers,  Jack  Goldstein, 
William  Formby,  Jack  Harrison,  Dave 
Bader,  H.  S.  Baremore,  L.  Picoult 
and  Lou  Pellegrine. 


Rucker  to  Paramount 

Dallas,  May  24.— Wallace  Ruck- 
er, owner  of  the  Rock  Theatre  in 
nearby  Round  Rock,  and  mayor  of 
that  town,  has  returned  to  Paramount 
here  as  a  salesman.  He  will  be  as- 
signed to  West  Texas.  Mrs.  Rucker 
will  manage  the  theatre  in  his  ab- 
sence. 


Mexican  Extras  Organize 

Mexico  City,  May  24.— Film  ex- 
tras here,  numbering  about  5,000. 
have  organized  a  union,  which  will 
be  affiliated  with  the  Confederation 
of  Popular  Organizations. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

in  work  may  finish  earlier  than  ex- 
pected, and  others  planned  for  an  early- 
start  may  be  delayed,  were  regarded 
here  as  brightening  the  prospects  for 
the  participation  of  stars  in  the  drive. 

O'Donnell  will  preside  at  a  trade- 
wide  pre-campaign  luncheon  at  the 
Ambassador  Hotel,  on  Friday,  at 
which  time  it  is  expected  that  the  prob- 
lem might  be  thrashed  out. 


Industry  Mobilizes  for 
Drive  on  June  2 

All  elements  of  the  industry,  with  of- 
ficials of  the  N.  Y.  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee, will  hold  a  "Fighting  Fifth 
Breakfast"  to  mobilize  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  at  9 :30  A.M.,  Friday, 
June  2.  Over  a  thousand  persons,  rep- 
resentatives of  the  30,000  film  workers 
who  will  take  part  in  the  drive,  are 
expected  to  attend  the  breakfast,  the 
location  of  which  is  to  be  kept  a  "mili- 
tary" secret  until  the  morning  of  the 
meeting. 

General  chairman  C.  C.  Moskowitz, 
of  the  film  committee  for  the  New 
York  area,  has  convened  the  meeting. 
Those  who  attend  will  be  instructed, 
through  a  "mess  call,"  to  assemble  at 
certain  street  corners  at  9 :30  A.M.  on 
the  morning  of  the  meeting.  "Military 
police"  will  then  escort  them  to  the 
secret  rendezvous. 

Major  Allen  V.  Martini,  bomber 
hero,  Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  national 
industry  chairman,  and  Nevil  Ford, 
state  chairman  for  the  War  Finance 
Committee  for  New  York,  will  speak. 


WAC  Publicity  Committee 
Meets  on  Fifth  Loan 

The  New  York  area  WAC  publicity 
committee,  under  the  chairmanship  of 
publicity  director  Ernest  Emerling  met 
yesterday  at  Fifth  War  Loan  head- 
quarters here. 

Plans  discussed  by  Emerling,  and 
Edward  C.  Dowden,  special  events 
chairman,  included  borough  and  county 
rallies ;  the  routing  of  the  Armed 
Forces  Cavalcade ;  "The  Battle  of  the 
Boroughs,"  the  publicizing  of  bond 
premieres ;  the  all-industry  mobiliza- 
tion meeting  on  June  2,  and  the  great 
"indicator"  to  be  erected  on  Times 
Square. 

Present  were :  Mike  Rosen,  John 
Cassidy,  Paula  Gould,  Peter  McCarty, 
Ben  Serkowich,  Saul  Handwerger,  Ar- 
thur Price,  Norman  Greenberg,  Sid 
Kain,  Sam  Coolick,  Al  Naroff,  John 
Mclnerny,  Ray  Malone,  Arthur  Eg- 
berts, Edgar  Goth,  Myron  Segal.  Nick 
Matsoukas,  Janice  Rentschler.  Sisrurd 
Wexo,  Vincent  Luigori  and  Ira  Mor- 
ais,  Jerry  Sager,  Blanche  Livingston, 
Peggy  Foldes  and  William  Slater. 


Seek  7.000  Bookings  for 
"Road  to  Victory" 

A  goal  of  7,000  bookings  before  the 
official  opening  of  the  industry's  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive,  June  12,  has  been  set 
for  the  War  Activities  Committee  one- 
reeler.  "The  Road  to  Victory,"  Nor- 
man H.  Moray,  Warner  Bros.'  short 
subjects  sales  manager,  has  informed 
Robert  T.  O'Donnell,  national  chairman 
"f  the  campaign. 

Moray  said  the  short  had  already 
secured  685  first-run  bookings  in  the 
first  two  days  of  release,  May  18-19. 
The  hope  is  that  90  per  cent  of  the 


Lust  Jumps  Gun 
With  Big  Check 

Sidney  Lust,  exhibitor  chair- 
man from  the  District  of 
Columbia,  yesterday  pre- 
sented the  New  York  office 
of  the  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  Campaign  the  first 
check  for  $50,000,  the  first 
large  war  bond  sale  credited 
to  the  "Fighting  Fifth"  drive. 

The  check  comes  from  a 
Washington  business  firm, 
which  requested  no  publicity. 
Lust  disclosed  that  he  ex- 
pected to  bring  in  a  check  for 
an  even  larger  amount  within 
a  few  days. 


population  will  see  the  subject  before 
the  opening  of  the  drive. 

The  film,  which  features  Frank 
Sinatra  and  Bing  Crosby,  was  pro- 
duced by  Warners  as  a  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan  extra  and  is  being 
distributed  through  its  exchanges. 


Queens  Exhibitors 
Hold  Meeting 

One  hundred  fifty  theatre  managers, 
assistants,  and  War  Finance  chairmen 
of  Queens  County  were  present  at  a 
Fifth  War  Loan  breakfast-organiza- 
tional meeting  yesterday  at  the  Forest 
Hills  Inn.  Co-chairmen  Jack  Harris 
and  Fred  Schwartz  officiated. 

On  the  dais  were:  Fred  Lemmer- 
man.  Nelson  Bengston,  Hon.  Mario 
J.  Cariello,  of  the  Queens  War 
Finance  Committee;  Fred  Schwartz 
and  Jack  Harris  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee ;  Mrs.  Mildred  Jacobs  of 
the  American  Women's  Voluntary 
Services ;  Maj  or  Edna  Blake  of  the 
Hospital  Reserve  Corps ;  and  Theo- 
dore Newhouse,  managing  editor  of  the 
Long  Island  Press. 


San  Francisco  Today 

Denver,  May  24. — Members  of  the 
industry's  national  committee  of  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  headed  by 
chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  left  here 
this  afternon  for  San  Francisco,  where 
a  regional  luncheon  meeting  will  be 
held  in  the  St.  Francis  Hotel  tomor- 
row. Charles  M.  Thall,  regional 
chairman,  will  preside. 

Exhibitor  Is  Cited 
For  Red  Cross  Work 

San  Francisco,  May  24.  —  C.  E. 
MacDonald,  manager  of  the  Fox  The- 
atre here,  has  been  presented  with  a 
certificate  of  appreciation  by  the  Red 
Cross  for  outstanding  work  in  re- 
cruiting plasma  volunteers  for  the 
Blood  Donor  Service. 

Mrs.  Gardner  Dailey,  director  of  the 
service  here,  stated  that  10  per  cent 
of  all  donors  are  recruited  from  the- 
atres and  "this  10  per  cent  means  the 
difference  between  success  and  fail- 
ure." 

When  the  Fox  Theatre  inaugurated 
its  plasma  recruiting  program,  Mac- 
Donald,  with  the  aid  of  the  Red 
Cross,  prepared  an  illuminated  display 
showing  the  preparation  of  plasma 
for  use  on  the  war  fronts.  His  ef- 
forts were  responsible  for  as  many 
1,000  donors  recruited  in  a  single 
week. 


Closing  of  Wallis 
Deal  with  Para. 
Is  Expected  Today 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

company's  lot  and  will  deliver  a  mini- 
mum of  two  pictures  per  year  for  five 
years.  Paramount  will  purchase  a 
partnership  interest  in  the  new  Wal- 
lis company  for  an  undisclosed  sum. 

The  Wallis  company  will  set  up  | 
New  York  offices  with  Hazen  in 
charge.  The  latter  formerly  was  a 
director,  vice-president  and  general 
counsel  of  Warners.  Wallis  plans  to 
leave  for  the  Coast  this  weekend  to 
complete  organization  of  his  producing 
company  and  to  establish  quarters  in 
the  Paramount  lot.  In  July,  and  be- 
fore starting  his  first  production  for 
Paramount  release,  he  plans  to  take  a 
vacation  of  a  month  or  six  weeks. 

'Wind'  Deal  Not  Concluded 

Wallis's  negotiations  for  acquisition 
of  motion  picture  rights  to  Lillian 
Hellman's  Broadway  hit,  "The  Search- 
ing Wind,"  have  not  been  concluded 
yet  but  are  continuing.  It  is  assumed 
that  Hazen  will  be  in  charge  of  the 
negotiations  with  Charles  Schwartz, 
attorney  for  Miss  Hellman.  and  Her- 
man Shumlin,  producer  of  the  play, 
after  Wallis's  departure  for  the  Coast. 
Wallis  said  he  is  interested  also  in 
"Junior  Miss"  and  negotiations  for 
that  Broadway  play  property  are  being 
undertaken.  In  addition,  a  production 
tie-up  with  the  Theatre  Guild,  which 
would  give  Wallis  screen  rights  to 
that  organization's  plays,  still  is  under 
discussion. 

Wallis  -declined  to  comment  on  re- 
ports concerning  a  settlement  of  his 
contract  with  Warners,  asserting  that 
the  matter  still  is  in  the  hands  of  at- 
torneys and  is  a  "legal  matter." 

Allied  Will  Not  Join 
Taxation  Committee 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

counsel  of  the  fact  of  an 
emergency,  the  president  is 
authorized  to  appoint  a  com- 
mittee en  taxation  to  repre- 
sent Allied  personnel,  the  size 
of  the  committee  resting  on 
the  discretion  of  its  presi- 
dent." 

Exhibitor  organizations  throughout 
the  country  recently  appointed  dele- 
gates to  the  national  tax  committee 
which  was  set  up  to  present  a  united 
industry  front  on  any  future  Con- 
gressional tax  matters.  This  commit- 
tee arose  out  of  the  conflict  in  presen- 
tation of  the  exhibitors'  situation 
when  the  last  tax  bill  was  being  con- 
sidered. 

Allied,  at  its  last  board  of  direc- 
tors' meeting  in  Chicago,  appointed  a 
sub-committee  headed  by  Harry  H. 
Lowenstein,  secretary  of  Allied  of 
New  Jersey,  to  meet  in  New  York 
and  decide  whether  National  Allied 
should  join  the  exhibitors'  national 
tax  group.  The  sub-committee  recom- 
mended participation,  following  the 
meeting  here  some  months  ago. 

Functioning  of  the  national  commit- 
tee has  been  held  in  abeyance  pending 
National  Allied's  naming  delegates 
thereto. 


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COLUMBIA 

THE  BLACK 
PARACHUTE 
Larry  Parks 
Jeanne  Bates 
John  Carradine 
Osa  Massen 
D— (5035) 

ONCE  UPON 
A  TIME 

Cary  Grant 
Janet  Blair 
James  Gleason 
89  mins. 

UNDERGROUND 
GUERILLAS 

(British) 
John  Clements 
Mary  Morris — D 

(5041) 
RIDIN*  WEST 
Charles  Starrett 
Shirley  Patterson 
O— (5207) 

STARS  ON 

PARADE 
Lynn  Merrick 
Larry  Parks 
Judy  Clark 
M — (5023) 

ADDRESS 
UNKNOWN 

Paul  Lukas 
K.  T.  Stevens 

D— 72  mins.  (5010) 

THEY  LIVE 

IN  FEAR 
Otto  Kruger 
Pat  Parrish 
Clifford  Severn 
D 

THE  LAST 
HORSEMAN 
.Russell  Hayden 

Bob  Wills 
"Dub"  Taylor 
O 

SHE'S  A 
SOLDIER,  TOO 
Beulah  Bondi 
Nina  Foch 
Jess  Barber 
D 

SECRET 
COMMAND 

Pat  O'Brien 
Chester  Morris 
Ruth  Warrick 

wo 

April 
29 

3  * 

&  O 

s 

»-5 

1  0 

g  ^ 

S 

3  X 

>-4 

THIS  IS  INDEED 
A  FRIENDLY 
INDUSTRY! 


The  response  to  "Leo-On-Every-Screen"  during  his  Anni- 
versary Week,  June  22  to  28,  is  deeply  heart-warming. 

The  Friendly  Lion  considers  it  a  birthday  honor  and 
privilege  to  roar — in  a  feature  or  short  subject — on  screens 
throughout  the  country. 

At  press-time  15,108  exhibitors  have  said:  "Okay,  Leo,  we 
celebrate  with  you!" 

The  total  mounts  daily.  From  customers  and  non-custom- 
ers comes  this  stirring  evidence  of  good- will  in  our  industry. 
It  is  something  of  which  we  may  all  be  proud. 

FIGHTING  SHOWMEN!  JOIN  THE  FIGHTING  5th  WAR  LOAN! 


First  in 

Fttm-am 

/Radfojljl 

Accural* 

and 

Impartial 

MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  104 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  MAY  26,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


^Wallis-Para. 
Deal  Includes 
British  Films 


Distribution  Agreement 
Announced  by  Balaban 

Hal  Wallis,  under  his  new  distri- 
bution deal  with  Paramount,  clos- 
ing of  which  was  formally  an- 
nounced yesterday  by  Barney  Bala- 
b  a  n ,  president 
o  f  Paramount, 
and  Wallis  and 
Joseph  H.  Haz- 
en,  his  executive 
assistant,  will 
be  in  charge 
of  Paramount's 
British  produc- 
tion in  addition 
to  the  pictures 
which  he  will 
make  in  Holly- 
wood. 

Plans  of  the 
new  Hal  Wal- 
lis Productions, 
Inc.,  call  for 
Wallis  to  devote  his  entire  time  to 
{Continued  on  page  12) 


Hal  B.  Wallis 


C.  R.  Rogers  Will 
Produce  4  for  UA 


Charles  R.  Rogers,  independent 
producer  releasing  through  United 
Artists,  announced  here  yesterday 
that  he  will  produce  four  features  for 
the  1944-45  season. 

They  are :  "Reaching  for  the  Stars/' 
starring  Jane  Powell,  his  first,  to  be 
followed  by  "My  Wild  Irish  Rose,"  a 
Technicolor  musical.  Negotiations 
for  the  direction  of  both  films  by  Da- 
vid Butler  have  begun,  he  said.  Third 
production  will  be  an  original  fantasy 
by  Harry  Segall,  titled,  "Angel  On 
My  Shoulder."  "One  Man's  Family," 
the  radio  program  by  Carlton  E. 
Morse,  will  be  the  final  feature. 

Total  cost  for  the  group,  which  will 
be  produced  at  the  General  Service 
{Continued  on  page  12) 


Baker  Reelected  as 
KRS  President 

London,  May  25. — At  the  annual 
meeting  here  today  of  the  Kinemato- 
graph  Renters'  Society,  Major  Regi- 
nald Baker,  managing  director  of  Eal- 
ing Distribution  Ltd.,  was  reelected 
president,  and  Francis  Baker  of 
Butcher's  Film  Service,  Ltd.,  was  re- 
named treasurer. 


U.  S.  Seeks  Film 
Cutters,  Editors 

An  acute  shortage  of  film 
cutters  and  editors  has 
prompted  the  War  Depart- 
ment to  issue  an  appeal  for 
workers  in  those  fields  who 
are  not  eligible  for  service 
with  the  armed  forces.  Other 
positions  are  available  to 
writers,  artists,  chauffeurs, 
shippers,  truck  drivers, 
mechanics,  electrical  engi- 
neers and  laborers. 


Allied  Plans 
For  Postwar 


Philadelphia,  May  25. — The  board 
of  National  Allied  today  authorized 
Martin  Smith,  the  organization's  presi- 
dent, to  appoint  a  committee  to  form 
an  all-industry  postwar  planning 
board  whose  main  duty  will  be  ef- 
forts to  prevent  the  Government's 
indiscriminate  disposition  of  motion 
picture  equipment  and  to  try  and  keep 
such  equipment  out  of  the  hands  of 
non-theatrical  groups. 

A  committee  consisting  of  Irving 
Dollinger,  chairman  and  Nathan  Ya- 
mins  and  William  Ainsworth  was  ap- 
pointed to  investigate  all  available 
sources  of  film  to  relieve  the  present 
shortage.  Also  a  recreation  equipment 
drive  was  instigated,  and  Smith  will 
appoint  committees  in  all  allied  com- 
munities to  provide  the  equipment  in 
all  Government  hospitals. 

A  plea  for  harmony  in  the  film  in- 
dustry was  voiced  by  William  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution  at  the  Allied  din- 
ner at  the  Hotel  Warwick  last  night 
attended  by  200  exhibitors,  film  ex- 
change heads  and  others. 


'Clean  Bill'  Given 
OCR;  Theatre 
Section  Remains 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  May  26. — A  "clean 
bill"  has  been  given  the  theatre-con- 
struction and  other  programs  of  the 
recreation  -section  of  the  Office  of 
Civilian  Requirements  and  all  plans 
for  a  reorganization  of  the  section 
have  been  dropped,  it  was  disclosed 
here  tonight. 

As  a  result,  George  W.  McMur- 
phey,  chief  of  the  section,  who  had 
been  reported  preparing  to  leave  the 
OCR,  will  remain,  as  will  all  mem- 
bers of  his  staff,  and  John  Eberson, 
who  resigned  as  consultant  last  Fri- 
day, will  be  asked  either  to  withdraw 
his  resignation  or  accept  a  new  ap- 
pointment. 

For  some  days,  the  activities  of  the 
recreation  section  have  been  under 
study  by  high  officials  of  the  OCR 
{Continued  on  page  12) 


Winners  of  Quigley 
Awards  Honored 


In  ceremonies  on  the  West  and  East 
Coasts  this  week,  the  winners  of  the 
10th  annual  Quigley  Showmanship 
Awards  were  presented  with  plaques 
officially  designating  them  as  1943's 
champion  showmen. 

The  winners  were  Jack  Matlack, 
publicity  director  of  the  J.  J.  Parker 
Theatres,  Portland,  Ore.,  and  manager 
of  the  circuit's  Broadway  Theatre, 
and  Miss  Gertrude  Bunchez,  publicity 
director  of  Loew's  Theatres  in  Balti- 
more. 

Matlack  was  presented  with  the  Sil- 
ver Grand  Award  and  the  W--  Show- 
manship Award  by  David  B.  Simpson, 
president  of  the  Portland  Chamber  of 
{Continued  on  page  12) 


Loew's  Inc.  Net  Prof  it  for 
28  Weeks  Is  $7,442,698 


A  net  profit  of  $7,442,698,  after  Fed- 
eral taxes,  was  recorded  for  the  28 
weeks  ended  March  16, 1944  by  Loew's, 
Inc.,  compared  to  $6,376,228  reported 
for  a  like  period  ended  March  18,  1943, 
David  Bernstein,  vice-president  and 
treasurer,  reported  yesterday. 

The  earnings  for  the  28-week 
period  amount  to  $4.44  per 
share  of  the  common  stock  as 
against  the  earnings  of  $3.83  per 
share  in  the  comparable  period 
in.  1943. 

The  company's  share  of  operating 


profit  after  provision  for  subsidiaries' 
preferred  dividends  for  the  28  weeks 
amounted  to  $19,209,840,  compared  to 
$19,632,511  a  year  ago.  Loew's,  Inc., 
profit  before  Federal  taxes  was  $14,- 
738,551  compared  to  a  previous  $15,- 
238,999,  Bernstein  announced.  A  re- 
serve of  $7,295,853  was  set  aside  for 
Federal  taxes,  compared  to  $8,862,771 
the  year  before.  Reserve  for  contin- 
gencies was  the  same  this  year  as  last, 
$2,600,000,  while  the  reserve  set  aside 
for  depreciation  was  $1,871,289  as  com- 
pared to  $1,793,512  a  year  ago. 


20th-Fox-Rank 
British  Films 
Under  Zanuck 


Skouras  Announces  Deal 
Is  for  Five  Years 


The  joint  production  activities  of 
20th  Century-Fox  and  the  J.  Ar- 
thur Rank  companies  in  Britain 
will  have  the  direct  supervision  of 
Darryl  F.  Za- 
nuck, who  will 
make  at  least 
one  visit  to  En- 
gland annually 
for  that  pur- 
p  o  s  e,  Spyros 
Skouras,  20th 
Century  -  Fox 
president,  told 
Motion  Picture 
Herald  this 
week. 

Skouras  and 
Rank  a  n  - 
nounced  earlier 
that  the  joint 
product  ion 

schedule  contemplated  four  to  eight 
{Continued  on  page  12) 


Spyros  Skouras 


Kelly  Setting  Up 
Sales  Organization 

Eagle-Lion  Films,  J.  Arthur  Rank's 
American  sales  company,  will  shortly 
establish  a  sales  organization  to  con- 
sist of  a  general  sales  manager,  as- 
sistant general  sales  manager,  26 
branch  managers  and  approximately 
100  salesmen,  it  was  disclosed  yester- 
day by  Arthur  Kelly,  president. 
{Continued  on  page  12) 

British  Gov't  to  Quit 
Films  After  War 

Hollywood,  May  25. — The  British 
government  will  not  continue  film  pro- 
duction after  the  war,  in  the  opinion 
of  J.  L.  Beddington,  director  of  the 
film  division  of  the  British  Ministry 
of  Information,  here  visiting  studios 
and  BMI  local  personnel  on  his  first 
trip  since  taking  the  post.  Beddington 
said  industry  opposition  is  the  chief 
reason  why  he  believed  governmental 
production  will  cease. 

His  production  staff  is  now  turning 
to  subjects  dealing  with  post-war  Eng- 
land, Beddington  said,  presenting  "in 
terms  of  alternatives"  possibilities  in 
housing,  educational,  and  other  fields 
of  public  interest.  Films  will  show 
the  potentialities  of  different  types  of 
policies  being  discussed. 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  May  26,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


N PETER    RATHVON,  RKO 
•  president,  will  arrive  from  Cali- 
fornia today. 

• 

Jack  L.  Warner,.  Warner  Bros, 
vice-president  in  charge  of  production, 
and  Mrs.  Warner,  will  leave  for  Cal- 
ifornia today. 

Leonard  Golden  son,  Paramount 
vice-president  in  charge  of  theatre 
operations,  returned  yesterday  from 
Denver. 

• 

Miles  Concannon,  co-manager  of 
Balaban  and  Katz   Chicago  theatre, 
and  his  wife   celebrated  their  38th 
wedding  anniversary  this  week. 
• 

Isidro  Sanchez,  Puerto  Rican  in- 
dependent distributor,  will  return  to 
San  Juan  today  after  a  three  weeks' 
stay  in  New  York. 

• 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO-Radio  presi- 
dent, will  arrive  Monday  from  the 
Coast. 

George  Borthwick,  MPPDA  treas- 
urer, will  arrive  here  early  next  week 
from  Hollywood. 

Harry  Kosiner,  Edward  Small's 
Eastern  sales  representative,  left  yes- 
terday for  South  Carolina. 

• 

Y.  Frank  Freeman  has  been  de- 
layed in  Atlanta  and  now  is  expected 
in  New  York  this  weekend 


Defer  Decision  on 
Theatre  Tax  Group 

Whether  or  not  Allied  States'  ac- 
tion at  Philadelphia  on  Wednesday  in 
declining  to  participate  officially  in  the 
proposed  Round  Table  Conference  of 
exhibitor  associations  on  taxation  will 
result  in  the  abandonment  of  the  or- 
ganization designed  to  unify  exhibitor 
opposition  to  unfair  and  discriminatory 
taxation  will  not  be  determined  for 
six  weeks  or  two  months,  it  was  stated 
here  yesterday. 

The  proposed  unified  organization 
has  been  approved  by  MPT  OA, 
PCCITO  and  affiliated  circuits  and 
was  approved  earlier  by  a  special  Al- 
lied commitee  designed  to  study  the 
plan,  which  was  rejected  by  the  Allied 
board  at  Philadelphia.  No  action  will 
be  taken  to  determine  the  wishes  of 
the  other  subscribing  exhibitor  groups 
with  respect  to  proceeding  with  the 
Round  Table  Conference  without  Al- 
lied until  after  the  industry's  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  has  ended,  it  was 
said. 


Freeman's  Son  Weds 

Atlanta,  May  25. — Miss  Jean 
Miles  Perkins  was  married  here  yes- 
terday to  Lt.-Cmdr.  Young  Frank 
Freeman,  Jr.,  at  St.  Mark's  Meth- 
odist Church.  Cmdr.  Freeman  is  the 
son  of  Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Paramount 
vice-president  in  charge  of  production. 


AMPA  Bows  Out  as 
Employment  Group 

The  Associated  Motion  Picture  Ad- 
vertisers yesterday  ushered  in  the  re- 
gime of  its  new  president,  Martin 
Starr  of  United  Artists,  by  deciding 
not  to  concern  itself  in  the  future  with 
the  unemployment  problems  of  ex- 
ploiteers. 

The  issue  came  up  when  some  of  the 
34  members,  assembled  for  a  luncheon 
meeting  at  the  Famous  Kitchen  here, 
suggested  that  the  organization  serve 
as  an  employment  clearing  house.  It 
was  decided  to  leave  this  function  to 
others  within  the  industry.  AMPA 
made  clear  it  was  seeking  to  enroll 
more  women  in  the  ranks  of  advertis- 
ers and  press  agents,  holding  that  wo- 
men will  play  an  increasingly  impor- 
tant role  in  the  future.  Meanwhile,  the 
group's  relief  fund  for  aging  exploit- 
eers  will  be  built  up  beyond  its  pres- 
ent substantial  figure,  according  to  a 
further  decision  by  the  membership. 

Vote  Anniversary  Dinner 

The  organization  also  voted  to  hold 
a  dinner  next  October  in  celebration 
of  the  industry's  50th  anniversary  and 
to  devote  itself  during  the  coming 
year  to  promotion  of  the  war  effort. 
AMPA  has  now  recessed  its  general 
membership  meetings  for  the  summer, 
but  the  board  will  continue  to  hold 
sessions  on  alternate  Thursdays. 

Those  taking  office  yesterday,  along 
with  Starr,  were  James  Zabin  of 
Cinema  Circuit,  vice-president;  Dave 
Bader  of  20th-Fox,  secretary,  and 
Jacques  Kopfstein  of  Astor  Pictures, 
treasurer. 


Schine  Motion  Would 
Delay  Suit  Trial 

Buffalo,  May  25. — Schine  Chain 
Theatres  today  filed  a  motion  in  U.  S. 
District  Court  here  to  compel  the 
Government  to  file  an  amended  an- 
swer in  its  anti-trust  suit  against  the 
circuit  in  view  of  the  recent  dismissal 
of  Columbia,  United  Artists  and  Uni- 
versal as  defendants  in  the  case. 

The  motion  was  made  in  the  course 
of  pre-trial  conferences  under  way 
here  before  Federal  Judge  John 
Knight,  with  Seth  Richardson  of 
Washington  and  Saul  E.  Rogers 
and  Willard  S.  McKay  of  New  York 
acting  as  counsel  for  Schine. 

If  the  motion  for  an  amended  an- 
swer from  the  Government  is  granted 
by  the  court  it  would  have  the  effect 
of  delaying  for  some  time  the  start  of 
trial  of  the  Schine  anti-trust  suit,  now 
scheduled  for  next  Wednesday. 


Lawyers  to  Answer 
Schoenstadt  Claim 

Chicago,  May  25. — Preliminary  in- 
terrogations are  to  be  answered  June 
1  by  defense  lawyers  before  Charles 
A.  MacDonald,  master  of  chancery  of 
United  States  Court  in  the  case  of 
Schoenstadt  and  Sons,  demanding 
earlier  clearance  for  their  Piccadilly 
Theatre  and  charging  violations  of  the 
Sherman  anti-trust  act. 

Defendants  are  Balaban  and  Katz, 
Warner  Bros.  Theatres,  and  major 
distributors. 


$18,000,000 
For  CIAA 


Washington,  May  25. — Cutting 
$1,174,000  from  the  estimates  of  the 
Coordinator  of  Inter-American  Af- 
fairs, the  House  Appropriations  Com- 
mittee today  recommended  that  that 
agency  be  given  $18,000,000  for  opera- 
tion during  the  fiscal  year  beginning 
July  1,  next. 

The  fund  granted  the  CIAA  is  $12,- 
735,000  less  than  it  has  for  the  current 
fiscal  year,  the  decrease  being  made 
possible  by  the  completion  of  a  num- 
ber of  its  programs.  In  eliminating  the 
$1,174,000  from  the  Coordinator's  es- 
timates the  committee  did  not  indicate 
where  cuts  were  to  be  made,  but  left 
it  to  the  Coordinator  to  select  the  ac- 
tivities to  be  restricted. 


'Look,'  WAC  May 
Report  on  Films 


The  publishers  of  Look  magazine 
and  the  War  Activities  Committee 
have  made  tentative  plans  for  a  book 
devoted  to  the  work  of  motion  pictures 
in  the  war,  75  percent  of  the  story  to 
be  told  in  pictures.  The  volume  would 
be  dedicated  to  all  film  workers  in  war 
service  and  would  describe  the  indus- 
try's prewar  campaign  against  Fascism, 
its  enlistment  after  Pearl  Harbor  and 
its  current  war  activities. 

Francis  Harmon,  WAC  executive 
vice-chairman,  and  Look  publishers 
have  been* considering  the  project  for 
some  time.  The  WAC  executive  com- 
mittee will  make  the  final  decision  on 
whether  the  WAC  will  lend  its  spon- 
sorship to  the  plan. 

Robin  Coons,  Associated  Press  Hol- 
lywood correspondent,  has  been  grant- 
ed a  six-months'  leave  of  absence  to 
vvrite  the  text,  if  and  when  arrange- 
ments are  concluded. 


Criticism  of  Industry 
On  Wane,  Says  Coe 

Outside  criticism  of  the  industry 
has  tapered  off  lately  to  the  point 
where  it  is  almost  negligible,  Charles 
Frances  Coe  of  the  Motion  Picture 
Producers  and  Distributors  of  Amer- 
ica yesterday  told  that  organization's 
Public  Relations  Committee  in  a  re- 
port on  his  recent  South  and  Midwest 
speaking  tour. 

Coe  said  that,  appearing  before 
Chambers  of  Commerce,  service 
clubs,  women's  club  and  church  groups, 
he  found  "very  little  criticism  and 
none  of  it  justified."  Summarizing  the 
tour,  which  placed  emphasis  on  the 
industry's  war  effort  and  its  function 
as  an  educational  force  in  the  postwar 
world,  he  stated  that  it  was  "the  best 
tour  ever,  from  the  standpoints  of  in- 
dustry acceptance  and  general  prom- 
ise. We  made  more  important  friends 
than  ever  before  in  the  past,"  Coe 
added. 

The  Public  Relations  Committee  de- 
voted a  part  of  yesterday's  weekly 
session  to  continued  work  on  publicity 
for  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive. 


House  Asks  Rise  in 
OWI  Foreign  Funds 


Washington,  May  25. — Again  re- 
stricting the  motion  picture  bureau  of 
the  domestic  branch  to  an  expenditure 
of  $50,000,  the  House  Appropriations 
Committee  today  recommended  that 
the  Office  of  War  Information  be  giv- 
en $58,625,367  for  operation  during 
the  fiscal,  year  beginning  July  1. 

The  amount  recommended  by  the 
committee  was  $20,402,000  more  than 
provided  for  the  current  year  but  $5,- 
765,000  less  than  requested  by  the 
OWL  While  the  committee  refused 
the  domestic  film  bureau  any  increase, 
it  approved  an  increase  for  the  simi- 
lar bureau  in  the  overseas  branch. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplaee  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
HELD  OVER  3rd  WEEK 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'i  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 

Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 

SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
-First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

FIRST  N.  Y.  SHOWING 

'THREE  MEN 
IN  WHITE' 

LIONEL  BARRYM0RE 
VAN  JOHNSON 


IN  PERSON 

BILLY  ROSE'S 
DIAMOND 
HORSESHOE 
REVUE 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


3rd  WEEK 
The  Inside  Story  of  the  World's  Worst  Gangsters 
PARAMOUNT'S 

"The  Hitler  Gang" 

BRANDTS  /"*  T  /"\  ti  "P 
B'way  &  46  St.     Vj    Li    \J    D  Ct 


Betty  GRABLE  •  Charlie  SPIVAK  &  Oreh. 

fc PIN-UP  GIRL' 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 

Plus  on  Stage — Connee  Boswell 
Raymond  Scott  &  Oreh.    •    WHIte  Howard 


BUY  MORE 
BONDS 


ROXY 


7th  Ave.  t 
50th  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke.  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.,  Leonard  Gneier,  Correspondent;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William 
R  Weaver,  Editor;  London  Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl.  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944 
by  Quigley  Publishing  Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications :  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  clas3  matter, 
Sept.  23,  1936,  at  the  post  office  at  New  York.  N.  Y..  under  the  act  of  March  3.  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


story 


of  a 


Motion  Picture  Daily — 


0t, 


r 


_ 


I 


m 

TAe  mosf  impelling  romance  of  fighting  men  and  their  women  that  ever  crowded  your 


* 


Friday,  May  26,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


9 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  25 

S barret  Mccormick,  di- 
•  rector  of  advertising  and  pub- 
licity for  RKO ;  Robert  Goldstein  and 
Alfred  W.  Schwalberg  of  Interna- 
tional Pictures,  and  Ralph  Austrian 
will  leave  here  tomorrow  for  New 
York. 

• 

Paramount  has  signed  Paulette 
Goddard  to  a  new  seven-year  contract, 
which  calls  for  two  pictures  annually. 
The  pact  goes  into  effect  upon  com- 
pletion of  her  latest  Paramount  film, 
"Kitty." 

• ' 

E.  T.  Gomersall,  Universal  assistant 
sales  manager,  and  John  Joseph,  "U" 
advertising-publicity  director,  arrived 
here  from  the  East  today. 

• 

Universal  has  acquired  rights  to  the 
Arsene  Lupin  title  from  M-G-M  and 
will  produce  "Enter  Arsene  Lupin"  as 
the  first  of  a  series. 

• 

Dorothy  Lamour  has  returned  to 
her  home  in  San  Bernardino  follow- 
ing a  minor  operation  at  Good 
Samaritan  Hospital. 

• 

Boris  Karloff's  second  film  under  his 
two-picture  deal  with  RKO  will  be 
"The  Body  Snatchers,"  the  company 
has  announced. 

• 

Charles  Einfeld,  national  advertis- 
ing and  publicity  director  for  War- 
ners, arrived  here  today  from  New 
York. 

•y 

Director  Lewis  Milestone's  condition 
was  reported  as  improved  today  by 
Hollywood  Hospital. 

• 

RKO  has  signed  Dick  Powell  to  a 
term  contract,  calling  for  two  pictures 
annually. 


Court  Kills  Bioff 
Recovery  Actions 

Albany,  May  25. — The  Court  of 
Appeals  today  unanimously  affirmed 
lower  court  decisions  dismissing  the 
action  brought  by  Paramount  stock- 
holders to  recover  more  than  $100,000 
paid  by  company  officials  to  William 
Bioff  and  George  Browne,  former 
IATSE  officials,  who  were  convicted 
of  extorting  more  than  $1,000,000 
from  the  motion  picture  industry. 

The  action  was  brought  by  a  group 
of  Paramount  stockholders  more  than 
a  year  ago  on  the  basis  of  testimony 
of  Paramount  officials  concerning  the 
payments  to  Browne  and  Bioff  in  the 
course  of  their  trial.  Today's  decision 
of  the  State's  highest  court  settles 
the  law  in  the  case  and  serves  as  a 
precedent  for  similar  stockholders'  re- 
covery actions  brought  against  War 
ners  and  Loew's  on  the  basis  of  sums 
extorted  by  Browne  and  Bioff  from 
officials  of  those  companies. 


Review 


"Mr.  Skeffington 

{Warner  Bros.) 

R.  SKEFFINGTON,"  the  best-selling  novel  by  "Elizabeth"  of 
several  seasons  back,  has  supplied  the  inspiration  for  this  dis- 
tinguished, handsomely-mounted  dramatic  production  starring  Bette 
Davis  and  featuring  Claude  Rains,  Walter  Abel,  Richard  Waring, 
George  Coulouris  and  Marjorie  Riordan,  produced  by  Julius  J.  and 
Philip  G.  Epstein  for  Warner  Bros.  It  deals  with  a  scintillating,  vain 
and  selfish  woman's  struggle  against  oncoming  age,  and  covers  a  span  of 
25  years.  Though  tending  to  be  overlong  in  its  unfolding,  Vincent 
Sherman's  deftly-paced  direction  sustains  engrossing  interest  through- 
out. Endowed  with  several  humorous  touches  supplied  by  the  Brothers 
Epstein  in  their  screen  adaptation  and  encased  in  an  impressive  produc- 
tion, it  is  a  film  that  is  certain  to  enjoy  wide  audience  appeal,  especially 
among  women,  and  command  top  box-office  returns. 

The  role  of  petulant  Fanny  Skeffington  is  a  "natural"  for  Miss  Davis' 
talents  and  it  enables  her  to  add  another  brilliant  portrayal  to  her  im- 
posing array  of  cinematic  accomplishments.  Rains  is  provided  with  an 
excellent  opportunity  to  display  his  artistry  in  the  lesser  role  of  Job 
Skeffington,  the  wealthy,  generous  banker-broker.  Fanny  Skeffington 
is  one  of  the  reigning  beauties  of  her  day  in  New  York  when  she  marries 
Skeffington  in  1914,  to  save  her  irresponsible  brother  from  disgrace. 
A  devoted  and  adoring  husband,  Skeffington  hoped  that  his  wife  would 
eventually  learn  to  love  him  despite  the  endless  parade  of  suitors  who 
continue  to  pay  her  homage  even  after  the  birth  of  their  daughter.  A 
serious  estrangement  develops  after  the  death  of  Fanny's  brother  which 
eventually  leads  to  divorce.  Skeffington  retreats  to  Europe  with  their 
daughter  and  Fanny  continues  to  attract  men  with  as  much  ease  as  pre- 
viously. Age  finally  catches  up  with  Fanny  after  a  serious  illness,  and 
the  realization  that  she  can  no  longer  attract  men  is  a  terrible  blow.  She 
finds  some  comfort,  however,  in  being  able  to  minister  to  Skeffington, 
who  returns  from  Europe  broken  and  blinded  by  the  Nazis  and  still 
worshipping  the  beautiful  Fanny  whom  he  married  25  years  before. 

Abel  is  appealing  in  the  role  of  Fanny's  devoted  cousin  and  lesser 
roles  are  splendidly  handled  by  Waring,  as'  Fanny's  brother ;  Miss  Rior- 
dan as  the  daughter ;  Dorothy  Peterson  as  her  maid ;  Coulouris  as  a  psy- 
chiatrist; and  Jerome  Cowan,  Robert  Shayne,  John  Alexander,  Charles 
Drake,  Peter  Whitney  and  Bill  Kennedy,  as  Fanny's  many  suitors."  Franz 
Waxman's  musical  score  is  a  highlight  of  the  production,  and  Ernest 
Haller's  photography  work  is  excellent.  Perc  Westmore  rates  full 
credit  for  his  handling  of  Miss  Davis'  make-up  in  the  latter  sequences 
of  the  film. 

Running  time,  146  mins.    "G."*    No  release  date  set. 

Milton  Livingston 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Discuss  Television 
Channel  Allocations 

The  problems  facing  post-war  tele- 
vision standards  and  allocation  of 
channels  were  discussed  here  last 
night  by  David  Smith,  research  direc- 
tor of  Philco  Radio  and  Dr.  Charles 
B.  Jolliffe,  chief  engineer  of  RCA 
before  the  second  television  seminar 
session  of  the  Radio  Executives  Club. 

"The  war,"  accbrding  to  Jolliffe, 
"has  opened  up  a  large  portion  of  the 
frequency  spectrum  not  previously 
used,  but  it  has  also  created  a  number 
of  new  services  or  expansion  of  ser- 
vices which  previously  existed,  so  that 
there  are  more  claimants  for  more 
frequency  space  than  there  is  frequency 
space  available." 


Edmund  Mortimer, 69, 
Films  Pioneer,  Dies 

Los  Angeles,  May  25.— Edmund 
Mortimer,  69,  motion  picture  actor  and 
former  director,  died  here  recently.  A 
pioneer  in  the  industry,  Mortimer  had 
been  with  films  27  years.  Surviving  is 
his  widow,  Louise. 


Harold  Bell  Wright, 
Author,  Dies  at  72 

San  Diego,  May  25.— Harold  Bell 
Wright,  72,  novelist,  many  of  _  whose 
stories  were  used  in  motion  pictures, 
died  here  yesterday  following  an  at- 
tack of  bronchial  pneumonia. 

Included  in  film  adaptations  of 
Wright's  novels  were  "The  Winning 
of  Barbara  Worth"  and  "The  Mine 
with  the  Iron  Door."  Surviving  are  a 
widow  and  three  sons. 


Ampere,  Ltd.,  Given 
Clearance  Award 

A  clearance  award  in  favor  of  Am- 
pere, Ltd.,  operators  of  the  Ampere, 
East  Orange,  N.  J.,  against  the  five 
consenting  companies  was  entered  at 
the  New  York  tribunal,  the  American 
Arbitration  Association  reported  here 
yesterday. 

Lionel  S.  Popkin,  arbitrator,  de- 
clared that  the  existing  clearance 
granted  by  Paramount,  Loew's,  20th- 
Fox  and  Warners  to  the  Ormont  over 
the  Ampere  was  unreasonable  and 
should  be  eliminated.  Further  that  the 
existing  clearance  granted  by  the  five 
companies  to  the  Beacon  over  the  Am- 
pere is  unreasonable  and  should  be 
reduced  to  one  day. 

Based  on  a  stipulation  entered  into 
by  all  parties  in  February  1944,  the 
arbitrator  further  ruled  that  Warners 
and  Loew's  shall  grant  no  clearance 
to  the  Royal  and  Broadmoor  over  the 
Ampere ;  that  the  maximum  clearance 
granted  by  Warners,  Loew's  and  RKO 
Radio  to  the  Central  over  the  Ampere 
shall  be  seven  days  on  features  play- 
ing both  clear  and  complete  runs  at 
the  Central. 


Cool  Weather 
Sends  L.  A. 
Into  Tailspin 


Los  Angeles,  May  25. — Coolish 
weekend  weather  was  the  only  tangi- 
ble factor  accountable  for  downward 
trends  all  along  the  box  office,  front, 
which  took  the  town-wide  total  of  first- 
run  grosses  to  $193,928,  which  com- 
pares to  a  total  average  of  $220,100. 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble," 
coupled  with  "Tunisian  Victory," 
took  $26,500  at  the  Loew's  State. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  24: 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE — (1,516)  (50c-60c- 
85c-$l.(X»  7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Aver- 
age: $11,200). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M) 

CHINESE— (2,500)      (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $15,500). 
"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

EGYPTIAN — (1,500)    (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  5 
days.    Gross:  $9,400.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 
"The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7 
days,  4th  week.  Gross:  $3,400.  (Average: 
$6,200). 

"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

HILLSTREjET—  (2,700)  (50c-60c-80c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average: 
$19,700). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $26,500.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

LOS  ANGELES—  (2,096)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average: 
$14,800). 

"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

FANTAGES— (2,000)  (50c-60c-8Oc-$1.0O)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $14,000.  (Average: 
$17,700). 

"Man  from  Frisco"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT    HOLLYWOOD  —  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Aver- 
age: $11,000.) 
"Man  from  Frisco"  (Rep.) 
"My  Best  Gal"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT     DOWNTOWN  —  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)      7    days.     Gross:  $15,000. 
/Average:  $20,300.) 
"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.    (Average:  $8,700). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,500.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
60c -80c -$1.00)    7    days,    2nd    week.  Gross: 
$12,779.     (Average:  $17,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS  DOWNTOWN— (3,400)  (50c- 
60c -80c -$1.00)    7   days,    2nd    week.  Gross: 
$15,150.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS  WILTERN— (2,200)  (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,- 
199.     (Average:  $15,200). 


McGuire  to  St.  Louis 

P.  A.  McGuire  of  the  Simplex  Pro- 
jection Corp.  left  yesterday  for  the 
IATSE  convention  in  St.  Louis. 


Warners  File  Denial 
Of  Rosyl  Charges 

Answers  generally  denying  allega- 
tions in  the  triple  damage  anti-trust 
suit  of  Rosyl  Amusement  Corp.,  opera- 
tor of  the  Cameo  Theatre,  Jersey  City, 
against  23  motion  picture  firms,  con- 
sisting of  the  eight  producing  compa- 
nies, their  distributors  and  five  theatre 
chains  operating  in  Hudson  County, 
N.  J.,  were  filed  in  Federal  Court  here 
yesterday  by  Warner  Brothers  Pic- 
tures, Inc.,  Warner  Brothers  Circuit 
Management  Corp.,  Warner  Brothers 
Theatres,  Inc.,  and  the  Stanley  Corp. 
of  America,  all  named  as  defendants. 


«  'iiinn 

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Hi  IS 

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Still K 
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Welcome 


is  pleased  to  announce  that  the  producing  firm  of  Hal  B.  Wallis  Productions,  Inc., 
headed  by  Hal  B.  Wallis  and  Joseph  H.  Hazen,  has  become  affiliated  with  Paramount 
Pictures  Inc.  The  future  product  of  the  man  who  made  "Casablanca",  "Yankee 
Doodle  Dandy",  "This  Is  The  Army",  "Watch-  On  The  Rhine",  "Saratoga 
Trunk",  "Princess  O'Rourke"  and  105  other  famous  screen  attractions,  and  who 
twice  won  the  Thalberg  Memorial  Award,  will  augment  the  remarkable  succession 
of  fine  pictures  which  has  already  won  industry  dominance  for  Paramount. 
Hal  B.  Wallis  productions  will  be  filmed  for  the  most  part  at  the  Paramount  studio 
in  Hollywood.  The  remainder  will  be  produced  in  England— a  co-operative  move 
to  help  insure  world-wide  acceptance  for  British-made  pictures. 
All  Hal  B.  Wallis  productions  will  be  distributed  throughout  the  world  by 

tftitnnwmtt 


toductions 


12 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  May  26,  1944 


Bond  Rally  Scheduled  for 
Today  in  Los  Angeles 


Wallis-Para. 
Deal  Includes 
British  Films 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

production  of  features  in  Hollywood 
and  England,  and  for  Hazen  to  take 
charge  of  the  organization's  corporate, 
financial  and  business  affairs,  with 
headquarters  in  New  York. 

Under  the  deal  Wallis  will  make 
two  to  four  pictures  annually  for  Par- 
amount worldwide  distribution  for  an 
as  yet  undesignated  period.  Paramount 
will  advance  initial  organization  and 
operating  costs  for  the  new  Wallis 
company  but  will  not  own  any  inter- 
est in  Hal  Wallis  Prod.,  Inc.,  it  was 
stated.  All  subsequent  financing  after 
the  company  begins  producing  will  be 
its  own. 

Only  Interested  in  'Wind' 

Wallis,  who  plans  to  leave  for  the 
Coast  this  weekend  or  on  Monday, 
said  that  Lillian  Hellman's  "The 
Searching  Wind"  is  the  only  property 
in  which  he  is  interested  now,  War- 
ners having  closed  for  "Junior  Miss." 
He  further  stated  that  his  plans, 
for  going  to  Britain  to  produce  there, 
as  part  of  the  Paramount  deal,  are 
uncertain.  He  indicated  that  they 
would  depend  in  large  part  on  the 
availability  of  studio  space  there. 

American-made  pictures  will  be  pro- 
duced at  Paramount' s  Hollywood  stu- 
dio. The  first  film,  title  of  which  will 
be  announced  soon,  will  go  into  pro- 
duction in  September. 

"The  fusion,"  Balaban  said,  "for 
production  in  England,  of  the  resources 
of  Paramount  with  Wallis's  ability, 
should  result  in  some  real  British- 
made  hits  for  the  world  market  from 
this  highly  important  production  cen- 
ter." 

C.  R.  Rogers' Will 
Produce  4  for  UA 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

Studios,  will  be  $5,000,000.  "Song  of 
the  Open  Road"  will  have  its  world 
premiere  in  Portland,  Ore.,  the  home 
town  of  Jane  Powell,  who  stars  in  the 
picture,  in  June,  he  said. 

During  his  eight-week  stay  here, 
Rogers  studied  the  television  situa- 
tion. He  said  that  a  new  field  for 
films  impends  with  the  new  medium. 
Rogers  will  return  to  the  Coast  to- 
day. 

Labor  Conciliator  to 
Meet  Cartoonists 

Hollywood,  May  25." — Louis  Liv- 
ingston, U.  S.  Labor  department  con- 
ciliator, will  meet  with  the  Screen 
Cartoonists  Guild  and  representatives 
of  the  Walt  Disney  studios  next 
Thursday  morning  in  an  effort  to  set- 
tle new  contract  negotiations. 

Due  to  the  fact  that  Disney  employs 
50  per  cent  of  the  screen  cartoonists, 
the  Guild  and  other  cartoon  pro- 
ducers feel  that  wage  increases  in 
Disney's  studio  will  set  a  precedent  in 
the  field. 


$425,000  for  'Miss' 

Warner  Bros,  are  reported  to  have 
purchased  the  screen  rights  to  the 
Broadway  play  "Junior  Miss"  for  a 
record  price  of  $425,000. 


Los  Angeles,  May  25. — Some  400 
Southern  California  theatre  and  pro- 
ducer-distributor representatives  will 
gather  at  the  Ambassador  Hotel  to- 
morrow to  finalize  plans  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  and  to  hear  Robert 
J.  O'Donnell  outline  plans  for  the 
forthcoming  nation-wide  effort. 

O'Donnell  will  tell  the  theatremen 
that  they  will  carry-  the  heaviest  re- 
sponsibility for  success  of  the  drive. 
"The  industry  is  setting  out  to  sell  a 
bond  for  every  fighter  in  the  armed 
forces.  There  are  12,000,000  fighters, 
12,000,000  theatre  seats  and  it  is  pos- 
sible for  us  to  sell  12,000,000  bonds," 
he  will  say. 

Plan  Special  Activities 

This  area's  activities  will  be  high- 
lighted by  bond  premieres,  audience 
participation  activities,  mobile  units 
and  special  performances  of  varied 
character  in  keeping  with  the  national 
program,  plus  readaptations  based  on 
the  area's  possibilities.  Dave  Bershon, 
territorial  chairman,  arranged  the 
luncheon  and  will  preside.  Charles 
Skouras,  who  was  Fourth  Drive  chair- 
man, will  be  present  and  will  pledge 
the  unstinted  cooperation  of  his  the- 
atres. 

Other  speakers  will  include  Howard 
D.  Mills  and  R.  H.  Moulton,  Treasury 
Department  officials  ;  Richard  M.  Ken- 
nedy, John  Friedl,  Ray  Beall,  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  Claude  Lee  and  Major  Al- 
len V.  Martini,  war  hero. 

Skouras  accompanied  O'Donnell  and 
his  staff,  plus  Depinet,  from  San  Fran- 
cisco today  and  tonight  was  host  to  the 
drive  .officials  at  a  Variety  Club  party 
and  dinner  at  Perino's.  Later  tonight 
O'Donnell  met  with  Hollywood  Vic- 
tory Committee  officials  in  a  final  ef- 
fort to  untangle  uncertainties  over  star 
bond  tours  which  thus  far  appear  high- 
ly circumscribed  in  view  of  Holly- 
wood's heaviest  production  schedule  in 
the  past  year. 


Campaign  Book  Placed 
In  Mail  Today 

The  24-page  Fifth  War  Loan  cam- 
paign press  book  is  off  the  press,  and 
shipments  to  the  field  will  begin  today, 
Joe  Kinsky  of  the  industry's  campaign 
headquarters  here  announced  yester- 
day. A  total  of  20,000  copies  are  being 
printed  for  distribution  to  all  exhibit- 
ors, exhibitor  state  chairmen,  state 
publicity  chairmen,  area  distributor 
chairmen,  branch  managers,  salesmen 
and  War  Finance  Committee  members. 
A  number  of  innovations  devised  by 
Ray  Beall,  national  publicity  chairman, 
are  included. 


Missouri  Meet  Monday 

Western  Missouri  will  hold  its  Fifth 
War  Loan  industry  kickoff  meeting  in 
Kansas  City  on  Monday,  according  to 
a  wire  received  at  national  campaign 
headquarters  here  yesterday  from  E. 
C.  Rhoden,  exhibitor  state  chairman. 
J.  E.  Garrison,  district  distributor 
chairman  ;  Jack  Langan,  area  distribu- 
tor chairman,  and  Jerry  Zigmond, 
Western  Missouri  publicity  chairman, 
will  be  present. 


Slater  Heads  Speakers 

William  Slater  of  the  RKO  publicity 
department  has  been  appointed  head  of 
the,  speakers'  bureau  for  Manhattan 
theatres  by  Gene  Meyers,  borough 
chairman  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan. 


'Clean  Bill'  Given 
OCR;  Theatre 
Section  Remains 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

and  the  War  Production  Board,  fol- 
lowing complaints  from  both  within 
and  outside  the  organization  that  its 
efforts  to  insure  adequate  theatre  and 
other  recreation  facilities  for  war  cen- 
ters were  cutting  across  the  programs 
of  the  production  divisions  for  war 
output. 

The  situation  was  intensified  by 
press  stories  that  reported  assurances 
that  adequate  facilities  for  various 
amusements  would  be  provided  could 
not  be  made  good  and  that  section  of- 
ficials had  greatly  exceeded  their  au- 
thority in  pressing  their  program. 
There  also  is  a  situation  in  the  thea- 
tre program  resulting  from  the  pleas 
of  independent  exhibitors  on  the  West 
Coast  to  the  Department  of  Justice 
to  bar  large  circuits  from  using  the 
OCR  to  expand  their  holdings. 

Officials  said  today  that  all  of  these 
situations  have  been  thoroughly 
studied  and  a  decision  reached  that 
while  there  has  been  a  great  deal  of 
loose  talk  there  is  nothing  basically 
wrong  with  either  the  OCR  program 
or  organization. 

Cantor  in  NBC  Web 
Telecast  to  Phila. 

Eddie  Cantor  appeared  in  an  inter- 
city demonstration  of  chain  television 
which  was  telecast  for  15  minutes  last 
night  from  the  NBC  television  studio 
in  New  York  to  Philadelphia  where 
the  Poor  Richard  Club  in  cooperation 
with  the  Franklin  Institute  at  Frank- 
lin Hall  commemorated  the  occasion. 

Franklin  Hall  was  the  scene  where 
the  development  of  the  telephone  was 
demonstrated  100  years  ago,  and  the 
Cantor  telecast  which  was  a  demon- 
stration of  chain  television  which  even- 
tually will  be  put  on  a  national  basis 
in  the  post-war  world,  is  claimed  to 
be  a  'first'  in  scientific  history  and 
entertainment  progress  ia  view  of  the 
fact  that  heretofore  programs  have 
been  strictly  experimental. 

Winners  of  Quigley 
Awards  Honored 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Commerce,  before  500  members  and 
guests.  In  his  acceptance  speech,  Mat- 
lack  expressed  his  thanks  to  Martin 
Quigley  for  making  the  awards  pos- 
sible. 

Baltimore's  Mayor  Theodore  R. 
McKeldin  made  the  presentation  of 
the  Bronze  Grand  Award  to  Miss 
Bunchez  at  a  luncheon  given  in  her 
honor  at  the  Lord  Baltimore  Hotel. 


'Wallflower'  to  Warners 

Screen  rights  to  the  current  Broad- 
way play  "Wallflower"  have  been  ac- 
quired by  Warner  Bros.,  according  to 
an  announcement  by  Jack  L.  Warner. 
The  show  was  produced  by  Meyer 
Davis  and  is  in  its  18th  week  at  the 
Cort  Theatre.  The  purchase  price  is 
reported  to  be  $75,000. 


20th-Fox-Rank 
British  Films 
Under  Zanuck 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
pictures  annually,  some  of  which 
would  be  made  in  Hollywood.  The 
agreement  is  for  a  five-year  period, 
Skouras  said,  and,  as  reported  earlier, 
involves  physical  distribution  of 
Rank's  pictures  by  20th-Fox  in 
America,  Africa  and  Australasia. 
Rank's  Eagle-Lion  Films  plans  to  es- 
tablish its  own  branches  in  South 
America. 

Skouras  said  that  the  British  in- 
dustry has  made  great  strides  in  the 
past  four  years  and  in  five  years  more 
it  will  be  in  a  position  to  compete 
with  the  American  industry  on  com- 
parable grounds.  Skouras  views  this 
impending  competition  as  "one  of  the 
best  things  that  has  happened  to  the 
American  industry  in  years."  He  in- 
timated that  Rank  is  determined  to 
place  the  British  industry  on  the  same 
plane  with  the  American  industry  and 
that  the  British  leader  is  motivated 
by  his  great  belief  in  the  power  and 
influence  of  the  screen  throughout  the 
world. 

Will  Be  on  G-B  Board 

Skouras  said  that  approximately 
$19,000,000  has  been  invested  by  Fox 
in  Gaumont-British  in  the  past  15 
years  and  that  during  that  time  the 
American  company  had  no  effective 
voice  in  the  management  of  G-B.  Un- 
der his  new  agreement  with  Rank, 
Skouras  will  be  on  the  G-B  board,  and 
Larry  Kent,  his  executive  assistant, 
will  be  an  important  factor,  on  a  full 
time  basis,  in  G-B  management. 

Skouras  gave  unstinting  praise  to 
the  British  industry  for  its  advances 
in  the  face  of  wartime  conditions 
which  have  deprived  it  of  manpower, 
materials  and  75  per  cent  of  its  studio 
space.  He  also  paid  high  tribute  to 
Rank  as  an  individual. 


Kelly  Setting  Up 
Sales  Organization 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
As  previously  reported  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily,  20th  Century-Fox 
will  handle  the  physical  distribution 
for  all  films  produced  by  J.  Arthur 
Rank,  British  film  leader.  This  pro- 
cedure, it  is  understood,  was  adopted 
as  a  matter  of  expediency,  and  post- 
war plans  call  for  the  setting  up  of 
the  company's  own  distribution  or- 
ganization. The  Eagle-Lion  setup 
here  thus  becomes  identical  to  that  of 
Gaumont-British  of  several  years  ago 
when  physical  distribution  was  handled 
by  20th-Fox  and  G-B  maintained  its 
own  selling  organization. 

Plans  for  the  first  film  to  be  shown 
under  the  Eagle-Lion  banner,  "The 
Life  and  Death  of  Colonel  Blimp,"  are 
now  being  formulated  on  a  road  show 
basis,  Kelly  said. 


'Wilson'  Premiere  Aug.  1 

"Wilson,"  20th  Century-Fox's  Tech-  • 
nicolor  film  produced  by  Darryl  Zan- 
uck, will  have  its  premiere  at  the 
Roxy  here  on  Tuesday  evening,  Aug. 
1.  The  film  will  run  on  a  roadshow 
basis. 


STEADILY 
IMPROVED 


THE  PREFERENCE  of  cameramen  and 
directors  of  photography  for  Eastman  Films 
has  a  sound  basis.  In  the  face  of  wartime 
pressures,  the  exceptional  quality  of 
these  films  has  been  not  merely  main- 
tained but  steadily  improved.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

J.  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 
Fort  Lee  Chicago  Hollywood 


EASTMAN  FILMS 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


17 


Honored  100  Give  100  Ideas  to  Fifth 


Their  Reports 
On  4th  Cited 
)  For  Use  Again 


THE  'Honored  100'  theatre- 
operating  bond  selling  cham- 
pions of  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  were  polled  by  the  national 
industry  committee  of  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  to  determine  what 
methods  they  employed  to  set  their 
records.  From  the  100  reports,  the 
committee  has  culled  for  exhibitors 
'the  stuff  that  sells  bonds,  and  more 
bonds!'  It  covers  several  separate 
fields  of  action ;  the  basic  highlights 
follow : 

Organizational  Tie-ups 

Local  AWVS  and  CDVO  offices 
supplied  uniformed  bond  saleswomen 
to  act  as  agents  at  bond  booths.  In 
another  town,  the  American  Legion, 
Veterans  of  Foreign  Wars,  Kiwanis, 
Rotary  and  the  DAR  were  each  as- 
signed a  special  night  to  sell  bonds. 
Competition  was  keen ;  the  house  was 
packed  each  night,  and  war  bond 
sales  soared !  Elsewhere,  locals  of  the 
AFL,  CIO  and  Railroad  Brotherhood 
.  were  enlisted  to  compete  with  other 
locals  on  special  war  bond  nights. 
Another  theatre  was  turned  over  one 
night  to  local  women's  clubs  for  a 
half-hour  show  and  bond  drive ;  the 
women  put  on  the  show  and  the  hus- 
bands bought  the  bonds. 

Premieres 

Bond  Premieres  were  the  greatest 
bond  sellers.  Refer  to  the  special 
premiere  section  in  the  pressbook, 
where  various  types  of  premieres  and 
special  shows  are  outlined.  That  sec- 
tion was  written  directly  from  the  ex- 
periences of  the  men  who  made  the 
bond-selling  records. 

Special  Bond  Days 

Among  the  most  successful  were : 
Buy  a  Bond  for  Baby  Week.  Pur- 
chasers of  bonds  posted  the  picture  of 
their  'baby'  in  theatre  lobby ;  Local 
Heroes'  Day.  Purchasers  bought  a 
bond  for  son,  father,  sweetheart,  who 
was  notified  by  letter  from  the  theatre 
manager  that  a  bond  had  been  pur- 
chased in  his  honor ;  Marine  Day, 
Navy  Day,  Army  Day.  Members  of 
the  services  were  guests  of  war  bond 
purchasers  during  "their"  day. 

Children's  Promotions 

Competition  was  arranged  between 
local  girl  and  boy  scouts  in  soliciting 
bond  purchases.    Public  schools  else- 
where were  pitted  against  each  other 
\  _for  bond  purchases.     'A   Bond  for 


Bond-Register,  4  Stories 
High,  for  Times  Square 


DETAILS  of  one  of  the  most 
spectacular  "indicators"  ever 
devised  to  record  the  prog- 
ress of  a  war  bond  drive,  or  other 
community  campaign,  to  be  erected 
in  Times  Square  by  the  New  York 
Fifth  War  Loan  motion  picture 
committee,  in  cooperation  with  the 
Treasury's  War  Finance  Commit- 
tee, were  disclosed  here  at  the 
weekend  by  Charles  C.  Moskowitz, 
Loew  executive  and  chairman  of 
the  Metropolitan  New  York  film 
bond  committee. 

The  "bond-register"  40  feet  high, 
will  be  constructed  in  the  Times 
Square  "island"  at  43rd  Street  and 
Broadway.  It  will  tower  four  stories. 
The  numerals  that  will  spring  up  to 
record  bond  sales  will  be  more  than 
four  feet  high.  The  "keys"  of  the 
register  will  be  more  than  two  feet 
in  diameter.  In  the  base  of  the  "regis- 
ter" will  be  a  large  "bond  store"  with 
a  counter  that  can  handle  sales  of 
more  than  a  bond-per-minute.  Local 
motion  picture  theatres,  cooperating 
with  the  women's  division  of  the  War 
Finance  Committee,  AWVS  and 
other  groups,  will  man  the  booth. 

Above  the  "bond  store"  will  be  a 
platform  on  which  daily  shows  will 
be  given  by  performers  of  screen, 
stage,  radio  and  night  clubs. 

At  noon  each  day,  while  traffic 
halts  for  30  seconds,  the  total  "E" 
bond  sales  will  be  recorded  by  the 
cash  register.  An  electrical  record- 
ing, highly  amplified,  will  send  up 
and  down  Broadway  the  clang  and 
rattle  of  the  cash  register  making  a 
"sale."  This  sound  effect,  in  turn, 
will  be  carried  over  radio  broadcasts 
throughout  the  country. 


Each  Student'  (or  'A  Bond  for  Each 
Scout')  campaign  was  used  in  another 
place,  a  free  ticket  going  to  each  stu- 
dent or  scout  who  sold  a  bond.  Spe- 
cial 'Children's  Bond  Shows'  were 
tops  in  many  cities. 

Special  Services 


A  poster  board  in  the  lobby  an- 
nounced that  the  theatre  would  send  a 
representative  and  War  Bond  booth 
to  any  organizational  rally.  Support 
of  high  school  students  in  several 
towns  was  gained  for  a  stunt  wherein 
they  volunteered  to  do  household  or 
other  services  for  bond  purchasers. 

Military  Tie-ups 


One  theatre  in  one  night  sold  $932,- 
475  in  war  bonds  by  a  servicemen's 
show  staged  through  the  cooperation 
of  near-by  Army  camps  and  Navy 
bases.  Seats  were  reserved,  at  $1,000 
to  $25  per  bond.  Mayor,  business  men 
and  club  women  got  behind  the  show. 


WARLOAN 


Four-story-high  'Bond  Reg- 
ister' which  will  be  erected 
to  record  Fifth  War  Bond 
Sales  at  New  York's  Times 
Square. 


Display  Material 
In  5th  Bond  'Kit' 


IN  order  to  aid  the  efforts  of 
every  theatre  to  make  its  fullest 
contribution  to  the  'Fighting 
Fifth'  War  Loan  campaign,'  a  spe- 
cial accessories  and  display  kit  has 
been  prepared  and  will  be  shipped 
to  all  exhibitors. 

The  kit  will  contain  a  pictorial 
40x60;  a  40x60  Honor  Roll  chart 
for  lobby  or  outside-theatre  dis- 
play; two  colored  one  sheets 
with  an  8x10  panel  for  a  photo 
of  a  local  war  hero;  a  special 
Treasury  Department  two-sheet 
for  out-front  posting;  and  a 
press  book  with  'Fighting 
Fifth'  ads,  promotion  ideas  and 
publicity. 

In  addition  to  the  accessories  kit, 
National  Screen  has  also  prepared  an 
eight-foot  valance,  to  sell  for  $3.50, 
and  a  burgee  streamer,  containing 
four  burgees  12x18,  and  a  center  bur- 
gee 18x24,  printed  in  red  and  blue  on 
white  cloth.  Price  of  the  burgee 
streamer  is  $2.85.  Both  items  are 
available  at  National  Screen  ex- 
changes. 


Selling  Bonds 
By  Theatre 
Showmanship 


M 


ANY  new  and  scores  of 
tried  -  and  -  proven  promo- 
tions are  proposed  to  ex- 
hibitors by  the  national  industry 
committee  for  use  during  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive,  June  12-Jury  8. 
Industry  bond  leaders  are  stressing 
the  Invasion,  advising  theatre  own- 
ers that  if  the  Invasion  should  start 
during  a  performance,  the  oppor- 
tunity should  be  seized  for  making 
spontaneous  bond  sales  by  inter- 
rupting the  performance  with  an 
announcement  of  the  attack  and  an 
appeal  for  bond  buying. 

Some  additional  timely  show- 
manship bond  selling  promotions 
are  addressed  to  exhibitors  in  the 
following : 

'Bond  Office' 


For  the  duration  of  the  Fifth  War 
Loan,  change  the  title  Box  Office  to 
read  Bond  Office.  The  cashier  can- 
not be  expected  to  sell  bonds  but  as 
a  catch  the  sign  has  merit.  Patrons' 
inquiries  can  be  directed  to  the  actual 
bond  booth  in  the  theatre  lobby. 

'Shocker  Board' 


From  the  files  of  the  local  news- 
paper, borrow  stills  of  combat  zones 
and  arrange  a  display  of  realistic  war 
scenes.  Change  the  display  as  often 
as  you  can.  The  board,  placed  outside 
the  theatre,  can  attract  much  attention 
and  awaken  many  complacent  war 
bond  buyers. 

'Smear  the  Axis' 


As  an  alternate  lobby  board  to  the 
'Honor  Roll-Fight  By  His  Side' 
write-in  poster,  have  a  plain  board 
with  a  large  swastika  and  Jap  rising 
sun  painted  on  it  erected  next  to  the 
Bond  Office.  In  typing  out  the  bond 
slip  for  each  sale,  use  an  extra  carbon 
and  make  a  copy,  same  size,  on  blank 
paper  of  the  buyer's  name  and  address. 
These  blanks  should  be  pasted  on  the 
board  to  eventually  blot  out  the 
swastika  and  the  rising  sun. 

Audience  Participation 


To  boost  bond  sales  and  create  in- 
terest in  a  bond  lobby  there  are  some 
good,  tried-and-true  audience-partici- 
pation stunts  which  can  be  used :  A 
punching  bag  with  Hitler's  face  on  it. 
A  scaffold  with  Hitler  or  Tojo  on 
which  a  bond-buyer  springs  the  trap. 
A  dart  board,  three  shots  for  one 
bond,  with  faces  of  the  Axis  partners 
painted  thereon. 


War  Loan  Drive 


18 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Hollywood 


3,393  From  20th-Fox 
In  Armed  Forces 

A  total  of  3,393  employes 
from  20th  Century-Fox  and 
subsidiaries  are  now  in  the 
armed  forces,  the  company  re- 
ports. This  includes  those 
from  the  home  office,  ex- 
changes, studio,  National  The- 
atres, Roxy  Theatre,  Movie- 
tonews  and  De-Lux  Labora- 
tory. Of  the  total,  which  in- 
cludes both  men  and  women, 
1,802  are  on  duty  in  combat 
areas. 


Review 


"Bathing  Beauty" 

( Metro  -Go  Idwyn  -Mayer ) 

LAVISHLY  produced  in  Technicolor,  "Bathing  Beauty"  is  another 
'  M-G-M  top-flight  musical  film  which  should  register  substantially 
with  the  customers.  Produced  by  Jack  Cummings  and  directed  by 
George  Sidney  it  provides  Red  Skelton  with  an  opportunity  to  display 
his  varied  abilities  as  a  comedian;  supplies  the  shapely  swimming  star 
Esther  Williams  with  a  chance  to  perform  both  as  an  actress  and  mer- 
maid; and  presents  the  talents  of  Harry  James  and  his  music  make-rs 
and  Xavier  Cugat  and  his  orchestra.  Lina  Romay  of  the  Cugat  aggre- 
gation, Helen  Forrest  of  the  James  band,  Carlos  Ramirez,  South  Ameri- 
can singer  and  jive  organist  Ethel  Smith  are  also  featured. 

The  story,  which  represents  the  combined  efforts  of  a  screen  play  by 
Dorothy  Kingsley,  Allen  Boretz  and  Frank  Waldman,  from  an  adapta- 
tion by  Joseph  Schrank  of  an  original  by  Kenneth  Earl,  M.  M.  Mussel- 
man  and  Curtis  Kenyon,  merely  serves  to  keep  things  moving  in  be- 
tween the  impressive  and  entertaining  production  sequences  and  the 
antics  of  Skelton.  Skelton  is  a  love-sick  songwriter  who  is  separated 
from  his  bride,  Miss  Williams,  at  the  altar  by  the  conniving  of  producer 
Basil  Rathbone.  He  endures  hilarious  indignities  as  a  student  in  an 
exclusive  college  for  girls  in  his  efforts  to  rectify  the  situation.  Out- 
standing are  an  eye-filling  water  ballet  finale;  an  amusing  take-off  on 
the  Rockettes  supplied  by  Skelton,  the  James  orchestra  and  Miss  Smith ; 
and  a  screamingly  funny  sequence  wherein  Skelton  performs  as  a  female 
ballet  dancer.  Other  items  include  Skelton's  familiar  pantomime  of  a 
woman  getting  up  in  the  morning;  some  excellent  solos  by  James  and 
the  bubbling  personality  of  Miss  Romay. 

'  Also  featured  are  Bill  Goodwin,  Jean  Porter  and  Donald  Meek. 
Johnny  Green  is  credited  with  musical  supervision  and  direction;  Jack 
Donohue  and  Robert  Alton  were  the  dance  directors ;  and  Harry  Stradl- 
ing  was  director  of  photography.  John  Murray  Anderson  handled  the 
water  ballet  sequence. 

Running  time  101  minutes.    "G."*    No  release  date  set. 

Milton  Livingston 


"The  Canterville  Ghost" 

(M-G-M) 

THIS  ambitious  Arthur  L.  Field  production,  catapulting  Oscar 
Wilde's  ghost  story  into  the  current  war,  is  designed  to  serve 
Charles  Laughton's  broadest  comedy  style  and  little  Margaret  O'Brien's 
pathos.  Followers  of  both  will  get  more  than  their  money's  worth,  and 
those  customers  who  enjoy  humorous  fantasy  will  find  much  of  that 
flavor  in  this  picture. 

The  first  one-third  of  the  footage,  devoted  to  Laughton's  disgrace  in 
the  year  1624,  when  he  flees  from  a  duel  and  therefore  is  permanently 
welled-up  by  his  irate  father  in  Canterville  Castle,  has  been  farced  to 
glorious  perfection.  Likewise,  when  the  action  jumps  to  the  present  and 
a  company  of  American  Rangers,  including  Robert  Young,  arrives  to 
be  billeted  in  the  old  place  only  to  find  the  ghost  rattling  his  chains  in 
quest  of  a  descendant  whose  noble  deed  can  put  him  to  eternal  slumber, 
the  laughs  are  constant  and  delightful.  Then  the  O'Brien  child,  as  heir 
to  the  establishment,  discovers  that  Young  belongs  to  an  offshoot 
branch  of  the  family;  and  she  pleads  with  the  newcomer  to  do  some- 
thing brave.  Here  the  shift  of  mood  results  in  some  slow  stretches  and 
leaves  Laughton  perilously  stranded  between  fun  that  seems  impertinent 
and  pathos  that  does  not  quite  jell ;  but  the  comedy  mood  is  happily  re- 
captured at  the  end,  when  Young,  after  having  faltered  in  a  raid,  suc- 
ceeds in  removing  a  time  bomb  with  a  jeep,  while  the  ghost,  riding  the 
bomb,  urges  him  on  to  success. 

Edwin  Harvey  Bloom's  screen  play  is  packed  with  clever  dialogue, 
while  Jules  Dassin's  direction  prevents  the  film  from  bogging  down 
between  its  two  planes  of  emotion.  Rags  Ragland,  Una  O'Connor,  Elisa- 
beth Risdon,  Frank  Faylen  and  William  Gargan  head  a  smooth  sup- 
porting cast. 

Running  time,  96  mins.    "G."  *    Released  in  eighth  block. 

Tom  Loy 


'Marseille'  on  Dual 
Takes  Good  $12,000 

Kansas  City,  May.  28. — "Passage 
to  Marseille"  and  "Gildersleeve's 
Ghost"  gave  the  Orpheum  an  ex- 
cellent $12,000.  "Gaslight"  at  the 
Midland  lured  around  $15,000.  The 
Esquire,  Uptown  and  Fairway  made  a 
pretty  good  showing  with  "Tampico," 
taking  around  $13,300  for  the  three. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  27: 

"Tampico"  < 20th- Fox) 

ESQUIRE — (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.     (Average:  $6,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (3,500)      (40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900   )  (46c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 
"Gildersleeve's   Ghost"  (RICO) 

ORPHEUM— (1,900)     (45c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $12,500.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Tampico"  (ZOth-Fox) 

UPTOWN — (2,000)      (45c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $6,500.     (Average:  $5,600). 
"Tampico"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FAIRWAY— (700)      (45c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $1,300.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"The  Cowboy  and  the  Senorita"  (Rep.) 
"Beneath  Western  Skies"  (Rep.) 

TOWER— (1,200)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,000.     (Average:  $9,400). 


'Uncertain  Glory'  Is 
Buffalo  Pacesetter 

Buffalo,  May  28.  —  Only  two 
houses  are  expected  to  do  above  aver- 
age this  week.  "Uncertain  Glory" 
will  probably  get  $13,000  at  the 
Twentieth  Century  and  "Up  in  Ma- 
bel's Room"  may  hit  $11,000  at  the 
Hippodrome.  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove"  will  make  $13,600  in  four 
days  at  the  Great  Lakes,  however. 
Weather  is  warm. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  27 : 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Sing  a  Jingle"  (Univ.) 

BUFFALO — (3,489)      (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.    (Average:  $17,400). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
4  days.  Gross:  $13,600.  (Average:  $16,- 
600). 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Weekend  Pass"  (Univ.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $9,700). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Trocadero"  (Rep.) 

TWENTIETH    CENTURY— (3.000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.    Gross:  $13,000.  (Aver- 
age: $12,200). 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 
"Never  a  Dull  Moment"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
Havs.     Gross:  $9,000.     (Average:  $12,400). 


Monogram  Branch  Shifts 

Hollywood,  May  28. — The  Mono- 
gram home  office  here  announced  that 
Mike  Lee  has  succeeded  Leland  Allen 
as  manager  of  the  Kansas  City  ex- 
change, while  Henry  Glover  replaced 
Harold  F.  Cohen  as  New  Orleans 
manager. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Foreign  Countries 
Observe  MGM  Week 

Canada  and  36  foreign  countries  will 
participate  in  M-G-M's  20-year-Anni- 
versary-Week  from  June  22-28,  the 
company  announced  at  the  weekend. 
Sweden,  Spain  and  China  are  not  in- 
cluded in  the  observation  in  view  of 
?ertain  specific  conditions. 


C ancels  A  dmission 
Taxes  for  'Army9 

Havana,  May  28. — Admission  taxes 
were  eliminated  by  presidential  de- 
cree for  Warners  "This  Is  the  Army," 
which  had  its  Cuban  premiere  at  the 
American  Theatre  here.  Theatre  man- 
agement also  donated  its  share  of  the 
opening  night  receipts  to  Army  Relief. 


Hollywood,  May  28 

STAGES  at  M-G-M  are  busy  with 
the  start  of  three  new  pictures 
during  the  week  to  bring  the  number 
in  work  there  to  ten.  New  ones 
launched  are  "Son  of  Lassie,"  Tech- 
nicolor sequel  to  "Lassie  Come  Home" 
with  S.  Sylvan  Simon  directing  and 
Sam  Marx  producing;  "Airship 
Squadron  4,"  Wallace  Beery  starrer, 
with  William  A.  Wellman  directing, 
and  "Music  for  Millions,"  produced 
by  Joe  Pasternak,  with  Henry  Kos- 
ter  directing. 

• 

Casey  Robinson,  who  recently  com- 
pleted "Days  of  Glory"  for  RKO-Ra- 
dio  and  then  signed  a  producer-direc- 
tor-writer contract  with  International, 
is  currently  preparing  the  screenplay 
of  Paid  Gallico's  novel,  "The  Ro- 
mance of  Henry  Menafee."  Cliff 
Reid  will  produce  for  M-G-M.  .  .  . 
Marjorie  Reynolds,  brown-eyed  and 
blonde  Paramount  player,  who  made 
one  of  the  first  flying  entertainment 
trips  to  the  Aleutians,  has  just  com- 
pleted one  of  the  new  Hollywood  Vic- 
tory Convmittee-U SO  tours  of  serv- 
ice hospitals. 

• 

Anne  Gwynne  has  been  signed  by 
Universal  for  the  feminine  lead  in 
"Babes  on  Swing  Street,"  which  Ed- 
ward Lilley  is  producing.  .  .  .  PRC 
has  signed  Warren  William  for  the 
lead  in  "First  Illusion."  .  .  .  After 
much  discussion  and  much  can- 
vassing of  fans,  Republic  has  decid- 
ed to  allow  Roy  Rogers  one  roman- 
tic kiss  with  Dale  Evans  in  "San 
Fernando  Valley."  It  will  be  Rog- 
ers' first  on  the  screen. 

• 

Brian  Donlevy  has  been  cast  as 
Trampas  in  Paramount's  remake  of 
"The  Virginian."  .  .  .  Republic  signed 
Virginia  Bruce  for  the  feminine  lead 
opposite  Tito  Guizar  in  "Brazil."  .  .  . 
Screen  Publicists'  Guild  has  voted  to 
affiliate  with  Motion  Picture  Paint- 
ers Union.  Step  was  taken  to  pro- 
vide the  guild  with  an  AFL  charter. 
.  .  .  Leon  Fromkess  has  signed 
Christy  Cabanne  to  write,  direct  and 
act  as  associate  producer  on  "G.  I. 
Guy."  .  .  .  World  Famous  Pictures 
has  changed  its  corporate  name  to 
Coronet  Pictures.  Clifford  Sanforth 
is  executice  producer  now  preparing 
"Adventures  of  the  Son  of  Robin 
Hood." 

• 

Because  Donna  Reed  is  tied  up  in 
"The  Picture  of  Dorian  Gray,"  Jun-e 
Allyson  gets  the  role  of  Barbara  in 
"Music  for  Millions"  at  M-G-M.  .  .  . 
William  Beaudine  will  direct  Mono- 
gram's "Baby  Shoes,"  which  A.  W. 
Hachel  is  producing,  starting  June  19. 
.  .  .  Universal  has  signed  Betty  Hut- 
ton's  sister,  Marion,  to  an  exclusive 
contract  for  two  to  three  pictures  an- 
nually. Her  first  will  be  the  Abbott 
and  Costello  comedy,  "In  Society." 


Velez  Gets  2  Houses 

Mexico  City,  May  28. — Othon  M. 
Velez,  for  many  years  manager  of  lo- 
cal radio  station  XEW,  has  taken 
over  management  of  the  Alameda, 
first  run  film  theatre,  and  the  Buca- 
reli,  a  subsequent  run  house.  Velez 
has  also  assumed  the  general  man- 
agership of  the  Emilio  Azcarragat  en- 
terprises, including  radio  station 
XEQ,  Radio  Programs  de  Mexico. 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


19 


I.  A.  Board  Weighs 
New  Affiliation 

St.  Louis,  May  28. — The  possible 
affiliation  of  Motion  Picture  Office 
Employees,  Local  23169,  AFL,  repre- 
senting over  600  office  workers  in  the 
home  office  of  Warner  Bros,  and  sub- 
sidiary companies  in  New  York  and 
almost  200  similar  workers  in  the  Uni- 
versal home  office  there  is  understood 
to  be  under  consideration  by  the 
IATSE  executive  board  here.  There 
is  a  possibility  that  the  matter  will 
be  brought  before  the  delegates  at  the 
IATSE  convention  which  opens  at 
the  Jefferson  Hotel  here  tomorrow. 

MPOE  presently  has  an  AFL 
charter  as  a  federal  office  workers' 
union.  Recently,  the  AFL  executive 
board  considered  the  possibility  of 
establishing  an  international  union  of 
office  workers,  which  would  mean  re- 
moving "white  collar"  groups  from 
the  international  unions  with  which 
they  are  affiliated  and  granting  char- 
ters to  them  from  a  new  international 
which  would  be  set  up.  However, 
some  opposition  to  this  proposal  has 
developed  within  the  ranks  of  the 
AFL  executive  council  and  it  is  now 
considered  doubtful  whether  the  plan 
will  be  pressed.  The  IATSE  has 
jurisdiction  over  some  3,000  "white 
collar"  workers  in  the  30-odd  film 
exchange  centers.  They  would  or- 
dinarily be  eligible  to  join  a  new  in- 
ternational under  the  AFL  plans,  but 
should  the  IATSE  decide  to  take  in 
MPOE,  it  is  believed  that  further  dis- 
cussion of  a  new  international  as  far 
as  film  industry  office  workers  are 
concerned  would  be  abandoned. 

Charter  Applications  on  Agenda 

Delegates  arriving  for  the  opening 
of  the  convention  indicated  there  is  a 
good  prospect  that  the  charter  "  appli- 
cations for  film  salesmen  and  for  the- 
atre managers  will  be  approved  by  the 
convention.  While  the  applications 
are  one  of  the  controversial  issues  on 
the  convention  agenda,  the  sentiment 
of  many  of  the  delegates  favors  the, 
proposals. 

About  1,000  delegates  are  expected 
at  the  convention.  ■  The  IATSE  ex- 
ecutive board  headed  by  Richard  F. 
Walsh,  president,  has  been  in  session 
during  the  past  week  to  study  matters 
which  will  be  brought  before  the  con- 
vention. William  Bennett  of  the 
Washington,  D.  C.  stagehands  Local 
No.  22  is  expected  to  offer  Walsh 
stiff  opposition  in  his  bid  for  reelec- 
tion. 

Because  of  the  Tuesday  holiday,  the 
convention  is  not  expected  to  get  down 
to  real  business  until  Wednesday. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Shift  PRC  Meetings 
From  Coast  to  N.  Y. 

PRC's  fifth  annual  sales  convention 
scheduled  to  be  held  in  Hollywood 
May  30-31  and  June  1  will  be  held 
instead  in  New  York  from  June  26- 
30,  it  was  announced  over  the  week- 
end by  Leo  J.  McCarthy,  general  sales 
manager,  and  Leon  Fromkess,  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  production. 
Transfer  of  the  session  was  attributed 
to  wartime  conditions. 

Modified  distributor  contracts,  which 
have  been  agreed  upon  by  the  fran- 
chise holders'  committee  and  the  man- 
agement, will  be  presented  to  the  28 
franchise  holders  at  the  meeting,  it 
is  understood.  Fromkess  and  Mc- 
Carthy will  leave  the  Coast  on  June  17 
for  New  York. 


'Mission  to  Moscow' 
Shown  to' Gandhi 

A  special  showing  of  "Mis- 
sion to  Moscow"  has  been  held 
for  Mahatma  Gandhi,  with 
India's  newspapers  headlining 
the  story  that  this  was  the 
first  talking  picture  to  date 
that  Gandhi  considered  worth 
viewing,  according  to  a  cable- 
gram received  by  the  Warner 
home  office  from  B.  N.  Nad- 
karni,  the  company's  branch 
manager  in  Bombay,  India. 


Block  Six  Showings 
Set  by  Paramount 

Dates  for  tradeshowings  of  Para- 
mount's  sixth  block  of  1943-44  pictures 
were  announced  at  the  weekend  by 
Charles  M.  Reagan,  general  sales  man- 
ager, as  follows : 

"Going  My  Way"  and  "Hail  the 
Conquering  Hero,"  June  5 ;  "Take  It 
Big"  and  "The  Great  Moment,"  June 
6,  and  "Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret" 
and  "I  Love  a  Soldier,"  June  7,  in 
Albany,  Atlanta,  Buffalo,  Boston, 
Charlotte,  Chicago,  Cincinnati,  Cleve- 
land, Dallas,  Denver,  Des  Moines,  De- 
troit, Indianapolis,  Kansas  City,  Mem- 
phis, Milwaukee,  Minneapolis,  New 
Haven,  New  Orleans,  New  York, 
Oklahoma  City,  Omaha,  Philadelphia, 
Pittsburgh,  Portland,  St.  Louis,  Salt 
Lake  City,  San  Francisco,  Seattle  and 
Washington,  D.  C. 

Los  Angeles  screenings  will  be  as 
follows :  "Going  My  Way"  and  "Hail 
the  Conquering  Hero,"  June  7;  "Take 
It  Big"  and  "The  Great  Moment," 
June  8,  and  "Henry  Aldrich's  Little 
Secret"  and  "I  Love  a  Soldier,"  June  9. 
"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Barnett  Indicted  in 
Bankruptcy  Charge 

Roger  Barnett,  president  of  Color 
Classics,  was  named  in  a  four-count 
indictment  filed  in  Federal  Court  here 
Friday  and  accused  of  concealing  ap- 
proximately $20,000  from  a  trustee  in 
bankruptcy.  If  convicted,  Barnett  will 
face  a  possible  imprisonment  for  20 
years,  and  fines  aggregating  $20,000. 

Barnett  filed  a  voluntary  petition  in 
bankruptcy  in  Federal  Court  on,  Oct. 
28,  1942,  listing  assets  of  $300  and 
liabilities  of  $57,400,  chief  creditors 
being  H.  Sewall  Bradley,  with  a  claim 
for  $5,000,  and  C.  H.  Hill,  with  a 
claim  for  $20,000. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Griffith  to  Be  Head  of 
Okla.  War  Council 

Oklahoma  City,.  May  28,; — Okla-, 
homa's  Governor  ,  Robert  S.  Kerr,  has 
announced.-  the  coming  appointment-'  of 
L.  C.  Griffith  of  the  Griffith '-Amuse- 
ment Co.  and  associated  chains  as 
chairman  of  the  State  War  Council, 
replacing  Norris  G.  Henthorne,  Tulsa 
publisher. 

Kerr  said  Griffith,  who  has  served 
two  years  as  vice-chairman  of  the 
Oklahoma  civilian  defense  organiza- 
tion, has  promised  to  accept  the  top 
job. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Hemingway  Injured 

London,  May  28. — Ernest  Heming- 
way, author  of  "For  Whom  the  Bell 
Tolls,"  and  other  novels,  suffered  head 
injuries  and  other  abrasions  in  an 
automobile  accident  here  last  week. 
The  author  is  reported  recovering. 


Manpower  Shortage 
May  Delay  Envoys 


Appointment  of  the  six  industry  rep- 
resentatives in  foreign  capitals  may  be 
delayed  by  the  current  manpower  situ- 
ation, it  was  learned  here  at  the  week- 
end. 

At  a  meeting  of  foreign  managers 
in  the  office  of  the  Motion  Picture  Pro- 
ducers and  Distributors  Association 
late  last  week,  the  subject  was  dis- 
cussed, but  no  names  of  available 
candidates  for  the  posts  were  pro- 
posed. 

It  is  understood  that  Fay  Allport 
and  Harold  Smith  of  the  MPPDA 
foreign  department  will  canvass  the 
field  further  in  the  near  future  for  the 
purpose  of  discovering  appointees  for 
the  approximately  half  dozen  posts 
around  the  world  which  can  be  filled 
immediately. 


Important  Liaison  Work 
For  Film  Envoys 

Washington,  May  28.: — Film  in- 
dustry envoys  who  are  to  be  sent  to 
various  foreign  nations  will  find  a 
fertile  field  for  their  work,  particu- 
larly those  in  European  capitals  alter 
the  war,  it  was  said  at  the  weekend 
in  State  Department  circles. 

Despite  the  efforts  which  will  be 
made  to  secure  international  agree- 
ments for  the  equitable  treatment  of 
American  films,  there  is  a  well  en- 
trenched belief  that  the  extent  of 
petty  annoyances  confronting  Ameri- 
can picture  exporters  after  the  war 
will  be  greater  than  ever  before,  due 
largely  to  the  world  recognition  of 
the  political  significance  of  motion 
pictures. 

See  Postwar  Quota  Systems 

While  the  program  of  the  State 
Department  calls  for  the  same  treat- 
ment of  American  products  abroad  as 
is  extended  to  foreign  products  by 
this  country,  it  is  also  realized  that 
every  country  of  importance  is  likely 
to  attempt  to  develop  its  own  indus- 
try after  the  war  as  a  propaganda 
medium  if  for  nothing  else.  Accord- 
ingly, it  is  expected  that  many  coun- 
tries will  impose  a  quota  system  on 
American  films,  applicable  in  many 
instances  to  both  distribution  and  ex- 
hibition, and  that  most  of  them .  will 
exercise  a  greater  surveillance  over 
content  of  films. 

State  Dept.  officials  are  hopeful 
that  many  of  the  major  barriers  to 
the  free  interchange  of  motion  pic- 
tures may  be  eliminated  by  interna- 
tional agreements. 

While  major  issues  involving  films 
can  be  dealt  with  diplomatically 
through  the  State  Department,  there 
will  be  many  matters  of  importance 
in  the  foreign  field  which  will  be  best 
dealt  with  through  the  industry's  own 
representatives,  who  will  have  the 
support  of,  but  no  formal  connection 
with,  the  Department. 

Darrell  Ware  Dies; 
Paramount  Producer 

Los  Angeles,  May  28.  —  Darrell 
Ware,  38,  a  film  writer  since  1937, 
who  was  recently  made  a  Paramount 
producer,  died  yesterday  from  a  heart 
attack  at  his  home  in  West  Los  An- 
geles. His  last  picture,  written  with 
Karl  Tunberg,  was  "Bring  on  the 
Girls." 

Ware  leaves  a  widow ;  a  daughter, 
Judy,  4,  and  two  brothers,  Harland 
and  Leon,  both  also  writers. 


War  Need  Not  Hold 
Up  Trust  Suit, 
Allied  Board  Claims 


Following  is  the  text  of  a  resolu- 
tion on  the  industry  consent  decree 
adopted  by  the  Allied  Board  of  Di- 
rectors at  Philadelphia  last  week. 

"Resolved,  that  the  Board  of  Direc- 
tors hereby  respectfully  petitions  the 
Attorney  General  to  bring  to  a  speedy 
conclusion  the  pending  anti-trust  suit 
against  the  eight  major  producers  and 
distributors  either  by  the  entry  of  an 
effective  consent  decree  in  harmony 
with  the  recommendations  of  the  Con- 
ference of  Independent  Motion  Pic- 
ture Exhibitors,  which  were  submit- 
ted to  the  Department  of  Justice  un- 
der date  of  February  8,  1944,  or  by 
the  filing  of  an  amended  or  supple- 
mentary petition  praying  that  the  de- 
fendants be  required  to  divest  them- 
selves of  their  theatre  holdings,  that 
their  large  circuits  of  theatres  be  dis- 
solved, and  that  they  be  enjoined  from 
further  engaging  in  the  unfair  and 
discriminatory  practices  set  forth  in 
the  original  petition ;  and  the  Board 
further  urges  that,  in  case  an  amend- 
ed or  supplementary  proceeding  is 
filed,  it  be  vigorously  and  effectively 
prosecuted  and  that  the  defendants  be 
no  longer  indulged  in  the  dilatory 
and  evasive  tactics  whereby  during 
the  past  six  years  they  have  remained 
in  the  full  possession  of  their  mo- 
nopoly, and  have  continued  to  exploit 
the  independent  exhibitors  by  charg- 
ing monopoly  prices  -notwithstanding 
the  pendency  of  the  Government's 
suit. 

War  Films  Not  Involved 

"Be  it  further  resolved,  that  the 
Board  of  Directors  urges  that  the 
Attorney  General  be  not  swerved 
from  his  duty  efficiently  and  impar- 
tially to  enforce  the  law  by  represen- 
tations from  any  source  to  the  effect 
that  prosecution  of  the  eight  major 
companies  at  this  time  would  in  any 
degree  hinder  or  impair  the  war  ef- 
fort. In  this  connection  the  Board 
calls  attention  to  the  fact  that  the  pro- 
ceedings herein  recommended  would 
concern  primarily  the  commercial  dis- 
tribution of  motion  pictures  and  could 
not  affect  the  production  of  training 
and  informational  films  for  the  Gov- 
ernment ;  that  the  executives  whose 
time  and  attention  might  be  engaged 
as  witnesses  and  otherwise  would  be 
the  home  office  executives  and  not 
the  studio  executives,  supervisors,  or 
directors ;  and  that  by  far  the  great- 
est contribution  being  made  by  the 
motion  picture  industry  to  the  war 
effort  consists  in  the  fund  raising  and 
bond  selling  campaigns  and  the  ex- 
hibition of  Government  informational 
films  which  service  has  been  and  is 
being  rendered  by  the  theatres  who 
would  be  protected  and  benefited  by 
the  enforcement  of  the  Sherman  Law 
against  the  motion  picture  trust." 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Dorfmann  Gets  'Mr.  GJ 

Edmund  Dorfmann  Productions  has 
purchased  the  film  rights  to  Robert 
Wilder's  "Mr.  G.  Strings  Along" 
from  G.  P.  Putnam's  Sons,  it  was 
reported  at  the  weekend.  Production 
budget  for  the  film,  to  be  released 
through  an  undesignated  major  or  in- 
dependent film  company,  has  been 
estimated  at  from  $800,000  to  $1,000.- 
000. 


BOY,  YOU 


WHEN  YOU  PLAY 


Stung 


1 E  CANTOR '  GEORGE  MURPHY  •  JOAN  DAVIS  •  NANCY  KELLY •  CONSTANC 

With  DON  DOUGLAS  •  Produced  by  EDDIE  CANTOR  •  Directed  by  EDWIN  L.  MARIN  •  Screen  Play  by  Joseph  Quillan  and  Dorothy  Bennett  •  SI 


0 


r  ;<  o 

RADIO 


SHOWMANSHIP  COMPANY 


22 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


•Bond  Kinks  Ironed 
Out,  Friedl  Says 


Los  Angeles,  May  28.  —  Complete 
cooperation  of  distributors  was  not 
fully  obtained  in  earlier  bond  drives, 
but  this  has  been  rectified  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  campaign,  John  J.  Friedl, 
national  campaign  director,  told  rep- 
resentatives of  000  Southern  Califor- 
nia area  theatres  here  on  Friday  at  an 
official  luncheon  at  which  speakers,  in- 
cluding national  chairman  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  distri- 
bution chairman,  and  Ray  Beall,  na- 
tional publicity  chairman,  outlined 
highlights  of  the  forthcoming  drive. 

Friedl  cited  two  additional  condi- 
tions which  the  committee  viewed  as 
weaknesses,  both  now  believed  elim- 
inated. His  second  complaint  cracked 
at  "passive"  exhibitors  who  neglected 
to  put  "shoulders  to  the  wheel"  and 
others  who  never  participated  at  all. 
The  third  concerned  earlier  restric- 
tions, created  by  distributors,  on-  film 
availabilities  for  bond  premieres. 

'Vaults  Are  Open':  Depinet 

Depinet,  however,  later  told  the 
meeting,  "the  vaults  are  now  open," 
in  outlining  a  plan  to  make  films  avail- 
able to  exhibitors  in  towns  of  7,500 
and  under  regardless  of  whether  an 
exhibitor  normally  did  business  with 
the  distributor  whose  picture  he  wants. 
As  previously  published,  a  controlling 
factor  provides  that  the  film  must  have 
been  released  prior  to  last  Dec.  30. 
The  committee  nationally  is  urging 
exhibitors  to  designate  July  6  as  "Free 
Movie  Day." 

The  Southern  California  Fifth  Loan 
quota  is  $512,000,000,  of  which  $246,- 
000,000  is  being  sought  from  individ- 
ual sales.  The  meeting  was  well  at- 
tended by  nearly  500,  and  complete 
cooperation  of  circuit  and  independents 
was  pledged. 

Dave  Bershonj  Southern  California 
state  exhibitor  chairman,  presided. 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  who  was  national 
chairman  of  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
drive,  predicted  that  his  record  would 
be  surpassed. 

Other  Speakers 

Other  speakers  were  Robert  H. 
Moulton  and  Howard  D.  Mills,  State 
War  Finance  Committee  chairmen  for 
Southern  California ;  Marc  Wolf  of 
Fanchon  &  Marco,  representing  the 
Hollywood  theatre  committee,  and 
Major  Allen  V.  Martini,  hero  of  the 
Eighth  Army  Air  Force. 

Among  others  present  were:  George 
Tucker  of  Albuquerque,  exhibitor 
state  chairman  for  New  Mexico  ;  Harry 
Nace,  Jr.,  representing  his  father,  who 
is  exhibitor  state  chairman  for  Ari- 
zona ;  Fred  Greenberg,  Southern  Cali- 
fornia distributor  chairman ;  Allan  R. 
Marten,  Homer  Gill,  James  Richard- 
son and  Harry  Creasey,  Fourth  War 
Loan  "Honored  Hundred"  members 
from  Southern  California^;  Seymour 
Peiser,  state  publicity  chairman  for 
Southern  California ;  Mort  Goodman, 
state  publicity  co-chairman  for  South- 
ern California;'  Oscar  S.  Oldknow. 
National  Theatre  Supply  Co. ;  Fred 
Stein  and  Andy  Krappmann,  assistant 
campaign  directors  of  the  Fourth  War 
Loan ;  O.  N.  Srere,  assistant  exhibitor 
chairman  for  Southern  California  ;  Nat 
Holt,  RKO  Pictures;  George  Topper. 
National  Theatres,  and  Tom  Baily. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Helicopter  Test  Shown 

Buffalo,  May  28.  — The  20th-Fox 
Theatre  here  is  showing  pictures  of 
the  test  flight  of  the  new  Bell  Heli- 
copter made  here  recently. 


Set  Goal  of  12  Million 
Fifth  Loan  Bond  Sales 


Wallis  Signs  Up 
Lillian  Heliman 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

great  an  asset  to  the  drive  as  the 
largest  circuit.  To  facilitate  the  ef- 
forts of  such  exhibitors,  all  possible 
support  and  assistance  is  being 
pledged  by  the  other  branches  of  the 
industry  and  the  local  and  national 
organization  committees.  Distribu- 
tors will  make  available  their  films 
to  exhibitors  in  towns  of  7,500  or 
less  for  bond  premieres,  children's 
"School's  Out"  premieres  and  other 
bond-selling  events,  regardless  of 
whether  or  not  the  exhibitor  is  on  the 
distributor's  customer  list. 

Detailed  plans  for  special  bond- 
selling  events,  procedures  for  com- 
plete campaigns  by  individual  thea- 
tres, trailers,  accessories,  press  books 
and  all  the  essentials  of  a  successful 
showman's  endeavor  have  been  pre- 
pared to  aid  the  rank-and-file  exhibi- 
tor in  making  his  Fifth  War  Loan 
effort  a  success. 

'Five  Big  Guns' 

Five  fundamental  activities  are 
stressed  by  the  national  committee  in 
its  conduct  of  the  Fighting  Fifth 
campaign.  Known  as  "The  Five  Big 
Guns  of  the  Fighting  Fifth,"  they  are: 
regular  and  children's  bond  premieres 
in  the  theatres ;  a  national  Free 
Movie  Day  for  bond  purchasers  on 
July  6th ;  the  use  of  Honor  Rolls, 
space  allocated  according  to  individual 
theatre's  seats  wherein  the  names  of 
servicemen  may  be  inscribed  by  bond 
purchasers,  and  the  use  of  the  best 
bond-selling  stunts  of  the  "Honored 
Hundred"  exhibitors  in  the  Fourth 
Loan  drive. 

O'Donnell   described  the   drive  as 
"the  greatest  and  most  difficult  as 
signment  ever  given  to  an  industry.  It 
is,"  he  said,   "a  mandate  from  our 
Government  in  the  nation's  hour  of 
crisis.    This  time,  our  achievements 
must  be  20  per  cent  better  than  they 
have  been  before.    It  is  ,a  task  that 
will  take  much  toil.    But  we  show 
men    have    accomplished    our  basic 
training.    We  are  veterans  of  previ 
ous  campaigns,  and  successful  comple- 
tion of  the  task  is  not  an  impossibil 
ity."  .  «  v. 


Hollywood  Bond  Sales 
$55,966,059  So  Far 

Hollywood,  May  28. — The  motion 
picture  War  Finance  Committee 
which  conducts  Hollywood  war  bond 
sales,  will  continue  its  efforts  unflag 
gingly  during  the  forthcoming  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive,  June  12-July  8. 

The  group,  composed  of  400  enthu- 
siastic volunteer  workers  in  studios, 
allied   industries   and   among  guilds, 


unions,  agents,  business  managers  and 
publicists,  has  sold  $55,996,059  worth 
of  bonds  in  25  months  of  activity. 
Over  16,500  of  the  20,000  regular 
film  employes  here  are  subscribers  to 
the  payroll  savings  plan  and  an  aver- 
age of  10.3  per  cent  of  the  industry 
payroll  goes  into  bond  purchases. 

The  executive  committee  of  the 
WFC  includes :  Henry  Ginsberg, 
chairman ;  John  McCormick,  vice- 
chairman  ;  David  Butler,  Dorothy 
Lamour,  Ralph  Byrd,  James  Murfin, 
Frank  Carothers,  Carl  Cooper,  Her- 
bert Sorrell,  Fred  Othman,  Fred 
Beetson,  Perry  Lieber,  J.  H.  Rosen- 
berg and  Teet  Carle. 

FWC  Studio  Chairmen 

Studio  chairmen  for  the  WFC  are : 
Benjamin  Kahane,  Hy  Glick,  Wil- 
liam Dozier,  Wilson  R.  Stone,  W.  K. 
Craig,  Fred  Metzler,  A.  H.  McCaus- 
land,  E.  L.  de  Patie,  Sol  Lesser, 
Trem  Carr,  I.  E.  Chadwick,  Tom 
Baily  and  Al  Ruben. 

On  the  production  side,  the  one- 
reeler.  "Road  to  Victory,"  produced 
by  Jack  Warner,  is  already  released. 
Other  scripts  prepared  by  the  Holly- 
wood Writers'  Mobilization  include  a 
newsreel  bulletin  by  Isobel  Lennart 
and  three  trailers,  "What  Did  You 
Do  Today?"  "The  Dawn  of  D-Day" 
and  "Our  Enemies." 


'Homecoming'  Rally 
For  O'Donnell  Today 

Dallas,  May  28. — A  rousing  "home- 
coming" Fifth  War  Loan  rally  for 
national  chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell 
has  been  prepared  here  for  tomorrow 
by  John  Q.  Adams,  exhibitor  state 
chairman,  and  his  committee. 

O'Donnell,  who  is  vice-president 
and  general  manager  of  the  Interstate 
Circuit  of  Texas,  will  be  greeted  by 
several  hundred  showmen  from  Texas, 
Oklahoma,  Arkansas,  Louisiana,  Mis- 
sissippi and  Tennessee.  The  meeting, 
including  a  luncheon,  will  be  held  in 
the  Adolphus  Hotel.' 

Ray  Beall,  national  publicity  di- 
rector of  the  campaign,  who  is  asso- 
ciate advertising  and  publicity  mana- 
ger of  Interstate,  will  also  be  honored. 


Nassau  Managers  Meet 

More  than  40  theatre  managers  will 
attend  a  breakfast  at  the  Garden  City 
Hotel  in  Garden  City,  L.  I.,  Thursday 
at  10  A.M.  when  plans  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  campaign  will  be  presented 
by  WAC  co-chairmen  Jack  Harris 
and  Fred  J.  Schwartz.  Judge  Leone 
D.  Howell,  War  Finance  chairman 
of  Nassau,  is  sponsoring  the  breakfast. 


OWI  Film  Unit  to 
Follow  Troops 

Washington,  May  28. — The  Office 
of  War  Information  disclosed  Friday 
an  ambitious  program  for  rushing 
motion  pictures  into  liberated  areas 
on  the  heels  of  American  occupation. 
The  overseas  motion  picture  unit  of 
the  OWI  has  prepared  films  in  23  lan- 
guages, including  German.  As  Amer- 
ican troops  take  over  each  new  town, 
mobile  film-projection  units  will  im- 
mediately rush  in  to  commandeer  the 
local  theatre,  or  set  one  up,  Robert 
Riskin,  head  of  the  overseas  film 
bureau,  revealed. 

"They  will  then  proceed  to  enter- 
tain and  enlighten  the  liberated  na- 
tives," Riskin  said. 


Cincinnati  Houses 
Lower  Admissions 

Cincinnati,  May  28. — A  recent  Bu- 
reau of  Internal  Revenue  ruling,  stat- 
ing that  admission  prices  involving  a 
fraction  of  one  cent  may  now  be  shown 
on  tickets,  has  led  exhibitors  in  this 
area  to  reduce  children's  admissions 
from  12  to  10  cents,  making  the  ac- 
tual admission  nine  and  seven-tenths 
cents,  with  the  additional  three-tenths 
of  one  cent  being  state  tax. 

The  new  ruling  will  also  affect  40- 
cent  admissions  on  which  a  seven- 
cent  tax  was  previously  levied.  The 
new  tax  becomes  six  cents,  since  the 
established  admission  is  below  32.5 
cents. 


Hal  Wallis  Prod,  has  signed  Lillian 
Heliman,  well  known  playwright,  to 
an  exclusive  screen  writing  contract, 
it  was  announced  at  the  weekend  by 
Paramount,  which  will  distribute  the 
Wallis  productions. 

In  addition,  it  was  learned  that  Miss 
Heliman  and  Herman  Shumlin,  pro- 
ducer of  her  current  Broadway  suc- 
cess, "The  Searching  Wind,"  are  plan-  ■■ 
ning  to  set  up  their  own  producing 
company  for  the  screen  version  of  the 
play,  for  which  Wallis  had  been  nego- 
tiating. Wallis,  however,  may  be  ex- 
ecutive producer  for  the  team  under 
this  plan  and  Paramount  would  dis- 
tribute. Shumlin's  earlier  plans  to  pro- 
duce one  picture  for  Warners  this 
Summer  have  been  postponed  for  a 
year,  he  stated  recently. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Films  Put  Red  Cross 
Over  Top  in  Nation 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
chairman   of   the   Red   Cross,  stated 
here  at  the  weekend. 

He  credited  the  industry  with  visu- 
ally informing  the  public  of  Red  Cross 
activities,  conducting  Red  Cross  Mo- 
tion Picture  Week,  and  generously 
contributing  to  the  fund. 

More  theatres  participated  than 
ever  took  part  in  any  similar  appeal 
in  the  history  of  the  industry.  A  to- 
tal of  15,130  made  audience  collec- 
tions which,  added  to  the  industry's 
contributions,  netted  the  Red  Cross 
nearly  $7,000,000. 

The  leadership  of  Joseph  Bernhard, 
chairman  of  the  industry's  Red  Cross 
Week,  was  credited  with  making  mo- 
tion picture  participation  in- the  cam- 
paign outstanding.  Trade  publica- 
tion and  newspaper  critics,  prominent- 
ly Carried  stories  of  the  Red  Cross 
and  of  the  industry's  participation, 
and  were  commended  for,  this  by  the 
chairman,  who  said  their  wholeheart- 
ed support  was  vital  to  the  campaign's 
success. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

RKO's  13-Week  Net 
Is  $1,577,404 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

provision  of  $2,831,000  for  Federal 
taxes  and  other  charges,  generally  con- 
firming the  estimate  published  in 
Motion  Pictttre  Daily  on  May  23. 
For  the  first  13  weeks  of  last  year 
RKO's  net  was  $1,925;819  after  pro- 
vision of  $1,406,454  for  Federal  taxes 
and  other  charges. 

Gross  operating  profit  for  the  first 
quarter  of  1944  was  $4,400,628,  com- 
pared to  $3,345,274  for  the  similar 
period  in  1943.  . 

-  "Join'  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

4  Circuits  Book  'Penn' 

The  Century,  Rugoff  &  Becker, 
Skouras  and  Charles  Moses  circuits 
have  booked  "The  Courageous  Mr. 
Penn,"  British  production,  for  a  total 
of  57  theatres.  J.  H.  Hoffberg  is  dis- 
tributing. First  run  houses  in  these 
circuits  will  play  the  film,  beginning 
Thursday. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Para.  Host  to  Seamen 

The  Paramount  Theatre  will  be 
host  today  to  100  members  of  the 
Maritime  Service  at  a  screening  of 
Paramount's  "Going  My  Way." 


WARNER  BROS/  TRADE  SHOWINGS  OF 

"The  MASK  of 

DIMITRIOS 

MONDAY,  JUNE  5th,  1944 


CITY 

PLACE  OF  SHOWING 

ADDRESS 

TIME 

Albany 

Warner  Screening  Room 

79  N.  Pearl  St. 

Time 

12:30  P.M. 

Atlanta 

RKO  Screening  Room 

191  Walton  St.  N.W. 

2:00  P.M. 

Boston 

RKO  Screening  Room 

122  Arlington  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Buffalo 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

464  Franklin  St. 

2:00  P.M. 

Charlotte 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

308  S.  Church  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

Chicago 

Warner  Screening  Room 

1307  So.  Wabash  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Cincinnati 

RKO  Screening  Room 

Palace  Th.  Bldg.  E.  6th 

2:00  P.M. 

Cleveland 

Warner  Screening  Room 

2300  Payne  Ave. 

8:00  P.M. 

Dallas 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

412  S.  Harwood 

2:00  P.M. 

Denver 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

2101  Champa  St. 

2:30  P.M. 

Des  Moines 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1300  High  St. 

12:45  P.M. 

Detroit 

Film  Exchange  Bldg. 

2310  Cass  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Indianapolis 

Paramount  Sc.  Room 

116  W.  Michigan 

10:30  A.M. 

Kansas  City 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1720  Wyandotte  St. 

1:30  P.M. 

Los  Angeles 

Vitagraph  Sc.  Room 

2025  S.  Vermont  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Memphis 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

151  Vance  Ave. 

10:00  A.M. 

Milwaukee 

Warner  Th.  Sc.  Rm. 

212  W.  Wisconsin  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Minneapolis 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1015  Currie  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

New  Haven 

Warner  Th.  Proj.  Room 

70  College  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

New  Orleans 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

200  S.  Liberty  St. 

10:00  A.M. 

New  York 

Home  Office 

321  W.  44th  St. 

2:30  P.M. 

Oklahoma 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

10  North  Lee  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Omaha 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1502  Davenport  St. 

1:00  P.M. 

Philadelphia 

Vine  St.  Sc.  Room 

1220  Vine  St. 

11:00  A.M. 

Pittsburgh 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

1715  Blvd.  of  Allies 

2:00  P.M. 

Portland 

Star  Screening  Room 

925  N.  W.  19th  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

Salt  Lake 

20th  Century-Fox  Sc.  Rm. 

216  East  1st  South 

2:00  P.M. 

San  Francisco 

Republic  Sc.  Room 

221  Golden  Gate  Ave. 

1:30  P.M. 

Seattle 

Jewel  Box  Sc.  Rm. 

2318  Second  Ave. 

2:00  P.M. 

St.  Louis 

S'renco  Sc.  Room 

3143  Olive  St. 

1:00  P.M. 

Washington 

Earle  Th.  Bldg. 

13th  &  E  Sts.  N.W. 

10:30A.M. 

Fighting  Showmen:  Join  the  Fighting  Fifth  War  Loan  June  12! 


RADIO:  Falstaff  Openshaw  of 
Fred  Allen  Show  .  .  .  Solomon 
Levy  in  "Abie's  Irish  Rose". 

STAGE:  A  Broadway  regular . . . 
Title  role  in  "The  Pirate" 
with  Lunt  and  Fontanne  . . . 

SCREEN:  First  role  launches  his 
third  great  career! 


MOTION  PICTURE 


kVOL.  55.   NO.  105 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  MAY  29,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


INDUSTRY  ANSWERS  FIFTH 


WAR  BOND  DRIVE  CALL 


Production  of 
Projectors  Is 
Halted  Again 

WPB  Officials  Fear  to 
Hamper  Military 

Washington,  May  28. — The  pro- 
duction of  a  large  number  of  pro- 
jectors, recently  authorized  by  the 
War  Production  Board  to  carry  out 
a  plan  developed  by  Allen  Smith,  chief 
of  the  theatre  equipment  section,  to 
meet  the  steadily  increasing  deteriora- 
tion of  booth  equipment  in  use  when 
we  entered  the  war,  has  been  tempor- 
arily suspended,  it  was  learned  at  the 
weekend. 

Smith  explained  that  the  bottlenecks 
in  the  production  of  these  projectors 
lie  in  the  procurement  of  motors,  ball 
bearings  and  electronic  equipment.  The 
WPB  feels  it  would  be  inappropri- 
ate at  this  time  to  attempt  to  divert 
anything  needed  for  the  success  of  the 
impending  invasion. 

" 'Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Films  Put  Red  Cross 
Over  Top  in  Nation 

Washington,  May  28. — "Without 
i  the  assistance  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee,  its  associated  theatres, 
studios,  and  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try as  a  whole,  the  American  Red 
Cross  would  not  have  succeeded  in  its 
$200,000,000  gdal  in  the  1944  War 
Fund    drive."    Norman    H.  Davis, 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


No  Paper  Tomorrow 

Motion  Picture  Daily 
will  not  be  published  to- 
morrow, May  30,  Memo- 
rial Day  and  a  legal 
holiday. 


'16,000  Theatre  Owners 
Can  Not  Be  Licked9 


By  R.  J.  O'DONNELL,  Chairman 
National  Motion  Picture  Industry 
Fifth  War  Loan  Committee 

The  emotional  climax  of  the  war  is 
upon  us.  No  one  can  deny  the  fact 
that  all  indications  point  to  invasion. 
Invasion  multiplies  astronomically  our 
obligations  to  our  boys,  to  our  Gov- 
ernment and  to  our  home. 

In  the  second  and  third  War  Loans 
the  showmen  of  America  were  rookies 
and  untried  salesmen.  The  Fourth 
War  Loan  proved  that  they  had  made 
rapid  strides  in  War  Bond  salesman- 
ship, and  now  with  the  Fighting  Fifth 
upon  us  they  are  tried  and  true  vet- 
erans, with  a  great  record  to  maintain, 
and  a  greater  responsibility  in  the 
future.  Nothing  short  of  death  and 
destruction  can  stand  in  the  way  of 
the  mightiest  effort  we  have  ever  put 
forth. 

Today  our  duty  is  first,  to  finance 
this  invasion,  second,  to  foster  every 
patriotic  effort,  third,  to  stand  be- 
hind our  Government  and  be  good 
citizens,  and  somewhere  in  the  deep 
distant  background  is  your  obligation 
to  your  business. 

Words  are  futile.  Read  the  head- 
lines, listen  to  the  stories  of  your  rela- 
tives and  friends  as  to  what  is  hap- 
pening to  their  boys,  to  further 
strengthen  your  obligation  to  the  Fifth 
War  Loan. 

Every  showman  putting  forth  his 
best  effort  can  speed  the  decision — 
16,000  showmen  can't  be  licked! 

The  command  is : 

"Join  The  Fighting  Fifth!"  "In- 
vade Their  Pocketbooks!"  "Fight  By 
His  Side!" 


RKO's  13-Week  Net 
Is  $1,577,404 

Radio-Keith-Orpheum  reported  at 
the  weekend  a  net  profit  of  $1,577,404 
for  the  13  weeks  ended  April  1,  after 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


Col.  39-Week  Net 
Is  Up  $458,000 


Columbia's  net  profit  for  the  39- 
week  period  ended  March  25,  after 
Federal  taxes,  amounted  to  $1,490,000, 
an  increase  of  $458,000'  over  the  pre- 
vious year's  net  of  $1,032,000,  Harry 
Cohn,  president,  announced  at  the 
weekend. 

The  company's  operating  profit  for 
39  weeks  this  year  increased  to  $4,- 
685,000  from  the  $3,320,000  recorded 
last  year,  Cohn  reported.  Provision 
for  Federal  taxes,  including  the  ex- 
cess profits  tax,  was  $3,195,000  this 
year,  against  $2,288,000  for  a  similar 
period  last  year.  • 


Goal  Is  Up 20  Percent; 
Seek  Sales  of 
12,000,000  Bonds 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 

Once  again  the  industry  mobi- 
lizes along  its  nationwide  16,000- 
theatre  front,  this  time  to  sell 
Invasion  Bonds  in  the  nation's 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive.  Again,  as 
in  the  four  previous  drives,  the  job 
will  be  done  effectively,  successfully 
and  with  pride  in  being  a  vital  part 
of  the  nation's  Victory  effort. 

During  the  period  of  the  drive, 
from  June  12  to  July  8,  the. indus- 
try will  endeavor  to  sell  12,000,000 
individual  war  bonds,  a  bond,  for 
every  American  in  uniform,  a  bond 
for  every  theatre  seat  in  the  United 
States.  As  before,  the  success  of 
the  drive  will  depend  in  greatest 
measure  on  the  rank-and-file  ex- 
hibitor within  whose  theatres  the 
sales  must  be  made.  Their  magni- 
ficent records  in  the  previous  drives 
must  be  exceeded  if  the  goal  in  this 
is  to  be  attained. 

"The  national  committee  is  but  a 
service  station,"  said  Robert  J. 
O'Donnell,  national  chairman  of  the 
industry  campaign.  "The  credit  be- 
longs to  the  valiant  men  and  women 
who,  day  and  night,  contribute  their 
time  and  energies  and  talents  toward 
putting  a  drive  over  the  top.  To 
them  belong  the  praise  and  the  glory." 

National  committee  members  em- 
phasize that  the  smallest  exhibitor 
doing  his  utmost  to  achieve  his  maxi- 
mum  bond   sales   possibilities   is  as 

(Continued  on  page  22) 


In  This  Edition 

Fifteen  pages  of  spe- 
cial Fifth  War  Loan  in- 
augural material  and 
advertising  messages  ap- 
pear on  pages  3-to-17, 
this  issue. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 

NED    E.    DEPINET    is  expected 
here  from  the  Coast  today. 


Alfred  W.  Schwalberg,  Interna- 
tional Pictures  Eastern  sales  repre- 
sentative, and  Robert  Goldstein,  New 
York  manager,  are  expected  back  from 
the  Coast  today. 

Nat  Lefton,  PRC  Cleveland  and 
Cincinnati  franchise  holder,  left  for 
Cleveland  over  the  weekend  after  a 
New  York  visit. 

• 

Irving  A.  Maas,  20th  Century-Fox 
assistant  director  of  foreign  distribu- 
tion, returned  to  New  York  over  the 
weekend  from  a  Latin  American  tour. 
• 

Arnold  Albert,  Warner  short  sub- 
ject producer,  is  in  New  York  from 
the  Coast. 

John  Hertz,  Jr.,  board  chairman  of 
Buchanan  and  Co.,  is  due  back  in  New 
York  from  the  Coast  today. 

• 

S.  Barret  McCormick,  RKO  Radio 
advertising-publicity  director,  is  sched- 
uled to  arrive  from  the  Coast  today. 
• 

Louis  Goldstein,  supervisor  of  Col- 
umbia's St.  Louis  territory,  arrived  in 
New  York  at  the  weekend. 

• 

Rube  Jackter,  assistant  general 
sales  manager  for  Columbia,  will  leave 
today  for  Philadelphia. 

• 

Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  for- 
eign manager,  left  for  Mexico  City 
at  the-  weekend. 

W.  E.  Banford,  M-G-M  Chicago 
branch  manager,  is  in  Minneapolis  on 
vacation. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Over  1,000  Expected 
At  Loan  Rally  Here 

Over  1,000  industry  executives,  the- 
atre managers,  film  exchange  workers 
and  New  York  Finance  Committee 
members  are  expected  at  the  "mobiliza- 
tion" Fifth  War  Loan  breakfast  sched- 
uled for  this  Friday,  at  9 :30  A.  M.,  at 
which  plans  will  be  mapped  out  for 
the  local  campaign,  under  the  super- 
vision of  Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  Loew 
executive. 

To  date,  the  meeting  place  is  a  se- 
cret. With  the  tickets,  which  began  to 
go  out  at  the  weekend,  are  instruc- 
tions as  to  rendezvous  spots,  from 
which  the  showmen  will  march  to  the 
meeting. 

Delegates  will  be  on  hand  from  the 
Bronx,  Brooklyn,  Manhattan,  and 
Queens,  Nassau,  Westchester,  Suffolk 
Richmond,  Dutchess,  Putnam,  Orange, 
Sullivan,  Rockland  and  Ulster  coun- 
ties. 

Speakers  at  the  rally  will  include 
Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  national  industry 
chairman  for  the  drive,  and  members 
of  his  "Fighting  Fifth"  caravan. 


Tradewise  .  .  . 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


ALLIED  STATE'S  action 
last  week  in  declining  to 
participate  in  the  proposed 
Round  Table  Conference  of  Ex- 
hibitor Associations  on  Taxa- 
tion has  imperiled  the  future  of 
that  joint  effort  of  the  MPTOA, 
the  PCCITO,  affiliated  circuits 
and  others  to  achieve  a  uniform 
policy  and  defense  on  national 
tax  legislation  affecting  exhibi- 
tion. The  tax  organization  was 
an  outgrowth  of  exhibition's 
costly  experience  in  Washington 
last  Fall  when  the  Federal  ad- 
mission tax  was  increased  to  30 
per  cent  and  no  unified  exhibi- 
tor opposition  was  in  existence 
to  oppose  it.  Moreover,  there 
were  outright  declarations  from 
official  Washington  sources  that 
an  admission  tax  of  40  per  cent 
would  be  desirable  and  may  be 
asked  when  the  next  revenue  bill 
is  prepared. 

• 

If  that  happens,  exhibition 
presumably  will  be  left  to  op- 
pose the  increased  tax  in  its 
present  split-camp  and  ineffec- 
tual status.  The  Round  Table 
Conference  on  Taxation  was  de- 
signed to  be  built  upon  the  par- 
ticipation, first  of  all,  of  the  two 
.national  exhibitor  organizations, 
Allied  States  and  MPTOA. 
Without  Allied,  an  organization 
such  as  that  planned  may  be 
neither  practicable  nor  advis- 
able. The  resultant  situation 
also  is  a  blow  to  all  those  who 
have  held  out  hope  for  some 
form  of  unity  within  the  exhibi- 
tion branch  of  the  industry.  If 
exhibition  cannot  achieve  unity 
in  the  defense  of  the  box  office, 
how  can  it  be  expected  to 
achieve  even  a  semblance  of 
unity  on  the  many  more  con- 
troversial issues  on  which  ex- 
hibitor classifications  divide? 

However,  Allied  did  leave  the 
door  open  to  some  form  of  col- 
laboration with  the  rest  of  ex- 
hibition on  taxation  in  author- 
izing the  appointment  of  a  com- 
mittee to  "confer  and  cooperate 
with  other  groups"  on  a  finding 
that  an  "emergency"  has  risen. 
If  the  finding  recognizes  an 
emergency  in  time,  that  may  be 
a  useful  procedure. 

Spyros  Skouras,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox president,  advanced 
the  opinion  last  week  that  the 
British  industry,  in  five  years, 
will  be  in  a  position  to  compete 
with  ours. 

Oh,  well,  in  five  years,  they 
tell  us,  we'll  all  be  working  for 
television,  anyhow. 


Steve  Broidy,  Monogram  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  is  believed  to 
have  obtained  the  highest  terms 
for  a  picture  on  record  in  the  in- 
dustry. He  once  sold  a  Mono- 
gram release  at  125  per  cent. 
The  picture  was  sold  for  a  rental 
of  $50.    It  grossed  $40. 

That  was  in  the  old  days. 
Now,  Broidy  says,  when  he 
smiles  he  can  really  mean  it.  He 
is  confident  that  Monogram  is 
and  will  continue  selling  pictures 
that  the  customers  want,  because 
the  sales  department  consults  its 
customers  on  their  needs  and 
wishes  and  the  studio,  in  turn, 
consults  the  sales  department. 


"Our  conviction,"  he  said,  "is 
that  we  must  contribute  some- 
thing to  the  industry  out  of  our 
current  business  increase.  The 
company  will  endeavor  to  build 
for  the  future.  It  wants  to  es- 
tablish its  name  as  one  that  will 
mean  something  when  the  good 
times  are  ended.  We  are  spend- 
ing much  more  on  production 
than  ever  before.  Exhibitors  are 
making  more  on  the  new  prod- 
uct than  they  did  on  the  old.  To 
be  able  to  continue  our  policy 
we  must  have  a  fair  return,  and 
I  say  the  exhibitor  is  doing  his 
part  in  that  respect.  Exhibitors, 
by  and  large,  are  fair.  Only  one 
complaint  about  new  terms  has 
come  to  our  attention.  That 
complaint  subsequently  was  re- 
tracted." 

Reports  have  it  that  Charles 
Schwartz,  Charlie  Chaplin's 
New  York  counsel,  will  be  dis- 
qualified as  a  director  for  the 
new  United  Artists  board  under 
the  new  bylaw  prohibiting  "com- 
petitive" affiliations.  Schwartz  is 
a  director  of  Columbia  Pictures. 


William  Fox  confirms  reports 
of  his  continuing  interest  in  the 
development  of  educational 
films.  It  is  quite  likely  to  be 
one  of  his  avenues  of  future  ac- 
tivity. He  has  always  wanted 
to  see  the  day  when  most  of  the 
instruction  in  schools  would  be 
by  films,  he  says.  He  expects  to 
see  that  aim  advanced. 


Grad  Sears,  trailed  to  the  bar- 
ber shop  at  21  Club  late  last 
week  and  apprised  of  all  those 
rumors  in  circulation  concerning 
United  Artists,  denied  them  all, 
categorically  and  emphatically, 
for  the  steenth  time. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  May  28 

GEORGE  WHITE  has  been  signed 
by  RKO  as  a  producer.  His  first 
assignment  will  be  "George  White's 
Scandals  of  1945.i" 

• 

Constance  Bennett  is  scheduled  to 
arrive  here  tomorrow  from  New  York, 
where  she  formed  a  new  producing 
company.  Her  first  picture  will  be  a 
screen  version  of  "Paris  Under- 
ground," by  Etta  Shiber,  to  be  directed 
by  Julien  Duvivier. 

• 

Nancy  Porter,  18-year-old  Los  An- 
geles girl  who  understudied  Ethel 
Merman  in  "Something  for  the  Boys," 
and  had  a  role  in  that  production,  has 
been  signed  by  Paramount  to  a  long- 
term  contract. 

• 

Monogram  franchise  "holders  George 
B.  West  of  St.  Louis  and  Herman 
Rifkin  of  Boston  arrived  here  at  the 
weekend  and  will  remain  for  the  com- 
pany's convention,  June  12-15. 
• 

H.  J.  Yates  and  James  R.  Grainger 
will  arrive  here  Monday,  June  5,  for 
conferences  with  studio  executives 
prior  to  the  start  of  Republic's  1944-45 
production  schedule. 

• 

Charles    A.    Midelburg,  M-G-M's 
"20- Year  Showman,"  and  his  wife  left 
here  at  the  weekend  for  Charleston, 
W.  Va.,  after  a  two-week  visit. 
• 

Sigmund  Neufeld  will  produce  six 
features  and  eight  westerns  for  PRC's 
1944-45  program,  Leon  Fromkess  re- 
vealed at  the  weekend. 

• 

Bob  Hope's  next  film  for  Para- 
mount will  be  "Girls  Town,"  with  E. 
D.  Leshin  producing. 

• 

M-G-M  has  announced  "Dr.  Red 
Adams"  as  the  next  picture  in  the 
"Gillespie"  series. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

3  More  Branches  Now 
100%for'MGM  Week9 

Three  more  exchanges  have  re- 
ported complete  representation  for  the 
showing  of  Leo  the  Lion  in  every 
theatre  in  their  territories  during  the 
M-G-M  20-year  anniversary  week, 
June  22-28,  making  a  total  of  12 
branches  to  date  in  the  100%  class. 

The  latest  branches  to  fall  in  line 
are  Cincinnati,  under  the  management 
of  E.  M.  Booth;  Chicago,  W.  E. 
"Doc"  Banford,  manager,  and  Des 
Moines,  D.  C.  Kennedy,  manager. 
Exchanges  previously  checked  in  on 
the  100  per  cent  list  include  Albany, 
Charlotte,  Cleveland,  Detroit,  New 
Haven,  St.  Louis,  Kansas  City,  Okla- 
homa City  and  San  Francisco. 


Mrs.  Quick  Rites  Today 

Funeral  services  will  be  held  this 
morning  for  Mrs.  Emma  Quick,  wife 
of  Charles  E.  Quick,  head  of  M-G-M's 
accounting  department,  from  the 
Quick"  residence  in  Brooklyn.  Mrs. 
Quick  died  suddenly  last  Friday. 


9??-?  PICTURE ^ DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Uuigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center.  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Uuigley.  President;  Colvin  Brown  .Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
fcditor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Hureau,  4  Uolden  isq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Bumup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Ouigley  Publishing 
Co.,  inc.  t>ther  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938.  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


'A  Bigger  Bond  for  Every  Seat' 


TreasuryViews 
This  as  Goal 
*  For  5th  Drive 


********** 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  May  28. — "A  Bigger 
Bond  for  Every  Seat"  has  been  set 
for  motion  picture  exhibitors  by  the 
Treasury  as  the  objective  of  its  'Fight- 
ing Fifth'  War  Loan  campaign,  and 
Treasury  officials  who  earlier  this 
month  personally  met  the  industry's 
'Honored  Hundred'  of  the  Fourth 
War  Loan  drive  declare  that  objective 
will  be  attained. 

The  $16,000,000,000  Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign,  from  June  12  to  July  8,  will 
be  the  most  important  drive  of  the 
war  to  date,  designed  to  provide  the 
guns,  munitions  and  equipment  which 
will  crush  the  Axis  in  Europe  and 
free  the  Allies  to  concentrate  on  the 
Japs,  the  Treasury  points  out. 

Sixteen  thousand  screens,  the  re- 
sources of  the  producers,  and  200,000 
workers  are  being  lined  up  for  the  job 
of  selling  the  industry's  share — and 
more— of  the  $6,000,000,000  in  'E' 
bonds  which  the  Treasury  has  ear- 
marked for  the  campaign — one  of  the 
industry's  ways  of  backing  up  its  many 
thousands  of  men  and  women  in  ser- 
vice and  remembering  the  hundreds 
who  already  have  given,  not  their 
money  but  their  lives. 

"To  America's  millions-strong 
Army  in  the  field  this  is  zero 
hour,"  Secretary  Henry  Morgen- 
thau,  jr.,  declared.  "It's  zero 
hour,  too,  for  War  Bond's  mil- 
lions-strong army  of  Victory 
Volunteers,"  he  added. 

''Our  troops  will  soon  go  over-the- 
top  in  the  greatest  invasion  in  the  his- 
tory of  the  world.  And  it's  our  job 
to  back  them  up  in  the  greatest  war 
loan  in  the  history  of  the  world." 

As  in  previous  campaigns,  the  film 
industry  will  run  its  own  show — and 
the  fact  that  it  is  the  only  field  of 
participation  not  headed  by  a  Treas- 
ury representative  demonstrates  the 
confidence  of  official  Washington  in 
the  ability,  ingenuity,  perseverance 
and  patriotism  of  the  -people  who 
make,  distribute  and  show  the  Na- 
tion's films. 

Claude  Lee  to  Interlock 
U.  S.-Industry  Policies 

.  Claude  Lee,  Paramount  public  rela- 
tions head,  who  served  as  liaison  be- 
tween the  industry  and  the  Treasury 
in  the  last  drive,  to  the  great  satis- 
faction and  appreciation  of  both,  will 
again  assume  the  responsibilities  of 
that  post.  His  job  is  to  see  that  in- 
dustry activities  and  Treasury  policies 
coincide,  to  secure  for  the  industry 
such  help  from  the  Government  as  it 


DEFENSE  SAVINGS  STAFF 


TREASURY  DEPARTMENT 

WASHINGTON 

May  10,  1944 


Desr  Mr.  O'Donnellr 

In  the  coming  Fifth  .Var  Loan  Drive  it  will  be 
more  important,  than  ever  that  the  motion  picture  industry- 
producers,  distributors,  exhibltors--do  a  bigger  Job  for 
'.'or  Bonds  than  ever  before.     Vith  inrasion  in  the  back- 
ground, the  time  has  come  to  match  our  all-out  military 
effort  with  e  corresponding  all-out  sales  effort. 

The  $16  billion  drive  goal,  $6  billion  to  be 
raised  from  Individuals  alone,  is  the  greatest  yet.  To 
cchieve  this. goal  will  require  our  best  efforts. 

Our  contribution  to  vietory  will  be  measured, 
not  primarily  by  our  accomplishments  in  the  past,  but  by 
our  ability  to  meet  the  nation's  pressing  needs  in  the 
present. 

Sincerely, 


Mr.  Hobert  3.  O'Donnell 

National  Chairman,  Motion  Pioture 

Industry's  5th  War  Loan  Campaign 

1501  Broadway 

Hew  York,  Hew  York 


*****  ***** 


Many  Facets  of 
Theatre  Bond 
Aid  for  U.  S. 


may  need  in  securing  official  speakers 
and  in  other  matters,  and  to  get  for 
the  Treasury  the  assistance  it  will  re- 
quire from  the  industry  in  support  of 
the  efforts  of  other  participating 
groups. 

Spearhead  of  the  industry  organ- 
ization will  be  Robert  J.  O'Donnell. 
Texas  circuit  owner  and  National 
Chief  Barker  of  the  Variety  Clubs, 
with  a  general  staff  topped  by  John 
J.  Friedl,  president  of  Minnesota 
Amusement  Co. ;  Richard  M.  Ken- 
nedy, Southern  theatre  operator,  and 
Ray  Beall,  of  Interstate  Theatres. 
Blanketing  the  country  will  be  mo- 
tion picture  committees  composed  of 
local  exhibitors — the  men  who  will 
wield  "the  pick  and  shovel"  on  theatre- 
goers' pockets. 

That,  briefly  and  in  most  general 
terms,  is  the  set-up  the  Treasury  is- 
depending  upon  for  hundreds  of  mil- 
lions of  dollars  in  direct  sales  of  bonds 
and  other  hundreds  of  millions  of  sales 
influenced    by    the    selling  barrage 


which  the  film  industry  will  lay  down 
over  the  four-week  Fifth  War  Loan. 

"As  in  the  fourth  campaign,  the 
Treasury  is  giving  the  industry  a  free 
hand  to  sell  its  80,000.000  patrons. 
Eight  thousand  theatres  with  some 
8,000,000  seats  have  been  appointed 
issuing  agents  ;  as  many  more  theatres 
will  back  them  up  with  the  full  sup- 
port of  their  screens," .  said  a  Treas- 
ury spokesman. 

"The  80,000,000  theatregoers  of 
America — most  of  them  potential  'E' 
bond  buyers — are  the  objectives  of 
this  army,"  it  was  explained.  "In 
token  of  surrender  they  are  expected 
not  to  throw  up  their  hands,  but  to 
dig  into  their  pockets  and  bank  ac- 
counts and  'Buy  Another  Bond  for 
Every  Seat.'  " 

All  of  the  projects  which  worked 
out  well  in  the  last  drive — including 
the  'bond'  for  every  seat'  campaign 
and  the  bond  premieres — will  be  em- 
ployed again  and  expanded,  and  some 
new  ideas  will  be  added. 


As  in  past  bond  campaigns,  the  act- 
ual selling  of  bonds  will  be  only  part 
of  the  job  which  has  been  assigned  the 
film  industry.-  Again  the  Treasury  is 
emphasizing  upon  state,  county  and 
city  War  Finance  Committees  the 
necessity  of  establishing  close  contact 
with  motion  picture  bond  committees 
and  availing  themselves  of  the  willing- 
ness of  the  film  industry  to  cooperate 
in  all  activities  that  will  stimulate  the 
sale  of  'E'  bonds. 

The  industry  also  is  assisting  in  the 
training  of  bond-selling  solicitors  with 
a  training  film  which  it  has  made  to 
be  shown  to  volunteer  workers,  the 
use  of  theatres  for  instruction  meet- 
ings and  showings  of  the  film,  and  the 
production  of  three  films  with  Holly- 
wood stars  making  bond-selling  pleas, 
which,  with  newsreel  and  other  mate- 
rial, will  be  shown  in  all  theatres. 

Crisis  With  Germany  Is 
Seen  Within  Few  Months 

Stars  of  Hollywood  will  appear  on 
the  radio  and  make  tours  of  the  coun- 
try to  participate  in  bond  "rallies"  and 
other  events. 

Treasury  officials  are  anxious  that 
the  men  and  women  in  the  industry 
who  are  being  called  upon  to  exert 
every  effort  to  put  the  bond  drive  over 
should  know  just  why  every  ounce  of 
pressure  should  be  put  into  the  'Fight- 
ing Fifth'  campaign. 

"With  each  succeeding  war 
bond  drive,  the  film  people  have 
gained  experience,  have  become 
more  closely  integrated  with 
the  Treasury's  activities,"  said 
one  official.  -  " 

"In  all  likelihood  the  next  three  or 
four  months  will  see  the  crisis  of  the 
war  with  Germany,"  it  was  explained. 
"For  us  this  will  probably  entail  the 
supreme  military  effort  of  the  war.  As 
far  as  bond  selling  goes,  the  Treasury 
feels  that  the  Fifth  War  Loan  will  be 
the  most  urgent,  the  most  vitally  im- 
portant financial  effort  yet — perhaps 
the  most  important  of  the  whole  con- 
flict. 

"War  expenditures  have  never  been 
greater  than  they  are  today.  From 
January  through  June,  1944,  direct 
war  costs  will  be  in  the  neighborhood 
of  $48,000,000,000,  an  average  of 
$8,000,000,000  a  month.  Fifth  War 
Loan  goals  were  set  high  because  the 
Nation's  Treasury  must  borrow  a 
great  deal  of  money  this  year  to  keep 
the  war  going.  Borrowings  will  be 
twice  as  much  as  can  be  expected  to 
be  raised  from  taxes." 

"Beat  the  Fourth!" 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Five  Big  Guns  of  the  Fifth  Campaign 


BondPremiere 
Will  Be  the 
TopPromotion 


"QlXTEEN  THOUSAND 
jjSHOWMEN  can  speed 
the  Decision  !." — the  Deci- 
sion of  Victory.  That  is  the  incen- 
tive to  spur  every  theatre  owner  in 
the  country  to  a  Victorious  Fifth 
War  Loan  in  the  drive  that  will 
start  on  June  12  and  run  through 
July  8,  to  sell  $6,000,000,000  in 
'E'  bonds  in  the  Nation's  overall 
bond  quota  of  $16,000,000,000. 

Available  to  all  exhibitors  in 
their  drive  over  the  top,  fight- 
ing right  behind  our  Invaders- 
at-the-Front,  are  five  'Big  Guns' 
for  promoting  the  sale  of  'Big- 
ger Bonds  for  Every  Seat.' 
These  campaigns  are:  Bond 
Premieres,  School's  Out  Pre- 
mieres, Free  Movie  Day,  the 
Fighting  Fifth  Honor  Roll  and 
the  Honored  Hundred  stunts  of 
the  Fourth  War  Loan. 

In  addition,  there  has  been  made 
available  to  exhibitors  by  the  indus- 
try's Fifth  War  Loan  committee,  an 
arsenal  of  ammunition  and  equipment 
to  win  the  campaign  for  the  Fighting 
Fifth.  Ready  and  waiting  for  ex- 
hibitors are  two  newsreel  bulletins — 
one  from  General  Eisenhower — four 
special  trailers,  "Road  to  Victory,"  a 
WAC  release,  advertisements  with 
special  attention  to  Bond  Premieres 
and  Free  Movie  Day,  plus  National 
Screen  Accessories,  publicity  stories 
and  spot  announcements  and  platters 
for  the  air,  all  beamed  to  bond  buyers. 

A  16-Inch  Gun 


The  Bond  Premiere  is  the  16-inch 
gun  of  the  campaign.  It  helped  3,169 
exhibitors  sell  2,449,314  bonds  worth 
$360,500,000  during  the  Fourth  War 
Loan.  Distributor  cooperation  makes 
this  bond  selling  effort  possible. 

During  the  Fifth  War  Loan  there 
will  be  two  kinds  of  premieres.  The 
first  is  expected  to  have  the  greatest 
adult  appeal  because  of  the  availability 
of  new  productions.  And  the  second, 
the  application  of  the  same  box  office 
principle  for  the  children  through  a 
new  bond  selling  angle :  the  School's 
Out  bond  premiere.  The  industry's 
committee  urges  every  first  run  theatre 
to  present  both  types  of  premieres. 

Honored  Hundred 

There  will  be  no  Honored  Hundred 
contest  per  sc  in  the  Fifth  War  Loan. 
But  the   100  showmen  who,  out  of 


*  *        *        *        *        *        *        *        *  ,*| 

'Fighting  Fifth9  Honor  Roll 

*  *    *    *    *    *    *    *    *  * 


MMMM  BUY  A  BOND 


w«iTf  iHt  Htm  of  roue 
f;ain«  he*o  m  ?*s  kc»o» 

ECIL  fACM  HWM  KMtSUftt 
*  '.it!  m  IBIS  IHUUf 


mmuimw*m^mm«m<mim 


itmwmmHummmmmmtim 


12  MIUIOH 

TH**trm  Suti 


umiummm' 
mo  mm 


kkkkkk 


':  I  :;'  /:  y 


ON D  fOK  Evjiv  StAl 


THE  Fighting  Fifth  Honor  Roll  is  a  follow-through  on  the 
Fourth  War  Loan's  Bond-for-Every-Seat  plan.  It  is  a  40-by-60- 
inch  chart  containing  750  soldier  figures  representing  the  capacity 
of  a  750-seat  theatre.  It  is  adjustable  to  larger  capacities  by 
applying  additional  charts.  The  soldier-figure  is  the  key.  Patrons 
will  buy  bonds  in  the  names  of  sons,  husbands,  brothers,  sisters 
or  sweethearts  in  service,  writing-in  their  names  within  the  figures 
when  they  purchase  bonds.  It's  a  bond-selling  range-finder  to  show 
at  a  glance  how  many  'E'  bonds  a  theatre  sells.  A  chart  is  con- 
tained in  each  Fifth  War  Loan  accessories  kit;  additional  copies 
can  be  secured,  without  charge,  from  National  Screen  Service 
exchanges. 


16,500  exhibitors  in  the  United  States, 
sold  more  bonds  than  any  other,  were 
polled  by  the  Fighting  Fifth  for  the 
description  of  the  stunts  that  sold  the 
most  bonds  for  them,  and  these  are 
presented  in  the  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  pressbook.  (Highlights  appear 
on  page  17  of  this  issue). 


The  stunts  have  been  combined  to 
make  up  a  complete  bond  selling  cam- 
paign. "The  combination  of  showman- 
ship, taken  from  the  campaigns  of  the 
100  champions,  is  proved,  tested,  sure- 
fire material  that  will  set  bond  sales 
records,"  the  industry's  bond  commit- 
tee declares. 


School  Shows, 
Movie  Day  to 
Back  Invasion 


FREE  MOVIE-DAY  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan,  set  for  July 
6,  has  been  set  up  for  the 
"mop-up  battalion"'  of  the  Fighting 
Fifth — the  bond  grenade  of  the 
Fifth  Brigade.  The  School's-Out 
Premiere  is  described  as  "the  bon- 
niest part  of  the  bond  campaign," 
when  the  youngsters  are  turned 
loose  selling  bonds  for  their  folks 
in  the  Armed  forces. 

Exhibitors  are  urged,  where- 
ever  possible,  to  let  schools 
know  what  is  planned  before 
the  end  of  the  school  term  so 
that  school  bulletin  boards,  as- 
sembly halls  and  classroom 
campaigns  can  lay  the  ground- 
work for  an  enthusiastic  par- 
ticipation of  pupils  in  the  Fight- 
ing Fifth. 

The  School's-Out  Premiere  literal- 
ly "mopped  up"  when  first  used  in 
the  Midwest  and  on  the  West  Coast 
during  the  Fourth  War  Loan.  Its 
success  caused  the  industry's  national 
Fifth  War  Loan  Committee  to  adopt 
it  nationally  for  the  drive  coming  up. 

Free  Movie  Day  

Free  Movie  Day  in  the  fifth  cam- 
paign will  again  be  a  simultaneous, 
day-and-date,  nationwide  bond  selling 
effort,  set  this  time  for  July  6. 

The  best  possible  result  will  be  ob- 
tained if  all  theatres  in  a  town  line 
up  together  on  this  date,  campaign 
leaders  point  out.  If  July  6  is  an  in- 
convenient date,  an  exhibitor  can  ob- 
serve it  on  a  day  of  his  own  choosing. 
However,  it  must  be  near  the  end  of 
the  drive.  The  exhibitor  does  not 
"give"  his  whole  house  away.  Free 
Movie  Day  is  just  a  regular  perform- 
ance with  free  seats  to  bond  buyers 
only. 

The  exhibitor  will  admit,  free  of 
charge,  all  those  persons  who  can 
present  proof  at  the  boxoffice  that  on 
July  6  they  have  purchased  a  Series 
E  War  Savings  Bond  of  any  de- 
nomination between  whatever  hours 
are  specified  by  the  exhibitor.  The 
bonds  must,  of  course,  have  been  pur- 
chased either  at  the  theatre  or 
through  a  bona  fide  issuing  agent. 

Free  Movie  Day  gives  the  exhibi- 
tor a  chance  of  not  only  expressing 
appreciation  to  townspeople  for  their 
support  in  the  Fifth  War  Loan  Drive 
but  also  to  tie-in  with  other  bond  is- 
suing agencies  (stores,  banks,  etc.) 
for  cooperative  advertising,  window 
displays,  posters,  etc.  The  keynote  to 
be  emphasized  is :  "Buy  a  Bond  Today 
and  See  a  Free  Movie!" 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


5 


5th  War  Loan 
Geared  to 
Precision  Mark 


E  MOTION  PICTURE 
industry's  participation  in 
Uncle  Sam's  "Fighting 
Fifth'  War  Loan  campaign  has 
been  organized  for  precision  op- 
eration as  never  before,  the  organ- 
izers giving  full  effect  of  the  ex- 
periences of  industry  leaders  and 
workers  in  previous  campaigns. 

The  industry's  Fifth  "War  Loan 
will,  of  eourse,  be  conducted  by  lead- 
ers and  workers  alike,  with  the  ef- 
forts of  the  Army  of  industry  workers 
guided  by:  The  National  Motion 
Picture  Industry  Fifth  War  Loan 
Committee,  Committee  of  State  Ex- 
hibitor Leaders,  State  Chairmen  of 
Publicity,  Chairmen  of  Distribution 
and  the  Hollywood  Motion  Picture 
Finance  Committee,  with  each  chair- 
man and  committee  aided  by  scores 
of  aides  from  each  of  the  respective 
branches.  Two  hundred  and  one  na- 
tional, state _  and  local  film  leaders 
comprise  the  various  committees 
which  will  marshall  industry  forces  of 
the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive.  The  na- 
tional committee  follows : 
Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  National 
Chairman 

R.  M.  Kennedy,  National  Vice- 
chairman 

John  J.  Friedl,  National  Campaign 
Director 

Ned  E.  Depixet,  Distributor  Chair- 
man 

Leon  J.  Bamberger,  Assistant  Dis- 
tributor Chairman 

Ray  Beall,  National  Publicity  Di- 
rector 

Claude  Lee,  Motion  Picture  Consult- 
ant to  the  U.  S.  Treasury 

Joseph  Kinsky,  Campaign  Coordina- 
tor 

Leonard  Goldensox,  Director  of  In- 
dustry Sales 

Henry  Ginsberg,  Director  of  Indus- 
try Sales,  Hollywood 


Red  Tape  Cut 
To  Minimum 

Exhibitors  are  not  being 

asked  by  the  industry's 
national  Fifth  War  Loan  com- 
mittee to  sign  a  pledge  of  par- 
ticipation in  the  industry 
drive  starting  on  June  12  and 
running  through  July  12.  The 
committee  feels  that  the  orig- 
inal pledge  signed  by  theatre 
operators  is  sufficient. 

Nor  are  exhibitors  to  be 
asked  to  make  "a  lot  of  re- 
ports" during  the  drive;  one 
short  report  at  the  drive's 
conclusion  will  suffice.  Also, 
it  will  not  be  necessary  to 
apply  for  drive  trailers;  they 
will  be  sent  without  formal 
order. 


State  Theatre  Chairmen, 

The  'Hub9  of  5th  Drive 
★     *  * 

SIXTY-FOUR  theatre  operators,  all  leaders  in  their  communities,  will 
serve  as  state  or  territorial  chairmen  for  the  motion  picture  indus- 
try's Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  June  12-July  8.  Many  have  repeatedly  filled 
similar  posts  in  previous  drives;  some  are  newly  appointed  for  this  cam- 
paign. Designated  by  Robert  O'Donnell's  national  industry  bond  com- 
mittee as  'The  Fighting  Fifth  Showmen,'  the  state  exhibitor  committee 
leaders  represent  the  hub  around  which  most  field  activity  will  revolve 
in  the  film  business  during  the  campaign.  The  committee  of  field  chair- 
men and  co-chairmen  follows: 


Alabama — Mack     Jackson,  Strand 

Theatre,  Alexander  City. 
Arizona  —  Harry     Nace,  Orpheum 

Theatre  Bldg.,  Phoenix. 
Arkansas — Co-chairmen:  M.  S.  Mc- 

Cord,  Little  Rock ;  Claude  Mundo, 

Arkansas  Theatre,  Little  Rock. 
California    (SmtJjiern) — Dave  Ber- 

shon,  1612  West  Washington,  Los 

Angeles. 

California  (Northern)  ■ —  Charles  M. 
Thall,  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres, 
988  Market  St.,  San  Francisco. 

Colorado — Rick  Ricketson,  Fox  In- 
ter-Mountain Amusement  Co.,  514 
16th  St.,  Denver. 

Connecticut  —  Harry  F.  Shaw,  Poli 
Theatres,  New  Haven. 

Florida  —  J.  L.  Cartwright,  Tampa 
Theatre,  Tampa. 

Georgia  • —  Nat  Williams,  Williams 
Theatre,  Thomasville. 

Idaho  —  Nevin  McCord,  Ada  Thea- 
tre, Boise. 

Illinois — J.  J.  Rubens,  175  State  St., 
Chicago. 

Indiana  —  Don  Rossiter,  444  North 
Illinois  St.,  Indianapolis. 

Iowa  —  A.  H.  Blank,  Paramount 
Bldg.,  Des  Moines. 

Kansas — Howard  E.  Jameyson,  Mil- 
ler Theatre,  Wichita. 

Kentucky — Lew  Hensler,  Ben  Ali 
Theatre,  Lexington. 

Louisiana — E.  V.  Richards,  608  Canal 
St.,  New  Orleans. 

Maine — Connie  Russell,  Bangor. 

Maryland  —  Louis  A.  Rome,  213 
North  Calvert  St.,  Baltimore. 

Massachusetts  —  Sam  Pinanski,  60 
Scollay  Sq.,  Boston. 

Michigan  —  Co-chairmen :  Martin 
Thomas  (Peninsula  Territory), 
Braumort  Theatre,  Iron  Mountain; 
Earl  Hudson,  United  Detroit  Thea- 
tres, Detroit;  Lew  Wisper,  Fox 
Theatre  Bldg.,  Detroit. 

Minnesota— Al  Steffes,  World  Thea- 
tre, Minneapolis. 

Mississippi  ■ —  Co-chairmen  :  Burgess 
Waltman,  Princess  Theatre,  Co- 
lumbus ;  Arthur  Lehmann,  Booker 
T.  Theatre,  Jackson. 

Missouri  (East) — Harry  Arthur,  Fox 
Theatre  Bldg.,  St.  Louis. 

Missouri  (West) — Elmer  Rhoden, 
Uptown  Theatre  Bldg.,  Kansas 
City.  • 

Montana — J.  A.  English,  Washoe 
Theatre  Bldg.,  Anaconda. 

Nebraska — William  Miskell,  Orphe- 
um Theatre  Bldg.,  Omaha. 

Nevada — N.  Dow  Johnson,  T.  and  D. 
Enterprises,  Reno. 

New  Hampshire — Edward  J.  Fahev, 
1118  Elm  St.,  Manchester. 


New  Jersey  (Southern) — Ben  Am- 
sterdam, 1505  Race  St.,  Philadel- 
phia. 

New  Jersey  (Northern)—  Co-chair- 
men :  H.  H.  Lowenstein,  24  Walnut 
St.,  Newark;  Don  Jacocks,  17  Aca- 
demy St.,  Newark. 

New  Mexico — George  Tucker,  Kimo 
Theatre.  Albuquerque. 

Nev.  York  (Metropolitan) — Charles 
Moskowitz,  Loew's,  1540  Broadway, 
New  York. 

New  York  (Upstate) — Lou  Golding, 
Palace  Theatre,  Albany. 

North  Carolina — H.  F.  Kincey,  120 
East  3rd  St.,  Charlotte. 

North  Dakota  (West) — Mike  Coop- 
er, Forx  Theatre,  Grand  Forks. 

North  Dakota  (East) — Ed  Kraus, 
Fargo  Theatre,  Fargo. 

Ohio— Martin  G.  Smith,  519  Main  St., 
Toledo. 

Oklahoma— C.  B.  Akers,  11^  North 
Lee  Ave.,   Oklahoma  City. 

Oregon  —  Co-chairmen :  Al  Finke, 
Evergreen  Theatres  Corp.,  303  Or- 
pheum Theatre  Bldg.,  Portland ; 
Bob  White,  White  Theatres,  309 
Northeast  47th  Ave.,  Portland. 

Pennsylvania  (Eastern) — -Lou  Finske, 
State  Theatre  Bldg.,  Scranton. 

Pennsylvania  (Western) — Moe  Silver, 
Warner  Brothers  Theatres,  Clark 
Bldg.,  Pittsburgh. 

Rhode  Island — Ed  Fay,  Fay's  Thea- 
tre, Providence. 

South  Carolina — Warren  Irwin,  Pal- 
metto Theatre,  Columbia. 

South  Dakota — Fred  Larkin,  State 
Theatre,  Sioux  Falls. 

Tennessee  (Eastern) — E.  W.  Street, 
Tennessee  Theatre,  Knoxville. 

Tennessee  (Western) — M.  A.  Light- 
man,  Malco  Theatres,  138  South 
Main  St.,  Memphis. 

Texas — John  Q.  Adams,  Inter-State 
Circuit,  501  Majestic  Bldg.,  Dallas. 

Utah — Samuel  Gillette,  Strand  Thea- 
tre, Tooele. 

Vermont — Frank  Vennett,  Paramount 
Theatre,  Rutland. 

Virginia  —  Co-chairmen :  William 
Crockett,  Bayne  Theatre,  Virginia 
Beach ;  Morton  G.  Thalheimer, 
Neighborhood  Theatres,  Richmond. 

Washington,  D.  C.  —  Sidney  Lust, 
Thomas  Circle,  Washington. 

Washington  —  Frank  Newman,  Sr., 
Skinner  Bldg.,  Seattle. 

West  Virginia — Milton  Levine,  Lyric 
Theatre,  Williamson. 

Wisconsin — Harold  Fitzgerald,  1324 
West  Wisconsin  Ave.,  Milwaukee. 

Wyoming  —  Co-chairmen:  E.  J. 
Schulte,  Rialto  Theatre,  Casper; 
Tom  Berta,  Rialto  Theatre,  Rock 
Springs. 


Field  Men  At 
Work  Before 
"E"  Sales  Start 


FIFTY-SEVEN  chairmen  or 
co-chairmen  in  exhibition  pro- 
motional activities  will  spear- 
head the  pre-campaign  launching 
of  the  message:  'Bigger  Bonds  for 
Every  Seat'  for  the  'Fighting 
Fifth'  War  Loan  drive,  under  the 
direction  of  Ray  Beall,  national 
publicity  chairman,  directing  all 
publicity  forces  from  headquarters 
in  New  York.  The  state  publicity 
chairmen  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
follow — each  standing  ready  to  co- 
operate with  exhibitors  in  their  re- 
spective states : 

Alabama — William  Wolfson,  Wilby- 
Kincey  Theatres,  Montgomery. 

Arizona  —  A.  G.  Pickett,  Orpheum 
Theatre  Bldg.,  Phoenix. 

Arkansas — Sam  Kirby,  Malco  Bldg., 
North  Little  Rock.  * 

California  (Southern) — Seymour  Pei- 
ser,  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres,  1609 
West  Washington  Blvd.,  Los  An- 
geles. Co-chairman,  Mort  Good- 
man, 6433  Hollywood  Blvd. 

California  (Northern)— Fay  Reeder, 
988  Market  St.,  San  Francisco. 

Colorado — Harold  E.  Rice,  Para- 
mount Theatre,  Denver. 

Conn-ecticut — Lou  Brown,  Loew's  Poli 
Theatre,  New  Haven. 

Delaware — Edgar  J.  Doob,  Loew's 
Aldine  Theatre,  Wilmington. 

Florida — J.  L.  Cartwright,  Tampa 
Theatre,  Tampa. 

Georgia — Spence  Pierce,  20th  Century- 
Fox  Exchange,  Atlanta. 

Idaho— Hall  Baltz,  Chief  Theatre,  Po- 
catello. 

Illinois — Bill  Bishop,  Metro-Goldwyn- 
Mayer,  1307  South  Wabash  Ave., 
Chicago. 

Indiana — Ken  Collins,  Circle  Theatre, 
Indianapolis. 

(Continued  on  page  16) 


7,000  Bookings 
For  'Victory' 

CEVEN  THOUSAND  book- 
ings before  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  campaign  officially  be- 
gins is  the  goal  set  for  the 
War  Activities  Committee 
one-reeler,  "The  Road  to  Vic- 
tory," Norman  H.  Moray  of 
Warner  Bros.,  has  informed 
R.  J.  O'Donnell,  national  drive 
chairman.  Warners  produced 
the  short  as  a  'Fighting 
Fifth'  War  Loan  special  and 
is  distributing. 

Bing  Crosby  and  Frank 
Sinatra  are  co-starred,  sup- 
ported by  Cary  Grant,  Dennis 
Morgan,  Irene  Manning,  Jack 
Carson,  Charles  R  u  g  g  1  e  s, 
Jimmy  Lydon,  Olive  Blakeney. 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Seats  Still  the  Bond-Sale  Yardstick 


Bigger,  Better 
Job  Needed  to 
Back  Invasion 


By  TED  R.  GAMBLE, 
National  Director, 
U.  S.  War  Finance  Division 

THE  MOTION  PICTURE 
industry  has  done  a  magnifi- 
cent job  in  behalf  of  war 
bonds.  During  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign  the 
industry  will 
again  concen- 
trate on  the 
sale  of  'E' 
bonds  through 
theatre  'Bond 
Premie  res', 
'C  h  i  1  d  r  e  n's 
Bond  Premi- 
eres', 'Free 
Movie  Day', 
and  other  ac- 
tivities. The 
theatre  seat 
will  again  be 
the  yardstick  to  measure  bond  sales 
of  individual  theatres. 

Motion  picture  exhibitors  have  a 
highly  important  role  to  play  in  this 
drive.  Every  week  85,000,000  Amer- 
icans frequent  theaters.  Whether  or 
not  these  people  buy  their  share  of 
extra  bonds  will  depend  in  large  part 
on  what  exhibitors  do  as  showmen 
to  make  the  drive  a  success. 

There  are  many  things  exhibitors 
can  do  to  put  the  drive  over.  They 
can  put  on  War  Bond  Premieres.' 
They  can  employ  the  screen  for  war 
bond  short  subjects  and  lobbies  of 
theatres  for  attractive  bond  booths, 
make  auditoriums  available  for  war 
bond  meetings,  and  publicize  the  drive 
on  marquee,  billboards,  and  elsewhere. 


Ted  K.  Gamble 


Don't  Run  Out  of 
Ammunition! 

METROPOLITAN  New 
York  Fifth  War  Loan 
chairman  Charles  C.  Mosko- 
witz,  Loew  executive,  reminds 
exhibitors  whose  theatres  are 
war  bond  issuing  agents  to 
make  certain  they  have  on 
hand  an  ample  stock  of  bond 
application  blanks  to  meet  an 
anticipated  Fifth  War  Loan 
'E'  bond-buying  rush  during 
June  12-July  8. 

"Don't  run  out  of  bond 
blanks  over  weekends!  Don't 
be  caught  short  if  'D-Day' 
hits  your  bond  booth!", 
warned  Moskowitz. 


Bond  Chiefs  Seek  to  Ease 
Handicaps  of  Operation 


By  R.  M.  KENNEDY, 
Vice-Chairman, 
National  Motion  Picture  Industry 
Fifth  War  Loan  Committee 

The  Fifth  War  Loan  campaign 
comes  as  a  challenge  to  the  showmen 
of  America,  for  at  no  time  in  the 
history  of  show  business  have  ex- 
hibitors operated  their  theatres  under 
such  great  handicaps. 

In  full  realization  of  the  many 
problems  the  showman  has  at 
this  time,  the  industry's  na- 
tional war  bond  commiteee  has 
attempted    in    every    way  to 
simplify  the  campaign;  to  make 
it  as  easy  as  possible  for  the 
exhibitor  to  participate  so  that 
he  and  his  theatre  may  sell 
more  War  Bonds  in  the  fifth 
campaign  than  ever  before. 
In  all  war  bond  campaigns,  Red 
Cross  activities,   salvage  drives  and 
other  worthwhile  war  activities  the 
exhibitor  has  taken  an  active  and  en- 
thusiastic part.     He  has  offered  the 
full  facilities  of  his  theatre,  contributed 
much  of  his  time  and  made  generous 
financial  contributions. 

More  than  ever  before  the  exhibi- 
tors are  faced  with  their  greatest  man- 
power problem.  Theatres  are  bereft 
of  the  fine  personnel  they  enjoyed  be- 
fore the  war  and  much  more  of  a 
manager's  time  is  required  in  the  op- 
eration of  his  theatre  due  to  this  labor 
shortage  and  inexperienced  help.  In 
spite  of  the  extra  hours  the  exhibitor 
is  spending  at  his  theatre  and  in  spite 
of  the  many  hardships  under  which 
he  operates,  he  still  wants  to  take  a 
fighting  part  in  this  campaign  for  it  is 
his  only  way  of  killing  Germans. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Studio  Committee  Is 
Set  for  the  5th 


T^IFTEEN  executive  members  of 
the  Hollywood  Motion  Picture 
War  Finance  Committee  and  an  ad- 
ditional 13  studio  chairmen  and 
chairmen  of  other  groups  will  mar- 
shall  Hollywood's  forces  for  par- 
ticipation in  the  fifth  drive.  On  the 
general  committee  are  the  following: 

Executive  Committee,  Hollyivooi  Mo- 
tion Picture  War  Finance  Commit- 

'  tee — Henry  Ginsberg,  chairman; 
John  McCormick,  vice-chairman ; 
Don  Rowland,  secretary ;  and  David 
Butler,  Dorothy  Lamour,  Ralph 
Byrd,  Jane  Murfin,  Frank  Caro- 
thers,  Carl  C.  Cooper,  Herbert  Sor- 
rell,  Fred  Othman,  Fred  Beetson, 
Perry  Leiber,  J.  H.  Rosenberg,  Teet 
Carle. 


Para.,  20th  Cited 
For  Press  Book 


PARAMOUNT  Pictures,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, Richard  Condon,  Inc., 
and  others,  were  cited  at  the  weekend 
by  the  industry's  national  Fifth  War 
Loan  committee  for  their  efforts  in 
behalf  of  a  24-page  special  pressbook 
prepared  to  aid  exhibitors  in  conduct- 
ing drive  campaigns. 

Ray  Beall,  national  campaign  adver- 
tising-publicity director,  who  coordi- 
nated pressbook  details,  declared  that 
the  book  was  made  possible  through 
the  cooperation  of  Paramount  and  the 
counsel  of  Robert  Gillham,  Paramount 
advertising-publicity  director,  and 
Stanley  Shuford,  Paramount  advertis- 
ing manager. 

John  Hertz,  Jr.,  chairman  of  the 
board  of  Buchanan  &  Co.,  advertising 
agency  representing  Paramount,  turned 
over  his  art  department  under  John 
Van  Orman's  direction  to  do  all  lay- 
out and  art  work  for  the  book.  L.  A. 
Mezger,  of  the  Buchanan  agency,  su- 
pervised this  work.  Beall  also  gave 
credit  to  Agnes'  Mengel  and  John 
Cicero,  both  of  Paramount. 

The  advertising  department  of  20th 
Century-Fox  and  Lee  Gustavson  were 
cited  for  special  art  work.  Richard 
Condon,  Inc.,  was  retained  by  Para- 
mount to  handle  the  collation  and 
physical  preparation  of  material. 


Procedure  for 
Obtaining  New 
PremiereFilms 


AVAILABILITY  of  rental-free 
films  expressly  for  Bond  Pre- 
L  mieres  has  been  extended  by 
distributors  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  June  12-July  8,  in  order  to  in- 
crease the  number  of  bond  pre- 
mieres in  small  towns. 

An  exhibitor  in  a  town  of  less 
than  7,500  population  can  obtain 
a  new  picture  without  cost  from 
any    exchange    regardless  of 
whether  he  is  a  customer;  here- 
tofore exhibitors  in  such  places 
were  required  to  be  a  regular 
customer  of  a  distributor. 
In  larger  towns,  a  regular  custsmer 
can  obtain  a  new  picture,  rental-free, 
provided  he  has  the  picture  under  con- 
tract. 

The  booking  is  for  one  Bond  Pre- 
miere performance  only,  but  distribu- 
tors will  also  provide  pictures  for  re- 
peat showings  at  repeat  Bond  Pre- 
mieres. 

How  exhibitors  can  secure  a  'Pre- 
miere' picture: 

1  .  Contact  any  of  the  exchanges 
*■  •  with  which  you  do  business  for  a 

picture  under  the  rules  outlined  in  the 

Bond  Premiere  Agreement. 

p.  If  your  theatre  is  in  a  town  with 
a  population  of  not  over  7,500, 
and  if  no  picture  is  available,  contact 
the  WAC  distribution  chairman  in 
your  territory  for  a  list  of  available 
Bond  Premiere  pictures. 

3.  From  this  list,  select  and  submit 
•  to  the  distribution  chairman  in 
your  territory  a  list  of  several  pictures 
to  allow  a  choice  of  selection.  A 
booking  will  then  be  made  for  you. 


'Leaders  Shall 
Serve  Exhibitors' 

/i»r\HE  LEADERS  of  the 
I  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  campaign  have  made  it 
clear  that  they  are  serving  in 
this  drive  as  representatives 
of  each  and  every  exhibitor," 
Si  H.  Fabian,  exhibitor  chair- 
man of  the  War  Activities 
Committee,  declared  here  at 
the  weekend  in  a  message  to 
'The  Fighting  Fifth  Showmen 
of  America.' 

"In  this  campaign,  as  never 
before,  the  emphasis  is  upon 
team-work.  We  are  not  inter- 
ested in  credit.  We  are  inter- 
ested in  doing  a  job  to  back 
up  our  fighting  men,"  Fabian 
added. 


ARMY  BEAD 

ASHINGTON,  May  .'W.— The 
Department  announced  today 
names  of  399  soldiers  killed  in 
>n,  among  them  the  following: 

NEW  YORK 
Asiatic 

,  Elme'  I  .  Jr.,  staf  sgt.;  father,  Elmer  A. 
•  134    f,,„„-'  av.,  it.  George,  S.  I. 
tip      I         Qd  1.;  wife,  Mrs.  Delma  L. 


ARMY  WOUNDED 

From  the  Herald  Tribune  Bureau- 
WASHINGTON,   May  —The 
War  Department  made  public  to 
day  the  names  of  770  United  States 
soldiers  wounded  in  action,  among^ 
them  the  following: 

NEW  YOEK 
Europe 

DePlETRO,  Balvatore  A.,  staff  sgt.;  mother, 

Mrs.  Lillian-  Bufano,  Schenectady. 
ISAACS,  Leslie  P.,  sgt.;  wife,  Mrs.  Lydla,  M. 

saacs,  Buffalo. 
ROSNIESKI,  Stanley  L.,  tech.  sgt.;  wile,  Mrs. 
oetty  D.  Lesnieski,  Rochester. 
,  RUSH,  Joseph  A.,  2d  It.;  wife,  Mrs.  Helen 
?etrush,  63-52  64th  st„  Masoeth,  Queens 

Mediterranean  . 

riONE,  Joseph,  pfc;  father,  Lulgl  Buffone 
E.  16Ut  st.,  Sronx. 

RELLI,  Joseph  .j.,  pvt.;  father,  Anthony 
orelll,  New  Windsor. 

George,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Amelia 
263  Clinton  St.,  Brooklyn. 
S»Lerence  L.,  Bfc;  mother,  Mrs.  Mar- 
frabb,  Watertown.  - 
Donald  H.,  tech.  4th  gr.;  mother, 
Craiu,  U,  Broadalbln. 
m  T.J  vt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Kather- 
.  36-3  /  Steinway  av.,  Long  Island 
ns.  i 

fcgeD/  P.,   24  it.;   mother,  Mrs. 
svany,  J906    Colonial  rd., 

nes  J.,  cpl.;  mother,  Mrs.i 

Niagara  raiis. 
>fc.;   mother,    Mrs.  Fannie' 
h  St.,  Brooklyn. 
_ „   -  Pvt.;    mother,  Mrs. 
Central  ?  i,  Brooklyn. 
Abriiam  Finger,' 

|m  pvti  j  wife,  Mrs. 

fat  /  ,  William  s.| 

>I  other,  Mrs. 

f  Thelma! 
■bio  an. 
jj^-iooda  Jones, 

blor,  Mrs 
Middle 

T  K&uf> 


...THAT  THEY  WHO  CARRY 
TO   BE   PROUD  OF  YOU, 


i 

O'BTRNE,  Harold,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Florence 
O'Byrne,  512  W.  169th  St.,  Manhattan. 

PATINELLA,  Andrew,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs. 
Angelina  Patinella,  314  E.  112th  St.,  Man- 
hattan. 

PROSCIA,  Vito.  pvt.;  uncle,  Carlo  Lopopolo-,  210 

Greengrove  av.,  East  Hempstead,  I>.  I. 
RICKLES,    Jack   W.,  -pfc;    wife.    Mrs.  Anne 

Rickles,  80-20  Broadway,  Elmhurst,  Queens. 
RORK,  James  R.,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Margaret 

Rork,  Gabriels. 
RUSSO,  Louis,  pvt.;  .mother,  Mrs.  Mary  Russo, 

2120  Mapes  av.,  Bronx. 
RYAN,  William  G.,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs,  Mary  V. 

Ryan,  Niagara  Falls. 
SABATELLA,   Louis  J.,  pvt.;   father,  Frank 

Sabatella,  546  Pine  St.,  Manhattan. 
SANTANGELO,   William  V.,   pvt.;   wife,  Mrs. 

Elizabeth  D.  Santangelo,  Railroad  av.,  Center 

Moriches,  L.  I. 
SORBERO,  Anthony  S.,   pfc;  mother,  Mrs. 

Rubino  Sorbero,  Amsterdam. 
SPENCER,  Lawrence  A.,  pfc;  mother,  Mrs. 

Lillian  A.  Spencer,  Utica. 
STANTON,  Eldon  R.,  sgt.;  father,  Clarence  E. 

Stanton,  Schenectady. 
STEIN,  Gilbert  B.,  pfc;  father,  Julius  Stein, 

804  W.  180th  St.,  Manhattan. 
SURIANO,  John,  pvt.;  father,  Antonio  Suriano, 

409  E.  63d  St..  Manhattan. 
TADDONIS,    Thomas,    pvt.:    mother,  Mrs. 

Angela  Taddonis,  676  E.  143d  St.,  Bronx. 
TAMASI.  Joseph  J.,  ma].;  wife.  Mrs.  Velma  W. 

Tamasi,  1  Euston  rd..  South,  Garden  City, 

L.  L 

TOOL  AN,  Edward  M.,  pfc;  father,  Michael  J. 

Toolan,  111  E.  117th  St.,  Manhattan. 
TRAJANOWSKI,  Henry  J.,  staff  sgt.:  father, 

Walter   J.    Trajanowski,    166    Monitor  St., 

Brooklyn. 

VAN  SICKLE,  Gilbert,  pvt.:  wife,  Mrs.  Emily 

Van  Sickle,  1228  Wepster  av.,  Bronx. 
WINTER,  Kenneth  M.,  pvt.:  mother,  Mrs.  Molly 

Winter.  1661  Dahill  rd.,  Brooklyn. 
WRIGHT.  Arthur  A.,  pfc;  sister,  Mrs.  Alberta 

Bauer,  Hansomvllle. 
ZICCARELLI.  Jack,  pfc;  father,  Phllomena 

Zlccarelli,  Lackawanna. 

_  Central  Pacific 

POLLAK,   Edward,  cpl.:   mother,   Mrs.  Rosa 

Pollak,  57-12  71st  St.,  Maspeth,  Queens. 
Southwest  Pacific 
BEAVER.    Thomas,    pvt.:    grandmother,  Mrs. 

Mary  Mergenthaler,  Rensselaer. 
CHETTA.  Salvatore  J..  tech.  5th  gr.;  mother, 

Mrs.  Lilly  Chetta.  2572  Wallace  av.,  Bronx. 
DI  MAGGIO,  James  M.,  pvt.;  father,  Salvatore 

DI  Maggio.  66  Ash  st.,  Yonkers. 
KARALIS,  Milton,  col.;  mother,  Mrs.  Alexander 

Karalis,  532  W.  133d  St..  Manhattan. 
NEW  JERSEY 
Europ? 


Scull.  5311  Ventnor  av.,  Ventnor  City. 
SCURA,    Sunday,    pvt.;    mother,    Mrs.  Anna 

Scura,  164  Scotland  rd.,  Orange. 
THOMPSON,  Chester  E.,  pfc;  mother,  Mrs. 

Olga  Thompson,  Fords. 
VANDERGRIFT,  Arthur  E. ,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs. 

Ella  M.  Vandergrift.  1022  Line  St.,  Camden. 
VEIGA.  John  R.,  cpl.;  sister,  Mrs.  Caroline 

Costa,  139  3d  St.,  Elizabeth. 

Southwest  Pacific 
BURGER,  Henry  J.,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Ida 

May  Burger,  698  S.  14th  st.,  Newark. 
MICKENS,  Lester  L.,  pfc;  mother,  Mrs.  WU- 

mlna  Mickens,  Wharton. 
WEBER,  William  R.,  pfc;  mother,  Mrs.  Helen 

Weber,   683  Summer  av.,  Newark. 
CONNECTICUT 
Mediterranean 
CREEM,  John  J.,  pvt.;  father,  John  P.  Creem, 

Bristol. 

CUNNINGHAM,  John  L.,  tech.  4th  gr.;  mother, 

Mrs.  Mary  G.  Cunningham,  196  Rldgefleld 

av.,  Bridgeport. 
GOSS,  Albert  A.,  pfc;  mother,  Mrs.  Catherine 

Goss,  Squth  Meriden. 
HARRINGTON,   Charles  J.,   cpl.;   Wife,  Mrs. 

Shirley  Harrington,  286  South  St.,  Hartford. 
HENION,  Edwin  W.,  sgt.;  father,-  Edwin  S. 

Henion,   15  Franklin  St.,  Danbury. 
KUBIT,  Leon,  s/sgt.;  wife,  Mrs.  Leon  Kublt, 

Colchester. 

MIKOS,  Paul,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Lena  Mlkos, 

16  Taylor  st.,  Danbury. 
MILLARD,  Harvey  H.,  pvt.;  sister,  Mrs.  Flor- 
ence Head,  Winsted. 
MURATORI,   Attilio   J.,   pfc:    father,  Clito 

Muratori,  122  Penn  av.,  Bridgeport. 
PIERCE,  Bernard  P.,  pfc;  sister,  Mrs.  Tina 

P.   Fortin,  Thompsonville. 
RYAN,  Francis  J.,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Julia 

Ryan,  Plymouth. 
RYBAKIEWICZ,  Joseph  J.,  pfc;  father,  Peter 

Rybakiewlcz,  128  Hickory  st„  Norwich. 
Southwest  Pacific 
HOFF,  Warren  L.,  tech.  4th  gr.;  mother,  Mrs. 

Warren  I.  Hoff,  Training  School,  Southbury. 
MOURA,  Georgs  W.,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Mary 

Moura,  Wethersfield. 

NAVY  CASUALTIES 

From  the  Herald  Tribune  Bureau 

WASHINGTON,  Hay  —The 
Navy  Department  announced  yes- 
terday in  two  lists  a  total  of  fifty- 
eight    casua^ies    of    the  Navy, 

Marine  Corns  and  Coast  Guard, 


ANDRUS 

Andrus 
BABBEY 

B abbey 
BEATTY, 

Beatty, 
CIACCIO 

CJaccio 
CLARK, 

garet  ( 
GALLAG 

Lillian 
:  Village 
GREENY 
.  Green  v 
KATZM? 

Katzm; 
KELLY, 

Kelly, 
ROSSI, 

Minnie 
SHEEHA 

Sheehs 
SPANNE 

Spanni 
SROKA, 

Sroka, 

BIESPEI 

Biespel 
CIACCIC 

Clacclc 
DARDIS 

Dardls 
GIPPER 

Gipper 
GRAU,  . 

Grau, 
MILLER 

A.  Mil 
ODOMS, 

548  Ss 
RAUSCI 
'  N.  Rai 
WEISS, 

Weiss, 
WISKEI 

Helens 

Plains. 


BOLSO^ 
Evelyn 

BURGO. 
Rose  1 

DOUGH 
Ruth 
stadt. 

GAC,  E 
Gac,  : 

JESCHK 


ON  THE  FIGHT  MAY  CONTINUE 
AMERICA'S  MOTION  PICTURE1 


THEATRE  MEN,  WHO  SERVED  THEM  SO  NOBLY  BEFORE.. 


Aire.  Marie 


-s.  Edith 
Centre, 


Mrs. 

Mrs. 


vj  A".  Englewooa  av.,  Vv'esi  £iiglewoc<L 

FARLEY,  John  P.,  pfc;  wife.  Mrs.  Alice  Far- 
ley, 259  So.  Burnett  St.,  East  Orange. 

GAITHER.  Herbert  L.,  pvt.:  mother,  Mrs. 
Laura  Galther,  Rldgefleld  Park. 

GERROL,  Marvin  M.,  pvt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Hazel 
H.  Gerrol.  Washington. 

GLANZMAN,  Robert  E.,  pfc;  mother,  Mrs. 
Anna  J.  Glanzman,  84  Wayne  St.,  Jersey 
Cffy. 

GR  | PP.  Harold  F.,  tecr,  4£h  gr.;  father,  Fred 
M  James  st.  I  Teaneck. 
Raymond  R  £  pvt.;   mother,  Mrs. 
*lsel,  Troilin. 

Iff  J>a*sssW  'wffe.  Mrs.  Sylvia 


mate  3d  cl.,  USNR,  dead;  parents,  Mr,  and 
Mrs.  Alderic  Le-  Page,  40  West  Main  st., 
Chateaugay.  " 

  New  Jersey 

LUYSTER,  Theodbre  Jr.    aviation  electrician's 
mate  3d  cl.,  USNR,  dead;  wife,  Mrs.  Beatrice 
Luyster,  70  Lexington  av.,  Jersey  City. 
Connecticut 

HOHENSEE,  Earle  William,  fireman  1st  cl., 
USNR,  missing;  parents,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Arthur 
Hohensee,  114  Hoffman  St.,  Torrlngton. 
KELLY,  Ernest  John,  fireman  1st  cl.,  USNR, 
missing;  mother,  Mrs.  Nora  Kelly,  83  Louns- 
bury  ay.,.  Waterbury. 
DUB  IN.   Leonard,    2d  It.:    father.  "Harry  A. 

Dubln,  727  Arnow  av.,  the  Bronx. 
ENGEL,  Martin,  2d  It.;  mother,  Mrs.  Gussie 

Engel,  2435  Creston  av.,  the  Bronx. 
PAILLA,  Chail  i  V.,  s/sgt.;  wife,  Mrs.  Hilda 

M.  Failla,  817  Noble  av.,  the  Bronx. 
FELDMAN,  Irlng.  s/sgt.;  mother,  Mrs.  Ida 
Feldman,  17  |  66th  st.,  Brooklyn. 

s/sgt.:    mother,    Mrs.  Ida 
llnville  av.,   the  Bionx. 
\i/sgt.;  wife,  Mrg  Ella 


Trabal 
Bruns' 


HATCH, 
Hatch 
KUROP. 
Anna 
ford. 
McCAR' 
Lorett 
MECHO 
Steph< 
MORSEi 
Morsei 
NAPOLI 
Mary 
NICKLA 
Pawlo 
PERSOI 
•  Persor 
PILS,  I 
61  Nc 
RIZZI. 

Rlzzl, 
ROSS. 

Ross, 
SAMU, 
434  1 
SAMUE 
Esthe' 
hattai 

schlh 

Ella 
SCHUR 
Schui 
TRACE 
Mrs. 
WAC-N1 

Wl  T 


JOJ  N  T~H  E  F I G  HTING 


;       "God  Willing ...n    ■  -Ifc^ 

J%     — General  Dwight  D.  Eisenhower 

J 

"We  in  the  armed  forces  look  to  you  at  home  for  inspira-' 
tion  and  steadfast  support  to  carry  us  to  the  victory  which 
ultimately  will  be  ours.  The  success  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
will  provide  that  inspiration  and  support.  United  at 
home  and  abroad  we  push  forward.  God  willing/  our 
joint  efforts  will  be  crowned  by  complete  success/' 


INVASION 

SHOWMANSHIP 

Ammunition  to  back  up  your 
enthusiastic  patriotism  for  the 
most  crucial  undertaking  of 
our  country's  life.  You  will 
have  a  more  complete  line  of 
campaign  aids  than  ever  be- 
fore. Four  trailers.  Watch  for 
your  press  book  that  talks 
your  language  for  every  type 
of  high-powered  promotion- 
press,  lobby,  radio-for  small 
towns  and  large.  And  theatre 
accessories  that  are  the 
battle-dress  of  your  Campaign. 


YOUR  BIG 
PREMIERE 


SOND 


Bond  Premieres  are  the  bond  fire  of  the  campaign! 
Every  theatre  in  all  the  land  can  have  one,  with  full 
'cooperation  of  the  distributors.  There  are  two  hand- 
lings; one,  with  appeal  to  your  regular  audiences.  The 
other,  a  "School's  Out"  Premiere  with  appeal 
aimed  at  juveniles.  Either  way  it's  the  big 
way  to  sell  your  country's  Bonds! 


A  big  Bond  Night  with  a  Service  show 

wC  mm  ml  ll       on  sta9e*  Using  service  men  (made 

11  w3       available  by  Camp  or  Service  Organi- 
AllAllf       ration),  or  radio  personalities,  or  local 
vHIIW        band.  This  idea  has  been  a  big  asset 

in  previous  drives.  It  might  be  your 
feature  of  Flag  Day  (June  14),  or  during  the  week  ahead 
of  July  4th.  Also  may  include  talk  by  a  disabled  Vet,  if 
there  is  hospital  locally.  To  make  matters  simpler,  scripts 
on  entire  presentation  are  available  in  the  press  book. 


wmmimmwm 

ERO'  LOBBY 

This  is  an  important  new  twist  on  the 
"Bond -for- Every-Seat"  approach.  Use  the 
lobby  blow-up  of  seating  arrangement 
offered  in  your  free  accessory  kit.  In  place 
of  each  seat  it  shows  a  soldier's  figure. 
Each  purchaser  of  a  bond  is  privileged  to 
have  his  hero's  name  written  on  one  of 
the  figures  in  the  chart.  (Press  book  shows 
exactly  how  to  do  this.)  You  can  judge  how 
big  an  idea  this  is  when  you  realize  that 
the  twelve  million  Fighters'  names  on 
twelve  million  seats  means  a  sale  | 
of  twelve  million  Bonds! 


Where  possible,  the  Industry  is  driving  for  a  simultaneous 
nation-wide  bond-selling  effort  on  Thursday,  July  6th.  The 
plan  is,  on  this  day,  to  allow  a  ticket  for  each  bond  pur- 
chaser. (Where  policy  prevents,  another  day  may  fane  used.) 
With  every  theatre  cooperating  this  cannot  help  but  be  a 
tremendous  purchasing  urge  and  a  way  to  wind  up  the 
Drive  in  a  blaze  of  showmanship. 


THE  FIGURE  BEHIND  THIS  FIGURE 
IS  YOU,  THE  EXHIBITOR! 


You  -  and  the  Invasion . . . 

The  undersigned  companies  take 
this  opportunity  to  acknowledge 
with  grateful  hearts  the  job  that 
has  been  done  by  you,  the  ex- 
hibitors of  America.  You  are  at 
the  forefront  of  the  home  front, 
the  most  direct  contact  with  the 
public.  We  join  hands  with  you 
in  this  greatest  undertaking  our 
industry  has  ever  faced.  May 
God  be  with  our  boys  on  all  the 
fronts  of  danger.  Let  us  each  do 
our  part,  with  all  our  energies, 
giving  to  this  effort  day  and  night 
our  fighting  hearts. 


THIS  MESSAGE  WAS  PREPARED  AND  INSERTED  IN  THE  TRADE  PRESS  BY:  COLUMBIA  PICTURES  CORP..  METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER  PICTURE* 
PARAMOUNT  PICTURES    INC.,    RKO-RADIO   PICTURES,    INC..    TWENTIETH   CENTURY-FOX   FILM  CORP.,    UNITED  ARTISTS  CORF; 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


15 


New  Interest 
Evident  in 
Smaller  Towns 


By  JOHN  J.  FRIEDL,  Director 
National  Motion  Picture  Industry 

 Fifth  War  Loan  Committee 

)  r  I  ^  HAT  the  Industry's  cam- 
paign in  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
is  headed  for  success  is  evi- 
dent in  the  interest  and  coopera- 
tion developing  on  the  part  of  both 
exhibitors  and  distributors.  It  is 
apparent  that  theatre  owners  are 
quick  to  see  the  added  opportuni- 
ties now  available  as  a  result  of  the 
new  basis  upon  which  distributors 
have  made  pictures  available  for 
'Bond  Premieres.' 

Great  new  interest  is  partic- 
ularly evident  in  the  small 
towns  which  are  so  important 
to  the  success  of  the  drive. 
Far-reaching  plans  are  also  un- 
der way  for  'Children's  Bond 
Shows,'  which  are  now  being 
formally  introduced  as  one  of 
the  features  of  the  campaign. 
The  exhibitor-distributor  partner- 
ship plan  to  contact  all  theatres  is  set 
and    already    functioning  nationally. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Ammunition 


For  'Vets 


By  RAY  BEALL 
Publicity  Director, 
National  Motion  Picture  Industry 
Fifth  War  Loan  Committee 

IN    the    'Fighting    Fifth'  War 
Loan  campaign,  we  are  all  vet- 
erans,   no    longer    novices  — 
this  applies  to  exhibition,  distribu- 
tion and  pro- 
d  u  c  t  i  o  n — 
and,  therefore, 
we  will  not  at- 
tempt   to  tell 
the  showmen 
who    are  on 
the  firing  line 
how  to  fight 
this  war  bond 
selling  battle, 
but  rather  we 
will  provide 
bond  -  selling 
ammunition  as 
follows : 
A  practical  showmanship  cam- 
paign book;  bond-selling  trail- 
ers and  accessories;  the  com- 
bined    showmanship     of  the 
'Honored  Hundred;'  and,  last 
but  not  least,  the  counsel,  ad- 
vice and  showmanship  of  the 
Fifth  Loan  publicity  chairmen. 
This  ammunition,  if  properly  used, 
will  result  in  a  bond  selling  victory 
for  the  'Fighting  Fifth'  War  Loan. 


Ray  Beall 


B'  Day  Set 
for  'D'  Day 


By  NED  E.  DEPINET, 
Distributor  Chairman,  War  Activi- 
ties Committee 

WITH  our  armed  forces  on  the 
alert,  awaiting  the  signal  for 
'D  Day,'  we  fighters  on  the  motion 
picture  industry's  home  front  are 
poised  to  go  over  the  top  on  'B 
Day.' 

'B  Day',  or  Bond  Day,  will  be 
every  day  during  the  Fighting  Fifth 
War  Loan.' 

Never  before  has  every 
branch  of  our  business  been  so 
well  prepared  and  with  such  far- 
sightedness as  for  this  cam- 
paign. Distribution  will  play  a 
greater  role  than  ever  before. 
Each  territory  has  been  sub- 
divided to  insure  that  every  ex- 
hibitor will  be  called  ori,  no 
matter  how  small  or  remote  his 
town. 

The  distributors  are  offering  un- 
usual opportunities  to  theatres  for 
'Bond  Premieres'  and  'Children's  Mat- 
inee Premieres.'  They  do  not  want 
any  exhibitor  to  say  that  he  wanted 
to  hold  a  premiere  but  could  not  ob- 
tain a  picture. 

To  national  drive  chairman  Bob 
O'Donnell  we  pledge  the  exhaustless 
efforts  of  all  members  of  the  distribu- 
tors' division,  including  every  man  in 
the  field,  to  make  our  share  toward 
raising  the  Fighting  Fifth  War  Loan 
an  achievement. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

WFC  Offers  Flags 
For  -Bond  Drive 

The  New  York  State  War  Finance 
Committee  has  offered  flags  to  Broad- 
way Theatres  for  display  during  the 
Fifth  War  Loan,  according  to  Quentin 
J.  Smith  of  the  local  WFC  office. 


U.  S.  Calls  for 
More  Theatre 
Issuing  Agents 


BECAUSE  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture theatre's  unique  place  in 
the  community,  the  Treasury 
Department  is  desirous  of  having 
as  many  of  the  nation's  16,500  thea- 
tres as  possible  serve  as  issuing 
agents  or  sub-agents  for  the  sale  of 
'E'  bonds  during,  and  after,  the 
'Fighting  Fifth'  War  Loan  cam- 
paign, according  to  Robert  W. 
Coyne,  assistant  national  director 
of  the  Treasury's  War  Finance 
Division. 

To  date,  Coyne  said,  several 
thousand  theatres  are  author- 
ized agents,  but  that  many  more 
are  needed  to  effectively  carry 
through  the  job  of  war  financ- 
ing. 

"It  naturally  assists  in  the  war  bond 
program  for  theatres  to  be  authorized 
issuing  agents,"  said  Coyne.  In  towns 
where  this  was  not  feasible,  he  added, 
banks  have  been  requested  to  make 
exhibitors  their  sub-agents.  Issuing 
agents  are  directly  authorized  by  the 
district  Federal  Reserve  Bank  and  are 
responsible  to  the  bank  for  bond  stock, 
whereas  sub-agents  are  not  controlled 
by  the  Federal  Bank  but  are  author- 
ized by  local  banks. 

'More  Agents,  More  Bonds' 

Coyne  gave  four  reasons  why  a  the- 
atre should  become  an  issuing  agent  or 
sub-agent :  The  more  authorized 
agents  there  are,  the  greater  the  op- 
portunity for  the  sale  of  'E'  bonds ; 
Post  offices,  banks  and  department 
stores  are  usually  closed  evenings, 
thus  affording  theatres  the  opportunity 
to  sell  bonds  at  a  time  when  traffic  in 
the  theatre  sector  is  heaviest ;  Ex- 
hibitors would  probably  be  able  to  do 
a  big  job  selling  bonds  Sundays  when 
practically  all  other  agencies  are 
closed ;  Exhibitors  as  a  rule  are  the 
most  promotion-minded  people  in 
town,  having  had  experience  with  many 
types  of  special  events,  and  would 
therefore  be  able  to  promote  and  pub- 
licize their  own  sale  of  bonds  to  the 
fullest  extent. 

Coyne  said  that  exhibitors  are  re- 
quested by  the  Treasury  to  sell  only 
'E'  bonds,  with  maturity  values  from 
$25  to  $5,000,  although  orders  could 
be  taken  for  'F'  and  'G'  bonds  and  then 
referred  to  the  local  War  Finance 
Committee  or  district  Federal  Reserve 
Bank. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Hensler  Kentucky  Chairman 

Lew  Hensler  of  the  Ben  Ali  The- 
atre, Lexington,  Ky.,  has  been  appoint- 
ed exhibitor  state  chairman  of  the  in- 
dustry's Fifth  War  Loan  drive  for  the 
state  of  Kentucky  by  R.  J.  O'Donnell, 
national  industry  chairman,  according 
to  announcement  from  War  Activities 
Committee  headquarters  here. 


O'Donnell,  Blank 
Bet  Ham  on  Bonds 

T  NDUSTRY  Fifth  War  Loan 
A  chairman  Robert  J.  O'Don- 
nell anticipates  an  Iowa  ham 
dinner  at  the  conclusion  of 
the  fifth  bond  drive,  while 
A.  H.  Blank,  Iowa  state  ex- 
hibitor chairman,  is  counting 
heavily  on  a  Texas  plank 
steak. 

Blank  wagered  a  prize  Iowa 
hog  against  a  Texas  Hereford 
shorthorn  that  Iowa  would 
show  a  greater  percentage  of 
increase  in  bond  sales  for  the 
fifth  drive  over  the  last  than 
would  Texas,  which  is  O'Don- 
nelPs  home  state. 


Joe  Kinsky 


Little  People 
'Our  Heroes 9 

By  JOE  KINSKY,  Coordinator 
National  Motion  Picture  Industry 
Fifth  War  Loan  Campaign 

WE    of    the    national  industry 
Fifth  War  Loan  campaign  com- 
mittee wish  to  specially  salute 
each   worker   of   our   industry.  As 
the  roll  call  is 
heard,  the  names 
of  countless 
numbers  of 
workers  will 
symbolize  not  an 
usher  in  Okla- 
homa,  not  a 
cashier  in  Wash- 
ington,   not  a 
projectionist  in 
Kentucky,  but 
actually  a  sol- 
dier fighting  in 
his  own  way  for 
final  Victory. 
We  of  the  in- 
dustry have  a 
right  to  be  proud  of  our  fighters,  in 
uniform  and  out,  the  .men  and  women 
fighting   the   grim   war   on  foreign 
shores  and  the  vast  army  of  those  who 
tackle  drive  after  drive  with  relent- 
less zeal  and  renewed  vigor. 

In  this  great  home  army  of 
war  drive  workers  we  have  big 
names  and  little  names,  leaders 
and  doers,  all  joined  together 
as  seasoned  servers  of  a  blitz 
of   countless    drives    and  na- 
tional campaigns. 
It  is  the  unknown  soldiers  of  out- 
ranks who  deserve  the  salute  of  today 
— the  so-called  "little  people"  who  fin- 
ish  the  big  jobs.     The  cashiers  of 
thousands   of   theatres    staying  after 
hours  to  lend  an  accounting  hand  to 
extra  books,  the  ushers  all  over  the 
country  serving  as  volunteers  at  bond 
booths,  the  projectionists  lingering  in 
hundreds  of  booths  to  put  over  a  bond 
premiere. 

"Join  the  Fighting  Fifth" 

Sgt.  Grimm  Gets  DFC 

Tech.  Sgt.  Ben  E.  Grimm,  son  of 
Ben  Grimm,  RKO  advertising  man- 
ager, has  been  awarded  the  Distin- 
guished Flying  Cross. 


War  Loan  Drive 


16. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  May  29,  1944 


5th  Drive  Chiefs — on  the  Industry's  Firing  Line 


NED  E.  DEPINET  SI   H  .   FABIAN  E.    GOIDENSON  H.    GINSBERG  S.    F.    S  E  AD  EE  R  E.  BAMBERGER 

Chairman     of    Dis-  Chairman     WAC  Director   of    Indus-  Director  of  Industry  Consultant   on   Ad-  Assistant  Distribu- 

tribution  Theatres  Division  try  Sales  Sales,  Hollywood  vertising  tion  Chairman 


Distributor 
Chairmen 


HPHIRTY-TWO  local  exchange 
*■  managers,  under  10  district 
managers — representing  the  stand- 
ing War  Activities  Committee's 
distributor  division  • —  will  again 
work  with  state  exhibitor  commit- 
tee chairmen  and  the  Treasury's 
War  Finance  Division  in  selling 
bonds  to  the  public  in  the'  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive.  The  field  WAC 
distributor  chairmen  for  the  drive 
follow : 

Metropolitan  New  York 

District  Manager-,  Jack  Bowen, 
M-G-M  Exchange,  New  York. 

New  York  City — R  a  1  p  h  P  i  e  1  o  w  , 
M-G-M,  630  Ninth  Ave.,  New  York 

New  Jersey— B.  Abner,  M-G-M,  630 
Ninth  Ave.,  New  York. 

Northeast  ■ 

District  Manager,  William  Erbb,  Par- 
amount Exchange,  58  Berkeley  St., 
Boston. 

Boston — A.  M.  Kane,  Paramount. 
New  Haven — Edward  W.  Ruff,  Par- 
amount, 82  State  St. 
Albany- — C.  G.  Eastman,  Paramount. 
Buffalo — M.  A.  Brown,  Paramount. 

East 

District  Manager,  R.  J.  Folliard,  RKO 
Exchange,  Philadelphia. 

Philadelphia — Sam  Gross,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, 302  North  13th  St. 

Pittsburgh — H.  H.  Greenblatt,  RKO. 

Washington — J.  B.  Brecheen,  RKO. 

East  Central 

District  Manager,  Jack  Goldhar, 
United  Artists  Exchange,  2310  Cass 
Ave.,  Detroit. 

Cincinnati— -Harris  Dudelson,  United 
Artists,  1634  Central  Parkway  Blvd. 

Cleveland — Maury  Orr,  United  Art- 
ists, 1745  East  23rd  St.  _ 

Detroit — M.  Dudelson,  United  Artists. 


Indiana-Kentucky 

Indianapolis — William  Marriott,  Re- 
public Pictures,  408  North  Illinois. 

Prairie 

District  Manager,  J.  E.  Garrison,  Uni- 
versal Exchange,  214  West  18th  St., 
Kansas  City. 

St.  Louis — Harry  Hynes,  Universal. 

Kansas  City — Jack  Langan,  Universal. 

Des  Moines — Lou  Levy,  Universal. 

Omaha — H.    B.    Johnson,  Universal, 

Rocky  Mountain 

District    Manager,    Len  Gruenberg, 

RKO,  Denver. 
Denver  —  Tom   Bailey,   RKO  Radio 
Salt  Lake  City — G.  Davidson,  RKO. 

West  Coast 

District  Manager,  Henry  Herbel, 
Warner  Exchange,  2025  South  Ver- 
mont Ave.,  Los  Angeles. 

Seattle — Vete  Stewart,  Warners,  2405 
Second  Ave. 

Portland— Al  Oxtoby,  Warners,  935 
Northwest  19th  Ave. 

San  Francisco — Al  Shmitken,  War- 
ners, 215  Golden  Gate  Ave. 

Los  Angeles — Fred  Greenberg,  War- 
ners, 2025  South  Vermont  Ave. 

Southeast 

District  Manager,  Paul  Wilson,  20th 
Century-Fox,  197  Walton  St.,  N.W., 
Atlanta. 

Atlanta— Fred  R.  Dodson,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox, 197  Walton  St.,  N.W. 

Charlotte  —  John  E.  Holston,  20th 
Century-Fox,  308  South  Church  St. 

New  Orleans — E.  V.  Landaiche,  20th 
Century- Fox,  200  South  Liberty  St. 

Southwest 

Dallas — J.  B.  Underwood,  Columbia. 
Memphis — J.  J.  Rogers,  Columbia. 
Oklahoma  City — C.  A.  Gibbs,  Colum- 
bia, 702  West  Grand  Ave. 

Midwest 

District  Manager,  Sam  Shirley, 
M-G-M  Exchange,  1307  South  Wa- 
bash Ave. 

Chicago— W.  E.  Banford,  M-G-M. 

Minneapolis  —  W.  H.  Workman, 
M-G-M,  1104  Currie  Ave. 

Milwaukee — Don  Woods,  Warners. 


Publicity 
Chairmen 


(.Continued  from  page  5) 

Iowa — Dale  McFarland,  Paramount 
Bldg.,  Des  Moines. 

Kansas — Woody  Barritt,  Fox  Wich- 
ita Theatres,  Wichita. 

Kentucky — Lew  Hensler,  Ben  Ali 
Theatre,  Lexington. 

Louisiana — Maurice  F.  Barr,  608  Canal 
St.,  New  Orleans. 

Maine — C.  J.  Russell,  Opera  House, 
Bangor. 

Maryland — Louis  E.  Schecter,  Old- 
town  Bank  Bldg.,  Baltimore. 

Massachusetts — Harry  Browning,  60 
Scollay  Sq.,  Boston. 

Michigan — Alice  Gorham,  United  De- 
troit Theatres,  Detroit. 

Minnesota  —  Norman  Pyle,  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer,  Minneapolis. 

Mississippi — Burgess  Waltman,  Prin- 
cess Theatre,  Columbus.  Co-chair- 
man: Arthur  Lehmann,  Booker  T 
Theatre,  Jackson. 

Missouri  (East) — Les  Kaufman,'  Fox 
Theatre  Bldg.,  St.  Louis. 

Missouri  (West) — Jerry  Zigmond, 
Newman  Theatre,  Kansas  City. 

Montana  —  Jack  Edwards,  Marlow 
Theatre,  Helena.  , 

Nebraska — Eric  Matthews,  Orpheum 
Theatre  Bldg.,  Omaha. 

Nevada — Harry  Hunsaker,  Granada 
Theatre,  Reno. 

New  Hampshire — Frank  K.  Eldridge, 
Capitol  Theatre,  Concord. 

New  Jersey  (Southern) — Isidor  Ep- 
stein, 1505  Race  St.,  Philadelphia. 

Nezv  Jersey  (Northern) — Robert  Pas- 
kow,  17  Academy  St.,  Newark. 

New  Mexico — George  Tucker,  Kimo 
Theatre,  Albuquerque. 

New  York  (Upstate )— Charles  Smak- 
witz,  Palace  Theatre,  Albany. 

New  York  {Buffalo  Area) — Charles 
Taylor,  Buffalo  Theatres,  Inc.,  Buf- 
falo. 


New  York  (Metropolitan) — Ernest 
Emerling,  Loew's  State  Theatre 
Bldg.,  New  York  City. 

North  Carolina — Roy  L.  Smart,  120 
East  Third  St.,  Charlotte. 

North  Dakota  —  Ed  Kraus,  Fargo 
Theatre,  Fargo. 

Ohio  (Cincinnati  Territory) — J.  E. 
Watson,  Loew's,  1625  Central  Park- 
way Blvd.,  Cincinnati. 

Ohio  (Cleveland  Territory) — Charles 
Deardourff,  Loew's,  2346  Payne 
Ave.,  Cleveland. 

Oklahoma- —  Robert  Busch,  Uptown 
Theatre,.  Oklahoma  City. 

Oregon  —  Earl  R.  Hunt,  Orpheum 
Bldg.,  Portland. 

Pennsylvania  (Eastern) — William  F. 
Brooker,  Paramount  Pictures,  248 
North  12th  St.,  Philadelphia. 

Pennsylvania  (Western) — James  M. 
Totman,  Warner  Brothers  Thea- 
tres, Clark  Bldg.,  Pittsburgh. 

Rhode  Island — John  Carroll,  Fay's 
Theatre,  Providence. 

South  Carolina  —  Sam  Suggs,  Pal- 
metto Theatre,  Columbia. 

South  Dakota — Joe  Floyd,  Hollywood 
Theatre,  Sioux  Falls. 

Tennessee  (Eastern) — E.  W.  Street, 
Tennessee  Theatre,  Knoxville. 

Tennessee  (Western)  —  J.  'R.  Mc- 
Eachron,  Paramount  Theatre,  Jack- 
son. 

Texas — Bob  Kelly, '  Interstate  Circuit, 

501  Majestic  Bldg.,  Dallas. 
Utah — Helen   Garrity,  Intermountain 

Theatre,  Salt  Lake  City. 
Vermont — Eugene  C.  Keenan,  Burns 

Theatre,  Newport. 
Virginia — Jack  Foxe,  Loew's  Theatre, 

Richmond. 
Washington,  D.  C. — Frank  LaFalce, 

Warner    Brothers    Theatre,  Earle 

Theatre  Bldg. 
Washington  —  Vic    Gauntlett,  Ever- 
green Theatres,  Seattle. 
West  Virginia — James    M.  Totman, 

Warner  Brothers  Theatres,  Clark 

Bldg.,  Pittsburgh. 
Wisconsin — William  V.  Geehan,  1324 

West  Wisconsin  Ave.,  Milwaukee. 
Wyoming  —  Les     Newkirk,  Lincoln 

Theatre,  Cheyenne. 


MOTION  nICTURE 


to  the 
Picture 
Industry 


tion 


VOL.  55.   NO.  106 


.NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  MAY  31,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


RKO'S  Annual 
Sales  Meet 
July  24  to  26 

Releases  for  '44-45  Will 
Total  42,  Says  Rathvon 

Plans  of  RKO-Radio  Pictures 
call  for  release  of  about  34  films 
for  1944-45,  with  seven  or  eight 
additional  "top  budget"  features  to 
be  made  by  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inter- 
national Pictures  and  Walt  Disney, 
according  to  N.  Peter  Rathvon,  RKO 
president,  reiterating  a  total  of  42  re- 
leases for  next  season,  previously  re- 
ported by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  RKO- 
Radio  president.  Rathvon  returned 
from  the  Coast  late  last  week  after 
conferences  with  studio  officials  and 
participation  in  the  negotiation  of  a 
new  contract  with  the  American  Fed- 
eration of  Musicians. 

The  company  will  hold  its  an- 
nual sales  convention  in  New 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Holiday  Aids 
N.Y.  Grosses 


The  long  holiday  weekend  moved 
downtown  New  Yorkfirst-runs  to  sub- 
stantially higher  grosses  this  week. 
With  the  influx  of  thousands  of  visit- 
ors, Monday's  grosses  were  generally 
at  capacity. 

"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  and 
a  stage  show  at  Radio  City  Music 
Hall  went  above  grosses  of  the  first 
two  weeks  with  $125,000  expected  for 
the  third  week- 

"Going  My  Way"  and  a  stage  show 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Kreisler  Quits  Sales 
Post  at  Universal 


B.  Bernard  Kreisler,  for  the  past 
four  years  Universal's  short  subject 
and  newsreel  sales  manager,  has  re- 
s'gned,  effective  tomorrow.  After  a 
vacation  in  June,  he  will  announce  a 
new  affiliation. 

It  is  understood  that  Kreisler's 
duties  will  be  taken  over  by  the  Uni- 
versal home  office  sales  department.  A 
successor  may  be  appointed  at  some 
later  date.  . 

Kreisler  joined  Universal  in  1937. 
Pefore  his  promotion  to  the  home 
office,  he  was  manager  of  the  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  exchange  for  two  years. 


See  Warner  Earnings 
At  60c  per  Share 

Warner  Bros,  earnings  for 
the  second  quarter,  to  be  an- 
nounced shortly,  are  expected 
to  be  the  best  since  1930,  ac- 
cording to  Wall  Street  esti- 
mates which  figure  the  net  at 
better  than  60  cents  per  share 
for  the  three  months  and  ap- 
proximately $1.20  per  share 
for  the  first  six  months.  Last 
year  the  company  reported 
$1.06  a  share  on  the  common 
stock  for  the  first  half,  after 
dividends  on  preferred  stock, 
all  of  which  has  since  been  re- 
tired. 


Agree  on  New 
Scales  for 
3,000  Workers 


Labor    representatives    of  dis 

tributors    and    the    IATSE  have 

agreed  upon  18  job  classifications 

with  minimum  and  maximum  wage 

scales  for  some  3,000  IATSE-repre 
sented  film  exchange  "white  collar" 
workers  in  all  exchange  centers  of 
the  country.  Separate  applications 
will  be  filed  shortly  with  the  Regiona 
War  Labor  Board  in  each  center  for 
approval  of  the  classifications  and 
wage  scales,  it  is  understood. 
The  classifications  range  from  gen 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Pollock  Is  Named 
Advertising  Head 
Of  United  Artists 


Louis  Pollock  has  been  named  direc- 
tor of  advertising  and  publicity  of 
United  Artists,  it  was  disclosed  here 
Monday  by  Gradwell  L.  Sears,  U.  A. 

vice  -  president. 
Pollack  had 
been  temporari- 
ly in  charge  of 
the  department 
since  Paul  N. 
Lazarus,  Jr.,  left 
for  the  armed 
services  two 
months  ago. 

Pollock  was 
formerly  East- 
ern advertising- 
publicity  direc- 
tor of  Univer- 
sal, during 
which  associa- 
tion he  was 
identified  "promotionally  with  the  rise 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Louis  Pollock 


Films'  Bond  Plans 
Please  Morgenthau 


Dallas,  May  30. — "It  is  reassuring 
to  know  that  so  much  good  planning  is 
going  forward  to  meet  this  great  chal 
lenge,"  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
Henry  Morgenthau  stated  in  a  wire 
received  today  by  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  na 
tional  chairman  of  the  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan  campaign.  This 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Films  Will  Help  Radio 
Sell  Bonds  for  the  5th 


By  MILTON  LIVINGSTON 

Radio's  participation  in  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive  will  be  highlighted 
by  a  special  day  of  broadcasts  for 
each  network.  In  addition,  the  radio 
division  of  the  U.  S.  War  Finance 
Committee  has  arranged  three  spe- 
cial Coast-to-Coast  programs  for  the 
networks  with  the  opening  set  for 
Monday  night,  June  12,  and  originat- 
ing from  Texarkana,  Texas. 

Screen  stars  will  figure  import- 
antly in  radio's  contribution  to  the 
war  loan  effort.  Present  plans  call  for 
the  second  program  to  originate  from 
Hollywood  on  June  14  and  the  final 
program  from  Chicago  on  June  19. 
(Continued  on  page  6' 


Wallis  to  Hollywood 
To  Pick  Associates 

Hal  Wallis  left  Monday  for 
the  Coast,  where  he  will  con- 
tinue organizing  his  new  Hal 
Wallis  Prod.,  which  will  work 
at  the  Paramount  lot  and  re- 
lease through  that  company. 
He  will  select  associates  fol- 
lowing his  arrival  in  Holly- 
wood. 

Joseph  H.  Hazen.  who  will 
head  the  organization  here, 
will  leave  for  the  Coast  at  the 
weekend. 


3  Divisions  in 
Paramount 
Sales  Set-up 

General  Sales  Manager 
Post  Is  Eliminated 


In  a  realignment  of  the'  Para- 
mount executive  sales  staff  follow- 
ing the  resignation  several  weeks 
ago  of  Neil  Agnew  and  Hugh 
Owen  to  join  Vanguard  Films,  the 
post  of  general  sales  manager  is  to  be 
eliminated  and  a  third  sales  division 
will  be  set  up  by  Charles  M.  Rea- 
gan, vice-president  in  charge  of  dis- 
tribution, it  is  learned. 

J.  M.  Donohue,  now  manager  of 
the  Dallas  district,  will  leave  there 
June  5  for  New  York,  to  become 
manager  of  a  newly  created  Central 
division,  comprised  of  the  Dallas, 
Kansas  City  and  Chicago  districts, 
which   were  heretofore   part   of  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


16mm  Output 
Tops  35mm 


Hollywood,  May  30. — The  Research 
Council  of  the  Academy  met  here  yes- 
terday to  discuss  technical  advances  in 
the  16mm.  field  and  drew  the  conclu- 
sion that  current  improvements  will 
bear  importantly  on  the  post-war  per- 
iod as  well  as  make  an  immediate  im- 
provement in  entertainment  films 
shown  to  the  armed  forces  overseas. 

Films  in  16mm.  have  assumed  such 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


EM. Loew  Percentage 
Suits  Are  Settled 

Boston,  May  30. — Stipulations  dis- 
continuing and  settling  the  eight  suits 
brought  against  the  E.  M.  Loew  cir- 
cuit here  by  eight  distributors  were 
filed  in  U.  S.  District  court  here  yes- 
terday. Under  the  settlement,  Loew  is 
to  pay  an  undisclosed  amount  to  the 
distribution  companies,  said  to  repre- 
sent, sums,  plus  interest,  indicated  to 
be  due  the  distributors  on  percentage 
engagements  in  Loew  theatres  as  a 
result  of  audits  of  the  circuit's  books 
covering  a  six-year  period  and  made 
in  the  course  of  the  litigation.  Jacob 
Kaplan  of  Nutter,  McClennen  &  Fish 
of  this  city  was  attorney  for  the  plain- 
tiffs. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  May  31,  1944 


4 


Canada  Gross  Up 
13%  in  '43;  War 
Areas  Gain  Most 


Personal  Mention 


Toronto,  May  -30.— The  Dominion 
government  today  released  its  report 
on  the  1943  operation  of  1,270  thea- 
tres in  Canada,  showing  an  aggre- 
gate gross,  exclusive  of  federal  and 
provincial  amusement  taxes,  of  $52,- 
475,570,  a  13  per  cent  increase  over 
the  previous  year's  receipts,  while  the 
number  of  patrons  was  in  excess  of 
205,000,000,  compared  with  183,000,000 
in  1942. 

Amusement  taxes,  including  the 
federal  20  per  cent  levy,  totalled  $13,- 
326,478,  which  was  a  $1,613,313  in- 
crease. Including  admission  taxes, 
Canadians  spent  $65,802,048  at  film 
theatres,  easily  an  all-time  high  for 
the  business. 

The  Province  of  Ontario,  with  the 
highest  net  receipts  of  $22,674,035  for 
an  87,000,000  patronage,  showed  an 
increase  over  the  1942  period  of  only 
9.3  per  cent,  but  such  Provinces  as 
New  Brunswick,  Alberta,  Saskatche- 
wan, British  Columbia  and  Nova  Sco- 
tia had  increases  ranging  from  17  to 
20  per  cent,  reflecting  wartime  condi- 
tions, including  the  influx  of  popula- 
tion to  coastal  areas  and  garrisons. 

Only  19  New  Houses 

The  wartime  stabilization  of  the 
construction  industry  limited  new 
theatres  to  19  for  last  year,  of  which 
nine  opened  in  the  Province  of  Que- 
bec, where  223  theatres  had  a  net 
gross  of  $10,689,611,  an  increase  of 
four  per  cent  over  the  previous  year. 

The  additional  amusement  tax  total 
for  Quebec  was  $3,739,119,  or  more 
than  one-third  of  all  theatre  grosses, 
because  of  a  notoriously  high  provin- 
cial ticket  impost.  A  breakdown  re- 
veals that  amusement  taxes  in  On- 
tario totalled  $4,546,711,  although  the 
total  net  gross  of  412  theatres  there 
exceeded  $22,000,000,  or  more  than 
double  the  Quebec  gross. 


T     CHEEVER  COWDIN,  Univer- 
*J  •    sal  board  chairman,   is  sched- 
uled to  leave  for  the  Coast  tomorrow. 
• 

Nat  Wolf,  Warners'  Cleveland 
zone  manager,  has  been  named -chair- 
man of  the  local  Stage  Door  Canteen 
finance  committee. 

• 

M.  A.'  Lightman,  head  of  Malco 
Theatres,  Memphis,  has  been  elected 
president  of  the  Memphis  Jewish  Wel- 
fare League. 

James  West,  operator  of  the  Hol- 
wood,  Memphis,  has  been  elected 
vice-president  of  the  Memphis  Civitan 
Club. 

Ed  Hinchy,  head  of  Warners' 
playdate  department,  will  leave  for 
Cleveland  today. 

Mrs.  Herman  Robbins,  wife  of  the 
president  of  National  Screen  Service, 
will  leave  for  the  Coast  in  a  few  days. 
• 

Mrs.  Leon  Goldberg,  wife  of  the 
RKO  studio  executive,  will  arrive 
here  on  Friday  from  Hollywood,  pre- 
ceding her  husband  bv  three  weeks. 


WALT   DISNEY   arrived  here 
yesterday  with   Mrs.  Disney 
for  a  10-day  vacation. 

• 

Vincent  Trotta,  National  Screen 
art  director,  left  yesterday  for  Mem- 
phil  to  attend  the  graduation  of  his 
son,  Elliott,  from  the  Navy  Avia- 
tion Training  Technical  Center  on 
Saturday. 

Edward  C.  Raftery,  president  of 
United  Artists,  left  yesterday  for 
Hollywood  and  will  return  to  New 
York  June  13. 

Ralph  B.  Austrian,  RKO  tele- 
vision consultant,  has  returned  from 
the  Coast. 

Jack    Conway,    M-G-M  director, 
and  Al   Shenberg,  cameraman,  ar- 
rived from  the  Coast  yesterday. 
• 

Charles  Repec,  M-G-M  salesman 
in  Boston,  has  completed  his  25th 
year  in  the  industry. 

• 

Erich  Wolfgang  Korngold,  War 
ner  composer,  left  yesterday  for  the 
Coast. 


Resurrection  of  Ky. 
Tax  Bill  Expected 


Frankfort,  Ky.,  May  30. — The 
general  budget  bill,  including  a  new 
10  per  cent  state  theatre  admission 
tax  to  finance  construction  of  a  ti\t*er 
culosis  hospital,  passed  by  the  Set  ■ 
at  the  last  regular  session,  only  to 
defeated  by  one  vote  in  the  House  on 
the  day  of  adjournment  last  Marcli 
15,  may  be  resurrected  at  the  specia 
session  recently  called  by  Governor 
Simeon  Willis,  at  which  only  a  school- 
financing  program  was  to  be  consid- 
ered, it  is  learned  here. 

Despite  partisan  friction,  members 
of  both  legislative  branches  have  pe- 
titioned Governor  Willis  to  extend  the 
session  to  include  the  general  budget. 
Although  the  Governor  is  non-com- 
mittal, authoritative  sources  declare 
that  he  is  favorable  to  amending  the 
special  session  call  to  include  the  gen- 
eral budget  provided  the  school- 
financing  measure  is  passed  promptly. 


Managers'  Affiliation 
To  IATSE  Today 

St.  Louis,  May  30. — Applications 
for  charters  for  film  salesmen  and 
theatre  managers  are  expected  to  be 
presented  to  the  IATSE  annual  con- 
vention here  tomorrow. 

The  convention  opened  yesterday  at 
the  Hotel  Jefferson,  with  1,000  dele- 
gates in  attendance.  Speakers  at  the 
opening  session  included  Leroy  Upton, 
president  of  Local  No.  6,  St.  Louis ; 
Mayor  A.  P.  Kaufmann ;  Joseph  P. 
Clark,  president  of  the  St.  Louis 
Central  Trades  Council,  and  Reuben 
Wood,  president  of  the  Missouri 
State  Federation  of  Labor.  IATSE 
president  Richard  F.  Walsh  also 
spoke.  The  session  was  adjourned  un- 
til this  morning  when  a  war  memorial 
service  was  held. 


See  Eberson  Staying 
Out  of  OCR  Setup 

Washington,  May  30— Return  of 
John  Eberson  to  the  Office  of  Civil- 
ian Requirements  post  of  theatre  con- 
sultant from  which  he  resigned  May 
19  is  not  expected  as  a  result  of  his 
plans  to  open  a  branch  cTf  his  New 
York  office  in  Washington. 

With  settlement  last  week  of  the 
difficulties  in  which  the  recreation 
section  had  been  involved,  an  invita- 
tion was  extended  to  Eberson  to  with- 
draw his  resignation  or  accept  a  new 
appointment.  George  W.  McMurphey, 
chief  of  the  section,  said  today  that 
no  formal  response  has  yet  been  re- 
ceived from  the  architect. 

Si  Fabian,  chairman  of  the  theatre 
division  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, is  reported  to  be  coming  to 
Washington  this  week  to  discuss  the 
OCR  situation  with  officials,  includ- 
ing possibly  the  question  of  a  suc- 
cessor to  Eberson. 

Following  a  series  of  conferences 
among  OCR  officials  last  week,  the 
administration  and  program  of  the 
recreation  section  were  endorsed  and 
it  was  announced '  that  no  changes 
would  be  made  in  either  at  this  time. 
As  a  result,  McMurphey,  who  had 
been  reported  preparing  to  leave  the 
agency,  will  remain  with  it  as  head 
of  the  section  and  today  denied  a  re- 
port that  his  program  and  policies 
having  been  vindicated,  he  planned  to 
resign. 


B.  S.  Moss  Chairman 
At  UJA  Lucheon 

B.  S.  Moss,  local  exhibitor,  has 
been  named  chairman  of  the  sixth 
annual  United  Jewish  Appeal  New 
York  amusement  division  fund-raising- 
luncheon  to  be  held  at  the  Hotel  As 
tor  on  June  20.  Moss  was  asked  to 
accept  the  chairmanship  by  a  film  in 
dustry '  committee  headed  by  Barney 
Balaban.  David  Bernstein  and  Major 
Albert  Warner. 

Dr.  Abba  Hillel  Silver,  Cleveland 
rabbi,  will  again  be  guest  of  honor.  A 
number  of  stars  are  also  expected  to 
attend.  UJA  is  seeking  to  raise  $32, 
000,000  this  year  for  the  relief  and 
rehabilitation  of  Jewish  refugees. 


Bosworth  Joins  Filmack 

Chicago,  May  30. — Grace  Louise 
Bosworth,  song  writer  and  advertising 
writer,  has  been  named  head  of  Film- 
ack's  copy  writing  section  of  its  ex- 
hibitors' service  department. 


Lodge  Installs  Tonight 

Cinema  Lodge  of  B'nai  B'rith  will 
install  its  officers  at  an  inaugural 
meeting  at  the  Hotel  Edison  here  to- 
night. William  S.  Gailmor,  radio 
news  analyst  of  station  WHN,  New 
York,  will  be  the  principal  speaker 


United  Reelects  Cousins 

Montreal,  May  30.  —  Ernest  A. 
Cousins  was  reelected  president  of 
United  Amusements  here  at  the  or 
ganization's  recent  annual  meeting. 
Others  reelected  were :  D.  A.  Murray 
vice  -  president  -  comptroller  ;  George 
Ganetakos,  managing  director ;  W.  H 
Mannard,  secretary-treasurer,  and  W 
Deveault,  assistant  secretary-treasurer. 


F 

it? 

SI'. 

El 

all 
I 

to! 
till 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation  Rockefeller  Center 

HELD  OVER  3rd  WEEK 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


AFM  ConventionWill 
Start  on  June  4 

Chicago,  May  30. — The  American 
Federation  of  Musicians'  annual  na- 
tional convention  will  open  at  the 
Stevens  Hotel  here  on  Sunday  and 
run  through  June  9.  Several  hundred 
delegates  will  attend,  with  AFM  pres- 
ident James  C.  Petrillo  presiding. 

The  long  battle  between  Petrillo 
and  the  recording  companies  is  ex- 
pected to  be  a  principal  topic  of  dis- 
cussion. 


UA  Sets  Release 
Dates  on  Next  5 

Five  United  Artists'  features  will 
be  released  in  the  next  two  months, 
according  to  Carl  Leserman,  general 
sales  manager. 

The  national  reuses  are:  "Song 
of  the  Open  Road,"  June  2;  "The 
Hairy  Ape,"  June  16 ;  "Sensations  of 
1945,"  July  1  ;  "Summer  Storm,"  July 
IS,  and  "Abroad  with  Two  Yanks," 
Aug.  1. 


ON  SCREEN 

FIRST  N.  Y-  SHOWING 

'THREE  MEN 
IN  WHITE' 

LIONEL  BARRYM0RE 
VAN  JOHNSON 


fJV  PERSON 

BILLY  ROSE'S 
DIAMOND 
HORSESHOE 
REVUE 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PAR  AMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY  - 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


) 


iiul 

IV 

H 

re 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwm  Kane   Executive  Editor.    P^ned  daily  except  Saturday,  Sundaj 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company   Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.    Telephone  Circle  7-.510O.    Cable  address,    Qnigpuhco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.   J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwm TKane,  ^Executive  Vg^jJ^^^J^0^^^ fJ3J, 
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Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl 
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4^ 


Wednesday,  May  31,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Allied  of  N.  J.  Will 
Hear  Sales  Heads 

The  agenda  for  the  silver  jubilee 
convention  oi  Allied  of  New  Jersey, 
scheduled  for  the  Hotel  Chelsea,  At- 
lantic City,  June  20-22,  will  be  high- 
■  "ed  on  the  final  dav  by  a  special 
gt-  'ion  given  over  to  sales  managers 
^\  the  distributing  companies. 

The  convention  program  has  been 
completed,  with  Tuesday,  June  20, 
I  designated  as  'New  Jersey  Allied 
•TDay'  and  the  21st  as  'National  Allied 
Day.'  Tuesday  morning  will  be  given 
over  to  registering  delegates  and  re- 
viewing' exhibits,  followed  in  the  early 
afternoon  by  meetings  of  the  New 
Jersey, directors.  First  general  session, 
-at  2:30,  will  feature  committee  re- 
ports, guest  speakers  on  postwar  top- 
ics and  the  selection  of  a  nominating 
committee.  Exhibitors  will  go  into 
executive  session  in  the  late  afternoon, 
and  there  will  be  a  social  get-together 
at  night. 

For  Wednesday  morning  an  Eastern 
regional  conference  is  scheduled,  fol- 
lowed by  a  luncheon  of  the  regional 
director.  A  general  business  meeting 
in  the  afternoon  will  be  climaxed  by 

:  election  of  officers,  and  the  program 
calls  for  entertainment  in  the  evening. 

Thursday  will  start  with  a  golf 
tournament  in  the  morning  and  end 
with  an  evening  banquet.  Addresses 
by  company  sales  managers  are  sched- 
uled for  2 :30  p.m. 

In  addition  to  celebrating  its  own 
25th   anniversary,   Allied   will  com- 

"  memorate   the    50th    anniversary  of 

'-  commercial   motion   pictures   at  the 

I  convention. 

(   

•First  Break  Seen 
On  Ticket  Taxes 

Washington,  May  30. — The  first 
break  in  the  recently  increased  amuse- 
ment taxes  may  come  Thursday  when 
the  Senate,  taking  up  the  measure  to 
increase  the  permissible  public  debt,  is 

-  expected  to  consider  an  amendment 
proposed  by  Senator  Pat  McCarran 

'  of  Nevada  to  reduce  the  cabaret  and 
night  club  levy  from  30  to  10  per  cent. 

The  heavy  tax  has  been  the  subject 
of  much  complaint  from  cabaret  oper- 
ators— many  of  whom  are  reported  to 
have  been  forced  out  of  business,  but 
a  reduction  in  the  rate  is  opposed  by 

^  Treasury  officials  who  contend  the  tax 
has  not  been  in  effect  long  enough  for 

I  its  effect  to  be  clearly  gauged. 

While  adoption  of  the  McCarran 
amendment  would  bring  the  night  club 
tax  below  that  charged  on  admissions 
to  theatres,  no  effort  has  been  made 
to  secure  any  reduction  in  the  latter. 
Reports  from  various  cities  indicate 
that  the  admission  tax  increase  has 

i  had  little  or  no  effect  on  audiences, 
but  a  more  definite  analysis  of  the 
situation  will  be  possible  three  weeks 

'  hence  when  the  Internal  Revenue  Bu- 
reau makes  known  the  increase  in  col- 
lections in  the  first  month  of  its  ap- 
plication. 


Be  Lucia  Bail  Held  Up 

t  The  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals 
"  here  last  weekend  reserved  decision 
^  on  a  motion  by  Theodore  Rein,  attor- 
;  ney.  for  the  release  in  bail  of  Paul 

De  Lucia,  one  of  the  members  of  the 
,',  Capone  mob  in  Chicago  who  were  re- 
i  centlv  convicted  of  extorting  more  than 

$1,000,000  from  the  film  industry. 


Chicago  Youth  Group 
To  Produce  Film 

Chicago,  May  30. — Kenneth 
Saunders,  17,  head  of  the  Chi- 
cago Youth  Conference  com- 
mittee which  will  produce  a 
film  documentation  of  youth's 
progress  in  the  battle  against 
delinquency,  disclosed  yester- 
day that  his  group  will  under- 
take the  project  without 
assistance,  in  the  event  that 
negotiations  with  local  film 
row  representatives  should 
fail. 

Saunders,  a  senior  in  Main 
Township  High  School,  stated 
here  that  the  group,  now 
studying  production  proced- 
ure, has  sufficient  funds  to 
undertake  the  job  without 
financial  aid  from  the  outside. 


20th -Fox  Sets  '45 
Short  Subjects 

The  1944-'45  20th  Century-Fox 
short  subjects  program  will  include 
20  single-reel  subjects  and  20  Techni- 
color cartoons. 

The  Movietone  program,  under  pro- 
ducer Edmund  Reek,  will  include  12 
Movietone  Adventures,  twice  the  num- 
ber produced  during  the  current  sea- 
son; six  Ed  Thorgersen  Sport  Re- 
views, four  in  color,  and  two  Lew 
Lehr  comedies.  The  Terrytoon  pro- 
gram, produced  by  Paul  Terry,  will 
include  a  series  of  eight  'Mighty 
Mouse'  specials  and  12  regular  car- 
toons. All  12  of  the  Movietone  Ad- 
ventures will  be  in  color,  with  com- 
mentaries by  Lowell  Thomas  and 
Hugh  James. 

Reek  announced  that  13  of  next  sea- 
son's 20  releases  have  already  been 
completed.  Ten  have  been  edited  and 
are  ready  for  screening.  Terry  dis- 
closed that  half  of  his  1944-45  pro- 
gram is  finished. 


Balaban  &  Katz  Gets 
TBA  Membership 

Application  by  Balaban  &  Katz, 
owner  and  operator  of  television  sta- 
tion WBKB,  Chicago,  for  member- 
ship in  Television  Broadcasters  Asso- 
ciation, has  been  approved  by  the 
TBA  board  of  directors. 

The  application  of  WGN,  the  Chi- 
cago Tribune  station,  was  also  accept- 
ed and  an  affiliate  membership  was 
granted  the  electronics  department  of 
General  Electric,  bringing  the  total 
TBA  membership  to  27. 


Honor  Mary  M.  McBride 

Some  22,000  are  expected  to  be  on 
hand  at  Madison  Square  Garden  to- 
day to  help  Mary  Margaret  McBride, 
NBC  woman  commentator,  celebrate 
her  10th  year  in  radio.  About  140 
newspaper,  magazine  and  radio  trade 
press  editors  gathered  at  the  Hotel 
Waldorf  Astoria  on  Monday  at  a 
luncheon  given  in  her  honor  by  NBC. 
William  S.  Hedges,  NBC  vice-presi- 
dent, and  Miss  McBride  were  the 
speakers. 


Rites  for  Ryan's  Father 

Hollywood,  Mav  30. — Funeral  ser- 
vices were  held  here  yesterday  for 
John  P.  Ryaii.  77.  father  of  Phil  Ryan, 
president  of  Terneen  Productions,  who 
suffered  a  heart  attack  last  Saturday. 
Ryan  is  also  survived  by  his  widow. 


Studios  to  Make  12 
OWI  Documentaries 

Hollywood,  May  30. — Prior  to  his 
Eastward  departure  from  here  today, 
Robert  Riskin,  head  of  the  Office  of 
War  Information's  overseas  division, 
divulged  a  major  studio  hookup  effect- 
ed for  the  "'-oduction  at  cost  of  12 
documentaries,  averaging  two  reels 
each,  stressing  the  OWI's  psychologi- 
cal warfare  program  and  illustrating 
American  democracy  at  work. 

The  Hollywood  Writers  Mobiliza- 
tion has  agreed  to  name  a  three-man 
committee  to  follow  through  on  script 
ideas  originating  with  the  OWI.  Thus 
far  unnamed,  the  committeemen  will 
make  New  York  and  Washington 
trips  alternately  for  indoctrination  on 
the  script. 

The  OWI  plans  to  designate  a 
producer  or  director  at  the  studio 
which  will  produce  each  subject  as  a 
fountainhead  to  pursue  the  job  to 
completion,  working  collaboratively 
with  Mobilization  committeemen  and 
the  studio  head.  The  production 
schedule  is  as  yet  undetermined,  but 
the  plan  provides  that  each  major  stu- 
dio will  participate. 

Will  Return  in  6  Weeks 

Riskin  will  return  here  in  six 
weeks,  and  Philip  Dunne,  in  charge 
of  the  OWI's  New  York  production, 
is  expected  to  come  here  to  implement 
an  agreement  which  will  limit  the  dis- 
tribution to  overseas. 

Riskin  also  divulged  that  the  origi- 
nal 40  features  from  all  major  pro- 
duction sources  for  OWI  handling  in 
liberated  countries  will  be  followed 
by  others  now  being  selected.  There 
will  be  no  changes,  however,  in  the 
fixed  policy  of  withdrawing  from  lib- 
erated areas  in  favor  of  commercial 
distribution  as  conditions  allow. 

Clearance  Award  and 
Appeal  at  Buffalo 

A  clearance  award  has  been  entered 
and  a  notice  of  appeal  has  been  filed 
at  the  Buffalo  tribunal,  the  Ameri- 
can Arbitration  Association  reports 
here. 

In  the  clearance  complaint  of  Basil 
Bros.,  operating  the  Varsity,  Niagara 
Falls,  against  the  five  consenting  com- 
panies, Louis  B.  Dorr,  arbitrator, 
ruled  that  present  clearance  of  from 
four  to  10  days  against  the  Varsity 
in  favor  of  the  Granada  is  unreason- 
able and  declared  that  the  maximum 
clearance  of  the  Granada  over  the 
Varsity  shall  be  five  days. 

The  complainant,  also  operating  the 
Apollo,  Niagara  Falls,  has  filed  a 
notice  of  appeal  from  a  clearance 
award  rendered  in  its  favor  by  Roland 
H.  Tills,  arbitrator,  against  the  de- 
cree companies. 

Lord  Upheld  in  Cole 
Plagiarism  Appeal 

Albany.  N.  Y.,  May  30.— The  N.  Y. 
Court  of  Appeals  has  unanimously  de- 
nied the  appeal  by  Alonzo  Deen  Cole 
in  his  suit  against  Philip  H.  Lord, 
Inc..  for  alleged  appropriation  of  the 
formula  of  the  radio  program,  "Mr. 
District  Attorney."  sustaining  a  pre- 
vious decision  by  Supreme  Court  Jus- 
tice Ferdinand  Pecora.  The  action 
was  tried  three  times.  Louis  Nizer  of 
Phillips,  Nizer.  Benjamin  and  Krim 
represented  Lord,  while  Cole  was  rep- 
resented by  Martin  J.  Desmoni  and 
Jay  Leo  Rothschild. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  30 
]  ACK  WARNER,   Warner  Bros. 
«J    vice-president  in  charge  of  pro- 
duction, arrived  here  yresterday  trom 
New  York. 

• 

Monogram  has  signed  Jack  Dietz 
and  Sam  Katzman  to  produce  three 
of  that  company's  "Three  of  a  Kind" 
series  on  the  1944-1945  schedule.  Bil- 
ly Gilbert,  Maxie  RcTsenbloom  and 
i>hemp  Howard  will  be  featured. 
• 

Charles  Marion  will  complete  the 
screenplay  for  the  Pine-Thomas  pro- 
duction, "Dangerous  Passage,"  on 
board  ship.  Arrangements  have  been 
completed  for  his  passage  on  a  tramp 
freighter  bound  for  Costa  Rica. 
• 

Columbia  has  purchased  "Come  to 
Me,  My  Honey,"  the  new  song  by 
Joan  Whitney.  Alex  Kramer  "and 
Alack  David,  for  Bob  Crosby,  who 
will  be  featured  in  Columbia's  forth- 
coming "Meet  Miss  Bobby  Socks." 
• 

George  Brent  will  star  in  the  screen 
version  of  Gwen  Bristow's  novel, 
"Tomorrow  Is  Forever,"  which  Fritz 
Lang  will  direct  for  International  Pic- 
tures. The  novel  was  purchased  for 
$60,000. 

• 

Columbia  has  renewed  its  contract 
with  Jules  White,  short  subjects  pro- 
ducer, for  the  12th  consecutive  year. 
He  will  make  14  two-reelers  for  the 
1944-'45  program. 

• 

Carey  Wilson  will  produce  "Nor 
All  Your  Tears,"  drama  of  industrial 
America,  for  M-G-M.  Charles 
Jackson,  author  of  "The  Lost  Week- 
end," is  preparing  the  script. 
• 

Marion  Hutton,  sister  to  Betty,  and 
formerly  a  singer  with  the  Glen  Gray 
and  Freddie  Slack  bands,  was  signed 
to  an  exclusive  Universal  contract 
recently. 

• 

Phil  Harris  and  Rochester  have  been 
signed  for  the  Columbia  musical,  "I 
Love  a  Band  Leader,"  which  Michel 
Kraike  will  produce. 

• 

M-G-M  has  purchased  "Diamond 
Rock"  by  Alec  Waugh,  for  an  all 
star  production,  which  Edwin  Knopf 
will  produce. 

• 

Leo  McCarey,  director,  accompanied 
by  Dave  Epstein,  will  leave  here  June 
9  for  New  York. 

• 

Y.  Frank  Freeman.  Paramount  vice- 
president,  and  Hal  B.  Wallis  will  ar- 
rive here  from  New  York  tomorrow. 
• 

RKO  has  bought  ''Lady  Not  Alone" 
by  Katherine  Brush.  Jack  Gross  will 
produce. 

• 

Francis  Harmon.  War  Activities 
Committee  vice-chairman,  will  leave 
tomorrow  for  the  East. 


Blackburn's  Son  Dies 

Porterville.  Calif..  May  30. — Fu- 
neral services  were  held  here  yester- 
day for  Edward  F.  Blackburn,  13,  son 
of  Edward  O.  Blackburn,  Coast  vice- 
president  and  general  manager  for 
Jules  E.  Brulatour.  Inc.  The  boy  died 
from  illness  which  physicians  stated 
developed  from  rabies. 


CLEAN 


SWEEP 


1118  biz  A 


FIGHTING  SHOWMEN 
JOIN  THE  FIGHTING 
5th  WAR  LOAN! 


FOR  M-G-M! 

(The  Lion's  share  of  Variety's  headlines,  as  usual) 


fat 


ariety 


"GASLIGHT"  GREAT!  - 
RIDING  LIST  PROV. 

M-^j^MV"  Gaslight"  is  packing  them  in 
violence. —Variety 


t£APS  u /but  U'G'^Variet:, 
standout- 


6 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday.  May  31.  1944 


3  Divisions  in 
Paramount 


Films  Will  Help  Radio 
Sell  Bonds  for  the  5th 


Sales  Set-up 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Western  division,  and  the  Cleveland 
district,  which  was  in  the  Eastern  di- 
vision. Duke  Clark,  who  has  been  act- 
ing district  manager  at  Cleveland  dur- 
ing the  illness  of  Harry  Goldstein, 
will  replace  Donohue  at  Dallas.  Gold- 
stein has  recovered  and  will  return 
to  his  former  post. 

The  now  eliminated  position  of  gen- 
eral sales  manager  was  made  vacant 
when  Reagan  moved  up  to  his  new 
post,  succeeding  Agnew,  now  distribu- 
tion vice-president  of  Vanguard 
Films.  George  Smith  will  continue 
as  Western  division  manager. 

Paramount's  Eastern  d  i  vision, 
which  was  managed  by  Owen  until  he 
resigned  to  follow  Agnew  to  Van- 
guard as  general  sales  manager,  will 
soon  be  taken  over  by  William  S. 
Erbb,  heretofore  head  of  the  New  En- 
gland district.  A.  M.  Kane,  Boston 
branch  manager,  will  move  up  to  suc- 
ceed Erbb.  Ed  M.  Ruff,  New  Haven 
branch  manager,  will  replace  Kane. 
And  John  Moore,  Boston  sales  man- 
ager, will  be  given  charge  of  the  New 
Haven  branch. 

The  new  set-up  will  become  ef- 
fective in  the  very -near  future.  Mean- 
while, Owen,  who  was  scheduled  to 
assume  his  new  duties  at  Vanguard 
tomorrow,  has  agreed  to  remain  with 
Paramount  another  week  until  the  re- 
vamped organization  is  completed. 


(Continued  from  page  \) 

Details  of  the  "kick-off"  program 
from  Texarkana  have  not  been  set  but 
it  is  understood  that  should  President 
Roosevelt  participate,  all  four  net- 
works would  presumably  carry  the 
program.  Orson  Welles  is  doing  the 
script  for  the  June  12  program.  Sec- 
retary of  the  Treasury  Henry  Morgen- 
thau  Jr..  Walter  Huston,  Joseph  Cot- 
ton, Jimmy  Durante,  Agnes  Moore- 
head  and  others  will  broadcast.  The 
June  14  program  will  be  broadcast 
from  the  Hollywood  Bowl  where  a 
rally  of  25,000  studio  campaign  work- 
ers and  film  representatives  and  others 
will  be  held.  Secretary  Morgenthau 
will  also  address  that  gathering.  The 
Chicago  program  on  June  19  will  be 
from  Soldiers'  Field. 

NBC  will  lead  off  the  special  net- 
work bond-selling  days  on  June  13. 
Special  features  will  be  devoted  to  the 
5,000,000  volunteer  workers  who  will 
be  ringing  door-bells  during  the  drive, 
concentrating  on  that  civilian  army 
instead  of  attempting  to  roll  up  sales. 

Mutual  has  been  assigned  June  17 


Variety  Honors  Anger 

Washington,  May  30. — Local  Va- 
riety last  night  honored  Harry  Anger, 
managing  director  of  Warners'  Earle 
here  who  was  recently  awarded  the 
Catholic  University  Americana  Award 
for  "outstanding  contribution  to  the 
entertainment  world." 


for  its  special  war-bond  day.  Special 
features  are  now  being  arranged. 

CBS'  bond  day  will  be  June  20.  A 
special  show,  produced  and  directed 
by  William  N.  Robson,  will  be  broad- 
cast between  10:30  and  11:30  P.M. 
EWT.  The  network  plans  a  second 
show  in  the  following  week,  running 
half-an-hour,  to  be  broadcast  in  con- 
junction with  the  American  Hotel  As- 
sociation with  whom  CBS  tied-up 

The  Blue  Network's  bond  day  will 
be  Saturday,  June  24.  In  addition  to 
special  programs,  a  special  one-hour 
show,  called  "Bonds  Away,"  will  be 
presented   at  two   P.M.  EWT. 

On  June  12,  opening  day  of  the 
drive,  all  programs  on  the  Blue  will 
carry  a  promotion  for  the  drive,  and 
a  special  show  will  be  aired  from  four 
to  4:30  P.M.  EWT. 

Through  the  cooperation  of  the 
radio  division  of  the  WFC  and  the 
Hollywood  Victory  Committee,  there 
will  be  shipped  to  all  radio  stations  a 
special  'Treasury  Star  Parade'  Fifth 
War  Loan  recording  which  will  fea- 
ture Hollywood  names  and  carry  a 
message  from  Secretary  Morgenthau. 

Films'  Bond  Plans 
Please  Morgenthau 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

message  and  another  from  Governor 
Coke  Stevenson  of  Texas  were  read 
at  the  Dallas  regional  Fifth  War  Loan 
meeting  here  today  by  John  Q.  Adams, 
Texas'  exhibitor  state  chairman. 
"Texas  must  be  first  in  the  Fifth,"  the 
Governor  declared. 

Texas  gave  a  stirring  "homecoming" 
to  O'Donnell.  Some  750  showmen 
gathered  in  the  largest  rally  to  date  on 
the  national  committee's  tour  and  the 
largest  industry  meeting  ever  held  in 
this  state.  There  were  large  delega- 
tions from  Texas,  Oklahoma,  Arkan- 
sas, Louisiana,  Mississippi  and  Tennes- 
see. 

It  was  a  "homecoming,"  too,  for 
Ray  Beall,  national  publicity  director. 
John  J.  Friedl,  campaign  director,  and 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  distributor 
chairman. 

John  Adams  Presides 

John  Q.  Adams,  Texas  exhibitor 
chairman,  presided.  Jack  Underwood, 
area  distributor  chairman,  made  the 
surprise  announcement  that  more  than 
300  bond  premieres  had  already  been 
lined  up  for  Texas.  It  was  also  re- 
vealed that  the  first  nationwide  broad- 
cast of  the  drive  would  be  made  June 
12  from  the  Paramount  Theatre,  Tex- 
arkana, Tex.,  with  Secretary  Morgen- 
thau and  Ted  Gamble,  national  direct- 
or, War  Finance  Division,  as  speakers. 

Among  the  guests  were  Claude  F. 
Lee,  industry  consultant  to  the  U.  S. 
Treasury;  Major  Allen  V.  Martini, 
who  is  a  native  of  Texarkana ;  and 
Fred  -  Florence  of  the  State  War 
Finance  Advisory  Committee.  O'Don- 
nell, who  is  national  chief  barker  of 
the  Variety  Clubs  of  America,  pre- 
sented gold  life  membership  cards  to 
Depinet,  Lee,  and  Major  Martini. 

Phil  Isley,  Southwest  showman  and 
father  of  Jennifer  Jones,  discussed  a 
"Stars  Over  Texas"  talent  tour  in 
connection  -with  the  drive. 


RKO'S  Annual 
Sales  Meet 
July  24  to  26 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

York,  Rathvon  disclosed,  during 
an  interview  on  Monday.  Else- 
where it  was  learned  that  the 
convention  has  tentatively  been 
set  for  July  24-26  at  the  Hotel 
Waldorf  Astoria. 
"Production  costs,"   Rathvon  said, 
"are   still  climbing  with  delays  re- 
flected in  longer  producing  schedules." 

Discussing  RKO's  position  in  Mex- 
ico in  view  of  the  company's  pur- 
chase of  an  interest  in  studios  to  be 
built  there  in  the  near  future,  Rath- 
von explained  that  at  present  RKO 
does  not  contemplate  any  production 
of  its  own.  He  also  disclosed  that 
RKO  is  studying  the  possibility  of 
entering  Mexican  exhibition  but  that 
no  decision  has  been  made  on  acquisi- 
tion of  theatre  interests  or  sites. 

Rathvon  explained  that  the  recent 
sale  of  a  large  block  of  RKO  pre- 
ferred stock  by  Floyd  Odium's  Atlas 
Corp.  is  simply  a  routine  profit-taking 
move  now  that  the  stock  has  appreci- 
ated in  value.  He  denied  that  it  por- 
tends Atlas'  withdrawing  from  RKO. 

Three  in  Color 

Rathvon  said  RKO  will  make  two 
features  in  color,  in  addition  to  "The 
Gibson  Girl,"  for  1944-45.  Frank 
Ross'  "The  Robe"  will  also  be  in 
color.  "Every  studio  in  Hollywood 
is  testing  the  new  Agfa  color  process 
and  -RKO  officials  are  encouraged  by 
the  results,"  he  said. 

The  new  RKO  radio  program, 
"Hollywood  Star  Time,"  which  had 
its  premiere  on  Monday  on  177  sta- 
tions of  the  Blue  Network  from 
coast-to-coast  is  on  a  yearly  basis, 
according  to  Rathvon.  "Radio  has 
definite  value  for  the  promotion  of 
motion  pictures,"  he  said. 

While  on  the  Coast,  Rathvon  saw 
"Casanova  Brown,"  the  initial  pro- 
duction from  International,  which 
RKO  will  release.  He  described  it 
as  one  of  the  finest  comedies  in  the 
RKO  program.  Rathvon  also  was 
impressed  by  what  he  had  seen  of 
Edward  A.  Golden's  new  film,  "The 
Master  Race,"  which  is  now  in  work. 

16mm  Now  Running 
Ahead  of  35mm  Films 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
military  importance  that  today  labora- 
tories are  processing  as  many  linear 
feet  of  the  narrow-gauge  film  as  they 
are  of  standard  35mm.  used  in  theatres, 
the  council  stated.  It  is  also  reported 
that,  at  the  request  of  the  military 
services,  the  War  Production  Board 
has  approved  formation  of  an  Armed 
Forces  War  Standards  Committee  to 
determine  "what  should  be  done,  and 
an  industrial  committee  to  tackle  the 
tasks  selected."  The  latter  group  in- 
cludes Army  and  Navy  men,  represen- 
tatives of  manufacturers  of  pho- 
tographic equipment  and  films,  repre- 
sentatives of  the  WPB,  the  National 
Bureau  of  Standards,  the  SMPE  and 
the  Research  Council. 

There  are  about  35  different  tech- 
nical problems,  involving  standard  and 
still  photography  and  16mm.  motion 
pictures  which  are  engaging  the  atten- 
tion of  subcommittees  on  which  serve 
about  100  industry  technicians. 


Wednesday,  May  31,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Holiday  Aids 
N.  Y.  Grosses 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

headed  by   Charlie   Spivak   and  his 
ra/jand  are  proving  to  be  excellent  mon- 
t  ey  getters  at  the  Paramount,  with  al- 
*  most  $86,000  taken  in  on  their  fourth 
week.  The  combination  will  continue 
"Pin-Up  Girl"  and  a  stage  snow  gave 
the  Roxy  about  $65,000  on  the  final 
six  days  of  a  third  week,  which  is 
moderate  business.  "The  Eve  of  St. 
Mark"  opened  at  the  Roxy  yesterday 
with   a   stage   bill   featuring  Barry 
Wood,  Eddie  Garr,  the  Berry  Broth- 
ers and  others. 

'Gaslight'  Closing 

The  fourth  and  final  week  of  "Gas- 
light" and  a  stage  bill  featuring  Phil 
Spitalny's  orchestra  is  expected  to 
bring  the  Capitol  a  satisfactory  $50,- 
000  on  the  basis  of  $33,000  recorded 
up  to  Sunday  night.  RKO's  "Tender 
Comrade"  will  open  at  the  Capitol  to- 
morrow with  the  Spitalny  show  con- 
tinuing on  the  stage.  "Make  Your 
Own  Bed"  and  a  stage  bill  featuring 
Cab  Calloway  and  band  will  give  the 
Strand  a  profitable  initial  week,  with 
$52,000  expected  on  the  basis  of  a 
weekend  business  of  $24,000.  The  com- 
bination will  hold. 

"Mr.  Skeffington"  is  registering 
substantially  at  the  Hollywood,  where 
$42,000  is  expected  on  the  first  week 
ending  tonight.  The  first  four  days 
ending  Sunday  night  gave  the  theatre 
$24,300.  The  film  will  continue. 
"Show  Business"  ended  a  third  week 
at  the  Palace  last  night  with  almost 
$19,000  and  a  profit.  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  is  holding  up  well  at  the 
Rivoli  as  it  nears  the  end  of  its  run, 
with  almost  $18,500  taken  in  on  the 
18th  week.  The  film  will  start  its  final 
five  days  today.  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove,"  another  long-run,  brought 
the  Astor  $15,000  on  its  10th  week  and 
will  continue. 

'Tomorrow'  Profitable 

The  Gotham  expects  a  profitable 
$14,500  with  "It  Happened  Tomor- 
row" on  the  basis  of  weekend  busi- 
ness of  $5,500.  "The  Hitler  Gang"  is 
expected  to  give  the  Globe  a  moder- 
ate $12,000  on  a  fourth  and  final 
week ;  "Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  will 
open  there  on  Saturday.  The  -  revival 
of  "Snow  White  and  the  Sever 
Dwarfs"  is  nearing  the  end  of  its  nir 
at  the  Manhattan,  with  $7,500  record- 
ed on  the  eighth  week.  The  film  is  now 
in  its  ninth.  "Scarlet  Claw"  will  dr 
no  better  than  $6,000  on  its  seconc1 
and  final  week  at  the  Rialto,  where 
RKO's  "A  Night  of  Adventure"  will 
take  over  on  Friday. 


Du  Mont  to  St.  Louis 

Allen  B.  Du  Mont,  president  o^ 
Television  Broadcasters  Association 
will  address  the  Academy  of  Science 
in  St.  Louis  on  June  7  on  the  topic : 
"The  Development  of  Television."  Du 
Mont  is  head  of  the  Du  Mont  Labora 
tories. 


Lt.  Buxbaum  Feted 

Lt.  fig)  Harry  S.  Buxbaum,  sor 
of  H.  H.  Buxbaum  of  20th-Fox,  waf 
given  a  farewell  dinner  recently  at  thr 
home  of  his  father.  Lt.  Buxbaum  lef 
for  overseas  duty  with  the  Naval  Ai' 
Corps. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


EW  "LOOK"    ISSUE  OUT  YESTERDAY 


FEATURES  "THE  HITLER  GANG"  ON 

3   PAIGES,,   CALLS    IT  "A  FACTUAL 

HAIR-RAISER   A  BLOODY, 

CHI LLI NG  TALE   AN    I CY, 

CALCULATING  SAGA  -OF  THE  RISE 
OF  THESE   RUTHLESS  MONSTERS 
TO  POWER."   B.   G.    DE  SYLVA  HIT 
TOPPED  "MORGAN'S  CREEK"  AND 
"NO  Tl ME  FOR  LOVE"    IN  FIRST 
SMALL-CITY  OPENING  LAST  WEEK  AT 
WATERBURY,   CONN..  STATE  THEATRE. 


Agree  on  New 
Scales  for 
3,000  Workers 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

eral  file  clerks,  messengers  and  typ- 
ists, with  a  minimum  of  $23  a  week 
and  maximums  of  $33,  to  chief  book- 
rs,  with  a  range  of  $65  to  $85  agreed 
upon.  Most  of  the  workers  have  al- 
ready received  increases  of  about  13 
per  cent,  as  permitted  under  the  "Lit- 
tle Steel  Formula,"  but  will  benefit 
by  further  increases  when  the  new 
job  classification  system  is  effected. 

IATSE  film  exchange  "white  col- 
lar" workers'  locals  represent  all  or- 
ganized workers  in  the  18  categories 
except  in  New  York,  where  the 
Screen  Office  and  Professional  Em- 
ployes Guild,  Local  109,  CIO,  repre- 
sents over  100  office  workers  in  the 
exchanges  of  M-G-M,  20th  Century- 
Fox,  Columbia  and  United  Artists. 
SOPEG  has  been  in  negotiation  with 
those  companies  for  some  time  on  a 
more  elaborate  system  of  job  classi- 
fications and  the  case  is  now  pending 
before  the  WLB  in  Washington  on 
the  basis  of  an  appeal  taken  to  the 
WLB  by  the  companies  after  a  re- 
gional WLB  ruling. 

Study  Goes  On 

As  reported  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily  on  May  23  film  exchange  labor 
representatives  and  the  IATSE  are 
studying  possible  courses  of  action  to 
secure  approval  of  a  10  per  cent  in- 
crease for  additional  thousands  of  film 
exchange  shippers,  inspectors  and 
poster  clerks  who  are  represented  by 
different  IATSE  locals  in  each,  ex- 
change center  and  are  not  covered  by 
the  job  classification  system  being  in- 
stituted for  the  office  workers. 

The  WLB  here  has  approved  a  sys- 
tem of  job  classifications  with  mini- 
mum and  maximum  wage  scales  for 
over  600  office  workers  employed  in 
the  Warner  Bros,  home  office  and 
subsidiary  companies,  similar  to  the 
system  worked  out  by  the  companies 
and  the  IATSE  to  cover  exchange 
office  workers. 


Pollock  Named  UA 
Advertising  Head 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
of  Deanna  Durbin,  and  the  launching 
of  Abbott  and  Costello  as  a  film  team. 

Pollock  began  as  a  newspaperman  in 
Chicago,  working  on  the  old  Herald 
and  Examiner  under  "the  tutelage  of 
the  fate  Frank  Carson.  Later  he  spent 
a  number  of  years  in  the  film  promo- 
tional field  with  RKO  and  Balaban 
and  Katz  theatres.  In  1932  he  pub- 
licized the  candidacy  of  the  late  May- 
or A.  J.  Cermak  of  Chicago  for  U.  S. 
Senator  from  Illinois,  and,  in  1933, 
represented  the  Mexican  government 
under  President  Obregon  at  the  Chi- 
cago World's  Fair. 


Louis  Goldstein  Here 

Louis  Goldstein,  supervisor  of  Co- 
lumbia's South  American  territory, 
rather  than  the  St.  Louis  area  as 
trroneously  stated  in  Motiox  Picture 
Daily,  has  arrived  for  conferences 
with  home  office  executives.  Goldstein 
has  headquarters  in  Buetios  Aires. 


Hidden  fires  smoulder  through  the  blue  eyes  of 
blonde  Viennese.  European  triumphs  in  Max  Reinharc 
plays . . .  then  Broadway  acclaim  for  her  role  in  "Th 
Moon  Is  Down"! 


A  CASEY  ROBINSON  Product, on 
Introducing  a  Brilliant  Cast  of  Broadway  Stage  Personalities 

""™*TAMARA  TOUMANOVA  -  GREGORY  PECK 

An  RKO- Radio  Picture 


Days 


OF 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 

InteWgei 

to  the^J 

cjtion 

Picture 

Industry 

OL  55.  NO.  107 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  1,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Scollard  Made 
C.  M.  Reagan's 
Exec.  Assistant 


New  Staff  Appointments 
Effective  June  12 


The  appointment  of  C.  J. 
("Pat")  Scollard  as  executive  as- 
sistant to  Charles  M.  Reagan, 
Paramount  vice-president  in  charge 
of  distribution, 
was  announced 
by  the  latter 
yesterday.  Si- 
m  u  1  t  a  n  e  - 
ously,  Reagan 
confirmed  .  M.O- 
t  i  o  n  Picture 
Daily's  exclu- 
s  i  v  e  story  of 
y  e  s  t  erday  in 
announcing  the 
creation  of  a 
third  sales  di- 
vision to  be 
headed  by 
.  James  J.  Dona- 
hue', at  present 
district   manager  at 


C.  J.  Scollard 


the  company's 
Dallas. 

Scollard  will  be  in  charge  of  ad 
{Continued  on  page  10) 


Delay  Rather  Than 
Suspend  Projectors 


Washington,  May  31. — War  Pro- 
duction Board  officials  explained  to- 
day that  the  suspension  of  projector 
production  disclosed  last  week  did  not 
involve  any  change  in  the  Govern- 
ment's program  to  produce  additional 
equipment  as  quickly  as  possible  but 
was  the  effect  entirely  of  the  inability 
of  manufacturers  to  secure  any  sizable 
volume  of  motors,  ball  bearings,  or 
electronic  components  at  present. 

They  said  that  the  proper  term  for 
{Continued  on  page  10) 


Columbia  Meeting 
Opens  Tomorrow 

Columbia  home  office  executives  left 
New  York  yesterday  for  Chicago, 
where  the  first  of  a  series  of  three 
sales  meetings  will  be  held  starting 
tomorrow,  and  running  through  June 
.5,  at  the  Drake  Hotel.  In  the  group 
were  Jack  Cohn,  A.  Montague,  A. 
Schneider,  Rube  Jackter,  Lou  Wein- 
{Continued  on  page  10) 


Uncontrolled 
Newsr eels  in 
Europe  Asked 


Seeking  to  clear  up  an  apparent 
misunderstanding  in  British  indus- 
try and  official  circles  as  to  the 
status  of  American  newsreels  in 
Europe  after  the  liberation,  Murray 
Silverstone,  United  Newsreel  president 
and  20th-Fox  foreign  distribution  vice- 
president,  acting  for  the  U!  S.  indus- 
try, has  cabled  London  officials  that 
American  companies  want  the  right  to 
distribute  newsreels  on  the  continent 
as  soon  as  they  are  allowed  to  resume 
commercial  distribution  of  entertain- 
ment features. 

A  resolution  unanimously 
passed  by  the  five  companies 
which  participate  in  the  non- 

{Continued  on  page  7) 


N.  Y.  Bond  Drive 
Opens  June  9 

Final  plans  w.ere  mapped  yesterday 
for  the  opening  of  the  industry's 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Bond  drive  in 
the  Metropolitan  New  York  area  on 
Friday,  June  9.  Present  at  the  meet- 
ing, held  here,  were  Frederick 
Gehle,  executive  manager,  New  York 
War  Finance  Committee  Frank  Kiv- 

{Continued  on  page  ~) 


RKO  6%  Preferred 
Offered  at  $91.25 

A  block  of  57,337  shares  of 
RKO  six  percent  preferred 
stock  of  $100  par  value,  rep- 
resenting the  holdings  of 
Floyd  Odium's  Atlas  Corp., 
will  be  placed  on  the  market 
today  by  a  banking  group 
headed  by  Lehman  Brothers 
and  Goldman,  Sachs  &  Co.,  at 
$91.25  a  share.  The  prospec- 
tive sale  of  the  stock  was  re- 
ported in  Motion  Picture 
Daily  on  May  18. 


Jurisdiction  of 
Television  Is 
Claimed  by  IATSE 

St.  Louis,  May  31. — Six  resolutions 
claiming  jurisdiction  of  television  for 
IATSE  have  been  introduced  at  the 
union's  convention  at  the  Hotel  Jef- 
ferson here.  No  action  has  been  taken 
on  them,  but  the  television  resolutions 
are  expected  to  be  adopted.  The  con- 
vention today  adopted  a  resolution 
praising  President  Roosevelt's  labor 
stand  and  urging  his  reelection. 

Nominations  for  officers  will  be  made 
tomorrow  with  William  C.  Bennett, 
Washington,  D.  G,  Stagehands  Local 
No.  22,  looming  as  the  principal  threat 
{Continued  on  page  7) 


Hollywood-Made  Films  for 
Television  Prohibitive  « 


$6,400,000  in  Cuts 
For  Servicemen 

Soldier  attendance  at  War- 
ner theatres  since  the  in- 
auguration of  cut  prices  for 
servicemen  in  1940  has  pass- 
ed 16,000,000,  of  which  more 
than  520,000  represents  free 
admissions  through  alloca- 
tions of  tickets  to  service 
organizations.  On  the  basis 
of  an  average  reduction  of 
about  40  cents  per  ticket,  the 
total  charges  for  servicemen 
run  about  $6,400,000  under 
normal  income  possibilities. 

In  New  York,  the  two  War- 
ner Broadway  houses,  the 
Strand  and  Hollywood,  have 
been  attended  by  approxi- 
mately 1,800,000  servicemen. 


Any  widespread  steady  use  of  films 
produced  directly  for  television  under 
present  Hollywood  standards  of  nega- 
tive costs  would  be  financially  pro- 
hibitive to  telecasters  in  the  opinion 
of  Worthington  Miner,  CBS  manager 
of  television.  Miner  was  one  of  the 
speakers  along  with  Paul  W.  Kesten, 
CBS  executive  vice-president  and  Dr. 
Peter  Goldmark,  CBS  chief  television 
engineer  at  a  luncheon  of  the  Television 
Press  Club  of  New  York  here  yes- 
terdayi 

Miner  estimates  that  5,400  feet  of 
negative  required  for  an  hour's  televi- 
sion program  would  cost  $941.  and 
that  film  for  telecasting  ten  hours  per 
day  by  a  single  television  station  would 
cost  $9,410  for  raw  stock  alone,  or 
$3,285,000  for  a  year's  supply  of  raw 
stock. 

Hollywood  could  not  produce  all  the 
films  needed  for  television,  Miner  said. 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Schine  Trial 
Starts  After 
Five  Years 


Emerson  Long  of  Ohio 
Is  First  Witness 


Buffalo,  May  31.— A  story  of 
visiting  every  film  exchange  in 
Cleveland  and  Columbus,  O.,  in  a 
search  for  product  that  proved  fruit- 
less because,  allegedly,  all  available 
films  had  been  sold  to  Schine  Chain 
Theatres,  Inc.,  was  told  in  Federal 
Court  here  today  by  the  Government's 
first  witness  in  the  trial  of  its  five-year- 
old  anti-trust  suit  against  the  circuit, 
which  opened  this  morning  after  a  de- 
fense motion  for  postponement  had 
been  denied  by  Judge  John  Knight. 

The  witness  was  Emerson  W.  Long, 
operator  of  the  Community  Theatre, 
Cadiz,  O.,  and  former  operator  of  the 
Memorial,  Mt.  Vernon,  O.  He  testi- 
fied that  Schine  operated  the  Vine 
Theatre  in  Mt.  Vernon  and  reopened 
the  Lyric  there  after  he  took  over  the 
Memorial  in  1934.  "We  asked  for  con- 
sideration on  first  run  product  in  Mt. 

(Continued  on  page  10) 

Decree  Meeting  Seen 
For  Next  Week 


Washington,  May  31.— The  long- 
delayed  meeting  between  Department 
of  Justice  officials  and  consent  decree 
distributor  company  representatives,  at 
which  a  final  decision  on  whether 
there  is  to  be  a  new  consent  decree  is 
expected  to  be  reached,  may  take  place 
next  week,  but  neither  Department 
nor  company  men  were  making  any 
definite  statements  today.  From  New 
York,  Joseph  H.  Hazen,  acting  as 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Para.  Again  Sets 
64  Short  Subjects 

Paramount  will  produce  64  short 
subjects  and  104  issues  of  Paramount 
News  during  1944-45,  duplicating  the 
current  season's  schedule,  Oscar  A. 
Morgan,  short  subject  sales  manager, 
announced  here  yesterday. 

Morgan  stated  that  the  increased 
budget  for  1943-44  had  been  justified 
and  the  same  combination  has  been 
set  for  the  coming  season. 

The  new  shorts  are  in  nine  series 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  1,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


JR.     GRAINGER,    president  of 
•  Republic    Pictures,    is  expected 
back  from  Washington  today. 
• 

Harry  Thomas,  Monogram  East- 
ern division  manager,  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  are  celebrating  their  25th 
wedding  anniversary  today.  Thomas 
will  leave  for  the  Coast  tomorrow, 
stopping  en  route  at  Buffalo,  Cleve- 
land and  Chicago. 

• 

Charles  Hesington,  assistant 
manager  of  Warner's  Collingswood, 
Collingswood,  N.  J.,  recently  became 
the  father  of  a  baby  girl,  Bonnie 
Sharon,  born  to  Mrs.  Hesington  in 
that  city. 

• 

Martin  Moskowitz,  assistant  to 
William  Kupper,  20th  Century-Fox 
general  sales  manager ;  L.  J.  Schlaif- 
er,  Central  sales  manager,  and  his  as- 
sistant, Jack  Bloom,  left  yesterday  for 
Boston. 

•  - 

Henry  Brash,  Arnold  Press- 
burger's  Eastern  representative,  be- 
came the  father  of  a  baby  son,  An- 
thony Peter,  born  to  Mrs.  Brash 
recently,  at  the  LeRoy  Hospital. 
• 

Edwakd  Schnitzer,  United  Artists 
sales  executive,  left  last  night  for  a 
week's  tour  of  the  Canadian  ex- 
changes. 

• 

Miss  Sylvia  Rubin,  formerly  a 
Republic  Philadelphia  exchange  em- 
ployee, and  Iso  Brisselli  Fels,  will  be 
married  June  15. 

• 

Charles  Wolcott,  musical  direc- 
tor for  Walt  Disney  Productions,  has 
arrived  in  New  York  from  the  Coast. 
• 

Jacob  Wilk,  Warners'  Eastern 
production  manager,  will  leave  for 
New  Haven  tomorrow. 

• 

Andrew  Stone,  United  Artists  pro- 
ducer, will  leave  here  for  Hollywood 
tomorrow. 

• 

Zelma  Brookov  of  Warners'  East- 
ern talent  bureau,  is  in  Philadelphia 
for  the  weekend. 

• 

Marjorie  Morrow,  Warners'  East- 
ern talent  head,  will  leave  tomorrow 
on  a  trip  through  New  England. 


Full  Sales  Personnel 
To  Attend  RKO  Meet 

All  RKO  Radio  district  managers, 
branch  managers  and  salesmen,  as  well 
as  home  office  officials,  will  attend  the 
company's  13th  annual  sales  meeting 
here  next  month,  according  to  an  an- 
nouncement by  president  Ned  E. 
Depinet,  who  said  the  sessions  will  be 
held  at  the  Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel  on 
July  24-26,  as  reported  yesterday  in 
Motion  Picture  Daily. 

The  delegates  are  scheduled  to  ar- 
rive in  New  York  Sunday,  July  23, 
and  will  return  to  their  homes  on  the 
27th. 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


Hollywood,  May  31 
«*/^NF  anything  and  everything 
we  ever  ask  for,  we 
get  a  quick  'yes'  from  Charlie 
Skouras,"  said  Dave  Bershon, 
state  chairman  for  Southern 
California  in  the  impending 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  at  the 
long,  but  well-handled,  pre-cam- 
paign  luncheon  at  the  Ambassa- 
dor in  Los  Angeles,  well-known 
suburb  of  Hollywood. 

"Charlie  may  say  'yes'  very 
readily  to  Dave,  but  he  doesn't 
do  it  so  easily  for  me,"  retorted 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  drive 
chairman  of  the  distributors'  di- 
vision, when  it  came  his  turn. 
■ 

"This  is  proving  an  interest- 
ing experience.  We  of  the  com- 
mittee, recognizing  the  job 
Skouras  and  his  gang  did  in  the 
fourth  drive,  felt  one  of  our  best 
contributions  was  to  tour  the 
country  by  way  of  keeping  the 
campaign  sparked. 

"It's  been  easy,  too.  All  that 
I've  had  to  do  thus  far  is  to  ex- 
plain what  Charlie  said  to  the 
boys  last  time/'  observed  Bob 
O'Donnell,  national  chairman. 
,1 

"I'm  a  small  town  exhibitor. 
I've  dealt  with  them  all  my  life. 
I  don't  know  why  the  committee 
figured  I  could  help,  but  since 
over  12,000  of  the  16,500  the- 
atremen  in  the  nation  are  inde- 
pendents, it  was  that  experience 
which  the  committee  thought  it 
could  use.  Coming  down  from 
San  Francisco,  Bob  told  me  he 
intended  calling  on  me  this  time. 
I  told  him  I  couldn't  make  a 
speech,  didn't  know  how.  This  is 
what  he  told  me : 

"  'It's  like  a  Texas  longhorn. 
One  point  on  the  left.  Another 
on  the  right.  And  in  between  a 
lot  of  bull.' " 

This  from  R.  M.  Kennedy, 
Bob  Wilby's  long-time  associate 
in  Birmingham,  Ala.,  and  na- 
tional vice-chairman  of  the  next 
bond  push. 

Two  yarns  about  Alabama 
"crackers"  were  told.  One  from 
Kennedy  was  about  a  six-footer, 
plus,  in  the  last  war.  It  was  get- 
ting hot  at  the  front.  So  hot,  the 
captain  ordered  his  men  to  flat- 
ten out  until  the  excitement  died. 
But  this  one  soldier  refused,  de- 
spite three  separate  commands. 
"Joe,  can't  you  hear  me?  Get 
down." 

"I  heard  you  all  right,  but  I 
won't.  Got  a  pint  of  corn  whis- 
key on  my  hip  and  I've  lost  the 
stopper." 

The  other,  from  Claude  V.  Lee, 


the  industry's  consultant  assigned 
to  the  Treasury  Department,  was 
about  those  tall  Alabama  claims 
to  longevity.  Someone  asked  an 
oldie,  claiming  to  be  110,  how  he 
went  about  living  that  long  and 
earned  this  reply : 

"When  I  lay  me  down,  I  say, 
'Breath,  just  come  and  go  at  will. 
You  get  no  interference  from 
me.'  " 

■ 

Lee  also  told  two  which  hit  the 
deck  with  a  whale  of  a  response. 
One  was  about  a  customer  at  a 
bar.  He  ordered  a  Martini, 
drank  it,  ate  the  rim  and  then 
the  glass,  finally  setting  down  the 
stem  carefully  on  the  bar.  Two 
repeats  with  two  more  cocktails 
finally  led  to  this  remark  to  the 
bartender : 

"I  suppose  you  think  I'm  nuts." 

Bartender :  "Think  you're 
nuts  ?  I  know  you  are.  The  stem 
is  the  best  part." 

■ 

The  other,  a  sort  of  beau  geste 
to  the  Fox  West  Coast  women 
managers  present,  was  one  of  the 
series  about  the  inspiration  the 
gentler  sex  instills  in  its  men.  It 
dealt  with  a  six  months'  old  boy. 
Mother,  in  her  dream  world  on 
one  side  of  the  crib,  painted  the 
future  in  her  mind :  Honors  in 
school,  honors  in  law,  a  political 
career  and,  of  course,  the  White 
House.  Father,  on  the  other  side 
of  the  crib,  contemplating,  or 
so  the  mother  thought.  "Are  you, 
thinking  of  the  same  wonderful 
things,  I  wonder  ?;"  she  asked. 

"Me  ?,"  he  replied.  "I  was  just 
wondering  how  they  can  turn  out 
such  a  swell  crib  for  $2.75." 
■ 

Yet,  while  there  was  fun,  seri- 
ous business  was  in  the  overtones 
of  this  meeting  at  which  repre- 
sentatives of  the  600  theatres 
serviced  out  of  Los  Angeles  ex- 
changes went  the  whole  way  with 
their  drive  intentions.  O'Donnell 
and  his  crew  left  that  night  for 
Dallas,  confident  this  territory 
will  kick  in  with  plenty  of  en- 
thusiasm, effort  and,  important- 
ly, results. 

As  an  onlooker,  noting  and  re- 
cording what  transpired,  the  im- 
pression is  wholly  reasonable 
that  the  confidence  they  carried 
aloft  and  into  the  air  lanes  is  not 
a  delusion. 

■  ■ 

First-run  grosses  are  off  here. 
Last  week  was  the  worst  in  five, 
and  all  have  not  been  good.  One 
manager  was  asked  if  he  thought 
it  was  the  fault  of  the  film. 

"No.  It's  a  good  picture.  The 
people  simply  don't  like  it." 


St.  Louis  Stagehands 
Dispute  to  WLB 


St.  Louis,  May  31. — A  panel  of  th< 
Regional  War  Labor  Board  has  rec 
commended  to  the  WLB  board  the  fol 
lowing  conditions  for  settling  the  dis 
pute  between  the  St.  Louis  Theatrica 
Brotherhood,  Local  No.  6  of  the 
IATSE,  and  the  St.  Louis  theatre  ex 
hibitors  committee,  deadlocked  sin< 
August,  1943: 

A  15  per  cent  wage  increase; 
week's  paid  vacation  for  one  to  fiv 
years'  service  and  two  weeks  for  mon 
than  five  years ;  the  establishment  of  a 
board  of  three  to  determine  the  num 
ber  of  stagehands  to  be  employed 
hours  and  duties  and  management's 
right  to  pass  on  employe  qualifications 

The  exhibitors'  committee,  it  is  un- 
derstood, does  not  oppose  the  wage 
increase,  but  insists  that  it  be  grantee 
conditionally  a  reduction  in  the  numbei 
of  stagehands  and  that  hours  of  work 
be  changed. 


Lindstrom  Made  Film 
Head  of  U.  S.  Bureau 

Washington,  May  31. — Chester  A. 
Lindstrom  has  been  named  head  of 
the  motion  picture  service  of  the  U.  S. 
Department  of  Agriculture,  succeed- 
ing Raymond  Evans,  who  retired  re- 
cently. Lindstrom  has  been  associate 
chief  of  the  service,  which  is  part  of 
the  Department's  office  of  informa- 
tion. It  produces  and  distributes  films 
based  on  the  results  of  agricultural 
research  and  wartime  agricultural  pro- 
grams. 

Lindstrom  has  been  in  film  work  in 
the  Department  for  over  30  years. 


Stoltz  Resigns  as  UA 
Exploitation  Head 

Arnold  T.  Stoltz  resigned  yesterday 
as  director  of  exploitation  for  United 
Artists,  effective  June  16  when  he 
will  leave  New  York  on  a  short  vaca- 
tion and  announce  his  future  plans 
upon  his  return.  His  successor  at 
U.  A.  has  not  been  disclosed. 

Stoltz  was  winner  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Herald-Qudgley  Publications 
silver  grand  showmanship  award  in 
1941.  He  formerly  managed  Warner 
Brothers'  Avon  Theatre  in  Utica 
N.  Y. 


LeeNamedHal  Wallis 
Story,  Talent  Scout 

Irene  Lee,  formerly  Eastern  story 
editor  for  Samuel  Goldwyn  Produc- 
tions, has  been  appointed  Eastern  story 
editor  and  talent  scout  for  Hal  Wal- 
lis Productions.  Prior  to  her  associa- 
tion with  Goldwyn  she  was  Warners' 
West  Coast  story  editor  for  eight 
years. 


Harley  to  Meet  Press 

Francis  L.  Hlarley,  managing  direc- 
tor of  20th-Fox  in  London,  will  be 
host  to  the  trade  press  here  at  a 
luncheon  tomorrow  at  the  Hotel 
Plaza. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-5100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Thursday,  June  1,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Review 


Ghost  Catchers" 


{Universal) 

HIC  JOHNSON  and  Ole  Olsen  prance  through  this  happy  combina- 
tion  of  murder,  mystery  and  musical  comedy  in  their  zany  fashion, 
running  the  show  pretty  much  their  own  way  with  apparently  little  in- 
terference from  director  Edward  Cline.  The  film  is  in  the  hit-and-miss 
style  of  "Hellzapoppin'  "  and  others  like  it,  and  will  appeal  to  the  fol- 
lowers of  Chic  and  Ole,  who  are  given  adequate  support  by  Gloria  Jean, 
Martha  O'Driscoll  and  Walter  Catlett. 

The  basis  for  ghostly  shenanigans  at  a  mansion  wherein  dwells  Miss 
Jean,  an  aspiring  concert  artist,  with  her  father,  Catlett,  and  her  sister, 
Miss  O'Driscoll,  is  an  illegal  liquor  business  operated  from  the  cellar  by 
Leo  Carrillo.  Chic  and  Ole,  performing  at  a  neighboring  nightclub, 
come  to  the  rescue  of  the  damsels  in  distress  at  the  mansion,  who  are 
routed  from  their  beds  by  sounds  of  galloping  horses  and  shrieks  from 
upper  stories.  Chic  and  Ole  go  through  the  process  of  tracking  down 
the  "ghosts,"  with  the  scene  of  the  action  shifting  between  the  house  and 
the  nightclub,  taking  in  jiv.e  sessions,  with  Ella  Mae  Morse,  Kirby  Grant 
and  Morton  Downey,  and  murders  and  apparitions  with  Carillo,  Andy 
Devine  and  Lon  Chaney  participating.    It's  all  in  good  fun. 

Credit  for  hilarious  floorshow  sequences  goes  to  Louis  Da  Pron,  who 
devised  and  staged  the  numbers,  and  to  Edward  Ward,  music  director. 
Edmund  T.  Hartmann,  who  wrote  the  story,  also  produced. 

Running  time,  68  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  June  16. 

Helen  McNamara 


Seidelman,  Schimel 
Sell  'U'  Stock,  Wolf 
Sells  Some  Mono. 

Philadelphia,  May  31. — Officials 
of  only  two  companies  traded  in  se- 
curities of  their  corporations  in  April, 
it  was  reported  tonight  by  the  Securi- 
ties and  Exchange  Commission  in  its 
monthly  summary. 

The  sale  of  1,317  shares  of  Mono- 
gram common  stock  was  reported  by 
Sam  Wolf,  Los  Angeles,  who,  with 
the  sale  of  1,100  shares  in  March, 
was  left  with  1,000  shares  at  the  end 
of  April. 

Loew's,  Inc.,  acquired  another  114 
shares  of  Loew's  Boston  Theatres 
common  stock,  increasing  its  holdings 
to  121,096  shares. 

Joseph  H.  Seidelman  of  Universal 
Pictures,  disposed  of  3,000  common 
voting  trust  certificate  warrants,  his 
entire  interest,  by  gift,  and  a  report 
showed  that  Adolph  Schimel  disposed 
of  500  Universal  warrants  by  gift 
last  December,  leaving  him  with  500. 

Reports  showed  that  Charles  M. 
Reagan,  New  York,  held  no  Para- 
mount securities  when  he  became  a 
director  April  6,  but  that  Harry 
Brandt,  New  York,  held  31,500  shares 
of  Trans  Lux  common  when  he  be- 
came a  director  April  12  and  William 
M.  Girden,  New  York,  held  5,000 
shares  when  he  joined  the  board 
April  15. 

10%  Cabaret  Tax  Cut 
Approved  by  Senate 

Washington,  May  31. — Reduction 
of  the  cabaret  tax  from  30  to  20  per 
cent  with  an  exemption  for  service- 
men and  service  women  was  voted  to- 
day by  the  Senate  as  a  rider  to  legis- 
lation increasing  the  permissible  na- 
tional debt  limit. 

The  20  per  cent  was  a  compromise 
reached  when,  after  Senator  Downey 
of  California  proposed  to  reduce  the 
tax  to  10  per  cent,  Senator  Bilbo  of 
Mississippi  demanded  the  same  rate 
should  be  extended  to  theatre  admis- 
sions. 

Senator  Bilbo's  amendment  to  halve 
the  admission  tax  was  withdrawn 
when  an  agreement  was  reached  to 
keen  the  cabaret  lew  at  20  per  cent. 

The  change  in  rate  has  still  to  se- 
cured House  approval,  but  it  is  believed 
it  will  be  accepted  without  any  con- 
c-pt-fed  opposition. 

RKO  Sets  Trade 
Shows  on  Five 

Trade  showings  of  five  RKO  fea- 
tures have  been  set  for  the  company's 
exchanges  on  June  19-21.  "Gilder- 
sleeve's  Ghost"  will  be  shown  on  Mon- 
dav,  June  19.  There  will  be  no  screen- 
ing in  San  Francisco.  "Marine  Raid- 
ers" will  also  be  shown  June  19.  "A 
Night  of  Adventure"  will  be  shown 
Tune  20.  No  screenings  of  this  will 
be  held  in  Los  Angeles  or  New  York. 
"Step  Livelv"  will  also  be  shown  on 
June  20.  "Look  to  Your  Children" 
will  be  shown  June  21.  Screenings  of 
all  five  will  be  held  a  day  later  in 
St.  Louis. 


Danson  Back  at  Para. 

Hal  Danson  has  rejoined  the  Para- 
mount home  office  publicity  staff  here 
after  three  months  at  the  studios  where 
he  was  in  charge  of  trailers. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Barnett  Pleads  Guilty 
Of  Concealing  Assets 

Roger  Barnett,  president  of  Color 
Classics,  pleaded  guilty  yesterday  in 
Federal  Court  here  of  concealing  as- 
sets of  about  $20,000  from  a  trustee  in 
bankruptcy.  He  will  be  sentenced  to- 
day by  Federal  Judge  William  Bondy. 

Barnett  filed  a  voluntary  petition  in 
bankruptcy  in  Federal  Court  on  Oct. 
28,  1942,  listing  assets  of  $300  and 
liabilities  of  $57,400,  chief  creditors 
being  H.  Sewall  Bradley,  with  a  claim 
for  $5,000,  and  C.  H.  Hill,  with  a 
claim  for  $20,000. 

Committee  Submits 
(4A9  Merger  Plan 

A  general  merger  committee  rep- 
resenting the  4-A  actor  unions  has 
authorized  the  submission  of  a  prelim- 
inary draft  of  a  merger  plan  to  the 
unions  involved :  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild,  Actors'  Equity,  American  Fed- 
eration of  Radio  Artists,  American 
Guild  of  Variety  Artists  and  the 
American  Guild  of  Musical  Artists. 

The  special  committee  has  been 
working  on  a  merger  plan  for  several 
months. 


'Open  Road'  Premiere 

Portland,  Ore.,  May  31. — United 
Artists'  "Song  of  the  Open  Road"  will 
have  its  world  premiere  here  tomor- 
row night  at  the  Broadway  Theatre. 
Jane  Powell,  14-vear-old  star  of  the 
film  and  native  of  this  city,  will  be 
guest  at  a  war  bond  rally  this  after- 
noon and  will  make  radio  appearances 
while  here.  The  film  will  open  in  New 
York  June  6  at  the  Criterion  Theatre. 


Withdraw  Clearance  Case 

The  clearance  complaint  of  Willard 
Gamble,  operator  of  the  Orchard 
Heights  Theatre,  Port  Orchard, 
Wash.,  against  the  five  consenting 
companies  has  been  withdrawn  at  the 
Seattle  tribunal,  the  American  Arbitra- 
tion Association  reported  here  yes- 
terday. The  withdrawal  followed  an 
agreement,  the  terms  of  which  were 
not  disclosed. 


Deny  Conspiracy  vs. 
Rosyl  Amusement 

Paramount,  Loew's,  RKO  Radio, 
Columbia  and  the  MPPDA,  among 
others,  filed  answers  yesterday  in  Fed- 
eral Court  here  denying  allegations 
that  they  conspired  to  restrain  trade 
in  the  distribution  of  films  in  Hudson 
County,  N.  J. 

The  answers  were  in  connection 
with  the  treble-damage  suit  filed  by 
Rosyl  Amusement  Corp.,  operator  of 
the  Cameo,  Jersey  City,  against  23 
companies,  consisting  of  eight  produc- 
ing companies,  their  distributors  and 
five  theatre  circuits  operating  in  that 
county.  Warner  Bros,  had  previously 
entered  a  denial. 

Wilcox  Plans  to  Film 
Jane  Austen9  s(  Emma9 

London,  May  31. — Herbert  Wilcox 
plans  to  start  production  in  color  next 
Fall  of  Jane  Austen's  "Emma,"  in 
which  Anna  Neagle  is  now  appearing 
in  a  stage  version  produced  and  pro- 
moted by  Robert  Donat.  The  play  is 
meeting  with  unusual  success  in  a 
current  provincial  tour  and  is  sched- 
uled to  open  here  in  about  five  weeks. 

Distribution  arrangements  for  the 
film  version  were  discussed  with  Col- 
umbia recently,  but  Wilcox  indicated 
today  that  he  will  close  no  deal  until 
he  has  had  talks  with  other  American 
distributors. 

Renaissance  Films 
Formed  in  Montreal 

Montreal,  May  31. — Renaissance 
Films,  Inc.,  a  new  company,  has  been 
established  here  to  produce  French 
pictures.  Attorney  Paul  Lebanc  is 
president,  and  Charles  Phillipp,  who 
produced  several  films  in  France  be- 
fore the  war,  is  general  manager. 

Studios  are  being  established  at 
nearby  St.  Laurent,  where  "Le  Pere 
Chopin,"  the  first  Renaissance  feature, 
will  be  started  June  15,  with  others 
following  soon  after  that  date.  The 
new  company  will  use  both  French 
and  local  actors. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  May  31 

JOE  KAUFMAN,  formerly  head 
buyer  and  booker  for  Balaban  & 
Katz,  has  joined  the  Monogram  pro- 
duction staff  here. 

• 

Francis  S.  Harmon,  executive  vice- 
chairman  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, has  arranged  for  J.  L.  Bed- 
dington,  director  of  the  film  division 
of  the  British  Ministry  of  Informa- 
tion, to  meet  with  WAC  executives 
when  he  returns  to  New  York  from 
here. 

• 

George  B.  West,  Monogram  fran- 
chise holder  in  St.  Louis  and  Cincin- 
nati, and  Herman  Rifkin,  owner  of  the 
New  England  franchise,  have  arrived 
here  for  the  company's  sales  meet- 
ing, June  12-15  at  the  Hotel  Ambassa- 
dor. 

• 

Morton  Gould,  conductor-composer, 
has  been  signed  by  Charles  R.  Rogers, 
United  Artists  producer,  to  appear  in 
"Reaching  for  the  Stars,"  with  his 
orchestra  and  to  write  the  music  for 
the  film,  which  will  star  Jane  Powell. 
• 

Lt.  Col.  Hal  Rorke,  former  head  6f 
the  CBS  Hollywood  press  information 
bureau,  has  arrived  in  Hollywood  to 
supervise  public  relations  for  the 
"Winged  Victory"  Air  Force  show  to 
be  filmed  here  by  20th-Fox. 

• 

M-G-M  today  announced  for  pro- 
duction, following  publication  and 
magazine  serialization,  the  Booth 
Tarkington  novel,  "The  Man  Who 
Lived." 

• 

Glenn  Cook  has  been  named  unit 
manager  for  Sol  Lesser's  "Three's  a 
Family,"  which  United  Artists  will  re- 
lease. 

• 

Warners  has  purchased  "Don't  Ever 
Leave  Me,"  an  original  story,  which 
Jesse  L.  Lasky  will  produce. 

Imhoff  Resigns  from 
M-G-M  in  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee,  May  31. — J.  H.  Im- 
hoff, who  for  20  years  has1  been  office 
manager  at  the  M-G-M  exchange  here, 
has  resigned,  effective  about  June  12, 
to  accept  a  position  as  city  salesman 
with  the  local  RKO  exchange.  Wal- 
ter Bennin,  booker  from  the  Chicago 
M-G-M  exchange,  will  succeed  Imhoff. 

Cinema  Lodge  Seeks 
Doubled  Membership 

An  effort  to  double  the  present  mem- 
bership of  Cinema  Lodge  of  B'nai 
B'rith  was  decided  upon  at  a  meeting 
of  the  organization  at  the  Hotel  Edi- 
son here  last  night.  William  S.  Gail- 
rrior,  news  analyst  for  radio  station 
WHN,  was  the  principal  speaker,  and 
officers  for  the  coming  year  were  in- 
stalled. 


Bricker  at  'Indiana* 

Gov.  John  W.  Bricker  will  be 
guest  of  honor  at  the  tri-state  pre- 
miere of  20th-Fox's  "Home  in  In- 
diana" at  the  RKO  Palace  June  15. 
Tune  Haver,  native  of  this  city,  and 
Jeanne  Crain,  two  of  the  principals  in 
the  picture,  will  make  personal  ap- 
pearances. 


Fighting  Showmen:  Join  the  Fighting  Fifth  War  Loan  June  12! 


PRE-RELEASE  ENGAGEMENT 
AT  THE  N.  Y.  HOLLYWOOD 
IS  DRAWING  THE  BIGGEST 
BETTE  DAVIS  GROSS  EVER! 


Franz  Woxman  •Directed  by  VINCENT    SHERMAN  •    Produced  by  JUL.  J.  &  PHIL.  G.  EPSTEIN  •  JACK   L  WARNER,  Executive  Producer 


MAKE  YOUR 
OWN  BED 
Jack  Carson 
Jane  Wyman 

Irene  Manning 
C— 82  mins.  (317) 

THIS  IS  THE 
ARMY 

(Re-issue)  (color) 
George  Murphy 
John  Leslie 
M— (224) 
115  mins. 

THE  MASK 
OF 

DIMITRIOS 
Sidney  Greenstreet 
Zachary  Scott 

D— (318) 

THIS  IS  THE 

LIFE 
Donald  O'Connor 
Susanna  Foster 
C— 87    mins.  (8012) 

THE  INVISIBLE 
MAN'S  REVENGE 
Jon  Hall 
Evelyn  Ankers 
Alan  Curtis 
D 

GHOST 
CATCHERS 
Olsen  and  Johnson 
Gloria  Jean 

C — 68  mins. 

SOUTH  OF 

DIXIE 
Anne  Gwynne 
David  Bruce 

D — 61  mins. 

CHRISTMAS 

HOLIDAY 
Deanna  Durbin 
Gene  Kelly 
M 

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TRAIL 
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Fuzzy  Knieht 

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COLUMBIA 

ONSE  UPON 
A  TIME 

Cary  Grant 
Janet  Blair 
James  Gleason 
89  mins. 

UNDERGROUND 
GUERILLAS 

(British) 
John  Clements 
Mary  Morris — D 

(5041) 
RIDIN'  WEST 
Charles  Starrett 
Shirley  Patterson 
O— (5207) 

STARS  ON 

PARADE 
Lynn  Merrick 
Larry  Parks 
Judy  Clark 
M— (5023) 

ADDRESS 
UNKNOWN 

Paul  Lukas 
K.  T.  Stevens 

D— 72  mins.  (5010) 

THEY  LIVE 
IN  FEAR 
Otto  Kruger 
Pat  Parrish 
Clifford  Severn 
D — 65  mins. 

THE  LAST 
HORSEMAN 
Russell  Hayden 

Bob  Wills 
"Dub"  Taylor 

SHE'S  A 
SOLDIER,  TOO 
Beulah  Bondi 
Nina  Foch 
Jess  Barber 
D — 67  mins. 

re  u 

■v  2  g  3 

)}  W  «  CJ  S  _ 

SECRET 
COMMAND 
Pat  O'Brien 
Chester  Morris 
Ruth  Warrick 
D 

Mb 
WO 

2.  ^ 

&  0 

&  55 

<0 
•-^ 

c  0 

»~j 

1*4 

3  00 

^  LT) 
»~j 

Thursday,  June  1,  1944 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


7 


Production  in 
Hollywood 
Climbs  to  57 

Hollywood,  May  31— Heavier  pro- 
duction schedules  predicted  at  almost 
I  every  studio  began  to  evidence  them- 
Inlves  during  the  week  with  nine  new 
fjfftures   placed   before   the  cameras 
while  seven  finished  to  bring  the  total 
|  |n  work  to  57.  This  is  two  more  than 
!ihe  previous  week.    The  production 
scene  follows : 
,  Columbia 
[  Started:     "Death    Walks  Alone," 
with  Rose  Hobart,  William  Wright, 
George  Macready,  Jim  Bannon,  Erik 
!  Rolf,    Jeanne    Bates.     "Meet  Miss 
i  Bobby  Socks,"  with  Bob  Crosby,  Lynn 
Merrick,  Louis  Jordan  and  orchestra, 
!  Robert  White,  Louise  Ericksoir. 
i  Shooting:  "Beauty  for  Sale"  (for- 
merly "Ever  Since  Venus"),  "Cry  of 
j  I  the  Werewolf"   (formerly  "Bride  of 
I  the  Vampire"),  "Tonight  and  Every 
1  Night,"     "Under     Western  Skies," 
tj  "Battleship  Blues." 

Finished:  "Kansas  City  Kitty." 
M-G-M 

Started:  "Airship  Squadron  4,"  with 
Wallace  Beery,  James  Gleason,  Jan 
Clayton,  Selena  Royle,  Tom  Drake, 
Noah  Beery.  "Music  for  Millions," 
with  .Margaret  O'Brien,  Jose  Iturbi, 
Donna  Reed,  Jimmy  Durante,  Marsha 
Hunt,  Hugh  Herbert,  Marie  Wilson. 

Shooting:  "Son  of  Lassie,"  "The 
Thin  Man  Goes  Home,"  "Ziegfeld 
Follies,"  "Lost  in  a  Harem,"  "Mrs. 
Parkington,"  "The  Picture  of  Dorian 
feray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "National 
Velvet." 

Monogram. 

Started:  "Marked  Trails,"  with 
jHoot  Gibson,  Bob  Steele,  Veda  Ann 
feorg.  "I  Married  a  Stranger,"  with 
fcean  Jagger,   Neil   Hamilton,  Kim 

Hunter,     Claire     Whitney,  Robert 

Mitchum. 

t  Finished:  "Charlie  Chan  in  Black 
jMagic,"  "Alaska." 

PRC 

Shooting:  "Seven  Doors  to  Death." 

Finished:   "Rustler's  Hideout." 
Paramount 

Shooting:  "Fear,"  "Here  Come  the 
Waves,"  "Murder,  He  Says,"  "Two 
^'Years  Before  the  Mast." 

RKO-Radio 

Shooting:  "The  Master  Race  (Ed- 
ward A.  Golden),  "The  Pumpkin 
Shell,"  "Farewell  My  Lovely,"  "Hav- 
ing Wonderful  Crime,"  "Tall  in  the 
Saddle,"  "None  But  the  Lonely 
Heart,"  "Heavenly  Days,"  "The 
Woman  in  the  Window"  (Interna- 
tional), "Princess  and  the  Pirate" 
(Goldwyn) . 

Finished:  "Belle  of  the  Yukon" 
(International). 

Republic 

Started:  "Sheriff  of  Sundown,"  with 
Allan  Lane,  Linda  Stirling.  "San 
Fernando  Vallev,"  with  Rov  Rogers, 
Dale  Evans. 

Shooting:  "House  of  Terror," 
"Cheyenne  Wildcat,"  "Atlantic  City," 
"Anything  for  a  Laugh"  (Walter 
Colmes) . 

20th  Century-Fox 

Started:  "Thunderhead,  Son  of 
Flicka,"  with  Roddy  McDowall,  Pres- 
ton Foster,  Rita  Johnson,  Diana  Hale. 


New  York  War  Bond  Drive 
Will  Open  on  June  9 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

lan,  liaison  officer  between  the  Army 
and  Navy;  Stanley  Quinn,  liaison  of- 
ficer of  the  War  Finance  Department ; 
Oscar  A.  Doob  of  Loew's,  local  cam- 
paign director;  Harry  Mandel,  RKO, 
liaison  officer  for  the  film  industry  and 
Edward  C.  Dowden,  chairman  of  spe- 
cial events. 

The  drive  will  be  officially  opened 
with  a  demonstration  at  Times  Square 
on  June  9  at  12  noon,  when  a  "Fight- 
ing Fifth"  war  bond  military  motor 
patrol  will  take  over  the  Square.  The 
demonstration,  which  will  be  a  tribute 
to  the  men  of  the  U.  S.  Infantry,  will 
consist  of  seventy  pieces  of  Army  mo- 
torized equipment,  a  battalion  of  sol- 
diers wearing  full  overseas  military 
packs,  and  two  Army  bands. 

Following  the  Times  Square  demon- 
stration, under  the  direction  of  Charles 
C.  Moskowitz  of  Loew's,  chairman  of 
the  New  York  committee,  the  equip- 
ment will  be  broken  up  into  six  units, 
which  will,  visit  Manhattan,  Bronx, 
Brooklyn,  Queens,  Richmond  and 
Westchester  counties.  Eight  rallies 
are  planned  for  each  borough  and 
Westchester  by  committees  of  theatre 
managers. 


Republic.  Owing  to  sales  meetings  in 
other '  cities,  Columbia,  Universal  and 
Monogram  will  not  be  represented. 


Distributors  to  Attend  Breakfast 

Representatives  of  distributing  com- 
panies will  attend  the  New  York  area 
Fifth  War  Loan  breakfast-meeting  to- 
morrow morning.  Sales  personnel  of 
all  companies  are  working  to  increase 
issuing  agents,  arrange  bond  premieres, 
and  otherwise  assist  exhibitors  in  the 
field.  At  the  meeting  they  will  meet 
the  national  film  drive  committee  and 
receive  instructions  from  distributor 
chairman  Ned  Depinet  for  their  ac- 
tivities in  the  Fifth  campaign. 

Representing  the  various  companies 
will  be:  from  20th  Century-Fox,  Tom 
Connors,  W.  J.  Kupper,  Andy  Smith, 
Jr.,  Wm.  C.  Gehring  and  L.  J.  Schlaif- 
er;  Paramount:  Charles  Reagan, 
George  Smith  and  Hugh  Owen ; 
M-G-M:  William  F.  Rodgers,  H.  H. 
Ritchie,  Ted  O'Shea  and  E.  M.  Saun- 
ders ;  National  Screen :  Herman  Rob- 
bins,  George  Dembow,  Don  Velde  and 
William  Brenner ;  RKO  :  Ned  E.  De- 
pinet, Leon  Bamberger,  Robert  Moch- 
rie,  Walter  Branson,  Nat  Levy,  Harry 
Michalson,  A.  H.  Shubart,  M.  H. 
Poller,  William  H.  Clark,  John  Farm- 
er, Garrett  Van  Wagner,  S.  Barret 
McCormick  ;  Warners  :  Arthur  Saxon 
and  Jules  Lapidus.  Also,  Walter  Ament 


Shooting:  "A  Tree  Grows  in  Brook- 
lyn," "Laura,"  "Something  for  the 
Boys."  , 

Finished:  "Keys  of  the  Kingdom." 
United  Artists 
•  Shooting:  "Dark  Waters"  (Bene- 
dict Bogeaus),  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe" 
(Lester  Cowan),  "Guest  in.  the 
House"  (Hunt  Stromberg),  "With 
All  My  Heart"  (Vanguard). 
Universal 

Shooting:  "Trail  to  Gunsight," 
"The  House  of  Fear,"  "Bowery  to 
Broadway,"  "San  Diego,  I  Love  You," 
"Babes  in  Swing  Street." 

Finished:  "See  My  Lawyer." 
Warners 

Shooting:  "Strangers  in  Our  Midst," 
"Roughly      Speaking,"  "Objective 
Burma,"  "The  Conspirators." 
of  Pathe  News,  and  Walter  Titus  Jr., 


Entertainment  Industry 
Will  Set  Plans  Today 

Leaders  of  entertainment  fields  will 
gather  at  Toots  Shor's  today  at  noon 
to  discuss  their  part  in  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive.  James  E.  Sauter  is  chair- 
man of  the  entertainment  industry 
section  of  the  War  Finance  Commit- 
tee for  New  York. 

More  than  100  representatives  from 
all  fields  of  show  business  will  be  ad- 
dressed by  Nevil  Ford  and  Frederick 
W.  Gehle,  state  chairman  and  execu- 
tive manager  respectively  of  the 
WFC.  Bert  Lytell,  president  of  Ac- 
tor's Equity ;  Lawrence  Tibbett,  pres- 
ident of  America's  Guild  of  Musical 
Artists,  and  Paul  Dullzell,  president 
of  the  Association  of  Actors  and  Art- 
istes of  America,  will  represent  the 
entertainment  group. 


Buffalo  Exhibitors 
Plan  Bond  Drive 

Buffalo,  May  31.  —  Local  exhibi- 
tors met  recently  at  MPTO  head- 
quarters with  chairman  A.  Charles 
Hayman  of  Niagara  Falls  to  lay 
plans  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive 
Assisting  Hayman  are  Vincent  R. 
McFaul,  co-chairman ;  Mannie  A 
Brown,  distributor  chairman ;  Ralph 
W.  Maw,  co-distributor  chairman, 
and  Charles  B.  Taylor,  public  rela- 
tions chairman. 


Filmack  Prepares  Special 
Campaign  Book 

Chicago,  May  31. — Filmack  Trail- 
er has  prepared  and  is  mailing  to  all 
exhibitors  a  special  campaign  book 
on  the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive.  The 
book  features  special  trailers  on 
"Bond  Premieres,"  "Free  Movie 
Day,"  children's  "School's  Out"  pre 
mieres,  "Bonds  for  Every  Seat,"  and 
other  campaign  events. 


Boost  Atlanta  War 
Bond  Openings  40% 

Atlanta,  May  31. — Exhibitors  in 
this  area  have  already  increased  their 
scheduled  war  bond  premieres  for  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  by  40  per  cent  over 
the  fourth  drive,  national  committee 
members  were  informed  at  a  South- 
eastern regional  meeting  here  today. 

More  than  200  industry  representa- 
tives from  six  states,  representing 
more  than- 1,000  theatres  and  all  dis- 
tributors, attended  the  rally  at  the 
Athletic  Club.  Delegations  were 
present  from  North  and  South  Caro- 
lina, Florida,  Tennessee  and  Ala- 
bama, in  addition  to  Georgia.  Nat 
Williams,  Georgia  exhibitor  chairman, 
presided. 

Fred  R.  Dodson,  distributor  chair- 
man, said  that  167  bond  premieres 
are  already  assured,  compared  with 
120  during  the  entire  fourth  drive. 

Mayor  Lauds  Films 

Mayor  William  B.  Hartsfield,  an- 
other speaker,  praised  the  industry 
for  exerting  a  beneficial  influence  on 
the  American  home  through  the  med- 
ium of  the  screen. 

Over-all  campaign  plans  and  objec- 
tives were  discussed  by  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  R.  M.  Kennedy,  John  J.  Friedl, 
Chairman  Ned  E.  Depinet,  Ray  Beall, 
and  Claude  F.  Lee.  All  members  of 
the  national  committee  also  par- 
ticipated in  a  broadcast  over  a  Mutual 
network  hookup. 

Arrangements  for  the  meeting  were, 
handled  by  James  Harrison,  Spence 
Pierce  and  James  Gillespie,  publicity 
co-chairman. 

Among  those  who  attended  were : 
E.  W.  Street,  J.  L.  Cartwright,  Mack 
Jackson,  H.  F.  Kincey,  Warren  Ir- 
win, R.  B.  Wilby,  William  K.  Jenkins 
and  Guy  Kennemer. 


Claims  Jurisdiction 
Of  Television 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

to  the  slate  of  incumbent  officers 
headed  by  Richard  F.  Walsh. 

No  action  has  been  taken  on  the 
convention  floor  to  present  applications 
for  charters  for  film  salesmen  and 
theatre  managers'  unions.  If  the  ap- 
plications are  rejected  by  the  execu- 
tive board,  it  is  expected  a  fight  will 
be  made  in  the  convention. 

The  convention  heard  William  F. 
Green,  president  of  the  AFL,  who 
praised  the  union's  war  record. 

Para.  Again  Sets  64 
Short  Subjects 

(Continued  from'  page  1) 

as  follows :  Six  two-reel  "Musical 
Parades"  in  color ;  eight  "Little 
Lulu,"  eight  "Popeye"  and  eight 
"Noveltoon"  cartoons,  all  in  color ; 
six  "Puppetoons"  by  George  Pal,  in 
color ;  six  "Speaking  of  Animals,"  six 
"Popular  Science"  and  six  "Unusual 
Occupations,"  all  of  the  latter  from 
Terry  Fairbanks,  and  10  Grantland 
Rice  "Sportlights,"  to  be  produced  by 
Jack  Eaton. 


Seek  Uncontrolled 
Europe  Newsreels 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

profit    production    of  United 
Newsreel  assured  the  British 
Ministry  of  Information  that  all 
their  material  was  at  the  dis- 
posal of  the  British  Govern- 
ment, the  American  Office  of 
War  Information,  or  the  Board 
of  Psychological  Warfare. 
Silverstone  disclosed  here  yesterday 
that  a  joint  Anglo-American  news- 
reel,  using  much  of  the  United's  ma- 
terial, as  well  as  British  films,  would 
probably  follow  the  Allied  Armies  into 
Europe.    But  when  the  military  au- 
thorities or  government  film  agencies 
return  the  distribution  of  commercial 
entertainment  films  to  the  industry  the 
American  companies  want  the  right  to 
shown  their  own. 

The  situation  in  North  Africa, 
where  newsreels  continue  to  be  a  gov- 
ernment monopoly  under  the  French 
Committee  of  Liberation,  was  cited  as 
an  instance  of  the  situation  U.  S.  dis- 
tributors hope  to  avoid  in  Europe. 

In  the  meantime,  Silverstone  empha- 
sized, close  cooperation  has  been 
pledged  to  the  United  Nations  by  U.S. 
film  companies.  Projects  to  produce 
in  London  a  joint  reel  for  Europe,  as 
well  as  a  supplement  to  the  United 
Newsreel,  are  now  being  worked  out 
with  the  aid  of  U.  S.  film  companies 
and  their  British  representatives. 


HELD-OVER  T( 

PARAMOUNT  los  angeles 
PARAMOUNT  Hollywood 

FODR-THEATRE  WORLD  PREMIERES 

IN  • 

FOX  WEST  COAST  DE  LOXE  THEATRES 

PARAMOUNT  .  SAN  FRANCISCO 
PARAMOUNT  •  OAKLAND 
COSTA  and  FOX  •  RICHMOND 


10 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Thursday,  June  1,  19\ 


Hollywood's  Films  Schine  Anti-Trust  Trial 


High  for  Television 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

citing  the  fact  that  physical  facilities 
are  not  available.  Basing  his  figures 
on  Hollywood's  output  of  450  features 
in  1943,'  Miner  estimated  that  Holly- 
wood facilities  would  have  to  be  ex- 
panded six  times  to  meet  the  require- 
ments of  3,600  hours  of  film  telecast- 
ing annually'. 

Miner  discounted  the  importance  of 
photographing  actual  radio  broadcasts 
for  television  use.  citing  such  use  as 
merely  performing  a  reporting  job  and 
not  accomplishing  the  timely,  visual 
entertainment  function  which  is  en- 
visaged for  television  in  the  post-war. 
He  reported  that  several  film  compa- 
nies in  Hollywood  are  at  work  test- 
ing how  cheaply  films  can  be  produced 
for  television  usage.  Films  will  be 
used  extensively  for  a  long  time  in 
television  after  the  war  but  they  will 
not  be  films  made  expressly  for  tele- 
vision but  rather  16mm  prints  of  ex- 
isting subjects  with  the  television  sta- 
tions licensing  a  print  for  about  $75. 
in  the  opinion  of  Miner. 

Saving  on  High  Frequencies 

Discussing  CBS's  recent  ordering  of 
an  experimental  one-kilowatt  transmit- 
ter from  General  Electric  to  telecast 
on  the  high  frequencies  of  400-500 
megacycles,  Dr.  Goldmark  disclosed 
that  it  is  possible  to  secure  the  same 
signal  strength  in  the  higher  frequen- 
cies with  that  much  power  than  it 
would  be  with  seven  times  as  much 
power  at  the  present  frequencies.  With 
the  use  of  special  directional  receiving 
antenna,  according  to  CBS'  Dr.  Gold- 
mark,  it  will  be  possible  in  the  higher 
frequencies  to  secure  telecasts  from 
more  than  one  television  station  and 
to  diminish  the  need  of  power  by  10 
times.  Dr.  Goldmark  compared  the 
average  motion  nicture  film  projected 
as  equal  to  1,000-line  television  im- 
ages. CBS.  he  said,  is  presently  seek- 
ing standards  of  735-line  television 
images. 


Starts  After  5  Years 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Vernon  but  were  told  it  had  all  been 
sold  to  the  Schine  circuit,"  Long 
added. 

He  took  the  stand  late  this  after- 
noon after  lengthy  introductory  re- 
marks by  Robert  L.  Wright,  for  the 
Government,  and  Willard  S.  McKay, 
for  the  defendants.  Long's  direct  ex- 
amination, conducted  by  Albert  Bog- 
gess.  Special  Assistant  to  the  U.  S. 
Attorney  General,  will  continue  to- 
morrow. The  Government  originally 
filed  against  Schine  in  August.  1939. 

Also  held  over  until  tomorrow  was 
the  begining  of  Schine's  defense,  to  be 
conducted  by  Seth  Richardson,  who  to- 
day was  detained  in  Washington  by 
transportation  difficulties. 

Some  from  Columbia 

In  today's  testimony,  Long  said  he 
finally  obtained  some  pictures  from 
Columbia  but  that  the  deal  was  held 
up  two  months  while  the  branch  "took 
it  up  with  New  York."  He  also  told 
of  a  trip  to  the  distributors'  main  of- 
fice in  Xew  York  and  of  being  told 
there  that  Schine  had  purchased  the 
product.  He  told  of  difficulties  alleg- 
edly encountered  in  getting  20th-Fox 
and  Paramount  product.  'We  never 
got  any  from  RKO,"  Long  said,  add- 
ing, however,  that  he  obtained  some 
second-run  films  from  M-G-M  and  at 
a  later  date  succeeded  in  arranging  a 
"split"  with  Schine  on  M-G-M  sec- 
ond-runs. 

In  1937,  according  to  Long,  two  dif- 
ferent Schine  representatives  came  to 
him  with  propositions.  Both,  he  said, 
suggested  the  sale  of  his  theatre  to 
Schine. 

McKay  sought  a  delay  in  the  start 
of  the  trial  on  the  grounds  that  "The 
Little  Three"  had  been  dismissed  from 
the  case  and  won  a  court  order  re- 
quiring filing  of  an  amended  comolaint 
by  the  Government.  Wright  said  he 
would  file  it  within  24  hours. 


THE  WAR  DEPARTMENT 


reveals 


11 


ATTACK 

(The  Battle  For  New  Britain) 
at  the 

NEW  YORK 
TRADE  SHOWING 

Wednesday,  June  7,  at  11:00  A.  M. 

RKO  PROJECTION  ROOM 

630  NINTH  AVE.,  NEW  YORK,  N.  Y. 

(Distributed  by  RKO  Radio  Pictures,  Inc.) 


The  much  heralded  pre-trial  confer- 
ences, in  session  since  May  19,  ap- 
parently did  little  to  ''shorten  and  sim- 
plify" the  trial  through  stipulation  of 
facts.  Wright  informed  the  court  that 
because  the  Schine  counsel  wanted 
more  time  to  study  certain  issues,  there 
were  no  stipulations  to  offer  at  this 
time. 

In  his  opening  remarks,  Wright  said 
he  is  prepared  to  prove  that  small 
operators  have  not  been  permitted  to 
compete  with  Schine  in  the  licensing  of 
films  and  that  they  have  been  given 
the  alternatives  of  going  out  of  busi- 
ness, selling  out  to  Schine  or  continu- 
ing to  show  pictures  which  Schine 
has  rejected. 

Wright  said  further  that  he  intends 
to  prove  Schine  had  "tied  up  seven 
of  the  eight  major  distributors  under 
franchise  agreements,"  and  that  he  will 
'seek  to  re-establish  the  freedom  of 
opportunity  to  compete  in  the  exhibi- 
tion business  in  Schine  towns." 

Among  the  many  court  observers 
are  counsel  for  all  the  major  distribu- 
tors. They  have  asked  for  transcripts 
of  the  court  record  but  are  taking  no 
part  in  the  proceedings. 


Columbia  Meeting 
Opens  Tomorrow 

(Continued  from  page  V)  m 

berg.  Louis  Astor,  M.  J.  Weisfeldt, 
Leo  Jaffe,  Maurice  Grad,  George  Jo- 
sephs, Hank  C.  Kaufman,  Vincent  Bo- 
relli.  William  Brennan,  Seth  Raisler, 
Irving  Sherman,  Joseph  Freiberg  and 
Sidney  Singerman.  Jerry7  Safron, 
Western  division  supervisor,  in  Xew 
York  for  conferences,  accompanied  the 
group  to  Chicago. 

Fifteen  branches  will  be  represented 
at  the  convention  by  district  mana- 
gers, branch  managers  and  salesmen 
from  Atlanta.  Charlotte,  Chicago,  Dal- 
las, Des  Moines,  Detroit,  Indianapo- 
lis, Kansas  City,  Memphis,  Milwau- 
kee. Minneapolis,  Xew  Orleans,  Okla- 
homa City,  Omaha  and  St  Louis. 

The  Chicago  meeting  will  be  fol- 
lowed by  a  gathering  in  Xew  York, 
June  13-15,  and  one  in  San  Fran- 
cisco. July  11-13. 


Delay  Rather  Than 
Suspend  Projectors 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  situation  was  'delay'  rather  than 
'suspension'  although  they  admitted 
that  the  net  effect  was  the  same  and 
no  material  number  of  new  machines 
would  come  on  the  market  until  the 
militarv  needs  for  the  defeat  of  Ger- 
many had  been  fulfilled  and  supplies  of 
vital  components  could  be  released  for 
civilian  use. 

Practically  the  entire  output  of 
parts  needed  for  the  completion  of 
projectors  has  been  going  into  military 
equipment  for  some  time,  it  was  said, 
and  it  never  was  the  intention  of  the 
WPB  that  its  projector  program 
should  invade  the  military  field.  The 
primary  idea  back  of  a  recent  author- 
ization of  increased  projector  produc- 
tion apparently  was  that  when  the  sit- 
uation did  improve  and  military  re- 
quirements fell  off  the  orojector  man- 
ufacturers would  be  able  to  jump  in 
immediately  and  secure  supplies  as 
soon  as  they  were  released. 


Scollard  Mad< 
C.  M.  Reagan' 
Exec.  Assistan 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
ministrative  affairs  of  the  Paramov 
distribution  department.  He  has  bt( 
with  Paramount  for  the  past  six  ye 
and  served  as  executive  assistant 
Xeil  F.  Agnew,  who  resigned  rece' 
ly  as  distribution  vice-president 
become  head  of  international  distrit 
tion  for  David  O.  Selznick's  Vai 
guard  Films. 

Donahue  will  head  the  newly  creaL 
ed  Central  division.  As  previous  1 
reported.  William  Erbb,  Xew  Englarlj 
district  manager,  will  become  Easterfe 
division  manager,  and  George  Smilf  ; 
will  continue  as  Western  divisi  fc 
manager.  All  appointments  are  effeiK 
tive  June  12.  On  that  date,  Hug* 
Owen.  Paramount  Eastern  divisi  I 
manager,  will  join  Agnew  as  gener 
sales  manager  for  Vanguard.  T 
post  of  sales  manager  at  Paramou 
is  being  eliminated  by  Reagan,  wl 
held  that  title  prior  to  his  advanc 
ment  to  distribution  rice-president. 

Clark  to  Dallas 

Duke  Clark,  acting  district  manag^ 
at  Cleveland,  will  succeed  Donah 
as  district  manager  at  Dallas,  fc 
lowing  the  recovery  from  a  recei 
illness  of  Harry  Goldstein,  who  rt 
turns  to  his  Cleveland  post,  also  a 
previously  reported.  Fred  Larned  ha 
been  advanced  from  sales  manager 
branch  manager  at  Dallas,  succee 
ing  Charles  L.  Dees,  and  Heywoc 
Simmons  has  been  advanced  fro 
salesman  to  sales  manager  at  Dalla 

The  following  exchanges  are  i: 
eluded  in  the  new  Central  division 
Chicago,  Milwaukee,  Minneapolis 
Cleveland.  Detroit.  Cincinnati,  Indi 
anapolis,  Dallas.  Oklahoma  City  an 
Memphis.  The  Eastern  division  wi! 
include  the  following:  Boston,  Xe\ 
Haven.  Buffalo,  Albany,  Xew  Yori 
Philadelphia.  Washington,  Pittsburg': 
Atlanta,  Charlotte  and  Xew  Orleaiv 
The  Western  division  will  include 
Los  Angeles,  San  Francisco,  Seatth 
Portland,  Denver.  Salt  Lake  Cit;. 
Omaha,  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis  ayi 
Des  Moines. 

Kane  Succeeds  Ruff 

Al  Kane,  Boston  branch  manage  i 
succeeds  Erbb ;  Ed  Ruff,  Xew  Have 
manager,  replaces  Kane,  and  Johi 
Moore,  Boston  sales  manager,  re 
places  Ruff  at  Xew  Haven. 

In  making  the  formal  announce 
ment  of  the  appointments  Reagan  en: 
phasized  that  all  were  from  the  rank 
of  Paramount  men.  following  a  con1, 
party  policy. 


Decree  Meeting  Seen 
For  Next  Week 

(Continued  from   page  1) 

liaison  between  the  two  groups.  ha< 
a  telephone  conversation  with  Assis 
ant  U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom  C 
Clark  earlier  this  week,  but  reportec 
ly  no  date  for  the  conference  was  the 
agreed  upon  and  Clark  said  he  woul 
get  in  touch  with  the  Xew  York  e> 
ecutives  within  the  next  day  or  tw« 
Reports  from  Xew  York  that  tl  < 
distributors  had  announced  they  hsc 
reached  the  limit  of  concession  whicr 
they  would  make  to  obtain  a  new  de- 
cree, were  not  discussed  by  Gark. 


THANK 

IT'S  NOT 
YOUR  KID- 


35 


(but  he  came  to  the  right  industry  for 
help,  because  film  folk  have  a  heart) 


Get  out  the  check-book  and  remember  it's  only  money! 

But  it  will  buy  happiness  for  you,  knowing  this  dough  is  for 
kids  like  yours,  families  like  yours—although  not  so  fortunate. 

Every  year,  and  this  year  more  than  ever,  THE  GREATER 
NEW  YORK  FUND  appeals  to  all  of  us  to  give  a  thought  to 
our  own  needy,  the  sick,  the  hungry,  the  old  and  lonely  in 
our  midst.  It's  a  wonderful  charity  because  all  of  us,  whether 
Protestant,  Catholic  or  Jew,  join  hands  to  finance  403  grand 
organizations.  That's  real  democracy,  a  pleasure  to  support. 

Rich  man,  give  in  proportion  to  your  means  —  and  you  and 
you  and  you  — give  a  day's  pay.  With  this  community  spirit 
we  show  the  nation  the  true  meaning  of  the  American  way. 


Give  to  your  company  representative  or  direct  to  Motion  Picture  Division, 
GREATER  NEW  YORK  FUND,  218  West  49th  Street,  New  York  City 


First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAI  LY 


Alert, 

InteUigei 

tothe^l 

c|tion 

Picture 

Industry 

v^OL.  55.  NO.  108 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  2,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


WLB  Ruling 
On  Exchange 
Raises  Asked 


Appeal  RWLB's  Denial 
Of  10  Percent  Boost 


Seeking  to  establish  a  precedent 
which  would  presumably  be  fol- 
lowed by  regional  War  Labor 
Boards  in  all  film  exchange  cities, 
the  IATSE  and  representatives  of 
M-G-M's  Washington  exchange  have 
appealed  to  the  War  Labor  Board 
for  approval  of  a  10  per  cent  increase 
for  exchange  service  workers-.  The 
regional  board  in  Philadelphia,  which 
has  jurisdiction  over  the  Washington 
area  turned  down  an  appeal  on  May 
17  from  a  previous  ruling  by  the 
Wage  Stabilization  Director's  office 
denying  the  increase. 

The  case  of  M-G-M's  Washington 
exchange  employes  is  viewed  by  in- 

(Continued  on  page  9)  • 


New  Jackson  Park 
Trial  Is  Denied 


Chicago,  June  1. — Federal  Judge 
Michael  Igoe  today  overruled  motions 
for  a  new  trial  in  the  Jackson  Park 
Theatre  anti-trust  case  filed  by  Myles 
G.  Seeley,  attorney  for  the  defendants, 
which  include  .Balaban  and  Katz, 
Paramount,  Warner  Bros.,  RKO  Ra- 
dio, 20th  Century-Fox  and  Loew's. 
Seeley  will  take  the  case  to  the  U.  S. 
Circuit  Court  of  Appeals. 

The  case  was  heard  by  a  federal 
jury  in  March,  which  awarded  the 
plaintiff  a  judgment  of  $360,000.  The 
defendants  are  filing  an  appeal  bond 
to  stay  the  judgment,  pending  a  de- 
cision by  the  Court  of  Appeals,  which 
is  expected  early  in  the  Fall. 


Special  De  Sylva  Unit 
Looms  at  Paramount 

Hollywood,  June  1. — In  the  face 
of  widespread  speculation  over  the 
effect  of  the  Hal  B.  Wallis-Paramount 
deal  on  his  status.  B.  G.  (Buddy)  De 
Sylva  today  told  Motion  Picture 
Daily  that  he  has  been  anxious  for 
some  time  to  drop  the  total  produc- 
tion load  in  favor  of  a  unit  of  his  own, 
making  a  few  pictures  annually.  Dis- 
cussions indicating  such  an  eventuality 
may  be  launched  tomorrow  between 
De  Sylva  and  Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
Paramount  vice-president  in  charge  of 
studio  operations.  De  Sylva's  current 
contract  expires  a  year  from  next 
January. 


1,000  at  War 
Bond  Rally 


At  9 :30  this  morning,  1,000  theatre 
owners,  managers,  assistant  managers, 
film  exchange  managers  and  salesmen 
and  company  presidents  and  execu- 
tives gathered  at  designated  street  cor- 
ners on  Central  Park  West  here.  Bug- 
lers sounded  mess-call ;  a  military  band 
came  marching  up  the  street,  leading 
national  Fifth  War  Loan  chairman  R. 
J.  O'Donnell  and  his  staff  in  Army 
cars ;  military  police  then  rounded  up 
the  street-corner  groups  and  marched 
them  into  Central  Park  to  long-held 
secret  war-bond-rally-rendezvous — The 
Tavem-on-the-Green !  New  York's 
Fifth  War  Loan  workers  thus  planned 
a  martial  welcome  to  the  national  in- 
dustry officers  of  the  drive,  who  are 
(Continued  on  page  9) 


O'Donnell  Acclaims 
Bond  Drive  Support 


The  nationwide  enthusiasm  for  the 
Fighting  Fifth  War  Loan  campaign, 
as  evidenced  at  the  series  of  rallies 
during  the  national  committee's 
coast-to-coast  tour,  "leads  us  to  be- 
lieve that  the  Fighting  Fifth  will  ac- 
complish its  objective,"  National 
Chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell  stated  on 
Thursday. 

XContinued  on  page  9) 


Signal  Corps  Award 
To  M.  P.  Academy 

Washington,  D.  C,  June  1. — 
The  Research  Council  of  the 
Academy  of  Motion  Picture 
Arts  and  Sciences  was  dis- 
closed today  to  be  among  the 
first  10  individuals  and  organ- 
izations to  receive  the  Signal 
Corps  Certificate  of  Apprecia- 
tion. 

The  certificate  is  designed 
as  a  testimonial  to  those  who 
perform  notable  services  be- 
yond the  normal  requirements 
of  duty  but,  not  being  under 
the  direct  control  of  the  War 
Department,  are  not  eligible 
for  the  Army-Navy  "E." 


OCRPolicyDesigned 
To  Assist  Military 


Washington,  D.  C,  June  1. — No 
program  of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements will  be  pressed  that  might 
"endanger  production  of  a  single 
weapon  needed  for  the  quickest  pos- 
sible victory,"  it  was  declared  today  by 
William  Y.  Elliott,  taking  over  as  War 
Production  Board  vice-chairman  for 
the  OCR. 

•Emphasizing  that  the  OCR  has  been 
recognized  as  the  claimant  for  the 
civilian  economy,  with  a  voice  in  WPB 
policy-making  at  the  highest  levels,  El- 
liott asserted  that  "What  we  are  pro- 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


More  Entertainment  Films 
Coming  from  Disney 


Rapid  Increase  in 
Postwar  Audience 

Washington,  June  1. — Rapid 
expansion  of  civilian  audi- 
ences after  the  war  was  seen 
here  in  a  revised  draft  of  the 
George-Murray  industrial  de- 
mobilization bill  under  which 
the  U.  S.  would  discharge  ser- 
vicemen as  rapidly  as  the  mil- 
itary situation  permits. 

To  maintain  a  level  of  em- 
ployment, expansion  in  civil- 
ian production  would  be  syn- 
chronized with  war  produc- 
tion cut-backs ;  protection 
would  be  accorded  small  busi- 
nesses, and  unemployment 
compensation  would  be 
strengthened  and  benefits  in- 
creased. 


Walt  Disney  will  produce  18  short 
subjects  for  theatres  and  release 
"Three  Caballeros,"  a  color  feature, 
during  1944-45,  the  producer  an- 
nounced yes- 
terday at  his 
offices  here. 
This  program 
will  exceed  the 
n  i  n  e  actually 
delivered  this 
season  al- 
though 18  were 
c  o  n  t  e  m  - 
plated,  he  said. 
RKO  Radio 
will  continue  to 
distribute. 

F  a  il  u  r  e  to 
make  full  de- 
livery of  prod- 
uct promised  to 
exhibitors,  Disney  said,  was  attribu- 
table to  the  studio's  intensive  produc- 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Walt  Disney 


Bar  Some  U.S. 
Schine  Trial 
Data  in  Court 


Defense  Objections  to 
Memoranda  Upheld 

Buffalo,  June  1.  —  An  attempt 
by  Robert  L.  Wright  of  the  Justice 
Department  to  have  admitted  into 
evidence  over  a  score  of  inter-office 
distributor  letters  and  memoranda,  and 
photostatic  copies  of  communications 
between  Emerson  W.  Long,  Cadiz, 
O.,  exhibitor,  and  distributor  heads 
was  balked  by  defense  counsel  in  Fed- 
eral court  here  today  as  the  Schine 
anti-trust  trial  completed  its  second, 
day. 

Attorney  Saul  E.  Rogers  described 
it  as  "the  rankest  kind  of  hearsay." 
He  declared  Wright  was  not  properly 
presenting  his  case  and  virtually  de- 
manded the  right  to  later  subject  the 
material  to  close  scrutiny.  Judge 
Knight  sustained  all  of  Schine  coun- 
sel's objections  and  informed  Wright 
the  data  may  be  stricken  from  the 
record  if  it  is  not  later  "connected 
up"  with  the  defendants. 

Government  witnesses  today  were 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


House  Kills  Senate 
Cabaret  Tax  Cut 


Washington,  June  1. — The  Sen- 
ate's amendment  to  cut  the  cabaret 
tax  from,  30  to  20  per  cent  and  ex- 
empt servicemen  from  paying  the 
levy  was  lost  today  when  the  House 
deleted  it  from  the  Public  Debt  Limit 
Bill  and  sent  the  measure  in  original 
form  to  a  joint  conference  commit- 
tee. 

Some  House  leaders  referred  to  the 
cabaret  rider  as  a  revenue  measure 
and  contended  that  it  was  improperly 
tacked  on  to  a  non-revenue  act.  They 
pointed  out  that  the  Constitution  re- 
quires all  fund-raising  legislation  to 
arise  in  the  House.  The  bill  would 
raise  the  debt  ceiling  from  $210,000,- 
000,000  to  $260,000,000,000. 


Thall  Named  to 
Assist  Sturdivant 

San  Francisco,  June  1.  —  Charles 
Thall,  head  film  buyer  and  broker  for 
Fox-West  Coast  Theatres  in  Northern 
California,  has  been  promoted  to  as- 
sistant division  manager  of  that  terri- 
tory under  B.  V.  Sturdivant.  George 
Milner  will  take  over  Thall's  former 
film  buying  post. 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  June  2,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


Jack  Cohn  to  Open 
Col.  Meet  Today 


BEN  KALMEXSON,  Warners' 
general  sales  manager,  is  back 
from  a  two-week  tour  of  the  ex- 
changes. 

• 

E.  X.  Ferro,  Universal  manager  for 
Panama.  Central  America  and  Ecua- 
dor, arrived  here  yesterday  for 
conferences  with  J.  H.  Seidelmax. 
vice-president  in  charge  of  foreign 
distribution. 

• 

Rex  Williams,  manager  of  Loew's 
State    and    Orpheum    Theatres,  St. 
Louis.  Mo.,  will  leave  on  a  two-week 
vacation  in  Chicago  tomorrow. 
• 

Samuel  Bronston,  United  Artists 
producer,  has  returned  to  Hollywood 
after  a  three-week  stay  in  New  York. 
• 

J.  R.  Grainger,  president  of  Repub- 
lic Pictures,  will  leave  New  York  over 
the  weekend  for  the  Coast. 

• 

Arthur  Gottlieb,  head  of  Du-Art 
Film  Laboratories,  has  arrived  in  New 
York  from  Toronto. 

• 

Harry  Kosixer.  Edward  Small's 
Eastern  representative,  returned  yes- 
terdav  from  Beaufort,  S.  C. 

• 

Jules  Lapidus.  Eastern  division 
sales  manager,  will  return  today  from 
Boston. 

• 

.  C.  N.  Odell,  Paramount  home  of- 
fice publicist,  will  return  from  a  vaca- 
tion on  Monday. 

• 

Col.  H.  A.  Cole,  president  of  the 
Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  Texas,  is  in 
town. 


Chicago,  June  1. — Columbia  vice- 
president  Jack  Cohn  will  welcome 
more  than  80  delegates  at  the  opening 
of  a  four-day  sales  meeting  in  the 
Drake  Hotel  here  tomorrow.  He  will 
turn  the  gavel  over  to  general  sales 
manager  A.  Montague,  who  will  pre- 
side. 

Among  home  office  executives  pres- 
ent are  Rube  Jackter,  Lou  Weinberg, 
Louis  Astor,  -M.  J.  Weisfeldt,  -Leo 
Jaffe,  Maurice  Grad,  George  Josephs, 
Hank  C,  Kaufman,  Vincent  Borelli, 
William  Brennan,  Seth  Raisler,  Irv- 
ing Sherman,  Joseph  Freiberg,  Sidney 
Singerman  and  Jerry  Safron,  Western 
district  supervisor. 

Present  from  the  field  will  be  Carl 
Shalit.  Central  division  manager,  and 
B.  C.  Marcus,  Midwest  division  man- 
ager, and  the  following  branch  man- 
agers :  Ri  J.  Ingram,  George  Roscoe, 

B.  J.  Lourie,  Jack  Underwood,  Mel 
Evison,  Joseph  Gins,  W.  Guy  Craig, 
Tom  Baldwin,  J.  J.  Rogers.  Oscar 
Ruby,  H.  C.  Chapman,  Huston  Du 
vail,  Dewey  Gibbs,  Joe   Tacobs  and 

C.  D.  Hill." 


RKO  Stock  Issue  Is 
Over-Subscribed 

The  57,337  shares  of  RKO  preferred 
stock  offered  yesterday  were  oversub- 
scribed, it  was  reported  here  by  Leh- 
man Brothers  and  Goldman.  Sachs  & 
Co..  underwriters. 

The  block  was  worth  $5,250,000.  at 
$91.25  per  share.  The  stock  closed 
yesterday  at  92.  It  hit  a  high  of  107^$ 
earlier  this  year. 


Philadelphia,  June  1.  —  The  Se- 
curities Exchange  Commission  today 
exempted  purchase  of  the  block  of 
57.337  shares  of  RKO  six  per  cent 
preferred  stock  from  Atlas  Corp.  by 
Lehman  Brothers  of  New  York,  head- 
ing a  group  of  underwriters,  from 
provisions  of  the  Investment  Company 
Act. 


England  Represents 
RKO  on  WAC 

Wilbur  B.  England  has  been  named 
a  member  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee representing  RKO  Theatres, 
and  has  been  named  treasurer  of  the 
Metropolitan  New  York  Exchange 
area  division  of  the  WAC. 


Hal  Danson  in  New 
Post  at  Paramount 

Hal  Danson.  recently  returned  to 
the  Paramount  home  office  after  three 
months  at  the  studio,  has  been  ap- 
pointed assistant  advertising  manager 
of  the  company,  R.  M.  Gillham,  direc- 
tor of  advertising-publicity,  announced 
yesterday.  He  will  work  with  Stan- 
ley Shjiford,  manager  of  national, 
trade,  newspaper,  billboard  and  radio 
advertising. 

While  on  the  Coast,  Danson  re- 
organized Paramount's  trailer  set-up 
and  worked  out  a  system  for  advanc- 
ing advertising  information. 


6  Months  for  Barnett 
For  Concealed  Assets 

Roger  Stanley  Barnett.  president  of 
Color  Classics,  Inc.,  was  sentenced  to 
six  months  imprisonment  by  Federal 
Judge  William  Bondy  here  yesterday, 
following  Barnett's  guilty  plea  on 
Wednesday  to  an  indictment  alleging 
that  he  concealed  some  $20,000  from 
a  trustee  in  bankruptcy  in  violation 
of  the  National  Bankruptcy  Act. 
After  serving  the  sentence,  Barnett 
will  be  placed  on  probation  for  one 
vear. 


Moffat  Heads  Pathe,  Ltd. 

London,  June  1. — William  Moffat  is 
managing  director  of  Pathe  Pictures, 
Ltd.,  here,  having  replaced  William  J. 
Gill  in  that  post  some  time  ago.  Refer- 
ences to  Gill's  connection  with  Pathe 
in  Motion  Picture  Daily  on  April  3. 
as  well  as  the  mention  that  he  dis- 
tributes PRC  and  Monogram  films  in 
the  British  market,  were  incorrect. 


Muriel  Dollinger  Resigns 

Muriel  Dollinger,  publicity  director 
for  Film  Classics  for  the  past  year, 
resigned  vesterday. 


Not  an  Owner  at 
Trade  Screening 

Exhibitor  attendance  at 
consent  decree  trade  show- 
ings of  new  product  has  been 
on  the  wane  practically  every- 
where for  months.  This  week 
the  ultimate  was  reached 
when  not  a  single  exhibitor 
put  in  an  appearance  at  the 
RKO  ±rade_ screening  of  "A. 
Night  of  Adventure"  at  the 
company's  New  York  ex- 
change. 


'IP  Officials  Head 
For  Coast  Meeting 


BondPremiereWeek 
In  Illinois  June  23 


Chicago,  June  1. — J.  J.  Rubens, 
state  chairman  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  announced  today  that  the  week 
of  June  23  has  been  designated  as 
"Bond  Premiere  Week"  in  Illinois, 
with  a  minimum  of  50  premieres  to 
be  held  in  Chicago  alone. 

A  premiere  committee  has  been 
formed,  comprised  of  Jack  Kirsh,  head 
of  Illinois  Allied  and  Chicago  drive 
chairman ;  Jack  Flynn,  M-G-M  West- 
ern sales  manager,  and  John  Balaban 
of  the  Balaban  and  Katz  Circuit. 
Others  attending  a  bond  meeting  here 
yesterday  were :  Edwin  Silverman  of 
Essaness  Theatres ;  Larry  Stein,  War- 
ner Theatre  Chicago  publicity  head ; 
Tom  Gorman,  RKO  Chicago  division 
manager,  and  Harry  Balaban,  presi- 
dent of  the  H.  and  E.  Balaban  Corp. 


Extend  Drive  Rallies 
To  Cincinnati  June  6 

The  17th  all-industry  regional  meet- 
ing for  the  Fifth  War  Loan  campaign 
will  be  held  at  Cincinnati  Tuesday  at 
the,  Netherlands  Plaza  Hotel,  it  was 
disclosed  here  yesterday  by  national 
drive  chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell. 

Exhibitors  and  distributors  from 
Southern  Ohio,  Southeast  Indiana  and 
Northern  Kentucky,  as  well  as  local 
representatives,  will  attend  the  rally 
for  which  Martin  G.  Smith,  Ohio  ex- 
hibitor chairman,  will  be  regional 
chairman,  with  Col.  Arthur  Fruden- 
feld  in  charge  of  arrangements. 


Ginsburg  Starts  New 
Film  Buying  Group 

New  Hates,  June  1. — Lewis  S. 
Ginsburg,  for  the  five  years  a  sales- 
man for  United  Artists  here,-  has  re- 
signed to  form  Amalgamated  Theatres, 
Inc.,  a  new  booking  and  buying  service 
for  Connecticut  exhibitors.  Twenty-five 
theatres  are  said  to  be  under  contract 
thus  far,  with  actual  operations  set  to 
begin  on  July  1  for  the  new  season. 


Bond  Ads  to  Subways 

Approximately  1,000  one-sheets, 
promoting  the  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  campaign,  will  be  posted  in  sub- 
ways through  arrangements  made  by 
Harry,  Mandel  of  the  New  York 
"Fighting  Fifth"  drive.  The  New 
York  Subways  Advertising  Co.  is  do- 
nating the  space. 


Chicago,  June  1. — Universal  home 
office  executives  will  leave  Chicago  to- 
day for  Los  Angeles  to  attend  a  1944- 
45  sales  meeting  at  the  Ambassador 
Hotel,  June  5-10. 

Fred  Meyers,  F.  J.  A.  McCarthy. 
J. .  J.  Scully,  J.  J.  Jordan,  Adolph 
Schimel,  t>.  A.  Levy,  A.  J.  SharicJ^ 
S.  E.  Applegate  and  E.  L.  McEvoy  leiB 
New  York  3'esterday  and  were  met  in 
Chicago  today  by  Maurice  Bergman, 
M.  M.  Gottlieb,  H.  D.  Graham,  P.  F. 
Rosian,  Dave  Miller  and  Alf  Perry. 

W.  A.  Scully,  who  will  preside,  E. 
T.  Gomersall,  A.  J.  O'Keefe  and  F.  T. 
Murray  already  are  on  the  Coast. 


World  Theatre  Sold 

The  World  Theatre  property  at  153 
W.  49th  St.,  New  York,  has  been  sold 
to  an  investing  client  by  Prudence- 
Bonds  Corp.,  through  Berk  and  Krum- 
gold,  theatrical  real  estate  brokers. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
.    HELD  OVER  4th  WEEK 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'j  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mez7anlns  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

FIRST  N.  Y.  SHOWING 

EDW.  G.  ROBINSON 

'TAMPICO' 

Victor  McLAGLEN 


IN  PERSON 

Direct  from  Glass  Hat 
of  Belmont  Plaza 

The  CHINESE 
REVUE 

Added  Attraction 

Harry  SAVOY 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


Anne  Baxter   -    Wm.  Eythe   -    Michael  O'Shea 

THE  EVE  OF  ST.  MARK' 

The  War's  Greatest  Love  Story 
Plus  on  Stage — Mia  Slavenska  -  Barry  Wood 


Eddie  Garr  -  Berry  Bros.  -  Radio  Aces 

Tth  Ave 
50th  St. 


BUY  MORE  Y  "th  AV6'  & 


BONDS 


MOTION'  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane  Executive  Editor.  P«Tlsh^  daily  except  Saturday.  Sunday 
holidays  b Quigley Publishing  Compazine..  1270  Sixth  Avenue.  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  20.  N  Y.  Telephone  Circle  ££00  Cable .  *™";^'ekff, 
Martin  Oiiigley.  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sulhyan,  Secretary:  Sherwm  Kane  Executive  Editor,  J*™"  P .  Lunmngham  A ews 
Editor-  Herbert  V  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave,;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Lite  Bldg.,  William  R-  leaver,  ^d'tor  ^°ndon 
Bureau  4  (Mden  Sq  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copynghted  1944  by_Quigley  Publishing 
Co,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald.  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y„  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year 


Fame.    Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Friday,  June  2,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


3 


Si 


Stone  Setting  Up 
N.Y.  Story  Dept. 

Emphasizing  the  difficulties  encoun- 
tered by  independent  Hollywood  pro- 
ducers in  securing  best-selling  books 
for  filming,  Andrew  Stone,  independ- 
ent producer,  who  has  a  five-year  re- 
leasing deal  with  United  Artists  for 
two  films  a  year,  disclosed  during  an 
interview  here  yesterday  that  he  is 
setting  up  his  own  story  department 
i  New  York  under  Seymour  Poe, 
Eastern  representative. 

Stone  plans  to  film  a  best-seller  and 
produce  another  musical  review  similar 
to  his  "Sensations  of  1945"  next  sea- 
son. The  musical  review,  he  explained, 
will  probably  be  built  around  this 
year's  annual  Atlantic  City  beauty 
pageant  and  will  be  titled  "Miss 
America." 

Poe  will  not  only  scout  for  best- 
sellers for  which  Stone  said  he  is 
prepared  to  pay  the  same  top  prices  as 
those  paid  by  the  large  companies,  but 
he  will  also  scout  for  acts  and  spe- 
cialties which  Stone  can  incorporate 
in  future  releases. 

'Sensations'  Changes  Sought 

Stone  disclosed  that  the  War  De- 
partment is  seeking  to  have  certain 
alterations  made  in  "Sensations  of 
1945"  and  Edward  C.  Raftery,  UA 
president,  is  discussing  the  situation 
with  War  Department  officials.  The 
latter  has  taken  objection,  according 
to  Stone,  to  sequences  depicting  Wo- 
men's Army  Corps  privates  fraterniz- 
ing with  nurse  lieutenants  as  well  as 
to  a  sequence  which  has  Dennis 
O'Keefe  discharged  from  the  Army  as 
a  second  lieutenant  and  returning  in 
the  rank  of  a  private. 

Stone  hopes  to  make  a  film  dealing 
with  modern  railroading  of  a  semi- 
documentary  nature.  He  reported  that 
the  studio  space  situation  in  Holly- 
wood is  critical  with  no  space  avail- 
able until  October.  \ 


Review 


"A  Night  of  Adventure" 

(RKOj ;*   \    ■■-  \ 
"  A  NIGHT  OF  ADVENTURE"  is  a  fretter-than-average  courtroom 

t*  rrtelcMrama'  featuring  Tom  Conway  arid  a  supporting  cast  which, 
includes  Edward  Brophy,  Audrey  Long,  Louis  Bosell,  Addison  Rich-' 
ards,  Joan  Brooks  and  Nancy  Gates.  It  is  based  on  Wilhelm  Speyer's 
play,  "Hat,  Coat  and  Glove,"  produced  on  Bnoadway  several  years  ago. 
Director  (^ordon  Douglas  sustains  suspense\  throughout  and  Herman 
Schlom  has  provided  an  attractive  production. 

Crane  Wilbur  supplied  the  screen  play  for  the  telling  of  the  story  of  a 
brilliant  New  York,. criminal  lawyer  who  defends  a  well-known  artist  on 
a  murder  charge.  The  unusual  aspect  of  the  plot  is  that  the  artist  is 
enamoured  of  the  lawyer's  estranged  wife,  and  the  murder  of  which  he  is 
accused  is  not  murder  at  all  but  accidental  death  caused  by  the  lawyer 
himself  during  a  tussk-  with  a  former  model  fiancee  of  the  artist.  Con- 
way is  the  lawyer  who  is  involved  in  exposing  some  crooked  politicians 
who  try  to  crack  down  on 'him  as  a  result  of  the  accident  in  which  he 
is  involved.  Miss  Long  is  his  neglected  wife  who  quickly  senses  his 
more  than  professional  interest  in  the  case.  The  court-room  sequences 
in  the  latter  half  of  the  film  are  rather  convincingly  handled  by  Con- 
way Brophy  is  Conway's  sympathetic  aide,  Miss  Long  is  appealing  as 
his  wife,  and  Jean  Brooks  is  properly  vindictive  in  a  brief  sequence 
which  leads  to  her  death.  ,  .'  M    .  , 

Running  time,  65  mins.    "G."*    Released  in  block  No.  6. 

Milton  Livingston 


Coast 
Flashes 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Peskay  to  Have 
Own  Building 

Edward  J.  Peskay  Associates,  repre- 
sentatives of  independent  producers, 
has  purchased  the  four-story  building 
at  45  West  45  Street,  here.  After 
alterations,  the  organization  will  oc- 
cupy the  entire  building,  about 
July  1. 

Peskay  is  vice-president  of  Bene- 
dict Bogeaus  Productions  and  Eastern 
representative  for  Samuel  Bronston, 
both  releasing  through  United  Artists. 


DuMont,  Beat  at 
REC  Tele.  Meet 

Allen  B.  DuMont,  president  of  Du- 
Mont Television  and  Television  Broad- 
casters Association,  and  Ralph  Beal, 
assistant  to  the  vice-president  in 
charge  of  RCA  Laboratories  were  the 
speakers  at  the  third  meeting  of  the 
Radio  Executives  Club  television 
seminar  here  last  night. 

Both  discussed  present-day  television 
images  and  improvements  to  be  ex- 
pected in  the  future. 


Increase  Para.  Dividend 

Paramount's  board  of  directors  yes- 
terday declared  a  regular  quarterly 
dividend  on  the  company's  common 
stock  of  50  cents,  payable  Sept.  30  to 
stockholders  of  record  Sept.  8,  thereby 
.  increasing  the  annual  dividend  rate 
from  $1.60  to  $2  per  share. 


Dismiss  Monopoly 
Suit  Against  Ascap 

State  Supreme  Court  Judge  Morris 
Eder  yesterday  dismissed  a  suit 
brought  by  William  Klein  on  behalf 
of  the  Hotel  Edison  and  Shubert  in- 
terests which  charged  Ascap  with  vio- 
lation of  the  Donnelly  Act,  the  New 
York  State  anti-monopoly  statute.  Mo- 
tion for  dismissal  was  made  by  Louis 
D.  Frohlich  of 'Schwartz  &  Frohlich, 
Ascap  counsel. 

Judge  Eder  held  that  the  state  law 
is  not  applicable  to  an  organization 
such  as  Ascap,  dealing  in  intangibles. 


SMPE  Plans  Meeting: 
For  N.Y,,  Oct.  16-18 

Society  of  Motion  Picture  Engi- 
neers will  hold  its.  56th  semi-annual 
Fall  conference  at  the  Hotel  Pennsyl- 
vania, New  York,  Oct.  16-18,  it  was 
announced  yesterday  by  W.  C.  Kunz- 
mann,  convention  vice-president. 

Officers  for  1945,  together  with  the 
names  of  the  winners  of  the  Progress 
Medal  Award  and  the  Journal  Award 
Certificate  for  1944,  will  be  announced 
during  the  conference,  Mr.  Kunzmann 
said. 


(Gasless  Parade'  to  'Road' 

Portland,  Ore.,  June  1.— Conserv- 
ing gas  for  D-Day,  the  mayor  and 
other  leaders  of  Portland  arrived  by 
saddle  horses,  bicycles,  pushmobiles, 
carts  and  skates  for  tonight's  world 
premiere  of  "The  Song  of  the  Open 
Road"  at  the  Broadway  Theatre, 
where  a  personal  appearance  was  made 
by  Jane  Powell,  14-year-old  native  of 
this  city  and  star  of  the  United  Art- 
ists-Charles B.  Rogers  production. 


Altec  Signs  Knutson 

Seattle,  June  1. — Barclay  Ardell, 
district  manager  for  Altec  Service 
Corp.  here,  yesterday  reported  the 
signing  of  a  contract  for  sound  service, 
repair  and  replacements  with  Knutson 
Circuit  of  Livingston,  Miles  City  and 
Harlowton  in  Montana  and  at  Hailey, 
Idaho.  V  v, 


Resume  Arbitration 
In  Para.  Dispute 

Formal  arbitration  hearings  will  be 
resumed  here  Monday  at  the  Para 
mount  home  office  in  the  job  classifica 
tions  dispute  between  the  company  and 
the  Screen  Office  and  Professional 
Employes  Guild,  Local  109,  CIO,  af- 
fecting some  400  "white  collar"  work 
ers  in  the  home  office. 

SOPEG  and  company  officials 
sought  to  resolve  their  differences  dur- 
ing the  past  several  weeks  while  in 
recess  from  arbitration  but  could  not 
reach  an  agreement.'  The  arbitration 
panel  consists  of  Aaron  Horvitz  and 
Albert  G.  Whaley,  attorneys,  and  Tom 
Murphy  of  the  Newspaper  Guild. 


Goldwyn's  Regent  to 
Get  Talent,  Stories 

Samuel  Goldwyn's  new  Regent  Pic- 
tures of  California,  and  certified  this 
week  in  Albany  to  do  business  in  New 
York,  will  sign  new  talent  and  ac- 
quire story  material  and  stage  plays, 
it  was  disclosed  here  yesterday  by 
James  A.  Mulvey,  its  president,  who 
is  also  vice-president  of  Samuel  Gold 
wyn,  Inc. 


Lustig  Suit  Against 
'U'  Ruled  Mistrial 

Technical  defects  in  the  complaint 
filed  by  William  Lustig  against  Uni- 
versal, in  which  he  demanded  damages 
of  $525,000  for  alleged  interference 
with  his  exclusive  contract  with  Gloria 
Jean,  resulted  in  the  declaration  of  a 
mistrial  yesterday  by  Supreme  Court 
Justice  Dennis  O'Leary  Cohalan.  The 
motion  for  the  mistrial  was  made  by 
Universal's  attorneys. 


Hollywood,  June  1 

HAL  B.  WALLIS  and  Y.  Frank 
Freeman,  Paramount  vice-presi- 
dent, retuVned  here  today.  Wallis 
plans  a  months'  vacation  at  Malibu 
before  activating  his  recent  Paramount 
deal. 

• 

The  annual  Paramount  Coast  short 
subject  sales  meeting  will  be  held  Mon- 
day at  the  St.  Francis  Hotel  in  San 
Francisco  with  Oscar  Morgan,  short 
subjects  sales  head,  presiding.  Mor- 
gan will  spend  three  days  at  the  Para- 
mount studio  after  the  meeting  before 
returning  East. 

• 

Anne  del  Valle,  formerly  with  Ar- 
nold Pressburger's  publicity  depart- 
ment, has  joined  the  Selznick- Van- 
guard press  staff.  She  will  work  on 
"Since  You  Went  Away"  and  "With 
All  My  Heart,"  to  be  released  through 
United  Artists. 

• 

Francis  S.  Harmon,  WAC  coordi- 
nator, addressed  the  Oklahoma  City 
chamber  of  commerce  today,  flying 
East  from  here.  He  will  talk  in  Tulsa 
tomorrow  night,  then  in  San  Antonio, 
New  Orleans  and  Indianapolis  en- 
route  East. 

• 

The  Hal  Roach  studios  has  re- 
newed William  Bendix's  contract  for 
seven  years.  Since  Col.  Roach  is  en- 
gaged in  Government  work,  there  will 
be  no  production  from  the  studio  for 
the  duration. 

• 

M-G-M    bought    "Little    Bit  of 
Heaven,"  an  original  screen  story,  as 
a   starring  vehicle  for   Gene  Kelly. 
Jack  Cummings  will  produce  the  film. 
• 

Charles     Jackson's     novel,  "Lost 
Weekend,"    has    been   purchased  by 
Paramount   for   a   Charles  Brackett 
production,  directed  by  Billy  Wilder. 
■• 

The  condition  of  director  Lewis 
Milestone  is  good  but  he  will  remain 
'at  the  Hollywood  Hospital  for  some 
time  yet. 

• 

Mady  Christians  will  appear  in 
RKO  Radio's  version  of  "Mama's 
Bank  Account." 

• 

Michael  Todd  left  here  by  plane  to- 
day for   New  York. 


Jessie  Ralph  Dies 

Gloucester,  Mass.,  June  1. — Jessie 
Ralph,  79,  well-known  character  act- 
ress of  screen  and  stage,  died  here 
recently  after  a  short  illness.  She 
had  retired  three  years  ago.  Her  only 
survivors  are  nieces  and  nephews. 


Business  Is  Good  in 
South  America 

Theatre  business  throughout  South 
America  is  very  good,  with  few  excep- 
tions, it  was  disclosed  here  this  week 
by  Irving  A.  Maas,  20th  Century- 
Fox  assistant  director  of  foreign  dis- 
tribution, who  recently  returned  from 
a  tour  of  South  American  countries. 

This  upswing  attributed  to  wartime 
conditions,  will  continue  to  increase 
after  the  war,  Maas  said.  The  levels 
of  all  phases  of  the  industry  in  those 
countries  have  steadily  risen,  particu- 
larly in  theatre  construction,  he  added. 
Many  new  houses  are  now  under  con- 
struction and  plans  are  being  formu- 
lated for  an  even  larger  theatre  con- 
struction program  throughout  most  of 
those  countries.  Financial  interests 
other  than  those  previously  connected 
with  the  industry  are  entering  the  field, 
Maas  disclo'sed. 


DARRYL  F.  ZANUCKS 


(T  IN  TECHNICOLOR 


HERE'S! 

i  letter! 


TWELVE  R El 


LOUELLA  0. 

PARSONS 

"Boswell"  for 
Photoplay — 
crowding  her 
features  with 
news  no  other 
writer  can  get. 


DORO  1 


u  m 
brin^ 
play' 
amus 
on  H 


I 


Iffllffll  ill 


M  E 


mm- 

*  i 

■HUB 


- 


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A 


BY  PHOTOPLAY 


RSON'S  PLEADING  OPEN 
PLAY  READERS 


I  HERE'S  WHAT  HAPPENED  WITHIN  48  HOURS  AFTER 
,.  PHOTOPLAY  HIT  NEWSSTANDS 


GLORIA  BALKEMA,  NINETEEN- YEAR- OLD 


PHOTOPLAY  READER  FROM  GRAND  RAPIDS, 


MICH.,   SEES  MAY  ISSUE  PHOTOPLAY  ' 


CARRYING  FAYE  EMERSON'S  OPEN  LETTER.  ' 


SHOWS  IT  TO  FRIEND, -VIRGINIA  EMERSON, 


WHO  OFTEN  TALKS  ABOUT  MISSING  OLDER 


SISTER.     VIRGINIA  PHONES  PHOTOPLAY'S 


NEW  YORK  OFFICE.     PROVES  IDENTITY. 


IS  SENT  BY  PHOTOPLAY  TO  HOLLYWOOD  FOR 


REUNION.     HUNDREDS  OF  OTHER  PHOTOPLAY 


READERS  STILL  PHONE,   WRITE,  WIRE 


OFFERING  HELP. 


HERE'S  FACTUAL  EVIDENCE  OF  THE  SWIFT,  COMPELLING  POWER  OF  PHOTOPLAY  PAGES 


EiVHY  PHOTOPLAY  IS  THE  FAVORITE  OF  AMERICA'S  FIRST  MILLION  MOVIE-GOERS 


ROGERS 
4  T.  JOHNS 

:l  a's  great 
I  i  journal- 
,t  :iriendly 
hiatrist ' ' 
llywood's 


Hf 


EISA 

MAXWELL 

Lady-about- 
Hollywood  and 
noted  columnist 
whose  lines  de- 
light  Photo- 
play's millions. 


ADELE  WHITELY 
FLEICHER 

who  brightens 
Photoplay's 
pages  with  the 
gay  and  unusual 
in  Hollywood 
news. 


THORNTON 

DELEHANTY 

Top  New  York 
movie  corre- 
spondent — 
Photoplay's  top- 
flight biographer 
of  the  stars. 


ELEANOR 

HARRIS 

successful 
scenario  writer 
who  knows  her 
Hollywood  well 
on  both  sides  of 
the  kliegs. 


SIDNEY 

SKOLSKY 

whose  Photo- 
play contribu- 
tions brilliantly 
prove  his  slogan 
"Hollywood  Is 
My  Beat." 


JOSEPH 

HENRY  STEELE 

"etcher"  of  the 
keen  revealing 
"Steele  por- 
traits" of  Pho- 
toplay's famous 
profiles. 


SARA 

HAMILTON 

whose  percep- 
tive pen  skill- 
fully previews 
the  new  films  for 
Photoplay's 
millions. 


PAULINE 

SWANSON 

whose  personal- 
ity-news stories 
give  Photoplay's 
readers  "eye- 
witness" visits 
to  Hollywood. 


RUTH 

WATERBURY 

Photoplay's 
charming  and 
gifted  reporter 
of  Hollywood 
news  before  it 
happens. 


FIRST 


i 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  2,  1944 


'Russia'  Paces 
Chicago  Run 
With  $25,000 


Chicago,  June  1. — The  long  Deco- 
ration Day  week-end  kept  first  run 
houses  humming  and  business  in  most 
cases  was  good.  "Song  of  Russia"  at 
the  United  Artists  and  ''Show  Busi- 
ness" at  the  Palace  are  the  new  Loop 
leaders,  each  winding  up  their  first 
week  with  an  estimated  $25,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  1 : 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"   (Para.)   1  day,  7th 

Loop  week 
"The  Sullivans"  (ZOth-Fox)  6  days 

APOLLO— (1,200)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:    $14,000.     (Average:  $11,400). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (3,850)    (S5c-85c-95c)    7  days. 
2nd  week.     Stage:   Gil   Lamb  and  Revue. 
Gross:  $47,000.     (Average:  $51,500). 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (ZOth-Fox) 

GARRICK— (1,000)    (55c-65c-9Sc)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,500.     (Average:  $9,100). 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO)  1  day,  2nd  week 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.)  6  days 

GRAND— (1,250)   (50c-6Oc-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $9,100). 
"The   Black   Parachute"  (Col.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,200)  (44c-55c-60c-80c-95c) 
7  days.    Stage:  Xavier  Cugat  and  orches- 
tra.    Gross:   $33,000.     (Average:  $24,000). 
"Ladies  Courageous"  (Uhiv.) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.)  (1  day) 
"Show   Business"   (RKO)    (6  days) 

PALACE — (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $25,000.    (Average:  $24,000). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 

STATE  LAKE— (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $24,000.  (Average: 
$29,000). 

"Song  of  Russia"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS—  (1,700)  (50c-65c-95c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $25,000.  (Average:  $20,200). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WOODS— (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days.  5th 
week.    Gross:  $17,500.    (Average:  $10,000). 


'MyWay'HitsTerrific 
$19,700  Over  Par 


Boston,  June  1. — Sparked  by  a 
tremendous  $48,000  at  the  Metropoli- 
tan for  "Going  My  Way,"  business 
has  improved  here.  "Song  of  Berna- 
dettee"  continues  big  at  the  Majestic, 
with  $26,000. 

-Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  2: 

"Tampico"  (ZOth-Fox) 

BOSTON     THEATRE— (3,200)     (50c  -65c- 
95c-$1.10).      Stage    show.      Gross:  $30,000. 
(Average:  $25,000). 
"Uninvited"  (Parai.) 
"Slightly  Terrific"  (Univ.) 

FENWAY— (1,373)    (44c-55c-65c).  Gross: 
$6,500.     (Average:  $7,000). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (ZOth-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (1,350)      f$1.10     all  seats). 
Gross:   $26,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Going  My  Way"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN— (4,367)  (44c-55c-65c- 
74c).    Gross:  $48,000.    (Average:  $28,30OX 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM  —   (2,900)  (44c-55c-65c-74c) 
Gross:  $26,000.     (Average:  $23,800). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

STATE— (3,200)   (44c-55c-65c-74c).  Gross: 
$14,000.     (Average:  $11,000). 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Sweetheart  of  the  U.S.A."  (Mono.) 

TRANS  LUX— (980)  (44c-55c-65c-75c). 
Gross:  $4,500.    (Average:  $4,000). 


To  Screen  Selznick  Film 

Hollywood,  June  1. — The  first  gen- 
eral press  preview  of  David  O.  Selz- 
nick's  "Since  You  Went  Away"  will 
be  held  at  Grauman's  Chinese  Theatre 
here  June  21. 


Review 


"Secret  Command" 

(Columbia) 

Hollywood,  June  1 

'TpHERE  is  a  lot  of  action,  considerable  suspense  and  quite  a  bit  of 
A  character  in  this  Pat  O'Brien  outing  which  has  "the  fighting  Irish- 
man" cast  as  a  Government  agent  assigned  to  prevention  of  sabotage  in 
a  shipyard.  It  is  a  film  more  to  his  measure  than  most  of  those  he  has 
had  lately  and  he  is  better  in  its  relatively  simple  heroics  than  in  the 
loftier  nobilities  which  he  has  had  imposed  upon  him  in  recent  under- 
takings. 

Carole  Landis  is  co-starred  with  O'Brien,  the  two  portraying  Gov- 
ernment agents  who  pose  as  shipyard  worker  and  wife  for  purposes  of 
trapping  the  enemy;  the  support  includes  such  dependables  as  Chester 
Morris,  Ruth  Warrick,  Barton  MacLane  and  Wallace  Ford.  It  is  a 
trim  company.  ' 

Roy  Chanslor's  screenplay,  based  on  the  story  published  as  "Pile- 
buck,"  opens  with  O'Brien  getting  a  job  in  a  shipyard  where  his 
estranged  brother  is  boss.  O'Brien  takes  a  beating  or  two  by  way  of 
concealing  the  fact  that  he  is  there  to  prevent  a  German  plot  to  blow 
up  the  place,  and  there  are  suspenseful  sequences  before  he  succeeds  in 
executing  his  mission.  A.  Edward  Sutherland's  direction  is  briskly  ef- 
fective.   Production  by  Phil  L.  Ryan  rates  commendation. 

Running  time,  80  mins.    "G."*.-  Release  date,  June  22. 

William  R.  Weaver 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Buffalo  Grosses  Dip 
In  May  Heat  Wave 

Buffalo,  June  1. — It  looks  like  a 
disappointing  week  here,  "Women  in 
Bondage"  and  "Lady,  Let's  Dance" 
making  the  Twentieth  Century  the 
only  bright  spot  with  an  expected 
$14,000.  "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove" at  the  Great  Lakes  took  about 
$16,000.  Weather  was  very  hot  for 
May. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  3 : 

"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average:  $17,400). 
"See  Here.  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES — (3,800)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Aver- 
age: $16,600). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Sing  a  Jingle"  (Univ.) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week  moveover.     Gross:  $8,- 
000.    (Average:  $9,700). 
"Women  in  Bondage"  (Mono.) 
"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

TWENTIETH   CENTURY— (3,000)  (40c- 
5(te-60c-70c)  7  days.    Gross:  $14,000.  (Aver- 
age: $12,200). 
Jam  Session"  (Col.) 
"Dangerous  Blondes"  (CM.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $12,400). 


'Harvest  Moon*  Tops 
Kansas  City  Week 

Kansas  City,  June  1. — Good  busi- 
ness prevailed  here  over  the  long 
week-end,  with  the  Newman  taking 
$13,000  with  "Shine  On,  Harvest 
Moon."  The  Midland,  with  "Meet 
the  People"  and  "The  Whistler," 
grossed  around  $15,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  30-June  3 : 

"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ESQUIRE — (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,500.    (Average:  $6,000). 
"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

MIDLAND  —  (3,500)     (40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $15,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB)  ' 

NEWMAN— (1,900)      (46c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $13,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 
"Gildersleeve's  Ghost"  (RKO) 

ORF'HEUM — (1,900)     (45c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $12,500.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"Pin.  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2,000)      (45c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.    (Average:  $5,600). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $1,850.    (Average:  $1,600). 


'Gaslight's9  $12,000  is 
Cleveland  Winner 

Cleveland,  June  1. — "Gaslight"  at 
Loew's  Stillman  in  its  second  week 
topped  the  average  by  $2,000,  taking 
a  big  $12,000.  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove,"  at  Loew's  Ohio,  in  its 
fourth  week,  looks  like  $6,000.  Good 
weather  hit  otheB  box  offices. 

.Estimated  receipts  for;  week  end- 
ing May  31 : 

"Jane  Eyre"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $8,500). 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS'     HIPPODROME  —  (3,500) 
(44c-55c-65c)  7  days.    Gross:  $16,500.  (Aver- 
age: $22,100). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WARNERS'  LAKE^(714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $2,400.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  OHIO— (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average:  $5,- 
000). 

"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,300)  (5Oc-60c-85c-95c)  7 
days.     Stage:     Sammy     Kaye  orchestra. 
Gross:   $25,000.     (Average:  $25,400). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S     STATE— (3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $16,000.    (Average:  $19,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN — (1,900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average: 
$10,000). 


'Boys'  Leads  in  Balto. 
With  Healthy  $17,000 

Baltimore,  June  1. — After  a 
slight  slump  of  several  weeks  here 
openings  were  strong,  with  top  hon- 
ors going  to  "Follow  the  Boys." 
grossing  $17,000  at  Keith's.  "Pin  Up 
Girl"  is  set  for  $14,500  at  the  New. 

Estimated   receipts   for    the  week 
ending  June  1 : 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (35c-45c-55c    and    60c  week- 
ends)  7  days,   2nd   week.     Gross:  $16,000. 
(Average:  $17,500). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S  —  (2,405)      (35c-40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Pin  Up  GirP'  (ZOth-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)      (30c-40c-60c)      7  days. 
Gross:   $14,500.     (Average:  $13,000). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

STANLEY— (3,280)      (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $15,500.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c) 
7  days.  Stage  show:  "Gay  Nineties  Re- 
vue." Gross:  $18,000.  (Average:  $18,000). 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

MAYFAIR  —  (1,000)  (35c-54c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average:  $7,000). 


Hollywood 


Hollywood,  June  1 
INDEPENDENT  producers,  even 
A  those  with  excellent  major  release  (w 
channels,  are  finding  it  increasingly  p 
difficult  to  obtain  necessary  talent  for 
many  of  the  properties  they  plan  for 
early  production.  Many  of  them  have 
had  to  substitute  stories"  for  those  the\j 
intended  to  make  first.  Jp 

This  is  not  true,  however,  of  three, 
of  the  strongest  independent  organiza- 
tions in  Hollywood.  They  had  the 
foresight  to  sign  up  strong  talent 
rosters,  players,  directors,  producers 
and_  writers,  and  are  therefore  in  a 
position  to  sail  smoothly  with  their 
schedules. 

Among  those  in  this  position  are 
David  O.  Selznick  and  his  Vanguard 
Films,  International  Pictures  and 
Samuel  Goldwyn.  Selznick  has  eight 
stars  and  13  featured  players  under 
contract  as  well  as  four  directors  and 
one  producer;  International  has  17 
stars  and  feature  players,  three  pro- 
ducers, three  directors,  and  three  writ- 
ers, while  Goldwyn  has  13  players,  in- 
cluding stars  and  supporting  actors, 
and  one  associate  producer-writer 
under  contract.  Most  of  the  other 
independents  have  to  depend  on  free- 
lance players,  directors,  writers  and 
producers,  or  on  loanouts  from  major 
studios. 


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Marjorie  Reynolds  has  been  loaned 
to  Sol  Lesser  by  Paramount  for  the 
top  role  in  "Three's  a  Family."  She'll 
play  a  young  mother  who  goes  home 
to  live  when  her  husband  leaves  for 
Navy  service.  Charles  Ruggles  and 
Fay  Bainter  play  her  father  and 
mother  while  Marjorie  Main  is  sched- 
uled to  play  her  aunt.  .  .  .  George 
Pal's  Puppetoon,  "And  to  Think  Thai 
I  Saw  It  on  Mulberry  Street"  wUl\ 
have  it's  world  premiere  at  Grau 
man's  Chinese  with  the  Hollywood 
opening  of  "Story  of  Dr.  Wassell 
June  7.  .  .  .  Louise  Allbritton,  starred 
in  Universal's  "San  Diego,  I  Love 
You,"  has  been  named  honorary 
mayor  of  San  Diego  and  tvill  officiate 
in  that  capacity  the  day  of  the  world 
premiere  of  the  picture  there.  San 
Diego  civic  leaders  plan  a  Coast-to 
Coast  broadcast  of  the  event.  The 
picture  is  nearing  completion  now  at 
Universal  with  Reginald  LeBorg  di- 
recting. 

• 

Nancy  Porter,  new  Paramount 
singing  find,  has  been  cast  in  a 
strong  role  in  "Out  of  This  World." 
.  .  .  Republic  has  borrowed  Jean 
Porter  from  M-G-M  for  the  second 
feminine  lead  in  "San  Fernando 
Valley"  with  Roy  Rogers  and  Dale 
Evans.  John  English  is  directing: 
for  producer  Eddy  White.  .  .  .  RKO 
Radio  has  signed  Donna  Lee.  youne 
singer,  to  a  term  contract.  Her  full 
name  is  Donna  Lee  O'Leary.  At  the 
age  of  11  she  won  the  RCA  tele- 
vision contest  at  the  World's  Fair 
in  New  York.  .  .  .  Universal  has  as- 
signed Edward  Lilley  as  associate 
nroducer  and  director  on  "Mv  Babv 
Loves  Music,"  which  will  start 
June  6. 


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7,000  Book  'Danger* 

"Danger  Area,"  British  Ministry  of 
Information  short  subiect  being  dis- 
tributed here  by  M-G-M.  has  been 
sold  to  7,000  film  theatres.  "These  Are 
the  Men,"  also  produced  by  BMT, 
has  been  booked  by  9,000  houses. 


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I»  Friday,  June  2,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


1,000  at  War 
Bond  Rally 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

I  completing  a  Coast-to-Coast  tour  in 
behalf  of  the  Fifth  campaign. 
Central  Park  was  no  battlefield  this 
I  morning,  but  jutting  from  the  double- 
\  decked  dais  were  grim  muzzles  of  busi- 
^«Css-like  machine  guns,  to  remind  that 
%  Jb  meeting  was  a  WAR  bond  meet- 
ing.  A  radio  blared  forth  latest  war 
i  "news,  as  added  war  background.  _  The 
meeting  was  opened  with  the  national 
anthem  sung  by  Lucy  Monroe. 

New  York  film  drive  chairman 
Charles  C.  Moskowitz  immediately 
turned  over  the  meeting  to  national 
chairman  O'Donnell.  Speakers  invited 
were :  John  Friedl,  Richard  Kennedy, 
Ray  Beall,  Ned  Depinet,  Nevi}  Ford, 
New  York  War  Finance  Committee 
chairman,  and  others.  New  York  area 
plans  were  visualized  with  large  blow- 
.  ups  and  displays  covering  many  stunts 
planned. 

1    Special  war  bond  edition  of  Motion 
Picture  Daily  was  distributed. 

Hollywood  Luncheon 
Set  for  Morgenthau 

Hollywood,  June  1.  —  The  indus- 
try's local  Fifth  War  Loan  leaders 
will  hold  a  luncheon  at  the  Biltmore 
Hotel  for  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr.,  on  June  14, 
when  he  comes  here  to  address  the  bond 
:  rally  in  Hollywood  Bowl.  The  Secre- 
tary will  also  visit  the  Hollywood  Can- 
teen, and  other  functions  are  being 
arranged. 

Meanwhile,  Bob  Hope,  Judy  Gar- 
land, Bette  Davis  and  Rudy  Vallee's 
,  Coast  Guard  band  have  been  lined  up 
to  furnish  entertainment  on  the  Bowl 
program. 


Court  Bars  Admission  of 
Some  U.S.  Schine  Data 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
Long,  whose  testimony  is  still  not 
completed ;  John  F.  Caskey,  who  tes- 
tified as  to  the  authenticity  of  records 
subpoenaed  duces  tecum  from 
M-G-M,  RKO,  Paramount  and  20th- 
Fox ;  Frederick  Lorey,  city  editor  of 
the  Mt.  Vernon,  O.,  News,  who 
brought  with  him  a  newspaper  file 
containing  a  "Letter  to  the  Editor," 
written  by  James  Copland,  manager 
for  Schine  in  Mt.  Vernon ;  Edmund 
Sperry,  manager  of  the  USES  in  Mt. 
Vernon,  who  testified  as  to  the  leas- 
ing of  the  building  housing  the  Me- 
morial Theatre  there. 

In  the  afternoon  session,  Long  was 
cross-examined  by  Attorney  Rogers 
and  was  questioned  regarding  several 
letters  he  wrote  to  distributors  in 
which  he  informed  them  he  had  an 
"abundance  of  product,"  that  he  was 
"booked  up  ahead  of  time,"  and  that 
his  Memorial  Theatre  patronage  had 
"grown  by  leaps  and  bounds." 

Long  was  shown  by  Rogers  a  let- 
ter in  which  the  witness  "tipped  off" 
an  RKO  home  office  official  that  the 
Schines  had  lost  a  court  case  in  Mt. 
Vernon  and  that  they  were  attempting 
to  clear  title  to  the  Lyric  Theatre 


site  with  a  view  to  building  a  new 
theatre  on  the  location. 

"That  was  on  Oct.  7,  1935,  and  you 
knew  as  early  as  that  Schine  was  go- 
ing to  build  a  new  theatre?"  Rogers 
queried  the  witness.  "Weren't  you  try- 
ing to  get  the  Lyric  site  yourself  so 
Schine  couldn't  get  it?" 

Long  denied  he  made  any  attempts 
to  purchase  the  property  but  upon 
further  questioning  admitted  he  "had 
it  under  advisement." 

Rogers  showed  the  witness  a  letter 
in  which  the  latter  told  the  same  RKO 
executive  he  was  "considering"  the 
purchase  himself. 

By  way  of  explaining  some  of  the 
extravagant  statements  he  made  to 
distributors  regarding  good  business 
at  the  Memorial,  Long  said :  "I  am 
a  showman,  that's  all.  That  was  a 
showman's  accuracy."  He  i  also  de- 
scribed some  of  his  statements  as 
"part  of  my  own  buying  propaganda." 

With  regard  to  a  letter  he  wrote, 
saying  he  had  "thrown  up"  the  Me- 
morial, Long  declared  that  was  only 
"theatre  parlance."  Schine  counsel 
sought  to  prove  that  Long  voluntarily 
let  the  Memorial  lease  expire,  rather 
than  being  "forced  out  of  business  by 
Schine,"  as  the  Government  contends. 


Disney  to  Make  More 
Entertainment  Films 


OCRPolicyDesigned 
To  Assist  Military 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

gramming  will  help  the  war  effort,  not 
hurt  it." 

"In  pressing  for  programs  to  meet 
the  civilian  requirements  we  recognize 
that  the  essentiality  of  the  war  prog.- 
ram  was  never  greater,"  he  said. 

"There  can  be  no  thought  of  jeopard- 
izing war  production,  nor  of  diverting 
needed  facilities  from  the  war  effort. 

"However,  the  Army  is  as  much 
concerned  as  we  are  in  seeing  that  the 
essential  civilian  production  is  kept 
running.  They  share  our  views  that 
an  essential  supporting  civilian  produc- 
tion is  part  of  the  war  program." 

As  head  of  OCR,  Elliott  will  have 
the  final  say  in  the  making  of  policies 
for  the  theatre-construction  and  other 
programs  designed  to  that  end. 


Dowbiggin  Missing 

Toronto,  June  1.  —  Thomas  W. 
Dowbiggin  of  the  RCAF,  eldest  son 
of  Tom  Dowbiggin,  veteran  branch 
manager  for  Paramount's  Film  Serv- 
ice in  Montreal,  has  been  reported 
missing  in  action. 


WB  Cuts  for  Cadets 

Warner  houses  will  admit  members 
of  the  Cadet  Nurse  Corps  to  its  houses 
under  the  reduced  admission  scale  ap- 
plying to  regular  members  of  the 
armed  forces. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tion  for  the  Government  which,  in 
the  past  year,  consisted  of  97  per  cent 
of  its  available  output.  This  season, 
he  said,  war  work  will  take  70  per 
cent  of  the  studio's  output.  As  the 
war  changes,  a  Government  project 
may  be  dropped  here  and  there,  thus 
enlarging  his  plant's  capacity  for  en- 
tertainment production,  Disney  stated. 

Visual  education  through  films  in 
the  postwar,  the  producer  said,  offers 
a  potential  medium  for  imparting  in- 
formation to  the  masses,  unequalled 
by  any  other  method.  Although  no 
formula  has  been  evolved  for  educa- 
tional films,  present  methods  of  pro- 
duction have  proved  that  they  can  be 
combined  with  good  teaching  to  stim- 
ulate an  unprecedented  interest  in  sub- 
ject matter.  Although  fully  aware  of 
its  potentialities,  Disney  hinted  that 
financial  support  from  other  quarters 
would  have  to  be  forthcoming  before 
he  would  venture  into  the  visual  edu- 
cation field.  Further,  the  Govern- 
ment will  not  remain  in  this  field  af- 
ter the  war,  he  said. 

Health  Films  for  CIAA 

Disney  revealed  that  he  is  produc 
ing  from  six  to  eight  16mm  health 
films  for  the  office  of  the  CIAA.  Al 
though  the  manpower  lack  has  been 
his   greatest  production  problem,  he 
has  been  able  to  replace  certain  per 
sonnel  lost  to  the  armed  services.  A 
shortage    of    skilled    personnel  con- 
tinues, however,  with  almost  a  100  per 
cent  turnover  occurring  in  certain  de- 
partments. 

The  producer  will  remain  here  for 
two  weeks  and  will  then  go  to  Wash 
ington.  He  is  here  to  arrange  for 
musical  recording  by  Benny  Good- 
man of  his  next  feature,  tentatively 
titled  "Swing  Street." 


O'Donnell  Acclaims 
Bond  Drive  Support 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

O'Donnell  added  that  this  conclu- 
sion is  based  also  on  reports  which 
have  been  received  since  the  regional 
meetings  were  held.  With  members 
of  the  national  committee  touring 
group;  including  R.  M.  Kennedy, 
John  J.  Friedl,  Ned  E.  Depinet,  Ray 
Beall  and  Claude  F.  Lee;  with  Major 
Allen  V.  Martini,  O'Donnell  returned 
to  New  York  on  Thursday,  following 
15  large  meetings  which  covered  al' 
sections. 

"Early  next  week,"  O'Donnell  said, 
"your  national  committee  will  em- 
bark for  final  visits  to  Cincinnati, 
Detroit  and  Charlotte.  When  these 
trips  are  finally  behind  us  we  will  feel 
that  .either  directly  or  indirectly  we 
have  been  in  close  personal  contact 
with  16,500  pledged  theatre  operators 
together  with  the  vast  army  of  men 
and  women  in  distribution. 

Await  With  Confidence 

"In  the  final  analysis,  the  results 
which  will  be  obtained  will  come  from 
the  members  of  the  industry  in  the 
field,  and  we  await  with  great  con- 
fidence the  results  of  your  efforts. 
In  our  humble  opinion,  the  nationwide 
enthusiasm  that  has  greeted  our  visits 
leads  us  to  believe  that  the  Fighting 
Fifth  will  accomplish  its  objective  and 
its  members  will  go  over  the  top  for 
our  country,"  O'Donnell  said. 

"Our  primary  objective  in  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  campaign  is  the  sale 
of  "E"  Bonds  and  extra  "E"  Bonds," 
he  said. 

"Certainly  we  will  recognize,  and 
you  are  hereby  instructed  to  record, 
the  sale  of  all  bonds  of  series  "F"  and 
series  "G,"  but  our  final  accounting 
will  be  confined  to  these  three  type? 
of  bonds  only.  No  other  type  of  bond 
will  be  included  in  our  activities." 


WLB  Ruling 

On  Exchange 
Raises  Asked 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

dustry  labor  authorities  as  a  test  case 
with  almost  2,000  similar  service  em- 
ployes in  the  30-odd  film  exchange 
centers  as  affected  by  the  eventual 
outcome.  The  workers  have  already 
received  increases  amounting  to  about 
12  per  cent  under  "The  Little  Steel 
Formula." 

Film  companies  are  understood  to 
be  experiencing  mounting  difficulties 
in  preventing  the  workers  from  leav- 
ing for  higher-paying  jobs  in  war 
industries,  especially  in  exchange 
cities  in  "critical"  or  "imminently 
critical"  labor  areas. 

18  Classifications 

Labor  representatives  of  the  dis- 
tributors and  the  IATSE  have  agreed 
upon  18  job  classifications  with  mini- 
mum and  maximum  wage  scales  for 
some  3,000  IATSE-represented  film 
exchange  "white  collar"  workers  in  all 
exchange  centers,  in  addition  to  seek- 
ing to  increase  wages  for.  service  em- 
ployes. The  system  of  wage  scales 
worked  out  ranges  from  $23-$33  a 
week  for  general  file  clerks,  mes- 
sengers and  typists  to  a  $65-$85-a- 
week  scale  for  head  bookers  in  large 
exchange  centers,  with  a  slightly  low- 
er range  for  other  places.  Workers 
who  are  already  receiving  the  mini- 
mums  set,  or  who  would  receive  less 
than  a  10  per  cent  increase,  in  being 
brought  up  to  the  minimums  set, 
would  receive  a  flat  10  per  cent  in- 
crease. The  classifications  and  wage 
scales  will  shortly  be  submitted  to 
the  regional  WLB  in  the  areas  in 
which  the  exchanges  are  located,  for 
approval. 


'Can't  Ration  Love/ 
Show  Hit  $18,000 

Indianapolis,  June  1. — "You  Can't 
Ration  Love"  with  Henry  Busse's  or- 
chestra on  the  stage  will  do  $18,000  at 
the  Circle  this  week. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  1  : 

"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

CIRCLE — (2,800)    (55c-70c)   7  days.  Stage 
show:     Henry     Busse    orchestra.  Gross: 
$18,000.     (Average:  $11,800). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
"Hot  Rhythm"  (Mono.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)   (    32c-55c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $11,500.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS— (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Average:  $11,500). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (32c-55c)  7  days,  move- 
over  from  Indiana.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Aver- 
age: $4,900). 


Frank  Hollis  Dies 

Portsmouth,  N.  H.,  June  1. — Frank 
Hollis,  64,  veteran  vaudeville  actor 
and  manager  of  the  Olympia  here, 
died  today.  He  had  been  for  23  years 
associated  with  the  Maine-New  Hamp- 
shire Theatre  Corp.  He  was  also  at 
one  time  treasurer  of  the  B.  F.  Keith 
Theatre  in  Boston. 


Red  Cross  Cites  MOT 

The  March  of  Time  has  received  a 
Red  Cross  citation  for  its  film  "At  His 
Side,"  used  in  the  1944  Red  Cross  War 
Fund  Drive. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  2,  1944 


the  week 


(45c-65c-8Sc) 
200.  (Aver- 


'Gildersleeve'  and 
Show  Good  for 
$31,400  in  'Frisco 

San  Francisco,  June  1. — "Gilder- 
sleeve's  Ghost,"  with  Jimmy  Lunce- 
ford's  band  on  the  stage,  leads  the 
parade  here  with  $31,400  at  the  Gold- 
en Gate. 

Estimated    receipts  for 
ending  May  29-31 : 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,200) 
7  days,  5th  week.     Gross:  $1 
age:  j>ll,000). 
"Valley  of  the  Sun" 

WARFIELD— (2,680)  (4Sc-65c-8Sc)  7  days. 
Stage:  Vaudeville.  Gross:  $22,500.  (Aver- 
age: $21,800). 

"Gildersleeve's   Ghost"  (RKO) 

GOLDEN   GATE — (2,850)    (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.     Stage:    Vaudeville.     Gross:  $31,400. 
(Average:  $25,000). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (2ttth-Fox) 
"Henry  Aldtich  Plays  Cupid"  (Para.) 

FOX— (5,000)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$28,200.     (Average:  $24,000). 
"A  Guy  Named  Joe"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT — (2,740)      (45c-65c-85c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $21,400.     (Average:  $19,600). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (2,306)   (45c-65c-85c)  7  days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $13,500.     (Average:  $12,100). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

ST.     FRANCIS— (1,400)     (45c-6Sc-85c)  7 
days,    2nd    week,    moveover    from  Fox. 
Gross:   $14,200.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Swing  Out  the  Blues"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM— (2,440)  (45c-65c-85c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $15,500.    (Average:  $14,- 


Fire  Damages  Embassy 

Baltimore,  June  1. — Fire,  be- 
lieved to  have  been  started  by  a  cig- 
arette, slightly  damaged  the  Embassy 
Theatre  here  at  the  weekend. 


Review 


"Twilight  on  the  Prairie 

(Universal) 

Hollywood,  Jtme  1 

WHILE  this  program  musical  doesn't  come  up  to  the  standard  set 
by  Universal  for  this  calibre  of  offering,  it  does  provide  62  min- 
utes of  light  vocal  entertainment  supported  by  Jack  Teagarden's  color- 
ful band.  Flimsy  story  material,  however,  provides  little  for  Vivian 
Austin,  romantic  lead  and  Leon  Errol  and  Eddie  Quillan,  comics,  to  do. 

The  plot  revolves  around  a  radio  band  stranded  in  Texas  where  they 
pose  as  buckaroos  until  Miss  Austin,  owner  of  the  ranch,  spots  the 
whole  thing  as  a  publicity  stunt.  Johnny  Downs,  leader  of  the  band, 
brings  Mammoth  Pictures  to  the  ranch  to  make  the  film  featuring  the 
band  and  reinstates  himself  in  the  girl's  good  graces.  Errol  and  Quillan 
struggle  with  comedy  sequences,  often  over-wordy,  while  Connie  Haines, 
Teagarden,  Downs  and  Jimmie  Dodd  give  out  with  vocal  numbers. 
Jean  Yarbrough  directed  for  Associate  Producer  Warren  Wilson  from 
a  screenplay  by  Clyde  Bruckman  based  on  Wilson's  original  story. 
Running  time,  62  minutes.  "G"*  Release  date,  July  14,  1944. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Tony  Ferreira  Joins 
Television  Workshop 

Tony  Ferreira  of  the  Republic  pub- 
licity department  has  recently  trans- 
ferred his  activities  to  the  local  Tele- 
vision Workshop,  of  which  Irwin 
Shane  is  executive  director.  For  the 
past  three  months  Ferreira  has  been 
assisting  Shane  in  his  spare  time  in 
the  writing,  producing  and  directing 
shows  for  telecasting  over  Dumont- 
WABD.  Ferreira  will  continue  this 
function  and  will  also  organize  a  tele- 
vision stock  company  for  a  series  of 
dramatic  shows. 


'OurTimeV  $14,800 
Leads  Toronto 


Toronto,  June  1. — "In  Our  Time" 
pointed  to  $14,800  at  the  Imperial 
Theatre,  while  "Lifeboat"  took  $13,- 
300  at  Shea's.  Loew's  prepared  to 
collect  $11,200  on  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove."  Weather  was  fair  and 
warm. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  1 : 

"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 
"The  Falcon,  Out  West"  (RKO) 

EGLINTON— (1,086)     (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $4,000.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"In  Our  Time"  (WB) 

IMPERIAL— (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 
6  days.  Gross:  $14,800.  (Average:  $12,800). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,074)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c)  6 
days.  Gross:  $11,200.  (Average:  $11,200). 
"Lifeboat"  (20th-Fox) 

SHEA'S— (2,480)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $13,300.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Around  the  World"  (RKO) 
"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

TIVOLI— (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $4,400.    (Average:  $4,400). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Hi,  Good  Lockin'  "  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:   $9,800.     (Average:  $9,800) 


Legion  Passes  Six, 
Objects  to  Two 

The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
lists  six  films  as  acceptable  and  two  as 
objectionable.  In  Class  B,  objection- 
able in  part,  are  "Gilderslevee's 
Ghost,"  RKO,  which  was  said  to  con- 
tain "suggestive  scenes  and  dialogue," 
and  "Johnny  Doesn't  Live  Here  Any 
More,"  Monogram,  objectionable  be- 
cause of  "suggestive  atmosphere  and 
dialogue." 

In  Class  A-l,  unobjectionable  for 
general  patronage,  are :  "Boss  of 
Boomtown,"  Universal,  and  "Yellow 
Rose  of  Texas,"  Republic.  In  Class 
A -2,  unobjectionable  for  adults,  are 
"Orders  from  Tokyo,"  AFE ;  "Rebel- 
lious daughters,"-  Judell-Progressive ; 
"Stars  on  Parade,"  Columbia,  and 
"Waterfront,"  PRC. 


'Cliffs'  Screenings 

M-G-M's  "The  White  Cliffs  of 
Dover"  will  be  tradeshown  in  key 
cities  June  6  at  the  company's  pro- 
jection rooms,  with  the  exception  of 
Denver,  where  the  film  will  be 
screened  at  the  20th-Fox  branch  office. 
'White  Cliffs'  was  screened  here 
March  8. 


Cincinnati  In  Dip 
Below  Average 


Cincinnati,  June  1. — "See  Here, 
Private  Hargrove,"  after  a  smash 
first  week  at  the  RKO  Grand,  will 
turn  in  around  $8,500  on  a  holdover, 
in  a  week  in  which  continuance  of 
abnormally  hot  weather  and  increased 
outdoor  competition  combined  to  re- 
duce grosses ;  no  local  houses  reached 
average. 

Estimated   receipts    for  the 
ending  May  31 -June  3 : 

"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)  (44c-50c-55c-65c- 
85c)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Stage:  Frankie  Master's  orchestra,  Edgar 
Kennedy,  Anne  Rooney,  Diamond  Bros., 
Walton  and  O'Rourke.  Gross:  $20,000. 
(Average:  $22,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  CAPITOL—(2,000)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $6,300.  (Aver- 
age: $10,000). 

"Shake  Hands  with  Murder"  (PRC) 
"Texas  Masquerade"  (UA) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,400.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Weekend  Pass"  (Univ.) 
"Hidden  Valley  Outlaws"  (Rep.) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)  (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $650.    (Average:  $800). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)   (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,    2nd   week,   plus   Saturday  midnight 
show.    Gross:  $8,500.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S—  (1,500)       (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$4,500.    (Average:  $5,000). 
"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

RKO  LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$4,300.     (Average:  $5,500). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

RKO    PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-S0c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 

RKO  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  the  Pal- 
ace.    Gross:  $4,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 


lit 


St.  Louis  Brightens 
With  'Lady  in  Dark' 

St.  Louis,  June  1. — "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  at  the  Ambassador  leads  the 
parade  in  St.  Louis  this  week  with  an 
estimated  $17,000.  Other  first-runs 
are  off. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  31 : 

"Man  from  Frisco"  (Rep.) 
"Jamboree"  (Rep.) 

■  FOX— (5,038)       (40c-50c-60c)  7 
Gross:   $14,500.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Cover  Girl"  (Col.) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)   (40c-50c-60c)  7 
Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $9,900). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average: 
$18,900). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)     (40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $15,700). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Sailor's  Holiday"  (CoL) 

LOEW'S  ORPHEUM— (1,000)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$7,100).  , 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO-Goldwyn) 
"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

SHUBERT— (1,900)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average:  $6,- 
100). 

"A  Star  Is  Born" 
"Made  for  Each  Other" 

ST.  LOUIS— (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.     (Average:  $5,200). 


days 


days. 


'They  Met  Premiere 

"They  Met  in  Moscow,"  produced 
by  Ivan  Piriev  at  the  Moscow  Studios 
and  being  distributed  in  this  country 
by  Artkino,  will  have  its  American 
premiere  at  the  Victoria  Theatre  here, 
opening  a  limited  two-week  engage- 
ment on  June  6. 


Friday  June  2,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


ii 


'Lady  in  Dark'  Tops 
Philadelphia  Take 
With  Nice  $31,000 


Philadelphia,   June    1. — Business 
got  off  to  a  good  start  at  the  pre- 
1    holiday  weekend  with  "Lady  in  the 
Dark"  at  the  Boyd  getting  a  neat 
1,000  for  the  week  with  an  addition- 
al  y  $3>900  already  in  for  the  dual  Sun- 
^  jay  showing  at  the  Earle. 
V    Estimated    receipts   for    the  week 
ending  'May  31 -June  2: 

"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

ALDINE— (900)  (40c -45c -50c -65c -75c -85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,800.  (Average: 
$14,600). 

"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,800. 
(Average:  $4,000). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

BOYD— (3,000)    (40c -45c -50c -65c -75c -85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $31,000.    (Average:  $18,000) 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn,"  (Para.)  (6 
days) 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.)  (1  day) 

EARLE — (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including  Ted  Lewis'  < 
chestra,  Gerri  Gale,  Geraldine  DuBois,  3 
Reed  Sisters,  Audrey  Zimm,  Paul  White, 
Teddy  Hale  and  Charles  Whittier.  Gross: 
$29,100.  (Average:  $27,600). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

FOX— (3,000)     (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $19,800.    (Average:  $20,500). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

KARLTON— (1,000)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $7,500.  (Av- 
erage: $6,600). 

"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (75c-$1.20)  7  days,  3rd 
week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average:  $5,800). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

MASTBAUM— (4,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  2nd  week.    Gross:  $18,700.  (Av- 
erage: $22,500). 
"Pin-Up  Girl"  (20th-Foix) 

STANLEY  —  (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $27,500.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"Tampico"  (ZOth-FcraO 

STANTON— (1,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,900.  (Average: 
$9,400). 


Providence  Lags; 
$15,000  to  'Pin  Up' 


Providence,  June  1. — "Pin  Up 
Girl"  and  "Tampico"  at  the  Majestic 
was  the  only  standout  bill  in  town 
this  week  as  grosses  everywhere  suf- 
fered from  high  temperatures. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  1 : 

"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 

RKO-ALBEE — (2,239)  (35c-44c-55c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average: 
$12,800). 

"The   Uninvited"  (Para.) 

"Henry  Aldrich,  Boy  Scout"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,200)  (44c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 
■  "Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

LOEWS  STATE — (3,232)    (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $17,700') 
"Pin   Up   Girl"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)   (35c-44c-55c)   7  days 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average:  $12,100). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Slightly   Terrific"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)      (35c-44c-55c)      7  day. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average:  $6,500). 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Monster  Maker"  (PRC) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)    7  days 
2nd   week,   moveover  from   Fay's.  Gross- 
$3,000.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"Silent  Partner"  (Rep.) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c)  ? 
days.  On  stage:  "Tars  and  Spars,"  U.  S 
Coast  Guard  revue,  with  Victor  Mature 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average:  $7,900). 


C.  E.  House  Promoted 

Dallas,  June  1.— Cecil  E.  House 
former  film  salesman  for  20tli-Fox  r 
Houston,  has  been  named  branch  man 
ager  here. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


SCIENTIFIC  LAUGH-METER  RECORDS 
383  LAUGHS,   30  Ml  NUTE-S  OF 
SUSTAINED   HILARITY,   AT  FIRST 
P RE V  I EW  OF   "ROAD  TO  UT0P I  A "  , 
TOPPING  "ROAD  TO  M0RR0CC0"  BY 
50#.    NEW  CROSBY-HOPE-LAMQUR  . 
"ROAD"   SHOW  WILL  FOLLOW  BI.NG'S 
"GO  I NG  MY  WAY"   AND  DOTTY  'S 
"AND  THE  ANGELS  SI NG." 


'Pin  Up'  Gets 

$70,500 

At  4  in  L.  A. 


Los  Angeles,  June  1.— "Pin  Up 
Girl"  outrode  lukewarm  newspaper 
reviews  to  get  $70,500  in  Fox  West 
Coast's  Chinese  -  Carthay  Circle- 
Loew's  State-Uptown  first  runs  where 
$61,500  is  average.  "Once  Upon  a 
Time,"  trounced  by  critics  but  ac- 
companied by  the  praised  "Girl  in  the 
Case,"  climbed  to  $44,000  in  the  Pan- 
tages-Hillstreet  tandem,  which  aver- 
ages $37,400.  Weather  was  cloudy 
and  sometimes  cool. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  May  31 : 

"Pin-Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 

"Ladies  of  Washington"  (20*h-Fox) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Pin-Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 

"Ladies  of  Washington"  (20th-Fox) 

CHINESE— (2,500)     (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.     Gross:   $17,000.     (Average:  $15,500). 
"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

EGYPTIAN— (1,500)    (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.     Gross:    $12,000.     (Average:  $9,500). 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 
"The  Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  6  days, 
5th  week.    Gross:  $2,500.    (Average:  $6,200). 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

HILLSTREET— 02,700)      (50c-60c-80c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $22,000.    (Average:  $19,700). 
"Pin-Up   Girli"  (2flth-Fox) 
"Ladies  of  Washington"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $31,500.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

LOS  ANGELES  —  (2,096)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average: 
$14,900). 

"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (2,000)    (50c-60c-80c-$1.00)  7 
days.    Gross:  $22,000.     (Average:  $17,700). 
"Man  Frocn  Frisco"  (Rep.)  2nd  week 
"My  Best  Gal"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD— (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  6  days.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average: 
$11,000). 

"Man   From  Frisco"  (Rep.) 
"My  Best  Gal"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT    DOWNTOWN—  (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.     Gross:  $12,- 
500.     (Average:  $20,300). 
"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,900.     (Average:  $8,700). 
"Pin-Up  Girl"  (2flth-Fox) 
"Ladies  of  Washington"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)  (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $10,500). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $10,- 
767.     (Average:  $17,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS  DOWNTOWN— (3.400)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $12,- 
660.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS  WILTERN-(2,200)  (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $10,- 
607.    (Average:  $15,200). 


WB  Handling  'China* 

Warner  Bros,  has  agreed  to  handle 
physical  distribution  of  "Battle  of 
China,"  feature-length  orientation  film 
made  by  Col.  Frank  Capra  for  the: 
U.  S.  Army  Motion  Picture  Service, 
with  bookings  to'  be  made  by  local 
U.  S.  Army  Motion  Picture  Service 
bookers  and  release  set  for  June  12. 


DeMille  at  Premiere 

Chicago,  June  1. — Cecil  B.  De- 
Mille will  be  here  for  the  opening  of 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  at  the 
State  Lake  June  24.  He  is  a  Califor- 
nia delegate  to  the  Republican  Presi- 
dential convention  which  will  begin 
here  June  28. 


Outstanding  star  of  Czech  stage,  screen.  Con- 
demned by  Nazis  for.  film  activities,  escaped  to 
America.  Broadway  roles  in  "War  and  Peace", 
"R.U.R."  First  American  picture  presages  new 
great  future! 


First  in 


MOTION  PICTURE 


Alert. 

InteUigeii 

to  the^l 

gtion 

Picture 

Industry 

VOL.  55.  NO.  109 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  JUNE  5,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


58  Films  from 
Columbia  for 

New  Season 


44  Features,  4  Action, 
10  Western  Features 


Chicago,  June  4. — Columbia  for 
1944-45  is  committed  to  58  produc- 
tions—44  features,  four  action  mu- 
sicals, and  10  Westerns,  plus  28 
two-reel  comedies,  90  single-reel 
subjects  and  three  serials,  it  was1 
announced  here  today  at  the  first 
of  the  company's  three  sales  con- 
ventions, now  in  session  at  the 
Drake  Hotel.  The  action  musicals 
are  additional  over  the  current  sea-; 
son  and  there  are  two  additional 
Westerns.  The  number  of  regular 
features  is  the  same  as  this  year. 

In  addition,  the  company  will 
sell  separately  a  Sidney  Buchman 
color  production  (untitled)  star- 
ring Paul  Muni  and  Merle 
Oberon,  and  Sam  Wood's  first 
picture   for   Columbia,   "Jubal  j 

(Continued  on  page  7) 

Dunn  Is  Named  UA 
Publicity  Manager 

James  F.  Dunn  will  succeed  Arthur; 
Jeffrey  as  publicity  manager  of  Unit- 
ed Artists  today.  i 

Dunn's  appointment  was  announced 
by  Lou  Pollock,  UA  director  of  pub-.: 
licity  and  advertising,  at  the  weekend, 
He  moves  over  from  RKO  Radio 
home  office  publicity,  where  for  the 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Hazen,  Clark  Will 
Meet  This  Week 

Joseph  H.  Hazen,  distribu- 
tor consent  decree  liaison, 
and  decree  company  represen- 
tatives will  meet  Assistant 
U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom 
C.  Clark  this  week  either  here 
or  at  Washington  in  another 
attempt  to  work  out  a  new 
decree. 

Hazen  will  leave  for  the 
Coast  on  Friday,  on  business 
in  connection  with  the  new 
Hal  Wallis  Prod.,  of  which 
Hazen  will  be  New  York  rep- 
resentative. His  trio  was 
originallv  scheduled  for  the 
past  weekends 


Re-Elect  Entire 
IATSE  Slate 

St.  Louis,  June  4. — The  en- 
tire slate  of  the  IATSE  headed 
by  Richard  F.  Walsh,  interna- 
tional president,  and  Louis 
Krouse,  general  secretary- 
treasurer,  was  re-elected  on 
Friday  for  another  two  years 
at  the  organization's  conven- 
tion here.  William  C.  Bennett 
of  Washington,  leader  of  the 
opposition  slate,  polled  411  of 
the  998  votes  cast.  Two  new 
vice-presidents  were  added. 
They  are  Louise  Wright,  busi- 
ness representative  of  the 
Dallas  film  exchange  local, 
the  first  woman  to  be  elected 
to  the  IATSE  executive  board, 
and  William  Barrett,  business 
representative  of  Local  80, 
Studio  Grips. 


British  Grosses  at 
Ail-Time  High  But 
Will  Recede-Harley 

Current  grosses  of  British  theatres 
and,  in  consequence,  American  dis- 
tribution revenue  therefrom,  are  the 
highest  that  can  be  expected  for  a 
long  time  to  come  because  of  prevail- 
ing conditions  peculiar  to  war  time, 
Francis  L.  Harley,  20th  Century-Fox 
managing  director  for  Britain,  told  an 
audience  of  company  officials  and 
trade  press  representatives  at  a 
luncheon  at  the  Plaza  here  Friday. 

Harley,  who  is  in  New  York  on  one 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


New  District 
For  Republic 


James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  presi- 
dent and  general  sales  manager,  has 
created  a  new  New  England  district 
comprised  of  Boston,  New  Haven, 
Buffalo  and  Albany  branches  and  has 
placed  it  under  the  management  of 
Jack  Davis,  former  Boston  branch 
manager.  Boston  will  be  headquar- 
ters for  the  district,  which  will  begin 
functioning  as  a  unit  today. 

Sam  Seletsky,  New  York  branch 
manager,  is  being  transferred  to  the 
Boston  office,  and  Grover  C.  Schaef- 
er,  Republic  home  office  executive  for 
the  past  eight  years,  has  been  ap- 
oointed  assistant  branch  manager 
here.  Maxwell  Gillis,  district  man- 
ager of  the  Eastern  division,  will 
continue  to  supervise  the  New  York, 
Philadelphia  and  Washington 
branches. 

Grainger  left  here  over  the  weekend 
for  the  North  Hollywood  studios. 


Freeman  Clarifies 
Wallis'  Para.  Status 

Hollywood,  June  4. — Y.  Frank  Free- 
man, vice-president  in  charge  of  Para- 
mount studio  operations,  ended  at  the 
weekend  the  widespread  speculations  in 
local  industry  circles  concerning  his 
company's  deal  with  Hal  B.  Wallis, 
saying  he  is  to  have  complete  inde- 
pendence insofar  as  Paramount  is  con- 
cerned and  without  any  call  on  Para- 
mount talent. 

Freeman  described  Wallis'  positior 
as  the  same  as  any  other  independent 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


New  System  Clears  Jam 
In  Screening  Dates 


Sales  managers  of  the  five  consent 
decree  companies,  in  order  to  elimi- 
nate growing  conflicts  in  the  dates  of 
compulsory  advance  screenings  in  ex- 
change cities,  have  established  a 
"master"  clearance  system  for  regis- 
tering dates,  it  was  disclosed  at  the 
weekend  following  a  meeting  of  com- 
pany representatives  with  the  indus- 
try's Public  Information  Committee. 

Under  the  new  system,  Glen  All- 
vine,  secretary  of  the  PIC,  will  keep 
a  master  clearance  book,  and  all  home 
office  sales  staffs  will  check  with  him 
before  making  trade  paper  announce- 
ments of  screenings.  This  is  a  nation- 
al extensiouyjsf  the  local  clearance 
of  press  screenings,  which  has  .been  op-. 
.erating-'iu^New  York,  alone  for  the 
past  two  years.    The  action  was  pre- 


cipitated by  a  series  of  complaints 
from  exhibitors  which  were  climaxed 
when  they  ran  into  22  screening  con- 
flicts last  week. 

Acting  for  the  distributors  were : 
Tom  Connors  and  William  J.  Kupper, 
20th-Fox  ;  Arthur  Sachson,  Warners  ; 
C.  J.  Scollard,  Paramount,  and  Leon 
Bamberger,  representing  Ned  E.  De- 
pinet  and  Robert  Mochrie,  RKO. 

RKO  was  the  first  to  register 
screenings,  as  follows :  "Gildersleeve's 
Ghost,"  "Marine  Raiders"  and  "At- 
tack" on  June  19  except  in  St.  Louis 
where  they  will  be  shown  on  the  fol- 
lowing day ;  "Night  of  Adventure" 
and  "Step  Lively,"  June  20,,  and 
"Look  to  Your  Children,"  June  21 
The  New  York  screening  of  "Attack" 
will  be  held  this  Wednesday. 


RKO  to  Enter 
Production 
For  Television 


Will  Produce  and  Sell 
Films  to  Telecasters 


RKO  is  ready  to  enter  the  tele- 
vision  field.     A   new  subsidiary, 
RKO  Television  Productions,  Inc., 
has  been  formed  to  make  and  sell 
to  television  stations,  news  and  enter- 
tainment   motion    pictures  specially 
produced  for  visual  broadcasting. 
The    National  Broadcasting 
Company  is  the  first  customer 
of  the  new  RKO  television  or- 
ganization. 

News  pictures  of  the  Republican 
and  Democratic  national  presidential 
conventions  in  Chicago  are  to  be 
filmed  and  edited  by  RKO  Television 
Productions.  They  will  be  flown  to 
New  York  nightly  for  exhibition  the 
next  day  over  WNBT,  NBC  tele- 
vision station  in  New  York. 

A  contract  for  this  service  has  been 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


3- Way  Film, 
Air  Tie-Up 


A  three  way  tie-up  by  which  20th 
Century-Fox  films  playing  in  64 
Skouras  theatres  in  the  Metropolitan 
New  York  area  will  receive  promo- 
tion on  radio  station  WJZ,  New 
York,  and,  in  turn,  the  radio  station 
will  promote  its  programs  via  one- 
minute  trailers  which  will  be  shown 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


'Went  Away'  Opening 
At  Capitol  Here 

David  O.  Selznick's  Van- 
guard production,  "Since  You 
Went  Away,"  will  have  its 
New  York  premiere  at  the 
Capitol  Theatre  following  the 
run  of  M-G-M's  "Two  Girls 
and  a  Sailor,"  which  opens  at 
that  theatre  June  15. 

The  picture  will  not  be 
shown  at  advanced  admission 
prices  and  the  theatre  will 
continue  its  stage  presenta- 
tion policy  throughout  the 
run  of  the  film.  Terms  and 
length  of  run  are  still  being 
discussed.  No  other  theatre 
on  Broadway  will  play  day 
and  date  with  the  Capitol. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  5,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 

POSTMASTER  GENERAL 
FRANK  C.  WALKER,  last  week 
received  the  honorary  degree  of  Doc- 
tor of  Letters  at  the  commencement 
of  St.  Francis  College,  Loretta,  Pa. 
• 

Lt.  J.  M.  Brennan,  son  of  James 
M.  Bkennan,  RKO  Metropolitan 
theatres  general  manager,  was  mar- 
ried over  the  weekend  at  Spring  Lake, 
N.  J.,  to  Eleanor  Lame.  Lt.  Brex- 
xax  was  a  member  of  the  Universal 
publicity  staff  on  the  Coast  before  he 
entered  the  Navy. 

• 

Harry  M.  Kalmine,  Warner  The- 
atre assistant  general  manager,  and 
Nat-  Fellmax,  assistant  to  Claytox 
Boxd,  circuit  film  buyer,  left  over 
the.  weekend  on  a  New  England  tour. 
• 

Harry-  F.  Shaw,  Loew-Poli  New 
England  division  manager,  has  re- 
turned to  his  New  Haven  headquar- 
ters after  a  three-week  vacation  in 
Florida. 

• 

Al  Hoffmax,  Loew's  home  office 
purchasing  department  executive,  re- 
cently became  the  father  of  a  baby 
son,  Jerrold  Stevex,  born  to  Mrs. 
Hoffmax. 

• 

Ha'kky    Wiener,   manager  of  the 
RKO  Capitol.  Trenton,  N.  J.,  has  left 
for  overseas  duty  as  a  member  of  the 
Red  Cross  American  Field  Service. 
• 

William  C.  Gehrixg,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox Western  sales  manager,  left 
over  the  weekend  for  a  week's  tour 
through  the  Mid-West. 

• 

A.  W.  Smith.  Jr.,  20th  Century- 
Fox  Eastern  sales  manager,  returned 
over  the  weekend  after  a  tour  of  sev- 
eral exchanges. 

• 

Al  J.  Kaufman,  Warner  theatres 
executive,  will  return  to  New  York 
from  Cleveland  on  Wednesday. 

Hexri  Elmax,  PRC  Chicago  fran- 
chise holder,  will  leave  that  city  June 
24  for  New  York. 

• 

William  B.  Levy,  Walt  Disxey 
executive,  will  return  to  New  York 
from  Hollywood  this  week. 

• 

Norman  Elsox,  Trans-Lux  vice- 
president,  will  leave  today  for  Wash- 
ington. 


Tradewise 


UA  BranchManagers 
To  Meet  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  June  4. — United  Artists 
branch  managers  from  Chicago,  Minne- 
apolis. Indianapolis  and  Milwaukee  ex- 
changes will  meet  here  today  with  J. 
J.  Younger,  Western  division  manager, 
who  arrived  from  New  York  at  the 
weekend,  to  discuss  forthcoming  prod- 
uct. 

A  similar  meeting  will  be  held  Fri- 
day in  Kansas  City  for  exchange  rep- 
resentatives from  Kansas  City,  St. 
Louis  and  Omaha. 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


IV/T-G-M  has  dispatched  Sir 
Alexander  Korda  to  Lon- 
don as  generalissimo  of  its  pro- 
duction to  be  undertaken  there 
and  with  talk  of  millions  of 
dollars  to  be  made  available 
for  such  production.  Twentieth 
Century-Fox  announces  its  pro- 
duction agreement  with  J.  Ar- 
thur Rank  and,  at  the  same 
time,  lets  it  be  known  that  those 
collaborative  productions  in  En- 
gland will  be  under  the  supervi- 
sion of  Darryl  F.  Zanuck,  who 
will  go  to  London  "once  or 
twice  a  year''  in  that  capacity. 
That  would  hardly  imply  that 
old-fashioned  "quota"  pictures 
are  being  planned  in  that  quar- 
ter. Paramount  signs  to  dis- 
tribute for  Hal  Wallis  and  an- 
nounces that  Wallis  will  make 
several  pictures  for  Paramount 
in  Britain  during  the  period  of 
his  association  with  the  com- 
pany. Obviously,  Wallis's  pro- 
ductions in  England  wall  not  be 
"quickies." 

• 

It  would  appear  that  these 
companies  are  taking  their  Brit- 
ish production  plans  now  with 
about  the  same  degree  of  impor- 
tance that  attaches  to  produc- 
tion investments  in  Hollywood. 
It  is  a  chapter  of  good  signifi- 
cance in  the  histories  of  both 
the  American  and  British  in- 
dustries, a  chapter  to  be  writ- 
ten much  earlier  than  ordinarily 
it  might  have  been,  due  to  the 
persistency  and  persuasiveness 
of  one  man — Rank.  It  is  his 
determination  that  "Made  in 
England"  pictures  shall  be  ex- 
hibited throughout  the  world 
and,  most  especially,  in  the 
United  States.  Presumably,  he 
realized  the  only  way  in  which 
that  could  -be  accomplished,  at 
least,  to  begin  with,  Avas  with 
American  collaboration. 

That  collaboration,  not  only 
with  Rank,  but  with  the  entire 
British  industry,  has  been  ar- 
ranged for  now.  The.  record 
shows  that  only  the  American 
industry  possesses  the  know- 
how  in  picture-making  that  con- 
sistently commands  worldwide 
screen  time.  If  "Made  in  En- 
gland" pictures  are  to  win  a 
place  for  themselves  on  the 
screens  of  the  world  within  this 
decade,  the  achievement  can  be 
made  a  certainty  only  with  the 
active'  participation  of  the 
American  industry.  In  plain 
words,  British  production  is  in 
need  of  basic  training  in  the 
making  of  pictures  which  quali- 
fv  for  the  world  market.    It  will 


get  that  training  through  pic- 
tures "Made  in  England — By 
Americans." 


From  the  Wall  Street  Jour- 
nal: "One  reason  for  the  gain 
(in  Loew's  earnings  for  the  28 
weeks  ended  March  16)  was  a 
drop  in  Federal  taxes  to  $7.2 
million,  from  $8.8  million.  This 
resulted  from  the  formation  of  a 
foreign  service  corporation  for 
handling  the  firm's  large  and 
profitable  foreign  business.  Un- 
der Treasury  provisions  a  com- 
pany doing  95  per  cent  or  more 
of  its  business  abroad  is  only 
required  to  pay  normal  taxes 
and  surtaxes,  but  not  excess 
profits  taxes. 

•  • 

One  of  the  regrettable  devel- 
opments which  has  accompanied 
wartime  prosperity  on  Broad- 
way is  the  spread  of  the  prac- 
tice of  boosting  admission  prices 
in  accordance  with  the  length  of 
the  waiting  line  at  theatres. 

The  practice,  unquestionably, 
is  anti-institutional,  both  inso- 
far as  the  theatre  practicing  it 
and  the  industry  itself  is  con- 
cerned, for  the  simple  and  unde- 
niable reason  that  it  is  an  anti- 
customer  practice.  It  is  in  par- 
ticularly bad  taste  at  a  time 
when  it  is,  presumably,  easiest 
to  get  away  with — a  time  when 
other  businesses  and  industries 
are  required  to  operate  within 
the  limitations  of  price  ceilings. 

Managements  may  be  deaf  to 
the  complainings  of  patrons  and 
potential  patrons  against  the 
practice,  but  the  rumblings  are 
there  nevertheless.  And,  what 
is  more,  they  are  likely  to  be 
there  still  when  the  boom  times 
have  given  way  to  normalcy.  No 
patron  standing  patiently  in  line 
before  a  box  office,  who  wit- 
nesses one  or  several  changes  of 
admission  price  while  he  waits, 
and  who  partakes  of  that  ex- 
perience as  often  as  he  is  likely 
to  do  on  Broadway  today,  will 
soon  forget  or  forgive. 

The  customer  will  have  his 
day,  whether  it  be  soon  or  late. 
When  it  comes,  it  will  prove 
the  wisdom  and  soundness  of 
house  managements  which  have 
resisted  the  practice,  whose  price 
policies  and  whose  theatres  have 
been  "institutionalized." 

To  the  credit  of  individual 
managements  and  theatres,  and 
to  the  credit  of  the  industry, 
there  still  are  such  motion  pic- 
ure  institutions  on  Broadway. 


Coming 
Events 


Through  August  31— Warners  short 

subjects  sales  drive. 
June  6 — Start  of  motion  picture  in- 
dustry's   campaign    for  United 

Jewish  AppeaL 
June  6 — Actors  Equity  election,  Ho 

tel  Astor,  New  York. 
June  9 — Chorus   Equity  election, 

Hotel  Astor,  New  York. 
June  12 — Monogram  sales  meeting, 

Hollywood. 
June  12-July  &— Fifth  War  Loan 

drive. 

June  13-15 — Columbia  regional  sales 

convention,  Chicago. 
June  14—  Industry  rally  to  launch 

Southern    California   Fifth  War 

Loan    drive,    Hollywood  Bowl, 

Hollywood. 

June  16  — United  Artists'  board 
meeting,  Wilmington,  Del. 

June  18 — Industry-wide  union  rally 
to  repudiate  Motion  Picture  Al- 
liance for  the  Preservation  of 
American  Ideals,  Hollywood. 

June  20— Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
New  Jersey  silver  jubilee  conven- 
tion, Hotel  Chelsea,  Atlantic  City. 

July  6— "Free  Movie  Day"  for  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive. 


1 


Rene  L.  Kuhn  Novel 
Gets  Hopwood  Award 

This  year's  major  Hopwood  novel 
award  has  been  won  by  Rene  Kuhn, 
21  years  old,  daughter  of  Irene  Kuhn, 
novelist^  newspaper  woman  and  for- 
merly feature  writer  for  Motiox 
Picture  Daily,  who  is  now  assistant 
director  of  information  at  NBC. 

Miss  Kuhn's  novel,  "Into  the  Light," 
deals  with  three  generations  of  an 
Irish-American  family  in  New  York. 
Her  short  story  "Daguerrotype"  won 
a  minor  Hopwood  award  last  year. 
The  author  will  be  graduated  from  the 
University  of  Michigan  June  24. 


Lawler  Made  O'Brien, 
Driscoll  Partner 

T.  Newman  Lawler,  a  member  of 
the  O'Brien,  Driscoll  &  Raftery  law 
firm  for  more  than  10  years  past,  has 
been  made  a  partner  in  the  firm,  it 
was  announced  at  the  weekend.  Law- 
ler has  specialized  in  taxation  and 
corporation  law,  particularly  in  the 
motion  picture  field,  during  his  asso- 
ciation with  the  firm. 


Tri-States  Meeting  On 

Little  Rock,  Ark.,  June  4. — Ed 
Kuykendall.  MPTOA  president,  will 
be  the  principal  speaker  at  the  annual 
convention  of  the  MPTO  of  Missis- 
sippi, Arkansas  and  Tennessee,  to  be 
held  at  the  Marion  Hotel  here  Mon- 
day and  Tuesday. 


AFM  Meet  on  Tomorrow 

Chicago,  June  4. — Annual  conven- 
tion of  the  American  Federation  of 
Musicians  will  start  here  tomorrow 
and  continue  through  Saturday  at  the 
Stevens  Hotel. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  atid  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
antt  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20.  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Alartin  Qtugley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kami.  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
tcutor;  -Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
wureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
\  inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept,  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  oftce  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Monday,  June  5,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Testifies  on  Schine 
Overtures  to 
Buy  Ohio  Theatre 


Buffalo,  June  4. — Testimony  con- 
cerning alleged  overtures  by  Schine 
officials  to  purchase  the  Ohio  Theatre, 
yan  Wert,  O.,  was  given  at  the  week- 
d  by  Carl  B.  Moore  and  Mrs. 
oore,  operators  of  the  house,  before 
Judge  John  Knight  in  the  Govern- 
ment's anti-trust  suit  against  the 
''Schine  circuit.  The  trial  will  resume 
here  tomorrow  morning. 

Moore  testified  that  Meyer  Schine 
and  Bud  Silverman,  Schine  represen- 
tative formerly  employed  as  booker 
by  the  witness,  paid  him  several  visits 
from  1935  on,  attemptiag  to  close  a 
deal  for  purchase  of  the  theatre. 
Moore  said  he  told  Silverman  that 
when  he  could  get  a  better  house  or 
one  as  good  as  his  Ohio,  he  would  be 
ready  to  talk  business. 

"Was  the  deal  broken  up  because  it 
didn't  include  a  job  at  a  salary  with 
Schine?"  asked  Saul  E.  Rogers,  at- 
torney for  Schine,  during  cross-ex- 
amination. 

Moore  told  of  a  conference  attend- 
ed by  himself,  his  wife,  and  his  at- 
torney in  Van  Wert  and  a  Schine 
representative,  at  which  "my  attorney 
did  all  the  talking  for  me."  "He  said 
I  should  have  a  job  with  Schine  or 
get  more  for  the  theatre  than  I  was 
offered,"  Moore  stated. 

Asked  $25,000  as  Condition 

Upon  further  questioning  by  Rogers, 
Moore  admitted  he  had  sought  $5,000 
a  year  for  five  years  from  Schine  as 
a  condition  of  sale  of  the  Ohio. 

Earlier  on  the  stand,  Mrs.  Moore 
testified  she  had  trouble  booking  from 
United  Artists,  Columbia,  Universal, 
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  and  others. 

Also  on  the  stand  today  was  Clif- 
ford L.  Dasher,  who  operated  the 
Strand  Theatre  in  Van  Wert,  with 
Thomas  G.  Evans,  before  it  was  ac- 
quired by  Schine.  He  testified  that 
M-G-M  refused  to  sell  to  the  Strand, 
with  the  explanation  product  had  been 
purchased  by  Schine,  that  the  20th 
Century-Fox  exchange  also  failed  to 
supply  film  and  that  the  latter's  branch 
manager  suggested  he  "get  together 
with  Schine  and  make  a  deal." 

The  Strand  was  leased  to  Schine 
in  August,  1935,  and  the  circuit  took 
over  Sept.  1  of  the  same  year.  Dashen 
said  he  continued  as  manager  of  the 
Strand  for  about  two  weeks  and  then 
resigned. 


Aubert,  French  Film 
Leader,  Dies 

Louis  Aubert,  former  president  of 
the  French  United  Motion  Picture  In- 
dustries and  once  a  leading  figure  in 
the  French  film  industry,  died  recently 
at  the  age  of  66,  according  to  press 
dispatches  from  Berne,  Switzerland, 
over  the  weekend. 

Aubert  engaged  in  all  branches  of 
the  film  industry  and  for  a  time  his 
Aubert  Palace  was  among  the  most 
prominent  theatres  in  Paris. 


Peskay  Headquarters 

Address  of  the  newly  acquired  four- 
story  building  of  Edward  J.  Peskay 
Associates,  which  was  inadvertently 
reported  in  Motion  Picture  Daily 
Friday,  as  45  West  45  St.,  is  45  West 
54  St. 


R.  B.  Wilby  Buys  2 
Millions  in  Bonds 

Atlanta,  June  4.— R.  B.  Wil- 
by, vice-president  and  partner 
in  Wilby-Kincey  theatres 
operating  in  the  Southeast, 
fired  the  opening  gun  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive  for  this 
territory,  when  he  pledged  to 
make  a  personal  purchase  of 
$2,000,000  in  war  bonds. 


6U'  Coast  Sales  Meet 
Will  Open  Today 

Los  Angeles,  June  4. —  W.  A. 
Scully,  Universal  general  sales  man- 
ager, will  announce  product  for  1944- 
45,  outline  company  sales  policy  and 
announce  winners  of  the  "Bill  Scully 
Sales  Drive"  at  the  company's  sales 
meeting  which  will  open  here  tomor- 
row at  the  Ambassador  Hotel  and 
continue  through  Friday.  Home  office 
executives,  studio  officials  and  divi- 
sional and  district  sales  managers  will 
attend. 

Nate  J.  Blumberg,  president,  and 
Cliff  Work,  production  head,  will  dis- 
close future  production  plans,  while 
John  Joseph,  Universal  advertising- 
publicity  director,  and  Maurice  A. 
Bergman,  Eastern  advertising-public- 
ity head,  will  report  on  advertising 
plans  for  new  product.  «■ 

Upon  conclusion  of  the  meeting,  di- 
visional managers  Fred  Meyers,  A.  J. 
O'Keefe  and  F.  J.  A.  McCarthy  will 
leave  for  their  respective  territories 
to  hold  regional  sales  meetings  which 
will  be  attended  by  district  managers, 
salesmen  and  head  bookers. 

Among  those  attending  in  addition 
to  those  mentioned  will  be  E.  T.  Gom- 
ersall,  Adolph  Schimel,  F.  T.  Murray, 
J.  J.  Jordan,  A.  J.  Sharick,  E.  L.  Mc- 
Evoy,  M.  M.  Gottlieb,  D.  A.  Levy,  J. 
E.  Garrison,  John  J.  Scully,  P.  F.  Ro- 
sian,  S.  E.  Applegate,  Dave  Miller, 
C.  J.  Feldman,  H.  D.  Graham  and 
Alf  Perry.  Joseph  H.  Seidelman,  for- 
eign sales  head,  and  Al  Daff  will 
arrive  later  in  the  week. 


Funeral  Rites  Held 
For  D.  L.  Faralla 

Hollywood,  June  4. — Funeral  serv- 
ices were  held  yesterday  in  Van  Nuy? 
for  Dario  Lucien  Faralla,  58,  Edward 
Small's  production  manager,  who  died 
recently  of  a  heart  ailment.  He  is 
survived  by  his  widow,  two  sons,  Wil- 
liam and  Duane ;  two  brothers,  Aldo 
and  Raoul ;  and  two  sisters,  Mrs.  Jay 
Gove  and  Mrs.  Amelia  Paolotti. 

Faralla  had  been  executive  business 
manager  of  many  studios.  He  was 
until  recently  an  associate  producer 
with  Paramount  and  under  the  title 
of  Dario  Productions,  produced  several 
Spanish  films,  starring  Tito  Guizar, 
which  were  released  through  Para- 
mount. 


Frey,  Republic  L.  A, 
Manager,  Dies 

Los  Angeles,  June  4. — John  Frey, 
manager  of  Republic's  branch  here, 
died  at  the  weekend  at  his  home  in 
West  Los  Angeles. 

Frey,  with  Republic  since  1935,  was 
formerly  a  salesman  in  Arizona.  He 
succeeded  Francis  Bateman  here  in 
January,  1943,  when  Bateman  was 
named  Western  sales  manager. 


Argue  Findings  in 
Momand  Case  Today 


Oklahoma  City,  June  4. — Hear- 
ings are  scheduled  to  begin  here  to- 
morrow in  Federal  Court  on  the  ten- 
tative findings  of  fact  and  conclusions 
of  law  in  the  $4,900,000  Momand  anti- 
trust suit  against  Griffith  Amusement 
Co.  and  eight  major  distributors 
handed  down  by  Federal  Judge  Bower 
Broaddus  recently. 

Court  observers  here  said  the  opin- 
ion prepared  in  the  13-year  old  suit 
offers  many  points  of  contention  and 
Judge  Broaddus  has  reserved  "sev- 
eral days"  for  the  hearing.  Although 
Judge  Broaddus'  tentative  findings 
were  released  in  April,  and  neither 
side  has  revealed  the  court's  conclu- 
sions, it  is  understood  that  the  dis- 
tributor defendants  virtually  have 
been  exonerated. 

It  is  understood  that  Judge  Broad- 
dus has  tentatively  found  that  no  con- 
spiracy existed  between  the  distribu- 
tors and  Griffith.  A.  M.  Momand, 
the  plaintiff,  charged  that  a  conspiracy 
between  distributors  and  Griffith  de- 
stroyed his  business  in  a  period  after 
1931.  All  distributor  defendants  are 
said  to  be  exonerated  except  Para- 
mount, and  only  one  Paramount-Grif- 
fith contract  was  cited  as  possibly 
questionable. 

Edward  F.  McClennen  of  Boston 
and  Louis  Phillips  of  New  York, 
counsel  for  the  distributors,  are  ex- 
pected to  participate  in  the  hearings, 
which  have  been  arranged  as  a  cour- 
tesy for  opposing  counsel. 


Coast 
Flashes 


To  Vote  on  Merger 
Of  Pathe  Units 

Special  meetings  of  the  stockholders 
of  Pathe  Laboratories,  Inc.,  of  New 
Jersey  and  Pathe  Laboratories,  Inc.,  of 
California,  have  been  called  for  June  56 
to  consider  a  plan  to  merge  the  t\yo 
corporations  into  Pathe  Industries,  Inc., 
an  Ohio  corporation.  The  plan  has 
been  approved  by  the  officers  and 
directors  of  both  corporations. 

The  board  of  directors  of  the  merged 
corporation  which  will  select  officers 
and  executives  of  the  various  operating 
units  of  Pathe  Industries,  including 
PRC  Pictures,  will  consist  of  Henry 
J.  Guild,  Raymond  J.  Morfa,  Robert 
W.  Purcell,  J.  Stinson  Young  and 
Kenneth  M.  Young.  Top  officers  of 
the  merged  company  provided  for  by 
the  agreement  include  Kenneth  M. 
Young,  chairman  of  the  board  ;  J.  Stin- 
son Young,  president ;  Purcell,  vice- 
president,  and  Karl  Herzog,  treasurer. 


ML  Baker  Theatre 
Sold  for  $500,000 

Portland,  Ore.,  June  4. — In  a  deal 
involving  $500,000,  Jensen  von  Her- 
berg,  pioneer  Northwest  theatre  owner, 
has  purchased  the  1,600-seat  Mt.  Baker 
Theatre  in  Bellingham,  Wash.,  and  17 
adjoining  stores  from  the  Mt.  Baker 
Amusement  Co.,  subsidiary  of  Ever- 
green State  Theatres. 


Harry  Turberg  Dies 

Hamilton,  O.,  June  4. — Harry 
Turberg,  72,  manager  of  the  Northio 
Palace  here,  died  at  the  weekend  at 
Fort  Hamilton  Hospital  following  a 
long  illness.  Surviving  is  a  son,  Nat 
Turberg,  manager  of  the  Northio 
Paramount  here. 


Hollywood,  June.  4 

TED  KANE,  with  Universal  for 
seven  years,  has  been  named  head 
of  the  company's  music  department. 
• 

Jack  Beddington,  head  of  the  film 
section  of  the  British  Ministry  of  In- 
formation, was  a  guest  of  Jack  L. 
Warner  at  the  Warner  '  studio  late 
last  week  where  he  addressed  a  meet- 
ing the  company's  producers  and  direc- 
tors. • 

• 

Warners  has  purchased  "Don't  Ever 
Leave  Me,"  original  by  Norma  and 
Ben  Barzman,  for  Jesse  L.  Lasky's 
production  schedule.  Story  will  be  a 
vehicle  for  Claire  Foley,  brought  here 
to  repeat  her  performance  in  the  stage 
version  of  "Janie." 

• 

Producers  Corp.  of  America  has 
signed  Erich  Pommer  to  produce  two 
films,  first  of  which  will  be  "This 
Crazy,  Lovely  World,"  from  a  Ladis- 
3as  Fddor  script,  followed  by  a  remake 
of  "The  Cabinet  of  Dr.  Caligari." 


Seek  to  Give  10% 
Raise  in  Seattle 

Seattle  film  exchanges  and  represen- 
tatives of  the  IATSE  are  preparing 
to  file  a  petition  with  the  regional 
War  Labor  Board  in  that  city  for 
permission  to  grant  exchange  service 
workers,  including  shippers,  inspectors 
and  poster  clerks,  a  10  percent  in- 
crease, it  was  learned  here  at  the 
weekend. 

Thfr*"  Seattle  "  employes  threatened 
"mass  resignations"  over  a  month  ago 
but  reconsidered  upon  being  assured 
by  the  exchanges  that  steps  would  be 
taken  to  help  secure  increases.  Labor 
turnover  in  Seattle  exchanges  has  been 
exceedingly  high  in  view  of  many 
local  higher-paying  jobs  in  war  in- 
dustries. The  Seattle  service  em- 
ployes have  already  received  increases 
of  about  12  percent  under  "The  Little 
Steel  Formula." 

IATSE  service  employes'  locals  in 
other  exchange  areas  are  not  expected 
to  follow  the  procedure  of  the  Seattle 
local  but  will  await  action  on  a  peti- 
tion filed  by  M-G-M's  Washington'  ex- 
change with  the  National  War  Labor 
Board. 


Discuss  New  M-G-M 
Air  Program  Today 

Louis  B.  Mayer,  M-G-M  production 
head  ;  William  F.  Rodgers,  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  distribution,  and 
Howard  Dietz,  advertising  vice-presi- 
dent, will  address  M-G-M  exchange 
personnel,  theatre  and  circuit  opera- 
tors gathered  at  luncheon  meetings  in 
key  exchange  centers  over  a  closed 
circuit  of  the  Mutual  network  today. 
They  will  discuss  the  forthcoming  M- 
G-M  five-times-a-week  radio  program, 
"Screen  Tests,"  which  will  start  on 
the  Mutual  web  June  12. 

Mayer  will  speak  from  Hollywood 
and  Dietz  and  Rodgers  will  talk  from 
New  York. 


READY! 


IS  JUNE  12th 


BLOOD,  SWEAT-  -AND  BONDS  I 

Sure  we're  in  the  fight.  It's  "E"  Bonds  we're 
after!  We'll  get  'em! 

It's  the  real  thing  over  there  now  .  .  .  some- 
body's son,  somebody's  sweetheart,  some- 
body's pal  won't  come  back.  Our  very  own, 
perhaps. 

For  all  of  them,  for  this  America  of  ours, 
let's  make  this  War  Loan  click!  The  best 
campaign  the  industry  ever  saw!  With  parades 
and  banners  streaming,  with  Bond  Premieres 
and  true-talk  Trailers,  with  Hero  Lobby 
Charts  and  Free  Movie  Days.  The  works! 

Let's  do  a  job  to  match  the  bloodshed  and 
the  tears! 

FIGHT! 

FIGHTING 
5*  WAR  LOAN 

JUNE  I2t*>-JULY  8th 


This  Message  Was  Prepared  and  Inserted  in  the  Trade  Press  by:  < 
COLUMBIA  PICTURES  CORP.,  METRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER  PICTURES,  PARAMOUNT  PICTURES  INC.,  RKO-RADIO  PICTURES  INC., 
20th  CENTURY- FOX  FILM  CORP.,  UNITED  ARTISTS  CORP.,  UNIVERSAL  PICTURES  COMPANY  INC.,  WARNER  BROS.  PICTURES  INC. 


IT'S  A  JOB  FDR  ALL 

SHOW  BUSINESS 
THE  FIGHTING  FIFTH 
WAR  LOAN  BRIVE 

KEEP  BUSY 
June  IB --July  8 
AND  IT. WILL  BE  DVER  THE  TOP 


P.H.C. 


Monday,  June  5,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


7 


58  Films  and  2  Specials 
From  Columbia  in  '44-45 


(British  Grosses  at 
All-Time  High  But 
Will  Recede-Harley 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
,  of  his  periodic  home  office  visits,  will 
' -scend  the  Summer  with  his  family  on 
I   \>e  Cod  and  will  return  to  London 
'  Jlereafter. 

Contributing  to  the  current  al> 
normally  prosperous  status  of  British 
theatres,  Harley  said,  is  the  shortage 
i  of  many  commodities  and  virtually  all 
,  luxuries  on  which  excess  purchasing 
power  of  the  public  normally  would 
be  expended. 

British  money,  he  said,  goes  to  the 
movies  rather  than  to  beer,  for  ex- 
ample. 

Motion  pictures  and  theatres  are 
virtually  the  only  unrationed  purchase- 
able  in  wartime  Britain,  Harley  ex- 
plained. In  addition,  the  British  gov- 
ernment "has  been  most  helpful  and 
cooperative"  in  the  matter  of  film  im- 
portations. Films  are  admitted  with- 
out restrictions  at  a  time  when  many 
other  imports  are  barred.  In  this  pol- 
icy, the  government  is  guided  by  its 
desire  to  provide  for  the  British  peo- 
ple the  best  entertainment  available, 
Harley  said. 

Praises  British  Industry 

The  20th  Century-Fox  executive 
gave  unstinted  praise  to  the  British 
industry  for  doing  a  good  job  under 
the  most  difficult  wartime  conditions. 
.  In  spite  of  all  the  obstacles  which  con- 
front that  industry,  Harley  said,  the 
quality  of  its  films  has  improved  and 
its  theatres  are  well  run  and  well 
maintained  in  the  face  of  dire  man- 
power and  equipment  shortages. 

Harley  described  some  of  the  con- 
tributions of  the  industry  in  Britain 
to  the  war  effort,  the  service  of  in- 
dividuals on  numerous  war  commit- 
tees, the  contribution  of  industry  fa- 
cilities to  the  government  and  mili- 
tary, the  supply  of  motion  pictures  to 
the  armed  forces,  and  many  other  ac- 
tivities. Arrangements  are  being  per- 
fected, Harley  said,  to  earmark  cer- 
tain prints  received  at  the  London 
offices  from  America  for  the  service 
men  stationed  in  the  British  Isles, 
with  the  result  that  many  of  them  now 
are  receiving  35mm.  prints  almost  as 
soon  as  16mm.  prints. 

Among  those  at  the  luncheon  were 
Tom  J.  Connors,  Maurice  Silver- 
stone,  Larry  Kent,  Sidney  Towell  and 
Martin  Quigley. 

Freeman  Clarifies 
Wallis'  Para.  Status 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
who  faces  the  manifold  problems  of 
production,  including  who  will  appear 
in  his  films,  the  only  difference  being 
that  Paramount  is  a  fifty-fifty  partner 
in  the  latter's  new  company.  He  added 
that  Wallis  could,  therefore,  under  his 
arrangement,  produce  on  any  lot,  but 
will  use  Paramount  in  view  of  man- 
agement problems,  including  studio 
overhead. 

According  to  Freeman,  the  Wallis- 
Paramount  deal  in  no  way  bears  on  the 
position  or  duties  of  Buddy  De  Sylva  as 
executive'  producer.  He  views  Wallis' 
and  De  Sylva's  activities*  as  separate 
and  distinct  and  without  any  possibility 
of  conflict. 


(Continued  from  page  I) 

Troop,"  starring  Gary  Cooper. 
The  company  also  had  two  spe- 
cials this  year. 

The  company  plans  a  substantial  in- 
crease in  the  cost  and  number  of  top- 
bracket  pictures,  it  was  said.  At  least 
20  top  films — described  as  the  great- 
est number  ever  offered  in  a  single 
year  by  Columbia — will  be  produced, 
with  a  corresponding  reduction  in  the 
number  of  "B"  pictures. 

The  company  also  announced  that 
it  has  renewed  its  contract  for  the 
use  of  Technicolor  facilities  and  will 
use  the  process  in  several  pictures. 
Properties  Listed 

Columbia  said  that  its  program  for 
next  year  will  be  selected  from  among 
the  following  properties,  or  from  ad- 
ditional material  acquired  and  pro- 
duced during  the  year. 

"Tonight  and  Every  Night,"  color 
musical  co-sfarring  Rita  Hayworth, 
Janet  Blair  and  Lee  Bowman,  with 
Victor  Saville  as  director-producer ; 
"Over  21,"  Ruth  Gordon  stage  play; 
"Jacobowsky  and  the  Colonel,"  Franz 
Werfel-S.  N.  Behrman  Theatre  Guild 
play ;  "Burlesque,"  George  M.  Wat- 
ters-Arthur  Hopkins  play  with  music ; 
"April  Showers,"  biography  of  a  not- 
ed musical  comedy  figure ;  "Another 
Love  Story,"  Frederick  Lonsdale 
play ;  "Counterattack,"  Janet  Mar- 
shall-Philip Stevenson  stage  play ; ' 
"Chautauqua,"  drama  and  music ; 
"Storm  in  April,"  I.  A.  R.  Wylie 
McCall  Magazine  story ;  "Some  Call 
It  Love" ;  "War  Sings  a  Lullaby," 
by  Virginia  Van  Upp ;  "One  Thou- 
sand and  One  Nights." 

Also :  "Stalk  the  Hunter,"  Liberty 
magazine  serial  by  Mitchell  Wilson; 
"Song  of  Broadway,"  romantic  musi- 
cal ;  "Nine  Girls  in  a  Dress  Shop," 

3-Way  Film,  Air 
Skouras  Tieup 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
in  the  Skouras  houses,  has  been  ar- 
ranged on  a  52-week  period,  starting 
about  June  15. 

Negotiations  for  the  tie-up  were 
concluded  late  last  week  between 
Skouras  Theatres  and  the  audience 
promotion  division  of  WJZ.  Contem- 
plated are  three  different  trailers,  each 
one  featuring  a  different  set  of  six 
commercial  programs  which  will  be 
distributed  among  the  theatres  every 
month  so  that  18  programs  will  be 
brought  to  the  attention  of  Skouras 
theatre  audiences  during  this  period. 

In  return,  20th-Fox  films  being 
shown  at  Skouras  theatres  will  be 
promoted  three  times  daily,  seven  days 
weekly  on  WJZ. 

Ray  Lewis  Acquires 
Selznick  Reissues 

David  0.  Selznick  has  sold  reissue 
rights  to  four  of  his  productions  to  a 
Canadian  group  beaded  by  Ray  Lewis. 
Films  ,  involved  are  "Intermezzo," 
"Garden  of  Allah,"  "Tom  Sawyer" 
and  "Prisoner  of  Zenda."  The  con- 
tract includes  reissue  rights  in  the 
United  States  to  all  of  the  pictures, 
with  the  exception  of  "Intermezzo." 

Lewis  has  negotiated  a  deal  with 
Paul  Graetz,  president  of  the  AFE 
Corp.,  for  the  American  distribution. 


comedy-drama ;  "In  Old  Monterey," 
Western  musical ;  "No  Sad  Songs  for 
Me,"  Ruth  Southard  novel;  "Eadie 
Was  a  Lady,"  with  music;  "Song  of 
Tahiti,"  girl-and-music  show ;  "Men  of 
the  Deep";  "Boston  Blackie"  pro- 
duction 

Also:  "Sergeant  Mike,"  dog  story; 
"Miss  Bobby  Socks";  "Eve  Knew 
Her  Apples,"  musical;  "Wandering 
Daughters";  "A  Guy,  a  Gal  and  a 
Pal";  "Girl  Habit,"  comedy;  "Ten 
Cents  a  Dance" ;  "Ferry  Command." 

Also :  "Man  from  Morocco" ; 
"Blockade  Runner" ;  "Three  Blondes 
and  a  Redhead"  ;  two  "Whistler"  pro- 
ductions, sequels  to  the  film  based  on 
the  CBS  radio  show;  two  "Crime 
Doctor"  productions;  "Blimp  Pa- 
trol" ;  "Girl  of  the  Limbeiiost,"  Gene 
Stratton  Porter  novel. 

During  1944-45  Columbia  will  re- 
lease 10  Westerns  starring  Charles 
Starrett. 

Short  Subjects 

The  118  short  subjects  will  include: 
28  two-reelers,  comprising  eight 
"Three  Stooges"  specials,  four  Vera 
Vague  comedies ;  four  with  Hugh 
Herbert,  four  with  Andy  Clude,  two 
musicals  and  six  "All  Star"  come- 
dies. The  90  single  reels  will  feature 
six  "Li'l  Abner"  color  cartoons  and 
four  "Fox  and  Crow"  cartoons  in 
color,  plus  82  novelty,  musical  and 
comedy  reels,  comprising  10  "Color 
Rhapsodies,"  10  "Phantasies,"  12 
"Screen  Snapshots,"  12  "Sport  Reels," 
12  "Community  Songs,"  six  "Film 
Vodvils,"  eight  "Panoramics"  and  six 
color  cartoons  which  will  be  reissued. 

Columbia  will  also  release  three 
serials :  "The  Black  Arrow,"  "Brenda 
Starr — Reporter,"  based  on  the  comic 
strip  by  Dale  Messick,  and  "The 
Monster  and  the  Ape.'.' 

Dunn  Is  Named  UA 
Publicity  Manager 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
past  six  months,  he  handled  Metro- 
politan newspapers  and  syndicates. 
Prior  to  his  RKO  affiliation,  he 
handled  special  publicity  for  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox at  the  home  office  and  in 
Hollywood  and  served  as  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity  of  the  Rivo- 
li  Theatre  in  New  York  for  10  years. 

Jeffrey's  resignation  was  announced 
at  the  weekend.  He  joined  UA  in 
1937  as  New  York  press  contact,  and 
at  various  times  handled  trade  press, 
New  York  exploitation  and  out-of- 
town  campaigns  for  the  company. 
Prior  to  that  he  was  advertising-pub- 
licity director  for  Warners  New  York 
theatres. 


To  Detroit  for  Krim 

Attorneys  Richard  Morgan,  Para- 
mount; Harry  Pimstein,  RKO,  and 
John  Dunne,  20th  Century-Fox,  left 
New  York  over  the  weekend  for  De- 
troit to  appear  at  the  Krim  arbitration 
case  which  will  get  underway  there 
today. 


Hicok  Retired 

E.  M.  Hicok,  personnel  relations 
manager  for  Western  Electric,  has 
been  retired  under  the  company's  auto- 
matic pension  plan,  after  39  years. 
Succeeding  him  is  R.  J.  Pfeifer,  assist- 
ant comptroller  of  manufacturer. 


RKO  to  Enter 
Production 
For  Television 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
agreed  upon  by  Ralph  Austrian,  di- 
rector of  television  for  RKO,  and 
Clarence  Menser,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  programs,  who  is  in  charge 
of  television  development  at  NBC. 
It  is  understood,  moreover,  that  the 
arrangement,  with  approval  of  the  top 
management  of  both  film  company  and 
network,  provides  for  cooperation  be- 
tween broadcaster  and  film  company 
extending  beyond  the  immediate  con- 
vention project. 

It  is  possible  that  RKO's  television 
branch  will  produce  other  special 
news,  commentator  and  entertainment 
reels  to  be  used  in  long-range  experi- 
mentation in  the  use  of  film  for  tele- 
vision. 

Austrian  in  Charge 

Austrian,  who  went  to  RKO  from 
RCA  last  year  to  develop  a  television 
program  for  the  film  company,  will 
head  the  new  subsidiary.  Additional- 
ly, Fred  Ullman,  Jr.,  producer  of 
RKO's  "This  Is  America"  short  sub- 
jects and  for  many  years  with  RKO- 
Pathe  News,  and  Thomas  H.  Hutch- 
inson will  have  key  executive  posts 
in  the  new  project,  combining  their 
respective  experiences  in  newsreel 
and  television  production. 

Hutchinson  formerly  was  director 
of  television  programs  for  NBC. 
Lately  he  has  been  with  Ruthrauff 
and  Ryan,  advertising  agency,  where 
he  was  in  charge  of  studies  of  the  ap- 
plication of  television  to  commercial 
advertising. 

Formal  announcement  of  the 
new  television  project  is  ex- 
pected to  be  made  by  N.  Peter 
Rathvon,  president  of  RKO,  and 
Austrian,  at  a  press  conference 
at  RKO's  home  office  tomorrow 
morning. 

The  Chicago  political  convention 
pictures  will  be  filmed  by  special  units 
of  RKO-Pathe  cameramen.  The 
sound  radio  reports  from  the  conven- 
tion by  NBC's  staff  of  announcers 
and  commentators  will  be  recorded 
and  adapted  for  the  visual  broadcasts. 
Special  interviews  and  reports  will 
also  be  made  before  the  cameras  by 
such  NBC  commentators,  including 
Louis  Lochner,  Lowell  Thomas,  Rob- 
ert St.  John,  H.  V.  Kaltenborn,  Ben 
Grauer  and  Morgan  Beatty. 

It  is  planned  to  telecast  over  the 
NBC  transmitter  the  next  day  a  pic- 
torial counterpart  of  the  proceedings 
heard  over  the  network  the  preceding 
evening  and  afternoon. 

In  addition  to  the  New  York  trans- 
mission over  WNBT  the  program 
will  probably  be  relayed  to  WRGB, 
General  Electric  station  in  Schenec- 
tady, and  to  WPTZ,  Philco  outlet,  in 
Philadelphia. 


Partlow  Branch  Manager 

J.  R.  Partlow,  formerly  a  salesman 
in'the  Universal  Dallas  office,  has  been 
appointed  branch  manager  of  the  com- 
pany's Oklahoma  City  exchange  to 
succeed  J.  E.  Hobbs  who  resigned, 
it  was  announced  here  recently  by  W. 
A.  Scully,  vice-president  and  general 
sales  manager. 


WHIRLWIND  1411 
WORLD  PREl 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  5,  1944 


Outdoor  N.  Y.  Rally 
Climaxes  17 
Fifth  Loan  Rallies 


The  industry's  local  Fifth  War 
Loan  breakfast  meeting,  held  Friday 
at  the  Tavern-on-the-Green  in  Central 
Park  here,  brought  to  a  climax  na- 
tional chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell's 
series  of  17  Fifth  War  Loan  rallies 
throughout  the  country.  The  chair- 
man, introduced  by  Charles  C.  Mos- 
kowitz,  chief  of  the  campaign  in  this 
city,  praised  the  novelty  of  the  meet- 
ing, which  had  been  kept  secret  until 
the  last  minute,  and  paid  tribute  to 
the  work  done  here  in  previous  drives. 

Campaign  director  John  Friedl  ex- 
plained the  urgent  need  for  siphoning 
off  inflationary  money,  the  importance 
of  increasing  the  number  of  bond  pre- 
mieres, the  new  children's  bond  show 
idea,  and  urged  exhibitors  to  get  be- 
hind "Free  Movie  Day"  on  July  6 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  distribu- 
tor chairman,  told  of  the  closely-knit 
distributor  organization  that  is  now- 
functioning. 

Best  Equipped  Agencies 

Nevil  Ford,  New  York  State  chair- 
man for  the  Treasury's  War  Finance 
Committee,  stressed  the  fact  that  thea- 
tres are  the  best  equipped  of  all  agen 
cies  to  sell  bonds. 

Major  Allen  V.  Martini,  pilot  of 
the  Flying  Fortress  "Martini  Cock- 
tail," declared  that,  "from  my  ob 
servations  the  people  of  America  are 
too  complacent. 

Among  those  on  the  dais  were: 
Leonard  Goldenson,  N.^  Peter  Rath- 
von,  Joseph  Bernhard,  R.  M.  Ken- 
nedy, Ted  Gamble,  Si  Fabian,  Spyros 
Skouras,  Ray  Beall,  Barney  Balaban, 
Malcolm  Kingsberg,  Claude  Lee  and 
J.  R.  Grainger. 

Sam  Rinzler,  Harry  Brandt,  Her- 
man Robbins,  Herman  Gluckman, 
Walter  Brown,  Arthur  Mayer,  George 
Schaefer,  Oscar  A.  Doob,  Joseph 
Kinsky,  Ernest  Emerling,  David 
Weinstock,  Jim  Brennan,  Edward  C. 
Dowden,  Leon  Bamberger  and  Harry 
Mandel. 


60    Bond  Premieres 
Set  in  Connecticut 

New  Haven,  June  4.— At  least  60 
bond  premieres  will  be  set  in  Con- 
necticut by  early  this  week,  as  com- 
pared with  37  during  the  Fourth  War 
Loan,  Harry  F.  Shaw,  exhibitor  state 
chairman,  determined  at  a  state  Fifth 
War  Loan  meeting  here  at  the  week- 
end. 

An  all-Army  show  with  a  cast  of 
100  from  the  Army  Air  Forces  Tech- 
nical Command,  stationed  at  Yale 
University,  will  play  premieres  in  a 
majority  of  the  smaller  towns  that 
did  not  stage  such  events  before. 

'Bernadette'  to  RKO 
N.Y.  Houses  July  3-5 

The  40-odd  RKO  theatres  in  the 
Metropolitan  New  York  area,  includ- 
ing Westchester,  will  play  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox's "The  Song  of  Bernadette" 
on  Monday,  Tuesday  and  Wednesday, 
July  3-5,  at  advanced  admission  prices 
of  75  cents  for  matinees  and  $1.20 
for  evenings. 

The  film  concluded  a  run  of  19 
weeks  at  the  Rivoli  on  Broadway  last 
night. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


'Buffalo'  Riding  to 
$15,000  in  Pitts. 


Pittsburgh,  June  4.— Bright  spot 
m  a  dull  week  here  was  "Buffalo 
Bill,"  which  headed  for  a  cheerful 
$15,000  at  the  Harris,  while  business 
elsewhere  continued  in  early  Summer 
doldrums. 

Estimated    receipts    for  the 
ending  June  2: 

'Man  from  Frisco"  (Rep.) 

,  FULTON-(1,700)     (35c-44c-65c)    7  days 
rross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $8,500). 
Buffalo  Bill"  (2ttth-Fox) 
HARRIS-(2,200)     (35c-44c-65c)     7  days 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Average:  $10,100) 
'And  the  Angels  Sing-"  (Para.) 
>PENN-(.1,400)      (35c-44c-65c)      7  days 
jross:    $14,500.     (Average:  $21,700) 
See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
RITZ-(UOO)    (35c-44c-65c)    7    days,  4th 
week,  moyeover  after  1  week  at  Perm  1 
at^  Warner.    Gross:  $3,000.    (Average:  $3,- 

'Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

_  SENATOR— (1,750)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
into  3rd  week,  moveover  after  9  days  at 
Harris.  Gross:  $3,300.  (Average:  $3,400). 
The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
STANLEY — (3. 800)  (44c-68c-85c).  On  stage, 
6  days  of  vaudeville,  including  Bert 
Wheeler,  Milt  Britton's  band.  Gross:  $16,- 
000.  (Average:  $22,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week,  moveover  from  Fenn.  Gross- 
$9,000.     (Average:  $9,350). 


"NEW,   EXCITING  PERSONALITY" 
SAYS  CECIL  B.    DE  MILLE  AS  HE 
SIGNS  GLAMOROUS  CAROL  THURSTON 
TO  LONG-TERM  CONTRACT.  NEW 
STAR  WILL  BE  HEARD  TOMORROW 
ON  THE  LAST  OF  SIX  BIG  RADIO 
NETWORK  SHOWS  PR0M0TI NG 
'THE  STORY  OF  DR.  WASSELL" .  .  . 
WILL  BE  SEEN  TOMORROW  FOR  THE 
F I RST  TIME  ON  THE  N.Y.  SCREEN 
AT  Rl VOLI    P  REM  I  ERE  OF  CECIL 
B.    DE  MILLE  TECHNICOLOR 
SPECTACLE,   STARRING  GARY  COOPER. 


'Tomorrow',  Show  Get 
$14,100  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  June  4. — Business  dropped 
here  this  week.  Top  gross  was  $14,- 
100  for  "It  Happened"  Tomorrow"  and 
Vaughn  Monroe  and  his  band-revue 
on  the  Orpheum  stage.  Showers 
were  frequent. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  1-2: 

"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)     (44c-60c)  7 
Gross:  $7,400.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

OMAHA— (2,000)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
$8,400.     (Average:  $8,400). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

ORPHEUM— (3,000)  (44c-55c-70c)  7  days. 
Vaughn  Monroe's  band  revue  on  stage. 
Gross:  $14,100,  (Average:  $14,900).  ; 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:   $9,600.     (Average:  $11,700). 


days. 


Gross: 


16,234  Theatres  Date 
Films  for  Leo  Week 

Another  1,168  theatres  have  booked 
an  M-G-M  picture  for  Leo's  20-year 
anniversary  week,  June  22-28,  making 
a  total  of  16,234  houses  set  to  date, 
excluding  theatres  in  Canada  and  for- 
eign countries,  which  also  are  par- 
ticipating in  the  event. 

Four  more  exchanges  have  reported 
100  per  cent  bookings  for  theatres  in 
their  territories,  making  a  total  of  16 
branches.  The  new  branches  report- 
ing 100  per  cent  are :  Philadelphia, 
Pittsburgh,  Dallas,  and  Denver. 

Burtus  Bishsp,  Jr.,  is  the  first  dis- 
trict manager  to  report  100  per  cent 
bookings  for  exchanges  under  his  su- 
pervision. 


Henry  Riegel  Chosen 
As  District  Manager 

St.  Louis,  June  4. — Henry  Riegel, 
manager  of  the  Ambassador  Theatre 
here,  has  succeeded  Albert  Stetson  as 
district  manager  of  the  St.  Louis 
Amusement  Co.  Stetso.i  was  recently 
named  War  Activities  director  for 
Fanchon  &  Marco. 

Albert  Wheeler,  manager  of  the 
Shady  Oak  Theatre,  succeeds  Riegel 
at  the  Ambassador  while  Frank  Trea- 
nor  replaces  Wheeler. 


ET  ON  HIM  - 


There  he  goes  . . .  Every  horse  he  rides  is  a  winner . . .  Whether 
his  mount  is  the  box-office  sensation  of  the  moment  ...  or 
one  called  "Just  Another  Picture".  .  .  he  wins  with  all  .  .  . 
He'll  take  an  attraction  right  up  to  the  front  .  .  .  and  keep  it 
there  ...  in  the  big  money  ...  in  fair  weather  ...  or  muddy 
competition . . .  For  he  wears  the  colors  of  the  "BIG  RECEIPTS" 
stable  . . .  Watch  him  go  . . .  and  put  a  little  lettuce  on  him  . . . 
the  most  careful  bettors  in  this  business  .  .  .  have  been  back- 
ing him  for  years . . .  because  he  always  pays  off . .  .They  know 
he's  got  something  . . .  It's  Advertising  . . .  best  in  the  business. 


najiunBL^CIb^^t  service 


jor  triumph  on  Broadway  and  the  road, 
in  "Junior  Miss,"  stage  hit  of  1942,  His 
fine  performance  in  his  first  motion  pic- 
ture is  one  of  its  outstanding  sensations! 


First  in 


tpand 
Impartial 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Alert, 


tion 


Picture 
Industry 


VOL.  55.  NO.  110 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  6,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


May  Adjourn 
Schine  Trial 
For  2  Months 


Expect  Halt  on  Friday 
Until  Mid-August 

Buffalo,  June  5. — Trial  of  the 
government's  anti-trust  suit  against 
Schine  circuit  under  way  in  U.  S. 
District  court  here,  may  be  ad- 
journed Friday  for  about  two  months, 
it  was  indicated  here  today. 

Seth  Richardson,  of  counsel  for 
Schine,  must  return  to  Washington  at 
the  end  of  the  week  for  trial  of  an- 
other case  and  previously  had  made 
arrangements  for  adjournment  of  the 
Schine  trial  during  that  period.  Now, 
however,  it  is  learned  that  Federal 
Judge  John  Knight,  who  is  presiding 
at  the  Schine  trial,  will  be  unable  to 
resume  until  the  second  or  third  week 
in  August  as  he  is  scheduled  to  handle 
the  July  term  of  the  court  at  James- 
town, N.  Y. 

Cross  examined  by  Attorney  Saul 
E.  Rogers,  of  counsel  for  Schine,  as 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


4  More  Bond 
Drive  Meets 


With  mobilization  of  the  entire  in- 
dustry for  the  "Fighting  Fifth"  War 
Loan  campaign  nearing  completion, 
drive  chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell  and 
national  committee  members  will  at- 
tend four  meetings  this  week,  follow- 
ing which  they  will  return  to  cam- 
paign headquarters  in  New'  York,  to 
await  the  starting  gun  of  the  indus- 
try's "E  Day"  next  Monday. 

A  rally  of  Northern  New  Jersey 
exhibitors  and  distributors  will  be  held 
at  the  Athletic  Club  in  Newark  this 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Loew's  Subscribes 
$10,000,000 


David  Bernstein,  treasurer  of 
Loew's,  Inc.,  yesterday  notified 
Leonard  Goldenson,  chairman  of  the 
industry's  corporate  investment  com- 
mittee of  the  Fifth  War  Loan,  that 
Loew's  is  subscribing  to  $10,000,000 
worth  of  Fifth  Loan  bonds.  The  total 
purchase  will  be  allocated  propor- 
tionately to  the  credit  of  cities  in 
which  there  are  Loew  theatres  and 
Mctro-Goldwyn-Mayer  exchanges. 


Underwood  Division 
Mgr.  of  Columbia 

Chicago,  June  5. — J.  B.  Un- 
derwood, branch  manager  of 
Columbia  Pictures'  exchange 
in  Dallas,  will  be  named  divi- 
sion manager  of  the  South- 
western territory,  with  head- 
quarters in  Dallas,  it  was 
learned  here  today.  Under- 
wood has  been  here  attending 
the  company's  sales  conven- 
tion. 

It  is  expected  that  the  com- 
pany's Southwestern  territory 
will  be  enlarged. 


Dismissal  of  Most 
Momand  Action  Seen 


Oklahoma  City,  June  5. — Losses 
suffered  by  A.  B.  Momand  prior  to  his 
filing  a  $4,500,000  damage  suit  against 
the  Griffith  circuit  and  14  distributor 
defendants  10  years  ago  were  not  due 
entirely  or  directly  to  contracts  made 
by  the  distributors  or  by  Griffith  ac- 
tivities, Federal  Judge  Bower  Broad- 
dus  stated  informally  here  today. 

In  a  courtesy  hearing  on  his  tenta- 
tive findings  of  fact  and  conclusions 
of  law  regarding  the  Momand  suit  in 
Western  Oklahoma  Federal  District 
court,  Broaddus  stated  that  no  evi- 
dence of  deliberate  conspiracy  between 
the  distributors  and  Griffith  had  been 
proved  to  his  satisfaction.  Although 
the  proceedings  were  not  a  matter  of 
record,  it  was  indicated  that  most  of 
the  action  will  be  dismissed.  Broaddus 
criticized  evidence  introduced  by  Mo- 
mand's  attorneys  to  show  his  financial 
losses  in  the  1929-32  period  covered 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


'White  Cliffs'  Gets 
$103,000  in  4th  Wk. 
At  the  Music  Hall 


Unusually  early  excessive  heat  added 
to  the  dullness  of  business  generally  at 
downtown  New  York  first-runs  with 
the  result  that  current  week's  grosses 
are  considerably  under  those  of  recent 
weeks.  "The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover" 
and  a  stage  bill  are  expected  to  get 
a  satisfactory  $103,000  in  a  fourth 
week  at  Radio  City  Music  Hall  with 
$68,000  taken  in  the  first -four  days 
ending  Sunday  night.  The  combination 
will  continue. 

Business  picked  up  at  the  Roxy  over 
the  weekend  to  give  "The  Eve  of  St. 
Mark"  and  a  stage  bill  headed  by 
Barry  Wood  and  Eddie  Garr  $58,000 
on  the  first  five  days,  ending  Sunday 
night.    The  bill  will  do  a  mild  $77,- 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Paramount  Heads 
To  FP-C  Meeting 

ToRONTO,June  5. — The  first  wartime 
conference  of  the  Eastern  managers 
of  Famous  Players-Canadian  Corp. 
opening  tomorrow  for  a  three-day  ses- 
sion will  be  attended  by  Adolph  Zukor, 
chairman'  of  the  Paramount  board  of 
directors ;  president  Barney  Balaban, 
general  sales  manager  Charles  M. 
Reagan  and  Leonard  N.  Goldenson, 
president  of  Paramount  Theatres  Ser- 
vice Corp.,  most  of  whom  are  sched- 
uled to  arrive  Wednesday. 

The  meetings  will  be  held  in  the 
Brock   Hotel,    Niagara   Falls,  Out., 

(Continued  on  page  11) 


Admissions  of  10  Cents,  Including 
State  Tax,  Not  Subject  to  U.  S.  Levy 

Cleveland,  June  5. — Subsequent-run  theatre  owners  here  have  re- 
ceived a  ruling  from  the  office  of  the  U.  S.  Commissioner  of  Intern- 
al Revenue  in  Washington  which  eliminates  the  Federal  tax  on 
admissions  for  children  under  12  years  of  age,  provided  the  net  ad- 
mission is  less  than  10  cents  and  a  card,  so  advising,  is  displayed  in 
the  box  office. 

In  Ohio  (and  presumably  in  other  states  where  admissions  are 
subject  to  a  state  gross  tax),  children's  admission,  prior  to  April  1 
when  the  present  Federal  tax  went  into  effect,  was  displayed  as 
fol|ows:  Established  price  .097  cents,  Ohio  state  tax  .003,  total  ad- 
mission, 10  cents. 

The  first  ruling  from  Washington  after  the  new  federal  tax  went 
into  effect  was  that  the  U.  S.  tax  liability  of  one  cent  for  every  five 
cents  starting  at  ten  cents  was  to  be  computed  on  the  basis  of  the 
total  admission  charge.  Under  the  new  ruling,  the  Federal  tax 
liability  is  to  be  commuted  on  the  net  admission  charge.  Inasmuch 
as  the  net  charge  here  for  children  under  12  years  is  less  than  10 
cents,  it  is  held  not  subject  to  the  Federal  tax.  The  result  locally 
is  that  a  majority  of  houses  which  raised  children's  prices  to  12 
cents  to  cover  the  Federal  tax,  have  cut  to  10  cents. 


Early  Summer 
Heat  Hits 
Field  Grosses 


But  Roundup  Averages 
Still  Top  Last  Year 

Unusually  early  Summer  heat 
and  heavy  rains  in  many  spots 
drove  down  average  weekly  grosses 
during  May  to  more  than  $1,000 
under  April  averages,  according  to 
Motion  Picture  Daily  field  cor- 
respondents' reports  on  some  150  key 
houses  spotted  throughout  the  coun- 
try. The  April  weekly  average  was 
$16,509;  May's  was  $15,439. 

The  grosses,  however,  con- 
tinue generally  to  top  those  of 
corresponding  weeks  in  1943  by 
a  wide  margin,  with  last  week, 
for  example,  running  $2,135 
ahead  of  the  week  ending  June 
4-5  last  year. 

Films  leading  at  the  box  office  dur- 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


m '  To  Study 
Charter  Bids 


Applications  for  IATSE  charters 
for  film  salesmen's  and  theatre  mana- 
gers' unions  have  been  referred  to  the 
newly  re-elected  IATSE  executive 
board,  headed  by  Richard  F.  Walsh, 
international  president  and  Louis 
Krouse,  general  secretary-treasurer, 
for  study  and  investigation,  the  nation- 
al union's  headquarters  disclosed  here 
yesterday.  No  decision  was  made  at 
the  close  of  the  IATSE  convention  in 
St.  Louis  last  Friday.  Oscar  E.  Ol- 
son, Milwaukee  projectionists'  union 
official,  who  has  been  working  for  the 
formation  of  a  salesmen's  union,  said 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


U.  S.  'Reluctant'  on 
Suit:  Kuykendall 


Little  Rock,  June  5. — Exhibitors 
must  continue  tbeir  efforts  to  obtain  a 
fair  and  equitable  consent  decree  in 
view  of  the  Government's  seeming  re- 
luctance to  press  the  trial  of  a  suit 
against  the  major  companies  during 
wartime,  Ed  Kuykendall,  MPTOA 
president,  told  the  annual  meeting  of 
the  MPTO  of  Mississippi,  Arkansas 
and  Tennessee,  which  opened  at  the 
(Continued  on  page  12) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  6,  1944 


'Stark'  War  Films 
Out  for  Columbia 


Chicago,  June  5. — Columbia  will  not 
produce  any  "blood  and  thunder"  war 
pictures  for  the  duration,  A.  Mon- 
tague, general  sales  manager,  said  in 
a  trade  press  interview7  at  the  Drake 
Hotel  here,  following  a  company  sales 
convention.  Columbia,  he  added,  will 
continue  to  turn  out  war  theme  sub- 


jects,  provided  they   carry  sufficient 
entertainment  value.    As  an  example 
he  mentioned  Columbia's  forthcoming 
"Mr.  Winkle  Goes  to  War,"  war  com 
edy. 

Montague  stated  that  the  company 
will  not  force  reissues  on  exhibitors, 
unless  there  is  a  demand  for  them 
There  has  been  some  talk  of  reissuing 
"Here  Comes  Mr.  Jordan,"  but  it  will 
'be  reissued  only  when  the  trade  really 
wants  it  again,  according  to  Mon- 
tague. He  said  that  Columbia  does  not 
have  to  depend  on  reissues  to  fill  out 
its  schedule.  It  has  announced  44 
features  for  the  new  season,  and  it 
will  deliver  them,  Montague  empha- 
sized. 

He  said  that  Columbia  encourages 
good  independent  producers,  even  if 
it  means  upsetting  its  own  schedule, 
for  "an  exhibitor  will  never  kick  about 
an  upset  schedule  if  one  can  improve 
the  proposed  schedule."  He  named  as 
independent  producers  Sam  Wood,  Pat 
O'Brien,  and  Sidney  Buchman,  the  lat- 
ter having  recently  completed  "The 
Loves  of  Madame  Sands"  (tentative 
title). 


Safron  to  Hold  Three 
Columbia  Regionals 

Chicago.  June  5. — Jerry  Safron, 
Western  district  manager  for  Colum- 
bia, left  today  at  the  close  of  the  com- 
pany's four-day  sales  meeting  at  the 
Drake,  to  hold  regional  sales  meetings 
in  Denver,  Salt  Lake  City  and  Port- 
land. He  will  not  attend  the  New- 
York  sales  meet,  June  13-15,  but  will 
be  on  hand  for  the  San  Francisco  gath- 
ering on  July  11-13. 


SOEG  Is  Winner 
At  20th-Fox  Studio 

Los  Angeles,  June  5.— The  Screen 
Office  Employes  Guild.  Local  1381 
AFL  has  been  officially  certified  by 
the  National  Labor  Relations  Board 
as  the  bargaining  agent  for  over  500 
office  workers  at  the  20th  Century 
Fox  studios  following  an  electior 
hekr  May  18. 

-SOEG  is  seeking  a  seven  percent 
wage  increase  retroactive  to  January 
for  the  20th  Century-Fox  workers  and 
is  now  organizing  similar  workers  at 
the  _  Paramount  and  Warner  Bros, 
studios. 


Lt.  DeSimon  Wounded 

Lt.  Caspar  De  Simon,  formerly  of 
National  Screen's  American  Display 
plant,  awarded  the  Purple  Heart  for 
wounds  received  in  the  European 
Theatre,  is  now  at  Halloran  General 
Hospital,  Staten  Island.  De  Simon, 
a  navigator  on  a  heavy  bomber,  was 
returning  from  a  completed  mission 
when  his  plane  crashed  in  the  English 
Channel.  He  volunteered  in  Julv, 
1942. 


Personal  Mention 


HARRY  M.  WARNER  is  sched- 
uled to  leave  New  York  for  the 
Coast  on  Friday. 

• 

Martin  Moskowitz,  assistant  to 
William  Kupper,  20th  Century-Fox 
general  sales  manager ;  L.  J.  Schlai- 
fer,  Central  sales  manager,  and  his 
assistant  Jack  Bloom,  have  returned 
to  New  York  from  Boston. 


Wilbur  B.  England,  personnel  di- 
rector" of "  RKO  Theatres,  returned  to 
his  desk  yesterday  after  a  week's  va- 
cation. 

• 

Frank  Kexnebeck,  Paramount's 
manager  for  Trinidad,  has  arrived  in 
New  York  for  a  stay  of  several 
weeks. 

• 

Esther  Bender  of  the  Cleveland 
Paramount  exchange,  will  take  a  four 
weeks'  leave  of  absence  to  visit  Colo- 
rado Springs. 

Ed  Fisher,  Loew's,  Inc.,  Theatres 
Cleveland     publicity     director,  will 
handle  the  ten-day  Navy  War  Show 
to  be  held  in  that  city  late  in  June. 
• 

Marvin  H.  Schexck  of  Loew's 
has  returned  to  New  York  after  a 
Florida  vacation. 

Larry    Golob,    Warners'  Eastern 
publicity  manager,  will  leave  today  for 
a  two-week  stay  on  the  Coast. 
• 

W.  Stewart  McDonald,  Warner 
Theatres  comptroller,  is  on  a  New 
England  tour. 


LA.RRY  KENT,  executive  assist- 
ant to  Spyros  SkouraSj  president 
of  20th  Century-Fox,  has  left  New 
York  for  the  Coast. 

• 

Bud  Greenwald,  son  of  Max 
Greexwald,  general  manager  of  the 
Elyria  Theatres,  Cleveland,  will  be 
married  July  4  to  Miss  Helene 
Cohen. 

~  •  _ 

Jane  Sherman,  secretary  to  Ben 
Amsterdam,  president  of  the  Atlan- 
tic Theatres  Circuit,  Philadelphia,  and 
Corp.  Arthur  K.  Seligman,  have 
announced  their  engagement. 

• 

George  K.  Bremen,  owner  of  As- 
sociated Theatres,  Detroit,  has  arrived 
in  New  York  enroute  to  Princeton, 
N.  J.,  to  join  the  Navy. 

• 

Mrs.  Edna  R.  Carroll,  Pennsyl- 
vania State  Censor  Board  chairman, 
has  been  elected  vice-president  of  the 
Republican  State  Committee. 
• 

Irving  Mandel,  Monogram  Chica- 
go branch  manager,  and  Ben  Eisen- 
berg,   Chicago   exchange  sales  man- 
ager, will  leave  for  Hollywood  June  9. 
• 

Mrs..  Herman   Robbins,  wife  of 
Herman  Robbins,  president  of  Na- 
tional Screen  Service,  has  arrived  in 
Hollywood  for  a  three  week's  stay. 
• 

Edmund    Dorfmann,  independent 
producer,  has  returned  to  New  York 
after  a  month's  stay  in  Hollywood. 
• 

Charles  Francis  Coe  will  leave 
New  York  for  Washington  tomorrow. 


Skirball  UA  Film 
Starting  in  July 

Jack  H.  Skirball's  first  production 
for  release  through  United  Artists 
will  be  "Fickle  Fortune,"  a  tentative 
title,  starring  Fred  Allen,  it  Has  been 
disclosed  by  the  producer.  The 
film,  which  is  budgeted  at  $1,000,000. 
will  go  into  production  the  Jatter 
part  of  July  at  the  Samuel  Goldwyn 
studios.  The  story  is  an  original  by 
Lew  Foster,  Jay  Dratler  and  Alma 
Reville,  and  is  being  adapted  by  Mor- 
rie  Ryskind  and  Fred  Allen. 

Sally  Benson,  author  of  "Junior 
Miss,"  is  now  writing  a  musical  for 
the  stage  from  Louisa  M.  Olcott's 
"Eight  Cousins"  and  "Rose  in  Bloom" 
to  be  presented  by  Skirball,  possibly 
in  association  with  the  Theatre  Guild, 
in  January. 

Skirball  is  here  viewing  stage  plays 
for  possible  film  production.  His  plans 
call  for  production  of  one  picture 
and  one  stage  play  yearly.  He  will 
return  to  the  Coast  in  a  week. 


'Frisco  Delinquency  Up 

San  Francisco,  June  5. — Juvenile 
delinquency  in  theatres  here  seems  to 
be  increasing,  local  authorities  report, 
despite  the  ban  on  children  under  16 
after  6:30  P.M.,  and  only  youths  over 
18  may  enter  after  9  P.M. 


House  Approves  Cut 
In  Cabaret  Tax 

Washington,  June  5. — Representa- 
tives of  the  House,  which  last  week 
rejected  a  Senate  proposal  to  reduce 
the  cabaret  tax  from  30  to  20  percent, 
today  agreed  to  accept  the  reduction. 
A  compromise  was  reached,  however, 
eliminating  the  Senate  exemption  from 
the  tax  for  service  men  and  women, 
on  the  ground  that  it  would  make 
administration  of  the  tax  impossible. 

The  agreement  reached  by  the 
House  and  Senate  conferees  is  s+ill 
subject  to  confirmation  by  both 
groups,  but  it  is  anticipated  it  will  be 
accepted  without  material  opposition. 


Austrian  to  Talk  on 
Theatre  Television 

Ralph  Austrian,  director  of  televi- 
sion for  RKO,  will  discuss  the  antici- 
pated commercial  development  of  thea,- 
tre  television  in  the  next  decade  at 
the  fourth  meeting  of  the  Radio  Ex- 
ecutives Club  television  seminar  to  be 
held  here  Thursday. 


$200  for  Indecent  Films 

Los  Angeles,  June  5. —  Y.  Darnell, 
manager  of  a  theatre  at  458  South 
Main  St.,  was  fined  $200  in  Municipal 
ludge  Irvin  Taplin's  court  on  a  plea 
of  guilty  to  a  charge  of  showing  in- 
decent films  in  the  theatre  last  Feb. 
10. 


Gable  Returning  to 
M-G-M  from  Army 

Hollywood,  June  5. — Major  Clark 
Gable  will  return  to  M-G»JC^s:»  pro- 
duction program  next  season,  aftf  r  an 
absence  of  almost  two  year's.  The 
studio  has  yet  to  determine  his  first, 
vehicle  although  several  stories  have 
been  lined  up  in  view  of  the  persistent 
report  for  the  last  several  months  that 
Gable  will  go  on  the  inactive  Army 
Air  Corps  list. 

He  is  expected  to  get  his  felease 
papers  this  week  following  word  from 
Roy  M.  Jones,  commanding  officer  of 
the  First  Motion  Picture  Unit  at 
Culver  City,  but  a  month's  work  re- 
mains on  a  combat  film  dealing  with 
aerial  gunnery. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
HELD  OVER  4th  WEEK 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'a  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

FIRST  N.  Y.  SHOWING 

EDW.G.  ROBINSON 

'TAMPICO' 

Victor  McLAGLEN 


IN  PERSON 

Direct  from  Glass  Hal 
of  Belmont  Plaza 

The  CHINESE 
REVUE 

Add-ed  Attraction 

Harry  SAVOY 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


m  PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS  wmm 
GARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLES 

"The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell" 

•k  In  Technicolor  * 

RIVOLI  EM  


"ROGER  T0UHY 
GANGSTER!" 

20th  CENTURY-FOX  PICTURE 
AIR-CONDITIONED 

BRANDT'S  f~*    T      f~\    B  P 

B'way  &  46  St.     Vj    J-l    \J   D  Cm 


P^?,      •F'X:  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief ;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.    Published  dailv  except  Saturday.  Sunday 
Vr,Jl    ??y-S,  y  V>uig'-e7  Pubhshing  Company  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,'  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.    Telephone  Circle  7-3100.    Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
p/;*;'".  w  !s y2  £reS   i    :  Colvin  Brown   V.ce- President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.   J.  Sullivan,  Secretary:  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
a  riA  V"CF    r'  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood   Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  William  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
lEu    rZZ     «  -V  L£n£?P  H<ye  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."    All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 

™»  QulgIeT  Publications :  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.    Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 

post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


THE  KISS  that  changed  a  warrior 
into  a  lover... a  dancer  into  a  worn 


RKO  RADIO  is  proud  to  give  the  industry 
a  magnificent  new  motion  picture  . . . 


So  much  warmth,  so  much  drama, 
so  much  action  and  emotional 
fire — so  much  of  everything  that 
makes  a  picture  great — that 
you're  conscious  not  of  actors  in 
a  drama,  but  only  of  a  great 
human  story  lived  by  its  own 
wonderful  characters  themselves: 


A  CASEY  ROBINSON  production 

Days 


Starring  the  screens  fascinating  NEW  lovers 


OF 


TAMARA 


TOUMANOVA 
GREGORY  PECK 

with  ALAN  REED  •  MARIA  PALMER  •  LOWELL  GILMORE 

Directed  by  JACQUES  TOURNEUR  •  Produced  and  wrillen  for  the  screen  by  Casey  Robinson 


Glory 


Another 


Gigantic 


Launching  by 

IRKO. . . 


60-CITY 
PENNSYLVANIA 
AND 

WORLD  PREMIER 
JUNE  8  " 


Opening  Fox  Theatre,  Phila.;  Loew's 
Penn  Theatre,  Pittsburgh,  and  other  first 
runs  throughout  Pennsylvania;  in  West 
Virginia,  New  Jersey  and  Delaware  ... 

Backed  by  saturation  radio  coverage 
such  as  never  before  used!.. 24  powerful 
stations,  including  WCAU,  Phila.,  and 
WJAS,  Pittsburgh,  on  the  air  with  half- 
and  quarter-hour  "live"  shows;  five- 
minute  shows,  one-minute  and  all  other 
kinds  of  breaks  day  and  night  in  ad- 
vance and  current... 

Personal  appearances  of  THE  WORLD- 
FAMOUS  DON  COSSACK  CHORUS... 
personal  appearances  of  stars... smashing 
newspaper  campaigns  . . .  dramatic  ex- 
ploitation of  every  type ...  to  bring  the 
word  of  a  great  new  attraction  to  all  the 
millions  of  this  thickly-populated  area! 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  6,  1944 


Feldman,  Graham, 
Miller  'IP  Winners 


Los  Angeles,  June  5. — Universal 
will  continue  to  offer  incentives  on 
special  occasions  to  the  sales  forces 
throughout  the  new  season,  N.  J. 
Blumberg,  president  of  the  company, 
declared  in  announcing  the  district 
manager  winners  in  the  "W.  A.  Scully 
Anniversary  Drive,"  at  the  opening 
session  of  the  sales  meeting  in  the 
Ambassador  here  today.  Blumberg 
said  that  Universale  sales  department 
had  obtained  this  year  the  largest  num- 
ber of  accounts  in  company, history. 

District  prize  winners  announced 
were:  C.  J.  Feldman,  Los  Angeles, 
first;  H.  D.  Graham,  Atlanta,  sec- 
ond; Dave  Miller,  Cleveland,  third. 
Winning  offices  in  the  Scully  drive 
will  be  announced  at  the  various  re- 
gional meetings  which  will  be  held 
following  the  close  of  the  present  ses- 
sions. 

At  the  close  of  the  meeting  tonight, 
Universal  representatives  were  enter- 
tained at  dinner  by  Charles  Skouras. 

J.  Cheever  Cowdin,  chairman  of 
the  board  of  Universal  Pictures,  has 
arrived  to  attend  the  sales  meetings. 

The  group  of  district  and  division 
managers  were  guests  last  night  at  the 
home  of  Blumberg,  and  the  meeting 
opened  this  morning.  Tuesday  will 
be  taken  up  with  afternoon  and  eve- 
ning business  sessions  at  the  hotel ; 
Wednesday  and  Thursday  will  be 
spent  at  the  studio  visiting  sets,  meet- 
ing players  and  departmental  heads. 
Meetings  will  continue  on  Friday.  On 
Saturday  the  delegates  will  be  guests 
of  Cliff  Work,  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  the  studio.  On 
Sunday  they  will  again  be  the  guests 
of  Blumberg.  Next  Monday  and 
Tuesday  will  wind  up  the  business 
sessions  and  the  group  will  leave  for 
their  territories  on  Wednesday. 


Review 


Complaint  Is  Filed, 
And  Award  Entered 


"Great  Momenf 

(Paramount) 

HoUyivood,  June  5 

WRITER-director  Preston  Sturges  undertakes  here  to  tell  with  some 
earnestness  but  more  comedy  than  is  good  for  it  the  story  of  Dr. 
William  Morton,  discoverer  of  anaesthesia,  whose  life  ended  in  disap- 
pointment and  distress  before  his  work  was  accorded  recognition.  Joel 
McCrea,  Betty  Field,  Harry  Carey  and  William  Demarest  enact  the 
principal  roles  under  the  handicap  of  Sturges'  attempt  to  be  comic  and 
serious  at  the  same  time. 

The  film  is  the  writer-director's  widest  miss  to  date  in  a  career  com- 
posed almost  solely  of  bull's  eyes.  Sturges'  account  of  Morton's  life  and 
works  sticks  to  facts  and  dates  but  displays  no  respect  for  the  memory 
of  the  man  whose  greatness  is  the  subject  of  the  production.  Veering 
often,  and  sometimes  wildly,  to  the  opposite  extreme,  Sturges  tries  for 
laughs  with  dentist-chair  sequences  based  on  the  old  theory  that  a  tooth- 
ache is  funny  when  the  other  fellow's  got  it.  Not  all  his  undisputed  skill 
in  humor  is  equal  to  the  blending  of  this  stuff  with  the  essentially  his- 
torical material  in  hand. 

Attraction-wise  production  is  worth  about  as  much  as  the  billing  of 
the  names  mentioned  can  be  depended  upon  to  get  for  opening  days. 
Nothing  about  the  picture  suggests  mounting  grosses  or  holdovers. 

Running  time,  80  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  riot  set. 

William  R.  Weaver 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Censorship  Lifted  on 
Films  to  Puerto  Rico 

The  Censorship  of  film  to  Puerto 
Rico  has  been  lifted  by  Byron  Price, 
Director  of  Censorship  of  the  U.  S. 
Office  of  Censorship,  it  was  learned 
here  over  this  week. 

This  action  was  taken  after  the 
intercession  of  Bolivar  Pagan,  resi- 
dent commissioner  of  Puerto  Rico 
who  had  protested  to  Price  that  the 
existing  censorship  as  applied  to 
Puerto  Rico  was  a  discriminatory 
measure,  because  the  population  of 
that  country  were  American  citizens 
and  should  be  allowed  the  same  privi 
leges  as  those  on  the  mainland. 

Censorship  to  Hawaii  and  Alaska 
was  lifted  last  year  in  an  order  from 
the  Office  of  Censorship  removing  the 
postal  restrictions  on  motion  pictures 
and  newsreels  for  these  territories. 

Distributors   may   now    ship  their 
product  to  Puerto  Rico  as  well  as 
Hawaii  and  Alaska  without  submit 
ting  it  to  the  New  York  or  Los  An 
geles  censorship  boards  of  review. 

Censorship  in  the  Virgin  Islands 
has  also  been  lifed. 


Academy  of  Music 
Transfer  Approved 


Federal  Judge  John  C.  Knox  in 
U.  S.  District  Court  here  yesterday 
approved  the  proposed  settlement  plan 
under  which  creditors  of  Fox  Thea- 
tres Corp.  will  have  returned  to  them 
the  Academy  of  Music  Theatre  Prop- 
erty on  E.  14th  St.,  plus  other  assets, 
transferred  to  Skouras  Theatres  Corp. 
in  1937  by  order  of  Martin  T.  Man- 
ton,  former  judge  of  the  U.  S.  Circuit 
Court  of  Appeals. 

The  settlement,  which  when  com- 
pleted will  be  effective  as  of  March 
1  this  year,  will  terminate  a  suit  filed 
by  the  First  National  Bank  of  Atlan- 
ta, to  set  aside  Judge  Manton's  order. 

The  transfer  of  the  property  will  be 
made  by  Skouras  Theaters  Corp.  and 
Ktima  Corp.,  a  Skouras  subsidiary, 
and  will  include  common  capital 
stock  of  William  Fox  Realty  Co.  and 
a  claim  in  favor  of  Fox  Theatres 
Corp.  against'  the  realty  company  in 
the  amount  of  $300,760. 

.  According  to  statements  made  •  at 
a  hearing  on  the  proposal  held  before 
Judge  Knox  early  in  May,  creditors 
of  Fox  Theatres  Corp.  will  have  re- 
turned to  them  assets  with  a  value  of 
more  than  $1,000,000,  including  rentals 
under  the  Academy  of  Music  lease, 
which  Skouras  interests  will  assume. 


'Twain'  for  July  Release 

Warners'  "The  Adventures  of  Mark 
Twain"  has  been  set  for  national  re- 
lease on  July  22,  following  conclusion 
of  special  advance-price  runs.  The 
film  will  return  to  Broadway  for  an 
engagement  at  the  Strand,  following 
its  run  at  the  Hollywood. 


First  1944-45  Ten 
For  20th-Fox 

Los  Angeles,  June  5. — Twentieth 
Century-Fox  has  announced  the  fol- 
lowing first  ten  releases  for  1944-45, 
as  follows :  "Wing  and  a  Prayer"  and 
"Take  It  or  Leave  It,"  August; 
"Sweet  and  Lowdown"  and  "Green- 
wich Village,"  September;  "Irish 
Eyes  are  Smiling"  and  "In  the  Mean- 
time, Darling,"  October;  "Laura"  and 
"Something  for  the  Boys,"  November, 
and  "Thunderhead  ("Son  of  Flicka")" 
and  "Sunday  Dinner  for  a  Soldier," 
December. 


21  Dealers  Renew 
For  RCA  Equipment 

The  conclusion  of  new  distribution 
agreements  with  three  theatre  supply 
dealers  and  a  renewal  of  agreements 
with  21  others  were  announced  yes- 
terday by  Homer  B.  Snook,  sales 
manager  of  the  theatre  equipment 
section  of  RCA.  Snook  said  it  is  ex- 
pected that  additional  dealers  will  be 
signed  shortly  to  cover  30  territories 
in  the  United  States. 

The  24  dealers  already  signed  as 
RCA  theatre  equipment  outlets  are: 
Capital  City  Supply,  Atlanta ;  Capital 
Theatre  Supply,  Boston ;  United  Pro- 
jector &  Film  Corp.,  Buffalo;  Dixie 
Theatre  Supply,  Charlotte ;  Joe  Gold- 
berg, Chicago;  Mid-West  Theatre 
Supply,  Cincinnati ;  Graham  Brothers, 
Denver ;  Forbes  Theatre  Supply,  De- 
troit; Southwestern  Theatre  Equip- 
ment, Houston ;  Missouri  Theatre 
Supply,  Kansas  City ;  John  P.  Filbert, 
Los  Angeles ;  Theatre  Equipment, 
Milwaukee ;  Frosch  Theatre  Supply, 
Minneapolis ;  Delta  Theatre  Supply, 
New  Orleans ;  Capital  Motion  Picture 
Supply,  New  York. 

Also :  Oklahoma  Theatre  Supply, 
Oklahoma  City ;  Penn  Theatre  Equip- 
ment, Philadelphia ;  Superior  Motion 
Picture  Supply,  Pittsburgh ;  Western 
Theatre  Equipment,  Portland,  Ore. ; 
Elmer  Brient,  Richmond,  Va. ;  L.  T. 
Rockenstein,  St.  Louis,  Inter-Moun- 
tain Theatre  Supply,  Salt  Lake  City ; 
Walter  G.  Preddey,  San  Francisco, 
and  United  Theatre  Supply,  Tampa. 


A  new  clearance  complaint  has  been 
filed  at  the  Washington  tribunal  and 
an  award  entered  at  the  Boston  trib- 
unal, the  American  Arbitration  As- 
sociation reported  here  yesterday. 

Walbrook  Amusement  Co.,  operat- 
ing the  Walbrook,  Baltimore,  filed  a 
clearance  complaint  against  Warners, 
alleging  that  the  present  clearance  of 
the  Forest  and  the  Gvvynn  over  the 
Walbrook  are  unreasonable  as  to  time 
and  area  and  seeks  complete  elimina- 
tion. The  complaint  is  based  upon 
an  arbitration  award  rendered  by  J. 
Barrett  Prettyman  on  April  8,  1941, 
in  which  he  declared  that  the  Wal- 
brook should  immediately  follow  the 
Forest  and  Gwynn  on  the  licensing  of 
Warner  product,  and  seeks  a  modifica- 
tion of  the  award  in  accordance  with 
provision  of  Section  8  providing  for 
modification  of  an  award  because  con- 
ditions for  awarding  clearance  as  set 
forth  in  this  section  have  so  changed 
as  to  warrant  modification. 

At  Boston,  arbitrator  Charles  S. 
Bolster,  in  the  clearance  complaint  of 
E.  M.  Loew's  Theatres,  operators  of 
the  Winchester,  Winchester,  Mass., 
against  the  decree  companies,  declared 
that  clearance  between  the  Winches- 
ter and  the  University  and  Capital 
Theatres,  Arlington,  is  unreasonable 
and  should  be  abolished.  Further,  he 
reduced  the  14-day  clearance  on  RKO, 
Warners,  Loew's  and  20th-Fox  prod- 
uct and  the  10-day  clearance  of  Para- 
mount features  between  the  Winches- 
ter and  the  Strand  and  Woburn  to 
seven  days. 


Van  Heydn  to  Marines 

Camp  Lejeune,  N.  C,  June  5.  — 
L.  Michael  Scrogan,  known  in  films 
as  Peter  Van  Heydn,  has  arrived 
here  to  complete  training  with  the 
Marine  Corps.  Van  Heydn  was  fea- 
tured in  "Five  Graves  to  Cairo"  and 
"Sahara." 


Filing  in  New  York; 
Award  at  Buffalo 

A  clearance  complaint  has  been 
filed  at  the  New  York  tribunal  and 
an  award  entered  at  the  Buffalo  trib- 
unal, the  American  Arbitration  As- 
sociation reported  here  at  the  week- 
end. 

At  New  York,  Fair  Operating 
Corp.,  operating  the  Fair  Theatre, 
Jackson  Heights,  L.  I.,  filed  a  clear- 
ance complaint  against  the  five  con- 
senting companies,  charging  that  the 
seven-day  clearance  of  the  Granada, 
Corona,  over  the  Fair,  is  unwarrant- 
ed and  that  no  competition  exists  be- 
tween the  two  theatres.  The  plaintiff 
asks  the  arbitrator  for  complete  clear- 
ance elimination  or  a  reduction  to  one 
day.  Further,  it  stated  if  the  arbitra- 
tor determines  that  some  clearance  is 
justified  a  maximum  clearance  should 
be  placed  on  the  elapsed  time  between 
conclusion  of  run  at  the  Corona  or 
the  Jackson,  Jackson  Heights,  and.  the 
availability  date  of  the  Fair. 

George  W.  Wanamaker,  arbitrator 
at  the  Buffalo  tribunal,  in  the  clear- 
ance complaint  of  George  J.  and  Dor- 
othy Gammel,  operators  of  the  Co- 
lumbia Theatre,  against  the  decree 
companies  decreed  that  Columbia  run 
immediately  follow  the  Broadway  on 
product  deals  hereafter  entered  into. 


Ban  Minors  at  Midnight 

Mansfield,  O.,  June  5. — In  anoth- 
er move  to  stem  juvenile  delinquency 
here,  theatre  managers  are  refusing 
to  admit  children  under  16,  unless  ac- 
companied by  an  adult,  to  midnight 
shows.  City  officials  are  considering 
adoption  of  the  curfew  system. 


Still  a  brilliant  film,  audiences  and 
critics  agree,  is  Columbia's  "Lost  Horizon." 
Still  brilliant,  too,  is  the  screen  lighting 
from  "National"  Projector  Carbons,  whether 
the  picture  be  the  most  recent  release  or  a 
second  or  third  run.  Audiences  enjoy  virtu- 
ally the  same  screen  light  today  as  when  "Lost 
Horizon"  was  first  shown. 

This  has  been  accomplished  because  Na- 
tional Carbon  Company's  background  of  re- 
search and  manufacturing  experience  enabled 
it  to  redesign  pre-war  carbons  promptly  to 
war-time  needs  .  .  .  and  also  because  of  the 
close  technical  cooperation  of  exhibitor,  pro- 
jectionist and  lamp  manufacturer. 

Most  important  of  all,  however,  is  that 
enormous  quantities  of  copper  have  been 
saved  for  the  war  effort,  through  re- 
covery of  copper  drippings  and  strip- 
ping of  copper  from  carbon  stubs. 

The  best  evidence  that  these  efforts  are  suc- 
cessful is  that  motion  picture  patrons  in  ever 
increasing  numbers  are  overflowing  theatres 
everywhere  for  needed  relaxation  and  worth- 
while entertainment. 

ir  BUY  UNITED  STATES  WAR  BONDS  * 

The  trade-mark  "National"  distinguishes  products  of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 

NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation 
Carbon  Products  Division,  Cleveland  1,  Ohio  [flgg  New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  San  Francisco 


1944 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  6,  1944 


Bonus  Plan  for 
Monogram  Heads 


Approval  of  an  annual  executive 
employees  bonus  plan  commencing 
with  the  year  ending  July  1,  1944 
and  involving  W.  Ray  Johnston, 
Trem  Carr  and  Samuel  Broidy  will 
be  sought  by  Monogram  Pictures 
Corp.,  when  company  shareholders 
meet  in  Hollywood  June  15. 

Other  items  which  the  Monogram 
shareholders  will  be  asked  to  ratify 
include  the  action  of  the  board  of 
directors  taken  Oct.  22,  1943  in  am- 
mending  the  employment  contract  of 
Broidy ;  the  providing  for  the  payment 
to  survivors  of  the  three  of  the  sums 
of  $200  a  week  for  the  remaining 
periods  of  their  respective  agreements 
with  the  company  in  the  event  of  their 
death  or  deaths  ;  and  the  granting  of 
options  to  purchase  common  stock  of 
the  corporation  to  the  three  execu- 
tives. 

It  is  also  proposed  that  the  em- 
ployment contract  of  Broidy,  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager 
be  extended  to  Feb.  28,  1950  instead 
of  Dec.  2,  1948,  as  previously  pro- 
vided. His  salary  is  $20,800  a  year 
with  additional  compensation  based  on 
company  gross  business. 

Present  compensation  of  Johnston 
and  Carr  is  $35,400  a  year  each.  The 
bonus  plan  calls  for  the  payment  of 
20  percent  of  the  net  profits  in  excess 
of  $200,000  to  eight  executives  to  be 
allocated  as  follows :  Johnston,  five 
percent ;  Carr,  five  percent ;  Broidy, 
three  percent ;  George  D.  Burrows, 
two  percent  ;  Scott  Dunlap,  two  per- 
cent ;  Edward  Morey,  Harry  Thomas 
and  Norton  V.  Ritchey,  one  percent 
each. 


Carmel  Seeks  Jury 
Trial  of  Trust  Suit 


To  Use  Theatres 
For  D-Day  Prayers 

Boston,  June  5.  —  Loew's 
State  and  Orpheum  Theatres 
here  will  become  houses  of 
worship  on  D-Day.  Arrange- 
ments have  been  completed  to 
turn  both  theatres  over  to  the 
state  as  soon  as  the  invasion 
of  Europe  is  known,  and  all 
denominations  will  be  invited 
to  use  them  for  prayer.  Gov- 
ernor Leverett  Saltonstall  has 
commended  Loew's  for  mak- 
ing the  houses  available. 


'Miracle's'  $13,300 
Leads  in  Toronto 


Toronto,  June  5. — "The  Miracle  of 
Morgan's  Creek"  caught  on  at  the 
Imperial  Theatre  here,  pointing  to 
$13,300,  while  "Passage  to  Marseille" 
travelled  toward  $12,800  at  Shea's. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week' 
ending  June  8 : 

"Rulers  of  the  Sea"  (Para,  reissue) 
"Sing,  You  Sinners"   (Para,  reissue) 

EGLINTON — (1,086) "    (18c -30c -48c -60c)  6 
days.     Gross:   $4,000.     (Average:  $4,000) 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.) 

IMPERIAL—  (3,373)    (18-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $13,300.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S — (2,074)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,200.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

SHEA'S— (2,480)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:   $12,800.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

TIVOLI— (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $3,900.     (Average:  $4,400). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

UPTOWN — (2,761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $9,300.     (Average:  $9,800). 

HoldPreview  of  MGM 
Mutual  Web  Program 

.  A  preview  of  the  forthcoming 
M-G-M  "Screen  Test"  radio  program 
which  will  have  its  premiere  next 
Monday  night  on  the  Mutual  Network 
was  held  yesterday  and  further  pre- 
views will  be  broadcast  on  Wednesday 
and  Friday,  to  give  Mutual  listeners 
an  idea  of  what  the  program  will  be 
like. 

Yesterday's  preview  was  tied  in 
with  exhibitor  meetings  in  key  cities. 
In  Chicago,  for  example,  50  exhibitors 
and  Mutual  and  M-G-M  officials  at- 
tended a  luncheon  and  preview. 
James  McGinnis,  sales  manager  of 
of  WGN,  Chicago  Mutual  outlet, 
pointed  out  that  the  film  industry  is 
becoming  one  of  radio's  most  import- 
ant customers. 

Henry  to  Supervise 
Fanchon  &  Marco 

St.  Louis,  June  5. — Col.  Charles  H. 
Henry  of  the  Quartermaster  Corps, 
U.  S.  Army,  will  become  associated 
with  Fanchon  &  Marco  as  theatre 
supervisor  and  assistant  director  of 
war  activities  immediately  upon  his 
retirement  which  is  expected  shortly, 
Harry  C.  Arthur,  Jr.,  general  man- 
ager, has  announced. 

In  addition  to  routine  theatre  opera- 
tion duties,  Col.  Henry  will  assist 
Albert  Stetson,  circuit  director  of  war 
activities,  in  connection  with  state- 
wide theatre  plans  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive  upon  assuming  his  new 
post. 


50,000,000  See 
USO  Camp-Shows 

A  total  audience  of  over  50,000,000 
U.  S.  servicemen  in  this  country  and 
overseas  have  been  entertained  with 
61,000  separate  shows  by  USO-Camp 
Shows,  Inc.,  Lawrence  Phillips,  execu- 
tive vice-president  of  Camp  Shows, 
disclosed  here  yesterday  in  an  overall 
report  on  the  organization's  program 
since  Oct.,  1941  when  it  was  founded 
at  the  request  of  military  authorities, 
and  subsequently  supported  by  public 
contributions  to  the  National  War 
Fund. 

Since  Oct.,  1941,  Camp  Shows  has 
spent  $13,572,000  of  contributed  funds 
at  an  administrative  expense  of  some- 
thing less  than  3.02  per  cent  of  total 
expenditures,  Phillips  stated.  In  two- 
and-a-half  years  Camp  Show  enter- 
tainers have  spent  12,030  man  weeks 
overseas — 10,820  by  paid  performers 
and  1,210  by  guest  personalities.  In 
all,  1,188  artists  left  American  shores 
to  entertain  American  troops.  Of 
this  number  1,097  were  on  salary  and 
91  served  as  volunteers. 

At  present  Camp  Shows  has  1,246 
on  its  payroll.  Of  this  number,  429 
are  overseas,  698  are  entertaining  in 
this  country,  and  125  make  up  the  of- 
fice, production  and  field  staff  both 
here  and  abroad.  The  current  budget 
assigns  60  per  cent  of  expenditures  to 
all  activities  in  this  country  (including 
administration)  and  40  per  cent  to 
overseas  work. 


Study  Competitive 
'Leaks*  on  Eastman 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  June  5. — Charges 
that  censorship  "leaks"  permitted  em- 
ployes in  the  U.  S.  Alien  Property 
Custodian's  office  in  Washington  to 
inspect  correspondence  concerning 
Eastman  Kodak  are  being  studied  by 
Kodak  officials. 

Commenting  on  testimony  before 
the  Senate  Post  Office  subcommittee 
that  agents  of  the  General  Aniline  and 
Film  Corp.,  German  dye  trust  sub- 
sidiary taken  over  by  the  Government 
custodian's  agency,  have  had  access  to 
intercepted  mail  concerning  Eastman, 
E  officials  said : 

"Charges  that  our  South  American 
mail  was  intercepted  by  a  U.  S.  Gov- 
ernment office  and  thereafter  through 
another  Government  office  reached  the 
hands  of  our  competitors  are  very 
serious.  Aside  _  from  what  has  been 
reported  in  the  press,  all  we  know 
about  the  matter  is  that  officials  of 
the  General  Aniline  &  Film  Corpora- 
tion have  written  us  denying  the  truth 
of  the  charge." 

O'Shea  Is  Host 

Albany,  N.  Y.,  June  5. — E.  K. 
O'Shea,  Eastern  sales  manager  for 
M-G-M,  today  was  host  to  company 
exchange  employes  at  luncheon  at  the 
De  Witt  Clinton  Hotel.  Ralps  Ripps 
was  awarded  a  20-year  loyalty  pin 
and  William  Williams,  Jane  M. 
Breen,  Lillian  A.  Carroll,  Edward  R. 
Susso,  Frank  Carroll  and  Christine 
Korin  were  presented  with  10-year 
pins. 


Directors  Organize 

Mexico  City,  June  5.  —  Mexican 
film  directors  and  newsreel  techni- 
cians have  organized,  voting  to  join 
the  National  Cinematographic  Indus- 
try Workers  Union. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  June  5 

JR.  GRAINGER,  president  of  Re- 
•  public  Pictures,  arrived  here  to- 
day. He  will  spend  10  days  conferring 
with  H.  J.  Yates,  chairman  of  the 
board,  and  Allen  Wilson,  studio  pro- 
duction manager. 

• 

M-G-M's  "The  White  Cliffs"  will 
open  a  continuous,  indefinite  run  at 
the  Egyptian  and  Ritz  theatres,  Los 
Angeles,  June  20,  at  prevailing  scales. 
Fox  West  Coast  will  continue  to  man- 
age, but  M-G-M  will  pay  the  cost  of 
additional  electric  signs. 

• 

Warners  resumed  production  of 
"Hollywood  Canteen"  today  following 
a  long  layoff  marked  by  a  dispute  now 
settled  with  the  Screen  Actors  on  the 
method  of  paying  actors'  salaries. 
• 

Charles  Davis,  former  assistant  to 
Sir  Alexander  Korda,  has  been  con- 
tracted by  Universal  as  associate  pro- 
ducer-director. "Fairy  Tale  Murder," 
an  original,  will  be  his  first  assign- 
ment. 

• 

PRC  has  signed  George  Weeks  to 
produce  "Hannah  from  Savannah." 
• 

Columbia  will  resume  the  "Blondie" 
series  with  "Blondie  Houses  a 
Haunt." 


Harmon  Addresses 
Okla.  Variety 

Oklahoma  City,  June -5. — Francis 
S.  Harmon,  executive  vice-chairman 
of  the  War  Activities  Committee,  was 
guest  speaker  at  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Oklahoma  Variety  Club,  headed 
by  L.  C.  Griffith,  at  the  weekend 
when  a  $40,000  health  center  for 
Tulsa  was  presented  by  the  organiza- 
tion. 

Reviewing  the  war  services  of  the 
industry,  he  recounted  the  contribu- 
tions made  by  Variety  Clubs  through- 
out the  nation  as  exemplified  by  the 
proffer  of  the  health  center.  Griffith, 
chief  barker  of  Tent  No.  22  of  Okla- 
homa, represented  Variety  at  the 
meeting,  presided  over  by  Heniy 
Griffing,  Oklahoma  City  attorney. 

It  was  announced  that  Griffith  had 
resigned  as  chief  barker  of  the  Okla- 
homa tent  and  that  the  board  had 
unanimously  elected  Ralph  Talbot, 
Tulsa  theatre  owner  and  civic  leader, 
to  head  the  organization. 

Gring  Services  Are 
Held  in  Reading 

Philadelphia,  June  5.  —  Funeral 
services  were  held  today  at  Reading, 
for  J.  Luke  Gring,  56,  former  theatre 
manager  here,  who  died  recently  at 
the  Johnston-Willis  Hospital  in  Rich- 
mond, Va.,  following  an  operation. 
He  had  been  a  theatre  manager  for 
more  than  30  years,  pioneering  in 
Reading,  .and  then  with  circuits  in 
Eastern  Pennsylvania,  including  the 
Stanley-Warner. 

He  last  managed  the  Erlen  and 
Renel  theatres  here,  and  in  January 
became  district  manager  in  Richmond 
for  Berlo  Vending  Co.  His  wife. 
Catherine,  and  a  son,  David,  survive. 


The  Carmel  Co.,  owner  of  the 
Cameo  Theatre,  Jersey  City,  N.  J., 
filed  in  federal  court  yesterday  a  de- 
mand for  a  jury  trial  of  its  Sherman 
anti-trust  and  Clayton  act  .treble  dam- 
age suit  against  eight  distributors  on 
the  ground  they  monopolized  film  dis- 
tribution in  the  Jersey  City  area  by 
giving  first-run  films  to  their  theatre 
affiliates,  while  the  Cameo  was  given 
fourth  runs. 

The  defendants  in  the  action  include 
all  major  distributors  except  Colum- 
bia. 

In  the  Sherman  anti-trust  suit  filed 
by  the  Rosyl  Amusement  Corp.,  oper- 
ator of  the  Cameo  Theatre,  seeking 
damages  against  the  same  group  of 
defendants,  United  Artists  yesterday 
filed  an  answer  generally  denying  the 
allegations  in  the  complaint  and  de- 
manding dismissal  of  the  action. 


MITCHELL  MAY,  Jr. 

CO.,  INC. 

INSURANCE 


Specializing 
in  requirements  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Industry 

75  Maiden  Lane,  New  York 
510  W.  6th  St.,  Los  Angeles 


I 


Tuesday,  June  6,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


n 


'White  Cliffs'  Gets 
$103,000  in  4th  Wk. 
At  the  Music  Hall 


Early  Summer  Heat  Hits 
Theatre  Grosses  in  Field 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

00  on  the  first  week  and  will  continue, 
ith  20th  Century-Fox's  "Home  in 
ndiana"    set   to   follow.     The  fifth 
week  of  "Going  My  Way"  and  a  stage 
,  show  headed  by  Charlie  Spivak  and 
)  band  is  expected  to  bring  a  quiet  $72,- 
000  and  the  combination  will  continue. 
Moderate  business  was  recorded  at 
■»  the  Strand  with  a  gross  of  $36,000  on 
the  second  week  of  "Make  Your  Own 
Bed"  and  a  stage  show  headed  by  Cab 
Calloway.    Weekend  business  ending 
Sunday  night  was  $20,000.  Warner's 
"The  Mask  of  Dimitrios"  will  open 
Friday  with  the  same  stage  bill. 

A  light  $28,000  is  expected  the  sec- 
ond week  of  "Mr.  Skeffington"  at  the 
Hollywood  with  $18,000  taken  in  on 
the  first  four  days  ending  Sunday 
night.  The  picture  will  continue. 
"Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  is  expected 
to  bring  a  neat  $26,000  in  its  first  week 
at  the  Globe  on  the  basis  of  a  two- 
day  weekend  business  of  $11,500;  it 
will  continue. 

'Show  Business'  Up 

Business  is  holding  up  at  the  Pal- 
ice  with  "Show  Business"  expected  to 
bring  a  satisfactory  $19,000  for  its 
fourth  week  which '  is  close  to  the 
$19,800  of  the  third  week.  Final  five 
days  of  a  19th  week  for  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  brought  the  Rivoli  $12,000 
with  almost  $685,000  recorded  on  the 
entire  run.  Paramount's  "The  Story 
of  Dr.  Wassell"  will  open  at  the  Rivoli 
today.  "See  Here,  Private  Hargrove" 
continues  profitably  at  the  Astor  with 
j> 12,500  expected  on  the  11th  week;  it 
will  continue.  "It  Happened  Tomor- 
row" is  expected  to  wind  up  a  quiet 
second  week  at  the  Gotham  with  $9,- 
500  and  will  continue.  • 

"Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
DWarfs"  ended  its  ninth  reissue  week 
at  the  Manhattan  with  a  mild  $7,000 
and  it  holds  for  a  10th.  "A  Night  of 
Adventure"  will  bring  the  Rialto  a 
poor  $6,500  and  Universal's  "The  In- 
visible Man  Returns"  will  take  over 
Friday.  The  final  five  days  of  a  third 
week  of  "The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn" 
gave  the  Victoria  about  $6,000  after  a 
second  week  of  $7,800  and  the  Soviet 
importation  "They  Met  in  Moscow" 
will  open  this  morning.  United  Art- 
ists" "The  Song  of  the  Open  Road" 
will  also  open  at  the  Criterion  this 
morning. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
ing  the  past  seven  weeks  continue  to 
include  a  good  number  of  musicals, 
although  the  majority  are  non-musi- 
cals. Only  a  few  serious  pictures 
about  the  war  appear  on  the  list  of 
leaders,  which  follows : 

"Four  Jills  and  a  Jeep,"  "Buffalo 
Bill,"  "The  Song  of  Bernadette," 
"Jane  Eyre,"  "Pin  Up  Girl,"  "See 
Here,  Private  Hargrove,"  "A  Guy 
Named  Joe,"  "Broadway  Rhythm," 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble," 
"Gaslight,"  "Snow  White  and  the 
Seven    Dwarfs"    (reissue),    "Up  in 


'What  Price  Italy?  • 

"What  Price  Italy?",  a  feature- 
length  documentary  of  the  Sicilian 
and  Italian  invasions,  has  been  com- 
piled here  by  Joseph  Plunkett  and 
will  be  distributed  under  the  sponsor- 
ship of  Noel  Meadow.  Sixty-one 
cameramen  of  the  Army  Signal  Corps, 
the  Navy  and  Air  Force  photographed 
the  material.  Commentary  was  writ- 
ten by  Madeline  Woods,  and  is 
narrated  by  Gordon  Gray,  Franklin 
Ferguson,  Robert  F.  Hurleigh  and 
Al  Moray. 


Iris  Murphy  Leaves 

Iris  Murphy,  who  resigned  from 
Buchanan  and  Co.  advertising  agency, 
last  Friday,  was  given  a  farewell 
dinner  party  by  her  co-workers  on 
leaving.  She  is  wife  of  Bill  Schneider 
of  Paramount's  home  office  advertising 
department. 


Arms,"  "Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon," 
"Uncertain  Glory,"  "The  Adventures 
of  Mark  Twain,"  "Passage  to  Mar- 
seille," "In  Our  Time,"  "Lady  in  the 
Dark,"  "The  Miracle  of  Morgan's 
Creek,"  "The  Hour  Before  Dawn," 
"Going  My  Way,"  "The  Uninvited," 
"Standing  Room  Only,"  "Ladies 
Courageous,"  "Her  Primitive  Man," 
"Follow  the  Boys,"  "It  Happened  To- 
morrow" and  "Charlie  Chan  in  the 
Secret  Service." 

Composite  records  of  the  year  to 
date,  compared  with  the  same  weeks 
last  year,  follow : 


Paramount  Heads 
To  FP-C  Meeting 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

under  the  direction  of  president  J.  J. 
Fitzgibbons  and  vice  president  R.  W. 
Bolstad  of  FP-C.  The  only  social 
feature  will  be  a  sail  across  Lake  On- 
tario from  Toronto  on  Thursday,  with 
an  informal  dinner  on  the  concluding 
night  to  hear  the  Paramount  home  of- 
fice officials.  . 

A  practical  feature  of  the  confer- 
ence will  be  an  exhibit  of  the  newest 
type  of  theatre  equipment  in  the  Sen- 
eca Theatre,  where  managers  will  be 
able  to  see  mechanical  devices  to  be 
installed  in  Canadian  Theatres  after 
the  war. 


1944 

Week 

Ending 

Dec.  31 -Jan. 

Jan.  7-8   

Jan.  14-15  ... 
Jan.  21-22  ... 
Jan.  28-29  ... 

Feb.  4-5   

Feb.  11-12  ... 
Feb.  18-19  ... 
Feb.  25-26  ... 
March  3-4  ... 
March  10-11 
March  17-18 
March  24-25 
Mar.  31-Apr. 
April   7-8  ... 
April    14-15  . 
Aoril   21-22  . 
April   28-29  . 

May  5-6   

May  12-13  .. 
May  19-20  .. 
May  26-27  .. 
June  2-3   .'. .. 


Average 

1943 

Average 

No.  of 

Total 

Per 

Week 

No.  of  Total 

Per 

Theatre®  Gross 

Theatre 

Ending 

Theatres  Gross 

Theatre 

135  ! 

52,213,500 

$16,396 

Jan.  1-2  ... 

151 

$2,813,506 

$18,632 

117 

2,417,700 

20,664 

Jan.  8-9 

154 

2,424,300 

15,742 

134 

2,040,700 

15,229 

Jan.  15-16  ... 

149 

1, 8^0, 500 

12,285 

149 

2,311,400 

15,513 

Jan.  22-21  ... 

127 

1,648.600 

12,981 

147 

2.365,200 

16,090 

Jan.  29-30  ... 

127 

1.789,500 

14,091 

153 

2,512,200 

16,419 

Feb.  5-6 

126 

1,743,000 

13.040 

137 

2,220,900 

16,211 

Feb.  12-13  ... 

132 

1,919.000 

14,538 

155 

2,459,800 

15,870 

Feb.  19-20  ... 

139 

1.885,900 

13,568 

161 

2,760,100 

17,144 

Feb.  26-27  ... 

149 

2,005,200 

13,458 

147 

2,397,100 

16,307 

March  5-6  ... 

142 

1,933,400 

13,615 

147 

2,463,400 

16,758 

March  12-13  . 

.'  151 

1,944,600 

12,878 

153 

2,661,100 

18,761 

March  19-20  . 

143 

1.968,300 

13.764 

150 

2,487. 7C0 

16,585 

March  26-27  . 

147 

1,938,200 

13,185 

152 

3,025.000 

13,329 

April  2-3 

123 

1,785.800 

14,519 

153 

2,340,600 

15.298 

April  9-10  ... 

147 

2,029,100 

13.803 

143 

2.506,800 

17,530 

April   16-17  . 

147 

1,868,500 

12,711 

148 

2,564,200 

17,326 

April  23-24  .. 

158 

2.006,200 

12,634 

130 

2.090,900 

16,084 

Apr.  JO- May 

1  154 

2,284,200 

14,184 

143 

2,238,700 

15,655 

May  7-8 

161 

2,168,400 

13,468 

146 

2,338,700 

16,018 

May  14-15  ... 

161 

2,053.700 

18,967 

162 

2,417,000 

14,926 

May  21-22  ... 

.  158 

2,096.200 

13,267 

155 

2,349.400 

15,157 

May  28-29  ... 

155 

2,036,600 

13,139 

143 

2,242,500 

15,683 

June  4-5  .... 

169 

2,289,700 

"  13,548 

{Copyright,  1944  Quiglcy  Publishing  Co.) 


FP-C  Payment  on 
Dividend  June  30 

Toronto,  June  5.  —  Earnings  of 
Famous  Players  Canadian  available 
for  dividends  are  well  above  require- 
ments of  the  new  rate  of  $1.50  annual- 
ly payable  in  quarterly  instalments  of 
37l/2  cents.  The  next  payment  is  to 
be  made  June  30  to  common  share- 
holders of  record  June  15. 

The  circuit  has  not  had  a  break  in 
dividends  for  some  years.  Previous 
to  the  current  rate,  the  quarterly  pay- 
ment of  25  cents  a  share  prevailed. 


Collins  Shifted  to  N.  Y. 

Donald  W.  Collins,  Warner  circuit 
sound  engineer  in  New  Haven,  has 
been  transferred  to  New  York  head- 
quarters, to  work  under  Martin  F. 
Bennett,  head  of  the  sound  depart- 
ment. 


Dismissal  of  Most 
Momand  Action  Seen 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

by  the  allegations.  He  said  losses  of 
profits  lead  indirectly  to  property 
losses,  due  to  other  circumstances 
(mortgages),  but  that  the  property 
losses  were  not  therefore  subject  to 
recovery. 

Broaddus,  stating  from  the  bench 
that  he  is  prepared  to  dismiss  the 
Momand  allegations  against  at  least 
one  of  the  two  Griffith  circuits,  the 
Griffith  Consolidated  Amusement  Co., 
closed  the  case  for  testimony  after 
hearing  a  Griffith  film  buyer  reiterate 
that  no  agreement  with  the  distriubtor 
defendants  were  made  except  those  in 
the  record  of  the  case.  , 

Final  judgment  in  the  involved  suit 
is  not  expected  for  several  weeks. 


Kinsky s  Sponsor  'Date' 

Joe  Kinsky,  coordinator  of  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  war  loan  for  the 
motion  picture  industry,  and  Mrs. 
Kinsky  were  chaperones  for  last 
night's  "G.  I.  Blind  Date"  broadcast, 
which  originated  from  radio  station 
WJZ  and  was  heard  over  160  stations 
of  the  Blue  Network.  A  report  on 
the  industry's  participation  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive  was  featured. 


Heads  Army  FilmBranch 

Lt.  Sydney  Deneau,  formerly  of 
Fabian  Theatres,  has  been  promoted 
to  Captain  and  executive  officer  of 
the  motion  picture  branch  of  the  In- 
dustry Services  division  of  the  Army 
with  headquarters  in  New  York. 


r 


WORDS 
BUT 

w 


J0HMMV 

DOESN'T  UUE  HERE 

ANY  MORE" 


ASK  YOUR  MONOGRAM  EXCHANGE  ABOUT  IT! 


12 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  6,  194' 


May  Adjourn 
Schine  Trial 
For  2  Months 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  trial  continued  today,  Grover  C. 
Scott,  former  leaseholder  on  the  Viv 
Theatre,  Corbin,  Ky.,  admitted  that  in 
1938  he  attempted  to  book  product 
for  a  theatre  not  yet  constructed. 

In  direct  examination,  Government 
Attorney  Milton  Kalas  sought  to  show 
Scott  was  unsuccessful  in  obtaining 
product  because  Schine  had  purchased 
it.  Rogers,  on  the  other  hand,  showed 
the  distributors  were  reluctant  to  sell, 
not  knowing  if  there  was  to  be  a  thea- 
tre to  exhibit  it  in,  and  further  that 
the  theatre  was  not  opened  until  Au- 
gust, 1939,  and  distributors  cannot  sell 
a  year  ahead. 

"In  the  Fall  of  1938  you  went  to 
Universal  seeking  product  for  a  thea- 
tre that  wasn't  even  built?"  Rogers 
queried.  Scott  said  it  wasn't  opened 
until  after  his  lease  was  cancelled. 
"The  theatre  didn't  even  have  a  name, 
did  it?"  Rogers  then  asked.  Scott 
said  he  had  planned  to  call  it  the 
Roxy. 

Murphy  Testifies 

Mitchell  K.  Murphy  of  Big  Stone 
Gap,  Va.,  in  theatre  business  for  20 
years  in  Virginia,  then  testified  for 
the  Government  to  making  a  contract 
with  Hiram  H.  Owens,  owner  of  the 
Corbin,  on  May  19,  1939,  for  its  op- 
eration and  of  going  to  Cincinnati, 
where  he  charged  all  distributor 
representatives  told  him  product  for 
Corbin  had  been  sold  to  Schine. 
.  Owens,  a  Barberville,  Ky.,  attor- 
ney, acquired  the  Viv  site  in  1935  and 
in  1938  made  a  contact  with  Scott 
for  the  construction  and  operation  of 
the  theatre.  Owens,  also  testifying 
for  the  Government,  charged  that  in 
December,  1938,  Louis  Lazar  and  Lou 
Hensler  of  Schine  offered  him  first 
$5,000,  and  then  $7,500  if  "I  didn't 
complete  the  theatre."  He  said  he 
rejected  both  deals. 

The  Viv  is  one  of  the  theatres 
Schine  was  ordered  to  dispose  of  un- 
der the  temporary  order  of  May  19, 
1942.  Schine  also  operated  the  Ken- 
tucky and  Hippodrome  in  Corbin. 


7A'  Will  Study 
Charter  Bids 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

that  he  cannot  disclose  future  plans 
until  the  board  hands  down  a  decision. 

After  considerable  debate,  resolu- 
tions introduced  at  the  convention 
claiming  IATSE  jurisdiction  over 
television  were  also  referred  to  the  in- 
coming board  for  study. 

Oscar  Kleintopf,  former  St.  Louis 
stagehands'  business  agent,  ousted  in 
1936  on  charge  of  misappropriating 
union  funds,  will  get  a  new  trial  by  a 
committee  appointed  by  Walsh,  after  a 
plea  to  the  convention  for  vindication. 


Frey  Services  Held 

Hollywood,  June  5. — Funeral  serv- 
ices were  held  here  today  at  Forest 
Lawn  cemetery  for  John  Frey,  53, 
Republic  Los  Angeles  branch  man- 
ager, who  died  Friday  of  a  heart 
condition.  Frev  was  in  distribution 
for  20  years.  He  is  survived  by  his 
widow,  a  sister  and  a  son. 


Four  More  Meetings  on 
Bond  Drive  This  Week 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

morning,  with  Harry  H.  Lowenstein 
and  Don  Jacocks,  exhibitor  state  co- 
chairmen,  in  charge.  Representing 
the  national  committee  will  be  Joe 
Kinsky,  campaign  coordinator ;  S.  H. 
Fabian,  chairman  of  the  WAC  thea- 
tres division,  and  Leon  Bamberger, 
assistant  national  distributor  chair- 
man. A  speaker  will  be  Wenzell 
Brown,  who  was  in  a  prison  camp 
at  Hong  Kong,  for  seven  months  as 
a  prisoner  of  the  Japs. 

A  tri-state  regional  will  also  be  held 
today  at  the  Netherlands-Plaza  Hotel, 
Cincinanti.  The  entire  national  com- 
mittee, including  O'Donnell,  R.  M. 
Kennedy,  John  J.  Friedl,  Ned  E.  De- 
pinet,  Ray  Beall  and  Claude  F.  Lee, 
with  Major  Allen  V.  Martini,  will  at- 
tend. Martin  Smith  will  preside,  with 
Col.  Arthur  Frudenfeld  in  charge  of 
arrangements.  Kentucky,  Indiana  and 
Ohio  delegations  will  be  present. 

To  Detroit  Tomorrow 

On  Wednesday,  Chairman  O'Donnell, 
Oaude  Lee  and  Major  Martini  will 
speak  at  an  industry  rally  in  Detroit 
at  the  Book-Cadillac  Hotel,  and  will 
also  be  guests  at  a  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee meeting  there.  On  Thursday, 
O'Donnell  and  Major  Martini  will  at- 
tend a  rally  of  exhibitors  and  distrib- 
utors of  North  and  South  Carolina  at 
the  Charlotte  Hotel  in  Charlotte.  The 
meeting  was  called  by  H.  F.  Kincey 
and  Warren  Irvin,  respectively  Ex- 
hibitor state  chairmen  for  North  and 
South  Carolina. 

Committeemen  for  Carolina  bond 
promotions  are :  H.  H.  Everett,  Watt 
Parker,  L.  C.  Sipe,  J.  E.  Holston, 
Harry  Hardy,  John  Vickers,  Sam 
Craver,  Benn  H.  Rosenwald,  J.  H. 
Dillon,  Hank  Hearns,  John  Bachman, 
Tom  Little,  Walter  Griffith,  Sam 
Hinson,  George  Parr,  Frank  Bed- 
dingfield,  Martin  Street,  Scott  Lett, 
Carl  Burton,  George  Roscoe,  Ashton 
Matthews,  James  V.  Frew,  Bob  Sim- 
ril,  H.  F.  Kincey,  Roy  L.  Smart,  Mrs. 
Pauline  Griffith,  Rovy  F.  Branon, 
Jack  Austin,  A.  B.  Craver. 


Home  Office  Committee 
Maps  Bond  Plans 

Executives  of  home  offices  here  met 
yesterday  with  chairman  Eugene 
Picker  and  mapped  plans  for  stepping 
up  payroll  deduction  participation  and 
extra  bond  buying  by  film  workers 
during  the  Fifth  War  Loan-  Frank 
Mitchell  of  the  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee, presided  with  Picker. 

Each  company  will  hold  employee 
rallies.  One  plan  discussed  was  to 
have  all  companies,  for  the  first  time, 
unite  in  a  single  plan  to  have  em- 
ployees buy  bonds  to  outfit  a  complete 
"fighting  unit,"  including  a  tank,  bomb- 
er, anti-aircraft  gun,  landing  craft, 
etc. 

Among  those  present  were :  Floyd 
Weber,  Columbia ;  Sam  Goodman. 
Century ;  A.  W.  Smith,  Jr.,  20th-Fox ; 
Max  Wolff,  Loew's ;  George  Bonwick, 
PRC;  John  Farmer,  RKO :  Walter 
Titus.  Jr.,  Republic ;  Emanuel  Frisch, 
Randforce ;  John  Benes,  Skouras ; 
John  O'Connor,  Universal,  and  Harry 
Buckley.  United  Artists. 

New  York  will  have  at  least  a  100 
per  cent  increase  in  bond  premieres 
according  to  campaign  director  Oscar 
A.  Doob,  following  a  report  by  Ralph 
Pielow,  distributor  chairman  for  the 


New  York  area.  Pielow  has  set  pre- 
mieres in  every  borough,  plus  pre- 
mieres in  every  small  city,  in  the  coun- 
ties around  New  York.  Loew's  are 
setting  at  least  10  premieres  to  be 
held  for  midnights,  probably  Fridays, 
totaling  nearly  70  premieres.  A 
Broadway  stage  show  premiere  also 
is  projected  by  Broadway  chairman 
Irving  Lesser. 

Brooklyn  chairman  Charles  B.  Mc- 
Donald has  scheduled  a  bond  meeting 
for  tomorrow  at  10 :30  a.m.  in  the 
Brooklyn  Albee. 

At  11  a.m.  today,  Loew's  managers 
will  meet  with  C.  C.  Moskowitz  at 
Loew's  here  on  bond  campaign  de- 
tails. On  Thursday,  11  a.m.,  Loew  as- 
sistant managers  will  hold  a  similar 
conference. 

Plans  for  "Nassau's  Fighting  Fifth 
Patrol"  were  made  at  a  breakfast- 
meeting  held  yesterday  at  the  Garden 
City  Hotel,  Garden  City,  L.  I.,  and 
attended  by  75  persons,  including  Leon 
D.  Howell,  War  Finance  chairman  of 
Nassau  County.  Saturday,  June  17th, 
was  set  aside  for  the  Fighting  Fifth 
Patrol  to  take  over  Nassau  County. 
Rallies  will  be  held  at  Great  Neck, 
Floral  Park,  Hempstead,  Freeport, 
Rockville  Center,  Lynbrook,  Cedar- 
hurst  and  Long  Beach. 

The  meeting  was  arranged  by  Fred 
J.  Schwartz  and  Jack  Harris,  co-chair- 
men for  Nassau  County. 


Pidgeon,  Lake  to  Rally 
In  St.  Louis  Tomorrow 

Hollywood,  June  5. — Walter  Pidg- 
eon and  Veronica  Lake  will  leave  by 
plane  tomorrow  for  St.  Louis  for  a 
war  bond  rally  Wednesday  night.  Miss 
Lake  will  fly  thence  to  Chicago,  with 
Pidgeon  returning  to  Hollywood. 
Helen  Forrest  will  join  Miss  Lake  in 
Chicago  for  the  Chicago  Stadium  rally 
Friday  night. 

These  appearances  are  results  to 
date  of  the  Hollywood  Victory  Com- 
mittee's endeavors  to  supply  talent  for 
the  campaign,  which  originally  con- 
templated five  cross-country  tours.  Ad- 
dition appearances  of  this  kind  may 
follow  if  continuing  HVC  efforts  to 
obtain  talent  are  successful. 

Kansas  City  Doubles 
Its  Bond  Premieres 

Kansas  City,  June  5. — An  unpre- 
cedented goal  of  340  War  Bond  Pre- 
mieres, double  the  number  held  dur- 
ing the  Fourth  War  Loan,  has  been 
set  for  the  Fifth  campaign  in  the 
Kansas- Western  Missouri  area,  fol- 
lowing a  capacity  industry  campaign 
meeting  at  the  Hotel  Muehlebach 
here. 

Elmer  C.  Rhoden  and  Howard 
Jameyson,  exhibitor  chairmen,  respec- 
tively, for  Western  Missouri  and  Kan- 
sas, head  committees  which  will  cov- 
er every  city  and  town.  Rhoden  pre- 
sided at  the  meeting,  which  was  at- 
tended by  more  than  200  exhibitors 
and  distributors  and  officially  launched 
the  area's  pre-drive  campaign. 


RCA  Declares  Dividend 

RCA's  board  of  directors  has  de- 
clared a  dividend  of  87^  cents  per 
share  on  $3.50  cumulative  first  pre- 
ferred stock,  for  the  April-June 
quarter.  The  dividend  is  payable 
July  1  to  holders  of  record  on  June 
12. 


U.  S.  'Reluctant'  on 
Suit:  Kuykendall 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Hotel  Marion  here  today.  The  meet- 
ing will  conclude  tomorrow. 

Kuykendall  urged  exhibitors  to  per 
feet  their  organization  against  unfair 
industry  taxation,  terming  it  a  prob- 
lem that  must  be  watched  closely  and 
constantly.  Taking  note  of  product 
shortages  in  many  parts  of  the  counl 
try,  Kuykendall  said  that  reissues  car 
help  solve  extreme  shortages  bul 
warned  that  it  appears  that  there  will 
be  fewer  reissues  forthcoming  than 
the  need  requires.  He  told  the  meet- 
ing that  there  are  some  indications 
that  the  government  may  "ease  up'> 
on  equipment  supplies  and  that  theatres 
may  find  the  equipment  problem  mucl- 
less  stringent  in  the  not  too  distant 
future. 

Kuykendall  commended  exhibitor 
for  the  support  being  given  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  Drive,  which  will  get  under 
way  next  Monday.  He  also  called  at- 
tention to  the  observance  of  the  in- 
dustry's 50th  commercial  anniversary 
and  discussed  distribution  and  exhibi- 
tion of  U.  S.  Government  short  sub- 
jects. 

'No.  1  Insurance' 

"The  No.  1  insurance  of  the  indus- 
try is  its  war  activities,"  H.  M. 
Richey,  M-G-M  exhibitor  relations 
head,  told  the  convention.  "There  are 
available  now  several  avenues  of  insur- 
ance against  post-war  competition  andi 
I  would  put  as  the  primary  clause  of 
our  insurance  policy  of  the  future,  our 
war  activities,  which  some  may  look 
upon  as  a  duty,  possibly  even  as  a 
burden,  but  which  to  some  has  been 
a  magic  key  to  open  up  avenues  of 
goodwill. 

"Never  again  shall  we  have  the  op 
portunity  to  support  our  contention 
that  motion  pictures  are  the  greatest 
entertainment'  medium  and  that  the  mo- 
tion picture  theatre  is  an  important  part 
of  every  .successful  community  as  we 
have  today,  and  this  has  been  achieved 
through  continued  efforts  of  the  indus- 
try's war  activities."  Richey  will 
leave  here  Wednesday  for  Oklahoma 
City  and  then  continue  on  to  Dallas. 
Memphis,  New  Orleans,  and  Atlanta, 
arriving  back  in  New  York  on  June  19. 

Speakers  Scheduled 

Speakers  at  the  exhibitors'  conven- 
tion will  also  include  Mark  Jenkins  nf 
Loew's  "Show  Builder"  field  promo 
tional  unit ;  Lawrence  Burrow,  Little 
Rock  attorney ;  Charles  Kessnich,  M- 
G-M  district  manager  at  Atlanta  : 
Duke  "Clarke,  Paramount  district  man- 
ager at  Dallas ;  Claude  Mundo  of 
Little  Rock  chairman  of  the  exhibitor 
tri-state  group,  and  others. 

Tuesday's  luncheon  will  be  given 
over  to  a  "kickoff"  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive,  with  M.  S.  McCord,  Little 
Rock,  treasurer  of  Malco  Theatres 
presiding.  The  luncheon  also  w"l 
honor  Arkansas  exhibitors  who  dur- 
ing the  Fourth  War  Loan  sold  more 
than  one  E  bond  for  each  theatre  se^t 
induing  J.  J.  Sharum,  Claude  MnnrK 
Tames  Taylor.  C.  -J.  Harris.  W-  L 
Banniza,  Paul  Jones,  Emma  Cox,  Pvt. 
L.  E.  Gwaltney.  Thomas  Burton, 
Mabel  Landers  and  Austin  Hicks. 


Mrs.  Al  Teplitz  Dies 

Chicago,  June  5.  —  Ruth  Teplitz. 
wife  of  Al  Teplitz,  head  booVer  for 
the  Sam  Myers  and  A.  J.  Balaban 
circuits  here,  died  Saturday. 


MmafoN  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  Ill 


NEW  YORK,  U.  S.  A.,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  7,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


FILMS  AT  INVASION! 


2  Americans 
In  Default  on 
British  Quota 


By  PETER  BURNUP 

London,  June  6.— The  Board  of 
Trade  announced  today  that  only 
two  quota  defaults,  both  by  uniden- 
tified American  principals,  occurred 
during  the  year  ending  last  March 
31  among  distributors  who  had  elect- 
ed to  operate  on  a  monetary  rather 
than  a  footage  basis.  There  is  a 
possibility  that  prosecutions  may  be 
instigated  following  consideration  of 
the  circumstances  by  the  Films  Coun- 
cil. 

Under  the  1938  Quota  Act,  amend- 
ed in  1942,  an  American  distributor 
could  satisfy  requirements  by  acquir- 
ing annually  only  one  British  film 
of  the  prescribed  length  and  labor 
cost,- provided  the  distributor  also  ac- 
quires a  given  amount  of  British  film 
for  American  distribution.  The  de- 
faults occurred  under  this  ordinance, 
but  prosecution,  in  view  of  the  ex- 
treme shortage  of  British  studio  space, 
is  unlikely. 

The  announced  footage  of  British 
features  registered  during  the  year 
was  460,280,  compared  with  438,557 
the  preceding  year.  There  were  70 
individual  films  compared  with  62  the 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Home  Offices  Close 
Early  for  Prayer 

Practically  all  home  offices 
in  New  York  closed  early  yes- 
terday to  permit  their  thous- 
ands of  workers  to  attend 
church  services  and  prayers 
for  our  armed  forces  in  the 
Invasion. 

President  Barney  Balaban 
called  all  Paramount  workers 
to  a  D-Day  observance  in  the 
home  office  at  noon.  Other 
offices  closed  for  the  day  as 
follows:  United  Artists,  1:00 
P.  M.;  Columbia  3:00  P.  M.; 
Warners,  RKO  and  M-G-M 
3:30  P.  M.;  and  Universal  4:00 
P.  M. 


Patrons  Hear 
Progress 
In  Theatres 


Theatres  Tie  -  Up  with 
Radio  and  Newspapers 


RKO  Affirms 
Its  Television 


$15,000,000  Bond 
Buy  for  Paramount 

Paramount  will  buy  $15,000,000  in 
Fifth  War  Loan  bonds,  Bar 
ney-  Balaban,  president,  stated  here 
yesterday  through  the  film  industry's 
campaign  committee.  He  notified 
Leonard  M.  Goldenson,  chairman  of 
industry  sales,  that  the  amount  will 
be  divided  between  the  company,  its 
theatre  partners  and  affiliates. 

This  pledge  follows  one  of  $10,000,- 
000  made  by  Loew's  on  Monday, 
through  David  Bernstein,  treasurer  of 
that  company. 


N.  Peter  Rathvon,  RKO  president, 
is  chairman  of  the  board  of  the  new 
RKO  subsidiary.  RKO  Television 
Corp.,  which  has  been  formed  to  pro- 
duce film  and  live  talent  programs 
for  television  use,  as  reported  exclu- 
sively in  Motion  Picture  Daily  on 
Monday. 

As  previously  reported,  Frederic  Ull- 
man,  president  of  RKO  Pathe  News, 
will  be  president  of  the  new  television 
company,  and  Thomas  H.  Hutchin- 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Theatres  almost  everywhere  in 
the  United  States  were  well  pre- 
pared to  service  patrons  with  up- 
to-the-minute  bulletins  when  the 
invasion  came  yesterday  morning. 

Extensive  tie-ups  had  been  made 
weeks  ago  with  radio  stations  and 
newspapers  to  send  latest  flashes  to 
thousands  of  theatres  over  special 
wires  from  radio  stations  and,  news- 
paper offices. 

Teletype  machines  had  been  set  up 
in  many  circuit  offices  with  news  dis- 
patches being  brought  to  audiences 
through  theatre  amplification  systems. 
Elsewhere,  bulletins  were  read  from 
stages  in  the  same  manner  as  election 
returns  are  announced  to  audiences. 

Hundreds  of  theatres  installed  ra- 
dio receivers  in  their  lobbies  so  audi- 
ences and  the  public  could  listen  to 
news  bulletins. 

Prayer  services  were  conducted  be- 
tween performances  in  most  houses 
of  the  country  while  in  others  special 
prayer  trailers  and  special  invasion 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


O'Donnell  Urges  Film  Industry  to 
Back  the  Invasion  with  Bond  Buys 

Cincinnati,  June  6.— Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  speaking  as  national 
chairman  of  the  motion  picture  industry's  "Fighting  Fifth"  War 
Loan  campaign,  at  a  mass  meeting  of  industry  representatives  here 
today  issued  the  following  formal  statement  on  the  occasion  of  the 
invasion : 

"On  this  momentous  occasion— fateful  D-Day— the  efforts  and 
sacrifices  of  our  fighting  men  and  our  Allies  should  be  a  solemn  in- 
spiration to  every  member  of  our  industry,  whether  he  or  she  is  in 
exhibition,  production  or  distribution,  to  join  the  "Fighting  Fifth." 

"It  is  opportune  to  repeat  that  Invasion  multiplies  astronomically 
our  obligation  to  our  boys,  to  our  Government  and  to  our  home." 

"Fight  by  his  side  and  sell  more  bonds  to  provide  more  power 
for  Eisenhower!  Let's  all  back  the  invasion.  Sell  invasion  bonds!" 


Washington  Expects  to 
See  First  Newsreels 
On  Landing  by  Weekend 

By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  June  6. — Amer- 
ican   cameramen,    military  and 
commercial,  were  today  in  the 
midst  of  the  world's  greatest  ad- 
venture, picturing  from  land,  air 
and  sea  scenes  of  the  invasion  of 
Fortress  Europe  which,  with  a 
little  luck,  may  be  showing  in  the 
theatres  of  the  country  by  Friday. 
Under  plans  worked  out  to 
the  last  detail  many  weeks  ago, 
the  first  of  these  pictures  may 
be   in   this  country  tomorrow 
night    or    Thursday  morning, 
possibly    to    be  immediately 
processed  and  distributed,  prob- 
ably as  a  "special"  by  each  of 
the  five  companies. 
If  it  is  decided  to  "special"  the  first 
invasion  pictures  to  be  received,  they 
will  be  shipped  by  air  express  under 
a  special  priority  from  the  Army  for 

(Continued  on  page  6) 

L.A.  Grosses  Down 
40%  on  D-Day 

Los  Angeles,  June  6. — A  dinner- 
time check-up  of  the  effect  of  D-Day 
on  grosses  revealed  that  attendance 
was  down  on  an  average  of  40  per 
cent,  with  exhibitors  reporting  this 
kind  of  neWs  gladly  for  the  first  time 
in  theatre  history  and  expecting  night 
business  to  drop  still  further.  With  all 
commercial  programs  off  the  radios 
throughout  the  day  and  evening,  thea- 
tres piped  in  President  Roosevelt's 
broadcast  for  the  benefit  of  the  small 
audiences  present. 

The  Los  Angeles  Times  dropped  all 
advertising  from  the  Tuesday  final  edi- 
tion which  is  regarded  as  carrying  the 
most  widely  read  amusement  section 
in  this  area.  Circuits  and  independents 
queried  were  unanimous  in  the  satis- 
faction that  D-Day  had  come.  Re- 
laxation of  pre-invasion  tension  was 
regarded  as  a  likely  prelude  to  an 
upturn  in  recently  diminishing  grosses, 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  7,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


HARRY  C.  ARTHUR,  JR.,  gen- 
eral manager  of  Fanchon  and 
Marco,  is  en  route  to  New  York  from 
St.  Louis. 

• 

Lt.  Edward  B.  Arthur,  formerly 
assistant  general  manager  of  Fanchon 
and  Marco,  was  visiting  in  St.  Louis 
this  week. 

• 

Martin  Starr,  radio  director  for 
the  industry's  Fifth  War  Loan  drive, 
left  last  night  for  Washington  to  con- 
fer with  Treasury  Department  officials. 
• 

Paul  O'Brien  of  O'Brien,  Driscoll 
and  Raftery,  will  leave  tomorrow  for 
Davenport,  Iowa. 

• 

Jules  Field,  20th-Fox  assistant  ex- 
ploitation manager,  left  last  night  for 
Indianapolis. 

• 

Jules  Levey,  United  Artists  produc- 
er, will  leave  today  for  Toronto  on 
business. 

• 

Ary  Lima,  Warners  general  mana- 
ger in  Brazil,  left  last  night  for  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Jules  Lapidus,  Warners  Eastern 
division   sales   manager,   will   be  in 
Pittsburgh  today  and  tomorrow. 
• 

Joe  Krenitz,  Universal  Cleveland 
branch  manager,  is  vacationing  at 
Ann  Arbor,  Mich. 

• 

Sidney  Meyer,  co-owner  and  gen- 
eral manager  of  Wometco  Theatre, 
Florida,  is  in  town. 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


Rodgers  to  Coast 
To  Set  8th  Block 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-GM  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager^ 
will  leave  New  York  tomorrow  for 
Hollywood  on  a  three-week  trip  to 
view  products  for  the  new  season  and 
to  complete  arrangements  for  the  com- 
pany's eighth  block.  He  will  stop  at 
Detroit,  Milwaukee  and  Chicago  en 
route.  Before  returning  to  New  York, 
Rodgers  will  visit  Kansas  City,  St. 
Louis  and  Cleveland. 

M-G-M's  Central  sales  manager, 
John  J.  Maloney,  who  has  headquar- 
ters in  Pittsburgh,  and  his  assistant, 
Charles  F.  Deesen,  have  left  for  Dallas 
on  a  tour  of  branch  offices  at  Okla- 
homa City,  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis, 
and  Indianapolis. 


RKO  Stockholders  to 
Elect  Directors 

Dover,  Del.  June  6 — Annual  meeting 
of  RKO  stockholders  will  be  held  here 
tomorrow  morning  at  which  time  a 
proposal  to  amend  the  company's  by- 
laws to  permit  enlarging  the  number 
of  directors  from  the  present  nine  will 
be  considered. 

Other  business  to  be  transacted  in- 
cludes selection  of  directors  for  the 
ensuing  year. 


Hollywood,  June  6 
O  E-TRAVELING    the  files 
develops    its    m  o  m  e  n  t  s. 
Some,  embarrassing  in  view  of 
time  and  forecast  and  the  toll 
both  have  a  habit  of  exacting. 
-  Some,  good  to  better.  Others, 
unresolved  and  still  cooking. 
■ 

Scene  1  takes  us  to  New  York 
and  mid- January. 

Question:  "Will  there  be  a 
decree  ?" 

Answer:  "No  one  can  answer 
that  with  finality.  Too  many 
things  are  apt  to  happen.  I 
think,  however,  there  will  be — 
in  due  time." 

Questions,  ours ;  answers,  by 
one  of  the  pivotal  lawyers  in  the 
protracted  negotiations.  Pro- 
tracted then,  they  are  now  four 
months,  and  more,  older.  We 
braved  a  forecast  then.  It  held 
the  line  at  its  juncture,  and  still 
does.    Here's  part  of  it: 

"There  will  be  a  decree.  No 
matter  how  much  redrafting 
may  be  required  or  how  long 
the  back-and-forth  may  run,  a 
decree  will  emerge.  The  al- 
ternative confronting  the  five 
majors  is  theatre  divorcement. 
They  may  be  expected  (they  in- 
sist they  have)  to  travel  any 
distance,  concede  almost  any 
concession  for  the  continued 
right,  to  maintain  their  theatre 
structure  intact." 

■ 

Scene  2  returns  us  to  Holly- 
wood and  the  preceding  Novem- 
ber. Even  then  "Uncertain 
Glory,"  starring  Errol  Flynn 
and  now  in  first  run  release, 
shaped  up  as  a  Thomson  Pro- 
duction. Whether  it  would  be 
so  marked  on  the  screen  was  a 
question,  but  now  time  demon- 
strates the  question  is  removed ; 
it's  there.  Financially  and  book- 
keeping-wise, however,  it  was 
forecast  as  the  first  crystalliza- 
tion in  Flynn's  new  deal  with 
Warners  under  which  he  will 
make  one  of  his  own  a  year ; 
Thomson  is  drawn  from  the  T. 
in  Errol  T.  Flynn. 

This  looks  like  a  personal  ar- 
rangement between  star  and  pro- 
ducer and,  of  course,  it  is.  But 
it  stresses  something  in  the  na- 
ture of  another  Hollywood 
trend,  born  of  war  days  and  war 
time  tax  structures.  Thus, 
Flynn  is  not  the  only  one  at 
Warners.  Bette  Davis  is  un- 
derstood to  have  a  producing- 
on-her-own  arrangement,  call- 
ing for  a  limited  number  of  pic- 
tures during  the  life-of  her  pact. 
She  may  not  appear  in  them, 


but  whatever  they  turn  out  to 
be,  they  will  not  interrupt  her 
starring  appearances  on  the  pro- 
gram she  has  graced  these  many 
years. 

■ 

Scene  3  develops  on  the  Para- 
mount lot  in  February  with  a 
third  anniversary  observation 
on  Buddy  De  Sylva's  tenure  of 
office  as  executive  producer. 
Asked  how  it  felt,  he  replied: 
"Ever  have  a  hammer  hit  you 
on  the  head  every  day  of  the 
year  for  three  years?" 

Since  then,  of  course,  Hal 
Wallis  and  the  Warners  have 
broken  up.  .Hal  has  formed  his 
own  company,  with  his  end 
reputedly  and  partially  financed 
by  New  England  theatre  money, 
and  has  entered  upon  an  equal- 
split  partnership  with  Para- 
mount. 

■ 

Sensitive  and  garrulous  Hol- 
lywood at  once  reacted,  then  be- 
gan to  talk.  Is  this  a  threat  to 
De  Sylva  and,  if  so,  how  come 
in  view  of  his  bang-up  record? 
Will  Wallis  have  the  same  type 
of  first  call  on  Paramount  talent 
as  he  enjoyed  at  Warners  ?  Will 
other  producers  there  seek  new 
deals  with  Paramount  on  a 
profit-sharing  basis? 

Frank  Freeman,  aware  of  this 
gabby  town,  states  flatly  the  deal 
is  not  a  threat;  that  Wallis  is  an 
independent  producer  who  could 
work  on  any  lot  he  chose,  that 
De  Sylva  continues  what  he  is 
— the  executive  producer.  In 
other  words,  two  different  men 
with  two  different  jobs  and  De 
Sylva  with  19  months  to  go  un- 
der his  contract. 

In  the  light  of  Freeman's  com- 
ment, not  so  good  was  the  recent 
forecasting  here  that  Wallis 
may  be  expected  to  insist  upon 
major  resources  (meaning  tal- 
ent) of  whatever  studio  affilia- 
tion he  may  make.  Not  so,  con- 
tinues Freeman,  who  says  Wal- 
lis will  have  to  line  up  his  peo- 
ple exactly  like  any  other  inde- 
dependent  maker  of  pictures. 

Whether  De  Sylva,  remem- 
bering the  three  years  and  that 
hammer,  emerges  with  a  unit  of 
his  own  remains  to  be  seen.  In 
that  connection,  Freeman  de- 
clares he  recognizes  the  execu- 
tive producership  is  a  burden- 
some job.  To  that,  however,  he 
adds  De  Sylva  and  the  unit  pos- 
sibility are  not  connected  with 
Wallis  and  his  Paramount  ar- 
rangement. Evidently,  it  was  in 
Buddy's  mind  earlier. 

■ 

Meanwhile,    there    has  been 


Testify  on  Leases 
In  S chine  Trial 


Buffalo,  June  6. — Sgt.  Richard  De- 
Toto,  of  the  Military  Reservation  at 
Indiantown  Gap.,  Pa.,  former  operator 
of  the  Seneca  Theatre,  Seneca  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  testified  in  Federal  Court  here 
today,  as  trial  of  the  Government  anti- 
trust suit  against  the  Schine  Circuit 
continued,  that  while  he— had-a  lease  on 
the  Seneca  and  an  oral  option  for  a 
renewal,  the  house  was  sold  to  the 
Schine  Circuit. 

Where  before  he  had  been  paying 
'  rent  to  the  Seneca  Falls  Savings  Bank, 
Sgt.  DeToto  said  he  suddenly  found 
himself  making  payments  to  Leon 
Schaefer,  manager  of  the  Strand  Thea- 
tre, a  Schine  House  in  Seneca  Falls, 
and  the  only  other  theatre  in  the  town. 

Would  Close  House 

"Early  in  May,  1936,  I  went  to  see 
Schaefer  and  asked  him  if  I  could 
renew  by  lease  on  the  Seneca,"  De- 
Toto testified.  "He  replied :  'Are  you 
kidding?'  and  said  Schine  doesn't  buy 
theatres  to  rent  them,  that  Schine 
wants  to  close  up  the  theatre." 

Sgt.  DeTota  said  when  he  was  told 
he  could  not  renew  the  lease,  he  took 
steps  to  build  another  theatre  in  an  old 
laundry  building  in  Main  .St.,  Seneca 
Falls.  The  new  house  was  not  con- 
structed. 

The  soldier,  subpoeaned  from  camp, 
started  his  exhibitor  career  as  part 
time  employe  for  Schine  in  Geneva  at 
the  Geneva  Theatre.  In  1934  he  be- 
came manager  of  the  Seneca  Theatre 
and  the  following  year  leased  it  from 
the  owner,  the  Seneca  Savings  Bank. 
He  vacated  June  30,  1936,  upon  sale  of 
the  property  to  Schine,  he  testified. 

Strand  Larger 

The  Seneca  had  350  seats.  The 
Strand,  a  900-seater,  was  acquired  by 
Schine  from  Bernstein  Brothers, 
Ithaca,  in  September,  1935. 

Earlier,  Abner  C.  Jones,  Harlan, 
Ky.,  banker,  testified  for  the  Govern- 
ment that  Schine  representatives  vis- 
ited him  between  1937  and  1939  with  a 
view  to  leasing  the  New  Harlan  The- 
atre, Harlan,  Ky.,  when  the  lease  of 
Price  Coomer,  expired.  Jones  said  he 
told  the  representatives  he  had  "a  sat- 
isfactory tenant." 


Warners  to  Reissue 
Six  Next  Month 

Warners  will  re-release  six  features 
on  June  15,  it  was  announced  yesterday 
by  Ben  Kalmenson,  general  sales  man- 
ager. New  prints,  trailers,  press 
books  and  accessories  will  be  available. 
The  films  are :  "Manpower,"  "They 
Made  Me  a  Criminal,"  "The  Walking 
Dead,"  Tiger  Shark"  and  two  fea- 
tures as  yet  to  be  selected. 


some  inside  conversation  let 
loose  about  Cecil  B.  DeMille. 
He  informs  he  has  one  more  to 
make  under  current  contract; 
that  he  makes  his  at  the  rate 
of  one  a  year  and  is  yet  to  start 
whatever  the  final  one  is  to  be. 
Thinks  it  will  be  "Rurales,"  in 
all  likelihood. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave,;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg..  William  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  So,.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


M-G-M's 
■PI  If 

THE 

WHITE 

CLIFFS 
OF 

tt0vDOVER 


"See  what 
I  mean7." 


WHITE  CLIFFS 
OF  DOVER 


M  I  f  ¥ 


FIGHTING  SHOWMEN!  JOIN  THE  FIGHTING  5th  WAR  LOAN  I 


■MUSIC  HALL 


THIRD  WEEK  TOPS 
FIRST  TWO!  CHAL- 
LENGES LONG- 
RUN  RECORDS  OF 
'RANDOM  HARVEST" 
and  "MRS.  MINIVER" 


4 


Motion  picture  daily 


Wednesday,  June  7,  1944 


Scully  Gives 
44-45 Preview 


Los  Angeles,  June  6. — Details  of 
22  features  completed  or  preparing 
from  which  Universal  will  build  a 
program  for  1944-45  were  disclosed 
here  today  by  W.  A.  Scully,  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager, 
in  a  "preview"  of  product  for  the 
new  season,  given  to  sales  executives 
and  district  managers  attending  a 
sales  conference  at  the  Hotel  Am- 
bassador. 

The  pictures  listed,  in  advance  of 
a  full  program  to  be  made  known 
later  in  the  week  included  15  com 
pleted.  "Universal  will  inaugurate 
the  1944-45  program  with  more  com- 
pleted film  than  at  any  time  in  its  his- 
tory," Scully  declared,  in  giving  de- 
tails on  the  following  completed  pro- 
ductions : 

Completed  Productions 

"Gypsy  Wildcat,"  color  production 
starring  Maria  Montez,  Jon  Hall  and 
Peter  Coe ;  two  productions  starring 
Donald  O'Connor;  "The  Merry  Mon- 
ahans,"  with  Peggy  Ryan  and  Jack 
Oakie  co-starred;  and  "Patrick  the 
Great,"  co-starring  O'Connor  and 
Peggy  Ryan ;  "The  Climax,"  in  color, 
starring  Susanna  Foster,  Boris  Kar- 
loff  and  Turhan  Bey;  "The  Devil's 
Brood,"  starring  Boris  Karloff  and 
Lon  Chaney;  "San  Diego,  I  Love 
You,"  starring  Jon  Hall  and  Louise 
Allbritton ;  "See  My  Lawyer,"  star- 
ring Olsen  and  Johnson,  with  Grace 
McDonald,  Alan  Curtis,  Noah  Beery, 
Jr. ;  two  Sherlock  Holmes  pictures 
starring  Basil  Rathbone  and  Nigel 
Bruce:  "The  Pearl  of  Death"  and 
"The  House  of  Fear" ;  an  Inner  Sanc- 
tum mystery,  "Dead  Man's  Eyes," 
starring  Lon  Chaney;  "Moonlight  and 
Cactus,"  with  the  Andrews  Sisters. 

Also :  "Babes  on  Swing  Street," 
starring  Peggy  Ryan  and  Ann  Blyth, 
with  Leon  Errol,  Leo  Carrillo,  Andy 
Devine,  Kirby  Grant  and  Freddie 
Slack  and  his  orchestra ;  "Murder  in 
the  Blue  Room,"  with  Anne  Gwynne, 
Grace  McDonald  and  Donald  Cook ; 
"Reckless  Age,"  starring  Gloria  Jean ; 
"The  Singing  Sheriff,"  with  Bob 
Crosby  and  his  orchestra,  Fay  Mc- 
Kenzie  and  Iris  Adrian. 

Others  Soon  Ready 

Productions  due  to  be  completed 
soon  are :  "Bowery  to  Broadway," 
starring  Maria  Montez,  Jack  Oakie, 
Susanna  Foster,  Turhan  Bey,  Louise 
Allbritton,  Leo  Carrillo,  Ann  Blyth, 
Andy  Devine  and  Evelyn  Ankers,  and 
"Be  It  Ever  So  Humble,"  starring 
Martha  O'Driscoll  and  Noah  Beery, 
Jr.  Also,  a  Western  serial,  "Raiders 
of  Ghost  City,"  with  Dennis  Moore, 
Wanda  McKay,  Lionel  A  twill,  Vir- 
ginia Christine,  Regis  Toomey  and 
Joe  Sawyer,  and  the  first  of  the  1944- 
45  Westerns,  "Riders  of  the  Santa 
Fe,"  starring  Rod  Cameron,  with 
Fuzzy  Knight  and  Ray  Whitley. 

Scully  also  outlined  highlights  of 
several  productions  just  starting  or 
about  to  start ;  they  include : 

"Can't  Help  Singing,"  in  color, 
starring  Deanna  Durbin  and  Robert 
Paige ;  Felix  Jackson  will  produce, 
with  direction  by  Frank  Ryan ;  "My 
Baby  Loves  Music,"  with  Bob  Crosby 
and  Grace  McDonald;  "Queen  of  the 
Nile,"  in  color,  starring  Maria  Mon- 
tez, Jon  Hall  and  Turhan  Bey,  pro- 
duced by  Paul  Malvern,  with  Jack 


Review 


"Christmas  Holiday 

(Universal) 

T  N  transferring  Somerset  Maugham's  novel,  "Christmas  Holiday,"  to 
the  screen  to  provide  Deanna  Durbin  with  her  first  heavy  dramatic 
role,  scripter  Herman  J.  Mankiewicz  has  effected  considerable  altera- 
tions in  the  basic  dramatic  story.  Starred  in  Felix  Jackson's  production 
are  Miss  Durbin  and  Gene  Kelly  with  a  capable  supporting  cast  which 
includes  Richard  Whorf,  Dean  Harens,  Gladys  George,  Gale  Sonder- 
gaard  and  David  Bruce. 

Whether  the  legions  of  customers  who  have  come  to  appreciate  Miss 
Durbin  in  the  wholesome,  vivacious,  light  romantic  singing  and  acting 
roles  which  she  has  portrayed  until  now,  will  welcome  her  in  the  role  of 
the  young  wife  of  a  murderer  who  attaches  herself  to  a  questionable 
bistro  as  penance  for  what  she  considers  her  responsibility  for  the 
murder,  will  be  decided  at  the  box  office.  The  emphasis  in  Robert 
Siodmak's  direction  is  upon  the  tragedy  wrought  in  the  lives  of-  Miss 
Durbin  and  Miss  Sondergaard,  as  Kelly's  mother,  by  his  weakness  for 
gambling,  rather  than  upon  romance. 

The  locale  of  the  Maugham  story  has  been  changed  from  Paris  to 
New  Orleans,  with  a  good  portion  of  the  action  unfolded  in  retrospect 
through  the  medium  of  a  young  Army  lieutenant  who  has  been  jilted  by 
his  fiancee  upon  his  graduation  from  Officers'  Candidate  School.  When 
his  plane  is  grounded  in  New  Orleans,  he  is  taken  in  hand  by  Whorf,  a 
newspaper  reporter.  It  is  to  the  officer  that  Miss  Durbin  relates  her 
story;  how  her  husband's  patrician  mother  blamed  her  for  the  murder 
he  committed,  and  of  her  doing  penance  in  the  bistro  while  he  is  in  jail. 
Suspense  is  achieved  when  Kelly  escapes  from  jail  intent  upon  settling 
scores  with  Miss  Durbin,  whom  he  is  convinced  has  been  unfaithful  to 
him.  Naturally  it  is  all  a  product  of  his  twisted  mind,  but  it  serves  to 
release  Miss  Durbin  from  the  unique  existence  she  has  adopted,  for  he 
is  killed  as  he  is  about  to  shoot  her. 

Miss  Durbin's  singing  is  confined  to  renditions  of  Irving  Berlin's 
popular  "Always"  and  Frank  Loesser's  "Spring  Will  Be  a  Little  Late 
This  Year,"  both  delivered  in  the  cheap  night  club,  with  the  former 
being  spotted  several  times  in  addition  in  the  film  as  background  music. 
Fundamentally,  "Christmas  Holiday"  is  a  rather  grim  dramatic  film  of 
frustration  and  a  distinct  departure  from  what  audiences  are  prepared 
to  expect  from  both  Miss  Durbin  and  Kelly.  Therein,  however,  is  a  cir- 
cumstance which  may  result  in  wide  discussion  of  the  picture,  to  its 
benefit  at  the  box  office. 

Running  time,  93  mins.    "G."*   Release  date,  June  30. 

Milton  Livingston 


Eight  Rallies  Here 
To  Back  Invasion 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Further  Delay  for 
Clark  Decree  Meet 

Washington,  June  6. — Assistant  At- 
torney General  Tom  C.  Clark  may 
meet  with  representatives  of  the  dis- 
tributors on  the  consent  decree  at  the 
end  of  this  week,  but  the  meeting  is 
more  likely  to  be  put  over  until  next 
week,  it  was  said  today  at  the  Depart- 
ment of  Justice. 

Joseph  H.  Hazen,  who  has  acted  as 
liaison  between  the  companies  and  the 
Department,  talked' again  with  Clark 
by  telephone  today,  but  the  only  de- 
velopment was  a  promise  by  Hazen 
that  he  would  call  back  again  in  a  day 
or  two  with  suggestions  for  a  meet- 
ing date. 


Rawlins  directing;  "The  Frozen 
Ghost,"  an  Inner  Sanctum  story  star- 
ring Lon  Chaney. 


"U"  Foreign  Chiefs  to 
Coast  on  Product 

J.  H.  Seidelman,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  foreign  activities  for  Uni- 
versal, will  leave  here  Friday  for  the 
Coast  for  studio  conferences  concern- 
ing the  new  season's  product  and  plans 
for  foreign  language  dubbing.  Ac- 
companying Seidelman  will  be  Al 
Daff,  foreign  sales  supervisor,  and 
Fortunat  Baronat,  director  of  foreign 
publicity. 


Film  Classics  Plans 
Export-Import  Unit 

Film  Classics  will  inaugurate  an 
export  and  import  department  in 
preparation  for  postwar  expansion,  it 
was  disclosed  here  recently  by  George 
A.  Hirliman,  president. 

Hirliman  also  revealed  that  his 
organization  has  acquired  American 
distribution  rights  to  what  is  said  to 
be  the  first  French  picture  produced 
in  Switzerland  since  the  beginning  of 
World  War  II.  The  film,  "Woman 
Disappears,"  was  produced  by  Jacques 
Feyer,  who  made  "Carnival  in 
Flanders." 


The  first  military  demonstration  to 
"Back  the  Invasion"  will  be  held  in 
Times  Square  at  noon  Friday  and  will 
officially  launch  the  industry's  "Fight- 
ing Fifth"  War  Loan  drive.  There 
will  be  70  pieces  of  army  motorized 
equipment,  a  battalion  of  300  soldiers, 
with  overseas  packs,  an  80-piece  mili- 
tary band  from  the  397th  Infantry, 
and  a  delegation  of  60  war  heroes. 

Staged  under  the  direction  of 
Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  chairman  for 
the  industry's  New  York  committee, 
the  demonstration  will  be  opened  by 
Newbold  Morris,  president  of  the ' 
City  Council,  and  other  distinguished 
guests  will  speak. 

Broadway  theatres  will  have  their 
bond  booths  lined  along  the  curb  and 
bonds  will  be  sold  for  immediate  de- 
livery. The  equipment,  broken  into 
six  units,  will  later  visit  Manhattan, 
Bronx,  Brooklyn,  Queens,  Richmond 
and  Westchester.  Eight  rallies  are 
planned  for  these  areas  and  it  is  ex- 
pected that  the  2,000,000  persons  at- 
tending will  buy  at  least  $1,000,000 
worth  of  bonds. 

Edward  C.  Dowden,  chairman  of 
special  events,  is  in  charge  of  arrange- 
ments. 


UA  to  Release  BMOI 
'Eve  of  Battle' 

London,  June  6. — United  Artists  will 
distribute  on  a  strictly  commercial 
basis,  the  British  Ministry  of  Informa- 
tion 20-minute  film  "Eve  of  Battle,"  it 
was  learned  here  today. 

Sidney  Bernstein,  director  of  film 
distribution  for  BMOI  in  the  European 
theatre,  called  a  press  conference  here 
today  as  a  result  of  the  protests  made 
by  the  five  American  newsreel  com- 
panies through  Murray  Silverstone, 
United  Newsreel  president  for  uncon- 
trolled distribution  of  their  newsreels 
following  liberation  of  occupied  terri- 
tories. 


2,000  Premieres  Set, 
Cincinnati  Rally  Told 

Cincinnati,  June  6. — Over  2,000 
war  bond  premieres  have  already  been 
scheduled  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan, 
starting  Monday,  and .  the  final  total 
will'  far  eclipse  that  of  the  Fourth 
War  Loan,  John  J.  Friedl,  campaign 
director,  said  here  today  at  an  all- 
industry  rally  in  the  Netherlands- 
Plaza  Hotel. 

More  than  300  exhibitors  and  dis- 
tributors attended  from  Ohio,  Ken- 
tucky, West  Virginia  and  Indiana. 
Plans  and  objectives  for  the  effort  to 
back  the  invasion  were  outlined  by 
national  industry  chairman  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  vice  chairman  R.  M.  Ken- 
nedy, national  distributor  chairman 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  publicity  director 
Ray  Beall,  Claude  Lee,  industry  con- 
sultant to  the  U.  S.  Treasury,  and 
Major  Allen  V.  Martini,  bomber  hero. 

Among  those  present  were  France 
H.  Isbey,  Michigan  chairman;  Major 
Joseph  F.  Goetz  of  Patterson  Feld, 
Dayton ;  Harold  Bredlow,  War 
Finance  Committee  director ;  R.  J. 
Dunn,  assistant  cashier  of  the  local 
Federal  Reserve  Bank,  and  Phil  J. 
Trourstine,  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee'state  director. 


'Chicken'  Next  Year 

Release  of  Warners'  production  of 
"Chicken  Every  Sunday,"  comedy  by 
Julius  J.  and  Philip  Epstein,  produced 
on  Broadway  by  Edward  Gross,  has 
been  set  for  June  1,  1945.  Gross,  who 
sold  the  property  for  $250,000,  was 
represented  by  H.  William  Fitelson, 
New  York  film  attorney. 


Small  'Brewster'  Remake 

Edward  Small,  independent  pro- 
ducer releasing  through  United  Art- 
ists, is  concluding  negotiations  for 
film  remake  rights  to  "Brewster's  Mil- 
lions," owned  by  British  and  Domin- 
ion Film  Corp.,  Ltd.,  who  are  repre- 
sented here  by  H.  William  Fitelson 
and  Arthur  S.  Friend,  film  attorney. 


2o* 

fa  M/tRCtf  OF  77m/ 


•jut**15 


A  salute  to  TOM  CONNORS  and  his 
20th  CENTURY-FOX  sales  organization 
for  their  outstanding  achievement  in 
the  distribution  of  The  March  of  Time! 
. . .  For  today  The  March  of  Time  has  its 
largest  audience . . .  has  more  theatres 
than  ever  before. 

. . .  Tomorrow,  and  in  each  succeeding 
month,  20th  Century-Fox  will  continue 
to  distribute  to  more  and  more 
theatres  each  new  and  exciting  issue 
of  The  March  of  Time. 


1943 


1942 


1941 


The  March  of  Time 


6 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


Wednesday,  June  7,  1944 


Cameramen  Cover  D-Day  Landings 


Early  Reels 
Expected  by 
The  Weekend 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
shipments  to  all  sections  of  the  coun- 
try.   The  weight  of  such  an  air  ship- 
ment would  be  in  the  neighborhood  of 
seven  tons. 

What  the  newsreel  companies  plan 
to  do  was  disclosed  today  by  Claude 
Collins,  Washington  representative  of 
the  newsreel  division  of  the  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee,  who  for  many 
months  has  been  working  out  with 
Army  and  Navy  officials  the  plans  for 
handling  the  picture  material  devel- 
oping on  the  various  war  fronts. 

Although  War  Department  officials 
refused  to  discuss  any  of  their  plans 
for  handling  the  initial  pictures  of  the 
invasion  and  refused  to  speculate  as  to 
when  they  would  be  available,  al- 
though one  officer  said  he  did  not  ex- 
pect them  to  arrive  this  week,  Col- 
lins predicted  that  the  first  of  the 
pictures  of  the  actual  landing  would 
reach  this  country  tomorrow  night  or 
early  Thursday  morning. 

London  by  Afternoon 

The  pictures  of  the  night  attack,  the 
first  landings  and  probably  some  of 
the  shore  activities  early  today,  he 
said,  should  be  in  London  by  after- 
noon. The  thoroughly  worked-out 
plans  call  for  their  immediate  process- 
ing and  review,  censorship  by  the  joint 
Allied  Review  Board  and  immediate 
transportation  to  this  country  .by  the 
Army.  The  Joint  Allied  Review 
Board  is  composed  of  representatives 
of  the  United  States,  Britain  and  other 
countries,  our  representation,  in  ad- 
dition to  Army  and  Navy  officials,  in- 
cluding Ned  Buddy,  in  charge  of  the 
European  pool  of  the  newsreel  com- 
panies, and  William  Montague,  for- 
merly with  Paramount  Newsreel  and 
now  with  the  OWI  overseas  film  divi- 
sion. 

All  Treated  Alike 

The  pictures  taken  by  the  news- 
reel  companies'  own  war  correspond- 
ents are  to  be  given  the  same  quick 
treatment  which  will  be  accorded  the 
Army  and  Navy  photographers'  films. 
Arrangements  for  the  operations  of 
the  companies'  representatives,  whose 
product  will  be  pooled  so  that  the  most 
comprehensive  coverage  can  be  given 
by  a  limited  number  of  men,  were 
worked  out  by  Buddy,  on  whom  rests 
the  whole  burden  of  European  cover- 
age, from  the  assignment  of  the  men 
right  through  to  the  shipment  of  the 
developed  negatives. 

All  of  the  pictures  taken  by  the 
company  correspondents  will  be  rushed 
through  a  laboratory,  reviewed  and 
censored  on  the  same  quick  schedule 
as  the  military  material,  and  the  nega- 
tives will  be  shipped  back  by  courier 
plane,  with  prints  following  by  com- 
mercial plane  as  a  safeguard  in  the 
event  of  accident  to  the  negatives. 

In  order  to  reduce  the  labor  in- 


Cin.  Shows  Halted 
For  News  Flashes 

Cincinnati,  June  6. — News 
flashes  on  the  invasion  were 
given  throughout  the  day  by 
popular  local  announcers  over 
loud  speakers  within  the  RKO 
Albee,  Palace,  Capitol,  Grand 
and  Lyric  here,  through  sta- 
tion WCKY,  local  CBS  affili- 
ate. Performances  were  halt- 
ed at  all  of  houses  for  these 
exclusive  theatre  bulletins. 

Public  reaction  was  highly 
favorable  and  the  service  was 
credited  with  contributing  to 
the  increased  attendance 
which  prevailed  at  the  the- 
atres. 


Paramount  Employes 
In  Prayer  Meeting 

At  noon  yesterday  Paramount  ex- 
ecutives called  a  meeting  of  all  home 
office  employees  where  Adolf  Zukor, 
chairman  of  the  board,  spoke  and 
Arthur  Israel,  assistant  to  Barney 
Balaban,  president,  reminded  workers 
that  "this  is  a  good  day  to  think  about 
buying  more  war  bonds  and  blood 
donations."  Bill  Novick,  local  ex- 
change employee  offered  a  prayer  for 
the  Invaders. 


volved  in  processing  and  thus  save 
time,  instructions  have  been  issued  to 
restrict  the  coverage  by  the  pool  and 
it  is  expected  that  the  initial  ship- 
ments will  not  exceed  15,000  feet, 
Collins  Said. 

The  pictures  sent  over  by  the  pool 
will  go  directly  to  the  companies  for 
editing  and  printing,  but  those  sent 
over  by  the  Army  will  go  to  the  War 
Department  for  the  making  of  a  mas- 
ter print.  As  Allied  forces  moved  in 
on  France,  the  OWI  was  prepared  to 
follow  with  films  for  showing  in  lib- 
erated areas  as  rapidly  as  they  were 
cleaned  up  and  steps  taken  to  restore 
the  normal  lives  of  the  populace. 

Already  thoroughly  tried  out  and 
perfected  in  North  Africa,  Sicily  and 
Southern  Italy,  the  OWI  plans  were 
declared  to  be  complete  in  every  de- 
tail. 

Large  Stock  Ready 

As  in  the  case  of  Italy,  where  7,500 
reels  of  the  best  American  pictures 
were  available  at  the  time  of  the  in- 
vasion to  be  carried  into  and  shown 
in  the  theatres  of  the  country,  the 
OWI  has  a  large  stock  of  films  ready 
for  the  invasion  of  France,  together 
with  its  own  documentaries  and,  dur- 
ing recent  consideration  of  the 
agency's  appropriation,  it  was  dis- 
closed that  a  six-reel  film,  "Salute  to 
France,"  is  practically  completed. 

On  the  basis  of  the  experience  in 
the  three  areas  already  covered,  offi- 
cials said,  the  Army  has  been  so  im- 
pressed with  the  effectiveness  of  mo- 
tion pictures  that  special  arrangements 
have  been  made  for  the  quick  reopen- 
ing of  the  theatres  almost  on  the  very 
heels  of  the  fighting  forces,  as  a  potent 
means  of  keeping  the  local  populations 
under  control  and  of  informing  them 
correctly  of  the  things  that  are  and 
have  been  going  on. 


Theatres  Ready  As 
D-Day  Hits  BVay 

Broadway  theatres,  keyed  to  D-Day 
for  weeks,  like  thousands  all  over  the 
country,  met  yesterday's  news  of  the 
Invasion  fully  prepared  to  give  Metro- 
politan theatre  patrons  news  bulletins 
direct  from  press  services  while  direct 
radio  station  hook-ups  further  facili- 
tated immediate  transmission  of  flashes 
to  the  screens  of  New  York's  key 
film  houses. 

Broadway  theatre  managers  reported 
comparatively  little  effect  on  grosses 
yesterday,  except  for  the  Roxy,  which 
noted  a  slight  decrease  in  receipts  in 
the  early  hours.  The  Music  Hall  re- 
ported "remarkably  good  business." 
Others  reported  no  noticeable  devia- 
tion. 

Pray  at  Each  Performance 

The  Paramount  conducted  a  minute 
of  prayer  between  each  performance 
with  a  special  salute  to  the  armed 
forces.  Bulletins  were  flashed  on  the 
screen  all  day  as  they  arrived  from  sta- 
tion WMCA.  News  flashes  were  also 
announced  from  the  stage.  The  Capitol, 
in  a  direct  hook-up  with  station  WHN, 
presented  only  the  most  significant 
reports.  M-G-M's  one-minute  trailer, 
"D-Day  Prayer,"  was  screened  with 
each  performance. 

Warners'  Strand  and  Hollywood 
Theatres  presented  news,  as  reported, 
from  the  stage,  and  radios  were  placed 
on  mezzanines. 

The  Criterion  used  radios  in  its 
lounges,  and  M-G-M's  trailer,  "D-Day 
Prayer"  on  its  screen.  The  Roxy  ran 
20th-Fox's  Movietone  prepared  inva- 
sion announcement  by  Lowell  Thomas. 


D-Day  Signs  for  Extra 
Bonds  at  Loew's 

Before  noon  yesterday,  Loew's  New 
York  theatres  were  displaying  lobby 
posters  urging  patrons  to  "back  up  our 
boys  in  France"  by  buying  extra 
bonds  on  'D  Day'.  Each  bond  sold  was 
stamped  'D-Day'.  Last  night,  follow- 
ing the  showing  of  a  prayer  on  film, 
D-Day  bond  rallies  were  staged  in 
90  per  cent  of  the  circuit's  theatres. 
At  a  managers'  meeting  conducted  by 
C.  C.  Moskowitz  in  the  interests  of 
the  Fifth  War  Loan  drive,  every  per- 
son present  pledged  to  buy  an  extra 
bond  on  D-Day. 


D-Day  Fails  to  Dent 
Cleveland  Grosses 

Cleveland,  June  6. — Downtown  the- 
atres here  report  boxoffice  receipts 
virtually  unaffected  by  news  of  the  in- 
vasion today. 

Long  prepared  for  D-Day,  local  film 
houses,  such  as  Warners  Hippodrome, 
through  direct  radio  connections, 
flashed  bulletins  on  the  screen  all  day, 
while  Loew  house  managers  reported 
news  from  stages  at  the  break  of  each 
show.  Managers  reported  that  a  ma- 
jority of  patrons  frequented  lounges 
throughout  the  day  where  news  of  Al- 
lied landings  came  over  radios  placed 
there  for  the  purpose. 


Radio  Scraps 
Programs  for 
The  Invasion 


America^  radio  told  the  most 
dramatic  story  in  its  history  yester- 
day— the  long-awaited  news  of  the 
invasion  of  the  Fortress  Europe. 

Starting  when  the  first  official  an- 
nouncement came  from  London  at 
3  :32  a.m.,  the  ensuing  hours  of  broad- 
casting were  almost  exclusively  de- 
voted to  news  reports  and  special 
invasion  programs.  Prayers  were  of- 
fered and  special  addresses  by  Presi- 
dent Roosevelt  and  King  George  VI 
of  England  were  carried  by  the  net- 
works. 

Headquarters  Reports 

NBC  cancelled  all  sponsored  pro- 
grams to  provide  an  uninterrupted 
flow  of  invasion  reports  from  com- 
mentators here  and  correspondents  at 
Supreme  Allied  Headquarters  abroad 
and  with  Armed  Forces  actually  "in 
the  field."  Interspersed  with  news  re- 
ports were  special  events.  A  prayer, 
offered  by  Archbishop  Francis  J. 
Spellmah  at  noon  was  repeated  by 
NBC  at  2:30  p.m.,  together  with  the 
reading  of  the  Archbishop's  prayer 
for  America.  King  George's  address 
to  Allied  Forces  from  London  was 
carried  at  three  P.M.  and  five  P.M. 
The  network  carried  special  Eternal 
Light  ceremonies  at  Madison  Square 
with  Mayor  LaGuardia  as  the  princi- 
pal speaker.  President  Roosevelt 
spoke  to  the  nation  from  the  White 
House  at  10  P.M.,  reading  a  prayer 
which  he  had  composed.  Choir  music, 
hymns  and  band  selections  were  car- 
ried on  the  air  between  flashes.  Pro- 
grams of  Bob  Hope,  Fibber  McGee 
and  Molly,  Red  Skelton,  Ginny  Simms 
and  Fred  Waring  were  refashioned  tc> 
maintain  the  solemn  atmosphere  of 
the  day. 

War  Bond  Messages 

CBS  generally  cancelled  commer- 
cials, substituting  specially  prepared 
messages  of  the  Office  of  War  In- 
formation urging  war  bond  purchases. 

The  Blue  Network  cancelled  all 
commercials  and  several  regularly 
scheduled  programs.  OWI  patriotic 
messages  were  broadcast  throughout 
the  day.  The  Blue  presented  a  special 
D-Day  dramatic  program,  "Milestones 
to  Victory,"  which  had  been  rehearsed 
for  some  time. 

Local  New  York  stations  also  de- 
voted the  bulk  of  broadcasting  time  to 
news  flashes,  special  events  and  pro- 
grams. 

Radio's  plans  for  coverage  of  the 
invasion,  set  weeks  ago  in  close  co- 
operation with  military  authorities, 
were  the  most  intensive  in  its  history. 
Network  precedents  and  restrictions 
heretofore  imposed  upon  performance 
of  recordings  on  major  networks  were 
waived. 

Known  arrangements  included  the 
availability  of  sufficient  transatlantic 
circuits  to  provide  all  networks  with 
at  least  18  hours  per  day  of  continu- 
ous service. 


Wednesday,  June  7,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


7 


London  Business 
Normal  on  D-D  ay 


London,  June  6  —  British  theatres 
interrupted  their  programs  throughout 
the  day  and  night  to  bring  latest  news 
flashes  on  the  invasion  to  their  audi- 
ences. In  addition,  theatres  throughout 
the  nation  carried  King  George  VI's 
radio  broadcast  over  loud  speakers. 
'  Theatre  receipts  have  been  unaf- 
jlfccted  thus  far  by  the  launching  of  the 
'invasion  but  exhibitors  anticipate  a 
severe  slump  in  attendance  tonight  as 
imillions  here  will  spend  the  evening 
in  prayer  and  hopeful  quiet. 

Two  Cities'  new  production,  "The 
Way  Ahead,"  depicting  the  training  of 
men  for  the  invasion,  coincidentally 
was  tradeshown  at  the  Odeon  today  to 
a  large  exhibitor  audience.  (A  report 
from  London  on  a  preview  of  "The 
Way  Ahead"  was  published  in  Mo- 
tion Picture  Daily  on  May  25.)  The 
J.  Arthur  Rank  organization  said  it 
would  not  endeavor  to  cash  in  on  the 
unusual  publicity  possibilities  of  the 
film  through  its  remarkable  timeliness 

The  exhibitor  audience  at  the  trade- 
showing  spurned  a  luncheon  which 
followed  it  and  proceeded  to  Parlia- 
ment to  join  in  cheering  Prime  Min- 
ister Churchill  as  he  left  the  House 
after  his  historic  oration. 


Boston  Grosses  Soar 
On  D-Day  News 

Boston,  June  6. — Box  office  receipts 
at  theatres  here  soared  today  as  news 
of  the  Invasion  hit  this  city.  Every 
downtown  theatre  was  crowded  from 
early  morning  and  indications  are  that 
all  single-day  records  will  be  broken 
when  gross  receipts  are  totalled. 

Long  lines  waited  outside  theatres 
for  hours  as  schools  and  department 
stores  closed  in  tribute  to  D-Day. 
Races  scheduled  for  today  were  can- 
celled and  the  thousands  who  frequent 
the  track  turned  to  theatres. 

Large  downtown :houses  flashed  bul- 
letins oh  screens  at  intervals.  At  the 
Keith  Memorial  Theatre  lounges  were 
filled  to  capacity  as  crowds  waited  for 
further  radio  news  of  the  attack. 
Twenty-two  loudspeakers  were  in- 
stalled in  the  business  section  of  the 
city  and  throngs  of  residents  heard  ad- 
dresses by  Governor  Saltonstall,  Lt. 
Governor  Cahill  and  Mayor  Tobin. 


Patrons  Hear  News  in 
Nation's  Theatres 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

short  reels  were  screened.  Stressed 
throughout  was  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
drive,  which  will  get  under  way  on 
Monday,  with  exhibitors  urging  pa 
trons  to  buy  an  extra  bond  with  the 
arrival  of  D-Day. 

Thousands  of  theatres  last  night  in- 
terrupted   programs     at     10  P.M 
(EWT)    to   hear   President  Roose 
velt's  Invasion-Day  address  to  the  na- 
tion, and  to  hear  his  special  D-Day 
prayer  for  our  forces  fighting  inland 
from  the  beaches  of  France  and  else 
where  on  the  Continent.     The  Na 
tional    Anthem    was    the  concluding 
note  of  the  day  in  practically  all  thea 
tres,  with  other  patriotic  airs  added 
frequently  during  the  day  and  eve 
ning. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


TAKES  THE  MONEY!  BOSTON  MET . 
EQUALS  FAMOUS   HUB   HOUSE'S  BEST 
PREVIOUS  FIRST-WEEK   FIGURE  WITH 
BING  CROSBY'S  "GOING  MY  WAY." 
LEO  MC  CAREY  SMASH    IS  LEADING 

"LADY   I N  THE  DARK"   BY  14%   

AND  AT  NEW  YORK  PARAMOUNT  IT'S 
TOPPING  "STAR  SPANGLED  RHYTHM" 
BY  33%  AS   IT  ENTERS  SIXTH 
WEEK  TODAY. 


British  Newsreels 
Seek  More  Film  for 
Invasion  Coverage 


London,  June  6. — Faced  with  the 
need  for  increased  allotments  of  raw 
stock  for  invasion  news  coverage,  the 
British  Newsreel  Association  today 
;ent  a  request  for  authorization  for  an 
increase  from  700  feet  to  1,000  feet  in 
their  next  eight  issues  to  the  Board 
of  Tra^de. 

-Following  consultation  with  the 
Ministry  of  Information,  the  latter 
igreed  to  relinquish  to  the  reels  ap- 
proximately 1,000,000  feet  of  raw  stock 
from  its  own  allocations  for  propa- 
anda  purposes.  This  will  be  sufficient 
to  meet  the  increased  footage  sought 
for  the  next  four  issues  of  the  reels. 
In  addition,  the  MOI  tonight  is  fur- 
ther exploring  the  possibility  of  meet- 
ing the  newsreels'  full  request. 

The  raw  stock  situation  here  still 
is  serious,  particularly  in  view  of  the 
demands  which  will  be  made  by  the 
military  as  a  consequence  of  the  inva- 
sion and  urgent  requirements  of  other 
official  quarters.  No  relaxation  of  pres- 
ent raw  stock  rationing  is  anticipated 
here  for  months  to  come.  While  there 
appears  to  be  ample  film  base  on  hand, 
limited  processing  facilities  here  com- 
prise a  major  problem. 


4Eve  of  Invasion' 
In  U.S.  Newsreels 


The  five  newsreels  here  are  editing 
i  special  1,800-foot  newsreel  entitled 
"Eve  of  Invasion,"  depicting  the  Unit- 
id  Nations  preparations  of  the  Allied 
nvasion  of  the  Western  Front,  which 
will  replace  the  regular  newsreel  to 
be  released  on  Thursday. 

Action  was  taken  following  a  con- 
ference here  yesterday  of  the  news- 
eel  company  heads,  Lt.  Colonel  Gor- 
don F.  Swarthout,  acting  chief,  bureau 
of  public  relations  of  the  War  Depart- 
ment and  officials  of  the  motion  picture 
division  of  the  domestic  bureau  of  the 
Office  of  War  Information. 

The  regular  Thursday  newsreels 
were  completed  early  Tuesday  morn- 
ing by  all  companies.  When  official 
confirmation  of  the  invasion  was  re- 
ceived from  Washington,  all  company 
staffs  returned  to  their  headquarters 
immediately  to  re-edit  their ;  reels, 
which  were  to  include  advance  ma- 
terial compiled  by  the  OWI,  com- 
ments by  the  foremost  commentators 
ind  President  Roosevelt's  Invasion 
speech  to  the  nation. 

This  material  will  be  replaced  by 
'Eve  of  Invasion"  and  will  be  held 
for  further  newsreel  issues. 


D-Day  Hits  Chicago 
Loop  Theatres 

Chicago,  June  6.  —  Grosses  in  the 
Loop  declined  noticeably  today  with 
news  of  the  Invasion.  Theatre  opera- 
tors said  a  slump  was  anticipated  and 
nredicted  a  return  to  normalcy  within 
a  few  days. 

The  only  line,  in  front  of  a  theatre 
today  was  at  the  Telenews. 


'Frisco'  N.  Y.  Opening 

Republic's  "Man  From  Frisco"  has 
been  booked  by  Loew's  State  for  its 
first  New  York  run,  starting  June  15. 


8 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  June  7,  1944 


Production  in 


RKO  Confirms  Entry  into 
Field  of  Television 


Hollywood 


Slight  Drop; 
52  in  Works 

Hollywood,  June  6.  —  Production 
levelled  off  during  the  past  week  as  11 
pictures  were  completed  and  only  six 
were  started.  This  brought  the  total 
number  in  work  down  to  52,  as  against 
a  peak  of  57  the  previous  week.  The 
production  scene  follows : 
Columbia 

Started:  "Stalk  the  Hunter,"  with 
Allyn  Joslyn,  Evelyn  Keyes,  Mar- 
guerite Chapman,  Edgar  Buchanan, 
Nina  Foch,  Jeff  Barker.  "Boston 
Blackie's  Appointment  with  Death," 
with  Chester  Morris,  Janice  Carter, 
Richard  Lane,  Dorothy  Maloney, 
George  E.  Stone. 

Finished :  "Cry  of  the  Werewolf," 
"Under  Western  Skies,"  "Battleship 
Blues." 

Shooting:  "Death  Walks  Alone," 
"Meet  Miss  Bobby  Socks,"  "Ever 
Since  Venus,"  "Tonight  and  Every 
Night." 

M-G-M 

Shooting :  "Airship  Squadron  4," 
"Music  for  Millions,"  "Son  of  Lassie," 
"The  Thin  Man  Goes  Home,"  "Zieg- 
feld  Follies,"  "Lost  in  a  Harem," 
''Mrs.  Parkington,"  "The  Picture  of 
Dorian  Gray,"  "Thirty  Second  Over 
Tokyo,"  "Secrets  in  the  Dark,"  "Na- 
tional Velvet." 

Monogram 

Shooting  :  "Marked  Trails,"  "I  Mar- 
ried a  Stranger." 

PRC 

Started :  "Bluebeard," .  with  John 
Carradine,  Jean  Parker,  Nils  Asther, 
Ludwig  Stossel,  Patti  McCarthy, 
Teala  Loring.  Emmett  Lynn,  Iris 
Adrian. 

Finished:  "Seven  Doors  to  Death." 

Paramount 
Shooting :  "Fear,"  "Here  Come  the 
Waves,"  "Murder,  He  Says,"  "Two 
Years  Before  the  Mast." 

RKO 

Finished :  "None  But  the  Lonely 
Heart." 

Shooting :  "The  Master  Race,"  "The 
Pumpkin  Shell,"  "Farewell  My  Love- 
ly," "Having  Wonderful  Crime,"  "Tall 
in  the  Saddle,"  "Heavenly  Days," 
"The  Woman  in  the  Window"  (Inter- 
national) ;  "The  Princess  and  the  Pi- 
rate" (Goldwyn). 

Republic 

Started:  "Brazil,"  with  Virginia 
Bruce,  Tito  Guizar,  Edward  Everett 
Horton,  Veloz  and  Yolanda. 

Finished:  "Sheriff  of  Sundown," 
"House  of  Terror,"  "Anything  for  a 
Laugh"  CColmes). 

Shooting :  "San  Fernando  Valley," 
"Cheyenne  Wildcat,"  "Atlantic  City." 
20th  Century-Fox 

Shooting :  "Thunderhead,"  "A  Tree 
Grows  in  Brooklyn,"  "Laura,"  "Some- 
thing for  the  Boys." 

United  Artists 

Shooting :  "Dark  Waters"  (Boge- 
aus),  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe"  (Cowan), 
"Guest  in  the  House"  (Stromberg), 
"With  All  My  Heart"  (Vanguard). 
Universal 

Started:  "Be  It  Ever  So  Humble," 
with  Martha  O'Driscoll,  Noah  Beery, 
Jr..  Hattie  McDaniel. 

Finished :  "Trail  to  Gunsight,"  "The 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
son,  former  NBC  television  program 
manager,  will  be  in  charge  of  televi- 
sion production  for  the  new  company. 
Other  officers  are :  Ralph  B.  Austrian, 
executive  vice-president,  and  Malcolm 
Kingsberg,  vice-president.  Arthur 
Willi,  RKO  Radio  talent  director, 
will  be  talent  and  casting  director  for 
the  new  television  company. 

In  confirming  the  organization  of 
the  new  company  yesterday,  Rathvon 
said :  "Exhibitor  interests  come  first 
and  must  be  protected  in  every  way 
possible,  but  this  cannot  be  done 
simply  by  ignoring  this  new  medium 
of  entertainment.  To  turn  our  backs 
on  television  would  be  a  disservice  to 
the  exhibitor.  We  believe  that  the 
most  suitable  types  of  television  pro- 
grams, as  they  are  evolved  through 
experience,  will  be  far  different  in 
character  from  the  feature  motion  pic- 
tures created  in  Hollywood  for  thea- 
tre exhibition.  In  the  evolving  of 
such  programs,  however,  motion  pic- 
ture techniques  may  play  an  even 
greater  part  than  existing  radio  tech- 
niques and  the  use  of  film  will  prob- 
ably be  more  important  in  television 
broadcasting  than  the  electrical  tran- 
scription disc  is  today  in  radio. 

"Rather  than  stand  aside  while 
others  preempt  the  field,  it  would  seem 
to  be  in  the  best  interests  of  the  en- 
tire motion  picture  industry  that  pro- 
ducer-distributor companies  should 
participate  in  television,  not  only  to 
protect  themselves,  but  the  exhibitors 
as  well,  by  directing  television  pro- 
gramming into  fields  which  would  be 
far  removed  from  feature  pictures  cre- 
ated for  the  theatre.    Unless  this  is 


'Gangway,9  Show  Get 
$19,500  in  Balto.  . 

Baltimore,  June  6. — An  unseason- 
able hot  spell  was  overcome  by  a  cool 
weekend.  "Gangway  for  Tomorrow," 
aided  by  a  stage  show,  is  aiming  for 
$19,500' at  the  Hippodrome. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  8 : 

"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (3.000)  (35c-45c-55c  and  60c 
wekends)  7  days.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Aver- 
age: $17,500). 

"Follow   the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,405)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average: 
$15,000). 

"Pin  Up   Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)    (30c-40c-60c)    7   days.  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $13,000.    (Average:  $13,000). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

STANLEY—  (3,280)  (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,000.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"Gangway  for  Tomorrow"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME — (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c) 
7  days.    Stage  show:  Woody  Herman  and 
his   orchestra   and   revue.     Gross:  $19,500. 
(Average:  $18,000). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

MAYFAIR— (1,000)  (35c-54c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $7,000). 


House  of  Fear,"  "Babes  on  Swing 
Street." 

Shooting :  "Bowery  to  Broadway," 
"San  Diego,  I  Love  You." 

Warners 

Started  :  "Christmas  in  Connecticut," 
with  Barbara  Stanwyck,  Dennis  Mor- 
gan, Sydney  Greenstreet,  S.  Z.  Sakall, 
John  Alexander,  Frank  Jenks,  Joyce 
Compton. 

Shooting  :  "Strangers  in  Our  Midst," 
"Objective  Burma,"  "Roughly  Speak- 
ing," "The  Conspirators." 


done,  there  will  be  a  tendency  for 
television  to  become  dependent  upon 
the  showing  of  feature  pictures  made 
primarily  for  theatre  exhibition." 

Austrian's  statement  in  connection 
with  the  new  company  pointed  out 
that  it  will  have  "all  the  vast  re- 
sources, equipment,  studios,  research 
facilities,  creative  ability  and  talent 
of  RKO  Radio  Pictures  in  Hollywood 
and  Pathe  News  in  New  York." 

"No  single  individual  advertiser," 
Austrian  said,  "no  single  advertising 
agency,  or  no  group  of  advertising 
agencies  could  possibly  operate  such 
enormous  facilities  as  RKO  now  of- 
fers the  potential  television  users  of 
this  country.  These  facilities  are  now 
available  to  both  reputable  advertisers 
and  recognized  advertising  agencies 
through  RKO  Television  Corp.  The 
same  facilities  make  it  possible  for 
RKO  Television  Corp.  to  offer  ad- 
vertisers not  only  filmed  television 
programs  but  live-talent  package  pro- 
ductions as  well." 


Paul  Alley  Will  Head 
NBC  Television  Films  • 

Paul  Alley,  foreign  editor  of 
M-G-M's  "News  of  the  Day"  for  the 
past  10  years  and  also  an  editor  of 
United  Newsreel  has  joined  NBC's 
television  staff  to  take  charge  of  film 
production,  according  to  an  announce- 
ment here  yesterday  by  C.  L.  Menser, 
NBC  vice-president  in  charge  of  pro- 
grams. 

Edward  Sobel,  stage  director  who 
was  at  one  time  on  the  RKO  studio 
staff  in  Hollywood,  has  rejoined  the 
NBC  television  staff  to  produce  "live"- 
talent  programs. 

Legion  Approves  9, 
One  Objectionable 

The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
rates  20th-Fox's  "The  Eve  of  St. 
Mark"  in  Class  B,  objectionable  in 
part,  because  of  what  it  termed  "ob- 
jectionable allusion,  suggestive  dia- 
logue, usage  of  a  suggestively  vulgar 
expression." 

Nine  other  films  were  approved  by 
the  Legion,  including  "The  Ghost 
Catchers,"  and  "South  of  Dixie,"  both 
Universal,  and  "Spook  Town,"  PRC, 
all  Class  A-l,  unobjectionable  for 
general  patronage.  In  Class  A-2,  un- 
objectionable for  adults,  are:  "Bath- 
ing Beauty,"  M-G-M ;  "Home  in  In- 
diana," 20th-Fox ;  "Marshal  of  Reno," 
Republic;  ''Mr.  Skeffington,"  War- 
ners; "A  Night  of  Adventure,"  RKO, 
and  "Underground  Guerrillas,"  Col- 
umbia. 


'WasselV  Premiere 

Hollywood,  June  6. — Paramount's 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  will  have 
its  Pacific  Coast  premiere  here  tomor- 
row night  at  the  Hollywood  Para- 
mount. Receipts  will  go  to  the  Naval 
Aid  Auxiliary.  Among  those  expected 
to  attend  are  Gary  Cooper,  Albert 
Dekker,  Dorothy  Lamour,  Veronica 
Lake,  Paulette  Goddard,  Betty  Hut- 
ton,  Jane  Withers,  Bing  Crosby,  Bob 
Hope,  Signe  Hasso,  Laraine  Day,  Ar- 
tura  de  Cordova,  Fred  MacMurray 
and  others.  Dr.  Corydon  M.  Wassell 
will  be  an  honored  guest. 


Hollywood,  June  6 

rWENTIETH  Century-Fox,  which 
lost  moie  leading  men  per  capita 
than  any  other  studio  when  the  call 
to  arms  was  sounded,  is  in  the  news 
ot  the  week  witn  two  replacements  of 
a  calibre  to  suggest  that  the  emer- 
gency has  been  coped  with.  Fred  Mac- 
Murray  has  been  signed  to  play  the 
lead  in  "Where  Do  We  Go  From 
Here,"  a  color  venture,  and  George 
Raft  is  to  star  in  "Nob  Hill,"  an- 
other in  color.  MacMurray  recently 
disengaged  nimseu  trom  a  long-held 
studio  contract  and  Kaft  has  been  free- 
lancing for  years,  both  finding  them- 
selves now  in  an  especially  favorable 
position  with  respect  to  the  business 
of  picking  their  assignments.  A  far 
cry  from  the  standard  condition  where- 
inv  off-contract  status  is  lined  with 
needles  and  pins,  but  this  is,  as  every- 
body says,  war. 

• 

Columbia  has  assigned  producer 
Sam  White  to  the  production  of  a 
musical  to  be  entitled  "Fiesta  Town" 
and  to  be  healed  in  Los  Angeles'  own 
Mexican  colony,  which  is  quite  a  place. 
Paramount  has  signed  Daznd  Brooks, 
a  singer  with  Broadway  background 
and  a  career  in  opera,  and  will  star 
him  in  "Bonnie  Lassie,"  a  color  fea- 
turette,  as  a  starter,  returning  him 
then  to. New  York  for  an  appearance 
in  a  musical  there  before  bringing  him 
back  for  features.  .  .  .  Monta  Bell, 
ivhose  long  career  has  been  punctuated 
with  succeesses  like  "Birth  of  the 
Blues"  and  "Aloma  of  the  South 
Seas,"  has  been  signed  by  Monogram 
to  direct  "Little  Devils,"  the  somewhat 
misleadingly  titled  story  of  the  activi- 
ties of  Chinese  children  operating  be- 
hind the  Japanese  lines  of  battle. 

2  Americans  Default 
On  British  Quota 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

previous  year,  but  the  footage  figures 
require  an  adjustment  with  regard 
to  the  provisions  of  the  1938  Act  re- 
lating to  double  and  treble  quota  foot- 
age under  the  cost  clauses,  which  give 
increased  footage  value  to  films  in 
relation  to  a  minimum  cost  of  $84,000 
per  film. 

Thus,  tbe  figures  adjusted  to  this 
scale  show  a  registered,  recognized 
footage  of  818,213,  against  668,527  for 
the  previous  year.  The  Board  of 
Trade  regards  the  figures  as  "highly 
satisfactory,"  asserting  that  they 
clearly  disclose  that  films  of  higher 
quality  are  being  produced  now. 

SAGTurnsDownSPU 
On  Working  Agreem't 

Hollywood,  June  6.  —  The  Screen 
Actors  Guild  board  last  night  rejected 
the  Screen  Players  Unions'  proposals 
for  a  working  agreement  designed  to 
compose  differences  which  resulted  in 
SPU's  filing  a  National  Labor  Re- 
lations Board  petition  for  a  sepa- 
rate bargaining  unit,  now  await- 
ing adjudication.  SAG  took  the 
position  that  rejection  would  expedite 
adjudication,  pending  which  the  pro- 
ducers have  refused  to  proceed  with 
SAG  arbitration  demands  for  con- 
tract revisions  giving  extra  players 
improved  salary  scales  and  working 
conditions. 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  112 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  8,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Dubbed  Films 
Ready  for 
Army's  Call 

Versions  in  French  and 
Italian  Are  Set 


Foreign  distribution  heads  of  dis 
tributors  revealed  here  yesterday 
that  they  had  ready  or  are  con- 
templating several  additional 
dubbed  versions  of  their  product  for 
postwar  distribution  and  when  re- 
quested by  the  overseas  film  bureau 
of  the  Office  of  War  Information,  for 
earlier  disposal  in  the  liberated  coun- 
tries by  that  Governmental  agency. 
In  addition,  the  OWI  has  its  own 
dubbed  documentary  films,  together 
with  those  of  other  Governmental 
agencies  in  a  huge  stockpile  covering 
22  different  languages  ,  an  OWI 
spokesman  said. 

French  versions  will  be  ready 
for  showing  in  France  just  as 
soon  as  the  Army  signals  ap- 

( Continued  on  page  9) 


'Attack'  Is  Ready; 

_  • 

No  Rental  Charge 


"Attack,"  War  Department  56-min- 
ute  film  dealing  with  the  invasion  of 
New  Britain  Island  in  Dec,  1943,  was 
shown  here  yesterday  to  the  press  by 
RKO,  which  will  distribute,  and 
proved  to  be  easily  one  of  the  best 
documentary  films  made  to  date.  Pho- 
tographed by  the-U.  S.  Army  Signal 
Corps  with  the  cooperation  of  the 
Armv  Air  Corps,  it  is  a  stirring  pic- 
torial record  of  a  huge  invasion  opera- 
tion from  its  planning  stage  to  the 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Cabaret  Tax  Awaits 
Roosevelt  Signing 

Washington,  June  7. — Only  the 
signature  of  President  Roosevelt  now 
is  required  to  make  effective  a  reduc- 
tion in  the  cabaret  tax  from  30  to  20 
per  cent,  following  acceptance  today 
by  the  House,  by  an  overwhelming 
majority,  of  the  conference  report  on 
the  debt-increase  bill. 

The  report  was  accepted  yesterdav 
by  the  Senate,  where  the  tax  cut  pro- 
vision originated,  and  today's  vote  in 
the  House  confirmed  expectations 
that,  on  a  show-down,  no  serious  on- 
position  would  be  encountered  in  re- 
ducing the  night  club  tax,  which  had 
been  represented  as  threatening  a 
large  number  of  cabarets. 


S chine  Trial  Will 
Be  Adjourned 
Until  August  15 

Buffalo,  June  7. — The  trial  of  the 
Government  anti-trust  suit  in  U.  S. 
District  court  here  against  the  Schine 
Circuit  will  be  adjourned  tomorrow 
afternoon  until  Tuesday,  Aug.  15.  Fed- 
eral Judge  John  Knight,  who  is  pre- 
siding at  the  trial,  will  be  unable  to 
resume  until  then  as  he  is  scheduled 
to  handle  the  July  term  of  the  Fed- 
eral Court  in  Jamestown,  N.  Y.  Seth 
Richardson,  of  counsel  for  Schine, 
must  leave  for  Washington  on  another 
case,  trial  of  which  is  scheduled  for 
next  week,  necessitating  the  Schine  ad- 
journment now. 

After  testifying  for  the  Government, 
as  the  trial  continued  today,  that  he 
and  his  partner  sold  the  Moose  The- 

(Continited  on  page  9) 


Business  Normal 
At  N.Y.  Houses 


Although  a  slump  in  attendance  had 
been  generally  expected,  business  at 
Broadway  first  runs  remained  at  nor- 
mal level  in  most  cases  throughout 
Tuesday  night  and  yesterday.  Neigh- 
borhood theatres,  however,  reported 
business  to  be  below  average,  as  did 
several  of  the  smaller  Broadway 
houses. 

Completely  unaffected  by  the  mo- 

( Continued  on  page  12) 


Universal' 's  Fifth 
Loan  $3,500,000 

Hollywood,  June  7. — Univer- 
sal is  subscribing  for  $3,500,- 
000  of  Fifth  War  Loan  bonds, 
board  chairman  J.  Cheever 
Cowdin  announced  at  this 
morning's  session  of  the  com- 
pany's sales  meeting  at  the 
studio  here. 


On  Monday,  Loew's  pledged 
to  purchase  $10,000,000  worth 
of  bonds  during  the  campaign, 
and  on  Tuesday  Paramount 
made  a  pledge  of  $15,000,000. 
The  Univeral  subscription 
brings  the  total  for  the  first 
three  corporate  purchases  to 
date  up  to  $28,500,000. 


Independent  Unit 
For  De  Sylva  Seen 


Hollywood,  June  7. — Negotiations 
looking  toward  the  formation  of  Bud- 
dy De  Sylva's  own  production  unit 
at  Paramount  tonight  were  under- 
stood close  to  consummation.  If  con- 
cluded, in  keeping  with  De  Sylva's 
expressed  desire  to  unburden  himself 
from  the  rigors  of  the  executive  pro- 
ducership,  he  would  make  a  limited 
number  of  attractions  annually,  with 
Paramount  providing  financing. 

In  this  eventuality,  it  is  further  re- 
ported that  Paramount  production 
will  function  under  an  executive  board 
to  be  created  with  Y.  Frank  Freeman 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


300,000  'E'  Bonds  for  500 
Coast  Houses  for  the  5th 


Gen.  Clark  Thanks 
'Fighting  Fifth' 

By  radio  from  Lieut.  Gen- 
eral Mark  Clark,  who  has 
been  pretty  busy  liberating 
Rome,  has  come  a  message  to 
Oscar  A.  Doob,  New  York 
campaign  director  of  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan, 
extending  thanks  for  naming 
the  drive  after  the  Fifth 
Army. 

"The  soldiers  are  pleased 
that  you  are  honoring  them 
in  the  current  bond  cam- 
paign," said  the  general.  "We 
who  are  fighting  in  Italy  are 
bolstered  by  your  support  in 
America.    Good  luck." 


Hollywood,  June  7. — News  of  the 
European  invasion  has  prompted  ex- 
hibitors of  Southern  California  to 
establish  a  goal  of  500,000  bond  sales 
in  500  theatres  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan,  which  starts  on  Monday.  The 
500,000-bond  goal  was  urged  by 
Charles  P.  Skouras,  chairman  of  the 
Fourth  War  Loan,  at  an  industry 
bond  meeting  at  the  Hotel  Ambassa- 
dor Variety  Club  headquarters. 

The  session  was  presided  over  by 
Dave  Bershon  with  O.  N.  Srere  of 
the  War  Finance  Committee  and  was 
attended  bv  50  exhibitor  and  distribu- 
tor committee  members.  This  session 
was  preceded  by  a  morning  session  of 
distributors  at  the  Warner  exchange, 
with  Fred  Greenberg  and  Harrv  Cohen 
nresiding,  at  which  every  salesman  in 
this  territory  was  instructed  to  contact 

(Continued  on  page  12) 


Exemptions  in 
Job  Freeze 
Up  to  Regions 

No  Washington  Relief 
From  WMC  Order 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,    June    7. — Indus- 
try   interests    seeking  exemptions 
from    the    new    War  Manpower 
Commission  regulations  that  all  la- 
bor must  be  recruited  through  U.  S. 
Employment  Service  offices  after  July 
1  can  be  given  no  relief  from  Wash- 
ington, WMC  officials  said  today. 
They  explained  that  the  new 
plan  for  the  channeling  of  labor 
into  industries  where  it  is  most 
needed  in  the  war  effort  is  set 
up  on  a  local  basis,  and  that  the 
regional  WMC  offices  will  de- 
cide how  strictly  the  controls 
must  be  applied  in  their  terri- 
tories on  the  basis  of  the  local 

(.Continued  on  page  12) 


Columbia  Splits  Its 
Southern  Territory 


Columbia's  Southern  division,  head- 
ed by  Sam  Moscow  until  his  death 
a  few  weeks  ago,  has  been  realigned, 
with  R.  J.  Ingram,  former  Atlanta 
branch  manager,  heading  a  new  South- 
eastern division  comprised  of  Atlanta, 
Charlotte  and  New  Orleans,  and  with 
J.  B.  Underwood,  former  Dallas 
branch  manager,  as  reported  exclusive- 
ly Motion  Picture  Daily  on  June  6, 
heading  the  Southeastern  division  that 
takes  in  Dallas,  Memphis  and  Okla- 
homa City.  Atlanta  and  Dallas  will  be 
respective  headquarters  cities. 

Ingram  joined  Columbia  in  1928  as 
manager  of  the  Memphis  branch, 
transferring  to  Atlanta  in  1941.  Un- 
derwood' started  with  the  company  in 
1929  as  office  manager  at  Dallas  and 
was  made  branch  manager  there  later 
the  same  year. 


Re-elect  All  RKO 
Directors  at  Dover 

The  board  of  directors  of  RKO  was 
reelected  for  another  year  at  the  com- 
pany's annual  stockholders  meeting  in 
Dover,  Delaware,  yesterday. 

The  board  includes  Ned  E.  Depinet, 
Frederick  L.  Ehrman,  L.  Lawrence 
Green,  L.  Boyd  Hatch,  Floyd  B.  Od- 
ium, Richard  C.  Patterson,  Jr.,  N. 
Peter  Rathvon,  George  H.  Shaw  and 
Tohn  M.  Whitaker. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  8,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


SPVROS  SKOURAS,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox  president,  and  Murray 
Silver sto n e,  vice-president  in  charge 
of  foreign  distribution,  left  last  night 
for  Washington. 

• 

Makjorie  Kurtz,  assistant  publicity 
director  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, resigned  yesterday  and  plans  to 
be  married  within  a  month. 

• 

Jack    Leewood,    Warners  Denver 
public  relations  representative,  has  re- 
turned to  that  city  following  confer- 
ences with  home  office  executives. 
• 

Ben  Goetz,  MGM  British  produc- 
tion executive,  is  awaiting  transporta- 
tion back  to  London  following  "his  ex- 
tended visit  here  and  on  the  Coast. 
• 

Charles  Francis  Coe  expects  to  re- 
turn to  Palm  Beach,  Fla.,  in  about 
two  weeks  on  a  mission  in  connection 
with  his  law  practice  there. 

• 

Harry  Keller,  Universal  Mid-west 
publicity  head,  will  return  to  Chicago 
from  Minneapolis  today. 

• 

Ed  Kuykendall,  MPTOA  presi- 
dent, has  returned  to  his  Columbus, 
Miss.,  home  from  Little  Rock,  Ark. 
• 

Walt  Disney  and  Mrs.  Disney  are 
scheduled  to  leave  for  the  Coast  tomor- 
row following  their  New  York  visit. 


To  Honor  Past  Heads 
Of  Allied  of  N.  /. 

A  banquet  honoring  the  founders 
and  past  presidents  of  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New  Jersey  will  be  held 
June  22  at  the  Hotel  Chelsea,  Atlantic- 
City,  to  climax  the  association's  silver 
jubilee  convention,  June  20-22.  Heads 
of  distributing  companies  are  expected 
to  attend,  as  will  Acting  Governor 
Howard  Eastwood  of  New  Jersey. 

Displays  for  the  convention  are  be- 
ing prepared  by  20th-Fox.  M-G-M, 
Paramount.  Warners,  RKO,  Columbia, 
Republic.  Monogram,  PRC.  National 
Screen,  Universal.  United  Artists, 
Film  Classics,  Sanitary  Automatic 
Candy  Co..  National  Theatre  Supply, 
Cinema  Craft  and  the  War  Activities 
Committee. 


U.S.  and  Industry 
Talk  Over  Surplus 


Washington,  June  7. — Plans  for 
the  aisposal  of  military  photographic 
equipment  that  may  be  declared  sur- 
plus in  the  future  have  been  discussed 
oy  Government  officials  with  repre- 
sentatives of  the  photographic  equip- 
.nent  industry,  it  was  disclosed  here 
today. 

To  date,  according  to  procurement 
division  officials  who  will  have  charge 
jf  such  disposal,  very  little  photogra- 
phic equipment  has  been  declared  sur- 
plus, but  it  is  anticipated  that  later 
very  considerable  quantities  of  vari- 
ous types  of  equipment  will  no  long- 
er be  required  for  military  purpose 
and  will  be  available  for  civilians. 

The  principal  problem  in  disposing 
of  these  stocks  will  be  to  obtain  the 
largest  possible  revenue  from  sales  to 
relieve  the  public  tax  burden,  and  at 
the  same  time  to  maintain  and  en- 
courage a  competitive  economy,  it  was 
said.  Every  effort  will  have  to  be 
made  to  avoid  "dumping"  of  goods, 
which  would  disturb  the  industry's 
situation,  and  to  determine  the  most 
efficient  method  of  distribution,  offi- 
cials here  declared. 

A  Treasury  spokesman  gave  assur- 
ance to  the  industry  that  no  arbitrary 
decisions  concerning  the  disposal  of 
photographic  equipment  would  be 
made  and  that  the  advice  of  industry 
members  would  be  solicited. 


Urge  Preparations 
Now  for  Surpluses 

Rochester.  N.  V.,  June  7. — Plan 


W  AC  Luncheon  for 
Beddington  Today 

A  luncheon  in  honor  of  J.  L.  Bed- 
dington, director  of  the  film  division 
of  the  British  Ministry  of  Information, 
will  be  given  by  the  War  Activities 
Committee  at  the  Hotel  Astor  today, 
to  be  attended  principally  by  companv 
foreign  managers.  Beddington  recently 
returned  from  a  visit  in  Hollvwood. 


MPPDA  Meet  June  14 

The  regular  quarterlv  meeting  of  the 
MPPDA  is  scheduled  "to  be  held  here 
June  14.  The  adjourned  annual  meet- 
ing of  the  board  is  not  expected  to  be 
held  prior  to  that  date. 


N. 

ning  now  is  essential  to  soften  the  im 
pact  of  war's  end  on  industry,  accord- 
ing to  officials  of  Eastman  Kodak  and 
Bausch  &  Lomb,  who  spoke  before  150 
industrial  representatives  at  a  post 
war  planning  forum  in  the  Chamber 
of  Commerce  last  night. 

Both  companies  hold  large  govern 
ment  war  contracts  in  items  related 
to  the  motion  picture  industry. 

Donald  A.  Gaudion  of  Eastman 
Kodak  advised  that  the  speed  with 
which  industries  and  sub-contractors 
■will  receive  settlement  of  claims  on 
war  contracts  terminated  by  the  end 
of  hostilities  can  be  accelerated  by 
preparation  now. 

Wilson  B.  Wight,  administrator  of 
priorities  of  Bausch  &  Lomb,  dis- 
cussing "Disposal  of  Government 
Surplus  Material."  observed  that  the 
hundreds  of  billions  of  war  costs  could 
not  be  ascertained  at  war's  end  but 
i  inly  when  great  surpluses  amassed 
everywhere  have  been  disposed  of. 
He  observed  that  large  concentrations 
of  materials  at  front  bases  and  ports 
of  embarkation  will  never  be  used 
in  the  war  and  urged  his  hearers  to 
investigate  present  and  proposed  ma- 
chinery set  up  by  the  War  Produc- 
tion Board  for  handling  surpluses  and, 
to  prepare  to  think  of  them  in'  terms 
of  their  own  future  needs. 


Ideal  to  Pour 

W '.  M.  Cotton,  president  of  the 
Ideal  Women's  Group  publications, 
will  be  host  at  a  reception  this  after- 
noon in  the  company's  new  offices  in 
New  York. 


Reshuffle  Runs  in 
Los  Angeles  Area 


Los  Angeles,  June  7. — The  Los  An 
geles,  Downtown ;  Egyptian,  Holly 
wood,  and  W^lshire  Theatres  in  the 
Wilshire  district,  will  move  up  from 
first-run  outlets  for  secondary  attrac 
tions  into  extended  runs  housing 
M-G-M  "show  case"  product  beginning 
with  "White  Cliffs,"  opening  in  the 
three  theatres  day-and-date  June  20. 

The  arrangement  was  made-by  Louis 
B.  Mayer  and  Charles  P.  Skouras; 
whose  Fox  West  Coast  theatre  opera 
tion  will  continue  unimpaired  under 
the  new  set-up.  "Gaslight,"  "An  Amer- 
ican Romance,"  "Dragon  Seed,"  "Mrs 
Parkington,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over 
Tokyo,"  "National  Velvet,"  "Meet  Me 
in  St.  Louis"  and  "The  Picture  of 
Dorian  Gray"  are  included. 

This  means  another  reshuffled  Los 
Angeles-Hollywood  first-run  situation, 
which,  adjusted  several  months  ago  to 
to  eliminate  product  jams,  had  been 
succeeding.     The  theatres  concerned 
have  been  playing  United  Artists,  Uni 
versal  and  Columbia  pictures,  which 
failed  to  make  local  "A"  playing  time, 
the  question  now  becoming  what  will 
happen  to  this  type  of  product  here- 
after.     The  move  gives  M-G-M  two 
sets  of  first-run  outlets,  the  other  be- 
ing Loew's  State,  Los  Angeles ;  Grau 
man's  Chinese,  Hollywood,  and  Up 
town. 


Theatre  Sound  Men 
Pacts  Before  WLB 

New  contracts  covering  some  560 
IATSE  sound  maintenance  engineers 
signed  by  the  IATSE  with  Altec, 
RCA  and  the  sound  maintenance  de- 
partments of  the  large  circuits  have 
been  sent  the  War  Labor  Board  here 
for  approval. 

Provisions  of  the  new  contract, 
which  are  retroactive  to  May  1,  pro- 
vide for  raising  the  present  minimum 
of  $84  a  week  to  $92,  two  weeks  vaca- 
tion with  pay  after  one  year's  service, 
seniority  rights  and  other  benefits 
relating  to  hours. 

The  new  contract  also  provides  for 
the  engineers  to  work  on  installations 
of  television  in  theatres.  Louis  Krouse, 
IATSE  general  secretary-treasurer, 
negotiated  the  new  agreement. 


Industry  Coast  Meet 
Off  Until  June  25 

Hollywood,  June  7. — The  industry 
mass  meeting,  sparked  by  the  Screen 
Writers  Guild,  to  adopt  an  affirmative 
public  relations  policy  in  answer  to 
attacks  on  the  industry  from  whatever 
sources  and  to  repudiate  the  Motion 
Picture  Alliance,  has  been  delayed  to 
June  25  at  the  American  Legion 
Stadium. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  June  7 
pHARLES   R.   ROGERS   is  due 
^  here  from  New  York  on  June  15. 
• 

Paramount  has  closed  for  band  lead- 
ers Ray  Noble,  Henry  King,  Ted  Fio 
Rito,  Carmen  Cavallero  and  Joe 
Reichman  to  appear  in  the  Sam  Cos- 
low  musical,  "Out  of  This  World." 

Arthur  Greenblatt,  John  Franconi, 
Ed  Blumenthal  and  Thomas  Burke 
will  arrive  here  tomorrow  from  the 
East  for  the  Monogram  convention 
opening  on  Monday. 

• 

Paramount  has  scheduled  "Cross 
My  Heart,"  a  comedy  with  music, 
which  Harry  Tugent  will  write  and 
produce. 

o 

Leo  J.  McCarthy  will  entrain  for 
New  York  Monday  to  prepare  for  the 
PRC  conventions. 


House  Group  Cuts 
Army  Film  Fund 


Loew's  Declares 
Extra  Dividend 

Loew's.  Inc.,  at  a  board  of  directors 
meeting  held  here  yesterday  at  the 
home  office,  declared  a  50-cent  divi- 
dend and  50  cents  extra,  payable  June 
30  to  stockholders  of  record  on  June  20. 


Washington,  June  7. — The  House 
Appropriations  Committee  today  re- 
duced $1,600,000  from  Army  estimates 
for  welfare  and  recreation  during 
1944-45,  but  the  $58,000,000  granted 
will  prove  adequate  for  all  needs  in 
view  of  recent  war  trends,  it  was  said. 

Based  on  the  program  for  a  maxi- 
mum-sized army,  the  appropriation 
approved  by  the  committee  is  $27,000,- 
000  more  than  the  fund  allowed  for 
1943-44. 

Reporting  on  the  situation  to  the 
committee,  Major  General  F.  H.  Os- 
born,  Chief  of  Army  Special  Services, 
explained  that  "the  generous  gift  of 
16mm  entertainment  films  given  the 
army  by  the  film  industry"  provides 
the  pictures  shown  overseas  and  forms 
the  basis  of  programs  to  which  the 
army  contributes  educational,  news  and 
other  films  aimed  directly  at  the  sol- 
diers. 

Morale  films  provided  by  the  Army 
are  produced  by  the  Signal  Service  at 
a  cost  of  approximately  $4,500,000  a 
year.  Major  General  H.  C.  Ingles, 
Chief  Signal  Officer,  told  the  com- 
mittee that  the  raw  .  stock  situation 
continues  light  because  of  the  amount 
of  film  required  for  taking  pictures 
at  the  front,  in  aerial  gunnery  where 
cameras  are  used  instead  of  machine 
guns  and  for  "V-mail."  The  raw  stock 
itself  can  be  produced  in  adequate 
quantities,  he  said,  but  there  is  a  lack 
of  machines  to  do  the  perforating. 

Ingles  told  the  committee  no  diffi- 
culties are  expected,  however,  because 
of  the  reduction  in  the  training  film 
program. 


'Command'  at  Criterion 

Columbia's  "Secret  Command,"  a 
Terneen  production,  starring  Pat 
O'Brien  and  Carole  Landis,  will  have 
its  New  York  premiere  at  Loew's 
Criterion  on  June  13. 


MOTTON  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley.  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane.  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
,nd  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company  Tnc.  1270  Sixth  Avenue.  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York.  20.  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Omgley.  President;  Colvin  P.rown.  Vice-President:  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.  -  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
h.ditor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau.  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau.  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg..  Wilh'r-n  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
bureau.  4  Golden  Sq  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald.  Better  Theatres.  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  \ew  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


u  in, 


JACK  JANE  IRENE 

CARSON  •  WYMAN  •  MANNING 

in  "MAKE  YOUR  OWN  BED"  with 

ALAN  HALE  •  GEORGE  TOBIAS  •  ROBERT  SHAYNE 

Directed  by  PETER  GODFREY 
Produced  by  ALEX  GOTTLIEB 
Screen  Ploy  by  Francis  Swann  &  Edmund  Joseph 
Adopted  by  Richord  Weil   •   From  o  Ploy  by 
Horvcy  J.  O'Higgins  ond  Horriet  Ford 


Jack  L,  Warner,  Exrcut'tue  Producer 


?b£aPe  Stow?  WW  a  Soar—  mbaR*./  3oo  Dm?  -mi?  ^jbbk  f 


4 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


Thursday,  June  8,  1944 


Review 


"Hail  the  Conquering  Hero" 

(Paramount) 

Hollywood,  June  7 

TP  HE  play,  or  the  story,  is  the  thing,  of  course.  But  to  end  it  patly  like 
•*■  that  is  not  always  quite  the  thing.  It  depends  largely  on  who  is 
doing  what  and  how  he  does  it. 

In  "Hail  the  Conquering  Hero,"  Preston  Sturges  calls  the  shots.  He 
wrote  and  directed  the  story,  placed  in  evidence  his  hallmark  of  dis- 
tinctive and  unusual  twists  in  both  of  those  departments  and  the  conse- 
quence is  an  excellent  piece  of  entertainment  that  mixes  comedy  which 
almost  goes  slapstick  from  time  to  time  and  drama,  which  tugs  away 
at  the  heartstrings.    He  does  it  with  an  adroit  sense  of  balance. 

Eddie  Bracken,  who  scored  heavily  in  "The  Miracle  of  Morgan's 
Creek,"  scores  once  more  in  this.  Instead  of  the  blonde  Betty  Hutton, 
the  romantic  foil  on  this  occasion  is  the  dark  and  attractive  Ella  Raines. 
William  Demarest,  without  whom  no  Sturges  effort  apparently  can  be 
complete,  is  on  the  scene  again  playing  a  tough,  but  heart  -  of  -  gold, 
Marine  top  sergeant,  who  is  abetted  by  five  other  hard-bitten  hombres 
who  reflect,  with  credit,  the  esprit  de  corps  of  the  devil-dogs. 

This  is  about  Bracken,  whose  father  was  a  Marine  in  World  War 
No.  1.  Like  father,  the  son  enlists,  is  discharged  for  chronic  hay  fever 
and  stays  away  from  home  because  he  failed  to  make  good.  At  a  bar, 
Demarest  and  his  bevy  of  lovelies  learn  the  situation  and  also  that 
Bracken's  father  was  Demarest's  topkick  in  the  last  fracas.  The  spark 
to  the  furious,  later  developments  is  kindled  by  a  slightly  balmy  Marine 
with  a  decided  mother  complex.  He  is  the  one  who  decides  Bracken  is 
doing  his  mother  dirt.    The  conspiracy  then  gets  moving. 

It  provides  for  Bracken  to  return  quietly  as  a  war  hero,  to  reunite 
with  his  mother  after  which,  it  is  calculated,  the  excitement  will  die 
down  and  no  one  will  prove  the  worse  for  the  deception.  Under  protest, 
the  program  is  carried  out,  but,  of  course,  it  misfires.  Instead  of  sneak- 
ing into  town,  the  town  is  waiting  with  four  bands,  garlands  of  flowers, 
speeches  from  the  mayor  and  a  high  state  of  confusion.  The  opposing 
political  party,  tired  of  Raymond  Walburn's  administration,  lights  on 
Bracken  as  a  successor.    It  is  indicated  he  will  carry  the  town. by  storm. 

All  through  this,  Bracken  is  prevented  from  telling  the  truth  by  the 
Marine  menace  and  the  suspicion  that  jungle  fever  occasionally  gets  the 
upper  hand.  Finally,  the  grand  illusion  spirals  to  a  height  where  he  no 
longer  will  submit.  He  tells  an  assembled  rally  he  is  a  phoney,  that  the 
medals  were  bought  in  a  pawn  shop  and  the  uniform  acquired  as  a  device 
to  rejoin  mother  and  home  town.  By  this  time,  Miss  Raines  knows  full 
well  Bracken  is  the  boy  for  her  despite  all  of  his  efforts  to  protect  her 
from  the  collapsing  house  of  cards.  But  Demarest  tells  the  truth,  the 
townspeople  decide  Bracken  is  the  honest  mayor  they,  want  to  adminis- 
ter their  affairs  and  the  picture  closes. 

This  is  the  outline.  The  story  motivation  is  established  well  up  front 
of  the  opening  minutes,  the  pace  fast  thereafter.  It  is  also  funny  and 
frequently  creeps  up  on  the  hilarious  until  Sturges  cleverly  pulls  the  plug 
on  comedy  and  swings  over  rapidly  into  straight  drama.  The  dialogue 
is  crisp  and  crackles  merrily  around  some  of  the  political  banalities  of  the 
American  political  system.  Acting  is  of  high  order  in  a  cast  which  also 
includes  Franklin  Pangborn  and  Elizabeth  Patterson.  Production  values 
are  excellent :  Sturges  is  in  fine  fettle :  Results :  Very  neat  indeed. 

Running  time,  100  mins.  "G."*  Release  in  block  No.  6. 

Red  Kann 


Armed  Forces 
Aid  Newsreels 


Newsreel  coverage  of  the  invasion 
now  underway  is  the  most  extensive 
in  the  entire  history  of  American 
reels,  based  on  plans  long  completed 
by  the  five  U.  S.  companies  and  the 
U.  S.  Government. 

J.  L.  Beddington,  director  of  the 
film  division  of  the  British  Ministry 
of  Information,  who  arrived  in  this 
country  from  London  one  month  ago, 
discloses  here  that  few  Americans  or 
British  newsreel  cameramen  are  ac- 
tually accompanying  invasion  forces 
at  the  outset,  but  all  of  the  newsreels 
have  access  to  films  made  by  the  sev- 
eral hundred  official  cameramen  of  the 
Armed  Forces — after  it  has  been  cen- 
sored by  military  authorities.  Bed- 
dington indicates  that  American  audi- 
ences should  be  seeing  initial  shots  of 
the  actual  invasion  within  10  days. 
American  newsreel  pool  representa- 
tives and  BMOI  heads  have  discussed 
with  military  authorities  the  type  of 
film  material  desired. 

Arrangements  have  been  made  to 
insure  speedy  handling  of  newsreel 
pictures,  with  new  laboratory  arrange- 
ments set  up  in  London  to  permit  an 
immediate  review  of  footage  by  mili- 
tary authorities  there  before  it  is  sent 
to  this  country.  A  considerable  quan- 
tity of  new  equipment  was  recently 
sent  from  the  U.  S.  to  newsreel 
cameramen  in  London. 


Discuss  AFM-Studio 
Contract  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  June  7. — The  two-year 
agreement  signed  between  the  pro- 
ducers and  the  American  Federation  of 
Musicians  in  Hollywood  last  month 
was  a  major  topic  at  this  afternoon's 
session  of  the  48th  AFM  convention 
held  at  the  Stevens  Hotel  here.  Presi- 
dent James  C.  Petrillo  and  J.  K. 
( Spike)  Wallace,  president  of  the  Los 
Angeles  Local  47,  indicated  that  this 
pact  is  "the  beginning  of  a  bright  fu- 
ture" for  the  AFM  in  the  studios. 
Wallace  credited  Petrillo  for  securing 
the  pact  and  stated  "we've  got  our  foot 
in  the  door.  You  will  see  some  mar- 
velous things  happen." 

Earlier,  the  delegates  passed  a  reso- 
lution which  forbids  the  employment 
of  any  member  for  the  making  of  rec- 
ords and/or  transcriptions  unless  terms, 
and  conditions  of  the  contract  are  at 
least  equal  to  those  prescribed  in  the 
recently-enacted  Decca  and  four  em- 
ployer contract  pacts. 


Preview  and  Party 
For  MGM  Air  Show 

A  15-minute  preview  of  M-G-M's 
"Screen  Test"  radio  program  which 
will  start  on  the  Mutual  network 
Monday  was  held  yesterday  at 
M-G-M's  home  office  in  New  York 
for  about  75  newspaper  and  radio 
editors  and  others. 

Among  those  who  attended  were 
William  F.  Rodgers,  Howard  Dietz, 
Si  Seadler.  Marvin  Schenck,  Herbert 
Crooker,  Mitchell  Rawson,  Al  Alt- 
man,  Dudley  Wilkinson,  Jack  Mehler, 
Rert  Xayfack,  Ed  Churchill,  George 
Frazier.  Nick  Kenny,  Danton  Walker, 
Louis  Sobol,  Dorothy  Kilgallen,  Bill 
Stern  and  Leonard  Lyons. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


USO-Camp  Shows  to 
Follow  U.  S.  Troops 

USO  Camp  Shows  will  follow 
American  troops  into  liberated  terri- 
tories on  the  European  continent  as 
soon  as  they  are  given  the  green  light 
by  the  War  Department,  USO-Camp 
Shows  reported  here  yesterday. 

For  the  past  several  months  Camp 
Shows  has  been  building  up  a  reserve 
of  talent  in  the  British  Isles  in  an- 
ticipation of  the  Invasion.  About  154 
entertainers  are  ready  in  England  to 
provide  33  different  mobile  shows  to 
troops  occupying  liberated  areas. 


W.  Arthur  Jack  Dies 

"Lexington,  Ky.,  June  7. — William 
Arthur  Jack,  82,  pioneer  theatre  oper- 
ator here  and  in  the  Atlanta  territory, 
died  recently. 


UJA  Radio  Artists 
Set  Broadcast 

The  Radio  Artists'  division  of  the 
United  Jewish  Appeal  of  Greater  New 
York  will  sponsor  a  Coast-to-Coast 
broadcast  over  the  Blue  Network 
this  evening  at  11 :30,  Carter  Blake 
of  Columbia  Pictures,  chairman  of  the 
division,  reported  at  the  weekend. 

Officers  of  the  radio  artists  group 
of  UJA  include  Eddie  Cantor,  Bert 
Lytell,  Fulton  Oursler  and  Bill  Stern. 
Associate  chairmen  are  Alan  Reed  and 
Norman  Winter ;  the  executive  com- 
mittee consists  of  Philip  Loeb,  Rich- 
ard Sanders,  Milton  Herman,  George 
Touller,  Marilyn  Cantor,  Jonathon  Ed- 
wards, Juliette,  Lewis,  Harold  J. 
Stone,  Leo  Mishkin,  Nedra  Mahoney 
and  Lawson  Zerbe. 


Zevin  Sentence  Is 
Postponed  Again 


Federal  Judge  Francis  G.  Caffey 
yesterday  postponed  until  July  3  the 
sentencing  of  Isadore  Zevin,  former 
secretary  to  George  E.  Browne,  con- 
victed IATSE  ex-president,  who 
pleaded  guilty  to  perjury  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Government's  probe  of 
the  whereabouts  of  $1,500,000  collect- 
ed from  IATSE  members. 

Although  Boris  Kostelanetz,  special 
Federal  prosecutor  who  recently  was 
instrumental  in  sending  six  former 
Capone  gangsters  to  jail  for  ten  years 
for  extorting  $1,000,000  from  the  film 
industry,  would  not  comment  on  the 
postponement,  granted  at  his  request, 
the  delay  in  the  sentencing  of  Zevin 
is  said  to  indicate  that  Zevin  is  pre- 
paring to  become  a  witness  for  the 
Government  at  the  forthcoming  trial 
of  the  same  Chicago  gangsters  on 
charges  of  mail  fraud  relating  to  the 
$1,500,000  collection  by  means  of  a 
two  per  cent  wage  assessment  against 
IATSE  members. 

The  conviction  of  the  Chicaeo  gang- 
sters, as  well  as  that  of  Louis  Kauf- 
man, former  IATSE  business  agent 
in  Newark,  is  now  being  prepared  for 
appeal,  before  the  United  States  Cir- 
cuit Court  of  Appeals. 


Safety  Award  Given 
M-G-M  Third  Time 

Washington,  June  8. — The  Film 
Safety  Awards  Committee  of  the  Na- 
tional Safety  Council  presented  its 
Bayer  Memorial  Award  today  to 
M-G-M's  Pete  Smith  Specialty, 
"Seventh  Column,"  at  a  luncheon  in 
the  Statler  Hotel.  This  marks  the 
third  time  an  M-G-M  short  subject 
has  won  the  award,  which  is  given 
annually  to  the  motion  picture  con- 
tributing most  to  the  cause  of  safety. 

The  presentation  was  made  by  Col. 
John  A.  Stillwell,  president  of  the 
National  Safety  Council.  Charles 
Francis  Coe  of  the  MP  PDA  received 
the  award  on  behalf  of  Pete  Smith 
and  M-G-M.  Chief  speaker  was  Sen- 
ate majority  leader  Alben  Barkley, 
who  stressed  the  Government's  inter- 
est in  safety-education  as  a  necessary 
wartime  precaution.  The  speech  was 
broadcast  over  Mutual. 


60  -  City  Premiere 
For  RKO's  'Glory* 

Philadelphia,  June  7. — RKO's 
"Days  of  Glory"  will  have  its  world 
premiere  tomorrow  in  60  cities  in 
Pennsylvania,  under  the  auspices  of 
radio  station  WCAU  and  23  other  sta- 
tions comprising  the  Pennsylvania 
network. 

The  local  preview  will  be  held  at 
the  Fox.  Tamara  Toumanova,  star  of 
the  film,  will  be  guest  of  honor.  Other 
cities  participating  in  the  premiere, 
said  to  be  the  largest  simultaneous 
opening  ever  held  in  this  territory, 
include  Reading,  Harrisburg,  Pitts- 
burgh, Lancaster,  York,  Allentown, 
Shenandoah,  Lewiston,  Altoona, 
Uniontown,  Butler  and  Johnstown. 

Mono.  Backs  Belita  Show 

Chicago,  June  7. — Monogram  and 
William  Shapiro,  independent  produc- 
er, who  jointly  own  the  Belita  contract 
will  coproduce  "The  Holiday  on  Ice" 
road  show  with  Frederick  Bros.  Art- 
ists Corp.,  which  comes  into  the 
Coliseum  Oct.  6,  for  17  days. 


taw 


^G     ^  *i«t*& 


1^  ^o*8*  .^.^ 


LIFE-SAVER! 


FIGHTING  SHOWMEN!  JOIN  TH^ 
FIGHTING  5th  WAR  LOAN! 


Thursday,  June  8,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


L.A.  Grosses 

elow  Par 
For  New  Films 


Review 


Los  Angeles,  June  7. — Los  Angeles 
first  runs,  in  common  with  theatres 
elsewhere,  were  experiencing  an  at- 
tendance recession  this  week,  none  of 
the  new  attractions  crossing  house  av- 
erages. "Meet  the  People  and  "Cry 
Havoc"  were  $500  under  average  in 
the  Chinese-Carthay  Circle-Loew's 
State-Uptown  combination.  Warm 
weather  at  the  weekend  was  an  alibi. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  7: 

"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1,00)  7  days.  Gross  $9,50).  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 

CHINESE — (2,500)     (5Oc-6Cc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.     Gross  $13,500.     (Average:  $15,500). 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 
"Yellow   Canary"  (RKO) 

EGYPTIAN— (1,500)    (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.     Gross:    $8,000.     (Average:  $y,50O). 
"Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 
"That  Nazty  Nuisance"  (UA) 

HAWAII—  (1,000)  (50c-6Oc-75c-80c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average  $6,200). 
"Onco  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

.  HILLSTREET— (2,700)  (50c-60c-80c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Average 
$19,700). 

"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $27,500.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 
"Yellow   Canary"  (RKO) 

LOS  ANGELES — (2,096)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average: 
$14,900). 

"Onco  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"GirJ  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (2,000)  (50c-60c-8Oc-$1.0O)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Aver- 
age $17,700). 

"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 
"Thu  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD— (50c-60c- 
85c-$1.0O)  6  days.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average: 
$11,000). 

"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN— (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Aver- 
age: $21,300). 

"Knickerbocker   Holiday"   (UA)  . 
"Yellow  Canary"  (RKO) 

RITZ— (1,376)  (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $8,700). 
"Mee':  tho  People"  (M-G-M) 
"Cry  Havoc"  (M-G-M) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)  (50c-60c-8Sc-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $10,300.  (Average:  $10,500). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

WARNERS'    HOLLYWOOD   —  (3,000) 
f50c-60c-80c-$1.00)    7  days.     Gross:  $16,175. 
(Average:  $17,000). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  DOWNTOWN— (3,400)  (50c- 
60c-8Oc-$1.0O)  7  days.  Gross:  $17,598.  (Av- 
erage: $1»,7C0). 

"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  WILTERN — (2,200)  (50c- 
6Oc-8Oc-$1.0O).  Gross:  $15,165.  (Average: 
$15,200). 


Arndt  Named  Radio, 
Film  Head  of  PAW 

Washington,  June  7. -^Howard 
W.  Arndt,  formerly  city  and  sports 
editor  of  Paramount  News  and  more 
recently  chief  of  the  newsreel  section 
of  the  Office  of  War  Information  news 
bureau,  now  is  motion  picture  and 
radio  chief  for  the  Petroleum  Admin- 
istration for  War. 

Arndt  will  handle  film  and  radio 
news  angles  of  the  agency's  respon- 
sibilities for  keeping  the  military  ma- 
chine and  essential  civilian  needs  sup- 
plied with  petroleum  products.  It  is 
probable  that  PAW  will  undertake 
some  experiments  in  making  pictures 
of  some  aspects  of  its  program. 


"The  Mask  of  Dimitrios" 

( Warner  Bros. ) 

OMBINING  murder,  intrigue  and  espionage,  "The  Mask  of  Dimi- 
trios"  is  a  well-acted  action  melodrama  that  sustains  suspense  and  in- 
terest throughout.  Producer  Henry  Blanke  has  provided  an  attractive 
production  for  the  telling  of  the  story  based  on  the  novel  by  Eric  Amb- 
ler which  recounts  by -  flashbacks,  the  nefarious  career  of  an  unscrupu- 
lous and  insidious  criminal.  Topped  by  the  excellent  performances  of 
Peter  Lorre,  as  the  writer  of  mystery  stories  who  sets  out  to  reconstruct 
the  life  of  Dimitrios  after  his  body  is  washed  up  on  the  shores  of  the 
Bosphorous  in  the  Near  East,  and  Sydney  Greenstreet,  as  the  sinister 
former  associate  of  the  murdered  man,  the  film  is  endowed  with  some 
highly  tense  moments  under  Jean  Negulesco's  intelligent  direction.  Others 
in  the  cast  include  Zachary  Scott,  Faye  Emerson,  Victor  Francen,  Stev- 
en Geray,  Kurt  Katch  and  Edward  Ciannelli. 

The  time  of  the  action  in  Frank  Gruber's  screenplay  is  1938  wkh 
flashbacks  running  back  to  1922.  The  background  is  the  Near  East, 
Geneva  and  Paris.  Lorre  is  intrigued  when  he  hears  the  salient  facts 
in  the  life  of  Dimitrios.  According  to  his  Turkish  informant,  Dimitrios 
was  a  criminal  of  long  standing,  an  international  murderer,  robber,  smug- 
gler and  spy.  However,  Lorre  discovers  that  he  is  not  the  only  one  in- 
terested in  his  investigating  stemming  from  the  finding  of  Dimitrio's 
body.  Greenstreet's  opposition  develops  into  an  offer  of  collaboration 
with  the  eventual  suggestion  of  blackmailing  Dimitrios  himself,  who  is 
not  dead  at  all,  but  living  in  splendor  under  an  alias  in  Paris.  Lorre 
gets  his  story  and  Greenstreet  finally  kills  the  real  Dimitrios  when  he 
fails  in  his  blackmailing  attempt.  Zachary  Scott  is  properly  sinister  as 
Dimitrios.  Arthur  Edeson's  photography  is  effective  in  highlighting 
the  mood  of  the  material. 

Running  time,  95  minutes.    "G."*  .Release  date,  July  1. 

Milton  Livingston 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Schine  Trial  Will 
Adjourn  to  Aug.  15 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

atre,  Norwalk,  O.,  to  Schine  in  Octo- 
ber, 1936,  because  Schine  had  bought 
the  opposition  house  and  tied  up  prod- 
duct,  Joseph  H.  Felter  admitted  under 
cross  examination  that  he  had  ac- 
cepted $2,500  from  the  circuit  for  clos- 
ing the  deal,  giving  half  of  that  amount 
to  a  "girl  ticket  seller." 

Felter  operated  the  Moose  with  C. 
O.  Frederick,  one-time  Norwalk,  O., 
postmaster,  and  secretary  of  the_  local 
Moose  lodge.  Saul  E.  Rogers,  of 
Schine  counsel,  drew  from  Felter 
statements  to  the  effect  that  he  had 
first  owned  the  Moose  with  his  broth- 
er ;  that  it  later  was  bought  by  the 
Moose  lodge  and  he  remained  as  buy- 
er and  booker  ;  that  the  lodge  interests 
bought  out  the  opposition  Linwood 
and  finally  closed  it. 

Approached  by  Lazar 

Under  direct  examination  by  Robert 
L.  Wright  of  the  Justice  Department, 
Felter  testified  that  before  Schine 
bought  the  Forum,  Louis  Lazar  of 
Schine  came  to  him  and  said,  "You'd 
better  get  in  with  us,  we're  a  big  com- 
pany." Felter  also  testified  that  after 
the  Forum  was  acquired  by  Schine  he 
was  unsuccessful  in  obtaining  product 
from  film  exchanges  in  Cleveland. 

"I  didn't  get  a  picture,"  he  said.  "I 
got  in  touch  with  Lazar  in  August, 
1936,  and  told  him  we  had  decided  to 
sell." 

The  price  asked,  he  testified,  was 
$17,500,  but  the  house  was  sold  to 
Schine  for  $15,000.  In  seeking  to  ac- 
count for  the  $2,500  difference,  Rogers 
brought  out  that  Felter  himself  re- 
ceived half  of  it  and  the  "ticket  seller" 
the  other  half  with  which  to  "take  a 
vacation." 


'Gaslight',  'Wassell' 
Beat  Capital  Par 


Washington,  June  7.  —  The  only 
above-average  business  will  be  done 
by  "Gaslight"  at  Loew's  Columbia, 
which  in  its  fourth  downtown  week 
will  take  an  estimated  $8,500,  and 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  at  War- 
ner's Earle,  which  in  its  second  week 
is  heading  for  a  good  J21,000.  The 
heat  seems  to  have  the  others '  down. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  8 : 

"The  Hour  Before  Dawn"  (Parsu) 

LOEW'S  CAPITOL— (3,434)  (35c-43c-55c- 
72c)  7  days.  On  stage:  Earl  Lindsay's  Love- 
ly Ladies.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average:  $22,- 
000). 

"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S    COLUMBIA— (1,234)  (43c-55c- 
65c)  7  days,  4th  downtown  week.  Gross: 
$8,500.     (Average:  $8,200). 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

WARNER'S  EARLE— (2,210)  (44c-55c- 
85c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  downtown  week.  On 
stage:  Rufe  D'avis,  Curtis  Bay  Coast  Guard 
Band.  Gross:  $21,000.  (Average:  $19,700). 
"Show   Business"  (RKO) 

RKO-KEITH'S^(1,800)  (35c -44c -65c -74c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $11,750.  (Average:  $13,- 
600). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

WARNER'S     METROPOLITAN— (1,600) 
(35c-55c)     7    days,    3rd    downtown  week. 
Gross:    $6,500.     (Average:  $7,200). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  PALACE— (2,242)  (43c-55c-65c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $16,000.    (Average:  $19,000). 


Independent  Unit 
For  De  Sylva  Seen 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
and  Henry  Ginsberg  undoubtedly  as 
members  and  perhaps  additional  mem- 
bers. One  might  be  William  Dozier, 
story  department  head  as  well  as  a 
producer. 

Speculation  over  De  Sylva's  future 
status  arose  when  Hal  B.  Wallis  made 
a  deal  to  produce  films  for  Para- 
mount. 


Dubbed  Films 
Ready  for 
Army's  Call 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

proval  for  their  exploitation. 

Murray  Silverstone,  20th-Fox  for- 
eign distribution  vice-president  and 
president  of  the  United  Newsreel,  dis- 
closed that  his  company  had  a  ver- 
sion of  "Claudia"  dubbed  in  French 
ready  for  exhibition  in  invaded  France 
as  soon  as  feasible.  Silverstone 
stressed  that  if  the  OWI  feels  that 
"in  the  interest  of  presenting  the 
American  viewpoint"  other  dubbed 
films  are  necessary  his  company  is 
ready  to  proceed  along  such  lines. 

Planning  Committee  Set"" 

Silverstone  declared  that  in  all 
probability  the  invasion  had  already 
set  in  motion  the  machinery  of  the 
joint  Anglo-American  newsreel  which 
will  be  shown  to  the  liberated  coun- 
tries. A  planning  committee  has  been 
set  up  in  London,  he  said,  for  pro- 
duction of  this  reel  consisting  of 
representatives  of  the  OWI  and  the 
British  Ministry  of  Information  and 
the  Allied  military  services.  This 
group  will  cull  the  best  features  from 
the  United  Newsreel,  which  contains 
clips  of  the  five  American  companies, 
and  also  their  British  counterpart. 

Al  Daff,  Universal  foreign  super- 
visor, said  that  his  company  was  pro- 
ceeding with  dubbing  plans  to  cover 
ail  eventualities.  Certain  dubbed  ver- 
sions have  been  prepared,  mainly  in 
French,  Daff  said,  but  he  was  reluc- 
tant to  disclose  specific  titles.  There 
have  been  no  plans  set  as  yet  for 
OWI  distribution  of  these  films,  he 
said.  He  was  of  the  opinion  that  the 
war-weary  populations  of  Europe 
would  be  most  receptive  to  pictures 
that  offered  relaxation  and  entertain- 
ment. 

John  Hicks,  Paramount  vice-presi- 
dent in  charge  of  foreign  sales,  said 
that  his  company's  plans  were  not 
complete  on  dubbing,  but  that  they 
were  working  on  extensive  plans  in 
this  direction. 

Seek  Mexican  Actors 

A  Warner  spokesman  said  that  a 
limited  number  of  his  company's  films 
had  been  dubbed  in  French  and  Ital- 
ian. It  is  understood  that  many  com- 
panies expect  to  dub  in  Spanish  and 
have  sent  representatives  to  Mexico 
to  line  up  Spanish-speaking  actors  for 
dubbing  in  New  York.  Other  com- 
panies, it  is  understood,  will  do  the 
actual  Warner  dubbing  in  Mexico. 

Among  factors  entering  into  dubbed 
version  of  films  has  been  the  past  at- 
titude of  European  companies,  many 
of  which  have  required  that  the  duh- 
bing  be  done  there.  Dubbing  in  the 
past  has  proven  cheaper  if  performed 
in  the  country  where  the  version  is 
to  be  exhibited,  as  there  is  freer  ac- 
cess to  talent  that  speaks  the  native 
language. 


Ideal's  Housewarming 

W.  M.  Cotton,  president  of  the 
Ideal  Women's  Group  publications, 
and  his  associates  will  be  hosts  to 
motion  picture  writers,  reviewers  and 
others  at  a  "housewarming"  in  Ideal's 
new  Madison  Avenue  headquarters 
this  afternoon. 


■   :     :  ■  Z  ?    TOP  H 


3k  mi  tics  of  ml 


"A  thriHlingly  realistic  film.  The  camera  work  is  Fine,  the 
film's  plot  and  dialogue  are  truthful  as  well  as  exciting,  and 
the  people  in  it  are  real  folks." 

WASHINGTON  EVENING  STAR 

"Tension,  conflicts,  heart  bumps  and  pathos  .  .  .  spotted 
through  the  story  in  acceptable  box-office  style.'' 

LOS  ANGELES  HERALD-EXPRESS 

"Strong,  dramatic  entertainment.''        SAN  FRANCISCO  NEWS 

"  'Man  From  Frisco'  is  a  worthy  story,  well  told,  and  Repub- 
lic Pictures  can  be  proud  of  this  production." 

WASHINGTON  DAILY  NEWS 

"Michael  O'Shea,  in  his  easy  going  way,  combines  charm 
and  strength."  SAN  FRANCISCO  EXAMINER 

LOS  ANGELES  EXAMINER 

"Stirring  and  intelligent  treatment  of  a  mighty  timely 
subject."  WASHINGTON  EVENING  STAR 


"The  film  has  solid  en 

HOLLYWOOD  CITIZEN  NEWS 


FROM     REPUB  LI  C 


an 


lorn 


Screenplay  by 


Original  Story— "  -  by  ETHEL 


REPUBLIC 


P     I     C     T  U 


12 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Thursday,  June  8,  1944 


Short  Subject 
Review 


500,000  'E'  Bonds  for  500 
Coast  Houses  for  the  5th 


"Hot  Money" 

(RKO-Pathe) 

A  lesson  is  driven  home  powerfully 
in  Pathe's  latest  "This  Is  America" 
subject,  addressed  particularly  to  those 
earning  high  wages  in  war  industries, 
stressing  the  necessity  for  saving  now 
for  the  future,  instead  of  spending  ex- 
travagantly. The  theory  expressed, 
though  somewhat  incomplete,  assumes 
a  reality  in  the  person  of  Miss  Peggy 
Brown,  who  goes  from  a  small  town 
to  a  big-city  defense  plant  where  she 
enters  the  big-wage  bracket.  After 
several  months  of  reckless  spending 
for  expensive  clothes  and  luxuries 
Miss  Brown  realizes  she  is  sabotaging 
the  nation's  economy.  She  visualizes 
her  fiance  selling  apples  on  a  street- 
corner  on  his  return  from  the  wars — 
because  of  her,  and  others  like  her, 
who  thrive  on  wild  spending  sprees. 
It  is  well  directed  and  presented  in  a 
way'  which  should  appeal  to  emotions 
and  sensibilities  of  the  average  person. 
Commentary  by  Dwight  Weist  is  ex- 
cellent. Frederic  Ullman,  Jr.,  pro- 
duced.    Running  time,  17  mins. 


'Attack'  Is  Ready; 
No  Rental  Charge 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

initial  landings  on  the  beachheads  of 
Arawe  and  Cape  Gloucester. 

Released  through  the  Office  of  War 
Information  and  distributed  by  RKO 
under  the  auspices  of  the  industry's 
War  Activities  Committee,  it  offers  a 
strong  element  of  timeliness  in  depict- 
ing a  military  operation  similar  in  its 
planning  and  execution  to  the  invasion 
of  the  Channel  Coast  of  France.  In 
portraying  the  sacrifices  made  by  the 
Armed  Forces  it  also  should  provide 
a  highly  effective  appeal  for  War  Bond 
purchases  during  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
Drive. 

No  Deliberate  Staging 

There  appears  to  be  no  deliberate 
staging  of  scenes  in  "Attack"  nor  are 
there  any  histrionics  to  highlight  the 
action.  It  is  a  sober,  realistic  account 
from  start  to  finish  and  the  grimness 
that  seeps  into  the  footage  derives 
from  the  actual  operations  which  de- 
liver a  terrific  emotional  impact  in 
their  unfolding.  In  the  early  sequences 
the  several  task  forces  are  shown 
making  preparations  for  a  two-pronged 
invasion  at  their  assigned  staging 
grounds.  The  amphibious  operations 
follow  with  the  invasion  of  Arawe 
coming  first  as  a  feint  and  the  Cape 
Gloucester  operation  following  a  few 
days  later  as  the  main  objective.  The 
main  difference  between  the  New 
Britain  invasion  and  that  of  the  coast 
of  France  is  one  of  terrain.  The  men 
who  set  foot  upon  New  Britain  had 
to  plough  through  dense  jungles  be- 
fore they  encountered  the  Japs  who 
had  been  blasted  out  of  their  positions 
along  the  shore  fey  saturation  bomb- 
ings of  the  Air  Force. 

There  are  potent  reminders  of  the 
price  to  be  paid  to  achieve  objectives, 
in  the  closing  sequences  of  the  film, 
but  there  is  no  sermonizing  about 
them.  The  onlv  Japs  seen  in  the  film 
are  dead  ones  and  a  captured  injured 
one.  M.  L. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

every  exhibitor  and  arrange  for  'Bond 
Premieres,'  'Bond  Shows'  and  "Free 
Movie  Days"  during  the  drive. 

"Double  bill"  bond  premieres  of 
pictures  and  top  radio  shows  for  first- 
run  Los  Angeles  and  Hollywood  thea- 
tres are  being  worked  out  with  radio 
networks,  sponsors  and  advertising 
agencies,  it  was  revealed.  Under  this 
plan,  some  of  the  big  air  shows  would 
broadcast  from  theatre  stages  and  the 
programs  will  be  doubled  up  with  pre- 
showings  of  new  pictures.  The  plan 
is  being  worked  out  by  a  special  events 
committee  with  Joe  Alvin,  of  NBC, 
representing  all  networks,  and  chair- 
man B.  H.  Wallerstein  and  Bruce 
Fowler,  with  M.  A.  Anderson.  Jack 
Berman,  Rube  Wolf,  Jay  Sutton, 
Hugh  Bruen,  Mort  Goodman,  Oscar 
Kantner  and  Tom  Baily  as  committee 
members. 

Eighty  motorized  units,  to  cover  six 
precincts  within  city  limits,  have  been 
mobilized  for  door-to-door  canvassing, 
it  was  reported  by  Spence  Leve.  Fur- 
ther cooperation  with  war  industries 
and  Boy  Scouts  was  explained. 

Bershon,  who  is  Southern  Califor- 
nia exhibitor  chairman,  said,  "Show 
business  is  war  business,  and  war 
bonds  are  our  business." 

Exemptions  Are  Up 
To  WMC  Regions 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

shortage  or  surplus  of  labor. 

Accordingly,  it  was  pointed  out, 
applications  from  film  companies  for 
exemption  from  the  requirements,  said 
to  be  sought  particularly  in  the  em- 
ployment of  theatre  managers,  must 
be  filed  with  the  regional  offices. 

Under  the  WMC  order,  made  public 
June  1,  a  spokesman  for  chairman 
Paul  V.  McNutt  said  the  new  rules 
would  prevent  hiring  of  any  male 
workers  on  a  full-time  basis  in  essen- 
tial or  non-essential  industry  except 
through  reference  to  the  Employment 
Service ;  would  impose  employment 
ceilings  regulating  the  number  of 
workers  that  a  concern  may  employ 
and  limiting  replacements  in  non-es- 
sential industry  to  women,  and  would 
seek  to  transfer  excess  and  idle  man- 
power in  surplus  labor  areas  to  areas 
where  shortages  have  become  critical. 

Once  the  controls  have  become  ef- 
fective, any  male  seeking  to  change 
jobs  must  apply  to  the  U.  S.  Employ- 
ment Service,  where  interviewers  will 
offer  the  essential  positions  the  agency 
has  been  asked  to  fill.  If  the  worker 
refuses  to  accept,  a  referral  card  will 
be  denied  him.  Certificates  of  avail- 
ability, as  now  required,  will  con- 
tinue to  be  needed.  Employers  may 
turn  down  referred  workers  but  will 
not  be  permitted  to  put  off  the  refer- 
rals too  long. 


Cantor's  'G.I.  Joe' 

Charles  William  Peers  Jr.,  of  Louis- 
ville, a  soldier  on  duty  somewhere  in 
Europe,  has  been  selected  "Typical 
G.I.  Joe"  and  has  been  awarded 
$5,000  in  the  contest  conducted  by 
Eddie  Cantor,  it  was  announced  hst 
night  on  Cantor's  NBC  program. 


Further  committee  meetings  will  be 
held  during  the  balance  of  the  week. 


Studios  Plan  Appeals 
With  Stills  to  Fans 

Hollywood,  June  7. — As  part  of  the 
industry's  Fifth  War  Loan  campaign, 
six  studios  will  cooperate  in  a  plan  to 
enclose  a  War  Bond  appeal  with  every 
photograph  and  letter  sent  to  fans. 
Suggested  by  Al  Finestone  of  the 
campaign's  bond  staff  in  New  York, 
and  worked  out  through  the  coopera- 
tion of  the  Public  Information  Com- 
mittee of  the  industry,  the  idea  has 
been  adopted  by  M-G-M,  Paramount, 
RKO,  20th  Century,  Universal  and 
Warners.  Before  the  windup  of  the 
War  Loan  Drive,  July  8,  more  than 
200,000  fans  are  expected  to  receive 
the  bond  message. 


$50,000  D-Day  Bond 
Sales  by  Randforce 

Forty  theatres  of  the  Randforce 
Circuit  in  Brooklyn  and  Queens  sold 
almost  $50,000  worth  of  bonds  as  a 
result  of  special  appeals  during  D-Day 
on  Tuesday. 

Almost  300  blood  donors  were  se- 
cured for  the  American  Red  Cross  in 
a  special  appeal  at  the  circuit's  Car- 
roll Theatre  in  Brooklyn  on  the  same 
day. 

Canton  House  Files 
Clearance  Complaint 

A  clearance  complaint  has  been  filed 
at  the  Boston  tribunal  by  the  Canton 
Amusement  Co.,  operating  the  Strand 
Theatre,  Canton,  Mass.,  against  the 
five  consenting  companies,  the  Ameri- 
can Arbitration  Association  reported 
here  this  week. 

Plaintiff  states  that  the  present 
availability  of  features  is  as  follows : 
Loew's,  14  days  after  first-run  Nor- 
wood and  30  days  after  first-run 
Stoughton,  and  the  remaining  decree 
companies,  30  days  after  first  -  run- 
Stoughton  and  Norwood.  Further,  that 
the  Norwood  Theatre,  Norwood,  has 
availability  of  films  21  days  after  Bos- 
ton and  the  State  Theatre,  Stoughton, 
has  14  days  after  Brockton. 

The  complaint  declares  that  the 
Strand  is  not  in  competition  with  the 
State  or  the  Norwood,  and  requests 
that  the  clearance  be  reduced  to  14 
days  after  the  first-run  Brockton. 

Introduce  Bill  to 
Repeal  War  Time 

Washington,  June  7. — New  legis- 
lation to  restore  Standard  Time 
throughout  the  country  has  been  in- 
troduced by  Senator  Kenneth  S. 
Wherry  of  Nebraska,  in  the  form  of  a 
bill,  which  would  require  the  approval 
of  President  Reosevelt,  and  a  joint 
resolution,  which  would  not. 

The  House  Interstate  arrd  Foreign 
Commerce  Committee  also  is  expected 
to  bring  out  legislation  to  abandon 
War  Time,  possibly  before  Congress 
recesses  for  the  Summer. 

In  enacting  the  legislation  two  years 
ago  giving  the  President  authority  to 
impose  War  Time,  Congress  wrote  in 
a  provision  that  it  could  be  repealed 
by  joint  resolution,  a  form  of  legis- 
lation which  does  not  require  Presi- 
dential approval. 


Business  Normal 
At  N.Y.  Houses 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

mentous  events  of  invasion  day  and 
the  day  after  was  Radio  City  Music 
Hall  with  "The  White  Cliffs  of 
Dover."  Business  exceeded  original  ex- 
pectations with  the  gross  of  the  fourth 
week  ending  last  night  reaching  $109,- 
000  instead  of  $103,000,  as  forecast 
earlier  in  the  week.  i  p 

"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  did  about'  \ 
$8,500  both  yesterday  and  on  D-Day.  I  f 
at  the  Roxy.    "Going  My  Way"  be-  ) 
gan  a  sixth  week  at  the  Paramount  \ 
yesterday  with  about  $10,000,  which 
was  about  equal  to  Tuesday's  gross. 
Both  theatres  reported  normal  busi- 
ness. 

Grosses  were  off  both  Tuesday  and!  i 
yesterday    at    the    Capitol    and    the  i  J 
Strand.     The  Capitol  ended  a  first  ' 
week  with  "Tender  Comrade,"  with 
less  than  $30,000,  which  is  consider- 
ably below  the  pace  of  recent  films 
at  this  house.    The  Strand  decided  on  j 
Monday   to   withdraw   "Make  Your 
Own  Bed"  and  substitute  "The  Mask 
of  Dimitrios"  but  altered  this  decision 
Tuesday  and  decided  to  keep  "Make 
Your  Own  Bed." 

Most  other  Broadway  houses  re- 
ported a  dropping  off  of  business  on  f 
D-Day  and  yesterday.  As  the  mana-  I 
ger  of  one  Broadway  first-run  house  K 
explained  when  questioned  about  busi-  f 
ness,  "We  don't  know  whether  it  is 
the  picture  or  D-Day,  but  business  is  I 
terrible." 

RKO,  Loew,  Brandt  and  Skouras  f 
neighborhood  circuits  in  this  area  re-  It 
ported  that  business  was  generally  off 
on  D-Day.    Many  of  the  theatres  re- 
ported increases  in  bond  sales,  how- 
ever. 


D-Day  Sends  Phila. 
Gross  Down  25-50% 

Philadelphia,    June    7. — Invasion 
Day  box  office  business  was  down  from 
25  to  50  per  cent  for  both  matiness  and 
evening  with  center  of  the  city  and  f 
neighborhood  houses  hit  alike.  While 
the  Warner  Circuit  had  made  a  tieup 
with  the  Bulletin  over  the  weekend  £ 
to  give  theatres  news  coverage,  there 
was  little  time  to  publicize  the  service. 
All   other  theatres  were  unprepared 
with  the  radio  and  places  of  worship 
monopolizing    the    attention    of  the 
people.    The  opening  of  the  Ringling 
Circus  with  a  War  Bond  performance 
on  Tuesday  night  made  for  a  further 
competing  factor.  Due  to  the  invasion,  [ 
RKO  cancelled  the  dinner  scheduled  t 
for  tonight  in  honor  of  Tamara  Tou- 
manova  to  mark  the  premiere  of  "Days 
of  Glory"  tomorrow. 


War  News  Slows  Up 
Toronto  Business 

Toronto,  June  7.  —  Patronage  at 
downtown  theatres  was  reported  only 
fair  following  the  start  of  the  Euro-  i  1 
pean  invasion,  while  attendance  at 
neighborhod  houses  was  meagre,  as 
many  persons  remained  within  earshot  I 
of  home  radios. 

Shea's  and  Imperial  theatres  of  the  I 
Famous  Players  circuit  and  Loew's  1 
and  Uptown  of  Loew's  circuit  partly  1  | 
overcame  this  problem  by  arranging 
loudspeaker  announcements  on  war  de- 
velopments. 

In-  the  meantime,  the  Famous  Play- 
ers' managers'  convention  was  being 
held  at  Niagara  Falls  as  scheduled,  I 
but  social  and  sport  features  on  the  |  f 
program  had  been  cut. 


a 


OTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  113 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  9,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


£11  Features 
For  1944-45 
Are  Indicated 


Decrease  from  424  This 
Year  Continues  Trend 

Continuing  the  wartime  trend 
toward  "fewer,  bigger  and  better" 
films,  the  producing  companies  have 
indicated  a  total  of  411  features  for 
1944-45,  Motion  Picture  Herald  will 
say  today  in  a  pre-seasonal  review  of 
the  new  season's  product  potentiali- 
i  ties. 

This  reduction  from  424  pictures 
to  be  delivered  by  the  end  of  1943- 
44,  ending  in  August,  is  further,  to 
be  compared  with  the  number  prom- 
ised at  the  beginning  of  the  present 
12  months,  which  was  to  have  been 
between  438  and  454.  In  1942-43  a 
total  of  468  were  delivered ;  the  year 
before,  there  were  534. 

The  general  tightening  trend,  how- 
ever, is  not  uniform  for  all  individual 
companies.  RKO  Radio,  for  example, 
released  39  films,  including  four  spe- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Cr,:i  HcGpen  Closed 
Canadian  Ilou.^r? 


Toronto,  June  8. — Change  of  policy 
has  been  announced  by  the  Wartime 
Prices  and  Trade  Board  with  respect 
to  the  construction  of  new  buildings, 
previously  prohibited  as  a  war  meas- 
ure under  regulations  enacted  early 
in  1942.  The  Board  has  rescinded 
clauses  of  the  order  banning  occupa- 
tion of  theatres  not  in  actual  opera- 
tion for  film  entertainment  purposes 
on  Jan.  31,  1942,  which  means  that 
dark  theatres  can  now  be  reopened. 
Further,  the  Board  has  removed  re- 
strictions 'on  new  theatre  construction 
but  warned  that  difficulties  may  still 
be  encountered  in  securing  building 
materials,  equipment,  furnishings  and 
{Continued  on  page  11) 


RKO  Theatre  Groups 
Reelect  All  Officers 

All  officers  of  RKO  theatre  sub- 
sidiaries were  reelected  for  another 
year  at  meetings  of  their  boards  of 
directors  held  here  yesterday.  The 
subsidiaries  include  Keith-Albee-Or- 
pheum,  B.  F.  Keith  Corp.,  RKO  Proc- 
tors and  RKO  Midwest  Theatres. 

Officers  re-elected  for  KAO  and  B. 
F.  Keith  include  N.  Peter  Rathvon, 
president ;  Malcolm  Kingsberg,  ex- 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Sees  Theatres 
In  Wide  Use 
Of  Television 


Exhibitors  will  adopt  theatre 
television  because  of  its  box-office 
potentialities;  major  circuits  will 
supply  the  necessary  facilities  for 
bringing  the 
specially  tele- 
cast events  to 
the  theatres ; 
television  fea- 
tures will  aug- 
ment  regular 
screen  pro- 
grams; and 
television  will 
even  bring  larg- 
er attendance  to 
theatres.  These 
points  were 
stressed  yes- 
terday by 
Ralph  Aus- 
trian,  RKO 

television  consultant,  in  viewing  the 
(.Continued  on  page  11) 


Ralph  B.  Austrian 


Films'  Fifth 
Drive  Starts 


"Jumping  the  gun"  by  three  days, 
the  industry's  participation  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  will  start  officially 
this  morning  with  an  Army  infantry 
"invasion"  of  Times  Square. 

Under  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen. 
Maurice  Miller  and  Col.  John  L. 
King,  400  infantrymen  from  Fort 
Bragg,  N.  C,  with  overseas  equip- 
(Continited  on  page  10) 


$41,110,000  War  Bond 
Buy  for  14  Firms 

Fifth  War  Loan  bond-buy- 
ing pledges  for  $41,100,000 
from  14  film  companies  and 
circuits  have  already  been  re- 
ceived by  Leonard  Goldenson, 
Paramount,  chairman  of  in- 
dustry corporate  bond  sales, 
as  follows: 

Paramount  Pictures  and 
theatre  partners,  $15,000,000; 
20th  Century-Fox  and  Na- 
tional Theatres,  $11,000,000 ; 
Loew's  and  affiliates,  $10,000,- 
000;  Universal,  $3,500,000; 
United  Artists,  $500,000;  Na- 
tional Screen,  Republic,  Unit- 
ed Artists  Theatres,  $200,000 
each;  J.  J.  (N.  Y.)  Theatres, 
Skouras  Theatres,  United 
Artists,  $100,000  each;  Tele- 
news  Theatres,  TransLux 
Theatres,  each  $75,000;  Shea 
Enterprises,  $60,000. 


FP-C  Marks 
Anniversary 


Niagara  Falls,  Can.,  June  8. — 
Gathering  of  Eastern  Canadian  man- 
agers and  home  office  employes  at  the 
Niagara  Falls,  Can.,  three-day  conven- 
tion of  Famous  Players  Canadian 
Corp.  on  the  final  day,  today,  heard 
plans  for  observing  the  25th  anniver- 
sary of  the  founding  of  the  circuit, 
Jan.  23,  1945,  with  Vice-President  R. 
W.  Bolstad  in  charge  of  arrangements 
which  will  include  silver  jubilee  din- 
ners in  key  cities  across  Canada  and, 
if  circumstances  permit,  the  holding 
and  Western  managers, 
of  a  national  convention  of  all  Eastern 

It  was  announced  that  313  theatres 
(.Continued  on  page  11) 


Will  Hays  Voices  Industry 
Message  on  the  Invasion 

11/  ILL  H.  HAYS  this  week  expressed  in  behalf  of  the  industry  the  follow- 
er message  attendant  upon  the  Allied  invasion  of  France,  close  upon  the 
liberation  of  Rome,  in  which  are  particularised  reasons  why  the  historic  events 
in  occurrence  arc  rich  in  special  significance  for  those  in- the  world  of  the 
motion  picture : 

HISTORY  may  find  this  to  be  the  greatest  week  in  the  annals  of 
the  United  States.  The  great  invasion,  the  great  drive  of  liberation, 
is  carrying  back  to  the  homeland  of  the  arts,  the  civilizing  forces  and 
cultures  which,  transplanted  here,  have  found  their  richest  nurture 
in  this  America.  Great  among  them  is  the  motion  picture,  our  own 
chief  medium  of  the  arts,  which  has  come  to  be  so  large  and  vital  an 
instrument  in  the  life  of  America  both  in  peace  and  in  war. 

WE   ARE  aware   of  and  participant   in   those   special  plans 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


Reels  Receive 
First  Clips 
Of  Invasion 


Fly  Almost  1,000  Feet 
Here  Within  60  Hours 


Washington,  June  8. — First 
motion  pictures  of  the  actual  inva- 
sion reached  Washington  this 
morning,  less  than  60  hours  after 
the  planes  they  pictured  left  England 
for  the  cross-channel  flight. 


Newsreel  executives  in  New 
York  last  night  admitted  receipt 
of  the  footage  of  the  invasion 
but  doubted  that  enough  foot- 
age is  on  hand  at  this  time  for 
a  special  reel.  They  are  await- 
ing additional  material. 

Setting  up  an  enviable  mark  for 
speed  and  efficiency,  the  pictures,  tak- 
en by  Army  cameramen  as  the  inva- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


'IP  Tribute  to 
Nate  Blumberg 


Los  Angeles,  June  8. — In  a  per- 
sonal tribute  to  its  president,  Nate 
Blumberg,  Universal  will  conduct  a 
worldwide  playdate  drive  between  June 
11  and  Oct.  28, 
it  was  an- 
nounced here  to- 
day by  W.  A. 
S  c  u  1J  y,  vice- 
p  resident 
and  general  sales 
manager,  at  a 
meeting  of  com- 
pany sales  ex- 
ecutives and  dis- 
trict managers 
at  the  Ambassa- 
dor Hotel.  It 
will  be  known  as 
the  "Nate  Blum- 
berg Testimo- 
nial Drive." 

Universal  exchanges  in  the  United 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Nate  J.  Blumberg: 


McEvoy  Is  Named 
Head  of 'U' Shorts 

Los  Angeles,  June  8. — E.  L.  Mc- 
Evoy was  named  short  subjects  and 
serials  sales  manager  for  Universal  by 
vice-president  William  A.  Scully  at 
the  morning  session  of  Universale 
sales  meeting  at  the  Ambassador  Ho- 

(Contimied  on  page  10) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  June  9,  1944 


WAC  Officials  Are 
Lauded  by  Hays 

Officials  of  the  War  Activities 
Committee  were  lauded  for  "the  sin- 
cerity and  high  purpose  with  which 
they  serve,"  by  Will  H.  Hays  at  a 
WAC  luncheon  given  here  yesterday 
for  J.  L.  Beddington,  director  of  the 
film  division  of  the  British  Ministry 
of  Information,  at  the  Hotel  Astor. 
Distribution,  exhibition  and  WAC 
executives  attended. 

Hays,  who  observed  that  he  was 
entering  the  23rd  year  of  service  in 
"the  highest  competitive  business  in 
the  world,"  said  that  these  men  will 
continue  to  carry  their  full  share  of 
work  in  the  world  that  will  have  to 
be  rebuilt  after  the  war.  He  also 
paid  tribute  to  the  trade  press  division 
of  the  WAC,  headed  by  Martin  Quig- 
ley,  and  to  the  WAC  aid  in  the  bond 
drives,  in  supplying  films  for  service- 
men and  other  war  work  engaged  in 
by  the  WAC  and  the  industry. 

Beddington,  who  has  been  here  for 
about  a  month  inspecting  the  Ameri- 
can industry  in  the  East  and  in  Hol- 
lywood, will  proceed  to  Canada  before 
leaving  for  London.  He  commented 
that  the  WAC  was  uniquely  Ameri- 
can in  the  sense  that  the  British  in- 
dustry has  no  comparable  organiza- 
tion. War  bond  sales  and  entertain- 
ment of  British  troops  are  not  in  it? 
province,  he  said. 

Schaefer  Commends  British 

George  J.  Schaefer,  WAC  chair- 
man, who  presided  at  the  luncheon, 
commended  the  British  industry  for 
the  progress  which  it  had  made  in  the 
last  five  years  in  producing  such  films 
as  "In  Which  We  Serve,"  and  the 
unreleased  "Life  and  Death  of  Col. 
Blimp,"  and  its  -series  of  outstanding 
documentaries. 

Si  Fabian,  WAC  theatre  division 
chairman,  and  Ned  E.  Depinet,  WAC 
distributors'  chairman,  also  spoke. 

Among  those  who  attended  the 
luncheon  were :  Arthur  Mayer,  Mar- 
tin Quigley,  Walter  T.  Brown,  Her- 
man Gluckman,  N.  Peter  Rathvon, 
Leon  Bamberger,  Phil  Reisman,  Os- 
car Doob,  J.  Robert  Rubin,  William 
Melniker,  W.  C.  Michel,  Murray  Sil- 
verstone,  I.  A.  Maas,  Joseph  Bern- 
hard,  Joseph  Hummel,  T.  P.  Mul- 
rooney,  H.  D.  Buckley,  Carl  Milliken, 
Mrs.  N.  Wittig,  Morris  Goodman, 
Walter  L.  Titus,  Walton  Ament, 
George  Benwick,  Roberto  De  Socas, 
Thomas  C.  Baird  and  Aubrey  Mor- 
gan. 


Personal  Mention 


HARRY  M.  KALMINE,  W. 
Stewart  McDonald,  Nat  Fell- 
man  and  Rudy  Weiss  returned  yes- 
terday from  a  tour  of  Warner  New 
England  theatres. 

• 

Frank  Armstrong,  former  War- 
ners' promotion  manager  and  now 
with  the  Kudner  Agency,  became  the 
father  of  a  son,  Frank,  born  to  Mrs. 
Armstrong  yesterday. 

• 

Lt.  Marvin  Rothenberg,  formerly 
of  the  Warner  Theatres  home  office 
staff,  and  Miss  Shirley  Felner  will 
be  married  here  on  Sunday. 
• 

Norman  Ayers,  Warners'  Eastern 
district  manager,  will  return  today 
from  Boston. 

• 

Alex  L.  Hillman,  publisher  of 
Movieland,  left  yesterday  for  Wash- 
ington. 

• 

Harry  D.  Buckley,  United  Artists 
vice-president,  will  leave  today  for 
Washington. 


WILLIAM  F.  RODGERS,  M-G- 
M  vice-president  in  charge 


distribution, 
Coast. 


left  last  night  for 


of 
the 


Goldberg  Resigns 
RKO  Theatre  Post 


Richard  de  Rochemont,  producer 
of  March  of  Time,  designated  by  the 
Government  as  official  war  correspond- 
ent, will  leave  soon  to  open  an  office 
at  Cairo  and  then  visit  the  Mediter- 
ranean area  and  Europe. 

• 

Leonard  Hirsch,  assistant  to  E.  K. 
O'Shea,  M-G-M  Eastern  sales  man- 
ager, will  leave  Monday  for  Boston 
and  New  Haven. 

• 

Al  Wilkie,  Paramount  publicity 
manager,  will  leave  today  for  a  vaca- 
tion at  his  Joisey  estate. 

• 

Arthur  Gottlieb,  head  of  Du-Art 
Film  Laboratories,  left  last  night  for 
Ottawa. 

Seymour  Poe  will  leave  today  for 
Washington. 


AFM  and  IBEW  'At 
Peace  for  Duration' 


Poole  and  Bruen  Will 
Report  on  Mission 

Los  Angeles,  June  8. — The  Inde 
pendent  Theatre  Owners  of  Southern 
California  will  hold  a  special  board 
meeting  Tuesday  to  hear  Robert  Poole 
and  Hugh  Bruen  report  on  their  re 
cent  Washington  Department  of  Jus 
tice  conferences  on  the  consent  decree 
and  with  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements on  its  theatre  building  pro 
gram. 

The  Pacific  Coast  Conference  of  In 
dependent  Theatre  Owners  will  hold 
its  regular  quarterly  trustees'  meet- 
ing in  Portland,  Ore.,  June  20-22. 


Chicago,  June  8. — James  C.  Petrillo, 
president  of  the  American  Federation 
of  Musicians,  at  the  AFM  convention 
now  in  session  at  the  Stevens  Hotel 
here  today  declared  peace  for  the  du- 
ration of  the  war  .with  the  Interna- 
tional Brotherhood  of  Electrical 
Workers.  Jurisdictional  disputes  be- 
tween the  two  labor  unions  have 
arisen  heretofore  in  theatres  and  radio 
stations  oyer  the  employment  of  their 
members  for  the  servicing  of  machines 
dispensing  mechanized  music.  Ed  J. 
Brown,  head  of  IBEW,  was  on  hand 
to  declare  that  his  organization  will 
cooperate  with  the  AFM. 

Petrillo  was  renominated  to  the 
presidency  for  a  fifth  term.  As  there 
is  no  opposition  to  the  office,  he  is 
certain  of  reelection  tomorrow. 


Monogram  to  Release 
Frank's  'Goebbels' 

Los  Angeles,  June  8. — Monogram 
will  distribute  "Private  Life  of  Dr. 
Paul  Joseph  Goebbels"  on  its  1944-45 
schedule,  it  was  announced  here  today 
by  Steve  Broidy,  vice-president  and 
sales  manager,  following  the  signing 
of  a  contract  with  W.  R.  Frank. 

Frank,  Minneapolis  circuit  operator, 
who  produced  the  picture  independ- 
ently, arrived  here  yesterday  after  con- 
ducting a  preview  of  the  film  in 
Minneapolis.  The  cast  includes  Sigrid 
Gurie,  Donald  Woods  and  Ralph  Mor- 
gan/ 


M.  Nossaman  Joins  WAC 

Mary  Nossaman,  formerly  of  the 
staff  of  the  Richard  Condon  Agency, 
has  joined  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee headquarters  public  relations 
staff.  She  replaces  Marjiann  Kurtz, 
who  resigned  Wednesday  to  be  mar- 
ried. 


Barkley  Commends 
Industry's  Aid 


Washington,  June  8, — Senate  ma- 
jority leader  Alben  Barkley  today 
declared  the  motion  picture  industry 
has  met  the  wartime  challenge  to  a 
degree  not  excelled  by  any  industry. 

Speaking  before  more  than  200  civic 
leaders  and  organizational  heads  in 
safety  who  attended  the  presentation 
of  the  film  safety  award  by  the  com- 
mittee of  the  National  Safety  Coun- 
cil, Senator  Barkley  commended 
M-G-M  for  its  safety  leadership  in 
producing  Pete  Smith's  "Seventh  Col- 
umn," which  won  the  1943  award. 

"The  motion  picture  industry  has 
rendered  noble  war  time  service  on 
many  fronts,"  the  Senator  said,  "and 
it  has  helped  to  arouse  a  higher  de- 
gree of  patriotism.  It  has  provided 
entertainment  for  our  men  and  women 
in  camps,  on  the  fighting  fronts,  and 
it  has  sent  its  stars  into  the  battle 
zones  to  lift  morale. 

"I  have  confidence  that  in  many 
happy  peace  days  certain  to  come  that 
industry  will  continue  to  be  alert  to 
peace  time  service,"  he  added. 


Kreisler  and  Cowan 
Talking  Tie-up 

Arrangements  by  which  Bernard 
Kreisler,  who  resigned  recently  as 
short  subjects  sales  manager  for  Uni- 
versal, would  become  Eastern  repre- 
sentative for  Lester  Cowan,  producer, 
are  being  discussed.  Cowan  is  pre- 
paring a  Norwegian  war  film  in  which 
Greta  Garbo  is  scheduled  to  be 
starred.  He  also  has  the  screen  rights 
to  Ernie  Pyle's  "This  Is  Your  War." 


'Beauty'  to  Open  Here 

M-G-M's  "Bathing  Beauty"  will 
open  at  the  Astor  Theatre  here  June 
27,  following  "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove." 


Louis  Goldberg,  RKO  Theatres  di- 
vision manager,  has  resigned  and  will 
announce  a  new  association  in  -the  near 
future,  it  was  learned  yesterday.  Gold- 
berg had  been  in  charge  of  23  RKO 
theatres  in  the  Manhattan-Brooklyn 
division.  He  has  been  in  theatre  busi- 
ness for  almost  30  years.  Manage- 
ment of  the  Manhattan-Brooklyn  divi- 
sion recently  was  reassigned  to  Charles 
McDonald,  who  had  headed  the  divi- 
sion up  to  about  one  y«ar  ago,  when 
he  was  assigned  to  home  office  duties 
by  E.  L.  Alperson,  former  RKO 
Theatres  general  manager,  who  was 
replaced  by  James  Brennan  recently. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
HELD  OVER  Sth  WEEK 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'a  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

RITA  HAYWORTH 
GENE  KELLY 

'COVER  GIRL3 

IN  TECHNICOLOR  ! 


IN  PERSON 

BORRAH 
MINEVITCH'S 
HARMONICA 

RASCALS 
MARY  RAYE 
and  NALDI 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS  ■■■ 

GARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLE'S 

'The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell" 


In  Technicolor 

RIVOLI 


B'way  & 
49th  St. 


Anne  Baxter  -   Win.  Eythe   -    Michael  O'Shea 

THE  EVE  OF  ST.  MARK' 

The  War's  Greatest  Love  Story 
Plus  on  Stage— Mia  Slavenska  -  Barry  Wood 
Eddie  Garr  -  Berry  Bros.  -  Radio  Aces 

BUY  MORE  )(  Y  7th  AvC"  & 


BONDS 


50th  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-j100.  Cable  address,  Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President:  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham  .news 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  WUJ.rn  .^Weaver,  Editor,  £ona<m 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  ymgley  publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


"ROGER  TOUHY,  GANGSTER!"  with  PRESTON  FOSTER,  VICTOR 
McLAGLEN,  LOIS  ANDREW'S,  KENT  TAYLOR  and  Anthony  Quinn, 
William  Post,  Jr.,  Henry  Morgan,  Matt  Briggs,  Moroni  Olsen,  Reed 
Hadley,  Trudy  Marshall,  John  Archer,  Frank  Jenks,  George  E.  Stone, 
Charles  Lang,  Kane  Richmond  •  Directed  by  Robert  Florey  •  Pro- 
duced by  Lee  Marcus  •  Screen  Play  by  Crane  Wilbur  and  Jerry  Cady 
Original  Story  by  Crane  Wilbur 


R  FIGHTING  MEN  STORM  PAST  ROft 


Paramount  is  readying  for  release  its  NEV 


 NEW     YORK     HERALD     TRIBUNE,     TUESDAY,     JUNE     6,  1944  

General  Clark  Leading  the  Conquering  Allies  Past  the  Colosseui 


CECIL  B. 
DeMILLE'S 

Mightiest  Spectacle 


Starring 


Claudette 

COLBERT 

Fredric 

MARCH 

Charles 


Charles 

LAUGHTON 


Elissa 

LANDI 


AND  A  CAST 
OF  THOUSANDS 


Where  2000  Years  Ago 
Another  Dictator 

Slaughtered 
Christian  Innocents 


See 


the  tyrant  Nero 
set  the  torch  to  Rome  as 
the  Nazis  tried  to  do! 


See 


. .  Christians  tossed 
to  the  lions  by  the  Hitler 
of  2000  years  ago ! 


See 


.  the  unconquer- 
able faith  of  the  Sign  of 
the  Cross  smash  an  ancient 
dictator,  as  our  armies 
smash  tyranny  now! 


See 


in  fabulous  spec- 
tacle, the  glory  of  Rome 
.  .  .  born  anew  today! 


6 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  June  9,  1944 


40  to  Help  on  Shows 
For  Servicemen 


Faced  with  a  severe  shortage  of 
talent  for  camp  shows  both  in  this 
country  and  abroad,  USO-Camp 
Shows  will  conduct  a  countrywide 
talent  search  in  which  motion  picture 
leaders  in  40  cities  will  act  as  USO- 
Camp  Show  representatives  to  handle 
preliminaries  of  a  series  of  Coast-to 
Coast  auditions.  The  War  Depart 
ment  is  asking  USO-Camp  Shows  for 
200  additional  units,  which  will  re 
quire  at  least  1,000  more  performers 
and  accompanists. 

Oscar  A.  Doob  of  Loew's,  here, 
public  relations  advisor  for  USO 
Camp  Shows,  in  cooperation  with 
Lawrence  Phillips,  USO  executive 
vice-president,  has  appointed  the  fol 
lowing  film  executives  to  help  set  up 
the  auditioning  of  both  professional 
and  semi-professional  talent  in  their 
respective  cities  on  the  dates  indicated : 

The  Line-Up 

William  C.  Aiken,  Atlanta,  June  24 ; 
Charles  E.  Kurtzman,  Boston,  19 ; 
Charles  Taylor,  Buffalo,  21;  E.  V. 
Dinerman,  Cincinnati,  19;  Charles 
Raymond,  Cleveland,  23 ;  Charles  J. 
Freeman,  Dallas,  24 ;  Harold  E.  Rice, 
Denver,  30;  Alice  Gorham,  Detroit, 
26 ;  Homer  McCallom,  Houston,  22 ; 
M.  C.  Moore,  Jacksonville,  26;  Rus- 
sell A.  Bovim,  Kansas  City,  23. 

Also :  Charles  Shire,  Lincoln,  June 
28 ;  Seymour  Peiser,  Los  Angeles,  19 ; 
Cecil  E.  Vogel,  Memphis,  30;  Nor- 
man Pyle,  Minneapolis,  19 ;  Thomas 
Delbridge,  Nashville,  July  3 ;  Rodney 
Toups,  New  Orleans,  June  20;  C.  B. 
Akers,  Oklahoma  City,  27;  Ted  Em- 
erson, Omaha,  26. 

Also:  James  M.  Ashcraft,  Philadel- 
phia, June  19;  M.  M.  Mesher,  Port- 
land, 26  ;  Rex  Williams,  St.  Louis,  21 ; 
Helen  Garrity,  Salt  Lake  City,  22 ; 
Fay  Reeder,  San  Francisco,  19;  Vic 
Gauntlett,  Seattle,  28;  Al  Baker, 
Spokane,  30;  Carter  Barron,  Wash- 
ington, D.  C,  21. 

Actual  auditions  will  be  handled  by 
USO-Camp  Show  representatives  sent 
to  each  city  from  New  York.  They 
will  include  Bob  Wilson,  Ed  Lowry, 
George  Choos,  Sol  Turek,  Ben  Pier- 
mont,  Bert  Wishnew  and  Hy  Blane, 
all  in  production  and  booking  fields 
prior  to  their  joining  USO-Camp 
Shows. 


Reviews 


BIS  Screens  Three 
Documentary  Films 

Three  British  Ministry  of  Informa- 
tion documentary  films,  "Lili  Mar- 
lene,"  "Cameramen  at  War"  and 
"Naples  Is  a  Battlefield,"  were 
screened  yesterday  at  Lloyd's  The- 
atre here  by  the  British  Information 
Services. 

"Lili,"  which  will  soon  be  released 
here  as  "The  True  Story  of  Lili  Mar- 
lene,"  is  based  on  a  song,  originally 
a  favorite  of  the  Germans.  The 
melody  caught  the  fancy  of  the  English 
and  they  put  the  tune  to  English 
lyrics.  Humphrey  Jennings,  direc- 
tor of  the  Crown  Film  Unit  of  the 
BMOI,  handled  the  film. 


AP  Has  New  Film  Service 

United  Artists'  "The  Hairy  Ape" 
is  the  first  picture  to  be  reviewed  by 
Associated  Press  in  its  new  system 
of  reviewing  one  film  a  week  for  all 
clients  of  its  wire  service.  Jack 
O'Brian  is  the  AP  amusement  editor. 


"/  Love  a  Soldier" 

(Paramount) 

Hollyzvood,  June  8 

D  RODUCER-director  Mark  Sandrich  requires  105  minutes  to  estab 
*■  lish,  develop  and  complete  the  story  he  undertakes  in  "I  Love  a  Sol 
dier" ;  he  takes  much  too  much  time  with  final  results  not  too  happy. 

What  this  is  about  is  (1)  Paulette  Goddard,  shipyard  welder,  who  kisses 
the  soldiers  goodbye,  but  stops  there  and  (2)  Sonny  Tufts,  corporal  back 
from  action  in  the  South  Pacific,  who  wants  to  marry  the  girl,  but  is  en 
cumbered  slightly  with  a  wife.  Weaving  in  and  around  the  principals 
are  other  characters  whose  various  emotional  experiences  all  point  up 
to  the  fundamental  contention  of  the  picture :  That,  if  it's  love,  it's  love 
whether  in  war  or  peace  days  and  that  the  real  thing  is  not  to  be  thrown 
aside  even  if  times  are  hectic  and  circumstances  not  conducive.  This  is 
what  the  film  says  and  with  it  there  could  be  violent  agreement  and 
equally  as  assertive  disagreement. 

Miss  Goddard,  at  the  outset,  disagrees.  Tuft  changes  her  mind.  In 
between  these  poles  of  this  comedy-drama  are  his  intervening  wife,  who 
eventually  clarifies  the  situation  by  consenting  to  a  divorce,  and  an  as- 
sortment of  incidental  pieces  of  comedy  and  drama  which  are  generally 
incidental  to  the  main  plot  line  and  slow  it  down. 

The  impression  persists  that  the  prime  handicap  in  "I  Love  a  Soldier" 
rests  at  the  base,  or  the  story.  It  is  slight  and  tenuous,  although  script 
development  and  directorial  visualization  seek  to  spread  what  there  is 
over  footage  too  extensive  to  carry  it.  Thus,  a  number  of  false  starts 
are  made  so  that  it  is  well  along  in  total  running  time  before  what  there 
is  of  story  bite  begins  to  show  its  molars.  -In  between  are  a  long  se 
quence  in  an  amusement  park,  an  extended  and  purposeless  blackout  se 
quence  on  a  San  Francisco-Oakland  ferry  boat  and  sudden  changeovers 
from  comedy  to  slapstick. 

The  attractive  Miss  Goddard  gives  her  usual  brittle,  surface  perform- 
ance. Tufts  does  nicely  enough,  which  goes  for  other  cast  members. 
They  embrace  Mary  Treen,  Beulah  Bondi,  Walter  Sande,  Ann  Doran, 
Marie  McDonald,  James  Bell,  Frank  Albertson  and  James  Millican. 
Appearing  very  briefly  as  a  cable  car  conductor  is  Barry  Fitzgerald. 
Brief  it  may  be,  but  his  performance  is  the  best  in  the  entire  picture, 
which  is  based  on  an  original  screenplay  by  Allan  Scott. 
Running  time,  105  mins.    "G."*   Released  in  block  No.  6. 

Red  Kann 


MGM  Luncheons  for 
Detroit,  Milwaukee 


"Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret" 

(Paramount) 

'TP  HE  incorrigible  Henry  Aldrich  endears  himself  still  further  to  his 
■■■  screen  public  in  his  latest  venture.  With  Jimmy  Lydon  lending  his 
usual  enthusiasm  to  the  role  of  Henry,  and  Charlie  Smith,  as  "Dizzy," 
"Henry  Aldrich's  Little  Secret"  looks  like  good  boxoffice  news  from  all 
angles. 

Henry,  engaged  in  the  "baby-minding"  business,  encounters  Ann 
Doran,  whose  husband  has  been  unjustly  imprisoned.  The  Child  Wel- 
fare Board,  headed  by  Henry's  father,  John  Litel,  seeks  to  take  her 
baby,  John  David  Robb,  claiming  Ann  is  "unfit  to  be  a  mother."  Henry 
and  Dizzy  offer  to  care  for  the  child  at  Dizzy's  home  while  Miss  Doran 
goes  off  to  get  evidence  to  prove  her  husband's  innocence.  When  Dizzy's 
family  decides  to  return  from  a  vacation,  the  boys  whisk  the  baby  to  the 
Aldrich  attic,  unknown  to  Mother  and  Father  Aldrich.  The  secret  is 
eventually  discovered  and  the  case  of  the  Welfare  Board  against  Miss 
Doran  is  brought  to  Court.  Miss  Doran  arrives  in  the  nick  of  time  with 
evidence  exonerating  her  husband,  and  Henry  is  a  hero  once  more. 

Hugh  Bennett  has  done  a  keen  and  comprehensive  job  of  directing 
from  the  entertaining  screen  adaptation,  by  Val  Burton  and  Aleen  Les- 
lie, of  Miss  Leslie's  story.   Michael  Kraike  produced. 

Running  time,  75  mins.  *G."*   Released  in  block  No.  6. 

Helen  McNamara 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Glory'  Premiere 

Philadelphia,  June  8. — The  Fox 
Theatre  today  opened  RKO's  "Days 
of  Glory"  in  connection  with  a  60- 
city  world  premiere  in  the  Pennsyl- 
vania area.  Highlight  here  was  the 
personal  appearances  of  Tamara  Tou- 
manova,  star  of  the  picture,  and  Casey 
Robinson,  producer. 


Para.  25th  Anniversary 

Toronto,  June  8. — Plans  are  being- 
formulated  for  the  observance  of  the 
the  25th  anniversary  of  Paramount 
Film  Service,  Ltd.,  Canadian  distribu- 
tor of  Paramount  Pictures.  The  ob- 
servance program,  to  be  held  in  Sep- 
tember, will  be  under  the  direction  of 
Gordon  Lightstone,  Canadian  mana- 
ger.- 


The  first  of  two  additional  M-G-M 
exhibitor  luncheons  will  be  held  today 
at  the  Book  Cadillac  Hotel  in  Detroit, 
with  the  second  following  Monday  at 
the  Schroeder  Hotel,  Milwaukee.  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager,  will  attend  both 
luncheons  on  his  way  to  the  Coast. 

John  F.  Byrne,  Detroit  district  man- 
ager; Frank  J.  Downey,  branch  man- 
ager; and  Edward  M.  Booth,  Cincin- 
nati exchange  head,  will  attend  the 
Detroit  luncheon  in  addition  to  sales- 
men, which  75  exhibitors  are  expected 
to  attend. 

Managers  Present 

John  E.  Flynn,  Western  sales  man- 
ager ;  Sam  Shirley,  district  manager, 
and  William  Bishop,  Western  exploita- 
tion representative,  will  attend  the 
Milwaukee  luncheon  in  addition  to  the 
local  exchange  staff. 

Also,  on  Monday  night,  Rodgers  and 
Flynn  will  play  host  at  a  dinner  at  the 
Schroeder  for  exchange  employes  at 
which  seven  loyalty  pins  will  be  dis- 
tributed to  employes  with  the  com- 
pany 10  to  20  years.  In  addition,  E. 
K-  (Ted)  O'Shea,  Eastern  sales  man- 
ager, will  be  host  at  two  luncheons 
next  week  at  which  loyalty  pins  will 
be  distributed.  The  first  will  be  held 
Monday  at  the  Copley  Plaza  Hotel, 
Boston,  with  M.  N.  Wolf,  district 
manager  Tom  Donaldson,  exchange 
manager;  Charles  Kurtzman,  Loew's 
district  manager;  George  Kraska, 
manager  of  the  State  Theatre,  and 
Harry  Greenman,  manager  of  the  Or- 
pheum,  on  the  dais. 

20-Year  Pins 

The  following  employes  will  be 
given  20-year  pins:  Etta  F.  Brady, 
Joseph  M.  Cummings,  Elizabeth  Der- 
vin,  Charles  Repec  and  Harry  Worden. 

Ten-year  loyalty  pins  will  be  given 
to :  Victor  Shenberg,  Raymond  Cur- 
ran,' Nathan  Oberman,  Mary  Flannery, 
Benjamin  Bebchick,  Edward  Dobkin, 
Helen  Helvitz,  Harry  Rosenblatt, 
Marion  Bell,  Helen  Reardon,  Sadie 
Gershman,  Albert  C.  Wheeler,  Julius 
Waldstein,  Margaret  O'Brien,  Kathe- 
rine  McGovern,  Ann  F.  Harrington, 
Thomas  Simone,  Sadie  Goldman, 
Grace  McGowan  and  Jack  Israelson. 

On  Wednesday,  June  14,  at  the  Taft 
Hotel,  New  Haven,  O'Shea  will  dis- 
tribute eight  10-year  pins. 


Mexican  Film  Union 
Opposes  Dubbing 

Mexico  City,  June  8.— Hollywood 
plans  for  expanding  in  South  America 
through  dubbing  in  Spanish  by  Latin 
film  players  and  radio  announcers  on 
selected  Hollywood  films  is  threatened 
by  the  opposition  of  Pedro  Tellez 
Vargas,  secretary  general  of  Section 
1  (theatre  employes)  of  the  National 
Cinematographic  Industry  Workers 
Union. 

Vargas  said  that  his  organization 
will  do  all  in  its  power  to  prevent  the 
screening  of  these  films  in  Mexico. 


N.  Y.  'Italy'  Premiere 

"What  Price  Italy?",  compiled  by 
the  U.  S.  Army  Signal  Corps,  Navy 
and  Air  Corps  cameramen,  will  have 
its  world  premiere  at  the  newly  reno- 
vated Arena  Theatre,  41st  St.  and 
8th  Ave.,  tomorrow. 


Friday,  June  9,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


7 


Hollywood 


•     By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  8 

THIS  month  will  see  unprecedented 
activity  on  the  M-G-M  lot,  with 
12  pictures  before  the  cameras  at  the 
same  time.  "Anchors  Aweigh,"  with 
Gene  Kelly,  Frank  Sinatra,  Jose 
Iturbi  and  Kathryn  Grayson,  is  one 
of  the  starters.  George  Sidney  will 
direct  for  producer  Joe  Pasternak. 
"The  Home  Front,"  starring  Laurel 
'  and  Hardy,  is  also  on  the  calendar,  as 
are  "The"  Clock"  and  an  untitled  story 
of  the  Wacs  which  will  star  Lana 
Turner.  Arthur  Freed  will  produce 
"The  Clock,"  which  stars  Judy  Gar- 
land and  Robert  Walker;  Jack  Con- 
way will  direct. 

#    *  *' 

"Smiley"  Burnette,  who  was  voted 
third    among    the  "Money-Making" 
Western  Stars  in  the  1943  Motion  Pic 
ture  Herald-Fame  poll  of  exhibitors, 
will  leave  Republic  after  10  years  at 
that  studio.    There  are  two  more  pic 
tures  on  his  schedule.   After  complet 
ing  them,  the  cowboy  plans  to  embark 
upon  a  personal  appearance  tour.  . 
James  B.  Cassidy  has  left  for  Mexico 
to  scout  location  sites  for  "Green  Man 
sions."     The  picture,  undertaken  in 
line  with    the    Government's  "Good 
Neighbor"   policy,   will    have  back 
ground  scenes  laid  in  Venezuela  and 
Argentina,   as   well   as   in  Mexico 
Where  possible,  local  acting  talent  will 
be  used.  .  .  .  Joan  Harrison,  who 
learned   about   horror   from  Alfred 
Hitchcock,  will  abandon  the  "chiller- 
diller"    field   after   finishing  "Dark 
Waters"  for  Benedict  Bogeaus.  She 
will  try  her  hand  at  "true  love"  for  a 
change.  .  .  .  The  two-dimensional  her- 
oine  of   Walter   Lantz's  "Cartunes" 
ivill  be  named  "Miss  XTC,"  follozving 
a  nation-zmde  contest  to  determine  a 
suitable  name  for  the  character  


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


'Desert  Song9  Dual 
Over  Par  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  June  8.  —  Box-office  re- 
ceipts continued  off,  only  the  Bran- 
deis  Theatre,  showing  "Desert  Song" 
and  "Casanova  in  Burlesque,"  which 
grossed  $10,100,  being  above  par.  The 
first  real  hot  spell  and  invasion  anxiety 
were  believed  responsible. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  7-8: 

"Desert  Song"  (WB) 
"Casanova  in  Burlesque"  (Rep.) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)     (44c-60c)     8  days. 
Gross:  $10,100.    (Average:  $6,500). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
"Sherlock  Holmes  and  the  Spider  Woman" 
(Univ.) 

OMAHA-^2,000)  (44c -60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week  for  "Hargrove,"  moveover  from 
Paramount.  Gross:  $8,400.  (Average:  $8,- 
400). 

"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

"You  Can't  Ration  Love"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM — (3,000)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:    $9,000.     (Average:  $9,800). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (2Mh-Fox) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,100.    (Average:  $11,700). 


Warners  Set  'Janie' 
As  1944-45  Lead-Off 

"Janie,"  from  the  stage  play,  has 
been  set  by  Warners  as  the  lead-off 
of  1944-44.  The  picture  is  set  for 
national  release  Sept.  2,  with  a  pre- 
release at  the  New  York  Strand  start- 
ing Aug.  4.  It  will  receive  a  special 
campaign  now  being  formulated  by 
Mort  Blumenstock,  in  charge  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  in  the  East. 


Coast 
Flashes 


"THE  HUTT0NT0T!"  THAT'S  WHAT 
FRED  C.   0THMAN  CALLS  PARAMOUNT ' S 
BETTY  HUTT0N    IN  SENSATIONAL 
FULL-COLOR  FEATURE   IN  THIS 
WEEK'S  SATURDAY  EVENING  POST, 
BREAKING  WITH  KEY  OPENINGS  OF 
BETTY'S  LATEST  PICTURE, 
"AND  THE  ANGELS  SING."  HOLLYWOOD'S 
MOST  FABULOUS  BLONDE  HAS  JUST 
FINISHED  "INCENDIARY  BLONDE" -- 
IS  COMPLETING  "HERE  COME  THE 
WAVES,"  WITH  B ING  CROSBY. 


Hollyzvood,  June  8. 

ARY  LIMA,  Warners'  manager  in 
Brazil,  is  due  tomorrow  for  con- 
ferences with  Jack  Warner  on  exhibi-. 
tion  problems  in  South  America. 
• 

The  Academy  board  of  governors 
will  entertain  Gregor  Irsky,  chief  en- 
gineer of  the  Soviet  film  industry,  at  a 
luncheon  at  the  Brown  Derby  on  June 
15.  Irsky  will  present  the  Academy 
an  album  of  Soviet  achievements  as 
a  token  of  goodwill  between  the  So- 
viet and  Hollywood  industries. 
• 

Harry  Thomas,  Eastern  district 
manager,  and  William  Onie,  Cincin- 
nati franchise  owner,  arrived  here  to- 
day for  the  Monogram  sales  conven- 
tion. 

• 

Seymour  Nebenzal,  United  Artists 
producer,  has  announced  the  purchase 
of  "S.   S.   Titanic,"  an  original  by 
Rowland  Leigh,  for  Fall  production. 
• 

Erna  Rubinstein,  concert  violinist, 
and  George  Bruce,  film  producer,  writ- 
er and  director,  will  be  married  at  the 
Bruce  home  on  Sunday. 

• 

Red  Skelton,  who  went  into  the 
Army  yesterday,  has  been  sent  to 
Fort  MacArthur. 

• 

RKO  signed  Richard  H.  Berger  as 
producer.  His  first  assignment  will 
be  "Fabulous  Invalid." 

Larry  Golob,  Warners'  exploitation 
manager,  arrived  today. 

Oscar  Morgan  will  entrain  tomor- 
row for  Denver  enroute  to  New  York. 


Complete  UJA  Lunch 
Plans  on  June  13 

The  amusement  division  committee 
of  the  United  Jewish  Appeal  will 
hold  a  luncheon  meeting  on  Tuesday, 
June  13,  at  the  Hotel  Astor,  to  com- 
plete arrangements  for  the  industry's 
sixth  annual  fund-raising  luncheon  to 
be  held  at  the  Astor  on  June  20.  B.  S. 
Moss  is  chairman  for  the  luncheon. 

Dr.  A.  H.  Silver  of  Cleveland  will 
be  guest  of  honor.  UJA  is  seeking 
to  raise  $32,000,000  this  year  for  the 
relief  of  Jewish  refugees. 


King  Knights  King 
And  Aubrey  Smith 

London,  June  8. — The  tip  of  a  royal 
sword  yesterday  touched  two  figures  in 
the  motion  picture  industry.  C.  Au- 
brey Smith  was  knighted  for  his  work 
in  British  and  American  films,  and 
Alexander  Boyne  King,  a  leading 
Scottish  exhibitor,  who  is  also  chair- 
man of  the  Ministry  of  Information 
Scottish  Advisory  Committee. 


Anniversary  Press  Book 

A  special  press  book  edited  by  Wil- 
liam Danziger  under  the  direction  of 
Howard  Dietz,  M-G-M  advertising 
vice-president,  will  be  sent  to  all  ex- 
hibitors showing  an  M-G-M  picture 
during  the  company's  20-year  anniver- 
sary week,  June  22-28.  "Down  Mem- 
ory Lane,"  an  article  by  Lionel  Barry- 
more,  is  featured. 


i  fie  a 


The  WHOLE  SHOW!  Filmed  under 
front-line  fire  by  Combat  Camera- 
men! The  sons,  husbands,  sweet- 
hearts of  10,000  folks- back -home 
blasting  terror  into  Tojo's  treachery- 
killers!  Drama  to  make  American 
hearts  beat  high  and  proud! 


W&  FOR  REAL-THING  THRILLS! 


★  ★★★★★★**★ 

Through  the  special  co-operation 
of  the  War  Department  this 
sensational  6-reel  feature  is 
made  available  without  cost 
to  the  theatres  of  America. 

BOOK  IT  NOW! 


* 
★ 
★ 
★ 

★ 
* 


Produced  under  the  auspices  of  the  Commanding  General,  Southwest  Pacific  area  • 
PHOTOGRAPHED  BY  THE  UNITED  STATES  ARMY  SIGNAL  CORPS 
Released  by  Office  of  War  Information  and  Distributed  by  RKO  RADIO  PICTURES,  Inc. 

Exhibited  under  the  auspices  of  the  War  Activities  Committee  of  the  Motion  Picture  Industry 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  9,  1944 


411  Features 
For  1944-45 
Are  Indicated 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
cials  and  six  Westerns,  in  1941-42, 
and  jumped  its  output  the  following 
year  to  47,  including  one  special  and 
six  Westerns.  Changes  in  studio 
management  and  the  improved  finan- 
cial condition  of  RKO  were  respon- 
sible for  the  rise,  which  occurred  de- 
spite raw  stock  quotas. 

Lining  up  plans  for  next  season, 
two  of  the  11  companies — Columbia 
and  Republic — already  have  held 
their  sales  meetings.  The  former  will 
offer  44  pictures  in  1944-45,  the  latter 
68,  an  increase  from  55  to  be  deliv- 
ered this  year.  Universal's  West 
Coast  conference,  in  progress  this 
week,  will  end  Tuesday ;  and  it  is  in- 
dicated that  the  company  will  produce 
55  features,  81  shorts.,  four  serials  and 
104  newsreels.  PRC's  convention  is 
scheduled  for  June  26-30  in  New  York, 
and  RKO  will  meet  here  July  24-26. 
M-G-M,  Monogram,  Paramount,  20th- 
Fox,  United  Artists  and  Warners  are 
making  plans  for  sales  gatherings  at 
which  new  programs  will  be  an- 
nounced. 

More  Reissues 

Analysis  of  release  charts  for  the 
past  three  years  shows  an  increase  in 
reissues  and  specials,  the  latter  repre- 
senting pictures  sold  separately,  away 
from  the  small  blocks  as  provided  in 
the  consent  decree.  This  season,  five 
companies  released  or  are  scheduled 
to  release  16  specials,  and  three  com- 
panies are  releasing  28  reissues,  com- 
part to  six  specials  and  two  reissues 
for  1942-43,  and  seven  specials  and 
four  reissues  in  1941-42. 

Since  1941-42  two  companies 
dropped  their  Western  productions, 
Paramount  and  20th  Century-Fox. 
Columbia,  RKO  Radio,  Universal, 
Republic,  Monogram  and  PRC  are 
maintaining  their  outdoor  schedules. 
United  Artists,  which  purchased  10 
pictures  from  Paramount  two  seasons 
ago,  including  several  Harry  Sherman 
Westerns,  also  is  continuing  with  its 
Sherman  program. 

Cited  as  another  significant  factor 
is  that  the  number  of  pictures  dis- 
tributed each  month  during  1943-44 
is  as  much  as  25  per  cent  less  than  the 
number  released  monthly  in  1941-42. 
Longer  holdovers  and  extended  play- 
ing time  given  to  top-budget  produc- 
tions have  resulted  in  fewer  monthly 
releases  and  ultimately  in  season-end 
reduced  totals. 

Individual  Outlook 

Columbia,  which  announced  44  for 
this  season,  probably  will  deliver  48 
pictures,  including  eight  Westerns. 
MGM,  which  has  set  dates  through 
June,  has  29,  in  addition  to  one  spe- 
cial, "Tunisian  Victory" ;  two  other 
specials  earmarked  for  this  summer, 
"White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  and  "Ameri- 
ca," plus  two  more  pictures,  "Bathing 
Beauty"  and  "The  Canterville  Ghost," 
are  probable  releases  for  July. 

Paramount  announced  its  sixth 
block  of  five,  bringing  the  company's 
total  to  32,  including  five  specials  and 
one  film  sold  separately,  "Going  My 
Way."  With  its  sixth  block  set,  RKO 
still  has  two  more  blocks  to  announce 
for  July  and  August,  which  should 
bring  the  total  number  of  releases  to 


Will  Hays  Voices  Industry 
Message  on  the  Invasion 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

by  which  the  motion  picture  is  to  share  in  the  advance  across  Eu- 
rope, serving  first  the  morale  and  entertainment  necessities  of  the 
fighting  men,  serving  next  the  causes  and  interests  of  the  peoples 
liberated  behind  the  fighting  front. 

IT  IS  with  poignant  and  sympathetic  emotions  that  we  consider 
that  we  are  moving  today  to  the  redemption  of  that  great  nation  of 
France  which  has  enriched  the  motion  picture  tradition  with  such 
names  of  attainment  as  Louis  Lumiere,  Charles  Pathe  and  Leon  Gau- 
mont.  And  so  we  are  happy,  too,  that  the  forces  of  freedom  are 
reaching  that  Italy  which  was  so  early  to  contribute  of  its  splendors 
and  pageantry  to  the  art  of  the  screen  before  the  First  World  War 
darkened  its  stages. 

THE  motion  picture  functions  up  to  the  front  in  the  turmoil  of  bat- 
tle. Among  the  arts,  and  as  the  medium  of  the  good  life  for  the 
Common  Man,  it  is  the  front. 

—WILL  H.  HAYS 


U'  Tribute  Is  Paid 
To  Nate  Blumberg 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

States  and  in  available  foreign  coun- 
tries will  participate,  with  cash  prizes 
for  winners.  -  Managers,  bookers, 
salesmen,  front  office  employes,  ac- 
cessory managers,  shippers  and  in- 
spectors will  share  in  the  prizes,  rang- 
ing from  three  weeks'  salary  to 
one-and-a-half  weeks. 

Domestic  exchanges  have  been  seg- 
regated into  three  sections.  The  in- 
ternational competition  will  include 
20  foreign  countries.  Canada  will 
compete  within  its  own  borders,  Cal- 
gary, Montreal,  St.  John,  Toronto, 
Vancouver  and  Winnipeg  contesting. 

Scully  said  that  Universal  antici- 
pates the  biggest  box-office  returns  of 
any  horror  picture  in  its  history'  from 
the  "Devil's  Brood,"  incorporating 
Frankenstein,  the  Wolf  Man,  Dracula, 
the  Mummy,  the  Mummy's  Ghost, 
Mad  Doctor,  the  Vampire's  Victim, 
the  Monster  and  the  Hunchback.  Lon 
Chaney,  Boris  Karloff,  John  Carra- 
dine,  J.  Carrol  Naish,  George  Zucco 
and  Lionel  Atwill  are  in  the  cast. 


44,  including  four  specials. 

A  total  of  33  films  will  be. deliv- 
ered by  20th-Fox  this  season,  includ- 
ing four  reissues  and  one  special, 
"Song  of  Bernadette,"  which  will  not 
be  offered  for  general  release  until 
next  season.  With  David  O.  Selz- 
nick's  "Since  You  Went  Away"  set 
for  summer  release  at  advanced  ad- 
mission scales,  United  Artists  will  end 
the  season  with  22  pictures,  according 
to  the  present  schedule. 

Universal  probably  will  release  57 
to  59,  including  six  Westerns,  com- 
pared to  the  58  promised.  Warners 
will  deliver  19,  excluding  the  10  re- 
issues distributed  and  six  more  re- 
issues set  for  release  in  July. 

Republic  probablv  will  deliver  ,  68. 
all  promised  for  this  season,  although 
it  is  indicated  that  several  of  the  68 
will  be  released  after  the  1944-45  sea- 
son has  started.  A  total  of  55  pic- 
tures is  earmarked  for  the  end  of  the 
summer,  including  eight  Gene  Autry 
Westerns  which  Republic  reissued 
over  a  year-round  period.  Eight  more 
are  scheduled  for  next  season. 

Monogram  and  PRC  will  complete 
their  1943-44  schedules  with  40  each. 
That  number  has  been  announced  by 
PRC  for  next  season  and  it  is  likely 
that  Monogram  also  will  set  40  pic- 
tures for  the  coming  year. 


Films '  Fif  th 
Drive  Starts 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
ment,  will  march  into  the  Square  at 
noon.    A  160-piece  band  and  70  army 
motorized  equipments,  will  participate. 

Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  of  Loew's, 
general  chairman  of  the  theatres' 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive  in  New  York 
will  open  the  meeting.  Playing  of 
the  Star  Spangled  Banner  will  be  fol- 
lowed by  an  invocation  by  Capt.  Lee 
Fohl,  U.  S.  Army.  The  Battle  Hymn 
of  the  Republic  will  be  sung  by  the 
Ben  Yost  Singers  from  the  Roxy 
Theatre,  and  will  be  followed  by  a 
bond  appeal  by  Mayor  LaGuardia. 

At  the  conclusion  of  the  rally,  the 
infantry  and  bands  will  split  up  into 
six  patrols  and  proceed  on  the  "in- 
vasion" of  the  five  boroughs  and 
Westchester.  Local  banks  and  speak- 
ers will  meet  each  patrol  at  rallying 
points  where  local  theatres  have  set 
up  bond  booths  for  spot  sale  of  bonds. 

Edward  C.  '  Dowden,  chairman  of 
the  local  industry's  special  events' 
committee  is  directing  the  demonstra- 
tions. 


Theatremen  Buy  Bonds 
At  Detroit  Rally 

Detroit,  June  8. — Exhibitors  and 
distributors  from  this  area,  meeting 
here  yesterday  at  the  Fort  Shelby 
Hotel  to  lay  plans  for  the  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan,  launched  their  cam- 
paign by  signing  personal  pledges  to 
purchase  additional  "E"  bonds. 

More  than  400  theatres  were  repre- 
sented at  the  rally  which  was  attended 
by  Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  industry  na- 
tional chairman;  Claude  F.  Lee  and 
Major  Allen  V.  Martini.  On  the  dais 
were  Earl  J.  Hudson  and  Lew  Wisper, 
exhibitor  state  co-chairmen ;  M.  Du- 
delson,  area  distributor  chairman ; 
Alex  Schreiber,  in  charge  of  special 
events  for  the  industry  committee ; 
Ray  Branch,  president,  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  Michigan ;  J.  Oliver 
Brooks,  Butterfield  Theatres ;  Alan 
Dowzer,  Mutual  Theatres ;  C.  L. 
Buermele,  General  Theatres ;  James 
Sharkey,  ■  Co-Operative  Theatres ; 
Thomas  L.  Ealand,  member  of  the 
"Honored  Hundred"  and  Major 
Thomas  DeMint  of  the  Fifth  Service 
Command.  Malcolm  W.  Bingay,  edi- 
tor and  publisher  of  the  Detroit  Free 
Press,  was  toastmaster. 


Smuggled  Films  of 
Tito  Arrive  Here 

Washington,  June  8. — Pic- 
tures taken  by  a  U.  S.  Navy 
man  at  the  headquarters  of 
Marshal  Tito,  leader  of  the 
Yugoslavian  Partisans,  have 
been  received  in  this  country 
and  have  been  made  available 
to  newsreels.  The  films  are 
said  to  have  been  smuggled 
out  of  Yugoslavia.  Some 
members  of  the  American 
party  that  took  them  were 
captured  by  the  Germans. 


New  York  newsreel  repre- 
sentatives yesterday  '  ad- 
mitted receipt  of  the  Tito 
pictures,  which  are  the  first 
for  which  the  marshal  has 
posed. 


Reels  Receive  First 
Clips  of  Invasion 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

sion  got  under  way,  went  through  the 
laboratory  and  censorship  mechanism 
in  London  and  were  flown  to  Wash- 
ington by  courier  plane,  there  print- 
ed and  turned  over  to  the  newsreel 
companies  and  sped  on  their  way  to 
New  York  in  little  more  than  two 
and  one-half  days. 

This  morning,  the  Department 
turned  over  some  400  feet,  showing 
paratroopers  and  gliders  taking  off, 
and  late  today  two  more  strips,  ap- 
proximately 300  feet  each,  were  made 
available,  one  showing  air  views  of  the 
invasion  fleet  and  the  other  the  aerial 
bombing  of  the  Cherbourg  peninsula. 

A  great  deal  more  material,  it  was 
said,  is  on  the  way,  although  it  is  un- 
likely that  as  great  an  effort  will  be 
made  to  move  it  as  quickly  as  the 
first  pictures,  and  it  is  expected  there 
will  be  a  steady  flow  of  real  battle 
films  from  now  on. 

Also  shortly  to  arrive,  it  is  under- 
stood, is  the  first  of  the  material  pro- 
duced by  the  company  pool. 


Taube  to  Gov't  Service 

Toronto,  June  8. — S.  B.  Taube,  ex- 
ecutive secretary  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Theatres  Association  of  Ontario, 
has  been  granted  leave  of  absence  to 
work  with  the  Canadian  Department 
of  Labor  where  he  will  assist  in  or- 
ganizing an  urban  auxiliary  to  work 
on  farms.  Arrangements  for  Taube's 
leave  were  made  through  J.  J.  Fitz- 
gibbons,  national  chairman  of  the  Mo- 
tion" Picture  War  Services  Committeer 


18  Air  Shows  for  'WasselV 

Eighteen  major  network  radio  pro- 
grams exploiting  Cecil  B.  DeMille's 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  were 
worked  out  in  advance  of  the  film's 
New  York  and  Hollywood  premieres 
by  the  Paramount  radio  department 
under  the  supervision  of  Robert  M. 
Gillham,  advertising-publicity  director. 


McEvoy  Heads  'U'  Shorts 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

tel  here.  He  succeeds  Bernard  Kreis- 
ler,  who  resigned  last  week. 

McEvoy  has  been  special  sales 
representative  for  several  years.  He 
was  formerly  Eastern  sales  manager 
for  RKO.  His  new  appointment  be- 
comes effective  immediately. 


f  Friday,  June  9,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


11 


Reviews 


"Take  It  Big" 

{Paramount) 

Hollywood,  June  8 

<«'TPAKE  It  Big"  not  only  makes  available  for  billing  the  names  of 
Jack  Haley,  Harriet  Hilliard,  Mary  Beth  Hughes  and  the  Ozzie 
Nelson's  band,  but  this  first  musical  from  William  Pine  and  William 
Thomas  also  has  an  exhibition  usefulness  beyond  its  merit  as  entertain- 
ment. However,  on  points  it  is  a  letdown  for  the  two  producers  whose 
chain  of  showmanly  melodramas  has  made  box  office  history  not  to  be 
forgotten. 

Taking  a  cue  from  here  and  a  tip  from  there — not  overlooking  the  po- 
tentialities of  psychiatry,  pioneered  seriously  in  "Lady  in  the  Dark"  and 
utilized  here  for  laughs — the  producers  cast  Haley  as  the  posterior  mem- 
ber of  a  horse-act  and  lifted  him  across  country  on  the  familiar  dead- 
uncle's  will  device  to  a  dude  ranch  and  ultimately  to  the  back  of  a  buck- 
ing broncho.  Four  original  song  numbers,  two  pick-ups  and  a  classic 
are  thrown  into  the  proceedings,  Nelson's  band  supplying  all  the  accom- 
paniment and  Nelson  cutting  into  Miss  Hilliard's  songs  about  the  way 
he  does  on  Red  Skelton's  radio  program,  the  best  of  these  being  the  title 
tune,  "Take  It  Big."  Richard  Lane,  Arline  Judge  and  Nils  T.  Gran- 
lund  are  others  in  the  cast. 

Frank  McDonald  directed  from  an  original  screenplay  by  Howard  J. 
Green,  and'  Maxwell  Shane  functioned  as  associate  producer. 

Running  time,  75  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

William  R.  Weaver 


"Girl  in  the  Case" 

(Columbia) 

Hollyzvood,  June  8 

HP  HERE  is  more  entertainment  than  the  billing  suggests  in  this  melo- 
■■■  dramatic  comedy  styled  after  the  "Mr.  and  Mrs.  North"  radio  pro- 
gram with  Edmund  Lowe  and  Janis  Carter  cast  as  the  married  couple 
engaged  unprofessionally  but  excitingly  in  the  detection  and  apprehen- 
sion of  criminals.  The  picture,  produced  by  Sam  White  and  directed  by 
William  Berke,  bounces  along  merrily  for  64  minutes  thaf  compare 
favorably  with  most  provided  by  films  of  many  times  this  one's  budget. 

Lowe  plays  an  attorney,  famed  for  his  avocational  ability  as  a  lock- 
smith, who  becomes  involved  in  the  plottings  of  a  Nazi  agent  intent  upon 
getting  a  secret  formula  out  of  a  locked  chest.  The  plot  is  earnest  at 
bottom,  but  the  comedy  superimposed  upon  it  is  the  predominant  factor 
and  the  one  that  entertains  the  customers.  The  script,  crisply  con- 
structed and  containing  plenty  of  laughs  for  all  types  of  customers,  is  by 
Joseph  Hoffman  and  Dorcas  Cochran,  based  on  a  story  by  Charles  F. 
Royal. 

Running  time  64  minutes.   "G."*   Release  date  April  20. 

W.  R.  W. 


4  Witnesses  Heard  as 
Schine  Suit  Adjourns 


Buffalo,  June  8. — Four  witnesses 
testified  for  the  Government  today  in 
U.  S.  Circuit  here  in  its  anti-trust 
suit  against  the  Schine  Circuit  before 
the  trial  was  adjourned  by  Federal 
Judge  John  Knight  to  Aug.  15. 

Cross  examined  today  by  Saul  E. 
Rogers,  of  counsel  for  Schine,  Hal- 
mer  D.  Shrefler,  operator  of  the  Cas- 
tamba  Theatre,  Shelby,  O.,  admitted 
he  had  20th-Fox  product  franchises 
for  1936-37,  '37-'38,  '38-'39.  Under 
direct  examination  by  the  Govern- 
ment, he  had  testified  he  was  trying  to 
get  a  franchise  from  Fox  for  Cleve- 
land. "You  testified  earlier  you  went 
to  20th-Fox  for  a  franchise  agreement 
when  you  already  had  one  for  three 
years?"  Rogers  asked.  Shrefler  said 
.he  was  in  error. 

Sgt.  Kemper  on  Stand 

Also  a  witness  today  was  Sgt.  Rich- 
ard T.  Kemper,  of  the  First  Air 
Force,  Mitchell  Field,  formerly  of 
the  Lafayette  Theatre  in  Buffalo  and 
in  1937  operator  of  the  State  and 
Opera  House,  Shelby.  He  told  of 
talks  with  Schine's  Louis  Lazar,  and 
said  RKO  suggested  that  he  contact 
Schine  for  release  of  RKO  product  to 
him.  He  said  he  was  approached  by 
other  Schine  representatives  with 
reference  to  the  sale  of  the  State. 

Other  witnesses  were  Milton  H. 
Breyer  of  the  State  Theatre,  Bucyrus, 
I O. ;  Philip  Charnas  of  Toledo.  Final 
day  was  featured  by  Wright  and 
Rogers  arguing  on  most  points,  and 
Judge  Knight's  admonitions. 

The  name  of  Nikits  Dipson,  Buffalo 
theatre  man,  was  inj  ected  into  the 
trial  today  for  the  first  time.  Shref- 
ler claimed  Lazar  said  Dipson  was 
planning  to  come  into  Shelby  to  build 
a  house.  He  said  Lazar  told  him  that 
Dipson  was  "ruthless,  and  would 
smother  me,  and  that  I  should  hook 
up  with  Schine's."  Shrefler  finally 
sold  50  per  cent  in  his  house  to 
Schine. 


FP-C  Will  Mark 
25th  Anniversary 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

in  the  Dominion  and  Newfoundland 
are  now  owned,  leased  or  operated  by 
Famous  Players.  Also  brought  out 
at  the  conference  was  the  total  enlist- 
ment of  employees  of  the  organization 
in  the  armed  forces  of  both  Canada 
and  the  United  States  now  reaches 
943,  compared  with  248  two  years  ago, 
an  increase  of  695  in  24  months. 

Famous  Players  is  proceeding  with 
a  postwar  program.  It  was  stated 
that  the  circuit  has  11  sites  ready  for 
new  theatre  construction  at  the  first 
possible  opportunity  with  other  proj- 
ects lined  up  for  the  time  when  build- 
ing materials  will  be  available. 

Proceedings  for  the  third  and  last 
day  of  the  convention  were  carried 
out  with  reserve  in  view  of  war  in- 
vasion news,  although  attendance  was 
augmented  by  the  arrival  of  200  To- 
ronto home  office  employees  after  a 
morning  sail  across  Lake  Ontario,. 

Visitors  attending  were  Adolph 
Zukor,  Barney  Balaban,  Leonard 
Goldenson,  Robert  Gillham  and 
Charles  Reagan,  all  executives  from 
Paramount's  New  York  headquarters. 
Approximately  125  attended. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Can  Reopen  Closed 
Houses  in  Canada 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
fixtures  still  under  priority  for  war 
uses. 

This  development  is  the  opposite 
to  a  declaration  of  board  policy  a  year 
ago  when  it  stated  that  restrictions  on 
theatre  construction  would  continue 
in  effect  until  long  after  the  war  to 
give  preference  to  more  essential  con- 
struction. 

The  board  announced  that  no  per- 
mission would  be  granted  for  changes 
in  film  rental  priorities  or  any  switch 
in  rental  contracts  following  the  re- 
opening or  construction  of  theatres 
in  any  locality  except  under  permit 
of  the  board  until  further  notice ;  in 
other  words  film  contracts  remain 
stabilized. 


M-G-M  Sued  for  $150,000 

Hollywood,  June  8. — M-G-M  and 
several  others  were  named  in  an  ac- 
tion for  damages  filed  in  Superior 
Court  by  Adelyn  Bushnell  and  Mar- 
shall Bradford  alleging  their  story 
was  plagiarized  in  producing  "A  Guy 
Named  Joe." 


RKO  Theatre  Groups 
Reelect  All  Officers 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ecutive  vice-president ;  Gordon  E. 
Youngman,  general  counsel ;  A.  W. 
Dawson,  treasurer;  J.  Miller  Walker, 
secretary,  and  Garrett  Van  Wagner, 
comptroller. 

Reelected  officers  of  RKO  Midwest 
were :  Rathvon,  chairman  of  the 
board  ;  Kingsberg,  president  ;•  Ben  L. 
Heidingsfeld,  vice-president ;  Young- 
man,  vice-president  and  general  coun- 
sel ;  Dawson,  treasurer ;  Walker,  sec- 
retary, and  Van  Wagner,  comptroller. 
Kingsberg  was  also  reelected  president 
of  RKO  Proctors  and  Clarence  Wal- 
len  was  reelected  vice-president  of 
that  company,  with  Youngman,  Daw- 
son, Walker  and  Van  Wagner  occu- 
pying the  same  posts  in  Proctor  as 
in  RKO  Midwest  Corp. 


Ellen  Barker  Dies 

Ellen  Frye  Barker,  71,  author  of 
"Art  of  Photoplay  Writing,"  "Success- 
ful Photoplay  Writing"  and  other 
books,  died  here  this  week  at  her 
home.  A  brother  survives. 


Sees  Theatres 
In  Wide  Use 
Of  Television 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

commercial  development  of  theatre 
television  in  the  next  decade. 

"Home  television's  effect  on  theatre 
attendance  will  undoubtedly  follow  the 
pattern  set  by  the  advent  of  radio 
broadcasting,  which  was  no  effect  at 
all  until  several  millions  of  sets  were 
in  operation,"  in  the  opinion  of  Aus- 
trian, who,  with  Edgar  Kobak,  ex- 
ecutive vice-president  of  the  Blue 
Network,  spoke  at  the  fourth  meeting 
of  the  television  seminar  of  the  Radio 
Executives  Club  here  last  night. 

"Within  a  year  or  two  after  home 
television  becomes  entrenched,  perhaps 
even  sooner,  equipment  will  be  avail- 
able for  satisfactory  and  showman- 
ship-like exhibition  of  television 
images  on  large-size  screens  of  mo- 
tion picture  theatres,"  Austrian  said. 

Austrian  believes  that  theatre  own- 
ers will  avail  themselves  of  the  box 
office  possibilities  of  theatre  televi- 
sion. 

Pick-Up  From  Chains 

Austrian  said  the  necessary  pick- 
up equipment  and  personnel  to  tele- 
vise the  events  will  be  supplied  by 
telecasting  chains,  or  "the  circuits 
themselves  could  well  afford  their 
own  cooperative  pickup  equipment  and 
their  own  operating  personnel,  trans- 
porting them  to  the  scene  of  an  event 
just  as  sound  newsreel  cameras  are 
today." 

Austrian  said  that  television  por- 
tions of  a  theatre  program  will  mere- 
ly augment  the  film  offerings.  In 
order  to  foot  the  television  theatre 
costs,  Austrian  suggests  that  exhibi- 
tors raise  prices  when  offering  tele- 
vision events  on  programs. 

"Television  need  not  necessarily 
hurt  the  motion  picture  business," 
Austrian  said.  "If  motion  picture  pro- 
ducers and  exhibitors  continue  to  of- 
fer better  showmanship  than  televi- 
sion, the  business  will  not  suffer,  he 
added. 

By  the  use  of  specially-adapted  tele- 
vision channels  for  theatre  telecasting, 
exhibitors  will  be  able  to  receive  spe- 
cial sports  and  other  events  which  will 
not  be  available  to  the  home  televi- 
sion audiences,  according  to  Austrian. 

Kobak  discussed  the  probable  effects 
of  television  on  the  home  life  of 
America. 

U.  A.  to  Salute  Youth 

"Hollywood  Cavalcade,"  United 
Artists'  radio  program  of  Hollywood 
news,  will  devote  a  half  hour  on  Sat- 
urday, June  10,  at  7 :30  p.m.  over  sta- 
tion WNEW,  as  a  salute  to  Holly- 
wood's youth.  Martin  Starr  will  nar- 
rate the  commentary  for  the  show, 
which  will  feature,  among  others,  the 
career  of  Jane  Powell,  star  of  "Song 
of  the  Open  Road." 


Newspaper  Guild  Awards 

The  Newspaper  Guild  of  New  York- 
will  confer  "Page  One  Awards"  on 
Eddie  Cantor  and  Bob  Hope  tomor- 
row night  at  its  annual  benefit  and 
dance  at  the  Commodore.  Both  artists 
have  been  singled  out  for  the  honor 
for  service  in  entertaining  armed 
forces. 


This  year  marks  the  fiftieth 
anniversary  of  the  first  public 
showing  of  motion  pictures 


Co 


C1^ 


.  . .  the  report 
was  favorable 


■  Transcript,  of tin 
historic  letter 


This  $2.50  transaction  in  1889  led  up  to  the  first  public  exhibition  . 
of  motion  pictures  in  1894,  With  the  help  of  this  roll  of  Kodak  Film, 
Mr.  Edison  and  his  associates  were  able  to  perfect  the  Kinetograph, 
the  camera,  and  the  Kinetoscope,  the  projector — the  first  practical 
motion  picture  equipment. 


EASTMAN  KODAK  COMPANY 

ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 
J,  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 

FORT  LEE  CHICAGO  HOLLYWOOD 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


OL.  55.  NO.  114 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  JUNE  12,  1944 


the 
Fighting 
Fifth! 

TEN  CENTS 


>cully  Has  Set 
15  for  'IT 
ior  1944-45 


7  our  Serials  and  61 
horts  Next  Season 


Los  Angeles,  June  11.  —  Uni- 
ersal  will  release  55  features,  61 
iort  subjects  and  four  serials  for 
M4-1945,  seven  of  the  features  in 
ilor,  according 
the  annual 
roduct  a  n- 
ouncement 
ade  at  the 
eekend  by 
J.  A.  Scully, 
niversal  vice- 
resident  and - 
eneral  sales 
anager,  at  a 
leeting  of  home 
fice  and  sales 
tecutives  at  the 
totel  Ambassa- 
)r  here.  The 

jmmitrri'fejt  is  only  two  less  than  the 
7  promised  for  the  current  series  but 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


William  Scully 


Jolon  Asks  Reason 
"or  Newsreel  Shift 


Washington,  June  11. — A  Congres- 
onal  investigation  was  threatened  at 
le  weekend  by  Rep.  Paul  W.  Shafer 
f  Michigan  to  determine  why  the 
,rmy's*"Eve  of  Battle"  short  subject 
•as  included  in  the  invasion  issue  of 
ewsreels  last  midweek  rather  than  an 
lvasion  preview  which  the  companies 
ad  prepared.  Shafer  said  he  would 
:t  unless  satisfactory  explanation  was 
>rthcoming  from  the  War  Depart- 
lent. 

The  Department,  explaining,  laid 
pon  the  industry's  War  Activities 
ommittee  the  responsibility  for  using 

(Continued  on  page  8) 

Canada  Is  Adding 
Labor  Restrictions 

Toronto,  June  11. — Film  exchange 
nd  theatre  circles  here  expressed  con- 
em  over  a  warning  issued  at  the 
'eekend  by  National  Selective  Service 
fficials  that  an  immediate  check-up 
/ill  be  made  on  businesses  classed  as 
on-essential  to  arrange  for  the  com- 
ulsory  transfer  to  war  industries  of 
Tales  between  the  ages  of  16  and  40 
/ho  are  not  considered  to  be  key 
mployes. 

The    government    previously  had 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


ODT  Demands  End 
Of  Conventions 

Washington,  June  12. — The 
immediate  cancellation  of  all 
non-war  related  conventions, 
trade  meetings  and  confer- 
ences as  well  as  all  non-es- 
sential civilian  travel  is  de- 
manded by  J.  Monroe  John- 
son, director  of  the  U.  S.  Of- 
fice of  Defense  Transporta- 
tion. (The  film  industry  is 
presently  in  its  annual  sales 
convention  period). 


Industry  Hears  of 
Plans  for  Solving 
Postwar  Problems 


To  Confer  on  UA's 
British  Operations 


A  survey  of  United  Artists  British 
operations  is  scheduled  to  be  made  in 
the  near  future,  it  was  learned  at  the 
weekend. 

Current  plans  call  for  a  visit  to 
London  by  one  of  the  company's 
ranking  executives,  presumably  Grad- 
well  L.  Sears,  vice-president,  just  as 
soon  as  civilian  transportation  over- 
seas is  resumed. 

According  to  reports  the  mission 
will  include  discussions  of  arrange- 
ments for  United  Artists  quota  pro- 
duction with  J.  Arthur  Rank,  a  survey 
of  the  company's  Odeon  Circuit  inter- 
ests and  of  U.  A.'s  British  distribu- 
tion. David  HI  Coplan,  former  United 
Artists  Canadian  distribution  head, 
has  been  acting  managing  director  for 
the  company  in  Britain  since  the  res- 
ignation of  Teddy  Carr  early  this 
year.  According  to  one  report,  the 
projected  mission  may  result  in  con- 
firmation of  Coplan  as  permanent 
managing  director  for  the  company  in 
Britain.. 

Sears  could  not  be  reached  for  com- 
ment on  the  reports  on  Friday. 


Preliminary  conversations  have 
been  held  with  some  industry  leaders 
by  representatives  of  the  Committee 
for  Economic  Development  with  a 
view  to  working  out  a  postwar  eco- 
nomic program  for  the  film  business 
in  the  CED's  plan  to  gear  all  Ameri- 
can industry  for  postwar  economic 
problems. 

The  Committee  for  Economic  De- 
velopment is  composed  of  1,800  lead- 
ers of  American  business,  headed  by 
Paul  Hoffman,  president  of  Stude- 
baker,  and  is  a  non-profit  operation. 
M.  B.  Folsom,  treasurer  of  East- 
man Kodak,  is  chairman  of  the  CED's 
committee  of  field  development. 

Already  under  way  are  20  different 
studies  "to  help  in  solving  transition- 
al and  long-term  problems  which  will 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Columbia  Managers 
Here  for  Meeting 


Columbia  division  managers  Sam 
Galanty  and  Carl  Shalit,  branch  man- 
agers and  salesmen  of  10  of  the  com- 
pany's Eastern  exchanges,  and  repre- 
sentatives of  Canadian  offices,  headed 
by  general  manager  Louis  Rosenfeld, 
are  due  to  arrive  here  today  to  attend 
the  company's  New  York  sales  meeting 
which  will  open  tomorrow  at  the  War- 
wick Hotel.  The  meeting,  which  will 
run  through  Thursday,  will  the  second 
in  a  series  being  held,  with  A.  Mon- 
tague, general  sales  manager,  presid- 
ing. 

The  meeting  here  will  be  attended  by 
home  office  executives,  division  man- 
(Continued  on  page  8) 


Fifth  War  Loan  Begins! 
Star  Rallies  Arranged 


The  motion  picture  industry's  "Fight- 
ing Fifth"  and  the  nation's  fifth  War 
Loan  campaign  is  under  way ! 

Today  16,000  showmen,  distributors, 
service  and  equipment  companies  and 
allied  industries  launch  the  industry's 
biggest  drive — an  effort  to  put  over 
the  top  and  exceed  the  Treasury  quota 
of  $6,000,000,000  in  "E"  bonds  as  part 
of  the  Government's  over-all  objective 
of  $16,000,000,000. 

Fully  mobilized,  as  a  result  of  re- 
gional mass  meetings  held  in  19  cities 
which  were  attended  by  members  of 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


With  the  §16,000,000,000  Fifth  War 
Loan  opening  today,  R.  J.  O'Donnell, 
national  industry  chairman,  announced 
that  the  Hollywood  Victory  Commit- 
tee and  the  War  Activities  Committee 
have  arranged  a  program  of  screen  and 
radio  star  participation  to  spark  the 
campaign. 

Veronica  Lake,  who  has  appeared 
at  pre-drive  rallies  at  St.  Louis  and 
Chicago,  will  highlight  a  gigantic  rally 
in  Boston.  At  Indianapolis,  Ingrid 
Bergman  and  Paul  Lukas  are  set  to 
launch  an  18-city  tour  for  which  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Justice  Dept. 
Insists  on 
Decree  Change 

Lawyers  Studying  'New 
Ideas'  from  Tom  Clark 


The  Department  of  Justice  is 
understood  to  be  still  sending 
"suggestions"  to  the  consent  decree 
companies  looking  for  more  liberal 
company  concessions  for  a  new  decree, 
especially  on  cancellations  and  circuit 
expansion. 

Decree  company  lawyers  are 
scheduled  to  meet  here  today  to 
consider  further  suggestions 
forwarded  by  U.  S.  Assistant 

(Continued  on  page  S) 


Hirliman  Buys  31 
Goldwyn  Pictures 


Samuel  Goldwyn  and  Film  Classics, 
Inc.,  have  closed  a  deal  for  the  re- 
release  of  a  number  of  Goldwyn  pro- 
ductions by  Film  Classics.  James 
Mulvey  repre- 
resented  Gold- 
wyn in  the  ne- 
gotiations and 
George  A.  Hirli- 
man Film  Clas- 
sics. Motion 
Picture  Daily 
reported  the 
opening  of  the 
negotiations  on 
May  1  when  it 
was  said  that 
about  $1,500,000 
was  involved. 
A.mong  31 
pictures  to  be  reissued  are  "Wuther- 

(Continucd  on  page  8) 


George  A.  Hirliman 


Fitzpatrick  Will  Do 
Republic  Features 

James  A.  Fitzpatrick,  travelogue 
producer,  has  been  signed  by  Republic 
to  produce  a  series  of  features  to  be 
made  in  Mexico  and  South  America, 
it  was  disclosed  at  the  weekend  by 
Herbert  J.  Yates  and  James  R. 
Grainger  of  Republic.  Native  talent 
will  be  employed  for  the  films  when 
possible. 

Republic  recently  established  its  own 
exchanges  in  Brazil,  Argentina,  Chile 
and  Panama,  and  the  Fitzpatrick  series 
is  part  of  a  plan  for  Republic's  ex- 
pansion in  Mexico  and  South  Amer- 
ican markets  in  the  postwar  period. 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  12,  194 


r. 


Personal 
Mention 


EDWARD  C.  RAFTERY,  United 
Artists  president,  is  expected 
back  from  the  Coast  Wednesday  or 
Thursdays. 

• 

Capt.  Robert  S.  Benjamin  of  the 
law  firm  of  Phillips,  Nizer,  Benjamin 
and  Krim,  "returned  from  an  Army 
mission  in  England,  has  been  promot- 
ed to  the  rank  of  major. 

• 

William   C.   Gehring,  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox Western  sales  manager,  re- 
turned to  the  home  office  over  the 
weekend  after  a  tour  of  the  exchanges. 
• 

Joseph    H.    Seidelman    and  Al 
Daff  left  for  the  Coast  over  the  week- 
end  to   attend   the   company's  sales 
meeting  in  session  at  the  studio. 
• 

William  Geehan,  assistant  to  H. 
J.  Fitzgerald,  head  of  the  Fox  Wis- 
consin Theatres,  has  returned  to  Mil- 
waukee from  New  York. 

• 

John  A.  Schawlm,  manager  of  the 
Northio  Rialto,  Hamilton,  O.,  and 
Mrs.  Schwalm  are  vacationing  in 
California. 

• 

Robert  M.  Gillham,  Paramount 
advertising  and  publicity  director,  left 
for  the  Coast  late  last  week. 

• 

Joe  Rosenfield,  district  manager 
for  Sterling  Theatres,  Seattle,  was  in 
Chicago  over  the  weekend. 

• 

Jules  Field,  20th  Century-Fox  as- 
sistant exploitation  manager,  was  in 
Chicago  over  the  weekend. 

• 

Richard  Morgan  of  the  Paramount 
legal  department  is  expected  back 
from  Detroit  today. 

• 

Jack  H.  Skirball,  United  Artists 
producer,  is  scheduled  to  leave  for  the 
Coast  tomorrow. 

• 

Louis  Wiethe,  Cincinnati  circuit 
operator,  and  Mrs.  Wiethe  are  visit- 
ing in  California. 

• 

Louis  Phillips,  Paramount  attor- 
ney, returned  from  Oklahoma  City  at 
the  weekend. 

• 

Morrie  Ryskind,  screen  writer,  will 
leave  for  Hollywood  tomorrow. 
• 

Harry  M.  Warner  left  for  the 
Coast  over  the  weekend. 

• 

Mike  Todd,  producer,  left  over  the 
weekend  for  Canada. 


Approve  Cinecolor 
Reorganization  Plan 

Los  Angeles,  June  11. — The  Federal 
District  court  here  at  the  weekend 
approved  the  proposed  plan  of  re- 
organization for  Cinecolor  under  which 
the  par  value  of  its  capital  stock  will 
be  reduced  to  $1  from  $1.50.  The 
stock  will  be  exchangeable  for  six  per 
cent  five-year  debentures. 

Approval  of  the  plan  terminates  a 
two-year  rehabilitation  effort. 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


'"TP  HE  principal  worry  of  about 
one  out  of  every  two  exhibi- 
tors encountered  about  the  met- 
ropolitan area  these  days  is 
shortage  of  product.  Just  about 
the  time  you  are  ready  to  bor- 
row half  of  the  towel  and  weep 
with  them,  a  remark -is  sure  to 
be  dropped  about  how  difficult 
it's  becoming  to  maintain  a  dou- 
ble feature  policy  in  the  face  of 
the  increasing  product  shortage. 

A  subsequent  run  exhibitor 
told  us  the  other  day  that  he  had 
been  forced  into  fewer  changes 
per  week,  had  been  obliged  to* 
make  repeat  bookings,  to  date 
some  reissues  he  "didn't  want 
but  that  surprised  him  and  did 
good  business,''  and  to  make  a 
deal  with  "a  company  I  don't 
like"  in  order  to  maintain  his 
double  feature  policy  in  the  face 
of  the  "product  shortage." 

Apparently,  current  conditions 
are  forcing  such  exhibitors  to 
try  anything — except  single  fea- 
tures. 

There  is  no  question  about 
there  being  fewer  pictures  avail- 
able in  recent  years  than  there 
were  for  several  years  before. 
Official  industry  records  show 
that  397  American  pictures  re- 
ceived Production  Code  Admin- 
istration seals  in  1943,  compared 
with  516  in  1942.  This  year  the 
total  undoubtedly  will  be  less 
than  last  year  but  available  prod- 
uct is  being  materially  aug- 
mented by  an  increased  number 
of  reissues.  A  fairly  reasonable 
estimate  is  that  there  will  be 
available  this  year  a  total  of  350 
American-made  features. 

That  total  presents  no  grave 
problem  for  the  average  theatre 
making  up  to  three  changes 
weekly  on  a  single  feature  pol- 
icy. But  for  the  double  feature 
theatre,  it  does. 

War  conditions  offered — and 
still  offer — the  exhibitor  the  best 
opportunity  he  has  ever  had  to 
get  rid  of  duals.  Many  in  the 
industry  think  a  switch  to  single 
features  is  a  much  wiser  busi- 
ness move  than  the  increase  of 
admission  scales  at  double  fea- 
ture houses.  At  a  time  when 
rationing  and  shortages  are  the 
rule  rather  than  the  exception, 
the  public  does  not  expect  the 
continuation  of  bargain  offerings 
by  theatres  any  more  than  by 
meat  markets  or  department 
stores.  At  the  same  time,  the 
greater  audience  turnover  which 
would  result  from  a  switch  from 
duals  to  single  features  during 
a  period  when  attendance  is  on 


the  increase,  in  most  instances, 
would  produce  grosses  compara- 
ble with  those  from  double  fea- 
ture programs  at  the  presently 
increased  admission  scales. 
Moreover,  the  patron  would  be 
better  served,  his  goodwill  won 
by  stabilized  price  scales,  and 
the  exhibitor,  back  to  a  sound 
business  standard  and  thus  in 
readiness  for  the  return  of  busi- 
ness to  normalcy  after  the  war, 
would  be  freed  of  his  major 
present-day  headache,  the  so- 
called  "product  shortage." 

•  • 

Over  at  the  Oak  Room  they 
are  saying  that  Bill  Powers  will 
become  executive  assistant  to 
Spyros  Skouras  when  Larry 
Kent  takes  off  for  London  the 
middle  of  August  to  establish 
1  ermanent  headquarters  as  oper- 
ating head  of  Gaumont  British. 

•  • 

There  was  the  makings  of  a 
minor  mystery  for  a  number  of 
interested  persons  when  RKO's 
announcement  of  business  trans- 
acted at  its  annual  meeting  of 
stockholders  at  Dover,  Del.,  last 
week  was  issued  without  any 
reference  whatever  to  a  proposal 
to  change  the  number  of  direc- 
tors of  the  company,  an  item 
which  had  been  listed  as  No.  1 
on  the  agenda  for  the  annual 
meeting  in  the  company's  no- 
tice to  stockholders. 

The  explanation  of  the  com- 
pany's subsequent  silence  on  that 
item  of  business  was  that  the 
proposal  to  change  the  number 
of  directors  was  not  made  to  the 
meeting  and,  consequently,  no 
action  could  be  taken. 

•  • 

When  Edward  C.  Raftery 
returns  from  the  Coast  this 
week  he  is  expected  to  bring 
with  him  the  names  of  the 
nominees  of  Mary  Pickford  and 
David  Selznick,  six  in  all,  for 
the  new  United  Artists  board  of 
directors,  to  be  elected  at  Wil- 
mington, Del.,  next  Friday. 
Charles  Chaplin,  who  has  been 
conferring  with  associates  here 
for  the  past  week,  likewise  is 
expected  to  have  in  readiness 
within  the  next  day  or  two  his 
own  plan  of  action  with  respect 
to  the  meeting.  Court  action  by 
Chaplin  in  connection  with  the 
current  United  Artists  corporate 
change  still  is  a  possibility  but 
is  not  expected  to  materialize 
until  after  Friday's  meeting. 
Chaplin  will  not  attend  the  meet- 
ing himself,  but  he  does  plan  to 
remain  in  New  York  lor  an  ex- 
tended period  of  time. 


Coming 
Events 


June  12 — Monogram  sales  meetin 

Hollywood. 
June  12-July  8— Fifth  War  Lo; 

drive. 

June  13-15 — Columbia  regional  sal 

meeting,  New  York. 
June  14 — Quarterly  meeting 

MPPDA,  New  York. 
June  14 — Industry  rally  to  laun 

Southern    California    Fifth  W 

Loan    drive,    Hollywood  Bov) 

Hollywood. 
June   15 — Monogram  stockholder 

meeting,  Hollywood. 
June  16 — United    Artists'  boa 

meeting,  Wilmington. 
June  20 — Allied  Theatre  Owners  I 

New    Jersey    convention,  Hot 

Chelsea,  Atlantic  City. 
June    25  —  Industry    union  ral 

Hollywood. 
July  6 — 'Free  Movie  Day'  for  Fif 

War  Loan  drive. 
July  11-13 — Columbia  regional  sal 

meeting,  San  Francisco. 


Liberty  Purchases 
Hunter  Magazines 

Liberty  magazine  has  acquired  Silk 
Screen,  Screenland  and  Movie  She 
from  Hunter  Publications.  The  de 
brings  the  various  publishing  interef 
directed  by  Paul  Hunter  under  o; 
corporate  set-up.  Prior  to  Augu 
1942,  when  Hunter  became  preside 
of  Liberty,  he  was  publisher  of  t 
three  screen  magazines  which  Liber 
purchased. 

Hunter  continues  as  president  a 
publisher.   He  is  now  sole  stockhold< 
having  acquired  ownership  of  the  e!  ^ 
tire  capital  stock  of  Liberty  Magazii 
Inc.   and   Liberty   of   Canada,   Li  J* 
Edward    Maher,    vice-president  a 
editor,    becomes    editorial  directc 
Homer  Rockwell,  executive  vice-pn 
ident  of  Hunter  Publications,  becom  f 
a  Liberty  vice-president  and  advert: 
ing  director  of  the  entire  enterprise. 


E 

im 


Smith  in  RKO  Tele. 
West  Coast  Post 


h 

Appointment  of  Charles  B.  Smi 
as  West  Coast  representative  of  t!  feia 
newly-formed  RKO  Television  Cot 
was  announced  over  the  week-end  1  h 
Ralph  B.  Austrian,  executive  televish 
vice-president.    Smith  will  continue 
function  as  radio  contact  for  RK 
studios. 

Austrian  also  said  that  'live'  tale 
experimental  shows  will  be   start'  :.; 
over  the  Don  Lee  Television  stati< 
in    Hollywood    beginning    Monda  :ir 
June  26,  with  RKO  furnishing  t( 
talent  during  the  experiments 


Levey  in  Toronto 

Toronto,  June  11. — Jules  Leve; 
producer  of  United  Artists'  "The  Hail 
Ape,"  was  honored  at  a  reception  he! 
at  the  weekend  attended  by  the  Mayj  m 
and  other  civic  leaders.  Levey  w 
remain  here  several  days  to  arranj  i; 


an  exhibitor  screening  of  "The  Hail 
Ape." 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.    Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.    Telephone  Circle  7-3100.    Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York.  '  " 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-Pres:''"  :  ■  ••  1  ^  r,  :;  —  ■  "  — -  ■    ■     '  "" 

Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  CI 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup, 
Co.,  Inc.    Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.    Entered  as  second  class  matter,' Sept.°23'  1931,  at  tl  lip- 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $13  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


II  ionday,  June  12,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


I 


3 


llonogram's  Rentals 
lave  Jumped  61% 


Hollywood,  June  11. — Monogram 
r.    ntals  on  the  current  year's  program 

;  weekend  were  61   percent  above 

,e  similar  period  last  year,  accord- 
-i  o  g  to  general  sales  manager  Steve 

rgidy  on  the  eve  of  the  company's 
i  '.  1th  annual   convention,   opening  in 

e  Ambassador  Hotel  here  tomor- 

>w  and  closing  Thursday  night. 

Broidy  traces  the  jncrease  largely  to 
lt  '^re  These  Our  Children?"  "Where 
(y  i.  re  Your  Children  ?"  "Women  in 
K  ondage,"  and  "Lady  Let's  Dance." 

President   W.    Roy   Johnston  will 

vulge  the  new  season's  program  on 
'  Wednesday.   A  party  attended  by  the 

mventioneers,  players  and  local  ex- 
»  i  bitors  is  slated  for  the  Variety  Club 

imorrow  afternoon.  Tren  Carr, 
i  tecutive  director ;  Broidy ;  George 
Burrows,     vice-president  and 

easurer ;  and  Louis  S.  Lifton,  ad- 
j  |  ;rtising-publicity  director,  will  rep- 

;sent  the   Hollywood  headquarters. 

1  )j         Executives  Attending 

Eastern  executives  who  will  attend 
I  iclude  Harry  H.  Thomas,  Eastern 
istrict  manager ;  Sol  Francis,  Mid- 
,  est     district     manager ;  Edward 
lorey,   exchange   supervisor ;  Lloyd 
..  Lind,  head  of  the  contract  depart- 
lent  and  Max  Fellerman,  New  York 
.  ;presentative  of  Banner  Productions, 
ji'ne    field     staff     includes  Arthur 
t  iromberg,  Atlanta ;  Herman  Rifkin, 
ioston ;    Harry    Berkson,  Buffalo; 
c  rving  Mandel  and   Ben  Eisenberg, 
l  Chicago ;  George  West  and  William 
,  )nie,  Cincinnati ;  Nat  Schultz,  Cleve- 
,  ind ;  John  Franconi  and  Ed  Blumen- 
,  iial,  Dallas ;  Lon  T.  Fidler,  Denver ; 
Villiams  Hurlbut,  Detroit ;  Howard 
itubbins,     Los     Angeles ;  Charles 
,1  >ampe,  Milwaukee ;  Thomas  Burke, 
linneapolis ;    Nat   Furst  and   J.  J. 
j'  "elder,    New    York ;    Carr  Scott, 
,  Oklahoma   City ;   Arthur  Greenblatt, 
Philadelphia ;   Walter   Wessling  and 
ialph     Abbett,     Portland ;  Barney 
1  Rosenthal,   St.   Louis ;    Mel  Hulling 
B  nd  Gordon  Allen,  San  Francisco  and 
jj  larry  Brown,  Washington. 

No  Ansco  Monopack 
For  Film  Industry 

Ansco  monopack  color   film,  now 
i  ised   by   Army,   Navy   and  Marine 
j  terial  photographers,  will  probably  not 
i  )e  made  available  for  commercial  mo- 
ion  pictures,  according  to  A.  M.  Ross- 
i  Smith,  executive  of  General  Aniline 
ind  Film  Co.     Ross-Smith 'has  just 
i  rompleted  a  survey  of  the  Hollywood 
narket  for  the  film  and  is  back  in  New 
a  York  to  report  to  his  board  of  direc- 
j  ors. 

i    General   Aniline  and  Film   Co.  is 
;  presently  under  control  of  the  U.  S. 
I  Alien    Property    Custodian,    but  its 
shares  will  shortly  be  sold  to  American 
nvestors  through  the  stock  exchange. 
Ross-Smith  declared. 


■  Miller  on  UNRRA  Staff 

?    Washington,  June  11.  —  Appoint- 
<  nent  of  Neville  Miller,  president  of 
;  National  Association  of  Broadcasters, 
is  senior  deputy  chief  of  the  United 
Vations  Relief  and  Rehabilitation  Ad- 
ninistration's  Balkan  mission  in  Cairo, 
c  igypt,  was  announced  at  the  weekend 
i  rv  UNRRA  Director  General  Herbert 
'.  L  Lehman.  Miller  will  serve  as  chief 
j  rianagerial  officer  under  William  Mat- 
>  hew  s,  mission  head. 


Film  Anniversary 
Cards  in  Subways 

A  drawing  of  the  Edison 
Kinetoscope  parlor  in  1894, 
with  "Here's  How"  comment 
by  Robert  Swain,  is  now 
posted  in  all  New  York  sub- 
way cars  to  help  commem- 
orate the  50th  anniversary  of 
the  motion  picture  industry. 
The  New  York  Subway  Adver- 
tising Co.  estimates  that 
5,638,000  individual  riders, 
375,000  of  them  from  out  of 
town,  will  see  the  display  this 
month. 

WAC  Distributors' 
Division  Changes 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  chairman  of  the 
Distributors'  Division  of  the  WAC 
committee,  announced  the  following 
changes  in  the  personnel  of  WAC  dis- 
tributors' chairmen  and  district  chair- 
men in  the  field,  effective  immediately. 
Changes  were  necessitated  through 
transfer  and  working  conditions  of 
the  personnel. 

In  Indianapolis,  Claude  McKean, 
Warner  manager,  replaces  L.  W.  Mar- 
riott. Foster  Gauker,  M-G-M  mana- 
ger will  assist  McKean.  In  New  En- 
gland and  upstate  New  York,  the  re- 
alignment affects  A.  M.  Kane,  here- 
tofore in  Boston,  who  becomes  district 
chairman  over  Boston,  New  Haven, 
Albany  and  Buffalo.-  Edward  W.  Ruff 
succeeds  Kane  in  Boston.  John  Moore, 
also  of  Paramount,  will  take  over  in 
New  Haven.  Herbert  Maclntyre, 
RKO  district  manager,  replaces  Len 
Gruenberg  of  RKO  in  the  Rocky 
Mountain  district.  The  latter  is  enter- 
ing the  Navy.  J.  B.  Underwood  re- 
places Sam  Moscow  (deceased)  in 
Dallas,  Memphis  and  Oklahoma  City. 
All  of  these  will  also  function  in  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan. 

193  Houses  Set  for 
'Indiana'  Premiere 

Premieres  of  20th-Fox's  "Home  in 
Indiana"  will  be  held  June  14-28  in 
193  theatres  in  Indiana,  Ohio,  Illinois 
and  Kentucky,  with  state  and  munic- 
ipal authorities,  as  well  as  Jeanne 
Crain  and  June  Haver  of  the  cast  ap- 
pearing at  some  half  dozen  of  the 
openings. 

Also  being  lined  up  through  Rodney 
Bush,  20th-Fox  exploitation  manager, 
are  a  number  of  leading  sulky  racers 
whose  appearances  will  underline  the 
theme  of  the  story,  based  on  George 
Agnew  Chamberlain's  "The  Phantom 
Filly."  Extensive  radio  exploitation 
has  been  arranged. 

Actors  Equity  Elects 
Ten  Councilors 

The  following  10  members  of  the 
regular  ticket  named  by  the  nominat- 
ing committee  of  Actors  Equity  have 
been  elected  to  serve  as  councilors  for 
five  years ;  Patricia  Collinge,  Philip 
Merivale,  Donald  Cameron,  Alexander 
Clark,  Frank  Wilson,  Jose  Ferrer, 
Frederic  Tozere,  Kathryn  Givney, 
Harvey  Stevens  and  E.  J.  Kennedy. 

Paul  Dullzell,  executive  secretary, 
announced  an  increase  over  last  year's 
surplus  of  $61,702.  bringing  the  total 
surplus  to  $550,687.  Bert  Lytell  is 
Equity  president. 


AFM  Strikes  Will 
Nullify  Contracts 

Chicago,  June  11. — The  American 
Federation  of  Musicians,  during  its 
convention  at  the  Stevens  Hotel  here 
which  ended  yesterday,  has  voted 
favorably  on  a  resolution  introduced 
by  the  international  executive  board 
which  voids  any  member's  contract 
with  an  employer  when  a  strike  is 
called  or  a  ban  placed  against  that 
employer. 

The  action  was  taken  as  a  result  of 
the  present  record  ban  situation  in 
which  Decca  has  signed  a  new  agree- 
ment with  Victor  and  Columbia,  re- 
fusing to  accept  the  new  terms. 
Under  existing  contracts,  artists 
signed  to  Victor  and  Columbia  can- 
not record  for  Decca  unless  released 
from  their  contracts.  Under  the  new 
regulation,  an  artist  is  automatically 
freed  of  all  contractual  obligations 
when  a  work-stoppage  order  is  placed 
against  his  employer.  The  ruling  does 
not  affect  existing  Victor  and  Colum- 
bia contracts. 


Petrillo  Aides  Will 
See  Independents 

Chicago,  June  11.— James  C. 
Petrillo,  president  of  the  American 
Federation  of  Musicians,  attending  its 
national  convention  here  last  week, 
revealed  to  Motion  Picture  Daily 
that  he  will  not  personally  negotiate 
an  AFM  agreement  with  the  inde- 
pendents not  covered  by  the  producers 
pact  signed  May  17,  but  that  he  has 
instructed  J.  W.  Gillette,  his  Los 
Angeles  representative,  and  J.  K. 
("Spike")  Wallace,  president  of  the 
Los  Angeles  local,  to  handle  the 
situation.  The  independents  involved 
include  David  Selznick,  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  United  Artists,  Monogram 
and  PRC. 

Wallace  said  that  he  will  start  nego- 
tiations as  soon  as  he  and  Gillette  re- 
turn to  the  West  Coast.  Over  the 
weekend,  both  had  trouble  securing 
train  reservations.  Petrillo  is  return- 
ing to  New  York,  where  he  will  re- 
sume discussions  with  newsreel  com- 
panies over  the  issue  of  freshly 
recorded  newsreel  music. 

Balto.  Neighborhoods 
Spare  Cooling  Units 

Baltimore,  June  11. — Managers  of 
35  neighborhood  theatres  here  faced 
a  recent  heat  wave  without  turning  on 
the  air  conditioning  systems  because 
of  the  shortage  of  freon  gas.  "We 
plan  to  operate  the  systems  only  when 
the.  weather  becomes  extremely  hot," 
said  an  official  of  the  13-house  circuit 
owned  by  J.  Louis  Rome.  "If  we 
started  now,  they  might  spring  a  leak 
and  leave  us  without  air  conditioning 
for  the  rest  of  the  summer."  Man- 
agers of  22  other  neighborhood  thea- 
tres have  stated  that  their  situation  is 
similar. 

Most  of  the  downtown  first-run 
houses,  on  the  other  hand,  will  be 
able  to  operate  as  usual,  it  is  said, 
because  their  cooling  systems  call  for 
chemicals  still  available  for  civilian 
use. 


Sudekum  in  Radio 

Nashville,  June  11. — Tony  Sude- 
kum, president  of  Crescent  Amuse- 
ment Co.,  has  filed  an  application  with 
the  FCC  to  construct  a  radio  station 
here. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  June  11 
U.  S.  Senator  A.  B.  (Happy) 
Chandler  and  his  wife  have  arrived 
here  from  Washington  to  attend  the 
marriage  this  week  of  their  daughter, 
Mimi,  Paramount  starlet,  to  Major 
James  Cabell.  Miss  Chandler  will 
appear  in  the  Sam  Coslow  musical, 
"Out  of  This  World." 

• 

Fredric  Marsh  has  arrived  here 
from  New  York  to  confer  .with  pro- 
ducer Lester  Cowan  regarding  his 
starring  role  in  United  Artists'  screen 
adaptation  of  the  play,  "Tomorrow  the 
World." 

• 

■  M-G-M  has  purchased  "Flat  Top," 
an  original  story  for  production  with 
the  same  cast  used  in  "30  Seconds 
Over  Tokyo." 

© 

Columbia  announced  "Rusty,"  an 
original  boy-dog  story,  which  Samuel 
Bischoff  will  produce. 

Court  Turns  Down 
De Lucia  Bail  Bid 

The  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals 
here  on  Friday  denied  the  motion  by 
Theodore  Rein,  counsel  for  Paul  De 
Lucia,  one  of  the  six  Capone  mobsters 
convicted  of  conspiracy  to  extort 
$1,000,000  from  the  film  industry,  to 
admit  De  Lucia  to  bail  pending  appeal 
from  the  conviction.  The  court  stated 
that  "so  far  as  we  can  see,  this  appeal 
involves  no  substantial  question  which 
should  be  determined  by  the  Appellate 
Court." 

When  Rein  argued  his  motion  for 
bail,  he  charged  that  Boris  Kostelanetz, 
Federal  prosecutor,  prejudiced  the 
jury  by  repeatedly  referring  to  the 
defendants  as  'gangsters'  and  'members 
of  the  Capone  ring  in  Chicago.' 

The  only  defendant  convicted  in  the 
case  to  win  freedom  in  bail  is  Louis 
Kaufman,  former  business  agent  of 
Local  244,  IATSE,  of  Newark.  No 
date  for  argument  on  the  appeal  has 
been  set. 

Radio  Reconversion 
Program  to  WPB 

Chicago,  June  11. — The  board  of  di- 
rectors of  Radio  Manufacturers  As- 
sociation recently  concluded  its-  20th 
annual  membership  meeting  and  third 
war  production  conference  with  the 
election  of  a  new  president  and  plans 
for  the  reconversion  of  radio  industry 
plants  from  war  to  peace  production, 
which  will  also  be  submitted  to  the 
radio  and  Radar  industry  advisory 
committee  of  WPB. 

Raymond  C.  Cosgrove,  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  manager  of  the  man- 
ufacturing association  of  the  Crosley 
Corp.,  succeeded  Paul  V.  Galvin, 
president  of  the  Galvin  Manufacturing 
Corp.  of  Chicago,  who  has  been  head 
of  the  RMA  for  the  last  three  yea^s. 

Rose  Slaten  Honored 

Rose  Slaten,  head  of  Columbia's 
film  cutting  department  here,  was 
guest  at  a  luncheon  given  Friday  by 
her  co-workers  on  the  occasion  of  her 
24th  anniversary  with  the  company. 
The  luncheon  was  held  at  the  Hickory 
House.  Miss  Slaten  was  presented 
with  a  gift. 


"A  PICTURE  OF  POWER  AND  WIDE  AUDIENCE 
APPEAL!"- Daily  Variety 


'IT  IS  A  GRAND  FILM...  COMMERCIAL 
SUCCESS  ["-Exhibitor 


"QUALIFIED  TO  WRING  LAUGHS, 
TEARS  AND  PATRIOTIC 

CHEERS!"-Boxoffice 


A  Romance 
at  the  Bovolfice! 

THE  PURPLE  HEART 
THE  SULLIVANS -THE  SONG 
OF  BERNADETTE  •  FOUR  JILLS  IN 
A  JEEP -PIN  UP  GIRL- BUFFALO  BILL 


From  the  company 


that's  making  hit  history! 


CENTURY-FOX 


The  most  important  event  in  50  years  of  motion  picture  entertainment-DARRYL  F.  ZANUCK's 


s"Wi»ils;<l>>w 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  12,  1944 


Industry  Hears  of 
Plans  for  Solving 
Postwar  Problems 


Fifth  War  Loan  Begins! 
Star  Rallies  Arranged 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
confront  the  national  economy  after 
the  war,"  including  a  CED-anticipat- 
ed  record  postwar  Federal  expendi- 
ture of  $20,000,000,000,  compared  to 
$9,000,000,000  in  1939. 

To  be  made  available  to  the  motion 
picture,  and  other  large  American  in- 
dustries, upon  completion,  are  pro- 
grams for  liquidating  war  production, 
removing  wartime  economic  controls, 
financing  reconversion"  and  expansion, 
manpower  demobilization  and  reem- 
ployment, transition  unemployment, 
money  policies  and  international  eco- 
nomic relations  in  the  postwar.  The 
CED's  objective  of  each  study  under- 
taken "is  the  attainment  and  mainte- 
nance of  high  employment  through 
expanded  production  and  sales." 

Other  Problems 

Among  other  long-term  problems 
to  be  studied  are :  Providing  adequate 
incentives  for  enterprise,  developing 
a  constructive  tax  policy,  special  prob- 
lems of  small  business,  and  minimiz- 
ing business  fluctuation  and  unem- 
ployment. 

Chairman  of  the  CED's  research 
committee  of  business  men  is  Ralph 
E.  Flanders,  president  of  Jones  and 
Lamson  Machine  Co.  Chairman  of 
the  research  advisory  board  of  social 
scientists  is  Prof.  Sumner  H.  Slichter 
of  Harvard  University.  Theodore 
Yntema,  professor  of  economics  on 
leave  from  the  University  of  Chicago, 
is  director  of  the  research  staff  of 
economists. 


Warner  Discussing 
Pan-Amer.  Market 

Hollywood,  June  11. — Discussion  of 
Pan-American  relations,  as  well  as 
plans  fqr  promoting -goodwill  between 
Hollywood  and  its  Latin  market,  will 
highlight  a  series  of  conferences  to  be 
held  here  by  Jack  L.  Warner,  execu- 
tive producer  for  Warner  Bros.,  and 
Ary  Lima,  the  company's  Brazilian 
general  manager,  who  arrived  here 
over  the  weekend  from  Rio  de  Janeiro. 

Future  releases  of  Warner  product 
in  South  American  also  will  be  dis- 
cussed. 


Ask  16  mm.  Pro  jector 
Owners  to  Back  Bond 

Washington,  June  11. — Own- 
ers of  16  mm.  film  projectors 
are  being  urged  to  use  their 
machines  during  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  drive,  to  show  bat- 
tlefront  films  wherever  pos- 
sible, by  Ted  R.  Gamble,  na- 
tional director  of  the  U.  S. 
War  Finance  Division.  "Re- 
port from  the  Beachhead," 
"Reports  from  the  AAF"  and 
"What  Makes  a  Battle"  have 
been  made  available  by  the 
War  Department.  The  films 
carry  a  trailer  bond  message 
from  General  Eisenhower. 
Prints  will  be  made  available 
through  state  War  Finance 
Committees. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  national  film  drive  committee  on 
their  tour,  and  state  and  local  rallies 
which  followed;  and  the  work  of  ex- 
hibitor, distributor  and  publicity  chair- 
men and  their  committees,  the  indus- 
try's "Fighting  Fifth"  army  will  put 
forth  "their  mightiest  effort  for  the  in- 
dustry's biggest  job,"  bond  committee 
headquarters  declared  here  over  the 
weekend. 

Last  minute  reports  by  telegraph  and 
telephone  to  K.  J.  O'Donnell,  national 
chairman  of  the  "Fighting  Fifth"  are 
said  to  reveal  a  high  pitch  of  enthus- 
iasm among  exhibitors  everywhere. 
The  invasion  of  Europe,  it  was  said, 
will  act  as  a  spur  to  the  "Bond  in- 
vasion" army. 

Today  is  slated  to  be  a  gala  day 
everywnere  and  showmen  are  sched- 
uled to  be  in  the  forefront  of  those 
spearheading  the  "bond  invasion." 

"Every  facet  of  showmanship  will 
be  used  to  launch  the  campaign,"  head- 
quarters said.  Military  parades,  ral- 
lies in  theatres  with  governors,  mayors 
and  other  high  officials  and  war  heroes 
on  the  stage  are  scheduled  fqr  today  in 
numerous  cities. 

"Reports  to  national  headquarters 
give  asurance  that  the  showmanship 
and  energy  displayed  in  any  drive  in 
the  past  will  be  topped  during  the 
Fifth,  with  the  sole  aim  by  the  indus- 
try to  bring  the  drive  to  conclusion 
with  success,"  according  to  campaign 
officials. 


Convert  Albee  Square 
To  'Invasion  Square' 

With  Albee  Square,  scene  of  Brook- 
lyn's Fifth  War  Loan  barometer,  con- 
verted to  "Invasion  Square"  for  the 
drive,  bond  sales  got  under  way  there 
Saturday  with  a  rally  arranged  by 
Charles  B.  McDonald,  borough  cam- 
paign chairman.  Bands,  speakers  and 
veterans  aided  the  launching. 

Assisting  McDonald  are  Irwin  Gold, 
co-chairman ;  Jack  Fitzgerald  of  the 
U.  S.  Treasury ;  and  Al  Zimbalist  and 
Sol  Handwerger,  publicity  co-chair- 
men. 


Illinois  Heads  Return 
From  Regional  Meets 

Chicago,  June  11. — State  heads  of 
the  Fifth  War  Loan  returned  at  the 
weekend  from  a  two-weeks'  tour,  dur- 
ing which  they  attended  five  regional 
meetings.  More  bond  premieres  will  be 
staged  than  in  any  previous  drive.  Ralph 
Lawler  of  Great  States  Theatres, 
co-chairman  of  the  exhibitors'  com- 
mittee, stated.  Others  on  the  tour  in- 
cluded W.  E.  Banford,  M-G-M  branch 
manager  and  state  chairman  for  dis- 
tributors, W.  G.  Bishop,  M-G-M  West- 
ern division  exploitation  manager  and 
state  publicity,  chairman.  Eddie  Zorn, 
president  of  United  Theatres  of  Illi- 
nois, attended  the  meetings  in  Jackson- 
ville, Mt.  Vernon,  Champaign  and  La 
Salle.  The  fifth  meeting  was  held  in 
Galesburgh.  and  each  was  attended  by 
40  to  75  exhibitors. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Victory  Committee  is  enrolling  other 
star  performers. 

In  addition  to  Miss  Bergman,  who 
will  stay  with  the  star  tour  tnrough 
Wednesday,  and  Lukas  set  through 
June  21,  the  following  are  definitely 
scheduled  for  appearances  :  Lynn  .ban, 
June  15-21;  Ray  Bolger,  13-21;  Su- 
sanna Foster,  15-21  ;  Betty  Grable, 
17;  Lana  Turner,  16-17. 

Touring  with  the  stars  is  an  Army 
Air  Force  band.  Walter  Pidgeon, 
Gary  Cooper  arid  Helen  Forrest  made 
pre-drive  appearances  at  St.  Louis 
and  Chicago. 

Itinerary 

From  Indianapolis,  the  tour-itiner- 
ary will  cover  Detroit,  June  13  ;  Pitts- 
burgh, June  14 ;  Philadelphia,  June 
15;  Brooklyn,  June  16;  New  York, 
June  17 ;  Atlantic  City,  June  19 ;  Bal- 
timore, June  20 ;  Washington,  June 
21 ;  Richmond,  June  22 ;  Norfolk, 
June  23  ;  Atlanta,  June  24 ;  Birming- 
ham, June  26 ;  Memphis,  June  2/ ; 
Louisville,  June  28 ;  Cincinnati,  June 
29 ;  Cleveland,  June  30 ;  New  York, 
July  1. 

Joining  Secretary  of  the  Treasury 
Henry  Morgenthau  in  launching  the 
drive,  a  cast  of  celebrated  periorm- 
ers  featured  last  night's  four-network 
broadcast  produced  by  Orson  Welles. 

Part  of  the  program,  including  Sec- 
retary Morgenthau,  Joseph  Cotten, 
Gloria  Jean,  Walter  Huston,  Agnes 
Moorhead  and  Keenan  Wynn,  orig- 
inated from  Texarkana,  Tex.  Lionel 
Barrymore,  Joe  E.  Brown,  Ray  Col- 
lins, Charles  Laughton,  Paul  Muni, 
Thomas  Mitchell  and  Franchot  Tone 
were  cut  in  from  Hollywood.  The 
program  was  on  the  air  from  10  to  11 
P.M.,  E.W.T. 

Stars  at  Bowl 

Outstanding  stars  will  appear  with 
Secretary  Morgenthau  at  the  Holly- 
wood Bowl,  on  June  14th  at  a  rally 
for  25,000  volunteer  Fifth  War  Loan 
workers. 

In  the  presentation,  produced  by 
Sam  Wood  and  William  Cameron 
Menzies,  will  be  Bing  Crosby,  Bette 
Davis,  Judy  Garland,  Bob  Hope  and 
Jose  Iturbi,  with  Rudy  Vallee  and  his 
Coast  Guard  Band.  A  half-hour  of 
the  program,  including  Secretary  Mor- 
genthau's  address,  will  be  carried  on 
the  CBS  coast-to-coast  network  from 
11:30  to  12:00  P.M.,  E.W.T. 

Each  of  the  major  networks  will 
contribute  an  all-star  program  to  aid 
the  drive.  NBC  opened  the  broadcast 
series  yesterday  with  Amos  and  Andy, 
Abbott  and  Costello,  Jack  Benny,  Bob 
Burns,  Bing  Crosby,  Ronald  Colman, 
Joan  Davis  and  Jack  Haley,  The 
Great  Gildersleeve,  Bob  Hope,  Kay 
Kyser,  Frances  Langford,  Frank  Mor- 
gan, Fibber  McGee  and  Molly,  John 
Charles  Thomas  and  Yvette. 


Exhibitor  Worksheet 
Sent  Out  by  WAC 

The  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee is  forwarding  to  ex- 
hibitors a  special  worksheet 
to  facilitate  prompt  and  full 
reports  on  bond  sales.  It  fea- 
tures the  number  of  bonds 
sold  each  day,  their  maturity 
value  and  suggestions  for  a 
'School's  Out'  premiere  and 
events  on  Flag  Day,  Inde- 
pendence Day  and  'National 
Free  Movie  Day.'  The  work- 
sheet was  devised  by  Leon 
Bamberger  of  RKO,  assistant 
national  distributor  chairman. 


New  York's  Quota 
Now  Million  Bonds 


20th  Workers  Buy  Bonds 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  home  of- 
fice employees  have  pledged  4*98  bonds 
totaling  $44,150  to  date,  A.  W.  Smith, 
Jr.,  Eastern  sales  manager,  reported 
to  the  "Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan 
headquarters  at  the  weekend. 


First  5th  Loan  Show 
Set  for  Milwaukee 

Milwaukee,  June  11. — First  Fifth 
War  Loan  bond  spectacle  will  take 
place  in  Milwaukee  June  17-18,  it 
was  announced  here  yesterday  by  Har- 
old J.  Fitzgerald,  Wisconsin  exhibi- 
tor state  chairman. 

The  exhibition,  sponsored  by  the 
Milwaukee  Journal  and  to  be  held  at 
the  Michigan  Lake  front,  will  include 
a  special  industry  display,  and  military 
equipment.  Rear  Admiral  Carpenter 
and  other  guests  will  attend. 


C.  C.  Moskowitz,  general  theatre 
chairman  of  New  York's  "Fighting 
Fifth"  bond  army,  who  originally  set 
a  quota  for  this  area  of  800,000  "E" 
bonds  to  -be  sold,  has  increased  the 
quota  to  1,000,000  "E"  bonds  before 
July  31. 

With  "D-Day"  rallies  in  scores  of 
theatres  and  some  50  stunts  in  the  area, 
it  is  estimated  that  since  June  1st,  90, 
000  to  1,00,000  bonds  have  been  sold. 

The  industry  here  officially  launched 
its  fifth  drive  on  Saturday  with  a  mili- 
tary demonstration  with  400  infantry- 
men and  a  160-piece  band  from  Fort 
Bragg,  N.  C. 

Under  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen- 
eral Maurice  L.  Miller  and  Liea,t. 
Col.  John  L.  King,  the  infantry  "in- 
vasion" began  at  noon.  The  troops, 
in  full  battle  attire,  entered  Broadway 
at  44th  Street  an4  were  greeted  by  a 
crowd  of- more  than  50,000  persons. 

The  Program 

The  ceremonies  opened  with  the 
playing  of  the  national  anthem  and  in- 
vocation by  Capt.  Lee  Fohl.  Charles 
C.  Moskowitz,  general  chairman  for 
the  Metropolitan  New  York  area,  in- 
troduced Frank  Mitchell,  chairman  of 
the  speakers'  bureau  of  the  War 
Finance  Division,  who  made  an  appeal! 
for  bond  purchases.  The  program  was] 
then  taken  over  by  Edward  C.  Dow-| 
den,  chairman  of  special  events  fori 
the  Fifth  War  Loan.  Dowden  intro-| 
duced  a  group  of  returned  war  heroes.l 
The  Ben  Yost  Quartette  from  thel 
Roxy  sang  the  Battle  Hymn  of  thell] 
Republic. 

On  the  reviewing  stand  were :  BrigJ 
General  Miller;  Lieut.  Col.  King;  Os-j 
car  A.  Doob,  Ernest  Emerling,  C.I 
Dowden,  Si  Fabian,  Fred  Schwartz,!1 
Samuel  Rinzler,  Leo  Brecher,  Harryj 
Brandt,  Joseph  Kinskey,  John  Friedl,! 
Nevil  Ford,  Frederick  Gehle,  Stanley! 
Quinn,  Louis  Pearson  and  Frank] 
Mitchell. 

More  than  $100,000  in  "E"  bonds 
were  sold  at  the  rally,  where  all 
Broadway  theatres  had  bond  booths.! 
At  the  conclusion  of  the  rally,  the  in-| 
fantrymen  and  their  band  split  up  in-f 
to  six  military  patrols  and  invaded  the 
five  boroughs  and  Westchester.  In 
each  county,  six  to  eight  rallies 
greeted  the  "invaders." 


Kramer  to  Birdwell 

Lillian  Kramer,  for  11  years  a  "writ- 
er and  public  relations  consultant  with 
the  State  Department  in.  Washington, 
has  joined  Russell  Birdwell  Asso- 
ciates here. 


HERE  ARE 
YOUR  CHILDREN" 

WOMEN  IN 


4-PAGE  TABLOID 
IS  THE  OPENING 
BLAST  FOR  YOUR 
CAMPAIGN  ON 
MONO'S  LATEST! 


SCORCHING  EXPOSE  OF 
THRILL-THIRSTY  ADULTS! 

IN  FILM... "ARE  THESE  OUR  PARENTS" 


BLAMES  PARENTS ! 


Terry  Salisbury, 
teen-age  murder 
suspect  accuses 
thrit!  -  crazed 
adults  for  condi- 
tions which 
led  to  her  i 
downfall. 
Says  Terry: 
"Hod  mother 
spent  even  a 
few  spare  mo- 
ments with  me  I 
wouldn't  now  face 
disgrace." 


TELL  OF  THRILL  DATES! 

Sam  Bailey,  father  of  youthful  Hal  Bailey 
now  .being  held  by  juvenile  authorities, 
told  police  questioners  "What's  the  dif- 
ference if  I  spend  a  few  hours  of  my 
time  with  women.  Hal  is  old  enough  to 
take  care  of  himself."  Young  Bailey  is  17. 


fTf  C  TIME  CMMMME' 


Shocking  neglect  on  tfc 
part  of  parents  leads  t 
scenes  like  this.  PoiSi 
trap  teen-age  law 
breaker  in  raid  on  m 
torious  roadhouse. 


#1  mm  m 
IffHC 


'ARE  THESE  OU 
PARENTS 


lith  HELEN  VINSON ■  lyle  talbot  •  noel  ne 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  12,  1944 


Justice  Dept. 
Insists  on 
Decree  Change 


(Continued  from  pane  1) 

Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark 
for  revision  of  the  draft  of  a 
new  decree  which  they  submit- 
ted to  the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice on  Jan.  20.  Company  presi- 
dents and  the  lawyers  met  here 
last  Thursday  but  no  decisions 
were  reached  after  several 
hours  of  discussion  on  the  sug- 
gestions. 

The  suggestions,  according  to  an  of- 
ficial of  one  of  the  decree  companies, 
deal  not  only  with  cancellation  and 
theatre  expansion,  but  also  to  Sec- 
tion X,  relating  to  specific  runs,  and 
other  items. 

No  date  has  been  set  for  the  sec- 
ond meeting  between  the  companies 
and  Clark,  but  almost  daily  contact 
is  being  maintained  between  the  De- 
partment and  the  company  lawyers,  in 
an  effort  to  break  the  apparent  con- 
tinuing deadlock. 

As  reported  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily  on  May  18  the  five  decree  com- 
panies are  understood  to  be  deter- 
mined not  to  make  any  further  major 
concessions  on  cancellations,  restric- 
tions on  theatre  expansion  or  on  other 
standing  proposals  for  a  new  decree 
even  though  that  should  mean  prose- 
cution of  the  Government's  New  York 
anti-trust  suit.  The  companies  are 
understood  to  feel  that  "any  further 
concessions,  especially  on  tbese  pro- 
visions, would  be  economically  un- 
sound and  would  lead  to  eventual 
financial  repercussions." 

Discussions  in  recent  weeks  indi- 
cate that  the  companies  might  be  will- 
ing to  forego  their  provision  allowing 
them  to  acquire  new  theatres  as 
"show-cases." 


Film  Censorship  Is 
Agitating  Mexico 

Mexico  City,  June  11. — Film  cen- 
sorship as  applied  by  the  Ministry  of 
Interior  has  stirred  up  a  controversy 
between  the  scenarists'  union  and  pro- 
ducers on  one  side  and  the  censors  on 
the  other.  The  producers,  in  newspa- 
per advertising,  have  appealed  to 
President  Manual  Avila  Camacho,  al- 
leging that  the  censorship  is  arbitrary 
and  violates  freedom  of  expression. 
Some  recent  pictures  have  shown  the 
effects  of  drastic  cutting,  resulting  in 
uneven  continuity. 

Felipe  Gregorgio  Castillo,  chief  of 
censorship,  has  defended  his  division's 
activities,  declaring  that  censorship 
has  been  declared  legal  by  a  Federal 
Supreme  Court  ruling.  President  Ca- 
macho is  expected  to  take  a  hand  in 
the  controversy. 


Scully  Lists  55  Features, 
Four  Serials.  61  Shorts 


Columbia  Managers 
Here  for  Meeting 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

agers,  branch  managers  and  the  entire 
sales  personnel  of  the  following  ex- 
changes :  Albany,  Boston,  Buffalo,  Cin- 
cinnati, Cleveland,  New  Haven,  New 
York,  Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh,  Wash- 
ington, Toronto,  Montreal,  Winnipeg, 
St.  John,  Calgary  and  Vancouver. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

is  nine  less  than  the  pre- Pearl  Har- 
bor season  of  1941-42. 

Scully  reflects  that  the  program 
again  reflects  Universal's  flexible  for- 
mula and  that  the  company  would 
continue  to  anticipate  trends  in  en- 
tertainment. 

Highlighting  the  new  program  will 
be  Deanna  Durbin's  first  outdoor 
musical  in  color,  a  special,  titled 
"Can't  Help  Singing,"  with  an  or- 
iginal Jerome  Kern  score,  now  being 
produced  by  Felix  Jackson.  Also 
included  is  a  second  Deanna  Durbin 
production,  "Strangers,"  with  Charles 
Boyer  as  co-star. 

There  will  be  three  Abbott  and  Cos- 
tello  pictures,  another  special,  entitled 
"Bowery  to  Broadway" ;  two  color 
productions  from  Walter  Wanger ; 
Charles  K.  Feldman  is  listed  for  one 
production,  "Uncle  Harry;"  Maria 
Montez  will  be  in  two  color  produc- 
tions ;  two  Donald  O'Connor  pictures ; 
Olsen  and  Johnson  will  be  represented 
with  "See  My  Lawyer." 

In  addition,  Scully  announced  seven 
Westerns.  The  complete  feature  pro- 
gram follows : 

"Can't  Help  Singing" 

Deanna  Durbin  in  "Can't  Help  Sing- 
ing," color  co-starring  Robert  Paige. 
"Bowery  to  Broadway,"  a  special  with 
an  all-star  cast  headed  by  Maria 
Montez,  Jack  Oakie,  Susanna  Foster, 
Turhan  Bey,  Louise  Allbritton,  Leo 
Carrillo,  Ann  Blyth,  Andy  Devine  and 
Evelyn  Ankers,  produced  by  John 
Grant,  directed  by  Charles  Lamont. 
Walter  Wanger's  "Salome,  Where 
She  Danced"  and  "Night  In  Paradise," 
with  Turhan  Bey  and  Louise  All- 
britton ;  Charles  K.  Feldman's  pro- 
duction, "Uncle  Harry,"  the  stage 
play ;  Deanna  Durbin  and  Charles 
Boyer  in  "Stangers,"  to  be  produced 
by  Felix  Jackson  with  Frank  Shaw 
as  associate ;  the  three  Abbott  and 
Costellos,  to  be  produced  by  John 
Grant ;  "The  Naughty  Nineties,"  "Here 
Come  The  Co-Eds"  and  "You  Hypno- 
tize Me ;"  "The  Climax,"  in  color, 
starring  Susanna  Foster,  Boris  Kar- 
loff  and  Turhan  Bey,  produced  and 
directed  by  George  Waggner ;  two 
Maria  Montez  productions,  both  in 
color :  "Gypsy  Wildcat,"  starring  Miss 
Montez,  Jon  Hall  and  Peter  Coe,  di- 
rected by  Roy  William  Neill  and  pro- 
duced by  George  Waggner,  and  "Queen 
of  the  Nile,"  starring  Miss  Montez, 
Jon  Hall  and  Turhan  Bey,  produced 
by  Paul  Malvern  and  directed  by  Jack 
Rawlins. 

"Sudan"  in  Color 

Also :  "Sudan,"  in  color ;  the  two 
Donald  O'Connor  productions  :  O'Con- 
nor, Peggy  Ryan  and  Jack  Oakie  in 
"The  Merry  Monahans,"  directed  by 
Charles.  Lamont  and  produced  by 
Michael  Fessier  and  Ernest  Pagano, 
and,  starring  O'Connor  and  Miss  Ryan 
in  "Patrick  the  Great,"  directed  by 
Frank  Ryan  and  produced  by  Howard 
Benedict ;  Olsen  and  Johnson  in  "See 
My  Lawyer"  with  Grace  McDonald, 
Alan  Curtis  and  Noah  Beery,  Jr., 
directed  by  Edward  Cline  and  pro- 
duced by  Edmund  L.  Hartmann ; 
Charles  Laughton  and  Ella  Raines  in 
"The  Suspect,"  directed  by  Robert 
Siodmak  and  produced  by  Islin  Aus- 
ter;  "Frisko  Kate,"  starring  Susanna 
Foster,  Turhan   Bey,  Robert  Paige, 


Louise  Allbritton,  Ella  Raines  and 
George  Korvin,  to  be  produced  by 
George  Waggner ;  Boris  Karloff  and 
Lon  Chaney  in  "The  Devil's  Brood," 
directed  by  Erie  C.  Kenton,  produced 
by  Paul  Malvern ;  Jack  Oakie  and 
Peggy  Ryan  in  musical  to  be  produced 
by  Michael  Fessier  and  Ernest  Pagano 
"That's  the  Spirit." 

"San  Diego  I  Love  You" 

Also :  Jon  Hall  and  Louise  All- 
britton in  "San  Diego,  I  Love  You," 
produced  by  Michael  Fessier  and 
Ernest  Pagano,  directed  by  Reginald 
Le  Borg  ;  "Dracula  vs.  the  Wolf  Man," 
starring  Lon  Chaney  with  Ford  Beebe 
as  associate  producer ;  two  comedies 
starring  Joan  Davis ;  two  Sherlock 
Holmes  productions  starring  Basil 
Rathbone  and  Nigel  Bruce,  both  pro- 
duced and  directed  by  Roy  William 
Neill— the  first,  "The  Pearl  Of  Death," 
the  second,  "The  House  Of  Fear." 

Peggy  Ryan  and  Ann  Blyth  in 
'Babes  on  Swing  Street,"  directed  by 
Edward  Lilley  with  Bernard  Burton 
as  associate  producer ;  two  Andrews 
Sisters  productions,  the  first  also  star- 
ring Leo  Carrillo,  "Moonlight  and 
Cactus,"  directed  by  Edward  F.  Cline 
with  Frank  Gross  as  associate  pro- 
ducer, and  "On  Mobile  Bay,"  to  be 
produced  by  Warren  Wilson ;  "Arsene 
Lupin,"  with  Ford  Beebe  as  associate 
producer,  starring  George  Korvin ; 
"Faith,"  starring  Alan  Curtis,  Gloria 
Jean  and  Frank  Craven  ;  another  star- 
ring Peggy  Ryan  and  Ann  Blyth ; 
Lon  Chaney  in  "The  Mummy's  Re- 
turn," with  Oliver  Drake  as  associate 
producer ;  two  Inner  Sanctum  Mys- 
teries, starring  Lon  Chaney,  titled 
"Dead  Man's  Eyes"  and  "The  Frozen 
Ghost ;"  Bob  Crosby  in  "The  'Singing 
Sheriff,"  with  his  orchestra,  Fay  Mc- 
Kenzie,  Edward  Norris  and  Fuzzy 
Knight,  directed  by  Leslie  Goodwins, 
with  Bernard  Burton  as  associate  pro- 
ducer. Allan  Jones  in  a  mu^at^wilto 
Bernard  Burton  as  associate  producer  ; 
"Reckless  Age,"  starring  Gloria  Jean, 
produced  and  directed  by  Eelix  Feist ; 
"Senorita  From  The  West,"  also  with 
Gloria  Jean. 

Also :  "Murder  in  the  Blue  Room,"" 
with  Anne  Gwynne,  Grace  McDonald, 
Donald  Cook,  directed  by  Leslie  Good- 
wins, with  Frank  Gross  as  associate 
producer.  "Jungle  Captive,"  with 
Acquanetta ;  two  tropical  musicals : 
"Brazilian  Nights"  and  "Song  Of  The 
Sarong." 

12  Marquee  Productions 

In  addition  there  will  be  12  Marquee 
productions,  musicals,  drama  and  com- 
edies, titled :  "Bluebeard  of  Paris," 
'TVIoonlight  and  Orchids,"  "Radio 
Revels,"  "She-Wolf  Of  London," 
"Musical  Roundup,"  "Murder  With 
Music,"  "Madam  Swing,"  "Tornado," 
"Bad  Sister,"  "Showdown,"  "Alibi 
and  "Honeymoon  Hotel." 

The  Seven  Westerns  are :  "Rodeo 
Cyclone,"  "Riders  of  the  Santa  Fe," 
"Beyond  the  Pecos,"  "The  Old  Texas 
Trail,"  "Man  from  Powder  River," 
"Renegades  of  the  Rio  Grande"  and 
"Last  of  the  Lawless."  Oliver  Drake 
will  be  associate  producer,  with  direc- 
tion by  Lewis  D.  Collins  and  Roy 
Taylor. 

The  four  serials  are :  "Raiders  of 
Ghost  City"  with  Dennis  Moore, 
Wanda  McKay,  Lionel  Atwill,  Vir- 
ginia  Christine  and   Regis  Toomey, 


Hirliman  Buys  SI 
Goldwyn  Pictures 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

ing  Heights,"  "Dead  End,"  "Come  and 
Guit,"  "Stella  Dallas,"  "These Three," 
"The  Hurricane,"  '"Dodsworth,"  "Gold- 
wyn Follies,"  "The  Westerner,"  "They 
Shall  Have  Music,"  "Adventures  of 
Marco  Polo,"  "Arrowsmith,"  "Cow- 
boy and  the  Lady,"  "Raffles,"  "We  Live 
Again,"  "The  Vvedding  Night,"  "Bar- 
bary  Coast"  and  14  others. 

Some  of  the  stars  featured  include 
Gary  Cooper,  Humphrey  Bogart, 
Merle  Oberon,  Laurence  Olivier,  Joel 
McCrea,  Zorina,  Olivia  de  Havilland, 
David  Niven,  Barbara  Stanwyck,  Paul 
Lukas,  Eddie  Cantor,  Brian  Donlevy, 
Dorothy  Lamour,  Jon  Hall,  Fredric 
March,  Ann  Sothern,  Edward  G.  Rob- 
inson, Robert  Young,  Ronald  Colman, 
George  Raft,  Helen  Hayes,  Myrna 
Toy,  Joan  Bennett,  and  Loretta 
Young. 

It  is  understood  that  the  rights  to 
the  films  will  revert  to  Goldwyn  after 
a  period  of  years. 


Solon  Asks  Reason 
For  Newsreel  Shift 

(Continued  from  page  1)  , 

the  newsreels'  facilities  to  release*"Eve. 
of  Battle,"  but  no  reason  was  given- as 
to  why  arrangements  for  its  distribu- 
tion were  held  up  until  the  last  minute 
when  the  newsreels  were  ready  to  re- 
lease their  invasion  reel. 

Lieut.  Col.  Gordon  F.  Swarthout  of 
the  War  Department  bureau  of  public 
relations  and  officials  of  the  Office  of 
War  Information  took  the  1,800-foot 
pre-invasion  picture  to  New  York  and 
are  said  to  have  urged  the  WAC  ~tc| 
see  that  it  got  immediate  circulatiwi. 
The  Department,  it  has  been  revealed, 
did  not  furnish  prints,  and  it  was  nec- 
essary to  press  every  available  film 
laboratory  into  service,  with  a  con- 
sumption of  nearly  three  times  the  raw 
stock  footage  the  companies  normally 
use. 


Canada  Is  Adding 


ions 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

classed  film  trade  occupations  in  a  low 
category  on  "essential"  lists. 

The  Labor  Department  declared  an 
emergency  situation  in  view  of  war 
developments  and  announced  that  close 
to  200,000  workers  are  urgently  needed 
for  civilian  war  jobs.  Action  also  is 
being  taken  to  "freeze"  women  in  war 
employment  and  to  transfer  females  of 
16  to  40  to  essential  occupations. 


Coplan's  Mother  Dies 

Toronto,  June  11. — Mrs.  S.  Coplan, 
60,  mother  of  David  H.  Coplan, 
who  is  now  in  London  as  acting- 
British  managing  director  for  United 
Artists,  died  at  her  home  in  Ottawa 
late  last  week. 


and  Ray  Taylor  and  Lewis  Collins 
directing,  with  Morgan  Cox  and  Ray 
Taylor,  as  associate  producers ;  Tay- 
lor and  Cox  will  also  produce  "Jungle 
Queen ;"  "The  Master  Key"  and 
"Mystery  of  the  River  Boat"  will  be 
produced  by  Henry  MacRae. 

The  short  subjects  program  will 
consist  of  104  issues  of  Universal 
newsreel,  16  color  'Cartunes'  from 
Walt  Lantz,  15  'Person-Oddities,'  15 
'Variety  Views,'  13  'Name-Band  Musi- 
cals' and  two  special  20-minute  sub- 
jects, one  titled  "Diver  vs.  Devilfish," 
in  color,  and  the  other,  "The  Fight 
of  the  Wild  Stallions." 


Monday,  June  12,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


4Way'  Gets  $15,000 
In  3rd  Boston  Week 


Boston,  June  11. — "Going  My 
Way"  continued  to  draw  here,  getting 
$15,000  at  the  Metropolitan  in  a 
somewhat   spotty  week. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  7 : 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

RKO      BOSTON  —  (3,200)  (50c-65c-85c 
$1.10).     Stage:    Guy   Lombardo  and  show 
Gross:    $25,500.     (Average:  $28,300). 
>"The  Hitler  Gang"  (Para.) 
"Jamboree"  (Rep.) 

FENWAY  —   (1,373)      (35c  -  40c -^5c- 74c) 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $8,300). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (Zflth-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (1,350)  ($1.10  matinee  and 
night)  7  days,  5th  week.  Gross:  $15,000. 
(Average:  $13,000). 
"Tender  Comrade"  (RKO) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

KEITH  MEMORIAL — (2,900)  (44c-S5c- 
65c-74c).  Gross:  $23,000.  (Average:  $24,- 
500). 

"Going  My  Way"  (Para.) 

METROPOLITAN — (4,367)  (44c-55c-65c- 
84c)    7.  days.    3rd    week.     Gross:  $35,600. 
(Average:  $28,300). 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

ORPHEUM — (2,900)    (44c-S5c-75c).  Gross" 
$19,000.     (Average:  $23,800). 
"The  Hitler  Gang"  (Para.) 
"Jamboree"  (Rep.) 

PARAMOUNT  —   (1,700)  (44c-55c-74c). 
Gross:  $16,000.    (Average:  $17,500).  . 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Jam  Session"  (Coi.) 

STATE  THEATRE— (3,200)  (44c -55c -74c). 
Gross:   $8,500.     (Average:  $11,300). 


'Cobra'  Pulls  Pitts. 
Out  of  Doldrums 

Pittsburgh,  June  11. — The  Fulton 
was  first  theatre  to  pull  out  of  the 
doldrums  here,  with  "Cobra  Woman" 
promising  $10,000  this  week. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  6-9 : 

"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)     (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $8,500). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (Zflth-Fox) 

HARRIS — (2.200)' '(35c-44c -65c)  4  days,  in- 
to 2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average  for 
full  week:  $10,000). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

PENN— (3,400)      (35c-44c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:    $14,000.      (Average:  $21,700). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

RlTZ-Kl.lOO)    (35c-44c-65c)    7    days,  2nd 
week,  moveover  from  Penn.    Gross:  $2,500. 
(Average:  $3,000). 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

SENATOR— (1,750)  (35c-44c-65c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,600.  (Average  for  7  days:  $3,400). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

STANLEY— (3,800)      (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage,  6  days  of  vaudeville,  including  Ted 
Lewis   orchestra.     Gross:    $20,000.  (Aver- 
age: $22,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
3rd  week,  moveover  after  1  week  at  Penn. 
Gross:   $6,500.     (Average:  $9,350). 


'Cupid',  Show  Gross 
Splendid  $21,000 

Indianapolis,  June  11. — "Henry 
Aldrich  Plays  Cupid,"  with  Sammy 
Kaye's  orchestra  on  the  stage,  will  do 
$21,000  at  advanced  prices  at  the  Cir- 
cle. Loew's  will  gross  $12,000  with 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  and 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday." 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week- 
ending June  8 : 

"Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid"  (Para.) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (55c-70c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$21,000.     (Average:  $11,800). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

INDIANA— (3,200)      (32c-55c)      7  day's. 
Gross:    $10,000.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

LOEW'S—  (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,000.     (Average:  $11,500). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

LYRIC-  (2,000)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average:  $4,900). 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


FASCINATING,  SWASHBUCKLING, 
LATIN-AMERICAN  STAR  DISCOVERY, 
ARTUR0  DE  CORDOVA,  SOON  TO  BE 
SEEN   I  N  TECHN I  COLORED 
"FRENCHMAN'S  CREEK",  HAS  APPEARED, 
IN  SPACE  OF  ONE  YEAR,  OPPOSITE 
INGRID  BERGMAN,   JOAN  FONTAINE, 

BETTY  HUTTON,   DOROTHY  LAM0UR  

HAS  COMPLETED  STAR  ROLE  IN 
"INCENDIARY  BLONDE"   AND  WAS  JUST 
SIGNED  FOR  "A  MEDAL  FOR  BENNY." 


'Lady'  Maintains 
Fast  Pace  in 
Philadelphia  Run 

Philadelphia,  June  11.— Business 
here  was  only  fair  this  week.  "Make 
Your  Own  Bed"  at  the  Mastbaum 
points  to  $18,500  for  the  week  with 
an  additional  $2,500  already  in  for  the 
dual  Sunday  showing  at  the  Earle 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  at  the  Boyd  is 
still  doing  big  with  $22,500  indicated 
tor  the  second  week. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  7-9 : 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

ALDINE-(900)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
f  days.    Gross:  $9,200.     (Average:  $14,600) 

See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA-(600)  (40c-45c-S0c-65c-75c)  8 
$4,000)  rUn'  Gr°5S:  $7'S0°-  (Average: 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

BOYD7(3,000)    (40c-45c50c-65c.7Sc-85c)  7 

ilimO)      Week'    Gr°SS:  $22'50°-  <Average: 

"M  V,en  Bay&  Ashore'"  (RKO)  (6  days) 
Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB)  fl  dav) 

EARLE-(3,000)    (50c-65c-85c-95"   6  days 
u  VtaUde^lle'  'nd"di"S  B°b  Chester's  or- 
chestra  The  Gay  90's  Revue,  Linda  Moody, 

Ad'ey   and.5avid   A"y"-  Gross: 
$2UXX).     (Average:  $27,600). 
The  Imposter"  (Univ.) 
FOX— (3,000)     (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
df/u    Gr?ss:  $14,900.     (Average:  $20,500) 
Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
KARLTON-(1,000)  (40c-45c-50c-6Sc-75c- 
8Sc)  7  days,  2nd  run.    Gross:  $6,000  (Av- 
erage: $6,600). 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (20thFox) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 

$5  800)S'  2nd  run'  Gross:  $6,50°'  (Averaee: 

'Make  Your  Own.  Bed"  (WB) 

MASTBAUM-(4,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-7Sc- 
$22  500)  Gr0SS:    $18'500,  (Avera«e- 

"Pin-Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 

STANLEY-(3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)    7    days,    2nd    week.     Gross:  $15,200 
(Average:  $20,000). 
"Tampico"  (20thFox) 

STANTON— ( 1 ,700)  (40c - 45c -  50c -65c  - 75c  - 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,500. 
(Average:  $9,400). 


'Pin  Up's'  $16,600 
Is  Tops  in  Buffalo 

Buffalo,  June  11. — Hot  Weather 
continues  here,  but  theatre  cooling 
systems  are  operating.  "Pin  Up  Girl" 
looks  like  the  best  with  an  expected 
$16,600  at  the  Great  Lakes.  Busi- 
ness was  generally  off. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  10: 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

"Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid"  (Para.) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)     (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $14,700.     (Averages:  $17,400). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"The  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

GREAT  LAKES—  (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c- 
70c)  7  days.  Gross:  $16,600.  (Average: 
$16,600). 

"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 
"Harvest  Melody"  (PRC) 

HIPPODROME— (2,100)     (40c -50c -60c -70c) 
7  days.     Gross:  $9,000.     (Average:  $9,700). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"Escape  to  Danger"  (RKO) 

TWENTIETH    CENTURY— (3,000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.     Gross:  $12,200.  (Av- 
erage: $12,200). 
"Phantom  Lady"  (Univ.) 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE — (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $12,400). 


Lustig  Wins  Suit 

A  New  York  Supreme  Court  jury 
on  Friday  awarded  William  Lustig 
damages  of  $5,000  in  his  suit  against 
Feiman  and  Eleanor  Schoonover,  par- 
ents of  Gloria  Jean,  which  was  based 
upon  an  alleged  exclusive  contract  to 
act  as  the  child  star's  agent.  At  the 
conclusion  of  the  trial,  counsel  for 
Lustig  and  Universal  Pictures  an- 
nounced that  Lustig  would  discontinue 
a  similar  action  against  the  company. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  12,  1944 


Reviews 


"Goodnight  Sweetheart" 

(Republic) 

"(GOODNIGHT  SWEETHEART"  offers  moderate  satisfaction 
^-*except  for  certain  lapses  in  credibility.  Robert  Livingston,  Re- 
public's newest  recruit  from  the  ranks  of  the  screen  "cow-punchers," 
performs  capably  as  a  brash,  young  reporter  from  the  big  city,  who 
acquires  an  interest  in  a  small  city  daily  newspaper.  To  stir  up  circu- 
lation, he  points  a  finger  at  Thurston  Hall,  candidate  for  Mayor. 
His  scheme  backfires,  however,  when  Ruth  Terry,  Hall's  niece,  exposes 
the  intrigue.  Livingston  works  out  a  new  wrinkle  which  temporarily 
succeeds  in  implicating  Hall  with  a  missing  "woman."  He  is  well  on 
his  way  to  wriggling  out  of  a  libel  suit  and  reestablishing  himself  when 
he  finds  himself  on  the  receiving  end  of  a  murder  charge.  Miss  Terry 
saves  the  day,  however,  deviously. 

Joseph  Santley  has  briskly  directed  a  rather  wild  screenplay  by  Isabel 
Dawn  and  Jack  Townley,  from  an  original  by  Frank  Fenton  and  Joseph 
Hoffman.  Eddy  White  was'  associate  producer.  Other  players  who 
figure  in  the  proceedings  are  Henry  Hull,  Grant  Withers,  Lloyd  Cor- 
rigan  and  Maude  Eburne. 

Running  time,  67  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  June  17. 

Charles  Ryweck 


"The  Invisible  Man's  Revenge" 

( Universal) 

Hollyzvood,  June  11 

T  N  his  production  and  direction  of  "The  Invisible  Man's  Revenge," 
Ford  Beebe  has  topped  the  preceding  four  or  five  similar  "invisible" 
offerings  with  whimsical  comedy  intermingled  with  suspense  and  action 
in  the  right  dossages.  Leon  Errol  stands  out  with  his  portrayal  of  a 
Cockney  shoemaker  with  a  slight  tendency  for  blackmail  while  Jon  Hall 
rises  above  his  average  roles  in  this  one. 

The  story  deals  with  an  insane  killer  seeking  revenge  on  a  respectable 
English  family  for  a  fancied  wrong.  He  is  also  attracted  to  their  daugh- 
ter who  is  engaged  to  a  young  newspaperman.  The  killer  finds  a  scien- 
tist, John  Carradine,  who  can  render  one  invisible  and  submits  to  the 
treatment.  Forcing  Lester  Matthews  and  Gale  Sondergaard  to  transfer 
all  their  properties  to  him,  he  is  frustrated  in  his  love  for  the  daughter, 
Evelyn  Ankers,  by  his  invisibility.  The  villain  kills  the  scientist  and  is 
about  to  kill  the  newspaperman  the  same  way  when  the  scientist's  dog 
breaks  away  and  destroys  the  human  horror.  Screenplay  is  by  Bertram 
Milhauser  with  exceptional  photographic  effects  achieved  by  John  P. 
Fulton. 

Running  time  78  minutes.    "G."*   Release  date,  June  9. 


"Call  of  the  Rockies" 

(Republic) 

Hollyzvood,  June  11 

WITH  this  picture,  Republic  launches  a  new  Western  series  which 
will  star  "Smiley"  Burnette  and  Sonny  (Sunset)  Carson.  The 
initial  venture  is  a  smoothly-contrived  screenplay  which  Lesley  Selander 
directed  along  tried-and-true  lines. 

The  story,  by  Bob  Williams,  relates  the  adventures  of  "Sunset"  and 
"Smiley"  as  they  clash  with  a  pair  of  crooks  bent  on  acquiring  mine 
properties.  Smiley,  disguised  as  a  French  engineer,  complete  with  false 
beard  and  phoney  accent,  lends  touches  of  comedy  to  the  proceedings. 
Kirk  Alyn,  as  a  young  miner,  and  Ellen  Hall,  as  his  fiancee,  turn  in  com- 
petent performances,  and  Frank  Jacquet's  interpretation  of  the  role  of 
the  scheming  doctor  is  noteworthy. 

The  production,  for  which  associate  producer  Lou  Gray  is  to  be  credit- 
ed, is  satisfactory  Western  fare. 

Running  time,  57  mins.   "G."*   Release  date,  not  set.     Thalia  Bell 

*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Chicago  Gives 
'Hargrove' 
Big  $24,000 


Chicago,  June  11.  —  Comedy  fea- 
tures managed  to  overcome  a  week- 
end heat  spell  and  the  invasion  news. 
At  the  United  Artists,  "See  Here, 
Private  Hargrove"  was  up  in  front 
with  a  sturdy  $24,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  7 : 

"The  Sullivans"  (Zlfth-Fox) 

APOLLO — (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days. 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $11,- 
400). 

"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO— (3,850)    (55c-85c-95c)    7  days, 
3rd  week.     Stage:   Gil   Lamb   and  Revue. 
Gross:   $4C,0C<J.     (Average:  $51,500). 
"Tampico"  (2Gth-Fox) 

"Bemuds  Mystery"  (2flth-Fo!x)  (6  days) 
"Address    Unknown"  (Col.) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.)   (2  days) 

GARRICK— (1,000)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $9,100). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.)   (1  day) 
"Girls  Undor  21"  (Col.)  (Reissue) 
"Under  Age"  (Col.  Reissue)   (6  days) 

GRAND— (1,250)   (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $9,100). 
"Ho:  Rhythm"  (Mono.) 

ORIENTAL— (3,200)  (44c-55c-6Cc-80c-95c) 
7  days.    Stage:  Del  Courtney  and  orches- 
tra. Gross:  $30,500.   (Average:  $24,000). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO') 
"Yellow   Canary"  (RKO) 

PALACE  —  (2,500)  (50c-6Oc-85c-95c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $21,500.  (Average: 
$24,000). 

"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox)  5  days,  3rd  week 
"PassE'ge  to  Marseille"  (2  days) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)       (55c-65c-95c)'    ,  7 
days.     Gross:   $19,500.     (Average:  $20,000). 
"Cover  Girl"   (Col.)    (1  day) 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox)   (6  days) 

STATE     LAKE.-(2,70O)     (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $23,000.     (Average:  $29,000). 
"Song   of   Russia"    (M-G-M)    (1    day,  2nd 
week) 

"See    Here,    Private    Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 
(6  days) 

UNITED  ARTTSTS-(1,700)  (50e-65c-95c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $24,000.  (Average:  $20,200). 
"Un  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WOODS—  (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days,  6th 
week.    Gross:  $18,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 


Cleveland  Take  Dips 
To  Summer  Low 

Cleveland,  June  11.— Record  heat 
interspersed  with  thunder  showers  did 
not  do  the  box  office  any  good  here 
this  week,  toppling  all  first  runs  to  a 
new  Summer  low. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  7 : 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  "Moon"  (WB) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:   $7,000.     (Average:  $8,500). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

WARNERS'    HIPPODROME    —  (3,500) 
(44c-55c-65c)  7  days.    Gross:  $15,000.  (Av- 
erage: $22,100). 
"Jane   Eyre"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  wek.  Gross:  $2,400.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"And  the  Angels  Sing  (Para.) 

LOEWS  OHIO— (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average:  $5,- 
C00). 

"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,300)  (S0c-6Oc-85c-9Sc) 
7  days.  Stage:  Harry  Howards'  Gay 
Nighties.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average:  $25,- 
400). 

"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS     STATE— (3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average: 
$10,000). 


Bleser  to  Hillman 

Major  Louis  W.  Bleser,  for  the  past 
vear  commandant  of  the  Farmingdale, 
L.  I.,  Army  Air  base,  will  join  the 
national  advertising  staff  of  Hillman 
Periodicals  on  July  1,  upon  retirement 
from  active  duty  with  the  Army. 


Purple  Heart  Awarded 

Lieut-.  Larry  Dannenberg,  former 
member  of  the  publicity  staff  at  War- 
ner Bros.'  Burbank  Studio,  -was 
awarded  the  Purple  Heart  for  injuries 
while  on  his  21st  mission  over  Italy, 
according  to  word  received  here.  Dan- 
nenberg was'  'decorated  previously 
with  the  Air  Medal  and  three  Oak 
Leaf  Clusters.  He  is  recuperating  in 
a  hospital  somewhere  in  Italy. 


'Avengers'  to  Open 

"People's  Avengers,"  written  and 
narrated  by  Norman  Corwin  and  re- 
leased through  Artkino  in  America, 
will  open  at  the  Stanley  Theatre  here 
following  "Taxi  to  Heaven."  The 
film,  a  documentary  on  Russia's  guer- 
rilla armies  in  battle,  was  photo- 
graphed behind  enemy  lines  by  18 
cameramen  who  were  with  the  Rus- 
sian fighters. 


'Pin  Up'  Only  Cincy 
Survivor  of  Heat 


Cincinnati,  June  11. — "Pin  Up 
Girl,"  with  an  approximate  $15,500  at 
the  RKO  Palace,  apparently  is  the 
only  picture  to  survive  the  record  heat 
wave  which  is  retarding  local  grosses. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  7-10 : 

"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

RKO  ALBEE — (3,300)  (44-50c-55c-65c- 
85c)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Stage:  Henry  Busse's  orchestra,  Margo, 
Johnny  Johnston,  Terry  and  Ralph  Rio, 
Coco,  Steve  and  Eddy.  Gross:  $18,500. 
(Average:  $22,000). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

RKO      CAPITOL— (2,000)  (44c-50c-60c- 
70c)  5  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  7  days,  $10,000). 
"Outlaw  Trail"  (Mono.) 
"Waterfront"  (PRC) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,500.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Land  Beyond  the  Law"  (WB) 
"In  Old  Chicago"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $700.     (Average:  $800). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)  (44c-S0c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$9,500). 

"Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S—  (1,500)  (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $4,500.  (Average: 
$5,000). 

"Girls  Under  21"  (Col.) 
"Under  Age"  (Col.) 

RKO   LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c-50c-6Qc-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average:  $5,500). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

RKO  PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$15,500.    (Average:  $15,000). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  SHU B ERT— (2, 150)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  the 
Palace.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $5,000). 

'Pin  Up'  Dual  Tops 
In  Hot  Toronto 

Providence,  June  11. — Business  here 
was  generally  slow  during  the  week. 
"Pin-Up  Girl"  and  "Tampico"  man- 
aged a  nice  $11,000  in  a  second  week 
at  the  Majestic.  Terrific  heat  was  a 
factor. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  8 : 

"Curse  of  the  Cat  People"  (RKO) 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

RKO-ALBEE— (2,239)      (35c-44c.-55c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $8,500.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"The  Hitler  Gang"  (Para.) 

STRAND^(2,200)  (44c -55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,650.    (Average:  $10,500). 
"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case"  (Col.) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,232)   (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $15,000.    (Average:  $17,700). 
"Pin-Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $12,- 
100). 

"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 
"South  of  Dixie"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S— (1,800)      (35c-44c-55c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 
"Moon  Over  Las  Vegas"  (Univ.) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)    7  days, 
2nd    week,    moveover   from    Loew's  State. 
Gross:   $3,000.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"Follow  the  Leader"  (Mono.) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c) 
3  days.  On  stage:  Count  Basie's  Orches- 
tra, Harold  Nicholas.  Gross:  $8,000.  (Av- 
erage: $7,900). 


M-G-M  Buys  'Cheek' 

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  has  acquired 
the  film  rights  to  "The  Damask 
Cheek,"  written  by  John  Van  Druten 
and  Lloyd  Morris,  which  was  produced 
on  Broadway  by  Dwight  Deere 
Wiman. 


Pickman  Joins  20th-Fox 

Jerome  Pickman,  formerly  with  the 
Eddie  Cantor  air  show,  has  joined  the 
20th  Century-Fox  exploitation  depart- 
ment here. 


To  Noumea,  Iceland 
to  Tahiti,  to  Fiji 
to  Malta,  to  Africa 
India,  Burma,  China — 

In  War  as  in  Peace 
where  Pictures  go 
MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 

goes — and  goes  ahead 
around  the  world! 


U.  S.  Army  Hurries  Herald 
For  Service  at  the  Front 


U.  S.  Army  Photo 


BY  TRAIN  and  plane  and  jeep,  by  sweating  pack  train  and  panting  jungle 
runner,  delivered  by  dog  team  in  the  snows  and  dropped  by  parachute  on 
mountain  camps,  the  motion  picture  goes  to  the  war. 

Exhibition  to  the  armed  forces  is  delivery  of  the  munitions  of  morale. 

Where  the  pictures  go  Motion  Picture  Herald  goes — and  goes  first,  in  be- 
half of  the  show  to  come.   It  travels  by  dispatch  boat,  submarine  and  bomber- 
express,  from  Noumea  to  Iceland,  from  Tahiti  to  Malta  and  all  the  lands  that 
are  between. 

This  week  comes  demand  for  new,  special  and  urgent  delivery  to  the  Indian 
Film  Exchange,  which  is  the  army's  general  depot  for  service  to  the  war  fronts 
in  India,  Burma  and  China.  Their  shows  travel  by  jeep  and  jungle  runner  and 
warplane  across  the  Himalayas.  Lieutenant  Thomas  G.  Bostic,  officer  in  charge, 
writes: 

"During  the  past  months  the  Heralds  have  arrived  as  many  as  two  months 
after  publication  date.  It  is  requested  whether  any  special  arrangements  can  be 
made  to  speed  the  Herald  in  this  direction?  The  writer  woidd  be  willing  to 
send  a  check  for  first  class  postage  or  any  handling  fees  that  would  make  this 
possible. 

"The  Herald  is  invaluable  in  enabling  us  to  classify  and  arrange  the  bookings 
for  feature  programs  sent  out  on  the  various  film  circuits. 

"The  names  of  the  stars  and  other  data  are  included  in  the  advance  notices  sent 
out  preceding  the  films.  A  request  has  recently  been  received  from  the  troops 
in  the  forward  area,  that  they  be  furnished  with  synopses  as  far  in  advance  of  the 
screening  date  as  possible  to  enable  the  interpreter  to  translate  the  story  into 
Chinese.  The  Herald  has  been  very  help  fid  in  this  connection  also.  .  .  ." 

With  the  assistance  of  the  circulation  department  of  the  Herald,  the  United 
States  Post  Office  and  the  Army,  the  Herald  will  be  going  through  faster  to 
the  India  Film  Exchange — to  India,  China  and  Burma. 


Where  the  pictures  go  the  Herald  goes — first! 


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ADDRESS 
UNKNOWN 

Paul  Lukas 
K.  T.  Stevens 

D— 72  mins.  (5010) 

THEY  LIVE 
IN  FEAR 
Otto  Kruger 
Pat  Parrish 
Clifford  Severn 
D— 65  mins.  (5043) 

THE  LAST 
HORSEMAN 
Russell  Hayden 

Bob  Wills 
"Dub"  Taylor 

0— (5208) 

SHE'S  A 
SOLDIER,  TOO 
Beulah  Bondi 
Nina  Poch 
Jess  Barber 
D— 67  mins.  (5040) 

LOUISIANA 
HAYRIDE 
Judy  Canova 
Ross  Hunter 

C 

SECRET 
COMMAND 
Pat  O'Brien 
Chester  Morris 
Ruth  Warrick 
D — 80  mins. 

SHADOWS  IN 
THE  NIGHT 
Warner  Baxter 

&  ES 

s 

U 

>~> 

s 

S  00 

>-i 

h£>  10 

M0tION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


|  VOL.  55.  NO.  115 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  13,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


First  Invasion 
Reels  Shown 
!  On  Thursday 

i  Companies  Receive  Over 
!  15,000  Ft.  of  Film 


The  American  public  will  see 
their  first  newsreel  invasion  pic- 
tures on  Thursday.  The  five 
American  newsreels  had  received 
between  15,000  and  20,000  feet  of  in- 
vasion shots  up  to  yesterday,  both, 
from  the  regular  newsreel  war  pool 
and  from  military  authorities,  includ- 
ing actual  pictures  of  the  landings  on 
barges,  arrival  at  the  beachheads, 
landings  of  paratroopers  and  actual 
battling,  in  addition  to  invasion  pre- 
parations, it  was  learned  here  yester- 
day. 

The  full  newsreel  length  of  the  is- 
sues to  be  released  on  Thursday  will 
be  devoted  exclusively  to  the  films. 
Included  in  the  15,000  to  20,000  feet 
of  film  received  by  the  companies  are 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Monogram's 
First  Ready 


I  Los    Angeles,    June    12. — Mono- 

;  gram's  production  situation  is  so  f  avor- 

'  able  that  the  company  on  Tuesday  will 

<  be  able  to  show  three  of  its  top  pic- 

'  tures  for  1944-45  as  its  convention 

,  now  under  way  at  the  Ambassador 

]  Hotel  here.  Company  officials  declare 

\  this  is  the  first  time  this  has  prevailed 

!  in  Monogram  history. 

;  The  attractions  are :  "A  Wave,  a 

J  Wac  and  a  Marine,"  with  Elyse  Knox, 

.  Anne   Gillis,   Sally   Eilers,  Richard 
Lane,   Alan    Dinehart   and  Ramsay 

{Continued  on  page  3) 


Anniversary  Field 
Slate  Nearly  Filled 

Selection  of  state  chairmen  for  the 
promotion  of  the  50th  anniversary  of 
commercial  motion  pictures  is  nearing 
completion,  it  has  been  learned  here 
following  a  meeting  of  the  industry's 
Public  Relations  Committee.  The  key 
posts  in  only  a  few  states  remain  to 
be  filled,  and  national  chairman  Harold 
J.  Fizgerald  expects  acceptances  to 
reach  100  per  cent  within  a  few  days. 

Although  the  anniversary  period  be- 
gan officially  on  April  14,  observations 
in  the  field  are  scheduled  to  be  held 
at  various  dates  throughout  1944. 


London  Sees  First 
Invasion  Newsreels 

London,  June  12. — First  in- 
vasion newsreel  pictures  were 
on  view  here  today.  From 
early  morning  on  there  were 
long  lines  at  all  London  news- 
reel  houses.  Consensus  of  op- 
inion was  that  the  joint  news- 
Service  Units'  cameramen, 
had  done  a  magnificent  job. 

Attendance  at  British 
houses  has  been  surprisingly 
good  despite  public  preoccu- 
pation with  the  invasion.  Lon- 
don West  End  houses  suffered 
most  owing  clearly  to  the  ab- 
sence of  Allied  troops. 

Odeon  and  Gaumont  British 
came  in  for  special  attention 
in  view  of  elaborate  plans  and 
immediate  announcements  of 
news  flashes  during  invasion 
performances. 


Scully  Calls  Nine 
Universal  Meetings 


Los  Angeles,  June  12. — A  schedule 
of  nine  Universal  regional  sales  meet- 
ings was  announced  here  today  by  W. 
A.  Scully,  vice-president  and  general 
sales  manager,  at  the  close  of  the  sales 
meeting  which  has  been  held  during 
the  past  week  at  the  Ambassador 
Hotel.  In  addition  to  sales  managers 
and  district  managers,  branch  mana- 
gers, salesmen  and  bookers  will  attend 
the  regionals. 

The  first  meeting,  which  will  be 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Big  $112,000  for 
'White  Cliffs'  in 
5th  at  Music  Hall 


Business  at  downtown  New  York 
first-run  theatres  continued  spotty 
this  week  with  a  few  exceptions.  "The 
White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  teamed  with  a 
stage  show  at  Radio  City  Music  Hall 
is  an  outstanding  grosser  with  busi- 
ness this  week  even  better  than  last, 
when  the  theatre  did  excellent  busi-. 
ness.  With  $71,000  taken  in  on  the 
first  four  days  ending  Sunday  night, 
the  Music  Hall  expects  a  gross  of 
$112,000  for  the  fifth  week,  which  is 
$3,000  better  than  last  week.  The 
film  will  continue. 

"Going  My  Way"  and  a  stage  show 
headed  by  Charlie  Spivak  and  his 
band  at  the  Paramount  have  been  ten- 
tatively set  for  10  weeks.  The  com- 
bined bill  is  expected  to  gross  over 
$65,000  for  the  sixth  week.  "Lady  in 
the  Dark,"  which  played  the  Para 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


13  Film  Areas  100% 
For  Red  Cross 


Reports  of  100  per  cent  collection 
for  the  1944  Red  Cross  drive  have 
been  received  from  13  of  the  country's 
33  exchange  territories.  All  but  about 
1,500  of  the  approximately  15,000 
theatres  participating  have  now  sent 
full  reports  to  industry  headquarters, 
Joseph    Bernhard,    national  industry 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Theatres  Sell  Millions  In 
Bonds  on  Opening  Day 


Telephone  and  telegraphic  flashes 
arriving  at  the  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  national  committee  headquarters 
here  yesterday  told  of  a  record  war 
bond  "gross"  sale  by  theatres  on  the 
opening  day  of  the  drive.  Hundreds 
of  exhibitors  were  described  by  head- 
quarters as  having  gone  "all-out"  in 
staging  opening  rallies  and  other 
events.  They  sold  millions  of  "E" 
bonds  through  the  day.  In  numerous 
situations,  however,  theatres  are  de- 
ferring their  special  events  for  two 
or  three  weeks  at  the  request 
of  the  Treasury  War  Finance  Com- 
mittees, which  have  launched  Bond- 
selling  activities  which  will  main- 
tain the  momentum  until  all  the- 
atres swing  into  action  with  "Bond 
Premieres"  and  similar  events. 

Sam   Pinanski,   Massachusetts  ex- 

( Continued  on  page  6) 


Legion  of  Merit  to 
Lt.  Col.  Clark 

Washington,  June  12. — Dis- 
patches reaching  here  from 
Rome  today  reported  that  Lt. 
Col.  Kenneth  W.  Clark,  who 
handled  publicity  for  the  MP 
PDA  from  1936  until  he  en- 
tered the  Army  in  1942,  has 
received  the  Legion  of  Merit 
from  Lt.-Gen'l.  Mark  W. 
Clark.  The  Legion  is  the 
highest  award  given  for  non- 
combatant  service. 

Clark  has  served  as  head  of 
public  relations  for  the  Fifth 
Army,  joining  General  Clark 
two  years  ago  during  the 
North  African  Invasion. 


Clark  Meets 
With  Decree 
Counsel  Here 


Discussions  May  Reach 
Climax  This  Week 


Counsel  for  the  five  consent  de- 
cree companies  met  here  yesterday 
with  Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  Gen- 
erals Tom  C.  Clark  and  Robert  L. 
Wright,  but  failed  to  reach  an  agree- 
ment on  further  revisions  of  the  de- 
cree after  several  hours  of  discussion. 

Following  the  meeting,  Clark  told 
Motion  Picture  Daily  that  an  ef- 
fort will  be  made  to  continue  the  dis- 
cussions later  this  week.  He  indicat- 
ed that  he  expects  to  hear  from  com- 
pany counsel  tomorrow  and  that  ar- 
rangements for  a  subsequent  meeting, 
either  here  or  in  Washington,  may  be 
made  then.  However,  he  intimated 
that  there  was  a  possibility  that  the 
next  consultation  might  be  conducted 
by  telephone. 

Elsewhere,  it  was  learned  that  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Dismiss  New 
Momand  Suit 


Oklahoma  City,  June  12. — For- 
mal dismissal  of  the  second  A.  B. 
Momand  anti-trust  suit  against  Grif- 
fith Amusement  Enterprises  and  13 
distributor  defendants  was  filed  in 
Federal  court  here  today.  The  suit, 
brought  by  Momand  with  two  other 
Oklahoma  independent  exhibitors  in 
January  of  this  year,  had  sought  dam- 
ages totaling  $606,000. 

The  motion  to  dismiss,  approved 
by  Judge  Bower  Broaddus,  was  with- 
out prejudice  to  refile  the  action  in 
a  different  form  or  different  court.  It 
was  sought  by  Momand  and  J.  D. 
Wineland,  the  remaining  plaintiff  after 
the  withdrawal  of  M.  L.  Riggs.  Vinita, 
Okla.,  several  weeks  ago.  Wineland 
operates  the  Mystic  at  Picher. 

Whether  the  dismissal  indicates  Mo- 

( Continued  on  page  3) 


Hugh  Owen  Will  Join 
Vanguard  Monday 

Hugh  Owen  will  assume  his  post 
as  assistant  to  Neil  Agnew.  vice-pres- 
ident in  charge  of  distribution  for 
Vanguard  Pictures,  next  Mondav. 

Owen  left  his  post  as  Eastern  divi- 
sion manager  for  Paramount  last  Fri- 
Hav  and  is  taking'  a  week's  vacation 
before  assuming  his  new  post, 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Tuesday,  June  13,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


EC.  GRAINGER,  president  of  the 
.  Shea  Circuit,  will  return  here  on 
Friday  from  a  tour  of  the  company's 
theatres. 

• 

James  Arthur,  St.  Louis  Amuse- 
ment Co.  secretary,  has  been  commis- 
sioned a  Marine  second  lieutenant  and 
will  report  to  Quantico,  Va.,  tomor- 
row. His  brother,  Edward  B.  Ar- 
thur, Fanchon  and  Marco  assistant 
general  manager,  is  an  Armored  Di- 
vision officer. 

• 

Richard  De  Rochemont,  March  of 
Time  producer  who  was  a  war  cor- 
respondent with  the  French  army  in 
1939-40,  has  arrived  in  North  Africa 
as  a  U.  S.  correspondent  and  will  rep- 
resent MOT  in  a  tour  of  various 
fronts. 

• 

Roland  Moon,  district  manager  of 
the  Lockwood  and  Gordon  circuit,  suf- 
fered a  broken  ankle  during  a  recent 
visit  at  the  home  of  Ed  Haskins, 
manager  of  the  State  Theatre,  Calais, 
Me. 

• 

Stanley    Krenitz,    son    of  Joe 
Krenitz,  Universal  Cleveland  branch 
manager,  will  be  married  July  1  to 
Miss  Sue  Kurlander  of  that  city. 
• 

Harry  C.  Arthur,  Jr.,  Fanchon 
and  Marco  general  manager,  returned 
to  St.  Louis  at  the  weekend  from  a 
New  York  business  trip. 

• 

Peter  Colli,  Warners'  supervisor 
for  Cuba,  Puerto  Rico,  Trinidad  and 
the  Caribbean  area,  arrived  last  night 
for  home  office  conferences. 

• 

Howard  Wauch,  Warners'  Mem- 
phis zone  manager,  has  returned  to 
that  city  following  a  home  office  visit. 
• 

Jack  Shea  of  Shea  Circuit  will 
leave  Monday  on  a  Midwest  tour. 


Montague  Presiding 
At  Columbia  Meet 


Hebert  Gets  Release 
From  Goldwyn  Post 

Hollywood,  June  12— William  He- 
bert has  requested  and  received  release 
from  his  post  of  advertising-publicity 
director  for  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc. 
His  contract  had  three  years  to  run. 
Hebert  will  remain  until  July  8,  pend- 
ing appointment  of  a  successor. 

20th-Fox  Sets  U.  K\ 
'Bernadette'  Deal 

London,  June  12.— Twentieth  Cen- 
tury-Fox has  set  a  deal  with  both 
Odeon  Theatres  and  Gaumont-Brit- 
ish  for  "Song  of  Bernadette,"  start- 
ing Sept.  11. 


Burnette  Quits  Republic 

Hollywood,  June  12. — "Smiley" 
Burnette  will  leave  Republic  June  30, 
after  a  10-year  association  with  that 
studio.  He  is  scheduled  to  make  a 
personal-appearance  tour  beginning  in 
Baltimore. 


Columbia  will  open  the  second  of  a 
series  of  three  regional  sales  meetings 
today  at  the  Warwick  Hotel  here.  The 
convention  will  run  through  Thursday. 
Jack  Cohn  will  open  the  session  and 
then  will  turn  the  meeting  over  to 
Montague. 

Besides  salesmen,  the  following  di- 
vision and  branch  managers  will  at- 
tend: Central  division  manager  Carl 
Shalit  and  branch  managers  Joe  Mil- 
ler, Albany ;  Harry  Rogovin,  Boston  ; 
Phil  Fox,  Buffalo ;  Allen  Moritz,  Cin- 
cinnati ;  Lester  Zucker,  Cleveland,  and 
Tim  O'Toole,  New  Haven ;  division 
manager  Nat  Cohn  and  branch  man- 
agers Irving  Wormser  and  Saul 
Trauner,  New  York;  Harry  Weiner, 
Philadelphia ;  A.  H.  Levy,  Pittsburgh ; 
Mideast  division  manager  Sam  Ga- 
lanty  and  branch  manager  Ben  Cap- 
Ion,  Washington. 

From  Canada  will  come  general 
manager  Louis  Rosenfeld,  and  H.  Al- 
len, S.  Glazer,  H.  H.  Harnick,  Abe 
Cass,  Toronto ;  I.  Levit,  Winnipeg ; 
J.  Lieberman,  St.  John ;  W.  Elman, 
Montreal ;  N.  Levant,  Vancouver ;  H. 
Call,  Calgary. 


Para.  SOPEG  Dispute 
Before  Arbitration 

Arbitration  hearings  were  resumed 
at  the  Paramount  home  office  yester- 
day in  the  job  classifications  and  wage 
adjustment  dispute  between  Para- 
mount and  the  Screen  Office  and  Pro- 
fessional Employes  Guild,  Local  109, 
involving  400  home  office  'white  col- 
lar' workers.  Meetings  are  expected 
to  continue  daily  this  week. 

A  report  on  progress  on  the  nego- 
tiation of  job  classifications  with  other 
companies  with  whom  SOPEG  has 
contracts  was  made  at  a  general  mem- 
bership meeting  held  here  last  night. 


Paramount  Shorts  at 
New  Contract  Peak 

Chicago,  June  12. — Paramount  this 
season  will  have  the  largest  number  of 
short  subject  contracts  in  its  history, 
Oscar  A.  Morgan,  general  shorts  sales 
manager,  stated  at  a  meeting  in  the 
Ambassador  East  Hotel  here  today. 
Morgan  will  hold  a  Cleveland  meeting 
tomorrow  and  return  to  New  York 
on  Wednesday. 


Ohio  Seeks  Relief 
From  3%  Gross  Tax 

Columbus,  0.,  June  12.— Repeal  of 
Ohio's  three  per  cent  retail  sales  tax, 
which  applies  also  to  theatre  grosses, 
will  be  sought  through  a  constitutional 
amendment  at  the  polls  in  November, 
it  was  revealed  when  a  Northern  Ohio 
group  indicated'  that  it  had  submitted 
such  a  proposal  to  Secretary  of  State 
Edward  J.  Hummel,  and  would  im- 
mediately take  steps  to  obtain  signa- 
tures to  petitions  necessary  to  place 
the  issue  on  the  November  ballot.  The 
impost  currently  yields  approximately 
$80,000,000  a  year,  a  large  part  of 
which  comes  from  theatres. 


MP. Herald  Reporter 
Takes  Junction 

Tank  Lieut.  George  H. 
Spires,  former  reporter  on 
the  staff  of  Motion  Picture 
Herald,  with  the  Fifth  Army 
near  Lake  Bolsena,  on  Satur- 
day night,  with  two  tanks,  a 
couple  of  tank  destroyers  and 
a  handful  of  soldiers,  cap- 
tured the  large  road  junction 
of  Montefiascome,  press  des- 
patches from  Rome  reported 
here  yesterday. 


Senate  Cuts  CI  A  A 
Funds  $2,000,000 

Washington,  June  12. — The  Sen- 
ate Appropriations  Committee  today 
cut  another  $2,000,000  from  the  appro- 
priation for  1944-45  operations  of  the 
Coordinator  of  Inter- American  affairs. 
The  Committee  recommended  a  fund 
of  $16,000,000,  against  the  House- 
approved  appropriation  of  $18,000,000 
and  CIAA  requests  for  $19,174,000. 

In  dealing  with  the  Office  of  War 
Information,  the  Committee  provided 
an  increase  of  $264,633  for  operations 
of  the  domestic  branch,  for  printing 
and  publications. 


'Lili  Marlene'  Set  for 
Release  by  Universal 

In  the  latest  pooling  of  British  In- 
formation Services  films, .  Universal 
has  received,  and  set  for  early  release, 
"The  True  Story  of  Lili  Marlene," 
29-minute  documentary  built  around 
the  tune  soldiers  have  been  humming 
on  their  return  from  Italy  and  Africa 
following  its  "capture"  from  Rommel 
by  the  British  Eighth  Army.  Others 
distributed  in  the  pool,  according  to 
Thomas  Baird,  BIS  director,  are: 
"Naples  Is  a  Battlefield,"  11  minutes, 
to  Columbia ;  "Minefield,"  15  minutes, 
to  Paramount ;  and  "The  Volunteer," 
21  minutes,  to  RKO. 


Robinson,Toumanova 
Feted  by  RKO  Here 

RKO  honored  Tamara  Toumanova 
and  Casey  Robinson,  star  and  produc- 
er of  "Days  of  Glory,"  at  a  reception 
at  the  Casino  Russe  here  yesterday. 

Among  those  who  attended  were 
Adrienne  Ames,  Ralph  Austrian,  Wal- 
ter Branson,  Leon  J.  Bamberger. 
Charles  Boasberg,  Ned  E.  Depinet. 
Major  L.  E.  Thompson,  S.  Barret 
McCormick,  Rutgers  Neilson,  Arthur 
Brilant,  Terry  Turner,  Major  Mar- 
tini, U.  S.  Air  Force,  Ralph  Doyle, 
John  Hertz,  Jr.,  Robert  K.  Hawkin- 
son,  Michael  Hoffay,  Phil  Hodes,  Naf 
Levy,  Vladimir  Lissim,  Robert  Moch- 
rie,  James  Mulvey,  Mike  Poller,  A. 
A.  Schubart  and  Gordon  E.  Young- 
man. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer't  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 

Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezranlne  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

RITA  HAYWORTH 
GENE  KELLY 

COVER  GIRL3 

IN  TECHN/COIOR  f 


IN  PERSON 

BORRAH 
MINEVITCH'S 
HARMONICA 
RASCALS 
MARY  RAYE 
and  NALDI 


"Thunder  Rock"  for  U.  S. 

English  Films  reported  here  yester- 
day it  has  acquired  distribution  rights 
for  the  U.  S.  and  will  shortly  release 
the  British  Charter  production, 
"Thunder  Rock,"  starring  Michael 
Redgrave  and  Barbara  Mullen  (stars 
of  "Jeannie")  and  made  by  the  pro- 
ducer-director team  of  John  and  Roy 
Boulting.  They  also  produced  "Pas- 
tor Hall." 


'Canteen'  to  Reopen 

The  Stage  Door  Canteen,  sponsored 
by  the  American  Theatre  Wing,  will 
reopen  today  following  reconditioning. 


Rose  to  Leave  for  N.  Y. 

London,  June  12. — David  Rose, 
British  managing  director  for  Para- 
mount, will  leave  here  shortly  for 
New  York. 


Broadcasters  to  Convene 

Chicago,  June  12. — National  Asso- 
ciation of  Broadcasters  will  hold  its 
annual  convention  here  during  the 
week  of  Aug.  28  at  the  Palmer  House. 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


PALACE 


"SHOW  BUSINESS" 

Eddie  Cantor  —  George  Murphy 
Joan  Davis  —  Nancy  Kelly 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


PAXAMOC/Atr 


■mm  PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS  warn 

GARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLE  S 

r The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell" 

•k  In  Technicolor  * 

L_RIVOLI  K"sf 


"ROGER  T0UHY 
GANGSTER!" 

20th  CENTURY-FOX  PICTURE 
AIR-CONDITIONED 

BRANDT'S  f*  T  /">  "D  C* 
B'way  &  46  St.    Vj    lj    \J   D  Cm 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kami.  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  TJnion  Life  Bldg.,  WilJ'C~n  R-  Weaver,  .Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  WI,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  oftce  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Tuesday.  June  13,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


i  No  Immediate  Tax 
Rise  in  Kentucky 

Frankfort,  Ky.,  June  12. — The  gen- 
eral budget  bill,  including  a  10  per 
cent  additional  state  theatre  tax,  will 
not  be  considered  during  the  special 
session  of  the  General  Assembly  re- 
cently convened,  it  was  learned  late 
last  night,  when  Governor  Simeon 
Willis  refused  to  expand  the  session, 
despite  resolutions  of  party  leaders  in 
both  the  Senate  and  House  asking  that 
sthis  be  done.  It  was  claimed  earlier 
that  the  Governor  was  favorable  to 

J,  such  action. 

"The  special  session  will  be  devot- 

:  ed  entirely  to  the  school-financing 
bill,"  Governor  Willis  declared,  but 

3  indicated  that  the  general  budget 
would  be  taken  up  at  a  future  session 
should  an  emergency  arise  to  justify 
it. 


Monogram's  First 
Production  Ready 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

Ayes;  'Alaska,"  with  Kent  Taylor, 
Margaret  Lindsey,  John  Carradine, 
Dean  Jagger  and  Nils  Asther,  and  "I 
Married  A  Stranger"  with  Kim  Hin- 
ter,  Neil  Hamilton  and  Jagger.  To  be 
screened  as  well  is  "The  Girl  Next 
Door,"  current  season  release,  with 
Edmund  Lowe,  Marjorie  Rembeau, 
Jean  Parker  and  Dinehart. 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram  presi- 
dent, will  preside  at  the  second  day 
of  the  four-day  meeting.  Charles  P. 
Skouras,  president  of  National  Thea- 
tres, is  slated  to  deliver  a  welcoming 
address.  Monogram  executives  who 
will  talk  in  the  afternoon  include 
Harry  H.  Thomas,  Eastern  district 
manager;  Edward  Morey,  supervisor 
of  exchanges;  Sol  Francis,  Midwest 
district  manager ;  Lloyd  L.  Lind,  head 
of  the  contract  department;  Arthur 
Greenblatt,  special  representative  and, 
Steve  Broidy,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  who  will  review 
the  remainder  of  the  1943-44  program. 

Closed  Meeting  Scheduled 

Franchise  holders  will  hold  a  closed 
meeting  in  the  evening  while  Broidy 
will  conduct  a  meeting  of  home  office 
sales  executives  and  managers  of  com- 
pany-owned exchanges. 

Treasurer  George  Burrows  today 
told  the  delegates,  "The  company's 
financial  condition  is  stronger  than  at 
any  time  since  its  inception.  This  has 
been  brought  about  by  an  increase  in 
capital  and  retention  of  all  earnings. 
To  meet  the  increased  financial  re- 
quirements, the  company  arranged 
sale  of  approximately  $252,000  addi- 
tional stock  and  reset  its  revolving 
bank  credit  at  a  substantially  higher 
figure.  It  is  anticipated  that  in  financ- 
ing production  for  1944-45  the  com- 
pany will  use  an  aggregate  in  excess 
of  $5,000,000  bank  funds." 


Bernard  Levy  Resigns 

Hartford,  June  12. — Bernard  Levy, 
manager  of  the  Liberman  Circuit  in 
Connecticut  and  Massachusetts  for  the 
last  eight  years,  has  resigned  to  join 
Amalgamated  Theatre,  New  Haven,  in 
association  with  Louis  Ginsberg. 

Lieberman's  Proven  Pictures  Thea- 
tre in  Hartford  has  been  leased  to 
Al  Dow  for  stage  productions. 


Balaban  Cites  Aid 
To  the  Liberated 

Buffalo,  June  12. —  Barney 
Balaban,  president  of  Para- 
mount, while  here  from  New 
York  attending  a  convention 
of  Famous  Players -Canadian, 
in  nearby  Niagara  Falls,  Ont., 
declared  American-made  films 
are  saving  American  lives  and 
shortening  the  war. 

"By  sending  carefully  se- 
lected, up-to-the-minute  Hol- 
lywood pictures  in  foreign 
languages  to  European  coun- 
tries as  they  are  liberated,  we 
are  keeping  a  contented  and 
understanding  population  at 
the  backs  of  our  advancing 
Army. 

Balaban  forecast  that  lead- 
ers of  the  industry  have  lost 
their  "insularity"  and  will,  in 
peace  time,  "retain  the  com- 
m  u  n  i  t  y  consciousness  they 
have  developed  through  their 
participation  in  the  war  ef- 
fort." 


Red  Cross  Registers 
100%  in  13  Areas 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
chairman,    stated   yesterday.  Latest 
theatre  collections  tabulated  continue 
to  average  over  $400  per  house,  close 
to  double  last  year's  collections. 

A  full  report  showing  the  part  the 
industry  played  in  the  drive  is  being 
prepared  by  Harry  Goldberg  of  War- 
ners, national  campaign  manager. 

The  13  100  per  cent  territories, 
with  local  exhibitor  chairmen,  are: 
Albany,  Lou  R.  Golding ;  Chicago, 
John  Balaban ;  Delaware,  A.  Joseph 
De  Fiore ;  Detroit,  Earl  J.  Hudson ; 
Indianapolis,  Marc  Wolf ;  Milwaukee, 
Harold  J.  Fitzgerald ;  New  Haven, 
I.  J.  Hoffman ;  Newark,  Don  Jacocks 
and  Harry  Lowenstein;  Oklahoma 
City,  L.  C.  Griffith;  Philadelphia, 
Earle  W.  Sweigert ;  Portland,  Ore., 
Albert  Finke ;  Rhode  Island,  Ed  Fay, 
and  Washington,  D.  C,  John  J.  Pay- 
ette and  Carter  Barron.  They  worked 
in  cooperation  with  Ned  E.  Depinet, 
national  distributor  chairman. 


Lew  Kelly,  Actor,  Is 
Buried  on  West  Coast 

Los  Angeles,  June  12. — Funeral 
services  were  held  today  for  Lew 
Kelly,  actor,  who  died  at  the  age  of 
65  Saturday  night  in  Cedars  of  Leba- 
non Hospital.  Surviving  are  his 
widow,  Rita,  and  a  daughter,  Lew- 
rita. 

Some  of  the  .pictures  in  which  Kel- 
ly appeared  include  "Barnum  Was 
Right,"  "Diamond  Jim,"  "Woman 
Racket,"  "The  Overland  Express," 
"Saga  of  Death  Valley,"  "The  Man 
on  the  Flying  Trapeze,"  and  others. 


Rodgers,  Flynn  at 
Milwaukee  Meet 


Milwaukee,  June  12. — More  than 
200  theatre  owners  and  trade  and 
news  press  representatives  today  at- 
tended an  M-G-M  exhibitor  luncheon 
at  the  Schroeder  Hotel,  where  Wil- 
liam F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice-presi- 
dent and  general  sales  manager,  was 
the  principal  speaker.  John  E.  Flynn, 
Western  sales  manager ;  Sam  Shirley, 
district  manager,  and  G.  J.  Kemptgen, 
acting  branch  manager  here,  were  on 
the  dais. 

On  Friday,  Rodgers  spoke  to  75 
theatre  owners  in  Detroit  at  an  ex- 
hibitor luncheon  at  the  Book  Cadillac 
Hotel.  Rodgers  will  return  to  Chi- 
cago tomorrow  and  tomorrow  night 
will  leave  for  the  Coast  for  a  week's 
visit  at  the  M-G-M  studio.  On  his 
return  from  the  Coast  he  will  stop 
over  at  Kansas  City,  St.  Louis  and 
Cleveland. 


Momand  Second  Suit 
Dismissed  by  Judge 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

mand  is  discouraged  by  the  probable 
outcome  of  his  $4,500,000  "old"  suit 
against  Griffith  et  al,  was  the  subject 
of  discussion  here.  In  a  hearing  last 
week  on  Judge  Broaddus'  tentative 
findings  of  fact  and  conclusions  of 
law,  Momand's  attorney,  George  S. 
Ryan  of  Boston,  was  unable  to  gain 
any  concessions  from  Judge  Broaddus. 
Apparently  the  opinion  in  that  case 
will  not  net  any  return  to  Momand  in 
proportion  to  the  damages  sought. 

Jim  Blakeney,  another  Momand  at- 
torney with  headquarters  here,  said 
Momand's  portion  of  the  civil  com- 
plaint might  be  consolidated  with  a 
suit  he  now  has  pending  in  Federal 
court  in  Massachusetts.  Blakeney  says 
Wineland  may  file  a  separate  suit  in 
Northern  Oklahoma  Federal  court, 
Tulsa. 


Mature  in  Spars  Show 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  June  12. — Chief 
Boatswwain's  Mate  Victor  Mature  of 
the  U.  S.  Coast  Guard,  formerly  of 
Hollywood,  and  60  Spars  were  feted 
at  luncheon  in  Loew's  Rochester 
Theater  at  the  weekend  by  manager 
Lester  Pollock.  Here  for  a  week's 
run  of  "Tars  and  Spars,"  Coast  Guard 
musical  being  staged  at  Loew's  in 
connection  with  a  recruiting  drive  for 
Spars. 


Frederick  Griswold, 
Inventor,  Is  Dead 

Port  Jefferson,  L.  I.,  June  12. — 
Frederick  C.  Griswold,  inventor  of  a 
film  slicer  and  owner  of  the  Port 
Jefferson  Theatre  died  here  late  last 
week  at  his  residence  in  his  67th  year. 
He  was  born  in  Madison,  Conn. 

The  slicer  which  the  deceased  in- 
vented 20  years  ago  and  he  was  the 
exclusive  manufacturer.  At  present 
the  entire  output  now  is  being  taken 
by  the  War  and  Navy  Departments. 

Surviving  are  his  widow,  the  for- 
mer Olive  Oneker ;  a  daughter,  Mrs. 
Elizabeth  W.  Delf  of  San  Fernando, 
Calif.,  and  a  son,  Clifford  L.  Griswold 
of  Port  Jefferson. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  June  12. 

THE  SCREEN  Writers  Guild  last 
night  elected  John  Cromwell,  pres- 
ident; Mervyn  LeRoy,  first-vice-pres- 
ident; Edward  Dmytryk,  second  vice- 
president  and  Irving  Pichel,  secretary. 
Edward  F.  Cline  was  reelected  treas- 
urer. New  board  members  reelected 
were :  Tay  Garnett,  Rouben  Mamou- 
lian,  William  Seiter,  Norman  Taurog, 
and  Charles  Vidor.  Board  members 
reelected  were:  Clarence  Brown,  Vic- 
tor Fleming,  George  Marshall,  Lewis 
Milestone,  Wesley  Ruggles,  and  King 
Vidor. 

• 

Herbert  Moulton  has  been  moved 
up  from  associate  producer  to  producer 
of  M-G-M  shorts  by  Jerry  Bresler, 
general  manager  of  the  short  subject 
production  department. 

• 

"Copper  Camp,"  written  by  the 
WPA  Writers'  Project,  has  been  ac- 
quired by  M-G-M  and  will  be  made 
with  an  all-star  cast.  "Flat  Top"  is 
another  story  buy. 

• 

James  R.  Grainger,  Republic  presi- 
dent, was  in  Dallas  today  following  a 
series  of  conferences  at  the  studio.  He 
will  stop  off  at  New  Orleans  and  other 
Southern  cities  en  route  to  New  York. 
• 

Jack  L.  Warner  announced  today 
that  he  has  purchased  "The  Two  Mrs. 
Carrolls,"  stage  starring  vehicle  for 
Elisabeth  Bergner.  This  is  the  fourth 
play  bought  by  Warners  recently. 
• 

Robert  M.  Gillham,  Paramount  di- 
rector of  advertising  and  publicity,  ar- 
rived here  today  from  the  East.  He 
will  go  to  San  Francisco  on  Thurs- 
day. 

• 

Lewis  Milestone  checked  out  of  the 
Hollywood  Hospital  today  after  three 
weeks  convalescing  from  a  ruptured 
appendix. 

Warners  today  added  "Frontiers- 
man," an  original,  to  its  1944-45  sched- 
ule. 

• 

Producer  Irving  Starr's  contract  has 
been  extended  two  years  by  20th-Fox. 


Ampere  Clearance 
Award  Is  Appealed 

Ampere,  Ltd.,  operating  the  Ampere 
Theatre,  East  Orange,  N.  J.,  has  filed 
an  appeal  from  arbitrator  Lionel 
S.  Popkin's  award  rendered  in  favor 
of  the  plaintiff  in  its  clearance  com- 
plaint against  the  five  consenting 
companies,  the  American  Arbitration 
Association  reported  here  at  the  week- 
end. 


New  Post  for  Kaufman 

Ben  Kaufman  will  become  managing 
editor  of  Television  magazine,  having 
resigned  from  Radio  Daily. 


Rostron  of  RCA  Dies 

Hewlett,  L.  I.,  June  12. — John  B. 
Rostron,  vice-president  and  traffic 
manager  of  RCA  Communications, 
Inc.,  RCA  subsidiary,  died  today  in  his 
home  1530  Hewlett  Avenue.  He  was 
67  years  old. 

Surviving  are  his  wife,  Mrs.  Anna 
Pentone  Rostron ;  a  son,  Robert  Ros- 
tron and  four  daughters ;  Mrs.  Joseph 
E.  Schneider,  Mrs.  W.  Boyd,  Mrs. 
Arthur  Duehle  and  Mrs.  G.  H.  Blatt- 
machr.  A  funeral  service  will  be  held 
at  10  a.  m.  Friday  in  the  Mesrole 
Funeral  Home,  Valley  Stream,  L.  I. 


Two  More  WB  Reissues 

"Brother  Rat"  and  "Polo  Joe"  are 
the  two  previously  unnamed  films  in 
the  six  films  which  Warners  will  re- 
release  on  Thursday.  The  other  four 
are :  "Manpower,"  "They  Made  Me 
a  Criminal,"  "The  Walking  Dead" 
and  "Tiger  Shark." 


HfitlUS  PICTURES 
presents 


GEORGE  S*»«  . 
LINDA  DARNEL! 


Inton  Chekovs 


produced 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  13,  1944 


Big  $112,000  for 
'White  Cliffs'  in 
5th  at  Music  Hall 


Theatres  Sell  Millions  in 
Bonds  on  Opening  Day 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
mount  before  "Going-  My  Way,"  was 
the  first  film  to  go  10  weeks  at  the 
theatre,  and  although  the  present  film 
has  not  equalled  the  week-to-week; 
pace  set  by  "Lady  in  the  Dark," 
grosses  have  been  handsome.  At  the 
Roxy,  "The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  and  a 
stage  bill  featuring  Barry  Wood  and 
Eddie  Garr  are  headed  for  $68,000  for 
a  second  week  with  $55,000  recorded 
on  the  first  five  days  ending  Sunday 
night ;  the  combination  will  continue. 

The  initial  week  of  "The  Story  of 
Dr.  Wassell'  at  the  Rivoli,  ending  last 
night,  brought  close  to  $53,000,  which 
is  excellent.  A  moderate  third  week's 
$30,000  for  "Make  Your  Own  Bed," 
with  Cab  Calloway  and  his  band  on 
the  stage,  is  expected  by  the  Strand  on 
the  basis  of  a  weekend  business  of 
$18,000;  the  bill  will  continue.  "Mr. 
Skeffington"  continues  to  register 
mild  business  at  the  Hollywood  with 
$25,000  expected  on  the  third  week ; 
it  will  continue. 

"Roger  Touhy"  Surprises 

"Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  is  roll- 
ing up  surprising  grosses  at  the  Globe, 
with  $24,000  expected  on  the  second 
week  after  an  initial  week's  take  of 
almost  $30,000;  it,  too,  will  continue. 
For  its  fifth  week  and  an  extra  two 
days  of  a  sixth  week,  "Show  Busi- 
ness" at  the  Palace  is  expected  to 
bring  in  about  $20,000.  RKO's  "Days 
of  Glory"  will  open  there  Friday. 
"Tender  Comrade"  will  make  way  for 
M-G-M's  "Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor" 
at  the  Capitol  tomorrow  after  poor 
business.  Sammy  Kaye  and  his  or- 
chestra will  head  the  "in  person"  show 
at  the  Capitol. 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  will 
gross  about  $11,000  for  its  11th  week 
at  the  Astor.  M-G-M's  "Bathing 
Beauty"  will  follow  but  no  date  has 
been  set.  The  pace  of  "It  Happened 
Tomorrow"  at  the  Gotham  is  satisfac- 
tory, with  $7,500  expected  for  the 
third  week ;  it  will  continue.  The 
10th  reissue  week  of  "Snow  White 
and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  at  the  Man- 
hattan ended  with  a  gross  of  $6,200. 
The  film  will  remain  until  June  30 
when  "Fantasia"  will  take  over  as 
another  revival.  Business  is  profitable 
at  the  Rialto,  with  $11,000  expected 
for  the  first  week  of  "Invisible  Man's 
Revenge" ;  it  will  hold  over. 

First  Invasion  Reels 
Shown  on  Thursday 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

the  shots  which  were  shown  to  cor- 
respondents attached  to  Supreme 
Headquarters  of  the  Allied  Expedi- 
tionary Force  on  Sunday  night.  They 
were  taken  from  the  air,  automatical- 
ly, as  pilots  of  the  American  fighter 
aircraft  dive-bombed,  strafed  and 
harrassed  German  trains,  tanks,  ar- 
mored vehicles  and  military  installa- 
tions. 

During  the  first  five  days  of  the 
invasion,  military  censorship  authori- 
ties passed  almost  106,000  feet  of  film 
showing  invasion  preparations,  the  in- 
vasion and  actual  battle  scenes  fol- 
lowing the  landings.  In,  addition, 
some  25,000  still  photographs  passed 
through  censorship,  together  with 
some  2,500,000  words  of  invasion  copy. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

hibitor  chairman,  reported  that  Boston 
opened  the  drive  by  auctioning  off  the 
services  of  Mayor  Maurice  Tobin,  his 
wife,  and  Veronica  Lake  to  the  larg- 
est Bond  purchaser  in  Boston  Com- 
mon at  noon  yesterday.  The  auction 
sold  $1,000,000  in  bonds.  The  Mayor 
and  his  wife  will  be  servants  to  Tom 
Pappas,  who  bought  $100,000  in  bonds. 
P.appas  is  giving  a  dinner  today  at 
the  Mayor's  residence.  The  Mayor 
will  be  the  butler,  his  wife,  the  house- 
keeper and  Veronica  Lake,  the  maid. 

Charles  M.  Thall,  Northern  Cali- 
fornia exhibitor  chairman,  reported  a 
Bond  premiere  at  the  United  Artists 
Theatre  in  Berkeley,  Cal.,  with  a  1,- 
600  capacity,  sold  115  percent. 

The  opening  gun  in  San  Francisco 
was  at  the  4,600-seat  Fox  Theatre, 
with  a  special  show  consisting  of  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  and  a  stage 
presentation  backed  by  the  53rd  In- 
fantry band.  There  was  a  street  pa- 
rade at  noon  and  a  rally  at  Union 
Square. 

Minneapolis  Over  the  Top 

Minneapolis  will  be  "the  first  ter- 
ritory to  go  over  the  top,"  Al  Steffes, 
exhibitor  state  chairman,  told  national 
chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell  by  tele- 
phone. "It's  much  bigger  than  any 
War  Loan,  and  everything  is  'Buy 
War  Bonds'  out  here,"  he  said. 

With  15,000  solicitors  selling  bonds 
from  door  to  door,  and  all  stores  and 
banks  pushing  bond  sales,  theatres  of 
the  Twin  Cities  are  holding  their  "fire- 
works" for  the  time  being.  All  the- 
atres are  decorated  and  selling  bonds. 

In  Washington,  all  theatres  held  ral- 
lies and  some  put  on  bond  auctions, 
reported  Sidney  Lust,  exhibitor  chair- 
man. Military  bands  and  color  guards 
were  features,  along  with  war  heroes 
and  prominent  speakers.  Bond  pledges 
were  taken  from  audiences. 

The  four-network  kickoff  broadcast 
from  Texarkana,  Tex.,  with  President 
Roosevelt,  Secretary  Morgenthau  and 
Hollywood  personalities  was  piped  into 
theatres  in  Washington,  Denver, 
Minneapolis,  New  York,  Chicago,  Los 
Angeles,  Dallas  and  many  other  cities. 
The  majority  of  Texas  theatres  tuned 
in  on  the  broadcast. 

Texas  First  Day  Active 

John  Q.  Adams,  Texas  exhibitor 
chairman,  reported  much  first-day  ac- 
tivity throughout  the  territory.  In 
Corsicana,  the  Palace  Theatre  sold 
$50,000  in  "E"  bonds  by  noon.  The 
Sunshine  Theatre  in  Albuquerque,  N. 
Mex.,  sold  $51,000  in  "E"  bonds.  Abi- 
lene, Tex.,  sold  $800,000  in  bonds  at 
an  Army  show  from  Camp  Barkley. 
Numerous  Texas  theatres  held  bond 
premieres  last  night. 

Theatres  in  the  New  Orleans  terri- 
tory are  also  holding  their  heavy  ar- 
tillery until  after  the  local  War 
Finance  Committee  has  completed  its 
special  events.  Concentration  at  pres- 
ent is  on  retailers,  with  that  group 
reporting  $5,500,000  in  bonds  sold  early 
the  first  day.  There  was  much  individ- 
ual solicitation,  and  sales  at  theatres 
were  brisk. 

Jules  J.  Rubens,  Illinois  exhibitor 
chairman,  reported  the  start  of  the 
drive  in  that  state  "bigger  than  ever 
before."  In  Denver,  Harold  E.  Rice, 
state  publicity  chairman,  reported  un- 
precedented publicity.  Rick  Ricketson, 


exhibitor  state  chairman,  aided  in  lin- 
ing up  a  big  week-long  show  of  cap- 
tured German  materiel  in  the  City 
Center.  The  display  is  tied  in  with 
the  Army,  Navy,  Marine  Corps,  local 
industries,  and  theatres. 


Times  Sq.  Bond  Register 
Dedication  Today 

Today  at  noon,  the  National  Cash 
Register  Co.  will  turn  over  to 
Charles  C.  Moskowitz  of  Loew's,  gen- 
eral chairman  of  the  New  York  War 
Activities  Committee  for  the  Fifth 
War  Loan,  the  40-foot  high  cash  reg- 
ister in  Times  Square,  for  registering 
Bond  sales.  Strauss  Corp.  will  com- 
plete the  register  today  and  the  first 
"E"  bond  sales  will  be  rung  up  at 
noon.  Representatives  of  the  city 
government,  the  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee and  the  industry  will  take  part 
in  the  ceremonies.  A  special  program 
has  been  arranged  by  James  Sauter, 
head  of  United  Theatrical  War  activi- 
ties. . 

Each  day,  at  noon,  traffic  will  be 
halted  while  the  new  sales  figures 
are  registered  for  the  five  boroughs  of 
New  York.  Loud  speakers  will  am- 
plify the  signal,  and  most  of  the  city's 
20  radio  stations  will  carry  it  as  a 
news  event,  daily  during  the  campaign. 


'U'  Turns  Allied  Booths 
Over  to  5th  War  Loan 

Universal  has  turned  over  two  of 
its  three  display  booths  for  New  Jer- 
sey Allied's  convention  at  the  Chelsea 
Hotel,  Atlantic  City,  June  20-22,  to  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan  Commit- 
tee for  Fifth  War  Bond  sales.  The 
booths  were  made  available  to  the 
committee  by  Maurice  Bergman,  Uni- 
versale Eastern  advertising-publicity 
director. 

Harry  H.  Lowenstein,  president  of 
Allied  of  New  Jersey,  who  will  be  in 
charge  of  the  convention,  is  exhibitor 
state  chairman  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  in  Northern   New  Jersey. 


Chicago  Starts  Big 
In  5th  Loan  Drive 

Chicago,  June  12.  —  Industry's 
Fifth  War  Loan  Drive  got  off  to  a 
big  start  today  with  most  houses  re- 
porting a  definite  spurt  in  bond  sales. 
Many  neighborhood  houses  have  made 
tie-ups  with  local  merchants,  who 
gave  away  free  merchandise  with  the 
purchase  of  bonds. 

State-Lake,  Palace  and  Oriental 
theatres  will  join  in  a  Loop  bond  pre- 
miere at  the  State-Lake  on  June  23. 
In  addition  to  "The  Story  of  Dr. 
Wassell,"  it  will  offer  the  stage  show 
now  at  the  Chicago  Theatre  with 
Harry  Richman  and  Dave  Apollon. 


Cinema  Circuit  $186,000 

The  New  Amsterdam  Theatre  and 
Cinema  Circuit  Corp.  "shot  the  gun" 
on  the  opening  day  of  the  drive  by 
selling  $186,000  in  war  bonds,  accord- 
ing to  James  B.  Zabin,  general  mana- 
ger. 


Lodge  Sponsors  LSM 

Cinema  Lodge  No.  1366,  B'nai 
B'rith,  sponsored  a  Navy  landing 
craft  (LSM)  in  ceremonies  held  yes- 
terday at  Pier  42,  North  River.  Mrs. 
Annette  Senft,  wife  of  Cinema's  presi- 
dent, Al  Senft,  represented  the  lodge. 


Clark  Meets  With 
Decree  Counsel 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Department  of  Justice  still  is  seeking 
changes  in  several  arbitration  provi- 
sions, notably  in  Section  10,  in  the 
new  provisions  governing  circuit  ex- 
pansion, and  in  cancellation  phraseol- 
ogy. Decree  companies,  however,  have 
evidenced  no  disposition  to  revise  these 
provisions  in  any  material  respect, 
and,  as  reported  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily  May  18,  feel  that  they  have 
gone  as  far  as  they  possibly  can  with- 
in the  limitations  of  sound  business 
procedure. 

Near  Conclusion 

It  was  apparent  from  comments 
made  following  yesterday's  meeting 
that  the  discussions  between  company 
counsel  and  the  Department  of  Justice 
have  about  reached  their  conclusion. 
It  can  safely  be  assumed  that  the  pro- 
posals for  a  revised  decree,  unchanged 
materially  from  the  draft  of  Jan.  20, 
will  be  in  final  and  formal  phrase- 
ology within  the  next  few  days.  When 
delivered  to  the  Department  then, 
Clark  will  submit  the  draft  to  Attor- 
ney General  Francis  Biddle,  with 
recommendations  that  they  be  either 
accepted  or  rejected.  The  Attorney 
General's  decision  then  would  deter- 
mine the  future  procedure.  If  re- 
jected, the  Department  presumably 
would  have  no  alternative  but  to  pro- 
ceed with  its  pending  anti-trust  suit 
against  the  decree  companies  here,  or 
to  file  a  new  action. 

Wright  returned  to  Washington 
yesterday.  Clark  will  leave  for  Wash- 
ington today  after  attending  to  other 
business  on  his  agenda  here. 

Scully  Calls  Nine 
Universal  Meetings 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

held  in  San  Francisco  June  15-17, 
will  be  attended  by  Scully,  who  will 
preside  over  the  meeting  with  West- 
ern sales  manager  A.  J.  O'Keefe  and 
district  manager  Charles  J.  Feldman, 
and  by  the  staffs  of  Seattle,  Port- 
land, Los  Angeles,  Denver  and  Salt 
Lake  City. 

Dallas  Meet  June  15 

The  Southern  sales  meeting  will  be 
held  at  Dallas  on  June  15.  F.  J.  A. 
McCarthy,  Southern  sales  manager, 
and  Peter  Rosian,  district  sales  man- 
ager, will  preside.  Dallas  and  Okla- 
homa City  representatives  will  be  in- 
cluded in  this  meeting.  The  Atlanta 
and  the  Cincinnati  meetings  will  fol- 
low. Harry  Graham,  district  sales 
manager  for  Atlantic,  will  also  partici- 
pate in  the  Atlanta  meeting. 

Cleveland  and  Pittsburgh  offices  will 
be  represented  at  a  meeting  beginning 
June  19  at  Cleveland  to  be  conducted 
by  Fred  Meyers,  Eastern  sales  man- 
ager, and  David  Miller,  district  man- 
ager. Meyers  will  also  hold  meetings 
in  Boston  with  John  Scully,  district 
manager,  and  in  Philadelphia  with 
Salem  Applegate,  district  manager.  A 
meeting  in  Chicago  will  be  attended  by 
Minneapolis  and  Milwaukee  branches 
and  will  be  attended  by  district  man- 
ager Manuel  Gottlieb.  In  Kansas 
City  the  meeting  will  be  presided  over 
by  O'Keefe  and  district  manager  Jo- 
seph Garrison. 


"FIGHT 
BY  HIS 
SIDE" 


m 


d-^BONDS 


12  MILLION  FIGHTERS!  12  MILLION  SEATS! 
12  MILLION  BONDS!  A  BOND  FOR  EVERY 
FIGHTER-  IS  A  BOND  FOR  EVERY  SEAT! 


CONTRIBUTED  BY 

M ATlflMAI  CPDKU  CCDVIPP 


ELEASE-WLY  15th 


AD  END 

OEL  McCREA*  HUMPHREY  BOGART 


1VOL.  55.  NO.  116 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

NEW  YORK,  U.  S.  A.,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  14,  1944  


TEN  CENTS 


47  Listed  by  2,578  Bond 
Monogram,  an  Premieres 
Increase  of  7  For  the  5th 


Johnston  Discloses  New 
Program  Tomorrow 

Los  Angeles,  June  13. — Mono- 
gram will  list  47  features  on  its 
1944-45  program,  W.  Ray  John- 
ston, president,  will  disclose  tomor- 
r  o  w  to  dele- 
gates attending 
the  company's 
13th  annual 
franchise  -  hold- 
ers' convention 
at  the  Ambassa- 
dor Hotel  here. 
The  company 
this  season  is 
committed  to  40 
features.  Mon- 
ogram is  the 
third  company 
to  make  known 
product  totals 
for  the  new 
year.  On  June 
5,  Motion  Picture  Daily 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


2,578 
child- 


W.  Ray  Johnston 


Exhibitors  have  pledged 
"Bond  Premieres"  and  443 
ren's  bond  shows  in  the  first  few 
hours  of  the  industry's  patricipa- 
tion  in  the  Fifth  War  Loan  cam- 
paign, Robert  J.  O'Donnell,  industry 
campaign  chairman,  disclosed  here 
yesterday,  following  comparison  of 
tabulations  received  here  at  headquar- 
ters by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  dis- 
tributor chairman. 

O'Donnell  emphasized  that 
the  figures  represent  premieres 
actually  booked  and  confirmed, 
adding  that,  at  the  request  of 
the  U.  S.  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee, most  of  the  premieres 
will  be  held  later  in  the  cam- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


listed 


Plan  31  More 
Tele.  Outlets 


Thirty-one  applications  for  com- 
mercial television  stations  and  four 
for  experimental  stations  are  now 
pending  RKO  Television  Corp.  re- 
ported here  at  the  weekend.  At  pres- 
ent there  are  only  14  licensed  tele- 
vision stations  and  only  nine  are 
operating.  There  are  15  licensed  relay 
stations  with  applications  for  two 
pending. 

The  licensed  television  stations  now 
operating  are  all  in  New  York,  Phila- 
delphia, Chicago,  Los  Angeles  and 
Schenectady. 

Television  stations  will  be  located 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


WMC  Ruling  Lines 
Up  'Lineman' 

Washington,  June  13. — The  War 
Manpower  Commission's  decree  effec- 
tive July  1,  in  which  all  unemployed 
persons  must  seek  clearance  for  their 
services  through  Government  agencies 
set  up  for  the  purpose,  shook  a  vig- 
orous stick  today  at  the  ranks  of  the- 
atrical artists  of  all  categories. 

Night  club  singers  will  be  referred 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Siegel,  Abbott  and 
Herbert  in  Tie-up 


Hollywood,  June  13. — Sol  Siegel 
has  relinquished  his  Columbia  produc- 
ership  to  form  a  new  company  with 
George  Abbott  and  F.  Hugh  Herbert 
producer  and  author,  respectively,  of 
the  Broadway  comedy  "Kiss  and  Tell 
which  they  will  film  as  the  first  of 
an  unspecified  number  of  pictures  fo 
Columbia  release.  The  second  will 
be  an  untitled  Technicolor  musical 
starring  Rita  Hay  worth. 

Siegel  entrained  for  New  York  to 
night  to  confer  with  his  new  asoc 
ates. 


No  Lifting  of  Price 
Ceiling  in  Canada 

Toronto,  June  13. — There  is 
no  indication  of  any  relaxa- 
tion of  the  Canadian  wartime 
ceiling  on  theatre  admissions, 
precluding  the  showing  here 
of  20th-Fox's  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  and  Paramount's 
"For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls" 
before  1945  when  the  ad- 
vanced admission  require- 
ments now  prevailing  in  the 
U.  S.  for  both  pictures  will  be 
replaced  by  regular  admis- 
sions for  general  release. 


Film  Lawyers 
Weigh  Final 
Decree  Change 

Fate  of  Decree  May  Be 
Decided  in  Few  Days 


Alperson  to  Coast 
To  Start  UA  Deal 


Edward  Alperson  becomes  a  Unit- 
ed Artists  producer  with  his  consum- 
mation of  a  deal  pending  for  several 
weeks  whereby  he  acquires  the  Ed- 
ward Peskay  - 
Salkay  Corp. 
contract 
to  produce  six 
features  for 
U.A.  this  year. 
Alperson  will 
leave  for  Hol- 
1  y  w  o  o  d  on 
Friday  and  will 
start  actual 
shooting  with- 
in four  weeks. 

A  1  p  er  son's 
first  production 
will  be  "Shep- 
pey    Goes    t  o 
Heaven,"  based 
on  Somerset  Maugham's  "Sheppey," 
stage  play,  to  be  followed  by  an  origi- 
nal musical.    The  scripts  of  both  are 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


E.  L.  Alperson 


'I A9  Local  Insists  Its  Orders  to  Theatre 
Workers  Precede  Those  of  Owners 

St.  Louis,  June  13. — Testimony  in  police  court  here  that  orders 
from  the  IATSE  stagehands  union  supercede  orders  from  theatre 
owners  or  managers  has  won  dismissal  for  six  members  of  the 
union  here  on  charges  of  trespassing  at  the  Shubert  Theatre,  a 
Fanchon  and  Marco  first-run. 

Frank  Menetree,  one  of  the  union  men,  told  the  court  that  in 
accordance  with  a  National  War  Labor  Board  ruling,  the  union 
assigned  men  to  their  jobs  and  dictated  the  duties  to  be  performed. 

James  Arthur,  official  of  Service  Group  Theatres,  Fanchon  and 
Marco  subsidiary,  filed  the  charges  against  the  men  on  May  17  when 
they  refused  to  leave  the  theatre.  Arthur  testified  at  the  police 
court  hearing  that  he  had  discharged  two  of  the  men,  George  Ste- 
vens and  Eugene  Popp,  when  they  refused  to  refrain  from  turning 
on  and  off  the  theatre  lights  after  each  performance  of  the  feature 
picture.  The  other  union  members  were  charged  with  trespassing 
when  they  refused  to  leave  the  theatre.  They  told  the  court  they 
were  acting  for  the  union  business  agent,  Elmer  Moran,  who  had 
ordered  the  lights  turned  off  and  on  after  each  show. 


Counsel  for  the  five  consent  de- 
cree companies  met  here  yesterday 
to  further  discuss  the  suggestions 
made  by  Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney 
General  Tom  C.  Clark  for  a  liberaliza- 
tion of  their  "final"  proposals  of  Jan. 
20,  for  a  new  decree,  but  no  conclu- 
sions were  reached. 

The  attorneys  plan  a  further  meet- 
ing today  and  expect  to  contact  Clark 
later  in  the  week  but  it  is  not  expected 
that  they  will  offer  any  major  con- 
cesions  on  the  cancellation,  theatre  ex- 
pansion and  arbitration  provisions  as 
they  now  stand.  The  present  series  of 
meetings  started  on  Monday  afternoon 

(Continued  on  page  6) 

First  Invasion 
Shots  Shown 


From  the  raw  material  of  4,300  feet 
of  film  passed  by  the  London  censors 
and  shot  by  the  U.  S.  Signal  Corps, 
Army  Air  Forces,  U.  S.  Navy,  Coast 
Guard,  Royal  Canadian  Naval  Films 
Unit  and  the  American  newsreel  pool, 
there  has  emerged  a  forceful,  com- 
pelling picture  of  the  first  hours  of 
the  invasion  that  dwarfs  in  dramatic 
content  the  millions  of  words  filed  by 
newspaper  correspondents.  Yesterday 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


1,000  Expected  at 
UJA  Fund  Luncheon 

One  thousand  from  the  film  and 
amusement  industries  in  New  York 
are  expected  to  attend  a  fund-raising 
luncheon  for  the  United  Jewish  Ap- 
peal at  the  Hotel  Astor  next  Tues- 
day.   B.  S.  Moss  will  preside. 

Plans  for  the  luncheon  were  set  at 
special  meeting  held  at  the  Hotel  Astor 
here  yesterday,  at  which  the  following 
attended:  Barney  Balaban,  David 
Bernstein,  Maurice  Silverstone,  B.  S. 
Moss,  Max  Blackmail,  Harry  Brandt, 
Arthur  Israel,  Jr.,  Harry  Mandel,  Irv- 
ing H.  Greenfield,  Carter  Blake,  Emil 
Friedlander,  Maxwell  Gillis,  Jesse 
Kaye,  Samuel  Machnovitch,  Larry 
Morris,  John  Mannheimer,  Abe  Ol- 
man,  Eugene  Picker,  Sam  Rinzler, 
Jack  Robbins,  Ed  Rugoff,  David 
Weinstock  and  Max  Wolff, 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  14,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


MAURICE  BERGMAN,  Univer- 
sal Eastern  advertising-publicity 
director,  is  expected  back  from  the 
Coast  on  Monday. 

• 

Jack  Level,  editor  of  RKO  Radio's 
house  organ,  "Flash,"  will  be  away 
next  week  on  vacation.  Arthur 
Brilant,  RKO  trade  press  contact, 
will  edit  the  paper  during  his  ab- 
sence. 

• 

H.  M.  Bessey,  Altec  Service  vice- 
president,  has  returned  from  Cincin- 
nati, where  he  conferred  with  Warren 
Connor,  Altec  district  manager,  who 
is  recovering  from  a  long  illness. 
• 

Johnny  Jones,  executive  of  the 
Jones,  Linick  and  Schaefer  Circuit, 
will  return  to  Chicago  July  4  from  a 
two-week  vaction  in  California. 
• 

Samuel  H.  Stiefel,  Philadelphia 
exhibitor,  has  returned  from  an  ex- 
tended visit  to  {he  West  Coast  and 
Hollywood. 

o 

Pvt.  Harvey  Schwartz,  former 
film  auditor  for  the  Warner  circuit  in 
Philadelphia,  was  married  there  last 
week  to  Beatrice  Kline. 

e 

Harry  F.  Shaw,  Loew's  New  En- 
gland zone  manager,  and  Lou  Brown, 
New  England  publicity  director,  were 
recent  visitors  in  Hartford,  Conn. 
• 

Harold  Hutchins,  advertising  di- 
rector of  the  Hillman  women's  group 
magazines,  returned  yesterday  from 
the  Midwest. 

• 

Lorraine  Offitto  of  the  20th-Fox 
exploitation  department,  will  be  mar- 
ried Sunday  to  Cpl.  Kenneth  B. 
Howard  of  Oceanside,  I.  I. 

• 

Ed  Clifford,  manager  of  the  Rog- 
er Mahan  circuit,  Pennsylvania,  is  in 
Waterbury,  Conn.,  on  business. 

'U'  Executives  Off 
To  Field  Meetings 

Los  Angeles,  June  13. — Universale 
key  distribution  executives,  having 
concluded  a  week-long  pre-seasonal 
sales  meeting  at  the  Ambassador  Hotel 
here  yesterday,  will  scatter  tomorrow 
to  their  respective  offices  and  to  cities 
where  imminent  regional  sales  meet- 
ings will  be  held. 

W.  A.  Scully,  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager,  and  A.  J. 
O'Keefe,  Western  sales  manager,  will 
leave  for  San  Francisco,  where  one 
of  the  first  of  the  regionals  is  sched- 
uled for  Thursday  and  Friday. 
Scully  will  return  here  on  Friday 
to  take  the  Superchiej  for  New  York. 
Maurice  A.  Bergman,  "U's"  Eastern 
advertising-publicity  manager,  will 
leave  here  for  the  East  tomorrow. 


25c  Technicolor  Dividend 

The  board  of  directors  of  Techni- 
color has  declared  a  dividend  of  25 
cents  per  share,  payable  July  1,  to 
stockholders  of  record  on  June  21. 


Hollywood,  June  13 
HP  HE  weather's  been  cloudy 
enough.  Confirmed  South- 
ern Californians,  whether  by 
x  birth  or  adoption,  have  been 
grousing  for  weeks  about  the 
May-June  climate.  The  weather- 
man in  sweet  accuracy's  sake, 
had  to  report  27  foggy  days  in 
May. 

Not  terrestiaj  and  not  celes- 
tial, however,  is  another  kind  of 
cloud  and  fog  now  enveloping  a 
tidy  number  of  distributors  who, 
being  distributors  and  not  ex- 
hibitors as  well,  have  to  rely 
upon  the  Los  Angeles-Holly- 
wood circuit  situation  for  play- 
ing time  and  living  space. 
■ 

The  history  of  this  probably 
•is  more  peculiar  to  this  territory 
than  to  any  other  in  the  Unit- 
ed States.  Paramount  has 
namesake  theatres  in  Los  An- 
geles and  Hollywood  and  can 
take  care  of  itself.  Warners 
is  in  the  same  position  with 
namesake  houses  in  both  cities 
and  the  Wiltern  geographically 
in  between.  RKO,  Universal 
and  Columbia  play  off  many  of 
their  top  attractions  at  the  Hill- 
street  downtown  and  the  Pan- 
tages,  Hollywood.  Metro  and 
20th-Fox  enjoy  Loew's  State, 
Grauman's  Chinese  and  the  Up- 
town, with  the  Carthay  Circle 
hooked  on  by  Fox  West  Coast 
when  it  isn't  playing  extended 
runs. 

■ 

But  UA,  Republic,  Monogram 
and,  occasionally,  PRC  had  a 
time  of  it  until  last  October.  So 
did  RKO,  Universal  and  Colum- 
bia product  for  which  the  Hill- 
street  and  Pantages  could  not 
find  time.  The  booking  lines 
were  not  always  as  rigid  or  as 
inflexible  as  this  perforce  brief 
summation  indicates,  but  gen- 
erally what  it  explains  is  how 
first  run  time  is  divided  up. 

It  was  to  relieve  this  serious 
product  jam,  therefore,  that  Fox 
West  Coast  last  Fall  swelled 
i  t  s  State-Chinese-Uptown-Car- 
thay  circuit  by  throwing  open  to 
first  run  time  the  Los  Angeles 
downtown,  the  Egyptian  in  Hol- 
lywood and  the  Ritz. 

■ 

A  few  days  ago,  however, 
Louis  B.  Mayer  and  Charles 
Skouras  got  themselves  together 
on  a  deal  which  thus  far  puts 
those  distributors  who  groused 
and  grumbled  prior  to  October 
where  they  were  at  that  point 
on  the  calendar.  The  deal,  cov- 
ering the  Los  Angeles,  Egyptian 


and  Ritz,  as  of  Tuesdav  next 
sets  up  "show  case"  windows 
for  that  portion  of  Metro's 
product  which  the  company  puts 
aside  as  super  to  its  supers.  For 
instance,  "The  White  Cliffs" 
comes  first,  then  "Gaslight," 
"An  American  Romance," 
"Dragon  Seed,"  "Mrs.  Parking- 
ton,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over 
Tokyo"  and  others,  depending 
upon  how  they  turn  out.  The 
expectancy  is  that  each  one  will 
average  three  to  four  weeks 
whereas  other  Metro  releases, 
which  don't  make  this  grade, 
will  continue  to  play  the  State- 
Chinese-Uptown-Carthay  group. 

What  this  will  do  is  quite  ob- 
vious. It  will  give  Metro  two 
sets  of  outlets  and  will  answer 
that  company's  repeated  conten- 
tion that  many  of  its  topflight- 
ers  have  been  moved  in  and  then 
out  of  first  runs  before  values 
have  been  extracted.  Of  course, 
other  distributors  assume  the 
same  attitude  about  their  prod- 
uct, too.  What  this  also  does 
is  to  confront  those  who  now 
find  first  run  time  closed  to  them 
with  the  question :  "Where  do 
we  go  now  ?" 

The  situation  further  compli- 
cates itself,  however,  in  the  light 
of  Fox  West  Coast  operations. 
I  . 

One  of  the  reasons  advanced 
as  to  why  that  dominant  circuit 
has  stuck  pretty  religiously  to 
one-week  stands  regardless  of 
attraction  traces  to  its  structure. 
Its  tophole  position  in  this  area 
is  widely  known,  of  course. 
Some  of  its  cities  and  towns  play 
pictures  seven  days,  first  run. 
In  Greater  Los  Angeles,  all  of 
its  houses  after  first  run  change 
twice  weekly  and  all  of  them 
run  double  features.  The  chain, 
therefore,  requires  an  average  of 
208  films  per  theatre  annually. 

But  concentrations  of  theatres 
in  the  same  localities  and  zones 
also  mean  FWC  houses  which 
are  competitive  with  each  other 
need  different  product,  the  re- 
sult being  that  208  releases  don't 
fill  the  quota  either.  Conse- 
quently, it  seems .  logical  and  it 
is  also  hopefully  anticipated  that 
Skouras  will  undertake  action 
of  some  kind  on  two  grounds. 
One  will  be  to  placate  distribu- 
tors now  out  of  first  run  time  by 
dating  their  product  elsewhere. 
The  other  will  be  to  clear  all 
sources  of  film  on  a  schedule  de- 
signed to  keep  the  insatiable 
maw  of  his  city  subsequents  and 
his  out-of-town  situations  fully 
nourished. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  June  13 

DIRECTOR  Archie  Mayo's  con- 
tract, which  had  two  years  to 
run,  has  been  amicably  terminated  at 
Mayo's  request,  20th-Fox  confirmed 
today. 

• 

Jerry  Wald  will  produce  "Dark 
Eyes,"  New  York  stage  play,  for 
Warners.  Lou  F.  Edelman  will  make 
"Wallflower,"  another  Broadway  play, 
as  his  first  since  returning  to  the  stu- 
dio. 

• 

Harriet  Parsons,  RKO  Radio  pro- 
ducer, will  handle  production  on  "Who 
Could  Ask  for  Anything  More?". com- 
edy drama  with  music  which  will  be 
based  on  the  story  by  Kay  Swift.  Jack 
Gross  will  supervise. 

• 

Jules  White,  who  has  produced  182 
and  directed  42  comedy  shorts  during 
11  years  at  Columbia,  has  been  signed 
to  handle  14  more  on  the  1944-45  pro- 
gram. 

• 

Warners  has  bought  "The  Fron- 
tiersman," original  Thames  William- 
son gold  rush  story,  and  added  it  to 
Jesse  L.  Lasky's  production  schedule. 
Zachary  Scott  will  play  the  lead. 
• 

A.  C.  Artin,  Paramount  studio 
comptroller,  has  retired  after  26  years 
in  the  post  and  will  be  succeeded  by 
Morris  Simpson. 

• 

Under  a  change  of  plans,  Benjamin 
Kalmenson,  Warner's  general  sales- 
manager,  will  not  arrive  here  from 
New  York  for  several  weeks. 
• 

George  L.  Bagnall,  United  Artists' 
vice-president,    will    leave   for  New 
York  on  the  Superchiej  Friday. 
• 

Robert  F.  Sisk  will  produce  "Hold 
High  the   Torch,"   which  has  been 
added  to  the  M-G-M  schedule. 
• 

With  "Double  Furlough"  now  cut- 
ting, Lou  Lusty  will  leave  for  Mexico 
City  shortly  on  vacation. 

• 

Harry  Warner  has  returned  from 
an  extended  New  York  trip. 

Davis  Is  Named  to 
Rank  Directorate 

London,  June  13. — John  Davis, 
managing  director  of  Odeon  Circuit, 
has  been  named  to  the  board  of  direc- 
tors of  Manorfield  Investments,  Ltd., 
the  private  trust  company  through 
which  J.  Arthur  Rank's  investments  in 
the  film  industry  are  channeled  and 
their  control  is  exercised. 

Other  directors  are:  Rank,  Mrs.  L. 
E.  Rank,  Leslie  Farrow,  and  G.  I. 
Woodham-  Smith. 


WE  Dividend  Declared 

Directors  of  Western  Electric  de- 
clared a  dividend  of  50  cents  on  the 
common  stock  at  a  meeting  held  here 
yesterday,  payable  June  30  to  stock- 
holders of  record  June  23. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  TJnion  Life  Bldg.,  Willifn  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Bumup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Wednesday,  June  14,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


Cromwell  Heads 
Directors'  Guild 

Hollywood,  June  13. — John  Crom- 
well, director  of  "Since  You  Went 
Away,"  this  season,  and  other  im- 
portant pro- 
ductions, will 
take  over  the 
presidency  o  f 
the  Screen  Di- 
rectors' Guild, 
following  his 
election  early 
this  week. 
First  and  sec- 
ond vice-presi- 
dents, respec- 
tively,  are 
Mervyn  LeRoy 
and  Edward 
Dmytryk.  Irv- 
ing Pichel  was 
elected  secretary  and  Edward  F. 
Cline  was  reelected  treasurer. 


Equity  Names  Loeb 
As  Cameron  Quits 


John  Cromwell 


Columbia  Managers 
In  Special  Meeting 

Today's  morning  session  of  Colum- 
bia's three-day  sales  meeting  at  the 
Warwick  Hotel  here  will  be  devoted 
to  a  managers'  meeting  with  the  fol- 
lowing attending:  Mid-Eastern  divi- 
sion manager  Sam  Galanty;  Central 
division,  Carl  Shalit;  New  York,  Nat 
Cohn  and  branch  managers  Joe  Mill- 
er, I.  H.  Rogovin,  Phil  Fox,  Tim 
O'Toole,  Irving  Wormser,  Sol  Traun- 
er,  Harry  Weiner,  Allen  Moritz,  Les- 
ter Zucker,  A.  H.  Levy  and  Ben  Cap- 
Ion. 

This  will  be  followed  by  an  individ- 
ual meeting  with  delegates  from  the 
four  exchanges  under  Sam  Galanty's 
supervision :  Cincinnati,  Cleveland, 
Pittsburgh  and  Washington. 

On  Thursday  (June  15)  there  will 
be  individual  meetings  with  the  rep- 
resentatives of  the  following  offices : 
Albany,  Boston,  Buffalo,  New  Haven, 
Philadelphia  and  New  York. 


Wallis  Seeks' Electra9 
As  First  Production 

Hollywood,  June  13. — Hal  Wallis 
has  launched  negotiations  with  the 
Theatre  Guild  for  the  film  rights  to 
Eugene  O'Neill's  trilogy,  "Mourning 
Becomes  Electra,"  the  producer  stated 
here  today.  If  the  deal  goes  through, 
he  intends  seeking  Katharine  Hepburn 
for  the  leading  role.  This  may  be 
Wallis'  first  for  Paramount. 


RKO's  Exploiteers  to 
Attend  Sales  Meet 

RKO  Radio's  field  exploitation 
staff,  headed  by  Terry  Turner,  will 
attend  the  company's  13th  annual  sales 
meeting,  it  has  been  announced 
by  S.  Barret  McCormick,  director  of 
advertising  and  publicity.  The  meet 
ing  is  scheduled  to  be  held  at  the 
Waldorf-Astoria  here  July  24-26. 


Berlin's  Show  in  Rome 

Irving  Berlin's  "This  Is  the  Army" 
left  Naples  for  Rome,  according  to 
press  dispatches  reaching  here  yester- 
day from  Italy.  It  will  open  tonight  in 
the  Italian  capital  with  a  new  song 
dedicated  to  the  infantry.  Maj.  Gen. 
Arthur  Wilson,  commander  of  the 
peninsula  base  section,  ordered  the  cast 
to  Rome  because  the  Fifth  Army  of- 
fensive had  advanced  too  far  north 
of  Naples. 


Philip  Loeb,  whose  unsuccessful 
candidacy  in  the  recent  Actors  Equity 
election  resulted  .in  charges  of  racial 
bias  within  the  organization,  yester- 
day was  appointed  an  Equity  council- 
lor following  the  resignation  of  Donald 
Cameron.  The  latter  had  just  been 
elected  for  a  five-year  term.  Loeb 
will  serve  until  the  next  election. 

The  Equity  council  also  authorized 
the  purchase  of  $25,000  of  Fifth  War 
Loan  bonds  by  the  organization  and 
$15,000  by  Chorus  Equity,  bringing 
their  combined  total  of  war  bonds  held 
to  $240,000. 


Dulzell  Re-Elected 
By  Chorus  Equity 

Paul  Dullzell  was  re-elected  chair- 
man of  the  executive  committee  of  the 
Chorus  Equity  Association,  it  was  an- 
nounced today,  following  elections 
held  here  last  Friday  at  the  25th  an- 
nual meeting  of  the  association. 

Other  officers  elected  included  Ger- 
ald Moore,  recording  secretary,  to 
serve  one  year ;  Xenia  Bank,  to  serve 
for  five  years  on  Actors'  Equity 
Council ;  Jean  Cumfning,  Charles 
Dublin,  Roger  Gerry,  Philip  Gordon, 
Juanita  Hall,  Jean  Woods  and  Miss 
Bank  to  serve  three-year  terms  on  the 
executive  committee. 


Wm.  Jay,  52,  'U's 
British  Head,  Dies 

Universal  reported  here  yesterday 
the  sudden  death  in  London  of  Wil- 
liam Jay,  Universal's  special  sales 
representative  in  Great  Britain  since 
1938,  being  stationed  in  General  Film 
Distributors'  headquarters.  News  of 
Jay's  passing  on  June  3  was  not 
known  by  Universal  in  New  York 
until  this  week,  apparently  because 
of  delays  in  cable  transmission. 

Prior  to  Jay's  post  with  Universal, 
he  was  for  many  years  general  sales 
manager  of  RKO  in  Great  Britain. 
He  was  52  years  old  and  is  survived 
by  his  wife,  Mrs.  Lilly  Jay  of  Hove, 
England. 


Samuel  Rosen,  51, 
Dies  in  Phila. 

Philadelphia,  June  13. — Samuel 
Rosen,  51,  died  this  morning  in  Mt. 
Sinai  Hospital.  The  funeral  will  be 
held  Thursday. 

Rosen  was  local  Monogram  branch 
manager,  having  been  with  the  ex- 
change since  it  first  started  here.  _  He 
was  previously  with  First  Division 
and  RKO.  David  Rosen,  his  brother, 
is  supervisor  of  Clark  Film.  Also 
surviving  are  his  wife  and  two  sons. 
One  of  his  sons,  Nauric,  formerly 
a  Monogram  booker,  is  now  with  the 
irmed  forces  in  Italy. 


Wm,  Gell  Named  to 
PC  A  London  Post 

Hollywood,  June  13. — William  Gell, 
well  known  British  distributor  repre 
sentative,  who  is  visiting  in  this  coun- 
try, has  been  named  London  represen- 
tative by  Producers  Corporation  of 
America. 


Dindas  Back  at  Strand 

George  Dindas  returned  yesterday 
to  his  former  post  as  manager  of  War- 
ner's New  York  Strand,  following  an 
honorable  discharge  from  the  Army 


Studios  Helped  With 
Incendiary  Bomb 

Washington,  June  13. — 
Hollywood  studios  played  a 
part  in  the  effectiveness  of 
the  world's  most  devastating 
incendiary  bomb,  now  in  use 
by  U.  S.  Air  Forces,  it  was  re- 
vealed for  the  first  time  to- 
day. 

After  development  for  the 
chemical  warfare  service, 
Hollywood  was  called  upon  to 
determine  the  effect  the 
bomb  would  have  on  German 
and  Japanese  buildings.  Archi- 
tects familiar  with  structures 
in  enemy  countries,  duplicated 
them  down  to  the  detail  of 
interior  furnishings.  Research 
departments  of  studios  fur- 
nished the  designs  and  speci- 
fications for  furniture  which 
was  then  made  in  American 
factories. 


Para.  Urges  Holders 
To  Approve  Note 
Sale  to  Balaban 


Says  Public  Wants 
New  Personalities 

The  public  wants  new  >  screen  per- 
sonalities rather  than  new  screen 
faces,  Casey  Robinson,  producer-writ- 
er whose  "Days  of  Glory"  for  RKO 
marks  the  screen  debuts  of  Tamara 
Toumanova  and  Gregory  Peck,  said 
in  an  interview  here  yesterday. 

Robinson  will  produce  under  the  In- 
ternational Pictures  setup  and  plans 
two  films  a  year.  His  first  for  Inter- 
national may  be  an  adaptation  of  "The 
Little  Green  Hussar,"  by  Molnar, 
which  he  owns.  He  also  hopes  to  do 
a  film  based  on  the  life  of  John  Bar- 
rymore.  Recently,  he  completed  two 
screen  adaptations  for  M-G-M : 
"Hoodlum  Saint,"  which  is  being  con- 
sidered for  Clark  Gable's  return  to 
the  screen,  and  "The  Romance  of 
Henry  Menafee,"  which  is  to  star 
Spencer  Tracy. 


300  Reservations  for 
N.  /.  Allied  Meeting 

Three  hundred  reservations  are  re- 
ported for  the  Allied  of  New  Jersey 
convention  at  Hotel  Chelsea,  Atlantic 
City,  June  20-22,  E.  Thornton  Kelly, 
convention  manager,  disclosed  here 
yesterday  at  a  meeting  of  the  arrange- 
ments committee. 

At  the  convention's  highlight  ban- 
quet for  founders  and  past  presidents, 
the  following  will  be  honored:  Joseph 
M.  Seidler,  Leon  Rosenblatt,  Lee 
Newbury,  Pete  Harrison,  Sidney  E. 
Samuelson,  Irving  Dollinger  and 
George  Gold. 


Nine  Theatres  Spark 
'Indiana'  Premiere 

Nine  theatres  in  Indiana,  Ohio  and 
West  Virginia  will  spearhead  the 
world  premiere  of  20th  Century-Fox's 
color  production,  "Home  in  Indiana," 
today.  Theatres  include  the  Pal- 
ace, Cincinnati ;  Keith's,  Dayton ; 
Kearse,  Charleston ;  Smoot,  Parkers- 
burg  ;  Washington,  Fayette ;  Warner, 
Youngstown;  Marion,  Indiana;  In- 
dianapolis and  Sipe,  Kokomo,  Ind. 


Barney  Balaban 


Improvements  in  Paramount' s  finan- 
cial record  aggregating  more  than 
$132,600,000  have  been  achieved  since 
Barney  Balaban  became  president  of 

_        _   _     the  c  o  m  p  any 

eight  years  ago, 
it  is  pointed  out 
in  a  letter  to  the 
company's 
stockholders  by 
Austin  C. 
Keough,  secre- 
tary, for  the 
board  of  direc- 
tors. . 

The  letter  sets 
forth  the  board's 
reasons  for  be- 
lieving it  to  be 
"vitally  neces- 
sary" that  stock- 
holders vote  in 
favor  of  the  proposed  purchase  by 
Balaban  of  a  $2,000,000  convertible 
note  from  Paramount.  It  relates  that 
he  served  as  president  of  Paramount 
from  1936  to  1942  receiving  compen- 
sation only  under  a  contract  with  Bala- 
ban &  Katz,  Chicago,  and  since  the 
expiration  of  that  contract,  he  re- 
ceived "substantially  less"  from  Para- 
mount. "Compared  to  what  is  paid 
the  heads  of  other  companies  simi- 
larly situated,  his  compensation  is  ex- 
tremely low,"  the  letter  states. 

Could  Leave  Company 

"Your  directors  know  that  the  suc- 
cess or  failure  of  Paramount  depends 
to  a  large  extent  on  having  an  able 
president,"  it  continues.  "They  know 
that  men  of  Balaban's  proven  ability 
are  hard  to  find  and  hard  to  keep. 
They  know  that  he  could  leave  the 
company,  build  up  his  own  business. 
.  .  .  They  know  that  his  experience 
and  leadership  will  be  of  greatest 
value  in  solving  the  vast  post-war 
problems  of  the  company." 

It  declares  that  the  directors  have 
been  trying  for  several  years  past  to 
furnish  Balaban  with  "a  strong  in- 
centive" to  remain  as  president  of  the 
company  "for.  many  years  to  come," 
but  that  the  granting  of  common  stock 
options  did  not  provide  the  answer. 
The  letter  points  "out  that  under  the 
proposed  sale  of  the  convertible  note, 
Balaban  "would  be  tied  to  the  com- 
pany with  a  $2,000,000  investment  on 
which  he  would  make  no  profit  unless 
your  company's  stock  rose  above  the 
conversion  price  and  unless  he  re- 
mained with  the  company  long  enough 
to  exercise  the  options." 

The  proposal  is  scheduled  to  be 
acted  upon  by  stockholders  at  their' 
annual  meeting  here  next  Tuesday. 


Luncheon  War  Casualty 

Hollywood,  June  13. — After  issuing 
engraved  invitations,  M-G-M  today 
cancelled  its  elaborate  20th  anniversary 
luncheon  scheduled  for  the  studio  June 
21.    War  conditions  were  responsible. 


Film  Carriers  Get 
Two  More  Trucks 

Washington,  June  13. — The  War 
Production  Board  yesterday  issued 
certificates  making  available  two  new 
trucks  for  the  Film  Carriers  Associa- 
tion of  New  York,  thereby  partially 
alleviating  the  situation  brought  on 
by  a  breakdown  of  trucks  used  in 
film  delivery. 

H.  M.  Richey,  M-G-M  exhibitor 
contact,  participated  in  discussions  with 
the  WPB  officials  with  a  view  to  se- 
curing new  trucks  to  expedite  film 
shipments  in  the  New  York  area. 


Twenty  ^ears  of  Hits  from  MG'M 
and  the  greatest  of  them  all  is... 

Qie  White  Cliffs  of  Dover 


BIGGEST  CAMPAIGN  OF  SCREEN  ANNALS 
FOR  M-G-M's  "WHITE  CLIFFS  OF  DOVER"  IN 
A  BRILLIANT  BIRTHDAY  CELEBRATION 


(i 

(2 
(3 
(4 

(5 
(6 
(7 


"White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  24-sheets  from  Coast  to  Coast  and  Canada. 

Exclusive  to  M-G-M!  Traveling  posters  for  "White  Cliffs"  on  5000  American 
Express  Trucks  covering  .America. 

100-line  "White  Cliffs"  teaser  ads  in  129  key  cities!  Quarter-page  ads  in 
newspapers  listing  future  M-G-M  hits  also. 

Full  page  "White  Cliffs"  ads  in  two  colors  in  Life,  Redbook,  Cosmopolitan, 
Liberty,  Look,  Woman's  Home  Companion,  McCall's,  Good  Housekeeping, 
Parents'  Magazine  and  Canadian  publications. 

"Lion's  Roar"  Anniversary  Column  in  26  national  magazines  features 
"White  Cliffs  of  Dover." 

"Anniversary  Salutes"  on  Key  City  Radio  Programs  of  M-G-M's  52-week-a- 
year-airwaves  activities  keyed  to  local  playdates. 

Anniversary  Inaugural  of  M-G-M's  network  program  "Screen  Test"  over 
87  Mutual  stations  and  WHN. 


(Continued) 


Two-page,  two-color  "White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  spreads  in  fan  magazines. 


) 


M-G-M  launches  Anniversary  Key  City  Radio  Programs  announcing  that 
Leo  the  Lion  will  be  on  the  air  52  weeks  a  year.  < 

(lO)  ^  Press  time>  close  to  100%  of  the  nation's  theatres  have  booked  the  Lion 
to  roar  on  their  screens  in  a  Feature,  Short  or  Newsreel  during  M-G-M's 
Anniversary  Week. 

(ll)    M-G-M' s  "Picture  of  the  Month"  Anniversary  column  in  National  Maga- 
zines features  "White  Cliffs  of  Dover." 

(l2)  Pa£e  mat  serv^ce  on  M-G-M's  Anniversary  serviced  to  300  great  Amer- 

ican Newspapers. 

J    Deluxe  Anniversary  Pressbook  with  stills,  free  mats,  stories  by  famed  writers. 


(l4)    "Study  Guide"  special  M-G-M  Anniversary  Edition.  For  the  first  time,  it 
will  be  sold  on  40,000  American  News  Company  stands. 

J    $1000  War  Bond  Promotion  for  Anniversary  "Bathing  Beauty"  in  National 
tieup  with  Swim-for-Health-Week. 


(l^)    Giant  studio  ceremony  to  mark  Twenty- Year  Anniversary. 

|l^J    "Romance  of  Celluloid"  special  short  subject  reviews  exciting  "Twenty- Year 
History  of  M-G-M. 

(l8)    M-G-M's  travelling  "Show  Builder"  starts  Anniversary  Tour. 

Charles  A.  Midelburg,  of  Charleston,  West  Virginia,  representing  Twenty- 
Year  Exhibitors,  visits  Studios.  ' 


(20) 


Redbook  selects  "The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  as  its  "Picture  of  the  Month." 
Modern  Screen  Magazine  devotes  entire  August  issue  to  M-G-M's  Anniversary. 
Screen  Guide  and  others  go  all  out  for  M-G-M. 


We're  twenty 
and  just  a 

little  shaver. 
Next  year 
we'll  be 

twenty -oneV' 


$5 


'OGETHER  FOR  VICTORY!  FIGHTING  5th  WAR  LOAN! 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  14,  194-t 


2,578  'Bond  Premieres 
Set  Already  for  the  5th 


Hollywood 


Studios  Busy 
On.57  Films, 
Increase  of  5 


Hollywood,  June  13. — During  the 
week  production  rose  to  57  in  work, 
against  52  in  the  week  preceding.  Four 
films  were  completed,  eight  started, 
Warners  resuming  work  on  "Holly- 
wood Canteen"  after  many  weeks  of 
inactivity.  The  production  scene  fol- 
lows : 

Columbia 

Started:  "The  Return  of  the  Dur- 
ango  Kid,"  with  Charles  Starrett, 
"Cowboy  Eddie"  Evans,  The  Jesters, 
Jean  Stevens. 

Shooting:  "Stalk  the  Hunter,"  "Bos- 
ton Blackie's  Appointment  with  Death," 
"Death  Walks  Alone,"  "Meet  Miss 
Bobby  Socks,"  "Ever  Since  Venus," 
"Tonight  and  Every  Night." 

M-G-M 

Finished:  "Lost  in  a  Harem,"  "Mrs. 
Parkington." 

Shooting:  "Airship  Squadron  4," 
"Music  for  Millions,"  "Son  of  Lassie," 
"The  Thin  Man  Goes  Home,"  "Zieg- 
feld  Follies,"  "The  Picture  of  Dorian 
Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"Secrets  in  the  Dark"  (suspended), 
"National  Velvet." 

Monogram 

Started:  "Fool's  Gold,"  with  Johnny 
Mack  Brown,  Raymond  Hatton,  Nan 
Halliday.  "Muggs  Meets  a  Deadline," 
with  the  East  Side  Kids,  Leo  Gorcey, 
Huntz  Hall,  Gabriel  Dell,  Billy 
Benedict  and  Buddy  Gorman,  Jimmy 
Strand,  Ann  Stirling. 

Finished:  "I  Married  a  Stranger." 

Shooting:  "Marked  Trails." 
PRC 

Started:  "Swing  Hostess,"  with 
Martha  Tilton,  Charles  Collins,  Iris 
Adrian,  Betty  Brodel,  Cliff  Nazarro, 
Harry  Holman. 

Shooting:  "Bluebeard." 

Paramount 

Shooting:    "Fear,"    "Here  Comes 
the   Waves,"    "Murder,    He  Says," 
"Two  Years  Before  the  Mast." 
RKO-Radio 

Started:  "The  Girl  Rush,"  with 
Frances  Langford,  Wally  Brown  and 
Alan  Carney,  Vera  Vague,  Robert 
Mitchum. 

Shooting:  "The  Master  Race," 
"The  Pumpkin  Shell,"  "Farewell  My 
Lovely,"  "Having  Wonderful  Crime," 
"Tall  in  the  Saddle,"  "Heavenly 
Days,"  "The  Woman  in  the  Window" 
(International),  "The  Princess  and 
the  Pirate"  (Goldwyn). 

Republic 

Started:  "My  Buddy,"  with  Don 
Barry,  Ruth  Terry. 

Shooting:  "Brazil,"  "San  Fernando 
Valley,"  "Cheyenne  Wildcat,"  "At- 
lantic City." 

20th  Century-Fox 

Shooting:  "Thunderhead,"  "A  Tree 
Grows  in  Brooklyn,"  "Laura,"  "Some- 
thing for  the  Boys." 

United  Artists 

Shooting:  "Dark  Waters"  (Boge- 
aus),  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe"  (Cowan), 
"Guest  in  the  House"  (Stromberg), 
"Double  Furlough"  (formerly  "With 
All  My  Heart")  (Vanguard). 
Universal 

Started:  "Queen  of  the  Nile,"  with 
Maria  Montez,  Jon  Hall,  Turhan  Bey. 
"Riders  of  the  Santa  Fe,"  with  Eddie 
Dew,  Ray  Whitley. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

paign,  when  they  will  serve  to 
give  the  drive  added  impetus. 

Following  is  the  breakdown  of 
"Bond  Premieres"  and  children's 
premieres  as  reported  by  the  distribu- 
tor chairmen  in  the  field  : 

Albany,  26  bond  premieres,  4 
children's  premieres ;  Atlanta,  71 
bond  premieres;  Boston,  141  bond 
premieres,  34  children's  premieres ; 
Buffalo,  5  and  18;  Charlotte,  113  and 
16 ;  Chicago,  92  and  3 ;  Cincinnati,  36 
and  11;  Cleveland,  15  and  5;  Dallas, 
359  and  16;  Denver,  96  and  27;  Des 
Moines,  120  and  5;  Detroit,  16  and 
5 ;  Indianapolis,  7  and  5 ;  Kansas  City, 
89;  Los  Angeles,  113  and  1. 

Also :  Memphis,  69  and  8 ;  Milwau- 
kee, 150  and  60 ;  Minneapolis,  160  and 
58;  New  Haven,  33  and  19;  New  Or- 
leans, 41  and  4;  New  York,  82  and 
1 ;  New  Jersey,  2. 

Also:  Oklahoma  City,  20  and  4; 
Omaha,  42  and  8;  Philadelphia,  311 
and  1;  Pittsburgh,  89  and  44;  Port- 
land, 2;  St.  Louis,  73  and  28;  Salt 
Lake  City,  58  and  13 ;  San  Francisco, 
86 ;  Seattle,  8  and  3 ;  Washington,  52 
and  42. 


Paramount  Home  Office 
Holds  War  Bond  Rally 

Barney  Balaban,  Ad'olph  Zukor  and 
the  heads  of  the  national  motion  pic- 
ture industry  Fifth  War  Loan  com- 
mittee were  speakers  at  a  special 
Paramount  "Pep  Club"  war  bond  ral- 
ly at  the  Paramount  home  office  yes- 
terday, called  by  Arthur  Israel,  Jr., 
chairman  of  Paramount's  war  bond 
committee,  who  presided. 

Balaban  said  that  five  of  the  seven 
key  positions  on  the  industry's  Fifth 
War  Loan  committee  were  held  by 
Paramount  men,  including  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  John  J.  Friedl,  R.  M.  Ken- 
nedy, Joe  Kinsky  and  Claude  Lee. 
O'Donnell  spoke  briefly  at  the  meet- 
ing. Friedl  introduced'  Major  Allen 
V.  Martini,  veteran  of  27  Flying 
Fortress  missions  over  Europe,  who 
said:  "There's  too  much  complacency, 
too  much  over-optimism  in  the  U.  S." 
Carrol  Thurston,  appearing  in  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  was  present. 


50,000  at  Dedication 
Of  Big  Cash  Register 

Some  50,000  saw  the  industry's 
Fifth  War  Loan  cash  register  dedi- 
cated yesterday  in  Times  Square  here 
at  a  ceremony  presided  over  by  na- 
tional chairman  Robert  J.  O'Donnell. 
Bond  appeals  were  made  by  O'Don- 
nell, Nevil  Ford,  chairman  of  the 
New  York  State  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee;  Major  Allen  V.  Martini, 
bomber  hero;  Edgar  J.  Nathan,  Jr., 
president  of  the  Borough  of  Manhat- 
tan, and  James  Sauter,  chairman  of 
united  theatrical  war  activities. 

The  Astor  Theatre  manned  the  bond 
booths  in  the  register  and  brought  the 
total  sales  for  New  York  State  up  to 
$19,500,000.   


Finished:  "San  Diego,  I  Love  You." 
Shooting:  "Be  It  Ever  So  Humble," 
"Bowery  to  Broadway." 

Warners 

Shooting:  "Christmas  in  Connecti- 
cut," "Strangers  in  Our  Midst,"  "Ob- 
jective Burma,"  "Roughly  Speaking," 
"The  Conspirators,"  "Hollywood  Can- 
teen" (resumed). 


Hollywood  Stars  on 
Air  for  Bonds 

Four  transcribed  programs 
made  by  Hollywood  stars 
through  the  Hollywood  Vic- 
tory Committee  will  be  broad- 
cast over  800  independent  ra- 
dio stations  during  the  Fifth 
War  Loan,  R,  J.  O'Donnell, 
national  "Fighting  Fifth"  War 
Loan  chairman,  reports  here. 

Two  programs  have  already 
been  distributed — one  pro- 
duced by  Arch  Oboler  and  fea- 
turing Franchot  Tone  and 
Hans  Conried,  the  other  with 
Paul  Lukas  and  Erich  Von 
Stroheim  and  produced  by 
William  Robson.  Fred  Mac- 
Murray  is  scheduled  for  a  sec- 
ond Oboler  program. 


Lawyers  Weighing 
Decree -Changes 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

after  the  lawyers  had  met  with  As- 
sistant U.  S.  Attorney  Generals  Clark 
and  Robert  L.  Wright. 

As  reported  in  Motion  Picture 
Picture  Daily  May  18,  the  companies 
feel  that  they  have  gone  as  far  as  they 
possibly  can  and  that  any  further  con- 
cessions of  the  theatre  expansion  and 
cancellation  provisions  are  "econom- 
ically unsound." 

It  is  increasingly  apparent  that  the 
discussions  between  company  counsel 
and  the  Department  of  Justice  have 
about  reached  their  conclusion.  Some 
informed  industry  quarters  predict  that 
the  future  of  the  decree  may  be  settled, 
one  way  or  the  other,  within  the  next 
few  days,  possibly  by  the  time  the  next 
conference  is  held  with  Clark. 

Meanwhile,  it  is  reported  in  some 
quarters  that  the  chances  of  an  agree- 
ment being  reached  between  the  com- 
panies and  the  Department  of  Justice 
appear  to  be  "rather  slender"  at  this 
point.  Predictions  are  that  the  com- 
panies will  not  concede  anything  ap- 
proaching the  demands  made  by  ex- 
hibitors for  decree  changes  and  that, 
if  the  Department  is  insistent  upon 
a  decree  vitally  different  from  the 
Jan._  20  draft,  no  agreement  will  be 
possible. 

Clark  stated  this  week  that  he  would 
send  the  distributors'  formal  proposals 
to  the  Attorney  General,  with  recom- 
mendations, as  soon  as  they  are  re- 
ceived. 


Alperson  to  Coast 
To  Start  UA  Deal 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

understood  to  have  been  completed 
with  contracts  for  production  facili- 
ties to  be  signed  when  Alperson  ar- 
rives on  the  Coast  early  next  week. 
Filming  will  probably  be  at  General 
Service  Studios,  Hollywood. 

The  original  Peskay-U.A.  contract 
which  Alperson  has  acquired  from  the 
former  provided  for  the  delivery  of 
six  features  this  year,  each  one  hour 
long.  Alperson's  arrangements,  how- 
ever, are  said  to  eliminate  specifica- 
tions on  length. 


By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  K 

NOW  that  more  and  more  dis 
charged  veterans  of  World  Wa 
II  are  to  be  seen  on  the  streets  o 
Hollywood,  rehabilitation  of  thes< 
men  is  coming  in  for  attention  fn 
the  studios.  "When  the  Lights 
On  Again,"  scheduled  for  early  pro. 
duction  at  PRC,  tells  the  story  of  ;■ 
discharged  Marine  and  the  trials  anc 
troubles  confronting  him  as  he  at-i 
tempts  to  readjust  himself  to  civiliai 
life.  Jimmy  Lydon,  whose  name  ha! 
for  so  long  been  synonymous  witl 
that  of  Henry  Aldrich,  plays  his  firsn 
serious,  grown-up  role  in  the  film 
Another  picture  dealing  with  th< 
problem  from  quite  a  different  angle 
is  Republic's  "My  Buddy,"  now  be- 
fore the  cameras.  It  relates  the  ex- 
periences of  a  returned  veteran  o: 
World  War  I  and  the  ending  presents: 
a  strong  plea  for  immediate  action  tc 
forestall  such  tragedies  as  befell  those 
men  who  were  unable  to  take  up  their 
peacetime  lives  where  war  had  inter- 
rupted them. 

• 

Grace  McDonald,  who  has  fin- 
ished her  role  in  "See  My  Lawyer," 
Universal's  next  Olsen-Johnson 
comedy,  is  to  star  in  the  same  stu- 
dio's "My  Lady  Loves  Music"  with 
Bob  Crosby,  accompanied  by  his 
band,  appearing  opposite.  .  .  .  Pro- 
ducers William  Pine  and  William 
Thomas  have  signed  Nancy  Kelly, 
last  on  the  screen  in  RKO's  "Show 
Business,"  for  the  feminine  lead 
in  "Double  Exposure,"  the  next  pic- 
ture they  are  to  produce  for  Para- 
mount. .  .  .  Martha  Tilton,  whose 
swinging  of  popular  ditties  has 
been  making  kilocycle  history,  is  to 
star  in  PRC's  "Swing  Hostess," 
which  is  a  picture  about  just  the 
kind  of  entertainer  Miss  Tilton  is. 

Plan  31  More 
Tele.  Outlets 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
in  24  cities  in  17  different  states  when 
pending  applications  are  granted. 
Licensed  experimental  stations  are  lo- 
cated in  New  York,  Cincinnati,  West 
Lafayette,  Ind.,  and  Iowa  City,  la. 
Additional  cities  where  experimental 
stations  will  be  located  include  Albu- 
querque, Salt  Lake  City,  South 
Charleston,  Va.,  and  Chicago.  Ad- 
ditional cities  where  television  sta- 
tions will  be  located  when  applications 
are  granted  include  Washington,  Bos- 
ton, Rochester,  Pittsburgh,  Cleveland, 
Spokane,  San  Francisco,  Denver, 
Richmond,  Va.,  New  Orleans,  Okla- 
homa City,  Riverside,  Calif,  and  Hart- 
ford. 

Investment  of  approximately  $100,- 
000,000  within  the  next  few  years  by 
Bell  Telephone  Co.  in  the  construction 
of  6,000  to  7,000  miles  of  coaxial 
telephone  cables,  to  transmit  television 
images  was  indicated  late  last  week  by 
Edith  S.  McHugh,  vice-president  of 
American  Telephone  and  Telegraph 
Co.  It  will  make  possible  the  linking 
of  the  above  mentioned  cities  and 
others  in  television  networks. 


Wednesday,  June  14,  1944 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY 


7 


First  Invasion 
Shots  Shown 


with 

with 
air- 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

News  of  the  Day"  screened  for  the 
rade  and  daily  press  for  approxi- 
lately  10-and-one-half  brief  moments 
SO  feet  compiled  from  the  footage 
lade  available  to  the  five  reels.  All 
xe  newsreels  were  furnished 
^ies  of  identical  material. 

The  transports  and  gliders 
heir  cargoes  of  fighting  men; 
iorne  and  sea-borne  troops;  a  feeling 
if  the  punitive  power  of  4,000  ships 
md  11,000  planes  that  smashed  at  the 
:  Vestwall  are  all  depicted  here. 

The  most  telling  shots  are  those 
vherein  an  invasion  barge  loaded 
4-vith  Canadians  nears  the  beach  with 
he  men  huddling  behind  the  slim 
irmor  of  the  barge's  sides.  They  file 
me  by  one  into  the  waters  with  full 
jear  into  a  hail  of  bullets  from  the 
tfazi  defenders.  Many  drop  like 
;traw  dummies,  but  the  rest  push  for- 
ward onto  the  beaches. 

General  Brereton  Shown 

In  the  air,  tracer  bullets  find  their 
nark  on  German  planes  on  the 
jround.  General  Brereton  of  the 
Ninth  Air  Force  is  shown  in  one  se- 
quence giving  a  crew  a  rabbit's  foot. 
They  needed  it,  for  the  Westwall  ex- 
acted a  toll  before  it  was  breached. 

Generals  Eisenhower,  Bradley  _  and 
Montgomery  are  shown  on  the  pitch 
ing  deck  of  a  battleship  planning  fur 
ther  for  the  defeat  of  the  Nazis.  Other 
shots  show  German  prisoners  stream 
ing  in,  and  Allied  wounded  being 
transported  back  to   England.  The 


-'first 
'  with 


shown 
on  the 


precarious   foothold  is 
the  troops  digging  in 
sandy   beach   before   towering  cliffs 
Jthat  had  to  be  taken — and  were. 
1    Sgt.  Dick  Taylor  of  the  U.  S.  Sig- 
nal Corps  was  hit,  but  not  before  he 
captured    some    fine    shots.  John 
Brockhorst  and  Jack  Leib  of  "News 
'of  the  Day,"  together  with  other  cam- 
eramen, contributed  many  fine  _  shots^ 
Footage  will  be  incorporated  in  the 
1  regular  issues  of  the  five  newsreels 
and  will  be  shown  starting  tomorrow. 
Here   is   a   rousing   bond-seller  for 
showmen.    Quentin  Reynolds  did  spe- 
cial commentary  for  "News  of  the 
Day." 

Reynolds  also  handled  the  nar- 
ration for  M-G-M ;  Jackson  Beck  and 
Douglas  Weist  for  Pathe;  Bob  Har- 
ris and  Gregory  Abbott  for  Para- 
mount;  Ed  Herlihey  for  Universal 
md  Ed  Thorgenson  for  Fox.      C.  R. 


WMC  Ruling  Lines 
Up  Lineman' 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

to  jobs  as  telephone  operators,  while 
musicians  will  be  translated  into  weld- 
ers. Dancers  will  be  classed  as  line- 
men. 

"Job  Family"  lists  will  be  made  avail- 
able to  interviewers  in  all  the  employ- 
ment offices,  in  which  jobs  will  be 
classified  by  some  characteristic  simi- 
larity to  the  present  employment  of 
applicants.  Thus,  it  was  explained  to- 
night by  WMC  officials,  "Dancers 
might  be  referred  to  a  number  of  es- 
sential jobs,  including  linemen  which 
requires  foot  dexterity."  Dishwashers 
employed  in  night  clubs  could  be  re- 
ferred to  a  score  or  more  jobs  in  es- 
sential industry,  it  was  also  said,  and 
at  a  pinch  could  be  employed  in  war 
plant  cafeterias  as  dish  washers. 


47  Listed  by 
Monogram,  an 
Increase  of  7 


— — — B 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


HEAVENLY  MUSIC  ON  OPENING  DAY- 
"AND  THE  ANGELS  SING"   20%  BETTER 
I N  HOUSTON ;   21%  SWEETER   I N 
DES  "M0 I NES;   MORE  THAN  TWICE 
AS  GOOD   IN  WHEELING,  W.  VA.t 
AND  AHEAD  OF  THE  CHORUS  IN 
DALLAS,   AS  LAM0UR- -MAC  MURRAY 
HUTT0N  SMASH  BEATS  OPENING 
DAY  FIGURES  FOR  "MIRACLE  OF 
MORGAN'S  CREEK"    I N  SAME 
THEATRES,   SAME  CITI ES. 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

58  and  two  specials  for  Columbia, 
compared  to  52  in  the  current  season 
— both  totals  including  Westerns.  On 
June  12,  Universal's  1944-45  program 
was  listed  at  55,  two  less  than  the  57 
of  the  current  year,  and  likewise  in- 
cluding Westerns. 

Johnston  tomorrow  will  announce 
the  following  program  for  1944-45  for 
Monogram : 

London's  'Alaska' 

"Alaska,"  Jack  London  story  pro- 
duced by  Linseley  Parsons  with  Kent 
Taylor  and  Margaret  Lindsay ;  "A 
Wave,  a  Wac  and  a  Marine,"  pro- 
duced by  Edward  Sherman  of  Bilt- 
more  Prod.,  with  Elyse  Knox,  Anne 
Gillis  and  Salley  Eilers ;  "The  Secret 
Life  of  Goebbels,"  produced  by  W.  R. 
Frank,  with  Sigrid  Gurie,  Donald 
Woods,  Frank  Morgan;  "I  Married  a 
Stranger,"  King  Brothers  production 
featuring  Dean  Jagger  and-  Kim  Hun- 
ter ;  "They  Shall  Have  Faith,"  infan- 
tile paralysis  story  produced  by  Jef- 
frey Bernerd  with  Gale  Storm,  Mary 
Boland  and  Johnny  Mack  Brown ;  and 
"Black  Beauty,"  from  the  book  of  the 
same  name,  another  Lindsley  Parsons 
production. 

Also :  "Rhapsody  On  Ice,"  Scott 
Dunlap  production,  starring  Belita ; 
"Sunbonnet  Sue,"  another  Dunlap  pro- 
duction, featuring  Gus  Edwards'  mu- 
sic ;  "Little  Devils,"  produced  by 
Grant  Withers;  "John  Dillinger, 
Killer,"  King  Brothers  production; 
"Bowery  Boys,"  Sam  Katzman-Jack 
Dietz  film  with  the  East  Side  Kids, 
who  will  appear  in  three  more  not  yet 
titled;  three  Philip  N.  Krasne-James 
S.  Burkett  Charlie  Chan  productions 
starring  Sidney  Toler ;  two  featuring 
the  radio  character,  "The  Shadow," 
to  be  produced  by  A.  W.  Hackel. 

More  for  Parsons 

Also :  "Army  Wives,"  comedy- 
drama  to  be  made  by  Lindsley  Par- 
sons ;  "G.  I.  Honeymoon,"  another 
Parsons  film;  three  Billy  Gilbert- 
Shemp  Howard-Maxie  Rosenbloom 
comedies  to  be  produced  by  Katzman- 
Dietz ;  "Twenty-four  Hours  Leave," 
another  from  Katzman-Dietz,  based 
on  a  Saturday  Evening  Post  story ; 
Dollar  Chasers,"  an  A.  W.  Hackel 
production  of  an  Earl  Derr  Biggers 
story ;  "Carry  On,"  comedy  from 
Biltmore  Prod. ;  two  Kitty  O'Day  de- 
tective-comedies featuring  Jean  Parker 
and  Peter  Cookson,  produced  by  Par- 
sons, whose  commitments  also  include 
"Rhythm  Ranch,"  a  musical  presenting 
'N.  T.  G."  and  girls. 

There  will  also  be  a  series  of  eight 
Cisco  Kid  pictures,  to  be  produced 
by  Krasne-Burkett  and  eight  starring 
johnny  Mack  Brown  and  Raymond 
Hatton,  to  be  supervised  by  Charles 
J.  Bigelow. 


'Hairy  Ape'  Overseas 

Jules  Levey,  producer  of  United 
Artists'  "The  Hairy  Ape"  has  don- 
ated 75  16mm  prints  of  the  film  to 
the  Army  Overseas  Motion  Picture 
Service  for  exhibition  in  combat  areas. 


MOTION  PICTURE 


DAI 


I  VOL.  55.  NO.  117 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  15,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Studios  Seen 
Exempt  from 
Hiring  Order 

Central  Casting,  Unions 
May  Be  Unaffected 

Washington,  June  14. — Continu- 
ance of  Hollywood  studios'  present 
policy  of  employing  talent  and  labor 
through  the  Central  Casting  Bureau 
and  union  hiring  halls  was  seen  as 


Hollywood,   June    14. — The  new 
I   WMC  ruling  will  not  affect  produc- 
I    tion  employment  processes  in  any 
I    way,  Pat  Casey,  studio  labor  con- 
I    tact,  told  Motion  Picture  Daily  to- 
day, pointing  out  that  provision  is 
made  for  continuance  of  special  set- 
ups such  as  have  been  established 
in  the  production  field.  E.  C.  Rine- 
hart,  Regional  WMC  director,  has 
called  a  Tuesday  meeting  to  hear 
|L  applications  for  exemption. 


SOPEG  Demand  Set 
For  New  Pacts  for 
2,000  Film  Workers 


probable  today  by  War  Manpower 
Commission  officials,  here,  but  they 
said  the  actual  arrangements  will  have 
to  be  made  with  the  director  of  the 
California  regional  office. 

Although     responsibility     for  the 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Stone  on  Coast  to 
Start  UA  Program 

Hollywood,  June  14. — Producer-di- 
rector Andrew  L.  Stone  today  went  to 
work  on  a  new  $3,750,000  production 
program  of  three  major  pictures  for 
release  through  United  Artists  during 
the  next  18  months. 

The  first  two  will  be  "Miss  Amer- 
ica," technicolor  musical  displaying 
the  beauty  champions  of  the  48  states, 
and  "Sensations  of  1946,"  backed  by 
acts  from  many  fields  of  entertain- 
ment. The  third  will  be  taken  from 
a  best-seller  novel  or  a  Broadway 
play. 

Stone  has  just  returned  from  New 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


Floods  in  Nebraska 
Menacing  Business 

Omaha,  June  14. — Flash  floods, 
even  more  devastating  to  film  business 
than  those  that  struck  two  weeks  ago, 
hit  in  Eastern  Nebraska  over  this 
week,  giving  film  distributors  one  of 
their  biggest  headaches  in  years. 

West  bound  trains  were  halted  and 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


M-G-M,  20th  Century-Fox,  Para- 
mount, RKO  Radio  and  Columbia  are 
expected  to  receive  proposals  for 
a  new  contract  covering  some  2,000 
of  their  home  office  workers  from  the 
Screen  Office  and  Professional  Em- 
ployes Guild,  Local  109,  CIO,  this 
week.  SOPEG  contracts  with  the 
five  companies  will  expire  July  27. 

SOPEG  proposals  for  a  new  con- 
tract include  demands  for  a  closed 
shop ;  dues  checkoff ;  three  weeks'  va- 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


$15,000,000 
Mono.  Quota 


Los  Angeles,  June  14. — Monogram 
will  deliver  100  per  cent  of  the  47 
feature  length  films  on  its  1944-45 
program  and  will  do  so  far  ahead  of 
schedule,  execu- 
tive director 
Trem  Carr  told 
franchise  hold- 
ers in  conven- 
tion at  the  Am- 
bassador Hotel 
today,  following 
which  Steve 
Broidy,  vice- 
president 
and  general  sales 
manager,  set  a 
sales  quota  of 
$15,000,000  for 
the  new  season. 
M  o  n  o  g  r  a  m's 
new  season's 
product  was  detailed  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily  yesterday. 

Predicating  his  assurance  of  delivery 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Steve  Broidy 


AGREE  TO  REVISE 
DECREE  WORDING 


Studio  Unions 
Pledge  Fealty 

Hollywood,  June  14. — Her- 
bert K.  Sorrell,  president  of 
Hollywood  Conference  of  Stu- 
dio Unions,  has  sent  the  fol- 
lowing telegram  to  President 
Roosevelt : 

"We,  as  Americans  are 
proud  to  be  among  the 
peoples  united  for  a  free 
world.  We  renew  our  pledge 
to  our  government  to  carry 
on  and  render  every  aid  that 
is  humanly  possible.  We  will 
refuse  to  stop  work.  We  will 
contribute  every  dollar  we 
can  spare  for  the  purchase  of 
bonds.  We  will  give  our  blood 
to  save  the  lives  of  those  men 
and  women  making  the  great- 
est of  all  contributions  on  the 
battlefields.  We  are  behind 
you  as  our  Commander-in- 
Chief." 


Para.  Lawyers  Honor 
Keough  at  Luncheon 

Members  of  the  Paramount  legal 
department  tendered  a  testimonial 
birthday  luncheon  to  Austin  C. 
Keough,  Paramount  vice-president  and 
general  counsel,  at  the  Hotel  Astor 
here  yesterday  and  presented  him 
with  several  old  and  rare  editions  of 
British  sporting  prints.  Mrs.  Keough 
was  present  at  the  luncheon.  Ar- 
rangements were  handled  by  Charles 
Brouda. 

Among  those  who  attended  were 
Henry  Anderson,  George  A.  Barry, 
Brouda,  Clark  Brown,  J.  L.  Brown, 

(Continued  on  page  111 


$50, 625, 000  Company  Bond 
Buys;  4  Millions  to  RKO 


Leonard  H.  Goldenson,  chairman 
for  motion  picture  industry  corporate 
subscriptions  in  the  Fifth  War  Loan, 
reported  yesterday  that  a  total  of  $50,- 
625,000  in  bonds  had  been  subscribed 
through  his  committee  by  film  and 
allied  corporations  with  headquarters 
in  New  York.  Additional  amounts 
are  expected. 

RKO  has  bought  $4,000,000  in  war 
bonds  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan  Drive, 
according  to  notification  from  Mal- 


colm Kingsberg,  company  treasurer. 
The  corporate  buy  includes  RKO 
Theatres,  RKO  Radio  Pictures  and 
other  RKO  subsidiaries,  but  does  not 
include  purchases  by  the. more  than 
7,000  RKO  executives  and  employees. 

In  addition  to  subscriptions  already 
announced  by  Goldenson,  he  revealed 
yesterday  that  Warner  Bros.,  includ- 
ing theatre  subsidiaries,  which  origi- 
nally had  pledged  $4,000,000,  has  in- 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Companies  Will  Waive 
'Showcase'  Clause 
In  the  Final  Draft 


By  MILTON  LIVINGSTON 

In  a  final  effort  to  meet  Depart- 
ment of  Justice  suggestions  for  re- 
vision of  the  Jan.  20  draft  of  a  new 
consent  decree,  counsel  for  the  five 
decree  companies  met  with  presidents 
of  the  companies  here  yesterday,  and 
certain  alterations  in  phraseology  of 
the  draft  will  be  made  in  order  to 
clarify  some  of  the  provisions,  but 
few  alterations  will  be  made  in  can- 
cellation and  theatre  expansion  clauses, 
it  was  learned.  The  companies  agreed 
to  forego  the  theatre  "show  case" 
provision  of  the  new  proposals  gov- 
erning circuit  expansion. 

To  Clark  Next  Week 

It  is  expected  that  the  revised  draft 
will  be  in  the  hands  of  Assistant  U.  S. 
Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark  early- 
next  week  for  submission  to  Attor- 
ney General  Francis  Biddle.  The  de- 
cision as  to  whether  there  will  be  a 
new  consent  decree  or  whether  the 
Department  of  Justice  will  prosecute 
its  anti-trust  suit  against  the  five  ma- 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Golden,  Cagney 
On  MPPDA  Board 


Edward  A.  Golden  and  William 
Cagney  were  elected  members  of  the 
MPPDA  board  of  directors  at  the 
quarterly  meeting  of  the  Association 
here  yesterday,  following  the  admission 
of  Edward  A.  Golden  Prod.,  Inc., 
and  Cagney  Prod,  to  membership  in 
the  Association. 

The  board  of  directors  authorized 
the  purchase  of  an  undisclosed  amount 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Court  Rules  on  Tax 
For  Screen  Rights 

The  U.  S.  Circuit  Court  of  Appeals 
here  yesterday,  in  two  opinions  hold- 
ing different  views  but  reaching  the 
same  verdict,  held  that  the  money  re- 
ceived by  an  author  for  film  rights 
to  a  copyrighted  work  is  ordinary 
income  subject  to  personal  income. tax, 
and  not  capital  gain,  subject  to  lower 
tax  rates. 

The  circuit  court  ruled  that  the  tax 
(Continued  on  page  11) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  15,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 

EDWARD  C.  RAFTERY  is  ex- 
pected from  the  Coast  today. 
• 

John  J.  Galvin,  manager  of  the 
Orpheum,  Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  has  been 
named  to  head  the  war  industries  divi- 
sion of  the  Luzerne  County  Fifth  War 
Loan  Drive.  John  Comerford,  district 
manager  of  Comerford  Theatres,  is 
heading  the  theatre  interests  division. 
• 

A.  H.  Blank  of  Tri-States  Theatre 
Corp.,  Des  Moines,  and  Frank  Rog- 
ers of  Florida  State  Theatres,  Inc., 
Jacksonville,  arrived  here  yesterday  for 
three  or  four  days  of  busines. 
• 

Charles  Bailey,  Jr.,  whose  father 
is  assistant  to  Norman  H.  Moray, 
Warners  short  subjects  sales  manager, 
will  report  to  Holy  Cross  College  next 
month  for  Navy  V-12  training. 
• 

Max  Finn,  general  manager  of  E. 
M.  Loew's  circuit  in  New  England, 
visited  Hartford,  Conn.,  this  week  on 
business. 

• 

Walt  Disney  left  for  Hollywood 
yesterday  with  Mrs.  Disney  follow- 
ing a  two-week  vacation  here, 
e 

James  J.  Murphy,  Jr.,  assistant  ex- 
ecutive director  of  the  motion  picture 
arbitration  system,  is  on  vacation. 
• 

Edwin  F.  Zabel,  National  Theatres 
executive,  is  in  New  York  from  the 
Coast. 

• 

James  R.  Grainger  is  expected 
back  from  the  Coast  at  the  weekend. 

Scribes  See  D-Day 
Uncensored  Films 

London,  June  14. — Selected  war 
correspondents  here  were  shown  un- 
censored newsreel  shots  of  the  D-Day 
attack  and  Normandy  beachhead 
scenes  today.  The  footage  comprises 
not  only  an  exceptional  historic  rec- 
ord but  also  is  a  tribute  to  the  news- 
reel  cameramen  who  provided  it.  One 
camera  caught  another  cameraman  at 
the  moment  he  was  hit. 

After  censoring,  the  films  will  be  re- 
leased to  theatres  throughout  the  na- 
tion tomorrow  on  a  scale  expected  to 
establish  a  new  distribution  record. 

Warner  Home  Office 
Workers  Get  Bonus 

Mid-year  bonus  checks  were  dis- 
tributed to  Warner  Bros,  home  office 
employes  yesterday  following  the  com- 
pany's policy  in  previous  years. 

Employes  receiving  up  to  $50  a 
week  received  a  week's  salary  and 
those  receiving  over  $50  received  a 
maximum  of  $50. 


Terrytoon  Trip  Friday 

Paul  Terry,  president  of  Terry- 
toons,  will  entertain  the  trade  press 
at  a  luncheon  and  trip  through  his 
cartoon  studio,  New  Rochelle,  N.  Y., 
tomorrow. 


Clearance  Complaint 
Filed;  Two  Appeal 


A  new  clearance  complaint  has  been 
filed  in  the  New  York  tribunal  and 
appeals  filed  in  the  Boston  and  Buf- 
falo tribunals,  the  American  Aribtra- 
tion  Association  reported  here  yester- 
day. 

East  Islip  Theatre,  Inc.,  operating 
the  East  Islip  Theatre,  East  Islip, 
N.  Y.,  filed  a  clearance  complaint 
yesterday  against  the  five  consenting 
companies,  alleging  that  the  *  seven 
days'  clearance  granted  the  Amityville, 
the  Babylon,  the  Bayshore  and  Regent 
at  Bayshore ;  the  Sayville,  and  the 
Smithtown  are  unreasonable,  with  the 
exception  of  the  seven  days  to  the 
Bayshore,  and  should  be  eliminated. 
Further,  complainant  asks,  that  if 
some  clearance  of  one.  or  more  of  the 
theatres  is  reasonable,  clearance  be 
reduced  to  one  day.  Complainant  fur- 
ther petitions  that  a  ceiling  be  put  on 
the  waiting  time  between  Bayshore  and 
East  Islip  on  product  availability. 

In  the  Buffalo  tribunal,  Basil 
Brothers  appealed  arbitrator  Louis  B. 
Dorr's  award  cutting  the  clearance 
of  Schine's  Granada  over  its  Varsity 
from  four  to  10  days  to  five.  In 
Boston,  Arlington  Theatres,  an  in- 
tervener, appealed  the  clearance  re- 
duction granted  E.  M.  Loew's  Win- 
chester Theatre,  Winchester,  Mass., 
by  arbitrator  Charles  S.  Bolster. 


Air  Convention  Tele. 
Films  Within  12  Hrs. 

Television  set  owners  in  the  New 
York,  Philadelphia  and  Schenectady 
areas  are  expected  to  see  the  films 
of  the  Republican  National  Conven- 
tion in  Chicago,  which  are  to  be  made 
specially  by  RKO  Television  Corp., 
within  12  hours  after  they  are  taken 
rather  than  24  hours  as  anticipated 
originally,  according  to  C.  L.  Menser, 
NBC  vice  president  in  charge  of  pro- 
grams. 

Originally  it  was  believed  that  24 
hours  must  elapse  between  the  filming 
of  convention  activities  and  the  tele- 
casting of  sequences  over  WNBT  and 
other  stations,  but  further  study  re- 
vealed that  express  planes  and  rapid 
processing  will  reduce  the  interval 
materially.  On  the  June  26  program, 
WNBT  will  lead  up  to  its  on-the- 
spot  coverage  with  a  film,  specially 
made  for  telecasting  by  RKO  Tele- 
vision Corp.,  and  presenting  scenes 
from  past  conventions  and  relating  in- 
cidents from  the  early  careers  of  the 
presidential  candidates. 


Baldridge  a  Candidate 

Winchester,  Va.,  June  14.  —  The 
Winchester  Board  of  Trade  has 
nominated  Tom  Baldridge  for  presi- 
dent of  the  United  States  Junior  Cham- 
ber of  Commerce.  The  nominee  since 
1941  has  been  promotion  and  public 
contact  representative  for  M-G-M.  He 
is  also  serving  as  a  dollar-a-year"  man 
for  the  War  Finance  Committee  of 
Virginia  and  in  this  capacity  directs 
the  theatre  section  participating  in 
War  Loan  drives. 


Broadcasters  Had 
50%  Income  Rise 


Washington,  June  14. — Broadcast- 
ing'stations  of  the  United  States  re- 
ceived a  service  income  of  $46,481,397 
in  1943,  or  more  than  50  percent  more 
than  in  1942,  the  Federal  Communica- 
tions Commission  reported  here  yester- 
day. The  report  was  issued  simultane- 
ously with  one  by  James  L.  Fly,  FCC 
chairman,  that  tomorrow  will  mark 
one  year  of  operation  under  FCC 
anti-monopoly  regulations. 

"NBC  which  in  1942  earned  137 
percent  on  the  value  of  its  property, 
in  1943  earned  a  return,  before  income 
tax,  of  190  percent,"  Fly  said  in  his 
report.  "CBS  went  up  from  a  97  per- 
cent return  in  1942  to  158  percent  in 
1943.  The  Blue  Network  went  up  from 
eight  percent  to  149  percent." 

Bid  for  Goldwyn's 
British  Film  Rights 

London,  June  14. — Two  Cities  Films 
is  endeavoring  to  purchase  from  Sam- 
uel Goldwyn  the  world  distribution 
rights,  exclusive  of  Britain,  South 
Africa  and  Australia,  to  its  new  pro- 
duction, "The  Way  Ahead,"  which 
Goldwyn  holds.  A  first  purchase  offer 
.vas  rejected  by  Goldwyn  and  a  second 
has  drawn  no  response  from  him  as 
yet. 

The  film  stars  Lt.  Col.  David  Niven 
who,  under  contract  to  Goldwyn,  was 
released  from  military  duties  to  make 
the  film  which  was  designed  by  the 
War  Office  as  an  aid  to  public  morale 
and  as  Army  propaganda.  Under  the 
terms  by  which  Niven  was  loaned  to 
Two  Cities,  Goldwyn  acquired  the  dis- 
tribution rights  to  the  film  despite 
Two  Cities'  protests.  It  is  reported 
that  British  authorities  once  rejected 
a  suggestion  that  Washington  be 
asked  to  endeavor  to  influence  Gold- 
wyn to  relinquish  his  distribution 
rights  in  view  of  Niven's  military 
status. 

Loew's  Offers  Stern 
Sportcasts  on  WEAF 

Loew's,  Inc.,  has  signed  Bill  Stern 
and  his  sportscasts  for  52  weeks  on 
a  Monday  through  Friday  basis  on 
station  WEAF,  New  York  outlet  of 
the  National  Broadcasting  Co. 

Stern  is  sports  commentator  for 
M-G-M's  "News  of  the  Day"  news- 
reel  and  recently  signed  a  new  two- 
year  contract. 


Ziemer  Joins  OWI 

George  Ziemer,  author  of  "Educa- 
tion for  Death,"  filmed  as  "Hitler's 
Children,"  has  been  appointed  to  the 
Office  of  War  Information,  with  head- 
quarters in  London,  where  he  will 
broadcast  to  the  German  people.  Zie- 
mer has  been  a  news  commentator  on 
radio  stations  WLW  and  WSAI. 


Rank  Is  Reelected 

London,  June  14. — J.  Arthur  Rank 
was  reelected  president  of  the  British 
Film  Producers  Association  at  the 
organization's  annual  meeting  here  to- 
day. William  Glenville  Hall,  M.P., 
was  reelected  vice-president. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollywood,  June  14 

MAJOR  CLARK  GABLE,  who 
has  returned  to  civilian  clothes, 
does  not  immediately  plan  to  resume 
making  films,  according  to  M-G-M. 
Gable  will  be  occupied  until  mid-July 
completing  an  air  training  film,  a  stu- 
dio spokesman  said. 

• 

Paramount  has  purchased  "Double 
Trouble,"  an  original  by  Ruth  McKin- 
ney,  author  of  "My  Sister  Eileen,"  and 
her  husband,  Richard  Barstem. 
"Double  Trouble"  will  be  incorporated 
with  Harry  Tugend's  story,  "Cross  My 
Heart,"  and  the  two  will  work  with 
Tugend  on  a  screenplay. 

• 

Gregory  Ratoff,  whose  latest  for 
20th  Century-Fox  is  "Irish  Eyes  Are 
Smiling,"  has  been  signed  to  a  two- 
year  producer-director-writer  contract 
by  the  company.  His  next  for  the 
company,  under  the  new  pact,  will  be 
"Where  Do  We  Go  From  Here?" 
• 

Sidney  Buchman  and  Nate  Spin- 
gold,  Columbia  executives,  arrived  here 
today  from  New  York,  the  former  to 
resume  production  duties,  the  latter  to 
confer  on  release  details  of  important 
features. 

• 

Olin  Clark,  M-G-M  story  head,  ar- 
rived here  today  from  New  York  for 
studio  conferences. 

• 

Warners   today  assigned  Jesse  L. 
Lasky  to  produce   "The  Two  Mrs. 
Carrolls"  and  "Don't  Ever  Leave  Me." 
• 

H.  J.  Yates,  Consolidated  Film  In- 
dustries' president,  will  leave  for  the 
East  Tuesday. 

Army  Booklet  By 
Jock  Lawrence 

Col.  Jock  Lawrence,  Army  public 
relations  officer  attached  to  Headquar- 
ters, European  Theatre  of  Operations, 
is  the  author  of  a  booklet  entitled 
"Know  Your  War  Correspondent." 
Prepared  for  the  field  commanders  of 
the  European  Theatre,  U.S.A.,  the 
booklet  discusses  the  status  of  the  war 
correspondent. 

Col.  Lawrence  before  the  war  was 
in  public  relations  work  in  Hollywood. 

Van  Praag  Manager 
For  PRC  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  June  14. — Morton  Van 
Praag,  former  general  sales  manager 
of  Universal  and  sales  manager  of 
National  Screen  Service,  has  been  ap- 
pointed PRC  branch  manager  here  by 
Henri  Elman,  local  franchise  holder. 
Of  late,  Van  Praag  has  been  doing 
war  work  for  the  Government. 


Weill  to  Film  Classics 

Carol  Weill,  formerly  with  Republic 
Pictures  and  the  Milton  Rubin  agen- 
cy, has  been  appointed  head  of  the 
Film  Classics  publicity  department  by 
president  George  Hirliman. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher:  Sher  win  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
ir  n°Mays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-5100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin' Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Willif-n  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Bumup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y-,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


ERROL  FLYNN  IN  'UNCERTAIN  GLORY'  GETS  TIMELIER 


EVERY  HOUR  AS  DARING  FRENCH  RESISTANCE  MOUNTS! 


FAST-THINKING  SHOWMEN  ARE  GIVING  THIS  VERY  BIG  ANGLE 


PLENTY  OF  ATTENTION  IN  THEIR  CAMPAIGNS!  ARE  YOU? 


ERROL  FLYNN  M  'UNCERTAIN  GLORY' 


JACK  L.  WARNER       with  JEAN  SULLIVAN  •  PAUL  LUKAS  •  LUCILLE  WATSON  •  Directed  by  RAOUL  WALSH  •  screen 


4 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  15,  1944 


Reviews 

"The  Black  Parachute" 

(Columbia) 

Hollywood,  June  14 

COLUMBIA  adds  a  timely  chapter  to  the  story  of  the  accomplish- 
merits  of  the  underground  movement  in  occupied  countries  with  this 
tense  tale  of  spies  and  saboteurs.  Jack  Fier's  production  is  a  neat  con- 
trivance and  Lew  Lander's  direction  achieves  a  sense  of  mounting  ex- 
citement. The  cast  deserves  much  credit  and  the  performances  of  John 
Carradine  as  the  Nazi  general,  Larry  Parks  as  the  young  American, 
Jeanne  Bates  as  the  peasant  girl,  and  Osa  Massen  as  the  Fascist  syco- 
phant are  to  be  commended. 

The  screenplay  is  by  Clarence  Upson  Young,  and  the  story,  by  Paul 
Gangelin,  concerns  the  efforts  of  a  band  of  patriots  in  an  occupied  coun- 
try to  rescue  their  king,  who  has  been  taken  into  protective  custody  by 
the  Nazis.  With  the  aid  of  a  young  American  who  can  think  fast  and 
shoot  straight,  the  mission  is  accomplished  and  the  Nazis  are  success- 
fully outwitted. 

Running  time,  65  mins.   "G."*   Release  date,  May  4.     Thalia  Bell 


"The  Pinto  Bandit" 

(PRC) 

Hollywood,  June  14 

DAVE  O'BRIEN,  Jim  Newill  and  Guy  Wilkerson  are  teamed  in  this 
Alfred  Stern  production,  which  is  not  up  to  par  in  action  and  ex- 
citement.  Newill's  rendering  of  three  songs  adds  a  pleasant  note. 

Director  Elmer  Clifton  wrote  the  original,  which  presents  the  trio  as 
rangers  in  search  of  a  mysterious  bandit  who  rides  a  pinto  horse.  The 
heroine  is  Mady  Lawrence,  who  brings  considerable  skill  to  her  part  of 
the  postmistress  whose  mail  riders  are  being  killed  off  by  the  bandit.  The 
rangers  help  her  to  solve  her  problems  by  exposing  the  group  responsible 
for  the  killings.  An  exciting  relay  race  brings  the  picture  to  a  fast 
finish. 

Running  time,  55  minutes.    "G."*  -T.  B. 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


63  Training  Films 
Made  by  Air  Force; 
15  More  in  Work 

Sixty-three  training  films  have 
been  completed  by  the  First  Motion 
Picture  Unit  of  the  Army  Air  Forces 
Motion  Picture  Services  at  Culver 
City,  23  subjects  have  been  partially 
treated,  15  are  in  production,  and  a 
backlog  of  over  100  subjects  waits 
production,  according  to  a  report  re- 
leased by  the  War  Department. 

The  hundreds  of  thousands  of  feet 
of  film  exposed  by  AAF  combat  cam- 
eramen have  served  the  dual  task  of 
training  future  air  and  ground  re- 
placements for  the  great  aerial  offen- 
sive swarming  over  Fortress  Europe 
and  of  recording  for  the  home  front 
pictorial  records  of  air  combat. 

Public  Sees  Some 

The  major  portion  of  air  combat 
footage  has  been  reserved  for  military 
use,  the  report  states,  although  the 
public,  through  the  newsreels  and 
special  films  like  "The  Memphis 
Belle,"  has  seen  much  of  it.  Over- 
seas footage  is  photographed  by  com- 
bat camera  units  attached  to  10  of  the 
11  Air  Forces  stationed  abroad. 
Lieut.  Col.  Ralph  Jester,  formerly 
with  Paramount,  is  in  charge.  Train- 
ing films  are  produced  by  the  AAF 
First  Motion  Picture  Unit  at  Culver 
City,  Col.  R.  M.  Jones,  commanding, 
with  Lieut.  Col.  Owen  Crump,  in 
charge  of  production. 

The  Air  Forces  film  unit  has  ex- 
panded from  a  technical  unit  main- 
tained at  Wright  Field,  Dayton,  O., 
to  the  production  of  training  films. 
The  old  Vitagraph  studios  in  Holly- 
wood were  acquired  for  this  purpose 
in  1942  with  Lieut.  Col.  William 
Keighley  in  charge.  The  unit  then 
took  over  the  Hal  Roach  studios. 

Recruits  from  Industry 

The  Training  and  the  Combat 
Units  were  recruited  from  the  indus- 
try through  the  cooperation  of  the 
newsreels  and  the  technicians'  unions. 
These  men,  experts  in  their  field,  re- 
quired only  military  training. 

After  combat  footage  is  exposed  it 
is  dispatched  to  the  First  Army  Air 
Forces  Combat  Film  Detachment, 
New  York,  where  writers,  cutters, 
sound  and  music  editors  process  and 
assemble  the  material.  Major  Ber- 
tram Teitlebaum  is  in  charge  here. 
In  a  year  750,000  feet  pass  through 
for  processing,  most  of  it  35mm.  black 
and  white,  with  a  smaller  amount  of 
16mm.  both  in  color  and  black  and 
white.  Roughly  half  of  the  footage  is 
actually  combat  material,  the  balance 
records  ground  operations.  This  is 
supplemented  by  technical  reels,  called 
AAF  firm  reports. 

Commons  Sees  RAF 
Training  Film 

London,  June  14. — The  first  impor- 
tant use  to  which  the  motion  picture 
projector  donated  by  J.  Arthur  Rank 
to  the  House  of  Commons  will  be  put 
will  be  the  private  showing  of  "The 
RAF  in  Combined  Operations,"  which 
depicts  intensive  RAF  training  for 
D-Day. 

The  film  has  not  been  shown  pub- 
licly but  a  strong  movement  is  afoot 
to  have  it  released  generally  in  view 
of  intense  public  interest  in  invasion 
happenings. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Five  Ross  Federal 
Field  Men  Promoted 

Promotions  of  five  Ross  Federal 
Service  representatives  are  reported  by 
the  company  here.  Scott  Hillam, 
branch  manager  in  Salt  Lake  City, 
has  been  named  to  an  executive  posi- 
tion at  the  home  office.  Kenneth  A. 
Derby,  former  Seattle  manager,  suc- 
ceeds Hillam  in  Utah. 

Other  advancements  include  the  ap- 
pointment of  H.  C.  Keddy,  Dallas  ser- 
vice manager,  to  head  the  Indianapolis 
office,  succeeding  E.  A.  MacKenna. 
H.  M.  Ratcliff  has  taken  over  at  Cin- 
cinnati and  Walter  C.  Morey  has  been 
transferred  to  Los  Angeles. 


Eastman  Kodak  Gets 
Third  Star 'E'  Award 

Rochester,  N.  Y.,  June  14. — East- 
man Kodak  Co.  has  been  granted  a 
third  star  for  its  Army-Navy  'E'  pen- 
nants flying  at  Kodak  Park,  Camera 
Works,  Hawk-Eye  and  Kodak  Office, 
four  local  divisions  of  the  company. 

Bulk  of  Kodak's  present  production 
goes  either  directly  to  the  Army  or 
Navy  or  for  use  in  other  ways  con- 
sidered essential  by  the  Government. 
A  new  downtown  plant  in  the  re- 
cently-acquired Duffy-Powers  Build- 
ing this  week  went  into  production  of 
fire-control  equipment  for  the  Army. 


Marriott  Moved  to  L.A. 

Los  Angeles,  June  14. —William 
Marriott,  Republic's_Indianapolis  branch 
manager,  has  been  named  manager  of 
the  company's  branch  here. 


Abraham  Reelected 
By  Mgrs.  and  Agents 

Saul  Abraham  has  been  reelected 
president  of  the  Theatrical  Managers 
and  Agents  Union,  it  was  announced 
this  week.  Others  elected  were  Ben 
Boyar,  vice  president;  Milton  Wein- 
traub,  secretary  and  treasurer,  and 
Oliver  M.  Sayler,  business  agent. 
Elected  to  the  board  of  governors  for 
a  term  of  one  year  were  Morris 
Jacobs,  Herman  Bernstein,  Robert 
Milford  and  Frank  L.  Smith,  repre- 
senting the  managers  ;  Bernard  Simon 
and  Arthur  J.  Levy,  for  the  New  York 
press  agents ;  Howard  Herrick  and 
Charles  Mulligan,  for  the  road  press 
agents,  and  Nathan  Parnes  and  Wil- 
liam Mercur,  for  the  Yiddish  group. 


Medal  for  Joe  E.  Brown 

Joe  E.  Brown,  whose  book,  "Your 
Kid's  and  Mine,"  describing  his  tour 
of  over  10,000  miles  to  visit  every  bat- 
tlefront  in  the  world,  will  be  published 
by  Doubleday  Doran  Sept.  26,  tonight 
will  be  awarded  the  Eisenhower  Me- 
dal as  the  "1944  Father  to  All  Men 
Overseas."  The  presentation  will  be 
made  by  Mayor  Fletcher  Bowron  of 
Los  Angeles  on  Brown's  "Stop  or  Go" 
radio  program. 


Moore  Films  to  Museum 

Colleen  Moore  has  presented  15  of 
her  starring  pictures,  including 
"Flaming  Youth"  to  the  Museum  of 
Modern  Art,  where  it  will  be  added 
to  the  collection  which  includes  films 
of  William  S.  Hart,  Douglas  Fair- 
bands,  Harold  Lloyd  and  Mary  Pick- 
ford. 


"Back  Door  to  Tokyo" 

(March  of  Time) 

With  a  motley  force  of  U.  S. -trained 
Chinese  troops  and  "G.  I.'s"  operating 
on  a  shoestring,  General  Joe  Stilwell 
is  smashing  through  the  jungle  sep- 
arating India  and  China.  Objective 
is  to  reopen  the  Burma  Road,  China's 
lifeline,  which  must  be  retaken  be- 
fore the  large-scale  landfighting,  a 
necesary  adjunct  to  the  frontal  at- 
tack now  being  undertaken  against 
Japan  by  MacArthur  and  Nimitz,  can 
be  realized.  In  "Back  Door  to 
Tokyo,"  March  of  Time's  latest  re- 
lease, the  hardships  attendant  on  hack- 
ing the  way  through  the  dual  enemy 
of  the  jungle  and  the  Japs,  are  vividly 
depicted.  When  this  supply  route  is 
again  secured,  China's  hard-pressed 
armies  will  once  more  have  access  to 
the  modern  equipment  and  supplies  so 
sorely  needed.  MOT  cameraman  Vic- 
tor Jurgens  has  supplied  many  excit- 
ing shots  making  this  one  on  a  par 
with  the  comprehensive,  pictorial  jour- 
nalism which  has  become  a  MOT  tra- 
dition. 

Running  time,  19  mins.  Release  date, 
June  16. 


'Our  Frontier  in  Italy' 

( Warners) 

A  fitting  subject  following  the  cap- 
ture of  Rome.  An  American  soldier, 
of  Italian  descent,  fighting  in  the 
country  of  his  fathers,  recalls  the  Italy 
his  family  knew.  Flashbacks  are 
employed,  and  effectively,  to  show 
Italian  cities  and  historic  landmarks 
as  they  were  prior  to  the  Nazi  inva- 
sion. The  narrative,  written  by  Saul 
Elkins,  is  a  bit  outdated  now  since  it 
was  written  as  the  Allies  were  fight- 
ing their  way  into  the  interior  of  that 
portion  of  the  country  which  they  now 
hold.  Running  time,  20  mins. 

Legion  Passes  Four, 
Objects  to  One 

The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
rates  Paramount's  "And  the  Angels 
Sing"  in  Class  B,  because  of  "sugges- 
tive dialogue  and  song."  Four  others 
are  held  to  be  unobjectionable. 

Approved  by  the  Legion  are :  "Song 
of  Nevada,"  Republic ;  "Candlelight 
in  Algeria,"  20th  Century-Fox ;  "Fol- 
low the  Leader,"  Monogram,  and 
"Secret  Command,"  Columbia. 


MGM  Contest  Starts 

Yesterday  marked  the  start  of  the 
first  M-G-M  annual  novel  award  con- 
test, to  run  until  July  7,  with  a  mini- 
mum prize  of  $125,000  and  a  possible 
maximum  of  $175,000. 

Judges  will  be  Harry  Hansen,  lit- 
erary critic  of  the  New  York  World- 
Telegram,  Amy  Lovemah,  associate 
editor  of  The  Saturday  Review  of  Lit- 
erature and  Sidney  Franklin,  M-G-M 
producer. 


Traveltalk  Deal  Stays 

M-G-M's  series  of  FitzPatrick 
Traveltalks  will  not  be  affected  by 
James  A.  Fitzpatrick"s  newly  signed 
pact  with  Republic  covering  feature 
productions  to  be  made  in  Latin  Amer- 
ica. According  to  M-G-M  home  office, 
the  FitzPatrick  short  subjects  will  be 
continued  under  the  existing  contract 
which  has  four  years  to  run. 


AT  tub  m. 

LONG  o.*  AM°UNT 


AT 


P**A 


IT 


THE 


His  performance  is  one  of  the  half  dozen 
finer  things  seen  in  motion  pictures  as  they 
complete  their  first  fifty  years"  — LIFE 


"Is  lovely  to  look  at  and  a  delight  to  the  ear" 

—  Kaie  Comer on ,  Daily  News 


"GOING  MY  WAY  " 


ith 


BING  CROSBY 


BARRY  FITZGERALD  •  Frank  McHugh  •  James  Brown 
Jean  Heather  -  Gene  Lockhart  •  Porter  Hall  •  Fortunio  Bonanova 

and  RISE  STEVENS 

Famous  Contralto  of  Metropolitan  Opera  Association 

B.  G.  DeSYLVA,  Executive  Producer 

Screen  Ploy  by  Frank  Butler  and  Frank  Covert 

Produced  and  Directed  by  LEO  McCAREY 


Thursday,  June  15,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


9 


$50, 625, 000  Company  Bond 
Buys;  4  Millions  to  RKO 


($15,000,000  Sales 
i  Goal  Set  by  Mono. 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

I  upon  the  fact  that  "of  the  26  features 
on  our  current  production  schedule, 

!  all  but  two  have  already  been  com- 
pleted," Carr  said,  "within  a  short  time 
we  will  be  devoting  our  energies  en- 
tirely to  production  for  next  year, 
and  will  thus  have  gained  the  extra 
time  required  for  the  making  of  the 
most  ambitious  program  in  the  history 

j1^  of  the  company." 

Broidy  said  of  the  sales  quota,  de- 
scribed as  largest  in  company  history, 
"It  is  my  opinion  that  we  should  have 

j  no  difficulty  whatever  in  attaining  this 
figure.  Indeed,  it  should  be  substan- 
tially surpassed,  due  to  two  important 
factors  which  are  plainly  in  evidence 
— the  steady  expansion  in  bookings 
which  is  now  coming  to  Monogram  as 
a  result  of  the  enhanced  quality  of 
its  product,  and  our  lineup  for  the  sea- 
son of"  1944-45,  not  only  as  it  exists 
on  paper  but  also  as  demonstrated  in 
top  productions  for  next  year  which 
have  already  been  completed  and 
screened.  It  is  only  reasonable  to  as- 
sume that  heightened  quality,  as  re- 
flected in  increased  production  costs, 
will  result  in  increased  receipts  for 
our  new  product,  both  to  our  custom- 
ers and  ourselves." 


Monogram  Holders  Will 
Vote  on  Bonus  Today 

Hollywood,  June  14. — Monogram 
stockholders,  meeting  here  tomorrow 
in  a  session  that  coincides  with  one 
for  the  company's  franchise  holders, 
will  consider  an  executive  employes' 
bonus,  death  benefit  and  stock  option 
plan,  plus  extension  to  Feb.  28,  1950, 
of  the  contract  of  Steve  Broidy,  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager, 
whose  present  tenure  runs  until  Dec. 
2,  1948,  at  $20,800  per  year. 

The  bonus  plan,  commencing  with 
the  year  ending  July  1,  1944,  involves 
payment  of  20  percent  of  the  annual 
net  profits  over  $200,000  to  eight  ex- 
ecutives, allocated  as  follows :  W. 
Ray  Jonhston  and  Trem  Carr,  five 
percent  each ;  Steve  Broidy,  three  per- 
cent ;  George  D.  Burrows  and  Scott 
Dunlap,  two  percent  each ;  and  Ed- 
ward Morey,  Harry  Thomas  and  Nor- 
ton V.  Ritchey,  one  percent  each. 

The  stock  option  plan  provides  12,- 
500  shares  each  to  Johnston  and  Carr ; 
10,000  to  Broidy;  7,500  to  Burrows; 
5,000  to  Dunlap;  2,500  to  Ritchey; 
2,000  to  Sam  Wolf;  and  1,500  each 
to  Thomas  and  Morey. 

The  death  benefit  plan,  applicable 
to  Johnston,  Broidy  and  Carr,  pro- 
vides their  survivors  with  $200  a  week 
for  the  remainder  of  their  respective 
contract  periods. 


Golden,  Ca gney 
On  MPPDA  Board 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

of  war  bonds  by  the  Association  dur- 
ing the  Fifth  War  Loan  Drive,  add- 
ing to  its  holdings  of  these  bonds.  A 
general  discussion  of  foreign  market 
conditions  occupied  the  meeting  also,  it 
was  stated. 

In  attendance  at  the  meeting  were: 
Barney  Balaban,  George  Borthwick, 
Jack  Cohn,  Earle  Hammons,  Will 
Hays,  Carl  Milliken,  N.  Peter  Rath- 
von,  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  Spyros 
Skouras,  Albert  Warner  and  John  J. 
O'Connor. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
creased  its  subscription  to  $5,000,000. 
Additional  amounts  announced  in- 
clude: Prudential  and  Playhouses 
Operating  Co.,  f 50,000;  Fabian  Thea- 
tres, $65,000 ;  Skouras  Theatres, 
$100,000 ;  Randforce  Amusement  Corp 
$250,000. 


Previously  reported  New  York  film 
corporate  bond  purchases  for  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  follows :  Paramount 
Pictures  and  theatre  partners,  $15,- 
000,000  ;  20th  Century-Fox  and  Na- 
tional Theatres,  $11,000,000;  Loew's 
and  affiliates,  $10,000,000;  Universal, 
$3,500,000;  United  Artists,  $500,000; 
National  Screen,  Republic,  United 
Artists  Theatres,  $200,000  each;  J.  J. 
(N.  Y.)  Theatres,  Skouras  Theatres, 
United  Artists,  $100,000  each;  Tele- 
news  Theatres,  TransLux  Theatres, 
each  $75,000;  Shea  Enterprises,  $60,- 
000. 


First  3  Days'  Reports 
Indicate  Big  Sales 

The  industry's  "Fighting  Fifth"  War 
Loan  campaign  is  gaining  momentum 
throughout  the  country,  in  large  and 
small  situations  alike,  third-day  re- 
port* to  national  chairman  R.  J. 
O'Donnell  offering  an  indication  that 
the  landslide  with  which  the  theatres' 
drive  started  on  Monday  is  rising  in 
volume. 

Incomplete  reports  on  bond  pre- 
mieres held  in  theatres  the  first  two 
days  are  evidence  that  the  public  is 
responding  as  never  before  to  the  the- 
atres' slogan:  "Join  the  Fighting 
Fifth!"  and  "Provide  More  Power 
for  Eisenhower !" 

Typical  of  the  reports  received  by 
O'Donnell  yesterday  was  a  telegram 
from  Charles  M.  Thall,  Northern  Cali- 
fornia general  chairman. 

San  Francisco's  theatre  drive  got 
off  to  a  flying  start,  Thall  reported, 
citing  the  following  figures  for  Mon- 
day night's  Bond  premieres :  Fox  The- 
atre, San  Francisco,  5,200  Bonds 
against  4,600-seat  capacity,  $600,000 ; 
T  &  D  Enterprises,  Oakland,  3,500 
Bonds,  2,800-seat  capacity,  $515,000; 
California  Theatre,  San  Jose,  2,300 
Bonds,  1,700-seat  capacity,  $162,000; 
United  Artists  Theatre,  Berkeley,  2,- 
050  Bonds,  1,640-seat  capacity,  $200,- 
500 ;  Esquire  Theatre,  Sacramento, 
1,250  Bonds,  993-seat  capacity, 
$115,000. 

Thall  also  stated  in  his  wire  that 
"our  goal  of  225  bond  premieres  in 
Northern  California  against  183  in  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  is  a  cinch.  We  are 
trying  to  get  250."  Fully  250  theatres 
are  guaranteed  to  stage  Free  Movie 
Day  on  July  6,  and  pledges  are  coming 
in  fast  for  Junior  Matinees,  with  a 
minimum  of  300  as  the  goal. 


Lust  Appoints  District 
Of  Columbia  Aides 

Washington,  June  14.  —  Sidney 
Lust,  exhibitor  state  chairman  for  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan  in  this 
area,  has  announced  his  committee,  as 
follows :  John  J.  Payette  and  Carter 


Altec  Signs  Bartelstein 

Altec  has  signed  a  contract  for 
sound  service  with  the  Bartelstein 
Circuit  in  Chicago  and  Cicero,  III. 
R.  Hilton,  Altec's  Chicago  district 
manager,  negotiated  the  agreement. 


Banks  Asked  to  Aid 
Theatres  on  Bonds 

The  U.  S.  Treasury  is  ask- 
ing the  banks  of  the  country 
to  cooperate  with  small-town 
exhibitors  with  the  aim  of 
greatly  increasing  the  number 
of  Fifth  War  Bond  issuing 
sub-agencies,  John  J.  Friedl, 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan 
campaign  director,  reveals  in 
a  report  to  all  exhibitor  bond 
state  chairmen. 

It  was  pointed  out  that 
while  theatres  make  up  only 
10  per  cent  of  the  total  of  60,- 
000  official  Treasury  Bond  is- 
suing agents,  they  are  re- 
sponsible for  20  per  cent  of 
bond  sales. 


T.  Barron,  co-chairmen;  Joseph  B. 
Brecheen,  exchange  chairman ,  War 
Activities  Committee ;  Frank  La 
Falce,  area  publicity  chairman;  John 
Allen,  exchange  chairman,  and  Nat 
B.  Browne,  WAC  secretary. 

The  planning  committee  consists  of 
Harry  Anger,  Harry  Bachman, 
Graham  Barbee,  Nelson  Bell,  Louis 
Bernheimer,  A.  Julian  Brylawski,  Jay 
Carmody,  Walter  Cersley,  George 
Crouch,  Gene  Ford,  E.  F.  Harloff, 
William  Hoyle,  Andrew  Kelley,  Fred 
Kogod,  Hugh  Lynch,  John  Maynard, 
Fred  McMillan,  Hardie  Meakin,  E.  N. 
Read,  John  Reilly,  Roland  Robbins, 
Alexander  Sherman,  Lawrence 
Snoots,  Frank  Storty,  A.  M.  Tolkins, 
Lloyd  Wineland,  Charles  Zurhost, 
George  Shepp  and  members  of  the 
WAC  staff. 


Illinois  Allied  to 
Figure  Bond  Sales 

Chicago,  June  14. — Allied  Theatres 
of  Illinois  will  again  compile  weekly 
bond  sale  totals  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive,  "in  order  to  stimulate 
greater  results,"  Joe  Abramson,  head 
of  Allied's  bond  staff,  disclosed  here 
recently.  Returns  will  be  computed 
by  means  of  weekly  questionnaires  to 
be  mailed  to  the  association's  135 
members  in  this  territory. 

Allied,  which  sold  close  to  $1,000,000 
in  bonds  during  the  Fourth  War  Loan 
campaign,  will  act  as  bond  issuing 
agent  for  any  theatre  not  issuing  its 
own  bonds. 


Free  Trailers  Ready 
For  'Bond  Premieres' 

George  Dembow,  general  sales 
manager  of  National  Screen,  has 
advised  the  industry's  Fifth  War 
Loan  Committee  that  National  is 
ready  to  release  the  regular  advance 
trailer  on  any  films  which  exhibitors 
will  feature  for  "Bond  Premiere." 
The  trailer  is  offered  gratis. 

Dembow  suggests  that  as  a  bond 
picture  is  booked  the  exhibitor  notify 
his  nearest  National  Screen  office  and 
the  trailer  will  be  sent  automatically 
without  charge. 


'Romance'  Showings  Set 

M-G-M  will  trade  show  "An  Amer- 
ican Romance"  in  all  exchange  cen- 
ters June  26,  with  mornings  and  af- 
ternoon runnings  in  Boston,  New 
York  and  St.  Louis. 


Will  Revise 
Decree,  Drop 
'Showcases' 


(Contir-ued  from  page  1) 

jor  companies  or  institute  a  new  one, 
will  then  be  made.  The  decree  com- 
panies are  understood  to  be  unani- 
mous in  the  view  that  most  concessions 
sought  by  the  Department  would  be 
economically  unsound  for  the  conduct 
of  their  business  were  they  granted. 

Discussion  at  the  meeting  held  yes- 
terday at  which  the  decree  counsel 
informed  company  presidents  of  their 
decisions,  centered  around  a  sugges- 
tion by  the  Department  that  the 
clauses  of  Section  10  be  rewritten 
to  enable  any  person  building  a  thea- 
tre to  secure  films  with  run  and  clear- 
ance provisions  commensurate  with 
the  type  of  theatre  constructed.'  The 
feeling  among  the  companies  is  that  in 
no  other  industry  does  a  situation 
exist  where  a  person  desirous  of  enter- 
ing a  business  is  aided  in  doing  so 
by  his  future  competitors.  The  con- 
sent decree  companies  have  refused 
to  incorporate  this  provision  in  Sec- 
tion 10  on  the  ground  that  it  would 
be  against  sound  business  practice. 
Recent  Suggestions 

Recent  suggestions  by  the  Depart- 
ment included  requests  for  liberaliza- 
tion of  the  cancellation  and  restriction 
of  circuit  expansion  provisions.  A 
request  also  was  made,  it  was  learned, 
that  the  companies  sell  one  film  at  a 
time.  The  suggestions  which  have 
been  forwarded  to  the  companies  by 
Clark  came  from  the  Department  and 
exhibitor  organizations,  but  beyond  al- 
tering phraseology,  the  companies  are 
understood  to  have  refused  to  make 
any  further  major  concessions. 


Clark  Awaits  Word 
From  Attorneys 

Washington,  June  14. — Exact  date 
for  the  next  meeting  between  Assist- 
ant Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark 
and  the  distributors  was  in  doubt  to- 
day because  of  the  possibility  that 
Clark  might  have  to  go  out  of  town. 
It  was  indicated,  however,  that  in  that 
event  the  meeting  would  probably  take 
place  next  Monday  or  Tuesday,  the  de- 
tails to  be  settled  by  a  telephone  talk 
with  Joseph  Hazen  which  Clark 
planned  to  make  some  time  tonight. 

The  reason  for  the  failure  to  get 
anywhere  at  the  meeting  last  Monday 
in  New  York  was  the  raising  of  points 
on  which  the  company  lawyers  had  to 
go  back  to  their  principals.  Those 
points  have  been  under  consideration 
since  the  meeting,  and  Clark  today 
expected  that  he  might  hear  from  the 
companies  tomorrow. 

Same  Points  at  Issue 

The  major  points  at  issue  continue 
to  be  cancellations  and  arbitration, 
Clark  said.  The  companies  have  indi- 
cated a  willingness  to  surrender  the 
"show  case"  provision,  and  there  are 
several  minor  points  on  which  it  is 
believed  an  agreement  can  readily  be 
reached.  The  fate  of  the  negotiations, 
he  said,  is  in  the  hands  of  the  compa- 
nies and  what  course  they  will  take 
will  depend  upon  the  distributors'  po- 
sition on  the  few  points  still  unsettled. 
However,  he  indicated,  there  is  a  very 
good  chance  that  a  decree  agreement 
will  be  reached,  and  no  thought  is  be- 
ing given  to  any  other  eventuality. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  15,  1944 


'Two  Girls'  Captures 
Robust  $18,000 


St.  Louis,  June  14.— At  St.  Louis 
theatres  this  week  "Two  Girls  and 
a  Sailor"  at  Loew's  State  is  leading 
the  way  with  $18,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  14: 

"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 
"Henry   Aldrich   Plays   Cupid"  (Para.) 

AMBASSADOR— (3,154)     (40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $17,500.     (Average:  $15,700). 
"The  Cowboy  and  the  Senorita"  (Rep.) 
"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  davs. 
Gross:  $8,500.     (Average:  $9,900). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average: 
$18,900). 

"Pin  Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (20th-Fox) 

FOX— (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Average:  $18,700). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c -65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$7,100). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

SHUBERT— (1.900)    (40c-50c-60c)  ', 
Gross:  $6,800.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Nothing   Sacred"  (UA) 
"Young  in  Heart"  (UA) 

ST.     LOUIS— (4,000)     (45c-50c)  7 
Gross:   $5,300.     (Average:  $5,200). 


day.* 


day; 


Emperor  Cites  Actor 

Haile  Selassie,  Emperor  of  Ethiopia, 
has  issued  an  award  of  appreciation 
to  Leigh  Whipper  for  his  portrayal 
of  the  monarch  in  the  Warner  Bros, 
production  of  "Mission  to  Moscow." 

Citation  was  received  yesterday  at 
the  State  Department  in  Washington 
for  transmission  to  the  actor. 


Review 


"Song  of  Nevada" 

(Republic) 

£  (  C  ONG  OF  NEVADA"  is  an  outstanding  Roy  Rogers  contribution 
^by  virtue  of  a  story  that  progresses  logically  and  which  offers  some 
catchy  Western  and  novelty  tunes  and  strong  support  by  Thurston  Hall, 
Lloyd  Corrigan,  Dale  Evans  and  Mary  Lee.  For  once,  Rogers'  horse, 
Trigger,  has  been  crowded  out. 

In  Gordon  Kahn  and  Olive  Coopers'  screenplay,  Hall,  an  elderly 
rancher  returning  to  his  native  Nevada  after  leaving  his  daughter,  Dale 
Evans,  in  the  East,  is  thought  to  be  dead  after  the  plane  in  which  he  was 
a  passenger  crashes.  Miss  Evans  and  her  fiance,  John  Eldredge,  proceed 
West  to  sell  the  family  ranch.  Rogers  is  persuaded  by  Hall  to  try  to 
break  up  the  romance.  A  thrilling  stagecoach  race,  some  nice  singing 
by  Bob  Nolan  and  the  Sons  of  the  Pioneers  and  comedy  relief  by  Lloyd 
Corrigan  and  Mary  Lee,  are  interspersed  without  detracting  from  the 
story,  which  is  concluded  in  the  traditional  expose  of  the  villains  and 
Miss  Evans'  resolution  to  remain  in  the  West.  Harry  Grey  was  associ- 
ate producer  and  Joseph  Kane  directed. 

Running  time,  75  mins.    "G."*   Release  date,  Aug.  5. 

Charles  Ryweck 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Exhibitors  in  Golf  Meet 

Baltimore,  June  14. — Invitations 
have  been  accepted  by  Philadelphia 
and  Washington  exhibitors  to  attend 
the  annual  golf  tournament  of  the 
Variety  Club,  Baltimore  Tent,  No.  19, 
at  Woodholme  Country  Club,  on  June 
23.  The  outing  will  end  with  a 
dinner  and  dance  in  the  evening.  Rod- 
ney Collier  is  chairman  of  a  comrnit- 
mittee  which  includes  Frank  Durkee, 
Nick  Weems  and  Sam  Diamond. 


IT'S  A  MUST! 


Sixth  Annual 


Amusement  Division 
Luncheon 


On   behalf  of  the 


United  Jewish  Appeal 

Tuesday,  June  20th,  12:30  p.m. 

HOTEL  ASTOR 
• 

Guest  Speaker:  Dr.  Abba  Hillel  Silver 

SPECIAL  GUEST  STARS 


★CHICO  MARX 
★BENNY  FIELDS 


★  MILTON  BERLE 
★WILLIE  HOWARD 


/V       *BARRY  WOOD  GERTRUDE  NIESEN     PETER  LORRE 

V7    ELISABETH  BERGNER     JACKIE  GLEASON      JOAN  EDWARDS 
OSCAR  KARLWEISS      GONRAD  NAGEL       MARY  MARTIN 
J.  EDWARD  BROMBERG  JOHN  BOLES 

Tickets  may  be  obtained  from  B.  S.  Moss 
218  West  48th  Street      -      Circle  6-8600 


$20,000  for  'Girls'  in 
Providence  Run 

Providence,  June  14. — Grosses  have 
jumped  back  into  the  higher  brackets, 
with  "Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor,"  gross- 
ing $20,000  at  Loew's  State,  and 
"Show  Business"  taking  $17,500  at 
the  RKO-Albee  leading. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15 : 

"Show  Business"  (RICO) 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE — (2,239)      (3Sc-44c-55c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $17,500.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,200)  (44c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,800.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S     STATE— (3.232)  (35c-44c-55c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $20,000.    (Average:  $17,700). 
"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (20th-Fox) 
"Ladies  of  Washington"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC — (2,250)    (35c-44c-55c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $12,100). 
"Pin-Up   Girl"  (Zttth-Fox) 
"Tampico"  (20th-Fox) 

FAY'S — (1,800)    (35c-44c-55c)   7  days,  3rd 
week,  moved  over  after  two  weeks  at  Ma- 
jestic).    Gross:   $5,000.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"Crime  Doctor's  Strangest  Case"  (Col.) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)    7  davs, 
2nd  week,  moved  over  from  Loew's  State. 
Gross:  $3,500.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"Return  of  the  Ape-Man"  (Mono.) 

METROPOLITAN— (3,050)  (50c-60c-70c)  3 
days.  On  stage:  Frankie  Carle  and  or- 
chestra. Gross:  $10,800.  (Average:  $7,- 
900). 


'Martf  Hits  $19,000 
Mark  in  Buffalo 

Buffalo,  June  14. — "The  Eve  of  St. 
Mark"  looks  like  a  good  $19,100  at 
the  Buffalo,  coupled  with  "Ladies  of 
Washington." 

Estimated    receipts    for    the  week 
ending  June  17  : 
"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (2<rth-Fox) 
"Ladies  of  Washington"  (ZOth-Fox) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)      (40c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $19,100.     (Average:  $17,400). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 
"The  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

GREAT  LAKES— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $12,000.  (Aver- 
age: $16,600). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid"  (Para.) 

HIPFODROME— (2,100)  (40c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  2nd  week  moveover.  Gross:  $7,000. 
(Average:  $9,700). 

"Show  Business"  (RKO)   (2nd  week) 
"Coastal   Command"  (RKO) 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY—  (3,000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,000.  (Aver- 
age: $12,200). 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Swingtime  Johnny"  (Univ.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $12,400). 


'Arms'  Presented 
With  a  Fine 
$26,500  in  Phila. 


Philadelphia,  June  14.  —  Good 
business  despite  the  Ringling  Broth- 
ers Circus  went  to  "Up  in  Arms"  at 
the  Mastbaum,  with  $26,500  for  the 
opening  week.  The  Stanley,  with 
"And  the  Angels  Sing,"  points  to  $18,- 
800,  with  an  additional  $2,800  already 
in  for  the  dual  Sunday  showing  at 
the  Earle. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  14-16 : 

"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 

ALDINE—  (900)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $14,600). 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Para.) 

ARCADIA— (600)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $7,200.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 

BOYD— (3,000)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.)   (6  days) 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.)  (1  day) 

EARLE — (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including  Enric  Madriguera's 
orchestra.  Bert  Wheeler,  Bea  Wain,  Paul 
Douglas,  Patrica  Gilmore,  Magda  Montez 
and  Pat  Flowers.  Gross:  $22,800.  (Aver- 
age: $27,600). 
"Days  of  Glory"  (RKO) 

FOX— (3,600)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $16,000.  (Average:  $20,500). 
"Buffalo   Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON— (1.000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Aver- 
age: $6,600). 

"The  Bridge  of  San  Luis  Rey"  (UA) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (40c45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days,   2nd   run.     Gross:   $3,800.  (Aver- 
age: $5,800). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (UA) 

MASTBAUM— (4,700)  (40c -45c -50c -65c -75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $26,500.  (Average: 
$22,500). 

"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

STANLEY—  (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $18,800.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 

STANTON— (1.700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average: 
$^,400). 


'Primitive  Man'  Is 
Hit  at  $28,000 

Cleveland,  June  14.  —  Guy  Lom- 
bardo  brought  out  the  crowds  at  the 
RKO  Palace  with  "Her  Primitive 
Man,"  the  gross  soaring  to  $28,000. 
Another  hit  was  "Between  Two 
Worlds"  which  sent  the  Allen's  re- 
ceipts considerably  above  par  to  $10,- 
000. 

Estimated    receipts    for   the  week 
ending  June  14 : 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

ALLEN— (3,000)     (44c-55c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $8,500). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'  HIPPODROME  —  (3,500) 
(44c-55c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Aver- 
age: $22,100). 

"Shine  On,  Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c) 
3rd  week.  Gross:  $3,5CO.  (Average:  $3,- 
200). 

"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  OHIO— (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average:  $5,000). 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 

RKO    PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c) 
7   days.     Stage:    Guy   Lombardo   and  his 
Royal   Canadians,    and   vaudeville.  Gross: 
$28,000.     (Average:  $25,400). 
"The  Hitler  Gang"  (Para.) 

LOEW'S     STATE — (3,300)     (43c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $14,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,500)  (43c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $8,500.  (Average: 
$10,000). 


Thomas  Altec  Manager 

Cincinnati,  June  14. — M.  G.  Thom- 
as has  been  named  branch  manager  of 
the  Altec  office  here,  by  Warren  Com- 
er, district  manager. 


Thursday,  June  15,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


11 


Review 


"Are  These  Our  Parents?" 

{Monogram ) 

Hollywood,  June  14 

DLANNED  by  Monogram  as  a  follow-up  of  their  highly  successful 
*■  "Where  Are  Your  Children?",  the  new  "Are  These  Our  Parents?" 
approaches  the  problem  of  juvenile  delinquency  from  a  different  and 
challenging  angle.  In  this  one,  responsibility  for  juvenile  crimes  and 
criminals  is  laid  squarely  on  the  shoulders  of  the  parents.  The  box  of- 
fice aspects  of  the  two  pictures  are,  for  showmanship  purposes,  identical. 

Noell  Neill  and  Richard  Byron,  as  the  two  youngsters  at  odds  with 
the  law,  capture  the  acting  honors.  Miss  Neill,  in  particular,  gives  a 
notable  performance,  and  her  characterization  of  the  rebellious  adolescent 
who  is  tired  of  boarding-school  and  wants  to  get  out  and  live  life  for  her- 
self is  sensitive  and  sympathetic.  Byron,  as  the  young  hero,  is  por- 
trayed as  emotionally  more  stable  than  the  girl,  and  he,  too,  handles  his 
part  with  intelligence  and  skill. 

Others  in  the  cast  are  Helen  Vinson,  Lyle  Talbot,  Ivan  Lebedeff ,  Ad- 
dison Richards,  Anthony  Warde  and  Jean  Carlin. 

The  screenplay  by  Michel  Jacoby,  from  an  original  story  by  Hilary 
Lynn,  suffers  from  structural  weakness.  An  interesting  opening  situa- 
tion is  climaxed  by  a  vague  and  unsatisfactory  ending.  William  Nigh's 
direction  fails  to  compensate  for  plot  defects.  Jeffrey  Bernerd  produced. 

Running  time,  73  mins.    "G."*    Release  date  not  set.     Thalia  Bell 


Studios  Free  From 
New  Hiring  Order 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

placing  of  all  male  workers  in  new 
jobs  after  July  1  is  vested  in  the  Unit- 
ed States  Employment  Service,  pro- 
vision has  been  made  for  the  USES 
to  approve  placements  through  other 
channels  normally  used  to  an  impor- 
tant extent  by  employers,  such  as  the 
union  hiring  halls,  with  a  view  to  min- 
imizing the  disruption  of  usual  em- 
>  ployment  procedures.  Officers  said 
that  the  Central  Casting  Bureau 
would  come  within  the  scope  of  this 
provision,  since  it  is  a  central  agency 
to  which  all  Hollywood  producers 
turn. 

It  was  explained  that  approval  of 
the  hiring  agencies  has  been  left  with 
the  regional  directors  so  that  due  con- 
sideration can  be  given  to  local  prac- 
tices. 

WMC  officials  previously  indicated 
that  general  employment  procedure 
within  the  industry  will  be  subject  to 
the  new  regulations,  qualified  only  by 
application  of  the  new  order  to  local 
conditions  through  regional  WMC 
boards.  The  earlier  statement,  how- 
ever, was  made  with  reference  to 
employment  of  theatre  and  general  of- 
fice workers,  including  theatre  man- 
agers. 

C.  W.  Hicks,  Bait 
Exhibitor,  Dies  Here 

Baltimore,  June  14. — Suffering  a 
paralytic  stroke  while  on  a  business 
trip,  C.  William  Hicks,  owner  of  the 
Hicks  Theatres  here,  died  at  St.  Vin- 
cent's Hospital  in  New  York  early  to- 
day.   He  was  44  years  old. 

The  Hicks  theatrical  chain  was 
started  by  the  late  Charles  A.  Hicks, 
father  of  the  deceased,  in  1920.  At  the 
time  of  his  death,  Hicks  owned  and 
operated  eight  theatres.  Funeral  ar- 
rangements have  not  been  made. 


Floods  in  Nebraska 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

towns-  in  the  vicinity  of  Wisner  and 
West  Point  were  completely  shut  off 
from  Omaha.  The  town  of  Waterloo 
in  Douglas  county  was  entirely  cut 
off  from  outside.  Even  if  theatres 
could  keep  running  in  these  small 
towns,  it  appeared  probable  they  would 
have  to  hold  over  on  all  films  because 
up  to  late  Monday  night  no  deliveries 
were  possible. 


Stone  to  West  Coast 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

York,  where  he  talked  with  U.  A. 
executives  in  lining  up  the  program 
and  planning  a  fourth  production, 
"Victory  Express,"  a  saga  of  the  part 
America's  railroads  are  playing  in 
World  War  II.  Stone  is  writing  the 
latter  script,  but  the  research  involved 
may  hold  up  the  film  for  many 
months.  Stone  is  pressing  for  its  re- 
lease by  next  March. 


Luncheon  for  Keough 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Roger  C.  Clement,  Irving  Cohen, 
Clinton  Coombes,  Ben  Fincke,  Thomas 
P.  F.  Gibbons,  Bernard  Goodwin, 
Walter  Gross,  Arthur  Israel,  Jr.,  Fred 
Mohrhardt,  Richard  P.  Morgan, 
Louis  Phillips,  J.  S.  Polk,  Gertrude 
Rosenstein,  Irene  F.  Scott,  Rebekah 
Sliuman  and  Carl  Kane. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Two  Girls'  Scores  Big 
$19,500  in  Balto.  . 

Baltimore,  June  14.  —  Favorable 
weather  helped  busines  to  show  an 
increase  over  the  past  few  dull  weeks. 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  scored  $19,- 
500  at  the  Century  with  "Show  Busi- 
ness" and  a  stage  show  in  a  close  sec- 
ond with  $19,000  at  the  Hippodrome. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15 : 

"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY — (35c  -45c  -  55c  and  60c  week- 
ends) 7  days.  Gross:  $19,500.  (Average: 
$17,500}. 

"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S — (2.405)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  5 
days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $15,000). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)    (30c-40c-60c)    7   days,  3rd 
week.    Gross:  $13,000.    (Average:  $13,000). 
"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

STANLEY — (3,280)  (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Average:  $18,000). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO1) 

HIPPOD  ROME— (2,205 )  ( 35c  -44c  -  55c  -  65c) 
7  days.  Stage  show:  The  Pitchmen;  Cor- 
dyn  &  Sawyer.  Boyd  Heathen,  Manuel 
Viera,  Three  Little  Sisters.  Gross:  $19,- 
Q0O.  (Average:  $18,000). 
"It  Happened  Tomorrow"  (UA) 

MAYFAIR— (1,000)  (35c-54c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $7,000). 


Tax  on  Screen  Rights 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

court  of  the  United  States  was  cor- 
rect in  upholding  the  U.  S.  Commis- 
sioner of  Internal  Revenue  in  determin- 
ing that  money  received  by  Clifford 
and  Kathryn  Goldsmith  from  Para- 
mount Pictures  for  the  film  rights  to 
their  play,  "What  a  Life,"  was  ordi- 
nary income  and  not,  as  they  claimed 
in  a  joint  tax  return  for  1938  and  1939, 
capital  gain. 


Eight  More  Loyalty  Pins 

Milwaukee,  June  14. — William  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager,  and  J.  E. 
Flynn,  Western  sales  manager,  at  a 
dinner  this  week  for  employes  of  the 
local  exchange  at  the  Schroeder  Ho- 
tel, distributed  10-year  loyalty  pins  to 
Eugenia  Ebeft,  Sanford  Gottlieb,  Ed- 
ward J.  Lipson,  Maude  Mills,  David 
E.  Ross,  Arthur  J.  Sontag,  Walter 
W.  Bennin  and  Viola  Resell. 


McCarthy  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  June  14. — Leo  J.  McCar- 
thy, PRC  sales  manager,  is  coming 
in  from  Hollywood  tomorrow  for  two 
days  to  map  a  sales  campaign  for 
"Minstrel  Man,"  with  Henry  Elman, 
local  PRC  franchise  holder.  McCar- 
thy will  arrive  in  New  York  Satur- 
day. 


SOPEG  Demand  Set 
For  New  Contracts 

(Continued  from  page  1 ) 

cation  periods  after  five  years  of 
service ;  discharge  protection ;  im- 
proved grievance  machinery ;  improved 
seniority  and  promotional  procedure ; 
and  health  and  hospitalization  benefits. 
Money  demands,  retroactive  to  Oct., 
1943,  revolve  around  a  classification 
system  now  being  negotiated  under  the 
terms  of  the  existing  contract  with 
minimum  and  maximum  scales  for  each 
labor  grade ;  a  guaranteed  series  of 
automatic  progression  increases ; 
length  of  service  increases ;  promo- 
tional guarantees ;  and  a  five  percent 
cost-of-living  balance  on  the  Little 
Steel  formula. 

SOPEG  has  set  a  new  three-and- 
one-half  year's  extension  of  its  closed 
shop  contract  affecting  35  "white  col- 
lar" workers  of  DeLuxe  Laboratories, 
20th-Fox  subsidiary.  The  new  con- 
tract provides  for  the  establishment  of 
job  classifications  with  minimum  and 
maximum  scales,  claimed  to  be  higher 
than  War  Labor  Board  going  rates, 
with  automatic  increases  guaranteed. 


SOEG  Re-elects  Phillips 

Los  Angeles,  June  14. — The  Screen 
Office  Employes  Guild  has  re-elected 
Harry  Phillips,'  president,  and  Glenn 
Pratt,  business  manager.  A  special 
mass  meeting  designed  by  SOEG  and 
other  participating  unions  and  guilds 
to  combat  unwarranted  attacks  on  the 
industry  has  ben  postponed  from  June 
25  to  28,  and  will  be  held  at  Holly- 
wood Women's  Club  rather  than  in 
the  Hollywood  Legion  Stadium. 


You'd  think  twice  before  sinking  your 
hard-earned  cash  into  pictures  without 
names,  without  the  background  of  good 
production.  That's  just  plain  common 
sense,  the  same  kind  of  good  sense  wise 
showmen  use  when  they  sign  one  of  the 
Altec  contracts.  Which  is  another  way 
of  saying  goodbye  to  booth  trouble. 

250  West  57fh  Street,  New  York  19,  New  York 
THE  SERVICE  ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  MOTION  PICTURE  INDUSTRY 


.ALTEC 


Help  him 
make  it 

W0% 


Up  to  date 
16,501 
theatres 
have  booked 
Leo  on  their 
screens  during 
his  Anniversary 
Week. 


LEO-ON-EVERY-SCREEN 
WEEK  OF  JUNE  22nd! 


THESE  TERRITORIES 

ARE  BOOKED  100%! 

CHARLOTTE 

PHILADELPHIA 

ALBANY 

DALLAS 

KANSAS  CITY 

PITTSBURGH 

DETROIT 

BOSTON 

CLEVELAND 

NEW  JERSEY 

OKLAHOMA  CITY 

NEW  YORK 

ST.  LOUIS 

WASHINGTON 

SAN  FRANCISCO 

PORTLAND 

NEW  HAVEN 

LOS  ANGELES 

DES  MOINES 

SEATTLE 

CINCINNATI 

SALT  LAKE  CITY 

CHICAGO 

OMAHA 

DENVER 

MEMPHIS 

Thanks  to  the  good  sportsmanship  of  our  industry,  Leo  is 
not  far  from  100%  representation  on  America's  screens  dur~ 
ing  his  Anniversary  Week.  If  you  have  not  booked  either  an 
M'G'M  Feature,  Short  Subject  or  Newsreel,  kindly  com- 
municate with  the  nearest  M-G-M  Branch  office  today.  The 
Friendly  Lion  is  celebrating  Twenty  Happy  Years  of  sincere 
effort  toward  this  industry's  welfare,  and  he  is  grateful  indeed 
for  this  expression  of  good -will  which  all  the  exhibitors  of 
America,  customers  and  non-customers  are  extending  to  him. 


FIGHTING  SHOWMEN!  JOIN  THE  FIGHTING  5th  WAR  LOAN! 


MOTION  PICTURE 


DAI 


Y 


|  VOL.  55.  NO.  118 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  16,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Nine  Directors 
To  Be  Named 
By  U.A.  Today 

Action  Paves  Way  for 
Management  Autonomy 

The  new  "management"  board  of 
directors  of  United  Artists,  which, 
by  virtue  of  amendments  to  the 
company's  by-laws  adopted  last 
month  will  exercise  greater  authority 
and  autonomy  in  company  affairs 
than  its  predecessors,  is  scheduled  to 
be  elected  at  a  special  meeting  of 
stockholders  in  Wilmington,  Del.,  this 
afternoon. 

The  new  board  will  consist  of  nine 
members,  three  to  be  designated  by 
each  of  the  three  present  United  Art- 
ists' owners,  Mary  Pickford,  David  O. 
Selznick  and  Charles  Chaplin,  in  ac- 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


WAC  Distributor 
Chairmen  Cited 


Sixty  exchange  managers  who  have 
completed  terms  as  War  Activities 
distribution  field  chairmen  since  the 
formation  of  WAC  are  to  be  pre- 
sented with  plaque  citations  by  the 
distributors'  division  in  recognition 
of  their  services,  it  was  disclosed  here 
yesterday  by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  chair- 
man of  that  division. 

In  accordance  with  a  resolution 
adopted  by  the  distributors'  division 
at  a  recent  meeting,  the  distribution 
chairmen  who  served  under  William 
A.  Scully  in  1942  and  those  who 
served  under  William  F.  Rodgers  in 
1943  will  receive  the  citations  provided 
they  served  at  least  six  months.  De- 
pinet stated  that  the  idea  for  the 
awards  was  suggested  by  Leon  Bam- 
berger. 


Redemption  of  KAO 
Preferred  Begun 

The  Bankers  Trust  Co.  here  yes- 
terday started  the  redemption  of  all 
of  the  7,013  outstanding  shares  of 
Keith-Albee-Orpheum,  seven  per  cent 
cumulative  convertible  preferred  stock 
at  $110  a  share  plus  accrued  dividends, 
or  an  aggregate  payment  of  $111.46 
per  share. 

Financing  for  the  redemption  of  the 
shares,  which  amounts  to  over  $780,- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Treasury  Approves 
Loew's  Pension 
Plan  for  Employes 


The  U.  S.  Treasury  Department 
has  approved  Loew's  pension  plan 
covering  all  employes  in  production, 
distribution  and  exhibition,  it  was 
learned  yesterday.  A  special  meeting 
of  the  company's  stockholders  will 
be  held  in  mid-July  to  obtain  ratifica- 
tion of  the  plan. 

The  plan  covers  top  executives  in- 
cluding Louis  B.  Mayer,  Nicholas  M. 
Schenck,  J.  Robert  Rubin,  David 
Bernstein,  and  others,  as  well  as  studio 
talent  and  rank  and  file  employes.  It 
is  estimated  that  it  will  cost  the  com- 
pany $3,000,000  annually  to  maintain 
the  plan.  It  is  stipulated  that  an  errj- 
ploye  must  be  with  the  company  for 
at  least  fiye  years  to  qualify  for  the 
retirement  fund.  All  pension  payments 
are  to  be  in  addition  to  any  social  se- 
curity payments  and  employes  are  not 
to  contribute  to  the  fund. 

Details  of  the  plan  which  are  ex- 

( Continued  on  page  7) 


Hopper  Heads  Society 
For  the  Americas 

Hollywood,  June  IS. — The  Motion 
Picture  Society  for  the  Americas  last 
night  elected  Harold  Hopper  presi- 
dent, succeeding  Joseph  I.  Breen,  who 
was  chosen  third  vice-president.  All 
other  officers  were  reelected,  and  Jason 
Joy  and  Leon  Fromkess  were  added 
to  the  board  of  directors. 


SET  NEW  FORMULA 
ON  CANCELLATIONS 


24  Operators 
Sue  Majors 
In  Pittsburgh 


Pittsburgh,  June  15. — Twenty- 
four  Pittsburgh  and  Allegheny 
County  operators  today  filed  suit  in 

Federal  Court  here  against  eight 
distributors,  charging  monopoly,  con- 
spiracy, "harassment"  and  violation 
of  the  Unlawful  Restraint  Act. 

If  issued,  the  restraining  order 
would  prevent  a  distributor  from 
charging  more  to  independents  than  to 
his  own  theatre  and  would  restrain 
him  from  entering  a  "combination  and 
conspiracy  to  eliminate,  suppress  and 
prevent  competition  by  the  plaintiffs 
and  other  independent  exhibitors."  It 
would  restrain  the  requirement  in  the 
license  agreement  of  an  audit  of  re- 
cords ;  prevent  requiring  preferred 
times,  such  as  weekend  runs,  on  stated 
pictures,  and  declare  payment  on  a 
percentage  basis  illegal. 

The  court  is  asked  to  declare  the 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Morgenthau,  in  Bowl  Rally, 
Says  New  Plants  Needed 


'DeNazifying'  Films, 
Press  in  Rome 

The  first  theatre  to  oper- 
ate in  Rome  since  the  Allied 
occupation  has  opened  with 
"In  Which  We  Serve,"  Noel 
Coward's  tribute  to  the  Brit- 
ish Navy,  United  Artists,  the 
film's  U.  S.  distributor,  re- 
ported here  yesterday. 

James  M.  Minifie,  former- 
ly a  war  correspondent  in 
Rome,  and  now  in  charge  of 
the  "defascization"  of  press, 
radio  and  films  in  the  con- 
quered city,  plans  to  follow 
with  other  pictures,  among 
them  being  American  films 
found  in  Rome  which  had 
been  imported  for  private 
showing  to  Fascist  officials 
but  were  barred  to  the  public. 


Hollywood,  June  IS. — Secretary  of 
the  Treasury  Henry  Morgenthau,  Jr., 
left  here  today  by  plane  for  Washing- 
ton after  opening  the  industry's  local 
Fifth  War  Loan  drive  last  night  at 
a  rally  attended  by  an  estimated  12,- 
000  in  Hollywood  Bowl. 

Stressing  the  need  for  more  bond 
purchases  at  this  time,  the  Secretary 
said,  "We  read  about  retrenchment 
and  cutbacks,  but  General  Marshall, 
our  chief  of  staff,  wants  me  to  tell  you 
that  we  must  open  up  new  factories 
immediately  because  present  facilities 
for  the  manufacture  of  some  types 
of  equipment  aren't  meeting  demands. 

"Victory  isn't  something  our  men 
are  going  to  bring  home  to  us,  a  pres- 
ent from  overseas,"  he  declared.  "Our 
fighting  men  are  paying  for  it — and 
so  must  we. 

"It's  4,000  miles  from  here  to  the 
nearest  place  where  our  men  are  fight- 
ing for  us.  Mile  by  mile,  man  for 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Department  of  Justice 
Receives  Proposals 
From  Joseph  Hazen 

Advancing  a  new  formula  on 
cancellations  and  verbally  agreeing 
to  attempt  a  re-phrasing  of  Section 
10  for  the  benefit  of  exhibitors  who 
win  arbitration  awards  under  that  sec- 
tion, the  five  consent  decree  companies 
yesterday  presented  what  may  be  their 
final  proposals  for  a  new  decree  to 
Department  of  Justice  officials  in 
Washington.  The  proposals  were 
taken  to  the  capital  by  Joseph  H. 
Hazen  who,  it  was  learned,  is  desirous 
of  relinquishing  his  position,  as  liaison 
for  the  decree  companies  with  the  De- 
partment of  Justice  in  the  belief  that 
the  negotiations  have  reached  a  stage 
at  which  he  can  contribute  nothing 
further  to  the  result. 

Hazen  also  is  desirous  of  devoting 
all  of  his  time  to  his  new  post  with 
Hal  Wallis  Prod. 

The  new  decree  formula  advanced 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Monogram  Officials' 
Bonuses  Approved 

Hollywood,  June  15. — Monogram 
stockholders,  meeting  here  today,  ap- 
proved the  profit-sharing  proposals 
presented  to  them  by  the  company's 
board  of  directors. 

The  proposals  included  a  bonus  plan, 
commencing  with  the  year  ending  July 
1,  1944,  and  involving  the  payment 
of  20  per  cent  of  the  annual  net 
profits  over  $200,00  to  eight  execu- 

(Contiiiued  on  page  7) 

Soviet  Films  Seek 
Our  Technical  Aid 


Los  Angeles,  June  15. — The  Soviet 
industry  looks  toward  American  tech- 
nical-manufacturing assistance  for 
equipment  to  rebuild  Leningrad  and 
Kiev  studios,  principal  sources  of  more 
important  Russian  production,  Gregor 
Irsky,  chief  engineer  of  the  Soviet  mo- 
tion picture  industry,  declared  at  the 
Academy  Motion  Picture  Arts  and 
Sciences  luncheon  today,  when  he  pre- 
sented a  specially  compiled  photo- 
graphic album  signifying  Soviet  pro- 
duction achievements  under  the  war's 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Friday,  June  16,  194 


Personal 
Mention 


HUNTER  PERRY,  of  Dominion 
Theatres,  Charlottesville,  Va.,  has 
arrived  in  New  York  on  a  business 
trip. 

• 

Donald  Rosenquist,  son  of  Harry 
Rosenquest,  Warner  circuit  film  buy- 
er at  the  home  office,  has  been  ac- 
cepted for  the  U.  S.  Navy's  V-12 
training  course  and  will  report  to  Col- 
gate University,  July  1. 

e 

Len  Daly,  special  United  Artists 
foreign  publicity  representative,  is  ex- 
pected back  from  Mexico  City  about 
June  25. 

Dewey  Bloom,  M-G-M  Canadian 
promotion  representative,  is  recovering 
from  an  operation  in  Toronto  General 
Hospital. 

Harry  David  of  Northio  Theatres, 
Cincinnati,  is  in  New  York  on  a  brief 
business  trip. 

• 

Ed  Hinchy,  head  of  Warner's  play- 
date  department,  was  in  New  Haven 
yesterday. 

e 

Marvin  H.  Schenck  of  Loew's  will 
leave  for  the  Coast  today. 


Columbia's  Meeting 
Here  Concluded 


SLRB  Asks  Briefs  in 
Century- 306'  Case 

Briefs  are  being  prepared  by  attor- 
neys for  IATSE  Projectionists'  Local 
306  and  Century  Circuit  following  the 
winding  up  of  hearings  before  the 
State  Labor  Relations  Board  here  on 
the  petition  of  Local  306  to  be  de- 
clared the  collective  bargaining  agent 
for  some  100  projectionists  employed 
in  the  35  theatres  of  Century  in 
Brooklyn  and  Queens. 

The  SLRB  finished  taking  testimony 
on  Wednesday,  and  granted  the  peti- 
tion of  both  sides  for  oral  arguments 
following  the  submission  of  briefs. 


'Wilson*  Premiere  in 
Los  Angeles  Aug,  10 

Los  Angeles,  June  15. — The  gala 
premiere  of  "Wilson"  will  be  held 
here  Aug.  10,  with  the  regular  run 
opening  the  following  day  at  the  Car- 
thay  Circle  and  United  Artists  The- 
atres on  a  grind  policy.  "The  Song  of 
Bernadette"  price  scale,  evening  top 
$1.50,  will  probably  prevail  at  the  Car- 
thay  Circle. 


20th-Fox  Club  Outing 

The  20th  Century-Fox  Family  Club 
will  hold  its  second  annual  boat  ride 
and  outing  at  Bear  Mountain  next 
Wednesday.  Special  events  have  been 
arranged  for  the  day  and  about  500 
club  members  and  their  guests,  in- 
cluding 20th-Fox  executives,  are  ex- 
pected to  attend. 

Company  officials  who  plan  to  at- 
tend include  Spyros  P.  Skouras,  Tom 
Connors,  W.  J.  Kupper,  W.  C.  Gehr- 
ing,  W.  C.  Michel,  Hal  Home,  and 
all  others  in  New  York  on  the  21st. 


Division  managers,  branch  mana- 
gers and  salesmen  from  10  of  Colum- 
bia's exchanges  and  representatives 
of  the  Canadian  offices  returned  yes- 
terday to  their  territories  following  a 
three-day  sales  meet  held  at  the  Hotel 
Warwick  here.  This  was  the  second 
of  three  sales  gatherings  planned  by 
the  company  this  year.  The  third  will 
be  held  in  San  Francisco  July  11-13. 

Division  managers  Sam  Galanty, 
Nat  Cohn  and  Carl  Shalit  were  pres- 
ent in  New  York  meetings,  as  were 
the  brach  managers  and  salesmen  from 
Albany,  Boston,  Buffalo,  Cincinnati, 
Cleveland,  New  Haven,  New  York, 
Philadelphia,  Pittsburgh  and  Wash- 
ington. The  Canadian  delegation, 
headed  by  general  manager  Louis  Ro- 
senfeld,  included  representatives  of  the 
Toronto,  Montreal,  Winnipeg,  St. 
John,  Calgary  and  Vancouver  offices. 


Chas.  Goetz  Quits 
20th-Fox  Post 

Charles  S.  Goetz  has  resigned,  effec- 
tive immediately,  from  his  special 
home  office  sales  post  at  20th  Century- 
Fox.  Goetz  has  been  attached  to  this 
department  for  the  past  two  years,  and 
previously  was  in  the  talent  and  story 
department  for  six  years.  The  com- 
pany has  announced  no  successor. 

Goetz  will  leave  on  a  brief  vacation 
before  announcing  a  new  affiliation. 
Prior  to  his  association  with  20th-Fox, 
Goetz  was  with  Warner  Bros,  and 
held  executive  posts  with  the  Para- 
mount and  First  National  sales  de- 
partments. He  was  also  formerly  ac- 
tive in  independent  distribution. 


Kalmenson  Off  to  Set 
Warners  Sales  Plans 

Ben  Kalmenson,  Warners  general 
sales  manager,  left  here  yesterday  for 
Chicago,  whence,  following  a  tour  of 
Midwest  points,  he  will  proceed  to  the 
Coast  for  conferences  with  Jack  L. 
Warner  and  Charles  Einfeld  on  the 
special  sales  and  distribution  plans  for 
"Janie,"  first  Warner  release  of  the 
1944-45  season,  and  the  schedule  of 
releases  to  follow. 


PCCITO  Trustees  to 
Meet  June  20-22 

Portland,  Ore.,  June  15.— PCCITO 
trustees  will  hold  a  quarterly  meeting 
at  the  Benson  Hotel  June  20-22.  Top- 
ics on  the  agenda  include  the  consent 
decree,  results  of  a  survey  on  theatre 
attendance,  OCR  and  emergency  thea- 
tres, and  post-war  plans. 


M-G-M's  20th  at  Peak 

With  one  week  to  go,  M-G-M  is 
nearing  the  home  stretch  in  its  plan 
to  have  Leo  the  Lion  on  every  screen 
during  the  company's  20-Year  Anni- 
versary Week,  June  22-28.  Up  to 
yesterday,  latest  reports  from  the  field 
show  a  total  of  16,501  bookings  for 
the  week.  In  Canada  there  are  1,204 
theatres  lined  up  out  of  a  total  of 
1,285. 


James  Arthur,  F&M 
Counsel,  Enlists 

St.  Louis,  June  15. — James 
H.  Arthur,  legal  counsel  for 
Fanchon  &  Marco,  is  the  11th 
member  of  the  Harry  Arthur 
F&M  theatres  to  enlist  in 
the  armed  forces.  He  was 
tendered  a  surprise  luncheon 
by  the  Variety  Club  here  in 
celebration  of  his  departure 
next  Wednesday  for  Quantico, 
Va.,  where  he  will  receive 
the  training  of  a  lieutenant 
in  the  Ground  Administration 
Service  of  the  IT.  S.  Marine 
Corps. 

Harry  C.  Arthur,  Jr.,  toast- 
master  for  the  luncheon  and 
general  manager  of  F  &  M, 
announced  that  James  Ar- 
thur's enlistment  was  "the 
last  of  the  Mohicans." 


Glass  Quits  Stone  to 
Join  Samuel  Goldwyn 

Hollywood,  June  15. — George  Glass 
has  resigned  as  publicity  director  of 
Andrew  Stone  Prod.,  effective  July  1, 
and  will  join  Samuel  Goldwyn,  Inc., 
on  July_3,  replacing  William  Hebert, 
advertising  publicity-  director,  who 
this  week  obtained  release  from  his 
contract,  which  had  three  years  to 
run. 


Murphy  Ends  'Bell' 
Shooting  in  Mexico 

Dudley  Murphy  has  finished  shoot- 
ing "The  Bell  of  My  Village,"  the 
first  of  four  Spanish  films  he  is  mak- 
ing for  United  Artists  distribution 
in  Latin-America  and  Spain,  it  was 
learned  here  yesterday.  The  film  is 
based  on  a  Saturday  Evening  Post 
story  by   Budd  Schulberg. 

Murphy  is  producing  the  films  at 
the  Azteca  studio  in  Mexico  City. 
Associated  with  him  are  Jose  Calderon 
and  Elizabeth  Jenkins  Higgins. 


Television's  Effect 
On  Key  Industries 

The  effect  of  television  on  four 
major  industries  is  the  subject  of  two 
lectures  being  presented  by  the  Tele- 
vision Seminar  last  night  and  next 
Thursday  night  at  the  NBC  here. 

The  first  lecture  offered  as  guest 
speakers,  James  Shouse,  vice-president 
of  Crossley  Radio  and  general  mana- 
ger of  Station  WLW,  Cincinnati ;  and 
Gene  Buck,  theatrical  producer  and 
former  president  of  ASCAP.  Shouse 
discussed  the  effects  of  television  on 
the  radio  industry.  Buck  analyzed 
the  relation  of  television  to  the  legiti- 
mate theater.  The  second  lecture  will 
present  the  viewpoints  of  representa- 
tives of  the  film  and  publishing  indus- 
tries. 


UA  Dines  Trade  Press 

United  Artists  will  be  host  tonight 
to  trade  paper  editors  with  a  dinner 
at  Toots  Shor's,  following  which  they 
will  attend  a  preview  of  Andrew 
Stone's  "Sensations  of  1945." 


Cummins  Adding 
To  War-Circuit 

Another  link  in  the  growing  circu 
of  theatres  being  erected  in  war  manu 
facturing  areas  by  Samuel  Cummin: 
former  distributor,  is  planned  fd 
Portsmouth,  Va.  Cummins  has  fi It- 
application  with  authorities  for  aj 
proval  of  the  project.  He  alread 
operates  the  Port  Theatre-  there  i 
addition  to  the  Pix  and  Plymouth  i 
Washington;  Fairmount  in  Norfol 
and  the  Pix  in  Newport  News. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRE 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
HELD  OVER  SIXTH  WEEK 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer's  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


THE  INSIDE  ON  HITLER'S  EUROPE! 


the  MARCH  "'TIME 


ON  SCREEN 

FIRST  N.  Y.  SHOWING 

'MAN  from 
FRISCO' 

MICHAEL  O'SHEA 
;?  ANNE  SHIRLEY 


IN  PERSON 
LUCKY 

MILLINDER 

and  ORCH. 

Added  Attraction 
LOUISE 

BEAVERS 


PALACE 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


TAMARA 
TOUMANOVA 


GREGORY 
PECK 


"DAYS  OF  GLORY" 


PARAMOUNTS 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

I  n  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


mh  PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS  hi 

GARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLE'S 

r'The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell" 

□    -k  In  Technicolor  * 


Anne  Baxter   -    Wm.  Eythe   -    Michael  O'Shea 

THE  EVE  OF  ST.  MARK' 

The  War's  Greatest  Love  Story 
Plus  on  Stage — Mia  Slavenska  -  Barry  Wood 
Eddie  Garr  -  Berry  Bros.  -  Radio  Aces 

BUY  MORE  B  f\  V  V  7th  Ave-  & 
BONDS      ■»  V#  W   I      50th  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunda> 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York.' 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  New: 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  WiH'c-n  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  Londoi 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishir-i 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  th 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Friday,  June  16,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  June  15 

ROBERT  GILLHAM,  Paramount 
publicity  and  advertising  director, 
will  leave  here  by  train  on  Wednes- 
day, accompanying  Cecil  Be  DeMille 
as  far  as  Chicago  for  the  opening 
;«fhere  of  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell." 

j\  William  Wright,  who  recently  re- 
i  turned  to  the  Columbia  contract  list 
.  following  his  honorable  discharge  from 
1  the  Army,  has  had  his  option  renewed 
'  for  another  year.  He  is  playing  in 
""One  Mysterious  Night." 

• 

"Lady  Not  Alone,"  by  Katherine 
Brush,  recently  published  in  Good 
Housekeeping,  has  been  purchased  by 
RKO  Radio.  Executive  Producer 
Jack  Gross  has  assigned  Irmgard  Von 
Cube  to  write  the  screenplay. 
• 

Douglas  Sirk  has  been  signed  by 
I  Columbia  to  direct  one  picture  yearly. 
Sirk     recently     directed  "Summer 
Storm,"  produced  by  Seymour  Neb- 
enzal  for  United  Artists  release. 


-i 


Mickey  Rooney  has  been  inducted 
into  the  Army  and  sent  to  Fort  Mac- 
Arthur  at  San  Pedro  for  classification. 
Rooney  passed  a  recent  examination 
after  having  previously  been  rejected. 


Joseph  Sistrom  will  return  to  his 
Paramount  producing  activities  Sun- 
day from  an  overseas  Office  of  War 
Information  assignment. 

e 

George  Jessel's  contract  has  been  re- 
newed by  20th-Fox  for  his  fifth  year 
with  the  company. 


Petrillo  Ordered  to 
I  End  Record  Ban 


Washington,  June  IS. — The  War 
Labor  Board  today  ordered  James 
Caesar  Petrillo's  American  Federa- 
tion of  Musicians  to  end  the  ban 
which  it  put  on  the  production  of 
phonograph  records  on  Aug.  1,  1942. 
At  the  same  time,  a  WLB  directive 
provided  that  the  transcription  com- 
panies should  set  up  machinery  for  the 
payment  of  royalties  on  records.  Not 
specifying  whether  the  payment  should 
be  made  to  the  union  unemployment 
fund,  the  board  required  that  the 
money  should  be  held  in  escrow. 

Involved  in  the  case  were  the  Na- 
tional Broadcasting  Company,  the  Col- 
umbia Recording  Corp.  and  the  RCA 
Victor  division  of  the  Radio  Corpo- 
ration of  America.  The  union  an- 
nounced that  it  had  signed  agree- 
ments with  more  than  80  companies 
and  withdrawn  its  ban  from  these  or- 
ganizations. 


Spiers  with  Monogram 

Omaha,  June  15. — Edward  Spiers, 
formerly  with   RKO   in  Milwaukee, 
has   become  associated  with  Mono- 
:   gram  in  the  operation  of  the  Omaha 
and  Des  Moines  branches. 

Spiers  will  make  his  headquarters 
in  Des  Moines.  He  has  appointed 
Mike  Comer,  former  Monogram  sales- 
man in  Des  Moines,  to  manage  the 
Omaha  exchange. 


Review 


"Secrets  of  Scotland  Yard" 

(Republic) 

<<C  ECRETS  of  Scotland  Yard"  is  a  tale  of  a  phase  of  the  British 
'  ^Admiralty  service  which  materially  contributed  to  victory  in  World 
War  I  by  decoding  enemy  messages,  and  ostensibly  is  performing  effi- 
ciently in  the  present  conflict.  Edgar  Barrier  plays  the  dual  role  of  a 
Scotland  Yard  inspector  who  replaces  his  twin  brother,  a  code  expert, 
when  the  latter  is  slain.  When  C.  Aubrey  Smith,  who  supervises  the 
code  service,  is  killed  also,  Barrier  suspects  that  the  murderer  is  someone 
working  in  the  room. 

The  safety  of  a  British  military  mission  being  flown  to  Warsaw  is 
dependent  upon  the  Room's  ability  to  decode  Nazi  messages  and  act 
upon  them.  A  message  which  is  believed  to  be  concerned,  with  the  plane 
is  difficult  of  solution  until  it  is  learned  that  it  is  similar  to  that  which 
Barrier's  young  nephew,  Bobby  Cooper,  has  used  to  correspond  with  a 
former  schoolmate,  the  head  of  the  Nazi  Cipher  Bureau.  A  German- 
planted  bomb  is  dumped  from  the  plane,  and  Lionel  Atwill,  who  has  suc- 
ceeded to  the  head  of  Room  40,  is  revealed  as  the  Nazi  agent. 

Also  in  the  cast  are :  Stephanie  Bachelor,  Henry  Stephenson,  John 
Abbott,  Walter  Kingsford  and  Martin  Kosleck.  George  Blair  produced 
and  directed  from  Denison  Clift's  screenplay  adapted  from  his  novel, 
"Room  40,  O.B." 

Running  time,  68  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  July  26. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


'Cobra'  Dual  Takes 
$25,500  in  Denver 


Denver,  June  15. — "Cobra  Woman" 
on  a  dual  at  the  Denver  and  Esquire 
Theatres  was  tops  here  this  week  as 
the  Denver  showed  a  gross  of  825,500. 
"Ladies  Courageous"  at  the  Para- 
mount scored  §14,880,  while  the  Den- 
ham  did  $7,500  during  the  second  week 
of  "And  the  Angels  Sing." 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  12-14 : 

"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"The  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

ALADDIN— (1,400)  (46c-74c)  7  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $9,140.  (Average:  $5,- 
600). 

"The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
"Mystery  of  the  Yellow  Canary"  (RKO) 

BROADWAY— (1,040)  (46c-74c)  7  days, 
moveover.  Gross:  $4,875.  (Average:  $3,900). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

DENHAM— (1,750)    (35c-45c-70c)    7  days, 
2nd  week.    Gross:  $7,500.  (Average:  $9,000). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

DENVER— (2,600)      (46c-74c)      7  days. 
Gross:    $25,500.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (740)  (46c-74c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,200.    (Average:  $4,500). 
"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 
"Stars  on  Parade"  (Col.) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,200)    (46c-74c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $14,880.    (Average:  $9,300). 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

RIALTO— (900)  (46c-74c)  7  days,  move- 
over.     Gross:   $6,250.     (Average:  $5,000). 


Kansas  City  Gives 
'Two  Girls'  $14,500 


Hollywood 


Variety  Names  Delegates 

Cincinnati,  June  15.  —  Harry 
David,  general  manager  of  Northio 
Theatres,  and  William  Onie,  Mono- 
gram manager  here,  have  been  named 
delegates  from  local  Variety  to  the 
national  convention  to  be  held  in  New 
York.  Alternates  elected  were  Ar- 
thur Fruden.feld,  RKO  division  man- 
ager, and  H.  J.  Wessel,  owner  of 
Film  Service  Co. 


Altec  Signs  Leon 

Altec  Service  Corp.  has  signed  with 
H.  S.  Leon  theatres  in  El  Paso, 
Brownsville  and  Amarillo,  Texas,  for 
sound  service,  repairs  and  replace- 
ments. Jack  Zern,  Dallas  district 
manager  for  Altec,  negotiated  the  deal. 


Kansas  City,  June  15.  —  Theatre 
business  was  average  to  above  here 
this  week.  The  Midland  did  around 
$14,500,  with  "Two  Girls  and  a  Sail- 
or" in  its  second  week.  The  Orpheum 
totaled  around  $13,000  with  the  sec- 
ond week  of  "Show  Business. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  9-12 : 

"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c -65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,500.     (Average:  $6,000). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"The   Black   Parachute"  (Col.) 

MIDLAND— (3,500)   (40c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $14,500.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)      (46c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (45c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $13,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN-C2.CC0)      (45c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.    (Average:  $5,600). 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 
"Tunisian   Victory"    (M-G-M— MOI) 

TOWER— (1.200)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$9,100.     (Average:  $9,400). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (4Sc-65c)  7  davs.  Gross: 
$2,100.     (Average:  $1,600). 


By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  15 

SEYMOUR  NEBENZAL  has  pur- 
chased an  original  by  Rowland 
Leigh  titled  "S.  S.  Titanic."  The  pic- 
ture, scheduled  for  fall  production, 
will  resemble  "Grand  Hotel"  in  struc- 
ture and  deals  with  the  lives  of  a 
group  of  people  aboard  a  luxury  liner. 
According  to  history,  the  Titanic, 
widely  proclaimed  as  unsinkable, 
struck  an  iceberg  on  her  maiden  voy- 
age, and  sank  with  great  loss  of  life. 
However,  producer  Nebenzal  will  al- 
ter the  facts  of  history  somewhat,  in 
order  to  enhance  the  dramatic  values 
of  the  story. 

• 

Pine  and  Thomas  have  bought  the 
rights  to  the  radio  feature,  "People 
'Are  Funny,"  which  they  will  film  with 
Jack  Haley  in  the  lead.  Negotiations 
have  been  completed  for  a  new  two- 
picture  deal  with  the  comedian.  An- 
other projected  Pine-Thomas  enter- 
prise is  "Dangerous  Passage,"  which 
William  Berke  will  direct.  .  .  . 
M-G-M  has  purchased  an  original 
titled  "Flat-Top,"  in  which  Robert 
Walker,  Van  Johnson  and  Phyllis 
Thaxter  will  have  the  principal  roles. 
.  .  .  Sara  Allgood  has  been  added  to 
the  cast  of  "Kitty"  at  Paramount. 
Patric  Knowles  and  Mikhail  Rasum- 
ny  will  also  have  important  parts.  .  .  . 
William  Cagney  has  engaged  Elmer 
Rice,  Broadway  playwright,  to  do  the 
screenplay  of  "The  Stray  Lamb" 
from  the  Thome  Smith  novel  of  that 
name. 

• 

Ingrid  Bergman  and  Gregory  Peck 
will  have  the  leads  in  Selznick's 
"House  of  Dr.  Edwardes".  .  .  .  Mark 
Sandrich,  keeping  abreast  of  world 
events,  will  alter  one  of  the  se- 
quences of  "Here  Come  the  Waves" 
to  show  a  group  of  sailor  lassies 
listening  to  General  Eisenhower's 
invasion  message. 


'Bermuda* , Show  Gain 
Strong  $18,000 

Indianapolis,  June  15. — "Bermuda 
Mystery,"  with  a  stage  show,  will  do 
$18,000  at  the  Circle  this  week.  At 
Loew's,  "Gaslight"  will  gross  $13,- 
500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  13-15: 

"Bermuda  Mystery"  (20th-Fox) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (55c-70c)  7  days.  Stage 
show:    Preston    Foster   orchestra.  Gross: 
$18,000.     (Average:  $11,800). 
"Pin-Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 
"Ladies  in  Washington"  (20th-Fox) 

INDIANA— (3,200)      (32c-55c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $12,500.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$13,500.    (Average:  $11,500). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

LYRIC— (2,000)  (32c-55c)  7  days,  move- 
over  from  Indiana.  Gross:  $5,000.  (Aver- 
age: $4,900). 


'Blond  Trouble'  At 
$13,700  in  Toronto 

Toronto,  June  14. — -"Andy  Hardy's 
Blonde  Trouble,"  at  Loew's  Theatre, 
headed  for  $13,700  while  the  second' 
week  of  "The  Miracle  of  Morgan's 
Creek"  pointed  to  a  nice  $11,800  at  the 
Imperial  Theatre.  "Passage  to  Mar- 
seille" looked  like  $10,800  for  a  second 
week  at  Shea's  Theatre. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  15 : 

"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 
"Escape  to  Danger"  (Brit.) 

EGLINTON— (1.0S6)     (18c-30c-48c-60c)  6 
days.    Gross:  S3. 500.    (Average:  $4,000). 
"The  Miracle  of  Morgan's  Creek"  (Para.)  ' 

IMPERIAL  —  (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c) 
5  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Aver- 
age: $12  800). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Spider  Woman"  (Univ.) 

LOEW'S— (2,074)     (lSc-30c-42c-60c-78c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $13,700.     (Average:  $11,200). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

SHEA'S— (2.480)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-9Oc)  6 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,800.  (Average- 
S12.800). 

"The  Lodger"  (20th-Fox)  (moveover) 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 

T1VOLI—  (1.434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  davs. 
Gross:  $3,400.      (Average:  $4,400). 
"Man  from  Frisco"  (Rep.) 
"Slightly  Terrific"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2.760)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $8,800.  (Average:  $9,800). 


■ 


starring  PAT 


ROBER" 


R  K  O 
RADIO 


O'BRIEN  •  RYAN  •  HUSSEY 

with  FRANK  Mc  HUGH  •  BARTON  Mac  LANE 

Produced  by  Robert  Fellows  •  Directed  by  Harold  Schuster 

Screen  Play  by  Worren  Duff 


•  •  • 


^2 


•  9  • 


stron 
Bataan 

M^^^^^^^ JSP    '    ■  : 

theyfre  tough..and  bad  new 
for  Japs ! ..So  sorry,  Tojo ! 


The  valor  story. . 
/ loves 

ates  amf^fh  gio: 

half  £  million 


.eroes 


....our 


arineRai< 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  16,  1944 


Formula  for 
Cancellation 
Is  Re-Drafted 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

by  the  consenting  companies  proposes 
a  minimum  of  20  per  cent  cancellation 
where  average  license  fees  do  not  ex- 
ceed $100  per  picture;  15  per  cent 
cancellation  where  license  fees  aver- 
age from  $101  to  $250  per  picture, 
and  10  per  cent  cancellation  where 
the  average  is  from  $251  to  $350  per 
picture.  The  new  provision  compares 
with  the  cancellation  proposal  in  the 
Jan.  20  decree  draft  which  contemplat- 
ed 20  per  cent  cancellation  up  to  $100 ; 
10  per  cent  from  $101  to  $200,  and 
five  per  cent  from  $201  to  $200. 

In  addition,  the  companies  have  ex- 
pressed their  willingness  to  endeavor 
to  draft  a  provision  under  Section  10 
of  the  decree,  covering  arbitration  of 
specific  run  complaints,  with  the  ob- 
ject of  insuring  an  exhibitor  who  wins 
an  award  under  that  section  of  ob- 
taining films.  Phrasing  of  the  provi- 
sion is  regarded  by  attorneys  as  pre- 
senting exceptional  difficulties  and,  it 
is  reported,  the  task  may  not  be  un- 
dertaken unless  there  is  a  definite  in- 
dication from  the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice that  such  a  provision  might  be 
vital  to  the  outcome  of  decree  nego- 
tiations. 

To  Demonstrate  Good  Faith 

It  was  pointed  out  that  such  a  pro- 
vision would  necessarily  entail  quali- 
fications which  would  prevent  winners 
of  awards  under  Section  10  from  ac- 
cumulating opportunities  for  trade  ad- 
vantages such  as  have  been  alleged  by 
the  government  with  respect  to  circuit 
operations.  The  wording  of  the  provi- 
sion, it  was  said,  would  have  to  go 
far  enough  to  demonstrate  that  the 
decree  companies  are  acting  in  good 
faith  and  yet  would  have  to  involve 
restrainers  which  would,  for  example, 
prevent  Section  10  award  winners 
from  indiscriminately  employing  the 
section  to  corner  product  through 
overbuying. 

As  previously  reported,  the  com- 
panies also  have  agreed  to  abandon 
the  "showcase"  provision  of  the  new 
clause  covering  expansion  of  affiliat- 
ed circuits.  Under  that  provision, 
now  waived,  they  reserved  the  right  to 
build  or  acquire  "showcase"  theatres 
in  key  cities  where  such  houses  were 
desirable. 

Other  Changes  Set 

Other  less  important  changes  in  the 
phraseology  of  the  Jan.  20  draft  have 
been  agreed  to  but  also,  it  is  under- 
stood, will  not  actually  be  attempted 
unless  the  promise  of  an  agrement  on 
a  new  decree  is  more  or  less  assured. 

A  proposal  from  the  Department 
that  all  percentage  pictures  be  elimi- 
nated from  blocks  offered  by  the  de- 
cree companies  and  sold  singly  has 
been  rejected,  it  was  learned. 

Industry  officials  close  to  the 
negotiations  leave  little  doubt 
that  the  five  companies  are  not 
disposed  to  yield  anything  of  a 
major  character  beyond  what 
has  been  offered  up  to  this 
point.  The  proposals  are  re- 
garded by  the  companies  as  lib- 
eral to  a  point  beyond  which 
they  do  not  believe  it  to  be  eco- 


Morgenthau,  in  Bowl  Rally, 
Says  New  Plants  Needed 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

man,  their  deaths  will  shorten  that  dis- 
tance for  -us  here  at  home.  I  know 
this  isn't  pleasant  talk  but  it's  plain 
talk.  And  this  is  the  time  for  plain 
talk. 

"If  he  should  die — your  boy — we 
must  be  worthy  of  his  death.  And 
this  is  just  as  important:  If  he  lives, 
we  must  be  worthy  of  his  willingness 
to  die.  This  is  our  war,  yours  and 
mine,"  Morgenthau  added. 

The  audience,  made  up  mostly  of 
industry  workers  in  the  campaign, 
was  entertained  by  Bing  Crosby,  Bette 
Davis,  Judy  Garland,  Bob  Hope  and 
Joseph  Iturbi,  with  Rudy  Vallee  and 
his  Coast  Guard  Band.  The  presen- 
tation, produced  by  Sam  Wood  and 
William  Cameron  Menzies,  was  broad- 
cast over  CBS. 


Cash  Register  Rings 
Up  a  Sale  a  Minute 

With  the  theatre-sponsored  "store" 
at  Times  Square's  big  "cash  register" 
selling  war  bonds  at  the  rate  of  one 
a  minute,  and  with  field  reports  telling 
of  record  amounts  obtained  at  bond 
premieres,  the  industry's  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan  completes  its  first 
week  with  every  evidence  that  the 
public  is  responding  enthusiastically. 

Brooklyn's  premiere  will  take  place 
tonight  at  the  Fox  Theatre,  with  the 
Hollywood  Victory  Committee  pro- 
viding talent  and  the  Army  Air  Force 
Band  participating.  All  Brooklyn 
theatres  are  tied  in,  selling  bonds  up 
to  $1,000  denomination  as  admission. 

W.  A.  Steffes,  exhibitor  state  chair- 
man for  Minnesota,  flashed  a  wire  to 
national  industry  chairman  R.  J. 
O'Donnell  that  the  premiere  total  for 
the  Northwest  was  up  to  350,  with 
more  to  come. 

Dave  Bershon  of  Los  Angeles,  ex- 
hibitor state  chairman  for  Southern 
California,  telegraphed :  "Present  out- 
look assures  at  least  double  the 
Fourth  War  Loan's  number  of  pre- 
mieres in  this  territory,  besides  many 
special  shows.  Tie-up  just  affected 
whereby  outstanding  radio  programs 
are  being  combined  with  premieres  in 
most  first-run  houses.  Bond  sale  im- 
petus far  ahead  of  the  same  time  in 
the  Fourth  Loan.  We  have  set  a 
quota  of  500,000  individual  sales, 
which  all  theatres  are  striving  to  at- 
tain." 

The  Texas  Theatre,  San  Angelo, 
was  the  focal  point  of  a  rousing  civic 


nomically  sound  for  them  to 
move.  The  attitude  is  clearly 
that  they  would  prefer  to  take 
their  chances  on  the  outcome  of 
an  anti-trust  suit  rather  than 
yield  more,  for  they  believe  that 
little  more  could  be  lost  in  a 
courtroom. 

It  is  clear,  also,  that  the  companies 
regard  the  Department's  forthcoming 
answer  to  the  proposals  made  by  Haz- 
en  yesterday  as  the  key  to  future  pro- 
cedure by  both  sides. 

It  was  not  disclosed  with  whom 
Hazen  conferred  yesterday,  but  it  is 
known  that  Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney 
General  Tom  C.  Clark  is  en  route  to 
Dallas  and  did  not  participate  in  the 
meeting.  It  is  assumed  that  Robert 
L.  Wright,  assistant  to  the  Attorney 
General,  participated. 


Canada  Industry  Is 
Cited  for  Bond  Aid 

Toronto,  June  15. — J.  J.  Fitz- 
gibbons,  national  chairman  of 
the  Canadian  Motion  Picture 
War  Services  Committee,  has 
received  an  industry  commen- 
dation from  J.  L.  Ilsley,  Dom- 
inion minister  of  finance,  for 
"the  very  great  service"  rend- 
ered by  the  film  industry  in 
support  of  the  Sixth  Canadian 
Victory  Loan  drive. 


demonstration  and  sold  $351,000  in 
bonds  in  an  hour  and  a  half,  John  D. 
Jones,  city  manager  for  Robb  &  Row- 
ley United  Theatres,  reports.  Two 
parades,  both  with  military  bands,  led 
off  the  event  and  the  theatre  gave  a 
premiere  of  "The  Road  to  Victory." 

Louis  J.  Finske,  exhibitor  state 
chairman  for  Eastern  Pennsylvania, 
advised  that  the  small  Ritz  Theatre, 
Weatherly,  Pa.,  operated  by  Pete  Ma- 
gazzu,  had  a  $20,000  premiere  in  a 
town  of  2,400.  He  also  advised  that 
the  first  day  of  the  Ringling  Bros,  cir- 
cus in  Philadelphia  was  turned  over 
to  the  local  committee  as  a  bond  pre- 
miere and  netted  sales  of  $1,500,000, 
with  13,000  buyers  present. 


Indianapolis  Event 
Sells  $6,192,365 

Indianapolis,  June  15. — A  war 
bond  auction,  built  around  the  pre- 
miere of  "Home  in  Indiana"  with 
Jeanne  Crain,  brought  $6,192,365  in 
bond  sales  here  last  night. 

A  three  and  one-half-month-old  foal 
named  for  Miss  Craine  was  sold.  High 
bidder  was  Anton  Hulman,  Vigo 
County  War  Finance  Committee 
chairman.  Participating  were  Gover- 
nor Henry  F.  Schricker,  Miss  Craine, 
Mark  Wolf,  chairman  of  the  Indiana 
War  Activities  Committee,  and  Eu- 
gene C.  Pulliam,  state  WFC  chair- 


Mayor  Stewart  Auctions  Filly 

Cincinnati,  June  15. — A  thorough- 
bred yearling  filly  was  sold  for  a  bid 
of  $400,000  at  a  war  bond  auction 
conducted  by  20th  Century-Fox  at  the 
Hotel  Gibson  here  last  night  in  con- 
nection with  the  premiere  of  "Home  in 
Indiana."  Mayor  James  Garfield 
Stewart  was  the  auctioneer.  The 
horse  was  donated  by  Harkness  Ed- 
wards, owner  of  Walnut  Hill  Farm, 
Lexington,  Ky.,  where  many  scenes 
of  the  picture  were  filmed. 


Soviet  Films  Seeking 
Our  Technical  Aid 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

duress  as  a  goodwill  gesture  of  their 
industry  toward  ours. 

James  Hilton,  Academy  vice-presi- 
dent, presided.  Walter  Wanger 
stressed  the  Academy's  role  as  one 
of  international  brotherhood  seeking 
understanding  among  film  industries 
of  all  nations.  Attending  were  Jack 
Warner,  John  Cromwell,  Sol  Lesser, 
Loyd  Wright,  Mary  McCall,  Jr., 
members  of  the  Soviet  Cinema  Com- 
mission including  Mikhail  Kalatozov, 
top  Soviet  film  representative  to  the 
United  States. 


'Wassell'  Hits 
$15,700  Over 
L.A.  Average 


Los  Angeles,  June  15. — Opening  in 
the  wake  of  an  all-out  premiere,  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  ran  away  with 
the  first-run  week,  getting  $47,000  in 
the  two  Paramounts,  which  average 
$31,300.  Weather,  continuing  chilly 
for  June,  was  a  box  office  enemy. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  14 : 

"P16  Eve  of  St-  Mark"  (2Mh-Fox) 
Roger  Touhy,   Gangster"  (20th-Fox) 

tl  ™R^H£Y  CIRCLE-(1,516)  (50c-60e-85c- 

$11  300)  S:   ?8'80°'  (Average.: 

"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (2ttth-Fox) 

'Roger    Touhy,    Gangster"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CHINESE-(2,50O)  (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O  )  7 
days.     Gross:   $13,000.     (Average:  $15,500) 

Song  of  the  Open  Road"  (UA) 

The  Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

EGYPTIAN-(1,5G0)  (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)  7 
days.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $9,500). 

Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 
"That  Nazty  Nuisance"  (UA) 

HAWAII — (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-80c)  7  days 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average:  $6,- 
2U0). 

"Cobra  Women"  (Univ.) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

HILLSTREET-(2,700)  (50c-60s-80s)  7 
days.    Gross:  $20,000.    (Average:  $19,700). 

The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (20th-Fox) 
"Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  (20th-Fox) 

■M^£EiV'S  STATE-(2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1-00)  7  days.  Gross:  $26,000.  (Average- 
$24,100). 

"Song  of  the  Open  Road"  (UA) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

LOS  ANGELES-(2,096)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $18,500.  (Average- 
$14,900). 

"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"The  Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

PANTAGES— (2,000)    (50c-60c-80c-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average:  $17,700). 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD — (50c -60c - 
80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,000.  (Aver- 
age: $11,000). 

"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN— (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Aver- 
age: $20,300). 

"Song  of  the  Open  Road"  (UA) 
"The  Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)    7  days. 
Gross:  $8,400.     (Average:  $8,700). 
"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (28th-Fox) 
"Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (1,716)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.     Gross:   $9,000.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

WARNERS  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)    2nd    week.      Gross:  $12,234. 
(Average:  $17,000). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

WARNERS  DOWNTOWN— (3,400)  (50c-' 

50c-80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,979.  (Av- 
erage: $18,700). 

"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

WARNERS  WILTERN— (2,200)  (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $11,- 
062.     (Average:  $15,200). 


Redemption  of  KAO 
Preferred  Begun 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

000,  was  the  result  of  the  recent  RKO 
refinancing  of  a  $12,500,000  loan 
through  the  First  National  Bank  of 
Boston. 

Withdrawal  of  the  KAO  preferred 
terminates  the  listing  of  KAO  securi- 
ties on  the  New  York  Stock  Ex- 
change after  15  years.  The  original 
public  offering  of  the  KAO  preferred, 
the  first  of  any  KAO  securities,  was 
sold  by  a  syndicate  headed  by  Leh- 
man Brothers  in  1928. 


Chertcoff  to  Build 

Harrisburg,  Pa.,  May  31. — Harry 
Chertcoff  of  Lancaster  has  purchased 
a  site  at  nearby  Camp  Hill  where  he 
will  construct  a  1,000-seat  theatre  when 
war  priorities  are  eased.  Chertcoff 
operates  theatres  in  three  other  sub- 
urban communities  in  this  area. 


Friday,  June  16,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


7 


Review 


"Gunsmoke  Mesa" 

(PRC) 

r\  AVE  (Tex)  O'Brien  and  Jim  Newill  give  to  "Gunsmoke  Mesa" 
their  customary  rip-roaring  performances  and  comedy  is  added  by 
Guy  Wilkerson. 

The  story  concerns  the  murder  of  a  man  and  his  wife,  mine  owners. 
O'Brien,  Newill  and  Wilkerson,  Texas  Rangers,  are  determined  to  ap- 
prehend the  killers.  Concealing  their  identity,  they  learn  that  Jack  In- 
gram, distant  cousin  of  the  murdered  couple,  is  seeking  custody  of  a 
surviving  baby.  Wilkerson  "kidnaps"  the  baby  from  Ingram  and  while 
attempting  to  entertain  him  he  is  accosted  by  Ingram's  villains,  who  de- 
mand the  child.  For  the  next  several  reels  the  baby  is  snatched  alter- 
nately by  the  criminals  and  the  Rangers  but  ultimately  ends  in  the  right 
hands. 

Harry  Fraser  directed  from  a  screenplay  by  Elmer  Clifton.  Arthur 
Alexander  produced. 
Running  time,  59  mins.  "G."* 

Helen  McNamara 


9  Directors  To  Be 
Elected  Today 
By  United  Artists 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
cordance  with  the  new  by-laws. 

It  was  reported  in  informed  quar- 
ters yesterday  that  Miss  Pickford's 
candidates  for  the  board  will  be :  Isaac 
Pennypacker,  Philadelphia  attorney ; 
Edward  C.  Raftery,  United  Artists 
president,  and,  in  all  probability,  Grad- 
s,  well  L.  Sears.  Unconfirmed  reports 
were  that  Sears  has  not  definitely 
consented  to  serve  on  the  board. 

Predictions  were  that  Selznick'S 
candidates  will  be:  Neil  F.  Agnew, 
George  Bagnall  and  Joseph  Bennett  of 
the  New  York  law  firm  of  White  & 
Case.  Chaplin's  representatives  were 
not  disclosed  up  to  a  late  hour  yes- 
terday. 

Indications  late  yesterday  were  that 
the  meeting  will  be  held  today  as 
scheduled,  although  there  was  some 
question  about  whether  or  not  Raf- 
tery, who  has  been  on  the  Coast  for 
the  past  two  weeks,  and  whose  train 
was  delayed  by  floods  in  the  Mid- 
west while  en  route  here,  would  ar- 
rive in  time  for  the  session.  Original- 
ly expected  in  New  York  -yesterday, 
it  was  said  that  Raftery  probably 
would  go  directly  to  Wilmington 
from  Chicago. 

Chaplin  in  New  York 

Chaplin,  who  has  opposed  the  vari- 
ous corporate  changes  underway  in 
United  Artists  for  the  past  several 
months,  is  in  New  York  and  reported 
to  be  contemplating  court  action  to 
challenge  the  legality  of  some  of  the 
moves,  subsequent  to  today's  meeting. 

i  The  new  corporate  program  has  the 

'  support  of  Miss  Pickford  and  Selz- 
nick  who,  under  the  recent  change  in 
by-laws  eliminating  the  former  re- 
quirement of  unanimous  owner  ap- 
proval of  corporate  action,  together 

:  can  achieve  an  effective  majority. 
The  new  board  will  meet  to  elect 
officers  in  the  very  near  future.  The 

;  reelection  of  Raftery  as  president  is 
anticipated. 

24  Independents  Sue 
Majors  in  Pittsburgh 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
license  agreement  a  violation  of  the 
act  to  protect  trade  and  commerce 
against  unlawful  restraint  and  mono- 
,  polies,  also  to  restrain  the  distributors 
from  "harassing  the  operators  by 
threatening  a  suit  to  compel  disclosure 
of  intimate  and  confidential  details 
of  business  on  the  pretense  that  it  is 
required  by  the  contract." 

The  plaintiffs  are  Morris  Roth,  Es- 
ther F.  Roth,  the  Brushton  Theatre 
Corp.,  the  Buena  Vista  Amusement 
Co.,  C.  F.  Herman  Bart,  Ralph  L. 
Norman,  Jack  Mervis,  David  Barn- 
holtz,  H.  Finkel  of  the  Carson 
Amusement  Co.,  Sharpsburg  Theatre 
Enterprises,  William  J.  and  Harry 
M.  Walker  of  the  Crafton  Theatre 
Co.,  Harry  Rachiele  of  the  Chateau 
Amusement  Co.,  Associated  Theatres, 
the  Paramount  Theatre  of  Braddock, 
Hazlewood  Theatres,  Regent  Square 
Theatres,  the  Sheridan  Theatre,  Bes- 
sie Fineman,  Peter  Antonopolos,  and 
the  Rochester  Amusement  Co.  The 
defendants  are  Paramount,  Loew's, 
20th  Century-Fox,  Vitagraph,  RKO 
Radio,  Universal,  Columbia  and 
United  Artists. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Monogram  Officials' 
Bonuses  Approved 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

tives,  allocated  as  follows:  W.  Ray 
Johnston  and  Trem  Carr,  five  per 
cent  each ;  Steve  Broidy,  three  per 
cent;  George  D.  Burrows  and  Scott 
Dunlap,  two  per  cent  each ;  and  Ed- 
ward Morey,  Harry  Thomas  and  Nor- 
ton V.  Ritchey,  one  per  cent  each. 

A  second  proposal  authorized  the 
purchase  of  options  on  12,000  shares 
of  stock  by  Johnston  and  the  same 
amount  by  Carr;  10,000  by  Broidy; 
7,500  by  Burrows;  5,000  by  Dunlap; 
2,500  by  Ritchey ;  2,000  by  Sam  Wolf ; 
and  1,500  each  by  Thomas  and 
Morey. 

A  death  benefit  proposal,  applicable 
to  Johnston,  Broidy  and  Carr,  called 
for  their  survivors  to  receive  $200  per 
week  for  the  remainder  of  their  re- 
spective contract  periods. 

Another  proposal  provided  for  the 
extension  to  Feb.  28,  1950,  of  the 
contract  of  Broidy,  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager,  whose  present 
tenure  runs  until  Dec.  2,"  1948. 


Monogram  Profit  for 
39  Wks.  Is  $149,642 

Los  Angeles,  June  15. — Monogram 
today  announced  consolidated  earnings 
of  $410,076  for  the  39  weeks  ended 
March  25,  before  provision  for  Fed- 
eral income  and  excess  profits  taxes. 
This  compares  with  earnings  of  $100,- 
041  for  the  same  period  in  1943.  Net 
profits  after  reserve  for  taxes  were 
$149,f542  compared  with  $43,306  for 
the  same  period  in  1942. 

W.  Ray  Johnston,  Monogram  presi- 
dent, said  the  company's  volume  and 
profits  exceeded  any  previous  period 
in  history. 


F  &  M  Plans  New  House 

St.  Louis,  June  15. — Harry  Arthur, 
Jr.,  general  manager  of  Fanchon 
&  Marco,  has  announced  plans  for  the 
construction  of  a  2,000-seat  theatre  in 
the  Southwest  district  of  this  city.  Tfje 
house,  to  be  built  by  Sam  Komm,  fol- 
lowing the  end  the  war,  will  be  oper- 
ated bv  Missouri  Amusement  Corp.,  a 
subsidiary  of  Fanchon  &  Marco. 
Komm,  who  owns  the  site  for  the 
building,  operates  a  circuit  of  neigh- 
'  borhood  houses. 


Museum  FilmLibrary 
Has  17,730,848  Feet 

The  film  library  of  the  Museum  of 
Modern  Art  has  acquired  17,730,848 
feet  of  film  since  its  inception  in 
1935,  it  was  revealed  here  by  the  or- 
ganization in  connection  with  its  15th 
anniversary. 

More  than  819  organizations  have 
exhibited  the  Museum's  films,  in- 
cluding 58  universities  and  83  col- 
leges, Army  camps,  USO  clubs, 
churches,  libraries  and  unions. 


Treasury  Approves 
Loew's  Pension 
Plan  for  Employes 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

pected  to  be  announced  shortly  are 
understood  to  call  for  the  payment  of 
a  minimum  of  $240  annual  pension  to 
all  employes  earning  up  to  $3,000  an- 
nually. Those  earning  over  $3,000 
annually  would  receive  $240  pension 
plus  25  per  cent  of  the  difference 
between  $3,000  and  their  salary.  In 
addition,  those  earning  over  $3,000 
annually  would  also  receive  a  per- 
centage-wise increase  in  pensions 
amounting  to  one-quarter  of  one  per 
cent  for  each  year  of  service  with  the 
company  while  the  plan  is  in  effect. 

RKO  also  has  a  pension  plan  in 
work  for  its  employes.  Under  that 
plan,  Treasury  Department  ap'proval 
of  which  is  being  awaited,  talent, 
producers,  directors,  writers,  actors 
and  part-time  employes  are  not  in- 
cluded. 

Warner  Brothers  are  now  consider- 
ing a  pension  plan  and  other  compa- 
nies, including  20th  Century-Fox  and 
Columbia,  have  also  been  reported 
studying  plans.  Paramount  has  a  pen- 
sion plan  for  its  executives. 


To  Trade  Show  'Romance' 

M-G-M  will  trade  show  "An 
American  Romance"  in  all  exchange 
centers  on  Monday,  June  26.  In  Bos- 
ton, New  York  and  St.  Louis  there 
will  be  morning  and  evening  show- 
ings. No  release  date  has  been  set. 


GET  YOUR  TICKETS 

For  the  Sixth  Annual 

Amusement  Division 
Luncheon 

On  behalf  of  the 

United  Jewish  Appeal 

Tuesday,  June  20th,  12:30  p.m. 

HOTEL  ASTOR 

Guest  Speaker:  Dr.  Abba  Hillel  Silver 
SPECIAL  GUEST  STARS 

★CHICO  MARX  ★MILTON  BERLE 

★BENNY  FIELDS  ★WILLIE  HOWARD 

h,      BARRY  WOOD    '  GERTRUDE  NIESEN    PETER  LORRE 

"V?"   ELISABETH  BERGNER      JACKIE  GLEASON     JOAN  EDWARDS 
^     OSCAR  KARLWEISS       CONRAD  NAGEL      MARY  MARTIN 
J.  EDWARD  BROMBERG  JOHN  BOLES 

For  tickets  call  B.  S.  Moss,  Luncheon  Chairman 
218  West  48th  Street      -      Circle  6-8600 


WARNERS 

BETWEEN 
TWO  WORLDS 
John  Garfield 
Paul  Henreid 

D— 112  mins.  (316) 

MAKE  YOUR 
OWN  BED 
Jack  Carson 
Jane  Wyman 
Irene  Manning 
C— 82  mins.  (317) 

THIS  IS  THE 
ARMY 

(Re-issue)  (color) 
George  Murphy 

Joan  Leslie 
M— (224) 
115  mins. 

THE  MASK 
OP 

DIMITRIOS 
Sidney  Greenstreet 
Zachary  Scott 

D — 95  mins.  (318) 

(Re-issues)  i 
MANPOWER 
TIGER  SHARK 
THEY  MADE 
ME  A  CRIMINAL 
THE  WALKING 

DEAD 
BROTHER  RAT 
POLO  JOE 

(Regular  Release) 
ADVENTURES 
OF 

MARK  TWAIN 
Fredric  March 
Alexis  Smith  J 

D— 130  mins.  (315) 

UNIVERSAL 

PARDON  MY 
RHYTHM 
Gloria  Jean 

Patric  Knowles 
M 

(8032) — 62  mins. 

THE  SCARLET 
CLAW 
Basil  Rathbone 
Nigel  Bruce 
D — 74  mins.  (8019) 
BOSS  OF 
BOOMTOWN 
Rod  Cameron 
Vivian  Austin 
O— (8085) 

THIS  IS  THE 

LIFE 
Donald  O'Connor 
Susanna  Foster 

C— 87    mins.  (8012) 

THE  INVISIBLE 
MAN'S  REVENGE 
Jon  HaU 
Evelyn  Ankers 
Alan  Curtis 
D — 78  mins. 

GHOST 
CATCHERS 
Olsen  and  Johnson 
Gloria  Jean 

C — 68  mins. 

SOUTH  OF 

DIXIE 
Anne  Gwynne 
David  Bruce 

D — 61  mins. 

CHRISTMAS 

HOLIDAY 
Deanna  Durbin 
Gene  Kelly 

M — 93  mins. 

TRIGGER 
TRAIL 

O— (8086) 
JUNGLE 
WOMAN 
Evelyn  Ankers 
J.  Carroll  Naish 

D — 60  mins. 
THE  MUMMY'S 
GHOST 
Lon  Chaney 
D — 61  mins. 

TWILIGHT  ON 
THE  PRAIRIE 
Eddie  Quillan 
Vivian  Austin 

O — 62  mins. 

ALLERGIC  TO 

LOVE 
Noah   Beery,  Jr. 
Martha  O'DriscoU 
C — 65  mins. 

< 

SONG  OF  THE 
OPEN  ROAD 
Edgar  Bergen 

M — 93  mins. 
MYSTERY  MAN 
Wm.  Boyd 

O — 58  mins. 

THE  HAIRY  APE 
William  Bendix 
Susan  Hayward 
D — 90  mins. 

FORTY  THIEVES 
Wm.  Boyd 
Andy  Clyde 
Jimmy  Rogers 

O — 60  mins. 

SENSATIONS 

OF  1945 
Eleanor  Powell 
Dennis  O'Keefe 
M 

SUMMER  STORM 
George  Sanders 
Linda  Darnell 

D — 107  mins. 

20TH-FOX 

(May  Releases.  No 
definite  date  set) 

PIN-UP  GIRL 
Betty  Grable 
John  Harvey 
Martha  Raye 
Joe  E.  Brown 
M— 83  mins.  (427) 
(Color) 

BERMUDA 
MYSTERY 
Preston  Foster 
Ann  Rutherford 

D — 65  mins.  (428) 

(June  Releases— no 
definite  date  set) 
EVE  OP 
ST.  MARK 
Anne  Baxter 
William  Eythe 
Michael  O'Shea 
(429)   D— 96  mins. 

LADIES  OF 
WASHINGTON 
Sheila  Ryan 
Trudy  Marshall 
Doris  Merrick 
D — 95    mins  (430) 

(July  Releases — no 

definite  date  set) 
ROGER  TOUHY. 
GANGSTER 
Preston  Foster 
Victor  McLaglen 
D— 65   mins.  (431) 

INDIANA  (color) 
Walter  Brennan 
Jeanne  Crain 

D — 103  mins.  (433) 

CANDLELIGHT 
IN  ALGERIA 

(British) 
James  Mason 
Carla  Lehmann 

D— 85  mins.  (432) 

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Nina  Foch 

Jess  Barker 
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XION  PICTURE 


VOL.  55.  NO.  119 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  JUNE  19,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Screen  Use  of 
Venereal  Films 
Urged  on  U.  S. 

But  Report  Disapproves 
Wanger's  Picture 

By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  June  18.  —  A 
strong  report  urging  that  maximum 
use  be  made  of  commercial  motion 
picture  theatres  for  the  dissemina- 
tion of  information  and  education  on 
social  disease  and  hygiene  has  been 
submitted  to  the  U.  S.  Surgeon  Gen- 
eral by  an  advisory  committee  of  that 
department  "which  last  month  con- 
ducted an  intensive  investigation  to 
determine  the  attitude  on  the  subject 
of  large  civic,  religious  and  other 
groups  of  the  country,  it  was  learned 
here  today. 

An  overwhelming  majority  of 
these  organizations,  it  was  dis- 
closed, signed  the  report. 

he  approving  groups  recommended 
at  official  health  agencies  use  the 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Publicists  Demand 
Forty  Hour  Week 

Hollywood,  June  18. — The  Screen 
Publicists  Guild  formally  submitted 
to  the  producers  previously  submitted 
proposals  for  contract  revisions  en- 
compassing establishment  of  a  40-hour 
week  instead  of  the  persent  53-hour 
period;  adjustments  advancing  work- 
ers' compensation  not  yet  in  line  with 
the  Little  Steel  formula,  sick  leave 
and  vacation  stipulations. 

The  producers  are  expected  to  make 
counter  proposals  within  a  fortnight. 


Schine  Hits 
Dismissal  of 
'Little  Three' 


Buffalo,  June  18. — In  an  answer 
to  the  Government's  second  amended 
complaint,  filed  yesterday  in  U.  S. 
District  Court  here,  the  Schine  circuit 
defendants  deny  being  engaged  in  in- 
terstate commerce  and  for  separate 
defense  charge  the  amended  complaint 
fails  to  state  a  claim  upon  which  re- 
lief can  be  granted. 

"Upon  the  facts  stated  in  the  amend- 
ed complaint,  the  court  has  no  juris- 
diction over  the  alleged  cause  of  action 
in  that  no  facts  are  set  forth  showing 
defendants  are  engaged  in  interstate 
commerce,"  the  answer  says. 

Schine  charges  that  the  Government 
does  not  "come  into  this  court  with 
clean  hand's  and  is  not  entitled  to 
equitable  relief  in  this  action,"  that 
subsequent  to  the  start  of  action  in 
the  Southern  District  against  Para- 
mount, et  al,  and  prior  to  the  trial, 
negotiations  were  instituted  between 
the  plaintiff  and  the  major  distributors, 
and  that  dismissal  of  the  "Little 
Three"  just  before  the  Schine  trial 
was  the  result  of  "a  secret  agreement 
between  the  plaintiff  and  the  distribu- 
tors, details  of  which  are  unknown  to 
the  remaining  defendants." 

"The  remaining  defendants  have 
been  severely  prejudiced  by  dismissal 
of  the  distributors.  Notwithstanding 
their  dismissal,  the  plaintiff  still  claims 
the  distributors  are  party  to  action," 
the  answer  adds. 

Demanding  a  judgment  dismissing 
the  complaint,  Schine  counsel,  Willard 
S.  McKay  and  Edmund  M.  McCarthy, 
who  filed  the  answer,  charge  that  the 
"plaintiff  is  guilty  of  laches"  (failure 
to  enforce  its  rights  in  time). 


WAC  Heads  to  Meet 
WMC  in  Washington 

Leon  J.  Bamberger,  assistant  to 
War  Activities  Committee  distribu- 
tors division  chairman  Ned  R.  Depi- 
net,  and  A.  A.  Schubart,  of  RKO, 
leave  for  Washington  today  to  appear 
before  the  Essential  Activities  Com- 
mittee of  the  War  Manpower  Com- 
mission on  Tuesday. 

Appearing  at  the  invitation  of  the 
EAC,  Bamberger  will  substantiate  the 
applications  for  "locally  needed"  des- 
ignations filed  for  film  exchange 
personnel  in  Dallas  and  Buffalo.  The 
EAC,  headed  by  chairman  Collis 
Stocking,  will  rule  on  the  Dallas  and 
Buffalo  classifications,  with  the  deci- 
sion expected  to  set  a  pattern  for  the 
remainder  of  the  country. 


Next  Decree  Meet 
Awaits  Clark 

Last  week's  meetings  be- 
tween the  Department  of  Jus- 
tice and  the  representatives 
of  the  five  decree  companies 
failed  to  reach  any  conclu- 
sions on  the  future  of  the  new 
consent  decree.  The  meetings 
therefore  will  be  resumed  im- 
mediately upon  the  return  of 
Assistant  U.  S.  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Tom  C.  Clark  to  Wash- 
ington from  his  Dallas  home. 

The  companies  are  hopeful 
of  receiving  the  Department's 
reaction  to  the  new  decree 
proposals  advanced  last  week 
when  the  next  conference  is 
held. 


'Parade  of  Stars' 
Sparks  Opening 
War  Bond  Rallies 


A  multitude  of  special  events,  with 
the  cooperation  of  the  armed  forces, 
the  War  Activities  Committee,  the 
War  Finance  Division  of  the  Treas- 
ury and  the  Hollywood  Victory  Com- 
mittee, which  is  providing  stars,  is 
under  way  on  behalf  of  the  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan  Drive,  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  national  industry  chairman,  an- 
nounced at  the  weekend. 

Nationally,  the  leading  participa- 
tion of  these  groups  is  in  the  Army 
Air  Forces  "Parade  of  Stars,"  which 
includes  the  65-piece  orchestra  of  the 
Army  Air  Forces  Technical  Training 
Command  and  a  group  of  Hollywood 
players.  Many  millions  of  dollars  in 
Bonds  have  already  been  sold  through 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


AFM  Warns  Its  Locals  to 
File  Financial  Returns 


American  Federation  of  Musicians 
started  at  the  weekend  to  mail  to  its 
several  hundred  locals  the  blanks  to 
be  used  in  filing  details  of  all  financial 
transactions,  income  and  disburse- 
ments, as  required  under*  the  Federal 
tax  law  effected  last  July  1,  and,  at  the 
same  time,  warned  the  unions  of  their 
responsibilities  under  the  act. 

The  law  applies  to  all  motion 
picture  unions,  guilds  and  other 
organizations,  and  to  all  non- 
profit groups  in  this  and  other 
fields.  It  is  intended  to  deter- 
mine the  nature  of  the  organi- 
zations' financial  transactions. 


Heretofore  all  organizations  consid- 
ered tax  exempt  were  merely  required 
to  file  an  application  for  a  certificate 
of  exemption,  which  the  U.  S.  Inter- 
nal Revenue  Bureau  usually  granted. 
The  bureau  has  adopted  an  entirely 
new  form  for  returns  by  the  tax  ex- 
empt organizations  but  has  retained 
the  old  number,  990. 

The  bureau  has  decreed  that  returns 
shall  be  filed  on  or  before  Aug.  15, 
1944.  The  returns  shall  be  for  the 
fiscal  year  commencing  1943.  In  fu- 
ture years  the  form  for  returns  must 
be  filed  on  or  before  May  15. 


Pension  Plan 
Of  Loew's 
Is  Completed 

Executives  Will  Limit 
Their  Profit  Sharing 


Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  of 
Loevv's,  in  a  letter  to  the  company's 
stockholders  at  the  weekend,  dis- 
closed that  to  help  defray  the  cost  of 
the  company's 
pension  plan  for 
approxi- 
mately 4,300 
employes  which 
stock  holders 
will  be  asked 
to  ratify  at 
their  annu- 
al meeting  July 
18,  executives 
who  have 
profit  -  sharing 
contracts  have 
agreed  to  limit 
their  own  com- 
pensation under 
existing  con- 
tracts while  the  plan  is  in  effect. 
According  to  estimates,  had  the  pro- 
(Continucd  on  page  7) 


Nicholas  Schenck 


Name  9  ILL 
Directors 


Wilmington,  Del.,  June  18. — Unit- 
ed Artists  stockholders  elected  nine  di- 
rectors, comprising  the  company's 
new  "management"  board,  at  their 
special  meeting  here  on  Friday. 

The  directors  elected  are :  Edward 
C.  Raftery,  Isaac  Pennypacker,  Phil- 
adelphia, attorney,  and  Charles  P. 
Blinn  of  Pennypacker's  law  firm, 
representing   Mary   Pickford ;  Grad- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Film  Delivery  Service 
Unaffected  by  Strike 

Chicago,  June  18. — The  threatened 
Truck  Drivers'  strike  in  the  Midwest 
will  in  no  way  involve  the  film  de- 
livery service  in  the  affected  areas, 
according-  to  C.  PI.  Otto,  secretary 
and  treasurer  of  the  Film  Chauffers 
and  Carriers  Union,  local  755,  AFL. 

Otto  stated  that  the  FCCU  has  no 
connection  with  any  other  truck  driver 
unions  and  up  to  this  moment  has  not 
been  approached  by  the  Central  Static- 
Drivers  Council,  which  is  waging  the 
fight,  for  any  support  in  case  a  strike 
is  called. 


~4 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Monday,  June  19,  1944 


II:: 


Personal 
Mention 


MARLENE  DIETRICH  returned 
to  New  York  at  the  weekend 
after  ten  weeks  of  USO  camp-show 
touring,  entertaining  American  troops 
in  the  Mediterranean  theatre. 

• 

Art  Gould,  former  head  booker  for 
the  Joseph  Stern  Theatres,  Chicago, 
now  in  the  Army,  has  returned  to 
California  after  spending  a  10-day 
furlough  in  Chicago. 

• 

Sally  Simon,  secretary  to  Tom 
Connors,  20th-Fox  vice-president,  is 
mourning  the  loss  of  her  mother,  who 
died  here  Thursday. 

• 

Chester  Friedman,  editor  of  Mo- 
tion Picture  Herald's  "Managers' 
Round  Table,"  returned  over  the 
weekend  from  Indianapolis. 

• 

Art  Catlin,  RKO  publicity  director 
in  Chicago,  has  left  on  a  tour  of  sev- 
eral Wisconsin  towns. 

• 

Isabelle  Austin  of  the  Roxy  The- 
atre, New  York,  is  in  Mt.  Sinai  Hos- 
pital suffering  with  an  eye  ailment. 


Mooney  Names  Blair 
To  Publicity  Post 

Hollywood,  June  18. — Martin  Moo- 
ney, PRC  Pictures  production  execu- 
tive, appointed  Harry  N.  Blair  over 
the  weekend,  eastern  publicity  man- 
ager, succeeding  S.  S.  Kestenbaum, 
who  becomes  field  exploiteer. 

Blair  will  leave  for  the  east  tomor- 
row to  take  up  his  assignment  with 
PRC.  His  background  embraces  trade 
journalism,  a  reviewer's  post  for  the 
Philadelphia  Daily  News  and  Evening 
Ledger,  and  eastern  editor  of  the 
Associated  Publications.  He  has  also 
served  in  the  publicity  departments  of 
some  of  the  leading  producers. 


Moray  Will  Confer 
With  Jack  Warner 

Norman  H.  Moray,  short  subject 
sales  manager  for  Warner  Bros.,  left 
New  York  over  the  weekend  for  the 
coast  to  confer  with  Jack  L.  Warner, 
executive  producer,  and  Gordon  Hol- 
lingshead,  head  of  short  subject  pro- 
duction, on  the  company's  schedule  of 
shorts  for  the  1944-45  season. 

It  is  expected  that  the  new  lineup 
will  be  approximately  the  same  in  size 
as  the  current  program.  Quota  of 
Technicolor  subjects,  however,  will 
probably  be  somewhat  larger. 


Lou  Goldberg  Leaves 
RKO  Theatre  Post 

Louis  Goldberg,  who  tendered  his 
resignation  10  days  ago  as  division 
manager  of  RKO  theatres  in  Brooklyn 
and  Manhattan,  left  the  company  on 
Friday.  Goldberg  has  been  in  theatre 
operation  posts  for  the  past  30  years. 
His  division  was  reassigned  to  Charles 
McDonald,  who  headed  it  up  to  a  few 
months  ago. 


Tradewise 


By  SHERWIN  KANE 


'TpHE  revisions  of  the  proposed 
consent  decree  which  the 
five  companies,  party  thereto, 
agreed  to  make  last  week  are  di- 
rect concessions  in  favor  of  ex- 
hibitors and  should  make  the 
companies'  proposals  more  at- 
tractive to  a  very  large  number 
of  them.  The  liberalized  cancel- 
lation provisions,  in  particular, 
benefit  the  largest  number  of  ex- 
hibitors in  a  most  direct  and 
practical  manner.  Details  of  the 
new  cancellation  formula  were 
published  in  this  paper  on  Fri- 
day. 

Fewer  exhibitors  are  interest- 
ed in  Section  10  than  in  can- 
cellations and  even  fewer  are  in- 
terested in  the  establishment  of 
showcase  houses  in  key  cities  by 
the  five  decree  companies.  How- 
ever, for  those  who  are  interest- 
ed in  Section  10,  the  companies 
have  agreed  to  re-phr&se  the 
provision  to  give  guarantees 
that  an  exhibitor  entitled  to  spe- 
cific runs  of  films  under  arbi- 
tration proceedings,  actually  is 
able  to  obtain  them.  For  those 
who  are  interested  in  circuit  es- 
tablishment- of  showcase  houses 
(and  those  who  are  interested, 
presumably  are  opposed  to 
them),  the  decree  companies 
have  agreed  to  waive  whatever 
rights  that  may  be  theirs  to  con- 
struct or  acquire  showcase  the- 
atres. 

These  are  the  principal  revi- 
sions in  the  decree  up  to  the 
moment.  Company  officials  re- 
gard them  as  approximately  the 
ultimate  that  can  be  offered 
without  violating  sound  business 
judgment.  More,  they  believe 
that  insistence  upon  any  further 
fundamental  changes  in  decree 
provisions  would  make  it  neces- 
sary for  them  to  choose  to  take 
their  chances  in  court.  It  is 
their  view  that  loss  of  a  law  suit 
would  not  result  in  their  giving 
up  more  than  has  been  given 
already.  And  there  is  always 
the  possibility  that  the  law  suit 
would  not  be  lost. 

If  this  sounds  like  specious 
reasoning,  let  some  one  try  to 
tell  you  just  what  exhibitors 
have  gained  from  the  govern- 
ment's court  victory  in  the 
Crescent  suit  at  Nashville.  And 
look  up  the  won.  and  lost  score 
of  the  companies  in  recent  court 
cases.  The  last  four  decisions 
to  come  down  have  been  in 
favor  of  Ihe  distribution  com- 
panies. 

•  • 

Plans  for  the  appointment  of 


officials  to  represent  the  indus- 
try in  leading  world  capitals  are 
being  advanced  from  week  to 
week.  Names  are  being  pro- 
posed and  qualifications  of  pros- 
pective appointees  are  being  in- 
vestigated. Indications  are  that 
much  of  the  work  being  done  in 
the  matter  is  in  consultation 
with  State  Department  officials. 
The  immediate  aim  is  to  provide 
the  industry  with  representation 
in  about  six  major  capitals  in 
the  near  future  and  in  other 
strategic  capitals  as  liberation 
-develops. 

F.  W.  Allport  naturally  will 
return  to  his  London  post  and, 
when  possible,  Harold  Smith  is 
certain  to  go  back  to  Paris, 
where  he  performed  distin- 
guished work  for  the  industry 
for  a  number  of  years.  Proba- 
bly the  first  post  to  be  filled  will 
be  in  Mexico  City.  Others 
throughout  Latin  America  may 
follow. 

•  • 

Columbia's  profit  for  the  cur- 
rent fiscal  year  is  estimated  in 
financial  quarters  to  be  around 
$7,000,000  before  taxes.  You 
don't  have  to  be  a  Picture 
Pioneer  to  recall  the  years  when 
that  company's  gross  revenue 
for  a  year  approximated  a  fig- 
ure of  that  kind. 


State  exhibitor  organizations 
are  being  polled  by  mail  now 
on  their  views  with  respect  to 
formation  of  a  national  exhibitor 
council  on  taxation  exclusive  of 
Allied  States,  which  was  unable 
to  gain  the  approval  of  its  board 
of  directors  for  participation  in 
such  an  organization. 

Replies  to  the  queries  to  date 
are  said  to  be  overwhelmingly 
in  favor  of  the  proposal.  The 
exhibitor  tax  council  was  form- 
ally approved  by  MPTOA,  af- 
filiated circuits  and  the  Pacific 
Coast  Conference  of  Independent 
Theatre  Owners.  Now  sup- 
ported by  a  substantial  number 
of  the  unattached  state  exhibi- 
tor organizations,  there  appears 
to  be  no  reason  to  doubt  that  a 
representative  national  tax  coun- 
cil can  be  formed.  There  is  even 
less  reason  to  doubt  the  need  for 
such  an  organization.  Its  offi- 
cials, as  has  been  reported, 
would  be  authorized  to  represent 
and  speak  for  exhibition  on  all 
national  taxation  matters  affect- 
ing theatres  and  would  serve, 
too,  as  counselors  to  state  ex- 
hibitor organizations  on  region- 
al tax  problems. 


Edison  Award  Given 
Irving  Cummings 

Hollywood,  June  18.— The 
Thomas  A.  Edison  Foundation 
Gold  Award,  which  in  previ- 
ous years  has  been  given  to 
scientists  and  educators,  was 
received  for  the  first  time  by 
a  member  of  the  film  industry 
when  Dr.  Rufus  B.  von  Klein- 
Smid,  president  of  the  Uni- 
versity of  Southern  Califor- 
nia, presented  the  1943  medal 
at  the  weekend  to  producer- 
director  Irving  Cummings. 
The  award  is  given  for  "out- 
standing achievement  in  the 
arts  and  sciences." 


Reception  Committee 
For  UJA  Luncheon 

The  reception  committee  for  the 
amusement  division's  fund-raising 
luncheon  for  the  United  Jewish  Ap 
peal  to  be  held  tomorrow  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  has  been  announced  by  B.  S 
Moss,  chairman  of  the  luncheon  com- 
mittee. 

The  committee  includes  Carter 
Blake,  Harry  Brandt,  Max  A.  Coh- 
en, Leopold  Friedman,  Emil  Fried- 
lander,  Arthur  Israel,  Jr.,  Malcolm 
Kingsberg,  William  Klein,  Samuel 
Machnovitch,  Larry  Morris,  Louis 
Nizer,  Sam  Rinzler,  Herman  Rob 
bins,  Jack  Robbins,  Sam  Rosen,  Ed 
Rudoff,  George  J.  Schaefer,  Abe 
Schneider,  Joseph  H.  Seidelman, 
Maurice  Silverstone,  Nate  Spingold, 
and  David  Weinstock.  Dr.  Abba  Hil- 
lel  Silver  will  be  guest  of  honor. 


It 's  Capt.  Matty  Fox; 
Prutzman  Overseas 

Matthew  J.  Fox,  former  vice-presi- 
dent of  Universal,  who  has  been  serv- 
ing in  Britain  with  the  Army  Signal 
Corps,  has  been  commissioned  a  cap- 
tain, according  to  word  received  here. 
His  promotion  from  warrant  officer 
was  in  recognition  of  special  services 
performed  in  Army  preparations  for 
D-Day,  it  was  said.  Fox  joined  the 
Army  as  a  private. 

Pvt.  Charles  Prutzman,  Jr.,  18- 
year-old  son  of  the  Universal  vice- 
president  and  general  counsel,  has 
been  assigned  to  overseas  duty  with 
the  Army  Signal  Corps. 


Services  Get  ovyc 
Of  Terry  Output 

Fifty  per  cent  of  the  output  of  the 
Terrytoon  cartoon  studio  in  New  Ro- 
chelle  is  devoted  to  the  production  of 
training  films  for  the  Navy,  Marine 
Corps  and  Army,  Paul  Terry,  presi- 
dent, disclosed  at  the  weekend  at  a 
luncheon  and  inspection  tour  of  the 
studio  for  the  trade  press. 

The  studio  will  produce  28  cartoons 
in  color  for  20th-Fox  release  in  1944- 
45,  against  26  delivered  this  season. 


Meltzer  on  Own 

Allen  Meltzer,  recently  resigned  as 
Eastern  publicity  manager  for  War- 
ner Bros.,  has  formed  an  independent 
public  relations  organization,  Allen 
Meltzer,  Inc.,  with  headquarters  here. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Williem  R-  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


^  Monday,  June  19,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


New  Trial  Plea  to 
Cite  Hindis'  Letter 


An  eight-page  letter  allegedly  writ- 
ten by  Federal  Judge  Carroll  Hincks 
to  a  juror  on  the  trial  of  the  Prefect 
Theatres  anti-trust  suit  against  the 
major  distributors  will  be  used  by  the 
plaintiffs'  counsel,  Saul  Rogers,  as  his 
chief  argument  in  support  of  his  mo- 
tion for  a  new  trial  at  a  hearing  in 
U.  S.  District  Court  in  New  Haven 
Wednesday  afternoon. 

Rogers  told  Motion  Picture  Daily 
at  the  weekend  that  one  of  the  jur- 
ors had  written  the  judge  protesting 
his  taking  the  case  away  from  the 
jury  on  April  14  and  that  Hincks,  in 
a  lengthy  reply,  had  conceded  that 
there  was  evidence  of  conspiracy  but 
that,  in  his  opinion,  there  was  no  evi- 
dence of  damage.  Rogers  will  argue 
that,  on  the  basis  of  this  conspiracy 
point,  a  new  trial  should  be  granted, 
he  said. 

If  the  motion  for  the  new  trial  is 
denied  by  the  court,  the  plaintiffs  will 
immediately  file  an  appeal  from  the 
dismissal  of  the  case  to  the  U.  S. 
Circuit  Court  of  Appeals. 


Gene  Buck  President 
Of  Catholic  Actors 

Gene  Buck,  acting  president  of  the 
Catholic  Actors  Guild  since  the  death 
i  of  George  M.  Cohan,  has  been  elected 
to  that  office  with  Pat  O'Brien,  first 
vice-president  and  Jay  Jostyn,  second 
vice-president.  Results  of  the  election 
were  announced  at  the  Guild's  annual 
meeting  Friday,  along  with  reports 
showing  all-time  highs  in  membership 
and  financial  resources. 

Other  officers  elected  were  Donat 
Gautier,  recording  secretary,  Kathryn 
Givney,  historian,  Frank  McNellis, 
chairman  of  executive  board,  Jane 
Hoy,  theatrical  social  secretary,  Lil- 
lian Fallon,  non-theatrical  social  sec- 
retary, and  the  following  members  of 
the  executive  board:  Mrs.  Philip 
Barry,  Edwin  Burke,  William  A. 
Downs,  Walter  Gilbert,  Johnny  Kane, 
Tom  Kane,  Ed  Latimer,  Walter  J. 
Moore,  Mrs.  Paul  Munter,  William 
G.  Norton,  George  Shelton,  Jane 
Taylor. 


Arthur  Lord,  68,  Was 
Pioneer  in  Radio 

East  Orange,  N.  J.,  June  18. — Ar- 
thur D.  Lord,  68,  pioneer  vacuum 
tube  manufacturer,  and  former  presi- 
dent and  receiver  of  the  De  Forrest 
Radio  Co,  died  here  recently.  His 
father,  the  late  Daniel  M.  Lord,  was 
a  founder  of  Lord  &  Thomas. 

In  1928,  Lord  was  elected  president 
of  the  De  Forrest  Radio  Co.  and  later 
he  was  appointed  a  receiver  for  the 
company.  He  is  survived  by  his  wife, 
Mrs.  Dorothy  S.  Lord;  a  daughter, 
Mrs.  Harold  Armstrong;  a  brother, 
Daniel  M.  Lord,  and  two  sisters,  Mrs. 
Edgerton  Parsons  and  Mrs.  Florence 
Lord  Hough. 


Nat'l  Theatres  Sign 
Universal  for  3  Yrs, 

Los  Angeles,  June  18.— W.  A. 
Scully,  Universal  vice-president  and 
general  sales  manager,  has  concluded 
negotiations  for  a  three-year  exten- 
sion of  the  Universal  product  deal 
with  National  Theatres. 


Review 


"Taxi  to  Heaven" 

(Art  kino) 

'TPHIS  musical  comedy,  produced  at  Central  Studios  in  the  USSR  by 
Frederick  Ermler,  is  a  simple  love  story,  embellished  by  native  music, 
both  popular  and  classic,  with  little  reference  to  the  war. 

Ludmila  Tselikovskaya,  a  capable  actress  with  a  fine  voice,  portrays 
an  aspiring  opera  star,  and  Mikhail  Zharov  lends  realism  to  the  role  of 
a  transport  pilot  in  love  with  her.  Georgi  Speigel,  established  in  the 
Moscow  Opera,  also  loves  Ludmila  and  denies  her  a  career  if  she  refuses 
to  marry  him.  Zharov  leaves  to  fly  supplies  to  the  front  lines.  On 
his  return  flight,  he  runs  into  trouble,  but  when  his  radio  operator  picks 
up  the  broadcast  of  the  heroine's  debut,  the  plane  is  guided  safely  back 
to  Moscow  on  the  radio  beam  of  Ludmila's  voice.  The  two  are  reunited. 
Herbert  Rappaport's  direction,  from  Eugene  Petrov's  scenario,  keeps 
the  picture  moving  rapidly. 

Running  time,  70  mins.  "G."* 

Helen  McNamara 


'G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Milwaukee 's  Grosses 
Show  Mixed  Trend 

Milwaukee,  June  18. — -"Up  in 
Mabel's  Room,"  coupled  with  "Lady, 
Let's  Dance"  at  the  Warner  Theatre 
shared  top  spot  with  "Girl  in  the 
Case,"  and  Vaughn  Monroe's  Band  at 
the  Riverside. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  17: 

"Andy'  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Harvest  Melody"  (PRC) 

WISCONSIN— (3,200)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
1st  week.  Gross:  $11,200.  (Average:  814,- 
000.) 

"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Par.) 
"Negro  Soldier"  (OWI) 

PALACE — (2,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
1st  week.  Gross:  $7,485.  (Average:  $11,- 
500). 

"Cover  Girl"  (CoL) 
"Standing  Room  Only"  (Par.) 

STRAND— (1,400)  (40c-60c-80c)  7  days,  3rd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $6,875.  (Average: 
$5,500). 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 
"Lady,   Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

WARNER— (2,400)    (50c-72c)   7  days,  1st 
week.     Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Negro  Soldier"  (OWI) 

ALHAMBRA— (1,900)  (50c-70c)  7  days,  1st 
week. 

"Girl  in  the  Case"  (Col.) 

RIVERSIDE— (2,700)  (65c-85c)  7  days,  1st 
week.  Vaughn  Monroe's  Band  on  stage. 
Gross:  $15,000.  (Average:  $15,000). 


Hirliman  Appoints 
Weshner  Associates 

George  Hirliman,  president  of  Film 
Classics,  announced  todav  the  appoint- 
ment of  David  E.  Weshner  &  Asso- 
ciates as  advertising,  publicity  and 
exploitation  consultants  to  his  organ- 
ization. Weshner,  will  work  in  asso- 
ciation with  Carol  Weill,  recently  ap- 
pointed Film  Classics  publicity  head. 

His  immediate  efforts  in  behalf  of 
Film  Classics  will  be  the  launching 
of  a  campaign  on  "Dead  End,"  the 
Samuel  Goldwyn  production  which 
opens  in  New  York  City  at  Brandt's 
Gotham,  July  1. 


Jeffrey  in  New  Post 
For  International 

Arthur  Jeffrey  has  been  appointed 
Eastern  publicity  director  for  Inter- 
national Pictures,  Inc.,  it  was  an- 
nounced by  Tom  Fizdale  at  the  week- 
end. The  appointment  is  effective  im- 
mediately. 

Jeffrey  resigned  recently  as  publicity 
manager  of  United  Artists,  with 
whom  he  was  associated  for  the  past 
eight  years. 


Rain  Hurts  Business 
In  Minneapolis 

Minneapolis,  June  18. — A  week  of 
torrential  rain  shared  responsibility 
for  a  continuance  of  off-business  here. 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  pulled 
$16,000  at  Radio  City  Theatre,  to  lead. 

Estimated  receipts  for  week  ending 
June  15 : 

"Lest  Angel"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (2,300)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$11,000.     (Average:  $12,400). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 

RADIO   CITY—  (4,000)    (44c-60c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $16,0000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

CENTURY — (1,600)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week  downtown.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average: 
$7,400). 

"Show  Business"  (RKO) 

ORPHEUM— (2,800)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $9,000.     (Average:  $13,000). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LYRIC— (1,250)  (44c-60c)  7  days,  2nd  week 
downtown.  Gross:  $5,500.  (Average:  $5,- 
600). 

"None  Shall  Escape"  (CoL)  • 

WORLD— (350)  (44c-55c-60c-80c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average:  $2,- 
600). 

"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

GOPHER— (998)  (40c)  7  days.  Gross: 
"Follow  the  Leader"  (Mono.) 
"Girl  in  the  Case"  (CoL) 

ASTER— (900)  (25c -35c).  Gross:  $2,600. 
(Average:  $2,600). 


Mexicans  Join  in 
Opposing  Dubbing 

Mexico  City,  June  18.— The  films 
players  union  and  Section  2  (studio 
workers)  of  the  National  Cinemato- 
graphic Industry  Workers  Union  have 
joined  with  Section  1  (theatre  at- 
taches) in  opposing  exhibition  in 
Mexico  of  American  product  dubbed 
in  Spanish. 

The  players  union  has  appointed  a 
committee,  which  includes  Dolores  del 
Rio,  to  provide  penalties  for  Mexican 
players  who  aid  Hollywood  in  dub- 
bing, and  Enrique  Solis,  head  of  Sec- 
tion 2,  has  announced  that  he  will  re- 
fuse to  aid  such  companies  in  their 
dubbing. 


WB  Shorts  in  Archives 

Washington,  June  18. — A  National 
Archives'  official  has  requested,  and 
received,  nine  prints  of  Warner  pa- 
triotic short  subjects  for  inclusion  in 
its  files.  The  films  are:  "March  on 
Marines,"  "Meet  the  Fleet,"  "A  Ship 
Is  Born,"  "The  Fighting  Engineers," 
"Spirit  of  West  Point,"  "Eagles  of 
the  Navy,"  "Our  African  Frontier," 
"Spirit  of  Annapolis,"  and  "Mountain 
Fighters." 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  June  18. 

HAL  WALLIS*  has  bought  the 
Chris  Massie  novel,  "Love  Let- 
ters," which  he  may  produce  in  Eng- 
land. 


_  M-G-M  has  elevated  Ralph  Wheel- 
right  to  a  producership.  His  first  will 
be  "Time  for  Two,"  from  his  origi- 
nal. Wheelright  entered  the  M-G-M 
writing  department  15  months  ago 
after  several  years  in  publicity  as 
Howard  Strickling's  assistant.  He 
scripted  "Suzy-Q"  and  collaborated  on 
"Seattle." 


Tom  Fizdale  will  arrive  b£re  to- 
morrow from  New  York  to  plan  with 
William  Goetz  and  Leo  Spitz  for  the 
premiere  of  International  Pictures' 
first,  "Casanova  Brown,"  which  RKO 
will  distribute  and  which  is  scheduled 
for  an  early  New  York  opening. 
• 

Lou  Smith  has  been  named  studio 
publicity  director  for  Lester  Cowan 
Prod.  He  will  work  on  "G.  I.  Joe," 
and  "Tomorrow  the  World,"  which 
will  get  United  Artists  distribution. 


"Little  Horse,"  a  Good  Housekeep- 
ing serial,  has  been  bought  by  20th- 
Fox  for  a  film  starring  Peggy  Ann 
Garner. 

Harry  E.  Edington  has  re-entered 
the  agency  business  with  offices  in  the 
California  Bank  Building. 


'Angels',  'Pass'  Pull 
$13J00  in  Omaha 

Omaha,  June  18. — Box  office  re- 
ceipts have  bounded  back  here  after  a 
two  weeks'  slump.  Wet  weather  for 
six  straight  days  helped  "And  the 
Angels  Sing"  and  "Weekend  Pass"  to 
$13,100  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  receipts  for  week  ending 
June  14-15: 

"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Nine  Girls"  (Col.) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)     (44c-60c)     9  days. 
Gross:   $10,100.      (Average:  $6,500). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Tunisian  Victory"  (M-G-M-MOI) 

OMAHA—  (2,000)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,900.     (Average:  $8,400). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 
"Weekend  Pass"  (Univ.) 

ORPHEUM — (3,000)     (44c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $13,100.     (Average:  $9,800). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT— (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:   $10,400.      (Average:  $11,700). 


Pemberton  Head  of 
Paramount  Trailers 

By  appointment  through  Robert  M. 
Gillham,  Paramount's  national  direc- 
tor of  advertising  and  publicity,  Phil 
Pemberton  will  head  the  studio  trailer 
department,  effective  today,  and  Leon- 
ard Neubauer  of  that  department  will 
take  charge  of  advertising  in  the  pre- 
liminary campaign  set-up  for  pic- 
tures. 


Dartmouth  Picks  W anger 

Boston,  June  18. — Alumni  of  Dart- 
mouth College  elected  Walter  Wan- 
ger  their  general  president,  and  chose 
Ben  Ames  Williams,  author,  vice- 
president. 


SIMILAR  REPORTS 
FROM  EVERY 
OPENING! 


INDIANA  THEATRE 
INDIANAPOLIS,  IND. 

2nd  day  as  big  as 
1st  day,  which  was 
a  record  breaker. 


IN  146 


KEARSE  THEATRE 
CHARLESTON,  W.VA. 

Breaks  all  records 
for  past  6  months. 


PALACE  THEATR! 
CINCINNATI,  0. 

Broke  all  openir 
day  records.  2m 
day  big  as  1st  d 


THE  EVE  OF  SUM  •  PIN  UP  GIRL  •  BUFFALO  [ 


9  KEITH'S  THEATRE       RKO  PALACE  THEA.  WARNER  THEATRE        OHIO  THEATRE 

DAYTON,  0,  .   COLUMBUS,  0.  YOUNGSTOWN,  0.        MARION,  0. 

i  Broke  all  records.  Beat  every  picture  Broke  all  records.  Broke  all  records, 
t                         except  Coney  Island  4  times  normal 

i  which  opened  on  business. 


OUR  JILLS  IN  A  JEEP  •  THE  SONG  OF  BERNADETTE  •  THE  PURPLE  HEART 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  19,  1944 


'Bermuda',  Cugat  At 
$23,000  in  Cmcy 


Cincinnati,  June  18. — A  break  in 
the  prolonged  hot  weather  proved  a 
break  for  "Bermuda  Mystery,"  aided 
by  Xavier  Cugat's  orchestra,  which 
headed  for  an  approximate  $23,000  at 
the  RKO  Albee. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  14-17: 

"Bermuda  Mystery"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)  (44c-50c-55c-65c- 
85c)  7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show. 
Stage:  Xavier  Cugat's  orchestra,  George 
and  Gene  Bernard,  the  Garcias,  Kurt  Rol- 
lini.  Gross:  $23,000.  (Average:  $22,000). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

RKO  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"The  Navy  Way"  (Para.) 
"Gunsmoke  Mesa"  (PRC) 

RKO  FAMILY—  (1,000)  (30c-40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,600.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Marshal  of  Gunsmoke"  (Univ.) 
"Hi  Gocd-Lookin'  "  (Univ.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)  (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $750.     (Average:  $800). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)  (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7 
days,   plus    Saturday   midnight   show,  4th 
week.    Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $9,500. 
"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 

KEITH'S  —  (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Average: 
$5,000). 

"Man  from  Frisco"  (Rep.) 
"The  Girl  in  the  Case"  (CoL) 

RKO  LYRIC— (1,500)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average:  $5,500). 
"The  Uninvited)"  (Para.) 

RKO   PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  SHUBERT—  (2,150)  (44c-S0c-60c- 
70c)  7  days,  2nd  week,  moveover  from  the 
Palace.     Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 


'Parade  of  Stars '  Sparks 
Opening  Bond  Rallies 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
the  appearance  of  this  traveling  unit. 

Players  who  are  touring  or  who 
have  appeared  include  Gary  Cooper, 
Paul  Lukas,  Ingrid  Bergman,  Veroni- 
ca Lake,  Betty  Grable,  Lana  Turner, 
Susanna  Foster,  Ray  Bolger,  Lynn 
Bari,  Walter  Pidgeon,  Milton  Berle, 
Broderick  Crawford,  Oscar  Levant  and 
Helen  Forrest.  Others  will  go  out  as 
production  schedules  permit.  Rallies 
are  being  held  in  the  largest  auditori- 
ums or  outdoor  places  in  each  city 
visited. 

The  unit  appears  at  huge  rallies 
which  spark  the  drive  in  each  city, 
such  as  the  one  attended  by  60,000 
persons  in  Detroit  and  that  attended 
by  more  than  40,000  at  the  Polo 
Grounds  here  last  night.  Other  ral- 
lies have  been  held  in  St.  Louis,  Chi- 
cago, Indianapolis,  Boston,  Philadel- 
phia and  Brooklyn.  Still  others  are 
scheduled  as  follows:  today,  Chi- 
cago; June  21,  Atlantic  City;  June 
22,  Wilmington;  June  23,  Norfolk; 
June  24,  Richmond;  June  27,  Birm- 
ingham ;  June  28,  Knoxville ;  June  29, 
Memphis ;  June  30,  Louisville ;  July  1, 
Cincinnati. 

On  Friday  Brooklyn  packed  the 
Fox  Brooklyn  Theatre,  scaled  to 
$500,000  in  war  bonds.  In  Phila- 
delphia at  Convention  Hall  on  Thurs- 
day night,  15,000  spectators  poured 
$1,500,000  into  Fifth  War  Loan  cof- 
fers. 


LAST  CALL!! 

ONLY  TWO  DAYS  LEFT  TO  GET 
your  tickets  for  the 
Sixth  Annual 

Amusement  Division 
Luncheon 

On  behalf  of  the 

United  Jewish  Appeal 


Tuesday,  June  20th,  12:30  p.m. 

HOTEL  ASTOR 
Guest  Speaker:  Dr.  Abba  Hillel  Silver 

SPECIAL  GUEST  STARS 


★CHICO  MARX  ★MILTON  BERLE 

★BENNY  FIELDS  ★WILLIE  HOWARD 

GERTRUDE  NIESEN    PETER  LORRE 
JACKIE  GLEASON     JOAN  EDWARDS 
OSCAR  KARLWEISS       CONRAD  NAGEL      MARY  MARTIN 
J.  EDWARD  BROMBERG  JOHN  BOLES 

Obtain  tickets  from  B.  S.  Moss,  Luncheon  Chairman 
218  West  48th  Street        -         Circle  6-8600 


A,       BARRY  WOOD 

ELISABETH  BERGNER 


$16,000,000  Sale  at 
Rally  in  Pittsburgh 

Pittsbugrh,  June  18. — Pittsburgh 
and  Western  Pennsylvania's  first  ma- 
jor promotion  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
was  staged  at  Forbes  Field  here  Fri- 
day before  a  crowd  of  40,000. 

Robert  H.  McClintic,  state  vice 
chairman  of  the  War  Finance  Com- 
mittee for  Pennsylvania,  said  the 
show  was  responsible  for  the  sale  of 
approximately  $16,000,000  in  bonds. 
Two  tickets  were  given  each  purchas- 
er, with  the  stands  scaled  from  $1,- 
000  for  box  steats  to  $25  for  the 
bleachers. 

A  gem-studded  "flower  ballet" 
brooch,  created  by  John  Rubel,  New 
York  jewelry  designer,  and  presented 
to  the  committee,  was  auctioned. 

Harry  Krivit,  formerly  production 
manager  with  Loew's  circuit,  has  been 
appointed  advance  representative  for 
the  Air  Force's  "Parade  of  Stars" 
by  national  industry  chairman  R.  J. 
O'Donnell  and  is  traveling  one  day 
ahead  of  the  show,  which  is  sponsored 
jointly  by  the  WFC,  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  and  the  Hollywood 
Victory  Committee. 


Sales  in  Times  Square 
Reach  $203,123  Total 

Bond  sales  at  the  Times  Square 
cash  register  reached  $203,123  at  the 
weekend. 

Friday's  noontime  show  included 
Harry  James  and  his  orchestra,  the 
Don  Cossacks,  Sergeant  Chas.  E. 
(Commando)  Kelly  of  Pittsburgh,  and 
Lieut.  Ernest  Childers,  Creek  Indian, 
both  awarded  the  Congressional  Medal 
of  Honor.  The  Saturday  perform- 
ance featured  Gertrude  Niesen  of 
"Follow  the  Boys,"  Una  Merkel,  Vic- 
tor Jory,  Louise  Beavers,  and  Lucky 
Millinder  and  orchestra,  the  last  two 
from  Loew's  State  Theatre.  Today's 
line-up  includes  the  Capitol  stage 
show,  with  Sammy  Kaye's  orchestra, 
Paul  Winchell,  Val  Valentinoff,  and 
Annabella. 


$1,454,000  in  5  Days  at 
M-G-M  Studios 

Hollywood,  June  18. — War  bond 
sales  totalling  $1,454,000  during  the 
first  five  days  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
Drive  on  the  M-G-M  lot  have  been 
reported  by  the  War  Finance  Commit- 
tee. The  studio  bought  $250,000 
worth  and  Norma  Shearer  $50,000. 
Sales  at  RKO  exceed  $550,000,  of 
which  the  studio  accounted  for  $50,000. 
Studio  purchases  are  in  addition  to 
company  purchases  announced  by  New 
York  headquarters. 


$112,000  War  Bond  Sale 
At  44-Seat  Premiere 

Los  Angeles,  June  18. — C.  J.  Bell, 
Paramount  branch  manager  here,  re- 
ports that  a  44-seat  projection  room 
premiere  of  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Was- 
sell"  at  the  Paramount  exchange  sold 
$112,000  in  bonds.  Another  exchange 
premiere  will  be  held  July  10. 

Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  distribu- 
tor chairman,  has  endorsed  projection 
room  premieres  for  every  exchange 
center,  where  they  can  be  put  on 
without  conflicting  with  exhibitors1 
premieres. 


$63,000  for 
'Way'  and 
Show  in  Chi. 


Chicago,  June  18. — The  Chicago 
Theatre  was  far  ahead  here  this  week 
with  "Going  My  Way"  and  a  stage 
show  headed  by  Harry  Richman,  tak- 
ing a  terrific  $63,000.  "Follow  the 
Boys"  grossed  a  fine  $25,000  at  the 
Palace. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  15: 

"Standing  Room  Only"   (Para.)   4th  Loop 
week 

"Gambler's  Choice"  (Para.) 

APOLLO— (1,200)    (S5c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $10,500.    (Average:  $11,400). 
"Going  My  Way^'  (Para.) 

CHICAGO — (3,850)    (55c-85c-95c)    7  days. 
Stage:  Harry  Richman,  Dave  Apollon  Re- 
vue.    Gross:  $63,000.     (Average:  $51,500). 
"Address  Unknown"  (CoL) 
"The  Whistler"  (Col.) 

GARRICK — (1,000)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Grbss:  $10,000.    (Average:  $9,100). 
"Girls  Under  21"  (Col.  Reissue) 
"Under  Age"  (Reissue)  (1  day) 
"Show  Business"  (RKO)  (3rd  Loop  week) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"  (RKO)  (6  days) 

GRAND— (1,250)   (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.    (Average:  $9,100). 
"Waterfront"  (PRC) 

ORIENTAL— (3,200)  (44c-55c-6Oc-80c-95c) 
7  days.  Stage:  Beatrice  Kaye,  Jimmy  Joy 
and  orchestra.  Gross:  $24,500.  (Average: 
$24,000). 

"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"Yellow  Canary"  (RKO)   (1  day) 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"Gildersleeve's  Ghost"  (RKO)   (6  days) 

PALACE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $25,000.     (Average:  $24,000). 
"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)      (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $21,000.    (Average:  $20,000). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

STATE  LAKE—  (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average: 
$29,000). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS—  (1,700)  (50c-65c-9Sc) 
7  days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $22,500.  (Aver- 
age: $20,200). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WOODS— (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days,  7th 
week.    Gross:  $17,500.    (Average:  $10*000). 


Pittsburgh  Business 
Gets  Slow  Start 


Pittsburgh,  June  18.  —  Although 
business  began  with  a  slow  upsweep  at 
some  downtown  theatres  here  this 
week,  for  the  most  part  it  remained 
dull.  With  "Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  on 
the  screen  and  George  White's  Scan- 
dals on  the  stage,  the  Stanley  swung 
toward  the  house  average  of  $22,000 
for  the  first  time  in  six  weeks. 

Estimated  receipts  for  week  end- 
ing June  13-16: 

"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 

FULTON— (1,700)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,000.  (Average:  $8,500). 
"Four  Jills  and  a  Jeep"  (2#tb-Fox) 

HARRIS—  (2,200)  (35c-44c-65c)  10  days. 
Gross:  $11,300.  (Average  for  7  days:  $10,- 
100). 

"Days  of  Glory"  (RKO) 

PENN — (2,400)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,000.    (Average:  $21,700). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

RITZ— (1,100)    (35c-44c-65c)    7    days,  4th 
week,    moveover    after    one    week    at  the 
Penn,  2  at  Warners.    Gross:  $3,500.  (Av- 
erage: $3,000). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (2flth-Fox) 

SENATOR— (1,750)  (35c-44c-65c)  10  days, 
into  3rd  week,  moveover  after  11  days  at 
Harris.  Gross:  $4,200.  (Average  for  7 
days:  $3,400). 

"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 

STANLEY— (3,800)  (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage,  6  days  of  vaudeville  with  George 
White's  Scandals.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Aver- 
age: $22,000). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

WARNER— (2,000)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days. 
2nd  week,  moveover  from  the  Penn.  Gross: 
$6'500.     (Average:  $9,350). 


Monday,  June  19,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


U.  S.  Urges  Use  of 
Venereal  Pictures 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
commercial  theatres  wherever  they 
can  for  pictures  of  a  scientific,  docu- 
mentary type,  but  held  that  the  Walter 
Wanger  picture,  "To  the  People  of 
the  United  States,"  which  aroused 
the  opposition  of  the  Legion  of  De- 
cency and  led  to  the  inquiry  by  the 
U.  S.  Public  Health  Service  on  which 
the  report  is  based,  was  not  suitable 
^for  theatre  distribution.  The  Wanger 
-  picture  was  condemned  on  the  ground 
that  it  was  inadequate  and  covered 
only  one  phase  of  the  problem. 

Officials  of  the  Public  Health  Ser- 
vice are  understood  to  be  in  agree- 
ment with  this  viewpoint,  and  to  con- 
sider far  more  effective  the  16mm 
film  produced  by  the  Motion  Picture 
Academy  of  Arts  and  Sciences. 

Long  Step  Taken 

While  the  Public  Health  Service  is 
understood  to  feel  that  the  limitations 
laid  down  in  the  report  as  to  the  type 
of  films  to  be  provided  for  theatre 
exhibition  will  make  it  difficult  to  pro- 
duce pictures  for  commercial  distri- 
bution— the  major  aim  being  not  to 
produce  pictures  of  the  "Damaged 
Goods"  type — a  long  step  forward  has 
been  taken  by  getting  the  various  or- 
ganizations interested  in  the  cultural 
level  of  motion  pictures  to  commit 
themselves  formally  as  in  support  of 
the  Surgeon  General's  campaign. 

The  fact  that  these  organizations 
have  approved  the  use  of  theatres  for 
this  type  of  films  will  be  a  protection 
to  exhibitors  who  may  show  them,  in 
the  event  of  protests  from  local  or- 
ganizations, it  was  pointed  out  here. 


Nine  U.  A,  Directors 
Named  to  Board 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
well  L.  Sears,  Neil  F.  Agnew  anff 
George  Bagnall,  representing  David 
O.  Selznick,  and  Sydney  Chaplin,  E. 
C.  Mills,  former  general  manager  of 
Ascap,  and  Rex  Dennant,  New  York 
insurance  broker  and  friend  of  Charles 
Chaplin,  representing  the  latter. 

Election  of  directors  was  the  only 
business  transacted  at  the  meeting. 
The  board  is  scheduled  to  meet  in 
New  York  Tuesday  to  elect  officers, 
with  the  reelection  of  the  present  slate 
expected. 


Invasion  Reels  Spark 
Business  in  Loop  . 

Chicago,  June  18.— The  invasion 
newsreels  broke  the  opening  day  rec- 
ord at  the  Telenews  Theatre,  Friday, 
and  stimulated  business  throughout 
the  Loop. 

The  invasion  reels  were  widely  ad- 
vertised in  the  dailies  here.  The  pic- 
tures were  previewed  late  last  week 
before  a  meeting  of  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  Distributors  Committee  as  an 
added  argument  for  going  over  the 
set  bond  sales  quota. 


Montague  Quits  B.  &  K. 

Chicago,  June  18.— Paul  Montague, 
publicity  manager  of  the  outlying 
houses  for  Balaban  and  Katz  here, 
will  leave  July  1,  to  open  his  own 
office.  Before  joining  the  circuit  a 
year  ago,  he  publicized  stage  attrac- 
tions. 


D  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


"REDBOQK"   MAGAZINE  CHOOSES 
TWO  FROM  PARAMOUNT  AS  AUGUST 
"PICTURES  OF  THE  MONTH". . . . 
CECIL  B.   DE  MILLE'S  "THE  STORY 
OF  OR.   WASSELL"  FOR   ITS  "ROMANCE 
AND  ADVENTURE". . .AND  PRESTON 
STURGES'  "HAIL  THE  CONQUERING  HERO, 


HILARIOUS  SUCCESSOR  TO  HIS 
"MIRACLE  OF  MORGAN'S  CREEK," 
AS  A  "BRILLIANT  ACCOMPLISHMENT 
IN  ACTING,   WRITING,  DIRECTION." 


Pension  Plan 
Of  Loew's 
Is  Completed 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
posed  plan  been  put  in  effect  for  the 
last  fiscal  year,  those  executives 
would  have  received  approximately 
£1,450,000  less  for  that  year  and  the 
consolidated  net  profits  of  the  com- 
lany,  after  taxes,  would  have  been 
about  $13,017,000,  instead  of  $13,422,- 
352. 

Schenck  expressed  the  view  that 
:he  adoption  of  the  plan  should  aid  in 
reserving  the  company's  leadership 
n  the  industry.  He  said,  "I  believe 
:hat  the  plan  submitted  will  be  a  ma- 
or  factor  in  accomplishing  this,  be- 
cause the  inducements  "offered  will 
help  retain  our  desirable  personnel 
and  motion  picture  talent  and  attract 
others  of  similar  calibre  in  the  fu- 
ture." 

15%  of  Annual  Earnings 

According  to  the  plan,  the  annual 
amount  of  retirement  income  payable 
from  the  normal  retirement  date 
,vhich  is  the  March  1  nearest  the  65th 
birthday  in  the  case  of  male  employes 
md  the  60th  birthday  in  the  case  of 
"emale  employes,  will  be  15  per  cent 
>f  the  employe's  average  annual  earn- 
ings plus  10  per  cent  of  the  portion 
n  excess  of  $3,000.  In  computing 
:he  average  annual  basic  earnings  of 
an  employe,  earnings  in  excess  of 
"200,000  a  year  will  not  be  used  as  a 
aasis  for  benefits  under  the  plan,  nor 
nay  the  normal  retirement  income  of 
any  employe  exceed  $49,700  per  an- 
num. Basic  earnings  are  defined  as 
'otal  compensation,  including  per- 
•entage  compensation  (exclusive  of 
overtime,  voluntary  bonus,  penalty 
nayments  or  special  compensation 
)aid  because  of  employment  upon  lo- 
:ation  in  making  motion  pictures)  re- 
reived  while  a  member  of  the  plan. 

10  Years  Guaranteed 

The  retirement  income  will  normal- 
ly be  payable  monthly  for  life  with  a 
minimum  of  10  years'  payments  guar- 
anteed to  the  employe  or  his  benefici- 
ary. At  the  employe's  election  other 
methods  of  payment  may  be  made. 
Provision  has  been  made  for  death 
and  disability  benefits ;  for  termina- 
tion of  employment ;  for  the  funding 
of  the  plan;  and  for  defraying  the 
cost,  and  administering  it.  Special 
benefits  are  provided  for  certain  indi- 
viduals, including  stars  and  officers 
of  the  corporation. 

The  stockholders  will  also  be  asked 
to  re-elect  the  present  board  of  di- 
rectors, which  includes  David  Bern- 
stein, Leopold  Frie'dman,  Eugene  W. 
Leake,  Charles  C.  Moskowitz,  Wil- 
liam A.  Parker,  J.  Robert  Rubin, 
Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  Joseph  R.  Vo- 
gel,  David  Warfield  and  Henry  Rog- 
ers Winthrop. 


Screen  'Time'  &  'Tokyo* 

Boston,  June  18. — Time  and  Life 
magazine  headquarters  in  Boston  will 
be  hosts  tomorrow,  to  a  large  group 
of  persons  at  the  20th-Fox  studios, 
when  the  new  "March  of  Time,"  and 
"Back  Door  to  Tokyo,"  will  be 
shown.  Following  the  screening  a 
buffet  lunch  will  be  served  at  the 
exchange. 


we  auote... 


tor  her 


Varies  iQ 


1/urbin  Kelly 


W.  SOMERSET  MAUGHAM'S 


hoUS«L- 


RICHARD  WHORF    DEAN  HARENS    GLADYS  GEORGE 
DAVID  BRUCE    GALE  SONDERGAARD 

Produced  by  FELIX  JACKSON    Directed  by  ROBERT  SIODMAK 
As  written  for  the  screen  by  HERMAN  J.  MANKIEWICZ 
Associate  Producer,  FRANK  SHAW 

A  UNIVERSAL  PICTURE 


MO^tON  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.   NO.  120 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  20,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


"No  Post -War 
|  [Tax  Relief 
Without  Fight' 

•  ■ 

^Crockett  Warns  Owners: 
Prepare  Now  for  Relief 


Virginia  Beach,  Va.,  June  19. 
' — Exhibitors  who  believe  that  the 
existing  war-time  20  percent  the- 
atre admission  tax  will  be  auto- 
matically cancelled  six  months  after 
peace,  are  warned  by  W.  F.  Crock- 
ett,    president    of    the  Virginia 
MPTO,  that  they  cannot  expect  an 
elimination  or  reduction  of  the  war 
levy  "without  a  very  hard  fight." 
Crockett    discloses    that  a 
House  Ways  and  Means  sub- 
committee will  start  this  Fall 
to  hold  hearings  on  postwar 

(Continued  on  page  11) 
MORE  POWER  FOR  EISENHOWER! 

Cites  War's  End  as 
Tempo  for  UJA 

"Now  that  defeat  of  Germany  is  in 
sight,  it  is  more  important  than  ever 
that  we  take  immediate- and  concrete 
action  to  bring  rescue  and  relief  to 
the  Jewish  men  and  women  who  still 
survive,"  David  Bernstein,  vice-presi- 
|  dent  and  treasurer  of  Loew's,  Inc., 
said  here  yesterday  in  designating  the 
1944  war  emergency  campaign  of  the 
United  Jewish  Appeal  as  "an  effort 
for  total  victory." 

Bernstein,  with  Albert  Warner  and 

{Continued  on   page  10) 
FIGHT  BY  HIS  SIDE! 

Skouras  Promotes 
Krappman  at  FWC 

Los  Angeles,  June  19. — Charles 
Skouras,  president  of  National  Thea- 
tres, has  promoted  Andrew  J.  Krapp- 
man from  the  post  of  executive  aide 
to  the  president,  to  that  of  executive 
assistant  to  George  Bowers,  supervisor 
of  Nation's  Fox  West  Coast  Thea- 
tres. 

Tom  Page,  the  circuit's  chief  as- 
sistant, succeeds  Krappman  as  Skou- 
fas  aide,  and,  in  turn,  is  succeeded  by 
John  Lavery. 


De  Sylva  Unit 
By  September 


Hollywood,  June  19. — Buddy  De 
Sylva's  new  Paramount  deal,  finally 
drawn  and  only  requiring  approval 
by  the  Paramount  executive  commit- 
tee,  a  mere 
formality, 
calls  for  the 
producer's  own 
unit  to  make 
six  pictures  de- 
livered in  two 
or  three  years. 
The  impending 
contract  will 
give  him  a  sta- 
tus like  that  of 
Hal  Wallis. 

De  Sylva 
will   split  pro- 
duction finances 
with  Para- 
mount  and  make  pictures  on  the  com- 

(Continucd  on   page  10) 
SHOWMEN,  SPEED   THE  DECISION 

'Robot'  Makes  Little 
Dent  in  Attendance 

London,  June  19. — Theatre  attend- 
ance was  only  slightly,  although  in- 
evitably, affected  in  the  areas  attacked 
by  the  Nazis'  robot-plane.  The  opin- 
ion of  several  responsible  theatre  man- 
agers holds  "there  is  nothing  to  wor- 
ry about  yet,"  reflecting  the  calm  ac- 
ceptance of  this  new  war-plague  by 
the  populace. 

Film   company    stockprices,  whose 

(.Continued  on   page  10) 
BONDS  BUILD  BEACHHEADS 


Buddy  De  Sylva 


PREMIERES  IN  5TH 
ALREADY  TOP  4TH 


Loew  in  OWI 
Foreign  Post 


Major  Arthur  Loew  will  super- 
vise foreign  distribution  of  U.  S. 
"psychological"  films  and  regular 
Hollywood  product  for  the  Office 

of    War    In-  -  

formation  i  n 
both  Allied  and 
liberated  coun- 
tries. The  OWI 
here  reported 
yesterday  that 
Major  Loew 
has  been  as- 
signed by  the 
Army  Signal 
Corps  to  duty 
with  the  mo- 
t  i  o  n  picture 
bureau  of  the 
OWI's  overseas 
branch. 

His  specific 
assignment  is  as  associate  chief  of  the 
OWI  film  bureau,  headed  by  Robert 
Riskin,  operating  in  an  administrative 
capacity.  Loew  is  expected  to  leave 
shortly  for  overseas,  presumably  mak- 
ing his  headquarters  in  London  and 

(Continued  on  page  11) 
OVER  THE  TOP  WITH  THE  STH 


Arthur  Loew 


Cotvdin  Reports  $1,833,945 
Six-Months  Net  for  'U' 


Consolidated  net  profits  of  Univer- 
sal for  the  26  weeks  ended  April  29, 
1944,  aggregated  $1,833,945,  after  all 
charges,  including  Federal  income 
and  excess  profits  taxes,  J.  Cheever 
Cowdin,  chairman  of  the  board,  an- 
nounced here  yesterday.  This  compares 
with  $1,858,552  for  the  correspond- 
ing six  months  of  the  preceding  year. 
Before  providing  for  Federal  taxes, 
consolidated  net  profit  for  the  six 
months  ended  in  April  amounted  to 
$4,794,845,  compared  with  $5,117,807 
in  the  same  period  of  last  year. 

"Production  of  features  for  1944-45 


is  proceeding  at  an  accelerated  rate,, 
and  Universal  now  has  more  complet- 
ed films  ready  for  the  new  season 
than  at  any  corresponding  period  -  in 
its  history,"  Cowdin  stated  yesterday. 

"Fifty-five  feature  productions,  sev- 
en of  them  in  color,  are  projected 
for  the  coming  season,  with  seven 
Western  productions  and  four  serials 
also  scheduled  in  addition  to  a  pro- 
gram of  short  subjects,"  declared 
Cowdin,  reiterating  the  company's  an- 
nouncement of  product  totals  detailed 
at  its  recent  sales  meeting  in  Holly- 
wood. 


3,634  Booked  in  First 
Week  of  Bond  Drive; 
3,182  Total  Last  Time 

The  first  week  of  the  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan  Drive  brought 
pledges  of  3,634  bond  premieres, 
already  exceeding  the  total  of  3,182 
held  during  the  entire  four  weeks  of 
the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive,  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  national  industry  chair- 
man, announced  here  yesterday. 


Eight  pages  of  special  Fifth 
War  Loan  exhibitor  promotion- 
al material  and  advertising 
messages  appear  on  pages  3-to- 
10,  this  issue. 


The   present   premiere   total  com- 
prises reports  received  up  to  noon  yes- 
terday from  distributor  chairmen  in 
the  field  by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  national 
(Continued  on  page  10) 
FIGHT  BY  HIS  SIDE 

Balaban  Note  Sale 
Before  Para.  Meet 


Stockholders  of  Paramount  Pictures 
will  be  asked  today  to  ratify  the  issu- 
ance and  sale  to  Barney  Balaban, 
company  president,  of  $2,000,000  in 
convertible  notes  of  the  corporation 
with  certain  surviving  stock  purchase 
rights  in  event  of  prepayment,  at  the 
annual  stockholders'  meeting  at  the 
Paramount  home  office. 

Other  items  on  the  agenda  include 
(Continued  on  page  11) 
FIGHT  BY  HIS  SIDE 

Post- War  Problems 
Before  N.  J.  Allied 


Atlantic  City,  N.  J.,  June  19. — 
Current  trade  problems  and  post-war 
planning  will  both  highlight  the  three- 
day  sessions  of  the  convention  of  Al- 
lied Theatre  Owners  of  New  Jersey, 
which  opens  at  the  Hotel  Chelsea  in 
Atlantic  City  tomorrow  morning. 
About  300  reservations  have  been 
(Continued  on  page  2) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  20,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


DAVE    ROSE,    Paramount  man- 
aging director  in  England,  has  ar- 
rived here  from  London. 

• 

Maurice  Bergman  and  Andrew 
Sharick,  Universal  home  office  ex- 
ecutives, have  returned  here  from  a 
visit  in  Hollywood  and  a  stopover  in 
Chicago. 

• 

Roy  Haines,  Warner  Bros.  South- 
ern and  Western  sales  manager,  re- 
turned yesterday  from  a  three-week 
trip. 

• 

Oscar  Brotman,  manager  of  the 
Avaloe  Theatre,  Chicago,  and  Mrs. 
Brotman  have  returned  from  Okla- 
homa. 

• 

Moe  Silver,  Warner  Pittsburgh 
zone  manager,  and  Harry  Feinstein 
and  Joseph  Feldman,  his  assistants, 
are  in  New  York. 

• 

Pfc.  Jack  Boyd,  formerly  with  M. 
&  P.'s  Allyn  Theatre,  Hartford,  is 
now  with  the  Marine  Corps  at  Ft.  Le- 
jeune,  N.  C. 

• 

Nat  Levy,  RKO  Eastern  division 
manager,  returned  to  New  York  yes- 
terday from  Cleveland  where  he  at- 
tended an  RKO  district  meeting. 
• 

Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  for- 
eign manager,  is  expected  back  from 
Mexico  at  the  end  of  the  month. 
• 

Hal  Hode.  Columbia  executive,  has 
had  a  novel,  "This  Here  Business," 
accepted  for  publication. 

• 

Henri  Elman.  PRC  franchise  hold- 
er in  Chicago,  has  arrived  in  New 
York. 

• 

Clyde  Elliott  is  back  in  Chicago 
following  a  two-week  stay  in  New 
York. 

• 

Oscar  Doob.  Loew  Theatres'  ad- 
vertising-publicity director,  is  home 
ill  with  a  "strep"  throat. 

• 

Leon  J.  Bamberger.  RKO  Radio 
sales  promotion  manager,  is  in  Atlan- 
tic City. 


Encyclopaedia  Films 
Seek  Disney  Product 

Chicago,  June  19. — Stephen  M. 
Corey,  educational  adviser  on  Ency- 
clopedia Britannica  Films  at  the  Uni- 
versity of  Chicago  here,  has  returned 
from  Hollywood,  where  he  held  dis- 
cussions with  Walt  Disney,  regard- 
ing the  educational  film  field. 

Corey  said  no  deals  have  been  set, 
although  he  admitted  EBF  will  pur- 
chase Disney  product  for  use  in  the 
educational  field  provided  they  meet 
the  requirements  of  the  EBF  review- 
ing board.  Corey's  own  conclusion  is 
that  Disney  films  can  prove  useful  to 
schools  provided  they  stick  to  authen- 
ticity. EBF,  which  produces  educa- 
tional films,  controls  the  production 
phase  of  this  business. 


'Combine  Business 
With  Service  to 
Public':  Warner 


Harry  Warner 


Hollywood,  June  19. — Motion  pic- 
will  be  the  most  enlightened  of  all 
time,  and  exhibitors  not  only  must 
ture  audiences  in  the  post-war  period 
take  this  into 
account  but 
must  strive  as 
never  before  to 
combine  their 
business  opera- 
tions with 
greater  public 
service  to  help 
promote  better 
citizenship,  de- 
clared Harry 
M.  Warner, 
p  r  e  s  i  d  ent  of 
Warner  Bros., 
in  a  message  to 
Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New 
Jersey  on  the  occasion  of  that  group's 
silver  anniversary  which  will  be  ob- 
served starting  today  in  Atlantic  City, 
N.  J.,  during  its  annual  convention. 

Warner  declares  that,  "Whether  we 
like  it  or  not  cur  pictures  have  a 
profound  effect  on  the  people  who  see 
them.  Whether  a  producer  makes  a 
picture  for  pleasure  or  for  profit,  for 
pure  entertainment  or  for  pure  educa- 
tion, this  is  true. 

"My  brothers  and  I  have  long  rec- 
ognized these  things  and  proved 
that  pictures  need  not  be  highbrow 
to  be  great.  They  need  not  be  stuffy 
to  be  educational.  They  need  not  be 
dull  to  be  enlightening.  We  at  War- 
ner Bros,  learned  through  making 
these  pictures  that  the  so-called  'aver- 
age intelligence'  cf  filmgoers  is  higher 
than  many  theorists  believe." 


Post  -  War  Problems 
Before  N.  J.  Allied 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

listed,  with  many  distributor  repre- 
sentatives expected  to  attend. 

Post-war  addresses  on  equipment  by 
representatives  of  RCA,  and  Typhoon 
Air  Conditioning,  and  others,  will  be 
delivered  at  this  afternoon's  session. 
The  meetings  will  be  tied  in  with  the 
industry's  Fifth  War  Loan  campaign 
and  Treasury  representatives  and  air 
heroes  are  expected  to  be  present. 

Founders'  Banquet 

A  highlight  of  the  convention  will 
be  a  banquet  for  the  founders  of  the 
organization  on  Thursday  with  the 
following  to  be  honored :  Joseph  M. 
Seidler,  Leon  Rosenblatt,  Lee  New- 
bury, Pete  Harrison,  Sidney  E.  Sam- 
uelson,  Irving  Dollinger  and  George 
Gold.  Displays  for  the  convention 
have  been  prepared  by  20th  Century- 
Fox,  M-G-M,  Paramount,  Warners. 
RKO,  Columbia.  Republic,  Mono- 
gram. PRC,  National  Screen,  Univer- 
sal, United  Artists.  Film  Classics, 
Sanitary  Automatic  Candy  Co.,  Na- 
tional Theatre  Supply,  Cinema  Craft 
and  the  War  Activities  Committee. 


Coming  Events 


Today,  through  Thursday  —  Allied 
States  Convention,  Hotel  Chel- 
sea, Atlantic  City,  N.  J. 

Today  —  United  Jewish  Appeal 
fund  luncheon-meeting,  Hotel 
Astor,  New  York. 

Through  June  22  —  Pacific  Coast 
Conference  of  Independent  Thea- 
tre Owners,  Portland,  Ore. 

Through  July  8 — Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign. 

June  22-28  — M-G-M's  20th  anni- 
versary week. 

June  25 — Industry  union  rally,  Hol- 
lywood. 

July  6 — 'Free  Movie  Day'  for  Fifth 

War  Loan  drive. 
July  11-13 — Columbia  regional  sales 

meeting.  San  Francisco. 
July    24-25  —  RKO    annual  sales 

meeting.  Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel, 

New  York. 


Universal  to  Open 
Midw  est  Meeting 

Chicago,  June  19. — Universal  will 
open  its  three-day  Midwest  regional 
sales  meeting  in  the  Variety  Club  at 
the  Blackstone  Hotel  here  tomorrow, 
presided  over  by  A.  J.  O'Keefe.  West- 
ern division  manager,  and  M.  M. 
Gottlieb,  district  manager 

The  following  have  arrived  for  the 
meeting:  Ben  Robbins,  Jay  Frankel. 
Lou  Berman,  Red  Bowman  and  Jack- 
Stewart,  Detroit ;  Frank  Mantzke, 
Orval  Petersen,  Don  McFadzen,  Ed 
Gavin  and  G.  Courshon,  Milwaukee ; 
A.  J.  Miller,  Leo  Doty,  Artch  Za- 
cherl,  Fred  Abelson.  Wayne  Brown. 
Ken  Adams.  Frank  Isenberg,  Ernest 
Frace.  Minneapolis.  Chicago  will  be 
represented  by  Ed  Heiber,  W.  E. 
Weinshanker.  Walter  Hyland,  How- 
ard Greenstein,  Ted  Mvers,  Max 
Brotsky,  Al  Kent  and  Bob  Funk. 


War  Boosts  Harmon 
Production  1000% 

Hollywood,  June  19. — Present  war 
production  footage  at  the  Hugh  Har- 
man  studio  is  more  than  10  times  the 
company's  peacetime  output,  according 
to  Charles  McGirl,  studio  production 
manager.  He  adds  reductions  in  cost 
of  training  film  footage  have  been 
evolved  through  new  methods  of  han- 
dling volume  production. 

Aside  from  three  feature-length  ani- 
mated subjects,  the  company's  output 
for  the  last  two  years  has  been  100 
percent  war  work. 


Owen  Takes  Over 
Selznick  Sales  Post 

Hugh  Owen,  former  Paramount 
sales  executive,  joined  David  O.  Selz- 
nick Enterprises  and  Vanguard  Films 
yesterday  as  distribution  chief  for 
United  States  and  Canada. 

Owen  will  begin  work  immediately 
on  the  release  of  "Since  You  Went 
Away." 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  Juiw  19 

AN  increased  number  of  dramatic 
short  subjects  by  name  authors 
for  Warner  release  next  season  will 
be  discussed  this  week  by  Jack  L. 
Warner,  executive  producer,  and  Nor- 
man H.  Moray,  short  subjects  sales 
manager. 

• 

Darryl  Zanuck  is  returning  to  front 
page  headlines  with  two  vehicles  as- 
signed producer  Louis  De  Rochemont. 
"Fighting  Lady."  a  story  of  battleship 
exploits,  is  planned  in  Technicolor, 
and  "Now  It  Can  Be  Told"  will  tell 
the  inside  story'  of  the  FBI  in  war. 
• 

Alexis  Smith  and  Craig  Stevens, 
Warner  contract  players,  married 
Sunday  before  300  guests  in  the 
Church  of  the  Recessional,  Forest 
Lawn  Memorial  Park,  Glendale,  will 
return  in  a  few  days  to  resume  work 
on  "Hollywood  Canteen." 

• 

Columbia  started  production  today 
on  "The  Unknown."  believed  to  be 
the  first  picture  showing  conditions 
under  which  interned  German  and 
Italian  prisoners  live  in  U.  S.  military 
camps.  Robert  Wilmot  is  directing. 
• 

Eleanor  Parker  has  been  assigned 
the  feminine  lead  in  Warners'  "Of 
Human  Bondage,"  which  first  cap- 
tured attention  for  Bette  Davis  in 
1934  Henry  Blanke  is  producing,  and 
Edmund  Goulding  directing. 

• 

Paul  Cox,  formerly  with  Univer- 
sal and  Samuel  Goldwyn.  has  been 
appointed  Monogram  casting  director. 
He  will  handle  all  talent  assignments 
which  heretofore  have  been  made  by 
individual  producers. 

• 

Bill  Rice,  top  unit  publicity  man  at 
Warners  has  been  promoted  by  Alex 
Evelove  to  department  and  national 
services  editor,  succeeding  Ralph 
Huston,  who  resigned  last  week  to 
join  Lester  Cowan. 

• 

Geraldine  Maver  has  returned  from 
New  York  to  her  post  as  publicity 
director  for  producer  Arnold  Press- 
burger. 

• 

Stephen  Goosson.  renewing  an  old 
association,  today  returned  to  Colum- 
bia as  supervising  art  director,  suc- 
ceeding Lionel  Banks,  resigned. 
• 

Dr.  Herbert  T.  Kalmus.  Techni- 
color president  and  general  manager, 
returned  today  from  a  New  York 
business  trip. 

• 

Leon  Fromkess  will  entrain  Satur- 
day for  meetings  to  effectuate  the  new 
set-up  of  the  Pathe  industries  as  earli- 
er reported. 

• 

Edward  Blatt.  director,  and  War- 
ners have  mutually  agreed  to  abrogate 
his  contract  after  the  completion  of 
"Strangers   in   Our  Midst." 

• 

Paramount's  studio  bond  purchases  , 
tonight  were  SI. 620.942. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday.  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue.  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  BIdg.,  Willi'm  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau.  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $13  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


We  shall  desperately  try  to  match 
the  sacrifices  of  our  invasion 
armies.  It  is  not  enough  that  we 
in  our  sheltered  lives  give  prayers 
and  tears  for  those  who  suffer  the 
pitiless  hardships  of  war  . . .  death 
in  agony,  the  loneliness  of  youth, 
the  soldier's  terror  of  never  again 
seeing  loved  ones. 

We  in  film  business  will  do  our 
honored  task  with  inspired  and 
renewed  zeal.  Hand  in  hand  stand 
exhibitors,  distributors,  producers, 
stars  of  Hollywood.  We  shall,  with 
fighting  hearts  and  with  a  united 
will,  make  the  Fighting  Fifth  War 
Loan  a  victory  to  thrill  our  heroes. 
With  heads  held  high,  we  pledge 
to  do  a  job  of  which  they  who 
fight  our  fight  may  be  proud. 


"FIGHTERS  OF  THE 
HOME  FRONT, 
YOU  ALSO  SERVE!" 


YOU,  THE 
STAFF 

usherettes,  ushers,  door- 
men, all  who  volunteer  for 
extra  duty  at  Bond  Booth. 


YOU,  THE 
PROJECTIONIST 

who  stays  to  put  over  a 
vital  Bond  Premiere. 


YOU,  THE  WIVES 
OF  SHOWMEN 

who  run  the  home,  yet 
help  with  a  few  precious 
hours. 


YOU,  THE 
EXHIBITOR 

the  Manager,  the  Assistant 
Manager  who  put  in  many 
extra  hours. 


YOU,  THE 
CASHIER 

who  works  late  to  keep 
extra  accounts. 


HOWS  YOUR 
INVASION  CAMPAIGN? 

1.  Invasion  appeals  added  to  Front  and  Lobby? 

2.  Enough  volunteer  bond-sellers? 

3.  Is  your  Bond  Premiere  set? 

4.  Trailers  at  every  show? 

5.  Stocked  up  on  blank  bonds? 

6.  If  you're  not  an  Issuing  Agent,  why  not? 

7.  Planning  a  Children's  Bond  Show? 

8.  War  Finance  Committee  team-work? 

9.  Extra  Invasion  Bond  for  every  seat? 

10.  Hero  Honor  Chart  in  your  lobby? 

11.  Saving  Free  Movie  Day  for  mop-up? 

12.  Are  you  satisfied  with  results? 

Fire  away!  Night  and  day! 
Never  stop  till  you  We  over  the  top! 


^  WAT?  THAN 


"He  worthy  of  them 


FIGHTING  5tk  WAR  LOAN 

COLUMBIA  PICTURES  CORP.,  METRO-GOLD WYN-MAYER  PICTURES,  PARAMOUNT  PICTURES  INC.,  RKO-RADIO  PICTURES,  INC., 
20th  CENTURY-FOX  FILM  CORP.,  UNITED  ARTISTS  CORP.,  UNIVERSAL  PICTURES  COMPANY  INC.,  WARNER  BROS.  PICTURES,  INC. 


Tuesday,  June  20,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


THEATRES  SPEARHEAD  FIFTH 


Exhibitors'  Bond-Selling  Started  with  a  'Bang*, 

U.  S.  Reports;  Stark  Realism  of  the  Invasion 

As  Pictured  in  Newsreels  Proves  'Highly  Persuasive' 


By  BERTRAM  F.  LINZ 

Washington,  June  19. — The  Fighting  Fifth  War  Loan  cam- 
paign, spurred  by  the  stirring  events  of  the  first  days  of  the  in- 
vasion of  Europe  and  the  hope  that  the  troops  of  the  Allies  are 
finally  on  the  way  to  Berlin,  got  off  to  a  flying  start,  aided  con- 
siderably, by  Treasury  Department  admission,  by  the  pre-drive  and 
continuing  efforts,  of  the  motion 
picture  industry. 

Treasury  .officials  today  said  the 
campaign  undertaken  by  theatres 
appeared  to  have  come  in  with  'a 
resounding  bang.' 

The  storming  of  fortress  Europe  is 
undoubtedly  the  most  highly  publicized 
adventure  the  Nation  has  ever  em- 
barked upon.  Newsreel  and  newspa- 
per cameramen  and  news  and  radio 
reporters  were  given  every  facility  to 
participate  in  every  phase  of  the  initial 
attack  and  to  get  the  results  of  their 
work  back  to  this  country.  Men  who 
engaged  in  the  first  landings  were 
given  V-mail  post  cards  on  which 
they  could  tell  their  home-town  news- 
papers that  they  were  'on  the  road.' 

Pictures    of  Invasion 
Spur  5th  Bond  Buying 

From  theatres  all  over  the  country, 
reports  are  coming  in  that  the  inva- 
sion pictures,  plus  the  special  Fifth 
War  Loan  material  which  is  being 
distributed,  are  proving  highly  per- 
suasive in  the  current  campaign,  but 
in  Washington  it  was  emphasized  that 
the  invasion  must  be  considered  sup- 
plementary to  and  n<Jt  a  substitute  for 
any  and  all  other  material  which  the 
motion  picture  industry  and  other  par- 
ticipating agencies  have  developed  as 
part  of  their  campaigns. 

Treasury  officials  indicate  that  the 
invasion  should  be  used  to  push  bond 
sales  to  unprecedented  levels  above 
the  $16,000,000,000  sought,  not  merely 
as  a  means  of  reaching  quotas.  The 
more  substantial  the  sales  over  the 
Government  objective,  they  pointed 
out,  the  more  potent  the  psychological 
effect  upon  the  enemy. 


While  bond  sales  already  are 
piling  up  at  a  highly  satisfac- 
tory rate,  the  early  reports 
largely  represent  the  results 
of  the  pre-campaign  effort;  it 
is  the  last  few  billion  dollars, 
the  last  few  million  pur- 
chasers, that  are  hardest  to 
get. 

At  the  War  Finance  Division  the 
belief  was  expressed  that  the  pictures 
of  the  invasion  will  give  the  theatres 
an  inestimable  advantage  in  their  de- 
termination to  sell  'A  Bigger  Bond 
for  Every  Seat,'  and  one  which  there 
is  no  doubt  in  Washington  they  will 
utilize  to  the  utmost. 


Theatres'  Quota 
Vitally  Needed 

By  GEORGE  J.  SCHAEFER 
Chairman,  War  Activities 
Committee 

AMERICAN  dollars  are  vi- 
tally needed  to  save 
American  lives  during  the 
fight  for  Fortress  Europe. 
While  our  men  land  on  the 
beachheads  of  France,  giving 
their  blood  to  defeat  Hitler  in 
Europe,  the  Treasury  Depart- 
ment has  asked  the  American 
people  to  lend  their  support 
by  contributing  $16,000,000,000 
in  the  Fifth  War  Loan.  The 
motion  picture  industry's 
quota  of  dollars  for  speedy 
victory  has  never  been  as 
high,  nor  as  vitally  needed. 


WFC  Is  Chief 
Co-ordinator 


Rally  Nets  $400,125 

War  Bonds  totalling  $400,125  were 
sold  at  the  Fifth  War  Loan  rally 
held  Friday  at  the  New  Amsterdam 
Theatre,  42nd  St.  and  Broadway, 
under  the  auspices  of  the  Cinema  Cir- 
cuit Corp. 


f  TT  rAR  Finance  Committee 
yy  members  are  seasoned  vet- 
erans like  yourselves  and 
they  are  prepared  to  give  you  all  the 
help  they  can  on  anything  within,  and 
sometimes  without,  their  realm,"  R.  J. 
O'Donnell,  national  film  industry 
chairman  of  the  'Fighting  Fifth'  War 
Loan  campaign,  pointed  out  yester- 
day in  a  special  message  to  industry 
committee  chairmen. 

O'Donnell  said  "it  is  impor- 
tant that  state  committees  con- 
tact the  local  War  Finance 
Committee  chairman,  who  can 
be  counted  on  for  complete  co- 
operation." 

Exhibitor  committees  are  set  up  on 
the  basis  of  states,  rather  than  film 
distribution  territories,  to  coincide 
with  the  operations  of  state  War  Fi- 
nance Committees.  The  State  War 
Finance  Committees  are  charged  with 
responsibility  for  the  over-all  job  of 
reaching  the  states  quotas  and  the 
motion  picture  industry  is  part  of  the 
team. 

State  War  Finance  Committee  per- 
sonnel who  may  be  called  upon  for 
cooperation  and  assistance  are :  state 
chairman,  executive  director,  publicity 
chairman,  regional  directors,  county 
and  city  chairmen  and  heads  of  in- 
dustrial, professional  and  other  spe- 
cial groups. 


Generals  'of  'Fighting Fifth 


Sidney  Lust,  extreme  left,  motion  picture  industry  Fifth  War  Loan 
"General"  in  Washington,  D.  C„  carries  a  message  on  the  U.  S.  Treas- 
ury's commendation  of  the  industry's  all-out  efforts  on  behalf  of  the 
$16,000,000,000  drive,  to  the  national  "Generals"  of  the  campaign, 
pictured,  starting  second  from  the  left,  as  follows:  Ray  Beall,  na- 
tional publicity  director;  Ned  Depinet,  distributor  chairman;  Rob- 
ert J.  O'Donnell,  national  chairman;  John  J.  Friedl,  campaign 
director,  and  R.  M.  Kennedy,  national  vice-chairman.  Not  pictured 
are:  campaign  "Generals"  Joseph  Kinsky,  coordinator;  Leonard 
Goldenson,  director  of  corporation  sales;  Henry  Ginsberg,  director 
tor  of  corporate  s-ale,  Hollywood;  Leon  Bamberger,  assistant  dis- 
tributor chairman,  and  Claude  Lee,  motion  picture  campaign  con- 
sultant to  the  Treasury. 


Theatres  Needed  As 
Issuing  Agents 

i  6  A  NY  town  having  a  bank  pro- 
vides  the  means  for  the  theatre 
in  that  town  to  become  an  issuing 
agent  for  series  'E'  bonds,"  states 
John  J.  Friedl,  film  industry  campaign 
director  of  the  'Fighting  Fifth'  War 
Loan.  "The  Federal  Reserve  has 
issued  a  statement  that  any  bank  or 
trust  company  can  authorize  any  cus- 
tomer to  be  a  sub-issuing  agent  for 
war  bonds. 

"Customer  or  no,  any  theatre  can 
fill  out  a  convenient  contract  form 
which  will  authorize  the  theatre  op- 
erator to  issue  bonds  in  the  name  of 
the  bank  he  represents.  The  bank  will 
supply  blank  bonds  of  any  denomina- 
tion. Once  a  week  the  operator  must 
turn  in  a  report  on  bonds  sold.  The 
Federal  Reserve  will,  upon  request, 
make  a  special  stamp  with  the  names 
of  the  agent  and  sub-agent  imprinted 
thereon.  Both  names  would  then  be 
stamped  on  each  bond  sold. 

"The  banker,  by  making  a  theatre 
sub-agent,  can  establish  good  will  and 
obtain  favorable  publicity  through 
this  sub-agency  contract  with  the 
theatre,"  Friedl  pointed  out.  "And 
the  theatre  can  issue  bonds  and  give 
patrons  the  service  they  deserve  in 
this  patriotic  undertaking." 


44,000  Prints 
To  Theatres 


Through  them  the  film  industry 
committees  coordinate  their  activities 
with  retailers,  banks,  newspapers,  ra- 
dio stations,  fraternal  and  patriotic 
organizations  and  similar  groups 
which  are '  working  through  commit- 
tees of  their  own. 


FORTY-FOUR  THOUSAND 
prints  of  three  Fifth  War  Loan 
trailers  will  be  in  theatres  by 
June  26,  R.  M.  Kennedy,  vice- 
chairman  of  the  film  industry's  na- 
tional Fifth  War  Loan  Committee, 
disclosed  here  yesterday. 

The  industry's  national  committee, 
in  conjunction  with  the  Hollywood 
division  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, has  completed  three  trailers 
which  are  being  furnished  gratis  for 
the  Fifth  War  Loan.  The  first,  "What 
Did  You  do  Today?"  is  now  in  the 
hands  of  14,000  exhibitors  ;  the  second, 
"Our  Enemy  Speaks,"  was  shipped 
yesterday ;  and  the  third,  "From  Your 
Boy  Over  There,"  is  scheduled  for 
shipping  before  June  26. 

Because  of  a  raw-stock  shortage, 
which  restricted  the  footage  of  the 
trailers,  the  national  committee  was 
not  able  to  supply  copies  of  each 
trailer  to  the  16,282  pledged  War  Ac- 
tivities Committee  theatres,  and  the 
trailers  were  booked  where  they  might 
be  used  to  the  best  advantage. 
Theatres  which  receive  them  are 
asked  to  use  them  and  then  pass  them 
on  to  other  exhibitors.  This  can  be 
accomplished  by  contacting  state 
chairman  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee who  will  furnish  shipping  in- 
structions. 

National  Screen  Service  is  again 
handling  all  trailers. 

At  the  end  of  every  newsreel  dur- 
ing the  campaign,  there  will  be  a 
flash  reading  'Join  the  Fighting 
Fifth  .  .  .  Buy  War  Bonds.' 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  20,  1944 


Exhibitors  At  Work  on  5th  Bond  Drive 


Bovim  Sells  'em  in  Style 


Large  and  impressive  Fifth  War  Bond  theatre  lobby  displays  such 
as  this  one  at  Loew's  Midland  Theatre,  Kansas  City,  executed  by 
Russell  Bovim,  Midland  manager,  are  highly  important  contributors 
to  the  $16,000,000,000  bond-selling  goal  set  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan. 


*     *  * 

NICK  KAUFFMAN  of  Schine's 
Rialto  Theatre,  Little  Falls, 
N.  Y.,  with  the  help  of  War 
Finance  County  Chairman  Roberts, 
has  worked  out  a  series  of  Fifth  War 
Loan  rallies  to  be  held  at  the  theatre 
each  week  under  the  sponsorship  of 
various  organizations,  such  as  the 
American  Legion,  Elks,  Boy  Scouts, 
Girl  Scouts  and  Junior  Welfare 
League.  The  school  superintendent 
has  been  contacted  for  'student-in- 
school'  rallies  where  bonds  will  be 
issued  to  purchasers  on  the  spot. 
Kauffinan  will  hold  a  'stamp  exchange 
for  bonds'  show  to  induce  youngsters 
to  exchange  their  stamps  for  bonds  on 
that  day,  and  will  allow  them  to  pre- 
sent colors  from  the  stage.  An  'In- 
vasion Bond  Boat'  has  been  tied  up  at 
the  local  dock  to  which  point  a  parade 
will  be  held  from  the  theatre.  A  Ri- 
alto traveling  bond  booth  is  scheduled 
to  hit  mills  and  plants  during  noon 
hours  to  spur  the  sale  of  bonds.  All 
Little  Falls  newspapers  backed  the 
theatre's  all-out  attack  with  a  gratis 
display  ad  calling  attention  to  the  cam- 
paign. 

* 

The  Lone  Star  State's  Junior 
Chamber  of  Commerce  is  tying  up 
with  the  larger  Interstate  circuit 
houses  to  select  a  'Miss  America' 
from  each  town  to  compete  for  the 
'Miss  Texas'  title  at  the  annual  At- 
lantic City  beauty  event.  All  con- 
tests are  being  tied  up  with  Fifth 
War  Bond  Premieres  in  various 
cities,  with  patrons  voting  for  their 
choice  for  the  finals  with  bond  pur- 
chases. 


Ring  the  Bell  to 
Wring  Nazi  Necks 


Charles  Moskowitz'  New  York 
Fifth  War  Loan  committee  cites 
as  its  key  bond  promotion  the 
40-foot-high  true  duplicate  of  a 
cash  register  erected  at  Times 
Square  to  sell  bonds,  the  sales  of 
which  are  rung-up  at  noon  daily. 
James  Sauter  arranges  for  en- 
tertainment. Bond  purchases 
are  made  from  the  booth  on 
street  level.  The  big  register  is 
Ernest  Emerling's  conception. 


THEATRE  owners  and  managers 
and  local  bond  chairmen  from 
Brownwood,  Tex.,  and  neighboring 
towns,  meeting  at  the  Bowie  Theatre 
in  Brownwood,  added  seven  new  issu- 
ing agents  and  six  new  Bond  Premi- 
eres reports  Henry  Reeve,  president 
of  the  Texas  ITOA  and  chairman  of 
the  meeting. 

* 

Bert  Harmon,  manager  of  the 
Marlboro  Theatre,  Marlboro,  Md., 
set  a  quota  of  $7,500,  double  what 
he  sold  during  the  Fourth  War 
Loan,  and  canvassed  merchants 
and  business  houses  with  the  re- 
sult that  in  a  few  days  he  sold 

$12,225  in  bonds  and  then  set  a 
quota  of  $30,000. 

* 

Lou  Brown,  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee publicity  chairman  for  New 
Haven,  and  his  co-workers  arranged 
a  special  'sneak'  Hollywood  preview 
at  the  20th  Century-Fox  and  Para- 
mount exchange  screening  rooms, 
admission  being  through  the  pur- 
chase of  a  $5,000  bond  per  couple,  a 
complete  sellout  netting  $150,000. 

* 

Every  theatre  in  Washington  is  100 
perqent  united  behind  Sidney  Lust, 
chairman  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
Drive  in  the  District  of  Columbia, 
with  a  full  quota  of  local  theatres  par- 
ticipating in  the  drive.  The  overall 
campaign  includes  rallies,  war  bond 
premieres,  children's  war  bond  mat- 
inees, 'Free  Movie  Day,'  auctions,  ap- 
pearances by  war  heroes,  speakers 
from  the  Treasury  Department  and 
prominent  figures  from  the  political 
life  of  the  nation's  capital.  I 


PETE  WOOD,  assistant  exhibitor 
state  chairman  in  Ohio,  is  using 
this  slogan  for  the  drive :  "How  much 
will  you  lend  to  make  our  boys'  job  a 
little  easier,  and  bring  them  back  a 
little  sooner?" 

* 

Harry  L.  Nace,  Arizona  state 
exhibitor  chairman,  reports  that 
every  theatre  in  the  state  will 
have  a  War  Bond  Premiere.  Spe- 
cial stress  will  also  be  placed  on 
children's  bond  shows. 

* 

Bond  buyers  place  high  value 
upon  a  season  pass.  In  Lorain,  O., 
the  Warner  Palace  Theatre  sold  a 
season  pass  for  $17,800  in  bonds  at  a 
bond  auction. 

* 

Virginia  exhibitors  got  together 
at  a  testimonial  luncheon  in  Rich- 
mond in  honor  of  Bob  Coulter, 
manager  of  the  Byrd  Theatre,  and 
Roscoe  Drisscll,  manager  of 
Loew's  State  Theatre,  Norfolk. 
The  tzvo  men  were  duly  recog- 
nised for  their  achievements  in 
the  Fourth  War  Loan  Drive  and 
were  presented  ivrist  watches  by 
Virginia's  Governor  Colgate  W. 
Darden.  They  pledged  to  sell 
more  in  the  Fifth. 

* 

The  five  downtown  first-run  thea- 
tres in  Buffalo  got  together  on  a 
sign  for  a  20-foot  truck  platform. 
At  the  end  was  a  large  poster  selling 
their  five  big  Bond  Premieres.  A 
squad  of  ushers  from  all  five  houses 
escorted  the  truck  in  a  prominent 
spot  in  a  parade  on  Main  Street. 


*     *  * 

DAN  C.  NEAGLEY  of  the  Cri- 
terion Theatre,  Bridgeton,  N.  J., 
suggested  that  the  city  go  over 
its  Fifth  War  Loan  quota  on  the  first 
day  of  the  campaign — and  it  did.  The 
quota  was  $1,650,000.  Neagley,  one 
of  New  Jersey's  two  'Honored  Hun- 
dred' during  the  Fourth  War  Loan, 
called  a  dinner  meeting  of  Bridgeton's 
war  bond  committee,  and  presented  his* 
idea  of  'cleaning  up'  the  city's  quota 
even  before  the  drive  started.  The 
40  civic  workers  and  officials  present 
endorsed  the  plan  100  percent.  Every 
local  agency,  all  industries,  banks,  the' 
Board  of  Trade  and  all  service  clubs 
cooperated. 

* 

A  'sure  shot'  Bond  Auction 
Night  manual  prepared  by  Martin 
G.  Smith,  exhibitor  state  chair- 
man for  Ohio,  has  been  sent  to  all 
307  theatres  in  Mississippi  by 
Burgess  Waltmon  and  Arthur 
Lehmann,  exhibitor  co-chairmen 
for  that  state.  Auction  nights 
have  proved  highly  successful  in 
Mississippi,  and  the  stunt  is  rec- 
ommended by  Waltmon  and  Leh- 
mann to  all  theatres,  with  what- 
ever local  application  they  might 
need. 

* 

Les  Newkirk  of  the  Lincoln  Thea- 
tre, Cheyenne,  Wyo.,  publicity  chair- 
man for  Wyoming,  reports  that  ex- 
hibitors in  that  state  are  making 
special  use  of  war  stamp  books  in 
connection  with  War  Bond  Pre- 
mieres. Theatres  are  issuing  the 
stamp  books  in  advance  of  the  pre- 
mieres, when  tfcey  will  be  exchanged 
for  bonds  and  a  free  admission  at 
the  theatre.  War  bond  quotas  of 
every  county  are  being  flashed  on 
the  screen  each  day  to  keep  patrons 
informed  on  the  progress  of  the 
drive.  Many  Wyoming  exhibitors 
are  displaying  huge  bottles  with 
green  fluid  labeled  'Hitler's  Poison 
—Let's  Help  Fill  It  For  Adolf!" 

* 

Proving  that  good  results  can 
be  obtained  through  school  co- 
operation, William  E.  Hartnett  of 
the  Embassy  Theatre,  Waltham, 
Mass.,  used  a  children's  'School's 
Out'  morning  ivar  bond  premiere 
for  his  'Fighting  Fifth'  campaign. 
The  program  specially  selected  for 
youth  appeal,  in  addition  to  the 
feature  and  three  short  subjects 
included  an  on-stage  shozv  of  ivar 
heroes  recently  returned  from  com- 
bat zones.  By  combining  the  mili- 
tary personalities  with  the  bond 
salesmenship  of  the  children, 
Hartnett  piled  up  a  sizeable  sale. 
Applications  were  given  to  the 
children  in  school  and  instructions 
delivered  verbally  by  their  teach- 
ers. The  teachers  also  accepted 
money  turned  in,  and  credit  on  all 
sales  zvas  given  to  the  theatre. 

★ 

North   Dakota   exhibitors   plan   to  | 
have  bond  shows  for  children  either 
mornings   or   afternoons,    and  adult 
rallies  in  the  evening. 


Tuesday,  June  20,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


Flashes  From  'Fighting  Fifth9  Front 


★  ★  ★ 

TWO  HUNDRED  guests  at  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  meeting  at  Mil- 
waukee were  given  a  highly  per- 
sonal impression  of  why  we  are  fight- 
ing the  Nazis,  reports  William  V. 
Geehan,  Wisconsin  state  publicity 
chairman  for  the  campaign.  As  ex- 
hibitors and  others  filed  toward  the 
luncheon  room,  two  trong-arm  hus- 
kies in  the  dress  of  Hitler's  elite 
guards  rudely  urged  and  unceremoni- 
ously pushed  the  guests  through  the 
door.  This  'gentle'  Nazi  touch,  Gee- 
han reports,  served  the  excellent  pur- 
pose of  arousing  their  ardor  for  the 
'Fighting  Fifth'  even  before  they 
heard  the  speeches.  Field-  war  bond 
meetings  elsewhere  have  applied  the 
same  'gentle  touch'  with  impressionis- 
tic results. 


William  N.  Woljson,  Mont- 
gomery, Ala.,  city  manager  for 
Alabama  Theatres,  led  off  his 
drive  activities  with  a  street  pa- 
rade of  service  men  and  bands 
jrom  nearby  Maxwell  and  Gunter 
Fields. 


Washington  exhibitors  have  set 
July  6  as  'Free  Movie  Day,'  accord- 
ing to  Sidney  Lust,  exhibitor  chair- 
man for  the  District  of  Columbia. 
Pertinent  copy  has  been  supplied  to 
all  theatres  for  lobby  and  outside 
displays  by  Frank  LaFalce,  publicity 
chairman. 


Kentucky  has  set  up  15  districts, 
with  an  exhibitor  chairman  head- 
ing each  district,  Lew  Hensler, 
exhibitor  state  chairman  reports. 
It  is  believed  that  in  this  manner 
closer  cooperation  zvill  result  in 
again  sending  Kentucky  over  its 
bond  quota. 


Sergt.  Charles  E.  (Commando) 
Kelly,  one  of  the  war's  most  heroic 
figures,  who  was  awarded  the  Con- 
gressional Medal  of  Honor  for  his 
exploits,  sends  this  message  to  the 
nation's  theatre  owners : 

"//  you  stick  by  us  by  buying  War 
Bonds,  and  more  War  Bonds,  we 
will  fight  for  you  even  if  it  means 
we  must  die  for  you." 


John  Q.  Adams,  Texas  exhibi- 
tor state  chairman,  in  a  special 
bulletin  to  all  Texas  exhibitors, 
suggested  that  they  arrange  with 
their  landlord  to  have  the  month's 
rent  for  the  theatre  paid  in  War 
Bonds. 


The  following  telegram  has  been 
received  by  'Fighting  Fifth'  national 
chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell  from  Gene 
Keenan  of  Newport,  Vt.,  state  pub- 
licity chairman: 

"Just  completed  tie-up.  Fourth- 
term,  6-foot-2  Mayor  O.  S;  Searles; 
Dentist  Perry  Fitch,  who  is  citv  war 
loan  chairman,  and  myself  will  not 
shave  until  this  city  tops  its  quota." 
(Signed)  The  three  bearded  bonds- 
men of  the  'Fighting  Fifth'." 


'More  Bonds,  Fewer  Graves 


*  JM  MORE  BOHDS  THE  FEWER  GRIB 

THE  inVRSIOn  BEACH -HEAPS  PRE  TOUGH  GOIRG  -' 


BEGUBfOMlVE  HP 
T0  8KK/W5/ 

LET'S  GO  " 


WAR  LOA 


«3— «r  w  —    VALLEY  STREAM'S  «ip  um»  »...  . 

heighbors  w  .orS??E*~         WE  can -we  will 

w,°        800.000.    £3    4  WE  MUST  4 


Photographs  of  neighborhood  boys  now  fighting  our  enemies  stand 
out  appealingly,  "Ready  to  Give  Our  Lives,  if  Necessary,"  in  this  large 
and  striking  lobby  board  conceived  by  Ben  Mindlin,  manager,  for 
Century  Circuit's  Valley  Stream  (Long  Island)  Theatre.  The  folks 
at  home  are  reminded  of  this  cold  fact:  "The  More  Bonds — The  Fewer 
Graves."  Manager  Mindlin  considered  it  practically  inconceivable 
that  the  folks  and  neighbors  of  the  boys  would  not  be  moved  to 
extra  bond-buying  when  hit  also  by  the  20  dramatic  pictures  of 
American  boys'  graves  on  the  Anzio  beachhead,  which  appear  on 
the  display-board. 


UTAH  exhibitors  at  a  state  meet- 
ing in  Salt  Lake  City  heard  R.  C. 
Galsmann,  manager  of  the  Orpheum 
Theatre  in  Ogden,  urge  them  to  in- 
crease their  sale  of  war  bonds  during 
the  'Fighting  Fifth'  Drive.  Galsmann 
had  the  right  to  make  the  plea — he 
sold  four  war  bonds  for  every  seat  in 
his  theatre  during  the  Fourth  War 
Loan  campaign, 


In  Boston,  Hollywood's  Veron- 
ica Lake  appeared  at  the  Boston 
Garden  before  16,000  persons  who 
bought  $3,000,000  worth  of  War 
Bonds.  Earlier  in  the  day  the 
actress  had  auctioned  off  her  ser- 
vices as  dishwasher  and  maid  for 
$100,000  in  bonds.  Miss  Lake  is 
one  of  the  Hollywood  stars  on 
tour  in  behalf  of  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  Campaign  through  arrange- 
ments made  by  R.  J.  O'Donnell, 
campaign  chairman,  and  the  Hol- 
lywood Victory  Committee. 


A.  A.  Adams,  chairman  of  the  Es- 
sex (N.  J.)  county  theatres  war  bond 
committee,  reports  that  a  score  of 
screen,  stage  and  radio  personalities 
are  scheduled  to  appear  at  a  'Million 
Dollar  All-Star  War  Bond  Show' 
which  Essex  County  theatres,  in  co- 
operation with  radio  station  WOR, 
will  stage  at  the  Adams  Theatre, 
Newark,  on  June  26,  in  connection 
with  the  Fifth  War  Loan  Drive. 


William  Hartnett,  Embassy 
Theatre  manager,  Waltham, 
Mass.,  reports  that  $25,800  worth 
of  Series  'E'  Bonds  ivcre  sold  for 
the  Waltham's  Children's  'School's 
Out'  Premiere  at  that  theatre, 
with  827  bonds  issued  on  a  total 
attendance  of  1,236  children.  Wide 
school  cooperation  was  obtained. 


AMARILLO,  TEX.,  is  staging  a 
'chin  up'  girl  contest  for  service 
men's  wives,  offering  $1,000  in  bonds 
to  those  who  are  doing  most  for  the 
war  effort  on  the  home  front.  Jack 
King,  city  manager  of  interstate  Thea- 
tres, also  reports  that  they  intend  to 
run  a  bathing  beauty  contest  and  an 
old-fashioned  barbecue  in  conjunction 
with  the  Paramount  Theatre  Bond 
Premiere. 


As  an  incentive  for  Tri-Statcs' 
theatre  managers  to  exceed  their 
Fourth  War  Bond  total  of  $12,- 
595,416,  A.  H.  Blank  has  offered 
prises  to  the  leaders  in  the  Fifth 
War  Bond  Campaign.  A  $100 
bond  ivill  go  to  the  manager  sell- 
ing the  greatest  number  of  bonds 
per  seat,  and  a  $100  bond  to  the 
one  who  does  the  best  all-around 
job  of  bond  selling  and  promo- 
tion, $50  bonds  will  go  to  run- 
ners-up  in  each  class. 


Rhode  Island  had  a  'Homecoming 
Rally'  at  the  State  Auditorium  in 
Providence,  featuring  native  sons 
Eddie  Dowling,  Eileen  Farrell, 
Frankie  Carle  and  Bobby  Hackett. 
Rhode  Islanders  were  asked  by 
Roderick  Pirnie,  state  chairman  of 
the  U.  S.  War  Finance  Committee 
to  support  the  Fifth  War  Loan  'on 
an  invasion  scale.' 


William  Elder,  manager  of  Loew's 
Ohio,  and  Albert  Sugarman,  of  the 
Academy  Theatre,  Columbus,  O.,  com- 
pose a  committee  specially  named  to 
arrange  for  Bond  Premieres,  chil- 
dren's matinees  and  related  activities 
for  the  Fifth  War  Loan  campaign. 
Fred  Oestreicher  of  Loew's,  is  han- 
dling. 


★     *  * 


A DESERVED  tribute  to  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry  and  its  role 
in  war  bond  campaigns  was 
spoken  by  Malcolm  W.  Bingay,  editor 
of  the  Detroit  Free  Press,  at  an  in- 
dustry Fifth  War  Loan  meeting  in 
Detroit. 

"The  motion  picture  industry  ranks 
with  good  journalism  in  that  it  is  de- 
veloping an  American  culture.  It  al- 
ways amazes  me  when  I  see  a  .motion 
picture  and,  comparing  it  with  the 
prirced  word,  realize  that  it  is  as 
graphic.  There  is  only  one  other  way 
by  which  the  American  people  can  get 
the  message  that  is  given  them  by  the 
printed  word,  and  that  is  through  the 
motion  picture.  In  the  Fifth  War 
Loan,  it  is  fitting  that  the  Government 
should  call  on  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry. The  industry  is  essential  to 
the  War  Loan's  success.  Without  it 
the  drive  cannot  succeed.  With  it  the 
drive  cannot  fail." 


The  Army  Air  Forces  orches- 
tra of  52  pieces,  with  Paul  White- 
man  as  guest  conductor,  appeared 
with  Hollywood  personalities  at 
Brooklyn's  bond  show  Friday 
midnight  at  the  Fox  Theatre. 


At  Rochester,  N.  Y.,  Seven  Wacs 
modeled  seven  different  Wac  uni- 
forms on  the  stages  of  RKO's  Tem- 
ple and  Century  Theatres  in  connec- 
tion with  the  Fifth  War  Loan  Drive. 
They  made  another  public  appear- 
ance in  Main  Street  at  the  Liberty 
Bridge  to  boost  bond  sales. 


Candle  Burns  for 
Allied  Victory 


Douglas  Taussig  of  the  Bard- 
avon  Theatre,  Poughkeepsie,  N. 
Y.,  planted  this  giant  Victory 
Candle  on  the  main  street,  per- 
mitting bond-buyers  to  submit  a 
"guess"  as  to  when  the  candle 
would  burn  out.  Three  top  win- 
ners will  receive  war-bond  prizes 
of  $500,  $200  and  $100,  respec- 
tively, donated  by  Netco  Thea- 
atres  and  Poughkeepsie  banks. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  20.  1944 


Southgate  Decision 
Upheld  on  Appeal 


Weekend  Heat  Wave 
Drives  N.Y.  Grosses 
Far  Below  Average 


Premieres  in  Fifth  Drive 
Already  Ahead  of  Fourth 


The  weekend  heat  wave  gave  most 
of  downtown  New  York  theatres  one 
of  the  quietest  weekends  in  recent 
months,  with  the  result  that  most  of 
the  current  week's  grosses  are  consid- 
erably below  average. 

Flock  to  Capitol 

However,  the  heat  did  not  stop 
patrons  from  flocking  to  the  Capitol 
where  "Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  and 
a  stage  show  headed  by  Sammy  Kaye 
are  expected  to  bring  $75,000  on  their 
initial  week.  The  first  five  days  end- 
ing Sunday  night  brought  $60,000  and 
the  combination  will  continue.  The 
seventh  week  of  "Going  My  Way" 
with  Charlie  Spivak  and  his  band  on 
the  stage  is  expected  to  bring  the 
Paramount  about  $68,000  which  is 
good  considering  the  length  of  the 
run;  the  bill  will  continue. 

The  sixth  week  of  "The  White 
Cliffs  of  Dover"  and  a  stage  show  is 
expected  to  bring  Radio  City  Music 
Hall  a  quiet  $105,000  with  a  mild  $58,- 
000  taken  in  during  the  first  four 
days  ending  Sunday  night ;  the  film 
will  continue  for  a  seventh  week. 

'St.  Mark'  Down 

The  third  and  final  week  of  "The 
Eve  of  St.  Mark"  and  a  stage  bill 
at  the  Roxy  is  not  expected  to  bring 
more  than  $55,000,  which  is  one  of 
the  lowest  week's  grosses  for  the 
house  in  months.  "Home  in  Indiana" 
and  a  stage  show  featuring  Hazel 
Scott,  Joe  Besser,  Carmen  Amaya  and 
her  dancers  and  the  Eric  Madriguera 
band  will  open  at  the  Roxy  tomorrow. 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  wound 
up  a  second  week  at  the  Rivoli  with 
over  $40,000  which  is  excellent  in 
comparison  to  general  business  condi- 
tions. Fourth  and  final  week  of  "Make 
Your  Own  Bed"  and  a  Cab  Calloway 
stage  show  at  the  Strand  will  be  a 
poor  $25,000.  Warner's  "The  Mask 
of  Dimitrios"  will  open  at  the  Strand 
Friday  with  Louis  Prima  and  his  band 
heading  the  live  portion  of  the  show. 

'Mr.  Skeffington'  Holds 

"Mr.  Skeffington"  is  expected  to 
bring  a  modest  $20,000  on  its  fourth 
week  at  the  Hollywood  and  it  will 
continue.  Initial  week  of  "Days  of 
Glory"  at  the  Palace  is  headed  for  a 
quiet  $18,000  on  the  basis  of  weekend 
business  of  $8,200;  it  will  continue. 
Expectations  are  that  "Roger  Touhy, 
Gangster"  will  bring  $12,000  on  its 
third  week  at  the  Globe  which  repre- 
sents a  considerable  drop  over  last 
week's  business  but  the  film  will  con- 
tinue. "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove" will  give  the  Astor  about  $10,- 
000  on  its  12th  week  and  the  film  will 
make  way  for  "Bathing  Beauty"  June 
27.  "It  Happened  Tomorrow"  is 
headed  for  a  mild  $7,000  on  its  fourth 
week  at  the  Gotham  and  it  will  hold 
for  a  fifth.  The  revival  of  "Snow 
White  and  the  Seven  Dwarfs"  ended 
a  10th  week  at  the  Manhattan  with 
about  $5,500  and  it  will  continue  to  the 
end  of  the  month.  "Invisible  Man's 
Revenge"  will  get  about  $6,500  on  a 
second  week  at  the  Rialto  but  no  de- 
cision has  been  made  on  possible  hold- 
over. 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

distributor  chairman.  Hundreds 
more  are  understood  to  be  on  their 
way  to  headquarters  here. 

State  and  city  exhibitor  chairmen, 
in  cooperation  with  the  distributors, 
have  fully  organized  their  territories 
for  premieres  nationally. 

Harold  Fitzgerald,  Wisconsin  ex- 
hibitor chairman,  and  Don  Woods, 
area  distributor  chairman,  report  that 
all  of  Milwaukee's  72  theatres  will 
hold  a  bond  premiere  during  the  drive, 
the  first  scheduled  for  Wednesday. 

Chicago  demonstrates  that  bond  pre- 
mieres can  be  successfully  staged  in 
suburban  and  outlying  sections  of 
metropolitan  cities,  O'Donnell  de- 
clared. Starting  with  shows  in  three 
large  first-run  Loop  theatres,  the  Pal- 
ace, Oriental  and  State-Lake,  the  city 
is  then  broken  down  into  39  zones, 
each  containing  a  "captain"  theatre, 
where  the  other  houses,  called  "lieu- 
tenant" theatres,  will  join  in  promot- 
ing premieres.  The  Chicago  pre- 
mieres got  under  way  last  Friday. 

The  committee  which  organized  the 
Chicago  premieres  includes  Jack 
Kirsch,  president  of  Allied  Theatres 
of  Illinois  and  exhibitor  co-chairman 
for  the  metropolitan  area;  Jules  J. 
Rubens,  Illinois  exhibitor  state  chair- 
man ;  John  Balaban,  Balaban  &  Katz 
executive ;   Edwin    Silverman,  presi- 

Skouras  Theatres 
Plan  Bond  Rallies 

Alan  Corelli,  secretary  of  Theatre 
Authority  here  has  become  production 
chairman  for  some  40  "Victory  Army 
Bond  Rallies"  to  be  staged  at  Skouras 
Theatres  throughout  the  metropolitan 
area,  co-sponsored  by  the  New  York 
Journal  American,  Skouras  Theatres 
and  the  Blue  Network,  as  announced 
yesterday  by  Nick  John  Matsoukas, 
director  of  the  Skouras  Theatres  war 
effort  department. 

"Victory  Army  War  Bond  Rallies" 
will  feature  screen,  stage  and  radio. 
Admission  will  be  by  purchase  of  a 
war  bond  from  any  of  the  66  Skouras 
theatres  here  operated  throughout  the 
New  York  area  and  New  Jersey. 

'Robof  Makes  Little 
Dent  in  Attendance 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
rising  trend  continued  sharply  last 
week,  likewise  showed  only  small  de- 
declines  today.  Typical  is  Odeon, 
with  a  December  quotation  of  26  shill- 
ings ($5.20)  ;  a  January  price  of  30 
shillings  ($6.00)  ;  April,  35  shillings 
$7.00),  last  Friday's,  40  shillings 
($8.00),  and  today's  quotation  of  39 
shillings  ($7.80). 


L.  A.  Laurel  Goes  Arty 

Los  Angeles,  June  19. — The  Laurel 
Theatre,  operated  by  James  Edwards, 
will  change  to  a  policy  of  foreign  and 
"art"  films  beginning  Wednesday. 
First  attraction  will  be  "The  Heart 
of  a  Nation,''  declared  to  have  been 
completed  three  days  before  the  Ger- 
mans stormed  into  Paris  in  June,  1940. 
Raimu  and  Michele  Morgan  play  the 
leads.  Charles  Boyer  is  the  narrator, 
and  Paul  Graetz  produced.  The  film 
is  said  to  have  been  smuggled  out  of 
France. 


dent  of  Essaness  Theatres,  and  W.  E. 
Banford,  area  distributor  chairman. 
Also  cooperating  are  James  E.  Coston, 
Chicago  zorie  manager  for  Warner 
Theatres,  and  J.  E.  Flynn,  Western 
sales  manager  for  M-G-M. 

In  New  York,  Charles  C.  Moskow- 
itz,  general  chairman  of  the  "Fighting 
Fifth"  in  the  metropolitan  area,  in 
cooperation  with  Jack  Rosen  and 
Ralph  Pielow,  distributor  chairmen, 
and  other  circuit  heads,  is  setting  up 
the  premiere  plan. 


Eastern  Pa.  Pledges 
50  Bond  Premieres 

Wilkes-Barre,  Pa.,  June  19. — 
Eastern  Pennsylvania  exhibitors  and 
exchange  men  in  this  area  guaran- 
teed 50  war  bond  premieres,  out  of 
101  possibilities,  to  the  industry's 
Fifth  War  Loan  committee  at  a  re- 
gional meeting  held  here  recently.  The 
new  pledge  more  than  triples  the  16 
premieres  in  this  territory  during  the 
Fourth  War  Loan. 

Louis  J.  Finske,  Eastern  Pennsyl- 
vania exhibitor  chairman,  credits  the 
increase  in  premiere  line-ups  to 
the  successful  execution  of  cam- 
paign director  John  J.  Friedl's  plan 
to  have  designated  branch  managers, 
with  their  sales  forces,  responsible  for 
covering  specified  exhibitor  zones  to 
solicit  active  participants. 


Abitration  appeal  board  in  a  deci- 
sion made  public  here  yesterday  up- 
held the  award  of  Woodson  Wallace, 
arbitrator  at  the  Los  Angeles  tribunal 
in  the  Southgate  Theatre  clearance 
complaint  against  the  five  consenting 
companies. 

The  board  held  that  the  42  days' 
clearance  granted  by  the  arbitrator 
and  reduced  from  49  days  previously 
held  by  the  Vogue  over  the  Southgate 
at  a  25-cent  admission  is  reasonable. 
In  announcing  its  decision  sustaining 
the  arbitrator,  the  board  said  that  to 
grant  a  change  in  availability  simply 
because  of  an  increase  in  admission  to 
30  cents  would  "disrupt  the  entire  Los 
Angeles  system  and  make  the  orderly 
distribution  of  feature  pictures  in  that 
area  impossible." 

In  a  second  complaint  against  the 
consenting  companies  Southgate  had 
sought  a  clearance  moved  from  49  days 
to  be  fixed  at  21  days  at  an  admission 
of  25  cents.  Further,  complainant  had 
sought  a  clearance  fixed  at  seven  to 
14  days  after  the  Vogue  first  run 
closing  at  a  contemplated  admission  of 
30  cents.  Intervenors  were  the  Hunt- 
ington Park  Theatre  and  Albert  Han- 
son, owner  of  the  Vogue. 


De  Sylva  Unit 


Theatres  and  Press 
Merge  in  Bond  Tie-U p 

Los  Angeles,  June  19. — Theatres 
of  Southern  California  have  joined 
with  the  Los  Angeles  Examiner  in  an 
effort  to  hit  the  goal  of  800,000  bond 
sales  during  the  Fifth  War  Loan. 

Under  this  arrangement  the  Ex- 
aminer will  carry  a  daily  story  and 
art  on  all  theatre  activities,  and  also 
a  thermometer  showing  the  daily  in- 
crease in  bond  sales  up  to  the  500,000 
mark.  It  will  publicize  the  theatres' 
Bond  premieres,  tours  of  mobile  units, 
and  the  theatres'  recording  truck 
which  is  making  records  to  be  short- 
waved  to  Eisenhower. 

This  joining  of  forces  with  the  Ex- 
aminer has  been  greeted  with  terrific 
enthusiasm  by  the  500  exhibitors  in 
this  area  who  are  going  all-out  on 
the  Fifth  War  Loan. 


Kate  Mayhew,  Early 
Actress,  Dies  at  91 

Kate  Mayhew,  91,  oldtime  film  and 
stage  actress,  died  Friday  night  at  her 
home  here.  Miss  Mayhew's  first  ap- 
pearance in  films  was  in  1915  in 
"Hazel  Kirke,"  with  Pearl  White. 
She  also  appeared  in  "The  Master  of 
the  House,"  "McGann's  Octet"  and 
"Tongues  of  Flame."  Miss  Mayhew, 
who  made  her  first  stage  appearance 
at  the  age  of  four,  was  honored  in 
1936  as  Broadway's  oldest  living  act- 
ress, along  with  David  Frohman,  then 
oldest  living  manager  on  Broadway. 


Hummerl  to  Universal 

■  Cleveland,  June  19.  —  Howard 
Hummerl,  formerly  of  Cincinnati,  has 
joined  the  Universal  sales  staff  here, 
succeeding  George  Rosenbaum,  now 
on  leave  of  absence. 


By  September 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

pany's  lot.  He  has  agreed  to  con- 
tinue as  executive  producer  until  mid- 
September  in  the  event  that  Para- 
mount is  unable  to  rearrange  its  stu- 
dio management  setup  before  that 
date. 

Action  on  the  deal  is  not  antici- 
pated at  the  directors'  meeting  Thurs- 
day in  New  York.  Meanwhile,  the 
future  operational  method  at  the  stu- 
dio is  declared  to  be  completely  un- 
determined thus  far.  If  operation  by 
a  board  is  decided  ultimately,  Y. 
Frank  Freeman  and  Henry  Ginsberg 
inevitably  would  be  two  of  its  mem- 
bers. 


Cites  War's  End  as 
Tempo  for  UJA 

{Continued  from  page  1) 
Barney  Balaban,  is  co-chairman  of  the 
amusement  division  of  UJA's  fund- 
raising  campaign  which  will  be  high- 
lighted by  a  luncheon  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  here  today.  Over  1,000  screen, 
stage  and  radio  executives  are  ex- 
pected to  attend. 

Dr.  Abba  Hillel  Silver,  national  co- 
chairman  of  the  UJA  and  Rabbi  of 
The  Temple  in  Cleveland,  will  be  the 
principal  guest  speaker  and  will 
launch  the  entertainment  industry's 
drive  here  for  UJA. 


'Attack!'  Opens  Here 

"Attack!,"  the  War  Department's 
film  about  the  battle  for  New  Britain 
Island,  will  open  today  at  the  New 
York  Theatre.  The  six-reel  documen- 
tary, being  distributed  by  RKO 
through  the  OWI  will  open  tomor- 
row at  the  Gotham,  the  Globe  and 
the  Manhattan  theatres  here. 


Tuesday,  June  20,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Production  in 
Drop;  Off  5, 
To  52  in  Work 


Hollywood,  June  19.  —  Production 
took  a  drop  last  week,  as  13  pictures 
were  completed  and  nine  went  be- 
fore the  cameras ;  M-G-M  shelved 
"Secrets  in  the  Dark."  Total  number 
of  pictures  in  work  was  52  against  57 
in  the  preceding  week.  The  produc- 
tion scene  follows : 

Columbia 

Finished:  "The  Return  of  the  Du- 
rango  Kid,"  "Boston  Blackie's  Ap- 
pointment with  Death,"  "Death  Walks 
Alone,"  "Meet  Miss  Bobby  Socks," 
"Ever  Since  Venus." 

Shooting :     "Stalk    the  Hunter," 
"Tonight  and  Every  Night." 
M-G-M 

Started:  "The  Home  Front,"  with 
Laurel  and  Hardy  ;  "Anchors  Aweigh," 
with  Gene  Kelly,  Frank  Sinatra,  Jose 
Iturbi,  Kathryn  Grayson. 

Shooting :  "Airship  Squadron  4," 
"Music  for  Millions,"  "Son  of  Lassie," 
"The  Thin  Man  Goes  Home,"  "Zieg- 
feld  Follies,"  "The  Picture  of  Dorian 
Gray,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"National  Velvet." 

Monogram 

Finished:  "Fool's  Gold,"  "Marked 
Trails." 

Shooting :  "Muggs  Meets  a  Dead- 
line." 

PRC 

Shooting :  "Swing  Hostess,"  "Blue- 
beard." 

Paramount 

Started :  "A  Medal  for  Benny," 
with  Dorothy  Lamour,  Arturo  de 
Cordova,  J.  Carrol  Naish,  Mikhail 
Rasumny,  Fernando  Alvarado,  Frank 
McHugh,  Charles  Dingle,  Mona 
Maris,  Minor  Watson,  Pepito. 

Shooting :  "Fear,"  "Here  Come  the 
Waves,"  "Murder,  He  Says,"  "Two 
Years  Before  the  Mast." 

RKO-Radio 

Finished:  "Heavenly  Days,"  "The 
Woman  in  the  Window"  (Interna- 
tional.) 

Shooting:  "The  Girl  Rush,"  "The 
Master  Race,"  "The  Pumpkin  Shell," 
"Farewell  My  Lovely,"  "Having 
Wonderful  Crime,"  "Tall  in  the  Sad- 
dle," "The  Princess  and  the  Pirate" 
(Goldwyn) . 

Republic 

Started:  "Code  of  the  Prairie," 
with  Smiley  Burnette  and  Sunset 
Carson. 

Finished:  "Cheyenne  Wildcat." 

Shooting :  "My  Buddy,"  "Brazil," 
"San  Fernando  Valley,"  "Atlantic 
City." 

20th  Century-Fox 

Started:  "Winged  Victory,"  with 
Mark  Daniels,  Lon  McAllister,  Ed- 
mund O'Brien,  Don  Taylor. 

Shooting :  "Thunderhead,"  "A  Tree 
Grows  in  Brooklyn,"  "Laura,"  "Some- 
thing for  the  Boys." 

United  Artists 

Started:  "Three's  a  Family"  (Sol 


FILM  DUBBING 
SCRIPT  ADAPTATION 
GHOST  VOICE 

SPANISH-PORTUGESE-FRENCH 

Spanish  Sound  Studies 

it   E.  42  St.     N.  Y.   17    MU  2-5358 


Review 

"Forty  Thieves" 


(Shernian-UA) 

Hollywood,  June  19 

CHOWMEN  have  here  a  fast-moving  Western  which  upholds  the 
^  standards  previously  set  by  producer  Harry  Sherman  for  the  Hopa- 
long  Cassidy  series.  As  in  earlier  pictures,  William  Boyd  plays  Hoppy, 
Andy  Clyde  is  "California,"  and  Jimmy  Rogers  completes  the  trio. 

The  screenplay  by  Michael  Wilson  and  Bernie  Kamins,  based  on 
characters  created  by  Clarence  E.  Mulford,  tells  how  40  thieves,  led  by 
Douglas  Dumbrille  as  Ted  Hammond,  use  tactics  of  terror- and  counter- 
feit ballots  to  oust  Hoppy  from  his  office  as  sheriff.  In  his  stead,  they 
elect  a  weak-kneed  saloonkeeper,  portrayed  by  Kirk  Alyn.  But  Alyn 
proves  unequal  to  his  task,  and  Hoppy  and  his  friends  drive  the  villains 
out  of  town.  The  climax  is  reached  as  Hoppy  and  the  outlaw  chief  fight 
it  out  in  a  hand-to-hand  struggle  on  a  swaying  footbridge  high  over  the 
riverbed.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Russell  Harlan  and  Louise  Kurrie. 
Lesley  Selander's  direction  is  satisfactorily  smooth. 

Running  time  60  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date  not  set. 

Thalia  Bell 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Balaban  Note  Sale 
Before  Para.  Meet 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  approval  of  the  elimination  of 
144,672  shares  of  $100  par  first  pre- 
ferred stock  and  555,101  shares  of 
$10  par  second  preferred  from  the 
authorized  capitalization  of  the  cor- 
poration ;  and  the  consideration  of 
three  resolutions  relating  to  additional 
directors,  selection  of  auditors  and 
sending  stockholders  a  summary  of 
each  annual  meeting,  all  opposed  by 
management. 

Directors  Renominated 

Renominated  for  reelection  to  the 
Paramount  board  of  directors  are : 
Balaban,  Stephen  Callaghan,  Y. 
Frank  Freeman,  Harvey  D.  Gibson, 
Leonard  H.  Goldenson,  A.  Conger 
Goodyear,  Stanton  Griffis,  Duncan  G. 
Harris,  John  D.  Hertz,  John  W. 
Hicks,  Jr.,  Austin  C.  Keough,  Earl 
L.  McClintock,  Maurice  Newton,  E. 
V.  Richards,  Edwin  L.  Weisl  and 
Adolph  Zukor. 


Lesser),  with  Marjorie  Reynolds, 
Charles  Ruggles,  Helen  Broderick, 
Fay  Bainter,  Hattie  McDaniel,  Ar- 
thur Lake,  Jeff  Donnell,  Fred  Brady. 

Finished:  "Double  Furlough"  (Van- 
guard) . 

Shooting:  "Dark  Waters"  (Bo- 
geaus)  ;  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe"  (Cow- 
an) ;  "Guest  in  the  House"  (Strom- 
berg). 

Universal 

Started :  "Can't  Help  Singing," 
with  Deanna  Durbin,  Robert  Paige, 
Akim  Tamiroff,  Tune  Vincent,  David 
Bruce,  Ray  Collins,  Clara  Blandick ; 
"My  Baby  Loves  Music,"  with  Bob 
Crosby,  Grace  McDonald,  Alan  Mow- 
bray, Walter  Catlett,  Betty  Kean ;  "In 
Society",  with  Abbott  and  Costello. 

Finished :  "Riders  of  the  Santa  Fe." 

Shooting :  "Queen  of  the  Nile,"  "Be 
It  Ever  So  Humble,"  "Bowery  to 
Broadway." 

Warners 

Finished :  "The  Conspirators." 

Shooting:  "Christmas  in  Connecti- 
cut," "Strangers  in  Our  Midst,"  "Ob- 
jective Burma,"  "Roughly  Speaking," 
"Hollywood  Canteen." 


Prepare  for  Postwar 
Tax  Relief:  Crockett 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

taxation,  permitting  American 
industries  to  submit  their 
views  on  the  formulation  of  a 
postwar  tax  program  by  Con- 
gress. 

"It  is  essential  that  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  be  prepared  to  present 
a  constructive  program  at  that  time," 
advises  Crockett.  To  accomplish  this 
Crockett  proposes  that  exhibitors  dis- 
cuss the  postwar  tax  situation  be- 
fore appearing  before  the  House  com- 
mittee with  any  conflicting  ideas  on 
the  consideration  they  feel  should  be 
granted  to  theatres  by  the  commit 
tee. 


Allied  Still  Welcome  by 
Exhibitor  Tax  Roundtable 

Although  National  Allied's  board 
of  directors  recently  rejected  member- 
ship in  the  proposed  exhibitors'  tax 
roundtable,  Allied's  participation  will 
be  welcomed  if  it  should  reverse  its 
position,  an  industry  leader  on  tax 
matters  disclosed  here  yesterday. 

Renewed  interest  reported  on  the 
establishment  of  a  united  front  of  ex- 
hibitor groups  in  a  tax  roundup  has 
spurred  a  desire  to  call  a  meeting  for 
the  Fall,  it  is  understood  with  rep- 
resentation from  most  segments  of  ex- 
hibition attending.  The  direction  the 
projected  organization  will  take  and 
the  machinery  it  will  establish  to 
achieve  its  objectives  are  as  yet  unde- 
cided. However,  it  is  understood  that 
the  conference  would  not  set  up  any 
special  tax  representation  in  Wash- 
ington. The  national  organization 
will  not  participate  in  state  tax  mat- 
ters but  would  leave  to  the  various 
state  organizations  the  job  of  com- 
bating such  legislation. 


RCA  Host  at  Dinner 

The  Radio  Corporation  of  America 
was  host  to  financial  editors  and  the 
trade  press  at  a  dinner  at  Toots  Shor's 
here  last  night  in  connection  with  a 
special  television  broadcast  over  sta- 
tion WNBT,  designed  to  show  that 
home  television  receivers  head  the  list 
of  products  families  will  buy  early  in 
the  postwar  era. 


Arthur  Loew  in  OWI 
Distribution  Post 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

operating  on  the  Continent  and  else- 
where from  there.  Laudy  Lawrence 
had  been  handling  foreign  distribution 
of  American  films  for  the  OWI  over- 
seas.  He  will  remain  with  the  OWI. 

Returning  recently  from  duty  in  the 
European  theatre,  Major  Loew  joined 
the  Signal  Corps  Pictorial  Service  in 
May,  1942,  and  was  first  stationed  at 
Astoria,  L.  I. 

Previous  to  his  Army  service,  Loew 
was  for  20  years  export  manager  of 
M-G-M.  He  was  in  complete  charge 
of  its  foreign  operations,  including 
production  and  distribution  of  all 
M-G-M  films  abroad. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation  Rockefeller  Center 

A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'j  Picture 

THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 

Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 

SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


THE  INSIDE  ON  HITLER'S  EUROPE! 


the  MARCH 0FTINIE 


ON  SCREEN 

FIRST  N.  Y.  SHOWING 

'MAN  from 
FRISCO' 

MICHAEL  O'SHEA 
*fj>  ANNE  SHIRLEY 


IN  PERSON 
LUCKY 

MILLINDER 

and  ORCH. 

Added  Attraction 
LOUISE 

BEAVERS 


PALACE 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


TAMARA 
TOUMANOVA 


GREGORY 
PECK 


"DAYS  OF  GLORY" 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


vae  PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS  mm 

GARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLE'S 

"The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell" 

~k  In  Technicolor  *k 


"ROGER  T0UHY 
GANGSTER!" 

20th  CENTURY-FOX  PICTURE 
AIR-CONDITIONED 

BRANDT'S        f*    T     ("\    T%  -p 

B'way  &.  46  St.    >J  w    D  El 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


Backing 
the 

Invasion! 


^VOL.  55.  NO.  121 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  21,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


UA  Re-Elects 
Raftery  and 
All  Officers 


Walter  Gould,Lou  Pollock 
Appointments  Confirmed 

Edward  C.  Raftery  was  re-elect- 
ed president  of  United  Artists  yes- 
terday, by  the  board  of  directors 
meeting  here,  and  with  him  also 
were  re-elect- 
ed the  follow- 
ing :  Gradwell 
L,  Sears,  vice- 
preside  n  t 
in  charge  of 
distribu- 
tion; George 
L.  B  a  g  n  a  1 1, 
vice  -  president 
in  charge  of 
production ;  H. 
J.  Muller, 
t  r  e  a  s  u  r  - 
er ;  Lloyd 
Wright,  secre- 
tary, and  Paul 
O'Brien,  Har- 
ry Buckley,  H.  J.  Muller  and  Charles 
Milliken,  assistant  secretaries. 

The  board  confirmed  the  appoint- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 

Decree  Draft  Due 
In  D.  C.  Today 


Edward  C.  Raftery 


Washington,  June  20. — Assistant 
U.  S.  Attorney  General  Tom  C.  Clark 
left  Washington  tonight  for  a  'U.  S. 
attorneys'  conference  at  Asheville,  N. 
C,  without  having  seen  new  decree 
proposals  reported  to  have  been  sent 
from  New  York  by  the  decree  dis- 
tributors. 

However,  Clark  said,  he  has  been 

{Continued  on  page  9) 


WMC  Assures 
WAC  on  Local 
Labor  Supply 


Washington,  June  20. — Repre- 
sentatives of  the  War  Activities 
Committee  were  told  here  today 
that  the  War  Manpower  Commis- 
sion is  thoroughly  aware  of  the  im- 
portance of  the  motion  picture  thea- 
tre, particularly  in  smaller  communi- 
ties, and  that  despite  the  fact  that  film 
distribution  has  no  standing  in  the 
list  of  essential  or  locally-needed  ac- 
tivities regional  WMC  offices  will 
deal  "sympathetically"  with  requests 
of  exchanges  for  priorities  to  secure 
needed  labor. 

The  position  of  the  Commission 
was  made  known  during  the  course 
of  a  hearing  before  the  WMC  es- 
sential activities  committee,  presid- 
ed over  by  Collis  Stocking,  assistant 
to  the  executive  director  in  charge 
of  program  development,  at  which  the 
industry  situation  in  Buffalo  and  Dal- 
las was  outlined  by  Leon  J.  Bam- 
berger, assistant  to  chairman  Ned  De- 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


UJA  Fund  Appeal 
Is  Launched  Here 


'I A'  Grants  Charter 
For  Managers 

Chicago,  June  20. — James 
Gorman,  president  of  Chicago 
IATSE  Projectionists  Local 
110,  revealed  today  that  his 
local  has  secured  a  charter 
from  the  national  IATSE  to 
organize  theatre  managers. 
Organizational  plans  are  said 
said  to  be  underway. 

Petition  for  the  charter  was 
presented  to  the  "IA"  at  its 
recent  convention  in  St.  Louis. 


About  800  screen,  stage  and  radio 
executives  attended  the  sixth  annual 
luncheon  of  the  amusement  division  of 
the  United  Jewish  Appeal  at  the  Hotel 
Astor  here  yesterday  highlighting  the 
fund-raising  drive  in  UJA's  1944  war 
emergency  campaign. 

Dr.  Abba  Hillel  Silver  of  Cleveland 
made  the  appeal  for  funds.  He  was 
introduced  by  David  Bernstein,  vice- 
president  and  treasurer  of  Loew's, 
who,  with  Major  Albert  Warner  of 
Warner  Bros,  and  Barney  Balaban  of 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


$4,000,000  Credit 
For  Hal  Wallis 

Hal  Wallis  Productions  has 
completed  banking  arrange- 
ments with  the  First  National 
Bank  of  Boston  for  a  term 
loan  and  revolving  credit 
agreement  for  $4,000,000  cred- 
it to  be  extended  for  five 
years,  Paramount,  with  whom 
Wallis  will  be  associated  in 
production,  disclosed  here 
yesterday  in  a  statement  is- 
sued from  the  home  office. 
"Hal  Wallis  Productions  will 
finance  its  own  productions 
completely  from  its  own  cap- 
ital and  bank  credit,"  it  was 
said. 


Hollywood,  June  20. — Jack 
Spaer,  former  Warner  asso- 
ciate producer,  has  been 
named  production  and  busi- 
ness manager  by  Wallis.  Jo- 
seph H.  Hazen,  head  of  the 
New  York  office,  has  arrived 
for  10  days  to  help  set  up  the 
organization. 


Rank  Extends 
Control  of 
British  Films 


Plans  New  Company  to 
Control  B.  and  D. 


Rose  Forecasts 
Postwar  Boom 


The  postwar  film  business  faces  an 
era  of  unprecedented  prosperity  "be- 
yond our  imagination,"  David  Rose, 
Paramount  managing  director  in  En- 
gland, said  yesterday  in  an  interview 
at  the  home  office.  The  growing  uni- 
versal acceptance  of  motion  pictures 
as  entertainment  will  be  responsible 
for  "fantastic"  business,  he  said. 

As  evidence  of  this,  Rose  cited  the 
long  theatre  lines  already  forming  in 
North  Africa,  Italy  and  Sicily.  Refu- 
gees in  England  from  the  Continent, 
Rose  said,  turn  to  film  amusement  as 
soon  as  they  have  satisfied  the  ele- 
mental wants  of  food.  Rose  pointed 
also  to  the  contrast  of  the  first  Brit- 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Para.  Stockholders  Vote 
Balaban  'Incentive'  Plan 


Paramount  stockholders  yesterday 
voted  overwhelmingly  in  favor  of  the 
issuance  and  sale  to  Barney  Balaban, 
company  president,  of  $2,000,000  in 
convertible  notes  of  the  corporation 
with  certain  surviving  stock  purchase 
rights  in  event  of  prepayment.  The 
action  was  taken  at  the  annual  meet- 
ing of  shareholders,  who  also  re- 
elected all  directors. 

More  than  two-thirds  of  the  com- 


pany's 40,000  holders  of  3,749,516 
shares  of  common  stock  favored  the 
incentive  arrangement  to  Balaban. 

The  stockholders  also  voted  ap- 
proval of  elimination  of  144,672  shares 
of  $100  par  value  first  preferred  stock 
and  551,101  shares  of  $10  par  second 
preferred  from  the  authorized  cap- 
italization of  the  corporation.  Austin 
C.  Keough,  Paramount  vice-president 
(Continued  on  page  10) 


London,  June  20.  —  British  and 
Dominions  Film  Corp.,  16-year-old 
producing  company,  whose  princi- 
pals include  E.  Ronald  Crammon, 
Hon.  R.  Norton,  W.  H.  Cockburn, 
and  others,  reporting  a  deficit  of  ap- 
proximately $652,292,  today  announced 
a  capital  reconstruction  program 
which  involves  further  evidence  of  J. 
Arthur  Rank's  extending  control  of 
the  British  film  industry. 

B.  and  D.'s  authorized  paid-up  capi- 
tal of  approximately  $2,000,000  (500,- 
000  shares  of  one  pound  par  value, 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


Unaffiliated  Owners 
May  Join  Allied 


Atlantic  City,  June  20. — Possibil- 
ity that  the  Unaffiliated  Independent 
Exhibitors  of  New  York,  a  group  of 
65  members,  may  become  affiliated 
with  Allied  is  seen  by  observers  here 
in  the  attendance  of  Jesse  Stern,  pres- 
ident of  the  New  York  unit,  at  the 
convention  of  Allied  Theatre  Owners 
of  New  Jersey,  which  opened  today  in 
the  Hotel  Chelsea. 

Stern  denied  that  affiliation  would 

(Continued  on  page  9) 


10  Stars  Named  for 
MGM  Anniversary 

Ten  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
contract  players  were  named 
stars  yesterday  in  a  home  of- 
fice announcement,  on  the 
eve  of  the  observance  of  the 
company's  20th  anniversary, 
which  will  start  tomorrow 
and  will  run  a  week. 

The  new  stars  are:  Laraine 
Day,  Kathryn  Grayson,  Van 
Johnson,  Gene  Kelly,  George 
Murphy,  Margaret  O'Brien, 
Susan  Peters,  Ginny  Simms, 
Robert  Walker  and  Esther 
Williams,  making  33  stars  at 
MGM's  studios.  The  company 
had  six  when  it  started  in 
1924:  Mae  Murray,  John  Gil- 
bert, Lillian  Gish,  Lon  Chaney, 
Ramon  Novarro  and  Antonio 
Moreno. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  21,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


EDWARD  HATRICK,  M-G-M 
News-of-the-Day  executive,  is  a 
grandfather,  with  the  birth,  Monday, 
of  a  son  to  his  daughter,  Gloria 
Hatrick  McLean  and  Ned  McLean 
at  Colorado  Springs. 

• 

Jules  Bernstein,  manager  of 
Loew's,  Toronto,  for  30  years,  is  re- 
ported to  be  suffering  from  a  heart 
ailment,  which  has  prevented  a  major 
operation  for  which  he  entered  a  To- 
ronto hospital  several  weeks  ago. 
• 

Robert  Ferguson  and  Mrs.  Fer- 
guson became  the  parents  of  a  girl 
yesterday  at  Lenox  Hill  Hospital 
here.  Ferguson  is  an  advertising 
copywriter  with  Columbia  here.  The 
baby  will  be  named  Carole  Jane. 
• 

Harry  Gruver  of  the  New  Thea- 
tre, Baltimore,  and  owner  of  two  thea- 
tres in  Glenburnie,  Md.,  is  recovering 
from  a  heart  attack  and  has  been  dis- 
charged from  Bon  Secours  Hospital. 
• 

H.  S.  Dahn.  city  supervisor  of 
Odeon  Theatres,  at  Hamilton,  Ont., 
has  a  broken  leg,  and  C.  T.  Spenc- 
er, manager  of  the  Capitol,  has  a 
broken  arm. 

• 

Jules  Fields  and  Frank  Clark 
of  20th-Fox's  home  office  exploitation 
staff,  returned  to  New  York  yester- 
day from  Indianapolis. 

• 

Rex  Williams,  manager  of  Loew's 
State,  St.  Louis,  has  returned  from 
a  vacation  in  Chicago. 

• 

J.  J.  Unger,  UA  Western  division 
manager,  has  returned  from  a  trip  to 
the  company"s  Western  exchanges. 


Caribbean  Bright 
For  U.  S.  Films 

Peter  Colli,  Warner  Bros,  super- 
visor for  the  Caribbean  area,  now 
in  New  York  for  home  office  con- 
ferences, yesterday  predicted  a  bright 
future  for  Hollywood  films  in  the 
Caribbean  as  a  result  of  the  increas- 
ing use  of  the  English  language 
throughout  the  West  Indies  and  Cen- 
tral America. 

"In  most  instances  local  govern- 
ments have  made  English  a  requisite 
in  curriculums,"  Colli  said,  adding : 
"American  films  are  augmenting  the 
schools  in  familiarizing  the  Latin 
population  with  the  English  language, 
particularly  with  American  idiom, 
which  is  fast  being  adopted  in  those 
countries." 

Territory  supervised  by  Coll  in- 
cludes Cuba,  Puerto  Rico,  Trinidad 
and  Venezuela. 


Drive  Honors  Goodman 

Republic  Films  Argentina  Corp. 
and  Cia  Republic  Films  Chilena,  have 
designated  August  as  "Morris  Good- 
man Month,"  in  honor  of  Republic's 
vice-president  in  charge  of  Foreign 
Sales,  the  company  disclosed  here  yes- 
terday. Guy  P.  Morgan  is  in  charge 
of  the  Argentina  and  Chile  offices. 


Insider's  Outlook 


By  RED  KANN 


Hollywood,  June  20 

CLOUDY  and  foggy  distribu- 
tors, who  got  that  way 
from  the  new  first  run  align- 
ment in  Greater  Los  Angeles, 
may  de-cloud  and  un-fog,  Fox 
West  Coast  sources  declare. 
Their  approach : 

Playing  time  no  longer  avail- 
able at  the  Los  Angeles-Egyp- 
tian-Ritz,  new  combination 
which  is  now  housing  the  cream 
of  Metro's  crop,  will  assert  it- 
self at  the  State-Chinese-Up- 
town. 

It's  simple  and  it's  also  obvi- 
ous. Attractions  playing  the 
new  hookup  until  now  former- 
ly would  have  played  the  old. 
Thus,  what  cannot  get  on  the 
screens  of  the  Los  Angeles,  etc., 
will  get  on  the  screens  of  the 
State,  etc. 

"Get  it,  kid?",  as  Charlie 
Skouras  might  say. 

■  ■ 

Bill  Goetz  is  the  town's  latest 
Nostradamus,  slacks  and  pipe 
and  all.  He  predicted  June  6 
would  be  D-Day.  He  also  di- 
vined Japan  would  be  bombed 
within  three  weeks.  Those 
Superforts  rode  handsomely  to 
his  rescue. 

When  the  radio  flashed  the 
first  bullletin,  someone  who  re- 
membered the  forecasts  called 
Goetz  on  the  possibility  he 
hadn't  heard. 

"Just  wanted  to  give  you  the 
flash,'"  he  said. 

"Thanks,"  rejoined  Bill,  "but 
I  had  the  flash  last  month." 

■  ■ 

Horace  Greeley  in  reverse : 
The  California  Chamber  of 
Commerce  may  not  like  this  one, 
but  it's  a  fact  that  Jim  Dono- 
hue,  new  Central  division  sales 
manager  at  Paramount,  trekked 
east  by  degrees  to  fulfill  his 
manifest  destiny. 

Donohue,  native  San  Francis- 
can, started  with  the  company  in 
that  city  in  1925  as  a  shipping 
clerk,  then  was  transferred,  in 
turn,  to  Portland,  Salt  Lake 
City,  Minneapolis,  Chicago,  Dal- 
las and  finally  brought  into  New 
York  to  head  the  recently-cre- 
ated Central  division.  His  cov- 
ered wagon  is  now  parked 
alongside  the  Paramount  Build- 
ing in  the  heart  of  Times 
Square. 

■  ■ 

The  other  day  Soviet  officials 
presented  the  Academy  an  al- 
bum of  stills  from  Russian  films 
made  under  pressures  of  war. 
Gregor  Irsky,  chief  engineer  of 
the  film  industry,  was  the  honor 
guest.    In  gingerly  English,  he 


apologized  for  his  unfamiliar  ity 
with  the  language.  "I  have 
spend  too  much  time  in  Brook- 
lyn area,"  was  his  excuse. 

One  of  the  films  was  made  in 
Georgia.  "You  know,"  kidded 
Walter  Wanger,  "where  Frank 
Freeman  came  from." 

■  ■ 

The  Emergency  Committee  of 
Hollywood  Guilds  and  Unions, 
organizing  a  mass  meeting  to 
formalize  a  campaign  to  offset 
unwarranted  industry  attacks, 
including  that  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Alliance,  cannot  meet  at 
the  American  Legion  Stadium. 
"Controversial,"  ruled  stadium 
policjr-makers. 

"Controversial  ?  And  those 
slugging  matches  held  every 
Friday  evening  in  the  stadium 
aren't?",  was  one  sarcastic  re- 
action. 

■  ■ 

On  the  "Here  Come  the 
Waves"  set  at  Paramount.  Ac- 
tion calls  for  arm  chair  maneu- 
vers with  Bing  Crosby  and 
Sonny  Tufts  the  strategists. 
They  are  moving  blocks  of 
sugar  to  illustrate  a  campaign. 
The  scene  blows  up  over  the 
line,  "What's  that  big  hole  do- 
ing there  ?"  Bing  ad  libs, 
"That's  where  W7allis  dropped 
in." 

It  was  recorded,  then  played 
back  later  for  general  laughs. 
Including  Buddy  De  Sylva's. 

■  '  ■ 

Hollywood  has  learned  there 
is  no  monopoly  on  touching  the 
emotions  with  dramatics.  Native 
sons,  by  professional  identifica- 
tion anyway,  did  the  acting,  but 
outsiders  wrote  the  stirring 
"Balance  Sheet  of  America  on 
D-Day,"  which  was  a  highlight 
of  the  war  loan  ceremonies  at 
the  Hollywood  Bowl. 

The  job  was  done,  complete, 
by  a  Treasury  Department  staff 
out  of  the  East.  Peter  Lyon 
on  the  script;  Paul  Stewart,  ad- 
vertising man,  produced  and  di- 
rected; David  Boerckman  wrote 
and  conducted  the  music.  It 
was  completely  on  the  beam. 

■  ■ 

No  communiques  on  this  yet. 
It's  too  early.  But  on  the  same 
train,  Eastbound  for  Chicago 
and  the  Republican  National 
Convention  today,  were  Louella 
O.  Parsons  and  Hedda  Hopper. 

Regular  Army  troops  are 
protecting  the  Santa  Fe's  right 
of  way.  All  bridges  are  under 
protection.  Lime  ammunition 
has  been  issued.  Gas  masks, 
too. 


Hearing  Today  on 
New  Prefect  Trial 


New  Haven,  June  20. — Aguments 
will  be  presented  before  Judge  Car- 
roll Hincks  in  Federal  District  Court 
here  this  afternoon  in  Prefect  Thea- 
tres' motion  for  a  new  trial  of  its  $5,- 
542,575  triple  damage  anti-trust  suit 
against  a  number  of  distributors.  Saul 
Rogers  will  represent  the  plaintiffs, 
basing  his  plea  on  a  letter  allegedly  f 
written  to  a  juror  by  the  judge  fol-  , 
lowing  dismissal  of  the  case  April  14. 
Joseph  Berry  for  the  defense  will  op- 
pose granting  of  the  motion. 

The  hearing  on  the  motion,  which 
was  filed  several  weeks  after  the  end 
of  the  trial  by  Raymond  E.  Hackett, 
attorney  of  record  for  Prefect,  has 
been  held  up  until  now  by  a  trip  to 
Arizona  taken  by  Judge  Hincks,  who 
was  called  there  by  the  illness  of  his 
mother. 

The  Prefect  suit  charged  the  dis- 
tributors with  conspiracy  to  deprive 
the  Pickwick  Theatre,  Greenwich, 
Conn.,  of  product  and  claimed  that 
the  clearance  of  Portchester  and  Stan- 
ford theatres  over  Greenwich  was 
unreasonable.  The  judge's  letter  to 
the  juror,  who  allegedly  claimed  that 
die  case  should  not  have  been  termi- 
nated at  the  close  of  testimony  by 
plaintiffs'  witnesses,  is  said  by  Rogers 
to  have  conceded  that  there  was  evi- 
dence of  conspiracy  but  no  proof  of 
damage. 


NLRB  Turns  Down  3 
Companies'  Appeals 


The  National  Labor  Relations  Board 
in  Washington  has  turned  down  the 
appeals  of  20th  Century-Fox,  Loew's 
and  United  Artists  from  a  regional 
board  decision  here  which  granted  re- 
troactive pay,  job  classifications  and 
arbitration  provisions  to  about  100  of- 
fice workers  employed  in  the  New 
York  film  exchanges  of  the  three  com- 
panies who  are  represented  by  the 
Screen  Office  and  Professional  Em- 
ployes Guild,  Local  109,  CIO. 

The  regional  board's  decision  di- 
rected the  three  companies  to  grant 
the  workers  a  15  percent,  retroactive 
pay  increase  to  May,  1943,  and  addi- 
tional retroactivity;  to  work  out  job 
classifications  with  minimum  and  max- 
imum wage  scales  within  30  days ;  and 
to  submit  all  disputes  to  arbitration  by 
the  State  Board  of  Mediation. 

SOPEG  disclosed  here  yesterday 
that  it  plans  to  file  for  a  State  Labor 
Relations  Board  election  covering  the 
office  workers  of  Republic's  New 
York  exchange.  These  workers  were 
previously  represented  by  the  IATSE 
Local  B-51  but  their  contract  expired 
last  November. 


20th  Club  Picnic  Today 

Twentieth-Fox  employees  and  guests 
will  spend  today  at  Bear  Mountain 
on  the  annual  "Family  Club"  picnic. 
Among  company  officials  who  are 
scheduled  to  attend  are  Spyros 
Skouras,  Tom  Connors,  W.  J.  Kupper, 
W.  C.  Gehring,  W.  C.  Michel,  Hal 
Home  and  others. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  WillirTi  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove.  Fm 
moving  into  the  Astor  June  27th 
for  a  Broadway  splash  following 
your  four  wonderful  months. 
You're  the  Astor  champ  now, 
but  watch  me,  soldier  boy,  I'm 
going  to  outstrip  your  records!" 


"Urn  -m-m*m  !  Wish 
I  could  stick  around 
to  see  .those  Astor  fig- 
ares.  They'll  be  love* 
lier  than  ever  now!" 


''BATHING  BEAUTY"  starring  Red  Skelton  with  Esther  Williams,  Basil  Rathbone,  Bill  Goodwin, 
Ethel  Smith,  Jean  Porter,  Carlos  Ramirez,  Harry  James  and  his  Music  Makers  with  Helen  Forrest, 
Xavier  Cugat  and  his  Orchestra  with  Lina  Romay.  Photographed  in  Technicolor.  Screen  Play  by 
Dorothy  Kingsley,  Allen  Boretz  and  Frank  Waldman.  Adaptation  by  Joseph  Schrank.  Directed 
by  George  Sidney.  Produced  by  Jack  Cummings.  A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  Picture. 


"Never  Stop  Till  You're  Over  The  Top!   Fighting  Fifth  War  Loan!" 


4 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Wednesday,  June  21,  1944 


Review 


"Sensations  of  1945" 

(Andrew  Stone-United  Artists) 

XHIBITORS  can  invite  their  patrons  to  relax  and  enjoy  themselves 
when  they  show  Andrew  Stone's  "Sensations  of  1945."  The  picture 
is  a  beguiling  collection  of  variety  acts,  music,  songs,  dancing,  comedy 
and  romance,  dependent  upon  and  part  of  an  amusing  and  credible 
enough  story.  Studded  with  names  enough  to  catch  the  eye  and  interest 
of  most  of  those  who  read  the  legends  of  the  marquees,  it  is  entertain- 
ment tailor-made  for  the  hot  months  and  after. 

"Sensations'  "  story  has  to  do  with  the  taking  over  of  an  old-line 
Broadway  publicity  organization  by  Eleanor  Powell,  as  a  dancer  with  a 
keen  sense  for  staging  sensational  stunts  which,  while  they  may  victimize 
others,  seldom  fail  either  to  put  her  own  name  on  the  first  pages  of  the 
papers  or  to  make  her  purse  a  little  heavier  with  the  long  green.  Eugene 
Pallette  is  the  founder  of  the  publicity  organization  which  has  been 
turned  over  to  his  son,  Dennis  O'Keefe,  whose  scruples  are  strong 
enough  to  keep  him  from  indulging  in  the  type  of  sensationalism  for 
which  Miss  Powell  has  such  a  flair.  The  situation  keeps  them  at  log- 
gerheads until  the  end  of  the  story,  when  romance  triumphs,  as  it  has 
been  known  to  do  before. 

The  varied  entertainment  which  comprises  most  of  the  picture  is  intro- 
duced, logically  enough,  by  means  of  the  various  entertainment  enter- 
prises which  Miss  Powell  and  O'Keefe,  jointly  or  separately,  undertake 
to  "put  over"  through  publicity.  These  enterprises  bring  onto  the  scenes 
Woody  Herman's  and  Cab  Calloway's  bands  and  the  persons  of  Sophie 
Tucker,  W.  C.  Fields,  Sir  C.  Aubrey  Smith,  Mimi  Forsythe,  Lyle  Talbot, 
Hubert  Castle,  Dorothy  Donegan  and  many  others. 

Among  the  acts  are  the  Pallenberg  bicycle-riding  bears,  Starless 
Night,  the  dancing  horse ;  the  Cristianis,  The  Les  Paul  Trio,  the  Cope- 
lands,  Mel  Hall,  Gene  Rodgers  and  the  Johnson  Brothers,  all  good  at 
their  own  specialties,  which  range  from  tight-rope  walking,  expert  roller 
skating  and  gymnastics  to  good  singing,  body  bruising  dancing  and 
comedy.    A  piano  duet  by  members  of  the  Calloway  band  is  a  high  spot. 

Stone  produced  and  directed  from  Frederick  Jackson's  original  story 
and  Stone's  and  Dorothy  Bennett's  screenplay.  Al  Sherman  provided 
the  music  and  Harry  Tobias  the  lyrics.  The  chorus  has  quality  and 
quantity  and  sets  and  costumes  are  optical  nourishment. 

Running  time,  86  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date  June  30. 

Sherwin  Kane. 


Coast 
Flashes 

Hollyivood,  June  20 

LESTER  COWAN  has  added  Capt. 
Burgess  Meredith  and  Major  John 
Huston  to  his  staff  of  eight  technical 
advisers  who  are  aiding  him  on  the 
script  of  "G.I.  Joe,"  which  will  be 
released  by  United  Artists. 

• 

Warners  will  co-star  Dennis  Morgan 
and  Jane  Wyman  in  "Honeymoon 
Freight,"  and  will  star  Ann  Sheridan 
in  "A  Night  at  Tony  Pastor's,"  with 
Jerry  Wald  producing  the  latter. 
Both  are  indicated  for  next  season's 
release.  W.  R.  Frank's  next  produc- 
tion will  be  "L'Affaire  La  Farge," 
based  on  a  century-old  French  murder 
mystery 

• 

Edward  L.  Alperson  announced 
upon  his  arrival  here  today  that  he 
had  secured  the  rights  to  Somerset 
Maugham's  "The  Razor's  Edge." 
Film  will  follow  "Sheppey  Goes  to 
Heaven"  and  "Television  Parade,"  a 
musical,  both  of  which  will  have 
United  Artists  release. 

The  Screen  Directors  Guild  board 
will  meet  tonight  to  draft  a  standard 
contract  for  submission  to  producers 
as  a  replacement  for  the  individual 
type  pacts  now  in  effect  at  the  various 
studios. 

• 

Ann  Sheridan  has  been  set  for 
Warners'  "A  Night  at  Tony  Pas- 
tor's," which  will  get  under  way  on 
her  return  from  a  USO  tour.  Jerry 
Wald  is  preparing  the  production. 
• 

The  War  Finance  Committee  here 
reported  today  that  Warner  and  Uni- 
veral  employee  war  bond  purchases 
approximate  $125,000  at  each  studio 
so  far. 

B.  P.  Fineman  has  severed  his  con- 
nection with  Vanguard  after  eleven 
months,  during  which  he  produced  one 
war  short. 

Robert  Z.  Leonard  has  been  given 
an  associate  producership  by  M-G-M 
in  recognition  of  20  years'  service  with 
the  studio. 

• 

Alfred  De  Liagre,  producer  of  "The 
Voice  of  the  Turtle,"  arrived  today  to 
negotiate  the  play's  film  rights. 
• 

Benjamin  Kalmenson,  Warner  gen- 
eral sales  manager,  arrived  from  New 
York  today. 

• 

Lynn  Bari's  contract  has  been  ex- 
tended a  year  by  20th-Fox. 


RKO  Libel  SuitDismissed 

Boston,  June  20. — Three  libel  suits, 
asking  for  $600,000,  instituted  against 
RKO  by  Mrs.  Minna  Wright  of  Fall 
River  and  her  son  and  daughter,  have 
been  dismissed  in  Federal  Court  in 
a  decision  by  Judge  George  C. 
Sweeney.  The  Wrights  charged  that 
the  characters  portrayed  in  RKO's 
"Primrose  Path"  libelled  her  family 
and  injured  her  reputation.  In  dis- 
missing the  suit  Judge  Sweeney  stated 
that  there  was  no  evidence  to  prove 
the  identity  of  the  characters  in  the 
film. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 

Legion  Objects  to  3, 
Passes  10  Others 

The  Legion  of  Decency  this  week 
classified  three  features  in  Class  B, 
objectionable  in  part,  and  approved 
10.  Universal's  "The  Invisible  Man's 
Revenge"  was  objected  to  because 
there  is  "No  retribution  for  crime" ; 
United  Artists'  "Sensations  of  1945," 
is  held  to  contain  "suggestiveness  in 
song  and  dance,"  and  UA's  "Summer 
Storm"  gives  "in  story  treatment  un- 
due emphasis  on  immorality." 

In  Class  A-l,  unobjectionable  for 
general  patronage,  are  M-G-M's  "An 
American  Romance" ;  PRC's  "Brand 
of  the  Devil"  and  "Fuzzy  Settles 
Down" ;  Monogram's  "Raiders  of  the 
Border" ;  Republic's  "Secrets  of 
Scotland  Yard,"  and  Clasa-Mohme's 
Spanish  "Virgin  que  Forjo  una  Pa- 
tria,"  (The  Saint  that  Forged  a  Coun- 
try). 

In  Class  A-2,  unobjectionable  for 
adults,  are  Universal's  "Christmas 
Holiday"  ;  United  Artists'  "The  Hairy 
Ape" ;  Monogram's  "Return  of  the 
Ape  Man,"  and  Columbia's  "They 
Live  in  Fear." 


Pitts'  4th  Under  Way 

Suffolk,  Va.,  June  20. — The  War 
Production  Board  has  granted  Pitts 
Amusement  Corp.  authorization  to 
complete  the  construction  of  a  theatre 
on  North  Main  street. 

Construction  was  begun  just  prior 
to  the  outbreak  of  the  war.  When 
completed  it  will  give  Suffolk  four 
theatres. 


Hamilton's  Final 
Dividend,  $25.35 

Toronto,  June  20. — -Hamilton  Uni- 
ted Theatres,  purchased  by  a  Nathan- 
son  company,  has  declared  a  final 
dividend  of  $25.35  on  the  preferred 
shares,  payable  June  30  at  which  time 
proceeds  from  the  assets  of  the  com- 
pany will  be  distributed  to  holders  of 
preferred  and  common  stock,  accord- 
ing to  notice  issued  by  T.  J.  Bragg 
of  Toronto,  secretary. 

The  assets  of  the  company,  com- 
prising the  Palace  and  Capitol 
Theatres  at  Hamilton,  Ont.,  have  been 
bought  by  Theatre  Properties  (Ham- 
ilton), Paul  Nathanson  president. 
The  theatres  are  leased  to  Odeon. 


Leigh  Starts  'Caesar* 

London,  June  20. — Through  an  ar- 
rangement with  David  O.  Selznick  in 
the  United  States,  Vivien  Leigh  will 
play  the  lead  in  George  Bernard 
Shaw's  $2,500,000  film,  "Caesar  and 
Cleopatra,"  being  produced  by  Ga- 
briel Pascal  here.  The  film,  to  be 
released  through  United  Artists,  is 
probably  the  "most  expensive  picture 
ever  produced  in  Britain."  Claude 
Rains  will  handle  the  role  of  Caesar. 


Schectman  Appointed 

.  Ben  Schectman  has  been  appointed 
to  the  staff  of  A.  W.  Schwalberg, 
eastern  representative  of  International 
Pictures.  His  initial  effort  will  be  on 
"Casanova  Brown,"  International's 
first  production. 


Hollywood 


By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  20 

WITH  the  lending  of  Roy  Rogers 
to  Warners  for  a  guest-star  ap- 
pearance in  "Hollywood  Canteen," 
Republic  duplicates  a  step  taken  some 
years  ago  in  behalf  of  Gene  Autry 
with  impressive  results.  The  studio 
lent  its  then  No.  One  cowboy  star  to 
20th  Century-Fox  for  a  co-starring 
role  in  a  Jane  Withers  picture,  thus 
placing  him  on  a  large  number  of 
screens  across  which  he  had  not  ridden 
before  and  in  front  of  audiences  not 
accustomed  to  following  Western 
heroes.  In  the  next  year's  Motion 
Picture  Herald-Fame  poll  of  exhibi- 
tors, Gene  Autry  rose  from  his  No. 
One  rank  in  the  Western  star  divi- 
sion to  a  place  among  the  top  10  in  the 
all-picture  classification.  In  addition 
to  his  appearance  in  "Hollywood  Can- 
teen," Roy  Rogers  is  to  do  a  guest- 
stint  in  his  own  studio's  "Brazil,"  the 
two  bringing  him  to  the  screen  in  10 
pictures  next  year  instead  of  the  eight 
which,  for  the  past  three  years,  it  has 
been  his  custom  to  make. 

• 

Six  former  actors  now  in  the 
Army  will  return  to  the  screen  in 
line  of  duty  to  take  part  in  "Winged 
Victory,"  which  Darryl  Zanuck  is 
producing  at  20th  Century-Fox. 
They  are  Mark  Daniels,  Edmund 
O'Brien,  Don  Taylor,  Lon  McAllis- 
ter, Barry  Nelson  and  Rune  Halt- 
man.  .  .  .  The  board  of  governors  of 
the  Academy  of  M.  P.  Arts  and  Sci- 
ences has  decided  to  replace  the  'er- 
satz' Oscars  awarded  during  the 
past  two  years  with  regular  gold 
Oscars  as  soon  as  the  current  short- 
age of  metal  permits.  Money  to  be 
used  for  this  purpose  has  been  put 
in  escrow  by  the  Academy.  .  .  .  Ed- 
ward Small  is  looking  for  a  story 
to  serve  as  a  vehicle  for  J.  Carroll 
Naish  under  a  new  two-picture  deal 
with  the  actor. 

• 

"The  Second  Cabinet  of  Dr.  Cali- 
gari,"  announced  as  the  second  of  two 
pictures  which  Erich  Pommer  has  been 
engaged  to  produce  for  Producers 
Corp.  of  America,  looms  as  one  of  the 
more  tangible  items  in  the  train  of 
extra-normal  films  in  the  lengthening 
chain  of  departures  from  the  here- 
and-now  norm  of  production.  The 
original  "Caligari,"  also  produced  by 
Pommer,  had  the  arty  addicts  of  the 
screen  standing  on  their  ears  and  the 
plain  people  fascinated,  mostly  to  the 
profit  of  the  project.  This  history 
stacks  up  as  ready-made  interest  in 
the  new  picture,  which  Producer  Pom- 
mer quite  obviously  can  make  a  good 
deal  more  fantastic  than  the  first  one. 

War  Activities  Sets 
Two  July  Releases 

Among  films  to  be  released  within 
the  next  month  by  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  in  the  War  Informa- 
tion Films  series  are  "Liberation  of 
Rome,"  a  War  Department  production 
scheduled  to  be  released  by  M-G-M 
on  July  13,  and  "Battle  Stations," 
produced  by  Garson  Kanin,  to  be  dis- 
tributed by  20th-Fox  starting  July  27. 

Also  set  for  release  are  "film  bul- 
letins," to  be  attached  to  newsreels, 
including  "Victory  Vacations,"  out  to- 
day ;  "Last  Furlough,"  to  be  distribut- 
ed July  20  and  "Prepare  for  Winter," 
set  for  Aug.  3. 


r. 


co-starring 

AM 


wnh  JEFF  DONNELL  •  ISH  KABIBBLE  •  GEORGIA  CARROLL 
HARRY  BABBITT  •  SULLY  MASON  •  DIANE  PENDLETON 

and  KAY  KYSER'S  BAND 

Screen  play  by  Joseph  Hoffman  and  Al  Martin  •  Produced  by  SAMUEL  BISCHOFF  •  Directed  by  LEIGH  JASON 


Wednesday,  June  21,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


9 


Unaffiliated  Exhibitors  May 
Join  Allied;  Stern  at  Meet 


Rose  Forecasts 
Postwar  Boom 
In  Film  Industry 


Only  'Jeep'  Makes 
Grade  in  Toronto 


Toronto,  June  20. — "Four  Jills  in 
a  Jeep"  had  a  slight  edge  among  first- 
runs  with  an  expected  $12,800  at 
Shea's  Theatre. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  22 : 

"Escape  to  Danger"  (British) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

■X  EGLINTON—  (1,086)  (18c -30c -48c -60c)  6 
lays,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $3,000.  (Average: 

Ai.oco;. 

"The  Sullivans"  (ZOth-Fox) 

s  IMPERIAL— (3,373)  (18c -30c -42c -60c -90c)  6 
days.  Gross:  $12,300.  (Average:  $12,800). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 
"Spider  Woman"  (Univ.) 

LOEWS — (2,074)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-78c)  6 
days,  2nd  week.    Gross:  $10,700.  (Average: 
'  $11,200). 

"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (Z0th-Fox) 

SHEA'S— (2,480)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $12,800.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Lady  in  the  Dark"  (Para.) 
"Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid?'  (Para.) 

TIVOLI— (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $3,900.     (Average:  $4,400). 
"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 
"Weird  Woman"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,761)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:  $9,300.     (Average:  $9,800). 

Rank  Extends  Control 
Of  British  Films 

-  (Continued  from  page  1) 

now  approximately  $4  per  share),  will 
be  reduced  to  about  $1,200,000  by  writ- 
ing eight  shillings  ($1.60)  off  each 
ordinary  pound  share.  The  capital 
will  then  be  increased  to  786,000 
pounds  (about  $3,144,000)  of  12-shil- 
ling  shares  ($2.40)  by  further  rear- 
rangements providing  for  an  inter- 
change of  shares  between  Rank's  D. 
and  P.  Studios,  Ltd.  (controlling  Den- 
ham  and  Pinewood  studios)  and  B. 
and  D.,  with  Rank  and  others  affili- 
ated with  him  joining  the  British  and 
Dominions  board  of  directors. 

Rank  later  will  form  a  new  com- 
pany, to  be  known  as  Denham  and 
Pinewood  Holdings,  Ltd.,  which  will 
hold  a  majority  of  British  and  Do- 
minions shares,  thus  controlling  Den- 
ham, Pinewood  and  B.  and  D.  Ellstree 
studios. 

The  reorganization  is  dependent 
upon  acceptance  at  B.  and  D.'s  annual 
meeting  on  July  11,  but  this  is  under- 
stood to  be  already  assured.  The  com- 
pany's studios  at  Ellstree  were  built  in 
1928  and  are  now  operating  under  gov- 
ernment requisition  for  war  filming. 
B.  and  D.  shares  have  not  paid  a  divi- 
dend since  1934. 


'Cliff $21,000  Is 
$4,400  Over  Par 

Buffalo,  June  20. — "The  White 
Cliffs  of  Dover"  was  the  big  grosser 
here.  It  will  probably  hit  $21,000  to 
lead  by  a  wide  margin.  "Song  of  the 
Open  Road"  was  a  surprise  hit  at  the 
20th  Century  and  will  do  a  good  $13,- 
500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  24: 

"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 
"Slightly  Terrific"  (Univ.) 

BUFFALO— (3,489)      (40c-50c-60c-7Cc)  7 
days.     Gross:  $13,400.     (Average:  $17,400). 
"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES—  (3,000)   (40c -50c -60c -70c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $21,000.    (Average:  $16,600). 
"Roger  Touhy,   Gangster"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Hat  Check  Honey"  (Univ.) 

HIPPODROME—  (2,100)     (40c- 50c -60c -70c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $9,700). 
"Song  of  the  Open  Road"  (UA) 
"Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY—  (3,000)  (40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.  Gross:  $13,500.  (Aver- 
age: $12,200). 

"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 
"Is  Everybody  Happy"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE— (3,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days:  $13,400.     (Average:  $12,400). 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

be  discussed  at  this  time  but  did  not 
rule  it  out  as  a  possibility.  He  said 
he  was  in  close  touch  with  exhibitors 
everywhere  and  that,  while  here,  he 
would  discuss  with  Abram  Myers,  na- 
tional Allied  general  counsel,  his  re- 
cent talks  with  L.  S.  Assistant  At- 
torney General  Tom  C.  Clark. 

At  the  convention's  opening  session 
today  Edward  Auger  of  the  Radio 
Corporation  of  America  predicted  that 
satisfactory  television  will  be  available 
within  a  year  after  civilian  manufac- 
ture is  resumed  and  that  the  use  of 
television  in  theatres  will  spread  as 
coaxial  cables  and  radio  relay  systems 
are  developed.  Meanwhile,  he  said, 
theatre  television  in  metropolitan  areas 
can  be  inaugurated  if  exhibitors  will 
invest  in  studio  pickups  by  telephone. 
Auger  outlined  the  War  Production 
Board's  L3-25  order  procedure  for  ob- 
taining equipment,  of  which  he  said 
the  allotment  for  the  balance  of  the 
year  is  substantial.  RCA  is  now  cov- 
ering 24  of  30  television  areas  and, 
bidding  for  postwar  leadership  in  the 
field,  will  soon  offer  complete  equip- 
ment to  all,  Auger  added. 

Lowenstein  Reviews  Year 

New  Jersey  Allied's  president  Harry 
H.  Lowenstein,  reviewing  the  past 
year,  noted  a  Red  Cross  collection  of 
$178,000  in  the  Northern  part  of  the 
state  and  stressed  the  current  waste 
paper  campaign.  War  expenses  and 
home  sacrifices  were  noted  by  Russell 
Britton,  New  Jersey  treasury  deputy 
administrator. 

The  organization's  present  officers 
are  expected  to  be  renominated  today 
by  a  committee  consisting  of  Irving 
Dollinger,  chairman ;  Louis  Gold, 
Harry  Hecht,  David  Snaper,  Lee 
Newburg,  Maurice  Spewack,  Helen 
Hildinger,  Ralph  Wilkins,  Si  Myers 
and  Edward  Lachman.  Other  com- 
mittees scheduled  to  report  are :  reso- 
lutions, George  Gold,  chairman,  Jack 
Unger  and  David  Mate;  grievances, 
Snaper,  Newbury  and  Lachman ;  and 
reception,  Myers,  Newbury,  Hecht  and 
Lachman. 

Lowenstein  claims  that  more  exhib- 
itors are  attending  than  at  any  time 
in  the  past  ten  years.  Myers  is  ex- 
pected to  arrive  in  time  for  the  ban- 
quet Thursday,  as  are  Howard  East- 
wood, acting  governor  of  New  Jer- 
sey; Joseph  Altman,  mayor  of  Atlan- 
tic City,  and  Senators  Frank  Farley 
and  Bruce  Wallace. 

Directors'  Meeting 

Following  today's  business  session, 
the  Allied  Caravan  and  Eastern  re- 
gional directors  held  a  closed  meeting, 
attended  by  Morris  Pouzzner,  Max- 
well Alderman,  Meyer  Levanthal, 
Morris  Bailey,  Harry  Lamont,  Jeanne 
Conery,  Sidney  Samuelson,  Dr.  Mor- 
ris Fishman,  Gold,  Hildinger,  Wil- 
kins, Lachman,  Snaper  and  Lowen- 
stein. They  will  meet  again  tomorrow 
morning  and  report  tomorrow  after- 
noon. 

Among  company  representatives 
present  are  Harry  Kalmine,  Don  Ja- 
cocks  and  Frank  Damis  of  Warners. 

The  following  resolutions  are  ex- 
pected to  be  adopted  tomorrow :  en- 
couraging films  by  independent  pro- 
ducers to  ease  the  tight  picture  situa- 
tion, opposing  distributors'  demands 
that  films  shall  not  be  shown  for  less 


than  admission  prices  set  by  them- 
selves, and  supporting  all  war  activi- 
ties. 


Rodgers  Invokes  Plea 
For  Better  Relations 

Will  iam  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager, 
in  a  message  to  the  New  Jersey  Al- 
lied conference,  declared :  "If,  during 
the  next  20  years  of  our  business  life, 
ours  can  be  the  opportunity  to  serve 
further  and  to  play  our  part  in  the 
stabilization  of  the  industry  and  in  the 
creating  within  the  industry  of  a  bet- 
ter understanding — if,  through  a 
friendly  understanding  of  the  prob- 
lems of  the  industry,  we  can  be  per- 
mitted to  play  our  part  toward  equip- 
ping that  industry  to  serve  the  public 
more  efficiently — then,  indeed,  we  will 
feel  that  we  have  achieved  a  success 
built  on  a  firm  foundation. 

"Certainly,"  he  continued,  "during 
the  past  twenty  years,  the  ethics  of 
the  business  have  made  a  fine  change 
for  the  better.  The  business  has 
grown  up.  Now  we  find  an  indus- 
try concerned  with  better  understand- 
ing, concerned  with  making  the  in- 
vestments of  the  theatre  owners  more 
secure,  and  concerned  with  bringing 
better  pictures  to  the  American  pub- 
lic. We  are  giving  thought,  too,  to 
making  more  secure  our  position  with 
the  public  after  the  war. 

"I  would  certainly  be  most  remiss 
if  I  did  not  use  this  opportunity  to 
compliment  exhibitors  on  the  remark- 
able war  job  the  industry  has  done. 
It  would  not  have  been  possible  to 
come  through  with  flying  colors  in 
war  bond,  Red  Cross  and  other  drives, 
had  it  not  been  for  the  effort  put 
through  by  theatre  owners. 

"I  am  not  unmindful  of  the  fact 
that  this  great  job  was  done  at  a  tre- 
mendous sacrifice,  because,  like  all 
other  industries,  you  have  faced  a  ter- 
rific manpower  problem.  I  am  sure, 
however,  that  you  feel,  as  we  do,  that 
there  is  something  satisfying  in  this 
sacrifice,  knowing  that — permitted  as 
we  have  been  to  carry  on  the  impor- 
tant role  of  entertaining  the  public 
and  the  armed  forces  both  here  and 
abroad — ours  has  been  an  important 
contribution  to  the  peace  ^that  we 
hope  will  come  soon,"  he  concluded. 

John  Golden  Gives 
$100,000  to  Fund 

John  Golden,  theatrical  producer, 
has  established  the  John  Golden  The- 
atre Fund  with  an  initial  grant  of 
$100,000  for  the  benefit  and  cultural 
advancement  of  the  legitimate  theatre, 
according  to  an  announcement  yester- 
day by  Richard  Rodgers,  president  of 
the  Dramatists  Guild. 

The  fund  will  be  administered  by  the 
Foundation  Advisory  Committee  of 
the  Theatre,  of  which  Mr.  Rodgers  is 
chairman.  Subcommittees  will  be  in 
charge  of  carrying  out  the  various 
projects  of  the  fund,  the  first  purpose 
of  which  will  be  to  provide  relief  of 
the  theatre's  needy  in  the  form  of 
loans. 


T.  H.  Druitt  Is  Dead 

T.  Harry  Druitt,  for  more  than  28 
year  executive  secretary  of  The 
Lambs,  died  here  yesterday  at  his 
home.  His  age  was  69. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

ish  Expeditionary  Force  in  1939  with 
its  total  of  three  accompanying  cam- 
eramen against  the  present  invasion 
armies  with  400  cameramen. 

In  England  alone,  Paramount's  En- 
glish manager  declared,  there  are 
11,000,000  more  filmgoers  now  than 
before  the  war.  Rose  said  business 
after  the  war  is  expected  to  go  even 
higher. 

The  rising  interest  in  films  Rose 
attributed  in  part  to  the  fact  that 
they  satisfy  the  people's  curiosity 
about  the  war  better  than  other  media, 
and  with  this  as  a  starting  point,  new 
audiences  are  won  over  to  films  as 
entertainment. 

"British  production  has  developed, 
especially  in  the  last  few  years,"  Rose 
declared.  British  producers,  he  said, 
are  acquiring  the  "knack"  of  making 
pictures  for  the  world  market. 

Rose  revealed  that  he  was  leaving 
for  the  Coast  to  confer  with  Hal 
Wallis  to  work  out  details  of  the  first 
two  features  that  Wallis  will  produce 
in  England  for  Paramount.  As  re- 
ported in  Motion  Picture  Daily  on 
May  26,  Wallis'  deal  with  Paramount 
calls  for  two  to  four  films  annually 
for  Paramount  worldwide  distribution 
for  an  as  yet  undesignated  period. 

Old  Deal  in  Force 

A  deal  made  some  time  ago  by 
Paramount  with  J.  Arthur  Rank  for 
two  pictures  to  be  made  in  England 
by  Paul  Soskin,  Rank  producer,  is 
still  in  force,  despite  the  production- 
distribution  agreement  recently  effect- 
ed by  Spyros  Skouras  between  Rank 
and  20th  Century-Fox,  Rose  said. 
Soskin  will  make  the  films  if  he  can 
obtain  a  cast  and  if  suitable  scripts 
can  be  found,  Rose  stated.  Rank 
and  Paramount  are  to  split  50-50  on 
capital  for  the  productions,  with  Rank 
to  distribute  in  England  and  Para- 
mount the  rest  of  the  world. 

Business  in  London's  West  End  is 
still  off  because  of  the  deep  inroads 
the  invasion  has  made  in  troops 
formerly  stationed  there.  Rose  is  of 
the  opinion  that  the  public  as  a  whole 
will  want  more  serious  films  and  less 
of  satirical  themes.  Serious  films  are 
doing  much  more  business  than  before. 

Rose  discounted  reports  that  the 
British  industry  is  lining  up  Allied 
governments  for  distribution  deals. 
Some  smaller  countries  might  insist 
on  incorporating  in  newsreels  some 
of  their  own  material  such  as  is  being 
done  in  North  Africa,  where  the  De 
Gaullist  French  national  committee 
insists  that  reels  contain  one-third 
local  material. 

Rose  will  leave  for  the  Coast  Fri- 
day and  will  return  to  England  in 
about  six  weeks.  His  present  trip 
was  his  19th  crossing. 

'Wilson9  Campaign 
Planned  in  July 

An  advance  newspaper  campaign 
for  20th-Fox's  "Wilson"  will  start 
early  in  July,  Tom  Connors,  distribu- 
tion vice-president,  announced  this 
week.  In  addition,  a  full-coverage  out- 
door billposting  campaign  is  now  un- 
der way,  with  over  5,000  three-sheets 
already  up.  The  world  premiere  at 
the  Roxy  here  on  Aug.  1  will  be  su- 
pervised by  Hal  Home. 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  21,  1944 


Para.  Stockholders  Vote 
Balaban  'Incentive9  Plan 


'Hitler's  Gang'  Is 
High  on  $14,000 


3,410  'Free  Movie 
Days'  Booked;  4th 
Drive  Total  Topped 

A  total  of  3,410  "Free  Movie  Days" 
have  been  set  to  date  at  theatres  for 
the  "Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan,  al- 
ready surpassing  the  total  for  the 
Fourth  Loan,  national  industry  chair- 
man R.  J.  O'Donnell  announced  here 
yesterday  following  a  report  by  Ned 
E.  Depinet,  national  distributor  chair- 
man. 

Meanwhile,  the  number  of  war  bond 
premieres  jumped  more  than  200  in 
24  hours.  A  count  at  noon  yester- 
day showed  3,870,  representing  some 
700  more  than  were  reported  during 
the  entire  fourth  loan.  In  addition, 
exhibitors  have  set  677  children's  pre- 
mieres, a  type  of  activity  comparative- 
ly new  to  bond  campaigns. 


80,000  at  'Parade  of 
Stars'  in  Chicago 

Chicago,  June  20. — Despite  a 
storm,  80,000  bond  buyers  packed 
Soldiers  Feld  here  last  night  for  the 
"Parade  of  Stars"  sponsored  by  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  committee,  the  Hol- 
lywood Victory  Committee  and  the 
Treasury's  War  Finance  Division. 

In  addition  to  Hollywood  stars  and 
an  Army  Air  Forces  orchestra  who 
are  featured  on  their  tour,  there  were 
200  bluejackets  and  a  Navy  Band. 
With  Jack  Benny  as  master  of  cere- 
monies, the  unit  made  a  special  half- 
hour  coast-to-coast  broadcast  over  the 
Blue  Network,  featuring  Secretary  of 
the  Treasury  Henr-y  Morgenthau,  Jr. 

The  program  also  included  Lynn 
Bari,  Orson  Welles,  Lana-  Turner, 
Paul  Lukas,  Rochester,  Susanna  Fos- 
ter, Paul  Whiteman,  Oscar  Levant, 
Eileen  Woods,  Lt.  William  Holden, 
Pvt.  John  Payne  and  Ray  Bolger. 

The  troupe  will  appear  in  Atlantic 
City  Wednesday. 


$17,50€,000  Sale  Due 
At  Houston  Fights 

Houston,  Tex.,  June  20. — With 
nearly  $15,000,000  of  an  expected  $17,- 
500,000  in  war  bonds  already  set,  this 
city  is  ready  for  its  "Texas  Cham- 
pionship Boxing  Show"  tomorrow  at 
the  Sam  Houston  Coliseum,  accord- 
ing to  Al  Lever,  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee area  chairman. 

Lt.  Commander  Jack  Dempsey  of 
the  U.  S.  Coast  Guard  will  referee  a 
number  of  the  bouts,  as  will  Lou 
Nova  and  Juan  Zurita,  boxing  cham- 
pion of  Mexico.  All  fighters  will  be 
service  men,  with  the  main  bout  be- 
tween Al  Hostak  and  Glenn  Lee, 
Pacific  Coast  champion. 

The  Houston  Elks  Club  has  fur- 
nished more  than  $3,500  for  expenses 
of  the  fighters  and  referees,  and  a 
special  section  of  the  Coliseum  has 
been  set  aside  for  Texas  war  heroes. 

Disney  Lists  4  Live 
And  Cartoon  Films 

Hollywood,  June  20. — Walt  Disney, 
returning  here  today  from  his  vaca- 
tion in  New  York,  signed  Dinah  Shore 
for  a  role  in  "Swing  Street"  and  dis- 
closed his  intention  to  film  "Uncle 
Remus,"  "Cinderella,"  "Alice  in  Won- 
derland" and  "Sword  in  the  Storm" 
as  combination  live-action  and  cartoon 
features  aimed  at  the  postwar  market. 
The  producer  set  no  dates  for  these 
but  contemplates  one  to  three  features 
every  two  years. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

and  general  counsel,  presided  at  the 
meeting. 

The  stockholders  voted  down  three 
proposals  advanced  by  James  Fuller, 
minority  holder,  of  Hartford,  which 
would  have  made  it  obligatory  that  10 
of  the  Paramount  board  of  directors 
be  outsiders  not  connected  with  the  cor- 
poration ;  which  would  have  made  it 
necessary  to  appoint  special  auditors 
to  inquire  into  corporation  accounting ; 
and  which  would  have  obligated  the 
corporation  to  render  a  stenographic 
transcript  of  proceedings  of  annual 
stockholders'  meetings  to  all  stock- 
holders. The  Paramount  management 
opposed  all  three  resolutions  as  such 
but  Balaban  indicated  that  the  com- 
pany will  furnish  stockholders  with  a 
copy  of  his  annual  report  delivered  at 
the  meeting  as  well  as  a  summary  of 
the  proceedings.  It  was  also  decided 
that  a  regular  appointment  of  Price, 
Waterhouse  &  Co.  as  Paramount's  au- 
ditors should  be  made  yearly  rather 
than  proceed  on  the  assumption  that 
such  an  appointment  was  unnecessary 
Board  Reelected 

The  stockholders  re-elected  the  pres- 
ent board  of  directors  to  serve  for  an- 
other year,  as  follows :  Balaban,  Ste- 
phen Callaghan,  Y.  Frank  Freeman, 
Harvey  D.  Gibson,  Leonard  H.  Gold- 
enson,  A.  Conger  Goodyear,  Stanton 
Griffis,  Duncan  G.  Harris,  John  D. 
Hertz,  John  W.  Hicks,  Jr.,  Keough, 
Earl  L.  McClintock,  Maurice  New- 
ton, E.  V.  Richards,  Edwin  L.  Weisl 
and  Adolph  Zukor. 

In  his  report  to  stockholders  at  the 
meeting,  Balaban  estimated  that  Para- 
mount's profit  for  the  second  quarter 
of  1944  would  exceed  the  $3,827,000 
net  for  the  same  quarter  in  1943. 
"There  has  been  a  levelling  off  of 
Paramount  income  during  June,  how- 
ever," he  said,  attributing  this  to  warm 
weather.  "Income  from  film  rentals 
will  follow  the  general  trend  of  the 
box  office,"  he  said  in  discussing  pos- 
sible recessions  in  business. 
Owns  50%  of  Wallis 

"Paramount  owns  50  percent  of  the 
stock  in  the  re,cently-formed  Hal  Wal- 
lis independent  production  unit,"  Bala- 
ban disclosed.  He  said  that  Para- 
mount has  definite  plans  to  figure  in 
film  production  in  England  and  that 
Wallis  figures  prominently  in  these 
plans. 

Balaban  estimated  that  Paramount 
is  now  receiving  between  16  and  17 
percent  of  its  previous  30  percent  rev- 
enue before  the  war  from  foreign 
markets.  Future  operations  in  coun- 
tries which  are  freed  from  Axis  domi- 
nation will  add  between  12  and  15 
percent  to  Paramount's  world  income, 
he  said. 

"Television  will  add  to  the  attrac- 
tion of  theatres,"  Balaban  said.  The 
company  has  an  interest  in  a  process 
which  enables  it  to  take  telecasts  off 
the  air  and  put  it  on  film  which  will 
enable  it  to  bring  an  event  telecast  to 
the  theatre  screen  within  several  min- 
utes, he  pointed  out.  "Paramount  has 
a  44  percent  interest  in  DuMont  Tele- 
vision and  a  substantial  interest  in 
Scophony,"  he  said,  adding,  "Televi- 
sion will  have  a  pronounced  effect  on. 
the  entertainment  field." 

Balaban  disclosed  that  the  company's 
"For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls,"  which 
has  only  played  about  700  advanced- 
price  theatre  engagements,  has  already 


paid  off  its  negative  cost.  He  ex- 
plained that  the  company  is  rushing 
"Frenchmen's  Creek"  into  early  re- 
lease in  line  with  the  policy  of  keep- 
ing negative  inventories  as  low  as  pos- 
sible to  guard  against  any  possible  re- 
cessions. The  film  will  follow  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  into  the  Rivoli 
here. 

"Paramount  in  its  post-war  thinking 
is  giving  serious  consideration  to  mak- 
ing visual-education  films  for  use  in 
educational  fields,"  Balaban  said, 
pointing  to  the  wide  use  of  such  films 
by  the  Armed  Forces  during  the  war. 

Balaban  read  a  note  from  the  late 
Secretary  of  the  Navy  Frank  Knox 
paying  tribute  to  Paramount  for  the 
donation  of  the  facilities  of  the  Bala- 
ban and  Katz  television  station  in  Chi- 
cago for  training  Navy  personnel  in 
radio  and  radar  work.  "Paramount  is 
continuing-  to  pay  the  cost  for  the  up- 
keep of  the  station  which  amounts  to 
several  hundred  thousand  dollars  a 
year,"  Balaban  said. 

UA  Reelects  Raftery 
And  Other  Officers 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

ment  of  Walter  Gould  as  foreign 
manager,  and  Lou  Pollock  as  director 
of  advertising  and  publicity.  "The 
board  also,  approved  the  acquisition 
of  two  highly  important  production 
assets  in  property  and  personality  to 
be  disclosed  as  quickly  as  formal  con- 
tracts are  signed,"  said  Raftery. 

It  was  also  disclosed  by  Raftery 
that  henceforth  the  board  will  meet 
on  the  second  Tuesday  of  each  month, 
the  next  meeting  being  scheduled  for 
July  11.  "Prior  to  the  next  meeting, 
members  of  the  board  will  study  plans 
for  long  range  development  within 
the  company,  such  as  the  possibility 
of  acquiring  theatres  in  the  United 
States  and  abroad  as  well  as  new 
studio  facilities  and  any  other  forms 
of  expansion  consistent  with  the  ag- 
gressive and  constructive  development 
agreed  upon,"  said  the  company  state- 
ment. 

Board  members  attending  yester- 
day's meeting  were :  E.  Claude  Mills, 
Rex  Dennant,  Sears,  Raftery,  Bag- 
nall,  Neil  W.  Agnew,  Isaac  Penny- 
packer  and  Charles  P.  Blinn. 

WMC  Assures  WAC 
On  Suppy  of  Labor 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

pinet  of  the  WAC  distributors'  divi- 
sion and  A.  A.  Schubart,  RKO  ex- 
change head. 

It  was  made  clear  that  there  is  no 
intention  on  the  part  of  the  WMC 
to  destroy  any  activity  but  that  the 
importance  of  motion  pictures  in  the 
war  effort  is  fully  realized.  The 
WAC  representatives  were  told  that 
the  film  industry  may  be  given  a  high 
priority  locally,  the  level,  of  course, 
depending  upon  local  conditions. 

All  applications  for  assistance 
should  be  laid  before  the  regional  of- 
ficials of  the  WMC,  where  each  local 
situation  will  be  considered  with 
reference  to  the  industry's  relationship 
to  other  industries.  Members  of  the 
WMC  expressed  confidence  that  local 
priority  committees  can  be  expected 
to  be  liberal  and  to  recognize  the  im- 
portance of  maintaining  film  exchange 
activities. 


St.  Louis,  June  20. — Temperatures 
in  the  high  90' s  cut  grosses  at  first- 
runs  here  this  week. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  21 : 

"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (20th-Fox) 
"Ladies  of  Washington"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FOX— (5,038)  (40c-50c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$14,500.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Black  Parachute"  (Col.)  I 

LOEWS     STATE— (3,162)  (40c-50c-60c- 
65c)    7  days,   2nd   week.      Gross:  $13,500. 
(Average:  $18,900). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"The  Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

AMBASSADOR — (3,154)    (40c-50c-60c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $15,700). 
"The  Hitler  Gang"  (Para.) 
"Gambler's  Choice"  (Para.) 

MISSOURI— (3,514)   (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $14,0CO.     (Average:  $9,900). 
"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"She's  a  Soldier,  Too"  (Col.) 

LOEWS  ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (40c-50c- 
60c-65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $7,000.  (Average: 
$7,100). 

"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 
"Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid"  (Para.) 

SHUBERT — (1,900)    (40c-50c-60c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $6,100). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 
"Four  Jills  in  a  Jeep"  (ZOth-Fox) 

ST.  LOUIS— (4,000)  (45c-50c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.      (Average:  $5,200). 

Decree  Draft  Is  Due 
In  Washington  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

advised  that  the  proposals  are  on  the 
way,  and  they  are  expected  to  reach 
the  Department  of  Justice  tomorrow 
for  study  by  Robert  L.  Wright,  who 
will  report  to  Clark  when  the  latter 
returns  on  Saturday. 

While  the  Department  is  said  to 
be  without  official  information  of  the 
details  of  the  new  proposals,  it  is 
understood  here  that  the  decree's 
cancellation  provision  has  been  re- 
vised to  five  exhibitors  "a  better 
break"  and  that  some  changes  are 
suggested  in  the  arbitration  provi- 
sions. 

As  reported  Friday  in  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily,  the  distributors'  formula 
proposes  a  minimum  of  20  per  cent 
cancellation  where  average  license 
fees  do  not  exceed  $100  per  picture, 
15  per  cent  from  $101  to  $250,  and  10 
per  cent  from  $251  to  $350. 

It  is  understood  also  that  the  new 
proposals  will  represent  the  limit  to 
which  the  distributors  will  go  in  the 
effort  to  develop  a  satisfactory  consent 
decree  and  that  a  final  decision 
whether  to  accept  a  decree  or  fight  the 
issue  out  in  the  courts  may  be 
reached  next  week. 

UJA  Fund  Appeal 
Is  Launched  Here 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Paramount,  served  as  amusement  divi- 
sion co-chairmen.  B.  S.  Moss,  chair- 
man of  the  luncheon  committee,  pre- 
sided. 

Dr.  Silver  described  the  activities 
of  the  UJA  in  caring  for  refugees.  He 
declared  that  the  opening  of  Palestine 
to  mass  Jewish  immigration  after  the 
war  was  indispensable  to  a  realistic 
solution  of  the  current  problems.  Lucy 
Monroe  and  a  chorus  of  WAVES 
sang  the  National  Anthem. 

Among  those  on  the  dais  were :  Jo- 
seph Bernhard,  Bernstein,  Louis  Nizer, 
Harry  Brandt,  Moss,  Jack  Cohn,  Si 
Fabian,  Sam  Rinzler,  Herman  Rob- 
bins,  George  J.  Schaefer,  Abe  Schneid- 
er, Dr.  Silver,  Maurice  Silverstone, 
Major  Warner,  Malcolm  Kingsberg, 
Bob  O'Donnell,  Joe  Kinsky,  Lou  Wal- 
ters, Oscar  Karlweiss  and  others. 


vVednesday,  June  21,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 

"Halfway  to  Heaven" 

(Paramount) 

That  engaging  pair,  Johnnie  John- 
ston and  Betty  Rhodes  are  reunited 
once  again  in  a  Musical  Parade  fea- 
I  turette  in  color  to  provide  an  enter- 
i  Gaining  19  minutes.     Johnston,  as  a 
I  yrumpet  player,  is  granted  three  wishes 
through  the  medium  of  a  magic  lamp. 
I  ""One  wish  is  for  his  trumpet;  the  sec- 
ond for  a  swanky  nightclub  and  the 
third  is  for  "the  girl."     They  offer 
several  nice  songs  including  the  title 
-song,  "Halfway  to  Heaven."  Oscar 
O'Shea  has  a  straight  role  while  the 
Four  Copelands  and  Ray  Riggs  pro- 
vide variety  entertainment  in  the  night 
club   sequences.      Walter  MacEwen 
produced,  Noel  Madison  directed  and 
Robert  Stephen  Brode  did  the  screen 
play.    Running  time,  19  mins. 


'The  Winner's  Circle' 

(Warners) 

This   will   especially   please  race 
horse  fans.  An  intelligent  treatise  up- 
on the  handling  of  a  race-horse  begin 
ning  with  the  birth  of  "Red,"  a  thor 
oughbred  Kentucky  colt,  "The  Win 
ner's   Circle,"  follows  his  grooming 
for  the  "big  time"  track  through  to 
his  triumph  at  Belmont.     Filmed  in 
rich,  though  pleasantly  subdued,  col- 
or, the  subject  is  presented  interest 
ingly  and  in  a  way  to  make  it  enter- 
taining for  both  young  and  old.  Van 
Campen  Heilner  and  A.  Pam  Blu- 
menthal  produced.     Andrew  De  La- 
Varre  directed.      Running  time,  20 


"We're  on  Our  Way  to 
Rio" 

(Paramount) 

Latest  of  the  Popeye  series  is  in 
color  and  the  locale  is  Rio  de  Janeiro 
where  the  Samba  holds  sway.  Two 
catchy  Latin-American  tunes,  "We*re 
on  Our  Way  to  Rio"  and  "Samba 
LeLei"  enhance  the  short's  attractive- 
ness. Popeye  and  Bluto  compete  for 
Olive  Oyl,  who  turns  up  as  a  Latin 
singer  and  dancer.  Popeye  wins,  but 
not  before  exhibiting  surprising  prow- 
ess at  the  Samba.  Running  time,  8 
mins. 


'Crazy  Like  a  Fox' 

(Columbia) 

Billy  Gilbert,  comedian,  gets  in- 
volved with  an  up-and-coming  press 
agent,  Jack  Xorton,  who  takes  taxi- 
driver  Billy  to  a  hotel,  where  he  gets 
him  to  pose  as  an  Indian  Prince  for 
the  sake  of  a  story.  Billy's  wife 
doesn't  approve  of  the  still-picture 
background  — -  several  glamour  girls 
draped  all  over  "Prince"  Billy.  This 
is  entertaining  film  fare.  Jules  White 
produced  and  directed  from  Elwood 
Ullman's  screenplay.  Running  time, 
18j/£  mins. 

'Russian  Rhapsody' 

(Warners) 

In  this  cleverly  done  cartoon, 
"Adolph  Hitler"  undertakes  to  bomb 
Moscow,  personally.  On  the  way  to 
the  Kremlin,  a  corps  of  gremlins 
climb  aboard  and  what  they  do  to 
Adolph  makes  for  hilarious  entertain- 
ment. Leon  Schlesinger  produced 
Running  time,  7  mins. 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


'Gaslight'  Shines 
In  Phila.  Under 
Bright  $27,200 


MOTION   PICTURE  DAILY  REPORTS 
FIRST  WEEK  0  F  "THE  STORY  OF  DR.  WASSELL ' 

50%  OVER  COMBINED   HOUSE  AVERAGES 
IN  PREMIERE  ENGAGEMENTS  AT 
LOS  ANGELES  AND  HOLLYWOOD 

P  A  R  AMOU  NTS  DE  MILLE  HIT 

STARRI NG  GARY  COOPER    I S 
RUNNING  AHEAD  OF   ROADSHOW  AND 
GRIND  SHOWINGS  OF  "BELL  TOLLS" 
AS   IT  GOES   I NTO  THI RD  WEEK  . 
AT  NEW  YORK  Rl VOLI  . 


Philadelphia,  June  20. — "Gaslight" 
at 'the  Boyd  got  off  to  a  good  start 
pointing  to  $27,200  for  the  week  with 
an  additional  $3,500  already  in  for  a 
dual  Sunday  showing  at  the  Earle. 
Among  other  new  openings,  "The 
Eve  of  St.  Mark"  at  the  Fox  ex- 
pects a  $21,300  gross. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21-23 : 

.-'Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 

ALDIXE — (9GO)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $14,200.  (Average:  $14,600). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

ARCADIA — (600)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average: 
$4,000). 

"Gr.tlight"  (M-G-M) 

BOYD— (3.000)    (40c-45c-5Cc-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $27,200.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"The  Navy  Way"   (Par.)   (6  days) 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M)   (1  day) 

EARLE— (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including  "George  White's 
Scandals,"  with  Master  &  Rollins,  Ming 
Lee  &  Hooshee.  Miriam  LaVelle,  Al  Klein. 
Prcf.  Backwards,  Audrey  Young,  Eddie 
Xelson.  and  Sam  Lewis.  Gross:  $22,000. 
(Average:  $27,600). 
"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FOX— (3,000)     (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
davs.     Gross:  $21,300.     (Average:  $20,500). 
The  Heavenly  Body"  (M-G-M) 
KARLTOX— (1,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  2nd  run.    Gross:  $4,500.  (Av- 
erage: $6,600). 

"The  Hour  Before   Dawn"  (Par.) 

KEITH'S— (2,200)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c) 
7  davs,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $3,500.  (Average: 
$5,800). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (UA) 

MASTBAUM— (4,700) 
85c)  7  davs,  2nd  week, 
erage:  $22,500). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing" 
STAXLEY  —  (3,000) 
85c)  7  davs,  2nd  week, 
erage:  $2O,0CO). 
"Man  From  Frisco"  (Rep.) 

STAXTOX  —  (1,700)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $8,600.  (Average:  $9,400). 


(40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
Gross:  $21,900.  (Av- 

(Par.) 

(40c -45c -50c -65c -75c- 
Gross:  $17,800.  (Av- 


Heat  Contracts  Balto. 
Theatre  Business 

Baltimore,  June  20. — Openings  of 
new  pictures  met  a  torrid  heat  wave 
that  extended  over  the  weekend  and 
proved  a  drawback  to  business. 
Amusement  seekers,  according  to 
theatre  managers,  sought  outdoor 
diversions.  In  the  lead  among  the 
newcomers  is  "And  The  Angels  Sing," 
scoring  an  average  $18,000  at  the 
Stanley. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22 : 

"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 

CEXTL'RY— (3,000)    (35c-45c-55c    and  60c 
weekends)  7  davs.  2nd  week.     Gross:  S16,- 
000.     (Average:  $17,500). 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 

KEITH'S— (2,405)  (35c-4Cc-50c-60c)  7  davs. 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (2Cth-Fox) 

XEW— (1.581)  (30c-40c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$12,500.     (Average:  $13,000). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Par.) 

STAXLEY— (3,280)      (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $18,000.    (Average:  S18.000). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.     Xew  stage  show :  Milt 
Britton  and  his  Musical  Maniacs.  Gross: 
$17,500.     (Average:  $18,000). 
"The   Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

MAYFAIR— (1,000)      (35c-54c)     6  davs. 
Gross:  $5,500.     (Average:  $7,000). 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

YALEXCIA— (1,466)  (35c-45c-_55c  and  60c 
weekends)  7.  days.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Aver- 
age: $5,000). 


Levin  Joins  CTO 

Cleveland,  June  20. — Michael  Levin, 
former  manager  of  the  Jewel  Theatre 
here,  and  Herman  Mandel  have  joined 
Cooperative  Theatres'  bookine  depart- 
ment. Howard  Spies,  former  booker 
with  Cooperative,  has  been  inducted 
into  the  Marine  Corps. 


(MIDNIGHT 

WEETHEART 

ROBffiT  LI VIRBSTOn  and  RUTH  TfflBy. 

HENRY  HULL  GRANT  WITHERS 

THURSTON  HALL  LLOYD  CORRIGAN 

JOSEPH  SANTLEY  —  Director 

:,  {trpal  Stsry  by  Frank  Fentos — Joseph  Hoffman 
ScfMitplj  by  Isabel  Dawn — Jack  Tawaley 

fl     H  £  P  U  B  L  I  C     P  I  C  T  0  «  £ 

JOIN  THE  FIGHTING  FIFTH  WAR  LOIN 


A 

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MOTION  PICTURE 

ifth  aWT^L      ▲       V  TT»  TT  Keep 

War  M    H                 ■       ■        mV  Backing 

Loan  ■    ■  /  m     ■       ■  the 

Drive!  ^mm^Mf  ^m^m.    II       IL^  Invasion! 


VOL.  55-  NO.  122 


NEW  YORK,  U.  S.  A.,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  22,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Permit  Union 
Group  Report 
Of  Finances 


But  Provision  Is  Under 
Study  by  Treasury 

Washington,  June  21. — Inter- 
nal Revenue  Bureau  and  Treasury 
officials  were  revealed  today  to 
have  undertaken  a  sudden  study  of 
the  form  on  which  financial  reports 
must  be  filed  by  unions,  following 
the  disclosure  that  the  form,  first 
made  available  last  Saturday,  permits 
the  making  of  group  returns  by  cen- 
tral, parent  or  like  organizations  for 
their  chartered,  affiliated  or  local 
unions. 

The  form,  "990  Revised,"  was  pre- 
pared last  month,  after  the  unions  had 
been  given  an  extension  from  May 
15  to  Aug.  15  of  time  in  which  to 
file.    As  issued,  it  would  permit  the 

{Continued  on  page  10) 


RKO  Sets  Deal  for 
Singer  Circuit 

A  deal  whereby  RKO  will  acquire 
the  16  theatres  of  the  Mort  H.  Singer 
circuit  in  which  it  now  owns  a  50  per- 
cent interest,  will  be  signed  June  29. 
The  theatres  are  in  Minneapolis, 
Omaha,  New  Orleans,  Waterloo,  Mar- 
shahtown,  Davenport,  Sioux  City, 
Cedar  Rapids  and  Dubuque,  Iowa. 

The  actual  purchase  price  has  not 
been  revealed,  but  it  is  understood  to 
be  small  in  view  of  the  fact  that  RKO 
already  owned  several  of  the  houses 
and  leased  them  to  the  Singer  circuit. 
By  the  terms  of  its  partnership  with 
the  late  Mort  Singer  who  died  early 
this  year,  RKO  had  an  option  to  pur- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Equipment  Supply 
Far  Under  Needs 


Washington,  June  21. — The  War 
Production  Board  today  made  public 
estimates  of  the  Office  of  Civilian  Re- 
quirements of  the  amounts  of  essen- 
tial goods  needed  by  the  civilian 
economy,  showing  that  from  3,625  to 
4,934  units  of  35mm  motion  picture 
equipment  will  be  required  during 
the  coming  quarter,  while  not  more 
than  1,290  units  will  be  produced. 

In  a  letter  to  WPB  chairman  Don- 
ald M.   Nelson,  William  Y.  Elliott, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Convention  Will 
Swell  Chi.  Gross 

Chicago,  June  21. — City  au- 
thorities here  estimate  that 
the  Republican  and  Demo- 
cratic conventions  will  spend 
$5,000,000  while  in  the  city 
during  the  weeks  of  June  26 
and  July  9,  and  at  least  10 
percent  of  that  will  "wind  up 
in  the  box  offices  of  motion 
picture  houses.  Because  of 
the  added  out-of-town  trade 
during  those  weeks,  hold- 
overs will  be  the  rule  in  most 
Loop  houses. 


Labor  Halts 
Coast  Houses 


Washington,  June  21. — War-time 
theatre  construction  on  the  West 
Coast  has  been  seriously  slowed  down 
by  the  manpower  situation  and  a  num- 
ber of  applications  -for  new  houses  in 
congested  defense  areas  have  been  held 
up  by  the  War  Production  Board,  it 
was  learned  here  today. 

Among  the  applications  for  which 
the  WPB  facilities  bureau  is  not  ex- 
pected to  give  the  green  light  until 
the  labor  situation  has  eased  are  those 
of  Fox  West  Coast  Theatres  and  sev- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Bond  Events,  High 
On  Showmanship, 
Bring  Heavy  Sales 


Record  amounts  on  theatre .  "Bond 
Premieres"  continue  to  be  reported  to 
national  "Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan 
headquarters  here,  giving  evidence  of 
unparalleled  showmanship  used  by  ex- 
hibitors in  putting  over  the  events  for 
huge  "grosses."  Typical  of  the  grosses 
were  the  following:  Alexander  Buist, 
manager  of  the  Rialto  Theatre  of  the 
Consolidated  Theatres  circuit  in  West- 
field,  N.  J.,  staged  a  premiere  and 
rally  augmented  by  a  big  stage  show 
and  netted  $1,170,000.  Buist  reported 
that  in  addition  to  the  bonds  sold,  "I 
can  safely  say  that  we  have  more 
friends  today  than  ever  before." 

A  premiere  with  "Lady  in  the 
Dark,"  as  the  attraction  netted  $447,- 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


Decision  Withheld  on 
New  Prefect  Trial 

New  Haven,  June  21. — Judge  Car- 
roll Hincks  in  Federal  District  Court 
here  today  withheld  decision  on  the 
Prefect  Theatres'  motion  for  a  new 
trial  of  its  $5,452,575  anti-trust  suit 
against  a  number  of  distributing  com- 
panies. Lengthy  arguments  were  pre- 
sented this  afternoon  by  Saul  Rogers, 
plaintiffs'  counsel,  in  support  of  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Leo  Roars  Lustily  Today 
On  MGM's  20th  Birthday 


Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  and  Leo 
start  their  20th  anniversary  celebration 
today.  With  it,  practically  every  the- 
atre in  the  country  will  begin  show- 
ing a  feature  or  short  with  the  Leo 
traemark,  in  tribute.  Many  theatres 
will  show  the  company's  anniversary 
picture,  "The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover." 

Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  president  of 
Loew's,  some  years  ago  stated,  "There 
is  nothing  wrong  with  this  business 
that  good  pictures  can't  cure."  It 
was  considered  a  significant  statement 
then,  and  it  still  is  today  in  the  opin- 
ion of  many  prominent  in  the  industry. 

William  F.  Rodgers,  M-G-M's  vice- 
president  and  general  sales  manager, 
now  on  the  Coast  visiting  the  studio, 
declares,  "It  has  always  been  the  ambi- 
tion of  M-G-M  to  deal  fairly.  M-G-M 
today,  has  the  greatest  number  of  ac- 
counts in  its  history."  The  industry 
has  responded  well  to  our  anniversary 
week,  Rodsrers  added. 

"M-G-M's  anniversary  does  not  end 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Schenck  Tribute  to 
MGM  Workers 

"The  20-year  anniversary  of 
M-G-M  would  be  little  more 
than  a  number  if  the  company 
had  not  represented  a  stand- 
ard of  production  and  a  prin- 
ciple of  fair  practice — this  an- 
niversary, then,  is  a  tribute  to 
the  men  and  women  of  oUr 
organization,  and  a  measure 
of  the  tribute  may  be  found 
in  whole-hearted  attitude  of 
theatre  owners,"  Nicholas  M. 
Schenck,  president  of  Loew's, 
declared  yesterday. 

Schenck  also  thanked  the 
thousands  of  exhibitors  who 
during  the  company's  anniver- 
sary week,  starting  today,  will 
present  an  M-G-M  picture  on 
their  screens. 


Allied  Seeks 
More  Decree 
Concessions 


Officers  of  Jersey  Unit 
Are  Reelected 


Atlantic  City,  June  21. — 
Delegates  and  visitors  to  the  an- 
nual convention  of  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New  Jersey  at  the  Ho- 
tel Chealsea  here  today  heard  Abram 
F.  Myers,  general  counsel  and  board 
chairman  of  Allied  States,  warn  con- 
sent decree  companies  that  "price  fix- 
ing combinations  will  bring  down 
their  house  of  cards  upon  them." 

Myers  said  he  had  no  news  on  the 
decree  that  was  not  available  in  the 
trade  press  and  reviewed  what  has 
transpired.  He  said  when  producer- 
distributors   say  the  decree  changes 

(Continued  on  page  10) 


To  Re-Elect  Para. 
Officers,  July  6 


The  newly  re-elected  Paramount 
board  of  directors  will  meet  here,  July 
6,  to  elect  Paramount  officers  for  the 
coming  year. 

Slated  for  re-election  are  Barney 
Balaban,  president ;  Adolph  Zukor, 
chairman  of  the  board ;  Stanton  Griffis, 
chairman  of  the  executive  committee ; 
Y.  Frank  Freeman,  Henry  Ginsberg, 
Leonard  H.  Goldenson,  John  W. 
Hicks,  Jr.,  Austin  C.  Keough  and 
Charles  M.  Reagan,  vice  presidents ; 
Walter  B.  Cokell,  treasurer ;  Keough, 
secretary ;  Norman  Collyer,  Jacob  H. 
Karp  and  Frank  Meyer,  assistant  sec- 
retaries ;  and  Fred  Moh/hardt,  comp- 
troller. 


Warners  Will  Buy 
Schlesinger  Studio 

Warners  will  acquire  the  Leon 
Schlesinger  cartoon  studio  to  operate 
as  a  direct  subsidiary,  effective  July 
1,  under  the  terms  of  a  sale  now  in  its 
finalistic  stage.  The  purchase  for  un- 
disclosed price  includes  all  of  Schles- 
inger's  film  properties  and  rights  but 
excludes  his  by-products  business  con- 
sisting of  cartoon  strips,  books,  etc., 
to  which  he  will  devote  his  future  ac- 
tivities. 

The  Warner  deal  provides  for  the 
appointment   of  the   company's  own 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  22,  1944 


Personal  Mention 


Dietrich  Commends 
Films  at  Front 


Marlene  Dietrich,  film  star  now 
under  contract  to  M-G-M  returned 
to  New  York  this  week  from  a 
10  -  week  tour  of  the  Italian  and 
African  War  Theatres,  under  the  aus- 
pices of  USO-Camp  Shows  and  the 
Hollywood  Victory  Committee,  yes- 
terday reaffirmed  the  importance  of 
films  to  the  morale  of  the  men  on  the 
fighting  lines,  in  a  press  interview  held 
at  USO  headquarters,  8  W.  40th  St. 

Miss  Dietrich,  in  Italy  on  D-Day 
with  the  rest  of  her  comany,  includ- 
ing Milton  Frome,  actor  and  singer; 
Danny  Thomas,  comedian,  Lin  May- 
berry  and  Jack  Snyder,  stated  that  en- 
tertainment units  arrived  in  one  Ital- 
ian town  to  stage  a  show  just  six 
hours  after  the  evacuation  of  the  Nazi 
occupation  troops. 

In  Rome,  herself,  two  days  after  the 
Allied  occupation,  the  star  remarked 
that  organized  entertainment  programs 
were  in  full  swing  one  week  after  the 
triumphal  entry  of  the  Fifth  Army  in- 
to the  Axis-held  Italian  capital. 

She  will  return  to  Hollywood  in  the 
near  future  to  discuss  plans  for  her 
next  picture  for  M-G-M  following 
which  she  intends  to  go  on  tour  again. 
One  of  her  more  recent  vehicles,  "Kis- 
met," is  pending  release. 

Lackenbauer  to  ASC 
Board  of  Appeals 

The  appointment  of  William  Lack- 
enbauer of  the  Jewel  Music  Publish- 
ing Co.,  Inc.,  to  the  American  Soci- 
ety of  Composers,  Authors  and  Pub- 
lishers' Board  of  Appeals  is  the  only 
change  in  the  board  slate  as  a  result 
of  the  election  held  recently. 

Representing  standard  writers  is 
John  Tasker  Howard,  while  Peter  De 
Rose  and  Abel  Baer  represent  popu- 
lar writers.  Still  on  the  board  for 
standard  publishers  is  John  Sengstack 
of  Clayton  F.  Summy  &  Co.,  and  for 
popular  publishers  Lester  Santly  of 
Santly-Joy  and  Lackenbauer,  who  re- 
places Max  Mayer  of  Paull-Pioneer. 

Sam  H.  Stept,  chairman  of  the  elec- 
tion committee,  will  certify  the  elec- 
tion results  at  the  next  ASCAP 
board  of  directors  meeting. 

Robert  Ferry  Resigns 
OWI  Domestic  Post 

Washington,  June  21. — The  resig- 
nation of  Robert  F.  Ferry  as  assistant 
director  for  operations  of  the  domestic 
branch  of  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion was  announced  today  by  Director 
George  W.  Healy,  Jr.  Ferry,  who 
has  been  connected  with  OWI  since 
April,  1943,  will  leave  the  organiza- 
tion July  2  and  will  be  succeeded  by 
David  N.  Frederick,  chief  of  the  Of- 
fice of  Program  Coordination. 


Raibourn  Tele.  Talk 

Paul  Raibourn,  head  of  Paramount's 
television  activities,  will  speak  on  the 
relationship  between  motion  pictures 
and  television  at  this  evening's  session 
of  the  Radio  Executive  Club's  televi- 
sion seminar. 


JAMES  R.  GRAINGER,  president 
and  general  sales  manager  of  Re- 
public Pictures,  has  returned  to  the 
home  office  following  a  visit  to  the 
company's  North  Hollywood  studios, 
with  stopovers  on  his  return  trip  at 
Dallas,  New  Orleans  and  Atlanta. 
• 

Lt.  (j.  g.)  Joseph  G.  Feeney,  son- 
in-law  of  M.  J.  O'Toole,  public  rela- 
tions counsel  for  Comerford  Theatres 
in  Scranton,  has  been  promoted  to  the 
rank  of  full  lieutenant  in  the  U.  S. 
Navy  and  has  been  appointed  liaison 
officer  to  the  U.  S.  Senate.  Lt. 
Feeney  was  recently  awarded  the 
Purple  Heart. 

• 

Robert  M.  Gillham,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  for  Paramount, 
will  arrive  in  Chicago  from  Hollywood 
tomorrow  with  Cecil  B.  DeMille. 
Gillham  will  then  proceed  to  New 
York  while  DeMille  will  remain  in 
Chicago. 

• 

Haroed  Bell,  manager  of  the 
Roosevelt  Theatre  in  Scranton  and 
editor  of  the  Comerford  Salute,  Com- 
erford Theatres  publication,  will  leave 
today  for  service  with  the  Navy. 
• 

Phil  Regan,  singer  and  film  actor, 
will  appear  in  person  at  the  New  York 
Strand  starting  tomorrow  with  War- 
ners' "Mask  of  Dimitrios." 

• 

Fred  Sammis,  editorial  director  of 
Photoplay,  left  recently  for  Holly- 
wood. 

• 

Alex  Hillman,  publisher  of  Movie- 
land,  returned  this  week  to  New  York 
from  a  week's  visit  to  Washington. 


Houston  War  Plants 
Aid  Republic  Film 

The  Southwestern  premiere  of  Re- 
public's "Man  From  Frisco,"  at  the 
Palace  Theatre  in  Houston,  Tex.,  to- 
day has  received  considerable  promo- 
tion through  tie-ups  with  local  ship- 
yards and  other  business  organizations 
handling  shipbuilding  equipment.  The 
film  deals  with  shipbuilding. 

Jack  Jackson,  publicity  director  of 
Interstate  Houston  Theatres,  is  han- 
dling the  campaign  and  Steve  Ed- 
wards, Republic's  director  of  publicity, 
spent  a  week  in  Houston  in  connection 
with  the  promotion. 


U.A.  Releases  Two 
'Action9  Films 

United  Artists  will  release  two  new 
"World  in  Action"  documentaries  this 
week,  it  was  reported  yesterday  by 
the  home  office  here. 

"Zero  Hour,"  the  story  .of  the  in- 
vasion, will  open  at  the  TransLux 
Theatres  on  Broadway  and  49th  and 
E.  60th  Sts.  today,  while  "Global  Air 
Routes,"  a  treatment  of  postwar  air 
traffic  problems,  will  bp  released  na- 
tionally tomorrow.  "World  in  Ac- 
tion" films  are  edited  by  the  National 
Film  Board  of  Canada  and  distribut- 
ed in  this  country  by  United  Artists. 


RUDY  WEISS,  head  of  the  War- 
ner Theatres  real  estate  depart- 
ment, is  in  Buffalo  for  a  few  days  on 
business. 

• 

Joe  Abramson,  secretary  to  Jack 
Kirsh,  president  of  Illinois  Allied, 
will  leave  Chicago  July  4  for  a  two- 
weeks'  visit  with  his  son,  Cadet  Al 
Abramson,  stationed  at  the  Santa 
Ana,  California,  Army  Air  base. 
• 

Pfc.  Ernest  O.  Van  Wey,  former 
partner  with  his  father  in  the  Sun 
Theatre  at  Gothenburg,  Nev.,  has  been 
awarded  the  combat  infantry  badge  for 
exemplary  conduct  in  action  against 
the  Japanese  on  Bougainville. 
• 

Corp.  Erwin  H.  Lang,  formerly 
with  the  United  Artists  exchange  in 
Chicago  and  son  of  Moe  Lang,  owner 
of  the  Harrison  Theatre,  Chicago,  is 
now  in  Italy. 

• 

Edward  Walton,  Midwest  sales 
manager  for  Republic,  has  returned  to 
Chicago  from  a  tour  of  exchanges  to 
join  Mrs.  Walton,  recently  back  from 
Seattle. 

• 

William  J.  Gell,  independent  Brit- 
ish distributor  of  American  films,  has 
returned  to  London  after  a  visit  here 
of  several  months. 

• 

William  F.  Schneider  of  the  Para- 
mount advertising  department  has  re- 
turned to  his  desk  after  a  two-weeks' 
vacation. 

• 

Ary  Lima.  Warners'  manager  in 
Brazil,  will  return  to  the  home  of- 
fice from  the  Coast  at  the  weekend. 


CBS  Answers  FCC  on 
Its  FM  Policies 

Columbia  Broadcasting  System,  in 
agreement  with  its  Affiliates  Advisory 
Board,  favors  providing  the  same  pro- 
gram service  to  both  FM  and  AM 
stations  throughout  the  development 
of  frequency  modulation  broadcasting. 

In  a  detailed  statement  by  Paul  W. 
Kesten,  CBS  executive  vice-president, 
filed  with  the  Federal  Communications 
Commission  in  response  to  the  Com- 
mission's request  for  a  full  explana- 
tion of  present  and  future  policies  and 
methods  of  operation  relative  to  FM 
broadcasting,  CBS  has  enunciated 
this  policy. 


Pre-Release  Runs  for 
'Mr.  Skeffington'  Set 

Warners'  final  release  of  the  1943- 
44  season,  Bette  Davis  in  "Mr.  Skef- 
fington," scheduled  for  national  dis- 
tribution in  August,  is  being  set  for 
a  limited  number  of  special  summer 
pre-release  engagements. 

Currently  in  its  premiere  run  at  the 
Hollywood  on  Broadway,  the  picture 
opens  tomorrow  at  the  Warner  The- 
atre, Atlantic  City,  with  engagements 
following  immediately  in  two  other 
houses  in  the  resort  city. 


SomeRun,  Clearance 
Complaints  Entered 


The  L.  G.  M.  Memorial  Theatre 
Corp.,  operator  of  the  L.  G.  M.  Mem- 
orial Theatre,  Lowell,  Mass.,  has  filed 
a  clearance  complaint  against  War- 
ners, and  a  some  run  complaint  against 
Paramount  and  RKO  in  the  Boston 
tribunal,  the  American  Arbitration  As- 
sociation reported  here  yesterday. 

Complainant,  which  is  subject  to 
clearance  after  the  Crown  Theatre, 
which  has  a  30-day  clearance  after 
the  Rialto,  which  in  turn  follows  Low- 
ell first-runs  by  60  days,  alleges  that 
said  clearances  are  unreasonable  and 
asks  that  they  be  reduced  to  28  days 
between  first  and  second  run  and  to 
15  days  between  second  and  third 
run.  Eight  other  Lowell  theatres :  the 
Strand,  Keith's,  Merrimack,  Rialto, 
Royal,  Crown,  State  and  Capitol  were 
named  as  interested  parties  by  the 
complainant. 

In  its  some  run  complaint  against 
Paramount  and  RKO,  complainant  al- 
leges that  they  have  refused  to  license 
product  in  accordance  with  provisions 
of  Section  6  of  the  consent  decree  and 
asks  that  they  be  directed  to  offer 
product  in  accordance  with  its  terms. 
The  theatres  were  also  named  as  inter- 
ested parties. 

Theatres  Benefit  by 
Tax  Rate  Reduction 

New  York  theatre  owners,  along 
with  other  property  owners,  will  re- 
ceive the  benefit  of  a  15-point  reduc- 
tion in  the  local  basic  real-estate  tax 
rate  for  1944-45,  voted  unanimously 
this  week  by  the  City  Council.  The 
new  rate  will  be  $2.74  on  $100  of 
assessed  valuation,  dropping  from  the 
present  all-time  high  of  $2.89.  It  will 
be  lower  than  at  any  time  since  1937, 
when  the  rate  was  $2.64. 

The  new  rate,  recommended  by 
Comptroller  Joseph  D.  McGoldrick, 
will  go  into  effect  July  1.  Following 
adjustments  for  assessments  for  im- 
provements, it  will  stand  in  the  various 
boroughs  as  follows :  Manhattan  $2.91, 
Bronx  $2.89,  Brooklyn  and  Queens 
$2.93,  and  Richmond  $2.90.  There  have 
been  three-point  increases  in  borough 
assessments  for  Manhattan  and  Brook- 
lyn and  a  four-point  decrease  for 
Queens. 

Special  Offering  of 
Para.  Shares  Sold 

A  special  offering  of  52,800  shares 
of  Paramount  Pictures  common  stock 
was  sold  on  the  New  York  Stock 
Exchange  yesterday  before  the  close 
of  the  market  by  Merrill,  Lynch, 
Pierce,  Fenner  and  Beane. 

The  stock  was  offered  at  l&Vi.  The 
closing  price  for  Paramount  was  2%Y% 
or  a  drop  of  V%  from  the  opening  price 
of  29^. 


Col.  Preferred  Dividend 

The  Board  of  directors  of  Columbia 
Pictures  has  declared  a  quarterly  divi- 
dend of  68)4  cents  per  share  on  the 
corporation's  $2.75  convertible  pre- 
ferred stock,  payable  August  15  to 
stockholders  of  record  August  1. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Wil)'r-n  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


n 


Thursday,  June  22,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


'Indiana's'  Initial 
Gross  Is  $18,500 


Cincinnati,  June  21. — Backed  by 
a  heavy  campaign  and  personal  ap- 
pearances of  June  Haver,  featured 
player,  at  its  premiere,  "Home  in  In- 
diana" is  racing  to  an  expected  $18,500 
at  the  RKO  Palace,  the  highest  figure 
at  that  house  in  many  months. 

Temperature  at  the  weekend  hit  98 
degrees. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21-24 : 

"Ladies  of  Washington"  (ZOth-Fox) 

■  RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)  (44c-50c-55c-65c- 
85c)  7  days.  Stage:  Ted  Lewis'  orchestra 
and  revue.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average:  $22,- 
000). 

"Song  of  the  Open  Road"  (UA) 

RKO   CAPITOL— (2,000)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"The  Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 
"Outlaws  of  Santa  Fe"  (Rep.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c -40c)  4  days. 
Gross:  $1,450.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Hot  Rhythm"  (Mono.) 
"Thundering  Gun  Slingers"  (PRC) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $700.  (Average:  $800). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

RKO  GRAND— (1,500)   (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,   plus   Saturday   midnight   show ;  2nd 
week  moveover  from  the   Palace.  Gross: 
$5,000.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

KEITH'S— (1,500)  (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7  days, 
plus  Saturday  midnight  show.    Gross:  $4,- 
500.    (Average:  $5,000). 
"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 
"Yellow  Canary"  (Wilcox-RKO) 

RKO   LYRIC— (1,400)    (44c-55c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross: 
$5,000.    (Average:  $5,000). 
"Home  In  Indiana"  (ZOth-Fox) 

RKO    PALACE— (2,700)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7    days,    plus    Saturday    midnight  show. 
Gross:  $18,500.    (Average:  $15,000). 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

RKO'  SHUBERT— (2,150)  (44c-50c-60c- 
70c)  7  days,  5th  week,  moveover  from  four 
weeks  at  the  Grand.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Av- 
erage: $5,000). 


Reviews 


"Step  Lively" 

(RKO) 

T^ESPITE  a  rather  loosely  strung  story,  "Step  Lively,"  the  new 
Frank  Sinatra  film,  should  ring  the  box  office  bell.  The  "swoon" 
boy's  fans  will  be  delighted  with  the  "voice,"  who  is  given  numerous  op 
portunities  to  display  his  vocal  technique  and  personal  charm.  An  ample 
cast  of  established  stars,  including  George  Murphy,  Gloria  De  Haven, 
Walter  Slezak,  Adolphe  Menjou,  Eugene  Pallette,  Alan  Carney  and 
Wally  Brown  make  for  bright  marquee  material.  Several  new  songs  are 
introduced  by  Sinatra,  Miss  De  Haven  and  Murphy  in  the  lavishly 
staged  production  numbers. 

Purportedly  based  on  the  Broadway  stage  show,  "Room  Service," 
the  story  has  George  Murphy,  a  producer,  struggling  to  promote  money 
for  the  "smash  hit"  of  his  still  purely  imaginary  career-  while  he  lives 
luxuriously,  with  his  entire  cast,  in  and  "on"  Slezak's  hotel.  When 
Menjou,  a  hotel  executive,  comes  to  inspect  the  books  and  sees  Murphy's 
staggering  bill,  he  attempts  to  evict  the  entire  company.  Eugene  Pal- 
lette arrives  to  back  the  show,  but  withdraws  his  offer,  without  Menjou's 
knowledge,  when  he  learns  of  Murphy's  status.  Sinatra,  a  budding  play- 
wright, who  has  sent  Murphy  $1,500  and  a  manuscript,  comes  into  town 
to  inquire  as  to  the  disposition  of  his  funds  and  his  play,  but  is  duped  by 
Miss  DeHaven  into  singing  in  the  show.  The  "voice,"  however,  leaves 
town  when  he  learns  he  has  been  tricked  by  the  woman  he  loves,  but  re- 
turns on  opening  night  to  save  the  day  for  Murphy,  whose  lack  of  funds 
has  been  discovered  by  Menjou.  After  an  hilarious  session  the  show 
goes  on  and  is  a  huge  success.  Miss  De  Haven  and  Sinatra  declare 
their  love  and  "Step  Lively"  ends  in  a  blaze  of  musical  comedy  glory. 

Tim  Whelan  directed  from  a  screen  play  by  Warren  Duff  and  Peter 
Milne.  Robert  Fellows  produced.  Credit  for  creation  and  staging  of 
musial  numbers  goes  to  Frnst  Matray.  The  songs  are  by  Sammy  Cahn 
and  Jule  Styne. 

Running  time,  88  mins.    "G."*    Released  in  Block  6. 

Helen  McNamara 


Coast 
Flashes 


Coustan  Named  to 
Head  Local  F-45 

Chicago,  June  21. — Herman  Cou- 
stan of  Columbia  was  named  president 
of  Local  F-45,  office  employees  union, 
at  a  meeting  held  here  recently. 

Others  named  to  office  were  Harold 
Wise  of  Monogram,  business  man- 
ager, succeeeding  George  Benson,  re- 
signed, who  in  turn  was  .named  to 
the  organization's  executive  board ; 
Oscar  Bernstein  of  United  Artists, 
vice-president,  and  Marion  Shannon, 
also  of  United  Artists,  treasurer. 


Services  Today  for 
Lillian  G.  Harvey  . 

Funeral  services  will  be  held  here 
today  at  the  Riverside  Memorial 
chapel  for  Mrs.  Lillian  Grossman 
Harvey,  secretary  to  Austin  C.  Ke- 
ough,  Paramount  vice-president  and 
general  counsel  for  over  15  years,  un- 
til her  resignation  due  to  illness  sev- 
eral months  ago. 

Mrs.  Harvey  died  at  her  home  here 
on  Monday. 


Requiem  for  Mrs.  Grebe 

Requiem  high  mass  will  be  sung  for 
Mrs.  Robert  E.  Grebe,  who  died  yes- 
terday at  Samaritan  Hospital,  Brook- 
lyn, on  Saturday  morning  at  the 
Church  of  the  Holy  Innocents,  Brook- 
lyn. Mrs.  Grebe,  veteran  film  critic, 
was  for  many  years  with  the  Motion 
Picture  Bureau,  the  Legion  of  De- 
cency, the  National  Board  of  Review 
and  the  Motion  Picture  Council  of 
Brooklyn.  She  is  survived  by  her 
husband  and  a  son,  Robert  E.  Grebe, 
Jr. 


"Marine  Raiders" 

(RKO -Radio) 

Hollywood,  June  21 

TWITTED  out  with  the  names  of  Pat  O'Brien,  Ruth  Hussey,  Robert 
Ryan,  Frank  McHugh  and  Barton  MacLane  for  marquee  use,  this 
Robert  Fellows'  production  of  "Marine  Raiders"  flies  more  sail  than  is 
warranted  by  anything  in  the  way  of  action  or  entertainment  contained 
in  excessive  footage.  It's  an  indolently  told  and  altogether  superficial 
story  about  some  Marines  on  Guadalcanal,  in  Australia,  back  in  San 
Diego,  then  back  in  Australia  and,  finally,  charging  some  unnamed 
beach.  It's  in  the  style  of  the  shorts  made  for  recruiting  purposes  early 
in  the  war,  but  it's  90  minutes  long. 

Such  story  as  there  is  in  Warren  Duff's  script,  based  on  an  original 
by  himself  and  Martin  Rackin,  concerns  a  Marine  who  meets  a  girl  on 
his  way  back  from  Guadalcanal  but  is  prevented  from  marrying  her  for  a 
while  by  his  Major,  who  thinks  he  shouldn't.  For  less  reason  than  that 
the  Major  changes  his  mind  and  they  marry.  A  few  sequences  at  start 
and  finish,  depicting  jungle  conflict,  get  into  melodramatic  tempo.  The 
others  are  paced  like  travelogues  and  training  films.  Direction  by  Har- 
old Schuster  is  leisurely  beyond  casualness. 

Running  time  90  minutes.    "G."*    Release  date  not  set. 

William  R.  Weaver. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Edw.  Dobkin  Nominated 

Boston,  June  21. — Edward  Dobkin 
has  been  nominated  for  commander  of 
the  Lieut.  A.  Vernon  Macauley  The- 
atrical Post  No.  270  of  the  American 
Legion  here  on  a  slate  also  including: 
Charles  E.  Kurtzman,  vice-comman- 
der; Harry  Spingler  and  John  Foley, 
junior  vice-commanders ;  Joseph  Kan- 
tor,  finance  officer ;  Maxwell  Melin- 
coff,  adjutant,  and  Dr.  A.  Edward 
Melincoff,  chaplain. 

Named  as  delegates  to  the  state 
convention  are  Alvin  Kenny  and  Ken- 
neth Forkey,  with  Patrick  Healy  and 
Harry  F.  Browning  as  alternates. 
David  Fineburg  was  put  up  as  a  dele- 
gate representing  World  War  II. 


Asks  for  QuoW arrant 
In  'Blue  Laws'  Test 

Jackson,  Miss.,  June  21.— Attor- 
ney-General Greek  L.  Rice  of  Missis- 
sippi announced  today  he  would  allow 
his  name  as  -  attorney  general  to  be 
used  in  quo  warrant  proceedings 
against  Mississippi  theatre  owners  if 
they  attempted  to  operate  on  Sun- 
days in  violation  of  the  state's  "Blue 
Laws." 

A  decision  by  the  state  supreme 
court  declared  that  the  attorney  gen- 
eral was  the  only  state  official  who 
had  the  authority  to  file  such  a  suit 
The  court  dismissed  a  previous  suit 
in  which  a  district  attorney  had  at- 
tempted to  have  Jackson  theatre  own- 
ers deprived  of  their  franchise  on 
charges  of  Sunday  showings. 


Hollywood,  June  21 

JCHEEVER  COWDIN,  chairman 
•  of  Universal' s  board,  expects  to 
remain  here  another  month. 

• 

Cecil  B.  DeMille  left  today  for  Chi- 
cago to  attend  the  Republican  Conven- 
tion as  a  delegate  from  California  and 
participate  in  the  Midwest  war  bond 
premiere  of  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Was- 
sell,"  at  the  State-Lake  Theatre  Fri- 
day. 

• 

Irene  Manning,  Warner  actress  who 
was  married  last  night  to  Keith  Kol- 
hoff,  learned  today  of  her  father's 
death.  He  was  Shriley  E.  Harvuot, 
68,  pioneer  Los  Angeles  real  estate 
man. 

• 

Paramount  added  "Ambassadors  in 
White,"  dealing  with  American  doc- 
tors in  Central  America,  to  its  pro- 
duction schedule,  Kenneth  MacGowan 
producing. 

• 

Anna  Lee,  British  film  actress,  and 
Capt.  George  H.  Stafford  of  Houston, 
Tex.,  have  announced  that  they  will 
be  married  tomorrow  in  Beverly  Hills 
Congregational  Church. 

• 

Virginia  Van  Upp  will  produce 
"Road  to  Yesterday,"  formerly  on  Sol 
Siegel's  Columbia  schedule.  The  lat- 
ter is  now  producing  "And  Now 
Goodbye"  and  "War  Sings  a  Lullaby." 
• 

Robert  M.  Gillham,  Paramount  di- 
rector of  advertising  and  publicity, 
left  for  New  York  today  after  spend- 
ing two  weeks  at  the  studio  viewing 
new  pictures  and  mapping  campaigns. 
• 

Lieut.  Bruce  Cabot  is  leaving  the 
Army  and  will  resume  his  acting  con- 
tract with  Paramount  this  week.  He 
is  expected  here  from  New  York  on 
July  1. 

• 

William  Pine  and  William  Thomas, 
Paramount  producers,  will  both  Super- 
chief  next  Tuesday  for  home  office 
conferences  in  New  York. 

• 

Roscoe  Ates,  film  comedian  who  en- 
tered the  Air  Corps  as  a  captain  in 
June,  1942,  will  be  placed  on  the  inac- 
tive list  July  18. 

• 

Joseph  Szigeti,  concert  violinist,  will 
make  his  screen  debut  in  Warners' 
"Hollywood  Canteen." 

• 

John  Ridgely  has  had  his  player's 
contract  renewed  by  Warners. 


'My  Way'  in  8th  Week 

Paramount's  "Going  My  Way" 
yesterday  went  into  its  eighth  week  at 
the  Paramount  Theatre  here,  thereby 
becoming  the  third  film  to  record  such 
a  run  in  the  history  of  that  house. 
With  the  film  is  a  stage  show  headed 
by  Charlie  Spivak. 


Bergman  to  Boston 

Maurice  Bergman,  Universalis 
Eastern  advertising  and  publicity  di- 
rector, left  last  night  for  Boston  to 
set  the  campaign  for  the  Deanna  Dur- 
bin-Gene  Kelly  film,  "Christmas  Holi- 
day." After  three  days  there,  he  will 
go  to  Atlanta  on  a  similar  mission. 


3  bu  , 


!  ?  !  !  !  !  !  !  t  I  !  t  f  ?  !  -?  !  !  !  ? 


JACK  L  WARNER/  Execuf/ve  Producer 
Produced  by  JULIUS  J.  &  PHILIP  G.  EPSTEIN' 


FIRST  DAY  AT  THE  N.Y.  HOLLYWOOD 


KIND  OF  PICTURE! 


!!!!!!!!!! 


Thursday,  June  22,  1944 


Hollywood 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Equipment  Supply 
Far  Under  Needs 
For  Third  Quarter 


Leo  Roars  Lustily  Today 
On  MGM's  20th  Birthday 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
vice  chairman  for  civil  requirements, 
explained  that  five  items  comprise  the 
motion  picture  equipment  needed.  The 
3,625  units,  he  said,  represent  mini- 
mum essential  requirements  with  no 
control  on  distribution,  "in  other 
words,  a  short  supply  on  the  market 
but  sufficient  so  that  people  can  find 
the  products  if  they  shop  around 
enough."  With  distribution  controlled 
through  rationing  or  some  similar  sys- 
tem so  that  products  actually  get  to 
those  for  whom  the  OCR  pro- 
grammed them,  4,221  units  would  be 
required,  he  said,  while  the  4,394  units 
represents  an  unrestricted  supply, 
based  on  the  probable  production  of 
the  industry  and  not  on  unrestricted 
demand. 

Recommendations  Made 

It  was  also  disclosed  that  at  recent 
meeting  of  the  photographic  equip- 
ment industry  advisory  committee, 
recommendations  were  made  that 
production  of  civilian  goods  should  be 
resumed  at  the  earliest  possible  date 
and  that  the  present  equipment  limi- 
tation order  should  be  amended  to 
permit  small  manufacturers  to  operate 
at  100  per  cent  of  their  base  period 
or  up  to  ten  tons  per  quarter  of  mate- 
rials, with  other  manufacturers  re- 
ceiving ten  tons  or  the  amount  per- 
mitted under  quota,  which  ever  is 
greater. 

It  was  urged  that  the  distribution 
controls  of  Order  L-267  be  eliminat- 
ed as  soon  as  possible  and  that  as 
military  contracts  are  cancelled  the 
non-military  quotas  of  the  order 
should  be  increased  for  all  companies. 
It  was  estimated  that  while  purchases 
of  photographic  equipment  by  Govern- 
ment agencies  have  averaged  about 
$30,000,000  a  quarter  since  the  issu- 
ance of  L-267,  less  than  50  per  cent 
of  this  represents  typical  consumer 
goods,  but  it  was  urged  that  the  in- 
dustry should  be  provided  with  an 
itemized  estimate  of  the  quantity  and 
dollar  value  of  Government  purchases, 
for  use  in  planning  the  disposition  of 
surpluses  which  are  expected  to  ac- 
crue from  now  on. 

Freon  Not  Up  to  Expectations 

Another  recent  industry  committee 
meeting,  attended  by  representatives 
of  the  conditioning  industry,  devel- 
oped that  production  of  freon  last 
month  amounted  to  3,250,000  pounds 
but  did  not  meet  expectations.  Lit- 
tle improvement  is  expected  before 
August,  when  a  new  East  Chicago 
plant  is  scheduled  to  come  into  pro- 
duction, adding  500,000  pounds  to  the 
gas  supply.  When  that  plant  is  in 
complete  operation  it  will  produce  2,- 
000,000  pounds  of  freon  monthly.  It 
was  indicated  that  no  freon  will  be 
available  this  summer  for  theatre  air- 
conditioning  and  that  the  allocations 
for  civilian  use  generally  may  have 
to  be  cut  in  view  of  Navy  require- 
ments. 


Pitts  to  Indiana 

Indianapolis,  June  21. — Charles 
Pitts,  formerly  of  the  Rockefeller 
Center  Newsreel  Theatre  in  New 
York  City,  has  been  named  assistant 
manager  of  the  Monarch  circuit's  Cir- 
cle Theatre  here. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

on  June  28,"  said  Rodgers,  citing  some 
of  the  product  coming  from  the  M- 
G-M  studios.  He  named  "An  Ameri- 
can Romance,"  "Dragon  Seed,"  "Kis- 
met," "Thirty  Seconds  Over  Tokyo," 
"Meet  Me  in  St.  Louis,"  "Ziegfeld 
Follies,"  "Bathing  Beauty." 

Many  events  have  preceded  the 
opening  of  the  anniversary.  Among 
them  was  the  selection  of  Charles 
A.  Midelburg,  owner  of  the  Capitol, 
Charleston,  W.  Va.,  as  M-G-M's 
"Typical  20- Year  Showman,"  having 
bought,  booked  and  played  every  sub- 
ject of  Leo's  for  the  past  20  years. 
He  was  the  guest  of  the  company  for 
two  weeks  at  its  Culver  City  studio. 

Loyalty  Pins  Given 

Many  employes  in  the  field  who 
have  been  with  the  company  for  10 
years  or  more  have  been  given  loyalty 
pins.  More  than  100  were  honored 
with  20-year  pins  and  at  least  three 
times  that  number  with  10-year  pins. 
The  pins  were  distributed  by  E.  K. 
O'Shea,  Eastern  sales  manager ;  John 
E.  Flynn,  Western  sales  manager,  and 
John  J.  Maloney,  Central  sales  mana- 
ger, at  luncheons  held  in  key  cities. 

Many  letters  of  congratulations 
have  been  received  from  industry  fac- 
tors as  well  as  outside  interests.  A 
special  pressbook  has  been  sent  to 
every  theatre  owner  booking  an  M- 
G-M  short  or  feature  during  the  week. 
A  special  anniversary  edition  of  The 
Lion's  Roar  is  being  prepared  for 
every  exhibitor  in  the  country.  Bill- 
boards all  over  the  country  and  Can- 
ada have  been  blanketed  with  24-sheets 
on  "The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover."  A 
tieup  was  effected  with  American  Ex- 
press trucks  covering  every  city  in  the 
United  States. 

Special   100-line  "White   Cliffs  of 


Theatre  Building 
Waits  Labor-Ease 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

eral  filed  by  independent  exhibitors  on 
the  Pacific  Coast. 

It  is  understod  that  a  decision  was 
reached  to  hold  the  theatre  applica- 
tions in  abeyance  because  of  the  diffi- 
culties which  war  plants  are  experi- 
encing in  filling  their  labor  require- 
ments and  the  necessity  for  concen- 
trating such  construction  labor  as  is 
otherwise  available  on  housing  and 
other  construction  more  immediately 
necessary. 

As  soon  as  the  manpower  situation 
eases,  however,  it  has  been  indicated 
the  theatre  and  other  applications  now 
held  up  in  the  Facilities  Bureau  will  be 
acted  upon. 

RKO  Sets  Deal  for 
Singers  Circuit 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

chase  the  circuit's  interest  if  Singer 
ceased  to  operate  the  houses.  Since 
Singer's  demise,  the  houses  have  been 
operated  for  his  estate  and  RKO  by 
Joseph  Berne  of  Cleveland  who  was 
elected  president  of  the  circuit,  to  suc- 
ceed Singer. 

Details  of  the  deal  were  worked  out 
by  Malcolm  Kingsberg,  RKO  vice- 
president  and  treasurer. 


Dover"  teaser  ads  have  appeared  in 
newspapers  in  129  cities.  Quarter-page 
insertions  also  have  appeared  advertis- 
ing future  M-G-M  pictures.  Life, 
Red  Book,  Cosmopolitan,  Liberty, 
Look,  W  Oman's  Home  Companion, 
McCall's,  Good  Housekeeping,  Par- 
ents' Magazine  and  a  number  of  Ca- 
nadian publications  have  had  page  ad- 
vertisements on  the  anniversary  pic- 
ture. Lion's  Roar  anniversary  col- 
umns in  26  magazines  also  featured  it. 
Anniversary  salutes  on  key  city  radio 
programs  are  keyed  to  local  playdates 
over  a  period  of  52  weeks.  Screen 
test  radio  programs  over  87  Mutual 
stations  and  WHN  have  been 
launched.  Special  fan  magazine  adver- 
tisements, have  appeared,  and  a  special 
short,  "Twenty  Years  After"  was 
made  for  the  Romance  of  Celluloid 
series. 

'Bathing  Beauty'  Promotion 

A  $1,000  war  bond  "Bathing 
Beauty"  promotion  was  set  for  na- 
tional tieup  with  "Swim  for  Health 
Week."  Modern  Screen  and  Screen- 
land  devoted  their  entire  issues  to 
M-G-M's  anniversary.  Other  maga- 
zines have  given  considerable  editorial 
space  to  the  company  as  well  as  nu- 
merous feature  articles  by  syndicate 
writers  which  have  appeared  in  hun- 
dreds of  newspapers  throughout  the 
country. 

M-G-M  added  ten  names  to  the  list 
of  its  players  who  are  now  rated  as 
stars,  including  Laraine  Day,  Kathryn 
Grayson,  Van  Johnson,  Gene  Kelly, 
George  Murphy,  Margaret  O'Brien, 
Susan  Peters,  Ginny  Simms,  Robert 
Walker  and  Esther  Williams.  The  an- 
niversary tour  of  the  M-G-M  Show 
Builder  Caravan  was  started  in  the 
South  from  Memphis  as  a  stimulus 
for  small  town  operators. 


Omaha  Grosses  Dip 
In  Warm  Weather 

Omaha,  June  21. — Grosses  slipped 
this  week,  but  "Woman  of  the  Town," 
drew  $14,000  at  the  Orpheum. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21-22 : 

"Are  These  Ovr  Parents?"  (Mono.) 
"The  Chinese  Cat"  (Mono.) 

BRANDEIS— (1,200)     (44c-60c)     5  days. 
Gross:  $4,100.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 
.OMAHA— (2,000)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,500.     (Average:  $8,400). 
"The  Woman  of  the  Town"  (UA) 

ORPHEUM — (3,000)   (44c-55c-70c)  7  days. 
Stan  Kenton's  orchestra  on  stage.  Gross: 
$14,000.    (Average:  $14,900). 
"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde.  Troubles"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT—  (2,000)  (44c -60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,100.     (Average:  $11,700). 

Warners  W  ill  Buy 
Schlesinger  Studio 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

management,  with  the  present  Schles- 
inger personnel  to  remain  intact.  War- 
ners has  released  the  Schlesinger  car- 
toons for  the  past  15  years  but  has 
not  previously  owned  a  share  in  the 
business. 


ATO  to  Unveil  Plaque 

Chicago,  June  21. — A  plaque,  in- 
scribed with  the  names  of  400  em- 
ployees of  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of 
Illinois,  will  be  unveiled  at  Allied 
headquarters  early  next  month. 


By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  21 

SOMETHING  new  has  been  added 
to  the  contract  handed  Howard 
da  Silva  by  Paramount.  It's  a  clause 
which  permits  the  actor,  should  he  so 
desire,  to  take  the  second  and  fifth 
years  out  of  the  seven-year  deal  in 
order  to  go  back  to  Broadway.  It 
was  on  that  celebrated  street  that  he 
scored  his  first  success,  as  Jud,  the 
heavy,  in  the  musical  comedy  "Okla- 
homa." Currently  da  Silva  is  working 
in  "Two  Years  Before  the  Mast," 
adaptation  of  Richard  Dana's  classic, 
which  John  Farrow  is  directing  for 
producer  Seton  I.  Miller. 

• 

Columbia  has  signed  Richard 
Wallace  to  direct  two  pictures.  .  .  . 
Bonita  Granville  will  have  one  of 
the  top  roles  in  "Betrayal  from  the 
East"  at  RKO.  .  .  .  Newest  recruit 
to  the  cast  of  "Hollywood  Canteen" 
is  Nora  Martin,  an  Eddie  Canter 
discovery.  .  .  .  Warners  will  remake 
"Of  Human  Bondage,"  in  which 
Bette  Davis  won  her  first  laurels  10 
years  ago. . . .  Ella  Raines,  last  seen 
in  Paramount's  "Hail  the  Conquer- 
ing Hero"  and  currently  working  in 
RKO's  "Tall  in  the  Saddle,"  is  to  re- 
turn to  Universal,  her  home  studio, 
to  appear  opposite  Charles  Laugh- 
ton  in  "The  Suspect."  .  .  .  Jack  Car- 
son has  been  added  to  the  cast  of 
"Roughly  Speaking"  at  Warners. . . . 
Robert  Livingston  has  been  set  by 
producer  Bobby  North  for  the  sec- 
and  male  lead  in  Republic's  "Brazil." 
.  .  .  That  studio  has  added  Andrew 
Tombes  to  the  cast  of  "San  Fer- 
nando Valley,"  new  Roy  Rogers' 
starrer.  .  .  .  Sylvia  Thalberg,  who 
is  scripting  "The  Greeks  Had  a 
Word  for  It"  for  Producers  Corp. 
of  America,  has  been  given  a  long- 
term  contract. 

• 

"Gone  Are  the  Days,"  which  Col- 
umbia has  had  in  preparation  for  some 
time,  and  which  was  on  Sol  Siegel's 
schedxde  before  he  left  the  studio  to 
engage  in  independent  production,  has 
been  assigned  to  producer  Richard 
Blumcnthal.  .  .  .  Bruce  Cabot,  is/ho 
was  recently  discharged  from  the 
Army,  and  Billy  de  Wolfe,  discharged 
from  the  Navy,  have  returned  to  Para- 
mount to  resume  their  contractual  obli- 
gations. De  Wolfe  will  have  a  guest- 
star  spot  in  the  studio's  forthcoming 
"Duffy's  Tavern."  .  .  .  Clarence  Muse 
will  direct  "Four  and  Twenty  Black- 
birds," the  stage  revue  of  which  Lou 
Victor  is  producer.  .  .  .  "Hit  the  Ice," 
the  Bud  Abbott  and  Lou  Costello  star- 
rer, zvas  the  first  film  to  be  shown  in 
Rome  after  its  liberation,  according  to 
dispatches  received  here.  Italian  was 
dubbed  in  for  the  occasion. 


Decision  Withheld  on 
New  Prefect  Trial 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

motion  and  by  Joseph  Berry,  defense 
counsel,  opposing  it. 

A  20-day  trial  of  the  suit,  claiming 
a  conspiracy  to  keep  product  from 
the  Pickwick  Theatre,  Greenwich, 
ended  April  14  at  the  conclusion  of* 
the  plaintiffs'  testimony,  when  Judge 
Hincks  took  the  case  from  the  jury 
and  handed  down  a  verdict  for  the  dis- 
tributors. 


\ove..^ashercHm 


love^as  her  punishment 


t  role    .-as  Abigail  •  • 
her  greatest  roie  • 

^  «lackie'.  •  •  to  llV 

^ho  became  JacKie 

i       „f  a  merciless 
the  shadow  oi  a  m 


,  GENE  11 

W  Kelly 


DEANNA 

;„  W.Somerset  Maugham s 


deduced  by  FEUX  JACKS™ „ 


■ 


This  is  one  of  the  national 


newspaper  advertisements 


which  also  can  be  found  in 


the  press  book.  It  is  also 


representative  of  the  maga- 


zine campaign  used  in  Life, 


Look,  and  Liberty. 


A  UNI 


NIGHT  AND  DAY!  REMEMBER 
THE  FIGHTING  FIFTH  WAR  LOAN! 


WARNERS 

MAKE  YOUR 
OWN  BED 

Jack  Carson 
Jane  Wyman 
Irene  Manning 

C— 82  mins.  (317) 

THIS  IS  THE 
ARMY 

(Re-issue) 
George  Murphy 
Joan  Leslie 
M— (224) 
115  mins. 
(Color) 

THE  MASK 
OF 

DIMITRIOS 
Sidney  Greenstreet 
Zachary  Scott 

D — 95  mins.  (318) 

(  Re-issues) 
MANPOWER 
103  mins.  (341) 
TIGER  SHARK 
79  mins.  (345) 
THEY  MADE 
ME  A  CRIMINAL 

92  mins.  (342) 
THE  WALKING 
DEAD 
oo  turns,   v } 
BROTHER  RAT 
65  mins.  (343) 

POLO  JOE 
89   mins.  (346) 

( Regular,  Release) 
ADVENTURES 
OF 

MARK  TWAIN 
Fredric  March 
Alexis  Smith 

D— 130  mins.  (315) 

UNIVERSAL 

THE  SCARLET 
CLAW 
Basil  Rathbone 
Nigel  Bruce 
D — 74  mins.  (8019) 
BOSS  OF 
BOOMTOWN 
Rod  Cameron 
Vivian  Austin 
O— (8085) 

THIS  IS  THE 

LIFE 
Donald  O'Connor 
Susanna  Foster 
C— 87   mins.  (8012) 

THE  INVISIBLE 
MAN'S  REVENGE 
Jon  Hall 
Evelyn  Ankers 
Alan  Curtis 
D — 78  mins. 

GHOST 
CATCHERS 
Olsen  and  Johnson 
Gloria  Jean 

C — 68  mins. 

SOUTH  OF 

DIXIE 
Anne  Gwynne 
David  Bruce 

D — 61  mins. 

CHRISTMAS 
HOLIDAY 

Deanna  Durbin 
Gene  Kelly 

M — 93  mins. 

TRIGGER 
TRAIL 

O— (8086) 
JUNGLE 
WOMAN 
Evelyn  Ankers 
J.  Carroll  Naish 

D — 60  mins. 
THE  MUMMY'S 
GHOST 
Lon  Chaney 
D — 61  mins. 

TWILIGHT  ON 
THE  PRAIRIE 
Eddie  Quillan 
Vivian  Austin 
O — 62  mins. 

ALLERGIC  TO 

LOVE 
Noah   Beery,  Jr. 
Martha  O'DriscoU 
C — 65  mins. 

U.  A.  . 

SONG  OF  THE 
OPEN  ROAD 
Edgar  Bergen 

M — 93  mins. 
MYSTERY  MAN 
Wm.  Boyd 

O— 58  mins. 

THE  HAIRY  APE 
William  Bendix 
Susan  Hayward 
D — 90  mins. 

FORTY  THIEVES 
Wm.  Boyd 
Andy  Clyde 
Jimmy  Rogers 

O — 60  mins. 

SENSATIONS 

OF  1945 
Eleanor  Powell 
Dennis  O'Keefe 

M — 85  mins. 

SUMMER  STORM 
George  Sanders 
Linda  Darnell 

D — 107  mins. 

ABROAD  WITH 
TWO  YANKS 
William  Bendix 
Dennis  O'Keefe 

$8 
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SOLDIER,  TOO 
Beulah  Bondi 
Nina  Poch 

Jess  Barker 
D — 67  mins.  (5040) 

LOUISIANA 
HAYRIDE 
Judy  Canova 
Ross  Hunter 
C 

SECRET 
COMMAND 
Pat  O'Brien 
Chester  Morris 
Ruth  Warrick 
D — 80  mins. 

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Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  22,  1944 


Bond  Even  ts,  High  on 
Showmanship,  Bring  Sales 


Jersey  Allied  Asks 
For  More  Product 


Permit  Union 
Group  Report 
Of  Finances 


{Continued  from  page  1) 
CIO  political  action  committee,  the 
IATSE  or  other  individual  organiza- 
tions to  file  through  the  parent  body, 
together  with  all  other  member 
groups,  making  it  impossible  to  iden- 
tify the  financial  statistics  of  any  spe- 
cific organization. 

In  the  consideration  of  that  'provi- 
sion of  the  new  revenue  act,  which 
calls  for  the  filing  of  returns  by  un- 
ions and  other  tax-exempt  organiza- 
tions, it  was  made  apparent  in  Con- 
gress that  the  desire  was  to  secure 
financial  information  of  the  individual 
unions  rather  than  merely  to  secure 
a  general  balance  sheets  from  the 
parent  organizations. 

U.  S.  Is  a  Tenant 

The  two  points  which  are  bother- 
ing Bureau  and  Treasury  officials  are 
the  provision  of  the  form  permitting 
group  reports  and  another  provision 
which  requires  the  disclosure  of  com- 
plete information  of  any  union  which 
receives  income  from  rents.  The 
U.  S.  Government  occupies  and  pays 
rent  for  space  in  several  Washington 
buildings  owned  by  unions. 

Officials  refused  to  divulge  whether 
it  had  been  proposed  to  make  any 
changes  in  the  form  or  regulations 
for  the  filing  of  union  returns  but  said 
that  the  whole  matter  is  receiving 
further  attention  in  the  Bureau  and 
the  Treasury  and  that  a  statement 
will  be  issued  in  the  near  future. 

Meanwhile,  Congress  prepared  for 
a  further  scrutiny  of  union  political 
activities  when  the  House  today 
adopted  a  resolution  providing  for  in- 
vestigation of  any  suspected  election 
frauds  this  year. 

New  This  Year 

Heretofore  the  biennial  investiga- 
tion of  Congressional  campaigns  has 
been  confined  to  contributions  that 
may  have  been  made  illegally  by  cor- 
porations or  other  business  associa- 
tions, but  this  year's  resolution  pro- 
vides also  for  investigation  of  con- 
tributions made  by  labor  unions  and 
also  of  money  "raised,  contributed 
and  expended  by  any  labor  organiza- 
tion, trade  or  business  association  and 
any  other  agency." 

An  effort  to  include  "any  political 
committee"  connected  with  a  labor  or- 
ganization was  defeated  on  the  ground 
that  it  was  aimed  directly  at  the  CIO 
Political  Action  Committee,  but  the 
resolution  as  finally  drafted  was  said 
to  be  sufficiently  broad  to  take  in  that 
and  all  other  organizations. 


Cahoon  to  Princeton 

James  Cahoon,  former  film  editor 
for  Columbia  in  Hollywood,  and  more 
recently  film  editor  for  the  overseas 
motion  picture  division  of  the  Office 
of  War  Information,  has  joined  the 
Princeton  Film  Center,  where  he  will 
be  in  charge  of  documentary  film  edi- 
tion. His  first  assignment  will  be 
"Wings  for  Tomorrow,"  being  pro- 
duced by  the  Princeton  organization 
for  the  Coordinator  of  Inter-Ameri- 
can Affairs. 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
000  for  Robb  &  Rowley  United  The- 
atres in  San  Angelo,  Tex.,  according 
to  John  D.  Jones,  local  manager. 

Arthur  Lehmann,  Mississippi  state 
exhibitor  chairman,  reports  $153,000 
realized  from  a  bond  auction  held  in 
front  of  the  Canton  Theatre,  Canton, 
Miss.,  sponsored  by  the  local  Lions 
Club  with  a  professional  auctioneer. 

For  13  bond  premieres  in  Northern 
California,  a  total  of  24,574  "E"  bond 
units  were  sold  with  a  maturity  value 
of  $2,358,546,  Charles  M.  Thall,  north- 
ern California  exhibitor  chairman,  re- 
ported. With  a  total  seating  capacity 
of  22,000  the  13  theatres  turned  in 
sales  of  better  than  a  bond  per  seat, 
in  the  aggregate.  A  total  of  18  pre- 
mieres were  held  in  that  area  in  the 
first  three  days  of  the  drive. 

Comparisons  Noted 

For  comparison,  the  Fox,  San  Fran- 
cisco, in  the  Fourth  War  Loan  sold 
4,851  bonds  at  a  premiere  with  a  value 
of  $500,000.  The  Fifth  War  Loan 
premiere  sold  5,200  bonds  with  a  value 
of  $502,000.  Other  comparisons  are: 
United  Artists,  Berkeley,  Fourth  War 
Loan,  1,702  bonds,  $83,325 ;  Fifth  War 
Loan,  2,050  bonds,  $200,500.  Cali- 
fornia, San  Jose,  Fourth  War  Loan, 
1,819  bonds,  $126,525;  Fifth  War 
Loan,  2,300  bonds,  $161,450.  Fox,  Wat- 
sonville,  Fourth  War  Loan,  930  bonds, 
$49,700;  Fifth  War  Loan,  1,370  bonds, 
$155,025. 

Thall  reported  the  territory  is  prac- 
tically set  for  its  goal  of  225  pre- 
mieres, as  against  183  in  the  Fourth 
War  Loan. 

In  a  tieup  with  the  Los  Angeles  Ex- 
aminer, which  is  helping  to  promote 
Southern  California  theatres'  goal  of 
500,000  or  more  "E"  bond  units,  the 
first  two  of  many  scheduled  Los  An- 
geles premieres  drew  capacity  audi- 
ences. 

Southern  California  expects  to  top 
the  Fourth  War  Loan  premiere  total 
by  at  least  150  over  the  previous  fig- 
ure. 


Discs  by  Hollywood 
Stars  Are  Available 

Twelve  Hollywood  stars  have  made 
special  recordings  with  a  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan  appeal,  and  the  plat- 
ters are  going  forward  to  theatres 
throughout  the  country,  R.  J.  O'Don- 
nell,  national  "Fighting  Fifth"  chair- 
man, announced.  The  two-sided  disks 
are  for  use  as  lobby  broadcasts,  es- 
pecially at  show-break  time. 

The  bond  messages,  set  to  a  musical 
background,  have  been  cut  up  into  a 
series  of  two  programs.  The  first 
presentation  includes  Bing  Crosby, 
Cary  Grant,  Gene  Tierney,  Fred  Mac- 
Murray,  Deanna  Durbin  and  Jack 
Carson.  The  second  War  Bond 
"pitch,"  on  the  reverse  side  of  the  plat- 
ter, is  to  be  used  the  following  week. 


Miskell  Receives  Plaque 

Omaha,  June  21. — William  Mis- 
kell, district  manager  of  Tri-States 
Theatres  here,  has  been  awarded  a 
special  treasury  plaque  for  Tri-States 
efforts  in  the  current  and  preceding 
War  Bond  campaigns.  The  presen- 
tation, made  by  Allen  Hupp,  Douglas 
County  War  Bond  chairman,  is  be- 
lieved to  be  the  first  of  its  kind  issued 
to  a  theatre  or  a  circuit. 


It  contains  dramatic  appeals  by  Joan 
Blondell,  Van  Johnson,  John  Wayne, 
Jane  Wyman,  James  Dunn  and  Louise 
Allbritton. 

O'Donnell  expressed  his  apprecia- 
tion to  the  Hollywood  Victory  Com- 
mittee, the  Hollywood  division  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee  and  the 
Radio  Division  of  the  War  Finance 
Committee  for  making  the  recordings 
possible.  All  of  the  recordings  were 
handled  through  the  office  of  John  C. 
Flinn,  Hollywood  division  coordinator 
of  the  WAC,  and  his  associate  coordi- 
nator, Tom  Baily. 

The  disks  are  free  to  exhibitors. 
They  can  be  obtained  by  writing  to 
Martin  Starr,  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee, 1501  Broadway,  New  York 
18,  N.  Y. 


Depinet  Urges  War  Bond 
Booths  for  Exchanges 

A  bond-selling  booth  in  every  film 
exchange  building  or  on  every  film  ex- 
change row,  is  the  suggestion  of  Ned 
E.  Depinet,  national  distributor  chair- 
man, to  all  distributor  chairmen  in  the 
field. 

Depinet  advises  that  during  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  a  bond-selling  booth 
was  set  up  in  the  lobby  of  the  Film 
Exchange  building  in  Detroit.  At  this 
booth  were  sold  many  hundreds  of 
thousands  of  dollars  worth  of  War 
Bonds.  This  same  booth  has  been  set 
up  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan,  and  De- 
peinet  says  he  has  been  advised  by 
M.  Dudelson,  distribution  chairman 
for  the  Detroit  area,  that  the  present 
quota  has  been  doubled  and  "we  expect 
to  reach  it." 

There  is  no  reason,  he  states,  why 
the  same  can  not  be  done  everywhere. 


Texas  Aims  to  Be 
First  in  the  Fifth 

Dallas,  June  21.— The  1,200  Texas 
showmen  who  are  participating  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  campaign  will  gear 
their  efforts  in  the  drive  to  the  ex- 
ample of  fellow  Texans  Robert  J. 
O'Donnell,  national  industry  drive 
chairman,  and  Ray  Beall,  national 
publicity  chairman,  it  was  reported 
here  by  John  Q.  Adams,  exhibitor 
state  chairman,  who  has  set  the  Texas 
slogan  of  "Let's  Be  First  in  the 
Fifth." 

Adams,  executive  secretary  of  In- 
terstate Circuit,  has  been  vice-chair- 
man for  this  state  in  previous  War 
Loan  drives,  with  O'Donnell  as  South- 
western and  Texas  chairman  of  the 
WAC.  Robert  Kelly,  also  of  Inter- 
state, is  temporarily  replacing  Beall 
as  state  publicity  chairman. 


$6,000,000  Studio  Sale 

Hollywood,  June  21. — Chairman 
Henry  Ginsberg  of  the  War  Finance 
Committee  has  tabulated  studio  war 
bond  sales  totalling  $6,000,000,  a  new 
record  for  the  first  nine  days  of  any 
campaign.  The  Universal  studio  today 
bought  $1,000,000  worth. 


Fidler  to  Open  Office 

Fred  H.  Fidler,  for  many  years 
with  the  J.  Walter  Thompson  Com- 
pany in  San  Francisco,  Hollywood, 
St.  Louis  and  New  York,  in  public 
relations,  has  resigned  to  come  to  New 
York,  where  he  will  open  his  own  of- 
fices to  specialize  in  the  motion  picture, 
television  and  radio  fields. 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 
proferred  are  uneconomic  they  "had 
better  go  to  school  and  study  eco- 
nomics again."  He  brought  out  that 
distributors  have  fewer  pictures  but 
are  getting  proportionately  more  per 
picture  and  for  lower  production  costs. 

"The  theatre  owner  and  customer 
is  the  foundation  of  this  business,"  he 
said,  explaining  the  foundatiftn  can 
crumble  and  the  whole  structure  fall 
if  producers  and  distributors  persist 
in  fighting  exhibitors  who  are  seek- 
ing a  fair  deal.  Myers  got  a  big 
hand  from  the  exhibitors  assembled. 

Price  Boosts  Hit 

The  convention  approved  resolu- 
tions attacking  advanced  admission 
prices,  supporting  new  independent 
production  as  an  alleviation  of  the 
current  product  shortage,  endorsing 
national  Allied's  policies  on  the  con- 
sent decree,  and  pledging  continued 
support  of  all  war  activities. 

Officers  reelected  yesterday  were : 
Harry  H.  Lowenstein,  president ; 
Louis  Gold  and  Ralph  Wilkins,  vice- 
presidents  ;  David  Mate,  secretary ; 
David  Snaper,  treasurer ;  Edward 
Lachman,  assistant  treasurer,  and 
Maurice  Spewack,  sergeant-at-arms. 

The  new  board  of  directors  of  Jer- 
sey Allied  comprises  Cy  Myers,  Mate, 
Louis  Martin,  Sam  Frank,  Frank 
Gravett,  Louis  Patterson,  Jack  Un- 
ger  and  Gold.  Mrs.  Helen  Hildinger 
and  Myers  were  named  co-chairmen 
of  the  south  Jersey  unit. 

Dollinger  Makes  Plea 

Irving  Dollinger,  Eastern  regional 
vice-president  of  Jersey  Allied,  made 
a  plea  for  closer  industry  cooperation. 
Bert  Sanford  of  Altec  Service  spoke 
on  post  war  problems  and  anticipated 
multiple  sound  tracks  as  the  most  im- 
mediate major  equipment  develop- 
ment after  the  war.  He  hinted  at 
post  war  third  dimensional  pictures 
and  spoke  of  advances  in  loud  speak- 
er equipment.  Tomorrow's  program 
will  include  golf  and  a  meeting  of  ex- 
hibitors with  distributors  later. 
Speakers  will  be :  H.  M.  Richey, 
M-G-M  ;  Harry  Kalmine,  Warners ; 
Sam  Lefkowitz,  United  Artists ;  Leon 
Bamberger,  RKO ;  Claude  Lee,  Para- 
mount ;  David  Levy,  Universal ;  Sam 
Gillis,  Republic;  A.  W.  Smith,  20th 
Century-Fox ;  Joseph  Felder,  Mono- 
gram ;  Irving  Wormser,  Columbia. 


$250,000  in  Bonds  for 
'Wassell'  Premiere 

Chicago,  June  21. — The  Fifth  War 
Loan  Bond  premiere  of  "The  Story  of 
Dr.  Wassell,"  to  be  held  at  the  State 
Lake  Theatre,  Friday  night,  is  a  sell- 
out with  an  estimated  total  of  over 
$250,00  in  bonds  sold.  The  opening  is 
being  sponsored  by  the  Chicago  Her- 
ald-Amer'ican. 

The  premiere  will  be  attended  by 
Cecil  B.  DeMille,  producer-  director ; 
Carol  Thurston,  who  appears  in  the 
picture ;  Sophie  Tucker,  Mayor  Kelly 
and  Navy  and  Treasury  Department 
officials  and  stars  of  the  stage,  radio 
and  night  clubs. 

Chicago  operators'  Local  110  has 
pledged  to  buy  $135,000  worth  of 
bonds  during  the  drive  for  the  pur- 
chase of  a  hospital  plane. 


James  Flaster,  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  sound  mixer, 
using  Western  Electric  hearing  aid  type  receivers 
with  molded  ear  pieces  on  the  "Kismet"  set. 


rITTLE  earphones  and  earplugs  like  this  —  originally  designed  for 
J  use  with  Western  Electric  aids  for  the  hard  of  hearing  —  were 
first  tried  out  for  monitoring  sound  in  Hollywood  in  1941.  Soon  they 
were  generally  accepted  and  now  they  are  used  widely. 

Sound  mixers  find  that  what  they  hear  through  the  earphones  most 
closely  matches  the  sound  they  later  hear  reproduced  from  the  screen. 
Hence  they  are  better  able  to  control  the  quality  of  sound  recording. 

A  small  thing,  perhaps  —  but  an  interesting  example  of  how  Bell 
Telephone  Laboratories'  developments  for  other  purposes  have  con- 
tributed to  better  sound  in  pictures. 


Electrical  Research  Products  Division 

OF 

Western  Electric  Company 

INCORPORATED  *  * 

195  BROADWAY,  NEW  YORK,  N.  Y. 


+  SPEED  THE  DAY  OF  VICTORY  BY  BUYING  WAR  BONDS  -  MORE  WAR  BONDS  -  AND  STILL  MORE.'* 


TEED-UP  FOR 
THE  BIGGEST 
DRIVE  OF 
YOUR  LIFE ! 

There's  only  one  ball 
to  keep  your  eye  on 
from  June  12th  to  July  8th! 


At  press-time  news  of  the  Invasion  has 
electrified  the  nation.  The  best  way  to 
thank  our  heroes  is  to  re-dedicate  our 
hearts  and  energies  to  the  job  ahead. 


Sponsored  by  War  Activities  Committee  of  Motion  Picture  Industry,  jgoi  Broadway,  N.  Y.  C. 


MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD 
ANNOUNCES  PUBLICATION 
OF  A  SPECIAL  SECTION 
SIGNALIZING  THE  NOTABLE 
TWENTIETH  ANNIVERSARY 
OF  METRO-COLDWYN-MAYER 
IN  THE  ISSUE  OF  THIS 
WEEK  DATED  JUNE  24,  1944 


TO  THE  STAFF  OF  M-G-M's 
NEWS  OF  THE  DAY 


"Cigars  for  the  boys!" 


With  pride  in  your  handling 
of  the  Invasion  newsreel 
that  inspired  this  editorial 
in  the  N.  Y..World-Telegram: 

Invasion  Pictures. 

We  have  just  seen  a  preview  of  the  first  moving  pic- 
tures of  the  invasion — an  MGM  compilation  from  the 
work  of  newsreel  men  and  of  Army,  Navy,  Coast  Guard 
and  Canadian  cameramen,  with  commentary  by  Quentin 
Reynolds. 

It  is  a  magnificent  and  breathtaking  chronicle  of  the 
audacity  of  our  assault  troops,  our  naval  men,  our  fliers, 
our  airborne  guerrillas  and,  by  no  means  least,  our  combat 
photographers. 

Anybody  who  can  watch  this  film — watch  our  grimy 
parachutists  grinning  as  they  board  their  planes,  watch 
our  vast  convoys  set  out  to  sea,  watch  our  aircraft  beat 
up  enemy  airdromes  and  shipping  from  sometimes  fatally 
low  altitudes,  watch  a  doughboy  pat  his  buddy  solicitously 
on  the  shoulder  just  before  they  plunge  off  a  landing  boat 
in  the  face  of  machine  guns,  watch  from  the  shore  as  de- 
fending cross-fire  cuts  down  heroes  in  the  sand — anybody 
who  can  watch  all  this  without  fierce  pride  and  deep 
humility  might  as  well  be  dead. 


FROM 

EDITORIAL 

PAGE 

N.  Y.  WORLD- 
TELEGRAM 
JUNE  15,  1944 


( 

»KFVFP   .TOP  TTTT    VHTPPF  OWP  TT-t  V-  TOP  ■    FTP^TTNTO  FTPTH  IQ^- 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


VOL.  55.  NO.  123 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  23,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


No  Impact  of 
Television  on 
Pictures  Soon 


Financing  Conservatism 
Seen  by  Raibourn 

\  Television  will  not  have  much 
impact  upon  motion  pictures  or  any 
other  existing  form  of  entertain- 
ment or  culture  until  a  satisfactory 
profit  becomes  available  from  it,  Paul 
Raibourn,  head  of  Paramount's  tele- 
vision activities,  told  the  Radio  Ex- 
ecutives Club  here  last  night  at  their 
television  seminar  session.  Raibourn's 
subject  was  the  impact  of  television 
on  motion  pictures. 

"There  have  been  several  ambitious 
attempts  to  launch  television  on  its 
way,"  Raibourn  pointed  out,  but  like 
the  launching  of  motion  pictures, 
sound  motion  pictures  and  color  mo- 
tion pictures,  television  will  not  be 
launched  in  a  big  way  until  business 
entrepeneurs  can  get  back  within  a 
reasonable  length  of  time  their  origi- 
nal capital  plus  a  comfortable  profit. 

"Motion  picture  companies  may 
make  films  for  television  and  televi- 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


N.  J.  Allied  Weighs 
Product  Shortage 


Atlantic  City,  June  22. — The  an- 
nual convention  of  Allied  Theatre 
Owners  of  New  Jersey  at  the  Hotel 
Chelsea  here  closed  today  with  gen- 
eral attention  being  given  by  speakers 
to  the  shortage  of  product  and  to 
appeals  for  improved  Jersey  efforts 
in  the  current  Fifth  War  Loan  drive. 

Distribution  representatives  who 
addressed  the  session  ascribed  most 
of  the  product  shortage  in  this  area 
to  the  difficulties  of  getting  first  run 
playing  time.  Lack  of  first  run  out- 
lets delays  openings  of  new  product, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


MGM  Managers  to 
Make  Visits  Here 


M-G-M  branch  managers  will 
again  start  visiting  the  home  office  at 
the  rate  of  two  a  week  shortly  after 
William  F.  Rodgers,  vice-president 
and  general  sales  manager,  returns 
from  a  visit  to  the  coast.  Each  will 
spend  a  week  here  getting  acquainted 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Print  Processing 
Behind  in  Britain 


London,  June  22. — The  severely  lim- 
ited color  film  processing  facilities 
available  here  as  a  result  of  the  re- 
quirements of  government  and  Army 
film  units  is  creating  a  serious  dis- 
tribution problem  for  commercial 
films,  the  Kinematograph  Renters  So- 
ciety general  council  was  informed 
today. 

Topical  films  in  Technicolor  await- 
ing distribution  here,  among  them 
Paramount's  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Was- 
sell,"  are  in  a  particularly  sensitive 
position  inasmuch  as  prolonged  de- 
lays in  color  print  processing  may 
lead  to  loss  of  topical  value  at  the 
box  office,  it  was  pointed  out.  Proc- 
essing- of  "Dr.  Wassell"  prints  now 
appears  to  be  destined  for  postpone- 
ment here  until  1945. 

As  a  result  of  the  situation  methods 
were  discussed  at  the  KRS  general 
council  meeting  of  granting  processing 
priorities  for  the  limited  color  facili- 
ties available  to  new  and  important 
features  and  to  Walt  Disney  short 
subjects  over  reissues  and  the  dubbing 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


WLB  Approves  WB 
Sound  Men's  Pact 

The  War  Labor  Board  has  ap- 
proved the  first  of  the  new  contracts, 
recently  negotiated  between  the 
IATSE  and  Altec,  RCA  and  the 
sound  maintenance  departments  of  the 
large  circuits  and  covering  560  sound 
maintenance  men.  The  first  contract 
approved  by  the  WLB  covers  some 
33  sound  maintenance  men  through- 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Name  Liberty  Ship 
To  Honor  Warners 

Richmond,  Cal.,  June  22. — 
The  last  of  the  Liberty  ships 
—the  599th— to  be  built  at 
the  Henry  Kaiser  plant  at 
Richmond  yard  here,  when 
completed  shortly,  will  be 
christened  the  "Benjamin 
Warner,"  in  honor  of  the 
father  of  the  Warner  Bros. — 
Harry  M.,  Col.  Jack  L.  and 
Maj.  Albert  Warner. 

The  "Benjamin  Warner" 
will  be  sponsored  by  Lita  B. 
Warner,  daughter  of  the  late 
Sam  Warner,  while  Mrs.  Anne 
Robbins,  oldest  daughter  of 
Benjamin  Warner,  will  be 
matron  of  honor. 


Group  Union 
Filing  Stands 


Washington,  June  22.  • —  No 
changes  will  be  made  in  the  former 
regulations  for  the  filing -of  financial 
statements  by  unions  and  other  taxr 
exempt  organizations,  due  by  August 
15,  it  was  announced  today  by  the 
Internal  Revenue  Bureau. 

It  was  disclosed,  however,  that 
where  a  parent  organization  files 
group  returns  for  its  local  organiza- 
tions, the  parent  must  file  a  separate 
return  covering  its  own  income  and 
expenditures.  As  reported  yesterday, 
any  subordinate  organization  included 
in  a  group  .return  which  has  income 
from  rents  or  business  activities  must 

{Continued  on  page  3) 


$29,357,000  in  Bonds 
Raised  at  3  Rallies 


A  total  of  $29,357,000  in  war  bonds 
was  realized  at  three  industry  bond 
rallies  in  Houston,  Tex.,  Atlantic  City 
and  New  York  to  boost  the  totals  be- 
ing accumulated  for  the  "Fighting 
Fifth"  War  Loan  drive. 

With  appearances  of  the  Hollywood 
"Stars  on  Parade"  unit  in  Atlantic 
City  and  Wilmington,  Del.,  to  aid  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan  drive  the 
troupe  will  next  appear  in  Norfolk, 
Va.,  today  and  in  Richmond  tomor- 
row, accompanied  by  the  Army  Air 
Forces  Training  Command  orchestra. 

Sponsored  by  the  Amusement  Men's 
Association,  the  Atlantic  City  show 
was  a  sellout  at  the  4,200-seat  Warner 
Theatre,  with  $7,200,000  in  bonds  real- 
ized. The  house  was  scaled  from  $25 
to  $50,000  per  seat. 


Paul  Whiteman,  Oscar  Levant, 
Lynn  Bari,  Pvt.  John  Payne,  Lt.  Wil- 
liam Holden,  Mischa  Auer,  Rosemary 
Lane,  Dennis  O'Keefe  and  Eileen 
Woods  are  in  the  troupe,  most  of 
which  entertained  patients  at  the  En- 
gland General  Hospital  No.  1,  where 
Payne  took  charge  of  a  bond-selling 
rally  conducted  by  the  patients.  Mem- 
bers of  the  troupe  also  appeared  before 
the  Allied  Theatre  Owners  of  New 
Jersey  convention  at  the  Chelsea 
Hotel. 


Houston  Bond  Rally 
Nots  $22,080  000 

Houston,  June  22. — Uncle  Sam's 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan  cash  reg- 
(Continued  on  page  3) 


OWI  Will  Get 
48  Dubbed 
Feature  Films 


Companies  to  Furnish 
Films  in  3  Versions 


An  "agreement  in  principle"  has 
been  reached  between  the  foreign 
distribution  heads  of  eight  film 
companies  and  the  overseas  film 
bureau  of  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion whereby  the  distributors  will 
each  furnish  six  dubbed  versions  of 
Hollywood  features  for  distribution  in 
Europe's  liberated  areas  by  the  Army 
Psychological  Warfare  Board,  in 
which  is  incorporated  the  OWl's  film 
unit. 

The  films,  which  are  being  acquired 
by  OWT  to  provide  Europe's  liberated 
millions  escape  entertainment  and  to 
give  a  picture  of  American  life,  will 
eventually  number  48,  two  in  French, 
two  in  Italian  and  two  in  German, 
from  the  eight  companies.  They  will 
supplement  the  40  films  with  foreign 
subtitles  already  acquired  by  the 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Films  to  Troops 
In  France  by  Sat. 


London,  June  22. — American  troops 
in  France  soon  will  be  able  to  see  the 
same  films  concurrently  with  their 
showing  to  the  military  in  camps  in 
England,  under  arrangements  approved 
today  by  the  Kinematograph  Renters 
Society  general  council. 

London  distributors  will  supply  the 
films  at  token  royalty  terms  agreed 
upon  with  the  British  Joint  Ordering 
Board  and  the  army  will  fly  them  to 
and  from  France,  where  free  troop 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Hearing  on  RKO 
Circuit  Union's  Plea 

The  New  York  State  Labor  Rela- 
tions Board  held  a  hearing  here  this 
week  on  the  petition  of  the  newly-or- 
ganized Motion  Picture  Theatre  Man- 
agers, Assistants  and  Cashiers  Union 
to  be  designated  collective  bargaining 
agent  for  managers,  assistants  and 
cashiers  in  RKO  theatres  in  the  metro- 
politan area. 

The  hearing  followed  the  submission 
of  briefs  by  both  sides  as  directed  by 
the  SLAB.  A  decision  on  the  petition 
is  expected  shortly  with  an  election 
expected  to  be  ordered, 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  23,  194* 


FP-C  Exploitation 
Plans  Stepped  up 
As  War  Boom  Fades 


Banff  Springs,  Alberta,  June  22. 
— Declaring  that  the  end  of  the  war- 
time boom  is  in  sight,  vice-president 
R.  W.  Bolstad  of  Famous  Players- 
Canadian  is  urging  augmented  ex- 
ploitation activities  in  view  of  indica- 
tions that  a  business  recession  is  al- 
ready being  felt  in  some  sections  of 
the  Dominion. 

Speaking  here  at  FP-C's  three-day 
Western  managers'  convention,  which 
closes  tonight,  Bolstad  brought  out 
that  many  employes  returning  from 
war  service  may  be  unwilling  to  ac- 
cept junior  positions  with  the  com- 
pany after  an  absence  of  three  or  four 
years.  He  urged  the  managers  to 
join  with  government  rehabilitation 
officials  in  finding  suitable  places  else- 
where for  those  to  whom  FP-C  has  a 
civilian-reinstatement  obligation.  Bol- 
stad suggested  that  not  more  than  50 
per  cent  of  the  employees  on  leave  for 
war  service  will  return  to  their  old 
positions  in  the  circuit  and  that  pro- 
vision must  be  made  for  those  who 
have  grown  up  while  away. 

President  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons  heads 
the  Toronto  home  office  delegation  at- 
tending the  convention.  Also  present 
are  chief  booker  Ben  Geldsaler  and 
James  R.  Nairn  of  the  advertising 
department.  The  meetings  have  dealt 
principally  with  the  discontinuance  of 
double  bills  and  "Fotonite"  features 
during  the  coming  season. 

WB  Takes  Leases  on 
2  of  Its  Theatres 

Philadelphia,  June  22. — Warner 
Theatses  will  take  over  operation  of 
the  Strand  and  Victor  theatres  in 
Pottstown  beginning  Oct.  1,  it  was  re- 
ported at  the  local  Warner  office  yes- 
terday. The  two  •  houses  owned  by 
Warners  have  been  operated  by  Wil- 
liam Goldman  under  lease. 

Ted  Schlanger,  zone  manager,  and 
other  officials  of  the  local  branch,  are 
making  plans  for  operating  the 
houses. 


Personal  Mention 


Banowitz  Gets  'Follies' 

Chicago,  June  22.— Ben  Banowitz, 
operator  of  four  theatres  here,  has  ac- 
quired local  stage  rights  to  "Swing- 
Shift  Follies,"  feature  of  the  Blue 
Network.  Banowitz  will  follow  the 
pattern  set  in  Detroit  and  New  York 
for  staging  the  production,  drawing 
talent  from  local  defense  plants.  Ne- 
gotiations are  underway  for  booking 
the  show  in  20  theatres  in  this  terri- 
tory. Billy  Weinberg,  former  Bano- 
witz theatre  manager,  is  handling  the 
program. 


To  Plan  Blue  Expansion 

Don  Gilman,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  the  Western  division  of  the 
Blue  Network  is  in  New  York  this 
week  to  discuss  plans  for  the  expan- 
sion of  the  network's  facilities  on  the 
Pacific  Coast  which  call  for  a  remod- 
eling of  Station  KECA  in  Hollywood 
and  the  erection  of  a  new  building  in 
Los  Angeles. 


CHARLES  SKOURAS,  president 
of  National  Theatres,  will  ar- 
rive here  from  Hollywood  today  to 
enroll  his  son,  Charles,  Jr.,  at  the 
United  States  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point. 

• 

Steve  Edwards,  Republic  home  of- 
fice publicity  representative,  will  re- 
turn here  from  Providence  on  Mon- 
day. 

• 

Bob  Goodfried,  United  Artists  ex- 
ploiteer,  has  returned  to  the  home  of- 
fice from  Portland,  Ore. 

• 

Phil  Fox,  Columbia  branch  man- 
ager in  Buffalo,  and  salesmen  Jim 
Fater,  George  Ferguson  and  Jack 
Bullwinkle  have  returned  to  Buffalo 
from  New  York. 

• 

Sgt.  and  Mrs.  Harry  Kaplowitz 
became  the  parents  of  a  son  born  yes- 
terday in  New  York.  Sgt.  Kaplow- 
itz, former  assistant  to  Sam  E.  Mor- 
ris in  the  Warner  Theatres  home  of- 
fice, is  now  on  active  duty  in  England. 
• 

Saul  Rogers,  film  attorney,  left 
yesterday  for  Atlantic  City  for  a  few 
days. 


MORRIS  GOODMAN,  Republic 
vice-president  in  charge  of  for- 
eign sales,  will  leave  next  month  for 
Mexico. 

• 

Ted  Baldwin  of  Columbia  was  re- 
cently named  second  vice-president  of 
the  Publicity  Club  of  New  York. 
• 

Miss  Diana  Skouras,  daughter  of 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Spyros  Skouras,  will 
be  married  Wednesday  morning -in  the 
Holy  Trinity  Church  at  Mamaroneck 
to  Dr.  George  Andeeson  Fowler. 
• 

Meyer  Fox,  booker  for  Columbia  in 
Buffalo,  is  vacationing  in  Boston. 
• 

Roy  Haines,  Western  and  South- 
ern division  sales  manager  for  War- 
ners, is  in  Detroit  for  a  few  days. 
• 

Eddie  Selette,  manager  of  War- 
ners' Strand  in  Pittsburgh,  returned 
to  that  city  yesterday  from  New 
York. 

• 

Larry  Reid,  executive  editor  of 
Fawcett  Publications'  screen  maga- 
zines, left  Wednesday  for  Hollywood 
for  a  month's  stay. 


Republic  to  Set  Up 
Mexico  Exchange 

Morris  Goodman,  Republic's  vice- 
nresident  in  charge  of  foreign  sales, 
will  leave  shortly  for  Mexico  to  set 
up  a  sales  distribution  company  in 
Mexico  City,  which  will  replace  the 
company's  existing  Mexican  franchise 
holder.  _  This  is  part  of  Republic's 
continuing  policy  of  expansion  in 
Mexico  and  South  America.  Previ- 
ously acquired  in  the  last  year  were 
exchanges  in  Argentina,  Brazil,  Para- 
guay and  Uruguay,  formerly  operated 
by  franchise  holders,  and  the  setting 
up  in  Puerto  Rico  of  its  own  ex- 
change. 

Additional  foreign  sales  outlets  are 
expected  to  be  acquired  by  Republic 
in  the  next  six  months. 

Republic  is  also  going  ahead  with 
a  Mexican  production  program  and 
recently  signed  James  A.  Fitzpatrick, 
travelogue  producer,  to  make  a  series 
of  features  which  will  employ  native 
talent  when  possible.  '  iFitzpatrick's 
first  is  expected  to  start  soon. 


Mexico  Played  379 
American  Films 


Mexico  City,  June  22.  — Only  43 
Mexican  pictures  were  exhibited  in 
Mexico  in  1943,  as  compared  to  379 
American  screened  in  the  same  peri- 
od. Some  Mexican  product,  however, 
had  a  larger  gross  than  American 
pictures. 

Other  foreign  entries  were :  Russia, 
seven ;  Argentina,  five ;  Egypt,  two, 
and  Cuba  and  China,  one  each.  The 
report  neglected  to  note  two  high 
grossers,  "Desert  Victory"  (British) 
and  "The  Heart  of  a  Nation" 
(French). 


Universal  Concludes 
Chicago  Sales  Meet 

Chicago,  June  22.— Universal  con- 
cluded a  three-day  regional  sales 
meeting  at  the  Blackstone  Hotel  here 
today.  Production  schedules  and 
policies  revealed  at  the  recent  con- 
vention in  Los  Angeles  were  discussed 
before  branch  managers,  bookers  and 
salesmen  from  Chicago,  Minneapolis, 
Detroit  and  Milwaukee. 

A.  J.  O'Keefe,  Western  division 
manager,  who  conducted  the  sessions, 
left  for  Kansas  City  to  night  to  hold 
another  regional  meeting  there  this 
week-end. 


Envoy  Appointments 
Held  up  by  Invasion 


The  invasion  of  Europe  has  tempo 
rarily  delayed  the  appointment  of  si> 
or  more  special  industry  envoys  foi 
assignment  to  foreign  capitals  to  watcl 
American  film  interests,  it  was  learnec 
here  yesterday. 

Home  office  foreign  departmetr 
heads,  however,  are  scheduled  to  meei 
next  week  and  resume  discussion  oi 
candidates  for  appointment  to  post! 
in  London,  Rio  de  Janeiro,  Buenos- 
Aires,  Mexico  City,  Barcelona  and. 
possibly,  Moscow,  Bombay  and  else- 
where. Although  the  decision  to  open 
offices  in  these  capitals  was  reached 
more  than  a  month  ago,  selections  have 
been  held  up  by  various  wartime  diffi- 
culties. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
HELD  OVER  7th  WEEK 
A  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer'i  Picture  - 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 

SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezntnlne  Seatt  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


Brooks  and  O'Bannon 
Promoted  by  Ross 

E.  C.  O'Bannon,  Ross  Federal 
Service  branch  manager  at  New 
Haven,  has  been  promoted  to  the 
managership  at  Cincinnati  by  presi- 
dent Harry  A  Ross,  and  B.  J. 
Brooks,  national  supervisor  for  the 
New  England  area,  has  taken  over 
the  New  Haven  branch. 

O'Bannon  joined  Ross  in  1939  as  a 
field  representative  and  in  1942  was 
appointed  service  manager,  serving  at 
Dallas  and  Minneapolis.  Brooks 
started  as  a  field  representative  out 
of  Boston. 


ON  SCREEN 

Charles  BOYER 
Ingrid  BERGMAN 
Joseph  COTTEN 

in  M-G-M's 

'GASLIGHT' 


INPERSON^ 
DENNY 

BECKNER 

and  ORCH. 

GAY  NINETIES 
REVUE 


PALACE 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


TAMARA 
TOUMANOVA 


GREGORY 
PECK 


"DAYS  OF  GLORY" 


Goldwyn  to  Release 
'Way  Ahead9  Here 

"The  Way  Ahead,"  produced  by 
Two  Cities  Films  in  England  as  a 
tribute  to  the  British  Army,  will  ar- 
rive by  clipper  here  next  week  for 
its  American  preview,  the  Sam  Gold- 
wyn office  reported  yesterday.  Gold- 
wyn holds  all  distribution  rights  to  the 
film  outside  of  the  British  colonies. 
David  Niven  is  starred.  An  early  re- 
lease is  planned. 


PARAMOUNTS 

GOING  MY  WAY' 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


MB  PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS  i 

f       GARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLE'S 

"TheS 


"The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell" 


In  Technicolor 


49th  St. 


20th  Century-Fox  Presents 

HOME  IN  INDIANA' 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 

PLUS  ON  STAGE  —  ENRIC  MAD  Rl  GU  ERA 
and  ORCHESTRA  .  HAZEL  SCOTT 
JOE  BESSER  .  CARMEN  AMAYA  &  CO. 
BUY  MORE  D  V  V  7th  Ave.  & 
BONDS      Rv  A  I      50th  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley.  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown.  Publisher:  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday.  Sunday 
ind  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue.  Rockefeller  Center.  New  York.  20.  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco.  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley.  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President:  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary:  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau.  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  WilHr-n  R.  Weaver.  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Bum  op.  Manager;  Peter  Barn  up,  Editor;  cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Otter  Quigley  Publication!:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Friday,  June  23,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


NTo  Early  Impact  of 
relevision  on  Films 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

ion  may  supplement  feature  film  fare 
a  theatre  programs,"  Raibourn  de- 
clared, "but  on  the  other  hand,  tele- 
ision  might  displace  16  mm  films  in 
he  home  or  schools  in  a  reasonable 
leriod  of  time  and  thereby  destroy  the 
iream   of   film  manufacturing  com- 
>anies  of  an  expanding  market." 
i  Contrasting  the  relative  appeal  of 
television  as  against  film  entertain- 
nent,  Raibourn  emphasized  the  fact 
hat  while  television  has  the  advantage 
)f   permitting   simultaneous  viewing 
md  hearing  in  many  places  of  a  single 
;vent  at  the  time  that  event  is  taking 
place,  film  can  record  the  event  and 
dlow  it  to  be  seen  later.    "Time  of 
i/iewing  a  film  can  be  selected  with  a 
/iew  to  the  comforts  and  convenience 
bf  an  audience,"  he  said.    Further,  in 
bointing  out  the  advantage  of  film  en- 
tertainment, he  added,  "An  order  of 
^precedence  can  be  arranged  by  which 

I  those  who  see  are  placed  in  the  same 
time  sequence  as  their  willingness  to 
aay  a  large  or  small  amount  for  that 
privilege." 

Television  vs.  Pictures 
"Television,  so  far,  has  been  more 
or  less  visually  imperfect  as  compared 
with  motion  pictures,"  Raibourn  said. 
These  visual  imperfections  are  both 
artistic  in  view  of  the  attempt  at  spon- 
taniety  and  those  which  are  inherent 
jiin  the  physical  media  used,  he  pointed 

II  put. 

"There  is  one  phase  of  the  motion 
picture  field  where  television  is  going 
to  definitely  apply,"  Raibourn  said, 
"and  this  is  the  theatre  itself."  "We 
may  have  purely  television  theatres, 
as  we  now  have  news  theatres,  but 
there  is  reason  to  doubt  that  it  is  a 
probability,"  he  indicated,  pointing  to 
the  dearth  of  material  which  televi- 
sion is  in  a  position  to  offer  and  still 
have  box  office  appeal.  "Television 
could  compete  with  films  as  a  dis- 
tribution medium  to  the  theatre  if  the 
programs  were  shown  over  and  over 
but  the  present  economics  are  against 
such  a  possibility,"  according  to  Rai- 
bourn. 

Raibourn  outlined  Paramount's  rea- 
sons for  acquiring  television  interests, 
stating  that  the  company,  in  view  of 
its  extensive  theatre  holdings,  was 
interested  in  any  medium  that  might 
have  an  effect  upon  the  box  office  re- 
turns of  these  theatres.  "The  theatre 
will  lend  certain  values  to  television 
which  are  not  possible  in  the  ordinary 
home  assembly,"  Raibourn  said.  He 
also  discussed  the  new  Scophony  and 
RCA  large  theatre  screen  television 
mediums. 


$29,357,000  in  Bonds 
Raised  at  3  Rallies 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
ister  rang  up  $22,080,000  here  last 
night  as  10,000  fans  overflowed  the 
Coliseum  here  for  the  Bond  Boxing 
Carnival  sponsored  jointly  by  the 
War  Activities  Committee,  the  Hous- 
ton War  Sports  Activities  Committee 
and  the  Elks  Club  Bond  group,  which 
underwrote  the  $8,000  expense  of  the 
show. 

R.  J.  O'Donnell,  "Fighting  Fifth" 
national  industry  chairman,  was  mas- 
ter of  ceremonies,  flying  here  from 
New  York.  Fans  bought  bonds  to  get 
tickets,  and  the  show  raised  more  than 
25  per  cent  of  Harris  County's  Fifth 
War  Loan  quota,  giving  Houston  the 
lead  in  bond  sales  percentage  over 
the  nation  with  about  30  per  cent  of 
the  quota  already  sold,  according  to 
officials.  Commander  Jack  Dempsey 
refereed  the  final  bout. 


Films  to  Troops 
In  France  by  Sat. 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

shows  will  be  given  in  requisitioned 
French  cinemas.  Officials  hope  to  put 
on  the  opening  show  in  France  next 
Saturday. 

Meanwhile,  military  commanders  at 
Supreme  Headquarters  here  have  ex 
pressed  their  appreciation  to  distribu- 
tors for  having  provided  films  and 
shows  for  24-hour  grinds  for  the 
troops  while  they  were  awaiting  em 
barkation  orders  at  Secret  points  prior 
to  D-Day. 

"The  motion  picture  industry  did  a 
magnificent  job  in  keeping  Allied  sol 
diers  in  good  heart  and  quiet  mind," 
was  one  high  ranking  officer's  tribute. 


N.  Y.  Paramount  Nets 
$77,000  at  Bond  Rally 

A  total  of  $77,000  in  bonds  was  sold 
at  a  "Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan  rally 
at  the  New  York  Paramount  Theatre 
this  week,  Robert  M.  Weitman,  man- 
aging director,  has  announced. 

Ed  Sullivan  brought  in  $66,000  of 
the  total  at  the  first  evening  perform- 
ance, and  Ben  Grauer  was  responsible 
for  the  remainder.  Sullivan's  total 
was  augmented  by  a  $10,000  bond  pur- 
chase by  Pvt.  Benny  Benjemen,  com- 
poser of  "When  the  Lights  Go  On 
Again  All  Over  the  World." 


Loew's  Sets  10 
Bond  Premieres 

Loew's  theatres  have  10  War  Bond 
premieres  scheduled  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan,  with  admission  only  through  the 
purchase  of  bonds.  With  the  exception 
of  the  Yonkers,  which  will  premiere 
"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  on 
July  5th  at  8:45  p.m.,  all  the  pre- 
mieres will  be  held  at  midnight. 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  will 
be  shown  at  midnight  at  the  175th 
Street ;  on  July  3  at  the  Boro  Park ; 
on  July  7  at  the  Apollo,  Pitkin,  Pros- 
pect and  American  Theatres.  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  will  be  shown 
at  midnight  (July  7th)  at  the  Valencia 
and  Paradise  Theatres,  while  the 
Metropolitan  will  offer  "Two  Girls 
and  a  Sailor"  and  a  stage  show  at 
midnight  on  Friday,  July  7. 


Pittsburgh  Bond  Show 
Nets  Half  Million 

Pittsburgh,  June  22. — More  than 
$500,000  in  War  bonds  was  netted  at 
the  Enright  Theatre  Fifth  War  Loan 
show  held  Tuesday  evening  here,  it 
was  reported  by  M.  A.  Silver,  zone 
manager  for  Warners  here.  The  stage 
show  was  headed  by  Ella  Fitzgerald, 
the  Ink  Spots  and  Cootie  Williams' 
orchestra. 

Another  bond  show  has  been  sched- 
uled for  tomorrow  night  at  the  Fulton 
Theater  while  arrangements  are  being 
completed  for  premieres  at  Loew's 
Penn  and  the  Warner  Theatres.  More 
than  204  other  bond  shows  are  being 
held  throughout  Western  Pennsylvania 
under  the  supervision  of  Silver  and 
Herb  Greenblatt  of  the  local  RKO  ex- 
change. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Group  Union  Finance 
Reports  to  Stand 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

file  a  separate  balance  sheet  as  part  of 
the  group  report. 

The  form  for  the  filing  of  these  re- 
turns was  made  available  last  Satur- 
day and  a  formal  announcement  was 
scheduled  to  be  made  early  this  week. 
The  announcement  was  held  up,  how- 
ever, while  Bureau  and  Treasury  offi- 
cial reconsidered  the  form  in  the  light 
of  charges  that  organized  labor  had 
secured  a  "victory"  in  the  file  joint 
returns,  but  it  was  decided  that  if 
more  definite  information  regarding 
the  operations  of  individual  unions  was 
to  be  required,  the  rule  to  that  ef- 
fect should  be  specifically  laid  down 
by  Congress. 


Hollywood,  June  22 

BEN  STOLOFF  has  reported  to 
RKO  Radio  to  start  work  as  a 
producer  under  Sid  Rogell's  supervi- 
sion. A  former  director  for  RKO,  he 
returns  after  three  years. 

• 

"G.  I.  Josie,"  a  two-reel  color  sub- 
ject, will  be  produced  by  Gordon  Hol- 
lingshead  for  Warners  with  Crane 
Wilbur  directing.  It  depicts  the  ac- 
tivities of  the  U.  S.  Marine  Corps 
Women's  Reserve. 

• 

Robert  Wilmot,  former  European 
director,  has  been  signed  by  Columbia 
to  direct  "A  Nazi  in  the  U.  S.  A." 
Wilmot  collaborated  with  Charles 
Kenyon  on  the  story  on  which  the 
film  is  based. 

• 

Capt.  Madison  Lacy,  who  has  been 
placed  on  inactive  status  by  the  Army, 
has  reported  to  the  Selznick- Vanguard 
publicity  department  here  as  portrait 
photographer  and  still  man. 

• 

Joe  E.  Brown  will  arrive  in  Sacra- 
mento tomorrow  to  be  the  guest  of 
the  city  and  to  take  part  in  launch- 
ing the  Fifth  War  Loan  in  that  terri- 
tory. 

• 

Lester  Cowan  has  signed  Irving 
Rubine  as  his  executive  assistant.  Ru- 
bine  will  assist  Cowan  on  three  pic- 
tures which  will  be  released  by  Unit- 
ed Artists. 

• 

Only  two  Monogram  Westerns  re- 
mained to  be  filmed  for  completion 
of  its  1943-44  program.  They  are 
"Fool's  Gold"  and  "Trigger  Law." 


20th-Fox  Officials  to 
Confer  on  'Wilson* 

Hollywood,  June  22.  —  Spyros 
Skouras,  Thomas  J.  Connors,  W.  J. 
Kupper,  Charles  Schlaifer  and  Jules 
Fields  will  arrive  here  next  week  for 
conferences  with  Joseph  M.  Schenck 
and  Darryl  F.  Zanuck  on  the  exploita- 
tion campaign  for  the  "Wilson,"  fea- 
ture. 


16  MM  D-Day  Films  Out 

Eight  and  16  mm  prints  of  films  of 
the  Invasion  of  Europe  and  the  fall 
of  Rome  have  been  released  by  Castle 
Films  for  distribution  here  and  over- 
seas, it  was  disclosed  yesterday. 


Australia  Gross  Up 
Despite  70%  Tax 


Film  business  in  Australia  is  good, 
but  it  needs  to  be  good  in  light  of 
the  Government's  70  per  cent  tax  on 
gross  profits,  Herschel  Stuart,  Na- 
tional Theatres'  Australian  represen- 
tative, stated  here  this  week.  He  is 
conferring  with  home  office  executives 
and  "seeing  a  few  shows." 

The  good  business  is  the  result  of 
strict  rationing,  leaving  few  outlets 
for  excess  spending  money;  and  the 
theatre  is  a  staple  outlet,  Stuart  said. 
He  added  that  picture  runs  generally 
are  nine  months  behind  those  in  this 
country.  Formerly,  they  had  been 
about  four.  Pictures  now  run  six  or 
seven  weeks ;  they  "run  as  long  as 
there  is  any  life  in  them." 

Shipping  to  Australia  is  delayed  but 
slightly,  awaiting  the  necessary  pri- 
orities. It  generally  takes  two  to 
three  months  to  ship  film.  There 
have  been  no  sinkings  of  American 
shipments,  but  some  British,  and  there 
have  had  to  be  repeat  orders  for  Brit- 
ish films. 

Theatres,  rationed  in  the  use  of  pa- 
per and  display  boards,  are  making 
the  best  of  it,  using  the  boards  over 
again,  he  said.  Masonite,  often  used 
before  the  war,  may  not  be  used  now, 
he  said. 

National  Theatres  holds  a  major 
stock  block  in  Hoyts  Theatres,  Ltd., 
in  Australia.  Stuart  has  represented 
the  U.  S.  circuit  for  three  years. 


WLB  Approves  WB 
Sound  Men's  Pact 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

out  the  country  employed  by  the  War- 
ner theatre  circuit. 

Provisions  of  the  new  contract, 
which  are  retroactive  to  May  1,  pro- 
vide for  raising  the  present  minimum 
to  $92  a  week,  two  weeks'  vacation 
with  pay  after  a  year's  service, 
seniority  rights  and  other  benefits  re- 
lating to  hours.  The  new  contract 
also  provides  for  the  engineers  to 
work  on  the  installation  of  television 
in  theatres. 


Cantor  to  Resume 
'Purple  Heart*  Tour 

Eddie  Cantor  will  leave  here  for 
Hollywood  today,  stopping  over  at 
Washington,  Cleveland,  Ogden,  Utah ; 
Portland  and  San  Francisco,  where 
he  will  play  his  "Purple  Heart"  cir- 
cuit show  at  rehabilitation  hospitals. 

Cantor,  who  has  completed  his  cur- 
rent series  of  broadcasts  from  New 
York,  will  also  participate  in  bond 
rallies  in  Cleveland  and  Portland  en 
route.  While  in  Hollywood,  he  will 
discuss  plans  for  producing  another 
film  for  RKO. 


Sol  Francis  Appointed 

Los  Angeles,  June  22. — Monogram 
today  appointed  Sol  Francis  Midwest 
district  manager  supervising  Dallas, 
Kansas  City,  Omaha,  Oklahoma  City 
and  Des  Moines  exchanges.  He  will 
make  his  headquarters  in  Dallas. 


/ 


m 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  23,  1944 


N.  J.  Allied  Weighs 
Product  Shortage 


OWI  Will  Get  48  Dubbed 
Films  in  3  Languages 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

and,  consequently,  its  subsequent  re- 
lease, the  exhibitors  here  were  told. 

Leon  Bamberger,  of  RKO,  speaking 
on  behalf  of  the  industry  Fifth  War 
Loan  drive,  said  that  Jersey  has  fall- 
en behind  other  areas  in  scheduling 
war  bond  premieres.  He  said  that 
3,831  such  premieres  have  been  set 
thus  far  in  the  entire  country.  Harry 
Lowenstein,  Jersey  Allied  president, 
added  a  plea  to  Jersey  exhibitors  for 
more  bond  premieres.  Earle  Swei- 
gert,  Paramount  Philadelphia  man- 
ager, speaking  for  Claude  Lee,  who 
was  unable  to  be  present,  stressed 
the  bond  drive  and  industry  war  ac- 
tivities. 

20th-Fox  Host 

Twentieth  Century-Fox  was  host  to 
the  delegates  at  a  cocktail  party  pre- 
ceding the  grand  ball  which  wound 
up  the  social  affairs.  Mayor  Joseph 
Altman  of  Atlantic  City  spoke  at  the 
latter  gathering.  Other  speakers  in- 
cluded Sidney  Samuelson,  H.  M. 
Richey  and  Lowenstein.  Life  mem- 
bership certificates  in  Jersey  Allied 
were  presented  to  Samuelson  and  P. 
S.  Harrison,  and  wallets  were  pre- 
sented to  Abram  F.  Myers,  Irving 
Dollinger,  George  Gold,  Lee  New- 
bury, Joseph  Seider  and  Leon  Rosen- 
blatt. All  but  Myers  are  past  presi- 
dents of  the  Jersey  organization.  _ 

Late  yesterday,  the  convention 
adopted  a  resolution  opposing  sales  of 
pictures  on  percentage  terms  and  de- 
manding flat  rentals  on  all  pictures. 
The  resolution  authorized  a  fund- 
raising  move  to  obtain  the  objectives 
named  by  legal  processes  should  ne- 
gotiations fail. 

Protest  Film 
Ridicule  on  BBC 

London,  June  22. — The  Kinemato- 
graph  Renters  Society  general  coun- 
sel gave  attention  today  to  alleged 
hypercritical  observations  on  motion 
pictures  by  a  British  Broadcasting  Co. 
commentator  in  a  number  of  recent 
broadcasts. 

Described  as  having  an  "intellec- 
tualist's"  preoccupation  for  wisecrack- 
ing about  popular  films,  the  com- 
mentator is  said  to  have  moved  Joseph 
Friedman,  Columbia  managing  direc- 
tor here,  to  object  to  his  curt  remarks 
concerning  "Cover  Girl."  Friedman's 
protest  was  withdrawn  when  he  was 
given  official  assurance  that  BBC  has 
dealt  firmly  with  its  commenator.  In 
addition,  influential  representations  are 
being  made  to  BBC  to  bring  its  com- 
mentators further  into  line  on  matters 
of  popular  entertainment  and  to  avoid 
employment  of  "intellectualist  wise- 
crackers." 

ITOA  Pledges  Aid 
To  Jewish  Appeal 

Members  of  the  Independent  Thea- 
tre Owners  Association  here  were 
pledged  to  support  the  United  Jewish 
Appeal  drive  at  the  ITOA  meeting 
held  yesterday  at  the  Hotel  Astor.  A 
committee  has  been  appointed  to  solicit 
contributions  from  independent  thea- 
tre operators  in  the  metropolitan  area. 

Sam  Rinzler  addressed  the  meet- 
ing, stressing  the  importance  of  the 
UJA  campaign  and  urging  theatre 
owners  to  cooperate.  President  Har- 
ry  Brandt  conducted  the  session. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

OWI  and  currently  being  exhibited 
in  Italy  and  other  liberated  areas. 

Additionally,  many  companies  are 
building  up  a  huge  backlog  of  dubbed 
versions  of  their  outstanding  product 
in  French  and  Italian  for  commercial 
distribution  after  the  OWI  overseas 
film  bureau  relinquishes  control,  as 
reported  by  Motion  Picture  Daily 
on  June  8.  Many  titles  have  already 
been  dubbed  or  are  in  the  process  of 
dubbing  with  a  mad  scramble  ensuing 
for  existing  facilities  with  available 
raw  stock,  sound  tracks  and  foreign 
speaking  talent  looming  as  handicaps 
for  some  companies. 

Roundup 

A  roundup  of  the  eight  companies' 
foreign  departments  revealed  the  fol- 
lowing titles  ready  in  French  and 
Italian  with  dubbing  in  German  not 
very  far  advanced  if  at  all : 

Joseph  Hummel,  Warners'  foreign 
distribution  manager,  reported  that  18 
Warner  features  have  already  been 
dubbed  in  French,  and  10  in  Italian, 
"with  more  in  production."  He  indi- 
cated that  the  dubbed  versions  stand 
to  obtain  wider  distribution  than  those 
with  super-imposed  titles.  Warners 
have  the  following  features  completed 
in  French :  "Sergeant  'York,"  "All 
This  and  Heaven,  Too,"  "The  Sea 
Hawk,"  "Virginia  City,"  "They 
Drive  by  Night,"  "Till  We  Meet 
Again"  and  "Yankee  Doodle  Dandy." 
The  following  French  versions  are 
in  work:  "Air  Force,"  "Strawberry 
Blonde,"  "The  Great  Lie"  and  "Al- 
ways in  My  Heart."  The  following 
Italian  versions  have  been  completed: 
"Sergeant  York,"  "The  Sea  Hawk" 
and  "Yankee  Doodle  Dandy."  It  was 
also  reported  that  Warners  is  cur- 
rently dubbing  in  French  "Saratoga 
Trunk"  and  "Arsenic  and  Old  Lace." 

Mort  Spring,  acting  international 
department  head  for  M-G-M,  revealed 
that  his  company  was  well-advanced 
in  its  dubbing  program  with  "enough 
product  accumulated  for  a  year's  sup- 
ply." Spring  said  that  in  all  proba- 
bility the  OWI  would  obtain  the  use 
in  French  and  Italian  of  "The  Zieg- 
feld  Girl"  and  "The  Shop  Around  the 
Corner."  "If  the  OWI  wants  them, 
we'll  dub  in  German,"  he  said.  To 


Authorized  NY  Film 
Trucks  Unsuitable 

Certificates  of  authorization  of  pur- 
chase seven-ton  trucks  secured  for 
New  York  film  truckers  from  the 
WPB  through  the  aid  of  Claude  R. 
Collins,  War  Activities  Committee 
liaison,  and  H.  M.  Richey,  M-G-M 
exhibitor  relations  head,  apparently 
does  not  solve  the  truckers'  delivery 
problems. 

A  spokesman  for  the  New  York  State 
Film  Delivery  Service  said  here  yes- 
terday that  the  trucks  authorized  are 
of  the  low-gear  type  and  are  not  suit- 
able. Another  effort  will  be  made  to 
secure  authorization  for  larger  trucks, 
he  siiid. 


Robinson  Meets  Press 

Chicago,  June  22. — RKO  here  hon- 
ored Casey  Robinson  and  Toumanova, 
producer  and  star,  respectively,  of 
"Days  of  Glory/'  at  a  reception  at 
the  Blackstone  Hotel  today. 


date  18  French  and  18  Italian  versions 
of  features  have  been  produced  by 
M-G-M. 

A  Universal  foreign  department 
spokesman  said  that  the  OWI  would 
select  two  from  among  the  following 
completed  French  versions :  "It 
Started  with  Eve,"  "Destry  Rides 
Again"  and  "Phantom  of  the  Opera," 
In  work  are  "Back  Street"  and 
"Flesh  and  Fantasy,"  with  Charles 
Boyer  doing  the  French  dubbing  in 
both.  The  spokesman  stressed  that 
the  studios  were  faced  with  the  prob- 
lem of  obtaining  the  proper  voices, 
space  and  writers.  Joseph  Seidelman, 
vice-president  in  charge  of  foreign 
distribution  for  Universal,  and  Al 
Daff,  foreign  sales  supervisor,  are  at 
present  on  the  Coast  conferring  with 
studio  executives  on  future  dubbing 
plans. 

U.  A.  Plans 

Thomas  P.  Mulrooney,  assistant  to 
Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  foreign 
manager,  indicated  that  Gould,  who 
is  at  present  in  Mexico,  had  con- 
ferred with  UA  producers  on  the 
Coast  on  tentative  dubbing  plans  but 
that  UA  had  made  "none  so  far." 

Jacob  Segal,  assistant  foreign  man- 
ager for  Columbia,  said  that  his  com- 
pany would  probably  deliver  to  the 
OWI  in  French  and  Italian  "Men  in 
Her  Life"  and  "The  Lady  Is  Will- 
ing." Other  French  and  Italian  ver- 
sions by  Columbia  are :  "Cover  Girl," 
"Sahara,"  "Adam  Had  Four  Sons," 
"This  Thing  Called  Love,"  "The  Des- 
peradoes" and  "You  Belong  to  Me." 

Phil  Reisman,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  foreign  sales  for  RKO  Ra- 
dio, said  his  company  had  "none 
dubbed  at  the  moment,  but  we  con- 
template dubbing  in  the  future." 

A  Paramount  foreign  department 
representative  observed  that  his  com- 
pany has  adopted  a  policy  of  "watch- 
ful waiting"  as  far  as  dubbing  was 
concerned  "but  had  done  no  actual 
physical  work." 

Maurice  Silverstone,  vice-president 
in  charge  of  foreign  sales,  indicated 
that.  "Claudia"  was  ready  in  French 
and  "The  Song  of  Bernadette"  was 
being  prepared  for  the  Spanish- 
speaking  market. 


SV  Holds  Press  Meet 

Boston,  June  22.— Officials  of  Uni- 
versal held  a  press  conference  and 
luncheon  at  the  Ritz  Carlton  here 
yesterday.  Among  those  in  attend- 
ance were  E.  T.  Gomersall,  assistant 
general  sales  manager ;  Fred  Meyers, 
Eastern  sales  manager ;  Maurice 
Bergman,  Eastern  advertising  man- 
ager, and  John  Scully,  sales  manager 
for  the  Northeastern  district,  who 
presided. 

Lambs  Honor  Troops 
On  2nd  Anniversary 

Approximately  300  service  men 
were  honored  last  night  by  the  Lambs 
at  their  headquarters.  Yesterday 
marked  the  end  of  the  second  year 
of  Thursday  night  shows  and  dinners 
for  the  armed  forces,  sponsored  by 
the  Lambs. 

Last  night's  host  was  Ben  Blumen- 
thal.  S.  Jay  Kaufman  presided  as 
toastmaster. 


Print  Processing 
May  Impair  Films 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
of  foreign  versions  of  British  films. 
The  latter  two  classifications  now  en- 
joy equal  claim  to  the  limited  process- 
ing facilities  with  new  films.  It  is  also 
suggested  that  the  dubbing  of  Ameri- 
can reissues  be  done  in  Hollywood  en- 
tirely. 

It  is  learned  authoritatively  that 
American  distributors  here  have  agreed 
to  exchange  among  themselves  previ- 
ously contracted  for  Technicolor  proc- 
essing facilities  when  one  or  more  of 
them  have  a  topical  film  of  importance 
ready  for  release  and  processing  facili- 
ties for  it  are  not  available,  in  order 
that  box  office  values  of  such  topical 
films  will  not  be  sacrificed  through 
prolonged  processing  delays. 

Two  Cities  Films'  "Henry  V"  and 
"Blithe  Spirit"  cannot  be  processed 
until  next  year.  The  former  was  in 
production  for  two  years  and  the  lat- 
ter has  been  completed. 

Little  hope  is  held  out  by  govern- 
ment and  military  officials  for  an  im- 
provement in  the  processing  situation 
here  at  any  time  in  the  near  future. 

M-G-M  Managers 
Make  Visits  Here 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
with    innovations,    ideas    and  other 
phases  of  operations. 

Although  it  was  originally  intended 
to  have  the  managers  start  arriving 
from  the  field  early  in  March,  after 
the  company's  Chicago  sales  confer- 
ence, the  plan  was  delayed  to  permit 
them  to  concentrate  on  the  company's 
20th  anniversary  and  to  take  vacations. 

According  to  present  plans,  the 
managers  will  begin  arriving  July  10. 
Sam  Gardner,  of  Salt  Lake  City,  and 
Lou  Amacher,  of  Portland,  Ore.,  are 
the  first  scheduled.  All  will  attend 
sales  cabinet  meetings  during  their 
stay  and  visit  every  department,  in- 
cluding the  theatre  division. 

Mrs.  Will  Rogers,  65, 
Dies  in  Santa  Monica 

Santa  Monica,  Calif.,  June  22. — 
Mrs.  Will  Rogers,  65,  who  died  last 
night  at  her  home  here  after  a  linger- 
ing illness,  will  be  buried  beside  her 
husband,  the  late  humoroist  and  come- 
dian, in  Claremore,  Okla.,  at  a  time 
to  be  announced  later. 

Mrs.  Rogers  was  the  author  of 
"Will  Rogers :  His  Wife's  Story." 
She  is  survived  by  two  sons,  James, 
film  actor,  and  Will,  Jr.,  a  second 
lieutenant  with  the  Army  overseas, 
and  a  daughter,  Mary.  A  funeral 
service  will  be  held  today  at  the 
Church  of  the  Flowers,  Foresf  Lawn 
Memorial  Park,  at  a  date  to  be  an- 
nounced later. 

WAC  Luncheon  for 
Mac  Arthur  Aide 

Hollywood,  June  22. — Over  100 
leaders  in  the  industry  will  attend  the 
War  Activities  Commitee  luncheon 
for  Lieut.-Col.  Joseph  McMicking  of 
Gen.  MacArthur's  staff  next  Monday 
at  the  Beverly-Wilshire  Hotel,  it  was 
announced  by  Maj.  John  Hubbell,  in 
charge  of  the  Overseas  Motion  Picture 
Service.  Officers,  who  arrive  tomor- 
row, Friday,  will  discuss  the  system  by 
which  films  are  distributed  and  exhib- 
ited in  combat  areas. 


Friday,  June  23,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Boston  Grosses  Dip 
Below  Par  in  Heat 


Boston,  June  22. — A  heat  wave 
gripped  Boston  this  week  and  grosses 
slipped  accordingly  with  all  houses 
registering  below  par.  "Gaslight"  with 
a  combined  $34,400  gained  at  the  Or- 
pheum  and  State,  shared  the  lead  with 
"Harvest  Moon"  on  a  dual,  with  $28,- 
600. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22 : 

"Bermuda  Mystery"  (Zftth-Fox) 

RKO  BOSTON — (3,200)  (50c -65c -85c -$U0) 
7  days.     Stage  show  with  Billy  Rose  Dia- 
mond Horseshoe  unit.    Gross:  $24,000.  (Av- 
erage:  $27,800). 
"Going-  My  Way"  (Para.) 

FENWAY— (1,373)    (40c-55c-74c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $6,400.    (Average:  $8,300). 
"The  Song  of  Bernadette"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC— (1,350)  ($1.10)  7  days.  Gross: 
$13,500.     (Average:  $20,000). 
"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"Yellow  Canary"  (RKO) 

MEMORIAL—  (2,900)    (40c-55c-65c-85c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $23,000.    (Average:  $23,800). 
"Harvest  Moon"  (WB) 
"Candlelight  in.  Algeria"  (20th-Fox) 

METROPOLITAN  —  (4,367)  (40c-55c-65c 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $28,600.  (Average 
$30,000). 

"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM— (2,900)  (40c-55c-65c-85c)  ! 
days.  Gross:  $23,400.  (Average:  $23,800). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

STATE— (3,200)    (40c-55c-65c-85c)   7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $13,000). 
"Goirasr  My  Way"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT— (1.700)  (40c-55c-65c-74c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $10,000.     (Average:  $11,500). 
"Are  These  Our  Parents?"  (Mono.) 
"Waterfront"  (Mono.) 

TRANS-LUX— (990)  (30c-55c-74c)  7  days 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $7,200). 


'Voice  in  Wind' 
Injunction  Denied 

Federal  Judge  Samuel  Mandelbaum 
in  U.  S.  District  Court  here  today 
refused  to  enjoin  United  Artists  from 
distributing  "Voice  in  the  Wind,'' 
which  May  Davies  Martenet,  author 
of  a  novelette  by  the  same  title  which 
was  published  in  McC all's  Magazine 
in  August,  1942,  sought  to  enjoin, 
holding  that  the  mere  title  to  a  liter- 
ary work  conveys  no  property  right. 

The  court  held  that  the  film  and 
the  novelette  tell  entirely  different 
stories.  "It  has  been  held,"  said  Judge 
Mandelbaum,  "that  an  author  or  pro- 
prietor of  a  literary  work  has  no 
property  in  its  name  and  that  it  is 
merely  a  term  of  description  which 
serves  to  identify  the  work.  Annyone 
may  use  it,  unless  some  fraud  is  in- 
tended. No  such  claim  is  made  here 
Therefore,  the  only  right  to  damages 
the  plaintiff  may  have  would  arise 
from  any  possible  secondary  meaning 
in  the  title,  resulting  in  confusion  to 
the  public.  I  do  not  believe  that  the 
plaintiff  has  made  a  sufficient  showing 
of  irreparable  harm  to  warrant  in 
junctive  relief." 

The  plaintiff  claims  she  sold  publi 
cation  rights  to  the  novelette  and  its 
title  but  that  she  reserved  film  rights 
to  herself,  and  demanded  injunctive 
relief  and  an  accounting.  The  film 
has  been  shown  in  New  York  City, 
and  contracts  for  4,000  additional 
showings  throughout  the  country  have 
been  negotiated,  United  Artists  having 
spent  large  amounts  in  advertising 
according  to  the  papers  on  file  in  Fed- 
eral Court. 


Alan  Ladd  Injured 

Hollywood,  June  22. — Alan  Ladd 
Paramount  star,  received  a  back  in- 
jury this  week  on  the  set  of  "Two 
Years  Before  the  Mast." 


NEWEST  STARRING  ROLE  FOR 
PAULETTE  GQDDARD  BEGAN 
YESTERDAY  AT  PARAMOUNT  STUDIOS 
WHEN  "KITTY"  WENT  BEFORE  THE 
CAMERAS,   MITCHELL  LEISEN 

DIRECTING  THIS  MARKS  THIRD 

IMPORTANT  PART  FOR  PAULETTE 
THIS  YEAR,  FIRST  BEING  IN 
RECORD-BREAKI NG  "STANDI NG 
ROOM  ONLY,"   FOLLOWED  BY 
MARK  SANDRICH'S  PRODUCTION 
OF  "I  LOVE  A  SOLDIER,"  WITH 
SONNY  TUFTS,   DUE  FOR  GENERAL 
RELEASE  SEPT.  1  st. 


'WasselTTakes 
$41,000  in 
2nd  L.A.  Week 


Los  Angeles,  June  22. — "The  Story 
of  Dr.  Wassell,"  in  its  second  week 
at  the  two  local  Paramount  theatres, 
continued  to  draw  above  average.  It 
got  $41,000,  against  the  houses'  aver- 
age of  $31,300. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21 : 

"Home  in  Indiana"  (20th-Fox) 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (S0c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,200.  (Average: 
$11,200). 

"Home  in  Indiana"  (20th-Fox) 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

CHINESE — (2,500)     (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.     Gross:  $14,300.     (Average:  $15,500). 
"Are  These  Our  Parents?"  (Mono.) 
"Johnny  Doesn't  Live  Here  Any  More" 
(Mono.) 

.  EGYPTIAN— (1,500)    (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  6 
days.    Gross:  $6,200.    (Average:  $9,500). 
"Voice  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 
"That  Nazty  Nuisance"  (UA) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-85c)  7  days, 
3rd  week.    Gross:  $5,750.    (Average:  $6,200). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

HILLSTREET— (2,700)  (50c-60c-80c)  5 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $10,500.  (Average: 
$19,700). 

"Home  in  Indiana"  (2Cth-Fox) 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $27,500.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"Are  These  Our  Parents?"  (Mono.) 
"Johnny  Doesn't  Live  Here  Any  More" 
(Mono.) 

LOS  ANGELES—(2,096)  (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O) 
6  days.    Gross:  $16,500.    (Average:  $14,900). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 
"Timber  Queen"  (Para.) 

PANTAGES— (2,0%)  (50c-60c-8Sc-$1.00)  4 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $6,250.  (Average: 
$17,700). 

"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD—  (50c-60c- 
c-$1.00)  7  days,  2nd  week.     Gross:  $14,- 
000.    (Average:  $11,000). 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN  —  (50c-60c- 
80c -$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $27,000.  (Average: 
$20,300). 

"Are  These  Our  Parents?"  (Mono.) 
"Johnny  Doesn't  Live  Here  Any  More" 
(Mono.) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (50c-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)    6  days. 
Gross:  $4,600.     (Average:  $8,700). 
"Home  in  Indiana"  (ZOth-Fox) 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

UPTOWN — (1,716)     (50c-6Oc-95c-$1.0O)  7 
lays.     Gross:  $10,200.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  HOLLYWOOD— (3,000)  (50c- 
50c -80c -$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $14,110.  (Av- 
erage: $17,000). 

"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  DOWNTOWN— (3,400)  (50c- 
60c-80c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $15,142.  (Av. 
-rage:  $18,700). 

"Make  Your  Own,  Bed"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  WILTERN— (2,200)  (50c-60c- 
"0c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,208.  (Average: 
$15,200). 


Films  to  Assist  New 
ODT  Travel  Drive 

Every  available  publicity  channel, 
ncluding  screen,  radio,  newspapers 
ind  advertising,  will  be  used  to  boost 
he  Office  of  Defense  Transportation's 
lew  drive  against  civilian  travel, 
vhich  Charles  Prins,  ODT's  'national 
lirector  of  information,  outlined  at  a 
neeting  of  the  Writers  War  Board 
lere  this -  week. 

A  film  bulletin  entitled  "Last  Fur- 
ough,"  which  deals  with  the  subject 
vnd  is  scheduled  for  July  20  release, 
vill  assist  in  the  campaign,  it  was 
•tated  at  War  Activities  Committee 
leadquarters  yesterday. 

In  his  meeting  with  writers,  Prinz 
.varned  unless  civilians  cease  all  un- 
lecessary  travel,  they  will  find  them- 
selves "bumped"  out  of  drawing  rooms 
ind  even  stranded  because  of  the 
jroblem  of  transporting  wounded  from 
:he  invasion  front. 


STEADILY 
IMPROVED 


THE  PREFERENCE  of  cameramen  and 
directors  of  photography  for  Eastman  Films 
has  a  sound  basis.  In  the  face  of  wartime 
pressures,  the  exceptional  quality  of 
these  films  has  been  not  merely  main- 
tained but  steadily  improved.  Eastman 
Kodak  Company,  Rochester,  N.  Y. 

J.  E.  BRULATOUR,  INC.,  Distributors 
Fort  Lee  Chicago  Hollywood 


EASTMAN  FILMS 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

mm  I  illP  vMm    mimk  wm  Mm   wM  mmm    mm  Mm 


VOL.  55.  NO.  124 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  MONDAY,  JUNE  26,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


30%  More  Raw 
Stock  Made  in 
'43  than '41 


Restrictions  to  Continue 
Despite  Higher  Output 


Washington,  June  25. — Film  pro- 
duction in  1943  reached  a  total  of 
546,000,000  square  feet  it  was  dis- 
closed at  the  weekend  by  the  War 
Production  Board. 

Statistics  regarding  film  manufac- 
ture, showing  an  increase  last  year  of 
30  per  cent  as  compared  with  1941, 
were  given  by  officials  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Section  to  the  photographic 
film  industry  advisory  committee. 

While  excellent  progress  has  been 
made  in  increasing  the  production  of 
film  it  was  said  further  increases  in 
some  types  may  be  necessary  to  meet 
increasing  military  and  industrial 
needs.  Members  of  the  industry  com- 
mittee urged  that  military  programs 
be  developed  as  far  in  advance  as  pos- 
sible so  that  manufacturers  of  film 
might  have  time  to  plan  production. 


RCA  Expands  Film 
Equipment  Service 

A  broad  expansion  of  equipment 
service  to  motion  picture  exhibitors 
was  disclosed  today  by  the  RCA 
Victor  division  of  the  Radio  Corpora- 
tion of  America  with  the  announce- 
ment that  a  complete  line  of  theatre 
equipment  will  be  offered  exhibitors 
in  the  immediate  postwar  period. 

Homer  B.  Snook,  sales  manager  of 

(Continued  on  page  29) 


'Hargrove9  N.Y.Astor 
Run  Yields  $300,000 

M-G-M's  "See  Here,  Private  Har- 
grove" wound  up  a  14-week  run  at 
the  Astor  Theatre  here  yesterday  with 
a  gross  of  approximately  $300,000. 
No  week  grossed  less  than  $12,000 

The  week-by-week  figures  are  as 
follows:  First  week,  $26,500;  Second, 
$29,500;  third,  $27,250;  fourth,  $35,- 
100;  fifth,  $26,000;  sixth,  $22,400; 
seventh,  $21,000;  eighth,  $15,500; 
ninth,  $16,250;  10th,  $15,550;  11th, 
$16,600;  12th,  $14,300;  13th  $12,500; 
and  14th,  $13,000. 


To  Hold  Vanguard 
Sales  Talks  In 
Chicago  Today 


The  first  sales  conference  of  Van- 
guard top  executives  will  get  under- 
way in  Chicago  today  with  David  O. 
Selznick,  Neil  F.  Agnew,  vice-presi- 
dent and  distri- 
bution head  and 
Hugh  Owen, 
general  sales 
manager  for  U. 
S.  and  Canada 
participating. 

Selznick  is  a 
delegate  to  the 
Republican  Na- 
tional Conven- 
tion and  is  in 
Chicago  in  that 
capacity  and 
Agnew  and 
Owen  left  here 
for  Chicago 
over  the  week- 
end. It  was  learned  that  the  confer- 
ences will  include  discussions  of  final 

(Continued  on  page  29) 


David  O.  Selznick 


Nine  War  Activities 
Per  Warner  Official 


Reflecting  the  extensive  services  be- 
ing contributed  by  motion  picture 
theatre  personnel  to  the  war  effort, 
Warner  circuit  executives,  from  gen- 
eral manager  Joseph  Bernhard 
through  the  list  of  zone  managers, 
advertising  men,  theatre  managers  and 
others,  have  each  served  to  date  as 
chairman  of  an  average  of  nine  differ- 
ent wartime  committees,  it  is  shown 
in  a  report  on  the  circuit's  war  activi- 
ties being  compiled  by  the  home  of- 
fice. 

Approximately  400  of  the  circuit's 
(Continued  on  page  25) 


Plan  to  Meet  40% 
Cartoon  Cost  Rise 

Hollywood,  June  25.  — The 
Cartoon  Producers  Associa- 
tion has  set  June  29  for  a 
meeting  at  which  Walter 
Lantz  will  present  a  detailed 
survey  of  his  plant's  opera- 
tion costs  as  a  foundation  for 
association  action  designed  to 
effect  an  increase  in  exhibi- 
tion rental  prices  for  cartoon 
shorts.  Lantz  is  basing  his 
suggestion  on  the  assertion 
that  costs  have  risen  40  per- 
cent since  1942,  although 
prices  have  remained  static. 


Pathe  Shareholders 
To  Vote  on  Merger 


Stockholders  of  Pathe  Laboratories, 
Inc.,  a  New  Jersey  corporation  and 
of  Pathe  Laboratories,  Inc.,  a  Cali- 
fornia corporation,  will  meet  today 
in  Bound  Brook,  N.  J.,  and  Holly- 
wood, to  vote  on  the  merger  of  their 
respective  corporations  into  Pathe 
Industries,  Inc.,  an  Ohio  corporation. 

The  officers  and  directors  of  both 
corporations  have  approved  the  merger 
plan.  The  board  of  directors  of  the 
merged  corporation  will  consist  of 
Henry  J.  Guild,  Raymond  J.  Morfa, 
Robert  W.  Purcell,  J.  Stinson  Young, 
and  Kenneth  M.  Young.  The  merger 
agreement  provides  for  the  following 
officers  :  Kenneth  M.  Young,  chairman 
of  the  board ;  J.  Stinson  Young,  presi- 
dent ;  Purcell,  vice-president ;  Karl 
Herzog,  treasurer ;  C.  L.  Peckham, 
assistant  treasurer;  Arthur  B.  John- 
son, assistant  treasurer ;  M.  M.  Ma- 
lone,  secretary ;  Peckham  and  John- 
son, assistant  secretaries. 


36  from  M-G-M 
Next  Year,  35 
For  This  Year 


1944-45  Budget  to  Run 
40  to  45  Millions 


Kennedy  Hails  6Fifth  Loan ' 
Aid  of  Small  Town  Showmen 


Theatre  owners  and  managers  in  the 
small  communities  are  proving  their 
worth  in  the  "Fighting  Fifth"  War 
Loan  by  selling  more  bonds  than  ever 
before,  despite  the  fact  that  Holly- 
wood star  participation  is  not  possible 
for  them,  R.   M.  Kennedy,  industry 


campaign  vice  chairman,  declared  at 
the  weekend. 

"Proving  their  right  to  be  called 
showmen,   these   theatremen   are  ar- 
ranging their  own  bond  shows  with 
local  entertainers  and  war  heroes  from 
(Continued  on  page  29) 


Hollywood,  June  25. — M-G-M's 
production  plans  for  1944-45  point 
to  a  minimum  of  36  features  and  the 
same  amount  of  shorts  as  released 
during  the  current  season,  with  a 
budget  outlav  of  between  $40,000,- 
000  to  $45,000,000.  More  top  pic- 
tures are  said  to  be  on  the  new 
schedule  than  ever  before.  The 
company's  1943-44  budget  was  the 
highest  in  its  history,  it  is  stated. 

Twenty-two  pages  on  Metro- 
Go/tfwyn-Moyer's  20th  Anniver- 
sary appear  in  this  issue,  starting 
on  page  three,  highlighting  the 
company's  anniversary  product 
announcement  and  "The  Story  of 
M-G-M  —  1924-1944,"  a  feature 
tracing  the  company's  activities 
from  its  inception  and  the  begin- 
nings of  Marcus  Loew,  its  founder. 


Average  cost  of  each  of  the  34  pic- 
tures  produced   on   the   M-G-M  lot 

(Continued  on  page  25) 


Passage  to  London 
Awaited  by  Sears 


Gradwell  L.  Sears,  United  Artists 
vice-president  confirmed  at  the  week- 
end that  he  will  leave  for  London  when 
he  can  secure  transportation.  As  pre- 
viously reported,  the  purpose  of  Sears' 
visit  is  to  survey  UA's  British  opera- 
tions. 

The  mission,  it  is  understood,  will 
(Continued  on  page  29) 


M.  P.  Daily  Man  Is 
Wounded  in  Italy 

Sergeant  Gene  T.  Arneel,  formerly 
of  the  editorial  staff  of  Motion  Pic- 
ture Daily,  has  been  wounded  in 
action  in  Italy,  according  to  word 
received  in  New  York.  Arneel  has 
served  with  an  infantry  company  on 
the  Italian  front  for  more  than  six 
months. 


I 
1 


HDj 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  26,  194+ 


Tradewise  .  .  t 

By  SHERWIN  KANE 


Personal 
Mention 

DAVID  ROSE,  Paramount  map- 
aging  director  for  Great  Brit- 
ain and  Mrs.  Rose  left  New  York 
for  Hollywood  at  the  weekend. 
• 

James  J.  Murphy,  Jr.,  assistant 
executive  director  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture arbitration  system,  is  expected 
back  from  vacation  Monday. 

• 

W.  C.  Gehring,  20th  Century-Fox 
Western  sales  manager,  left  New  York 
at  the  weekend  for  Chicago,  Denver 
and  Salt  Lake  City. 

• 

John  Stuart,  Jr.  has  resigned 
from  the  staff  of  Motion  Picture 
Herald  to  join  the  Overseas  Branch 
of  the  OWI. 

• 

Doris  Cline,  editor  of  Hillman 
Periodicals'  Movieland  magazine,  is 
expected  in  New  York  today  from 
Hollywood. 

• 

Allen  Usher,  Paramount  district 
manager  in  Chicago,  left  recently  for 
Canada  on  a  two-week  fishing  trip. 
• 

Frank  N.  Phelps,  Warner  The- 
atres labor  relations  contact,  left  New 
York  yesterday  for  Chicago. 

• 

Norman  Ayers,  Warner's  Eastern 
district   manager,   will   return  today 
from  a  week's  trip  upstate.  . 
• 

Charles  Chaplin  left  for  the  Coast 
over  the  weekend  after  a  visit  of  sev- 
eral weeks  in  the  East. 

• 

T.  Newman  Lawler,  film  attorney, 
is  expected  back  in  New  York  from 
the  Coast  about  July  1. 

• 

Charles  Schwartz  has  taken  up 
summer  residence  in  Connecticut  with 
his  family. 

• 

Samuel  Goldwyn  will  arrive  here 
today  from  California  for  a  week's 
stay. 

• 

Joseph  R.  Vogel  left  Friday  for  a 
vacation  of  several  weeks. 

PRC  Convention 
Opens  Wednesday 

PRC  Pictures,  Inc.,  will  open  its 
national  sales  convention  here  Wed- 
nesday with  a  luncheon  at  1  p.  m.  in 
the  Essex  House,  according  to  an  an- 
nouncement made  by  the  company  at 
the  weekend. 


Paramount  Confirms 
New  De  Sylva  Unit 

Hollywood,  June  25. — Para- 
mount at  the  weekend  made 
official  announcement  of  the 
deal  whereby  Buddy  De  Sylva, 
executive  producer,  will  es- 
tablish his  own  production 
unit. 


'1PHE  industry  this  week  joins 
A    with    M-G-M    in  marking 
the  company's  20th  anniversary. 

It  is  significant  that  more  than 
99  per  cent  of  the  operating 
theatres  in  the  nation  will,  dur- 
ing the  seven-day  period  ending 
Wednesday,  make  place  on  their 
screens  for  a  picture  bearing 
the  M-G-M  trade  mark.  Behind 
that  remarkable  manifestation 
of  good  will  and  esteem  on  the 
part  of  America's  exhibitors  lies 
recognition  of  M-G-M's  con- 
tributions to  the  institution  of 
the  motion  picture  during  the 
past  two  decades  and  the  com- 
pany's earnest  efforts  to  estab- 
lish the  fairest  possible  stand- 
ards of  business  relations  with 
its  exhibitor  customers. 

The  success  of  M-G-M  in  its 
20  years  of  existence  is  known 
to  all  in  the  industry.  Its  suc- 
cess gives  it  a  stability  outstand- 
ing in  all  industry.  The  company 
weathered  the  national  depres- 
sion of  the  early  1930s,  when  its 
tenth  anniversary  still  was  more 
than  a  year. in  the  future,  and 
emerged  from  that  depresvion  un- 
scarred.  Throughout  the  com- 
pany's existence  it  has  attracted 
— and  held — outstanding  execu- 
tives, department  heads  and 
loyal  rank-and-file  employes,  all 
of  whom  can,  and  most  of  whom 
have  made  a  career  of  M-G-M. 

• 

It  has,  perhaps,  experienced 
fewer  losses  of  or  changes  in 
ranking  home  office  and  studio 
executives  than  any  other  com- 
pany in  the  span  of  its  exist- 
ence. Continuity  of  service  is, 
at  M-G-M,  a  fact  as  well  as  a 
legend.  It  is  a  product  of  rela- 
tions within  the  company  fam- 
ily, currently  exemplified  by 
M-G-M's  pension  plan  for  ex- 
ecutives and  employes  which 
company  stockholders  will  be 
asked  to  approve  next  month. 

An  extension  of  that  family 
policy  to  M-G-M's  relations 
with  its  customers  and  the  rest 
of  the  industry  has  won  it  re- 
spect and  loyalty  on  all  sides,  and 
has  contributed  much  to  the  com- 
pany's business  popularity  and 
financial  position.  Times  with- 
out number  exhibitors  have 
been  aided  in  difficult  circum- 
stances by  M-G-M,  and  more 
than  one  competing  major  com- 
pany can  tell  of  the  time  or 
times  when  M-G-M  assistance, 
sought  or  unsought,  helped  it 
over  a  difficult  hurdle  or  saved 
it  from  a  crisis.  This  attitude 
of  the  company  was  expressed 


by  Nicholas  M.  Schenck,  when 
the  depression  was  reaping  its 
toll  within  the  industry.  When 
some  were  too  preoccupied  with 
their  own  trials  to  bother  with 
those  of  others,  Schenck  de- 
clared that  the  misfortunes  of 
one  company  are  the  concern  of 
all  because  the  industry  can  be 
no  stronger  than  the  combined 
strength  of  its  individual  mem- 
bers. 

That  is  a  viewpoint,  translat- 
ed into  policy  and  action,  that 
has  added  not  only  to  the 
strength  of  M-G-M  but  to  the 
strength  of  the  industry. 

May  it  see  Leo  through 
countless  more  anniversaries. 

•  • 

A  signal  honor  is  bestowed  on 
the  Brothers  Warner  and  their 
families  in  the  naming  of  the  last 
Liberty  ship  to  go  down  the 
ways  at  the  Henry  Kaiser  yards 
at  Richmond,  California,  for 
their  father,  Benjamin  Warner. 
For  members  of  the  family  the 
forthcoming  ceremony  will  be 
rich  in  significance.  It  was 
realization  of  and  desire  for  the 
liberty  and  opportunities  of  a 
free  country  that  led  Benjamin 
Warner  to  America.  His  ideals 
were  communicated  to  his  sons, 
Harry  M.,  Col.  Jack  L.,  Major 
Albert  and  the  late  Sam  War- 
ner, and  as  the  father  without 
doubt  would  have  willed  it,  the 
successes  of  the  sons  have  been 
dedicated  again  and  again  in 
contributions  and  services  to  the 
nation.  One  of  the  third  genera- 
tion of  the  family,  Captain  Jack 
L.  Warner,  Jr.,  is  serving  with 
America's  fighting  forces  over- 
seas. 

The  industry  shares  in  the 
pride  of  the  Warners,  as  it 
shares  in  the  honor  that  is  be- 
stowed on  Benjamin  W'arner. 

•  • 

A  London  dateline  story,  pub- 
lished in  another  trade  paper  last 
week,  described  the  trade  insig- 
nia of  J.  Arthur  Rank's  new 
Eagle-Lion  Films  as  having 
"emblems  on  a  field  of  Stars  and 
Stripes,  combined  with  a  portion 
of  the  Union  Jack."  If  the  de- 
scription is  correct,  you  are  not 
likely  to  see  that  Eagle-Lion  in- 
signia in  this  country. 

A  Federal  Act  of  Feb.  20, 
1905,  as  amended,  prohibits  the 
registration  of  any  trade  mark 
employing  the  American  flag, 
and  under  the  Act  of  Feb.  8V 
1917,  the  flag  may  not  be  used 
for  any  commercial  or  advertis- 
ing purposes. 


*  f  Wright,  Paramount 
fJameraman,  Cited 

James  Wright,  Paramount 
cameraman,  was  recently 
awarded  the  Order  of  the 
British  Empire  by  King 
George  VI,  it  was  reported 
here  yesterday  by  the  home 
office. 

Wright,  attached  to  British 
Paramount  News,  has  been 
on  active  duty  almost  since 
the  beginning  of  the  war,  hav- 
ing completed  46  missions 
over  occupied  Europe.  His 
son,  a  flying  officer  in  the 
RAF,  was  blinded  and  seri- 
ously burned  in  a  recent 
flight  over  Germany. 


'Ape'  to  Play  22  Key 
Loew  Houses  in  July 

United  Artists'  "The  Hairy  Ape," 
produced  by  Jules  Levey,  has  been 
booked  for  early  July  engagements  in 
22  key-city  Loew  houses  throughout 
the  country,  Carl  Lesserman,  general 
sales  manager  for  UA,  reported  at 
the  weekend. 

Starting  July  6  the  film  will  play 
Loew  Theatres  in  Akron,  Cleveland, 
Kansas  City,  Louisville,  Nashville, 
Norfolk,  Providence,  Richmond,  To- 
ledo and  Dayton.  Several  days  later 
it  will  open  engagements  in  Atlanta, 
Baltimore,  Canton,  Columbus,  Harris- 
burg,  Houston,  Indianapolis,  Memphis, 
Reading,  St.  Louis,  Syracuse  and  Wil- 
mington. 

"The  Hairy  Ape"  will  have  its 
New  York  premiere  at  the  Globe 
Theatre  on  Saturday  morning,  July  1. 

Col.  McMicking  Will 
Tell  of  Gift  Program 

Los  Angeles,  June  25. — Hollywood 
correspondents  and  syndicate  repre- 
sentatives with  Mary  McCall,  chair- 
man of  the  War  Activities  Committee 
here,  will  meet  with  Lt.  Col.  Joseph 
McMicking  of  General  Douglas  Mac- 
Arthur's  staff,  tomorrow  at  a  com- 
bined luncheon  and  press  conference  to 
discuss  the  importance  of  the  indus- 
try's gift  film  program  in  the  South- 
west Pacific  War  theatre.  Joseph 
Seidelman,  civilian  consultant  to  the 
War  Department  on  the  gift  films, 
will  also  address  the  group  and  ex- 
plain the  program. 

Accompanying  Lt.  Col.  McMicking 
will  be  Major  John  Hubbell,  chief  of 
the  Army  overseas  motion  picture 
service,  and  Ed  Schreiber,  WAC  pub- 
licity director  in  New  York. 

LeSieurNewUA  Sales 
Promotion  Manager 

Howard  R.  LeSieur  has  been  named 
sales  promotion  manager  of  United 
Artists,  it  was  disclosed  at  the  week- 
end by  Louis  Pollock,  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity.  Nathan  Lax, 
formerly  of  the  Sterling  advertising 
agency,  succeeds  LeSieur  in  the  post 
of  production  manager. 

The  new  sales  promotion  manager, 
with  U.A.  since  1933,  was  formerly 
associated  with  the  Hanff-Metzger  ad- 
vertising agency,  as  contact  for  the 
Paramount  Pictures  account. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  Y'wk,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown.  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Wilh'c"n  R.  WeaveT,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  c?ble  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


||  Monday,  June  26,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


3 
_ 


THE  STORY  OF 


ANY  history  of  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
must  start  with  Marcus  Loew,  a  mem- 
-  ber  of  that  group  of  whom  Will  Irwin 
once  wrote:  "The  men  who  made  the  motion 
picture  industry  the  great  industrial  romance 
of  our  times  are  Horatio  Alger  characters." 

Marcus  Loew  was  born  in  1870,  in  New 
York's  sprawling  lower  East  Side,  the  son 
of  Ida  and  Hermann  Loew.  At  the  age  of 
nine,  already  aware  of  economic  struggles, 
Loew  sold  newspapers  along  New  York's 
hurly-burly  Bowery.  Before  he  was  in  his 
'teens  he  had  colored  maps  for  a  small  print- 
ing company,  solicited  advertisements,  man- 
aged a  neighborhood  juvenile  newspaper,  ran 
errands  in  factories. 

In  his  early  30's,  Loew  became  an  associ- 
ate of  Baehr  and  Loew,  a  fur  cape  outfit; 
business  came  along  very  well.  But  fur  capes 
failed  to  satisfy;  Loew  had  the  notion  that 
he'd  like  to  do  something  with  broad  appeal. 

The  Mutoscope  fitted  this  description.  It 
was  a  simple  mechanical  medium  that  flicked 
a  string  of  pictures  to  create  the  illusion  of 
motion.  Loew  decided  to  experiment.  He 
rented  an  empty  store  on  New  York's  23rd 
Street  and  installed  penny  "slot  machines"  all 
over  the  place.  Inside  each  machine  was  a 
sequence  of  pictures;  a  penny  was  inserted 
and  images  whisked  past  to  present  a  brief 
action  story.  Friends  belittled  the  idea  of  a 
penny-arcade  of  this  sort  proving  profitable. 
But  the  machines  flicked  at  capacity.  Canvas 


sacks  containing  hundreds  of  pennies  were  tied 
up  nightly  to  be  transported  to  the  bank  each 
morning. 

One  could  hardly  expect  to  amass  a  fortune 
out  of  a  penny  arcade,  but  to  Marcus  Loew  it 
was  an  augury  of  what  the  public  wanted.  Here, 
in  a  lavish  era,  a  great  public  need  for  inex- 
pensive entertainment  remained  unsatisfied. 
Scores  of  factories  and  dress  shops  were  being 
opened  in  New  York  to  meet  the  demands  of 
thousands  of  new  workers.  They  did  not  have 
money  for  expensive  entertainment.  Loew  won- 
dered: What  if  the  Mutoscope  novelties  could 
be  expanded  to  provide  60  or  70  minutes  of  en- 
tertainment, instead  of  a  quick-running  flash? 

Loew  Buys  The  Cozy  Corner' 

The  next  step  was  the  Nickelodeon.  Deciding 
to  experiment  with  five,  six  and  eight-minute 
sequences,  Loew  took  over  a  fourth-rate  bur- 
lesque house  in  Brooklyn,  called  "The  Cozy  Cor- 
ner." Loew  first  hired  several  scrubwomen  and 
painters. 

Continuing  to  experiment,  first  with  acts  and 
picture  strips,  Loew  found  growing  interest  for 
longer  subjects.  He  tried  padding  films  of  two 
and  three  reels  by  having  actors  recite  "Gunga 
Din"  or  "The  Old  Horse  Shay"  between  reels. 

The  old  Humanova  Company  at  that  time 
drilled  teams  of  two,  a  man  and  a  woman,  to 
stand  behind  a  theatre  screen  and  deliver  dia- 
logue, matching  the  action  in  the  picture.  Some- 
times one  or  the  other  got  off  the  track  and  de- 
livered a  completely  incongruous  line.  Loew 
theatres,  which  were  multiplying  following  the 
success  of  the  Cozy  Corner,  featured  the  Hu- 


NICHOLAS  M.  SCHENCK 
President,  Loew's,  Inc. 


LOUIS  B.  MAYER 
Production  Vice-President,  MGM 


manova  actors.  "The  Two  Orphans"  was  the 
first  "feature  picture"  to  be  embellished  with 
dialogue  of  this  sort,  at  Loew's  New  Gem  Thea- 1 
tre  on  New  York's  Houston  Street. 

Marcus  Loew  was  accredited  at  the  time  with 
leading  the  field  in  pioneering  for  the  uninter- 
rupted "movie"  continuity.  Two-reel  stories 
were  presented  with  vaudeville  interlude.  Loew 
tried  running  off  the  reels  consecutively,  in  15, 
20-minute  or  half-hour  sequences,  and  met  with 
overwhelming  enthusiasm.  That  established  the 
dictum  that  the  whole  picture,  long  or  short, 
should  be  shown  at  one  time. 

Loew  felt  that  the-  success  of  any  far-flung 
business  enterprise  depends  upon  organization  and 
organization  depends  upon  the  men  in  charge 
of  all  departments.  Loew's  native  shyness  and 
reticence  made  him  all  the  more  conscious  of  the 
need  for  having  men  capable  of  "making  friends" 
with  the  public. 

Across  the  Hudson,  in  New  Jersey,  two  young 
brothers  were  winning  wide  popularity  through 
their  enterprising  adventures  in  an  amusement 
park.  Loew,  aware  of  his  need  for  such  men, 
made  a  point  of  meeting  the  brothers,  Nicholas 
and  Joseph  Schenck.  For  the  next  few  years 
they  were  his  chief  aides-de-camp. 

Nicholas  Schenck  Takes  Over 

Although  Joseph  Schenck  subsequently  became 
associated  with  other  interests,  Nicholas  re- 
mained with  the  Loew  organization  throughout . 
the  years.  After  the  death  of  Marcus  Loew,  he 
was  the  choice  to  carry  on  Marcus  Loew's  poli- 
cies and  program.  Schenck's  outstanding  qual- 
ities are  his  simplicity,  his  intense  energy,  his 
sanguine  temperament,  and  his  aversion  to  mak- 
ing statements.  His  best-known  statement  con- 
tained just  12  words:  "There  is  nothing  wrong 
with  this  business  that  good  pictures  cannot 
cure."  Only  recently  it  was  discovered  that  not 
a  single  picture  of  the  president  of  Loew's,  Inc., 
was  on  file  in  any  New  York  newspaper. 

Schenck's  quick,  accurate  judgment  of  men  has 
become  a  legend.  Once  he  made  a  14-year-old 
usher,  who  had  given  him  some  outspoken  criti- 
cism, a  theatre  manager,  against  the  protests  of 
business  associates.  This  youngster,  Joseph  Vo- 
gel,  is  now  a  key  executive  of  Loew's. 

Schenck's  capacity  to  see  pictures  is  enormous. 
Last  year  he  looked  at  more  than  350  features. 
He  averages  between  six  and  nine  every  week, 
in  addition  to  scores  of  short  subjects. 

Incidentally,  Schenck's  earliest  ambitions  are 
disclosed  by  the  fact  that  he  still  pays  his  annual 
state  fee  for  a  pharmacy  license.  He  and  his 
brother,  Joseph,  now  a  chairman  of  20th  Century- 
Fox,  have  the  right  to  earn  a  living  dispensing 
ipecac  and  castor  oil  any  time  they  choose  to 
do  so. 

Among  the  outstanding  young  executives  who 
were  retained  in  the  early  days  by  the  Loew  or- 
(Continucd  on  following  page) 


SI 


4 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Monday,  June  26,  1944 


THE  STORY  OF 

M-G-M 


{Continued  from  preceding  page) 

ganization  for  future  posts  of  importance  were 
Leopold  Friedman  and  David  Bernstein.  Fried- 
man, now  corporate  secretary,  alone  constituted 
the  "legal  department"  of  the  early  Loew  com- 
pany for  many  years.  It  was  a  long  time  before 
a  second  person  was  hired  to  handle  legal  af- 
fairs, and  it  was  four  years  after  that  before  the 
department  had  anything  more  than  chair  space. 

David  Bernstein's  career  is  another  Horatio 
Alger  story.  The  treasurer  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  rat- 
ed one  of  the  financial  experts  of  the  motion 
picture  business,  began  his  career  at  $13  a  week. 

David  Bernstein,  Financier 

For  many  years,  Marcus  Loew  had  kept  his 
own  books.  Finally  he  advertised  for  a  book- 
keeper and  Bernstein  was  picked  out  of  a  long 
line  of  applicants.  Loew  asked  him  whether  he 
understood  corporation  bookkeeping  and  the 
young  man  replied  "confidentially"  that  he  did. 
Bernstein's  background,  outside  of  department 
store  experience,  was  a  correspondence  course  in 
accounting.  But  a  friend  of  his  was  a  veteran 
bookkeeper.  Bernstein  went  to  his  place  of  busi- 
ness at  midnight,  and  between  that  hour  and  day- 
break tried  to  pick  up  a  general  knowledge  of 
corporation  bookkeeping. 

The  lion's  share  of  the  credit  for  the  financial 
stability  of  Loew's,  Inc.,  during  the  economic  ups 
and  downs  of  the  country  is  usually  given  to 
Bernstein.  Financiers  in  other  industries  are  de- 
scribed as  being  amazed  at  the  fact  that  during 
the  depression  of  15  years  ago  Loew's  added  $4,- 
000,000  to  its  property  account,  while  other  firms 
showed  heavy  losses  through  lower  real  estate 
values. 

As  the  circle  of  Loew  theatres  increased,  one 
factor  became  plainly  evident.  The  quality  of 
product  avialable  was  highly  uncertain.  A  thea- 
tre had  to  do  a  great  deal  of  shopping  to  find 
quality  films,  and  even  the  most  diligent  search 
for  fresh  fare  often  proved  futile. 

Hollywood  had  established  itself  as  a  geogra- 
phical center  for  the  growing  industry.  In  1920, 
Marcus  Loew,  casting  about  for  a  favorable  base 
of  production  on  the  Coast,  acquired  Metro 
Film  Company,  started  five  years  previously  by 
Richard  A.  Rowland.  It  was  to  serve  as  the  cor- 
nerstone of  one  of  the  most  successful  production 
combines  of  the  following  ten  years. 

It  was  early  in  1924  that  Loew  executives 
made  successful  overtures  for  the  acquisition  of 
Goldwyn  Pictures,  started  in  1916  by  Samuel 
Goldwyn,  and  the  Selwyns  and  the  studio  of 
Louis  B.  Mayer.  Metro  had  proved  itself  a 
worthwhile  investment,  its  product  was  in  de- 


I  O  O  4      "Tl>e  B'9  Parade"'  story  of  World  War  I,  marked  the  beginning  of  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  as  a  unified  production  company.   Long  remembered  will  be 
the  scene,  above,  snowing  the  Yanks  marching  out  of  the  little  French  village  where 
Renee  Adoree  clung  to  John  Gilbert  after  their  many  tender  love  scenes. 


mand,  but  the  Goldwyn  list  of  players  and  prop- 
erties and  the  Mayer  studio  offered  obvious  op- 
portunities for  further  expansion.  Two  leaders 
might  be  better  than  one ;  three  studio  rosters 
certainly  were.  The  deal  was  completed,  Nicho- 
las M.  Schenck  acting  as  intermediary. 

Louis  B.  Mayer  and  George  M.  Cohan  share 
the  same  birthday,  July  fourth.  A  native  of  Bos- 
ton, educated  in  St.  John's,  New  Brunswick, 
Mayer  was  first  in  the  ship  salvaging  business. 
When  he  left  the  wharves  of  New  Brunswick 
and  moved  to  Haverhill,  Mass.,  the  transfer 
altered  his  interests  and  his  career. 

Mayer  Becomes  an  Exhibitor 

There  was  a  rickety  old  theatre  in  Haverhill 
which  appealed  to  Mayer.  He  acquired  it,  re- 
built it  and  advertised  it  as  "The  Home  of  Su- 
perior Motion  Pictures."  After  the  showing  of 
the  initial  film,  "From  the  Manger  to  the  Cross," 
Exhibitor  Mayer  was  a  man  who  was  talked 
about.  He  became  head  of  the  Gordon-Mayer 
Circuit  of  New  England. 

"Dabbling"  in  film  distribution  through  his 
own  exchanges  in  New  England,  Mayer  finally 
became  convinced  (as  had  Marcus  Loew  and 
other  pioneers)  that  theatres  were  not  getting 
product  of  high  quality.  An  increase  in  quality, 
Mayer  felt,  would  mean  a  multiplication  of  re- 
ceipts. Deciding  to  put  his  theories  to  the  test, 
he  went  West.  The  Mayer  Studios  in  Los  An- 
geles were  financed  by  his  limited  bankroll  and 
the  equally  modest  funds  of  some  of  his  friends. 
He  made  good  pictures.    When  he  stepped  into 


10  4  4    "The  White  Cliffs"  takes  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer  into  World  War  II,  spanning  20  years 
I   T  t  f    s;„ce  "7he  gig  Parade".  Real-life  counterparts  of  many  scenes  in  both  productions 
are  now  being  enacted  at  the  British  and  European  locales  which  the  film  stories  represent. 
Above,  in  "The  White  Cliffs",  M-G-M's  20th   Anniversary  production,  Irene  Dunne  and  Alan 
Marshall  return  to  England  from  a  honeymoon   to  find  the  country  plunged  into  war. 


the  vastly  greater  responsibilities  of  the  Metro- 
Goldwyn-Mayer  studio  producing  post,  he  con- 
tinued to  make  good  pictures. 

When  Irving  Thalberg  died  in  Hollywood,  at 
age  37,  it  ended  for  Mayer  a  relationship  paral- 
lel in  many  ways  to  that  of  father  and  son. 

Thalberg,  a  Brooklyn  boy,  studied  shorthand 
and  Spanish  in  night  school  for  an  anticipate! 
opening  in  a  department  store.  Chance  led  him 
to  the  offices  of  Universal  Pictures  in  New  York, 
answering  an  ad.  He  did  not  get  the  job  at 
first,  but  he  worked  out  a  follow-up  which 
eventually  succeeded.  Once  in  the  company,  his 
personality  brought  him  to  the  attention  of  Carl 
Laemmle,  and  he  became  his  personal  secretary. 

Not  long  afterwards,  when  Laemmle  suddenly 
left  for  Europe,  "Uncle  Carl"  astounded  his  stu- 
dio by  placing  full  managerial  responsibility  in 
the  hands  of  this  19-year-old  youngster. 

Young  Thalberg  took  hold  and  began  a  career 
of  generating  hits.  In  the  span  of  a  few  months, 
Thalberg's  intense,  imaginative  mind  apparently 
had  absorbed  the  details  of  production.  When  an 
offer  came  to  him,  a  few  years  later,  to  accept  a 
partnership  at  L.  B.  Mayer's  studio,  he  did  so. 

Bob'  Rubin  Was  a  Cop 

J.  Robert  Rubin,  the  third  to  arrive  at  M-G-M 
through  Loew's  purchase  of  Goldwyn  Pictures, 
was  a  native  of  Syracuse,  N.  Y.  Trained  as  a 
lawyer,  he  was  assistant  district  attorney  of  New 
York,  and  later  deputy  police  commissioner. 

He  was  retained  as  a  lawyer  for  the  old  Metro 
Company,  focussing  attention  on  production  mat- 
ters. Rubin  proved  himself  as  able  a  judge  of 
story  possibilities  as  he  was  of  legal  statutes. 
He  went  to  Hollywood  and  became  associated 
with  the  Mayer  studio.  At  the  time  of  the  1924 
merger,  he  took  up  his  post  as  head  of  the  New 
York  offices ;  since  that  time  he  has  acted  as 
final  arbiter  in  the  buying  of  hundreds  of  thou- 
sands of  dollars  worth  of  stories  and  talent. 

On  that  sunny  California  day  in  1914,  when 
Loew's,  Metro,  Goldwyn  and  the  Mayer  studios 
were  joined,  about  500  workers  surveyed  the 
scene  with  mixed  emotions.  Will  Rogers  was 
master  of  ceremonies,  a  civic  leader  provided  a 
huge  floral  wreath  to  drape  over  the  improvised 
stage  that  had  been  erected.  But  the  question  in 
the  minds  of  most  employes  was :  What's  going 
to  happen  to  us?  The  word  "merger"  sounds 
ominous.  Would  all  three  units  continue  to  co- 
operate harmoniously?  Would  there  be  room  for 
the  old-timers  in  the  new  studio  roster?  The 
answer  was  not  long  a-coming.   There  was ! 

While  the  real  birth  of  Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer 
as  a  unified  production  company  came  with  "The 
Big  Parade"  and  "Ben-Hur,"  the  leaven  on 
which  all  future  policy  was  gauged  was  supplied 
by  Marcus  Loew  and  his  new  allies  the  day  they 
set  up  the  new  organization,  agreeing  unreserved- 
ly on  one  point :  The  necessity  of  building  quality 
productions. 


1 

TWENTY  YEARS  OF 
M-G-M  LEADERSHIP 

i 

m 

A  Gala  Celebration  Dedicated  to  our 

i 

Friendly  Customers.  With  gratitude  to 
the  many  thousands  of  showmen  who 
welcomed  The  Roaring  Lion  to  their 
screens  during  his  Anniversary  Weeh. 


1924  -  1 9 14 


Spanning  hundreds  of  acres  are  the  M-G-M  studios,  largest 
in  the  world.  Here  is  a  city  of  magic  creating  the  great 
Feature  productions  and  outstanding  Short  Subjects  that  for 
two  decades  have  been  the  nation  s  leading  entertainments. 


FROM  THE  HEART 
OF  A  LION... 

An  Anniversary  is  but  a  milestone  that  gives 
opportunity  for  brief  pause  on  the  way  to 
even  greater  goals. 

To  M-G-M  it  represents  an  opportunity  to 
express  heartfelt  gratitude  to  you  our  customers. 

Your  loyalty  and  faith  have  been  the  strong 
foundation  upon  which  our  mutual  success 
has  grown. 

You  will  see  in  these  following  pages  joyous 
recollection  of  past  triumphs  in  which  we 
shared,  and  brilliant  productions  waiting  for 
you  which  have  truly  been  twenty  years  in 
the  making. 

The  bright  future  is  ours  together. 


1934 


DINNER  At  E,GH!I 


MUTINY  A  BOUNTY 


Jg36  SAN  FRANCISCO 


I 


t^eitty  year Y  >H,>I  tiW* 


1924 


THE  BIG  PARADE 


!925  THE  MERKOW 


527  BEN  HUB 


1928 


TELL  IT  w  MARIES 


1930  MM*  *ND  B1LL 
BROADLY  MELODY 


1934  DINNER  M  t,GHT 


^      1938  BOYS  WW 


1939 


THE  WIZARD  OF  OZ 


l940  BOOM  TO 


Inn 


^931  TRADER  HORN 


7^32  GRAND  HOTEL 


ft  $ 


1933  TUGBOAT  ANNIE 


^941  HONKY  TONK 


1        1942  MRS  MINIVER 


^3  RANDOM  HARVEST 


brightest  yc 


vs  are  alie^d 


mkiidn  i'U  1 1  n.  mil  i    Jun,  ; ..  :jm 


Twenty  years  of  M-G-M  hits, 
and  as  you  will  see  in  following 
pa^es,  the  hest  is  yet  to  come- 


From  its  brilliant  World  Premiere  at  Radio  City  Music 
Hall  comes  M-G-M's  glorious  Anniversary  Picture 


^HE  TeMITE  (?LIFFS 

OF  TOVER 

starring 

IRENE  DUNNE 

A  CLARENCE  BROWN  PRODUCTION 

and  u-ith  ALAN  MARSHAL 

RODDY  McDOWALL  •  FRANK  MORGAN 
VAN  JOHNSON  •  C.  AUBREY  SiMITH 
DAME  MAY  WHITTY  •  GLADYS  COOPER 
Directed  by  CLARENCE  BROWN  •  Produced  by  SIDNEY  FRANKLIN 
Screen  Play  by  Claudine  Vest,  Jan  Lustig  and  George  Froeschcl 
Based  on  the  Poem  "The  White  Cliffs"  by  Alice  Duer  Miller 


And.  now  the  gala  M-G-M  Anniversary  Celebration  that 
begins  with  the  "White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  continues  with 
this  mighty  Technicolor  production.  Here  is  the  fight, 
the  love,  the  drama,  the  adventure  that  is  America! 
It's  the  story  of  a  million  guys  lihe  Steve  .  .  .  and  a 
million  girls  lihe  Anna  who  helieve  in  their  dreams! 


T<OMANCE 

Sta  rrmg 

BRIAN  DONLEVY 

with 

ANN  RICHARDS  •  WALTER  ABEL  •  JOHN  QUALEN 
HORACE  McNALLY 

PHOTOGRAPHED  IN  TECHNICOLOR 

Screen  Play  by  Herbert  Dalmes  and  William  Ludwig 
Produced  and  Directed  by  KING  VIDOR 


AN  ANNIVERSARY  ^jjjQp^ATTRACTION 
TO  TAKE  ITS  PLACE  AMONG  THE 
SCREEN'S  IMMORTAL  PRODUCTIONS 


M-G-M  Presents 

T>RAGON  5EED 

KATHARINE  HEPBURN 

WALTER       ALINE  AKIM 
HUSTON  *  MacMAHON  '  TAMIROFF 

TURHAN  BEY 

HURD  HATFIELD  •  AGNES  MOOREHEAD  •  ROBERT  BICE  •  FRANCES  RAFFERTY 
J.  CARROL  NAISH  •  HENRY  TRAVERS  •  ROBERT  LEWIS  •  JACQUELINE  de  WIT 

screen  Play  by  Mar  guerite  Roberts  and  Jane  Murfin   •  Based  on  trie  Novel  by  Pearl  S.  Buck 

Directed  by  JACK  CONWAY  and  HAROLD  S.  BUCQUET 
Produced  by  PANDRO  S.  BERMAN 


Not  since  "The  Good  Earth"  .  .  . 
a  picture  such  as  this!  The  mighty 
drama  of  a  brave  people  and  a  great 
love  ,  .  .  flaming  from  the  pages 
of  the  novel  that  thrilled  millions! 


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Marg; 


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Mary 


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HodiakJamesCra.g, 


Sign< 


Hasso 


Spencer  Tracy  .  BreSsatt 
HumeCtonyn,^ 


Donald  Crisp, 


(Technicolor) 


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Marg 


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Charles  Uug 


hton, 


Robert  Young 


(technicolor)  dMnoW.?wJ 
«**  up  -        J*  LuCUle  •  GatSon  John  Ho  ^ 

W'VanS  B-edSkeUon,^ 
Mlckey  *°o*ey, 


vtfaUet  nu&~  , 


LOVE 


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4 


AND  HERE'S  WHAT  THE 
FORTUNE-TELLER  SAYS! 

For  the  future— as  in  the  past  Twenty  Years  of  M-G-M  Leader- 
ship—in slack  days  or  boom  days,  year  after  year  after  year 
your  success  is  consistent  with  THE  FRIENDLY  COMPANY 


Together  for  Victory!  Fighting  Fifth  War  Loan! 


THE  M-G-M  STUDIO  ROSTER 


EXECUTIVES 

LOUIS  B.  MAYER 

E.  J.  MANNIX 

BENJAMIN  THAU 

SAM  KATZ 
I  AL  LICHTMAN 
Tj.  J-  COHN 

LOUIS  K.  SIDNEY 

J.  K.  McGUINNESS 

HARRY  RAPF 

M.  J.  SIEGEL 

PRODUCERS 

PANDRO  BERMAN 
JOHN  CONSIDINE 
JACK  CUMMINGS 
O.  O.  DULL 
ARTHUR  FIELD 
SIDNEY  FRANKLIN 
ARTHUR  FREED 
LEON  GORDON 
GEORGE  HAIGHT 
ARTHUR  HORNBLOW,  JR. 
EDWIN  KNOPF 
SAM  MARX 
JOSEPH  PASTERNAK 
CLIFF  REID 
EVERETT  RISKIN 
ROBERT  SISK 
FREDERICK  STEPHANIE 
LAWRENCE  WEINGARTEN 
CAREY  WILSON 
SAM  ZIMBALIST 

PRODUCER-DIRECTORS 

\  KING  VIDOR 
ROBERT  Z.  LEONARD 
CLARENCE  BROWN 
AL  LEWIN 

DIRECTORS 

HAROLD  S.  BUCQUET 
EDDIE  BUZZELL 
JACK  CONWAY 
GEORGE  CUKOR 
JULES  DASSIN 
ROY   DEL  RUTH 
VICTOR  FLEMING 
TAY  GARNETT 
WILLIS  GOLDBECK 
HENRY  KOSTLR 
MERVYN    LE  ROY 
NORMAN  McLEOD 
VINCENTE  MINNELLI 
CHARLES  RIESNER 
ROY  ROWLAND 
WESLEY  RUGGLES 
GEORGE  SEITZ 
GEORGE  SIDNEY 
SYLVAN  S.  SIMON 
NORMAN  TAUROG 
RICHARD  THORPE 
FRED  WILCOX 
FRED  ZINNEMANN 

STARS 

ABBOTT  &  COSTELLO 
FRED  ASTAIRE 
LUCILLE  BALL 
LIONEL  BARRYMORE 
WALLACE  BEERY 
LARAINE  DAY 
MARLENE  DIETRICH 
ROBERT  DONAT 


faETRO-GOLDWYN-MAYER's  Studios,  'The  Rancho  of  Romance,'  covers 
772  acres  at  Culver  City,  California,  its  81  buildings  fanning  out 
from  the  architecturally  -  impressive  white  -  stoned  Irving  Thalberg 
Memorial  Building  which  is  the  administrative  building  of  Louis  B. 
Mayer's  production  domain. 


BRIAN  DONLEVY 
IRENE  DUNNE 
JUDY  GARLAND 
GREER  GARSON 
KATHRYN  GRAYSON 
KATHARINE  HEPBURN 
VAN  JOHNSON 
GENE  KELLY 
HEDY  LAMARR 
MYRNA  LOY 
GEORGE  MURPHY 
MARGARET  O'BRIEN 
SUSAN  PETERS 
WALTER  PIDGEON 
WILLIAM  POWELL 
MICKEY  ROONEY 
GINNY  SIMMS 
FRANK  SINATRA 
RED  SKELTON 
ANN  SOTHERN 
SPENCER  TRACY 
LANA  TURNER 
ROBERT  WALKER 
ESTHER  WILLIAMS 
ROBERT  YOUNG 

FEATURED  PLAYERS 

JUNE  ALLYSON 
LEON  AMES 
MORRIS  ANKRUM 
EDWARD  ARNOLD 
MARY  ASTOR 
KATHERINE  BALFOUR 
MARION  BELL 
BEN  BLUE 
RAY  BOLGER 
WARD  BOND 
LUCILLE  BREMER 
FELIX  BRESSART 
SPRING  BYINGTON 
JAY  CLAYTON 
GLADYS  COOPER 
JAMES  CRAIG 
HUME  CRONYN 
DONALD  CURTIS 
HENRY  DANIELS,  JR. 
GLORIA   DE  HAVEN 


PHILIP  DORN 
TOM  DRAKE 
JIMMY  DURANTE 
AVA  GARDNER 
FRANCES  GIFFORD 
CONNIE  GILCHRIST 
BONITA  GRANVILLE 
EDMUND  GWENN 
SARA  HADEN 
SIGNE  HASSO 
DICKIE  HALL 
HURD  HATFIELD 
JOHN  HODIAK 
FAY  HOLDEN 
LOU  HOLTZ 
LENA  HORNE 
MARSHA  HUNT 
RUTH  HUSSEY 
JOSE  ITURBI 
JACKIE  JENKINS 
BILL  JOHNSON 
BRUCE  KELLOGG 
ANGELA  LANSBURY 
PETER  LAWFORD 
MADELEINE    LE  BEAU 
DIANA  LEWIS 
MARTA  LINDEN 
JUNE  LOCKHART 
KEYE  LUKE 
MARJORIE  MAIN 
PEGGY  MALEY 
HUGH  MARLOWE 
HERBERT  MARSHALL 
MARILYN  MAXWELL 
HORACE  McNALLY 
DONALD  MEEK 
LAURITZ  MELCHIOR 
JAMES  MELTON 
AGNES  MOOREHEAD 
FRANK  MORGAN 
DOROTHY  MORRIS 
DOUGLAS  MORROW 
TIM  MURDOCK 
VIRGINIA  O'BRIEN 
HENRY  O'NEILL 
REGINALD  OWEN 
CECILIA  PARKER 


SHIRLEY  PATTERSON 

JEAN  PORTER 

JANE  POWELL 

FRANCES  RAFFERTY 

RAGS  RAGLAN  D 

CARLOS  RAMIREZ 

BASIL  RATHBONE 

DONNA  REED 

JACK  REILLY 

ANN  RICHARDS 

ROCHESTER  (EDDIE  ANDERSON) 

JEAN  ROGERS 

LINA  ROMAY 

LEWIS  STONE 

JOE  SULLIVAN 

ROBERT  SULLY 

ELIZABETH  TAYLOR 

PHYLLIS  THAXTER 

NANCY  WALKER 

ARTHUR  WALSH 

JOHN  WARBURTON 

JACQUELINE  WHITE 

DAME  MAY  WHITTY 

RICHARD  WHORF 

LEE  WILDE 

LYN  WILDE 

WILLIAMS  BROTHERS 

KATHLEEN  WILLIAMS 

CHILL  WILLS 

KEENAN  WYNN 

ZIECFELD  GIRLS 

KATHERINE  BOOTH 
HAZEL  BROOKS 
LUCILLE  CASEY 
AINA  CONSTANT 
ELIZABETH  DAI  LEY 
NATALIE  DRAPER 
AILEEN  HALEY 
LORRAINE  MILLER 
HELEN  O'HARA 
NOREEN  ROTH 
ELAINE  SHEPARD 
DOROTHY   VAN  NUYS 
EVE  WHITNEY 

BANDS 

XAVIER  CUGAT 
JIMMY  DORSEY 
TOMMY  DORSEY 
HARRY  JAMES 
GUY  LOMBARDO 
VAUGHN  MONROE 

ARMED  FORCES 

desi  arnaz 
jean  pierre  aumont 
lew  ayres 
tommy  batten 
richard  carlson 
john  carroll 
dan  dailey,  jr. 
melvyn  douglas 
clark  gable 
van  heflin 
william  lundigan 
ray  Mcdonald 
robert  montgomery 
barry  nelson 
richard  ney 
richard  quine 
robert  sterling 
james  stewart 
robert  taylor 


¥ 

¥ 
¥ 
¥ 
¥ 
¥ 
¥ 


IVL  G.  IVL  LION  ROARS 

from  600  National  Theatre  Screens 
throughout  19  States  in  a  Nationwide 


With  Pride,  We  Congratulate  the  Entire 
IVL  G.  M.  Organization  on 

FRIENDSHIP 


PROGRESS 
QUALITY 


in  Production  and  Superiority  of  Entertainment 
which  has  been  the  Backbone  of  our  Theatres 

National  Theatres  Amusement  Co.,  Inc. 

+>         Charles  P.  Skouras,  President  + 


Monday,  June  26,  1944 


Motion  Picture  daily 


25 


iHochstein  Trial  is 
Set  for  Sept.  5 

I  The  trial  of  Harry  Hochstein, 
former  Chicago  official,  scheduled  for 
today,  will  be  postponed  in  Federal 
Court  here  until  Sept.  5,  Boris  Kos- 
telanetz,  special  assistant  U.  S.  At- 
torney General,  has  announced. 

Hochstein  is  charged  with  perjury 
before  a  special  Federal  grand  jury 
probing  racketeering  within  the  mo- 
tion picture  industry-   According  to 
Kostelanetz,  Hochstein  lied  when  he 
^testified  that  George  E.  Browne,  con- 
i'  victed  head  of  the  IATSE,  and  Wil- 
liam Bioff,  convicted  labor  racketeer, 
I  were  not  present  with  certain  members 
I  of  the   Capone  mob   in  Hochstein's 
I  Riverside,  111.,  home  in  1934. 

During    the    recent    trial,  which 
resulted  in  the  conviction  of  six  Capone 
li  ring  gangsters,  and  a  Newark,  N.  J., 
|  IATSE  leader,  it  was  brought  out 
I  that  the  Capone  mob  planned  the  1934 
I  election  of  Browne  to  the  IATSE 
presidency  in  Hochstein's  home. 
The  reason  for  the  postponement  is 
if  that  Kostelanetz  is  currently  engaged 
on  a  "confidential  mission"  before  a 
jl  Federal  grand  jury  in  Scranton,  Pa 


36  from  MGM  Next  Season; 
This  Year's  Total  is  35 


Nine  War  Activities 
Per  Warner  Official 

{Continued  from  page  1) 

executives  are  included  in  the  tabula 
[tion,  which  covers  only  the  chairman: 
i  ships  and  does  not  include  other  par 
ticipation  in  local,  regional  and  na 
tional  activities. 

Among  the  champion  war-workers 
on  the  list  is  Joseph  Borenstein,  man- 
ager of  the  Embassy,  New  Britain, 
with  14  posts  to  his  credit  to  date 
Nat    Wolf,    zone    manager    of  the 
Northern    Ohio   territory,    has  held 
'more  than  a  dozen,  as  has  Moe  Sil- 
ver, zone  manager  with  headquarters 
in  Pittsburgh.    More  than  30  other 
Warnerites  held  10  or  more  war  posts 
Bernhard     was     national  theatre 
chairman  of  the  first  USO  campaign 
in  September,  1941,  and  for  the  pas 
several  months  has  served  as  national 
industry  chairman  of  the  1944  Red 
[  Cross   Drive,   which   nearly  doubled 
[  the  previous  record  in  theatre  collec 
tions.    Harry  Goldberg  was  campaign 
manager  in  both  drives. 


NSS  to  Classify  200 
Office  Workers  Here 

Officials  of  National  Screen  Service 
are  understood  to  have  agreed  to  work 
out  job  classifications  and  minimum 
wage  scales  for  some  200  of  their 
office  workers  in  their  New  York  office 
and  exchange.  These  workers  are 
represented  by  Screen  Office  and 
Professional  Employes  Guild,  Local 
109,  CIO. 

Wage  increases  for  these  workers 
which  will  come  through,  putting  the 
classification  system  into  effect,  will 
be  retroactive  to  Jan.  3,  1944. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
for  the  current  season  is  estimated  at 
$1,500,000.  This  is  twice,  and  in  some 
cases  more,  than  the  company  spent 
per  picture,  on  the  average,  just  be- 
fore Pearl  Harbor.  Rising  costs, 
which  embraces  labor,  materials  and 
unforeseen  delays,  are  largely  respon- 
sible for  the  doubling  of  figures.  How- 
ever, there  is  a  general  feeling  that 
with  the  return  of  stars  and  directors 
from  the  Army,  such  as  Clark  Gable 
and  others,  the  production  budgets 
might  be  pared.  Much  of  the  excess 
costs  today  is  attributed  to  inex- 
perienced help.  That  not  only  in- 
cludes personnel  whose  names  do  not 
appear  on  the  screen,  but  those  who 
get  credits  as  well. 

1943-44  Program 

M-G-M's  1943-44  program  will  most 
likely  wind  up  with  35,  including  "Tu- 
nisian Victory,"  released  by  the  com- 
pany but  made  jointly  by  the  U.  S.  and 
British  Army  staffs.  The  company 
had  12  pictures  in  its  first  two  blocks 
this  season,  five  in  the  third  and  has 
set  two  for  the  eighth.  The  eighth 
is  the  smallest  the  company  has  ever 
released  as  a  package,  but  the  move 
was  necessitated  because  of  the  crying 
demand  for  product  by  many  first  run 
houses  throughout  the  country.  "Bath- 
ing Beauty,"  which  is  slated  for  re- 
lease July  14,  and  "The  Canterville 
Ghost,"  which  will  be  ready  for  ex- 
hibitors the  third  week  in  July,  com- 
prise the  eighth  block. 

Will  Rush  Releases 

From  all  appearances,  William  F. 
Rodgers,  vice-president  and  general 
sales  manager,  will  rush  the  releases 
of  "The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover," 
"Dragon  Seed"  and  "An  American 
Romance."  A  number  of  first  run 
bookings  have  already  been  set  on 
"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  and 
will  continue  along  those  lines  through 
the  summer.  "Dragon  Seed"  is  next. 
Gus  S.  Eyssell,  managing  director  of 
the  Music  Hall,  is  anxious  to  get 
the  Katharine  Hepburn  starring  ve- 
hicle for  an  early  date  following  "The 
White  Cliffs,"  M-G-M's  Anniversary 
film  now  in  its  seventh  week  there. 
In  addition,  special  premieres  are 
planned  for  "An  American  Romance," 
slated  to  open  at  the  Astor,  Broad- 
way, after  "Bathing  Beauty,"  which 
is  due  there  Tuesday. 


Coast 
Flashes 


With  these  three  Anniversary  films 
and  "Tunisian  Victory,"  the  company's 
release  schedule  will  most  likely  wind 
up  at  35. 

Rodgers,  who  has  been  here  for 
eight  days  viewing  new  product,  left 
over  the  weekend  for  Kansas  City, 
where  he  will  spend  a  day  or  two 
before  visiting  St.  Louis  and  Cleve- 
land. From  the  Ohio  city,  he  will  en- 
train to  New  York,  reaching  there 
about  July  5. 

Eight  Finished 

There  are  eight  pictures  finished 
and  in  the  final  stages  of  editing 
which  Rodgers  may  set  as  the  ninth 
block  shortly  after  his  return  to  the 
home  office.  These  include  "Gold 
Town"  (tentative  title),  "Kismet,"  in 
Technicolor,  "Lost  in  a  Harem," 
"Maisie  Goes  to  Reno,"  "Marriage  Is 
a  Private  Affair,"  "Meet  Me  in  St. 
Louis,"  in  Technicolor ;  "National 
Velvet,"  in  Technicolor;  and  "The 
Seventh  Cross."  "Mrs.  Parkington,"  the 
latest  Greer  Garson-Walter  Pidgeon 
co-starrer,  is  almost  finished  but  no 
plans  have  yet  been  decided  for  it. 

There  are  10  pictures  in  production 
on  fourteen  different  stages  at  the 
moment.  These  include  "Cloud  Bust- 
ers," formerly  identified  as  "Airship 
Squadron  4" ;  "Anchors  Aweigh,"  in 
Technicolor ;  "The  Home  Front," 
"Music  for  Millions,"  "The  Picture 
of  Dorian  Gray,"  "The  Thin  Man 
Goes  Home,"  "Thirty  Seconds  Over 
Tokyo,"  "Son  of  Lassie,"  "The  Clock" 
and  "Ziegfeld  Follies." 

'Dragon  Seed's'  Cost 

"Dragon  Seed"  is  understood  to 
have  finished  up  with  a  cost  of  close 
to  $3,000,000.  It  has  been  done  in 
color,  the  same  as  "The  Good  Earth." 
And  the  cost  of  "An  American  Ro- 
mance," which  was  more  than  two 
years  in  the  making  by  King  Vidor, 
approximates  $2,500,000.  Two  other 
$3,000,000  negatives  are  "Thirty  Sec- 
onds Over  Tokyo"  and  "Kismet." 
"National  Velvet"  is  pegged  at  better 
than  $2,000,000,  as  is  "Ziegfeld  Fol- 
lies." Also  costing  $2,500,000  is 
"Bathing  Beauty." 

Clark  Gable's  return  to  the  lot  has 
studio  executives  searching  for  a  suit- 
able story  as  his  first  after  his  re- 
tirement from  the  Army.  The  studio 
expects  a  few  more  of  its  personnel 
back  in  civvies  before  long. 


Variety  Annual  Dance 

Buffalo,  June  25. — Tent  No.  7, 
Variety  Club,  will  hold  its  annual 
summer  dinner  dance  and  field  day 
July  17  at  the  Automobile  Club  in 
nearby  Clarence. 


RKO  Scrap  Donation 

Seven  and  one-half  tons  of  obsolete 
tickets  were  contributed  to  New  York 
City's  waste  collection  at  the  weekend. 


De  Rochemont  Meets 
Underground  Chiefs 

Richard  de  Rochemont,  producer  for 
March  of  Time,  now  in  Algiers  as 
a  War  correspondent  covering  the 
Mediterranean  theatre  for  MOT,  has 
met  with  several  chiefs  of  the  French 
Underground  movement  and  leaders 
of  the  French  provisional  government, 
MOT  headquarters  reported  here  at 
the  weekend. 

Among  the  men  with  whom  _  de 
Rochemont  has  conferred  are  resist- 
ance leader  "Ferriere"  and  "Duroc ;" 
Henri  Bonnet,  Commissioner  for  In- 
formation; Emanuel  Dastier  de  la 
Vigerie,  Commissioner  for  _  the  In- 
terior ;  Professor  Rene  Cassin,  mem- 
ber of  the  Consultative  Assembly,  and 
George  Gorce,  attache  to  the  cabinet 
of  General  de  Gaulle. 


12-Station  Salute  for 
'Christmas  Holiday' 

Twelve  radio  stations  will  salute 
Universal's  "Christmas  Holiday"  to- 
morrow night,  the  eve  of  the  film's 
New  York  premiere  at  the  Criterion 
Theatre.  This  is  reportedly  the  first 
time  a  radio  program,  carried  on  12 
stations,  has  been  used  to  exploit  a 
film. 


Hollywood,  June  25 

GEORGE  BAGNALL,  United 
Artists  vice-president  in  charge 
of  production,  will  return  here  tomor- 
row from  the  East.  Walter  Gould, 
UA,  foreign  manager,  has  arrived 
here. 

William  Goetz  and  Leo  Spitz'  Inter- 
national Pictures  has  finished  three  of 
the  four  productions  announced  for 
the  1944-45  season.  They  are  "The 
Woman  in  the  Window,"  "Casanova 
Brown"  and  "The  Belle  of  the 
Yukon." 

Harold  Hopper,  new  president  of  the 
Motion  Picture  Society  for  the  Amer- 
icas, has  appointed  Merwin  Travis 
general  manager.  Travis  previously 
was  associated  with  Hopper  in  the 
latter's  War  Production  Board  post. 

m 

M-G-M  announced  the  elevation  of 
William  H.  Wright  to  producership 
and  the  transfer  of  Richard  Whorf 
from  the  actor  to  director  roster, 
assigning  them  "Autumn  Fever,"  a 
comedy  for  first  production. 

• 

Columbia's  "Gone  Are  the  Days," 
the  story  of  the  old  Chautauqua  cir- 
cuit, has  been  placed  on  Richard  Blu- 
menthal's  production  schedule.  Story 
treatment  is  being  written  by  Lewis 
R.  Foster. 

Paramount  has  purchased  "Prince 
Charming,"  an  original  by  Everett 
Freeman,  and  executive  producer  B. 
G.  DeSylva  has  assigned  Fred  Kohl- 
mar  to  produce  it. 

o 

Columbia  announced  Charles  Boyer, 
Irene  Dunne  and  Charles  Coburn  for 
top  roles  in  Virginia  Van  Upp's  next 
production,  untitled. 

• 

The  War  Finance  Committee  has 
tabulated  allied  industries'  war  bond 
purchases  at  $261,307  to  date  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan. 

Lester  Cowan  has  signed  Jim  Sul- 
livan as  art  director  and  Leon  Charles 
as  dialogue  director  on  "Tomorrow, 
the  World!" 

e 

Lester  Cowan  left  by  plane  for 
Washington  yesterday  to  submit,  the 
"G.  I.  Joe"  script  to  the  War  Depart- 
ment. « 

• 

Stephen  Goosson  has  returned  to 
Columbia  as  supervising  art  director 
replacing  Lionel  Banks,  resigned. 
• 

RKO  has  announced  Hedy  Lamarr, 
Paul  Lukas  and  George  Brent  for  the 
leads  in  "Experiment  Perilous." 
• 

Henry  Hathaway,  director,  was 
given  a  long-term  contract  by  20th 
Century-Fox. 


Film  Exhibit  at  Fair 

Mexico  City,  June  25.— The  city 
government  here  is  preparing  publi- 
cation in  book  form  of  a  history  of 
the  Mexican  motion  picture  industry 
for  exhibition  at  the  Third  National 
Book  Fair. 


Lloyd  Bacon  has  been  given  a  term 
directorial  contract  by  20th-Fox. 

Leon  Fromkess  left  for  New  York 
Saturday  on  the  Streamliner. 

Nate  Spingold  entrained  Saturday 
for  New  York. 


26 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  26,  1944 


Reviews 


"Minstrel  Man" 

(PRC) 

Hollywood,  June  25 

/"OUTSTRIPPING  by  seven-league  strides  any  and  all  earlier  ef- 
^  forts,  PRC  let  out  the  horses  on  "Minstrel  Man"  and  wins  its  own 
race.  He  is  a  musical  which  reflects  high  credit  on  its  producer  and  is 
one  which  other  studios,  more  expansively  geared  to  larger  budgets, 
would  be  happy  to  acknowledge  as  their  own. 

"Minstrel  Man"  is  solid  entertainment,  and  very  good  entertainment 
at  that.  Its  star  is  Benny  Fields,  who  has  been  treading  the  boards 
for  so  many  years  that  his  name  takes  on  permanent  residence  in  the 
annals  of  the  theatre.  He  is  the  minstrel  man,  singing  in  leisurely  and 
graceful  style  a  series  of  melodious  songs  and  ballads  from  the  tune 
shop  of  Harry  Revel  and  Paul  Webster.  "Remember  Me  to  Carolina," 
which  has  thematic  importance  in  the  story,  and  "Cindy,"  for  instance, 
are  as  good  as  any  of  their  type  from  any  studio  in  this  town.  And 
"Melancholy  Baby,"  his  signature  song,  is  as  effective  now  as  it  was 
"way  back  then."  What  Fields  does,  which  is  plenty,  he  does  very 
well;  if  there  is  justice,  audiences  will  be  asking  for  more  of  him. 

The  dramatic  skein  is  not  weighty.  Nevertheless,  it  is  pleasing, 
pleasant  and  nostalgic  with  its  tuggings  at  the  heart  in  unfolding  the 
tale  of  the  performer  whose  wife  dies  at  childbirth.  This  turns  him 
from  the  baby,  innocently  established  in  his  mind  as  the  cause.  He 
leaves  the  child  to  be  raised  by  theatrical  friends,  goes  wandering,  is 
believed  lost  in  the  burning  at  sea  of  the  Morro  Castle  and,  after  15 
years,  returns  on  the  opening  night  of  a  streamlined  minstrel  show 
starring  his  daughter.  There  is  reconciliation  for  the  happy  ending 
audiences  will  be  wanting. 

Since  this  is  a  musical,  with  drama,  producer  Leon  Fromkess  was 
adroitly  conscious  of  the  need  to  place  the  musical  responsibility  in 
capable  hands.  He  has  it  with  Revel  and  Webster  on  the  song  side, 
with  Ferde  Grofe  on  the  score  and  with  Leo  Erdody  at  the  orchestral 
baton.  Competent  performances  are  furnished  by  Gladys  George,  Ros- 
coe  Karns,  Alan  Dinehart,  Jerome  Cowan  and  Judy  Clark,  as  the 
daughter  practically  grown  up. 

Joseph  H.  Lewis,  new  to  directorial  enterprise,  rates  considerable 
credit  for  blending  his  ingredients  with  such  commendable  results. 

"Minstrel  Man"  is  an  attraction.  Fields  is  an  attraction.  And  PRC 
has  a  decidedly  winning  number. 

Running  time,  69  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  July  1.       Red  Kann 


"Port  of  40  Thieves" 

(Republic) 

Hollywood,  June  25 

P\IRECTOR  John  English  gets  the  most  out  of  a  capable  cast  and 
■L/  manages  to  achieve  a  taut  and  suspenseful  melodrama,  despite  struc- 
tural defects  in  the  story.  Dane  Lussier's  screenplay  about  a  scheming 
young  woman  who  balks  neither  at  blackmail  nor  at  murder  has  its 
weak  moments,  notably  her  plan  to  kill  two  men  by  identical  means  with- 
in a  time-span  of  24  hours. 

The  action  never  lags,  and  competent  performances  by  a  well-chosen 
cast  add  much  to  the  picture's  merit.  Stephanie  Bachelor,  as  the  self- 
centered  heroine,  handles  a  difficult  assignment  with  skill  and  finesse. 
Richard  Powers,  as  the  lawyer  who  unravels  the  skein  of  her  crimes, 
gives  a  sympathetic  and  straight-forward  assignment. 

Armand  Schaefer  was  the  executive  producer,  with  Walter  Goetz  as 
his  associate.  Others  in  the  cast  are  Lynn  Roberts,  Olive  Blakeney, 
Ellen  Lowe,  George  Meeker,  Russel  Hicks  and  Patricia  Knox. 

Running  time,  57  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

Thalia  Bell 


'My  Way'  Draws  Big 
$56,000  in  2nd 
Week  in  Chicago 


Chicago,  June  25.  —  "Going  My 
Way,"  in  its  second  week  at  the  Chi- 
cago, continued  to  be  the  town's  pace- 
maker with  a  hefty  $56,000.  Extra 
shows  are  staged  daily. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22 : 

"The  Hour  Before  Dawn"  (Para.) 
"Knickerbocker  Holiday"  (UA) 

APOLLO — (1,200)     (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.    (Average:  $11,400). 
"Going  My  Way"  (Para.) 

CHICAGO — (3,850)  (55c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Stage:  Harry  Richman,  Dave 
Apollon  Revue.  Gross:  $56,000.  (Aver- 
age: $51,500). 

"Address  Unknown"  (Col.) 

"The  Whistler"   (Col.)  S  days,  2nd  week 

"Up  in  Mable's  Room"  (UA)  2  days 

GARRICK— (1,000)    (55c-65c-95c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $9,300.     (Average:  $9,100). 
"Show  Business"  (RICO) 
"Passport  to  Destiny"   (RKO)    (1  day) 
"The  Mummy's  Ghost"  (Univ.) 
"Jungle  Woman"  (Univ.)   (6  days) 

GRAND — (1,250)   (5Cc-60c-85c-95c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $7,000.     (Average:  $9,100). 
"Stagecoach"   (UA  reissue) 

ORIENTAL— (3,200)  (44c-55c-60c-80c-95c) 
7  days.    Stage:  Henry  Busse  and  orchestra. 
Gross:  $26,500.     (Average:  $24,000). 
"Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 
"Gildersleeve's   Ghost"  (RKO) 

PALACE — (2,500)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7  days, 
2nd  week.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average, 
$24,000). 

"Passage  to  Marseille"  (WB) 

ROOSEVELT— (1,500)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $19,000.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"Pin  Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 

STATE  LAKE— (2,700)  (55c-65c-95c)  7 
days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $18,000.  (Average: 
$29.0C0). 

"See  Here,  Private  Hargrove"  (M-G-M) 

UNITED  ARTISTS— (1,700)  (50c-65c-95c) 
7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $20,500.  (Average: 
$2i:.i0'.). 

"Up  in  Arms"  (RKO) 

WOODS— (1,200)  (55c-65c-95c)  7  days,  8th 
week.     Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 

'Bed's9  $30,000  Leads 
Strong  Pittsburgh 

Pittsburgh,  June  25.  —  Business 
continued  its  upward  swing  here  this 
week,  with  the  Stanley  topping  the  list 
with  $30,000  for  "Make  Your  Own 
Bed,"  plus  a  vaudeville  show. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  20-23 : 

"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (2(lth-Fox) 

FULTON— (1,700)     (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.      (Average:  $8,5C0). 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 

HARRIS— (2,200)     (35c-44c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average:  $10,100). 
"Two  Girls  and  -  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 

PENX— (3,400)       (35c-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $17,500.    (Average:  $21,700) 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

RITZ— (1,100)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days,  5th 
week,  (moveover  after  one  week  at  Penn, 
two  at  Warner).  Grost:  $3,000.  (Average: 
$3,000). 

"this  Is  the  Army"  (WB)  (Re-issue) 

cEXATOR—  (1.750)    (3Sc-44c-65c)    7  days. 
Gross:  $2,000.    (Average:  $3,400). 
"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

STANLEY — (3,800)     (44c-68c-85c).  On 
stage:  6  days  of  vaudeville  including  Ella 
Fitzgerald,      Cootie     Wilson's  orchestra. 
Gross:  $30,000.     (Average:  $22,000). 
"Three  Russian  Girls"  (UA) 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

WARNER— (2.0CO)  (35c-44c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.     (Average:  $9,350). 


Three  French  Films  Due 

Herman  G.  Weinberg  of  the  World 
Theatre  has  completed  American 
adaptations  and  titles  for  three 
French  films  produced  before  the  War. 
The  pictures,  "32  Rue  de  Montmarte," 
"A  Woman  Disappears,"  and  "Ex- 
tenuating Circumstances"  will  have 
their  American  premieres  in  New 
York  this  season. 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Applications  for  163 
FM  Stations  Filed 

There  are  now  163  applications 
pending  before  the  Federal  Communi- 
cations Commission  for  frequency 
modulation  stations,  according  to  a 
compilation  made  by  FM  Broadcast- 
ers. There  are  44  FM  stations  now 
operating  in  the  U.  S. 

Estimates  reveal  that  the  applicants 
for  FM  stations  will  spend  $10,000,000 
for  broadcast  equipment  alone  and  set 
manufacturers  predict  that  20,000,000 
receivers  will  be  in  the  hands  of  lis- 
teners within  four  years  after  the  war. 


Cobian  Names  Barnett 

George  Barnett,  president  of  Mod- 
ern Film  Corp.,  has  been  named  U.  S. 
representative  for  Cobian  Theatres 
and  National  Pictures  of  Puerto  Rico, 
by  R.  Ramos  Cobian,  president  of 
those  companies. 


Mrs.  Rogers'  Services 

Santa  Monica,  June  25. — Private 
funeral  services  for  Mrs.  Will  Rogers, 
who  died  Wednesday  night  will  be 
held  at  3  P.  P.  tomorrow  at  the 
Wee  Kirk  o'  the  Heather  in  Glendale. 


Hollywood 


By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  25 

PRINTS  of  what  is  described  as 
the  first  talking  animated  cartoon 
ever  made  has  been  turned  over  to 
the  U.  S.  Film  Archives  and  the 
Library  of  Motion  Picture  Art.  The 
picture,  which  was  made  15  years  ago 
by  Hugh  Harman  and  Rudolf  Ising, 
is  "Bosco,  the  TalkINK  Kid."  The  ■ 
favorable  reaction  accorded  it  resulted 
in  the  first  series  of  "Looney  Tunes," 
released  through  Warners  from  1930 
to  1934. 

• 

Activity  at  PRC  lias  reached  a 
new  high  with  five  pictures  in  work 
simultaneously.  The  company  h-as  in 
preparation  a  drama  of  juvenile  de- 
linquency, titled  "I  Accuse  My  Par- 
ents." Mary  Beth  Hughes  is  set  for 
the  top  role.  .  .  .  Joe  Glaston  has 
joined  the  publicity  staff  of  Univer- 
sal, where  he  will  handle  all  Abbott 
and  Costello  publicity.  .  .  .  Gwyneth 
Hughes  has  been  signed  by  IVarners 
to  play  her  original  stage  role  in  the 
film  version  of  "The  Corn  Is  Green." 
.  .  .  RKO-Radio  has  purchased  "Chi- 
cago Lulu,"  a  short  story  published 
recently  in  the  Saturday  Evening 
Post.  .  .  .  Barbara  Belden,  newcomer 
signed  by  PRC,  will  make  her  first 
appearance  opposite  Jimmic  Lydon  in 
"When  the  Lights  Go  On  Again." 
• 

Bing  Crosby  has  selected  Greg 
McClure,  newcomer,  to  play  the 
title  role  in  "The  Great  John  L," 
which  Frank  Tuttle  will  direct.  .  .  . 
Paramount  has  another  of  its 
Technicolor  "Musical  Parades"  in 
work ,  titled  "Bonnie  Lassie"  and 
featuring  authentic  Scotch  music 
and  songs.  .  .  .  Leslie  Fenton  has 
been  assigned  to  direct  Lester 
Cowan's  production  of  "Tomorrow 
the  World."  Two  members  of  the 
cast,  "Skippy"  Homeier  and  Edith 
Angold,  will  have  the  same  roles 
they  played  in  the  Broadway  stage 
version.  .  .  .  William  Wright,  who 
has  returned  to  Columbia  to  fulfill 
his  contractual  obligations  after  re- 
ceiving his  discharge  from  the 
Army,  will  have  the  lead  in  the 
forthcoming  musical,  "Eve  Knew 
Her  Apples."  .  .  .  Elena  Verdugo  has 
been  signed  for  a  featured  role  in 
"The  Frozen  Ghost,"  new  Inner 
Sanctum  mystery  now  under  way  at 
Universal.  At  the  same  studio,  Ed- 
ward Earle  has  ben  set  for  the  part 
of  President  Polk  in  "Can't  Help 
Singing,"  Deanna  Durbin  starrer. 
.  .  .  Lowell  Farrell  will  be  assistant 
director  on  "The  House  of  Dr.  Ed- 
wards," Vanguard  production,  in 
which  Ingrid  Bergman  and  Gregory- 
Peck  are  co-starred. 

• 

Dr.  Clifford  and  Mrs.  Severn,  have 
been  signed  by  M-G-M  for  a  part 
in  "Son  of  Lassie".  .  .  .  "That's  the 
Spirit"  is  the  next  Fessier-Pagano 
offering  from  Universal.  It  will  star 
Jack  Oakie  and  Peggy  Ryan.  .  .  .  Lo- 
cation scenes  are  being  shot  for  Sol 
Lesser's  forthcoming  "Three's  a 
Family,"  based  on  the  Broadway  play. 
.  .  .  Harold  S.  Bucquet  has  been  as- 
signed to  direct  "Without  Love," 
M-G-M's  version  of  the  Barry  play. 
.  .  .  Spencer  Tracy  and  Katharine 
Hepburn  will  star.  .  .  .  Betty  Field 
will  co-star  with  Fredric  March  in 
the  Cowan  production  "Tomorrow,  the 
World". 


FIGHTING 
5th 

WAR  LOAN 

JUNE  12th-JULY  8th 


TO  THE 

HONORED 

16,000 

Maybe  a  lot  of  you  never  got  your  names 
in  the  papers. 

The  only  time  I  did  was  in  a  casualty 
list. 

Maybe  some  of  your  bond-selling  efforts 
will  remain  unpublicized,  unrewarded 
by  citations. 

There  are  millions  of  us  in  the  ranks 
who  will  fight  unsung,  and  many  who 
will  die  unknown. 

Those  are  the  fortunes  of  War. 

Mr.  Exhibitor,  we're  no  different,  you 
and  L 

We  both  do  our  part  for  one  reason — 
love  of  country! 

There's  a  big  job  ahead  for  us! 

There's  the  5th  War  Loan  ahead  for 
you. 

They're  both  tough  assignments 

And  there's  enough  glory  in  our  hearts 
when  we  do  them  well. 

There's  only  one  reward  that  means 
anything  anyhow. 

It's  Victory — and  Peace! 

i  Sponsored  by  War  Activities  Committeeof  Motion  Picture  Industry,  1501  Broadway,  N.  Y.C. 


28 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Monday,  June  26,  1944 


Reviews 


"Youth  Runs  Wild" 

{RKO-Radio) 

Hollywood,  June  25 

T  N  common  with  its  predecessors  in  the  chain  of  juvenile-delinquency 
*■  pictures,  all  of  which  seem  to  make  money,  this  Val  Levvton  produc- 
tion prowls  the  edges  of  the  subject  in  gingerly  fashion  and  does  a  lot 
of  talking  about  the  evil  the  kiddies  are  up  to  but  doesn't  show  them  at  it. 

Scenarist  John  Fante  and  director  Mark  Robson  seem  to  have  been 
restricted  to  a  zone  of  operations  well  within  the  normal  limits  of  every- 
day melodrama.  Upshot  of  this  is  a  confusing  picture,  full  of  conversa- 
tion about  pre-occupied  parents  and  bored  youngsters,  which  winds  up 
with  a  plea  for  general  adoption  of  the  Moline  plan  advanced  with  com 
siderable  success  by  Ruth  Clifford  of  that  Illinois  town. 

Bonita  Granville  is  the  top  name  in  the  cast  but  plays  a  secondary 
role,  as  does  Kent  Smith,  also  in  a  second  billing  spot.  Jean  Brooks 
and  Glenn  Vernon  are  the  two  juveniles,  both  15,  principally  concerned 
in  a  story  about  war  workers  and  their  children,  these  two  being  model 
youngsters  at  heart  who  get  exposed  to  some  minor  thievery  and  night- 
life but  aren't  changed  by  the  contact,  although  the  boy  goes  off  to  a  re- 
formatory for  no  clear  reason  save  to  give  the  picture  a  point.  Others 
in  the  cast  are  Tessa  Brind,  Ben  Bard,  Mary  Servoss,  Arthur  Shields, 
Lawrence  Tierney,  Dickie  Moore,  Johnny  Walsh,  Rod  Rodgers  and 
Elizabeth  Russell. 

Running  time,  67  mins.    "G."*  Release  date,  not  set. 

William  R.  Weaver 


"They  Met  in  Moscow" 

(Artkino) 

'"pHE  Soviet  departs  from  weighty  themes  to  produce,  in  "They  Met  in 
■■■  Moscow,"  a  musical  gem  of  unblushing  escapism,  a  boy-meets-girl 
tale  devoid  of  any  reference  to  grim  happenings  at  the  front,  and  which 
comes  close  to  approximating  American  screen  style. 

Marina  Ladynina,  farmerette  who  has  won  a  trip  to  an  agricultural 
Fair,  meets  Vladmir  Zeldin,  a  shepherd  from  the  Caucasus.  They  return 
to  their  homes  with  a  romantic  attachment,  vowing  to  meet  at  next 
year's  fair.  One  of  Vladmir's  letters  is  translated  by  Nikolai  Kriuch- 
kov,  a  local  suitor,  to  imply  that  the  shepherd  has  married.  The  lovers  are 
reunited,  however,  but  not  before  the  eve  of  Miss  Ladynina's  impending 
marriage  to  Kriuchkov. 

Ivan  Piriev  produced  and  directed  from  the  screenplay  and  lyrics  of 
Victor  Gussev.  Charles  Clement's  English  titles  are  satisfactory. 

Running  time,  85  mins.   "G."*   Release  date,  June  6. 

Charles  Ryweck 


"The  Amazing  Mr.  Forrest" 

(PRC) 

tf-p  HE  AMAZING  MR.  FORREST,"  a  British-made  picture,  tries 
laboriously  to  be  a  variation  of  "The  Thin  Man,"  but  winds  up 
a  poor  imitation.  Walter  N.  Mycroft,  the  producer,  evidently  thought 
he  had  a  marketable  idea  in  coupling  Jack  Buchanan  and  Googie  With- 
ers in  the  detective-wife  counterpart  of  the  Powell-Loy  combination,  but 
the  results  are  negative.  The  plot  revolves  around  the  mythical  Maltonian 
jewels,  a  swank  London  night  club  operated  by  New  York  gangsters, 
and  the  eventual  clarification  of  a  minor  mystery.  Edward  Everett  Hor- 
ton  is  lost  in  the  part  of  a  butler,  and  Otto  Kreuger  as  the  proprietor- 
gangster  of  the  night  club  tries  hard  to  be  sinister,  while  Jack  La  Rue 
struggles  with  the  role  of  another  menace.  Thornton  Freeland  directed 
from  a  screen  play  by  Ralph  Spence.  The  result  is  minor  program  fare 
which  requires  the  support  of  either  good  short  subjects  or  .  a  second 
feature. 

Running  time,  70  mins.    "G."*  John  D.  Stephon 


'Cliff  s'$  25,000  Tops 
Cleveland  Heat 


Cleveland,  June  25. — "The  White 
Cliffs  of  Dover"  is  surviving  a  record 
heat  wave,  playing  at  Loew's  State 
where  it  opened  to  a  big  $25,000  week. 
"Home  in  Indiana"  at  the  Allen  also 
got  off  to  a  good  start  with  $12,000, 
about  40  percent  above  par. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  21 : 

"Home  in  Indiana"  (2<rth-Fox) 

ALLEN — (3,000)     (44c-55c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $8,5CO). 
-Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

HIPPODROME — (3,500)  (44c-55c-6Sc)  7 
days.  Gross:  $15,500.  (Average:  $22,100). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

WARNERS'  LAKE-(714)  (44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average: 
$3,200). 

"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  OHIO — (1,268)  (43c-65c)  7  days, 
5th  week.  Gross:  $3,000.  (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c)  7 
days.     Stage:  Xavier  Cugat.     Gross:  $26,- 
500.     (Average:  $25,400). 
"White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,300)  (43c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $25,000.     (Average:  $19,000). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $9,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 


'Angels  Sing'  Takes 
$14,000  in  2d  Week 


Kansas  City,  June  25. — The  New- 
man reported  a  second  good  week  for 
'And  the  Angels  Sing"  with  a  gross 
of  $14,000.  The  Orpheum,  with  "The 
Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  took  $11,000. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  16-19 : 

"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$7,200.     (Average:  $6,000). 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.) 

MIDLAND— (3,500)      (40c-60c)     7  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

NEWMAN— (1,000)   (46c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.    Gross:  $14,000.    (Average:  $10,000). 
"The  Hour  Before  the  Dawn"  (Para.) 
"Henry  Aldrich  Plays  Cupid"  (Para.) 

ORPHEUM— (1,900)  (45c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Her  Primitive  Man"  (Univ.) 
"Hot  Rhythm"  (Mono.) 

TOWER— (1.200)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,000.     (Average:  $9,400). 
"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN—  (2,000)      (45c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $6,500.     (Average:  $5,600). 
"This  Is  the  Life"  (Univ.) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $2,300.     (Average:  $1,600). 

Record  $17,600  for 
'Way'  in  Providence 

Providence,  June  25. — The  hottest 
thing  in  town  this  week  was  "Going 
My  Way,"  grossing  $17,600  at  the 
Strand  Theatre  in  its  first  seven  days 
to  set  a  new  house  record. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22: 

"Show  Business"  (RKO) 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

RKO-ALBEE  —  (2,239)  (35-44c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average: 
$12,800). 

"Going  My  Way"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,200)  (44c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$17,600.     (Average:  $10,500). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Black  Parachute"  (Col.) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,232)  (35c-44c-55c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average: 
$17,700). 

"Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  (2flth-Fox) 
"Candlelight  in  Algeria"  (20th-Fox) 

MAJESTIC — (2,250)   (35c-44c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $11,000.     (Average:  $12,100). 
"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (20th-Fox) 
"Ladies  of  Washington"  (20th-Fox) 

CARLTON— (1,526)   (35c-44c-55c)   7  days, 
2nd     week;      moveover     from  Majestic. 
Gross:  $3,000.     (Average:  $4,000). 
"This  Is  the  Army"  (WB) 

FAY'S — (1,800)  (35c-44c-55c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $5,000.    (Average:  $6,500). 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Employes  Get  Back  Pay 

The  managements  of  Welgot  Trail- 
er Service,  New  York,  and  the  Con- 
solidated Film  Industries,  Inc.,  Fort 
Lee,  N.  J.,  have  voluntarily  agreed  to 
reimburse  employees  for  back  wages 
and  overtime  pay  due  them  under  the 
Fair  Labor  Standards  Act.  Thirty- 
two  employees  involved  will  receive 
a  total  of  $3,712,  it  was  disclosed  at 
the  weekend  by  Arthur  J.  White, 
regional  director  of  the  Wage  and 
Hour  and  Public  Contracts  Division 
of  the  U.  S.  Department  of  Labor. 


Mexican  Independent 
Producers  Organize 

Mexico  City,  June  25. — Alfonso  San- 
chez Tello,  veteran  producer,  has  been 
named  by  independent  producers  here 
to  represent  them  on  the  new  co- 
ordinating committee  of  cinemato- 
graphic production.  This  is  the  in- 
dependents' first  step  toward  organiza- 
tion. The  committee  has  authorized 
Arcady  Boytler  to  make  a  picture  here 
with  Lupe  Velez  as  star. 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


"Past  Performances" 

(RKO-Pathe) 

Made  up  of  old  newsreel  shots  of 
events  of  interest  in  the  sports  world 
of  the  early  20th  century,  "Past  Per- 
formances" includes  pictures  of  the 
Harvard-Penn  football  game  in  1903, 
the  Jack  Johnson-Jim  Flynn  cham- 
pionship bout  in  1912,  the  Vanderbilt 
Cup  Race  of  1904  and  the  Burns- 
Squires  heavyweight  championship 
match  of  1907,  among  other  contests. 
This  reel  will  be  of  interest  to  the  old 
sports  fans  and  should  amuse  the 
youngsters.  Of  special  interest  is  the 
first  girls'  collegiate  basketball  team 
at  Missouri  Valley  College.  Running 
time,  8yi  mins. 


"Commando  Duck" 

(Walt  Disney-RKO) 

Donald  Duck,  commando  with  the 
U.  S.  Paratroopers  in  the.  South  Pa- 
cific, is  ordered  to  wipe  out  a  Jap  air- 
field. He  does — in  a  manner  to  make 
militarists  look  to  their  laurels  and 
shudder.  This  is  the  type  of  cartoon 
that  goes  over  with  everybody.  It's 
full  of  good  laughs  and  boasts  an  ex- 
ceptionally fine  color  job. 

'Bed'  Leads  Capital 
With  Nice  $21,000 

Washington,  June  25. — Most  the- 
atre grosses  took  a  terrific  beating 
here  this  week.  "Make  Your  Own 
Bed"  stands  to  do  an  estimate^  $21,- 
000  at  Warner's  Earle.  In  its  fourth 
week  at  Warner's  Metropolitan,  "The 
Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  should  do  ap- 
proximately $7,500. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  22: 

"Roger  Touhy,  Gangster"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  CAPITOL— (3,434)  (35c-43c-55c- 
72c)  7  days.     On  stage:  Gay  Nineties  Re- 
vue.    Gross:  $18,000.     (Average:  $22,000). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S    COLUMBIA— (1,234)  (43c-55c- 
65c)  7  days,  2nd  downtown  week.  Gross: 
$8,000.      (Average:  $8,200). 
"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

WARNER'S  EARLE— (2,210)  (44c-55c-85- 
$1.00)   7  days.     On  stage:  Anita  Martell. 
Gross:  $21,000.     (Average:  $19,700). 
"The  Impostor"  (Univ.) 

RKO -KEITH'S — (1,800)  (35c-44c-65c-74c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average:  $13,600). 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

WARNER'S     METROPOLITAN— (1,600) 
(35c-55c)  7  days,  4th  downtown  week.  Gross: 
$7,500.     (Average:  $7,200). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (ZOth-Fox) 

LOEW'S  PALACE— (2,242)  (43c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  downtown  week.  Gross:  $13,000. 
(Average:  $19,000). 

'Indiana's  $17,000  Is 
Best  in  Indianapolis 

Indianapolis,  June  25. — "Home  in 
Indiana,"  which  had  its  world  pre- 
miere at  the  Indiana  this  week,  will 
gross  $17,000  best  in  several  months. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  20-22 : 

"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 
"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

CIRCLE — (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,000.     (Average:  $11,800). 
"Home  in  Indiana"  (20th-Fox) 
"Pardon  My  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)      (32c-55c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $17,000.     (Average:  $11,600). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)    (32c-55c)    7   days.  2nd 
week.     Gross:  $8,000.     (Average:  $11,500). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 
"Ladies  in  Washington"  (2*th-Fox) 

LYRIC—  (2.000)  (32c-55c)  7  days,  move- 
over  from  Indiana.  Gross:  $4,700.  (Aver- 
age: $4,900). 


Monday,  June  26,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


29 


Five  Awards  Go  to 
Lt.  Dannenberg 

Outstanding  achievement  in 
air  combat  over  Southern  Eu- 
rope has  earned  the  Air 
Medal  with  three  Oak  Leaf 
Clusters  and  the  Purple 
Heart  for  Lt.  Lawrence  Dan- 
nenberg, former  theatre  and 
Hollywood  studio  worker.  Af- 
ter 21  missions  as  bombardier 
on  a  Flying  Fortress,  Lt.  Dan- 
nenberg was  injured  by  flak 
on  a  raid  over  Austria.  He 
is  in  a  hospital  in  Italy. 

Dannenberg,  24,  is  the  son 
of  the  late  Sidney  Dannen- 
berg, for  many  years  with 
Warner  theatres  in  Cleveland. 
At  the  time  of  his  enlistment 
he  was  in  the  publicity  de- 
partment of  Warners'  studios 
at  Burbank. 


Kennedy  Hails  'Fifth  Loan 9 
Aid  of  Small  Town  Showmen 


Former  Fox,  Pathe 
CameramanW  ounded 

Loxdox,  June  25— Three  casualties, 
including  one  unnamed  fatality,  were 
among  the  16  British  Army  camera- 
men who  were  dropped  by  parachute 
in  Normandy.  Sgt.  D.  T.  O'Neill, 
formerly  of  Fox  Photos,  and  Sgt. 
William  Greenhaigh,  former  Pathe 
newsreel  man,  were  wounded. 

Others  in  the  group,  which  got  film 
off  for  England  before  midday,  were: 
J.  H.  Mapham,  A.  C.  O.  Laing,  A.  M. 
Midgeley,  J.  P.  Christie,  W.  N.  Slague, 
D.  W.  Ginger,  J.  N.  Johnson,  H.  Par- 
kinson, I.  J.  Grant,  R.  Learherborrow, 
G.  E.  J.  Laws,  R.  V.  Watkins,  A.  C. 
Cross  and  P.  F.  Carpenter. 


Hold  Vanguard  Talks 
In  Chicago  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

sales  plans  for  "Since  You  Went 
Away,"  the  first  print  of  which  is 
scheduled  to  arrive  in  New  York  to 
day. 

The  Chicago  conferences  also  will 
set  the  complete  program  for  the 
launching  of  "Since  You  Went  Away" 
including  final  arrangements  for  the 
New  York  premiere  at  the  Capitol 
Theatre  which  it  now  appears  will  be 
around  July  14. 

It  was  learned  that  the  meeting  also 
will  discuss  the  appointment  of  sales 
representatives  for  Vanguard  both  in 
Chicago  and  on  the  West  Coast.. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
nearby  Army  hospitals,"  Kennedy  said. 

"Tney  are  disproving  the  contention 
that  successful  rallies  cannot  be  staged 
without  outside  celebrities  and  are 
demonstrating  that  American  showmen 
have  the  ingenuity  and  enterprise  to 
build  their  own  shows  and  special 
events  to  further  the  war  effort." 


Chicago,  Atlantic  City 
Break  Bond  Records 

Results  of  Bond  premieres  reported 
to  War  Activities  Committee  here  at 
the  weekend  indicate  an  eclipse  of 
previous  records.  The  first  premiere 
in  the  Warner  circuit  in  the  Phila- 
delphia area  brought  $6,215,250  at  the 
Warner  Theatre  in  Atlantic  City,  it 
was  disclosed  by  Ted  Schlanger,  War- 
ners' Philadelphia  zone  manager.  This 
ngure  doubles  the  returns  for  that  the- 
atre's first  premiere  during  the  Fourth 
War  Loan  drive. 

The  Byrd  Theatre,  Richmond,  man- 
aged by  R.  H.  Coulter,  has  already 
topped  its  quota  of  "a  bond  for  every 
seat." 


RCA  Expands  Film 
Equipment  Service 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  company's  theatre  equipment  sec- 
tion, declared  that  in  addition  to  a 
full  line  of  RCA  sound  reproducing 
systems,  Brenkert  projectors,  and 
RCA  screens,  the  equipment  to  be 
offered  under  the  new  expanded  policy 
includes  nationally  known  lines  of 
power  supply  equipment,  chairs,  car- 
pets, and  other  accessories. 

Distribution  of  the  new  equipment 
lines  will  be  handled  in  the  field  by 
RCA's  independent  theatre  supply 
dealers,  many  of  whom  have  formerly 
distributed  these  same  product"  lines. 


'Atlantic  City'  Opening 

Republic's  "Atlantic  City"  will  have 
a  dual  opening  on  July  28  at  Hamid's 
Pier  and  the  Hollywood  Theatre,  At- 
lantic City. 


Hollywood  Parade  Appears 
At  $2,325,000  Rally 

Wilmington,  Del,  June  25. — A  to- 
tal of  $2,325,000  in  cash  and  pledges 
was  recorded  at  a  War  Bond  rally  con- 
ducted here  Thursday  night,  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Hollywood  Parade  of 
Stars.  An  estimated  crowd  of  35,000 
persons  was  in  attendance. 

A  "United  Nations  Court  of  Flags" 
was  "dedicated  at  Rodney  Square  dur- 
ing the  day  and  was  preceded  by  a 
parade  witnessed  by  20,000  persons. 
The  local  War  Activities  Committee 
obtained  pledges  in  advance  as  did  the 
Treasury  Department  and  200  volun- 
teers solicited  during  the  rally. 

Among  those  participating  in  the 
rally  were  Rosemary  Lane,  Paul 
Whiteman,  Eileen  Woods,  Mischa 
Auer,  Lt.  William  Holden,  Pvt.  John 
Payne  and  Dennis  O'Keefe. 

The  Hollywood  Parade  of  Stars 
held  rallies  in  the  20,000-seat  William 
and  Mary  Stadium  in  Norfolk  Friday 
night  and  in  the  4,700-seat  Mosque  in 
Richmond  Saturday  night.  Tonight 
the  group  will  appear  in  Atlanta  at 
Grant  Field. 


Loop  "Wassell"  Opening 
Sells  $3,000,000  Bonds 

Chicago,  June  25. — Chicago  hailed 
Cecil  B.  DeMille's  newest  Technicolor 
film,  "The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell,"  Fri- 
day night  with  a  $3,000,000  War  Bond 
premiere  at  the  3,000-seat  State  Lake 
Theatre.  Color  was  added  to  the  pre- 
miere by  the  presence  in  the  audience 
of  leading  delegates  to  the  Republi- 
can National  Convention,  including 
Governor  Bricker,  of  Ohio,  former 
President  Herbert  Hoover,  Alf  Lan- 
don,  and  Harrison  Spangler. 

Keynote  speaker  at  the  premiere, 
Mayor  Edward  J.  Kelly,  of  Chicago, 
introduced  Cecil  B.  DeMille.  Carol 
Thurston,  who  has  the  role  of  the 
Javanese  nurse  in  the  film,  was  also 
present. 


Buffalo  Plans  Monday 
Night  Bond  Premiere 

Buffalo,  June  22. — The  five  down 
town  first-run  theatres  here  will  stage 
a  bond  premiere  Monday  night  at 
which  admission  will  be  by  purchase 
of  a  bond,  only,  it  was  reported  yester- 
day by  Vincent  R.  McFaul,  chairman 
of  the  premiere  committee. 

Cooperating  theatres,  including  the 
Buffalo,  Great  Lakes,  Hippodrome, 
Lafayette  and  Twentieth  Century,  will 
conclude  regular  performances  at  6:30 
P.  M.  and  premieres  will  commence 
at  8 :30. 


Two  Bond  Drive  Films 
Ready  for  Theatres 

"Young  America  Backs  the  'Fight- 
ing Fifth'  "  has  been  released  with  all 
newsreels  as  an  aid  to  the  current 
campaign,  it  was  reported  at  the  week- 
end by  Herman  Gluckman.  The 
bulletin  shows  how  children  can  help 
the  drive. 

Gluckman  also  disclosed  that  Bond 
Trailer,  No.  3  "From  Your  Boy  Over 
There,"  formerly  titled  "Dawn  of 
D-Day,"  was  ready  for  release  at  the 
weekend.  Fifteen  thousand  prints  of 
the  trailer,  produced  by  Paramount 
are  available. 


Illinois  Stages  140 
Bond  Premieres 

Illinois  exhibitor  chairman  Jules 
Rubens  reported  recently  that  140  War 
Bond  premieres,  60  children's  pre- 
mieres and  over  500  "Free  Movie" 
days  have  been  staged  in  that  state 
since  the  beginning  of  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  campaign. 

All  exhibitors  have  pledged  to  tie 
in  with  the  July  6  "Free  Movie  Day" 
in  Illinois  and  showmen  have  pledged 
an  "all  out"  compaign  to  break  previ- 
ous War  Loan  records. 


Technicolor  and  Republic's 
Employes  Are   Bond  Buyers 

Hollywood,  June  22. — The  War 
Finance  Committee- reported  here  yes- 
terdav  that  Technicolor  purchased  a 
total' of  $169,928  in  war  bonds,  of 
which  $150,000  was  for  the  corpora- 
tion and  the  balance  was  for  the  ac- 
count of  its  employees.  The  employees 
of  the  Republic  studio  purchased  in 
excess  of  $40,000  in  bonds  to  date. 


Cantor  Cleveland  Auction 
To  Promote  Fifth  Drive 

Cleveland,  June  25. — Eddie  Cantor 
will  be  here  Tuesday  to  assist  in  the 
big  bond  auction  to  be  held  at  the 
Carter  Hotel  under  the  joint  sponsor- 
ship of  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  and 
the  Cleveland  Athletic  Club.  George 
Schneider,  manager  of  the  club  has 
rounded  up  a  collection  of  war  me- 
mentos for  the  auction. 

The  Cleveland  area  has  to  date  set 
52  bond  premieres.  25  junior  premieres 
and  72  Free  Movie  Days,  Morrison 
Orr,  distributor  chairman,  reports. 


Employes  Pledge  S325,000 

Employes  and  executives  of  M-G-M 
pledged  $325,000  in  exjra  bonds  at  the 
rally  held  Friday  morning  at  the  home 
office.     The  money  will  be  used  to 
purchase  a  five-car  interior-type  hos 
pital    train    with    complete  medical 
equipment  and  supplies.    Among  those 
present  were  Howard  Dietz,  Loew' 
vice-president,  who  acted  as  master 
of  ceremonies ;    Milton    Berle,  Gene 
Krupa  and  Perry  Como.  Bond  appeal 
were  made  by  Maj.  S.  C.  Grashio 
Lt.  Leon  Kamern,  U.S.M.C.,  former 
manager  of  the  Astor  Theatre  here 
Max  Wolff  was  chairman  of  the  affair. 


Arbitration  Is  Cut 
50%  by  Stalemate 

The  number  of  arbitration 
proceedings  under  the  con- 
sent decree  has  fallen  50  per 
cent  below  normal  as  the 
Government  and  distributors 
remain  at  loggerheads  over 
negotiations  for  a  new  decree. 

With  exhibitors  delaying 
bringing  their  cases  to  the 
tribunals  under  the  provisions 
set  up  in  1941,  only  23  have 
been  filed  since  December. 
Last  year  there  were  76  ac- 
tions, compared  with  119  in 
1942  and  158  during  the  first 
year.  One  case  was  filed  this 
past  December,  three  each  in 
January  and  February,  two  in 
March,  three  in  April,  seven 
in  May  and  four  this  month. 


Clearance  Complaint 
Dismissed  in  L.A. 


Irvin  Stalmaster,  arbitrator  in  the 
Los  Angeles  tribunal,  has  dismissed 
the  clearance  complaint  of  G.  L. 
Smith,  operator  of  the  York  theatre, 
Los  Angeles,  against  the  five  consent- 
ing companies,  the  American  Arbitra- 
tion Association  disclosed  at  the 
weekend. 

Complaint  demanded  that  the  seven 
days  clearance  of  the  Park  and  Frank- 
lin be  eliminated  and  that  the  York 
be  granted  the  same  availability  as 
other  Los  .Angeles  suburban  theatres 
charging  the  same  admission.  Com- 
plainant also  demanded  that  it  be  per- 
mitted to  have  49  days  clearance  after 
the  Los  Angeles  first-runs  at  its  ad- 
mission price  of  30  cents  and  35  days 
after  first  run  closing  at  its  proposed 
price  of  35  cents. 

Arbitrator  found  that  all  theatres 
involved  in  the  proceedings  were  com- 
petitive and  that  the  existing  clear- 
ance was  reasonable.  East  River 
Theatre  Corp.  and  Laemmle  Theatres 
were  intervenors. 


Passage  to  London 
Awaited  by  Sears 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

include  discussions  for  arrangements 
for  United  Artists  quota  production 
with  J.  Arthur  Rank,  a  survey  of  the 
company's  Odeon  Circuit  interests  and 
of  UA's  British  distribution. 

David  H.  Coplan,  former  United 
Artists  Canadian  distribution  head,  has 
been  acting  managing  director  for  the 
company  in  Britain  since  the  resigna- 
tion of  Teddy  Carr  early  this  year. 
According  to  one  report,  Sears'  mis- 
sion may  result  in  confirmation  of 
Coplan  as  permanent  managing  direc- 
tor for  the  company  in  Britain. 


USO  Plans  Ad  Campaign 

Hartford,  June  25. — A  plan  to  use 
newspaper  advertisements  in  40  cities, 
including  the  entire  New  England 
area,  in  an  appeal  to  professional  and 
semi-professional  performers  to  apply 
for  auditions  preparatory  to  enlisting 
in  the  USO-Camp  Shows  entertain- 
ment program,  has  been  organized. 
Oscar  A.  Doob,  Loew's  executive, 
will  appoint  representatives  in  each 
of  the  cities,  to  place  local  advertise- 
ments. 


CONGR 


ATULATIONS 


MOTION  PICTURE 


! 


(VOL.  55.  NO.  125 


NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  TUESDAY,  JUNE  27,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


U.S.  Tribute 
o  Films  for 
anpower  Aid 

McNutt  Plans  to  Honor 
Industry  for  Recruiting 

Washington,  June  26. — Nation- 
wide commemoration  of  the  out- 
standing work  of  the  motion  pic- 
ture industry  in  mobilizing  the 
manpower  of  the  country  for  war 
has  been  proposed  by  War  Man- 
power Commission  chairman  Paul 
V.  McNutt,  it  was  disclosed  here 
today. 

McNutt  already  has  been  in 
contact  with  the  industry's  War 
Activities  Committee  on  the 
proposal  and  a  WAC  sub-com- 
mittee from  New  York  will 
meet  with  the  WMC  commis- 
sioner here  tomorrow  to  dis- 
cuss a  program.  Due  here  in 
the  morning  are:  Ned  Depinet, 
Leon  Bamberger  and  A.  A 
Schubart  of  RKO;  Tom  Con- 
nors, 20th  Century-Fox,  and 
(Continued  on  page  3) 

Industry  Praised 
By  Congress 

Washington,  June  26. — A  close-up 
of  the  war  contribution  of  the  motion 
picture  industry  was  today  inserted  in 
the  Congressional  Record  by  Senator 
George  L.  Radcliffe  of  Maryland.  , 

Submitting  the  report  of  the  theatres 
division  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee for  inclusion  in  the  last  num- 
ber of  the  Record  to  be  issued  prior 
to  the  Congressional  recess,  Senator 
Radcliffe  called  attention  "to  the  splen- 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


Lt  Schaefer  Killed 
In  Action  on  'D-Day' 

Lt.  James  G..  Schaefer,  son  of 
George  J.  Schaefer,  chairman  of  the 
War  Activities  Committee,  was  kill- 
ed in  action  on  June  6  in  France,  ac- 
cording to  a  War  Department  tele- 
gram received  by  his  family  here. 
Lieut.  Schaefer,  27  years  old,  a  Re- 
serve Officer  called  into  active  service 
on  Jan.  1,  1942. 

He  was  attached  to  the  82  Airborne 
Division,  reactivated  in  March,  1942, 
under  the  command  of  General  Brad- 
ley. Lt.  Schaefer  was  a  graduate  of 
Princeton,  and  was  associated  with 
Skouras  Theatres. 


Special  Tree 
Day'  Appeal 
By  O'Donnell 


Calling  for  July  6  to  be  made  an 
epic  occasion  in  the  industry's  bond- 
selling  history,  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  na- 
tional industry  chairman  of  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan  Drive, 
yesterday  wired  all  exhibitor  state 
chairmen  to  urge  every  theatre  man- 
ager in  his  area  to  stage  a  "Free 
Movie  Day"  at  that  time. 

"This  is  a  vital  and  urgent  call  for 
extra,  effort,"  O'Donnell  said.  "We 
must  get  more  exhibitors  to  partici- 
pate. We  ask  cooperation  over  and 
above  the  call  of  duty." 

Cooperating  with  the  exhibitors, 
Ned  E.  Depinet,  national  distributor 
chairman,  is  asking  the  distributor 
chairmen  in  the  field  to  further  the 
"Free  Movie  Day"  campaign.  Ex- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Pathe  East- West 
Merger  Approved 


Merger  of  Pathe  Laboratories,  Inc., 
New  Jersey  corporation,  with  the 
California  corporation  of  the  same 
name,  into  Pathe  Industries,  Inc.,  an 
Ohio  corporation,  was  approved  yes- 
terday at  a  stockholders'  meeting  in 
Bound  Brook,  N.  J.  At  a  late  hour 
officers  here  still  were  awaiting  word 
from  a  similar  session  in  Hollywood 
and  assumed  that  it  would  be  favor- 
able. 

Also  approved  was  the  following 
slate  of  officers :  Kenneth  M.  Young, 

(.Continued  on  page  3) 


NEW  LEVY  DOUBLES 
U.  S.  TICKET  INCOME 


'Indiana'  Opens  at 
$88,000  in  Week 
Of  Rising  Grosses 


A  fairly  cool  weekend,  plus  inter- 
mittent showers  resulted  in  slightly 
improved  business  at  Broadway  the- 
atres, with  climbing  grosses  indicated 
for  the  week  at  several  spots. 

The  first  five  days  of  "Home  in 
Indiana"  at  the  Roxy,  where  Enric 
Madriguera's  orchestra  heads  the  stage 
bill,  brought  a  fairly  good  $70,000  and 
an  estimate  of  $88,000  for  the  open- 
ing week ;  the  combination  will  hold 
over.  "Going  My  Way"  is  building 
slightly  to  an  indicated  $71,000  in  its 
eighth  week  at  the  Paramount,  with 
Charlie  Spivak's  orchestra  on  the 
stage ;  a  10-week  run  will  be  com- 
pleted there  before  "And  the  Angels 
Sing"  opens.  The  Capitol's  second 
week  of  "Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor," 
plus  Sammy  Kaye's  orchestra,  kept 
pace  with  its  excellent  first  week,  $60,- 
000  being  registered  for  five  days 
through  Sunday  and  $74,000  estimated 
for  the  full  seven  days;  the  program 
will  continue  three  or  four  more 
weeks. 

At  Radio  City  Music  Hall,  the  man- 
agement decided  yesterday  to  bring  in 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  on  Thursday.  A 
gross  of  $63,500  for  the  first  four 
days  of  the  seventh  week  of  "The 
White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  and  a  stage 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


"An  American  Romance 


[M-G-M] 

KING  VIDOR,  gifted  cinema  craftsman,  has  dug  deeply  into  the 
fabric  of  industrial  America  for  a  towering  film  that  is  as  big  and 
as  great  as  the  heart  of  America  itself.  In  M-G-M's  "An  Ameri- 
can Romance"  he  has  advanced  in  one  huge  leap  the  scope  of,  and  added 
immeasurable  stature  and  luster  to,  the  motion  picture  as  an  entertain- 
ment and  art  form.  By  a  dramatic  welding  of  story  incident  and  docu- 
mentary technique  he  has  fashioned  a  film  of  epic  quality  that  will  un- 
doubtedly prove  to  be  a  milestone  in  cinema  history.  It  reflects  credit 
on  the  industry  generally,  and  M-G-M  particularly,  in  bringing  to  flow- 
er the  collective  technique  and  originality  of  the  American  motion  pic- 
ture. For  Leo  it  is  another  handsome  anniversary  present,  and  theatres, 
too,  will  profit  handsomely.  Showmen  will  take  pride  in  exhibiting 
product  such  as  this. 

Brian  Donlevy's  magnificent  performance  as  a  raw,  crude  Czech  im- 
migrant endowed  with  a  sturdy  body  and  an  inquisitive,  seeking  mind, 
is  equal  to  Vidor's  masterly  production  and  direction.    At  the  turn  of 

{Continued  on  page  6) 


May  Collections  Rise  to 

$28,617,079,  Increase 

Of  4  Millions  in  Month 


Washington,  June  26. — Initial 
collections  under  the  one-cent-on- 
five  Federal  admission  tax,  effective 
last  April  1,  indicate  that  the  new 
levy,  plus  improving  business,  will 
practically  double  the  U.  S.  Treas- 
ury's collections  from  the  motion 
picture  and  amusement  industries, 
it  was  disclosed  here  tonight. 

A  total  of  $28,617,079  was  col- 
lected by  the  Government  from 
theatres  in  May,  the  first  month 
in  which  the  new  tax  was  re- 
flected in  Treasury  receipts, 
based  on  the  public's  April  box 
office  payments,  and  compared 
with  $14,907,919  in  April  pay- 
ments to  the  U.  S.,  and  $14,625,- 
615  in  May,  1943,  it  was  re- 
ported by  the  Internal  Revenue 
Bureau. 

While  some  part  of  the  increase  in 
April  collections  are  from  the  opening 
of  the  national  baseball  season,  the 
proportionate  gain  from  that  source 

(Continued  on  page  3) 


RKO's  1st  Telecast 
On  Republican  Meet 


National  Broadcasting  launched  its 
television  coverage  of  the  Republi- 
can National  Convention  in  Chicago 
over  its  television  station  WNBT  here 
last  night  with  the  first  film  produc- 
tion of  the  new  RKO  Television  Corp. 

The  25-minute  film,  a  rather  inter- 
estingly assembled  compilation  of 
Pathe  news  clips  showing  Republican 
conventions  of  the  past,  Republican 
presidential  aspirants  and  Republican 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


AFL  Will  Organize 
Canadian  Industry 

Toronto,  June  26. — The  American 
Federation  of  Labor,  through  the  To- 
ronto District  Labor  Council,  has 
made  the  initial  move  for  the  forma- 
tion of  a  union  for  office  employes 
and  other  workers  in  the  film  business 
in  Canada  under  the  Federal  Govern- 
ment Order-in-Council  passed  Feb.  17 
dealing  with  Wartime  Labor  Relations 
{Continued  w  page  3) 


2 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Tuesday,  June  27,  194 


HarperofMPASNew 
ODT  Program  Chief 

Washington,  June  26 — Robert  E. 
Harper,  former  assistant  to  the  presi- 
dent of  the  Motion  Picture  Advertis- 
ing Service  here,  who  also  served  as 
chief  of" -special  events  for  the  war  fi- 
nance division  of  the  Treasury  depart- 
ment, has  taken  over  as  chief  of  the 
programs  section  of  the  Office  of  De- 
fense Transportation,  of  which  J. 
Monroe  Johnson  is  ODT  director. 

Harper  will  in  a  liaison  capacity, 
urge  the  public,  through  the  medium 
of  motion  pictures,  to  curtail  unneces- 
sary travelling  and  conserve  gasoline, 
tires  and  other  vital  war  materials  for 
use  in  the  war  effort.  He  will  work 
under  Charles  E.  V.  Prins,  recently 
named  information  director  of  ODT. 

The  new  program  chief,  while  with 
the  Motion  Picture  Advertising  Ser- 
vice created  and  executed  that  organi- 
zation's war  effort  film  campaigns, 
which  were  produced  and  distributed 
for  12  Government  war  agencies,  with- 
out charge,  through  sponsored  pre- 
sentation by  national,  sectional  and 
local  advertisers  on  theatre  screens 
throughout  the  country. 

Harper  is  executive  director  of  the 
American  Public  Relations  Associa- 
tion. 


Columbia  Pictures 
Registers  Securities 

Philadelphia,  June  26. — Columbia 
Pictures,  New  York,  registered  today 
with  the  Securities  and  Exchange 
Commission  7,880  shares  of  no  par 
value  common  stock  and  7,880  pur- 
chase warrants  for  one  share  each  of 
no  par  value  common  stock.  The  pro- 
posed public  offering  price  for  the 
common  stock  is  $20,  for  the  purchase 
warrants,  $10. 

Net  proceeds,  estimated  at  $58,830, 
would  be  used  as  additional  working 
capital. 


MP  Alliance  Rejects 
Parley  With  Unions 

Hollywood,  June  26. — The  Motion 
Picture  Alliance  will  not  send  a  rep- 
resentative to  the  mass  meeting  plan- 
ned by  the  emergency  committee  of 
Hollywood  guilds  and  unions  next 
Wednesday  evening,  June  28. 

In  a  letter  explaining  its  attitude, 
the  Alliance  stated  it  is  ready  to  meet 
with  any  "responsible"  group  but  on 
equal  terms  and  on  a  basis  of  fair 
play.  The  emergency  committee  had 
offered  the  Alliance  one  representative 
to  answer  nine  questions  concerning 
its  position. 


GI  Awards  Presented 

Lieut.  Col.  Joseph  R.  McMicking 
of  General  Douglas  MacArthur's  staff 
appeared  Sunday  on  the  NBC  "Army 
Hour"  and  presented  three  'G.L'  South 
Pacific  native  tribal  emblems  to  the 
winners  of  the  troops'  recent  poll  for 
the  outstanding  film  work  of  the  year. 
One  went  to  Greer  Garson  as  favorite 
actress ;  another  to  Humphrey  Bogart 
as  favorite  actor,  and  a  third  to  Jack 
L.  Warner  for  "Casablanca,"  favorite 
picture. 


Personal  Mention 


ROBERT  M.  GILLHAM,  Para- 
mount advertising  and  publicity 
director,  returned  to  New  York  yes- 
terday from  the  Coast. 

• 

George  R.  Giroux,  Jr.,  former  car- 
toonist with  Walt  Disney  and  Colum- 
bia in  Hollywood,  and  son  of  George 
R.  Giroux,  field  representative  for 
Technicolor,  has  been  commissioned  a 
Second  Lieutenant  in  the  Army  Air 
Forces. 

• 

William  Hollander,  head  of  the 
publicity  and  advertising  departments 
for  Balaban  &  Katz  in  Chicago,  has 
been  named  a  member  of  the. public 
relations  committee  of  the  Community 
and  War  Fund  drive  for  the  Chicago 


Peggy  Kingston,  secretary  to  Hal 
Horne,  publicity  and  advertising  di- 
rector for  20th-Fox,  was  married  at 
the  weekend  to  John  Farley  of 
Hollis,  N.  Y. 

• 

Dave  Arlen,  with  the  Balaban  & 
Katz  publicity  staff  in  Chicago,  will 
spend  a  two-weeks'  vacation  in  New 
York  starting  July  14. 

• 

Prunella  Hall,  film  reviewer  for 
the  Boston  Post,  spent  the  weekend 
in  Chicago,  en  route  from  Hollywood 
to  Boston. 

• 

Terry  Turner,  RKO  publicist,  left 
Chicago  at  the  weekend  for  a  two- 
week  business  trip  to  Canada. 
• 

Yvonne  Wood,  costume  designer  for 
RKO,  is  spending  a  month's  vacation 
in  Chicago. 


WILLIAM  F.  RODGERS,  M- 
G-M  vice  president  and  sales 
manager,  is  expected  back  in  New 
York  on  Thursday  following  a  visit 
to  the  studio  and  stopovers  at  company 
exchanges  between  Chicago  and  New 
York. 

• 

Noel  Meadow,  former  operator  of 
the  Stanley  Theatre,  Philadelphia,  was 
married  Sunday  to  Miss  Sylvia  Lee 
of  Poughkeepsie.  Meadow  is  now  as- 
sociated with  Jessie  L.  Stern,  inde- 
pendent exhibitor. 

John  Stuart,  Jr.,  of  the  Motion 
Picture  Herald  editorial  staff,  who 
will  join  the  Office  of  War  Informa- 
tion overseas  division  July  1,  was  mar- 
ried Saturday  to  Ruth  E.  Sherman 
of  Flushing. 

• 

Al  Simon,  manager  of  the  RKO 
Keith  Memorial  Theatre,  Boston,  and 
Mrs.  Simon,  are  the  parents  of  a  son, 
Robert  Louis,  born  June  22. 

• 

Alex  L.  Hillman,  publisher,  left 
New  York  yesterday  to  attend  the  Re- 
publican national  convention  in  Chi- 
cago. 

• 

Samuel  Goldwyn  arrived  in  New 
York  from  Hollywood  yesterday  and 
plans  to  return  to  the  Coast  late  this 
week. 

• 

Charlie  Levy  of  the  RKO  publicity 
staff  left  at  the  weekend  for  the  Coast 
studios.    He  will  be  gone  two  weeks. 
• 

Harry  Michalson,  short  subjects 
manager  for  RKO,  left  New  York 
yesterday  for  two  weeks. 


Warn  erStockReaches 
$14.25,  Year's  High 

Warner  Brothers  common  stock 
reached  a  new  high  for  the  year  yes- 
terday when  it  closed  on  the  New 
York  Stock  Exchange  at  $14.25  per 
share.  The  stock,  which  passed  the 
$15  mark  at  one  point  in  1943,  has 
been  running  recently  at  between  $11 
and  $14. 

The  current  rise  is  thought  to  be 
traceable  to  recent  Wall  Street  esti- 
mates that  the  company's  earnings  for 
the  second  quarter  of  this  year  will 
be  the  best  since  1930,  with  the  net 
at  better  than  60  cents  per  share  for 
the  period  and  $1.20  for  six  months. 
A  six-month  earning  statement  is  due 
within  the  next  few  days. 


International  Names 
Johnston  Ad  Chief 

Los  Angeles,  June  26. — John  LeRoy 
Johnston  was  named  director  of  ad- 
vertising and  publicity  for  Interna- 
tional Pictures  today,  succeeding  Jack 
Mulcahy,  resigned.  The  appointment 
becomes  effective  July  1.  Johnston 
goes  to  International  from  a  similar 
post  at  Republic  studios. 

Arthur  Jeffrey  was  named  Eastern 
publicity  chief  for  International,  as 
announced  last  week. 


Cleveland  First  Runs 
Even-Off  Prices 

Cleveland,  June  26. — Local  first 
run  minimum  admissions  will  be 
raised  two  cents  at  all  Loew  down- 
town houses,  and  two  cents  at  Warner 
theatres,  starting  Thursday.  New  ad- 
missions will  be  45  cents.  Reason  is 
to  get  away  from  the  use  of  pennies. 
Change  became  possible  under  the  new 
ruling  allowing  Federal  admission  tax 
to  be  computed  on  the  basis  of  estab- 
lished, rather  than  total  price.  Con- 
fusion existed  locally  because  of  the 
state  three  percent  gross  tax. 


Martel  on  Tour  for 
Army  Programs 

Dallas,  June  26. — Thomas  H.  Mar- 
tel, New  York  representative  of  the 
U.  S.  Army  Motion  Picture  Service, 
was  guest  of  honor  at  a  luncheon  given 
at  the  Hotel  Adolphus  here  recently 
by  J.  B.  Underwood,  Columbia  South- 
western division  manager.  Martel 
was  also  guest  a  a  reception,  given 
by  Leroy  Bickel,  M-G-M  branch  man- 
ager here,  at  the  Variety  Club. 

On  tour  of  film  exchanges  through- 
out the  country,  Martel  has  left  for 
New  Orleans. 


Para.  Sales  Meeting 
In  Toronto  Tomorrou 

Toronto,  June  26.  — '■  Paramoun 
Film  Service,  Lt,  will  open  a  two 
day  sales  conference  Wednesday  a 
the  King  Edward  Hotel  here.  Amon 
New  York  sales  executives  who '  wi 
attend  are  Charles  M.  Reagan,  gen 
eral  sales  manager,  and  Oscar  Mor 
gan,  short  subjects  manager. 

Gordon  Lighthouse,  district  mana 
ger  here,  will  present  Canadian  sale 
policies  for  the  new  year.  Amonj 
branch  managers  in  attendance  wi 
be  Jack  L.  Hunter,  Toronto;  Tor 
Dowbiggin,  Montreal ;  P.  J.  Hogaii 
St.  John;  D.  M.  Brickman,  Winni 
peg;  W.  O.  Kelly,  Calgary  and  Rus 
sel  Simpson,  Vancouver. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation         Rockefeller  Center 
A  Metro- Goldwyn- Mayer's  Picture 

"THE  WHITE  CLIFFS 

OF  DOVER" 
Starring  IRENE  DUNNE 

with  ALAN  MARSHAL 
SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved.  Circle  6-4600 


ON  SCREEN 

Charles  BOYER 
Ingrid  BERGMAN 
Joseph  COTTEN 

in  M-G-M's 

'GASLIGHT' 


IN  PERSON 
DENNY 

BECKNER 

and  ORCH. 

GAY  NINETIES 
REVUE 


PALACE 


B'WAY  & 
47th  St. 


TAMARA 
TOUMANOVA 


GREGORY 
PECK 


"DAYS  OF  GLORY" 


f 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


] 


PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS  I 

GARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLE'S 

'The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell' 

In  Technicolor  ~k 

RIVOLI  STsf  — 


"ROGER  T0UHY 
GANGSTER!" 

20th  CENTURY-FOX  PICTURE 
AIR-CONDITIONED 

BRANDT'S  T     f\    B  T* 

B'way  &  46  St.  O  El 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  York,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  'Quigpubco,  New  York. 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Wilhru  R.  Weaver,  .Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  So..,  London  WI,  Hope  Burnup,  Manner;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  c?ble  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


*    Tuesday,  June  27,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


ILS.  Tribute 
To  Films  for 
Manpower  Aid 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
Henderson  M.  Richey,  M-G-M, 
all  members  of  the  WAC's  dis- 
y  tribution  division. 

I  While  the  WAC  members  will  con- 
centrate on  a  discussion  with  McNutt 
of  specific  approaches  to  a  national 
tribute  for  the  industry's  contributions 
to  the  country's  manpower  program, 
they  are  expected  also  to  bring  up  the 

""  industry's  own  manpower  problems  in 

S  distribution.  Distribution  has  been 
ruled  not  "locally-needed."  Exchanges 
are  required  to  rely  on  Regional  War 

T  Labor  Boards  for  relief  from  immedi- 

*  ate  manpower  problems. 

T  The  idea  of  a  celebration  recogniz- 
ing the  film  industry's  efforts  in  be- 
half of  general  manpower  recruiting 
for  the  war,  as  one  of  a  series .  on 
the  contribution  of  individual  commu- 
nities and  industries,  was  outlined  by 
McNutt  early  this  month  in  a  letter  to 
the  War  Activities  Committee,  in 
which  he  suggested  that  WMC  offi- 

..  cials  and  WAC  representatives  meet 
with  a  view  to  getting  the  plan  under 

|i  way. 

"We  have-  in  mind  the  development 
of  a  series  of  recognition  programs 
which  are  to  be  known  as  national 
salutes  to  manpower,"  McNutt  said. 

"We  have  specifically  in  mind  the 
recognition  of  outstanding  work  ac- 
complished by  several  industries. 
''  /Among  these  we  should  like  to  give 
■  credit  nationally  to  the  motion  picture 
industry  for  its  achievement  in  aiding 
the  mobilization  of  manpower  for  the 
war  effort.  This  includes  not  only 
the  producers,  stars  and  exhibitors, 
but  the  rank  and  file  of  the  industry 
itself,  who  have  made  it  possible  to 
carry  forward  the  important  calls  for 
manpower." 


Industry  Praised 
"By  Congress 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

did  work  which  is  being  done  by  the 
theatres  of  the  country  in  connection 
with  war  activities." 

The  WAC  report  shows  that  16,432 
theatres  are  members  of  the  theatres 
division  and,  in  addition  to  showing 
war  pictures  and  news  clips  which  are 
made  available,  last  year  raised  nearly 
$8,000,000  for  infantile  paralysis,  the 
Red  Cross  and"  United  Nations  Relief, 
a  figure  which  already  has  been  ex- 
ceeded this  year  with  $4,000,000  col- 
lected for  infantile  paralysis  and  over 
$6,000,000  for  the  Red  Cross. 

In  the  first  four  bond  drives  the 
War  Activities  Committee  itself  spent 
$396,000  of  the  industry's  money  on 
the  national  campaigns,  with  addi- 
tional hundreds  of  thousands  more 
spent  by  individual  exhibitors  in  local 
campaigns. 


Rites  for  Mrs.  Shapiro 

_  Los  Angeles,  June  26.— Funeral  ser- 
i    vices  were  held  this  morning  at  Home 
i    of  Peace  Cemetery  for  Mrs.  Helen 
J    Shapiro,  70,  who  died  Saturday  at 
Cedars  of  Lebanon  Hospital.  Sur- 
viving arc  her  husband  and  two  sons. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  June  26 

HERBERT  J.  YATES,  chairman 
of  the  board,  and  James  R. 
Grainger,  president  and  general  sales 
manager  of  Republic,  have  announced 
that  they  have  signed  with  Techni- 
color for  three  top-budget  productions 
in  Technicolor  during  the  next  year. 
• 

Joseph  H.  Seidelman  left  for  the 
East  yesterday  accompanied  by  Al 
Szekler,  Universal's  general  manager 
for  Brazil,  the  latter  returning  to  Rio 
following  his  arrival  in  New  York. 
Al  Daffs,  U's  foreign  sales  supervisor, 
is  staying  over  a  few  days  before  de- 
parting for  the  east. 

• 

Harold  Lewis,  International  Pic- 
tures production  manager,  has  as- 
signed Dorothy  Hectlinger  as  his  as- 
sistant. Gene  Anderson,  Lewis'  for- 
mer aide,  becomes  unit  production 
manager  on  "It's  a  Pleasure,"  Sonja 
Henie  starrer. 

Jennifer  Jones,  one  of  the  stars  of 
"Since-  Y°u  Went  Away,"  David  O. 
Selznick*s  production  which  will  have 
United  Artists  release,  will  arrive  in 
New  York  on  July  12  for  the  premiere 
at  the  Capitol  Theatre  there. 

• 

Lewis  Milestone,  who  was  stricken 
with  an  appendicitis  attack  while  di- 
recting Hunt  Stromberg's  forthcom- 
ing United  Artists  film,  "Guest  _  in 
the  House,"  left  Hollywood  Hospital 
yesterday  after  a  three-week  stay. 
• 

Norman  Moray,  Warner  Brothers' 
short  subject  sales  manager,  will  leave 
here  tomorrow  for  New  York. 
• 

Ed  Schreiber,  WAC  publicity  di- 
rector, is  bound  for  New  York  next 
Friday. 


AFL  Will  Organize 
Canadian  Industry 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

and  providing  a  collective  bargaining 
code.  Under  the  government  decree 
no  action  can  be  taken  by  an^  em- 
ployer against  a  worker  who  joins  a 
trade  union. 

A  meeting  is  to  be  held  in  Toronto 
shortly  to  organize  film  employes.  This 
first  move  to  unionize  Canada's  film 
trade  will  include  also  the  formation 
of  a  branch  for  theatre  employes  in 
Canada.  The  projectionists  are  al- 
ready organized,  in  the  International 
Alliance  of  Theatrical  Stage  Em- 
ployes. 


Pathe  East  -  West 
Merger  Approved 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

chairman  of  the  board ;  J.  Stinson 
Young,  president;  Robert  W.  Purcell, 
vice-president;  Karl  Herzog,  treas- 
urer; M.  M.  Malone,  secretary;  and 
C.  L.  Peckham  and  Arthur  B.  John- 
son, assistant  secretaries  and  treasur- 
ers. The  board  of  directors,  likewise 
approved,  will  consist  of  the  two 
Youngs,  Purcell,  Henry  J.  Guild  and 
Raymond  J.  Morfa. 


Appeal  Board  Alters 
La  Salle  Clearance 


The  arbitration  appeal  board  in  a 
decision  made  public  here  yesterday 
modified  the  award  of  William  Bar- 
rett, arbitrator  in  the  Buffalo  tribunal, 
who  had  reduced  the  35  to  30-day 
clearance  of  the  Strand,  Cataract  and 
Bellevue,  first-run  Niagara  Falls,  N. 
Y.,  theatres  over  the  La  Salle,  second- 
run,  to  17  days.  The  La  Salle,  oper- 
ated by  Basil  Bros.  Theatres,  had  ap- 
pealed the  Buffalo  arbitrator's  award 
by  demanding  a  further  cut  to  seven 
days  because,  it  alleged,  no  substantial 
competition  existed  between  it  and  the 
first-run  houses. 

The  board  found  competition  did 
exist  and  that,  therefore,  first-runs 
were  entitled  to  "reasonable  protec- 
tion" of  a  maximum  of  30  days  clear- 
ance over  the  La  Salle.  The  board 
pointed  out  that  "La  Salle's  admission 
price  is  20  cents  less  than  that  of  the 
first-runs  and  it  has  recently  installed 
a  parking  space  accommodating  200 
automobiles,  indicating  an  attempt  to 
draw  patrons  from  a  much  larger 
area." 

Cataract  Theatre  Corp.,  operator  of 
the  Strand  and  Cataract  theatres  and 
Buffalo  Theatres,  Inc.,  operator  of 
the  Bellevue,  were  interevenors. 


Para.  Will  Reissue 
'Union  Pacific',  'Pine' 

Chicago,  June  26. — J.  H.  Stevens, 
Paramount  branch  manager  here,  hon- 
ored Cecil  B.  DeMille  at  a  breakfast 
at  the  Blackstone  Hotel  here  over  the 
weekend.  Members  of  the  press  and 
theatre  officials  attended. 

DeMille  revealed  that  Paramount 
will  re-issue  "Union  Pacific"  to  be 
played  on  the  same  bill  with  a  re-issue 
of  "Trail  of  the  Lonesome  Pine." 

DeMille  is  here  as  a  delegate  from 
California  at  the  Republican  conven- 
tion. He  revealed  that  upon  his  re- 
turn to  California  next  week  he  will 
begin  to  set  up  a  shooting  schedule 
for  "Rurales,"  his  next.  He  will 
spend  part  of  the  shooting  time  on  lo- 
cation in  Mexico. 


100  Pre-Release  Runs 
For  'Mark  Twain' 

"The  Adventures  of  Mark  Twain," 
which  Warner  Bros,  will  generally 
release  July  22,  will  open  for  pre-re- 
lease engagements  before  that  date  in 
about  100  situations. 

Popular-price  premiere  of  the  pic- 
ture, which  played  approximately  200 
special  dates  limited  to  one  week  early 
last  month,  takes  place  July  7  at  the 
Majestic,  Providence.  The  following 
week  it  will  return  to  Broadway  for 
a  run  at  the  New  York  Strand,  and 
will  also  open  at  the  Capitol,  Spring- 
field ;  Roger  Sherman,  New  Haven, 
and  Metropolitan,  Boston. 


RKO  Television  and 
l»nd  Join  TEA 

Affiliate  memberships  in  the  Tele- 
vision Broadcasters  Association  have 
been  granted  RKO  Television  Corp., 
subsidiary  of  RKO  Radio,  and  the 
Theatre  "Guild.  Ralph  B.  Austrian, 
executive  vice  president  of  RKO  Tele- 
vision, has  been  named  to  the  TBA 
nrogram  committee,  likewise  Armina 
Marshall,  administrative  assistant  of 
the  Guild. 


Ticket  Tax  Is 
Up  14  Millions, 
To$28,617,075 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

this  year  was  not  as  large  as  in  pre- 
vious seasons  because  of  inclement 
weather  during  that  month,  causing  the 
calling  off  of  many  ball  games. 

With  the  heavy  May  receipts,  the 
Revenue  Bureau  announced,  collection* 
for  the  first  eleven  months  of  the 
Government's  fiscal  year  of  1943-44 
reached  $179,048,830,  an  increase  of 
$35,707,584  over  the  $143,341,246  re- 
corded for  the  same  period  a  year 
ago,  while  for  the  first  five  months  of 
the  calendar  year  the  revenue  amount- 
ed to  $87,257,126,  an  increase  of  $24,- 
428,130  over  the  $62,828,996  reported 
for  1943. 

The  higher  tax  resulted  in  nearly 
doubling  the  revenue  from  the  third. 
New  York  (Broadway)  district,  where 
collections  increased  from  $2,228,332  in 
April  to  $4,360,450  last  month.  Rev- 
enue from  the  district  in  May,  1943, 
was  $1,856,159. 

All  of  the  increase  was  in  collec- 
tions at  the  box  office,  which  jumped 
from  $1,964,280  to  $3,755,806,  and  in 
admissions  to  roof  gardens  and  cab- 
arets, which  increased  from  $204,084 
to  $575,151. 


Overseas  Film  Shows 
Rose  to  Over  93,000 

Hollywood,  June  26.  —  Overseas 
film  performances  rose  to  over  93,000 
shows  and  were  attended  by  32,706,193 
persons  inclusive  of  last  April,  Maj. 
John  W.  Hubbell,  chief  of  the  Army 
overseas  motion  picture  service  told 
representatives  of  the  industry  at  a 
luncheon  yesterday  at  the  Beverly- 
Wilshire  Hotel.  He  also  declared 
that  attendance  had  doubled  since  the 
monthly  average  had  fallen  off  in 
January,  and  discussed  in  detail  the 
method  of  operating  the  overseas 
branch  of  the  film  service. 

Lt.-Col.  Joseph  McMicking,  aide  of 
Gen.  MacArthur  in  charge  of  enter- 
tainment in  the  South  Pacific,  eulogized 
the  indutsry  for  free  16mm.  printSj 
and  said,  "If  men  took  a  popular  vote, 
I  do  not  doubt  but  they  would  vote 
an  'E'  pennant  for  the  industry's  con- 
tribution." 

Other  speakers  were  Mary  C.  Mc 
Call,  junior  chairman,  executive  com- 
mittee of  the  WAC,  Hollywood  divi- 
sion, Joseph  H.  Seidelman,  civilian 
consultant  to  the  War  Department  on 
the  gift  films  and  John  C.  Flinn. 


Jack  Greenbaum,  51, 
Dies  in  Cleveland 

Cleveland,  June  26. — Jack  Green- 
baum, 51,  active  in  the  film  industry 
in  various  capacities  for  the  past  20 
years,  died  recently  in  a  doctor's  of- 
fice here. 

Son  of  the  late  Mark  Greenbaum 
who  built  and  operated  several  of  the 
leading  film  houses  here  and  later  sold 
his  interests  to  Loew's,  Greenbaum 
had  been  affiliated  with  many  local 
theatres  before  purchasing  his  own 
film  exchange.  He  represented  theatre 
premium  companies  in  recent  years. 
Surviving  are  three  sisters. 


EVERY 
BOND 
YOU  SEI 
BRINGS 
IT 

CLOSER! 


That  this  conflict  will  be 
brought  to  the  speed- 
iest conclusion  with 
the  least  loss  in  lives. . .  55 

—GEN.  DWIGHT  D.  EISENHOWER 


MORE  POWER 
FOR  EISENHOWER! 


Every  hour!  Every  day! 

Are  you  fighting 

To  win  that 

Extra  bond  sale! 

One  more!  Then 

Another!  Fight! 

From  house  to  house  — 

From  street  to  street  — 

That's  the  way 

Our  heroes  do  it! 


THE  CLINCHER! 

Calling  16,000  patriots!  Get  set  for  the 
industry's  bond- selling  mop- up!  FREE 
MOVIE  DAY,  July  6th,  preceded  the 
day  before  by  a  radio  and  newspaper 
blast  to  the  nation  that  will  insure  box- 
office  lines  from  Coast -to -Coast! 


NEVER  STOP  TILL  YOU'RE  OVER  THE  TOP! 

FIGHTING  5th  WAR  LOAN 

COLUMBIA  PICTURES  CORP.,  METRO  •  GOLDWYN  -  MAYER  PICTURES,  PARAMOUNT  PICTURES  INC.,  RKO-RADIO  PICTURES,  INC., 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  27,  1944 


'Indiana'  Opens  at 
888,000  in  Week 
Of  Rising  Grosses 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 

bill  presaged  $102,000  for  the  week 
ending  tomorrow.  "The  Story  of  Dr. 
\\  asseli"  at  the  Rivoli  did  $43,000 
during  its  third  week,  almost  as  good 
as  the  satisfactory  second;  it  will  con- 
tinue. 

Un  the  basis  of  a  $27,000  opening 
weekend,  "".the  Mask  of  Dimitrios" 
should  bring  $52,1)00  through  Friday 
to  the  Strand,  where  it  is  coupled  with 
a  stage  bill  featuring  Louis  Prima's 
orchestra;  this  is  above  the  seasonal 
average.  The  three-week  run  will  be 
followed  on  Saturday  by  "The  Ad- 
ventures of  Mark  Twain."  At  the 
Hollywood,  "Mr.  Skefhngton"  regi- 
stered $15,000  in  the  first  four  days  of 
its  fifth  week,  indicating  a  week's 
total  of  $22,000,  a  small  climb  over 
the  modest  $21,000  of  the  seven  days 
preceding. 

$14,000  for  'Glory' 

A  quiet  $14,000  for  the  second  week 
for  ".Days  of  Glory''  at  the  Palace  fol- 
lowed its  $18,000  opening  week;  "The 
Marine  Raiders"  will  open  there  on 
Friday,  with  the  first  night  turned  over 
to  the  Marine  League,  which  will  hold 
a  patriotic  rally  for  the  benefit  of  the 
wounded.  The  Globe  will  realize  a 
lair  $9,500  in  the  fourth  week  of 
"Roger  Touhy,  Gangster,"  which  will 
make  way  Saturday  for  "The  Hairy 
Ape." 

On  the  same  day  a  revival  of  "Dead 
End"  will  open  at  the  Gotham,  follow- 
ing "It  Happened  Tomorrow,"  which 
should  gross  $5,000  in  its  fifth  week. 
The  final  three  days  of  the  13-week 
revival  of  "Snow  White  and  the  Seven 
Dwarfs"  at  the  Manhattan  promises 
$2,300;  it  will  close  Thursday  and  a 
revival  of  "Fantasia"  will  open  Sat- 
urday. 

At  the  Rialto,  an  average  $6,000  is 
estimated  for  the  third  week  of  "The 
Invisible  Man's  Revenge,"  which  will 
be  followed  Friday  by  "The  Mummy's 
Ghost."  "Teen  Age"  at  the  Victoria 
will  be  replaced  Saturday  by  "The 
Kid  from  Spain"  after  grossing  an  in- 
dicated $12,000  in  its  second  week. 

As  reported  yesterday  in  Motion 
Picture  Daily,  "See  Here,  Private 
Hargrove"  brought  $13,000  in  its  last 
week  at  the  Astor,  where  $300,000 
was  chalked  up  for  the  14-week  run. 
"Bathing  Beauty"  will  open  there  to- 
day. 


"An  American  Romance 


Amer.  Dubbing  Seen 
No  Mexican  Threat 

Mexico'  City,  June  26. — Salvador 
Elizondo,  president  of  the  Mexican 
Producers  and  Distributors  Associa- 
tion, sees  no  retrogression  for  the  do- 
mestic producing  industry  if  Ameri- 
can companies  proceed  with  their  plans 
to  dub  in  Spanish.  Players,  studio 
workers  and  theatre  attaches  have  been 
opposing  exhibition  of  such  films  here. 

Elizondo,  however,  believes  Mexi- 
can artistes  and  technicians  ought  to 
be  employed  for  the  dubbing.  "Ameri- 
can pictures  dubbed  in  Spanish  never 
can  prejudice  the  distribution  of  Mexi- 
can pictures  inasmuch  as  the  success 
of  these  pictures  is  due  not  to  the 
language  but  to  the  atmosphere  and 
the  fact  that  they  have  already  been 
enthusiastically  accepted  by  the  Span- 
ish-speaking public,"  he  states. 


(.Continued  from  page  1) 

the  Century  he  enters  the  U.  S.  and  is  barely  admitted  because  he  lacks 
the  necessary  $25.  He  tortuously  walks  halfway  across  the  continent 
with  a  pathetic  little  note  pinned  on  him  with  a  request  for  directions, 
as  he  can  speak  only  his  native  tongue.  He  finds  a  job  digging  iron 
ore  in  the  Mesabi  range  and,  responding  to  the  American  Promise,  re- 
solves to  better  himself.  With  the  aid  of  Ann  Richards,  a  young  teach- 
er, he  laboriously  learns  the  new  language  and  folk  ways.  Becoming 
obsessed  with  the  process  of  making  steel,  he  follows  the  ore  cars  and 
boats  to  a  steel  mill.  There  he  starts  at  the  bottom  again  and  advances 
to  become  a  foreman.  He  sends  for  Miss  Richards  and  they  start  rear- 
ing a  family.  Emphasis  of  the  film  shifts  to  the  automobile  industry  in 
which  Donlevy,  with  W'alter  Abel,  a  school  teacher  who  is  mechanical- 
ly inclined,  become  established.  They  become  important  manufacturers 
until  Donlevy,  overruled  on  the  question  of  union  recognition  by  his 
board  of  directors  and  his  son,  Horace  McNally,  who  acts  as  spokesman 
for  the  auto  workers,  goes  into  retirement.  When  the  company  estab- 
lishes an  airplane  factory  to  further  the  nation's  production  in  the  second 
World  War  he  returns  to  aid  in  the  war  effort. 

Vidor,  in  telling  his  story,  has  wisely  refrained  from  selecting  some 
of  the  more  glamorous  M-G-M  stars,  but  has  handpicked  his  players 
for  types  and  parts,  including  those  mentioned,  and  John  Qualen  and  a 
host  of  lesser  players.  He  has  captured  the  terrifyingly  beautiful  indus- 
trial processes  and  it  has  remained  for  Technicolor  to  impart  animation 
to  the  molten  steel  that  looms  so  importantly  in  the  production.  One 
sequence  whereby  a  ladle  full  of  the  hot  steel  drops,  trapping  Donlevy, 
is  as  grimly  exciting  as  anything  ever  concocted  by  a  scriptwriter.  The 
screen  play  by  Herbert  Dalmas  and  Wrilliam  Ludwig,  based  on  a  story 
by  Vidor,  has  expertly  woven  the  tapestry  of  incident  and  realism ;  Har- 
old Rosson's  photography,  accentuated  in  color,  is  magnificent,  while 
Conrad  A.  Nervig's  editing  carries  the  151  minutes  playing  time  at  a 
swift  pace.  Louis  Gruenberg's  score  is  to  be  commended,  especially 
in  the  enhancing  sequences  depicting  industrial  processes. 

Running  time,  151  mins.    "G."*    Release  date,  not  set. 

Charles  Ryweck 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Special  'Free  Movie  Day 
Appeal  by  O'Donnell 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

hibitor  and  distributor  chairmen,  the 
latter  through  salesmen,  will  ask  for 
additional  exhibitor  volunteers. 

The  aim  is  to  have  100  per  cent 
cooperation  in  making  July  6  not  only 
the  biggest  day  of  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
Drive,  but  to  achieve  a  record  for  one 
day  for  all  War  Loans  to  date. 

On  the  night  of  July  5,  carry  this 
announcement:  "Tomorrow,  July  6th, 
the  motion  picture  industry  will  cele- 
brate Free  Movie  Day.  This  means 
that  in  countless  theatres  through- 
out the  country  you  who  purchase  a 
war  bond  at  your  favorite  theatre  will 
be  admitted  free.  Read  your  news- 
paper or  call  your  favorite  theatre 
for  further  information." 

Exhibitors  who  choose  to  do  so 
may  start  running  "Free  Movie  Day" 
trailers  on  July  4  in  order  to  take 
advantage  of  the  large  holiday  attend- 
ance. Local  "Free  Movie  Day"  ads 
are  scheduled  to  break  on  July  5.  Ray 
Beall,  National  Publicity  Director,  is 
issuing  a  special  bulletin  to  all  exhibi- 
tors concerning  showmanship  cam- 
paigns for  the  big  one-day  event. 


'Parade  of  Stars'  Is 
Rolling  Up  the  Sales 

A  capacity  audience  of  28,000  at- 
tended the  Hollywood  "Parade  of 
Stars"  show  at  Grant  Field  in  Atlan- 
ta last  night  as  the  bond-selling  unit 
continued  its  nationwide  tour.  In  ad- 
dition, the  stars  were  guests  at  a 
luncheon  given  by  the  Bell  Aircraft 


Co.,  following  which  they  put  on  a 
show  lasting  two  and  a  half  hours 
before  the  company's  30,000  workers, 
according  to  word  received  at  War 
Activities  Committee  headquarters 
here. 

In  Richmond,  Va.,  on  Saturday 
night  the  stars  were  greeted  by  more 
than  5,000  at  the  Mosque  Auditorium. 
Walter  Abel  and  Dennis  O'Keefe 
were  masters  of  ceremonies.  Bond 
sales  for  admissions  amounted  to  $1,- 
398,000. 

Mome  than  20,000  persons  were  in 
the  audience  at  the  show  in  Norfolk, 
Va.,  Friday  night  at  William  and 
Mary  College  Stadium.  Pledge  cards 
given  out  during  the  show  resulted 
in  $536,000  extra  sales.  Fred  War- 
ing was  master  of  ceremonies.  In  the 
afternoon,  the  stars  entertained  at  the 
Naval  Training  Station  Hospital. 

In  Wilmington,  on  Thursday  night, 
the  company's  appearance  at  the  bond 
rally  and  dedication  of  the  United 
Nations  Court  of  Flags  at  Rodney 
Square  resulted  in  $2,325,000  in 
pledges  and  cash.  Pledges  were  se- 
cured in  advance  bv  the  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  and  the  Treasury  De- 
partment and  during  the  rally  by  200 
volunteeer  retail  sales  people  under 
Chamber  of  Commerce  sponsirship. 
The  stars  paraded  in  jeeps  from  the 
station  through  the  downtown  section, 
led  by  military  bands.  Twenty  thou- 
sand spectators  witnessed  the  parade. 
An  estimated  35,000  persons  jammed 
every  available  inch  of  space  at  the 
show. 


RKO's  1st  Telecast 
On  Republican  Meet 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

presidents  since  the  turn  of  the  cen- 
tury, as  well  as  intimate  newsreel 
poses  of  present  aspirants  to  the  Re- 
publican nomination,  was  televised 
over  WNBT  and  picked  up  by  Phil- 
co's  Philadelphia  television  station 
WPTZ  and  General  Electrics  Schen- 
ectady station  WRGB  just  before  the> 
telecasting  of  the  first  clips  of  the' 
present  Republican  convention  scenes. 
The  commentary  accompanying  the 
RKO  special  television  film  was  writ- 
ten by  Paul  Alley  of  NBC  and  was 
delivered  by  NBC  commentators'. 

Pathe  News  cameramen  are  photo- 
graphing the  convention  proceedings 
for  RKO  Television  with  Clarence 
L.  Menser,  NBC  vice-president  in 
charge  of  programs  supervising  for 
the  network.  RKO  and  NBC  hope  to 
telecast  daily  convention  scenes  here 
within  12  hours  after  they  are  photo- 
graphed in  Chicago.  WCBW  and 
WABD,  Columbia  Broadcasting  and 
Allen  B.  DuMont  television  outlets  in 
New  York  are  handling  the  conven- 
tion individuality  with  special  studio 
telecasts,  while  W6XYZ,  Television 
Productions  Corp.  station  in  Los  An- 
geles, subsidiary  of  Paramount,  will 
present  special  illustrated  reports  on 
the  progress  of  the  convention. 

NBC's  television  station  WNBT, 
New  York,  will  stay  on  the  air 
through  Saturday,  to  bring  teleview- 
ers spot  motion  pictures  of  the  Re- 
publican convention.  The  films  will 
be  flown  to  New  York  and  put  on 
the  air  immediately  upon  arrival.  To 
day  through  Friday,  convention  films 
will  be  telecast  from  8:30  to  9:00 
p.m.,  EWT,  and  on  Saturday,  begin- 
ning at  9:52  p.m.,  EWT. 


20th-Fox  Seeks  Jero 
Suit  Dismissal 

A  dismissal  on  the  grounds  of  fail- 
ure to  provide  a  complaint  upon  which 
damages  can  be  assessed,  was  asked 
yesterday  in  Federal  Court  by  20th- 
century  Fox  in  an  answer  to  the 
complaint  filed  by  Maude  Nugent  Je- 
rome, author  of  the  song,  "Sweet 
Rosie  O'Grady."  Miss  Jerome  asks  an 
accounting  of  profits  and  an  injunc- 
tion to  prevent  further  use  of  the  film 
title,  "Sweet  Rosie  O'Grady,"  on  the 
grounds  that  song  and  title  were  un- 
lawfully appropriated. 


PRC  Gets  Canada  Rights 

Toronto,  June  26. — PRC  has  ac- 
quired from  Film  Classics  the  Ca- 
nadian rights  to  five  Samuel  Gold- 
wyn  reissues,  it  was  disclosed  here 
by  general  manager  H.  J.  Allen  who 
completed  negotiations  in  New  York. 
The  deal  includes  "Wuthering 
Heights,"  "Kid  from  Spain,"  "The 
Cowboy  and  the  Lady,"  "Bulldog 
Drummond,"  "Barbary  Coast"  and 
"Dead  End." 


WB  Blood  Donor  Drive 

A  drive  for  blood  donors  to  contrib- 
ute to  the  American  Red  Cross  blood 
bank  was  launched  yesterday  at  the 
Warner  Bros,  home  office  by  a  commit- 
tee headed  by  Martin  F.  Bennett,  pres- 
ident of  the  Warner  Club,  assisted  by 
Samuel  R.  Kahn  and  George  Imber. 
Motion  Picture  Office  Employees 
Union  is  cooperating  with  the  Warner 
Club  and  the  company  in  signing  up 
volunteers. 


i 


THANKS! 


The  Twenty  Year  Birthday  of  the  Friendly  Lion  is  being 
observed  with  fitting  ceremonies  throughout  the  nation.  An 
unprecedented  tribute  is  being  paid  to  M-G-M  during  its 
Anniversary  Week.  16,446  showmen  representing  99.98%  of  the  nation's 
motion  picture  theatres— all  but  three!  — are  playing  an  M-G-M  subject 
on -their  screens.  Likewise  throughout  the  world  this  famed  trade-mark  is 
being  flashed  on  thousands  of  screens  in  recognition  of  M-G-M's  Twenty 
Happy  Years  of  sincere  effort  toward  the  welfare  of  our  industry. 

To  the  exhibitors  who  made  it  possible,,  thanks  from  the  grateful 
heart  of  Leo  the  Lion  and  his  associates.  To  the  trade  press  and  to 
the  newspaper  and  magazine  editors 
who  helped  him  celebrate,  thanks  for 
all  the  kind  words. 


ANNIVERSARY 
PRODUCTIONS 


Your  generosity  and  your  faith  in- 
spires The  Friendly  Company  to  the 
even  greater  future  which  we  share 
together, 

THE  YOUNG 
BLOOD  TEST! 


"He's  even 
better  than 
he  was 
twenty 


years  ago 


"WHITE  CLIFFS  OF  DOVER"  (Irene  Dunne, 
Alan  Marshal)  •  "AN  AMERICAN 
ROMANCE"  —  Technicolor  —  (Brian  Donlevy) 
"DRAGON  SEED"  •  (Katharine  Hepburn) 
"TWO  GIRLS  AND  A  SAILOR"  (Van  Johnson, 
June  Allyson,  Gloria  DeHaven.Jose  Iturbi,  Jimmy 
Durante,  Harry  James,  Xavier  Cugat)  •  "BATH- 
ING BEAUTY"  — Technicolor  —  (Red  Skelton, 
Esther  Williams,  Harry  James,  Xavier  Cugat) 
"KISMET"  —  Technicolor  —  (Ronald  Colman, 
Marlene  Dietrich)  •  "MEET  ME  IN  ST.  LOUIS" 
— Technicolor  —  (Judy  Garland,  Margaret 
O'Brien)  •  "MARRIAGE  IS  A  PRIVATE 
AFFAIR"  (Lana  Turner)  •  "THE  SEVENTH 
CROSS"  (Spencer  Tracy)  •  "NATIONAL 
VELVET"  —  Technicolor  —  (Mickey  Rooney) 
"THE  CANTERVILLE  GHOST"  (Margaret 
O'Brien,  Charles  Laughton,  Robert  Young) 
"ZIEGFELD  FOLLIES"— Technicolor— (AH  Star 
Cast)  •  "THIRTY  SECONDS  OVER  TOKYO" 
(Van  Johnson,  Robert  Walker,  and  Spencer  Tracy 
as  Lieutenant  General  James  H.  Doolittle) 
"MRS.  PARKINGTON"  (Greer  Garson— Walter 
Pidgeon)  •  "WITHOUT  LOVE"  (Spencer  Tracy- 
Katharine  Hepburn)  •  "THE  THIN  MAN 
GOES  HOME"  (William  Powell— Myrna  hoy) 
"LOST  IN  A  HAREM"  (Bud  Abbott— Lou 
Costello)  •  "THE  PICTURE  OF  DORIAN 
GRAY"  (George  Sanders,  Donna  Reed)  •  "THE 
HONEST  THIEF"  (Wallace  Beery) 


A  NOT  HE  R  WHAM 


Pro 


Asso 


c'\o^e 


fr0t^  \i\ct 


FROM  MONOGRAM! 


★  That's  what  MOTION  PICTURE  HERALD  said! 
"Whimsy  with  a  wham  .  .  .  a  comedy  slick  as  a 
ribbon  and  full  of  laughs  for  all  comers." 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Tuesday,  June  27,  1944 


Test  Royalties  on 
Copyright  Renewals 


The  first  three  of  a  series  of  test 
suits  to  determine  whether  renewals 
of  copyrights  on  music  originally 
copyrighted  prior  to  1909  cover  me- 
chanical performance  rights  has  been 
filed  in  U.  S.  District  court  here  by 
Louis  D.  Frohlich  of  the  Schwartz  & 
Frohlich  law  firm,  on  behalf  of  copy- 
right owners,  it  was  learned  yester- 
day. 

The  plaintiffs  in  the  three  actions 
are  Ella  Herbert  Bartlett,  her  broth- 
er, Clifford  Herbert,  and  Allan  Mc- 
Donough,  owners  of  the  copyrights  on 
Victor  Herbert's  "Toyland."  De- 
fendants are  Decca  Records,  Radio 
Corporation  of  America  and  Colum- 
bia Broadcasting  System,  who,  it  is 
alleged,  have  been  employing  the  mu- 
sic, originally  copyrighted  prior  to 
1909  and  since  renewed,  without  pay- 
ment for  mechanical  rights. 

Music  copyrights  prior  to  1909  did 
.not  include  mechanical  rights.  The 
suits  contend,  however,  that  renewals 
of  the  copyrights  after  1909  automati- 
cally embraced  such  rights,  including 
rights  of  making  adaptations  and  ar- 
rangements. The  suits  claim  that 
large  sums  are  due  to  plaintiffs  as 
a  result,  and  ask  accountings  of  de- 
fendants' profits. 


Provincial  License 
Supersedes  Toronto's 

Toronto,  June  26. — An  important 
principle  with  respect  to  licensing  ju- 
risdiction in  Ontario  has  been  estab- 
lished in  the  outcome  of  an  issue  oyer 
the  granting  of  a  permit  to  the  Casino 
Theatre,  Toronto,  operated  by  the 
Aliens  as  a  combination  film-burlesque 
house.  Toronto  police  commissioners 
have  ruled  that  an  operating  license 
could  not  be  withheld  by  the  city 
because  the  Ontario  Government  had 
already  granted  a  Provincial  license. 

Provincial  authorities  said  all  films 
playing  the  theatre  were  approved  by 
Ontario  censors  and  all  regulations  for 
required  safety  measures  had  been  met 
by  the  theatre,  therefore  a  provincial 
license  could  not  be  refused  although 
there  was  some  question  regarding  the 
propriety  of  the  stage  shows  over 
which  the  Ontario  Government  had  no 
authority.  The  city  then  found  it  had 
no  power  to  refuse  a  municipal  li- 
cense. Religious  organizations  had 
demanded  closing  on  moral  grounds. 


Holloway  in  Hospital 

Utica,  N.  Y.,  June  26.— Sgt.  Sterl- 
ing Holloway,  film  star  who  has  been 
entertaining  troops  here  and  overseas 
since  his  induction  in  June,  1942,  is  a 
patient  in  Rhoads  General  Hospital 
here,  recovering  from  illness. 


Todd  Gets  'Pick-Up' 

Michael  Todd  Productions,  has  pur- 
chased film  rights  to  "Pick-Up  Girl," 
Broadway  stage  play,  written  by  Elsa 
Shelley  and  produced  by  Todd's  or- 
ganization. The  show  is  now  playing 
at  the  48th  St.  Theatre  here. 


12  New  Films  Give 
Studios  38  in  Work 


Hollywood,  June  26. — Production 
increased  last  week  as  12  new  features 
went  before  the  cameras,  and  only  six 
were  finished.  The  total  number  of 
pictures  in  work  was  58.  The  produc- 
tion scene  follows : 

Columbia 

Started:  "Texas  Rifles,"  with 
Charles  Starrett,  Tex  Harding,  Pat 
Parrish. 

Shooting :  "Stalk  the  Hunter,"  "To- 
night and  Every  Night." 

M-G-M 

Shooting :  "The  Home  Front," 
'Anchords  Aweigh,"  "Airship  Squad- 
ron 4,"  "Music  for  Millions,"  "Son  of 
Lassie,"  "The  Thin  Man  Goes 
Home,"  "Ziegfeld  Follies,"  "The  Pic- 
ture of  Dorian  Gray,"  "Thirty  Sec- 
onds Over  Tokyo,"  ,  "National  Vel- 
vet. 

Monogram 

Finished:  "Muggs  Meets  a  Dead- 
line." 

Started:  "Trigger  Law,"  with  Hoot 
Gibson,  Bob  Steele,  Evelyn  Eaton, 
Beatrice  Gray,  Mauritz  Hugo,  Ralph 
Lewis,  Mike  Latz,  Paul  Matthews ; 
"Baby  Shoe,"  with  Marjorie  Weaver, 
Peter  Cookson,  Tim  Ryan  and  Pierre 
Watkin. 

PRC 

Finished:  "Swing  Hostess." 

Starteds  "When  the  Lights  Go  On 
Again,"  with  James  Lydon,  Grant 
Mitchell,  Regis  Toomey,  Warren 
Mills,  George  Cleveland,  Harry  Shan- 
non and  Dorothy  Peterson. 

Shooting :  "Bluebeard." 

Paramount 

Started:  "Kitty,"  with  Paulette 
Goddard,  Ray  Milland,  Cecil  Kella- 
way  ,  Constance  Collier,  Reginald 
Owen,  Mikhail  Rasumny,  Patric 
Knowles,  Sara  Allgood,  Percy  Kil- 
bride, Anita  Bolster,  Heather  Wilde, 
Patricia  Cameron,  Mary  Maclaren ; 
"Out  of  This  World,"  with  Eddie 
Bracken,  Diana  Lynn,  Veronica  Lake, 
Cass  Daley,  Robert  Benchley,  Mimi 
Chandler,  Mabel  Paige,  Phyllis 
Brooks,  Miriam  Franklin,  Olga  San 
Juan,  Gloria  Saunders,  Nancy  Porter, 
Mary  Elliott;  "Double  Exposure" 
(Pine-Thomas),  with  Chester  Morris, 
Nancy  Kelly,  Phillip  Terry,  Jane 
Farrar,  Richard  Gaines,  Charles  Arnt. 


Shooting :  "A  Medal  for  Benny," 
"Her  Heart  in  Her  Throat"  (form- 
erly "Fear"),.  "Here  Come  the 
Waves,"  "Murder,  He  Says,"  "Two 
Years  Before,  the  Mast." 

RKO  Radio 

Finished:  "Tall  in  the  Saddle." 

Shooting:  "The  Girl  Rush,"  "The 
Master  Race,"  "My  Pal,  Wolf" 
(formerly  "The  Pumpkin  Shell"), 
"Farewell,  My  Lovely,"  "Having 
Wonderful  Crime,"  "The  Princess  and 
the  Pirate"  (Goldwyn). 

Republic 

Finisheds  "Code  of*  the  Prairie"; 
"San  Fernando  Valley." 

Started:  "Man  of  Mystery,"  with 
June  Storey,  Edward  Norris,  John 
Abbott,  Eddje  Fields. 

Shooting:  "My  Buddy,"  "Brazil," 
"Atlantic  City" 

20th  Century-Fox 

Shooting:  "Thunderhead,"  "A  Tree 
Grows  in  Brooklyn,"  "Laura," 
"Something  for  the  Boys,"  "Winged 
Victory." 

United  Artists 

Started:  "Tomorrow  the  World" 
(Cowan,"  with  Fredric  March,  Bet- 
ty Field,  "Skippy"  Homeier,  Agnes 
Moorhead,  Edit  Angold. 

Shooting:  "Dark  Waters"  (Bo- 
geaus),  "Story  of  G.  I.  Joe"  (Cow- 
an) ;  "Three's  a  Family"  (Lesser), 
"Guest  in  the  House"  (Stromberg). 

Universal 

Started:  "The  Frozen  Ghost,"  with 
Lon  Chaney,  Evelyn  Ankers,  Martin 
Kosleck;  "The  Old  Texas  Trail," 
with  Rod  Cameron,  "Fuzzy"  Knight. 

Finished:  "Be  It  Ever  So  Hum- 
ble." 

Shooting :  "Can't  Help  Singing," 
"My  Baby  Loves  Music,"  "Queen  of 
the  Nile,"  "In  Society,"  "Bowery  to 
Broadway." 

Warners 

Started:  "The  Corn  Is  Green," 
with  Bette  Davis,  John  Dall,  Joan 
Loring,  Nigel  Bruce,  Rhys  Williams, 
and  Mildred  Dunnock. 

Shooting :  "Christmas  in  Connecti- 
cut," "Strangers  in  Our  Midst,"  "Ob- 
jective Burma,"  "Roughly  Speaking," 
"Hollywood  Canteen." 


Shut  Loop  Balconies 
To  Curb  Vandals 

Chicago,  June  26. — A  lack  of  su- 
pervisory personnel  has  forced  many 
Loop  theatres  to  close  their  balconies 
in  order  to  curb  outbreaks  of  vandal- 
ism and  juvenile  delinquency.  Roped- 
off  signs  to  that  effect  have  been  set 
up  in  lobbies. 

Most  independent  and  B.  &  K. 
houses  in  the  Loop  are  understood  to 
be  operating  in  this  fashion.  Theatre 
managers  are  attempting  to  operate 
without  the  use  of  their  balconies,  but 
open  them  when  attendance  necessi- 
tates. 


'Arms'  Record  Claimed 

Chicago,  June  26. — RKO's  "Up  In 
Arms"  goes  into  its  10th  week  at  the 
Woods  here  Wednesday,  breaking 
the  long-run  record  for  popular-priced 
films  at  that  house.  Previous  record 
was  held  by  U.  A.  "Scarface,"  revival 
which  played  nine  weeks. 


Meet  Called  to  Plan 
Cartoon  Rental  Jump 

Hollywood,  June  26. — The  Cartoon 
Producers  Association  has  set  June 
29  for  a  meeting  at  which  Walter 
Lantz  will  present  a  detailed  survey 
of  his  plant's  operation  cost  as  a 
foundation  for  association  action  de- 
signed to  effect  an  increase  in  exhibi- 
tion rental  prices  for  cartoon  shorts. 
Lantz  is  basing  his  suggestion  on  the 
assertion  that  costs  have  risen  40  uer- 
cent  since  1942,  although  prices  have 
remained  static. 


Francis  Is  Promoted 

Dallas,  June  26. — Sol  Francis,  for- 
merly Midwestern  special  representa- 
tive for  Monogram,  has  been  promoted 
to  the  uost  of  Midwest  district  mana- 
ger and  will  supervise  the  local  ex- 
change as  well  as  Monogram  offices 
in  Kansas  City,  Omaha,  Oklahoma 
City  and  Des  Moines.  He  will  main- 
tain headquarters  here. 


Hollywood 


By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  26 

THERE  is  little  evidence  of  a  sum- 
mer slack  at  studios  this  year. 
At  M-G-M,  four  new  pictures  are 
scheduled  to  start  in  July  to  add  to 
10  already  shooting.  They  are :  "The 
Clock,"  starring  Judy  Garland  and 
Robert  Walker ;  "Without  Love,"  i 
Spencer  Tracy-Katharine  Hepburn ; 
starrer ;  "Thrill  of  a  Lifetime,"  with 
Esther  Williams  and  Van  Johnson, 
and  an  untitled  story  of  the  Wacs  to 
star  Lana  Turner.  Monogram  will 
send  five  films  before  the  cameras  in 
July,  as  follows :  "Little  Devils," 
story  of  Chinese  patriots ;  "John  Dil- 
linger,  Killer,"  picturization  of  the  life 
of  the  outlaw ;  "They  Shall  Have 
Faith,"  story  of  infantile  paralysis,  and 
two  Westerns,  "Montana  Roundup" 
and  "West  of  Rainbow  Bridge." 

Seven  features  are  shooting  at 
Paramount,  as  well  as  a  color  musical 
short.  This  is  almost  peak  produc- 
tion for  that  studio. 

After  an  unsuccessful  search  for  an 
actor  to  portray  Al  Jolson  in  the 
screenplay  which  Columbia  is  prepar- 
ing, the  studio  has  turned  to  the  pub- 
lic for  aid.  Anyone  who  believes  he 
resembles  Jolson  sufficiently  to  play 
the  part  is  asked  to  send  his  photo- 
graph to  the  studio.  ...  Twentieth 
Century-Fox  has  borrowed  John  H-o- 
diak  from  M-G-M  to  play  opposite 
Anne  Baxter  in  "Sunday  Dinner  for  a 
Soldier."  William  Eythe,  who  was 
originally  slated  for  the  part,  will 
have  the  lead  in  "Czarina,"  opposite 
Tallulah  Bankhead.  .  .  .  Barney  Ber- 
nard, the  Broadway  producer,  is  dick- 
ering with  J.  Carroll  Naish  to  star  in 
a  stage  version  of  the  life  of  Nick  the 
Greek.  .  .  .  Richard  Crane,  who  re- 
cently completed  a  role  in  "A  Wing 
and  a  Prayer,"  has  been  given  a  new 
long-term  contract  by  20th  Century- 
Fox. 

m 

Gregory  Ratoff  has  been  given  a 
new  two-year  contract  as  producer, 
director  and  writer  by  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox .  .  .  Oscar  Boetticher  has 
been  assigned  to  direct  "Tomorrow 
You  Die"  for  Columbia  .  .  .  Sol  Les- 
ser plans  a  picture  dedicated  to  the 
Air  Service  Command.  It  will  be 
made  with  Army  cooperation,  and  a 
topflight  war  writer  will  be  sent 
over  the  combat  zone  to  gather  ma- 
terial for  the  film.  .  .  .  Each  of 
PRC's  two  series  of  Westerns  will 
have  a  high-budget  "special,"  says 
the  studio.  Buster  Crabbe  and  Al 
St.  John  will  be  starred  in  one,  and 
Dave  O'Brien  and  Tex  Ritter  in  the 
other.  .  .  .  Edna  Mae  Wonacott  has 
been  added  to  the  cast  of  Uni- 
versal^ "Be  It  Ever  So  Humble." 
. . .  George  Pal  has  two  of  his  Pup- 
petoons  in  laboratory  stages,  an- 
other cutting,  a  fourth  shooting  and 
a  fifth  in  preparation.  "Two-Gun 
Rusty,"  in  the  cutting  room,  satir- 
izes the  standard  Western  melo- 
drama. 


FILM  DUBBING 
SCRIPT  ADAPTATION 
GHOST  VOICE 

SPANISH-P0RTUGE8E-FRENCH 

"  Spanish  Sound  Studies 

tl  E.  42  St.    N.  Y.  17    MU  2-5358 


REEVES 

SOUND  STUDIOS,  INC. 

IG00  BROADWAY,  N.  Y.  19       Circle  6-6686 

Complete  Film  and 
Disc  Recording  Facilities 


Tuesday,  June  27,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


11 


Short  Subject 
Reviews 


"Zero  Hour" 

{United  Artists) 

Presenting  the  history  of  the 
theory  and  practice  of  "Combined 
Operations"  in  modernized  warfare  as 
a  tool  of  invasion,  "Zero  Hous"  is  a 
graphic  portrayal  of  an  ingenious 
)  plan,  born  of  German  militarists  and 
..perfected  by  the  Allies,  for  three-di- 
mensional warfare — simultaneous  at- 
tack from  air,  sea  and  land.  But  with 
"D-Day"  still  fresh  in  mind,  "Zero 
Hour"  is  a  bit  anti-climactic.  Editors 
I  of  the  World  in  Action  series  appar- 
ently realized  this  and,  when  the  film 
had  reached  a  logical  pre-D-Day  con- 
clusion, they  inserted  for  timeliness 
some  battle  sequences,  supposedly  of 
the  new  invasion  of  the  French  coast. 
Exhibitors  will  readily  see  exploita- 
tion possibilities. 

Ernest  Borneman's  narrative,  spok- 
en by  Lorne  Greene,  is  good,  and  so 
is  much  of  the  photography.  How- 
ever, "Zero  Hour"  falls  short  of 
standards  set  previously  by  the  World 
in  Action  series.  Produced  by  the 
National  Film  Board  of  Canada,  the 
film  is  distributed  here  by  United 
Artists.  Stuart  Legg  edited.  Run 
ning  time,  22  mins. 


"And  to  Think  That  I 
Saw  It  on  Mulberry 
Street' 

(Paramount) 

George  Pal  has  combined  for  the 
first  time  live  action  with  his  puppets 
in  this  story  by  a  boy  who  returns 
home  after  school  describing  the  imag- 
inary wonders  he  has  seen  on  Mulberry 
Street.  The  puppets  are  artistically 
on  a  high  level  and  encompass  at  the 
climax  a  huge  parade  complete  with 
a  bandwagon,  brass  band,  motorcycle 
escort  and  paraders.  This  is  one  of 
the  more  ambitious  of  the  Pal  Pup- 
petoons.    Running  time,  7}4  mins. 


"Popular  Science" 

(Paramount) 

Rice-sowing  from  a  low-flying  plane 
in  the  Sacramento  Valley,  Cal.,  which 
permits  in  a  single  operation  work 
previously  performed  by  300  men  in 
an  entire  day;  the  use  of  new  kitchen 
gadgets  and  methods  are  shown  from 
French-fried  potatoes  to  the  home  de- 
hydration of  vegetables,  and  the  proc- 
esses involved  in  a  synthetic  rubber 
plant,  are  the  subjects  of  this  inter- 
esting short  subject.  Running  time, 
10  mins. 


"Suddenly  Ifs  Spring" 

(Paramount) 

Latest  release  in  the  Noveltoon  se- 
ries of  color  cartoons,  this  proves  to 
be  an  engrosing  subject  for  old  and 
young.  The  color  is  breathtakingly 
beautiful,  employing  soft  pastel  shades 
and  the  song,  "The  World  Is  Long- 
ing for  the  Sunshine,"  by  Mack  David 
and  Sammy  Timberg,  fits  snugly  into 
the  subject  Raggedy  Ann  is  beseech- 
ing the  elements  to  permit  some  sun- 
shine to  touch  the  earth  in  order  to 
aid  her  little  mistress'  recovery  from 
an  illness.  She  succeeds  by  appealing 
with  melody  to  the  gruff  Mr.  Zero. 
Running  time,  10  mins. 


WE  WO 

AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


MIDWEST'S  $3,000,000  "WAR  BOND 
P  REM  I  ERE"  OF  "THE  STORY  OF  DR.WASSELL" 

AT  CHICAGO'S  STATE-LAKE  THEATRE 
LAST  FRIDAY  NIGHT  SENT  PICTURE 
ZOOMING  TO  OPENING  GROSS  22^ 
OVER  "STAR  SPANGLED  RHYTHM"  AT 
SAME  HOUSE. . .PREMI ERE  WAS  HAILED 
EDITORIALLY  BY  CHICAGO  HERALD- 
AMERICAN  AND  ATTENDED  BY  G.O.P. 
CONVENTION  GREATS  INCLUDING 
PRODUCER  AND  DELEGATE  CECIL  B. 
DE  MILLE  AND  LOVELY  CAROL 
THURSTON ,   "TREMART INI"  OF  FILM. 


Short  Subject 

Reviews 


'The  Dream  Kids' 

(Columbia) 

The  Fox  and  the  Crow  are  at  it 
again — they  invade  each  other's 
dreams  and  the  result  is  a  dizzy  race 
to  see  who  gets  the  lovely  dream  lady. 
Eddie  Kilfeather's  music  score  adds 
much.  Dave  Fleischer  produced.  Run- 
ning time,  7Yz  mins. 


"Film  Vodvil  No.  5" 

(Columbia) 

Featuring  Frank  Novak's  comedy 
band,  this  entertaining  short  subject 
also  includes  the  radio  quartet  of  The 
Escorts  and  Betty  in  a  clever  rendition 
of  "Don't  Sweetheart  Me" ;  Lanny 
and  Ginger  singing  "He  Holds  the 
Lantern  While  His  Mother  Chops  the 
Wood"  and  the  "Mexican  Hayride" 
dancers,  Lane  and  Claire.  Good  bal- 
ance and  comedy  routines  make  this 
one  of  the  best  in  the  series  to  date. 
Running  time,  10  mins. 


'Mexican  Sportland' 

(Warners) 

Another  treatment  of  the  beauties 
of  Mexico  City  is  the  subject  of  this 
film.  There  is  nothing  to  make  it  out- 
standing ;  in  the  light  of  past  treat- 
ments, "Mexican  Sportland"  is  a  rou- 
tine short  very  well  done.  Commen- 
tary by  Knox  Manning  is  good.  Pro- 
duced in  color  for  the  Sports  Parade 
series.    Running  time,  10  mins. 


'The  Swooner  Crooner' 

(Warners) 

Clever  take-offs  on  Sinatra  and 
Crosby,  by  two  roosters,  make  this 
cartoon  a  most  entertaining  subject. 
Porky  Pig's  egg  factory  is  behind  in 
its  production  schedule  because  the 
hens  are  spending  all  their  time  drool- 
ing over  Sinatra  Rooster.  Porky 
hires  Crosby  Rooster  to  get  the  hens 
to  work  again.  It  works.  Running 
time,  7  mins.  Produced  by  Leon 
Schlesinger  for  the  Looney-Tune 
color  series. 


"Fun  Time" 

(Paramount) 

The  latest  "Musical  Parade"  stars 
Eddie  Foy,  Jr.,  and  and  Noell  Neill, 
a  promising  newcomer  with  a  pleas- 
ing singing  voice  and  real  acting  abil- 
ity. The  story  shows  Foy  as  a  down- 
and-out  dancer,  living  at  a  boarding 
house  with  a  group  of  other  vaudevil- 
lians.  With  the  help  of  Miss  Neill, 
the  boarding  house  maid,  Foy  gets 
his  break  and  she  becomes  his  part- 
ner. Done  in  Technicolor,  "Fun 
Time"  is  full  of  laughs  and  music  and 
the  story  stands  up  well.  Walter  Mac- 
Ewen  produced  with  Louis  Harris 
assisting.  Robert  S.  Brode  wrote  the 
screenplay.     Running  time,  20  mins. 


"Lulu  Gets  the  Birdie" 

(Paramount) 

Little  Lulu  is  reprimanded  by 
Mammy  for  putting  the  kitchen  in  a 
state  of  mild  disorder.  Lulu,  upon 
asking  how  Mammy  knew  she  was  the 
culprit,  is  told  that  "a  little  bird  in- 
formed." Lulu  sets  out  to  find  the 
bird  and  becomes  involved  in  all  sorts 
of  trouble,  and  she  doesn't  find  the 
bird:  The  latest  in  Lulu's  cartoon  se- 
ries is  mildly  amusing.  Running  time, 

mins. 


TODAY,  AS  YESTERDAY 


Otill  a  brilliant  film,  audiences  and 
critics  agree,  is  Columbia's  "Lost  Horizon." 
Still  brilliant,  too,  is  the  screen  lighting 
from  "National"  Projector  Carbons,  whether 
the  picture  be  the  most  recent  release  or  a 
second  or  third  run.  Audiences  enjoy  virtu- 
ally the  same  screen  light  today  as  when  "Lost 
Horizon"  was  first  shown. 

This  has  been  accomplished  because  Na- 
tional Carbon  Company's  background  of  re- 
search and  manufacturing  experience  enabled 
it  to  redesign  pre-war  carbons  promptly  to 
war-time  needs  .  .  .  and  also  because  of  the 
close  technical  cooperation  of  exhibitor,  pro- 
jectionist and  lamp  manufacturer. 

Most  important  of  all,  however,  is  that 
enormous  quantities  of  copper  have  been 
saved  for  the  war  effort,  through  re- 
covery of  copper  drippings  and  strip- 
ping of  copper  from  carbon  stubs. 

The  best  evidence  that  these  efforts  are  suc- 
cessful is  that  motion  picture  patrons  in  ever 
increasing  numbers  are  overflowing  theatres 
everywhere  for  needed  relaxation  and  worth- 
while entertainment. 

★  BUY  UNITED  STATES  WAR  BONDS  * 


1937 


1944 


The  trade-mark  "National"  distinguishes  products  of  National  Carbon  Company,  Inc. 

NATIONAL  CARBON  COMPANY,  INC. 

Unit  of  Union  Carbide  and  Carbon  Corporation 
Carbon  Products  Division,  Cleveland  1,  Ohio  IHM  New  York,  Pittsburgh,  Chicago,  San  Francisco 


(VOL.  55.   NO.  126 


Daily 

NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  WEDNESDAY,  JUNE  28,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Special  Fifth 
Loan  Events 
Total  10,415 

O'Donnell  Gives  'Free 
Day,*  Premiere  Score 


A  total  of  10,415  special  events 
have  already  been  definitely  set  for 
the  "Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan,  R. 
J.    O'Donnell,    national  industry 
chairman,  dis- 
closed here  yes- 
terday. These 
are  events  which 
are  booked  and 
confirmed  under 
the  distributors' 
agreement  with 
the  Fifth  War 
Loan  commit- 
tee and  do  not 
include  the 
many  special 
bond  shows 
which  are  staged 
otherwise, 
O'Donnell 
J.  O'Donnell        pointed  out. 
Of  the  total,  4,715  are  war  bond 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


McCarthyOpensPRC 
Sales  Meet  Today 


Annual  sales  convention  and  meet- 
j  ing  of  franchise  holders  of  PRC  Pic- 
tures will  get  under  way  here  this 
morning  at  the  Essex  House,  running 
through  Friday,  with  Leo  J.  McCar- 
thy, general  sales  manager,  presiding. 
Leon  Fromkess,  vice-president  in 
charge  of  production,  is  due  here  to- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Would  Ban  Jumping 
Mexican  Contracts 


Hollywood,  June  27. — A  reciprocal 
agreement  between  the  Screen  Actors 
Guild  and  the  Mexican  Actors  Guild 
whereby  SAG  would  prevent  Mexican 
players  from  violating  their  commit- 
ments to  Mexican  producers  in  order 
to  accept  Hollywood  employment  will 
fflje  sought  by  Jorge  Negrete,  MAG 
president,  in  a  meeting  with  James 
Cagney,  SAG  president,  on  Thursday. 

Here  for  the  stated  purpose  of 
quashing  reports  that  his  organization 
opposes  bringing  Mexican  players  to 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Two-Million  Bond 
Buy  for  Columbia 

A  corporate  purchase  of 
$2,000,000  in  war  bonds  was 
announced  by  Columbia  here 
yesterday  for  the  Fifth  War 
Loan  Drive.  This  is  apart 
from  purchases  made  by  em- 
ployees of  the  company  dur- 
ing the  drive.  Columbia's 
quota  is  $3,250,000. 

Columbia  employees  have 
set  a  goal  of  $232,000. 


Canada  Tax 
On  Way  Out 


Toronto,  June  27. — A  reduction  in 
cost  of  films  and  accessories  brought 
from  outside  the  Dominion  would  re- 
sult frqrn  repeal  of  the  10  percent 
war  tax  on  such  imported  items,  elim- 
ination of  which  is  provided  by  the 
new  Federal  budget,  now  tabled  in  the 
House  of  Commons  by  Hon.  J.  L. 
Ilsley.  The  ban  on  luxury  imports 
would  likewise  be  removed. 

The  budget  also  contains  provisions 
to  modify  the  film  company  and  other 
corporation  taxes  in  a  move  to  ease 
the  financial  position  of  business  firms 
working  out  postwar  programs.  An- 
other change  would  permit  business 
losses  in  one  year  to  be  spread  over 
three  years  for  compilation  of  the  cor- 
poration tax,  and  double  depreciation 
would  be  allowed  on  new  investments, 
as  well  as  rapid  depreciation  on  other 
assets.  Expenditures  for  maintenance 
and  repairs  could  be  charged  against 
the  corporation  income  of  the  previ- 
ous year. 

In  addition,  the  budget  looks  to  re- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Scully  Lists  4UV 
1st  Quarter  Films; 
All  But  One  Ready 


Universal's  1944-45  first-quarter  re- 
leases were  disclosed  here  yesterday 
by  William  A.  Scully,  vice-president 
and  general  sales  manager.  Twelve 
of  the  13  pro- 
ductions sched- 
uled are  already 
completed  and 
"in  the  can." 
Releases  for  the 
quarter  reported 
y  e  s  t  e  rday  by 
Scully  follow : 

Sept.  1 :  Color 
production, 
"Gypsy  Wild- 
cat," starring 
Maria  Montez, 
J«n  Hall,  Peter 
Coe,  produced 
by  George 
Waggner,  di- 
rected by  Roy  William  Neill ;  Sept.  9 : 
"Moonlight  and  Cactus,"  with  the  An- 
drews Sisters,  Leo  Carrillo,  Elyse 
Knox  and  Mitch  Ayres  and  his  orches- 
tra, directed  by  Eddie  Cline ;  Sept.  15  : 
"The  Merry  Monahans,"  starring  Don- 
ald. O'Connor,  Jack  Oakie,  Peggy 
Ryan,   directed   by   Charles  Lamont 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Wm.  A.  Scully 


OCR  To  'Soft 
Pedal'  New 
Theatre  Plans 


Projectionists  to  Cite 
Moss  and  Fr.  Boland 

License  Commissioner  Paul  Moss 
and  Rev.  Fr.  John  P.  Boland,  former 
chairman  of  the  New  York  State 
Labor  Relations  Board,  will  become 
honorary  life  members  of  IATSE 
Projectionists'  Union  Local  306,  New 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Distributors  Confer  with 
McNutt  on  Manpower 


Washington,  June  27. — Represent- 
atives of  the  War  Activities  Commit- 
tee, whose  delegations  last  week  failed 
to  secure  from  the  Essential  Activities 
Committee  of  the  War  Manpower 
Commission  definite  assurance  of  as- 
sistance in  securing  exchange  labor 
which  they  sought,  today  conferred 
with  Chairman  Paul  V.  McNutt  in  a 
final  effort  to  convince  the  commission 
of  the  necessity  for  providing  priori- 
ties assistance  to  insure  the  uninter- 
rupted distribution  of  motion  pictures. 

The  group  was  headed  by  Ned  De- 
pinet,  chairman  of  the  WAC  distribu- 
tors' division,  and  included  Tom  Con- 
nors, 20th  Century-Fox,  vice-chairman 
(Continued  on  page'  6) 


Four-Day  Holiday 
For  Some  Offices 

RKO,  Reupblic,  U.  A,  Loew 
and  M-G-M  are  the  first  to 
call  a  four-day  holiday  for 
their  home  offices  this  week- 
end, starting  Friday  night  and 
running  over  Fourth  of  July 
to  Wednesday  morning. 

Other  managements  are 
considering  similar  closings 
and  it  is  expected  that  a 
large  part  of  the  industry 
here  will  be  shutdown  for  the 
four  days. 


Reorganization  Looms; 
McMurphey  to  Quit 

By  BERTRAM  F.  LlNZ 

Washington,.  June  27,-r-A  ma- 
jor reorganization  of  the  :  Amuse- 
ments and  Recreation  Section-  of 
the  Office  of  Civilian  Requirements, 
involving  the  resignation" of  George 
W.  McMurphey  as  chief  and  a  marked 
relaxation  of  emphasis  oh  the  theatre 
construction  program,  is  expected  to 
be  made  in  the  very  near  future,  it 
was  learned  tonight. 

Although  the.  difficulties,  in  which 
the  section  found  itself '  last  month  as 
a  result  of  criticisms- of  Its  programs 
from  the  outside  and  opposition  to 
their  prosecution  from  within  the 
War  Production  Board,  Which  Were 

(Continued  on  page  6) 

Two  More  Vanguard 
Representatives 

Chicago,  June  27. — Neil  Agnew, 
Vanguard  Pictures'  vice-president  in 
charge  of  distribution,  disclosed  here 
today  that  two  additional  sales -execu- 
tives will  be  appointed' for.  Vanguard 
but  that  no  formal  appointments' have 
as  yet  been  made.  Candidates  for  the 
positions  have  been  discussed  for  the 
past  two  days  at  meetings  at  >the- 
Drake  Hotel  with  Hugh  Owen,  Vah- 
guard  sales  manager,  who -  came'  'in 
with  Agnew  from  New  York  for-thi's 
(Continued  on  page  6) 


Rodgers  Cites  M-G-M 
Open  Door  Policy 

Cleveland,  June  27. — William  F. 
Rodgers,  M-G-M  vice  president  and 
general  sales  manager  stopped  off  here 
enroute  from  the  Coast  to  host  a  good- 
will ■  M-G-M  luncheon  today  at  the 
Statler  Hotel  attended  by  60  exhibitors 
and  M-G-Mers. 

In  a  short  talk  Rodgers  reiterated 
his  open  door  policy  and  thanked  the 
exhibitors  for  their  support  through' 
the  years :  and  in  particular  during  the; 
anniversary  week,  but  asked"  that  in  , 
registering  industry  group-  grievances 
M-G-M  should  not  be  included  i.has-' 
much  as  !  his  company  has'  .sincerely  , 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1944 


Insider's  Outlook 

^— — —  By  RED  KANN  ^— 


Natl  Screen  Wage 
Scale  Talks  Begin 

Setting  up  of.  .job  classifications  and 
minimum  .nvage  'scales  for  some  200 
New  York  exchange  and  home  office 
workers  qf  .-National  Screen  Service 
was  started  here  yesterday  at  a  meet- 
ing between  NSS  officials  and  repre- 
sentatives .'"of  >th^  Screen  Office  and 
Professional  Employes  Guild,  Local 
109,  CIO.  Sydney  Young,  SOPEG 
president,  headed  the  union  group, 
while  executive  vice-president  Wil- 
liam Brenner  was  chief  spokesman  for 
the  company.  Another  session  is  sched- 
uled for  next  week. 

Wage  increases  that  develop  from 
the  new  classifications  will  be  retroac- 
tive to  Jan.  3,  1944,  as  reported  Mon- 
day in  Motion  Picture  Daily. 

Joyce  Joins  20th  on 
Midwest  Publicity 

Chicago,  June  27.— Fred  Joyce,  pub- 
licity director  of  the  Stevens  Hotel 
here,  will  join  20th-Fox  as  a  special 
publicity  representative  on  July  1.  His 
first  assignment  will  be  in  connection 
with  the  national,  exploitation  cam- 
paign for  "Wilson." 

Joyce  was  formerly  in  the  publicity 
department  of  United  Artists  and  prior 
to  that  handled  publicity  for  David  O. 
Selznick.  Jules  Fields,  assistant  pub- 
licity director  for  20th-Fox  will  ar- 
rive from  New  York  Friday  to  assist 
in  mapping  out  the  "Wilson"  cam- 
paign. Joyce  will  make  his  headquar- 
ters here. 


PIC  CommitteeElects 
Harry  Brand 

Los  Angeles,  June  27.— Public  In- 
formation Committee,  western  division, 
today  elected  Harry  Brand,  chairman, 
succeeding  Alex  Evelove  whose  term 
expired.  John  Joseph,  20th  Century- 
Fox  studio  publicity  director,  was  re- 
elected chairman  of  the  Executive  Com- 
mittee. Maj.  John  W.  Hubbell,  John 
C.  Flinn,  Ed  Schreiberr.  O.  M.  Baily, 
guests  of  the  meeting,  petitioned  the 
PIC  to  cooperate  in  obtaining  more 
premieres  for  troops  overseas. 

Theatre  Damage  from 
Floods  Very  Slight 

Damage  to  theatres  from  fresh 
floods  in  the  Midwest  has  been  almost 
negligible  so  far,  according  to  re- 
ports reaching  home  offices  here. 

Harry  M.  Kalmine  of  Warner  Bros. 
Theatres  returned  here  yesterday 
from  a  tour  of  the  Western  Pennsyl- 
vania area  struck  last  week  by  a  tor- 
nado and  reported  that  he  had  found 
no  appreciable  theatre  damage. 

/.  Lasher y  78,  Dead, 
Pioneer  Exhibitor 

Chicago,  June  27. — Jacob  Lasker, 
78,  pioneer  exhibitor  died  here  last 
Monday.  Burial  will  be  in  Memorial 
Park  Cemetery  on  Wednesday.  Las- 
ker was  the  operator  of  the  Jacob  Las- 
ker and  Sons  Theatre  circut.  He  is 
survived  by  his  widow,  Ida,  and  two 
sons,  Ben  and  Harry  who  will  operate 
the  circuit. 


Hollywood,  June  27 

IN  a  forthright  "put  up  or  shut 
up"  approach,  the  Motion 
Picture  Alliance  for  the  Preser- 
vation of  American  Ideals  has 
been  invited  to  support  its  public 
utterances  about  the  political  and 
ideological  constituency  of  Holly- 
wood. The  time  is  set  apart  as 
Wednesday  night  when  17  mem- 
ber bodies  currently  identified 
with  the  Emergency  Committee 
of  Hollywood  Guilds  and  Unions 
are  slated  to  hold  a  mass  meet- 
ing. 

This  is  to  be  the  several  times 
deferred  rally  out  of  which  a  bet- 
ter public  relations  front  for 
Hollywood  is  to  be  discussed  as 
a  form  of  armor,  answering  and 
resisting  unwarranted  and  un- 
proven  attacks.  The  focalising 
will  be  concentrated  on  the 
MPA. 

■ 

ECHGU,  which  are  initials 
not  designed  to  confound  the 
printer,  has  put  in  the  open  nine 
questions  which  it  asks  (chal- 
lenges) an  accredited  MPA 
spokesman  to  answer.  Particu- 
larly pertinent  in  that  they  bear 
directly  on  the  commercial  as- 
pects of  the  industry  and  can  % 
wield  visible  and  invisible  in- 
fluences on  the  .box-office,  are 
these : 

"In  view  of  your  statement  that 
the  Motion  Picture  Alliance  be- 
lieves itself  to  'represent  the  vast 
majority  of  the  people  who  serve 
this  great  medium  of  expression,' 
how  many  of  Hollywood's  30,000 
workers  are  enrolled  members  of 
your  organization? 

"What  organization  or  individuals 
outside  the  Motion  Picture  Alli- 
ance share  your  contention  that 
there  is  a  'widespread  impression 
that  this  industry  is  made  up  of  and 
dominated  by  Communists,  radicals 
and  crackpots'? 

"In  view  of  your  assertion  that 
you  find  yourselves  'in  sharp  revolt 
against  a  rising  tide  of  Commun- 
ism, Fascism  and  kindred  beliefs,' 
which  motion  pictures  in  the  opin- 
ion of  the  Motion  Picture  Alliance 
have  contained  such  propaganda? 

"Which  producers  or  producing 
companies  these  having  sole  control 
of  the  content  of  motion  pictures — 
does  the  Motion  Picture  Alliance 
hold  responsible  for  the  propaganda 
it  professes  to  have  discovered?" 
■ 

The  last  three  wrap  up  the 
guts  of  the  situation.  They  are 
fair  questions.  Too,  they  are 
questions  which  many  here  want 
answered  if  generalizations  are 
to  be  converted  into  something 
far  more  substantial. 

Men  like  Sam  Wood  and  Walt 
Disney  are  far  too  prominent  in 
this  industry  to  lend  weight  to 


innuendoes  of  the  grave,  poten- 
tial damage  which  marks  the  un- 
supported charges  of  the  MPA. 
It  is  not  sufficient  to  level  an  at- 
tack and  thereafter  walk  away, 
from  proof.  This  is  the  position 
of  the  MPA  up  to  this  time. 
■ 

If  the  Alliance  has  the  evi- 
dence to  support  such  a  sweeping 
viewpoint,  its  sponsorship  must 
recognize  a  duty  to  the  whole  in- 
dustry and  produce  it  on  call  and 
in  the  open  where  it  may  be  ap- 
praised and  a  determination 
made.  Moreover,  the  Alliance's 
charges  having  been  unburdened 
publicly,  there  is  every  right  on 
insistence  that  its  proof  be  un- 
burdened in  the  identical  manner. 
■ 

However,  we  assume  it  as  our 
own  unalterable  opinion  that  no 
group  within  the  industry  and  no 
group  outside  it  can  back  any 
claim  that,  by  widespread  im- 
pression, this  business  is  made 
up  of  and  dominated  by  Com- 
munists, radicals  and  crackpots. 

The  principal  men  in  it  are 
widely  known  by  name  and  by 
rank.  To  suggest  a  single  one 
fits  any  of  the  three  categories 
named  by  the  Alliance  would  be 
a  libel  if  it  were  not  funny  and 
overtoned  with  harm.  To  sug- 
gest that  they,  as  the  producing 
heads  or  the  presidents  of  the  es- 
tablished companies,  are  being 
taken  in  by  mysterious  and  un- 
identified individuals  or  forces  is 
as  fantastic  as  it  is  ridiculous. 

They  have  eyes  and  they  have 
ears.  They  also  have  advisers. 
No  one  need  ever  voice  concern 
about  their  awareness  or  their 
gullibility,  for  that  matter. 

■  ■ 

"Whether  a  producer  makes  a 
picture  for  pleasure  or  for  profit, 
for  pure  entertainment  or  for 
pure  education — or  just  for  art's 
sake — he  is  up  against  the  incon- 
trovertible fact  that  his  picture 
will  produce  some  effect,  for 
good  or  for  bad,  on  its  audi- 
ences."— Harry  M.  Warner. 

In  forty-five  words,  he  limns 
a  responsibility  and  an  obliga- 
tion from  which  no  recession  is 
possible. 

■  ■ 

Time  Passeth  Note:  Six  years 
ago  Universal  didn't  "have  bread 
in  the  house."  Nate  Blumberg 
said  so,  openly  and  often.  Next 
season,  the  company  will  have 
seven  in  Technicolor. 

To  appreciate  this  it  is  re- 
quired to  report  Hollywood 
never  undertakes  pictures  in 
color  unless  there  is  beef  in  the 
house. 


U.  S.  Will  Protect 
Seized  Copyrights 

-"^Washington,  June  .  27.  —  Alien 
property  custodian  James  E.-Markham 
today  served  notice  that  he  would  pro- 
tect the  Government's  interests  in 
former  enemy-owned  copyrights  which 
have  been  seized  since  the  outbreak  of 
war.  His  action  was  prompted  by  the 
status  of  the  German  marching  song 
"Lili  Marlene,"  which  was  highly  pop- 
ular with  Allied  troops  in  the  African 
campaign.  This  song  is  the  property 
of  the  Government,  and  anyone  wish- 
ing to  exploit  it  in  this  country  must 
first  obtain  a  license  from  him,  Mark- 
ham  said,  adding  that  such  licenses  are 
non-exclusive,  and  that  several  have 
been  issued  for  publication  of  ?'Lili."  ' 
A  PC  officials  stated  that  they  had 
no  information  that  any  of  their  copy- 
rights were  being  pirated  but  thought 
it  timely  to  issue  the  warning. 

Atlantic  City  Houses 
Raise  Admissions  8c 

Atlantic  City,  June  27. — Board- 
walk theatres  here  have  increased  ad- 
mission prices  for  the  Summer. 

First-run  houses  raise  their  66-cent 
top  price  to  74  cents,  attributing  the 
raise  to  increased  operational  costs. 
The  first  runs  are  operated  by  War- 
ners in  a  pooling  arrangement  with 
the  Weilland-Lewis  houses. 


Mrs.  Rogers  Rites  Held 

Los  Angeles,  June  27. — Private 
Christian  Science  services  were  con- 
ducted yesterday  at  the  Wee  Kirk 
o'Heather  in  Forest  Lawn  Memorial 
Park  for  Mrs.  Betty  Blake  Rogers, 
widow  of  Will  Rogers.  Temporary 
interment  was  in  the  crypt  where  Rog- 
ers' remains  reposed  until  removed 
to   Claremore,  Okla. 

Hopkins  Resumes 
Post  With  Columbia 

Los  Angeles,  June  27. — William  K. 
Hopkins  who  resigned  the  regional 
directorship  of  the  War  Manpower 
Commission  returns  to  his  Columbia 
post  as  labor  relations  executive  next 
month.  B.  P.  Guild  who  substituted 
during  Hopkins'  absence  continues  in 
the  department. 

McKune,  Silverstein 
Assigned  to  PWB 

Robert  McKune,  formerly  in  the 
film  business  in  South  Africa  for 
many  years,  and  Maurice  Silverstein, 
formerly  with  Universal,  have  been 
assigned  by  the  Office  of  War  Infor- 
mation overseas  film  bureau  to  work 
with  the  Army  Psychological  War- 
fare Board  overseas  on  film  matters. 

McKune  returned  from  Africa  to 
volunteer  his  services  with  the  OWL 


25  Years  with  20th 

Chicago,  June  27. — Jack  Lorentz 
of  the  20th-Fox  exchange  will  com- 
plete 25  years  with  the  company  next 
month.  July  16  through  August  19 
has  been  designated  as  local  "Silver 
Jubilee"  month  for  Lorentz,  it  was  re- 
ported by  Herman  Heiersdorf,  district 
manager. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday,  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quiglev  Publishing  Company,  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  Y^rk,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley.  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann,  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Willif-n  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burn  op.  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  c?ble  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  offiee  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year,  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


3 


16%  of  N.  Y.  Bond 
Sales  in  Theatres 

Metropolitan  New  York 
area  motion  picture  theatre 
sales  of  "E"  bonds  in  the 
Fifth  War  Loan  Drive 
amount  to  16%  of  the  total 
sold  throughout  New  York 
State,  according  to  Lewis  E. 
Pierson,  deputy  state  chair- 
man of  the  campaign.  The 
War  Finance  Committee  has 
volunteered  to  assist  theatre 
managers  in  any  neighbor- 
hood or  community  where 
the  sales  are  lagging. 


$1,000,000  Premiere 
In  Youngstown 

Youngstown,  Ohio,  June  27. — All 
local  theatres,  in  cooperation  with  the 
j  Mahoning  County  Furniture  Associa- 
tion, held  a  record  bond  premiere  at 
the  Warner  Theatre,  in  which  the 
$1,000,000  goal  was  exceeded  by  $8,- 
000.  Some  2,144  people  filled  the 
house.  Admission  was  by  bond  only 
and  the  audience  participated  in  a 
bond  auction  conducted  by  Sam  Vin- 
ing,  national  promotion  manager  _  of 
the  War  Finance  Committee.  Gifts 
included  wool  blankets  for  $1,000 
bonds ;  silver  pitchers  or  garbage  cans 
for  $500  bonds ;  carving  sets  for  $100 
bonds ;  glass  water  sets  for  $50  bonds 
and  candy  jars  for  $25  bonds.  Every- 
one who  entered  the  house  received  a 
door  prize. 

Max  Greenwald,  general  manager 
of  the  five  theatres  in  Elyria,  reports 
that  his  bond  premiere,  held  last 
Wednesday  night  at  the  Capitol,  re- 
sulted in  the  sale  of  $1,975,000  worth 
of  bonds. 


Reviews 


"Gilder sleeve's  Ghost" 

(RKO  Radio) 

Kf^  ILDERSLEEVE'S  GHOST"  will  chiefly  tickle  the  funnybones  of 
adolescents  but  will  have  little  appeal  for  those  who  like  their 
humor  served  up  on  an  adult  level.  The  cream  of  the  jest,  which  curdles 
rapidly,  is  the  confusion  which  results  when  Harold  Peary  in  a  gorilla 
costume  stalks  a  real  gorilla  who  has  escaped  from  experiments  with  a 
drug  that  makes  objects  invisible.  Some  amusing  sequences  develop 
when  the  gorilla,  mistaken  for  Peary,  is  persuaded  to  deport  himself 
as  a  gentleman,  but  the  film's  64  minutes  are  punctuated  with  dreary 
stretches. 

The  portly  Peary  who  has  won  a  radio  following  also  briefly  plays  the 
roles  of  two  ghostly  ancestors  who  set  "the  motivation  for  the  plot  when 
they  release  the  gorilla  and  direct  it  to  Peary's  house  to  provide  him 
with  an  opportunity  to  make  himself  a  hero  so  he  can  win  an  election 
for  police  commissioner.  Marion  Martin,  as  another  subject  of  the  ex- 
periments ;  Richard  LeGrand,  Amelita  Ward ;  Freddie  Mercer  and 
Margie  Stewart  are  in  the  supporting  cast.  Dordon  Douglas  directed 
from  the  stage  and  screen  play  by  Robert  H.  Kent  in  a  manner  remini 
scent  of  the  departed  days  of  stage  farce.   Hermon  Schlom  produced. 

Running  time,  64  minutes.   "G."*  Release  in  Block  6. 

Charles  Ryweck 


Henry  Reeve  on  Tour 
At  His  Own  Expense 

Dallas,  June  27.— Henry  Reeve  of 
the  Mission  Theatre,  Menard,  Tex., 
has  just  completed  a  series  of  war 
bond  meetings  in  San  Antonio,  Austin 
and  Brownwood,  attended  by  indepen- 
dent owners  and  circuit  personnel. 

Reeve,  as  president  of  Texas  Thea- 
tre Owners,  Inc.,  made  the  tour  at 
his  own  expense.  Tonight  he  put  on 
an  outdoor  rally  in  Menard,  featur- 
ing Guinn  (Big  Boy)  Williams,  Peg- 
gy O'Neill,  Cindy  Garner  and  three 
war  heroes. 


Ohio  Claims  Lead  on 
Percent  Quota  Basis 

Cincinnati,  June  27.— The  local 
Variety  Club  is  conducting  a  war 
bond  booth  in  the  lobby  of  Keiths 
Theatre,  serving  24  hours  a  day. 

With  all  theatres  maintaining  huge 
sales  volume  and  gaining  steadily 
Hamilton  County  reports  total  bond 
sales  of  $92,137,755,  or  approximate- 
ly 75  per  cent  of  the  $124,000,000 
quota. 

Percy  Brown,  state  executive  vice- 
chairman,  reports  from  Cleveland  a 
total  of  $256,430,654,  or  32.1  per  cent 
of  the  state's  $797,000,000.  "Ohio 
probably  is  leading  the  larger  states 
on  the  basis  of  percentages  of  bond 
quotas,"  Brown  declared  in  his  report. 

Wyoming  First  100% 
For  Bond  Premieres 

Wyoming  is  the  first  state  m  the 
history  of  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee to  report  100  per  cent  exhibi- 
tor participation  in  war  bond  pre-, 
mieres.  E.  J.  Schulte,  exhibitor  chair- 
man for  that  state,  reported  to  the  na- 


"Follow  the  Leader" 

{Monogram) 

Hollywood,  June  27 

T  EO  GORCEY  and  Huntz  Hall  are  in  the  Army  at  the  beginning  of 

'  this  item  in  the  Sam  Katzman-Jack  Dietz  series  of  East  Side  Kids 
presentations,  but  they  are  spelled  out  of  service  for  as  long  as  it  takes 
them  to  find  out  who's  been  filching  alcohol  from  a  warehouse  and  ap 
prehend  the  culprits,  a  feat  achieved  by  deductions  and  doings  in  pattern 
with  those  utilized  in  films  that  have  preceded  this  one.  The  use  of  the 
uniform  gives  the  undertaking  a  foundation  in  pEftriotism  and  a  measure 
of  timeliness,  but  performances  and  story  nullify  the  gains. 

William  Crowley  and  Beryl  Sachs  wrote  the  script,  from  a  story  by 
Andre  Lamb,  which  contains  loop-holes  through  which  suspense  and  in 
terest  seep  out  at  expense  of  entertainment.  The  things  that  happen 
lack,  therefore,  plausibility  and  point.  A  few  of  Gorcey's  wisecracks, 
and  some  of  Hall's  retorts,  got  ripples  from  the  audience  to  which  the 
film  was  previewed. 

Barney  A.  Sarecky  was  associate  producer  and  William  Beaudine  di 
rected,  neither  of  them  bettering  his  record. 

Running  time,  64  mins    "G."    Release  date,  June  3. 

William  R.  Weaver 


"The  Last  Horseman" 

(Columbia). 

Hollywood,  June  27 

RUSSELL  HAYDEN  romps  through  this  Leon  Barsha  production 
with  ease  and  agility,  supported  by  Dub  Taylor,  Bob  Wills  and  the 
Texas  Playboys.  En  route  to  the  Bar-W  ranch,  the  boys  are  robbed  of 
a  check  which  was  to  have  been  used  to  pay  off  the  mortgage.  There's 
plenty  of  gunplay  before  the  boys  get  the  money  back  from  the  black 
hearted  banker  who  plans  to  foreclose.  In  a  fast-action  finish,  the  cow- 
boys chase  the  bank's  hirelings  over  the  rooftops  of  Silver  City. 

Glimpses  of  Ann  Savage  as  the  cashier  of  the  bank  decorate  the  do 
ings.    There  are  a  number  of  songs  by  Wills  and  the  Playboys,  and,. all 
in  all,  the  picture  adds  up  to  an  hour  of  above-average  entertainment 
ill  its  class.    William  Berke  directs  with  skill,  and  George.  Meehan  is 
credited  with  unusually  good  photography. 

Running  time,  56  mins.   "G."*   Release  date,  June  22.  Thalia  Bell 


Personal 
Mention 


MAURICE  BERGMAN,  Eastern 
advertising  and  publicity  direc- 
tor for  Universal,  left  yesterday  for 
Atlanta  to  attend  a  Southern  district 
sales  meeting. 

• 

Beatrice  Peezick,  secretary  and 
sister-in-law  to  'Lewen  Pizor,  inde- 
pendent circuit  head  and  president  of 
United  M.P.T.O.,  Philadelphia,  was 
married  to  Sgt.  David  Berschler  last 
week. 

• 

Paul  S.  Krumenacker,  assistant 
to  F.  D.  Moore,  Warner  Pittsburgh 
branch  manager,  and  his  wife,  Anne, 
will  celebrate  their  silver  wedding  an- 
niversary July  2. 

• 

Ira  H.  Cohn,  20th-Fox  branch 
manager  at  Buffalo,  and  Mrs.  Cohn 
have  returned  from  Indiana  where 
thev  visited  their  son,  an  Army  cap- 
tain. 

• 

James  Flood,  manager  of  the  Sen- 
ate, Philadelphia,  became  the  father 
of  a  daughter,  Mary  Elizabeth,  born 
to  Mrs.  Flood  recently. 

•  | 

Morris  Goodman,  Republic  vice- 
president  in  charge  of  foreign  sales, 
will  leave  tomorrow  for  a  two-week 
visit  in  Mexico. 

.  • 

Margaret  McCorkle,  chief  of  the 
service  staff  at  Warners'  Stanley, 
Philadelphia,  has  left  to  join  the 
WAVES. 

• 

Max  Fellerman,  Eastern  repre- 
sentative of  Banner  Productions,  has 
returned  to  New  York  from  the 
Coast. 

• 

Bob  Brower,  booker  for  Universal 
in  Philadelphia  for  the  past  24  years, 
resigned  to  join  a  Florida  circuit. 
• 

Ary  Lima,  general  manager  for 
Warners  in  Brazil,  returned  to  New 
York  yesterday  from  the  Coast. 
• 

I.  J.  Schmertz,  20th  Century-Fox 
Cleveland  branch  manager,  became  a 
grandfather  last  week. 

• 

R.  F.  Hagen,  manager  of  Warner 
film  checking  service,  is  visiting  Cin- 
cinnati and  Cleveland. 

• 

Jerry  Spandau  of  Universal's  Buf- 
falo exchange  has  returned  from  Bos- 
ton. 


*"G"  denotes  .  general  classification. 


tional  "Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan 
committee  that  93  per  cent  of  the 
state's  theatres  will  also  hold  "Free 
Movie  Days,"  and  75  per  cent  are  al- 
ready scheduled  to  run  Children's  Pre- 
mieres. 

National  chairman  R.  J.  O'Donnell 
extended  congratulations  to  Schulte 
and  Tom  Berta,  exhibitor  co-chair- 
man, and  all  distributor  chairmen  and 
salesmen  who  cooperated  on  behalf  of 
the  national  committee, 


Loewites  Sell  $6,200,300 

Loew's  Theatres  sold  $6,200,300  in 
Fifth  War  Loan  bonds  June  1-23, 
compared  with  $2,854,000  during  the 
same  period  of  the  Fourth  Loan. 
Leading  New  York  theatres  were  the 
Pitkin,  $283,250;  Boro  Park,  $281,920  ; 
and  American,  $266,300.  The  out  of 
town  pace  was  set  by  the  Capitol, 
Washington,  $237,475;  State,  Cleve- 
land, $214,250,  and  Loew's  State, 
Norfolk,  $159,400, 


Phillipson  to  Paramount 

Joe  Phillipson,  who  has  resigned  as 
general  manager  of  Cooper  Theatres 
in  Denver  will  join  the  Paramount  dis- 
tribution department  when  his  resigna- 
tion becomes  effective  .  some  time  in 
early  July,  the  home  office  announced 
here  yesterday. 


Tax  Returns  on  Upgrade 

Philadelphia,  June  27. — The  city 
treasurer  reports  collections  of  city 
amusement  taxes  for  the  first  five 
months  of  this  year  were  $591,072. 
Last  year's  figures  for  the  same  period 
was  $566,887, 


"NEVER  STOP  TILL  YOU'RE 
OVER  THE  TOP!  FIGHT- 
ING FIFTH  WAR  LOAN!" 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1944 


Special  Fifth  War  Loan 
Events  Total  10,415 


OCR  To  'Soft 
Pedal'  New 
Theatre  Plans 

(.Continued  from  page  1) 
largely  responsible  for  the  resigrja- 
of  John  Eberson  as  theatres  consul- 
tant, were  declared  several  weeks  ago 
to  have  been  satisfactorily  settled,  it 
has  been  apparent  since  that  higher 
officials  of  the  OCR  were  less  enthu- 
siastic over  the'  project  to  provide 
film  theatre  facilities  for  congested 
war  production  areas  and  that  there 
has  been  a  general  slowing  down  of 
the  effort,  although  the  manpower 
situation  has  been  responsible  for 
that,  in  part 

Neither  Donald  R.  Longman,  chief 
of  the  Service  Trades  Division,  of 
which  the  Amusements  and  Recreation 
Section  is  a  part,  nor  McMurphey 
were  willing  to  discuss  the  situation 
today,  but  it  has  been  known  for 
some  time  that  the  attempt  to  secure 
a  successor  to  Eberson  has  not  been 
prosecuted  very  vigorously  and  that 
only  tentative  moves  have  been  made 
to  locate  a  man  who  might  take  the 
position. 

No  Need  for  Service 

McMurphey  is  understood  to  be- 
lieve that,  under  present  conditions, 
his  opportunity  to  serve  has  been  re- 
duced to  a  point  where  to  remain 
longer  would  serve  no  useful  purpose. 

The  development  of  adequate  thea- 
tre facilities  for  the  war  production 
areas  has  been  one  of  the  major  aims 
of  the  section  under  McMurphey,  and 
some  68  new  theatre  and  remodeling 
jobs  have  been  approved  out  of  a  pro- 
gram which  proposed  eventually  to 
provide  about  200  houses.  The  recrea- 
tion section's  difficulties  climaxed  last 
month  when  the  pressure  of  non- 
theatrical  amusement  interests  for 
new  facilities  aroused  a  reluctance  in 
WPB  bureaus  to  authorize  the  use  of 
highly  critical  war  materials  for 
amusement  projects.  The  matter  be- 
came so  serious  that  higher  officials 
of  OCR  and  WPB  are  understood  to 
have  taken  a  hand.  Later,  it  was  an- 
nounced that  the  situation  had  been 
ironed  out  and  that  no  changes  would 
be  made  in  the  section's  personnel  or 
policy,  but  it  was  generally  believed 
at  the  time  that  definite  action  was 
merely  being  withheld  until  the  mat- 
ter had  cooled  off  a  bit. 

Applications  in  Abeyance 

Since  then,  however,  applications 
for  new  theatres  have  been  held  in 
abeyance,  with  the  explanation  that 
the  manpower  situation,  particularly 
on  the  West  Coast  where  Fox  West 
Coast  Theatres  planned  to  build  sev- 
eral houses,  was  so  serious  that  it 
was  impossible  to  divert  labor  from 
necessary  war  plant  and  war  housing 
construction.  Officials  of  WPB  bu- 
reaus having  to  do  with  the  materials 
required  for  theatre  construction  are 
also  understood  to  be  opposed  to  such 
use  of  materials  which  also  are  ur- 
gently needed  for  war  purposes,  par- 
ticularly in  view  df  the  fact  that  when 
the  European  campaign  is  closed  ma- 
jor shifts  in  war  production  will  oc- 
cur which  may  materially  reduce  the 
importance  and  population  of  some  of 
the  communities  which  now  are  most 
congested  and  most  in  need  of  addi- 
tional amusement  facilities. 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

premieres,  as  compared  with  3,182  in 
the  Fourth  War  Lo.an ;  4,809  are  "Free 
Movie  Days,"  contrasted  with  3,403  in 
the  fourth,  and  891  are  children's  pre- 
mieres. Children's  premieres  were 
not  included  in  the  distributor  agree- 
ment in  previous  war  loans  and  few 
were  held. 

Leading  is  the  Minneapolis  ex- 
change territory  with  417  bond  pre- 
mieres, 366  "Free  Movie  Days"  and 
95  children's  premieres.  The  St.  Louis 
territory  tops  the  country  for  "Free 
Movie  Days,"  with  511  set.  In  the 
children's  premiere  classification,  Pitts- 
burgh is  ahead  with  108. 

The  national  committee  stresses  that 
the  figures  are  incomplete,  and  that 
many  more  events  are  still  being  set. 
The  totals  do  not,  for  instance,  re- 
flect "Free  Movie  Day"  in  the  New 
York  Metropolitan  area,  where  virtu- 
ally every  theatre  is  expected  to  par- 
ticipate in  the  July  6  event.  Texas  is 
expected  to  have  about  500  war  bond 
premieres.-  Charlotte  has  listed  34 
special  events  which  are  not  included. 
Service  shows  and  similar  presenta- 
tions in  other  territories  are  also  ex- 
cluded from  the  tabulation  in  some 
instances. 

The  two-year  comparison  of  war 
bond  premieres  by  exchange  areas,  as 
reported  by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  national 
distributor  chairman,  with  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  figure  given  first  and  the 
Fourth  War  Loan  grand  total  second, 
is  as  follows :  Albany,  48-18 ;  Atlanta, 
167-136;  Boston,  172-86;  Buffalo,  30- 
28;  Charlotte,  150-156;  Chicago,  112- 
72 ;  Cincinnati,  143-53 ;  Cleveland,  58- 
83;  Dallas,  382-208;  Denver,  171-201; 
Des  Moines,  170-40;  Detroit,  101-93; 
Indianapolis,  58-58;  Kansas  City,  357- 
170;  Los  Angeles,  251-121;  Memphis, 
101-70;  Milwaukee,  221-236;  Minne- 
apolis, 417-281;  New  Haven,  32-38; 
New  Orleans,  154-12;  New  York,  86- 
67  ;  New  Jersey,  19-0 ;  Oklahoma  City, 
116-91;  Omaha,  73-61;  Philadelphia, 
317-145;  Pittsburgh,  157-102;  Port- 
land, 54-81;  St.  Louis,  79-63;  Salt 
Lake  City,  146-114;  San  Francisco, 
222-185;  Seattle,  56-50;  Washington, 
95-63. 


Radio  Barrage  on  Eve 
Of  'Free  Movie  Day' 

A  total  of  660  film  commentators  on 
network  affiliated  radio  stations  will 
receive  special  material  publicizing  the 
motion  picture  industry's  national 
"Free  Movie  Day,"  Thursday,  July  6. 

These  announcements,  prepared  by 
Martin  Starr,  radio  director  of  the 
"Fighting  Fifth"  War  Loan  commit- 
tee, will  be  scheduled  for  inclusion  in 
local  radio  programs  on  the  afternoon 
and  evening  of  July  5,  on  the  eve  of 
the  big  event  which  will  come  two  days 
before  the  end  of  the  drive.  Tying  in 
with  local  theatres,  the  radio  pub- 
licity will  explain  that  anyone  buying 
a  bond  or  making  an  application  for 
a  bond  on  July  6  will  be  admitted 
free  to  participating  theatres  on  "Free 
Movie  Day."  This  will  be  in  addition 
to  special  announcements  which  will 
be  made  on  several  major  network 
shows  coast-to-coast  on  the  night  of 
July  5.  The  radio  announcements  will 
constitute  the  greatest  radio  barrage 
ever  given  to  a  motion  picture  indus- 
try war  loan  drive. 

The  "Free  Movie  Day"  campaign 


will  also  include  national  newspaper 
publicity  scheduled  to  break  over  the 
wire  service  on  July  5,  in  addition  to 
local  publicity  mentioning  theatres  par- 
ticipating in  the  event. 


Boston's  Suburbs  Have 
Novel  Bond  Campaigns 

Boston,  June  27. — Novel  meth- 
ods for  boosting  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
campaign  in  and  around  Boston  have 
resulted  in  widespread  recognition  by 
the  metropolitan  press  in  this  area. 

Manager  William  E.  Hartnett  of 
the  Waltham  Embassy  held  a  special 
bond  premiere  recently  in  which 
groups  of  students  were  organized  to 
aid  the  sale  of  bonds  in  homes  and 
factories  in  that  defense  town.  "Great 
Invasion"  cards  were  forwarded  to  all 
patrons  of  John  Buckley's  Roxbury 
theatre  while  Paul  St.  Louis,  manager 
of  the  East  Milton  State  placaded  the 
entire  resort  town  with  "Join  the 
Fighting  Fifth"  signs.  At  Haverhill 
Manager  F.  Colburn,  Jr.,  of  the 
Colonial  Theatre,  made  photographs, 
which  were  picked  up  by  newspapers, 
of  the  long  lines  of  war  veterans  pur- 
chasing bonds. 

Two  More  Vanguard 
Representatives 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

meeting,  and  David  Selznick,  head  of 
Vanguard,  in  town  as  a  delegate  to 
the  Republican  National  Convention. 

The  appointments,  Agnew  said,  will 
in  no  way  interfere  with  sales  and 
distribution  plans  mapped  out  for 
Vanguard  by  United  Artists,  the  ap- 
pointees serving  primarily  in  advisory 
capacities.  They  will  be  national 
representatives  and  probably  will 
have  headquarters  in  New  York,  Ag- 
new revealed.  One  will  oversee  the 
Central  territory  and  the  other,  the 
Far  West.  Motion  Picture  Daily 
yesterday  reported  that  the  meeting 
here  between  Agnew,  Owen  and  Selz- 
nick would  embrace  a  discussion  on 
the  addition  of  two  sales  executives. 

Agnew  and  Owen  are  scheduled,  to 
return  to  New  York  tomorrow. 

Selznick  Feted  By 
Advertising  Agency 

Chicago,  June  27. — Max  Cone  of 
the  Foote,  Cone  and  Belding  Adver- 
tising Agency  engaged  to  do  special 
promotion  for  "Since  You  Went 
Away,"  today  honored  David  O.  Selz- 
nick, producer  of  the  picture  at  a  press 
gathering  at  the  Drake  Hotel. 

Canada  Film  Import 
Tax  Is  on  Way  Out 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

moval  of  the  compulsory  savings  por- 
tion of  the  personal  income  tax  in 
favor  of  voluntary  investments  in 
government  war  bonds  and  stamps. 

In  some  quarters  it  had  been  feared 
that  the  Federal  amusement  tax  of  20 
percent  would  be  raised  in  view  of 
boom  figures  in  theatre  business  last 
year,  but  no  change  has  developed.  In- 
dustry leaders  are  disappointed,  how- 
ever,, by  the  lack  of  downward  revi- 
sion in  the  100  percent  excess  profits 
tax.  This  had  been  proposed  to  en- 
able companies  to  build  up  cash  re- 
serves for  postwar  reconstruction. 


Confer  With 

McNutt 

On  Manpower 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

of  the  division ;  Leon  Bamberger,  as- 
sistant to  Depinet;  H.  M.  Richey, 
M-G-M;  A.  A.  Schubart,  RKO,  and 
Claude  Collins,  Washington  represen- 
tative of  the  WAC  newsreel  division. 

At  their  meeting  with  McNutt,  the 
delegation  explained  the  situation  in 
detail  and  the  steps  which  previously 
have  been  taken  in  the  effort  to  secure 
relief,  but  do  not  appear  to  have  been 
given  any  assurance  that  a  national 
essential  classification  would  be 
granted. 

"Pleasing  Talk" 

Following  the  conference  a  spokes- 
man for  the  group  said  they  had  a 
"very  pleasing"  talk  with  McNutt,  as 
a  result  of  which  "the  matter  at  pres- 
ent is  in  abeyance,"  and  that  they  were 
returning  to  New  York  to  confer  with 
the  WAC  distributors'  committee  to 
determine  what  further  action  may  be 
taken. 

Stability  of  Labor 

Should  the  group  fail  to  obtain  a 
reversal  of  the  "locally  needed"  deci- 
sion, they  will,  nevertheless,  seek  to 
impress  upon  the  WMC  the  importance 
of  maintaining-  the  stability  of  ex- 
change labor  as  an  aid  to  the  war  ef- 
fort, so  that  future  requests  for  pri- 
orities, when  granted  by  regional 
WMC  offices,  will  be  certain  of 
Washington  approval.  Bamberger, 
following  his  appearance  at  a  hearing 
before  the  WMC  essential  activities 
committee  last  week,  was  assured  then 
that  the  regional  office  .  would  deal 
"sympathetically"  with  such  requests. 

Industry's  Position 

"The  motion  picture  industry  should 
be  considered  somewhat  a  Govern- 
ment agency  in  war  time,"  Bamberger 
stated  here  yesterday,  pointing  to  the 
free  supply  of  films  to  troops  in  train- 
ing camps,  overseas  and  in  hospitals, 
also  to  the  WAC  shorts  which  are 
run  in  more  than  16,000  theatres  to 
carry  the  messages  of  numerous  Gov- 
ernment agencies.  "Under  no  cir- 
cumstances would  the  Army  and 
Navy  want  us  in  a  position  where 
we  could  not  supply  adequate  service," 
Bamberger  said,  adding  that  the  in- 
dustry delegation  will  make  clear  to 
McNutt  that  film  bookers,  for  ex- 
ample, who  must  be  highly  trained, 
cannot  be  easily  replaced  and  that 
the  fire  hazards  in  exchanges  make 
the  employment  of  skilled  labor  man- 
datory. 

"Locally  Needed"  Areas 

Prior  to  WMC's  recent  order  re- 
quiring virtually  all  labor  turnovers 
to  clear  through  the  U.  S.  Employ- 
ment Service  after  July  1,  the  Pitts- 
burgh and  Philadelphia  exchange 
zones  had  been  approved  as  "locally 
needed"  areas.  Whether  this  approv- 
al will  be  withdrawn  has  not  been 
made  clear  by  Washington  as  yet. 
Meanwhile,  "locally  needed"  requests 
for  numerous  other  film  exchange 
areas  have  been  pending. 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Scully  Lists  4UV 
1st  Quarter  Films 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

from  the  original  by  Michael  Fessier 
and  Ernest  Pagano  who  also  produced 
it;  Sept.  22:  "Fearl  of  Death,"  first  of 
the  Sherlock  Holmes  for  the  new  year, 
starring  Basil  Rathbone  as  Sherlock 
Holmes,  produced  and  directed  by  Roy 

■  William  Neill ;  Sept.  29:  "San  Diego, 

t  1  Love  You,"  produced  by  Michael 
Fessier  and  Ernest  Pagano,  co-starring 

v  Louise  Allbritton  and  Jon  Hall,  di- 
rected by  Reginald  Le  Borg. 

Oct.  6:  "The  Singing  Sheriff,"  star- 
ring Bob  Crosby,  Leslie  Goodwins  di- 

-  rected;  Oct.  13:  "See  My  Lawyer," 
starring  Olsen  and  Johnson,  directed 
by  Edward  F.  Cline,  producer,  Ed- 
mund L.  Hartmann ;  Oct.  20 :  "The 
Climax,"  color  production  starring  Su- 
sanna Foster,  Boris  Karloff  and  Tur- 
han  Bey,  produced  and  directed  by 
George  Waggner  ;  Oct.  27  :  "Babes  in 
Swing  Street,"  starring  Peggy  Ryan, 
Ann  Blyth  and  Leon  Errol.  Edward 
Lilley  directed  for  producer  Bernard 
Burton. 

'Bowery  to  Broadway' 

Nov.  3 :  "Bowery  to  Broadway," 
starring  Maria  Montez,  Jack  Oakie, 
Susanna  Foster,  Turhan  Bey,  Louise 
Allbritton,  Leo  Carillo,  Ann  Blyth, 
Andy  Devine  and  Evelyn  Ankers, 
produced  by  John  Grant,  directed  by 
Charles  Lamont;  Nov.  10:  "Dead 
Man's  Eyes,"  starring  Lon  Chaney. 
Reginald  Le  Borg  directed;  Nov.  17: 
"Reckless  Age,"  starring  Gloria  Jean, 
produced  and  directed  by  Felix  Feist ; 
Nov.  24:  "The  Suspect,"  starring 
Charles  Laughton  and  Ella  Raines, 
produced  by  Islin  Auster  and  directed 
by  Robert  Siodmak. 

Each  of  these  releases  is  completed 
with  the  exception  of  "The  Suspect." 


3   Instead   of  4 
Columbia  Serials 

Columbia's  home  office  yes- 
terday reported  that  requests 
from  branch  managers  have 
prompted  the  company  to  in- 
crease the  number  of  serials 
for  1944-45  from  three  to  four. 

The  three  announced  at  the 
recent  Chicago  sales  meeting: 
"The  Black  Arrow";  "Brenda 
Starr,  Reporter"  and  "The 
Monster  and  the  Ape,"  will 
be  augmented  by  one  as  yet 
unselected.  Columbia  will  re- 
lease the  four  consecutively 
and  with  no  lapse. 


McCarthy  Opens  PRC 
Sales  Meet  Today 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

day  for  the  convention,  having  been 
delayed  by  Midwestern  floods. 

PRC's  franchise  owners  will  attend 
from  this  country  and  Canada,  ac- 
companied by  their  branch  managers. 
Also  on  hand  will  be  the  following 
home  office  executives,  in  addition  to 
McCarthy :  Fred  Rohrs,  assistant  to 
McCarthy ;  Roberto  Socas,  foreign 
export  manager ;  Jerry  Edwards, 
legal  department ;  Harry  Blair,  East- 
ern publicity  manager ;  S.  S.  Kesten- 
baum,  field  exploitation ;  John  Cosen- 
tino,  in  charge  of  exchange  operations  ; 
D.  P.  Wiener,  accounting  department ; 
and  Janet  Rosenthal,  in  charge  of 
prints. 

Company's  Guests 

The  trade  press  and  convention  dele- 
gates will  be  guests  of  the  company  at 
luncheon  today  in  the  Colonnades 
Room  of  the  Essex  House. 

Fromkess  will  be  the  first  speaker 
today,  outlining  the  company's  produc- 
tion plans.  Also  scheduled  to  address 
the  delegates  are  Rohre,  McCarthy, 
and  Roberto  D.  Socas,  Foreign  Sales 
Manager. 

Tex  Ritter  will  co-star  with  Dave 
O'Brien  in  a  series  of  eight  Westerns 
with  O'Brien  also  up  for  straight 
dramatic  roles.  Al  'Fuzzy'  St.  John, 
is  being  featured  in  a  series  of  eight 
PRC  Westerns  starring  Buster 
Crabbe.  • 


'Cliffs'  Passes  Par 
By  $4,000  in  Cincy 


Cincinnati,  June  27.  —  "White 
Cliffs  of  Dover"  should  give  the  RKO 
Capitol  an  estimated  $14,000,_  while 
"Once  Upon  a  Time"  is  heading  for 
an  approximate  $15,000  in  the  initial 
week  of  straight  film  fare  at  the  RKO 
Albee. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  28-July  1  : 

"Once  Upon,  a  Time"  (Col.) 

RKO  ALBEE— (3,300)    (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show.  Gross 
$15,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 
"White  CJiffs  of  Dover"  (M.-G-M) 

RKO>  CAPITOL— (2,000)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show 
Gross:  $14,000.  (Average:  $10,000). 
"Port  of  Missing  Men"  (Mono.) 
"Boys  of  the  Streets"  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY — (1,000)   (30c-40c)  4  days 
Gross:  $1,600.     (Average:  $1,600). 
"Slightly  Terrific"  (Univ.) 
"Range  Law"  (Mono.) 

RKO  FAMILY— (1,000)   (30c-40c)  3  days. 
Gross:  $700.     (Average:  $800). 
"Home  in,  Indiana"  (20th-Fox) 

RKO  GRAND1 — (1,500)   (44c-50c-60c-70c)  7 
days,   plus    Saturday   midnight    show,  2nd 
week,  moveover  from  the  Palace.  Gross 
$8,000.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 
"A  Night  of  Adventure"  (RKO) 

KEITH'S— (1.5C0)  (44c -50c -60c -70c)  7  days 
Gross:  $5,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Uninvited"  (Para.) 

RKO  LYRIC — (1,400)  (44c-50c-60c-70c) 
days,  3rd  week,  moveover  from  the  Grand 
after  initial  week   at   the   Palace.  Gros 
$4,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 
"The  Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 

RKO  PALACE—  (2,700)  (44c -50c -60c -70c) 
7  days,  plus  Saturday  midnight  show 
Gross:  $13,000.     (Average:  $15,000). 


'My  Way's'  $17,800 
Beats  First  Week 

Providence,  June  27. — With  rain 
and  cool  weather,  grosses  here  soared 
back  to  mid-winter  levels.  "Going 
My  Way"  set  some  sort  of  a  new 
record  at  the  Strand  by  grossing  $17, 
800  in  the  second  week,  more  than 
it  did  in  the  first,  when  it  broke  the 
house  record. 

Estimated .  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  29 : 

"Are   These   Our   Parents  "  (Mono.) 
"Lady,  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

RKO-ALBEE— (2,239)  (35c-44c-55c) 
days.     Gross:  $12,000.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Going  My  Way"  (Para.) 

STRAND— (2,200)  (44c-S5c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $17,800.  (Average:  $10,500) 
"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

LOEWS  STATE— (3,232)  (35c-44c-55c) 
days.    Gross:  $22,000.     (Average:  $17,700) 
"Heme  in  Indiana"  (20th- Fox) 
"Casanova  in   Burlesque"  (Rep.) 

MAJESTIC— (2,250)    (35c-44c-55c)   7  day 
Gross:  $16,000.     (Average:  $12,100). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 
"Weird1  Woman"  (Univ.) 

FAY'S — (1,800)      (35c-44c-55c)  7 
Gross:  $7,600.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Roger  Touhy,   Gangster"  (20th-Fox) 
"Candlelight  in  Algeria"  (20th-Fox) 

CARLTON— (1,526)    (35c-44c-55c)    7  day 
2nd      week,      moveover     from  Majestic 
Gross:  $4,500.     (Average:  $4,000) 


days 


Projectionists  to  Cite 
Moss  and  Fr.  Boland 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
York,  in  a  ceremony  tomorrow  noon 
at  the  Adelphi  Theatre  here.  They 
will  receive  gold  memberships  cards 
from  Herbert  Gelbert,  president  of  the 
local  for  their  part  in  the  negotiations 
merging  "306"  and  the  Empire  State 
Projectionists  Union. 

At  the  same  time,  Local  306  will 
present  an  ambulance  to  the  Army 
and  unveil  an  honor  roll  of  more  than 
120  members  in  the  armed  forces.  Lucy 
Monroe  will  sing  the  national  anthem. 
Local  exhibitors  have  been  invited  to 
attend. 


Rodgers  Cites  M-G-M 
Open  Door  Policy 


(Continued  from  page  1) 
tried  to  cultivate  the  good  will  of  the- 
atre owners. 

"The  future  of  the  industry  looks 
good,"  Rodgers  said,  backing  his  be- 
lief with  the  statement  M-G-M  has 
more  invested  in  negatives  than  ever 
before.  "Television  will  find  its  own 
place,"  he  added,  but  expressed  his 
personal  opinion  that  it  will  have  no 
evil  effect  on  the  motion  picture  in- 
dustry. Other  Loew  officials  present 
were  central  sales  manager  J.  J.  Ma- 
loney,  district  manager  J.  P.  Byrne 
and  local  branch  manager  Jack  Sogg. 


'Marseille'  Legion 
Rating  Acceptable 

Warners'  "Passage  to  Marseille" 
has  been  changed  by  the  Legion  of 
Decency  from  a  Class  B,  objectionable 
in  part  rating  to  Class  A-2,  unobjec- 
tionable for  adults,  because  "from  the1 
negative  and  all  existing  positive 
prints  has  been  removed  the  sequence 
upon  which  the  Legion's  objection, 
'the  unethical  killing  of  helpless  en- 
emies is  sympathetically  presented,' 
had  been  based."  Six  other  films  were 
held  to  be  acceptable  by  the  Legion 
this  week. 

They  are  :  Paramount^  "The  Great 
Moment,"  RKO's  "Marine  Raiders," 
Columbia's  "She's  a  Soldier,  Too,"  and 
Universal's  "Twilight  on  the  Prairie," 
ill  Class  A-l,  for  general  patronage. 
In  Class  A-2  are  Republic's  "The  Girl 
Who  Dared"  and  Paramount's  "Take 
It  Big." 


Would  Ban  Jumping 
Mexican  Contracts 

(Continued  from  page  1) 
Hollywood  for  dubbing  American 
films  in  Spanish,  Negrete  said  MAG's 
sole  concern  is  with  cases  in  which 
talent  so  engaged  has  failed  to  return 
to  comply  with  contractual  commit- 
ments in  Mexico.  Under  the  plan  pro- 
posed, SAG  would  inspect  Mexican 
players'  contractual  obligations  with 
Mexican  producers  and  limit  permits 
for  Hollywood  employment  to  periods 
not  covered  by  Mexican  commitments. 


'Marines'  N.  Y.  Premiere 

"Marine  Raiders,".-, RKO,  starring 
Pat  O'Brien,  will  have  its  Broadway 
premiere  Friday,  night  at  the  RKO 
Palace  here.  Proceeds  of  the  open- 
inng  performance  will  go  to  the  Ma- 
rine Corps  League-. 


M-C-M  TRADE 
SHOWING 

(New  York  and  New  Jersey 
Territories  Only) 


n 


DRAGON 
SEED 

THURSDAY 
JUNE  29th 

At  10:30  A.  M.  and  2:30  P.  M. 
M-C-M  SCREENING  ROOM 
630-9th  Ave.,  New  York  City 


"What  a  Summer  Show 
Better  than  a  cooling  plant! 


BIG  SPLASH  AT 


10 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Wednesday,  June  28,  1944 


'Three  Men',  Show 
Take  Record 
$42,300  in  Phila. 


Philadelphia,  June  27.  —  The 
Earle,  with  an  all-colored  stage  show 
headed  by  the  Ink  Spots,  with  "Three 
Men  in  White"  on  the  screen,  points  to 
its  biggest  week  in  a  year  or  more 
with  $42,300  in  sight  for  a  six-day 
week.  "White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  got 
off  to  a  big  start  at  the  Boyd,  with 
$32,000  expected. 

Estimated   receipts    for    the  week 
ending  June  28-30: 
"Up  in  Mabel's  Room"  (UA) 

ALDINE  —  (900)  (40c-45c-5Cfc-65c-75c-85c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Aver- 
age: $14,600). 

"Andy  Hardy's  Blonde  Trouble"  (M-G-M) 

ARCADIA— (6C0)  0»Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c)  7 
days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $5,200.  (Average: 
54,000). 

"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

BOYD— (3,000)  (4Oc-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $22,500.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M)  (6  days) 
"The    White    Cliffs    of    Dover"  (M-G-M) 
(1  day) 

EARLE — (3,000)  (50c-65c-85c-95c)  6  days 
of  vaudeville,  including  Cootie  Williams' 
orchestra,  The  Four  Ink  Spots,  Ella  Fitz- 
gerald. Poke  &  Moke,  Eddie  Vinson  and 
Ralph  Brown.  Gross:  $46,200.  (Average: 
$27,600). 

"The  Mask  of  Dimitrios"  (WB) 

FOX— (3,000)     (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c-85c)  7 
days.     Gross:-  $18,800.     (Average:  $20,500). 
"Pin  Up  Girl"  (20th-Fox) 

KARLTON — ( 1 ,000)  (40c  -45c  - 50c -65c  - 75c - 
85c)  7  days,  2nd  run.  Gross:  $6,500.  (Av- 
erage: $6,600). 

"Ladies  Courageous"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S   —    (2,200)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  4  days,  2nd  run.    Gross:  $2,200.  (Av- 
erage: $5,800). 
"Up  in  Arms"  (UA) 

MASTBAUM— (4,700)  (40c45c  -  50c  -  65c  -75c  - 
85c)  7  days,  3rd  week.  Gross:  $17,800. 
(Average:  $22,500). 

"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

STANLEY — (3,000)  (40c-45c-50c-65c-75c- 
85c)  7  days.  Gross:  $32,000.  (Average: 
$20,000). 

"The  Hitler  Gang"  (Para.) 

STANTON — (1,700)  ( 40c  -45c  -  50c  -  65c  -75c 
85c)  7  days.    Gross:  $10,800.    (Average:  $9, 


Coast  Flashes  •  •  •  • 


'Gaslight'  Glows  in 
Torontowith$16,30C 


Hollywood,  June  -2!7 

THE  Emergency  Committee  of 
Guilds  and  Unions  has  an- 
nounced the  following  speakers  for 
tomorrow  night's  mass  meeting  here : 
Walter  Wanger,  Sidney  Buchman, 
Herbert  Aller,  Albert  Dekker,  Mary 
C.  McCall,  Jr.,  Al  Speede,  Herbert 
Sorrell,  Betty  Field  and  James  Hilton. 
• 

The  War  Finance  Committee  today 
reported  that  20th  Century-Fox:  stu- 
dio employes  have  purchased  $269,058 
of  Fifth  War  Loan  bonds  during  the 
first  two  weeks  of  the  campaign.  A 
nurchase  of  $200,000  by  David  O. 
Selznick  personally  was  added  today 
to  the  $193,130  total  reached  yester- 
day by  12  independent  production 
companies. 

• 

Harry  M.  and  Jack  L.  Warner  will 
leave  here  for  San  Francisco  by  train 
on  Friday  to  attend  the  launching  of 
the  6".  6".  Benjamin  Warner  on  Satur- 
day. 

• 

John  Garfield,  Warner  player,  is  in 
Cedars  of  Lebanon  Hospital  follow- 
ing an  attack  of  influenza.  The  "Hol- 
lywood Canteen"  company  will  shoot 
around  him  for  the  next  week. 
• 

Ben  Kalmenson,  Warners'  general 
sales  manager,  has  left  here  for  New 
York. 

• 

Susan  Hayward,  who  co-stars  in 
Tules  Levy's  United  Artists'  pictur- 
ization  of  "The  Hairy  Ape"  has  left 
on  a  bond-selling  tour. 

• 

Robert  Stirling,  executive  assistant 
to  Hunt  Stromberg,  celebrates  his 
eighth  year  with  the  producer  this 
week. 


A/IARVIN  SCHENCK,  M-G-M 
LVJ.  home  office  executive,  has  ar- 
rived here  from  the  East. 

• 

Pete  Smith  intends  producing  more 
sports  subjects  as  part  of  his  series 
for  M-GrM. 

• 

Ayn  Rand,  has  been  signed  by  Hal 
B.  Wallis  to  a  long-term  writing  con- 
tract. Her  first  assignment  will  be  the 
Chris  Massie  novel,  "The  Love  Let- 
ters." 

• 

Joe  Sistrom's  first  production  as- 
signment at  Paramount  on  his  return 
from  working  with  the  OWI's  over 
eas  division  will  be  "Duffy's  Tav- 
ern." Paul  Jones,  originally  announced 
to  produce,  has  asked  to  be  relieved 
because  of  illness. 

• 

D.  A.  Doran.  Columbia  studio  ex 
ecutive,  accompanied  Nate  B.  Spin 
gold,  home  office  executive,  to  New 
York. 

Columbia  will  .unite  Irene  Dunne 
and  Charles  Boyer,  who  co-starred  in 
"Love  Affair,"  in  an  untitled  romantic 
drama.  Charles  Coburn  will  be  the 
third  lead.  Virginia  Van  Upp  will 
produce. 

• 

Hollywood  Victory  Committee  set 
Alan  Marshall,  Susan  Hayward,  for 
special  War  Bond  campaign,  appear 
ances  Youngstown,  July  3  ;  Cleveland 
July  4;  Newark,  Ohio,  July  6,  and 
St.  Louis  July  7. 

• 

RKO  -  Radio  purchased  "Gallant 
Weekend,"  an  original  for  production 
by  Robert  Fellows. 

• 

Jack  Skirball  signed  Bruce  Mann- 
ing, former  Universal  writer-producer. 
His  first  assignment  is  as  yet  unde- 
termined. 


Toronto,  June  27. — "Gaslight"  was 
a  standout  at  Loew's  Theatre  here  for 
a  promised  $16,200,  while  "Buffalo 
Bill"  will  get  $12,300  at  Shea's.  "King 
Arthur  Was  a  Gentleman"  (British) 
was  moving  toward  $4,000  at  the 
Eglinton,  which  is  equal  to  average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  29 : 

"King  Arthur  Was  a  Gentleman"  (British) 
"Action  in  Arabia"  (RKO) 

EKLINTON  — (1,086)     (18c-30c-48c60c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $4,000.    (Average:  $4,000). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

IMPERIAL— (3,373)  (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.  Gross:  $11,800.  (Average:  $12,800). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  —  (2,074)    (18c -30c -42c -60c -78c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $16,200.    (Average:  $11,200). 
"Buffalo  Bill"  (ZOth-Fox) 

SHEA'S  —  (2,480)     (18c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.     Gross:   $12,300.     (Average:  $12,800). 
"Jane  Eyre"  (20th-Fox)  (moveover) 
"Sailor's  Holiday"  (Col.) 

TIVOLI  —  (1,434)     (18c-30c-48c)    6  days. 
Gross:  $3,900.    (Average:  $4,400). 
"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Imposter"  (Univ.) 

UPTOWN— (2,761)  O8c-30c-42c-60c-90c)  6 
days.    Gross:  $9,300.    (Average:  $9,800). 


Gallup  to  'Showmen's' 

Bruce  Gallup,  formerly  associated 
with  major  film  companies  and  recent- 
ly with  the  Vega  Airplane  plant  in 
Burbank,  Cal.,  has  joined  Showmen's 
T rude  Revietv  to  direct  and  head  that 
publication's  expanded  trade  relations 
department. 


'Cliffs'  Hits  $26,000 
In  Big  K.C.  Week 


Kansas  City,  June  27. — With  "The 
White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  at  the  Mid- 
land doing  more  than  $26,000,  and 
"Snow  White"  at  the  Orpheum  taking 
aroundt  $19,000,  the  past  week  was 
the  year's  best,  although  weather  was 
hot  and  humid. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  27-30: 

"Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (20th-Fox) 

ESQUIRE— (800)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$6,700.    (Average:  $6,000). 
"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

MIDLAND— (3,500)      (40c -60c)     7  days- 
Gross:   $26,000.     (Average:  $14,000). 
"Between  Two  Worlds"  (WB) 

NEWMAN— (1,900)      (45c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:   $14,500.     (Average:  $10,000). 
"Snow  White"  (RKO-Disney) 

ORPHEUM— (1.900)     (45c-65c)     7  days. 
Gross:    $19,000.      (Average:  $10,000). 
"Bermuda   Mv-terv"  c2(lth-Fox) 
"The  Scarlet  Claw"  (Univ.) 

TOWER— (2.2C0)  (45c-65c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$10,500.    (Average:  $9,400). 
"Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (20th-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (2.000)      (45c-65c)      7  days. 
Gross:  $5,800.     (Average:  $6,600). 
"Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (ZOth-Fox) 

FAIRWAY— (700)  (45c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $1,750.     (Average:  $1,600). 


Billings  Named  to 
Time  and  MOT  Post 

John  Shaw  Billings,  managing  edi 
tor  of  Life  Magazine,  will  become  edi 
torial  director  of  Time-Life-Fortune 
publications,  including  The  March  of 
Time  on  the  screen  and  on  the  Air, 
editor-in-chief  Henry  R.  Luce  an- 
nounced here.  Appointment  becomes 
effective  July  10. 

Daniel  Longwell,  executive  editor 
of  Life  since  its  first  issue  in  1936,  will 
succeed  Billings  as  managing  editor 
on  the  same  date. 


WB  Sets  Screenings 

Warners'  "Mr.  Skeffington,"  which 
ends  that  company's  current  season's 
schedule,  will  be  tradeshown  July  17. 
"Janie,"  the  first  release  of  the  new 
season,  and  "Crime  by  Night"  will  be 
screened  July  24, 


Extra  'Purple  Heart3 
Press  Book  Issued 

A  supplementary  press  book  on 
Darryl  F.  Zanuck's  "The  Purple 
Heart"  has  been  prepared  by  Charles 
Schlaifer,  20th-Fox  advertising  man- 
ager, following  the  film's  nationwide 
initial  runs.  The  book  is  a'  compila- 
tion in  color  of  quotations  from  re- 
views and  comments  from  recognized 
sources  all  over  the  country.  It  should 
contribute  to  the  prestige  of  the  pic- 
ture in  places  where  it  has  not  already 
run. 


Talcon',  Show  Net 
A  Good  $27,500 


Industry  Gives  $34,706 

The  motion  picture  industry  and  its 
employe  groups  have  contributed  $34,- 
076  to  the  Greater  New  York  Fund. 
The  film  division  is  headed  by  B.  S. 
Moss,  chairman,  with  J.  Robert  Rubin 
of  Loew's  honorary  chairman. 


Cleveland,  June  27. — "The  Falcon 
Out  West"  at  the  RKO  Palace  and 
the  Coast  Guard  Revue,  "Tars  and 
Spars,"  raised  the  take  to  estimated 
$27,500.  "White  Cliffs  of  Dover" 
toook  $22,000  in  its  second  week  at 
Loew's  State,  and  "Home  in  Indiana" 
netted  a  big  $12,300  in  its  second  at 
the  Allen. 

Estimated  receipts  for  week  end- 
ing June  28 : 

"Home  in  Indiana"  (2ftth-Fox) 

ALLEN— (3,000)  (44c-55c-65c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.     Gross:   $12,300.     (Average:  $8,500). 
"Snow  White"  (RKO) 

WARNER'S    HIPPODROME  —  (3,500) 
(44c-55c-65c)  7  days.    Gross:  $20,000.  (Av- 
erage: $22,100). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNERS'  LAKE— (714)  (44c-55c-65c) 
7  days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $2,650.  (Aver- 
age: $3,200). 

"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  OHIO— (1,268)   (43c-65c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $4,000.     (Average:  $5,000). 
"Falcon  Out  West"  (RKO) 

RKO  PALACE— (3,300)  (50c-60c-85c-95c) 
7  days.  Stage:  "Tars  and  Spars"  Coast 
Guard  Revue.  Gross:'  $27,500.  (Average: 
$25,400). 

"White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STATE— (3,300)  (43c-65c)  7 
days.  Gross:  $22,000.  (Average:  $19,000). 
"Meet   the  People"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  STILLMAN— (1,900)  (43c-65c)  7 
days.     Gross:   $7,500.     (Average:  $10,000). 


4Two  Girls' TopsD.C. 
Week  with  $28,000 


Washington,  June  27. — "Two 
Girls  and  a  Sailor"  accounted  for 
peak  business  this  week  at  Loew's 
Capitol,  hitting  $28,000.  "The  Mask 
of  Dimitrios,"  at  Warner's  Earle, 
should  do  an  above-average  §22,500, 
while  "The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover" 
should  account  for  $23,000  at  Loew's 
Palace,  which  is  also  above  average. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  29 : 

"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor" 

LOEW'S  CAPITOL— (3,434)  (35c-43c-55c- 
72c)    7    days.     On    Stage:    Jane  Pickens. 
■Gross:  $28,000.    (Average:  $22,000). 
"Three  Men  in  White"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  COLUMBIA  —  (1,234)  (43c-55c- 
65c)  7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average: 
$8,200). 

"The  Mask  of  Dimitrios"  (WB) 

WARNER'S  EARLE— (2,210)  (30c-44c- 
85c-$1.0O)  7  days.  On  stage:  Radio  Aces, 
Walter  Nilsson.  Gross:  $22,500.  (Aver- 
age: $19,700). 

"Days  of  Glory"  (RKO- Radio) 

RKO-  KEITH' S— (1 ,800)  (35c  -44c  -  65c  -74c) 
7  days.  Gross:  $9,500.  (Average:  $13,600). 
"Uncertain  Glory"  (WB) 

WARNER'S    HIPPODROME  —  (1,800) 
(35c-55c)    7  '  days,    3rd    downtown  week. 
Gross:  $7,500.     (Average:  $7,200). 
"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S  PALACE— (2.242)  (43c-55c-65c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $23,000.    (Average:  $19,000). 


Indianapolis  Gives 
'Two  Girls'  $15,000 


Indlanapolis,  June  27.  — 
Girls  and  a  Sailor"  will  do  $15. 
Loew's  this  week  to  top  here. 
Indiana  will  gross  $11,000  with 
low  the  Boys." 

Estimated  receipts  for  the 
ending  June  27-29 : 

"Days  of  Glory"  (RKO) 
"Seven  Days  Ashore"  (RKO) 

CIRCLE— (2,800)  (32c-55c)  7  days. 
$9,000.     (Average:  $11,800). 

Follow  the  Boys"  (Univ.) 

INDIANA— (3,200)  (32c -55c)  7 
Gross:  $11,000.  (Average:  $11,600). 
'Two  Girls  and  a  Sailer"  (M-G-M) 

LOEW'S— (2,800)       (32c-55c)  7 
Gross:  $15,000.     (Average:  $11,500). 
"Home  ia  Indiana"  (2flth-Fox) 
"Pardon  Mv  Rhythm"  (Univ.) 

LYRIC— (2,000)    (32c  -55c)    7  days, 
over  from  Indiana.    Gross :  $6,000. 
age:  $4,900), 


"Two 
000  at 
The 
"Fol- 

week 


Gross : 
days, 
days. 


move  - 
(Aver- 


pictures] 


mm 

A  melody- crammed,  joy^am) 


ROSS  HUNTER 
RICHARD  LANE 
LLOYD  BRIDGES 
HOBART  CAVANAUGH 

Screen- play  by  Paul  Yawitz 
Directed  by  CHARLES  BARTON 


OIOL.  55.  NO.  127 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 

NEW  YORK,  U.S.A.,  THURSDAY,  JUNE  29,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


RKO  Reelects 
Rathvon  and 
All  Others 


Preferred  Dividend  of 
$1.50  Is  Declared 

N.  Peter  Rathvon  was  reelected 
president  of  Radio-Keith-Orpheum 
Corp.,  along  with  Floyd  B.  Odium 
as  chairman  of  the  board  and  all 
other  officers, 
by  the  com- 
pany's board  of 
directors  here 
yesterday 
in  their  first 
session  since 
the  annual 
s  t  o  ckholder's 
meeting 
at  Dover,  Del., 
on  June  7. 

At  the  same 
time,  the  board 
declared  a  divi- 
dend of  $1.50 
per  share  o  n 
RKO's  six 
per  cent  stock, 


N.  Peter  Rathvon 

payable  Aug.   1  to 


(Continued  on  page  6) 

Para.  Canada  Meet 
Light  stone  Heads 

Toronto,  June  28. — The  Paramount 
Canadian  annual  sales  convention,  in 
session  today  at  the  King  Edward 
Hotel,  here,  was  opened  by  Canadian 
general  manager  Gordon  Lightstone 
who  complimented  the  sales  personnel 
for  their  activities  in  the  past  year. 

Lightstone  pointed  out  that  25  years 
ago  Paramount  opened  ks  own 
branches  across  Canada  and  Septem- 
ber will  be  their  25th  anniversary 
month. 

Company  business  filled  the  morning 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Chicago  Papers  Slash 
Ad  Lineage  Again 

Chicago,  June  28. — The  Chicago 
Times,  tabloid  daily,  has  set  a  new 
advertising  lineage  maximum  for  mo- 
tion picture  theatres,  limiting  Loop 
theatres  to  50  lines  per  day,  and  out- 
lying theatres  to  five  lines  daily  and 
10  lines  Sunday.  When  newsprint 
rationing  was  first  announced,  the 
Times  imposed  a  maximum  of  120 
lines  per  theatre  daily. 

The  Tribune  at  the  same  time,  has 
announced  a  new  reduced  maximum  of 
eight  lines  per  day  for  outlying  houses. 


Four  More  Call  a 
Four-day  Holiday 

Columbia,  Universal,  War- 
ners and  20th  Century-Fox 
yesterday  declared  a  four- 
day  holiday  for  their  of- 
fices here,  starting  Friday 
night  and  running  to  Wednes- 
day morning,  over  July  4th. 

Loew-M-G-M,  RKO,  Repub- 
lic and  United  Artists  man- 
agements had  previously  de- 
clared the  long  weekend  hol- 
iday. Undecided  yesterday 
were  Monogram,  Paramount 
and  PRC. 


Every  Theatre  Took 
Part  in  M-G-M's 
Anniversary  Week 

Before  M-G-M's  20th  anniversary 
week  observance  came  to  a  close  last 
night,  the  final  three  theatres  in  regu- 
lar operation  in  the  country  joined  the 
other  16,456  in 
showing 
an  M-G-M  pic- 
ture on  their 
screens  during 
the  a  n  n  i  - 
versary  period. 

This  was  the 
word  sent  by 
the  home  office 
yesterday 
to  W.  F.  Rod- 
gers,  vice- 
president  and 
general  s  a  1  es 
manager, 
i  n  Cleveland, 
where   he  was 

making  a  business  visit  at  the  com- 
pany's branch  office  there. 

The  final  three  theatres  to  show  a 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


W.   F.  Rodgers 


PRC  to  Have 
$7,385,000 
Film  Budget 


PRC  will  have  a  budget  of  $7,- 
385,000  for  its  1944-45  production 
program  and  expansion,  Leon 
Fromkess,  vice-president  in  charge 
o  f  production, 
told  the  com- 
pany's annual 
sales  conven- 
tion, in  session 
here  yesterday 
at  the  Essex 
House. 

The  budget  is 
the  company's 
largest  to  date, 
and  will  be  ob- 
tained through 
Pathe  In- 
dustries, Inc., 
under  which  a 
coalition 
of  four  PRC 
companies  and  three  Pathe  companies 
was  effected  early  this  week. 

At  the  same  time,  Fromkess  an- 
nounced there  will  be  no  ceiling  on 
the  budgets  of  the  individual  pic- 
tures, the  cost  to  be  increased  as 
circumstances  warrant. 

Fromkess  disclosed  that  he  has  con- 

(Continued  on  page  7) 


Leon  Fromkess 


Warners  to  Attend 
Coast  ShipLaunching 

Hollywood,  June  28. — Harry  M. 
and  Jack  L.  Warner  will  leave  here 
Friday  for  San  Francisco  to  attend 
the  launching  on  Saturday  of  the  S.  S. 
Benjamin  Warner,  named  in  honor  of 
the  father  of  the  Warner  brothers,  at 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


2,527  Uncontracted  Dates 
Booked  in  Bond  Drive 


Indicating  a  huge  increase  in  "Fight- 
ing Fifth"  War  Loan  participation  by 
theatres  in  small  towns  as  compared 
with  previous  war  loan  drives,  exhib- 
itors in  towns  of  75,000  population  ©r 
less  have  booked  1,517  uncontracted 
picture  dates  for  special  events. 

These  confirmed  bookings,  made 
with  major  distributors,  include  1,250 
for  bond  premieres  and  267  for  chil- 
dren's premieres,  according  to  figures 
received  by  the  distributors'  division 
of  the  War  Activities  Committee  from 
distributor  chairmen  in  the  field.  This 
represents  more  than  25  percent  of  the 


total  of  scheduled  bond  premieres  and 
30  per  cent  of  the  children's  premieres. 

For  the  first  time,  major  distributors 
are  furnishing  pictures  gratis  for  pre- 
mieres in  small  towns,  even  though 
the  exhibitor  may  not  have  the  pic- 
ture under  contract  and  regardless  of 
whether  he  is  a  regular  customer.  The 
distributors'  division,  with  Ned  E. 
Depinet  as  chairman  and  Leon  J.  Bam- 
berger as  assistant  chairman,  made  this 
concession  as  an  inducement  to  greater 
smalltown  participation  in  the  present 
drive. 

(Continued  on  page  8) 


Ansco  Ready 
To  Compete 
With  Color 


Says  Its  NewProcessWill 
Simplify  Developing 

A  group  of  patents  covering  a 
new  system  of  color  photography 
is  owned  by  the  Ansco  division  of 
the  General  Aniline  and  Film 
Corp.  and  will  enable  it,  after  the 
war,  "to  offer  a  product  competitive 
with  that  of  the  sole  present  (color- 
film)  producer  and  to  strengthen  its 
position  in  the  motion  picture  field," 
according  to  a  report  made  by  George 
W.  Burpee,  president  of  the  company, 
to  James  E.  Markham,  U.  S.  Alien 
Property  Custodian,  who  had  seized 
the  alien  property. 

"The  advantage  of  the  Ansco 
color  process  over  that  of  com- 
peting product  is  that  it  does 
not  require  return  to  the  man- 
ufacturer for  development," 
Burpee  explained.  "The  com- 
pany is  cooperating  with  mo- 
tion picture  producers  for  the 
(Continued  on  page  7) 


Recommends  Suit 
Be  Thrown  Out 


Special  Master  Francis  W.  H. 
Adams,  in  a  report  filed  in  Federal 
Court  here  yesterday,  in  effect  rec- 
ommended that  Paramount  Pictures' 
injunction  suit  against  Joseph  H. 
Cooper,  Rialto,  Inc.,  Interstate  The- 
atres, Inc.,  and  J.  H.  Cooper  Enter- 
prises, Inc.,  be  thrown  out  of  court 
on  a  matter  of  jurisdiction. 

The  special  master's  report,  based  on 
a  defense  motion  for  an  order  vacat- 
ing the  alleged  service  of  the  summons 
and  complaint,  indicates  that  while 
Cooper  transacts  considerable  business 
in  New  York  City,  Paramount  has 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


$4,750,000  Budget  for 
Cowan9 s  Four 

Hollywood,  June  28  —  Producer 
Lester  Cowan  today  announced  a  bud- 
get of  $4,750,000  for  his  four  pictures 
for  United  Artists. 

The  films  are  "Tomorrow  the 
World,"  now  in  production,  "G.  I. 
Joe,"  and  two  untitled  productions, 
one  to  star  Greta  Garbo  and  the  other 
a  postwar  musical  based  upon  a  story- 
idea  of  Frederick  C.  Othman,  Jr., 
United  Press  correspondent. 


2 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  29,  1944 


Autry  Sues  to  End 
Republic  Contract 

Los  Angeles,  June  28. — Air 
Corps  Sergeant  Gene  Autry, 
Western  star,  has  filed  suit  in 
Superior  Court  here  against 
Republic  Productions,  Inc., 
seeking  declaratory  relief 
from  his  starring  agreement 
with  that  company  on  the 
ground  his  entry  into  the 
Armed  Forces  frustrates  per- 
formance of  the  contract,  and, 
therefore,  the  pact  should  be 
terminated.  Second  basis  for 
his  action  is  the  allegation 
that  Republic  failed  to  exer- 
cise an  option  within  the  time 
contractually  stipulated. 
There  was  no  comment  from 
Republic. 


MPRF  Has$l,609,741; 
Officers  Reelected 

Los  Angeles,  July  28.  —  George 
Bagnall,  treasurer  of  the  Motion  Pic- 
ture Relief  Fund  reported  assets  of 
$1,609,741  at  the  organization's  an- 
nual meeting  here  last  night. 

All  officers  were  reelected,  includ- 
ing :  Jean  Hersholt,  president ;  Ralph 
Morgan,  Lucille  Gleason,  Walter  F. 
Wanger  and  Irving  Pichel,  vice-presi- 
dents ;  Bagnall,  secretary-treasurer ; 
Wilma  Bashor,  executive  secretary ; 
and  Ewell  D.  Moore,  counsel.  Arthur 
Ripley,  William  Pereira,  William 
Scully,  Lucille  Browne  and  E.  J.  Man- 
nix  were  added  to  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees. An  award  of  merit  was  voted 
for  Sol  Lesser  for  his  production  of 
"Stage  Door  Canteen,"  which  has  net- 
ted the  Relief  Fund  $152,318  to  date. 


Charles  Goetz  Now 
UA  Sales  Rep. 

Charles  Goetz,  formerly  of  20th- 
Fox's  sales  department,  has  been 
named  a  special  sales  representative 
of  United  Artists. 

Goetz,  brother  of  William  and 
Harry  Goetz,  will  operate  in  the  East- 
ern territory,  under  the  supervision 
of  Sam  Lefkowitz,  with  headquarters 
in  the  New  York  exchange. 


12  Goldwyn  Reissues 
Starting  July  15 

Twelve  of  the  31  Samuel  Goldwyn 
films  to  be  reissued  by  Film  Classics 
will  be  released  starting  July  15,  it 
was  reported  here  yesterday  by  George 
A.  Hirliman,  president. 

The  first  release  will  be  "Dead 
End,"  first  issued  in  1937,  starring 
Sylvia  Sidney,  Joel  McCrea  and 
Humphrey  Bogart. 


W.M.T.  Votes  Insurance 

Springfield,  Mass.,  July  28. — The 
board  of  directors  of  Western  Massa- 
chusetts Theatres,  with  headquarters 
here,  has  voted  to  pay  the  entire  cost 
of  group  insurance,  for  all  employes, 
covering  death,  accident,  hospitaliza- 
tion and  loss  of  salaries,  it  was  an- 
nounced here  yesterday  by  Nathan  E. 
Goldstein,  president. 


Review 


"Law  Men" 

(Monogram) 

*«T    AW  MEN"  has  the  names  of  Johnny  Mack  Brown  and  Raymond 
'  Hatton  to  recommend  it  to  Western  fans,  although  both  are  han- 
dicapped by  script  in  which  the  customary  hard-hitting  action  is  prac- 
tically non-existent. 

The  story  is  the  familiar  one  of  the  outlaw  band  led  by  the  town's 
leading  citizen,  in  this  instance  Robert  Frazer,  bank  proprietor.  Brown 
and  Hatton,  U.  S.  marshals,  set  out  to  break  the  gang,  Brown  joining 
the  outlaws,  and  Hattan  initiating  a  shoe-rebuilding  enterprise.  Roman- 
tic interest  is  provided  by  Jan  Wiley  and  Kirby  Grant.  When  Frazer 
is  finally  cornered,  he  tries  to  pin  the  guilt  on  Grant,  his  assistant,  but 
Brown  presents  the  evidence  which  convicts  Frazer,  his  lieutenant,  Ed- 
mund Cobb,  and  the  rest  of  the  gang.  Lambert  Hillyer  directed  from 
Glenn  Tryon's  screenplay.    Charles  J.  Bigelow  supervised  production. 

Helen  McNamara 


*"G"  denotes  general  classification. 


Citations  Next  Week 
For  60  WAC  Chairme 

Some  60  exchange  managers  who 
have  completed  terms  as  War  Activi- 
ties Committee  distribution  field  chair- 
men will  receive  citation  plaques  next 
week  from  the  WAC  distributors  divi- 
sion in  recognition  of  their  services. 
The  full  list  of  names  will  be  disclosed 
today  by  Ned  E.  Depinet,  division 
chairman. 

As  reported  in  Motion  Picture 
Daily  on  June  16,  the  distributors' 
division  voted  recently  to  give  cita- 
tions to  all  chairmen  who  served  un- 
der William  F.  Rodgers  in  1943  and 
William  A.  Scully  in  1942  provided 
they  had  spent  at  least  six  months  in 
office. 


Earl  Wingart  Heads 
Special  20th  Division 

Earl  Wingart  has  rejoined  20th 
Century-Fox  to  head  a  special  service 
division  of  the  exploitation  depart- 
ment under  Rodney  Bush,  exploita- 
tion manager,  it  was  announced  here 
yesterday  by  Hal  Home,  director  of 
advertising-publicity. 

For  the  past  two  years  Wingart  has 
been  with  the  Eastern  division  of  the 
Public  Information  Committee.  Prior 
to  that  he  was  publicity  manager  of 
20th  Century-Fox  at  the  home  office. 


Woodin  Appointed  by 
Republic  Pictures 

Los  Angeles,  June  28.  —  Larry 
Woodin  was  named  director  of  studio 
publicity  for  Republic  today,  effective 
July  3. 

Woodin  succeeds  John  Le  Roy 
Johnston  who  resigned  this  week  to 
become  advertising  chief  for  Interna- 
tional Pictures. 


New  Chicago  Theatre 

Chicago.  June  28. — A  900-seat  the- 
atre will  be  part  of  the  new  $250,000 
commercial  center  to  be  started  in  the 
Altgeld  Gardens  section  here  next 
month,  under  the  auspices  of  the  Thad- 
deus  Stevens  Land  Trust.  The  house 
will  be  leased. 


Cartoon  Producers 
Adopt  Lantz  Plan 

Hollywood,  June  28. — The  Car- 
toon Producers  Association  today 
adopted  Walter  Lantz's  plans  for  ob- 
taining higher  rentals  from  exhibitors, 
and  decided  on  an  educational  cam- 
paign as  a  first  step.  The  plan  will 
be  developed  further  at  a  meeting 
called  next  week  when  a  permanent 
chairman  of  the  association  will  be 
elected. 

From  a  survey  made  of  his  'opera- 
ting costs  as  a  foundation  for  the 
association's  action  designed  to  in- 
crease exhibition  rental  prices  for 
cartoon  shorts,  Lantz  has  already 
stated  that  costs  have  risen  40  per 
cent  since  1942  while  prices  have  re- 
mained static. 


F.  M.  Lack  an  RMA  Dir. 

Frederick  R.  Lack,  vice-president 
and  manager  of  the  radio  division  of 
Western  Electric,  has  been  elected  a 
director  of  the  Radio  Manufacturers 
Association.  Lack  was  recently  a 
director  of  the  Army-Navy  electronics 
production  agency  in  Washington. 


Bob  Davis  Joins  NBC 

Bob  Davis,  formerly  of  the  Warner 
studio  press  department  in  Burbank, 
Cal.,  has  joined  the  NBC  press  staff 
here.  Davis  was  more  recently  trade 
press  editor  of  WOR  here. 


Only  One  Play  in  Boston 

Boston,  July  28. — Only  one  legiti- 
mate theatre  is  open  in  this  city,  but 
several  others  may  open  within  a 
month.  "Three  Is  a  Family"  is  at  the 
Colonial. 


Buy  $1,500,000  in  Bonds 

Hollywood,  June  28. — The  War 
Finance  Committee  today  reported 
that  the  Warner  Bros,  studio's  cor- 
porate purchase  of  war  bonds  is 
$1,500,000. 


Personal 
Mention 


BEN  KALMENSON,  general  sales 
manager  for  Warners,  will  return 
to  New  York  today  from  a  Western 
trip. 

Walter  Gould,  United  Artists  for- 
eign manager,  is  expected  to  retu 
from  Mexico  on  July  5.  Len  Dal.  , 
special  home  office  foreign  publicity 
representative,  will  return  from  Mex- 
ico tomorrow. 

Celeste  Fox,  secretary  to  Sam 
Cohen  of  the  United  Artists  foreign 
publicity  department,  will  leave  tomor- 
row on  a  two-month  leave  of  absence 
to  visit  her  husband  at  a  naval  station 
on  the  West  Coast. 

• 

Hugh  Huber,  vice-president  and 
general  manager  of  Hal  Roach  Stu- 
dios, has  arrived  in  New  York  from 
the  Coast.  Fred  Wilkins,  secretary, 
accompanies  him. 

A.  J.  O'Keefe,  Universal  Western 
division  sales  manager,  returned  to 
New  York  yesterday  from  midwest 
sales  meetings. 

• 

Albert  Weisman,  former  Motion 
Picture  Daily  correspondent  in  St. 
Louis,  is  now  in  Alaska  with  the  Spe- 
cial Services  Division  of  the  Army. 
• 

W.  Stewart  McDonald,  Warner 
Theatres  executive,  will  return  to  New 
York  today  from  Pittsburgh. 
• 

Mrs.  Herman  Robbins  will  return 
to  Hollywood  on  Monday  after  spend- 
ing some  time  at  Schroon  Lake,  N.  Y. 
• 

H.  M.  Bessey,  vice-president  of  Al- 
tec Service  Corp.,  has  returned  to 
New  York  from  Detroit. 

• 

Herbert  S.  Berg  of  United  Artists' 
home  office  promotional  department 
left  for  Baltimore  yesterday. 

• 

Flight  Officer  Jackie  Coogan 
left  LaGuardia  Field  this  week  for  an 
undisclosed  destination. 

• 

James  R.  Grainger  will  be  in  Bos- 
ton today  and  tomorrow. 

Henry  King,  20th  Century-Fox  di- 
rector, has  arrived  in  New  York. 


Sales  Policy  Set  for 
Selzhick  Feature 

Chicago,  June  28. — Status  of  the 
policy  on  the  future  release  of  the 
Selznick  feature,  "Since  You  Went 
Away,"  was  decided  upon  at  the  meet- 
ing here  between  David  O.  Selznick, 
Neil  Agnew,  and  Hugh  Owen,  but  it 
was  stated  that  only  Gradwell  Sears 
or  Carl  Lesserman  of  United  Artists 
can  release  the  information. 

The  picture's  opening  at  the  Capitol, 
New  York  is  set  for  Thursday,  July 
13.  It  has  not  yet  been  offered  to 
any  Chicago  circuit,  it  was  said.  Selz- 
nick and  Mrs.  Selznick  will  leave  Chi- 
cago for  Hollywood  tomorrow. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY,  Martin  Quigley,  President  and  Editor-in-Chief;  Colvin  Brown,  Publisher:  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor.  Published  daily  except  Saturday.  Sunday 
and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publishing  Company.  Inc.,  1270  Sixth  Avenue,  Rockefeller  Center,  New  Y'vrk,  20,  N.  Y.  Telephone  Circle  7-3100.  Cable  address,  "Quigpubco,  New  York." 
Martin  Quigley,  President;  Colvin  Brown,  Vice-President;  Red  Kann.  Vice-President;  T.  J.  Sullivan,  Secretary;  Sherwin  Kane,  Executive  Editor;  James  P.  Cunningham,  News 
Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Willif-n  R.  Weaver,  Editor;  London 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Bumup,  Manager;  Peter  Burnup,  Editor;  c?ble  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  copyrighted  1944  by  Quigley  Publishing 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  Sept.  23,  1938,  at  the 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  ratei  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  10c. 


(Even  a  master  of  international  intrigue 
can  be  fooled  — by  Dimitrios!) 


For  every  crime,  a  different  face— but 
always  the  same  youthful  charm,  the  same  ruthless  cunning,  the  same  Dimifrios! 


WARNER  BROS  •  once  again  give  your  audience  the  "feel"  of  "The  Maltese  Falcon"! 
with  Eric  Ambler's  internationally -famed  mystery  sensation  —  thrice  -thrilling  on  the  screen! 


YDNEY  GREENSTREET -ZACHARY  SCOTT  -  FAYE  EMERSON  -  PETER  LORRE  -  VICTOR  FRANCEN 


JACK  L.  WARNER,  Executive  Producer 


produced  by  HENRY  BLANKE 


Directed  by  JEAN  NEGULESCO-s  creen  Play  by  Frank  Gruber  •  From  a  Novel  by  Eric  Ambler 


MILLIONS  ARE  WAITING 


*  TUCSON  RAIDERS  * 
MARSHAL  OF  RENO 


VIGILANTES  OF  DODGE  CITY 
GREAT  STAGECOACH  ROBBERY 
\    SHERIFF  OF  LAS  VEGAS 
-^LONE  TEXAS  RANGER 
SAN  ANTONIO  KID 
CHEYENNE  WILDCAT 


STEPHEN  SLESINGER,  N.  Y. 


JOIN  THE  FIGHTING  FIFTH  WAR  LOAN 


PRESOLD  TO  MILLIONS  through: 

Red  Ryder  Cartoon  Strip  in  over  700  newspapers 
with  a  combined  circulation  of  15,000,000! 

The  power-packed  series  of  Red  Ryder  books  .  .  . 
5,000,000  currently  in  circulation! 

Red  Ryder  comic  magazines  with  a  fan  following 
of  3,000,000! 

This  tremendous  audience  is  waiting  to  see  Red  Ryde 
on  the  screen!  _  _ 

Another  Scoop  Foi 

REPUBLIC 

Showmanship 


m  A  SERIES  OF  8  WESTERN  DRAMAS 

FROM  REPUBLIC 

RED  RYDER 
LITTLE  BEAVER 
THE  DUCHESS 


6 


Motion  Picture  daily 


Thursday,  June  29,  1944 


Every  Theatre  Took 
Part  in  M-G-M's 
Anniversary  Week 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Metro  picture  during  the  anniversary 
week  gave  the  company  a  perfect  re- 
cord in  accordance  with  its  advance 
calculation  that  there  are  16,459  thea- 
tres in  the  country  in  regular  opera- 
tion. Every  one  of  them,  M-G-M  an- 
nounced, played  at  least  one  Metro 
picture  during  the  anniversary  week, 
a  record  which  the  company  claims 
has  never  before  been  achieved  and, 
presumably  being  a  perfect  one,  never 
can  be  excelled. 

In  expressing  the  company's  "ap- 
preciation and  humble  thanks"  for  the 
unique  demonstration  of  goodwill  by 
the  nation's  exhibitors,  Rodgers  said: 

Purpose  of  "Leo" 

"When  the  idea  of  having  Leo  ap- 
pear on  the  screens  of  the  theatres 
of  the  United  States  was  suggested  by 
one  of  our  enthusiastic  customers,  none 
of  us  believed  it  was  possible,  even 
mechanically,  to  achieve  a  hundred  per 
cent  representation. 

"It  affords  us  an  opportunity  to  re- 
new our  pledge  of  friendship,  not  only 
to  our  regular  customers  but  to  our 
other  industry  friends,"  he  said. 
"M-G-M  will  endeavor  to  continue 
to  merit  the  title  bestowed  upon  it, 
'The  Friendly  Company'. 

"To  our  customers,  many  of  whom 
have  been  associated  with  us  during 
our  entire  business  life,  we  pledge 
our  continued  best'  efforts  to  utilize 
the  facilities  of  production,  distribu- 
tion, executive  and  sales  personnel, 
to  be  of  greater  service  to  the  ex- 
hibitor and  the  public  he  serves. 

"To  our  non-customers,  who  have 
been  so  gracious,  we  hope  to  make 
an  industry  contribution  that,  through 
the  continuance  of  our  inter-industry 
activities,  we  can  lead  the  way  to  bet- 
ter understanding  within  our  great 
industry,"  Rodgers  said. 

Warners  to  Attend 
Coast  Ship  Launching 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

the  Henry  Kaiser-Permanente  Metals 
Richmond,  Cal.,  shipyard. 

Also  in  the  party  will  be  Lita  B. 
Warner,  the  late  Sam  Warner's 
daughter,  who  will  sponsor  this  last 
Liberty  Ship  to  slide  down  the  ways 
at  Richmond;-  Mrs.  Ann  Robbins, 
eldest  daughter  of  Benjamin  Warner, 
as  matron  of  honor ;  Lou  Halper,  zone 
manager  fos  Warner  Theatres  on  the 
West  Coast,  and  Mrs.  Halper. 

Henry  Kaiser,  Sr.,  will  be  among 
the  other  guests,  including  Clay  Bed- 
ford, general  manager  of  the  Rich- 
mond yard,  who  will  preside;  Rear 
Admiral  and  Mrs.  Emory  S.  Land, 
Rear  Admiral  Howard  L.  Vickery, 
Tom  Beck  of  Crowell-Collier  Pub- 
lishing Co.,  and  others. 

Invocation  will  be  pronounced  by 
Rev.  Dr.  Rudolph  I.  Coffee,  who 
years  ago  performed  the  wedding  cere- 
monies for  both  Harry  M.  and  Major 
Albert  Warner. 


New  Memphis  House 

Memphis,  June  28. — A  new  theatre 
to  seat  750,  is  planned  here  by  James 
T.  Coleman,  local  druggist.  Construc- 
tion will  begin  as  soon  as  materials 
are  available.  Architect  for  the  $75,- 
000  house  is  George  Mahan,  Jr. 


Coming  Events 


Today  and  Tomorrow — PRC  sales 
convention,  Essex  House,  New 
York  City. 

July  6 — 'Free  Movie  Day'  for  thea- 
tres in  Fifth  War  Loan  drive. 

July  6 — Election  of  Paramount  offi- 
cers, New  York. 

July  11-13 — Columbia  regional  sales 
meeting,  San  Francisco. 

July  24-25 — RKO  annual  sales  meet- 
ing, Waldorf-Astoria  Hotel,  New 
York  City. 


Para.  Canada  Meet 
Lightstone  Heads 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

session  and  at  the  afternoon  session 
Lightstone  introduced  Stan  Atkinson, 
president  of  General  Films,  pioneers 
in  the  16mm  field.  Atkinson  addressed 
the  convention  in  connection  with  the 
general  distribution  of  16mm  Para- 
mount product  which  he  has  just  taken 
over.  "Sixteen  millimeter,  properly 
handled,  is  an  ambassador  for  theatres 
in  creating  the  screen  habit,"  he  said. 

The  convention  was  attended  by 
branch  managers  Russell  Simpson, 
Vancouver ;  Bill  Kelly,  Calgary ;  Dave 
Brickman,  Winnipeg;  Jack  Hunter, 
Toronto  ;  Tom  Dowbiggin,  Montreal  ; 
Pat  Hogan,  St.  John.  Canadian  home 
office  personnel  who  attended  included 
W.  J.  O'Neill,  secretary-treasurer ;  H. 
Q.  Burns,  director  of  ad  sales,  and 
Win  Barron,  director  of  sales  promo- 
tion. 

Paramount's  New  York  home  of- 
fice was  represented  by  Charles  M. 
Reagan,  vice-president  in  charge  of 
distribution ;  Oscar  A.  Morgan,  gen- 
eral sales  manager  of  short  subjects, 
and  Robert  M.  Gillham,  advertising- 
publicity  director. 

Outlines  Product 

Paramount  product  for  the  coming 
season  was  outlined  by  Reagan,  while 
Morgan  discussed  the  position  Para- 
mount holds  in  short  subjects  sphere. 

The  closing  session  Thursday  will 
have  president  J.  J.  Fitzgibbons ;  vice- 
president  R.  W.  Bolstad ;  chief  booker 
Ben  Geldsaler ;  advertising  manager 
James  Nairn  and  district  managers 
Jack  Arthur  and  Dan  Krendel  from 
Famous  Players-Canadian  Corp.  as 
guests  to  outline  exhibition  program 
for  1944-45. 


Rathvon,  All  Others 
Reelected  by  RKO 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

stockholders  of  record  on  July  20. 
This  is  the  regular  dividend  for  the 
current  quarter,  ending  July  31. 

Re-elected  along  with  Rathvon  and 
Odium  were :  Richard  C.  Patterson, 
Jr.,  vice-chairman  of  the  board ;  Ned 
E.  Depinet,  vice-president ;  Gordon  E. 
Youngman,  vice-president  and  gen- 
eral counsel ;  Malcolm  Kingsberg, 
vice-president  and  treasurer ;  J.  Miller 
Walker,  secretary ;  Garrett  Van 
Wagner,  comptroller ;  Kenneth  B. 
Umbreit  and  William  F.  Whitman,  as- 
sistant secretaries,  and  W.  H.  Clark, 
O.  R.  McMahon,  Harold  Newcomb, 
A.  W.  Dawson  and  T.  F.  O'Connor, 
assistant  treasurers. 


Postwar  Blueprint 
For  Radio-Tele. 


An  initial  specific  "blueprint"  for 
postwar  radio-television  industry  re- 
conversion is  being  prepared  for  in- 
dustry consideration,  to  be  ready 
about  Aug.  1,  by  officials  of  the  War 
Production  Board's  radio  and  radar 
division  and  a  special  committee  of 
the  Radio  Manufacturers  Association. 
Included  will  be  plans  for  limited  pro- 
duction of  television  transmitters. 

No  reconversion  action  will  be  ef- 
fective before  1945,  however,  and  no 
authorizations  for  production,  except 
of  replacement  tubes,  is  in  prospect 
for  this  year,  the  RMA  group  has 
been  told.  War  contracts  will  be  re- 
distributed, however,  to  keep  all  com- 
panies in  utmost  production  through 
1944. 

RMA  Poll 

A  RMA  membership  poll  has  de- 
veloped a  preponderant  opinion  for  us- 
ing dollar  volume  of  individual  manu- 
facturer's sales  in  1941  as  a  base  for 
future  allocation  of  set  production, 
also  that  there  should  be  no  restric- 
tion on  types  of  sets  and  no  general 
"Victory"  set,  with  manufacturers 
left  free  to  determine  their  own  mod- 
els. Quotas  should  not  be  allocated 
during  the  restricted  period  to  com- 
panies not  previously  engaged  in  civil- 
ian production,  it  was  held. 

The  RMA  committee  has  also 
talked  with  Office  of  Price  Adminis- 
tration officials  regarding  the  prices  of 
future  civilian  sets,  and  the  OPA  in  a 
few  weeks  will  appoint  an  industry 
advisory  committee.  A  standard 
formula,  applicable  to  each  company's 
costs,  is  planned. 

Immediate  problems  of  disposal  of 
surplus  materials  are  also  under  dis- 
cussion by  the  RMA  committee  and 
officials  of  the  Defense  Supplies 
Corp.  and  the  War  Production  Board. 
A  tentative  administration  bill  now 
pending  in  Congress  aims :  to  give 
former  factory  owners  a  chance  to 
reacquire  property  taken  over  by  the 
Government,  to  encourage  beneficial 
trade  relations  with  foreign  nations, 
to  dispose  of  surplus  property  as 
promptly  as  possible  without  fostering 
monopoly,  to  realize  the  highest  ob- 
tainable rate  for  the  Government,  to 
afford  smaller  business  concerns  an 
opportunity  to  acquire  the  property  on 
equal  terms  with  larger  competitors, 
and  to  discourage  sales  to  speculators. 

'Cliffs'  $22,500  Is 
Baltimore  Winner 

Baltimore,  June  28. — "The  White 
Cliffs  of  Dover"  is  far  out  front  with 
$22,500  at  the  Century  here  this  week. 
Business  elsewhere  is  spotty. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  29 : 

"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

CENTURY— (3,000)    (35c-45c-SSc   and  60c 
weekends)  7  days.    Gross:  $25,500.  (Aver- 
age: $17,500). 
"Cobra  Woman"  (Univ.) 

KEITH'S— (2,405)  (35c-40c-50c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $15,000.    (Aevage:  $15,000). 
"The  Eve  of  St.  Mark"  (Z»th-Fox) 

NEW— (1,581)  (30c-40c-60c)  7  days,  2nd 
week.  Gross:  $13,000.  (Average:  $13,000). 
"And  the  Angels  Sing"  (Para.) 

STANLEY  —  (3,280)  (3Sc-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days,  2nd  week.  Gross:  $14,500.  (Average: 
$18,000). 

"Days  of  Glory"  (RKO) 

HIPPODROME— (2,205)  (35c-44c-55c-65c)  7 
days.  Stage  Show:  Walter  O'Keefe,  The 
Kidoodlers,  Three  Caits,  Jim  Wong  &  Co., 
Donna  Dae.  Gross:  $17,500.  (Average, 
$18,000). 

"Jam  Session"  (Col.) 

MAYFAIR  —  (1,000)  (35c-54c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $6,000.    (Average,  $7,000). 


Recommends  End  of 
Paramount  Suit 
Against  J.  H.  Cooper 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

been  unable  to  show  sufficient  facts 
to  warrant  the  holding  that  the  de- 
fendants were  jurisdictional  residents 
of  New  York  State.  £\ 
The  suit  involves  alleged  breach  \^ 
contract,  Paramount  seeking  to  en- 
join Cooper  from  transferring  owner- 
ship of  the  Class  "B"  stock  of  J.  H. 
Cooper  Enterprises,  the  Class  "B" 
stock  of  Rialto,  Inc.,  and  the  Class 
"A"  stock  of  Interstate  Theatres,  now 
in  Cooper's  name,  and  from  voting 
the  stock  for  the  purpose  of  transfer- 
ring any  properties  or  other  assets  of 
the  three  corporations,  or  in  any  way 
acting  contrary  to  the  interests  of 
Paramount. 

Action  to  Judge  Hulbert 

The  action,  which  will  be  referred  to 
Federal  Judge  Murray  Hulbert  here 
for  approval  or  rejection  of  the  special 
master's  report,  dates  back  to  1933 
when  Public  Theatres,  owned  by  Para- 
mount, operated  in  Colorado  and 
Cooper,  when  Publix  met  with  finan- 
cial difficulties,  was  called  in  as  a 
"trouble-shooter"  to  reorganize  and 
acquire  a  circuit  of  theatres  on  a  50- 
50  basis  with  Paramount.  It  is  Para- 
mount's contention  that  Cooper  ac- 
quired several  groups  of  theatre  prop- 
erties but  that  they  are  now  owned 
by  the  three  defendant  corporations 
with  the  stock  in  Cooper's  name,  and 
that  Cooper  has  decided  to  hold  on  to 
that  stock. 

Paramount's  Requests 

Paramount,  in  addition  to  asking 
that  Cooper  be  enjoined  from  dispos- 
ing of  the  securities,  also  seeks  to 
have  the  court  adjudicate  its  claim  of 
ownership  of  one-half  of  the  securi- 
ties. 

The  special  master,  after  extended 
hearings,  found  that  Interstate  and 
Cooper  Enterprises  usually  send  their 
Colorado  manager  to  New  York  to 
negotiate  for  the  purchase  of  films ; 
that  Cooper  participated  in  the  trans- 
actions ;  that  tax,  insurance  and  legal 
matters  of  the  three  corporations  were 
handled  by  Paramount  in  New  York, 
and  that  Cooper,  while  in  New  York, 
conducted  his  business  affairs  here, 
but  that  Coper  does  not  purchase  large 
equipment  here,  keeps  no  books  or  rec- 
ords here,  has  no  New  York  bank 
accounts,  no  telephone,  pays  no  rent 
and  maintains  no  general  organiza- 
tion here. 

All  of  those  things,  the  master  con- 
cluded, lacked  the  legal  proof  neces- 
sary to  establish  that  "an  important 
part  of  the  defendant's  business  was 
systematically  and  continuously  carried 
on  in  New  York  State,"  a  necessary 
element  in  obtaining  Federal  Court 
jurisdiction  in  the  case.  **" 


$550,000  Premiere 

Middletown,  O.,  June  28.  —  The 
Bond  premiere  held  here  at  the  Para- 
mount this  evening  in  conjunction  with 
the  Fifth  Air  Service  Command  from 
Patterson  Field,  Dayton,  with  an  all- 
soldier  stage  show  and  showing  of 
"See  Here  Private  Hargrove,"  netted 
$550,000  in  War  Bond  sales. 


Thursday,  June  29,  1944 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


7 


Ansco  Ready 
To  Compete 
With  Color 


(Continued  from  paye  1) 

utilization  of  this  process  for 
=M;he  production  of  35mm  col- 

|  [Oired  films  to  compete  with 
present  three-color  separation 

v  processes  and  also  for  the  pro- 
duction of  colored  prints  for 
use  in  motion  picture  exhibi- 
tion," he  added. 

General  Aniline,  seized  from  its 
German  parent  company,  I.  G.  Farben, 
at  the  outbreak  of  the  war,  is  now 
operated  by  a  board  of  directors  ap- 
pointed by  the  Alien  Property  Cus 
todian  but  will  be  put  up  for  public 
sale  early  in  the  postwar  period,  ac 
cording  to  Burpee's  statement.  "No 
individual  will  be  able  to  get  control 
of  the  stock,"  he  said,  "and  plans 
have  been  made  to  enable  the  com- 
pany to  be  an  important  organization 
free  of  foreign  reliance  and  domination 
in  the  development  of  competitive 
American  industry." 

Three  'E'  Awards 

The  company,  now  in  full  produc- 
tion for  the  Allied  war  effort,  has  won 
three  Army-Navy  "E"  awards.  Ap- 
proximately 42  percent  of  the  Ansco 
division's  1943  sales  went  to  the  Gov 
ernment,  "requiring  the  sacrifice  of  a 
large  amout  of  more  profitable  civil- 
ian business,"  Burpee  explained.  The 
camera  plant,  adapted  to  war  manufac- 
ture beginning  in  March,  1942,  is  now 
devoted  entirely  to  making  precision 
instruments  for  the  Armed  Forces 
The  laboratory  is  used  for  training 
officers  and  men  in  photographic  tech 
nique,  and  the  engineering  department 
has  designed  an  improved  ground 
camera  now  in  use  by  the  Army. 

Another  wartime  accomplishment  of 
General  Aniline  is  the  production  of 
polectron  resins  and  carbonyl  iron 
powder,  both  important  in  the  manu 
facture  of  radio  and  other  electronic 
equipment,  said  Burpee. 

Since  becoming  American  property, 
the  company  has  spent  over  $4,000,- 
000  for  expansion  and  improvements, 
all  of  which  has  come  from  General 
Aniline  funds  without  recourse  to  bor- 
rowing' from  the  Government,  Burpee 
pointed  out. 


'Gasliffhfs'  $17,800 
Is  Buffalo's  Best 

Buffalo,  June  28.— "Gaslight"  at 
the  Buffalo  was  bidding  for  $17  800 
to  lead  here.  "The  White  Cliffs  of 
Dover"  probably  will  get  $17,000  in  a 
second  week  at  the  Great  Lakes. 

Estimated    receipts   for   the  week 
ending  July  1 : 
"Gaslisrht"  (M-G-M) 

BUFFALr>-r3.489)      (40c-50c-60c-70c  )  7 
days.     Gross:  $17,800.     (Average:  $17,400). 
"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

GREAT  LAKES-0,000)  (40c-50c-60c-70c^ 
7  days.  2nd  week.  Gross:  $17,000.  (Aver- 
age: $16,200). 

"Meet  the  People"  (M-G-M) 
"The  Snider  Woman"  (Univ.) 

HIPPODROME— (2.100)  (40c-S0c-6Oc-70c) 
7  days.    Gross:  $6,800.    (Average:  $9,700). 
"Days  of  Glory"  (RKO) 
"Rnsio  the  Riveter"  (RetO 

TWENTIETH  CENTURY- (3,000)  40c- 
50c-60c-70c)  7  days.  Gross:  $11,000.  (Aver- 
age: $12,200). 

"One  Upon  a  Time"  (Col.)   (2nd  week) 
There's  Something  About  a  Soldier"  (Col.) 

LAFAYETTE — (3,000)  (40c-SOc-60c-70c)  7 
days.    Gross:  $10,000.    (Average:  $12,400). 


AND  NOTHING  BUT  THE  NEWS 


Fromkess  Says  PRC 
1944-'45  Budget 
To  Be  $7,385,000 


HIGHEST  HONOR  TO  PARAMOUNT! 

"GOING  MY  WAY"  WILL  BE  HAILED 
AS  NO .  1  MOVIE  CHOICE  OF  OUR 
FIGHTING  MEN  ON  ALL  FRONTS, 
ACCORDING  TO  OFFICIAL  U.S.  ARMY 
TABULATIONS,  ON  UNPRECEDENTED 
CBS  BROADCAST  OF  "WE, THE  PEOPLE" 
SUNDAY  NIGHT  AT  10:30  EWT . .  . 
BING  CROSBY  AND  BARRY  FITZGERALD 
WILL  RE-ENACT  SCENE  FROM  PICTURE, 
AND  COMMANDO  KELLY,  "S0CKER"  C0E 
AND  GROUP  OF  G.I  .  JOE'S  WILL 
PAY  TRIBUTE  TO  THIS  LEO  MC  CAREY 
HIT  OF  HITS  1 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

eluded  an  arrangement  with  NBC  on 
the  Coast  to  televise  a  feature,  which 
will  be  based  on  the  life  of  Dr.  Jose 
Rozzal,  a  Philippine  hero,  after  the 
film's  release.  In  addition  the  story 
of  the  picture  will  be  broadcast  in 
three  weekly  one-half  hour  episodes 
on  NBC's  "Pacific  Coast"  program, 
which  is  also  shortwaved  besides  mak- 
ing a  standard  broadcast.  This  is  to 
be  the  first  of  a  series,  Fromkess  said, 
with  PRC  drawing  on  the  story  re- 
sources of  NBC's  research  depart- 
ment. 

Franchise  Holders  Approval 

Fromkess  revealed  that  franchise 
holders  have  unanimously  approved 
the  modified  distributor  contracts. 
"The  new  franchise  agreement  is  more 
in  keeping  with  the  bigger  budget  pic- 
tures that  we're  now  producing,"  he 
^aid.    The  agreement  runs  to  1950. 

PRC  itself  will  deliver  not  less  than 
half  of  its  1944-45  production,  with 
the  rest  to  come  from  its  production 
jnits.  Fromkess  will  return  to  the 
Coast  on  July  20.  The  convention, 
vhich  is  being  attended  by  franchise 
lolders  and  home  office  officials  will 
rontinue  through  tomorrow. 

Although  24  features  and  16  west- 
erns have  been  announced  as  consti- 
tuting the  1944-45  program  for  the 
:ompany,  Fromkess  informed  the  dele- 
gates, the  schedule  is  being  kept  open 
to  permit  the  making  of  additional 
features  which  may  prove  of  value  to 
the  company's  slate. 

1944-45  Features 

Among  the  features  on  the  1944-45 
program  are :  "Dixie  Jamboree,"  star- 
ring Frances  Langford  and  Guy  Kib- 
bee,  with  Eddie  Quillan,  Charles  But- 
terworth,  Fifi  D'Orsay,  Lyle  Talbot 
and  Frank  Jenks ;  "Bluebeard,"  star- 
ring John  Carradine  and  Jean  Parker 
with  Nils  Asther,  and  Ludwig  Stoes- 
^el ;  "Swing  Hostess,"  musical ;  "At 
he  Post,"  with  Stuart  Erwin  in  the 
leading  role ;  "I'm  from  Arkansas" ; 
"I  Accuse  My  Parents,"  "Fog  Is- 
land," "Hollywood  and  Vine,"  "His 
Adopted  Daughter,"  "They  Eloped 
One  Night,"  "The  Wife  of  Monte 
Cristo,"  "Drums  of  Death,"  "Queen 
of  Burlesque." 

"East  Side,  West  Side" 

Also :  "East  Side,  West  Side," 
"Bombshell  from  Brazil,"  "Crime, 
Inc.,"  "Swamp  Man,"  starring  Bus- 
ter Crabbe ;  "Hannah  from  Savan- 
nah," "G.I.  Guy,"  "War  Marriages," 
"First  Illusion,"  "Enchanted  Forest," 
"Quebec,"  "Here  We  Go  Again,"  and 
an  untitled  second,  with  Jimmie  Ly- 
don-Freddie  Bartholomew. 

Buster  Crabbe  will  be  starred,  and 
Al  "Fuzzy"  St.  John  will  be  featured 
in  a  series  of  eight  westerns  to  be 
produced  bv  Sigmund  Neufeld  and  di- 
rected by  Sam  Newfield.  Tex  Ritter 
will  be  co-starred  with  Dave  O'Brien 
in  a  series  of  musical  westerns  to  be 
produced  by  the  Alexander-Stern  unit. 


8 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Thursday,  June  29,  1944 


MGM  Over  Par 
By  $52,000 
In  7  L.A.  Runs 


Los  Angeles,  June  28.— M-G-M 
roared  from  seven  Fox  West  Coast 
first-runs  to  the  tune  of  $146,300 
against  a  $94,500  average.  Inaugurat- 
ing a  vigorously  exploited  M-G-M- 
only  policy  for  the  Egyptian,  Los  An- 
geles and  Ritz,  "White  Cliffs  of  Dov- 
er" grossed  $72,300,  which  compares 
to  the  three  houses'  combined  average 
of  $33,200.  Running  simultaneously 
in  the  circuit's  Chinese,  Loew's  State, 
Uptown  and  Carthay  Circle,  "Two 
Girls  and  a  Sailor"  grossed  $74,500 
against  a  $61,300  average. 

"Snow  White"  did  a  notable  $44,- 
000  in  a  revival  at  the  Pantages  and 
Hillstreet,  which  average  $37,400. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week 
ending  June  28: 

"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (20th-Fox) 

CARTHAY  CIRCLE— (1,516)  (50c-60e- 
85c-$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $12,000.  (Aver- 
age: $11,200). 

"Two   Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"Bermuda    Mystery"  (20th-Fotx) 

CHINESE— (2,500)     (S0c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.     Gross:  $17,500.     (Average:  $15,500). 
"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

EGYPTIAN  —   (1,500)  (S0c-60c-85c-$1.00) 
Gross:   $20,000.     (Average:  $9,500). 
"Voico  in  the  Wind"  (UA) 
"Tha':  Nazty  Nuisance"  (UA) 

HAWAII— (1,000)  (50c-60c-75c-85c)  7  days, 
4th  week.  Gross:  $4,000.  (Average:  $6,- 
200). 

"Snow    White"  (RKO-Disney) 

HILLSTREET — (2,700)      (50c-60c-80c)  7 
days.     Gross:  $24,000.     (Average:  $19,700) 
"Two  Girls  arid  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"Bermudn  Mystery"  (20th-Fox) 

LOEW'S  STATE. — (2,5000  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $32,500.  (Average: 
$24,100). 

"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

LOS  ANGELES— (2,096)  (50c-60c-85c- 
$1.00)  7  days.  Gross:  $36,500.  (Average: 
$14,900). 

"Snow  White"  (RKO-Disney) 

PANTAGES— (2,096)  (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $20,000.  (Average:  $17,700). 
"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  HOLLYWOOD — (50c-60c- 
80c-$1.00),  3rd  week.  Gross  $10,500.  (Av- 
erage: $11,000). 

"The  Story  of  Dr.  Wassell"  (Para.) 

PARAMOUNT  DOWNTOWN — (50c -60c- 
85c-$1.00).  3rd  week.  Gross:  $20,500.  (Av- 
erage: $20,300). 

"The  White  Cliffs  of  Dover"  (M-G-M) 

RITZ— (1,376)    (5Oc-6Oc-85c-$1.0O)    7  days 
Gross:  $15,800.    (Average:  $8,700). 
"Two  Girls  and  a  Sailor"  (M-G-M) 
"Bermuda  Mystery"  (ZOth-Fox) 

UPTOWN— (1.716)  (50c-60c-85c-$1.00)  7 
days.  Gross:  $12,500.  (Average:  $10,500). 
"Make  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

WARNER    BROS.'  HOLLYWOOD>-(3,- 
000)    (50c -60c -80c -$1.00),    2nd    week.  Gross: 
$10,456.    (Average:  $17,000). 
"Make  Ycur  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

WARNER    BROS.'  •  DOWNTOWN— (3,- 
400)    (50c-6OC-85c-$1.001.  2nd   week.  Gross: 
$12,407.     (Average:  $18,700). 
"Makfi  Your  Own  Bed"  (WB) 

WARNER  BROS.'  WTLTERN— (2,200) 
(50c-60c-80c-$1.00).  2nd  week.  Gross:  $9,- 
596.    (Average:  $15,200). 


1,517  Uncontracted  Dates 
Booked  in  Bond  Drive 


{Continued  from  page  1) 

'Fighting  Fifth  Flashes' 
In  Eastern  Missouri 

St.  Louis,  June  28. — Fighting  Fifth 
Flashes  is  the  name  of  the  newspaper 
published  by  the  War  Activities  Com- 
mittee of  Eastern  Missouri  to  help 
promote  the  current  bond  drive.  It  is 
edited  by  Les  Kaufman,  public  rela- 
tions director  for  the  committee.  Here 
are  some  highlights  from  the  first  two 
issues : 

In  Mt.  Vernon,  III,  Fred  Souter 
of  Fox  Midwest  planted  a  white  cross 
in  the  courthouse  square  for  each 
$1,000  worth  of  bonds  purchased. 

Fanchon  &  Marco  and  the  St. 
Louis  Amusement  Company  circuit 
announced  a  contest  among  their  man- 
agers with  prizes  based  on  showman- 
ship, enthusiasm,  ingenuity  and  effort. 
The  contest  is  handled  by  Albert  Stet- 
son, F.  &  M.  war  activities  director. 

With  the  aid  of  L.  A.  Mercier  of 
the  Mercier  Theatre,  and  also  mayor 
of  the  town,  Fredericktown,  Mo.,  went 
over  the  top  on  its  bond  quota  at  a 
rally  at  which  Peppy  Cheshire,  radio 
and  Republic  film  star,  was  the  fea- 
tured guest.  An  all  time  bond  sale 
record  of  $200,000  an  hour  was  es- 
tablished. Pappy  and  his  hillbillies 
(KMOX,  CBS)  are  slated  for  simi- 
lar appearances  at  Hannibal,  Mo.,  un- 
der the  sponsorship  of  Showman 
Harry  Shiedker,  and  at  the  Victory 
Theatre  in  Wellston,  Mo.,  of  which 
Joe  Goldstein  is  manager. 

A  special  sidewalk  bond  bar  has 
been  opened  at  the  Fox  Theatre  by 
manager  Tony  Peluso.  Tudor  Cam- 
eron, an  oldtime  actor,  is  in  charge. 


Clearance  Complaint 
By  Astoria  Theatre 

Stilson  Realty  Corp.,  operator  of 
the  Cameo  Theatre,  Astoria,  L.  I., 
has  entered  a  clearance  complaint 
against  the  five  consenting  companies 
in  the  New  York  tribunal,  the  Amer- 
ican Arbitration  Association  reported 
here  yesterday. 

Complaint  alleges  that  the  seven 
days  clearance  granted  the  Crescent, 
Astoria,  L.  I.,  is  unreasonable  as  to 
time  and  area  and  should  be  elim- 
inated. If  it  is  found  that  there  is 
sufficient  cause  to  warrant  continua- 
tion of  clearance  to  the  Crescent  over 
the  Cameo,  complainant  asks  that  it 
be  reduced  to  one  day. 


B'klyn  Leads  Sale 
In  Dollars  Value 

Theatres  of  New  York,  Long  Island 
and  down  state  New  York  counties  had 
sold  War  Bonds  to  the  amount  of 
$10,039,729  as  of  the  beginning  of  the 
current  week,  it  was  disclosed  by  gen- 
eral chairman  Charles  C.  Moskowitz 
at  a  luncheon  held  Wednesday.  Brook- 
lyn leads  in  maturity  value  of  bonds 
sold,  but  the  Bronx  is  ahead,  in  per- 
centage with  16.9  figured  on  a  seating- 
capacity  basis. 

John  Madden,  accounting  chairman, 
has  released  the  following  individual 
figures:  Manhattan,  21,216  E  bonds 
sold  with  a  total  value  of  $2,315,350; 
Brooklyn,  30.642  units,  $3,459,400; 
Bronx,  19,181  units,  $1,456,190; 
Queens,  14,066  units,  $1,446.751 ;  Rich- 
mond, 2,237  units,  $266,450;  West- 
chester, 2,847  units,  $399,745  ;  Nassau, 
2,678  units,  $368,275;  Downstate,  ex- 


cepting Rockland  County,  494  units, 
$44,625 ;  Suffolk,  unit  number  not  re- 
ported, $282,943. 

Percentage  standings  in  the  "Battle 
of  the  Boroughs"  are  Bronx,  16.9 ; 
Richmond,  13.6;  Queens,  13.1 ;  Brook- 
lyn, 11.6,  and  Manhattan,  9.3  . 


Queens  Takes  Lead  in 
'Battle  of  Boroughs' 

Professor  John  Madden,  accounting 
chairman  for  the  Fifth  War  Loan 
Drive  in  the  New  York  exchange  area, 
reported  yesterday  to  general  chair- 
man Chas.  C.  Moskowitz  that  163,359 
E-bonds  with  a  total  maturity  value 
of  $17,646,761  had  been  sold  by  the- 
atres between  June  1st  and  June  25th, 
inclusive. 

Queens  steps  into  first  place  in  "The 
Battle  of  the  Boroughs"  with  sales  of 
31,714  units  representing  29.6  percent 
of  the  borough's  total  seating  capacity. 
The  Bronx,  which  was  ahead  during 
the  first  week,  moves  into  second  place 
with  30,976  units,  or  27.4  percent  of 
capacity.  Richmond  is  in  third  place 
with  3,657  units  or  22  percent. 


Hollywood 


Omaha  Sells  Bonds 
For  the  "Omaha" 

Omaha,  June  28.  —  Less  than  a 
week  after  the  film  industry  here  be- 
gan its  drive,  with  the  Associated  Re- 
tailers, the  baby  flat-top  aircraft  car- 
rier, the  "Omaha,"  was  paid  for 
through  bond  purchases  provoked  by 
the  work  of  theatremen  here. 

The  goal  was  reached  through  the- 
atre bond  sales  and  the  staging  of  a 
bond  auction  which  netted  $13,800,000. 
Each  bond  buyer  pounded  a  spike  in 
a  miniature  model  of  the  "Omaha"  at 
ceremonies  here  last  week.  Bond  pur- 
chasers also  received  tickets  to  the 
War  Bond  show  scheduled  here  for 
tonight  and  featuring  Ozzie  Nelson, 
Harriet  Hilliard,  Dr.  I.  Q.,  and  other 
film  and  radio  stars. 

Co-chairmen  of  the  campaign  Wil- 
liam Miskell,  Tri-States  district  man- 
ager and  Harold  Johnson  with  Ed 
Pettis,  Retailers'  chairman,  have  dis- 
closed that  they  will  now  strive  to 
promote  the  sale  of  $6,000,000  in  bonds 
to  replace  four  B-29  airplanes  recently 
lost  in  the  Pacific. 


RKO  Theatres  Approach 
$2,000,000  Mark 

In  the  first  two  weeks  of  the  Fifth 
War  Loan  Drive,  which  started  June 
12,  the  sale  of  bonds  in  RKO  Theatres 
was  $1,982,475.  This  was  without  the 
benefit  of  bond  premieres  which  the 
theatres  will  start  presenting  this  week. 


RKO  Host  to  Owners 
At  'Lively'  Show 

RKO  held  an  exhibitor  screening  of 
"Step  Lively"  last  night  prior  to  the 
launching  of  a  contest  among  man- 
agers for  advertising  suggestions  to 
be  used  in  connection  with  the  play- 
ing of  the  film  in  RKO  houses  here. 

Home  office  executives  who  attend- 
ed last  night's  screening  included : 
Ned  E.  Deninet,  Robert  Mochrie,  S. 
Barrett  McCormick,  Nat  Levy,  Wal- 
ter Branson,  James  Brennan,  Charles 
B.  McDonald,  H.  R.  Emde,  Harold 
Mirisch,  W.  B.  England.  Harry  Man- 
del,  Joseph  di  Lorenzo,  Michael  Edel- 
stein,  Rutgers  Neilson,  John  Cassidy 
and  Arthur  M.  Brilant. 


Miss  S  hour  as  Married 

Miss  Diana  Athanasia  Skouras, 
daughter  of  Spyros  P.  Skouras,  pres- 
ident of  20th-Fox,  and  Mrs.  Skouras, 
was  married  yesterday  to  Dr.  George 
Anderson  Fowler,  son  of  Mrs.  Gladys 
Fowler,  in  the  Holy  Trinity  Church, 
Mamaroneck,  N.  Y.,  with  the  Revs. 
Joseph  Finegan,  Thomas  Kelly  and 
Bartholomew  Singleton  officiating. 


Miss  Weidman  to  Cagney 

Jean  Weidman,  Eastern  editor  of 
Producers'  Reading  Co.,  will  join  Wil- 
liam Cagney  Productions  Monday  as 
assistant  to  Peggy  Bleakley,  story  ed- 
itor here. 


By  THALIA  BELL 

Hollywood,  June  28 

Twenty  years  ago  there  were  only 
six  stars  on  the  M-G-M  lot.  Ever 
since  it  was  founded,  however,  the 
company  has  pursued  a  policy  of  dis- 
covering and  developing  talent,  wi| 
the  result  that  there  are  now  162  st' " 
lar  players  on  its  contract  list.  In" 
eluded  among  them  are  33  stars,  rang 
ing  in  age  and  experience  from 
Margaret  O'Brien,  seven,  to  Lionel 
Barrymore,  66.  The  majority  of 
M-G-M's  players  have  come  up  from 
the  ranks. 

• 

Vanguard  Films  has  purchased  half 
of  Edward  Small's  contract  with  Tony 
Devlin,  who  is  a  leading  contender  for 
the  title  role  in  "The  Life  of  Rudolph 
Valentino."  .  .  .  Charles  Russell,  who 
scored  in  "The  Purple  Heart,"  is  slated 
for  one  of  the  principal  roles  in  "A 
Bell  for  Adano,"  which  20th  Century- 
Fox  will  make  some  time  in  the  Fall. 
.  .  .  Lee  Sullivan,  well-known  in  radio 
and  musical  com<edy,  will  make  his 
screen  debut  in  Bing  Crosby's  forth- 
coming production  of  "The  Great  John 
L.,"  zvhich  Frank  Tuttle  will  direct. 
Paramount  has  signed  Jean  Heather 
for  another  year.  She  appears  oppo- 
site Fred  MacMurray  in  "Murder,  He 
Says."  .  .  .  Monta  Bell  will  direct 
"Little  Devils"  for  Monogram.  It's 
a  story  of  youthful  Chinese  patriots, 
and  one  of  the  company's  high-budget 
pictures.  .  .  .  Hobart  Cavanaugh  is  set 
for  the  part  of  the  bucolic  cab-driver 
in  Hunt  Stromberg's  version  of  the 
Broadway  hit,  "Guest  in  the  House." 
• 

Recent  improvements  in  camera 
technique  and  in  the  Technicolor 
process  itself  are  declared  to  have 
made  it  possible  to  reproduce  on 
the  screen  oil  paintings  and  pastels 
in  all  their  original  beauty.  The 
first  to  take  advantage  of  these 
possibilities  will  be  Harry  Joe 
Brown's  production  of  "The  Old 
West."  The  story,  based  on  the 
life  of  Frederic  Remington,  calls 
for  exact  duplication  of  many  of 
his  paintings.  .  .  Monogram  is  still 
searching  for  a  satisfactory  title 
for  the  Goebbels  picture  produced 
by  W.  R.  Frank.  Two  proposed 
titles  have  been  banned  bv  censor- 
ship authorities.  .  .  .  Rosalind  Ivan 
is  the  fourth  member  of  the  New 
York  stage  cast  to  join  Warner's 
version  of  "The  Corn  Is  Green." 
At  the  same  studio,  Ida  Lupino  has 
been  added  to  the  cast  of  "Holly- 
wood Canteen."  which  resumed 
shooting  recently.  .  .  .  20th  Cen- 
tury-Fox has  si«med  eight-year-"ld 
Connie  Marshall,  whose  cherubic 
features  have  appeared  on  many 
magazine  covers.  .  .  . 


Paramount  has  purchased  "Prince 
Charming,"  original  by  Everett  Free- 
man ;  Fred  Kohlmar  will  produce.  It's 
a  romantic  comedy,  laid  in  a  suburb 
of  New  York  City.  .  .  .  20th  Century- 
Fox  is  looking  for  100  dancers,  and 
Samuel  Goldwyn  wants  12,  preferably 
with  ballet  training.  Looks  like  more 
musicals  coming  uo.  .  .  .  Tessa  Brind. 
15-year-old  brunette,  has  been  sisrned 
at  Warners.  .  .  .  Robert  Barrat  has 
been  signed  for  Bing  Crosby's  pro- 
duction of  "The  Great  John  L."  .  .  . 


MOTION  PICTURE 

DAILY 


OL.  55.  NO.  128 


NEW  YORK.  U.S.A.,  FRIDAY,  JUNE  30,  1944 


TEN  CENTS 


Warners'  Six 
Months'  Net, 
$3,492,125 

Half  Year  Gross  Hits 
Nearly  $70,000,000 


Warner  Brothers  Pictures,  Inc., 
and  subsidiaries  had  a  net  operat- 
ing profit  of  $3,492,125  for  the  six 
months  ended  Feb.  26,  1944,  com- 
pared with  a  net  of  $4,141,199  for  the 
corresponding  period  last  year,  accord- 
ing to  a  statement  by  the  company 
here  yesterday.  This  year's  net  is 
after  a  provision  of  $625,000  for  un- 
realized losses  on  sales  contracted  af- 
ter Feb.  26,  but  not  liquidated,  less 
estimated  tax  benefits  resulting-  there- 
from. 

This  year's  profit  is  equivalent  to  94 
cents  per  share  on  the  3.701,000  shares 
of  common  stock  outstanding,  com- 
pared with  $1.06  per  share  for  the  cor- 
responding period  last  year,  after  pro- 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Skouras-Academy 
Deal  Finished 


Papers  on  file  in  Federal  court  here 
Thursday  disclosed  officially  that  the 
settlement  between  Skouras  Theatres 
Corp.,  Kitma  Corp.,  a  Skouras  sub- 
sidiary, and  the  receivers  of  Fox  Thea- 
tres Corp.,  under  which  Fox  Theatres 
creditors  will  gain  approximately  $2,- 
500,000,  has  been  consummated. 

The  settlement  was  authorized  re- 
cently by  Federal  Judge  John  C. 
Knox,  who  vacated  a  1937  order  of 
former  Judge  Martin  T.  Manton  which 
had  authorized  the  sale  by  Fox  to 
Skouras  interests  of  the  Academy  of 
Music  theatre  property  in  East  14th 
St.,  together  with  other  Fox  assets,  at 
a  nominal  price. 

Under  the  settlement,  Kitma  Corp. 
transferred  to  Fox  receivers,  for  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Canadian  Release  Set 
For  'Bell  Tolls' 

Toronto,  June  29. — It  was  an- 
nounced today  at  the  second  session 
of  the  Paramount-Canadian  sales  con- 
vention at  the  King  Edward  Hotel 
here  that  "For  Whom  the  Bell  Tolls," 
will  be  released  for  the  first  time  in 
Canada  next  fall  in  conjunction  with 
the  1944-45  product. 

This  feature  has  been  held  out  of 
the  Dominion  because  of  the  regula- 
tions of  wartime  prices  and  the  Trade 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


British  Films  Are 
Ready  for  Full 
Competition  Abroad 

By  PETER  BURNUP 

London,  June  29. — The  British 
Ministry  of  Information's  film  division 
is  fully  equipped  and  ready  to  rush 
its  pictures  into  every  liberated  coun- 
try, presumably  in  full  competition 
with  American  films  being  shown 
under  the  sponsorship  of  the  Office  of 
War  Information  and  the  Army  Psy- 
chological Service,  it  was  disclosed 
during  a  House  of  Commons  debate 
today  by  Brenden  Bracken,  MOI  di- 
rector. 

Already  shown  in  Italy  and  France, 
the  MOI's  prepared  product,  which 
contains  releases  also  in  15  other  lan- 
guages, consists  primarily  of  films  de- 
signed to  depict  Britain's  part  in  the 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Coast  Unions  Call 
MPA  'Subversive' 


Hollywood,  June  29. — The  Motion 
Picture  Alliance  was  condemned  as  a 
"subversive  and  dangerous  organiza- 
tion" and  a  new  group  known  as  the 
Council  of  Hollywood  Guilds  and 
Unions  was  authorized  to  function  for 
two  years  in  resolutions  unanimously 
adopted  by  over  900  representatives 
of  17  Hollywood  guilds  and  unions  at 
a  meeting  here  last  night.  The  Council 
is  an  outgrowth  of  the  emergency 
committee  of  Hollywood  guilds  and 
unions  which  sponsored  the  meeting, 
but  a  permanent  council  first  must  be 
ratified  by  the  organizations  involved, 
which  is  regarded  as  certain. 

It  was  charged  that  the  Alliance 
"masquerading    as    a  non-partisan, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Dallas  1st  Key  to 
Go  Over  the  Top 

Dallas  is  the  first  key  city 
to  go  over  the  top  in  the  in- 
dustry's 'Fighting  Fifth'  War 
Loan  drive,  according  to  a 
telegram  received  here  yes- 
terday by  R.  J.  O'Donnell,  na- 
tional committtee  chairman, 
from  James  O.  Cherry,  Dal- 
las drive  exhibitor  chairman, 
who  disclosed  that  Dallas  has 
gone  $2,000,000  over  its  quota 
of  $74,000,000  with  10  days 
still  to  go. 


Rivoli  Signs  Up 
First  Doorwoman 


Faced  with  a  shortage  of  doormen, 
having  one  who  works  part  time  in  a 
war  plant  and  another  who  "just  comes 
when  he  wants  to,"  manager  Montague 
Salmon  of  the  Rivoli  yesterday  opened 
his  house  with  a  doorwoman  on  duty 
out  front. 

She  is  Mario  Monez,  18-year-old, 
auburn-haired  beauty  who  came  here 
from  Philadelphia  three  months  ago 
and  last  week  sold  Salmon  on  the  idea 
of  hiring  her.  So  far  as  he  knows, 
he  has  the  first  doorwoman  in  the 
business,  but  he  feels  other  exhibitors 
will  follow.  "I  find  she's  good  at  mov- 
ing the  people  over  to  keep  them  from 
blocking  the  sidewalk,"  the  manager 
said. 


Women  Take  Over  House 

Wilwood,  N.  J.,  June  29— Every 
post  at  William  C.  Hunt's  Blaker 
Theatre  here  will  be  filled  by  a  wo- 
man. Being  renovated  now  for  a 
July  4  opening,  the  house  is  believed 
to  have  the  first  all-female  staff  in 
the  country. 


Special  Bond  Events  Set 
To  'Back  5th  on  the  4th9 


July  4th  will  be  banner  bond-selling 
day  at  most  of  the  nation's  theatres, 
with  special  events  scheduled  "to  rivet 
the  public's  attention  to  the  fact  that 
the  height  of  patriotism  on  Indepen- 
dence Day  is  to  back  up  our  fighters 
by  buying  extra  war  bonds,"  the  in- 
dustry's national  bond  committee  de- 
clared here  yesterday. 

"Buy    more    Bonds    on  the 
Fourth  to  put  over  the  Fifth," 
has  been  adopted  as  the  slogan 
by  hundreds  of  theatres. 
War    bond    premieres,  children's 
bond  matinees  and  on-stage  presenta- 


tion rallies  will  be  featured  in  thou- 
sands of  theatres.  Many  will  stress 
in  their  advertising  that  theatres  are 
the  only  places  where  the  public  can 
buy  bonds  on  the  holiday.  Where 
exhibitors  have  not  scheduled  events 
in  their  theatres,  they  will  participate 
with  other  groups  in  community  ral- 
lies, parades  and  other  celebrations. 
In  many  situations,  exhibitors  will 
take  advantage  of  the  large  theatre 
attendance  to  promote  final  "clean-up" 
events. 

In  New  York  on  Saturday  night  a 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Biddle  to  Get 
Decree  Draft 
Within  Week 


Clark's  Recommendations 
Await  Hazen's  Return 

By  FRANCIS  L.  BURT 
Washington,  June  29. — Pro- 
posals for  the  new  consent  decree 
will  be  laid  before  Attorney  Gen- 
eral Francis  Biddle  next  week  for 
final  decision  as  to  their  acceptabil- 
ity, it  was  learned  today. 

The  10-15-20  per  cent  cancel- 
lation clause,  a  new  provision 
for  dealing  with  specific  run  ar- 
bitration and  other  proposals 
submitted  by  the  distributors 
last  week,  together  with  the 
original  proposals  presented  in 
January,  are  expected  to  go  to 
the  Attorney  General  with  a 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


RKO  Closes  Deal 
For  Singer  Houses 


The  deal  for  full  control  by  RKO 
of  the  theatres  formerly  managed  by 
the  late  Mort  H.  Singer  was  consum- 
mated here  yesterday.  Sol  A.  Schwartz, 
general  manager  of  RKO's  out-of- 
town  houses,  announced  at  the  same 
time  that  John  Redmond  has  been 
appointed  division  manager  to  super- 
vise the  Singer  theatres. 

As  stated  by  Motion  Picture  Daily 
on  June  26,  in  an  advance  report  on 
the  signing  of  the  deal,  the  Singer 
circuit  contains  16  houses,  in  which 
RKO  previously  owned  a  50  per  cent 
interest.  They  are  located  in  Minne- 
apolis, Omaha,  New  Orleans,  and  in 
Waterloo,   Marshalltown,  Davenport, 

(Continued  on  page  6) 


Chi.  WMC  Withholds 
On  'Locally  Needed' 

Chicago,  June  29. — The  local  area 
office  of  the  War  Manpower  Com- 
mission revealed  today  that  it  has 
placed  the  film  exchanges'  request  for 
a  'locally  needed'  designation  into  a 
'state  of  temporary  suspension.'  The 
request  was  made  recently  on  behalf 
of  the  local  exchanges  by  W.  E.  Ban- 
ford,  M-G-M  branch  manager. 

So  far,  no  amusement  branches  here 
have  been  given  any  special  ratings 
which  would  entitle  them  to  extra 
consideration  when  the  U.  S.  Employ- 
ment Service  begins  to  clear  all  labor 
turnovers  on  July  1. 


■ 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  30,  1944 


Personal 
Mention 


WILLIAM  F.  RODGERS, 
M-G-M  vice  -  president  in 
charge  ,  of  distribution,  returned  to 
New  York  yesterday  from  Hollywood 
and  stopovers  en  route. 


Max  Stein  of 
ing  department, 
Ida  Rabinowitz 
I.,  tomorrow  at 
home.  Frank 
will  be  best  man 
Waldorf-Astoria 
raonj'. 


20th-Fox's  advertis- 
will  be  married  to 
of  Forest  Hills,  L. 
Miss  Rabinowitz's 

Simitz  of  20th-Fox 
A  reception  at  the 

will  follow  the  cere- 


Lester  Stepener,  manager  of  the 
La  Salle  Theatre,  Chicago,  and  pub- 
licity director  for  World  Wide  Pic- 
tures, is  the  father  of  a  son,  Charles 
Varry,  born  to  Mrs.  Stepener  in 
Chicago  on  June  25. 

e 

Jack  Sanson*  manager  of  War- 
ner's State,  Manchester,  Conn.,  has 
been  named  chairman  of  a  committee 
working  to  raise  funds  for  a  monu- 
ment to  Manchester  men  and  women 
in  service. 

e 

Mrs.  Herman  Robbins,  incorrect- 
ly reported  yesterday  as  returning  to 
Hollywood  next  week,  is,  instead,  due 
here  Monday  and  will  spend  the  rest 
of  the  summer  at  Schroon  Lake,  N.  Y. 
• 

Peter  Colli,  Warner  supervisor  in 
the  Caribbean  area,  will  leave  for 
Havana  at  the  weekend. 

• 

Ary  Lima,  Warner  manager  in 
Brazil,  will  return  to  that  country 
Dn  Wednesday. 

Sj  • 

Lester  Cowan,  producer,  has  re- 
turned to  Hollywood  after  two  days 
in  Washington. 

Syd  Gross,  New  York  Rivoli  Thea- 
tre publicity  manager,  will  leave  for 
Montreal  today  for  the  weekend. 
• 

W.  A.  Scully  and  Mrs.  Scully 
observed  their  25th  wedding  anniver- 
sary this  week. 


Chicago  Operators, 
Theatres,  Talk  Scale 

Chicago,  June  29. — Discussions  on 
long-pending  raises  for  projectionists 
of  Local  110,  have  been  resumed  in 
meetings  between  Eugene  Atkinson, 
secretary  of  the  local,  and  Jack  Kirsch, 
head  of  Allied  Theatres ;  Morris 
Leonard,  Balaban  and  Katz  executive, 
and  Edwin  Silverman,  president  of 
Essaness  Circuit. 


Schoenstadt  Trust 
Hearing  July  6 

Chicago,  June  29. — July  6  has  been 
set  as  the  date  for  the  next  hearing 
in  the  anti-trust  action  filed  by  H. 
Schoenstadt  and  Sons  Circuit  against 
Balaban  and  Katz  and  the  distribu- 
tors, before  master  -  in  -  chancery 
Charles  A.  McDonald. 


British  Extras' 
Strike  Postponed 

London,  June  29. — The  Ministry  of 
Labor  has  intervened  in  the  threatened 
strike  of  film  extras  previously  set  for 
July  3  in  an  effort  to  obtain  a  closed 
shop. 

The  Ministry  is  holding  a  conference 
between  producers  and  representatives 
of  the  extras,  with  the  later  post- 
poning their  threatened  strike  until 
July  17. 


Graham  Heads  'U' 
Atlanta  Meeting 

Atlanta,  June  29. — The  Southern 
division  of  Universalis  sales  depart- 
ment opened  a  three-day  convention 
here  last  night  at  the  Biltmore  Hotel. 
Fifty-three  representatives  of  the 
Southern  district  attended  the  dinner 
and  opening  session.  H.  D.  Graham, 
district  manager,  is  presiding. 

The  agenda  includes  discussion  of 
campaigns  for  new  product,  including 
extensive  advertising  budgets  for  sev- 
eral new  films. 


Selznick  Films  Set 
For  L.A.  Premiere 

Chicago,  June  29— David  O.  Selz- 
nick, Vanguard  chief,  said  here  today 
that  "Since  You  Went  Away,"  will 
open  in  Los  Angeles  about  a  week 
following  its  New  York  premiere  at 
the  Capitol  July  13,  with  other  key 
city  openings  to  follow. 

Selznick,  who  has  been  in  Chicago 
this  week  as  a  delegate  to  the  Republi- 
can national  convention,  will  leave  for 
Hollywood  today  to  be  on  hand  for 
the  starting  of  Alfred  Hitchcock's 
"The  House  of  Dr.  Edwards." 


Rubin  Held  in  Hub 
Manslaughter  Case 

Boston,  June  29. — Joe  Rubin,  prom- 
inent in  local  film  circles  for  years, 
and  brother  of  Benny  Rubin,  comedian, 
was  freed  in  bail  of  $5,000,  charged 
with  manslaughter  in  connection  with 
the  slaying  of  Guy  Forimica  of  Ply- 
mouth in  Rubin's  Showtime  Cafe  here. 

Rubin  drew  attention  in  the  past  two 
years  by  his  War  Loan  activities  and 
holds  the  individual  record  here  for 
the  largest  bond  sale  on  historic  Bos- 
ton Common.  According  to  charges, 
Forimica  and  Rubin  quarrel  over  the 
former's  attention  to  an  entertainer  in 
the  cafe. 


No  Johnston  Successor 

Republic  Pictures  Corp.  yesterday 
stated  that  no  successor  has  as  yet 
been  appointed  to  John  LeRoy  John- 
ston, former  director  of  public  relations 
for  the  company  at  the  studio,  who 
recently  resigned  that  post. 


Fromkes  Buys  Playhouse 

A  syndicate  headed,  by  Harry 
Fromkes,  president  of  City  Title  In- 
surance Co.,  has  bought  the  Play- 
house at  137  W.  48  St.  here  from  Wil- 
liam A.  Brady  at  a  reported  cost  of 
over  $300,000. 


Coast 
Flashes 


Hollywood,  June  29 

WAR  Finance  Committee  estimated 
War  Bond  purchases  by  indi- 
viduals in  the  production  branch  of 
the  industry  averaged  $1,000,000 
weekly. 

• 

Grantland  Rice  Sportlights  this 
year  will  observe  its  25th  anniversary. 
More  than  400  subjects  have  been  pro- 
duced. First  five  subjects  for  1944- 
45,  which  Paramount  will  release,  are 
"Riding  the  Rollers,"  "Game  Fish 
Thrills,"  "Close  Decisions,"  "Cham- 
pion Basketeers,"  and  "Good  Hunt- 
ing Is  Good  Eating,"  producer  Jack 
Eaton  announced. 

• 

Larry  Golob,  Eastern  publicity 
manager  for  Warners,  will  leave  here 
today  for  New  York  after  conferring 
with  Charles  Einfeld  and  Alex  Eve- 
love  at  the  WB  studios.  He  will  be 
accompanied  East  by  Joyce  Reynolds, 
star  of  "Janie." 

• 

Hollywood  Victory  Committee  fur- 
nished Jerry  Colonna,  Cass  Daly, 
Frances  Langford,  Georgia  Gibbs  and 
Marilyn  Maxwell  for  War  Bond 
broadcast,  NBC  nationally,  Sunday 
evening,  July  8. 

• 

Adolfo  Felix  Chust,  Brazilian  pro- 
ducer-director attached  to  the  Office 
of  Co-Ordinator  of  Inter-American 
Affairs,  arrives  Monday,  Pan  Ameri- 
can Airways  Clipper. 

• 

Hal  Wallis  signed  John  Mock  as 
story  editor,  Wallis  Productions.  Mock 
was  formerly  Paramount  story  editor 
in  England,  later  with  Columbia  here. 
• 

Norman  Morax  entrained;  stops 
Chicago,  Buffalo,  Harrisburg,  enroute 
to  New  York. 

• 

Paramount  extended  E.  D.  Leshin, 
producer,  contract  for  one  year. 
• 

Lester  Cowan  announced  $200,000 
advertising  budget  for  "GI  Joe." 


Boucher  to  Meiselman 

Washington,  June  29. — Frank  Bou- 
cher, manager  of  K-B  Theatres  here, 
will  leave  that  post  July  15  to  become 
general  manager  of  the  Meiselman 
Theatres  in  the  Carolinas.  Boucher 
was  formerly  New  York  zone  manager 
for  Schine. 


May  Re-open  St.  L.  Suit 

St.  Louis,  June  29. — A  hearing  on 
the  motion  of  20th-Fox  to  reopen  the 
plagiarism  suit  won  in  March  bv  Mrs. 
Marie  Cooper  Oehler  Dieckhaus,  who 
contended  that  her  unpublished  novel, 
"Love  Girl,"  was  the  basis  of  the  com- 
pany's film,  "Alexander's  Ragtime 
Band,"  will  be  held  here  today. 


Milder  in  London 

London,  June  29. — Max  Milder, 
managing  director  for  Warner  inter- 
ests in  Great  Britain,  has  returned  to 
his  office  here  following  a  two-month 
trip  to  the  U.  S. 


20th  to  Broadcast  News 

A  five-minute  midnight  news  broad- 
cast over  station  WEAF,  New  York, 
will  be  sponsored  by  20th-Fox  on 
Thursday  nights  for  one  year,  begin- 
ning July  6.  The  Kayton  Spiero  Co. 
agency  is  handling  the  program. 


NEW  YORK  THEATRES 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

Showplace  of  the  Nation       Rockefeller  Center" 
CARY  GRANT  in 

"ONCE  UPON  A  TIME" 

with   JANET  BLAIR 
Dir.  by  Alexander  Hall — A  Columbia  Picture 

SPECTACULAR  STAGE  PRESENTATION 
First  Mezzanine  Seats  Reserved  Circle  6-4600 


RADIO  CITY  MUSIC  HALL 

See  Stilwell  in  the  War's  Most  Incredible  Venture 


THE  LATEST 


Released  by  20th  Century-Fox 


M-G-M's  Comedy  Hit 

'SEE  HERE, 

PRIVATE 
HARGROVE' 

with  ROBERT  WALKER 
as  Private  Hargrove 


IN  PERSON 

BENNY 

FIELDS 

WILLIE 

HOWARD 


PALACE 


B  WAY  & 
47th  St. 


STARTS  TONIGHT  AT  8:30  P.  M. 

"MARINE  RAIDERS" 

PAT  ROBERT  RUTH 

O'BRIEN        RYAN  HUSSEY 


f 


PARAMOUNT'S 

GOING  MY  WAY 

with  BING  CROSBY 

In  Person 

CHARLIE  SPIVAK  and  His  Orch. 


mm  PARAMOUNT  PRESENTS 

CARY  COOPER  in 
CECIL  B.  DEMILLE'S 

The  Story  of  Dr.Wassell 

•k  In  Technicolor  i 

rivoli  sra  _ 


20th  Century-Fox  Presents 

HOME  IN  INDIANA' 

IN  TECHNICOLOR 

PLUS  ON  STAGE— ENRIC  MADRIGUERA 
and  ORCHESTRA  .  HAZEL  SCOTT 
JOE  BESSER     .    CARMEN  AMAYA  &.  CO. 

BUY  MORE  B  ft  V  V   7th  Ave-  & 
BONDS      It  W         I       50th  St. 


MOTION  PICTURE  DAILY, 

and  holidays  by  Quigley  Publi: 

Martin  Quigley,  President;  Coivin  tsrown,  vice-rresiaent;  Kea  J^ann,  vice-rresiaeni  "-"""■'■^  ■  "-'--l1  f  ... ' "~ 

Editor;  Herbert  V.  Fecke,  Advertising  Manager;  Chicago  Bureau,  624  South  Michigan  Ave.;  Hollywood  Bureau,  Postal  Union  Life  Bldg.,  Willirn  .R:™^J^.^°%tJ^™ 
Bureau,  4  Golden  Sq.,  London  Wl,  Hope  Burnup,  Manager;  Peter  Bnrnup,  Editor;  CPble  address,  "Quigpubco,  London."  All  contents  ^^^^.SfS 
Co.,  Inc.  Other  Quigley  Publications:  Motion  Picture  Herald,  Better  Theatres,  International  Motion  Picture  Almanac,  Fame.  Entered  as  second  class  matter,  S>ept.  Z3,  lttts,  at  tne 
post  office  at  New  York,  N.  Y.,  under  the  act  of  March  3,  1879.    Subscription  rates  per  year.  $6  in  the  Americas  and  $12  foreign;  single  copies,  iuc. 


Sympathy  won't  help 
him!  Bonds  will  help 
destroy  his  murderers! 

LET'S  GO 
FOR  THE 


KNOCK- 
OUT BLOW ! 

Let's  pull  no  punches  now!  Let's  spare  no  feel- 
ings!  Are  you  satisfied  with  results?  Time  is 
measured  in  lives!  Only  a  few  more  days  to  do 
a  superhuman  job.  But  we  can  do  it!  Wake  up 
the  public!  They've  got  money  to  spend!  Hit 
hard  with  Bond  Premieres,  Children's  Bond 
Shows,  Rallies,  Free  Movie  Days!  You  who  sell 
bonds  for  America,  victory  is  in  your  hands! 


M 


1 


FREE  MOVIE 
DAY,  JULY  6th 

Let  our  industry  unite  on 
July  6th  with  a  mighty 
push  that  will  electrify  the 
nation.  On  the  day  before, 
the  radio  and  press  will 
blast  FREE  MOVIE  DAY 
to  all  America.  Be  in  the 
fighting  ranks!  Over  the 
top,  patriotic  showmen! 


****** 


set** 


Suaene  0Ufei//d  prize-winning  play 


ENDIX   Susan  HAYWARD 


6 


Motion  Picture  Daily 


Friday,  June  30,  1944 


British  Films  Are 
Ready  for  Full 
Competition  Abroad 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

war  and  secondarily  of  selected  enter- 
tainment features,  it  was  disclosed 
during  the  debate. 

Emphasizing  that  the  MOI's  ac- 
tivities are  in  no  way  competitive 
with  the  British  motion  picture  indus- 
try, Bracken  emphasized  that  MOl 
instigated  commercial  production  of 
four  full-length  films  and  extended 
help  in  the  production  of  38  others 
during  the  past  year. 

Members  of  the  House,  while  uring 
the  summary  cessation  of  the  min- 
istry's home  film  activities  when  peace 
comes,  agreed  that  some  form  of  post- 
war national  interpretation  abroad  is 
necessary.  They  praised  MOT's  docu- 
mentaries and  expressed  the  hope  that 
they  would  continue. 

MOI's  160  Pictures 

Last  year  the  MOI's  film  division 
produced  160  pictures  for  English- 
speaking  audiences,  Bracken  reported, 
adding  that  the  public  response  to 
them  "belies  the  dreary  designation  of 
documentaries."  During  the  year,  96 
films  were  reproduced  in  348  foreign 
language  versions,  aggregating  50,000,- 
000  feet.  The  small  Colonial  Film 
Unit  produced  28  one-reelers  and  20 
news  films,  "forming  the  genesis  of  an 
invaluable  postwar  Empire  service," 
Bracken  added.  He  claimed  that  the 
Crown  Film  Unit  has  played  an  es- 
sential part  throughout  the  war  in  the 
development  of  a  recognized  national 
British  film  style. 

Coast  Unions  Call 
MPA  'Subversive' 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

patriotic  organization  opposed  to  both 
fascism  and  communism,  is  in  fact  a 
violently  partisan,  political  group  un- 
der the  leadership  of  anti-labor  union 
wreckers  with  clear  fascistic  tenden- 
cies." 

Eight  Point  Program 

An  eight-point  program  proposes, 
that  the  Council  combat  labor  and 
religious  discrimination,  industry  at- 
tacks from  within  and  without,  protect 
the  screen's  freedom  of  expression 
from  "such  self-appointed  censors  as 
the  MPA,"  develop  a  public  relations 
program  and  cooperate  with  the  pro- 
ducers association  in  the  re-absorption 
of  film  workers  after  the  war. 

It  was  determined  to  send  President 
Roosevelt  pledge  of  loyalty  and  a  full 
transcript  of  proceedings  to  interested 
unions  and  groups,  and  also  to  news- 
papers throughout  the  country. 

Speakers  included  Mary  C.  McCall, 
Jr.,  Screen  Writers  Guild,  president ; 
Walter  Wanger,  speaking  as  an  indi- 
vidual ;  Sidney  Buchmara,  executive 
producer  of  Columbia ;  James  Hilton 
and  various  labor  leaders.  Wanger 
charged  the  MPA  seeks  to  promote  its 
program  through  publicity  and  had 
bypassed  producers  who,  he  said,  were 
the  logical  source  for  discussion  on 
alleged  communistic  propaganda  in 
film  content.  The  sponsoring  guilds 
and  unions  state  the  mass  meeting 
represented  about  half  of  all  workers 
in  Hollywood. 


Warners'  6  Months' 
Net  Is  $3,492,125 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

vision  for  dividends  on  outstanding 
preferred  stock. 

Gross  income,  after  eliminating  in- 
tercompany transactions  for  the  six 
months  ended  this  Feb.  26,  was  $69.- 
629,010,  compared  with  §63,409,868  for 
the  same  period  last  year. 

The  provision  for  Federal  income 
and  excess  profit  taxes  during  the  re- 
cent period,  less  provisions  for  debt 
retirement  and  postwar  refund,  was 
$9,110,000.  The  balance  sheet  for  the 
six  months  shows  current  working  as- 
sets of  $52,386,987;  fixed  assets,  SI  13,- 
621,193;  current  liabilities,  $28,314,- 
579,  and  funded  and  other  long-term 
debts,  $47,845,222. 

Canadian  Release 
For  4Bell  Tolls' 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

Board  prohibiting  advanced  admission 
prices  for  film  road  shows  and  con- 
tracts calling  for  more  than  50  percent 
rental  charge. 

Gordon  Lightstone,  Paramount-Ca- 
nadian district  manager,  stated  he  had 
no  further  information  as  to  the  con- 
ditions under  which  the  feature  would 
be  released  in  Canada. 


Special  Events  to 
'Back  5th  on  4th' 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

public  reception  will  be  held  at  the 
large  bond  register  in  Times  Square, 
at  which  time  the  "Five  Torches  of 
Freedom,"  which  have  made  a  tour  of 
the  state,  will  be  presented  by  Charles 
C.  Moskowitz,  industry  Fifth  War 
Loan  chairman- for  the  Metropolitan 
area,  and  Frederick  Gehle,  executive 
director  of  the  War  Finance  Commit- 
tee. Major  Samuel  C.  Grashio,  U.  S. 
Army  Air  Force,  will  speak. 

The  ceremonies  will  be  opened  with 
a  concert  by  the  70-piece  Canadian 
Air  Force  Band,  which  is  coming  to 
Xew  York  especially  to  participate. 
The  concert  will  be  followed  by  a 
parade,  consisting  of  men  from  the 
100th  Infantry  drill  team,  with  a 
military  band  and  35  American  Le- 
gionnaires carrying  the  flags  of  the 
United  Nations.  The  "Five  Torches" 
will  be  carried  by  combat  veterans 
representing  various  branches  of  the 
service. 


'Rome's  Liberation' 
Ready  for  Theatres 

M-G-M  will  distribute,  for 
the  WAC  and  the  Office  of 
War  Information,  "The  Liber- 
ation of  Rome,"  a  camera  rec- 
ord of  the  Italian  campaign, 
produced  by  the  U.  S.  and 
British  armies.  The  film  is 
being  jointly  released  by  both 
governments.  There  will  be 
a  pre-release  showing  in  M- 
G-M's  home  office  projection 
room  Wednesday  morning  at 
11:30. 


RKO  Closes  Deal 
For  Singer  Houses 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

Sioux  City,  Cedar  Rapids  and  Du- 
buque. Iowa.  The  purchase  price  is 
understood  to  have  been  small  in  view 
of  the  fact  that  RKO  already  owned 
several  of  the  houses  and  leased  them 
to  Singer,  w-ho  died  early  this  year. 
By  the  terms  of  the  partnership,  the 
company  had  an  option  to  buy  his 
interest  if  he  ceased  to  operate  the 
houses.  During  the  interim,  they  have 
been  supervised  by  Joseph  Berne  of 
Cleveland,  who  was  elected  president 
of  the  circuit,  succeeding  Singer. 

Schwartz  yesterday  also  announced 
the  promotion  of  Frank  Smith,  now' 
manager  of  the  Palace  Theatre  in 
Chicago,  to  division  manager  of  the 
Chicago  territory,  which  includes,  be- 
sides that  city,  Champaign,  Kansas 
City.  Des  Moines  and  St.  Paul.  Harry 
Schreiber,  city  manager  of  Columbus, 
has  been  moved  up  to  the  newly  created 
post  of  assistant  division  manager  in 
the  Chicago  area,  Schwartz  added.  All 
changes  will  be  effective  tomorrow. 


Skouras-Academy 
Deal  Finished 


(Continued  from  page  1) 

benefit  of  creditors,  common  capital 
stock  of  the  William  Fox  Realty  Corp. 
and  a  claim  in  favor  of  Fox  Theatres 
Corp.  against  the  Fox  Realtv  Corp., 
together  with  the  Academy  of  Music 
property  and  leases  on  the  property 
which  Skouras  Theatres  Corp.,  will 
fulfill. 

It  is  under  the  leases  that  Fox 
creditors  will  benefit  over  a  period  of 
some  14  years.  Distribution  of  the 
reacquired  assets  will  be  made  only  as 
directed  by  Judge  Knox,  who  has  re- 
tained complete  jurisdiction  in  the 
matter. 

Because  of  the  settlement,  which  the 
court  approved,  proceedings  pending  in 
Federal  court  for  recover^  of  the 
assets  sold  under  the  1937  order  of 
Judge  Manton  have  been  dropped  and 
are  deemed  by  order  of  Judge  Knox 
discontinued  as  against  Skouras  Thea- 
tres, Kitma  Corp.,  George  P.  Skouras 
and  Harvey  T.  Newin. 

'Swing'  and  Show 
Swing  $17,500 

Omaha,  June  29. — The  Orpheum 
Theatre,  featuring  "Swing  Fever"  and 
Ozzie  Nelson's  orchestra  with  Harriet 
Hilliard  on  the  stage,  grossed  $17,500 
to  lead  the  week's  box  office  parade 
here.    Weather  was  sultry. 

Estimated  receipts  for  the  week  end- 
ing June  28-29 : 

"Marine  Raiders"  (RKO) 
"Lady  Let's  Dance"  (Mono.) 

BRAXDEIS — (1.200)     (44c-60c)     6  days. 
Gross:  $5,500.     (Average:  $6,500). 
"Chip  Off  the  Old  Block"  (Univ.) 
"Son  of  Dracula"  (Univ.) 

OMAHA — (2,000)  (44c-60c)  7  days.  Gross: 
$8,000.    (Average:  $8,400). 
"Swing  Fever"  (M-G-M) 

ORPHEUM — (3,000)  (44c-55c-70c)  7  days. 
Ozzie  Kelson's  orchestra  and  Harriet  Hil- 
liard on  the  stage.     Gross:  $17,500.  (Av- 
erage: $14,900). 
"Gaslight"  (M-G-M) 

PARAMOUNT — (2,900)  (44c-60c)  7  days. 
Gross:  $9,600.    (Average:  $11,700). 


Biddle  to  Get 
Decree  Draft 
Within  Week 

(Continued  from  page  1) 

report  and  recommendation 
from  Assistant  Attorney  Gen-  4 
eral  Tom  C.  Clark. 

Clark  and  Robert  L.  Wright,  spe- 
cial assistant  to  the  Attorney  Gen- 
eral, have  studied  the  provisions,  but 
are  understood  to  have  reached  no 
final  conclusions  because  of  the  ab- 
sence from  New  York  of  Joseph  Haz- 
en,  decree  liaison.  Biddle  also  is 
away,  and  is  not  expected  to  return 
to  Washington  until  next  week. 

Department  officials  now  have  be- 
fore them  the  final  offer  of  the  com- 
panies for  a  new  decree.  The  position 
of  the  distributors  that  they  could 
make  no  further  concessions  without 
going  beyond  the  limits  of  what  is 
economically  sound,  was  made  clear 
to  the  Department  when  the  latest 
tender  was  submitted,  paving  the  way 
for  a  final  decision  by  Clarke  and 
Biddle. 

Decree  Proposals 

In  general  outline  the  decree  pro- 
posals are  as  follows : 

Arbitration  to  be  conducted  as  at 
present,  with  a  single  board  of  ap- 
peals, but  arbitration  of  clearance  is 
to  be  extended  to  the  companies'  own 
theatres  and  arbitration  of  run  is  to 
be  extended  to  exhibitors  in  competi- 
tion with  the  companies'  circuits.  A 
new  version  of  Section  10  is  to  be 
written  for  the  benefit  of  theatre  op- 
erators who  win  arbitration  awards 
on  specific  run  complaints ;  cancella- 
tions to  be  20  per  cent  where  average 
license  fees  do  not  exceed  $100  per 
picture,  15  per  cent  where  the  average 
is  between  S101  and  $250,  and  10  per 
cent  on  pictures  averaging  $251  to 
S350 ;  circuit  expansion  to  be  subject 
to  prior  Federal  court  approval  with 
no  exemption  for  "show  case"  houses ; 
pooling  arrangements  between  signa- 
tory companies  to  be  outlawed,  wheth- 
er relating  to  joint  ownership  or  op- 
eration of  theatres  or  joint  buying  ar- 
rangements ;  all  product  franchises 
would  be  terminated,  those  between 
signatory  companies  immediately  and 
those  held  by  others  immediately,  if 
possible,  or  at  the  end  of  existing 
contracts. 

Penalties 

Also,  withholding  of  prints  to  give 
a  prior  playing  date  would  be  pro- 
hibited; forcing  of  shorts  and  news- 
reels  would  be  prohibited,  with  fines 
of  distributors  as  a  penalty  for  viola- 
tion, with  the  money,  $250  for  the  first 
offense  and  $500  for  subsequent  of- 
fenses in  cases  where  arbitration  de- 
cisions find  a  violation  to  have  •  oc- 
curred, to*  go  to  the  exhibitor;  all 
pictures  would  be  trade  shown  in  ad- 
vance of  sale  but  no  changes  required 
in  present  selling  methods ;  cancella- 
tions on  moral,  religious  or  racial 
grounds  would  be  permitted  within 
five  days  after  notice  of  availability. 

A  number  of  points  in  the  com- 
panies' proposals  would  be  subect  to 
minor  modifications  in  the  final  work- 
ing out  of  a  decree. 


The  final  returns  are  in.  History 
has  been  written.  Every  regularly 
operated  motion  picture  theatre 
in  the  nation,  of  which  there  is 
a  record,  has  flashed  the  M-G-M 
Lion  on  its  screen  during  the 
Friendly  Company's  Anniversary 
Week.  Never  an  industry  in  the 
world  until  now  in  which  every 
outlet  has  thus  honored  one 
product.  With  humility  and  grati- 
tude M-G-M  thanks  this  industry 
of  which  it  is  proud  to  be  a  part. 

EVERY  THEATRE:  FREE  MOVIE  DAY,  JULY  6th! 
"THE  FIGHTING  FIFTH0  VICTORY  CLIMAX! 


CHRISTMAS  HOLIDAY"  SCORES 
NEW  HIGH  FOR  DURBIN  HITS! 


ftN°  M°  m  SO  It*  6R°SS  °N  • 

PEM<  HOUR.  M-s0  ; 
4  COMING    BEST  ^SHES 

3JAY  EMANUEL-  .55W. 


DURBIN  and 


KEI 


LLY 


»»  W.  SOMERSET  MAUGHAM'S 


icitft 

RICHARD  WHORF  DEAN  HARENS   GLADYS  GEORGE 
DAVID  BRUCE    GALE  SONDERGAARD 

Produced  by  FELIX  JACKSON    Directed  by  ROBERT  SIODMAK 
As  written  for  the  screen  by  HERMAN  J.  MANKIEWICZ 
Associate  Producer,  FRANK  SHAW 

A  UNIVERSAL  PICTURE